Greek lawmaker highlights respect and win-win cooperation as pillars of China-EU relations

14:59, May 08, 2025 By Zhang Zeyu, Yin Tao, Liu Ning ( People's Daily Online

As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), Dora Bakoyannis, chair of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs of Greece's Hellenic Parliament, emphasized the importance of mutual respect and win-win cooperation in an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online during her recent visit to China.

Reflecting on the bilateral relationship between China and Greece, Bakoyannis described current ties as very strong and characterized by deep mutual understanding. "We have developed strong ties in the cultural sphere, marked by exceptional cultural exchanges," she noted. She also highlighted China-Greece economic cooperation, specifically the Chinese investment by COSCO SHIPPING Group (COSCO) in the Port of Piraeus as a standout example of successful collaboration.

According to Bakoyannis, Greece and China have also maintained close coordination on the political stage, particularly within the framework of the United Nations, where the two countries have found common ground on a number of important international issues.

Greece has played a key role in supporting China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), becoming the first EU member state to officially join in 2018. Bakoyannis pointed to the COSCO investment in Piraeus as a prime example of how BRI cooperation can deliver tangible benefits. She emphasized that the project has been well received by the local community and has significantly contributed to both the Greek and Chinese economies. "I have every confidence in the entrepreneurial spirit of both the Greek and Chinese people to explore and develop sectors of collaboration that will prove advantageous to both sides," she added.

The China-Greece relationship also has strong cultural foundations. Bakoyannis emphasized the significance of the two countries as cradle civilizations. This shared legacy provides a unique opportunity for deeper cultural exchange. She extended a warm invitation to the Chinese public to explore Greece, and equally encouraged Greeks to visit China and experience its rich cultural heritage.

When discussing China-EU relations, Bakoyannis acknowledged existing trade-related challenges but stressed the importance of long-term perspective. She expressed a believe that in the long run cooperation would be beneficial to all, and that building walls cannot be the answer. She added, "The only viable path forward is through collaboration grounded in mutual respect, recognition of each other's rights, and a sincere understanding of each side's interests."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
Nations vow to uphold intl justice

08:50, May 13, 2025 By Zhou Jin ( China Daily

Aircraft fly in formation during the grand parade in Moscow on Friday marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. XINHUA

Broad consensus on mutual support for defending multilateralism and resisting power politics and bullying has been reached in President Xi Jinping's extensive contacts with a number of world leaders on the sidelines of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

The Chinese president held a series of bilateral talks on Friday in Moscow with political leaders from Serbia, Myanmar, Cuba, Venezuela and Slovakia. During the meetings, the leaders pledged to jointly uphold international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of the international community.

When meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, Xi emphasized that China supports Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national stability, and in steadily advancing its domestic political agenda.

Xi also said he hopes Myanmar will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, institutions and projects in the country, and make greater efforts to combat transnational crimes such as online gambling and telecommunications fraud.

In separate talks with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Xi pointed out that the Latin American and Caribbean states are sovereign and independent nations, not anyone's backyard.

China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference and blockade, Xi told Diaz-Canel.

He also expressed willingness to set China-Cuba relations as an example of unity and cooperation among socialist countries, as well as of sincere mutual assistance among developing nations.

During his meeting with Maduro, Xi said that China stands ready to strengthen exchanges on governance experience with Venezuela and continue to deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

Diaz-Canel and Maduro spoke highly of Xi's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind as well as the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. They also said they are ready to work with China in opposing unilateralism and protectionism.

Xi emphasized in his talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico that China would like to follow the historical trend of openness, cooperation and mutual benefit, strengthen strategic communication and advance the relationship between China and Europe.

Xi told Vucic that Beijing would like to work with Serbia to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, continue supporting the construction and operation of relevant projects, give full play to their demonstrative effect, and achieve more outcomes that deliver mutual benefits and win-win results.

When meeting with Fico, Xi called on China and Slovakia to jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote steady and long-lasting bilateral relations and China-European Union ties. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations.

China welcomes Slovakia's participation as the guest country of honor at the fourth China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair, which will be held later this month, Xi said, adding that China is also pleased to see more of its enterprises investing and doing business in Slovakia.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A young woman on the search for her biological father on the eve of her wedding invites three possible candidates to her nuptials.

Set in the summer of 1999 on a remote Greek Island, the musical Mamma Mia! tells the story through the soundtrack of the 1970s Swedish pop band ABBA.

Creative producer Judy Craymer collaborated with playwright Catherine Johnson and former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus to create the hit musical, which Broadway In Tucson is bringing to Centennial Hall May 20-25.

According to the Broadway In Tucson website, Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel-good show for nearly 25 years, as people all over the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music.

Amy Weaver, who plays the bride Sophie Sheridan, grew up listening to ABBA CDs.

I knew almost every single song before coming into the role of Sophie, she recalled during an interview last week. My favorite song to perform in the show is Thank You for the Music. My mom taught it to me when I was young, and Ive been singing it since.

ABBA, a Swedish pop band known worldwide for their catchy hits including Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Knowing Me, Knowing You, dominated the music scene in the 1970s. While the group disbanded in 1982, the impact of its music lives on.

The jukebox musical made its stage debut in 1999 in London. After a successful run in the U.K., the production made its U.S. debut in 2000 in San Francisco before it debuted in 2001 on Broadway, where it ran for 14 consecutive years.

But the Mamma Mia! craze didnt stop there. In 2008, a film version of the story, Mamma Mia! The Movie, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, hit theaters.

Everybody is up on their feet at the end dancing and singing along, Weaver said. The show radiates joy.

The storyline showcases multiple generations of female relationships, whether you relate to Sophie, the young bride-to-be, or her mother, Donna.

If you need to laugh or if you need to cry, this show is for you, Weaver said.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20-Friday, May 23; 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 24; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 25 at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. on the University of Arizona campus; Tickets are $53-$173 through broadwayintucson.com.
PHOENIX  Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is getting money from special interests and other donors and not disclosing who they are.

And its perfectly legal because of a exception carved into state law nearly a decade ago.

Hobbs has set up a special fund to pay for the costs her campaign incurred in defending her against lawsuits filed by failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake challenging the legitimacy of Hobbs 2022 election.

But Hobbs never publicly disclosed the existence of the special account. Instead, she is relying on the law that creates the exception allowing candidates to approach donors  and take as much as they want for legal fees from anyone  without having to file the same reports required of other campaign expenses.

Her fund would have remained secret except that one donor  Pinnacle West Capital Corp., the parent company of Arizona Public Service, the states largest electric utility  filed a new report disclosing that it gave the governor $100,000 last year for her legal expenses. The report, obtained by Capitol Media Services, shows thats more money than Pinnacle West Capital gave anyone in political donations in 2024.

The only reason the company provided the information is that the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates APS, ordered regulated utilities to file such reports after they were accused a decade ago of secretly funneling money into efforts to elect commission members of their choosing.

A spokesman for the Hobbs campaign, Michael Beyer, refused Monday to disclose others who have given to her special fund, nor would he say the total amount the governor has collected for her legal fees. Instead, Beyer said the funds creation was justified.

Kari Lake baselessly challenged the results of a free and fair election she lost, he said. We won eight times in court, and yet Lake fought the results all the way through November 2024 when she finally lost her last appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.

This isnt the first time Pinnacle West has donated corporate funds for Hobbs benefit.

The company in 2023 gave $250,000 to the governors inaugural fund, money that also was not publicly disclosed until reported by Capitol Media Services.

That was part of more than $1.9 million Hobbs took in for the January 2023 event  an event that cost only $207,000 to put on.

The balance went into campaign accounts for the governors 2026 reelection efforts; required campaign finance reports show she has about $4.1 million in the bank.

The new Pinnacle West report also shows the company gave another $50,000 this past year to the Democratic Governors Association which, in turn, is free to spend the money to help Hobbs remain in office.

And there was $25,000 given to the Governors Fund of the Arizona Democratic Party.

This isnt the companys first foray into providing money for Democrats legal fees. Pinnacle West disclosed in 2022 it had given $25,000 to help Kris Mayes fend off a legal challenge by Republican Abe Hamadeh to her election that year as attorney general.

One difference, however, is that Mayes was a bit more open about her solicitation, having created a public website seeking the donations. But she, like Hobbs, never provided a public list of her donors, with her campaign aide D.J. Quinlan saying, Arizona law doesnt require it.

A spokesman for Pinnacle West did not respond to specific questions about the companys decisions to provide funds for the governors inaugural as well as to help her pay for the cost of fending off legal challenges to her office.

But the company has an interest in having good relations with Hobbs.

Right now, the governor has a bill on her desk being pushed largely by APS to allow it to securitize debts by selling low-interest bonds versus borrowing money at higher rates.

The utility and its legislative backers say that will save money in the long run. But the measure has raised concerns that it allows utilities to bond without limits  and, by extension, to automatically pass on the costs to ratepayers.

House Bill 2679, which Hobbs must act on by Tuesday, comes over the objections of many members of the governors own Democratic Party who say the measure lacks guardrails to protect consumers.

The company has had other issues that need gubernatorial blessing, as well, including legislation that would shield it from certain liabilities if its power lines caused wildfires.

The figures above of direct giving of corporate funds by Pinnacle West dont include the money that the company, through its separate political action committee, has given directly to candidates for their campaigns, which does have to be disclosed in regular campaign finance reports.

That includes $10,600 given to Hobbs 2022 election campaign that year, another $5,000 in 2023, and $5,800 at the beginning of this year.

Nothing that Hobbs, Mayes or any other elected official is doing to solicit money for their legal fees  and keep the donors and the amounts secret  is illegal.

The exemption for legal fees was part of a 56-page revamping of campaign finance laws in 2016.

Its passage was largely pushed through by the Republican legislative majority.

Then-Democratic Sen. Martin Quezada of Glendale attempted to limit the scope of the legal fees exemption, saying lack of disclosure should be allowed only if the legal expenses were to help candidates comply with election laws. His proposal was defeated on a party-line vote.

The 2016 law wasnt just about legal fees. Other expenditures the GOP-backed legislation exempted from reporting requirements ranged from the cost of communications by a company to its employees, to money spent by political parties to support their nominees through things like bumper stickers, pins and posters.

The legislation also reduced the penalties against campaign committees for violating election laws.

Hobbs, then the minority leader of the Senate, voted against the final legislation, which ultimately was signed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican.

The discovery of the governors legal defense fund comes as she has been under scrutiny by state lawmakers over questions about whether outside groups could be influencing her with political donations.

Earlier this month Hobbs vetoed a proposal by Coolidge Republican Sen. T.J. Shope. It would have required any company responding to a request for proposals to sell services or goods to the state to list all donations made by the company and its officers in the past five years to the governor. That included not just donations to the governor but any related entity such as a campaign committee or an inaugural fund.

Hobbs, in her veto, made no mention of those provisions in rejecting the plan. She said her objection was to removing a broad exemption that the state Medicaid program has from complying with procurement laws.

But among the issues raised during debate on the measure was the fact that Sunshine Residential Homes, which serves children in foster care, got a 60% increase in state reimbursement shortly after the company gave $100,000 in 2023 to the governors inaugural fund.

That contract alteration with Sunshine remains under investigation by both Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. Hobbs press aide Christian Slater at the time dismissed the probe as partisan and said the administration will be cleared of wrongdoing.

While Pinnacle West reported various corporate donations to Hobbs and Democratic interests, the report shows the company has spread its cash around for other causes.

It gave $650,000 in 2022  the year Hobbs was campaigning against Lake  to the Republican Governors Association. But there seemed to be some hedging of its bets as it also gave $60,000 that year to the Democratic Governors Association, a figure it added to this past year with the additional $50,000.

Thats also true of efforts to support legislative races.

Pinnacle West gave $25,000 last year to the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. It gave an identical amount to Republicans, split between committees run by House and Senate GOP leaders.

This years donations of its corporate funds also included $50,000 to the Republican Party of Arizona, $50,000 to We Build Arizona, which lobbies for more spending on roads and infrastructure, and $25,000 to Elevate Arizona, which helped get voter approval of a plan to let the Maricopa Community Colleges spend more money.
PHOENIX  A budget airline that serves mostly small U.S. cities began federal deportation flights Monday out of Arizona, a move thats inspired an online boycott petition and sharp criticism from the union representing the carriers flight attendants.

Avelo Airlines announced in April it had signed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to make charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport outside Phoenix. It said it will use three Boeing 737-800 planes for the flights.

The Houston-based airline is among a host of companies seeking to cash in on President Donald Trumps campaign for mass deportations.

Congressional deliberations began last month on a tax bill with a goal of funding, in part, the removal of 1 million immigrants annually and housing 100,000 people in U.S. detention centers. The GOP plan calls for hiring 10,000 more U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.

Agreement details with ICE not disclosed

Avelo was launched in 2021 as COVID-19 still raged and billions of taxpayer dollars were propping up big airlines. It saves money mainly by flying older Boeing 737 jets that can be bought at relatively low prices. And it operates out of less-crowded and less-costly secondary airports, flying routes that are ignored by the big airlines. It said it had its first profitable quarter in late 2023.

Andrew Levy, Avelos founder and chief executive, said in announcing the agreement last month that the airlines work for ICE would help the company expand and protect jobs.

We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic, said Levy, an airline industry veteran with previous stints as a senior executive at United and Allegiant airlines.

Avelo did not grant an interview request from The Associated Press.

Financial and other details of the Avelo agreement  including destinations of the deportation flights  havent publicly surfaced. The AP asked Avelo and ICE for a copy of the agreement, but neither provided the document. The airline said it wasnt authorized to release the contract.

Several consumer brands have shunned being associated with deportations, a highly volatile issue that could drive away customers. During Trumps first term, authorities housed migrant children in hotels, prompting some hotel chains to say that they wouldnt participate.

Union cites safety concerns

Many companies in the deportation business, such as detention center providers The Geo Group and Core Civic, rely little on consumer branding. Not Avelo, whose move inspired the boycott petition on change.org and drew criticism from the carriers flight attendants union, which cited the difficulty of evacuating deportees from an aircraft in an emergency within the federal standard of 90 seconds or less.

Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation and risk injury or death, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in a statement. It also impedes our ability to respond to a medical emergency, fire on board, decompression, etc. We cannot do our jobs in these conditions.

In New Haven, Connecticut, where Avelo flies out of Tweed New Haven Airport, Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker urged Avelos CEO to reconsider. For a company that champions themselves as New Havens hometown airline, this business decision is antithetical to New Havens values, Elicker said in a statement.

Protests were held outside airports in Arizona and Connecticut on Monday.

In Mesa, over 30 protesters gathered on a road leading up to the airport, holding signs that denounced Trumps deportation efforts. In Connecticut, about 150 people assembled outside Tweed New Haven Airport, calling on travelers to boycott Avelo.

John Jairo Lugo, co-founder and community organizing director of Unidad Latina en Accion in New Haven, said protesters hope to create a financial incentive for Avelo to back out of its work for the federal government.

We need to cause some economical damage to the company to really convince them that they should be on the side with the people and not with the government, Lugo said.

Mesa a hub for ICE airline deportations

Mesa, a Phoenix suburb with about 500,000 people, is one of five hubs for ICE Air, the immigration agencys air transport operation for deportations. ICE Air operated nearly 8,000 flights in a 12-month period through April, according to the advocacy group Witness at the Border.

ICE contracts with an air broker, CSI Aviation, that hires two charter carriers  GlobalX and Eastern Air Express  to do most of the flights, said Tom Cartwright, who tracks flight data for Witness at the Border.

Cartwright said it was unusual in recent years for commercial passenger carriers to carry out deportation flights.

Its always been with an air broker who then hires the carriers, and the carriers have not been regular commercial carriers, or what I call retail carriers, who are selling their own tickets, Cartwright said. At least since I have been involved (in tracking ICE flights), theyve all been charter companies.

Avelo will be a sub-carrier under a contract held by New Mexico-based CSI Aviation, which didnt respond to questions about how much money Avelo would make under the agreement.

Avelo provides passenger service to more than 50 cities in the U.S., as well as locations in Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Avelo does not operate regular commercial passenger service out of Mesa Gateway Airport, said airport spokesman Ryan Smith.
PHOENIX  Arizona hospitals wont be required by the state to ask patients if they are in this country illegally.

In one of 48 new vetoes Monday and Tuesday of bills sent to her by the Republican-controlled Legislature, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs rejected a measure to require hospitals that accept Medicaid to inquire about a patients immigration status.

The proposal from Flagstaff Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers said the patients answers wouldnt result in the loss of medical care, and that hospitals wouldnt be required to call immigration authorities. Instead, Rogers, said it would give the state an idea of the costs of illegal immigration.

Hobbs pointed out that people who are not here legally generally do not qualify for Medicaid. She also said the legislation was opposed by business leaders, hospitals and others who understand that immigration enforcement is best left to federal law enforcement and not health care professionals.

This and other vetoes Monday and Tuesday bring Hobbs tally this ongoing legislative session to 138, or five shy of the record she set in her first year in office in 2023.

Hotel signs about homeless guests

Hobbs also rejected a proposal by Phoenix Republican Rep. Matt Gress that would have required hotels and motels to warn guests that they also provide rooms for homeless people.

Gress called his measure consumer protection, saying that paying customers should be alerted to keep hotels doors locked, safely store their belongings and report any health or safety concerns to local law enforcement. There would have had to be signs to that effect at every entrance.

Proponents argued many of the homeless are drug users, alcohol abusers or mentally ill, or a combination, and that guests should know that. Foes said there is no evidence they are more dangerous than any other group.

We should not micromanage local businesses who have stepped up to help address our states housing challenges, Hobbs wrote in her veto, saying lawmakers should engage in more productive efforts to create more transitional and affordable housing options.

Cities police funding

Hobbs also declined to bar cities from making cuts in how much money they put into law enforcement.

The measure would have outlawed year-over-year cuts in what cities spend on police services. To ensure compliance, it would have required the state treasurer to cut that communitys state aid by an equal amount.

Snowflake Republican Rep. David Marshall has championed the measure now for two years, saying he wants to short-circuit defund the police movements that have occurred elsewhere. Marshall conceded that hasnt happened here, but said he wanted to be proactive and ensure that activists in Arizona dont convince city councils to divert funding.

Lobbyists for cities were opposed, at least in part because they said these decisions should be made on the local level. But they also expressed concern the bill would stifle efforts to move certain functions, such as code enforcement, from sworn officers to civilian employees.

Hobbs, in her veto message, said she has consistently advocated for increased funding for law enforcement and believes the bill undermines local decision making which is needed for public safety agencies to operate efficiently.

Mandated Gulf of America

Hobbs vetoed a bid by Casa Grande Republican Rep. Teresa Martinez to force high schools to teach students that the body of water President Donald Trump unilaterally renamed is known as the Gulf of America, rather than its name for centuries, and the one still used in the rest of the world: the Gulf of Mexico.

Martinez said it would promote patriotism and start teaching pro-America to our students.

The governor called the measure a diversion.

This Legislature has chosen to attempt to dictate how teachers refer to geographic features, she wrote. I encourage you to refocus your time and energy on solving real problems for Arizonans.

Biological sex issues

In no surprise, she also vetoed two measures related to each other.

One would have told teachers they cannot use pronouns for students or a first name that does not reflect their biological sex, absent parental permission. The other said students could not use bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match their biological sex.

Both are repeats of what has become perennial legislation by Sen. John Kavanagh. The Fountain Hills Republican said the first one respects the rights of parents to decide issues for their children; the second would spare girls from having to share locker rooms with biological males, he said.

Hobbs did not address either contention. Instead, she said in identical veto messages that the bills will not increase opportunity, security or freedom for Arizonans and that she encourages lawmakers to focus on legislation to lower costs, protect the border, create jobs and secure our water future.

Groundwater

That last theme also found its way into Hobbs veto of four measures making changes in groundwater regulations.

She has acknowledged there are issues, particularly in rural areas. But she said what is needed is a comprehensive plan.

To see more effort misspent on pointless bills that would only weaken groundwater protections or duplicate existing programs is a continued affront to rural Arizonans who have asked their legislators for years to address rural groundwater problems, the governor wrote.

Concealed weapons on campus

Also rejected was a perennial effort to allow those who have state permits to carry concealed weapons to on to college and university campuses.

Proponents have argued that having such people on campuses keeps them safe. But foes noted that Arizona has some of the laxest standards in the country to get a permit, with no actual requirement to show the ability to use a gun.

This bill could lead to increased risk on campus and other unintended consequences, Hobbs wrote.

Gun silencers, sellers

She also nixed legislation to remove a prohibition against Arizonans owning muffling devices, more commonly known as silencers for guns.

These devices are legal under federal law, though buyers must go through a more-intensive screening than the one required to purchase firearms.

Gun silencers make it more difficult for hard-working law enforcement offices to do their job and keep Arizonans safe, Hobbs wrote.

She also rejected a related bill that would have barred the government and certain private entities from creating a legal distinction between gun sellers and all other types of retailers. The governor said these merchant categories codes are vital tools that help law enforcement identify perpetrators of illegal activity, including mass shootings.

Cryptocurrency and much more

Other measures meeting with the governors displeasure included:

 Permitting the state to accept cryptocurrency as a method of payment. Hobbs said even with certain built-in protections, it still leaves the door open for too much risk.

 Restricting the ability of the Arizona Corporation Commission to advocate for legislation without first having a public vote. Hobbs said it would stifle the agencys ability to provide lawmakers with necessary feedback.

 Giving school board members access to all information and records maintained by school districts. Hobbs said she wont provide such blanket access to sensitive records without compelling reasons and sufficient guardrails.

 Allowing attorneys who win disputes in disciplinary matters with the State Bar of Arizona to recover not only their legal fees and court costs but to also be reimbursed for lost earning and to be allowed to sue for damages to their reputations. Hobbs said this appears to be aimed at a case involving one attorney who peddled conspiracy theories. Attorneys who speak honestly and practice with dignity have nothing to worry about, she said.

 Prohibiting courts in domestic relations cases from ordering a party to pay for any type of therapy, treatment or counseling program designed to improve or maintain the parent-child relationship. Hobbs said this is a bill designed to address one specific situation and she urged lawmakers to work with the courts and judges to better understand existing practices aimed to support the best interests of children.
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Tonight on Australian Crime Stories: The Investigators...

After working on almost 200 murder investigations in 15 years at Victoria Police Homicide Squad, now retired Detective Jeff Maher trains detectives at the Victorian Police Academy.

In this episode Maher takes us inside the hunt for one of Australias most evil serial killers. Through extraordinary detective work, discovering patterns across a series of unsolved murders, Maher and his team captured Peter Dupas and brought him to justice for 3 murders.

We interview the sister of one of Dupas victims, indebted to Maher and Victoria Police for capturing and convicting Dupas, while they continue to pursue Dupas for other unsolved murders.

8:50pm tonight on Nine.
Its been a crash course in Eurovision culture and history for Tony Armstrong, as one half of the new commentary team for SBS.

Speaking with TV Tonight prior to his travel to Basel, Switzerland, he has been immersing himself in all the pop-dom of the worlds longest running singing contest, comforted in the knowledge that his co-presenter, Courtney Act, has experience on the ground.

I see is as a challenge, to be honest, he says.

But I think the roles are just different. You look at at any sport commentary team. Theres someone saying what theyre seeing, and then someone saying why were seeing it and why its important. Like, thats any commentary team in anything.

So you need two people playing different roles. If we were to use a sport analogy, I would say I will be the one to go, This is what Im seeing. Thats cool, and I would say Courtney will also be doing that, but generally speaking as the expert.

To be fair, Sam Pang was arguably fairly new to the Eurovision world when he joined Julia Zemiro in 2009 -a role that lasted until 2017.

Courtney Act, having attended for backstage interviews in 2024, also gets that she will be doing much of the heavy lifting in SBS commentary.

I think both Tony and I would agree with that, she says.

Im immersed in the Eurovision world. Obviously, Tony comes from the sport world, but hes also a guy who loves music and pop culture. I think Im gonna have fun seeing Eurovision through his eyes.

We did a workshop, and we did some publicity days, and hes immersing himself in the world and enjoying it, and getting all of the highlights of previous years, and getting that history under his belt.

Both came together following a chemistry test for producers, as the new team succeeding Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst.

I guess Tony and I hit the spark. It was sort of that thing where I thought, This is a natural flow, I hope they hope they do ask me. I got on with Tony like a house on fire, says Act.

My management asked me if I had any interest, and I was like, Hell yeah!' Armstrong recalls.

I was aware of Eurovision obviously, and loved what Id seen, but hadnt fully dove into it. Then I got the tap. I had to think about it, and went and did some stuff with Courtney, which was so much fun.

Both commentate across two Semi Finals plus the Final. There are also backstage interviews and fan events in Basel to cover. After travelling from Australia, both have just one day of recovery before the work begins.

Last year Electric Fields failed to qualify for the Final but there are big hopes Milkshake Man will resonate with televoting and jury.

Courtney Act says, We were sending our biggest and brightest names -as we should- and as Go-Jo is. But theres just something about the fun and the irreverence and the sex appeal, that we havent had before. I think those are really key elements of Eurovision, so it feels like a really good fit.

The thing that Go-Jo has got going for him is that he is a performer. You look at his Instagram and you see all these videos of him down at Bondi Beach with his guitar, busking and interacting and having fun with people. I think that will be what shines through at Eurovision, which is playing up to the camera and playing up to the audience. You know, When I say Sweet, Sweet, you say, Yum, Yum. Thats perfect, right?

Hes kind of got this Benson Boone meets Rocky Horror Picture Show vibe that I think is likeable and that people will enjoy. If theyre just tuning in for the Final I think that theyll see this handsome, fun Aussie guy.

Armstrong agrees.

It just feels like thats a song almost built in a lab to win Eurovision. It just feels like it hits on so many of the things that win a Eurovision competition. But its all going to come down to that execution in the room and how that looks, he says.

The staging by Creative Director Paul Clarke includes a giant blender -a fitting touch from the land of the Big Banana. But there is plenty of competition and elements that cant be controlled such as the number of competing similar songs, or the placement in the Running Order (Australia opens Semi Final Two).

I love Estonia, Armstrong suggests. Espresso Macchiato is a great song. I love the performance with the ties and his security and all that kind of stuff. Its hard to think that Sweden wont be right up there as well, I love the stage design.

But Go-Jo is pretty bloody good as well, to be honest.

As always Australian residents are unable to vote for Australia, with bookies currently favouring perennial winner Sweden, Austria and France. But we have consistently scored well with Eurovision juries, if not always the public televoting.

All eyes on Friday morning, and hopefully Sunday morning.

I think its a really fun sexy song, says Courtney Act. Theres lots of fun songs, theres lots of sexy acts, but I feel like theres a theres a nice intersection that will hopefully appeal to the girls and the gays and the grannies.

Because he seems like a nice young man!

NB: TV Tonight will be publishing results Live AEST on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.

Live early morning broadcast on SBS and SBS On Demand

Semi Final 1  Wednesday 14 May at 5:00am AEST

Semi Final 2  Friday 16 May at 5:00am AEST *Features Australia (Australia votes)

Grand Final  Sunday 18 May at 5:00am AEST(Australia votes)

Prime time Access All Areas event coverage on SBS and SBS On Demand

Semi Final 1  Friday 16 May at 7:30pm

Semi Final 2  Saturday 17 May at 7:30pm *Features Australia

Grand Final  Sunday 18 May at 7:30pm

sbs.com.au/Eurovision
Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth, TwoCircles.net

Handwara (Jammu and Kashmir): For over two decades, Ghulam Ahmed Dar, 70, a daily wage laborer from Tutigund village in Handwara, saved every rupee he could to fulfill a lifelong dream  going on the Hajj pilgrimage with his wife (Zareefa Begum).

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Working as a daily wage earner, he saved nearly Rs 13 lakhs  a monumental sum for someone from his background. This year, the couples dream finally came true when they were shortlisted for Hajj 2025.

It was the happiest moment of my life. I had always imagined offering prayers in Makkah and Madinah along with my wife, Ghulam told TwoCircles.net

Their flight from Srinagar to Madinah was scheduled for May 12. Keeping with tradition in Kashmir, the Dar family organised a farewell gathering on May 6 and 7. Relatives from across the district came to bless the couple and celebrate their long-awaited journey. But everything changed on the morning of May 8, when they received a message from the Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee informing them that flights were being delayed due to the armed escalation between India and Pakistan.

A day earlier, India air strikes on Pakistan following heightened tensions after the April 22 deadly Pahalgam attack. As a result, 25 airports, including Srinagar, was shut down due to security concerns.

Ghulam was devastated. I broke down. We were just a few days away from the journey of our lives, he said.

He has been waiting anxiously for an update, regularly asking his son every hour to check for a message or call. Every hour feels like a year, he said.

His family, too, remains under emotional strain, trying to comfort him while holding onto hope that flights will resume and the couples lifelong dream will not be lost to geopolitical turmoil beyond their control.

The Hajj pilgrimage is considered one of the most sacred obligations in a Muslims life. It takes place annually during the five days from the 8th to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, with specific rituals assigned to each day. Since most Muslims are able to perform Hajj only once in their lifetime, it holds deep spiritual and emotional significance and requires extensive preparation to ensure a fulfilling and meaningful experience.

For 2025, Hajj is expected to commence from June 6 till June 11. Commonly referred to as hajis, Indian pilgrims are generally scheduled for a 40-day journey. This extended period allows them not only to complete the core rituals of Hajj but also to visit important religious and historical sites, including the sacred city of Madinah and other Islamic heritage.

This year, 3,622 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are set to perform Hajj. However, only around 300 have reached Madinah so far, as all flights have been postponed until at least May 14.

Dr. Shujaat Ahmed Qureshi, executive officer of the J&K Hajj Committee, told TwoCircles.net that although they are hopeful flights will resume soon following the ceasefire, no specific dates can be confirmed yet.

We will wait until the 20th of this month, and if flights do not resume by then, we plan to reroute the pilgrims to Delhi and send them from there, he said and urged hajis to remain calm and assured them that there is still sufficient time.

Mohd Yousuf Wani, a resident of Anantnag, had been planning to perform hajj with his wife and brother since 2017. This year, their dream finally seemed within reach. His brothers flight was scheduled for May 7 and his own for May 10.

The family had already hosted a grand farewell gathering on May 8, attended by nearly 120 people. But on the morning of May 8, just as his brother was preparing to leave, news of the India-Pakistan conflict escalation broke out and reports of flight delays began circulating.

It shook us completely. We could not believe it at first. We kept switching channels to confirm whether it was real, he said.

Only after receiving an official message from the Hajj Committee did they accept the grim reality. He said the entire family was devastated by the news. Still holding onto hope, Wani concluded, I just pray things settle down soon so we can proceed with our pilgrimage.

Stranded But Steadfast

Since the onset of flight postponement, those scheduled for the hajj pilgrimage have been under constant stress. Many families have postponed their farewell ceremonies, clinging to the hope that the situation will improve in time for them to embark on their spiritual journey.

Dr. Shujaat said the Hajj Committee continues to receive a high volume of calls from concerned pilgrims, many of whom now fear their pilgrimage may be cancelled altogether.

We want to reassure everyone that every possible effort is being made to ensure their departure. We are closely monitoring the situation and remain hopeful for a positive update from airport authorities and the government soon, he said.

Farooq Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Shangus in Anantnag, had his hajj flight scheduled for May 8. He had already departed for Srinagar, but just as he neared the Hajj House in the city, he received the heartbreaking news about the flight delays. Though deeply upset, he decided not to return home and instead went to stay at his sons rented accommodation in Srinagar.

I did not go back because it would be too painful. I had already bid farewell to my home for 40 days. Going back now would bring unnecessary stress. I will only return once I complete hajj, InshaAllah, Farooq said.

He and his wife, who had been planning this pilgrimage for the past five years, remain hopeful they will still be able to embark on it this year.

While many hajis continue to hope and pray, others are overwhelmed with anxiety, particularly those living in sensitive border areas.

Mohammad Rafi, a resident of Tangdaar in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, said although the news of flight delays has not shaken his resolve, he is deeply concerned about the overall situation in the Valley.

I am confident a way will be found, and my wife and I will be able to perform the pilgrimage, he said.

However, he expressed serious concern over the recent rise in regional tensions. I just want peace for our land. I will pray for Kashmir when I am there. May these tensions fade, and may we all live in harmony, he added.

While a ceasefire agreement has sparked cautious optimism and raised hopes that flight operations may resume soon, the ground reality remains tense.
Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net

Patna: The arrival of mortal remains of Border Security Force (BSF) Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiaz, who was killed on May 10 during heavy Pakistani shelling while defending the International Border in Jammus RS Pura sector, at Patna airport on May 12 was marked by an unexpected absence.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with his two deputy chief ministers, Samarat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, were absent from the guard of honour. This lack of presence raised many eyebrows, as did the absence of Patnas district magistrate and senior superintendent of police.

Social media platforms erupted in criticism, calling this act a sign of disrespect towards the brave soldier who lost his life in a cross-border attack. Many questioned whether the absence of the states top leaders was related to the fact that the deceased name was Mohammad Imtiaz.

Later, however, the chief minister and his deputies, along with other leaders from the ruling party, visited Imtiazs home in Narayanpur, a village in the Garhka block of Saran district. They paid tribute by offering flowers at his portrait.

Kumar announced a honorarium of Rs 50 lakh to Imtiazs family. He said the state government would provide a job to the deceased son, based on his qualifications.

Expressing condolence, the chief minister wrote on X, His (Imtiazs) martyrdom will be remembered by the country forever. I am deeply saddened by this incident.

Imtiaz, who had joined the BSF in 1987, was the father of four. He was given a state burial and laid to rest with full honours. His son, Iman Raza, works as an engineer at the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Raza spoke to reporters, expressing his pride in his father and saluting all the soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation.

Several political leaders also paid their respects at the Patna airport, including Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, BJP leader and Minister Nitin Navin, BJP State President Dilip Jayaswal, among others. Kumar and his deputies were absent from the guard of honour at the airport, as they were reportedly occupied with a Buddha Purnima event.

Shrawan Kumar, a senior member of the ruling Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), attended the airport ceremony  representing of the chief minister. He stated that CM Kumar stood firmly with the deceased family.

On social media, both Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, who are from the BJP, expressed their condolences to the soldier.

Chaudhary, however, made a post on his Facebook page, which has a following of over one million, and mourned the tragic loss: The news of BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiazs martyrdom, while fighting for the safety of our motherland, is heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences to his family in this time of sorrow. His service to the country and dedication will inspire the younger generation, and his supreme sacrifice for the nations safety will always be remembered.

While some criticised the absence of Patnas DM and SSP, a few officials from the administration were present to pay respects. TwoCircles.net sent queries in this regard to the two high-ranking officials and the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) regarding the absence of their absence but did not receive a response till late evening. The story will be updated if their comments are received.

Another wave of criticism emerged over the absence of a vehicle to transport the family members of the slain BSF jawan. A viral video showed Imtiazs son struggling to push his trolley at the airport.

Veteran journalist Ravish Kumar called this incident shameful, writing on X, It is unfortunate that his sons were forced to carry their luggage at this moment of sorrow. If you cannot speak before world leaders, at least you can carry the luggage of a martyr properly.

Senior journalist Rohini Singh also expressed her outrage: What a disgrace you are @NitishKumar. What a disgrace your deputies are too. What a disgraceful administration you all run.

Independent sources clarified that the familys vehicles were not allowed entry into the hangar, which forced them to push their trolley. However, one official later assisted them.

AIMIMs Aadil Hasan also criticised the absence of the chief minister, along with his deputies  Chaudhary and Sinha. How could the CM fail to pay homage to a martyred BSF jawan at the airport? Was it because his name was Mohammad Imtiaz? he asked.
1. Background

As a federally owned enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. On behalf of the German Government, GIZ provides advisory services to the Vietnamese Government in four priority areas: (1) Vocational Training, (2) Environment, (3) Energy, and (4) Sustainable Economic Development. For further information, please visit www.giz.de/viet-nam.

Acceleration of Air Conditioning Transformation through Enhanced Energy Performance Standards (ACT MEPS) is a regional project funded by a sustainable cooling and cooperation programme (Clean Cooling Collaborative), an initiative of the ClimateWorks Foundation, a non-profit organisation, geographically focuses on Viet Nam and the Philippines. The scope of the project in Viet Nam includes the revision of TCVN 7830:2021 to assess and increase the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy efficiency levels of Room Air Conditioners (RAC). In this context, the ACT MEPS project plans to conduct a market assessment to support the revision of the national technical standard for room air conditioners in Viet Nam.

The GIZ Office Hanoi, as the contracting party on behalf of the ACT MEPS project, is conducting a local negotiated tender to identify a qualified Local Consulting Firm (LCF) to implement the assignment.

Tentative duration: 01 August 2025 to 15 January 2026

Place of assignment: Viet Nam

Estimated working days: up to 200 working days for an expert team of 3 members

2. Requirements for the LCF

a. Commercial register entry

b. Average annual turnover for the last three financial years

At least: 80.000 EUR

c. Average number of employees and managers for the past three calendar years

At least: 5 persons

d. Technical experience assessment is based on reference projects that were conducted by LCF with a minimum value of 15.000 EUR and must satisfy the following criteria:

 at least one reference project in the technical field of market assessment in the cooling sector;

 at least one reference project in the cooling sector in Viet Nam within the last five years (April 2020-April 2025);

 A minimum of 10 years working experience in the energy, environment or cooling sector;

 Experience in at least one development project, with a minimum of 50% Official Development Assistance (ODA) financing.

3. Requirements for eligibility documents

Interested LCFs are requested to prepare the following documents in English:

a. Letter of interest (with Directors or authorised persons signature and company stamp).

b. Audited financial reports of the last 03 years. Important/key information in the audited financial reports or in annual tax reports must be translated into English if documents are in Vietnamese.

c. LCF profile and technical experience, incl. Business license (for firm) or Decision of establishment (for association); Tax code registration; organisational chart; consortium agreement and nomination of the lead firm (if two or more entities are jointly undertaking the assignment); similar experience/copy of contracts related to this assignment.

4. Method of bid submission

LCFs send Eligibility dossiers to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de before 5 PM (Hanoi time) on 03 June 2025 with email subject: Tender 83488700-Eligibility dossier-Company name.

For data protection and information security reason: In case the total volume of your bids is below 10 MB, you can attach them directly in the email sent to us. In case the total volume of your bids is above 10 MB, the files must be sent via GIZ filetransfer system. We will provide guidance for using our filetransfer. Links stated in documentsand files sent via other applications/systems are not accepted.

Bids sent after the submission deadline and bids sent to the wrong email address will be disqualified.

5. Notes

a. Interested LCFs must send a Letter of Interest and request the tender documents by email to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de no later than 27 May 2025.

b. Interested LCFs may send questions related to the eligibility assessment to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de no later than 27 May 2025.

c. Only selected bidders will be invited to submit technical and financial offers.

d. For the exchange rate at the corresponding time, please refer to https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/procedures-guidelines-tenders/information-contractors-and-beneficiaries/exchange-rate-inforeuro_en

GIZ is obliged to maintain the confidentiality of all documents submitted by bidders.
HA NOI  The export situation in the early months of 2025 has continued to show promising signs, as Vietnamese enterprises have not only maintained their market share with traditional partners but have also actively expanded into new markets.

Positive indicators

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, by the end of April, Viet Nams total export turnover reached US$140.34 billion, an increase of 13 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Although exports to the US showed signs of slowing down, overall export turnover still recorded growth thanks to compensation from other markets. Specifically, exports to China reached $18.1 billion, up 2.1 per cent; to the EU, $18.5 billion, up 12.8 per cent; to Japan, $8.5 billion, up 12 per cent; and to the Republic of Korea, $8.9 billion, up 9.1 per cent year-on-year.

Exports to China increased mainly due to a strong recovery in demand for food and aquatic products in this billion-population market starting from the second quarter of 2024. Products such as shrimp, tra fish, and tropical fruits continued to hold a large share, as the advantages of free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the ASEAN-China FTA and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have been exploited effectively, according to Nong uc Lai, Viet Nam's Trade Counsellor in China.

In the British market, thanks to the UK-Viet Nam FTA, export turnover continued to surge, particularly in machinery, equipment, textiles, and footwear. In the Canadian market, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) helped drive export growth of over 13.5 per cent in 2024, with this momentum continuing into 2025.

Additionally, ASEAN countries, India, as well as regions such as the Middle East and Africa, are emerging as promising markets for Vietnamese businesses.

In recent times, many businesses in sectors such as aquatic products, garment and textiles, wood, and food have actively explored markets like Latin America and the Middle East.

Truong Van Cam, vice chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said that Viet Nam's textile and garment exports still largely focus on major markets. However, effectively expanding into new markets such as the EU, Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East is essential to enhance the industrys resilience. At present, many enterprises have actively participated in international trade fairs, engaged in online business matchmaking, and tapped into the potential of non-traditional markets beyond the US and the EU. As a result, export turnover has maintained a notable growth rate.

Strengthening internal capabilities

In reality, the key driving force behind Viet Nams recent success in tapping into new markets lies in its market diversification strategy and the flexibility of the business community.

The signing and implementation of next-generation FTAs such as the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), CPTPP, UKVFTA, and RCEP have significantly expanded market access for Vietnamese goods. At the same time, domestic capabilities have been continuously reinforced, with many sectors investing heavily in deep processing, increasing value-added content, ensuring traceability, and complying with international environmental standards.

However, to sustain long-term growth momentum, experts suggested Vietnamese enterprises accelerate the professionalisation of international trade promotion, make stronger use of cross-border e-commerce, and actively integrate into global value chains at a higher level.

The State should continue to improve mechanisms that support small- and medium-sized enterprises, facilitating their access to preferential capital sources; shorten procedures for tax refunds and international certification to reduce costs and risks as businesses enter new markets. Additionally, strongly developing the domestic market through demand-stimulating policies and improving logistics infrastructure will be key factors in building a safe buffer zone for Viet Nam, proposed Professor Tran Ngoc Anh from US-based Indiana University.

Regarding support directions for the business community, Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, chairman of the HCM City Business Association (HUBA), emphasised the need to closely monitor FDI flows, ensure transparency in product origin, and strongly encourage domestic businesses to invest in technology, branding, and value-added service sectors.

Challenges, he noted, also present opportunities for Viet Nam to restructure its growth model.

Enterprises should accelerate transformation, increase the localisation rate of their products, invest in design and brand building, and develop professional after-sales services, Hoa stated, adding that this is not only a pressing requirement to enhance added value but also a key factor for Viet Nam to assert its position in the global supply chain.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has requested enterprises and business associations of key exports to continue providing detailed information and data to demonstrate the compliance of Vietnamese goods regarding origin rules and other requirements set by the US side for products produced in Viet Nam, in a bid to support the Government and the negotiating team in ongoing bilateral trade talks.

As the MoIT explained, the US is now a comprehensive strategic partner and one of Viet Nam's largest export markets.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam ranks as the US's eighth-largest trading partner, and American consumers are familiar with and favour Vietnamese products for their quality and affordability.

Vietnamese goods do not directly compete with US-made products and therefore do not undermine the interests of American producers and businesses. On the contrary, they enable US consumers to access quality products at affordable prices.

Moreover, Viet Nam's key exports to the US generally comply with American technical standards, including product specifications and origin requirements. Viet Nam also stands ready to clarify and address any concerns raised by US importers regarding goods produced in the country.

While the US is a large and important market, with substantial scale and solid annual growth, and remains a priority market that industry associations and businesses in Viet Nam seek to maintain and expand, it is not the only market with potential advantages for Vietnamese goods. With 17 free trade agreements covering nearly 70 major economies, Viet Nam enjoys broad opportunities for business cooperation with great countries and economies worldwide.

As Viet Nam faces the possibility of the US's unreasonable reciprocal tariffs, the MoIT seeks to gather feedback and positions through letters and petitions from relevant ministries and sectors, as well as from industry associations and exporters in textiles, footwear, electronics, steel, aluminum, cashew nuts and mechanical engineering.

The ministry has called for continued coordination with US business and investment partners to raise awareness, thereby garnering support from American consumers and policymakers for maintaining the normal flow of Vietnamese goods into the US market. Viet Nam also urges the US to open its market to hi-tech American products exported to Viet Nam and to consider recognising it as a market economy on a clear roadmap.

Over the long term, the MoIT has also recommended businesses focus on accelerating restructuring efforts, particularly by greening and digitising their production, and driving growth through innovation, science, and technology. Enterprises have been urged to restructure their industries and markets by diversifying export markets, supply chains, and product portfolios to ensure sustainable development.  VNS
MINSK  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam visited the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), the main tractor producer in Belarus, on May 12 afternoon (local time) as part of his state visit to the country.

The Vietnamese Party General Secretary was accompanied by Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin.

After being introduced to the factory and watching its signature products, the Vietnamese Party leader noted that many of MTZ's machinery models are well-suited to Viet Nam's conditions and appropriate for use in small and medium-sized industrial establishments, saying the vehicles and machines can be utilised in agriculture, construction, and many other sectors. Viet Nam can collaborate in manufacturing such components as engines and tires for export to various markets, he said.

General Secretary Lam expressed his hope for active cooperation between MTZ and Vietnamese partners, making contributions to each countrys economic development. The successful collaboration in this sector could become a symbol of Viet Nam-Belarus relations, further strengthening the friendship between the two countries.

MTZ is Belarus's premier agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturer, headquartered in Minsk. The company's products, marketed under the "MTZ" brand, includes tractors, cargo trailers, and chassis designed for various specialised equipment. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Domestic gold prices dropped significantly in line with the global market earlier this morning. SJC gold bars fell to around VN119 million per tael, while plain gold rings dropped to a low of VN115 million per tael (1.33333 ounce).

In HCM City, the Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) listed SJC gold bar prices at VN117.2 million (buying) and VN119.2 million (selling), a sharp decline of VN2.8 million per tael compared to early yesterday morning.

Other gold trading enterprises also made steep adjustments, bringing SJC gold prices down to VN119.2 million per tael.

Gold ring prices also fell as major brands listed gold rings in the VN112.5116 million range. As prices tumbled, jewellery shops widened the buyingselling spread for gold rings to between VN2.5 and 3 million per tael.

The sharp drop in domestic gold prices came as global gold prices plunged to US$3,239/ouncean $86 decline compared to yesterday morning. This global rate equals approximately VN103 million per tael, meaning SJC gold bars are still priced about VN16 million higher than the international gold price.

Despite the significant drop, SJC gold bars remain approximately VN16 million per tael above global gold rates.  VNS
HA NOI - The Government has called for stricter market management, intensified inspections and larger penalties for violations in response to the recent developments in domestic gold prices.

This directive was a part of Resolution No. 124, in which the government specifically ordered enhanced regulation of the gold market, greater oversight and strong enforcement measures.

Meanwhile, the government demanded the prompt submission of a revised decreeamending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 24/2012 on gold tradingfor approval within the second quarter of 2025.

Earlier, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), Nguyen Thi Hong, submitted a report to the National Assembly concerning the implementation of its resolution on banking-sector inquiries, including the issue of gold prices.

She said the central bank implemented a series of measures to strengthen the regulation of the gold market and to address the significant gap between domestic gold bar prices and international gold prices. The SBV released gold bars into the market through public auctions and direct sales, significantly narrowing the difference between domestic SJC gold bar prices and global rates.

It also coordinated with relevant ministries and sectors to inspect the gold trading activities of several entities and businesses - with those inspection conclusions currently being finalised.

The Governor said global gold prices had repeatedly broken previous records during the first months of 2025.

Domestically, SJC gold bar prices had moved in tandem with international trends. As of early April, the gap between domestic and international gold prices remained controlled, staying within a range of VN35 million per tael (approximately 57 per cent).

However, by April 23, the price gap between domestic SJC gold bars and their international equivalents had widened to around VN14.48 million per tael (roughly 13.62 per cent).

She said the surge in domestic gold prices and the widening disparity with global rates were partly due to market psychology, driven by expectations of further international price hikes. These expectations stemmed from the potentially negative impact of the Trump administrations tariff policies on the global economy.

Contributing factors also include the unpredictable trajectory of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy, intensifying global geopolitical tensions and possible commodity price shocksall of which are fuelling increased demand for gold. On the supply side, Hong added that the amount of gold bars in the domestic market had not increased since the beginning of 2025. She also acknowledged the possibility that certain businesses or individuals had been exploiting market volatility to hoard gold, inflate prices and profit unfairly.

Sharp drop

Domestic gold prices dropped significantly in line with the global market Tuesday. SJC gold bars fell to around VN119 million per tael, while plain gold rings dropped to a low of VN115 million per tael (1.33333 ounce).

In HCM City, the Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) listed SJC gold bar prices at VN117.2 million (buying) and VN119.2 million (selling), a sharp decline of VN2.8 million per tael compared to early Tuesday morning.

Other gold trading enterprises also made steep adjustments, bringing SJC gold prices down to VN119.2 million per tael.

Gold ring prices also fell as major brands listed gold rings in the VN112.5116 million range. As prices tumbled, jewellery shops widened the buyingselling spread for gold rings to between VN2.5 and 3 million per tael.

The sharp drop in domestic gold prices came as global gold prices plunged to US$3,239/ouncean $86 decline compared to Tuesday morning. This global rate equals approximately VN103 million per tael, meaning SJC gold bars are still priced about VN16 million higher than the international gold price.

Despite the significant drop, SJC gold bars remain approximately VN16 million per tael above global gold rates. VNS
HA NOI  The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has given nod to the plan of National Citizen Bank (NCB) to increase its charter capital by VN7.5 trillion (US$295 million), through a private placement of 750 million shares to its professional investors.

The plan to increase charter capital was endorsed at its annual shareholders meeting held in late March, under which NCB will issue 750 million shares in a private placement to increase its charter capital from VN11.78 trillion to VN19.28 trillion.

The capital increase aimed to support lending in line with the Governments goal of promoting credit growth and to enhance NCBs financial capacity to implement restructuring and comprehensive transformation.

The share offering is expected to be implemented at the end of this year.

This marks the third capital increase by NCB in the past four consecutive years.

NCB has set the goals of having a total asset worth VN135.5 trillion this year, up 14.6 per cent.

The bank reported a pre-tax profit of VN151 billion in the first quarter of this year. Its assets totalled nearly VN131 trillion as of the end of March, up 10.5 per cent against the end of last year.  VNS
HA NOI  In a strong demonstration of the country's commitment to deepening economic ties with the United States, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday morning met with representatives of the American business community operating in Viet Nam.

The high-level dialogue marked his second meeting with US enterprises in just two months, underscoring the Vietnamese Governments openness to candid engagement and its resolve to create a more favourable business environment.

The working session, attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Ho uc Phoc and Nguyen Chi Dung, leaders of Vietnamese ministries and localities, US Embassy officials, representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ha Noi and executives from 50 major US corporations, aimed to address existing bottlenecks and chart a clearer path for future cooperation.

American companies, including Boeing, Molex, Excelerate Energy, Abbott, Coca-Cola and GE Vernova, expressed strong appreciation for the Vietnamese Governments proactive efforts to enhance the investment and trade environment.

They commended Viet Nam for engaging in regular dialogues, listening to concerns and implementing targeted reforms that have positioned economic cooperation as a cornerstone of the Viet Nam - US comprehensive strategic partnership.

Over the past three decades, Viet Nam - US ties have evolved significantly, from the normalisation of diplomatic relations in 1995 to the establishment of a comprehensive partnership in 2013, and the elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023.

And economic engagement has remained central to this relationship.

In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$134.6 billion. US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Viet Nam stood at $11.94 billion, across more than 1,400 projects, by the end of the year. Conversely, Viet Nam has invested in 252 projects in the US, totalling $1.36 billion, ranking sixth out of 83 outbound destinations.

Removing barriers, accelerating reform

US businesses praised Viet Nams recent administrative reforms aimed at eliminating at least 30 per cent of unnecessary investment conditions, cutting down the time and cost of procedures by a similar margin and quickly resolving obstacles for enterprises. They also acknowledged Viet Nams efforts to increase imports of US goods, lower tariffs and remove non-tariff barriers.

However, American representatives urged continued improvements, particularly in simplifying administrative processes, addressing tax and fee concerns, enhancing infrastructure (specifically electricity, IT and logistics) and ensuring transparent enforcement of regulations, especially those related to origin of goods.

They also called on Viet Nam to accelerate the implementation of signed Memoranda of Understanding and resolve project-specific issues.

In response, Vietnamese officials, led by the PM, pledged to review and act on all legitimate recommendations with clear responsibility, timelines and measurable outcomes.

PM Chinh emphasised Viet Nams determination to build an independent, resilient and deeply integrated economy by leveraging both domestic resources as a long-term strategy and foreign capital as a vital accelerator.

He called on US businesses to amplify Viet Nams voice in Washington, particularly in advocating for a fair and sustainable trade agreement that benefits both sides.

Viet Nam hoped the US would share in the challenges it faces as a developing country still recovering from decades of war and embargoes, the PM said. "Our economy is in transition and remains vulnerable to global shocks," he added, reiterating that "Viet Nam seeks a balanced partnership built on mutual benefit, where interests are harmonised and risks shared".

The PM also expressed the country's desire to avoid trade conflicts, especially between major economies like the US and China, and emphasised the importance of resolving disputes through rule-based negotiations and international commitments.

He urged progress in US - China trade talks, noting the potential global benefits of such resolutions.

Against the backdrop of global uncertainty, Viet Nam is seizing the opportunity to restructure its economy and trade practices toward fairness and sustainability, according to the PM. This includes diversifying markets, products and supply chains.

The country is actively reforming its regulatory environment, cracking down on trade fraud and cutting red tape to make business easier.

The Government is also advancing four key strategic pillars: science and technology innovation, digital transformation, international integration and legal development. Simultaneously, it is building a roadmap to establish an international financial centre to better serve domestic and foreign businesses.

Three strategic breakthroughs, particularly in transport infrastructure, energy and institutional reforms, are being prioritised, with an emphasis on transparent governance and a skilled workforce. The private sector, including foreign investors, is recognised as both the driver and beneficiary of this development model.

"The Government plays a facilitating role, while enterprises are at the centre, institutions are the driving force and infrastructure is the foundation," the PM affirmed.

PM Chinh said that Viet Nam would continue to liberalise visa policies for foreign nationals, including Americans, and expressed hope that the US government would reciprocate with more favourable visa policies for Vietnamese citizens.  BIZHUB/VNS
HCM CITY  Fifty two agricultural enterprises based in HCM City are showcasing a diverse range of high-quality products at the 2025 Saudi Food Show taking place from May 12 to 14 in that countrys capital, Riyadh.

They include food and beverages, dairy, grains, nuts, confectionery, bread, and vegetarian and plant-based products.

The Ho Chi Minh Pavilion is a joint exhibition space comprising three adjacent sections with a total area of 300 square metres organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City and the Vietnam Trade Office in Saudi Arabia.

For participation, enterprises with proven export experience or high export potential, premium products, strong brand reputation, and compliance with international export standards, including halal certification were prioritised, according to the ITPC.

The initiative aims to enhance the presence of Viet Nams key products in Saudi Arabia, which is also a gateway to the Middle Eastern market, by introducing their products directly to consumers and partners from the Islamic community, conduct market research and understand local consumption habits and trends.

As part of the exhibition, various B2B networking activities are being organised, including one-on-one meetings between city enterprises and international buyers.

The pavilion is also welcoming delegations from local government agencies seeking to explore cooperation opportunities with participating companies.

Speaking at the event, ao Minh Chanh, deputy director of the ITPC, said it was a premier trade forum attracting tens of thousands of potential partners and visitors from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.

Tran Trong Kim, First Secretary and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Saudi Arabia, said for many years his office had promoted HCM Citys agricultural products.

Many items such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices had seen strong growth in exports to the local market.

Following the exhibition, his office would continue to foster links between Vietnamese producers and exporters and importers, distributors, retail chains, and others in the region, he added.

The expo is being held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre.  VNS
HAI PHONG  State President Luong Cuong on Tuesday afternoon attended a grand inauguration ceremony for Terminals 3 and 4 of Lach Huyen International Container Port  Hai Phong Port.

The terminals were opened in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hai Phongs Liberation Day (May 13, 1955  May 13, 2025) and the 30th anniversary of the Viet Nam Maritime Corporation (April 29, 1995  April 29, 2025),

The project marks a major milestone in enhancing Viet Nams global logistics competitiveness and serves as a strategic component in the countrys seaport development master plan toward 2030, with a vision to 2045. It aligns with the national goal of building a strong and prosperous maritime economy.

The two terminals span a combined length of 750 metres and a water depth of -16 metres, capable of accommodating mainline vessels of up to 165,000DWT (14,000 TEUs) and partially loaded vessels of up to 200,000DWT.

The project also includes a barge berth and modern cargo-handling systems.

The terminals are developed and operated under the Green Port  Smart Port model, featuring advanced automation technologies, environmental standards compliance, energy efficiency, and sustainability in line with global maritime trends.

With Terminals 3 and 4 now in operation, Lach Huyen Port now comprises six container berths, meeting cargo transport demands not only for Hai Phong but for the broader northern region.

Cargo volume through Hai Phong Port has grown steadily at 1215 per cent annually, reaching 190 million tonnes in 2024 and projected to hit 212 million tonnes in 2025.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the Hai Phong Peoples Committee Le Anh Quan praised the efforts of the Viet Nam Maritime Corporation and Hai Phong Port JSC in focusing resources on maritime and seaport infrastructure investment, especially the timely completion of Terminals 3 and 4.

He said Hai Phong is committed to supporting investors in developing the remaining terminals at Lach Huyen, the southern o Son Port, and related high-tech industrial zones and modern logistics services aligned with green growth, circular economy and sustainable development models.

He called for continued support from the Party Central Committee, the Government and relevant ministries for further maritime and port infrastructure investments in those areas.  VNS
HA NOI  Southeast Asia must pursue a systemic approach to unlock green growth that strengthens economic resilience, narrows up to 50 per cent of the regions emissions gap by 2030, and potentially adds US$120 billion to regional GDP.

This vision is at the heart of the sixth edition of the Southeast Asia Green Economy report, recently released by Bain & Company in collaboration with GenZero, Google, Standard Chartered and Temasek.

Green investment in SEA-6 reached US$8 billion in 2024  up 43 per cent year-on-year. Among SEA-6 economies, Viet Nam stands out for its green investment momentum.

SEA-6 refers to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

In 2024, Viet Nam attracted $161 million in private green investment  roughly 2 per cent of the SEA-6 total and down 19 per cent year-on-year. The structure of this investment is evolving, shifting away from solar power into wind energy and low-carbon transportation.

Despite a slowdown last year, Viet Nam now boasts one of the highest shares of renewable energy in the region, reaching 43 per cent.

According to the report, the Vietnamese Government is actively laying the groundwork for a sustainable energy future through national strategies such as the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8), the National Energy Master Plan and the National Climate Change Strategy to 2050.

It is also scaling up energy infrastructure, with about 3,000 EV charging stations being rolled out, and enforcing mandatory emissions reporting for key industries. These measures align with the systemic solutions highlighted in the regional report.

The report identifies systemic barriers to green development, such as underdeveloped infrastructure, regulatory fragmentation, limited access to finance and reliance on fossil fuels. Addressing these barriers requires coordinated actions across energy, transport, land use, and industry. With Viet Nam's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, the nation is increasingly being seen as a regional leader in green transition efforts.

According to the report, key regional opportunities lie in transforming agriculture and land use (sustainable bioeconomy), modernising electricity grids, and expanding electric vehicle ecosystems.

In SEA, bioeconomy activities contribute up to 33 per cent of employment but are also a major source of deforestation and emissions. Reforms in land rights, supply chains, and natural capital management are needed.

At the same time, grid modernisation  through cross-border interconnections and decentralised energy systems  can support higher renewable integration. Green Industrial Clusters are proposed as near-term models to attract private capital into renewable generation and transmission.

Meanwhile, transport emissions continue to rise across SEA. Viet Nam, with its growing urbanisation and industrial base, is encouraged to adopt a dual strategy of increasing domestic EV production while meeting growing consumer demand.

The report also pointed out that regional 'green corridors' are viewed as critical to accelerating fleet electrification, especially for commercial vehicles, while Asia Pacific region (APAC) cooperation could further strengthen value through shared investment and supply chain integration.

Financing bottleneck

While green investment in SEA-6 increased by 43 per cent year-on-year, there remains an annual green finance gap exceeding $50 billion. Viet Nam, like regional peers, must continue expanding blended finance models, simplify administrative procedures, and mobilise publicprivate partnerships.

International capital inflows are growing, with foreign investment outside the APAC region into SEA-6 green projects tripling in 2024. However, domestic investment fell by 40 per cent, signalling the need for more stable internal financing mechanisms.

Standard Chartered, which operates across ASEAN, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Viet Nams transition.

Nguyen Thuy Hanh, CEO of Standard Chartered Viet Nam, emphasised the country's leadership in building a low-carbon economy, saying that sustainable finance and regional cooperation would be pivotal for long-term prosperity.

Carbon market development is also gaining traction. Yet, unlocking its full potential requires stronger policy frameworks, demand generation, and robust infrastructure. Viet Nam, as part of regional efforts, is expected to align with international standards such as ICVCM (Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market) and CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), to ensure credit integrity and investor confidence.

Southeast Asias carbon markets are gaining momentum, but we can do more to unlock their full climate and economic potential, said Anshari Rahman, Director of Policy and Analytics at GenZero.

To deliver lasting social and economic gains, supply must also meet international benchmarks like ICVCM and CORSIA  where global demand is headed.

Additionally, Artificial intelligence (AI) is both a risk and a solution. Data centres could add 2 per cent to emissions by 2030, but with clean energy and smart AI, they can help cut emissions. Sectors like agriculture and energy could see a 35 per cent drop if countries like Viet Nam invest in AI.

With just five years to 2030, our window for action to avoid the worst effects of climate change is rapidly closing. We need to increase the momentum and focus on pragmatic solutions with near-term impact, said Franziska Zimmermann, Managing Director, Sustainability, Temasek.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam Tuong Theatre will perform No Other Way Left to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh's birthday this Saturday at Hong Ha Theatre in downtown Ha Noi.

The company said this is a fitting way to remember the great achievements of President Ho Chi Minh who led Viet Nam to accomplish so much. It's also an opportunity to review the historical milestones over time and see how far the country as a whole has come.

The script was written by Van Su, based on a memoire by writer Van Phac, adapted to tuong style by People's Artist Le Tien Tho, directed by Emeritus Artist oan Anh Thang, music composed by ang Hoanh Loan.

It tells the story of how people in Ben Tre Province, the land famous for its coconuts and fervent revolutionary spirit led by President Ho Chi Minh and carried on in the South after the Geneva Agreement in 1954 divided the country into two parts.

Under the suppression by Ngo inh Diem with support from the US government, many revolutionary fighters were killed, people were driven to rise up with a desire to sacrifice all in order not to become slaves to foreign powers.

The people of Ben Tre, especially the ladies regiment under the leadership of Nguyen Thi inh, followed President's Ho Chi Minh to rise up against the oppressors under the motto, "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom". Tickets available here.  VNS
BANGKOK  The upcoming official visit to Viet Nam by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from May 15 to 16 will be the first by a Thai government leader in 11 years, since PM Prayut Chan-o-chas visit in 2014, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung said in a recent interview with the Viet Nam News Agency's resident reporters in Bangkok.

Hung said the visit comes at a crucial time, when the two countries are looking forward to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1976-2026), a significant milestone in the history of their relations. Against the backdrop of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, which has seen comprehensive and substantive development across various fields, the visit is poised to elevate the two countries' ties to a new height in a more practical and effective manner.

During the visit, made at the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh, PM Paetongtarn will co-chair the fourth Viet Nam - Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting, reflecting the high level of attention and shared determination to advance bilateral ties. Both sides will address existing issues and chart directions for all-round cooperation.

In the realm of political and diplomatic relations, the focus will be placed on measures to further foster political trust, facilitate the exchange of delegations and enhance collaboration through the Party, Government, National Assembly and local channels. Both nations will also work closely at global and regional forums, particularly within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Mekong sub-regional mechanisms.

The agenda also includes reviewing the progress of economic plans and initiatives, including the 'Three Connectivity' initiative; expanding cooperation to lift two-way trade to US$25 billion in a more balanced and sustainable manner, while encouraging Thai investments in Viet Nams priority sectors.

Cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges will also be a key focus, with plans to enhance locality-to-locality connections and boost cultural and tourism interactions. These aim to build a sustainable social foundation for bilateral friendship.

Beyond traditional areas for cooperation that have already yielded positive results, Hung underscored untapped potential in emerging fields such as digital transformation, digital economy, renewable energy and green growth, which align with current development trends and each country's strategic priorities.

He described the visit as an important milestone, contributing to elevating Viet NamThailand relations to new heights. It will help reinforce political trust and mutual understanding between the nations' leaders, presenting an opportunity to fully review cooperation areas, address obstacles and agree on major directions and specific measures to create fresh momentum for bilateral ties.

The cooperation agreements expected to be signed will pave the way for enhanced collaboration between localities, businesses and social organisations, while strengthening people-to-people connection, thereby solidifying the friendship and deepening cooperation across various fields, according to the ambassador. VNS
MINSK  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam met with Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin in the capital city of Minsk on May 12, within the framework of his state visit to the Republic of Belarus.

At the meeting, PM Turchin highly appreciated the significance of General Secretary Lam's state visit to Belarus, saying that the trip once again affirmed the trustful political relationship between the two countries and opened a new page in the history of bilateral cooperation with the two countries upgrading their relations to a Strategic Partnership.

Expressing his deep impression of Viet Nam's socio-economic development achievements, he affirmed that Belarus highly appreciates Viet Nam's increasingly important position and role in the region and the world, and wants to continue working with leaders of the two countries to further develop the relationship.

General Secretary Lam expressed his joy at visiting beautiful and hospitable Belarus and thanked the State and people of Belarus for their warm welcome and friendship given to the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

He expressed his firm belief that, under the leadership of President A. Lukashenko and the effective administration of the Government headed by PM Turchin, with the efforts of ministries, sectors and businesses of the two countries, and the support of the people, Belarus will continue to reap many great achievements in socio-economic development, improving the quality of people's lives.

The General Secretary emphasised that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with Belarus, considering Belarus one of the important partners in the region and that Viet Nam will never forget Belarus's sincere support for the Vietnamese people in the past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national development.

He stressed that Viet Nam wishes for the bilateral relationship to be continuously consolidated and developed for the practical interests of the people of the two countries.

The General Secretary expressed his delight at signing the Joint Statement on the establishment of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries with Belarusian President Lukashenko, emphasising that this was a historic milestone, creating a strong impetus to bring the relationship between the two countries into a new stage of development, opening up many opportunities for businesses of the two countries to invest, expand markets, and improve competitiveness in the context of many changes in the global economy.

General Secretary Lam emphasised Viet Nam's determination to promote digital transformation; apply science and technology and innovation; develope green economy, circular economy; and at the same time, implement strategic infrastructure projects such as highways and high-speed railways, thus creating momentum for rapid and sustainable development for the country. He hoped that Belarus will strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in these areas, promoting the strengths of each side to achieve practical results.

The two leaders agreed that the relationship between the two countries is enjoying a new opportunity, and recognised that the two countries need to strongly promote the traditional foundation to expand substantive and effective cooperation.

They held that the two sides would develop an action programme to implement the newly upgraded Strategic Partnership; increase the exchange of high-level delegations and all levels; promote economic and trade relations in line with the strategic partnership; strengthen industrial cooperation, including automobile and tractor production, as well as cooperation in science and technology, education and training, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange; and enhance exchanges between young generations to preserve and continue the tradition of friendship and cooperation.

Highly agreeing with the cooperation proposals put forward by General Secretary Lam, PM Turchin agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, science and technology, transport, especially the development of a multimodal freight transport system and create more favourable conditions for trade, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides affirmed that they will continue to cooperate closely at regional and international forums, jointly support the basic principles of international law, and actively contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On this occasion, General Secretary Lam respectfully conveyed the regards and invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh to PM Turchin to visit Viet Nam soon. PM Turchin happily accepted the invitation.  VNA/VNS
MINSK  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam, his spouse, and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation left Minsk in the evening of Monday (local time), concluding their successful state visit to the Belarus at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko.

The Vietnamese leader and his entourage were seen off at the Minsk Airport by Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarusian Ambassador to Viet Nam Uladzimir Baravikou, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Nguyen Van Ngu, the embassy's staff, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country.

During the two-day visit, General Secretary Lam and President Lukashenko held bilateral talks, witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements, and met with the press to inform the outcomes of their discussions.

The Vietnamese leader also held meetings with Prime Minister Alexander Turchin, Speaker of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly (Upper House) Natalya Kochanova, Chairman of the House of Representatives of NA (Lower House) Igor Sergeyenko, and leaders of some political parties of Belarus. He attended the Viet NamBelarus Business Forum and toured the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ).

On this occasion, President Lukashenko awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples to General Secretary Lam.

The two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of Viet NamBelarus Strategic Partnership, laying the foundation for the elevation of bilateral relations to a new height for the benefit of both nations.

The two countries agreed to increase exchanges at all levels through Party, State, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels. They also committed to enhancing the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms and exploring new forms of collaboration among ministries, sectors, and localities.

Viet Nam and Belarus expressed their willingness to bolster defence and security cooperation, particularly in defence industry and training of military personnel and experts.

On science and technology, the two sides pledged to implement agreements under their Joint Cooperation Committee. They agreed to boost joint research, promote high-tech and digital innovation, and expand cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and radiation safety.

They will step up the exchange of views on policies and orientations in digital infrastructure development and digitalisation of industrial complexes to ensure mutually beneficial digital transformation efforts.

During the visit, General Secretary Lam met with members of the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries (BSFCRFC), the Belarus-Vietnam Friendship Association (BVFA), and former Belarusian experts who had supported Vietnam.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his delight to meet Belarusian comrades and friends who always have close bonds with Viet Nam, including experts that provided wholehearted support and assistance to Viet Nam during difficult times in the past. Viet Nam consistently attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Belarus and wants to further strengthen cooperation across all fields for the mutual benefit of the two nations, and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world, he affirmed.

General Secretary Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers at the Victory Monument in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The site is a revered destination for both local people and international visitors to honour those who sacrificed their lives during the Great Patriotic War.

During the visit, the Party leader and his spouse met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Belarus. He stressed the importance of the embassy as a shared home for Vietnamese nationals and called for greater attention to overseas Vietnamese affairs, in line with the Partys policies and resolutions. He described this as a vital task in achieving national development goals.

Building on the legacy of strong ties between Viet Nam and the former Soviet Union, the relationship between Viet Nam and Belarus has grown steadily in recent years, he noted.

The Party General Secretarys visit was of important significance as it not only deepened trust between Viet Nam and its traditional partners but also reaffirmed Viet Nams enduring commitment to strengthening ties with countries of the former Soviet Union, including Belarus.  VNS
HA NOI  The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lams recent working trips to four countries have formed a solid foundation, provided strong momentum and offered a clear direction for Viet Nam and the partner countries to jointly realise the goals set in line with their newly elevated relationships.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son talked to the press on Tuesday in an interview about the trips outcomes.

He said at the invitation of Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Party General Secretary To Lam, accompanied by his wife and a high-ranking delegation, undertook a highly successful mission to the aforementioned countries from May 5 to 12.

This visit not only opened a new chapter in cooperation with long-standing friends from the former Soviet Union but also reinforced, renewed and redefined relationships based on the enduring friendship cultivated by generations of leaders and citizens of Viet Nam and these countries, Son said.

It also served as a special opportunity to convey the consistent and loyal sentiments of the Vietnamese Party, State and people toward nations that once wholeheartedly supported Viet Nams struggle for independence and current national development, he said.

The leaders and people of the host countries extended warm and respectful receptions to Party General Secretary To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, with many exceptional honours. Over 80 elevated and varied activities were conducted during the eight-day trip across four countries.

Party chief To Lam held talks and meetings with top leaders, engaged with political parties, businesses and communities, visited economic and cultural sites, and met with Vietnamese expatriates.

He also attended the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Russia and a similar event in Kazakhstanshowing Viet Nams respect and admiration for the immense sacrifices made by the former Soviet Union in the fight against fascism, contributing to the end of World War II and inspiring revolutionary and liberation movements globally, including in Viet Nam.

Leaders from ministries, sectors and localities within the delegation also held productive meetings with counterparts.

We take pride in the fact that leaders across all four countries praised Viet Nams strong, comprehensive development under the leadership of the Communist Party and General Secretary To Lam, recognising the nation's bold reforms and breakthroughs as it enters a new era of advancement, Deputy PM Son said.

He emphasised that the mission helped implement Viet Nams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, as outlined at the 13th National Party Congress.

Relations were upgraded to strategic partnerships with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Belarusbringing Viet Nams total number of strategic partners to 37while deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

These upgrades boosted political trust and opened new avenues for cooperation matching the evolving relationship dynamics.

Party General Secretary To Lam and the top leaders of the respective countries affirmed their appreciation for and prioritisation of the traditional friendshipa relationship that has been "tempered" through the trials of time and history, yet has always stood side by side in the struggle for independence in the past and in national development today, especially amidst an increasingly unpredictable global landscape.

This spirit served as a 'red thread' running throughout the meetings between General Secretary To Lam and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, and President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus, he said.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

Party General Secretary To Lam and the leaders agreed to strengthen political trust through regular exchanges of delegations and contacts at all levels, especially at the high level and across all channels.

In terms of economy, trade and investment, the Intergovernmental Committee mechanism was reaffirmed by leaders as a vital platform and encouraged to be further enhanced in its effectiveness. This would help to concretise existing commitments and agreements, with the goal of raising bilateral trade to match the strong political ties.

The business environment will also be significantly improved to facilitate long-term investment and operations by enterprises in each others markets.

In the energy and mining sectors, the leaders agreed to promote cooperation in oil and gas exploration and service provision, as well as to jointly research and devise suitable solutions to strengthen cooperation in clean and renewable energy.

Numerous concrete measures were also proposed to promote substantive cooperation in areas such as security and defence, science and technology, digital transformation, education and training, high-tech agriculture, transport, logistics, culture and sports, tourism, labour, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities.

Party General Secretary To Lam and the leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in each region, as well as resolving disputes through peaceful means based on the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

One of key highlights is Viet Nam and Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation and Belarus signed approximately 60 cooperation agreements between ministries, sectors and enterprises.

These agreements covered areas such as diplomacy, security and defence, science and technology, energy, education and training, aviation, among others, thereby establishing an important legal framework to help elevate the relations between Viet Nam and these countries to become more comprehensive, substantive and effective.

To concretise the outcomes of the trips results, Son said Vietnamese agencies at all levels would actively and closely coordinate with their counterparts, adhering to the spirit of the joint statements, cooperation agreements and shared understandings reached by the high-level leaders, with a focus on the following key aspects:

Regular delegation exchanges and high-level contacts across all channels will be maintained. This includes promoting cooperation between political parties and enhancing effective, active coordination among the governments and parliaments of each country.

At the same time, the role of Intergovernmental Committees between Viet Nam and its partners will be strengthened. These efforts will help Viet Nam and its partner nations sustain the momentum of bilateral relations, continue to reinforce and enhance political trust, and deepen the long-standing traditional friendship.

Mechanisms for cooperation will be implemented effectively to elevate substantive cooperation across all fields.

Following the visit, working-level delegations between Viet Nam and its partners will actively engage and coordinate to concretise the signed cooperation documents.

In the spirit of the Joint Declarations and shared understandings between senior leaders, Viet Nam and the partner countries will jointly agree on specific solutions to enhance cooperation efficiency. This includes improving the performance of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and jointly proposing measures to resolve any existing obstacles.

In terms of economy, trade, and investment, Viet Nam will coordinate well with its partners both bilaterallythrough the Intergovernmental Committee mechanismand multilaterally, such as within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The goal is to improve the business environment, creating favourable conditions for enterprises from both sides to invest and conduct long-term business in each others markets, according to Son.

Viet Nam will also work with its partners to study and explore opportunities to expand and diversify import-export goods, while developing multimodal transport connections to boost trade promotion in a manner that reflects the potential and strengths of both sides.

With a foundation of traditional friendship and high mutual trust, Viet Nam will proactively engage with its partner countries on regional and international issues of shared concern, thereby contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and globally.

Viet Nam is ready to serve as a bridge for countries to enhance cooperation with ASEAN and Southeast Asia, and likewise hopes that its partners will act as bridges to help Viet Nam expand and strengthen connections with other regions around the world. VNS
MINSK  Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov in Minsk on Monday as part of Party General Secretary To Lams state visit to the country.

Son expressed his sincere appreciation to Ryzhenkov and his colleagues for their meticulous preparations for the first visit to Belarus by a Vietnamese Party chief after 11 years. He described the visit as historically significant, demonstrating deep political trust and a mutual desire to advance the bilateral relations into a new phase of substantive and effective development.

Welcoming the agreements reached by the leaders of both countries, he affirmed that the outcomes of the visit will not only open a new chapter for Viet Nam-Belarus relations but also create momentum to expand cooperation between the two countries and between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), particularly as Belarus assumes the rotating chairmanship of the EAEU this year.

Meanwhile, Ryzhenkov laid stress on the historic significance of the visit, with the elevation of the bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership that will contribute to deepening the traditional friendship between the two countries.

He expressed his confidence that the newly established partnership framework will create fresh opportunities for cooperation across multiple sectors, including politics  diplomacy, defence  economic security, economy, trade and investment, energy  oil, agriculture, mining, cultural exchange, education, and tourism.

The two ministers concurred to join hands to develop a roadmap for implementing the Viet Nam  Belarus Strategic Partnership and an action plan between their respective foreign ministries. They committed to establishing consultation mechanisms at the department and institute levels while continuing to play a central coordinating role in carrying out agreements reached by the leaders of both countries.

They also agreed to support ministries, agencies, localities, and especially businesses in increasing exchanges, exploring opportunities, and promoting investment in each other's markets. They consented to coordinate with relevant agencies to remove obstacles and open new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

On this occasion, Son extended his invitation to Ryzhenkov to visit Viet Nam soon, which the Belarusian minister gladly accepted.  VNS
HA NOI  Legislators will debate the draft Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation during their Tuesday afternoon sitting as part of the 9th session of the 15 National Assembly (NA).

The draft law consists of 8 chapters and 83 articles, two articles more than the 2013 Law on Science and Technology, reflecting the inclusion of innovation-related content and a restructured format.

Notably, it introduces policies allowing research institutions to own and make independent decisions regarding research outcomes and assets derived from their work. Researchers will be entitled to at least 30 per cent of the profits from commercialisation and are allowed to establish and manage businesses.

The draft law adds several incentive policies related to personal income tax and rewards for basic research; a profit-sharing mechanism from commercialisation of research outcomes for domestic researchers; and mechanisms related salary negotiation, incentives, and simplified procedures for work permits and visas to attract foreign experts and overseas Vietnamese to join key science and technology projects in Viet Nam, helping address challenges that domestic experts have yet to resolve.

Additionally, it outlines principles and criteria for identifying top talents in science, technology, and innovation, establishing a clear framework for attracting and retaining talents.

Lawmakers will hear a proposal and a report on the draft resolution of the NA on extending the exemption period for agricultural land use tax, as stipulated in Resolution No 55/2010/QH12amended and supplemented by Resolutions No 28/2016/QH14 and No 107/2020/QH14. They will also review the legislatures draft resolution on reducing value-added tax.

During the morning agenda, NA deputies heard a proposal and a report on the legislatures draft Resolution to replace Resolution No 35/2021/QH15 dated November 13, 2021 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong city.

After listening to a report explaining the draft Law on Management and Investment of State Capital in Enterprises, legislators scrutinised contentious contents of this document.  VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam To Lams first state visits in his new role  from May 5 to 12, 2025  to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and the Russian Federation carried deep significance. The visits reaffirmed Viet Nams traditional diplomatic ties while advancing strategic development goals in a new era. They also stood as a powerful testament to Viet Nams enduring loyalty and heartfelt gratitude toward its longstanding friends in the former Soviet bloc  nations that stood by Viet Nam during its most difficult years of struggle.

This photo essay documents his official visits to the four countries.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to its relations with France  its first comprehensive strategic partner in the European Union  while receiving French Ambassador to Viet Nam Olivier Brochet on Tuesday.

PM Chinh expressed his delight at the substantial and tangible progress in bilateral relations since the two countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the October 2024 visit to France by Party General Secretary To Lam, who was also State President then.

Affirming his readiness to intensify strategic trust and deepen multi-faceted cooperation, Chinh proposed both sides review and concretise the high-level agreements reached during the Party chiefs visit; promote collaboration in economy, trade, investment, culture, heritage, architecture, and education and training, while also expanding into new areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, aerospace, green transition, nuclear energy, and human resources training.

The Government leader suggested the signing of intergovernmental agreements on health, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and other important cooperation documents that align with the scope and depth of the relationship between the two countries.

The ambassador affirmed that Viet Nam is one of France's important priority partners in the Asia-Pacific region and emphasised Frances desire to further strengthen relations with Viet Nam and ASEAN.

Agreeing with Chinh's opinions, Brochet suggested that the two sides continue to closely coordinate to further deepen the Viet Nam - France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and propose specific cooperation projects in the fields of security - defence, infrastructure, transportation, urban railways, and minerals.

The two sides agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums and international organisations, especially the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, and the ASEAN - EU cooperation framework.

PM Chinh suggested that France, with its role and influence in the EU, continue to act as a bridge to further promote Viet Nam - EU relations. The leader affirmed that Viet Nam is ready to accompany France and the international community in joint efforts to promote multilateralism and respect for international law, and support French ideas and initiatives to address regional and global challenges, especially in responding to climate change and protecting the environment, ensuring aviation and maritime security.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The Criminal Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security said it has recently arrested several foreign nationals wanted by Chinese and United States law enforcement who had fled to Viet Nam to evade capture.

According to information provided by US authorities, Brown Van Donovan, born in 1994, was under a special arrest warrant by the US judicial system, with a Red Notice issued by Interpol (on March 7, 2025) at the USs request for the offences of conspiracy to bringing in aliens in a manner that endangers their life.

Additionally, US police records indicated that Donovan had previous convictions for resisting law enforcement, intentional injury, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.

At the request of US authorities and under the direction of the Ministry of Public Securitys leadership, the Criminal Police Department worked with the police of the central city a Nang to develop a plan to apprehend Donovan. Recognising the suspect as particularly dangerous, the departments leadership tasked Unit 1 with assembling an experienced team of investigators, who coordinated with immigration authorities and a Nangs criminal police to ensure a swift, safe arrest that safeguarded officers, civilians, and the suspect.

After determining Donovans whereabouts, the task force and a Nang police mobilised nearly 30 officers to raid a fitness centre in Thanh Khe District, a Nang, where Donovan was apprehended. After completing the necessary legal procedures, the Criminal Police Department, in coordination with Interpol Viet Nam and relevant agencies, handed Donovan over to US law enforcement at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in accordance with regulations in early April.

The arrest, transfer, and handover of Van Donovan Brown to the US were carried out safely and in accordance with legal and diplomatic requirements. The US police highly appreciated and sincerely thanked the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam, as well as the Office of the Criminal Investigation Agency and the police forces of relevant units and localities, for their effective cooperation in promptly apprehending and facilitating the return of Brown Van Donovan to the US for prosecution.

The Criminal Police Department, in coordination with Interpol Viet Nam, the Immigration Department, and Quang Ninh Provincial Police, carried out surveillance and identified a group of Chinese nationals in Quang Ninh Province exhibiting signs of criminal activity.

The suspects were confirmed by Chinese law enforcement to be wanted by Chinas Ministry of Public Security for operating illegal gambling operations and counterfeiting product labels, and having fled the country.

The Criminal Police Department then apprehended five individuals: Li Biao (born 1995), Li Cong (born 1972), Chen Cheng (born 1976), Xu Jianhua (born 1991), and Gao Dezhong (born 1977). After completing the necessary legal procedures, the department then coordinated with relevant agencies to hand over these wanted suspects to Chinese authorities at the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son Province.  VNS
HA NOI  As part of the Vesak Celebration for Buddhist Calendar Year 2569, sacred relics of the Buddha, recognised as a National Treasure of India, were ceremoniously welcomed to Quan Su Pagoda in Ha Noi this afternoon.

A ceremonial procession will be held around Hoan Kiem Lake the same day.

From 6am to 9pm on May 1416, the relics will be enshrined on the first floor of the main hall at Quan Su Pagoda for public viewing and veneration.

During this period, the pagoda will not accept offerings, floral wreaths, or donations. Visitors are requested to observe silence, refrain from filming or taking photographs, and follow the guidance of security personnel. Entry will not be permitted for children under the age of two or for those dressed inappropriately. Priority access will be provided for the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with health conditions.

Attendees are advised to minimise personal belongings. The carrying of weapons, hazardous items, food, or beverages is strictly prohibited. Parking is available at the main entrance of Thong Nhat Park on Tran Nhan Tong Street. Visitors will be guided from the Viet-Xo Friendship Cultural Palace to the pagoda.

After the Ha Noi observance, the relics will be transferred to Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam from May 17 to 21, before returning to India. VNS
Haiphong has secured the top spot in the 2024 Provincial Competitiveness Index for the first time, according to the results announced by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry on May 6.

The port city has all the attributes to aim even higher economically, Photo: Hoa Phong

The citys leading position in the rankings reflects its efforts to improve the business and investment environment, notably simplifying administrative procedures and encouraging investment.

Thanks to that, seven of Haiphongs 10 management areas were recorded by businesses as improved compared to 2023, including market entry, transparency, fair competition, government dynamism, and others.

The top position in the 2024 rankings has shown the objective assessments of the business community on the citys investment and business environment in attracting investment, said Dau Anh Tuan, deputy general secretary and head of the Legal Department of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

This year has been following in the footsteps of 2024 with dynamic advances for the city. In January, while announcing establishment of Haiphong Southern Coastal Economic Zone, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that the city has all the conditions to experiment with innovations and creativity to take off.

This will be a historic milestone of a new era, a new development phase for Haiphong, DPM Ha declared.

Haiphong Southern Coastal Economic Zone covers 20,000 hectares, including approximately 2,900ha of reclaimed land. It is oriented as a multi-sector economic zone of international stature, with development pillars including high-tech industry, modern logistics services, smart urban areas, and ecotourism.

In particular, Haiphong proposes to establish a free trade zone with many policies, promising to create a vast, dynamic, attractive, and potential development space for the city.

In the countrys northern region, Haiphong has the most ports in the country, currently at 51. WIthin the detailed master planning on development of Vietnams seaport system by 2030, approved in January, Haiphong Seaport is planned to have five zones with approximately 70-74 ports, ensuring the clearance of over 215 million tonnes of goods and almost 23,000 passengers per year by 2030. This is not only a driving force for economic growth, but also a basis for Haiphong to affirm its position as a marine economic centre and an international logistics service centre.

Larger economic scale

Meanwhile, in February, the National Assembly approved the investment policy for the Lao Cai-Haiphong railway construction project. The line, which will pass through Hanoi, has a total main line length of approximately 390km, with branch lines of about 28km; starting at the Vietnam-China border rail connection point and ending at the Lach Huyen port area in Haiphong.

The implementation of this project has a significant impact on the economic and social development of the city. It will gradually develop modern railway transportation, meeting the passenger and cargo transportation needs on the East-West corridor, serving as a gateway for trade with the world through the citys seaport area, as well as connecting international railway transportation at the Lao Cai border gate, said Nguyen Duc Tho, Vice Chairman of Haiphong Peoples Committee.

Meanwhile, the resolution of the 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee in late April essentially agreed on merging Hai Duong province and the city under the Haiphong name.

After the merger, the new Haiphong city will have a combined economy much higher than many other localities, ranking only behind Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. With a larger economic scale, synchronised infrastructure system, and flexible support policies, it will also create conditions to attract larger-scale foreign-invested projects.

The merger of the two localities with similar and complementary strengths can optimise infrastructure and resource planning, creating new potential and certainly bringing higher economic efficiency, the resolution noted.

The central areas and streets of Haiphong have changed rapidly in recent years. Public welfare projects have been invested in, expanded, and newly built. Many new urban areas such as Vinhomes Imperia, AEON Mall, and several 5-star hotels from Sheraton, Mercure, and Pullman have brought a modern and civilised appearance.

Technical and social infrastructure has been invested in synchronously and modernly, not only in the inner city but also spreading quickly to adjacent areas. The new rural areas have truly changed the lives of farmers both qualitatively and quantitatively, with all communes in the city meeting the new rural standards and advanced standards.

Haiphong has planned to build 100 bridges in the period of 2021-2025 with a total investment of nearly $1.52 billion, dozens of which have been completed so far. Billion-dollar projects such as the Hanoi-Haiphong expressway, Tan Vu-Lach Huyen highway and bridge, Ho Sen-Cau Rao 2 road, and others have become new symbols of the citys development.

Solid foundation

Over the years, Haiphong has always been one of the localities with the fastest economic growth rate in the country, with annual regional GDP maintained at a high level. Notably, the growth rate has reached double digits over the past 10 years, and for the first time in 2024, it entered the top three provinces and cities with the largest economic scale in the country, only after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with a budget revenue of over $4.73 billion.

Foreign investment attraction in Haiphong is also a highlight with remarkable growth. The city has become a stronghold for many large investors, deeply participating in the global value chain, such as LG Group, Vietnam Manufacturing Facility, Pegatron, USI, and Bridgestone.

In 2024, Haiphong attracted $4.94 billion in such funding, ranking second in the country. To date, it has over 1,060 foreign-invested projects with a total registered capital of over $34.62 billion from 39 countries and territories.

Along with focusing on economic development, investing in social welfare has preceded the pace of economic development. This includes developing social housing, worker housing, free tuition for students at all levels, and supporting policy beneficiaries at a level higher than the national average. By the end of 2024, Haiphong no longer has poor households according to national poverty standards.

Haiphongs development goals for the new phase have been set. By 2030, Haiphong will develop into a modern, smart, sustainable industrial city of Southeast Asia; a modern international logistics service centre by sea, air, expressway, and high-speed railway; and an international centre for training, research, application, and development of science and technology.

By the end of the decade, Haiphongs contribution to the GDP of the northern key economic region will increase to 28.3 per cent, the average regional GDP per capita will be $29,900, and budget revenues will surpass $12 billion.
Benjamin Joe, vice president of Meta, Southeast Asia

How would you explain the value of Meta's substantial AI investments to a sceptical stakeholder or client?

We have committed more than $100 billion over the past 10 years. This investment started even before AI became a widely discussed topic.

One example of AI's impact is noticeable in our newsfeeds. The newsfeeds users see are different from one another due to its personalised recommendations based on individual preferences. The difference lies in the personalisation driven by AI technology.

AI is increasingly needed for businesses. For advertisers, spending $1 on Metas platform can yield a return of $3.47, making it a highly efficient model for Vietnamese companies looking to reach their target audience locally and globally.

Furthermore, I recently met a client and a developer aiming to build a product for a global audience, not just the local market of 100 million people in Vietnam. They aspire to create an application used by billions of people worldwide. We are collaborating closely with them to leverage our Llama open-source model and marketing solutions.

We have also launched our Meta AI app, an interactive personal assistant, in 42 countries and 13 languages, including Vietnamese. This ensures accessibility for local users right from the start.

Our new Edit app aims to assist creators by simplifying the content creation process. With this app, creators can easily enhance their videos and photos without extensive effort or expertise, thereby encouraging more engaging content.

We're launching a new Meta AI stand-alone app built with Llama 4, a first step towards building a more personal AI. People around the world use Meta AI daily across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger. This release is the first version, and were excited to get this in peoples hands and gather their feedback.

Can you share measurable examples of how Vietnamese businesses are using Metas AI tools to great effect?

There are hundreds of stories about improving performance based on AI apps. For examples, Viettel's GenAl-Powered Legal Virtual Assistant, powered by Llama 3.3, revolutionises legal information retrieval via web and mobile platforms. Viettel developed an AI model based on our Llama framework to improve their employees' efficiency in searching legal documents, saving 30 per cent of the time typically spent on such tasks.

Co Mem HomeLab is a Vietnam-born natural skincare and haircare brand. As an early adopter of Metas AI ad solutions, Co Mem was excited to adopt Advantage+ Creatives in their creative strategy, with the business objective of increasing purchases. By adding their catalogue items through Advantage+ Creatives, they were able to drive better performance for their campaign with 1.4x increase in Meta Purchases; 30 per cent decrease in Cost per Meta Purchases; 1.4x increase in Purchase ROAS.

Vietnamese businesses are renowned for their high rates of AI adoption. How would you leverage this to help local companies grow?

I noticed during my meetings that Vietnam ranks among the highest in Southeast Asia. 73 per cent of Vietnamese consumers are comfortable communicating with businesses through AI chatbots, according to Factworks and Meta's 2023 Business Communications Tracking Survey.

93 per cent of businesses use AI tools, mainly for customer communication, which is about 66 per cent, and accessing new customers at 63 per cent, according to Deloitte.

Many companies are developing their models based on our Llama open-source framework, indicating a strong inclination towards global reach.

Given that Vietnam has a young, dynamic population, I believe this is an exciting time for AI adoption and advancement. We are committed to investing significantly in helping Vietnamese companies grow, both locally and internationally.

The 2025 Meta Marketing Summit Vietnam took place in Hanoi on May 8

How is Meta addressing user concerns about data privacy and security?

We are actively collaborating with organisations and governments and have launched an AI literacy programme with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) and Vietnam National University.

We are keen to engage in discussions about regulations and data security to ensure that user data is adequately protected.

Can you tell us about Meta's latest initiatives in Vietnam, and what's next for AI development in the market?

In March this year, we launched Project ViGen in partnership with the National Innovation Centre and the AI for Vietnam Foundation. ViGens mission is to build high-quality, open-source Vietnamese datasets to help train large language models that understand local culture, context, and idiom. This is about making sure that the future of AI is not just global, but also deeply local, aligned with Vietnamese values and voice.

A credit-earning AI literacy curriculum has been developed by the USSH and Vietnam National University. The new AI literacy curriculum focuses on the core competencies students will need to navigate AI safely and responsibly. A short version of the course was launched in January for 800 students and for 150 academics. The full credit-earning curriculum will be launched in this summer and made available in-person and online.

Vietnam Meta AI Hackathon is a collaborative initiative that brings together developers, partners, and innovators to co-create AI-powered solutions for SMBs in Vietnam to grow with Meta. 12 partners in Vietnam embarked on a four-week journey where they received Metas engineering mentorship in creating AI-powered solutions. The winner was Chotdon.AI, focusing on AI Catalog Creation. This solution aids small businesses in Vietnam by creating high-quality, Meta-compliant product catalogues, enhancing product descriptions, and using AI to generate short videos to boost ad performance and sales.

We hosted the Meta AI in Wonderland day in April for Vietnams creators, media, and business partners to experience first-hand Meta AI and AI studio - our key AI products. Meta AI and AI studio are now available for free, for everyone in Vietnam to try and use in the apps that they are familiar with and love such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook or Instagram.

Meta has expanded manufacturing of our latest Mixed Reality device, Quest 3S, to Vietnam since early 2025. Working with our third-party supplier, we estimate that the establishment of the new manufacturing partner will help the creation of up to 1,000 jobs and generate over millions of dollars for the Vietnamese economy. This manufacturing expansion follows years of expanding our device accessories portfolio production in Vietnam, and demonstrates both our commitment to the country and the capabilities of the market.

Additionally, we recognise the need for a large pool of AI engineers. We are committed to fostering the developer community through initiatives like hackathons and partnerships with educational institutions. We aim to equip both students and professionals with hands-on experience, enabling them to build and market their products effectively.

Meta will delay latest AI in EU over 'unpredictable' regulation Meta on Thursday said it would delay the release of its most powerful generative AI models in Europe because of what it called unpredictable EU regulation.

Vietnam, Meta launch campaign to improve online scam awareness The Authority of Information Security (AIS) under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and Meta - the parent company of Facebook have launched the Identifying Scams campaign in Vietnam for 2024.
Duong Tong, deputy head, Galaxy Group Both proposed personal income tax methods of 20 and 2 per cent on property transfers have their own merits, depending on the market context and the governments data management capacity. The 20 per cent tax on capital gain, calculated as the difference between the purchase and selling price, would be suitable once tax authorities have a transparent and accurate database of property purchase prices and related costs. This method encourages transparency in transaction values and can enhance state revenue, but it requires a well-functioning data infrastructure and strong enforcement capabilities. On the other hand, the flat 2 per cent tax on the total transaction value is much simpler and easier to implement. It aligns with the current state of the real estate market, where comprehensive transaction data is still lacking. However, this method may not accurately reflect actual income from sales, and in some cases, it may unfairly burden those with minimal or no real profit. Given that Vietnams property market is in a slow recovery phase, the 2 per cent tax seems more pragmatic for now, as it avoids placing additional financial pressure on buyers and businesses. While the 20 per cent capital gains tax may be theoretically fairer, it risks increasing transaction costs and could dampen investor interest. Challenges associated with the 20 per cent approach include difficulties for enterprises in accurately determining acquisition costs and related expenses, due to inconsistent data across different agencies. This could lead to higher compliance costs. Meanwhile, end-users and small-scale investors could end up bearing a disproportionate tax burden, potentially deterring participation in the market. The solution lies in building a transparent, interconnected real estate data system that integrates information across relevant agencies. A gradual implementation roadmap should also be considered, along with preferential policies for social housing transactions and first-time homebuyers. These steps would help avoid market shocks and support long-term sustainable development. Giang Huynh, director of Research Savills Ho Chi Minh City Among the two tax proposals under review by Vietnams Ministry of Finance, I believe the flat 2 per cent personal income tax on the total real estate transfer value remains the more suitable solution under current market conditions. The alternative, a 20 per cent tax on capital gains, can only be effectively implemented if Vietnam has a robust, up-to-date real estate valuation system that accurately reflects market prices. This would require a comprehensive, continuously updated national database capturing actual purchase prices, investment costs, and related transaction data. Moreover, it demands a transparent, consistent mechanism for data collection, verification, and processing, backed by broad public consensus. Calculating profit margins can easily lead to disputes, as each party may interpret cost structures differently. Currently, however, Vietnams real estate data infrastructure remains fragmented. Property transfer prices are largely based on self-declared figures in purchase contracts, while actual transaction values are often higher. This gap could make profit-based taxation difficult to enforce and may lead to disputes or even legal challenges. Until Vietnams data systems and legal framework can ensure transparency, accuracy, and public trust, maintaining the flat 2 per cent tax on total transfer value is a safer and more feasible approach. Implementing profit-based tax policies prematurely could introduce several risks: delays in tax declarations due to disagreement between buyers and sellers over taxable amounts, higher transaction risks, and heavier administrative burdens. Individuals would be expected to store and provide valid documentation for all property-related expenses, including purchase invoices, renovation costs, and more. Therefore, before moving forward with profit-based taxation, we must first establish a comprehensive data ecosystem: a verified, real-time market price database, streamlined, digitalised transaction tracking, and seamless integration of data from tax authorities, notary offices, banks, and land registries. These steps would increase transparency and gradually normalise price declarations. A clearly defined implementation of a roadmap is also essential. In the initial phase, the policy could be piloted in selected areas where reliable and accurate data already exists. Only once these pilots prove successful and gain widespread public acceptance should the policy be expanded to other regions. Dinh Minh Tuan, southern director Batdongsan.com.vn While the 20 per cent approach appears logical and aims to reflect market realities and maximise tax revenue, its implementation could pose significant challenges. For property investors, the matter is simple: any increase in transaction-related costs, be it the 20 per cent tax or a 1-3 per cent brokerage fee, will be passed directly onto the buyer. As a result, the sale price will rise accordingly, contributing to a further increase in housing prices. Even modest under-declarations at notarisation could lead to substantial tax losses for the state. For genuine homebuyers, the outcome could be worse. Rising prices mean reduced accessibility to housing, especially for first-time buyers or low-income earners. Higher tax burdens may also discourage transactions, deepening housing inaccessibility and dampening market liquidity. From a tax administration perspective, determining the legitimate cost basis for each property transaction is a complex undertaking, particularly for homes purchased decades ago. Costs could include original purchase price, brokerage fees, renovations, repairs, interest payments on loans, and more. If these cannot be fully verified, sellers may face a 20 per cent tax on nominal gains, even if actual profits are minimal. In my view, introducing this 20 per cent capital gains tax now could generate uncertainty and reluctance among both buyers and sellers. Vietnam remains one of the countries with the lowest property-related tax burdens globally. Taxes on property profits have yet to be widely enforced, and total transaction-related costs generally remain under 10 per cent. Meanwhile, property prices continue to trend upward. Implementing such a tax policy without a robust and transparent system for cost verification and market valuation could inadvertently shift the burden onto those least able to bear it: genuine homeseekers. Vo Hong Thang, investment director DKRA Group If legitimate documentation can clearly substantiate the purchase price and incurred costs, then applying a 20 per cent tax on actual profits could benefit individual sellers in the property market. Moreover, in adverse market conditions where the selling price is equal to or lower than the total costs, the taxpayer could potentially qualify for tax exemptions or reductions, offering a more equitable outcome. Notably, this profit-based taxation approach is not entirely new. Vietnams 2007 Personal Income Tax Law allowed for two calculation methods. However, subsequent revisions unified the approach under the 2 per cent method. Reintroducing the profit-based formula may face challenges, particularly around accurate price disclosure and verification. That said, market transparency has improved in recent years. Authorities are now actively investigating under-reported transactions, with cases referred for criminal prosecution to deter tax evasion. As Vietnam continues to refine its national real estate database, compliance and enforcement are expected to further improve. Nonetheless, key implementation challenges remain, particularly in determining the original cost basis for properties acquired via inheritance or gifts, and substantiating related costs such as construction, renovation, or mortgage interest payments. Unlike businesses, where such expenses can be clearly documented and deducted, individuals often rely heavily on financial leverage and may face difficulties substantiating these figures. Therefore, a clear framework is essential. For example, mortgage interest should be considered deductible, land costs could reference official land price tables (to be applied from 2026), valuations from licensed appraisal firms, or construction costs based on annual guidelines issued by the Ministry of Construction.
The event was attended by leaders of the Party and government, the Ministry of Finance, relevant ministries, strategic partners at home and abroad, and VIMC employees.

VIMC celebrated its 30th anniversary in Hanoi on May 10. Photo: VIMC

Speaking at the ceremony, Le Anh Son, chairman of VIMC, emphasised, "The Second Class Labour Medal awarded by the president is a great encouragement and motivation for all staff and employees of VIMC. The 30-year journey is not only a journey of development, but also a process of challenges and innovation. VIMC is committed to continuing to expand its operations, improve its competitiveness, and make more contributions to the Vietnamese economy."

VIMC, known as Vinalines in the past, was established in 1995 after restructuring shipping, port, and maritime service enterprises. It started with a modest charter capital of less than VND1.5 trillion ($60 million) and a fleet of 49 ships with an average age of 21.5 years, a total tonnage of 400,000 DWT. At that time, Vinalines did not even have a dedicated port, but only 6,900m of berths.

VIMC has gone through many stages of development, from its peak when the fleet reached 159 ships, with a total tonnage of nearly 3.5 million DWT and accounting for 45 per cent of the countrys total tonnage. Then the global financial crisis in 2008 put the group on the brink of bankruptcy.

During that difficult period, thanks to the direction and guidance of the government and the support from ministries and agencies, VIMC has gradually overcome those obstacles. Especially, its people carrying the spirit of a seafarer have strived to find breakthrough solutions and implemented them.

VIMC received the second-class Labour Medal at the 30th anniversary. Photo: VIMC

VIMC has done comprehensive restructuring, continuing to focus on three core areas: seaports, shipping and maritime services, with a more streamlined and effective approach. It bravely cut out unnecessary things, loss-making businesses, and drastically innovated management and business methods. New management tools and new working mindsets were applied and thoroughly implemented from top to bottom, closely following the customer-centric strategy.

From negative equity of VND4.6 trillion ($184 million), it has increased to VND17 trillion ($680 million). VIMC has transformed into a public enterprise with a capitalisation value of over VND100 trillion ($4 billion), managing more than 16 key seaports, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the market share of goods through the Vietnamese seaport system, and operating a fleet of vessels with increasingly improved transport capacity.

VIMC is currently focusing on investing in key deepwater ports, such as Cai Mep - Thi Vai, Lach Huyen and the upcoming Can Gio international transhipment port, a strategic project that will help raise Vietnam's position on the international maritime map. Reform efforts over the past three decades have not only helped VIMC overcome difficulties but also opened up opportunities for sustainable development.

VIMC leaders received the Certificate of Merit. Photo: VIMC

VIMC is aiming to improve port operation efficiency, expand logistics services, and invest in a modern, environmentally friendly fleet. The company has been cooperating with the world's leading shipping groups to enhance international maritime connectivity.

In addition, VIMC is looking at digital solutions and applying AI and big data to port operations and supply chain management. The application of digital technology will help optimise costs, improve operational efficiency, and minimise environmental impacts.

The corporation is planning to develop modern logistics centres in Haiphong, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to optimising the maritime supply chain. These facilities will play an important role in connecting international shipping routes, helping to increase the competitiveness of Vietnam's maritime industry.

VIMC to divest state stake to 65 per cent Among the developments at Vietnam Maritime Corporation's (VIMC) AGM on April 16 was the agreement from the shareholders to reduce the state's ownership from the current 99.46 per cent to 65 per cent to encourage future development of the company.

VIMC secures Top 10 Vietnam Gold Star award via its five core values Throughout its 30-year history, shipping giant Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) has maintained its solid position in the maritime transport industry, achieving numerous significant accomplishments, particularly the honour of being among the Top 10 Vietnam Gold Star Award winners in 2024.
This marks an important milestone in VNPAY's journey to bring cashless payment closer to all, from households and small businesses to major enterprises.

MPoC is the latest security standard introduced by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), aimed at setting stringent requirements for contactless payment solutions using smart mobile devices.

Unlike previous standards only applying to dedicated hardware, MPoC expands its security scope to mobile devices. It enables users to enter their PIN and make contactless payments on their smartphones without the need for a physical device at the point of sale (POS). It opens up opportunities to access modern payment technologies in a flexible and user-friendly way.

The VNPAY PhonePOS solution has been deployed across more than 10,000 businesses. The security continues to be upgraded following the MPoC certification. Rather than investing in expensive specialised POS devices, businesses now only need an Android phone with NFC support to accept card payments.

VNPAY PhonePOS has been integrated into the VNPAY Merchant app, enabling quick payment by touch. It also supports various contactless payments via cards such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and Napas, alongside payments via Samsung Pay, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. This solution is especially suitable for small business models such as restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, or even shippers who need flexible payment tools while still ensuring data security.

In addition to the payment function, PhonePOS also provides a real-time transaction reporting system, helping sellers track cash flow, control revenue, and optimise business operations.

To achieve MPoC certification, a payment solution must meet over 190 technical requirements related to security, monitoring, and system operations. In addition to end-to-end data encryption, the standard also requires attack detection, periodic security testing, and security throughout the entire process of installing, using, and updating software on the device.

Vietnamese fintech companies' standards are now on par with giants such as Apple, Visa, and Mastercard. This acknowledges the technical aspects of Vietnamese firms and demonstrates their technological capabilities are of the highest international standards in digital finance.

MPoC is not merely a 'security passport'; it also opens the door for certified businesses to expand their partnerships in a world where security is a top priority for international payment systems. As Vietnam integrates and builds its national payment infrastructure towards modernity, a local firm achieving MPoC standard is a positive signal.

Customers can make payment via VNPAY PhonePOS when shopping

According to data by the State Bank of Vietnam, last year saw a surge of 53 per cent in cashless transactions over 2023. In this context, internationally compliant solutions like MPoC are expected to encourage the widespread adoption of digital payments, from urban to remote areas.

PhonePOS represents how technology can be deployed flexibly at low costs while ensuring security and user-friendly features. This is in line with the digital transformation of the finance and banking sector and Vietnams strategy to promote cashless payments.

Nguyen Anh Tuyet, deputy CEO of VNPAY, said, "The MPoC certification affirms that VNPAY's solution has fulfilled the strictest requirements. Moving forward, we will focus on developing flexible payment solutions that are easy to deploy and ensure international standards, thereby encouraging the adoption of cashless payments nationwide."

VNPAY earns certificate for highest level of international security VNPAY has just received the PCI DSS 3.2.1 Level 1 international security certificate for its services including VNPAY Cloud, VNPAY-POS (Smart POS), and VNPAY Payment Gateway by ControlCase, an international assessment organisation.

Visa and VNPAY strengthen partnership to advance contactless payments with VNPAY SoftPOS Visa, a world leader in digital payments, is collaborating with VNPAY, a financial services company providing electronic payment solutions in Vietnam, to enhance contactless payments via VNPAY SoftPOS.
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 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 13 May 2025

 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

 Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of one mechanised brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Atinskoye, Ryzhevka, Pavlovka, and Bessalovka (Sumy region).

 The AFU losses amounted to more than 195 troops, three tanks, 15 motor vehicles, and seven field artillery guns, including two 155-mm U.S.-made M777 howitzers. Two electronic warfare stations were destroyed.

 Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Losses were inflicted on formations of three mechanised brigades, two assault brigades of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Monachinovka, Nechvolodovka, Kupyansk (Kharkov region), Kirovsk, Redkodub, and Yampol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 The AFU losses amounted to more than 210 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and two artillery guns. Two ammunition depots were destroyed.

 Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades and one airmobile brigade of the AFU near Seversk, Serebryanka, Konstantinovka, Pleshcheyevka, Ilyinovka, Ivanopolye, Zarya, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 The AFU losses amounted to more than 290 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. Three electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were destroyed.

 As a result of resolute actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Mirolyubovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 Losses were inflicted on formations of four mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, two assault brigades of the AFU, one marine brigade, and three national guard brigades near Aleksandropol, Novoaleksandrovka, Ulyanovka, Novoolenovka, Novaya Poltavka, Petrovskoye, Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, and Novosergeyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 The AFU losses amounted to more than 470 troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, 15 motor vehicles, and one artillery gun.

 See Part 2 (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/21231)

 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)

 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 13 May 2025

Part 2 ( see Part 1 (https://t.me/mod_russia_en/21230))

 Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, two territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade near Voskresenka, Alekseyevka, Bogatyr, Komar, and Volnoye Pole (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

 The AFU losses amounted to more than 160 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. One electronic warfare station was destroyed.

 Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one mechanised brigade, one mountain assault brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Stepovoye, Lukyanovskoye (Zaporozhye region), Ponyatovka, Tokarevka, and Sadovoye (Kherson region).

 The AFU losses amounted to more than 50 troops, 10 motor vehicles, and one ammunition depot.

 Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck workshops of Bogdana self-propelled artillery systems as well as temporary deployment areas of AFU units and foreign mercenaries in 132 areas.

 Air defence units shot down eight U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and one HIMARS MLRS projectile as well as 74 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:

 662 aircraft,

 283 helicopters,

 56,944 unmanned aerial vehicles,

 605 anti-aircraft missile systems,

 23,310 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,

 1,562 MLRS combat vehicles,

 24,791 field artillery guns and mortars,

 35,394 units of support military vehicles.

 Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)
Leonardo DiCaprio is to present Robert De Niro with the Honorary Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio with Killers of the Flower Moon director Martin Scorsese

The 50-year-old actor will hand the accolade to his 'Killers of the Flower Moon' co-star at the film festival's opening ceremony on Tuesday (13.05.25), according to Variety.

As well as appearing alongside one another in 2023 movie 'Killers of the Flower Moon', which premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023, the pair also co-starred in 1993 coming-of-age motion picture 'This Boys Life'.

The film featured a 17-year-old DiCaprio in his first major movie role.

After he is presented with the Palme dOr on Tuesday, De Niro, 81, will appear at a special masterclass at the Debussy Theatre on Wednesday (14.05.25), where he is expected to reflect on a career spanning more than five decades.

The Cannes tribute marks a return to the festival he last attended in 2023 for the premiere of Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, in which he starred as a ruthless businessman.

He previously served as jury president at the festival 14 years ago.

De Niro said ahead of the event: I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes especially now when theres so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us together - storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends.

Its like coming home.

De Niro is also known for movies including 'Once Upon a Time in America', 'Mean Streets', and 'The Mission'.

What's more, his 1976 psychological drama 'Taxi Driver' scooped the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.

The actor joins a distinguished group of past Honorary Palme dOr recipients including 75-year-old Meryl Streep and 62-year-old Jodie Foster.

French actor Juliette Binoche, 61, has been announced as the president of this years jury, taking over from Greta Gerwig, 41.

It marks the first time in the festivals history two women have served consecutive terms as jury presidents.
Council leader warns of service cutbacks as 33 million budget gap looms

Wrexham Councils spending has been cut to the bone and the only way to address a predicted 33.6m budget gap is now reducing services.

That was the stark warning by Wrexham County Borough Council leader Cllr Mark Pritchard ahead of this weeks Executive Board meeting where councillors will consider the next phase of the authoritys Change Programme.

Over the last two years the council has cut 60m of spending and found 4.7 million of savings through its Change Programme  largely through a review of some contract arrangements, changes in staffing structures, improved efficiency in internal processes and a programme of voluntary redundancy and early retirement.

The next phase will need to address the anticipated budget gaps facing the council over the next three years  12.1m in 2026/27, 10.7m in 2027/28 and 10.8m in 2028/29.

Alongside his deputy leader Cllr David Bithell, Cllr Pritchard said that efficiencies through working practices had all been achieved and to make further savings would mean a reduction in services and potentially the size of the council.

All the low-level fruit has gone, said Cllr Pritchard. The skin and the flesh have gone, the bone has gone, everythings gone.

Weve done everything we can. We cant do any more now.

Weve already found 60m of savings, add another 30m thats 90m of savings well have had to find.

This council will shrink, it has to. I havent got the ultimate decision here, I go to the Executive Board, I go to full council. Ive got my own ideas, Davids got his own ideas, Ive got 10 Executive Board members and full council and the decision on the budget is made by full council.

The leader suggested that the upcoming 2026 Senedd elections may provide some relief.

Theres an election coming, lets hope we have a very good settlement, he said.

If there is a change in the administration in Cardiff  I dont know what that change will be  hopefully the new administration will fund local authorities appropriately.

If this continues as we are we will be losing jobs and we will be closing down services. Weve got no choice.

Cllr Pritchard said the primary focus would always be on preserving statutory services first  such as adult social care, childrens services and education  to protect the most vulnerable.

The councils Interim Chief Executive Officer Alwyn Jones said that to date the public had been largely protected from the impact of the savings.

There are two things at stake here  short-term financial sustainability and demands within statutory services.

Part of the medium and longer-term vision is how we can influence those demands. Thats not easy in terms of how we care for our older people and people with disabilities and how we support our communities to become more resilient.

Part of the reason the public may not have felt some of the change work we have done last year is because a lot of it has been about improving how we do things.

The challenge weve got is how we avoid getting into a position where we stop doing things. Thats the work we are doing, to make changes that do not impact on communities but thats not easy.

Cllr Bithell added that no thought had yet been given to how or which services may be at risk, he said that was a decision for the wider council.

The last couple of years has been really difficult but we havent made mass redundancies and weve retained our services, he said.

But that is becoming more difficult. The demand on services is immense. Weve tried to improve performance with less staff and the difficulty weve got is when you shrink the organisation can you continue to do that without dipping in performance or dipping into service changes.

Were at that critical point really where we might have to merge departments and shed staff, we might have to close services down but we havent gone out and deliberately done that because we are all for services and communities.

I know we take criticism all the time but weve done this in a measured way so far. Its getting more difficult to do it in a measured way, we might have to take a bit more of a critical approach if we have to make up over 30m.

This isnt pleasant, said Cllr Pritchard. Of the 56 councillors we have in Wrexham, and all the councillors across Wales, none of them come into local politics to close down services.

We all come in to improve services. Were compassionate people. But theres no wiggle room now, its gone.

By Alec Doyle  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Police searching Clwydian Range for missing 39-year-old man

A search is taking place across the Clywdian Range amid growing concerns for a missing man.

39-year-old Edward has not been seen since Wednesday, 7 May.

Police say that Edward, who drives a white Ford Fiesta, has links in the Denbigh area and is believed to be camping in rural locations.

North Wales Police have confirmed that it search for Edward is now focussing around the Moel Famau and Clwydian Range areas of Denbighshire.

The force is particularly appealing to anyone who may have been walking or riding in these areas to try and recall if they saw anyone matching Edwards description.

This includes any sightings of a man with a bike or tent.

Any sightings or relevant information can be reported to North Wales Police quoting log number C067822.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford joined two lawsuits today, in coalition with 19 other states' attorneys general, regarding conditions on federal funding.

The lawsuits target the Trump administration for attempting to place immigration-related restrictions on federal funding for emergency services and infrastructure, an act the coalition argues is illegal.

One lawsuit was filed against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

The second suit was brought against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy.

In the suits, the coalition points out that each agency has imposed new conditions that would require the states and state agencies to cooperate with new federal immigration enforcement efforts, or lose out on federal funding.

According to a release from AG Ford's office, this is potentially billions of dollars that states normally use to protect public safety and transportation infrastructure.

In both suits, the coalition asserts that imposing these new conditions on federal funds is illegal, since Congress had already appropriated the funds and putting restrictions on the money's access is beyond the agencies' legal authority.

For more information, read the full text of the suits below.
Update (5/13/2025, 11:59 a.m.):

Sheriff Pope of the Lyon County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) has provided an update.

The LCSO searched a few building in the area for a suspect, but they were unable to locate the person.

The suspect in the case is believed to have left the area, and they have determined that there is no danger to the public.

Original Story:

Residents of a neighborhood in Dayton are being asked to stay in their homes at the moment as the Lyon County Sheriff's Office searches for a suspect.

The shelter-in-place order is for the areas of Kadden Way and Lonnie Lane in Dayton.

According to Sheriff Pope, deputies responded to the area on a call of domestic violence.

When deputies arrived, they were unable to locate the suspect.

Authorities are searching the area for the suspect now.

This is a developing story; we will provide updates as we receive them.
A Reno man has been arrested by Sparks Police on charges including aggravated stalking, just months after a previous stalking arrest and conviction.

38-year-old Shawn Skelton was arrested on Wednesday, May 7, at a business on South Meadows Parkway, according to a release from the Sparks Police Department.

Skelton had previously been arrested on February 6th for misdemeanor stalking.

He was convicted of stalking constituting domestic violence in March. He failed to comply with court orders, according to Sparks Police, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

While police were trying to find Skelton, another investigation was opened into him for aggravated stalking, a class B felony.

Skelton's actions became more concerning, police say, with him allegedly making threats of death and harm to his victim.

He was arrested without incident on his warrant and a charge of aggravated stalking, as well as violating an extended protection order against domestic violence.

During their investigation, police learned that Skelton might have talked with community members about his behavior. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Sparks Police Department at (775) 353-2231 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or secretwitness.com.
Dead and Company are to play three shows at San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Park this summer.

Dead and Company are to play three concerts at San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Park this August

Although the rock band - which is a continuation of the Grateful Dead with original members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart joined by John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti, and Jay Lane - haven't officially announced the trio of gigs, the city's mayor, Daniel Lurie, confirmed the dates of August 1, 2 and 3.

In an X video, he said: We have some really big news.

Dead and Co., three shows, August 1, 2 and 3, right here in the city that is the home of the Grateful Dead. What better way to celebrate. Well see you out here in August.

The clip is captioned: "San Francisco is planning to welcome @deadandcompany to Golden Gate Park for three days in August, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. Stay tuned for more details from the band coming soon!"

Dead and Company will wrap their 10th anniversary 'Dead Forever' residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend (May 15 to 17).

Meanwhile, Bob recently suggested it's possible for the Grateful Dead to reunite as a trio following the passing of bass player Phil Lesh.

The musician died in October, at the age of 84, and before his passing, Weir, and bandmates Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart were planning a 60th anniversary reunion tour with Lesh.

Should they get back together, Weir admits he couldn't replace his beloved bandmate.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said: I think when Phil checked out, so did that notion, because we dont have a bass player whos been playing with us for 60 years now. And that was the intriguing prospect. I think you need somebody holding down the bottom. Phil had all kinds of ideas that were pretty much unique to him. I grew up with Phil holding down the bottom in his unique way.

Asked about reuniting as a three-piece, he added: I suppose I could go back out. I wouldnt put anybody in his place, so it would be a trio at this point. Itd be me and two drummers. Id have to think about that. I havent thought about it  its just now occurring to me that its a possibility that we could do that, since you asked. I guess well just see what the three of us can pull together.

Weir also admitted he and Lesh had their "differences".

Recounting their last conversation, he shared: We did have our differences. But the last phone call I had from him was when the news came out that we were being honoured at the Kennedy Center. He called me just simply to congratulate me and us, and that was his entire reason for calling. And when we were done talking about that, I was spun out, he was spun out. We tried to make sense of it for a little bit. And then said, 'Well, OK, see you there,' basically. I guess that wasnt to be.

The trio turned up with Lesh's son, Grahame, to be honoured by then-President Joe Biden at the Kennedy Center Honors in December.

In 2015, Weir, Lesh, Kreutzmann, and Hart reunited for the 'Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead' concerts.

They were joined by Trey Anastasio of Phish on guitar, Jeff Chimenti on keyboards, and Bruce Hornsby on piano.

The 'Touch of Grey' hitmakers claimed the five shows would be the last to feature the trio.
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees approved several measures in a meeting on Tuesday to address a $6.5 million budget shortfall.

Among the measures approved, Trustees voted to do the following:

Streamline the district's workforce by consolidating positions and eliminating most positions that are currently vacant.

Reduce travel and training budgets for Central Office staff, and utility budgets district-wide.

Restructure departments, including finance, IT, and communications, as well as reallocating duties to increase efficiency without directly impacting students.

Trustees voted to delay consideration of an additional recommendation to eliminate four School Police Officer positions as they wait for further information about state funding.

The moves made by Trustees at Tuesday's meeting have reduced the School District's budget shortfall to $4.1 million, according to a release from the district.

Additional cost-cutting measures will be sought and considered by the School District, with an eye to maintaining critical classroom services, including class sizes, instruction, transportation, meals, and student supports.

The district must send an amended final budget to the state by July 2.

---

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees is set to discuss next year's $6.5 million budget deficit at a public meeting Tuesday.

The 2 p.m. meeting will be held at the WCSD Administration Building at 425 E. Ninth Street in Reno.

Last month we reported that in February WCSD staff projected a $9.7 million general fund budget deficit for the fiscal year of 2026 based on known expenditure changes and revenues from the governor's amended recommended budget.

2:23 Washoe County School District Board Members discuss budget deficit Washoe county school district in their regular meeting discussed their current and future budget and what it might look like.

Now, board members are expected to give an updated presentation that will include staffs analysis of the Nevada Economic Forum and also new costs related to maintenance of fields formerly maintained by the City of Sparks.

Nevada statutes state that final budgets of school districts must be adopted on or before June 8 of each year, this year being right after the last legislative session, which falls on June, 2, 2025.

If you can't attend the 2 p.m. meeting, you can watch it online by clicking on this link.
The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, 50, knows exactly how he made it to where he is today. The comedian-actor credits his idyllic, family-centered childhood in Saugerties, New York, with giving him the confidence to land both his dream job and his own treasured family with his wife, producer Nancy Juvonen.

I had a really fun childhood, Fallon tells AARP, sharing tales of his beloved parents and grandparents and acknowledging the impact they had on his career and personal development. A great, supportive family. They always believed in me, no matter what.

Members only

Now a father himself to two young daughters (Winnie, 11 and Franny, 10), Fallon hopes the fifth and final installment of his family-centric picture-book series, Papa Doesnt Do Anything!  on sale May 13 and written with grandfathers in mind  sparks more grandpas and dads to tell their stories so their own families learn who they are and where they came from.

In addition to authoring his new childrens book, Fallon is the creator, executive producer and host of the upcoming NBC unscripted reality competition On Brand With Jimmy Fallon.

In a recent interview with AARP, Fallon explained how his family taught him everything he needed to know, and then some.

Old soul in a young boy

"My moms parents, grandpa Tom and grandma Gloria, lived in our backyard in a little cottage. My grandfather and I used to go to the VFW a lot, so I hung out with a bunch of 70-year-old guys when I was growing up. Im kind of an old soul from that."

How to be a good host

"My dads dad, Jim, was very funny. He loved to have parties. Everyone would get up and do a bit, sing a song or tell a joke. My parents would pay me 50 cents to do Rodney Dangerfield. I was probably 8 or 9. I would put on a tie [and say]: My wifes cooking is so bad. I mean, since when does toast have bones?"

Just kidding around

"At my parents parties I would do impersonations or a Saturday Night Live sketch with my sister. Wed do Wild and Crazy Guys, and wed get dressed up in my parents disco-y clothes from the 70s."

Nature can be dangerous

"My parents were overprotective, maybe because grandpa Tom was a cop. I wasnt allowed to do anything. I didnt go to camp. I didnt really have sleepovers until later. They were nervous about everything! I got a tent once from a garage sale and I put it up in my backyard, and my mom came out in the middle of the night and said, Get back inside. Theres a raccoon maybe out here."

Fallon poses with sister Gloria and Grandpa Tom Feeley. Courtesy Jimmy Fallon

Keep your hair combed

"Grandpa Tom didnt like my messy, spiky hair. He asked, Will you comb it? Like a nice part to the side. But he loved my stand-up. He liked that I didnt curse. He was there for a bunch of gigs where I bombed and hed say, Stick with it."
Disturbeds David Draiman proposed to his girlfriend live onstage.

David Draiman is engaged to his girlfriend Sarah Uli after popping the question onstage at Disturbed's recent concert

The 52-year-old rocker asked his girlfriend of more than a year, model Sarah Uli, to be his wife at the heavy metal band's concert in Sacramento on May 9.

In a tear-jerking moment, he told her onstage at the Golden 1 Center: "You are the light in the darkness for me."

David - who has 11-year-old son, Samuel, with his first wife, Lena Yada - invited his partner to join him onstage.

He told the crowd: At this time, I would like to call Miss Sarah Uli to the stage, please.

Everyone say hello to my lovely lady Sarah.

And shes looking at me and shes wondering, What the f*** is he doing?"

He then paid a touching tribute to the model: Sarah, my love, you have made my life so much better. You are the light in the darkness for me. I love you more than anything I have ever loved in this world, and it would be the absolute pinnacle of my life and my existence

David then got down on one knee before they performed 'The Light'.

He asked her: "Sarah Uli, will you marry me?"

She agreed and was seen wiping her happy tears away.

The couple made their romance Instagram official in January 2024, with David penning alongside a picture of the pair: She completes me. [red love heart] My goddess."

The 'Down with the Sickness' rockers are currently on a 25th anniversary tour for their debut studio album, 'The Sickness'.
By Dale Critchley, Workplace Policy Manager, Aviva



The Pensions Regulator has commented on the industrys focus on charges stating that high fees, with nothing to show for it, erode pots cumulatively over decades to leave savers poorer. But it is impossible to invest, or even to consider investing, in a broader range of assets  which could provide diversification benefits and higher returns  if the ceiling for investment costs is, as some say, below 10 basis points. Although they dont mention it, both statements point to behavioural biases, known as Prospect Theory. These biases mean decision makers will tend to value avoiding a loss more than making a gain, and value certainty, the gain from a small reduction in charges, over the prospect of much larger potential gains if investment performance improves. Asking decision makers to do otherwise is to set aside human nature. Where professional advisers are involved, decisions about where to place a company pension scheme or how to invest contributions in a default arrangement, are more likely to be based on an analysis of data, risk and return, but we can see that Prospect Theory has still had a significant impact on the defined contribution pensions market. Charges have been reduced over time, while default design and the prospect of higher returns, from active management or more expensive asset classes, have been downgraded in importance. We exist in a market where a 0.01% reduction in charges can been seen as important, yet many times that difference in past investment returns might be overlooked, and not a guide to future performance. With the value offered by service being difficult to gauge, it is little surprise that our instinct to simplify decisions comes into play, and there is a focus on the certainty of charges. The value for money framework will perhaps offer the greatest challenge to the status quo. It will demand that decision makers within schemes look at what they are delivering for savers, compared with the largest schemes in the market. This will be a more balanced score card, and one that aims to address some of our behavioural biases by presenting comparable data across the three pillars of charges, investment performance and service. Those governance committees and trustees who find that their scheme has underperformed, or is at risk of underperforming, will need to take action to improve the outcome for savers. In doing so, they will potentially need to overcome a slew of behavioural biases. One of the biggest challenges will be shaking off any bias toward the certainty of charges, to potentially embrace the uncertainty of investment returns, when its in their members long-term interests. They will perhaps need to avoid confirmation bias and accept that their views may not have been driving the best outcomes for savers, accept new thinking or investment in different asset classes. Trustees may even need to overcome ownership or endowment bias and decide that savers could be better served in another scheme. The FCA has clearly recognised the potential for loss aversion to dampen opportunities while the Pension Regulator is recognising the downside of certainty bias. The new value for money framework will refocus the decision making of those who operate and oversee workplace pensions, but employers and advisers, who drive the demand side of the market, might also consider whether their decision making is entirely objective, and how taking into account behavioural biases might improve the retirement prospects of savers. FCA - Our strategy 2025 to 2030

TPR - https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/media-hub/speeches-and-speakers/pensions-regulation-and-growth

https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/definitions/prospect-theory.html/

https://www.spw.com/wealth-lens/behavioural-finance-why-we-can-make-irrational-investment-decisions
The voluntary initiative, to be known as the Mansion House Accord, has been jointly led by the ABI, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and the City of London Corporation. It is aimed at securing better financial outcomes for DC savers through the higher potential net returns available in private markets, as well as boosting investment in the UK. Based on providers current investment holdings, total pension assets in the scope of the agreement amount to 252 billion. The industry expects this amount to increase over the Accords lifetime. Signatories to the new commitment include: Aegon UK, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, NatWest Cushon, Nest, now:pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the Peoples Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). Signatories commit, subject to fiduciary duty and the Consumer Duty, to the ambition of:

 allocating at least 10% to private markets across all main DC default funds by 2030; and

 within that, at least 5% of the total going to UK private markets, assuming a sufficient supply of suitable investible assets for providers. The commitment is dependent on implementation by the Government and regulators of critical enablers. The Mansion House Accord builds on, rather than replaces, the Mansion House Compact, continuing industry-led efforts to improve retirement outcomes and drive long-term investment in UK growth. Through the Compact, signed in July 2023, 11 UK pension providers have committed to the objective of investing 5% of DC defaults in unlisted equities, including venture capital and growth equity, by 2030. For providers signed up to both, progress under the Compact counts towards meeting the Accords goals. Together, they represent a staged, voluntary roadmap for reform, supported by government, driven by industry. Barriers to invest in private assets have reduced in recent years thanks to legislative and regulatory reform, as well as operational improvements. However, further progress is needed. The Accord makes clear that Government and regulators will be integral to supporting industry in securing a pipeline of UK investment opportunities and facilitating the Value for Money framework. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:Through our Plan for Change, we are choosing to back British businesses and British workers. I welcome this bold step by some of our biggest pension funds, which will unlock billions for major infrastructure, clean energy, and exciting startups  delivering growth, boosting pension pots, and giving working people greater security in retirement. Torsten Bell, Minister for Pensions, said:Pensions matter hugely, they underpin not just the retirements we all look forward to, but the investment our future prosperity depends on. I hugely welcome the pensions industry decision to invest in more productive assets, from growing companies to infrastructure. This supports better outcomes for savers and faster growth for Britain. Yvonne Braun, Director of Policy, Long-Term Savings, Health and Protection at the ABI, said: As major investors, the pensions industry already plays a vital role in driving growth in the UK and globally. The Accord formalises the industrys ambition to invest more in private markets to diversify investments, support innovation and infrastructure, and ensure prosperity. Investments under the Accord will always be made in savers best interests. It is now critical that Government supports the industrys ambition, by facilitating a pipeline of suitable investment opportunities, tackling barriers to investments, and delivering wider pension reforms effectively. Alastair King, Lord Mayor of London, said: The Mansion House Accord builds on the strong foundations of the Compact and signals a step change in ambition: more signatories, deeper allocations to private markets, and a clearer commitment to backing UK assets. That includes a renewed focus on revitalising the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange as well as the Aquis Exchange, which play a critical role in supporting high-growth companies that drive innovation, jobs and productivity. If we want those firms to scale in the UK, we must ensure they have the capital to do so. This is not just about better pension outcomes, it is about building a more dynamic, competitive investment ecosystem. Delivering long-term, sustainable growth is crucial and the City of London Corporation is delighted to have partnered with industry and Government to bring this ambition to life. Zoe Alexander, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the PLSA, said: UK pension schemes already invest billions in UK growth assets. This Accord demonstrates the collective ambition of the DC sector to do even more, as well as its confidence that the UK will provide the right opportunities to invest, consistent with schemes' fiduciary duty to members. The Government, in its turn, has committed to take action to ensure there is a strong pipeline of investable assets for pension schemes. With everyone playing their part, there is great potential to boost returns for savers while providing vital funding to productive growth areas. Mansion House Accord
"No Post-Retirement Perks for Me": CJI Sanjiv Khanna Bows Out, Takes Stand on Judicial Integrity 2

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday firmly declared that he would not accept any official post-retirement assignments, even as he vowed to continue contributing to the legal field. I will not accept any post-retirement post perhaps will do something with law, he told journalists after his final day at the Supreme Court.

Justice Khanna, who joined the apex court on January 18, 2029, and took over as CJI on November 11, 2024, demitted office on Tuesday. Speaking informally after the ceremonial bench proceedings, he hinted at beginning a third innings in the legal world, joining a handful of former judges who have chosen not to enter arbitration or government-appointed roles post-retirement.

When asked about the recent controversy involving High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who was embroiled in a cash recovery case, the CJI remarked, Judicial thinking has to be decisive and adjudicatory. We see plus and minus points and decide the issue, then rationally weigh various factors to make the right decision.

Justice Khanna had acted promptly following reports of unaccounted cash allegedly linked to Justice Varma. He ordered a preliminary inquiry led by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, removed Varmas judicial duties, and transferred him to the Allahabad High Court without any court work. After an in-house inquiry found Varma guilty, Khanna urged him to resign. When the judge refused, he formally wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking further action.

Meanwhile, CJI-designate Justice B.R. Gavai has also declined to take up any official post-retirement role, signaling a rare moment of ethical clarity at the top of the judiciary.
Sharad Pawar Slams Modi Govt: 'Why Allow US Mediation on Indo-Pak Conflict?' 2

NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and former Defence Minister Sharad Pawar has raised sharp questions over the Modi governments silence on US involvement in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He demanded the Centre explain why American mediation was permitted despite the binding bilateral nature of the Shimla Agreement.

This is the first time an American authority has publicly commented on our internal matters, which is not good, Pawar told reporters, reacting to US President Donald Trumps announcement that both countries had agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire amid heightened military confrontation. Pawar stressed that the Shimla Pact explicitly states that all issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally, without third-party interference. How can we give space to a third country? he asked.

While several opposition parties, including Congress, are demanding a special session of Parliament to debate the recent Pahalgam terror attack and Indias subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor, Pawar proposed an all-party meeting as a more secure forum, given the sensitivity of military matters. I am not against a special session, but not everything can be disclosed in public. Some things must remain confidential, he said.

Operation Sindoor, launched on the night of May 67, was Indias retaliatory military response to the killing of 26 civilians in the Pahalgam attack. The operation reportedly destroyed nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists. Pakistans counter-attacks on Indian military bases were thwarted with heavy retaliation, targeting multiple enemy installations.

Pawar, reacting to the emerging reports of the ceasefire, said, Lets see what the Prime Minister says, referring to Narendra Modis scheduled address to the nation later that eveninghis first since Operation Sindoor was launched.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed on Saturday that India and Pakistan had agreed to halt all military action across land, air, and sea. The statement followed Trumps claim that the ceasefire was achieved through US-mediated dialoguean assertion now drawing sharp scrutiny from political veterans like Pawar.
Three Lashkar Terrorists Gunned Down in Fiery Shopian Encounter 2

Three terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in the Shukroo forest area of Kellar in South Kashmirs Shopian district. Acting on specific intelligence about terrorist presence, security forces launched a massive cordon and search operation early Monday morning.

As police and army personnel began combing the dense forest, the hiding terrorists opened fire, triggering a retaliatory gun battle. In the ensuing exchange of fire, all three militants were neutralized. While the identities of the slain terrorists are yet to be officially confirmed, the operation is being hailed as a significant blow to terrorist activities in the region.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC crossover SUV will be the vehicle made in Tuscaloosa, starting in 2027. Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Monday shed a little more light on the mystery vehicle it will begin producing at its Tuscaloosa County plant in 2027.

The German automaker confirmed its GLC crossover SUV will begin rolling off its Alabama assembly lines in 2027. The company did not provide any further information.

Earlier this month, Mercedes announced it will begin production of a new vehicle at its Tuscaloosa County plant in two years.

The announcement came after several weeks of hints from the automakers executives that there was spare capacity at the companys Alabama plant.

The company provided few details in its initial announcement, beyond referring to it as a core segment vehicle.

The Tuscaloosa plant is home to the GLE, GLS, GLE Coupe, and Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUVs, as well as the EQE SUV, EQS SUV, and Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, for all global markets.

Speculation about adding another vehicle began once Mercedes started talking about measures to deal with the Trump Administrations automotive tariffs.

The Wall Street Journal had reported that Mercedes could relocate the GLC to the U.S., which is currently made in Bremen, Germany.

During its time in Alabama, Mercedes has invested roughly $7 billion here, including $1.2 billion since 2017 to produce electric vehicles and batteries at its Bibb County plant.

Today, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) employs more than 6,000 people and about 60,000 jobs with regional suppliers, including 200 located in Alabama.
Birmingham police investigate a shooting on the city's east side that sent one person to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. (Carol Robinson)

A suspect was critically injured when police say he tried to rob someone outside an east Birmingham restaurant.

The shooting happened shortly after 9:30 p.m. in the 7700 block of First Avenue North.

The scene was outside Boston Fish Wings & Things.

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said two males tried to rob a man. The robbery victim fired shots, striking at least one of the suspects.

The suspect was taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Wade said though he is critical, he is stable.

Police radio communications said the male was shot in the face, but officers have not confirmed that information.

The shooter left the scene but called 911 and police are in contact with him.

The second suspect had not been located as of 11 p.m. One caller reported to police they saw a male with blood on him walking in the area.

Several witnesses were being questioned.

This story will be updated as more information is released.
President Donald Trump defended on Monday his administration's decision to receive white South Africans as refugees, saying there is a "genocide that is taking place" in the country.

Speaking at the White House, Trump was asked about why the group was being allowed into the country even though the government has suspended most refugee resettlement operations.

"They're being killed. And we don't want to see people be killed. South African leadership is coming to see me some time next week. We're supposed to have a G20 meeting or something. I don't know how we can go unless that situation is taken care of. it's a genocide Trumthat's taking place," Trump told reporters.

REPORTER: Why are you creating an expedited path into the country for Afrikaners but not others?



TRUMP: Because they're being killed. And we don't want to see people be killed ... it's a genocide that's taking place. Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. pic.twitter.com/8LV3VmZ296  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2025

Trump went to accuse reporters to "not want to talk about" the events unfolding in the country. "They happen to be white. Whether they are black or white makes no difference to me. White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa. If it were the other way around they'd talk about it."

The first Afrikaner refugees are set to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Monday and greeted by a government delegation. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said there will be "much larger-scale relocation efforts" related to the group.

"This is persecution based on a protected characteristic  in this case, race. This is race-based persecution," Miller said. The South African government firmly denies all allegations made by the Trump administration, saying criticism is filled with misinformation.

Other State Department refugee programs, including those for people from Afghanistan, Iraq and sub-Saharan countries, have been halted.

Originally published on Latin Times
A 48-year-old Childersburg man died Monday, one day after he was shot in Sylacauga.

Police identified the victim as Christopher Cornell Keith. He was pronounced dead at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Sylacauga police on Sunday responded to East Fifth Street near North Louisville Avenue to a report of multiple gunshots fired in the area.

Officers and Talladega sheriffs deputies arrived to find two men wounded inside a vehicle, said Lt. Willis Whatley.

The second victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Whatley said the investigation is ongoing by Sylacauga police and the Talladega County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 256-391-4390, the tip line at 256-249-4716 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 1-833-251-7867.
Aneta Honor knows heartache.

There was pain when her nephew was shot to death in 2016 outside the familys Fairfield home. It was there again in 2018 when her sister and her other nephew were fatally gunned down outside the same house.

But perhaps the worst heartbreak came in 2023 when her firstborn, her only son, a U.S. marine, was shot dead while driving through Birminghams Five Points West in broad daylight.

Its a lot, Aneta said. Theres not a day that goes by that I dont think about my baby.

Micah Honor, 24, was killed Sept. 30, 2023.

His slaying remains unsolved, and police are again asking for help bringing the killer or killers to justice.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information in the case.

I have not gotten to a point where Im able to move on, Aneta said, at least until I get some type of closure and get him some type of justice.

Micah graduated from Minor High School and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2018.

He served one term  four years  before being honorably discharged and returning to Alabama where he lived with his girlfriend in Adamsville.

Once back in the Birmingham area, Micah worked first at Auto Zone and then Walmart with plans to soon start HVAC school and training.

Micah was a child that would take everything apart and put it back together, Aneta said. There was nothing Micah couldnt do. It was amazing how limitless his mind was.

On the Saturday of his death, Aneta had gone to her church to help give out food.

When she left, she spoke with Micah on the phone. He was planning to go to her home  also in Adamsville  to pick up grocery items from her, as he often did.

I got off the phone with him at 2:58 p.m., Aneta said. His girlfriend was calling me at 3:15 p.m. telling me he was killed.

A 24-year-old Adamsville man was shot to death in west Birmingham on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

It was just after 3 p.m. when police say a suspect who was on foot opened fire on Micah while he was driving in the 2100 block of Bessemer Road.

The injured Micah struck several other vehicles before his car crashed through a fence and came to a stop in front of the small apartment abandoned building in the 2500 block of Warrior Road.

Micah was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police have said they believed Micah was targeted, but no motive has been disclosed.

Aneta has no idea who would have wanted her son dead, or why.

I tried to give the detective as much information as I knew, which was limited, she said.

Micah was outgoing. He was a people person, Aneta said. He loved everybody and everybody loved him.

There was never a dull moment when he was in the room and laughter always abounded in his presence, according to his obituary. He was always willing to look out for a friend and eager to lend a helping hand. Micah had a love for cooking, cars and dogs.

Micah was Anetas only son and the oldest of her three children.

There was a lot of depending on him, she said.

The two were close and especially leaned on each other after the previous slayings of their other family members.

Aneta and her sister, 48-year-old Catherine Mrs. Cat Honor had raised their children together and were like one big family.

It was like she had five kids, and I had five kids, Aneta said.

Mrs. Cat and her 23-year-old son, Tavaris, were found dead Monday, June 3, 2019, at their Fairfield home.

Fairfield police and fire medics responded to the home in the 200 block of 57th Street shortly after 6 a.m. that Monday.

Once on the scene, they found Varis unresponsive in the front yard. Cathy Honor was found a short distance away in the doorway. Both were pronounced dead on the scene at 6:30 a.m. from gunshot wounds

Three years prior, Mrs. Cats 22-year-old son, Omar, was fatally shot outside the same home.

The suspect in that case pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with three years to serve.

All of its been hard, Aneta said. We were going through our healing over them. My children were basically the only thing I have  my little family.

Wed been leaning on each other, she said of her son. Micah had been my rock, and I was his. I no longer feel like a whole person.

Despite all the grief, Aneta said she still believes justice will come.

I have no choice but to have hope, she said. I believe what the word of God says. I hold onto my faith. Its a journey.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Barbecue is an oft-discussed topic in Alabama, where people like to debate who makes the best and which sauce is tastiest. One thing we dont typically argue about in the South is the definition of barbecue: It does not mean a gathering at which grilled foods are served, or the appliance on which the food is grilled.

Here in Alabama, barbecue is the meat thats cooked over the fire, whether its barbecue pork, beef, chicken or any other kind of meat.

Origins

Where does the word barbecue come from? An article on Culinary Lore claims it comes from the Caribbean Taino Indians, who cooked on high wooden racks above burning wood. The racks were called barbacoas.

An article on the Encyclopedia of Alabama quotes food writer Robb Walsh, saying this method of cooking was first brought to the Carolinas by African slaves in the seventeenth century. Easy to raise and fatten, pigs became the most popular choice of meat for southern barbecuers.

According to the appropriately named Fred Sauceman who wrote the Encyclopedia of Alabama article, the southern barbecue belt is made up of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Sauceman, an author and associate professor at East Tennessee University, defines the barbecue belt as a string of states whose styles of barbecue have influenced one another over the years.

In this state, the fire used to cook the barbecue is usually fueled by hickory, oak or pecan.

Across Alabama, smoked pork  chipped, chopped, and sliced  is piled on hamburger buns and often topped with coleslaw, with dill pickles added as a defining condiment, Sauceman said.

Ribs cooking at Dreamland Barbecue in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Birmingham News

Types of BBQ in Alabama

As with many iconic foods in the South, the popularity of barbecue arose during difficult financial times  it was an inexpensive way to make even cheap meats flavorful. Thats one reason barbecue flavorings, sauces and cooking techniques are so varied.

Alabama lies between the barbecue poles of Memphis and the Carolinas, Sauceman wrote in his article. In northern Alabama, vinegar-based sauces akin to those in eastern North Carolina are found, but they become scarce south of Birmingham. Variations of tomato-based sauces that bear a kinship to those served from Memphis to eastern Tennessee are served throughout the state. In eastern Alabama, mustard, a South Carolina influence, finds its way into spicy sauces, often in combination with tomato products.

A lunch plate from Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Ala. bn

White sauce is unique to Alabama, he said. It was created at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur in 1925.

One emblematic aspect of Alabama barbecue is a white sauce of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt.

A 2017 AL.com article by Matt Wake says no one can say for sure how Gibson created the now-iconic sauce but Chris Lilly, head chef of the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Competition Cooking Team, gave one explanation. His chickens sometimes stayed on his pit for three hours, Lilly said. When youre pulling a pit of chickens youve got to have some way to keep those chickens moist. Keep them from drying out. And I think thats where the mayonnaise came from. The fat in the mayonnaise basically used as a buffer against the chicken drying out once it came off the pit.

Alabama barbecue has widespread influence, according to Sauceman. It is both urban and rural, black and white, tomato-sweet and vinegar-sour, pulled and chopped. It is cinder-block simple and strip-mall slick. A product of the working-class culture of the mills and factories, integrating all, it is one of the states most unifying and enduring symbols.

John Bishop Jr., whose father John Sr. founded Dreamland Barbecue, outside the Tuscaloosa, Ala., restaurant in 1982. AL.com File Photo

Alabamas oldest barbecue restaurants

Below are some of Alabamas longest-operating barbecue restaurants, in chronological order from their date of founding. They have all been inducted into the Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame.
The lunar influence going from passionate to more passion reminds us how strong feelings such as love, anger, excitement or grief can overwhelm the moment then live far beyond it. Because strong feelings make things happen. They sweep us up in their chaos and raw power, but they also eventually settle, and they leave. Youll look back and say, Wow -- that was intense, but necessary.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Feeling valued is a human need. Its completely natural to want appreciation and love. If someone makes you feel like its too much, it says more about their limitations than yours.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Youll meet someone who asks follow-up questions, remembers what youve shared and shows real curiosity about your world. Their presence adds color, energy and delight to your day.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have your own rhythm thats cool, quirky, offbeat and exciting to those lucky enough to be in your playful realm today. Youll make them laugh because youre not taking anything too seriously. By simply being, you invite others into your joy.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Theres a meaningful difference between ambition, which lifts you up, and greed, which weighs others down. Your drive is strong, but so is your discernment. The success youll be proud of is the kind that uplifts more than just you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You may wonder about the future, but what you really want to know is how to be happy right now. Youre looking for the message that all will be well, and this is it. All will be well. Let the knowledge sink in and bring the deep peace.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some people go looking for trouble, while others avoid it at all costs. Youre only up for the kind of trouble that fits your curiosity like a glove worn by the spirit of adventure herself, beckoning you into an irresistible scenario thats worth the trouble.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Nature is powerful -- but dont forget, you are nature, too. Nature is in you and it is you. Today brings a test of strength, spirit or resolve. Youll face something larger than yourself and learn once more that youre a force to be reckoned with.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Certain personalities burn through your interest like cheap incense. Youre taking stock of your energy, your standards and your bandwidth, and will reserve your heart for those whose presence feels real, not curated.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). After intense effort comes the essential pause. Dont wait for exhaustion to make the decision for you. Schedule rest like its sacred -- because it is. Your future self will thank you for the care you give now.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). No stranger to strong emotion, once again youll attract passionate people and thrive around those who are good at what they do and care enough to keep getting better. Meanwhile, keep refining your craft to stay someone worth matching.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Because were all wired differently, there is no universal solution. What works beautifully for someone else might not work for you at all. You may as well love the trial and discovery. Its the lack of a guarantee that keeps it exciting.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Dont downplay your needs just to keep the peace. Being overly accommodating now could cost you more later. Today has a lot of competing threads, but you can absolutely shape the day into something that feels like momentum.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (May 13). How well you will know the joy of being truly seen. Youll share your truth in some powerful way -- on stage, on paper, across a dinner table -- and it will ripple outward in beautiful ways. More highlights: Youll travel in elevated style, with perks that once seemed out of reach. Physical vitality increases and you feel more attractive than ever. Cancer and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 24, 19, 3 and 31.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: From brooding superhero to existential spacefarer, Robert Pattinson continues to explore complex characters this year, balancing his role as Bruce Wayne in the upcoming The Batman sequels with ventures into thought-provoking science fiction. Pattinsons natal sun and Mercury in Taurus and Jupiter in imaginative Pisces suggest an endless supply of creativity reflected in his commitment to exploring the depths of human experience through a variety of compelling characters.

Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.
Gov. Kay Ivey is getting plenty of advice on what to do with a bill that would regulate sales of gummies, drinks, and other consumable products containing the marijuana chemical THC that is derived from hemp.

That includes advice from people who are urging the governor to veto the bill, HB445 by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, but for entirely different reasons.

On one side are store owners who say the regulations are an overreach that will put them out of business and deprive their customers of products they depend on to relieve symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness.

On the other side are those who say HB445 is weak and that it gives legal status to products that should be banned in a state where possession of marijuana remains a crime.

Among those who make that point are the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative research and advocacy organization that says its mission is to promote free markets, limited government, and strong families.

The API issued a press release last week saying HB445, sponsored by Whitt and Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, effectively legalizes recreational marijuana under the guise of protecting children.

The API noted that marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug under the federal controlled substances act, a category for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use.

API stands opposed (to) the state condoning and taxing the illegal drug use of its citizens, the organization said in its news release. Picking winners and losers with spotty regulation and low taxation isnt the answer.

If this bill is signed, the real losers will be the citizens of Alabama dealing with the aftermath of drugs being sold legally statewide in grocery stores, in state sanctioned stores, and in stores in every community.

Whitt responded to the API and other critics of his bill with an op-ed piece about what he called nose growing narratives.

Whitt said the hemp business advocates and those calling for ban on the products are special interest groups who did not get their way on the bill, which he said was a compromise.

HB445 neither bans all hemp-derived THC products, nor does it legalize recreational marijuana, Whitt wrote. What it does is introduce commonsense controls on substances that are already federally legal.

Whitt wrote that API President and CEO Stephanie Smith attacked his integrity with false statements because she said HB445 would make marijuana laws in Alabama more lenient than in Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal.

Smith said the API did not attack Whitts character. She stuck by the substance of APIs news release that urged Ivey to veto the bill.

APIs entire focus has been on the harmful impacts that hemp-derived psychoactive THC has on its users and its broader negative effects on society, Smith wrote in an email responding to Whitts op-ed.

We have made comparisons to Colorado, where it is illegal to make and sell THC products that have been manufactured from hemp-derived psychoactive cannabinoids due to the harmful chemicals used to make these products.

While non-synthetic recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, edible products are limited to no more than 10mg of THC per serving, the exact same limit in HB445, as passed by the Alabama Legislature.

This is fact, not fiction. Even Colorado recognizes the serious health and psychological dangers of synthetic hemp-derived THC and banned it.

The products containing THC derived from hemp - also known as Delta 8, Delta 9 and Delta 10 - are widely available in Alabama in specialty shops and in convenience stores, as well as online.

The shops also sell products with CBD, another cannabinoid that does not have the psychoactive effects of THC.

Whitts bill would ban smokable hemp products, which some businesses say are their most popular sellers.

It would regulate other products with THC, such as gummies, other edibles, and beverages.

It would restrict sales to retailers licensed by the ABC Board under a new license category. The stores would be restricted to people 21 and older, except that grocery stores could sell THC-infused beverages in designated areas with the products behind glass.

The bill would limit THC content per serving size and require products to carry labels that show ingredients as certified by an independent lab.

Direct shipments to customers, such as internet sales, would be illegal.

The bill would impose fines, and in some cases criminal penalties for violations, or for selling to customers under 21.

Marty Schelper, founder of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, which advocates for legalization of marijuana, helped lead a protest in downtown Montgomery on Saturday urging Ivey to veto the bill.

Schelper said the hemp-derived products are particularly important in Alabama because the states medical marijuana industry, authorized by the Legislature four years ago to treat pain, anxiety, symptoms from cancer treatment, and many other conditions, remains stalled in court over licensing disputes. No products are available.

The hemp industry has been providing what the Medical Cannabis Commission wanted to provide for the citizens, Schelper said. The hemp industry has been filling that void.

So, if this legislation is signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, the citizens will not have access to hemp products that have been filling that void.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has urged Ivey to veto the bill because of the impact he said it would have on businesses.

Woodfin has been critical of the negative consequences of criminal sanctions for marijuana possession and has initiated pardons for people who were charged in municipal court.

The governors office has not said whether Ivey will sign the bill, only that it is under review.

The governor has several options. She could sign it into law, send it back to the Legislature with executive amendments, or recommended changes.

Or she could take no action and allow it to become law without her signature.

If the governor vetoes the bill, the Legislature could override the veto with votes by a majority of representatives and senators.
As the Alabama legislative session winds down for the year, questions still circle a bill that would impose new rules on a private ATV park that draws thousands of visitors to rural Cherokee County.

Sen. Andrew Jones and his proponents argue that the legislation, which he has been attempting to pass for over a year, will benefit the community by limiting noise pollution, mitigating negative environmental impacts of ATV riding, and reducing heavy traffic to a rural area with inadequate infrastructure.

The owners of the Indian Mountain ATV Park and their supporters argue that the legislation unfairly targets them and violates their liberties.

How would you feel if you had purchased something, you have worked hard for what you have, and a government official comes in and says Hey, I like what youve got. Youve done a great job with it. I think were going to take it. said LaBreeska Ponder, owner of the park. Thats exactly how we feel.

Indian Mountain is privately owned and located in eastern Cherokee County, just a few miles from the Georgia border in north Alabama. The park covers over seven square miles and was opened five years ago. According to its website, the park offers ATV trail riding, camping, fishing, and hiking.

The proposed bill would allow the Cherokee County Commission to regulate the park by requiring stricter permits, allowing for heavier inspection, and regulating hours and activities.

One of the Ponder familys main complaints with the bill is that they describe it as targeted. The family points out that the bill applies only to Cherokee County where Indian Mountain is the only prominent park.

Jones argues that the legislation is fair, and in no way overly restrictive to them. It would apply to any park the same way.

The Ponders say they have attempted to reach out to Jones and his team to come to some sort of understanding, but have never had any response. Jones said he has never received any such request.

Candice Dugan, a regular at the park made her thoughts known on the legislation with a comment online. I just cant understand it, the park does so much for the County, the off-road community, she said. It feels like a huge overreach from Jones.

Dugan and other online commenters have posited that a reason for the legislation is that Jones family members who live in the area are bothered by the noise and traffic that the park brings to the quiet region.

While tax and property documents do show that some of Jones relatives live near the park, he denied that their proximity of a few miles away had anything to do with the proposal.

Another theory that Dugan and others have posited is that Jones wants to bring the park under the control of the County Commission to further the Sweet Trails project, one which he has been heavily involved in.

The project looks to invest over $100 million in federal grants to build a statewide network composed of regional and local trails to connect all 67 counties, their communities, and major cultural and natural resource destinations across the state.

The plans for the project specifically detail that the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail will be included.

The trail goes right through the privately owned ATV Park, prompting questions as to how increased regulation of the park could allow for the Sweet Trails effort to use the space. Sen. Jones also denied any link between Sweet Trails and the legislation, calling it an internet conspiracy theory.

He argues and maintains that the goal of the legislation is to provide a fair and balanced resolution that can help out the citizens. We do not want to shut down the park.

Jones said that in a community meeting a few years ago, over 75 neighbors in the area complained about the park due to the traffic and noise it brings to the area.

Jones points at current and former lawsuits against the park as a sign that many are unhappy with the current conditions.

One case filed in July 2024 features more than 15 residents of Cherokee County, arguing that the park has greatly disturbed locals by allowing deforestation, causing negative ecological impacts, and allowing visitors to leave debris in the area.

The suit also claims that the park allows loud noise produced by vehicles during all hours of the night, and that the trailers and heavy traffic brought by the park make everyday tasks difficult.

Also, the residents claim to have lost value in their properties due to the proximity to the park, and also claim to have been disturbed and suffered mental anguish due to the noise and impacts the operation of the park has had since opening.

Despite attempts at negotiation by some of the neighbors, the Ponder family has never cooperated with attempts at reconciliation, the lawsuit claims.

With this years legislative session winding down this week, Jones acknowledged that his bill will likely not be passed this year. He plans to reach back out to the community, see what next steps might be, and potentially go at it again if there is a need.

Meanwhile, the Ponders find themselves in an awkward situation. Its hard to invest or develop a business when your investments could be ripped away from you any day, said Kirk Ponder.

The Ponders say they will continue to stand by their business, which, according to a report by Jacksonville State, has had millions of dollars in positive economic impact in Cherokee County.

LaBreeska Ponder added, my family has owned this land for 50 years. I wont just roll over and let someone ruin that. We are going to keep fighting. This is an attack on our liberties and an attack on small business.
The K1 Center at 100 S. Church St. in downtown Fairhope, Ala., as photographed on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. John Sharp

A century after its doors first opened to students, Fairhopes historic K-1 Center is on the brink of a bold new chapter.

Once a vibrant elementary school serving generations of Fairhopians, the brick-facade schoolhouselong abandoned and weathered by timewill soon be home to tech startups, entrepreneurial energy, and community collaboration. The Fairhope City Council on Monday approved what Mayor Sherry Sullivan called monumental agreements to transform the 1925 landmark into a business incubator led by Hatch Fairhope.

Our community has long cherished this landmark, and now, through our partnership with (the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance) and Hatch, we are excited to transform this space into a center for education, mentorship, and entrepreneurial collaboration  ensuring it continues to serve and inspire for generations to come, said Sullivan.

The Councils actions include:

Approving a $6.1 million construction contract with Rogers & Williard to renovate and revitalize the K-1 Center

Authorizing a 15-year lease at $1 per year with the Baldwin County Commission and Economic Development Foundation Inc. to utilize the building as a startup hub.

Funding for the project is coming from a mix of $3.5 million in federal and state grants and $2 million from Innovate Alabama, secured by the Baldwin County EDA in partnership with Hatch Fairhope.

Lee Lawson, president & CEO of the Baldwin County EDA, emphasized the significance of the effort: This is the culmination of a lot of work by the mayor and the city council, and other partners including us with Hatch bringing in multiple funding sources to the table to renovate a historic building in Fairhope that has sat idle for the past nine years.

Lawson called the project truly impactful, positioning it as a long-term asset that will bolster Fairhopes downtown and support the citys emerging technology sector.

Related content: From 100-year-old schoolhouse to tech hub: Fairhope finally eyes start of K1 Center renovation

The future K-1 Center, with Hatch Fairhope operating inside it, will be comparable to the Innovation Depot in Birmingham. The closest example to a similar venue in coastal Alabama is the Innovation Portal on St. Louis Street in downtown Mobile.

This will have maximum impact to continue the vibrancy of downtown Fairhope and to the community and our region as it relates to tech entrepreneurs, Lawson said.

One of the reasons for the delay in getting the project started was related to a lengthy analysis of the schoolhouse by the Alabama State Historical Commission.

Portions of the K-1 Center property are already in use. The city, in 2021, approved a lease agreement with the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FEEF) for a portion of the property for $1 per year for 25 years. In return, FEEF sought grants to renovate buildings on the northern end of the property to support Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) programs for students.

City officials may utilize the entire property someday for other developments. Sullivan has said that a master plan could be pursued on what to do with the entirety of the property surrounding the school that might include the development of a performing arts center.
Barbara Drummond speaks on Feb. 23, 2025, officially opening her campaign to become mayor of Mobile. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Former Democratic U.S. Senator Doug Jones is tossing his support behind state Rep. Barbara Drummond in the upcoming Mobile mayoral election.

Jones, in a news release from the Drummond campaign Tuesday, praised Drummonds decades of dedicated service working in city, county and state governments. He called her a politician who possesses a truly unique and invaluable understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Mobile.

From her time as a journalist connecting with the community to her executive leadership roles managing city and county departments, to her effective work in the state legislature, Rep. Drummond has consistently demonstrated integrity, a collaborative spirit, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of all Mobilians, said Jones, who served in the U.S. Senate from 2018 to 2021 and once served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.

She knows how to bring people together to find practical solutions and deliver results, Jones said. Mobile needs her experienced, unifying leadership, and I am proud to offer her my enthusiastic endorsement.

Drummond, in a statement, said it was a profound honor to get the former senators support.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Doug Jones at a campaign rally in Ensley in 2017.

Senator Jones has spent his career fighting for justice, seeking common ground, and working tirelessly for the people of Alabama, said Drummond, who was elected to the Alabama House District 103 seat in 2014, and chairs the Alabama House Democratic Caucus.

Drummond said that Jones endorsement underscores the core message of her campaign: Bringing the city together to tackle challenges and build a future where people and neighborhoods thrive.

The Jones endorsement is the second key one made within the past week in the mayoral race. Last Wednesday, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson endorsed former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis for mayor during an event at Greers St. Louis Market.

Stimpson announced last fall he was not seeking a fourth term in office, leaving the race for mayor a wide-open contest. The election is Aug. 26.

Mayoral elections in Alabama are non-partisan - meaning candidates do not run by party affiliation.

The other candidates include former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine, former Mobile Police Chief and Executive Director of Public Safety Lawrence Battiste, Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson, former Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine, and former Mobile City Councilman Jermaine Burrell.
Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a bill that requires police to collect fingerprints and DNA samples from immigrants who are here illegally and get arrested, the governors office said.

The bill, by Sen. Lance Bell, a Republican from St. Clair County, adds undocumented immigrants to a state law that requires people convicted of felonies to submit DNA samples.

Whenever a law enforcement agency in this state has an illegal alien in its custody, the agency may not release the illegal alien until the agency has collected a full set of fingerprints and a known DNA reference sample from the individual, if a sample has not previously been collected, the bill says.

The DNA samples will be submitted to a database maintained by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

The fingerprint samples will be submitted to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for cataloging.

Bells bill passed the House and Senate by wide margins, although many Democratic lawmakers voted against it or abstained.

The governor also signed a bill by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, which prohibits driver licenses issued to foreign nationals from being used for identification to vote in Alabama.

It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote. But Alabama law did not specifically prohibit using foreign national driver licenses as a former of voter identification.

Alabama is taking steps to protect our communities from impacts on public safety and the integrity of our elections, Ivey said in a press release.

These bills will do just that by closing a loophole in state law concerning voter ID while also further enhancing law enforcements ability to effectively identify illegal immigrants with criminal records.

Alabama lawmakers have considered several bills related to illegal immigration so far this year.

Some of those, including a bill to create a crime of human smuggling for knowingly transporting a person who is in the country illegally into Alabama, remain pending on the last day of the legislative session, which is Wednesday.
Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl presides over a meeting of the executive board of the Alabama Public Library Service. Wahl, who represents the 5th Congressional District, is chair of the board. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

This is a guest opinion column

Spend two seconds listening to Alabama Public Library Service Chairman John Wahl, and youd think porn is rampant in the childrens section of your library.

Spend two minutes browsing in the childrens section, and you would see what Alabamaians without political motives see: zero porn or sexually explicit material in the childrens sections. Teenagers, as they are experiencing puberty and developing into adults, tackling jobs and new relationships, require more advanced reading material that tackles their experiences at an age-appropriate level.

John Wahl is gaslighting Alabamians about public libraries and its time for him to be held accountable for his actions.

Wahl took over as Chairman of the Alabama Public Library Service Board this year without relinquishing his role as chair of the Alabama GOP, a direct conflict of interests as public libraries are intended to be apolitical receptacles for diverse worldviews and lived experiences- yes, even in the childrens and teens sections. His extremist politics and unabashed admiration for authoritarian government have spilled over into his role as APLS board chair, and he is intent on obfuscating the legal definition of sexually explicit in order to censor our public library collections.

His political ambitions have exposed themselves time and time again, such as when he facilitated the exit of longtime respected APLS board member Virginia Doyle, who questioned the motivations behind the push for book banning led by extremist groups Moms For Liberty, Eagle Forum and Clean Up Alabama. This in turn led to the appointment of extremist anti-library activist Amy Dozier Minton, and then two others, creating a stacked board intent on attacking Alabama libraries and holding state funding hostage.

The goal, he said in an interview with radio host Jeff Poor this year, is to make sure libraries are comfortable for those groups - ignoring the comfort of the vast majority of Alabamians who despise censorship, regardless of party affiliation. Being uncomfortable while reading a book is often a byproduct of learning - one cannot be comfortable reading about Alabamas horrific history of racism, anti-trans bigotry, bullying, human trafficking and rape. After all, the Bible is a study in afflicting the comfortable, according to the New Testament book of James 1 verses 9-11.

Under his leadership, Fairhope Public Library found its state funding stripped because they refused to cower to the bullying from Moms For Liberty members over an award-winning book about human trafficking. American teenagers are the most vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking in our nation and it is important that they have this information, but Wahl wants to prevent them from reading these stories in their appropriate teen and young adult sections.

However, Fairhope community members and politicians even within Wahls own party condemned his actions and supported the librarians decision. Within days, the full amount of state funding had been raised by library supporters who do not want to see these extremists bully and defund yet another library as part of the national strategy outlined in Project 2025 (of which Moms for Liberty is an official coalition partner).

Yet Wahl has only doubled down, and in direct violation of the new APLS code that he himself championed, continues to abuse his authority to force libraries into compliance to his personal beliefs and interpretations- a conveniently ever-moving goalpost- rather than allowing local boards and librarians to make those decisions with the Constitutional rights of all Alabamaians in mind.

We can all agree we want to protect our children from inappropriate and sexually explicit material. However the legal definitions Wahl has cited to the press do not and were never meant to apply to these challenged library books, but to actual pornography and child sexual abuse content. Learning about abuse, sex education, sexual orientation and other such subjects are not illegal for either children or parents by any state or federal code - but Wahl is attempting to make it so.

Its time we stand up to Wahl and demand his resignation. He is no friend to the public library or librarians.

Leadership of Read Freely: Angie Hayden, Sam Olson, Jessica Hayes, Krysti Shallenberger, and Amber Frey.
China to host series of events in celebration of Int'l Museum Day

Xinhua) 09:17, May 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- China will host a series of events from May 17 to 19 to celebrate the upcoming International Museum Day, with the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing serving as the main venue, the country's cultural heritage authority announced on Monday.

The main event will feature some key releases, including the list of the most innovative museums in 2025 and the top 10 exhibitions nationwide, said Luo Wenli, deputy head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), at a press conference.

On May 18, the International Museum Day, a new program for overseas exhibitions will be launched, along with other major exhibitions, immersive experience activities and youth forums.

This year's celebration centers on the future development of museums amid the rapidly changing society, showcasing the latest achievements in China's museum sector and promoting greater public engagement.

China joined the International Council of Museums in 1983 and has since held International Museum Day events annually.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Israel said on Tuesday it targeted top Hamas official Mohammed Sinwar with a strike on a Gaza hospital. It is still unclear whether the attack was successful.

Citing three people familiar with the matter, Journalist Barak Ravid detailed that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Sinwar was believed to be inside a bunker underneath the hospital.

 The attack on the European Hospital in Gaza: An attempt to assassinate Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. pic.twitter.com/GGd45hZOXK  Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) May 13, 2025

Sinwar is the brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed last October during the IDF's offensive on Gaza. It also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is in the region as part of a trip that will skip Israel.

Trump is currently in Saudi Arabia, where he announced investment and defense deals. He also announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria and said he is still "working to end the war in Gaza."

"The whole world should condemn the October 7 attacks. Gaza residents deserve a much better future. That won't happen while their leaders attack innocent people," Trump said during a speech in Saudi Arabia.

The attack also comes the day after Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas.

Originally published on Latin Times
A shooting at a Homewood restaurant late Friday morning left one male with critical injuries. (Carol Robinson)

A 42-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the 2022 shooting death of another man outside a Homewood restaurant.

Jerry Jewayne Jones was initially charged with capital murder in the slaying of 35-year-old Andres James Taylor Johnson. The charge was capital because Johnson was killed in the presence of his young daughter, who was in the restaurant.

Jones on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a reduced to charge of murder before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kechia Davis.

Davis sentenced Jones, of Center Point, to 23 years in prison.

Jefferson County Deputy District Attorneys Jennifer Wilson and Dianah Ellis prosecuted the case.

Jones was represented by attorney Leroy Maxwell Jr.

Jerry Jewayne Jones (Jefferson County Jail)

The gunfire erupted at 11:53 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2022, at Seafood King Cajun Style restaurant on State Farm Parkway.

Police said Johnson was a patron of the restaurant and was with other people.

Some kind of altercation took place in the parking lot, and the victim was shot one time in the chest.

Johnson was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police were given a description of the suspects vehicle, which was a Ryder box truck. Officers spotted the truck on West Valley Avenue, and a brief chase pursued.

Officers stopped the truck on Barbers Court and West Valley Avenue and took Jones into custody. A second person who was in the truck with him was not charged.

Following his guilty plea, Jones was booked into the Jefferson County Jail to await transfer to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

I had hoped go to trial because I believe Jerry acted in self defense, Maxwell said. However, I understand his decision to plead and avoid the possibility of dying in prison.
The City of Birmingham is still legally challenging a state law that took effect May 7 regionalizing the Birmingham Water Works Board, but on Tuesday took action to name its two representatives to the new 7-member board.

The City Council named Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson as its representative to the board. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin named Jarvis Patton, a former aide to previous Birmingham Mayor William Bell, as his pick for the board.

Its important for the city to have representation in any of those conversations, said Birmingham City Council President Darrell OQuinn. Under duress, we feel our hands being forced. We want the citizens of Birmingham represented in any discussions of them and their water board.

The Birmingham City Council also passed a resolution opposing any amendments to the certificate of incorporation for the Water Works Board.

The city filed a lawsuit against Gov. Kay Ivey on May 6 asking her not to sign the bill into law. She did anyway, but OQuinn said he still expects a hearing in federal court on Thursday.

Chief U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks set a hearing for May 15 on the request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

The new regional Birmingham water works board is now fully assembled a day before its first planned meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Gov. Ivey appointed Thomas C. Hudson Jr. of Mountain Brook to the board.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth appointed Bill Morris, general manager of Leeds Water Works.

The Shelby County Commission appointed Jeffery Brumlow, an attorney and former county commissioner.

Blount County appointed State Rep. David Standridge, a retired police captain.

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens appointed an engineer, Phillip R. Wiedmeyer, to the new regional board.

Wiedmeyer, acting in his capacity as board member, filed a federal lawsuit in response to the City of Birminghams lawsuit, declaring that the former Water Works Board was terminated, and asking U.S. District Court to stop the former board from taking any action after May 7.

Tyson stressed that she did not ask for the position, but was asked to accept the position.I cant talk about other public officials not fighting for or helping people and get an opportunity to sit at the table and fight for them where I just might be able to make a difference, she said. If I turned it down, that would make me a hypocrite.

Tyson noted the political realities of being just one of two representatives from Birmingham.

Im a county commissioner, but I am a citizen in the community and I am concerned about the people, Tyson told Al.com after her selection to the board. I come from a background of people caring about each other. Ive always had the interest of the citizens on my mind. I will represent them well.

The new law that regionalizes the Birmingham Water Works Board would give more power to suburban areas.

Under the new law the structure of the Birmingham Water Works Board will change, creating a seven-member authority dominated by appointees from outside the city of Birmingham and reducing the citys seats to two. Birmingham had controlled six of the nine seats on the former board.

I live in the real world but I will let them know everything thats going on, Tyson said. I will do Zoom calls, town hall, whatever I need to do to let them know whats transpiring. Dont look for major changes because were still two to five.

Patton, appointed by Woodfin, said it will be an honor to serve on the board.

To me it is both and honor and privilege to be asked to serve, and that the system has enabled me to turn to the political arena when I can be of benefit to the citizens of Birmingham, Patton said.
A British flag flies over a tourist kiosk on Westminster Bridge with the Elizabeth Tower part of the Palace of Westminster. AP

More than 5 million Americans visit the United Kingdom in a given year, making it one of the most popular travel destinations for those from the U.S.

But people visiting the UK should pay attention to their surroundings and exercise increased caution due to the possibility of terrorism, according to the latest update from the U.S. State Department.

The State Department issued an updated travel advisory for the UK, warning people to exercise increased caution due to the risk of terrorist violence. The UK is under a Level 2 advisory alongside places such as the Philippines, The Bahamas, Hong Kong, China, Greenland and Italy.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, concerts, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas, the warning noted.

READ MORE: US State Department warns: Dont travel to this country for any reason

There is also a risk of isolated violence among dissident groups in Northern Ireland that typically focus on police and military targets.

If you travel to the UK, the State Department advises visitors to:

 Be aware of their surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.

 Follow the instructions of local authorities.

 Check local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
Betsy Pringle, a Mountain Brook High sophomore, talks to the state library board at the May meeting to share how libraries have changed her life. Williesha Morris

Library directors must move sexually explicit content from children and teen sections to the adult section effective immediately, according to a May 12 letter from the state library board chair.

The Alabama Public Library Service board of trustees unanimously accepted a definition of sexually explicit content on May 8. Librarians say the new definition means they will need to move some common children and young adult books that include nudity or risk losing state funding.

According to the new policy, sexually explicit content is actual or simulated sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; Sexual excitement; Nudity; Bestiality; Masturbation; Sadistic or masochistic abuse; or Lascivious exhibition of the anus, genital or pubic area of any person.

The definition comes directly from the Alabama Code, Section 13A, which defines sexual conduct for material in adult bookstores.

Board member Amy Minton provided AL.com this definition in March 2024.

The definition includes books such as Gender Queer, a graphic novel about the authors exploration of gender identity. The book includes three scenes of sexual intercourse, including a scene depicted on a piece of artwork. Several Alabama libraries moved the book to the adult section or removed it from the library entirely, even though it was shelved in the adult section.

Alabama Public Library Service board member Amy Minton discusses the book Gender Queer with board president John Wahl. Williesha Morris

Minton brought a copy of the book to show the board to emphasize this book is still available in the young adult section at Gadsden Public Library.

Another book with sexual content that has caused controversy across the state include Sold, a book about human trafficking by Patricia McCormick. A Mobile Public Library patron challenged the book in 2023, and its one of the books holding up funding for Fairhope Public Library.

Fairhope physician Dr. Caleb Whitehead works with child victims of sexual assault and was disappointed to hear that books like Sold were being challenged.

I am thrilled that some have lived such comically sheltered lives to have found two to three sentences on sexual assault some of the most vulgar material they have ever encountered, Whitehead said during the board meeting. Unfortunately, however, most children live in the real world. In the real world, one in nine girls and one in 20 boys are or will become victims of sexual abuse.

Librarians told AL.com that many books, especially in the teen or young adult sections, have nudity, including popular books like Enders Game and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. But nudity in those books typically isnt considered problematic, and is appropriate to the overall context of the book, they said.

The cover of "Where's Waldo?" by Martin Hanford. Ruth Serven Smith

Childrens books such as Wheres Waldo? could be deemed sexually explicit because one book features a nude butt. In the Night Kitchen, written by famed childrens author Maurice Sendak, also includes a naked behind. Sendaks book has ended up on banned books lists in several states, according to the American Library Association.

Vast swathes of the collections in Alabamas public libraries teen and childrens departments fit this vague definition of sexually explicit as outlined by APLS Executive Board, said Matthew Layne, former president of the Alabama Library Association. These books will thus need to be moved to the libraries adult departments thereby forcing young children to browse for titles amongst material very much intended for adults.

The lack of public discussion on the part of the board regarding the pros and cons of the implementation of this vague definition is sad and disheartening, Layne said. The APLS Executive Board time and again reveals that they are more concerned with injecting Alabamas phenomenal public libraries with their personal biases rather than serving the greater good of the libraries and all of the states library patrons.

At Thursdays meeting board chair and GOP head John Wahl said that if libraries are worried about defunding, theres a very simple solution. It is in your hands. It is not us who are defunding you. It is your choice. To intentionally disobey state code is the only thing that would cause defunding. And I encourage you, strongly, any library directors out there look at the state code, comply with it, and there is nothing to worry about.

The APLS board is now considering asking librarians to move any books with transgender characters to the adult section.
This is a guest opinion column that was submitted by the Birmingham Water Works board members who are currently in a legal battle to continue in their roles after new legislation changed the makeup of the board.

During our time serving on the Board of Directors for the Birmingham Water Works, we made a conscious decision to lead with integrity, purpose, and unity. Representing 770,000 customers and 650 dedicated employees, we embraced this appointment fully aware that the work ahead would be difficultbut no less necessary.

This Board was not shaped by uniformity, but rather by a powerful diversity of thought, race, professional experience, age, political affiliation, and geography. Despite those differences, we led togetherbound by common goals: to deliver high-quality water to our customers, improve operational efficiency, uplift employee morale, and provide a new standard of customer service. We prioritized creating opportunities for local small businesses and, perhaps most importantly, committed to removing politics from the essential services our utility provides.

We approached this work seriously and deliberately. That meant making tough decisionsreshaping leadership, rewriting outdated policies, and holding ourselves and our executive team to higher standards of governance and ethics. Throughout our tenure, we endured media scrutiny and political interference, yet we remained focused. Rather than respond to the loudest voices of misinformation and personal agendas, we chose instead to lead with our actions, with integrity, and with results.

In just a few years, this Board faced and fought against two separate pieces of legislation aimed at undermining our autonomy. We fielded thousands of customer inquiries, addressed hundreds of internal personnel matters, and weathered countless public attacks. Yet, through it all, we kept our eyes on the mission.

The most powerful encouragement we received came not from headlines or public accolades, but from customers who thanked us personally, and from employees who once lacked confidence in leadership, now finding new trust and morale under our watch.

When SB 330 was introduced, we stood firmorganizing in Montgomery, engaging with the media, and speaking directly to decision-makers to raise awareness. While some leaders chose silence during that critical time, we chose to fight. While other community leaders proudly chose to spread misinformation to villainize our employees, discredit our good efforts, and carry out other political and self-serving agendas, this Board chose to be louder with our actions. We fought for our customers, for our employees, and for the future of a system we know that matters deeply to our region. We gave that fight everything we had.

Over our tenure, we faced two pieces of harmful legislation designed to strip Birmingham of influence over its own water. This was not new. Montgomery has been attempting to seize control of the Birmingham Water Works for decadesgoing back to the tenure of Mayor Richard Arrington. They introduced legislation every year during his administration, but those efforts were consistently defeated because of his strong leadership. Unfortunately, todays political climate did not offer the same resistance. When SB 330 passed, it did so with the help of misinformation and the silence of some who should have been fighting alongside us. The passage of SB 330 was not the result of operational failure or mismanagementit was the culmination of longstanding political agendas, fueled by misinformation and reinforced by silence in critical moments.

From the outset of our appointment in 2021, we established policies to ensure clean, ethical governance. We implemented conflict-of-interest clauses for contractors and adopted a self-governance policy requiring every board member to publicly commit to ethical service. All directors underwent formal training with the Alabama Ethics Commission, many of us more than once. These were not symbolic gesturesthey were foundational steps to remove political influence from our operations.

Contrary to false claims questioning our boards capability, we assembled one of the most qualified governing bodies in the utilitys history: leaders with extensive experience in finance, law, public administration, infrastructure, medicine, and academia. These were not political appointees; they were public servants chosen for their experience and readiness to lead.

Our board included professionals with decades of experience: a chairwoman with a strong infrastructure management background; a vice-chair who served as CFO for Shelby County; a retired financial officer with 40 years in public finance; a former mayor; a 30-year veteran of Birmingham Water Works operations; a UAB physician; a professor with a doctorate; and an economic development leader. This board was not only capablecollege educated, and highly qualified.

We recruited a new executive management team with the skills needed to correct longstanding operational challenges. Under the leadership of Mac Underwoodone of the most respected water professionals in the nationwe stabilized the organization. Mac brought more than 35 years of experience, including 18 years as general manager. His return was pivotal. We also brought back two former employees with over 45 years of combined institutional knowledge and appointed them as Assistant General Managers to lead customer-facing improvements.

To ensure institutional continuity, we brought longtime legal counsel Mark Parnell into executive leadership. His 38 years of experience and deep knowledge of our policies and history proved invaluable during this time of transition. We needed his insight not only to defend our past but to guide our future.

We authorized employment contracts for our executive team not out of politics, but out of duty. We knew that SB 330 would bring uncertainty to board governance, and we could not risk losing experienced leadership during a critical period. With over $143 million in infrastructure projects underway, and with the financial operations of the utility growing increasingly complex, we chose to act in the best interest of stability. This action was never about usit was about safeguarding the future for our employees and customers.

As we prepare to transition leadership, we do so knowing that we have left the Birmingham Water Works better than we found it. The utility is financially sound, operationally improved, and led by a team committed to excellence. The next board will inherit an organization strengthened by resolve, not weakened by politics.

To our employees: thank you for your hard work, resilience, and trust. To our customers: thank you for allowing us to serve you. To those who doubted our motives or questioned our integritywe let our work speak louder than words. And we believe history will show that the work was worth it.

The Birmingham Water Works Board of Directors, 20212025
Visitors to the Alabama welcome center in Limestone County often took photos of a Saturn IB rocket that towered above Interstate 65 near Ardmore. The welcome center is about 30 miles northwest of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. Ashley Remkus/AL.com

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the best candidate to oversee the construction of a replacement rocket at the Alabama welcome center on Interstate 65 in Ardmore, according to a state lawmaker.

There are some finer details to work out, but we will soon be on a clear path for its future design and construction, said State Rep. Andy Whitt, who chairs the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

Whitt said the replacement rocket will be discussed in committee this week. The replacement rocket will be a replica of the Saturn IB that stood at the now renovated welcome center on the Tennessee state line.

We certainly have the plans moving forward, said Whitt, who also represents the area. The $7 million has been secured. Now we think weve adopted a plan to get it up, at least get the RFP (request for proposal).

The previous rocket was on loan from NASA. The replicate will not be.

The previous rocket, developed at Huntsvilles Marshall Space Flight Center, had been in place at the rest stop since about 1979 before it was dismantled in 2023. There was a months-long effort to save the deteriorating rocket, but NASA and the rocket center said that after four decades of being exposed to the elements, the rocket was in no condition to be preserved and the cost would be prohibitive.

The Saturn IB was smaller than the Saturn V rocket, which carried men to the moon in the Apollo program, which is on display inside the rocket center. A rocket center report from 2022 described the IB rocket as an overlooked workhorse of the Apollo program. Among its tasks was sending crews to Skylab.

The welcome center itself reopened in October 2024 after being closed for closed for nearly two years. It underwent renovations to update the lobby and facilities and improve the sidewalks and outdoor grounds totaling $14.6 million.
After Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced he was holding up Donald Trumps Justice Department political nominees over the president accepting the $400 million air palace in the sky from Qatar, Alabamas senior senator mocked the strategy in one word.

Amateur, tweeted Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who for months held up then-President Joe Bidens military nominees over the Pentagons abortion policy.

Tuberville was responding to a tweet from Punchbowl News Andrew Desiderio, who pointed out that there arent very many (if any) Trump noms being fast-tracked through the chamber these days anyway.

Earlier Tuesday, Schumer called the Qatar plane arrangement naked corruption and a grave national security threat.

So, in light of the deeply troubling news of a possible Qatari-funded Air Force One, and the reports that the Attorney General personally signed off on this clearly unethical deal, Schumer said, I am announcing a hold on all DOJ political nominees, until we get more answers.

In mid-February 2023, Tuberville announced a blanket in protest of Defense Department policies concerning abortion, including a provision reimbursing service members for abortions if they need to travel outside their state for one if abortion is illegal where they are stationed.

The holds lasted for nearly 10 months.
Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, listens as a protester screams at him during a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting May 13, 2025. C-SPAN/screenshot

A screaming protester directed her anger at an Alabama congressman as a House committee debated Medicaid cuts on Tuesday.

You will kill me. I am HIV-positive, the demonstrator shouted, interrupting Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover.

It happened during the a meeting of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which legislates on health care policy, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Palmer claimed the protester and others who demonstrate against the cuts are victims of misinformation.

Its unfortunate that people are so enraged by misinformation theyve been given, Palmer said. Its a commentary on this Congress and how we treat people.

Palmer said that while one of his Democratic colleagues insisted there is no waste or fraud in Medicaid, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported $543 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2024.

The congressman said that $543 billion could have gone to people who need Medicaid coverage and medicine.

Thats waste and fraud. Thats abuse of the people that need Medicaid, he said, adding that other reports put improper Medicaid payments at over $1 trillion.

Heres the issue: were trying to save Medicaid, Palmer said. Its interesting, people hold up signs saying, save our Medicaid. Thats exactly what were trying to do.

On Monday, House Republicans unveiled the cost-saving centerpiece of President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill, at least $880 billion in cuts largely to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.

Tallying hundreds of pages, the legislation revealed late Sunday is touching off the biggest political fight over health care since Republicans tried but failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, during Trumps first term in 2017.

While Republicans insist they are simply rooting out waste, fraud and abuse to generate savings with new work and eligibility requirements, Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.

A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Its debatable whether the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, (Leo XIV), as the first American pope has displaced Donald Trump as the most important American. MAGA supporters probably dont think so. Certainly, Donald Trump isnt likely to agree either. However, there is one thing leftist pot-stirrers such as David French at the New York Times and MAGAmericans might both agree on -- that White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, is quickly becoming an important voice of the Trump Administration, a MAGA hero, and a Mainstream Media nemesis.

But its not what Miller has just done in his White House role that may rock the three branches of the United States government as we know them. Its not his verbal retort destroying yet another media lie that may produce the kind of explosive reverberations that could have the potential of igniting the kind of inter-branch constitutional crisis rarely seen in America since the one that eventually sparked that fateful shot on Fort Sumter.

American First Legal, (AFL), the non-profit public law foundation co-founded by Stephen Miller in 2021 with a mission of turning the legal tables on the radical activist left and to wage a forceful defense of our rights, our country, and our cherished American way of life, has just filed a bombshell lawsuit against Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., in his capacity as Presiding Officer of the Judicial Conference of the United States, and Robert J. Conrad, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

AFL wants information from the Judicial Conference and the U.S. Courts Administrative Office. John Roberts and Robert Conrad are accused of scoffing at the assertion by its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that AFL is entitled to it.

AFL calls the conference a unconstitutional shadow agency and its administrative arm -- both overseen by Chief Justice Roberts -- as rogue executive agencies that have collaborated with far-left lawmakers to wage lawfare against conservative Supreme Court justices, reports the Gateway Pundit.

Additionally, it reports that the lawsuit not only takes aim at the Judicial Branch and Chief Justice Roberts, but it also targets the Legislative Branch and Democrats Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Hank Johnson. It accuses them of a concerted effort, together with the Judicial Conference, and the mainstream media, to discredit Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh.

The FOIA request for correspondence between these two lawmakers and the Judicial Conference is the key element of the lawsuit. The conference feels itself immune from FOIA. AFL maintains the conference is bound by FOIA when, like in this alleged instance, it exercise[s] executive function[s].

If there is ever a case that may make its way to the Supreme Court, it is likely this one. It can easily be anticipated that the Federal District Court for District of Columbia, hearing the case, will conclude, and that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeal will concur, that the Judicial Branch has immunity under FOIA.

What is less easily anticipated is how the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Roberts, will respond when AFL brings their appeal. Such a case challenges not only the Judicial Branchs independence, but also Roberts professional integrity.

To deny the appeal leaves the chief justice, the Court, and the Judicial Branch, subject to the appearance of impropriety and of having something to hide.

Taking up the case almost certainly would demand Roberts recusal. Hearing the case risks the exposure of some very unfavorable details potentially implicating Roberts, the Judicial Conference, and Democrats Whitehouse and Johnson. Lastly, any ruling by a reduced Court that agrees with the lower courts will risk the same unfavorable impressions by the public. An unlikely ruling that favors AFL will be no less damaging to the Democrats and Judicial Branch leadership.

Whether John Roberts can survive such an assault on his ethics and remain on the Court is questionable. Roberts will be forced to consider voluntary resignation or subjecting himself to a potential impeachment if its revealed he is deeply complicit in conspiring with the Democrat lawmakers. To be sure, the allegations against Roberts, if not disproved, will continue to hover over him and his legacy as a dark cloud without a silver lining.

For the Democrats, who have a love/hate relationship with Roberts, as he has shown himself all too willing to side with the Courts liberal faction, giving President Trump a chance to nominate a new truly conservative chief justice under a GOP-controlled Senate will be too great to bear. Their only hope of avoiding the damning spectacle of impeachment proceedings, or the nomination process of a new chief justice, may be the retaking of the House and Senate in the upcoming mid-terms.

For Donald Trump, the prospect of AFL winning would be like a dream come true. For Stephen Miller, a win would likely catapult him higher in the Administration, perhaps into the position of National Security Advisor recently left vacant by Mike Waltzs removal.

For the Republic, the Constitution, and the American People, the AFL lawsuit, however resolved, isnt likely to set off a second U.S. Civil War as that shot on Fort Sumter. But it will leave all three deeply wounded by deafening crack of a single shot, in a manner rarely seen in American history, especially with the strong involvement of the Weakest and Silent Judicial Branch.

Image: America First Legal
We have previously reported that Andrew Paquette, Ph.D., discovered a pattern in the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) voter registration database showing that an unusually high percentage of voter records (31.5%) end in zero. Further analysis revealed doubles, where different Wisconsin voters are assigned functionally identical ID numbers through leading zero manipulation, affecting approximately 444,150 voter records (5.7% of the database).

Two-fer Voters: The Finding of Secret Voter ID Hidden in the WEC Voter Database

We can now report that Paquette has found an undisclosed person-level identifier (CodedID) in the WEC voter registration file that links duplicate records for the same individual, each of which is assigned different WEC voter ID numbers. Unlike doubles (different voters sharing identical ID numbers), these two-fers involve the same voter receiving multiple distinct voter IDs connected through a common encrypted identifier.

These two-fers create a structural vulnerability for the same voter, maintaining multiple separate pathways in the registration system, each with its own unique voter registration number. This is true even though the Help American Vote Act (HAVA) requires that each voter appear only once in the database.

In his analysis of 61,580 Milwaukee County voter registration records, Paquette identified 4,387 records with duplicate CodedIDs, confirming that all had different VoterRegNumbers despite representing the same individuals. Of these, 91.2% appear in pairs, 8.0% in triplets, 0.5% in sets of four, 0.1% in sets of six, and 0.2% in sets of ten, demonstrating systematic duplication rather than isolated incidents.

The two-fers shared identical personal information. Thus, 100% of records with matching CodedIDs had the same first and last names and house number. Some were marked active, while others were inactive, with many CodedIDs having multiple registration numbers simultaneously marked as active. Additionally, all analyzed records with CodedIDs requested absentee ballots.

Table 1 clarifies the nearly identical personal identification information (PII) for two-fer voters, where two or more voter records, each with their own WEC voter ID, are created as duplicates with nearly identical PII profiles.

Duplicate Voting Evidence in the WEC Computers

Analysis of WEC voter history records revealed 295 votes in the 2020 General Election assigned to 141 CodedIDs, with 243 absentee votes. These data reveal instances where the same individual has multiple votes recorded through different registration numbers.

Its important to note that CodedIDs were available for only 61,000 of Wisconsins 8.8 million voter records (0.7%), though Paquette analyzed the complete database to identify approximately 874,000 suspicious registrations (11.3%). Despite this limited CodedID sample, he identified 295 votes from just 141 CodedIDs, demonstrating that multiple VoterRegNumbers for the same individual were simultaneously active and used for voting. Without date of birth data, which WEC did not provide, even more duplicate registrations might have been confirmed with greater confidence.

As seen above in Table 1, CodedIDs consist of 10-digit strings using standard Base64 encoding characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /, =). Notably, these identifiers do not encrypt any visible database field, yet they accurately link records belonging to the same individual. This suggests they may connect to external systems not disclosed in public records, effectively creating a shadow identification system.

Prominent Florida attorney Peter Ticktin offered this assessment:

Basically, these anomalies, which Dr. Paquette has unearthed, prove beyond question that our Voter Rolls in Wisconsin, and probably every other states voter rolls, have been compromised, probably for nefarious purposes. The presence of these anomalies constitutes an election emergency that is going to require steadfast national rules for 2026. We cannot just accept these corrupted Voter Rolls as though everything is fine. There will have to be paper ballots and new registrations with reliable offline identification, at least for the near future.

Conclusion

In his first paper examining algorithmic anomalies in the New York State Board of Elections (SBOE) voter registration database, Paquette hypothesized that systematically duplicated voter records might be linked through undisclosed identifiers within the database structure. The current findings in Wisconsin provide concrete evidence of such a mechanism through the CodedID system, which effectively creates a parallel identification structure alongside the official voter registration numbers.

The Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) database analysis reveals three significant issues: (1) the doubles phenomenon, where different voters share functionally identical ID numbers through leading zero manipulation, (2) the two-fers, where the same individual maintains multiple distinct voter registration numbers linked by CodedIDs, and (3) evidence of 295 votes associated with 141 CodedIDs in the 2020 election, primarily through absentee ballots. These structural vulnerabilities collectively affect over 874,000 records identified as suspicious (11.3% of the database) and appear to conflict with HAVA requirements that each voter should appear only once in the registration system.

On April 29, 2025, White House legal advisor Alina Habba (also currently serving as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey) announced the creation of a federal Election Integrity Task Force to work in conjunction with the Director of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate election fraud. The Task Force objectives include:

Facilitating information sharing between federal, State, and local officials to enhance the ability of election officials to efficiently and effectively remove individuals who are not eligible to vote from State voter lists.

Prioritizing the investigation and prosecution of election crimes, including but not limited to federal statutes that prohibit voter registration fraud, the casting of fraudulent ballots, voting by non-citizens, individuals voting multiple times in the same election, and foreign interference caused by foreign nationals contributing or donating funds to United States elections.

Taking appropriate steps to ensure compliance with the voter list maintenance requirements of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.

Given the significant vulnerabilities identified in the Wisconsin voter registration system, the Election Integrity Task Force should prioritize a thorough forensic examination of the WEC database to determine the full extent and purpose of these anomalies. The findings in Wisconsin appear to reveal patterns similar to those found in other state voter registration systems, suggesting these issues may extend beyond a single states implementation.

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.
Former Missouri Gov. and U.S. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond died Tuesday in St. Louis at the age of 86, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced.

In honor of Bond's legacy, Kehoe has ordered all U.S. and Missouri flags at government buildings and grounds across the state to be flown at half-staff from Tuesday until Bond is laid to rest.

"Kit Bond was a skilled statesman, public servant, and a man who truly loved Missouri. I am blessed to have known Kit and honored to call him a friend and a mentor," Governor Kehoe said in a statement.

"Kit, always with his trademark smile and sense of humor, was a fierce advocate for Missouri throughout his accomplished 40-year career of public service. Kit kept Missouri's interests at heart, both in office and out, making our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family."

"Whenever he was thanked for his service, Kit's response was always, 'Serving the people of Missouri was the honor of my life.' His legacy as a 'favorite son' to his beloved State of Missouri lives on through all he achieved for his home state. Kit touched the lives of so many men and women throughout his career, and today I join them in grieving the loss of a good man. Just as they will miss their friend and mentor, so will I. On behalf of all Missourians, Claudia and I share our deepest condolences and offer our prayers for his wife Linda, his son Sam, and the entire Bond family."

A cause of death was not disclosed. Further details regarding memorial services are expected to be announced later Tuesday.

Born in St. Louis on March 6, 1939, Bond attended Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts before earning his degree from Princeton University in 1960. He went on to graduate at the top of his class from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1963.

Bond began his legal career in Washington, D.C., before relocating in 1967 to Mexico, Missouri  his maternal grandfather's hometown. He entered public service shortly after, beginning with a run for Congress in 1968 and then being appointed to lead Missouri's Consumer Protection Division in 1969.

He was elected Missouri State Auditor in 1970 at age 31 and made history two years later when he became the state's youngest governor at age 33  and its first Republican governor in nearly three decades. His eligibility for the office was challenged due to Missouri's residency requirements, but the state Supreme Court ultimately ruled in his favor.

Bond's decades-long career in public office included two nonconsecutive terms as governor and four terms in the U.S. Senate, where he was known for his bipartisan approach and advocacy for Missouri's infrastructure, agriculture, and military installations.

His contributions to Missouri and the nation are widely regarded as instrumental in shaping modern public policy and economic development across the state.
In the opening sentence of Douglas Murrays current bestseller, On Democracies and Death Cults, Murray writes, Sometimes a flare goes up and you see exactly where everyone is standing.

In this case, the flare was the October 7, 2023 pogrom in southern Israel perpetrated by Hamas and hordes of innocent Gazan civilians.

And that flare starkly illuminated the unmistakable outline of Tucker Carlson.

On the wrong side of the wire.

For years Carlson offered conservative punditry at outlets like the Weekly Standard, CNN, and MSNBC, until he really took off in 2016 as Fox Newss most popular conservative. In 2019, Michael Anton labeled Carlson the de facto leader of the conservative movement -- assuming any such thing can still be said to exist.

His nightly monologues fearlessly exposed the debacles of the Russia hoax, COVID, mostly peaceful BLM riots, the rigged election, and the Biden administrations Gestapo tactics towards the J6 protesters.

One could imagine that, once the Left had successfully assassinated Trump, the next worst troublemaker who needed shutting up would be Carlson.

Then the most shocking historical crime of this century happened, and Tucker Carlson had nothing to say. As weeks passed after October 7, his silence implied an unhealthy antipathy towards Israels cause.

Then, on November 15, 2023, Carlson interviewed Candace Owens, a frequent guest on Fox News, including Carlsons former show. At the time of the podcast, Owens was in the middle of a flap with her then co-worker at the Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro (an issue of its own thats not the focus here).

When the conversation turned to Israel, Carlsons thoughts on October 7 werent encouraging.

Im an American. I was horrified by what happened on Oct. 7. I think it was pretty strange, I dont understand how it happened, but innocents died and thats awful. And I hated watching that. And I feel so sorry for the Israelis who were killed. However, theres an emotional response that is disproportionate, I think, on the part of some commentators. I mean, our country is being invaded right now by millions of young men whose identities we dont know, who probably dont even like America, and theyre now living here. Over a 100,000 Americans die every year of fentanyl These are real tragedies. Ive never seen anything like the emotion from any commentator around those tragedies as Im watching about a foreign tragedy. I think thats odd.

But Tucker was hardly the lone voice passionate about open borders and fentanyl deaths. These were universally decried across the conservative commentariat, without needing to cast supporting Israels survival and border security as mutually exclusive.

And unlike other foreign tragedies like Ukraine or Syria, Hamas butchered 40 Americans on October 7, and took hostage an indeterminate number of other Americans, including, after murdering its parents, a three-year-old toddler.

In September 2024, Tucker hosted, as the best and most honest popular historian in the United States, podcaster Darryl Cooper.

Tucker was keen on Coopers notion that the chief villain of World War II was Winston Churchill, who stoked war on behalf of his Jewish financiers. Cooper effectually denied the Holocaust, claiming Nazi plans for Operation Barbarossa inadvertently underestimated how many POWs theyd end up having to feed. That millions of them starved to death was an unintended tragedy.

Then, in December, Tucker hosted a two-hour podcast with Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist, UN-advising globalist, and close associate of George Soros, (which last bit Tucker failed to mention). Sachs, who has has repeatedly accused Israel of genocide, spent two largely uninterrupted hours retailing his theory that the Israel lobby hijacked American foreign policy 30 years ago, to implement Benjamin Netanyahus sinister Greater Israel agenda that would rule from the Nile to the Euphrates that Israel opposed Palestinian rule over Judea and Samaria, Gaza, and the Golan.

Sachs said, Netanyahu has engaged the United States so far in six disastrous wars, and hes aiming to engage us in yet one more. Carlson saw no need to follow up after Sachs accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of creating Hamas and Hezbollah to expand the Jewish states borders and achieve greater Israel.

Following the podcast, Amichai Chikli, Israels Minister of Diaspora Affairs and combating antisemitism, tweeted, Congratulations to Tucker Carlson for becoming the leading platform for fringe Holocaust deniers, conspiracy theorists, and blood libel enthusiasts who oppose the State of Israel.

But if there was any doubt that this only means Carlson is consistent about opposing American entanglement in foreign wars, his recent appearance on the popular Megyn Kelly Show podcast leaves no room for doubt.

Powerlines Scott Johnson posted last week a four-minute clip of Tucker responding to charges of antisemitism. According to Tablet podcaster Michael Doran, Tuckers response managed to hit every note of classic denials of antisemitism. Its beautiful!, Doran exclaims. It should be taught in schools. Its a work of art. (56:34 in the podcast).

Carlson began by telling Kelly he loves both Jews and Israel, but hes been attacked in ways that are so crazy, and its totally coordinated from Israel, by creepy people taking direct orders from a foreign government.

Its so bad he called one of his many friends in the Israeli government (an Elder of Zion, perhaps?), to tell them, Stop this. I am not your enemy You dont think you have enough enemies?

More than enough. The problem is he keeps saying, and favorably showcasing, people who say all the same things Israels worst enemies do.

Like the blood libel that the IDFs conduct of the war is disproportionate (read, genocidal), to the foreign tragedy of October 7, to which Israel just had to overreact. As a taxpayer, hes got a right to complain.

You have a dispute with your neighbor and you want to get, you know, medieval on them, do it on your own dime

Israel wanted this war, you see.

And getting medieval is the IDFs historically unprecedented efforts to protect -- and feed -- the Gazan civilians Hamas sacrifices as human shields.

Or Carlsons inflammatory charge Israel is dragging us into an unwinnable war -- just like the Jews made Churchill drag us into WWII.

Or how hes being called antisemitic on the direct orders of International Jewish Headquarters.

Carlsons past just asking questions or offering a forum to explore alternative views: hes handing access to his millions of viewers to characters like Sachs and Cooper, while either leaving their wildest theories unchallenged, or indicating avid agreement.

Then tells Megyn Kelly he really doesnt want a fight about Israel. At all.

As Scott Johnson, notes, if Carlson were an obscure crank, I would be happy to ignore him. But he is far from nobody in the eyes of the Trump administration and the online right.

Right now, Carlsons Live Tour features top MAGA notables like Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Megyn Kelly, Charlie Kirk, RFK, Jr., and VP Vance.

Trump and his supporters have consistently supported Israel, while the Left has loudly endorsed the worst form of Jew hatred.

But if given the chance, theyll ruthlessly exploit mixed messages from our side.

Thats why Trump -- quietly but firmly  must make Tucker Carlson persona non grata.

T.R. Clancy looks at the world from Dearborn, Michigan. You can email him at trclancy@yahoo.com.

Image: Gage Skidmore
In selecting a name for a child, the name is more revealing about the parents in choosing it than about the individual born to bear it. Similarly, a new popes name selection to head the Roman Catholic Church (Church) is most revealing about him.

The late Pope Francis had selected a name never before chosen which, in itself, was telling. It suggested he sought to avoid the appearance of falling in line with any predecessor, setting his own distinct direction. He did make a Vatican course changetaking the Church away from traditionalism and putting it on a more liberal trajectory.

Accordingly, we must ask why Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, the 267th pope, selected Leo, becoming Leo XIV. The first American ever selected, does he intend to stay, modify or seriously alter the course set by Pope Francis?

On May 10, in his first formal meeting and Mass with the cardinals, he extended his appreciation for the honor they bestowed upon him, setting a tone of humility, continuity and openness. While continuity suggests an alignment along the direction set by Francis, one wonders, if so, why he failed to select Francis II as his nom de papacy.

What factors may have influenced his selection?

Historically, popes named Leo seem to have had major impacts on the Church.

Perhaps not a direct influence but, nonetheless, of consideration is that Leo is the Latin word for liona context in which many leaders, regardless of profession, like to be perceived. The 12th century king of England, Richard I, was given the name the Lionheart by his enemies in recognition of his fearlessness in battle. While Leo XIV will wield no sword, the name does suggest he will be a social warrior for the Church and its followers.

Let us examine some of the accomplishments of earlier Pope Leos.

Leo I, the 45th pope (440461), was one of three papal leaders to be designated the Great. A major influence both inside and out of the Church, among his most noted accomplishments was a 452 meeting with Attila the Hun, whom he successfully convinced not to invade Italyno wonder Leo I is referred to as one of the greatest popes of all times.

Leo III (795816) was a Roman, serving as the 96th pope. He made history by crowning the first Holy Roman EmperorCharlemagnewho became defender of the Christian faith, helping to spread the religion across the pagan regions of Europe.

Leo IX (10491054) and Leo X (15131521)the 152nd and 217th popes respectivelyboth led the Church during times of internal friction.

A schism had occurred in the Church due to Emperor Constantines shifting the Roman Empires authority from Rome, eastward, to Constantinople in 330. This created internal tension that still plagued the Church during Leo IXs tenure. As Constantinople was viewed as the New Rome, division existed as to which city controlled Catholicism. It was Leo IXs initiative that led the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church to separatewith the former situated in Rome and the latter in Constantinople.

Leo X faced division as well as German theologian Martin Luther criticized the Church in 1519 for corruption. Two years earlier he wrote a work critical of the Church selling indulgences in exchange for salvation, arguing salvation only came through ones faith. During the last year of his papacy, Leo X excommunicated Luther. Again, a split in the Church resulted, this time with Protestant faiths breaking away.

Also noted among the string of papal Leos was Leo XIII. The 256th pope and, at age 93 the oldest to serve, he logged the fourth longest tenure in papal history (1878-1903). Interestingly, in 1896, he became the earliest person born (1810) to ever be captured on movie film. Leo XIII was a champion of the working class, authoring a papal letter in 1891 calling for the Church to speak out on social issues and warning against taking advantage of the working class.

In his May 10 comments, Leo XIV referenced this papal letter as one reason why he chose the name to continue down this same path.

Among popes, Leos have a positive image in confronting adversity and advocating for unity.

Pope Francis (20132025) left behind a progressive legacy. He opened up topics that were outside the Churchs cultureincluding climate change as a moral issue, unfettered capitalism, and financial transparency within the Vatican.

Interestingly, prior to Prevosts election to replace Francis as pope, bettors predicted him to be a longshot. They believed a new pope would not be elected from among any power country. By the second day of voting, Prevost was only given a 1.8% chance of being selected by the conclave.

With Leo XIV taking the helm of the Vaticans ship of state, Church traditionalists probably would have felt better had he chosen the name Benedict, conveying an intention to follow the course set by Benedict XVI (20052013)considered the last conservative pontiff.

So, then, what course will Leo XIV set?

As a cardinal, Prevost demonstrated a liberal mindset, serving as a close ally of Francis. The liberal New York Times was clearly pleased with his selection, stating that Prevost stand[s] in contrast to the energized conservative Catholicism in his home country and suggesting he represents a balanced alternative between those who wanted to continue Pope Francis inclusive but at times provocative agenda, and those who preferred to return to a more conservative path focused on doctrinal purity.

Both the late and new pope were critics of President Donald Trump. Criticism by the former started during Trumps 2016 campaign and almost became Catholic doctrine. He clashed with Trumps treatment of immigrants, including the building of a wall on our southern border. Before becoming pope, Prevost had been critical of both Trump and Vice President JD Vance, again concerning immigration issues.

It is interesting Pope Francis criticized construction of our border wall as he resided securely behind a wall reaching as high as 39 feet, built in the 9th century to keep pirates from invading again. Ironically, that wall was built by a LeoLeo IVthe 104th pope (847855).

Based on their histories, the papal name Leo suggests one who willingly confronts division head-on, hoping to be a unifier but also willing to take the steps necessary to isolate further dangers to fracturing the Church.

Leo XIV did show a spark of Leoism during his May 10 remarks, calling for unity in faith and purpose.

A betting Catholic would probably put money on Leo XIV continuing in the general direction of Pope Francis, with minimal righting of the ship of state to encourage unity. Perhaps Robert Francis Prevost felt it unnecessary to take the name Francis as that is already his middle name.

While Leo XIVs first Mass unsurprisingly evoked the teachings of Francis, we will have to wait to see if there are any major course changes.

However, it should come as no surprise if the new pontiff reveals himself to be a Francis in Leos clothing.

Image: YouTube video screen grab.
(John Solomon's rebuttal to this essay can be read here.)

From my perch at American Thinker, rumors sometimes come my way. One of them, seemingly a solid one, is that a well-financed effort is underway to acquire several major conservative outlets, including Human Events, The Post Millennial, and The Daily Caller, to roll them up under a single owner. According to what Ive heard, the forces behind this effort are donors sympathetic to the vision of the Republican Party that Liz Cheney, Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, and Mitt Romney espouse.

As a matter of principle, Im deeply opposed to the idea of a consortium controlling multiple once-independent websites. Im also perplexed by the consortiums choice for its figurehead (assuming the rumors are true), because the man chosen, while a great journalist, has a track record of big, expensive dreams that he has yet to realize.

If the rumors about the buyers ideological leanings are correct, these are people still invested in the stale ideas and feckless policies that broke the Republican party during the Bush years. Todays conservative thought leaders, who have huge videos/podcasts and X followings, actively support or are open to Trumps policies. The Bush-era Republicans, stuck with marginalized ideas that cannot compete in the conservative realm, have decided to skip improving their ideas and to opt, instead, for buying influence.

Image by Grok.

Its probable that the consortium will promise its targets that they can keep their editorial independence. I doubt it, for I believe the old and true aphorism that he who pays the piper calls the tune.

Newly purchased sites will quickly find that their editorial independence is an illusion. Sooner or later, if someone at, say, The Daily Caller comes down too hard on Chris Sununu or John Cornyn, or is too enthusiastic about Trumps approach to China, someone from the head office will make it clear that these sentiments have no place in a site owned by the conglomerate.

And so, little by little, a large sector of the conservative ecosystem will face a two-pronged problem. First, itll be advocating the same bad policies that were so disastrous for the Republican party from 2000-2008, paving the way for Obama. Second, with ideological diversity erased, Republicans will start to suffer from the same groupthink that has corrupted Democrats.

While groupthink creates a powerful bloc, it also makes people weak. The bubble denies them the ability to understand or to defend against their ideological opponents. Thats why the traditional Republican party, the one that the people behind this buyout apparently represent, was blindsided by the rise of the MAGA movement. If theyd been paying attention to the truly diverse conservative internet, they would have seen it coming.

To understand just how bad groupthink can be, look to the left. Eight years ago, even Saturday Night Live mocked the leftist bubble, which has worsened since then.

The result was that Democrats were blindsided when their baseblue collar workers and minoritiesabandoned them in 2024. The bubble assured the Democrat establishment that the base would stick with them no matter how many illegal immigrants they shipped into blue-collar and minority communities, and no matter how often they insisted that it was perfectly normal to teach children that it works to mutilate and sterilize people in service to the delusion that someone can be born in the wrong body.

Intellectual diversity protects ideologies from the dangers of the bubble and forces them into the rigor of defending their values. When consortia create an ideological cartel, it doesnt strengthen a political movement; it dangerously weakens it. Thats why I would be very unhappy if this rollup rumor proved true and were successful.

However, its possible that the consortium Ive heard about may contain the seeds of its destruction. Thats because Ive heard that the person (or one of the people) heading the rollup initiative is John Solomon.

I have no beef with Solomon. I think hes an excellent reporter, and I admire him greatly for sticking to his guns in the face of savage (and, ultimately, provably wrong) attacks against his accurate reporting on Joe Bidens corrupt Ukraine ties. (See, e.g., here and here.) I also like the outlet he created, Just The News, which has straightforward reporting and, something I really appreciate, links to newsworthy judicial decisions.

Having said that, if you look at Solomons history, it shows a man with a vision that he pursues relentlessly, but no matter how much money or authority he gets, he never fulfills that vision. Solomon has described his vision as creating

a four-dimensional product with multiple revenue streams.... You put them all together, and you can build a business model as good as any in 20th century journalism. In less airy-fairy terms, that means a site with daily news stories, deep-dive reporting, podcasts, and videocasts.

Its actually a doable vision, because The Daily Wire has achieved it. It features news stories, in-depth reports, video and audio podcasts, a growing roster of personalities, and even hit movies. One could even argue that Solomon was there first with the idea.

The problem is that Solomon, unlike The Daily Wire team, reportedly has never achieved his goal, whether at sites that gave him power and money or at his own site (which, again, I like). One example is his tenure as executive editor at The Washington Times. There, he attempted to implement his vision, allegedly at great expense, only to see that implementation fall apart with circulation apparently collapsing on his watch.

When the Moons family infighting placed an even greater burden on the paper, things rapidly fell apart, and Solomon resigned in 2009. One long-time editor issued a harsh verdict: John Solomon put the paper into a near-death spiral.

According to another report, the pattern repeated when Solomon, in 2012, moved on to the Center for Public Integrity (CPI). Once again, he dazzled people with a grand vision for a vast, consolidated site, promising to give everything to audiences, whether they read, viewed, or listened to the news. He convinced backers to provide millions to fund this vision.

Suddenly, the small outlet, which once offered only a few deeply-researched and award-winning essays a year, had a huge staff and was churning out up to ten essays a dayexcept that, according to the same report, those ten essays werent anywhere near enough to satisfy the outlets burgeoning expenses. Solomon had allegedly predicted gross annual revenues of $16.4 million from investments, partnerships, advertising, and subscribers. What actually happened was that CPI almost failed. Instead of $16.4 million coming in, Solomon left it $2 million in debt.

From there, Solomon moved on to Circa, where he was allegedly given a $9 million operating budget through the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Solomon left Circa in less than two years, and nobody even remembers Circa now. Today, while Just The News is a solid site, its not a star in the conservative firmament.

Again, I admire John Solomon as an investigator, a writer, and a courageous man. However, given that the reports Ive seen indicate that his reach exceeds his grasp when it comes to bringing his grander visions to fruition, the consortium may find that, even if does rollup valuable conservative news and opinion siteswhich I oppose on principlethe new management, rather than bringing these sites to greater heights, could destroy them entirely.
In his latest proposal to end the war in Ukraine, former President Donald Trump reportedly offered Vladimir Putin a dangerous concession: de jure recognition of Russias annexation of Crimea. The proposal appears to accept the idea that Crimea was once part of Russia and that returning it to Russia would restore historical justice.

This logic is not just politically reckless, it is historically and legally indefensible. It echoes the imperial narrative Putin himself has long advanced: that modern Russia is the rightful heir to the entire Russian Empire and entitled to reclaim its lost territories. But history tells a very different story.

Crimea was never part of Russia, and the Russian Federation is not a successor to the entire Russian Empire. The Russian Federation is a successor only to such parts of that empire as Great Russia and Siberia, where the ethnic Russian population was concentrated. But the empire had many other parts, including Crimea.

The Crimean Mountains and Yalta by DiscoverWithDima. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Crimea was never part of Great Russia. It was annexed by Catherine the Great in 1783 from the Crimean Khanate, a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. Though incorporated into the Russian Empire, it remained an administrative borderlandnever part of Russias ethnic or cultural heartland. Crimea has always been a multiethnic region, home to Crimean Tatars, Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and others. It was never an ancestral Russian homeland.

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Ukraine emerged as a sovereign state with Crimea within its bordersa fact acknowledged by Russia itself in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the 2003 Russia-Ukraine Border Treaty.

Russias claim that Crimea is inherently Russian is not grounded in historical truth, ethnic composition, or international law. The 2014 annexation was not a historical correctionit was a violation of international law, a breach of treaty, and an illegal land grab cloaked in nostalgia.

Worse still, if Trump endorses Russias claim to Crimea based on its imperial past, he effectively legitimizes a broader campaign of territorial revisionism. If Russia can seize Crimea the grounds of being the successor to the Russian empire, what prevents it from claiming its other parts, all of Ukraine, or the Baltic states, or even Finland and Poland? This is not a defense of ethnic self-determination. It is an ideological resurrection of imperialism. And that is precisely what Putin promotes and what Trump seems perilously close to endorsing. But if Trump or any American politician accepts this premise, they must understand what they are legitimizing: not a narrowly defined border adjustment, but a framework for permanent imperial revisionism

Such logic resurrects the 19th-century principle of imperial conquest over the postWorld War II international order that prioritized sovereignty and territorial integrity. International law exists precisely to prevent these kinds of revanchist spirals. If empires could reassert claims based on past glories, Turkey could demand Syria and Iraq, the UK could reassert dominion over India, China might claim Outer Mongolia, and Mongolia could in turn declare itself the successor to Tengiz Khans empire and reclaim both Russia and China. We would return to chaos.

Trump and his supporters, however, seem less concerned with formalities than with reality. They may argue that Crimea is lost to Ukraine, and that recognizing Crimea as Russian reflects geopolitical reality. But even that is false. Ukraine has already severely degraded Russias military presence in Crimeacrippling the Black Sea Fleet, striking airfields and air defense systems, and threatening the Kerch Bridge. Of all territories under Russian occupation, Crimea may be the most vulnerable to Ukrainian liberation.

Probably the main reason for Trumps proposal is that he feels he must make some concessions to Putin to lure him into a ceasefire. He believes that Russia is winning the war and should get something in exchange for stopping the fighting. But that misreads the situation. Russia is not winning the war. Its troops are exhausted, its economy strained, and its resources dwindling. Putin needs a ceasefire not less than Ukraine does. He is bluffing because he hopes that in addition to the ceasefire he can get a lot of concessions, and Trump seems to be falling into Putins trap. He has already fed Putin a truckload of carrots, which has only provoked more killings.

It is time to take up the stick. When Putin realizes that he will get any concessions from Trump, and instead will get only new sanctions, he will most likely sign a ceasefire.

It is unlikely that a permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine can be negotiated now. Trump is mistaken to think that he can bully Zelensky or appease Putin into signing such a deal, because neither has the authority to compromise in a way that is acceptable to the other side. Putin is beholden to an ideology that demands total victory over Ukraine, and Zelensky is beholden to the Ukrainian people, who refuse to give up either their independence or their land.

While the prospects for peace are slim, a temporary unconditional ceasefire, which Zelensky has already agreed to, is possible, which means no more shooting, no more prisoners, no more kidnapped children from Russia, and nothing more. All other issues should be put aside for further negotiations.

So, no concessions are needed. But Trumps proposal has many. The most dangerous part of Trumps proposal may not be Crimea at all, but the suggestion that sanctions against Russia should be lifted. Ceasefires always end, sometimes with peace, but more often with resumed hostilities, and we must be prepared for that. Our goal is to defeat Putins regime, and to do that, Ukraine must emerge from the ceasefire stronger and Russia weaker. Regardless of the ceasefire, we must maintain all sanctions against Russia and perhaps strengthen them and increase our military support for Ukraine.

President Trumps instincts may be rooted in deal-making. But this is not a negotiation, it is a confrontation with a regime bent on restoring the empire. Giving Putin what he wants will not end the war. It will invite the next one.
Just a week ago, I published a lengthy post in which I listed the numerous Trump executive orders that are making America stronger, safer, saner, and a place where normal people can live happy and prosperous lives. Since then, Trump has gone on to promote domestic production of critical medicines, transfer funds from illegal aliens to homeless veterans, and end the practice of having Americans subsidize cheap prescription medicines abroad.

All those orders made headlines. Whats just creeping onto the radar, though, one of the most consequential, for Trump is protecting ordinary Americans from regulations that turn them into criminals.

The Executive Order is Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations, which the President signed on May 9. In it, he opens by stating the obvious:

The United States is drastically overregulated. The Code of Federal Regulations contains over 48,000 sections, stretching over 175,000 pages  far more than any citizen can possibly read, let alone fully understand.

Image by Grok.

That is singing my song. As a lawyer, I found utterly appalling the regulations controlling clients activities, their wealth, and even their freedomand this was true for both state (California) and federal regulations. During the Obamacare debate, I learned that one of the reasons that insurance in California was so expensive wasnt the actual cost of healthcare; it was the 1,500 regulations controlling health insurers, compared to the mere 500 controlling insurers in Texas.

Im in favor of some regulations. They make sense when it comes to protecting consumers from things about which they cannot be expected to have knowledge. For example, when I did a home remodel, having the town inspector make sure the contractor had correctly and safely raised my ceiling was a real benefit to me, because there was no way I could know for myself if the job was done right. Its also nice to know that your doctor has passed a basic competency test.

However, as I discovered over the years, regulations often serve only as a trap for the unwary. You, an ordinary businessperson or homeowner, and your attorney, a generalist whom a friend recommended, are suddenly facing the might of the federal government, staffed with bureaucrats and lawyers who do absolutely nothing but study one regulatory area. Trump describes this situation as,

...absurd and unjust. It allows the executive branch to write the law, in addition to executing it. That situation can lend itself to abuse and weaponization by providing Government officials tools to target unwitting individuals. It privileges large corporations, which can afford to hire expensive legal teams to navigate complex regulatory schemes and fence out new market entrants, over average Americans.

In other words, the current system allows every bureaucrat to become Lavrentiy Beria, Stalins feared secret police chief: Show me the man, and Ill show you the crime.

And there really are crimes, even though no legislator has passed on them. The executive order explains:

[M]any [regulations] carry potential criminal penalties for violations. The situation has become so dire that no one - likely including those charged with enforcing our criminal laws at the Department of Justice  knows how many separate criminal offenses are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, with at least one source estimating hundreds of thousands of such crimes. Many of these regulatory crimes are strict liability offenses, meaning that citizens need not have a guilty mental state to be convicted of a crime.

This is weaponized government with a vengeance.

To address it, Trump has issued a new policy to control the executive branch of government. Moving forward, Criminal enforcement of criminal regulatory offenses is disfavored.

Under the new policy, the government should prosecute only those who know or can be presumed to know what is prohibited or required by the regulation and willingly choose not to comply, thereby causing or risking substantial public harm. In other words, if regulations are going to criminalize behavior, there must be a criminal intenta mens reato trigger a conviction, and a serious outcome harming the public welfare if the government doesnt act.

This means that an ordinary person, doing ordinary things, will not suddenly find the federal government declaring that a pond on his property is a water of the United States and that he is required to pay tens of thousands of dollars for violating regulations controlling such waters or to take the case to the Supreme Court.

To help nail down this new standard, the order provides specific directives requiring agencies to identify regulations that carry criminal penalties and highlight that information for the public. They must also explain exactly what their standards are for referring violations for prosecution.

This is a great day for ordinary people whose Constitution should have been protecting them all along from living in a world that Lavrentiy Beria would have recognized and enjoyed.
President Donald Trump has been in office for just over 100 days, but it didnt even take him that long to fulfill his core campaign promise of ending Joe Bidens self-inflicted border crisis.

In the preceding four years before Trump reclaimed the White House, the U.S. experienced a historic assault on its sovereignty due to the anti-borders policies promulgated by the Biden administration. More than 10 million illegal aliens entered the U.S. through the nations wide open border. Some of them went on to commit heinous crimes, destroying American lives, and permanently separating American families. The effects of the illegal immigration crisis sparked budget crises for local governments across the country, bankrupted hospitals, and threatened Americas way of life.

Those four years of chaos stole Americans sovereignty and threatened their safety, but thanks to the leadership of Trump and his administration, the border is now as secure as ever and America is once again a sovereign nation.

Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to close the border, and it didnt take him long to do so.

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. regularly experienced days that included five figures worth of illegal crossings. Now, the average is in the very low hundreds. While Americas systems of checks and balances largely prevent the results of elections from causing massive swings in most areas of law and policy, immigration enforcement largely hinges on the actions of the executive branch. Trump has taken command of this issue and was able to essentially close the border overnight. This presidents first 100 days has demonstrated the power the executive branch has over immigration policy, and what is possible when they use that power to prioritize American sovereignty and security.

The most impressive part of the Trump administrations success is how much theyve been able to accomplish despite a relentless lawfare campaign from anti-borders groups and adverse rulings from activist judges. Anti-borders organizations such as the ACLU have filed lawsuit after lawsuit against the administration to thwart the mandate the American people gave Trump last November.

Their gambits have been rewarded by left-wing judges who have attempted to usurp the power of the presidency in order to institute their preferred immigration policy. These rulings have largely been focused on blocking the presidents enhanced deportation program, the lynchpin of the administrations law-and-order agenda.

Given the carnage and chaos that has taken place over the past four years, Trump and his deputies understand that it is not enough to just secure the border, but that broader action must be taken to reverse the damage caused by Bidens border surrender. This is why the administration has launched a nationwide campaign to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from the country and encouraged other illegal aliens to self-deport.

The Trump White House has a cut a deal with the government of El Salvador to take in criminal illegal aliens suspected of violent crime and gang activities.

The administration has created incentives for illegal aliens to self-deport, offering to pay for flights back to their home country, and an additional $1,000 stipend to boot.

The administration has been the target of a relentless smear campaign from the corporate media and anti-borders activists, particularly over one deportation of an alleged MS-13 gang member, but the White House has stood their ground, and has retained the support of the American people.

A CBS poll released late last month showed that 56 percent of Americans support the presidents deportation policy, demonstrating that Trump still has the trust of a healthy majority of Americans despite a coordinated propaganda campaign from anti-borders activists and politicians.

While the Trump administration has faced obstacles to its deportation agenda including lawfare and a lack of funding necessary for the manpower needed to deport tens of millions of illegal aliens, they have used every tool at their disposal to fulfill the mandate given to them by the American people. The American people elected the president just a few months ago to restore their sovereignty and security, and they are getting what they voted for. Thats why Trump remains so popular on the immigration issue.

The Trump administrations immigration agenda has faced many landmines, and the work is far from complete, but the first 100 days have been an unmitigated success.

Dale L. Wilcox is executive director and general counsel at the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration.



Image: U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, via Flickr // U.S. government work
Several dozen white South African refugees were recently welcomed to Washington, D.C., most proudly waving American flags.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar welcomed the refugees, who are fleeing racial discrimination, persecution, violence, and murder in their home country.

Or, as President Trump termed it, genocide.

Before signing an Executive Order meant to reduce drug prices, Trump told reporters at the White House:

It is a genocide that is taking place that you people dont want to write about. Its a terrible thing thats taking place and farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they are white or black makes no difference to me.

That would be because Trump is not racist.

With comical hypocrisy, a CNN panel predictably declared that being victims of crime does not entitle white South Africans to asylum in the United States. However, Democrats and their media sycophants fervently believe that perpetrators of crimes do deserve asylum in the U.S. Interesting position. Not to mention insane and remarkably evil.

The Episcopal Church promptly and proudly trumpeted its racism, stating that, due to its steadfast commitment to racial justice it simply cannot lift a finger to help resettle endangered white Afrikaners from South Africa.

Todays Democrat-Media Complex believes  almost to a man  that human-trafficking, wife-beating members of terrorist groups or other criminal organizations who have entered the U.S. illegally have every right to stay in the United States permanently.

They further believe that the 12 million to 15 million or so migrants who invaded the United States during the Biden presidency, unvetted and unchecked for COVID or any other disease, many during a worldwide pandemic and lockdown, should be treated as good  or preferably, better than  American citizens.

But, by God, a handful of South Africans fearing for their lives and livelihood, persecuted by their government, and brought here by the current popularly elected presidential administration pose a clear and present danger to democracy, they say.

The same folks who tolerated/encouraged the aforementioned invasion, and the Summer of Love looting and violence of 2020, in which numerous people were killed and $2 billion in damages were done to American cities, and who subsequently successfully clamored for the imprisonment of hundreds of people who, mostly peacefully, strolled through the Capitol Building on Jan. 6 to protest an election that they believed was stolen from them, are now apoplectic over fewer than 60 refugees from South Africa.

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Well, I dont know about that. But I am pretty P.O'd right now, myself.

I say a spot in hell should be promptly prepared for hypocritical asshats like these.

Image: Screen shot from CBS News video, via YouTube
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The Episcopal Church is a whited sepulchre, or more commonly known as, a whitewashed tomb. Its outward appearances are beautifulEpiscopalian churches are often classic and charming works of American heritagebut inside, hypocrisy, rotting flesh, and hateful wickedness. From Jack Jenkinss new report at Religion News Service:

In a striking move that ends a nearly four-decades-old relationship between the federal government and the Episcopal Church, the denomination announced on Monday (May 12) that it is terminating its partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by President Donald Trumps administration.

According to Jenkins, when the church got word that their commitment to resettling refugees would include white families who were facing serious threats of being raped, mutilated, and murdered, it was enough for them to throw in the towel and abandon their cause altogether because it crossed a moral line for church leaders. Now, heres just a snippet of what white Afrikaners face in their home nation:

Julius Malema: "I'm willing to condemn murder, but not of white people. pic.twitter.com/dmxbhosewe  PhD Waala (@PhDwaala) April 23, 2025

That is Julius Malema, a Marxist revolutionary, and member of the National Assembly, with a very large following. Here he is on stage, leading a Kill the Boer chant:

South Africans chant call to genocide against White people.



Kill the boer, the farmer



This is the reason America is granting refuge to White South Africans.



pic.twitter.com/U80Nnz0Hu7  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 13, 2025

(If you didnt already know, a boer is a white farmer of European descent.)

And, another event with tens of thousands of people:

If you are white, you are labelled a racist if you stand up for your own people.



This fooker sweeps up thousands of supporters every weekend singing :



Shoot to kIll, kIll the boer, the farmer, prrr phaa, prrr phaa



and its ok?! Welcome to #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/WabvEDnDGa  Boer (@twatterbaas) March 3, 2024

And:

Entire stadium singing along to "Kill the boer" - remember, whites make up 7% of the population in South Africa. They are the minority there. Yet, the left says they can't have refugee status....



They want whites slaughtered. They take pleasure in watching it happen. pic.twitter.com/5hu1p2A0xB  Lord Gwyn (@LordofCinder24) May 13, 2025

Upon seeing this I broke into tears, but heres one family that has already suffered under the anti-white violence of the South African ruling class:

Please can someone tell Mariandra and her 4 children that kill the boer is just a song.



He was murdered on his farm on South Africa.

One bullet narrowly missed the-six-year-old daughter as she screamed hysterically, but her daddy Johann, 43, was shot beside her five times. pic.twitter.com/MQoMlUtR6Y  Boer (@twatterbaas) December 12, 2024

Each one of those crosses is for a white farmer who was sadistically tortured and murdered, and there are thousands:

There are 3000 crosses at the Witkruis monument. Each of them marks a Boer farmer who was brutally tortured and murdered by blacks, while South Africa's black government shrugged and sang Kill The Boer. https://t.co/TXav8pX8TA pic.twitter.com/yVYF6L9RdN  John Carter (@martianwyrdlord) May 12, 2025

Per Jenkins, the churchs presiding bishop had this to say about the decision to forgo the decades-long endeavor all because innocent white people needed help:

In light of our churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step, Rowe wrote. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.

A stunning display of horrendous anti-white racism cloaked as morality. I say cloaked in the most Newspeak of ways, since its entirely and sickeningly obvious that Rowe just hates white people. Somehow, rescuing people from extremely dangerous environments and giving them refuge is only part of Jesuss command to love your neighbor when that neighbor is a non-whiteat least thats how the Episcopal Church is interpreting it.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
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Im not splitting the atom by announcing what we already knowthat the humanitarian left isnt really about caring for humanitybut this definitely needs mentioning.

Back in February, President Trump signed an executive order which granted refugee status to white Afrikaners fleeing the racial genocide thats engulfed South Africa since blacks rose to power after the end of Apartheid. (Ive written on this issue a number of timeshere, here, and here.)

Well, if you havent yet heard, the Episcopalian church, which has had a decades-long deal with the federal government to resettle refugees, has decided that effective at the end of this year, that agreement will be null and void. Why you might ask? Well, the idea that theyd have to provide assistance and sanctuary to a few dozen white, Christian Afrikaners fleeing legitimate violence was just a bridge too far, because they only deal in third-worlders with degenerate, anti-American attitudes and cultures. (To read more on that, please see a blog I wrote earlier today titled, Episcopal church scraps decades-long agreement to resettle refugeesbecause they dont want to help white Afrikaners.)

Heres another piece of the puzzle: Remember Mariann Budde? The female bishop who delivered a very anti-Trump sermon to Trump shortly after his inauguration? Shes an Episcopalianall makes sense now doesnt it?

Now, with that story as a background, there are two tweets that get right to the heart of the matter, albeit in different ways. Like I already said, this isnt ground-breaking, but its still worth collecting the evidence and knowledge that attests to the lefts real goal regarding their humanitarian efforts:

I rest my case that refugee resettlement is entirely driven by hatred against whites and they import nons BECAUSE they are harmful.



Now shut these criminal NGOs down. https://t.co/gcRVjHFaIB  James Kirkpatrick (@VDAREJamesK) May 12, 2025

And here:

One reason why refugee outfits aren't keen on bringing in Afrikaners is that the outfits won't have much to do. The Afrikaners will assimilate rapidly, be productive, not a drain on welfare programs.



And then people will start making comparisons to Somalians.  FischerKing (@FischerKing64) May 12, 2025

The importation of nonwhites is because theyre a detriment to the majority white populations society and culture. Otherwise, these refugee groups would have no issue with innocent human beings fleeing a regime that permits extreme racial violence against themis that not a humanitarian issue of utmost importance?no matter what color they were.

Secondly, as highlighted in the second tweet, is that the admittance of white refugees will throw all the other non-white admissions into the hot seat, calling into question why theyre justified to be here, because the Afrikaners presence will be an immediate net positive for any American community in which they settle. A harsh contrast. There will be no cultural misunderstandings, no spikes in crime rates, no stories of these people cooking local wildlife and neighborhood cats onto their living room spits, no overloaded welfare systems.

Stark difference between what were used to seeing. Instead of a swarm of raggedy looking, brown, fighting age men - its women, children, and American flags.



Bring em on over. Welcome the Boer.pic.twitter.com/M2IiBm20Xb  FLR (@FlatlandRadical) May 12, 2025

America doesnt actually need to be a halfway house for all the third worlds dregs.

Image from X.
China must be breathing a sigh of relief, now that the tariff demands of the U.S. have been put on pause. Much attention has been given to the impact of tariffs in this country, but there are many sources who dont realize the ominous conditions currently in China: the country may be on the verge of collapse. Heres one recent assessment:

When I write collapse, Im not referring just to a financial meltdown. Im referring to a broad-based social collapse that could call into question the rule of the Communist Party (CCP), which some historians refer to as the Peasant Dynasty.

For years we have decried the machinations of China regarding the theft of our technology, their threats to invade Taiwan, the expansion of their military, and the influence theyve developed with countries all over the world, including our own. They have become so desperate that Chinese espionage is difficult to disguise:

Last month, Newsweek reported that the Department of Defense had funded a Chinese-born researcher, Song-Chun Zhu, who at the time was openly transferring sensitive technologies to Chinese institutions, including those relating to artificial intelligence with military implications. It was just the latest sign that Chinas espionage has reached crisis proportions.

We are now discovering that the image of a successful and prosperous China is an illusion, and as they try to appear to be a top global competitor, there are indicators of collapse.

A major problem for China is that they are stuck in a middle income trap. Although they have grown the middle class from an annual income of $5,000 to $15,000, moving to a higher level would currently be nearly impossible:

It takes an extraordinary effort to break out of the middle-income trap. Only a few countries (Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong) have ever accomplished it. The key is technology and high-value added production to replace low-value added assembly style production. China has not accomplished this. Most of Chinas technology is stolen from the West. Thats not good enough, because the country you stole it from already has it and has already applied it efficiently. You have to invent your own technology and apply it before competitors are even aware. China has failed miserably at this.

As China inflates its gross domestic product, it is struggling to manage its debt. That situation prevents the country from growing economically. As a result, they are in deep trouble:

At a time when China needs friends because its not selling goods to the U.S., it is going out of its way to antagonize not just the Philippines, not just Taiwan, but also South Korea and Australia, [Gordon]Chang, a senior fellow with the Gatestone Institute, said on Mornings with Maria on Monday. This shows that... this is end-of-regime conduct, because Xi Jinping, he cant appear to be giving in to the U.S., he added.

Chinas vulnerability is not only demonstrated by their alienating other countries, but they are behaving defensively to try to hide their current dire circumstances:

[Xi] has configured the Chinese political system so that it is hostile. And also, because hes been making the claim that China has surpassed the U.S., he cant look dependent on trade with the U.S., Chang explained. And he certainly cant look like he's talking to the U.S. under pressure.

As the conditions in China worsen, China strives even harder to maintain an image of growth and progress:

Chinas leaders are now reacting to a rapidly deteriorating situation. The economy, the motor of the countrys half-century rise, is failing. Gross domestic product did not increase 5.2 percent last year, as the National Bureau of Statistics officially reported. Growthif indeed there was anywas about 1.5 percent, as the Rhodium Group estimated. Since the official GDP announcement in January, there has been growing skepticism of Beijings reports of a robust expansion. China is plagued with symptoms of a sinking economy: deepening deflation, crumbling property prices, continuing debt defaults, a weakening currency, accelerating capital flight, and failing local governments. Falling populationthe number of people peaked in 2021does not help.

Heres an analysis of the almost-stagnant numbers:

Consumers are cautious, not just about big-ticket items, but also everyday spending. The property sector is still under strain, dragging on household wealth and appetite. So even as goods pile up and prices drop, buyers arent stepping in with force. This results in companies slashing prices to levels that damage profitability. The impact cascades: lower margins, tighter hiring plans, smaller pay packets. These outcomes arent theoreticaltheyre already showing up in Chinas data. Businesses are operating defensively, households are holding back and the loop is tightening.

Now that a pause has been put on the tariffs, negotiations will still continue. The U.S. has substantially backed off of the exorbitant tariffs it had originally promised, and China is describing its satisfaction with the results of their meetings in Switzerland:

The U.S. and China ended high-stakes trade talks on a positive note on Sunday, with U.S. officials touting a deal to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, while Chinese officials said the sides had reached important consensus and agreed to launch another new economic dialogue forum. Neither side released details after they wrapped up two days of talks in Switzerland. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said a joint statement would be released in Geneva on Monday. Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang said it would contain good news for the world.

Whether this major shift in the tariff negotiations is sufficient movement to begin to save the Chinese economy, only time will tell.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
McDonald's is teaming up with the Trump administration to launch one of its largest hiring efforts in years, aiming to bring on 375,000 new workers across the US this summer.

The announcement came Monday during a press conference in Ohio, where US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer joined McDonald's leaders to celebrate the milestone.

According to CNBC, the fast-food giant says the hiring push is needed to meet summer demand and support the company's plan to open 900 new US locations by 2027.

The focus is on filling roles across McDonald's 13,000 restaurants nationwide, many of which are operated by franchisees.

"This is a win-win," said McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger. "It makes us more competitive while also positively impacting the communities where we do business."

The announcement also marked the 10-year anniversary of McDonald's "Archways to Opportunity" program, which helps employees earn high school diplomas, college credits, and tuition assistance.

Chavez-DeRemer praised the program, calling it a model for how companies can support workers while growing the economy.

BREAKING: McDonald's launches one of its largest hiring pushes in years, 375,000 new US employees this summer, with Trump's Labor Secretary - NBC pic.twitter.com/tzghKd5fkW  Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 12, 2025

McDonald's Faces Declining Sales but Ramp-Up in Hiring for Summer

McDonald's, one of America's largest private employers, estimates that 1 in 8 Americans have worked at one of its restaurants at some point.

The company currently employs around 800,000 people in the US. While the new hires won't expand that number significantly due to high turnover, the effort reflects a major seasonal ramp-up similar to those seen at companies like Amazon and UPS during the holidays.

The job push comes as McDonald's faces tough economic conditions. The company recently reported its second straight quarter of declining US sales.

Spending among low-income customers has dropped by double digits, and middle-income consumers are also pulling back.

CEO Chris Kempczinski said earlier this month that "economic pressure" is keeping many customers away from restaurants, CNN said.

McDonald's has long had ties to President Donald Trump, who is now serving a second term. The company donated $1 million to Trump's 2025 inauguration  its first such gift in over a decade.

Representatives also met with Chavez-DeRemer before she joined the cabinet to discuss fast-food industry regulations, including labor rules and union laws.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Linda Greenhouse took to the New York Times to ask whether newspapers should name the President who appointed a federal judge to the bench when reporting on a decision. This trend (the 2-1 decision was written by judges appointed by Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the dissent by a Trump nominee) has grown in journalism and been criticized by some.

Greenhouses own view has evolved: back in the day when the federal judiciary was reliably the liberals last resort, she opposed it. Now, however, when only the federal courts stand between democracy and autocracy, it provides essential reassurance that the rule of law is not a partisan project.

Let me file a concurring opinion. I agree -- regrettably -- with Greenhouses judgment about publishing who appointed a judge, but not for the reasons she cites.

She justifies her change of opinion by appealing to a one-sided view of civics. Back when the courts were reliable bastions for the Lefts preferred policy outcomes (abortion-on-demand, a Berlin Wall of church/state separation, expansive deference to federal bureaucrats) that was civics. Today, with reversal of Roe, recognition the First Amendment protects freedom of, not from religion, and narrowed deference to bureaucratic legislating, its politics. Heads I win, tails you lose.

Perhaps we can admit that the courts have always been at least to some degree political. Some attribute to Will Rogers the quip a judge is a lawyer who knew a President. And that adage reminds us of the very common timber from which judges are made.

Ill admit a certain dubiousness about invoking civics. Its an equivocal term. Theres the civics of high school, where everything neatly functions perfectly according to the enlightened, nonpartisan wisdom of the Founding Fathers. And theres the civics by which Washington really works.

Ive criticized the former because it gives people an illusory understanding of the ways of Washington, with disillusionment stemming from the clash between image and reality. The Senate does not work like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. And judges are not neutral solons raised above and immune to the fray of politics, current events, and legal philosophies, Olympians in the black robes of a secular clerisy divining the essence of the law. They are not the heirs of a secular legal infallibility, handing down ex cathedra pronouncements. If that were true, there wouldnt be 5-4 or 6-3 splits in Supreme Court decisions.

I spent the past year closely observing the Senate. The former Democrat majority transacted very little legislative business but put the confirmation process for Biden judicial radicals into overdrive, intent on showing he could outdo Trump 45 in single-term judicial appointments. To pretend, then, that politics does not affect judges is something believed only by the naive and maybe on off days by Chief Justice John Roberts when he talks about balls and strikes.

Yes, it would be good if we could believe and practice that, but that day -- for weal or woe -- has passed in our judicial history. Id even argue that responsibility in large measure lies with Joe Biden and fellow Democrats who politicized the Supreme Court confirmation process because of their absolute fealty to abortion-on-demand, inventing a new verb -- borking -- to discuss the politicized defeat of a highly qualified judicial choice. Given where we have come, the least we should be able to do, especially when single judges decide to impose their views of the law on the country as a whole, is acknowledge their presidential paternity.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
Over the last few days, Justice Sotomayor decided to do a little talking. And it didnt go well. This is the story:

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor urged lawyers Thursday to defend the judiciary amid verbal attacks from the Trump administration due to recent rulings. Our job is to stand up for people who cant do it themselves. And our job is to be the champion of lost causes, Sotomayor said during a Thursday event for the American Bar Association, according to The Associated Press. But right now, we cant lose the battles we are facing. And we need trained and passionate and committed lawyers to fight this fight, she added.

What fight is Justice Sotomayor talking about? I thought that justices were about listening to facts and then calling balls and strikes? They are judges after all, and supposed to be fair-minded about what they do.

Is she okay with district judges writing opinions that create nationwide injunctions? Is she okay with the lawfare of recent years? She didnt say, but the justice sounded a lot like someone from the resistanceanti-Trump resistance that is.

The justice did not mention President Trump by name but everyone knows what she is talking about. She even said that being there with these lawyers was an act of solidarity. Wonder what her colleagues in the Supreme Court feel about that?

She wants to fight and fight except thats not what people in robes are supposed to do. Does anyone doubt what side of the opinion this lady will be on? She is clearly telling the world that she is against Trump. Its a free country and she can choose her side but we expect our justices to do better than that.

Last, but not least, she could resign her seat, join the resistance, or host a show on MSNBC. The pay and benefits may not be as stable, but at least she is part of the resistance.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: YouTube video screen grab.
Chatter and sincere efforts to impeach lawfare judges handing out political favors disguised as legal rulings from their judicial throne is never going to amount to much more than fading headline news. It is time to end judicial immunity for judges.

End it through constitutional amendments, state by state, and federally by amending the U.S. Constitution. Its not too late to listen to Thomas Jefferson.

Even if, by some miracle, Congress jumps through all the hoops to land a despotic judge in the hot seat, it still doesnt threaten a judges fat paycheck and pensions. More importantly, impeachment is an empty, elusive deterrent that leaves the victims of a judges lawless rulings with zero recourse.

The arrest of rogue judges like Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who used the bench to aid and abet a criminal, was an unusual step in the right direction, but wait for it. Its coming: Shell wiggle out of it through the escape hatch called judicial immunity.

In other words, thanks to the shield of steel that judges gave themselves long ago, they can do whatever they want and get away with it.

If one of the illegal aliens these impervious judges are ordering to stay put or be returned to America goes off and rapes and murders someones daughter, the almighty judge cant be sued because of the immunity he enjoys.

Her family would have a better chance of suing the flight attendant who helped deplane the deportees or the cop who escorted the busload of them back onto U.S. soil  just not these black-robed self-appointed gods whom we must rise to greet whenever they enter a room.

And they know it. Absolute immunity is the ultimate safety net. Bet it all, because you wont lose a thing is basically what immunity says to judges.

Without consequences, the sacred checks and balances that the framers of the Constitution so carefully built into our system of government go out the window, at least when it comes to judges. The eighteenth-century French philosopher Montesquieu, who invented the concept of separation of powers in his famous premonitory treatise The Spirit of the Laws, must be rolling in his grave.

Then came Jefferson, warning that it is a very dangerous doctrine to make judges the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions. Because it would, as he prophetically wrote back in 1820 to his pal William Charles Jarvis in his now famed Jefferson papers, place us under the despotism of an Oligarchy.

Our judges are as honest as other men, Jefferson wrote, and not more so. Put judicial review in the hands of Congress, he warned, or else well be sorry.

The heavily-guarded landmark 1978 ruling Sparkman v. Stump, shielding judges from accountability, sealed the reality of just how right Jefferson was. Indiana Judge Harold Stump, in a repugnant abuse of the Judiciary, ordered 15-year-old Linda Spitler to undergo sterilization surgery at her deranged parents request as their answer to concerns that she wasnt smart enough not to get pregnant. It was only when Spitler married, with dreams of having children, that she discovered she had been sterilized. Devastated, Spitler, whose married name at the time was Sparkman, sued the judge.

But alas, Judge Stump successfully asserted judicial immunity, as upheld by his equally immune peers. He cited no statutory authority, followed no due process, and didnt bother to so much as appoint the young teen a guardian ad litem. He even sanctioned the big lie she was told that the surgery was a routine appendectomy.

Judge Stump was liability-free from the lifelong damage he caused Sparkman. She even wrote a book about the devastation called The Blanket She Carried, a reflection on the children she could never have because of this spurious appointed king.

Judge Stumps decision, which was quickly affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-to-3 vote, has been relentlessly regarded as one of the most controversial court rulings in U.S. history. And yet it remains.

Disagreement with the action taken by a judge does not justify depriving him of his immunity, and, thus, the fact that, in this case, tragic consequences ensued from the judges action does not deprive him of his immunity, wrote Justice Byron White, none other than a leftist Democrat, in delivering the majority opinion in the case.

In giving the dissenting opinion, Judge Potter Stewart, appointed by Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, recognized and thus spotlighted the wild things that immunity allows judges to do, writing, A judge is not free like a loose cannon to inflict indiscriminate damage whenever he announces that he is acting in his judicial capacity.

And yet  they are.

I once asked an attorney I was interviewing for a story: If a judge ordered me to murder someone, and I didnt, could I be held in contempt by the judge? The answer was a resounding, eye-opening yes.

Get rid of immunity.

Federal court judges like James Boasberg have already unholstered their peremptory weapons of contempt against our nations commander in chief for rightfully exercising his executive authority. Let a panel of the people, not judges or politicians, decide if victims of reckless judges have a case against them. That should quash this smokescreen of an excuse malfeasant judges peddle about being subject to frivolous lawsuits.

Good judges should have nothing to fear. We have everything to fear if we dont end what really isnt judicial immunity at all, but rather an iron-fisted, unchecked forum at liberty to punch the life out of Americas rule of law, its checks and balances, and the basic functions of the presidency.

Alice Giordano is an investigative reporter for Newsmax Magazine, a conservative commentator for Newsweeks Topic of The Day, and a contributor to The Federalist. She also writes a weekly column for The Boston Broadside and is a former senior correspondent for The Epoch Times, Associated Press, and The Boston Globe.

Image via Picryl.
Google has now confirmed that the stable version of Android 16 will start to rollout in June. We exclusively reported, back in November of last year that Android 16 would launch on June 3. That still looks to be accurate.

Google also confirmed that Material 3 Expressive would not be part of the public release in June. Which is what we expected, since the new design was not available in the betas for Android 16, which is now pretty much complete. We do expect Material 3 Expressive to start showing up in the QPR1 beta, which should be starting next month.

The launch date for Android 16 is pretty wild, considering Samsung has just started to roll out Android 15 to its devices last month.

Of course, that June date is only for Pixel devices. While other OEMs could start rolling out Android 16 in June as well, that is unlikely. As they need to bake their skin and features into the new Android 16 update.

This is an earlier launch than usual

As we started to see last year, Google is changing up its schedule for Android and Pixel. We saw that the Pixel 9 launched earlier last year. Its coming in August instead of the usual October launch. And then the first developer previews for Android 16 also started a solid 3-4 months early.

So why is Google changing the timing of its launches? Well, for Android, this is likely so that the fall phones launch with the latest version of Android. Since there are a lot of phones that launch in July, August, and September. When it comes to Pixel, this is likely so that its not so close to the holidays and gets forgotten.

Android 17 will likely start its developer preview around November, if Google decides to keep this same schedule going forward.
Google is currently holding its I/O 2025 event, where well learn about many new features for its products and services, including Android features. One of the companys main announcements was Find Hub, a supercharged Find My Device. In addition to the rebranding, the network gained new capabilities, such as tracking people. Google also announced partnerships with airlines for direct Find Hub integration, helping you never lose your luggage again.

Googles Find Hub could solve the problem of lost luggage at airports

Google is teaming up with select carriers to let you share the location of your Bluetooth tracking tags with them. This could seriously simplify the nightmare of lost luggage recovery. While we all hope our bags make it to the destination safely, this feature promises some much-needed peace of mind in case things go sideways. The initial airline partners include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, and Singapore Airlines.

Now, dont rush to the airport just yet. This airline integration will start rolling out early next year, and these are the only airlines on board for now. But its a fantastic first step.

Luggage brands will also integrate Find Hub

Beyond the airline news, Find Hub is getting even more useful. Google is collaborating with brands like July and Mokabara for built-in Find Hub integration in luggage, Peak for ski gear tracking, and Pixbee for adorable Disney-themed tags. Plus, if you have tags with ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, like the Moto Tag, youll get more precise finding capabilities. And get thissatellite connectivity is also on the way later this year. This opens up even more possibilities for tracking in remote areas.

With all those new features, this could be the perfect time to jump on the Bluetooth item tracker bandwagon. Theyre small, affordable, and really useful for those Where did I put that? moments. The improvements announced by Google will make these little gadgets even more practical.
AI Mode will be one of the biggest additions to Google Search in its history. Its Googles way of definitively combining its online search engine with the power of artificial intelligence. Recently, some users have spotted the option on Google, although it seems the company is experimenting with different placements. One of the options Google is considering is replacing the classic Im Feeling Lucky button with AI Mode.

Multiple reports on platforms like X and Threads show that Google is testing out different spots to tuck Searchs AI Mode button. Interestingly, its location hasnt been consistent across these early sightings. Some users are seeing it in the search bar itself, hanging out next to the search by image button. In other instances, its taken over the spot traditionally held by the quirky Im Feeling Lucky button.

Google testing places for Searchs AI Mode, including replacing the Im Feeling Lucky button

The look of the AI Mode button is also getting a bit of a trial run. Some users are reporting a cool rotating rainbow border that appears when you hover your mouse over it.

According to, Google just a small percentage of folks in the US are seeing the AI Mode button. Now, some early screenshots are giving us a sneak peek at where this feature might eventually land if it rolls out to a wider audience. For now, according to Google spokesperson Ashley Thompson, AI Mode in Search is still just for users in Googles experimental Labs environment.

We often test different ways for people to access our helpful features, Thompson stated. This is just one of many experiments.

Currently, it is not set in stone that the Im Feeling Lucky button will officially be replaced by AI Mode. However, the fact that Google is even considering it might ruffle the feathers of those who actually use this long-standing feature. That button has been part of Googles homepage since the very beginning. This potential swap could be Googles way of suggesting that AI Modes conversational responses to your searches are a more efficient way to get information than skipping the traditional search results page altogether.

Its noteworthy that everything is still in the testing phase, so things could change. Lets hope more news about it emerges soon.
Google just settled another case, as its battling the government on two other fronts. Google decided to settle for a $1.4 billion payout in the incognito mode, location history case. To be more exact, the sum is $1.375 billion.

Google settled a privacy case for $1.4 billion despite claiming it did nothing wrong

This was an ongoing case with the state of Texas. It was a case in regards to claims that Google violated users privacy rights. Google denied all wrongdoing in the process, but decided to settle the case after all.

The announcement was made by Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General. This agreement with Google is a settlement in principle, and itll resolve two lawsuits that targeted three Google products.

Ken Paxton took the opportunity to emphasize that major technology companies are not exempt from the law in the state of Texas. He said that Google secretly monitored individuals locations, personal searches, and even collected biometric data (voiceprints and facial features). Google allegedly did all that via its services.

Google said that the case involved a range of outdated claims

The company did confirm that this settlement addresses claims related to incognito mode, Location History, and the collection of biometric data. Jose Castaneda, a spokesperson for Google, said that this case involved a range of outdated claims regarding policies that the company has revised.

Even though Google did not admit any wrongdoing, Jose Castaneda said that the company is glad to have resolved the matter. He also emphasized that Google remains committed to strengthening privacy protections across its services.

In case youre wondering, this lawsuit was originally filed back in 2022, so it has been going on for a while now. Google will be glad to put this case behind it, as the company lost two major lawsuits in the near past.

The company lost the Google Search antitrust case last year, and the remedies trial concluded recently. Google also lost the ad dominance case, and the remedies trial for that is incoming. We could be seeing some major changes being forced on Google in the near future, by the US government.
It looks like Samsung might be shaking things up with their flagship Galaxy S series in 2026. Word on the street, courtesy of TheElec, is that theyre planning to continue with the Edge model in the Galaxy S26 lineup. But heres the interesting bit: this sleek, slimmer Edge variant could be stepping into the shoes of the Plus model.

Now, if youve been following the Galaxy S series, this might not come as a huge surprise. Among the standard, Plus, and Ultra options, the Plus model has historically been the underdog in terms of sales. It seems Samsung might be looking to inject some fresh appeal into that middle slot. A similar situation has occurred with Apples iPhone Plus, so a super-slim iPhone Air will replace it.

Samsungs initial plans dont include a Galaxy S26 Plus; Galaxy S26 Edge replaces it

Sources within Samsungs smartphone component supply chain indicate that the South Korean tech giant has already kicked off the development project for the Galaxy S26 series. The internal codename for the Galaxy S26 series is NPA, a reference to the PA (as in Paradigm) codename for the current Galaxy S25 series. Its still early days, with Samsung just starting to choose its part suppliers.

As you may already know, Samsung just launched the Galaxy S25 Edge (pre-order here). The device stands out for its very slim design and impressive tech specs. Well, according to the report, its market performance will likely play a significant role in shaping the Galaxy S26 lineup. Initially, NPA (the S26 project) is focusing on standard, Edge, and Ultra models. However, Samsung could always revert to a Plus model if the S25 Edge doesnt quite hit the mark.

Intriguingly, one source mentioned Samsung is developing four different OLED panels for the Galaxy S26 series. This leaves the door open for the possibility of both an Edge and a Plus model. So, nothing is set in stone just yet.

It seems the trend leans toward consumers favoring either the more affordable standard models or the top-of-the-line Ultra/Pro options. The middle ground might be getting a stylish, slimmer makeover in the near future. Could the Galaxy S26 Edge be the start of a new era for Samsungs flagship lineup? Well have to wait and see.
Sony has announced its new flagship smartphone today, the Xperia 1 VII. This phone has been long-rumored, and its finally official. It looks very similar to the companys previous flagships, but there are some changes here, especially on the inside.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII looks very similar to its predecessor(s)

Lets talk about the design first. This is another boxy smartphone from Sony. It has a flat display, flat back, and flat frame all around. There is no display camera hole or notch, but this phone does have a bit thicker top and bottom bezels because of it. It has been Sonys way of doing things for a long time now.

Youll find all the physical buttons on the right-hand side. The volume up and down buttons are first, followed by the power/lock key, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner, and a physical shutter key is placed all the way down on that side.

On the back, three vertically aligned cameras sit in the top-left corner. Theyre all a part of the same camera island, which does protrude a bit on the back. Sonys logo is placed right in the middle of the backplate.

Sony opted for a 6.5-inch OLED display here, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip

The Sony Xperia 1 VII features a 6.5-inch fullHD+ OLED display with an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). It offers a 240Hz touch scanning rate, and its protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite fuels this smartphone, while Sony opted for 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM here. The company has also included 256GB of UFS 4.0 flash storage, which is expandable, by the way (up to 2TB).

Android 15 comes pre-installed on the phone. Sony promised 4 OS upgrades for the device and 6 years of security updates. This is a dual SIM smartphone (nano + eSIM).

A 5,000mAh battery is included, while the phone supports 30W charging

A 5,000mAh battery is included, and it supports 30W wired and Qi wireless charging. A charger is not included in the box. The phone is IPX5/IPX8 and IP6X rated, in other words, its both water and dust resistant. The phone does have an audio jack and full-stage stereo speakers too, with Dolby Atmos support.

A 48-megapixel main camera (1/1.35-inch sensor size, f/1.9 aperture, hybrid OIS/IS) is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/2.0 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor size). The third camera on the back is a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (f/2.3-f/3.5 aperture, 1/3.5-inch sensor size, 3.5 to 7.1x equivalent optical zoom, 21.3x hybrid zoom). There is also a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

The phone measures 162 x 74 x 8.2mm, while it weighs 192 grams. It comes in Moss Green, Orchid Purple, and Slate Black colors. The device is priced at 1,499 ($1,665) and is now available to pre-order across Europe. It will become available to purchase on June 4.
Singaporean actress Eleanor Lee has come under fire after an alleged leaked voice clip of her went viral online, causing a controversy that may cost her her role in an upcoming Chinese period drama.

The audio, which began circulating on Chinese social media platforms Xiaohongshu and Weibo, reportedly features a voice alleged to be Lee's saying, "most people in China are idiots."

The 30-second clip, described as poor in quality, was initially posted by a user claiming to be the actress's former assistant.

Lee, 25, who has lived in China since she was 16, broke her silence on the issue Monday, expressing regret over the controversy and reaffirming her appreciation for the country.

"I didn't come forward in the first instance because we are also sorting out the facts, hoping to give a satisfactory answer to people who care about me," Lee said in a public statement. "I will use my own actions to prove my attitude, and welcome everyone to supervise me in the future."

The actress, known for roles in The Enchanting Phantom and Fake Princess, also emphasized her gratitude toward China and its people.

"I have received many opportunities and (much) assistance [in China], and have been able to shine in my favourite career," she said. "I am completely in love with and grateful for this land, and I will never waver in any of my stances on any issue related to China."

Her agency also defended the actress, denouncing the rumors and highlighting Lee's longstanding commitment to Chinese culture and media.

"Eleanor Lee has always respected and loved Chinese culture. For many years, she has been actively studying the Chinese language and taking part in Chinese film and TV productions, and is committed to promoting cultural exchanges," the agency said in a statement.

Despite her and her agency's efforts to contain the fallout, Chinese media reports suggest that Lee may have been removed from the cast of the upcoming historical drama The Journey of Legend due to the controversy.

No official confirmation has been released by the drama's producers.

Lee was previously nominated for "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" at Singapore's Star Awards in 2021.

As the situation develops, it remains unclear how the incident will affect her career in China moving forward.
Aid organisations have hit back at the international development minister after she said the days of the UK Government acting as a global charity were over.

Groups including Plan International UK and Bond said they rejected Baroness Jenny Chapmans description of aid during her appearance in front of the Commons International Development Committee on Tuesday.

Baroness Chapman, who took over as development minister in February after Anneliese Dodds resigned over cuts to the aid budget, told MPs: The world has changed, and with it so must our approach.

The days of viewing the UK Government as a global charity are over.

Baroness Chapman went on to say there was an absolute crisis in public support for international aid, adding that many of our partner countries also wanted to move on from this model.

Arguing that the UK needed to focus more on sharing expertise than providing cash, she said: While our commitment to helping those living through emergencies is unwavering  for countries developing, we need to be an investor and not just a donor.

Its about partnership and not paternalism.

But her remarks drew condemnation from aid organisations, who warned that recent cuts to the aid budget could cost lives in the developing world.

Amelia Whitworth, head of policy at the charity Plan International UK, said: We entirely reject the notion that international development budgets are about acting as a global charity.

This framing is not only wrong, it is dangerous. International development funding is a vital pillar of a governments foreign policy. It helps build a safer, more stable and more prosperous world for everyone.

Gideon Rabinowitz, director of policy at NGO network Bond, said: UK aid isnt about charity, it is about global solidarity and responsibility to our international commitments, and its an investment in a safer, healthier and more sustainable world that benefits us here in the UK.

Challenged over her remarks by committee chairwoman Sarah Champion, who said she never saw aid as charity, Baroness Chapman said she agreed, but had to speak very bluntly when communicating with the public.

Anneliese Dodds resigned over cuts to the aid budget earlier this year (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

She said: We are not talking to ourselves and I want the public to know, I want them to have confidence in the money that we are spending so we get their consent to continue with this agenda.

Baroness Chapmans appearance at the committee followed the Governments decision in February to slash the aid budget from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in order to pay for increased defence spending.

The move prompted Ms Doddss resignation from the role and sparked concern that it could cost lives in the developing world, coming soon after US President Donald Trumps decision to effectively gut the US Agency for International Development.

The UKs decision effectively cuts the aid budget by 40%, something Baroness Chapman said could not be done without thinking about what you are doing.

Earlier in the meeting, Ms Champion also expressed frustration that Baroness Chapmans opening remarks had been widely reported in the media, saying this was rather disrespectful to the committee.

Baroness Chapman said she accepted the criticism and would ensure it did not happen again.

She also suggested the aid budget would not be slashed again, saying she had no reason to think it would fall below 0.3%.

Ms Champion later voiced concerns about a lack of concrete commitments on which areas would be saved and said it appeared that education and women and girls are no longer priorities.

I hoped to hear the minister set out a clear vision today for how she would deliver these cuts while maintaining the UKs existing pledges. I am alarmed that, with the clock ticking, there were no concrete commitments on what will be reduced and what is saved, she said.

Ms Champion welcomed the commitment to maintain aid spending at 0.3% without further reductions but said clarity was urgently needed.

She said the minister had admitted that the Governments change of direction was a political choice but that choices have consequences, suggesting the UKs international standing would be seriously impacted.

Ms Champion said: Ministers insist that the UK remains a key player on the world stage. But I remain deeply concerned that we are laying down tools just when we need to get to work.
Airbnb has unveiled a major revamp and expansion to its app and the services it offers in an update one executive has called transformational.

At an event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the property rental firm announced it would now offer users the chance to book services such as a private chef or personal trainer alongside their stay, as well as a revamp of its experiences feature which enables users to book sightseeing tours, classes and other experiences.

The firm said these new features would be housed in a newly redesigned app, where users could organise all aspects of their trip in one place.

Airbnb chief business officer Dave Stephenson told the PA news agency that the update was an intentional expansion of what Airbnb traditionally does, and had been inspired, in part, by Amazons move beyond being an online bookstore.

Were talking about expanding beyond the core (of the service), he told PA.

Weve thought of Airbnb like Amazon  Amazon moved from books to many, many things; Airbnb moved from stays to many, many things.

Its really the first day of expanding into these new areas and rebuilding even the way in which you interact with Airbnb, the way the app works, the way in which you experience things.

Airbnbs chief business officer Dave Stephenson said the business has taken inspiration from Amazons move away from being just an online bookstore (Alamy/PA)

We are redoing the app, so youll have stays, youll have services and youll have experiences and when you book them, the app works with you so that it integrates it into your itinerary.

You can actually know who else is travelling on these trips and interact with them through messaging, and there are also brand new tools for hosts.

We have an incredible business, but Id call it a nice two or three-storey building, and now were building the foundation that will enable this to a hundred-story skyscraper.

Airbnb said that, at launch, it will have 10 categories of services available in 260 cities around the world, with more to be added in the future.

Those include spa treatments, hair and make-up, nails, prepared meals and catering services.

The upgraded experiences feature will allow users to book things such as landmark, museum and cultural experiences, led by local experts, as well as outdoor and wildlife tours and other classes.

Airbnb confirmed these would be available in more than 650 cities around the world, with more to be added.

The sites co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky said the revamp of the platform meant users no longer had to choose between a hotel or an Airbnb when they were deciding on if they wanted amenities or space.

Seventeen years ago, we changed the way people travel. More than two billion guests later, Airbnb is synonymous with a place to stay, he said.

With the launch of services and experiences, were changing travel again. Now you can Airbnb more than an Airbnb.

People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space.

Now, were giving you the best of both worlds  amazing homes with services that make them even more special.
A Labour MP has pressed ministers to say whether they will ban bottom trawling before climate leaders meet in France next month, after Sir David Attenborough warned the fishing practice was among the most wasteful.

Sir Davids new film Ocean features detailed footage, thought to be the first of its kind, of bottom trawling along the seabed.

The camera follows large nets which are dragged along the ocean floor using a metal beam, with sea creatures indiscriminately caught inside before they are brought to the surface.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion told MPs that David Attenboroughs latest film Ocean revealed the shocking devastation caused by bottom trawling and referred to calls from environmental campaigners to take action at the UN conference in just four weeks.

At Foreign Office questions, Ms Champion asked: Will the Government use the conference to announce a ban on all bottom trawling in marine protected areas?

And why has the minister still not set out when we will ratify the ocean treaty which will keep our Sids (small island developing states) and overseas territories safe?

Minister Catherine West replied: The climate and ocean adaptation sustainable transition (Coast) programme is improving vulnerable coastal communities resilience to climate change including protecting and restoring coastal habitats, supporting nature-based solutions and improving small-scale fisheries management, and including the issue which she raises  the use of bottom-towed gear over rock and reef habitats in 13 Marine Management Organisation areas.

Greenpeace UKs co-executive director Will McCallum, Oceana UK executive director Hugo Tagholm and Blue Marine Foundation chief executive Clare Brook have previously written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to prioritise ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty  also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement  to conserve the high seas and help protect 30% of the worlds oceans.

They have also called for a full ban on bottom trawling, which they said would help marine ecosystems in UK domestic waters recover from the practices devastating impact.

It comes ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in June, which is being held in Nice on the Mediterranean coast.

Commons foreign affairs committee chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, later told the Commons: I know theres a lot going on, but the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty is important.

Its about our blue planet. Its about our oceans.

It used to be that we had a leadership position in it. In fact, when we were leading it, 115 countries signed that treaty, but it needs to be ratified as well, and very few countries are ratifying it including Britain.

And when we ask the Government about it, the Government says its because they havent got enough time. Have they dropped the ball?

Is there a Bill? Are we going to ratify it, and will we ratify it before the UN Ocean Conference?

Ms West replied: We will redouble our efforts to get into the legislative queue and do all (thats) necessary to ensure and maintain our leadership on this important area.

In his documentary, Sir David said the bottom trawling net moves along the seabed destroying nearly everything in its path, even if it is not wanted on the surface.

Its hard to imagine a more wasteful way to catch fish, the 99-year-old said.
It is likely a source who made allegations against Gerry Adams in a BBC documentary would be killed if they were identified, a journalist for the broadcaster has told a libel trial.

Mr Adams is suing the BBC over what he has deemed to be a grievous smear made by a confidential source in a Spotlight documentary that alleged he had sanctioned the killing of a former Sinn Fein official who turned out to be an informant.

He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement.

The BBC argues the claim was corroborated by other sources and the reporter involved said the confidential source who made the allegation would likely be killed if their identity was revealed.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

In 2009, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing, and the Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016 while a garda investigation into the matter was ongoing.

Gerry Adams is suing the BBC (Brian Lawless/PA)

In the programme, a man identified as Martin who says he was an informant for Special Branch within the IRA, claims that the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and said Mr Adams gives the final say.

Mr Adamss legal team says his reputation as a peacemaker had suffered an unjustified attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme, and the online article with the headline: Gerry Adams sanctioned Denis Donaldson killing.

At the High Court in Dublin on Tuesday, the BBC opened its defence and said it is incomprehensible to suggest that Mr Adams has a reputation solely as a peacemaker.

Eoin McCullough SC, for the BBC, told the jury that the broadcaster fundamentally disputes what Mr Adams is putting forward as the meaning of the article.

He went on to say that whatever the proper meaning of the article or whether it was right or wrong, it was a proper piece of investigative journalism that was a fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.

He told the jury even if they deem that that was not the case, that they should not award damages as Mr Adams had a reputation for being in the IRA and being on the Army Council and presiding over a campaign of violence in which many people were killed.

Mr McCullough said they should not award damages on the allegation that he had given the final word on one more murder.

He told the jury it was up to them to decide what an average reasonable person would understand the meaning of the broadcast and the article to be, adding that a reasonable person would read the whole article and not just the headline.

He said the BBC said the meaning of both was not that Mr Adams had sanctioned and approved the murder, and that the organisation had reported on an allegation and made clear that it was disputed by the former Sinn Fein leader.

He said the BBC would not take on the burden of proving the allegation as it did not present it as a fact.

Mr McCullough said there was an important issue of free speech and journalism in the case, adding that a journalist is entitled to publish materials in the public interest as long as they do so in good faith and act fairly and reasonably.

Journalist Jennifer OLeary at the High Court in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

He said the Spotlight programme was thoughtfully made, carefully researched and was based on multiple sources.

On Mr Adamss reputation, Mr McCullough said it was accepted by the plaintiff that allegations on his connection to the IRA and Army Council were reported on multiple times.

He said the jury had heard several pieces of evidence which point to Mr Adams having the reputation of being in the IRA.

How can Mr Adams acknowledge he has a reputation of having been in the IRA, having been on the Army Council, having organised violence on that account  at the same time tell you did you know my reputation is as a peacemaker?.

He said there were red herrings in the case, including what the jury thought of the legitimacy of a campaign of violence and how loyalists and the British Government acted.

Mr McCullough said Mr Adams had a reputation of being involved in violence, adding: It makes no difference at all that ultimately peace was achieved.

The BBC also called the main reporter in the documentary as a witness, who told the court that if the identity of Martin is revealed it is likely that he would be killed.

Jennifer OLeary said it was completely standard to protect confidential sources in journalism and added: It is rare to have a source where if his identity was revealed, it is likely that he would be killed.

Eoin McCullough SC, for the BBC (Niall Carson/PA)

She told the court that the last IRA informer crucial to a defamation case, whom she identified as Eamon Collins, was found dead on a road with his tongue cut out.

Referring to her notes, Ms OLeary outlined how a total of five other sources corroborated Martins claim that Mr Adams would have signed off on the killing of Mr Donaldson.

These included two sources from the republican community, and three sources related to security services operating in Northern Ireland.

The jury was shown a portion of the Spotlight documentary, which they had watched in full previously, which showed Ms OLeary reporting that elements of the South Armagh IRA had begun to blame Mr Donaldson for operations that were compromised and were pushing for action.

She relayed information she said she received from sources that an alleged IRA figure in the region insisted Mr Donaldson be killed.

The programme includes Martins allegation the Mr Adams gives the final say in the killing, before Ms OLeary reads out the former Sinn Fein leaders denial which was issued to the BBC by his solicitor.

Ms OLeary said the Spotlight programme was made in the context of the murder of former IRA figure Kevin McGuigan in August 2015, adding that the then-PSNI chief constable George Hamilton had said the IRA was still in existence and that members had been involved in the murder.

She said Mr Adams had said that the organisation was off the stage and that no IRA members were involved.

She added that a PSNI and MI5 report from October of that year also said the IRA was still in existence.

Ms OLeary said she first heard the assertion that the IRA was involved in the killing of Mr Donaldson in late 2015, from a man she told the court she would be identifying as Republican Source B.

This source, who she said was a former IRA operative, said the organisation would let them make the claim  referring to dissident republicans.

Ms OLeary said she was later contacted by Martin, whose identity she said she knew but would not disclose, during the course of another programme on gangland activity in Dublin.

She said she was really constrained about what she could say without identifying him.

Ms OLeary said she spoke about the IRA being behind the murder of Mr Donaldson, rather than dissident republicans.

She said she was able to verify details about him and his involvement in Sinn Fein, but his role as an informer created difficulty in sussing out some details.

She said she was sceptical but said details appeared to be credible.

Ms OLeary said there was a personal element to his motivation for speaking about Mr Donaldson, and that this presents constraints for what she could say.

She went on to say that Martin had disclosed to security services that Mr Donaldson was taking documents out of Stormont, without knowing that he was an informer.

Ms OLeary said it was not true to suggest she had any animus towards Mr Adams, adding: I had no agenda whatsoever.

She said she was aware that he had a widely reported reputation of being involved in the leadership of IRA which he had consistently rejected.

Prior to the BBC opening its defence, the jury was given as an exhibit a spreadsheet including agreed figures on the established viewership of the Spotlight programme in the Republic of Ireland.

These calculated that the documentary was viewed in 11,700 households in that jurisdiction, equating to an average viewership of roughly 15,800 individuals for any given minute of the 56-minute broadcast.

They were also told that it is believed the only article was viewed roughly 750 times between 2016 and 2017, but were advised that this figure would be checked and provided to them at a later date.

They were also shown a 12-minute montage containing 17 segments of news coverage of aspects of Mr Adamss public life.

Judge Alexander Owens told the jury that this was being shown on balance as to an example of good publicity rather than as proof of the facts contained in the reports, after a separate montage was introduced earlier in the proceedings by the defence.

Mr Adamss team closed its evidence with this montage, which showed him meeting with various taoisigh, US president Bill Clinton, South African president Nelson Mandela, his election as an MP, and shaking hands with Prince Charles as well as various other points in the peace process.

The case continues.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at Donald Trumps inauguration in Washington in January. Photograph: Saul Loeb/UPI/Rex/Shutterstock

Joe Biden totally fucked us by leaving it too late to drop out of the 2024 US presidential election, a former top campaign aide to Kamala Harris has told the authors of a new book.

David Plouffe, who was manager of Barack Obamas winning 2008 campaign and a senior adviser in his White House, was drafted in to help Harriss bid for president after the declining Biden withdrew from the race last summer.

Harriss 107-day sprint against Donald Trump was a fucking nightmare, Plouffe is quoted as saying by authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson in Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. A copy was obtained by the Guardian.

And its all Biden, Plouffe adds, reflecting on the former US presidents decisions to run for re-election and then to cling on for more than three weeks after a catastrophic debate performance against Trump raised questions about his mental acuity and age. He totally fucked us.

Plouffe, along with some other former Obama staffers, has previously been critical of Biden and his role in the Democratic defeat. In the wake of Harriss loss he posted a message on X  formerly known as Twitter  that the Harris campaign had begun in a deep hole. He later deleted his account.

The book describes how Plouffe had received calls from donors worried about Bidens diminishing energy, cognitive skills and ability to deliver a speech. He in turn pressed the White House and Democratic party if they felt sure that the then president could win another election and was repeatedly told he could.

But Tapper, chief Washington correspondent for CNN, and Thompson, a national political correspondent for Axios, spoke to about 200 people for the book, including members of Congress and White House and campaign insiders. Some had been sounding the alarm about Bidens mental acuity and about desperate efforts by his close staff and allies to hide the extent of his deterioration.

One senior aide, who quit the White House because they did not think Biden should run, admits to the authors that we attempted to shield him from his own staff so many people didnt realize the extent of the decline beginning in 2023.

I love Joe Biden. When it comes to decency, there are few in politics like him. Still, it was a disservice to the country and to the party for his family and advisers to allow him to run again.

A prominent Democratic strategist says of Bidens determination to seek re-election: It was an abomination. He stole an election from the Democratic party; he stole it from the American people.

Original Sin is one of several eagerly awaited books about the 2024 election and an alleged White House conspiracy.

Biden, 82, seemingly tried to pre-empt its revelations last week with media appearances on BBC Radio 4s Today program and ABCs talkshow The View. Biden has signed with Creative Artists Agency for representation and hired the communications strategist Chris Meagher to help burnish his public reputation.

But the 27 June 2024 debate in Atlanta was no anomaly, the book argues. Since at least 2022 Biden has been increasingly prone to lose his train of thought and struggle to remember the names of top aides. His speeches can be incoherent and difficult to hear. When he proved incapable of delivering a two-minute video address without stumbling, aides filmed him with two cameras so the edit would be less obvious.

Original Sin tells how prominent figures tried to intervene in various ways. Obama visited the White House in 2023 and warned Biden: Just make sure you can win the race.

Ari Emanuel, a Hollywood powerbroker and significant Democratic donor, yelled at the longtime Biden ally Ron Klain: Joe Biden cannot run for re-election! He needs to drop out! He cant win! Whats the plan B? Klain admitted there was no plan B.

And Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, confronted the president after the debate last July at his home in Rehoboth, Delaware, and appealed to his desire to preserve his legacy. He warned Biden that, if he stayed in the race and lost to Trump then 50 years of amazing, beautiful work goes out the window. But its worse than that  you will go down in American history as one of the darkest figures.

On their way out, the book reports, Biden put his hands on Schumers shoulders and told him: You have bigger balls than anyone Ive ever met.

Biden stepped aside on 21 July and quickly endorsed Harris, but it was too late, the authors contend. He had already helped usher in the fate that he most wanted to avoid: the return of Trump to the White House.
The British boss of American healthcare giant UnitedHealth has stepped down as chief executive following some of the most challenging times any company has ever faced, the company has announced.

Former GSK boss Sir Andrew Wittys decision to leave the role was for personal reasons.

UnitedHealth Groups chairman Stephen Hemsley has been named as the new chief executive, while also remaining as chairman of the board.

The move comes five months after one of its top executives was killed after being shot as he walked to an investor conference in New York.

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson, is on trial in the US after pleading not guilty to multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism.

The company has faced a backlash since the fatal shooting which prompted a wave of people in the US to turn to social media to express their frustration over healthcare access in the country.

UnitedHealth operates the nations largest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, which covers more than 49 million people in the US.

Mr Hemsley said on Tuesday: We are grateful for Andrews stewardship of UnitedHealth Group, especially during some of the most challenging times any company has ever faced.

The board and I have greatly valued his leadership and compassion as chief executive and as a director and wish him and his family the best.

Sir Andrew said: Leading the people of UnitedHealth Group has been a tremendous honour as they work every day to improve the health system, and they will continue to inspire me.

Sir Andrew is a British businessman who was the chief executive of GSK for nearly nine years until 2017, having climbed the ranks of the pharmaceutical giant he worked at for more than three decades.

He also served as an adviser to the UK governments vaccine taskforce which helped speed up the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Labour donor Dale Vince - Eddie Mulholland

When earlier this year I was asked by the Government to become trade envoy to Israel, it was an invitation I gladly took up. It was a way to serve the interests of the British people.

You may not realise it, but countless jobs and even lives in this country are dependent upon the exchange of ideas, innovation and business with Israel.

The Government is negotiating a new trade deal but Labour donor Dale Vince says ministers should pull the trade deal and impose sanctions. A few backbenchers are campaigning against the trade relationship with Israel too. As the Government is negotiating a new trade deal, theyre instead calling for sanctions.

Meanwhile, in the Tory party, a small group of MPs and peers want the UK to defy the Israeli government and recognise a state of Palestine now.

Imagine how much this country would lose if the call for sanctions was heeded.

Take the health system. Every day millions of people in Britain rely on vital medicines developed and manufactured in Israel. A staggering one in seven drugs dispensed by the NHS comes from the country. It may be a relatively small nation of ten million people, but Israel is a global powerhouse when it comes to pioneering new technology and pharmaceuticals.

And lets not forget that during the pandemic, Britain was able to reap the benefits of Israels world-leading public health strategies, thanks to close cooperation between our two countries. Britain can expect to reap the benefits of this innovation in biotech for decades to come. University partnerships between Israel and the UK are already developing life-saving technologies and treatments to tackle some of the worlds biggest health challenges, including dementia and cancer.

An astonishing level of engineering and intellectual firepower in Israel has made it a Silicon Valley of the Middle East. Israeli tech is found in the mobile phones we all use every day, computers and much more. Scientists there are working on the development of new agriculture technologies to eliminate world hunger.

Then there is the boost to our economy. More than 1.7 million people work for UK firms exporting goods to Israel. We sell clothes, cars, generators, aircraft engines, medical equipment, scientific instruments and pharmaceuticals there. British engineers are working on Israeli infrastructure contracts worth millions of pounds.

We benefit substantially from this ongoing relationship. The UK exported 3.2bn worth of products to Israel last year. In return, Israel sold 2.5bn worth of goods and services to the UK.

But its not just about money. The UK also benefits much more than Israel from defence and security cooperation too. Without Israeli technology, the RAF could not get planes in the air. Israeli intelligence has foiled multiple terror attacks in the UK. When British troops at war in Afghanistan and Iraq needed certain weapons and equipment urgently, they were supplied immediately, in some cases straight from Israels own defence supplies. Theres no doubt that British lives were saved.

Its abundantly clear that Israel is a vital trading partner and ally for the UK.

Were building on all this with a new trade deal to benefit businesses and create good new well-paid jobs in both countries by liberalising and opening up trade, especially in sectors like financial services, infrastructure, technology, life sciences, AI and cyber security or by removing or lowering tariffs for major UK exports.

The current trade arrangements date back to the 1980s, long before the internet and digital economy revolution transformed every area of our lives. Opening up sectors like services, tech, life sciences, AI and cyber security could create huge numbers of new well-paid jobs in both Israel and the UK.

Of course, the stance of a few parliamentarians  both Labour and Conservative  against Israel is a response to the war in Gaza. But to me it seems their views stand against not only British interests but also whats best for Israelis and the Palestinians.

When, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists crossed the border to slaughter 1,200 Israelis and take 250 hostages, the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust should have been an occasion for worldwide sympathy and support.

Instead, in a sickening moral inversion, Israel has been the target for the worst victim blaming imaginable. Marches in London by supporters of Palestine began before Israel had so much as struck a blow in return. One Labour backbencher, Andy McDonald, accuses Israel of war crimes, apartheid and even genocide.

But in truth it is Hamas who have committed countless crimes and stand in the way of peace. Their cowardly gunmen cynically hide among the civilian population in school and hospitals, and have siphoned off billions from international humanitarian aid to build a rabbit warren of tunnels beneath Gaza.

Behind Hamas stands Iran, also the puppeteer pulling the strings of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. The arrests last week over an alleged terror plot on British soil remind us that Tehran is a direct threat to the UK too.

Israel is the worlds only Jewish state, the Middle Easts only true democracy and one of our closest allies. We share values and interests and economic benefits. We share enemies too, who would only rejoice if we put that relationship at risk.

Ian Austin was Labour MP for Dudley North from 2005 - 2019. He is now a non-affiliated member of the House of Lords
Healthcare staff are being left to deal with the human cost of abuse of opioids, some of which are more potent than heroin, nurses have warned.

Drugs such as nitazenes and fentanyl carry a higher risk of overdose, with nitazenes causing a spike in drug-related deaths in recent years.

The Government announced measures to crack down on the substances earlier this year, including training Border Force dogs to stop them entering the country.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), there have been more than 450 drug-related deaths linked to nitazenes in the UK since June 2023.

Union officials called for more support for nurses dealing with the trauma of these preventable deaths at the Royal College of Nursings annual congress in Liverpool.

Dawn Marr, a nurse in Aberdeen, told delegates: Synthetic opioids do not discriminate.

They affect people of all ages and all regions, across all demographics.

The crisis is UK-wide, and that requires a co-ordinated response that brings together nursing professionals of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In January, the Home Office said Border Force dogs would be trained to detect a range of nitazenes and fentanyl to stop them entering the country, with police officers also trained to administer naloxone, a medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdose.

It also banned xylazine, known as tranq, a veterinary sedative which is being used in combination with the likes of heroin.

And this week it issued 12 new recommendations to local authorities, including fast-tracked testing of seized drugs where synthetic opioids are suspected and sharing data between coroners, police and health services.

Ms Marr said: These are necessary steps, but let me ask you this, how many of us have treated someone experiencing opiate overdose?

How many of us have seen the devastating impact on families and children, on our communities?

How many of us do prepare to respond to what is increasingly becoming a daily reality in our practice? The truth is that while the UK Government is tracking their own supply, it is nursing staff that are left to deal with the human cost.

We are the ones that see the faces behind the statistics.

A young person who overdosed at a party, the middle-aged nurse struggling with chronic pain, the mother who lost her son to a substance she didnt even know was a thing before that.

RCN members voted to lobby UK governments for a strategy on how nurses can reduce the harms associated with the impact of opioids.

Ms Marr added: We need targeted education and training for every nurse to recognise and respond to synthetic opioid overdoses swiftly and effectively.

To advocate for policies that provide tangible support to frontline staff, not just naloxone kits, but ongoing professional development and mental health resources for those dealing with the trauma of these preventable deaths.

We need to engage in public awareness campaigns and educate our communities about the dangers of synthetic opiates, especially newer substances like nitazenes.

We need to back research that captures the real impact of this crisis on our healthcare systems, our communities and our profession.

Charles Yates, NCA deputy director, said tackling class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, was a priority.

We and our partners, including public health and forensic services, are proactively monitoring for sudden rises in drug-related deaths and will act quickly to reduce threats, he added.

Were working closely with policing, Border Force and international partners to stem supply of nitazenes and other synthetic opioids to and within the UK.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: This is a concerning report, and we are committed to ensuring NHS staff, including nurses, have timely access to support.

Last year, the Government expanded access to naloxone, ensuring services and professionals are easily able to provide at-risk people this life-saving medication.

We will continue to monitor and respond to the threat posed by synthetic opioids and are playing a leading role in the cross Government Synthetic Opioids Taskforce.
The environment secretary reiterated that the UK would never accept chlorine chicken or hormone beef. Photograph: Alex Segre/Alamy

Chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-fed beef may not be essential for a US-UK trade deal, Donald Trumps agriculture secretary has indicated.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference in London, Brooke Rollins said the market was moving away from the two controversial methods of production, which are illegal in the UK and the EU.

Rollins is visiting to discuss the specifics of the trade deal the US president, Donald Trump, announced last week, which took in agricultural products including ethanol and beef. On Tuesday, she met the UKs environment secretary, Steve Reed, who reiterated that the government would never accept chlorine chicken or hormone beef.

Related: From hormone-treated beef to tech taxes: whats at stake in UK-US trade talks?

Asked whether the US would insist on the UK taking chlorine-washed chicken as a condition of any future tariff reductions, she said only about 5% of our chicken in America is actually treated that way, with the chlorine, adding we have moved, over the last decade, completely away from the chlorine chicken.

In the US, farmers are allowed to use chlorine washes and other disinfectants to remove harmful bacteria that may have infected chickens during rearing and slaughter. The EU banned the practice in 1997, leading to a long-running dispute over imports of chicken from the US. There are concerns that chlorine may compensate or mask poorer hygiene and animal welfare standards earlier in the food chain.

Rollins also suggested some US beef producers were moving away from using hormones. When asked if they were, she said: Our cattle producers, obviously, are constantly watching what the markets look like, and if the markets are calling for a specific type, or they have more opportunity somewhere, then I think that we potentially do see some movement in the market.

Trump suggested last week that US agriculture could end up being produced to higher health and environmental standards under the leadership of his health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, adding: Bobby Kennedy is probably heading towards your system.

Rollins told reporters on Tuesday: The more our two countries and those who are aligned with our values are regulatory aligned, meaning that we dont have all these different systems and structures, I think that that is going to go a tremendously long way to supporting the agriculture industry in both the US and the UK.

The next agricultural imports for future discussions include seafood and rice, Rollins added: The UK, for example, really relies on China and Russia for your seafood. America has extraordinary best-in-class seafood. Lets talk about that.

Related: Nigel Farage defends allowing US chlorinated chicken into UK as part of trade deal

Previous attempts at free trade agreements between the US and the UK have been stalled by the UKs unwillingness to accept agricultural products produced to lower standards.

The White House adviser Peter Navarro last week called sanitary standards a phoney tool used to suppress what is very fine American agricultural product and said the market should decide, adding: We dont believe that once [British people] taste American beef and chicken that they would prefer not to have it.

Last weeks deal included access for British beef farmers to the US market, joining a small group of countries including Australia, while US farmers will be granted new access to the UK for beef and ethanol. British farmers have said they fear the new tariff reductions for bioethanol could cause the UK industry to collapse.
CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour says the new podcast series she has launched with her ex-husband and former US diplomat James Rubin will pull back the curtain on world events.

Amanpour, the chief international anchor at CNN, is best known for presenting her flagship programmes including The Amanpour Hour and PBSs Amanpour & Company, and on Tuesday launched her new podcast with Global titled Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files with Jamie Rubin.

The series explores the biggest issues of the day with Rubin, her ex-husband and former US diplomat and assistant secretary of state, while going behind the scenes of old and emerging world events from a government and journalism perspective.

Speaking about doing a podcast with her ex-husband, Amanpour told the PA news agency: If Im going to dip my toe in, Im going to dip it in scorching water and see how we survive.

I thought that people with opposing views can barely get into the same room, whether its around the Christmas table or the Thanksgiving table or in politics or whatever.

I figured if two exes  weve been divorced seven years, we were married 20 years  if we can talk about what were talking about, then surely anybody can.

Hopefully, its a model for getting people to be able to have conversations even across things that look like insurmountable divides, like political differences, religious differences, ethnic differences, all of that kind of stuff as modelled by two exes.

So from 1990 to now, 35 years in which he was on the government side and I was on the journalism side.

I was in the field. He was in the bureaucracy, in the government, and talking about the back story, and pulling back the curtain on a lot of the episodes that we sort of shared, but from completely different perspectives.

The two were married from 1998 until their split in 2018 and they share one child together, Darius.

Amanpour first joined the foreign desk at CNN in 1983 and went on to become a field reporter and interviewer, leading her to cover the likes of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the Bosnian War to being the last person to interview Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi before he was killed.

Meanwhile, Rubin worked as assistant secretary of state for public affairs and chief spokesman for then-secretary of state Madeleine Albright while also working for the Biden administration up until December 2024.

Speaking about the new podcast, Amanpour made clear that this was not a move away from legacy media but rather an opportunity to experiment with the medium and a chance for her to be more personal, offering her perspective and views on the events that have shaped and continue to change the world.

She added: Im not ready to give up on legacy media, CNN, for instance, which Ive been at for 41 and a half years, but I most certainly wanted to be part of the current media conversation. I find this one really, really interesting.

Christiane Amanpour said she wanted to be part of the current media conversation (Alamy/PA)

I decided that I would like to experiment with having a bit more freedom in my own personal views, opinions, emotions, because I clearly keep that out of what I do on CNN.

I really want to get much more behind the scenes, try to pull back the curtain, do the back story of how various crises emerge, or how diplomacy works to get out of various crises, what different leadership means in these very fraught times, and we live in very fraught times right now.

We are in a completely different world order. I call it no-world order, especially since Donald Trump was elected, because he has a completely different view of the presidency and the power of the presidency and how it should be used and deployed.

So for us, its a lot of raw material to deal with and to explore, examine, follow, and eventually, come down in judgment on one way or the other.

Yeah, its all about news and all about foreign affairs, but it has a much deeper human dynamic and much deeper and more personal dynamic from me as a journalist and Jamie my ex as a former government official.

Despite the ever-changing digital landscape within journalism, Amanpour remains firm on the importance of field reporting.

She said: There is no substitute for reporters in the field. I mean, there just isnt, bots cant go out there.

Its not an analyst job to tell us whats happening on the front line, or whats happening in a city under siege  its reporters, its those of us who are willing, ready and able to be everybody elses eyes and ears on the ground.

Thats our job, and we have to take that incredibly seriously.

We cant allow it to strangle our space or to completely suffocate our space, because our space is the only legitimate place where people get the reality and get the real news.

So I am a person who believes strongly in the enduring mandate of a reporter, the enduring mandate of the television or camera crews, or whoever goes out there to get the news and comes back and puts it together for the audience.

The Ex Files is Amanpours first original podcast series with Global with episodes released once a week on Tuesdays and bonus episodes out on Thursdays.

Listen to the first episode of Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files with Jamie Rubin on Global Player.
Emergency services were deployed to the scene in Kentish Town, north London, following the suspected arson attacks - Toby Shepheard / Story Picture Agency

At the outset of the investigation into the suspected arson attack on Sir Keir Starmers private home, police have been careful not to rule anything out, leaving open the possibility of hostile state involvement.

But despite the very real threat posed by the likes of Russia and Iran, that remains the least likely theory.

The Kremlin is undoubtedly targeting Britain and every other European member of Nato in a grey zone or hybrid campaign, encompassing actions short of armed conflict. This generally includes disinformation operations and physical sabotage, particularly against any infrastructure linked to Ukraine.

Last year, arsonists burned down a warehouse in London belonging to a Ukrainian business. Two British men admitted to being part of this group; one has pleaded guilty to taking money from a foreign intelligence service.

But Russias campaign is not known to have included any attacks on individuals in Britain, at least not since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. So far Russian intelligence appears to have stuck to sabotage and disinformation without climbing any further up the escalatory ladder.

Firebombing a property linked to the Prime Minister would amount to leaping to the top of that ladder, skipping every rung in between, making it unlikely that Russia or any other hostile state would have been involved.

In the past, of course, Russian intelligence has targeted individuals in Britain, murdering Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 and trying to kill Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2018. The latter incident claimed the life of Dawn Sturgess, a British mother-of-three, who happened to come into contact with the Novichok nerve agent used against Skripal.

Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko died shortly after being poisoned with polonium-210 - Natasja Weitsz/Getty Images

But Russia considered both Skripal and Litvinenko to be its own citizens who had betrayed their country by working for British intelligence. Trying to kill them would have been seen in Moscow as justified retribution rather than action against the British state itself.

Russian nationals Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov (right) were charged with carrying out the nerve agent attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury - Metropolitan Police/PA

The same applies to Iranian intelligence, which has also targeted individuals in Britain. But in every known case, these were Iranian dissidents or Iranian journalists critical of the regime. There is no public example of the Iranian state singling out a British politician, let alone one so senior as the Prime Minister.

Identifying two homes and one car linked to Sir Keir would have required planning and sophistication, but this would still have been possible for a well-motivated individual or group.

So while it is not impossible that a foreign state is involved, the finger of suspicion at least initially will probably point towards radical campaigners or activists.
Londons boroughs should be able to charge more than double council tax on second homes to free them up for people to live in, Sir Sadiq Khan has said.

The Labour Mayor of London suggested he wanted councils in the capital to have more powers to ensure second homes and empty investment properties are in use.

Speaking to LBC, Sir Sadiq was asked about measures to tackle the housing crisis in London.

When asked about councils around the UK which charge double council tax on empty second homes, he told the broadcaster: Thats not enough.

I want councils to have the power to charge much more for leaving your property vacant.

He pointed to flats in Nine Elms, south west London, as an example of properties built like gold bricks investment.

Sir Sadiq said: Theyve not been lived in, because those who bought it know equity will go up and the price of the flat will go up, and they dont need to live there.

He added: Wandsworth, great council, the max they can charge is double council tax.

I am not being funny, if you can afford a flat and leave it empty, you can pay double council tax.

I think boroughs should be allowed to charge much, much more. Were lobbying the Government to give councils more powers to dis-incentivise leaving a property empty.

The London Mayor last week announced plans to actively explore building on some of Londons green belt in a bid to fix the capitals housing crisis.

The announcement marked a change in stance for Sir Sadiq, who previously argued against releasing green belt land while there are still previously developed brownfield sites available.
Edi Rama voting in Tirana on 11 May. He has said Albania is at the gates of Europe. Photograph: Florion Goga/Reuters

Albanias prime minister, Edi Rama, looks to have sailed to victory in general elections after a near-complete vote count showed voters had returned him to power for an unprecedented fourth term.

With 94% of the ballots counted, Ramas party was leading the leftwing Socialists to a resounding win over Sali Berishas centre-right Democratic party in a poll viewed as pivotal for the Balkan countrys attempt to join the EU.

The incumbent party had garnered 52% of the vote compared with 34% for its main opposition rival, official figures from the election commission showed, although international observers questioned the fairness of the poll.

Preliminary turnout in Sundays election was almost 42.16%, or 4% lower than four years ago. The state election commission is due to announce full results on Tuesday.

Its a result exceeding all expectations even before the ballots have been fully counted, said a well-placed source in Tirana. A fourth consecutive win is phenomenal. Edi has cause to be very happy.

In office since 2013, Rama had campaigned on his ability to fast-track reforms deemed vital for the ex-communist state to accede to the EU. The 60-year-old has promised to deliver membership within five years after formally opening accession negotiations last October.

The goal, seen by many as highly ambitious, has been aided by the desire of some European leaders to see Albania and other western Balkan states join the bloc following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The countrys first president after the fall of communism more than three decades ago, Berisha, 80, argued Albania was far from ready for EU admission. Once the personal physician of the late Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, the cardiologist had run a US-style campaign overseen by consultants brought in from Washington DC, including Chris LaCivita, the Republican strategist credited with helping secure Donald Trumps victory in November. Berisha had made his campaign motto Make Albania Great Again.

The Democratic party had joined forces with 20 other political groups in the hope of removing Rama from office. But by early on Monday, as ballots were counted by hand, it was clear the Socialists were in the ascendancy.

An international election monitoring mission led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said, however, there had been a misuse of public resources and institutional power by the ruling party in the campaign. It said there were numerous reports of pressure on public employees and other voters as well as cases of intimidation.

The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on that.

Analysts said the Socialist party appeared to have won backing from overseas voters after Albanias large expatriate community was allowed to cast ballots by post for the first time. More than 192,000 votes were received from the nearly 246,000 Albanians who had registered to vote abroad before Sundays election in the 2.7 million-strong nation.

An overwhelming 83% of Albanians support EU membership, the highest endorsement of any population in the western Balkans, according to a Eurobarometer survey released in November.

Rama, who served as mayor of Tirana before going into mainstream politics  livening up the capitals drab cityscape by having its communist-era buildings painted in an array of colours  has made the countrys EU accession a priority. Supporters attending his weekly rallies turned the quest into a hallmark by donning white T-shirts emblazoned with a large multicoloured 5  indicating the years left until 2030.

The promise of EU membership was a big draw for diaspora voters, said Albanias ambassador to Greece, Luela Hajdaraga.

Albanians living abroad were very eager to participate in this historic process and have their voices heard, she told the Guardian. In Greece, especially, where the issue of gaining citizenship has been so difficult, the prospect of Albania joining the EU is seen very positively.

Rama has said that Albania, for decades the continents most isolated state, is at the gates of Europe. The country has opened 16 of the 35 negotiating chapters for membership of the bloc. But in a land blighted by corruption and organised crime, he also faces challenges, not least mass emigration as young Albanians seek better lives abroad.
The conflict in Gaza is a live-streamed genocide, the High Court has been told.

Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organisation, is bringing legal action against the Department for Business and Trade over decisions about licences to export weapons and military equipment to Israel.

In September last year, the Government suspended licences following a review of Israels compliance with international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict, but an exemption was made for some licences related to components of F-35 fighter jets.

Lawyers for Al-Haq claim the Government misunderstood the relevant parts of international law when allowing the unlawful carve-out for the parts for the planes described as the most lethal fighter jets in the world.

The Government is defending the legal challenge, including by saying that it is not possible to suspend the F-35 related licences to Israel without negatively impacting a wider international programme.

Demonstrators outside the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, ahead of the hearing (Ben Whitley/PA)

At the start of a four-day hearing at the High Court in London, Raza Husain KC, for Al-Haq, said the carve-out gives rise to a significant risk of facilitating crime.

He said on Tuesday: This claim being heard against the backdrop of human calamity unfolding in Gaza, the extremity of which is difficult to convey in words.

Mr Husain said that around 2.2 million people live in Gaza, which is around the size of the Isle of Wight, and that around 55,000 Palestinians had been killed between October 2023 and April this year.

The barrister said in written submissions: In just over 18 months, Israel has decimated an entire society.

That Israel has acted in this way is demonstrable and incontrovertible.

What is happening in Gaza is a live-streamed genocide, he added.

Mr Husain later said that the Government failed to properly assess whether the continued export of F-35 parts was compliant with part of the Geneva Conventions when there was a clear risk the parts might be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law by Israel.

At a preliminary hearing, the High Court was told that the decision to carve out licences related to F-35 components followed advice from Defence Secretary John Healey, who said a suspension would impact the whole F-35 programme and have a profound impact on international peace and security.

The F-35 programme is an international defence programme which produces and maintains the fighter jets, with the UK contributing components for both assembly lines and an international pool.

Sir James Eadie KC, for the Government, said in written submissions that the carve out is consistent with the rules of international law.

The barrister, who is expected to make oral submissions later this week, continued: Many of the arguments advanced by the claimant seek to develop the relevant rules of international law beyond the positions that have to date been adopted by international courts or tribunals.

Jeremy Corbyn MP spoke to demonstrators outside the Royal Courts of Justice (Ben Whitley/PA)

Sir James also said that part of the case was not able to be decided by the court, as he said it is unable to decide whether Israel has breached international law obligations.

He added: The nature of the allegations, and considerations of comity, firmly militate against this court determining a claim in which Israels alleged breaches of international law are put directly in issue.

Sir James later said that some of the criticisms are not based on a balanced appreciation of the facts, and are made without taking into account: the true depth and range of the information-gathering and analysis which was undertaken by the Government in reaching the September decision; or the inherent limitations to which the analysis and assessment were subject.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the hearing, waving banners and chanting.

Speaking to gathered demonstrators, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: Were here again, and just in case the British Government and the Israeli government have missed the message, we are not going away.

We are standing with the Palestinian people for as long as it takes.

Charities Oxfam and Amnesty International, as well as Human Rights Watch, are intervening in the case, with Oxfam expected to make submissions on Wednesday.

The hearing before Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn is due to conclude on Friday with a decision expected in writing at a later date.
A Customs and Border Protection vehicle at the US-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images

Osvaldo Ruiz and a friend were hiking through an isolated stretch of mountains, just a few miles from the sprawling US-Mexico border wall that fringes San Diego, when the federal agent stopped them in their tracks.

It was late March, mid-morning, and Ruiz, who works for a local non-profit called Border Angels, was busy. That day he was scouting a new route where his group could leave life-saving water and food for the sporadic waves of migrants who still cross through these desolate borderlands. Ruiz and his friend, a fellow Border Angels member, already knew they were being watched. A helicopter had been buzzing overhead for the past several hours, tracking them.

Shortly after the duo sat down for a mid-hike coffee break, the border patrol agent appeared on the trail. Four or five other officers lagged behind him in the distance.

The first agent seemed disappointed that the two werent migrants crossing the border illegally.

Oh, I thought you all were customers, he said as he got closer, referring to migrants who travel through the area.

Ruiz reiterated that they were not.

We got excited, the border agent told them, according to Ruiz. Daddy Trump has been doing a good job so its been slow.

That type of politically charged interaction has not been uncommon in the nations borderlands over the last few months. And for the network of non-profits across southern California that seek to help migrants and asylum seekers, the prevailing atmosphere has often felt more intense and angry since the Trump administration launched its crackdown on immigration across the southern border.

Groups like Border Angels have been on the frontlines of that change. During their monthly hikes to drop water and food for migrants, interactions with border patrol (some tense, others more neutral) have become a regular occurrence. Pre-Trump, some Border Angels volunteers said they rarely saw agents in these remote areas. The supplies they leave have also been vandalized on many occasions, although the culprits are unclear. Once, someone hurled a large boulder into a crate of water and left a hand-written note in Spanish: America siempre (or America always). And since Trumps inauguration, the non-profit has been receiving a more consistent flow of nasty messages and emails from the public.

There has been a lot more open hate around the work that we do, Ruiz said.

But the need is still there. If migrants cant find basic aid while passing through Californias backcountry, the regions near-freezing winter nights, triple-digit summer days and perpetually harsh terrain can lead to injuries and even death.

Although the number of people crossing into the US illegally has plummeted dramatically from this time last year, some have continued to take the risk. This March alone, more than 1,300 migrants were apprehended between official ports of entry in California. That same month, three people died while attempting to cross in the same wilderness area Ruiz had been hiking through. More people have been apprehended in the San Diego sector than any other section of the southern border this fiscal year.

But for many people seeking asylum from outside of the country, there is virtually no way to legally enter the United States right now. A government mobile app called CBP One, where migrants were previously able to schedule an appointment with immigration officials, was shut down for that purpose in January by Trump.

Melissa Shepard, director of legal services for the non-profit law firm Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said she had been forced to have very difficult conversations with asylum seekers who are waiting in limbo. Recently, at a migrant shelter in Tijuana, she met a mother of two whose husband had just been killed in their home town. After his death, the woman fled to the border. Shepard had to break the news that, at least for now, there is no path forward for her and her children.

At this point, Shepard said, unfortunately there are no real means for them to enter the US lawfully to seek asylum.

The lack of legal options also opens the door for coyotes and smugglers, who approach migrants in Tijuana and offer to help them cross the border. Someone desperate enough may take that option, Shepard said, especially considering the fact that migrants are still able to apply for asylum if they are physically in the US  whether or not theyve entered legally.

People are fleeing really desperate situations, and I think if the opportunity presents itself, theyre willing to take that risk, Shepard said. Weve seen it over and over again that despite these harsh policies that are put into place, deterrence is not effective.

Signs of survival: from inhalers to handcuffs

One recent weekend in April, a pack of volunteers with Border Angels ventured out on one of their monthly water-drop hikes, in the same mountains where Ruiz had run into border patrol the month before. The volunteers carried heavy-duty camping backpacks loaded with bottles of water, Gatorade, hand warmers, emergency blankets and little tins of canned sausage and tuna fish.

As they trekked deeper into the wilderness, off the designated dirt trail and into dense vegetation, there were signs of people crossing  and struggling to survive  everywhere. In some dugout-like areas protected from view by trees, probably used as resting spots for different groups of migrants, there were layers upon layers of discarded clothes, shoes, hats and backpacks (once people get closer to civilization, they often cast off dirty clothing that could expose them as having just crossed the border, the volunteers explained).

Because Border Angels dates each can of food or bottle of water they leave, it was also clear that some supplies had been consumed recently; one volunteer held up an empty can of tuna, dated 22 February.

But other items left along the route told more harrowing stories, ones that the volunteers will never be able to fully piece together. They spotted an inhaler left in one patch of dirt, then a bottle of baby powder. In a thicket of bushes off the beaten path, a pair of handcuffs were found clasped around a branch. Ruiz and another Border Angels member crouched down near the handcuffs, trying to determine what could have happened there. Maybe a smuggler had ditched them?

We just dont know, Ruiz said.

As always, the group of hikers knew that immigration officials could be aware of their movements; this heavily surveilled slice of the border is constantly being watched. Nearby, closer to the border wall, hi-tech autonomous surveillance towers and drones monitor the area around the clock. Trump recently proposed increasing the Department of Homeland Securitys budget for next fiscal year by nearly $44bn, a portion of which would go towards further increasing the borders security technology.

About two hours into the hike, as if on cue, a helicopter with US Customs and Border Protection flew by overhead.

They there are, Ruiz yelled over the whirring. We may have triggered one of the sensors, the cameras.

Some of the Border Angels volunteers had experienced all of this before, but others were on their first hike with the group. One of them, Belen Hernandez, had driven an hour and a half from Orange county that morning to be there, carrying four big bottles of water and other supplies on her back.

Hernandez, who works as a law clerk with an immigration law firm, said she had been on a professional rollercoaster for the last near-decade. On her first day as a legal assistant back in September 2017, during Trumps first presidency, his administration moved to terminate the Daca policy, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Now, things seem to be moving faster and faster, she said. Within the legal system, Hernandez often feels her hands are tied in terms of her ability to help migrants, including extremely vulnerable groups like unaccompanied minors  they either qualify for status in the US or they dont.

But out in the borderlands, helping feels a little simpler.

Even though I work in immigration, I cant necessarily give everyone a green card, or some type of status, Hernandez said, while readying her backpack for the second, uphill portion of the hike.

But this is at least one thing I can do, which is: Here, you made it this far. Let me get you a little further by giving you food and water.
A 2024 report found 306 senior executives were earning more than their state premiers. The University of Melbournes Duncan Maskell had a salary of $1.5m last year. Photograph: Maria Petrova Now/Alamy

Just three of Victorias vice-chancellors took pay cuts last year despite growing outside pressure to address broken university governance and accusations of executive largesse.

The universities latest annual reports, tabled in state parliament on Tuesday, showed six of Victorias nine vice-chancellors increased their pay or left it unchanged last year compared with 2023.

Five were paid more than $1m annually, none higher than the University of Melbournes Duncan Maskell, whose salary hit $1.5m in 2024 before his retirement this year.

Related: Australian academics refuse to attend US conferences for fear of being detained

Maskells pay was reduced to $1.4m in 2023 amid an operating deficit of $71m. Last year, the university recorded a larger deficit of $99m, the report revealed.

A spokesperson for the university said the main reason for the remuneration increase was annual leave entitlements, paid on completion of the contract.

The president of the National Tertiary Education Union, Dr Alison Barnes, said despite years of community outrage, Victorias chancellors were continuing to sign off on even more executive largesse.

A November report by the NTEU found 306 senior executives were earning more than the premiers of their universitys state, at an average of six per institution.



On one hand, universities blame budget deficits for job cuts, and with the other they push vice-chancellor pay into the stratosphere, she said.



Add these insulting pay bumps to the sky-high pile of evidence showing university governance is completely broken.



The education minister, Jason Clare, told Guardian Australia that the expert council on university governance, established by Labor last year, would look at the remuneration settings of senior university staff.

We need to strengthen governance arrangements in our universities, he said. The council will help build better institutional governance structures.

The councils recommendations and advice will be provided to ministers later this year.

The largest pay bump went to Swinburne Universitys Prof Pascale Quester, who received a $130,000 annual increase for a total salary of $1.1m.

Deakin University ($1m), Victoria University ($850,000) and Federation University ($910,000) also increased the pay of their vice-chancellors by $50,000, $10,000 and $20,000 respectively. RMITs vice-chancellors pay remained unchanged at about $1m.

Overall, six universities were in the red in 2024 and three posted a surplus  Swinburne ($28.1m), Victoria University ($66.1m) and RMIT ($1.8m) However, overall deficits largely improved on 2023.

A spokesperson for Victoria University said the vice-chancellor, Prof Adam Shoemaker, had received his first increase, in alignment with public sector benchmarks, since his appointment in 2021.

Shoemaker said 2024 had been a remarkably successful year for VU, but our work continues in the context of the University Accord.

Related: More than 300 Australian university executives make more money than state premiers, report reveals

A Federation University spokesperson said the vice-chancellors $910,000 salary was set independently by the University Council and benchmarked against other sectors and peer institutions.

They said under Prof Duncan Bentleys leadership, the university had dramatically reduced student attrition, grown domestic student numbers by 15% and improved in its rankings and equity performance.

A Swinburne spokesperson said its surplus would be reinvested in even better facilities, technology and campus upgrades, and ensuring our financial sustainability.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Divinity, Prof James McLaren, took a pay cut of about $40,000, paid $210,000 to $219,999 annually amid a $289,000 deficit, the reports showed, as did La Trobe Universitys vice-chancellor, Prof Theo Farrell.

Farrell, who commenced the role last year, earned between $860,000 and $869,999 in 2024, $100,000 less than the previous vice-chancellor. The salary of Monash Universitys vice-chancellor was reduced from $1.5m to $1.1m.

A Monash University spokesperson said the reduction was principally due to the departure of the previous vice-chancellor.

Excluding philanthropic funds, donations and investment income, Monash Universitys underlying result was a $6m deficit, an improvement on its $123.5m deficit in 2023.
The new deal could see Gibraltars border moved to the British Overseas Territorys sole airport - Oli Scarff/Getty Images

A deal that will see Gibraltar enter the Schengen zone is close to being struck, the Rocks first minister has said.

Fabian Picardo vowed Britain and Spain will get there on the proposed agreement, under which Gibraltar will join the passport-free area and keep its border with Spain open.

Depending on the final deal, British citizens travelling to Gibraltar may have to show their passports to Spanish or EU border guards at the airport.

Mr Picardos comments come the day after Jose Manuel Albares, the Spanish foreign minister, warned Sir Keir Starmer that his reset with the EU must include a deal on Gibraltar.

There are many, many things that we have to talk [about], Gibraltar included, Mr Albares said in an interview on BBCs Newsnight. So I would like to see a global deal on everything to make sure that the relationship is as smooth as possible.

Mr Albares has said that Spain is committed to reaching a deal on Gibraltar and is willing to park but not fully renounce its historical sovereignty claim over the Rock.

Gibraltar, Spain, the UK and the European Commission are within kissing distance of a deal, Fabian Picardo has said - Julian Simmonds

Sources in the British Overseas Territory also told The Telegraph on Monday, ahead of a UK-EU summit in London, there was significant movement in negotiations that began in 2017.

Mr Picardo told Times Radio that he could now see the end of talks over the Rock.

I think we can now see the finish post. Ive said before, were 99 per cent of the way there. I said, were within kissing distance, Mr Picardo said.

Mr Picardo added the plan was to make Gibraltar an associate member of the EUs passport-free Schengen zone, which encompasses 29 European countries, and which would allow the free flow of people between the Rock and Spain.

This would allow some 15,000 Spanish workers to continue crossing the border every day, and Gibraltarians to regain the freedom of movement we used to enjoy as European citizens.

Sovereignty claims

The plan has long been to move the border to Gibraltars sole airport, which is close to the land crossing, with European border guards from Frontex, an EU agency, carrying out passport controls on all arrivals.

But the talks have repeatedly stalled over sensitive sovereignty issues including Madrids wish for Spanish border police to operate security checks at Gibraltars airport and sea port.

Gibraltar rejects the presence of Spanish security forces on its territory, amid concerns about the integrity of the RAF base at Gibraltar airport.

Concerns have also been raised that Frontex border guards could be able to turn British travellers away from Gibraltar, even if those visitors had been waved through by Gibraltarian officials.

Mr Picardo admitted he had expressed optimism about a deal several times during negotiations that have stretched over four years and involved the UK, Gibraltar, Spain and the European Commission. He has previously said the two sides were in kissing distance of a deal.

If there were 1,000 issues that we have had to deal with in the context of what has been a very nuanced negotiation, we are down to the last handful of issues to be resolved, the first minister said on Tuesday.

Since Brexit, the border has been kept open thanks to both sides turning a blind eye to the rules.

Spain generally allows Gibraltarian residents to enter its territory without passport checks, but it has said this cannot continue indefinitely. In return the Rock allows Spanish workers to enter the territory without passport stamps.

Sometime this year the EU is expected to introduce its much-delayed electronic Entry Exit System, including at the border with Gibraltar.

This will mean all people entering Spain will be subject to passport and biometric data checks, risking long queues at a crossing that is vital for prosperity on both sides of the border.

A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: This Government inherited a situation from the last government which left Gibraltars economy and way of life under threat.

In the negotiations we have continued from the last government to resolve this, we have been clear that we will only agree a deal that maintains British sovereignty over Gibraltar and has the full backing of Gibraltars chief minister, Fabian Picardo.
Nicola Packer was taken from her hospital ward to a police cell still in pain and was told her anti-clotting medication was not a priority. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian

I hate sitting in silence now, Nikki Packer says. A quiet room reminds her too much of the police cell she was locked into just hours after undergoing a traumatic stillbirth.

Arrested in hospital by uniformed officers while still recovering from surgery, she was accused of carrying out an illegal abortion. It took four-and-a-half years for her case to come to court, where last week she was unanimously cleared by a jury.

Packer, 45, was charged with unlawfully administering to herself a poison or other noxious thing with the intent to procure a miscarriage, after taking abortion pills prescribed to her by a registered provider during the November 2020 Covid lockdown.

Under emergency legislation introduced during the pandemic  and later made permanent  medication could be dispatched by post for pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestation.

Packer went on to deliver a foetus estimated to be about 26 weeks gestation. The prosecution had claimed she had known she was more than 10 weeks pregnant when she took the pills; an allegation Packer has always denied.

Related: The case of Nicola Packer tells us this: Britain is shamed by its abortion laws  and must change them | Jonathan Lord

She may have been found not guilty, but Packer knows she will never be the same; she is nervous of seeking medical help now.

At her trial, the prosecution tried to claim she was lying when she said she did not initially tell medical staff (who went on to call in police) that she had taken abortion pills because she was afraid it would affect the quality of care she received.

But they didnt really help me, did they? she says. So I think I was right to be frightened.

And she no longer trusts the police  when her phone died, and she needed help, she asked the drunk man outside a London station for directions, rather than a police officer.

She also knows she has not yet fully processed the enormity of what happened to her. Just days after the verdict Im still running on adrenaline, she says. But she is seeking answers from the Crown Prosecution Service and the Met police as to how she got here.

There are other ways that it could have been handled after Id been in hospital, she says. I could have been sent home to recuperate. There was no legal need for me to be taken straight to a police station.

It was absolutely horrific to get to from the hospital to Charing Cross police station, she added. With no cars available, she was put in the back of the police van, and I had to sit basically on a plank of wood, with no seatbelts on it, driving around London like that. In custody, she was not given her anti-clotting medication on time, told it was not a priority.

I was still in pain, I was extremely tired, I felt very weak and mentally, just did not really understand what was going on, she said.

The prosecution clouded her life for almost half a decade. I kept doing things, but youre not fully present in the moment, she says.

She spent tens of thousands of pounds on her defence. A crowdfunder helped to meet at least some of her costs. I read all [the comments] several times, she says. I was reading them in the run-up and during the trial as well. There are so many people out there that dont believe this should be happening, theres so much support.

Years before her case ever reached Isleworth crown court, Packers barrister, Fiona Horlick KC, asked her what she was most of afraid of.

Im most scared going to prison, she says. The next worst thing, was the trial, just giving evidence and having to be speaking in front of all these people.

She knew she had the option to plead guilty, but she did not consider it for more than a split second, she says. I couldnt have looked at myself doing that, because it wasnt true.

While she waited for her case to come to court, she saw another woman, Carla Foster, convicted of, and jailed for, an illegal abortion before her sentence was suspended by the appeal court.

I was really angry, angry that she had to go through this, Packer says. She spent 35 days in prison. Why? Who did that help? What was the point? There was no point in sending her to prison, and then you have to think about the impact on the rest of her life.

But the case also brought home the reality of what she was herself facing, and she began asking questions she had never imagined having to contemplate. How do I prepare for the worst outcome? she says. Do I rent my flat out and cancel Netflix? What do I do? I dont know. Ive never been in this situation before.

The rational part of your brain can tell you its unlikely to happen, but then the other part  it still could happen, she adds. So its a horrible thing to live under, and the fact that it comes with a potential life [sentence] in prison.

When Packers trial finally came around at the end of April, the prosecution opening including details of her sex life, which included her alternative relationships.

It was completely unnecessary, and it was just done to make me look bad, she says. And potentially youre dealing with something that people may never have heard of, wouldnt understand, may have a bad opinion of. It was completely not needed.

At one point, Packer was forced to sit in court while lawyers discussed the size of her nipples with the judge. Intimate photographs of her were shown to the jury; evidence of her flat stomach.

It was quite humiliating, she says. I didnt want anybody to see those photos, but I knew that it was for my own good.

We hid what we could, but because my nipples were such a hot topic, we couldnt blank them out in pictures, she says. Its not nice knowing that people have seen such intimate pictures of you.

It was horrendous giving evidence, absolutely awful, she says. It was very upsetting, I spent most of the time crying while I was doing it, but I got through it because I knew that I was right.

And the jury agreed, finding her not guilty after about six hours of deliberations.

It was just wonderful to get that verdict, she said. I just feel that although the last four and a half years been absolutely horrific, I dont know if I could say at the moment it was worth it, but to have that validation of being found unanimously not guilty by a jury of my peers, its an amazing thing.

Having cleared her name, Packer is now throwing her weight behind the voices calling for a change in the law that would decriminalise abortion. A parliamentary vote is expected on the issue as early as this summer.

I do hope that the law does get changed  it should do, she said. Abortion is healthcare. It should not be treated as anything other than that.

A CPS spokesperson said: We recognise the profound strength of feeling these cases evoke, but have a duty to apply laws passed by parliament fairly and impartially.

They said the CPSs role had not been to decide whether Packers actions were right or wrong, but to make a factual judgment about whether she knew she was beyond the legal limit when she procured an abortion, and it had considered there was enough evidence to take the case to court.

Regarding the sharing of sensitive details and intimate images in court, the CPS spokesperson said this was often part of the justice process. In Packers case it was done, by both the prosecution and defence, to establish the timing of her pregnancy and her understanding of the gestation period when she accessed abortion medication.

It is never our intention to publicly embarrass or humiliate anyone with the evidence we put forward, they said.

Packer says such prosecutions could happen to anybody, I think thats whats really scary about it. With the law being as it is, a tragic accident and youre up on trial, and its why the law needs to change.

Packer wants to make history as the last woman in England to be prosecuted for an abortion. She has heard of other women whose cases are in the early stages of the criminal justice system, and she wants to use her voice to ensure they never see the inside of a courtroom.

I cant really say it was worth it, she says, but at least it would have meant something.

Aside from campaigning for legislative change, how does Packer plan to move on from this? That is a very good question, she says. I do feel a bit like I need to find myself again.

While awaiting trial, she sought comfort in familiar music and television; she listened to the same albums from her favourite rock artists on repeat, rewatched her favourite series back-to-back. But she found she could no longer watch Orange Is The New Black.

I had to turn it off, she says. I couldnt watch it any more because I started to get a really eerie feeling; this is set in a prison, I might go to a prison.

But, she adds: I started re-watching it last night.
Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi (l), arriving in Oman on Sunday 11 May for talks with the US, which may have covered the idea of an enrichment consortium. Photograph: Iranian foreign ministry/Reuters

Iran has floated the idea of a consortium of Middle Eastern countries  including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)  to enrich uranium, in a effort to overcome US objections to its continued enrichment programme.

The proposal is seen as a way of locking Gulf states into supporting Irans position that it should be allowed to retain enrichment capabilities.

Tehran views the proposal as a concession, since it would be giving neighbouring states access to its technological knowledge and making them stakeholders in the process.

It is not clear if Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, made the proposal in relatively brief three-hour talks with the US in Oman on Sunday, the fourth set of such talks, but the proposal is reportedly circulating in Tehran.

After the talks, Araghchi flew to Dubai where he spoke to the UAEs foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE currently does not enrich uranium for its own nuclear programme.

The consortium would be based on Iranian facilities with enrichment returned to the 3.67% levels set out in the original 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers, which Donald Trump unilaterally ended in 2018.

The US has demanded that Iran ends enrichment and dismantles all its nuclear facilities. But amid divisions in Washington, Trump has not made a final decision on the issue and praised Irans seriousness in the talks.

The consortium idea was first proposed by former Iranian nuclear negotiator Seyed Hossein Mousavian and Princeton physicist Frank von Hippel long before the current Tehran-Washington talks, in a widely read October 2023 article in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Under the consortium, the Saudis and UAE would be shareholders and funders, and would gain access to Iranian technology. The involvement of the Gulf states could be seen as an extra insurance that Irans nuclear programme was for entirely civil purposes and not the pathway to building a bomb, as Israel alleges.

If the Saudis and UAE were permitted to send engineers to Iran, an extra form of visibility about the programme would become possible, leaving the international community less reliant solely on the work of the UN nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran gradually moved away from the levels of enrichment and stockpile limits set out in the original 2015 deal, blaming Trump for leaving the nuclear deal. Irans deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, said: For a limited period of time, we can accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment.

The US originally gave the impression that it needs an agreement with Iran within two months of the talks starting but, as the technicalities of any agreement become more complex, it is possible the talks will be allowed to drag on through the summer.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60% purity  far above the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 deal, and a short technical step from 90% needed for weapons-grade material. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said these uranium enrichment level are far higher than necessary for civilian uses.

In what may have been a reference to the Iranian proposal Omani foreign minister, Badr Al Busaidi, referred to useful and original ideas reflecting a shared wish to reach an honourable agreement.

The UAE operates a civil nuclear power plant named Barakah, located west of Abu Dhabi. It is the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world to be fully operational, with all four reactors now online, and should be capable of producing a quarter of the UAEs electricity needs.
Jack Draper will take on Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open after battling past tricky Frenchman Corentin Moutet.

The British number one admitted he was bamboozled in the first set but recovered to claim a 1-6 6-4 6-3 victory and set up another high-profile clash with a familiar face.

Alcaraz currently leads their head-to-head 3-2 but Draper claimed a memorable victory in their most recent meeting in the Indian Wells semi-finals in March, going on to win his first Masters 1000 title.

Jack digs deep @jackdraper0 completes the comeback over Moutet, 1-6 6-4 6-3 to reach his fifth Masters 1000 quarter-final! @InteBNLdItalia | #IBI25 pic.twitter.com/JkO4q6oDRp  ATP Tour (@atptour) May 13, 2025

He came close to a second in Madrid last weekend, losing in the final to Casper Ruud, and is now within touching distance again on what had been considered his weakest surface.

Draper appeared to be feeling the pace of his recent run in his third-round win over Vit Kopriva in Rome, smashing his racket angrily on the court despite being a set and a break up.

He kept his calm in a frustrating first set here, with two missed break points at 1-1 heralding a run of five games in a row for Moutet.

The Frenchman is one of the most unconventional players on tour and his use of angles and drop shots combined with brilliant defence drew too many errors from the fifth seed.

Jack Draper shows his fight to come from behind against Corentin Moutet and reach the quarter finals in Rome  pic.twitter.com/GAhO8d6OeL  Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 13, 2025

Draper has been determined, though, to show the same appetite for consistent success as the leading stars and he dug in at the start of the second set.

There was a moment of contention at the beginning of the seventh game when Moutet felt Draper had not got to a drop shot in time but, after consulting the video review system, the umpire eventually gave the point to the Londoner.

Draper finally broke his opponents serve in the next game, drawing an angry toss of the racket from Moutet, and, although the Briton was unable to serve out the set, another break sent the contest to a decider.

The 23-year-old seemed to have the momentum but Moutet continued to frustrate Draper until his body began to fail him.

Moutet, who won a near four-hour battle with Holger Rune on Sunday, took a medical time-out for treatment to his left hamstring after the seventh game and Draper seized his moment.

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Karen Khachanov (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Im proud of my efforts today, said Draper on Sky Sports. I was a bit bamboozled at the start to be honest, I havent played someone like that ever I dont think.

I felt like I was on a string, I didnt know what I was doing. I came out in the second set and just fought for every point. Found a way in the end to pick up my level. It was a good one to come through, it feels good.

Alcaraz also went the distance, battling fatigue in a 6-3 3-6 7-5 win over Karen Khachanov, and the contest against Draper will be a key marker for the French Open later this month.

Asked about his energy levels, Draper said: Im giving myself the best chance to be there every point. Im in the quarter-finals now and theres no time to be tired any more. Ive got to keep on pushing hard every point and I will do that.

World number one Jannik Sinner won again in his first tournament back from a doping ban, battling to a 7-6 (2) 6-3 win over Argentinas Francisco Cerundolo.

Sinners Italian compatriot Lorenzo Musetti got to match point against Daniil Medvedev but had a near three-hour wait to complete a 7-5 6-4 victory because of a rain delay.

He will next face second seed and defending champion Alexander Zverev, a 7-6 (3) 6-1 winner over Frances Arthur Fils.

In the womens quarter-finals, home favourite Jasmine Paolini came from a set down to beat Diana Shnaider but two-time winner Elina Svitolina could not do the same against Peyton Stearns, losing in a tie-break.
Joe Biden with backers Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts

Joe Biden did not recognise George Clooney at a massive fundraiser the actor hosted for him, a new book has claimed.

Despite knowing Clooney for 20 years and attempts by aides to jog his memory, the then-US president reportedly failed to realise who he was talking to and greeted him by saying thank you for coming as he did to all of the other guests.

An observer said it was like watching someone who was not alive, according to Original Sin, a new book about Mr Bidens mental decline and the attempts of his team to conceal it ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

The June fundraiser raised $30 million for Mr Bidens re-election campaign.

Thank you for being here, he said repeatedly to the actor, after slowly making his way into the room while being guided by an aide.

When Clooney greeted Mr Biden, he replied How are ya? and when he asked him about his recent trip to a G7 meeting in Italy, he responded: It was fine.

You know George, the aide is said to have prompted Mr Biden, who said again: Thank you for being here.

George Clooney, the aide then clarified, and Mr Biden responded: Oh yeah. Hi George.

It was not OK, one event attendee told the books authors.

That thing, the moment where you recognise someone you know  especially a famous person whos doing a f---ing fundraiser for you it was uncomfortable.

Clooney is said to have first met Mr Biden in 2006 when speaking out against atrocities being committed in Sudan by its president Omar al-Bashir, while the Democrat was the ranking member on the Senate foreign relations committee.

Clooney is said to have been shaken to his core by the encounter, while other attendees thought Mr Biden was almost catatonic.

A Hollywood figure told the books authors: It was like watching someone who was not alive. It was startling. We all looked at each other. It was so awful.

Mr Obama, who was present at the fundraiser to support Mr Biden, is said to have tried to cover up for his old running mate by completing his sentences, and blamed the then-presidents team for setting a gruelling schedule which took him to Normandy, Delaware, Italy and California in just 10 days.

Weeks later, Clooney publicly called for Mr Biden to drop out of the presidential race following a disastrous debate against Donald Trump in which the Democrat frequently lost his train of thought and at times was barely audible.

I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice-president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him, he wrote in a New York Times op-ed last July.

But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the [June] 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.

Mr Biden suspended his campaign in July following the intervention from Clooney and powerful party figures including Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chuck Schumer, the Democrat leader in the Senate.

He was replaced by Kamala Harris, his vice-president, who went on to lose the election to Mr Trump.

In a post on his Truth Social platform earlier this year, Mr Trump labelled Clooney a second-rate movie star and claimed he had dumped Mr Biden like a dog.
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing

I dont share the politics of Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Ive never met him and know little more about him than the news coverage I read. But I assume he is well meaning and wants to improve his country. We may differ on how that will happen and what form it might take, but thats what politics is all about.

It turns out, however, that Darren Jones doesnt think the same about me. He thinks I am scum. Not just me, but anyone who disagrees with him. Seriously: everyone who takes a different approach to policy and politics is, to Jones, pure scum. Whereas he, on the other hand, is a veritable angel.

Speaking at the weekend at the Progressive Britain conference, Mr Jones told his audience (and then posted on social media): We may be in an era of five party politics. But theres only really two sides. Our side: a politics of love, compassion and community. With the ideas to transform Britain. And their side: a politics of anger, division and blame.

I dont think Ive ever seen a clearer, albeit unintentional, exposition of pretty much everything wrong with the Left. Leave aside the asinine idea that there are only really two sides to political debates; its astonishing that any grown-up has such a child-like view of the world.

But Jones view that he and his party represent love, compassion and community and everyone else in the country stands only for anger and division shows how little he and his comrades have learned, not just from the rise of Reform but from the ascendancy of Donald Trump.

Remember Hillary Clintons reference to the deplorables in the 2016 presidential race? Few things better encapsulated the attitude of so-called progressives to the people they supposedly championed  the ordinary men and women of America who felt let down by government, by the system and by the economy and who were turning to Trump as an outsider  than her dismissal of them as racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and Islamophobic. She described them as a basket of deplorables.

But while Hillary Clinton let rip a la Darren Jones on the people who dared to take a different view to her, even she didnt have the gall to voice the idea that she and her party were so pure, so perfect and so truly saintly that they and they alone had morality on their side. She didnt voice it  but you can bet your bottom dollar that she believed it.

Because that belief, as expressed by Jones, is fundamental to the Lefts vision both of its enemies and of itself. And when you believe  when you know  that you have morality on your side, you have licence to behave in ways that everyone else can see immediately are far from moral, but which you know must be that, by definition, because of who you are and what you believe.

So when the then shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, called Esther McVey a stain of inhumanity and referred to her being lynched for her part in implementing welfare cuts, he was of course being loving and compassionate.

Darren Jones is regarded as one of the brighter and more sensible ministers, which only goes to show the reality of Labours problem. So long as it regards its opponents as close to evil, it will never be able to understand them, never be able to marginalise them  and never be able to counter them.
Jenny Chapman will say the governments new approach will focus on the UK as an investor'. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

The days of viewing the UK as a global charity are over, the new development minister, Jenny Chapman, will tell MPs, in remarks that are likely to prove a controversial defence of the large-scale aid cuts she is about to oversee.

Lady Chapman replaced Anneliese Dodds in February after Dodds refused to back Keir Starmers decision to cut the UK aid budget from 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% in 2027.

The move will take 6bn out of the 2023 aid budget of 15.2bn and will be the first time UK aid spending has fallen to 0.3% of GNI since 1999.

On current trends, the UK will also fall behind Germany, France, Japan and Canada in terms of official development assistance as percentage of gross national income. Starmer justified the cut by saying the money was necessary to fund defence.

Chapman will tell the international development select committee on Tuesday that UK aid will be focused more on sharing British expertise than spending money.

She will argue that supporting economies will be at the heart of how the UK spends its overseas aid budget, arguing helping countries to grow is the surest way to reduce poverty and deliver the UKs plan for change by discouraging foreign populations from seeking to migrate.

The unapologetic tone about the coming aid cuts may disturb some Labour MPs, as will her emphasis that her changes are likely to be welcomed by African countries.

The Foreign Office said Chapman would say: Partners across Africa, from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe, want to move on from receiving aid from the UK and that the governments new approach will focus on the UK as an investor, not just a donor, and on partnering, not paternalism. She will add that Britain will increasingly be sharing with countries the incredible expertise it has to offer, instead of direct funding.

The days of viewing government as a global aid charity are over, she will say in remarks that are reminiscent of the claim by Boris Johnson that the aid budget was seen as a giant cashpoint in the sky.

Denying the government is opposed to international aid, Chapman will tell MPs: We need to prioritise, be more efficient, and focus on impact above all else. We have to get the best value for money  for the UK taxpayer, but also for the people we are trying to help around the world.

We need to draw on all the expertise the UK has to offer, such as our world-class universities, the City of London, Met Office, Land Registry, HMRC, education, and health.

We need to support other countries systems where this is what they want  so they can educate their children, reform their own healthcare systems, and grow their economies in ways which last. And ultimately, exit the need for aid.

With less to spend we have no choice. Biggest impact and biggest spend arent always the same thing.

The cuts are made more painful since they coincide with a massive slashing back of aid by the US. As a result, global health aid is projected to decline by 40% in 2025 compared with the 2023 baseline.
A view of the entrance to Keir Starmer's house in Kentish Town, north London after a suspected arson attack. Photograph: James Manning/PA

Police are continuing to question a 21-year-old man arrested in connection with arson attacks on properties and a car linked to Keir Starmer, with counter-terrorism detectives believing the fires were targeted against the PM.

Police said on Tuesday they were still trying to establish a motive for the attacks, which triggered condemnation from across the political spectrum at Westminster.

A 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life at an address in Sydenham, south London, where he was staying. He remains in police custody.

It is understood there is no indication the attacks were linked to hostile state action, which also falls under the remit of Scotland Yards counter-terrorism command.

The prime ministers family home, which he now rents out, a flat he once owned and a car he previously owned were all attacked. Detectives are trying to establish with certainty if all three arsons are linked.

None of the attacks led to injuries and police said at the Starmer family home in Kentish Town that damage was caused to the propertys entrance.

The property is understood to be owned by the prime minister. Starmer, who resides with his family at his official residence in Downing Street, is understood to be renting out the four-bedroom house to his sister-in-law and her family.

The arrangement is declared through the ministerial register of interests, but as his relative only pays a peppercorn rent in order to protect her legal rights as a tenant, the rental income does not meet the 10,000-a-year threshold required to be declared on the MPs register, the Guardian understands.

On Monday at 1.35am, police were alerted by the London fire brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address in north-west London.

The investigation team is also considering two other incidents: a vehicle fire in north-west London last Thursday, reportedly on the same street as Starmers Kentish Town property, and a fire at the entrance of a property in north London on Sunday.

The house, which he and his wife, Victoria, bought in 2004, has previously been targeted by protesters. Last year, three people were found guilty of public order offences after a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the property. Damage had been caused to the entrance but nobody was hurt.

Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of the Metropolitan polices counter-terrorism command, said: We are working at pace and continue to explore various lines of enquiry to establish the cause of the fires, and any potential motivation for these.

A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure.

We recognise that this investigation may cause concern to other public figures  particularly MPs  I would encourage any MP who is concerned about their own safety to get in touch with their dedicated local Operation Bridger [security programme] officer, who can provide further advice and support.

The Met said that as a precaution and due to the propertys connections to the prime minister, officers from its counter-terrorism command were leading the investigation into this fire.

On Monday, Starmer thanked the emergency services for their work. His official spokesperson said the matter was subject to a live investigation so I cant comment further, and he declined to provide any details on who may have been in the property when the fire started.

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she had been briefed about the suspected arson attacks. Asked about the incidents by BBC Breakfast, Cooper said: You are right that the police are investigating these incidents, and they have my full support in doing so.

I have been briefed about these incidents but you will understand, as home secretary I obviously cannot comment in any detail on the investigations that are ongoing.

Kemi Badenoch condemned the shocking suspected arson attacks. Writing on X, the Conservative leader said: My thoughts are with the prime minister and his family. No one should face these sorts of threats, let alone people in public service.

Its an attack on our democracy and must never be tolerated.
The Handmaids Tale author Margaret Atwood has told authors to be brave while under threat after she won the Freedom To Publish Award at The British Book Awards 2025.

The 85-year-old was presented with the award at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on Monday for advocating for reading as an act of resistance.

In a video acceptance speech, the Canadian said: I cannot remember a time during my own life, when words themselves felt under such threat.

Political and religious polarisation, which appeared to be on the wane for parts of the 20th century, has increased alarmingly in the past decade. The world feels to me more like the 1930s and 40s at present than it has in the intervening 80 years.

I have worked as a writer and in my youth in small press publishing for 60 odd years. Those years included the Soviet Union, when Samizdat was a dangerous method of publishing. Hand-produced manuscripts were secretly circulated, and bad luck for you if you were caught.

(They now include) the recent spate of censorship and book banning, not only in the oppressive countries around the world, but also in the United States. (They also include) the attempt to expel from universities anyone who disagrees with the dogmas of their would-be controllers.

This kind of sentiment is not confined to one extremism or the other  the so called left or the so called right.

Margaret Atwood received an award (Ian West/PA)

All extremisms share the desire to erase their opponents, to stifle any creative expression that is not propaganda for themselves, and to shut down dialogue. They dont want a dialogue, they want a monologue. They dont want many voices, they want only one.

In a free world publishers and booksellers stand for the many.

If free governments and the free human intelligence are to survive, the guardians and transmitters of words in all their multiplicity must be brave. I wish you strength and hope, and the courage to withstand the mobs on one hand and the whims of vengeful potentates on the other.

Other winners at the ceremony included the late Russian politician Alexei Navalny, who won Overall Book Of The Year for his posthumous memoir Patriot  beating Boris Johnson, Gillian Anderson and Sir Chris Hoy to the gong.

Accepting the award in his honour, Mr Navalnys widow Yulia Navalnya said: This book was never meant to be published after Alexeis death, Alexei wrote it with all the strength, wit and honesty that defined him.

Other winners at the ceremony included the late Russian politician Alexei Navalny (Jonathan Brady/PA)

He wrote in secret from a prison cell under the most brutal conditions with no access to books, to the internet, to anything but his own memory and will. And yet he created a manuscript that speaks with clarity and conviction not only about Russia, but about freedom, justice and what it means to remain human.

After he was killed, publishing this book became more than a responsibility  it became a mission. I worked closely with his editors and friends to preserve every word, every sentence, just as he intended.

Im profoundly grateful for the compassion and solidarity with which readers around the world have embraced it.

Receiving this award, from across the book community is a powerful recognition of the strength of Alexeis voice. It tells us that truth still matters, that integrity matters, that words can break through even the hardest walls and reach hearts everywhere.

Percival Everett took home Author of the Year and Fiction Book Of The Year for his 24th novel James, Asako Yuzukis Butter won Debut Fiction Book Of The Year, and Jamie Smarts Bunny Vs Monkey and Marian Keyes My Favourite Mistake were joint winners of Book Of The Year  Audiobook: Fiction.

Isabella Tree and Angela Harding won Childrens Non-Fiction Book Of The Year for Wilding, Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler won Childrens Illustrated Book Of The Year for Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures Of A Penguin, and Len Pennies Poyums won Discover Book Of The Year.

Stanley Tuccis bestselling food diary What I Ate In One Year won Book Of The Year  Non-Fiction: Lifestyle And Illustrated, Abir Mukherjee won Crime And Thriller Book Of The Year for Hunted, and Patric Gagne won Audiobook Non-Fiction for Sociopath.

Saara El-Arifis Faebound won Pageturner Book Of The Year, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney won Book Of The Year  Childrens Fiction, and Kate Mosse was awarded The British Book Award For Social Impact In Celebration Of Allen Lane.
Migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel as more than 12,000 arrivals have made the journey so far this year.

Pictures show a woman smiling on board a bus leaving from Dover, Kent after Channel crossings on Tuesday.

Other photos show a small child sitting by the window and a number of men and women asleep as they were driven away from the port.

People believed to be migrants leaving by bus in Dover, Kent, following small boat crossings in the Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The new arrivals come as one migrant died after a boat broke up in the Channel and 191 others were rescued across Sunday and Monday, according to the French coastguard.

On Tuesday, the authority also reported rescuing a further 71 migrants on Monday afternoon and taking them to Calais.

Some 601 people in 10 boats arrived in the UK on Monday, bringing the provisional total for the year so far to 12,407, according to Home Office figures.

There has been a record number of arrivals for the first five months of the year, since data was first collected on Channel crossings in 2018.

It is also the earliest point in the calendar year to have reached 12,000.

The current total for 2025  12,407  is up 31% on the number recorded at this point last year (9,455) and 81% higher than the same point in 2023 (6,844), according to PA news agency analysis of the data.

The figures come as Sir Keir Starmer set out plans to curb legal migration on Monday, with changes for example to study and work visas and higher English language requirements hoped to make net migration fall significantly by the next general election.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also said further reforms to the asylum system and to border security in response to irregular migration will be set out later this summer.

But reacting to the latest Channel crossing figures, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: On the very day Keir Starmer rolled out his feeble Immigration White flag, 601 illegal migrants crossed the Channel, pushing 2025s total past 12,000.

2025 so far has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.

Labour made a catastrophic mistake by cancelling the Rwanda removals deterrent before it even started. We have seen from Australia how this approach completely stopped illegal maritime crossings a decade or so ago.

The Government has vowed to crack down on people smuggling gangs including by handing counter terror-style powers to law enforcement agencies under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

That is why this Government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.
A man accused of murdering his wife said he held her and kissed her head moments after she died, telling Irish police there was no taking it back following the discovery of her body at their family home, a court heard.

Richard Satchwell said he lay on the floor with her body, and told detectives there was shame and panic.

Satchwell was arrested for the murder of his wife, Tina Satchwell, in October 2023, after her body was found in a shallow clandestine grave under the stairs of their home on Co Cork, six years after he reported her missing.

Satchwell, 58, of Grattan Street in Youghal, is accused of murdering his wife between March 19 and 20 2017.

He denies the charge.

Satchwell, originally from Leicester in England, formally reported his wife missing on May 11 2017.

He initially claimed he believed she had left their family home because their relationship had deteriorated and she had taken 26,000 euro in cash they kept in the attic.

Mrs Satchwells decomposed body was discovered lying face down in the grave, with her legs folded back over her thighs.

Following the discovery, Satchwell was arrested and questioned at Cobh Garda Station for almost three hours.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin has been watching the lengthy interview.

Tina Satchwell (An Garda Siochana/PA)

Wearing a black polo T-shirt and grey trousers, Satchwell removed his glasses and wept as he claimed that on the morning of March 20 2023, his wife held a chisel in her hand and flew at him and he went flying back on the floor.

He made stabbing gestures as he described how his wife stood over him with the chisel, adding that he did not know how it happened.

He claimed he held her up with the belt of her bathrobe, adding that it was all he could do to hold her up before she just stopped.

Satchwell told officers he did not know what to do and lay there for a good 20 minutes to half an hour.

He said their two pet dogs sat looking at them and came over to his wife and started to lick her.

Satchwell claimed he held his wife and kissed her on the head.

There was no taking it back, he said.

I had shame, panic. I dont know.

He also told officers that the real reason he went to the church on his way to Dungarvan that morning was to light a candle for his wife, her mother and their dead pet parrot, Pearl.

Satchwell sat listening to his interview with his head in his hands and looking down at the court floor.

He told officers that after he returned to their home in Youghal, he was trying to think what he would do next and what my next move would be.

He said that Mrs Satchwell was a beautiful woman but said her face was all distorted with anger.

She wasnt a bad woman, just angry at times.

When she was calm she was loving.

I couldnt go back on it.

I panicked and once the lie was told I couldnt go back and thats the truth.

He said there was no excuses in not coming forward and revealing the circumstances of his wifes death.

He then told officers that he buried her under the stairs.

Giving evidence, Dr Laureen Buckley, a consultant forensic anthropologist, who studies bones, said that Mrs Satchwells body was found lying face down and wrapped in a sheet of black plastic.

She confirmed that no fractures were found on any of her bones, including her skull and neck.

Mrs Satchwell was removed from the shallow grave and placed in a body bag and taken to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

She said that her lower legs were folded back over her thighs.

Her right arm was tightly flexed and her left arm was loose and lay over her lower stomach.

She was dressed in her dressing gown and a purse was found in the left pocket.

Dr Buckley said that some of her bones had separated from her body, including two ribs and a neck vertebra.

She took a sample of her head hair a piece of bone was taken from her toe to carry out DNA testing.

Her identify was confirmed using dental records, the court was told.

The trial continues.
Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and not guilty to attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, with a beef wellington lunch containing death cap mushrooms at her home in regional Australia. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

An internationally renowned mushroom expert who discovered death caps near Erin Pattersons home has started giving his evidence in her triple murder trial.

Dr Thomas May, a mycologist or scientist specialising in fungi, appeared in Pattersons trial on Tuesday.

Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to the lunch she served at her house in Victorias Leongatha on 29 July 2023.

Patterson is accused of murdering her estranged husband Simons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Simons uncle and Heathers husband.

(July 29, 2023)

Erin Patterson hosts lunch for estranged husband Simons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves beef wellington.

(July 30, 2023)

All four lunch guests are admitted to hospital with gastro-like symptoms.

(August 4, 2023)

Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital.

(August 5, 2023)

Don Patterson dies in hospital. Victoria police search Erin Pattersons home and interview her.

(September 23, 2023)

Ian Wilkinson is discharged from hospital after weeks in intensive care.

(November 2, 2023)

Police again search Erin Pattersons home, and she is arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder relating to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.

(April 28, 2025)

Jury is sworn in.

(April 29, 2025)

Murder trial begins. Jury hears that charges of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon are dropped.

The court has previously heard the lunch guests died after being poisoned with death cap mushrooms that were in a paste used by Patterson to make individual beef wellingtons.

The prosecution alleges Patterson deliberately poisoned her lunch guests with murderous intent, but her lawyers say the poisoning was a tragic accident.

May told the court on Tuesday that death cap mushrooms were most commonly reported in May, and outlined the three known sightings of death cap mushrooms in the Gippsland region, and the citizen science website iNaturalist, which is often used to report sightings.

Nanette Rogers SC, for the prosecution, said in her opening statement to the jury last month that May posted on iNaturalist about a discovery of death cap mushrooms under his profile name funkeytom in May 2023.

The post on iNaturalist, a site which is publicly available but requires a profile in order to post observations, included photos and GPS coordinates within about 20 metres of where May discovered the death cap mushrooms in Neilson Street, Outtrim, Rogers told the jury.

Related: Five people had lunch in a small Australian town. Three are dead  and one is accused of their murder

She said in her opening statement that the prosecution alleges Pattersons phone data suggests she travelled to the Outtrim area the day after May posted about his discovery on iNaturalist. The site is about 20km from her Leongatha home.

May said he came across the death cap mushrooms while on a short walk after speaking to a community group in Outtrim about fungi.

He said that he included photos, latitude and longitude and geo-coordinates in his post, but not the specific street.

He was also shown two photos of mushrooms on scales, one of which he said appeared highly consistent with death cap mushrooms, and another he said appeared to be commercially grown button mushrooms.

May was also asked by Rogers on Tuesday about another case of fatal death cap mushroom poisoning. He noted there was no central registry of such cases, but said he was familiar with a case reported in 1997 which involved a husband and wife who cooked wild mushrooms, resulting in the husband dying in hospital.

Under cross-examination from Sophie Stafford, for Patterson, May said that young death cap mushrooms could also be predominantly white, rather than the greenish or brownish colour exhibited in mature specimens.

He said there were also mushrooms with white gills, like death caps, which were non-toxic mushrooms.

May agreed with Stafford that distinguishing between toxic and edible fungi could be difficult, even for specialists. There were no simple rules to make such a distinction, he agreed.

Stafford showed 10 photographs of mushrooms, later all revealed to be death caps, to May, asking whether he could identify each one.

May said that all 10 images showed mushrooms which were consistent with death caps, but that he felt he could say that with more likelihood in some cases than others.

He said that in all cases he would be asking for more information than the single photo.

He agreed that the exercise demonstrated the difficulties of performing such an identification using one photograph.

May was also taken to work he had published, including a book he co-authored, Wild Mushrooming: A Guide for Foraging and another study of which he was a co-author, which focused on how certain apps used for foraging mushrooms were incorrectly identifying species.

One of those apps was iNaturalist, the court heard, specifically in relation to a feature which used AI.

May said the study occurred because the use of the apps was increasing and he agreed that there was also evidence that foraging for mushrooms had become more popular in Victoria, and that may be linked to the pandemic.

Mays cross-examination will continue on Wednesday.

The jury was also shown photos on Tuesday of leftovers of the beef wellington lunch, which it heard were transported to Melbourne with Patterson via ambulance.

It also heard from two further witnesses who said Patterson told them the mushrooms used in the beef wellington were partially sourced from an Asian grocer.

Dr Varuna Ruggoo, an emergency physician at Monash Health who assessed Patterson on 1 August 2023, said she appeared clinically well at the time.

She said a review of Patterson undertaken by a colleague earlier that day concluded there was no evidence of any sort of liver toxicity and that she was stable to be discharged.

Notes from the same colleague indicated that Patterson was not suffering from amanita phalloides  death cap mushroom  poisoning, Ruggoo said.

The trial continues.
Demonstrators protest outside Scottish Parliament against assisted dying - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe

Progress may be the most dangerous two-syllable word in politics. Slapped on to all sorts of monstrosities it has become a means of justifying inadequate arguments and evading scrutiny. To the unthinking politician, if an issue constitutes progress it is inevitably part of a wider move towards enlightenment, is an inherently good step and, crucially, must happen sooner or later. The belief means identifying barriers to progress; and, by extension, viewing their removal as a social good.

This isnt a modern outlier or bug but a longstanding feature of progressive thought. It was in the name of progress that the Fabian and socialist eugenicists  from Beatrice and Sidney Webb to Bertrand Russell and Marie Stopes  advocated the sterilisation of the disabled and sick during the 20th century. It was in the name of progress that George Bernard Shaw supported the socialisation of the selective breeding of man, even, chillingly, proposing the euthanasia of the mentally ill and other members of the unfit classes via extensive use of the lethal chamber. In short; a very dangerous word indeed. This isnt just a history lesson either; the groups these people supported still exist. Dignity in Dying, the main advocacy group for assisted dying, was founded by a member of the Eugenics Society and was known until 2006 as The Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

In our own day, the same concept is being invoked once more as a sort of unanswerable force. The debate over assisted suicide is intensifying on both sides of the Border this week, as Kim Leadbeaters Private Members Bill returns to Parliament and Holyrood MSPs voted in favour of a similar Bill proposed by Lib Dem Liam McArthur. In her efforts to champion her Bill on social media, the former is emerging as someone with Van Goghs ear for diplomacy; both tactless and self-aggrandising. This week she dismissed opponents as scaremongering and ideological, while quoting praise of herself from a supporter, describing her as a social reformer. At least irony hasnt been assisted with its death.

The inconvenient truth is that, in this case progress involves the sidelining and rejection of the very people whose needs it claims to advance. The Royal College of Physicians recently published a statement warning that the Bills deficiencies render it unsafe for patients and doctors. Was this scaremongering? Every user-led disability group opposes the change, as do a majority of palliative care professionals. Are they ideologues too?

If Leadbeater is foolish and groups like Dignity in Dying malign, there is a third and more complacent category of argument invoking the consistently-disproven concept of the right side of history. It is telling that despite supporting assisted suicide in principle, former Scots Tory Leader Ruth Davidson couldnt quite endorse the parallel Bill before Holyrood in its current form. Instead, in a column this week, she urges MSPs simply to trust that they will be able to iron out any problems at a later date. She also cites the number of countries around the world offering assisted suicide as if this, in itself, constituted an argument. What many of these jurisdictions actually show is quite the opposite to Davidsons Panglossian faith that everything will work itself out.

A particularly invidious aspect of this debate has been the manipulation of language. Not only is there a tendency to imply, per Leadbeater, that the pro-side has a monopoly on compassion, relatives understandable efforts to prevent their loved ones from taking their own lives have sometimes been reframed as coercion. During the expert witness testimony, one Australian MP referred to assisted dying in exquisitely Orwellian fashion, as a form of suicide prevention. There has even been some squeamishness about using the word suicide at all, though the Bill would by definition amend the 1961 Suicide Act. Its as if they fear this serious change to the social fabric will be impossible without annexing language to limit what their opponents may say. And now, showing tragedy and farce are far closer than we think, Kim Leadbeater is apparently a social reformer.

Parliaments own impact assessment also reveals this tendency. It was slipped out under the radar on Friday afternoon after the local elections. This too contained the dystopian language weve come to expect from the debate; focusing on the services inclusivity; perhaps to give women, disabled and vulnerable people equal access to death. The Bill already covers a far wider remit than its proponents initially promised. The irony is that Leadbeater and her allies no doubt think of themselves and their actions as progressive. Yet each of them is simultaneously engaged in the business of ignoring the voices of the poor and the vulnerable.

This Bill is so comprehensively at odds with the principles of previous social reform that enacting it will mean rewriting the Bill on which the National Health Service was forged. The legislation is so far-sweeping that the Bills proponents may become the first people to undo the basic healthcare principle that life should be preserved. This is worth restating for all the sensibles out there; it wasnt Mrs Thatcher or Tory privatisation, but a Labour backbencher who will fundamentally change the stated purpose of the NHS  and in a final irony, will do so not in the name of profit but of progress.
Ahmed al-Doush, a banking analyst from Manchester, has been sentenced to 10 years, a Saudi lawyer told his wife

A British man has reportedly been jailed for 10 years in Saudi Arabia, apparently for a social media post he wrote seven years ago.

Ahmed al-Doush, 41, a banking business analyst from Manchester who is of Sudanese heritage, is believed to have been jailed by a Saudi judge on Monday after being held for nine months in al-Hair prison in the capital, Riyadh.

Reprieve, a non-governmental organisation, is supporting Mr Doushs family as they try to secure his release.

Amaher Nour, his wife, was told by a lawyer representing her husband in the Saudi court that he had been jailed, but further information has been sparse.

Ahmed al-Doush was detained on Aug 31 last year as he prepared to fly home with his family following a holiday in Saudi Arabia - PA

He was first detained on Aug 31 last year as he prepared to fly home from the kingdom with his family following a holiday.

His wife, pregnant with their fourth child at the time, was allowed to fly back to the UK but Mr Doush was arrested.

The exact reason for his detention and imprisonment is unclear.

Human rights group Amnesty International says Mr Doush was subjected to extensive interrogation without a lawyer present and before being informed of the charges against him.

During interrogations, he was reportedly told that if not for his social media activity, he would be home with his family.

Mr Doush has 41 followers on his X account. According to reports from his family, the offending tweet, written in 2018 and since deleted, is thought to have related to the war in Sudan, a country which provided military support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

For two-and-a-half months after his arrest, Mr Doushs family was denied any communication with him or given the reason for his arrest, according to Amnesty.

He was also denied consular access to UK government representatives, the charity said.

While detained at al-Hair prison, Mr Doush was reportedly told he was being held over his social media activity - David Degner/Getty Images

In November last year, he was allowed a call to his wife and then permitted weekly phone calls with his family.

But in January this year, the calls were interrupted and have now become sporadic.

Amnesty said Mr Doush later told his family his communication with them was restricted by the authorities as punishment for asking his wife during a call about people who had recently been released in Saudi Arabia.

In a call to his wife in April, Mr Doush said he had been instructed by prison authorities to only check in with her and the children during the calls, and that if he spoke about anything outside of this, including discussing anything about his conditions of detention, health or about the legal proceedings or charges against him, that the call would be terminated and there would be punishment.

His wife, Amaher Nour, said: To the UK Government, Ahmed is just another statistic on a long list of British citizens detained abroad. To me and my kids, he is everything.

Thats why the news yesterday that Ahmed was sentenced to 10 years in a Saudi Arabian jail is heartbreaking, even more so that we dont know why.

And so the nightmare my family has endured for the past eight months continues into a never-ending abyss, exacerbated by the lack of clear information provided to us by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office).

Before the judgement was handed down, Ahmed was already suffering with back and thyroid issues and was becoming increasingly mentally distressed. I can only imagine what he is going through now, knowing he wont see his family again for years.

He should be at home surrounded by his loved ones, not in an overcrowded cell surrounded by second-hand cigarette smoke.

Yesterday, it became clear how badly the UK Government has failed me and my husband.

The judgement needs to be a wake-up call for the Foreign Secretary to act. Our children need their father. He has done nothing wrong.

The UK embassy of Saudi Arabia has been approached for comment.

The case has been raised multiple times with the Saudi authorities by Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

A spokesman for the FCDO said: We are supporting a British man who is detained in Saudi Arabia and are in contact with his family and the local authorities.
Lifeboats were called to the eastern beach of Sully Island - Wales News Service

A pair of foragers had to be rescued by lifeboats from an island as they thought they had eaten poisonous hemlock.

Lifeboats were called after the experienced foragers feared they had ingested the toxic plant.

They were found on the eastern beach of Sully Island, off South Wales, showing signs of anxiety.

The pair were taken by boat to the mainland where coastguards found they had high pulse rates and were treated with oxygen.

They were taken to hospital for checks and later given the all clear.

Bill Kitchen, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Barry Dock RNLI, said: Weve since been in touch and are very relieved to hear that both have made a full recovery.

They absolutely made the right call in seeking help  in situations like this its crucial that medical attention is sought without delay. Were very glad this had a positive outcome.

Notoriously poisonous plant

The Wildlife Trust describes hemlock as a notoriously poisonous plant, which has umbrella-like clusters of white flowers in summer.

The plant contains toxins that attack a persons nervous system and can be fatal. According to the trust it can be found in damp places, such as ditches, riverbanks and waste ground.

Sully Island is an uninhabited small island that can be accessed by foot at low tide from the village of Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan.

It is 400 metres off the mainland and each year a number of visitors are rescued by lifeboats having misread the tide and become stranded.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The United States has asked the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to assist undocumented migrants who choose to return to their home countries
Credit: Reuters

Donald Trumps confrontation with Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office was a long time coming.

The two governments have been exchanging barbs about an alleged genocide of white South Africans for months.

It is a row that has its roots in genuine lawlessness, a disillusion with Nelson Mandelas promised rainbow nation, and post apartheid racial tensions that cannot be simply wished away.

But it is also a story of confused narratives, fringe black and white extremist groups, and the outsize influence of Elon Musk in the White House. Perhaps above all, it is about concepts being lost in translation between South Africa and America.

The confrontation began to spiral earlier this month, when what were apparently the first refugees to be allowed into the United States since Donald Trump issued a blanket ban landed at Dulles Airport near Washington, DC.

They were not from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan or any of the worlds other active war zones. They were from South Africa. And they were all white Afrikaners.

Race has little to do with refugee status. But the incident has thrust into the spotlight not only the increasingly bitter relationship between Pretoria and Washington, but also Mr Trumps own contentious focus on what has been called white victimhood.

In America, the news has been predictably divisive. The White House trumpeted the arrival of the 59 as a triumph, claiming they were victims of racial discrimination, and hinted that they were escaping a genocide. An under-secretary of state was dispatched to welcome them.

Deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau, left, greeted Afrikaner refugees from South Africa at Dulles International Airport - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press

But the Episcopal Church, which has long been given US government grants to resettle refugees in America, responded by saying it would refuse to do so in this case, citing its steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.

Bishop Sean Rowe said it was painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.

In South Africa, the news was met with a mixture of outrage, glee and bemusement.

Chrispin Phiri, a foreign ministry spokesman, insisted that these are not refugees yet added: We are not going to stand in their way.

Kallie Kriel, the CEO of AfriForum, an influential Afrikaner pressure group which has previously called for white people to stay in South Africa, said the flight was a direct result of the [African National Congress] ANC-led governments targeting of Afrikaners through discriminatory racial legislation.

Other South Africans  including Afrikaners  have rolled their eyes at the entire episode.

This is about Trumps America. It really isnt about us, said Max du Preez, a prominent Afrikaner journalist. Theres an awful lot wrong in South Africa, but the persecution of white Afrikaners is not one of them.

The fury of the American Episcopalians is rooted in concern at a double standard  one it clearly believes is rooted in race.

In the fiscal year from October 2023 to September 2024, America resettled 100,034 refugees, the highest number admitted in a single year since 1994. Yet on his first day in office, Mr Trump signed an executive order banning refugees entry until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States. That includes applicants from war zones.

A little over two weeks later, he signed another, ordering the government to promote and prioritise the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.

The order, which also froze all aid and other funding to South Africa and accused its government of supporting Hamas and Iran, grants a small group of white people the only exception to an otherwise global ban on refugees.

By then, Washingtons relationship with South Africa had been deteriorating for some time. In December 2023, the ANC-led government in Pretoria brought a case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

But the immediate trigger was a new South African law allowing the state to seize land without compensation, provided it was in the public interest.

The bill, signed into law by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in January, allows for expropriation without compensation only when it is just and equitable and in the public interest  such as when the property is unused.

It does not mention race. But land ownership is a hugely contentious issue in South Africa, where three-quarters of farmland is owned by white people, who make up just 7 per cent of the population.

White South Africans gathered in support of US president Trump outside of the US embassy in Pretoria earlier this year, following an executive order granting them refugee status - MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, announced he would snub a G20 meeting in Johannesburg the following month, stating: South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property.

Shortly afterwards Mr Rubio expelled Ebrahim Rasool, South Africas ambassador to Washington, on the grounds of being a race-baiting politician who hates America.

Mr Rasool had said that the Maga movement was a response to a supremacist instinct and demographic trends that suggest whites will become a minority in the United States for the first time by the mid 2040s.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, Trumps South-African born first buddy, accused his homeland of racist ownership laws which equate to genocide against white farmers.

Mr Trump repeated that wording earlier this month, saying white farmers were being targeted specifically. Its a genocide thats taking place... and farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. But whether theyre white or black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa, he said.

Credit: Reuters

In the Oval Office today, he showed Mr Ramaphosa what he claimed were burial sites right here, over a thousand of white farmers.

If Afrikaner nationalists have been making the rounds of Maga-affiliated media in recent weeks, describing a South Africa on the brink of collapse and a community facing deep levels of persecution, the South African government certainly sees Musk as the driving force behind Donald Trumps policy making.

When Trump first signed the executive order, for example, Mr Ramaphosa reached out to Mr Musks father Errol, who still lives in South Africa, to see if he could arrange a phone call with the tycoon. Musk senior later told The Telegraph the two spoke for several minutes.

Mr Ramaphosa himself has rejected the allegations of genocide levelled by the US administration even before he got to DC.

A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political persecution, religious persecution, or economic persecution, the South African leader said of those arriving in the US after the refugee flight. And they dont fit that bill.

There are mounting suspicions in South Africa that Elon Musks business interests are dictating American foreign policy - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

White genocide

The notion of white genocide has gained traction in certain sections of the white, and particularly rural, Afrikaner community over the past ten years.

It has emerged on the back of very, violent crimes of murder, torture and other things that have happened to the Afrikaner community, and very specifically to rural Afrikaner farmers, says Marius Oosthuizen, a Pretoria-based consultant.

Theres a faction of the Afrikaners who feel very threatened, very embattled, both because of insecurity and crime and the threat of land expropriation.

There is plenty of debate about whether that is justified.

Figures collated by South African police show that in 2024, 44 murders were recorded on farms and smaller plots of agricultural land. While the country does not release crime statistics broken down by race, eight of those killed were farmers.

Mr Du Preez points out that everyone in South Africa (where around 20,000 murders are committed annually) suffered from insecurity, and that living in black or coloured townships was statistically vastly more dangerous than being a white farmer, however.

The farm murders are a genuine problem, he said, but were a matter of common criminality. Study after study failed to find any kind of political motivation, he said. There was no comparison to Robert Mugabes evictions of white farmers from Zimbabwe in the 2000s, either in intent, scale, or effect, he pointed out.

Protesters pictured at Dulles International Airport, where 59 South Africans arrived after being granted refugee status - WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

There are clear tensions nonetheless, and there has long been frustration in South Africa over the sluggish pace of land reform in the decades since the end of apartheid. While redistribution of land ownership has always been part of the post-apartheid project, it has always previously involved compensating those who give up their property.

But AfriForum, a Right-wing pressure group, explicitly links the new property law to the refugees who landed in Dulles, saying it permits expropriation without compensation, and also places Afrikaners and other landowners in the governments crossfire.

No land is understood to have yet been seized under the act. Defenders of the legislation say it is less likely to be used against farmers than for taking control of derelict and abandoned buildings and sites in city centres.

But the law passed earlier this year does mirror the populist rhetoric of Julius Malema, a former ANC firebrand who now leads a populist rival to the ANC called the Economic Freedom Fighters. He has long demanded expropriation without compensation.

Mr Trump ambushed Mr Ramaphosa with a video of Mr Malema singing kill the Boer calling for occupation of farms during the Oval Office meeting.

Mr Ramaphosa, quite reasonably, pointed out that this was not government policy, that Mr Malema leads a fringe opposition party, and condemned the rhetoric.

And he brought in John Steenhuisen, his white agriculture minister, who told Mr Trump that most farmers wanted to stay in South Africa and that what the country really needed was help in delivering economic growth that would shut the door on extremists like Mr Malema.

Thats all fair enough. But some still feel that the spirit, if not the letter, of the new law has a racial undertone.

When they did this, they did it through a constitutional review process, and so the ANC will argue that they are doing it within the ambit of the law, that its not aimed at white South Africans. But if you look at the fundamentals, its really about the ability of government to expropriate white-owned land, says Dr Oosthuizen.

Combine that with Mr Malemas salty rhetoric, including adoption of a song with the line kill the Boer, and many rural Afrikaners feel genuinely threatened, he added.

So while the 59 who arrived in Dulles airport were the first to take advantage of the refugee exemption, more may be on the way.

White farmers picketing in support of an executive order by the US president in February, which cut off American aid amid claims that South Africa was discriminating against them - KIM LUDBROOK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In March, the South African Chamber of Commerce in the United States said it had handed the US embassy in Pretoria the details of nearly 70,000 South Africans who contacted it for more information about the refugee scheme. Demand was huge, it reported

It just spread like wildfire. I had 7,500 emails in my mailbox. Over 2,500 texts, WhatsApps and messages. Basically our mail server crashed, Neil Diamond, the head of the chamber, told television channel Newzroom Afrika at the time.

How many will really leave?

Those who really believe in white genocide, want to leave the country or establish a separate state are the crazies of our society, said Mr Du Preez. Theyre tiny even among conservative Afrikaners.

There is a reason Afrikaners named themselves after the continent, he pointed out. They regard themselves as indigenous, and on the whole intend to stay.

More important than the number of refugees, say some, is the message they send.

Stephen Grootes, a South African radio host, argued in the liberal newspaper Daily Maverick, that Mr Trump simply needs to prove to his own constituency that white people are victims.

Mr Oosthuizen agrees. The refugee flights, he suggested, may play to a domestic political audience in America: In Americas own political discourse there is a racial element  black lives matter, family values, and the battle for preservation of white America. That definitely motivates some of the Republican base.
Halle Berry said Im going to follow the rules at Cannes - Doug Peters/PA

Halle Berry has been forced to ditch her red carpet dress plans after a Cannes ban on both sheer and billowing dresses.

The Best Actress Oscar-winner for 2001s Monsters Ball will have to follow the same sartorial regulations as everyone else.

The Telegraph revealed on Monday that nudity would be prohibited at the Cannes Film Festival following a recent vogue for sheer naked dresses and that overly voluminous gowns would also be banned.

The policy, intended to stop elaborate trains clogging up the aisles of film festival cinemas, will now prevent Berry, 58, from wearing her planned dress.

Speaking at the Palais du Festival in Cannes as one of the events jury panel, she said: I had an amazing dress by [Gaurav] Gupta to wear tonight but I cannot wear it because the train is too big.

Of course, Im going to follow the rules, so I had to pivot.

Halle Berry looked elegant in a black and white stripe maxi dress - AFP/SAMEER AL-DOUMY

The timing of her change of plans suggests that Berry had been unaware of the rule change prior to the revelation on Monday, a day before the festivals opening ceremony, that sheer and billowing dresses would not be allowed on the red carpet.

In the end she wore a black and white striped gown with a modest train. She was greeted by whistles and chants from a small group of protesters agitating for more stable contracts for film festival workers.

Cannes has reserved the right to deny entry to anyone not following the clothing rules issued for this years festival.

Berry wore a silver Reem Accra dress at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival - POOL BENAINOUS/CATARINA/LEGRAND

The nudity ban comes after a number of celebrities opting for extremely sheer dresses on red carpets, including Berry herself, who wore a gown with sheer panels to the Met Gala last week.

Despite her own recent fashion choices, Berry said: The nudity part I do think is probably also a good rule.

Speaking ahead of the inaugural red carpet event of this years festival, the former Bond girl said that there was no need for a female 007, saying: I dont know that 007 should be a woman. I dont know if thats the right thing to do.

She had herself been touted as a potential star in a female-led spin-off in the past, but she said that the time for such a project had passed.

Berrys Met Gala dress featured daring sheer panels - Matt Crossick/PA

Dress codes have become a talking point for the festival, which in 2015 stated that women had to wear high heels on the red carpet.

This years festival began in the shadow of the conviction of French film star Gerard Depardieu, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women.

Speaking as the head of the festivals competition jury, actress Juliette Binoche said that he was not a monster but a man.

She added that it was necessary to think very carefully about how much power is given to men within the film industry.

The actress also refused to be drawn on her views on the Israel-Gaza conflict. However, the 61-year-old urged the audience to think of the hostages taken by Hamas, and also those who live in fear in Gaza.

She then shared her sadness at the death of photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, and shared her hopes that Cannes could do its bit to promote peace.

Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, and Javier Bardem were among the nearly 400 signatories of a recent open letter condemning the film industrys silence on the conflict.

Berry with an Oscar at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002, when she wore a revealing mesh and embroidery Elie Saab gown - Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty

Addressing another topic at the festival this year, Binoche said that she understood Donald Trumps announcement that he might impose tariffs on the film industry, to ensure production remains in the US, saying he we understood from the beginning that he was trying to protect his country.

She added: We can see that he is fighting, and he is trying in many many different ways to save America, and save his ass.

The ceremony also featured Leonardo DiCaprio, who took to the stage to present Robert de Niro with an honorary Palme dOr.

Accepting the award, di Niro, a vocal opponent of the US president, denounced Americas philistinism president and condemned talk of tariffs on the film industry.
Sandie Peggie very much welcomed the Supreme Court judgment and thanked her supporters - Iain Masterton

A nurse who complained about a trans doctor using a female hospital changing room has challenged NHS chiefs to drop their gender self-ID policy immediately.



Sandie Peggie said she expected NHS Fife to dump its policy of permitting any man who identifies as a woman access to female-only single-sex spaces, following Aprils Supreme Court ruling on the issue.



In a statement issued on her behalf by her solicitor, she welcomed the courts conclusion that trans women are not women and access to female-only areas should be based on biological sex.



Ms Peggie said she was determined to continue her employment tribunal against the health board so it was accountable for its decision to discipline her simply because she objected to sharing a female-only workplace changing room with a man.



NHS Fife decided that Dr Beth Upton, who was born male but identifies as a woman, had a right to access the female staff changing room in Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.



Ms Peggie also thanked the public for its overwhelming support and set out plans to visit the Scottish Parliament to meet MSPs who have backed her case, ahead of the tribunal resuming in July.



The nurses comments on the Supreme Court ruling were her first since it was issued on April 16.

Dr Beth Upton arrives at the employment tribunal with supporters - Iain Masterton/Alamy

They came the day after The Telegraph disclosed that Scotlands health boards, including NHS Fife, have yet to act on the court judgment, despite it coming into effect immediately.



NHS Fife said it would not review or update its gender policies until after a new code of practice was issued this summer by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).



But the equalities watchdog issued interim advice on the court ruling last month stating that access to single-sex facilities in workplaces and public services should be based on biological sex.



The EHRC also warned that the ruling takes effect immediately and noted that the judgment was very readable, suggesting that it was clear what action was required.



Margaret Gribbon, Ms Peggies solicitor, said the nurse very much welcomes the judgment.



She said Ms Peggie salutes the courage and tenacity of feminist campaign group For Women Scotland for doggedly taking the Scottish Government to the UKs highest court and for its support with her own case.



She is determined to continue with her legal claim in an effort to obtain accountability for the way she has been treated by Fife Health Board, simply because she objected to sharing a female-only workplace changing room with a man, Ms Gribbon said.



She now expects NHS Fife to immediately stop permitting any man who identifies as a woman access to female-only single-sex spaces in the workplace.



The solicitor said Ms Peggie continues to draw strength and inspiration from the support she has received from around the world and expressed her thanks to politicians from across the political divide for their backing.



She also said the nurse had been moved by one of the Darlington nurses disclosing at the weekend that being forced to share a changing room with a trans colleague made her relive the experience of being sexually abused by her father.

Karen Danson, 45, is one of eight nurses who sued County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust after it allowed Rose Henderson, who was born male, to use womens changing facilities. Ms Peggie reiterated her support for them.



The Scottish Parliament responded to the Supreme Court ruling this week by banning trans women from using female-only spaces in the Holyrood building. Alison Johnstone, the presiding officer, said that the parliament had to act to fulfil our legal responsibilities.



But the SNP Government has refused to order the rest of Scotlands public sector to scrap its self-ID policies until the EHRC issues its final guidance.



Tess White, the Scottish Tories shadow equalities minister, said: After the decisive Supreme Court verdict, the public will rightly ask why NHS Fife is still pursuing this costly case against her while remaining wedded to a divisive gender self-ID policy.



However, the reason Sandie Peggie has had to make this call is because John Swinney (the First Minister) is still shamefully refusing to issue a clear public sector directive requiring organisations to uphold the law.



Trina Budge, a director at For Women Scotland, said: It is ridiculous that this practice continues after the very clear Supreme Court ruling, theres absolutely no reason why it couldnt have been resolved by now.

I cant imagine many taxpayers will be happy to foot the bills for the forthcoming compensation claims unless the NHS takes prompt action to restore both staff and patients rights to single sex provision.

An NHS Fife spokesman said: Following the recent Supreme Court ruling, NHS Fife continues to await further expected guidance from the Scottish Government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission on its implications for NHS organisations across Scotland.

He said Ms Peggies determination to pursue her legal action meant that the board shall be required to continue to defend the case through the appropriate legal process.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation impacted by the judgment.

It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on the ongoing employment tribunal in NHS Fife.
A car on fire on Sir Keir Starmers street in London

Counter-terror police are investigating the possibility that a hostile state may have been behind the arson attacks against the Prime Minister.

On Tuesday night, a 21-year-old man arrested on suspicion of targeting two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer was questioned by specialist detectives from Scotland Yards SO15 counter-terror command.

Reflecting the seriousness with which police were treating the incident, the head of Counter Terrorism Command issued a rare statement urging any MPs who might be concerned to contact police.

The suspect, whose nationality was not disclosed, was detained in the early hours of Tuesday morning at an address in Sydenham, south east London, following a police operation.

The property is around 12 miles away from the scene of three suspected fire bomb attacks in north London, which appear to have been aimed at Sir Keir.

It emerged on Tuesday that the first suspected attack targeted a car previously owned by the Prime Minister, and that the second appeared to be aimed at a flat he owned in the 1990s. Sir Keirs family home, where his sister-in-law now lives, was targeted in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police sources said they were keeping an open mind as to the motive behind the alleged attacks but have not ruled out that it could be linked to a hostile state or to terrorism, which could be far-Left, far-Right or Islamist.

Detectives are also exploring whether the person responsible may be acting alone and have a personal grudge against the Prime Minister.

Downing Street has also not ruled out the possibility that a hostile state may have been involved, but declined to comment on specifics while the investigation was ongoing.

The fact that a car Sir Keir once owned and a flat he lived in many years ago were both targeted raised suspicions that a significant degree of planning and forethought had been involved. The distance between the scene of the attack and the arrest also suggests a level of preparation.

One source said the indications were that the alleged plot showed a degree of sophistication.

The destroyed vehicle after the fire was extinguished

Commander Dominic Murphy, who recently issued statements in the wake of the suspected Iranian terror plot against the Israeli embassy and after the sentencing of a Russian spy gang, said: We are working at pace and continue to explore various lines of enquiry to establish the cause of the fires, and any potential motivation for these.

A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked, due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure.

We recognise that this investigation may cause concern to other public figures, particularly MPs.

The protection of MPs is something we take extremely seriously across the whole of policing and I would encourage any MP who is concerned about their own safety to get in touch with their dedicated local Operation Bridger officer, who can provide further advice and support.

Sir Keir was being kept up to date with developments but was said to be getting on with his job.

It emerged on Tuesday that the first arson attack  which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning  saw a Toyota Rav 4 previously owned by the Prime Minister set alight close to his family home in Tufnell Park, north London.

Credit: Linda Perry

It is believed he sold the car to a neighbour following his election win, but it had been owned by the Starmer family for some years prior to the election.

In 2020, it was pictured in media reports after Sir Keir  who was leader of the Opposition at the time  was involved in a minor collision with a Deliveroo worker.

The car sustained a dent and a large scratch following the collision in Camden Town.

Two days after the car fire, the front door of a flat, which Sir Keir and a former girlfriend bought jointly in 1991 but which they sold in 1997, was allegedly torched.

His name appears on a Companies House register linked to the property, thought to relate to the ownership of the freehold.

And in the early hours of Monday morning, the Starmers family home in north London was targeted in a suspected firebomb attack.

Police officers guard Sir Keir Starmers Tufnell Park property - James Manning/PA

The Prime Minister and his family moved out of the four-bedroom property and into Downing Street following the general election.

However, it emerged on Tuesday that it has since been rented out to Lady Starmers sister for a peppercorn rent.

While nobody was hurt in the incident, the front door and entrance area were badly damaged.

Last year, Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes, the head of counter-terror policing, warned that the number of investigations involving hostile states, such as Russia and Iran, had quadrupled in recent years.

The attack on Sir Keirs family home came on the day that a group of six Bulgarians living in the UK received lengthy jail sentences for being part of a spying operation on behalf of Moscow.

Russia has also been linked to a number of arson attacks in Britain, including one on a Ukrainian-owned business in east London in which a warehouse was set alight.

Meanwhile, four Iranian men arrested earlier this month on suspicion of a terror plot to attack the Israeli embassy in London remain in custody for questioning.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key announced that he had stepped back from his duties for private reasons last week - Finnbarr Webster/PA

Convened in a grand 19th-century mansion overlooking Buckingham Palace, the First Sea Lords annual Sea Power Conference is a vivid reminder that Britannia did indeed once rule the waves. Within the imperial staterooms of Lancaster House, the Royal Navys flagship conference attracts military VIPs from across the globe, discussing how Britain and her allies can steady an ever more unstable world. There is even a First Sea Lords essay competition, offering a 1,000 prize for a well-argued strategy paper on how the Royal Navy might best deal with specific security threats.

This year, however, the august gathering  due to start on May 12  was postponed at the last minute because of a keynote speaker dropping out. No, not a Ukrainian admiral sidetracked by urgent business in the Black Sea, or a tetchy Trump envoy throwing a hissy fit. Instead, it was the host himself, First Sea Lord Adml Sir Ben Key  whom, delegates were informed last week, had had to step back from all his duties for private reasons.

The Ministry of Defence declined at first to elaborate, prompting speculation that Sir Ben was perhaps gravely ill. But on Friday, it confirmed he had stepped down while claims of an extramarital affair with a female subordinate are investigated.

There are allegations against Key that he had a relationship with a female colleague under his command

It is the first time in the Navys 500-year history that its First Sea Lord has faced a formal misconduct probe  which is perhaps surprising, given the reputation Royal Navy commanders had, in centuries past, for floggings, drunkenness and occasional acts of piracy.

Yet while it has been portrayed as a straightforward HR matter  the Navy forbids commanders having relationships with underlings  some suspect the reasons for his departure may have been rather murkier. A popular officer among the ranks, Sir Ben was said to be unhappy over planned cuts to the Navy, and was rumoured to have clashed with the Chief of the Defence Staff, Adml Sir Tony Radakin, over priorities. With Labour tipped to publish its long-awaited strategic defence review (SDR) in coming weeks  one that few expect to offer much new cash  there is speculation that the disciplinary proceedings might have been brought about, at least partly, to silence him.

I think he has been stitched up to get him out of the picture, one unnamed Naval source told the Mail on Sunday. He had constantly raised questions about the delays with new ships, funding for recruiting and the lack of frigates, and he was told to keep quiet. Now he cant say a thing.

The MoD has declined to comment further, as has Sir Ben, 59, who has two sons and a daughter with his wife, Elly. But whether well-informed or not, the unproven speculation could barely have come at a worse time for the Government, as it tries to persuade both Britain and the world that the Navy will remain a serious global player.

Drop in Royal Navy resources since Falkland's war

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, amid growing threats from Russia and China, but many experts believe that figure should be twice that. With Donald Trump refusing to act as a Nato backstop, British Navy chiefs feel their own role in Europes security architecture is now even more important. Their thinking is that Continental powers, particularly Poland and Germany, should focus on land forces, while Britain, as a longstanding naval force, counters Russian threats in the waters off north-west Europe.

The possible future combat scenarios were laid bare in the topics for this years Sea Lords essay competition, which included: What if China, Russia, Iran or North Korea cut data cables to the UK? and What if the UK has to defend the North Atlantic alone? Yet, after decades of peace-time cuts, some commanders doubt the Navy even has the capacity to defend Britains own waters, let alone project power across the Baltics or protect Taiwan.

Last November, Defence Secretary John Healey said he would scrap two amphibious assault ships and a frigate as part of 500 million in short-term savings, while there is also talk of mothballing aircraft carriers amid fears they are too vulnerable to underwater drones.

The downsizing of the Navy is something that Sir Ben has witnessed first hand, having joined the force as a cadet in 1984, at the height of the Cold War. He went on to command a mine hunter, two frigates and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. In 2019, he became the UKs Commander of Joint Operations, supervising British evacuation efforts from Afghanistan after the Taliban took power in 2021, before taking over as First Sea Lord from Sir Tony later that year. Until recently, he was considered a frontrunner to succeed Sir Tony as Chief of the Defence Staff, the Armed Forces top job.

Officers who have served with Sir Ben speak well of him, although there is by no means consensus over whether he was the victim of a stitch-up. They point out that the Navy, as with the rest of the Armed Forces, has a zero-tolerance stance on officers having affairs with subordinates, given the close-knit working environment on ships and submarines. For low-ranking officers, an illicit liaison could lead to allegations of favouritism. For top-ranking commanders, there could be a risk of blackmail. They also point out that Sir Ben himself had been vocal on sexual propriety.

Last October, he publicly apologised for intolerable misogyny in the Submarine Service, after investigations exposed sexual harassment within its ranks. He returned to the theme in March, telling a Parliamentary defence committee that unwelcome sexual behaviours were being stamped out.

I dont think there is any stitch-up here  he had a sexual liaison with a subordinate in his chain of command, having dismissed others who did the same, one former rear admiral says. First Sea Lords have more important things to do with their lives than have clandestine affairs.

Others, though, are sad to see the back of a popular commander-in-chief, and do not rule out the possibility that the affair allegations have been used as an excuse to sideline him.

Some say that the extramarital affair allegation may have been used as an excuse to sideline Key (right with Adml Sir Tony Radakin - Alamy Stock Photo

There is literally nothing left to cut in the Navy without taking an axe to the body itself, and he may have been resistant to that, says one source. It might have been that a colleague dobbed him in to bring about his downfall.

In fact, uncertainty had been surrounding Sir Bens future since well before last week. In January, The Times reported that he intended to retire this summer rather than apply to succeed Sir Tony, citing sources who said he no longer believed he could fix the Navy. His office then contradicted this, briefing journalists that he was committed to managing whatever changes lay ahead.

There is, however, potential for disagreement over how those changes are implemented, particularly when tight budgets force a focus on certain priorities at the expense of others. Among the big expenditure programmes are the new Dreadnought submarines, which will replace the ageing Vanguard fleet as carriers of Britains Trident nuclear deterrent, and Type 83 destroyers, which will have enhanced air defence capabilities, including against hypersonic missiles. But Sir Tony and Sir Ben may have differed over how much to invest in next generation weapons, especially unmanned air and sea drones.

The Royal Navy's surface and submarine fleet

Radakin had quite a radical agenda for rapid modernisation, pushing AI and unmanned systems, but you still need ocean-going ships, as drones cant just fly for thousands of miles, especially in extreme weather, says one source. There is a balancing act between retaining the older systems and bringing in new tech  plus ships can take 10 years to build, so you have to plan ahead.

Sadly, successive governments have failed to invest properly in defence, and believed naively that the US was going to protect everyone for ever,  adds ex-Royal Naval commander Ryan Ramsey, a former captain of the submarine HMS Turbulent. Radakin and Key are both good guys  maybe there is some politics at play here, but frankly, even if that turns out not to be true, the damage has already been done.

Sir Ben with former prime minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to San Diego in 2023 - Leon Neal/Getty Images

The mood in the top ranks is unlikely to be improved by reports that the soon-to-be-published SDR contains no specific costings, potentially delaying key spending decisions in the autumn. Critics say Starmers Government is needlessly prolonging the process, mindful that hiking defence spending is unpopular with Labours Left.

Ben Key probably wanted to retire because he was just tired, added another former comrade. Running the Navy is OK when theres money around, but when youre firefighting against cuts all the time, its just exhausting.

Meanwhile, the search is now on for a replacement for Sir Ben, who may end up finishing an otherwise distinguished career in disgrace if this is indeed the end of his association with the Navy, as appears to be the case.

The current Second Sea Lord, Vice-Admiral Sir Martin Connell, has taken his place as Acting First Sea Lord, although there is as yet no new date for the Sea Power Conference at Lancaster House. It remains to be seen whether the essay contest will be revised to include the topic: What does a Navy do if it loses its top commander overnight?
Much of the cinema world, including Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino, have descended on the Cannes Film Festival as the 78th edition of the French Riviera extravaganza got under way.

Over the next 12 days, Cannes will play host to major premieres including Mission: Impossible  The Final Reckoning, Spike Lees Highest 2 Lowest and Ari Asters Eddington.

DiCaprio skirted the red carpet but drew a standing ovation when he presented De Niro with an honorary Palme dOr. The moment, which brought together two of Martin Scorseses most regular stars, came 49 years after Taxi Driver was crowned with the Palme dOr.

DiCaprio praised De Niro as the archetype actor, while also praising the 81-year-old performer  a fierce critic of US President Donald Trump  for fighting for our democracy.

When the crowd rose to its feet for a lengthy ovation for De Niro, DiCaprio handed him the Palme. Thanks kiddo, said De Niro.

After thanking the festival, De Niro turned to Mr Trump, who recently said he wanted to enact a tariff on films made outside the US.

Art is the truth. Art embraces diversity. And thats why art is a threat to the autocrats and the fascists of the world, said De Niro.

Americas philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of Americas premier cultural institutions. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he announced a 100% tariff on films made outside the United States. You cant put a price on connectivity.

Quentin Tarantino (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

The opening ceremony, which preceded the premiere of Amelie Bonnins French romance Leave One Day, was attended by Tarantino, who emerged to grandly declare the festival open, and then promptly dropped the microphone and walked off stage. On Wednesday, he will pay tribute to western filmmaker George Sherman.

Also in attendance was Sean Baker, the Anora director and last years Palme dOr winner.

The ceremony capped a busy day that included a three-film salute to Ukraine, the introduction of the jury that will decide the Palme dOr, headed by Juliette Binoche, and the debut of a restoration of Charlie Chaplins The Gold Rush for its 100th anniversary.

Last years festival produced a number of eventual Oscar contenders, including Emilia Perez, The Substance, Flow and the best picture winner Anora.

Asked on Monday if he was feeling the pressure this time around, festival director Thierry Fremaux said the only kind of pressure he believes in is in beer.

Cannes launched the same day Gerard Depardieu, one of Frances most famous actors, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a 2021 film set.

In one of Frances most prominent MeToo cases, the 76-year-old  who has long been a regular presence at Cannes  was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Talking about Mr Trumps call for tariffs on movies made overseas, Binoche said: I dont know what to say, really, about that. We can see that hes fighting and trying in many different ways to save America and save his ass.

The other eight jurors include Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong, who was unable to attend Cannes last year for the premiere of his Trump film The Apprentice. He referenced that film, which led to his first Oscar nomination, in his comments about the US president on Tuesday.

Truth is under assault, said Strong. Specifically at this temple of film, the role of film is increasingly critical because it can combat those forces in the entropy of truth, and can communicate truths, individual truths, human truths, societal truths, and affirm and celebrate our shared humanity.

Jury president Juliette Binoche (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Berry, responding to new protocols on attire for the Cannes red carpet, said she had an amazing dress with a long train for the opening ceremony but wore something else instead.

Cannes has outlawed nudity and dresses with long trains for its evening premieres at the Palais.

I had to make a pivot, said Berry. But the nudity part, I do think is probably also a good rule.

Cannes will follow Tuesdays festivities with the return on Wednesday of Tom Cruise. Three years after he brought Top Gun: Maverick to the festival, he is back with the latest Mission: Impossible movie.

Halle Berry (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Twenty-two films will vie for Cannes top prize, the Palme dOr, to be presented on May 24. They include Wes Andersons The Phoenician Scheme, Richard Linklaters Nouvelle Vague, Lynne Ramsays Die, My Love, Joachim Triers Sentimental Value, Kelly Reichardts The Mastermind, Oliver Hermanus The History Of Sound, Julia Ducournaus Alpha and Jafar Panahis A Simple Accident.

In the Un Certain Regard section, three prominent actors are making their directorial debuts: Harris Dickinson (Urchin), Kristen Stewart (The Chronology Of Water) and Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor The Great).

Geopolitics are likely to play a starring role at Cannes, which began by screening three 2025 Ukraine documentaries: Zelensky, Bernard-Henri Levys Notre Guerre and the Associated Press-Frontline co-production 2000 Metres to Andriivka, by 20 Days In Mariupol Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov.

On Tuesday, more than 350 filmmakers, actors and others in the film industry  including Richard Gere, Pedro Almodovar, Javier Bardem, Viggo Mortensen and Mark Ruffalo, published an open letter in the French newspaper Liberation and in Variety calling on cinema institutions to more forcefully respond to what they called genocide in Gaza.
E-scooters have been stuck in a legislative bind in NSW  available to buy but illegal to operate in public spaces. Photograph: Mike Kemp/In Pictures/Getty Images

E-scooters will be legalised on shared paths and bike lanes on roads  but remain outlawed on footpaths  under a New South Wales government plan that will also introduce strict speed and age limits.

Despite their surge in popularity over the past decade and the ability to legally buy them in shops, e-scooters have been illegal to ride in public spaces in NSW  aside from limited trials in certain local council areas.

The proposal to legalise e-scooters will be outlined on Tuesday in the Minns governments response to a parliamentary inquiry into the use of e-micromobility devices  a category which also includes e-bikes. The inquiry was told that accessibility advantages must be balanced with safety risks.

The roads minister, Jenny Aitchison, said about 1.35m e-micromobility devices were estimated to be in use across NSW  with almost half of those used to connect with public transport.

But she conceded many were currently being used illegally in a way that threatened pedestrian and road safety.

Aitchison said by regulating their use it would be easier to crack down on unsafe behaviour.

It is a difficult scenario, theres no doubt about that, [but] the option to do nothing is not there, the minister said on Tuesday.

Related: Theyre fast. Pedestrians are furious: fat ebikes divide Australian beach suburbs

The government will propose e-scooters can be ridden on shared paths with a default speed limit of between 10km/h and 20km/h. On roads signposted at 50km/h, they would be limited to 20km/h. They will not be able to be ridden on pedestrian-only footpaths.

Riders would need to be at least 16, consistent with all Australian jurisdictions, except the ACT, and European recommendations.

The government does not intend to speed-limit e-bikes  because their motors are not the only source of power.

E-scooters will remain illegal for children under 16 but minors will be allowed to ride e-bikes without a licence or formal training, Aitchinson said.

As is the case with traditional bikes, children under 16 will be able to ride e-bikes on footpaths.

Labor will, however, review the formal definition of an e-bike within NSWs road rules.

The new definition of legal e-bikes will stipulate they must be pedal-powered primarily. Currently, the motor cant provide more than 200W of additional power.

Police will be tasked with enforcing the new rules and will work with the government to determine penalties for breaches.

Aitchison said certain so-called fat bikes will fall under the definition of legal e-bikes provided they have not been modified.

The transport minister, John Graham, said e-mobility devices represented an evolution in how people moved around.

We believe a sensible set of rules will promote the health and lifestyle benefits of e-bikes and e-scooters while protecting the safety of riders and everyone else sharing the paths and roads with them, he said.

We recognise the communitys concerns, particularly around device modification, fire risk, discarded shared e-bikes and poor rider behaviour  which is why were taking action.

Related: A horror movie: sharks and octopuses among 200 species killed by toxic algae off South Australia

The NSW inquiry recommended safety standards to reduce lithium-ion battery fires, a rider education campaign and investment in critical infrastructure and improving future design of shared paths.

The devices reduce small car trips, reduce strain on parking spaces and make train stations, jobs, services and retail precincts easier to access, experts say.

Shared e-scooters trials have been conducted in Kogarah, Wollongong and a handful of other council areas.

Doctors used the parliamentary inquiry to urge MPs not to legalise the scooters for kids after a sharp increase in children presenting to emergency rooms with crash injuries.

Additional reporting by Australian Associated Press
Kim Leadbeater, centre, joins Dignity in Dying campaigners in Parliament Square last October - Lucy North/PA

Adults under 25 must not be able to end their lives by assisted dying without telling their parents, MPs have urged.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow those over 18 in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to end their lives, returns to Parliament on Friday.

All MPs will be able to debate changes to the legislation in the House of Commons for the first time since voting to legalise assisted dying in November, ahead of another vote.

Critics have expressed concern that there remains a lack of safeguards to protect vulnerable groups after MPs on the Bill committee examined it line by line and heard from experts.

MPs have put forward an amendment to the Bill that requires the next of kin to be informed if an adult under the age of 25 has their application for an assisted death approved.

The amendment tabled by Juliet Campbell, a Labour MP, says that where the person to whom the referral relates is under the age of 25, their next of kin must be informed.

Rebecca Paul, a Conservative MP supporting the amendment, said that without it the first a family may know about the assisted death of their loved one is when they get the call to collect the body.

Opponents to the Bill have highlighted that anorexia sufferers could access assisted dying.

Some disability charities have also raised concerns that vulnerable adults, such as those with learning disabilities, could be coerced into ending their lives.

Kim Leadbeater, the Bills sponsor, announced in February plans to scrap the requirement for a High Court judge to sign off applications and replace it with an expert panel.

Ms Leadbeater said that the sign-off of an expert panel, made up of a psychiatrist, social worker and lawyer, would be an even stronger safeguard.

But opponents have expressed concern that assisted dying panels will be able to hear evidence in secret at the applicants request.

Ms Paul told The Telegraph: The current bill prioritises patient autonomy over everything else, and this can be seen in the absence of references to family and next of kin throughout the Bill.

Right now, the first a family may know about the assisted death of their loved one is when they get the call to collect the body. There will be mothers and fathers out there that will get this call about their child if this Bill goes through without improvements to the process and safeguards.

She added that the amendment will at least help protect young people, especially those with learning disabilities, by ensuring their families are aware before the drugs are administered.

Rachael Maskell, a Labour MP supporting the amendment, said: If someone is not willing to discuss their death with their family, then it should be explored as to why.

She added: Learning that a family member has had an assisted suicide in other jurisdictions has proved to cause significant trauma for those remaining. In some cases they were not aware of this possibility and it has left people with complex trauma.

The Government did not support or oppose the Bill, with MPs able to vote according to their conscience - Shutterstock

Eating disorder charities said they were extremely disappointed when a proposal that would have prevented people with anorexia from being able to access assisted dying as a result of stopping eating or drinking was rejected.

Eat Breathe Thrive, a US charity, told MPs that it had found that at least 60 patients had accessed assisted dying because of anorexia in jurisdictions where it is already legal.

Around a third of those who had died were in their teens or twenties.

Chelsea Roff, the charitys founder, told The Telegraph that the amendment would be a step in the right direction, as families often hold critical information about a patients condition that they may withhold from a doctor.

But she added that she felt the cut-off point of 25 felt arbitrary, adding: What about a 26-year-old, or a 29-year-old, or a 33-year-old?

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Psychiatrists said it could not support the Bill in its current form.

Dr Lade Smith, the colleges president, said: Its integral to a psychiatrists role to consider how peoples unmet needs affect their desire to live.

The Bill, as proposed, does not honour this role, or require other clinicians involved in the process to consider whether someones decision to die might change with better support.

We are urging MPs to look again at our concerns for this once-in-a-generation Bill and prevent inadequate assisted dying/assisted suicide proposals from becoming law.

MPs voted 330 to 275 to legalise assisted dying last year, in a historic vote. The Government did not support or oppose the Bill, with MPs able to vote according to their conscience.

Sir Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, along with Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor. But Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister; Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary; and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, all voted against it.

Since the last vote, Ms Leadbeater has also introduced a new rule that requires doctors to set out palliative care options during an initial discussion with a patient about assisted dying.

Speaking last week, she said elements that had been added to the legislation over the last few months have really enhanced the safeguards.

Ms Leadbeater told the Hansard Societys Parliament Matters podcast: What I would struggle to understand would be colleagues who voted at Second Reading, who had got nervousness around safeguards, if they look at the Bill in detail, which I really hope they do, and I believe colleagues will do, they will see the things that have been added.

It comes as Ms Leadbeater announced she was supporting an amendment that required an assessment of the availability, quality and distribution of palliative care in England and Wales once the Bill is in force.

She said on Tuesday: I am fully committed to a holistic approach to end of life care and choice and that I am determined that if the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passes, it should be accompanied by improvements to palliative care in England and Wales, as has been the experience in other jurisdictions where assisted dying is already available as an option.

A new report into end of life care, released on Tuesday, demanded urgent action into the sector across the UK.

The report by the Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care said: Many people die in hospital when they would prefer to be at home, families lack essential support and recognition, round-the-clock services are often unavailable, and access to specialist palliative care is patchy.

It added: The need for palliative care overall is rising due to increasing multiple long-term conditions and rising numbers of annual deaths due to population changes.
Police at the Bondi Junction Westfield, where six people were killed by Joel Cauchi in April 2024. Photograph: ABC

The psychiatrist who treated Joel Cauchi for schizophrenia says his stabbing attack that killed six people in a Sydney shopping centre was not caused by psychosis but likely due to his sexual frustrations and hatred towards women.

The Queensland doctor, known only as Dr A, told an inquest on Tuesday that her former patient could not have had a psychotic episode at the time of the 2024 murders because his psychosis had previously exhibited as extreme disorganisation to the point he couldnt put two words together.

That was nothing to do with psychosis, the psychiatrist told the New South Wales coroners court. He couldnt have organised himself to do what he did. I think it might have been due to his frustrations, sexual frustration, pornography and hatred towards women.

Cauchi, 40, killed Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others at Westfield Bondi Junction on 13 April last year, before he was shot and killed by police inspector Amy Scott.



Dr A also said that Cauchis mothers concerns about her sons possible schizophrenic relapse when off psychotropic medication in late 2019  including that he believed he was under Satanic control, had extreme OCD, compulsively used porn and changed his gait  were not early warning signs but the result of stress linked to a sexually risky encounter.

She said Cauchi attributed his distress to believing he had contracted HIV after visiting a sex worker. It was based on his fear of STD, she said.

At first, she believed the concerns were early warning signs of relapse and, accepting his mothers concerns at face value, provided him with a prescription of the antipsychotic medication Abilify the next day.

Related: Nurse who treated Joel Cauchi for schizophrenia threw up when told about Bondi Junction stabbings, inquest hears

I erred on the side of safety and I thought it was the early warning signs of relapse, she said.

Later, Cauchi told her that he was sexually frustrated and fearful about contracting HIV from the prostitute.

He did not take the medication, and was not psychotic, the doctor said, adding that the medication in hindsight was not necessary.

She is a beautiful, beautiful mother but she is not a psychiatrist, Dr A said.

The court heard on Monday that Cauchi wrote to his health clinic in November 2019 asking for help to limit his porn exposure: Can we please cover some ideas for a porn free phone  I want a totally porn free internet on my devices.

Dr A told the coroners court in Lidcombe she treated Cauchi in her private Queensland practice from 2012 to 2020.

I would like to say to the victims, their families, Joel Cauchis parents, friends and everybody, that I offer my sincere apologies to you all, the acute mental health expert said on Tuesday.

Im sharing the pain, it has devastated me personally. No psychiatrist in the world would wish on themselves for this trauma to happen.

The court on Tuesday was exploring why Cauchi was weaned off his psychotropic medication by 2019 and disengaged from medical care after 2020.

When Dr A first saw Cauchi, he reported mental slowness, did not complain of depression, was guarded about his psychotic experiences and open about his poor organisation skills, she said.

She initially diagnosed him with chronic paranoid and disorganised schizophrenia, then later modified the diagnosis to first episode schizophrenia.

Under questioning by senior counsel Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, the court heard there was some ambiguity about whether the new diagnosis meant Cauchis schizophrenia was chronic and susceptible to the same rates of relapse.

In my mind, he was suffering a long episode of first episode schizophrenia, Dr A said. Lets just move on because it is first episode in my mind.

She said she hoped Cauchi would not relapse to the terrible disorganisation, lack of self-care and paranoia symptoms he had when he first developed and was hospitalised for schizophrenia at the age of 17 around 2001.

He was so, so troubled by the side effects

He was taking 550mg of Clopine (clozapine) when he joined the private clinic in February 2012 and had been taking the drug for 10 years previously under the care of public health doctors.

On being transferred to the private system, Dr As strategy was to ascertain whether his negative symptoms, including a blunting effect, lack of joy and amotivation, were caused by the illness or the medicines side effects.

Cauchi was concerned he was over-medicated. He was so, so troubled by the side effects, his former psychiatrist said.

Through assessments, she wanted to find out what was really going on, she said. They decided on a plan to lower Cauchis clozapine dose and find an optimal level that balanced his wellness with the drugs side effects.

In 2015, Dr A approached a psychiatrist from outside the practice for a second opinion on the plan to lower his clozapine dosage. In a letter shown to the court discussing that meeting, the second psychiatrist said they and Cauchi had discussed the risks and benefits of stopping clozapine.

On balance, Cauchi said he wished to continue the slow reduction in the dosage.

He agreed that if there was any recurrence of psychosis, the reduction would likely need to be reversed. His mother agreed to support him through the gradual reduction.

It was agreed that family members were most likely to recognise early signs of relapse.

Dr A said the plan was not to take Cauchi off medication altogether and that he would need to take drugs to control his schizophrenia for the duration of his life.

But, in 2018, Cauchi stopped taking Clopine and he ended his OCD medication, Abilify, in 2019.

Dr A did not seek a second opinion when ceasing to prescribe the drugs altogether, the court heard.

I was very confident that he had recovered from the first episode schizophrenia, she said.

When asked whether she took responsibility for Joel coming off Clopine and Abilify, she said: It was my decision and his decision.

On Monday, the court heard that despite Cauchis mothers concerns about a relapse after he came off clozapine, he was not put back on to the medication.

During my eight years of treatment, he never showed any signs of positive symptoms, never showed signs of any relapse and never showed signs of any issues of safety, or any interest in weapons, Dr A said on Tuesday.

Positive symptoms include delusions, catatonia and disorganised speech and behaviour.

Dr A told the court that Cauchis father had schizophrenia and that the illness was hereditary.

I have no error on my behalf

Cauchi continued seeing Dr A after he stopped taking medication because, she said, she wanted to support him while he moved out of the family home into his own unit.

He was going through transitions  I wanted to see through that he would complete those very stressful transitions and stabilise in a new place. That was the plan and Joel knew that and the parents also knew that.

Once he transitioned to another place  then I would finish and I would refer him to whatever place he needed to go.

However, Cauchi did not transition to a new GP after moving away from his home in Toowoomba in Queensland in March 2020. He was effectively lost to follow-up from then until the attack, the court heard previously.

Dr A said that Cauchi was always at risk of relapse. I wanted to keep him in my care, she said.

When it was put to the doctor that she had made mistakes by not explicitly telling Cauchis GP he needed ongoing psychiatric monitoring, not telling the GP about his mothers concerns, and not discharging Cauchi to his GP via a face-to-face meeting, Dr A said she did not accept the propositions.



She said everybody has an opinion about Cauchis mental health on the day he stabbed 16 people.

Dwyer asked Dr A: What would you say to the suggestion that you refuse to accept that Joel was psychotic on 13 April because you dont want to accept, yourself, the failings in your care of Joel?

The psychiatrist replied: I did not fail in my care of Joel and I refuse  I have no error on my behalf.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is prevaricating and obfuscating in peace talks with Ukraine, David Lammy has said.

The Foreign Secretary was responding to Tory MP James Cleverly, a former foreign secretary, who asked Mr Lammy if US President Donald Trump is committed to defending territorial integrity.

The Kremlin has effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than three-year war, but reiterated it would take part in possible peace talks in Turkey later this week without preconditions.

Mr Trump said he is optimistic about the Istanbul talks aimed at stopping the fighting, which has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians.

US President Donald Trump said he is optimistic about the Istanbul talks aimed at garnering a ceasefire in Ukraine (Niall Carson/PA)

Over the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv alongside his French, German and Polish counterparts for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and on Monday Mr Lammy hosted counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Poland where they discussed the future of the region.

During Foreign Office questions in the Commons, Mr Cleverly told MPs: The sustainable success of Ukraine and its self-defence hinges very much on the appetite of the president of the United States of America.

So, what steps is the Foreign Secretary, his ministers and officials taking to ensure that the president of the United States of America stays committed to defending territorial integrity, not just of his own nation, but of all nations?

And will he ensure the White House understands that allowing an aggressor to prosper in this case will encourage other aggressors to invade their neighbours in the future?

Tory former foreign secretary James Cleverly asked if US President Donald Trump is committed to defending territorial integrity, not just of his own nation, but of all nations (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Mr Lammy replied: (Mr Cleverly) will have seen that the Prime Minister was with President Zelensky and other European partners, he will have noted that they engaged with President Trump.

We welcome the desire to get an enduring peace but there must be a ceasefire in order to engage in those talks, it seems to me.

And it is Putin that is prevaricating, it is Putin that is obfuscating, and we must call that out with our long experience of scrutinising that particular individual.

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller said Mr Trump continues to indulge in the fantasy that Putin is serious about peace and called on the Government to maintain clear leadership in the face of Trumps unreliability.

Mr Miller then asked the Foreign Secretary what discussions he had had with Belgium and Germany on the seizure of Russian frozen assets.

Vladimir Putin is prevaricating and obfuscating in peace talks with Ukraine, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said (Aaron Chown/PA)

Mr Lammy replied: I have had detailed talks with my Belgian counterparts, not just at my foreign minister level, but technical talks that have involved our officials.

I know that (Mr Miller) understands multilateralism. He will recognise that the new German government has only been in power for a matter of days.

I was able to discuss this issue yesterday with my German counterpart, but with all grace I am allowing him to spend some time getting into the detail of the issue.
Tripoli, Libya Libya (PANA) - Two young children, aged 3 and 4, have died from dehydration aboard a rubber dinghy found adrift in the central Mediterranean, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday
Robert Benton, the Oscar-winning filmmaker who helped reset the rules in Hollywood as the co-creator of Bonnie And Clyde, and later received mainstream validation as the writer-director of Kramer Vs Kramer, has died at the age age 92.

His son John said he died Sunday at his home in Manhattan of natural causes.

During a 40-year screen career, the Texas native received six Oscar nominations and won three times: for writing and directing Kramer Vs Kramer and for writing Places In The Heart.

He was widely appreciated by actors as attentive and trusting, and directed Oscar-winning performances by Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Sally Field.

Robert Benton with Nicole Kidman at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2003 (Tobin Grimshaw/Canadian Press/AP)

Although severe dyslexia left him unable to read more than a few pages at a time as a child, he wrote and directed film adaptations of novels by Philip Roth, EL Doctorow and Richard Russo, among others.

Benton was an art director for Esquire magazine in the early 1960s when a love for French New Wave movies and old gangster stories inspired him and Esquire editor David Newman to draft a treatment about the lives of Depression-era robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, imagining them as prototypes for 1960s rebels.

The project took years to complete as Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard were among the directors who turned them down before Warren Beatty agreed to produce and star in the movie.

Bonnie and Clyde, directed by Arthur Penn and starring Beatty and Faye Dunaway, overcame initial critical resistance in 1967 to the films shocking violence and became one of the touchstones of 1960s culture and the start of a more open and creative era in Hollywood.

The original story by Benton and Newman was even more daring: they had made Clyde Barrow bisexual and involved in a three-way relationship with Bonnie and their male getaway driver.

Beatty and Penn resisted and Barrow was instead portrayed as impotent, with an uncredited Robert Towne making numerous other changes to the script.

Bonnie and Clyde poster (Alamy/PA)

I honestly dont know who the auteur of Bonnie And Clyde was, Benton later told Mark Harris, author of Pictures At A Revolution, a book about Bonnie And Clyde and four other movies from 1967.

Over the following decade, none of Bentons films approached the impact of Bonnie And Clyde, although he continued to have critical and commercial success.

His writing credits included Superman and Whats Up, Doc? He directed and co-wrote such well-reviewed works as Bad Company, a revisionist western featuring Jeff Bridges, and The Late Show, a melancholy comedy for which his screenplay received an Oscar nomination.

His career soared in 1979 with his adaptation of the Avery Corman novel Kramer Vs Kramer, about a self-absorbed advertising executive who becomes a loving parent to his young son after his wife walks out, only to have her return and ask for custody.

Starring Hoffman and Streep, the movie was praised as a perceptive, emotional portrait of changing family roles and expectations and won five Academy Awards, including best picture.

Hoffman, disenchanted at the time with the film business, cited the movie and Bensons direction for reviving his love for movie acting.

Dustin Hoffman (Alamy/PA)

Five years later, Benton was back in the Oscars race with a more personal film, Places In The Heart, in which he drew on family stories and childhood memories for his 1930s-set drama starring Field as a mother of two in Texas who fights to hold on to her land after her husband is killed.

I think that when I saw it all strung together, I was surprised at what a romantic view I had of the past, Benton told the Associated Press in 1984, adding that the movie was in part a tribute to his mother, who had died shortly before the release of Kramer Vs Kramer.

Benton was born in Waxahachie, Texas, outside Dallas. He owed his early love for movies to his father, telephone company employee Ellery Douglass Benton who, instead of asking about homework, would take his family to the picture shows.

The elder Benton would also share memories of attending the funerals of outlaws Barrow and Parker, Texas natives who grew up in the Dallas area.

Robert Benton studied at the University of Texas and Columbia University, then served in the US Army from 1954 until 1956.

While at Esquire, he helped start the magazines long-standing Dubious Achievement Award and dated Gloria Steinem, then on staff at the humour magazine Help! He married artist Sallie Rendigs in 1964. They had one son.

Between hits, Benton often endured long dry spells. His latter films included such disappointments as the thrillers Billy Bathgate, The Human Stain and Twilight.

He had much more success with Nobodys Fool, a wry comedy released in 1994 and starring Paul Newman, in his last Oscar-nominated performance, as a small-town troublemaker in upstate New York.

Benton, whose film was based on Russos novel, was nominated for best adapted screenplay.
Leonardo DiCaprio presents Robert De Niro with the lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday - Stephane Cardinale - Corbis

Robert De Niro used his lifetime achievement award speech at the Cannes Film Festival to rail against Donald Trumps tariffs on the film industry, describing the president as a philistine.

The 81-year-old actor shared the stage at the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere with fellow Oscar-winners like Halle Berry, Juliette Binoche and Quentin Tarantino to accept the award from long-time collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio.

Mr Trump has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he has announced the 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the US, said De Niro, known for films like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

Americas philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of Americas premier cultural institutions. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he announced a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the United States, he said.

You cant put a price on creativity, but apparently, you can put a tariff on it, said De Niro, who called on everyone who cares about liberty to protest against Mr Trump.

Mr Trump announced a 100 per cent tariff on all movies produced outside the US, insisting Hollywood was dying a very fast death due to the incentives that other countries offer to lure film-makers. We want movies made in America again! he said on social media.

Tarantino, De Niro, Laurent Lafitte, Mylene Farmer and Juiliette Binoche at the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival - Stephane Cardinale - Corbis

Organisers stress that they want to avoid politics and focus on the films, but this years inclusion of movies from Gaza, Ukraine and Iran, as well as Mr Trumps tariff announcement shortly before the festival, has put more focus on the world outside the festival.

Binoche, the head of this years jury, used her speech to pay tribute to Fatma Hassona, the Palestinian photojournalist, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza and is the subject of a documentary to be shown at Cannes.

Tarantino, the film director, who launched his career at Cannes, officially opened the festival, which runs until May 24.

Actress Eva Longoria, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and director Sean Baker  who won the festivals top Palme dOr prize last year for Anora  were seen on the red carpet ahead of the festival.

German model Heidi Klum wore a pink flower petal-esque gown that trailed along behind her  but apparently not long enough to have her denied entry onto the red carpet after organisers changed the dress code recently to ban nudity and excessive trains.

Berry, who is also on this years jury, was wearing a black-and-white gown without a train on the red carpet after she said on Tuesday that she had to switch her outfit choice at the last minute due to the updated dress code.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer

On a flight back from a summit in February 2002, Tony Blair turned to Labours then Europe minister, Peter Hain, and remarked we should remove Gibraltar as an obstacle to relations with the EU. He was insistent on making a deal and contemptuous of Gibraltarian attitudes.

In his memoirs, Hain wrote Gibraltar was a little bit of England trying, eccentrically, to cling on to Spain. He sneered at the Gibraltarians, whom he described as rigidly wedded to their idea of Britishness in a totally artificial sense.

Together they hatched a plan to compromise Gibraltars sovereignty and place it under joint control with Spain. It was only stopped by the Conservatives then in opposition and the Gibraltarians themselves.

Two decades later and we are again in a similar position. Jonathan Powell, then Blairs chief of staff, is back as national security adviser, fresh from orchestrating the surrender of the Chagos Islands. We have a new Labour prime minister who similarly views our overseas territories as an imperial hangover that must be offloaded at the first opportunity. And Spain continues to make provocative moves that are designed to intimidate and harass.

This week Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, came to the UK to say we need to solve the issue of Gibraltar to have a full UK-EU relationship. Well, no way, Jose. Gibraltar is British. End of. Gibraltar does not need to be part of a reset. There can be no deal that compromises Britains sovereignty, no deal that compromises the UKs military base, and no deal that Gibraltarians do not consent to.

Starmer has been unable to shut down speculation of yet another surrender. His loyalty has always been to the EU, the European elites he rubs shoulders with in Davos, and the international legal community. He is not politically stupid enough to commit to rejoin the EU formally, so he is determined to do it by stealth. Thus far he has been willing to make concession after concession to achieve that.

Take the security and defence deal he is set to sign later this month. The EU desperately wants this given its chronic underinvestment in security. A prime minister ruthlessly pursuing the UKs self-interest would have tried to get something in return  like a commitment from the EU to take back illegal migrants from France. Starmer has conceded it for nothing while offering fishing grounds and extra powers for the EU court.

The fact Starmers EU negotiations are shrouded in secrecy is a sure sign that this EU reset will break plenty of promises. For months Number 10 flagrantly lied about its secret plan to negotiate an EU-wide youth mobility scheme (free movement-lite)  only to be caught red-handed by the UK press. This is in sharp contrast to the transparent approach taken by the then Conservative chief negotiator, David Frost, where the UK Government was clear about its aims.

Gibraltarians are right to be concerned. Starmer has proven himself completely incapable of putting Britains interests first. Everywhere you look he has folded under pressure. He was outmanoeuvred by the Mauritian government (hardly the most powerful negotiating party), folded to Indias tax demands and has been bullied by Trump into lowering tariffs while US tariffs increased threefold. He is the archetypal citizen of nowhere, governing to further the global good  not the nations needs.

The Conservatives will oppose every handover of our powers, every step of the way.

Robert Jenrick is the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Shelters across the country are overflowing with pets in need of good homes, and when they match an adored animal with a forever family, it feels like a success. Remington is a 7-year-old German Shepherd who was lucky enough to find her family a month ago. It didn't work out, and they returned her to the no-kill shelter in West Valley City, Utah.

Kayla works at the shelter and shared what happened when Remington realized she was back in the shelter. In the video, we see Kayla trying to comfort the heartbroken dog, which is so sad to see. Even more heartbreaking, though, is what Kayla shared in the video's caption, "When she realized what was going on, she cried and cried loudly in the lobby. It took her well over an hour to calm down."

That broke our hearts, but there's still more. Kayla shared, "3-4hrs after she had been returned I went into the room with her to try to get some cute photos of her in pjs that I thought would make her look extra cute for an adopter or rescue. After I got it on her she just laid there. Head resting on a duck toy and not moving my heart SHATTERED."

She went on, "I gave her lots of gentle pets, paw massages, and softly told her she was a good girl and everything would be okay. Im not going to lie. That broke me. I fought my tears until I got into my car, leaving the shelter, because as much as it hurt me to see her like this, my feelings didnt hold even a small flame to what she was feeling."

Reading that literally had us in tears, and we would do anything to help find this sweet German Shepherd a home.

Related: Shelter German Shepherd Patiently Holds Ball in 'Hopes Someone Will Play with Him'

Commenter Reactions to Remington's Sad Story

Viewer @thejanet got nearly 65 thousand likes for her spot-on comment, "Omg Ive never seen a more heartbroken, defeated dog. I hope she moves into her forever home soon." @Janet got almost as many likes when she added, "Returning a dog to a shelter should give them an automatic ban from ever adopting again. Thats so cruel."

@Revasser made us cry when they pointed out, "She looks like she's lost in thought, recalling each and every moment of the last month and wondering where she went wrong..."

There's a little ray of hope, though. On Monday, May 12th, Kayla shared an update that, after 10 million views and thousands of comments about Remington, someone had seen it and came to meet her. We're all waiting on pins and needles, waiting to hear if she's been adopted!

If you're interested in adopting Remington or another pet in the West Valley City area, you can visit the shelter's website for more information.
Members of the 444th Brigade of the Libyan army stand guard at a junction in the Abu Salim area of Tripoli on Tuesday. Photograph: Ayman Al-Sahili/Reuters

The killing of the head of one of Libyas most powerful militias, which has been accused of abusing asylum seekers and faced allegations of crimes against humanity, has triggered armed clashes in Tripoli, resulting in at least six deaths.

Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, better known as Gheniwa, the commander of Stability Support Apparatus SSA, one of Tripolis powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighbourhood, was killed on Monday night at the headquarters of the 444th Combat Brigade of the Libyan army, a source in one of the countrys security forces told Al Wasat television.

Kikli, one of the capitals most influential militia leaders, had recently been involved in disputes with rival armed groups, including factions linked to the city of Misrata. His SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the government of national unity (GNU) of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah through a UN-backed process.

Armed clashes erupted overnight and gunfire echoed in the city centre and other parts of Tripoli after reports of Kiklis death.

Libyas Emergency Medicine and Support Centre said: Six bodies have been retrieved from the sites of clashes around Abu Salim.

The GNUs interior ministry called on citizens to stay at home for their own safety. After the ministrys call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets.

One man told Reuters: I heard heavy gunfire and I saw red lights in the sky. . Other residents reported gunfire echoing in their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.

The UN mission in Libya urged all parties to immediately cease fighting and restore calm, reminding them of their obligation to protect civilians. Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes, it said.

Amnesty International and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) have described Kiklis group as one of the main perpetrators of violence inside Libyas detention centres. According to a UN security council panel of experts report in December 2024, Kikli was a central figure in Libyas balance of power, playing a key role in militia financing through corrupt practices.

As leader of the SSA, he was accused of extrajudicial killings, torture and serious human rights violations. His name appears in a 189-page complaint filed in 2022 by the ECCHR to the international criminal court, listing him among potential co-perpetrators of crimes against humanity linked to the systematic abuse of migrants and refugees.

Diana Eltahawy, the deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said in a report published in 2022: It can come as no surprise that al-Kiklis militia is yet again involved in horrific crimes  whether against migrants and refugees or Libyans. For over a decade, militias under his command terrorised people in the Tripoli neighbourhood of Abu Salim through enforced disappearances, torture, unlawful killings and other crimes under international law. He should be investigated and, if there is enough admissible evidence, prosecuted in a fair trial.

In March, a photo shared on X by a Libyan activist showed Kikli in Rome, at the European hospital, visiting a GNU minister, Adel Juma, who was being treated there after surviving an attack in Tripoli on 12 February.

Libya is a major transit point for Europe-bound asylum seekers. For years, human rights organisations have documented how migrants trapped in the country are at the mercy of militias and smugglers. Tens of thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa are kept indefinitely in overcrowded refugee detention centres where they are subjected to abuses and torture.

The country, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 uprising backed by Nato. Libya split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions. Major fighting paused with a ceasefire in 2020 but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libyas substantial economic resources.

Reuters contributed to this report
Sir Keir Starmer is pursuing closer ties with Europe - Benjamin Cremel/Gett

Sir Keir Starmers reset with the European Union could involve a deal on the status of Gibraltar, Spains foreign minister has suggested.

The British overseas territory has remained part of the border-free Schengen area and has kept other EU agreements since Brexit in 2020.

No permanent solution has been found and the EU has made repeated attempts to try and close the crossing.

In recent months the UK has been negotiating a defence and security pact with Brussels which would give Britain access to a European defence fund set up in response to Donald Trumps apparent reluctance to guarantee the continents security.

Speaking to the BBCs Newsnight on Monday, Jose Manuel Albares suggested progress on the security deal could depend on resolving the issue of Gibraltars border.

Gibraltar has been allowed to remain part of the border-free Schengen area - Stefano Guidi/Getty

Mr Albares said: I think the relationship between UK and European Union, its a comprehensive relation, a global relation, not just a pick-and-choose relation. Because there are many, many things that we have to talk [about], Gibraltar included.

So I would like to see a global deal on everything to make sure that the relationship is as smooth as possible.

The Government said that Gibraltar would always remain part of the British family, but argued that it had inherited a situation [that] left Gibraltars economy and way of life under threat.

Gibraltar was ceded to the UK by Spain in 1713 and the population is heavily in favour of remaining a British overseas territory.

Last time they voted on a proposal to share sovereignty with Spain, in 2002, almost 99 per cent of Gibraltarians rejected the move.

The Government, in line with its predecessors, has said that it will not sign up to a deal that gives sovereignty over Gibraltar to another country, or that the Gibraltarian government is not content with.

But several issues remain unresolved, including what role Spanish officials could play in immigration checks for people entering Gibraltar and the status of the territorys airport, which also hosts an RAF base.

The Gibraltarian government has previously stressed the importance of operating a fluid border, given the territorys reliance on workers who live in Spain.

Mr Albaress comments follow reports suggesting some European countries have pushed to make UK concessions on fishing rights part of any defence deal.

But both the UK Government and the EU have sought to avoid directly linking defence negotiations to fishing rights.

Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: Given that whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses, its no wonder Spain sees this weak Government as an opportunity.

Gibraltar is British, end of, and we will remind the Government exactly where the sovereignty of Gibraltar lies.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: This Government inherited a situation from the last government which left Gibraltars economy and way of life under threat.

In the negotiations we have continued from the last government to resolve this, we have been clear that we will only agree a deal that maintains British sovereignty over Gibraltar and has the full backing of Gibraltars chief minister, Fabian Picardo.

Gibraltarian citizens are British citizens and Gibraltar will always remain part of the British family.
Rachel Reeves, Yvette Cooper, and Jonathan Reynolds, listening to the migration speech. Cooper said the PM talked about people who came after the war to work in the UK, to build some of our services  but he also talked about how immigration has to be properly controlled. Photograph: Ian Vogler/Reuters

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said the prime ministers words were completely different to those used by Enoch Powell in his infamous 1968 rivers of blood speech, amid criticism within the Labour party of the rhetoric used to launch the governments immigration crackdown.

A number of MPs criticised Keir Starmer when he said the UK risked becoming an island of strangers if steps were not taken to address integration. Speaking on Tuesday, Cooper said Starmer had also praised the contribution of migrants.

I dont think its right to make those comparisons, I think its completely different, she told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. The prime minister said yesterday, I think almost in the same breath, he talked about the diverse country that we are and that being part of our strength.

Everybody always gets caught up in focusing on different phrases  if you look at what the prime minister said yesterday, he talked about people who came after the war to work in the UK, to build some of our services and how important that was. But he also talked about how immigration has to be properly controlled and managed, and it hasnt been. I actually think its OK to have both those views.

However, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said he would not have used the phrase island of strangers while attempting to reframe what the prime minister meant.

Speaking to LBC, Khan said: The sort of language I use is different to the language used by others. Thats not the sort of words I would use.

He added that he thought Starmer was referring to promises made by Brexiteers and recent high levels of migration, and not that contribution we make to this multicultural capital city and country.

Asked how he had felt when he heard Starmers language, he said: I read the white paper and I understand the context of the white paper, and those arent words that I would use.

The white paper, released on Monday, includes measures to ban new recruitment from abroad for care roles, as part of a wider effort to reduce legal migration and prioritise UK-based workers.

Related: Skilled visa rules, deportations and higher fees: whats in the immigration white paper

It also plans to raise foreign workers skills requirements to degree level, raise the standards of English language required for all types of visa including dependents, and increase the time it takes to gain citizenship from five years to as many as 10.

Migrants who demonstrate a contribution to the economy and society through their tax returns, who work for the NHS and other public services, who have engineering jobs or who do outstanding voluntary service will be entitled to fast-track their permanent residency.

The rhetoric used by Starmer was likened by some critics to the language of Powell in 1968, and the prime minister was accused of pandering to the populist right by insisting he intended to take back control of our borders and end a squalid chapter of rising inward migration.

Some MPs claimed his words had echoed Powells notorious rivers of blood speech, which imagined a future multicultural Britain where the white population found themselves made strangers in their own country. Starmer said: Migrants make a massive contribution to the UK, and I would never denigrate that.

Several Labour MPs questioned whether Starmers policies were fuelling racism. Sarah Owen, the Labour chair of the women and equalities committee, who is of Malaysian-Chinese heritage, said: Chasing the tail of the right risks taking our country down a very dark path.

The best way to avoid becoming an island of strangers is investing in communities to thrive  not pitting people against each other.

Cooper also defended the decision to end the social care visa  which has led to warnings from the profession about severe staff shortages. She said the introduction of the visa under the Conservatives had led to jobs that often either didnt exist or the standard of those jobs was really dodgy, that didnt meet proper standards.

She said 40,000 care workers who had arrived on visas had ended up being displaced when companies were struck off. Our argument is that care companies should be recruiting from those pools of displaced workers. They can also extend existing visas.

On Tuesday, one of the leading MPs in Labours red wall group, Jake Richards, said the prime minister was right to warn about issues of integration. The prime minister is absolutely right to warn of the risk of becoming an island of strangers, the MP for Rother Valley tweeted. Millions of people across the country have similar concerns. This theme must be central to missions across immigration, employment, work and tackling neighbourhood deprivation etc.
13 May 2025 at 4:14 am

Three Belgian soldiers have been injured in a training exercise in Scotland, Belgiums prime minister said.

Belgiums defence ministry told the BBC that two of the soldiers were in a stable condition, with one expected to undergo surgery in Scotland before returning to Belgium.

The third was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has been discharged.

La triste nouvelle mest parvenue que trois militaires du Troisieme Bataillon de Parachutistes ont ete blesses lors dun exercice en Ecosse. Je souhaite aux blesses un prompt retablissement. Mes pensees vont a leurs proches.  Bart De Wever (@Bart_DeWever) May 12, 2025

In a post on X, prime minister Bart De Wever offered his condolences to the injured soldiers and their families.

I have received the sad news that three soldiers from the Third Parachute Battalion were injured during an exercise in Scotland, he wrote.

I wish the injured a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with their loved ones.

Belgiums defence ministry said approximately 10 other soldiers suffered hearing damage during the incident.

A spokesman told the BBC: The incident took place during a planned training exercise. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances.

The families of the injured personnel have been informed.
Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has joined president Donald Trump on his trip to Saudi Arabia. After being greeted by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and awkwardly linking up with Trump, Musk arrived at the Saudi-US Investment Forum. That summit will also feature fellow tech titans Open AI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Musks prominent participation in Trumps first overseas trip underscores his enduring influence within the administration. This will inevitably raise questions about the scope of his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) which was set to sunset later this month. Yet it much more importantly reflects a paradigm shift in the US-Saudi Arabia relationship.

Since President Franklin D Roosevelt declared that the defence of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defence of the United States in February 1943, relations between Washington and Riyadh have been framed in transactional terms. Saudi Arabia supplied the US with the oil necessary to keep its economy afloat and the US offered the Gulf kingdom security against foreign adversaries.

With the USs transition to energy independence and the inexorable phasing out of fossil fuels, the long-term sustainability of US-Saudi cooperation was called into question. President Joe Bidens arms-length approach to Mohammed bin Salman over Jamal Khashoggis 2018 murder and Saudi Arabias courtship of closer ties with China and Russia reinforced these doubts.

Trumps visit to Riyadh clearly demonstrates that rumours of the demise of US-Saudi cooperation are greatly exaggerated. The agenda on Trumps current trip to the kingdom also differs markedly from his foreign policy debut visit in 2017. While Trump left Riyadh eight years ago hailing a $350 billion ten-year arms deal, he hopes to exit Saudi Arabia this time with strategically vital investments in the American economy and a more robust diplomatic partnership.

In recent years, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has shelled out billions of dollars in investments in US companies ranging from transportation giant Uber to electric vehicle supplier Lucid Motors. Mohammed bin Salman hopes to compound the impact of these investments during Trumps Riyadh trip. While the $600 billion to $1 trillion figures being circulated might be unrealistic, large-scale capital infusions are expected.

In exchange for these investments, Saudi Arabia wants the US to help power its post-oil economic revolution. Artificial intelligence is at the heart of this transformation and a core component of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 modernization agenda. Ahead of Trumps arrival, Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to develop a new AI company. Trump is set to override internal American concerns about China-Saudi cooperation by offering Saudi Arabia advanced semiconductor chips.

Saudi Arabias hosting of peace talks to end the Ukraine War marked Mohammed bin Salmans arrival as a global statesman. Saudi shuttle diplomacy between India and Pakistan also aided US efforts to de-escalate that conflict over the weekend.

With these achievements in tow, Trump is soliciting Saudi Arabias assistance on ending the Gaza war and considering its concerns about the Iran nuclear negotiations.

As Trumps trip to Riyadh unfolds, Saudi officials are quietly confident in their countrys indispensability to the United States. A truly remarkable transformation from Bidens pariah jibe towards Mohammed bin Salman just five years ago.
hi

Credit: Reuters

The United States is to lift all sanctions on Syria, Donald Trump announced on Tuesday.

The removal of sanctions, at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, represents a major US policy shift before an expected meeting between Mr Trump and Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Islamist president of Syria, on Wednesday.

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness, Mr Trump said to applause at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh.

Its their time to shine. Were taking them all off, he added. Good luck Syria, show us something very special.

The White House confirmed that Mr Trump will say hello to Mr Al-Sharaa, marking the first meeting between a Syrian leader and a US president since the late Hafez Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian interim president, will become the first leader of his country to meet a US president in 25 years, when he and Donald Trump say hello - Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

In addition, Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, will meet Asaad al-Shibani, the new Syrian foreign minister, in Turkey later this week, the White House spokesman added.

Mr Al-Shibani said Mr Trumps decision marked a new start in his countrys path to a reconstruction estimated to cost more than $250 billion. He called it a pivotal turning point for the country.

We ... stand ready to foster a relationship with the United States that is rooted in mutual respect, trust and shared interests, Mr Al-Shibani said.

Mr Trump said he had made the decision after discussions with the Saudi crown prince, and with President Erdogan of Turkey, whose governments have both strongly urged the lifting of sanctions.

Donald Trump delivered the news of the lifting of sanctions in a speech to the Saudi-US Investment Forum on Tuesday in Riyadh - Ali Haider/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Arab states had repeatedly called for the Assad-era sanctions to be lifted, warning that reviving Syrias bankrupt economy is the most pressing task facing the transitional government.

During his visit to Paris last week, Mr Al-Sharaa said there was no justification for maintaining European sanctions imposed against the Assad government.

These sanctions were imposed on the previous regime because of the crimes it committed, and this regime is gone, he said in a press conference with Emmanuel Macron, the French president.

Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December 2024 by an offensive spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Mr Al-Sharaa, after 14 years of civil war.

US sanctions isolated Syria from the global financial system and imposed a range of economic restrictions on the government throughout more than a decade of civil war.

Syrians, who have seen their economy crippled by the Assad-era sanctions, were celebrating the news on the streets of Damascus on Tuesday night - Yamam Al Shaar/Reuters

Syrias economy went bankrupt and more than halved between 2010 and 2021, according to official Syrian data cited by the World Bank, which said this was likely to be an underestimate.

Mohammed Barnieh, the countrys finance minister, said on Tuesday that the lifting of sanctions will help Syria in building its institutions, providing essential services to the people and will create great opportunities to attract investment and restore confidence in Syrias future.

Syrians met the news with joy and celebration, with dozens of men, women and children gathering in Damascuss Umayyad Square. They blasted music while others drove by in their cars waving Syrian flags.

The 42-year-old Syrian leader has reportedly offered Mr Trump a number of investment opportunities, including a Trump tower in Damascus.

The developments mark a striking change in the Trump administrations handling of Mr Al-Sharaa. It had previously said it would not lift sanctions on Syria until further progress is made on key issues, including the protection of minority rights.

Policy shift a blow to Israel

The US once offered $10 million for information about the new presidents whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaeda, and some US officials are deeply sceptical of his extremist past.

The surprise move to lift sanctions was announced despite deep Israeli suspicion of the new Syrian administration. Israeli officials have continued to describe Mr Al-Sharaa as a jihadist, though he severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016

The move is likely to dismay Israel, which counts the US as its closest ally, and which has recently intensified air strikes on Syria.

Last month, the Israel Defense Forces targeted the presidential palace in Damascus in what Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz, his defence minister, warned was a message to the regime.

Relations with the US and Israel are continuing to sour over ceasefire talks to halt the 19-month war in Gaza and release more hostages. Mr Trump notably omitted Israel from his four-day diplomatic tour across the Gulf states.

Syrian officials have meanwhile signalled their openness to a detente and even eventual peace with Israel.



07:51 PM BST

Thank you for following todays live coverage

We will be back soon with more coverage of President Donald Trumps four-day diplomatic tour across the Gulf states.

06:24 PM BST

Analysis: Israel will bemoan US lifting Syria sanctions

In Syria, there will be delight at Donald Trumps announcement of an end to the US sanctions regime. Across the border in Israel the feeling will more likely be dismay.

Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up Israeli strikes on the nascent government of Ahmed al-Shara, last month targeting the presidential palace inhabited by the former rebel leader who overthrew Assad.

The Israeli government views Mr al-Shara, essentially, as a leopard who has not changed spots. It sees the new Syrian regime as a threat, preferring the devil it knew in Assad.

But Mr Trump - along with European leaders including Emmanuel Macron - appears convinced the former leader of the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has cast off his past as a jihadi and could propel Syria to a brighter future.

The surprise announcement by Mr Trump in Riyadh is the latest in a series of US decisions that impact Israel, apparently taken without concern for the views of a nation that sees Washington as its closest ally.

A truce with the Houthis in Yemen; hostage negotiations with Hamas; leaks of severe disagreements over the course of the war in Gaza.

On the roller-coaster that is the Trump administration, Mr Netanyahu appears to be on a swooping descent. Mr al-Shara, conversely, is climbing his way up.

05:50 PM BST

Whats in the US-Saudi arms deal?

We reported earlier that the US on Tuesday signed the largest defence sales agreement in history with Saudi Arabia - worth nearly $142bn (107bn) (see post at 3:38pm).

According to the White House, the deal includes:

Air force advancement and space capabilities

Air and missile defence

Maritime and coastal security

Border security and land forces modernisation

Information and communication systems upgrades

05:47 PM BST

People of Gaza deserve better future, says Trump

President Trump said that all civilised people must condemn the October 7 atrocities against Israel, claiming it would never had happened had he been president at the time.

The people of Gaza deserve a much better future, he said, as applause erupted around the room.

But that will or can not occur as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture and target innocent men, women and children for political ends.

05:23 PM BST

Trump says he hopes Saudi will join Abraham Accords

The US president said that peace is returning to the Gulf, while praising the Abraham Accords, a set of deals brokered by Trump in his first term to recognise Israel.

Trump said it was his dream for Saudi Arabia to soon be joining the Abraham Accords. Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco are already signatories.

Its my fervent hope, wish and even my dream that Saudi Arabia...will soon be joining the Abraham Accords, he said.

I think itll be a tremendous tribute to your country, and it will be something thats really going to be very important for the future of the Middle East.

05:16 PM BST

Rubio will attend Russia-Ukraine talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend peace talks between Ukraine and Russia due to take place later this week, said Trump.

Earlier, the US president said he would attend the meeting in Turkey if his presence would be helpful.

05:12 PM BST

Trump: I want to make a deal with Iran

Trump said that he will inflict massive maximum pressure on Iran if they dont agree to a deal with the US.

I want to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran, Ill be very happy, if were going to make your region and the world a safer place, he said.

But if Irans leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbours, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure (and) drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before.

Trump warned that this is an offer that will not last forever, saying that the time is right now for them to choose.

He said that Iran can have a much brighter future, adding that the choice is theirs to make.

We really want them to be a successful country. We want them to be a wonderful, safe, great country. But they cannot have a nuclear weapon, he said, as applause rippled across the room.

05:07 PM BST

Trump: Iran is most destructive force in Middle East

Trump has called Iran the most destructive force in the Middle East, saying that there are one of the few agents of chaos and terror that are left in the region.

He called on other Gulf nations to unify to seek stability and calm.

The biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond, said Trump.

There could be no sharper contrast with the path you have pursued on the Arabian Peninsula than the disaster unfolding right across in the Gulf of Iran.

05:02 PM BST

Time to end ancient conflicts and forge a new future, says Trump

Trump hailed the transformation of cities across the Middle East, saying that ancient conflicts should be left as a relic of the past.

A new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts of tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos, he said.

He added: Where it exports technology, not terrorism, and where people of different nations, religions and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence.

US President Donald Trump attends the Keynote Address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Shutterstock Editorial

04:59 PM BST

Trump vows that markets will rise

Donald Trump has said that markets will get a lot higher.

Its amazing what a rising market will do. Its going to get a lot higher, Trump said.

In fact, I told people five weeks ago its a great time to buy. I got criticised for that. Now they dont criticise me any more. People should have listened.

04:56 PM BST

Trump hints at breakthrough agreement with China

President Trump hailed his administration for reaching two historic trade deals.

He hinted that the US has reached a breakthrough agreement with China, adding that China ha d agreed to open up to the US for trade and everything else.

Trump said that his team still needed to get the little details down.

04:51 PM BST

Trump promises multibillion dollar deals with Amazon and Oracle

There will be multibillion dollar deals with Amazon and Oracle later this week, says Trump.

This week, there are multibillion dollar commercial deals with Amazon, Oracle, AMD, theyre all here, Uber, Qualcomm, Johnson and Johnson and many many more, he said.

04:50 PM BST

Trump says tax bill is in good shape to pass

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the newly unveiled tax legislation is well-positioned to pass.

It follows the release of the House Republicans sweeping tax plan that would also cut taxes and tighten healthcare benefits for the poor on Monday.

The United States Congress is on the verge of passing the largest tax cut and regulation cut in American history. We think were in good shape to get that, Trump said.

He also praised his administrations accomplishments so far, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico, immigration and recruitment to the US armed forces.

04:45 PM BST

Trump: US will make Saudi partnership more powerful than ever before

President Trump emphasised that the US-Saudi relationship is more powerful than ever before.

Today we take the next steps to make our relationship closer, stronger and more powerful than ever before, Trump says.

He added that it will remain that way.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the Saudi-US investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh - AFP

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday promised billions of dollars in deals with the United States from defence to artificial intelligence - REUTERS

04:42 PM BST

Saudi Crown prince is an incredible man, says Trump

Trump starts his address by saying that Saudi Arabia is a great place and has great people.

He then called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman an incredible man and said theres nobody like him.

Trump added that the visit marks 80 years of partnership between the two countries, calling US-Saudi relationship a bedrock of security and prosperity.

Credit: Reuters

04:40 PM BST

Saudi investment could raise to $1 trillion, says Crown Prince

The US and Saudi Arabia will work to raise investments between the two countries to $1 trillion in the coming months, the Crown Prince said.

It comes as the two nations announced 453 bn ($600 bn) in investments earlier on Tuesday.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that joint investments were one of the most important pillars of our economic relationship.

[We] meet today to deepen this strategic partnership in its various stages, from an economy based on natural resources to an economy built on diversifying sources of income, knowledge and innovation, he said.

04:35 PM BST

Trump steps onto stage

US President Trump has stepped on stage at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, while God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood plays.

04:21 PM BST

Trump arrives at US-Saudi Investment Forum in his car The Beast

Donald Trump has arrived at the Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh, where he is set to make a leadership address alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Follow the live stream at the top of the blog to watch live.

Credit: Reuters

04:16 PM BST

Musk says Saudi has approved Starlink

Tesla billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday confirmed that Saudi Arabia have approved Starlink for maritime and aviation use in the Gulf state.

Earlier today, Mr Musk was pictured alongside the US president as he met with Saudi dignitaries in the kingdoms royal court, including the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, Mr Musk, who recently stepped back from his role in the Trump administration, said: Id like to thank Saudi Arabia for approving Starlink for maritime and aviation.

Its unclear whether this is part of the 453 bn ($600 bn) US-Saudi deal that was agreed on Tuesday (see post at 3:56 pm).

Donald Trump is expected to give an address alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at the forum at around 5pm local time (3pm BST).

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - REUTERS

03:56 PM BST

Trump secures 453 billion Saudi investment pledge on Gulf tour

US President Trump secured a 453 bn ($600 bn) deal from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to invest in the United States.

Trump is on the first leg of a major four-day diplomatic tour across the Gulf states, where he is hoping to secure hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in the US.

Saudi Arabias investment commitment includes what the US described as the largest defence sales agreement in history, worth nearly $142bn (107bn).

03:43 PM BST

Trump expected to meet with Syrian president in Riyadh

US President Trump is expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Axios has reported, citing a source familiar with the details.

It comes as Trump said on Monday that he may ease US sanctions on Syria, which were imposed under the government of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and helped in removing him from power.

The sanctions keep the country cut off from the global financial system and make economic recovery extremely challenging after 14 years of war.

We may take them off of Syria, because we want to give them a fresh start, Trump told reporters.

03:38 PM BST

Trump signs 107bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia

The US has signed the largest defence sales agreement in history with Saudi Arabia, the White House has said, as Donald Trump prepares to give a speech in Riyadh.

Washington said the agreement is worth nearly $142bn (107bn) and includes providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art war fighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defence firms.

Co-signed by Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and the countrys de facto ruler, the agreement is also expected to include investments in artificial intelligence companies and energy production.

Later today, Mr Trump is due to head to Diriyah At-Turaif, a historical area and Unesco world heritage site on the edge of the Saudi capital, before attending an official state banquet held in his honour.

During earlier meetings between the two leaders, the US president was overheard calling the Saudi prince a friend, and said he believes they have developed a good relationship.

I really believe we like each other a lot, Mr Trump said.

The president is on the first leg of a major four-day diplomatic tour across the Middle East, where he is hoping to secure hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in the US.

03:35 PM BST

Saudi sets up mobile McDonalds for Trump visit

Saudi Arabia set up a mobile McDonalds near Royal Court ahead of Trumps visit to Riyadh, according to local reports.

As part of their glitzy treatment for the US president, Saudi officials arranged for a fully operational mobile McDonalds unit to be set up near the Saudi Royal Court to accompany Trump during his state visit.

Credit: X/@Mike_Wagenheim

03:15 PM BST

What happened at the VIP lunch earlier?

Elon Musk, who recently stepped back from his role in the Trump administration, was pictured alongside the US president as he met with Saudi dignitaries in the kingdoms royal court, including the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Tesla billionaire was amongst the VIPs joining Mr Trump for lunch in the royal court.

Also in attendance was Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, which Mr Musk co-founded. The pair have been locked in a legal battle over OpenAI becoming a for-profit company.

Mr Trumps presidential aircraft, Air Force One, was escorted by F-15s as he landed in the Gulf State earlier this morning for the first major overseas trip of his second term.

He was later driven to Saudi Arabias royal court in the Beast, the official state car of the US president, surrounded by horses with riders waving US and Saudi flags.

Credit: Reuters

02:39 PM BST

Trump and Saudi crown prince sign economic partnership agreement

US President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have just signed a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.

The partnership reportedly includes agreements for energy, mining, and defence.

US President Donald J. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court - Getty Images Europe

01:58 PM BST

Witkoff: Trump spoke with released Israeli-American hostage

Released Israeli-American hostage spoke to President Trump after being released by Hamas on Monday, said Washingtons Middle East envoy.

Writing on X, Steve Witkoff said he was honoured to meet Edan Alexander in Tel Aviv, adding that his return gives hope to so many.

After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience, Mr Witkoff wrote on X.

We also had the opportunity to speak with @POTUS, whose leadership made this possible. We remain committed to bringing every last hostage home.

Mr Alexander, 21, was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border when he was captured by the terror-group Hamas during the 7 October attacks. He is believed to be the last known living hostage with US citizenship held captive in Gaza.

I was honored to meet Edan Alexander today and welcome him home. After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience. His return gives hope to so many. We also had the opportunity to speak with @POTUS, whose leadership made this possible. We remain pic.twitter.com/9rninnXSJy  Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East (@SE_MiddleEast) May 13, 2025

01:23 PM BST

Trump to Crown Prince: I really believe we like each other a lot

Inside the Royal Court, president Trump called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a friend and said they had developed a good relationship, according to the White House pool report.

I really believe we like each other a lot, Trump reportedly said.

President Donald Trump gestures to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he greets Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi ambassador to the United States - AP

01:00 PM BST

Rolling out the lavender carpet...

Saudi Arabia shifted from red to lavender for their ceremonial carpets in 2021, as wild lavender flowers are a recognised symbol of the kingdoms cultural heritage.

A worker cleans a lavender carpet ahead of the arrival of US President Donald Trump at the Royal Court in Riyadh - AFP

US President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a welcoming ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - via REUTERS

12:12 PM BST

The handshakes stop, lunch begins

US and Saudi delegations are now having lunch at Riyadhs royal court after Donald Trump spent more than an hour shaking hands with foreign dignitaries.

Later on, Mr Trump will attend a Saudi-US investment forum, before being hosted for a full-scale state dinner.

11:51 AM BST

Analysis: Silicon Valley royalty hopes to benefit from Trump visit

Silicon Valley royalty including Elon Musk and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman have jetted into Saudi Arabia as part of Donald Trumps entourage as the White House seeks to secure trillions of dollars in investment.

Mr Trump has been demanding the Gulf states buy more from the US - and the technology industry hopes to benefit from Republicans demands. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has been seeking to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

As Mr Trumps visit to Riyadh began in earnest, the Trump White House was reportedly considering greenlighting the sale of hundreds of thousands of powerful microchips to G42, an Emirati technology business that has ties to OpenAI.

The deal marks a split with Joe Bidens approach to the Middle East. Under the previous administration, the White House had regarded the UAEs approach to AI with caution, given its cordial relations with China and its tech sector.

The New York Times reported that David Sacks, the White House AI tsar, had been working on the deal, which would also see chips going to an AI venture being developed by OpenAI and G42.

Separately, Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a new state-run AI business, called Humain, which said it will work with US chip-maker Groq (no relation to Mr Musks Grok chatbot) to develop its technology. The AI business will be chaired by Muhammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince known as MBS.

11:37 AM BST

The business leaders joining Trump

There are more than two dozen business leaders joining Mr Trump on his visit to Saudi Arabia. They include:

Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Gianni Infantino, FIFA president Stephen A Schwarzman, chief executive of Blackstone Group Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock Kelly Ortberg, president and chief executive of Boeing Reid Hoffman, executive chairman of LinkedIn

Elon Musk recently took a step back from his role in the Trump administration - REUTERS

11:31 AM BST

What is the Saudi royal court?

The Saudi Royal Court is the liaison between its king, Salman bin Abdulaziz, and its government, which is led by the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It is the Kings chief executive office.

Bin Salman is currently hosting Donald Trump in the royal court as part of his official arrival ceremony, where foreign dignitaries and global business leaders are exchanging pleasantries.

Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh - REUTERS

11:20 AM BST

Musks rival Sam Altman also in attendance

Elon Musks rival Sam Altman is also in Saudi Arabia for Donald Trumps state visit.

Footage below shows the owner of OpenAI, which runs ChatGPT, shaking hands with the US president alongside the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

Mr Musk co-founded OpenAI along with Mr Altman but left several years ago. The pair have since been locked in a legal battle over its future as a for-profit company.

Credit: Reuters

10:48 AM BST

Musk joins Trump in Saudi Arabia

Elon Musk has joined Donald Trump on his state visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Tesla billionaire recently pledged to significantly cut back his role in the US government after the car firm reported a huge drop in profit.

Musk had led the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), giving him huge power over US spending.

He will be among the VIPs joining Mr Trump for a lunch in the royal court.

Donald Trump has brought Elon Musk on his visit to Saudi Arabia

10:37 AM BST

Watch: Trump greeted by Mohammed bin Salman

Credit: Reuters

10:33 AM BST

US and Saudi Arabia could sign $100bn arms deal

Saudi Arabia could buy more than $100bn of American weapons and military equipment in a deal that could be announced during Mr Trumps visit to the kingdom.

Missiles and radar systems are among the items that could form part of the package.

Joe Biden stopped selling offensive weapons to Riyadh in 2021 over the countrys role in the war in neighbouring Yemen.

10:31 AM BST

Pictured: Trump salutes at royal court

Donald Trump salutes in Riyadh

Donald Trump reviews the honour guard at the Royal Court in Riyadh - AFP

10:22 AM BST

Trump arrival ceremony under way

Donald Trump has arrived at the Saudi royal court for an official arrival ceremony.

The US president was greeted by Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, before the pair head for coffee and tea in the ceremonial blue room.

Mr Trump will then join a lunch with CEOs, bilateral meetings, followed by an agreement signing.

08:17 AM BST

Stakes could not be higher

As Donald Trump lands in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a whirlwind visit to the Middle East he will be arriving in his happy place, writes chief US correspondent Rob Crilly.

The stakes could not be higher across the region. Conflict rumbles on in Gaza, the Houthis continue to launch missiles from Yemen, Israel is making noises about attacking Iran, and there are oil, trade and investment talks under way.

Yet Mr Trump will avoid the hotspots for three Gulf states that are crucial to Washingtons regional strategy without being at the heart of the turmoil.

He can expect a warm welcome from the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all of whom have cash to invest in the US.

So while Joe Biden agonised for weeks over how to greet Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman (MBS) after calling his country a pariah, settling eventually on an awkward fist bump out of view of his travelling press pack, Mr Trump faces no such qualms.
The federal government is reportedly pushing the idea of one parent staying at home to take care of children as Republicans push Americans to have more babies.

Officials believe this is one way to have a stronger family unit, and White House staffers are discussing several options for encouraging the idea. Several others are being discussed, including giving more families more funds for every child they have.

Republicans Want One Parent To Stay at Home

Other ideas are removing federal tax credits for daycare and opening up federal lands for home construction. Advocates believe that if families can reduce the money they spend on housing, more of them can live on just a single individual's income.

Indiana Republican Sen. Jim Banks recently introduced a bill that proposes paying stay-at-home parents. Republican lawmakers have suggested that the child tax credit should be partly expanded by removing tax breaks, primarily to allow working parents to pay for daycare, according to Yahoo News.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley suggested that officials should expand the child tax credit to $5,000 per child. This is in the hopes that giving families more money would allow parents to work less and spend more time at home taking care of their kids.

Read more: Trump Administration Report on Transgender Children Healthcare Hides Names of Authors

Vice President JD Vance, during last year's presidential campaign, also supported the idea of a $5,000 child tax credit. Despite the measure getting bipartisan support, Democrats are also backing subsidies for daycare.

While the White House continues to push a more conservative social agenda, studies remain unclear whether or not a child is better placed at daycare or home with a parent. This is because the majority of American families rely on two incomes to survive, MSN reported.

Cost of Raising Children

About 65% of mothers from two-parent households that have at least one child under 18 years old work outside their home. This is a number that has significantly risen over the last half-century.

On top of this, childcare costs have also spiked, with officials recording a cost of $11,000 for every child per year as of 2023. Additionally, many families who live in larger cities are forced to pay more than double that amount.

The situation comes as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eliminated many positions in offices that help in funding daycare for low-income families. This is supposedly part of a broader effort to cut costs, which is led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as per the New York Times.
Trump Zelensky

Fresh from striking a series of deals with the United Kingdom, China, and now Saudi Arabia, US president Donald Trump faces a considerably greater test of his negotiating skills.

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators will meet face to face on Thursday in Istanbul. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he will be present and willing to enter discussions with Vladimir Putin, but not with lower ranking officials; Putin has given no confirmation he will attend.

Should the meeting take place, Mr Trump has indicated that he may well be in the room for discussions. This will prove a stern test of his ability to broker a deal, and to avoid being fooled again by Putins propaganda. Should the meeting not take place, Mr Trumps challenge will be just as great: he will need to heap pressure on Moscow to come to the table, and in doing so coordinate between Americas increasingly disorganised European allies.

Mr Trump appears to be gradually waking up to the fact that Russia cannot be trusted, and that pressure for peace should be applied to Moscow rather than Kyiv. The early days of his presidency saw appalling missteps. He must now do more to ensure that Putin has no choice but to agree terms rather than continue his illegal war.

If he is to succeed in this, he will need support from European capitals, who have proved far too slow to fully cut their economic ties with Russia. While most European leaders have talked a good game, it is becoming clear that the massive sanctions the EU is threatening may not win the support of the full bloc. The concrete steps planned and announced in the past weeks have been thin, with sanctions targeting Moscows shadow fleet rather than more substantive measures. It also appears that American support will be necessary if more stringent boycotts are to be imposed.

Without this support, we are likely to be left with half-hearted steps. Ursula von der Leyens pledge last week to end imports of Russian gas by 2027 was an excellent illustration of just how lacking in seriousness the bloc has been on this issue.

Whether Mr Trump will have the appetite for this task remains to be seen, but it is clear that the European Union is too dysfunctional and weak to make enough of a difference itself. Ukraine needs America in its corner marshalling the collective West if a tolerable outcome is to be achieved.
Fired up  a protest outside the Library of Congress in Washington DC last week after Trump fired the head of the Library of Congress and, days after, the head of the US Copyright Office. Photograph: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Hello, and welcome to TechScape. Sometimes it helps me to write by thinking about how a radio broadcaster or television presenter would deliver the information, so Im your host, Blake Montgomery. Today in tech news: questions hover over the automation of labor in the worker-strapped US healthcare system; and drones proliferate in a new conflict: India v Pakistan, both armed with nuclear weapons. But first, how fights over AI and copyright take very different shapes in the UK and US.

A brazen, unprecedented power grab

The United Kingdom is in the throes of a debate over whether to compensate artists for the use of their copyrighted work in the creation of generative artificial intelligence technology. The fracas came to head on Monday with a vote in the House of Lords that saw parliaments upper house demand tech companies make clear whether they have used copyright-protected content.

My colleagues Dan Milmo and Raphael Boyd report:

The UK government has suffered another setback in the House of Lords over its plans to let artificial intelligence firms use copyright-protected work without permission.

An amendment to the data bill requiring AI companies to reveal which copyrighted material is used in their models was backed by peers, despite government opposition.

The governments copyright proposals are the subject of a consultation due to report back this year, but opponents of the plans have used the data bill as a vehicle for registering their disapproval.

The main government proposal is to let AI firms use copyright-protected work to build their models without permission, unless the copyright holders signal they do not want their work to be used in that process  a solution that critics say is impractical and unworkable.

Read the full story about Mondays vote here.

Meanwhile, in contrast to a thoughtful and robust conversation, the US is taking the opposite tack. Over the weekend, Donald Trump fired the head of the US copyright office, CBS News reported. The register of copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, was sacked after she issued a report questioning AI companies growing need for more data and casting doubt on their expressed need to circumvent current copyright laws.

In a statement, the New York Democratic representative Joe Morelle pointed specifically to Trumps booster-in-chief, Elon Musk, as a motivator for Perlmutters firing: Donald Trumps termination of register of copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, is a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis. It is surely no coincidence he acted less than a day after she refused to rubber-stamp Elon Musks efforts to mine troves of copyrighted works to train AI models.

Trumps abrupt severing of the copyright chief from her job reminds me of the Gordian knot. Legend has it that Alexander the Great was presented with a knot in a rope tying a cart to a stake. So complex were its twistings that no man had been able to untie it of the hundreds who had tried. Alexander silently drew his sword and sliced the knot in two. The story is one of a great man demonstrating the ingenuity that would lead him to conquer the world. Alexander did solve the riddle. He also defeated its purpose. The cart is left with no anchor. Perhaps the riddle had taken on more significance than the original problem of keeping the cart in place, but that is a question for another day.

Trump may have cut through any thorny legal questions the copyright office had raised, but the vacuum at the head of the USs copyright authority means that richer and better-connected players will run roughshod over copyright law in the course of their business. That may be what the president wants. The more powerful players in lawsuits over AI and copyright are undoubtedly the well-capitalized AI companies, as much as I want artists to be paid in abundance for their creativity. These tech companies have cozied up to Trump in an effort to ensure a friendlier regulatory environment, which seems to be working if the firing of the copyright chief is any evidence. Lawsuits over how much AI companies owe artists and publishers for their surreptitious use of copyrighted material with an avowed lack of permission still abound, and both plaintiffs and defendants will be taking their cues from the US copyright office.

Trump sells access on the blockchain

My colleague Nick Robins-Early reports on a sweepstakes put on by Trump promising face-time with the president to holders of his cryptocurrency:

On Monday, the top 220 buyers of a Donald Trump-sponsored cryptocurrency won access to an exclusive dinner with the president as a reward for pouring money into the coin. It was the culmination of Trumps weekslong promotion of the contest, which has drawn allegations that he is using his position to enrich his family business while opening himself up to foreign influence.

The cryptocurrency, called $TRUMP, was created in mid-January and boasts a market capitalization of over $2bn after months of investors buying into the heavily promoted coin. A Trump family-linked company and another firm own a majority of the coins, according to Reuters.

Congratulations, if youre in the top 220 on the leaderboard we will be contacting you in the next 24 hours. Check your inbox (and spam folder) and expect a phone call for the Trump Official Dinner invitation and details, the $TRUMP website announced mid-day Monday. President Trump will see YOU on May 22 at the Gala Dinner in Washington D.C.

Trumps crypto enterprise has drawn criticism from Democrats, ethics watchdogs and the Securities and Exchange Commission over conflicts of interest and allegations of corruption. The contest to dine with the president has intensified those concerns as it creates what is essentially a bidding war for direct access to the president.

Drones proliferate along the border between India and Pakistan

Though India and Pakistan have reached a tenuous ceasefire, the four days of open conflict between the two hostile neighbors offered yet another instance of a phenomenon that has accelerated in recent years: drones now play a central part in modern warfare.

The New York Times reports that India accused Pakistan of using drones made by Turkey for its attacks; Pakistan alleged India mobilized Israeli drones, though neither could be verified. Indian military officials claimed that Pakistan had sent between 300 and 400 drones on the offensive at 36 locations on the night of 8 May. Pakistan said it had shot down about 70 drones flown from India.

Drones refers to two things that are related but very different: small quadcopters operated by remote control and much larger semi-autonomous aerial vehicles operated from military command centers. It is an unfortunate quirk of English, in my opinion. In India and Pakistan, as well as in Ukraine and Myanmar, the smaller unmanned aircraft have become a mainstay weapon.

The war between Ukraine and Russia has demonstrated how widely drones have proliferated. Explosive quadcopters, equipped with first-person view and functioning as aerial improvised explosive devices, have carried out some of the most dramatic attacks of the conflict, including a bombing of the Kremlin itself in May 2023. One expert summarized the development to the Guardian earlier this year by describing drones as evolving from a novelty in 2022, to one of the weapons of choice in 2023, to roaming the entire tactical space.

Can the US automate its way out of a shortage of healthcare workers?

One of the great fears of our age is that machines will replace our jobs en masse, leaving the human workforce in the lurch. The Guardian published a story over the weekend about Zing, a robot that dispenses methadone, a drug used in treatment for the opioid addiction that has spread through the veins of the US in recent decades. Beneath the story of innovation runs an undercurrent: where do we draw the line between automation that offers genuine help to workers and profiteering preference for robot labor over humans?

Read the full story about drug-dealing robots here.

The story published one day before Walgreens announced it would expand the services of its micro-fulfillment centers  hubs where prescription-dispensing robots count and package medications for chronic health conditions for the companys pharmacies, CNBC reports. Already, these automated centers handle about 16m prescriptions each month, 40% of prescriptions served by Walgreens, according to the company. The company plans to up the number of stores that rely on these centers from 4,800 in February to 5,000 by the end of the year. Walgreens says the shift to automated labor, begun in 2021, is already producing financial results, some $500m in cost savings over the past four years.

Pharmacy techs suffer from similar issues to methadone-dispensing nurses  low pay, intense pressure and high turnover rates  but at a much wider scale. Walgreens is a huge conglomerate of some 12,500 stores across the US, Europe and Latin America worth about $9.7bn; it employs 312,000 people, per its website.

In 2023, Walgreens pharmacy workers staged walkouts across the US to protest about their working conditions. Chief among their concerns: chronic understaffing and burnout among the workers who chose to stay. They called the protests Pharmageddon.

Walgreens may hire fewer pharmacy workers because it has automated their labor and outsourced it to a micro-fulfilment center. But it seems equally possible based on what pharmacy workers say that those jobs were going unfilled to begin with, leading to unsafe working conditions. Automated labor may fill the gap left by the labor shortage. The same dynamic may play out at methadone clinics across the United States.

Already, Walgreens corporate says its automated labor is helping alleviate the problems workers face and allowing staff to spend more time interacting with patients in person. Among the stats: a 40% increase in vaccine dispensations, which are performed person-to-person, at pharmacies served by its automated prescription system.

Read more about the automation of labor in a different arena: Amazon warehouses here.

The wider TechScape
The UK is already an island of strangers, senior Conservative Robert Jenrick has claimed, after Sir Keir Starmer faced backlash for his plans to cut net migration.

The plans, which are expected to reduce the number of people coming to the UK by up to 100,000 per year, include reforming work and study visas and requiring a higher level of English across all immigration routes.

Labour backbenchers were among those who attacked Sir Keir for the language he used to announce the plans on Monday, including his claim the UK risks becoming an island of strangers if ministers do not act on migration.

But Mr Jenrick suggested he agreed with the PMs characterisation, which has drawn comparisons with Enoch Powells infamous rivers of blood speech.

Asked what he made of the Prime Ministers language, shadow justice secretary Mr Jenrick told Times Radio: I think its true. In fact, I think in some places we already are. Aggressive levels of mass migration have made us more divided.

Mr Jenrick, a former immigration minister, oversaw a significant rise in net migration  the difference between the number of people moving into the country minus those leaving  during his time in office.

He held the role between October 2022 and December 2023, which was the same year net migration hit a record high peak of 906,000.

Pointing to large numbers of people who had migrated to towns such as Luton and Bradford, Mr Jenrick said communities in many parts of our country are experiencing profound change as a result of the levels of migration that weve seen.

He added: Weve got to bring that back to the historic levels that we enjoyed as a country which enabled us to be a well-integrated and united country, rather than the one that were seeing today.

Yvette Cooper elsewhere defended the Prime Ministers language, and said it was not right to make those comparisons with Mr Powells rivers of blood speech, insisting Sir Keirs announcement was completely different in substance.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper listens to the Prime Minister during a press conference on the Immigration White Paper in Downing Street (Ian Vogler/PA)

In the Commons, the Prime Ministers announcement drew criticism from across the political spectrum on Monday.

Labour backbenchers criticised the language Sir Keir used to announce the plans, particularly his claim that Britain could become an island of strangers without reform of the immigration system.

Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake suggested the phrase could risk legitimising the same far-right violence we saw in last years summer riots.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who lost the Labour whip last year, accused Sir Keir of reflecting the language of Enoch Powells infamous rivers of blood speech in the 1960s.

Nigel Farage, whose Reform UK has focused heavily on immigration in its campaigns, said the Government will not do what it takes to control our borders.

The proposals also sparked concern from employers, particularly in the care sector, following the announcement that care worker visas would be scrapped.
The US agricultural secretary Brooke Rollins said she would like to see the UK and US more aligned on food standards regulations, during a visit to London following the new trade agreement between the two countries.

Agriculture is a key part of the deal, announced by Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump last week, which sees tariffs reduced on US products including beef and ethanol in return for moves that help British cars and steel.

But UK ministers said there will be no downgrade in British food standards, which have been a significant barrier to entry for US-reared meat, and have insisted imports of hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken would remain illegal.

As discussions continue between the UK and US, Ms Rollins met UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to promote US agricultural products.

Speaking to reporters in London on Tuesday, she said last weeks deal marked the first of many steps moving forward as she reiterated hopes the UK will consider more meats in future.

The US official said American pork, poultry, seafood, rice and speciality crops are on now on the front line for trade with the UK.

But she also appeared to soften her stance from last week where she said she wanted the UK to accept all meats and argued that the US agriculture sector has been treated unfairly by other countries.

Ms Rollins suggested the US market is starting to move away from hormone-treated beef and said only 5% of US chicken is treated with chlorine, previously described as red lines for the UK in any agreement.

We have decades of research that show that the beef produced in America whether it is hormone or hormone-free is entirely safe and we believe is one of the crown jewels of our American agricultural industry, she said.

Having said that, our agriculture producers are constantly watching what the markets look like and if the markets are calling for a specific type, or they have more opportunity somewhere then we potentially do see some movement in the market.

Its very early to say exactly, but Im just so proud of our producers.

US agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins (Alex Brandon/AP)

On chicken, Ms Rollins said the US has moved completely away from chlorine-washed birds over the last decade, saying only about 5% is now treated with the chemical in America.

I think that is a narrative in your country that perhaps we have not done a good enough job pushing back on, she said.

So I think thats an important myth to dispel.

Asked about British concerns the US would now try to push for a relaxation of standards as it seeks additional access for American products, Ms Rollins said last weeks deal was not a one-way street.

However, she later argued that closer alignment between the two countries would support food security in both.

One thing  Ive taken from a lot of the discussions yesterday and today is that the more our two countries, and those who are aligned with our values, are regulatory aligned, meaning that we dont have all these different systems and structures  I think that that is going to go a tremendously long way to supporting the ag (agriculture) industry in both the US and the UK, she said.

So I believe that those are going to continue to be part of the conversations as well.

While pork and poultry are not currently mentioned in the deal, Ms Rollins said she was in the UK to discuss everything.

Certainly pork and poultry, I believe, are at the front of the line, along with rice and seafood and other things, she said, adding that while the UK really relies on China and Russia, the US has extraordinary, best in class seafood.

British farming and food sector leaders have previously urged the Government not to sacrifice British agriculture to seal a US trade deal.

Concerns continue that eliminating tariffs on US produce would give American producers  who have lower standards  a competitive advantage and could put struggling British farmers under further pressure.

Environment Secretary Mr Reed said: Today the agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, and I celebrate the landmark economic deal secured between our great countries.

The deal will protect Britains farmers and secure our food security. For the first time ever, UK beef farmers will have exclusive access to the worlds largest consumer market.

We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers and uphold our high animal welfare and environmental standards. That is exactly what we have done.

I look forward to building on our partnership and cooperation across agriculture and biosecurity in the decades to come.
Willie John McBride is considered the greatest Lion of all time - Photopress Belfast/Alan Lewis

British and Irish Lions legend Willie John McBride says he is bothered by the number of foreign-born players that Andy Farrell selected in his squad to tour Australia.

Widely considered the greatest Lion of all time owing to his five tours, including the undefeated 1974 visit to South Africa when he captained the side, McBride bemoaned the fact that touring squads used to consist exclusively of native players in an interview with the South African publication Rapport.

Bundee Aki is one of three New Zealand-born players in the Lions squad - Getty Images/David Rogers

By contrast, Farrell selected more New Zealand-born players (Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, and James Lowe) than he did Welsh players (Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan). Farrell also picked a pair of players born in both Australia (Mack Hansen and Sione Tuipulotu) and South Africa (Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman), as well as Marcus Smith, who was born in the Philippines.

While the Lions picking foreign-born players is not a new concept, with the likes of Ben Teo and CJ Stander previously pulling on the famous red shirt, McBride was not best pleased by the proportion of adopted Lions in the squad. One thing that does bother me is that eight [sic] members of the squad are not born in Britain or Ireland, McBride told Rapport. Thats how things have changed over the past 60 years. In my day, the team consisted only of native players.

McBride led the Lions on the 1974 tour of South Africa - Getty Images

McBride was more positive about Farrells decision to select 15 Ireland players, including 12 from Leinster, despite some worrying recent results, pointing to their longer-term record in which he says Ireland have cemented themselves as the leading union over the past few years.

He also approved of the selection of 20-year-old England flanker Henry Pollock, who has barely half an hour of Test experience. Pollock is an extremely promising young player and his age doesnt bother me at all, McBride said. I was only 21 myself when I first toured South Africa with the Lions in 1962. The most important thing is that Pollock has the right mindset and is absolutely committed. He has loads of talent and speed.
Military training of Ukrainian artillery soldiers in Lyman - Anadolu

Volodymyr Zelensky will only meet with Vladimir Putin for peace talks in Turkey on Thursday and not other lesser ranking Russian officials, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, held talks with his Turkish counterpart late last night to discuss the planned negotiations, but the Kremlin has not yet confirmed who it will send.

The Ukrainian president insisted in his evening address last night that he was ready to meet Putin for the first time since 2019, and criticised the Russian leaders strange silence over whether he will attend.

Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence, he said. One way or another, Russia will have to end this war  and the sooner, the better.

Donald Trump said earlier on Monday that he was thinking about flying to Turkey for the peace talks after visits to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

I think we may see a good result from Thursdays meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, he told a news conference on Monday.

I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over  Im not sure where Ill be on Thursday, I have so many meetings.

On Monday, Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trumps potential appearance in Istanbul, saying he hoped the Russians would not evade the meeting.

It came as Russia drastically reduced the number of drones it fired at Ukraine overnight.

Ukraine destroyed all 10 Russian drones that were launched, the countrys air force said on Tuesday morning.

This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks.

10:05 AM BST

Thats all for today

Were pausing our live coverage.

Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

09:28 AM BST

Europe to push US for new sanctions - if Putin doesnt show

Europe will push the US to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not attend talks with Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday.

Ukraines European allies are holding back on pushing Donald Trump as they wait for the Kremlins answer on whether the Russian president will attend.

Mr Zelensky reiterated on Monday that he was ready to meet Putin on Thursday.

08:43 AM BST

Putin very strangely silent on peace talks, says Zelensky

Vladimir Putin is very strangely silent about attending peace talks in Turkey on Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence, he said in his evening address.

One way or another, Russia will have to end this war  and the sooner, the better.

08:28 AM BST

Your views...

07:59 AM BST

Trump lands in Saudi Arabia

Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, kicking off a four-day visit to the Gulf region.

Much of the US presidents focus will be on the war in Gaza and the threat of Irans nuclear programme.

But Mr Trump suggested yesterday that he could fly to Turkey on Thursday to join potential talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh - AP

07:38 AM BST

Russia launches 10 drones overnight

Ukraine destroyed all 10 Russian drones that were launched overnight, the countrys air force said on Tuesday.

This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks.

07:21 AM BST

How Trump can ramp up pressure on Putin

Foreign sanctions have deprived Russian industry of critical materials it needs to produce Russias best weapons. Case in point: tantalum, a rare mineral that many high-tech industries rely on for capacitors, writes David Axe.

The best Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, drones and tanks all include processors, navigation systems or radios that have tantalum capacitors. But most of the tantalum comes from abroad  the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil and China are main suppliers  and sanctions imposed by the United States and various European countries have squeezed that supply.

While Russia has its own tantalum deposits, they are significantly smaller, Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight reported earlier this year. Moreover, Russia lacks advanced processing facilities to produce high-quality tantalum powder needed for capacitors.

The bottom line is that sanctions are actually working, Frontelligence concluded. But will sanctions survive the chaotic, authoritarian administration of US president Donald Trump?

07:13 AM BST

Trump toys with late entrance to peace talks

Donald Trump said he could join peace talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday.

The US president predicted a good outcome for the meeting, but said his attendance depended on his schedule.

I think we may see a good result from Thursdays meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, he told a news conference on Monday.

I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over  Im not sure where Ill be on Thursday, I have so many meetings.

On Monday, Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trumps potential appearance in Istanbul, saying he hoped the Russians would not evade the meeting.

07:12 AM BST

Welcome to our live coverage

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Well bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day.
Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing on Tuesday. (Florence Lo / Pool via Getty Images)

BEIJING  Xi Jinping didnt even have to mention Donald Trump by name to get his point across.

The Chinese president was giving the hard sell to a room full of senior Latin American leaders on Tuesday. He promoted his countrys stability and fundamental reasonableness, providing a clear contrast between him and his U.S. counterparts erratic trade war.

Bullying and coercion only lead to isolation, he said in Beijing at the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum. The context was clear.

The worlds two largest economies remain engaged in a trade war that has also engulfed nearly every country on earth, including more than 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries who sent heads of state and senior officials to Tuesday's forum.

In his first public comments since the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day pause on most of their levies in trade talks over the weekend, Xi said Beijing was ready to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries in the face of rising geopolitical tensions and bloc confrontation, unilateralism and protectionism.

While Trump has allies such as El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and Argentinian President Javier Milei, he has alienated much of Latin America with his threats to take back the Panama Canal and his derogatory comments about immigrants, said Barbara Fernandez Melleda, an assistant professor in Latin American studies at the University of Hong Kong.

It seems that Donald Trump is certainly Latin American-adverse, and the way hes been speaking about the Latin American community in the United States has been really sad for us, she said.

Whats happening, not just in Latin America, is that countries are saying, 'Well, if these big countries are getting hostile, we should just find other partnerships.'

China played up those tensions in the lead-up to the forum, rejecting the idea of Latin American and Caribbean countries being in anyones backyard.

What the people of Latin America and the Caribbean seek are independence and self-determination, not the so-called new Monroe Doctrine, Assistant Foreign Minister Miao Deyu was quoted as saying by Chinese state media, referring to the 19th-century U.S. approach to the region as its sphere of influence that Trump has been accused of trying to revive.

The Cuban ambassador to China, Alberto Blanco Silva, told NBC News after Xis speech that he viewed China as a factor of stability, balance and opportunity  not only for the world, but also for Latin America.

China is Latin Americas second-biggest trading partner after the United States, and Latin America is the biggest destination for Chinese outbound investment outside Asia. Last year, total trade between China and Latin America exceeded $500 billion for the first time, up from $12 billion in 2000.

Beijing has also been cultivating Latin American ties with an eye on Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy it views as a breakaway province. Most of Taiwans few remaining diplomatic allies are in the region, and China peeled away one of them  Honduras  in 2023.

Chinese influence in Latin America can be seen in the electric vehicles on its roads as well as massive infrastructure projects, such as the $1.3 billion Chancay port in Peru.

While there are concerns and criticism around such projects, Latin American countries relationship with China seems to be more symmetrical than we are used to, especially when compared with the U.S. and former colonial rulers in Europe, Fernandez Melleda said.

Xi said Tuesday that China would import more from Latin America, encourage Chinese companies to increase investment and provide 66 billion yuan ($9.1 billion) in fresh credit to support Latin American and Caribbean financing.

The Chinese leader also said he wanted to deepen Latin Americas involvement in Beijings Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who in January agreed to accept U.S. deportation flights after Trump threatened him with sweeping tariffs, said Monday that his country would join Belt and Road.

Eric Baculinao reported from Beijing, and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong.
By Casey Hall and Sophie Yu

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com have opened a new front in the ongoing battle for market share, with both expanding aggressively into so-called instant retail centred around delivery speeds of 30 to 60 minutes this year.

Investors will be dissecting the strategy when JD.com reports its quarterly earnings on Tuesday and Alibaba on Thursday, as finding new avenues for growth has proven challenging for China's largest online retailers.

Their market penetration is already high and prices for goods are under pressure due to a consumer slowdown driven by concerns about employment and wages as well as a prolonged property market downturn.

The new turf war focused on speed is coming at a high cost in the short term as the e-commerce giants look to entice consumers with hefty discounts.

JD.com's JD Takeaway and Alibaba's food delivery app Ele.me last month each pledged 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) in subsidies. JD Takeaway said it would invest the sum over a year, while Ele.me did not disclose the timeframe.

"The competition is so intense, there's not a lot of incremental growth opportunities, so everybody is moving into everybody else's territories and instant retail is the latest example of that," said Jason Yu, general manager at CTR Market Research.

China's food delivery market leader Meituan has moved to grow its business by expanding its instashopping platform, which delivers non-food goods within 30 minutes and JD.com announced its entry into food delivery in February.

"In the past people would go to JD.com to buy a mobile phone and they would deliver to you in the same day, then suddenly they could go to Meituan and have the new Apple iPhone delivered within 30 minutes. That posed a direct threat to JD.com and they moved into food delivery in response," Yu said.

At the end of April, Alibaba expanded its instant shopping portal on its domestic e-commerce app Taobao. That gave users access to restaurants, coffee shops and bubble tea chains available on Alibaba's Ele.me - China's second-largest food delivery player behind Meituan - plus many other categories including pet food and apparel.

Alibaba, JD.com and Meituan did not respond to requests for comment.

Subsidised spending on instant retail from Alibaba and JD.com is being welcomed by cost-conscious consumers.

Users on JD Takeaway currently enjoy discounts of up to 20 yuan, or $2.77, per day for deliveries from restaurants including McDonald's, Haidilao and Burger King. On Taobao's instant shopping portal, consumers can receive a discount of 11 yuan on a bill of at least 15 yuan.

Liu Qi, 24, a small business owner in Tianjin, said he was pleased when he recently bought a coconut latte on JD Takeaway for only 5.9 yuan.

"I asked the deliveryman and he said he makes 4 yuan per delivery, so essentially, JD.com bought me a cup of coffee and delivered it to my door," Liu said.

He was even more surprised days later when he bought a coffee on Taobao's instant shopping portal for only 3.9 yuan. "It was 2 yuan cheaper than JD.com!" he said.

WAR CHESTS

While subsidising consumer discounts for instant retail is expensive, China's e-commerce giants have significant cash reserves. As of December 31, Alibaba, JD.com and Meituan had net cash positions of 400 billion, 144 billion and 110 billion yuan respectively, according to Morningstar analysts.

And despite the low margins inherent in the business, a renewed focus on instant retail made sense for JD.com and Alibaba in part because both firms have armies of couriers already at their disposal, analysts said.

That means there is no need for an expensive build-out of delivery infrastructure as would be required for other potential entrants like Temu-owner PDD Holdings.

Beijing-based independent industry analyst Liu Xingliang said Alibaba and JD.com were leveraging high-frequency demand for food, coffee and bubble tea to boost lower-frequency demand for clothing, electronics and other higher-margin purchases - betting that if consumers open their apps more often, they might buy more overall.

For JD.com, the expansion into instant retail was particularly important given its traditional e-commerce business appeared to have hit a ceiling, he said.

"It must try to gain market share in new business areas."

($1 = 7.2194 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Casey Hall and Sophie Yu; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Police K-9 officers at the site of a house explosion in Washington Township, N.J., on Monday. (via WCAU)

Law enforcement officials in New Jersey have opened a criminal investigation into a devastating house fire  which, neighbors have called an explosion  on Sunday that left two people dead and a house left as little more than a pile of debris in Washington Township.

Prosecutors in Gloucester Township have told NBC10s Neil Fischer that the Gloucester County Fire Marshals Office is working with law enforcement officials to determine how the deadly fire may have begin as the incident is now being considered a criminal investigation.

Officials also said the countys coroners office is still working and has not yet prepared an autopsy report on the two individuals  a man and a woman  who were pulled from the wreckage of the home.

The identities of the two individuals found in the property have not yet been revealed by law enforcement officials.

But, neighbors, and a woman who he previously dated, identified the man who lived at the home as Daniel Steele.

Its an emotional roller coaster. I hurt for his whole family. I hurt for her family. I hurt for myself, because Dan was one of the best people I ever met, Steeles former girlfriend, Nicole Ruiz, told NBC10s Miguel Martinez-Valle.

Ruiz said that, before Sundays fire, Steele dropped his dog, Billy, off at her home and along with some dog food.
David Hogg during March for Our Lives 2022 in Washington. (Paul Morigi / Getty Images file)

A Democratic National Committee subcommittee on Monday recommended that the organization invalidate one of its February vice-chair votes over claims that it unfairly disadvantaged female candidates.

The move, which won't be official unless the entire DNC votes to approve it, could open up new races for the positions held by David Hogg, a Florida activist, and Malcolm Kenyatta, a Pennsylvania state legislator.

The challenge by Oklahoma Democratic Committeewoman Kalyn Free, who unsuccessfully ran against Hogg and Kenyatta in the February race for vice chair, is not related to the ongoing tension between Hogg and the national party over his push to support primary challenges against incumbent Democrats.

Instead, it was based off Free's claim that the handling of the vice-chair vote gave the two men an unfair advantage amid the national party's requirements that its executive committee achieve gender balance.

Nevertheless, the Monday evening vote by the DNC Credentials Committee sets up a high-profile decision for the national party in the coming weeks as it will now be up to the full body to vote on whether to call for a new election for the vice-chair positions held by Hogg and Kenyatta.

This is all happening as DNC Chairman Ken Martin has been separately pushing a reform that would require all party officers  including myself  to remain neutral in primaries" as Hogg has been signaling he's planning to take sides.

DNC rules require that the national party's executive committee "shall be as equally divided as practicable" along gender lines. (If the committee includes members who identify as non-binary, they don't count for the purposes of gender division.) As DNC members met earlier this year for the multi-hour process of voting in a new slate of officers, the vote for the three vice chairs being the last position to be filled, it became clear that the party needed to elect at least one man to the final two vice chair spots to maintain the required gender equity on the seven-person executive committee.

The party then decided to hold a single vote to decide the final two slots instead of holding separate votes for each position.

Free claimed that the combined ballot unfairly benefited Hogg and Kenyatta, the only two men left in the race, because members had to vote for at least one man on the combined ballot. She argued it's possible they could have voted differently if the ballots were separated.

Follow live politics coverage here

Representatives for Hogg and Kenyatta disagreed with the challenge, arguing that the party was well within its discretionary right to make a move to shorten the lengthy voting process in real time.

The challenge to the DNC election dates from late February, well before the disagreement between Hogg and the party went public. But now, the 400-plus member DNC will have to vote on whether to call for a new election that could cost Hogg his position against this backdrop.

In a statement Monday night, Hogg noted that the issue was over how the national party handled the election, not any accusation he nor Kenyatta did anything wrong. And he added that "it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote."

"I ran to be DNC Vice Chair to help make the Democratic Party better, not to defend an indefensible status quo that has caused voters in almost every demographic group to move away from us," he said, adding that he views the vote as a way for the party to "fast-track" an attempt to remove him from his position.

Kenyatta posted on social media that he while he respected the vote, he disagreed with the committees decision, calling it a slap in my face.

He also weighed in on the characterization by some who see the vote as the latest in the saga between Hogg and the party.

I worked my a-- off to get this role and have done the job every day since Ive held it, he said in a long thread on X. This story is complex and Im frustratedbut its not about [David Hogg]. Even though he clearly wants it to be.

Martin, in a statement of his own issued after the vote, framed the debate as strictly about a failure of parliamentary procedure and one he's looking to party members to decide.

"During my campaign for Chair, I pledged to run the DNC with integrity, openness, and fairness. I am disappointed to learn that before I became Chair, there was a procedural error in the February Vice Chair elections," he said.

"The Credentials Committee has issued their recommendation, and I trust that the DNC Members will carefully review the Committees resolution and resolve this matter fairly," he added.

The decision came after a three-hour virtual meeting, livestreamed on the party's YouTube page, that stretched even longer because the 18-member committee tied on its first ballot, which triggered another round of debate. The committee membership has been held over from the appointments by the previous national party chairman, Jaime Harrison, not new appointees by the new chairman.

Eventually, the side that supported the recommendation for a new election won over key opponents, and approved a resolution with the support of 13 members declaring the election to the vice chair seats held by Hogg and Kenyatta "incomplete." It recommends the DNC hold new elections for both seats "as soon as practicable," with only the candidates eligible at the party's final ballot. Hogg and Kenyatta would be allowed to run again, but it's not a given they'd win the seats.

Mark Mallory, a credentials committee member and former mayor of Cincinnati, said during the meeting that he supported the decision because while "our former chairman did not do anything to intentionally disenfranchise any of the candidates running for vice-chair. However, the result has been just that."

Mallory compared the process to when a patient with a broken leg has to go get the bone reset at the hospital.

"That process is painful too, but it is a part of the recovery of the initial incident," he said. "We have, I believe, a responsibility to act."
Macao SAR to celebrate Int'l Museum Day with series of activities

Xinhua) 09:52, May 13, 2025

MACAO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The Cultural Affairs Bureau of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) said on Monday that Macao will celebrate International Museum Day starting from May 18 with a series of events under the theme "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities."

Over 20 local museums are co-organizing "Macao International Museum Day 2025," said the bureau, offering exhibitions, performances, and interactive activities that highlight the role of museums in cultural preservation and innovation.

According to the schedule, the celebration starts with an opening ceremony on May 18 at the city's Mount Fortress Corridor, featuring dragon dance performances, workshops, guided tours, and a puzzle-solving game.

The joint "Museum Corridor" exhibition, which runs from May 18 to June 15, showcases displays from more than 20 museums. Visitors can collect commemorative stamps on postcards from different museums.

The cultural bureau also noted that the "Museum Development Forum in Greater Bay Area" will be held on May 23 at the University of Macau. Experts from the International Council of Museums, the Chinese Museums Association, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Museum Alliance will explore museum development and collaboration across the region.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The suicide death of a 17-year-old male three years ago has resulted in the arrest of four individuals as part of an alleged sextortion case.

The men who were taken into custody were in West Africa, and are said to be part of an international financial sextortion scheme that targeted thousands of minors worldwide. On Friday, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of the individuals.

Teenager Commits Suicide Amid Sextortion Case

They were identified as Alfred Kassi, Oumarou Ouedraogo, Moussa Diaby, and Oumar Cisse. The four men were said to be all from Cote d'Ivoire and were arrested by Ivorian law enforcement last month.

Cote d'Ivoire has laws against extraditing its citizens, which means the suspects in the sextortion case will face cybercrime charges in their own country. The arrest of the four men comes after the late teen, Ryan Last, died by suicide in February 2022 after being deceived online by who he thought was a 20-year-old woman, according to the Independent.

The individual allegedly threatened Last that they would post intimate photos of him unless he paid them $5,000. When the victim said that he was not able to afford the payment, the suspect later reduced it to only $150.

When Last paid the demanded $150, the suspect told him that he needed to make more payments if he didn't want his photos leaked. When the teenager died, his mother, Pauline Stuart, said that her son's suicide note expressed regret for not realizing that he was being deceived.

Four Arrests Made

The person that Last was talking to online, who he thought was a woman, turned out to be Kassi, who still had the teenager's explicit photos when he was arrested. Stuart said that the suspects catfished her son and gained his trust by flirting and showing him interest, People reported.

The mother added that the teenager was terrified of what would happen to his reputation and what his friends and family would think about him. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is still working on the case with the help of the San Jose Police Department, the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Meta, and the government of Cote d'Ivoire.

There was also a similar case where two brothers from Nigeria were sentenced in 2024 to 17 and a half years in federal prison. This was after they pleaded guilty to sexually extorting teenage boys and young men across the United States, including a 17-year-old Michigan resident, who took his own life, as per the Associated Press.
A nearly 20-minute call with a 911 dispatch operator in Kentucky provides a chilling glimpse of what went through a frantic driver's mind as waited for rescue inside the cab of the tractor trailer as it dangled over the edge of Interstate 65 near the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge.

"I'm about to fall down from the bridge," the driver told the operator. "I'm just hanging over the bridge. I don't want to die."

What transpired was a daring rescue that made for visuals worthy of a Hollywood action blockbuster, except it wasn't fiction. For first responders in Louisville and for the driver and his family and onlookers, is was deadly real.

The incident was reported at 9:47 a.m. on May 4, and Louisville Fire and Rescue crews rescued the driver, who has not been identified, about 30 minutes after arriving at the scene of the crash, Louisville Division of Fire spokesperson Donovan Sims said in a statement.

A crew secures a truck that was hanging over the southbound I-65 bridge as they slowly retrieve it in Louisville, Ky. on May 4, 2025. The driver was rescued moments earlier.

Louisville Metro Police spokesperson Aaron Ellis said the cause of the crash is still under investigation as of May 5.

'If I don't survive, can you just leave the recording to my family?'

The first report came in about 9:45 a.m. on May 4, the day after the Kentucky Derby, according to Louisville Fire Capt. Donovan Sims: A semi-truck going southbound had crashed on the interstate connecting Louisville to Indiana to the North and Tennessee to the south.

The 911 operator quickly learned she was on phone with the driver, who described "looking at the ground" as the truck cab's nose dangled over the side. The operator instructed him to hold still as police and fire personnel responded.

"I'm not even moving. Please help me," the driver said.

As the minutes ticked by, the driver grew antsy, asking numerous time when rescue crews would arrive.

"I don't even know, how am I supposed to get out of here?" he asked.

The operator reassured him throughout the call, noting at one point a previous rescue operation when Louisville Fire officials saved a driver from a tractor trailer dangling over the Ohio River on Clark Memorial Bridge in March 2024.

"Why do I got to die tonight?" the driver said.

"They're going to get you out. You're going to be OK," the operator said.

"Is it even possible? You don't know," the driver responded.

"I mean, I know they can get you out. They've done it before," the operator continued. "This happened about, I want to say like a year and a half ago, as well, and they got the person out."

Once crews arrived, and rescue operations began, the driver's concerns continued: He couldn't see what they were doing because of the cab's angle.

"If I don't survive, can you just leave the recording to my family, too?" he asked.

A rescuer from Louisville Fire was eventually lowered into the cab via a high-point rope system and the driver was rescued without injury, officials said.

'I was scared for him': 911 operator taker recounts call with truck driver

Louisville MetroSafe 911 communications specialist Martyna Wohner sounded calm during the call. But inside? "I was scared for him," she later told reporters.

"I don't want to let him know I'm scared for him, just because I know he's scared. I tried to be calm for him," said Wohner, who's been with MetroSafe for more than three years. " I've got a couple calls in mind that were high pressure, but I've never had one like this."

Around Wohner, fellow 911 operators were getting calls from other drivers passing the scene. She told the truck driver first responders would be there as soon as possible and reassured him that once they arrived, "they've got it."

"He kept asking if he could leave a message for his family, and he was scared that he was going to die," she recounted. "I was scared for him, but I knew they could get there."

Wohner, who's also enlisted with the National Guard, stayed on the line while crews rushed to the scene  they were there within seven minutes, according to Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill. She could tell the driver wasn't from Louisville, so she encouraged him by mentioning the rescue of the other truck driver last year.

Minutes later, a firefighter with Rescue Company 2, the same crew that responded to the 2024 crash on the Second Street Bridge, rappelled down and pulled the man to safety from the cabin.

The driver survived. Wohner hung up the phone, pulled herself together and then got back to answering 911 calls.

"I took about a five-minute break for myself to process what I just did and what (rescue crews) were about to do up there," she told reporters this week. "But then I got right back to it."

Reporter Leo Bertucci contributed. Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 911 calls from semi cab dangling from interstate show brush with death
Karen Stitt was just 15 years old when she was brutally attacked, sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times, her body left next to a cinderblock wall near the bus stop where she'd been waiting after visiting her boyfriend.

The 1982 murder of the Palo Alto, California, teen went unsolved for decades, but in 2022, detectives working the cold case identified Gary Ramirez as her killer. Now 78, Ramirez will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, the Santa Clara County Prosecutor's Office said in a May 12 release.

Ramirez was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years. The Maui, Hawaii, resident pleaded no contest to the killing on Feb. 24. The office said the sentencing was possible through the work of "a continuous line of detectives" at the Sunnyvale, California, Department of Public Safety "putting their hearts and souls" into solving an "infamous crime."

'Continued grief' over a girl who's 'never been forgotten'

According to Santa Clara County prosecutors, family and friends of Karen Stitt attended the sentencing hearing "to express their continued grief and anger about this terrible crime, making clear that she has never been forgotten."

On a September night in 1982, Karen Stitt took the bus from her Palo Alto home to visit her boyfriend in Sunnyvale, about 10 miles away. She left her boyfriend around midnight, alone. Her boyfriend later told police he felt bad not going with her, but he was afraid of getting into trouble for being out late.

The following morning, a truck driver noticed her body in bushes and notified police. She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed 59 times, the cinderblock wall stained with her blood. The killer's blood and other fluids were on her body.

Karen Stitt, 15, was sexually assaulted and murdered in Sunnyvale, California, in 1982. Her killer, Gary Ramirez, now 78, pleaded no contest to the killing in February and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

Her boyfriend was ruled out as a suspect in 2000 using a DNA profile. In 2021, a Sunnyvale police detective received a tip that her killer might be one of four brothers from Fresno. Gary Ramirez was identified as the likely source of the blood and body fluids left at the scene in April 2022.

Today I am thinking of a young woman whose life and future were torn from her, Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said when Ramirez was convicted in February. Karen Stitt would have been 57 years old today. Her murder was solved by forensic science, a remarkably stubborn detective, and a determined prosecutor."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 78-year-old sentenced to life for brutal 1982 murder of Karen Stitt
When you hear the word "abuse," some form of physical abuse, verbal abuse or sexual abuse may come to mind. But people may not think about emotional abuse.

This kind of abuse can be more subtle to recognize and often has different motivations driving it such as control, jealousy or shame. "The goal of emotional abuse is to make another person feel bad about themselves or guilty about a situation," says Joanne Broder, a New Jersey-based practicing psychologist and fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Here's what emotional abuse looks like, the harms associated with it and what to do if you or a loved one is experiencing it.

What is emotional abuse?

Emotional abuse is a form of psychological abuse and is a "non-physical way to hurt, frighten or isolate another person in an effort to exert power or control over them," says Juanita Guerra, a clinical psychologist in New Rochelle, New York.

It can cause a range of harms resulting in both short- and long-term problems such as impaired social and emotional development, low self-esteem, emotional regulation issues, poor work or school performance and difficulties forming and maintaining positive, healthy relationships.

Victims of emotional abuse are also more prone to experience mental health challenges such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, substance misuse and suicidal thoughts, says Nadine Kaslow, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine.

Sometimes emotional abuse can even cause physical symptoms such as "headaches, stomach ulcers or insomnia," says Lisa Elliott, a licensed psychologist and clinic manager at Cook Childrens Behavioral Health Clinic in Denton, Texas.

This form of abuse can occur in any relationship, says Kaslow, including between peers and teachers/students in school settings, in friendships, in romantic relationships, in work settings between colleagues or from a person of authority, in social media interactions and in families between parents and children, partners or siblings.

While emotional abuse can harm anyone, "it is particularly insidious when inflicted upon vulnerable populations like children, the elderly or individuals (who) have a history of trauma," says Guerra. "These people are already fragile and therefore ill-equipped to protect themselves."

Did you know? There are more than 300 headache causes. These are the most common ones.

What does emotional abuse look like?

Emotional abuse can sometimes be difficult to notice on the surface but can be recognized in less-obvious ways such as belittling others, talking down to someone, frequently giving dirty looks or eye-rolling, withholding affection or approval or deliberately ignoring someone by giving them the "silent treatment," says Guerra.

Kaslow adds that constant criticism, name-calling, demonstrating intimidation through tone or threats and manipulating through blame, shame, guilt, gaslighting, humiliation or scapegoating can all also be forms of emotional abuse.

In school or social media settings, examples of emotional abuse could include "deliberately excluding a peer from a social group, not allowing a peer to sit at your lunch table at school, talking badly about someone or telling lies with the intent of ruining friendships or reputations," says Elliott.

Sometimes emotional abuse is so subtle it's not even identified by the person who is receiving it "until there is considerable distress," says Guerra.

What does gaslighting mean? Here's how you can respond to the abusive behavior.

What to do if you experience emotional abuse

The first thing they should know is that "they do not deserve that treatment," says Broder. Healthy boundaries also need to be established with the instigator, when possible. "'Please do not call me those names,' or 'do not talk to me like that,'" are different messages that could be communicated, she suggests.

Parents, teachers, school counselors, human resource representatives and clergy members can all be great places to seek initial support, depending on where the emotional abuse is taking place and how severe it is. When parents are approached by a child with abuse-related concerns, "they are encouraged to seek consultation with their physician or pediatrician, who can provide guidance with obtaining therapy services," advises Elliott.

Someone who is experiencing emotional abuse can also "contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788, which is confidential and available 24/7/365," says Kaslow. And "emotional abuse can also be treated therapeutically with the help of a skilled professional," adds Guerra.

Kaslow also recommends focusing on healing and recovery, creating self-care routines and leaving or distancing yourself from the person causing the emotional trauma, when possible. "Also, recognize that you cannot fix or change the perpetrator, that change is only possible if the perpetrator chooses to change and gets help for themself," she adds.

"Healing from emotional abuse requires a large dose of self-care and surrounding yourself with people, things and experiences that bring you joy and help you feel validated and valued," says Broder. "With the right tools and support, you can heal from emotional abuse and move past the trauma of the abusive experience."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is emotional abuse? Why it's more concerning than many realize
A disturbing avian mystery is unfolding in a Northern California town where residents have reported birds "exploding."

Residents of a neighborhood in the Bay Area community of Richmond, northeast of San Francisco, claim they have found multiple dead birds in their yards on their street. Security cameras even recorded one fowl's fatality, showing it falling to its death from a power line after a loud pop was captured in the footage.

The mystery deepened on Monday when investigators released the results of necropsies performed on two of the dead birds, suggesting foul play.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlifes Wildlife Health Lab confirmed to ABC News it had received two dead birds -- a mourning dove and a European starling -- and that injuries were consistent with trauma from a pellet gun, BB gun or a slingshot -- not electrocution from power lines. However, the department noted that "the exact cause of the trauma to all of these birds could not be determined."

Richmond resident Maximillian Bolling said he witnessed several birds succumb to a horrible death after perching on power lines.

"So when they land and it happens, they just quickly explode and it's really violent," Bolling told ABC San Francisco station KGO-TV.

Bolling said he and his neighbors counted at least 13 birds that have met a baffling demise.

PHOTO: Some residents in a Richmond, Calif., neighborhood said they have witnessed birds 'explode' and fall dead to the ground from powerlines over the past several months. (KGO-TV)

As the casualties have mounted, locals have speculated on everything from the birds being electrocuted by power lines to a phantom serial bird killer being on the loose.

Another resident, self-described "animal lover" Sharon Anderson, told KGO-TV that seeing the birds drop dead has been heartbreaking.

"It was just horrifying," she said.

The wildlife mystery began several months ago when the first birds turned up dead, according to residents.

The California State Department of Fish and Wildlife has launched an investigation, a spokesperson for the agency told ABC News on Monday.

MORE: 'World's most dangerous bird' kills 75-year-old man in Florida: Officials

Some residents have alleged that power lines in the area that belong to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company have something to do with the deaths and have pleaded with the utility company to do something to rectify the problem.

But PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian told ABC News on Monday that an investigation has uncovered no evidence that its power lines are the culprit.

"We appreciate the concern of our customers in Richmond about the recent series of bird deaths," PG&E said in an additional statement to ABC News.

PG&E said it sent crews to examine a power pole in the Richmond neighborhood that residents have cited as the possible root of the lethal problem. The company said the power pole in question is compliant with avian safe guidance established by the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee.

MORE: Scientists discover surprisingly high number of new bird species on remote island

The utility company said it asked the Department of Fish & Wildlife to evaluate two of the bird corpses.

Bolling said he and his neighbors just want to deaths to stop.

"It's very traumatic, super traumatic to see this," Bolling said.

Mystery of 'exploding birds' deepens in California city as necropsies suggest foul play originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A New York liquor importer and several other American small businesses made their case in court Tuesday as to why President Trump should not be able to carry out his "Liberation Day" tariffs, an early test of whether the legal battles over the president's trade war have any chance of halting the administration's plans.

The forum for Tuesday's hearing was the US Court of International Trade, a New York-based federal court that handles trade-related lawsuits. A panel of three judges did not issue a ruling Tuesday but will evaluate whether the claims made by the small businesses justify temporarily or permanently blocking Trumps tariffs.

The action from the small businesses is among at least seven lawsuits against the Trump administration challenging its authority to impose broad universal levies as well as more targeted measures that place taxes on items from specific countries or specific products.

Other plaintiffs challenging the tariffs include a group of blue states and a Native American tribe.

The authority being cited by the president and challenged by the small businesses Tuesday in federal court is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), which says that during a national emergency, the president, in order to respond to an unusual and extraordinary threat from abroad, can regulate economic transactions, including imports.

President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Monday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Congress passed the IEEPA to restrict presidents from overstepping a 1917 World War I-era law known as the Trading With the Enemy Act (TWEA). The act, which regulates US transactions with enemy powers, allowed the president to exercise broad economic power during wartime and during national emergencies.

The president cited IEEPA in an executive order issued Feb. 1 when he imposed tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada by declaring that an influx of illegal immigration and drugs into the country posed a national emergency.

Trump also cited the law on April 2, so-called "Liberation Day," when he announced "reciprocal" tariffs on many countries around the world.

The administration has since negotiated tariff suspensions with Canada and Mexico and paused the reciprocal duties for many countries. On Monday, President Trump announced that the US and China separately agreed to a 90-day pause on tariffs on each others goods.

The small businesses now challenging Trump before the US Court of International Trade argue that Congress never meant to extend monarch-like authority for US presidents to levy trade tariffs.

"This is not what Congress intended," a lawyer for the small businesses, Jeffrey Schwab, said on Tuesday.

He called Trumps April 2 tariff order an unprecedented and unlawful expansion of presidential authority that would let Trump to slap tariffs on any country at any rate at any time simply by declaring a national emergency, without meaningful judicial review.

President Donald Trump speaks during Liberation Day on April 2. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)

The Justice Departments lawyer Eric Hamilton argued that the court cant question how Trump determined what was an emergency.

That is a political question, he said, while also arguing that trade deficits over time do constitute a threat to the economy.

The DOJ lawyer also cited what President Nixon did in the 1970s when he used an emergency law that preceded IEEPA to move forward with tariffs. That move eventually was held up in an appeals court after an initial defeat in a US Customs Court, the predecessor to todays Court of International Trade.

"The question is, has [Trump] gone so far over the line here that the court should say just because you claim that there's an emergency, it doesn't mean that there is within the meaning of the statute? I don't have a good feel for what this court is likely to do," said Jonathan Entin, a constitutional law professor at Case Western Reserve University.

The major questions doctrine

To evaluate the plaintiffs' claims, a three-judge panel for the US trade court is expected to examine Trumps use of the IEEPA under the major questions doctrine  a rule articulated by the US Supreme Court that applies high scrutiny to executive branch actions that raise national issues of vast economic and political significance.

Under the rule, judges presume that when a law does not explicitly grant executive authority, Congress may not have granted it.

The Trump administration argued that the major questions doctrine  which the Supreme Court used to strike down an executive action from former President Joe Biden to issue $400 billion in student debt relief  does not stand in the way of his decision to impose sweeping import tariffs.

"It's now going to be all that stands between the Trump administration's ability to impose very high tariffs," said constitutional law professor Seth Chandler of the University of Houston Law Center.

An American flag waves in the foreground at a US port, where a cargo ship loaded with containers is berthed beneath giant cranes on a clear blue sky day. (AmyLaughinghouse via Getty Images)

The case could eventually reach the Supreme Court.

Entin said the Supreme Court hasn't dealt with IEEPA very much but did so in Dames & Moore v. Regan, a 1981 case that upheld the president's authority under the act to suspend legal claims against Iran to help resolve the Iran hostage crisis.

In the 1970s, in another case dealing with an act that preceded IEEPA, the US Customs Court initially sided with a Japanese zipper maker in ruling that neither the Tariff Act nor the Trade Expansion Act gave President Nixon authority to set a 10% tariff on foreign goods.

Yet Nixon's tariffs were still allowed to stand after a successful appeal.

"The court said, 'We don't want to get into this,'" Chandler explained. "We think the president can declare an emergency, and we ought to be very deferential to that."

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed.

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The Norway Wealth Fund will take steps to invest more in AI and other technologies and put a pause on hiring new staff, according to CEO Nicolai Tangen. Tangen previously told Fortune its AI has significantly reduced the amount of time needed to monitor the risks of the companies in which it invests. A recent IBM survey of 2,000 CEOs found that despite continued investment in AI, most companies did not see a return in investment.

The Norway Wealth Fund, the worlds largest sovereign wealth fund, is putting a pause on hiring, focusing on investing in technology such as AI to drive productivity, according to CEO Nicolai Tangen.

We do not foresee the number of employees increasing any further, Tangen said in a Tuesday meeting with lawmakers in Oslo, Bloomberg reported.

The wealth fund, or Norges Bank Investment Management, employs 676 people across offices in Oslo, London, New York and Singapore, as of the end of 2024, according to its annual report. The year prior, it had 654 employees, up from 572 in 2022. Responsible for managing a $1.8 trillion fund, the fund invests in about 9,000 companies globally.

Were spending a lot of time on how to get the most performance out of the fund, Tangen told Fortunes Peter Vanham prior to the Tuesday meeting. Weve increased the level of ambition, to get speed in the organization. We encourage the use of AI to drive speed and efficiency.

The Norway Wealth Fund this year measured employees responses to the technology and found in internal surveys employees reported an average 15% increase in productivity because of AI tools. The technology has significantly cut down on the time needed to monitor risks of the companies in which it invests, Tangen said.

Before it could take days, now it takes minutes, he said. We have a risk department that sells down positions with high risks as an outcome.

Norges Bank Investment Management declined Fortunes request for comment.

AIs drawbacks in the workforce

Betting big on AI hasnt been all its cracked up to be for some major companies. After implementing a hiring freeze and touting its AI chatbot, powered by OpenAI, could complete the work of 700 human agents, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has changed course. He conceded last week that AI had its limitations and said the company would resume hiring human workers.

As cost unfortunately seems to have been a too-predominant evaluation factor when organizing this, what you end up having is lower quality, he told Bloomberg last week. Really investing in the quality of the human support is the way of the future for us.

A Klarna spokesperson previously told Fortune the company was very much still AI-first and will keep its policy of not replacing employees who leave, instead hiring freelance customer-service agents for its outsourcing division.

Other chief executives have come to similar conclusions. Of 2,000 CEOs surveyed, a quarter of them said AI projects delivered the promised return on investment, according to an IBM study published earlier this month. Only 16% reported those projects were scaled across the enterprise.

Regardless of AIs limitations, companies will likely continue to invest heavily in the technology, with 64% of CEOs saying theyre going all-in on AI out of fear that theyll fall behind other companies if they dont, according to the IBM survey. About half of them said using AI has generated value beyond cost reduction.

The gamble on AI may continue to impact workforce numbers. Timothy Young, CEO of marketing platform Jasper.ai, said he believes AI may continue to impact certain hiring considerations.

With the commoditization of intelligence, its not about having the smartest people anymore, he told Fortunes Diane Brady. Its about developing your staff to have management skills because every employee in the next 12 months is going to have a series of agents that are helping them do their work.

There is a lot of power in the junior employees, but you cant leverage them the same way that you would in the past, he added.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Paris  French cinema icon Gerard Depardieu was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in Paris in 2021 and handed an 18-month suspended sentence. The 76-year-old actor had denied the charges that he forcefully groped a set decorator and an assistant producer on the set of "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters").

Depardieu was not in court for the verdict or sentencing on Tuesday, as he's currently filming in Portugal. His lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.

Depardieu was accused by a set decorator, 34, and an assistant producer, 54, who said the actor grabbed and groped them during filming in Paris in August and September 2021.

"I am deeply moved, I'm very happy with this decision," the assistant producer, identified in court only as Amelie, said after Tuesday's decision was handed down. "It is a victory for me, a step forward. Justice was served, I feel."

Taking the stand in March for the first time, Depardieu told the court he was nothing like the man described by the two women.

"I don't see why I would grope a woman, her buttocks, her breasts," he said. "I'm not somebody who rubs himself up against people on the metro."

The two women did not immediately report the alleged offenses, but after the Depardieu published an open letter in Le Figaro newspaper in October 2023 in which he stated: "Never, never have I abused a woman," the set designer went to the police. She reported Depardieu for alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist insults.



The trial opened in October, but it was adjourned due to Depardieu's failing health. His lawyer told the court in March that Depardieu was diabetic and had undergone a quadruple-bypass heart surgery.

French actor Gerard Depardieu (left) walks with his lawyer Jeremie Assous as he arrives for the opening of his trial in which he is accused of sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021, at the Paris criminal court in the Tribunal de Paris courthouse, March 24, 2025. / Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty

Medical experts later deemed him fit to attend the trial, but limited the hearings to six hours per day, with a provision for 15-minute pauses if Depardieu needed them.

"Gerard Depardieu is someone who is very free, who can be extremely direct," said his lawyer Jeremie Assous, who dismissed the accusations as "lies."

Dozens of protesters, mostly women, gathered outside the courthouse in March, denouncing what they called endemic sexism and impunity for sex offenders in French cinema and French society. They said they were pleased the actor was finally in court to answer the allegations, and waved placards with messages including: "Victims, we believe you; rapists, we see you"; "Touch one, you answer to all."



A giant of French cinema, Depardieu has been more infamous than famous in recent years. He's been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women in the movie industry. Many of the claims surfaced years after the alleged incidents took place, however, so under French law the actor cannot be tried for them.



In a high-profile move, the actor left his native France for a few years about a decade ago, moving to Belgium, having criticized French tax increases.

Depardieu has been open about his admiration for Russia under autocratic President Vladimir Putin, who bestowed Russian citizenship on him in 2013.

He later also became a citizen of Dubai.

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A classroom is seen filled with debris after it was allegedly hit by an airstrike by the military in Ohe Htein Twin village in Tabayin township, also known as Depayin in Sagaing region, Myanmar, May 12, 2025. (Shwebo District Battalion No.12 via AP)

BANGKOK (AP)  Funerals have been held in Myanmar for almost two dozen students and teachers alleged to have been killed in an airstrike on a local school by a ruling military jet fighter.

Local resistance groups and independent media said Tuesday that 20 pupils and 2 teachers died in the attack on Ohe Htein Twin village, in Sagaing regions township of Tabayin, also known as Depayin. Their reports said that as many as 100 people were wounded.

The dead students were from grades 2 to 11, with the youngest seven years old, according to the shadow National Unity Government, which serves as an umbrella organization for opponents of military rule

A member of a local resistance group fighting against army rule told The Associated Press that another student, who was severely injured in Monday's bombing, died Tuesday afternoon while undergoing medical treatment.

The resistance fighter, who requested that neither he nor his group be named for fear of arrest by the military, said the incident occurred while more than 100 students were studying in a school in the village, which has about 500 houses. He denied that any resistance fighters were stationed in the village that was attacked.

Sagaing has been a stronghold of armed resistance to army rule in Myanmar, and the military in recent years has stepped up airstrikes in their fight against resistance forces, which include the armed Peoples Defense Forces. The resistance has no effective defense against air attacks, which many reports say hit non-military targets.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the armys 2021 takeover ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which led to nationwide peaceful protests that escalated into a durable armed resistance denying the army control of much of the country.

A report Tuesday in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper denied the army had carried out the airstrike, saying malicious media outlets were intentionally spreading fake information. The military's tight control over the media and the relative remoteness of many such incidents makes independent confirmation of what occurred difficult.

The bodies of 18 of the victims, most of them under the age of 10 were buried Monday in two village cemeteries after hastily arranged funerals just a few hours after the bombing incident, the unidentified resistance fighter said.

About 100 wounded people, both students and teachers, were being treated in regional hospitals as the villages clinic lacked adequate facilities. At least two victims have had to have limbs amputated, he added.

A member of another resistance group, the White Depeyin Peoples Defence Force, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that the funerals concluded on Tuesday.

A report on Tuesday by the Human Rights Ministry of the National Unity Government said the jet fighter took off from an airbase in Meiktila township in the central region of Mandalay on Monday morning and deliberately attacked the school with two cluster bombs while students were preparing to sit for their exams.

All individuals implicated in the commanding, execution, or collusion of deliberate air strikes against innocent children, students, and educators shall be subject to stringent judicial repercussions, the group said in a separate statement. No avenue for impunity shall be permitted. Every responsible party will be pursued without respite, unequivocally identified, held accountable and subjected to stringent punitive measures under the full force of the law.

The military has increasingly used airstrikes to counter the widespread armed struggle against its rule. More than 6,600 civilians are estimated to have been killed by security forces since the army's 2021 takeover, according to figures compiled by nongovernmental organizations.

Airstrikes in Myanmar garnered increased attention recently when numerous reports deemed credible by the United Nations and human rights groups said that they continued to be carried out in the wake of Myanmars devastating March 28 earthquake, after which the military and resistance groups declared ceasefires to facilitate relief efforts.

We are horrified by reports of a Myanmar regime airstrike on a school in an earthquake-affected area at a time when a ceasefire has been announced. Schools are meant to be a place of safety and opportunity, not collateral in a conflict," Britain's Minister for Indo-Pacific Catherine West said in a statement.

We repeat our call to all parties, particularly the Myanmar military, to refrain from airstrikes, safeguard civilians, and protect civilian infrastructure.
It's no secret that Disney World is expensive, but just how much of a hit will your wallet take? Well, one dad from Florida went viral after breaking down the price of his $1,400, unplanned visit to Disney World.

Craig Stowell, a professional YouTuber based in West Palm Beach, Florida, took his family to Walt Disney World in April, during Easter weekend and had some sticker shock after he spent a grand total of $1,391.91 on parking, tickets, food and drinks, he told USA TODAY.

"Know that everything is more expensive than it used to be," said Stowell. "It's not just a quick trip up to Disney anymore. It's the cost of my son's first car."

Nearly $1,000 just to get into the park

Stowell's family was visiting him from New Hampshire on Easter weekend, when they decided to do an impromptu Disney trip, Stowell said. So, they packed their things and drove to Orlando, Florida, from West Palm Beach, Florida, which is around 170 miles southeast of Orlando.

In a video he posted about his day, he talks about just how much money he and his family spent on a day trip to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios in September 2022.

One of the first big purchases was the tickets, he said. For Stowell, his wife and three kids, including his son who was younger than 10, entrance to Hollywood Studios cost $974. The tickets were purchased on the day they visited the park.

Tickets are broken up into two categories, according to Disney's website. Tickets for children who are 3 to 10 years old are a bit cheaper than tickets for adults, who need to be purchased for anyone who is 11 and older to enter the parks. Children younger than 3 enter the park for free.

The remaining $345.91 was spent on parking, which is $30 per car, food and drinks.

Spending Memorial Day weekend at Disney? See crowd calendar, weather

Holiday surcharge made tickets more expensive

Since the family visited the theme park on a holiday weekend, their tickets were more expensive due to a holiday surcharge, Stowell said.

One-day tickets for Florida residents on Disney's website start at $119, and can be even cheaper for Florida residents planning to visit the park for multiple days.

Photo of Grand Avenue, also known as Muppets Courtyard, in March 2025.

Will Disney tickets be expensive during Memorial Day weekend?

Yes, tickets for Florida residents and non-Florida residents will be more expensive during Memorial Day weekend.

During the holiday weekend, tickets start at $159, according to Disney's website. The price of admission for each park varies.

Listed below are the prices of one-day tickets to enter the Disney parks on Saturday, May 24 for both residents and non-residents:

Magic Kingdom - $184

EPCOT - $179

Disney's Hollywood Studios - $179

Disney's Animal Kingdom- $159

A family of five, with one child younger than 10 years old, would pay $947.87, including taxes, to enter Hollywood studios during the holiday weekend, according to Walt Disney World's website.

That price tag doesn't include the additional costs of parking, Lightning Lane passes, photo packages, hotel stays or food.

The price of tickets for a family of five would come out to nearly $1,000 during Memorial Day weekend, according to Walt Disney World's website.

How to save on your Walt Disney World trip

Stowell recommends that people trying to save some money plan ahead and skip the parks during holiday weekends and go during the off-season instead.

Florida residents can also save money on their Disney trip by purchasing tickets for multiple days, according to Walt Disney World's website.

While a one-day Florida resident ticket starts at $119, three and four-day tickets start at $87 and $72.

The Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket, which is valid from May 18 to September 27, offers an even more inexpensive experience.

The summer magic tickets will cost the following, according to the resort's website:

4-Day Ticket  $60 per day, plus tax

3-Day Ticket  $75 per day, plus tax

2-Day Ticket  $105 per day

Non-Florida residents can also take advantage of the 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket, which will allow guest admission to only EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollowood Studios, and excludes Magic Kingdom, stated the resort's website.

Prices for the ticket start at $89 per day, and are valid until September 22, according to Disney World. The tickets must be used within five days of the selected start date.

Finally, Stowell offered one more piece of advice for Disney guests above the age of 21:

"Don't buy the alcohol," said Stowell. It "would have saved a lot of money for me."

This story was updated to add new information.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dad goes viral for spending $1,400 on spontaneous family Disney trip
UNITED STATES - APRIL 3: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is seen in the U.S. Capitol during a series of votes on Thursday, April 3, 2025. - Tom Williams/AP/CQ Roll Call/File

Several Republican senators expressed misgivings that the Trump administration plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One, noting the potential for security and legal risks.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, said that President Donald Trump and the White House need to look at the constitutionality of the issue.

Id be checking for bugs is what Id be checking for, Capito said.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri argued that it would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said he needs to research whether it will pass legal muster. We ought to follow the law, he said.

Given the massive value of a Boeing 747-8, the move is unprecedented and raises substantial ethical and legal questions. A Qatari official said the plane is technically being gifted from the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon, describing it more as a government-to-government transaction instead of a personal one. The Defense Department will then retrofit the plane for the presidents use with security features and modifications.

Trump said Sunday night that the Defense Department plans to accept the luxury jet as a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, on social media. He said the multimillion dollar jet would be used on a temporary basis in a very public and transparent transaction.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the legal details on accepting a Boeing 747-8 jet to replace Air Force One as a gift from the Qatari royal family are still being worked out.

Any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law, she added.

Ethics experts have raised concerns about the potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitutions Emoluments Clause, whichprohibits a president from receiving an emolument or profit from any King, Prince, or foreign state unless Congress consents.

Not all in the party criticized the move and some defended the Trump administration.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville told CNN that, as long as its legal, free is good. You know, we dont have a lot of money right now to buy things like that.

The Alabama Republican said hed flown on Air Force One before and the plane was old, adding, If its legal for him to accept that gift and be able to fly on that for the next four years, or three and a half years. I think its great. Itll save us money.

Asked if he thinks the Qataris want anything in return, Tuberville assessed, I dont think theres a lot that we can give them, other than be one of our allies.

He also pointed to supply chain issues to justify the transaction, saying in his state, which has a large Boeing manufacturing presence, you cant get an airplane for about six or seven years right now because of the backlog.

Weve got to get Boeing going again. I think thats one of the key points. But at the end of the day, if it would save us money, I think itd be awesome, he said.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville talks with CNN's Manu Raju on Monday. - CNN

Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told reporters asking about the Qatari jet that it was the stupidest issue and he has zero issue with the president accepting it.

We have received gifts  we can go back through land gifts and go back through these countries given us gifts in the past. Why is it a big deal? he said to reporters.

Pressed on reports that the plan is for the plane to go to Trumps presidential library at the end of his term, Mullin argued that other presidents have planes at their libraries  though admitted he didnt know if those were from the Qataris.

Do you think hes compromised because hes getting a plane the president could easily buy himself, personally? he asked reporters.

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines said you cant beat free when asked about the Qataris offer.

He added that he expects the Department of Justice to look at the legal questions raised and theyll come up with an opinion on it.

Its gonna be for government use, he added.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis also didnt express concern, though he noted that the jet has to be conveyed, categorically, to the US government, rather than to Trump personally.

I dont think emoluments come in, but Im not an attorney. Ill leave it to others to do that, he said, referring to the emoluments clause in the Constitution.

I dont know how thatd be any different than Qatar making a decision to write a check to the US government  if this is in fact, going to the US government, he added.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday would not say if it is ethical or constitutional for the Trump administration to accept the jet as a gift from Qatar, saying he needs to learn more details about the potential offer, which he described as hypothetical.

I dont know enough about it yet, and I dont know if theres been any offer. Im sure if and when we have more information, well sort all that out. But at this point, its obviously, still a hypothetical, he said.

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House Republicans unveiled plans for so-called "MAGA" savings accounts for children as part of President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill."

The bill's draft talks about the creation of "Money account for growth and advancement" accounts, which are also called "MAGA accounts." It also laid out a pilot program to launch the accounts themselves to have $1,000 each.

Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill

Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz recently discussed the plan after pushing the idea to his Republican colleagues when they attended a party retreat earlier this month. At the time, he said that lawmakers should ask themselves what people will remember and talk about after a decade or so from now.

Cruz also said that the MAGA accounts could help many Americans take the first step in the "journey of savings." These individuals could reap the rewards of compound interest many years later.

The item is listed as the "MAGA Accounts Contribution Pilot Program" in the House bill. It plans to give American parents who have a qualifying child a "one-time credit of $1,000" that would be payable into the kid's account, according to Business Insider.

For children to be considered eligible for the program, they have to be U.S. citizens "at birth," possess a Social Security number, and have a birthdate after Dec. 31, 2024, and prior to Jan. 1, 2029.

The MAGA accounts are specified as being "exempt from taxation" in the House bill's draft version. The proposed bill is similar to the so-called "baby bonds" proposal from Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey.

Plans To Spend Trillions of Dollars

The bill comes as House Republicans also unveiled how they plan to spend trillions of dollars on tax breaks to benefit Americans. It comes as part of President Trump's long-awaited tax plans, such as scrapping federal taxes on tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest, CNN reported.

Trump also demanded a debit limit hike, which would cost the federal government a total of $4 trillion to punt the problem for another few years. It would require Congress to raise the debt limit before its August recess if it wants to avoid default.

GOP leaders are aiming for the Budget Committee to vote on the bill on Friday morning, followed by Rules Committee consideration next Monday. August marks the real hard deadline as it is when Treasury expects the U.S. to his its debt limit X-date and run out of cast to pay all of its bills, as per Politico.
Popular online political commentator Hasan Piker was stopped and questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago as he was returning to the United States from France, Piker said on his Twitch broadcast on Monday.

A U.S. citizen born in New Jersey, Piker has 2.8 million followers on Twitch and is a prominent leftist political commentator. On Monday, he said he was taken to a private room inside Chicagos OHare International Airport on Sunday.

He said he was questioned about his political views and his political commentary on his social media accounts. Piker said that he was stopped for questioning despite being enrolled in the government's Global Entry program, which normally expedites re-entry to the United States.

"They straight up tried to get something out of me that I think they could use to basically detain me permanently, Piker said. "(The agent) kept saying stuff like, 'Do you like Hamas? Do you support Hamas? Do you think Hamas is a terror group or a resistance group?'

Hasan Piker speaks onstage during Politicon 2018 at Los Angeles Convention Center on October 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

Piker described the interaction with the agents as cordial, and said he was asked about his views on President Donald Trump and whether he had been in contact with Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis.

The reason for why they're doing that is I think to try to create an environment of fear to try to get people like myself or at least others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security to shut the (expletive) up, Piker said on the stream. Im gonna use the privilege that I have in that moment to try and see what the (expletive) theyre doing.

Piker was returning to the United States to speak at the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago on Monday. He had been in France over the weekend, where he interviewed French politician Jean-Luc Melenchon.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told USA TODAY on Monday that Piker's detention was "routine."

"Claims that his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless," said the spokesperson, who declined to be named. "Our officers are following the law, not agendas. Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection - a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released."

Detention comes during tense time

Pikers detention comes as activists and university students across the U.S. have been detained by federal agents in recent weeks.

Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian refugee Mahmoud Khalil was detained by federal agents in March he helped lead pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. He was accused of engaging in activities aligned with Hamas.

Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, of Turkey, speaks at a press conference at Boston Logan International Airport after she was released on a judge's order after spending over six weeks in an immigration detention center in Louisiana, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. May 10, 2025.

Later that month, Tufts University international graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by federal agents after she co-wrote a pro-Palestinian opinion piece. She was released last week on bail after a federal judge in Vermont said the government did not have sufficient evidence to hold Ozturk indefinitely.

Another Columbia University student, Mohsen Mahdawi, was detained on April 14 while he was arriving for a naturalization interview and held in a detention center in Vermont. He was also freed earlier this month following a federal judge's ruling in Vermont.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Political commentator Hasan Piker says he was stopped by US Customs
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Heidi Klum arrives for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film 'Partir un Jour' at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13.







Heidi Klum attended the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony in a floral organza petal Elie Saab gown

The gown got its volume from flowers, as well as a long train

Voluminous gowns with long trains are prohibited at the Cannes Film Festival this year after an update to the dress code







Heidi Klum is making her own rules for the Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

The model attended the Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day) screening and opening ceremony at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 13 in a larger-than-life floral Elie Saab gown that was in direct violation of the festival's new dress code.

For the event, Klum wore a floral illusion gown by Elie Saab. The show-stopping piece featured layer after layer of pink organza, cut to mimic delicate floral petals. The Elie Saab piece had a strapless bust and a leg-baring side slit that extended into a carpet-grazing train.

The model also wore Lorraine Schwartz Jewelry for added sparkle.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Heidi Klum attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and 'Partir Un Jour' at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2025.

The 51-year-old went simple with her glam, adding a smoky eye and black eyeliner to her lids, and going light on blush and lip color.

Though Klum's Elie Saab gown was certainly a head-turner, it violates the new Cannes Film Festival dress code, due to its voluminous nature and its long train.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Heidi Klum attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and 'Partir Un Jour' at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2025.

The Cannes Film Festival official FAQ website reads, "nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival," due to "decency reasons." The rules further note that "voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted."

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Klum wasn't the only one to do a voluminous gown with a floor grazing train at the Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day) screening, either.

Wan QianHui arrived to the same red carpet event as Klum in a cream tulle ball gown with large, ruffled layers. The gown  which is also in violation of the film festival dress code  featured an eye-catching skirt that extended into a massive train.

Gisela Schober/Getty Wan QianHui attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and 'Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day)' screening at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13.

This year, the Cannes Film Festival has made explicit in its charter certain rules that have long been in effect. The aim is not to regulate attire per se, but to prohibit full nudity on the red carpet, in accordance with the institutional framework of the event and French law, new instruction from the festival read.

While the America's Got Talent judge was not apprehended by security at the event, the Cannes FAQ website said that their team reserves the right to deny access to individuals whose attire could obstruct the movement of other guests or complicate seating arrangements in the screening rooms.

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Permitted attire at this year's Cannes Film Festival includes a little black dress, a cocktail dress, a dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants; a black or navy blue suit with bow-tie or dark-colored tie." Attendees can also arrive at the festival in "elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel," but sneakers are not permitted.

Halle Berry, who is serving as one of the members of the jury at Cannes this year, revealed that the new dress code led to a last-minute change to her red carpet look.

I had an amazing dress by [Gaurav] Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because its too big of a train, Berry told Variety. Im not going to break the rules. The nudity part is also probably a good rule.

Read the original article on People
New research shows hidden fat inside your muscles significantly boosts your risk of severe heart disease. (CREDIT: CC BY-SA 4.0)

Hidden fat stored deep within muscles can significantly raise your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and heart failure, even if you appear healthy based on standard measures like body mass index (BMI). According to a groundbreaking study published in the European Heart Journal, this type of fat, known as intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), poses a unique threat by affecting how well the tiny blood vessels in your heart function.

Over 71% of adults in the U.S. currently struggle with being overweight or obese, conditions strongly linked to heart disease. Traditionally, BMIa simple calculation based on your height and weightis used to determine obesity. However, BMI alone doesnt provide a complete picture of heart risk, especially since people with similar BMIs can have vastly different heart health outcomes.

When Hidden Fat Becomes Dangerous

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have uncovered how fat hidden inside muscles significantly impacts heart health. Led by Professor Viviany Taqueti, the study evaluated 669 people who visited the hospital with chest pain or shortness of breath. The participants had an average age of 63, with women making up about 70% and nearly half identifying as non-white.

Thoracic body composition compartments and relationship to body mass index. (CREDIT: European Heart Journal)

Using advanced imaging technologies, scientists analyzed the amount of fat within participants' muscles, referred to as the fatty muscle fraction. They discovered that higher levels of this hidden fat were directly linked to damage in the hearts microcirculation, known as coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). For every 1% increase in fatty muscle fraction, the risk of CMD rose by 2%, and the likelihood of serious heart conditions, including death, increased by 7%, independent of BMI.

Obesity is now one of the biggest global threats to cardiovascular health, Professor Taqueti explained. Yet body mass indexour main metric for defining obesity and thresholds for interventionremains controversial and flawed, especially for women, where high BMI may reflect less harmful types of fat.

The Science Behind IMATs Threat

IMAT isn't the same as the fat stored under your skin, known as subcutaneous fat. While subcutaneous fat might affect your appearance, it's typically less harmful to your heart. In contrast, IMAT produces substances that increase inflammation and disrupt how your body handles glucose. This imbalance contributes to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which damages blood vessels, including those supplying your heart.

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Early research also suggests IMAT releases pro-inflammatory substances like interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor, further impairing your hearts health. Essentially, IMAT doesn't just passively store caloriesit actively worsens inflammation and metabolic processes critical for heart function.

Beyond BMI: Why Muscle Quality Matters

Researchers highlight that relying on BMI or waist circumference alone doesn't adequately assess individual heart risk. Instead, measuring IMAT can provide more accurate insights into who is truly at risk, particularly for women and individuals of varying ethnic backgrounds.

Knowing that intermuscular fat raises the risk of heart disease gives us another way to identify people at high risk, regardless of their BMI, said Professor Taqueti. She emphasized the potential for IMAT measurements to inform new treatments, including weight-loss drugs and lifestyle interventions.

Characterization of thoracic body composition at the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) level in representative patients (A/C, B/D) of similar age, sex, race, and body mass index with normal renal function, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial perfusion. (CREDIT: European Heart Journal)

Exploring New Treatment Pathways

The critical question now is how to effectively reduce IMAT and its associated risks. Treatments that target weight loss, such as new-generation medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, could play a role in managing fat distribution. However, scientists need more research to understand precisely how these treatments impact IMAT versus other types of fat or muscle mass.

Currently, Professor Taquetis team is investigating how lifestyle changes, nutrition, medications, and surgery influence body composition and heart health. Their goal is to determine the most effective strategies for reducing IMAT and improving overall cardiovascular outcomes.

Why This Matters for Everyone

The significance of this research reaches far beyond overweight or obese individuals. Even those with normal BMIs might carry dangerous levels of IMAT, unknowingly increasing their heart disease risk. Recognizing IMAT as a hidden danger underscores the importance of deeper assessments of body composition rather than superficial measurements alone.

Unadjusted (A, C) and adjusted (B, D) freedom from major adverse events by coronary microvascular dysfunction and obesity (A, B) or intermuscular adipose tissue median (C, D). (CREDIT: European Heart Journal)

Dr. Ranil de Silva from Imperial College London highlighted this need, stating, "Obesity is a public health priority. Studies clearly show obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but the relationship is complex." He added that further research should examine additional factors like inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, and lifestyle habits to fully understand IMAT's effects.

This new insight could revolutionize how doctors assess and manage heart disease risks, making healthcare more personalized and effective. By identifying and targeting hidden fat, treatments could significantly improve patient outcomes.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, scientists aim to refine methods for measuring IMAT accurately and efficiently in routine clinical practice. Integrating these measures into regular heart health check-ups could better pinpoint those at the highest risk, enabling earlier interventions and possibly preventing severe heart conditions.

Adjusted annualized rate of major adverse events by coronary microvascular dysfunction and obesity (A) or intermuscular adipose tissue median (B). (CREDIT: European Heart Journal)

Professor Taqueti remains optimistic about the potential for future treatments: "We still dont know how best to lower the risk for people with fatty muscles. However, understanding how new weight-loss therapies affect fat in muscles relative to elsewhere in the body, lean tissue, and ultimately the heart is crucial."

This research marks a significant step towards more nuanced, effective care for heart health, emphasizing that sometimes the greatest risks are hidden from plain sight.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

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Emerson College/YouTube Jennifer Coolidge delivers 2025 commencement address at Emerson College







Need To Know

Jennifer Coolidge delivered the commencement address at Emerson College's 2025 graduation on May 11

The White Lotus actress attended the school before dropping out to pursue a career in Hollywood

Coolidge spoke candidly about self-confidence and perseverance, encouraging the graduates to "just friggin' go for it" after finding what truly motivates them









Jennifer Coolidge knows how to make any room smile.

On Sunday, May 11, the actress, 63, delivered the 2025 commencement address for roughly 1,000 graduates at Emerson College. Coolidge studied performing arts at Emerson, which is located in Boston, Mass., before dropping out to pursue a career in Hollywood, per Boston.com.

During her speech, Coolidge reflected on her childhood, expressing that she grew up a few miles away from the college as a "very, very strange kid."

The White Lotus actress  who made reference to her iconic line from the HBO hit and her loyal gay fan base by joking that she was "excited" to be "speaking with some very excited gay students"  looked back on her last day of first grade, during which her school had a field day with an obstacle course.

After her teacher explained how to complete the event, Coolidge said she "ran like hell" and beat the fastest girl in school  or so she thought.

"I was so elated that I had won, and to me, it just meant that I was going to get the blue ribbon. And then the teacher came up to me and told me that I didn't win the blue ribbon because I was disqualified," said Coolidge. "And it turns out, I had skipped all the obstacles. I just ran along the outside."

Coolidge admitted that the mishap caused her classmates to tease her for years. "I realized I was going to go the rest of my life as a joke. I was so uncomfortable with myself, I began to completely live in my head from that moment on," she explained.

After a while, though, the experience caused her to have "insane expectations [for herself] and believe theyre going to come true.

Her change in mindset grew even stronger after she saw a magazine that belonged to her mother featuring Grace Kelly and her royal wedding, which made Coolidge dream of becoming the queen of Monaco.

"In retrospect, it was the one and only thing I really had going for me. I had this thing inside of me telling me that I could achieve anything, anything, in this world, and there was just nothing to back it up," she said, causing laughter from the crowd.

The comedian used this anecdote from her childhood to make her message to the graduates clear.

"When you find the thing that you want to do, I really want to highly recommend, just friggin' go for it," she said. "You really have to psych yourself up into believing absurd possibilities, and you have to believe that they are not absurd."

Coolidge noted that being "overly sensitive" made her constantly feel like she was in a "state of just recovering" from negative feedback  whether it was being rejected for a role or hearing a hurtful comment.

Taylor Hill/Getty Jennifer Coolidge attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024

Eventually though, Coolidge was able to become her "own champion" and find the strength to move forward.

"Don't listen to the people who mess up the real story that you've got going," she urged the graduates. "It is your ability to convince yourself you really can make it, because you really have to be your own champion."

The American Pie actress ended her speech by expressing that the point of her obstacle course story was to remind the graduates that "it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says."

"When it comes to the obstacle course of your life, you have to find your own path," she said. "And you can't perfectly plan it out from the beginning. Part of directing your life is just letting it unfold. So let it."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Before Coolidge's career took off, she was waiting tables and performing with the Groundlings improv troupe. In June 1995, she auditioned for  and was rejected by  execs at Saturday Night Live. But four years later, she landed the role as Stifler's Mom in the American Pie movie series and as Paulette in Legally Blonde. Other roles followed in films like Best in Show and A Cinderella Story.

In 2021, she skyrocketed to fame with her role as Tanya McQuoid in The White Lotus, which ultimately won her two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.

Read the original article on People
JONATHAN BRADY/POOL/AFP via Getty Kate Middleton at Buckingham Palace in December, 2023

Kate Middleton is set to have another tiara moment at Windsor Castle.

On Tuesday, May 13, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles has invited French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to a state visit during the summer.

That will likely mean Kate and Queen Camilla will be dusting off their tiaras for a dazzling state banquet at the 1000-year-old castle.

The visit takes place from July 8-10, and the French couple will be based at Windsor. Its a departure from the usual arrangements because Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing crucial upgrading.



In a simple statement, the palace said on May 13, The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 8th July to Thursday 10th July 2025.

The President and Mrs Macron will stay at Windsor Castle.

Although Buckingham Palace has not confirmed any details of the visit, its expected that Prince William and Princess Kate will help host the visitors.

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Queen Camilla, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron

Usually, a state banquet is at the center of the entertaining and soft power diplomacy that is led by the royal family.

Princess Kate, 43, was missing from the last banquet  for the visiting Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani in December as she continued her recovery from her cancer treatment.

She did take part in some of the visit, in the earlier part of the first day, however.

The state visit by the Macrons follows the visit by the King, 76, and Queen, 77, who made their first official overseas visit since their May 2023 coronation to France, and then Germany, in September 2023.

The last State Visit to the U.K. from France was in March 2008 when the then President Sarkozy and his wife were the guests of the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle.

Read the original article on People
Preakness Stakes entrant American Promise, right, works out next to Black-Eyed Susan Stakes entrant Princess Aliyah, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

BALTIMORE (AP)  American Promise got cut off at the start of the Kentucky Derby, then couldn't get the room to squeeze between horses down the stretch. It added up to a 16th-place finish.

Hes a big horse, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. He cant stop and start like that. It just wont work.

Lukas is hoping things will work out better in the Preakness Stakes this Saturday, bringing American Promise back to race two weeks after the troubled trip in the Derby. No one has saddled more horses in the second leg of the Triple Crown than the 89-year-old Hall of Famer, who is looking to become the first to win the Preakness back to back since good friend Bob Baffert in 2001 and '02.

When you have a trip that you could analyze and overanalyze or whatever you want to do, I turn the page and concentrate on this here and what we can get done, Lukas said Tuesday after overseeing American Promise jog a couple of miles in the rain at Pimlico Race Course. He did really well. He had good energy and everything.

American Promise is set to be Lukas' 49th Preakness horse over 34 renditions of the race since winning his first try back in 1980 with Codex. If American Promise gets the job done, it will give Lukas an eighth Preakness victory and tie Baffert for the record.

Opening at odds of 15-1  third-longest in the field of nine  he's a long shot to do so. But a deluge of rain this week could factor in, like the muddy track did at Churchill Downs when Sovereignty outdueled Journalism, who is the Preakness favorite with the Derby winner not running.

Lukas said Journalism jumps off the page" and is a worthwhile favorite, but he has reason to believe American Promise could thrive with room to run, even if the surface is a little sloppy.

I got a hunch that hell be able to manage it, Lukas said.

Dual-citizen horse

Heart of Honor is in a barn by himself this week at Pimlico because he will soon be returning to England, where he was born in 2022. But rather than being an international entrant in the Preakness, the colt is actually more American than British-bred.

He ended up in the U.K. by accident, said Jimmy McCarthy, chief operating officer for Jamie Osborne's stable based in Hungerford.

That is because David Redvers bought his mare, Chilean champion Ruby Love, in November 2021 at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, when she was in foal with him, then shipped her to England. In addition to her name, Heart of Honor got his moniker from the white mark on his face that looks a little like a heart.

On the track, he has shown some heart, finishing second in his past three races in Dubai at Meydan Racecourse, most recently the Grade 2 UAE Derby on April 5. The Preakness is a step up from that, not to mention an ordeal involving flying the horse first to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Baltimore for a shot in the $2 million race.

Heart of Honor opened at 12-1.

Its a big risk, and its a big undertaking, McCarthy said. It is a bit of an adventure. Its something theyre willing to take a risk, so well see what happens.

Local Billy

Pay Billy is the Maryland local long shot, an automatic qualifier from winning the Federico Tesio Stakes at nearby Laurel Park last month. Neither jockey Raul Mena nor trainer Billy Gorham has ever had a horse in a Triple Crown race before.

"Everyone in the barns all excited," Gorham said. A lot of the guys that work for me have been with me a long time. Everyones worked hard through the years with just claiming horses and a few stakes horses here and there basically everyday horses. Now we get a chance to go in the Preakness, its a big deal.

Mena, a 33-year-old from Chile who has been riding in the U.S. for nearly a decade, called it a very special moment for himself professionally, and because few expect Pay Billy at 20-1 to pull off an upset, he's enjoying the experience.

Hes not going to be the favorite, Mena said. I dont got the pressure in the race. I know my horse: Hes got the talent to be competing with those horses. ... If we win the race, its going to be awesome. If he doesnt win, Im still happy.

___

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
A former tenant of a Las Vegas apartment was arrested for allegedly setting fire to the complex's building due to his rent being raised too high.

Clark Court records reviewed by USA TODAY identified the accused as 66-year-old Clinton Hogan Jr., who was charged with first-degree arson.

The alleged arson took place on May 5 in Clark County when local firefighters responded to a leasing office on fire in a complex on Boulder Highway, 8 News Now reported. Police arrested him the same day when he was found walking nearby with a lighter, paint solvent and a bottle of whiskey on him, the Las Vegas-based TV station said.

Clinton Hogan told police he stopped living at apartment 'due to high rent'

Hogan allegedly told police that he was no longer a resident at his former apartment complex because his rent had gotten too high.

"He said that he was upset because he had to leave the apartment complex due to high rent, court documents read, per 8 News Now.

Hogan also confessed that he had been drinking at the time, according to the TV station.

The court documents, also reviewed by 9 News Now, claim that Hogan, or a person matching his description, had been spotted by a witness pouring fluid in front of the leasing office, where the fire began.

As of May 13, Hogan is still in custody with a $20,000 bail. His next hearing is scheduled for May 22.

USA TODAY contacted the Clark County Court on May 13 but has not received a response.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man accused of reportedly setting apartment on fire over rent increase
A Massachusetts man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and other charges in connection to the death of a 23-year-old woman killed in 2009.

Prosecutors in Middlesex County, part of northeastern Massachusetts, announced the charges on April 10, indicting Heinsky Anacreon, 38, in connection to the death of 23-year-old Charline Rosemond.

Rosemond was last seen alive on April 7, 2009 in Somerville, about two miles north of Cambridge, prosecutors said. Nearly a week later on April 13, her body was found slumped in her fathers car in a parking lot.

Anacreon, of Malden, was previously charged with first degree murder, misleading a police officer and misleading an attorney, the Middlesex District Attorneys Office said. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on May 12, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.

Charline Rosemond, a 23-year-old woman who was fatally shot in April 2009. A 38-year-old man was indicted on a murder charge in connection to her case in May 2025, 16 years after her death.

Another man authorities say was involved, Roberto Jeune, was a friend of Rosemond and died of natural causes in Philadelphia on July 8, 2024.

On May 13, C. Henry Fasoldt, Anacreon's defense attorney, said he did not kill Rosemond.

"She was killed by someone else," Fasoldt wrote in an email to USA TODAY. "Mr. Anacreon looks forward to holding the government to its very high burden."

Anacreon's next court appearance is on June 24, the Middlesex District Attorneys Office confirmed to USA TODAY.

What happened to Charline Rosemond?

When she died, Rosemond lived with her family in Everett, about four miles from where her body was found, prosecutors said. She worked at a car dealership and according to friends and family, she had been driving her fathers car until she got her own.

She planned to buy a used Lexus. Earlier that week, on April 3, 2009, she had withdrawn $4,100 to buy the car, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said at the press conference.

Charline Rosemond withdrawing money from the bank on April 7, 2009, the last day she was seen alive.

On April 7, she left work and texted a friend, Ryan said. She texted her friend until about 9:15 p.m. that night, and she was never heard from again.

According to prosecutors, Rosemond thought of Jeune as one of her closest friends. When he found out she was looking for a Lexus, he told her he could connect her to someone. According to prosecutors, Anacreon was able to find the type of car Rosemond wanted through his job, a used car dealership in Somerville.

Investigators said that based on evidence they found, Anacreon and Jeune told Rosemond she had to pay in cash and talked her into bringing the cash to a remote parking lot, where she was shot and killed.

According to Ryan, Anacreons boss had a no cash only policy and accepted bank checks and other forms of payment when he sold cars.

A Lexus 23-year-old Charline Rosemond was interested in buying when she was killed in April 2009.

She had been shot in the head from behind, and the bullet went through the headrest of the drivers seat and no cash was found at the scene, Ryan said.

Prosecutors: Suspects shared 'a celebratory bottle' of champagne after killing

Although both Jeune and Anacreon spoke to police shortly after her death and denied any involvement, Anacreon allegedly admitted to a close confidant that he supplied the .44 Magnum firearm used to kill her, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said he also admitted to throwing the weapon into a river, although the weapon was never recovered. When investigators searched Jeunes home, they found no gun, but they did find two gun cases and a pair of latex gloves, Ryan said.

"Jeune did not have a license to possess firearms and did not work in the medical field, so there was no ready explanation or possession of either of those," Ryan said. "Also recovered during that execution of that search warrant was an empty bottle of Moet champagne."

Anacreon had been seen driving the same type of Lexus the victim was buying in April of 2009, and he also told his bosses that he was showing the car to a potential buyer, Ryan said.

Just after the shooting on April 7, 2009, Jeune and Anacreon "shared a celebratory bottle of Moet champagne," Ryan said, adding that the bottle was found while investigators searched Jeunes home.

Defendant blamed co-conspirator, court documents show

Ryan said Anacreon tried to hide his involvement in the womans death by telling her family and investigators he wasnt there and had no idea what happened.

According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, Anacreon told police on May 21, 2024 that Jeune killed Rosemond. He said he didn't participate in the planned robbery or murder, and said he heard Jeune asking other people for guns before the murder. He said Jeune never asked him for a weapon, though.

Calling Rosemond a "promising and hard-working young woman," Ryan said her life was cut short.

"We allege today that she was taken advantage of and murdered by two men who were willing to take her life for $4,000," she said. "They killed her in cold blood. They celebrated the murder with a bottle of champagne, and they left her body in a parking lot for days, while her family frantically searched for her."

Why did it take so long to charge someone?

When asked about it taking 16 years to charge the defendant with so much evidence gathered, Ryan said prosecutors need to be certain when they move forward with charges because once charges are filed, "the clock starts to run."

"It is a momentous thing in anyone's life for us to be charging them with murder," she said, adding that although investigators executed search warrants and conducted interviews, they did not have enough evidence to secure an indictment.

Ryan said that people often dont realize the hundreds of hours and thousands of tests that have been put into these cases behind the scenes.

"We have made a commitment in this office that we will not give up on these cases, and I think we met that commitment," she said.

This story has been updated to add information and photos.

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: Man pleads not guilty in connection to killing of Charline Rosemond
Vanya Gaberova, Orlin Roussev, Bizer Dzhambazov, Katrin Ivanova, Ivan Stoyanov and Tihomir Ivanchev. (Metropolitan Police)

LONDON  A Russian spy ring plotted to trade blood diamonds for weapons in Africa and supply drones to Russias military, according to messages shown to a London court that painted their fugitive leader as a wannabe James Bond.

Jan Marsalek  who has been named as a key suspect in Germanys biggest postwar fraud case  is alleged to have led the team of six Bulgarians who were sentenced Monday at Londons famous Old Bailey courthouse.

When German payment company Wirecard collapsed in 2020, owing creditors almost $4 billion, Marsalek, the companys chief operating officer, went on the run and an international manhunt was launched for the Austrian national, who remains at large.

Messages revealed in court made it clear he was in Moscow as he referred to meetings with the GRU and the FSB state security service, at their headquarters building known as the Lubyanka, and at a bonding exercise with the FSB guys at the shooting range. He even posed for a selfie in Russian military fatigues.

Court documents also showed that, while he was on the run, he directed a ragtag group of amateur operatives: Orlin Roussev, 47; his second-in-command, Biser Dzhambazov, 44; and Ivan Stoyanov, a 33-year-old mixed martial arts fighter known as The Rock.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, and Vanya Gaberova, 30, described by prosecutors as honeytrap agents, and competitive swimmer Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, made up the rest of the ring that carried out activities that, British police said, put lives and national security at risk.

The spies conducted surveillance for the Russians targeting journalists, diplomats and dissidents in Britain, Austria, Spain and Montenegro, and they were paid handsomely for their services, prosecutors said.

Using law enforcement grade devices called IMSI grabbers, prosecutors said they targeted the Patch Barracks, a U.S. base in Stuttgart, Germany, where they believed Ukrainian soldiers were being trained to operate Patriot missile air defense batteries. This would have helped Russians to target them when they returned to Ukraine to operate the missile batteries, the court heard.

However, following an investigation by Britains MI5 spy service, they were arrested on Feb. 8, 2023, as they prepared to return to Germany with the devices hidden in a second-hand Chrysler.

NBC News has contacted Russias Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, known as GU, for comment.

Prosecutors said the unit did not work directly for Russian intelligence and their members were motivated by financial gain. Investigators traced $225,000 but believe at least the same amount was paid in cryptocurrency, they said.

In his sentencing, Judge Justice Hilliard said the large amounts of money paid to the six Bulgarian spies demonstrated the value of their covert activities to Russia.

Some of the money would have covered their expenses, but not all, he said. This enabled the defendants to live very comfortably. It must have been thought that what the defendants were doing was of value.

However, prosecutors said that Roussev led the spy ring from a rundown guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, a seaside town on the east coast of England, where he stashed his huge collection of spy equipment, much of which he had adapted himself.

Roussev pleaded guilty to spying for Russia in November and was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison. Dzhambazov was jailed for 10 years and two months and Stoyanov for seven years and seven months.

Ivanova was found guilty in March along with Gaberova and Ivanchev. She was jailed for nine years and eight months. Gaberova and Ivanchev were sentenced to eight years each.

As the sextet awaited sentencing, court documents revealed over 80,000 messages had been recovered from Roussev and Dzhambazov on the encrypted Telegram messaging app, following their arrest on Feb. 8, 2023.

They shed light on the lifestyle of Marsalek in Moscow, revealing he partied with intelligence officers and naked girls, got cosmetic surgery to hide his identity and said he wanted to outperform James Bond.

In a bid to show he was not an anti-Western ideologue, Roussevs defense lawyers introduced messages with Marsalek which, they said, showed their client was fixing for money like everything else Mr. Roussev does.

The messages, which were not introduced by prosecutors as part of their Russian espionage allegations, showed the pair discussed a request to help evacuate U.S. and Afghan nationals from Afghanistan during the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from the country in August 2021.

Interesting request from our (sort of) friends at the CIA, Marsalek said. They urgently need aircraft to fly out contractors from Afghanistan, he said. Do you know anyone whos a bit rogue and operates large-scale airplanes?

The objective was to evacuate about 1,000 Afghan nationals and 80 US citizens to Albania, in a deal he said was agreed between the Albanian and U.S. governments.

Roussev said he would ask his fathers pilot contacts in Africa and Marsalek replied: America needs you, pax Americana rests on your broad and manly shoulders.

Roussev later said the flight left Kabul shortly before an ISIS-K terrorist detonated a bomb outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul killing 170 people and 13 American service members.

Defending Roussev in court, Kings Counsel Mark Summers said the request had come via a private company.

The CIA declined to comment.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan said the pair were not acting on a humanitarian basis or at the direct request of the U.S. government.

It remains unclear whether Roussev was successful in ensuring a flight.

Roussev and Marsalek also discussed transporting diamonds in exchange for arms, the messages showed.

In a June 2021 exchange, Marsalek asked whether African diamond sellers wanted guns in exchange or cash. They usually buy guns, a lot of them, noting that he wasnt sure if rebel forces or the government would benefit from the deal. Allegedly only government, but who knows, this is Africa, he said.

Three months earlier, Roussev messaged Marsalek to say he had been approached to supply 886,000 tons of wheat annually to the Cameroon government at a very low price from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Describing it as a good deal considering the volume, he said that weapons and Sputnik COVID vaccines would likely be part of the transaction. Guns and sputnik = no problem, Marsalek replied. Can pretty much organize anything they need except nukes, he added, with a laughing emoji. Even the nukes if they pay.

Other messages offered glimpses of Marsaleks life in exile and his efforts to stay ahead of authorities, including facial reconstruction.

In May 2021, he wrote: Im trying to improve my skills on a few fronts, languages is one of them. In my new role as an international fugitive, I must outperform James Bond.

Four months later, in September of that year, Marsalek apologized for being out of touch, saying he was stuck between the mafia, half of Russias ambassadors, the GRU, a dozen naked girls and some deep-state guys whose names no one knows who forced me to drink a bottle of gin.

Months later, he told Roussev he had another cosmetic surgery, trying to look differently.

Sleep well, sleep is the best fix for this condition, Roussev replied.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford Image from the Nevada Senate Democrats' YouTube channel

(The Center Square) - Attorneys general from 16 states, including Nevadas Aaron Ford, have won a court order to restore over $1 billion in pandemic-era federal funds for schools.

The funds were part of a COVID-19 relief aid package from the height of the pandemic. President Donald Trump had canceled the remaining $1 billion, saying it had been too long to still spend the money.

Earlier this year Trump tried to block states from using nearly $1 billion of educational funding, said Ford in a video posted to Instagram. That money was supposed to support low income and unhoused students  tutoring, mental health care and other services still helping kids dealing with the fallout from Covid.

Former President Joe Biden had previously established the funds could be used until March 2026.

Last week's court order restoring the funds came on the heels of a lawsuit filed April 10 by the state attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The suit was in response to a March 28 announcement by the U.S. Department of Education that the funds would no longer be available  that same day.

You were entitled to the full award only if you liquidated all financial obligations within 120 days of the end of the period of performance, read Secretary of Education Linda McMahons letter. You failed to do so.

The attorneys general's lawsuit said that although the pandemic had ended, the effects persisted in schools. It also noted the impact was disproportionately worse for poor and homeless children.

The letter had promised to allow for extensions if the state could prove how the funds were needed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on students education.

The funds had been part of a much larger package of $190 billion allotted through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The lawsuit is the latest in a flurry of pushback from Ford and other Democratic attorneys general to the Trump administrations federal funding cuts and perceived overstepping into state rights.
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By Pavel Polityuk and Anton Kolodyazhnyy

KYIV/MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will only attend talks on Ukraine if Russia's Vladimir Putin is also there, the Ukrainian leader's top aide said on Tuesday, challenging the Kremlin to show it is genuine about seeking peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to attend Thursday's proposed meeting in Istanbul, which has become the focus of his attempts to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. Putin has yet to say if he will take part.

Both Russia and Ukraine have sought to show they are working towards peace after Trump prioritised ending the war, but they have yet to agree any clear path.

Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine after ignoring a Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Trump then publicly told Zelenskiy to accept.

"President Zelenskiy will not meet with any other Russian representative in Istanbul, except Putin," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters.

His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Zelenskiy's trip to Turkey showed Kyiv was ready for talks but repeated Ukraine's stance that any negotiations must come after a ceasefire.

"Our position is very principled and very strong," Yermak said during a visit to Copenhagen.

Moscow has not said if Putin will travel to Turkey.

"We are committed to a serious search for ways of a long-term peaceful settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday but would not comment further on the talks.

Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, unleashing a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides. Most of Europe has rallied around Kyiv providing arms and financial aid, while Russia has turned to Iran and North Korea for support.

Trump has demanded the two nations end the war, threatening to walk away from efforts to broker a peace deal unless there are clear signs of progress soon.

TRUMP GOES TO TURKEY?

If Zelenskiy and Putin, who make no secret of their mutual contempt, were to meet on Thursday it would be their first face-to-face meeting since December 2019.

Trump, who is due to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this week, unexpectedly offered on Monday to travel to Istanbul, which straddles the divide between Europe and Asia.

"I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen, but we've got to get it done," Trump said before leaving for his second foreign trip since returning to the White House in January.

"Don't underestimate Thursday in Turkey," he added.

Following the offer, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the "way forward for a ceasefire" in Ukraine with his Ukrainian, British, French, Polish, German and EU counterparts.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, meanwhile, held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

FAR APART

Reuters reported last year that Putin was open to discussing a ceasefire with Trump, but that Moscow ruled out making any major territorial concessions and insists Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO.

Ukraine has said it is ready for talks but a ceasefire is needed first, a position supported by its European allies.

Kyiv wants robust security guarantees as part of any peace deal and rejects a Russian proposal for restrictions on the size of its military. Territorial issues could be discussed once a ceasefire is in place, it says.

Putin has repeatedly referred to a 2022 deal which Russia and Ukraine negotiated shortly after the Russian invasion but never finalised.

Under the draft agreement, a copy of which Reuters has reviewed, Ukraine should agree to permanent neutrality in return for international security guarantees from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Ukraine and its European allies have told Russia that it would have to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday or face new sanctions. The Kremlin replied, saying it would not respond to ultimatums.

France said on Monday European leaders, who met in Ukraine over the weekend, had asked the European Commission to put together new "massive" sanctions targeting Russia's oil and financial sector if Russia failed to agree a ceasefire.

Russia's forces control just under a fifth of Ukraine, including all of Crimea, almost all of Luhansk, and more than 70% of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, according to Russian estimates. It also controls a sliver of Kharkiv region.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, told the Izvestia media outlet in remarks published on Tuesday that the talks between Moscow and Kyiv can move further than the 2022 negotiations.

"If the Ukrainian delegation shows up at these talks with a mandate to abandon any ultimatums and look for common ground, I am sure that we could move forward," he said.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas, Steve Holland, reporters in Moscow and Kyiv, and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne;Writing by Elizabeth Piper, Costas Pitas and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Michael Perry and Joe Bavier)
By Gram Slattery and Pesha Magid

RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at the start of a four-day visit to the wealthy Gulf region, focusing more on economic deals than regional security matters ranging from war in Gaza to talks on Iran's nuclear program.

With a who's who of powerful American business leaders in tow, Trump is visiting Riyadh, site of a Saudi-US Investment Forum, before going to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. He has not scheduled a stop in Israel, a decision that has raised questions about where the close ally stands in Washington's priorities.

"While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said as he opened the forum.

"As a result ... when Saudis and Americans join forces very good things happen, more often than not great things happen when those joint ventures happen," he said before Trump's arrival.

Trump is hoping to secure trillions of dollars of investments from the Gulf oil producers. Saudi Arabia had pledged $600 billion but Trump has said he wants $1 trillion from the kingdom, one of Washington's most important allies.

The Saudi-US Investment Forum began with a video showing soaring eagles and falcons and celebrating the long history between the United States and the kingdom.

At the front of a palatial hall sat Larry Fink, the CEO of Blackrock, Stephen A. Schwartzman, CEO of Blackstone, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan and Falih.

Speaking at a forum panel as Trump touched down in Riyadh, Fink said he had traveled to Saudi Arabia more than 65 times over 20 years. While the kingdom had been a follower when he first started visiting, it was now "taking control" and broadening its economy out of its oil base, he said.

After landing, Trump punched the air when he caught sight of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, before shaking hands with the de facto leader.

MbS has focused on diversifying the kingdom's economy in a major reform programme dubbed Vision 2030 that includes "Giga-projects" such as NEOM, a futuristic city the size of Belgium.

The kingdom has had to scale back some of its lofty ambitions as rising costs and falling oil prices weigh.

Joining Trump for a lunch with MbS are top U.S. businessmen including billionaire Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

LONG TIES BASED ON OIL AND SECURITY

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have maintained strong ties for decades based on an ironclad arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security.

Trump has also said he may travel on Thursday to Turkey for potential talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Russia's war in Ukraine. An aide to Zelenskiy said the Ukrainian president would take part only if Putin does. The Russian leader has not said if he will attend, and has questioned Zelenskiy's legitimacy.

Trump's second foreign trip since returning to the presidency in January - his first was to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral - comes at a time of geopolitical tension.

In addition to pressing for a settlement in Ukraine, his administration is pushing for a new aid mechanism for Gaza after 19 months of war and urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree a new ceasefire deal there.

Israeli officials have put a brave face on Trump's decision to bypass Israel during his trip but there are growing doubts in Israel about its position in his priorities as frustration mounts in Washington over the failure to end the Gaza war.

Over the weekend, U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Oman to discuss a potential deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program. Trump has threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.

Iran's Nournews quoted armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri as saying on Tuesday that Iran's neighbours should retain neutrality and that any aggression against Iran would lead to definitive retaliation.

Trump is expected to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth more than $100 billion, sources told Reuters. This could include a range of advanced weapons.

Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said last week he expected progress imminently on expanding the Abraham Accords, a set of deals brokered by Trump in his first term by which Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco recognised Israel.

But opposition by Netanyahu to a permanent stop to the war in Gaza or to the creation of a Palestinian state makes progress on similar talks with Riyadh unlikely, sources told Reuters.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery, Pesha Magid, Yousef Saba, Federico Maccioni and Nafisa Eltahir in Riyadh; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Alistair Bell, Clarence Fernandez and Timothy Heritage)
By Daren Butler and Jonathan Spicer

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey is embarking on a hazardous path to ensure the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group implements its decision to disband after 40 years of conflict, facing obstacles that need to be overcome in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

Thousands of heavily armed PKK fighters in northern Iraq, where the group is based, are now expected to surrender their weapons at numerous locations across the region, with many then returning to NATO-member Turkey, according to Ankara's plans leaked to pro-government media.

But there is also pressure on President Tayyip Erdogan's government to take the next step on what all sides call a delicate path toward possible peace, closing a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984.

Turkish officials have declined to comment on how the process will happen.

The PKK and Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party, the third largest in parliament, expect Ankara to address Kurdish political demands, potentially before weapons are handed over.

After a cabinet meeting on Monday evening, Erdogan said the disarmament decision should also apply to U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria that Ankara regards as part of the PKK.

In Syria, Kurdish forces head Mazloum Abdi said the PKK decision is "worthy of respect" and "will pave the way for a new political and peaceful process in the region".

But he gave no indication of planned steps, and earlier said the PKK disarmament does not apply to his Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which signed a deal to join Syria's institutions after President Bashar al-Assad's fall in December.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the PKK move a "turning point" and conveyed support to Turkey in a call with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

While Washington and Ankara both deem the PKK a terrorist group, the U.S. alliance with Kurdish fighters in Syria that Turkey sees as an affiliated group has frayed bilateral ties.

"Had there not been unconditional U.S. arms support for the PKK in 2014, the earlier peace process at that time could have yielded results - and the terrorist group might have laid down weapons back then," Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs in Erdogan's AK Party, told Reuters.

The SDF has been the main U.S. ally against Islamic State in Syria and U.S. officials have in the past distinguished between the Syrian Kurdish forces and the PKK, emphasising that their relationship is tactical and focused on counter-terrorism.

WEAPONS, AMNESTY

The PKK launched its insurgency with the original aim of creating an independent Kurdish state. But in recent years, as it was pressed deeper into Iraq, it urged more Kurdish rights and limited autonomy in Turkey.

Baghdad and Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq are expected to play a role monitoring the disarmament process in coordination with Turkey's MIT intelligence agency.

Iraq's foreign ministry welcomed the PKK decision as a "positive and important step" for regional stability in a statement also apparently referring to Turkey's long-standing military presence in Iraq to fight the PKK.

It said this was an opportunity to reconsider "the pretexts and justifications that have long been used to justify the presence of foreign forces on Iraqi soil."

Turkish media reports said PKK militants descending from the Iraqi mountains will surrender their weapons in the areas of Sulaimaniyah, Erbil and Dohuk.

They said the disarmament was aimed to be completed by the summer, after which some 2,000-4,000 militants without Turkish criminal records will be gradually returned to Turkey, while others could head to third countries.

One columnist close to the government wrote in Hurriyet newspaper that while some 60% of those in Iraq had not committed a crime in Turkey, the top 30 people in the PKK were wanted on criminal warrants.

Turkish officials declined comment on the reports.

The PKK took its decision at a congress held in response to a February call to disband from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island south of Istanbul since 1999. It said on Monday that he would manage the process.

(Reporting by Daren Butler and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul, Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad and Tuvan Gumrukcu in Antalya, Turkey; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's comment on "unification" was about the U.S.-China trade relationship and U.S. policy towards Taiwan has not changed, the de facto embassy on the island said on Tuesday, after the wording caused unease in Taipei.

China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

Washington and Beijing on Monday agreed to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, pausing their trade war, a move Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House.

"They've agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it's going to be fantastic for China, I think it's going to be fantastic for us, and I think it's going to be great for unification and peace," he said, without mentioning Taiwan.

In a statement, the American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said Trump was speaking about U.S.-China trade.

"It's clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship," a spokesperson said. "U.S. policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the U.S. approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations."

Taiwan's presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the U.S. comment that Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan.

"The U.S. commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged," spokesperson Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan's understanding was that the U.S.-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues.

Trump's remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan on whether U.S. policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters.

"Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?" one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The U.S. government only officially recognises the government in Beijing, and does not take a position on Taiwan's sovereignty, only acknowledging China's position on the subject under Washington's long-standing "one China policy".

Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee)
RIYADH (Reuters) - The U.S. agreed on Tuesday to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it "the largest defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done.

The agreement, signed during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said.

"The package signed today, the largest defense cooperation deal in U.S. history, is a clear demonstration of our commitment to strengthening our partnership," the fact sheet said.

Reuters first reported last month that the arms package would be worth well over $100 billion.

Saudi Arabia is the largest customer for U.S. arms.

Former President Joe Biden's administration tried unsuccessfully to finalize a defense pact with Riyadh as part of a broad deal that envisioned Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel.

The White House fact sheet did not mention if Riyadh would be permitted to purchase Lockheed's F-35 jets, the military aircraft that the kingdom has reportedly been interested in for years.

The two countries had discussed Riyadh's potential purchase of Lockheed's F-35 jets, two sources briefed on discussions told Reuters.

However, it was not clear if Washington would permit the kingdom to move forward with a purchase that would give Saudi Arabia an advanced weapon used by close U.S. ally Israel, one of the sources said.

The second source said the qualitative military edge, or U.S. guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states, is an issue that "has come up."

The sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Israel has owned F-35s for nine years, building multiple squadrons.

Governments in the Gulf have long sought the most advanced fighter jet, built with stealth technology allowing it to evade enemy detection. If the U.S. did approve the transfer, Saudi Arabia would be only the second Middle East state after Israel to operate F-35 fighters.

(Reporting by Pesha Magid in Riyadh and Mike Stone in Washington; Writing by Andrew Mills. Editing by Mark Potter and David Gregorio)
Banana, the worlds most consumed fruit, is facing an existential threat from the climate crisis, a new report has warned.

Extreme weather, drought, flooding, and climate-linked fungal diseases are devastating banana crops, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, which account for 80 per cent of global banana exports.

In the absence of urgent action, 60 per cent of the regions most suitable banana-growing areas could become uncultivable by 2080, according to the report by the charity Christian Aid.

Climate change has been killing our crops. My plantation has been dying, Aurelia Pop Xo, a banana farmer in Guatemala, told the charity.

There is no income because we cannot sell anything. In the past there was a prediction that this would happen in the future, but it has come earlier.

Banana is the fourth most important food crop globally after wheat, rice and maize. Over 400 million people rely on it for up to 27 per cent of their daily calories.

But the fruit is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Most exported bananas come from a single cloned variety, the Cavendish, making them especially susceptible to disease.

One such disease, Fusarium Tropical Race 4, has already wiped out plantations in parts of Asia and Latin America and it is spreading due to rising temperatures and increased flooding. Another disease, Black Leaf Streak, which thrives in hot and wet conditions, can cut banana yields by 80 per cent.

Banana-producing countries like Guatemala, India, and Costa Rica are seeing declines in crop yields and rising social and economic pressures. Farmers face not only failed harvests but also exposure to harmful pesticides, often used to protect monoculture plantations from pests and disease.

A group of men and a woman carry bananas and fish from the port in Leticia, Colombia (AP)

Christian Aid has called for urgent action from richer countries to cut carbon emissions and provide climate finance to support farmers in vulnerable countries.

It has also recommended a shift to resilient, sustainable banana farming, including investment in drought-tolerant varieties, improved irrigation, and fair trade practices.

Banana growers are facing ever more precarious conditions as a consequence of climate change, Holly Woodward-Davey from the campaign group Banana Link said. Without systemic change, we risk witnessing the devastation of the Cavendish banana.

Christian Aids Osai Ojigho said: We need to wake up to the danger posed by climate change to this vital crop. The lives and livelihoods of people who have done nothing to cause the climate crisis are already under threat.

The charity has urged consumers to support banana farmers by choosing Fairtrade and organic bananas, which support better incomes and reduce chemical use.

Countries are also being pressed to use this years updated national climate plans under the Paris Agreement to accelerate emissions reductions and commit to fair contributions towards climate adaptation.
Getty Princess Diana on July 18, 1986







Long before she was the fashion icon that she is today, Lady Diana Spencer was a teenager that epitomized the Sloane Ranger aesthetic of the early 1980s.

Designer Vivienne Westwood had long been critical of the monarchy in general, and her brand thought the future queen in their clothes would ruin its credibility, according to a new book about Diana.

Eventually, Westwood was named a Dame by Queen Elizabeth in 2006, and she accepted the prestigious award in person.







Princess Diana is remembered now as a generational style icon whose style still resonates nearly 30 years after her untimely death. But when the late Princess of Wales was still Lady Diana Spencerbefore she married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981she was looked at skeptically by some fashion houses.

As Edward White wrote about in his new book Dianaworld: An Obsession (which came out April 29), a representative of one well-known fashion brand said the young Diana ruined its credibility by shopping there (via Marie Claire). Long before Diana was a fashion icon, she was dubbed a dreary fashion victim, according to the pages of Dianaworld.

Getty Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their 1981 honeymoon

Despite her twenty-first century reputation as a style icon, during Dianas lifetime it was far from universally acknowledged that she had a flair for dressing, White wrote in the book. Its hard to believe today, but there were times Diana appeared on the worst-dressed lists compiled by the fashion critic Richard Blackwell, White continued.

Before her marriage, Diana was known for being a representative of the ultimate Sloane Ranger look, which White called a backward-looking aesthetic worn by upper-middle or upper-class Londoners of a certain set, according to Marie Claire.

Getty Prince Charles, Lady Diana Spencer, and Queen Elizabeth in March 1981

At the time, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood co-owned a London boutique called Worlds End with Malcolm McLaren, who was a former manager of the band the Sex Pistols. In 1981the same year Diana became engaged to and married Charles, and the same year she turned 20 years oldWestwoods Pirate collection went on sale, and a then 19-year-old Diana Spencer came calling.

A terrible thing happened, McLaren said (per Whites book). We opened the store and Diana Spencer came in; she was the first customer. McLaren said he thought Oh my God, were ruined! and recalled thinking, Ive lost all credibility.

Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images Princess Diana in 1981

For someone who once managed the Sex Pistolsthe epitome of 1970s punkthe epitome of the Sloane Rangers wearing the collection caused McLaren to think Diana helped the clothes get into the wrong hands, the opposite of the demographic they were trying to attract.

Whites book detailed that every would-be, wannabe Diana Spencer on the Fulham Road now purchased Westwoods new collection because the future queen did. Neither McLaren nor Westwood thought Diana in the least bit stylish, White wrote. Just a dreary fashion victim.

Westwood later told Woman and Home that the former Princess of Wales was someone ruled by the trends, and White wrote that Westwood really detested those horrible little pumps Diana wore that are neither one thing nor the other.

Getty Vivenne Westwood and Princess Diana on November 3, 1991

Its as though her clothes are supposed to tell you that shes both a feminist and sexy at the same time, Westwood continuedbut, in Whites summation, this was precisely what [Diana] was dressing to say.

Getty Vivienne Westwood becoming a Dame on June 9, 2006

Beyond just Dianawho Westwood met face-to-face in 1991the designer had a complex relationship with the larger royal family over the yearsafter all, they were all about tradition, and Westwood pushed boundaries. Before her death in 2022the same year as Queen ElizabethWestwood was given the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) award by the Queen in 1992 to honor Westwoods contributions to British fashion, and Westwood turned up to accept the award at Buckingham Palace. In 2006, 14 years later, Westwood was further recognized by becoming a Dame, and in 2011, Princess Eugenie wore Vivienne Westwood to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton that April 29.

Read the original article on InStyle
Rodney Hinton in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Tuesday. (Liz Dufour / USA Today Network)

Rodney L. Hinton, the Ohio father who is charged with fatally striking a deputy with his car after his son was killed in a police shooting, filed a federal civil lawsuit seeking $25 million.

Hinton filed the lawsuit Thursday, two days after a bond hearing where a judge ordered him to be held in connection with the death of Hamilton County Special Deputy Larry Henderson. The lawsuit was amended on Monday.

The lawsuit alleges that Hinton was physically assaulted after police took him into custody on May 2, and he appeared visibly beaten during his court hearing last week. It also says that multiple officers were present for the hearing, creating an atmosphere of fear, surveillance, and intimidation.

Hinton pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, and two counts of felonious assault, NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati reported.

He is suing for unlawful imprisonment, alleging he was detained unlawfully, without due process, and without a valid conviction, as well as conspiracy to deprive rights, intimidation and excessive force, emotional distress, and breach of oath of office.

The suit is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages. The state, the Cincinnati Police Department, and the Hamilton County sheriff are named as defendants.

The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office said it had no comment on pending litigation. The other defendants did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Authorities accused Hinton of intentionally hitting Henderson on May 2 as the deputy was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during graduation events. Henderson, who retired about five months ago and was working as a special deputy that day, died of injuries at a local hospital.

At last weeks bond hearing, Cincinnati police officer Carl Beebe said Hinton had viewed body camera footage of the police shooting involving his son shortly before the collision. Family members said he was upset and agitated after viewing the video, and they had concerns about him driving.

Because of their concerns, relatives drove Hinton from the station, but he later returned to pick up his vehicle from the parking lot, the officer said. From there, Hinton drove toward the university and appeared to stop before he allegedly accelerated quickly ... through the intersection where deputy Henderson was standing, Beebe said at the hearing.

The vehicle struck the deputy and a utility pole, according to Beebe, who said there was no indication that Hinton tried to stop. The officer said Henderson was launched several feet through the air and came to rest in a turn lane several feet from where the collision occurred.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge previously said that there was a definite connection between the collision and the May 1 fatal shooting of Hintons 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton.

The teenager was killed by a Cincinnati police officer responding to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex, according to authorities. The police chief had said that four people in the alleged stolen car ran, some in different directions, after police approached them.

Two officers pursued Ryan Hinton and another person, authorities said. Theetge said Ryan Hinton was armed. The firearm was found at the scene, authorities said.

The officer fired at least four times, Theetge said Friday. She said she believes the 18-year-old was hit by two bullets, one in the chest and one in the arm.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signs a piece of Cleveland-Cliffs steel used to rebuild an I-95 overpass after a sudden collapse in June 2023. Commonwealth Media Services

Nobody likes to change their mind, but great leaders know that fluid situations require observing evidence on the ground to make the best decisions.

Thats why President Donald Trump should change his recently reiterated opposition to Nippon Steels purchase of U.S. Steel, and approve the deals $21 billion investment in the American economy.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump favored Cleveland-Cliffs domestic purchase of U.S. Steel. He had reasonable national security concerns and wanted to protect steel as a key source of jobs and economic independence.

On Thursday, however, Cleveland-Cliffs showed further signs of financial weakness when announcing that it will indefinitely table plans to reopen a shuttered Tin Plate facility in Weirton, West Virginia, in part due to financial issues and uncertainty surrounding tariffs. Last February, that facility employed 1,000 people. Today and for the foreseeable future, only 20 employees will work there.

The Tin Plate facility announcement is the latest in a string of depressing news from the floundering company. Over the past six weeks, Cleveland-Cliffs announced nearly 2,000 layoffs across its plants in Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The company is also expected to lose $575 million in Biden-era climate grants to upgrade its blast furnaces with hydrogen-powered energy.

A purchase by Cleveland-Cliffs wont bring the economic benefits Trump seeks. Layoffs are a sign that management cant provide job security or upgrade the industrys infrastructure. Cleveland-Cliffs should not be considered a contender for making U.S. Steel strong again.

By contrast, Nippon Steel is in a strong fiscal position to purchase U.S. Steel. They originally offered nearly $15 billion to buy the company in 2023. Last year and again in 2025, they sweetened the deal, offering more than $20 billion, including $1.3 billion to upgrade aging plants in Indiana and Pennsylvania, $5,000 payouts to all U.S. Steel employees upon completion of the deal, and billions more in other investments that can strengthen Americas economic security in the Rust Belt.

An increase in Nippon Steels American presence also improves manufacturing capabilities while avoiding tariffs that increase consumer costs. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is keen to make trade deals with Trump, and the Nippon deal would help a key company save billions of dollars in tariffs while gaining access to one of the worlds most important steel markets. This would show other companies and nations what can happen when all parties appreciate the art of the deal with America, and would help our ally Japan outflank China.

Great leaders understand the need to pivot when new evidence on the ground prompts a change. Abraham Lincoln famously rotated senior commanding generals during the U.S. Civil War. He then decided that Ulysses S. Grant should lead the entire Union army. Lincoln was thoughtful and decisive in reacting to information in the field.

President Trump is well-known for his desire to make deals that move America forward. He should greenlight Nippon Steels purchase of U.S. Steel, based on Cleveland-Cliffs financial challenges and the advantageous trade landscape hes created.

It would be an important political and economic victory. And another sign of this presidents world-class leadership.
Pope Leo XIV was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, a last name that is common in Louisiana. (Gregorio Borgia / AP)

As the first Catholic pope from the United States, Pope Leo XIV has an ancestry that traces back to the Creole and free people of color from Louisiana, illustrating complex and interconnected issues of race and class in American history.

His rise is not just a religious milestone, its a historical affirmation, genealogist and former official Louisiana state archivist Alex DaPaul Lee said of the man previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost.

Alex DaPaul Lee, founder of Alex Genealogy and Southwest Louisiana Genealogy Researchers. (Courtesy of Alex DaPaul Lee)

When Lee first heard about the popes Creole roots from fellow genealogist Jamarlon Glenn, he responded, Theres no way, Lee said with a laugh. But then I began going down a rabbit hole of research.

Lee, the founder of Alex Genealogy and Southwest Louisiana Genealogy Researchers, discovered troves of documents in his collection and gathered records from his network of genealogists that confirmed information about Pope Leos background. It also showed generations of Catholicism within Prevosts family.

It didnt take long for me to realize that he was a Creole from the seventh ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, which was a prominent place for Louisiana Creoles, he said.

John Prevost, brother of Pope Leo XIV, holds a 1958 portrait of the three brothers. From left, Pope Leo, John and Louis. (Obed Lamy / AP)

The news of the popes Creole roots was also noted by genealogist Jari C. Honora. Leos brother John Prevost confirmed the connection to The New York Times and said he and his brothers had never talked about it. It was never an issue, John Prevost told the Times.

Although his paternal surname, Prevost, is common in Louisiana, Lee said a strong Creole connection was actually found in Pope Leos maternal ancestry: His great-great-grandmother Celeste Lemelle was the daughter of two free people of color, Louis Lemelle and Celeste Olimpie Grandpres. They married in Opelousas, Louisiana, in 1798, and were legally classified as quadroons.

That meant they would have a fourth African ancestry or it could have been Native American ancestry, Lee said.

Louis Lemelle and Celeste Olimpie Grandpres married in Opelousas, La., in 1798. (Courtesy of Alex DaPaul Lee)

The Creole community emerged in Louisiana due to the blending of cultures there. French, Native American, Spanish, German and descendants of West African countries all cohabitated in the region during the pre-colonial era when France and Spain owned the Louisiana territory.

In Louisiana during the 1700s, there were three main racial categories: the enslaved, Gens de Couleur Libres (free people of color/Creoles of color) and the white planter class, according to Lee.

The classifications within the Creole community were based on legal status and racial identity, with other categories like mulatto and octoroon often showing up within historic documents, Lee said. He added that there were also Creoles of color who owned enslaved people at the time. Documentation shows that the Lemelle family once owned enslaved people.

Lee said the Lemelle family, which traced its wealth to cattle ranching, became one of the most prominent Creole families during the Antebellum period in Louisiana.

Pope Leos great-great-grandmother's nephew Louis Barthelemy Lemelle and his wife, Thomascine Lemelle, circa 1882. (Courtesy of Alex DaPaul Lee)

The popes great-great-grandmother Celeste Lemelle was a free woman of color and documents show she was given earnings from a business owned by Ferdinand Gayarre in December of 1833. In addition, she was also given land in 1850 from Frederic Guimont, a merchant whom she had several children with. The transaction was irrevocable as a way to protect her ownership of it, Lee said.

One of the most significant things about Louisiana was that women could own property and they have been owning property since its early inception, especially free women of color, Lee said.

A record from 1833 noting that earnings from Ferdinand Gayarre are to be sent to Celeste Lemelle. (Courtesy of Alex DaPaul Lee)

Lee pointed out where the change of racial identity can be seen within Pope Leos family during the 1800s.

Celeste Lemelles son Ferdinand David Baquie, born in New Orleans on Oct. 10, 1837, was listed as mulatto in the 1870 census. But in 1880, he and his entire family were listed as white.

In terms of how Pope Leos family ended up in Illinois, Lee said his family was likely part of the hundreds of other Louisiana Creoles who migrated north during the first wave of the Great Migration in the early 1900s.

Illinois was once part of the Louisiana territory. They had an old post by the name of Kaskaskia where they had some of the earliest Creole people, Lee said, adding that people of color would have had more job opportunities and better civil liberties in the northern state.

Pope Leos mother, Mildred, second from left, poses with her sisters. (Courtesy of Alex DaPaul Lee via Ancestry.com)

Considering the fact that many of these families passed for white in Chicago meant they were going to have more success, regardless, because of their appearance.

Lee said its notable that the popes racial background reflects the diverse blends of cultures that have historically merged to form the unique identity of Louisiana.

In America, a lot of people think everything is just Black or white, he said. But its important to note that the popes ancestry represents a more inclusive view of what it means to be a Catholic, and what it means to be an American with Louisiana Creole ties. This is more than just genealogy, its a legacy.
Vector (NZX: VCT ) advises that it is undertaking a strategic review of its fibre business and has appointed Barrenjoey Capital Partners to assist in this process.

Vector Fibre builds and manages data network solutions for businesses predominantly in Auckland, including major businesses, government entities and some leading channel partners.

There is no certainty that the strategic review will result in any transaction, nor if a transaction were to occur, its terms or the transaction value achieved.

ENDS

Investor contact

Jason Hollingworth, Chief financial officer

Jason.hollingworth@vector.co.nz 021 312 928

Media contact

Jane Luscombe, GM PR and communications

jane.luscombe@vector.co.nz 021 76 79 70

About Vector

Vector is an innovative New Zealand energy company, delivering energy and communication services to more than 630,000 residential and commercial customers across New Zealand. Vector has a leading role in creating a new energy future through its Symphony strategy which puts customers at the heart of the energy system. Vector is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange with ticker symbol VCT. Our majority shareholder, with voting rights of 75.1%, is Entrust. For further information, visit www.vector.co.nz.

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More carbon dioxide  released from cars, factories and power plants  was present in the atmosphere last year than ever before in recorded history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest report.

The federal agency has been monitoring CO2 levels since the 1960s. It's part of the work started by Professor Ralph Keeling's father, Professor Charles David Keeling, who first documented the building up of CO2 in the atmosphere, driving climate change. Now, the Trump administration's proposed funding and personnel cuts threaten to put an end to decades of critical scientific research, according to leaked budget documents and climate scientists.

Standing at what he called the center of the operation that his father started at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, Professor Ralph Keeling continues his father's work, analyzing air samples collected from around the planet inside volleyball-like flasks.

Ralph Keeling analyzing air samples collected as part of NOAA's global CO2 monitoring program. / Credit: CBS News

"He never encouraged me to go into the field. But he inspired me by what he did," said Keeling as he worked in his La Jolla, California, lab.

His father  the climate scientist whose readings of carbon dioxide confirmed to the world to the possibility of the greenhouse effect  co-authored a federal science report in November 1965 and warned about high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, blaming the industrial burning of coal, oil and gas.

"The headline, sadly, is the same every year, is that we keep breaking records. And it's concerning," Ralph Keeling said.



What also concerns him are cuts proposed by the Trump administration that he said would slash climate research at NOAA, such as the ongoing collection of CO2 samples.

"It would be a big blow if that work stopped," Ralph Keeling said. "Not just for me personally, but for the community and for the world at large."

CBS News has reached out to the White House for comment.

NOAA's carbon sampling program collects air from all over the world. Over the years, CBS News crews have stood on a volcano in Hawaii to see samples gathered, as well as see them shipped from Norway back for analysis at a NOAA laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.

The reason samples collected near the North Pole are sent to Colorado is because scientists want to confirm that they're measuring on the same scale, according to Ove Hermansen, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

The result is what's known as the Keeling Curve, named after Ralph's dad, who died in 2005. It's a simple graph plotting the unchecked rise of carbon dioxide. The image below shows how closely the Keeling Curve matches the rise in global average temperatures.

A sample of the Keeling Curve which plots the unchecked rise of carbon dioxide. / Credit: NOAA Global Monitor Laboratory/CBS News

"It's beautiful data, but it's also sad, underlying that sense of, wow, scientific wonder and beauty is also a sadness that this is actually what's happening," Ralph Keeling said.

The Trump administration's plans would eliminate funding for NOAA's global CO2 program and end decades of unbroken data collection, Keeling said, degrading the nation's ability to project how climate change could impact us in the future.

"So, turning off a program like this would be like turning off the headlights on a dark street at night. You can't see where you're going," he added.

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Vinnie Zuffante/Getty; Sally Jessy Raphael/Instagram Sally Jessy Raphael in 1989 and in 2024







Sally Jessy Raphael talks about how people find her "cute again" as she celebrates turning 90

She also admits she's "settled on somebody," taking her off the market

Raphael was the first female to host an audience-participation, issue-drive talk show







Sally Jessy Raphael is as feisty and fabulous as ever.

Speaking with PEOPLE to celebrate turning 90 and the wonderful life she continues to lead, the veteran journalist opened up about visiting Paris with friends as part of milestone birthday festivities.

"We went to Paris, my favorite city. And I went to my old haunts. I won't tell you what they are because then they'd be everybody's old haunts," she says with a laugh.

"But we had a very good time. We went to two or three museums and not much shopping. I was with two women. Actually, I should have gone with a man because it's romantic, but I went with two women. So it was good."

"It's really interesting being 90 because if you dye your hair and you don't have any veins in your legs, then people say you look young," she continues. "And that's always nice that people say, although why they think looking young when you can claim 90 is beyond me, but they think it's a compliment."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Acknowledging the privilege that comes with reaching 90, she continued, "I think that it has to do with the word 'cute.' You're cute when you're young, and then for a long time, you're not cute. And then when you get to be 80 or 90, you're cute again. People always say, 'That cute old lady,' so I guess I'm cute again."

Raphael's Instagram, which looks back at some of her most epic career moments while also keeping fans up to date on what's new in her world, proves that she's faring better than most in the media landscape.

"It's a way of keeping in touch with people that I care about. When you're 90, you do have certain privileges. People tend to listen to you a bit more. You get a wheelchair at the airport, but that's dubious because they sometimes dump you where you don't want to be dumped, and don't take you where you want to go, so you have to be careful of that," she jokes.

"When you're 90, [people] don't think that you have sex. I guess most people don't think that a person 90 would have sex, but they believe that. It's like I saw that Doctor Odyssey thing on cougars. Cougars are always 50- to a 30-year-old, 50 woman, 30 man. When you're a 90 woman to a 70 man, then you're not a cougar. You're a lion, I guess."

While Raphael is no stranger to the dating scene, she's happy to report, "I've settled on somebody."

"But there are a lot of men out there. The women who say they aren't interested in a man as they get older, they like their freedom. I think they're lying," she continues. "I think it's because they don't want to make the effort. It does take an effort to find someone."

Whether it's just a buddy or a romantic interest, Raphael revels in the fact that at 90, "You really have no one to please."

"You don't care what you wear. You can wear anything. You don't care what you say. You can say anything," she says. "Not caring about people and what they think is the best thing for getting older."



Jim Lord/Getty Sally Jessy Raphael at the taping of the final episode of "Sally" in 2002

With a bustling personal life, Raphael is also excited to keep her professional life going, admitting, "I'm always looking for work."

Raphael was the first female to host an audience-participation, issue-drive talk show  predating Oprah Winfrey by nearly three years.

The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, later shortened to Sally, began in 1983, covering human interest subjects and hard-hitting news items, but it devolved in its later years into daily stories about feuding relationships or sexual exploits in order to compete with the shock tactics dominating the market in the 1990s.

Today, Raphael says there is a challenge in the fact that producers show concern that "they can't insure you, or they worry about insuring you."

"But they worried about insuring me when I was 60, so that would've been 30 years of no worries," she points out. "That's their problem."

"The thing is that you're better off in other countries than you are here. Recently, I was in London and I turned on the morning news and the morning shows, all of the women were my age, and there were tons of them," Raphael says.

"You come here, and everybody in the morning shows are young. So what happens is we don't have a lot of respect for experience or wisdom. The word wisdom in China or any place that's quite old, that is completely out of style. Power is in style, but wisdom is out of style."

Read the original article on People
WASHINGTON  Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday he is placing a hold on all Trump Justice Department nominees as he seeks answers on the administration's plan to accept a luxury jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One.

"In light of the deeply troubling news of a possible Qatari-funded Air Force One, and the reports that the Attorney General personally signed off on this clearly unethical deal, I am announcing a hold on all DOJ political nominees, until we get more answers, Schumer said on the Senate floor.

The minority leader presented a list of questions and demands he says the Trump administration must respond to before he lifts his hold on nominees.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the U.S. Capitol last week. (Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Images)

"President Trump has told the American people this is 'a free jet.' Does that mean the Qataris are delivering a ready-on-day-one plane with all the security measures already built in? If so, who installed those security measures, and how do we know they were properly installed?" Schumer asked. "If this is, as President Trump promised, a free jet, will the Qataris pay for those highly sensitive installations, or will American taxpayers cover the cost?"

Schumer cant block these nominees with this tactic, but he can slow down their consideration. Its not really clear if the judicial nominees would have already been held for other reasons, considering that the vast majority of Trump nominees have already been held in this way.

The Office of Legal Counsel at the DOJ prepared a memo declaring that the acceptance of the plane was legal, a senior DOJ official told NBC News on Monday. The DOJ declined to release the memo, which Attorney General Pam Bondi approved.

Schumer, in his remarks Tuesday, called on Bondi to testify before Congress to explain the conclusion that there is no conflict and answer a number of questions related to the potential gift.

The attorney general must testify before both the House and Senate to explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the emoluments clause  which requires congressional approval  or any other ethics laws, Schumer said. Until the attorney general explains her blatantly inept decision and we get complete and comprehensive answers to these and other questions, I will place a hold on all political nominees to the Department of Justice.

Schumer also accused DOJ of not "doing its job" when it comes to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, saying that the unit that oversees adherence to the law needs to enforce it and disclose information to the public "not just on this luxury plane deal, but all deals involving foreign countries in the Middle East and President Trump, his family and the Trump Organization."

Reached for comment Tuesday, a White House spokesperson said: Senator Schumer and his anti-law-and-order party are prioritizing politics over critical DOJ appointments, obstructing President Trumps Make Safe Again agenda. Cryin Chuck must end the antics, stop Senate stonewalling, and prioritize the safety and civil rights of Americans.

A DOJ spokesperson said, in response to Schumer, The American people overwhelmingly elected President Trump to nominate highly qualified candidates at the Department of Justice who will Make America Safe Again, and the Senate should do its part by confirming these nominees.

Before leaving for his trip to the Middle East on Monday, Trump defended his decision to accept the airplane gift, which he called a very nice gesture. He also said it would eventually be decommissioned and given to his presidential library.

Now I could be a stupid person and say, Oh no, we dont want a free plane, he told reporters at the White House. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.

Boeing had already been working on a plan to deliver Air Force One replacements, but the process has been delayed and has been over-budget. The companys CEO told CNBC in January that it was working with Elon Musk to deliver them sooner than expected.

Meanwhile, some legal experts have questioned how a gift from Qatar that would follow Trump out of office could be permissible under the emoluments clause. Democrats and even some Trump allies have suggested the jet could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a close ally of the president's, told CNBC on Tuesday that "the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems."

Some Democrats have also questioned Bondi's involvement in the matter as she has previously lobbied for the government of Qatar.

She was a paid agent of the Qatari government, a lobbyist before she became attorney general," Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Tuesday. "We have questions that weve asked about how she cleared her ethics statement on her relationship with Qatar, and I think that this plane deal is really with that front and center."

Lawmakers and former intelligence officials note the massive spying risks posed by such a gift from a foreign government and the long history of gifts that turned out to be more than they appeared. In 1945, for example, Soviet children gifted the U.S. ambassador in Moscow a wooden carving of America's Great Seal, and a listening device inside the object was discovered seven years later.

Accusations that Trump has unlawfully benefited from foreign entities are nothing new. They arose during his first term but the legal question was never resolved before he left office.

At issue in those cases were claims under the emoluments clauses, which are anticorruption provisions that prevent the president from receiving payments from the states or gifts or payments from foreign officials.

There is no Supreme Court precedent on the subject to guide lower courts on how the clauses can be enforced or even who can sue.
Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez appear in court for a preliminary hearing held in Beverly Hills, California, April 12, 1991. - Kevork Djansezian/AP

A judge resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents, ruling Tuesday the brothers will be eligible for parole. The brothers have been serving life without parole for the killings.

The stunning decision came at the end of the first day of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing about resentencing for the brothers, who were convicted of first-degree murder for the killings in the living room of the familys Beverly Hills home.

Judge Michael Jesic said during the resentencing that a horrific crime was committed, but he was equally shocked by the letters from prison and corrections officers, saying its remarkable what the brothers have done.

While they are immediately eligible for parole, Jesic said he is not suggesting they should be released, but one day they should get that chance.

The state parole board and governor must still decide whether to grant parole. A hearing with the board is already scheduled for June 13 as part of a separate bid by the brothers.

Theyre also seeking clemency from the governor, which could allow for their immediate release, and they have filed a habeas petition for a new trial.

Its now up to the parole board and the governor of California, Jesic said. CNN has reached out to the governors office and the state parole board for comment on the ruling.

The parole board could either deny their request or recommend to the governor that they be granted parole. If the board recommends parole be granted, the decision will go to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In California, the governor has executive authority to affirm, reverse, or modify any Board decision to grant or deny parole to a convicted murderer, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Hell have 120 days to do that.

In 2022, Newsom used that authority to deny parole for Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, after the board recommended Sirhan for parole.

Last fall, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon recommended resentencing for the brothers, but his successor, Nathan Hochman, has fought against it.

The decision to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez was a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice, Hochman said in a statement Tuesday evening. Our offices motions to withdraw the resentencing motion filed by the previous administration ensured that the Court was presented with all the facts before making such a consequential decision.

The hearing moved much more quickly than expected. Jesic had given no indication about when or in what form he would rule, acknowledging the complicated nature of the case in which the family members are victims who also support the defense. It was even thought a decision wouldnt come before the end of proceedings Wednesday, he said.

Brothers take full responsibility for the murders

The high-stakes hearing began Tuesday with arguments about whether Erik and Lyle Menendez should be resentenced in the first place.

The brothers appeared remotely from prison before the judge made the decision, and both took full responsibility for the murders.

I committed an atrocious act against two people who had every right to live, my mom and dad, Erik said, adding that he created a crushing sadness for his family and there was no excuse for his behavior.

I will never stop trying to make a difference whether I am inside or outside of prison, he said.

Lyle also admitted to killing his parents, saying he was immature and filled with rage.

Had I trusted others to help me, I wouldnt have committed these crimes, he said. I didnt think anyone would believe me about my sexual abuse.

If he was let out of prison, he would continue to serve sexual abuse victims, he said.

After court, defense attorney Mark Geragos said, I just know that on a day like today, that redemption is possible.

The fact is, the Menendez brothers have done remarkable work, and today is a great day after 35 years, he said. They are a real family, real people who have lived through unimaginable horrors, and Im hopeful and glad that were one, one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.

The brothers were hoping the judge would reduce that sentence to life with parole; Geragos said earlier Tuesday he hoped the judge would go even further and reduce the charge to voluntary manslaughter, with a sentence of time served.

Family members and close supporters testify

Family members who have long supported the brothers were in court Tuesday, with several taking the stand to plead for the brothers release.

We just want this to end, cousin Anamaria Baralt testified.

Relatives say the brothers have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, and that the severity of the sentence should be revisited because of an evolving understanding of childhood sexual abuse. The brothers have maintained they carried out the murders in self-defense after years of abuse by their father, and continued to say that Tuesday.

Diane Hernandez, another cousin who testified Tuesday, lived with the Menendez family in their Beverly Hills home and viewed herself as an older sister to the boys. On the stand, she described how Jose Menendez intimidated and terrorized the house, and testified about his hallway rule that when he was with the brothers, no one else could be.

Please be merciful, Hernandez told the judge. The brothers, she said, are remarkable human beings at this point.

Hochman, the current Los Angeles County district attorney, had said he was not opposed to resentencing, but doesnt feel its justified yet. The brothers, he says, have fabricated their claims of abuse and self-defense and must admit it first.

The Menendezes have had numerous chances to come clean with all their actions and if and when they do, theyll be ready for resentencing, Hochman told CNN earlier Tuesday.

Prosecutors pressed family members on whether they were aware of the brothers having lied to them over the years.

Were you aware the brothers lied to the family, to law enforcement and to the media? Seth Carmack asked Tamara Goodell, another cousin. She said she was, but that the brothers never spoke about it to her one way or another and they talk about the murders with her only to say sorry.

Baralt was also asked whether the brothers had ever admitted to lying and trying to manipulate the case. She said Lyle had recently admitted asking a girlfriend to lie about his fathers abuse.

Retired Judge Jonathan Colby, who knew the brothers through a prison program, also testified they were great inmates, calling them peacemakers in prison. Anare Brown, who met the brothers while he was in prison, said they have remorse and insight, and have helped dozens of people they were imprisoned with.

Another factor Hochman cited in opposing resentencing is the recent finding the brothers would pose a moderate risk of violence if released. That came in a pair of comprehensive risk assessments conducted by the state parole board.

Both brothers had committed cell phone violations while in prison, he said  Lyle in November 2024 and Erik in January 2025.

Prosecutor Habib Balian asked Baralt on Tuesday about the cell phones, and she acknowledged some of her conversations with Lyle had taken place on an illegal burner phone he had in prison.

Efforts toward release

Unlike a new trial, which would focus on the facts of the case, resentencing allowed the judge to consider a variety of factors, including the brothers rehabilitative efforts.

The brothers have founded a long list of prison programs, with Erik starting at least five, including a support group for disabled and elderly inmates. Lyle founded a massive beautification program, raising more the $250,000 to install greenery to help prison life to resemble the outside world.

Besides authority to change parole board decisions, Newsom also has the power to commute the brothers sentences, which would immediately free them  but he has so far refrained from doing so. The comprehensive risk assessments the judge requested ahead of the resentencing hearing were commissioned by the states Board of Parole after Newsom asked them to investigate whether the brothers would pose an unreasonable risk to the public if released.

Attorneys for the Menendez brothers are also pursuing a new trial, formally known as a habeas corpus petition. Attorneys claim to have new evidence against the brothers father, including a 1988 letter from Erik Menendez to a relative referencing the alleged abuse.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Taylor Romine, Matthew J. Friedman and Nick Watt reported and wrote from Los Angeles, and Melissa Gray wrote from Atlanta.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com






Key Takeaways

Texas Roadhouse is teaming up with West Madison Foods for three brand-new grocery items that take inspiration from some of the restaurant's most popular appetizers.

The new products will be available at Walmart locations nationwide beginning May 12.









You know what can be fun? An entire meal of appetizers. If youve ever gone into a restaurant with a few friends and ordered nothing but wings, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, fried pickles, and onion rings for the whole table to share, youll know what were talking about. Its not something you should do every night, or even every week, but once in a while, a snacky dinner just hits the spot.

When you try to recreate those deep-fried treats and their dipping sauces at home, its never quite the same, is it? That's where Texas Roadhouse comes in. The steakhouse chain is teaming up with West Madison Foods for a line of creamy dips that'll make putting together a table spread full of delicious dips easier than ever.

Introducing Texas Roadhouses New Dairy Dips

Texas Roadhouse

It doesnt get simpler than opening a ready-to-eat dip and placing it on the table. While French onion and ranch dips will always have a place at the table, there's no denying that food brands have gotten more creative with the variety of dips they offer. Now, Texas Roadhouse is joining the ranks by deconstructing three of its fan-favorite appetizers and transforming them into delicious new dips:

Cactus Blossom Dip: Tastes like Texas Roadhouses popular deep-fried onion appetizer that's dipped in the chain's famous Blossom sauce, which is seasoned with a smoky Cajun-style blend of onion, spices, and garlic.

Rattlesnake Bites Dip: Tastes like the restaurants jalapeno and cheese appetizer, which features a spicy blend of Cheddar, garlic, cayenne, and bell peppers.

Fried Pickle Dip: Tastes like the tart and deeply savory flavors of golden-fried pickles.

You won't find any of these dips at Texas Roadhouse, but you can get them at Walmart locations nationwide, starting on May 12. While youre there, make sure to pick up plenty of potato chips, tortilla chips, and vegetables like carrots and cucumbers so you can make a proper snacky dinner out of a table full of dips.

Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he will be present in Turkey for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling CNN's Nick Paton Walsh he expects new sanctions to be imposed on Russia if a 30-day unconditional ceasefire isn't agreed upon. - CNN

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the stakes ahead of a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey by saying he wouldnt hold talks with any Russian representative other than the president himself.

Zelensky said he would travel to Turkey after US President Donald Trump urged him to meet Putin. The Russian leader had suggested direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in the country on Thursday in response to the ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum given to Moscow by Kyivs European allies on Saturday.

Asked by CNN about the goals of the possible meeting  one Putin has not yet agreed to attend despite proposing it himself  Zelensky said anything other than a ceasefire agreement would be a failure.

Aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar Wednesday, Trump suggested he could travel to Turkey for the talks, and that Putin wanted him to attend.

Hed like me to be there, and thats a possibility, Trump told CNN. I dont know that he would be there if Im not there.

Despite Putin being the first to propose direct talks in Turkey, the Kremlin has since prevaricated over whether he will attend. Asked by reporters Wednesday about the make-up of Russias delegation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will only reveal who it is sending to Turkey once Putin gives the order to do so.

Zelensky said he would not consider meeting any other Russian representatives because everything in Russia depends on Putin.

So I said that on (Thursday) I will go to Turkey and Im ready to meet Putin and an end to the war was through direct talks with him, Zelensky told reporters at a news conference.

Russia hopes to deal directly with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state news agency TASS on Tuesday.

Our representatives are getting ready for this meeting, the news agency quoted him as saying.

Although it is not clear whether the US or Russian presidents will show up in Istanbul, Trump has confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the talks.

The uncertainty over Thursdays talks comes amid growing international pressure on Moscow to agree to the US-backed plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday that if Russia doesnt comply with those demands, sanctions  including on financial services  could be imposed in the coming days in close liaison with the United States.

Going some way to make good on this threat, the European Union on Wednesday unveiled a fresh round of sanctions against Moscows shadow fleet of oil tankers, used by the Kremlin to circumvent previous Western sanctions against Russian oil exports.

Further sanctions could be imposed by France and Ukraines other major European allies if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire at the planned talks in Turkey.

Two European diplomatic sources told CNN they have low expectations for Thursday and doubt Putin will actually show up.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based conflict monitor, said on Monday that Russian officials already appeared to be setting conditions for Putin to reject the meeting, quoting several key aides as questioning Zelenskys intentions and calling the proposed meeting pure spectacle.

Ukranian President Voloydmyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in the grounds of the Mariynsky Palace in Kyiv on May 10, 2025. - Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Zelensky also said he offered Trump the option of joining the meeting, saying the presence of the US president would give additional impulse for Putin to fly in.

He said earlier that his country would appreciate Trumps attendance, and said he supported the US presidents call for direct talks between himself and Putin.

Top Trump administration officials plan to be in Turkey this week, but the presidents possible attendance remains an open question that will largely be dictated by whether his Russian counterpart attends, according to a senior administration official.

He is visiting the Gulf this week, making stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, for his first major overseas trip since the start of his second term. He said he could detour to Turkey if I thought it would be helpful.

I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. I dont know where Im going to be on Thursday, Ive got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there. Theres a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen.

Whether Trump attends or not, US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg and Trumps foreign envoy Steve Witkoff both plan to be in Istanbul for the talks, the senior administration official said. Another source familiar with the plans also confirmed Witkoffs attendance. As of Tuesday, the plan was for the US officials to observe the Turkish-facilitated talks between the Ukrainians and Russians.

Front line largely static

For months, Ukraine and its allies tried to convince the Trump administration that Putin acts in bad faith, and have said Russias agreeing to a ceasefire could function as a test of whether it is serious about achieving the peace the US president has long demanded.

Ukraines major European allies had given Russia an ultimatum on Saturday: agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine or face massive new sanctions.

Putin ignored the ultimatum, proposing the talks instead. Direct talks between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine have not happened since the early weeks of Moscows unprovoked full-scale invasion in 2022.

Speaking on Tuesday, Zelensky said he expects the US and Europe to impose new strong sanctions on Russia if Moscow doesnt sign up to the ceasefire on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine doesnt seem to suggest Russia is preparing for a ceasefire. Russian troops have been inching forward in several key areas along the front line and launching near-daily drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities. Still, the front line in eastern Ukraine has not moved dramatically in recent months, with neither side able to break through.

The ISW said on Monday that Russia has reportedly deployed a largely ceremonial regiment of the Federal Security Service (FSB) to the front line, which the ISW said was likely in an effort to generate fear of more rapid future Russian advances.

CNNs Kylie Atwood, Alejandra Jaramillo, Alayna Treene, Mariya Knight, Gul Tuysuz and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Iowa lawmakers want President Donald Trump to know that their state is eager to be at the center of next year's celebration of the nation's 250th birthday and shares his vision of fireworks filling the skies  so much so that they don't want local officials blocking any small, neighborhood displays.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill this week that would ban local limits on people setting off their own rockets, mortars, aerial spinners and Roman candles on July 3 or 4, or Dec. 31. There was nothing to stop big, public shows  say, a Fourth of July display as part of Trump's proposed Great American State Fair in Iowa's capital of Des Moines  but a relative handful of cities, including Des Moines, haven't allowed people to shoot them off, even on the nation's birthday or New Year's Eve.

The bill headed to Republican Gov. Kim Reynold's desk after the state House approved it Tuesday, 51-39, with the GOP majority overriding Democrats' concerns that it could undermine fire safety or harm military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Des Moines and at least six of its suburbs, as well as the cities of Ames, Cedar Rapids and Dubuque bar people from setting off their own fireworks even on Independence Day.

In arguing for the bill, Republican state Rep. Bill Gustoff quoted founding father John Adams' desire for national celebrations involving parades and illuminations of fireworks, from one end of this continent to the other. Gustoff, who is from the Des Moines area, also cited the proposal Trump first floated in 2023 to have a yearlong national exposition on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Mr. President, we welcome that idea in Iowa and we're ready, willing and able to host the party, Gustoff said during Tuesday's short debate. We need to enable Iowans to be part of that celebration.

While communities around the world have celebrated events with fireworks for hundreds of years, people's fondness for setting them off themselves has often been a bane of local police and firefighters. Still, only one state  Adams' home of Massachusetts  imposes an outright ban on their use by individual consumers.

For years, Pennsylvania only allowed the use of sparklers and similar novelty fireworks. But in 2017, it permitted the sale of the full array of products, only to narrow those sales in 2022 to July 2-4 and Dec. 31 amid complaints. Georgia ended a decades-long ban on consumer fireworks in 2015 and doesn't allow cities and counties to restrict them.

Iowa banned consumer sales of fireworks for decades, spurred on by a June 1931 fire that engulfed about 100 buildings in the small town of Spencer, which started with a sparkler at a drugstore. However, in 2017, Iowa lawmakers allowed cities and counties to license firework sellers and allow people to set off fireworks from June 1 through July 8 and from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3.

Iowa state health department data shows that in 2017, the number of fireworks-related emergency room visits in Iowa nearly doubled from 2016 and remained higher than pre-legalization levels through 2023. The state associations for fire marshals, fire chiefs, firefighters and emergency managers, opposed the fireworks law, as did the Iowa League of Cities.

Democratic state Rep. Larry McBurney, from the Des Moines area, said the flash, noise and smell of gunpowder from fireworks can trigger veterans PTSD. Fellow Democratic state Rep. Eric Gjerde, a Cedar Rapids police officer, said people who call to complain about fireworks in his city often think they're hearing gunfire.

We have to take every single one of those extremely seriously, so we send multiple officers to investigate, he told his colleagues.

Fireworks manufacturers and retailers supported the bill, as did the state association for retail stores and the small-government, free-market group Americans for Prosperity. But in arguing in favor of the bill, Gustoff cited next year's celebration of the Declaration of Independence's signing in 1776.

Current law allows a patchwork of ordinances that are a trap for the unwary, patriotic American in Iowa who simply wants to celebrate Independence Day the way it was intended by our founding fathers, he said.

___

Associated Press Writers Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jeff Amy in Atlanta and Marc Levy, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also contributed.
Converting a Qatari-owned 747 jet into a new Air Force One for President Donald Trump would involve installing multiple top-secret systems, cost over $1 billion and take years to complete, three aviation experts told NBC News.

They said that accepting the 13-year-old jet would likely cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over time, noting that refurbishing the commercial plane would exceed its current value of $400 million. The project might also not be completed by the end of Trumps term in 2029, at which time the plane is expected to be handed over to Trumps presidential library foundation.

Richard Aboulafia, an analyst and consultant on commercial and military aviation, said he thought turning the Qatari jetliner into Air Force One would cost billions and take years.

Youre taking a 747, disassembling it, reassembling it, and then jacking it up to a very high level, said Aboulafia, a managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, a consulting firm.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Trump boarding Air Force One in 2019. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images file)

Aviation experts refer to Air Force One as the most complicated aircraft on the planet. The plane is meant to serve as a secure communication center in the sky  including command and control of nuclear weapons  and allow the president to issue orders to military and government agencies in the event of war or other emergency.

Experts said the idea made no financial or practical sense given that Boeing is already deep into a multiyear effort to convert two 747s to replace current Air Force One planes. They said that the contract for refurbishing the Qatari 747 would likely go to Boeing as its original manufacturer.

Since youre also disassembling and reassembling the jet for security reasons, youre probably going to go with the people who know it better, Aboulafia said. If you have to rip the plane apart, thats more of a Boeing job.

Some of the work could be done by L3 Harris, which specializes in this kind of work. The work would likely be done in Greenville, Texas. Qatari officials have said that the possible transfer of an aircraft for use as a new Air Force One plane is under consideration but no final decision has been made.

Dismantled, part by part

The Qatari jumbo jet would have to be effectively dismantled, part by part, to ensure there were no listening devices, spyware or other security vulnerabilities that could allow foreign powers to eavesdrop on the presidents plane.

It would then have to be fitted with costly, sophisticated systems for secure government communications, midair refueling, missile defense, countering electronic jamming and protecting against electro-magnetic pulse attack. There would likely need to be quarters added for White House medical staff and the Secret Service.

A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft, that President Donald Trump toured on May 10, takes off from Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 16. (Ben Curtis / AP file)

Installing the new systems could push the project into the 2030s, according to Aboulafia, who said that equipping the plane with midair refueling capability alone would be enormously time-consuming.

The White House has said the jet would be handed over to Trumps presidential library foundation by the end of his term, in January 2029. That would presumably require the removal of all the sensitive government equipment installed on the aircraft.

Trump could override current Air Force security rules but usually employees working on presidential aircraft or similar sensitive projects need a high-level security clearance, known as a Yankee White clearance, according to an industry member who asked not to be named. In the past, Boeing has struggled to find enough workers with the necessary security clearances to do the work.

A real relief for Boeing

In 2018, the Air Force issued a contract to Boeing to convert two 747s to eventually serve as new Air Force One aircraft, for $3.9 billion. In 2019, the Pentagon estimated that the total estimated cost of building, equipping and testing the planes would be higher, at about $5.3 billion.

The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. The jets were supposed to be ready by last year but may not be delivered until 2029.

At a congressional hearing on May 8, Darlene Costello, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, told lawmakers that the new planes could be ready by 2027 by reducing some of the requirements for the aircraft.

In 2022, Boeings then-CEO, Dave Calhoun, suggested the firm should not have accepted the Trump administrations terms in 2018 on the new Air Force One.

For Boeing, converting the Qatari jetliner under a new contract could be good news as it has lost money on the fixed-cost contract it agreed to during Trumps first term, as it has had to absorb major cost overruns, Aboulafia said.

This would be a real relief for Boeing, he said.
Aidan Kearney, also known as Turtleboy, in a file photo from 2024, poses for a picture with a supporter as he enters Norfolk Superior Court last year.

A grand jury sitting in Norfolk Superior Court on May 13 handed up a two-count indictment charging Holden blogger Aidan "Turtleboy" Kearney with witness intimidation in connection with an incident in March at a Canton pizza shop.

Tweeting out on X in midafternoon that "Everything is cool," Kearney quipped that he had been "indicted for window intimidation," and said the charge was not new. "They already tried, and failed, to revoke my bail."

Kearney was captured on a surveillance camera placed in the window of a Canton pizza shop, gesturing and yelling. The pizza shop is owned by Chris Albert and his son Colin, witnesses who testified in the first Karen Read murder trial.

Kearney had previously been indicted on 16 counts, including eight counts of witness intimidation related to the Read case.

Read, who lives in Mansfield, has been charged with murder in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, in January 2022. According to prosecutors, the couple had been drinking and arguing before arriving at the Canton home of Chris Albert's brother, now-retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, where a party was being held. The prosecution alleges O'Keefe had stepped out of Read's SUV when she backed into him and drove off.

O'Keefe died sometime during the night; his body was found the following morning in the snow outside Brian Albert's home.

Read's second murder trial began in April.

For years, Kearney has promoted Reads contention that she was framed by witnesses, including members of the Albert family, and corrupt police. Her defense team alleges that O'Keefe actually entered Brian Albert's house where he was beaten, possibly bitten by a dog, then dragged out into the snow.

The recent indictment, which Kearney posted on his X feed, charges he "willfully, directly or indirectly attempted" to cause physical, emotional or economic injury to the Alberts. The indictments, one for each witness, says Kearney's intent was to intimidate or harass them in an effort to impede, delay, prevent or interfere with the criminal proceedings.

The surveillance video footage from the Canton pizza shop shows Kearney shouting and gesticulating at the window while a second man laughs.

There is no court date set.

Incidents involving Kearney are being handled by special prosecutor and retired judge Robert Cosgrove.

Kearney's attorney Timothy Bradl contends that audio captured on the surveillance recording constituted illegal wiretapping, a recording that had not been authorized by Kearney or his companion, under Massachusetts law.

"This is more abuse of the First Amendment from Norfolk County," Bradl said. "That the incident caused emotional harm is a complete farce."

Bardl said his client is disgusted by the waste of taxpayer money, using the grand jury to indict Mr. Kearney and bring him into Superior Court.

"It's ridiculous, but not unexpected," Bradl said.

This story has been updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Turtleboy' Aidan Kearney indicted on new witness intimidation charges
FILE - Andrew Witty, Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealth Group, testifies at a Senate Finance Committee hearing examining cyber attacks on health care, and the Change Healthcare cyber attack, on May 1, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty is stepping down for personal reasons and the nation's largest health insurer suspended its full-year financial outlook due to higher-than-expected medical costs.

Chairman Stephen Hemsley will become CEO, effective immediately, the Minnesota company said.

Hemsley was UnitedHealth Group CEO from 2006 to 2017. He will remain chairman of the companys board. Witty will serve as a senior adviser to Hemsley.

It has been a punishing period for UnitedHealth, starting in December when executive Brian Thompson was targeted outside of a New York City hotel and killed. While unrelated to the financial operations of the $340 billion healthcare giant, its shares have tumbled severely since the attack.

Im deeply disappointed in and apologize for the performance setbacks we have encountered from both external and internal challenges, Hemsley said during an early Tuesday conference call. Many of the issues standing in the way of achieving our goals as well as our opportunities are largely within our control. I am optimistic about our future as these issues are within our capacity to resolve. We will approach them with humility, rigor and urgency.

The 60 year-old Witty joined the company in 2018 after serving about nine years as CEO of the British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline. He was named UnitedHealths CEO in February 2021, replacing Dave Wichmann.

UnitedHealth became one of the nation's largest companies under Wittys leadership. Total revenue topped $400 billion last year, a 55% increase from the $257 billion UnitedHealth brought in the year before Witty became CEO.

Shares of UnitedHealth rocketed higher under Witty, too, up 60.5% since he took the company's top job.

Yet there have been several setbacks for UnitedHealth over the past five months as it wrestles with the national attention on Luigi Mangione, who was indicted last month on a federal murder charge in the killing of Thompson.

The case has captured the American imagination, setting off a cascade of resentment and online vitriol toward U.S. health insurers while rattling corporate executives concerned about security.

UnitedHealth cut its 2025 forecast last month following its first quarterly earnings miss in more than a decade. On Tuesday the company withdrew that financial forecast entirely, saying that medical costs from new Medicare Advantage members were higher than expected.

Shares of UnitedHealth, which have plummeted 38% since the deadly Dec. 4 ambush of Thompson in midtown Manhattan, fell more than 16% Tuesday to levels last seen almost five years ago.

Other big insurers tumbled as well, with Elevance, Humana and Cigna falling between 4% and 7%.

More than 50 million people have health insurance under UnitedHealth Group Inc. It also has a large pharmacy benefit manager that runs prescription drug coverage and a growing Optum segment that delivers care and provides technical support.

UnitedHealthcare is the nations largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, with more than 8 million customers. Those are privately run versions of the federal government coverage program mostly for people ages 65 and older.

____________

AP Health Writer Tom Murphy contributed to this report.
Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (PPNZ) is pleased to advise a cash dividend for the FY25 third quarter of 1.497500 cents per share. This dividend has no imputation credits to attach for the quarter and therefore no supplementary dividend to be paid (see note 1).

Precinct Properties Investments Limited (PPIL) is pleased to advise a dividend for the FY25 third quarter of 0.236293 cents per share, comprising cash of 0.190000 cents per share, imputation credits of 0.031843 cents per share and a supplementary dividend of 0.014450 cents per share (see note 1).

The record date for both PPNZ and PPIL dividends above is 22 May 2025 and payment will be made on 6 June 2025.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Richard Hilder

Chief Financial Officer

Mobile: +64 29 969 4770

Email: richard.hilder@precinct.co.nz

About Precinct

Listed on the NZX Main Board under the ticker code PCT and ranked in the NZX top 30, Precinct is the largest owner, manager and developer of premium city centre real estate in Auckland and Wellington. Precinct is predominantly invested in office buildings and also includes investment in Generator, Commercial Bay retail and a multi-unit residential development business. As at 31 December 2024, Precinct's directly-held portfolio (on-completion value) totalled $3.3 billion and Precinct had a further $1.6 billion of capital partnering assets under management (on-completion value): $1.1 billion of these were assets in which Precinct holds a minority interest; with the balance being managed on behalf of third party partners.

For information visit:www.precinct.co.nz

On 1 July 2023, Precinct effected a restructuring to create a stapled group structure. A stapled group comprises two listed parent companies whose shares are held by the same shareholders in equal proportions. The shares in each parent company can only be transferred or dealt with together. Shareholders in Precinct Properties Group (Precinct) hold an equal number of shares in Precinct NZ and Precinct Investments Limited and these shares can only be dealt with together. The stapled issuers are described as Precinct Properties NZ Ltd & Precinct Properties Investments Ltd (NS) on NZX systems and the ticker code for the stapled shares remains PCT.

Note 1:

A supplementary dividend is paid to non-resident shareholders to offset the amount of non-resident withholding tax (NRWT) that New Zealand companies are required to deduct from dividends paid to non-resident shareholders. A supplementary dividend is paid to ensure equitable treatment between non-resident shareholders and resident shareholders (whose dividends are not subject to NRWT).

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Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced this week it had successfully recovered a rare trove of smuggled artifacts from the United States, concluding a three-year diplomatic effort between the countries.

Gilded coffin lids from the Pharaonic era, gold funerary masks and what's believed to be fragments of Queen Hatshepsut's ancient temple were among the 25 items accepted in Cairo on Monday.

MORE: Stolen artifacts sold to US collectors will be repatriated to Cambodia, officials say

The items spanned centuries and included a range of styles from different eras of ancient Egyptian civilization, the ministry said.

PHOTO: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday it had successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 historical artifacts from the United States. (Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

PHOTO: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday it had successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 historical artifacts from the United States. (Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

A portrait of a mummy from Faiyum, Egypt, a gold coin from the reign of Ptolemy I -- a Greek general and successor of Alexander the Great -- and jewelry pieces that date back 2,400 years were also among the items returned, according to the ministry.

The pieces were recovered in New York City in coordination between Egypt's consulate, the New York District Attorney's Office and American security agencies, the Egyptian antiquities ministry said in a press release.

Officials did not specify how the artifacts were smuggled from Egypt or how they surfaced in America, but said the recovery was part of a continued effort to "combat illegal trade in cultural properties."

PHOTO: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday it had successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 historical artifacts from the United States. ( Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

MORE: US Returns Seized Artifacts to Egyptian Government, Including Mummies

Similarly, in 2016 the U.S. returned a collection of stolen artifacts to Egypt, including an ancient wooden sarcophagus, a mummy shroud and mummified hand.

"While we recognize that cultural property, art, and antiquities are assigned a dollar value in the marketplace, the cultural and symbolic worth of these Egyptian treasures far surpasses any monetary value to the people of Egypt," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Sarah R. Saldana in a statement at the time.

That same year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement had returned more than 200 artifacts to India, as well as a stolen copy of Christopher Columbus' 1493 letter describing his discoveries in the Americas to Italy.

Egypt recovers trove of smuggled ancient artifacts from the US, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
FILE - Signs are displayed at a tent during a health event on June 26, 2021, in Charleston, W.Va. (AP Photo/John Raby, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  West Virginia's Supreme Court on Monday declined to answer a federal court's question in an appeal in a landmark lawsuit over whether the distribution of opioids can cause a public nuisance.

The 3-2 opinion returns the case to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.

It's been nearly three years since a federal judge in Charleston ruled in favor of three major U.S. drug distributors who were accused by Cabell County and the city of Huntington of causing a public health crisis by distributing 81 million pills over eight years in the county. AmerisourceBergen Drug Co., Cardinal Health Inc. and McKesson Corp. also were accused of ignoring the signs that Cabell County was being ravaged by addiction.

U.S. District Judge David Faber in Charleston said West Virginias Supreme Court had only applied public nuisance law in the context of conduct that interferes with public property or resources. He said to extend the law to cover the marketing and sale of opioids is inconsistent with the history and traditional notions of nuisance.

Last year the appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, sent a certified question to the state Supreme Court, which states: Under West Virginias common law, can conditions caused by the distribution of a controlled substance constitute a public nuisance and, if so, what are the elements of such a public nuisance claim?

Had the state justices ruled that opioids distribution can cause a public nuisance, the case would have returned to the 4th Circuit anyway. Had the West Virginia court found that opioids cant cause a public nuisance, the appeal would have ended, the 4th Circuit has said.

Instead, a majority of the West Virginia justices refused to get involved.

Justice Haley Bunn delivered the opinion of the West Virginia Supreme Court. Justice Beth Walker, who is retiring next month, issued a separate opinion. Chief Justice Bill Wooton was joined in a dissenting opinion by Circuit Judge Tera Salango. Salango and Circuit Judge Andrew Dimlich heard the case on temporary assignment after two other justices disqualified themselves.

Paul Farrell Jr., an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said Monday he was disappointed that the justices declined to answer the legal question.

The fight isnt over," Farrell said. "Theres still a long way to go. We continue on our path to seek justice.

Farrell said the appeals court still must address a combination of factual and legal issues.

A Cardinal Health spokesperson declined to comment on Mondays ruling. Emails seeking comment from AmerisourceBergen and McKesson werent immediately returned.

During arguments earlier this year before the state Supreme Court over the certified question, Steve Ruby, an attorney for the companies, called the plaintiffs arguments to grant the public nuisance radical and that, if granted, it would create an avalanche of activist litigation.

Thousands of state and local governments have sued over the toll of opioids. The suits relied heavily on claims that the companies created a public nuisance by failing to monitor where the powerful prescriptions were ending up. Most of the lawsuits were settled as part of a series of nationwide deals that could be worth more than $50 billion. But there wasnt a decisive trend in the outcomes of those that have gone to trial.

The appeals court had noted that the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, which works to resolve complex cases in state court, has concluded in several instances that opioid distribution can form the basis of a public nuisance claim under West Virginia common law.

In his 2022 decision, Faber also said the plaintiffs offered no evidence that the defendants distributed controlled substances to any entity that didnt hold a proper registration from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration or the state Board of Pharmacy. The defendants also had suspicious monitoring systems in place as required by the Controlled Substances Act, he said.

In 2021 in Cabell County, an Ohio River county of 93,000 residents, there were 1,059 emergency responses to suspected overdoses  significantly higher than each of the previous three years  with at least 162 deaths.

The plaintiffs had sought more than $2.5 billion that would have gone toward opioid use prevention, treatment and education over 15 years.
Credit - Getty Images

No one wants to be the person who cant stop coughing. Not only is it uncomfortable on your throat, but it also draws angry stares from others in elevators, subway cars, and restaurantsespecially during respiratory virus season.

Why do some coughs seem to take forever to resolve? A pulmonologist and an otolaryngologist explain the causes of a chronic cough and what you can do about it.

Defining chronic cough

In order to know whats behind a constant cough, it helps to first keep track of how long youve had it. And there are specific timeframes that make a cough chronic or not.

An acute or fleeting cough lasts for up to three weeks, explains Dr. Natalie Earl, an otolaryngologist at the Centers for Advanced ENT CareFeldman ENT Division in Maryland and Washington, D.C. These short-lived coughs are usually related to a virus you caught and will resolve on their own, she says.

Read More: What to Eat When Youre Sick

On the other hand, a persistent or chronic cough lasts more than eight weeks, Earl says, sometimes even despite home remedies or over-the-counter cough medicine.

Somewhere in the middle are subacute coughs, which last between three and eight weeks, says Dr. Soo Jung Cho, a pulmonologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Causes of chronic cough

If your cough has lasted eight weeks or more, youre likely dealing with one of the following three causes. Around 90% of chronic coughs are due to one of these culprits, Cho says. (The other 10% are rare conditions like chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, or a side effect of certain medications.)

Asthma

If you cant stop coughing, you may be dealing with cough-variant asthma, Cho says. Coughing is the main symptom of this breathing disease.

When you have asthma, you might cough more easily in reaction to irritants like pollen, fragrances, cold air, or even stress, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. You may have also noticed that your symptoms dont improve much with over-the counter cough meds.

A pulmonologist or allergist can assess you for potential asthma symptoms and take an X-ray or CT scan of your chest to look for underlying lung disease, Cho says.

Postnasal drip

Otolaryngologists (also known as ENTs) are very familiar with this cause of a cough that wont go away. Its the most common presenting reason for cough in an ENT office, Earl says.

Postnasal drip occurs when secretions in the back of your nose drip down into your voice box, forcing you to cough, she explains. Allergies, viruses, sinus infections, and non-allergic rhinitis are typical sources for postnasal drip.

Read More: Why Do I Always Have a Runny Nose?

You might be tipped off that your cough is caused by postnasal drip if you feel like theres liquid running down the back of your throat. Youll likely also have an urge to clear your throat, but a dry cough when you do, she says.

Your doctor may want to use a laryngoscope, a camera on a thin tube placed down your throat, to examine your voice box and determine if postnasal drip or something else is causing your symptoms, Cho says.

Acid reflux or GERD

Sometimes, heartburn presents itself as a cough rather than indigestion. Instead, what is present is hoarseness, throat clearing, and a dry, nonproductive cough, Earl says.

An ENT or pulmonologist might refer you to a gastroenterologist for imaging of your esophagus and stomach to assess the degree of your acid reflux, Cho says. If its chronic and severe, you may be diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

What to do about it

You dont have to suffer through coughing bouts without support. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any major red flags along with your cough, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, unintentional weight loss, or if youre coughing up blood, Cho saysespecially if you smoke.

If you dont have any major concerns about your coughing yet, you can test out a few at-home methods. Over-the-counter cough medicines and home remedies like tea with honey are worth trying, Cho says.

Read More: Are Allergy Shots Worth It?

If you suspect your cough is due to postnasal drip, try over-the-counter medications like guaifenesin (sold as Mucinex and other brands) that aim to dry up those secretions, Earl adds. If you think you have acid reflux, over-the-counter antacids or proton pump inhibitors may help, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

But after youre tried some OTC meds, if your symptoms persist or get worse, its time to talk to a health care provider, Earl says. They may want to do imaging tests, refer you to another specialist, or start you on prescription treatment.

If you already have an underlying lung condition like asthma or COPD that affects your breathing, consider talking to your health care provider sooner than eight weeks if you're coughing more than normal, Cho says. Youre at a higher risk for any acute cough to become a chronic cough, she says, but your doctor may be able to adjust medications youre already taking to avoid that outcome.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
This increased precision helps AWS teams recommend the right partner for a customers unique needs, whether its via automated tools like its Partner Matching Engine or through traditional engagement.

For example, if a customer has a VMware migration imperative, we can connect them with partners whove done similar projects in that region, with relevant expertise and delivery capability, Casey said. This focus has driven a notable increase in successful partner engagement and we expect that trend to continue.

Modernising with cloud migration

In todays digital landscape, a modernised customer is really one who has not yet realised the full value of the cloud, Casey said.

However, during the AWS Partner Summit, Casey said that depending on the literature you read, theres between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of workloads that are still yet to be moved to the cloud.

This presents MSPs with a new opportunity to migrate more of their customers workloads than they have been and modernise things they might have already migrated.

There are still other workloads that remain on-premises, in data centres, and have yet to move to the cloud, explained Casey.

But interestingly, technologies like Amazon Q Developer and Amazon Q Transform enable customers to tackle challenging migrations, such as those involving VMware estates, mainframes, and even .NET code, that were previously pushed aside due to their complexity.

With the help of these technologies, many customers are revisiting these projects. Theyre seeing a return on investment because of the time saved through automation, whether its code transformation, testing, or documentation, ultimately reducing both the time and total cost of these migrations.

Accelerating SMEs

As part of the drive for cloud adoption, AWS recognises that small and medium-sized customers will also play an important role.

AWS has previously noted that IDC forecasts of the total cloud spend for small and medium customers will grow by 87 per cent in the next three years to $87 billion, which is why it launched its small and medium business competency.

In 2025, AWS launched the Small Business Acceleration initiative, which was one of the cloud giants first partner-led channel sales motion.

Were really focused on [helping] these customers with this transformation, through partners, he said. In the past, that expertise and capability might have only been available in some of the larger consulting firms around the world.

Partners will need to be involved in assessing the customers footprint on what might be good to migrate to the cloud. This then follows all the way through to potentially managing services and helping that customer manage their workloads on the cloud into the future, explained Casey.

Now theres many more players that can embark on these engagements with these customers, leveraging generative AI technology to underpin that work, he said. Also automating things like the testing and the quality assurance associated with actually moving some of these workloads into production.

Partners have been positive about this initiative, said Casey.

Not only is [this initiative] helping provide some dedicated incentives and frameworks to support partners who might be building or accelerating their practice, it has helped provide a little bit more structure for those partners in terms of AWSs focus on this customer segment, as well as how were thinking about leveraging partners very holistically [on the] cloud adoption life cycle. he said.

AI and security

The growing importance of cloud also brings with it the emerging use of AI, with the cloud vendor embarking on a broad training initiative with partners, including MSPs.

The goal is to ensure theyre fully aware of how AWS AI and AWS services work.

Were still at a stage where basic foundational training is essential, especially for employees within an MSP, said Casey. Ensuring they understand how this it works, and how to apply it meaningfully within businesses, is attractive to our MSP partners.

It helps them to not only protect their margins but also grow their profitability and overall business through the use of this technology.

Its also critical that their employees and builders have a foundational understanding of how AI should work, not just from a technical standpoint, but in the context of interacting with broader business processes.

Important is the issue of digital security in era of AI which comes with its own complexities.

Security is job zero for us, and certainly something that we are laser-focused on when were talking about building capability and capacity with our partners, said Casey. That includes supporting our partners as they help customers adopt and manage emerging technologies particularly AI.

Weve developed security specialisations that address everything from digital sovereignty requirements to the latest challenges associated with artificial intelligence, he said.

According to Casey, what AWS is trying to do is help partners provide a clear security roadmap and value proposition where the vendor and customers have identified that the partner plays a key role.

That includes protecting AI applications not just from the latest cyberattacks but also implementing guardrails for how users engage with frontier models, he said. Even protecting against nefarious hallucinations, if customers are concerned about that.

Whether thats all the way through to security specialisations, our efforts span from helping customers at the highest end in terms of digital sovereignty, all the way to supporting the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies.

Working with distributors

With all that AWS wants to achieve with its partners, distributors play an important role, from taking partners through the partner program to specialised security certification training.

While distributors have been a part of AWS strategy for many years, they have become more at the forefront in the past few years.

We are lucky enough to have a partner network of over 140,000 partners around the world, said Casey. [About] 70 per cent of those are headquartered outside of the US, which is fantastic, but we simply do not have enough AWS resources to deeply train and enable all of those partners at the scale that we would like to.

Casey said that a lot of its distributor partners, whether thats Westcon, Ingram Micro or TD Synnex, have a lot of relationships with local technology providers.

That includes either the born-in-the-cloud partners, where theyve started their business and theyre looking to work with a distributor on AWS, or those that have been partners of a distributor selling other forms of technology, like physical hardware, in the past and theyre looking at new ways to do business and service their customers.

Both of those partners are equally meaningful for us, but our distributor relationships, especially in a region like Asia Pacific and Japan, are absolutely critical to our growth story across customer segments, said Casey. For the Small Business Acceleration initiative, our distributor relationships there in Australia and New Zealand, and across APJ, are critical for making that a success.

But also more broadly, in terms of the migrations and modernisations, as well as what were doing with industry use cases and, of course, generative AI.

From an AWS perspective, Casey explained theres new frontier models becoming available on Amazon Bedrock quite regularly.

Theres a lot of new information in this space and us helping the distributors stay really focused on what are some of the core components to enable their partners on, he said. Theyve been leaning in, importantly, giving us a lot of feedback on how partners need to use these services, or how partners are reacting in terms of using these services.

Casey believes its distributor partners have already done a great job and continue to do a great job in training and enabling their partners to give informed responses to customers.

According to Casey, that challenge and opportunity lies in balancing AWSs strategic clarity across the region with space for local partner innovation.

Thats the most rewarding part of the job, he added.
by Mathias Hariyadi

In West Java province, an explosion occurred during the controlled detonation of old bombs. A group of civilians, present in the restricted area without authorisation, were caught in the blastreportedly scavenging for bomb fragments to sell. The explosion is the latest in a long series of similar incidents; another occurred on 9 May. These events raise concerns over the security of military sites.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  At least 13 people, including four military personnel, were killed yesterday in an explosion at an Indonesian army munitions depot in Garut, West Java. Indonesian authorities confirmed that the blast took place during the controlled detonation of expired ammunition.

Among the victims was Colonel Antony Hermawan, head of the armys munitions division. The other nine fatalities were civilians who had entered the restricted area. "Everything was proceeding safely until a group of non-military individuals approached the site, even though some of the detonators had not yet been triggered," said army spokesperson Lieutenant General Wahyu Yudhayana. "Suddenly, these devices exploded, and the civilians had no chance to escape." Authorities are now investigating how the civilians managed to access the protected military site, which is officially off-limits. Preliminary findings suggest they may have been looking for bomb fragments, which are often sold illegally as scrap metal.

The Garut explosion is the latest in a series of fatal incidents involving military explosives in recent decades, highlighting ongoing concerns over the security of military storage facilities in the Southeast Asian country. A similar incident occurred on 9 May in East Java province, when an army truck carrying ammunition exploded on a motorway. One soldier was killed after jumping into a ravine in an attempt to escape the flames and blast. Another case was reported in Gunung Putri, Bogor, West Java, in 2023: a powerful blast at an army depot caused significant damage, though fortunately no casualties were reported.

On 5 March 2014, a naval officer was killed and dozens of people injured after an explosion ripped through a naval ammunition warehouse. Military spokesman Iskandar Sitompul told reporters that 86 people had been injured, one of them seriously. The explosion, which occurred near the capital Jakarta, was believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit in the building. Following the incident, military officials pledged a comprehensive review of ammunition storage safety protocols nationwide.

However, even earlier, in 1984, an explosion at a navy depot in Cilandak, South Jakarta, killed eight people and destroyed much of the surrounding complex. Reportedly, more than 2,000 tonnes of ammunition were involved. Shrapnel landed across a middle-class suburb of the capital, injuring dozens. At the time, it was unclear whether sabotage was involved in the detonation of such a large stockpile of ammunition, and government officials declined to comment. Its like a war, said one resident, who refused to heed radio appeals to evacuate all homes within a one-mile radius of the site.
Today's news: Former Philippine President Duterte elected mayor of Davao despite being held in The Hague; Prime Minister Modi gives first public address after clashes with Pakistan; Australia to pursue rare earth trade deals with Indonesia; US President Donald Trump arrives in the Gulf after suspending tariffs with China.

MYANMAR

An airstrike by the Burmese military junta in the municipality of Depayin, in the Sagaing region, has killed at least 17 people, most of them children. At least 30 others have been injured, some seriously, due to the lack of adequate medical facilities. According to local residents, a fighter jet from Meiktila Air Base dropped a 500-pound bomb on the village school in O Htein Twin, where around 100 pupils were enrolled.

PHILIPPINES

Despite being held in The Hague awaiting trial, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been elected mayor of Davao City, his hometown and a stronghold of the Duterte family. Analysts suggest that his arrest by the International Criminal Court has only strengthened public support for him and his family within the Philippines.

INDIA  PAKISTAN

Despite the end of hostilities, relations between Delhi and Islamabad remain tense. In his first public address since the attacks began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared yesterday that India would respond firmly to any further terrorist attacks originating from Pakistan, making no distinction between the countrys military and terrorist groups operating in the region. The Prime Minister also made no mention of the United States offer to mediate the ceasefire, claiming that it was Islamabad who requested an end to the fighting.

AUSTRALIA  INDONESIA

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Indonesia on his first foreign trip since the start of his second term. He is set to fly to Jakarta tomorrow, likely in an effort to strengthen a regional export partnership on rare earths. Bilateral trade exceeded .5 billion in the 2024 fiscal year  more than double the figure from ten years ago. Both countries still regard China as their primary trading partner.

USA  GULF

US President Donald Trump will arrive in Saudi Arabia today, the first stop on a trip that will also include Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The focus is on trade agreements, but also on the wider situation in the Middle East. Regional markets have seen a rise following a joint announcement by Washington and Beijing to suspend mutual tariffs for 90 days.

POLAND  RUSSIA

Poland has accused the Russian secret services of orchestrating the fire that destroyed the Marywilska 44 shopping centre in Warsaw in 2024. Authorities have decided to shut down the Russian consulate in Krakow, as announced jointly by Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomas Semonjak at the close of the investigation.

TURKMENISTAN

The Ministry of Education in Turkmenistan has issued a directive requiring school administrators across the country to send as many pupils as possible to summer camps. Despite the high cost of attendance, which must be fully covered by families, headteachers face dismissal if at least 2025 students do not attend.
by Stefano Vecchia

Almost 70 million voters cast their ballot in midterm elections for Congress and local government. The outgoing majority in Congress should consolidate its hold. Local elections are a mixed bag with differences and divisions, with local coalition building the name of the game.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Some 68.43 million Filipinos cast their ballot in yesterday's elections to pick all the members of the House of Representatives, half of the Senate and 18,000 local officials, including provincial governors and mayors.

The unofficial results are a mixed bag with novelties, certainties and ambiguities at different levels. Several issues dominated the campaign, from development and poverty to territorial disputes with China and the renewed alliance with the United States, as well as access to justice and health care.

The race in the 316 House seats is not expected to change the overall weight of the ruling coalition that back President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his Federal Party of the Philippines (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, PFP).

Only the final count will indicate how many outsiders made it, but the ruling majority is expected to consolidate its hold in the 24-member Senate. The opposition faltered, at least in the last stages of the campaign.

Local elections, by contrast, saw a patchwork of results, with the victory of many independent candidates unaffiliated with the two main political clans, the Marcoses led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whose is halfway his term of office, and the Dutertes, led by incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte.

The latter was impeached by the House of Representatives and is on trial in the Senate, which is expected to rule soon, while her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces an historic judgement after he was moved to the International Criminal Court in The Hague (Netherlands), charged with crimes against humanity.

The final election results are likely to show greater political fragmentation at the local level, as various alliances jockey for power.

The House is expected to back Marcos, while things in the Senate are not so clear. The president is expected to secure at least half of the 12 senate seats, but yesterdays vote saw pro-Duterte candidates like Christopher "Bong" Go and Ronald Dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police under Duterte, among the most voted.

The progressive Akbayan Citizens' Action Party made a breakthrough in the House with 6.71 per cent of the vote after 97.23 per cent of the ballots were counted. The Duterte Youth Party also made a remarkable entry with 5.61 per cent. Only five parties passed the 2 per cent threshold.

For the Dutertes, this is a major show, but it is not likely to change national politics. It does, however, confirm their stranglehold in Davao, the countrys second-largest city, where Duterte Sr was re-elected mayor, a post he held for 22 years before his stint as president, taking the top job with 660,000 votes, far ahead of the runner-up who won 80,000 votes.

His son, Sebastian, was elected deputy major with slightly fewer votes, while other members of the Duterte clan were elected to other local offices. This appears to be a major vote of confidence for Rodrigo Duterte.

Meanwhile, his supporters reject the charges against him and view his extradition to The Hague unfair. Despite his election, the former president was unable to vote since he failed to register as a voter abroad, this according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Signs You're Settling in a Relationship

These 8 Signs Suggest Youre Settling for Less Than You Deserve in Your Relationship

Some people are all too eager to start a family. Some just want a guaranteed date for all those weddings and holiday parties. And some approach dating with a deficiency mindset  that all the good ones are taken  and assume they cant do any better.

The result? Lots of people are settling for partners that aren't actually compatible with them, or just outright dont deserve them. And experts say its crucial to look out for some common signs youre settling in a relationship so you can take action.

Settling describes a dynamic where someone stays with a partner even though their core needs  emotional, intellectual, physical, or otherwise  arent really being met, says Kerry McCarthy, LMHC, a licensed professional counselor and group practice owner at Wandering Pine Wellness.

It's not about nitpicking or expecting perfection, McCarthy says. Settling often means you've quieted your own voice, and convinced yourself to just accept a situation that doesnt feel aligned with your values, desires, or long-term well-being.

According to McCarthy, settling often stems from fear  fear of being alone, fear of starting over, or fear that wanting more from your partner makes you unrealistic or ungrateful, for example.

RELATED: How to Stop Falling for the Wrong People

And while this might go without saying, giving into those fears and settling definitely comes with some risks. While settling may feel safer in the short term, McCarthy says it often comes at the cost of long-term satisfaction, wellness, and fulfillment.

Settling can chip away at your sense of self over time, she explains. You may start to feel emotionally depleted, resentful, or stuck. Theres also a subtle but very real grief that can come from ignoring your own growth or potential. You might find yourself shrinking to fit the relationship rather than expanding within it.

Not to mention  staying in an unfulfilling relationship may prevent you from finding someone who youre actually aligned with. So, how do you know youre settling in a relationship? Here are some telltale clues.

Signs You May Be Settling in a Relationship

1. This Relationship Feels Eerily Familiar to a Previous One

Cheryl Groskopf, a dual-licensed marriage and family therapist and professional clinical counselor, notes that settling is often subconscious.

Because the brain is wired for safety rather than satisfaction, were drawn to those who remind us of other people weve known  whether thats a parent or an ex  but that doesnt necessarily mean theyre right for us.

RELATED: What Does It Mean to 'Have a Type' in a Dating Context?

So, take notice if your current partner possesses many of the same qualities and behaviors as a previous one  or if your dynamic is similar. This might suggest youre just settling for someone who feels familiar.

2. Youre Extra Careful About the Details You Share With Friends & Family

Its totally healthy to want to keep some aspects of your relationship private.

But if you find yourself constantly hiding certain things that your partner did or said, or if you feel shame or embarrassment when talking about your relationship with loved ones, thats a red flag, says Jason Fierstein, a licensed professional counselor at Phoenix Men's Counseling.

Consider asking yourself why you feel the need to conceal so much information. Is it because you dont think your friends and family would approve of their behavior? And if thats the case, why should you accept it?

3. You Keep Finding Yourself Saying, Its Not That Bad

If youre constantly comparing your relationship to the worst ones youve seen just to justify staying, ask yourself why not horrible is the benchmark, says Goskopf.

RELATED: What to Look for in a Romantic Relationship Partner

Sean O'Neill, a licensed marriage and family therapist and Clinical Director at Maple Moon Recovery, agrees, noting that any self-talk that starts with at least can suggest settling.

For example, this might mean telling yourself:

At least they have a decent job.

At least they dont yell at me.

At least they dont mind my busy work schedule.

At least my friends seem to like them.

At least they havent cheated on me.

At least I have someone.

Constantly justifying or minimizing your partners behavior to yourself or others suggests that you might be downplaying chronic issues deserving your attention, adds McCarthy.

4. You Feel Like Your Needs Are Asking Too Much

Everyone deserves to have their needs heard by their partners.

And while your partner may not be able to fulfill them perfectly all the time, what counts is that they show genuine interest and effort in meeting them. So, if your partner has made you feel like your needs are inconvenient or trivial, thats another potential sign of settling.

If youve stopped expressing what you want because it leads to defensiveness, dismissal, or conflict, you may have internalized the belief that your needs arent valid or welcome, says McCarthy.

5. Youre Always Trying to Change Something About Your Partner

Its normal to ask your partner to work on certain things  say, communicating more directly with you during a conflict rather than shutting down, or being more mindful about picking up after themselves around the house. But take note if they feel like a continual project.

Spending more energy trying to change the person youre with into the person you want them to be, rather than accepting them the way they are, can definitely suggest settling, says Fierstein.

Ask yourself: If your partners basic traits and behaviors were to hardly change over time, would you still want to be with them? Dont stay with someone based on the idea of who they could be  because theres no guarantee that they will evolve into your vision of an ideal partner.

RELATED: The Top Traits of a Great Boyfriend, Revealed

Youre fantasizing about a version of them that doesnt exist  and dating their potential, not the reality, explains Groskopf.

6. You Cant Fully Express Yourself.

Another common sign of settling?

You feel like you have to shrink or censor yourself, says Groskopf. If you cant say how you feel without walking on eggshells or being dismissed by your partner, theyre just not capable of meeting you where you are.

A relationship worth staying in is one where you feel safe and supported in sharing your opinions, feelings, and desires  without fear of judgment or backlash.

RELATED: How to Tell If You're in a Toxic Relationship

7. You Feel Lonely

Feeling lonelier in your relationship than you did when you were single?

Emotional disconnection is a quiet but powerful signal, says McCarthy. If you're in the same room but feel unseen, its worth pausing and asking why.

Being in a relationship should feel like connection and support, adds Groskopf. If you never seem to get the intimacy youre craving, you may very well be settling.

8. You Arent Excited About the Future

Staying in your relationship should feel like a choice, not an obligation. If youre feeling stuck rather than excited about whats to come, ONeill says thats another red flag to pay attention to.

Instead of feeling hopeful, energized, and motivated toward riding the trajectory of the relationship, you feel confined by the limitations, he explains.

Maybe you even get the sense that the relationship is actually holding you back from achieving your goals and dreams for the future.

What to Do if Youre Settling in a Relationship

If some of the aforementioned signs are resonating with you, and youre wondering how to move forward, heres what therapists advise.

RELATED: Relationship Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

First of all  be gentle with yourself, says McCarthy. Realizing you might be settling isnt a failure; its a courageous first step toward clarity. We often learn what we need by bumping up against what we dont. Youre not behind, broken, or foolish for finding yourself here. Youre human.

McCarthy suggests starting by getting curious. Ask yourself:

What are my non-negotiables?

What parts of myself have I muted in this relationship?

What do I actually want intimacy to feel like?

Journaling, talking with a therapist, or even honest conversations with trusted friends can help you sort through the fog, she tells AskMen.

Unless your relationship is abusive, McCarthy recommends expressing your needs to your partner before calling it quits.

Sometimes, we settle not because the relationship itself is unhealthy, but because we havent voiced our needs clearly, or weve abandoned our own growth, she explains. If your partner is open, invite them into this conversation. But if you find that your authenticity is consistently unwelcome, thats important data.

If you and your partner are both committed to making things work and open to making changes to increase your fulfillment in the relationship, you might consider seeking out a couples therapist.

RELATED: What You Should Know About Couples Therapy

Or, if youve decided to move on from the relationship, it might make sense to pursue therapy on your own. A professional counselor can help you figure out why youre choosing partners who cant meet your needs, and learn how to prioritize your happiness and sense of fulfillment in future relationships, says ONeill.

Therapy can help clarify whether youre settling or navigating a rough patch, adds McCarthy. Above all, remember that choosing yourself is never a failure  its a brave step toward the life (and love) you truly want.

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The Armenian governments press office cited Gert Jan Koopman, the visiting head of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighborhood, as calling Yerevan a reliable and trustworthy partner during talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

He positively assessed the law On the Launch of the Process of Armenia's Membership in the European Union recently adopted by the Armenian National Assembly, noting that it is an important message that testifies to the sincerity and consistency of Armenia's European choice, the office said in its readout of the talks.

It did not say whether Koopman encouraged the Armenian government to formally apply for EU membership. It was also not clear whether Pashinian discussed such a possibility with him. The Armenian premier was only reported to reaffirm his governments commitment to deepen and expand cooperation [with the EU] in all directions.

Government officials have emphasized that the law does not amount to an EU membership bid. They have still not clarified what concrete steps stemming from it Yerevan is planning to take next. Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safarian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service late last week that no such steps have been taken so far.

The EUs Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos commented cautiously on the issue earlier this month. We havent got the [membership] application yet, but then we will see, she said.

Russia has warned that the launch of the EU accession process will mark the beginning of Armenia's withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union, a trade bloc that gives the South Caucasus nation a tariff-free access to the Russian market.

Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russias Security Council, said in March that Moscow would retaliate by not only imposing hefty tariffs on Armenian products but also deporting scores of Armenian migrant workers. Armenia will lose at least one-third of its Gross Domestic Product as a result, he said.
13 May 2025 23:58 (UTC+04:00)

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other serious offenses under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, continued on May 13.

The open court session, held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (alternate judge Gunel Samedova), ensured that the defendant was provided with an interpreter in his native language (Russian) and with a lawyer of his choice for his defense.

Before the hearing, Judge Zeynal Agayev explained the legal rights and responsibilities of the victims attending the court session for the first time, introducing them to the composition of the court, interpreters, clerks, state prosecutors, and other participants.

Ruben Vardanyan addressed the court, declaring his objection to the panel of judges presiding over the case. Avraam Berman, the defendant's lawyer, supported the objection.

State Prosecutor Tarana Mammadova responded to the objection, stating that the defendant's rights under the criminal procedure legislation were being ensured and that the defense had not presented any specific evidence confirming that the court panel handling the case was interested in the criminal prosecution. She requested the court to dismiss the objection without consideration.

The victims present at the trial requested the court to reject the objection.

The court adjourned to deliberate on the motion. After deliberation, the court's decision on the defense's objection was announced. According to the decision, the objection was dismissed without consideration. Presiding Judge Zeynal Agayev, while substantiating the decision, emphasized that the defense had not presented concrete and reliable evidence that the court panel handling the case was interested in the criminal prosecution, as required by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Subsequently, the victims testified in court.

Victim Emil Mehtiyev testified that he was injured in the Aghdara region when a mortar shell fired by the enemy exploded near him while preventing large-scale subversive actions by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

In response to questions from State Prosecutor Fuad Musayev, Mehtiyev stated that Ismail Gambarov and Amin Maharramov also sustained various types of bodily injuries as a result of the mortar shell explosion.

Mayis Korogluyev, recognized as a victim, testified that he and Gahraman Ismayilov were injured in the Aghdam region when a "Fagot" missile fired by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups exploded nearby.

Asim Garayev, also recognized as a victim, testified that he was injured by a mortar shell fired by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups in the Aghdara region.

Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Department for the Protection of State Prosecution of the Prosecutor General's Office, the victim stated that Mehdi Abbasov, David Jalilov, Javad Maharramov, Ali Tagiyev, and Rasul Teymurov, who were with him at the time, were killed.

The court announced the findings of the forensic medical examinations conducted on the victims.

The next court session is scheduled for May 20.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).
13 May 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to the Aghdam region of Azerbaijan marks more than a ceremonial gesture  it is a strategic reaffirmation of Azerbaijans long-term commitment to revitalising the territories liberated after the Second Garabagh War. Four and a half years after the cessation of hostilities in 2020, Azerbaijan is now visibly shifting from post-conflict recovery to a robust phase of socio-economic transformation.

With construction underway at full pace, the restoration of Aghdam  once referred to as the "Hiroshima of the Caucasus" due to its total devastation during Armenian occupation - symbolises the broader revival of Garabagh. President Aliyevs presence at key infrastructure inaugurations serves a dual purpose: reinforcing the political sovereignty of Azerbaijan over its reclaimed lands and projecting the success of the state-led reconstruction model to both domestic and international audiences.

One of the highlights of the President's visit was the inauguration of the Aghdam Railway and Bus Station Complex. This facility not only reconnects Aghdam to national transport arteries but is also part of a broader infrastructure strategy aimed at regional reintegration. Situated at the crossroads of the East-West and North-South corridors, the new transport hub will enhance economic connectivity, facilitate returnee resettlement, and stimulate interregional commerce.

Aghdam transport hub inaugurated as cornerstone of Azerbaijans corridor strategy

The reopening of transport links also plays an essential geopolitical role. It reinforces Azerbaijan's position as a transit and logistical hub in the South Caucasus, capable of managing major corridors independent of regional power influences. In this regard, the restoration of the Aghdam-Khankendi railway and future connections to Shusha via road and possibly a cable car align with a wider state vision of seamless, sovereign infrastructure across all liberated territories.

The launch of the first phase of Kangarli village further underscores Azerbaijans emphasis on sustainable resettlement and rural development. Designed for 2,544 residents, with comprehensive infrastructure including utilities, schools, and cultural facilities, Kangarli represents a blueprint for modern, planned reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into their native lands. Such development is not merely about rebuilding homes; it reflects a deep strategic priority to repopulate and reanimate areas left barren for decades, turning them into productive nodes of the national economy.

President Aliyev's interaction with newly resettled families and the presentation of house keys highlighted a personal and political symbolism  emphasizing state responsibility in reversing the effects of three decades of displacement. Moreover, this grassroots-level rehabilitation feeds into national cohesion, addressing the psychological and cultural wounds of the past.

In his remarks, President Aliyev underscored the scale of destruction inflicted by Armenian forces during the occupation  noting that much of the damage occurred not in the heat of war but under ceasefire conditions. His strong language - referring to "genocide," "urbanicide," and "ecocide"  points to an ongoing effort to frame the occupation not only as illegal but as an affront to human and environmental rights.

This framing is not without strategic value. By continually invoking international norms and the inaction of certain global actors, Azerbaijan seeks to maintain global attention on the Garabagh issue while discrediting narratives that undermine its territorial integrity. Simultaneously, these statements bolster national unity by reminding citizens of their shared historical struggle and ultimate triumph.

Perhaps most significantly, President Aliyev positioned Azerbaijans post-war reconstruction as a potential global model. I do not know any country where construction and development projects of such proportions are progressing, he stated, underscoring that these projects are funded from national resources and reflect indigenous planning capacities.

This assertion has analytical weight. While many post-conflict regions rely heavily on international aid and NGOs, Azerbaijan has largely financed reconstruction through oil revenues and state budget allocations. This model  centralised, state-led, and symbolically rich  differs from the decentralised, donor-dependent approaches seen in other post-conflict contexts.

Cultural revival and soft power

The President also highlighted the cultural dimension of recovery, noting the restoration of historical sites like the Aghdam Juma Mosque and the planned mugham festivals in newly built cultural centres. By reviving cultural heritage and promoting the return of artistic traditions, Azerbaijan is not only restoring physical infrastructure but also reclaiming the cultural narrative of Garabagh.

This use of cultural soft power has both domestic and international significance. Domestically, it fosters identity restoration for communities long estranged from their heritage. Internationally, it signals the peaceful and inclusive nature of the reconstruction process, countering allegations of exclusivity or militarism.

President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Aghdam reflects a multidimensional strategy encompassing infrastructure, resettlement, historical justice, and cultural revival. It is a powerful narrative of transformation  one that seeks to convert past destruction into future development
13 May 2025 18:41 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is set to visit Azerbaijan on June 5. What precisely motivates this visit and what objectives it aims to achieve remain unclear. What is clear, however, is that Armenian social media channels have resumed their all-too-familiar performancea theatre of deceit cloaked in righteous outrage.

Once again, claims are being circulated alleging a deterioration of religious freedoms in Azerbaijan. Some, desperate to lend their accusations weight, have dragged Iran into the discourse, attempting to manufacture controversy where none exists.

Let us begin with the facts. Azerbaijan, a nation of over 10 million, is home to a religiously diverse population. While the vast majority of citizens identify as Muslim, there is a significant Christian minorityroughly half a millionalong with Jewish, Pagan, and other religious communities. For centuries, Azerbaijan has been a bastion of peaceful religious coexistence. Muslims, Christians, and Jews have lived side by side without fear or discrimination. This pluralistic legacy is not only a point of prideit is a cornerstone of Azerbaijani identity.

To allege religious oppression, particularly of the Shia community, is both misinformed and misleading. Shia and Sunni Muslims have long coexisted peacefully in Azerbaijan, free from the sectarian violence that has plagued other regions of the Middle East. Mixed marriages between Sunni and Shia believers are not only commonthey are emblematic of Azerbaijans religious harmony.

Claims of discrimination against Shia communities, often spread on social media, betray a deep ignorance of Azerbaijans social fabric. These accusations overlook centuries of cohabitation and mutual respect, and distort reality to fit a predetermined narrative.

What is often conflated with religious oppression is, in fact, Azerbaijans firm stance against extremist elements that exploit religion as a cover for illegal or subversive activities. Crackdowns on radical networks are not an assault on religious freedomthey are a defence of national security and public order.

It is no secret that Armenia has waged an aggressive disinformation campaign against Azerbaijan for decades. Whether it concerns human rights, military prisoners, or now religious liberties, Yerevan has consistently attempted to tarnish Azerbaijans image on the world stage.

If USCIRF truly wishes to understand the dynamics of religious freedom in this region, it should visit the territories of Garabaghrecently liberated after decades of illegal occupation. There, they will witness the real desecration of faith: mosques transformed into cattle sheds, cemeteries razed to the ground, religious monuments systematically destroyed. The cultural vandalism perpetrated by Armenia over thirty years is not merely anecdotalit is documented, visible, and ongoing.

Yet Armenia continues to stage its illusions. With hastily carved stones and crude imitations of religious sites, it attempts to fabricate a historical presence in Garabagh. But the truth is not so easily buried. The thousand-year-old Albanian Christian heritage of the region, stolen and rebranded as Armenian, remains etched in the landscape, sometimes even preserved beneath artificially flooded reservoirs, awaiting rediscovery.

You can tell a lie to the world, but you cannot force the world to swallow it whole. Armenia, however, continues to serve its fabrications as if they were a gourmet delicacy, expecting its audience to consume without question.

And while we are on the topic of religion, it is worth pointing out an inconvenient truth: in Armenia today, the single most powerful supporter of revanchist ideology is none other than the Church itself.

We recall vividly how, barely a year ago, when Azerbaijan regained its long-occupied enclaves, protests erupted across Yerevan and beyond. At the forefront of these demonstrations were not ordinary citizens but clergy and religious leaders. This only underscores a painful realityArmenia, far from being a model democracy, has long been steered by radical religious institutions masquerading as moral authorities.

Today, these same actors, emboldened by a weakened government, are increasingly involved in attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of neighbouring states. Their most potent weapon? Manipulating public sentiment under the guise of religion to incite unrest and bend society to their will.

As the U.S. Commission prepares for its visit, we urge them to look past the smoke and mirrors. The story of religious freedom in the South Caucasus is not one of Azerbaijani repression, but of resilience, tolerance, and centuries-old coexistence. The real threat lies elsewhere, shrouded in the cassocks of those who weaponise faith for power.
13 May 2025 11:46 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

AZPROMO plans to ensure the participation of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs with a unified national stand at WorldFood Moscow 2025, Anuga in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai next year.

Azernews reports these remarks were made by Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of AZPROMO, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition "Caspian Agro", held in Baku.

He noted that, with the support of the Agency, Azerbaijani companies regularly participate successfully in both global and local exhibitions. Local products are showcased at unified national stands under the Made in Azerbaijan brand, export contracts are signed, and new international markets are accessed.

"In 2024, with AZPROMOs support, our exporters participated in a total of 10 international exhibitions, including the 47th International Baghdad Exhibition, Green Week and ProWein in Germany, Prodexpo and Russia Halal Expo 2024 in Russia, Gulfood in the UAE, FOODEX in Japan, Macfrut in Rimini, Italy, the Saudi Food Show 2024 in Riyadh, and the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai."

"We continue to support our exporters this year and remain actively involved in international exhibitions. Currently, with our support, Azerbaijani companies are taking part in the Saudi Food Expo 2025 in Riyadh with a unified country stand. Starting tomorrow, our exporters will participate in the Russia  Halal Expo 2025 in Kazan. Additionally, eight companies involved in the production of natural honey, fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, alcoholic beverages, wine, and dairy products are showcasing their goods today at the InterFood exhibition at AZPROMOs 'Made in Azerbaijan' stand."

He added: Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to ensure the participation of our entrepreneurs with a single national stand at WorldFood Moscow, Anuga in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai. As for local exhibitions, we are planning to take part in the 5th Rebuild Garabagh exhibition scheduled for October.
13 May 2025 13:04 (UTC+04:00)

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The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and Turkiyes Capital Markets Board have discussed the establishment of a risk-based supervision system, Azernews reports, cites the CBA.

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13 May 2025 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Academy of Labour and Social Relations (AALSR) of the Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) and bp.

Azernews reports, citing the ATUC, during the event held to mark the occasion, Sahib Mammadov, Chairman of the Confederation, emphasised the favourable conditions created in Azerbaijan for the effective operation of trade unions. He also highlighted the special attention and care shown to this area by President Ilham Aliyev.

The event included discussions on reforms in the trade union system, ongoing projects, and the activities of the "Kurort" Tourism Information Centre, as well as the Labour Protection and Legal Assistance Centre. It was noted that comprehensive measures are being implemented to safeguard the labour, social, and economic rights of union members, protect their health, and ensure access to treatment and organised recreation.

Special emphasis was placed on ATUCs commitment to private sector collaboration, with support for the unification of workers in this sector under trade unions. The Chairman also reported on efforts to enhance the quality of education at the Academy of Labour and Social Relations, highlighting the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Training and Personnel Development, which has become a platform for training, seminars, and professional exchange across multiple sectors.

The event further underlined the significance of the MoU between BP and the Academy, noting that the agreement will open up broad opportunities for deepening cooperation, strengthening mutual relations, and fostering the exchange of best practices.

Video presentations were shown on ATUC's activities and flagship initiatives, including Decent Labour Ambassadors, With Care from Colleague to Colleague, and AHIK Plus.

Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, bp Vice President for Communications and External Relations in the Caspian Region, spoke about bps long-standing contribution to Azerbaijans economic development and oil and gas sector. He also praised the Confederations projects and reaffirmed bps commitment to education, human capital development, and vocational training initiatives in the country.

The MoU was signed by Yusif Aghayev, Acting Rector of the Academy, and Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, Vice President of Communications and External Relations at bp.

The document outlines cooperation in organizing educational and internship programs, implementing joint projects, and supporting innovative initiativespromising concrete benefits for both sides.
13 May 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The 18th Caspian Agro  Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition, the largest of its kind in the Caspian region  and the 30th Anniversary InterFood Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition  opened at the Baku Expo Centre.

According to Azernews, the events are being held with the organisational support of the Ministry of Agriculture. The exhibitions are also actively supported by the Food Safety Agency (AQTA), the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASK), the Azerbaijan Food and Beverage Industrialists Association (AQISA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Azerbaijan Exhibition Organizers Association (ASTA).

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the InterFood Azerbaijan exhibition. Over the past three decades, the exhibition has hosted more than 3,000 companies and over 150,000 visitors from around 50 countries, earning a reputation as an effective business platform. The new technologies and innovative solutions presented at the exhibition provide valuable opportunities for the development of the food industry and the expansion of business relations. At the same time, InterFood Azerbaijan plays an essential role in addressing and strengthening key aspects of food safety.

Over 450 companies from more than 30 countries are participating in the InterFood Azerbaijan and Caspian Agro exhibitions. The events occupy all pavilions and outdoor space of the Baku Expo Center.

Responding to the requests of participants and visitors, this year the exhibitions will be held over four days. In addition to Azerbaijan, participating countries include Germany, the USA, Belarus, Belgium, the UAE, China, South Korea, Palestine, Finland, Georgia, India, Jordan, Iran, Spain, Israel, Sweden, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Greece. National pavilions are represented by Germany, Belarus, South Korea, Georgia, Italy, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, and  for the first time  Egypt. The exhibitions will also be visited by international delegations led by ministers from various foreign countries.

As the region's largest agricultural exhibition, Caspian Agro will cover areas including agricultural machinery, facilities and equipment, irrigation systems, packaging, agricultural innovation technologies, livestock and poultry, veterinary services, crop production, fruit and vegetable cultivation, floriculture, waste processing, logistics, and e-agriculture. The event will bring together key players in the agriculture industry, local and international experts, importers, exporters, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and farmers, offering a unique platform for the exchange of experience, knowledge, and innovation.

Additionally, the exhibition will feature sections on Smart Agro, showcasing artificial intelligence, smart villages, startups, IT services, robotics, drones, and green agro technologies.

The InterFood Azerbaijan exhibition will present products and services across various sectors, including food industry, beverages, confectionery, dairy products, bakery and flour products, fruits and vegetables, packaging, food technologies, and halal food.

These exhibitions serve as a valuable platform for promoting the Made in Azerbaijan brand. As in previous years, participating companies will showcase their products under this brand, demonstrating the development and competitiveness of local production in the global agriculture and food industries.

As part of the exhibitions, the 2nd International Agrarian Innovation Forum will be held in the presentation zone, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. The forum will feature discussions on topics such as the agro-park model in modern agriculture, application of artificial intelligence in agriculture, development prospects of agricultural insurance systems, sustainable food systems, knowledge exchange in agricultural and food sciences, innovative agriculture, the role of women in the agricultural sector, and more.

Another key international event in agriculture will be held during the exhibitions. The Sustainable Agriculture Investment Forum of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development will take place at the Baku Expo Center on May 1415, as part of the International Agrarian Innovation Forum. The forum, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agrarian Innovation Center, ASK, and the exhibition organizers, will bring together over 200 international and local participants, including officials and experts. Topics will include investment in sustainable agriculture, empowerment of SMEs in agriculture, agricultural trade, value chains, and food markets. The event will also feature bilateral business (B2B) meetings and various training sessions. This forum is of significant importance for strengthening Azerbaijan's international economic relations in the agricultural sector.

The Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) is actively supporting the exhibitions, organizing a stand to facilitate the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This collaboration is highly productive, as participating companies become familiar with market innovations, establish connections with industry leaders, and grow their businesses. Starting this year, the exhibition organizers  Caspian Event Organisers and Iteca Caspian  will expand their cooperation with KOBIA to include participation of regional SMEs in international exhibitions held in Baku. With KOBIAs support, tours will be organized for SMEs from different regions of the country to attend the exhibitions, fostering their development, integration into the broader business community, new partnerships, awareness of industry innovations, and adoption of new technologies.

As part of the InterFood Azerbaijan exhibition, an art display featuring pomegranate-themed paintings by children from the inclusive society Umid var will be held. These artworks will decorate the exhibition's gala evening, during which a charity auction of the paintings will be organized.

In addition, traditional bilateral business meetings (B2B and B2G) will enable representatives of local and foreign companies to meet face-to-face and explore avenues for cooperation and future partnerships. Private sector representatives will also have the opportunity to meet with government officials, and participating companies will host seminars and presentations. For example, the German National Pavilion will showcase the products of German companies.

Starting in 2026, Caspian Agro and InterFood Azerbaijan will be held under a new brand  AgriWeek.

It should be noted that the exhibitions are organized by Caspian Event Organisers, along with its international partners Caspian Event Management and ICA Events.
13 May 2025 16:47 (UTC+04:00)

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A business meeting was held in Tashkent between Askhat Khasenov, Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas JSC, and Bahodirjon Sidikov, Chairman of the Management Board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC. During the meeting, plans for implementing geological exploration projects were discussed, Azernews reports.

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13 May 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Google has signed a cooperation agreement with nuclear startup Elementl Power, a company that develops projects in the nuclear energy sector, Azernews reports.

The agreement involves investments in the development of three new nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 1,800 MW, all of which are expected to be commissioned by 2035. However, specific details regarding the technologies to be used, as well as the dates and locations for construction, have yet to be disclosed.

The announced capacity of these new plants is significantly smaller than that of traditional nuclear facilities. For example, the Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant in Georgia, which began operations in 2023, features four reactors with a total capacity of 4,500 MW. Meanwhile, the growing demand for energy from data centersdriven in part by AIhas seen an enormous increase: McKinsey reports that energy requirements for data centers have surged from 30 MW in 2015 to 200 MW in 2024.

Elementl Power, founded in 2022, has yet to implement any projects but positions itself as a "technologically neutral" developer. Its leadership team, including CEO Christopher Colbert (a former executive at NuScale Power), is focused on the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).

This marks Googles second nuclear energy agreement in the past six months. In October 2024, the company also partnered with Kairos Power to develop molten salt reactors. However, analysts at The Register have noted that, despite the ambitious moves by tech giants like Google, such initiatives may not be sufficient to address the projected energy deficit by 2027.

Google's rapidly increasing energy consumption is closely tied to the growth of AI infrastructure. The companys 2024 report revealed that greenhouse gas emissions due to AI operations have grown by 13% over the past year and 48% since 2019. At the same time, Alphabet plans to invest $75 billion in 2025 to expand its data centers, which will further increase the demand on the energy grid. This highlights the growing tension between sustainability goals and the surging energy needs of emerging technologies.
13 May 2025 21:55 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla is facing a noticeable decline in global sales, as it struggles to maintain momentum in several key markets, Azernews reports.

In Europe, Tesla has suffered significant setbacks in Germany, France, and Swedencountries traditionally seen as central to the continents automotive landscape. In the United States, the companys image has also taken a hit, with CEO and majority shareholder Elon Musks increasingly controversial political activitiesparticularly his open support for former President Donald Trumpgenerating backlash among more progressive consumers.

Teslas previous success in China, the worlds largest market for electric vehicles, is also waning. While the company reported strong growth in China in 2023, sales have dropped sharply in 2024 due to intensifying competition from domestic manufacturers. Between January and April of this year, Tesla sold 163,338 vehicles in China. Although that figure remains substantial, it reflects a declining market share.

Chinas EV and hybrid market is expanding rapidly, yet Teslas share is shrinking. The company, which ranked second in Chinas EV sales in 2023 and third in early 2024, has now slipped to fifth place, holding just 4.6% of the market in the first four months of the year.

Tesla is not alone in its struggle. Foreign automakers in general are finding it increasingly difficult to compete in the highly dynamic Chinese EV sector. German giant Volkswagen, once the market leader, recently lost its top spot to Chinese automaker BYD, which now dominates with a broad lineup of competitively priced and technologically advanced electric models.

Analysts suggest Teslas performance is being affected not only by competition and politics, but also by its aging product lineup. While newer players like NIO, XPeng, and BYD are releasing frequent updates and innovative features, Teslas core modelssuch as the Model 3 and Model Yhave seen only minor refreshes. Industry observers believe that without significant innovation or the successful launch of next-generation models like the long-awaited Cybertruck and a rumored affordable EV, Tesla risks losing its edge in both domestic and international markets.
May 14, 2025: Since 2024 more and more Ukrainian generals and military analysts have been predicting the collapse of the Russian military by mid-2025. Now their Russian counterparts are agreeing that the end is near. One Russian general was so dismayed at this that he killed himself. Increasingly Russian men are not just evading military service, but helping those in the military to walk away.

Its not just the soldiers. Russian industry, starved by increasingly harsh economic sanctions since 2014 sanctions, is no longer able to produce military equipment. Worse, the capability to repair or refurbish existing equipment has disappeared. Since the 1990s most state owned firms have become western style enterprises. These companies put paying customers first, especially export orders. Foreigners pay in hard currencies like dollars, Euros or Yuan. The Chinese economy is now the second largest in the world and willing to do business with Russians, if they can pay in hard currency. The Russia ruble is considered worthless for foreign trade and most Russian consumers dont trust their own currency.

Over two million Russians were sent to Ukraine and so far over a million have been killed, disabled or deserted. By early 2025 there were about half a million Russian troops in Ukraine, facing nearly twice as many Ukrainian soldiers. By April 2025 a growing number of Russian soldiers are simply changing into whatever civilian clothes they can find and walking way. Officers are supposed to shoot deserters, but that rule no longer applies because the troops will shoot back.

The departing soldiers walk because the military has few working vehicles. The Ukrainians always concentrated on destroying Russian trucks and other transport. With the Russian railroads collapsing because of sanctions, trucks and automobiles are all you have left. Russian soldiers will seize vehicles at gunpoint. This exodus from the war zone is expected to escalate until there are no armed Russians left in Ukraine. Ukrainian and Russian commanders believe the Russian war effort will collapse by late 2025. That means no Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and hardly any Russian production of weapons and other military supplies.

The crippled Russian industries and transportation system means starvation for many civilians. This is finally forcing leader Vladimir Putin to face reality. Historically starving Russians have gone after their leaders and replaced them with someone who will take care of basic needs like food, fuel and transportation. Throughout the war Putin had the support of the oligarchs, the men who controlled the largest business enterprises. With the war lost and the economy a shambles because of the war Putin is going to lose his job as well. The oligarchs are fed up with empty promises that the war would be won and Russia would prosper. When the war is over, the NATO nations are not promising a return to peacetime economic relations with Russia.

In early 2025 Putin announced that the semi-annual conscription would call up 160,000 men. He was told that there were not enough weapons and equipment for these recruits. They would get uniforms and dilapidated barracks to live in but not much to eat. Hungry, idle soldiers lead to unrest and rebellion. That happened a century ago when the monarchy collapsed. Russians have long called their leader Tsar Vladimir and now the Tsar must go. Armed and angry soldiers take care of this.

The anger comes from a lack of heavy weapons like artillery and armored vehicles. The remaining tanks, artillery and munitions in the reserve depots were found to be useless. Tanks that wont run, artillery with worn out barrels and munitions that are unreliable because of age related decomposition. Communications equipment was always unreliable but now there is no one to repair them because there are no replacement parts. The cause of all this was lack of maintenance, which the government assured everyone was being provided. The government ran out of viable assurances and the troops ran out of patience. Too many broken promises breeds contempt and desertion.

Russians remember that before the war several Ministers of Defense assured everyone that reforms were under way and working. They lied and when it became obvious in Ukraine, Russian civilians and soldiers responded with anger and apathy. That is why industrial production is collapsing and soldiers are deserting.

Ukrainians believe the collapse of the Russian war effort will arrive in the next three or four months. The signs are already there and when the end comes it will be glorious for the Ukrainians and disillusioning for the Russians. Ukrainian leader Zelensky will be praised while Vladimir Putin will be looking for any excuses that might still work.
US Coast Guard Suspends Search Along Washington Coast for Missing Man

Published 05/10/25 at 5:55 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Westport, Washington)  The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and various civilians Friday suspended their search for a man missing in the waters of the central Washington coast. Searching ended at 8:40 p.m., after the 44-year-old captain of the 68-foot fishing vessel, Captain Raleigh, disappeared as it sank in the area of Westport, Washington. (Photo courtesy US Coast Guard: searcher vessels near Westport)

Boatcrew from the USCG station in Grays Harbor managed to rescue several others from the fishing vessel, which went down earlier that day, May 9.

The Captain Raleigh was underway Friday morning when the vessel master issued a distress call around 8:15 a.m. stating they were taking on water and the onboard pumps could not keep up, USCG said.

USCG watchstanders at the Columbia station immediately issued a Urgent Marine Information Broadcast for anyone in the area of Grays Harbor to render assistance. Personnel also came from Station Grays Harbor and the air station in Astoria on the Oregon coast side.



Search grid patterns used by crew

A good Samaritan vessel pulled alongside the Captain Raleigh a few minutes after the distress call to provide a dewatering pump, USCG said.

The boatcrew from Grays Harbor arrived on the scene around 8:30 a.m., and within minutes the Captain Raleigh sank. Three from the vessel - with life jackets already on - were immediately retrieved by the USCG's boatcrew. Rescue personnel were told the captain of the Captain Raleigh was still aboard as it sank at the Grays Harbor entrance.

The rescued individuals were taken to Station Grays Harbor for medical evaluation, while additional Coast Guard boat crews and an air team from Air Station Astoria joined the search effort. Overhead, the air crew began searching and surveying this section of the Washington coast at 9 a.m.

Authorities also enlisted the assistance of a U.S. Navy dive team, which was transported to the site via a Navy helicopter from Air Station Whidbey Island. Divers were then ferried to the wreck site by Coast Guard boat crews. Additionally, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging vessel was dispatched to aid in locating the sunken vessel. By 11:45 a.m., its crew had pinpointed Captain Raleigh's final location.

Despite efforts to access the wreck, challenging environmental conditions - including strong currents, debris, and poor underwater visibility - prevented divers from reaching the vessel's interior until late in the evening.



Courtesy Washington State Parks

"This is a tragedy for our fishing communities," said Capt. Justin Noggle, commander of Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. "Im thankful our Coast Guard crews were able to save the three crewmembers quickly, and our hearts are with the family and friends of everyone impacted by this tremendous loss."

Efforts are now focused on mitigating potential pollution, with the Coast Guard working closely with the Washington Department of Ecology. Officials report no shoreline impact has occurred at this time.

A commercial salvage team from Seattle is currently developing a recovery plan, with the vessel resting in approximately 40 feet of water outside the navigable channel.

Authorities continue to assess the situation as search operations remain ongoing.

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Oregon Coast Roadwork, Traffic Delays Coming to Port Orford's Cape Blanco, Astoria, Highway 26

Published 05/11/25 at 6:35 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) - The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has just announced more roadwork on key coastal landmarks, which may impact traffic in several areas. (Humbug Creek near Seaside - courtesy ODOT)

Near Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast, repairs to the entrance road at Cape Blanco State Park are scheduled for May 13-15, with expected traffic delays.

Flaggers will manage traffic where the road narrows to one lane to accommodate construction. Drivers are advised to exercise caution, adhere to posted speed limits, and follow all road signs.

Park staff appreciate visitors' patience during repairs, ODOT said.

In Astoria, the famed Oregon coast / Washington coast bridge will go under the knife.



ODOT said crews will begin work this summer on the Astoria-Megler Bridge, replacing supports and concrete bases. While most of the work will take place beneath the structure, single-lane closures will occur daily to ensure crew and traveler safety.



Courtesy Angi D Wildt Gallery

Beginning in early June, traffic impacts will include daytime single-lane closures Monday through Thursday, with reduced closures until noon on Fridays. A temporary work platform will be installed beneath the bridge, and motorists should anticipate construction noise and delays. Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours

In the Oregon Coast Range, a crucial route between Portland and the beach will see additional work that could cause some inconvenience.

Last year, ODOT replaced the U.S. 26 bridge over Humbug Creek in a two-phase project, constructing half of the bridge at a time.

We're coming back soon to wrap things up by painting permanent striping, ODOT said. This work is weather dependent and our schedule may change.



Port Orford / ODOT

Traffic impacts will include daytime construction activity, intermittent single-lane closures, and flaggers directing vehicles through open lanes. Travelers should expect delays and increased noise in the area.

See Oregon Coast Maps & Mileage - Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats, Florence, Reedsport, Coos Bay, Gold Beach, more

Other parts of the Oregon coast are also undergoing changes and construction.

On the south Oregon coast, Bandon's Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint parking lot is temporarily closed, scheduled to reopen May 23. Work there involves closing the restrooms as well. However, beach access via the stairs on the south side of the property will remain open.



Bandon Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

Near Depoe Bay, atop Cape Foulweather, the gift shop and at least some of the parking are shut down until some time in June. Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint will get work on its structural integrity, as well as restoration to preserve the building's historical character and increase its accessibility features. See South Oregon Coast Landmark Under the Knife: Bandon's Face Rock Viewpoint Closed for a Month

n August, ODOT will repair a bridge in the Saddle Mountain en route to the coast, likely lasting about a week. In August and September, there will be a road project on Saddle Mountain Road that involves repaving or overlaying about nine miles of it, along with culvert repair and replacing the crushed stone along the road shoulders. That project will take about a month.

Later in the fall, more problematic trees will be taken down.

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Thirtieth anniversary guide reveals regions companies with highest pre-tax profits  scroll down for the full list, all the details and all 100 company profiles

The Top 100, published in partnership with business advisory firm Grant Thornton, has been charting the ups and downs of the Northern Ireland economy since 1995. The magazine will be launched this morning at a business breakfast in Belfasts Titanic Hotel, attended by leaders of many of the Top 100 businesses. It is available online and free with todays paper.
Man who was face of IRA in US on escaping arrest from RUC, 'traitor' Denis Donaldson and why he had to stand aside
Is it ever OK for parents to argue in front of their children? The answer might surprise you
A former primary school teacher has been jailed for 12 months for sexual offences he committed against two young boys.

William Maher, who has similar offences against children on his criminal record, was today told, when he appeared before Belfast Crown Court, he will spend an additional 12 months on licence upon his release from prison.
May 14, 2025: When the Russians invaded Ukraine in 2022, they expected a quick victory. When that did not happen and the war dragged on into 2023 the troops discovered why quick victory was so important. Russia did not have enough artillery ammunition for a long war and the gun barrels could not be supplied with new barrels to replace the worn out ones due to Western sanctions.

Unlike Ukraine, which had substantial military and economic support from NATO nations, all Russia had were Iran and North Korea. These two nations had long been under economic sanctions for misbehavior. This made them ideal allies for wartime Russia. Iran provided missiles and drones while North Korea supplied artillery and lots of 152mm and 122mm shells to feed the guns. The North Koreas took advantage of Russian desperation and sold them older munitions. Some of those shells were past their use-by date and unreliable. The Russians were desperate and didnt bother to check for this. That was a costly mistake because their artillerymen found that many of the shells did not work and some exploded when fired. This destroyed the gun and sometimes killed or injured some of the artillerymen.

It got worse when the Ukrainians began using drones for surveillance and attacks on any targets within ten, and then twenty, kilometers of the front line. Twenty kilometers was critical. This meant the Russian towed guns could not get close enough to the front to be effective. Kept twenty kilometers behind the troops, the 122mm artillery was useless because it only had a range of about fifteen kilometers. The 152mm could hit targets 25 kilometers but when moved closer than 20 kilometers from the front, the guns were subject to drone attacks. Eventually new drones with a range of 40 kilometers appeared and Russian artillery became target practice for the Ukrainian drones.

By then North Korea was providing newly manufactured shells for Russian guns that could not get close enough to the front to be useful. North Korea also provided ballistic missiles and troops, so the Russians took the good with the bad and soldiered on.
The arrest was made in North Belfast this morning (Stock Image)

A 50-year-old man has been arrested in Belfast on suspicion of two murders and attempting to kill dissident Sean OReilly.

The suspect remains in police custody and is being quizzed by detectives about the murders of Jim Donegan in 2018 and Danny McClean three years later.

The arrest was made following a search by the PSNIs Major Investigation Team in north Belfast on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said: In respect of the attempted murder in west Belfast, here, a 49-year-old man was shot as he sat inside a taxi in the Bell Steel Manor area on the morning of Sunday 23 February. We believe two gunmen approached the vehicle on foot, and a number of shots were fired in a cold-blooded attack intended to kill.

Danny McClean, aged 54, was murdered on the evening of 2 February 2021. He was shot a number of times by a gunman as he sat in a car parked in the driveway of a property on the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast.

Jim Donegan, aged 43, was murdered as he waited, in his car, to collect his son from school. This was in the Glen Road area of west Belfast on the afternoon of 4 December 2018. Mr Donegan was shot several times by a gunman.

Jim JD Donegan

The attack on Mr OReilly sparked fears of a violent retaliation amid an escalating feud between members of the dissident gang Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) earlier this year.

The victim was sitting in his car outside the taxi firm where he works in Poleglass when two masked men approached his vehicle shortly before 10.30am and fired multiple shots.

The wounded driver was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where and was initially described as being in critical but stable condition.

Mr Donegan was shot dead in his Porsche car as he waited to collect his 13-year-old son outside St Mary's Christian Brothers School in 2018.

A Police Ombudsman probe previously said the PSNI "missed opportunities" to identify the subject of a dissident republican threat six months before the killing  the watchdog found a failure by police to link him to intelligence it received about a threat on an unnamed man.

The deceaseds family believe had he been warned he would have taken preventative measures.

Detectives have previously connected two republican groups to the attack which they said was carried out by a lone gunman.

Meanwhile the shooting of Mr McClean, who was previously identified in court as being a dissident republican, was also blamed on a lone gunman.

At the time, police condemned the "brutal and calculated murder" and said officers were keeping an open mind" about the motive.

Det Supt Jason Murphy previously said dissident republican involvement was one line of inquiry.

On Tuesday, Detective Inspector Quinn said: All three attacks, one in north Belfast and two in west Belfast, were cold, calculated and ruthless. All three were carried out in busy, residential areas when any members of the public, including children, could easily have been passing by. Two of the attacks left families bereft, and all three have left loved ones and communities shaken.

Danny McClean

Please be assured that our determination to bring those responsible to justice remains as steadfast as ever.

I am taking this opportunity to reiterate my appeal to anyone with information, or footage, to contact detectives on 101.

The arrest was made in North Belfast this morning (Stock Image)

News Catch Up - Tuesday 13 May

The charity Crimestoppers is offering a 20,000 reward for information received directly that leads to an arrest or conviction in relation to the attempted murder of Mr OReilly.
A person has been taken to hospital after a spillage involving cleaning chemicals at a property in Newtownards.

Emergency services including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service all attended the home on Tuesday morning.

Two fire appliances were called to the Dicksonia Drive property after the cleaning chemicals were spilled at the scene at around 9.40am.

The person involved was taken to the Ulster Hospital as a result of the incident.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus ventilated the area and used 2 hose reel jets to make the area safe, said a fire service spokesperson.

All gas readings were normal. One casualty was transferred to the care of NIAS and the incident was dealt with by 11.08am.

The Ambulance Service said they dispatched one emergency crew with a rapid response vehicle to the scene.
A gentle grandmother who died following a single vehicle crash in Co Armagh has been named locally as Nora Mackin.

The pensioner, who was aged in her 70s, was struck by a car in the Tullynavall Road area of Cullyhanna on Monday.

A death notice said Mrs Mackin was the loving wife of Stephen. Devoted mother to Martin, Maureen (Larkin), Fiona (Sims) and Kevin and a grandmother of seven.

She also had four siblings.

"Deeply regretted by her husband, sons, daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law Peter and Nigel, daughter-in-law Paula, brother, sisters and extended family, the death notice states.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

Councillors in the area have offered condolences to the bereaved family.

Cullyhanna woman, Nora Mackin

Sharing his sympathy, UUP representative, David Taylor said: I am very sorry to hear of this tragic accident that occurred.

I sincerely want to extent my sympathies to the family.

Sinn Fein representative Martin Hearty also offered condolences.

Obviously this is a tragic situation. Our thoughts are with the family at this time, he said.

Emergency services  including fire crews and the air ambulance  attended the scene of the collision on May 13.

Despite frantic efforts to save Mrs Mackin, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone with CCTV or other footage that can help with enquiries to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference 301 12/0525.

Local people have paid tributes to Mrs Mackin.

Armagh City & District Lourdes Committee described her as a gentle lovely lady.

Cullyhanna woman, Nora Mackin

News Catch Up - Monday 12 May

Another posted: She was an angel and we are forever indebted to her for everything she did to help our family over the last few years. She will be missed. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

A third person said: So so sad and difficult to take in. May Nora Rest in Peace and sincere condolences to all the family, praying for some comfort for you all.

Others sent messages of support to the family following the loss of such a lovely gentle lady.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are among those set for talks (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

British voters back closer farming and defence ties, and a youth exchange scheme with the EU, new polling suggests ahead of a major summit between British and European leaders.

The UK and EU will meet in London on Monday May 19 to discuss closer ties, as part of the Labour Governments attempt to reset relations with the trade bloc.

Both Sir Keir Starmer and the EU have indicated they want to see closer defence ties ahead of the meeting.

YouGov polling commissioned by pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain has indicated the British public would back this, with 69% of those polled in favour.

The survey of 4,703 adults carried out between the end of March and start of April also found a majority, 53%, backed alignment on animal and plant standards, whereas only 21% were opposed.

Maintaining the same food standards could eliminate costly checks on food products exported across the Channel.

Voters also back a youth mobility scheme, the polling suggested, with 63% in favour and 17% opposed.

Ministers are considering whether to agree such a scheme, which could see young Britons travel to the EU without restrictions to work and study, and vice versa.

The Government has however indicated it would want a cap on numbers.

Best for Britains data also suggested the public are happy for ministers to go further in deepening ties with the EU.

Some 52% of those polled said they would be happy to align on all EU rules on goods and products, while 71% were open to a common customs regulation approach.

The polling  which was carried out before the local elections  also suggested Labour voters now considering Reform UK are also supportive of closer ties with the EU.

Reform, which emerged from the Brexit Party, won a broad swathe of council seats from both Labour and the Tories in the local elections at the start of May.

Some 72% of those who were polled and are considering switching their vote from Labour to Reform said they would however back a common customs approach with Europe.

Andrew Lewin, Labour chairman of the UK Trade and Business Commission, said ministers needed to turn our focus back to the European Union after striking trade deals with India and the US.

The Welwyn Hatfield MP added: As our single largest trading partner, the economic prize on offer from a stronger partnership with the European Union is the biggest of all.

Just 4% of people who voted Labour last July believe the deal currently being talked about goes too far. A clear majority of voters who put my party in power are ready for a closer relationship with the European Union.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: Trade is about trade-offs and this polling shows the British people understand that.

They support the Government being more ambitious in securing a common sense deal with the EU that removes technical barriers to trade which can bring down prices and boost growth across the UK.
Three Belgian soldiers have been injured in a training exercise in Scotland, Belgiums prime minister said.

Belgiums defence ministry told the BBC that two of the soldiers were in a stable condition, with one expected to undergo surgery in Scotland before returning to Belgium.

The third was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has been discharged.

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In a post on X, prime minister Bart De Wever offered his condolences to the injured soldiers and their families.

I have received the sad news that three soldiers from the Third Parachute Battalion were injured during an exercise in Scotland, he wrote.

I wish the injured a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with their loved ones.

Belgiums defence ministry said approximately 10 other soldiers suffered hearing damage during the incident.

A spokesman told the BBC: The incident took place during a planned training exercise. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances.

The families of the injured personnel have been informed.
Russian servicemen attend combat training in Ukraine as the possibility of peace talks between the two countries approaches (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

By Illia Novikov and Dmytro Zhyhinas, Associated Press

By Illia Novikov and Dmytro Zhyhinas, Associated Press

Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after the Kremlin effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than three-year war, but reiterated it would take part in possible peace talks later this week without preconditions.

There was no direct response from the Kremlin, meanwhile, to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys challenge for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to meet him for face-to-face peace talks in Turkey on Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say who might travel to Istanbul from the Russian side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met European leaders last week, called for Putin to attend face-to-face talks (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

Overall, were determined to seriously look for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement. That is all, Mr Peskov said.

The United States and European governments are making a concerted push to stop the fighting, which has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians.

Russias invading forces have taken around one-fifth of Ukraine in Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War.

US President Donald Trump said hes optimistic about the Istanbul talks.

There is the potential for a good meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky, Mr Trump said in Washington, adding that he was thinking about flying over to the talks from his visit to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that day.

Mr Zelensky supported the prospect of Mr Trump attending the negotiations.

I supported President Trump with the idea of direct talks with Putin. I have openly expressed my readiness to meet, he said. And of course, all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Turkey.

In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the US and European leaders, but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.

European leaders have called for a ceasefire to be in place before peace talks begin, a suggestion that Russia has rejected (Ludovic Marin/AP)

Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded that Russia accept a ceasefire starting on Monday before holding peace talks.

Moscow effectively rejected that proposal and instead called for direct negotiations in Istanbul.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had discussed Russian-Ukrainian peace efforts in separate calls with Mr Zelensky, Mr Putin and Mr Trump.

Mr Erdogan said a new window of opportunity has emerged for peace and claimed that previous talks hosted by Turkey in 2022 came close to success but were derailed by war barons.

We support my dear friend Trumps determination to resolve active conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, he said.

Mr Trump insisted that Ukraine accept the Russian offer of talks but Mr Zelensky went a step further and put pressure on Mr Putin by offering a personal meeting.

France added its voice to that offer on Monday, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urging Mr Putin to accept  though Mr Barrot repeated the European position that a truce must be in place before the talks.

Russias failure to join the ceasefire offered by Ukraine would bring further sanctions on Moscow, European leaders say.

Germany on Monday reminded Russia of that intention.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, said the pressure on Russia was increasing.

Everybody wants peace now. Ukraine wants peace, Europe wants peace, the US wants peace, he told The Associated Press. Now Russia needs to make up their mind whether they also want peace or not, an unconditional ceasefire.

Mr Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that giving ultimatums to Russia was unacceptable and wouldnt work.

You cannot talk to Russia in this language, he told reporters.
Judge dismisses former soldiers sex attacks appeal

Son of sectarian killer said to be living under the protection of the South East Antrim UDA

Graham Bingham Jnr was convicted of sexually assaulting two young women in a nightclub

John Toner Tue 13 May 2025 at 20:00

An ex-soldier and son of a UDA killer has failed to overturn his convictions for sexually assaulting two women at a Belfast bar.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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SHEFFIELD  Patrick Silk, 24, has won a Select Board seat as a last-minute write-in candidate running against longtime board member Rene Wood.

He won 406 votes to Wood's 255, according to preliminary results from town officials after Monday's elections.

Silk works at his familys Sheffield business, Silk Variety, and has a bachelor's degree in business and finance. He has said he is ready to take up the work of running a town.

He emerged as a candidate in recent weeks against Wood, who has served on the board for a total of 12 years.

Silk said his focus is on the younger generation of Sheffield residents, to "ensure a more inclusive, vibrant, and forward-looking community."

He has said that the younger voices "are often absent in local decision-making," yet are "vital to the long-term health, growth and sustainability of our town."

Silk also says he wants to "prioritize transparent governance, support for small businesses, infrastructure improvements and increased community engagement."

In other, noncontested election results, Julie M. Hannum received 592 votes for moderator.

Planning Board candidates Cole Andrew Bushnell received 505 votes, and Peter David Dumont took 494. And Pat Levine won 556 votes for library trustee.

Out of a total of 2,674 registered voters, 691 cast ballots.
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Emcutix collaborates with Canada-based Mantra Pharma to launch urea-based moisturisers in India

May 13, 2025 | Tuesday | News

With dual-strength, MLFAE technology-enabled formulation

Emcutix Biopharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Canada-based Mantra Pharma Inc., both subsidiaries of Mumbai-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals, has announced the pan-India launch of Ureaderm 10% & 20%, a urea-based moisturiser in cream formulation, for the prevention and management of extremely dry skin conditions and hyperkeratotic conditions such as psoriasis and ichthyosis, respectively. The moisturiser is designed to restore skins natural moisturising factor and boost hydration levels.

Global studies have shown urea concentrations between 5% and 40% to be effective against dry skin conditions. Building on this scientific foundation, Ureaderm has been uniquely formulated to deliver enhanced and long-lasting hydration through the integration of advanced Multilayer Fatty Acid Emulsion (MLFAE) technology.

This technology enables a sustained release of urea, ensuring deep hydration and continuous moisturization for up to 72 hours. In addition to urea, the formulation includes eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and allantoin, which work together to strengthen the skins lipid barrier, reduce water loss and keep skin soft, supple and healthy.

Available in two different concentrations, the 10% cream is ideal for adults looking for a regular skin care routine, while the 20% cream is suitable for people who need an extra dose of moisturizing to deal with skin conditions like ichthyosis or psoriasis, where extra keratolytic action is needed.
Piramal Pharma invests $90M for expansion of two US sites

May 13, 2025 | Tuesday | News

Piramal Pharma is making brownfield expansions to existing sites, financed by bank loans and internal accruals

Mumbai-based Piramal Pharma Limited, a leading global pharmaceuticals and wellness company, in conjunction with the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, has committed to a $90 million investment plan towards expanding two of the company's US facilities.

These expansions are in response to ongoing demand from US customers, in support of the trend towards US onshoring of drug supply, and in line with Piramal Pharma's overall belief in the value and benefits of US-based innovation. In both cases, Piramal Pharma is making brownfield expansions to existing sites, financed by bank loans and internal accruals, which is the fastest, lowest risk, and most economical way to add new capacities to the US market.

Piramal Pharma's Lexington, Kentucky, facility specialises in sterile compounding, liquid filling, and lyophilisation for sterile injectable drug products. The site's expansion which includes 24,000 square feet of manufacturing space and a new laboratory adds commercial-scale manufacturing that will enable the efficient scale-up of clients' injectable drug products. Key additions include a new filling line, two commercial-size lyophilisers, a special capping machine, and an external vial washer. The facility is expected to be completed and online by late 2027.

While Piramal Pharma's Riverview, Michigan site, has earned a reputation as an industry leader in the development and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and high potency APIs (HPAPIs) over the past 50+ years. Here, the company is adding a commercial-scale suite specifically for the development and manufacturing of payload-linkers. These high potency APIs are used in the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other bioconjugate drugs. The new payload-linker suite is expected to be operational before the end of 2025.

"Since its inception, Piramal Pharma Ltd has invested $570 million in its US drug development and manufacturing capabilities," said Peter DeYoung, Chief Executive Officer, Global Pharma. "The US is our largest market, where we currently employ approximately 750 people. Expanding the capacities and offerings in these two plants in the US, along with the prior major investments made in our Sellersville PA drug product facility, and our inhalation anesthesia drug substance and drug product facility in Bethlehem PA, will support our customers who value our offerings in an onshore setting."
Roche announces $550 M investment to expand diagnostics manufacturing hub in US

May 13, 2025 | Tuesday | News

To establish the Indianapolis site as a hub for manufacturing of Roche's continuous glucose monitoring solution

image credit- shutterstock

Roche has announced plans to invest up to $550 million in its Diagnostics site in Indianapolis, US by 2030. The site will become a major hub for the manufacturing of Roche's continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems  marking a new milestone in Roche's long history of revolutionizing healthcare across the globe.

Indianapolis serves as the North American headquarters for Roche Diagnostics, part of the Roche Group.

"The challenges of diabetes are pervasive, with millions of Americans living with the constant vigilance and countless daily decisions the disease requires," said Brad Moore, President and CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America. "By expanding our manufacturing capabilities in Indianapolis, we ensure reliable access to innovative monitoring solutions for individuals living with diabetes in the US and worldwide."

The Indianapolis campus houses key operations, including US research and development, laboratories, manufacturing, distribution, IT and administrative functions. It currently produces approximately 5.2 billion Accu-Chek diabetes test strips annually and serves as one of two global distribution hubs focused on serving the US market and supporting distribution to 53 countries worldwide.

Building on more than $800 million in US investments made at Roche US sites since 2015, this new commitment reinforces Roche's longterm dedication to US operations and highlights the country's central role in the company's global strategy.

The expansion is expected to generate hundreds of highly-skilled manufacturing jobs and thousands of construction jobs, providing a significant boost to Indiana's economy. It will also enhance domestic production capabilities and reduce dependency on imports  aligning with national efforts to strengthen local manufacturing.
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Chinas Jan-Apr automobile output, sales both surpass 10m for first time

Global Times) 09:57, May 13, 2025

This photo taken on April 24, 2024 shows a new energy vehicle (NEV) assembly line of BYD, China's leading NEV manufacturer, at the plant of BYD in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Photo:Xinhua

In the first four months of 2025, China's automobile production and sales both surpassed 10 million units for the first time, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Monday.

From January to April, vehicle production reached 10.175 million, up 12.9 percent year-on-year, while sales reached 10.06 million, up 10.8 percent year-on-year.

Sales of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) totaled 4.3 million from January to April, up 46.2 percent year-on-year, accounting for 42.7 percent of total new vehicle sales. NEV production reached 4.429 million, up 48.3 percent year-on-year, according to CAAM data.

NEV exports totaled 642,000, up 52.6 percent year-on-year.

The figures marked a good start to the year, with the CAAM in January estimating that China's automobile sales in 2025 could reach 32.9 million, up 4.7 percent year-on-year.

Passenger vehicle sales are projected to reach 28.9 million, up 4.9 percent year-on-year. NEV sales are expected to hit 16 million units, up 24.4 percent.

Exports are expected to reach 6.2 million, up 5.8 percent year-on-year, according to the CAAM.

Zhang Xiang, secretary-general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association, told the Global Times that the good start in the automobile sector has been bolstered by China's stable policy environment and robust economic growth.

Wu Shuocheng, a veteran automobile industry analyst, attributed the bright prospects of NEV exports to their strong appeal in emerging markets. "This is fueled by Chinese vehicles' superior performance, competitive pricing and innovative features," Wu told the Global Times.

Wu credited the success of Chinese automakers to years of supply chain optimization and pioneering advancements in electrification and intelligent technologies.

Five favorable factors are expected to support the vehicle sector this year, Xu Haidong, deputy chief engineer at the CAAM, said in January at a press conference.

Xu cited the accelerated release of macroeconomic policies and their impact on the sector's vitality, the sustained impact of the equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs, the continuation of the purchase tax exemption for NEVs, the ongoing expansion of overseas market opportunities, and significant achievements in supply-side structural reforms.

According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), as of Sunday, the number of applications for vehicle trade-in subsidies had reached 3.225 million, including 1.035 million for scrapping and updating vehicles and 2.19 million for replacement updates. Since the implementation of the vehicle trade-in policy in 2024, the cumulative number of subsidy applications has exceeded 10 million.

The vehicle trade-in policy has effectively boosted the growth of automobile consumption. Green and intelligent consumer models are particularly favored, with NEVs accounting for more than 53 percent of the trade-ins thus far this year, CCTV News reported.

Meanwhile, China is sharing its vast market with multinationals.

"In the consumer goods trade-in program, we treat foreign enterprises equally and support their participation," said Li Weizheng, a MOFCOM official, on January 7 at a press conference.

In vehicle trade-in programs, new vehicles of foreign brands accounted for about 35 percent of sales in 2024, driving relatively rapid growth for foreign automakers in China, said Li.

This year's good start was achieved on a high base in 2024. China's total automobile production and sales have ranked first globally for 16 consecutive years, said the CAAM.

China's automobile production reached 31.282 million units in 2024, up 3.7 percent year-on-year, while sales totaled 31.436 million, up 4.5 percent year-on-year, setting new records and maintaining a scale above 30 million units, according to the CAAM.

The output and sales of NEVs witnessed significant growth in 2024. For the full year, NEV production totaled 12.888 million units, a year-on-year increase of 34.4 percent, and sales totaled 12.866 million, up 35.5 percent. NEV sales accounted for 40.9 percent of total new vehicle sales, up 9.3 percentage points from 2023.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Travel disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport continued to frustrate passengers on Monday, with dozens of flights canceled and delayed after another radar outage and ongoing air traffic control challenges.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that Newark was operating under a ground delay program, causing average departure delays of 101 minutes.

By 1:45 p.m., the airport had canceled 80 flights and delayed 129, as reported by FlightAware, NBC said.

These delays are part of a broader pattern of increasing disruptions that have been plaguing the airport since mid-April.

The FAA cited radar outages and a shortage of air traffic controllers as primary causes.

This issue worsened on Sunday when a telecommunications failure at the Philadelphia air traffic control facility, which manages Newark's airspace, caused significant slowdowns. Passengers were hit with delays as the FAA temporarily reduced flight operations to ensure safety.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the ongoing issues and explained that the Trump administration had decided to cut back on flight volumes at Newark for the coming weeks.

He stated that while these reductions are necessary to manage air traffic, they would likely be more pronounced in the afternoons, coinciding with busy international flight arrivals.

"We are trying to ensure that when you book a flight, it will actually take off as scheduled," Duffy said during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." He also noted that airlines serving Newark would meet this week to discuss the specifics of these reductions.

Newark Airport was marred by canceled flights and delays after a technical failure caused widespread disruption last week.



Air traffic controllers who were in the thick of it have taken leave to recover from "traumatic stress," compounding a massive staffing shortage.



PBS News pic.twitter.com/9C0GDk1GQ5  PBS News (@NewsHour) May 7, 2025

Newark Airport Faces Setbacks Amid Ongoing Radar Malfunctions

The disruption comes on the heels of another radar malfunction on Friday, which caused a brief halt to operations at Newark.

According to NY Post, the FAA confirmed a similar radar issue on April 28, which led to air traffic controllers taking time off to recover from the stress of the technical glitches.

These setbacks are compounded by a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

The FAA confirmed that some controllers have been forced to take leave due to trauma from the repeated outages, further exacerbating staffing shortages at Newark.

In response, the Trump administration has proposed a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the US air traffic control system. The plan includes new air traffic control centers and technology upgrades to better handle the nation's airspace.

To address the staffing crisis, Duffy revealed that a 20% up-front bonus would be offered to new controllers to fill gaps in the workforce.

Additionally, he announced plans to raise the mandatory retirement age for air traffic controllers from 56 to 61, aiming to retain experienced workers.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Rumor  Ibrahim Traore allegedly sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV demanding actions in favor of Africa and received a historic response including a billion-euro fund and a visit to the continent.

Analysis

The name of Ibrahim Traore, interim president of Burkina Faso, has become a frequent figure in viral videos on social media. These videos often attribute confrontations with international authorities and allegedly revolutionary actions to him. Many of these videos use artificial intelligence to create speeches or situations that never happened but gain traction among unsuspecting viewers.

The most recent example is a video circulating on YouTube and social media claiming that Ibrahim Traore sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV, criticizing the Vaticans opulence in contrast with Africas struggles. According to the video, the pope allegedly responded with unprecedented actions, including the creation of a billion-euro fund, ecclesiastical reforms, and a visit to Burkina Faso. Heres the content:

IBRAHIM TRAORE sends SHOCKING MESSAGE to the new POPE LEO XIV and LEAVES EVERYONE SPEECHLESS The young president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, shocked the world by sending a historic letter to the new Pope Leo XIV after the death of Pope Francis. With bold words and painful truths, he confronted the Church over the Vaticans wealth while Africa suffers in misery.

The Popes response surprised everyone: for the first time in history, the Vatican took revolutionary measures that forever changed its relationship with Africa. A 50-billion-euro fund, changes in Church hierarchy, and a historic visit to Burkina Faso marked the beginning of a new era. A story of courage that shows us how truth, when spoken firmly and heard humbly, can transform even the most powerful institutions in the world.

Fact-check

As in other cases, this is another fake news story created with AI. The viral content contains three central points that need analysis: 1) Who is Ibrahim Traore? 2) Did Ibrahim Traore send a letter to Pope Leo XIV about Africa? 3) Did Pope Leo XIV announce a fund for Africa and respond to him?

Who is Ibrahim Traore?

Ibrahim Traore is the current interim president of Burkina Faso, having taken power after a military coup in September 2022. At 34, he became the youngest head of state in the world at the time.

His image has been widely used in fictional internet content, often placing him in fabricated confrontations with figures like Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and judicial leaders  always under the narrative that he faces the system with bravery. One such example can be seen in this debunked article from Boatos.org, which falsely claimed that Traore responded to Donald Trump  something that never happened.

Did Ibrahim Traore send a letter to Pope Leo XIV about Africa?

No. This information has no basis in reality. There is no public record in credible news outlets or on the Vaticans website of Ibrahim Traore sending any letter to the newly appointed pontiff. Since no letter was sent, no response could have been made. It is also worth noting that Leo XIV has not yet made his first official trip.

Did Pope Leo XIV announce a fund for Africa and respond to him?

There has been no recent announcement of a billion-euro fund from the Vatican as described. The claim of a 50-billion-euro fund is entirely unfounded. There are also no reports of changes in the Catholic Church structure linked to the president of Burkina Faso, nor any planned papal visit to the country. These elements are part of a fictional narrative built using artificial intelligence, as seen in other similar videos such as this previous debunk.

Conclusion

The video claiming that Ibrahim Traore sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV, received a response, and sparked a transformation in the Catholic Church is false. There is no such letter sent or received, and no billion-euro fund was announced. This is yet another fictional piece created with artificial intelligence to distort the image of the president of Burkina Faso.

Fake news 

Ps: This article was suggested by readers of Boatos.org. If you want to suggest a topic to Boatos.org, contact us via email at [email protected] or WhatsApp (link here: https://wa.me/556192755610)
Riley Nelson 27 is excited about the FAIT trifecta of gaining more IT skills, working in public service, and traveling the world.

The FAIT Fellowship provides generous tuition support for two years, two paid internships, mentorship, and professional development, culminating in a five-year post as a diplomatic technology officer.

The program is designed to attract top technology talent to the Foreign Service, according to the US Department of State. After fellows have completed the fellowship, they're typically posted to three different US embassies over their initial assignment.

For Riley Nelson, the fellowship brings together two of his primary career interestspublic service and computer scienceand adds in his desire to travel.

It's an incredible opportunity because I want to work in the government, and it'll give me training I wouldn't otherwise receive, especially in cyber security, he said. Plus, it's an incredible opportunity to explore and get to know other cultures.

Nelson first learned about the fellowship from Jason Pelletier, Bowdoin's senior director of client services and technology. Nelson is a student team leader in Bowdoin's IT department. I only heard about it through Jason, so I've thanked him and my supervisor, Sherry, he said.

Sherry Saxida, manager of student technical services and the digital corps, praised Nelson for being a key team member in our IT department, excelling in customer support, staff training, computer maintenance, software troubleshooting, and networking issues.

Growing up in Pittsfield, Maine, Nelson first became interested in the government when he participated in a YMCA program for high school students called Maine Youth in Government. He ended up bringing a mock bill he had written for the YMCA to the Maine state legislature. An amended version passed to allow both men and women access to baby changing stations in the public restrooms of state buildings.

That process gave me an interest in knowing how government works, Nelson said. He's minoring in government and legal studies. Plus, I like wearing a suit, I like dressing up! he joked.

He mentioned that he's also inspired by his grandfather, who enlisted during the Vietnam War to ensure his three brothers were spared from fighting, and a friend of his who joined the US Army after high school. They were large inspirations for me to find a way to serve, even though a career in the military is not for me, he said.
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Postal Code
Disgraced former solicitor Michael Lynn has failed to have his five-and-a-half-year sentence reduced on appeal for stealing more than 18 million from six financial institutions during the Celtic Tiger era.

In a lengthy judgment delivered at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Mr Justice John Edwards said the thefts were perpetrated cynically, knowingly and intentionally, and Lynns culpability was aggravated by the breaches of trust involved in how he dealt with the banks.

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He noted Lynn had brought his profession into disrepute and had effectively leveraged his status as a solicitor to facilitate his crimes.

He said Lynn had displayed arrogance and hubris, traces of which were evident even to this day in the way in which he had met this case and the suggestion that because the victims were institutions rather than individuals who may have been insured against theft and fraud, the harm done by him was somehow less significant.

He said the trial judge was correct to approach the sentencing on the basis that there was a high level of premeditation on Lynns part in respect of the offending.

The former solicitor had displayed limited insight into the harm done and there was no finding of sincere remorse, Mr Justice Edwards said.

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Lynn was jailed for obtaining multiple mortgages on the same properties in a situation where banks were unaware that other institutions were also providing finance. These properties included 'Glenlion', Lynn's 5.5 million home in Howth, and multiple investment properties.

He had to be extradited from Brazil in 2018 after spending years resisting attempts to have him face charges. As part of the extradition agreement with Brazil, Lynn was to be given credit for the prison time he had already served.

Lynn (56), of Millbrook Court, Redcross, Co. Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to theft contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud offences), but he was found guilty by a jury of ten of the 21 theft counts against him following a second Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial after the jury in his first trial in 2022 failed to reach a verdict.

The former solicitor was originally sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to five and a half years in prison, having been convicted of stealing 18.1 million from six financial institutions.

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Judge Nolan fixed the headline sentence at 16 years, before discounting three years for mitigation.

He subtracted a further seven and a half years because of time spent by Lynn in a Brazilian prison while awaiting extradition, and also because of the conditions of the prison in Brazil.

The judge also took into consideration the 105 days Lynn spent in Cloverhill, with the sentence backdated to December 20th, 2023.

At the appeal hearing last November, Paul Comiskey OKeefe BL, representing Lynn, argued that not enough weight was given to the mitigating factors in the case, including the recovery by financial institutions of certain losses and the asset disposal by the former solicitor for the repayment of losses.

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He also suggested that insufficient weight was given to Lynns PTSD from his time in a Brazilian prison, despite being acknowledged by the sentencing judge.

Delivering judgment on behalf of the three-judge court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Edwards noted that regrettably, the single biggest potential mitigating factor  a plea of guilty  was absent in this case.

He said that while the conditions Lynn faced while in prison in Brazil were harsh, the former solicitor was, to some extent, the author of his own misfortune by consciously relocating to a country with which Ireland does not have an extradition treaty.

It is an entirely reasonable inference on the evidence in this case that his relocation to Brazil was expressly for the purpose of avoiding an anticipated future request for his rendition to Ireland from Portugal, he said.

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The judge said appropriate allowances were made for the time spent on remand while in prison in Brazil and rejected the contention that not enough weight had been given to the mitigating factors in the case.

Mr Justice Edwards went on to say there was no error in the headline sentence set by the trial judge or in the overall global approach taken.

However, the court found the sentence imposed had been inappropriately structured in respect of how credit for time served on remand in an Irish prison was treated.

The court therefore quashed the original sentence and reduced the amount of credit being given for time spent in custody in Ireland by three months, leaving a final sentence of five years and nine months in prison.

He imposed the same five years and nine months on each of the ten counts, to run concurrently, dating from December 20th, 2023.

This will effectively leave Lynns sentence unchanged if the prison authorities apply the full three months' credit for remission.

During his trial, Lynn took the stand and claimed the banks were aware he had multiple loans on the same properties and that this was custom and practice among bankers in Celtic Tiger Ireland.

He was extradited from Brazil in 2018 after spending four and a half years in a hellhole prison there. In the first trial, Lynn told the jury the jail was essentially run by prisoners, and he witnessed the beheading of a young gay prisoner.
A man wanted to stand trial on terrorism charges has appeared in court in Co Tyrone after being extradited from the Republic.

Omagh Magistrates Court heard that Sean Walsh, 58, of Belmont Park, Ballinlough, Douglas, Co Cork, is alleged to have attended a meeting which was targeted in a PSNI surveillance operation against the New IRA.

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A PSNI detective sergeant told the court that he had executed the extradition warrant on Walsh on Tuesday morning outside Newry.

He said there had been a lengthy courts and appeal process in the Republic after the warrants were first issued by a Belfast court in November 2021.

The detective told the court the case against Walsh related to Operation Arbacia, which was a surveillance operation targeting alleged New IRA meetings.

He said police believe Walsh attended a meeting in 2020 in the Omagh area.

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A number of other people have been charged as part of the same operation.

Walsh is to stand trial for offences of belonging to a proscribed organisation, directing terrorism, conspiracy to direct terrorism and preparation of acts of terrorism.

The charges relate to a meeting that allegedly took place at an address on Buninver Road in Gortin, Co Tyrone.

Ireland Nephew (27) of late Aslan singer Christy Dignam di... Read More

A prosecuting barrister told the court that she would oppose any application for bail.

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She said Walsh had no address in Northern Ireland and had fought his extradition to the jurisdiction.

District Judge Peter Magill pointed out that Walsh had no legal representative in court and adjourned the case until Wednesday in Dungannon to allow for his lawyer to be present to make a bail application.
A man who set upon a Spanish student in Dublin city centre in an utterly unprovoked attack with homophobic overtones has been jailed for three years.

The 25-year-old Spanish man had recently arrived in Ireland to study English when he was punched several times after homophobic slurs were shouted at him while he was out socialising in the early hours of the morning.

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He suffered a broken jaw and required surgery in the aftermath of the attack, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. He had been due to stay in Ireland for one year but left the country within weeks of the assault.

Kevin Geraghty (31) of Carmens Hall Hostel, Francis Street, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the man on Cuffe Street, Dublin 2 in the early hours of September 19th, 2024. He has 70 previous convictions.

The court heard the victim had been at a nightclub in town and was standing outside a bar waiting for a friend when two men approached him, shouting homophobic slurs. One of the men, Geraghty, then punched him several times to the face before fleeing the scene. Geraghty later denied he shouted homophobic abuse at the victim.

The victim went home to bed but woke up the next morning feeling unwell and went to hospital. He remained there for a number of days and required surgery. His parents flew over from Madrid to be with him.

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The court heard that at the time of the attack, Geraghty was wearing a distinctive orange jacket. Two weeks later, he was spotted by gardai wearing the same jacket and arrested. He made no admissions.

Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, said Geraghty was a crack cocaine addict who slipped into drug use after leaving school at a young age. He has been in custody since his arrest and is doing well, the court heard.

Ireland Son of Tuam survivor 'over the moon' to secure fun... Read More

Sentencing him on Tuesday, Judge Orla Crowe said it was a completely unprovoked attack on a visitor to our country. It was an attack that had distinct homophobic overtones to it, she noted.

They might not have been uttered by this defendant but they were uttered and he punched the injured party to the face, she said. She noted it had a huge impact on the injured party, including a financial impact.

She said Geraghty has a CV littered with convictions.

Judge Crowe set a sentence of three years and nine months and suspended the final nine months on a number of conditions.
A man who was reunited with his birth mother, a survivor of one of Irelands most notorious mother and baby homes, has raised more than 70,000 to buy her home.

Patrick Naughton, 70, from Ealing, west London, was taken from his mother, Christina Chrissie Tully, from the Tuam mother and baby home in Co Galway in 1954, just weeks after she gave birth to him aged 24.

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Mr Naughton, who moved to the UK with his adoptive parents aged 13, was reunited with Ms Tully, now 93, in 2013.

In a bid to help his birth mother, whom he said never had anything in her life, Mr Naughton set up a fundraiser to help her buy her council home, which was valued at 50,000.

Chrissie Tully, 93, a survivor of the Tuam mother and baby home in Co Galway (Patrick Naughton/PA)

Last week Ms Tullys story was picked up by the New York Times and since then their fundraiser has reached more than 71,000, hitting their target.

Chrissie is stunned  the penny hasnt dropped yet, Mr Naughton said.

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She never believed it would happen in her lifetime.

I just cant thank everybody enough. It means the world and the earth to both of us.

We had a wonderful woman in San Diego who was moved by our story and she donated $50,000 (44,800). Im just over the moon.

Ms Tully, who had given birth to another boy in 1949, when she was 18, via Caesarean section, was told by doctors at the time that he had died.

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But she believes her son, whom she named Michael, is still alive.

As many as 68,000 people went through the religious-run mother and baby homes. Womens babies were forcibly taken from them and adopted.

Up to 9,000 children died in institutions across the country, in appalling conditions.

Mr Naughton said he had set up the fundraiser to buy her home from Galway council in case Michael ever returned like he did.

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He said he and his mother have searched high and low in recent years for records of her first child, but have been unable to find anything.

He said Ms Tully received a record from a Freedom of Information request that said the baby had been returned to Tuam home after he died.

A mass unmarked grave at the former site of the Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway (Niall Carson/PA)

In 2014 it was revealed that hundreds of babies had been indecently buried in a sewage tank at the Tuam mother and baby home.

The research by local historian Catherine Corless found that 796 babies and young children had died and been indecently buried in a defunct sewage system at the home between 1925 and 1961.

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Ms Tully, who said he could be in that pit in Tuam, but he could also have been adopted, said she wanted to keep her home for after she had died, in case he came looking for her, like Mr Naughton.

After they hit their fundraising target Mr Naughton said: We will get a plaque and we will put it up over the door and call it Michaels home.

Mr Naughton, who regularly travels to Ireland to visit his birth mother said: I am so happy because all of her life shes never had or owned anything.

She worked in a priests house for 13 years and then she worked in another home for 26 years simply because they were live-in jobs as she had nowhere to go.

Thats the icing on the cake is that she can spend the last few years of life knowing that shes an equal.

Thanks isnt enough for the people that have done this.

I just hope and pray to God Michael does come back.
Much of the cinema world, including Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino, have descended on the Cannes Film Festival as the 78th edition of the French Riviera extravaganza got under way.

Over the next 12 days, Cannes will play host to major premieres including Mission: Impossible  The Final Reckoning, Spike Lees Highest 2 Lowest and Ari Asters Eddington.

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DiCaprio skirted the red carpet but drew a standing ovation when he presented De Niro with an honorary Palme dOr. The moment, which brought together two of Martin Scorseses most regular stars, came 49 years after Taxi Driver was crowned with the Palme dOr.





DiCaprio praised De Niro as the archetype actor, while also praising the 81-year-old performer  a fierce critic of US President Donald Trump  for fighting for our democracy.

When the crowd rose to its feet for a lengthy ovation for De Niro, DiCaprio handed him the Palme. Thanks kiddo, said De Niro.

After thanking the festival, De Niro turned to Mr Trump, who recently said he wanted to enact a tariff on films made outside the US.

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Art is the truth. Art embraces diversity. And thats why art is a threat to the autocrats and the fascists of the world, said De Niro.

Americas philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of Americas premier cultural institutions. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he announced a 100% tariff on films made outside the United States. You cant put a price on connectivity.



Quentin Tarantino (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

The opening ceremony, which preceded the premiere of Amelie Bonnins French romance Leave One Day, was attended by Tarantino, who emerged to grandly declare the festival open, and then promptly dropped the microphone and walked off stage. On Wednesday, he will pay tribute to western filmmaker George Sherman.

Also in attendance was Sean Baker, the Anora director and last years Palme dOr winner.

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The ceremony capped a busy day that included a three-film salute to Ukraine, the introduction of the jury that will decide the Palme dOr, headed by Juliette Binoche, and the debut of a restoration of Charlie Chaplins The Gold Rush for its 100th anniversary.

Last years festival produced a number of eventual Oscar contenders, including Emilia Perez, The Substance, Flow and the best picture winner Anora.

Asked on Monday if he was feeling the pressure this time around, festival director Thierry Fremaux said the only kind of pressure he believes in is in beer.

Cannes launched the same day Gerard Depardieu, one of Frances most famous actors, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a 2021 film set.

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In one of Frances most prominent MeToo cases, the 76-year-old  who has long been a regular presence at Cannes  was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Talking about Mr Trumps call for tariffs on movies made overseas, Binoche said: I dont know what to say, really, about that. We can see that hes fighting and trying in many different ways to save America and save his ass.

The other eight jurors include Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong, who was unable to attend Cannes last year for the premiere of his Trump film The Apprentice. He referenced that film, which led to his first Oscar nomination, in his comments about the US president on Tuesday.

Truth is under assault, said Strong. Specifically at this temple of film, the role of film is increasingly critical because it can combat those forces in the entropy of truth, and can communicate truths, individual truths, human truths, societal truths, and affirm and celebrate our shared humanity.

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Jury president Juliette Binoche (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Berry, responding to new protocols on attire for the Cannes red carpet, said she had an amazing dress with a long train for the opening ceremony but wore something else instead.

Cannes has outlawed nudity and dresses with long trains for its evening premieres at the Palais.

I had to make a pivot, said Berry. But the nudity part, I do think is probably also a good rule.

Cannes will follow Tuesdays festivities with the return on Wednesday of Tom Cruise. Three years after he brought Top Gun: Maverick to the festival, he is back with the latest Mission: Impossible movie.



Halle Berry (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Twenty-two films will vie for Cannes top prize, the Palme dOr, to be presented on May 24. They include Wes Andersons The Phoenician Scheme, Richard Linklaters Nouvelle Vague, Lynne Ramsays Die, My Love, Joachim Triers Sentimental Value, Kelly Reichardts The Mastermind, Oliver Hermanus The History Of Sound, Julia Ducournaus Alpha and Jafar Panahis A Simple Accident.

In the Un Certain Regard section, three prominent actors are making their directorial debuts: Harris Dickinson (Urchin), Kristen Stewart (The Chronology Of Water) and Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor The Great).

Geopolitics are likely to play a starring role at Cannes, which began by screening three 2025 Ukraine documentaries: Zelensky, Bernard-Henri Levys Notre Guerre and the Associated Press-Frontline co-production 2000 Metres to Andriivka, by 20 Days In Mariupol Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov.

On Tuesday, more than 350 filmmakers, actors and others in the film industry  including Richard Gere, Pedro Almodovar, Javier Bardem, Viggo Mortensen and Mark Ruffalo, published an open letter in the French newspaper Liberation and in Variety calling on cinema institutions to more forcefully respond to what they called genocide in Gaza.
A Paris court on Tuesday found actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of having sexually assaulted two women on a 2021 film set, sentencing him to an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

The actor, 76, was convicted of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

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The panel of judges will deliver a verdict regarding another plaintiff and pronounce a sentence later on Tuesday.

The case is widely seen as a key post-#MeToo test of how French society and its film industry address allegations of sexual misconduct involving prominent figures.

Depardieu has denied the accusations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is no way Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.

His comments are likely to complicate talks on a new ceasefire that had seemed to gain momentum after Hamas released the last living American hostage on Monday in a gesture to US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region but skipping Israel.

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They suggested a potentially widening rift between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump, who had expressed hope that Mondays release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step towards ending the 19-month war.





In comments released by his office on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said Israeli forces were just days away from a promised escalation of force and would enter Gaza with great strength to complete the mission.  It means destroying Hamas.

Any ceasefire deal would be temporary, the prime minister said. If Hamas said they would release more hostages, well take them, and then well go in. But there will be no way we will stop the war, he said, adding: We can make a ceasefire for a certain period of time, but were going to the end.

Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The dispute over whether to end the conflict has been the main obstacle in negotiations going back more than a year.

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Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with as many as 23 said to be alive, although authorities have expressed concern about the condition of three of them. Many of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants in the attack that started the war on October 7 2023 have been freed in ceasefire deals.

Mondays release of 21-year-old Mr Alexander resulted from negotiations between Hamas and the Trump administration that appeared to have largely bypassed Israel, which made no concessions for his release.

Mr Alexander, who was 19 when he was taken from an Israeli army base during the 2023 attack, was the first hostage released since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March and unleashed strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.



Edan Alexander (Hostages and Missing Families Forum/AP)

This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators  Qatar and Egypt  to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones, Mr Trump wrote on social media on Sunday evening.

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Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict. I look very much forward to that day of celebration!

Mr Alexanders parents said in a statement on Tuesday that their son had described a harsh captivity that included hunger, lack of water and appalling sanitary conditions.

His mother Yael said he feared for his life every day, but the most terrible sound that Edan feared was the sound of the war going on above their heads. Deafening explosions, the whistles of missiles, the sounds of collapse, collapse, and the earth shaking.

Mr Alexanders parents called on Mr Netanyahu to listen to the vast majority of the Israeli public and prioritise the return of the remaining hostages. They thanked Mr Trump and his envoys for their tireless efforts on Edans behalf.

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Israel has promised to intensify its offensive, including by seizing Gaza and displacing much of the territorys population again. Days before the ceasefire ended in March, Israel blocked all imports from entering the Palestinian enclave, deepening a humanitarian crisis and sparking warnings about the risk of famine if the blockade is not lifted.

Israel says the steps are meant to pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement on Israels terms.

The World Health Organisation said on Tuesday that according to Gazas Health Ministry, 57 children had died from the effects of malnutrition since the blockade began on March 2.



Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli air strike on the European Hospital (Mariam Dagga/AP)

Also on Tuesday, the Israeli military struck what it said was a Hamas command and control centre beneath a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The strike on the European Hospital was the days second strike on a hospital in the city.

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Gazas Health Ministry said six people were killed and 40 wounded in the strike. The dead were taken to the Nasser Hospital. Earlier on Tuesday, Israel struck the latter site, saying militants were operating inside it. Two people, including a journalist who was targeted in an earlier strike, were killed.

Mr Alexanders release created a backlash against Mr Netanyahu, who critics accuse of putting the lives of the hostages in danger by continuing the war. He says he is committed to returning all the hostages, destroying Hamas and resettling much of Gazas population through what he refers to as voluntary emigration.
Robert Benton, the Oscar-winning filmmaker who helped reset the rules in Hollywood as the co-creator of Bonnie And Clyde, and later received mainstream validation as the writer-director of Kramer Vs Kramer, has died at the age age 92.

His son John said he died Sunday at his home in Manhattan of natural causes.

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During a 40-year screen career, the Texas native received six Oscar nominations and won three times: for writing and directing Kramer Vs Kramer and for writing Places In The Heart.

He was widely appreciated by actors as attentive and trusting, and directed Oscar-winning performances by Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Sally Field.



Robert Benton with Nicole Kidman at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2003 (Tobin Grimshaw/Canadian Press/AP)

Although severe dyslexia left him unable to read more than a few pages at a time as a child, he wrote and directed film adaptations of novels by Philip Roth, EL Doctorow and Richard Russo, among others.

Benton was an art director for Esquire magazine in the early 1960s when a love for French New Wave movies and old gangster stories inspired him and Esquire editor David Newman to draft a treatment about the lives of Depression-era robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, imagining them as prototypes for 1960s rebels.

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The project took years to complete as Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard were among the directors who turned them down before Warren Beatty agreed to produce and star in the movie.

Bonnie and Clyde, directed by Arthur Penn and starring Beatty and Faye Dunaway, overcame initial critical resistance in 1967 to the films shocking violence and became one of the touchstones of 1960s culture and the start of a more open and creative era in Hollywood.

The original story by Benton and Newman was even more daring: they had made Clyde Barrow bisexual and involved in a three-way relationship with Bonnie and their male getaway driver.

Beatty and Penn resisted and Barrow was instead portrayed as impotent, with an uncredited Robert Towne making numerous other changes to the script.

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Bonnie and Clyde poster (Alamy/PA)

I honestly dont know who the auteur of Bonnie And Clyde was, Benton later told Mark Harris, author of Pictures At A Revolution, a book about Bonnie And Clyde and four other movies from 1967.

Over the following decade, none of Bentons films approached the impact of Bonnie And Clyde, although he continued to have critical and commercial success.

His writing credits included Superman and Whats Up, Doc? He directed and co-wrote such well-reviewed works as Bad Company, a revisionist western featuring Jeff Bridges, and The Late Show, a melancholy comedy for which his screenplay received an Oscar nomination.

His career soared in 1979 with his adaptation of the Avery Corman novel Kramer Vs Kramer, about a self-absorbed advertising executive who becomes a loving parent to his young son after his wife walks out, only to have her return and ask for custody.

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Starring Hoffman and Streep, the movie was praised as a perceptive, emotional portrait of changing family roles and expectations and won five Academy Awards, including best picture.

Hoffman, disenchanted at the time with the film business, cited the movie and Bensons direction for reviving his love for movie acting.



Dustin Hoffman (Alamy/PA)

Five years later, Benton was back in the Oscars race with a more personal film, Places In The Heart, in which he drew on family stories and childhood memories for his 1930s-set drama starring Field as a mother of two in Texas who fights to hold on to her land after her husband is killed.

I think that when I saw it all strung together, I was surprised at what a romantic view I had of the past, Benton told the Associated Press in 1984, adding that the movie was in part a tribute to his mother, who had died shortly before the release of Kramer Vs Kramer.

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Benton was born in Waxahachie, Texas, outside Dallas. He owed his early love for movies to his father, telephone company employee Ellery Douglass Benton who, instead of asking about homework, would take his family to the picture shows.

The elder Benton would also share memories of attending the funerals of outlaws Barrow and Parker, Texas natives who grew up in the Dallas area.

Robert Benton studied at the University of Texas and Columbia University, then served in the US Army from 1954 until 1956.

While at Esquire, he helped start the magazines long-standing Dubious Achievement Award and dated Gloria Steinem, then on staff at the humour magazine Help! He married artist Sallie Rendigs in 1964. They had one son.

Between hits, Benton often endured long dry spells. His latter films included such disappointments as the thrillers Billy Bathgate, The Human Stain and Twilight.

He had much more success with Nobodys Fool, a wry comedy released in 1994 and starring Paul Newman, in his last Oscar-nominated performance, as a small-town troublemaker in upstate New York.

Benton, whose film was based on Russos novel, was nominated for best adapted screenplay.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will not attend an Arab League summit in Iraq this week and the countrys delegation will be headed by the foreign minister, the presidents office has said.

A short statement released by the office of President Ahmad al-Sharaa did not give a reason why he will not attend the summit but an invitation by the Iraqi government last month trigged sharp political divisions in Iraq.

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The summit is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on Saturday.

Mr al-Sharaa and his interim government in Syria have been scrambling to establish ties with countries across the Middle East in a bid to ease scepticism about his former ties to al Qaida and to convince Washington to lift crippling economic sanctions on the battered country.

Attending the Arab Summit would have been a major symbolic diplomatic victory for Damascus as well, as Mr al-Sharaa struggles to deal with opponents in the countries, largely from non-Sunni Muslim minority groups, as he tries to exert state authority across Syria.

Mr al-Sharaa took power after leading a lightning rebel offensive that unseated his predecessor, Bashar Assad, in December.

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Since then, he has positioned himself as a statesman aiming to unite and rebuild his country after nearly 14 years of civil war, but his past as a Sunni Islamist militant has left many  including Shiite groups in Iraq  wary.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Mr al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al Qaida insurgents battling US forces in Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq.

During Syrias conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside Assads forces, making Mr al-Sharaa a particularly sensitive figure for them.
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States on a trip to the Gulf.

The US agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion (126 billion), according to the White House which called it "the largest defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done.

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The surprise announcement about sanctions on Syria would be a huge boost for a country that has been shattered by more than a decade of civil war. Rebels led by current President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad last December.

Speaking in Riyadh, Trump said he was acting on a request to scrap the sanctions by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"Oh what I do for the crown prince," Trump said, drawing laughs from the audience. He said the sanctions had served an important function but that it was now time for the country to move forward.

The United States declared Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, added sanctions in 2004 and imposed further sanctions after the civil war broke out in 2011.

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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani said on X that the planned move marked a "new start" in Syria's path to reconstruction. Trump has agreed to briefly greet Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a White House official said.

Trump and the Saudi crown prince signed an agreement covering energy, defense, mining and other areas. Trump has sought to strengthen relations with the Saudis to improve regional ties with Israel and act as a bulwark against Iran.

The agreement covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said. The Saudi prince said the deal included investment opportunities worth $600 billion, including deals worth $300 billion that were signed during Trump's visit.

"We will work in the coming months on the second phase to complete deals and raise it to $1 trillion," he said.

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Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for US arms.

Reuters reported in April the US was poised to offer the kingdom an arms package worth well over $100 billion.

"I really believe we like each other a lot," Trump said during a meeting with the crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia had discussed Riyadh's potential purchase of Lockheed F-35 jets, two sources briefed on discussions told Reuters, referring to a military aircraft that the kingdom is long thought to have been interested in.

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It was not immediately clear whether those aircraft were covered in the deal announced on Tuesday.

Trump, who was accompanied by U.S. business leaders including billionaire Elon Musk, will go on from Riyadh to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

He has not scheduled a stop in Israel, a decision that has raised questions about where the close ally stands in Washington's priorities, and the focus of the trip is on investment rather than security matters in the Middle East.

"While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said.

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"As a result ... when Saudis and Americans join forces very good things happen, more often than not great things happen when those joint ventures happen," he said before Trump's arrival.

Trump told the investment forum that relations with Saudi Arabia will be even stronger.

He was shown speaking with Riyadhs sovereign wealth fund governor Yaser al-Rumayyan, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, and Falih as he toured a hall that showed off models for the kingdoms flashy, multi-billion-dollar development projects.

Trump called the Saudi crown prince a friend and said they have a good relationship, according to a pool report from the Wall Street Journal, adding that Saudi investment would help create jobs in the U.S.

Business leaders at the investment forum included Larry Fink, the chief executive of asset management firm BlackRock; Stephen A. Schwartzman, chief executive of asset manager Blackstone; and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Musk chatted briefly with both Trump and the crown prince, who is otherwise known as MbS, during a palace reception for the U.S. president. Top U.S. businessmen including Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief, and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman joined Trump for a lunch with MbS.

MbS has focused on diversifying the Saudi economy in a major reform program dubbed Vision 2030 that includes "Giga-projects" such as NEOM, a futuristic city the size of Belgium. Oil generated 62 per cent of Saudi government revenue last year.

The kingdom has scaled back some of its ambitions as rising costs and falling oil prices weigh.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have maintained strong ties for decades based on an ironclad arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security in exchange.
Turkey is closely monitoring any attempts to undermine its peace initiative with the PKK, a senior official said, following the militant Kurdish groups announcement that it is dissolving and ending its decades-long armed conflict with the Turkish state.

The PKK, widely designated as a terrorist organisation, announced the historic decision on Monday months after its imprisoned leader called for the group to formally disband and disarm  a move that could bring an end to one of the Middle Easts longest-running insurgencies.

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In making the call, the PKK leader stressed the need for securing Kurdish rights through negotiation rather than armed struggle.





Previous peace efforts with the group have failed, most recently in 2015. Given the past failures, a close aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed determination to uphold the current initiative and prevent any disruptions.

We are closely following attempts to sabotage the process and we will not allow anyone to test our states determination in this regard, Fahrettin Altun, the head of the Turkish presidential communications office said.

The PKK initially launched its struggle with the goal of establishing an independent Kurdish state.

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Over time, it moderated its objectives toward autonomy and greater Kurdish rights within Turkey.

The conflict, which has spilled into neighbouring Iraq and Syria, has claimed tens of thousands of lives since it began in the 1980s.

The latest peace effort, which the government has labelled Terror-Free Turkey was launched in October, after a key ally of the president suggested parole for PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan if the PKK renounces violence and disbands.

Officials have not disclosed details about the process that will follow the PKKs decision.

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Media close to the government have reported that the PKKs disarmament process is expected to take three to four months, with weapons being collected at designated locations in northern Iraq under official supervision.

According to Hurriyet newspaper, the disarmament could be overseen jointly by Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq or through a commission involving Turkey, the US, European Union nations and Iraq.

The newspaper also suggested that high-ranking PKK members may be relocated to third countries, while lower-ranking militants without arrest warrants could return to Turkey once a legal framework is established to facilitate their reintegration.

Turkish officials have not responded to requests for comment on the report.

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Analysts expect Mr Ocalan to see improved prison conditions following the PKKs disbandment.

Mr Erdogan said on Monday that the PKKs declaration should apply to all PKK-affiliated groups, including Kurdish groups in Syria.

The Kurdish fighters in Syria have ties to the PKK and have been involved in intense fighting with Turkish-backed forces there. The leader of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces previously said Mr Ocalans call for a dissolution does not apply to his group in Syria.

The group then reached an agreement with the central government in Damascus for a nationwide ceasefire and its merger into the Syrian army. Despite the deal, Kurdish officials in Syria later declared their desire for a federal state, sparking tensions with the Syrian government.

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Some believe the main aim of the reconciliation effort is for Mr Erdogans government to garner Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his term ends.
The group representing White House journalists said it was disturbed the Trump administration barred wire service news reporters from travelling with the president on Air Force One to the Middle East.

No reporters from The Associated Press (AP), Bloomberg or Reuters were on the plane, where presidents often take questions from travelling members of the press.

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Their reports are distributed quickly to thousands of news outlets and millions of readers throughout the world every day, so all have equal access to coverage of the presidency, the White House Correspondents Association said in a statement on Monday.





WHCA Statement on the Unprecedented Exclusion of Wires on International Trip. pic.twitter.com/q3EfZr8evf  WHCA (@whca) May 12, 2025

This change is a disservice to every American who deserves to know what their highest elected leader is up to, as quickly as possible.

The White House has been fighting in court with AP, after the news service was blocked from covering smaller pool events when it decided not to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, as President Donald Trump had called for in an executive order.

In response to a ruling in that case, the White House instituted a new media policy which lumped the wire services in with print reporters in a rotation for space on Air Force One or Oval Office events.

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A Reuters reporter accompanied the president when he travelled to Pope Francis funeral.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not return messages seeking comment.
Global free trade is in crisis, the head of the World Trade Organisation said while meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), told Mr Ishiba that she has high expectations for Japan as a champion of open markets, as US President Donald Trump disrupts world commerce with his fast-changing tariffs and other policies.

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Trade is facing very challenging times right now and it is quite difficult, she said. We should try to use this crisis as an opportunity to solve the challenges we have and take advantage of new trends in trade.

Japan, as a champion of the multilateral trading system, must help maintain, strengthen and reform the WTO, the Japanese Foreign Ministry cited her as saying.

Later Tuesday, the WTO chief met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and issued a joint statement, saying that in a time of uncertainty and disruption, the value of the multilateral trading system is unquestionable.

Japan said in the same statement that the current trade turmoil would have a significant impact on the global economy and the entire multilateral trading system and called for promoting WTO reforms, including its rule-making function, dispute settlement and monitoring of the implementation of agreements.

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They met a day after the United States and China said they had agreed to slash recent sky-high tariffs for 90 days to allow time for negotiations.

Japan is among many countries yet to reach a deal with the Trump administration on hikes to US tariffs, including those on autos, steel and aluminium.

The WTO played a pivotal role in past decades as the US and other major economies championed the trade liberalisation that facilitated the growth of global supply chains, many of which are anchored in China.



Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Shigeru Ishiba that she has high expectations for Japan as a champion of open markets (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

By dismantling many protectionist barriers to trade, it has aided the ascent of Japan and China, and many other countries, as export manufacturing hubs.

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Since taking office for a second time, Mr Trump has prioritised higher tariffs to try to reduce US imports and compel companies to locate factories in the United States, doubling down on a trade war that he launched during his first term.

Ms Okonjo-Iweala and Mr Ishiba agreed that WTO member countries should unite to restore the organisations capacity to address challenges.

The trade chief visited Japan to strengthen co-operation between the east Asian country and the WTO to maintain and reinforce the multilateral trading system, Japanese officials said.

She also met with Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will be waiting for Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Turkey this week to conduct face-to-face talks about the war amid heavy pressure from the US and European leaders to reach a settlement.

Mr Putin has not said whether he will be at the talks, which US President Donald Trump has urged the two sides to attend as part of Washingtons efforts to stop the fighting.

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Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv that he will be in Ankara on Thursday to conduct negotiations. He will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two will wait for Mr Putin to arrive, he said.





The Ukrainian leader said he would do everything to agree on a ceasefire, because it is with (Putin) that I must negotiate a ceasefire, as only he can decide on it.

Mr Zelensky said that if Mr Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there.

If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war, he added.

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The Ukrainian leader said that if Mr Putin does not show up, European and US leaders should follow through with threats of additional heavy sanctions against Russia.

Mr Trump has been invited to the talks because it would give an additional push for Putin to fly in, but the US leader has not confirmed his presence, Mr Zelensky said. The US president will still be on his four-day Middle East trip on Thursday.

Washington has been applying pressure on both sides to come to the table since Mr Trump took office in January with a promise to end the war.



Russian President Vladimir Putin (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP)

Military analysts say both sides are preparing a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, where a war of attrition has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along the 620-mile front line.

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The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said Russia is quickly replenishing frontline units with new recruits to maintain the battlefield initiative.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressed again for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as he met his Greek counterpart in Berlin on Tuesday.

We are waiting for Putins agreement, he said.

We agree that, in case there is no real progress this week, we then want to push at European level for a significant tightening of sanctions, Mr Merz added, saying we will focus on further areas, such as the energy sector and the financial market.

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Mr Merz welcomed Mr Zelenskys readiness to travel personally to Istanbul, but now it is really up to Putin to accept this offer of negotiations and agree to a ceasefire. The ball is exclusively in Russia.



German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Overnight, Russia launched 10 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, in its smallest drone bombardment this year.

Moscow has not directly responded to Mr Zelenskys challenge for Mr Putin to meet him in person at the negotiating table.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused for the second straight day on Tuesday to tell reporters whether Mr Putin will travel to Istanbul and who else would represent Russia.

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As soon as the president considers it necessary, we will make an announcement, Mr Peskov said.

Russia has said that it would send a delegation to Istanbul without preconditions.

Mr Zelensky will not be meeting any Russian officials in Istanbul other than Mr Putin, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.

Lower-level talks would amount to simply dragging out any peace process, he added.

European leaders have recently accused Mr Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts, while he attempts to press his bigger armys battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.

Moscow effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire demanded by Ukraine and western European leaders from Monday, when it fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine. Mr Putin instead offered direct peace talks.

Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations with Russia, but a ceasefire must come first, Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraines presidential office, said on Tuesday.

Negotiations are impossible while the Ukrainian people are under attack by Russian missiles and drones around the clock, he added in a video address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2025.

Mr Putin has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government, especially Mr Zelensky, saying his term expired last year. Under Ukraines constitution, it is illegal for the country to hold a national election while it is under martial law, as it now is.

Mr Zelensky dismissed claims that a decree enacted by him in 2022 prohibited him from meeting Mr Putin, saying that the claim was Russian propaganda.
SEATTLE  Approximately 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested Monday night after occupying the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building at the University of Washington, demanding the university sever ties with Boeing over its military contracts supporting the Israel Defense Forces. The protest, organized by the suspended student group Super UW, began around 5 p.m. and escalated into a dangerous situation, university officials said.

The protesters blocked access to two campus streets, barricaded entrances and exits with furniture, ignited fires in two dumpsters, and caused damage inside the building, which was partially funded by a $10 million Boeing donation in 2022. A KING 5 crew observed firefighters extinguishing a dumpster fire around 10:30 p.m. University police, assisted by Washington State Patrol and Seattle police, began clearing the area outside the building at 10:30 p.m. and entered the building at 11 p.m. to remove the protesters.

All university-affiliated individuals inside who wished to leave were able to do so, police said. The last arrests occurred around 2 a.m., with the final protesters leaving by 3 a.m. The 30 individuals face charges of trespassing, property destruction, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit these acts, referred to the King County Prosecutor's Office. Identified students will also face Student Conduct Office proceedings.

Super UW stated online that the occupation was in solidarity with Palestine, protesting Boeing's defense contracts and the university's financial ties to the company, which has donated over $100 million to UW over the past century. The group renamed the building the Shaban al-Dalou Building, after a teenage engineering student reportedly killed in a Gaza airstrike, and hung a banner from a second-floor window.

The university issued a statement condemning the protest and an associated statement by Super UW, which it called antisemitic: "The UW is committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment, and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday. The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms."

The occupation follows a history of pro-Palestinian activism at UW, including a three-week encampment in the campus quad last year that ended after negotiations with administrators. Super UW's manifesto also praised the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, prompting university to label the group's rhetoric antisemitic. The UW Jewish Alumni Association called the protest "an absolute disgrace" on X, citing safety concerns and antisemitism on campus.

The incident reflects ongoing tensions over university ties to Boeing, a major employer of UW engineering graduates and a long-standing partner in aerospace research. No injuries were reported, and the university is assessing damage to the building.
Cannes Film Festival has banned nudity on the red carpet over a celebrity craze for the naked dress.

Organisers of the festival on the French Riviera have threatened to refuse entry to VIP guests who do not cover up.

Nudity rules have been added to the dress code for the glamorous event, which begins on Tuesday and will be attended by a host of Hollywood stars.

Nude dressing on the red carpet: Halle Berry at the 2025 Met Gala, Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori at the 2025 Grammy Awards, and Bella Hadid at Cannes last year. Credit: Getty Images

Festival organisers said the move had been made in the interests of decency, following the increasing use of red carpets to show off risque naked dresses, which typically show off the wearer more than the couture.
Joel Cauchis long-term psychiatrist has made the bombshell claim that he was not psychotic during the Bondi Junction Westfield attack, and might have killed six people out of a hatred for women.

The evidence from the doctor who weaned Cauchi off his antipsychotic medication flies in the face of all expert reports. She said the medication would have made no difference.

Police footage of Joel Cauchi outside the family home in 2023.

A knife-wielding Cauchi died after NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott bravely confronted him on the fifth level of the Westfield on April 13, 2024, after the 40-year-old stabbed and killed six shoppers.

This week, the coroner has heard evidence from the registered nurses and psychiatrist who cared for Cauchi in his home town of Toowoomba, Queensland, through his 20s and 30s.
The contentious and long-stalled revamp of an iconic supermarket in Melbournes inner north may be about to clear a final hurdle as the council considers whether to sell a crucial piece of public land to the developers.

On Tuesday night, Yarra City Council decided to start consultation to sell part of a laneway behind Piedimontes Supermarket in Fitzroy North, which developers need to transform the site.

Anne Coveny (front), secretary of Protect Fitzroy North, with locals who oppose the sale of a bluestone laneway to make way for the Piedimontes Supermarket redevelopment. Credit: Paul Jeffers

The Piedimonte family won approval to redevelop their eponymous supermarket off St Georges Road into a multi-storey complex in May 2021, despite council opposition and more than 600 residents objecting.

But the approved plans still require the purchase of a council-owned lane to connect separate sites on Scotchmer Street and facilitate the supermarket renovation and to add 66 apartments, a roof terrace, cafe and three levels of underground parking.
Thousands of homes were approved for demolition in Perths premium postcodes between 2019 and 2024, according to new research that found higher levels of knockdowns generally led to higher price growth.

Ray White Group chief economist Nerida Conisbee said Perths leading knockdown areas of Riverton-Shelley-Rossmoyne and Nedlands-Dalkeith-Crawley represented some of the citys most expensive real estate.

Nedlands-Dalkeith in particular ranks among Perths wealthiest areas, with riverside locations and proximity to prestigious schools driving property values well above $2 million.

This is of course not surprising  these locations combine desirable attributes that make them prime candidates for substantial redevelopment, Conisbee said.
Theirs is a country of great diversity, from those Caucasus peaks brushing the sky in the north, to the lush valleys of the centre, to the rainforests and Black Sea coast of the west. The native language here is a one-off, related to no other. The Georgian alphabet is unique. Food meets art on the streets of Tbilisi. And Georgians love wine. This country might be home to the worlds oldest wine culture, with evidence having been discovered of wine production in Georgia stretching back 8000 years, to the neolithic period. It doesnt take long to appreciate just how widespread and important this winemaking culture is, either. On arrival in Georgia I check into my hotel in central Tbilisi, the capital, and immediately spot an apartment nearby with a gnarly old grape vine growing on the balcony, its branches and leaves cascading several storeys to the pavement below.

Theres a tradition of making your own wine here, rather than buying it from the experts; even those in the city find a way. Jokolo a classic dish. Tbilisi these days, however, is also filled with wine bars peddling the countrys most cherished product. These are only a recent addition to the scene, and locals apparently scoffed when the first bars opened here in the last decade: whos going to pay all that money for fancy wine when youve got perfectly good stuff at home? Plenty of people, it turns out. Many of them tourists or Russian expats, but a good share of locals too. One of my first ports of call on arrival is the best of those wine bars, Dadi, in Tbilisis modern centre. The wine list here is gigantic  89 wines by the glass, by my count  and impossible to navigate unless you already know your tavkveri from your rkatsiteli, your saperavi from your mtsvane (Georgias unique wine culture includes the use of native grape varieties).

Fortunately, the staff at Dadi are friendly, informed and good with English, so before long I have a glass of Tchotiashvili mtsvane and a plate of local mountain cheese. This wine is made in the traditional Georgian style, the way it has been for millennia: white wine is fermented and aged with its skins in qvevri, egg-shaped earthenware pots that impart tannins to the wine and help give it its distinctive amber colour. Simple perfection at Dadi wine bar in Tbilisi. In the wrong hands this style can be overly funky and faulty, but this Tchotiashvili wine is incredibly good: textural, saline and complex. Georgia, of course, isnt flying completely under the radar as a food destination. Im in the country to do Intrepid Travels Georgia Real Food Adventure, one of a series of specialist culinary expeditions that the company conducts throughout the world. This is an eight-day journey around some of Georgias culinary hotspots, beginning and ending in Tbilisi, and calling through the Kakheti wine region, Telavi with its market, the isolated Pankisi Valley, and Gudauri, a town set high in the Caucasus in the countrys north.

Our first group meal in Tbilisi is a sign of things to come, a restaurant table heaving with share plates: that eggplant in walnut paste; a plate of pickled chillies, cucumbers, onions and local flower blossoms called jonjoli; a simple salad of tomatoes, cucumbers and mint; shkmeruli, a stew of chicken with garlic cream sauce; chashushuli, a rich beef-and-tomato stew; and the ubiquitous shoti, a traditional bread baked in a stone oven like a tandoor. Classic Georgian salad. To stare at a table full of food in Georgia is to peer into the countrys history. You can see ingredients and ideas here from the countrys many neighbours and historic invaders  Greeks, Romans, Mongols, Timurids, Persians, Armenians, Russians and more, though there are also plenty of unique, organic traditions that the Georgians are fiercely proud of. And theyre a nation of feeders. In Georgia, if theres a plate thats empty, its a problem, a local will later tell me. We have to fill it. The area around the city of Telavi is clearly a culinary hotspot, set in the heart of Kakheti, Georgias most important wine region. Our first stop here is at Gremi Bio Marani, an independent, biodynamic winemaker that opens its doors for tastings in the marani, the cellar in which qvevri are buried in the earth and the wine is aged.

This is the perfect place to appreciate the passion Georgians put into winemaking, not to mention the skill of its small-scale producers. Its also a chance to sit down to a home-cooked meal: shoti bread, pickled jonjoli blossoms, eggplant with walnut, fresh cheese, and this time khachapuri, another icon of Georgian cuisine, a soft disc of bread stuffed with cheese and served piping hot. Telavi has its market, thriving with colour and aroma. Here we try chacha, a homemade grape spirit known as marc in English, a boozy distillate much loved by locals. We also visit Tsivis Kveli, a Telavi cheesemaker, to sample the full breadth of cheeses made in just this small part of the country  every region, we soon discover, has its own varieties. Loading And then we continue on to Jokolo, a tiny, remote village about an hour from Telavi, to discover the influence of ethnic Chechen culture on the food and the sense of committed hospitality in this little-visited area.

Here, Nazy Dakishvili runs a tiny guesthouse where she uses food, among other cultural touchstones, to welcome visitors and share experiences and improve the lives of the maligned ethnic minority of Chechens she proudly counts herself a part of. This is another step back in time, a museum piece. Its also as warming as a stew, as hearty as fresh bread. Its a world you want to exist in. THE DETAILS TOUR

Intrepid Travels Georgia Real Food Adventure is an eight-day, seven-night journey with a focus on the nations cuisine and wine culture. The tour includes seven nights accommodation, 16 meals, entrance to some sights, and the services of a guide with a private vehicle. From $2396 a person, beginning and ending in Tbilisi. See intrepidtravel.com FLY

Qatar Airways flies from major Australian ports to Tbilisi, via Doha. See qatarairways.com
In an age where high-definition video, forensic photo analysis and publicly available itineraries document nearly every move of a world leader, the Kremlin continues to bet on the worlds susceptibility to its crudest conspiracies.

The latest? Frances Emmanuel Macron, Britains Sir Keir Starmer and Germanys Friedrich Merz were allegedly caught doing cocaine on a train on a diplomatic mission into Ukraine.

If youve missed the story, heres what happened.

A short clip circulated online over the weekend showing the three leaders on a train bound for Kyiv. In it, Macron picks up a crumpled tissue, Merz grabs a plastic coffee stirrer and Starmer appears to smile across the table.
London: Police have arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson in connection with fires at properties owned by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Police were called to reports of a fire in the early hours of Monday morning, London time, at a three-storey terrace in Kentish Town, north London, the area that Starmer represents in parliament.

Police forensics officers are seen outside Keir Starmers north London property. Credit: Getty Images

Nobody was injured, but damage was caused to the propertys entrance, police said.

The man was arrested early on Tuesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the fire and two further incidents, police said.
Early days In the morning session on Tuesday, the court heard Ventura met Combs in New York City in 2005 when she was a 19-year-old model, and had started recording a few songs. Combs was 17 years her senior and the owner of Bad Boy Records. In early 2006, he signed her to a 10-album deal, only one of which was ever produced. Loading In those early days, Ventura described Combs as a charismatic and sympathetic figure who looked out for her following some rough [musical] performances. They would socialise in similar circles, seeing each other once a month or every other month at New York nightspots. The relationship began to turn sexual when Combs kissed her in a hotel bathroom during a trip to Las Vegas in August 2007, Ventura said. The trip coincided with her 21st birthday and the MTV Video Music Awards. Ventura described herself at the time as a new and naive young artist who just didnt know the lay of the land.

She said that after the trip, Combs had invited her to hang out at hotels in New York while his apartment was being renovated, and introduced her to oral sex. They had intercourse for the first time during a trip to Miami in 2007, where she also voluntarily took ecstasy for the first time. From then on, Ventura said she became like a shadow to Combs. She felt they had begun a monogamous relationship. Over time, she began to see abusive and controlling behaviour. She said he was an incessant caller and if she did not return his calls or messages, he would have his security guards and assistants track her down, sometimes showing up at her apartment. She also became aware he was involved with other women. Ventura followed Combs to Los Angeles, as he wanted to be closer to his children from a previous relationship. She lived separately in apartments typically paid for by Combs, and described having a stomach in knots moment when he would sometimes show up unannounced. Meanwhile, her music career was stagnating. Ventura told the court she had recorded hundreds of songs, but a second album never materialised through Combs record label. Asked whether she received compensation if an album was not released, she said: You dont. You barely received it when they got released.

The first freak-off In the afternoon session, Ventura told the court the first freak-off she performed for Combs occurred in one of his Los Angeles homes, about two to three months after he first raised the idea with her. The encounter involved consuming alcohol and ecstasy, Ventura said, while at Combs direction she wore tall platform stripper shoes, an outfit from a sex store and a masquerade mask. Every freak-off was directed by Sean, she told the court. Ventura said that at the time, I was high, so there wasnt too much feeling. Afterwards, she felt dirty and confused, but pleased that Combs was happy and she did something right. A freak-off would typically involve multiple sex sessions with the chosen male escort or multiple male escorts, Ventura told the court. Combs would watch either in the room or from a different room, sometimes using the FaceTime app. Sometimes he would also take part by having Ventura perform oral sex on him at the same time, she said.

Drugs  ecstasy, MDMA, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana and others  had helped her to stay awake for the entire freak-off, Ventura told the jury. She said as the encounters became more frequent  weekly for a number of years  it was impossible to recall them all. It just felt like it was all I was good for, she said. Doing this, it made me feel horrible, it made me feel worthless. Ventura said she did not want to participate in the freak-offs, though the court saw messages in which she had indicated to Combs that she did. She said she definitely brought up her real feelings about the encounters to Combs, but treaded lightly. I just didnt want anything bad to happen, Ventura said. She indicated she feared Combs violent rages, but also that he might find somebody else to participate in the sexual encounters with escorts. When you really care about somebody, and youre in love with them, you dont want to disappoint them. In one email exchange between Ventura and Combs, she hinted at reservations about the freak-offs. Combs responded by calling her predictable. He didnt really care, she told the jury.

He was directing Later in the afternoon, prosecutors asked Ventura about the freak-offs in painstaking detail. She said Combs insisted their bodies were oily and shiny, and the sessions involved large amounts of baby oil  up to 10 large bottles. On one occasion, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, she said a small blow-up pool had been filled with baby oil and lubricant, and she climbed into the pool. Defence lawyers objected to the length and repetitiveness of some of the prosecutions questioning. At this point, its getting a little cumulative, one defence lawyer said. Ventura told the jury the freak-offs created a significant amount of mess, including the walls and furniture, and towels soiled with lubricant and oil, and even blood and urine. I was expected to have freak-offs on my period, she said. Combs fantasy involved her describing the sexual acts she undertook with the male escorts in detail, Ventura said  something she found awkward and humiliating, though it eventually became normal. She described trying to speed the process along because I just wanted it to be over.

The male escort would usually ejaculate on her body, she said. Then, when they were alone together in another room, Combs would ask her to spread it on his chest. If the escort ejaculated without Combs permission, they would get paid less, Ventura told the court. This is his fantasy. He was controlling the whole situation, he was directing. Loading When the jury was dismissed for the day, they had been hearing Venturas account of a freak-off that took place at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, in March 2016. Video of Combs assaulting Ventura in the hotel hallway has already been played to the jury (and was published by CNN last year). In her telling, Combs had already hit her in the hotel room, and she had sustained a black eye. I knew I had to get out. I just grabbed my stuff and ran out as fast as I could, she told the jury. When he caught up with her in the elevator foyer, he threw her to the ground. Asked by prosecutors how many times Combs had thrown her to the ground during their relationship, Ventura said: Too many to count.
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 When he approved a campaign to reopen shipping in the Red Sea by bombing the Houthi militant group into submission, President Donald Trump wanted to see results within 30 days of the initial strikes two months ago. The US managed to lose two $93 million F/A-18 fighter jets to accidents during the Houthi campaign. Credit: AP By day 31, Trump, ever cautious of drawn-out military entanglements in the Middle East, demanded a progress report, according to administration officials. But the results were not there. The United States had not even established air superiority over the Houthis. Instead, what was emerging after 30 days of a stepped-up campaign against the Yemeni group was another expensive but inconclusive American military engagement in the region. The Houthis shot down several American MQ-9 Reaper drones and continued to fire at naval ships in the Red Sea, including an American aircraft carrier. The US strikes burned through weapons and munitions at a rate of about $1 billion in the first month alone. It did not help that two $93 million F/A-18 Super Hornets from Americas flagship aircraft carrier tasked with conducting strikes against the Houthis accidentally tumbled off the carrier into the sea.

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By then, Trump had had enough. Trump has never bought in to long-running US entanglements in the Middle East. Credit: AP Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, who was already in Omani-mediated nuclear talks with Iran, reported that Omani officials had suggested what could be a perfect off-ramp for Trump on the separate issue of the Houthis, according to American and Arab officials. The United States would halt the bombing campaign, and the militia would no longer target American ships in the Red Sea, but without any agreement to stop disrupting shipping that the group deemed helpful to Israel. US Central Command officials received a sudden order from the White House on May 5 to pause offensive operations. The sudden declaration of victory over the Houthis demonstrates how some members of the presidents national security team underestimated a group known for its resilience. General Michael Kurilla, the head of Central Command, had pressed for a forceful campaign, which the defence secretary and the national security adviser initially supported, according to several officials with knowledge of the discussions. But the Houthis reinforced many of their bunkers and weapons depots throughout the intense bombing. General Michael Kurilla, pictured in 2021. Credit: AP Significantly, the men also misjudged their bosss tolerance for military conflict in the region, which he is visiting this week, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump has never bought into long-running military entanglements in the Middle East, and spent his first term trying to bring troops home from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

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Whats more, Trumps new chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, was concerned that an extended campaign against the Houthis would drain military resources away from the Asia-Pacific region. His predecessor, General Charles Brown Jr, shared that view before he was fired in February. Ready to move on By May 5, Trump was ready to move on, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former officials with knowledge of the discussions in the presidents national security circle. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the internal discussions. We honour their commitment and their word, Trump said in remarks at the White House on Wednesday. A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, said in a statement to The New York Times that President Trump successfully delivered a ceasefire, which is another good deal for America and our security. She added that the US military had carried out more than 1100 strikes, killing hundreds of Houthi fighters and destroying their weapons and equipment. The Houthis and their supporters proved a resilient foe despite overwhelming US firepower. Credit: AP

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Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the operation was always meant to be limited. Every aspect of the campaign was co-ordinated at the highest levels of civilian and military leadership, he said in an emailed statement. A former senior official familiar with the conversations about Yemen defended Michael Waltz, Trumps former national security adviser, saying he took a co-ordinating role and was not pushing for any policy beyond wanting to see the presidents goal fulfilled. Kurilla had been gunning for the Houthis since November 2023, when the group began attacking ships passing through the Red Sea as a way to target Israel for its invasion of the Gaza Strip. But president Joe Biden thought that engaging the Houthis in a forceful campaign would elevate their status on the global stage. Instead, he authorised more limited strikes  but that failed to stop the Houthis. Now, Kurilla had a new commander-in-chief. He proposed an eight- to 10-month campaign in which air force and navy warplanes would take out Houthi air defence systems. Then, he said, US forces would mount targeted assassinations modelled on Israels recent operation against Hezbollah, three US officials said.

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Saudi officials backed Kurillas plan and provided a target list of 12 Houthi senior leaders whose deaths, they said, would cripple the movement. But the United Arab Emirates, another powerful US ally in the region, was not so sure. The Houthis had weathered years of bombings by the Saudis and the Emiratis. By early March, Trump had signed off on part of Kurillas plan  airstrikes against Houthi air defence systems and strikes against the groups leaders. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth named the campaign Operation Rough Rider. At some point, Kurillas eight-to-10-month campaign was given just 30 days to show results. Loading In those first 30 days, the Houthis shot down seven American MQ-9 drones (costing around $46.7 million each), hampering Central Commands ability to track and strike the militant group. Several American F-16s and an F-35 fighter jet were nearly struck by Houthi air defences, making real the possibility of American casualties, multiple US officials said. That possibility became reality when two pilots and a flight deck crew member were injured in the two episodes involving the F/A-18 Super Hornets, which fell into the Red Sea from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman within 10 days of each other. US strikes had hit more than 1000 targets, including multiple command and control facilities, air defence systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities and advanced weapons storage locations, the Pentagon reported. In addition, more than a dozen senior Houthi leaders had been killed, the military said.

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They cant provide any proof of any persecution because theres not any, Ronald Lamola, the countrys international relations and cooperation minister said in Pretoria, South Africas administrative capital. There is not any form of persecution to white South Africans. The group of mostly Afrikaner families landed at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia on Monday afternoon. From there, they were set to board connecting flights to 10 states, where they will be resettled by local refugee organisations, according to three government officials familiar with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to share details of the preparations. The Afrikaner refugees arrived at Dulles International Airport. Credit: AP As they disembarked, some of the adults held babies and toddlers. Many waved small American flags that were given to them upon their arrival. Red, white and blue balloons decorated the walls of a plane hangar where a news conference was to be held. Welcome to the United States of America. This is the land of the free, deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau told the group, some looking bleary-eyed while others smiled.

Many of us have families that had a journey not that different than the journey that you are embarking on today. My father left from Europe  he had to leave his country when Hitler came in during the 1930s. I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years. We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the last few years. Deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau (right) greets the Afrikaner refugees. Credit: AP Refugees are a distinct class of people who have been forced to flee their home country after they have been persecuted or fear persecution  usually death  because of their race, religion, nationality, politics or membership in a particular social group. They must go through strict vetting by US officials and often wait years before being allowed to enter the country, where they are eligible for government services and a path to citizenship. No South Africans were resettled in the US as refugees in fiscal 2024, according to government data.

Though refugees coming into the US are typically vetted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which routinely refers people fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries to safer countries such as the US, the South African group did not go through such screening. A State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post said that most of the arriving Afrikaners had witnessed or experienced extreme violence with a racial nexus, including home invasions, murders or carjackings that took place up to 25 years ago. Many of the refugees held American flags that were given to them upon their arrival Credit: AP Many have also said that they do not trust the police, citing that law enforcement has not adequately investigated crimes against Afrikaners, the memo said. During a news conference after the groups arrival, Landau reiterated those claims, saying that some members of the group shared harrowing stories of the violence that they faced in South Africa.

By resettling them as refugees, Landau said, Were sending a clear message that the United States really rejects the egregious persecution on the basis of race in South Africa. Loading Neither Landau nor any of the arriving Afrikaners shared specific details of persecution. Advocates for other refugees seeking safe harbour in the US expressed outrage over the effort after the Trump administration suspended all refugee admissions to the US on Inauguration Day. Later that week, it slashed funding for resettlement groups that help refugees find jobs and housing across the country. A January 20 executive order signed by Trump said the country lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees.

Shawn VanDiver, president of nonprofit #AfghanEvac said the preference given to white South Africans creates the appearance that the US government cant be trusted when it promises a secure life to those who have risked their lives for the country during times of war. Loading VanDivers group works to help Afghans who worked for the US as translators, drivers and in other roles during the war and fear Taliban retribution, gain entry into the country. Its a threat to our national security abroad, he said of the Trump administrations effort. This contrast isnt just political theatre  its a fundamental question of whether US refugee policy is rooted in principle or in politics. The hypocrisy is as clear as it is cruel. VanDiver said 1200 Afghans  including more than 200 family members of US service members  were waiting at a facility in Qatar to be let into the US. On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said that it would end temporary protected status for Afghans.

Maria Corina Vegas, a longtime Venezuelan American advocate and member of the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic caucus, called the preference given to Afrikaners an offence to any immigrant who has tried to come to make it legally to the US. Loading There is a really clear agenda here that is counter to the fundamental principles on which America was founded and stood for and once admired [for] around the world, Vegas said. Murithi Mutiga, Africa program director for the International Crisis Group, said South Africas African National Congress government was widely admired for its efforts to wipe out the legacy of apartheid. Very few policies, apart from the USAID cuts, have attracted as much astonishment and revulsion as this policy, which appears to be racially motivated, Mutiga said.

Refugee resettlement groups and some of their clients have filed a lawsuit over the suspension of the refugee admissions program. Thea Van Straten, one of the Afrikaners, looked exhausted as she loaded her bags on to a cart at a United Airlines check-in desk. She said she had been advised not to talk much about her situation and didnt know where she was headed, though a sticker on her luggage indicated it was going to Raleigh, North Carolina. Were tired, Van Straten said. Its been a very emotional, very rough couple of weeks. Washington Post
I am looking forward to bringing him up to date on all of these issues and believe the transition will be seamless due to our strong standing with many senior members of the government including Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Finance Minister Senator Katy Gallagher, who visited our office some time back to discuss policy that impacts the industry.
Were committed to supporting our customers to take control of their energy with a range of useful tools and information, he said. This includes our app, energy rewards program and podcast to help Australians improve their energy efficiency, bring energy bills down and move toward electrification.
New ABS building approvals data confirmed that NSW is still falling well short of its Housing Accord goals, with just 28,984 dwellings approved across 43 targeted councils in the first nine months of the five-year agreement.
Hobart and smaller capitals remain landlord-friendly

Hobart bucked the national trend, with its vacancy rate dropping to 0.7% from 1.4% in April 2024, and vacancies declining 53.7% to just 180 properties. This shift, along with decreases in Canberra and Darwin, points to continued landlord-favoured dynamics in smaller capital cities.
La Commission europeenne a discretement signe pour 339 millions d'euros de contrats avec des societes liees a l'entrepreneur americain Elon Musk, selon des documents officiels obtenus par Politico Europe.

Une revelation qui fait grincer des dents a Bruxelles, alors que le milliardaire ne cesse de critiquer les institutions europeennes.

SpaceX, Tesla, X : le trio gagnant



Les chiffres parlent d'eux-memes :

180 millions d'euros pour SpaceX (lancement de satellites Galileo)

158 millions d'euros pour Tesla (bornes de recharge electrique)

630 000 euros pour des pubs sur X (ex-Twitter) (arretees en octobre 2023)



Une manne financiere qui alimente les entreprises du magnat, malgre ses prises de position souvent hostiles envers lUE.

Une enquete qui derange

Ces informations ont ete extraites grace a une demande officielle de Daniel Freund, eurodepute ecologiste allemand, qui sinterroge : "Pourquoi l'Europe finance-t-elle massivement un homme qui meprise ses valeurs ?"



La Commission se defend en arguant que ces contrats repondent a des besoins techniques urgents, notamment pour le programme spatial Galileo. Mais les critiques fusent : "On ne peut pas a la fois critiquer Musk et lui remplir les poches", tonne un expert sous couvert danonymat.

Musk vs l'Europe : une relation toxique ?

Elon Musk na jamais cache son scepticisme envers les regulations europeennes, qualifiant certaines lois de "folles" ou "anti-innovation". Pourtant, ses entreprises continuent de remporter des marches juteux sur le Vieux Continent.



Hypocrisie ou pragmatisme ? Le debat est lance.

Et maintenant ?

Avec ces revelations, la pression monte sur Bruxelles :

Transparence : Faut-il mieux controler ces partenariats ?

Souverainete : L'UE ne devrait-elle pas privilegier ses propres champions ?

Coherence : Peut-on collaborer avec ceux qui vous critiquent ouvertement ?



Une chose est sure : cette affaire risque de faire des etincelles dans les couloirs de l'UE.

EXCLUSIVE: EU Paid 339 Million to Elon Musk-Linked Companies  Explosive Report Reveals "Hypocrisy"

The European Commission has quietly funneled 339 million into companies tied to billionaire Elon Musk, according to newly uncovered documents obtained by Politico Europe. The revelation has sparked fury in Brussels, given Musks repeated clashes with EU leaders over regulation and free speech.

Breaking Down the Deals

The numbers tell a striking story:

180 million to SpaceX (Galileo satellite launches)

158 million to Tesla (EV charging stations across Europe)

630,000 in ads on X (formerly Twitter) (stopped in October 2023)



A massive cash injection for Musks empireeven as he openly mocks EU policies.

How We Know: A Green MPs Investigation

The bombshell data comes from a formal request by German Green MEP Daniel Freund, who demanded transparency on EU funds flowing to Musks ventures. His reaction? "Why is Europe bankrolling a man who attacks its core values?"



The Commission defends the contracts as "critical for strategic projects," like Europes Galileo navigation system. But critics call it "a deal with the devil." "You cant condemn Musks antics one day and cut him checks the next," snapped an EU policy insider.

Musk vs. Europe: A Love-Hate Money Train

Despite Musks fierce criticism of EU lawsdubbing some "insane" and "innovation-killers"his companies keep winning lucrative European contracts.



Hypocrisy or hard-nosed pragmatism? The debate is raging.

Whats Next?

The fallout could reshape EU spending rules:

Transparency: Should Musks bids face extra scrutiny?

Sovereignty: Why isnt Europe betting on its own tech giants?

Accountability: Can Brussels keep doing business with its loudest critics?



One things clear: This controversy wont end quietly.







Ekanga Ekanga Fernand (Stagiaire)
ONE of Co Carlows leading businessmen and chair of Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) is calling on the government to indefinitely pause minimum wage increases until the commercial environment becomes more sustainable.

Fergal Doyle, co-owner and CCO of the Arboretum in Leighlinbridge and chair of the largest representative body for the retail industry, has called on the government to indefinitely pause any increases in the minimum wage, warning that retail businesses are facing an intensely difficult commercial environment.

As chair of REI, I fully support the governments decision to pause the introduction of the living wage until 2029. But we must go further. We are calling for an indefinite pause to minimum wage increases until the commercial environment becomes more sustainable, said Mr Doyle.

Between 2020 and 2025, the minimum wage has risen by 38%. Meanwhile, insolvencies in the retail sector have soared, with 200 businesses lost in 2024 alone. This is not about resisting change; its about recognising that blunt instruments like wage hikes dont work when businesses are fighting to survive, Mr Doyle said.

Its time for targeted support and smarter policy. Lets not lose more of our vibrant retail community, he added.

REI has also called on the government to reintroduce and expand the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme, which allocated 257 million for SMEs in October 2023 as part of Budget 2024. This scheme offered eligible businesses a one-off grant payment as a contribution towards business costs based on the value of their commercial rates bill. The scheme was closed in May last year.

Welcoming the governments decision to pause the introduction of the living wage until 2029, REI says the methodology for its calculation needed to be revisited.

The organisation believes that Irelands status as an outlier in the EU due to our significantly higher number of high-paid jobs in sectors such as pharma and tech is skewing the data and is not truly reflective of the broader economy.

REI recently published a report on the retail industry by economist Jim Power titled The cost of doing business: Irelands retail sector in a European context.

The operating environment for many retailers has been intensely challenging in recent years. There has been a massive escalation in the costs of doing business, including energy costs, insurance costs, labour costs and compliance costs, said Jim Power, the author of the report.

Furthermore, retailers are generally very labour intensive, so labour costs and other labour market regulations in areas such as paid sick days and parental leave impose an inordinate financial and logistical burden. Where comparable data is available, it is also clear that the cost of doing business in Ireland is very high compared to our EU peers.
A NEW study has revealed Carlow to be one of Irelands most papal-obsessed counties as Pope Leo XIV takes the reins at the Vatican.

Legacy Communications, a creative digital PR and communications agency, analysed Google search data across Ireland to uncover where interest in the Pope and all things Vatican-related remains strongest. Legacy analysed ten key search terms related to the papacy, such as Pope Francis, Sistine Chapel and Papal Conclave.

Search volumes were adjusted for population, creating a Pope-ularity Index that highlights which counties love the papacy the most.

Carlow placed second in the rankings, with over 6,000 average monthly searches per 100,000 people.

Dublin topped the rankings with almost 12,000 searches, with Galway, Westmeath and Leitrim joining the top five most pope-obsessed counties.

The research coincides with the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church as Pope Leo XIV takes his place in the Vatican.
High Court reporters

The High Court case against former Irish Nationwide chief Michael Fingleton Sr has heard that his legal team were put in an "intolerable" position by alleged changes in the approach and claims by the plaintiffs - the liquidators for IBRC - who are pursuing the now-incapacitated defendant for 290 million in damages.

The civil case against the former Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) chief alleges that he negligently mismanaged the building society and engaged in property "gambles" with high-net-worth individuals in an informal and speculative manner in the mid-2000s, leading to fatal losses.

Mr Fingleton (87), who cannot give evidence due to ill-health, joined the building lender in 1971 and retired in 2009 - he held the roles of both managing director and chief executive in that time. At its height in 2007, INBS had reported assets of 16 billion but was a high-profile casualty of the financial crisis of 2008.

Liquidators for Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) have taken the case against Mr Fingleton, who denies the allegation of negligent mismanagement.

The total losses at INBS had been estimated to be 6 billion. However, only 290 million in damages is being pursued by IBRC, relating to five specific loans, allegedly approved by Mr Fingleton.

The court has been told that Mr Fingleton was allegedly nodding through top-ups and extensions to certain clients without the knowledge of the society's board.

At the High Court on Tuesday, solicitor Niall Clerkin, for Mr Fingleton, said his client and their legal team were put in an "intolerable" situation due to amendments in the statement of claim against his client, and complained of missing documents and "very relevant" witnesses not being called by the plaintiffs.

Mr Clerkin said the case was now on its fifth version of a statement of claim against his client.

The solicitor also said that "generic" or "systemic" allegations in the action had been precluded from the case at a previous hearing of the Court of Appeal. However, Mr Clerkin said the plaintiffs were still characterising the alleged negligence in general terms and describing the five loans at issue as "emblematic" or a "manifestation" of broader alleged wrongdoing.

Mr Clerkin said that the plaintiffs have said they will call two Central Bank witnesses, "who could only be giving precluded systemic evidence", and that they could "not possibly have evidence regarding the specific five loans".

The solicitor said the impression being given in the case against Mr Fingleton was that his client was "like a toxic agent" and that "all the problems that happened were because of him [Mr Fingleton]".

Mr Clerkin said the defence sought "clarity" in what was alleged against his client, saying the allegations were "very confusing" to defend and "heightened the amount of prejudice that we face" in defending the case.

Mr Clerkin said that the original claim against his client was for 6 billion, but now only five per cent of the original claim was being pursued. He said the other 95% of the claim has "fallen away in concession" and "substantial tracts" of documents were missing from the case.

The solicitor said the defence tried to engage with an expert who said he "simply would not be satisfied he had enough information to provide a proper expert opinion".

Regarding the use of expert finance witnesses in the case, Mr Clerkin said: "We don't have a reliable file set available, so the methodological foundation is broken. It's corrupted from our standpoint." He added that expert witnesses are reliant on what is sent to them by legal practitioners.

Lyndon MacCann SC, for the plaintiffs, said any suggestion that documents were being withheld would be "scurrilous".

Mr Clerkin responded that "massive tracts" of information were missing, that there was no allegation of bad faith towards the plaintiffs but that it was "nearly impossible" for an objective analysis of events due to missing documents. "I can't change the way the world is for him [Mr MacCann]," said Mr Clerkin.

Mr MacCann said that it was the plaintiff's case that, through discovery, amendments were made to the statement of claim against Mr Fingleton. However, he said it was "always" the plaintiff's case that claims against the defendant could be expanded, but the five specific loans were to remain the "focus" in the case.

The case continues at the High Court.
By Cillian Sherlock and Rebecca Black, PA

The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown have hailed a very promising meeting with Tanaiste Simon Harris.

Mr Browns daughter, Siobhan, said they left Mr Harris in no uncertain terms what us as a family have been going through.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Harris said the Brown family have waited far too long for an investigation into his murder.

Mr Harris said the failure to effectively investigate the murder was simply unacceptable, and pledged to continue to use every channel available to me to pursue this matter.

It comes after the UK Government confirmed it will seek to appeal to the UK Supreme Court over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into the killing of Mr Brown.

Mr Brown, 61, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Co Derry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

Simon Harris speaking to Sean Browns widow Bridie Brown (Niall Carson/PA)

No one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that more than 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several UK state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

Appeal Court judges in Belfast affirmed an earlier High Court ruling compelling the British Government to hold a public inquiry.

It said the failure to hold such an inquiry was unlawful.

However, the Northern Ireland Secretary says the case involves a key constitutional principle of who should order public inquiries, the UK Government or the judiciary.

GAA president Jarlath Burns was part of the delegation which met Mr Harris at Government Buildings in Dublin on the 28th anniversary of Mr Browns murder.

Ms Brown said after the meeting that they had provided Mr Harris with clear documents as to what weve received throughout the course of inquiries and the failings by the British Government in dealing with an article two compliant investigation into our fathers murder.

He (Mr Harris) was very empathetic to our cause today and listened closely to us and we look forward to the Irish Government working alongside us in support of a public inquiry into our fathers murder, she said.

Speaking alongside her sister, Clare, and their elderly mother Bridie, she said they made it clear that the only mechanism to go forward is to have a public inquiry.

At this point we do (have confidence in the Irish Government), he has been provided with copies of all the documents that we have in our possession. He is fully aware of all the redacted material.

He is fully aware of the issues that we have encountered in this inquiry.

Mr Burns said he was there to represent the support of all the GAA people.

We have made it very clear that we will be with this family throughout this process, and I want to thank the Tanaiste for the time that he took to meet the family, the sympathy that he showed and the support that the Irish Government has given this family right from the beginning of this tragedy, and we know that that will continue and it will continue into his pressuring the British Government and (Northern Ireland Secretary) Hilary Benn to support the public inquiry as it should.

That is not an unreasonable request on behalf of the family and we are heartened by his words today.

Mr Harris also paid tribute to the family after the meeting.

Bridie Brown and her family have shown enormous strength in pursuing this case and I will continue to use my influence and that of the Irish Government to bring about a resolution that is acceptable to the Brown family. They have waited too long, he said.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Garda officers and staff from across the country gathered in Dublin for a service to remember Kevin Flatley.

Colleagues of the Garda who died after being struck by a motorcyclist on Sunday embraced in emotional scenes at Dublin Castle on Monday evening as they met ahead of the memorial service.

Those in attendance included colleagues both past and present from across Ireland who came to pay their respects, and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (centre) arrives at Dublin Castle for the memorial service (Niall Carson/PA)

Prayers were led by the Rev David Pierpoint and Father Joe Kennedy, both longstanding chaplains at An Garda Siochana.

Mr Flatley, 49, died after being hit by a motorcycle as he was recording vehicles speeds on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon.

President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris are among those who have expressed their sympathies and shock following the death of the married father of two who had served for 26 years.

He was the 90th officer to die on duty since the creation of the force in 1922.
James Cox

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has criticised the Taoiseach after Micheal Martin accused Hungary of exploiting the European Council veto.

Mr Martin called Orban's actions wilful abuse of EU veto powers.

Orban, a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has used his veto power to delay aid to Ukraine in the past.

Speaking to Euronews, Mr Martin called Orban's actions "outrageous".

In my view, its essential that Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union for geopolitical reasons.

We have always accepted unanimity on certain aspects and we think its been abused.

I believe the European Union will not become workable if that abuse continues.

I think theres only so much member states can take in terms of wilful abuse of the veto, weve seen it play out in Ukraine and there are a number of instruments that we can use and we shouldnt be afraid to use them."

He added: "In the European Union, we have all of that freedom of speech, we have regulated markets, we have good standards in food and across the board, we have stability.

"Who wouldn't want to live in an environment like that and all around us it is falling down a bit.

"We are very concerned about that in Hungary in terms of the undermining of the LGBTI community, the banning of pride parades. These are very fundamental issues that the European Union has to engage with."

In response to the interview, Orban said: "Dear Taoiseach @MichealMartin. We Hungarians have always regarded Irish patriots as champions of freedom and national independence. For us, Ireland is a symbol of liberty and sovereignty. For this reason, it is always shocking when we see that an Irish patriot chooses to stand on the side of an empire instead of national sovereignty.

"Please dont ruin the love story between Irish and Hungarian patriots!"
A Chattanooga man who was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 11-month-old daughter has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.

Nicholas Peter Merrill pleaded guilty to aggravated child neglect under eight years old. He will be sentenced later.

Merrill was charged in the July 23, 2023, death of Malaysia Denise Nicole Merrill.

Police said the autopsy indicated that the child had been left in a hot area. She was dead when she was taken to Children's Hospital.

The child's mother said in an earlier GoFundMe page:

"I left off to work Friday July 21 afternoon, kissed my daughter goodbye expecting to see her again Sunday evening July 23d only to answer my door to a detective at 12 am to tell me my daughter will not be coming home. While sleeping she took her last breath Sunday afternoon."
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)

AKIN,JENNIFER RYAN

2911 CARTER ST SCOTTSBORO, 35769

Age at Arrest:

36 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

THEFT OF PROPERTY



ANTOINIER,JOSEPH

426 NW 8TH AVE BOYNTON BEACH, 33435

Age at Arrest:

65 years old

Arresting Agency:

East Ridge

Charges:

RECKLESS HOMICIDE

RECKLESS HOMICIDE

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

RECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

RECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

RECKLESS AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



BISHOP,SUZANNE LEE

6860 LEE HWY APT 312 CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest:

41 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

FALSE REPORTS



CAL,NAJEE SADE

1960 ACER CIR CHATTANOOGA, 374061569

Age at Arrest:

36 years old

Arresting Agency:

HC Sheriff

Charges:

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)



CHUBB,MONTEZ

1101 ARLINGTON AVE APT #4 CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest:

22 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



COLLINS,DOMINIQUE LEBRON

2628 ANDREWS ST.

CHATTANOOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest:36 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:CRIMINAL CONSPIRACYCONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONSCOLLINS,JAYLIN SCOTT6513 BASIL LN HARRISON, 37341Age at Arrest:19 years oldArresting Agency:Red Bank PDCharges:PETITION TO REVOKE (RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT)FAILURE TO APPEAR (RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT)COLPEAN,MARCOS ANTHONY6240 AIRPARK DR CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:30 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:ROBBERYCOTTON,TIMOTHY CLARK112 COFFMAN DR FT OGLETHORPE, 30742Age at Arrest:40 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:LEAVING SCENE ACCIDENTDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEDRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARERECKLESS DRIVINGFOLLOWING TOO CLOSELYCOX,LOGAN DAVID1011MACCALLIFAIR RD SODDY DAISY, 37433Age at Arrest:26 years oldArresting Agency:East RidgeCharges:PUBLIC INTOXICATIONPOSSESSION OF FENTANYLCUMMINGS,CHRISTOPHER JOEL4709 COLONIAL DR Chattanooga, 37411Age at Arrest:32 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:VIOLATION OF PROBATION (AGGRAVATED ASSAULT)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED ROBBVIOLATION OF PROBATION (EMPLOYMENT OF A FIREARM DUELLISON,ROMANDO2101 RIVERSIDE RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:24 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:DOMESTIC ASSAULTFUGH,SHUNGTHUN MARTEZ3107 E 37TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest:38 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:CRIMINAL CONSPIRACYCONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONSGALLEGOS-MOJICA,JOSE ALONS211 PROSPERITY LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:43 years oldArresting Agency:Red Bank PDCharges:HANEY,BRANDY ANANDA6731 HICKORY BROOK RD CHATTANOOGA, 374216751Age at Arrest:40 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:HANNAH,L KELSEY289 DENNIS RD TRENTON, 30752Age at Arrest:25 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTYHANNAN,DUSTIN MAURICE415 FRIAR RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:41 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPONPOSSESSION OF COCAINE WITH THE INTENT TO MANUFACTUPOSSESSION OF FENTANYL WITH INTENT TO MANUFACTURE,POSSESSION OF MDMA WITH THE INTENT TO MANUFACTURE,HARRIS,LOREN CHADWICK6008A CHAMPION RD CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest:55 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCERECKLESS DRIVINGHILT,RAVEN SYMONE7005 Sentinel Ln Harrison, 37341Age at Arrest:27 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FAILURE TO APPEARHUBBARD,PHILLIP TORBIAN3530 KIRKLAND AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest:38 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDJOHNSON,DALON WANYA2427 6TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest:27 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTYJOHNSON,DAVID ALBERT8001 SHORT TAIL SPRINGS R BLDG 1 OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest:76 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:LONDON,WILLIAM JOSEPH9331 DAYTON PIKE SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest:73 years oldArresting Agency:Soddy Daisy PDCharges:UNLAWFUL CARRYING OR POSSESSING WEAPONLOVELADY,CORY ADAM15940 CHANNEL POINTE DRIVE SALE CREEK, 37373Age at Arrest:42 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)MADDEN,RICHMOND LEBRON2112 BAILEY AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest:55 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FAILURE TO APPEARMCCULLOUGH,KEVIN DEWAYNE458 W 38TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374101359Age at Arrest:30 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:DOMESTIC ASSAULTROBBERYMOORE,NELSON LEE457 DOTSON AVE APT 1800 CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:28 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:VIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTYVIOLATION OF PROBATION RECKLESS ENDANGERMENTNEAL,SHYKESIA DESHAY3016 WOODSIDE ST CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest:27 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)NICHOLSON,ZACHARY AUSTIN7450 TWIN BROOK DR CHATTANOOGA, 374211850Age at Arrest:35 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:PARKER,ALICIA MARIECHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest:35 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)PURYSAR,MICHAEL ANTHONY266 LAIL ROAD CHICKAMAUGA, 30711Age at Arrest:43 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FAILURE TO APPEARROBERTS,WALTER LEBRON1713 ARLINFGTON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest:42 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:UNLAWFUL ACTION BY HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICE PROVIDRODGERS,ASHLEY NICOLE4899 RINGGOLD CIR OOTLEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest:39 years oldArresting Agency:Charges:THEFT OF PROPERTYROLLINS,KENNEDI DEZRAE7652 BORISS DR APT B CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest:25 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FAILURE TO APPEARSANCHEZ RIVERA,YERSON YSAAC457 ROANOKE AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest:24 years oldArresting Agency:East RidgeCharges:VEHICULAR HOMICIDE BY RECKLESSVEHICULAR HOMICIDE BY RECKLESSVEHICULAR HOMICIDE BY RECKLESSSEXTON,SANDRA DENISEHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:51 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:DISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONSMITH,CASEY BENJAMIN9025 DALLAS HOLLOW RD APT B SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest:28 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCESPEEDINGSEAT BELT LAW VIOLATIONSMITH,TERRANCE DANELL810 EDDINGS ST CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:37 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:CRIMINAL CONSPIRACYCONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONSDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALESOLOMON,TRAVON MATAEO108 SEQUOIA DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:28 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FAIL TO YIELDFAILURE TO CARRY AND DISPLAY LICENSERESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSTRENT,BENJAMIN WILSON6557 EXQUIRE LANE HIXSON, 37477Age at Arrest:34 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTYTUCKER,DONYELL SHANISE116 OYLER LANE APT. 116 HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest:37 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTYVANDYGRIFF,WENDY LEANN10 W MEAOWBROOK DR RED BANK, 374152759Age at Arrest:34 years oldArresting Agency:Red Bank PDCharges:DOMESTIC ASSAULT

Here are the mug shots:

AKIN, JENNIFER RYAN

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 07/14/1988

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY CAL, NAJEE SADE

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 05/09/1989

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) CHUBB, MONTEZ

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 07/12/2002

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF COLLINS, DOMINIQUE LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 01/18/1988

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

CONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS COLLINS, JAYLIN SCOTT

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 05/24/2005

Arresting Agency: Red Bank PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

PETITION TO REVOKE (RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT)

FAILURE TO APPEAR (RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT) COLPEAN, MARCOS ANTHONY

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 04/13/1995

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

ROBBERY COTTON, TIMOTHY CLARK

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 06/25/1984

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

LEAVING SCENE ACCIDENT

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE

RECKLESS DRIVING

FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY COX, LOGAN DAVID

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 04/14/1999

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

POSSESSION OF FENTANYL CUMMINGS, CHRISTOPHER JOEL

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 12/27/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (AGGRAVATED ASSAULT)

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED ROBB

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (EMPLOYMENT OF A FIREARM DU ELLISON, ROMANDO

Age at Arrest: 24

Date of Birth: 09/27/2000

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

FUGH, SHUNGTHUN MARTEZ

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 03/09/1985

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

CONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS GALLEGOS-MOJICA, JOSE ALONS

Age at Arrest: 43

Date of Birth: 11/03/1981

Arresting Agency: Red Bank PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

HANEY, BRANDY ANANDA

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 11/19/1984

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

HANNAH, L KELSEY

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 08/05/1999

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY HANNAN, DUSTIN MAURICE

Age at Arrest: 41

Date of Birth: 07/23/1982

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPON

POSSESSION OF COCAINE WITH THE INTENT TO MANUFACTU

POSSESSION OF FENTANYL WITH INTENT TO MANUFACTURE,

POSSESSION OF MDMA WITH THE INTENT TO MANUFACTURE, HARRIS, LOREN CHADWICK

Age at Arrest: 55

Date of Birth: 02/11/1970

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

RECKLESS DRIVING HILT, RAVEN SYMONE

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 02/16/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR HUBBARD, PHILLIP TORBIAN

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 06/26/1986

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)

POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED JOHNSON, DALON WANYA

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 04/13/1998

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY JOHNSON, DAVID ALBERT

Age at Arrest: 76

Date of Birth: 02/05/1949

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



LONDON, WILLIAM JOSEPH

Age at Arrest: 73

Date of Birth: 01/11/1952

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

UNLAWFUL CARRYING OR POSSESSING WEAPON LOVELADY, CORY ADAM

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 10/17/1982

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC) MADDEN, RICHMOND LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 55

Date of Birth: 07/27/1969

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR MCCULLOUGH, KEVIN DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 05/15/1994

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

ROBBERY MOORE, NELSON LEE

Age at Arrest: 28

Date of Birth: 12/25/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION THEFT OF PROPERTY

VIOLATION OF PROBATION RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT NICHOLSON, ZACHARY AUSTIN

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 06/26/1989

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

PARKER, ALICIA MARIE

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 04/06/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) PURYSAR, MICHAEL ANTHONY

Age at Arrest: 43

Date of Birth: 12/06/1981

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR ROBERTS, WALTER LEBRON

Age at Arrest: 42

Date of Birth: 01/04/1983

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

UNLAWFUL ACTION BY HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICE PROVID RODGERS, ASHLEY NICOLE

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 04/29/1986

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY

ROLLINS, KENNEDI DEZRAE

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 03/22/2000

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR SANCHEZ RIVERA, YERSON YSAAC

Age at Arrest: 24

Date of Birth: 06/02/2000

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

VEHICULAR HOMICIDE BY RECKLESS

VEHICULAR HOMICIDE BY RECKLESS

VEHICULAR HOMICIDE BY RECKLESS SMITH, CASEY BENJAMIN

Age at Arrest: 28

Date of Birth: 04/01/1997

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

SPEEDING

SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION SMITH, TERRANCE DANELL

Age at Arrest: 37

Date of Birth: 11/16/1987

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

CONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE SOLOMON, TRAVON MATAEO

Age at Arrest: 28

Date of Birth: 09/30/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

FAIL TO YIELD

FAILURE TO CARRY AND DISPLAY LICENSE

RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS TRENT, BENJAMIN WILSON

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 07/26/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY TUCKER, DONYELL SHANISE

Age at Arrest: 37

Date of Birth: 08/04/1987

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY VANDYGRIFF, WENDY LEANN

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 03/15/1991

Arresting Agency: Red Bank PD



Last Date of Arrest: 05/12/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT




RISE Chattanooga & BOOM announce the launch of BOOM CEOs Creative Commerce Conversation Series, an "inspiring new speaker series amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders who are driving change in Greater Chattanoogas growing creative economy." The first event in the new series will be held on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 p.m.Admission is free, but seating is limited. Early registration is encouraged.Officials said, "Hosted at RISEs newly opened creative entrepreneurship hub and community space, BOOM, located on 2420 Glass St., this series goes beyond traditional business panelsoffering intimate, honest and unfiltered conversations with upcoming and ambitious creative entrepreneurs who are redefining success on their own terms.From overcoming challenges to building generational wealth, each conversation will provide tangible strategies and insights for aspiring small business owners, creative professionals and community members alike."The inaugural session will feature Jonathan Oye, co-owner of Oye Coffee Co., a West African coffee and lifestyle brand founded by two Nigerian brothers and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduates. With authenticity, heart, and hustle, the Oye brothers have built a business rooted in culture, family and global vision."This is more than a talkits a movement to celebrate ownership, community and creativity, especially in spaces that have historically been left out of the conversation, said Shane Morrow, executive director of RISE Chattanooga. BOOM was created to be a launchpad for creative ideas and economic empowerment, and this series is a powerful extension of that mission.
Day Shift May 9: A Team

25-004918  3500 BLK Pinellas Lane  Domestic Assault A man was arrested for Domestic Assault and Interference with Emergency Calls after the victim reported he threw a frying pan at her, striking her in the rib, and took her phone away from her while she was speaking with a 9-1-1 call taker.

25-004926- 1700 BLK Prigmore Rd-Property Police were dispatched to the listed address for a tree that had fallen from the neighbors yard.Officers advised the RP that since there was no damage to the fence or their yard, the RP and his neighbor would have to work it out amongst themselves to remove the tree.

25-004929- 1300 BLK St Thomas St  Harassment A man called the police to report harassment. During the phone call, it was determined the harassment involved another individual, not the caller. He was advised that the affected person would need to report it directly. The party then abruptly ended the call. Officers recontacted him and warned him that repeated misuse of emergency services could result in enforcement action due to his history of similar calls. He acknowledged the warning and declined to continue the conversation.

25-004931  6500 BLK Ringgold Road  Disorder Police responded to the inn for a disorder after employees reported a male and female in a loud verbal altercation. Officers spoke with the parties who advised they were arguing about the demise of their relationship. The man stated he realized the relationship would not work, collected his belongings, and left.

25-004935-4214 Ringgold Rd-SIA/Missing Juvenile Police were flagged down by a party who stated that his son had not got on the bus from school and that he was unable to find him. Officers relocated to his address on Dunlap and located the juvenile inside the apartment. The child stated he had walked home. He was asked to better communicate with his father.

Night Shift May 9: D Team

25-004939-4300 BLK Ringgold Road-Unconscious/DUI Arrest The police responded to a report of two males found unconscious in a vehicle. Upon investigation, one was taken into custody for driving under the influence, driving without a license, and false identification for having a fake ID. The passenger was also arrested for underage drinking and public intoxication. Both individuals were transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.

25-004940-4214 Ringgold Road- Warrant Service Police served two Forfeiture Capias Warrants (one for DUI, one for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia) on a party who was transported to the Hamilton County Jail.

25-004947  700 BLK Germantown Circle A  Domestic Disorder Police initially responded to the above address for a kidnapping. Officers located a man walking down Germantown Circle shirtless and carrying a small child. Police attempted to speak with him, but he made several attempts to walk away from the officers. Due to the seriousness of the call and his lack of cooperation, he was detained, and the child was taken from him. During the investigation, it was determined that he was the childs father, and he had gotten into a dispute with the childs mother who had brought the child to the above address to visit. When the mother tried to leave with the child, he took the child and left his home. It was determined that the child had always lived with the mother, and there was no custody agreement or court order in place. Additionally, the birth certificate did not list him as the childs father. The child was released to the mother, and the male subject was released. No charges are being sought.

25-004951  200 BLK Eads Street Disorder/warrant service While dealing with a disorder, Officers discovered a party had two East Ridge warrants for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct.

Day Shift May 10: B Team

25-004952- 1500 BLK McBrien Road- Warrant Service A man was served on two county warrants at the address above and transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.

25-004955- 1000 BLK South Seminole Dr-Suspicious Person An employee of the market reported that a black Toyota SUV had been sitting in the parking lot for over an hour. The RP and wanted them to move along. Officers contacted the occupants, and they agreed to move along without issue.

25-004956-3200 BLK Gleason Dr-Domestic Disorder Police were dispatched to the apartments for a domestic disorder. The female caller reported that her and her son had gotten into a verbal altercation over her not giving him a ride to Georgia. She told officers that this has been a recurring issue and wanted the police to advise her son she did not want him back at her apartment. The officer later located him and advised him not to return to the apartment. He agreed and moved along without issue, report on file.

25-004960-3400 BLK Gail Drive-Backup EMS A man requested medical help as he was experiencing withdrawals from illicit narcotics. Police secured the scene for EMS to evaluate the patient. Hamilton County EMS transported for treatment.

25-004963  1600 BLK Truman Avenue - Burglary The resident called ERPD to report someone had broken into his shed in the back yard. He stated they had stolen his dirt bike, generator, and a lot of his tools.

Night Shift May 10: D Team

25-004973  4100 BLK Ringgold Road  Suspicious Person Two juvenile males were trespassed from the apartment complex when police observed them smoking tobacco and THC in the complex laundry room.

25-004977-1700 BLK Keeble St- Criminal Trespass A man was criminally trespassed from the convenience store after causing a disturbance.

25-004978- 700 BLK Frawley Rd- Property damage Trevor Johnson wanted to report that the right-side windows on his vehicle were destroyed. Johnson stated he was inside his friend's apartment and did not see anything.

25-004985-800 BLK Harris Dr- SIA While officers were in route to a call at this address, a male began following officers, then parked behind them and shut off his vehicle lights. The driver stated that he was lost and believed he was in Cullman, Al. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation. His license was seized, and the vehicle was towed.

25-004986- 1500 BLK Burns Avenue- Animal Call The complainant described two big dogs walking freely around his property. The RP stated that the unknown dogs continued to attempt to enter his backyard. He didn't want to see Police but requested for an officer to drive the area. The officer checked four blocks but could not locate free roaming dogs.

25-004987  6200 BLK Ringgold Road  Traffic Stop/ Arrest A woman was stopped for a light law violation and taken into custody for a warrant for assault from Hamilton County criminal court.

25-004988- 1200 BLK Greenslake RD- MVC Unknown Injuries Police responded to this location for a single-vehicle accident involving a utility pole. Upon arrival, police located the vehicle, but the driver had fled the scene. A short time later, officers were able to locate the driver walking towards a convenience store. He was arrested for reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He was transported to Park Ridge East for medical clearance.

Day Shift May 11: A Team

25-004992- 5300 BLK Haisten Court- Warrant Service A man was served on a warrant for a petition to revoke (Agg. Domestic Assault) and was transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.

25-004993- 1600 BLK S Seminole Rd  Wellbeing Check Officers responded to this address for a theft report. The reporting party alleged that her caretaker had been stealing from her over the past three years, including ten glass punch bowls she valued at $10,000. A review of call history revealed that her son holds full power of attorney of her, is aware of the allegations, and informed law enforcement that his mother is not able to make a competent report. He stated items are being moved to improve safety in the home. Officers noted that she did not appear to be in distress during the contact.

25-004996- 5300 BLK Connell St  Back EMS/seizure Officers responded alongside EMS and Fire to assist with scene safety following a reported seizure at the above address. Upon arrival, officers contacted a female, identified only as the patients girlfriend, who stated that the man collapsed and began shaking after speaking with her, consistent with seizure-like activity. She reported he had no known history of seizures but had consumed alcohol the previous day and smoked marijuana earlier. EMS transported him to the hospital for further evaluation.

25-005007-3400 BLK Betty Lane- Improperly Parked Auto Police were informed that of a blue pickup truck that was parked in the road at the listed address, blocking emergency vehicle access. Officers spoke with the vehicle owner, and he agreed to move his vehicle without issue.

25-004997- 4214 Ringgold Road- Check Welfare Police were called regarding a party texting multiple family members that she was done with life. Police gave her phone number to Hamilton County Dispatch to try to determine the location. The dispatcher advised it was around East State Line Road and Key West Ave. Catoosa County was made aware to search in this area as well. The female party was not located.

25-005002- 1500 BLK Waterhouse Street- Warrant Service A man was served on a Probation Capias (Agg. Criminal Trespass) warrant and was transported to the Hamilton County Jail without incident.

25-005009  0.8 I 75 N Bound  Traffic Crash with Fatalities A seven-vehicle traffic crash with some vehicles fully engulfed in flames was called in. Multiple people were transported to the hospital for additional care, and two fatalities were reported at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

25-005011- 1900 BLK Close Road- Warrant Service A woman was served on a theft of property warrant and transported to the Hamilton County Jail.

Night Shift May 11: D Team

25-005020  1500 BLK Karwill Lane  Citizen Assist A juvenile refused to obey his father and left home on foot. Police located the juvenile and counseled him about unruly behavior. The juvenile returned home.

25-005022- 200 BLK Eads Street- Back Up Fire Police were dispatched to apartments, building 5, to back up ERFD. ERFD responded to investigate a fire in a residential HVAC unit. Upon arrival, ERFD determined they didn't need police assistance.

Day Shift May 12: A Team

25-005035  700 BLK Germantown Circle Harassment A woman reported her childs fathers new girlfriend was harassing her over Facebook Messenger. Upon further investigation, it appeared the two were having a mutual argument, and the caller was encouraged to cease communication and block the party.

25-005039  5300 BLK Ringgold Road  Theft- Police met the reporting party at the ERPD Lobby to review security footage of an oil theft from the restaurant. Officers observed security camera footage showing two suspects drive up to the stand-alone oil storage container at 0015 hours on Saturday morning in a white box truck. They placed a hose into the container and removed 166 gallons of used cooking oil before leaving the scene. The theft was valued at around $600 by the contract company.

No case number- 6600 BLK Ringgold Rd- Suspicious Vehicle Police observed a male sleeping in his vehicle outside the hotel. An officer contacted the party who advised he had pulled off the road due to his vehicle overheating. He was checked for warrants and sent on his way. FI# 25-000072

25-005037- San His/Gibson St.- Wires Down Police were dispatched to this location on reports of wires down. On arrival, Fire was removing the wires from the road. They determined the wires to be for cable TV.

25-005038- 300 BLK Cedar Glen Cir.- Theft Officers met the complainant at the police department. She was alerted to fraud by her bank. She also stated that someone had washed her check and cashed it in Wisconsin after it was stolen from the mailbox.

25-005044- 200 BLK Eads St- Found Child Police were dispatched to this location after a worker found a child by himself. The child stated his aunt dropped him off and left him. The child said his mom was not home. Police called the aunt who returned to take custody. DCS# 1510611300

Night Shift May 12: C Team

Road Closure due to Flooding: - 6500 Slater Road

25-005040  10 BLK Brockhaven Road  Suspicious Activity The resident reported an unknown male was impersonating a DirecTV worker and knocking on doors in the neighborhood. Police checked the area, but did not locate the suspect.

25-005046  601 Justice Way  Warrant Service While in custody at the Hamilton County Jail, a man was served with a Forfeiture Capias and a Petition to Revoke warrant through the City of East Ridge. The original charges for the arrest warrants were Retaliation for a Past Action and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

25-005053  I-24 Westbound, MM 183  Traffic Stop / Arrest Police initiated a traffic stop with a red Honda sedan for window tint and the driver initially provided another persons name for her identification. The driver was found to be in possession of burnt foil and cut straws containing suspected drug residue. Based on the evidence, she was arrested and charged with Criminal Impersonation and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
State Representative Dan Howell has secured $400,000 in state funding for the Southeast Tennessee Development District to benefit the Smart Factory Institute in Cleveland."The funding, which was sponsored in the Senate by State Senator Adam Lowe, will help the Smart Factory Institute provide support, innovation and research for small and large manufacturers statewide," officials said.The manufacturing industry is vital to Tennessees economic strength and future success, said Rep.Howell. This investment will ensure the Smart Factory Institute can continue empowering businesses in our community and across the Volunteer State through workforce development and innovative training solutions. I thank my colleagues for supporting this appropriation, and I look forward to seeing the many great things the organization will do with these funds."The Smart Factory Institute works to improve manufacturing processes through innovation and workforce training," officials said. The organization seeks to foster connections with other industry experts, increase collaborative academic and trade relationships and offer certifications using emerging technology."The appropriated funds are part of a $59.8 billion balanced budget passed by lawmakers in April. Republican priorities include significant investments to improve academic outcomes, provide disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Helene, enhance public safety for all Tennesseans and increase funding to address transportation infrastructure needs. Lawmakers also approved $25 million for grants to recruit new businesses to Tennessee and support workforce development."Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in overall cost of doing business by Area Development Magazine in 2024 and the No. 3 best state in the nation for business by Chief Executive this year."Rep. Howell in 2024 secured $350,000 for the Smart Factory Institute to provide research and support for small and large manufacturers across Tennessee."
photo by Tanqueray Harper - True Capture Studios photo by Tanqueray Harper - True Capture Studios photo by Tanqueray Harper - True Capture Studios Previous Next

ArtsBuild recently celebrated the culmination of its Periscope CHA program with the Pitch Night and Entrepreneur Expo, sponsored by Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union.Officials said, "The pitch event is a vibrant celebration where artists showcased their entrepreneurial skills honed through a year-long intensive training designed to empower them to view their creative practice through a business-minded lens."The Pitch Night spotlighted the talents and ideas of the participating artists.Winners were Andi Kur, who earned first place, Annie LaVoie, who secured second place, and Emma Witz and Elle Quesenberry, who both took third place.James McKissic, president of ArtsBuild, said, "We are thrilled to see the growth and innovation these artists have demonstrated. Their passion and dedication are a testament to the vibrant arts community in Chattanooga."ArtsBuild is also announces that applications for the next cohort of Periscope are now open. This program is limited to 15 artists, artisans, makers and creative entrepreneurs of all artistic disciplines in the Greater Chattanooga region.Brianna Jones, ArtsBuild Programs and Grants coordinator, urged local artists to apply today. "We cant wait to welcome the next group of talented artists into the Periscope program, she said. This is a chance for them to not only hone their craft but also to build sustainable careers doing what they love."Officials said, "Periscope, originally created by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville, has been empowering artists for over a decade. Launched in 2014, the program expanded to rural Tennessee communities in 2021 and arrived in Chattanooga in 2023. It features a 10-week intensive curriculum followed by six months of personalized mentorship, culminating in the celebrated Pitch Night and Entrepreneur Expo. Since its debut in Chattanooga, Periscope has enabled numerous artists to transform their creative passions into thriving businesses, enriching both the cultural and economic fabric of the region."ArtsBuild extends its deepest appreciation to the sponsors and supporters who brought this program to life: Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, The Howard Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, The Tennessee Department of Economic Development, City of Chattanooga Government, The Nancy Lackey Community Education Fund, The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement, The Benwood Foundation, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, SimplyProps, and RISE Chattanooga."Artists interested in joining the next Periscope cohort are encouraged to apply today. For more details and to submit an application, visit Periscope CHA 2025/26 Application.There will be an in-person informational session at Arts Build, 301 East 11th St., on Tuesday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. All application materials are due no later than Friday, August 1. Applications received after this time may not be considered.
The Soddy, Daisy & Montlake Historical Association Annual Cruise-In will be held this Saturday from 5-8 p.m. at The Good Old Days Museum.Admission is free for attendees and classic cars. The museum will be open for touring during the event.There will be free parking at Soddy Church of God, 11340 Back Valley Road. Golf carts will be running between the museum and the church.Hot dogs, chips, drinks & baked good will be available for purchase.Donations are appreciated and will go towards the on-going maintenance of the museum."Bring your classic cars and show them off," organizers said."Bring a chair. Enjoy the music and food."Cars will be parked around the museum (road to be closed) and in the museum parking lot. Someone will be directing classic cars as they arrive from each direction.For more information, contact Steve at soddydaisymontlake@gmail.com, or by cell at 423-718-0528.
As an innovative green-tech start-up, elementarhy has now been awarded "Best European hydrogen Start-up 2025" at the H2 National Summit hydrogen conference in Hamburg. The company is currently revolutionizing the hydrogen economy with an innovative Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) that significantly reduces the use of expensive raw materials in water electrolysis, making hydrogen production cost-effective in the future.

Picture from the award ceremony: Dr. Zahra Nasri (CSO) and Arne Birth (CFO) (elementarhy GmbH) H2 National Summit

Climate-neutrally produced hydrogen is expected to meet the energy needs of industry in the future and serve as storage for electricity from solar and wind power plants. However, production has been expensive until now. Hydrogen production requires electrolyzers that split hydrogen and oxygen. Electrolyzers use iridium for this purpose - a silvery-white precious metal that is scarcer and more expensive than gold and platinum.

Based on scientific research results of recent decades, elementarhy has now developed a costeffective, innovative Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) for electrolysis using plasma technology, which requires 95% less of the expensive raw material than before. This enables central electrolyzer components "Made in Germany" to be produced 25% more cost-effectively - and thus makes hydrogen production as a whole significantly more economical.

With this revolutionary technology, elementarhy enables all electrolyzer manufacturers to significantly improve resilience in critical raw material supply and economic efficiency. elementarhy offers the MEA exchange as a service to industry-leading customers.

elementarhy can completely eliminate the use of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), which are currently used in catalyst coating. The PFAS substances, known as "forever chemicals," accumulate in nature and living organisms and are considered a health risk. The EU is currently negotiating far-reaching PFAS bans, and the industry is urgently looking for alternatives.

elementarhy is a spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology in Greifswald. There, innovative solutions for socially and economically important technologies are developed. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) has been supporting elementarhy as an "outstanding research-based start-up" since 2023. With headquarters in Hamburg and a facility in Greifswald, the company combines Hamburg's economic strength in the hydrogen sector with Greifswald's leading plasma research expertise.

Technology in Focus The "Best European Hydrogen Start-up 2025" award recognizes elementarhy's innovative developments in the field of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEA), which make an important contribution to the further development of the hydrogen economy. The H2-Age Award is presented

annually and recognizes start-ups that advance the hydrogen economy through innovative technologies and business models.

The jury particularly acknowledged that the start-up enables large-scale and affordable production of green hydrogen, thereby making a decisive contribution to decoupling from fossil hydrogen. The jury includes Dr. Stefan Kaufmann (Member of the German Bundestag and former Innovation Commissioner for Hydrogen of the Federal Government), Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling (Fraunhofer ISE), and Jan Rispens (Renewable Energy Hamburg).

The award was presented by Jan Rispens. Dr. Zahra Nasri (CSO) and Arne Birth (CFO) accepted the 5,000 award for elementarhy.

The patron of the H2 National Summit, Hamburg's First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher, emphasized the central role of hydrogen for a sustainable energy future: "Hydrogen is a central energy carrier of the future and the key to a successful energy transition. Politics and business are working together to ensure that the production, trade, and use of hydrogen receive tailwind. Hamburg is consistently pursuing this course because decarbonization and modernization go hand in hand with climate protection and economic competitiveness."

Arne Birth (CFO) elementarhy: "Green hydrogen needs innovation. We now enable the hydrogen economy and electrolyzers worldwide to make green hydrogen sustainable, scalable, and, above all, affordable with our Membrane Electrode Assemblies. Our plasma technology significantly reduces critical and costly precious metals like iridium and paves the way for secure energy and raw material supply."

Strong Support for a Sustainable Future With the H2-Age Award 2025, elementarhy receives another significant recognition for its innovative developments. In addition to the award, the company benefits from support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and winning the Leibniz Founding Prize 2024. With these funds, the team is driving forward the development of production facilities ready for market and the commercialization of its innovative technology.
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The Cherokee Nation honored 13 educators recently during the annual Teacher of the Year awards banquet held at the Chota Conference Center in Tahlequah.
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerrys, conducts an interview with Tucker Carlson on X. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Tucker Carlson

Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerrys, recently shared his admiration for Jesus Christ in an interview with Tucker Carlson on X. The conversation with Tucker Carlson, released Monday, primarily focused on American foreign policy before transitioning into a discussion about Cohens spiritual beliefs.

Cohen openly acknowledged, I dont practice religion, but also stated, I love Jesus Christ. While describing Jesus' words as "wonderful" and "amazing, Cohen expressed disappointment that a lot of organized Christian religions are not really  abiding by the words of Jesus Christ.

He also identified himself as friends with Shane Claiborne, a prominent progressive Christian activist associated with Red Letter Christians.

I think if we could follow the words of Jesus Christ and  think about the Sermon on the Mount and  take his words seriously, we wouldnt be doing the stuff were currently doing, Cohen insisted.

Ben & Jerrys has long been known for its outspoken political activism. The company has taken numerous stances supporting liberal causes over the years. In 2012, it renamed its Oh My! Apple Pie! flavor to Apple-y Ever After to support same-sex marriage legislation in the United Kingdom. Three years earlier, the brand changed the name of its Chubby Hubby flavor to Hubby Hubby after same-sex marriage became legal in Vermont.

An op-ed published by The Christian Post in March noted that in 2021, Ben & Jerrys decided to cease selling ice cream in certain parts of Israel, citing its belief that the Jewish state was violating the rights of those living in what it called Occupied Palestinian Territory. During the protests following George Floyds death in police custody in 2020, Ben & Jerrys sent ice cream to protesters occupying the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle.

Over the past year, the company has been highly active in progressive advocacy. A July 4 social media post declared that the United States was founded on stolen Indigenous land, and the company engaged in a get-out-the-vote effort supporting Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, creating a flavor titled Kamala Coconut Jubilee in her honor.

Earlier this year, Ben & Jerrys issued a message featuring the word Dissent! as it publicly opposed fascism ahead of Donald Trumps inauguration. In March, the brand faced significant backlash for celebrating Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.
Kenya aims to boost tea exports to China to 50 mln kg by 2030

Xinhua) 09:57, May 13, 2025

NAIROBI, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya targets to grow its tea exports to China by more than fourfold in the next six years, a government official said on Monday.

Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary for agriculture and livestock development, said the goal is to increase Kenya's tea exports to China from 12.42 million kg in 2024 to 50 million kg by 2030.

He made the announcement in a statement released in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, after meeting with Zhang Chaobin, chairman of Fuzhou Benny Tea Industry Company Limited.

Kagwe said the meeting was part of efforts to grow Kenya's footprint in the Chinese tea market and increase exports to the Asian nation. "This high-level engagement underlines Kenya's strategic push to boost exports of orthodox and specialty teas," he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
In celebration of Johannes Gutenbergs 625th birthday, Mainz Cathedral in Germany displays the worlds largest Bible page to the public. | Photo Credit: Mastodon/ Daniel Bellingradt

Mainz Cathedral in Germany has unveiled the worlds largest Bible page to the public in celebration of Johannes Gutenbergs 625th birthday, the inventor of the printing press and the producer of the Gutenberg Bible.

The impressive 16.4 by 23.6-foot page displays the first page of Johns Gospel with a translation from the Shuckburgh Bible, a variant of the Gutenberg Bible. It is currently on display through August 31 and has been placed in the east choir section of the cathedral.

At a media presentation on April 28, Mainz Mayor Nino Haase and the Dean of Mainz Cathedral, the Rev. Henning Priesel, introduced the Bible page.

The huge page of the Gutenberg Bible fits well into the east choir of Mainz Cathedral. In the literal sense of the word, it is the hook for many creative offers that we are organizing for young and old in the cathedral and Diocesan Museum in the coming weeks for the 625th anniversary, Priesel explained, who also serves as the dean of the cathedral.

A special reading corner has been set up in the All Saints Chapel at Mainz Cathedral to complement the display, featuring a selection of Bible editions suitable for both children and adults for visitors to read. Additionally, visitors are encouraged to write down their favorite Bible passages in a guest book provided on site.

The Bible page was created using traditional letterpress techniques on April 26 by printer Markus Kohz and his team from the International Gutenberg Society.

The printing process took place during the opening of the Kultursommer (cultural summer) event at Fischtorplatz square in the heart of Mainz. The printing involved a computer-milled wooden cliche, which was inked and pressed by the weight of a car that drove over it multiple times, demonstrating the historic printing technique.

The exhibition is organized with efforts from Mainz Cathedral staff, who also arranged a special exhibit titled The Whole World on Parchment: The Choir Books from the Mainz Carmelite Monastery. This exhibit is displayed at both Mainz Cathedral and the Diocesan Museum and runs alongside a related program through June 15.

A cathedral concert is planned for August 24 to mark the Gutenberg anniversary and the conclusion of the Bible page exhibition.
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Albert Mohler

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, entity has expressed grave doubts about the usefulness of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) within Southern Baptist life.

According to Baptist Press, Mohler stated on an April 30 episode of the Baptist 21 podcast that he has grave doubts about the utility of the ERLC. And its not just about the current moment. He also added, It would be wrong for me to lead any such effort to abolish or defund the ERLC.

During the podcast, Mohler described the idea of maintaining an entity that is assigned to represent the SBC in a formal sense on so many of the hottest issues of the day as a risky proposition. He acknowledged that there are clear Baptist principles, biblical principles we want to advertise as loudly to the world as we can, but questioned, the question is how do we best do that.

Mohler further suggested that a commission might not be as useful to the SBC as its boards and institutions, asserting that that commissions are different than the boards and the institutions, primarily because they have a particular function. He pointed out that we have eliminated most of the commissions, and its largely because other entities and the churches themselves and the state conventions have taken up this task.

In the late 1990s, the SBC eliminated several commissions, including the Education Commission, the Stewardship Commission, and the Historical Commission, following recommendations from a study committee on which Mohler served.

Last year, a motion to abolish the ERLC failed to secure the first of two necessary majority votes. The following month, leadership turmoil ensued at the ERLC when the entity announced the removal of President Brent Leatherwood in July, only to retract the announcement a day later.

In 2023, a motion to reallocate the ERLCs budget to support the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force was ruled out of order, and in 2022, members also voted down a motion to abolish the commission.

Scott Foshie, ERLC trustee chairman, stated this week, For over 100 years, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has played a pivotal role in shaping culture and equipping pastors by bringing a distinctively Baptist voice to the public square. Foshie added that the ERLC has been actively engaging with pastors and state convention leaders across the country, listening to their invaluable insights as they navigate complex issues within their ministries.

Brent Leatherwood, ERLC president, highlighted the organizations progress, stating, Our focus is on the work Southern Baptists have assigned to us, and asserting that the ERLC is gaining ground with our allies on the Hill to finally and permanently defund Planned Parenthood. He also explained that the ERLC is taking aim at banning pornography and is equipping our churches to stand firm against the pervasive transgender ideology that so defines the spirit of the age.

Leatherwood stated that the ERLC stands in solidarity with other SBC entities in support of their work in missions, church planting, and seminary training. He emphasized the ERLCs ongoing efforts, noting that the ERLC has stood in the gap towards faithful engagement in the public square, bolstered by research and wisdom from leading Southern Baptist ethicists.
Home News Evangelical, Protestant leaders from Latin America react to Pope Leo XIV His election seeks to 'halt the advance of Evangelical churches ... reiterates the alliance with the globalist agenda'

Peru  For Vatican experts, the election of American Robert Francis Prevost Martinez as the new pope sends clear political and symbolic signals both within and outside the Catholic world.

This was evident in his first speech, when he spoke in Italian and Spanish  instead of his native English  and for some, a clear sign of geopolitical distancing. As every time the Catholic Church renews its leadership, all eyes are focused on the new figure who emerges.

Prevost wasn't well-known outside Vatican circles and the Peruvian diocese, even though he was born in Chicago, Illinois. However, the first voices of Evangelical leadership began to emerge. Diario Cristiano (DC) sought to speak with some of these people to gather their first impressions and opinions about the new Catholic leader.

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From Peru, Pastor Cristian Scheelje Cossios, president of the Union of Evangelical Christian Churches of Peru (UNICEP), acknowledged having participated formally in events with Prevost, although without maintaining a personal relationship. This was primarily related to the Interreligious Council of Peru, where different faiths converge in search of social peace.

DC also consulted with Guillermo Aguayo, pastor of the La Casa del Padre church in Lima and a defender of life and family in Peru and across the continent. Aguayo expressed that Prevost's rise to the papacy and his future leadership line "is an unknown." He explained that "the region where he served, although there is a lot of poverty, is also the region where Opus Dei has its university. However, it seems that he has leaned more toward Bergoglio's [Pope Francis'] line. That is, more toward the Left, globalism, and illegal immigrants," glimpsing a possible path the pontiff could take.

Aguayo felt that, as an American, coming from a working-class background in Chicago and at the same time connected to the Hispanic world of Latin America through his work in Peru, the situation could become very political.

"Either the entire American continent unites in a single political and religious direction, or we will continue to be the United States' backyard. What is healthier? We will see that in the coming years," he said.

In this regard, his compatriot, Pastor Julio Rosas  a former congressman and leader linked to the "Don't Mess With My Children" movement, currently led by his son, Cristian  said that, due to his nationality and his "20 years of work in Peru in various regions," he hopes to learn about his "firm and clear convictions in favor of life and the defense of the family as the basis and foundation of society." Rosas wished that "God bless his life and ministry."

He added, "Beyond following the lead of Pope Francis and other previous popes, let him follow the lead of Jesus Christ. Above all, let his convictions be based on the Holy Bible, the Word of God."

For her part, Peruvian engineer Pilar Vicentelo, a member of the Faith Network for Climate Justice, maintained that Prevost, as a leader in Peru, "did great work in Chiclayo (northern Peru) against sexual abuse committed by a sector of the Catholic Church." However, accusations are also mentioned about his alleged involvement in covering up cases of sexual corruption involving two priests.

From Argentina, Pastor Gerardo Oberman, president of the Reformed Churches in that country since 2009, noted: I don't know him very well. I understand that he was trusted by Francis because of the responsibility he gave him during his pontificate. The fact that he lived in Peru, even though the church there is conservative, gives him an advantage.

He also highlighted that Prevost, by choosing his name as Leo XIV, "shows that he somehow feels identified with Leo XIII, whose pontificate promoted the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which encouraged workers' rights and the formation of unions."

In this regard, theologian Ruth Padilla DeBorst from Costa Rica indicated that his appointment is a ray of light in the midst of much current darkness. The choice of the name Leo evokes Leo XIII, who generated or facilitated much of the rich social doctrine of the [Catholic] Church and the encyclical Rerum Novarum.

Oberman, for his part, observed that being an Augustinian is another factor to keep in mind. Saint Augustine is not Thomas Aquinas. That is to say, he is not going to be a dogmatist, and I think the first words he spoke from the balcony confirm that: openness to all people, a missionary church.

For Spanish-American communicator and author Cesar Vidal, Prevost's election as pope "shouldn't be a surprise to anyone." Vidal, a keen analyst of global events, emphasized that "it repeats the Francis model  Hispanic, but white, not black, mestizo, or indigenous  it repeats the attempt to halt the advance of Evangelical churches, not only in Latin America but also among Hispanics in the United States. And it reiterates the alliance with the globalist agenda, which he has shown himself to be more than supportive of on issues such as mass immigration and global warming."

Padilla DeBorst praised the fact that he became a naturalized Peruvian, "a model of incarnation of the ministry." He had previously noted that "the fact that Pope Francis placed great trust in Prevost also encourages me." He added that "he seems to be concerned about the state of the planet," which makes him see "a hopeful picture" in a moderate leadership.

Vidal was more skeptical. There may be many, many Evangelicals who ignore this and even harbor illusions about the future evolution of the Catholic Church. It would be important for them to wake up, because this time the offensive will be stronger, and this pope could easily live more than 20 years. More than ever, it is necessary to remember that the children of darkness are more cunning than the children of light, and to act and pray accordingly, the Spaniard told DC.

The president of the Latin Evangelical Alliance (AEL), Juan Cruz Cellammare, was one of the most moderate. Like others, he said he "did not personally know" the man who, as of yesterday, embodies Leo XIV. However, he emphasized that belonging to the Order of Saint Augustine "is encouraging, considering that Augustine of Hippo was a key figure in the history of the Christian faith. He was a man deeply dedicated to his relationship with God and left an invaluable theological legacy, especially in his understanding of divine grace, which centuries later would inspire reformers like Martin Luther in their quest to rediscover the truths of the Gospel."

He added that "if the new pope  whom some already associate with the tradition of popes called Leo, known for their defense of the underdog and their pursuit of social justice  maintains a vision that honors the centrality of grace, perhaps we can discuss these essential points more clearly."

Cellammare, who lives in Paraguay, respectfully congratulated the Catholic Church on its new leader. As president of the Latin Evangelical Alliance, I closely observe the unfolding events, reaffirming my call from God to work for the unity of the Body of Christ among my Evangelical and Protestant brothers and sisters.

He clarified that he and the organization he represents do not participate in "institutional ecumenism," but rather "advocate for cordial and peaceful relations with those who do not share our faith, in the hope of being able to proclaim to them the message of the risen Christ."

Likewise, the Latin Evangelical Alliance maintains "spaces for dialogue and collaboration with representatives of other faiths" on issues that "compromise human dignity and the common good, such as migration, the climate crisis, the defense of life at all stages, and the pursuit of peace among peoples and nations."

"In these causes, without renouncing our identity or our testimony, we believe we can work together for the good of society. I embrace the words of Augustine of Hippo: 'In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity,'" he emphasized.

The Lutheran World Federation released a congratulatory statement on the pontiff's appointment, which can be read here. In the words of its general secretary, Anne Burghardt, they stated that "together, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran churches can continue to grow toward unity through shared service to people in need and through shared witness to Christ, so that the world may believe."

The World Council of Churches (WCC) also extended ecumenical greetings to Leo and expressed its continued commitment to the Roman Catholic Church in the era of its new pontiff.

The moderator of the WCC Central Committee, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, expressed his joy and hope: As Pope Franciss successor, you will align yourself with a strong tradition. I hope you will continue Francis witness of love toward all people, especially the most vulnerable, and toward non-human creation.

The Latin American Evangelical-Protestant community holds diverse views on Leo XIV, as do the institutions that represent the different voices of the Evangelical Church around the world.

Expectations surrounding Prevost's leadership are high. His choice by Bergoglio and his closeness to Francis' papacy make him a guarantor of continuity and a moderator of the disagreements his predecessor generated within and outside the institution. The new pontiff's youth suggests his leadership could extend for many years. All that remains is to wait for him to begin his journey as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Home News ICC prosecutor Khan reportedly filed arrest warrants against Netanyahu to 'turn nations against Israel,' distract from assault claims

Two separate investigative reports have raised serious questions about ulterior motives for International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan in filing charges against Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant and asking for arrest warrants.

The reports raise two different issues that could have influenced Khan to pursue arrest warrants before he had gathered sufficient evidence.

The first report was originally published in The Wall Street Journal and alleges that Khan filed the arrest warrants to distract attention from impending rape charges against him, and to garner public support before they were filed.

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Khan reportedly became aware that a staff member on his team, a Malaysian lawyer that often travelled with him, was planning to accuse him of several incidents of rape.

She said at first, she was afraid to say anything because she believed in the importance of the job she was doing, working in international law, and she also was paying for cancer treatments for her sick mother.

Its the feeling of being trapped, she said in her testimony, according to The Wall Street Journal.

After becoming aware of the allegations, which broke at the end of April 2024, Khan reportedly decided to proceed with charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, in order to gain the support of anti-Israel nations in the ICC before the allegations became public.

The female lawyer said that Khan was feeling pressured by those nations to take some action against Israel.

In early May, shortly after learning of the allegations, Khan announced the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, while also cancelling a planned evidence gathering trip to Israel and Gaza. The move surprised both U.S. and Israeli leaders, who were still in dialogue with Khans office, and did not expect the decision to be made so quickly.

According to the report, the timing of Khans announcement of the arrest warrants appears to have been affected by the allegations. The female lawyer testified that Khan himself asked her in a phone conversation not to press charges, as it would negatively affect the arrest warrants against the Israeli leaders.

He told her the allegations would harm the justice of the victims that are on the cusp of progress.

The United Nations, which is in charge of the ICC, said it is investigating the allegations and is also investigating whether Khan attempted to intimidate or retaliate against the lawyer and those to whom she reported the incidents.

Khan denied the allegations, telling the WSJ that it is categorically untrue that he has engaged in sexual misconduct of any kind. He also claimed that the allegations are part of an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the ICC following the investigations against Netanyahu and Gallant.

On Monday, another report from The Jerusalem Post added to the intrigue. According to that report, a senior Western diplomat with personal knowledge of the ICC case and investigation alleges that Khan decided to issue the allegations early in an attempt to get Western nations to turn against Israel.

The diplomat said that in a personal conversation, Khan told him, You just wait and see. If I apply for warrants against Netanyahu, this would give countries like Germany and Canada the excuse they need to turn against the Israeli government.

The diplomat told The Post he remembers thinking, Thats not the job. You should be driven by the law and by facts and evidence, not by the thought that Germany might turn on an elected official.

In response, Khan said he notified senior U.S. officials in late March 2024 that he intended to press charges against Netanyahu and Gallant. The diplomat disputed Khans timeline, but said that even if true, it would prove that Khan acted in bad faith, since it would demonstrate that he pushed for warrants before gathering sufficient evidence.

If indeed Khan had made up his mind to apply for warrants in late March, then all of his interactions with both senior Israeli, U.S., and other officials regarding his visit to Gaza on May 27 would have been under false pretenses, the diplomat said.

Khan continued to carry on discussions with Israeli and U.S. officials in April and May of 2024, assuring them that he was still investigating the accusations against the Israeli leaders, and that no decision had been made.

Arsen Ostrovsky, a human rights lawyer and the CEO of the International Legal Forum, said that Khan has broken every rule in the book, including the rule of law.

Ostrovsky said that Instead of upholding the courts mission in the pursuit of justice, the prosecutor has unleashed a great injustice in pursuing these mendacious and baseless warrants, and an unremitting political agenda against Israeli leaders for lawfully defending the country against Hamas and seeking to rescue the remaining hostages.

Khan addressed the claims against him in a letter, stating that the allegations against him are based on false premises and claiming his decision to issue arrest warrants was not motivated by political or personal matters.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News Former Florida pastor, father of 9, due in court for charge of sexually assaulting teen

A former Florida pastor and father of nine children is due in court after pleading not guilty to the charge of sexually assaulting a teenaged girl.

Christopher Whitehead, a 35-year-old pastor of Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church in Gainesville, was arrested last year for allegedly assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

Whitehead is facing charges of sexual battery on a minor and lewd and lascivious battery. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in March, according to the Gainesville-based WCJB.

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Whitehead, identified as a former pastor by WCJB, had a case management hearing before an Alachua County judge on Monday.

Whitehead was installed as the pastor of Mount Olive in March 2022. In April of last year, the congregation held a celebration in honor of his two years at the church.

Were living in strange and wicked times, Whitehead preached during the anniversary worship service, according to The Gainesville Sun. God says Hes going to do great things for us no matter how hard life gets. Everything may not go right, but He promises that if you stay on His side, things will get better.

According to authorities, a 15-year-old girl was among those present at a gathering held at Whiteheads home that was related to the second anniversary of his appointment. At one point, she went to the master bedroom, where Whitehead was lying on the bed, to ask for some money.

After Whitehead declined to give her money, he allegedly asked her to lay in bed with him. After she eventually agreed to do so, he allegedly assaulted her, with the assault ending as soon as another child opened the door to the bedroom and she left.

Soon after, authorities were contacted. Whitehead was arrested last July.

Dominique Howard-Bernard, a church member on Mount Olives Youth Usher Board, told the Independent Florida Alligator that she was saddened by the incident and arrest.

This is very heart[breaking] as a member of the church and has me feeling crazy because he [was] supposed to be the sheep of the church and lead people to the Lord, she told the outlet. He just needs to be in Hell at this point.

Whitehead denied any wrongdoing from the onset, reported the Alligator, while his wife stood by him and told local media that she never knew him to engage in such behavior.
Home News G3 Ministries President Josh Buice resigns after confessing to slandering Christian leaders

Josh Buice, president of G3 Ministries, who also serves as a pastor and elder at Pray's Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia, has resigned after confessing to using multiple social media and email accounts to publicly and anonymously slander numerous Christian leaders.

In a statement Monday, Prays Mill Baptist Church said Buices resignation from G3 ministries which helps local churches with sound biblical theology for the glory of God, was prompted by a push from their board after a series of confrontations about his actions.

In recent weeks, the elders of PMBC uncovered irrefutable evidence that Dr. Buice has, for the past three years, operated at least four anonymous social media accounts, two anonymous email addresses, and two Substack platforms. These accounts were used to publicly and anonymously slander numerous Christian leaders, including faithful pastors (some of whom have spoken at G3 conferences), several PMBC elders, and others, the church elders said in their statement.

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These actions were not only sinful in nature but deeply divisive, causing unnecessary suspicion and strife within the body of Christ, and particularly within the eldership of PMBC.

The church, which left the Southern Baptist Convention in 2022, due to the denominations alleged cultural shift to the Left, then explained that Buice had denied his sin multiple times before he finally confessed.

Dr. Buice had been asked on multiple occasions over the past two years whether he had any connection to these anonymous accounts. In each case, he denied any knowledge of them. On Sunday evening, May 4, 2025, after clear and comprehensive evidence emerged linking the accounts directly to him, the elders of PMBC confronted Josh, the church said. For two hours, he continued to deny his involvement.

It was not until after significant pleading from church officials that he walk in the light that Buice confessed what he did.

Since then, Josh has acknowledged his sin, expressed sorrow, and asked for forgiveness. His desire is to personally ask forgiveness of every person he has slandered or lied to. While Josh has acknowledged with the elders that he is presently disqualified from serving as an elder, we do not believe at this time that his sin is necessarily permanently disqualifying, the church said.

On May 8, after some members of the board encouraged Josh Buice to resign, the board received and unanimously accepted Josh Buices resignation as President of G3. The elders of PMBC have asked Josh to take an indefinite leave until the church is able to determine a more detailed path forward, the church added in their statement.

The G3 Conference, an annual event that grew from 750 people to 6,500 from 2013 to 2021, has also been canceled as a result of Buices resignation, a statement from the ministrys website said. The G3 National Conference this year was scheduled for Sept. 1113 in Atlanta, Georgia.

In light of these events, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming national G3 Conference and all 2025 workshops. All registrants, exhibitors, and publishers will receive a full refund of registration fees. G3 plans to continue G3+, G3 Press, the G3 Student Retreat, and other media content, the ministry said.

As we look to the ministrys future, we will prioritize the publication of helpful biblical content that strengthens the church and avoids the dangerous celebrity culture that has unfortunately come to characterize so much of modern evangelicalism.

Since the announcement of Buices resignation many Christians have shared their public reactions, including Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries.

This is heartbreaking and truly hard to understand. Sin has such devastating consequences, not only to ourselves but to many others. We truly do need to pray for Josh and his family, G3, Prays Mill and the body of Christ, Peters wrote in a statement on X Monday. Christ is our model. He is the only One to Whom we will give an account and the only One to Whom we look. We imitate men only insomuch as they imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

Christian author Jennifer Greenberg speculated in lengthy statement on X that Buice likely offended powerful Christian leaders.

Genuinely unimpressed by this. Ive had a few interactions with Josh. He was always respectful even when we disagreed. Im not saying he didnt do the things theyre claiming. What I am saying is hes not a unique offender. There are dozens, if not hundreds of pastors and elders out there who are objectively 100X worse than Josh yet few to nobody in the Theobro camp calls them out, she argued.

Ill tell you whats going on right now [...] Josh Buice hurt the fragile feelings of men in power. This has nothing to do with sin and everything to do with ego and hierarchy. These Theobro guys dont care about division or strife. They thrive on it. They often brag about being persecuted when people are offended by them, she added in part.
Home News Georiga bans public funding of body-mutilating sex-change surgeries for inmates

Georgia has banned the use of state tax dollars to pay for so-called sex-reassignment surgeries for trans-identified inmates as efforts to crack down on the life-altering procedures continue at the state and federal levels.

Georgias Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 185 into law Monday, following its passage by the Republican-controlled Georgia Senate in a 37-15 vote and the Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives in a 100-2 vote.

While the vote tallies suggest a high degree of bipartisan support, 71 House Democrats were absent from the vote, while only three joined with Republicans to support the measure. In the Senate, only four Democrats supported the bill.

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The measure prohibits the use of state funds or resources to pay for inmates in state prisons to receive sex reassignment surgeries or any other surgical procedures that are performed for the purpose of altering primary or secondary sex characteristics.

The legislation also bans the use of state funds to pay for inmates hormone replacement therapies and cosmetic procedures or prosthetics intended to alter the appearance of primary or secondary sexual characteristics.

The bill outlines the limited instances where such treatments can take place, specifically in cases where inmates are intersex, the treatments are deemed medically necessary, or in cases where inmates were already receiving the treatments with the caveat that they can only be used for the purpose of transitioning off therapy.

Kemps approval of Senate Bill 185 comes nearly four months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. The executive order includes a provision directing the U.S. Attorney General to ensure that no Federal funds are expended for any medical procedure, treatment, or drug for the purpose of conforming an inmates appearance to that of the opposite sex.

The approach contrasts with what has taken place in other states. A 2023 report found that California had spent approximately $4 million on such gender procedures for trans-identified inmates after the state became the first to use taxpayer funds to pay for them in 2017.

Even in states where lawmakers did not approve the use of taxpayer funds to pay for inmates gender transition procedures, courts have ruled that failure to cover such interventions amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Last year, a federal judge ruled that the Indiana Department of Corrections must provide a trans-identified inmate convicted of strangling his infant stepdaughter to death with gender transition surgery.

The judge agreed with the inmate that a state law prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for gender transition procedures amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The state of Indiana vowed to appeal the ruling.

In 2012, a federal judge ruled that Massachusetts failure to provide convicted murderer Robert Kosilek with gender transition surgery constituted cruel and unusual punishment. Kosilek, convicted of murdering his wife, identified as a woman named Michelle. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied Kosileks appeal three years later.

While Massachusetts enabled Kosilek to obtain hormone drugs, remove facial and body hair and allowed him to dress like a woman, it stopped short of granting the convicted murderers request for surgery.
Home News Gold Star widow finds healing from 'secret' she kept for decades, launches ministry to help others

A Gold Star widow who has lost two husbands and overcome the weight of a secret she kept from them has launched a nationwide ministry that takes widows who've lost their husbands unexpectedly and are now left to raise families on their own from "desperation to destiny" through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Rachel Faulkner Brown, who was raised with a strong faith in Jesus, struggled with loneliness and a loss of control after losing two husbands by the time she was 31.

In 2018, she took the first steps to launch Never Alone Widows, a ministry that allows her to use her experience with grief to help women who have suffered a similar loss find healing and grow closer to God.

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"I had a strong foundation of who Jesus was, but I didn't know who I was," Brown told The Christian Post. "At the end of the day, the wheels of my life were just falling off, and that illusion of control just disappeared."

Her first husband and college sweetheart died from a brain aneurysm in 2001. The widow remarried a few years later to Alabama Air National Guard Maj. David Blair Faulkner, the father of her two children, who are now 17 and 19. Brown's daughter was only 5 months old when Blair died in a T-38 crash in April 2008.

The crash occurred after Blair took off from Columbus Air Force Base, an event that also claimed the life of 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Emmons of Corry, Pennsylvania, a student pilot whom Brown's husband was training.

Finding herself a single mother of two, Brown was determined that her children would grow up to know Christ.

'Crocus coming up out of a winter snow'

During this time, she felt tired and alone in her grief. But one day, in 2013, she received what she described as a prophetic word from God.

She remarried again to a pastor named Rod Brown when a friend invited her to a prayer meeting, where a woman prayed for her. The prayer filled Brown with the desire to "declare the goodness of God before the nations," she recalled.

"This woman didn't know anything about me," Brown remembered. "She had no idea about my story, and she said, 'Your life has been so hard. You're like a crocus coming up out of a winter snow."

After hearing those words, Brown said that the ground beneath her shook, and she realized that the Lord saw her and understood her pain. Brown described the sensation as a "pat on the head from God," which assured her that she would be fine after all.

While she still needed to go through a healing process, which included at least two years of therapy, Brown started to feel as if she had something to offer others through her story.

During this period of allowing herself to experience God's grace, the future ministry leader recognized the weight of a secret she had carried for years.

Brown revealed to CP that a distant family member had abused her starting from age 10 and continuing until she was 12, a burden she carried alone until she attended a Bible study at an Alabama-based church in the early 2010s.

Letting go of her 'secret'

The widowed mother said that her first two husbands died without ever learning about her secret, one that the Bible study helped her realize had slowly been killing her and impacting her marriages, as well as her parenting.

During the Bible study, Brown said that she felt inspired to open up about the abuse she had endured after witnessing other attendees share their testimonies and receive grace through the "Blood of the Lamb."

The relief she felt upon confessing what had happened all those years ago ushered in "deeper levels of healing," Brown stated.

"I'm widowed, and I have a ministry for widows, but the reason that I even have a ministry is because I let go of my secret," Brown said.

Brown's journey to find healing and freedom through God's grace impressed upon her the importance of community during times like these. Brown came to realize that she wanted to ensure women with stories like hers had the resources they needed to heal.

In 2018, Never Alone Widows hosted its first gathering in Atlanta, Georgia.

The ministry grew from there and currently has 70 chapters in various cities, including locations in California and Maine. The organization supports widows through conferences and retreats, inviting women to find community with those who can understand their struggles.

"It's women who love God and want to heal with the power of Jesus Christ," Brown said about the women participating in her ministry.

The ministry's yearly retreats, typically held in the Southeast United States, target young widows with school-age children. One retreat, named Widows of Heroes, is designed specifically for the needs of Gold Star and First Responder widows who face the untimely death of a spouse killed in service and is sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation.

The organization holds a national conference each year, typically in February, for widows of all ages and stages of seeking healing and community.

Never Alone Widows' local chapters are facilitated by widows who have attended retreats and national conferences.

The charity also offers online resources, such as a devotional and three volumes of a course titled "How to Widow Well" that seeks to help widows "navigate their grief journey."

The ministry aims to become "the largest Christian widows ministry in the country" and constantly look for "new ways to take widows from desperation to destiny through the healing power of Jesus Christ."
Home News Pastor claimed members could be absolved of sins by hauling trash, sexually assaulted member: DOJ

A self-styled pastor in Orange, New Jersey, who allegedly told his congregants they could be absolved of their sins by hauling commercial trash for free and is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a member inside his church, has been arrested for sex trafficking, forced labor and conspiring to commit forced labor.

The pastor, Treva Edwards, 60, was charged along with his wife, Christine Edwards, 63, with conspiracy to commit forced labor, according to a statement from the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

The couple was arrested last Wednesday and made their initial appearance in court on Thursday.

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"The Department of Justice will not tolerate the exploitation of vulnerable individuals under the guise of faith or community," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. "This Civil Rights Division is committed to holding accountable those who abuse positions of trust to manipulate and control others for personal gain. These charges reflect our unwavering focus on protecting victims and prosecuting those who commit forced labor and sex trafficking."

A 10-page indictment said Pastor Treva Edwards and his wife founded a church named Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost, which they operated out of a multi-unit apartment building in Orange, New Jersey.

From 2011 until around 2020, they recruited Victim 1, Victim 2 and others who were "facing struggles in their personal lives, including financial and familial struggles" to join the church. They also allowed their recruited members to live at the building.

The church members allege that they were brainwashed and coerced into working without pay. Victim 1 alleges to have also been repeatedly sexually assaulted at the church by Edwards, who is accused of impregnating her and telling her to have an abortion.

"Between in or around 2013 through in or around 2020, TREVA EDWARDS repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted Victim 1 inside the Church Building. As a result of the repeated sexual assaults, TREVA EDWARDS impregnated Victim 1 and instructed Victim 1 to get an abortion," the indictment alleges.

Treva Edwards allegedly told Victim 1, Victim 2 and others that he was a prophet who could communicate directly with God. According to the indictment, he told members that "disobeying him would result in spiritual retribution from God, as well as physical, emotional, and financial harm."

The pastor and his wife allegedly told members that they had to perform labor to serve God.

"Treva Edwards and Christine Edwards secured contracts to provide labor in and around Orange, New Jersey, including cleaning and gutting commercial and residential properties, shoveling snow, removing bulk trash, moving furniture, cleaning raw sewage, and exterminating rodent infestations," the indictment says. "Christine Edwards procured labor contracts through her employment at a property management company in New Jersey."

Once the contracts were secured, the pastor and his wife would send their members to work. The couple preached that failure to do the work would cause their victims to "lose favor with God." To have their way with their vulnerable members, the pastor and his wife are said to have monitored how long they were allowed to pray and work "and whether they could speak to non-members or even leave the Church Building."

"TREVA EDWARDS and CHRISTINE EDWARDS did not pay wages to Victim 1, Victim 2, and other Victims for their work and kept the money earned from the above-described labor. TREVA EDWARDS discouraged Victim 1, Victim 2, and other Victims from seeking medical care and preached that God would heal members who were in good standing with TREVA EDWARDS," the complaint against the pastor and his wife alleges. "In or around October 2017, CHRISTINE EDWARDS told JLHG members, including Victim 1, that a successful labor job was evidence of God's will. In or around October 2017, TREVA EDWARDS instructed JLHG members to correct their sins by hauling trash at a commercial location."

The couple isolated their victims and convinced them non-members were evil or possessed by the devil. They also deprived them of sleep and required them to work or pray late into the night and wake up early to attend hours-long sermons.

"TREVA EDWARDS routinely verbally abused Victim 1, Victim 2, and other Victims, including by insulting, swearing, and yelling at them, and he singled out members whom he claimed had sinned, threatening them with spiritual punishment and more hard labor," the indictment alleges.

Despite allegations he repeatedly sexually assaulted Victim 1, Pastor Edwards is accused of telling his recruits that if they wanted to go to Heaven, they had to abstain from what he called the "Five Loves, which were food, sleep, sex, money, and pleasure."

"These charges are an example of my office's tireless commitment to combatting human trafficking in our community," U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said. "If you engage in human trafficking, we will find you, and we will prosecute you. We are committed to working alongside our partners to ensure that those who target the most vulnerable are brought to justice."

Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations Newark Division urged anyone who believes they are a victim of human trafficking to contact the police.

"Treva and Christine Edwards turned a source of hope into a tool of fear by allegedly exploiting religious faith to manipulate victims and expose them to sexual violence and forced labor conditions," Patel said. "Seeking justice for human trafficking victims in cases like this is of utmost importance to HSI Newark. Anyone who may believe they are a victim of trafficking can be assured our investigations are victim-centered and that we will continue to relentlessly pursue justice for anyone's freedom that has been held ransom."

"An important part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of labor trafficking involving the use of coercion or force," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations."
Home News Undercover investigation reveals how minors get cross-sex hormones at Planned Parenthood with ease

Planned Parenthood employees at over 30 facilities were willing to provide cross-sex hormones to an undercover operative posing as a 16-year-old, and some even offered to prescribe the drugs at the first appointment, according to an investigative report released by a pro-life activist group.

Live Action released the results of its latest undercover investigation in a video posted on its YouTube channel last Wednesday. This investigation comes five years after The Christian Post's undercover investigations into the prevalence of Planned Parenthood clinics dispensing cross-sex hormones to clients.

Lila Rose, the founder and president of Live Action, shared the video in a post on X, writing, Defund Planned Parenthood now!

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Live Action, which has previously noted that Planned Parenthood receives roughly $700 million in taxpayer dollars every year, reported on its news site that its undercover journalist had called multiple Planned Parenthood facilities that offer so-called gender-affirming care services in Maine, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado and Washington, D.C.

At the start of the video, the undercover operative, who referred to herself as "Sophia," told a Planned Parenthood staffer in Greater New York that she was looking to obtain testosterone to start [her] journey. The abortion facility employee did not appear bothered by Sophias age and offered to schedule an appointment.

Other Planned Parenthood employees featured in the video were unconcerned about Sophias age, with one staffer at a facility in Mankato, Minnesota, confirming the minor was good to be seen here then after the operative said she was 16.

In response to Sophia expressing discomfort about her mother having to accompany her to the appointment, a Planned Parenthood staffer at the facility in Greater New York replied, At some point in the appointment, maybe she doesnt have to be.

Multiple Planned Parenthood staffers, including those employed at facilities in Mankato and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, can be heard telling Sophia that she could schedule a virtual appointment to obtain a prescription for cross-sex hormones.

An employee at Planned Parenthood in Greater New York also informed the undercover investigator that a provider would send the pharmacy a prescription for cross-sex hormones the same day of [her] appointment.

Live Action News also reported that five of the facilities highlighted in the investigation told the operative that she didnt need to provide proof that she had undergone therapy prior to requesting a prescription for cross-sex hormones. Similarly, a staffer at a Planned Parenthood in Little Canada, Minnesota, told Sophia that she isnt required to present those records unless she has Tricare insurance.

Planned Parenthood did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. This article will be updated if a response is received.

As the nations largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood reported in 2022 that 41 out of its 49 affiliates provided gender transition services, including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Dr. Joel Lebed, a medical director at Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, described the corporation as the second largest provider of hormone therapy.

In a 2020 interview with CP, a mother recounted how she went undercover after she discovered that her then-18-year-old daughter had obtained a prescription for testosterone from a Planned Parenthood nurse practitioner.

The mom, who lived in Washington state at the time, went to the same Planned Parenthood clinic where her daughter obtained testosterone without staff knowing her medical history, and presented herself as identifying as trans to observe how easy it was to get a prescription for cross-sex hormones. At that facility, the mother said a nurse prescribed her testosterone without testing her hormone levels. She was also prescribed the same dose as her daughter.

"This whole thing is maddening, and I don't know what can be done about it," the mother told CP at the time.

In 2021, an anonymous Planned Parenthood employee spoke out against the organization in an interview with journalist Abigail Shrier. The employee explained that she felt morally conflicted about the high volume of young people coming to Planned Parenthood claiming that they identify as trans, with the staffer noting that these individuals showed signs of emotional and mental health issues.

The Planned Parenthood employee said that abortions had been the bread and butter" for clinics. But now, she said, trans-identifying kids are cash cows, and they are kept on the hook for the foreseeable future in terms of follow-up appointments, bloodwork, meetings, etc., whereas abortions are (hopefully) a one-and-done situation.

In the 2024 documentary "The Detransition Diaries: Saving Our Sisters released by the Center for Bioethics and Culture title, women who had been previously prescribed cross-sex hormones described how easy they were to obtain at Planned Parenthood.

Two of the detransitioner women featured in the documentary, Cat Cattinson and Helena Kerschner, sought help at Planned Parenthood during a time in their lives when they thought they wanted to identify as male.

Cattinson claimed that she received hormone injections after a 30-minute phone call with a Planned Parenthood employee. The young woman also received a referral for an elective double mastectomy. She later changed her mind about undergoing the elective mutilation.

According to Kerschner, the Planned Parenthood she visited gave her quadruple the recommended dose of testosterone after a one-hour appointment. The detransitioner said the Planned Parenthood staff didn't request any bloodwork or medical records before prescribing her testosterone, and all she had to do was pay $200.
Home News Preachers Who Entertain, Teach Prosperity Gospel 'Hinder' the Church: Baptist Pastor

A Baptist pastor and founder of the G3 Conference believes there are three main types of pastors who hinder, rather than help the Christian church. He recently outlined the characteristics of pastors that believers should be wary of.

Josh Buice, senior pastor of Pray's Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia, and founder and director of the theological G3 Conference, first identified "the entertainer" as someone who is "a hindrance to the local church's sanctification and growth in grace."

"The entertainer is really a pragmatist at heart. Whatever the people want, they will get it under the leadership of an entertainer," Buice said Thursday on his DeliveredByGrace blog.

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"Today it's not at all uncommon to have pastors dressing up in costumes to "perform" their sermon rather than preaching the text. This approach to ministry will often be very successful, but it's not spiritually profitable," he added, without naming names.

He explained that while this type of pastor may leave people excited about the sermon, it doesn't leave them knowing God in a better way.

"In most cases, the entertainer is paralyzed by the need to be liked by his congregation, and sadly he places more emphasis on pleasing people rather than pleasing God. Paul warned Timothy that his people would soon leave him for such preachers who would tickle the ears of the immature causing them to wander off into myths (2 Tim. 4:3-4)," he pointed out.

Next, Buice warned about "unbalanced" teachers who do not allow their ministry to be text-driven, but "camp out in one theme."

The Baptist warned that such a teacher "often camps on eschatology, the doctrines of grace, evangelism, or whatever he is passionate or knowledgeable about while there is much remaining in God's Word that needs to be expounded."

"Such a teacher is often consumed with a specific topic such as eschatology. In such cases, the unbalanced teacher finds a way to get to eschatology from the strangest texts in the Bible  or he never leaves Daniel or Revelation in fear that he will focus on something other than end times prophecy," he explained.

The third type of pastor Buice warned about is the "lover of this world," namely prosperity gospel preachers.

"The pastor who loves this present world is not qualified to lead a local church  or God's Word for that matter. Pastors should love people in the world and point them to their hope and joy in Christ, but the preacher who loves the world demonstrates that his heart is mastered by money and materialism rather than by Christ," he wrote.

"Far too many leaders fit this category. They preach a message of health, wealth, and prosperity  demanding that people have enough faith in God and he will provide them with riches and material possessions. The lover of this world is self condemned and self deceived," he continued.

"The god of this world has blinded their minds so that they cannot see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). The lover of this world spends most of their time emphasizing how it's possible to have your best life now  rather than focusing on the eternal reward (Heb. 11:10)."

Buice attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the editor of The New Calvinism, "a book designed to compliment and critique the New Calvinism movement."

He also recently blogged about the importance of Christians picking the right church, and warned in February that one thing parents should not do is allow their children to choose where the family attends worship.

"Could it be that parents are capitulating on a serious minded approach to the faith and a serious minded approach to the local church because they want to make their children happy? Why is this a dangerous idea?" he posed, pointing out that some children may not be converted.

"An overwhelming percentage of youth who attend church every Sunday are in fact  unconverted. Will you make your choice of church based on what your child desires, when in all reality, those desires are selfish, carnal, and not exactly God-honoring?" he asked parents.
Home News Republicans seek to review Pentagon's handling of COVID vaccine religious exemption requests

A group of Republican senators has unveiled what they say is a groundbreaking bill aimed at righting the wrongs faced by American servicemembers during the COVID-19 vaccine mandate era.

The Reaffirming Every Servicemember's Trust Over Religious Exemptions (RESTORE) Act, spearheaded by Senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida, Katie Britt of Alabama and Mike Lee of Utah, mandates the Department of Defense to form a Special Review Board, tasked with auditing the handling of religious accommodation requests (RARs) related to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

This board will identify servicemembers who faced unjust penalties and "ensure their career and personnel records are corrected, restoring their honor and opportunities."

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The bill comes nearly four years after the DOD implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all U.S. service members at the height of the coronavirus emergency. While exemptions were permitted for religious, medical, or administrative reasons, the process for religious accommodation requests (RARs), according to Cruz's office, was applied "inconsistently and with overwhelming rejection."

Approximately 28,000 RARs were submitted across all branches, and fewer than 400 were approved, representing less than 2% of the total requests, according to data provided by Cruz's office.

An estimated 18,00020,000 service members who had submitted religious exemption requests remained in service and were denied promotions, received negative performance evaluations or were coerced into vaccination despite acting in good faith under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In addition to establishing a review board, the RESTORE Act would authorize corrective action such as backdated promotions, restoration of Date of Rank (DOR), lost pay and retirement contributions, and expungement of adverse actions from personnel records. The bill, if passed, would also require compensation and other remedies to be delivered within 60 days of case resolution.

"American servicemembers are still facing unjust consequences for personal religious decisions that caused them to reject the Biden administration's coercive COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including being denied promotions and receiving negative performance reviews," Cruz said in a statement. "Under the RESTORE Act, these wrongs would be corrected for the men and women in uniform."

"Thousands of military service members were punished for declining the COVID-19 vaccine, some for religious reasons that are protected by the Constitution," said Lee. "The RESTORE Act corrects these injustices by awarding the promotions and pay stolen from our courageous men and women in uniform by the Biden administration."

While most armed forces personnel took the COVID-19 vaccine, thousands objected for religious reasons, noting that it had been developed through research that used aborted fetal cells.

Lawsuits were filed over the mandate, with many arguing that the military had failed to provide an adequate exemption process for those opposed to taking the injection on religious grounds.

In January 2023, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate was being rescinded, with him reporting in a memorandum that around 96% of military personnel were fully vaccinated.

Later in October of that year, DOD agreed to pay $1.8 million in fees and other litigation costs to end a lawsuit filed against the one-time COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Home News Southwest attorneys don't need religious freedom training after firing pro-life employee: court

An appeals court panel has partially upheld a lower court decision concluding that Southwest Airlines discriminated against a pro-life employee by firing her for her views opposing abortion but will not require the airlines lawyers to undergo religious freedom training.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last Thursday to partly uphold a 2022 jury verdict in favor of Charlene Carter against Southwest and officials from the Transport Workers Union Local 556.

In 2017, Carter sued Southwest and TWU Local 556, accusing the airline of firing her because she opposed some of the unions political stances on issues like abortion.

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The panel upheld the earlier ruling that Southwest failed to accommodate Carters religious beliefs, the airline violated Title VII civil rights laws ban on religious discrimination, and that the union discriminated against her and wrongfully tried to get her fired.

However, the panel also ruled against Carters claim of religious discrimination based on belief, concluding that she was terminated for conduct rather than views. Additionally, the panel rejected a lower court order requiring Southwest attorneys to undergo religious liberty training.

Circuit Judge Edith Brown Clement, a George W. Bush appointee, authored the panel opinion, concluding that such training would do little to compel compliance with the order or to compensate Carter.

The attorneys ordered to attend training were not involved in the decision to terminate Carter, and no evidence offered at trial suggests they demonstrated animus against Carter or her religious beliefs, wrote Clement.

Additionally, the training would not be limited to Title VII training but instead was to encompass topics irrelevant to securing compliance with a Title VII judgment. It was plainly not the least-restrictive means of remedying Southwests non-compliance.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which represented Carter during the litigation, released a statement last week celebrating the appeals court panel decision.

This decision is another victory for Charlene Carter, said Foundation President Mark Mix. We are proud to help Charlene defend her legal rights.

But her case exposes a bigger injustice in American labor law: that workers can be forced to accept union representation they oppose and, adding insult to injury, can be forced to pay fees to that union.

Mix hopes, Carters victory today will prompt an overdue conversation about how coercive union boss power infringes on the rights of millions of hardworking Americans.

Carter filed a lawsuit against Southwest and TWU Local 556 after she was fired for expressing her pro-life views, which ran afoul of the unions stances and reportedly violated Southwests civility policy for employees.

A jury sided with Carter in July 2022, concluding that she was unlawfully terminated and awarding her $5.1 million in damages against Southwest and TWU.

U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr of Texas, a Trump appointee, reduced the damages payment owed to Carter to $800,000 but ordered Southwest to reinstate Carter to her former position.

The total award was split into $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages from Southwest, $300,000 in damages from the union, $150,000 in back pay and about $60,000 in interest.

Starr also ordered three Southwest lawyers to take a religious freedom training session organized by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that specializes in religious liberty cases.

Southwest appealed the decision and in August 2023, Starr agreed to put a temporary hold on the mandated religious liberty training session while the appeal was ongoing.
Home News 'We're at the end': Televangelist Jim Bakker pleads for viewers to send $1 million to save his ministry 'I will be on the street,' Bakker, 85, warns

Jim Bakker, the controversial televangelist best known for his disgraced 1980s Christian media empire, is warning his supporters he could lose his ministry and his home if he doesnt raise $1 million soon.

The 85-year-old Bakker, joined by co-hosts Mondo De La Vega and Ricky Bakker, framed the plea within a discussion of biblical End Times prophecies on a May 6 episode of The Jim Bakker Show.

After warning his viewers that were in the End Times, Bakker bemoaned the fact that contributions to his ministry have dropped. A lot of people have not been giving any more because its perilous times, he said.

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He then pointed to his medical challenges in recent years  including multiple strokes  and how, because he lives off of his Social Security check, he needs his viewers to send in $1,000 or were at the end.

I believe if everyone who watches this program will give a thousand dollars, we'll be able to pay our bills and stay on the air, said Bakker. ... Otherwise, weve got about another month, I dont know, to stay on the air. Were at the end. God doesnt have an end, Hes the same yesterday, today and forever.

According to Bakker, he hasn't taken a salary in over four decades of ministry, which includes a 1989 sentence of 45 years in prison, of which he served about five years. He expressed optimism that his viewers would be able to raise $1 million to save his ministry.

"I dont have money. For 40 years, I have not made a salary, he said. ... What we need is a miracle, and its gonna happen if a thousand people give a thousand dollars.

Bakker blamed what he called big debt for the financial crunch and warned he could lose his home if viewers dont contribute. "If they foreclose on this ministry, they will take my house too, so I will be on the street, he said. But I dont care. I mean, Ive never been on the street, but Ive never seen the righteous forsaken or His seed out begging for bread. Thats you. Thats you. God will stand with you if you stand with Him.

Thats why its important that you obey God. I need about a thousand people who will give right now. Some may not be able to give $1,000, but you can give $100. Thats right, the seed. I want you to mail it in right now.

Bakkers appeal comes against the backdrop of a televangelist career marked by both prominence and controversy. In the 1980s, he built a media empire with the PTL Ministry, including a TV network and the Heritage USA resort. He was indicted in 1988 on eight counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. According to The New York Times, government prosecutors argued that Bakker bilked followers of his PTL Ministry out of $158 million by offering promises of lifetime vacations he could not provide.

He was also accused of diverting about $3.7 million to support a lavish lifestyle, including an air-conditioned dog house and a fleet of luxury vehicles.

He was found guilty on all 24 counts on Oct. 5, 1989, and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. Bakker later filed an appeal. In 1991, an appellate court upheld his conviction. But he was granted a sentence-reduction hearing, during which his sentence was reduced to eight years. He served almost five years before he received parole in 1994.

Today, Bakker has rebranded as a voice for End Times preparation, selling survival products and preaching about biblical prophecies. On the May 6 episode, he connected current events to Matthew 24, stating, Were in the End Times.  Nations and kings of nations are fighting against each other, and there are earthquakes in diverse places. He urged viewers to go preach the Gospel in all of the world, then the end will come, reinforcing the ministrys mission.
Home Opinion The threat to the SBC: Progressive Liberalism or Fundamentalism?

Just last week, the Southern Baptist Convention gathered together for their annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana to conduct business and make decisions as a group of churches on a variety of issues. During their time together, they were faced with the typical list of amendments and the reports from their various entities. Over the last number of years, a couple of big issues have caught major attention for the SBC, and at the top of the list are the issues of egalitarianism and abortion.

If you consider the way progressive debate tactics function, there is typically the thesis which is a starting point in the conversation. This is followed by an antithesis which is a reaction or negation to the suggested idea. The debate typically ends with a synthesis which is the outcome. Progressive political strategy will often employ this tactic to move in a progressive direction which results in small compromises over time that eventually achieve the overall goal.

Depending on what news source you read, either the Southern Baptist Convention is moving in a leftward or progressive liberal direction, or its being threatened by a growing fundamentalist position that will hinder the work of the churches of the SBC.



Which one is correct?

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Recognizing the bogeyman language

It has become a popular tactic among certain evangelical circles to discredit conservatives by labeling them as fundamentalists. This is a means of labeling them with a Scarlet F in order to discredit their positions and muzzle their voice. That word has gone through an etymological shift through the years to take on the idea of people who are narrow-minded and find joy in separating over non-essential matters.

David French, in an article that described the 2021 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention referred to a specific group of conservatives as fundamentalist pirates. In fact, that was the title of his article: Under Attack from Fundamentalist Pirates, Evangelical Baptists Refused to Give Up the Ship. He also used the language of toxic fundamentalists as he created two categories: evangelicals v. toxic fundamentalists. In a similar vein, Thomas S. Kidd writing for The Gospel Coalition concludes:

And our current problems reflect yet another instance of people in churches being discipled far more by cable news and social media than by the Church. The spirit of fundamentalism tells us that no difference, politically or theologically, is tolerable, and that our enemies must be destroyed. The spirit of Christ offers a better way: robust truth and robust kindness.

Just last week, Sam Rainer, who is the son of Thom Rainer, who is the former CEO of Lifeway, posted this on X:

The SBCs decline corresponds with the shift towards fundamentalism and away from evangelicalism. What was a big-tent conservative group is becoming a narrow fundamentalist group. I do not anticipate the SBC changing course any time soon. Thus, declines will continue. #SBC24

It should be noted that Sams post employs two opposing categories which happen to be the same two categories purported in David Frenchs article back in 2021: evangelicals and fundamentalists. Is this a true statement or is it merely a caricature of people who happen to be more conservative on specific issues than Sam Rainer, Thomas Kidd, and David French?

Rejecting abolitionism

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) is the political arm of the SBC that provides engagement in the public sphere on a variety of social issues. After the rise and fall of Russell Moore, Brent Leatherwood has been leading the ERLC as president since 2022. Over the last number of years, the messengers of the SBC from local churches have sought to make it clear that the SBC is against abortion and in favor of equal protection and equal justice for all  including the preborn. These initiatives have been led by a group of messengers who hold to a firm abolitionist position on the issue of abortion.

During the report of the ERLC at the 2024 SBC, Brian Gunter, a pastor from Louisiana, asked an important question from the microphone that gave Brent Leatherwood an opportunity to provide clarity regarding his position and the position of the SBC on the issue of ending abortion and providing equal justice for all.

In his answer[1], Brent Leatherwood made it clear that he and the ERLC (along with the SBC) are engaged in the pro-life movement where they stand opposed to abortion but never stand for the criminalization of women. In other words, Leatherwood made it clear that he would not support any bill for equal protection and equal justice for the preborn across the nation because it would go against the pro-life industrys commitment to protect women from being charged with the crime of murder if abortion is outlawed and the woman is caught murdering her preborn child.

Our culture continues to teach women the progressive mantra: My Body, My Choice! The Bible teaches the exact opposite. Life is a gift from God and he alone has the sovereign authority to govern over the life and death of individuals. From conception until natural death, the church of Jesus must continue to stand without wavering upon the sanctity of human life.

Is the call for the full and complete outlaw of abortion and equal justice for the preborn a fundamentalist cause or is it a principle that flows straight from the pages of Scripture? Is the commitment to stand against abortion while at the same time standing against the prosecution of women who murder their babies a progressive liberal position or a fundamentalist position?

Rejecting the Law Amendment

Much ink was spilt over the last two years regarding the Law Amendment that passed in the 2023 SBC and had to pass a second time in the subsequent annual meeting according to the governing documents of the SBC. In short, it failed to get a 2/3 vote at the 2024 SBC and failed to be adopted by the messengers of the SBC.

The Law Amendment made it clear that the churches of the SBC believe the Bible is clear that only men should hold the office of pastor, elder, or overseer (depending on the choice of biblical vocabulary used for the single office of pastor). The Law Amendment was a simple sentence to add clarity to the current section of the SBC constitution under Article 3, Paragraph 1 concerning Composition that reads:

Affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.

According to the website devoted to the Law Amendment:

As our culture seeks to erase the distinctions between men and women, many churches in our convention are openly rejecting this part of our statement of faith and the Bible. Sadly, this number has been increasing. This is why the amendment is so important. Amending the constitution  which carries a greater binding authority than the Baptist Faith & Message (2000)  would clearly define who is and is not part of the SBC. Such an amendment could add stability to our convention for decades, and guard us from the drift toward liberalism.

Is this true? Is the evangelical culture drifting in the direction of liberalism? In 2017 Barna Research Group pointed out that there was a distinct rise in women pastors. According to their study, One of every 11 Protestant pastors is a woman  triple as many as 25 years ago. According to the statistical report titled, State of Clergywomen in the U.S.: A Statistical Update the numbers indicate that within most Mainline denominations, the percentage of clergywomen has doubled or tripled since 1994. In 2022, Rick Warren appeared before the SBC to defend his egalitarian position. In 2023, a major stand was taken by Rick Warren who fought to spare his church from being disfellowshipped from the SBC on the basis of violating the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 on women serving in the office of pastor.

In 2024, the SBC spent much time and energy debating the issue only to fail in passing the Law Amendment. This failure comes at a time when there are more than 1,000 churches in the SBC that have female pastors serving on their staff. Not only is this practice in direct opposition to the governing documents of the SBC, but its in clear violation of Gods Word on the matter which is abundantly clear (1 Tim 2:1213; 1 Tim 3:17; Titus 1:69).

With the decline of the SBC and fractures that are currently taking place  is this decline caused by a rise of fundamentalism or is it precipitated by a rise of progressive liberalism? Certain voices would have you believe that this decline in the SBC is being caused by a group of narrow-minded fundy pirate-pastors who find more joy in fighting over non-essential and non-biblical issues than spreading the Gospel to the ends of the world. In fact, Bruce Frank who was one of several presidential nominees for the SBC in 2024, went on record during the Presidential Forum at the SBC to say that in 100 years from now, although doctrinal precision is important, it will be igniting passion for evangelism in the local churches and having people bring people to Christ that matters most.

I would argue that although I am no longer within the SBC, the decline is based on the liberal drift of the SBC that has been in progress for a number of years. For many years, pastors have been sounding an alarm and seeking to work for change in the SBC to avoid this liberal move. When our local church exited the SBC at the end of 2021, I wrote an article that detailed the concerns that have only become more severe since our departure.

It should be plain and clear that the current downgrade of the SBC is not based on a fundamentalist drift, but rather a clear liberal drift of the SBC. There are good pastors, missionaries, professors, and good churches within the SBC, but unless there is a true course correction that begins with firm unwavering and unflinching leadership who refuses to capitulate on Gods holy Word  the decline of the SBC will only continue to increase speed until it completely derails like the Presbyterian Church of United States of America (PCUSA) and the United Methodist Church (UMC).

References

1. You can see the full interaction published by Dusty Deevers on X: https://x.com/DustyDeevers/status/1801007499933356380

Originally published at G3 Ministries.
Home Opinion Why did Trinity Evangelical Divinity School fail?

Last month, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) announced it is merging with a Canadian university, closing its campus north of Chicago, and relocating over 2,000 miles away. As happy a face as the seminary and we alumni wish to put on this, this effectively marks the end of a once-prominent Evangelical institution.



At its heyday, when I was a student there in the late 90s, it was home to world-class scholars like Don Carson, Wayne Grudem, Harold O.J. Brown, Douglas Sweeney (now dean of Beeson Divinity School), the erudite and genuinely godly missiologist Paul Hiebert, and many others. Carl Henry was one of my visiting professors. John Stott spoke in the chapel. And yet, in just a quarter of a century, it's on the verge of dissolution. How did this happen?

Collin Hansen, editor-in-chief at The Gospel Coalition (TGC), wrote an obituary for our mutual alma mater. He identified two reasons  both practical  for TEDS demise: 1. lack of ample endowments like those that sustain elite institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Duke despite their liberalism and declining enrollments; 2. insufficient financial support from a large denomination. Although TEDS had a denomination backing it, it was the tiny Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). For reasons unknown, the EFCA chose not to continue investing in TEDS. Im sure Hansens autopsy is partly correct. But I know, from my experiences there, an underlying spiritual cause for TEDS untimely end  one that TGC may overlook due to its similar weaknesses.

I arrived at TEDS in 1996, six years after earning an M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. Academically, Fuller and TEDS were comparable. Indeed, Paul Hiebert had transitioned from being a missiology professor at Fuller to TEDS by then. But they were worlds apart culturally. Fuller was committed to Evangelical feminism, which is, of course, an oxymoron. TEDS hosted feminism, toyed with it, allowed it, but thought it was above taking a definitive stance either for or against it. It aimed to be above the fray in the complementarianism vs egalitarianism debate. Hansen hints at this by celebrating TEDS alternative to death-dealing liberalism and soul-stifling fundamentalism. That may be true, but when it comes to overt biblical issues, like feminism, remaining neutral, as though theres a biblical case to be made for feminism, is a dereliction. It is theological third-wayism, and TEDS decision to take that route was, I believe, the way to its dead end.

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Accustomed to the free-wheeling seminary culture of Fuller, when I arrived at TEDS and saw a bulletin board notice for a meeting of Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE, the pseudo-Evangelical feminist propaganda outlet), I posted an alternative notice, a parody of the CBE invitation. Mine featured a mock logo with a question mark inside a fish symbol, advertising a fictional Christians for Bible Evasion (also CBE). I thought it was funny, Wittenberg Door  now Babylon Bee  kind of stuff. I was the only one who thought so on that campus. When I admitted in class that I was responsible for the mockery of CBE, a fellow student turned around and scornfully asked me, You posted that? Fuller would have shaken its collective head, except for a minority like me, but allowed the parody to remain.

At TEDS, it was taken down immediately and caused a tempest in a seminary teacup. Soon, during a chapel meeting, professors chided such boorishness and advised us all that, above all  not that we defend the clear, repeated, emphatic statements in Gods Word about mens headship or how feminism inevitably undermines the authority of Scripture; or even, as at Fuller, a convictional, though naive and foolish insistence that we can be Evangelical and feminist  but, above all, be nice.

TEDS was undone by its refusal to take a stand, its commitment to third-wayism, and its tacking to the middle. When you attempt to walk down the middle of the road, you get hit by traffic coming from both directions.

Oh, what could have been. TEDS was positioned to be the seminary of the Young, Restless and Reformed (YRR) movement, had it only been bold enough to embrace it. With Grudem on board, TEDS could easily have been a bastion of complementarianism, even served as the home of the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). But that would have required taking a stand. TEDS might have been better off, purely practically, though not spiritually, if it had taken the Fuller route and embraced feminism. Instead, it chose to be political, thinking that if they were as inoffensive as possible, avoiding taking stands on controversial issues, then they would offend no one and prosper.

But this strategy never works.



Believers want their institutions to be bold when the Bible is bold. TEDS, however, tried to be all things to all people and, in the end, became nothing. This should teach us all a lesson for the future.
Home Opinion Will Pope Leo XIV proclaim John 3:16?

Let's face it. If a person gets John 3:16 wrong, he lacks the foundation that is necessary to follow Christ. If you jump right into "doings things for God" without first laying the proper foundation, all is for naught.

The New Testament clearly reveals the distinction between justification and sanctification. Justification is the foundation of the Christian faith and is complete at conversion. (see Galatians 2:16; Romans 5:1-2; Galatians 3:11-14; Romans 5:8-9) Sanctification, on the other hand, is the lifelong process of growing in spiritual maturity as a follower of Jesus Christ.

One thing I have noticed over the past 40 years is that some spiritual leaders in various religious groups attempt to redefine "faith" to mean the combination of belief and good works. The Apostle Paul addressed the deadly error of works righteousness in his epistle to the churches in Galatia.

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Good works will always flow from faith in Christ, but good works are never meritorious toward one's salvation. In fact, "All who rely on observing the Law are under a curse" (Galatians 3:10). Christian faith equates to trusting Christ alone for salvation. If you blend justification and sanctification, you forfeit the Gospel.

No religious leader in the world can stand at a microphone and command more attention than the pope. Having said that, can you think of even one pope in your lifetime who clearly proclaimed and explained the Gospel? I heard Billy Graham proclaim and explain the Gospel dozens, if not hundreds, of times. And Franklin Graham seems to share the good news every time he speaks to the press. But what about the new pope (formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost)? Will Pope Leo XIV clearly and consistently proclaim and explain John 3:16?

In a 2023 interview, Cardinal Prevost was asked, "What fundamental trait would you say is necessary to be a good bishop?" He concluded his thoughts with this encouraging statement: "In just a few words: to help people come to know Christ through the gift of faith." Christians around the world rejoice with anyone who "comes to know Christ through the gift of faith."

Paul assured believers, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith  and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Thankfully, eternal life in Heaven is a free gift that is received by faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul followed up those two verses with this beautiful description of sanctification: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). In his 13 or 14 epistles, Paul was meticulous in fleshing out both justification and sanctification.

Imagine a home builder skipping the foundation and jumping straight into the construction of the house. This is essentially what happens when a religious leader attempts to redefine "faith" as a combination of belief and good works. It is no minor theological error, especially since it prevents people from being converted and justified.

Religious deeds do not convert souls. A single sin cannot be washed away by 10,000 good works. The blood of Jesus washes away sins when a person places their trust in Christ's death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Heaven (see Romans 5:9; 1 John 1:8-9). It will be critical for the new pope to consistently proclaim and explain the Gospel message. Hundreds of millions of Catholics desperately need to hear what the Bible teaches about the good news.

Just as "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), religion without the Gospel is dead. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). And you cannot "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) unless you have already received the free gift of everlasting life in Heaven through faith in Christ alone.

Justification always precedes sanctification. And without the proper foundation, everything else comes crumbling down, no matter how zealous or religious a person may be. If good works could save man's soul, there would have been no reason for Jesus to suffer the agony of the crucifixion for our salvation. You see, "If righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing" (Galatians 2:21).

Pope Leo XIV can potentially reach many souls for Christ. But if, rather than consistently explaining the Gospel, the new pope merely promotes various religious rituals and practices, he will miss the unique opportunity he has been given.
As leaders in engineering, we are ultimately responsible for the quality of our product, the most important factor for user happiness and business success. Although feature deliverables are a regular focus, the complexity of modern software means that small performance deficiencies can lead to substantially larger impacts. This reality required my teams to persist through architectural endeavors, and the tightest scrutiny I experienced on my teams was often in team culture.

Leading a group of highly skilled and intellectual engineers requires more than just engineering competence; it also means guiding systems and people to be flexible. If you are leading a large organization or gearing up to lead for the first time, scaling these behaviors is a challenge I vividly remember.

I have managed connected engineers building (time-critical) financial systems, and with our systems, if we had an issue for more than 30 minutes, where even brief downtime could have serious consequences. I want to share something important (while keeping the underlying meaning unchanged) that you should find useful wherever your softwares stability and performance is essential. This article presents ideas in four categories  focusing on a reliability culture, the deploy trade-off, resilient teams, and sustaining progress.
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Become

Childrens charity Become has changed its branding after being inspired by homemade placards on protest marches.

The charity, which supports children in care and young care leavers, has also published a five-year strategy .

It has produced a new strapline: In care, leaving care, we care.

This comes a week after Become chief executive Katherine Sacks-Jones announced that she would step down in July to lead Gordon Browns Multibank charity.

Involving care-experienced young people

Become spent 50,000 on the rebrand  including new materials, banners and its website  and worked with organisations including design agency Venn Creative.

It also held focus groups and surveys with care-experienced young people, who the charity said shaped its priorities, tone of voice and visual identity.

The charity said the young peoples involvement ensured its strategy reflected their experiences, spoke their language, and addressed their actual needs.

Humerah Ramzan, a care-experienced young person who worked on the redesign and is a member of the charitys Youth Editorial Board, said: Becomes new strategy shows an even greater determination to fight with us to make our lives better.

The rebrand, with its stronger colours and bolder font reflects that new more vigorous purpose, and as with everything Become does, it involved us throughout the process.

The punchier strapline is perfect, it fits so well with how we feel, that care experienced young people are not alone and with Become we will change things together.

Becomes new strategy comes after a period of growth for the charity, with its income more than tripling since 2020 to 1.92m in the year to March 2024.

Sacks-Jones said: Our new strategy and brand identity will drive our campaigns forward, help connect with young people who need support, build a sense of community for care-experienced young people and speak directly with professionals and policymakers to fix a broken system.

Its our promise to be there at every important moment  in care, leaving care, and beyond  with optimism, compassion, and determination to make a difference.

Our bold new design and tone of voice reflects our commitment to meaningful change. Together, we can become a lot louder. Together, we can fix the care system.

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Tiger Brands, South Africas biggest food producer, on Monday offered to compensate listeriosis victims, marking a major step toward resolving class action after a 2017 outbreak that killed about 200 people and sickened more than 1,000.

The offer was made by the attorneys representing Tiger Brands lead insurer, QBE Insurance Group Limited, on April 25, which made settlement offers to specific classes of claimants who suffered from listeriosis, the company said in a statement.

The current proposal provides for full compensation to claimants for all proven damages, subject to a settlement mechanism that still needs to be finalized  including how individual damages will be assessed.

In order to protect the privacy of the individuals participating in the settlement offer, no details of the offer and/or payment will be made public, the company said.

The offer has been made without admission of liability, Tiger Brands said.

In January of 2017 an outbreak of listeriosis, a food-borne disease, occurred in South Africa that was traced back to a factory run by a Tiger Brands subsidiary at the time, Enterprise Foods, which makes processed sausages, bacon and deli meat.

Todays announcement represents an important milestone and follows shortly on measures already taken in February 2025 to offer interim relief in the form of advance payments to identified claimants with urgent medical needs, Tjaart Kruger, chief executive officer of Tiger Brands, said in a statement.

The attorneys representing the plaintiffs will present the offer to the claimants who qualify whereas those who accept the offer will have the damages quantified. It is expected that this process will take several weeks.

Before it can take effect, the High Court must review and approve the agreement to ensure it fairly protects class members interests.

In a separate statement, the attorneys representing the plaintiffs welcomed Tiger Brands effective admission of liability, and commended the company, its shareholders and insurers for agreeing to compensate victims.

This reflects a positive move towards corporate accountability, responsible citizenship and justice for victims, they said in a statement.

(Additional reporting by Dludla; Editing by David Evans and Mark Porter)
Spains power grid failed in mere seconds, blacking out the entire country and parts of Portugal. It was a stunning collapse that illustrates an inviolable law of the electric system: The heartbeat of the grid  known as frequency  must be stable at all times.

With more renewables on the grid and an ever-greater reliance on electricity to power everything from cars to heat pumps, the chances of that heart skipping a beat are rising. That has grid operators racing to find solutions to avoid the next Spain-sized blackout  and theyre increasingly turning to batteries.

Frequency is the force that keeps power humming from generators to homes and businesses. For a century, its cadence has been set by how fast turbines  those running on oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear energy  spin in a second. That rate is set at 60 rotations in North America and 50 hertz in Europe.

Related: Spain Suffered Multiple Power Incidents in Build up to Full Blackout

There is little margin for error: exceeding just 0.2 hertz on either side of the threshold threatens instability. A deviation of 0.5 can be catastrophic, which is what happened in Spain last week and what investigators are trying to understand the cause of.

To maintain the right frequency and stability, the grid needs kinetic energy called inertia, which is typically created by the spinning turbines of thermal plants. Wind turbines and solar panels cant provide that, so Spain and Portugal need coal, gas or hydro plants connected to the grid.

Other blackouts have raised similar alarms, notably what happened in Texas when a February 2021 cold snap forced gas-fired generators to trip offline. That caused frequency to plunge and forced even more supplies to automatically shut down. The state grid was 4 minutes and 37 seconds away from a bigger failure that could have taken weeks to recover from, the grid operator said during public meetings at the time. The state, along with California and Utah, has also seen wind, solar and batteries trip during smaller frequency fluctuations, which then caused a bigger frequency dip and cascade into even more outages, including at gas plants.

Related: Spains Grid Denies Dependence on Solar Power to Blame for Blackout

One readily accessible way to address frequency issues on an increasingly renewable grid is by using different types of energy storage, installations of which have soared in recent years globally.

Batteries instantaneously correct frequency, Arushi Sharma Frank, senior associate of the energy security and climate program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington. She added that grids will need bigger storage projects that can hold energy for longer periods of time.

Theyre particularly useful because they dont need any time to warm up like a gas plant. When theres a small deviation in frequency, they can rapidly be deployed to correct it by either storing excess energy or discharging it, providing whats known as synthetic inertia. The increasingly complex grid means there needs to be more resources that can respond to sudden supply and demand changes.

Batteries now account for more than half of the supplies Texass grid operator uses to ensure stability through its ancillary services market, Jan Rosenow, energy program leader at Oxford University, said in a LinkedIn post earlier this week. Power plants running on coal and gas used to be the backbone of grid stability and now regularly make up less than 20% of the supplies procured, he noted.

Highview Power relies on liquid air energy storage technology rather than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Its systems can store energy from six hours up to several weeks, which can be deployed to supply power and manage inertia quickly.

About 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Hanover, Germany, Siemens Energy is installing a new type of transient storage facility using supercapacitors, which act like super-fast batteries that can release or store 400 megawatts of power within one second. They can achieve this speed by building up electric fields  think of rubbing a balloon in hair  that absorb or deliver energy.

Residential batteries have also helped manage stability: Home solar and battery company Sunrun Inc. manages a virtual power plant in Puerto Rico  no stranger to catastrophic blackouts  where electricity stored in about 5,500 home batteries is injected back onto the grid to keep supply and frequency stable, said Chris Rauscher, head of grid services and electrification.

Beyond physical batteries, grid operators also rely on software that can help speed up response to frequency variations. Spains Hybrid Energy Storage Solutions Ltd. relies on patented algorithms and models to control a storage system that can rapidly react to manage inertia and provide other grid-stabilizing services.

Markets and policies are also influencing storage deployment as a backstop to grid stability. The U.K. has been a leader following a 2019 blackout after lightning struck a large offshore wind farm, which tripped power plants on land as frequency fell, said Devrim Celal, chief marketing and flexibility officer of Kraken Technologies, which provides artificial intelligence-based operating systems to utilities.

That event evidenced the acute need for projects to provide stability to the grid, said Keith Gains, managing director and U.K. lead at Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. In response, the UKs system operator has developed more mechanisms to procure stabilizing capacity by offering longer-term contracts to incentivize building new assets.

Quinbrook, which specializes in infrastructure needed to drive the energy transition, has focused on more traditional tools: Synchronous condensers, which are essentially motors that help stabilize the grid. They have three operational and are building four more to help stabilize the UKs grid.

In the UK, as well as in large parts of the U.S., Ireland and Northern Europe, there are markets that have created pools of resources, especially batteries, that can ramp up or down within seconds to smooth out frequency oscillations. Spain doesnt have such a market, and the country only has one gigawatt of battery capacity installed versus 64 gigawatts of solar, according to BloombergNEF.

The UK has had to focus on grid resilience well before other nations having pivoted from traditional fossil fuel generators while becoming the second-largest market for offshore wind power behind China. This led the countrys electricity system operator to launch the Stability Pathfinder, the first program in the world to get some essential grid inertia from non-traditional sources, according to power analytics firm Aurora Energy Research.

The first project came on online under that program in March, the 200-megawatt Blackhillock battery in Scotland. Its the largest battery in Europe and being managed with using Kraken AI software.

Ultimately, to prevent another country-wide blackout, power hawks are waiting for details from the Spanish investigation to figure out what solutions to put in place. But Luis DAcosta, chief executive officer of Uplight, an AI-powered software solution used to manage consumers energy usage, said one thing is clear with the growth of renewable power: The system gets twitchier, and the time to respond has to be faster.

Top photo: Pedestrians try to use their mobile phones on an unlit street during a power outage in Molins de Rei, Spain, on Monday, April 28, 2025. Spain and Portugal lost power shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time in a massive blackout that idled public transport, airports and phone services, bringing the daily activities of millions to a halt.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
During the regular May 5 meeting, Cleveland Heights Clerk of Council Addie Balester was recognized for earning her official designation as a Certified Municipal Clerk. "Your hard work has not gone unnoticed," a colleague wrote in a letter read on council floor prior to a resolution of commendation being presented. From left are Councilmen Jim Posch and Anthony Mattox Jr., Council Vice President Davida Russell, Balester, Councilwoman Gail Larson, Council President Tony Cuda and Councilmen Craig Cobb and Jim Petras. Matt Balester

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- With all of the citys nearly $39 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated by the end of last year, various projects and programs got started this month.

About $7.8 million in recreation facility improvements are under way at both Cain and Denison parks, focusing on the Evans amphitheater upgrades and stadium turf replacement, respectively.
Medina Police Chief Ed Kinney said the Medina Police Department has been accepted into the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Emily Canning-Dean, Special to Cleveland.com

MEDINA, Ohio -- The Medina Police Department recently received some recognition from the state, as the agency was accepted into the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

This program was developed by the Ohio Collaborative Community Police Advisory Board and it sets statewide standards for best practices in law enforcement, focusing on policies in use of force, recruitment, bias-free policing, community engagement and officer accountability, said Police Chief Ed Kinney.

We are especially honored to be among the first group statewide to be accepted following the conclusion of the pilot phase of the program.

Kinney said this reflects the Medina Police Departments continued commitment to transparency, professionalism and community trust.

Participation means the department meets or exceeds the benchmarks established by the state for ethical, effective and community-oriented policing, he said.

According to a press release from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, Medina is one of 20 agencies to be accepted into the program.

Accreditation is a way for local law enforcement agencies to show their communities that they are meeting Ohios high standards and are among the top agencies in the state, Gov. Mike DeWine said in the press release.

Im pleased to see these 20 agencies step up and take on the challenge of being among the best of the best.

The program is the only state-administered accreditation program in the nation that does not charge law enforcement agencies to participate.

Collaborative staff work with agencies seeking accreditation to ensure that their local policies and practices meet state standards.

Read more from the Medina Sun.
Brandon King is set for trial Monday on corruption-related charges after the Ohio Supreme Court rejected his attorney's request to remove Judge Hollie Gallagher from the case. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The jury trial for suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King on corruption-related charges has been reset to begin Monday, court records show.

It was delayed from its original April 30 start date after Kings attorney, Charles Tyler, asked the Ohio Supreme Court to remove Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher from the case. The states high court rejected the request.

King, 57, served as the citys mayor since 2016. He was indicted last October on 12 counts, including theft in office, unlawful interest in a public contract and soliciting or receiving improper compensation.

The case was briefly put on hold after Tyler accused Gallagher of pre-judging a motion and bullying him in open court. Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy last week rejected the allegations and declined to disqualify Gallagher.

At the time of Kings arrest, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley said the mayor demonstrated a complete disregard and disdain for the rule of law.

Prosecutors said King steered more than $75,000 in city money to companies that he or his family members owned. He is also accused of filing a false disclosure claim and giving a city-owned car and gas card to former Councilman Ernest Smith, who was also charged in the case.

Smith, 49, is charged with theft in office and two counts of theft, along with misdemeanor offenses. Smith will go on trial alongside King.

Both Smith and King have pleaded not guilty, with King calling the charges against him politically motivated.
Jeffry Fry sued the Lorain County Jail, accusing an officer of slamming his head into a wall while handcuffed. Courtesy of attorney Nicholas DiCello

CLEVELAND, Ohio Lorain County Sheriffs officials on Tuesday said they finished a criminal investigation into a deputy who slammed a handcuffed inmate into a wall, leaving the man partially paralyzed.

Sheriff Jack Hall said in a statement that his inspector general finalized an investigation into deputy Brian Tellier, who is accused of slamming Jeffrey Frys head into a wall in May 2023.
A National Register of Historic Places plaque is seen outside a home in the Forest Hill neighborhood of East Cleveland. The State Historic Preservation Office, which nominates sites in Ohio for the National Register, laid off a third of its 36 staffers last Friday because of a delay in getting $1.45 million in federal funding. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohios State Historic Preservation Office has laid off a third of its workers because the Trump administration has held up about $1.45 million in federal funding, officials say.

Its too soon to say exactly how last Fridays layoffs of 12 of the State Historic Preservation Offices 36 employees will affect the offices work. The office nominates state sites for the National Register of Historic Places, reviews federal historic preservation tax credits, administers grants to local governments, and ensures preservation project comply with federal rules, among other things.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during press conference at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vitalii Nosach) AP

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after the Kremlin effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than three-year war, but reiterated it would take part in possible peace talks later this week without preconditions.

There was no direct response from the Kremlin, meanwhile, to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys challenge for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to meet him for face-to-face peace talks in Turkey on Thursday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say who might travel to Istanbul from the Russian side.

Overall, were determined to seriously look for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement. That is all, Peskov said.

The United States and European governments are making a concerted push to stop the fighting, which has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians. Russias invading forces have taken around one-fifth of Ukraine in Europes biggest conflict since World War II.

U.S. President Donald Trump said hes optimistic about the Istanbul talks. There is the potential for a good meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump said in Washington, adding that he was thinking about flying over to the talks from his visit to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that day.

Zelenskyy supported the prospect of Trump attending the negotiations. I supported President Trump with the idea of direct talks with Putin. I have openly expressed my readiness to meet, he said. And of course, all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Turkey.

In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the U.S. and European leaders, but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.

Ukraine, along with European allies, had demanded that Russia accept a ceasefire starting Monday before holding peace talks. Moscow effectively rejected that proposal and instead called for direct negotiations in Istanbul.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had discussed Russian-Ukrainian peace efforts in separate calls with Zelenskyy, Putin and Trump.

Erdogan said a new window of opportunity has emerged for peace, and claimed that previous talks hosted by Turkey in 2022 came close to success but were derailed by war barons.

We support my dear friend Trumps determination to resolve active conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, he said.

West increases pressure on Putin

Trump insisted that Ukraine accept the Russian offer of talks. Zelenskyy went a step further Sunday and put pressure on Putin by offering a personal meeting.

France added its voice to that offer Monday, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urging Putin to accept  though Barrot repeated the European position that a truce must be in place before the talks.

Russias failure to join the ceasefire offered by Ukraine would bring further sanctions on Moscow, European leaders say. Germany on Monday reminded Russia of that intention.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, said the pressure on Russia was increasing.

Everybody wants peace now. Ukraine wants peace, Europe wants peace, the US wants peace, he told The Associated Press during an interview in London. Now Russia needs to make up their mind whether they also want peace or not, an unconditional ceasefire.

Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that giving ultimatums to Russia was unacceptable and wouldnt work. You cannot talk to Russia in this language, he told reporters.

Also on Monday, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy was hosting in London senior diplomatic officials from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the European Union to discuss how best to fight back against Russian aggression.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said he expected the two sides to reach a compromise in the coming days that might break the deadlock over whether talks could begin without a truce in place.

Russian and Ukrainian officials are mindful of public opinion in their countries and are trying to secure the support of the United States for their stances, he said in explaining the delay.

Ukrainians react to peace prospects

In Kyiv, residents expressed a mixture of hope and despondency at the latest peace efforts.

Putin doesnt want a truce to halt the war, because it will mean that he has lost, Antonina Metko, 43, told The Associated Press. That is why they are postponing it. And everything will continue in the same way. Unfortunately.

Vladyslav Nehrybetskyi, 72, was more upbeat, saying that the seeds of a peace agreement are being sown, even though a difficult process lies ahead. So lets hope.

Ukraines government has tried to keep up the momentum for a peace deal started by the Trump administration.

Ukraine wants to end this war and is doing everything for this, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. We expect appropriate steps from Russia.

The Ukrainian leader said that he told Pope Leo XIV about peace efforts during his first phone conversation with the new pontiff.

Ukraine is counting on the Vaticans help in securing the return of thousands of children that the government says have been deported by Russia, Zelenskyy said, adding that he had invited the pope to visit Ukraine.

In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Leo called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine.

I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people, he said.

In 2022, in the wars early months, Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a personal meeting with Putin but was rebuffed, and eventually enacted a decree declaring that holding negotiations with him had become impossible.

Putin and Zelenskyy have only met once, in 2019. Trump says that deep hatred between the sides has made it difficult to push peace efforts forward.

___

Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Danica Kirka in London, Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report.
 
Samsung on Tuesday unveiled a thin version of its flagship smartphone in an unusually timed launch as it looks to maintain momentum in its mobile division against an uncertain consumer backdrop and U.S. tariff policy.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is just 5.8 millimeters thin and weighs 163 grams, making it one of the thinnest smartphones on the market.

Samsung said the device starts at $1,099 and goes on sale on May 30.

The launch comes just under four months after Samsung staged its annual flagship phone launch for the S25 series. It is unusual for Samsung to launch a new high-end device this soon after the January event with the normal timeline generally being the middle of the year for the unveiling of its latest foldable phones.

The move highlights the South Korean tech giant's desire to capitalize on the success of the S25 range as it faces rising competition from Chinese players and an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

Samsung reported last month that it saw a jump in revenue and profit in the first quarter of the year at its mobile division thanks to strong sales of its S25 series.

However, Daniel Araujo, vice president at Samsung's mobile division, warned on an earnings call last month that smartphone demand is expected to decrease in the second quarter due to "seasonality trends" and forecasts could be "adjusted" further due to global tariff policy.

U.S. President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs took effect in April though they were paused shortly after. The White House exempted certain tech products such as smartphones and chips, providing some reprieve for companies like Samsung and Apple . The U.S. and China meanwhile agreed on Monday to pause most of their tariffs on each party.

Araujo said that the S25 Edge could help "sustain flagship-centric sales," underscoring why Samsung has decided to launch the phone now.
Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Tuesday's key moments. 1. The S & P 500 was higher on Tuesday following Monday's big rally after the U.S. and China agreed to slash tariffs for 90 days. "This market can go up as long as things don't go awry," Jim Cramer said during Tuesday's Morning Meeting. Another sign of good news for investors was the April consumer price index, which came in cooler than expected. 2. Shares of Nvidia soared over 5.5% on Tuesday after announcing a deal to provide AI chips to Saudi Arabian company Humain for a data center buildout there. President Donald Trump is currently visiting Saudi Arabia to secure business opportunities for the U.S. Jim liked what he heard about Nvidia, saying the data center trade is alive and well. He touted Club names Eaton and Dover as good buy opportunities. Those industrial companies make products that help the modern data center operate. On Dover specifically, Jim said the stock is really cheap and would love to see people buy in. 3. Trump on Tuesday announced that Saudi Arabia has committed to investing $600 billion in the U.S. The White House put out a release detailing some of the companies, in addition to Nvidia, that will benefit. They include GE Vernova , which we just initiated Tuesday morning. GE Vernova's gas turbines and energy solutions totaling $14 billion. Bullpen name Boeing will provide nearly $5 billion worth of passenger aircraft to Saudi-based AviLease. Jim has always said that GE Vernova and Boeing are key American companies that countries can buy from to get right with Trump. 4. Stocks covered in Tuesday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: UnitedHealth Group , On Holding AG , Boeing , Stanley Black & Decker, and Caterpillar . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GEV, HD, NVDA, TXRH. 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.
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky speaks about Airbnb Experiences and the launch of Airbnb Services during the Airbnb Summer Release keynote in Los Angeles, California, on May 13, 2025.

Airbnb launched a redesigned app on Tuesday to showcase the company's push to let travelers book services, like catering and personal training, at their home rentals.

The new-look app marks a new chapter for Airbnb to expand beyond home stays. The company has previously announced plans to invest $200 million to $250 million in a new business that it said it hopes will become a significant driver of future revenue growth.

"We now feel like we have such a strong foundation that we are capable of building and expanding," Dave Stephenson, Airbnb's business chief, told CNBC.

The company has previously tried to push beyond home rentals, but dialed back those efforts in 2020 to focus on its core business as the Covid pandemic shuttered borders and pummeled the travel industry.

Airbnb shares fell earlier this month after the company issued disappointing revenue guidance in its first-quarter earnings report, saying it saw some "softness" in travel from Canada to the U.S. toward the end of the quarter amid macroeconomic uncertainties.

"Until now, our app has really done one thing, which is it lets you book a home," CEO Brian Chesky said on Airbnb's May 1 earnings call. "We rebuilt the app from the ground up on a new technology stack. And now we can innovate faster and offer much more than homes."
Bill Gates has issued some pretty big warnings in recent years  about the next pandemic or avoiding a "climate disaster"  but the billionaire says he's actually very optimistic about the future.

"You can accuse me of being by nature an optimistic person," Gates told The New York Times in an interview that published on Thursday. "But I just think I'm being realistic. I think it's objective to say to you that things will be better in the next 20 years."

Gates' positive outlook comes at a precarious time of geopolitical instability: multiple global conflicts and a trade war that's roiled markets around the world.

Gates himself recently lamented decisions by the U.S. and other world governments to slash tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid, writing in a Thursday blog post that "it's unclear whether the world's richest countries will continue to stand up for its poorest people." He added that "no philanthropic organization ... can make up the gulf in funding that's emerging right now."

Still, Gates is adamant that his "optimism hasn't been shaken," he told the Times. On Thursday, the Microsoft co-founder laid out "ambitious" plans to hand out $200 billion in aid through the Gates Foundation over the next two decades, and then close the foundation down.

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With those funds, he hopes to reduce preventable deaths of mothers and children around the world, eradicate diseases like polio, malaria, measles and Guinea-worm disease, and help "hundreds of millions of people break free from poverty" by funding advances in education and agriculture in African nations, he wrote in his blog post.

"The truth is, there have never been more opportunities to help people live healthier, more prosperous lives," wrote Gates. "Advances in technology are happening faster than ever, especially with artificial intelligence on the rise."

Gates wishes the world didn't have to rely on AI advancements as a sort of "magic wand"  the billionaire has frequently touted the tech's potential to improve global health and education  but the technology will boost his foundation's ability to reach its goals by 2045, he told the Times.
Boeing Co. 737 Max fuselages at the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, US, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Boeing said on Tuesday it delivered 45 commercial jets in April, nearly twice the 24 airplanes it delivered during the same month a year ago.

Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect the majority of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. Years of crises and production problems have left Boeing heavily saddled with debt, and it needs to increase deliveries to bring in more cash.

The April deliveries included two for Chinese airlines before Beijing directed airlines to stop taking delivery of Boeing airplanes amid a trade war between China and the United States.

The company delivered four more jets last month than the 41 it delivered in March. It delivered a 777 freighter to CES Leasing Corp., which is owned by China Eastern Airlines' parent company, and a 737 MAX to China Southern.

When U.S. President Donald Trump announced stiff tariffs against China in April, four 737 MAX aircraft were at Boeing's finishing center in Zhoushan, China, where it installs interiors, paints on liveries and does other work before delivering the aircraft. After China stopped taking deliveries, the planes flew back to Seattle.

They are currently parked in Moses Lake in central Washington State. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said during the company's quarterly earnings call last month that it had planned to deliver about 50 aircraft to customers this year in China.

Orders from Chinese carriers represent about 10% of the planemaker's commercial backlog.

Boeing delivered 29 737 MAX planes, including eight for United Airlines, five for Ryanair and five for Southwest Airlines. The company also delivered eight 787s, four 777 freighters and three 767s.

April was the fourth consecutive month in which Boeing delivered more than 40 jets. The company has focused on stabilizing the production rate of its bestselling 737 MAX, which was hamstrung by quality problems in 2024.

Through the first four months of the year, Boeing has delivered 175 aircraft, including 133 737 MAX, 21 787s and 11 777 freighters.

Boeing also booked eight gross new orders last month, one more than it recorded in April 2024. All orders were for 737 MAX jetliners by unidentified customers. It had no cancellations or conversions. Thirty-two orders placed earlier were added to the company's firm order book. They previously had not been included due to U.S. accounting rules.

As of April 30, the planemaker has booked 249 gross orders and 212 net orders after cancellations and conversions. It had 6,282 unfilled orders, and its official backlog was 5,643 orders, after adjusting for accounting standards. The U.S. planemaker trailed its European rival Airbus, which delivered 56 jets and booked 11 new orders in April. Both have received substantial orders so far in May, including an order from IAG, which owns British Airways, for 32 Boeing 787-10 aircraft for British Airways, and 21 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
CureIS Healthcare, a managed care services company, filed a civil lawsuit against Epic Systems on Monday night, alleging the electronic health record, or EHR, giant has carried out a "multi-prong scheme to destroy" CureIS' business.

CureIS offers technology and managed services for government programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and other state health initiatives. In a 40-page complaint that was made public on Tuesday, CureIS claims Epic has interfered with its customer relationships, blocked access to necessary data and raised unfounded security concerns, among other anticompetitive practices.

"Epic believes in free and fair competition, and we also believe our customers are in the best position to choose the right solutions to meet their needswhether with Epic or by adopting other products and services," an Epic spokesperson told CNBC in a statement. "We are aware of the complaint filed by CureIS and we look forward to setting the record straight in court."

The lawsuit is the latest legal battle facing Epic, which houses medical records for about 280 million patients in the U.S. and offers other health-care tools. Data startup Particle Health filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company in September, alleging Epic has used its dominance in the EHR space to stifle competition in other markets that use that data.

"Particle's claims are baseless," Epic told CNBC in a statement at the time.

CureIS' suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The company is being represented by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, the same firm that is representing Particle.
Dubai's Department of Finance announced a partnership with crypto platform Crypto.com that will allow government service fees to be paid with large-cap cryptocurrencies.

The memorandum of understanding between Dubai government officials and Mohammed Al Hakim, president of Crypto.com UAE, was signed Monday on the sidelines of the Dubai FinTech Summit.

Once technical arrangements for the initiative are finalized, individuals and "businesses customers of government entities" will be able to pay service fees through digital wallets on Crypto.com, Dubai Finance said.

"The platform will securely convert these payments into Emirati dirhams and transfer them to Dubai Finance accounts, ensuring a streamlined, secure, and innovative payment framework," it added.

In a statement to CNBC, a Crypto.com spokesperson added that the agreement will allow anyone within Dubai to pay for government-provided utility services, including parking, with large-market-cap crypto assets.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks, as he sits with Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha, at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, 2025.

Elon Musk said Saudi Arabia has approved Starlink for aviation and maritime use in the region, speaking at an investment forum during a White House-led trip to the kingdom on Tuesday.

Starlink is the satellite internet service owned and operated by Musk's aerospace and defense contractor, SpaceX.

SpaceX recently began offering its Starlink hardware for free outside the U.S. in a bid to win new subscribers.

Musk also briefly discussed his other business ambitions in the region, promising to bring Tesla robotaxis to Saudi Arabia at an unspecified date.

"I think it would be very exciting to have autonomous vehicles here in the kingdom, indeed, if you're amenable," Musk said.
LONDON  European countries are preparing new sanctions on Russia despite a potential direct meeting for peace talks between Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, three sources told CNBC.

Ambassadors from the 27 EU member states are due to meet Wednesday to discuss what is likely to become the 17th package of measures against the Russian economy since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the sources said.

The package includes sanctions on a wider list of vessels that make up Russia's shadow fleet transporting Moscow's oil barrels  historically the backbone of Russia's revenues  as well as on individuals and companies that are deemed to be supporting the Kremlin's war in Ukraine. The measures could still be altered over the coming days.

European foreign affairs ministers are expected to greenlight the new sanctions next week, the sources noted.

One EU official, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of discussions, told CNBC that, as of Monday, four member states still had "study reserves" on the list of measures  meaning they are still discussing the sanctions with their respective domestic administrations.

The same EU official said: "Though Hungary is always a wildcard, it seems pretty much a done deal."

CNBC has reached out to the Kremlin for comment.
Seventeen U.K. pension funds agreed on Tuesday to allocate at least 5% of their default defined contribution (DC) funds to domestic private markets by 2030.

In the U.K., a DC pension is a retirement savings plan built with financial contributions from an individual and sometimes their employer. Those contributions are invested by a fund manager until the holder withdraws money in retirement, with the final pension amount depending on the value of the contributions and how well the investments have performed over time.

Signatories to Tuesday's Mansion House Accord pledged to allocate at least 10% to private markets by the end of the decade, half of which would go specifically to British markets. Private markets were defined as unlisted equities, property, infrastructure and credit.

The investment in the U.K. was contingent upon "a sufficient supply of suitable investible assets for providers," the accord, seen by CNBC, said.

Signatories to the agreement were Aegon UK, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, NatWest Cushon, Nest, now:pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People's Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions and the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Collectively, their pension assets amount to 252 billion ($333.4 billion).

 Chloe Taylor
TEGERNSEE, Germany  Top German business leaders, economists and politicians descended onto a small, picturesque Bavarian town situated next to the iconic Tegernsee lake last week to share their hopes and discuss what's at stake for the new government. Buoyed by recent positive market sentiment for Europe's largest economy, attendees at the summit were united in their call for the new administration to step up and honour campaign promises. Any missteps would likely not be tolerated, with some business leaders warning the government cannot allow itself a "lazy summer." Despite rain and low hanging clouds providing a somewhat dreary backdrop to the event, which has been dubbed the "Davos of Germany," the promise of new beginnings enveloped the summit and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement for potential changes the newly-appointed Chancellor Friedrich Merz could initiate.

The view across the Tegernsee from the Ludwig Erhard Summit Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC

Big expectations for the government were commonplace, with concerns about Germany's struggling economy and recent political turmoil seemingly having faded into the background. The German DAX index is currently up over 18% since the beginning of this year, frequently hitting record highs in recent months. The German economy has however been in stagnation territory for over two years now, with tensions over economic, fiscal and budget policy in the previous ruling coalition and its eventual breakup continuing to weigh on expectations. "There are very high hopes now on the new government," Patrick Trutwein, chief risk officer and chief operating officer at the IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, said during a panel moderated by CNBC's Annette Weisbach. He said he was feeling positive about Germany's future considering the announcement of the major fiscal package enshrined in Germany's constitution, as well as further potential reforms ahead and "an economy that's pretty robust and can build on its own ... productivity and competencies." Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart Group, was among those feeling hopeful. "If we look ahead and if they [the new government] do the right thing, I'm optimistic," he told CNBC. Audi CEO Gernot Dollner meanwhile said in a fireside chat that he was hopeful that the new government would "send an impulse into the German economy." The mood was also upbeat in Germany's auto sector, which has long been struggling with competition from China, pressures from the transition to electric vehicles and has recently been hit by U.S. tariffs. "The Germans are back," Hildegard Muller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, told CNBC's Weisbach Friday. "We are competitive," she added.

A talk at the Ludwig Erhard Summit. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC

But amid the positive buzz, it was clear that observers are keeping a close eye on the governments every move. "This new government in Germany cannot allow itself a political lazy summer, I'm sorry, they've got to work and they've got to work hard," said Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, chairman of Spitzberg Partners and former German politician. Or as Veronika Grimm, member of the German Council of Economic Experts, told CNBC: "A lot lies ahead for the government."

Overal the message was clear: Germany needs to get its act together. Alexander Horn, general manager of Eli Lilly 's Germany arm  Lilly Germany  said the business strongly welcomes the new government's goals, but won't tolerate any caveats. "Specifically we expect that the declarations of intent that are in the coalition agreement will be implemented quickly, speed plays an enormously big role," he said during a panel, according to a CNBC translation. Boerse Stuttgart Group's Voelkel indicated his optimism relied on action from the government, saying he was looking for moves towards "less bureaucracy, less anti-growth regulation, more innovation and particularly strengthening investment."

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Google 's stalwart search button has a new neighbor: AI Mode. The artificial intelligence feature is being tested directly beneath the Google search bar beside a "Google Search" button, replacing the "I'm Feeling Lucky" widget. The new feature, though not widely available yet, is being tested in a location where Google rarely makes changes. A company spokesperson confirmed the feature began rolling out to some users over the past week. The spokesperson said the company tests many experiments with its users of "Labs," Google's experimental unit that tests new features for those who opt in. They added that tested products do not always go on to launch broadly. The latest feature test shows Google is considering using its most valuable real estate to expose users to its AI technology as it continues to be under pressure to compete in generative AI-driven search.

Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, Alphabet investors have been concerned that OpenAI could take market share from Google in search by giving consumers new ways to seek information online. In October, OpenAI pushed further and launched "ChatGPT search," positioning the company to better compete with search engines such as Google, Microsoft 's Bing and Perplexity. Microsoft has invested close to $14 billion in OpenAI, yet OpenAI's products directly compete with Microsoft's AI and search tools, such as Copilot and Bing. Though the company's flagship AI product Gemini has shown equal or better performance than top competition, it has been trying to grow its user base to compete with ChatGPT. Google's Gemini AI product has 35 million daily active users, according to a recent Google analysis revealed during an antitrust court session in April. That was compared to ChatGPT's estimated 160 million daily active users, the analysis stated.

Google is testing using "AI Mode" on its most valuable real estate: its home webpage.
Motorists drive past as clouds gather over city skyline in Mumbai on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)

India continues to focus on its growth despite the flare up in tensions with Pakistan, said Shilpak Ambule, the country's high commissioner to Singapore.

Speaking to CNBC's "Inside India," Ambule said "everybody is on operational alert. But that does not mean that our India growth story and focus on economy gets affected." Airports have resumed operations, and it is safe to travel in India, he added.

Ambule said that the country had just concluded a trade deal with the UK, and that negotiations on trade deals with the U.S and the European Union were at an advanced stage.

With the U.S "it's very difficult to give a timeline" to the trade talks, but officials on both sides have been meeting regularly, he added. "The terms of reference have been agreed to and have been signed, and negotiations are actively continuing."

Investors have been sticking with the India story, with optimism on its growth prospects dwarfing geopolitical fears.

"Structural reforms, resilient domestic demand, and strong macro fundamentals continue to offer a compelling case," Mohit Mirpuri, an equity fund manager at SGMC Capital, told CNBC last week.

Ambule's comments come after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech late Monday on "Operation Sindoor," that saw New Delhi conducting military strikes against Pakistan last week. Islamabad retaliated with missiles and drones.
Midcap stocks are suddenly outperforming  and investors interested in their growth prospects might find a few good dividend payers too. The SPDR S & P Midcap 400 ETF (MDY) just scored its fifth straight winning week. The fund is off to a solid start this week, up 4% over the past two days, after the U.S. and China agreed to suspen higher tariffs for 90 days . Accords on tariffs, like the one reached with the United Kingdom and potentially in the works with China, bode well for smaller companies, which tend to be particularly sensitive to the domestic economy compared to their larger counterparts. "We're engaging with companies that are exposed to tariffs to understand their contingency plans," said Janus Henderson midcap portfolio manager Brian Demain in a recent article . "Many companies are implementing easier fixes they can make quickly, even though they come with cost headwinds," he added. Some economists on Wall Street are also starting to dial back their recession odds as the U.S. paves the way for agreements with trading partners. Goldman Sachs, for example, cut back its 12-month recession forecast to 35% from 45% following the tentative deal with Beijing. Investors hoping to capitalize on this potential tailwind for midcaps and scoop up some income at the same time may be interested in the Proshares S & P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL) . The ETF is up 6.6% in the past month, including reinvested dividends, according to FactSet data, and its constituents include companies that have grown dividends for at least the past 15 years. CNBC Pro used FactSet data to screen inside the REGL ETF for stocks that meet the following criteria: A dividend yield of at least 1.5%. Buy ratings from at least 51% of the analysts covering them. At least 10% upside based on consensus price targets. Here are the names we found. UMB Financial Corp made the cut. The company is rated buy or overweight by nearly 73% of the analysts covering the stock, and consensus price targets call for nearly 12% upside from current levels. Shares are down about 4%, and the stock has a dividend yield of 1.5%. Truist Financial analyst Brian Foran rated UMB a buy in a report on Monday, noting, "They are a bank with strongholds in niche fee areas, diverse geographic and sector exposures, and peer-leading fee and [loan-to-deposit] ratios." Earlier this year, UMB closed on its acquisition of Heartland Financial, a move that boosted its total assets by more than 30%, to about $68 billion. "Heartland's relative strength in the consumer segment such as mortgages and cards will help diversify the balance sheet, and UMB's system & scale help these areas grow more effectively," Foran added. Reinsurance Group of America is also showed up on the screen. In all, about 77% of the analysts covering the name rate it the equivalent of buy, with consensus price targets calling for upside of nearly 16%. Shares are down roughly 3% in 2025, and the stock pays a dividend yield of 1.7%. Piper Sandler analyst John Barnidge stuck with his overweight rating on the stock after RGA posted first quarter operating income of $5.66 per share, topping the FactSet consensus call for $5.31 per share. "This is one of the rare names in lifecoland where we have stability in earnings this quarter, which we find very much to be RGA-specific as the traditional business grows greater than expected and continues to deliver favorable claims experience," he said. As a reinsurer, RGA essentially "backs" other insurance companies, providing coverage to help transfer mortality and morbidity risk. "1Q25 demonstrated the mortality-as-a-service flywheel is not just intact but has led to stronger top-line growth in the higher multiple traditional mortality business," Barnidge added. Finally, Essential Utilities turned up on CNBC's list. The company provides drinking water, wastewater treatment infrastructure and natural gas. Shares are up about 3% this year, and the company offers a dividend yield of 3.5%. Essential Utilities on Monday posted first-quarter earnings of $1.03 per share on revenue of $784 million, encouraging Janney Montgomery Scott analyst Michael Gaugler to reiterate a buy rating. "Contributing to the 7.5% increase in water revenues and ~46% increase in natural gas sales were the following: additional revenues from regulatory recoveries, purchased gas costs and higher natural gas volumes," he said in a Monday report. Gaugler added that there have been several data center announcements for facilities to be located within Essential Utilities' natural gas service territory in western Pennsylvania. "All in, it looks like positive momentum building in terms of earnings and future capex opportunities," he said. Other stocks that appeared in CNBC Pro's screen included Equity LifeStyle Properties , Prosperity Bancshares and Unum Group . CNBC's Fred Imbert contributed reporting.
Tareq Amin, CEO of Humain, and Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, attend the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 13, 2025.

Tuesday's announcement underscores the importance of Nvidia's chips as a bargaining tool for the Trump administration as countries around the world clamor for the devices, which are used to train and deploy advanced AI software such as ChatGPT.

The cutting-edge Blackwell chips will be used in data centers totaling 500 megawatts in Saudi Arabia, according to remarks at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. Nvidia said its first deployment will use its GB300 Blackwell chips, which are among Nvidia's most advanced AI chips at the moment, and which were only officially announced earlier this year.

The announcement was made as part of a White House-led trip to the region that includes President Donald Trump and other top CEOs.

Nvidia will sell more than 18,000 of its latest artificial intelligence chips to Saudi company Humain, CEO Jensen Huang announced Tuesday.

"I am so delighted to be here to help celebrate the grand opening, the beginning of Humain," Huang said. "It is an incredible vision, indeed, that Saudi Arabia should build the AI infrastructure of your nation so that you could participate and help shape the future of this incredibly transformative technology."

Nvidia shares rose more than 5% in trading on Tuesday.

Last week, the Department of Commerce said that it was going to scrap what it called President Joe Biden's rule, and implement a "much simpler rule." Nvidia has also been required to seek an export license for its AI chips since 2023 because of national security concerns.

Humain will be owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and will work on developing AI models as well as building data center infrastructure, according to a press release. Humain's plans eventually include deploying "several hundred thousand" Nvidia graphics processing units.

"Saudi Arabia is rich with energy, transforming the energy through this giant versions of these Nvidia AI supercomputers, which are essentially AI factories," Huang said.

AMD said on Tuesday that it would also supply chips to Humain as part of a deal to build 500 megawatts of AI capacity. AMD said that Humain has committed $10 billion to the project. AMD stock rose 4% during trading on Tuesday.

Trump praised Huang for appearing at the event on Tuesday, contrasting him with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who wasn't in attendance. Apple declined to comment.

"Thank you very much, Jensen," Trump said. "I mean, Tim Cook isn't here, but you are."
Shares of Coinbase and Nvidia are poised for further growth, according to David Wagner, Aptus Capital Advisors portfolio manager and head of equities. Wagner joined CNBC's " Power Lunch " on Monday to discuss those names, as well as one renewable energy play, that rallied during Tuesday's trading session. Coinbase Coinbase shares jumped 24% on Tuesday after S & P Global said the crypto exchange is getting added to the S & P 500 , putting the stock on pace for its best day in the market since the day after President Donald Trump's November election win. The addition to the benchmark index will take effect before trading on May 19. "This stock, it's not for everyone, but how can you ignore this monumental shift and appetite, not only in D.C., but across the institutional spectrum?" Wagner said. "The company has a 60% market share here in the U.S., which positions them perfectly for the institutionalization of crypto, which is going to lead to higher trading revenue." Shares of Coinbase have had a rocky 2025 as market volatility due to tariff policy changes has dampened investor appetite for riskier assets. Still, shares have popped more than 46% over the past month and are up 3% this year after the recent market surge. Bitcoin prices spiked last week and topped $100,000, driving enthusiasm toward crypto. "I understand that crypto, it's a very, very touchy subject, but this is probably one of the most simplistic ways to own this narrative, without really owning the underlying narrative," he added. Nvidia Wagner is sticking by Nvidia as the artificial intelligence growth story strengthens. He said he hopes the "scarcity growth premium might finally find its way back to Nvidia." Shares of Nvidia jumped 5.6% on Tuesday after CEO Jensen Huang announced the company will sell more than 18,000 of its latest AI chips to Saudi Arabian company Humain. Nvidia will deploy its GB300 Blackwell chips, which were announced earlier this year and are some of its most advanced chips. "I don't just like Nvidia. I love Nvidia.  The news out of Saudi Arabia today just continues to show the resiliency that the company has from a growth perspective, not just domestically, but also internationally," Wagner said. "In a world of tariffs, everyone's expecting growth to slow down specifically in the consumer areas of the market, but you're also going to see growth slowing down internationally. So I think that this leaves this AI trade as the idiosyncratic area of growth moving forward," he added. Nvidia's recent comeback has put the chipmaker on track to close above a $3 trillion market cap for the first time since Feb. 28. First Solar First Solar was among the best performers in the S & P 500 on Tuesday, with a nearly 23% gain. The rally came after Wolfe Research upgraded the solar energy stock to outperform from peer perform, citing better clarity on the 45X federal tax credits for clean energy production. Wolfe expects First Solar will realize $10 billion from the tax credit. "It feels like this could be peak pessimism in the stock trading at 10 times earnings, which could create a floor for the stock as policies are probably not going to be any more punitive from a tax credit perspective. I do like the name," Wagner said, noting that First Solar is the largest solar panel manufacturer in the U.S. "If you're not optimistic about this space right now, I'm just not sure when you will be," he said. First Solar shares are up 8.7% year to date.
Nvidia's efforts to broaden its customer base beyond American tech giants took a giant leap forward Tuesday, adding more fuel to the artificial intelligence chip giant's share-price recovery. Nvidia's explosive sales expansion over the past two-plus years has been largely driven by massive AI investments from fellow Club holdings Microsoft , Amazon and Meta Platforms as well as Google parent Alphabet . It's a group of data-center operators often called "hyperscalers." While these companies are still spending, Nvidia has increasingly courted a wider range of customers, particularly those outside the U.S., to diversify its revenue stream and stoke additional growth in the coming years. Enter Saudi Arabia. At a business summit Tuesday in Riyadh, which President Donald Trump attended, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said his company will sell more than 18,000 of its cutting-edge Blackwell AI chips to Humain, a new AI startup owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Over the next five years, Humain said it expects to build data centers with up to 500 megawatts of capacity that use several hundred thousand of Nvidia's AI chips. For context, a data center with 200 megawatts of capacity is "considered normal," a report from consulting firm McKinsey & Co. said last year. "Turns out we have another hyperscaler," Jim Cramer said on Tuesday's Morning Meeting, in an attempt to quantify the impact of Saudi Arabia's aggressive AI spending plans in its efforts to diversify its economy away from oil. Shares of Nvidia jumped more than 6% on Tuesday to nearly $131 apiece. That extends the stock's blistering rally to more than 37% since its lowest close of the year on April 4, which came after a brutal two-day sell-off in response to Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs. Nvidia's market capitalization has topped $3 trillion once again and passed fellow Club name Apple as the second most valuable firm. Microsoft is No. 1. To be sure, Nvidia is still below its pre-DeepSeek close on Jan. 24 of $142.62 per share. Other Club stocks that benefit from AI data center construction, such as Eaton and the newly initiated GE Vernova , also rose on Tuesday. In fact, as part of Saudi Arabia's promise to Trump to invest $600 billion in the U.S., the kingdom agreed to buy $14 billion worth of GE Vernova's gas turbines and energy solutions. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia's year-to-date stock performance. For years, Nvidia's Huang has talked up the financial potential of "sovereign AI," a term used to describe a country building its own computing infrastructure to develop AI applications that incorporate their local customs and culture. The Club started to highlight this opportunity in late 2023 , and it's picked up steam since then. Last year, Huang announced splashy AI initiatives in several countries, including Indonesia, India and Japan. Nvidia's global push ran into a roadblock in January, when the Biden administration, in its waning days, unveiled a controversial rule that sought to further restrict the number of countries where the company's AI chips could freely be sent. The Biden administration's previous attempts primarily focused on China and some countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia . The so-called AI diffusion rule, however, was shelved by the Trump administration last week , just days before it was set to take effect. The Trump White House has said it will replace it with a "simpler" policy, though details are still scant on what form that will take. Under the now-scrapped Biden policy, Saudi Arabia would have faced a cap on the amount of AI computing power it could obtain without an export license. The developments Tuesday are the latest twist in Nvidia's complicated geopolitical story during the second Trump administration. As Trump has shaken up global trade and drummed up investments in the U.S., Nvidia has sometimes found itself on the losing end  consider the tougher China export rules in April and tariff uncertainty in general. That's around the time Jim recommended booking some profits in Nvidia to protect against any more negative Trump actions. At other times, it was on the winning end  like with the Stargate Project joint venture in January , the AI diffusion rule changes, and Tuesday's agreement with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. For its part, Nvidia in mid-April said it plans to make up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next four years  an announcement certainly meant to please Trump, and potentially minimize the effects of any semiconductor-specific tariffs that the White House has pledged to implement. Nvidia may benefit from more Trump actions in the future. The Trump administration is also considering a deal with the United Arab Emirates that would allow the Gulf nation to eventually secure more than a million AI chips from Nvidia, CNBC's Kristina Partsinevelos confirmed Tuesday, citing a familiar with the matter. Bloomberg News first reported the news. The bottom line is Nvidia's customer pool is getting deeper  something investors have long wanted to see  and policy changes from the Trump administration are making that broadening possible in a big way. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA, MSFT, META, AMZN, GEV and ETN. 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.
Senior Advisor to the U.S. President Elon Musk (L) and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (C) are directed to greet the Saudi Crown Prince at the Royal Court in Riyadh on May 13, 2025.

Wealth and power.

Global political and business leaders gathered in Riyadh on Tuesday for the Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, discussing the artificial intelligence boom and global trade.

President Donald Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as several deals were announced between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia is investing $600 billion in the U.S., a package the White House said would boost "energy security, defense industry, technology leadership, and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals."

The White House also touted a nearly $142 billion deal to provide Saudi Arabia with weapons and services from U.S. defense firms.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced a deal to provide the kingdom its high-end AI Blackwell chips.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy were among the attendees, as well as other high-profile executives and power players such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Alphabet President Ruth Porat, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks at a press conference with other members of Senate Democratic leadership following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC May 6, 2025.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday that he is putting a hold on Department of Justice political nominations in protest of President Donald Trump's plans to accept a roughly $400 million luxury jet from Qatar.

"This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat," Schumer said from the Senate floor, as he demanded answers from the Trump administration and Justice Department on the planned exchange of the luxury jet.

Schumer slammed the move as "so corrupt that even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would give a double take."

While the nominations will ultimately still likely be able to move forward as Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, Schumer's move could slow down the process.

Schumer's announcement comes as Trump's plan to accept the luxury jet to use as Air Force One has drawn strong pushback from Democrats, and even some Republicans, who have raised legal and ethical questions about the move.

Schumer in his floor speech on Tuesday called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before Congress to "explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the emoluments clause."
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son delivers remarks next to U.S. President Donald Trump at an 'Investing in America' event in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 30, 2025.

Softbank's Vision Fund business on Tuesday posted a loss in the fiscal year ended March as it booked slowing gains at its massive tech investment arm.

SoftBank said it notched a gain on investment at its Vision Funds of 434.9 billion yen in the fiscal year, a 40% fall from the 724.3 billion yen booked in the previous year.

In its fiscal fourth quarter  the three months ended March  SoftBank's Vision Funds segment recorded a 26.1 billion yen gain, helped by a rise in the value of TikTok owner ByteDance.

The Vision Fund segment overall logged a pretax loss of 115.02 billion yen ($777.7 mllion) versus a profit of 128.2 billion yen in the previous fiscal year.

For the latest fiscal year, SoftBank saw gains on its investments in Chinese ridehailing company Didi as well as South Korean e-commerce firm Coupang. However, the performance of its investment arm was hurt by a drop in value of companies including AutoStore.

The Vision Funds are a key focus for investors who are looking for signs of improvement at SoftBank's huge investment arm, after it swung to a surprise loss in the company's fiscal third quarter.

SoftBank's investment division can be inconsistent, as it is driven by changes in public and private financial markets.

SoftBank's stock is down about 17% this year as volatility in financial markets and concerns about the macroeconomic environment continues to weigh on the company.
A Spirit Airlines aircraft undergoes operations in preparation for departure at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2024.

Spirit Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will offer new premium options for its travelers, including an extra-legroom seating option and a two-free-checked-bags policy for its cardholders.

The new seating will begin being installed in June and roll out across the majority of Spirit's fleet by July, according to the company.

Spirit will offer its two-free-checked-bags policy as a collaboration with Bank of America, offered only to travelers with its branded credit card. It will roll out later in 2025, Spirit said.

The announcement is the latest development in the budget airline's turnaround strategy of leaning into premium options, banking on spending from wealthier leisure travelers. Spirit Airlines  which had transformed the industry by offering cheap fares and charging extra for everything else  exited bankruptcy in March after years of losses and failed merger attempts.

Spirit's embracing of premium options reflects a larger trend in the airline industry. United Airlines announced Tuesday it is unveiling larger business-class suites, while American Airlines said earlier this month it will start flying suites with sliding doors on some of its planes in June.

Southwest Airlines , meanwhile, shocked travelers in March when it announced it will end its "two bags fly free" policy.

Spirit is "adding more value and perks for our loyalty members at a time when others are taking away benefits," said Rana Ghosh, Spirit Airlines senior vice president and chief commercial officer, in a press release.

The extra-legroom seating will include seven rows near the front of the aircraft totaling more than 40 seats. The new option will replace the airline's previous "Go Comfy" offering, which blocked off a middle seat for passengers who picked that fare.

Along with the seat, which is 32 inches instead of the regular 28 inches, the premium option includes a carry-on bag, no change or cancel fees, Priority Boarding, reserved overhead bin space, a snack and nonalcoholic beverage.
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The U.S. will remove all sanctions on Syria, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday. "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump told a packed auditorium at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the first appearance of his four-day visit to the Middle East "In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace. That's what we want to see," he said in a wide-ranging speech that focused on his own time in office and U.S. relations with the Middle East.

"In Syria, they've had their share of travesty, war, killing many years. That's why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade," Trump said. Syria has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. government since 1979. U.S. sanctions were imposed on the country in 2004 and again in 2011, after the regime of then-President Bashar Assad launched a brutal crackdown on anti-government uprisings. In the roughly 14 years since, the country has been devastated by civil war, sectarian violence and brutal terrorists attacks, including the Islamic State takeover of parts of the country in 2014 and subsequent Western-led bombing campaign to eradicate the extremist group.

A girl holds a Syrian flag, as people celebrate after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria, in Damascus, Syria May 13 , 2025. Yamam Al Shaar | Reuters

The toppling of the Assad regime during a shock offensive by anti-Assad militia groups in December of 2024 stunned the global community, and brought about the prospect of a new beginning for the devastated country. Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa  a former al-Qaeda member who describes himself as reformed  currently leads the country's transitional government. Syria remained under myriad international sanctions but those imposed by the U.S. were the most severe, as they applied to third parties as well, deterring other countries and groups from transacting with the country. The United Nations and aid organizations like the International Committee for the Red Cross, as well as the Arab League and other NGOs, pushed for sanctions relief following the devastating 2023 earthquake that hit Syria and neighboring Turkey. In addition to throttling the potential for economic progress, the sanctions hindered the ability of aid agencies and governments to provide rapid humanitarian assistance, those organizations said.

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Boeing 737 Max fuselages sit on railcars during an ongoing strike by the company's factory workers in Seattle, Washington, U.S., October 30, 2024.

United Airlines may not take delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 until 2027 or 2028 because of uncertainty about when the plane will be approved for use, an executive for the carrier said Tuesday.

Boeing has faced significant delays in getting the smaller MAX 7 certified, which must happen before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration can then certify the larger MAX 10.

United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella told reporters on the sidelines of an event that the airline is taking MAX 9 airplanes as it waits for the certification of the 10.

"In supply chain terms, we want to make sure we get our aircraft so we've committed to the MAX 9," Nocella said. "Until we know the MAX 10 is going to be delivered, we don't want to have an aircraft that doesn't arrive."
Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, testifies during the Senate Finance Committee hearing titled "Hacking America's Health Care: Assessing the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack and What's Next," in the Dirksen Building in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2024.

UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday announced the surprise exit of CEO Andrew Witty and suspended its 2025 forecast, sending shares of the health-care giant tumbling more than 10% in morning trading.

Witty is stepping down immediately for "personal reasons," the company said. He will act as a senior advisor to his successor, Stephen Hemsley, who served as UnitedHealth Group's CEO from 2006 to 2017 after first joining the company in 1997.

"We are grateful for Andrew's stewardship of UnitedHealth Group, especially during some of the most challenging times any company has ever faced," Hemsley said in a release.

The company said its decision to pull its guidance was partly due to higher medical costs, which dragged down other insurance stocks. Shares of CVS Health dropped more than 4% and Elevance Health fell over 6%, while Humana also slid more than 6% and Cigna lost over 2%.

Witty became CEO of UnitedHealth in 2021 after previously running British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline for nearly a decade. He oversaw a tumultuous last year for the company, which grappled with government investigations, a historic cyberattack, higher-than-expected medical costs and the torrent of public blowback after the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of the company's insurance unit UnitedHealthcare.

Witty in December publicly acknowledged that the U.S. health system is "flawed" and needs reform, but also defended UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday said it partly suspended the outlook because the medical costs for new enrollees in the company's private Medicare plans remained higher than expected. The company also said "care activity continued to accelerate while also broadening to more types of benefit offerings than seen in the first quarter."
The recent 90-day suspension of tariffs between the U.S. and China could translate into future gains for chipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices , according to Piper Sandler. The agreement announced Monday puts China's tariffs on U.S. goods at 10%, while the total U.S. tariff rate on Chinese imports stands at 30%. Lower restrictions on exports of semiconductors may result from future trade talks between the U.S. and China, Piper analyst Harsh Kumar said. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Monday that the U.S. is likely to meet with Chinese officials " in the next few weeks " to potentially hammer out a wider trade agreement. "While this has not been specified just yet, we think as a measure of goodwill, the United States government is likely to allow companies such as Nvidia and AMD to sell chips within China that were previously banned," the analyst wrote in a note published Monday. "Again, this is not announced yet, but we think this is likely as trade negotiations solidify." Kumar's remarks came after the Commerce Department said last month that it imposed new export licensing requirements on sales of Nvidia and AMD chips to China. As a result, Nvidia said it would take a $5.5 billion charge tied to exports of H20 graphics processing units to China and elsewhere. "NVDA could also stand to benefit from a potential ability to sell the $5.5 billion of H20 product that was previously written off," Kumar wrote in the note. "These chips may potentially and possibly be allowed to be sold in China in our view." AMD similarly stands to benefit from removing the controls, with Kumar noting that it would be able to sell its Instinct product line, particularly to Chinese buyers. Total sales for 2025 had been pegged at an estimated $1.5 billion, with $700 million coming in the current quarter and the rest spread over the second half of the year, Kumar noted. There have already been some signs of future progress. The Trump administration last week prepared to lift U.S. chip export restrictions under what was called the "AI diffusion rule," first proposed under the Biden administration. Those plans had sent shares of both Nvidia and AMD higher. Along with the news of the latest trade progress, each have soared this month, with Nvidia surging nearly 19% so far in May, while AMD has gained more than 13%. Both are still down on the year, however. "We think with this deal the outlook for the broader companies removes a key short-term overhang, thereby re-clarifying spend on chips," Kumar also wrote. NVDA AMD mountain 2025-04-30 Nvidia and AMD shares in May
One of the few refreshing admissions during this episode came from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who conceded that the prior escalation was "the equivalent of an embargo." His recognition that a mechanism for sustained dialogue should have preceded such drastic actions is welcome  but telling.

The 90-day truce announced Monday is a moment of calm  a mutually agreed rollback of tariffs to 30%, a temporary lifting of China's retaliatory curbs on rare earth exports, and a pledge to keep talking . But the underlying structure of the trade relationship remains damaged, fragile, and subject to re-escalation at any moment. Unless serious progress is made before August 10, a 34% "default" tariff  or something closer to 60% or 80%  still looms large.

From Donald Trump 's return to the White House in January through the so-called "Liberation Day" tariff blitz in early April, the world watched U.S. trade policy tear through the global economy. Tariffs on Chinese goods soared to 145% in a matter of weeks, triggering fierce retaliation from Beijing. Now, Washington expects applause for helping contain the damage.

The U.S.-China trade truce reached in Geneva was greeted with relief  and in some corners, even celebration. Stock markets surged . Commentators praised the "breakthrough." But let's be clear: optimism should be tempered with caution. What we're witnessing may not be the end of the crisis  rather, it could be the eye of the hurricane. And like all hurricanes, the backside of the storm could be even more punishing than the front.

That mechanism, now dubbed the "Geneva Mechanism," is long overdue. Structured engagement between the world's two largest economies should not be a novel idea. But its success will depend entirely on follow-through  and worryingly, on the moods and machinations of the two men who lead these countries. That alone should give us all great pause.

Nvidia and the ongoing risk from 'strategic decoupling'

Bessent was also careful to distinguish on the news circuit between "general decoupling"  which he said neither the U.S. nor China desires  and "strategic decoupling," which remains very much in play.

Sectors like advanced semiconductors, pharmaceutical and medical supplies, steel, and aluminum are deemed too important to rely on China to supply  or too risky to supply to China. That's why the outlook for companies like Nvidia  even after recent positive news on chip export controls  remains murky. Markets may have glossed over the strategic and national security imperatives during the post-Geneva euphoria, but the intention to de-risk and decouple in key sectors remains deeply embedded in U.S. policy thinking.

Meanwhile, there are clear signals that China is using this window not to deepen or even stabilize reliance on the U.S., but to continue reducing it. State media outlets like Xinhua and Global Times have emphasized the importance of "strategic autonomy" and "dual circulation." One commentary on Weibo described the truce as a "buffer period for internal strengthening."

Chinese policymakers are not wasting this pause  they are hardening their own supply chains and innovation ecosystems. U.S. companies should read that signal clearly and respond in kind.

Among the issues under discussion through the Geneva Mechanism are non-tariff barriers  a quiet but potent set of tools China has used for years. These include opaque licensing procedures, indigenous IP requirements, unfair procurement preferences, data localization mandates, and increasingly burdensome compliance expectations for foreign firms. Addressing these barriers in 90 days is ambitious at best, and likely unrealistic.

Then there's fentanyl. The inclusion of China's Minister of Public Security in the Geneva talks was meant to signal seriousness. But this is not the first time China has pledged cooperation. In 2019, Beijing banned all fentanyl-class substances, only to quietly ease enforcement when political winds shifted. At the 2023 APEC summit in San Francisco, China again promised action on fentanyl precursors during leader-level talks with President Biden. Those promises, too, were welcomed  then quietly shelved. The U.S. has bought this horse several times before  it just keeps getting re-gifted. Without enforceable mechanisms and measurable benchmarks, any new commitments risk being more performance than policy.

The truth about opening China's market to U.S. companies

Another narrative that needs correcting is this: the idea that opening China's market to U.S. firms is still the great win it once was. That might have been true in 2001, when China joined the WTO, or even as recently as 2018 at the start of the first trade war. But it misses today's reality. China's domestic markets are now highly developed, hyper-competitive, and increasingly nationalistic.

U.S. firms not only face fierce competition from Chinese counterparts that are often cheaper, faster, and better  they also operate in an environment where being a foreign brand is becoming a reputational headwind. In an era where Trump's rhetoric has inadvertently fueled nationalist fervor abroad, American companies in China face shrinking commercial advantage and rising political risk. Expanding into China today is not the win it once might have been  it may be an invitation to future retaliation and regulatory entanglements.

This is why companies should treat this truce not as a reprieve but as a window  a precious opportunity  to act. The years since the first trade war in 2018, the Covid shock, and ongoing geopolitical tension should have been more than enough warning. Yet too many firms remain overexposed to China, lulled by temporary market access or short-term pricing advantages. That complacency is dangerous. Surely, that is not a far-fetched assertion given all that has happened since 2018.

Over the next 90 days, businesses should be doing two things. First, fortify their short-term plans and supply lines against the potential for renewed volatility at the end of the 90-day pause. Second  and more importantly  accelerate long-term diversification strategies. Whether it's Southeast Asia, Latin America, or reshoring to the U.S., this is the time to move. Structural dependence on China is no longer a business challenge  it's a strategic liability.

The calm may feel good, but it is not the end. This is the eye of the storm. The back half could come fast  and hit hard.

By Dewardric McNeal, Managing Director and Senior Policy Analyst at Longview Global
Trump's reshaping of higher education tests U.S. appeal for int'l students: AP

Xinhua) 10:00, May 13, 2025

NEW YORK, May 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. universities, home to many programs at the top of their fields, have long appealed to students around the world hoping to pursue research and get a foothold in the U.S. job market, reported The Associated Press (AP) on Monday.

However, "the durability of that demand faces a test under the Trump administration, which has taken actions that have left international students feeling vulnerable and considering alternate places to study," noted the report.

"All of the Trump administration's activities have been sending a message that international students are not welcome in the U.S.," Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC, a professional association for international enrollment managers at colleges, was quoted as saying.

Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year. A large decline in their ranks could cripple school budgets that rely on tuition from foreign students, who are ineligible for federal student aid and often pay full price to attend, said the report.

"It's too early to quantify any impact from the administration's crackdown, which has included new scrutiny of student visas and efforts to deport foreign students for involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. But many fear the worst," it added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
While we clearly dont need any more reasons for the U.S. to be feuding with foreign countries right now, two Monty Python fans recently got into a spat on social media over whether or not Americans get the Pythons humor. This prompted Eric Idle to step in and settle the silly argument once and for all.

As Idle pointed out, while Monty Pythons Flying Circus began in the U.K., its been consistently popular in the U.S. ever since it began airing on public television in 1975, which also coincided with the release of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

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Idle also explained that Monty Pythons American popularity originated with a PBS station in Dallas. And, as he confirmed to one follower, it was in fact the father of future stars Owen and Luke Wilson who was responsible for making it happen.

Robert A. Wilson, who passed away in 2017, was a landmark public television station executive who introduced Monty Pythons Flying Circus to their first American audience during his time as president and general manager of KERA in Dallas.

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While Owen Wilson wasnt too aware of Monty Python growing up, he now seems quite proud of his dads connection to the group. Years later, I met Terry Gilliam, and he said, Were incredibly grateful. Your dad gave us a big break, Wilson once said in an interview.

After his dad had a meeting with the Pythons in Dallas, Luke Wilson recalled that he used to talk about the night he went out with these wild guys from England who were the funniest guys hed ever met in his life.

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But Luke Wilson was also quick to point out that, while airing Monty Pythons Flying Circus was ultimately his fathers decision, the idea first came from his really funny friend Ron Devillier. According to The Dallas Morning News, in 1974, a representative from Time Life contacted Devillier about airing the show on KERA after it had been rejected by every other public broadcaster in the states. Had the station not taken it, Devillier was told that the BBC would take it back and they will bury it wherever they bury shows they cant sell.

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Just two days later, he was sent a box full of videocassettes and wound up falling in love with them. While Devillier said he would like to buy the show, he first had to clear it with Wilson. So Devillier cautiously showed the president two Python clips: The Lumberjack Song and Cheese Shop.

Wilson reportedly threw his notebook across the room and was rolling around laughing leading the pair to buy the show that very same day. The Dallas deal was so huge for the Pythons that the group appeared on KERAs pledge drive the following year.

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Although Idle and John Cleese were absent for the event, thankfully the other Pythons were able to get a stuffed armadillo to fill in.
I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson has presented its titular creator and star to us in some of the most humiliating situations ever conceived. Characters hes played have asked a restaurant server to intervene with a date he thinks is being too greedy with the toppings on a shared plate of nachos, tried to pull off a perm like an Irish setters ears, gotten disruptively dirty with questions on an adult ghost tour and of course, driven a hot dog-shaped car through a store window and loudly disclaimed responsibility  while wearing a hot dog costume.

If our era has a living avatar of social anxiety, Robinson is it. Now, with Friendship, Robinson is making his debut as a feature-film headliner, and I have no higher compliment than to say hes doing it in an extremely Tim Robinson way.

Robinson plays Craig Waterman. He has a wife, Tami (Kate Mara), who is running her florist business out of the home; her repeated requests that they invest in a larger vehicle so that she can use it to make deliveries are evidently something Craig cant hear. He has a teen son, Stevie (Jack Dylan Grazer), whose way of kissing Tami on the lips seems to alarm Craig. He has a job at a company that develops strategies to make phone apps more habit-forming (not addictive). He has an affinity for Marvel movies. What he doesnt have, it seems, are friends. That changes when his letter carrier delivers Craig a parcel addressed to his new neighbor, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd).

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After their brief initial meeting, Austin calls the Waterman house, and Tami accepts an invitation, on Craigs behalf, for a drink. Craig is offended at first that Tami thinks she knows his schedule, but shes right, he is free. This turns out to be one of the most consequential chill hangs of his life: Austin is a local TV weatherman and clearly the coolest person Craig has ever met, taking him on a forbidden adventure, inviting Craig to come see his band play and showing him how to forage for wild mushrooms. Austins so cool he doesnt even have a cell phone!

Things are going great until Austin invites Craig to a casual get-together with some of his other friends. Finding out he doesnt mesh with the guys in Austins circle sends Craig on an increasingly desperate quest to get back what his off-putting personality has lost him.

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Cringe comedies are so common that this isnt even Rudds first  or fourth. (An incomplete list: The 40-Year Old Virgin, I Love You, Man, My Idiot Brother, The Chateau and Dinner for Schmucks). But whereas some performers playing comedic anti-heroes seem to hold a little something back so they still seem appealing, or get a moment of redemption to keep them likeable, Robinson inhabits the role of Craig with a complete lack of vanity. Not since Mike White in Chuck & Buck have I seen someone so determined to make screen situations as awkward as possible.

A social comedy of manners like this cant work if there isnt escalation, and we definitely get it here. Craig is weird straight from the start  we meet him as hes supporting Tami in a therapy group of her fellow cancer survivors, responding to her tentative admission that shes scared of a recurrence with a baselessly confident Its naaaaaht coming baaaack  but in his scenes with Austin, we can see him straining to be the kind of friend he thinks Austin wants. Its obvious that the Marvel-loving nerd who tried to shoo his co-workers out of the way as he carried an overfull cup of coffee to a meeting and then struggled to drink it without spilling isnt naturally an amateur boxer, dad band drummer or explorer of his towns secret places, but the allure of Austins friendship is too enticing.

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When things fall apart, Craigs efforts to heal the rift start out on a recognizably human, possibly even relatable way. He manufactures a pretext to run into Austin at work. He puts his brand-new drum kit in a wagon and pulls it over to Austins house. When these gambits fail, he tries making friends with guys at work the way Austin friend-seduced him and taking Tami on the same potentially dangerous adventure Craig enjoyed with Austin on their first night together. I wont say how we get from there to Craig hitting up the 18-year-old cell phone store clerk for boutique hallucinogens, but trust me: the progression is illogically logical.

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That said, while Craig is just the movies biggest freak, hes not its only freak. Frequent Robinson collaborator Connor OMalley makes a late appearance to show Craig isnt alone in grinding a party to a halt with a speech that makes everyone uncomfortable. The guys Craig works with and tries to befriend  including one played by comic and musician Whitmer Thomas  have obviously been waiting for Craigs status to drop low enough for them to unleash their bullying tendencies on him. Even Austin, Craigs idol, has a shameful secret hes concealing until, in a moment of Craig-ian ignominy, its revealed.

Friendship actually does take its titular topic seriously. The male loneliness epidemic is real. Craig  someone who, before we met him, had to reckon with the possibility of losing his wife  clearly gets something important and meaningful from his time with Austin. He just pursues it with a myopic intensity that ruins his whole life. Its what we count on Tim Robinson to do.
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Zoe Louise Rosenberg is a senior studying social movements through the Interdisciplinary Studies Field program at UC Berkeley. Contact the opinion desk at opinion@dailycal.org or follow us on X.
If Shakespeares ghost resides in a garret somewhere above the new Globe theatre, I imagine his head will be down, his quill furiously scratching across parchment.

His inspired new play would be of two great households torn asunder by headstrong sons and their B-list actress wives. The action would be set amid the splendour of London palaces  Buckingham and Beckingham  and across continents.

The colourful cast of characters comes straight from the ranks of royalty itself, including star-crossed semi-royals Harry and Meghan plus Posh and Becks, the quasi-royals of the celebrity world.

And the plot is, sadly, all too obvious: both these families, Windsor and Beckham, have been torn apart by estrangements from sons who now live thousands of miles away in California  and the drama has proved utterly compelling.

Millions of readers around the world have been  and are  transfixed.

Thats because, however privileged or plain ridiculous their respective situations might seem, the themes at the heart of them are as old and recognisable as humanity itself.

Neither of these rifts was expected. Both seemed to start when the happy-go-lucky sons in question, Prince Harry, 40, and Brooklyn, 26, married attractive and charismatic, but some might say power-hungry and narcissistic, women.

In Harrys case, his union with Meghan Markle was followed by the tragic decision to set sail for suburban Montecito in America, where today he helps his wife sprinkle flower petals and stir homemade jam while claiming to relish the privacy this affords him.

Brooklyn Beckham, 26, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30. The pair married in April 2022

Harrys union with Meghan Markle was followed by the tragic decision to set sail for suburban Montecito in America

Peltz and her mother-in-law Victoria Beckham pictured enjoying a drink together in 2021

This month the Prince gave a notably ill-judged interview to the BBC  perhaps to remind us that hes still there  in which he lamented that his calls home go unanswered while admitting, crassly, that he doesnt know how long his father  still receiving treatment for cancer  has left to live.

Brooklyn Beckham, too, has cut himself free from the shackles of his family, in his case to marry into the billionaire Peltz family  his father-in-law is the majority shareholder of the ubiquitous US fast-food chain Wendys.

Apparently, Brooklyn plans to make his own entrepreneurial way in the dog-eat-dog world of table sauce and condiments.

After marrying Nicola Peltz, four years his senior, in a glitzy ceremony in 2022, he, too, has found himself at loggerheads with his successful, loving and supportive parents back in England.

The Beckham rift was blown open for all to see in the past few days when Brooklyn failed to join his three younger siblings at Davids recent 50th birthday celebrations.

How confusing and painful for 13-year-old Harper and her brothers, Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20, who must desperately miss their big brother.

Perhaps unwittingly, Harry and Brooklyn have become the main characters in their unedifying theatricals. Both men seem to believe their grievances are real.

And its hard not to suppose they have been encouraged by their respective wives, whispering from the wings but seemingly keen to take centre stage.

Peltz and Posh Spice in happier times, before this tragic feud ripped the eldest Beckham son from the family

After marrying Peltz in a glitzy ceremony, Brooklyn has found himself at loggerheads with his successful, loving and supportive parents back in England

Looking back, their marriages were the turning point  moments in which everything changed. From then on, nothing would ever be the same.

How many of us know of families which, if not on such a public scale, suffer generational heartbreak, where a strong-minded individual  an egotist or a narcissist who has to make every situation all about them  has married into a previously happy family and pulled things apart?

I have seen how rapidly things can change. Disharmony creeps in. The situation can, eventually, become quite devastating.

I know of cases where the family members have made a bid to outwit a destructive incomer. Ive watched as they tried to be one step ahead, attempted to plan and protect both the wider family and the ensnared relative.

But such tactics only work for a short period of time until the inevitable crisis hits.

I find it desperately sad because I know how supportive caring in-laws can be.

My children had wonderful relationships with grandparents from both sides of the family. I would struggle to put into words how deeply those relationships contributed to their wellbeing.

I treasured my own mother-in-law. Indeed, the last words she spoke before she died in hospital in Fazakerley, Liverpool, were to me and they were: I love you. I loved her in return.

Even though she died 20 years ago, we have never forgotten her and often talk about the funny moments. Shes no better than she thinks she is, that one, is one of the many things Nana Doll, as she was known, would say.

Nana Doll loves an empty plate is another of her top phrases, often quoted as we clear up after dinner.

Little reminders like that bring back memories of how much she helped me as a new mother, and of her utter devotion to her son  something that made us all laugh, even him.

It lit up my heart. Her family values  principles which mirrored my own upbringing  were the bedrock upon which I raised our own close family.

Now, as I look through the endless coverage devoted to the Windsor and Beckham rifts, I ask myself if it will ever end. And the unfortunate truth is that it probably never will.

It has been suggested that David and Victoria themselves now fear this desperate situation cannot change  unless their sons marriage to Nicola breaks apart.

Words and actions have consequences. There are things said which can never be unsaid or even forgiven  and the longer it continues, the worse it gets.

As for Prince Harry, his latest self-serving interview appears to have taken him past the point of no return.

Sadly, for both families, this tragedy is all too real, too recognisable. And, like Shakespeares best plays, it is set to run and run.
Watching the breakdown of Brooklyn Beckhams once-close relationship with his parents David and Victoria, I am reminded of another celebrity marriage mired in acrimony. Neither Brooklyn, nor his wife Nicola Peltz, turned up for any of his dads 50th birthday celebrations earlier this month, despite being in England when the parties were being held, something David and Victoria are said to be absolutely furious about.

The row between the Beckhams and their eldest son bears all the hallmarks of Meghan and Harrys catastrophic rift with the Royal Family when they Megxited Britain for Montecito.

Indeed, Harrys relationship with his father also reached a dramatic climax earlier this month when he revealed in a BBC interview that he is now so estranged from his family that King Charles wont take his calls  and even that he doesnt know how long his ailing father has left to live.

Yes, Brooklyn hasnt yet done a Harry and written his own memoir about how awful the Beckhams are. Nor have he and Nicola offered Oprah a sensational tell-all interview accusing their family of being racists. Or launched their own series on Netflix.

But Ive watched what Nicola and Brooklyn have done over the past few weeks and now wonder if Nicola  who friends say Victoria has dubbed the Viper  has long been taking notes on how the Duchess of Sussex managed to separate her husband from his family and friends, before monetising their relationship off the back of his fame.

For the sad truth is that Nicola appears to have used the Meghan Markle handbook, how to gorge off your husbands celebrity, while simultaneously cutting him off from everything he knows.

Lets look at the similarities. Both Nicola and Meghan were ambitious, aspiring B-list actresses who never made their big break into Hollywood as theyd dreamed.

Meghans brush with stardom was in the US legal drama Suits which, until she married Harry, not many had heard of in Britain. Meanwhile, Hollywood hopeful Nicola had an agent from the age of 12 and a film debut in Christmas comedy Deck The Halls, which sank without trace.

Pictures of Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham at a Wendy's bash in matching pink outfits went viral just months after their 3million wedding

The row between the Beckhams and their eldest son bears all the hallmarks of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's catastrophic rift with the Royal Family when they 'Megxited' Britain for Montecito. Pictured in 2020

Two bright, beautiful and fiercely ambitious alpha-women seeking the limelight, their dream Hollywood careers dashed. So what did they both do? Marry a really famous guy from a family dynasty and ride the coattails of their name and celebrity status.

Meanwhile, they have latched on to famous acquaintances, as Meghan did with stars such as Serena Williams and the Clooneys, inviting them to her 32million wedding even though she hardly knew them. Or as Nicola has always done, embracing the famous supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid during her relationship with their brother, Anwar, which ended in 2018.

Just as the TV actress Meghan Markle achieved her dream of becoming the Duchess of Sussex before fleeing the UK, trashing the Royal Family and reinventing herself as a feminist and philanthropist in America under her married name, Nics now insists on the title Mrs Nicola Peltz Beckham.

Her billionaire dad, who made his fortune with his profitable but rather unglamorous frozen food business Peltz & Sons, wasnt a name associated with the glitz of the A-list.

Just as when Meghan married Harry, Nicolas relationship with Brooklyn offered her entry into worlds she had long dreamt of.

Meghan's brush with 'stardom' was in the US legal drama Suits which, until she married Harry, not many had heard of in Britain

Nicola embraced a relationship with the supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid (left) while dating their brother, Anwar

The daughter of a frozen food empire tycoon suddenly took centre stage. Just months after their 3million wedding, she and Brooklyn attended a bash hosted by American fast-food giant Wendys  in which her father Nelson is an investor  wearing matching pink outfits.

As Nicola had probably calculated, the pictures went viral. It was one of the first Beckham-Peltz endorsements and as one insider said: Nicola is very much making the most of the Beckham name. She might hate David and Victoria but she doesnt half like their surname.

They added: She might be very rich, but she wouldnt be getting any of this attention if it wasnt for her husband Brooklyn and his family. That attention has since seen Nicola land a lucrative deal with Pepe Jeans and various appearances in Vogue magazine.

Which brings us to another stark similarity. The tragedy is that both Harry and Brooklyn married strong women who, despite their charades of being carefree and kind, are control freaks. Meghan and Nicola have both embarked on their own commercial ventures, while leaving their husbands isolated from their own support networks.

It is reported that Brooklyn has lost contact with all his former friends  for example Madonnas son Rocco Ritchie and Noel Gallaghers daughter Anais. The same has happened to Harry, who now has but a handful friends left from his inner circle, the Band of Brothers. Even his beloved Sentebale charity, set up in tribute to his late mother, is in chaos. Hes now chook-feeder-in-chief to the rescue hens he and Meghan house at their Montecito mansion.

Both men have settled into their role of the useful idiot: plus ones and arm candy for their ambitious wives.

What a pity Nicola hasnt learnt from her mother-in-law Victoria. After all, the woman who cant sing became a member of the most famous girl band in the world, The Spice Girls, encapsulating girl power  while also letting her husband David shine in his own right.

As we saw in the Netflix series Beckham, the mother-in-law Nicola reportedly loathes is funny, smart, hard-working, a devoted wife and mother  and the creator of an international fashion empire. She is a woman to admire.

How it must hurt David and Victoria to now be so isolated from their first child. How different it could have all been had Nicola, no doubt jealous of Victorias success both as a designer and loving mum, not cut her hapless husband off from his family.

Sadly for the Beckhams, I guess thats what you get when your dim-witted son marries an ambitious, social-climbing viper. Just ask Harry, currently out feeding the chickens.
A kitchen-phobe has left social media viewers reeling after revealing that she spends around 500 a month on takeaways and meals out.

Saffron Boswell, from Brentwood, Essex, took to TikTok to share what she eats in a day as 'someone who can't cook' - admitting that her pricey food habits are funded partly by her doting partner, who's currently serving time at His Majesty's Pleasure.

The 26-year-old, who boasts a loyal TikTok following of 125,000, admitted that she hasn't cooked a meal in more than a decade and shells out a whopping 63 a day - the equivalent to 1,890 every month - to feed her convenience habit.

As well as sharing details of her costly lifestyle online, Saffron is also known for documenting her experience of dating Luke, her partner of eight years, who is currently in prison.

At the beginning of the clip, the influencer cheekily said: 'Some people think I only eat takeaway but I do go outside and I go to restaurants.'

The content creator alluded to the fact that her takeaways are often funded by Luke, responding to one viewer in the comments that she has a man who 'looks after' her.

Saffron revealed that she spent 63 a day on food, starting the day with a slap-up breakfast consisting of sandwiches, cakes and a large coffee.

She shared the price of her breakfast, which she ordered from Costa on a delivery app.

Saffron Boswell (pictured), from Brentwood, Essex, took to TikTok to share what she eats in a day as 'someone who can't cook', admitting that her pricey food habits are funded partly by her doting partner Luke

The 26-year-old, who boasts a loyal following of 125,000 on TikTok, says she hasn't cooked in more than a decade and relies on others to eat well

Saffron treated herself to a cheese and tomato toastie costing 5.45, a sausage bap for 4.49, a cappuccino for 4.40, and a strawberry and vanilla cake for 4.35.

In the vlog, Saffron also shared what she had for lunch while out out for the day in Camden, London.

The content creator shelled out 22 for a meal from Shake Shack, which included a burger for 9.45, a portion of chips costing 4.55, a 6.20 vanilla milkshake and two tubs of sauce each priced at 1.

'People always complain about the price of this place but I think it's very justifiable,' she said.

Then for her final meal of the day, Saffron admitted that she had initially planned on going out but had opted instead to order in a Nando's.

Having had a top-up of Botox earlier in the day, Saffron said she was too tired to go out and instead chowed down on a children's meal and a portion of fully loaded chips from the chicken restaurant.

In additional to the loaded fries, Saffron also treated herself to a kid's meal, which included a carton of apple juice, cucumber sticks, mac and cheese, spicy rice and a pot of gravy.

For her final meal of the day, Saffron orders in a Nando's after feeling tired following a filler appointment

Breakfast fit for a queen: The Costa order proved pricey at nearly 20, with three food items, a drink and the service fee

'I just get tired after a filler appointment so I'm just going to eat my food, watch my film, cuddle up with my fur baby and go to bed,' she concluded at the end of the clip.

Saffron enjoys ordering takeaways from a range of popular chain eateries, and is seen tucking into Nando's, KFC and Subway in several of her videos.

Curious followers begged to know how she funded her expensive eating habits.

Responding to one woman, Saffron simply answered: 'Get yourself a man that looks after you.'

Others couldn't believe how much she forked out just on herself for the day, with one comment reading: '60 in one day?'

The content creator was quick to justify her expenditure, describing the cost as 'reasonable'.

'Dont you think thats so reasonable? Because lets me honest people go on like Im spending a fortune per day and Im really not,' she wrote.

Saffron has previously revealed she splashes out 30,000 a year getting dolled up for weekly dates with her partner - even though she doesn't even leave her sofa because he's in jail.

She undergoes regular beauty treatments including filler, anti-wrinkle jabs, lash extensions, and blow dries to ensure she looks picture-perfect for her banged-up boyfriend.

The 26-year-old, who's been in a relationship with Luke for eight years, says their weekly FaceTime dates help keep the 'excitement' alive in their long-distance relationship.

The blonde content creator said video calls with the 39-year-old are 'more relaxed' than monthly prison visits as it's just the two of them on the call.

Saffron revealed she still gets 'butterflies' when she sees Luke, who she said is behind bars for charges that aren't violent.

A TikTok clip captioned 'glow up with me for HMP' shows her extensive glam routine as she prepared seeing Luke who's been in prison for three-and-a-half years.

The video went viral, racking up more than 110,000 likes, re-posts and comments.

Another clip shows her getting ready at home, picking out an outfit, applying make-up, doing her hair and perfecting the lighting before hopping on a call.
Dr. Raymond Moody sat at his 74-year-old mother's deathbed.

After a late diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, doctors said the disease had already progressed so far that chemotherapy would have little effect and that she had less than two weeks to live.

Shocked, family rallied to say their goodbyes - but as she died peacefully, her loved ones could never have imagined that they would be a part of what Moody calls a shared death experience.

The phenomenon, claims Moody - a renowned philosopher and psychiatrist - provides an answer to the biggest mystery of life: What happens when we die?

'Mom had been the pillar of our family, and now we needed to be her pillar,' he writes in his book, Proof of Life after Life.

'We all gathered in Macon, Georgia, where she lived and was now hospitalized, to be with her during her final days. There were six of us - siblings and in-laws - and we all worked hard to provide her with as much comfort and love as we possibly could.'

On what was to be her last day, they were all by her bedside when it was clear the end was just minutes away.

'We all held hands in a circle around her bed and waited for her to pass,' he writes. 'As we did, the room suddenly changed shape - for all of us.'

Dr Moody and his family were gathered around his mother's hospital bed when they had a shared death experience (stock photo)

The phenomenon, says Moody (left) - a renowned philosopher and psychiatrist - provided what he believes is proof of the biggest mystery of life: what happens when we die?

'For me, it became the shape of an hourglass,' he says. 'Four of the six of us felt as though we were being lifted off the ground in a glass elevator. I felt a strong pull upward, as did two of the other five.'

Several family members say they also saw their father - who had died a year and a half earlier - standing at the end of the bed.

'And when I say "saw him", I mean we saw him as solid as though he were standing in front of us in the flesh.'

All those present reported that the room took on a 'soft and fuzzy texture and was opaque like the light in a swimming pool at night.'

Moody's brother-in-law, a Methodist minister, described it as feeling 'like I left my physical body and went into another plane with her. It was like nothing that has ever happened to me.'

After Moody's mother died, they all compared notes and agreed they had accompanied their mother 'at least part-way to heaven' - sharing some of her death experience along the way.

But, rather than being terrifying or even unsettling, he says, it was one of the happiest days of their lives.

Moody writes that the 'communication from another world' had made the blanket of sadness 'leave the room and be replaced with great joy.'

Moody is no stranger to the supernatural. A former forensic psychiatrist who worked in a maximum-security state hospital, he was not brought up to be religious. He had even thought afterlife talk was a joke.

But his studies of thousands of people who claimed to have died and 'seen' what lies beyond led him to popularize the term 'near death experience' (NDE) and convinced him there is life after death.

In one particularly vivid account, a woman Dr Moody calls Betsy found herself at one end of a tunnel, and her dying mother-in-law at the other

'Another thing people say is that they leave their bodies and accompany the dying person into the afterlife'

However, NDEs alone are not definitive proof of an afterlife, he says, because they are subjective and unable to be verified.

Which is why, when he heard of a shared death experience (SDE) - first from a professor at medical school who witnessed the death of her own mother - Moody was understandably curious.

Could SDEs be the missing link of objectivity, proving the existence of an afterlife?

He had been studying the phenomenon for some time before it actually happened to him, and claims SDEs are much more common than people realize.

'The things that I hear most commonly are this idea of the room filling with light and becoming aware of the presence of, or apparitions of, the dying person's deceased loved ones coming into the room,' he tells the Daily Mail.

'Another thing people say is that they leave their bodies and accompany the dying person into the afterlife.'

Sometimes, he adds, it takes the form of seeing a cloud rise from the body and hovering before disappearing.

This was the case with Little Women author Louisa May Alcott, who recorded the death of her sister Elizabeth in her diary.

She wrote: 'A curious thing happened, and I will tell it here, for Doctor G [Dr. Christian Geist of Boston] said it was a fact.

'A few moments after the last breath came, as Mother and I sat silently watching the shadow fall over the dear little face, I saw a light mist rise from the body, and float up and vanish in the air.

'Mother's eyes followed mine, and when I said, 'What did you see?' she described the same light mist.

'Doctor G said it was the life departing visibly.'

Little Women (pictured) author Louisa May Alcott recorded the death of her sister Elizabeth in her diary

They all reported that the room took on a 'soft and fuzzy texture and was opaque like the light in a swimming pool at night'

In one particularly vivid account, a woman Moody calls Betsy was caring for both her husband, who had dementia, and his mother, who was dying in a local hospital.

One night, he says, as Betsy sat with her mother-in-law, she found herself in a tunnel that had suddenly appeared.

'At one end of the tunnel stood a much younger looking version of her mother-in-law seemingly beckoning to Betsy and saying in a clear and strong voice, 'Come on, it's great in here.'

She refused the invitation, reasoning that she had to stick around and care for her sick husband.

'Suddenly,' he says, 'Betsy realized that her mother-in-law was not beckoning to her but to [her husband] Bob, who was standing behind Betsy also in the tunnel. Bob also looked younger and healthier. He was noticeably happy as he looked at this healthy version of his mother.'

Soon after, the tunnel closed, and her mother-in-law died. One month later, Bob suffered a respiratory infection and died, too.

'For years, I just assumed this had to only happen with people who were very intimate with the patient,' he tells the Daily Mail.

'For example, the first two cases I heard happened to be women in their 40s who had lost their teenage sons.'

But then, an emergency room doctor got in touch with him to describe witnessing the 'life review' of a dying patient he'd never met before.

Other medical professionals also reported seeing patients lightly glowing as they died.

'People may see a halo or other light shining around the head of the dying, or they see mist or shapes leaving the body. In some cases, these shapes may assume a human form.'

At other times, multiple people have claimed they heard music from a loved one's deathbed.

'One of the most famous cases occurred in the 17th Century at the deathbed of German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, when five people heard inexplicable spherical music in his house yet could not trace its origin,' Moody explained.

'In another astonishing case, a deaf-mute person indicated he heard music, as did the bystanders at his deathbed, a recovery of senses that resembles blindsight - reports in which blind people claim to see during NDEs.'

Cynics say such experiences are optical illusions, or the result of extreme stress, and the imagination playing tricks on us. But, Moody says, the fact that many of these SDEs are witnessed by so many other people at the same time is compelling evidence that the soul survives the body.

Unfortunately, it's not something that can be forced or manufactured.

When asked if anyone could create the kind of environment that might enable them to share in their loved ones death, he said he'd never heard of such an experience.

'I don't know,' he answers. 'If somebody rehearsed how they're going to be, there would be a kind of self-consciousness to it.'

His advice is to allow it to be spontaneous.

'Shared death experiences make it clear that consciousness is not just a chemical reaction in the brain, separate from the spiritual,' he argues.

'[They] are proof that near-death experiences are more than oxygen deprivation to the brain.

'Bystanders to death can have the same transcendent experiences as those who are dying or who are retrieved from a close call with death. This new development - the aggressive study of shared death experiences - puts us at the frontier of the afterlife.'

Proof of Life after Life: 7 Reasons to Believe There Is an Afterlife by Raymond A Moody is published by Atria Books/Beyond Words Publishing
A woman in her mid-30s has confessed to 'sleeping on a mattress on the floor of my friend's place' as she struggles to secure a rental property in the tough Australian housing market.

Shannon McDougall, 35, has this past week shared a series of TikTok videos documenting her struggle to find an affordable rental property in Perth.

'I'm 35 years old, sleeping on a mattress on the floor of my friend's place because it's impossible to get a rental, or it's way too expensive,' she said.

The marketing and graphics assistant said she was forced to accept her friend's generous offer after running out of 'options'.

'[M]y only options are to sleep in my car, sleep on the floor at my friend's house, or try and find a room in a share house, if I can afford it and if there's any available,' she said.

'How are those my only options? How are those the only options of many Australians right now?'

Shannon explained that she had looked extensively for suitable properties within her budget and price range, but was disheartened to find that even a 'tiny one bedroom apartment' was beyond her reach.

'I don't mind having to live in a tiny one bedroom apartment. But having to pay $500 a week is f*****,' Shannon said.

Shannon McDougall, 35, has this past week shared a series of viral TikTok videos voicing her concern about not being able to find an affordable rental property in Perth

'I earn an average wage. But I can't afford that.'

Shannon added that having two dogs also reduced her options.

'It's like $300 to rent a room in a share house in Perth, which is ridiculous,' she said.

'I found that a lot of places don't actually allow pets - and I've got two dogs,' Shannon added, explaining that the 15-year-old dogs were her 'babies' and that giving them away in their twilight years was out of the question.

'I'm still sending inquiries but not having much luck.'

Even if she were to be accepted by a share house rental, she was worried about the risk of getting 'the worst roommate ever'.

'Can someone please tell me when the housing crisis in Australia is going to get better?' she asked.

FEMAIL spoke to Shannon, who said she had been looking for a place to live for three months 'since February this year'.

Prior to this, Shannon had lived with a relative for a few years before they died.

Shannon told FEMAIL that she has resorted to sleeping on a mattress on the floor of her friend's bedroom while spending the past three months unsuccessfully trying to secure a rental property in her Perth hometown [stock image]

'Currently, I'm moving between friends' homes each week while searching for a rental or share house,' Shannon explained..

In her widely-viewed social media videos, Shannon explained that she had previously been a home-owner.

'Before anyone says, "You're 35, why don't you own a house?" - I did own a house in my 20s,' Shannon said.

The creator, who specialises in 'DIY Fashion, Thrift Flips & Try-Ons', explained that she had previously been a home owner in her 20s and had owned a place with her then partner.

'I owned a house with my ex for six years. We bought it at a good time in 2012. Then we split [and] he paid me out. It wasn't enough to then go and buy another property,' she said.

Shannon provided broader details on her former property ownership situation, explaining that she and her ex had bought their place in 2012 for $405,000, at a time when she had been earning an annual salary of $42,000.

When they separated six years later, the market value of that property had made only a modest gain of $40,000. After accounting for the outstanding amount owing to the bank, she only received a small amount from her ex at a payout in 2019.

Shortly thereafter the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Shannon was made redundant, while Perth property prices increased rapidly.

Accordingly, Shannon said the lump sum payout from her ex was no longer enough to even use as a deposit on a home, so she was forced back into the rental market.

There were mixed reactions among the thousands of comments to Shannon's TikTok videos.

'The first category is made up of people who resonate with my concerns, sharing their own struggles with unaffordable housing,' Shannon told FEMAIL.

'I am very aware that the issue extends far beyond my own experience. I feel that many Australians have become resigned to the current state of housing, accepting it as the new norm,' she said

'Many of these commenters are women which shows the disproportionate impact of the housing crisis on them.'

Indeed, one reply read: 'Being a female, single, 35, low-income Australian must be a brutally bitter pill to swallow. Our entire societal structure is working against you.'

On the other hand, many comments came from people who Shannon said 'deny the existence of a housing crisis in Australia, claiming that rent prices are stable and homes are still affordable'.

'Many of them are calling me entitled and financially irresponsible. I'm not bothered by the negative comments,' she said.

Many questioned Shannon's financial decisions - particularly since her partner had bought her out with a lump sum payment six years prior.

'So what did you do with that huge pay out, it would have been a great deposit. [S]ounds like you spent it all and now stuck,' read one reply.

'There is no one to blame but you. Over time it was your financial choices, life decisions [and] not taking extra steps to improve your finances. Absolute accountability is the only way to change your life.'

Despite some negative feedback, Shannon stands by her decision to post her confessional videos.

'I didn't make these videos to get sympathy, I made these video because the housing crisis continues to be downplayed or dismissed by people it doesn't directly affect,' she said.

'I am very aware that the issue extends far beyond my own experience. I feel that many Australians have become resigned to the current state of housing, accepting it as the new norm.

'Affordable housing has never felt so out of reach.

'We need to speak up, hold our government accountable and push for policies that ensure everyone has access to affordable shelter.'
What started as an 'obviously' jokey list of baby names developed into a family feud when this sister named her daughter after a nasty infection.

Taking to the popular Reddit forum Am I The A**hole, a 20-year-old biology student thought to be from the US told how he gave his pregnant nurse sister a list of nasty medical terms that could double as girls' names.

Medications, infections and unpleasant animals featured on the list and he included obvious entries like 'Viagra' and 'Hernia' to evade any ambiguity.

But now the relationship has ruptured, with the brother telling his 27-year-old sibling that her final choice is 'unacceptable'.

And the mother-to-be argues her brother is wildly overstepping his boundaries by believing he has a say in her child's name.

Inspired by the gimmick list, she chose the name Malassezia - none other than a common fungal infection.

'Malassezia. The baby's name is Malassezia. One of the names on my joke list,' the post reads.

'Outside of the immediate issues (nearly impossible to pronounce on the first try, the "a**" smack dab it the middle of it, the first syllable being mal-, literally meaning bad or evil), it's also the name of a very common fungal infection.

A 20-year-old biology student is butting heads with his sister after she picked an 'unacceptable' baby name (File image)

'One that my sister and I are both genetically predisposed to. One that we've both had multiple times throughout our lives. Her daughter will almost certainly catch it at some time!'

His sister and her husband were struggling with names and hadn't found one when the baby shower rolled around - just five weeks before the due date.

As well as gifting her the '$900 wooden crib on her list', her brother added in the light-hearted baby name suggestions - a nod to their mutual involvement in biology.

'We have a really close relationship, and it was in line with both our senses of humor,' he wrote.

Two weeks later, the expectant mother had decided on the name.

'I pointed it out to her, and she said that yes, she knew what it meant, and she knew my list was intended to be a joke, but she just really liked the way it sounded.

'I don't think the husband knows what it means - I think he'd reject it if he did.

'She says that it's so obscure that no one will ever think twice about it. Except, you know, when little baby Malassezia turns 14, finds a weird spot on her neck, and goes on her phone to google what it is...

'I told her that the name was completely unacceptable, and I was shocked that she chose it,' the post continued.

'I even suggested some similar names, like Mallory, Azalea or Anastasia, that would be more acceptable, but she wouldn't hear it!

'She said that since I'm not one of the parents, I have no business telling her what she can and cannot name her child and that I'm stepping way out of line.

'I think it's pregnancy hormones, and she'll regret the decision very soon after her daughter is born.'

The majority of commenters side with the brother, and argue he should continue to fight to change the baby's name.

One user wrote: 'I share your frustration and you're looking out for your niece.

'While your sis is right that it's her parental right, you're not stepping out of line. You're family and you're cautioning her.'

Some even encouraged the poster to disrupt the process by revealing the true meaning to his sister's husband.

'I'd make a point of telling her husband what the name means,' wrote one.

'If it's not on the legal list of banned names then it devolves to common sense which is sometimes in short supply.'

Another echoed the sentiment, saying: 'Just tell the husband what it means. He'll shut it down.'

And many were concerned about the little girl's future, arguing that she'd be bullied if anyone discovered her name's meaning, and could face a lifetime of giggles from members of the medical profession.

One worried comment read: 'How is your sister not thinking about the embarrassment that is going to come with this name?

'The doctors at every baby appointment will know. I wouldn't be surprised if doctors and nurses giggle when they see her chart.

'And when she's in school kids will likely find out what her name means and bully her.

'Tell your sister to think about her daughter's future. She's thinking too much about her feelings and not thinking about her daughter who would have to live with that name.'

However, the more discerning in the audience believe the sister may be having fun with her panicked brother.

It seems more likely, particularly in light of her profession as a nurse, that she is keeping up the gag until the baby's birth, where she might reveal a more orthodox name selection.

One said: 'Is it possible your sister is trolling you back about the baby name?'

Another chimed in: 'Thought the same. She's messing back.'

'This is where my mind went too,' wrote one person.

'Discussing baby names is a perfect opportunity for trolling, and watching people trying to be polite when you throw out some outlandishly hideous suggestion is just too much fun.'

With only three weeks to go until the baby's arrival, avid Reddit users will wait with baited breath for another, hopefully explanatory, installment of the baby name sibling saga.
Goyard customers have slammed the celebrity-approved French fashion brand after claiming their tote bags 'melted' onto their clothes.

Fashion fan Janet Lin, from New York, spent $2,000 (1,514) on her St. Louis PM only a year and a half ago and was delighted by her purchase at the time.

However, Lin says she was left shocked, disappointed and furious when her expensive accessory's strap rubbed onto her white shirt, leaving a bright blue stain on the shoulder.

She documented her experience on Instagram, writing: 'My Goyard bag is melting!!!! Has this happened to anyone else? The paint is coming off.'

She added: 'POV (point of view) your $2,000 Goyard has officially entered the "melting" phase of its lifespan and it is no longer useable.'

Lin also pointed out there are 'whole forums on the internet dedicated to people with Goyard strap melting trauma'.

The shopper said she also now regrets buying the classic brown tote a year after getting her original blue one too, saying she was unaware that the hand-painted bags don't always stand the test of time.

'After seeing what happened to my blue one, I definitely won't be purchasing anymore Goyard totes and I hope I de-influence [SIC] some of you guys,' she said, adding that she would be bringing her bag to a store to see if they could fix the issue.

Janet Lin, from New York, claimed on Instagram that the $2,000 (1,514) St. Louis PM tote bag left a blue stain on her shoulder after she'd had it for 18 months

Janet was left shocked and disappointed when her expensive accessory 'melted' onto her white top, leaving a blue stain on her shoulder

The shopper says that her Goyard is now 'no longer usable', adding that she would be taking her tote into a store

On its website, Couture brand Goyard says its bags have been 'crafted using strictly traditional methods with materials that are both noble and natural' and therefore need special attention to maintain them.

The French company recommends that customers keep their bags - which are made from Goyardine canvas and Chevroches calfskin with a linen and cotton interior - away from light, heat and damp when it is not being used.

Other care advice tells shoppers not to carry anything heavy and to avoid contact with water, greasy or oily products, makeup and perfumes.

The Goyard tote should also not be exposed to extreme heat, dampnesss and artificial or natural light and the brand recommends regularly returning the bag back to their experts for deep cleaning or reconditioning.

MailOnline has contacted Goyard for comment.

Sab Sade, a Georgetown University medical student who lives in Washington D.C, says she had the exact same issue as Lin.

She too was sporting a white blouse and decided to wear her blue Goyard tote bag when the paint rubbed off on her sleeve, leaving a large paint mark.

Sab said on TikTok: 'My Goyard melted all over my favourite shirt. It wasn't even hot out.'

This racked up 380,000 likes and thousands of comments, with one person writing: 'Excuse me that price tag for what?'

Lin said she now regrets buying a classic brown tote a year after getting her original blue one

Kaya Leathers, based in Indonesia, showed a red Goyard leather tote bag with a melted handle hem and wrote: 'Another day, another repair for Goyard.'

Another penned: 'This happened with my orange Goyard bag I purchased in Beverly Hills.'

A third said: 'What this happened to me with the same blue.'

A fourth commented: 'Am I the only one who thinks Goyard is overrated?'

Sab said that she has had the tote bag for seven years and it is the first time that it had stained her clothing.

Kathaleen also complained about her purchase online under a clip titled: 'Reasons not to get a Goyard tote bag,' on TikTok.

While showing a chipped part of her bag, she said: 'Either it melts in the sun or they made a mistake on the bag.'

She sarcastically added: 'One good thing about it is that it is not fragile. Love how you can fold it! It can't hold anything, it literally broke in the first week.'

A store worker at Kaya Leathers said that they were tasked with restoring yet another Goyard, hinting that this is a common problem with the bags

An employee at Kaya Leathers said that the melted paint had actually stained inside the bag

Sab Sade posted that her blue leather tote bag had melted online and got thousands of comments on her TikTok

Another social media user, who goes by the handle @1160103ad was also frustrated with her blue Goyard that she bought several years ago.

'It sticks to anything and everything, also my hands. Do something Goyard,' she said.

Indeed this problem seems to be so common, that some leather stores are joking about how many repairs they make for Goyard.

Kaya Leathers, based in Indonesia, showed a red Goyard leather tote bag with a melted handle hem and wrote: 'Another day, another repair for Goyard.

The store captioned the post: 'It is Goyard...again! No worries! We can restore it to its former glory,' hinting that they profit handsomely off of their delicate bags.
When Queen Mary of Denmark stepped out alongside husband King Frederik X last week in Denmark, she also pulled a jaw-dropping statement ring out of her jewellery collection.

The Danish royals hosted the UN Chief Executives Board dinner on 7 May at Kronborg Castle in Helsingor.

Queen Mary, 53, wore a blue printed pleated chiffon dress from London-based fashion label Erdem, paired with a matching Lady Dior clutch and suede Gianvito Rossi heels.

But it was the royal's matching aquamarine jewels - and specifically her whopping aquamarine ring - that really caught the eye.

The Australian-born royal has a small personal collection of aquamarine jewellery as it is a popular precious stone beloved by royalty.

Over the years, Mary has proudly worn pieces featuring the precious bluish green stone, including several different styles of aquamarine earrings, a distinctive aquamarine, pearl and sapphire choker and a pale aquamarine bracelet.

But the star attraction from Mary's collection is undoubtedly her vibrant aquamarine ring.

The oversized gem was reportedly gifted to Mary along with several other aquamarine pieces by her husband around the time of their 2005 royal wedding.

Queen Mary joined her husband King Frederik X of Denmark to host the UN Chief Executives Board Dinner on 7 May, while wearing her unmissable aquamarine statement ring

Queen Mary, 53, accesorised her Erdem dress and Lady Dior clutch with her matching oversized aquamarine statement ring, which she has had for many years

In subsequent years, Queen Mary has worn her statement aquamarine bling on multiple occasions, with one of the earliest sightings being at a 2006 gala on the island of Bornholm.

However, the surprise return of Mary's whopping aquamarine ring this past week left style pundits speculating over whether the sparkler may have also caught the attention of Meghan Markle.

The US-based wife of Prince Harry is the owner of several precious jewellery pieces that formerly belonged to Princess Diana  including an aquamarine ring that is comparable to the one owned by Queen Mary.

The late People's princess frequently wore the iconic aquamarine piece in the latter years of her life following the finalisation of her divorce from then Prince Charles in 1996.

The former Princess of Wales had a penchant for wearing the large jewel on the same finger that she'd previously worn her famous sapphire engagement ring, earning it the nickname of Diana's 'post-divorce ring'.

It was also frequently remarked that Diana's precious aquamarine gemstone ring perfectly 'matched her eyes'.

The large aquamarine centrepiece was reportedly a gift from Diana's friend, Lucia Flecha de Lima. It was then commissioned to be turned into a ring by famed jewellery designer Asprey, who set it within 24-carat gold.

Following Diana's death in 1997 at the age of 36, many of her jewels  including the aquamarine ring  were inherited by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Princess Diana's aquamarine ring became colloquially known as her 'post-divorce ring' as she wore it following the finalsiation of her split from then Prince Charles and preferred wearing it on her ring finger

The recent sighting of Queen Mary's aquamarine ring prompted comparisons to a similar large aquamarine ring previously owned Princess Diana. Her son Prince Harry reportedly gifted it to Meghan Markle ahead of their 2018 wedding, and she wore it to their reception

In 2018, Diana's aquamarine statement ring resurfaced on the hand of Meghan Markle after her then fiancee Prince Harry reportedly gifted it to her ahead of their wedding day.

The Duchess of Sussex opted to wear the special and significant jewel at the royal couple's wedding reception. Experts at the time interpreted it as the Suits actress' 'something blue' item on her wedding day.

Meghan later wore the ring during the 2018 royal tour of Tonga and was more recently seen wearing it at a 2022 awards event in New York, which followed the couple's decision to step down as senior royals and relocate to California.

Queen Mary's aquamarine ring is just one of a number of her preferred statement rings.

Since she entered the royal court in Copenhagen 20 years ago, the Tasmanian-born royal has amassed an impressive jewellery box filled with a dazzling array of rings.

The most significant of course is Mary's engagement ring, which Frederik presented to her in 2003.

The ring was originally made with a central emerald-cut diamond flanked by a pair of ruby baguettes  with the patriotic colours echoing those of the Denmark flag.

Queen Mary has been wearing her aquamarine statement ring for many years, with one of the earliest sightings being at a 2006 gala on the island of Bornholm

Crown Prince Frederik popped the question to Mary Donaldson in 2003 with a patriotic coloured diamond and ruby ring (left). Nowadays, Queen Mary proudly wears local Danish designer jewellery, including the diamond Georg Jensen statement ring on her right hand during a 2014 visit to Canada (right)

A large yellow cocktail ring was seen on full display as Queen Mary greeted Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at a June 2022 gala dinner

The ring was later altered with the addition of two diamonds. The five stones of the upgraded ring are said to represent Mary's husband Frederik, 56, along with their four children, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

Some other statement rings in Mary's regular rotation include a giant bright yellow cocktail ring that she's worn on several occasions.

She wore it only a few months ago in November 2024 while attending a concert event in Copenhagen. The same ring was also on full display during a gala dinner in June 2022, which she attended alongside other royals like Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

Also among the royal's go-to statement rings is a large diamond created by Danish design house, Georg Jensen, which she was seen wearing during a September 2014 visit to Toronto.

Mary also has a deft hand when it comes to layering jewellery to create a unique look, which was exemplified by her decision to pair two Ole Lynggaard diamond rings together at a June 2021 engagement.

The Danish Queen is an advocate for local designers, including Danish jeweller Marianne Dulong.

Queen Mary has worn many items from the Dulong collection, and has a particular fondness for the brand's opulent statement pearl rings.

In 2007, Mary was seen wearing a Dulong pearl and diamond ring at a christening, and a decade later in 2017 she was seen wearing a different Dulong grey pearl ring while delivering an address at the OECD Forum.

As with most style moves Queen Mary makes, her passion for a well-chosen statement ring has inspired thousands to follow suit regardless of mainstream trends.

So it's safe to say this look is here to stay... for those who can afford it.
They say honesty is the best policy, but we've all dabbled in a cheeky little white lie.

For example, I once told a country guy I could ride horses because I was two martinis deep and trying to impress him. Who doesn't want to give off a bit of Beth Dutton energy when you're trying to seal the deal?

When he surprised me with a romantic weekend in the Snowy Mountains to go horse riding with his friends, I knew karma had clocked in for her shift. The second they plonked me on a beast called Cinnamon, I was doomed.

I clutched those reins like a bull rider, my thighs clinging on for dear life as I bounced so violently in the saddle I thought I might need a pelvic reconstruction.

By the time we went 'off track' I was holding back tears, he was holding back laughter, and the horse well she was possessed by Satan. Mortifying.

But that's cute compared to some of the stories I've been sent lately...

For this week's Sealed Section, I asked my followers to confess the one thing they've kept hidden from their spouse. Not just little white lies like pretending to love their mum's lasagna (or horse riding skills), I'm talking real secrets. The kind that, if exposed, could blow up an entire marriage.

And I'm chuffed to say the answers were explosive. Affairs. Secret kids. Hidden bank accounts. It turns out a lot of us are walking around with skeletons rattling in our closets.

DailyMail+ columnist Jana Hocking asked her followers to confess the secrets they kept from their spouses. Their answers included affairs, secret children and hidden bank accounts

To begin... my wealthy friend's secret fortune:

'I lied to my husband about how much money I had. He was made redundant and genuinely thought we'd have to sell the house.

'So I took him to dinner, poured him a wine and confessed I had another 12 months of mortgage payments tucked away in an offshore account.

'He was furious and relieved all at once. I just didn't want him to know I'd been quietly saving for a rainy day... or maybe a rainy divorce.'

You've got to respect a woman who keeps an emergency fund tucked up her sleeve in the Bahamas.

A young bride's scandalous past

'I've kept my former dating life very vague with my husband. I used to be a bit of a player at university. He's heard glimpses of it from my loose-lipped friends, but has no idea of the stacked roster I used to juggle before we met.

'I'm talking multiple men in one night and more one-night stands than I can count. I actually wrote a list that I stashed away somewhere and misplaced. Some days I worry it'll turn up in a spring clean and I'll have some explaining to do...

'My husband certainly didn't lack experience when we met, but I know he'd be shocked if he found out what I used to get up to.

'We live in a small village, so I'm surprised word hasn't got out yet, honestly.'

I wanted his friend at first

'My husband will go to his grave never knowing that when we first got together, I actually had eyes for his very handsome best friend.

'Back in the day, he was the guy every girl lusted after. Tall, sexy, confident, rich - a man straight out of the pages of a romance novel.

'My husband is all those things too, obviously. But I just didn't see that at the time because I was so captivated by his friend.

'Anyway, this guy I was after wasn't interested in me, so I started flirting with his mate and, after one thing led to another, we became a couple and fell in love.

'I wouldn't swap them for the world now, but every so often I do think about what could have been. I would never act on it, but he is my go-to fantasy when I settle in for some solo time...'

'I've kept my former dating life very vague with my husband. I used to be a bit of a player at university,' confesses one middle-class wife (stock image posed by models)

The crossover romance

'There was a pretty significant crossover between the man I'm now married to and my last serious boyfriend.

'In fact, I was still sleeping with my ex during the early months of dating my now-husband - right up until we moved in together actually.

'Even though I knew I was onto a good thing, I just couldn't let go. I feel awful, but there were nights I'd tell him I was going out for drinks with the girls and I would actually be sleeping with my ex.

'The guilt became too much and I called it off with my ex. He would never commit and my new relationship was getting more serious.

'I've played the doting girlfriend and wife ever since. He never suspected a thing and even invited my ex to our engagement party.'

Then there's this delightfully twisted tattoo secret...

'My husband is convinced the tattoo of a burlesque girl on my shoulder is because I love Dita von Teese. In reality it's a cover-up... of my first husband's name.

'They can't stand each other; they're like two stray cats when they see each other.

'Long story short, I had a bit of overlap between the two of them and ever since it's been WWIII if they're ever in the same room.

'My husband hates my ex because of all the ways he's tried to punish us since we split. If he found out what was really under that ink, he would drag me straight to the laser removalist and have the whole thing removed.

'So for now it's a burlesque girl and that's all it ever was.'

It wouldn't be a confessional without a cheating story...

'I once told my husband I was away for a work conference. In reality, I flew interstate to hook up with a guy I'd met in a Facebook group. We'd been chatting for months, shared fantasies, and booked a hotel halfway between our cities.

'We spent the weekend drinking and getting up to a lot of kinky s*** we had talked about online, and then blocked each other the moment I got on the plane home.

'Clean getaway.'

'I was still sleeping with my ex during the early months of dating my now-husband - right up until we moved in together actually' (stock image posed by models)

That's tame compared to this one from a husband with a secret

'I have another child my wife has no idea about.

'I had a secret girlfriend I got pregnant a few weeks after my wife. We actually agreed to meet so I could tell her I was becoming a dad and was ending our fling. Before I could say a word, she told me she was pregnant too.

'It wasn't a passionate love affair by any means, but she was always up for it so I would duck into hers on my way home from work occasionally.

'Now it has cost me dearly. I financially support the other child anonymously. My wife has no idea, but I fear one day we'll do something like remortgage the house and the broker will pick up on my secret monthly payments.

'Both my children - they're boys - are now four and have the same cheeky smile. It kills me that they don't know each other. I'm not sure how long I can keep it quiet.'

Yikes.

Jail. All of you.

But here's a word of warning. If this has you side-eyeing your spouse, maybe don't go digging. Because once you start sniffing around, you'd better be ready for what you find.

And sometimes, as someone who's definitely gone through a phone or two while their boyfriend was in the bathroom, ignorance really is bliss.

God, being single has never felt so peaceful.
She's already considered a style icon in her own right. And today the Princess of Wales delighted fashionistas as she presented The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design - and championing UK creatives, Kate showed her support for another sartorial legend, Victoria Beckham.

Catherine, 43, attended an event held by the British Fashion Council at London's 180 Studios to celebrate the impact of young British creatives and the UK's thriving fashion industry, as well as recognise designers who are leading the way in sustainable practices and making a positive impact on the environment.

Paying homage to yet another icon in the industry, Kate was typically sophisticated in a stunningly tailored khaki power suit from Victoria Beckham - amid the designer's alleged 'feud' with her eldest son and his wife.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz have been at the centre of a bitter family fall out, with tensions culminating in a no-show at David Beckhams 50th birthday bash - with the rift sparking comparisons to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure from the Royal Family.

For today's event, Kate donned VB's patch pocket jacket, retailing for 850, and matching 490 'Alina' trousers, both in the colour 'willow'.

The royal teamed the earthy look with a white ruffled blouse, with a buttoned-up collar as well as brown leather heels.

Wearing her chocolate tresses down in loose waves, Kate also opted for a glamorous make-up look with smokey eyes and a dusky pink lip.

The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was first presented to Richard Quinn in February 2018 - when Queen Elizabeth II made her first visit to London Fashion Week.

Kate toured the spaces with designer Patrick McDowell (right) and British Fashion Council CEO Laura Weir

She's already considered a style icon in her own right. And today the Princess of Wales delighted fashionistas as she presented The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design

Catherine, 43, attended an event held by the British Fashion Council at London 's 180 Studios to celebrate the impact of young British creatives and the UK's thriving fashion industry, as well as recognise designers who are leading the way in sustainable practices and making a positive impact on the environment

Paying homage to yet another fashionista, Kate was typically sophisticated in a stunningly tailored khaki power suit from Victoria Beckham which perfectly accentuated her silhouette

The Beckhams are long known to be fans of the royal family, and were supporters of the late Queen Elizabeth

Victoria Beckham's rift with her son Brooklyn has become 'her worst nightmare,' sources have claimed (pictured with husband David, sons Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper)

Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz attending the 2022 Met Gala, in New York City years ago

At the age of 91 she also made her first appearance on the famed 'frow' - front row - alongside the legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who kept her sunglasses firmly on throughout.

True to form, the pastel-clad monarch failed to raise even an eyebrow as she watched fashion models walk in front of her wearing neon motorcycle helmets and elbow-length PVC gloves.

Now in its eighth year, the award aims to provide continuing recognition of the cultural and trade role the British design and fashion industry has played since the start of Queen Elizabeth II's reign until the present day.

Sources told Mail Online that the royal, who also presented the award in 2022, was keen to pay tribute to the late Queen's legacy. They pointed out that she has 'long championed British fashion and designers' and 'looks forward to continuing to do so in the years ahead'.

This year's winner, Patrick McDowell, 29, said of receiving his award from the princess: 'It's a huge privilege and honour. Throughout her tenure she's been an amazing advocate of British fashion and really flies the flag for British fashion.

'She also looks incredible and is a real style icon. 'It is extra special to receive an award from her today. The Royal Family has been incredibly supportive from Queen Elizabeth II and the King.'

Kate, sporting her long chocolate tresses in relaxed waves, was the image of sophistication in a power suit

The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was first presented to Richard Quinn in February 2018 - when Queen Elizabeth II made her first visit to London Fashion Week

The Princess of Wales presenting Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to designer Patrick McDowell (centre) accompanied by his mother (left)

Now in its eighth year, the award aims to provide continuing recognition of the cultural and trade role the British design and fashion industry has played since the start of Queen Elizabeth II's reign until the present day

Style icon Kate was delighted as she enjoyed a tour of works made by thriving designers during the outing today

Kate was the image of sophistication as she presented the awards today - named in honour of late Queen Elizabeth II

The Princess beamed as she took in works created by designers who were honoured at the awards

Kate was all smiles as she sported the khaki power suit by Victoria Beckham for the event this afternoon

Kate had toured the design spaces, and presented the award, during the engagement this afternoon

Curious Kate examined different fabrics and silhouettes as she enjoyed a visit of the design spaces

Kate heard about different designs curated by various creatives during the event in London this afternoon

Kate met with designers, including Connor Ives (right) who told the Princess of their works this afternoon

Examining fabrics and clothing, the Princess was all ears as designers told the royal about their work

Dresses and designs made by up and coming designers were seen by the fashion-savvy Princess

Kate grinned as she viewed rings designed by Bleue Burnham (left), at the event in London this afternoon

Kate was treated to a tour of designs during a visit to the British Fashion Council to present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design

Wearing her chocolate tresses down in loose waves, Kate also opted for a glamorous make-up look with smokey eyes and a dusky pink lip

Kate was elegant as ever as she sported a khaki blazer and trousers from Victoria Beckham this morning

The Princess of Wales pictured with Caroline Rush, outgoing CEO of the British Fashion Council, and her replacement Laura Weir (right), at the British Fashion Council

Each year, it is presented to an emerging British fashion designer who shows exceptional talent and originality, whilst demonstrating value to the community and strong sustainable policies.

The award provides a legacy of support for the industry in recognition the role fashion played throughout the late Queen's reign and continues to play in diplomacy, culture and communications.

Female members of the royal family often use the power of fashion as part of their armoury of diplomacy, incorporating visiting or host nation's colours, flags and even birds and animals in their outfits as a sign of respect.

The Princess of Wales today also burst into peels of surprised laughter after she was shown a new jacket design - named in her honour.

While being given a tour of British fashion design Patrick McDowells 'pop-up studio' in London, Catherine was also heard telling the rising star: I love British fashion and up and coming designers.

Showing the royal guest examples of needlework, embroidery and pattern cutting Caroline Rush, outgoing British Fashion Council chief executive, told the princess she was looking at a design called a 'Wales Bar'.

When Catherine asked how it got its name, McDowell said: I named it in your honour, prompting her to laugh delightedly.

The Wales Bar is a specifically cut and fitted female jacket with sleeves in black.

Kate, pictured, was effortlessly elegant in an olive power suit as she made an appearance at the event

It was a morning designed to give British fashion a boost as the pricness handed out a prize named in honour of another style icon, the late Queen.

She presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to winning designer McDowell.

She wore an olive green patch pocket blazer with matching trousers from Victoria Beckhams spring 2025 collection to the British Fashion Council (BFC) event at 180 Studios, in The Strand, London.

The royal also chatted to models hailing the design and cut of their outfits and also overheard celebrating "sustainability in the fashion industry".

She handed Patrick the trophy which is inspired by the Queen Elizabeth rose and designed by Angela Kelly and is hand-produced by Lucy Price at Bauhinia Studios in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter

McDowell, 29, said: Its a huge privilege and honour. We try to make sustainable circular fashion and it's a real honour that the Royal Family and British Fashion Council has seen that and rewarding that today.

Throughout her tenure shes been an amazing advocate of British fashion and really flies the flag for British fashion.

She also looks incredible and is a real style icon. It is extra special to receive an award from her today.

The Princess donned a white blouse, with ruffle detailing, as she was pictured at the event this afternoon

The Royal Family has been incredibly supportive, from Queen Elizabeth II and the King.

Asked about the Wales Bar jacket he said he would like to send her one in the post.

Speaking to young fashion designers the princess also said: It's really interesting to see how designers are using techniques to upcycle fabrics in innovative ways.

Eliza Gomarsall, 25, who worked at Highgrove for the King's Foundation, said the princess told her she was keen for "traditions" in clothing and design to keep going.

Speaking afterwards, Eliza, who graduated from the Royal School of Needlework, said: She showed concern after hearing it is difficult to find employment.

During today's event, the Princess also visited the winning designer's pop-up studio to see how McDowell's sustainable designs are created.

And she met and viewed the designs of recipients and shortlisted designers from several other British Fashion Council Foundation initiatives, which supports the future growth and success of the British fashion industry by focusing on education, grant-giving, and business mentoring.

The Princess previously presented the award in 2022 to British menswear designer, Saul Nash, in 2022. Earlier this year it was claimed that the Princess had asked palace officials not to share details of the outfits she wears on royal events in order for the focus to be more on her work than fashion. This was later denied.

While the Prince of Wales is known to be pals with David, Kate and Victoria will have crossed paths several times, as the football legend will have brought his wife to accompany him on several state banquets and royal events. William and David in October

David and Victoria also attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton , in 2011, when Victoria was pregnant with Harper. David with the Waleses in 2022

David and Victoria have long been known for the royal connections. David pictured with his OBE in 2003

Kate's sporting Victoria's label, in her championing a celebrated British fashion designer, comes amid a tense time for the Beckhams, with eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola's rumoured 'feud' brewing.

While the Prince of Wales is known to be pals with David, Kate and Victoria will have crossed paths several times, as the football legend will have brought his wife to accompany him on several state banquets and royal events.

The sports star is long known to have links with the royal family - but after years of what is believed to be a closer friendship, the Beckhams are understood to have fallen out with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in a 'spat' which seemingly dates back to 2018.

The row is believed to have heightened when the Sussexes allegedly accused the Beckhams of leaking stories about them to the press - while royal biographers claimed Meghan 'didn't like the footballer's friendship with Prince William'.

In 2013, the then-actress Meghan gave Victoria's label a boost when she wore one of her dresses to a gala event at the New York Film Festival.

Victoria also had her own connections to Prince Harry, first meeting him more than 20 years ago in November 1997 when they both visited South Africa.

They held hands - though it was said that schoolboy Harrys favourite Spice was Emma Bunton.

Meanwhile David and fun-loving Harry had spent a lot of time together both doing charitable work and socialising.

The sports star is long known to have links with the royal family - but after years of what is believed to be a closer friendship, the Beckhams are understood to have fallen out with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in a 'spat' which seemingly dates back to 2018. David pictured with William and Harry in 2010

There have been at least two big nights out in London together  one at the end of 2011 and one at the start of 2012, both at the Arts Club in Chelsea. By all accounts, both were heavy drinking sessions that lasted until around 3am.

David and Victoria also attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, in 2011, when Victoria was pregnant with Harper.

David said the following year: We had to pinch ourselves when we got the invite. Ive become friends with Prince William and Harry as well. We were brought up to love the Royal Family and, when Princess Di was around, the love for her was incredible.

And then you watch the lives of William and Harry and its kind of like the Truman Show, seeing them grow into young men.

It makes you proud to be English, watching them grow into the people they are today.

David was involved in the Queens Young Leaders Award in 2016, which Prince Harry attended.

He was also part of the team bidding to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 and travelled to Johannesburg with Prince Harry in 2010 to meet with Fifa officials.

Davids new passion for shooting - fostered by director Guy Ritchie - gives him even more in common with Harry.

Victoria Beckham pictured receiving her OBE from William - then the Duke of Cambridge during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace

A friendship of several years is understood to have blossomed and in 2018, it was being reported that their friendship had grown and that Meghan was in the habit of consulting Victoria about style.

Vanity Fair reported: They get along well and have been in touch recently. Meghan really likes Victorias style and was keen to pick her brains about pulling together a working wardrobe.

However, recent years have seen rumours of a feud brewing between the Sussexes and Beckhams - while David and Victoria have continued to show their support for the Royal Family, and attend events for both King Charles and the Waleses.

Reports in July 2020 stated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were at 'the top of Victoria and David's guestlist for their son Brooklyn's wedding to Nicola Peltz - and speculation ramped up when Spice Girl Mel B revealed Victoria and David were inviting their own friends to the big day.

Appearing on Lorraine in March 2022, Mel B confirmed she would be attending the event as she spoke about receiving her MBE, revealing: 'I did actually ask her. I'm taking my mum and so I did say, 'Can you dress me and my mum?'

'I'm going to see her at her son's wedding anyway. Yeah Victoria, it would be great!'

However Meghan and Harry were not guests at the wedding.

It's unknown if the couple weren't invited, or whether they were unable to attend the event.

David and Victoria pictured together at a State Banquet during the Amir of Qatar's visit in December

In July 2023, it also emerged there was a suspicion the Beckhams may have leaked stories about the Sussexes, an accusation The Mail on Sunday was told left David 'absolutely bloody furious'.

A source close to the Beckhams said: 'David and Victoria went to Meghan and Harry's wedding and were very supportive when Meghan arrived in the UK.'

But the accusations, which The Mail on Sunday has been told came in a tense phone call, fractured the Beckham friendship.

The source added: 'Any making up now is so unlikely.'

The Waleses beamed as the stepped out for the event at the Horse Guards Parade in London, presented by Zoe Ball , with performances echoing the historic celebrations 80 years ago. Fashion-savvy Kate, who is beloved for her sense of style - also showed off her sartorial prowess last week, as she and William joined King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , at a deeply moving concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday.

It included music from the era, as well as stories of veterans from the Second World War - including a very emotional testimony of a man who lost his family during the Birmingham Blitz, delivered by Richard Armitage - who was seated along with 12,000 people in the audience.

Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music, along with Prince Edward, 61, and his wife Sophie, 60.

The royals were animated as ever, and chatted away to veterans in the Royal Box all night, joining in with waving Union Jack flags around during the more upbeat performances.

Artists featured included the cast of World War II musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks - who offered her powerful rendition of We'll Meet Again to close off the show with no dry eye in the house - Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, The Darkness, Toploader and Tom Walker.

Elsewhere, Brian Cox - celebrated for his role in Succession - delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.

Audiences were also be treated to recreations of scenes reviving the beloved TV series, Dad's Army. Other actors who lent their voices this evening were Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock.

In another moving moment tonight, the King used a keynote speech on the day Britain celebrated the end of war in Europe 80 years ago to call for greater efforts towards global peace.

With conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and across the African continent, His Majesty suggested it was timely to remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war'.

'In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict,' he said.

'For as my grandfather [King George VI, who was monarch during the Second World War] put it: 'We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will.'

'Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy  so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: 'they too bequeathed a better world'.'

It was timed to echo the wartime address of King George VI to the nation on VE Day eight decades ago.

The royals were effortlessly elegant as they attended the festivities this evening. Mother-of-three Kate stunned in an all-white ensemble, rewearing an effortlessly elegant Cream Tailored Boucle and Chiffon Midi Dress by Self-Portrait.

It featured a blazer-like top bodice which cinched at the waist, teamed with a flowing tulle and lace skirt.

To accessorise, the Princess donned a string of pearls, and ornate earrings. Boosting her height, Kate wore some beige suede heels and also carried onto a black leather clutch.

She kept her make-up sophisticated and glam, with a smokey shadow that accentuated her eyes and a dusky pink lipstick.

And pinning her long wavy tresses back, the Princess wore a hair bow from Jigsaw.

Her husband, William, meanwhile was smart in a black suit - and deep blue tie.

Elsewhere, looking dapper, Charles wore a lounge suit with medals and neck order Meanwhile, his wife Camilla opted for a navy blue and white jumpsuit by Anna Valentine with a long navy blue embroidered coat.
At first glance, Zac Efron seems like the perfect man; charming, talented and so handsome you can't stop looking at him.

The 37-year-old first found fame as Troy Bolton in the 2006 hit film High School Musical, when he sent millions of teenage girls swooning with his piercing blue eyes and dimples.

Once adorably skinny, Zac is better known these days for his super chiseled jawline and rippling biceps and six-pack.

However, despite the Greatest Showman star's matinee idol looks and triple-threat talent - he can sing, dance and act, the former child star has been unlucky in love thus far.

It's seemingly not for a lack of trying, as the actor has had a string of girlfriends and casual flings over the years, but Zac's love life has remained firmly on the downlow compared to his career.

The Iron Claw star previously opened up about his romantic pursuits and admitted that dating is actually 'kind of hard' for him.

He told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show in 2016: 'A forced awkward situation is very strange.

'Especially for me, for some reason. I like to go out and do something adventurous. I like to go out and do some sort of crazy activity.'

Bachelor boy? Zac recently sent fans wild after a photo emerged of him on the set of Judgement Day - but the star has admitted that he finds it hard to date

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens started dating in 2007, after they shot to fame in High School Musical together

The 37-year-old later went on to date Lily Collins, who co-starred with him in Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile in 2019

In another interview with The Times, Zac also said that dating is difficult for him because of the impact he's had on people through his on-screen work.

'Dating is something I'll never be able to do,' he lamented.

'As in the dictionary definition of dating, because one way or another, I've impacted that person's life and they'll soon realise it. A date has to be very long to dispel whatever people think about me.'

He added that getting on Tinder has been no help. 'Amazingly, when I signed up for Tinder, nobody swiped me! They thought [my profile] was fake.'

The succession of failed relationships has seemingly pushed Zac to focus on himself in more recent years.

In 2022, he told Men's Health: 'I've really been taking time to focus on, you know, self-fulfilment and trying to find my groove.

'I know that probably when I meet the right person, it's going to be when I least expect it.'

Zac's first high-profile relationship was with his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens, when they were both 17 and had just skyrocketed to fame thanks to the popularity of the movie.

Zac and Vanessa met in 2005 and dated for five years, with their relationship continuing throughout the High School Musical film trilogy and for a couple of years after the finale movie was released in 2008.

They parted company though in 2010. A source told Us Weekly at the time that the breakup was 'mutual': They have been together for so long, it just ran its course.'

Vanessa has previously opened up about her relationship with Zac and admitted that all the attention on her heartthrob boyfriend was difficult to handle.

'I went through a phase when I was really mean because I was so fed up,' she told the Awards Chatter podcast in 2022.

'Girls were running after [Zac] and I was giving them death stares. Then I realised that's not what that's about.'

Zac had another high-profile romance in 2019, when he began dating Lily Collins.

The pair co-starred in Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, with Zac starring as serial killer Ted Bundy.

One of Zac's longest-term relationships was with model and businesswoman Sami Miro, whom he dated for two years

Pictured with co-star Rebecca Ferguson at 'The Greatest Showman' film premiere in New York in 2017. While rumours of a romance swirled, neither party ever confirmed it

Zac first captured attention in 2008 when he appeared in High School Musical and his good looks left millions of teenage girls swooning

They hit it off, but it turned out to be a 'casual thing', according to reports, and the relationship ended after three months.

Glamour quoted a source as saying that things 'fizzled' out because Zac and Lily 'were never in the same place at the same time'.

Other famous women who have been romantically linked to Zac include Fast and Furious star Michelle Rodriguez, Percy Jackson star Alexandra Daddario, and Dune's Rebecca Ferguson.

Sources say his fling with Michelle was 'never that serious', only lasting a PDA-packed summer in Ibiza.

Meanwhile, Alexandra - who appeared alongside Zac in 2017's Baywatch - denied rumours that they were in a relationship.

She told E!: 'We work together closely; he's my love interest in the film. I understand why people would go crazy over something like that but Zac and I are very good friends.'

Zac and Rebecca starred in The Greatest Showman together, and sparked rumours that they were romantically involved after Zac shared some rather cryptic social media posts.

He posted a photo of them on set with Rebecca gazing adoringly at him, and captioned it: 'A pic worth a thousand words. Only ones I can think of now are: wtf were u thinking dude?! Look at her!!'

In another post, he shared a photo of him and Rebecca on the press tour for The Greatest Showman, this time showing him focusing on the 41-year-old star.

'I finally looked' he wrote, accompanied by an emoji with heart-shaped eyes.

However, neither party ever confirmed nor denied that they dated.

One of Zac's longer-term relationships was with model and businesswoman Sami Miro. The pair dated from 2014 to 2016 and appeared to be in madly in love, with Zac describing Sami as a 'superstar'.

But in April 2016, Zac abruptly deleted all their photos on Instagram together and unfollowed Sami on the platform.

A source told E! that the breakup came after the pair realised they 'did not have the same feelings for each other as they did when they first started dating'.

The source was quoted as confirming that Zac ended the relationship, adding: 'It wasn't an easy breakup.

The 37-year-old star's longest relationship was in his early 20s, with Efron admitting that the people he dates often already assume they know who he is

'Distance and work schedules got in the way with their relationship and Zac wanted to focus on his career.'

More recently, Zac has had a series of short flings with various women, from Danish swimmer Sarah Bro, who is a former Olympian, to US actress Halston Sage.

He reportedly dated the latter in 2014, when they filmed Neighbours together.

In 2020, they linked up again and a source said they were in a 'serious relationship and in love', but it is unclear when exactly they broke up.

But Zac moved on quickly as in the same year, he was linked with model Vanessa Valladares.

The pair met in Australia and became friends first before getting romantic. A source told Us Weekly that they were 'smitten' with one another.

'Zac and Vanessa are really good for each other,' the publication quoted another source as saying. 'Vanessa loves to be active. She and Zac have that in common.'

However, just 10 months later, the relationship was over. The Telegraph first reported the split and Zac's friend Kyle Sandilands confirmed it was 'done' during an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show later.
An American woman living in the UK has revealed 'the most iconic' British insults she's heard since moving across the Pond - and she couldn't help but revel in their unlikely humour.

Lisa Dollan, who goes by '@yorkshire_peach' on social media, hails from Columbus, Georgia, but lives in West Yorkshire with her British husband and their children.

In a hilarious Instagram clip that's received more than 19,000 likes, Lisa listed the specific UK insults that she 'didn't know about' before living here - and says she now 'can't live without' them.

The mother, who appears impressed by Brits' inventiveness when it comes to throwing insults, started laughing uncontrollably as she revealed the first jibe she finds irresistible is: 'Have a day off!'

Giggling, she mimicked a British accent to make the point, shouting 'Oh, have a day off!' before setting the taunt in context.

Lisa explained: 'It's for the nit-picky people of the world, right?'

She feigned disgust as she impersonated such a person, adding: 'I was meant to use the blue pin, not the black pin, oh, have a day off Susan!

'It's the jobsworths, isn't it?', she suggested.

Lisa Dollan, who goes by '@yorkshire_peach' on social media, hails from Georgia, US, but now lives in West Yorkshire with her British husband and their children

Lisa then moved on to the second typically British insult that she can't live without: 'Just calling someone "wet."'

The content creator, who has 215,000 followers on Instagram, once again burst into a fit of laughter before claiming the jibe was 'so iconic'.

'You meet somebody, there's just no personality, they're just wet, they're just wet,' she explained.

Having added that it's 'such a perfect' insult, Lisa continued: 'Y'all take it a step further with "wet lettuce."'

She found the insult so amusing that it too earnt the accolade 'so iconic'.

Lisa then offered an explanation, saying: 'Because think about, what's worse? A wet, soggy... Imagine you're eating a salad and you've got that wet, soggy piece of lettuce - you just throw it in the bin, don't you? There's nothing worse.'

Next on her list of 'iconic British insults' were 'the random objects y'all use as insults'.

Laughing as she volunteered an example, Lisa mimicked: 'Oh bore off, you plant pot!'

The content creator laughed as she listed the typically British insults that she's heard since moving to the UK

'It just works so well,' she added, before asking viewers if 'door knob' would achieve a similar effect.

Trying it out, she exclaimed: 'Oh, give me a break, you f****** door knob!'

Convinced, Lisa then concluded: 'It can be anything, can't it?'

So amused was the mother that she opened the discussion up, asking social media users to share their favourite typically British insult in the comments section.

The insults came in thick and fast, with one person agreeing that 'wet' worked particularly well - but offering a powerful alternative to 'wet lettuce'.

The Instagram user wrote: '"Wet" is the best. Calling people "Wet flannel".'

A second person offered: 'Absolute Muppet is my go to'.

While a third said: 'Plank is a good one. And you can add "absolute" to almost anything and it becomes a super insult'.

Lisa opened the discussion up to viewers, inviting them to share their own favourite British insults

A fourth user recalled: 'My dad once said: "Why are you walking around like a fart in a trance?"'

And a fifth added: 'As useful as a chocolate teapot is my favourite'.

A sixth Instagrammer said: 'I once heard someone angrily dismissed as "you absolute parcel". Superb.'

While a seventh person chose a classic, writing: 'They are such a tool!!!'
Sam McKnight, who styled the tresses of celebs like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, says there's 'never really been a replacement' for the late princess

Throughout his four-decades-long career, renowned hairstylist Sam McKnight has worked with more than his fair share of glamorous women.

However, none, he says, have quite compared to his most prominent client, Princess Diana, for whom he created her famous blonde bob hairstyle.

The celebrity hairdresser, 69, first met Diana in 1990 when he and makeup artist Mary Greenwell were hired by Vogue for a photo shoot with a secret celebrity.

He recalled the moment he met the late royal, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997, saying: 'Princess Diana comes bouncing up the stairwell. She stuck out her hand with a big smile and said, "Hi, I'm Diana' - both of us melted."

In a new interview with The Telegraph, Sam remembered Diana as being 'so funny' - with a rather 'filthy' sense of humour.

'I loved her,' he said. 'She was so funny. She sent [me] these really filthy birthday cards from this card shop on Kensington High Street.'

The 'void' left by Diana when she tragically lost her life at just 36 has never been filled, Sam said.

'There's never really been a replacement [for her],' he told the publication, before correcting himself.

Celebrity hairstylist Sam McKnight first met Diana in 1990 when he was hired for a Vogue photoshoot to style a mystery celebrity - who turned out to be the princess

The pair went on to have a close working relationship for the next seven years, and Sam even travelled with Diana on her royal tours, including to India in 1992

Sam cut Diana's hair short after the Vogue photoshoot, which led to her iconic look sparking thousands of copycat styles

'That's the wrong word. No one has ever fitted into that spot she created, there's been a void there.'

Sam also revealed his feelings about the current state of the royal family, particularly on Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton.

He lamented how 'sad' it was that Meghan left the royal family alongside Prince Harry in 2020, when they stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US.

In the interview with the newspaper, he said: 'I think Meghan could have done an amazing job too, I really do. And I thought that was sad, you know?'

However, he praised the Princess of Wales, who is married to Prince William and shares three children with him.

'I think Kate does a great job,' he said.

Sam cut Diana's hair short for the Vogue cover shoot, shot by Patrick Demarchelier, and the resulting black-and-white photograph is now one of the most iconic photos of Diana ever taken.

It showed the princess sitting on the floor of the studio and beaming up at the camera, dressed in a strapless satin gown with a string of pearls around her neck and a tiara in her hair.

Diana, seen here at a charity concert in 1994, was a style icon at the time and still is nearly 30 years after her death

Sam also styled Diana's slicked back hairstyle at the 1995 Fashion Designer Awards at the Lincoln Center, New York

The stylist also expressed his thoughts on the Princess of Wales, saying she's doing 'a great job', and said it was 'sad' that Meghan Markle decided to break from the royal family (Kate and Meghan in the Royal Box on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2019, a year after their bridesmaid dress row)

Sam went on to work with Diana for the next seven years, even travelling with her on her royal tours.

He went with her to India in 1992, where the now-famous photograph of the princess outside the Taj Mahal was taken.

He spoke of her love of perming her hair, adding that the princess would have a 'sneaky perm' between the times he travelled back and forth from London to New York for work.

In order to create her short hairstyle in the Vogue photoshoot, the stylist previously revealed he had to 'fake it a bit' before cutting Diana's hair.

In 2021, he took part in British Vogue and YouTube UK's series of free masterclasses, Vogue Visionaries, and recalled the moment that led to Diana's iconic hairstyle.

'This was 1990, I made [Diana's hair] look short under the tiara - I faked it a bit... at the end of the day she said, "What would you do with my hair if I was to say, 'Just do anything'"?'

'And I said, 'I would cut it all off and just start again'.

Earlier this year, the stylist offered a frank appraisal of Prince Harry's thinning hair, saying it was time for a hair transplant, or to cut it short like his brother's. (Pictured left: The young Prince in 2002 attending a charity event at a polo ground in Tidworth, Wiltshire. The Duke of Sussex photographed at the WellChild Awards in London in 2024)

'It was the beginning of the 90s and it was the time that I was doing a lot of shows and covers and a lot of the girls had short hair and we were moving from the big frou-frou 80s into the sharp, more androgynous, business chic of the 90s.

'So she said, 'Well, why don't you just cut it off now?', so I cut it off then and we never looked back.'

Sam also used to be Prince William and Prince Harry's go-to hairdresser when they were young boys.

However, earlier this year, he had some rather hard truths for Harry after seeing photographs of the Duke of Sussex at the Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler in Canada in February.

Fans pointed out 40-year-old Harry's thinning hair at the back during the event, which did not go unnoticed by Sam.

The A-list hairstylist shared photographs of Harry and advised him to either have a 'good short clip' or to 'sort himself out' with a hair transplant.

'It's time Harry!' he wrote. 'Many moons ago, when you and your brother were young boys, you both had the most magnificent, thick healthy crowning glories, just like mum.

'Many an afternoon was spent with me thinning and shaping the topiary! However, just like myself, the lush hedging is no more, a mere wisp or two of its former self.'

Sam said his advice for Harry to clip his hair shorter - like William - would 'look sharp and clean, and take years off that handsome face'.

'If I were your age, I'd go for a transplant, so much more natural these days, unlike the plug plants of yore.

'And no need for a quick easyJet trip to Turkey, you're in California where they have the best!

'So Harry, from one baldy to another, it's time. As they say in Disneyland, 'Let It Go'. Sent from your old hairdresser, Sam, with love, a wink and a smile.'
Sainsbury's has become embroiled in a bitter copycat spat with an independent butter brand.

The British supermarket is facing claims from Sublime Butter that its new Taste the Difference butter range, released last week, comprises 'carbon copies' of its products.

Sublime Butter offers premium butters in flavours such as garlic and herb and garlic, rosemary, and mint at prices of up to 4.95.

While the brand has found success at various retailers and is stocked in Harrods and Selfridges, it has claimed that Sainsbury's has 'gone and accidentally made carbon copies of the ones we sent you last year.' Sainsbury's has denied the claims.

Sublime Butter founder Tony Ho told The Grocer that Sainsbury's contacted his brand in July last year to consider stocking them, which led to conversations about flavours and them sending 'loads of samples', said Ho.

Ho, who has approached the Groceries Code Adjudicator over the matter, said the retailer then went radio silent without offering an explanation as to why.

Taking to Instagram, the brand publicly directed a letter to Sainsbury's after the retailer 'ghosted' their attempts of direct communication.

'Your 'new' range of flavoured butters look great,' the statement said, continuing, 'Particularly the Chimichurri and the Truffle, Parmesan & Black Pepper ones. Did you come up with those yourselves? Be honest now.

Sublime Butter claimed that Sainsbury's has made 'carbon copies' of their luxury butters (pictured)

'Because it seems like you've gone and accidentally made carbon copies of the ones we sent you last year. You know, the ones you pretended you wanted to stock? We won awards for ours though.

'Not to cry over spilled milk but as a small producer, we're sick of having giant supermarkets swoop in, ask for samples, and then rip us off.

'We're good people working hard to make something we're proud of. We love what we do. We find joy in helping people to eat better. Bad sportsmanship from big players means that it's increasingly difficult to do.'

Sublime Butter concluded the post by urging Sainsbury's to develop 'original' products in the future, writing, 'Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so thank you. But also: stop and think.

'Take the s you've spent copying us and make something original. Go out on a limb.

'All these supermarket price wars and you've all forgotten the one true basis of any good brand: stand for something. Then, maybe you won't have to stoop to following in other people's wake.'

A Sainsbury's spokesperson told MailOnline, 'There is no truth in these claims. We value our supplier relationships deeply - every supplier is an essential partner to our business and no matter their size or scale we are committed to fair treatment and trusted partnerships.

'We launched our Taste the Difference flavoured butter range in response to growing customer demand for more flavourful butter and joined several other retailers with launches in this category, based on customer insights and following well-established flavour trends in the market.

Taking to Instagram, the luxury butter brand made a series of cutting remarks against the retailer alongside a 'anti-Sainsbury's watermark' backdrop

The brand claimed that Sainsbury's had created flavours, including its Truffle, Parmesan & Black Pepper butter (pictured), influenced by their offerings

'Our own label product development process operates entirely separately and the team has no contact or discussion with suppliers over the brands we stock.'

It comes after Aldi encountered dupe allegations after an independent company accused the supermarket giant of ripping off its product last year.

Joe Moruzzi, managing director of Surrey-based brand Pleese, claimed the supermarket giant had designed a dupe of his brand Freezecakes.

Taking to Instagram the the dessert company shared a clip saying Aldi even 'had the cheek' to call their dupe the same name, just dropping the 's' and used its slogan, 'It's not ice cream', which Pleese claims it has trademarked.

Freezecakes, available in Waitrose, Co-op and Consort Frozen Foods, are frozen cheesecakes in a tub, made from 40 percent cream cheese with flavoured sauces and biscuit pieces.

FEMAIL understands the product is not currently on sale in Aldi and the supermarket giant was in touch with Pleese.

Joe claimed that he was alerted to the Aldi product when customers sent them photos via social media.

Commenting on a picture of a very similar cheesecake product found in Aldi, which was shared by uknewestfoods on Instagram, one person said, 'The nerve! Freezecakes are an amazing little company. Get f**** Aldi.'

The brand took to their public Instagram account to write a letter to Sainsbury's because the retailer allegedly 'ghosted' them

Sainsbury's denied the claims made by Sublime Butter and said they created the range 'in response to growing customer demand'

Another wrote, 'Oh that is so naughty to rip off a new fledgling company, I supported you with the Colin/Cuthbert cake, but this is low! Very disappointed in you!'

Meanwhile, another said, 'This is not cool at all. Ripping off a small business so blatantly, make sure you pick up the original, and best from @freezecakes'

Speaking to FEMAIL, Pleese boss Joe said, 'Initially I thought great, the frozen dessert category is growing, I then looked closer and saw Freezecakes and 'it's not ice cream', two names and phrases we use and have trademarked. They're also exactly the same flavours.

'We're all about growing the category, but when large companies just copy tiny companies like for like it's disheartening for us and potentially off putting for new entrepreneurs.

'We're here to stand up for small businesses and I hope this is a note to encourage any copycat ideas to be less intrusive and detrimental to small brands that have worked so hard and made many sacrifices to get to where they are.'

A Pleese employee took to Instagram to address the controversy saying, 'For those that don't know us, we are Pleese and we had to concept for a Cheesecake dessert that could be eaten like ice cream back in 2017.

'We started making overload cheesecakes which were loved by all, and we even made one for The Queen.

'Fast forward to 2020, we finally had the concept of creating a frozen cheesecake that could be eaten like ice cream from a tub, layers of cheesecake with biscuit chunks, fancy inclusions and sauces, we sold these via our website.

'Three years later we finally launched in the supermarkets and we were over the moon as we are still a startup brand with less the five employees. '

After receiving snaps of the dupe from their loyal followers on social media the Pleese team said they had a feeling it was going to happen.

They said: 'Products get duped all the time, but we are the little guys, we are not a massive company with thousands of staff. 18 months ago we were still making this product by hand in a little kitchen in Redhill.

'The thing that got us was the name, Freezecake, not Freezecakes with an S, singular, that and 'it's not ice cream' which is trademarked by us, is featured on their tub.

The brand said they refuse to be 'bullied' and want to 'raise awareness' for all the small brands this is happening to.

FEMAIL understands the product is not currently on sale in Aldi stores.
Olivia Culpo's sister Sophia Culpo has been accused of racism after making a controversial comment about her new baby niece.

Sophia, 28, took to TikTok with a now-deleted video which showed her cradling the tot - the daughter, and second child, of older brother Pete.

The oldest Culpo sibling married wife Katie Trainor - a Filipino woman - in 2019.

In the caption, Sophia wrote: 'When the Culpo genes beat out the Asian genes.

'Say hi to my baby niece Lila!! She looks EXACTLY like my brother, even though she's Filipino.'

The model swiftly removed the post but not before others took screengrabs of the questionable upload.

One content creator, who shared Sophia's post using the 'green-screen' feature, highlighted the outrage as she explained: 'I do think she just didn't realize because she took this down almost immediately.

'I'm sure the comments were like, "Girl, this is incredibly racist."

Olivia Culpo's sister Sophia Culpo has been accused of racism after making a controversial comment about her new baby niece

Sophia, 28, took to TikTok with a now-deleted video which showed her cradling the tot - the daughter, and second child, of older brother Pete

'But it leads me to think she just didn't realize she was being racist. Which is just like, what reality do these people live in?

'I don't know why I'm not seeing anyone else call this out. I don't know if this is like soft-launching the racism. I don't know.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Sophia Culpo's representatives for comment.

Dozens of other viewers were left equally as outraged by the 'insane' caption on her video.

'Like why would she say that?' someone questioned.

'Why would she ever, why, why,' someone wrote.

'That's insane to say,' a comment read.

'Uhmmmmm??!' someone simply wrote, while another said, 'My mouth dropped.'

The oldest Culpo sibling, Pete, (middle) married wife Katie Trainor (right) - a Filipino woman - in 2019

Sophia has not publicly issued any further comment in light of the backlash

'There were SO MANY different ways to say, "My niece looks like my brother!"' a comment read.

But there were some that rushed to Sophia's defense, as one stated: 'Wait, is it racist though? I'm Asian. I'm not offended.'

'I'm Filipino and I don't find that racist. The white genes beat out the Filipino genes in my family, and we all say that out loud,' another said.

'As a Filipino, I don't think it was racist. At all lol,' a comment read.

Sophia has not publicly issued any further comment in light of the backlash.
Kate Middleton's younger brother James has spoken out about her shock cancer diagnosis, saying it was a 'challenging time' for the entire family.

In an interview, the Princess's brother, 38, candidly discusses mental health, including his experience of suicidal ideation and the struggles faced during Kate's terrifying bout of illness.

James revealed there was an enormous strain placed on his family when his sister, 43, announced she had been diagnosed with cancer in March 2024, and was undergoing treatment.

He told The Times: 'For her and her family, it was a challenging time, and I know for us and our bigger family it was a challenging time.'

The entrepreneur, who now operates dog food business James & Ella, explained how the process taught him to offer unconditional support wherever possible.

'Being there for someone is such an important part, and it doesn't necessarily have to be on your terms, and it shouldn't be on your terms.

'It should be on their terms; unconditional: "I'm not doing it for something in return. I'm doing it because I love you",' he continued.

'And that's the simplest way of really demonstrating love. You can do it in all these various fancy ways, but actually, it is just generally being there.'

James Middleton (pictured with dog Zulu) revealed that Kate's cancer diagnosis presented a 'challenging time' for the entire family

The 38-year-old detailed the way in he which he supported his sister in her time of need by offering unconditional support (Kate and James pictured together)

In early September last year, the Princess of Wales revealed that she had completed chemotherapy and was 'taking each day as it comes' in her recovery journey.

Father-of-one James, whose book Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life has just been published in the UK in paperback, also opened up about the time he came close to suicide, standing on the ledge of his parents' Chelsea house ready to jump.

His childhood dog, Ella, was looking up at him from below as if imploring him to come down, which he thankfully did.

James detailed how he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and clinical depression in 2017, having struggled in school and university all his life owing to his dyslexia.

He began a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and even found a consultant psychiatrist who was open to allowing his dog Ella to sit in on their sessions.

James credited his sister Kate and brother-in-law William for the work they have done on reducing stigmas surrounding mental illness.

And in light of his struggles, he said that Kate's cancer journey brought them closer together.

His comments come as Kate releases a video revealing how the 'healing power of nature' played a vital role during her treatment for cancer.

Father-of-one James said Kate's period of illness was hard for both sides of the family (the siblings pictured together as children)

In an interview, the entrepreneur (pictured in 2023) also discussed his mental health, saying he had been close to suicide in 2017

The series, which will be released on Kensington Palace's social media channels, began yesterday with 'Spring', a three-minute film narrated by Kate, which features footage of her and Prince William on the Isle of Mull earlier this month.

The other three short films will be released across the course of the year, with the Summer, Autumn and Winter editions to be released in due course.

Referring to how she sought comfort and strength from being outdoors with her family during her cancer battle last year, Kate said: 'Over the past year, nature has been my sanctuary.

'The natural world's capacity to inspire us, to nurture us and help us heal and grow is boundless and has been understood for generations.

'It is through nature that we can fully understand the true interconnectedness of all things, the importance of balance and the importance of renewal and resilience.

'Connecting to nature helps us to experience a deeper sense of ourselves, the world around us, and each other.'

She added: 'Spring is a season of rebirth, of hope and new beginnings. From the dark days of winter, the outside world quietly awakens with new life, and there comes a sense of optimism, anticipation, and positive, hopeful change.

'Just as nature revives and renews so too can we. Let us reconnect to nature and celebrate a new dawn within our hearts.

James Middleton (pictured late last year) detailed how he stood on top of his parents' Chelsea house, ready to jump, but was encouraged to come down by his dog looking up at him

Kate has just released one in a series of videos that explores the effect of nature on her healing journey

'It is often from the smallest of seeds that the greatest change can happen, and in this ever-growing complex world, we need to hold on to what connects us all.

'Spring is here, so let's make the most of it together.'

The princess also made clear how much she hopes that her message will provide an antidote to the 'increasingly complex and digital world'.

Signing off the post with 'C' - a sign that it personally comes from her - the royal wrote: 'This year's Mental Health Awareness Week, we are celebrating humanity's long standing connection to nature, and its capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.

'As we confront the challenges of an increasingly complex and digital world, the importance of the connection between humanity and nature takes on even more significance.

'The Mother Nature series is a reminder and reflection of the beauty and complexity of the human experience. It is a tribute to the lessons we can learn from nature, helping us to foster our own growth, strengthen our bonds with the world around us and each other.'

'Mother Nature' is described as a 'celebration of the raw, untamed beauty of the changing seasons across the UK'.
From over-the-top ruffles and bizarre feathers to barely-there looks and weirdly-shaped frocks, the 78th Cannes Film Festival has been filled with fashion fails.

The annual prestigious film festival - which is known for showcasing new movies from around the globe - kicked off in France on Tuesday, May 13, and will run until May 24.

A slew of stars descended upon the Palais des Festivals et des Congres in Cannes for the opening ceremony.

And while some wowed in glamorous dresses and stunning looks... others completely missed the mark with their ensembles.

That's right, many of Hollywood's most elite failed to impress with their bizarre outfit choices at the glittering soiree.

Halle Berry lead the 2025 Cannes Film Festival worst dressed list as she arrived in a frumpy, black and white striped dress that hung awkwardly on her frame.

The haltered, puffy gown contained a curious ruffle with pink fabric sticking out on the back and it just didn't work.

Shanina Shaik's strangely-shaped gown also earned her a spot on the list. The frock jutted out at her waste line, while its skirt had diamonds all over it, making for a sartorial nightmare.

Halle Berry lead the 2025 Cannes Film Festival worst dressed list as she arrived in a frumpy, black and white dress that hung awkwardly on her frame

The haltered, puffy gown contained a strange ruffle with pink fabric sticking out on the back and it just didn't work

Shanina Shaik's strangely-shaped gown also earned her a spot on the list. The frock jutted out at her waste line, while its skirt had diamonds all over it, making for a sartorial nightmare

Irina Shayk's polka-dotted black frock was a little too over-the-top. It had huge, puffy sleeves and a long flowing skirt

The Cannes Film Festival released a dress code the night before, which Heidi Klum broke. It said, 'Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train are not permitted'

Her ruffled pink gown indeed had a long train that trailed behind her

English model and socialite Lady Victoria Hervey opted for a peculiar white number for the event, which had stringy white feathers all over it

French actress and model Frederique Bel left a little too much to imagination in her cut-out gold dress, which she paired with a purse shaped like French fries

Chinese influencer and actress Wan Qianhui arrived to the event in a dramatic, strapless, white dress containing immense fluffy ruffles

TV personality Farhana Bodi certainly ensured all eyes were on her... but for the wrong reasons. Her dress contained an enormous piece of fabric that went around her head

British actress Erin Kellyman's white number contained a feathered neckpiece that looked like something a clown might wear... She paired the strange look with pointy boots

German actress Ruby O. Fee opted for a sparkling skirt and crop top combo that left her midriff on full display

Irina Shayk's polka-dotted black frock was a little too over-the-top; it had huge, puffy sleeves and a long flowing skirt.

English model and socialite Lady Victoria Hervey opted for a peculiar white number for the event, which had stringy white feathers all over it.

The day before the event began, the Cannes Film Festival released a shocking dress code for its participants.

The new rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' were implemented as French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opened the ceremony.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival,' read its official rule book.

'Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

Heidi Klum broke the dress code by wearing a ruffled pink gown that indeed had a long train that trailed behind her.

French actress and model Frederique Bel left a little too much to imagination in her cut-out gold dress, which she paired with a purse shaped like French fries.

Chinese influencer and actress Wan Qianhui arrived to the event in a dramatic, strapless, white dress containing immense fluffy ruffles.

TV personality Farhana Bodi certainly ensured all eyes were on her... but for the wrong reasons.

She walked the red carpet in a sparkly, pink dress, which contained an enormous piece of fabric that went around her head.

British actress Erin Kellyman's white number contained a feathered neckpiece that looked like something a clown might wear. She paired the strange look with pointy boots.
They say variety is the spice of life.

For a growing number of Americans, that variety includes multiple romantic partners.

A new documentary, OPEN: A Journey through Love, pulls back the curtain on 'consensual non-monogamy', a lifestyle that's more common than you might think.

Featured in the film are two married couples - Myrina and Tristan, and Crimson and Phoenix - who now refer to themselves as a 'polyfoursome.'

After meeting at a dinner party, the two pairs hit it off and have since built a shared romantic life together that includes everything from beach days to bedroom swapping.

'Never in a million years would [I have thought that] not only are we free to date other people but then we're going to fall in love with these other two people and it's going to be ok and we're going to build a life around that,' Myrina says in the documentary.

Her and Tristan's journey began after a chance introduction to swinging, courtesy of a neighbor.

Around the same time, Crimson and Phoenix had opened their marriage after working with a counselor who specialized in non-traditional relationships.

Among the subjects to speak in the film Open are Myrina and Tristan (seen left) and Crimson and Phoenix (seen right) who refer to themselves as a 'polyfoursome'

Myrina and Tristan said that they first explored opening up their marriage after their neighbors introduced them to the concept of swinging at a dinner party

Together, the foursome now balance love, logistics and late-night conversations  and they still practice swinging with partners outside their group relationship.

As odd as it may seem, they're not outliers.

Dr Amy Moor, a psychologist featured in the film, told the Daily Mail that research suggests as many as one in three adults in the US has tried some form of consensual non-monogamy, or CNM.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CONSENSUAL NON-MONOGAMY?

Consensual non-monogamy is an umbrella term that includes polyamory (multiple romantic partners), swinging (sexual relations with others) and open relationships (allowing for sexual or emotional connections outside the primary partnership).

The key word is 'consensual.'

Everyone involved knows and agrees to the arrangement.

In this new film, Crimson explains how the foursome dynamic works for them.

She's shy, like Tristan, while Phoenix and Myrina are more extroverted. When they pair off in the bedroom or during social situations, they find balance in one another's traits.

'[It's fantastic] seeing the different relationships and seeing everybody happy and growing within that dynamic,' she says.

Dr Amy Moor, a psychologist who also stars in the film as an expert on consensual non-monogamy

WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE CNM

Dr Moor says that, for many, the appeal lies in what traditional relationships may lack: variety, novelty and personal growth.

Tristan agrees. Since opening up his marriage, he says he's become more confident, more outgoing and more self-aware.

'I've grown a lot as a person, which has then translated into all facets of my life. I've really come out of my shell a lot and as I've had success in the "lifestyle" it's given me more confidence, which is really cool,' he says.

But CNM isn't without challenges.

DOWNSIDES: STIGMA... AND SCHEDULING!

For an on-going study with a colleague in New Zealand, Dr Moor is gathering feedback from thousands of people practicing CNM.

The most commonly reported downsides? Social judgment, time management and communication problems.

'One of the top responses we found when it came to the disadvantages around consensual non-monogamy was being judged by others,' Dr Moor said.

'So stigma from friends, family, work, not wanting to talk about it publicly. Some even mentione fear of legal repercussions, like getting fired from work. Or, for people who have children, [there are] worries about child custody issues, because courts tend to not rule in the favor of people who practice consensual non-monogamy in the US.'

Then there's the issue of logistics. Coordinating dates, emotions, and calendars across multiple relationships can be overwhelming.

'A lot of people were saying they felt spread thin, or they didn't have time for themselves, or it's just a really delicate scheduling balance to make sure they're making these people in their life happy and giving them enough time,' Dr. Moor explains.

And finally, there's the talk. A lot of it.

'So some people were saying it was just a lot of communicating, a lot of talking, and then just having to talk more in open and honest and transparent ways than they're used to,' she says.

Tristan acknowledges the challenges. He tells viewers: 'I think it's important that people understand and realize that this is a very challenging way to live one's life. This lifestyle exposes weaknesses in relationships but also enhances strengths. It's a possibility for a lot of people but not for everybody.'

Phoenix says his marriage was in a rut before he and his wife Crimson started swinging

WILL IT GO MAINSTREAM?

Dr Moor believes the normalization of CNM is only just beginning.

Around 10 years ago the professor and her colleagues at the Kinsey Institute, a sexuality research center at Indiana University, conducted a study that found one in five people had engaged in consensual non-monogamy.

But Dr Moor told the Daily Mail that preliminary findings from a follow-up study suggest that number is now closer to one in three.

As more people speak openly about their experiences, she predicts that dabbling in non-monogamy could become mainstream, much like sex before marriage has.

'It could turn out in the next 10 years that most people have tried it at least once,' she says.

To learn more about the film and the world of consensual non-monogamy visit www.openjourneylove.com or follow their Instagram @openjourneylove
Shocking images have revealed a little-known, devastating effect of heavy drug use - a condition known as dropped head syndrome.

The pictures - published by doctors at the Al-Zahra University Hospital in Isfahan, Iran - show a 23-year-old man with an extreme bend in his neck, which developed after years of substance abuse.

The drugs caused significant rounding of the spine until the neck could no longer support the head.

Dropped head syndrome - also know as floppy head syndrome - is characterised by severe weakness of the neck muscles, and is most commonly associated with neuromuscular disorders such as motor neurone disease.

But doctors say the syndrome could be caused by substance abuse.

The medics reported that use of amphetamine (also known as speed) triggered what they called a fixed kyphotic neck position, where his chin fell to his chest for long periods.

He also experienced chronic neck pain and paresthesia - the feeling of tingling, numbness, or pins and needles - in his arms.

While the patient had no history of severe neck trauma that could explain his symptoms, he had a history of depression and use of amphetamines, opium and heroin.

Dropped head syndrome is a rare medical disorder, where the neck muscles become so weak they can no longer support the head

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The doctors noted that prior to this history of addiction, there was no malalignment in his neck.

Dr Majid Rezvani, co-author of the case study, said: 'We discovered that drug abuse contributed to the uncommon development of severe complicated cervical kyphosis [excessive rounding of the upper back].'

'The drug does not have a direct effect on musculoskeletal changes,' he explained.

'Instead there is an indirect effect: when the patient uses the drug, they remain in a certain position for a long time, and over months this results in musculoskeletal changes that led to kyphoscoliosis.'

The man suffered with symptoms for over 15 months, which he attempted to treat using herbal remedies before seeking professional help, according to the report.

Despite this, cranial nerve tests, muscle strength tests and tests of his autonomic nervous system all came back clear.

A CT scan revealed he had a severely deformed spine.

The patient was initially placed under general anaesthesia, and doctors noted that this appeared to be enough to reduce his neck deformity.

But they were unable to correct the patient's neck, so surgery followed.

To re-adjust the neck, doctors decided to remove the deformed bone and used a locking cage for support.

The patient reportedly used heroin, opium and amphetamines

Post-operative CT scan showing screws used to stabilise the neck

The surgery was successful and no neurological symptoms were observed. His limb strength was also 100 per cent.

The day after surgery, the patient was able to walk with the support of a hard collar - which he wore for three months.

He attended therapy and rehab after his surgery, which enabled him to overcome his drug addiction.

Doctors are satisfied that the correction of the spine was effective.

They have now proposed the term 'intoxicated syndrome' for patients showing these symptoms.

Those affected by the issues raised in this article can seek confidential help and support via Talk to Frank.
When Bryony Russo arrived at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, she and husband Dan begged for a caesarean as they knew something was wrong.

Bryony, then 41 weeks and three days into her pregnancy, was already in labour: shed been having contractions and there was meconium  thick brown liquid that can signify that the baby is in distress  in her waters.

A monitor showed the baby had an abnormal heart rate.

Yet despite this, a caesarean was not performed until that evening - almost 11 hours after Bryony had arrived at the hospital.

By that time baby Emmy had been deprived of oxygen and, tragically, she died in her parents' arms three days later.

Last week, an inquest into Emmys death on January 12 last year, found that she would have survived if a caesarean had been performed sooner.

The inquest was told that Bryony had requested a caesarean on January 9, but this was 'laughed off' by a midwife and she was told to proceed with a natural birth.

Dan Russo, speaking after the inquest, described the couples heartbreak, saying: We are completely broken by the loss of our beautiful baby girl, Emmy.

He added: We did everything that we were told, we followed the advice we were given. But deep down we knew something wasnt right. We voiced our concerns again and again but we were dismissed.

Three years after NHS England scrapped targets to limit the number of caesarean births, some women who want a planned caesarean are still struggling to be taken seriously

Philippa Greenfield, director of child health and women's services at the hospital, told the inquest they were now reviewing 'whether there should be a more structured process' around requests made for planned caesareans late in the pregnancy.

And in a statement apologising to the family, the hospital's chief nurse Sharon McNally said the safety of women and babies was an 'absolute priority' and 'learning from any incident is part of our focus on continuous improvement'.

The tragedy of Emmy Russos death reflects a shocking fact  for while it's three years since NHS England scrapped targets to limit the number of caesarean births and the rate has hit a record high, some women who want a planned caesarean are still struggling to be taken seriously, with devastating consequences.

Until the targets were scrapped, many hospitals prioritised 'natural' (now often called 'normal') vaginal births, and even had targets to limit the number of caesareans performed. Just how difficult it could be for women to get a caesarean on the NHS was brought into focus in March 2022, when senior midwife Donna Ockenden published a report into maternity failings at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which the trust said it 'fully accepted'.

This revealed an 'obsession' with the 'natural' birth target meant women had been denied caesareans, leading to hundreds of injuries and deaths. She recommended women must be allowed to request a caesarean.

The same year, a survey by the birth injury support charity MASIC revealed only a third of women injured during instrumental delivery (where the baby is delivered using forceps or a ventouse suction cup device) were even given a chance to discuss a caesarean as an alternative.

Weeks before the Ockenden report was published, NHS England told hospitals to scrap a target aimed at limiting the caesarean rate to around 20 per cent.

Yet while rates overall have increased, a sizeable proportion involve not planned births, but riskier emergency caesareans. Close to half of all babies - 44 per cent - born in England between February 2024 and January 2025 were delivered by caesarean, the latest maternity data shows, compared with 37 per cent in 2022/23.

But emergency caesareans accounted for more than half - 56 per cent - of all the 229,600 caesareans performed in England in the last year, despite the number of planned caesareans rising by almost a fifth since 2022.

In Scotland, emergency caesareans accounted for around one in four births in the year to March 31, 2024.

Some NHS trusts have far lower planned caesarean rates than others, suggesting that the culture at individual hospitals may still play a part in access.

At Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, for example, planned sections made up 32 per cent of all births in September 2024 - the busiest month for births.

But at Barts Health in London the planned caesarean rate that month was just 8 per cent. It was 12 per cent at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, and 15 per cent at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. (These NHS trusts were contacted for comment - a spokesman for Barts said: The latest National Mortality Dashboard figures showed 15 per cent of live births in our hospitals was through an elective c-section, which is in line with the national average.)

Another factor reducing access to caesareans is capacity, says Dr Ian Scudamore, vice-president for education at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He believes women should be 'fully supported' in their choices, but says under-investment in NHS maternity services means there are not always enough staff, beds or theatre space to ensure women get the birth they want.

'Managing planned caesarean surgery lists is more difficult when a hospital does not have access to two dedicated maternity theatres,' he adds.

Maternity units must have at least one dedicated operating theatre, but an investigation by the Health Service Journal last year found one in three do not have a second theatre. And those that did often did not staff it at nights and weekends. This means that when more than one emergency occurs at the same time, medics must find an operating theatre elsewhere in the hospital - costing up to 30 minutes and putting lives at risk.

Women may be offered a caesarean for a range of reasons - if a baby is breech (when it is feet or bottom first in the womb) or the mother has a medical condition such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes, which may mean the baby needs to be delivered earlier to avoid risks to their health or their mother's. These conditions are more common in older or overweight mothers.

Abigail Latif, an NHS community midwife based in Manchester, says she is seeing more mothers requesting caesareans after traumatic previous births. And research last year by the maternity campaign group Delivering Better found that one in four women say their birth experience was negative.

Under guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) medics should support women's requests for a caesarean, as long as they are satisfied they are making an 'informed choice'.

Under guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence medics should support women's requests for a caesarean, as long as they are satisfied they are making an 'informed choice'

This means midwives and/or a doctor will discuss a woman's reasons for wanting a caesarean and the risks and benefits.

Anoop Rehal, a consultant in obstetrics and fetal medicine at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, says most doctors 'want to support women to have the birth that is right for them - and decisions are always made in the interests of safety'.

While both vaginal delivery and caesareans are safe, caesareans carry slightly higher risks of complications, such as bleeding, infections and blood clots, particularly if the mother is overweight, and recovery typically takes longer. For example, women may be unable to drive for up to six weeks afterwards, compared with around two weeks in vaginal deliveries.

Caesareans also raise the risk of complications, such as issues with the attachment of the placenta, in future pregnancies. Some babies born via caesarean need help breathing at birth and have a higher risk of developing asthma or being overweight as adults.

But there are also risks from vaginal birth, especially in instrumental deliveries, which can include tearing, incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Under the NICE guidelines, if a woman has anxiety about childbirth, she should be offered support from a perinatal mental health team, and if she still wants a caesarean afterwards then healthcare professionals should 'support their choice'. Yet some women say they still feel pressured to not have a caesarean.

Nikki Melless Botha knew she wanted one from the start of her first pregnancy last year, but she says that midwives tried to dissuade her from it at every antenatal appointment. 'I really had to fight for it,' says Nikki, 34, from Beckenham, south-east London, who works in advertising.

She felt anxious about giving birth vaginally, especially given midwife shortages in her local hospital. And although a consultant agreed to book her in for the surgery, her choice was repeatedly questioned by four different NHS midwives.

'Even when the surgery was booked for the following week, the midwife kept asking if I was "sure"

I didn't want to give birth "normally",' recalls Nikki. 'To use that sort of language is so damaging because it sounds like anything else is abnormal.'

Her daughter Hailey, now eight months old, was born safely via a planned caesarean. 'I'm so glad I fought for my C-section,' adds Nikki.

Dr Catherine Bernard, an NHS anaesthetist based in southern England, believes it 'doesn't make sense' for hospitals to try to talk a pregnant woman out of having a planned caesarean.

'It's denying women the choice to plan in advance, when there is a possibility they could end up with an emergency section anyway,' she says. 'Why reduce the number of planned caesarean sections, only to increase the number of emergency ones - which have worse outcomes?'

A 2021 study by doctors in France found women who had the most urgent emergency caesareans were around seven times more likely to get infections afterwards than those in the least urgent category.

'In an urgent situation, it can take as little as two minutes from the knife touching the skin to the baby coming out,' explains Dr Bernard. 'In contrast, with a planned caesarean section, the surgeon has time to carefully work down through the muscle layers over up to ten minutes.'

Recovery may be more difficult from emergency surgery after labour, and research presented at the 2025 Pregnancy Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine suggests women who have an emergency delivery are also between 15 and 20 per cent more likely to develop postnatal mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What's more, although caesarean births cost more to perform (almost twice as much as unassisted vaginal births), economic modelling carried out by NHS obstetric consultants in 2020 suggested planned caesareans actually save the NHS 400 per birth, once compensation for injuries and deaths sustained during vaginal births was taken into account.

The NHS pays out 1.15billion in maternity compensation claims per year - equivalent to nearly 2,000 for every child born, figures from its compensation body NHS Resolution show - often for delays in urgent treatment, including emergency caesareans.

But as the tragic story of baby Emmy Russo highlights, there is also a huge human cost, too.

An NHS spokesman said: 'Each birth is different and it is important that every pregnant woman can discuss delivery methods with her maternity team - as part of a personalised care and support plan.

'There is much more we need to do to drive up standards of care and build on improvements already made, and the NHS will continue to provide intensive support to the most challenged trusts to improve care for patients.'
President Donald Trump touted a new executive order that would more closely align drug prices in the US with those sold in Europe and the UK, opening the door for drugs used by millions of Americans to become cheaper.

The EO does not specify which drugs will be targeted but a similar policy proposed by Trump in 2020 included drugs administered in hospitals or clinics under Medicare Part B, which covers inpatient drugs for seniors. However, that policy was blocked by a federal judge who ruled the government had overstepped its bounds by sidestepping Congress.

That 2020 proposal narrowly covered Medicare Part B drugs, including immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, and vaccines for seniors. The new EO appears broader, referencing 'American patients' and 'public and private payers.'

US drug prices are three to five times higher than in other developed nations, with per-person spending double that of other wealthy countries - $963 in the US versus $466 on average elsewhere.

It's called Most Favored Nation, Trump said of the new policy. 'We're going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. We will get, whoever is paying the lowest price; that's the price that we're going to get.

The Most Favored Nation policy long touted by President Donald Trump is designed to slash US drug prices by forcing pharmaceutical companies to offer Americans the same steep discounts they give other wealthy nations.

Before being implemented, the proposal would have to be approved by the members of Congress and Big Pharma is expected to lobby against the policy and sue to block it if its enacted.

Below, DailyMail.com compiled a list of the most costly prescription drugs under Medicare Part B that are expected to be included in Trump's Most Favored Nations plan.

Around one in eight Medicare enrollees use one of these drugs, and making prices align more with those in the EU would mean the government could afford to treat hundreds of thousands more people without increasing spending.

President Trump announced a new Executive Order aimed at bringing U.S. drug prices more in line with those in Europe and the UK, but signing the order alone wont guarantee the policy takes effect. Trump was flanked by Jay Bhattacharya (left), Dr Mehmet Oz (second from left), Robert F Kennedy Jr (right of Trump), and Dr Marty Makary (far right)

Cancer Treatments (Chemotherapy & Immunotherapy taken by more than 1,230,000 patients):

1. Keytruda (pembrolizumab)

- Cost per dose: $10,800$15,200

- Used to treat melanoma, lung, bladder cancers, Hodgkins lymphoma

- What it could cost under the new EO: about $4,100 (Germany), a reduction of 73 percent

2. Opdivo (nivolumab)

- Cost per dose: $7,50010,500

- Used to treat lung, kidney, liver, colorectal cancers

- What it could cost under the new EO: $2,800 (France), a reduction of 73 percent

3. Darzalex (daratumumab)

- Cost per dose: $6,500

- Used to treat multiple myeloma

- What it could cost under the new EO: $2,900 (Netherlands), a reduction of 55 percent

4. Rituxan (rituximab)

- Cost per dose: $5,2008,000

- Used to treat non-Hodgkins lymphoma

- What it could cost under the new EO: $2,400 (Belgium), a reduction of 70 percent

5. Tecentriq (atezolizumab)

- Cost per dose: $8,200

- Used to treat bladder, lung, and breast cancers

- What it could cost under the new EO: $3,500 (Germany), a reduction of 57 percent

6. Herceptin (trastuzumab)

- Cost per dose: $4,500

- Used to treat anemia from chemotherapy

- What it could cost under the new EO: $1,900 (UK), a reduction of 58 percent

7. Procrit

- Cost per dose: $750

- Used to treat anemia

- What it could cost under the new EO: $320 (Spain), a reduction of 57 percent

Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases

1. Orencia (abatacept)

- Cost per dose: $1,600

- Used to treat rheumatoid arthritis

- What it could cost under the new EO: $700, a reduction of 54 percent

2. Actemra (tocilizumab)

- Cost per dose: $1,200

- Used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Covd inflammation

- What it could cost under the new EO: $550, a reduction of 54 percent

3. Enbrel (etanercept)

- Cost per dose $1,600

- Used to treat psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis

- EU average cost per dose: $700 (Spain)

- What it could cost under the new EO: $700, a reduction of 56 percent

4. Stelara (ustekinumab)

- Cost per dose: $14,000

- Used to treat psoriasis, Crohns disease

- What it could cost under the new EO: $6,500, a reduction of 54 percent

5. Xolair (omalizumab)

- Cost per dose: $1,300

- Used to treat severe asthma, chronic hives

- What it could cost under the new EO: $600, a reduction of 117 percent

Neurological & Rare Diseases

1. Tysabri (natalizumab)

- Cost per dose: $7,000

- Used to treat multiple sclerosis, Crohns

- What it could cost under the new EO: $3,200 a reduction of 119 percent

2. Soliris (eculizumab)

- Cost per dose: $32,000

- Used to treat PNH, aHUS (rare blood disorders)

- What it could cost under the new EO: $18,000 (India) a reduction of 78 percent

Eye Diseases

1. Eylea (aflibercept)

- Cost per dose: $1,850

- Used to treat wet AMD, diabetic retinopathy

- What it could cost under the new EO: $800 (India), a reduction of 131 percent

2. Lucentis (ranibizumab)

- Cost per dose: $1,200

- Used to treat wet AMD, macular edema

- What it could cost under the new EO: $450 (France), a reduction of 167 percent

Supportive Care (Chemo Side Effects/Bone Health)

1. Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)

- Cost per dose: $6,200

- Boosts white blood cells post-chemo

- What it could cost under the new EO: $2,600 (Spain), a reduction of 121 percent

2. Prolia (denosumab)

- Cost per dose: $1,300 O

- Used to treat osteoporosis (cancer-related bone loss)

- What it could cost under the new EO: $600 (Italy), a reduction of 117 percent

Other High-Cost Therapies

1. Rebif (interferon beta-1a)

- Cost per dose: $3,600/month

- Used to treat multiple sclerosis

- What it could cost under the new EO: $1,500 (Netherlands), a reduction of 140 percent

2. Nucala (mepolizumab)

- Cost per dose: $4,000

- Used to treat severe asthma

- What it could cost under the new EO: $1,800 (Norway), a reduction of 122 percent

Dr Oz said [RFK Jr is shown pointing to the relevant data] that, under the current system, the U.S. pays up to 289 percent more than other countries for the same drugsfour times the international price at the high end, and still 50 percent more at the low end

Trump told reporters on Monday that a major facet of his plan is to force other countries to pay more to pharmaceutical companies or risk losing access to the US market. He did not offer explanation of which legal mechanism by which he would do this.

He said: You have to also charge other nations more.' Because theyre really  were bearing the cost of all of this.

We have people  rich countries  paying a tiny fraction of what we pay.

'Were talking about 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent of what we pay. We cant do that, and were not going to do it anymore.

Trump also vowed to 'get rid of the middlemen,' targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

PhRMA also blames PBMs, which negotiate drug coverage for insurers like Aetna and collect manufacturer rebatesoften keeping more than half the spending.

The policy promises immediate price cuts of 30-80 percent, but its exact scopeincluding which drugs and programs will be included - remains uncertain

Ubl, CEO of PhRMA, said: The US is the only country in the world that lets PBMs, insurers and hospitals take 50 percent of every dollar spent on medicines.

'The amount going to middlemen often exceeds the price in Europe.

Trump, meanwhile, said: Were doing things nobody ever thought could be done. The middlemen became very, very rich.

In Europe, government-run health systems negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies, bypassing middlemen.

Countries like the UK, France, and Germany have national agencies that determine coverage and set prices nationwideeliminating the need for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) common in the U.S.

This direct negotiation avoids inflated prices, rebate schemes, and pharmacy markup practices.

Trump said: Starting today, the United States will no longer subsidize the health care of foreign countries, which is what we were doing where they paid a small fraction for the same drug than what many, many times more for.

And we no longer tolerate profiteering and price-gauging from big pharma. It was really the countries that forced big pharma to do things that, frankly, I'm not sure they really felt comfortable doing.

But they've gotten away with it, these countries.
No one wants to be sued, but I think fear of legal action over missing a diagnosis means that a lot of doctors send patients for all kinds of tests  the more high-tech, the better  which may actually be harmful.

The first principle in medicine is to do no harm. And over the years, as I have gained more medical wisdom, I have come to realise that my role isnt just about diagnosing people, its about balancing risks.

This is especially true when it comes to organising scans.

I worked night shifts over the Easter four-day bank holiday and I organised lots of CT scans for patients, which led to a change in their treatment, and I would say were obviously the right thing to do.

One elderly man had a scan which showed he had a perforated duodenum (a part of the bowel), so he went straight to theatre.

And a young woman with shortness of breath had a CT scan of her lungs which revealed a massive lung clot. We successfully treated this with a clot-busting drug and saved her life.

But I also organised X-rays and CT scans which were clear, meaning I was able to reassure my patients.

The problem here  and what troubles me  is that I exposed them to unnecessary radiation.

In the UK, over seven million CT scans are done annually

Scans such as X-rays and CTs work by using ionising radiation  essentially, high-energy waves which pass through the body to create images

Being honest, I didnt fully explain the risk of the scans to them, mainly because I had underestimated the risks.

I now know this thanks to reading a new study in the JAMA Internal Medicine.

Scans such as X-rays and CTs work by using ionising radiation  essentially, high-energy waves which pass through the body to create images.

But that same radiation can alter your DNA in the wrong way, causing mutations and setting the scene for cancer to develop years down the line.

The study was a sobering read: researchers calculated that the 93 million CT scans carried out in the US in 2023 could be responsible for over 100,000 future cancers. This is around 5 per cent of all new cancer cases.

And while this is US data, its highly relevant to UK practice, especially as scan rates continue to creep upwards.

In the UK, over seven million CT scans are done annually. This means each year, on average, one in ten people will be getting a CT.

The University of California researchers found that the scans which caused the most radiation and raised cancer risk were those of the abdomen, pelvis or chest ones we often organise in A&E.

As I have gained more medical wisdom, I have come to realise that my role isnt just about diagnosing people, its about balancing risks

On average, for every 930 CT scans performed, one unlucky patient developed a cancer (such as lung, colon, breast, bladder or leukaemia) which they otherwise would not have got  due to the radiation.

The risk to children was higher, even from scans without much radiation exposure, such as those of the head for trauma.

The issue for all of us doctors who organise scans is to think what are the risks versus the benefits of them, rather than ordering them as a knee-jerk response.

Take head trauma: a huge study, published in 2023 in The Lancet Oncology, which monitored more than 650,000 young people from nine European countries, all of whom had their first head or neck CT before the age of 22.

Over 15 years of follow-up, the researchers found a clear link between radiation exposure from CT and subsequent brain cancer  not just in children who had had multiple scans, but even for those whod had just one.

They found there was roughly one extra case of brain cancer in every 10,000 children who had had a single head CT scan. One in 10,000 might sound small, but when you factor in how many low-risk head injuries are scanned every week in A&E, the cumulative harm becomes all too real.

We must stop kidding ourselves that scanning just to be sure is harmless.

The evidence is stacking up and its pointing to a simple truth: while CTs are sometimes essential, they are never benign.

Every CT scan must be questioned, justified and, wherever possible, avoided.

For example, many inexperienced or over-cautious doctors over-order chest CT scans looking for blood clots because of a knee-jerk reaction to shortness of breath and abnormal blood results.

But when the scan is requested without thinking about other more likely causes which dont need a CT scan, such as a chest infection, this over-investigation puts patients in avoidable long-term risks of scan-induced cancer.

Although CT scans are the greatest risk because of the amount of radiation used, X-rays and mammography scans (also a form of X-ray) can also be a risk.

For example, it is estimated that for every 14,000 women who take part in breast screening, one will develop cancer because of the radiation exposure.

The radiation and risk from mammography is tiny, but a small increase in risk in millions of patients increases the numbers of people overall getting cancer. (Reassuringly ultrasound and MRI scans carry no risks of inducing cancers.)

But as a doctor, I know that while breast screening does induce some cancers, overall it saves more lives than causing cancer.

Back to my Easter night shifts.

I saw two patients who came in thinking they should get scans because 111 told them to come to A&E. But I chose not to send them for scans.

One was a 19-year-old with a head injury and the other was a 32-year-old who was 34 weeks pregnant and had chest pain.

After my assessment, I felt both had a very low risk of having a serious illness and I thought more harm would be done (this was even before Id seen the new study) so I discharged them.

I wasnt able to give them a 100 per cent reassurance (even with a scan I couldnt do that), but I told them that this was the correct course of action and they should come back if they felt worse.

It is a complex decision for doctors to decide if a patient needs a CT scan. But my advice to you as patients is to ask them to imagine that they are not advising you as a patient, but as one of their loved ones.

Only then can they really think about the benefits and risks rather than making decisions to over-use cancer-inducing scans because of a fear of missing a diagnosis.

@drrobgalloway
Popular drugs administered before surgery can cause patients to suffer from disturbing and hyper realistic sexual fantasies, doctors warn.

These terrifying episodes cause hallucinations can blur the boundary between dream and reality, sometimes leaving patients confused, emotionally shaken for what can be years.

Some patients become convinced they were assaulted by their doctor.

Dr Gary Wenk, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio State University, told DailyMail.com that doctors and patients should be more aware of the little-known side effect of anesthesia.

He adds: 'Although the reported incidence is apparently quite low, the experience may be under reported, especially by the female patients.'

The issue has been linked to the use of benzodiazepines, depressants that cause sedation and hypnosis, Propofol and ketamine, used to help patients relax or sleep before and during surgery, and nitric oxide, often administered during heart surgery to help relax blood vessels in the lungs.

The best analogy to explain this phenomenon Dr Wenk says, is dreaming. He explains that 'people tend to dream about things they desire or fear'.

However, 'research has shown that dreaming and anesthesia produce different types of brain activity patterns.'

A warning has been issued around popular drugs administered before surgery that can cause patients to suffer from disturbing and hyper realistic sexual fantasies

More than 40 million people undergo surgeries worldwide every year, so medical experts worry that this phenomenon could cause lasting psychological damage to patients and have professional repercussions for medical staff, if they are wrongly accused of assault.

Some studies even suggest that up to 18 percent of patients may have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy during or after anesthesia.

The most common drug used for general anesthesia during surgery is Propofol, due to its rapid effect and good recovery profile, meaning that it leads to a faster return to normal consciousness.

Dr Wenk warns in a piece for Psychology Today: 'Health care professionals need to be aware of the potential risks to the patient and legal risks for themselves.'

Dr Wenk's concerns come off the back of research out of the University of Connecticut, which looked at 87 cases.

The study revealed that four in ten of the reported sexual fantasies were associated with benzodiazepines and 'dose played an important role'.

The sexual hallucinations only happened when the two benzodiazepines - midazolam and diazepam - were administered in doses that were 'rather high'.

Your browser does not support iframes.

In another case, 110 dental surgery patients reported episodes of sexual visions or sexual arousal after being administered a 'standard cocktail' of drugs which included fentanyl, diazepam, and methohexital.

Among the patients, Dr Wenk notes that the nature of the sexual episodes varied, with 60 percent reporting that their visions happened during their surgery, while 13.3 percent said they had sexual dreams after returning home.

Meanwhile, around 10 percent of patients said that experienced 'unpleasant sexual hallucinations' while in the recovery room.

The researchers noted that with many of the cases of this phenomenon happening, the 'places of the body where procedures were conducted coincided with the area of the body where the patients perceived the sexual assault or fantasy occurred'.

Some people reported that their sexual hallucinations took a dark turn and these unpleasant visions linked to sexual assault were most associated with the use of ketamine.

'One patient stated she would not undergo anesthesia again if ketamine was used,' Dr Wenk writes.

The majority of patients who reported disturbing sexual visions were women, Dr Wenk notes, while men had more agreeable hallucinations.

Discussing this finding further, he told this website: 'The males in the study often had positive sexual fantasies that occurred more often when their therapist was female.

'The females were more likely to experience hallucinations of sexual assault, especially if their therapist was a male (which was often the case).

'Statistically, by middle age, most females are victims of some sort of sexual assault. Indeed, that experience might be the reason they seek our medical treatment and then are given one of these sedative hypnotic drugs.'

Because of this difference between the sexes, the University of Connecticut researchers deduced that males complained about their drug-induced fantasies less often.

For instance, a high number of female patients - 12 percent out of 130 - undergoing anesthesia for procedures related to the reproductive system reported experiencing 'amorous or disinhibited behaviors while sedated'.

The researchers also found that the sex of the medical team also had an impact on patients having fantasies.

Dr Wenk notes that in one of the reports featuring 300 predominantly male patients who were admitted for urological procedures focused on the urinary tract and male reproductive system, 'none of them reported having a sexually related dream when the surgical team was all male'.

However, of 40 male patients who had female anesthesiologists, one of them reported having a dream about her during his procedure.

In his piece for Psychology Today, Dr Wenk warns that benzodiazepines and propofol were not the only drugs that produced sexual fantasies.

He concludes: 'Dopamine agonists, such as ADHD medications and stimulants, dopamine antagonists, such as antipsychotics, and some antidepressants have also produced sexual fantasies in some patients.

'Dopamine-enhancing anti-Parkinson medications have been known to have a libido-stimulating effect in males.'

Meanwhile, the researchers of the original study signed off with a caution.

They wrote: 'While sexual assault hallucinations or fantasies associated with sedative hypnotics are rare, it is imperative that health care providers take the necessary precautions and follow recommendations to provide safety for themselves and their patients.'

Dr Wenk told this website that the current recommendation is for doctors to warn the patient that such an experience could happen.

However, he notes that 'the risk for both patient and therapist is that by warning that a hallucination could occur it might make it more likely for the patient to experience one.

'Sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the power of suggestion. Each therapist will have to decide which approach is best for their patient.'
Twin sisters who were born sharing a chest, stomach and pelvis have now been separated in a massive 15-hour operation involving nearly 60 medics.

Kiraz and Aruna, from Brazil, were born conjoined and shared several vital organs, making their surgical separation an incredibly complex procedure.

The one year-old sisters went under the knife on May 10th in what one of the surgeons involved said was one of the most complex ever performed in the state of Goias where they live.

The girls are what is medically known as tripus ischiopagus conjoined twins. This means the pair were joined at the pelvis and have three legs between them.

Tripus ischiopagus is rare even among conjoined twins, accounting for only about six per cent of all cases.

The sisters are still recovering in the intensive care unit of a children's hospital but are reported to be in a stable condition.

Hospital officials said a team of 16 surgeons worked in four-hour shifts to complete the mammoth operation as quickly possible to reduce the risk of potentially serious complications.

Kiraz and Aruna, from Brazil, are conjoined twins and shared several vital organs, making their surgical separation an incredibly complex procedure.

Lead surgeon Dr Zacharias Calil explained: 'There are around 16 surgeons involved, including four anaesthetists, residents, three urologists, paediatricians and orthopaedists.'

He also told local media: 'This will be one of the most complex procedures we have ever performed.'

However, the twins still face a series of follow-up procedures needed to reconstruct the tissue and organs impacted by the separation.

The 310,000 operation itself represented months of preparation.

Six months before going under the knife Kiraz and Aruna had skin expanders, special inflatable implants, inserted into their bodies.

These implants cause skin surrounding the area to stretch and grow and will help surgeons reconstruct tissue for the twins in subsequent operations.

Cases of conjoined twins are incredibly rare, occurring in as few as one in every 200,000 births, according to some estimates.

The girls, who only turned one in November last year, are what is medically known as tripus ischiopagus conjoined twins. Here a medic shows how the bones in their pelvis are connected

The sisters are still recovering in the intensive care unit of a children's hospital but are reported to be in a stable condition

Despite recent medical advances surgery to separate conjoined twins is still considered a delicate and risky procedure requiring extreme precision and care.

Mortality rates for twins who undergo surgical separation vary tremendously depending on the exact nature of their connection and which organs they share.

Since the 1950s at least one twin has survived the surgery 75 per cent of time.

Therefore, the decision to separate twins is a serious one.

Normally, twins are born after a single fertilised egg splits and develops into two individual embryos.

The split normally occurs eight to 12 days after conception with the embryos going on to develop their own tissues and organs separately.

However, in the case of conjoined twins it is believed this split happens too late and the embryos do not separate.

Approximately 40 to 60 per cent of conjoined twins arrive stillborn, while around 35 per cent survive only one day.

About one set of conjoined twins is born in the UK per 500,000 births, which translates to about one per year on average.
Sitting or lying down for long periods could increase your risk of Alzheimer's regardless how much exercise you do, a study has suggested.

Experts have long recommended 150 minutes of weekly workouts to help combat the health risks of desk-bound jobs and watching television.

But research from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville claims being active during leisure time doesn't help prevent Alzheimer's.

It found that, regardless of the amount of exercise a person did, an individual who sat or lay down for long periods each day performed worse in cognition tests and had brain shrinkage related to Alzheimers disease.

In the study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, scientists tracked more than 400 adults aged over 50.

The participants, who were dementia-free, were asked to wear a watch that measured their activity levels for a week.

Scientists used this to gauge how active they were on average.

These results were then compared to cognitive performance tests and brain scans conducted during the next seven years.

The scientists found the risk was particularly high for people carrying the APOE-e4. This gene, carried by the likes of Avengers star Chris Hemsworth, has been linked to a ten-fold increased risk of Alzheimers

Those with more sedentary time were more likely to experience Alzheimers symptoms - regardless of how much they exercised.

They also saw greater reduction in the size of their hippocampus, part of the brain crucial to memory and learning.

While this area shrinks normally as we age, this process accelerates among those with Alzheimers.

These results were observed despite almost nine in ten completing the 150 minutes of recommended exercise per week.

The scientists found the risk posed by sedentary time was particularly high for those with the APOE-e4 gene, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimers.

APOE-e4 is carried by about one in 50 people, including the likes of Avengers star Chris Hemsworth, and has been linked to a ten-fold increased risk of Alzheimers.

The authors suggested those with the APOE-e4 gene may want to take extra measures to reduce their sedentary time.

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss

Lead author Dr Marissa Gogniat said the results demonstrated the importance of avoiding sitting for long periods, even if you are otherwise fit and active.

'Reducing your risk for Alzheimers disease is not just about working out once a day,' she said.

'Minimising the time spent sitting, even if you do exercise daily, reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimers disease.'

Professor Angela Jefferson, fellow author and expert in neurology, added: 'This research highlights the importance of reducing sitting time, particularly among ageing adults at increased genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.

'It is critical to our brain health to take breaks from sitting throughout the day and move around to increase our active time.'

While the study cannot pinpoint exactly how time spent sitting increases Alzheimer's risk, they posed a theory.

Being sedentary for long periods may disrupt the healthy flow of blood to the brain, and over the long term this could lead to structural changes in the organs that contribute to Alzheimer's.

Around 900,000 Britons are thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7million in two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia in the UK.

A recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is 42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt.

An ageing population means these costs  which include lost earnings of unpaid carers  are set to soar to 90billion in the next 15 years.

Around 944,000 in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while the figure is thought to be around seven million in the US.

Alzheimer's is thought to because by a toxic build-up of proteins in the brain, which clump together to make it harder for the organ to work properly.

The brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop.

Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which worsen over time.

Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
While other boys his age were dealing with acne and mood swings, as a teenager, Neil Smith experienced none of this. For Neil, now 55 and a biomedical scientist from Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, never went through puberty.

He has Kallmann syndrome  a condition where puberty is delayed or absent, due to a problem with the release of sex hormones. Those affected have small genitals and no sex drive; they also have a reduced or total loss of smell.

Neil only noticed there was a problem around age 14. He says: 'My genitals didn't grow, I was the smallest in my year and didn't get facial hair or body odour. But I was never bullied and wasn't unhappy.'

He also had no sense of smell  'it didn't affect me much, but I was a fussy eater. But generally I didn't worry and nor did my parents. We assumed I was a late developer.'

At 15, Neil went to his GP. 'I had no blood tests, I was told to 'wait and see',' he recalls.

At this time, he also needed hearing aids  'this, plus the lack of a sense of smell and delayed development, I now know, are signs of my condition  but no one seemed to connect them', says Neil.

Neil Smith says: 'I was the smallest in my year and didn't get facial hair or body odour. But I was never bullied and wasn't unhappy'

When he was 17, Neil's GP sent him to a consultant physician. 'He took blood tests but I don't recall being told the results nor being given a diagnosis,' he says. But the doctor did prescribe Neil a low-dose testosterone injection to use monthly.

'I tried it for two years, but it made no difference,' he says.

In time, Neil went on to university, where he studied biomedical science and, although tall  at 6ft  he still had no other signs of puberty.

'I also had no sex drive,' he admits. 'My lack of sex drive was vaguely annoying, but it didn't stop me enjoying life. Perhaps in hindsight, I missed out on a lot socially.'

Then, when he started a work placement at the Royal Free Hospital, aged 23, he took the opportunity to investigate his condition further.

'I'd heard there were some prominent endocrinologists there so, one lunchtime, I walked up to one of their doors and knocked,' recalls Neil.

He explained his symptoms. The consultant asked: 'And do you have a sense of smell?'

'When I replied that I did not, he simply said: 'You have Kallmann syndrome.'

'No appointment, no tests, just me walking into his office one lunchtime to get my diagnosis.'

Normally during puberty, special nerve cells in the brain trigger the release of reproductive hormones called gonadotropins into the bloodstream to 'wake up' the gonads (testicles in males, ovaries in females) to produce the sex hormones (testosterone in males, oestrogen and progesterone in females).

But in people born with Kallmann syndrome  and it seems to affect males more than females  these nerve cells don't work properly, so they never get that signal and don't go through puberty.

As the areas of the brain that are affected also regulate smell and hearing, these senses too can be impaired.

Kallmann syndrome occurs as a result of a mutation in a gene, explains Dr Sasha Howard, an associate professor and honorary consultant in paediatric endocrinology at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Barts Health NHS Trust.

The main symptoms are absent or incomplete puberty with infertility, combined with lack of sense of smell.

'Individuals may also have no underarm or pubic hair, low libido and reduced muscle mass,' she explains. 'Males also have small testicles and a small penis; and women may have little or no breast development.

'Towards the end of puberty, testicles start to make sperm, and females start to have periods and ovulate  but this won't happen with Kallmann syndrome.'

QMUL is now running a trial, called 'PinG'  Pubertal induction with gonadotropins  focused on improving outcomes for young men with Kallmann syndrome,

Although they won't experience typical hormone-driven mood swings associated with adolescence, 'patients can develop low mood and anxiety from lack of the correct hormones and feeling different from their peers', she adds.

Kallmann syndrome affects an estimated 2,000 people in the UK, says Dr Channa Jayasena, a consultant in reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College London.

Neil needed just one blood test to confirm his condition  which showed his testosterone levels were 'lower than a normal female level', he recalls.

'In fact, the person running the test even asked: 'are you sure this is a male patient?' My testosterone level was 2.2nmol/l, when it should have been between ten and 30.'

Kallman syndrome is not the only cause of puberty-related problems. Around 2 per cent of people in the UK experience delayed puberty for a range of reasons, including a lack of puberty hormones due to a congenital problem, which causes the testicles or ovaries not to develop properly, or a chronic illness such as inflammatory bowel diseases or anorexia.

'Constitutional delay' in puberty  which affects 1 per cent of adolescents and often runs in families  leads to otherwise-healthy people entering puberty two or three years later than average (age 13 for girls and 14 for boys).

'The correct treatment for pubertal issues depends on the underlying condition,' explains Dr Howard.

'For delayed puberty, often the young person may not require treatment or can be treated with a short course of testosterone or oestrogen. But if an individual has an underlying condition such as Kallmann syndrome, then they will never go through puberty  so they will need specialist treatment with appropriate hormone replacement for life.'

After his diagnosis, Neil learned his bones might also be at risk due to not having enough testosterone for so many years.

Scans confirmed he had osteopenia  a lack of bone density that's often a precursor to osteoporosis. He was prescribed vitamins, as well as a testosterone gel and Nebido, a drug containing testosterone which was injected into his muscle every eight weeks.

'This helped with muscle and hair growth  I developed facial hair after 18 months,' recalls Neil.

'So I began to look more like an adult male. I also developed an increased sex drive, but didn't know what to do with it.

'However, treatment did not help my testicles or penis grow.'

Indeed, while testosterone treatment for a man with Kallmann syndrome can improve some symptoms  for example, their voice will deepen, explains Dr Howard, 'without the correct hormones from the brain, the testicles will remain small and underdeveloped and are not able to make sperm  so that individual remains infertile'.

Dr Jayasena adds: 'Injections of gonadotropins are much better at maturing the testicles than testosterone treatment, but they are very expensive [around 2,000-5,000 per year] and so are restricted to men with Kallmann syndrome when they want to have babies.'

QMUL is now running a trial, called 'PinG'  Pubertal induction with gonadotropins  focused on improving outcomes for young men with Kallmann syndrome, treating them with these gonadotropin medications and also focussing on improving their self-confidence and body image (increasing the likelihood of forming an intimate relationship and reducing rates of depression. The study will be recruiting 108 men aged 12 to 35 from September from 16 hospitals across the UK.

Participants will receive 18 to 24 months of gonadotropin medications and be monitored until they have completed puberty.

'They will then be followed up with their adult endocrinology team in their local hospital,' says Dr Howard.

Neil continues to have bone scans every five years and takes testosterone. 'Now I look like a man, I have facial hair, muscles and male characteristics,' he says. 'I've never had a proper relationship and don't have a regular sex life  but I have a social life and am happy considering everything.

'But looking back, I missed out on a lot: that time in adolescence where you get that surge in adrenaline, to get out there and make mistakes  that never happened.

'So I often wish I had known sooner what was going on and perhaps I could have been given medication and been able to enjoy more of my younger life.

'I hope my story raises awareness among other people. Seek help, ask for tests. I wish I had done so sooner.'

To find out more about the PinG trial, email: pingstudy@qmul.ac.uk

For information on delayed puberty go to: pituitary.org.uk
Every pregnant woman should get screened for an STD linked to rising rates of stillbirths and defects in babies, according to an influential medical panel.

The US Preventive Services Task Force, which sets clinical care guidelines for the country, issued new guidance today calling on doctors to screen for syphilis throughout pregnancies.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that women can pass to their babies in utero, known as congenital syphilis, which can interfere with the fetus' development.

Rates of the STD have been rising rapidly in recent years thanks to a combination of missed testing, treatment and prenatal care gaps, substance use, social stigma, and testing delays.

In 2023, the US reported nearly 4,000 cases of congenital syphilis, up more than a third from 2021 and 10 times higher than a decade ago.

There were also 279 congenital syphilis-related stillbirths in 2023, the highest number reported in 30 years.

A 2018 federal recommendation urged all pregnant women to be screened for the disease, but the USPSTF is emphasizing its importance by reissuing this recommendation given the upticks in cases and still births.

Women are already recommended to get screened from the disease early, at their very first visit with a gynecologist weeks of pregnancy - between eight and 12.

Women are recommended to get screened from the disease early, at their very first visit with a gynecologist weeks of pregnancy - between eight and 12. This applies to women who have been previously tested for syphilis

But the UPSTF also recommended screening at 28 weeks' gestation and a third time at delivery.

Revealing the guidance, members of the task force said: '[We] conclude with high certainty that screening for syphilis infection in pregnancy has a substantial net benefit.'

They added: 'Rates of new syphilis cases have continued to rise over the past three decades, especially in women.

'Although men account for the majority of syphilis cases, the change in incidence among women was 2 to 4 times higher than that among men between 2017 and 2021.'

Congenital syphilis can cause severe long-term problems for the baby. They may be born too early, too small, or stillborn.

Newborns with the infection can have life-threatening complications such as severe anemia, swollen liver and spleen, yellowing skin (jaundice), and bone deformities.

The infection can also cause brain and nerve damage, leading to inflammation of the covering around nerves, blindness, and permanent hearing loss.

The USPSTF said: 'A recent analysis of national data from 2022 found that 5 percent of congenital syphilis cases (197/3761 cases) occurred in late pregnancy after having had a negative syphilis screening result earlier in pregnancy.

In 2023, states and DC reported nearly 4,000 cases of congenital syphilis. This marks a 3 percent rise from 2022, following a 32 percent surge from 2021 to 2022.

'Similar to the disparities seen in the burden of syphilis, 40.6 percent of these cases occurred in Black women, 28.4 percent occurred in Hispanic or Latina women, and 19.8 percent occurred in White women.'

Some retrospective studies estimate that 25 percent to 50 percent of congenital syphilis cases could be prevented by repeat screening in the third trimester of pregnancy.

The task force added: Congenital syphilis increased more than 10-fold over a recent decade, from 334 cases in 2012 to 3882 cases in 2023.

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'It is estimated that almost 90 percent of new congenital syphilis cases could have been prevented with timely testing and treatment.'

The infection can be cured in utero with consistent treatment with the antibiotic penicillin, ideally before the second trimester.

A 2014 systematic review of 54 observational studies found that the incidence of congenital syphilis, preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and newborn infant death was dramatically reduced in pregnant women treated for syphilis during pregnancy compared with those who had untreated syphilis.

Screening for congenital syphilis involves a blood test that detects antibodies that may reflect infection with Treponema pallidum, the organism that causes syphilis.

Most states mandate screening for syphilis in all pregnant women at the first prenatal visit, and some mandate repeat screening early in the third trimester and at delivery.

During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes that can sometimes cause false positives on syphilis screening tests.

These tests look for signs of tissue damage, not just syphilis itself. Pregnancy can trigger similar reactions because of hormonal shifts, immune system adjustments, or other conditions like autoimmune diseases.

A positive result on the first test doesnt always mean syphilisit needs a second, more specific test to confirm.

The infection is spread through contact with fecal matter. Unhoused people are more likely to experience the dangerous infection given lack of easy access to handwashing and public restrooms.

Infection is also more common in women living in areas where cases are generally high, those with a history of HIV, incarceration, or sex work.

'Clinicians should be aware of the prevalence of syphilis infection in the communities they serve and state mandates for syphilis screening,' the task force said.
Robert F Kennedy Junior has sparked health fears after sharing pictures of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a DC creek that is contaminated with feces.

Authorities warn that Rock Creek, used to drain excess sewage and storm water in heavy rainfall, is teeming with E.coli and other dangerous bacteria.

The health secretary, 71, took a dip in it with his grandchildren this Mother's Day, sharing photos of the swim online, showing himself in the water with his jeans on and, at one point, fully submerged.

The National Park Service, which manages the Creek, warns online: 'Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading and other contact with the water a hazard to human health.

'Please protect yourself and your pooches by staying on trails and out of the creek.'

It adds in the advisory: 'All District waterways are subject to a swim ban  this means wading, too!'

Robert F Kennedy Junior is pictured above in Rock Creek, Washington DC, that authorities warn is contaminated with feces

Above he is shown being splashed with the water by one of his grandchildren

Rock Creek, which runs through Dumbarton Oaks Park in the city, has had a swim ban for more than 50 years because of sewage contamination.

Sampling of water running through Rock Creek in September last year, the latest available, revealed an E.coli level in the water of 285 per 100 milliliters.

The World Health Organization suggests that any count over 10 per sample is 'low risk', while any over 100 is 'medium risk'.

The Health Secretary shared images of himself taking the dip on Sunday with the caption: 'Mother's Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius, in Rock Creek.'

His post on X has since had a community notes warning placed onto it, which reads: 'Swimming in Rock Creek is dangerous and prohibited by the National Park Service, as the creek contains dangerously high bacteria levels.'

Some followers were quick to point out that the water around DC is dangerous and can be contaminated with bacteria.

But others heralded him for taking a dip, and applauded his 'healthy and happy family'.

DailyMail.com has contacted RFK Jr's representatives for comment.

People can catch E.coli from contaminated water by swallowing it while swimming or drinking the water.

Symptoms appear within two to eight days of infection, and begin as severe stomach cramps, watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and a mild fever.

RFK Junior is shown above fully submerging himself in the water

In rare cases, the infection can cause dehydration and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is when small red blood cells become damaged, inflamed and form clots in the bloodstream. This can cause the kidneys to shut down.

The infection is treated using antibiotics and an IV drip to replace lost fluids.

About 73,000 Americans are infected with E.coli every year, although this is commonly linked to consuming food contaminated with the bacteria.

An estimated 2,168 people are hospitalized, while 61 people die from the infection.

It's just the latest in a series of peculiar incidents related to RFK's outdoors personality.

Previously, his family members have said RFK decapitated a whale carcass in 1994 after its body washed up on a beach near Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

His daughter Kick told Town and Country magazine in 2012: '[He] ran down to the beach with a chainsaw, cut off the whale's head and then bungee-corded it to the roof of the family minivan for the five-hour haul back to Mount Kisco, New York.'

She added: 'Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet.'

RFK has also recounted how he once dumped a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park in 2014.

And on the campaign trail, the then-Presidential hopeful told crowds how he had a dead worm lodged in his brain.
Millions of pounds worth of fuel has been stolen from petrol stations in the last five years, new data shows.

A staggering 110,000 instances of drivers fleeing the pumps without paying were recorded between 2020 and 2024 as criminals pilfered an estimated 5.5million of unleaded and diesel, according to an investigation by Forecourt Trader shared with This is Money.

It also revealed the low volume of arrests made by police linked to fuel theft - also known as 'bilking'.

Forces responding to the probe said that in up to 94 per cent of instances, officers fail to identify a suspect, let alone reprimanded those who drive off without paying.

Senior officers involved in these investigations heavily link the activity to organised crime gangs who use a variety of tactics to make them difficult to trace.

Millions of pounds worth of fuel has been stolen from UK petrol station forecourts in the last five years, an investigation has uncovered

While there is no specific offence code for robbing from fuel pumps, this criminal action falls under the wider 'making off without payment' banner (MOWP), which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment.

It is also the offence type for those who make off without paying taxi drivers at the end of journeys, fail to settle a bill at a restaurant and evade payment at other businesses.

While Forecourt Trader said 31 of the nation's 45 police forces supplied data for the number of criminals driving away from filling stations without making payment, it found constabularies take varying approaches when recording this information.

In fact, just five constabularies consistently held accounts for the value of stolen fuel in their areas.

Those that did keep a record of this information revealed that the average loss to filling stations across the last five years was 49.90 per drive off.

Nationally, it calculated that an average of 422 fuel station drive-offs are reported each week, based on the feedback collated.

It said 74,210 recorded MOWP incidents occurred at petrol stations - or involved the theft of fuel - between 2020 and 2024.

These cases saw an estimated 3.7million of petrol and diesel pumped into cars of thieves who didn't cough up.

It then estimated that a further 35,612 MOWP offences comprised drive-offs over the same period, adding 1.78million to the value of fuel stolen.

This takes the national tally to 109,822 individual instances of petrol bilking at a total value of 5.48million.

Gordon Balmer, executive director at the Petrol Retailers Association, which represents the nation's independent filling stations, forecourts at motorway services and supermarkets, said the issue of fuel theft has 'persisted and worsened' over the years.

He told This is Money: 'Forecourt crime is getting worse, with criminals stealing from the pumps with impunity.

'These criminals do not fear the police, because the police rarely follow up on the reported crimes, even when given the perpetrators license plates and CCTV footage.

'This lack of action empowers the thieves that continue to steal from hard-working retailers.'

He added: 'This is not a victimless crime. Many of our members run family businesses that are suffering huge losses through the Governments failure to enforce these crimes.

'If the authorities do not want to enforce the law, they should come out and say it. It would save our members the time and energy it takes to report crimes, only for no action to be taken.'

Forecourt Trader estimates that there are 422 fuel station drive-offs reported each week in the UK

Low fuel theft arrest rates

When petrol station operators notify police of a drive-off taking place, retailers said they often receive a generic text message or email within hours of logging the crime to say the perpetrator could not be identified.

One text reportedly seen by Forecourt Trader read: 'We have not been able to identify the suspect responsible for this crime and therefore our investigation is now complete.'

In many instances the trade publication looked in to, officers failed to visit the filling station targeted to review the CCTV footage showing the suspect, their car and its registration plate.

'As the average value of fuel taken in each drive-off is around 50, well below the 200 limit under which theft is classified as a 'summary' crime, these incidents have less chance of being fully investigated by police, so while drive-offs are common, arrests and prosecutions are rare  though this may be remedied by the Crime and Policing Bill currently making its way through parliament,' Forecourt Trader said.

Sussex Police, for instance, logged 2,892 MOWPs relating to stolen fuel between 2020 and 2024. These had a calculated value loss to retailers of 144,314.

In 2,727 of these instances logged with Sussex Police  which is representative of 95 per cent of reported theft  crimes record showed 'investigation complete: no suspect ID' recorded against them.

A mere 37 incidents resulted in an offender being charged or summonsed, while a further eight people were cautioned and four ordered to do community service.

The Metropolitan Police held record of 15,787 MOWP offences taking place at filling stations over the five-year spell, with fuel worth around 788,000 stolen.

Humberside Police also logged 3,008 instances of motorists making off without paying for petrol or diesel, which cost retailers an estimated 150,102.

In 83 per cent (2,489) of these reports, no suspect was identified.

'A further 200 cases saw 'named suspect but evidential difficulties CPS and Police' recorded against them, while investigations by Humberside officers brought about 73 community resolutions, and saw people charged or summoned to court 115 times, equivalent to 3.8 per cent of cases,' Forecourt Trader said.

South Yorkshire filling stations were subject to 3,483 MOWPs (estimated to be worth 173,805) but only 1.2 per cent (43 cases) of police investigations saw an offender charged  police listed 91 per cent of instances as having no suspect.

West Yorkshire Police recorded a massive 8,780 fuel thefts amounting to an estimated 438,131 over the same period. Less than nine in ten (86 per cent) saw police identify a suspect.

Hertfordshire Police and Leicestershire Police - recording 6,749 (estimated at 336,782) and 4,549 (estimate value of 227,000) MOWPs respectively  didn't find a suspect in 92 per cent of reported cases.

Gordon Balmer, executive director at the Petrol Retailers Association, said the issue of fuel theft has 'persisted and worsened' over the years

When asked about low prosecution rates for fuel theft, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner told Forecourt Trader that the vast majority of instances were 'linked to other serious organised criminality'.

However, the APCC added that police forces should not 'be complacent about these crimes because they are not victimless or low-level, as is sometimes suggested'.

A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs' Council also responded to the investigation.

'Forces have regular interactions with commercial providers and organisations, including petrol stations, about the security of their sites and continue to work with them to make it harder for criminals to commit this type of offence,' they said.

'In some cases, there may not be enough intelligence or data for police to act on.

'This does not mean that a crime is closed indefinitely or that intelligence or information is ignored.

'Intelligence is vital in detecting organised criminality, and we would encourage anyone who suspects criminality in their community to report it to police, including theft.'

The RAC Foundation in 2023 reported that instances of bilking had risen 362 per cent compared to before the pandemic.

But while it said that the increase might partly be linked to the cost-of-living squeeze and a surge in shoplifting, it also said it was a sign of 'more systematic criminal activity', suggesting organised gangs are the main perpetrators.

'The message to anyone tempted to bilk the service station must be 'don't fill up if you can't pay up' because getting caught is a real possibility, and financial losses to companies ultimately lead to higher prices for us all,' said Steve Gooding, director at the transport policy organisation.

These are the tactics used by organised crime gangs to steal petrol and diesel - and why the police is struggling to get a grip on these repeat offenders

Tactics used by criminal gangs to steal almost 1m of fuel a year

Forecourts are enforced by security systems policed by ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras provided by companies including Forecourt Eye, Vars Technology and Big Brother.

They include a blacklist database of vehicles that alerts retailers when a car associated with drive-offs enters a petrol station, and also helps forecourts recover money from unpaid fuel.

Data supplied by Vars Technology indicates that around 13 per cent of all drive-offs involved motors using cloned numberplates from a vehicle of similar make, age and colour, as well as fake registration number combinations, or cars with no registered keepers.

Cross-referenced with the DVLA's database, Vars found that 5,449 vehicles with cloned plates and 902 with fake registrations, together with 3,303 vehicles with no registered keeper, were used for MOWPs in 2024 alone.

John Garnett, a director at Vars Technology, told Forecourt Trader that offenders are rarely caught because 'police forces are under-resourced and under-funded'.
The velocity of the zigzags in Trump trade mayhem is remarkable. No one expected US peace in our time at the Geneva talks with China at the weekend, but what emerged is better than predicted.

Just over a month after Liberation Day, the core tariff conflict between the US and China is far less toxic.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the grown up in the room in Washington, reached an accord which reduces the extra tariffs imposed on China this year to 30 per cent from 145 per cent. China is cutting them from 125 per cent to 10 per cent.

The Peoples Republic still faces a 30 per cent tariff imposed before April 2, including the penalties aimed at Fentanyl. Pre-existing levies on electric vehicles, steel and aluminium remain in place.

The changes should bring a smile to Americas kids since 80 per cent of toys come from China.

More broadly, the 90-day pact should repair damage to the Magnificent Seven  important to UK investors through investment trusts such as Scottish Mortgage.

Pharma fight: Donald Trump holds up an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals

In Trumpland, there is rarely a free lunch. A notable absence from Britains much trumpeted VE-day trade deal was big pharma.

Life sciences are a core strength for Britain and the US Presidents executive order seeking to cut domestic prescription prices by 30 per cent to 80 per cent is a source of anxiety. Trump says that all he is doing is equalising.

Americas best lever for action is government-sponsored healthcare for elderly and less well-off Americans  Medicare and Medicaid  which account for a chunky 20 per cent of the market.

The USs fractured health system has led to consumers paying prices that can be triple those in other developed countries with middlemen taking a chunk.

History is not on Trumps side. When he sought to limit the pricing power of big pharma in his first term, he was knocked back by the courts.

A narrower initiative by Joe Biden, aimed at Medicare, lowered the price of ten widely used drug treatments. Nevertheless, it is a shot across the bows, and pharma groups should be prepared for battle.

There is a possibility that negotiated deals with individual firms, such as AstraZeneca and GSK, eventually will be rolled into wider trade agreements.

Trumps shock-and-awe trade and pricing strategies have impaired business and economic confidence. If the trade deals seen so far reduce uncertainty, that, in the view of Bank of England deputy governor Clare Lombardelli, is very, very good news.

Lets hope so.

Pig headed

Each time a trade deal is signed, the response from Britains farm lobby is predictable. Dont violate the UKs high food standards.

The UK public is fed intensive pro-farm messages through broadcasts such as Countryfile, Farming Today and The Archers, where currently an animal welfare raid on an abattoir is portrayed as betrayal.

This weekends Mail on Sunday expose of cruelty on a Cranswick pig facility in Lincolnshire shows we never know what happens behind the farm gate.

The rigorous standards required by the UKs biggest grocers, Tesco and Sainsburys  both of which cut ties with the Cranswick supplier concerned  clearly are not good enough.

Cranswick shares were on a lick ahead of revelations of abuse. The farm at the centre of the scandal represents less than 1pc of the output controlled by the company.

But one should never underestimate reputational damage. Repairing the 7.1 per cent fall in the shares will take time.

Pensions U-turn

Neglect of UK shares by British long-term pension funds and insurers has been shaming.

It has made it easy for overseas predators and private equity to snaffle up tech innovators such as Arm Holdings, Deep Minds and Darktrace, and heritage firms such as the Royal Mail.

It can only come as a relief that 17 of Britains biggest savings providers finally have signed up to the Mansion House Accord promising to devote 10 per cent of defined contribution funds to private markets.

By acting now, the firms seek to pre-empt any effort by Labour to direct investment strategies. Pity that just half the cash designated is heading for Britain. The US, after all, can take care of itself.
EV drivers could benefit from cheaper public charging if the Government goes ahead with new 'solar car parks'.

The introduction of solar canopies in car parks aims to give EV drivers cheaper charging costs and save motorists money - and also would mean fewer panels being built on fields.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced a call for evidence to understand how to harness the untapped potential of solar car parks across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lilian Greenwood, Future of Roads Minister, said: 'We're committed to ensuring electric car drivers are always close to a charger and can save money when making the switch.

'Today is another positive example of how we're harnessing the net zero transition to give drivers more choice and help them get around with greater peace of mind.'

The Government pointed to multiple examples of solar carports, the biggest being the Bentley Motors manufacturing facility in Cheshire - the largest solar carport in the UK.

Its 10,000 solar panels generate 2.7MW and work in tandem with 6.6MW of battery storage so that all Bentley's manufacturing operations can be solar powered.

The government has proposed solar carports to give EV drivers cheaper public charging using clean, renewable energy

The move is part of the Government's Plan for Change, and would help supermarkets, retail parks and offices also save money on their energy bills by turning their car parks into 'solar carports', by being powered by clean, cheap and secure power.

The savings, of up to an estimated 28,000 a year for an 80-space car park, could also be coupled with companies making back the cost of installing solar in car parks by selling energy back to the grid.

Solar carports are already mandatory in some European countries, including France and Slovenia, providing an abundance cheaper solar power.

As well as delivering cheap EV charging, solar canopies provide cover and shade cooler environment, a benefit to both car and customer.

Ben Cox, of Sovereign Centros - a group that runs shopping centres and retail parks - said: 'With the largest number of EV charging points of any shopping centre in the country, and over 5,000 PV panels in action, including those on car ports in Green and Blue Mall car parks, we have already taken great steps to secure a more sustainable future.

'We welcome the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero's call for evidence which will allow us to invest further into these facilities to support the government's national agenda.'

There are already a number of car parks across the UK with solar panel canopies

Examples of solar carports across the UK

Last year This is Money visited Dundee Council's solar charging hubs.

The council has a multi-model charging hub on Queen Street, Broughty Ferry  which has six contactless payment 50kW chargers and five 22kW chargers powered by a solar canopy  and a Clepington Road charging hub, which has a state-of-the-art Bluewater rain water filtration system fitted in the canopy roof.

The Greenmarket multi-storey car park's 20 charging bays are also powered by solar canopies which output 41kW.

One central unit controls the chargers, releasing energy when needed under 'dynamic load management', making energy output cheaper.

Second life EV batteries  which can no longer power an EV - store solar energy to use when energy demand is higher.

This innovative battery storage system is also in play at the Clepington Road charging hub.

Each of Clepington's two second-life battery storage units can store energy  either from the sun or cheap off-peak energy - to power 5,000 charging sessions (if each driver uses an average 20kW), making charging more eco and cheaper.

The government has also pointed to the examples of Eastbourne District General Hospital which became the first solar carport to power a hospital, cutting the hospital's emissions by 222 tonnes in the first year, and Stourton Park & Ride in Leeds which hosts a 1.2 MW solar carport, providing EV charging infrastructure for 26 spaces.

The Metrocentre in Gateshead also has over 5,300 rooftop and carport solar panels providing enough power to supply 40 per cent of their annual electricity usage.

InstaVolt Winchester Superhub is the UK's largest ultra-rapid charging hub

How solar panels can reduce cost of public charging - InstaVolt

InstaVolt's Winchester Superhub is the first InstaVolt site to feature an on-site solar farm.

The 870 panels and advanced battery storage systems with 960kW/4MWh total capacity, reduce reliance on the national grid, enabling the site to generate and store clean energy.

This cost-effective and self-sufficient energy model keeps operational costs low and shields against energy price volatility, with savings passed directly to drivers through reduced tariffs.

As such there's a standard charging rate at the flagship Winchester Superhub of 65p per kWh which can be accessed using the InstaVolt App or RFID card.

Off-peak charging is even less thanks to the solar panels, at just 50p per kWh, from 7pm to 7am daily. This is one of the cheapest PAYG ultra-rapid rates in the country.
Britain's biggest pension funds have pledged to boost investment in businesses and infrastructure projects in the UK.

Ministers said the Mansion House Accord, which will today be signed by 17 of the UK's largest retirement pot providers, could unlock 50billion for the economy.

But industry leaders warned that the Government must develop a pipeline of investment opportunities for the new targets to be met.

Fears are mounting that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will mandate pension allocations if investment in the UK continues to lag.

Aviva, Legal & General and the Universities Superannuation Scheme are among the providers that have promised to invest 10 per cent of workplace pensions in unlisted assets by 2030. Of that, 5 per cent will be allocated to the UK.

It means pension providers will aim to invest more in assets that are not listed on major stock markets.

Investment boost: Ministers said the Mansion House Accord, which will today be signed by 17 of the UK's largest retirement pot providers, could unlock 50bn for the economy

Retirement savings could be used to fund start-ups, infrastructure schemes and housebuilding.

Amanda Blanc, chief executive of Aviva, said the accord was a 'major opportunity for the

pension and investment industry to support UK growth while delivering improved outcomes for pension savers'.

The agreement 'will unlock investment in UK private markets while helping deliver better long-term returns and retirements for pension savers,' Phoenix Group boss Andy Briggs said.

'The new commitments have the potential to strengthen the economy by fuelling the growth of British businesses,' he added.

Michael Moore, chief executive of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, said: 'This agreement could be a huge step forward for the UK economy if the signatories follow through on their commitments.'

Aegon UK, Aon, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, NatWest Cushon, Nest, Now: pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People's Pension, SEI and TPT Retirement Solutions are among the other firms to back the accord.

Yvonne Braun, director of policy at industry body the ABI, said: 'It is now critical that the Government supports the industry's ambition by facilitating a pipeline of suitable investment opportunities, tackling barriers to investments and delivering wider pension reforms effectively.'

The Chancellor said: 'I back this bold step by some of our biggest pension funds, which will unlock billions for major infrastructure, clean energy and exciting start-ups  delivering growth, boosting pension pots and giving working people greater security in retirement.'
On The Beach is expecting a record summer with holiday bookings currently 14 per cent higher than at the same point a year ago.

The London-listed holiday group said demand for package holidays remained high, with Britons continuing to prioritise spending on travel.

Demand for City break packages, as well as beach breaks, was solid in the half, the company said.

It reported a double-digit profit rise in another market-outperforming trading update on Tuesday.

The Manchester-based business said it would meet its annual profit expectations after a 23 per cent rise in first-half profit.

The travel group said it was expecting to see another record year of sales.

Booming: On The Beach has reported a spike in demand for summer travel

In the first half, its adjusted revenue grew 12 per cent year-on-year, while the EBITDA rose 19 per cent year-on-year.

The group's pre-tax profit increased by 18 per cent year-on-year in the period, while its net dent fell from 47.3million to 29.5million.

The total value of booked deals with customers jumped 13 per cent to 640.7million, , driven by an 11 per cent rise in booking volumes.

In 2024, On the Beach started selling packages that focus on city destinations rather than beach locations and upgraded its booking platform.

The company, which has a tie-up with Ryanair, has 130 short and long haul destinations, and increased its airline capacity to beach destinations by 5 per cent year-on-year.

The group also said it was reaching new customers after expanding into Ireland.

Chief executive, Shaun Morton, said: 'This record interim performance was driven by increased passenger bookings and reflects the strength of the On the Beach holiday proposition.

'Embedding perks into our app has resonated well with customers, while transformational development to our platform have facilitated our successful expansion into Ireland and City break packages.

'Demand for holidays remains strong as our customers continue to prioritise travel, and we are proud to have increased the breadth and quality of our offer so that they can holiday better and more often.'

On The Beach shares rose 0.83 per cent or 2.24p to 272.24p on Tuesday, having risen over 60 per cent in the last year.

On dividends, the group said: 'Interim dividend of 1.0p per share declared in line with capital allocation policy (+11 per cent vs H1 24).'

Mark Crouch, an analyst at eToro said: 'On the Beach is gaining serious momentum with shares nearly tripling in under two years, and this mornings interim results explain why.

'Despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, the companys flexible bookings and value-for-money packages continues to resonate with budget-conscious holidaymakers, driving double-digit growth in bookings, volume, and profits.

'A bold strategic move of aggressively expanding to 130 cities and establishing a presence in the Republic of Ireland has paid off, significantly widening the company's market scope.

'Heading into the summer, On the Beach is well positioned to capitalise on the peak-season demand and earnings momentum could accelerate further. And while shares remain below pre-Covid highs, recent progress suggests this recovery story has real strength and long-term potential.'
Iceland will close two UK stores by the end of July in a blow to shoppers in the areas affected.

The supermarket's College Square store in Margate will be closing on 21 June, the frozen supermarket group revealed on Tuesday.

Iceland said staff working at the Margate store would, where possible, be redeployed elsewhere.

Its supermarket in Inverness city centre will also close for good on 12 July.

Customers at the Inverness store had reportedly complained about the parking charges and fines issued by a third-party car park operator, The Press and Journal said.

Parking charges have become a major issue for local high streets and are regulary cited by shoppers as a reason for not visiting town centres.

Shop closures: Iceland is closing two stores by the end of July

Earlier this year, two reports said parking charges were contributing significantly to the death of the high street.

Three in five drivers were deterred from visiting their local high street due to parking chargers, research from Direct Line business insurance found.

Meanwhile, a poll of 11,333 AA members revealed two-third of motorists would be turned off parking near the high street if it cost more than 10 for four to five hours.

A British Retail Consortium's report had previously said that 'high streets and shopping centres were hit particularly hard through 2024 as people veered towards retail parks to take advantage of free parking.'

Mark Summerville, SME product manager at Direct Line Business insurance, said: 'Keeping charges down, or lowering them, could help revive high streets, encourage local businesses to stay open and create additional employment  all of which may also boost council revenues.'

Iceland has not disclosed why either of the two stores were selected for closure.

On the closure in Margate, an Iceland spokesperson, said: 'Our store colleagues have entered into a consultation process and have been offered opportunities at surrounding stores where possible.'

On shutting its store in Inverness, Iceland said: 'We can confirm our Iceland store located at Rose Street, Inverness, is scheduled to close on 12th July 2025.

'Our store colleagues will enter into a consultation process and will be offered opportunities at surrounding stores where possible.

'Shoppers can visit our local Food Warehouse store in Inverness located on Telford Street, IV3 5LU.'

In February, Iceland closed its Derbion Shopping Centre branch in Derby and relocated it to nearby London Road.

In recent months, Iceland has shut several shops, including its Welling branch in London.

Branches at Shenley Road, Borehamwood and Alphington Road Retail Park, Exeter, were also axed.

Earlier this year, Iceland said it planned to open 20 Iceland and Food Warehouse stores by the end of April.

In April, bosses at the group claimed a new 500,000 sq. ft. 100million distribution centre in Warrington would be 'game-changing' for the business.

The Omega Park Site in Warrington, which opened in partnership with GXO in February, supplies around 350 Iceland stores across the north wets of England, the Scottish borders and Wales.

The group is aiming to double its network of Food Warehouse stores. Some of the new Food Warehouse stores are expected to be located close to existing Iceland stores.

In January, Iceland encouraged workers at Sainsbury's who had lost their jobs due to store closures to apply for roles at Iceland.

On 23 January, Sainsbury's announced it would cut 3,000 jobs and shut down its remaining cafes, patisserie and pizza counters.

Sainsbury's said the move would 'simplify the business', adding that most shoppers 'do not use the cafes regularly'.

Sainsbury's also made a 20 per cent reduction in senior management roles, claiming the business faced a 'particularly challenging cost environment'.

Across Britain, supermarkets face higher employer national insurance contributions and are grappling with shifting consumer habits, cost pressures and the growing demand for convenience and online shopping.
NatWest tried to buy Santander UK's retail bank arm for around 11billion earlier this year, reports claim.

But Santander is said to have rejected the bid after the Spanish lender said the offer was too low.

Takeover talks between the two banks are no longer active, according to the Financial Times.

Had a NatWest takeover of Santander gone ahead, it would have led to the biggest banking deal since the financial crisis.

Though unsuccessful, the takeover proposal could herald NatWest gearing up for an acquisition spree as its next move.

It comes as the Government heads for the exit on its former majority stake in the bank.

New chapter: NatWest could be set for an acquisition spree as the Government prepares to exit its stake in the lender within weeks

NatWest was taken into public control in 2008 when the Government was forced to inject a total of 45.5billion into the stricken lender, then Royal Bank of Scotland, during the height of the financial crisis.

It ended up holding an 84 per cent stake in NatWest after the hefty taxpayer bailout.

Since then, the Government has steadily been unwinding its stake in the bank.

It dipped below 30 per cent for the first time in March 2024, meaning the Government was no longer a 'controlling shareholder'.

The Government's stake in NatWest now stands at just 2 per cent and it is expected to exit entirely within weeks.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'As NatWest has become leaner and is finally set to close the chapter of state ownership, it looks primed for opportunity ahead.'

NatWest posted first-quarter income of 4billion, up 15 per cent, with strong growth across the board.

Operating profits rose 36 per cent to 1.8billion helped by a 4 per cent drop in operating costs.

The group's CET1 ratio, a key measure of financial strength, was 13.8 per cent at the end of the first quarter this year, at the upper end of its target range.

Susannah Streeter said: 'With its financial position robust, management will may well be eyeing up opportunities for acquisition given the tailwinds it's been enjoying.

Regarding acquisition opportunities, Thwaite said: 'We will obviously be thoughtful and look across the market from an M&A perspective.

'It's a high bar both financially and operationally. It needs to be absolutely compelling from a shareholder perspective.'

In the group's first quarter earnings updates, impairments of 189million were higher than expected in anticipation of a weakening economic outlook.

Given the economic uncertainty ahead, Streeter said: 'There may not be an imminent push right now to dive into potential deals.'

A NatWest Group spokesman said: 'We don't comment on speculation,' in response to the Santander takeover.

A Santander spokesman said: 'As we have said, the UK is not for sale and is a core part of Santander's diversified business model.'

There were rumours earlier in the year that Santander was looking to exit Britain after two decades, with excessive red tape said to be partly to blame.

Speculation had even begun to swirl over who would buy the business.

It has also, like other lenders, been grappling with the cost of a car finance scandal. It has set aside 295million to cover the cost of providing compensation after a recent court ruling.

NatWest last year acquired Sainsbury's banking business and a chunk of mortgage loans from Metro Bank. In 2023, it bought a majority stake in workplace savings and pensions fintech, Cushon.
Boston's mayor has been accused of 'dictatorial' behavior for kicking an employee out of office just days after he announced plans to run against her in this year's election.

John Houton, a lawyer in Boston's city treasury, says he was put on paid administrative leave for challenging his boss, Mayor Michelle Wu, a punishment he likens to communist-run China.

Both candidates are Democrats. But while Wu, 40, trumpets Boston's pro-immigrant sanctuary rules, Houton, 58, says he would help the Trump administration round up illegals, if elected.

'I'd expect this from Chairman Mao's China, but not modern-day Boston,' Houton told Daily Mail.

'It's clearly an effort to intimidate me and my family and to stop me from collecting signatures. Other city employees are running for office, but I am singled out because of my particular speech and content.'

Wu's office says City Hall lawyers have to stay 'non-political' and that the mayor was not involved in the decision about Houton's job.

Houton announced plans to unseat Wu earlier this month, saying the progressive mayor's anti-Trump rhetoric will cost the city in federal dollars, and is out of step with blue-collar Boston voters.

The married dad-of-three offers Bostonians instead a platform of 'kitchen table' issues to tackle migrant flows into Massachusetts, homelessness, high housing costs and traffic.

Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu says she's standing up to the Trump administration's immigrant crackdown, during her reelection campaign

John Houton, one of Wu's treasury department lawyers, says he's been kicked out of the office for daring to run against the mayor

He was on Friday told by his boss that he had to leave the office while he's investigated for conflicts of interests in relation to his political run, he says.

A city spokesperson said the decision about Houton was made by the human resources team and that Mayor Wu was 'not involved.'

'In order to perform its essential functions, the law department's work depends on being fully non-political in its operations,' said the spokesperson.

'Importantly, the department must be perceived as non-political by cabinet chiefs and department heads seeking advice and counsel.'

In general, employees of city halls across the US are not barred from seeking political office, though in some cases they are urged to take a leave of absence from their posts.

More than a dozen Democratic and independent candidates are running or have announced mayoral bids.

A first round in September will narrow the field to a two-way vote on November 4.

Houton's odds are long. Wu, the incumbent, remains popular. Her main challenger, Josh Kraft, is the well-resourced son of the New England Patriots' CEO and billionaire owner, Robert Kraft.

But the large number of candidates, the entry of a City Hall insider to the race, and a frantic debate about the Democratic Party's future direction could yet spell trouble for Wu.

'People come to Boston to live and work in an important, historic city with its great universities and hospitals,' says Houton.

'They don't come here to be part of Madam Wu's ideological pursuits.'

Wu made history when she took office in 2022 as Boston's first non-white mayor, offering an unabashedly progressive and climate-friendly platform of free public transport and rent controls.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, she's championed the city's sanctuary policies, which limit the ways local police can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Trump's 'border czar' Tom Homan has slammed Wu for impeding his roundup of unauthorized migrants, and has spotlighted Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Boston.

Last month, Wu sparred with Republicans at a House Oversight hearing in Washington, DC, when she defended Boston's sanctuary policies and trumpeted the city's falling homicide rate.

Wu remains relatively popular in Boston, even though her support for pro-migrant sanctuary policies irks many voters

Houton, 58, a married dad-of-three, says Bostonians are tired of 'Madam Wu's ideological pursuits'

Houton says Wu's grandstanding 'really irked' him and was at odds with blue-collar Bostonians, who he says worry about migrant flows and federal officials cutting cash flows to the city.

'Under my administration, whatever cooperation the federal government needs to accomplish its policy objectives, Boston will not stand in the way,' Houton says.

'We should enforce the law so that we don't have hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants coming across the border.'

Federal anti-immigration efforts in Boston were spotlighted again last month by the prosecution of a local judge who allegedly let a twice-deported migrant to flee before he could be nabbed by federal agents.

Boston District Court magistrate Shelley Joseph will face a public hearing in June for her 'willful judicial misconduct' for allegedly allowing the illegal immigrant to slip out a side door to avoid ICE agents.

Houton, from the working-class southern Boston area of Dorchester, says he supports legal immigration, and that he's from Irish stock and is married to a Polish woman.

He spoke to The Mail on Monday, while he was in downtown Boston to collect signatures to support his candidacy. He needs 3,000 by May 20 to file his papers and qualify for the race.

He calls himself a Democrat, but he says more akin to former presidents Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy than the progressivism that he complains has 'changed' the party beyond recognition.

'I don't wear a party badge. I'm an American. I'm a Bostonian, to the core,' he says.

He vows to cut the number of bicycle lanes that have shot up in recent years, snarling up traffic and making it difficult to get a 'fire engine down the street during the middle of the day.'

Federal immigration agents have stepped up raids in Boston under the Trump administration

Homelessness in an in area commonly known as Mass and Cass is seen as a problem by voters

Judge Shelley Joseph, a Boston Municipal Court judge, could face removal from the bench for allegedly allowing an illegal immigrant to slip out a side door to avoid federal agents

While Wu champions public safety in Boston and a sharp fall in homicides to levels not seen since the 1950s, Houton points to other social problems that he says have festered under her watch.

For years, the crises of drugs, mental health, and homelessness have collided at the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue, which locals call 'Methadone Mile.'

'It's a disaster  a magnet for people, not just in Boston, from all around, who come here and think they'll get housing and support from the city,' says Houton.

'I will make changes and fix that.'

He also promises to address the housing crisis. Home sale prices have jumped by more than 4 percent his past year, and typical prices are well above $1 million in Boston's fancier zip codes.

Housing costs have also been a focus of Kraft's campaign. Kraft plans to streamline the process for building new homes, and change the rules on rent controls and property tax revenues.

The political outsider, who spent 30 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, also campaigns against more bike and bus lanes, but unlike Houton has defended the city's migrant sanctuary rules.

Even with his name recognition and family fortune, Kraft will have a hard time unseating Wu in the race to lead the liberal-leaning Massachusetts city of 654,000 people.

An incumbent Boston mayor has not been voted out of office since 1949, when James Michael Curley was ousted after he spent time behind bars.

Wu still has plenty of fans in Boston and an approval rating of 61 percent, a recent poll shows

Some voters say Boston has too many bike lanes, which limit motorists to a single lane and snarl up traffic

Josh Kraft, the well-resourced son of the New England Patriots' CEO and billionaire owner, Robert Kraft, is also running

Wu is also popular. Polling from Saint Anselm College last month found she has a 61 percent approval rating and that half of likely voters said she deserves another four years in office.

Voters are particularly worried about housing costs, traffic management and homelessness, the survey of 564 Boston voters found between April 23 and 25.

'Heading into the campaign, incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu has begun to consolidate the support she will need for her reelection efforts,' said pollster Neil Levesque.

'Boston has a young, well-educated and diverse electorate that seems satisfied with Wu's leadership and the overall state of the city.'
A rape survivor has spoken of being 'humiliated at the trial of her attacker during a bruising court ordeal.

Ellie Wilson crowd-funded to prepare for a successful complaint against defence lawyer Lorenzo Alonzi after her rapist, Daniel McFarlane, was jailed for five years, and now campaigns for victims rights.

She is the subject of a new BBC documentary, which followed Ms Wilson over nine months - after she discovered McFarlane was up for parole and was being considered for early release, which he was not granted.

Ms Wilson said Mr Alonzis treatment of her had left her feeling humiliated and he was later found to be guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct.

Convicting My Ex tells the story of Ms Wilsons abusive relationship and bruising experience of the criminal justice system - and explores the toll that going public has taken.

In 2022, McFarlane, Ms Wilsons ex-boyfriend, was convicted of raping her twice during their relationship.

After returning from a running competition, he raped her and revealed that he had done it before, when she was asleep.

Determined to have proof of what he had done, she secretly recorded McFarlanes admission on her phone, which led to his prosecution and conviction.

Rape survivor Ellie Wilson is the subject of a new BBC documentary

Ms Wilson speaks to Hannah McLaughlan, a fellow rape survivor, in the documentary

Ms Wilson, 27, who said she was barred from attending her rapists parole hearing on the grounds that it would not be in the interests of justice, told the BBC: I was painted in court as a temptress.

She said she had nightmares about McFarlane in the run-up his last parole bid, adding: I dont know how Im supposed to be able to live a normal life.

Ms Wilson said she felt degraded and defeated in [her] soul after McFarlane raped her - but they resumed their relationship after he threatened to hurt himself.

He was the perfect boyfriend at that time but changed and became more controlling, then confessed he had raped her while she was asleep - which she said was a whole other betrayal.

Ms Wilson tried to take her own life and spent a week in hospital - but McFarlanes abuse of her continued.

She said: When I decided to waive my anonymity after my court case concluded in 2022, I did so because I was angry - both at the abuse Id suffered and the ways in which the system let me down - and I wanted to use my voice for change.

Its incredible to now be able to tell my story fully through this documentary.

This documentary exposes the complexity of domestic abuse and sexual violence in young relationships and challenges reductive stereotypes about what a victim should look like.

The Faculty of Advocates complaints committee found that Mr Alonzis behaviour towards Ms Wilson amounted to unsatisfactory professional conduct

Daniel McFarlane was convicted of two rapes at the High Court in Glasgow

Following her experience at the trial, Ms Wilson made headlines after waiving her right to anonymity to challenge McFarlanes defence lawyer.

Mr Alonzi questioned whether she had narcissistic personality disorder and told jurors that it was difficult not to imagine some sense of injustice for McFarlane, who the lawyer claimed had fallen in love with the wrong person.

Ms Wilson said it was almost like he [Mr Alonzi] was enjoying it and she felt she had been publicly humiliated.

Last year, the Faculty of Advocates complaints committee found that Mr Alonzis behaviour amounted to unsatisfactory professional conduct on six of the 11 issues raised.

Ms Wilson also told documentary-makers that she has been targeted by an anonymous social media account which posted a photograph of her in a bath, an image which she said had been on McFarlanes phone.

McFarlane, a medical student, was 26 when he was sent to prison for two rapes which took place in December 2017 and February 2018.

The attacks happened when he was 19 and a student at Glasgow University.

Ms Wilson has built a significant social media following as a campaigner and is now fighting to improve the experience of the criminal justice system for survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

In February, the Mail revealed victims of crime had been barred from parole hearings in case their appearance harms the prisoners mental health or causes disruption.

Reasons for refusal also include the risk that the victims presence while the criminals bid for freedom is heard could prove detrimental to the public interest.

*Convicting My Ex will be broadcast on BBC Three at 9pm on Tuesday May 13 and will be available on iPlayer on the same day.

For support call the Samaritans on 116123, www.samaritans.org
Ten defendants are standing in the Kim Kardashian robbery trial which started in Paris on April 28 and is listed for a month.

The group have been referred to by the French media as the 'grandpa gang' because some are in their 60s and 70s.

Here's what we know about the nine men and one woman at the centre of the case:

The following defendants are charged with 'armed robbery in an organised gang' and with 'kidnapping':

Aomar Ait Khedache, 69

Known as 'Old Omar', he was the self-confessed leader of Omar & Co, the gang that carried out the Kardashian heist in October 2016.

Ait Khedache, who was first imprisoned on drug offences at the age of 14, was released from a remand cell in April 2020 because of serious ill health including heart problems.

He is now living in a Paris suburb, having publicly admitted kidnapping and robbing Kim Kardashian.

Yunice Abbas, 72

The convicted criminal has spent at least 20 years of his life in prison, and admits acting as look-out during the Kardashian heist.

He underwent a triple heart bypass operation during one spell inside. Abbas has written a book called I kidnapped Kim Kardashian. Known for his fake alibis, he infamously said of his wife, Farida Abbas: 'I've been lying to her all my life so as to protect her'.

He now lives with Madame Abbas in northern Paris, where she is nursing him constantly.

Didier 'Blue Eyes' Dubreucq, 69

Allegedly the second robber to enter Kim Kardashian's penthouse, along with Old Omar.

Dubreucq has served 23 years in prison for a post office robbery and for importing two tons of Colombian cocaine into Europe via a Saudi Arbian prince's private jet.

The heavy smoker now has lung cancer, and was the first to be released from his remand cell following his arrest in connection with the Kardashian heist.

Marc-Alexandre 'The Kid' Boyer, 36

A self-styled 'dog babysitter', Boyer was sentenced to six years for drug offences in 2013, but cleared on appeal, and let out out of prison in July 2016, just three months before the Kardashian heist.

Phone analysis placed him in Paris on the night of the robbery, and he 'took the first high-speed train to Nice,' in the South of France, the next morning, say investigators.

A pair of Armnani trousers filmed on the night of the crime has been linked to Boyer, who is currently based in Antibes, near Nice.

The following are charged with various offences, ranging from 'complicity in the crimes' against Kim Kardashian to 'association with criminals' and 'concealment' of stolen property

Christiane 'Cathy' Glotin, 78

A long-term career criminal who was first convicted of drugs offences in the early 90s, Glotin has lived with with some of the biggest names in the Paris criminal underworld, including Old Omar.

She is said to have helped organise the Kardashian heist, and allegedly travelled to Antwerp to sell the swag.

The heavy smoker is currently being treated for throat cancer, as well as back and heart problems.

She now lives quietly in Charenton-le-Pont, in the south eastern Paris suburbs, and 'is involved in charity work,' according to a close friend.

Francois 'Big Guy' Delaporte, 61

The convicted drug trafficker and counterfeit bank note dealer was originally said to have been caught on surveillance cameras around the scene of the robbery.

A distinctive limp was noted by police investigators, but this was later attributed to another suspect.

Despite this, Delaporte is still alleged to have been 'associating' with the gang, and 'possessing false administrative documents.'

He currently works for a construction company in the greater Paris area.

Florus Heroui, 52

The bar manager who allegedly passed on information about Kim Kardashian's movements in Paris to Old Omar, Heroui had close personal links to Ms Kardashian's official driver in Paris.

When police raided his apartment after the Kardashian heist, they allegedly found the equivalent of 120,000 in cash wrapped in a clothes cupboard, eight mobile phones, and a handgun and ammunition.

Heroui is said to have exercised his right to silence during a custody period, and is now living with his wife in Paris, while complaining of heart problems.

Harminy Ait Khedache, 38

Known as 'Mimi', Old Omar's son is said to have acted as getaway driver on the night of the Kardashian heist.

When police raided his home, they found nine mobile phones, a Beretta pistol, and ammunition.

Gary Madar, 34

The clean-cut VIP greeter and celebrity fixer worked for the car company used by Kim Kardashian when she was in Paris.

He is said to have provided detailed information about her movements to the heist gang.

Describing Mr Madar as 'kind, warm and calm,' Ms. Kardashian said: 'When we arrived in Paris, we were always excited to see his familiar face.'

Marc Boyer, 62

The father of Marc-Alexandre Boyer is charged with 'possession of a category B firearm without authorisation'  namely the German World War I Mauser 7.65mm pistol used to attack Ms Kardashian.
Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has joined a neighbourhood bid to block plans for a new 5.6million six-storey block of flats in north London - along with Labour minister Ed Miliband's wife Justine Thornton, despite his vow to take on 'nimbys'.

The Oscar-nominated actor is among residents in Dartmouth Park urging Camden Council to reject current proposals to transform an existing property called Lamorna.

Cumberbatch, 48, raised concerns about the planned replacement of the two-storey, redbrick 1930s property currently standing in the district not far from Hampstead Heath.

The actor, whose films include The Imitation Game and The Power Of The Dog, has a home in the area with his theatre director wife Sophie Hunter.

The scheme suggesting the current building be knocked down and replaced with a new six-storey block has been put forward by developers HGG London, the Camden New Journal reported.

Responses both in opposition and support have been sent to and shared online by the Labour-run Camden authority which is yet to make a decision on the proposals.

A report by BPS Chartered Surveyors for the council estimated the planned six new flats would be worth a total 5.6milion, ranging from 700,000 to 1.4million each.

Cumberbatch's submission states: 'Approval would set a precedent. For example, could I now demolish my property and replace it with flats and not require the same extensive planning approval?

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch opposes plans for a new block near his London home

Cumberbatch, 48, raised concerns about the planned replacement of this existing two-storey, redbrick 1930s property named Lamorna

This is one of the developers' images showing what the proposed new building would look like

Labour's Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and his wife Justine live in the Dartmouth Park area and have also raised concerns about the proposed new development

'Or worse, the properties located behind this proposal could apply to be demolished with an even bigger property that this proposal is being submitted to form a mega development.'

He and his wife provided a letter arguing the new-look building would be out of keeping with Dartmouth Park's heritage.

They added: 'You only have to look at the adjacent properties to see the difference in style, materials, colours and feel.'

Firms behind the planning application describe it on their website as 'an exciting new residential development'.

Maddox Planning, which has been working alongside HGG London, said: 'We are thrilled to present this high-quality project that will deliver much-needed new homes in a well-connected and vibrant area.

'Our team is excited to share with you the innovative proposals weve designed to truly enhance the area, making it an even more attractive place to live.'

Among the other critics, however, has been lawyer Dame Justine Thornton, who lives nearby in a 3million home with her husband, the Environment Secretary and ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband.

She wrote: 'No objection to the principle of redevelopment, particularly in the context of the need for more housing. However, the design appears to be too tall, too bulky and too dense.

Cumberbatch and his theatre director wife Sophie Hunter, pictured together at the Serpentine Summer Party in London last June, have written to Camden Council about the plans

'This application presents another opportunity for the council to demonstrate its commitment to the provision of sympathetically designed housing by acknowledging the benefit of redevelopment whilst rejecting this design.'

Her opposition comes despite her husband's pledge to 'take on the blockers and obstructionists' while vowing to put the 'delayers' in their place as part of his green energy and housebuilding agenda.

His party's deputy leader Angela Rayner is also currently spearheading the Government's efforts to overhaul planning rules to build 300,000 new homes a year.

And the Labour Party said it planned to designate some previously untouched greenbelt land as 'grey belt' so they could build more houses across the country.

A source close to Ms Thornton said: 'Justine Thornton made clear she had no objection to the principle of new housing on the site. She was referring to a specific design.'

But Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow housing secretary, said: 'Red Ed joins the not-at-all exclusive club of 14 other serving cabinet ministers who have objected to housing developments in their areas.

'Incredibly, the energy secretary has pledged to "smash the nimbys" but, as ever with Labour, this is just another case of do as I say, not do as I do.'

Another resident who has written in objection to the plans for is lawyer Dame Justine Thornton, pictured with her Labour politician husband Ed Miliband in May 2015

The flats' developers have relied on Labour's updated planning rules to argue extra homes are needed and that local objections should not stand in the way of houses on brownfield sites.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also been vehement in his criticism of 'nimbys' and 'blockers' - describing himself as a 'yimby', meaning yes in my backyard.

In its planning policy framework, Labour said brownfield schemes 'should be approved unless substantial harm would be caused'.

Downing Street today stressed the Government's willingness to 'rip up' planning rules to get more homes built, but would not be drawn on individual objections such as in the Dartmouth Park planning row.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I'm not going to get drawn into individual personal views, let alone somebody who is not in the Government.'

But the spokesman added the Government was clear on its plans for 1.5million homes by the next election and taking decisions on major infrastructure projects.

He added: 'We are willing to rip up the planning rulebook and pass the radical Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get spades in the ground and get the homes and infrastructure this country needs built.'

Other responses sent in by fellow residents in Dartmouth Park include comments such as: 'It must be more sustainable to renovate/extend Lamorna using the existing house and materials to upgrade it rather than the whole process of demolition and construction.'

Cumberbatch, seen here at the 75th Berlinale film festival in Germany's capital in February this year, said in response to the housing proposals: 'Approval would set a precedent'

Another contributor said: 'The proposal is oversized, bulky, pretentious and does not fit comfortably in the street scene.'

The council was also told in a different submission to its consultation process: 'I have no objections to the proposal to demolish Lamorna. It is an ugly modern house with no character.

'However, the new application to build a block of six flats plus basement is too bulky and will destroy the feel of the place.

'Grant permission if you must but restrict the new development to four floors at most to keep some sort of harmony with the neighbouring houses.'

Meanwhile, Camden councillor Camron Aref-Adib said: 'I would like to share my support for some of the concerns raised by residents regarding this planning application.

'My primary concerns relate to the potential loss of light and privacy for neighbouring homes and I ask that planners look closely at such risk, seeking the appropriate mitigations.

'I seek assurances that the developer will commit to the highest possible standards in minimising carbon emissions during demolition, and to high standards of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the proposed new building.'

Developers HGG London have said in their application to Camden Council: 'The development is an excellent opportunity to improve the economic, social, and environmental conditions of the area and it is in accordance with the development policies on housing.

'Notably, the development will deliver new housing on a brownfield site in an accessible location.'

The proposed new building would 'improve the local townscape' and provide 'much needed two bedroom and family housing provision', the company added.
A Welsh town with only 5,970 inhabitants has just got another barber shop - meaning it now has 14 hair salons, or one for every 400 people.

Plans by a Kurdish businessman to open a new barber in a vacant amusement arcade sparked anger among residents in Porth, South Wales, who said their town was already 'saturated'.

But thirty-four separate letters of objection failed to convince members of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT)'s planning committee to refuse the application, meaning it can now go ahead and open.

Opponents told the council that there were already 13 hair salons in Porth, many of them Turkish-style barbers, and that the dearth of other retail options was putting off visitors.

Adding a fourteenth means there will now be one for every 426 residents, based on figures from the 2021 census.

There are a further six barber shops in neighbouring towns of Blackwood and Newbridge - barely ten miles from Porth - where cut-throat competition led to mob violence earlier this year. While some are Turkish themed, they are all run by Kurds.

The concerns come after police have warned of criminals infiltrating the industry by setting up shops as front companies to launder the proceeds of crimes like drug dealing.

More than 750 barbers opened in the UK last year despite a broader High Street downturn - raising suspicions that some are being used by gangs.

A Kurdish businessman has given the go ahead to open a sixth barber shop in a shuttered former amusement arcade in Porth

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Pictured last month at the empty Turkish-style barbers in Porth where he works, Snur Abdulhmid, 18, said there were already 'too many' salons

Just last months, enforcement teams across the West Midlands raided a string of Turkish barber shops and seized more than 500,000 in illegal cash during a crackdown on money laundering.

Meanwhile unhappy customers have taken to TikTok to share videos of their wonky haircuts and patchy skin fades  possible signs of illicit businesses cynically co-opting the proud, centuries-old tradition of Turkish barbering.

The newest barber in Porth is opening in a former amusement arcade on Hannah Street, The Rhondda Herald reported.

During a debate before Rhondda Cynon Taf's planning committee, Councillor Loretta Tomkinson pointed out that there were already plenty of barbers in the town and that having even more would make it difficult for them to turn a profit.

Other critics said the number of objections filed against the new shop understated the level of public opposition.

However, planning officers recommended approval and said in their report: 'The principle of commercial development at the site is acceptable and by bringing the property back into beneficial use, would result in a positive contribution towards the wider retail centre.

'Furthermore, the application is considered to comply with the relevant policies of the Local Development Plan in respect of its visual impact and the impact it has upon the amenity and privacy of the neighbouring residential properties.'

One of the Turkish-style barbers already trading in the town of Porth in the Rhondda Valley, most of which are actually Kurdish-owned

Another of the five existing Turkish-style barbers in Porth in the Rhondda Valley - local businesses say the town is already 'saturated' and does not need another one

Situated side-by-side, two out of a total of the more than a dozen barber shops and hair salons within a six-minute walk on two streets in the centre of Porth

Hannah Street  one of Porth's two main roads - once boasted a Boots chemist, a Woolworth's, a Clarks shoe shop, women's fashion stores and men's outfitters.

In March, a branch of fashion store New Look which was based there shut its doors for good.

Even some of the town's hairdressers now agree there are too many barbers.

Barber Snur Abdulhmid, 18, who works at Porth Barbers in Hannah Street, said: 'There are too many, we don't need another one.

'If there are too many, no-one can make money.

'If it carries on, we'd have to close the shop.'

Mr Abdulhmid said the barbers was a 'legitimate' business, although he was aware that Turkish and Kurdish barbers are seen as a front for organised crime and money laundering.

'That doesn't happen here, we pay tax and VAT,' he said.

Andy Murrains, 62, who runs a cafe bar in Hannah Street, Porth, was opposed to a further increase in the number of Turkish-style barbers, saying it is 'not in the position where it can afford to lose a few businesses'

Porth Barber is one of several Turkish-style salons catering for the 6,000 residents of Porth in the Rhondda Valley

A survey conducted last year found locals in Porth felt there was already an over-abundance of certain businesses 'such as fast-food takeaways, beauty parlours, and barber shops'

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There were no customers when MailOnline visited on a weekday afternoon and some of the men's salons were closed.

David James, 76, a retired plumber and heating engineer from the town, said: 'I use a local barber although I have nothing against the others in the town centre.

'It's ridiculous to have so many barbers and hair salons so close to each other. It can't be sustainable.

'It makes the town centre unattractive when you get so many businesses all offering the same thing.'

Andy Murrains, 62, who opened up a cafe bar in Hannah Street six months ago after moving from London, said: 'There's always gossip and Chinese whispers about some of the places.

'This street is not in the position where it can afford to lose a few businesses, that's the reality of it.'

A brawl erupted earlier this year in the South Wales town of Blackwood over a barber that was set to open in the nearby town of Newbridge

A survey conducted last year by Porth and District Chamber of Trade found locals felt there was already an over-abundance of certain businesses, 'such as fast-food takeaways, beauty parlours, and barber shops.'

After the chamber of trade posted about the application on social media, many locals commented that there were already plenty of barbers in Porth.

One said: 'They are overrun with barbershops.'

'Does make me wonder how they can all stay in business,' Ian Heritage posted.

Another person added: 'Objection raised, more need to do the same, this is getting beyond a joke.'
A local newspaper editor has been charged with creating fake Reddit posts to smear the parents of a missing teenager.

Jarrett Brooks, 16, was last seen on his parents' security cameras grabbing a pistol at the house in Joseph City, Arizona, about 6.30am on July 4, 2023.

His parents Brian and Laura Brooks believe he was picked up by someone he met online and is still alive but at risk, and never stopped searching for him.

But instead of looking high and low for Jarrett, local police spent months investigating his parents over false claims Brian was molesting his son.

The heartbroken dad told DailyMail.com he never received an apology for the ordeal police put him through, and the social media conspiracy theories that persist to this day.

'We had a sit-down meeting with the sheriff and he has not once said he's sorry,' Brian said.

Molly Kathryn Ottman, 50, is accused of creating a Reddit account pretending to be Brian and made numerous posts alluding to 'sexual activity' with Jarrett.

She then contacted the Navajo County Sheriff's Office in October 2023 to alert them to the posts, which she claimed were made by Brian, prosecutors said.

Jarrett Brooks, 16, took a gun from the family gun safe as he sneaked out of his home early on the Fourth of July 2023 and has not been seen since

Molly Kathryn Ottman, 50, allegedly created a Reddit account pretending to be Jarret's dad Brian Brooks and made numerous posts alluding to 'sexual activity' with his son

Instead of looking high and low for Jarrett, local police spent months investigating his parents Laura and Brian Brooks (pictured) over false claims Brian was molesting his son

Ottman is 'executive editor and an investigative journalist' of the Mountain Daily Star and wrote several articles about Jarrett in 2023 and 2024.

Police began investigating after her tip, including searching the Brooks home and seizing electronic devices Brian said were never returned.

Offices of Harter Investigations, a private investigations firm the Brooks hired, was also searched. Ottman worked for Harter for a while, but was let go before the Reddit account was created.

Brian and his wife were finally exonerated after months under the microscope when police allegedly discovered Ottman was behind the account.

Ottman was on May 6 indicted by a grand jury on charges of obstructing a criminal investigation and fraudulent schemes and artifices.

She was issued a summons to appear in Navajo County Superior Court on June 2.

'A 16-year-old boy was missing and all of law enforcements energy and resources should have been able to remain focused strictly on the search for that young man', Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon said.

'Diverting attention, resources and time to fabricated evidence creates unwarranted distractions during time-sensitive investigations.'

Jarrett is believed to have been spotted by local rancher Joe Zabadal striding through his pasture about a mile from the house just after 7am

The figure had his pants tucked into white top boots, the same as Jarrett's favorite pair, and was carrying a gun, heading west out of town toward Lacy Lane

Brian described the indictment of Ottman as 'a start' and said he believed prosecutors were planning additional charges.

'She's reaping the rewards for what she did,' he said.

The Reddit posts and the police investigation they spawned caused the couple to be subjected to rampant social media speculation for more than a year.

Entire Facebook groups were created with hundreds of posts assuming the allegations were true, and accusing the couple of being responsible for Jarrett's disappearance.

The speculation was made worse by sex crime convictions both Brian and Laura had from 20 years before their son went missing.

They were accused of having sex in front of their teenage babysitters and plying them with alcohol in an alleged attempt to get them to join in, which they denied.

Brian was jailed for up to six months and lost his job as the local fire chief after pleading guilty to a felony count of tampering with evidence and two counts of public sexual indecency.

Laura, who was 23 at the time, pleaded guilty to giving a minor a piercing, and two counts of public sexual indecency and was jailed for 30 days.

Neither were required to register as sex offenders.

Ottman was on May 6 indicted by a grand jury on charges of obstructing a criminal investigation and fraudulent schemes and artifices

Jarrett's father was a fire chief and he dressed up in a firefighter's uniform in this old photo

There have been no new leads in Jarrett's disappearance in almost two years and no confirmed sightings since he was caught on camera at his home.

He is then believed to have been spotted by local rancher Joe Zabadal striding through his pasture about a mile from the house just after 7 am.

The figure had his pants tucked into white top boots, the same as Jarrett's favorite pair, and was carrying a gun, heading west out of town toward Lacy Lane.

His account, given to police later that day, was critical in shaping the search for Jarrett, and led to his parents believing he got a ride from someone he met online.

Zabadal told DailyMail.com last year that he saw Jarrett walking across his field that morning, get to the road, and pace back and forth - but by the time he could drive out to find him, he was gone.

Police used dogs to follow Jarrett's scent, which led them through the pasture before the trail went dead around where he was last seen near the road.

Laura realized about 7.30am that Jarrett had left the house and drove around looking for him, but didn't find him at any Fourth of July celebrations.

Brian said 'the only thing that makes sense to us' is that he was in a hurry because he had arranged to meet someone at the road.

Zabadal saw Jarrett climb under the fence in this photo and pace back and forth along the road at this concrete water crossing

Brooks said Zabadal told him he was was out with his uncle Tom watering his fields and checking gates when he saw Jarrett in the distance

He said whoever picked him up was likely 'a stranger, someone he probably talked to online but had never met in person'.

'We have said from the beginning that we believe he was picked up by someone from Lacy Lane. We believe he is out there and not in a good situation,' he said.

'Neither my wife nor I have ever got the gut feeling that he's not with us anymore. Call it parent's intuition or whatever you want.

'We would love to have him home or have the closure and an end to the torment and torture we have experienced and continue to experience daily.'

Brian said he didn't believe Jarrett took the gun to take his own life, as it doesn't fit with his personality or the circumstances.

'Why would you pace back and forth on the side of the road if you were on a mission to go self-harm or disappear? You'd just keep walking,' he said.

'So he took the gun for protection, he figured, well, I should be OK, but just in case, I'm gonna have a way to protect myself and so he took the gun.'

Jarrett had been grounded the previous evening after his parents discovered he'd broken the family car's CV axle by driving the car off-road, which he had been warned not to do three times before.

The last photo of Jarrett taken before he disappeared on July 4, 2023

Facebook groups have spawned to held search for Jarrett, but so far, nothing has been uncovered

Laura, who was the last family member to see him, said she bumped into him in the hallway on her way to have a shower about 6.15am.

'He asked me if he was grounded from everything or just driving, and I told him everything. And then, I went into the bathroom to take my shower,' she said.

'He seemed fine, he just said, "OK", and turned around and went to his room. He didn't argue it, he didn't huff and puff or show any attitude.'

Laura explained that she discovered Jarrett had broken the $100 car part when he turned in his phone, as all their children are required to do before bed so they don't get distracted instead of sleeping.

Phones were also subject to random checks, and Laura founds texts between Jarrett and his friends discovering how to fix the car before his parents found out.

When Laura got out of the shower about 15 minutes later, Jarrett was gone - but it wasn't until about 6.45am when she realized he wasn't at the house.

While his mother was in the shower, Jarrett had grabbed the gun, changed into his pants and boots, and slipped out of the house undetected.

Jarrett's parents still had his phone, and his wallet - containing his license and cash - was found in the pocket of a pair of gym shorts in his car.

Jarrett's parents believe the teen (pictured as a child, at bottom left) is possibly being held against his will

Jarrett's parents are increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of the investigation and Jarrett continuing to be treated as a runaway, not a juvenile in danger - which has only recently changed

Brooks woke up about 8.30am and together they looked around the town and checked with his friends and their parents, but there was no sign of him.

The Navajo County Sheriff's Office was notified at 12:28 pm, and Jarrett was initially treated as a teenage runaway.

Only then, about 1pm, did Brooks check the gun safe in the den and discover the pistol was missing.

Police responded with a wide search of the area and soon learned of Zabadal's sighting hours earlier.

Friends joined the search over the rest of the afternoon, along with a Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter and search dogs from Winslow Prison.

The search continued for the days that followed, combing a wide radius in a grid and going door to door.

The Navajo County Sheriff's Office issued multiple search warrants in different parts of Arizona in its efforts to find the teen, but have come up empty.
There's a video doing the rounds. It is about 15 seconds long, has caused a hell of a stir and was filmed on Saturday night on the late train from Poland to Ukraine.

In it, three middle-aged men in knitwear are sitting around a highly polished conference table, smiling.

One is Sir Keir Starmer, relaxed in a navy zippy. Across the table in lavender blue is the brand new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. And between them, crisp white shirt under navy cardy, is Emmanuel Macron, the 47-year-old president of France.

They are en route to peace talks in Kyiv with President Zelensky and Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, and look remarkably cheerful and smiley as the cameras enter the room.

Some  and lets be very clear here, were talking either pro-Russian conspiracy theorists or mad MAGA fanatics  say they seem almost too jolly. As if theyre having too good a time. Or perhaps have something to hide.

Because... hang on a minute, whats that white thing by Macrons water glass? Is it a white bag of something?

Its hard to tell as, quick as a flash, he grabs and shoves it under his elbow.

And what is 69-year-old Merz doing with that little white stick  is he hiding it guiltily out of sight in his palm?

Sir Keir Starmer, relaxed in a navy zippy. Across the table in lavender blue is the brand new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. And between them, crisp white shirt under navy cardy, is Emmanuel Macron, the 47-year-old president of France

Hang on a minute, whats that white thing by Macrons water glass? Is it a white bag of something?

Golly gosh! Could something utterly mad and reckless be going on here?

Could these three previously upstanding leaders of the Western world really have decided to have a (not so) private cocaine party while preparing for peace talks in the trains conference saloon?

There have been plenty on social media who seem to think so. That perhaps the three men thought a quick perker-upper might help them better focus on the small print in the thick blue folders on the table.

Or that maybe Merz, a grandfather of seven, just wanted to let his hair down after one of the bumpiest weeks of his political career.

Or  who knows  could they all have been so sick of being labelled boring that, just for once, they decided to live it up for a crazy hour or so, before buckling back down to another long day of international diplomacy?

Oh stop it!

Of course it isnt a gigantic bag of cocaine! You only have to look properly to see its a used tissue which Macron didnt want in the camera shot. And that Merzs snuff spoon is a white plastic coffee stirrer.

All of which will come as no surprise to anyone with half a brain and a dash of common sense.

Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska, Sir Keir Starmer and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Maidan Square in Kyiv

But that didnt stop a flurry of pro-Russian social media channels from whizzing the video  along with fake news accusations  round the world at the weekend.

One French-language, pro-Russia account commented: Coke is going to take decisions on the third world war.

Macron, Starmer and Merz caught on video on their return from Kiev. A bag of white powder on the table. Macron quickly pockets it, Merz hides the spoon. No explanation given, read one much-shared post.

And there were endless videos spliced together of Macron sniffing and wiping his nose while executing his presidential duties.

All of which, members of US President Donald Trumps online MAGA community seized upon and shared with gusto. In large part perhaps, to distract from the fact their beloved president has just accepted a $400million plane from Qatar that he says he will be keeping at the end of his term of office.

And then just when it all couldnt feel much sillier, the coke party story was backed up by the Russian foreign ministry.

Spokesman Maria Zakharova claimed on social media: The fate of Europe is being decided by utterly [drug] dependent individuals, she wrote. Its as if the Almighty Himself is lifting the veil on this putrid spectacle.

Maria echoed a much-repeated Kremlin claim that Zelensky was an unstable cocaine addict and insisted a Western diplomat had told her that drug use was totally normal among European leaders.

Bloody hell! What total madness. We all know about Russias love for fake news  the endless false news stories circulated on social media by Kremlin-backed accounts.

That Ukraine is responsible for the war. That crazy deepfake video from March 2022 of Zelenskys enormous head inexpertly attached to someone elses body, telling his followers to lay down their weapons. That Putin has the physical age  and musculature  of a young man. The list goes on and on and on.

And if this latest fakery wasnt quite so crazy  and backed up by Russian officials  it would have been properly funny. After all, its hard to think of three individuals less likely to have been chopping out lines on that shiny table. Or of a drug less conducive to calm, thoughtful, negotiating.

But the Elysee Palace did not see the funny side. In fact, officials there were clearly hopping mad.

When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs, posted the presidents office on X.

This fake news is being spread by Frances enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation.

They also posted a photo of the offending tissue and the words: This is a tissue. For blowing your nose. To be fair, poor Macron has been on the receiving end of more than his fair share of conspiracy theories, all of which, the French claim, were either started or encouraged by Russia.

Everything from a long-time cocaine use (which supposedly he shares with Zelensky), to being gay. To being part of a dodgy global finance set-up backed by financier George Soros. To rumours that his wife Brigitte, was born a man.

And French government officials insist it is getting worse and worse.

Earlier this month, they claimed that the GRU, Russias military intelligence service, had ramped up the cyber and social media war it has been waging against the Macron administration since 2017.

It isnt only France.

Russias fake stories are coming thick and fast about anyone and anything and often get traction in dangerous places.

Last year, conspiracy theories claiming that Zelensky used US aid to buy two luxury yachts were repeated by members of US Congress with the result that the US aid package to Ukraine was temporarily stalled, creating devastating results on the front line.

Researchers also warn that Russia is employing an army of AI chatbots to peddle pro-Kremlin falsehoods online.

And a recent report revealed that Pravda, a Russian disinformation site which targets Britons, has already posted more than 47,000 English language articles since it was created in November  mostly either undermining support for Ukraine or spreading fake stories about the royal family and senior politicians  and has now expanded into posts in Welsh and Scottish Gaelic.

The real trouble with fake news, of course, is that the madder and crazier it is, the faster it travels. Which means that however blindingly obvious it is that there was never any cocaine, or a snuff spoon, or the merest whiff of a party on that late-night train to Kyiv, the true story will never quite catch up with the fakery.

Particularly if its as mundane as a crumpled hanky and a plastic coffee stirrer.

And the real news will often be deflected and buried. Which, this weekend  in case you missed it  was that, after that much-discussed train journey, European leaders in Kyiv challenged Russia, with the threat of massive new sanctions, to declare a 30-day ceasefire by Monday.

Which, naturally, President Putin rejected.
The mother of a pair of Australian twins who shot to stardom after speaking in unison during a TV interview has revealed the pair's struggle with ongoing health issues.

Sunshine Coast sisters Bridgette and Paula Powers became international sensations after they gave a word-for-word account of a fatal carjacking last month.

Known as The Twinnies, the 47-year-old sisters have become the object of global fascination due to their unusual behaviour.

Their mother Helen explained that the twins have faced difficulties since birth.

'I bought them home from the hospital and I thought there was something wrong, and in my heart, I knew they were different,' Helen told Australian Story on Monday.

'They never really sucked properly on a bottle, they used to scream a lot, they were floppy babies - they didn't sit up until they were about probably 15 months old.'

Their dad, John, said he and his wife could not figure out what was wrong, and neither did the doctors, despite countless visits to the hospital.

Bridgette and Paula were sent to a school that specialised in speech therapy before moving to a mainstream school.

Known as The Twinnies, 47-year-old twin sisters Bridgette and Paula Powers shot to global stardom after giving an identical, word-for-word account of a fatal carjacking

Their mum, Helen (pictured centre), explained her daughter's had a difficult challenges throughout their life and suffer from ongoing health issues

However, the pair faced intense bullying from other students for their unique bond.

'High school was very, very hard for them. As they got older their heart problems started kicking in,' Helen said.

'A lot of girls used to give them a hard time about not having boyfriends, asking if they were having it off with one another.'

The beloved set of twins, who wear matching clothes every day and sleep in the same room, found their purpose once they left school in year 10 and moved to the Sunshine Coast.

Their love for wildlife flourished and they were even hired by the late Steve Irwin to work at his Australia Zoo after he saw them in action during their first wildlife rescue.

They have since been running the Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue for 25 years and are renowned across Queensland for their wildlife volunteer work.

'It is a costly passion [but] we just love looking after the seabirds and water birds,' Bridgette told Daily Mail Australia.

'We love it because they need our help because there's hardly anyone who cares for them on a big scale.'

The pair struggled in high school and were often bullied over their close bond

Despite suffering from ongoing osteoporosis, heart and stomach problems, they founded The Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue and have worked tirelessly helping birds for 25 years

The Twins' close friend Claire Smith said Bridgette and Paula's love for sea-birds had helped them over the years despite their debilitating illnesses.

The pair suffer from osteoporosis, heart and stomach issues and have acknowledged their health problems will eventually force them to give up their wildlife rescue.

Bridgette and Paula have already decided what they will do with their wildlife rescue if they are unable to find someone suitable to take over.

They plan to knock everything down and turn the area into a wetlands and a refuge for birds to fly in and out when they please.

In the wake of their recent TV appearances the pair were contacted by GoFundMe who want to help use their fame for a good cause.

As a result, the Powers sisters launched an appeal to raise $30,000 to support their longstanding work rescuing pelicans and seabirds.

The funds will go towards buying fish, ongoing electricity costs and maintaining the rescue building.

'Our poor old centre, we're forever patching it up all the time. It's a very old building but it's working,' Bridgette told Daily Mail Australia.

When asked how long they had been speaking in unison, they answered: 'From day dot'.

The pair were once mentored by the late Steve Irwin (pictured with Bridgette and Paula)

But the pair have not always received a warm reception, with some online trolls criticising the pair if there is a lapse in their verbal harmony.

'It worries the keyboard warriors, they've got nothing better to do,' they said.

'The comments don't bother us anymore. It used to bother us but now it doesn't whatsoever. I don't know why it bothers them.'

The sisters say they try to speak independently and not over the top of each other, but sayd it 'comes very awkward'.

Bridgette and Paula sparked worldwide interest on April 23 after they gave an interview about an attempted carjacking of their mother.

Dressed in matching Easter outfits, the sisters recounted the terrifying moment their mother came face-to-face with an alleged gunman.

Their appearance subsequently made headlines around the world, with US media and politics news website Mediaite describing their recount as 'surreal'.

Twins Bridgette and Paula have previously caught the attention of media after it was revealed they have their own language and wear matching clothes every day.
Opening statements have just begun in the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, yet the case against the multi-millionaire hip-hop superstar may already have been won or lost.

For it all comes down to the jury.

From a pool of 150 potential jurors, the judge, defense team and federal prosecutors have selected 12 people (and six alternates should one of the active jurors become, for whatever reason, incapable of fulfilling their obligations).

These few will be tasked with deciding Combs's fate.

Even the most skilled and experienced trial lawyer in the world cannot predict what this panel of Americans will decide or how the evidence may sway them  but it was once my job to attempt to do just that.

Before launching my television career, I was a consultant for trial attorneys. After earning my Ph.D with emphases in clinical and medical psychology, I did a year's post-doctoral fellowship in forensic psychology and then co-founded a 'trial science' company, called Courtroom Sciences, Inc (CSI).

My past life even inspired the TV legal drama Bull, which ran for six seasons on CBS.

We specialized in advising lawyers on, among other things, selecting jurors for a trial and then making the most effective arguments to win over those individuals.

Opening statements have just begun in the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, yet the case against the multi-millionaire hip-hop superstar may already have been won or lost. (above, sketches show Combs' defense attorney Teny Geragos on Monday)

Even the most skilled and experienced trial lawyer in the world cannot predict what this panel of Americans will decide or how the evidence may sway them  but it was once my job to attempt to do just that.

Prior to jury selection, we'd stage mock trials and test the effectiveness of potential expert witnesses and novel arguments before mock juries.

After jury selection, we'd often create so-called 'mirror juries.' If the actual jury was composed of seven women and five men of a certain description, we'd hire seven women and five men closely matching their profiles. If one of the jurors was a 42-year-old woman with two years of college education, a husband working in a factory, two kids, a barking dog, and they were Baptists, we'd hire another woman with that exact description to sit in the gallery every day, all day, and hear the same evidence.

Every evening, we'd speak to that woman to gauge how she was reacting to the events of the day  and feed that information back to the attorneys.

The Combs's jury is composed of eight men and four women with ages ranging from 30 to 75 years and racial backgrounds as diverse as white, black, Hispanic and Asian.

At least one of the female jurors is a 42-year-old with two children. Another panelist is a 41-year-old black man with a daughter.

How will they react to some of the most shocking and salacious evidence in this case?

The judge has admitted video evidence to be shown at trial that appears to show Combs viciously hitting and kicking his girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, during a 2016 altercation in the hallway of a California hotel. Ventura  now married and currently pregnant  is set to testify.

That's a particular damning piece of evidence, no doubt.

But will someone with a young daughter be more or less judgmental about seeing someone else's daughter allegedly victimized?

Well, that depends. Believe it or not, some jurors  regardless of their life experiences  may be more open than others to considering the defense team's framing of the alleged attack.

While I have not done all the empirical research necessary to understand this case, I would expect Combs's defense team to seek to excuse this type of behavior and appeal to certain members of the jury.

Believe it or not, some jurors  regardless of their life experiences  may be more open than others to considering the defense team's framing of the alleged attack on Ventura (left).

They're likely targeting the jurors who they believe to have a 'strong self-image,' also commonly referred to as an 'internal locus of control.'

These are people who believe that they have control over events in their lives. For example, the person who does poorly on a test and says, 'I performed poorly because I wasn't prepared' likely exhibits an 'internal locus of control.'

Conversely, someone who does poorly on a test and thinks, 'That test was too difficult, that's why I didn't do well,' is likely someone with an 'external locus of control.'

Those with an internal locus of control would be most likely to believe that if someone lived through a deeply unpleasant or even traumatic event, then it was likely - at least in part - their own fault, as they tend to look first to themselves regarding the events which occur in their lives. And they tend to hold others to the same standard.

That is not the same as 'victim blaming' but in extreme situations can appear close to it. They made hold the plantiff partly responsible for their association with Combs and the subsequent alleged abuse.

These jurors may also be easier to convince that sex with Combs was consensual or that Combs is being targeted because he's famous. Whereas an individual with an 'external locus of control' may be more likely to see Combs as the sole contributor to the situation

Indeed, the defense's opening statement suggests this approach.

On Monday, defense lawyer Teny Geragos told the jury that the alleged victims in this case are 'capable, strong, adult women,' and that each got something from being in a relationship with Combs.

'These adult, capable women will have to take on the same level of responsibility (as Combs),' said in opening statements. 'When any person makes an adult choice, that is a free choice. A free choice had pros, it has cons. They made free choices every single day for years.'

That argument may seem absurd to you or me, but we're not the ones who will decide on Combs's guilt or innocence.

And, what's more, the defense team does not need to convince all 12 jurors.

The judge has admitted video evidence to be shown at trial that appears to show Combs viciously hitting and kicking his girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura (above), during a 2016 altercation in the hallway of a California hotel. Ventura  now married and currently pregnant  is set to testify.

They only need to win over one person, who will stand their ground and oppose a guilty sentence.

When a jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, it is called a hung jury and the prosecution is left with two choices: re-try the case or abandon it.

If prosecutors do retry the case, the defense will know their evidence, giving them a significant advantage, allowing them to prepare even better the second time around.

But despite all these considerations, the jury system exists for a reason.

While no legal system is perfect, I believe that juries tend to get it right. Now, all that we can do is sit back and trust in the legal process.
A MAGA incumbent senator's re-election hopes could be in jeopardy after a bombshell new poll showed him down 16 points to his flashy 'playboy' primary opponent.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is well ahead of Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) according to polling from the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF).

The issue is that both candidates are well-liked by Trump and their primary race could set off a new MAGA civil war.

The SLF poll first reported by Punchbowl News shows Cornyn trailing Paxton, 34 percent to 50 percent, with 17 percent of respondents noting that they were undecided.

In a hypothetical three-way contest including Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Paxton still prevailed with 44 percent of respondents supporting him. Cornyn took second place with 34 percent, and Hunt came in third at 19 percent.

President Donald Trump has not yet issued an endorsement in the GOP primary contest.

He told a press gaggle on Air Force One on April 25th that he wished that Paxton and Cornyn were not running against each other.

First elected in 2002, Cornyn is facing an uphill reelection battle ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle.

President Donald Trump speaks as he tours the U.S. border with Mexico Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas.

'In a way, I wish they weren't running against each other.  I'll make a decision somewhere along the line,' Trump stated at the time.

First elected in 2002, Cornyn is facing an uphill reelection battle ahead of 2026 midterm cycle.

Despite the poll results, the SLF is putting on a brave face publicly.

'The numbers don't lie  John Cornyn is in a far better early position than Ken Paxton,' the group's communications director Chris Gustafson told Punchbowl.

'Texans only need one quick look at Paxton's record before his support plummets, and it's clear he would risk delivering the Senate majority to Chuck Schumer,' Gustafson concluded.

In a hypothetical general election match-up, Cornyn prevails over Democrat Colin Allred by 6 points. Allred challenged Senator Ted Cruz last cycle, and is considering another run in 2026.

In 2022, Cornyn first drew the ire of conservatives when he was a lead sponsor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

The legislation passed both chambers of Congress was signed into law by former President Joe Biden, and included provisions regarding enhanced background checks for firearms purchases by individuals under 21 years of age.

Paxton himself is far from a flawless candidate.

The Texas attorney general was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 over charges of corruption and bribery, before being acquitted by the Texas Senate.

Paxton was also accused of having an extramarital affair which he allegedly concealed from his wife Angela, herself a member of the Texas State Senate who was disqualified from voting on her husband's impeachment.

Paxton formerly entered the race for the Senate last month, and has not yet released fundraising numbers.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Austin, Texas on May 1st, 2018.

US President Donald Trump waves, alongside Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton (L) in Dallas, Texas, on June 11, 2020.

Paxton formerly entered the race for the U.S. Senate last month, and has not yet released fundraising numbers.

Cornyn presently has over $5.5 million cash on hand. per FEC reporting through the end of March.

Cornyn campaign senior adviser Matt Mackowiak told the Daily Mail that 'Senator Cornyn has a 99% voting record with Trump as President and continues to be his close legislative ally..

'In ten months, when Texas GOP primary voters completely understand the record of both candidates, we are confident we will win,' he added.

The Paxton campaign did not return a request for comment from the Daily Mail.
Quadruple homicide suspect Bryan Kohberger reportedly made disturbing searches on his cellphone in the months after he attended a pool party - which may provide the link missing between him and his alleged victims.

Kohberger, now 30, is due to face a capital murder trial in August for the brutal slayings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, who was staying the night.

The four students were all slaughtered in a horror knife attack in the early hours of November 13, 2022, inside the off-campus student home in Moscow, Idaho, that the three women shared with two other roommates.

It has remained unclear how Kohberger, a PhD student at the nearby Washington State University, may have chosen his victims.

But a damning report by NBC News' Dateline reveals that he had saved dozens of photos of female students at both Washington State and the University of Idaho, many of whom were in bathing suits.

The photos ostensibly came from a pool party Kohberger had been invited to in Moscow on July 9 - and a review of the accounts that had posted the photos found that a number of them were close friends with Kernodle, Goncalves and Mogen.

Kohberger had even returned to Moscow after dark following the pool party, and data from his cellphone showed it connected to a cellphone tower near the victims' off-campus house a total of 23 times over the course of four months.

Meanwhile, Dateline reports, Kohberger searched for pornography containing the keywords 'drugged' and 'sleeping.'

Quadruple homicide suspect Bryan Kohberger is due to face a capital murder trial in August

He is accused of fatally stabbing University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin , 20, inside their off-campus house. Roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke (on either end) were not killed in the attack

The criminology student also reportedly searched the phrase 'Sociopathic Traits in College Students' as he was struggling to work as a teaching assistant at Washington State.

Then, after he was pulled over by police in October 2022 and was seen politely conversing with an officer about traffic laws, Kohberger allegedly searched 'Can psychopaths behave pro-socially.'

Prosecutors now allege that Kohberger broke into the University of Idaho students' home on King Road shortly after they had gone to bed from a night partying on November 13 and stabbed them all to death.

His white Hyundai Elantra was allegedly caught on a neighbor's home security footage at around 3.30am, and was seen circling around the block multiple times over the next half hour, according to Dateline.

By 4.07am, the vehicle came back drove by once again - then didn't come back into view until 4.20am, when it was seen speeding off.

During that 13-minute window, sources close to the investigation said Kohberger went directly upstairs to Mogen's bedroom - where he allegedly killed her and Goncalves.

He is accused of then turned his attention to Kernodle on his way back out the house, killing her as she was up ordering food, and then targeted her boyfriend, Chapin, whom Kohberger allegedly 'carved.'

A damning report suggests that after Kohberger was pulled over by police in October 2022 and conversed with an officer about traffic laws, he searched: 'Can psychopaths behave pro-socially'

Kohberger also allegedly made nearly two dozen trips to the victims' King Road house in the months leading up to their murders

Kernodle and Chapin were dead in Kernodle's room on the second floor, while Goncalves and Mogen were dead in Mogen's bed on the third floor.

In the aftermath, one of their roommates - Dylan Mortensen - told police how she had come face-to-face with the masked killer inside the home that haunting night.

She claimed she heard strange noises in the home at around 4am that morning - followed by a man's voice that she said was not Chapin's.

The unknown man reportedly told her something to the effect of 'It's OK, I'm going to help you.'

When Mortensen then peered around her bedroom door, she said she saw a man walk past her room on the second floor and head in the direction of the back sliding door.

She described the intruder as tall, dressed in all black and wearing a face mask - that only allowed her to see his 'bushy eyebrows.'

After allegedly killing the college students, Kohberger returned to his home in Pullman, Washington - where he took this selfie showing him giving a thumbs up from the bathroom

Meanwhile, data from Kohberger's phone indicate he turned it off before 3am that morning, and when he apparently turned it back on at around 4.48am, it connected with a cellphone tower south of Moscow.

But the phone also appeared to be briefly back in the city shortly after 9am, when Kohberger reportedly returned to his apartment in Pullman, Washington, where he took a chilling selfie - giving the thumbs up pose in a bathroom mirror.

In the days that followed, Dateline reports, Kohberger searched for a program about serial killer Ted Bundy and a YouTube video about the King Road victims.

Then, as police continued their multi-state search for the suspect, Kohberger reportedly searched for even more videos of Ted Bundy, the song Criminal by Britney Spears as he took additional selfies - including one in which he was seen wearing a black hoodie, just like how Bundy was dressed in one of the videos.

Kohberger was ultimately arrested six weeks after the grisly murders, while at his parents' home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he had returned for the holidays.

It came after DNA found on a Ka-Bar leather sheath that was left next to Mogen's lifeless body came back a match to the criminology student.

Prosecutors have also claimed his shopping history reveals that he bought a Ka-Bar knife, sheath and sharpener from Amazon back in March 2022.

Kohberger was ultimately arrested six weeks after the grisly murders, but has repeatedly maintained his innocence

But Kohberger has maintained his innocence, and his defense team has tried to write off his repeated visits to Moscow - saying he simply likes to take long drives alone at night.

They have claimed his cellphone data would prove he was nowhere near the crime scene on the night of the murders.

The defense had even tried to get the death penalty off the table due to Kohberger's recent autism diagnosis - but a judge denied the request.

He may now face the firing squad if convicted and sentenced to death, due to recent changes in Idaho state law.

Yet the defense has scored at least one victory in the lead up to the trial - as Judge Steven Hippler ruled last week that Kohberger's immediate family members can support him inside the courtroom for every day of his high-profile trial - even before they are called to the stand to testify against their relative.

The defense had argued that, under the Sixth Amendment right to a public trial, Kohberger has a right to have his family present in the courtroom.

But, typically, witnesses cannot attend a criminal trial until after they have taken the stand to prevent their testimony being shaped by what they hear.

Prosecutors previously revealed that they plan to call some of Kohberger's family members - father Michael, mother MaryAnn and two older sisters Amanda and Melissa - as witnesses for the state.

Kohbergers lawyers, though, have told the judge that the family continues to support him and has no interest in helping the prosecution in its case.

Bryans family has no desire to be used as witnesses against him, defense attorney Elisa Massoth said.

'His family loves him and supports him, she said.

She said that the Kohbergers would have attended every court hearing to date in support of him if it werent for the financial burden of traveling from Pennsylvania to Idaho.
A man has been taken into custody following a tense police standoff that saw an emergency declaration issued in a suburb.

Queensland Police locked down parts of Bridgeman Downs, in north Brisbane, at 7.17am on Tuesday.

The man was allegedly armed and holed up inside a house before cops eventually arrested him.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia he is assisting officers with their inquiries.

There have been no reports of any injuries or shots fired.

An exclusion zone had been established, encompassing Trouts Road, Albany Creek Road, Beckett Road and Hamilton Road.

Motorists were also urged to avoid the area.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has insisted Donald Trump's move to slash drug costs in the US will not drive up medicine prices in Australia.

Trump's latest executive order, signed on Tuesday, is intended to cut drug costs for Americans by up to 80 per cent as the US Government will buy prescription drugs straight from manufacturers at the 'most-favoured nation price'.

The resultant slashing of consumer prices to near wholesale levels has sparked concerns that pharmaceutical companies will jack up their prices outside the US to sustain their profit levels, including Australia.

'How will you ensure the price of medicines don't skyrocket here in response to the cuts in the US?' Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked Mr Chalmers on Tuesday morning.

'We've seen the announcements out of the US and we'll work through them in the usual way,' the treasurer said.

Dr Chalmers said the government will stand by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - under which the costs of imported drugs are subsidised to make them affordable for consumers - so the public will not see any price rises.

The US government has pressured the government to abolish the PBS which it regards as a form of trade protectionism and cited as justification for imposing tariffs on Australian products.

'We've made it really clear and I'll make it clear again today, that our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is not up for negotiation,' Dr Chalmers said.

Mr Chalmers (pictured) said it was 'unclear' what the implications of Trump's executive order will be, but the Labour government would do 'everything to protect' the PBS

Trump says his executive order will cut drug costs by up to 80 per cent as the US Government buys prescription drugs straight from manufacturers at the 'most-favoured nation price'

'We are making medicines cheaper in this country, not more expensive. The PBS is a really proud creation of Labour in government, it's something that we cherish.'

Mr Chalmers added that the Labour government would do 'everything to protect' the PBS.

While the PBS subsidies means consumers will not see a price rise, if 'Big Pharma' hikes prices for Australian exports, the government will need to spend more taxpayer money to purchase them.

Dr Chalmers said the effects on taxpayers were 'still unclear'.

'Some of those consequences for other countries are being speculated on, but are not necessarily locked in,' Dr Chalmers said.

'We've made it very clear publicly and privately that we won't be changing the PBS at the behest of other countries, and that remains our position.'

The PBS was a central pillar of Anthony Albanese's election campaign, as he vowed to slash the maximum cost of prescription medicine under the scheme to $25.

The drug companies lodged a formal complaint with Trump's trade chief in March, calling for an end to the 'damaging pricing policies' in Australia.
The sister of a young Aussie tourist who drowned in Thailand has revealed her older sibling had been celebrating with mates after finishing an intense training camp.

Corey Walsh, 22, died last Tuesday after diving off a fishing charter boat while intoxicated near the tourist island of Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket.

A week after Mr Walsh drowned, his younger sister Charleigh told news.com.au he was with six of his best friends after completing a Muay Thai training camp they had been preparing for since January 1.

'We shared our whole childhood together. He was very caring and protective, as big brothers are,' Charleigh said.

'Corey would light up any room he walked into. He had a strong mindset and saw mistakes as growth. He will always be my best friend, his passing has left a void that cannot be filled.

'There was an unspoken loyalty that survived every argument, it was stronger than anything. Nothing was stronger than the love we had for each other.'

Mr Walsh's intense training meant he had been sober for more than five months and he had just completed the first two weeks of his trip before his death.

His five friends had arrived three days earlier and planned to celebrate his training camp with a chartered fishing trip.

Mr Walsh was described as selfless and loyal by his younger sister

Corey Walsh with his 19-year-old sister and best friend Charleigh

It is believed Mr Walsh, from Frankston in south-east Melbourne, was dragged underwater by strong currents before he drowned.

Mr Walsh, who was due to return home this weekend, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive, with tour conductors issuing a distress call for emergency services.

Charleigh described her brother as 'very outgoing'.

'He was a bit of a s*** stirrer,' she said.

'He had his own personal slang. He'd come home and ask how your day was and if you said you'd had a bad day he'd ask you "are you loving it" over and over until you caved.

'He'd go to work on a Monday morning when the boys were all tired and he'd go around and say "are you loving it" to get under their skin.'

A number of Mr Walsh's friends got 'forever loving it' tattooed on them in his memory.

Charleigh said she was at work last week when she received the devastating news that her only sibling had died.

Corey Walsh drowned in Thailand last week after being pulled under the water by strong currents

Mr Walsh loved to have fun and was a laid-back young man before he drowned

'I was at work on Tuesday and it was around 7pm. My parents had received a call from one of his friends that was with him,' she said.

'We're still waiting for his friends to get home to learn more about it. It doesn't feel real. I'm still in shock.

'The support we are receiving from family, friends and dozens of people we have never met has been helping us cope. We are so grateful for everyone.'

A GoFundMe was set up to help Mr Walsh's family with funeral costs and other additional expenses.

As of Tuesday morning it had raised just over $14,000 with the target set at $20,000.

'This is for a Corey, a young man who struck a lot of people's hearts for being a kind, caring and just a beautiful soul,' the GoFundMe page read.
Crucial details are absent from Labour's new plan to drive down immigration and tighten up the asylum system.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insisted yesterday that the long-awaited White Paper 'signals a new era'.

But proposals on the knottiest aspects of the immigration system  including tackling abuse of asylum and human rights laws  contained only vague pledges.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the detail would only arrive 'later this summer', with much of it requiring law changes that will take many months to implement.

Other measures in the paper deal with parts of the immigration system that are much easier to reform  because the Home Office itself controls application rules and how many visas it hands out.

The full range of these reforms would cut the number of immigrants coming to Britain by 98,000 a year once they are fully in force, according to documents published by Ms Cooper.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insisted yesterday that the long-awaited White Paper, designed to drive down immigration and tighten up the asylum system, 'signals a new era' (Pictured: Starmer announcing the new proposals at Downing Street)

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the detail on proposed changes to the immigration system would only arrive 'later this summer', with much of it requiring law changes that will take many months to implement

Labour's main proposals are:

Reducing abuse of human rights laws

A 'clear framework' on the way human rights laws are applied in immigration cases will be published later this year.

It will seek to restrict the 'exceptional circumstances' in which judges can currently overrule the Home Office when foreign nationals  including criminals  lodge immigration appeals.

In particular it would aim to 'limit successful claims' from foreign nationals who lodge appeals under the 'right to private and family life' under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

It follows a backlash against cases such as that of an Albanian criminal whose deportation was halted partly due to his son's aversion to the type of chicken nuggets served abroad.

The new framework would apply not just to foreign nationals who commit crimes, but also to those seeking to deploy human rights arguments in asylum and other immigration cases. It would be voted on by Parliament in a bid to send a firm message to judges.

However, the Prime Minister yesterday said he did not think it was 'necessary' for Britain to leave the ECHR, and Home Office officials confirmed there would not be a complete block on human rights appeals.

'There will always be some cases that the judiciary want to look at, but that should be a much smaller proportion of cases,' a spokesman said.

The paper also promised to 'simplify the rules and processes for deporting foreign national offenders' without further detail.

The Prime Minister yesterday said he did not think it was 'necessary' for Britain to leave the ECHR, and Home Office officials confirmed there would not be a complete block on human rights appeals

The Government will also aim to take action against a wider range of foreign nationals who commit crimes here (Pictured: a group of people believed to be migrants brought into Dungerness, Kent)

The Government will also aim to take action against a wider range of foreign nationals who commit crimes here.

For example, only those who are jailed for 12 months or more are currently subject to 'automatic deportation' measures  which are, in any case, often overruled by the courts.

The White Paper said ministers would extend powers to revoke visas and remove offenders from Britain if they received lesser punishments, including non-custodial sentences, for crimes such as serious assault, sexual offences or aggravated burglary.

Full details will not be published until later this year, meaning any changes are unlikely to be put into law until next year at the earliest.

Lowering the bar for removal may be an attempt to head off the impact of a separate sentencing review currently under way, which will mean jail sentences being handed to far fewer offenders.

Asylum claims by visa holders

The asylum system is being abused by a growing number of foreign nationals who come to Britain legally on a visa and then claim to be refugees, the paper said.

Last year, there were 40,000 asylum claims from individuals linked to a visa, it said.

And between 2022 and 2024, 25,000 had to be provided with accommodation at the taxpayers' expense, including asylum hotels.

The Government said it will draw up new policies on how they will deal with individuals who make such claims  but did not go into detail.

Companies, universities or other institutions that sponsor a foreign national's work or study visa who then make an asylum claim could be hit with 'financial measures, penalties or sanctions', it added.

The paper said that asylum system is being abused by a growing number of foreign nationals who come to Britain legally on a visa, with, last year, 40,000 asylum claims from individuals linked to a visa

Under the proposed changes, companies, universities or other institutions that sponsor a foreign national's work or study visa who then make an asylum claim could be hit with 'financial measures, penalties or sanctions'

Limit access to public services

The Home Office will gather more data on visa holders using its eVisas scheme  already rolled out to four million people  and share it across government.

This will help identify whether a foreign national has complied with their visa and whether they are still in the UK, the White Paper said.

Officials will be able to establish whether someone has 'the right to work, to rent, to claim benefits or use public services'. Those not 'legally entitled' could then have access to public services withdrawn.

Require foreign staff to have a degree

The minimum requirement for a skilled worker visa  currently set at the equivalent of an A-level  will rise to a university degree.

The minimum salary required to obtain a work visa will also increase from the current 38,700, but the White Paper does not set out by how much.

The Home Office currently maintains a list of jobs in which the UK has worker shortages  and which allows lower than average salaries to be paid to foreign workers in those roles.

However, the White Paper said the system will be reformed so that roles can only be placed on the list temporarily.

At the same time, each sector looking to have a role placed on the list will have to show that employers are doing work to help train candidates from the domestic workforce. The paper warns that these proposals, too, are far from being launched.

Separately, Labour said it will stop issuing visas to care workers hired overseas.

The visa for health and care workers has led to more than 690,000 applications since its launch, with more than 380,000 in 2023 alone including nearly 225,000 by workers' family members.

The White Paper said it will close  but did not set a date  and there will be a 'transition period' until 2028 for foreign care workers already in the UK.

The minimum requirement for a skilled worker visa  currently set at the equivalent of an A-level  will rise to a university degree. The minimum salary required to obtain a work visa will also increase from the current 38,700, but the White Paper does not set out by how much

It said the reliance on overseas care workers was down to 'historic levels of poor pay and poor terms and conditions, leading to low domestic recruitment and retention rates'.

But the sector has described the move as a 'crushing blow to an already fragile sector'.

Separately, a broad range of migrants coming to the UK will have to show a higher level of English language proficiency.

Increasing the costs for foreign students

Ministers will look at imposing a levy on tuition fees charged to foreign students by the higher education sector.

It would 'represent an increase in the cost of coming to study in the UK if passed on by providers to students as increased tuition fees', a Home Office paper said, and suggested the levy could be set at six per cent.

Foreign students are currently allowed to work in Britain for two years after completing their courses under the so-called 'graduate route'  with 250,000 doing so last year.

But the maximum length of stay will now be cut to 18 months.

Currently, up to 70 per cent of foreign students who stay on under the scheme are working in jobs which require less than degree-level qualifications.

Foreign students are currently allowed to work in Britain for two years after completing their courses under the so-called 'graduate route'  with 250,000 doing so last year. But the maximum length of stay will now be cut to 18 months (Pictured: Yvette Cooper)

Allowing overseas refugees to work

Labour outlined how some overseas refugees will be allowed to come to work in Britain.

It said the Home Office will look at letting a 'limited pool' of 'refugees and displaced people' recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to apply for roles 'where they have the skills to do so'.

They would not currently hold refugee status in Britain.

Allowing asylum seekers the right to work here has long been resisted by the Home Office over fears it would act as a 'pull factor', encouraging more to come.

The proposal seemed to contradict the thrust of the rest of the White Paper but a lack of detail on its scope  including the numbers involved  makes its impact impossible to gauge.
Almost eight years after baby Charlie Gard's death, his mother has launched a legal fight to lift a life-long gagging order keeping the identities of the doctors involved in his case secret.

Connie Yates, 39, hopes to overturn the injunction, which threatens prison for anyone who dares to 'publish or reveal' the names of the Great Ormond Street Hospital clinicians.

Charlie, who suffered from mitochondrial depletion syndrome, died after they blocked his transfer to a US hospital for a pioneering treatment.

'The injunction is so restrictive that it prevents me from making a complaint to the General Medical Council about the clinicians as I would be revealing their identities,' Ms Yates told the Mail.

'I would have to wait for the Supreme Court to finally discharge it before I could do anything.'

The boy's mother, who is supported by the Christian Legal Centre, says the order imposed in 2017 has 'silenced' her for years.

She spoke of feeling guilt at having not reported those involved in Charlie's case, who she feels may have breached GMC standards while giving evidence on behalf of the NHS in the high-profile case.

Its rules state that medical professionals must 'give an objective, unbiased opinion' and that evidence must not be 'misleading'.

Charlie, who suffered from mitochondrial depletion syndrome, died after doctors blocked his transfer to a US hospital for a pioneering treatment

Almost eight years after his death, his mother Connie Yates has launched a legal fight to lift a life-long gagging order keeping the identities of the doctors involved in his case secret

Charlie's parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates fought for their son to have a pioneering treatment but doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital said the condition was irreversible (pictured Charlie Gard's parents at the High Court after a hearing on their baby's future in 2017)

Ms Yates and Charlie's father, Chris Gard, had wanted their son to have a pioneering treatment called nucleoside bypass therapy and had raised 1.3million to transfer him to a US hospital that had agreed to take him.

However, doctors said that Charlie's degenerative condition was irreversible, and that his life support should be switched off to allow him to die with dignity.

His parents took their fight to the European Court of Human Rights but made the decision to end the case after an MRI scan revealed he had deteriorated and lost 90 per cent of his muscle mass.

Charlie was taken off life-support and died on July 28, 2017, days before his first birthday.

'Clinicians were able to hide behind anonymity and say that it was in Charlie's best interests to die rather than to pursue specialist treatment which we as parents wanted,' Ms Yates said.

'It is difficult to put into words what it is like... to be silenced and threatened with being criminalised if you speak about the people condemning your child to die.'

His parents took their fight to the European Court of Human Rights but made the decision to end the case after an MRI scan revealed he had deteriorated and lost 90 per cent of his muscle mass

The boy's mother, who is supported by the Christian Legal Centre, says the order imposed in 2017 has 'silenced' her for years (Pictured: Supporters of Charlie's parents outside the High Court in 2017)

Her legal bid follows a Supreme Court ruling last month in the case of two other families - the Abbasis and Haastrups - saying life-long orders in such cases may only be granted in exceptional circumstances to protect an individual based on 'compelling evidence' of 'a real and continuing threat of a serious nature'.

Ms Yates's legal team has written to Great Ormond Street, saying this shows the injunction must be 'discharged immediately'.

A hospital spokesman said: 'We appreciate the family's position and are now considering how best to respond.'
Spanish prosecutors are seeking to put a paedophile who raped a vulnerable 12-year-old girl behind bars for 107 years.

The paedophile, a 45-year-old man who has only been identified as 'TLM', has already been found guilty of attacking the young girl, described as a child in the care system who suffered 'low self-esteem' caused by 'bullying at school and at home.'

In 2020, TLM began messaging the victim through the Badoo messaging app, before moving on to Instagram and Google Hangouts.

He began raping her at the care home she was in, whose care she was put under due to having a mother too unwell to take care of her, and took several indecent photos and videos of the girl with the intentions of sharing them online.

During his sick visits, TLM would show her pornographic films 'so the minor could watch them and loosen her inhibitions' and 'forced her to have sex,' according to the indictment.

He also convinced her to be photographed and recorded in her underwear, naked, or submitting to the sexual practices he imposed on her.

In November 2020, TLM took his assaults a step further, and began impersonating her on Instagram and European dating app Lovoo 'in order not only to achieve sexual relations with her himself, but also to simultaneously watch other men having sexual relations with the minor in his presence, in order to further satisfy his lustful desire', prosecutors said.

As a result of his 'indiscriminate offering' of her to online users, TLM took at least 20 videos of the girl being raped by himself or other men.

Exterior view of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia, where the case is being heard (File image)

Following a raid on his home, cops found 232 photographs and nine videos of the child, as well as a further 576 videos and 889 digital photographs downloaded from illicit messaging platforms containing child abuse content on his phone.

Similar material was found on TLM's laptop, as well as several hard drives.

On top of seeking more than a century of jail time for the sick paedophile, prosecutors are also asking the Barcelona Court of Appeals, based in the High Court of Justice of Catalonia, to place a 25-year ban on him being within the child's home, school or workplace.

On top of this, they are seeking for the man to be banned from any profession that requires him to be regular contact with children, as well as 100,000 (84,000) in compensation for the child.
Two popular Asian fusion restaurants have shut up shop overnight after their wealthy owner sparked an investigation by the corporate watchdog.

Kekou and Klae, in the inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond, have entered liquidation with debts exceeding $1.3million, including an estimated $50,000 in unclaimed vouchers.

Both venues had been awarded a number of accolades in recent years, both being granted a Chef's Hat prize in the Australian Good Food Guide.

Owner David Anderson, who is also the director of investment firm Falcon Capital, is currently the subject of an ASIC investigation.

The probe was publicly announced on April 10, although the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) confirmed the investigation began in May 2024.

The restaurants ceased trading abruptly late in April.

A notice posted on the front door of Kekou stated the building owner had 'retaken possession of the premises' from Anderson due to 'non-payment of rent'.

More than $1.3million is owed to 82 creditors, with $400,000 owed to the ATO.

Klae (pictured) has entered liquidation following an ASIC investigation

The notice posted on Kekou's door, stating that David Anderson had not been paying rent

Up to 12 employees are owed more than $220,000 in wages including $33,885 in superannuation, $49,125 in unpaid leave entitlements, and $98,157 in retrenchment payouts.

Unused gift vouchers accounted for tens of thousands worth of the restaurants' liabilities, with $43,956 listed for Kekou and $7,732 for Klae.

The two venues, located on Swan Street and Bridge Road respectively, also owe large sums to a series of suppliers and service providers.

Some of the largest creditors include digital payments firm Tyro, which is owed $335,433, along with $51,089 owed to alcohol and food supply businesses.

Liquidator Adrian Warry of Dye & Co said Klae owes over $65,000 to its sister venue, Kekou.

The ASIC investigation came after the freezing of assets belonging to the First Guardian Masterfund, an investment vehicle also under scrutiny.

Mr Anderson is a director of that fund.

ASIC has raised a number of serious concerns about the operations of the fund.

Kekou and Klae (pictured) in Richmond, Melbourne, have entered liquidation with debts exceeding $1.3million, including an estimated $50,000 in unclaimed vouchers

It alleges that approximately $274million of First Guardian's reported value comes from overdue receivables, with payments now months behind schedule.

In addition, over $23million appears to have been paid to entities claiming to provide marketing services, in a manner that 'appears contrary to representations made to investors'.

The commission also found that First Guardian invested in companies with which Anderson had either a personal or financial connection, raising questions about unmanaged conflicts of interest.

According to ASIC, investors 'may have been exposed to classes of assets that differ from what was disclosed to them at the time of making their investment', and 'may have been misled about the security of their investment and likely returns'.

The investigation by ASIC into Mr Anderson and his businesses continues.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the liquidators for further comment.
Mycologist Tom May, who is an internationally recognised fungi expert, told the jury death cap mushrooms can only be found beneath or close to oak trees or trees within the oak family.

Dr May, a mushroom expert who was the principal fungi research scientist at the Royal Botanical Gardens, said death caps had a 'symbiotic' relationship with oak trees.

He explained this means death caps can't live without an oak tree.

'In Australia it has only been reported with the oak family,' Dr May said.

The mushroom expert described death caps as mostly orangey in colour, but could be whiteish or brownish.

He said they change their appearance as they matured.

Dr May told the jury death cap mushrooms - known scientifically as amanita phalloides - were believed to have been accidentally introduced into Australia from Europe and were first detected in Victoria in the 1970s.

He said the mushrooms were 'relatively short lived' in the wild due to wet conditions and insects.

Dr May said death caps wouldn't last much longer in a refrigerator due to the fungi being infested with insects that 'keep working away' at the mushrooms.

The jury heard button mushrooms last longer in the fridge because they weren't infested with insects.

Dr May said there were many publicly available online databases that contained information regarding death cap mushrooms.

He said iNaturalist is Australia's largest publicly accessible citizen scientist app for uploading information about fungi.

Dr May told the jury you need an account to post information about wild mushroom, but don't need an account to view 'precise location information'.

'You can readily find the location of certain species,' he said.

Dr May also said iNaturalist contains information on where death cap mushrooms can be found.

He said death caps appear as red dots on a map and when you click on the dot it shows information including the image, date of observation and person who made the observation.

An image shown in court included the exact location of death caps in a suburban park.

The jury heard a death cap was detected in Loch on April 18, 2023.

The doctor said death cap mushrooms have been found in the ACT, NSW and parts of Victoria, including Gippsland towns Outtrim, Loch and Morwell.

In Victoria, death caps grow throughout metro Melbourne to the east into the Dandenong Ranges and in the west to Gisborne and Bendigo, the jury was told.

Overseas, the doctor said death caps, outside of their native Europe, have been detected in the United States and New Zealand, but not in Asia or China.

Dr May said cases involving death cap mushrooms occured when people ingested the deadly fungi by mistake.

Dr May, who published a book in 2021, told the jury toxins found in death caps can be in found other mushrooms.

In 2023, one poisoning involved a Chinese tourist who ate a mushroom, became sick, went to hospital, showed early signs of organ failure, but left hospital a week later.
Sir Keir Starmer was accused of 'taking the public for fools' as he proposed an immigration crackdown  after years of backing open borders.

The Prime Minister insisted in a major speech yesterday that he had long believed in wanting to limit the number of new arrivals to Britain and booting out foreign criminals.

He warned the country risks becoming an 'island of strangers' and that high migration numbers had caused 'incalculable damage' to public services, housing and the economy.

But he was dubbed 'Starmer Chameleon' by the Tories who highlighted how he had said the exact opposite before entering No 10.

The Government's long-awaited White Paper promised to curb the power of judges to block deportations and to reduce immigration to Britain by 98,000 a year.

However, the PM's tough language  described as a 'miraculous conversion' by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp  simultaneously sparked a backlash from Labour Left-wingers and trade unions, while healthcare industry experts raised fresh concerns about the impact of proposed restrictions on work visas.

During the 2020 Labour leadership contest Sir Keir said that 'free movement has been hugely beneficial' and 'our immigration system should be welcoming and compassionate'.

He also backed 'more safe and legal routes' for people to join family members rather than risking crossing the Channel, as well as closing down immigration detention centres and giving asylum seekers the right to work.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) was accused of 'taking the public for fools' as he proposed an immigration crackdown  after years of backing open borders

People believed to be migrants have been seen in buses in Dover after Channel crossings yesterday

Illegal migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel into Dover port on May 12, 2025 in Dover, England

In another 2020 speech he said 'we welcome migrants, we don't scapegoat them'. One of his ten pledges at the time  most of which have now been abandoned  was to 'defend free movement' and create an 'immigration system based on compassion and dignity'.

During the campaign he signed a letter calling for the Home Office to cancel a deportation flight due to send home 50 Jamaican criminals including rapists, burglars and robbers, and to suspend 'all future charter flights'.

In fact, even when making his maiden speech to the Commons after being elected in 2015, he challenged Tory plans for a Bill of Rights that would allow deportations. And when a young barrister he once wrote that there was a 'racist undercurrent which permeates all immigration law'.

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'It was astonishing listening to Keir Starmer's proposals. Labour are taking the public for fools.'

Mr Philp said: 'The Prime Minister claimed this morning that, all of a sudden, he wants to control immigration. That came to me as something of a surprise. He seems to have undergone a miraculous conversion.

'He has apparently repudiated everything he has ever believed, or perhaps the Prime Minister is doing what he always does  saying whatever he thinks people want to hear.'

Mr Philp called for a 'binding annual cap on migration' and that the Human Rights Act should no longer apply to immigration matters.

Shadow home office minister Matt Vickers told the Mail: 'This is the Starmer Chameleon in action  saying one thing and doing another, talking tough while on the same day bringing through a bill that waters down our powers to deal with those who come here illegally.'

On what is expected to be a busy day due to calm conditions at sea, two Border Force vessels brought in groups of suspected migrants into the Port of Dover in Kent

Groups were escorted up the gangway in Dover yesterday wearing orange lifejackets

Migrants are seen being brought into port on board a Border Force vessel today in Dover, Kent

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: 'Many of the things he said are the same things I've been saying for over 20 years, and that's Starmer's problem, insincerity. What does this man actually believe in?'

In his Downing Street speech yesterday morning, Sir Keir denied his vow to cut net migration  the number of people settling in the UK each year minus those leaving  was a reaction to Reform's surging popularity.

'I am doing this because it is right, because it is fair,' he insisted. 'I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly.

'That's why some of the policies in this White Paper go back nearly three years, which is why I told the Labour Party conference 'taking back control' is a Labour argument, and why, most importantly of all, inward migration is already falling with this Government.'

He was asked by the Mail if his views had changed, given he is now promising 'enforcement tougher than ever' just five years after calling on deportation flights to be halted.

Sir Keir replied: 'No, I've always said that those who commit offences should be deported.'

The latest migrant arrivals yesterday in Dover coincided with new Government plans

In this aerial view inflatable dinghies and outboard motors believed to have been used by illegal migrants to cross the English channel from France to England are stored in a Home Office compound on May 12, 2025 in Dover, England

However, the PM refused to consider quitting the European Convention on Human Rights or disapplying the Human Rights Act in immigration cases, as many on the Right are demanding.

Migrants continued to cross the Channel illegally, with the total since Labour came to power passing 35,000 on Sunday. Another migrant died yesterday and 60 more were rescued off France.

Net migration hit a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023. Latest official figures are due to be published next week.
President Donald Trump's willingness to accept a $400 million 'flying palace' from Qatar has enraged yet another MAGA ally, with Ben Shapiro savaging the deal.

Trump has repeatedly hit out at critics of the deal, which would see him accept an opulent Boeing 747 as a gift from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his presidential term.

In a stunning sign of friendship, the royal family have reportedly offered to have ownership of the plane transferred to Trump's presidential library foundation at the end of his term.

Shapiro weighed in on the controversy on Monday, blasting the arrangement as 'skeezy' in a scorched earth rant against Qatar's corruption and efforts to influence American politics.

'Qatar is not allegedly giving President Trump a $400 million jet out of the goodness of their sweet little hearts, no matter what special envoy Steve Witkoff says,' Shapiro said.

'They try to stuff money in pockets in totally bipartisan fashion. Qatar will court anyone it thinks will have power. Republican or Democrat.

'It's an equal opportunity influencer - as long as you can help whitewash their image or smooth over the fact that they are in fact the world's largest proponents of terrorism on an international scale.'

Shapiro pointed out that Qatar gave a $1 million donation to the Clinton Foundation for Bill Clinton's birthday when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State.

Shapiro weighed in on the controversy on Monday, blasting the arrangement as 'skeezy' in a scorched earth rant against Qatar's corruption and efforts to influence American politics

Trump has repeatedly hit out at critics of the deal, which would see him accept an opulent Boeing 747 as a gift from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his presidential term

The lavish plane is worth $400million new, sparking concerns the gift could be an act of bribery

At the time, Trump was outraged and demanded she return any money accepted from places like Qatar, due to their human rights records.

Trump campaigned on a vow to 'drain the swamp', as well as a promise to be tough on Hamas and support Israel.

Qatar has been a key financial supporter of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, but has also assisted in key negotiations for the exchange of hostages.

'Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jazeera, all the rest  that's not America First,' Shapiro said.

'Is this good for President Trump? Is it good for his agenda? Is it good for draining the swamp and getting things done? The answer is no, it isn't. It isn't. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of "skeezy" stuff needs to stop.'

Shapiro warned Trump: 'Taking jets from Qatar is not the way. Taking real estate deals from Qatar is not the way. The largest obstacle to any administration is scandal.

'Scandal-plagued administrations have a really tough time gathering the political capital necessary to actually effectuate their agenda, and that's why it's unbelievably important that the Trump administration avoid scandal. That is the reason I am worried about this stuff.'

He went on to argue that if 'we switched the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, we'd all be freaking out on the right.'

Trump campaigned on a vow to 'drain the swamp', as well as a promise to be tough on Hamas and support Israel

A glimmering corridor inside the plane that jives with Trump's famous love for anything and everything gold

Pictured: A conference room with deep cushioned chairs that are adjustable with the push of a button

Shapiro's criticism comes after MAGA influencer Laura Loomer lashed out over the same deal, writing on X: 'I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him.

'But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift' from jihadists in suits.'

Fox News host and Trump ally Mark Levin also weighed in on Sunday, sharing Loomer's post in full and writing 'ditto', before launching into his own criticism.

'Qatar must stop buying our colleges and universities and spreading their anti-American, Jew-hating propaganda and funding terrorist groups and front groups.

'Their jet and all the other things they are buying in our country does not provide them with the cover they seek. It is a terror state. That is beyond dispute or their bank accounts.'

Trump initially defended the deal on Sunday night, which up until that point was not confirmed.

'The Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He said Democrats 'insist we pay TOP DOLLAR for the plane... The Dems are World Class Losers!!!! MAGA.'

Shapiro warned Trump that Qatar is an 'equal opportunity influencer' who would try to woo whoever was in power - Republican or Democrat

Laura Loomer (left) and Mark Levin (right) led the criticism from MAGA on Sunday

He then doubled down during a press conference on Monday morning, attacking a reporter from ABC, who broke the story, for questioning his decision, before noting: 'I think it's a great gesture from Qatar.

'I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.'

Trump also blamed Boeing, arguing he would not be in want of a new presidential plane if the manufacturer had completed their contract for two new jets in time.

Boeing has fallen so behind on the $3.9 billion project that it now fears it won't be able to finish building the planes before Trump leaves office. They were supposed to be finished last year, but a series of supplier and engineering snags has caused the project to take years and go billions over budget.

'They said we would like to do something and if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use,' he said. 'We give free things out, we'll take one too.'

Trump said he would not use the plane after leaving office, but would decommission it and out it in his presidential library - similar to Ronald Reagan's.

Speaking to Politico on the condition of anonymity, one Trump insider said: 'Trump is able to compartmentalize the Qatar situation.

'He looks at them and says, "They're a very wealthy country, we've got a big base there, they're investing huge amounts in America, they seem to be well connected to our enemies so if we need to talk to somebody, they're around, they seem to like us, they treat us nicely. They give us lots of things, so on that level, all good".'

Despite extensive backlash across both sides of the political divide, Trump's advisors and experts maintain there are no legal challenges if he decides to accept the gift.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt railed against suggestions of impropriety, issuing a statement which said: 'President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency.

'Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws.'

In a sign that the administration anticipated backlash over the gift, Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly investigated the legality of accepting it.

She determined that because the gift is not conditional it would not constitute bribery.

Similarly, it would not run afoul of Constitutional limits to foreign gifts because the plane would be handed first to the United States Air Force and eventually to the presidential library foundation - not to any one individual, sources told the ABC.

Bondi served as a foreign agent and lobbyist for the Embassy of the State of Qatar prior to returning to politics and joining Trump's cabinet. In her role advocating Qatari interests, she earned as much as $115,0000 per month.
Cultural symbol blanket from China's ethnic minority debuts at London Craft Week

Xinhua) 10:06, May 13, 2025

LONDON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A traditional Dulong blanket from China's least populous ethnic minority made its debut on Monday at the opening of the China National Pavilion during the 2025 London Craft Week. Approximately 120 handcrafted works were on display.

The Dulong people primarily reside in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of southwest China's Yunnan Province. The Dulong blanket, woven by Dulong women, serves as a cultural symbol of their community.

The exhibition in London is supported by the initiative "Mothers' Needlework," launched by China Ping An Group in partnership with Art and Design Press. The program aims to promote women's employment and alleviate poverty.

In his opening remarks, Minister Zhao Fei of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom (UK) highlighted the shared heritage of craftsmanship in both China and Britain. He noted that both countries have splendid artisanal traditions, and expressed hope that this year's London Craft Week would deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.

Qian Zhu, president and editor-in-chief of Art and Design magazine, said that Dulong blankets and its related textiles generate annual sales of approximately 500,000 yuan (70,000 U.S. dollars) in the UK. For an ethnic group with a population of just 7,000, the growing domestic and international recognition of Dulong textiles is a significant achievement.

David Francis, a lecturer in Curating Asian Art at SOAS, University of London, whose research includes ethnic minority communities in China's Yunnan and Sichuan, told Xinhua he was excited to see textiles he had encountered in China now being exhibited in London. He emphasized the importance of integrating traditional craft with contemporary design to resonate with modern audiences.

The China Pavilion is themed "Tian Gong Kai Wu," named after the renowned 17th-century Chinese encyclopedia of craftsmanship and technology, widely regarded as the world's first systematic record of China's agricultural and artisanal knowledge.

Hosted at the historic Royal Mint in London, the exhibition runs through May 18 and includes themed events such as "Mothers' Needlework" and "A Magical Leaf from the East." Notably, 80 percent of the showcased works are created by emerging artisans.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
French film star Brigitte Bardot has defended actors who 'grab a girl's bottom' just one day before Gerard Depardieu is due to receive the verdict of his sexual assault trial.

Depardieu, 76, who has appeared in over 200 films and television series, is facing charges of sexually assaulting two women during a 2021 film shoot - which he denies.

The Count Of Monte Cristo actor has been accused of improper behaviour by around 20 women, but this is the first case to reach trial.

Ms Bardot, 90, also defended French actor and director Nicolas Bedos, who was found guilty in October 2024 of sexually assaulting two women.

In her first interview in 11 years, Ms Bardot told BFMTV: 'Feminism is not my thing. People with talent who grab a girl's bottom are thrown into the bottom of the ditch. We could at least let them carry on living. They can't live any more.'

The actress, who was once an international sex symbol before retiring in 1973, believes those men 'won't find much work' after public backlash.

Ms Bardot made her breakthrough in 1952 in the film The Girl In The Bikini and became one of the most famous French postwar film stars.

She once starred alongside Depardieu in the 1972 comedy film The Annuity.

French film star Brigitte Bardot has defended actors who 'grab a girl's bottom' just one day before Gerard Depardieu is due to receive the verdict of his sexual assault trial

French actor Gerard Depardieu arrives on the day of his trial for two sexual assaults allegedly committed on the set of the film 'Les Volets Verts', at the courthouse in Paris, France, March 24

Around 20 women have come forward, but many cases have been dropped due to France's statute of limitations

French President Emmanuel Macron came under fire in 2023 after he praised Depardieu as a great actor and described him as the target of a 'manhunt'.

Ms Bardot's views appear to align with the other older members of the French film industry who reject what they see as an American-inspired puritan intolerance of flirtation.

Actress Catherine Deneuve, 81, signed a text along with 100 other women in 2018 which defended men's 'freedom to bother' women as essential to seduction.

Ms Bardot has previously called the accusations put forward by actresses against men 'hypocritical, ridiculous and without interest'.

After testimony from 140 people, a French parliamentary inquiry last month concluded sexual violence remained 'systematic, endemic and persistent' in the French arts world.

Erwan Balanant, the centrist MP who headed the inquiry, said: 'The system is a meat grinder that consumes people.'

Depardieu's trial revolves around accusations of sexual assault during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021, directed by Jean Becker.

Two woman - a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director - claim Depardieu subjected them to sexual violence on set.

Ms Bardot has previously called the accusations put forward by actresses against men 'hypocritical, ridiculous and without interest'

Ms Bardot, 90, also defended French actor and director Nicolas Bedos (pictured), who was found guilty in October 2024 of sexually assaulting two women

In her first interview in 11 years, Ms Bardot told BFMTV: 'Feminism is not my thing. People with talent who grab a girl's bottom are thrown into the bottom of the ditch. We could at least let them carry on living. They can't live any more'

Depardieu has been accused of improper behaviour by around 20 women, but this is the first case to reach trial

Prominent French actress Anouk Grinberg, who also starred in the film, has publicly supported the accusers, claiming Depardieu routinely made 'salacious remarks' during filming. She has accused producers of knowingly 'hiring an abuser'.

The set dresser alleged the actor was openly making crude remarks on set, and at one point loudly complained he 'couldn't even get it up' because of the heat.

She claimed he boasted he could 'give women an orgasm without touching them' and that an hour later Depardieu 'brutally grabbed' her.

The actor pinned her by 'closing his legs' around her before groping her waist and her stomach, continuing up to her breasts, she added.

She said Depardieu made 'obscene remarks' including: 'Come and touch my big parasol. I'll stick it in your p****.'

She described the actor's bodyguards dragging him away as he shouted: 'We'll see each other again, my dear.'

The second accuser, the assistant director, has also accused Depardieu of sexual violence, though details of her allegations have not yet been made public.

In August 2024, French prosecutors called for movie star Depardieu to stand trial for raping a young actress over two days at his Paris home.

French President Emmanuel Macron came under fire in 2023 after he praised Depardieu as a great actor and described him as the target of a 'manhunt'

Prominent French actress Anouk Grinberg, who also starred in the film, has publicly supported the accusers, claiming Depardieu routinely made 'salacious remarks' during filming

Actor Charlotte Arnould hugs Anouk Grinberg, on the day of the trial of French actor Gerard Depardieu

The alleged victim, Charlotte Arnould, now 29, claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by Depardieu in August 2018.

A source working with Paris prosecutors said it was 'requested that Gerard Depardieu be referred to the departmental criminal court to be tried for rape by digital penetration and sexual assault on August 7 and 13, 2018.'

The investigation has been going on for a full six years, with evidence including CCTV footage of Depardieu performing a sex act on Ms Arnould at his mansion in August 2018.

Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, Ms Arnould's lawyer, said the request for trial was 'the result of a long investigation that made it possible to gather the elements that corroborate my client's words.'

Ms Durrieu-Diebolt added: 'For her, it is a huge step forward full of hope, while she waits for the order of the investigating judge that will close the investigation.'

The complaint by Ms Arnoud was initially dismissed, but then reopened when further evidence emerged.

Counsel for Depardieu did not immediately respond to the call for a trial, but the Green Card and Last Metro star has continually claimed that sex with Ms Arnould was consensual.

In 2023, Depardieu broke his silence over claims that he is a serial sex abuser saying: 'I am neither a rapist nor a predator.'

Activists hold placards as they demonstrate outside the Paris courthouse on the opening day of French actor Gerard Depardieu's trial

Two woman - a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director - claim Depardieu subjected them to sexual violence on set

Accusing enemies of subjecting him to a 'lynching' in the media, he expressed his anger in an open letter to the French press.

Ms Arnould renounced her legal right to anonymity at the end of 2021, following Depardieu being charged with rape and sexual assault.

Last year, a criminal enquiry was also opened into the suspected suicide of a French actress who had accused Depardieu of sexual violence.

It was feared that the last hours of Emmanuelle Debever, 60, may have been linked to the multiple abuse accusations levelled by women against Depardieu.

She died on December 7th - the exact day a new documentary entitled Gerard Depardieu: The Fall of the Ogre was broadcast across France.

It contained disturbing details of an alleged attack by Depardieu on Ms Debever, when she was still a teenager.

In December, another French actress filed a formal sex attack complaint against Depardieu, saying he treated her like 'a piece of meat'.

Paris prosecutors confirmed that Helene Darras, 43, reported Depardieu in September.

The pair appeared together in the 2007 film Disco, when Darras was 26, and allegedly assaulted.

Waiving her legal right to anonymity, Ms Darras told the same Further Investigation (Complement d'enquete) documentary series: 'He [Depardieu] is unmanageable.

'He looks at me as if I were a piece of meat. I have an ultra-tight dress, he pulls me closer to him by the waist, then he runs his hand over my hips, over my bum.'

And in December 2023, Spanish journalist and writer Ruth Baza filed a complaint in Spain against the actor for rape, for acts dating back to 1995 in Paris.
A 'cool monk' at a prestigious Catholic boarding school allegedly had a key cut for a room he used to sexually abuse a young pupil, a court has heard.

Michael James Callaghan, known as Father James, is on trial accused of sexually abusing two students while he was a teacher and housemaster at 43,000-a-year Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire.

The 71-year-old was known among pupils at the top independent school as a 'cool monk' who would often treat pupils to shopping trips, dinners and even outings in his car.

Standing trial at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan is alleged to have indecently assaulted one boy 12 times over three years, aged between 14 and 18, in the 1990s, after making him feel 'special'.

Opening the case to jurors on Monday, prosecutor Mark McKone KC said the complainant told police the 'sexual bit' had started when he was under 16, with Callaghan kissing him.

Mr McKone said Callaghan took the boy on 'frequent' outings in his car, taking him shopping in York and for a pub lunch, even giving the alleged victim a silver cigarette box as a birthday gift.

He also said that the former teacher would ask the boy to meet him after Mass on Saturday evenings at different locations, including guest rooms.

Described as a 'cool monk', Michael James Callaghan, 71, known as Father James, is on trial accused of sexually abusing two pupils while he was a teacher and housemaster at 43,000-a-year Ampleforth College (pictured) in North Yorkshire

Standing trial at Teesside Crown Court, Callaghan is alleged to have indecently assaulted one boy 12 times over three years, aged between 14 and 18, in the 1990s, after making him feel 'special' and even having a key cut for the boy for a room intended for the homeless (Pictured: Ampleforth College)

At one point, Callaghan even allegedly got the young boy a key cut for a room at the school that was intended for homeless individuals.

The alleged victim told police there was 'lots of hugs, lots of touching, I was made to feel really special'.

In his police interview, he said that Callaghan would 'take on the role of a boy I had a crush on' and they would kiss and simulate sex.

He told officers he had been 'guilt tripped' into going to see Callaghan and remembered 'feelings of "I don't really want to be held like this''.

Having 'been in survival mode' for more than 20 years, the complainant said that it was only when he reflected on the ordeal with 'with adult eyes' that he had realised 'Oh my God, that wasn't right', jurors heard.

Asked by police if he had ever said he did not want these things to happen, the complainant said: 'I was in a really bad place, I was going through hell at school...I hated the sexual bit of it, where possible, I would just avoid it'.

In December 2022, 30 years on from the alleged abuse, the complainant spoke to police about his ordeal, eventually bringing the allegations against Callaghan to light.

Callaghan is charged with 12 counts of indecently assaulting the first complaiant, with four alleged to have occurred while under 16. He is also accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in 2013 by grabbing his bottom after going to give him a hug. He denies all charges (Pictured: Ampleforth College)

The court heard that Callaghan had admitted to having 'some sexual activity' with the first alleged victim, 'but only after he was 16 and only with his consent'.

Mr McKone said: 'Whatever (the complainant's) age, this was not true consent - this was not consent given freely by someone who had a real choice.'

Callaghan is charged with 12 counts of indecently assaulting the boy, with four alleged to have happened when he was under 16.

These include making the complainant perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation during roleplay, where Callaghan pretended to have a heart attack on at least four occasions.

The defendant is also accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy in 2013 by grabbing his bottom after going to give him a hug.

Mr McKone told jurors that the second alleged victim had described Callaghan as a 'cool monk who was popular' and also informed police that the teacher had invited him for a glass of wine at one point, which he declined.

At a later point, the alleged victim interviewed Callaghan for a project. Afterwards, as he was heading towards the door, the teacher stopped him and 'tightly groped him', leaving the young boy 'shocked'.

The prosecutor stated that the alleged sexual assault was 'serious enough for him to complain about it to the police' and that he was 'still affected by it many years later'.

Callaghan, who said that he remembered the second boy, described him as 'a bit odd'.

While he insisted that he could not remember the incident, he was almost certain that he would have given the complainant a hug as it was in his 'nature' to do so.

Callaghan, of Moortown, Leeds, denies all charges against him. The trial continues.
Four men have been arrested after a California teen died by suicide hours after he became the target of an international sextortion scheme.

Ryan Last, 17, sent intimate photos of himself to someone he thought was a 20-year-old woman - but turned out to be part of a blackmail gang in West Africa.

The straight-A high school senior, fearing the photos would be leaked onto the internet, tragically took his own life shortly after the scammers demanded money to keep the images private.

Authorities revealed on May 9 that thousands of victims in the U.S., Canada and Europe - including minors - had been targeted by the group.

Last was a student at Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, 22 miles south of San Jose.

His death in February 2022 sparked an investigation which has led to the arrest of ringleader Alfred Kassi who lives in the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote dIvoire.

Kassi was arrested on April 29 - when it was discovered that, years later, he still had the menacing messages he sent to Last on his phone. Three other men were also arrested.

The investigation was led by the San Jose Police Department, the FBI with assistance from Mark Zuckerbergs Meta.

A May 9 statement by the Department of Justice read: Through a lengthy, coordinated investigation involving U.S. and Ivorian law enforcement, the evidence ultimately led law enforcement to identify Alfred Kassi, an Ivorian citizen living in Cote dIvoire, as the individual allegedly conducting the sextortion.

Ryan Last, 17, of San Jose, California, took his own life after a cybercriminal told him he would send naked pictures of the teen to his family and friends if he failed to pay $5,000

Last's parents, Pauline and Hagen, have become advocates speaking out against 'sextortion' scams targeting teen boys. Last (second from the right) is pictured with his parents and younger brother

The high school senior had finished visiting colleges when he was contacted by a scammer pretending to be a girl

Last's death in February 2022 sparked an investigation which has now led to the arrest of 'sextortion' ringleader Alfred Kassi and three associates in the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote dIvoire

On April 29, Kassi was arrested by Ivorian law enforcement.

At the time of his arrest, Kassi allegedly still had the sextortion messages he sent to the 17-year-old victim in February 2022 on his phone.

Three of Kassis alleged accomplices were also arrested. Oumarou Ouedraogo was picked up for money laundering and two others, Moussa Diaby and Oumar Cisse, were arrested for sextortion crimes.

Another accomplice, Jonathan Kassi - unrelated to Alfred Kassi - was convicted in a California court in 2023 and sentenced to 18 months in jail.

According to the DoJ, The government of Cote dIvoire does not extradite its own citizens, so these defendants will be prosecuted in their own country under Ivorian cybercrime statutes.

Lasts mother, Pauline Stuart, previously said in a video posted by the San Jose Police Department, that the gang catfished my son and gained his trust through flirting and showing interest.

She described her beloved son as a trusting person who had been looking forward to attending Washington State University.

People can pretend to be anyone, added Stuart. The fact that he was told that they would send out or post the pictures on social media had a devastating effect on Ryan.

He chose to end his life, rather than have the pictures distributed on social media. He believed his reputation would be destroyed and he was terrified of what his friends and family would think.

In a note written before his death, Last apologized for not being smarter.

Stuart previously told ABC7 following the latest arrests: To him, he wasn't smart because he fell for this scam.

He believed in somebody and that devastates me that he felt that he wasn't smart because somebody took advantage of him.

The scammers immediately demanded $5,000 from Last after he sent them an intimate photo of himself which they reduced to $150. He paid them the amount from his college fund but the gang demanded more money.

She said: 'Somebody reached out to him pretending to be a girl, and they started a conversation.'

Stuart also previously commented to CNN: 'He really, truly thought in that time that there wasn't a way to get by if those pictures were actually posted online.

His note showed he was absolutely terrified. No child should have to be that scared.

'They kept demanding more and more and putting lots of continued pressure on him.

His family didnt know anything about the extortion until after Lasts passing.

Stuart, pictured with last, said her family is heartbroken and she is working with law enforcement so no family goes through the same pain they did

'How could these people look at themselves in the mirror knowing that $150 is more important than a child's life, she told CNN.

'There's no other word but 'evil' for me that they care much more about money than a child's life,' she added. 'I don't want anybody else to go through what we did.'

Lasts father also previously commented on Facebook: 'We thought we did everything correctly protecting our boys from any online threats.

But Ryan still became the victim of an online scam that ended with blackmail. In the end he got so embarrassed and scared that he only saw one way out.

'We want to help to make sure that this will not happen to any other family. And the best way to do that is to help educate parents and children about what dangers exist on the internet.'

The FBI says sextortion schemes are on the rise. According to their Internet Crime Complaint Center, there were over 54,000 victims in 2024, up from 34,000 in 2023.
Top Democrats are trying to figure out how to help Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman after an anonymous colleague admitted they're 'worried about him' amid reports about his health.

A blockbuster New York Magazine feature painted the Pennsylvania Senator as not well and behaving erratically since being treated for depression.

Further tales have been published since, including an old video of Fetterman behaving poorly on a plane and driving a staffer to tears with an outburst during a meeting with union representatives.

Now, Democrat leadership is talking about holding some kind of intervention for Fetterman to see if they can help him.

At least two liberal Senators admitted there are strategy meetings in an attempt to assist the ailing Fetterman.

One Senate Democrat said they had been 'involved in discussions' about how best to help him, adding that they 'are worried about his safety.'

'Every time I see him, I'm worried about him,' another anonymous Senate Democrat admitted to The Hill.

Democrats are worried that Fetterman may not be able to handle the stressors of living in the public eye.

Top Democrats are trying to figure out how to help Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (pictured) after an anonymous colleague admitted they're 'worried about him' amid reports about his health

Democrat leadership is talking about holding an intervention for Fetterman to see if they can help him

'I know we're all in touch with each other having conversations about how to intervene. I haven't heard anybody say they're not worried about it,' that senator added.

'People are trying to figure out what to do,' the first anonymous Democrat lawmaker said.

The goal appears to be not to approach it from a professional level but to connect with Fetterman by genuinely caring.

'They've been more like, 'We're friends. What can we do as friends to provide some support?' said one senator.

'I worry about that. And that means, as friends, we need to step up.'

A third Democrat member of the Senate said Fetterman's been emotional while working lately.

'Certainly, I'm concerned about his well-being like all other senators,' they said.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Senator Fetterman for comment.

The goal appears to be not to approach it from a professional level but to connect with Fetterman by genuinely caring

A blockbuster New York Magazine feature painted the Pennsylvania Senator as not well and behaving erratically since being treated for depression

A report by New York Magazine citing several individuals who made concerning accusations against him and claimed he was not taking his medication.

Only one staffer was willing to go public with the claims and Fetterman has denied them.

Some of the anonymous staffers shared marital strife and political disagreements with his wife Gisele.

Former Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson is the most public face of the story, titled 'The Hidden Struggle of John Fetterman.'

One year after Fetterman's release from the traumatic-brain-injury and neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed Hospital, Jentleson wrote a letter the division's director who treated Fetterman there.

'I think John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him,' Jentleson wrote in the 1,600-word email with the subject line: 'Concerns.'

He added that the senator 'won't be with us for much longer' if he doesn't change his behavior, with Jentleson claiming these are 'the things you said to flag, so I am flagging.'

One of the things he was told to flag: that Fetterman purchased a gun, though Jentleson admits the senator 'takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does I understand the desire for personal protection.'

A report by New York Magazine citing several individuals who made concerning accusations against him and claimed he was not taking his medication

Only one staffer was willing to go public with the claims and Fetterman has denied them

Jentleson is referring to the hard-scrabble small town of Braddock where Fetterman served as mayor and still lives.

Fetterman is accused of everything from the physical - 'not taking his meds' to eating fast-food multiple times a day - to the mental - lying, 'self-centered monologues,' 'conspiratorial thinking; megalomania' - among his issues.

The senator is also allegedly obsessed with social media despite admitting it was an 'accelerant' of his depression and driving 'recklessly' to the point that staffers refused to ride with him and a police officer said it was 'a miracle no one died' after one accident last June.

Jentleson also argued that 'every person who was supposed to help him stay on his recovery plan has been pushed out.'

The former chief of staff later said in an interview a year after writing the letter that he's telling his side of the story because he believes Fetterman's trajectory has taken him out of consideration to lead the Democrats going forward.

'Part of the tragedy here is that this is a man who could be leading Democrats out of the wilderness but I also think he's struggling in a way that shouldn't be hidden from the public.'

Fetterman's campaign is also reportedly bleeding money and losing small-dollar donors ever since he met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Russia did down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, an aviation body has ruled more than 11 years after the disaster.

The UN's aviation council on Monday said that Russia was responsible for the downing that killed all 298 passengers and crew - including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents.

Both governments said the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would in the coming weeks consider what form of reparation was in order.

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, and was shot down over eastern Ukraine as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

In November 2022, Dutch judges convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absentia of murder for their role in the attack.

Moscow called the ruling 'scandalous' and said it would not extradite its citizens.

The ICAO, which is based in Montreal, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case was launched in 2022 by Australia and the Netherlands.

'The decision is an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones,' Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a statement.

'This decision also sends a clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity.'

The reconstructed wreckage of the MH17 airplane is seen after the presentation of the final report into the crash of July 2014 of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, in Gilze Rijen, the Netherlands, October 13, 2015

People walk amongst the debris at the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Grabovo, Ukraine, on July 17, 2014

In this file photo taken on November 11, 2014 pro-Russian gunmen stand guard as Dutch investigators (unseen) arrive near parts of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 at the crash site near the Grabove village in eastern Ukraine on November 11, 2014

Russian rocket system 'Buk-M2' on display during the MAKS 2011 airshow in the town of Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia

The Netherlands and Australia want the ICAO Council to order Russia to enter into negotiations over reparations, he added.

Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government welcomed the decision and urged ICAO to move swiftly to determine remedies.

'We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law,' Wong said in a statement.

ICAO lacks regulatory power but holds moral suasion and sets global aviation standards overwhelmingly adopted by its 193-member states.

In 2023, three men involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 were sanctioned by the Australian government.

The sanctions target Russian Sergey Dubinskiy and Ukrainian national Leonid Kharchenko, who were both found guilty in the court and sentenced to life in jail.

Australia has also sanctioned Russian national Sergey Muchkaev, a colonel with the Russian Armed Forces.

Muchkaev in July 2014 was the commander of the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, which supplied the Buk-TELAR missile system that downed MH17.

Another convicted perpetrator, Igor Girkin, was sanctioned by Australia in 2014 for supporting separatist activity in eastern Ukraine.

A Malaysian air crash investigator inspects the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, Ukraine, July 22, 2014

Toys are placed near the cross in memory of victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane crash in the village of Rozsypne in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 9, 2020

'As either separatist leaders within the so-called 'People's Republic of Donetsk' at the time of the downing of Flight MH17, or a member of the Russian Armed Forces, the three people sanctioned actively supported actions and policies that threatened the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,' Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

'These sanctions demonstrate the Australian government's ongoing commitment to hold to account those responsible for the downing of flight MH17.'

She said Australia was committed to seeking 'truth, justice and accountability' for the victims and would pursue all available avenues.
Killer went unmedicated in lead-up to massacre

Top of his class at university and with the ability to speak three languages, the future looked bright for Joel Cauchi.

But a series of fateful decisions would lead to him being overlooked by authorities and detached from the mental health system before he became one of Australia's worst mass killers.

The 40-year-old armed himself with a pigging knife when he killed six people and injured 10 others at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre while experiencing a psychotic episode in April 2024.

Details about his history and mental health decline were revealed during an inquest into the tragedy, which ended when the knife-wielding Cauchi was shot dead by a senior police officer.

The Toowoomba man had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen after experiencing hallucinations.

He was successfully treated for decades through a combination of anti-psychotic medication and psychiatric treatment in the public and later private systems.

Cauchi was a 'high-functioning' schizophrenic who had a university degree, coming top in his class, and could speak German and Mandarin, his mother later told Queensland police.

By June 2019, he had been weaned off the two drugs he was taking after he complained about the medicines' side effects.

Six people were killed and 10 injured before police shot Joel Cauchi dead in April 2024

Eight months later, he moved to Brisbane to study to become an English teacher but was cut off from his psychiatric sessions as COVID-19 swept across the world.

He fell off the radar of mental health professionals from that point.

But numerous interactions with Queensland police between 2021 and 2023 should have signalled something was wrong, the inquest into the mass stabbing heard.

Three times - in October 2020, November 2020 and May 2021 - Cauchi was pulled over by Brisbane highway patrol officers when they witnessed his erratic driving.

It included rapidly braking and accelerating, and swerving into adjacent lanes.

On each of those occasions, he told officers he was schizophrenic but unmedicated.

In May 2021, he told a senior constable he did not realise he was driving in the dangerous manner.

'You didn't realise you were braking and then accelerating and then braking and then accelerating?' the officer asked.

'No, no,' Cauchi replied.

Several interactions with Queensland police between 2021 and 2023 should have signalled something was wrong with Cauchi, the inquest heard

The then-37-year-old had been on his way to charity Wesley Mission to get food.

He received a warning from police.

The same month, police were called to an apartment complex in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Kangaroo Point.

They had been notified of a man screaming and the sounds of someone being hit. When Cauchi answered his door, he told officers he had been slamming his fridge.

Just over a year later, he made repeated phone calls to a Toowoomba girls high school asking permission to watch events like swimming carnivals, netball and gymnastics.

A concerned staff member notified police.

From around 2022, Cauchi's online search history showed his interest in disturbing topics such as serial killers, mass stabbings and weapons.

'Five best assault rifles in the world,' one search read.

Queensland police have testified at the inquest about the force's dealings with Joel Cauchi

'14 bands that serial killers loved,' another said.

On an evening in January 2023, Cauchi called police to his parents' Toowoomba home, accusing his father Andrew of stealing his military knives.

One was the same type of knife later used in the shopping centre attack.

By that stage, Cauchi had quit studying to be a teacher and returned to live with his parents after his unit lease ran out.

His mother Michele told police her son had been up at 3am making noises and stamping his feet.

Cauchi's father took the knives and gave them to a friend to look after because he was worried about his son having them in his current mental state.

'He's been in a rage and he was pushing us around a little bit,' Mrs Cauchi said.

Cauchi claimed he would be made homeless, left bankrupt and killed if the knives were not returned.

Cauchi was a 'high-functioning' schizophrenic who was top of his university class and could speak two languages, his mother once told Queensland police

Mrs Cauchi pleaded with officers that her son needed help.

'He's gone too far now. He doesn't know he is sick,' she said.

'I don't know how we're gonna get into treatment really. Unless he does something drastic.'

Speaking with another officer, Cauchi was asked about his mental health.

'Yeah, it's been, um, terrific, actually ... really good,' he said.

Cauchi's mental condition was never seen by police as being so bad that he needed involuntary treatment, the inquest was told.

But one of the officers who attended the family home was concerned enough to email the police mental health incident co-ordinator about a follow-up the night after the knife-related call-out.

That email was seen but nothing further was done.

Fifteen months later, Cauchi had become homeless and was living in Sydney's eastern suburbs before he stepped into the Bondi shopping centre and murdered six people with his knife.
A woman has won a legal bid to have sperm extracted from her dead de-facto partner for IVF treatment and will travel interstate for the procedure because of a bizarre rule.

Stevii Griffin launched a lawsuit in the NSW Supreme Court on March 10 seeking to have a sperm sample extracted from her boyfriend Brodie Davidson.

Mr Davidson died in his sleep two days earlier on March 8 after the pair had been in a de-facto relationship since about August 2023.

Ms Griffin told the court they had often spoken about having a family and submitted a text from Mr Davidson to back up her claim.

Mr Davidson's mother also supported Ms Griffin's application.

Justice Mark Richmond agreed Ms Griffin was entitled to possession of Mr Davidson's sperm and made orders for a sample to extracted from his body.

He authorised Dr Derek Lok from Connect IVF to visit Lidcombe morgue, in western Sydney, and retrieve and store the sperm.

Medical experts recommend that sperm be extracted from a deceased man's body no later than 24 hours after death, but there are reports of live sperm being obtained as late as 48 hours after death.

Stevii Griffin (pictured) has won a legal bid to have the sample extracted, stored and transported to Queensland IVF clinic

A month after the sperm was obtained, Ms Griffin was advised by the fertility clinic Queensland Fertility Group (QFG) that it would be happy to receive the sperm and use it in an IVF treatment.

She decided to transport the sample to Queensland for IVF on the basis that NSW wouldn't allow the treatment because Ms Griffin didn't have the written consent of the deceased.

In Queensland, however, written consent is not required for posthumous semination.

In May, Ms Griffin filed an amended summons in court seeking the release of the sample so she could transport it to Queensland.

Justice Richmond concluded in his decision he was 'satisfied that it is appropriate that the Court make orders permitting the plaintiff to transfer the tissue sample to Queensland for its proposed use there in her IVF treatment'.

He noted that without his orders in March, the storage of the sample at Connect IVF would have been unlawful.

NSW law permits the extraction of the sperm without the written consent of the provider, but not its storage, which the judge described as 'odd'.

Applications like Ms Griffin's were generally made 'in circumstances of extreme urgency'.

Brodie Davidson (pictured right) tragically passed away in his sleep in early March

He also noted that although the law required written consent for such sperm samples to be used for IVF in NSW, there was no prohibition on transporting samples to a jurisdiction that didn't require written consent.

Justice Richmond said in circumstances where the death of the sperm provider was unforeseen, urgent applications like the one made by Ms Griffin in March were 'unsurprising and can be expected to recur'.

He described the apparent conflict in NSW law as an important issue, and said it would be 'desirable' for NSW Parliament to amend the legislation.

Ms Griffin declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
A Texas-based Aussie woman advocating for gun rights has built a 'war chest' of hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight strict firearm legislation.

On March 31, Western Australia's government introduced laws limiting how many guns people can own to the horror of 'shooters'.

The legal change set out mandatory offences and orders, compulsory safety training, health assessments and new storage requirements.

But Kate Fantinel, a former WA senate candidate and podcaster about gun rights under 'Lady Liberty', launched a grassroots campaign to oppose the 'fascist' laws.

Her GoFundMe, which has raised $174,000 since January, was set up to cover the costs for a law firm to produce a letter outlining the issues with the legislation.

On Tuesday, she updated her followers on the legal case while sitting in front of an American flag which quoted the Second Amendment 'right to bear arms'.

In the video shared to YouTube, Ms Fantinel said her team in WA was working on a 'Letter of Opinion' and assured viewers the donations had not been 'gambled' away.

'It turns out that the wheels of justice (do) turn slowly,' she said, describing the lengthy process as a 'baptism of fire'.

Pro-gun activist Kate Fantinel (pictured) has raised more than $170,000 to fight strict firearm laws in WA which limit how many weapons a resident can own

'This is a high profile, politically-charged, sensitive case. We are talking about challenging gun laws in Australia. Of course, it was going to be toxic.

'Of course there were going to be people with the knives out as soon as they got any chance so I didn't realise (the timeline) would be as bad as it was.'

Ms Fantinel apologised for the slow movement but confirmed the Letter of Opinion, which expresses legal conclusions on a matter, would be coming soon.

She said she is considering using the excess money from her campaign to hire a lawyer to fight against firearm laws after the letter is produced.

Having moved to Texas earlier this year, she regularly joins the podcast of her employer Dan Behrman, an activist and former 2020 US presidential candidate.

Behrman, who legally changed his middle name to All-Tax-Is-Theft, has previously told Ms Fantinel that the WA gun laws put Australia at risk of invasion from the Indian Ocean, The West Australian reported.

'It's only one ocean so you could imagine the Somali pirates could by all means come and invade mainland Australia if you get rid of all your guns,' he said.

Ms Fantinel moved to Texas earlier this year and told her followers in an emotional YouTube video that she had fled Australia the way her grandfather fled fascist Italy.

Ms Fantinel (pictured) described WA and its new laws as 'fascist' during a YouTube video

The gun-toting Western Australian accused local police of 'doxing' gun owners after a map was published to demonstrate the number of firearms in metropolitan areas (pictured)

'My grandfather migrated from Italy after the fascist destroyed his country. I feel like I am going through a similar thing,' she said.

'And yes, it's not been as explicit as what happened in Italy, but fascism is in Australia and that's what's happening in WA.'

Ms Fantinel unsuccessfully ran as a senate candidate for Perth in the 2022 federal election as a member of a 'version of the libertarian party'.

She said she ran a 'pro-gun campaign' after WA Police released street maps which showed a heavy concentration of gun ownership in metropolitan areas.

The activist claimed this was a form of 'doxing' gun owners, publicly sharing personally identifiable information of a person or group without their consent.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Fantinel and the WA government for comment.
Sussan Ley's election as the new Liberal leader is a victory for the centrist wing of the party, creating history as the first woman to hold that office as the Coalition repositions itself following a heavy electoral defeat.

Ley's win was hardly resounding, taking the party room vote 29-25 against Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor to replace Peter Dutton.

Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien was elected as deputy leader, with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price - who was aligned with Mr Taylor - dropping out of the contest shortly before the poll.

Ley, 63, is one of the Liberal Party's most-experienced hands, having served as a Cabinet minister under the Coalition's past three prime ministers - Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.

A former commercial pilot, farmer and public servant, she has held the rural seat of Farrer in NSW's south-west since the retirement of her long-serving predecessor and former National Party leader and deputy prime minister Tim Fischer.

Ley famously changed the spelling of her first name from 'Susan' to 'Sussan' in her 20s after exploring numerology. She believed that adding an extra 's' would make her life 'incredibly exciting' and ensure 'nothing would ever be boring'.

Ley is a mother of three and had the support of the party's moderates, with some believing a woman at the helm will help repair the party's negative image among female voters.

Her ascension also represents a swing back toward the political centre after some commentators said the party had tacked too hard to the right under Mr Dutton.

Sussan Ley has been confirmed as the new leader of the Liberal party, making history as the party's first female leader

Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien has been elected to ther role as deputy leader, with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's hopes of being deputy now dead in the water

Mr Taylor was the favoured candidate of the right but had also been criticised for failing to present a detailed economic policy during the election campaign.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price had defected from the Nationals last week and seemed set to go straight into the party's No.2 position, but failed in that ambition.

Her defection from the National Party to run as deputy angered former colleagues and some moderate Liberals who disagreed her brash style of politics would be a vote winner in the inner cities.

Senator Nampijinpa Price was accused of stoking culture wars, which was highlighted by evoking US President Donald Trump's rhetoric during the campaign when she said she wanted to 'make Australia great again'.

Some had speculated that Tuesday's winner would be something of a sacrificial lamb, with the unenviable task of trying to hold to account a dominant government with less than a third of House seats.

However Australian National University politics lecturer Jill Sheppard said the lack of deep talent on the Opposition benches meant Ms Ley may well lead the party to the next election, however hard the task may now seem.

'It does feel like a bit of a poisoned chalice,' Dr Sheppard told AAP.

'The most important day-one job is to keep the party united, and that's not going to be easy when there's a lot of recriminations to be had.'

Senator Nampijinpa Price was accused of stoking culture wars, highlighted by her comment to 'make Australia great again' during the campaign

Moderates have urged the Liberals to abandon culture wars and return to the political centre-ground but Dr Sheppard warned that might not solve the party's problems.

Coming up with policies that stuck closer to the centre could make it harder for the Liberals to differentiate themselves from Labor, she said, when people may well be looking for a genuine alternative at the next election.

Some of the Coalition's lost votes likely bled to hard-right parties such as One Nation, which could spark internal debates about the importance of 'culture wars' to some constituents.

However, it is unclear whether the next leader will be able to change the Liberal Party's ideological direction.

Leaders were constrained by the party room's extremes and were forced to find balance in the middle, Dr Sheppard said.

'To an extent, it doesn't matter who is leader - the parties are pretty strong and they will constrain their leader,' she said.

The Nationals re-elected David Littleproud as their leader on Monday following a challenge from conservative senator Matt Canavan.

Daily Mail Australia politcal editor Peter Van Onselen's take on Sussan Ley

One of Ley's clear strengths is that as a woman her elevation will help stave off criticisms that there aren't enough women in parliament on the conservative side of the chamber. Ley has previously expressed support for gender quotas, but that won't help her campaign to be leader. It might, however, help her win back the votes of women who have deserted the party in droves.

Ley's biggest weakness is the perception that she's not up to the job of being leader. Whether that sentiment is unfounded or founded, it's there, among colleagues and the parliamentary press gallery. It increases the degree of difficulty of being taken seriously, but it could also lead to her opponents underestimating her.

Another criticism she's received over the years is that she is a bit loose with her rhetoric. Prone to shooting her mouth off and needing to walk back her commentary. As leader she'll need to be more disciplined than that, and have a good team around her.
She claimed she was being spied on while shopping

A shopper shared footage of the moment she confronted a woman she claimed was an undercover Coles worker spying on her.

The woman had been doing her grocery shop when she claimed she noticed a woman in a red top following her around.

She pulled out her phone and filmed the woman who was seen carrying several items in her hand.

The woman stared at the shopper before briefly walking away.

She quickly returned and asked: 'So what's the reason you're making (a) video?'

'Well, you're surveilling me so I'm surveilling you too,' the shopper said.

The shopper shared the footage to TikTok along with the caption: 'Tailgated at Coles by this schmuck.'

The video has been viewed almost 400,000 times and attracted hundreds of comments with social media users agreeing the shopper was being surveilled.

The woman who was a suspected Coles undercover security guard

'The girl in red is an undercover security guard of the store,' one said.

'She is looking at the woman who is filming the video to check if that woman is stealing from the store. Every store has surveillance like this, but people don't know.

'They just wander around with some products like (they're) shopping, (the) same as other people, to keep eyes on the thieves. I know because I use to do this job.'

'How do you know she was loss prevention officer?' another asked before the shopper replied: 'She told me.'

'I did it to make her leave me alone,' she said.

Others defended the woman, saying plenty of stores had undercover workers.

'It's not new. Loss prevention officers have been working at Coles and everywhere else for many, many years,' one wrote.

'They're allowed to. Private business. There are other supermarkets you can shop at,' another said.

Some have claimed that Coles hires loss prevention officers to fight against theft

A Coles spokesman told Daily Mail Australia 'plain-clothes security guards' were employed in 'some stores' to 'help keep our team and customers safe'.

A loss prevention officer is a type of security guard whose primary responsibility is to identify, deter, and investigate theft and other losses within a company.

They often work in retail environments, like shopping centres and large department stores, monitoring suspicious behaviour and potential theft.
The NSW government now requires teachers to be certified in Aboriginal culture and anti-racism in order to work in schools.

In the latest push to politicise education, a student studying to be a teacher at Australian Catholic University (ACU) told 2GB's Ben Fordham they need to complete a compulsory module on Aboriginal culture before their placement in a school.

'Woke ideologies are being forced onto students again. All they want is to study and graduate. They don't want to be treated like primary school kids or to endure a shame session about Australian history,' Fordham told listeners on Tuesday.

It follows backlash earlier this year over a decree from Sydney's Macquarie University that all students attend lessons which described non-Indigenous Australians as 'settlers' and 'guests' in their own country.

While elsewhere across the state, James Cook University instructs physiotherapy students to learn about 'white privilege', and Charles Sturt University requires students to pay to do yet another course on Indigenous culture.

The new training module is from the NSW Education Department and is compulsory for any student studying to be a teacher in NSW.

An ACU spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'The NSW Department of Education requires all pre-service teachers to complete a mandatory training module on Aboriginal Cultural Education.

'Students can graduate from ACU education courses without this, but can not teach in government schools in NSW unless they complete this mandatory training module.'

The NSW Education Department requires students studying to be teachers to be certified in Indigenous culture before they can work in public schools. A student from ACU spoke up about the new requirement

Certificates are issued by the NSW Education Department when the module is completed

Macquarie University earlier this year backflipped on its decree that all students must attend lessons which described non-Indigenous Australians as 'settlers' and 'guests' in the country (pictured an Invasion Day rally in January)

The cultural module contains six parts including language, significant people and sites, impacts of past government policies, and the journey to reconciliation.

'All staff must complete the mandatory training, Aboriginal Cultural Education  Let's take the first step together... and training on the Anti-Racism Policy and their responsibility to actively challenge racism,' the department states.

The department said the module would build students' capacity and responsibility to improve cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

'This training supports the department's partnership agreement with the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group to respectfully acknowledge and understand the importance and diversity of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures and see our work through a cultural lens,' it said.

'Many staff are also taking part in 'Connecting to Country' learning which provides deep insight into the myriad of social, cultural, historic, economic and political issues that continue to affect and concern Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the NSW Education Department for comment.
Mining billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest is back in the headlines with the glamorous Moroccan politician he was allegedly seen kissing in Paris last year.

Mr Forrest has been in talks with Britain's Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, about a $51billion dream to power the UK with electricity from Morocco.

The project aims to send solar power generated in the Moroccan desert back to the British electricity grid through a 4000km undersea cable.

Leila Benali, Morocco's Energy Minister, who was said to have been the mystery woman in the photographed clinch with Mr Forrest a year ago, was also in London in late April to sell her nation's energy supply to Mr Miliband.

But it is understood Mr Forrest did not cross paths with Ms Benali and he was instead in New York after being named among Time magazine's 100 most influential people.

The Fortescue Metals Group chairman, worth an estimated $15billion, was recognised by Time for his philanthropy and transforming the mining giant into a 'clean-energy powerhouse'.

Daily Mail Australia published pictures of Mr Forrest kissing a glamorous woman in a Paris park last May, almost a year after he announced his split from wife Nicola.

Mr Forrest was seen with his arm around his companion's shoulders as they walked along Rue de Francs-Bourgeois through the historic Marais district on the Right Bank of the River Seine.

Andrew Forrest was alegedlky pictured kissing Moroccan politician Leila Benali in a Paris park in the historic Marais district on the Right Bank of the River Seine in April last year (above)

An observer said the couple appeared 'very affectionate' as they held hands and enjoyed the sights of the City of Love.

Ms Benali was subsequently named as the woman embraced by Mr Forrest in the Place de Vosges but she denied it was her to Moroccan media.

Morocco World News quoted the nation's Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development describing reports about Ms Leila and Mr Forrest as 'offensive'.

The outlet said Ms Benali 'denies any connection' to the photographs of Mr Forrest - 'as a minister responsible in the government as well as a Moroccan woman and mother'.

'She also extended her gratitude and appreciation to all those who have shown her support and solidarity as she navigates what she has maintained is a fabricated and baseless story,' it reported.

Ms Benali was asked by a Moroccan journalist after the pictures were published if she had any romantic connection to Mr Forrest in an exchange captured by a local news website.

'No, no, I will not speak,' she told the reporter.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Morocco's Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development about her association with Mr Forrest but it never responded.

Leila Benali, Morocco's Energy Minister, (above) and Andrew Forrest have recently been in London for talks with Britain's Energy Minister Ed Miliband

Mr Forrest declined to discuss the photographs at the time, with a spokeswoman saying the 63-year-old does not comment on private matters.

There have been no published reports of Mr Forrest being seen with Ms Benali since the Paris images emerged.

Mr Forrest founded iron ore miner Fortescue in 2003 and is now dedicated to 'ending the use of fossil fuels, creating green energy solutions, tackling global challenges like modern slavery' according to company's website.

Fortescue announced in April last year it had entered a joint venture with Moroccan state-owned phosphate miner OCP Group to supply green hydrogen, ammonia and fertilisers.

Mr Forrest is seeking the support of Mr Miliband for his proposal to pipe clean energy via subsea cable from North African solar farms to Europe.

Ms Benali said 'the current state of global infrastructure requires radical transformations' when she addressed the Summit of the Future of Energy Security in London last month.

Mr and Ms Forrest announced their separation on July 12 , 2023 after months of speculation they were no longer together.

'After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart,' they said in a joint statement.

'Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong.'

Mr Forrest, who has an estimated wealth of $15billion, is seeking British government suppport to lay a 4,000km cable to carry electricity from Morocco to the UK.

As well as maintaining a 36 per cent shareholding Fortescue, the Forrests jointly oversee their private investment arm, Tattarang Capital, and co-chair the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation.

The Forrests bought bush outfitters RM Williams through Tattarang in October 2020 and added the equally iconic Akubra hat brand to their portfolio in November 2023 year.

At the same time the Forrests revealed the end of their marriage they stated there would be no change in the way their business and charity empire operated.

'There is no impact on the operations, control or direction of Fortescue, Minderoo or Tattarang,' a company spokeswoman assured investors.

'Andrew Forrest and Nicola Forrest share the same vision for Fortescue to become the world's leading green energy and green metals company leading global heavy industry to tackle climate change.'

The Forrests have three adult children, Grace, Sophia and Sydney.
The air force pilot accused of murdering his wife and allegedly staging her death to look like a freak lawnmower accident has been seen for the first time since his release on bail.

Father-of-three Robert Crawford, 47, looked tanned and relaxed as he reported to the Toowoomba Police station around 20km from his Upper Lockyer Valley farm on Tuesday.

The alleged killer who has been described as a 'master manipulator,' was not wearing an electronic monitoring device, after cops revealed network limitations at his property would render it useless.

Psychologist Frances Elizabeth Crawford was found dead at their rural home, 100km west of Brisbane, in the early hours of July 30, 2024.

RAAF Squadron Leader Crawford was arrested around 10 weeks later in October and charged with his wife's murder and interfering with her corpse.

Ms Crawford was found at the base of a rock wall next to a ride-on lawnmower with fatal head and neck injuries.

Police allege Crawford strangled his wife, then used her phone to send fake messages before staging her fatal accident.

He was remanded in custody after he was initially charged but seven months later, Justice Frances Williams granted Crawford bail and freed him on May 2.

Father-of-three Robert Crawford, 47, looked tanned and relaxed as he reported to the Toowoomba Police station around 20 kms from his Upper Lockyer Valley farm.

Ms Crawford was found at the base of a rock wall next to a ride-on lawnmower with fatal head and neck injuries.

Crawford previously told police his wife got up during the night to move the lawnmower (pictured) away from automated water sprinklers

Crawford drove himself to the police station, spending just a few minutes inside the building before hopping back into his Hyundai i30 and heading back to the alleged scene of the crime where he is now living.

While the specific details on his bail conditions have not yet been released, Crawford did offer to surrender his passports, avoid airports and wear a tracking device.

However, the police prosecution strongly opposed his release asking the court to consider the defendant a flight risk.

'On 5 August 2024 police seized two passports from Mr Crawford,' read the prosecution's submission, seen by Daily Mail Australia.

'Despite this the applicant then applied for a further passport on 24 September 2024.'

As part of that application Crawford declared he was reporting the 'loss, theft or damage,' of his passport and provided an expired passport.

Prosecution also raised concerns about his access to aircraft.

'He is actually a current member of the Darling Downs Aero Club and has $22,297 in credit,' it said.

It was also noted that a tracking device was not an option to monitor Crawford's whereabouts because his property 'does not have the full coverage network which administers monitoring devices'.

The police prosecution strongly opposed his release asking the court to consider the defendant a flight risk

Prosecution also raised concerns about Crawford's easy access to aircraft

Crawford asked the court for allowances including trips to see his mum in a Brisbane care home

Crawford asked the court for several allowances including trips to see his mum in a Brisbane care home.

'My mother was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2019,' Crawford's bail application read.

'I have a close relationship with both my parents. Prior to my arrest I visited my mother on average every fortnight, sometimes every week if I could.

'I am very hopeful of being able to visit my mother again.'

The documents also state that he has close family on both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast who are his support network.

During the bail application, Crawford's lawyer Saul Holt said there was no conclusive evidence to support the prosecution's claim that his client strangled his wife in a state of 'murderous rage'.

Mr Holt told the court Crawford arrived home from his RAAF Amberley base, played piano and ate dinner with his wife before they 'read the Bible,' and 'played games.'

Around 8:30pm, Crawford said they showered together, then watched television when his wife asked him to move the mower before the sprinklers came on.

Crawford says the last time he saw his wife alive was while they were 'snuggling,' on the sofa under a heated blanket.

A tracking device can's monitor his whereabouts at all times because his property is in an area without coverage.

Crawford is now living back in the home he once shared with his wife

The RAAF pilot accused of murdering his wife and allegedly staging her death to look like a freak lawnmower accident has been seen for the first time since his release on bail.

'I told Frances that I would move it later,' he said in his statement.

Crawford says the last time he saw his wife alive was while they were 'snuggling,' on the sofa under a heated blanket.

However, prosecutor Chris Cook alleged in court that she was strangled in her home's en suite bathroom, leaving behind her blood and his.

Mr Cook told the court Ms Crawford was carried outside and placed along with the lawnmower at the bottom of a retaining wall.

He said the forensic report favoured strangulation as the cause of death rather than pressure from the lawnmower's steering wheel.

The prosecution allege Ms Crawford's mobile phone sent a message to her husband at 11:21pm on the Signal app, asking: 'Hey, are you going to put the mower away soon?'

Mr Crawford replied: 'Yea just doing SDO stuff still'

He then sent two follow up messages saying, 'Just give me a sec' and 'You can just turn the sprinklers off if easier too xx', according to court documents.

The court also heard that the pair had a troubled relationship after Crawford's previous infidelity and that his wife was planning to leave him.

Police are seen arriving at the Crawford's rural property on Thursday, during a major search of the property

At 12:28am, Mr Crawford sent another Signal message to his wife, saying: 'Hey I'm finished with my revision study stuff, I'm brushing teeth and going to bed soon. Are you coming?', according to the documents.

He allegedly sent a follow up message at 12:30am saying 'Helllloooo? Xx Stop watching Korean Netflix and come to bed haha'.

Mr Cook claimed Crawford sent those messages from her phone to himself.

'This allows him an extended amount of time to manipulate the scene because he doesn't call the police until several hours later,' he told the court.

Crawford called Triple-0 at 3.37am, saying he had discovered his wife's body, the court was told.

Mr Cook said Crawford's statement about his wife going out to move the lawnmower at such an hour was fanciful.

'This is a middle-aged woman going out in the middle of the night with no jacket in a very cold winter. Her family said she would not do that,' Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook said Crawford was a 'master manipulator' who had caused his wife to seek a protective order from police as she 'felt very unsafe'.

The court also heard that the pair had a troubled relationship after Crawford's previous infidelity and that his wife was planning to leave him.

The case will return to court at a later date.
The psychiatrist who took Joel Cauchi off his medication years before he stabbed 16 people in a busy shopping centre has tearfully apologised to his victims.

Joel Cauchi, 40, was experiencing psychotic symptoms in April 2024 when he killed six shoppers at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction and injured 10 others.

The inquest into the attack resumed on Tuesday with a Queensland psychiatrist issuing a tearful apology to the families of the victims, Cauchi and everyone affected.

'I offer my sincere apologies to you that this tragedy has happened,' she said.

'I am aware that no words will ease the profound pain and suffering.'

She told the NSW Coroners Court she had been personally affected by the attacks, which had impacted her life and health.

'No psychiatrist in the world would wish on themselves for this trauma to happen,' she said.

Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC is expected to ask the psychiatrist, who cannot be legally identified, about her treatment of Cauchi.

Joel Cauchi, 40, was experiencing psychotic symptoms on the day he stabbed six people

Cauchi's parents Andrew (pictured, left) and Michele (pictured, right) were divided on whether their son should resume anti-psychotic medicine

This would cover the decision to stop his anti-psychotics in 2019 and what could have been done after Cauchi's mother raised concerns about a decline in his mental health.

His mother, Michele Cauchi, first flagged his worsening symptoms three months after he was weaned off the medication, the inquest was told on Monday.

While he presented well afterwards, potential signs of relapse surfaced, a treating nurse said.

Cauchi's father, Andrew, however, was 'adamant' about his son not resuming anti-psychotics.

His father said he 'had been traumatised by demons when awake and hears voices and is not on medication', a nurse's note read to the coroner said.

Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager after experiencing hallucinations but was successfully treated for decades.

He was a 'high-functioning' schizophrenic with a university degree, coming top in his class, and could speak German and Mandarin, his mother later told police.

The psychiatrist's decision to take Cauchi off two medications by June 2019 followed his complaints about the drugs' side effects.

Knifeman Joel Cauchi (pictured) had been weaned off his antipsychotics in 2019 after he complained about the medicines' side effects

Bondi Junction victims pictured L-R: Ashlee Good, 38, security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, Jade Young, 47, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pakria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27

Two nurses have already given evidence about Cauchi's treatment, and both have said he did not present with any serious symptoms during appointments.

But his mother had told them he was hearing voices, expressing sleeplessness, and experiencing extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder.

While the nurses did initial consultations with Cauchi and sometimes his family, it was the psychiatrist who prescribed his medication and formed a treatment plan.

In early 2020, near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cauchi moved to Brisbane.

While some attempt was made to arrange remote appointments, these were not covered by Medicare, the inquest heard.

A referral letter was sent to Cauchi's GP, but no follow-up was organised with mental health services in the city.

His rampage at the Westfield shopping centre in 2024 was brought to an end after he was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.

The hearing continues.

Lifeline at 13 11 14 or beyondblue at 1300 22 4636.
A mother has been charged with murder following the death of her three children in a horrific house fire in Toowoomba.

Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, 36, was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson.

Emergency services rushed to the property on Merritt Street in Harristown, about 127km west of Brisbane, at around 12.30am on May 7 following reports of a fire.

Gibson's nine-year-old boy died in the blaze, with firefighters locating his body near the front door of the family's home shortly after extinguishing the flames.

Her two daughters, aged four and seven, were rushed to Toowoomba Hospital in a life-threatening condition after suffering significant burns in the fire.

The girls were transferred to Queensland Children's Hospital but died after succumbing to their injuries.

The three deceased children had all been sleeping in the same bedroom.

Gibson's 34-year-old partner, Justin, escaped with minor injuries along with two other children, including an 11-year-old boy and an 18-year-old male who suffered a hand injury.

Ellouisa Brighton Gibson (pictured) was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson following a horrific house fire in Toowoomba

A nine-year-old boy's body was found inside the home, while two girls - aged four and seven - died shortly after in hospital from their severe injuries

Gibson remains in a critical condition under police guard at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Justin Gibson, 34, made an emotional visit to the property on Monday, five days after he and his young family were forced to flee the burning home in the middle of the night.

'It's an open investigation and the truth will come out,' Mr Gibson told Daily Mail Australia.

'I don't want to say anything now, I'm still grieving.

'We can wait for the trial and then everyone will know what really happened.'

His arm still bandaged, Mr Gibson spent almost an hour taking in the devastating scene.

Before leaving the home, Mr Gibson briefly visited a neighbour and arrived back with a basket, which he filled with more than a dozen soft toys lovingly placed alongside flowers from members of the community.

'Sending love to above,' read one card attached to flowers.

Gibson (pictured) was put under police guard while in hospital as homicide detectives investigated the cause of the blaze

Detectives said emergency responders had found Gibson at the front of the home as it was engulfed by the inferno

'Fly high beautiful angels,' read another.

In the backyard, washing was still hanging on the line, toys were strewn across the lawn, along with an abandoned swing set, trampoline and padding pool with nobody left to play on it.

Mr Gibson was supported by his sister as he peered through the fence covered in police caution tape.

An abandoned stroller remained in the driveway, another painful reminder of his unfathomable loss.

Mr Gibson was hailed a hero after it was revealed he and the eldest son, 18, had desperately tried to help younger family members escape the home, braving the flames as they pulled the children to safety.

As part of the investigations into the fatal blaze, detectives have requested records from child safety authorities outside of Queensland.

Police sources claimed the incident was 'out of the blue' as the family were not known to child safety authorities or local officers, the ABC reported.

However, officers are investigating whether the family was known to child safety authorities in other states.

Gibson's 34-year-old partner Justin (centre) made an emotional visit to the property on Monday , five days after he and his young family were forced to flee the burning home

Queensland Minister for Child Safety Amanda Camm has requested for her department to review the records once they are handed over to authorities.

'The loss of three lives in Toowoomba is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the family and the community,' she said in a statement.

'I have instructed my department to undertake a complete and thorough investigation into this case.'

Family friends of Mr Gibson have since set up a GoFundMe to support Mr Gibson and the surviving children.

My dear friend Justin's family have endured a tragic house fire which has caused devastation,' the GoFundMe reads.

'Justin wishes for the details to remain somewhat private as this is an extremely tough time for him and his children with unfortunate casualties.

'We would like to start this fundraiser in hopes to raise money for his children, children's medical expenses, accommodation, and other supports needed in this hard time.'

The GoFundMe has raised more than $4,700 towards the $10,000 target.
An American oil magnate and his family have been arrested for allegedly working with Mexican cartels to smuggle over $300 million worth of crude oil into the United States.

James Laen Jensen, 68, and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen, were taken into custody from their $9.1 million mansion in Utah last month in a multi-state raid that also saw their two sons, Maxwell and Zachary, arrested in Texas, according to My San Antonio.

Federal prosecutors claim they violated the US Tariff Act by smuggling in 2,881 shipments of oil from Mexico - worth at least $300 million - that they falsely claimed were 'waste of lube oils' and petroleum distillates' beginning in May 2022, ABC 4 reports.

The family was allegedly able to smuggle the crude oil into the country via barges docked outside their Texas facility, Arroyo Terminals, near the Mexican border.

All of the crude oil was reportedly stolen by drug cartels from PEMEX - Mexico's nationalized oil company.

'The payments for this crude oil were directed to businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of [a] Mexican criminal organization,' federal prosecutors allege in court documents obtained by KSL.

'James Jensen was aware that the payments he made were going to these Mexican criminal organizations,' they continued.

A warrant for James' arrest even claims he paid over $47 million to these dangerous criminal entities.

James Laen Jensen, 68, an American oil magnate, has been accused of working with Mexican cartels to smuggle over $300 million worth of crude oil into the United States

He and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen, were arrested at their Utah mansion on April 23 following an investigation by he US Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI, the Criminal Investigations division of the IRS and Homeland Security Investigations

James and Kelly were ultimately arrested on April 23, following an investigation by he US Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI, the Criminal Investigations division of the IRS and Homeland Security Investigations.

When US Marshals arrived at his 26,893 mansion in Sandy, Utah, prosecutors say the couple was unwilling to follow law enforcements' demands to come out - forcing Marshals to use a battering ram to break down the door, Valley Central reports.

Meanwhile, other agents raided Arroyo Terminal in Texas, where they reportedly placed employees in handcuffs and questioned them about the business.

One unidentified employee told Valley Central that the FBI agents then asked them whether the crude oil had been stolen.

'We don't know anything about that,' the employee said. 'We're just in charge of unloading the trucks and loading the barges.'

Another employee added that, 'When it comes to the aspect of knowing where the oil's coming from or what company or what part of Mexico or anything like that, we were always out of the loop.'

In the end, the agents reportedly took documents from the building and requested passwords for the computers.

'When I went into the office to use the restroom, I did hear the FBI high-five and say: "We got 'em,"' a third employee claimed.

When US Marshals arrived at his 26,893 mansion in Sandy, Utah, prosecutors say the couple was unwilling to follow law enforcements' demands to come out - forcing Marshals to use a battering ram to break down the door

Meanwhile, agents also descended on his business, Arroyo Terminals, in Texas

Authorities reportedly handcuffed the workers and asked them about the crude oil

James is now facing charges of money laundering conspiracy, aiding and abetting smuggling of goods into the United States, aiding and abetting the entry of goods by means of false statements, money laundering spending conspiracy and money laundering spending.

The other members of his family are each facing one to three of the counts.

They have each pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

In court, Assistant US Attorney Laura Garcia asked US Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III to hold Maxwell - who co-owns Arroyo Terminals with his father - without bond, saying he worked closely with 'cartel-affiliated businesses' and frequently travels to the Bahamas, where the family has a property.

Torteya ultimately agreed, holding Maxwell without bond, as he set bond for his brother - who handled the company's marketing and business development - at $100,000 with a $10,000 cash deposit.

He now must remain at home and submit to GPS monitoring.

Similarly in Utah, Dustin B Pead, the chief magistrate judge for the United States District of Utah, decided to allow James and Kelly to remain at home and submit to GPS monitoring after their lawyers successfully argued they were upstanding citizens.

Maxwell - who co-owns Arroyo Terminals with his father - was accused of working closely with 'cartel-affiliated businesses'

Maxwell is now being held in jail without bond prior to his trial

'They're active in their church, they're active in their community, they come from a stalwart Utah family,' attorney John Huber argued, noting that Kelly's parents 'have served in public service for decades.

'And they don't want to throw all that all out of the window,' he pleaded in court.

Kelly's father, Gordon Walker, served in the Department of Housing and Urban Development under former President Ronald Reagan and her mother, Carlene Walker, served in the Utah State Senate.

Pead then released the couple without setting bond.

'I'm counting on what your attorneys have said here today - that you are the upstanding people that your attorneys state you are,' he warned the couple, as he ordered them to turn over their passports and regularly report to their pretrial officer.

They were also forced to forfeit any money gained from the smuggled oil - including their company, an additional home listed for the family in Draper, Utah as well as bank accounts and new cars totaling $300 million.

Yet this is not the first time James of buying stolen petroleum products.

In 2011, PEMEX Exploration and Production filed a suit against him, claiming he and two businesses he owned - Big Star Gathering and St. James Oil - had purchased stolen natural gas condensate.

'At times, Jensen would travel to Mexico to arrange purchases from the cartels who had stolen the condensate,' the lawsuit alleged, according to Valley Central.

The family was forced to forfeit any money gained from the smuggled oil - including their company, an additional home listed for the family in Draper, Utah as well as bank accounts and new cars totaling $300 million

James denied any wrongdoing, but admitted Big Star had business dealings with an oil company executive who had stolen natural gas condensate.

All of the transactions happened before that executive pleaded guilty, he said in an affidavit at the time.

Meanwhile, attorney's for his other business, St. James Oil, urged a judge to dismiss the case.

'St. James's business reputation and creditworthiness suffer every day that it continues to be named in a lawsuit alleging participation in a drug cartel-related conspiracy,' it argued in a motion.

PEMEX ultimately dropped the suit in 2013, after two years of litigation.

But if any of the family members are now found guilty of the charges against them, they could face a maximum of 20 years in federal lockup and fines of up to $500,000.
Anthony Albanese has been warned high government spending and Budget deficits for the next decade could jeopardise Australia's crucial credit rating.

Government payments are set to reach $777.5billion in 2025-26, making up 27 per cent of gross domestic product.

Outside of the pandemic, the level of spending is the highest proportion of the nation's economy since 1986.

Treasury is also predicting Budget deficits for the decade ahead, with government debt climbing above $1trillion in the next financial year as costs blow out in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

High government spending is a problem

Now credit ratings agency Moody's has warned unsustainably high government spending is a threat to Australia's AAA stable credit rating if steps aren't taken to address tax issues.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has made boosting productivity a priority but Moody's has suggested tackling Budget deficit.

There is no return to surplus forecast in coming years, as an economic slowdown in China, Australia's biggest trading partner, weakened iron ore price and eroded federal company tax revenue.

Anthony Albanese has been warned high government spending and Budget deficits for the next decade could jeopardise Australia's credit rating

'Beyond productivity, the key challenges facing the new Albanese Government are to advance Budget repair,' Moody's said.

'Notably constraining rising government spending in areas such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, building affordable housing and broad infrastructure.

'Unconstrained spending pressures, in the absence of taxation reforms that broaden the tax base will put pressure on the fiscal metrics, a credit negative.

'Further fiscal consolidation at the federal government level would offset the sharp increases in fiscal deficits and debt at state government level, reducing pressure on the outlook for the sovereign rating.'

Budget deficits forecast

Treasury's pre-election March forecast a $42.1billion Budget deficit for 2025-26, making up 1.5 per cent of GDP.

Fitch warned Budget deficits, making up one per cent of GDP, were likely in the coming decade.

'We forecast modest fiscal consolidation thereafter but expect persistent fiscal deficits of around one per cent of GDP over the medium term,' it said.

'Increased spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, aged care and healthcare could widen deficits, but we anticipate efforts by the new government to manage these structural pressures.'

Government debt of $1trillion

Gross government debt is forecast to climb above $1trillion during the next financial year.

That's equal to 35.5 per cent of GDP, but once state government debt for new transport infrastructure is added, the figure soars to more than 50 per cent of the economy.

Credit ratings agency Moody's has warned unsustainably high government spending was a threat to Australia's AAA stable credit rating (pictured are Sydney commuters)

'Australia's fiscal deficits and debt at around 50 per cent of GDP are both high compared with other "AAA" rated peers,' Fitch said.

Fitch warned rising debt levels could jeopardise Australia's credit rating.

Harder for Australia to borrow money

A weaker credit ratings makes it harder for the Australian government to borrow money to finance its programs.

That leads to a rise in government bond yields, where investors are paid higher annual interest payments to entice them to lend money to Australia.

'In November we stated that a sustained upward trend in the general government debt ratio over the medium term could put downward pressure on Australia's rating,' Fitch said.

'This could occur, for instance, if fiscal consolidation stalls or economic growth is significantly weaker than we expect under our baseline.

'The government's ability to address structural fiscal spending pressures or lift productivity through reforms could have an important influence on growth and fiscal outturns.'

Uncertain economic conditions

Australia's economic growth pace of 1.3 per cent in 2024 was well below the three-decade average of 3 per cent.

But Fitch warned Donald Trump's tariffs could spark an economic slowdown in China, the biggest buyer of Australia's iron ore exports.

'The new government will have to manage the economy through a more uncertain and challenging global backdrop, particularly amid rising strategic and economic tensions between the US and China,' it said.

'The direct impact from US tariffs on Australia should be modest, but the indirect impact of slower growth in China will be more meaningful.'
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has claimed she withdrew her bid to become Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party out of 'respect' after Angus Taylor lost.

Sussan Ley was confirmed as the new leader of the Liberal party on Tuesday morning, making history as the party's first female leader.

She won the vote 29-25 against Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, who had run on a joint ticket with Senator Price as his Deputy.

Last week, Senator Price sensationally defected from the Nationals party room to sit with the Liberal Party room.

As a member of the Country Liberal Party, she can choose between the two. But it was widely seen as a betrayal.

And when it became clear that Taylor had lost his tilt at the leadership, Price withdrew her own hat from the ring.

In a statement released in the hours after the ballot, Senator Price congratulated Ley and her newly-elected deputy, Ted O'Brien.

While I am disappointed Angus Taylor was not elected leader, I respect the decision made by my colleagues within the party room today, Price said.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (pictured, right) has claimed she withdrew her bid to become Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party out of 'respect' after Angus Taylor lost

Sussan Ley was confirmed as the new leader of the Liberal party on Tuesday morning, making history as the party's first female leader. Ted O'Brien was elected her deputy after Jacinta Price pulled out (O'Brien and Ley are pictured together after the ballot)

I was contesting the position of deputy leader on a ticket with Angus Taylor, and given the outcome with respect to the position of leader of the Liberal Party, I chose not to contest the position of deputy leader.

I recognise that I am new to the party, and am grateful that our party is one that afforded me the opportunity to consider putting myself forward for the position of deputy leader in those circumstances.

Ultimately, I want the best outcome for all Australians  that is why I entered politics, and why I continue to serve as a member of the Australian parliament.

So while the outcome today is not the one that I would have wanted, it in no way lessens my commitment to the Liberal Party and the broader Coalition.

Nor does the outcome lessen my resolve to rebuild and strengthen the Liberal Party.

Senator Price insisted she would work with Ley and O'Brien to 'ensure the Coalition is a formidable Opposition to the Albanese Labor Government and presents a compelling alternative to the Australian public at the next election'.

Her former party leader, Nationals boss David Littleproud, said he still trusted Price despite her defection.

Yes, I do. The reality is  we gave Jacinta every support we possibly could. We were the first ones to support her in the No case, he told the ABC on Tuesday morning.

Senator Price insisted she would work with Ley and O'Brien to 'ensure the Coalition is a formidable Opposition to the Albanese Labor Government and presents a compelling alternative to the Australian public at the next election'

The reality is that her ambitions exceed what the National Party can provide. You can't be the Prime Minister (in) the national party, I accept that.

We're deeply disappointed. We'll work through that process. This is more than about my ego (or) anyone else's ego. This is about the Australian people.

It remains to be seen whether new leader Ley will hand Price a position in the new shadow ministry.

Under Peter Dutton's leadership she served as the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians.
A sacred Indigenous site symbolic of a special meeting place for women has been defaced, sparking a manhunt in Victoria's King Valley.

The rock face is part of a 31m-high waterfall at Paradise Falls, located about 300km northeast of Melbourne in Victoria's alpine region.

Police were alerted to the incident on Monday and have launched an investigation.

Photos of the graffiti were shared by advocacy group Always Was, Always Will Be, Bpangerang Country alongside a strongly-worded statement.

'Some absolutely thoughtless, knuckle-dragging, entitled grubs decided Paradise Falls in the King Valley was the appropriate place to leave their amateur and unremarkable tag,' the post read.

'Paradise Falls is a sacred women's place and much loved by all that visit. If you know who this tag belongs to, let them know they need to return and clean up their mess.

'They've got some nasty, nasty juju coming their way for this disrespectful vandalism. Ancestors know who they are, ain't no hiding from what's coming.'

The group's Facebook page states that it campaigns for 'Bpangerang tribal lands [to be] re-instated on the Indigenous Map of Australia and corrected signage throughout North East Victorian National Parks.'

A sacred Indigenous site symbolic of a special meeting place for women has been defaced, sparking a manhunt in Victoria's King Valley (the graffiti is pictured)

The rock face is part of a 31metre-high waterfall at Paradise Falls, located about 300km northeast of Melbourne in Victoria's alpine region (pictured)

The post was met with severe backlash.

'Abhorrent behavior destructive disrespectful, this scared place has been here for thousands of years the people who desecrated it will be gone in a whisper of time,' one person wrote.

'This makes me so so angry. Why? Why would someone do this? Need to do more than just clean it up. Absolutely disrespectful' another said.

Victoria Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing in a statement.

'At this stage of the investigation, it is not believed that the incident is targeted,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

Paradise Falls is a popular tourist spot, and is part of the Falls Walking Track, a 7km return trip that leads hikers up to McMillan's Track Lookout.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Always Was, Always Will Be, Bpangerang Country for further comment.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has offered her 'simple' and straightforward view on Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Even though some commentators had urged the Liberals to drop the 'culture wars', Ms Ley was comfortable answering when asked if she agreed with former leader Peter Dutton who said the Indigenous ceremonies were 'overdone'.

It became a national talking point during the last week of the election campaign after a Welcome to Country ceremony during Melbourne's Anzac Day dawn service was booed.

With respect to Welcome to Country, it's simple: if it's meaningful, if it matters, if it resonates, then it's in the right place, Ms Ley said.

As Environment Minister and Health Minister I listened carefully and participated in Welcome to Country ceremonies that were all of those things.

If it is done in a way that is ticking a box on a Teams meeting then I don't think it is relevant.

'It actually diminishes the value of what it is and its important that we understand that.

Newly-elected Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley (pictured with her deputy, Ted O'Brien) was asked whether she agreed with former leader Peter Dutton 's claim that the Indigenous ceremonies were 'overdone'

It became a national talking point during the last week of the election campaign after a Welcome to Country ceremony during Melbourne 's Anzac Day dawn service was booed (pictured: A Welcome to Country is conducted prior to the Rugby league Women's State of Origin game one match between Queensland and NSW at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 1)

The Anzac Day booing became the latest flashpoint in race relations, with a veteran telling a Channel Nine reporter it was a 'slap in the face' for those who have served their country in battle to now find they are being treated as guests to be welcomed.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he thought the ceremonies were 'overdone', later clarifying that he did not think they were appropriate on Anzac Day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese poured scorn on those who interrupted the Dawn Services, and made a pointed Acknowledgment of Country message when giving his victory speech on election night.

It was met with raucous cheers from gathered Labor supporters, indicating how the ceremonies had been drawn into the heart of the country's political divide.
Former male escort Michael Burn has been charged with intimidating the ex-husband of his fiancee, BondiBoost founder Alexandra Jakob.

Reclusive multimillionaire Gabriel Jakob is also the couple's next door neighbour on Sydney's richest street - Wolseley Road in Point Piper.

During their marriage, the Jakobs purchased three neighbouring properties worth more than $100million on the notorious Sydney road in the city's east.

Following the divorce, the former couple remained neighbours, but on the weekend, Ms Jackob's fiance was charged with intimidating her ex-husband.

Burn, 37, faces three charges of intimidation and the couple have also been subjected to provisional apprehended violence orders for Mr Jakob's protection, the Daily Telegraph reported.

'On May 11, police officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command arrested and charged a 37-year-old man at Waverley police station following an investigation into alleged domestic violence offences at Point Piper between February and May 2025,' a NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'The man was granted conditional bail to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.'

Burn was granted bail on the conditions he is not to assault, threaten, stalk, harass or intimidate Mr Jakob or anyone with whom he has a domestic relationship.

BondiBoost founder Alexandra Jakob's fiance, former male escort Michael Burn (both pictured) has been charged with intimidating her ex-husband

The BondiBoost founder and former male escort celebrated their engagement last December, 18 months after the couple first met (pictured)

The former male escort has also been ordered not to destroy or damage any of Gabriel's property or harm any animals in his possession.

Ms Jakob was not charged with any criminal offences but must face court on Wednesday to answer the police application against her for an apprehended domestic violence order.

This is the second domestic situation to land the couple in court this year, with Mr Burn also seeking a private apprehended violence order against ex-boyfriend Geoffrey Williams.

Mr Williams, who has been accused of 'harassing behaviour', which he denies, is due to appear in court on May 28.

Very little was known about Ms Jakob's first marriage other than the couple's extensive property portfolio.

Ms Jakob and Burn celebrated New Year's Eve at their multimillion-dollar mansion

Ms Jakob and Mr Burn held a lavish engagement party last December, 18 months after the couple first met.

Guests were treated to a magical atmosphere curated by Diane Khoury, one of Sydney's most sought-after event planners.

Ms Khoury orchestrated a $250,000 spectacle featuring lavish floral arrangements, elegant candle columns, and a fireworks display over Sydney Harbour.
No-nonsense food critic John Lethlean has taken to social media to announce the death of his beloved dog and long-time companion Sailor.

The veteran restaurant and food writer has appeared in major Australian newspapers and magazines for more than two decades, having garnered a following for his honest, engaging and often brutal reviews.

'It's taken quite a few months to process this, but Sailor's love of the water and playing with stingrays got the better of her late last year and life just isn't the same anymore,' he shared to Instagram on Tuesday.

He explained as a word of caution for anyone 'with a dog that won't stop chasing fish' that stingrays will naturally defend themselves and their barbs can easily be lethal to dogs. 'Like all good dogs, Sailor was nothing if not curious,' he said.

Lethlean recently wrote in his Amazon e-book detailing his long writing career, titled 'Post Script', that he and his wife had treated Sailor like a family member.

'A childless couple with love in our hearts and enormous affection for most dogs, let alone our own, Sailor didn't share our attention with anyone,' he wrote.

'The three of us lived at very close quarters for five years... We dragged her bed into our bedroom every night when it was time to hit the hay and, when she inevitably got tired of sleeping between us, she'd jump off the bed and slip into her own.

'Just knowing she was there was comforting. I'd like to think it was reciprocal.'

Renowned food critic John Lethlean announced his dog Sailor had died from a stingray barb

Lethlean's no-holds-barred reviews have caused controversy on several occasions.

His one-star review of legendary chef Cheong Liew's The Grange in 2008 contributed to its closure the following year.

One of the pioneers of Asian-Australian cuisine, Liew had operated the restaurant for 14 years before and had been awarded an Order of Australia.

In 2016, Lethlean's review of Adelaide Oval's fine dining restaurant Hill of Grace prompted them to call in their lawyers after he roasted the food, the service, the decor and the staff.

He referred to one dish as 'brown mucoid gloop' and summed up the venue's efforts as 'out for a duck'.

Lethlean also didn't hold back when the famed King Island Dairy announced it's closure last year.

'The cheeses have always been rubbish and this so-called brie I have here completely devoid of any character whatsoever unless all you're looking for in a soft, white mould cheese is industrial salt,' he wrote.

But, rather than shooting from the hip, Lethlean insisted he was methodical about they way he conducted his reviews.

The critic warned other owners of 'dogs who like to chase fish' that they should be careful

'If you get a feeling from the start that there are some hard words that need to be said, you spend the next whatever hours in the restaurant making sure that you have evidence to support the kind of comments you are going to make,' he told Crikey.

'If something contentious is going in, I got photographs of it... before blogs had even been heard of.

'If I want to say something is oily, I make sure I've got a photograph of oily. If I'm going to say the tablecloths were stained and tatty, I take photographs of stained and tatty tablecloths.'
A Teal challenger who was declared down and out by all media organisations has now sensationally closed the gap with her Liberal rival to just a few dozen votes.

Climate200-backed candidate Nicolette Boele has narrowed the lead of her Liberal rival Gisele Kapterian to 59 votes in the battle for the seat of Bradfield in Sydney's north, with around nine per cent of votes still to be counted.

It has been a rollercoaster count with Boele at one stage looking like she had claimed the seat before Kapterian pulled ahead late last week.

On Monday, most media organisations called the result for Kapterian, who was replacing retired Liberal member Paul Fletcher.

At that stage, ABC election analyst Antony Green said there were only around 1,000 votes left to be counted and he predicted Kapterian would hold onto her 200-odd lead.

But now the Teal challenger, who made headlines for all the wrong reasons during the campaign when she made a sexualised comment to a hairdresser, has narrowed the gap.

Election and polling expert Dr Kevin Bonham said Boele's chances had increased dramatically.

'Yesterday I declined to absolutely call Bradfield because I thought Boele still had a chance though if anyone asked me what chance I would have said 2 per cent,' he wrote on X.

Climate200-backed candidate Nicolette Boele (pictured) has narrowed the lead of her Liberal rival Gisele Kapterian to 59 votes in the battle for the seat of Bradfield in Sydney 's north

It has been a rollercoaster count with Boele at one stage looking like she had claimed the seat before Kapterian (pictured) pulled ahead late last week

'(But it's) much more than that now.'

Neither Kapterian or Boele has declared victory or conceded defeat.

During the election campaign, Boele was banned from the Envy Room salon across the road from her office after she allegedly told a 19-year-old female staff member who had washed her hair: 'That was amazing - and I didnt even have sex with you', according to 2GB.

A staff member at the salon subsequently told Daily Mail Australia that Boele had been banned 'indefinitely'.

'She (the staff member) was in shock and quite upset afterwards,' the staff member added.

'We wrote to her (Boele) last week to tell her that we will no longer have her here.'

Boele, who styled herself as the 'Shadow Representative for the People of Bradfield', admitted it was a 'poor attempt at humour and Ive apologised'.

'Everyone deserves to feel respected in their workplace and I will do better,' she said.

it is the second attempt she has made to win the seat of Bradfield.
Officials in Poland say they have received a letter identifying the location of a legendary Nazi gold train which went missing in the closing years of WWII.

According to the letter dated 23 April, the sender who said he wants to remain anonymous found 'camouflaged train carriages' hidden in a tunnel near the southwestern city of Wabrzych.

In the final months of the war, according to legend, a Nazi armoured train left Wroclaw but did not reach Wabrzych, with claims that it was concealed in an underground tunnel network between the two stations.

Priceless gold, jewellery, and artworks on board were supposedly lost to the world, and efforts have been made by treasure hunters to uncover it ever since.

Now a letter has been sent to authorities in Wabrzych making fresh claims that a loot-filled train, the existence of which many historians dispute, is in a hidden tunnel in the area.

The anonymous sender reportedly wrote: 'Three railway wagons from the period of World War II, are hidden in a camouflaged tunnel.

'Each wagon is approximately 12 metres long, four metres wide and four metres high.

'The wagons are hidden behind a closed, sliding steel gate at the entrance to the tunnel.'

Claims have long been made that the train entered an abandoned coal mine or tunnel system near Wabrzych. Pictured: Experts investigate part of an underground complex built by the Nazis near Wabrzych in Poland

The train - if it exists - is believed to be an armoured locomotive similar to the one pictured, used by the Nazis during WWII

It added: 'The wagons contain valuable precious metals, including gold.

'Precise geodetic data will be made available to the mayor of Wabrzych or his deputy in the form of attachments,' the letter ended.

City spokeswoman Kamila Swierczynska said: 'A certain man, whose details I cannot disclose, made a procedural report of the discovery, referred to by the press as the gold train.

'The letter looks factual and specific. The letter indicates four attachments, such as a tunnel with a train inside.'

She added that the letter included a 'table with geodetic data, terrain profile, including the tunnel layout, a map with track simulation and tunnel course, and account of a witness who lived in Wabrzych during the war.'

Anna Nowakowska, head of the Wabrzych branch of the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments, said: 'After analyzing various sources and documents, the man came to the conclusion that he had located a tunnel with the so-called golden train inside.'

In the closing months of WWII, Nazi officials in the city of Wroclaw in southwest Poland - then called Breslau and part of Greater Germany - loaded train wagons with looted treasures to escape the advancing Red Army.

The treasures were rumoured to have included treasures from the fabled Amber Room of the Czars might be aboard the train.

The room composed of panels of amber was looted by Nazi troops in 1941 from a palace outside Leningrad and has never been seen since.

Missing treasure: Since the end of WWII, hunters have risked their lives to uncover the 20billion-worth of Nazi treasure left behind. The Amber Room of the Czars (pictured in 1917) is the most sought-after of them all

In 2015, two men sparked gold fever after claiming to have found the train buried inside a tunnel.

The men, Piotr Koper and Andreas Richter, said they used ground-penetrating radar to find the train.

Fortune-hunters as far away as Japan descended on the area, but despite extensive searches the train was never found.

Officials in Wabrzych say that the man who made the most recent claims has not applied for a permit to search for the train.

According to local media, the authorities are now considering whether to investigate the claims further.
Disgraced former politician and property developer Salim Mehajer could be released from prison within months.

He's currently serving a seven-year and nine-month sentence for a string of crimes, including violence against his former partner and forging his lawyer's signature.

The court heard the former deputy mayor of Auburn Council in western Sydney, had suffocated a woman and threatened to put a 'bullet' in her mother's head.

Mehajer will be eligible to front a public parole hearing on June 12 ahead of a possible early release date on July 18.

The matter was considered at a meeting of the State Parole Authority earlier this month, news.com.au reported.

A community corrections pre-release report recommended he be released on conditional parole with supervision.

Standing in the way of Mehajer's freedom is the Commissioner of Corrective Services, who noted Mehajer is an 'offender of interest' and indicated plans to make submissions about his possible release on parole.

Mehajer was initially jailed in November 2020 after being found guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of making a false statement under oath.

Disgraced former politician and property developer Salim Mehajer (pictured) could be eligible for parole as early as July

A recent community corrections pre-release report recommended Salim Mehajer (pictured) be released on conditional parole with supervision

He was found to have lied in affidavits and under cross-examination, which were used to secure his relaxed bail conditions.

The embattled politician returned to court in 2023 and was found guilty in two separate trial, one regarding fraud and the other domestic violence matters.

Mehajer was sentenced to a maximum of seven years and nine months for both cases.

In his domestic violence case, a jury convicted him of multiple counts of assault, one count of intimidation and one count of suffocation relating to his ex-partner.

The court heard Mehajer had punched the woman in her head during an argument in his car, squeezed her hand and crushed the phone she held, and threatened to kill her mother.

Just one month later, the jury in his fraud case found him guilty of two counts each of making a false document and using a false document.

He had created the false documents by forging the signatures of his solicitor, Zali Burrows, and sister.

Mehajer returned to court again in 2024 for his role in a staged car crash seven years earlier.

Mehajer (pictured) was convicted of multiple domestic violence, fraud and assault offences

He pleaded guilty to 22 charges, including perverting the course of justice, making a false representation resulting in a police investigation, making a false call for an ambulance and negligent driving.

Mehajer had staged the car accident in west Sydney during October 2017 in order to delay his court appearance.

At the time he was due to front court for assaulting a taxi driver.

The former deputy mayor was sentenced to a maximum of two years for the offences, with a non-parole period of 16 months.
More than 400 people who fought with the so-called Islamic State (IS) group have returned to the UK without being prosecuted for their crimes, MPs and peers have found.

Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) said IS fighters who participated in killings, terror attacks and the persecution of minorities in the Middle East must face justice.

IS, which once held large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, was responsible for widespread campaigns of terror, murder and rape often targeted against minority religious groups like the Yazidis and Shia Muslims.

MPs and peers on the JCHR have now called on ministers to ensure the ex-militants can be tried in British courts, rather than in Iraq or Syria where the crimes took place.

The government has previously said any such crimes are 'best investigated and prosecuted under local laws', according to the committee.

But members of the JCHR aid this was unlikely to happen in the countries where IS operated.

'Where the UK has jurisdiction over international crimes, the UK should seek to investigate and prosecute such crimes,' their latest report said.

Currenly, it is not possible to prosecute any individuals for war crimes or genocide unless they are UK nationals, residents, or 'subject to service personnel laws'.

IS, which once held large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq , was responsible for widespread campaigns of terror, murder and rape often targeted against minority religious groups like the Yazidis and Shia Muslims

A mass funeral for Yazidi victims of the Islamic State (IS) group in the northern Iraqi village of Kojo in Sinjar district, on February 6, 2021

An Iraqi man prays for his slain relative at the site of a mass grave believed to contain the bodies of Iraqi soldiers killed by Islamic State group militants when they overran Camp Speicher military base in Tikrit, Iraq

Ministers must use the Crime and Policing Bill currently making its way through Parliament to amend the law, and ensure anyone suspected to have committed genocide or war crimes can face justice in the UK, the committee added.

Lord Alton of Liverpool, chairman of the JCHR, said: 'This is not something the UK can simply wash its hands of because it happened overseas. We know that British nationals committed the most horrendous crimes in Iraq and Syria under the Daesh regime and we have a duty to see them brought to justice.

'To date, no Daesh fighters have been successfully prosecuted for international crimes in the UK and we find this unacceptable.

'We want to see more action from the Government in identifying the perpetrators, some of whom may have returned to Britain, others likely detained in camps in Syria. This will require better co-ordination from law enforcement and criminal justice, and also the removal of barriers preventing some prosecutions.'

The JCHR also called for greater transparency about how the Government uses its power to strip British people of their citizenship because of links with IS.

Shamima Begum, who travelled to IS-held territory a decade ago, aged 15, is the most famous example of the state's use of this power.

But the report said the UK 'uses deprivation of citizenship orders more than almost any country in the world', and ministers must account for this.

Syrian women sit next to the fence during a sandstorm at a temporary refugee camp in the village of Ain Issa, housing people who fled Islamic State group's Syrian stronghold Raqa

Lord Alton of Liverpool, chairman of the JCHR, said: 'This is not something the UK can simply wash its hands of because it happened overseas'

The JCHR also called for greater transparency about how the Government uses its power to strip British people of their citizenship because of links with IS - Shamima Begum, who travelled to IS-held territory a decade ago, aged 15, is the most famous example of the state's use of this power

More must also be done to repatriate children held in camps in north-east Syria, the committee said, where conditions are 'deplorable', according to Lord Alton.

He added: 'It is in the UK's interest to ensure they do not become a new generation of the radicalised and they must be brought home.'

IS waged a brutal crackdown on religious minority groups when they seized control of areas in the Middle East between 2014 and 2019.

In 2016, former US Secretary of State John Kerry declared that the violence initiated by IS against Shia Muslims and others in Iraq and Syria amounted to genocide.

The Ministry of Justice were contacted for comment.
Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as he looks to seal huge deals for the US.

The trip marks the US president's first major visit abroad of his second term, with the White House saying he looked forward to a 'historic return' to the region.

Images from Tuesday morning show the US President shaking hands with Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival in Riyadh.

The focus during the tour of the Gulf will likely be locking down business agreements and Trump will take part in a summit of Gulf Arab leaders Tuesday before heading to Qatar.

'White House sources have indicated that the president will focus on 'deals',' wrote Daniel B. Shapiro, a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump will promote a vision where 'extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges'.

The Gulf states have positioned themselves as key diplomatic partners during Trump's second term.

Doha remains a major broker for negotiations between Hamas and Israel, while Saudi Arabia has facilitated talks on the war in Ukraine.

Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates

The trip marks the US president's first major visit abroad of his second term, with the White House saying he looked forward to a 'historic return' to the region

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) meets with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh on May 13, 2025

Talk of returning to the kingdom has been circulating for months, with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowing to pour $600 billion into US trade and investments.

'I'll be asking the crown prince, who's a fantastic guy, to round it out to around one trillion. I think they'll do that because we've been very good to them,' Trump said in response to the offer.

According to a Saudi official close to the defence ministry, Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defence systems worth billions of dollars.

'We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump's term,' the source told AFP.

On the ground in Saudi Arabia, residents expressed mixed feelings about what the trip would mean.

'I expect that this visit will result in political decisions that will matter to the whole region,' Khalifa Oneizi, a 47-year-old Riyadh resident, told AFP.

Others were less confident.

'I am not optimistic about this visit or its results,' said Hamad Shahrani, a 62-year-old Saudi national.

Efforts to push Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel are not likely to feature high on the agenda this trip, with Riyadh insisting a Palestinian state must be established before a deal can be brokered.

Iran, meanwhile, is likely to feature prominently during the visit, following a fourth round of talks in Oman over the weekend.

On the ground in Saudi Arabia, residents expressed mixed feelings about what the trip would mean

The focus during the tour of the Gulf will likely be locking down business agreements and Trump will take part in a summit of Gulf Arab leaders Tuesday before heading to Qatar

The Gulf states have positioned themselves as key diplomatic partners during Trump's second term

A Saudi fighter jet accompanies Air Force One, carrying US President Donald Trump, on approach to the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025

Controversy is also swirling over the president's plans to accept a luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One.

Late Sunday, Trump went on the offensive amid a wave of criticism, saying the plane was a temporary 'gift'.

He later called the deal 'a very public and transparent transaction', and on Monday said before leaving Washington for his trip: 'I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.'

Eight years ago Trump also chose Saudi Arabia for his first overseas trip as president - when he memorably posed with a glowing orb and participated in a sword dance.

His decision to once again bypass traditional Western allies to travel to the oil-rich Gulf states underscores their increasingly crucial geopolitical role - along with his own business relations in the region.

Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in the capital Riyadh. The Saudi royal family plans a lavish welcome for the 78-year-old billionaire, who will also address an investment forum.

In the days before the trip, the White House has played an instrumental part in hammering out a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the release of an American hostage in Gaza and holding another round of nuclear talks with Iran.

Those initiatives came after a surprise announcement by Trump last week of agreeing to a truce with the Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
A British holidaymaker has been fined and handed a restraining order after launching a six-month tirade of online abuse against a fellow tourist, branding him an 'old aged predator' in a bitter row on Facebook.

Lisa Wilkinson, 46, targeted Edward Hampton, 74, on a Facebook group for holidaymakers visiting the Turkish resort of Marmaris, where she posted a string of abusive messages using the alias 'Buster Wilko.'

The harassment, which took place between February and July last year, saw Wilkinson repeatedly post defamatory remarks about Mr Hampton and his wife to an audience of around 2,500 group members.

Wilkinson, formerly an admin of Mr Hampton's Facebook group 'MARM R US,' switched allegiance to a similarly named group created by a Turkish friend and soon began publicly attacking Mr Hampton and his wife.

She mocked the couple as 'the Tramptons' and claimed Mr Hampton 'slept with drunk members while wifey sleeps like an old aged predator.'

In one post, she branded him a 'dirty scumbag,' and lashed out at those defending him, saying they were 'just as vile and brainwashed by the Tramptons.'

The online harassment extended to private messages, where Wilkinson sent photos of Mr Hampton and his wife's passports, writing: 'Never mind when I'm abroad, worry about when you go, dirty old aged predator.'

Lisa Wilkinson, 46, (pictured) mercilessly trolled 74-year-old Edward Hampton, referring to him and his wife Bebe as 'the Tramptons' and accusing him of sleeping around behind his wife's back

Mr and Mrs Hampton had to cancel an 860 holiday to Turkey they had booked out of fear of what had been said about them during the 'tit for tat' dispute, they told the trial

She continued: 'Your passport screenshots are already given to the relevant authorities. Enjoy your next holiday old aged predator.

'Keep sleeping around behind your wife's back you little racist wrong un you can't come back to Marmaris now ripping Turkish businesses off.'

Wilkinson appeared at Sefton Magistrates' Court on March 25, where she denied a charge of harassment without violence.

She admitted making the posts but claimed she acted in 'self defence,' alleging that Mr Hampton had anonymously body-shamed her online and posted comments about her on a 'love rat' website.

Despite her claims, she was found guilty and returned to Liverpool Magistrates' Court on May 9 for sentencing.

She was handed an 18-month community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work and up to 35 days of rehabilitation. The court also ordered her to pay 480 in compensation and issued a five-year restraining order banning her from contacting Mr Hampton.

Wilkinson denied harassing Edward Hampton but was found guilty after a trial at Sefton Magistrates Court (pictured)

Speaking following the court case, Mr Hampton said: 'I was disgusted. We blocked everyone involved.

'The vile disgusting comments were continuing and every time she put them on her friends were joining in, other people were joining in who didn't even know me.

'Between her and her friends they kept it going. They wouldn't leave it alone. Every day there was posts going on, not on my pages but on her pages and groups.

'My wife is a nervous wreck and I have been as well. It has affected everyone. Everyone involved with us has been affected one way or another. Hopefully now this will go away.'
Keir Starmer is facing a Labour backlash over his crackdown on immigration as No10 furiously denied he was echoing Enoch Powell.

London mayor Sadiq Khan insisted he would not have used the phrase 'island of strangers' as the PM struggles to contain anger on his own benches.

Welsh Labour leader also repeatedly dodged endorsing Sir Keir's words as she was grilled in the Senedd.

The premier is facing a barrage of criticism over his new approach - a dramatic shift from his previous stance as he tries to counter the poll threat from Reform.

Some have accused him of emulating Powell's 1968 'Rivers of Blood' speech, when the then-senior Tory said white British people could find themselves 'strangers in their own country' as a result of migration.

The White Paper yesterday pledged to toughen skills thresholds for visas, close the care work route, demand more fluent English, and make people wait a decade for full citizenship.

However, Sir Keir has flatly refused to set any hard cap or targets, instead merely stating there will be a 'significant' in numbers fall by the next election.

The chair of the Migration Advisory Committee has estimated that net long-term immigration will reduce from over 700,000 annually to 'under 300,000 and probably closer to 250,000'.

It was already projected to drop to around 340,000 in the coming years. Details released by the Home Office indicated it expects the package to achieve a 98,000 reduction in arrivals.

Keir Starmer suggested uncontrolled immigration risked the UK becoming an 'island of strangers' as he unveiled proposals for curbing numbers yesterday

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London mayor Sadiq Khan insisted he would not have used the phrase 'island of strangers' as the PM struggles to contain anger on his own benches

Labour MP Olivia Blake was among those raising alarm as Ms Cooper took questions in the Commons last night

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected the criticism this morning saying the PM was pointing out the system 'had to be controlled and managed'

Speaking to LBC this morning, Sir Sadiq said: 'The sort of language I use is different to the language used by others. That's not the sort of words I would use.'

He added that he thought Sir Keir was referring to 'promises made by Brexiteers' and recent high levels of migration, and not 'that contribution we make to this multicultural capital city and country.'

Asked how he felt when he heard the PM's language, he said: 'I read the White Paper and I understand the context of the White Paper, and those aren't words that I would use.'

Under pressure to give her views in the Senedd, Baroness Morgan said: 'Wales is a welcoming nation, I think we are very proud to be associated with the positive values that immigration can bring and contribute to our communities and societies and the vast contribution that they make to our public services.'

Challenged to distance herself from Sir Keir's 'language of division', the peer replied: 'I'm not going to use divisive language when it comes to immigration, that's not the value we have in Welsh Labour.'

In the Commons last night, MPs condemned Sir Keir's speech as 'divisive and hostile', saying it 'legitimised the far-Right'.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell - currently suspended from the Labour whip - accused Sir Keir of being 'shockingly divisive' and 'reflecting the language of Enoch Powell'.

In 1968 Powell was sacked from the Conservative frontbench and disowned by senior colleagues.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected the comparison this morning saying the PM was pointing out the system 'had to be controlled and managed'.

Asked by BBC Breakfast if she thought the language was 'toxic, shameful or dangerous', Ms Cooper said: 'I don't agree, no.

'I think part of the point that he is making is that we have to recognise people have come to the UK through generations to do really important jobs in our NHS, founding our biggest businesses, doing some of the most difficult jobs.

'But it's because that's important, the system has to be controlled and managed, and it just hasn't been.'

The PM's official spokesman robustly defended his words and brushed aside the similarity.

'We completely reject that comparison,' he told reporters.

Asked if Sir Keir was not worried about his language, the spokesman said: 'Absolutely, the Prime Minister rejects those comparisons and absolutely stands behind the argument he was making that migrants make a massive contribution to our country, but migration needs to be controlled.'

Pressed on whether Sir Keir stood by his comments, the spokesman replied: 'Yes.'

In his speech launching the White Paper yesterday, Sir Keir said: 'Let me put it this way - nations depend on rules, fair rules.

'Sometimes they're written down, often they're not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other.

'Now in a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important.

'Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.'

Labour MP Olivia Blake was among those raising alarm as Ms Cooper took questions in the Commons last night.

'Does the Secretary of State agree with me that far from being strangers, migrants are our neighbours, friends and family, an integral part and members of our communities, and that moves to cast them as strangers are both divisive and hostile, and risk legitimising the same far-right violence we saw in last year's summer riots? Have we learnt nothing?' she asked.

Labour's Nadia Whittome swiped that Sir Keir was trying to 'ape Reform'.

Outside the House, she added: 'The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the Government is shameful and dangerous.

Labour's Nadia Whittome swiped that Sir Keir was trying to 'ape Reform'

Details released by the Home Office indicated it expects the package to achieve a 98,000 reduction in arrivals

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Nigel Farage has said the government 'will not do what it takes to control our borders'

'Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family. To suggest that Britain risks becoming 'an island of strangers' because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right.'

Labour MP for Luton North Sarah Owen warned that 'chasing the tail of the right risks taking our country down a very dark path'.

She said: 'I am proud of what immigrants like my mum and those across Luton North have given to our country.

'The best way to avoid becoming an 'island of strangers' is investing in communities to thrive  not pitting people against each other.

'I've said it before and will say it again: chasing the tail of the right risks taking our country down a very dark path.'
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rolled out the lavender carpet for President Donald Trump as he touched down in Air Force One Tuesday morning in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

For the last 30 minutes of the flight, five Saudi fighter jets accompanied Trump's plane as it readied to land after a 14-hour journey to the Middle East.

Trump will spend Tuesday and Wednesday morning in Saudi Arabia before jetting off to Doha, Qatar and then Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The president greeted 'MBS' warmly as a cannon salute blasted in the background.

The two walked together, as a Saudi royal guard lined the pathway.

Trump was followed by the other top U.S. officials in his delegation: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The Saudi delegation and the American delegation then filed into an ornate room for a coffee ceremony, where the president, crown prince and all the members were served tiny cups of coffee under large portraits of the Saudi royal family.

From there Trump will head to the Royal Court for more pomp to kick off his Tuesday visit.

President Donald Trump (left) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) walk down the lavender carpet that was set out for the U.S. president's arrival in Riyadh on Tuesday

President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh

An F-15 fighter jet can be seen out the window of Air Force One before it touched down in Riyadh

Air Force One can be seen in the distance through Saudi and U.S. flags

President Donald Trump (left) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) participate in a coffee ceremony after Trump's arrival Tuesday in Riyadh

In all three countries Trump will aim, at a minimum, to announce economic deals - with hopes that progress can be made on some complicated geopolitical issues as well.

Trump will spend Tuesday in various engagements with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or 'MBS.'

The long-term goal is to have Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords - one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of Trump's first administration.

The Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, and Israel and Bahrain.

Hamas' terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 - and the ongoing war in Gaza - threw a wrench in the Biden administration's, and now the Trump administration's, push to have Saudi join the accords.

MBS has pushed that the Saudis would need there to be a pathway to Gaza becoming a Palestinian state for them to join the pact now.

But first, the war in Gaza would need to end.

Some progress was made on Monday when American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas in a deal etched out between the Palestinian terror group and the U.S.

Workers roll out a purple carpet ahead of President Donald Trump's arrival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday

President Donald Trump greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the base of Air Force One's stairs at the arrival ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

An F-15 fighter jet, which sported a Saudi flag, escorted Air Force One into Riyadh on Tuesday for President Donald Trump's visit

People watch a live coverage at the Ministry of Media as Air Force One lands in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning

Fox reported that Alexander may visit with Trump on a later leg of the Middle East trip.

He was taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv after spending 584 days in captivity.

Saudi Arabia has also played host for the recent Russia-U.S. talks to negotiate an ending to the war in Ukraine.

While movement has been made on that, the White House said last week that a Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn't be happening on the Middle East trip.

Several Arab newspapers have reported that Trump will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun while on the ground with Saudi.

Reuters reported Sunday that Sharaa - who remains a designated terrorist over his al-Qaeda past - planned to woo the American president by proposing a Trump Tower in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Sharaa also planned to pitch a detente with Israel and U.S. access to Syria's oil and gas, if Trump agrees to remove sanctions on the country after the Assad regime was toppled in December.

The White House has yet to confirm these meetings.

Trump will jet to Doha on Wednesday, for a quick 24 hours spent in Qatar, a country that has helped facilitate the Hamas-Israel ceasefires and was a major staging area during the U.S.'s pullout of Afghanistan during the Biden administration.

On Sunday, ABC News reported that the Qatari royal family would gift President Donald Trump a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet that the president can temporarily use as Air Force One, while the new Air Force Ones continue to be delayed

The Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet would be gifted to the Pentagon and then later given to Trump's presidential library foundation so he could use the aircraft after leaving office. One source told CNN it's a 'security nightmare' for the Secret Service

On Sunday, ABC News reported that during this portion of the trip, Trump would accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar to use as a new Air Force One - as the two Air Force One replacements have been mired in delays and cost overruns.

Trump toured the opulent aircraft when it was parked in West Palm Beach in February.

The plane - which would likely be painted in Trump's desired color scheme - would be transferred to the Pentagon, to ready it to be used by the president, and then later transferred to Trump's presidential library foundation.

That means Trump could continue to fly the 'palace in the sky' after leaving office.

Ethics experts have raised the alarm about the transaction.

Trump confirmed the deal in a Truth Social post Sunday night.

'So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,' the president wrote. 'Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!!'

For the Secret Service, however, the president using a plane gifted to him by a foreign government is considered a 'security nightmare,' a law enforcement source told CNN.

The president's final stop will be Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, where the Trump Organization already has one real estate project, with two more in the making.

The White House has yet to release a schedule for the back-half of the trip, but Trump will likely play up UAE's participation in the Abraham Accords.
The oldest surviving victim of the Post Office Horizon scandal has hit out at the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after revealing she is still waiting for her full compensation.

Betty Brown, 92, from Stanley, Durham, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Tuesday and revealed she is convinced she will never see compensation in her lifetime.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts.

Hundreds are still awaiting compensation despite the previous government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for 600,000 payouts. The Post Office has paid out roughly 438 million to 3,100 claimants.

But Mrs Brown says she is not one of those claimants.

The Durham native ran her Post Office in the small town of Stanley with her husband Oswald for more than 70 years.

During her decades-long service to the community, the postmistress said her world was turned upside down with the introduction of the Horizon system which regularly reported that there were shortfalls in her till of up to 1,500 a day.

Despite contacting the Post office helpline for support, Mrs Brown took the drastic step of using her life savings, more than 100,000 to plug the gap.

Betty Brown (pictured), 92, from Stanley, Durham has revealed she doesn't think she will see any compensation in her lifetime following the Post Office scandal

Speaking on the ITV breakfast show, the widow added that the stress of it led her husband to an early grave.

And she has now hit out at the Prime Minister and accused him of playing games instead of supporting those who were wrongly accused of stealing.

Mrs Brown told Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid that she feels she has been treated poorly but is determined not to give up and even at 92 will keep fighting for her money back.

'The determination I have will keep me going, and the anger even after 25 years, they stole my money after serving them for 76 years serving, my husband and I together.'

Mrs Brown also explained that and that she believes Sir Keir has been dragging his feet when it comes to ensuring victims are paid their full compensation.

'I can't understand why people like me are still yet to get justice and that's what we want. It's absolutely disgusting the way we've been treated. Diabolical.'

Mrs Brown added that she believes the Labour leader has all the necessary information to ensure the process is concluded as quickly as possible.

'He wants to do the deed, why is he carrying on, why is he continuing this little game he has?' she said.

Mrs Brown hit out at the Prime Minister and accused him of playing games instead of supporting those who were wrongly accused of stealing (pictured May, 12)

Mrs Brown told Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid (pictured left) that she is determined not to give up and even at 92 will keep fighting for her money back

The widower also explained that and that she believes Sir Keir has been dragging his feet when it comes to ensuring victims are paid their full compensation

'He has all the information, all the experts who have investigated. Everything is there; accountants, medical professionals, all he has to do - it's all been analysed - he just has to put it together and get it finished.'

The widower called on Sir Keir to honour the repayments, and told the ITV hosts: 'Whenever these experts decide on a figure, 100 per cent must be paid and the PM must recognise it must all be paid'.

The Durham native went on to explain that she had been desperate to prove her innocence and regularly called in to the Post Office helpline to update them on the reported shortfall but was told it was her fault.

She said: 'I had a standing arrangement with my area manager. Every Thursday morning I had to phone the Post Office phone line, I had to tell them the balance from the night before.

'They knew but there was no support and I was told I was the only one it was happening to.'

Mrs Brown also revealed that the Post Office encouraged her to retire early because of the issues around her Horizon system and their decision crushed her husband who was suffering from cancer at the time and became fixated on the correspondence from the Post Office head office.

The widower called on Sir Keir to honour the repayments and said: 'Whenever these experts decide on a figure, 100 per cent must be paid and the PM must recognise it must all be paid'

'Every time you walked in to the room he was sitting on the settee reading this [letter] and I'd go away and when I'd go in he'd be reading again and I had to hide it to stop him reading it.

'The last words he ever said when the took ill, he had cancer like the king and he had dealt with this for 15 years, the experts in Newcastle that treated him couldn't believe it, they successfully treated him for 15 years but when [the letter] came he went gradually downhill.

'I used to go on the bus and he'd be sitting up in the bed and the first thing he always said was "any word from the Post Office?" and the next day "any word form the Post Office?" and this went on all the time and one day I went in and he said "they don't intent to do anything, how could they do anything like that to us?"'

'They were all his friends over the years and he trusted them 200 per cent but how could they do that to us?'.
The bodies of two women have been recovered after they were swept out to sea.

An extensive search was launched on Tuesday morning after two women, aged 65 and 67, went missing near Back Beach on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.

Their bodies were later pulled from the water.

It's understood that the pair were fishing when at least one of them was caught in a large swell.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 11.15am with police assisted by SAPOL's Water Operations Unit and the SES.

A surfer attempted to rescue the women and pulled one of them from the water from was unable to revive her.

The body of the second woman was later discovered.

The women are yet to be formally identified, but the it's understood the 67-year-old was from Sturt and the 65-year-old a Streaky Bay local.

The bodies of two women were recovered near Back Beach on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula

The women are understood to be a 67-year-old from Sturt and 65-year-old from Streaky Bay

Back Beach is a popular surf spot and is not recommended for swimmers due to strong rips.

The latest tragedy comes four months after surfer Lance Appleby, 28, was mauled to death by a shark in nearby Streaky Bay.

'It is another tragic blow for our community of Streaky Bay and my condolences go out to the family and friends at this very tough time,' Streaky Bay mayor Travis Barber said.

'My thoughts and thanks also go out to the volunteers and first responders that have had to deal with yet another tragic incident of which would be very close to home for many of them, as it does when you live in a small close knit community.

'We will rally around them and pull together again.'
A mother and her lesbian lover have been charged with the sickening torture, rape and murder of her 20-month-old-daughter.

Defenceless toddler Maria Isis Vieira de Amorim died on March 13 from horrific injuries in Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Suspicious staff at Sao Jose Hospital called police when she was brought in unconscious and dehydrated with a fractured arm, as well as bruises on her head, neck and back, but was pronounced dead shortly after.

Her mother's depraved lover Myllena Carla Andrelino, 27, claimed the tot had slipped in the bath and then fallen down the stairs, but later admitted to beating her with a slipper when questioned by police, local media reported.

Maria's mother, Juliele Vieira de Amorim, 25, said she knew about the attacks on her daughter, but did not agree with them.

Both Andrelino and Vieira de Amorim were arrested and have been charged with aggravated homicide, rape and torture and are being held in custody.

Forensic examinations are being carried out on Maria's body to discover evidence of previous sexual and physical abuse.

Prosecutors revealed that the child's mother was only released from prison six months ago after serving five years behind bars for drug trafficking.

Picture shows Myllena Carla Andrelin (left) and Juliele Vieira de Amorim (right). The couple have been charged with the torture, rape and murder of Vierira de Amorim's daughter

Maria Isis Vieira de Amorim, who died in March after having sustained horrific injuries

The child's mother, Juliele, had spent five years behind bars for drug trafficking

A spokesperson for the hospital told local media on May 210: 'On the night of 13th March, 2025, at 10:17pm the hospital received in its pediatric emergency department a patient in a very serious state.

'There were two reported episodes of a fall.

'Immediately, all appropriate medical measures were adopted for stabilisation and life support. However, despite the team's efforts, the patient died at 11:03pm.'

They added: 'In view of the nature of the case, the police were promptly contacted.

'The hospital remains available to cooperate with investigations, in accordance with legal guidelines.'

Police from the specialist murder squad for vulnerable victims continue to investigate Maria's death.

The child's school mourned her death, stating that Maria will be 'eternally remembered.'

The horrific incident comes after a depraved father was sentenced to 17 years behind bars after he raped and 'prostituted' his seven-month-old daughter in his Spanish apartment.

Forensic examinations are being carried out on Maria's body to discover evidence of previous sexual and physical abuse

The child's stepmother Myllena rushed her to the hospital, claiming she had fallen in the shower

The 27-year-old waiter, named only as Santiago, had been investigated in 2022 for distributing more than 100 child pornography videos and 270 images online.

During the investigation, Spanish police discovered that the man, who is of Venezuelan origin, had filmed himself in two instances raping his daughter in his flat in the neighbourhood of Aluche in south west Madrid.

He was also found to have distributed footage of the horrific act on the dark web.

The shocking discovery led to his arrest in 2023.

Santiago reportedly told police at the time of his arrest: 'I was sick and couldn't stop what I was doing', according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

At the trial held last month, Santiago admitted to the charges brought against him of one count of sexual assault of a minor and one count of production of child pornography.

Santiago was also found to have used various social media platforms and instant messaging services to both download and distribute 'extremely harsh' child pornography content.

He has been sentenced to 17 years in prison, is prohibited from approaching his daughter within 500 metres and has been stripped of parental rights for 10 years.
This is the alarming moment that a jealous police officer allegedly shot a man because he had 'looked' at his girlfriend.

Brazilian police chief Luiz Alberto Braga de Queiroz has been suspended for 120 days following an altercation which saw street vendor Emmanuel Apory hospitalised.

Harrowing CCTV footage shows the off-duty cop giving Apory a push before wagging his finger in his face.

Apory then responds by lashing out and punching Queiroz, causing him to stumble backwards.

But a flash is then seen and Apory falls to the ground. He could be seen picking himself up and stumbling around before the end of the footage, while the officer reportedly fled in an official police vehicle.

Witnesses have claimed the police chief was furious because Apory had 'looked' at the woman he was with.

The confrontation between the two, which happened last Monday on the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, ended with Apory getting shot in the leg with a revolver and subsequently taken to a local hospital.

He was flown to a larger facility in Recife on Monday afternoon after Queiroz had already left the island, and is now stable after undergoing surgery.

Brazilian police chief Luiz Alberto Braga de Queiroz has been suspended for 120 days following an altercation which saw street vendor Emmanuel Apory hospitalised

Harrowing CCTV footage shows the off-duty cop giving Apory a push before wagging his finger in his face

Apory then responds by lashing out and punching Queiroz, causing him to stumble backwards

Apory's mother told Brazilian media that her son had 'met the woman' two days before at the gym.

'When he got to the venue on Sunday, she was with the police chief, but he avoided greeting her to prevent any kind of jealousy,' she said.

'The thing is, on Saturday night, she'd been with one of his friends at a party. So I think the officer assumed it was my son.'

In a video sent to TV Globo, Apory denied having harassed Queiroz's companion, adding: 'At no point did I say anything to her, or to him. I saw, from the beginning, that she was accompanied.

'I was already heading home. I was surprised when he approached me and turned me towards the tree.'

Brazilian media also suggested the woman at the centre of the altercation was Thamires Cavalcanti, a nutritionist who works in Recife.

Civil Police have now opened an investigation into the incident, and Queiroz's weapon has been confiscated while the probe is ongoing.

The Association of Delegates of the State of Pernambuco (Adepe) have defended Queiroz, saying he acted in 'self-defense, in the face of unjust aggressions'.

Civil Police have now opened an investigation into the incident, and Queiroz's weapon has been confiscated while the probe is ongoing

Apory denied having harassed Queiroz's companion, adding: 'At no point did I say anything to her, or to him. I saw, from the beginning, that she was accompanied

They also claimed he identified himself as a police officer prior to the confrontation and made Apory aware he was carrying a firearm.

Adepe claimed that Apory tried to disarm him through physical attacks, which Queiroz responded to with a single shot to the leg.

They said the location of the wound 'demonstrates the technical preparation and emotional balance of the police officer, who acted to neutralize the threat with the least possible damage, preventing the weapon from being stolen.'

Apory's defence lawyers said they were surprised Queiroz had not been arrested and said the incident 'upset the island's population, who were aware of the victim's peaceful nature'.
The elderly parents of Westfield Bondi Junction mass murderer Joel Cauchi place no blame on anyone except their son - as harrowing new details were revealed at an inquest.

Andrew and Michele Cauchi, both in their 70s, emerged from his childhood home in Toowoomba on Tuesday and were devastated to learn that their son's psychiatrist broke down in tears as she gave evidence in the NSW Coroner's Court.

Joel Cauchi, 40, was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he fatally stabbed five shoppers and a security guard and injured 10 others at the busy Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024.

On Tuesday, the Queensland psychiatrist who took Cauchi off his two antipsychotic medications - clozapine and aripiprazole - five years before his stabbing rampage, issued a tearful apology to the families of the victims and Cauchi's parents.

Cauchi had been on antipsychotic medications since he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17. His psychiatrist, who can't be identified for legal reasons, took him off the drugs because he didn't like the side effects.

But his parents stressed that there was only one person who needed to apologise.

'My son let us down,' Mr Cauchi told Daily Mail Australia at his Toowoomba home on Tuesday.

'The mental health (system) did not let us down, the police did not let us down. The only person to let us down was my son.'

Andrew Cauchi (right) was devastated to learn that his son's psychiatrist broke down in tears as she gave evidence at the Westfield Bondi Junction inquest

Joel Cauchi, 40, was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he fatally stabbed five shoppers and a security guard at Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024

Mrs Cauchi wife added: 'It's too much, It's just a horrible tragedy.'

After Cauchi was weaned off the two antipsychotic drugs in July 2019, his mother contacted the psychiatrist's private clinic seven times raising concerns about possible signs of relapse.

This included that he was leaving notes around the house about Satanic control, experiencing extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder and was not sleeping well.

Cauchi also sent an email saying that he had developed an obsession with pornography, the NSW Coroners Court was told.

The psychiatrist said these were viewed as possible signs of a early relapse but later assessments found that he was not psychotic.

Cauchi was having trouble sleeping because he was up watching pornography, she said.

His other symptoms stemmed from stressors including a fear he had caught an STD after sleeping with a prostitute, the coroner heard.

Expert psychiatric evidence filed in the inquest has said Cauchi was 'floridly psychotic' at the time of the Bondi Junction attack.

However, the psychiatrist also rejected this.

Cauchi's parents Andrew and Michele (pictured above)

Those killed were shoppers Yixuan Cheng, 27, Ashlee Good, 38, Pakria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, Dawn Singleton, 25, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30

Discharging Cauchi to his Toowoomba general practitioner after he relocated to Brisbane, the psychiatrist said there was nothing she could do to follow up.

Dr Dwyer suggested she could have made a phone call.

'You could have done that, you just couldn't charge for it,' Dr Dwyer said, which the psychiatrist accepted.

Despite raising the alarm with the psychiatrist's private clinic seven times, Cauchi's parents refuse to lay any blame.

'No one has let us down, if someone sends an email and it's not worked on, so what,' Mr Cauchi said.

'My son was pretty good until he did this and he would not have gone back on medication anyway and I couldn't put him back on either.'

His wife added: 'He was sick.

'He was out of his head and then Covid hit and he moved to Brisbane so we couldn't supervise him.'

The pair recently told Daily Mail Australia they wouldn't travel interstate to attend the inquest in Sydney because it would be too emotional and bring back painful memories.

'I won't be going (to the inquest) because I'd be crying all the time,' Mr Cauchi said.

'I'd be bawling. I loved my son.'

He was eventually shot dead by a female cop, with Cauchi's parents saying they have 'no issues' with her action or that of the NSW Police

Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi Junction just after 3pm on Saturday April, 13, 2024 armed with a large knife

Cauchi was a 'high-functioning' schizophrenic with a university degree, coming top in his class, and could speak German and Mandarin, his mother later told police.

He lived at home with his parents until he was 35, before moving to Brisbane in early 2020.

Cauchi entered the local Bondi shopping centre just after 3pm on Saturday April, 13, 2024 armed with a large knife.

He terrorised crowds of shoppers enjoying a day out, stabbing at least 16, including a nine-month-old baby, and killing six. His rampage was brought to an end after he was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.

Cauchi's parents saying they have 'no issues' with her actions or that of the NSW Police.

It was the elderly couple who identified the killer as their son after watching it unfold on the news.

'The police did a fantastic job,' Mr Cauchi said.

Earlier at the inquest on Tuesday, the psychiatrist sobbed as she told the inquest she had been personally affected by the attacks.

'I offer my sincere apologies to you that this tragedy has happened,' she said.

'I am aware that no words will ease the profound pain and suffering.

'No psychiatrist in the world would wish on themselves for this trauma to happen.'

Two nurses have already given evidence about Cauchi's treatment, and both have said he did not present with any serious symptoms during appointments.

The inquest continues.

Lifeline at 13 11 14 or beyondblue at 1300 22 4636.
French movie legend Gerard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a 2021 film set.

The actor, 76, has been convicted of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of 'Les Volets Verts' ('The Green Shutters'), directed by Jean Becker.

He has now been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence, fined a total of 24,414, and the Paris court has requested that he be registered in the national sex offender database.

The actor, who has appeared in over 200 films and television series, has been accused of improper behaviour by around 20 women, but this was the first case to reach trial.

Depardieu has denied any wrongdoing.

Both of his victims had been working on the film in behind-the-scene roles and claimed they were too scared to speak out at the time.

'I was petrified', said one of the women, a set designer named Amelie.

She told the court that Depardieu had trapped her between his legs as she tried to pass him in a corridor before he began touching her body.

The actor, 76, has been convicted of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of 'Les Volets Verts'. Pictured: French actor Gerard Depardieu appears at a Paris courthouse, March 27, 2025

Depardieu's lawyer Jeremie Assous arrives at the courthouse, in Paris, Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Set designer Amelie (pictured) told the court that Depardieu had trapped her between his legs as she tried to pass him in a corridor before he began touching her body

'He terrified me - he looked like a madman,' she said.

Depardieu first arrived in court for his trial in March, dressed in a dark suit with no tie, appearing unfazed by the serious allegations against him.

The set dresser alleged the actor was openly making crude remarks on set, and at one point loudly complained he 'couldn't even get it up' because of the heat.

She claimed he boasted he could 'give women an orgasm without touching them' and that an hour later Depardieu 'brutally grabbed' her.

The actor pinned her by 'closing his legs' around her before groping her waist and her stomach, continuing up to her breasts, she added.

She said Depardieu made 'obscene remarks' including: 'Come and touch my big parasol. I'll stick it in your p****.'

She described the actor's bodyguards dragging him away as he shouted: 'We'll see each other again, my dear.'

The second accuser, the assistant director, has also accused Depardieu of sexual violence, though details of her case were not made public.

Prominent French actress Anouk Grinberg, who also starred in Les Volets Verts, publicly supported the accusers, claiming Depardieu routinely made 'salacious remarks' during filming. She has accused producers of knowingly 'hiring an abuser'.

In March, lead prosecutor Laurent Guy recommended an 18-month suspended jail term for Depardieu, arguing that the sentence 'takes into account the total lack of remorse' shown by the defendant.

He also said Depardieu should also be ordered to undergo psychological treatment and be added to France's sex offender registry.

Depardieu has been the subject of multiple sexual misconduct allegations over the years.

Prominent French actress Anouk Grinberg has publicly supported the accusers

Around 20 women have come forward, but many cases have been dropped due to France's statute of limitations.

In 2018, French actress Charlotte Arnould became the first woman to file a criminal complaint against Depardieu, accusing him of rape and sexual assault.

In August 2023, French prosecutors requested a trial on those charges - claims Depardieu has vehemently denied.

'Never, but never, have I abused a woman,' the actor wrote in an open letter to conservative newspaper Le Figaro.

He also told the court: 'I'm vulgar, rude, foul-mouthed, I'll accept that, I don't touch'.

'I adore women and femininity,' he added while describing the #MeToo movement as a 'reign of terror'.

Depardieu, once France's most celebrated actor, has become equally infamous for his controversial behaviour off-screen.

In 2011, he made headlines for urinating in the aisle of a plane.

He has been involved in drunken brawls, arrested for drink-driving, and has sparked outrage with his close ties to Vladimir Putin.

A 2023 French TV documentary, 'The Fall of the Ogre', revealed footage of Depardieu on a 2018 trip to North Korea making explicit sexual comments in front of a female interpreter and appearing to sexualise a young girl riding a horse.
A former leading plastic surgeon who used sugar daddy websites to contact and pay girls as young as 13 for sex has had 'a spectacular fall from grace'.

Defence barrister Philip Strickland told Newcastle District Court how Richard Sackelariou, 70, had lost everything after his life changed dramatically in 2017 when he had major surgery and was required to wear a colostomy bag for five years.

Mr Strickland said Sackelariou, who had practices in Sydney and Melbourne and was married with two children, started using pornography before visiting sugar daddy websites after his wife no longer wanted to have sex following the surgery.

Sackelariou's initial preference on the sugar daddy sites was for women aged 18-24 but even when he knew his victims were under 18, he continued to have sex with them.

He paid six girls aged between 13 to 15 he had mostly met through the sites to join him in hotel rooms in Sydney, Newcastle and Queensland, between September 2021 and October 2022.

He pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including five counts of causing a child aged between 14 and 18 to do an act of prostitution, one count of using a carriage service to procure someone under the age of 16 for sexual activity and one count of causing a child aged 14 or over to make child abuse material.

Sackelariou agreed to plead guilty to the ten charges after the Crown dropped 30 other charges, including eight counts of having sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14.

Mr Strickland told a sentence hearing on Tuesday that Sackelariou had been well-respected in the community before his arrest.

Richard Sackeleriou, 70, (pictured) pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including five counts of causing a child aged between 14 and 18 to do an act of prostitution

Sackeleriou whose wife has since divorced him, told the court he was 'appalled' by the 'harm and damage' he caused

'Family, friends, career, reputation, gone. It's a spectacular fall from grace for this man.'

Sackelariou told the court he was ashamed.

'I'm appalled at that person... that I created such harm and damage,' he said.

'I interposed myself during their sexual development, corrupted their normal sexual development.'

Sackelariou said statements read out in a closed court from two of his victims had been horrific for him to hear.

He said his wife, who is suffering from liver cancer, had been very upset and angry with him after his arrest and had since divorced him. His two sons refused to talk to him.

Questioned by prosecutor Kristy Mulley, Sackelariou admitted he never thought about how his crimes would affect his victims and their families.

Ms Mulley said: 'Even when you find out these girls are under 18, you continued to pursue them.'

Richard Sackelariou told the court that he was ashamed of his actions

Sackelariou replied: 'With these individuals, that is what happened. I pursued them after I learnt they weren't the age they stated they were.'

Sackelariou would offer to pay the girls for naked photos before arranging to meet at various hotel rooms. He would always hand over the cash in a white envelope.

He offered one 15-year-old girl from Sydney $1000 for sex but when she refused, he increased the offer to $3500 for 30 minutes and they met at the Chatswood Quest apartments.

Sackelariou will be sentenced on Friday.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged five to 25)
The last surviving former resident of the 'ghost village' of Tyneham in Dorset has died aged 100.

Peter Wellman made a final visit last year to see the abandoned coastal village where he was born and brought up.

The 'village that died for England' was evacuated just before Christmas in 1943 so soldiers could practice house-to-house combat manoeuvres ahead of D-Day.

Around 250 people from Tyneham and the valley farms were forced out. Although they were promised they could return after the war, they were never allowed back.

The land is still owned by the Ministry of Defence, which allows the public to visit the village for 160 days of the year.

The school that Mr Wellman went to and the church at which attendance was mandatory have been restored, but the rest is decaying with time.

Mr Wellman, who was born in Tyneham in 1924, passed away from pneumonia on April 29 in Swanage, not far from his boyhood home.

His daughter Lynne said: 'Dad always loved Tyneham and he visited regularly until he had a fall a few years ago. He was delighted when we took him back last year.

Peter Wellman, the last surviving resident of the 'ghost village' that was evacuated ahead of D-Day, has died aged 100. Above: Mr Wellman on a final visit to Tynehma in Dorset last year

The 'village that died for England' was evacuated just before Christmas in 1943 so soldiers could practice house-to-house combat manoeuvres ahead of D-Day

'He loved talking to people there and telling them about the village and what life was like.

'He moved out of Tyneham before the war due to work, but not far away. Then in 1943 everyone was forced out.

'He had been living happily in Swanage and died peacefully in his sleep after suffering from pneumonia.'

On his last visit to Tyneham, Mr Wellman recalled his childhood: 'We had no electricity, no mains gas and no running water - we had to pump that from near the church. There's a tap there now.

'I remember going to the beach and fishing and we often had mackerel. We were happy until we got moved out.'

Mr Wellman, whose family connections to Tyneham go back many generations and whose grandfather was the shepherd, attended the charming single-room school.

The school closed in 1932 due to dwindling pupil numbers. It is now a museum where visitors can learn about the area's history.

The school's closure meant Mr Wellman spent several years attending another school by bus before he had to leave Tynenham for good.

Peter Wellman (front row second from left) seen with his school class in 1927

Tyneham before it was cleared of its residents ahead of D-Day

Around 250 people from Tyneham and the valley farms were forced out. Although they were promised they could return after the war, they were never allowed back

The telephone box in Tyneham is now adorned with an information board

The school that Mr Wellman went to and the church at which attendance was mandatory have been restored, but the rest is decaying with time. Above: Mr Wellman during his visit last February

In a compromise move, villagers were allowed to return to be buried in the churchyard if they had lived there before the evacuation

At 14, he started work on a nearby farm where he stayed for 36 years and then he had a job in the clay industry until retirement.

Many of the villagers enjoyed long lives, a fact which Mr Wellman put down to the lifestyle.

He said: 'Fresh air is the main thing and hard work with a good heart and a contented mind. That's how you live.'

In 1943, the villagers were told with just a month's notice that they had to leave and would be relocated elsewhere.

Sunday school teacher Helen Taylor pinned a hastily-scribbled note on the church door, reading: 'Please treat the church and houses with care.

'We have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free.

'We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.'

In a compromise move, villagers were allowed to return to be buried in the churchyard if they had lived there before the evacuation.

While still on MoD land, the ruins of the village and the walk to the beach at Warbarrow Bay are open to the public for 160 days of the year

The ruins of Tyneham seen in an old photograph. A sign reads 'Danger Keep out'

The last such person was Dorothy Grace Grant, who passed away in 2015.

The church itself re-opened in 1973.

Mr Wellman said he didn't regret leaving the village because there was little there for younger people, but would have liked the residents to return.

He said: 'They were told they could come back but they were never allowed.'

Mr Wellman recalled watching a dogfight in the sky above the fields he was working in during the war, and waving at the Spitfire pilot who downed an enemy plane.

The village was owned by the Bond family, who lived in the grand Tyneham House that is now mostly gone.

They were resistant to modernity, meaning life in the village in 1943 was much like it had been a century earlier.

After a campaign led by the late Dorset historian Rodney Legg to allow the residents back, the MoD in 1975 permitted people to visit what was left, and it has become an increasingly popular place for day trippers and tourists.

The former village forms a small part of the Royal Armoured Corps' gunnery range

The permission came two years after former villagers calling themselves the 1943 Committee cut through barbed wire and re-opened the old post office for ten minutes until they were stopped by wardens.

Mr Wellman was also the last person to speak with an authentic Tyneham valley voice, which has a rich, velvety Dorset burr.

The a widower had two children, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Elise Neville from James Smith Funeral Directors, part of the Douch Family Funeral Group, who is arranging the funeral, said: 'Peter is the last living link to the village of Tyneham and with him departs a piece of history.

'So many of the small communities in and around the Isle of Purbeck have families who go back many generations, and Peter is one of them. It is a great privilege to arrange Peter's funeral.'

His funeral will take place in Corfe Castle on May 22.
Charles Hanson has made an emotional return to BBC daytime favourite Bargain Hunt just weeks after being cleared of abusing his wife.

The antiques expert, 46, appeared on Monday's episode of the long-running show  marking his first television appearance since 2023.

Hanson, who has also starred in Antiques Roadshow, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, had been off air while facing serious allegations of assault and coercive control against his wife Rebecca. He had denied all the charges.

In February, a jury at Derby Crown Court found him not guilty on all counts after a three-week trial which laid bare the collapse of his marriage to the 42-year-old radiographer. The couple are now divorcing.

During the trial, Hanson was accused of a decade of abuse, including putting his pregnant wife in a headlock, pushing and scratching her, and controlling her behaviour. He told jurors she was a 'fantasist' and claimed he had been a 'slave' to her demands.

Following his acquittal, the TV star sobbed in the dock before punching the air in relief and embracing his parents, Phillip and Gillian, who sat in court throughout the proceedings.

Speaking outside court in February, Hanson said: 'I'm delighted after a year and half that the truth has finally come out and can finally live my life and feel this burden has finally been lifted.

Charles Hanson has made an emotional return to BBC daytime favourite Bargain Hunt just weeks after being cleared of abusing his wife

Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson pictured leaving Derby Crown Court with his parents following the not guilty verdict

'It has been a tormentous time and all I want now is to readjust to what has been such an ordeal.

'These last 18 months have been extremely upsetting. I have missed my children and quite simply I can now get back to my life and I relish that. It has been very impactful.

'I am very lucky my parents have stood by me from start to finish  without my family it would have been a very, very testing time.'

He added: 'When you believe in justice you know justice and here we are today. It has taken a long, long time and to anyone who knows me, who has believed in me, who has supported me, who has messaged me  thank you.'

On Monday's Bargain Hunt, Hanson was back doing what he's known for  valuing antiques and wielding the gavel on the rostrum at Bishton Hall in Staffordshire, alongside fellow expert Christina Trevanion.

Fans were quick to welcome him back, with many taking to social media to share their support.

One viewer wrote on X: 'Charles, it was lovely to see you again on Bargain Hunt today, you have been missed so much.'

Another said: 'Great to see you back on @BBCBargainHunt this afternoon, it was a lovely surprise. You were missed.'

'Ooooh Charles is back now he's been acquitted,' a third posted, while another added: 'Good to see @HansonsAuctions back on the BBC #bargainhunt.'

Following the broadcast, Hanson took to social media himself to thank supporters.

'Evening all, I just want to say, thank you,' he said.

'I've had so many messages on social media having been seen performing today on television, it means an awful lot.

'So much kindness in messaging me, thanks so much.'

The auctioneer and his wife Rebecca Hanson are pictured outside their Derbyshire home

TV auctioneer Charles Hanson, 46, alongside a rare imperial Chinese 'teapot'

Hanson, a former pupil at Ecclesbourne School, in Derbyshire, was just 24 when he first appeared on Antiques Roadshow and Bargain Hunt, selected as programme makers tried to make the show more appealing to a younger generation.

At the time, he was working as fine arts manager at Wintertons Fine Art, which has auction houses in Lichfield and Bakewell, after completing a degree in Fine Art and Evaluation at Southampton University.

From there, he trained for a year and a half at Christies in London, before returning to live in Derbyshire when he joined Wintertons.

He went on to set up his own auction house, Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, in 2005 and now has 10 across the UK. Until his arrest in June 2023, he was a regular on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip and Flog It! where he was known for his flamboyant auctioneering style.

He also regularly appeared in both local and national newspapers after unearthing gems such as a pair of bloomers said to have belonged to Queen Victoria, which sold for 4,500, and a 12,000-year-old mammoth bone, handed to him during one of his regular valuation days at his auction house.

Hanson, who is rumoured to have undergone a hair transplant in recent years, was also in demand as an auctioneer at charity evenings in Derbyshire and around the country, so much so that the judge at the start of his trial had to put on record that he had attended a dinner hosted by Hanson, though did not know him personally.
SNP and Labour leaders are lining up against the Scottish version of an assisted dying law today.

First Minister John Swinney, his deputy Kate Forbes, and Nicola Sturgeon have all pledged to oppose legislation in a crunch vote at Holyrood this evening.

Labour's Anas Sarwar has also made clear he will join efforts to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in principle.

The clash comes as the final Commons showdown on similar plans covering England and Wales looks set to be delayed for another month.

MPs are due to start so-called 'report stage' for the Westminster legislation this Friday, but many now expect another two days of scrutiny will be set aside in June.

A majority of MSPs have to back the legislation tonight if it is to make progress through the Scottish Parliament. It will be a free vote, with no whipping by parties.

Both opponents and supporters of assisted dying staged demonstrations outside Holyrood before the division.

Critics fear the proposals could leave disabled people and vulnerable Scots feeling under pressure to prematurely end their lives.

Liam McArthur, the Lib Dem MSP proposing the Bill, insists the legislation would have 'strict eligibility criteria' with proposals also 'robustly safeguarded'.

Both opponents and supporters of assisted dying staged demonstrations outside Holyrood before the division.

First Minister John Swinney has pledged to oppose assisted dying legislation in a crunch vote at Holyrood this evening. MSPs will not be whipped by parties

Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar is set to vote to reject the Bill when it comes to Holyrood

Nicola Sturgeon has said she will be voting against the Bill in principle this evening

He said ahead of the debate: 'This an issue on which an overwhelming majority of people of Scotland believe a change in the law is required.

'Public polling is consistent across age range, political affiliation, disability status, geographic area and religious belief  Scots want to see dying people in this country given more choice at the end of life.'

If the Bill passes this evening, the plans would return to Holyrood for further scrutiny and amendment, before MSPs have a final vote on whether it should become law.

Yesterday Ms Sturgeon became the latest high-profile MSP to announce she would not back the legislation over fears around the threat of coercion and the definition of a terminal illness being too broad.

In a post on Instagram, the former First Minister said: 'This is the most difficult decision I have had to arrive at in my years as an MSP and I know that all of my colleagues feel the weight of the votes we will cast tomorrow,' she said.

She added: 'I have come to the conclusion that while some of the misgivings I have about the Bill in its current form could be addressed by amendments, some of my concerns are so fundamental that this would not be possible.'

uccessors Humza Yousaf and John Swinney, along with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, in voting against the legislation.

The Bill covering England and Wales is due back in the Commons this Friday as MPs begin the report stage. It has already been postponed from April 28.

However, with 39 pages of amendments tabled there are growing doubts about whether the process can be completed in five hours.

There are signs that backers want to earmark June 13 and June 20 for further debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, before a final third reading vote. At that point the law - put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater - would be sent to the House of Lords for approval.

However, the process for Private Member's Bills means the situation becomes increasingly uncertain.

They can only be considered for five hours on designated sitting Fridays. And when a Bill's report stage is adjourned to another day, in theory it loses priority to other pieces of backbench legislation that are waiting to start report stage.

There are thought to be more than half-a-dozen PMBs that have passed second reading.

The Government is officially neutral on the legislation, and as a conscience issue it is subject to a free vote in the House.

SNP deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is also opposing the legislation

But there are claims that Downing Street's approach has cooled in recent weeks, amid intense rowing over details - including the make-up of panels that would oversee cases.

Ministers have refused to allocate government time to the legislation, which could have eased its progress. Critics have insisted there should be at least four days of report stage.

Keir Starmer backed the Bill when MPs voted on it for the first time in November. It is opposed by the Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

The PM is not expected to take part in the report stage on Friday - including votes on amendments chosen by the Speaker - because he is due to be abroad.
A Mexican mayoral candidate was tragically shot dead alongside three of her supporters including her daughter during a live broadcast of her campaign rally.

Yesenia Lara Gutierrez, representing Mexico's ruling Morena party, was gunned down in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz on Sunday night as she greeted residents in the streets of Texistepec.

The horrifying incident was captured on a Facebook livestream, showing people running and screaming as gunshots rang out off camera. Mexican newspaper Reforma reported that the candidate was greeting 'women with children in their arms' when the gunfire began.

Footage posted online depicted the chaos, with at least 20 shots head in the clip that was still available on Gutierrez's Facebook page the following day. Other images shared online appeared to show bodies in the street.

Veracruz Governor Rocio Nahle, also of the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said Monday that Gutierrez's daughter was among those killed by gunmen.

'No office or position is worth a persons life,' Nahle said in a press conference Monday, where she promised justice.

Gutierrez had posted several images on Facebook, showing her campaigning throughout the region. 'The strength of our youth is the vitality that motivates me to keep walking day by day,' she wrote just hours before the shooting.

This marks the second killing of a mayoral candidate in Veracruz during the current election cycle, following the April 29 murder of German Anuar Valencia, also from Morena.

Yesenia Lara Gutierrez, representing Mexico 's ruling Morena party, was gunned down in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz on Sunday night

A Facebook livestream captured her greeting supporters in the streets of Texistepec before the tragic incident

Veracruz Governor Rocio Nahle, also of the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said Monday that Gutierrez's daughter was among those killed by gunmen

Nahle condemned the violence, labeling it an act of terrorism, and vowed to ensure security and democracy during the upcoming June 1 elections.

She emphasised that 57 candidates had requested state and federal protection, although it is unclear if Gutierrez had done so.

At a wake Monday in Texistepec, family and friends mourned Gutierrez and spoke about the fear the violence stirred around the election.

'We can't continue with the insecurity, we're tired of all of this, this is terrorism,' said supporter Joaquin Fonseca.

'There are five people dead, not one. We're living the worst of the terrorism.'

President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the attack on Gutierrez during her morning press conference on Monday, stating that her government is coordinating with Veracruz state officials and offering federal support if necessary.

'We're coordinating, particularly with the Secretary of Security, and with all the support needed during this electoral period from Veracruz and Durango,' she said, referring to the upcoming June 1 elections in the two states.

The state's attorney general's office has launched an investigation into the incident, promising that justice will be served.

Later on Sunday, two federal agents and another person were reportedly killed in an attack in the coastal city of Boca del Rio, further highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the region.

The violent attack underscores the dangerous climate surrounding political campaigns in Mexico, where criminal groups often target local candidates to exert influence over municipal governments.

Mexican newspaper Reforma reported that the candidate was greeting 'women with children in their arms' when the gunfire began

Gutierrez had posted several images on Facebook, showing her campaigning throughout the region

At a wake Monday in Texistepec, family and friends mourned Gutierrez and spoke about the fear the violence stirred around the election

Authorities are working to secure the election process amid increasing violence.

The Sunday attacks came just two days after Cecilia Ruvalcaba, a councilmember in Mexico's western state of Jalisco, was gunned down in a hospital.

Last month, Jose Luis Pereira, a senior member of the Teocaltiche city government, was shot and killed while dining at a restaurant in Jalisco.

In December, a Mexican congressman who was a member of the ruling coalition was shot dead in Veracruz.

Two months prior, a mayor was murdered and decapitated in the southern state of Guerrero.

The following month, a former prosecutor and local police official was arrested in connection with the grisly killing.

In June last year, another mayor was killed in southern Mexico, less than a week after another politician was assassinated in the same region.

That same month, a local councilwoman was gunned down as she was leaving her home in Guerrero.

Her murder came a few days after the mayor of a town in western Mexico and her bodyguard were killed outside of a gym, just hours after Sheinbaum's presidential win.

And in March 2024, a mayor was shot dead while at a restaurant with his 14-year-old son in Morelia, the capital of western Michoacan state. His son survived.
Britain's first self-declared 'X-oholic' has been jailed after he stalked a female police chief constable - claiming his online harassment was driven by the rush of trying to get likes on social media.

Internet creep Jason Nicholls bombarded Sussex Police's Jo Shiner with hundreds of abusive social media posts over the course of two years.

The 55-year-old started a 'Twitter soap' called 'Shiner Street' which detailed the 'ups and downs' of her force and also created a wanted poster with her face on for 'crimes against policing'.

On the platform, now called X, Nicholls shared hundreds of posts, memes, mock-up images, and satirical videos criticising the chief constable's work.

Admitting his stalking, Nicholls said his social media 'addiction' has 'dominated' his life for over a decade as he tried to chase the 'instant dopamine rush' which came with posting online.

He claimed to be the UK's 'first registered X-oholic' and says he now hopes to help others like him whose online lives have become 'unmanageable'.

Now Nicholls has been jailed for 15 weeks and has been slapped with a restraining order against CC Shiner.

The order bans Nicholls from contacting CC Shiner, tagging her in posts online - and also bans him from contacting Sussex Police unless there is a genuine emergency or to report a crime.

Jason Nicholls, pictured after pleading guilty to stalking Sussex Chief Constable Jo Shiner in December at Southampton Magistrates' Court

Nicholls created a wanted poster with Chief Constable Shiner's face on for 'crimes against policing'.

While he was awaiting sentence at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, idiot Nicholls breached his bail conditions by sending emails to police.

At the sentencing hearing on April 25, magistrates told Nicholls he showed a 'flagrant disregard' for CC Shiner and that a 'significant degree' of planning went into his mock-up images on social media.

It was heard that Nicholls, from East Cowes, Isle of Wight, stalked CC Shiner from October 2022 to August of this year.

He sent the constable a 'great deal' of online communications to her personal X account and email address, among others.

Nicholls alleged there was 'corruption' within the force and suggested police were 'not investigating a matter reported by the defendant'.

Nicholls said his social media 'addiction' has 'dominated' his life for over a decade as he tried to chase the 'instant dopamine rush' which came with posting online.

Nicholls he showed a 'flagrant disregard' for CC Shiner and that a 'significant degree' of planning went into his mock-up images on social media.

He used his social media account to 'vent his anger' towards the constable and gave specific examples of the posts he made.

Among other posts, he edited CC Shiner onto cartoon pictures of sheep, put her face on a wanted poster for 'crimes against policing' and alleged online that her force was 'covering up crime'.

He also contacted media outlets including BBC Radio Sussex, falsely telling them the chief constable had been 'arrested'.

Nichols also created a poster which joked that she was 'separated at birth' with Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses.

Prosecutors said there was a 'large number of posts' which were 'distressing' to CC Shiner and she was 'professionally embarrassed'.

He admitted one count of stalking without fear and distress and two counts of breaching bail conditions.

When he appeared at court and admitted stalking last December, Nicholls took the unusual step of producing a statement about his so-called social media addiction.

It said: 'I am an X-oholicblind to risk or consequence, I have lost control of my online life, impulsively chasing the instant dopamine rush of likes, shares, and replies through an overwhelming flood of posts, memes, and satirical videos.

When he appeared at court to plead guilty last December, Nicholls took the unusual step of producing a statement about his so-called social media addiction in which he declared 'I am an X-oholic'

'Today, I've hit rock bottom, but I'm ready to take his first steps toward recovery.'

He added: 'For me - who has ADHD, which makes me especially susceptible to addictive behaviour - Elon Musk's free-speech platform X became like a high-street fixed-odds gambling machine, offering a quick, seductive, and psychologically numbing high.'

Nicholls apologised to CC Shiner and Sussex Police force and asked for 'forgiveness and understanding' relating to the 'addiction that has dominated my life over the past decade'.

'I deeply appreciate the difficult and vital role the police play and regrets that my actions crossed the line,' he continued.

'Above all, I am here to ask the court for support in breaking free from this overwhelming compulsion.

'I may be the UK's first registered X-oholic, but I won't be the last.'

The father said X has 'transformed how people in the UK air their problems, challenge people in power, and catch up on the news'.

'Now Donald Trump is back in the White House, I fear my addiction will only worsen,' he continued.

Over a period of almost two years, Nicholls shared 'hundreds' of posts, memes, and satirical videos on X criticising the work of Sussex's Jo Shiner

'Today, this court has an opportunity to show national leadership in acknowledging that something has to be done to help X-oholics like me live a normal life.'

At Portsmouth Magistrates' Court, Nicholls was jailed for 15 weeks, given a restraining order, and ordered to pay 239 in costs.

Magistrates said 'the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for people and their property.'

They said his offending featured a 'persistent and prolonged course of actions' and a 'significant degree of planning creating mock up pictures and Twitter accounts'.
Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick echoed Keir Starmer's hardline critique of immigration today as he claimed the UK is 'already an island of strangers'.

The shadow justice minister also hit out at so-called 'white flight' in a series of interviews after Labour unveiled new plans to control immigration.

Speaking to Times Radio he complained that 'there are places like Dagenham (in east London) where the white British population has fallen by almost 60 per cent in the last 25 years'.

He also singled out Bradford and Luton, which have large Muslim communities, as exampled of places where 'unprecedented levels of mass migration have made us more divided'.

Labour backbenchers were among those who attacked Sir Keir for the language he used to announce the plans on Monday, including his claim the UK risks becoming an 'island of strangers' if ministers do not act on migration.

But Mr Jenrick suggested he agreed with the PM's characterisation, which has drawn comparisons with Enoch Powell's infamous 'rivers of blood' speech.

In his 1968 speech, Tory MP Mr Powell said people could find themselves 'strangers in their own country' as a result of migration, resulting in his sacking from Edward Heath's shadow cabinet.

Other Tory MPs told MailOnline there was 'concern' within the party about Mr Jenrick's remarks.

One said: 'While there is a recognition that we need to respond robustly to public concern over immigration and the threat from Reform, many feel the tone and language used risks crossing a line.

'We can be firm without being inflammatory, and there is a real danger this kind of rhetoric alienates the very voters we need to win back.'

Asked what he made of the Prime Minister's language, Mr Jenrick told Times Radio: 'I think it's true. In fact, I think in some places we already are. Aggressive levels of mass migration have made us more divided.'

Labour backbenchers were among those who attacked Sir Keir for the language he used to announce the plans on Monday, including his claim the UK risks becoming an 'island of strangers' if ministers do not act on migration.

In his 1968 speech, Tory MP Mr Powell said people could find themselves 'strangers in their own country' as a result of migration, resulting in his sacking from Edward Heath's shadow cabinet.

Asked what he made of the Prime Minister's language, Mr Jenrick told Times Radio: 'I think it's true. In fact, I think in some places we already are. Aggressive levels of mass migration have made us more divided.'

He said measures outlined in yesterday's white paper were 'like going an inch when you need to run a mile', adding: 'If you look at communities in our country, for example, central Bradford, 50 per cent of people are born outside of the United Kingdom.

'In central Luton, 46 per cent of residents arrived in the past decade. There are places like Dagenham where the white British population has fallen by almost 60 per cent in the last 25 years.

'People in many parts of our country are experiencing profound change as a result of the levels of migration that we've seen.'

Figures from the 2021 Census show 80 per cent of people in Bradford where born in England, and 60 per cent of those living in Luton.

Repeating his Dagenham remarks on Sky News, he was asked why skin colour matter.

"It's not about the color of someone's skin. It's about whether or not someone has just arrived in our country, he said, with host Wilfred Frost pointing out that was a different issue.

Mr Jenrick, a former immigration minister, oversaw a significant rise in net migration  the difference between the number of people moving into the country minus those leaving  during his time in office.

He held the role between October 2022 and December 2023, which was the same year net migration hit a record high peak of 906,000.

Yvette Cooper elsewhere defended the Prime Minister's language, and said it was not right to 'make those comparisons' with Mr Powell's rivers of blood speech, insisting Sir Keir's announcement was 'completely different' in substance.

Sir Keir is facing a Labour backlash over his crackdown on immigration - despite advisers admitting net inflows could still be 250,000 a year.

The PM suggested uncontrolled immigration risked the UK becoming an 'island of strangers' as he unveiled proposals for curbing numbers yesterday.

The White Paper would toughen skills thresholds for visas, close the care work route, demand more fluent English, and make people wait a decade for full citizenship.

However, the premier flatly refused to set any hard cap or targets, instead merely stating there will be a 'significant' fall by the next election.

The chair of the Migration Advisory Committee has estimated that net long-term immigration will reduce from over 700,000 annually to 'under 300,000 and probably closer to 250,000'.

It was already projected to drop to around 340,000 in the coming years. Details released by the Home Office indicated it expects the package to achieve a 98,000 reduction in arrivals.

Sir Keir is also struggling to contain anger on his own benches about the new approach - a dramatic shift from his previous stance as he tries to counter the poll threat from Reform.
President Donald Trump received a lavish royal welcome in Saudi Arabia on the first major overseas trip of his second term.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud gave Trump the kind of reception the president adores - an elaborate ceremony featuring military might, escorts on horseback for the Beast, and a royal purple carpet. The national anthems of both nations played.

Trump, in a purple tie for the occasion, chatted amiably with MBS, as the Saudi Crown Prince is known. Formal introductions were made of the delegations and an elaborate coffee and tea ceremony took place.

After the outdoor, royal welcome, the two men adjourned to the palace for their first formal talks of the day. Heavy hitters from Trump's world were there to witness it all, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Elon Musk.

The mood was jovial with smiles, handshakes and well wishes exchanged.

Both sides have their agenda for this trip. Trump is courting the Saudis for $1 trillion in business investments. Riyadh will offer to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.

President Donald Trump chatted amiably with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

President Donald Trump gestures to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he greets Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi ambassador to the United States

MBS put on the show for the president from the moment Trump crossed into Saudi airspace.

Air Force One was escorted to its landing by Saudi F-15 fighter jets, an honor guard awaited, and the crown prince welcomed Trump himself, leading him to cool refreshment and small talk in elaborate navy-and-gold armchairs.

Saudi Arabia is the first of three stops Trump will make on his four-day tour.

He'll also visit the lavish wealthy fiefdoms of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In all three countries Trump will aim, at a minimum, to announce economic deals - with hopes that progress can be made on some complicated geopolitical issues as well.

But, first, Trump will spend Tuesday in various engagements with MBS.

A Saudi official close to the defense ministry said Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defense systems worth billions of dollars.

'We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump's term,' the official told AFP.

The long-term goal for the United States is to have Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords - one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of Trump's first administration.

The Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, and Israel and Bahrain.

Hamas' terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 - and the ongoing war in Gaza - threw a wrench in the Biden administration's, and now the Trump administration's, push to have Saudi join the accords.

MBS has pushed that the Saudis would need there to be a pathway to Gaza becoming a Palestinian state for them to join the pact now.

But first, the war in Gaza would need to end.

Some progress was made on Monday when American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas in a deal etched out between the Palestinian terror group and the U.S.

The Beast was escorted by men on horse back

President Donald Trump reviews the honour guard at the Royal Court in Riyadh

President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official state arrival ceremony

President Donald Trump, left, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, center, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles speak at the Royal Palace in Riyadh

On Tuesday, Trump will showcase the best in American business.

Tesla founder Elon Musk and several of the biggest names in American businesses attended a Saudi-U.S. investment forum in Riyadh, joining Trump and the Saudi crown prince for a lavish luncheon.

A crowd of the who's who on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley are there, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altma, Musk's brother Kimbal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman, Amazon's Andy Jassy, Google's Ruth Porat, and Boeing's Kelly Ortberg.

The showcase of America's business titans comes as Trump is pushing Saudi Arabia to invest big in America.

The CEOs Blackrock, Citigroup, IBM, Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines are also on the guest list.

Washington and Riyadh are heavily invested in one another, primarily driven by oil trade and security cooperation. Many American and Saudi companies have joint ventures.

America needs Saudi oil. And the Saudis buy much of their military might from American defense contractors.

Saudi already has a big investment in the United States, including more than $100 billion of Treasury bonds and $2 billion in an investment fund managed by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.

Sovereign or royal funds from Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar have committed more than $3.5 billion to Kushner's fund.

Kushner did not join Trump on the trip.

President Donald Trump introduces Elon Musk to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud welcomed Donald Trump as the president stepped off of Air Force One

President Donald Trump salutes during welcome ceremony

President Donald Trump wants $1 trillion in investments from Saudi Arabia

Trump's family is also heavily invested in the Middle East. The Trump-owned company is managed by his children, Eric and Don Jr.

Over the past year, Trump-branded residential towers have launched in Dubai and Jeddah. And a developer in April unveiled a Trump luxury golf resort at a state-owned project in Qatar.

Trump will visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later in the week.

Controversy is also swirling over the president's plans to accept a luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family.

Trump plans to use it as Air Force One. Boeing is late on its delivery of two 747s meant to serve as the presidential aircraft.

He dismissed criticism of accepting the $400 million luxury jet as a gift.

On Monday, he said it was 'a very nice gesture' from the Qataris and added that only a 'stupid person' would turn down a 'free very expensive airplane.'
A drug-affected car thief who ran over and killed a young 'hero' policeman after the officer tasered him has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Reagan Ainslie Chown pleaded not guilty in the West Australian Supreme Court to manslaughter over the late-night June 8, 2023 incident that led to Constable Anthony Woods' death.

The 25-year-old said he was not responsible for the tragedy because the officer shot him with a Taser and it caused him to lose control of a stolen car.

A jury on Tuesday took less than three hours to find Chown guilty of manslaughter.

Const Woods' loved ones and colleagues, including WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch, wept with relief and hugged after the guilty verdict was delivered.

The court heard Chown and two others had fled from police in a stolen Holden Cruz before stopping in a cul-de-sac.

Const Woods, 28, opened the Holden driver's door and attempted to detain Chown, who was behind the steering wheel.

The officer fired his Taser into the moving car before 'falling and being dragged under the accused's vehicle to his ultimate death'.

Const Woods, 28, (pictured) died after becoming trapped under a stolen car driven by Reagan Ainslie Chown in June, 2023

Constable Woods' mum Natalie Woods (left) said her family was satisfied with the verdict outside the Perth District Court on Tuesday

CCTV footage played for the jury showed the Holden reversing at speed, mounting a kerb and stopping after it hit a bollard.

During the video, Constable Woods can be heard twice saying 'stay where you are' and 'Taser' as the vehicle moved backwards.

A loud crack can also be heard.

Prosecutor Justin Whalley explained during his opening submissions it was the sound of Constable Woods' Taser firing, before he disappears below the moving car.

'Constable Woods became trapped under the accused's car,' Mr Whalley said.

'He was taken to hospital but his injuries were not survivable.'

The court heard his death several days later was due to complications of cardiac arrest caused by mechanical compression of the chest and abdomen.

Mr Whalley said Chown was attempting to flee before Const Woods tasered him.

Constable Woods (left) is pictured alongside his wife Emily. The young cop had just passed his probation when his life was tragically cut short

He said Chown was under the influence of methamphetamine and in possession of the drug when the incident happened.

Const Woods, who had just passed his probation, was farewelled before about 2000 police officers, family, friends and dignitaries at Perth's Optus Stadium.

Outside court, Const Woods' mother, Natalie Woods, said her family was overwhelmed and satisfied with the verdict.

'Now we can let him rest and start just living his memory the best way we can,' she said.

Mr Blanch said Const Woods was a hero.

'He will always be in our memories,' he said.

'The blue family is hurting... and we've been hurting since this happened, but today is a small piece of justice that will live in our hearts.'

Asked about Chown's defence stating Const Woods had placed himself in a dangerous position, Mr Blanch said the comments were 'offensive and disgusting'.

Police officers attended a funeral service for Constable Woods at Optus Stadium in Perth in 2023

'I reject any notion that Anthony should not have done what he did... he did his job (and) he never got to go home from his shift that night,' he said.

Chown was originally charged with murder but it was downgraded to manslaughter the week before his trial.

He will be sentenced on July 3.

Chown previously pleaded guilty to stealing the car and reckless driving to escape police.
This is the bizarre moment an brazen bull steals a motorbike in broad daylight before taking it for a spin.

Hilarious footage shows the opportunistic animal sauntering down a road in Rishikesh, India, and stumbling upon the parked scooter.

The bull then goes over to inspect the vehicle, giving it a sniff as a passing mother, startled by the stray animal, grabs her child and gives it a wide berth.

In an apparent attempt to mount the scooter, the randy beast put its front hooves on it but its weight knocked away the kickstand.

The bike is then suddenly propelled forward. It starts to roll down the hill with the animal desperately trying to keep it under control with its hind legs.

It gives the impression the bovine is skillfully manoeuvring the scooter.

But unable to see where it was going, the bull heads straight into a fence where the bike falls to the ground.

The confused animal looks around the street before continuing on its way.

This is the bizarre moment an brazen bull steals a motorbike in broad daylight before taking it for a spin

Hilarious footage shows the opportunistic animal sauntering down a road in Rishikesh, India , and stumbling upon the parked scooter

In an apparent attempt to mount the scooter, the randy beast put its front hooves on it but its weight knocked away the kickstand

The bizarre joyride was filmed in the city of Rishikesh, located in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River, in northern India on May 2.

One local said: 'Bro, he isn't stealing it, the bull has another plan in mind.'

Dhiren remarked: 'The owner's insurance company would have never believed him if not for this video.'

Ravi added: 'Sometimes you need to try something new in life, even if it's just a scooter ride.'

The clip was posted on X (formerly Twitter) with a humorous Hindi caption that translates to, 'You've probably seen people stealing scooters many times, but the case of scooter theft in Rishikesh is a bit different.

'Here, even the stray bulls roaming the streets have a fondness for bikes and scooters.'

The video since gone viral, racking up 560,000 views and sparking a wave of amused reactions.

One person joked: 'If I didn't see it, I wouldn't Bullieve it.'

'It was a Cow-asaki!', added another.

The video since gone viral, racking up 560,000 views

Local residents have urged the government to restrict the movement of cattle that roam freely in the region

India has hundreds of thousands of bulls roaming its streets

A third said: 'How to explain this to insurance, without CCTV.'

Local residents have urged the government to restrict the movement of cattle that roam freely in the region.

India has hundreds of thousands of bulls roaming its streets.

It is partly due to devout locals who follow Hindu customs, with cows regarded as sacred animals that cannot be eaten or slaughtered once they have stopped producing milk.

The majority of states ban the sale or slaughter of cows.

Instead of dealing with the economic burden of keeping their spent cattle, many farmers let the beasts roam the streets - leading to chaos when the animals become agitated.
A daycare centre's upcoming LGBTQI celebration with a rainbow colour dress code and fairy bread making has come under fire.

Margaret Ives Community Children's Centre announced plans to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) this Friday in a letter to parents earlier this week.

The Adelaide centre invites toddlers and preschoolers to wear 'as much colour as possible  rainbows encouraged'.

It explained that children will be read excerpts from different books on the subject before ending the day making fairy bread - an Aussie party favourite which consists of buttered slices of bread covered in coloured sprinkles.

It's the third consecutive year the event has been commemorated at the centre in honour of its diverse broader community.

'We are incredibly passionate about fostering a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, seen, and celebrated for who they truly are,' the letter stated.

'At Margaret Ives, we work intentionally to challenge gender stereotypes and ensure authentic representation of the many ways people live, love, and form families.

'We guide children to understand and value that families can take many forms  whether nuclear, single parents same-sex parents, foster or surrogate parents, blended families and beyond.'

Margaret Ives Community Children's Centre invited parents to dress their children in rainbow colours to celebrate IDAHOBIT this Friday (stock image)

It's the third year Margaret Ives Community Children's Centre (pictured) has hosted the event

The event has sparked an outcry from parents.

One told The Advertiser a number of parents felt the subject was inappropriate for preschool-aged kids but were afraid to raise their concerns for fear of backlash.

They added some parents felt their rights to control their children's sexual and gender education had been undermined.

'Parents are not happy as the option of when and how to introduce the topic of sex, sexuality and gender issues is being taken away from (them),' they told the publication.

'These are serious and private topics that the parents feel need to be discussed when the family and child is ready - not dictated by a childcare centre.'

They added parents were reluctant to raise their concerns with management out of fear they may be considered homophobic.

In a blog post published to its website in advance of last year's celebration, 'Bottlebrush' team leader Sarah Bowden wrote: 'Early childhood is a critical time for children to learn about diversity and inclusion.'

'Celebrating IDAHOBIT teaches young children about the importance of respecting and accepting everyone regardless of gender, binary or family dynamic.'

Students at the daycare will celebrate IDAHOBIT with readings on the topic of gender identity as part of the centre's broader efforts to 'challenge gender stereotypes' (stock image)

The Bottlebrush room hosts children aged between 18 months and four years.

'We respect the identity of each child that is shared with us by their parents/caregivers unless the child explicitly informs us otherwise.'

Ms Bowden said Margaret Ives' commitment to respecting gender identity has nothing to do with sexual orientation and urged parents to 'familiarise themselves' with the definition of gender identity as distinct from biological sex.

'Gender identity may or may not align with the sex assigned to [a person] at birth. It's important to recognise that gender identity is deeply personal and may vary from person to person,' she wrote.

Last year's celebration had a similar rainbow theme and involved readings from 'The Family Book' and 'Pink is for Boys' by Robb Pearlman for Bottlebrush students.

This option was also made available to children below the age of two-and-a-half.

Those aged between three-and-a-half and school age were read 'Two Homes' by Claire Masurel, 'Heather has Two Mummies' by Leslea Newman and 'Be Exactly Who You Are' by Laura Gehl.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Margaret Ives for comment.
Britain and the EU have made an agreement on fishing rights in UK waters, allowing a 130billion defence and security deal to go ahead, Brussels' foreign affairs chief said last night.

Kaja Kallas said 'we are over the fish' ahead of a major summit in London next week where Sir Keir Starmer hopes to confirm UK firms will join a 150 billion euro joint defence fund.

Sir Keir Starmer will host EU chiefs at a major summit on May 19 as he pushes for progress in his effort to 'reset ' relations with Brussels after the turmoil of the years since the Brexit vote in 2016.

Ms Kallas, the former prime minister of Estonia has made little secret of her bewilderment at the Macron government using the rights of French trawlers to operate off Britain as leverage at a time when Europe faces a major threat from Russia and weakening US resolve under Trump.

But speaking to the BBC's Newsnight she said both sides were 'working intensively' towards a deal, adding: 'In this security environment, in this global security environment that we are in I think the co-operation between the UK and the European Union is extremely important for both sides.'

Pressed further on the fishing deal she rolled her eyes and crossed her fingers, saying: 'I think we are over the fish  any deal is not together unless everything is agreed, we still have a few elements there but I hope that we will get there.'

However, there may be a last-gasp new problem caused by Spain.

Madrid's foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares suggested to the same programme that progress on the security deal could depend on resolving the issue of Gibraltar's border.

Kaja Kallas said 'we are over the fish' ahead of a major summit in London next week where Sir Keir Starmer hopes to confirm UK firms will join a 150 billion euro joint defence fund.

Ms Kallas, the former prime minister of Estonia has made little secret of her bewilderment at the Macron government using the rights of French trawlers to operate off Britain as leverage at a time when Europe faces a major threat from Russia.

On Friday, Sir Keir told the Guardian that he is 'ambitious' about what could be achieved with the EU.

Talks on new rules governing the border between Spain and Gibraltar have been ongoing since Britain left the EU in 2020, but so far no agreement has been reached.

The Government, in line with its Conservative predecessors, has said that it will not sign up to a deal that gives sovereignty over Gibraltar to another country, or that the Gibraltarian government is not content with.

Gibraltar was ceded to the UK by Spain in 1713 and the population is heavily in favour of remaining a British overseas territory.

The last time it voted on a proposal to share sovereignty with Spain, in 2002, almost 99 per cent of Gibraltarians rejected the move.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight on Monday, Mr Albares suggested progress on the security deal could depend on resolving the issue of Gibraltar's border.

He said: 'I think the relationship between UK and European Union, it's a comprehensive relation, a global relation, not just a pick-and-choose relation. Because there are many, many things that we have to talk (about), Gibraltar included.

'So I would like to see a global deal on everything to make sure that the relationship is as smooth as possible.'

The Government has said Gibraltar will 'always remain part of the British family', but it had 'inherited a situation' that 'left Gibraltar's economy and way of life under threat'.

Foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares used a BBC interview to suggest that the UK's future relationship with the EU would be linked to the future of the historic enclave.

Since December 2020, a post-Brexit deal between the UK, Spain and the EU has allowed citizens of Gibraltar to remain part of the border-free Schengen area among other EU agreements. But no permanent solution has yet been found.

The meeting in London is likely to be the first in a series of annual summits between the UK and the EU.

On Friday, Sir Keir told the Guardian that he is 'ambitious' about what could be achieved with the EU.

'I want a closer relationship on security, on defence, on trade and on the economy,' he told the newspaper.

Last month Ms Kallas, whose country was occupied by Soviet Russia until 1991, mocked France for bringing up fishing rights, suggesting that the threat from Putin was on a different level entirely.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme in April she said: 'I'm definitely pushing this from my side because I think the UK is a very important defence and security partner, it's the most logical defence and security partner that we have and it is a beneficial relationship for both sides.'

And laughing, she added: 'I'm learning in this job  fish to the French they are very important.'
Operations at Belgium's second largest airport were suspended today due to a bomb alert on a Ryanair plane.

Shortly before 11am local time (9am GMT) 'a bomb threat was triggered' on board an aircraft that landed at Charleroi Airport, said a spokeswoman for its operator.

A security perimeter was set up around the aircraft, meaning the runway had to be closed and operations suspended.

Air traffic eventually resumed at 1.45pm (12.45 GMT), the spokeswoman added.

Charleroi, south of Brussels, is a major European hub for low-cost airline Ryanair, which said the threat concerned one of its planes.

A spokesperson for Ryanair told MailOnline: 'Ryanair was informed of a security threat on flight FR6313 from Faro to Brussels Charleroi today, 13th May.

'The aircraft landed normally at Charleroi as planned.

'Passengers have been disembarked and the aircraft is being prepared for return to service. We sincerely apologise to any passengers affected.'

Operations at Belgium's second largest airport have been suspended due to a bomb alert on a Ryanair plane today. Pictured: The Ryanair airplane on the ground following the alert

Shortly before 11.00am local time (9.00am GMT) 'a bomb threat was triggered' on board an aircraft that landed at Charleroi Airport, said a spokeswoman for its operator

A spokesperson for Ryanair told MailOnline: 'Ryanair was informed of a security threat on flight FR6313 from Faro to Brussels Charleroi today, 13th May. The aircraft landed normally at Charleroi as planned. 'Passengers have been disembarked and the aircraft is being prepared for return to service. We sincerely apologise to any passengers affected'

The terminal was not evacuated, as it does not fall within the 500m perimeter.

Nathalie Pierard, spokesperson for the airport, told The Brussels Times this morning: 'The plane has been moved to a separate area of the airport.

'The runway and the main road behind it are closed, and a security perimeter of 500 metres has been set up.

'The police are on the scene and the 166 passengers will be evacuated from the plane once approved by the police.

'It is currently unclear how long the disruption will last.'

Lunchtime is an off-peak moment for flights, so not too many passengers should have been affected, according to Ms Pierard.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
A besotted prison officer who was filmed entering a cupboard with an inmate is behind bars herself after admitting she had 'fallen in love' with him.

Morgan Farr Varney's illicit relationship was exposed after CCTV footage showed the pair 'loitering' together at Lindholme Prison near Doncaster in South Yorkshire.

After being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the 24-year-old admitted she had 'f****ed her life up'.

Farr Varney - who also appeared on This Morning talking about her 'online dentistry nightmare' - has been jailed for ten months.

The case comes as a record number of female prison guards have been fired for affairs with male inmates - with 29 given the sack in the past three years.

That compares to just nine women who lost their jobs for the same offence between 2017 and 2019.

In January, former Wandsworth prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was jailed for 15 months after a film of her having sex with an inmate was shared online.

After joining the Prison Service in April 2022, Farr Varney was given anti-corruption training - including how to spot attempted manipulation by inmates.

Ex-prison officer Morgan Farr Varney, 24, admitted to police she had 'fallen in love' with an inmate while working at Lindholme Prison near Doncaster

Suspicions about Morgan Farr Varney's illicit relationship with the unnamed inmate were raised after they were spotted 'loitering' on a wing at HMP Lindholme

But suspicions were raised after she was spotted with the unnamed prisoner on a wing at Lindholme, police said, and she was arrested in January 2023.

An investigation revealed a slew of love letters between the pair, including in the inmate's cell at the category C jail and in Farr Varney's bedroom.

CCTV footage also showed the pair entering a cupboard.

Interviewed by police, Farr Varney admitted she had 'proper fallen in love' with him.

Following her arrest, she resigned from her role - but the relationship continued despite her boyfriend being moved to Wealstun Prison near Wetherby in West Yorkshire.

Officers found a series of photographs of Farr Varney in the inmate's new cell.

At Sheffield Crown Court, Farr Varney, of Stainforth, near Doncaster, was jailed for ten months after admitting misconduct in a public office last month.

She appeared on This Morning last year to discuss facing huge bills after buying braces from an online dental firm only for it to fold partway through her treatment.

Detective Constable Scott Jarvis, of South Yorkshire Police's Prison Anti-Corruption Unit, said the sentencing should send a 'clear message' to warders considering embarking on affairs.

Disgraced former prison officer Morgan Farr Varney - who appeared on This Morning about the dangers of online dentistry firms - is herself now starting a ten-month jail sentence

Farr Varney appeared on ITV's This Morning in 2023 to talk about her 'dentistry nightmare'

Farr Varney admitted she had 'fallen in love' with an inmate after starting work at Lindholme Prison near Doncaster in 2022

'We take any reports of improper relationships between prison staff and inmates incredibly seriously and conduct thorough investigations to ensure those who are guilty of these offences are brought to justice,' he said.

'These types of relationships are thankfully rare, but when they do happen, they threaten to undermine the reputation of the prison service and other hard-working prison officers who abide by the rules and regulations attached to the job.

'I hope this sentencing sends out a clear message to any prison officers thinking of committing similar offences that if you engage in this type of criminality, you will be investigated by police and you will be brought to justice.'
An 87-year-old man was attacked in the street and left for dead for the sake of a box of cornflakes and a shepherd's pie, a court has heard.

John Mackey had visited a north London Co-op store where he bought food and a newspaper before visiting a kebab shop last Tuesday.

He was allegedly followed in the street and set upon when he reached Goodchild Road in Manor House.

Emergency services were alerted after he was found unconscious and bleeding from his head at around 5.53pm.

Mr Mackey was taken to hospital where he regained consciousness but died two days later.

Peter Augustine, 58, of Hornsey, has been charged with the 87-year-old's murder and robbery and appeared in court today.

Prosecutor Ben Holt said: 'A member of the public saw Mr Mackey lying on the pavement and heard a male shouting 'give me the bag' and a man standing over Mr Mackey.'

Other eyewitnesses allegedly saw a male being punched, kicked and stamped on, the Old Bailey was told.

Police were called to a robbery just before 6pm on Goodchild Road last Tuesday

Remains of a police tape on Goodchild Road near Manor House underground station in north London

Judge Richard Marks KC set a two-week trial from November 3, with a plea hearing on July 29. Pictured: The Old Bailey

The attacker allegedly made off with the victim's black duffel bag containing his cornflakes, shepherd's pie and newspaper.

A post-mortem examination gave the provisional cause of death as bleeding on the brain and fractured ribs, Mr Holt told the court.

Judge Richard Marks KC set a two-week trial from November 3, with a plea hearing on July 29.
President Donald Trump was given a personal tour by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who drove him around in a golf cart.

The Saudi royal personally took the wheel as Trump arrived for a state dinner at Ad-Diriyah.

Earlier, journalists covering his trip to the capital Riyadh noticed a nearby mobile McDonald's.

The moveable fast food joint was hooked up to a large truck.

This Daily Mail blog is now closed.
Two South Carolina parents are facing charges after their twin babies were allegedly found being eaten alive by rats in their dingy trailer home.

Akayla and Justin Bearden, both 24, were arrested Friday after she called 911 saying she discovered their six-month-old baby girl covered in blood.

When deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office arrived, they found the baby girl and her twin brother were both suffering a number of bite marks and cuts caused by the rodents.

The girl was found in her bassinet with bite marks on her head, ears, face, arms and back, which were deep enough to draw blood.

She was rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital near their home in Belton, South Carolina, and deputies said she would remain in hospital for several days.

The baby girl's twin brother was also found with bite marks on his feet, and both infants were taken into the custody of the Department of Social Services.

When the parents were grilled by deputies, they reportedly admitted that field rats have been a persistent problem inside their home for months, per WHNS.

Akayla Bearden, 24, (pictured) was arrested Friday after calling 911 saying she found her infant daughter 'covered in blood', which cops said were caused by a large number of rat bites

Her husband Justin Bearden, 24, (pictured) is facing two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child alongside his wife

The parents allegedly admitted to deputies that they knew they had a field rat problem in their dingy trailer home (pictured), but allowed their infant children to stay their anyway

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said after the arrests that a third child was also taken in by the Department of Social Services, but it was not clear who this child was.

After admitting that they allowed their infant twins to remain in their home despite knowing of the rat problem, Akayla and Justin were both arrested.

They are now facing two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.

Their next bond hearing is due Tuesday.
UK supermarkets are facing a shortage of sardines - leaving shoppers scrambling to find tins of the household staple.

The shortage is believed to have been caused by poor fishing conditions off the coast of Morocco, where the majority of Britain's supply comes from.

Shoppers have reported empty shelves across the country - with cat and dog owners desperate to get their hands on sardines for their pets, The Sun has reported.

Asda's website shows that some own-brand sardine products, which cost as little as 50p, are out of stock, including tins of the fish in brine and tomato sauce.

Meanwhile, Tesco and Morrisons no longer have a number of branded versions left, such as John West and Graal, their websites show.

John West confirmed the shortage of their product stems from issues with extreme weather and low fish numbers in Morocco.

A spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the industry-wide sourcing challenges in Morocco and continue to work with our suppliers across all fisheries to maintain the highest possible availability for our customers and consumers.'

People have shared their frustration at trying to find tins of sardines on social media.

UK supermarkets are facing a shortage of sardines - leaving shoppers scrambling to find tins of the household staple (stock photo)

The shortage is believed to have been caused by poor fishing conditions off the coast of Morocco, where the majority of Britain's supply comes from (stock photo)

Shoppers have reported empty shelves across the country - with cat and dog owners desperate to get their hands on the product for their pets (stock photo)

One dog owner wrote: 'Florrie is down to her last few cans of Sardines. There appears to be a shortage in the supermarkets.'

Another added: 'Have @sainsburys stopped selling sardines in spring water? Can't find them anywhere. My dog eats a tin a day.'

It comes after a cyber attack which targeted M&S earlier this month also caused stock shortages at the retailer.

Fans were shocked to see their favourite Percy Pig gummy sweets were nowhere to be found on supermarket shelves.

Loyal M&S customers buy 16 million bags of the sweet treats a year and took to social media to share their anger at not being able to get their hands on any.

One posted online: 'Lads, s**t just got real.

Another said: 'This isn't just a cyber attack  it's an M&S cyber attack.'

An M&S spokesperson said: 'Nothing will stop Percy! While he's on most of our shelves, he's very popular and we're working hard to make sure he's on a shelf in every store.'

Shoppers were shocked to see the popular Percy Pig Pig sweets were nowhere to be found on supermarket shelves after the brand was crippled by attacks to their online systems

M&S supplies across the board were affected by the cyber attack which has been linked to a teenage hacking gang

Meanwhile in November last year, Britain faced a national taramasalata shortage after production was hit by hundreds of staff going on strike at a large supplier.

Industrial action at Bakkavor - one of the UK's largest producers of dips, soups and ready-meals - led to shortages of the creamy Greek dip, made from cod roe.

Supermarkets including Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Tesco were left out of stock of own-brand taramasalata, with shoppers finding empty shelves.

The Unite union said at the time further shortages were likely and claimed more than 700 of its members at the Bakkavor site in Spalding, Lincolnshire, were taking industrial action.

Many shoppers raised the issue online with one tweeting: 'My mum has been on about a taramasalata shortage for weeks, she's started buying it from restaurants.'

Another tweeted on November 4: 'I know this is such a first world problem, but is there a national shortage of taramasalata?

'Had a right craving for it this weekend but couldn't find it anywhere, not in Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer. What's going on?'
A former labourer who spent the last 38 years in prison after being found guilty of the murder of a young florist was dramatically set free today after a court found new DNA evidence rendered his conviction unsafe.

Peter Sullivan was jailed for the murder of Diane Sindall, 21, in 1986, but today three senior judges quashed his conviction after the Court of Appeal heard DNA evidence showed the killer was someone else.

They found in favour of the 68-year-old, who has learning difficulties, marking the longest miscarriage of justice in UK history.

Mr Sullivan, watching the hearing remotely from HMP Wakefield, sat with his arms folded over his chest as the three judges, led by Lord Justice Holroyde, announced their decision following a two-hour hearing.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Sullivan said in a statement read out by his lawyer: 'I lost my liberty four decades ago over a crime I did not commit. We now know how very different the times we live in are from scientific advances, legal practice and methods of investigation and questioning by the police.

'What happened to me was very wrong but it does not detract or minimise that all of this happened off the back of a heinous and most terrible loss of life. I did not commit murder or unlawfully take the life of any person throughout the span of my own.

'As god is my witness, it is said the truth shall take you free. It is unfortunate that it does not give a timescale as we advance towards resolving the wrongs done to me, I am not angry, I am not bitter.

'I am simply anxious to return to my loved ones and family as I've got to make the most of what is left of the existence I am granted in this world.'

After nearly 40 years behind bars and repeated attempts to clear his name, Peter Sullivan has finally had his conviction for murder quashed

The 68-year-old, who has learning difficulties, has been subjected to the longest miscarriage of justice in UK history

Part-time barmaid Diane Sindall, 21, was savagely battered to death: stripped half-naked, indecently assaulted, mutilated and her breasts bitten, and her body discarded in an alleyway

His sister, Kim Smith, said: 'We lost Peter for 39 years and at the end of the day it's not just us, Peter hasn't won and neither has the Sindall family. They've lost their daughter, they are not going to get her back.

'We've got Peter back and now we've got to try and build a life around him again.

'We feel sorry for the Sindall's and it's such a shame this has had to happen in the first place.'

Earlier, members of Mr Sullivan's family in the public gallery wept as Lord Justice Holroyde announced: 'We quash the conviction.'

The judge continued: 'Strong though the circumstantial evidence undoubtedly seemed at the trial, it is now necessary to take into account the new scientific evidence pointing to someone else - the unknown man.

'If the new evidence had been available in 1986, the evidence as a whole would have been regarded as insufficient. In the light of that evidence it is impossible to regard the appellant's conviction as safe.'

Speaking outside court, Mr Sullivan's solicitor Sarah Myatt said: 'This is an unprecedented and historic moment.

'Our client Peter Sullivan is the longest-serving victim of a miscarriage of justice in the UK

'He has endured nearly 40 years in a category A prison for a truly horrific crime that he did not commit.

'Today, justice has been at last served, and his conviction has been quashed.'

It means the DNA found on Miss Sindall's sexually mutilated body belongs to a mystery suspect whose details are not on the National DNA Database or linked to any other unsolved offences.

Detectives with Merseyside Police have begun a fresh investigation into Miss Sindall's violent death.

Prosecutors admitted there was no basis on which Mr Sullivan would ever have been charged if the new evidence - made available by significant scientific advances - was available at the time.

Duncan Atkinson KC, on behalf of the CPS, told the Court of Appeal: 'We do not seek to argue that this fresh DNA evidence does not undermine the safety of the appellant's (Mr Sullivan's) conviction.'

He said: 'Had this DNA evidence been available at the time a decision was taken to prosecute, it is difficult to see how a decision to prosecute could have been made.'

His sister, Kim Smith, said: 'We lost Peter for 39 years and at the end of the day it's not just us, Peter hasn't won and neither has the Sindall family'

The Wirral pub where Ms Sindall worked to help pay for her forthcoming wedding

Police are now reinvestigating Miss Sindall's murder in the hope of bringing her killer to justice

He added: 'The DNA evidence provides a clear and uncontroverted basis to suggest that another person was responsible for both the sexual assault and the murder.

'As such, it positively undermines the circumstantial case against Mr Sullivan as identified at the time both of his trial and his 2021 appeal.'

Miss Sindall was brutally killed after she left work in Bebington, Birkenhead, Merseyside, in August 1986. Mr Sullivan was convicted of her murder in November the following year.

Prosecutors said he had spent the day drinking heavily, and went out armed with a crowbar before a chance encounter with Miss Sindall.

Evidence at the time suggested Mr Sullivan had recently borrowed a crowbar from a neighbour, left for London shortly after the murder arousing suspicion, and was placed near the scene by witnesses who gave his description.

Miss Sindall's florist van had broken down on her way home from a pub shift and she was walking to a petrol station to get some spare fuel. She had been working late to pay for her forthcoming wedding.

She was ambushed, sexually assaulted and then beaten to death, her body left partially clothed and mutilated in an alleyway where it was discovered the following day.

In November the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said that Mr Sullivan's conviction had been referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis of DNA evidence.

Samples taken at the time of the murder were re-examined and a DNA profile that did not match Mr Sullivan was found, the commission said.

Mr Sullivan applied to the body to have his case re-examined in 2021, raising concerns about police interviews, bite mark evidence and the murder weapon.

He claimed he had not been provided with an appropriate adult during interviews and was initially denied legal representation.

Mr Sullivan had previously applied to the CCRC in 2008 raising questions about DNA evidence, but forensic experts said that further testing was unlikely to reveal a DNA profile.

He applied to the High Court for permission to appeal against his conviction in 2019 over bite mark evidence, but this was rejected by the Court of Appeal in 2021.

Mr Sullivan had initially confessed to the murder, before retracting the claims.

He said detectives forced a confession from him, initially barred him from seeing a solicitor and denied him support from an 'appropriate adult', who, it is said, should have been appointed to safeguard his interests as a vulnerable person.

Jason Pitter KC, representing Mr Sullivan, described how the most recent scientific advances backed his client's contention that he was the victim of wrongful conviction.

He told the Appeal Court: 'At this time this matter was originally before the court, there was not the scientific capability to carry out analysis of that material.

'The material was not able to be analysed. But since 2024, an analysis has been carried out on that material.

'The DNA from that cellular material found on the deceased  could be attributed to an unknown male.'

Speaking outside court, Mr Sullivan's solicitor Sarah Myatt said: 'This is an unprecedented and historic moment'

Members of Mr Sullivan's family in the public gallery wept as Lord Justice Holroyde announced: 'We quash the conviction'

A memorial tablet on a grass verge near the scene of Ms Sindall's murder

He added: 'The prosecution case is that it was one person. It was one person who carried out a sexual assault on the victim.

'The evidence here is now that one person was not the defendant.'

Mr Sullivan, once dubbed the Beast of Birkenhead, appeared overcome with emotion as the hearing concluded.

He could be seen rubbing his hands over his face, appearing to wipe away tears, and then looked towards the sky.

Merseyside Police said the vital DNA evidence was not available during the original investigation into Peter Sullivan and officers are now 'committed to doing everything' to find the person whose DNA was left at the scene where Ms Sindall died.

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Diane Sindall who continue to mourn her loss and will have to endure the implications of this new development so many years after her murder.

'We are committed to doing everything within our power to find whom the DNA, which was left at the scene, belongs to.

'Unfortunately, there is no match for the DNA identified on the national DNA database.

'We have enlisted specialist skills and expertise from the National Crime Agency, and with their support we are proactively trying to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, and extensive and painstaking inquiries are underway.

'We can confirm that the DNA does not belong to any member of Diane's family, nor Diane's fiance at the time, and we believe it could be a vital piece of evidence linking the killer to the scene.

'To date more than 260 men have been screened and eliminated from the investigation which was reopened in 2023.

'The investigation team has obtained most of the samples locally, however, screening has also taken place in Swansea, Perth, London, Hull and Newcastle with the provision of voluntary DNA elimination samples.'

Downing Street said the Sullivan judgment must be carefully considered to get both him and Diane Sindall's family 'the answers they deserve'.

A Number 10 spokesman said: 'It's clear that Peter Sullivan has suffered a grave miscarriage of justice and our thoughts are also with Diane Sindall's family on what must be an incredibly difficult day.

'We must carefully consider this judgment and look at how this could have happened and get both him and Diane's family the answers they deserve.'
UnitedHealth Group's CEO has dramatically announced his resignation after the firm reported a poor financial outlook in its 2025 forecast.

Andrew Witty has overseen the giant since 2021, and managed the crisis after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in Manhattan in December 2024.

His departure was announced Tuesday as the company said he was leaving for 'personal reasons', without elaborating.

Witty's resignation sent the share price of UnitedHealth down 10 percent and other health insurers such as Humana and Elevance down between four and six percent pre-market.

It comes a month after UnitedHealth posted its first earnings miss since 2008 in April and warned shareholders it was lowering its annual earnings outlook, citing 'unanticipated changes' in the healthcare industry.

A surge in demand for healthcare services for Medicare recipients nationwide has cut into profits for many providers.

The healthcare industry-at-large is also still suffering from a rough 2024 amid lower government payments, elevated medical costs and public backlash to the sector after Thompson's slaying.

The assassination brought a wave of outrage from disgruntled patients who claimed they were undercut or hurt by the insurer's policies, which caused its stock to nosedive at the time.

Last month, UnitedHealth shareholders launched a lawsuit against the company for allegedly concealing how backlash from the killing hurt its business and profits.

The UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty has dramatically announced his resignation

Witty has overseen the healthcare giant since February 2021, and managed the crisis after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (pictured) was assassinated in Manhattan in December 2024

After Witty announced his resignation on Tuesday, the firm's former CEO Chris Hemsley, who has been with the healthcare conglomerate for 28 years, was returning to the top role.

Kevin Gade, chief operating officer at Bahl and Gaynor, told Reuters that the resignation was only surprising in its abruptness, although the struggles that UnitedHealth has faced were well known in the industry.

'The abruptness (of Witty's exit) certainly is a surprise but no one should be surprised given the unique struggles of UNH versus peers,' he said.

'At a certain point, leadership must be held accountable.'

Before Thompson's assassination, UnitedHealth was also facing scrutiny after it was the target of a cyberattack at its tech unit that shut down its healthcare processing systems used by 200 million Americans.

Witty previously came under the spotlight following Thompson's shooting, as he was tasked with keeping the company afloat amid widespread backlash to its practices.

In the aftermath of the shooting, many expressed online outrage over the company's history of rejecting necessary treatment - especially under Thompson - as they praised alleged gunman Luigi Mangione for his actions.

Witty, seen testifying to Congress in May 2024 after a cyberattack on UnitedHealth's databases, was thrust into the limelight following Thompson's assassination

In the aftermath of the shooting, many expressed online outrage over the company's history of rejecting necessary treatment as they praised alleged gunman Luigi Mangione (seen during his perp walk in December 2024) for his actions

In response, Witty was seen in a leaked video to staff insisting that he was proud of 'what this company does on behalf of people in need across the country.'

He even claimed few people 'in the history of the US healthcare industry [have] had a biggest effect on American healthcare than Brian.'

Amid the fallout from Thompson's slaying, a new lawsuit filed last month by UnitedHealth Group shareholders claimed it concealed the impact that public backlash was having on its business.

In a proposed class action filed in Manhattan federal court, shareholders said the insurer defrauded them after the December 4 shooting of Thompson by shifting away from strategies that led to higher-than-average claims denials, without revealing the impact on profitability.

UnitedHealth shares fell 22.4% on April 17, wiping out about $119 billion of market value, after the insurer cut its 2025 forecast for adjusted profit per share to between $26 and $26.50 from between $29.50 and $30.

The insurer cited higher costs in its Medicare business. It had issued the old forecast one day before Thompson's death.

Shareholders said UnitedHealth had previously inflated its stock price by recklessly sticking with its old forecast, even as mounting public anger and an October 17 U.S. Senate report on claims denials caused it to become more patient-friendly.
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has applauded the party's historic decision to elect a woman as its leader.

Ms Higgins shared her thoughts on new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley becoming Peter Dutton's successor in a poignant social media post on Tuesday night.

Ley won the party ballot earlier on Tuesday with 29 votes - four more than shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.

Shadow energy minister Ted O'Brien won the deputy leadership position with 38 votes to 16 for Herbert MP Phillip Thompson.

Ms Higgins shared a post to her Instagram story which declared Ley as the first female national Liberal leader.

'This is a pretty momentous day,' Ms Higgins wrote.

'Irrespective of your view on her politics and putting aside the 'glass cliff' conundrums - what a moment.'

Glass cliff typically refers to a strategy where women and members of minority groups are disproportionately placed in leadership positions.

Brittany Higgins (pictured with husband David Sharaz) applauded the Liberal Party for electing its first female leader, Sussan Ley

Ms Higgins shared her thoughts in a post online (pictured) after news of Ley's victory broke

Ms Higgins post came four years after she claimed the party 'abandoned' her.

Critics on Tuesday claimed Ley only won the top job in order to make the Liberal Party appear more progressive.

Ley swiftly addressed the criticism.

'I don't accept that,' she said.

'I do say it sends a signal to the women of Australia that the Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader but my agenda is much more than that.

'It's about connecting with women and listening to where we went wrong.

'I will say one of the hallmarks of my style as deputy leader and work in parliament for the time I have been here has always been consultation and a strong work ethic, but always listening carefully to what people say.'

Ley has previously backed the idea of introducing a quota to help boost the number of women in parliament.

Ley (pictured) is the Liberal Party's first female leader and has voiced her desire to bring more women into government

While she stopped at supporting a quota following her election to leader, she did call for a stronger female presence in the party.

'I want to say right here and now we need more women in our party. We need more women in the organisation, and we need more women in this party room,' Ley said.

'Had we done better at the last election we would have outstanding women in the party room.

'Our fortunes when it comes to electoral defeat unfortunately mean we lose strong women.'

Ms Higgins previously worked as a Liberal staffer for then-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds during the Morrison government.

In 2021, she alleged her colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in their boss' office in Parliament House during March 2019.

Ms Higgins claimed the Liberal Party had 'abandoned' her following the alleged assault and that she felt 'personally hurt' by Senator Reynolds' response.

She was paid about $2.4 million by the Commonwealth shortly after the Albanese government was elected in 2022.

The following year, Ley in parliament accused Labor Senator Katy Gallagher of using Ms Higgins' rape to 'profit politically' from the backlash against the Coalition.

Brittany Higgins on Tuesday praised the party that she previously claimed 'abandoned' her

'Were they aware of these allegations before they went to air and did they use them to profit politically from?' Ley later told Sky News.

'In which case that's morally bankrupt, to politically profit from a rape allegation.'

Lehrmann has consistently and repeatedly denied raping Ms Higgins.

At a Federal Court trial, Justice Michael Lee found that, on the balance of probabilities, Lehrmann did rape Ms Higgins at Parliament House on March 23, 2019.

Lehrmann is appealing the verdict and that case remains ongoing.
A vandal has sparked outrage after being filmed spray painting a penis onto a wall at an ancient Peruvian UNESCO site.

In footage, the man was seen spraying the crude graffiti on one of the original walls of Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian city 300 miles north of Lima that is flooded with thousands of visitors each month.

He wore a backpack and drew a giant black penis on the stone which is more than 600 years old and a World Heritage Site.

Peru's ministry of culture said the culprit showed 'a grave disrespect toward our history and cultural heritage, as well as a violation of the regulations that protect archaeological heritage sites.

'We express our strongest condemnation of this regrettable act of vandalism,' the ministry emphasised in its statement.

Authorities have not yet identified the attacker but he could face up to six years behind bars if he is caught under Peruvian heritage protection statutes.

The clip of the incident has made its rounds of social media, leaving viewers stunned at how he was able to damage the wall unchallenged. Others questioned why the site was not better protected.

Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimu kingdom before it fell to the Incas in the 15th century and it remains one of Peru's most important archaeological sites.

A vandal has sparked outrage after being filmed spray painting a penis onto a wall at ancient an UNESCO site in the pre-Columbian Peruvian city of Chan Chan

Peru's ministry of culture said the culprit showed 'a grave disrespect toward our history and cultural heritage'

The Citadel of Chan Chan was built on an area of approximately 20 square kilometers, featured ten palaces, and at its peak housed approximately 30,000 inhabitants.

It is regarded as the largest mud city in the world.

The complex features temples, residential structures, and storage buildings, any adorned with intricate and symbolic carvings.

It was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1986 by UNESCO and that same year it was added to the list of world heritage sites in danger.

Chan Chan, which means shining sun in the native language, was built with adobe and mud and is the largest city in the Americas built with that material, according to UNESCO.

Together with the stone citadels of Machu Picchu and Caral, Chan Chan forms the most important archaeological complexes in Peru.

The spray paint attack comes just months after an intoxicated man chipped the 12-Angle Stone, a famous Incan artefact in the city of Cusco.

Just before 1am on February 18, a Peruvian citizen attacked the stone, chipping it in six visible places, according to a government statement.

Mud walls of Chan Chan citadel, in Trujillo, Peru

Chan Chan was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1986 by UNESCO and that same year it was added to the list of world heritage sites in danger

'This is a heritage we all share, and we must defend it,' Jorge Moya Cohaguila, director of the Decentralised Directorate of Culture of Cusco told Andina News Agency at the time.

'Our specialists are evaluating the degree of damage,' and authorities will take 'the necessary actions with specialised organizations' to restore the stone.
Flailing and struggling amid a brutal assault, this is the moment the daughter of a major cryptocurrency company executive and her two-year-old child were the victims of a violent attempted kidnapping in Paris.

The 34-year-old was walking down Rue Pache in the capital yesterday morning when three armed men approached her.

The group tried to force her and her toddler into a white van after hitting the child's father, who tried to intervene.

Footage filmed by an onlooker from his apartment window also shows the woman - believed to be the daughter of a top crypto exec - grab a handgun belonging to the attackers before throwing it away.

In the footage, as he is being beaten, the father appears to be yelling: 'Help! She's pregnant!'

The victims' screams eventually attracted attention, which led to the attackers fleeing in their van.

Passers-by can be seen arriving on the scene ready to assist as the assailants scrambled to freedom, with one desperately throwing a fire extinguisher at the van.

The vehicle was later abandoned on a nearby street, according to Le Parisien. The outlet also said the child, who did not appear in the video, had tear gas in his eyes.

The 34-year-old was walking down Rue Pache in the capital yesterday morning when three armed men approached her

The victims' screams eventually attracted attention, however, leading the attackers to flee in their van

The group had tried to force her and her toddler into a white van after hitting the child's father, who tried to intervene

In the footage, as he is being beaten, the father appears to be yelling, 'Help! She's pregnant!'

Passers-by can be seen arriving on the scene ready to assist as the assailants scrambled to freedom

One witness, 61-year-old Jean-Jacques, said: 'I heard screaming so I went outside.

'I saw hooded and armed men running away and I turned my head and saw a man with a bloody head, he was lying on the ground. There was blood everywhere.

'I cauterized the wound.'

Jean-Jacques, who is in his 60s, said he treated the mother and child for teargas in their eyes, cleaning them with saline solution.

Others joined in the rescue, before the kidnappers fled, leaving a fake gun lying on the ground.

One man grabbed a fire extinguisher to try to scare the kidnappers away.

They then abandoned their stolen vehicle a few streets away.

Another witness, a local worker, suggested the public response helped drive off the attackers, adding: 'There were lots of people at the windows. Some filmed the scene. Many were yelling [to] call the police.'

The Paris Judicial Police's Anti-Banditism Brigade (BRB), who declined to name the daughter of the cryptocurrency CEO or her father, is now investigating the attempted kidnapping.

'They arrived in a Chronopost van and attempted to take the mother away from her child,' said an investigating source, referring to the postal delivery firm.

'Her partner managed to fight the three kidnappers off,' the source added,

The armed assailants are being hunted, but police have not yet revealed any details behind their motives.

However, the incident follows another cryptocurrency related kidnapping in the capital just days earlier.

On May 1, the father of a crypto entrepeneur spent more than 48 hours in a Paris building after being taken captive.

During the incident, the victim was injured and a ransom demand for several million was made, according to French media.

His finger was cut off, wth his captors filming the horrific act to send to his son.

Eventually, police smashed down the door and used non-lethal grenades to apprehend the kidnappers.

Five people have now been arrested and taken into custody.

The incident has also sparked concerns about the wider safety of tourists and residents in the French capital

France has seen scores of violent demonstrations. Pictured, a protestor runs amid clashes over the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old driver in the Paris suburb of Nanterre in 2023

Bruno Retailleau, the interior minister, said in relation to a previous crypto-related kidnapping: 'A huge congratulations to the investigators who did an exceptional job freeing this man and arresting his captors'

Bruno Retailleau, the interior minister, wrote at the time: 'A huge congratulations to the investigators who did an exceptional job freeing this man and arresting his captors.'

A police source said the victim's wife told investigators that her husband and son, who owned a crypto marketing firm in Malta, had received threats in the past.

In January, David Balland, a co-founder of French crypto firm Ledger, had his hand mutilated while he and his wife were kidnapped and held captive for severla hours.

The couple were found a day later after being tortured by the kidnappers, who demanded a 10 million ransom.

And last December, the 56-year-old father of a French cryptocurrency influencer based in Dubai was the target of an alleged kidnapping in eastern France, local media reported.

Attackers arrived at the man's home, tied up his wife and daughter and forced him into a car.

He was only discovered 24 hours later, tied up in the boot of a car in Normandy.

Cryptocurrency holders in other nations have also been targeted by opportunistic criminals.

Last November, three teenagers lured a man in Las Vegas after a crypto event he hosted and abducted him at gunpoint at his home before forcing him into a car and driving him into the desert.

They gained access to his crypto wallets and drained $4 million worth of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

In Canada in 2022, self-proclaimed 'Crypto-King' Aiden Pleterski was kidnapped in downtown Toronto by victims of his alleged Ponzi scheme.

The incident has also sparked concerns about the wider safety of tourists and residents in the French capital.

Today Kim Kardashian is giving evidence to a court in Paris in the trial of 10 people accused of robbing her at gunpoint in the Hotel de Pourtales in 2016.

Jewels worth millions of dollars were taken, including a $4m (2.9m) diamond engagement ring.

The 44-year-old media personality and businesswoman was tearful as she told the judge: 'I was certain he [one of the robbers] was going to rape me.

'I absolutely did think I was going to die.'

Late last month French lawmakers approved a sweeping counter-narcotics law to equip the state with tougher tools to fight a sharp rise in drug crime.

The new law will create a national prosecutor's office for organised crime, isolate dangerous kingpins in prisons to prevent them from running their empires from behind bars, and allow for the shutdown of businesses that launder drug money.

Today Kim Kardashian is giving evidence to a court in Paris in the trial of 10 people accused of robbing her at gunpoint in the Hotel de Pourtales in 2016

Drug gangs have caused havoc across France in recent months, carrying out coordinated machine-gun and arson attacks on seven prison

Prisons in Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence and Nimes in southern France, and in Villepinte and Nanterre, near Paris, were attacked last month

It came after a Senate report warned France faced a 'tipping point' from rising drug violence.

Using the same phrase, Retailleau said last year: ''The 'narco thugs' have no limits anymore... These shootouts aren't happening in South America, they're happening in Rennes, in Poitiers... we're at a tipping point.'

Drug gangs have caused havoc across France in recent months, carrying out coordinated machine-gun and arson attacks on seven prisons.

Prisons in Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence and Nimes in southern France, and in Villepinte and Nanterre, near Paris, were attacked last month.

Ministers have been scrambling for solutions amid a rise in the murder rate in recent years.

In 2023, the number of murders increased by seven per cent to 1,110 cases - almost double the UK figure.

The same year, hate crimes 'of a racist nature' rose by almost a third to 15,000.
A Mexican politician and her husband had their United States tourist visas revoked due to an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to a drug cartel, a new report claims.

The Justice Department probe into Baja California governor Marina del Pilar and her spouse, Carlos Torres, began last year but did not impact their visa status until the past weekend, according to Mexican journalist Luis Chaparro.

In addition to losing their tourist visas, the couple has also allegedly had their Bank of America and Wells Fargo accounts closed in San Diego due to 'suspicious activities,' according to Mexican news outlets Tiempo and Cadena Politica.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the allegations during her press briefing at the National Palace in Mexico City on Tuesday and said that Governor del Pilar informed her that they did not have accounts in banking institutions outside of Mexico.

'I want to clarify because yesterday some media reported that there was an account freeze,' Sheinbaum said. 'We spoke with the governor and the governor told us that she does not have accounts abroad. That is information from the governor.'

Del Pilar's links to Mexican cartels have been questioned since 2022, when a photo emerged of her embracing alleged Sinaloa Cartel crime figure Emmanuel 'El Botas' Serrano while she was campaigning for mayor three years earlier.

Del Pilar's office dismissed the past allegations, saying she's photographed with thousands of constituents and public figures while campaigning and running the major Mexican governments.

Her Instagram account has hundreds of glamorous photos and videos with world leaders, from past and current Mexican presidents like Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Claudia Sheinbaum, to international figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who visited the construction of a water plant in Tijuana in 2024.

Marina del Pilar (center), the glamorous governor of the Mexico state of Baja California, is reportedly being investigated by the United States for money laundering, according to a report from Mexican journalist Luis Chaparro

Her Instagram account has hundreds of glamorous photos and videos with world leaders, from past and current presidents like Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar met with her California counterpart, Gavin Newsom, in October 2024 to tour the construction of a water plant in San Antonio de los Buenos, a borough in the border city of Tijuana

There is no suggestion Governor Newsom is connected to del Pilar or any investigation into her activities. DailyMail.com has contacted Bank of America and Wells Fargo for comment.

Chaparro claimed that del Pilar met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of Homeland Security officials at a tourism event in the resort town of Rosarito on April 28, 2024, when she was first notified of the investigation.

'Both are being investigated by the United States for money laundering in an investigation involving other Baja California businessmen and officials...' Chaparro said during his YouTube show 'Pie de Nota'.

He added that the US agents told her the investigation was looking into the 'Rusos Cartel' in Mexicali, as well as a network of individuals and businessmen from Baja California allegedly linked to members of organized crime in that region.

'She pleaded with CBP and DHS supervisors to please not make public the actions against her and her husband and to not inform the Mexican consulate to prevent them from being leaked to the media,' Chaparro said on his show the day after del Pilar revealed her visa status.

'The governor requested, as a personal favor, that her actions not be communicated to the Mexican consulate or any other Mexican authority so that the information would not spread.'

Del Pilar addressed the visa ban again in a press conference Monday without making any comments over the alleged money laundering investigation or bank account closures, while also not make any reference to her husband or his visa ban.

Governor del Pilar was flanked by members of her administration and ruling party, National Regeneration Movement, while addressing the United States' decision to revoke the tourist visas that she and her husband held

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar with her husband Carlos Torres. Both issued statements about the revoked visas on their Facebook pages on Sunday.

'I have been included in a consular measure, and therefore today I do not have a visa to enter the United States,' said del Pilar while being flanked by members of her administration.

Del Pilar, who served as mayor of the border city of Mexicali from 2019 to 2021 before being elected governor in 2021, downplayed the decision made by President Donald Trump's administration to revoke her travel rights.

'But that does not define me. Because I am not defined by what I have or by the permits granted or withheld. I am defined by my values, my convictions, and the purpose I have embraced since I decided to dedicate my life to public service,' said Del Pilar.

'The fact that the United States' State Department has canceled my visa does not mean that I have done anything wrong. It is an administrative decision, not an accusation. There is no crime. There is no misconduct.'

A photo taken in 2019 showed alleged Sinaloa Cartel cell leader Emmanuel 'El Botas' Serrano (third from the left) and Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila (third from the right) hugging at an event where she was campaigning for mayor of Mexicali. The picture went viral in September 2022, a year and three months after she was elected governor. Del Pilar's office disputed allegations that she had any ties to El Bota

Marina de Pilar, the governor of the Mexican state of Baja California, said she is clear of any wrongdoings while she addressed the United States' decision to ban the tourist visas for her and her husband

Despite Chaparro's reports that del Pilar is aware of the reason the tourists visas were cancelled, the governor claimed otherwise.

'The reason for this measure has not been communicated, and whatever the reason, I am calm and with a clear conscience that everything will be clarified. And yet, some have tried to turn this situation into a political weapon,' del Pilar said.

'I've never hurt anyone, and I never will. These are values that are pillars of my life and that were instilled in me at home from a very young age,' del Pilar added. 'So don't look for them. There's nothing to find out to damage my image or that of myself. To be honest, I'm surprised by this situation.'

The U.S. State Department press office said in a statement to media Monday that 'visa records are confidential under U.S. law; therefore, we cannot comment on individual cases.'
Do YOU have a story? Please email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk

A bisexual Kenyan migrant has won a legal battle to stay in Britain after it was found a judgement dismissing her asylum claim was 'riddled' with errors and typos.

The married asylum seeker, who was granted anonymity, fled the African country in 2018 after her family discovered she was having an affair with a woman.

She feared she would be 'killed' by her husband or the authorities if she were to return to Kenya, it was heard.

After her case was rejected by the Home Office, she appealed to the First Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

Her case was dismissed again with a judge finding that she would be able to find sufficient 'protection' in Africa.

But the Upper Tier Tribunal has found the judgement dismissing her claims was littered with several 'careless' errors and 'misstatements' of evidence.

Now, it has been ruled she should have her case reheard as anyone considering the judgment would not be 'satisfied' that 'anxious scrutiny' had been applied to her case.

Upper Tribunal Judge David Pickup said: 'The decision is so riddled with errors, both typographical and misstatements of the evidence, together with a misunderstanding of the purport of the objective evidence, that the objective reader of the decision cannot be at all satisfied that anxious scrutiny has been applied to the [asylum seeker's] case.

A Kenyan migrant has been allowed to stay in Britain thanks to 'typo riddled' document

Upper Tribunal Judge David Pickup (pictured) found the judgement dismissing her claims was littered with several 'careless' errors and 'misstatements' of evidence

'I am driven to the conclusion that in these circumstances it would be unfair to permit the decision to stand and that collectively the errors amount to a material error off law.'

The Upper Tribunal heard the woman left Kenya in 2018.

In June 2020, she made an asylum claim for international protection on the grounds of sexual orientation having had a same-sex relationship with a fellow-citizen.

The tribunal heard the married asylum seeker met the woman, named only as L, in 2013 and the pair became friends.

Some two years later, they began a sexual relationship which lasted until she fled the country, it was heard.

The woman said she had to leave after a technician who was backing up her phone found intimate photos of the pair.

She said that the 'news spread' and her family and husband found out, resulting in them allegedly becoming involved in the planning of an attack on her partner.

The asylum seeker claimed to fear that she would be 'killed by her husband and by the authorities' in light of the relationship.

The asylum seeker's case was rejected by the Home Office before she then appealed to the First Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (file image)

Her claim was refused in December of 2023 and she appealed the matter to the First-tier Tribunal.

But, in November last year, they rejected her appeal.

However, the upper tribunal found the initial decision by the lower tribunal to reject her claim appeared to have been 'made in haste' as the ruling contained several 'careless errors'.

In one 'significant' error, the decision stated the Kenyan woman 'is entitled to humanitarian protection' instead of saying she was 'not' entitled to this.

Judge Pickup said anyone reading the decision would be 'most unimpressed and led to doubt that anxious scrutiny had been applied to the case'.

Lawyers representing the asylum seeker argued the judge failed to give 'adequate reasoning' to support some statements made in the decision.

And, they said the judge 'misstated' the woman's case.

For example, the First-Tier Judge said they did not find it 'credible' the Kenyan was able to keep her relationship 'a secret' from her family for five years.

The lawyer, however, said it was not the asylum seeker's case the 'relationship' between herself and the woman was kept from the family, as she claimed her partner had been introduced to her relatives as 'a friend'.

It was said the relationship was 'not purely or exclusively sexual' and visits by the asylum seeker and her children to the woman's flat would not have been regarded as 'untoward'.

The news comes as Britain continues to clampdown on migrants illegally crossing the Channel (pictured are asylum seekers making their way to the UK in a small boat in March)

Judge Pickup said: 'It may be that the judge intended to refer to the sexual relationship, but it remains far from clear.'

In his ruling, he recognised there were examples in which the judge had 'misstated or misunderstood' the case of the asylum seeker.

He said there were 'clear errors' in the decision of the First-Tier Tribunal judge's decision relating to the 'sufficiency of protection' for the asylum seeker.

The judgement said she would 'be able to seek sufficient protection from the state as a gay woman in Kenya' and referred to Country Policy and Information Notes.

But, Judge Pickup said these documents do not in fact support this conclusion, as they say 'the state appears able but unwilling to offer effective protection'.

Lawyers representing the Home Office said despite the 'shortcomings' of the First-tier Tribunal decision, the judge had 'done enough'.

Judge Pickup ruled the woman can have her case reheard.

The judge noted the typographical errors are not by themselves 'material to the outcome of the appeal' - but are 'relevant' to his findings of the way in which his case was 'addressed'.

Last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, unveiled plans for a new legal framework to tackle 'perverse' and 'ad hoc' judgments overruling Home Office efforts to deport foreign criminals and illegal migrants.

Last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) unveiled plans for a new legal framework to tackle 'perverse' and 'ad hoc' judgments overruling Home Office efforts to deport foreign criminals and illegal migrants.

On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced sweeping new reforms to clampdown on migration.

In a bid to drive down migration, the PM revealed a plan to ban recruitment of care workers from overseas, tighten access to skilled worker visas and raise the costs to employers.

Sir Keir did not set an exact target, but the Home Office estimated the new reforms could lead to a 100,000 drop in immigration per year by 2029.

However, the Prime Minister came under fire over the plans, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch saying: 'This is nowhere near the scale of the change we need to see.'

MailOnline has approached the Home Office about the ruling of the Kenyan asylum seeker.
In a surprising turn of events, authorities have sensationally dropped the traffic charges that landed a 19-year-old college student in ICE custody  after cops admitted they mistakenly stopped the wrong car.

Ximena Arias Cristobal, a Mexican-born student who has lived in the United States since she was four, was taken into ICE custody following a May 5 traffic stop in Dalton, Georgia, where she lives with her family.

She was cited for making an improper turn and driving without a license, then booked into the Whitfield County Jail, a move that triggered her transfer to ICE custody.

The Dalton Police Department and the city prosecutor, however, revealed they had reviewed dashcam footage from the stop and determined the officer had made a mistake.

The vehicle that committed the traffic infraction was similar in appearance to the truck Arias Cristobal was driving, they said.

Despite the charges being dropped, Arias Cristobal remains in ICE custody and is now facing deportation. She is being held at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, according to ICE's online detainee tracking system.

Her father, Jose Francisco Arias Tovar, is also detained at the same facility. He was arrested by ICE last month following a separate traffic stop in Tunnel Hill, the family said.

Ximena Arias Cristobal has lived in Georgia since she was four. But due to local law enforcement's strict coordination with ICE, she was swiftly transferred to Stewart after the May 5 traffic stop, according to ABC 9.

In a turn of events, authorities in Dalton, Georgia, have sensationally dropped the traffic charges that landed a 19-year-old college student Ximena Arias Cristobal in ICE custody  after cops admitted they mistakenly stopped the wrong car

Chained by her wrists and ankles, she was taken into the facility where she is set to stay detained for over a month until she appears before a judge. Online records show that she was arrested for driving without a valid license and failure to obey traffic control devices

A GoFundMe for the teenager said that she came into the country in 2010 at the age of four and had not qualified for the DACA program which ended a year earlier (Pictured: Arias and her father, Jose Francisco Arias Tovar)

The 19-year-old student was shackled at the wrists and ankles as she was brought into the facility, where she is expected to remain for over a month before appearing before a judge.

After being pulled over, Arias Cristobal told the officer she had an international driver's license  but did not have it with her at the time.

Online jail records show she was initially arrested for driving without a valid license and for failing to obey traffic control devices  both of which have now been dismissed.

Arias Cristobal had previously attempted to apply for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) after arriving in the U.S. in 2010, but her mother said the program had ended a year before they crossed the border.

DACA allowed undocumented children brought to the U.S. to apply for deportation deferral every two years. The program has been closed to new applicants for several years.

During her booking at the jail, Arias Cristobal was asked about her immigration status  a routine part of intake at Whitfield County that often leads to ICE referrals.

In a twist of fate, Arias Cristobal is being held in the same facility as her father, Jose Francisco Arias Tovar, who was detained in Tunnel Hill two weeks earlier for speeding.

Attorney Terry Olsen warned the teen's mother may be next. 'It's likely Arias Cristobal's mother will be 'arrested or detained within a month or so,'' he said.

Her mother, translated through Arias-Cristobal's younger sister, further told the outlet: 'My dad has his own company, and they called a lawyer to see if they could get a job permit or a visa, and they said that they hadn't hit that status to get one yet' (Pictured: Arias and her father, Jose Francisco Arias Tovar)

Jones said Arias-Cristobal had babysat her children for years, and added: 'We adore her.' She told the outlet that the teenager is 'the most precious human' and believed her international license allowed her to drive legally

Attorney Terry Olsen said that is is likely Arias-Cristobal's mother will be 'arrested or detained within a month or so,' and that her daughters would be removed with her to keep the family together

Jones said Arias Cristobal had babysat her children for years and added, 'We adore her.' She also told the outlet the teen is 'the most precious human' and believed her international license allowed her to drive legally.

Arias Cristobal's younger sister spoke emotionally about the family's journey: 'They came in with big dreams because they wanted a big future for my older sister. And, you know, my sister goes to college, and she was an honor student since middle school.'

'And she runs. She loves to run. It's her passion, and the only reason they came is to follow my sister's dreams,' her sister added.

Their mother, speaking through the younger daughter, said: 'My dad has his own company, and they called a lawyer to see if they could get a job permit or a visa, and they said that they hadn't hit that status to get one yet.'

Georgia State Representative Kacey Carpenter also weighed in, writing a letter on the teen's behalf: 'The reality is, the conversation has always been that we need to get hard criminals out of the country.

'Unfortunately, the people that aren't hard criminal are getting caught up in the wash. It seems like we are much better at catching people that [are] committing misdemeanors than people that are actually a danger to society.'
A husband and wife have appeared in court accused of defrauding Britain's top school for A-level results out of more than 5million from its charity fund.

Yasmin Sarwar, 43, from Cyncoed, opened Cardiff Sixth Form College in 2004 and claims to have 'helped over 800 students' gain admission into some of the UK's most illustrious universities.

But there were said to have been irregularities in the school's finances between 2012 and 2016 - leading South Wales Police to launch an official investigation.

It led to the self-confessed 'Tiger Mum' and her husband Nadeem Sarwar, 49, being charged with multiple theft and fraud offences against the school.

Ms Sarwar became head of the college's charity - and it rose to rank above illustrious Rugby and Marlborough schools with pupils travelling all over world to take top A-levels.

Cardiff Court Court heard the couple allegedly used over 496,000 from the school to buy a property in a leafy suburb of the Welsh capital while also using more funds for refurnishing.

They are also accused of transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds into different bank accounts and possessing criminal property relating to 4,100,000 of student fees between 2012 and 2016.

At the time they were charged, police said a probe into the college had been jointly carried out with the Charity Commission.

Self-confessed 'Tiger Mum' Yasmin Sarwar, 43, has been charged with multiple theft and fraud offences against Cardiff Sixth Form College

Nadeem Sarwar, 49 (pictured) pleaded not guilty to fraud, three counts of theft and five counts of possessing criminal property

Ragu Sivapalan, 40, from Penylan, Cardiff denied false accounting between 2013 and 2016.

Ms Sarwar, of Cyncoed, Cardiff, pleaded not guilty to fraud, two counts of theft, two counts of fraudulent trading, possessing criminal property and three counts of transferring criminal property.

Mr Sarwar, of Pentwyn, Cardiff, pleaded not guilty to fraud, three counts of theft and five counts of possessing criminal property.

A third person - Ragu Sivapalan, 40, from Penylan, Cardiff - denied false accounting between 2013 and 2016.

Judge Tracey Lloyd Clarke set a trial date for September 1 next year.

Mother-of-one Ms Sarwar moved from Malaysia to Britain to study for her own A-levels when she was just 17.

At the time her school was named the best in Britain for A-level results, she said: 'I am a mother to the students.

'I want to make a difference in their lives and them to then make a difference in other people's lives.

'To create that difference in someone else's life you need to create that trust - and say I am here for you because I care.'

Ms Sarwar (pictured) opened Cardiff Sixth Form College in 2004 and claims to have 'helped over 800 students' gain admission into some of the UK's most illustrious universities

But during the 43-year-old's tenure, there were said to have been irregularities in the school's finances between 2012 and 2016, leading South Wales Police to launch an official investigation which revealed the 5million fraud

Cardiff Sixth Form College is the UK's top performing fee-paying school where 95 per cent of pupils achieved A-A* in their A-levels last year

After graduating with a Biochemistry degree from Cardiff University Mrs Sarwar started posting fliers offering her tutoring services for science classes to A-levels.

Ten years later she launched what would go on to be the UK's top performing fee-paying school where 95 per cent of pupils achieved A-A* in their A-levels last year.

She later said parents see her as a 'mother figure' and 'somebody they can trust with their children'.

Cardiff Sixth Form College has more than 300 students on its register and attracts children from all around the world, including Albania and China.

Fees at the school were 15,000 per year for day pupils while international boarding students can pay up to 26,000 each year.

A South Wales Police spokesperson said: 'Cardiff Sixth Form College has since changed hands.

'Since the sale of the College the charity changed its name to Cardiff Educational Endowment Trust - 1123262 and is now operating as a grant making charity.'
A family say they were banned from boarding their British Airways flight because airline staff were suspicious of insect bites on their baby son.

Expat Jonathan Arthur, 34, and his wife Xun Sun, 35, were flying from Shanghai Pudong Airport to London Heathrow for a family wedding when they were stopped by airline staff.

They had noticed some insect bites on one-year-old son Joseph as they went to the gate to board, and asked British Airways staff at the desk where they could buy some allergy medication, just in case.

They claim the check-in desk assistant called a medical advice hotline who said they couldn't board - over fears the rash around the bites was actually a reaction to Joseph's mild peanut allergy which could worsen during the flight.

Staff said the tot needed a 'fit to fly' letter from a doctor, and were escorted out away from the boarding gate, and were left 'feeling like criminals'.

'We were treated like we had done something wrong,' said Jonathan.

'It was nothing more than swollen bites.

'The medical staff at the airport said to apply some ointment and wait 10 minutes - which we were happy to do.

Expat Jonathan Arthur, 34, and his wife Xun Sun, 35, were banned from their flight due to insect bites on their son's leg

The family was travelling from Shanghai to London when a check-in desk assistant said they couldn't board over fears the rash around the bites was actually a reaction to Joseph's mild peanut allergy

'But the BA staff said we needed to call their medical advice line,' he added.

The family waited the whole day in the airport after they re-booked flights with another airline - which didn't require a letter - for that evening.

The bites disappeared within 10-15 minutes of applying a bite cream and didn't cause their baby any more discomfort, the couple said.

The couple had paid 3,000 for their original flights.

'I find it strange that someone else in a different country can speak to an airport staff member who isn't a medical professional, and diagnose and refuse boarding, without seeing the rash,' Jonathan said.

'When you pay for a service you expect to be treated like a customer, not like a hindrance.

'It felt like they thought 'they're not flying, just get rid of them.'

A spokesperson for BA told MailOnline: 'We take the safety and well-being of our customers very seriously and do everything we can to support them when issues like this arise.

Staff said the tot needed a 'fit to fly' letter from a doctor, and were escorted out away from the boarding gate

'This includes accessing specialist medical advice to assess an individual's suitability to travel, which is what happened in this case.

'Whilst we appreciate our customer was disappointed with this decision, we never compromise passenger safety.'

It comes after a couple missed their ski holiday after BA staff member misinterpreted a post-Brexit passport rule and wrongly refused to let them board their flight.

The '10-year passport rule' means that to travel to EU countries your UK passport must be less than 10 years old on your departure day and have at least three months left before it expires on the day you return home.

Richard and Kate Sugden were due to fly from Jersey to Austria via Heathrow Airport in January but were told they wouldn't be be allowed to board their flight in London due to Mrs Sugden's passport.

Her passport was issued in February 2015 meaning that when they wanted to travel in January 2025, it was less than 10 years old, in accordance with the rules.

Before travelling, they had even checked their passports on a third party website which confirmed they were valid for the trip.

Mr Sugden told the BBC he and his wife were 'feeling very confused' and 'had that pit in your stomach of "oh my gosh, we've got it badly wrong"'.

Check-in staff were 'sympathetic' but 'very adamant' Mrs Sugden's passport would not be accepted at Heathrow.

'Somebody came down, I'm guessing a duty supervisor, and he confirmed what they were saying,' he added.

The couple said British Airways have apologised for the mistake and refunded the entire cost of their holiday with added compensation.
A sobbing Kim Kardashian told a court she forgives the defendant after saying she thought she was going to be raped and killed during a terrifying 2016 jewellery heist.

'I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me,' she told a Paris court on Tuesday. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die.'

The last time Kardashian saw the masked men that police say robbed her, she was bound at gunpoint and left locked in a marble bathroom while the assailants stole jewellery worth millions of dollars.

Nearly a decade later, she has returned to Paris to face them - this time from the witness box.

Dressed in black and wearing dark sunglasses, Kardashian stood in the packed courtroom across from her mother, Kris Jenner. As she entered the Voltaire Room, the star was greeted by cheers of 'wow' from the audience.

Her voice broke as she sobbed while telling the courtroom: 'I just want to be heard and understood. I appreciate the letter, those words. I forgive you. But it doesn't change the emotion and the feelings, the trauma, and my life being changed forever,' after the judge read aloud an apology note written to Kardashian in 2017.

'I came to Paris for fashion week, Paris was always a place that I loved so much. I used to walk around the city when I woke up in the middle of the night. I always felt very safe.' Kardashian told the court.

'It was around three in the morning. I heard stomping up the stairs when I was in bed. I kept calling out for my sister and one of my best friends, but no one answered me. And in my bedroom come in a few police officers, or what I assumed were police officers as they were in police uniforms,' she said, recalling the night of the robbery.

US celebrity Kim Kardashian (C) waves as she arrives at the Assize Court for the trial during which she testified over the 2016 robbery that saw her relieved of millions of dollars' worth of jewellery at gunpoint in Paris, on May 13, 2025

The trial of this sensational nine million dollar jewellery robbery opened in Paris on April 28, 2025

Kardashian testified at Paris court in the trial against 10 suspects accused of stealing jewelry valued at millions during her stay at an apartment in the October 2016 Paris Fashion Week

The last time Kardashian saw the masked men that police say robbed her, she was bound at gunpoint and left locked in a marble bathroom while the assailants stole jewellery worth millions of dollars

She told the court that the attackers arrived dressed as police officers, with the concierge in handcuffs.

Kardashian described how they tied her hands with cable ties, dragged her to the bathtub and pointed a gun at her temple.

One robber gestured toward her ring. 'Then I heard one of the gentlemen forcefully say 'Ring! Ring!' in English, with an accent, pointing'.

The suspects are accused of tying up Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making off with jewellery, including a $4million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye), according to investigators.

'And I was still in such shock, because honestly a lot of terrorist attacks were happening in the world, and I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack, and I didn't immediately understand it was for my jewellery.

'They pulled me back in the room once they realised they had everything, and they threw me on the bed.

'I was pretty hysterical and I just looked at the concierge and told him what is going to happen to us, I have to make it home to my babies,' Kardashian said.

She said at one point she feared she was going to be raped as the robbers threw her on the bed and one of them grabbed her leg. 'But he ended up tying me up and closed my legs,' she added.

'I thought about my sister, thought she would walk in and see me shot dead and have that memory in her forever.

'I absolutely thought I was going to die.

'After a few minutes, I didn't hear anything, so I (moved over) to the sink, and it was a marble sink so I cut my ties.

'When I got downstairs, Simone (her stylist) let me know that she had called my sister Kourtney, and her and the security were on the way. We weren't sure at that point if they were going to come back. So we ran on the balcony to hide in the bushes.

'I remember calling my mom from the bushes to let her know what happened. And then I think while we were waiting for my security, we were trying to come up with a plan, if we should jump from the window, as it was just a one-storey building.'

French prosecutors say the men who orchestrated the heist - most in their 60s and 70s - were part of a seasoned criminal ring that tracked Kardashian's movements through social media.

Two of the defendants have admitted being at the scene. One claims he didn't know who she was.

Twelve suspects were originally charged. One has died and another was excused due to illness.

The French press dubbed the group les papys braqueurs - 'the grandpa robbers' - but prosecutors insist they were no harmless retirees.

Kardashian, who once shared nearly every moment of her life online, later acknowledged the role that visibility played.

'People were watching,' she said in a 2021 interview. 'They knew what I had. They knew where I was.'

'Now I have between four and six security (personnel) at home for me to feel safe. I think there are people who hear these stories and then they want to copycat. My house in Los Angeles was robbed just after what happened in Paris.

'I can't sleep at night if there aren't multiple security people.'

She told the court that the attackers arrived dressed as police officers, with the concierge in handcuffs

The suspects are accused of tying up Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making off with jewellery, including a $4million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband rapper Kanye West

Simone Harouche, who was sharing their two-floor hotel suite during Fashion Week, said she heard a terrified Kardashian yelling: ''I have babies and I need to live'

Kardashian described how they tied her hands with cable ties, dragged her to the bathtub and pointed a gun at her temple

Dressed in black and wearing dark sunglasses, Kardashian stood in the packed courtroom across from her mother, Kris Jenner . As she entered the Voltaire Room, the star was greeted by cheers of 'wow' from the audience

In August 2017, one of Kardashian's alleged robbers, Omar le Viex, wrote her an apology letter which the presiding judge today read out in court

Earlier, Kardashian's childhood friend and then stylist told the court that she heard the celebrity beg for her life during the robbery.

Simone Harouche, who was sharing their two-floor hotel suite during Fashion Week, said she heard a terrified Kardashian yelling: 'I have babies and I need to live'. That is what she kept on saying, 'Take everything. I need to live.'

'I was scared that she was raped or violated. I thought the worst,' Harouche said.

Kardashian was 'screaming with terror in her voice'.

Harouche rushed to lock herself in the bathroom and texted Kardashian's sister Kourtney and their bodyguard for help.

She said: 'That experience was very stressful for me. It made me fearful of being around celebrities.

Harouche explained she went to bed before the robbery while Kardashian entertained friends upstairs. Screams jolted Harouche from her sleep.

From inside the locked bathroom, she texted Kardashian's sister Kourtney and Kardashian's bodyguard that 'something is very wrong,' Harouche testified.

Later, after the robbers had gone, she said she heard Kardashian hopping down the stairs with her ankles still bound to find her.

'She was beside herself,' Harouche said. 'She just was screaming.

'I've never seen her like that before.

'She just was screaming and kept saying we need to get out of here, we need help, what are we going to do if they come back.'

Harouche also cried at times during her testimony, and said she had changed careers and underwent therapy because of the robbery, which she said caused her post-traumatic stress and made her fearful of being around celebrities.

Harouche told the court the trauma 'forever' changed her friend, whom she's known since age 12, robbing her of a basic human right, freedom.

'She now has a completely different lifestyle,' she said. 'In terms of security, she can't go alone, she doesn't go alone to places anymore. To lose your sense of freedom... it's horrible.'

David De Pas, the lead judge, asked Harouche whether Kardashian had made herself a target by posting images of herself with 'jewels of great value'.

'No,' Harouche replied. 'Just because a woman wears jewellery, that doesn't make her a target. That's like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped.'

In August 2017, one of Kardashian's alleged robbers, Omar le Viex, wrote her an apology letter which the presiding judge today read out in court.

'Madam, it was after seeing you on a French television show and realizing the psychological damage I caused you that I decided to write to you,' he said.

'I accept responsibility for what I did () I want to come to you as a human being to tell you how sorry I am, how moved and touched I was to see you in tears. I fully sympathise with the suffering you are enduring.

'Since I became aware of your situation, my conscience has dictated that I contact you (). Of course, the past cannot be undone. But I hope that this letter will help you overcome the trauma you have suffered because of me'.

Kardashian wept as the letter was read aloud, before responding: 'I'm very moved, it's changed my life, my family's life.

'In the United States, I work in the justice system, I want to become a lawyer, I want to see people rehabilitated and I've always believed in second chances, I try to be there for those who have committed horrible crimes'.

Omar Le Vieux was reportedly touched by Kardashian's pardon.

He sent a new note, which was read by the judge: 'This pardon is like sunshine shining down on me. I thank you. For 10 years, remorse and regret have been wearing me down. I will be forever grateful to you.'

Search for The Trial: The Kim Kardashian Heist, wherever you get your podcasts now. New episodes will be released every Monday and Thursday.
An invasive plant that is toxic to the touch is rapidly spreading throughout Tennessee, as officials tell residents to beware of the increasingly prevalent danger.

Poison hemlock is spawning along roads, up fences and in fields, putting people and animals at risk, officials from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture have warned.

Formally known as Conium maculatum, every part of the purple-spotted stemmed plant is 'highly toxic,' the department wrote in a May 8 statement, adding that 'just touching or inhaling particles while cutting can be dangerous.'

Symptoms of poisoning in humans include nervous trembling, pupil dilation, a weakened pulse, convulsions and bloody stool, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported.

In severe cases, coming into contact with the plant may led to kidney failure, muscle paralysis, a coma or death, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Humans rarely get a rash from touching the invasive species, but those with sensitive skin can develop dermatitis.

'Poison hemlock isnt like poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac,' the Cleveland Clinic explained.

While experts say people should never touch the plant, it is usually only fatal if it is eaten. It is 'extremely poisonous' to humans, the USDA asserted.

Conium maculatum (pictured) generally reach four to 10 feet tall and grows dainty white clusters of flowers and parsley-like green leaves

Poison hemlock (pictured) is spawning along roads, up fences and in fields, putting people and animals at risk, officials from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture have warned

Experts have warned Tennesseans should never try to mow or burn the toxic plant (stock image)

There is no anecdote to Conium maculatum poisoning, doctors can only do their best to treat the symptoms.

The USDA said ingesting the plant is 'frequently fatal,' specifically among animals, which can die from respiratory paralysis within just two hours of eating a small amount.

Sheep, cattle, swine and horses are some of the most commonly affected species.

Animal fetuses are also at risk if their parent comes into contact with the plant.

'Skeletal deformities or cleft palate may be induced in offspring of cows, sheep, goats, and pigs that eat poison-hemlock during gestation,' the department wrote.

'Avoid contact and NEVER mow or burn it,' the Tennessee Department of Agriculture urgently warned.

If someone believes poison hemlock is on their property, they should only try to remove it while wearing gloves.

People should also connect with their local agriculture department office for assistance.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture warned people to steer clear of the dangerous plant (pictured)

Poison hemlock is part of the carrot family, but unlike its vegetable cousin, is inedible and life-threatening.

It grows across the United States in early spring and has a two-year life cycle, according to the USDA.

Conium maculatum generally reach four to 10 feet tall and grows dainty white clusters of flowers and parsley-like green leaves.

In fact, the hemlock was first brought to America from Europe because of its 'attractive flowers,' according to the USDA.

But experts said the menacing plants are about to bud in Tennessee, but people should not be fooled by the innocent-looking blossoms.

There have not been any recent accidental incidents of hemlock poisoning in recent years, but in 2017, a man injected himself with the poison plant, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

The 30-year-old man had a history of schizoaffective disorder and was rushed to the emergency room while he was having a heart attack.

It was later revealed he was seemingly trying to kill himself, and a syringe of an unknown substance was found on the scene.

Greek philosopher Socrates is believed to have died from consuming poison hemlock (pictured: a statue of Socrates in Greece)

'This was presumed to be poison hemlock,' the NLM wrote.

'This liquid was found to contain coniine, N-methylconiine, and conhydrine, the main alkaloids in poison hemlock, via high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy.

'After an extended stay in rehabilitation, the patient remained with some mild cognitive deficits and hypersexual behavior, but greatly improved since discharge.'

In 2013, a Washington woman reportedly died from putting hemlock in her salad, investigators believed at the time.

Sakha Keo, 55, apparently mistakenly ate the dangerous herb and then died, Annie Waisanen, a Pierce County medical investigator, told King 5.

Greek philosopher Socrates is believed to have died from consuming poison hemlock, according to the NLM.

It has been documented that in his last days, he experienced 'progressive centripetal paralysis.'
Two luxury Las Vegas Strip hotels have been sued by guests who claim they were 'massacred' by bed bugs.

Three guests at the Luxor Hotel and Casino and one at Treasure Island claimed they were attacked by the vermin last summer.

Those who stayed at the Luxor claimed they were 'massacred' by the parasites and left with scars, according to filings obtained by KLAS. Neither of the four-star hotels in Sin City have responded to the lawsuit, which was filed on April 21.

Stephen and Courtney Gully of Illinois claimed they were left scarred by the pests following their stay at the $373-a-night Luxor.

An EMT had to be sent up to their room during their stay between June 7 and 10 after Courtney had a reaction to the bed bugs and felt like her throat was closing, the lawsuit claimed.

She was allegedly treated in the parking lot and taken to the hospital due to the bed bugs.

The Gullys said they had to pay for an Uber back to the hotel, and Luxor had refunded them the resort fee.

'It doesn't matter if you're paying $60 a night for a room or $600 a night for a room. The obligation on the hotel operator is the same  you have to keep the guests safe,' their attorney, Brian Virag, told the local news station.

Three people alleged they were attacked by vermin at the Luxor Hotel and Casino (pictured) last summer

The three guests who stayed at the Luxor claimed they were 'massacred' by the parasites and left with scars

'The hotel operator has a responsibility to make sure that that room is bed bug-free, housekeeping has to be thoroughly trained.

'They have to know how to inspect. They need to really do a diligent job before they turn that room over to the guests.'

Brianna McKenzie, who stayed at Luxor from July 16 to 18, is the other guest who said she was attacked by bed bugs.

Virag shared disturbing images showing bite marks endured by the guests and one video of a bed bug crawling in the room.

'They typically will bite in linear patterns. We call it breakfast, lunch, and dinner,' the lawyer said.

Teresa Bruce from Los Angeles stayed at Treasure Island - where the most luxurious rooms can cost up to $2,000 a night - from June 20 to 23 when the vermin allegedly attacked her.

The hotel sent its risk management team to Bruce's room and confirmed the presence of bed bugs, according to the lawsuit.

She was moved to another room, but claimed she quickly noticed more bites on her body after the switch.

Rooms at the Luxor (pictured) can cost up to $373 per night. Two of the people suing the hotel - Stephen and Courtney Gully - said they had to go to the hospital after being biten

Disturbing images showed the bite marks endured by the guests at the expensive Sin City hotels

Teresa Bruce from Los Angeles stayed at Treasure Island (pictured) from June 20 to June 23 when the vermin attacked her

Virag shared a chilling video of a bed bug crawling in the room at one of the ritzy Vegas hotels (pictured)

Treasure Island staff confirmed the presence of bed bugs in Bruce's room. the most luxurious rooms at the hotel can cost up to $2,000 a night

The filings state that Treasure Island staff assessed Bruce's new room and confirmed there were bed bugs.

'It's on the hotel to make sure that they're not creating a dangerous condition,' Virag said.

Southern Nevada Health District records obtained by the local news outlet showed many other luxury strip hotels had bed bugs from February to August 2024, but the Luxor and Treasure Island were not listed.

Virag said that is because hotel guests often fail to report bed bugs to the health department.

DailyMail.com contacted the Luxor and Treasure Island for comment.
A British teenager has gone missing while on holiday in Thailand sparking a huge search to find her.

Bella May Culley, 18, from Billingham, County Durham, had been travelling around the country with a friend but has not been heard from since Saturday.

Her phone is said to have been turned off and she was last thought to be in the Pattaya area, which is close to Bangkok.

The teenager first flew out to the Philippines just after Easter this year and flew to Thailand around May 3. Bella had been regularly posting on social media and last shared a picture to Facebook on Monday, May 5.

Her distraught family are appealing for help to trace her whereabouts, with police in Thailand now involved in the search.

In a post on Facebook, they said Cleveland Police has also been contacted and anyone who has heard from Bella or has any information about her whereabouts is being urged to contact the force.

Bella was in regular contact with her mother Lyanne Kennedy and was due to speak with her on Saturday but the family has had no word since.

Bella's father Neil Culley has now flown out to Thailand with his sister Kerrie Culley to try to get answers.

Bella May Culley, 18, has gone missing while on holiday in Thailand sparking a huge search to find her

Bella had been regularly posting on social media and last shared THIS picture to Facebook on Monday, May 5

Her phone is said to have been turned off and she was last thought to be in the Pattaya area, which is close to Bangkok

Lyanne told Teesside Live: 'She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks.

'She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3.

'The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later.

'That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.

'I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information.

'I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice.'

Lyanne's latest post on Facebook, which has been shared over 800 times, read: 'Please Share this post Information is now urgently needed on the last known communication with Bella May.

'The police are now involved over here and in Thailand. Anything could help even if you think it isn't relevant, it could be!

Bella (pictured) had been travelling around the country with a friend but has not been heard from since Saturday

Bella's mother Lyanne posted this appeal on Facebook for help to trace her whereabouts, with police in Thailand now involved in the search

'Anyone with any info can you please contact the police by dialing 101 and quoting incident No. CVP-25-084859. Post from Cleveland Police to follow!

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: 'We have received a report of a missing person who may be in Thailand.

'Enquiries are ongoing locally and with other agencies to establish the circumstances.

'We would appeal for anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Bella Culley to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref 084859.'
Majorca was battered by freakish hailstorms yesterday that left renowned tourist hotspots on the Spanish island covered in ice and overrun with flood waters.

Tourists and locals alike were sent running for cover as huge hailstones pelted the resort of Porto Cristo, where idyllic beaches turned from golden to white in a matter of minutes as chunks of ice blanketed the sand.

Municipalities such as Manacor, Sant Llorenc and Sa Pobla were the worst affected, but large swathes of the islands were engulfed in the deluge.

Shocking video footage circulating on social media showed how furniture and tiles on typically sun-soaked decking outside hotels and private flats were smashed by the hailstorms as holidaymakers cowered inside.

Spain's state weather service AEMET issued yellow weather warnings for Majorca and Menorca, warning that up to 50 litres of rainfall per square metre drenched Manacor in just half an hour, triggering flash floods.

The warnings are in place until this evening with parts of the island now facing between 60 and 70 litres of rainfall per square metre in two or three hours.

The culprit behind the rare and destructive weather pattern was put down to what is known in Spain as 'DANA' - short for 'Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos' or 'Isolated Depression at High Levels'.

These phenomena form when a pocket of cold air detaches from the jet stream over the Atlantic and settles over warmer Mediterranean air.

The resulting clash in temperatures and pressures creates intense instability, often unleashing torrential rain, violent hailstorms, and flash floods over short periods.

Empty beaches in Porto Cristo are seen after a hailstorm which covered the sandy hotspot in ice

Municipalities such as Manacor, Sant Llorenc and Sa Pobla were the worst affected, but large swathes of the islands were engulfed in the deluge

Shocking video footage circulating social media showed how sun loungers on typically sun-soaked decking were smashed by the hailstorms

DANAs produce erratic and slow-moving storms which can dump enormous volumes of water and hail over the same region in hours.

In Spain, where the ground is often dry and the infrastructure ill-prepared for flooding, these deluges can create havoc.

The storm engulfing Majorca comes days after similar downpours punished towns in Valencia less than six months on from catastrophic flooding in the region which left more than 230 people dead.

British holidaymakers were warned against travelling after first-sized hail hammered the popular region in eastern Spain on Thursday amid orange weather warnings by AEMET denoting 'significant danger'.

The hailstorm and resulting floods gave way to chaotic scenes as Valencians rushed for cover in a month where daytime temperatures typically hover around 20 degrees Celsius.

Scarcely believable footage showed how vehicles sustained damage from the hail as others became stuck amid ice floes several inches thick in Villar del Arzobispo, with residents powerless to free them.

Other shocking clips circulating on social media showed the deluge gushing through the typically sun-kissed streets of Guadassequies and l'Olleria.

The sudden storm heaped misery on the region's residents, many of whom lost their livelihoods in the historic 'cold drop' that occurred in October 2024, triggering massive flooding which killed 232 people.

The authorities' perceived inadequacies in emergency preparation, communication and response to last year's weather phenomenon - referred to by the Spanish acronym DANA - left millions disillusioned.

Those flash floods followed days after a historic power outage left almost all of Spain without electricity for hours.

Valencians had planned a massive demonstration to call for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazon, but it was cancelled due to the power outage.

The hailstorm and resulting floods gave way to chaotic scenes as Valencians rushed for cover in a month where daytime temperatures typically hover around 20 degrees Celsius

Scarcely believable footage showed how vehicles sustained damage from the hail as others became stuck amid ice floes several inches thick in Villar del Arzobispo, with residents powerless to free them

The sudden storm heaped misery on the region's residents, many of whom lost their livelihoods in the historic 'cold drop' that occurred in October 2024

Roughly a third of Spain remained under yellow or orange weather warnings over the weekend with AEMET warning of 'very strong storms, with large hail and strong wind gusts in areas of the north and east of the Peninsula'.

The agency said the highly irregular conditions bore the hallmarks of a 'cyclonic supercell storm', a weather event which brings severe thunderstorms and hail, but it was later identified as a DANA-induced weather event.

It added that the storm was 'spreading anomalously, deviating significantly southeastward relative to the movement of the other storms in its vicinity, which are moving eastward.'

The perilous conditions in Spain are symptomatic of a wider trend in Europe, which faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013.

Floodwaters killed at least 335 people in Europe in 2024 - many of them in Spain - and affected more than 410,000, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation said in a joint report on Europe's climate last month.

Western Europe was hit hardest, with 2024 ranking among the region's ten wettest years in records going back to 1950.

A firefighter searches for victims in the half-buried wreckage of a car on a riverbank in Paiporta, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024

Spanish Army start to work cleaning following the deadly floods in the Valencian town of Paiporta, Spain on November 3, 2024

Storms and flooding are Europe's costliest weather extremes, last year causing damage exceeding 18 billion euros.

Globally, 2024 was also the world's warmest year since records began, as well as the warmest for Europe - the planet's fastest-warming continent.

The planet is now around 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer than in pre-industrial times, mainly due to human-caused climate change.

Southeastern Europe had its longest heat wave on record, totalling 13 days, while Scandinavia's glaciers shrank at the highest rates on record, and heat stress increased across the continent.

Much of Eastern Europe suffered a lack of rain and drought, while floods ravaged western Europe.

Nearly a third of Europe's overall river network exceeded a 'high' flood threshold, while 12% breached 'severe' flood levels in 2024.

Storm Boris in September dumped the heaviest rain ever recorded in Central Europe onto countries, including Austria, Czechia, Germany and Slovakia.
Dozens of birds have mysteriously dropped dead out of the sky in California, sparking fear and confusion among residents.

More than 50 birds have bizarrely fallen to their deaths in Richmond, located about 15 minutes outside of Albany, in recent months.

Now, locals have decided to take action and try to find out why these horrific instances keep occurring just over their homes.

'It's a mystery, that's how we all feel,' Heather Jones, a Richmond resident, told ABC 7. 'It's inexplicable.'

According to neighbors, the birds were seen plunging to the ground after landing on a certain stretch of a powerline in the area.

Surveillance video captured by one homeowner revealed the moment a bird perched itself on the electrical line before dramatically plummeting down.

As the bird fell, residents said they heard loud 'pop' sounds that resembled the noise of a firecracker or BB gun.

However, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife ruled out electrocution as a cause of death, deepening the mystery.

More than 50 birds have bizarrely fallen to their deaths in Richmond, California - about 15 minutes outside of Albany - in recent months

Surveillance video captured by one homeowner revealed the moment a bird perched itself on the electrical line before dramatically plummeting down

Mark Hoehner, who witnessed one of the tragic incidents months ago, told the outlet: 'It sounded like a firecracker, and a black bird, a starling, just plummeted to the ground.

'I've been under the birds when it happens, and I know where the sound is coming from. It's coming from up on the pole,' he added.

Another woman, who lives across from the powerlines residents speak of, said she's discovered several dead birds in her trash can over the past few weeks.

That same resident, who remained anonymous, said she filed a report with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office about the puzzling incidents.

The department told ABC 7 that officers responded to her home on April 26 'for a report of a suspicious circumstance.'

'A resident reported multiple birds were possibly electrocuted when they landed on a powerline. A report was made and PG&E was requested to respond to the location to inspect the power lines,' the department continued.

The gas and electric service looked into the peculiar discoveries and eventually got the California Department of Fish & Wildlife involved.

Despite many of the residents believing the birds were dying from electrocution, the agency determined that the animals' deaths were caused by trauma, not electric shock.

Despite many of the residents believing the birds were dying from electrocution, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife the animals were fatally shot with some sort of pellet from a BB or slingshot

Specifically, officials believe the birds were fatally shot with some sort of pellet from a BB or slingshot.

'We appreciate the concern of our customers in Richmond about the recent series of bird deaths. We have asked the California Department of Fish & Wildlife to evaluate several of the bird corpses,' PG&E said.

'They have shared that the birds show no evidence of electrocution, and that their deaths were caused by trauma, potentially from a pellet or BB gun or a slingshot.'

Additionally, the company said it 'does not believe that there was an issue with our electrical equipment and agrees that these birds were not electrocuted.'

The California Department of Fish & Wildlife confirmed with the outlet that they were only sent two birds to examine - a mourning dove and a European starling - not 'several' like PG&E said.

The agency also noted that the birds' cause of death remains unclear even though they suspect trauma.

'CDFW also received photos of other dead birds found at the location that showed injuries consistent with trauma. The exact cause of the trauma to all of these birds could not be determined. CDFW wildlife officers are investigating,' the agency said.

Although officials have appeared to come to a conclusion on what is causing the sudden deaths of birds in the neighborhood, residents are not convinced their findings are accurate.

Another woman who lives across from the powerlines residents speak of said she's discovered several dead birds in her trash can over the past few weeks

Locals have rejected officials' findings which state that the birds may have been killed by a slingshot or BB gun

Worried residents just want answers so the mystery can finally come to an end. (Pictured: A resident looking at a dead bird in a yard)

'I feel like a BB gun doesn't make a firecracker noise. This sounds exactly like a firecracker,' resident Heather Jones said.

Meanwhile, Jan Solomon questioned how someone could accurately hit birds consecutively.

'I can't fathom someone being so accurate all the time,' Solomon stated.

Another local, Sharon Anderson, said she often notices the power lines sparking.

'That particular wire does sizzle and arc at times,' she detailed.

Worried residents just want answers so the mystery can finally come to an end.

'We just want it solved at the end of the day,' Maximilian Bolling said.
Senior Democrats have turned on Joe Biden in a bombshell new book claiming to expose the shocking full extent of his decline.

The book, by co-authors CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson, also alleges the former president and his inner circle 'totally f***ed us' and handed the election to Donald Trump.

Exposing what they say was a concerted and long-term cover-up of Biden's failing powers, Tapper and Thompson say that in one disturbing incident the frail president allegedly failed to recognize legendary Hollywood mega-star George Clooney and 'was barely capable of stringing two sentences together' even before his grueling 2024 campaign began.

Due out in a few days, their book suggests that, despite repeated assurance from those close to him, Biden had been in cognitive decline since as far back as 2015.

And that a 'Politburo' of trusted advisers, including Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, and Bruce Reed, plus members of Biden's family, effectively aided him as he 'stole' the election from the Democrats and 'the American people' because of their selfish insistence that 'an addled old man' should stand again.

The authors don't mince their words - and neither do the slew of furious Democrats who have contributed to the book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

In one excoriating summary, Tapper and Thompson suggest the decision to push Biden to run for re-election in 2024 was 'shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional and reckless  a desperate bet that went bust and part of a larger act of extended public deception that has few precedents

'The decision to run again, the Original Sin of this president, led to a campaign of denial and gaslighting, leading directly to Donald Trump's return to power.'

Senior Democrats have turned on Joe Biden in a bombshell new book claiming that the former president and his inner circle 'totally f***ed us' and handed the election to Donald Trump .

Jake Tapper (pictured) and Alex Thompson suggest the decision to push Biden to run for re-election in 2024 was 'shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional and reckless  a desperate bet that went bust and part of a larger act of extended public deception that has few precedents

Tapper and Thompson (pictured) claim Biden 'was barely capable of stringing two sentences together' even before the grueling campaign began.

So outraged are influential Democrats that a number have allowed their names to be used in the book, including David Plouffe, who managed Obama's successful 2008 campaign. 'We got so screwed by Biden as a party,' Plouffe is quoted as saying.

In one of the most shocking revelations, Biden was reportedly so impaired that he didn't recognize Clooney at a star-studded June 2024 Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles, the book says, claiming it left the actor 'shaken to his core.'

'It was obvious to many standing there that the president did not know who George Clooney was,' the authors write.

Another Hollywood VIP guest reportedly said: 'It was like watching someone who was not alive. It was so awful.'

Weeks after that LA fundraiser, and following Biden's disastrous TV debate against Trump, Clooney wrote a now-infamous op-ed for The New York Times calling for Biden to drop out of the race.

The tactfully-worded article didn't go into details but Clooney wrote that, in private, the president was, indeed, 'the same man we all witnessed at the debate.'

In another passage of this new book, Tapper and Thompson describe how in June 2023, former president Barack Obama allegedly visited Biden to 'kick the tires.'

He told Biden that Trump would be formidable and left Biden with a warning.

'Just make sure you can win the race,' he said.

Yet the Biden's 'physical deterioration' was so advanced that 'that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldn't do so until after the election,' the authors write.

After Biden finally dropped out of the race, on July 21, 2024, David Plouffe was drafted to help Harris in her eleventh-hour attempt to beat Trump.

This 'rescue mission' was 'a f***ing nightmare', the former Obama staffer tells the authors. Biden 'totally f***ed us.'

From production trickery during filmed appearances, to severely limited work periods for the ageing president, the book also reveals the extraordinary measures taken to prevent the public - and the rest of the Democratic Party - from seeing what they say was the true scale of Biden's infirmity.

At 82, Biden was already the oldest president in the history of the republic when he finished his term in office.

When the White House aides filmed his appearances, they would use more than one camera, allowing 'jump cuts' (switching from one view to another) to obscure his stumbles, according to the book.

Original Sin says that from January 1, 2023 to April 27, 2024, the president had undertaken only four public events before 10.00 am.

He had 12 clear weekends with no public events, and, claim the authors, only 12 public events after 6.00 pm most of which were off-camera.

But the president's issues weren't a recent development. The authors claim that by 2020, during Biden's first campaign, he already could no longer follow conversations and a special team was hired to edit his verbal stumbles out of campaign ads.

The authors say he had trouble recording even mundane thoughts without fluffing his lines.

'Biden often couldn't make it through one or two minutes without botching a line or two,' one source says.

Biden was reportedly so impaired that he didn't recognize George Clooney at a star-studded June 2024 fundraiser in Los Angeles, the book reveals, claiming it left the actor 'shaken to his core.' (Biden is pictured at the fundraiser with Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barack Obama).

Original Sin, published by Penguin Random House, will be all-the-more disturbing to the Democratic establishment as CNN anchor Jake Tapper has been regarded as a liberal commentator sympathetic to Biden.

One prominent Democratic strategist who once publicly defended Biden is quoted saying that the former president 'stole' the election from the American people.

Another leading Democrat had been assured that the president was 'fine', but when he met Biden in person, he found the First Lady, Jill Biden, was finishing some thoughts for him.

'He was clearly not f***ing fine,' this source tells the authors.

On Friday, Biden was treated at Philadelphia hospital after a 'small nodule' that required 'further evaluation' was discovered on his prostate, said a spokesman, who declined to provide more details.
A Conservative MP was today charged with two counts of sexual assault after two alleged incidents involving two women at London's exclusive Groucho Club.

Patrick Spencer, 37, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, attended a voluntary interview at a police station in the capital on March 13.

He has now been charged with two counts of sexual assault, contrary to Section 3(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, relating to two alleged incidents in August 2023.

The Metropolitan Police said the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the force to charge Spencer, who will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 16.

The Conservatives have since confirmed that Spencer has been suspended from the party and had the whip withdrawn 'with immediate effect'.

Spencer 'categorically denies' the two charges of sexual assault against him and 'will defend the allegations robustly in court', his lawyers said.

MailOnline also understands that Spencer was asked not to attend the Parliamentary estate by the Chief Whip while police inquiries were ongoing.

Under changes approved by the Commons last year, MPs face being barred from attending Parliament if they are arrested for serious sexual or violent offences.

Patrick Spencer, the Conservative MP for Central Suffolk & North Ipswich

A risk assessment panel appointed by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle considers cases and can decide on measures including exclusion from the Parliamentary estate and a ban on Commons-funded travel, although its conclusions are kept confidential.

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP.

'The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023.

'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

And a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man following an investigation by detectives.

'The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Patrick Spencer, 37, from Suffolk, in connection with an investigation into two sexual assaults, which reportedly occurred at Groucho Club in August 2023.

The Groucho Club on Dean Street in Soho, London (file picture)

'The charges relate to two separate women. On March 13, 2025, a man attended a voluntary interview at a London police station.

'Patrick Spencer has since been charged with two counts of sexual assault and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 16.'

A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect. The Conservative Party cannot comment further on an ongoing legal case.'

Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290.

Prior to entering Parliament, he worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer.

He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think thank and then becoming a senior adviser at the Department for Education.

He made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the 'most important thing to the people across my constituency' was 'restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system'.
A civil war is threatening to tear apart the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement as a top RFK Jr advisor and the CEO of a supplement company beloved by conservatives have levelled bombshell allegations against each other.

The rift was opened in recent weeks as Peter Gillooly, the CEO of The Wellness Company, and Calley Means, a 'special advisor' to HHS chief Kennedy, accused each other of wrongdoing.

Gillooly launched an official complaint on Saturday accusing Means of abusing his position in RFK Jr's inner circle to threaten him with retribution directly from Kennedy and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya.

According to the complaint, obtained by Politico, Means called Gillooly on Saturday morning accusing him of leaking information to far-right activist Laura Loomer, telling him: 'If one more thing happens, Im going to go to Jay Bhattacharya and Bobby.'

He threatened to 'tell him that you and your cadre... are spreading lies and trying to f*** with him and hurt his administration', according to a transcript in the reported complaint.

The crux of the fallout appears to be an X post from Loomer on Friday accusing Means' company TrueMed with tax fraud.

The company provides patients with doctor's letters that allow them to purchase health products through their insurance, which Loomer alleged are auto-generated without any proper medical reviews.

Gillooly denied ever contacting Loomer, but now says that Means' threat to bring Kennedy and Bhattacharya into the fight is an abuse of his position and violates federal law on conflicts of interest.

A civil war is threatening to tear apart the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement as top RFK Jr advisor Calley Means (pictured) has squared off against the CEO of a supplement company beloved by conservatives

Peter Gillooly (pictured), the CEO of The Wellness Company, an official complaint on Saturday accusing Means of abusing his position in RFK Jr's inner circle to threaten him with retribution directly from Kennedy

The allegations against Means come as he has faced backlash from figures such as Loomer of being anti-Trump, despite his position as a close advisor to RFK Jr.

His sister Casey Means was also recently nominated to be the next Surgeon General by Trump, a move that sparked controversy as she has often made claims about holistic health benefits on shows such as The Joe Rogan Experience and the Tucker Carlson Show.

As a special advisor to Kennedy in the HHS, Calley Means has been allowed to maintain his business ties to the healthcare industry by serving in a temporary capacity.

The potential conflicts of interest between his government role and business came under the spotlight following Loomer's post, which alleged that TrueMed has given patients doctor's notes that are 'not actually reviewed by a doctor.'

Loomer claimed that sources told her TrueMed's letters are 'allegedly auto-generated instantaneously and auto-signed', which she said would be tantamount to tax fraud.

'This could create a massive scandal for the Trump admin. We dont want the Trump admin being accused of having advisors involved in any tax scandals,' Loomer added.

Gillooly denied ever having had contact with Loomer, and the firebrand activist told Politico that she was never sent any information about Means, adding that she 'looks stuff up on my own.'

According to the complaint, Means called Gillooly on Saturday morning accusing him of leaking information to far-right activist Laura Loomer (pictured with Trump last year), telling him: 'If one more thing happens, Im going to go to Bobby'

Means (left) has been accused of abusing his position as special advisor to HHS Secretary RFK Jr (right), as he serves in a role that allows him to not divest from his business interests in the healthcare industry

Gillooly's Wellness Company is often touted by conservative figures. He is pictured in an appearance on Jack Posobiec's show Human Events

In his call to Gillooly that was cited in the complaint, Means threatened to 'sue the s*** out of you' and 'escalate this if it continues.'

The complaint was filed Saturday to the Office of Special Counsel, HHS Office of Civil Rights, HHS Office of Inspector General and the Federal Trade Commission.

In a statement to Politico following the complaint's filing, Means clarified that he berated Gillooly and the Wellness Company on the call because he received information the company 'was actively spreading provably false information about TrueMed.'

'I called the CEO of the Wellness Company and threatened legal action if he continued to spread this provably false information. I noted I would prefer they stop spreading provably untrue information before I was forced to take legal action,' he said.

Means' hostile response to Gillooly threatens to cause a major rift in the MAHA movement, with the RFK Jr insider now squaring off with The Wellness Company - whose leading figures are often praised in conservative media spaces.

Means, pictured with Medicare and Medicaid boss Dr. Mehmet Oz, threatened to 'sue the s***' out of Gillooly and his company and 'go to (Kennedy)' over their social media rift

Gillooly (left) said of his filing: 'I think there needs to be a thorough investigation because this sort of behavior has no place in the federal government'

On Monday, TrueMed reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to Gillooly and The Wellness Company accusing them of leaking false information to Loomer with the intention of embarrassing their rival.

The Wellness Company's founder Foster Coulson also denied the claims, saying he has 'never spoken to Laura Loomer in my life.'

He doubled down on Gillooly's claims in his response, saying: 'Using the government to essentially weaponize them against a private company is extremely concerning and is a tremendous threat.'

Gillooly said in his lawsuit that Means 'clearly states that if I do not accept his accusation and comply  which I am not guilty of in the first place  he will sue myself and my business.'

'Additionally, Means threatens to blackmail my private corporation with HHS executive leadership if we do not comply with his demands, and extort my business into transacting with Truemed.'

'I think there needs to be a thorough investigation because this sort of behavior has no place in the federal government,' Gillooly concluded to Politico.
A young boy has died and a girl is fighting for life after a horror crash between a truck and dual-cab ute.

Emergency services rushed to Towamba Road, Nullica, 10km south-west of Eden on the NSW Far South Coast, about 4.10pm on Tuesday.

A six-year-old boy, who was travelling in the ute, died at the scene.

The male ute driver aged in his 30s suffered leg and spinal injuries while a second passenger- a girl, 3, suffered head injuries.

They were airlifted from Merimbula Airport in separate Toll Ambulance Rescue helicopters. Both were in a critical condition.

A third ute passenger, an eight-year-old girl, was taken to South-East Regional Hospital at Bega with minor injuries.

The truck driver, believed to be aged in his 50s, was taken to the same hospital for mandatory testing.

He was also treated for the effects of shock.

A truck crash between a ute and truck claimed the life of a six-year-old boy (pictured, an injured occupant of the ute being transported)

The male ute driver and a three-year-old passenger were airlifted (pictured) from Merimbula Airport

A third occupant of the ute, an eight-year-old girl, suffered minor injuries and was taken to South-East Regional Hospital at Bega

The State Emergency Service road crash team also provided assistance.

'The crash scene will be examined by officers attached to the Southern Region Crash Investigation Unit, which is now enroute to the scene,' NSW Police statement read.

Towamba Road was closed for several hours as investigations were carried out.

The road remained closed in both directions at 11.30pm, blocking access to the Princess Highway from Toowoomba Road.

Authorities urged motorists in the area to find an alternative route.

Anyone with information or dashcam is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
A tiny patch of sand on a UK beach has gone on the market with a six figure price tag.

Nestled between beach huts on Porth Mawr in Abersoch, Wales, the sliver of land is up for sale for 100,000, the price of a flat or even a small house in parts of the country.

The location had previously housed a wooden shack too but this was damaged in storms and pulled down by the owner.

Planning permission has been secured from Cyngor Gwynedd for a new beach hut despite it being branded an 'overdevelopment' by Llanengan Community Council.

The piece of land is on the market with Elvins Estate Agents who say it 'beautiful panoramic views across the bay towards St Tudwals Islands and Machroes Beach'.

They said: 'An exciting opportunity to acquire a beach hut plot on Abersoch main beach with planning permission to build a new hut.

'Benefit from owning your own part of Abersoch beach with the convenience of storage and shelter at the waters edge. Beautiful panoramic views across the bay towards St Tudwals Islands and Machroes Beach.

'We believe the property to be Freehold, but potential purchasers should seek clarification from their solicitor prior to an exchange of contracts.'

Nestled between beach huts on Porth Mawr in Abersoch, the sliver of land is up for sale for 100,000

The location had previously housed a wooden shack too but this was damaged in storms and pulled down by the owner

Planning permission has been secured from Cyngor Gwynedd for a new beach hut

The piece of land is on the market with Elvins Estate Agents who say it 'beautiful panoramic views across the bay towards St Tudwals Islands and Machroes Beach'. Pictured: Abersoch beach

In the planning application, applicant Jonathan Edwards said: 'The site is on the coast line of Porth Mawr Beach, Abersoch in a line of similar beach huts running north from the beach access toward the Sailing Club.

'The building will only be used as a Beach Hut and no heating will be provided and also no requirement for foul waste will be required.

'The rainwater from the roof will discharge directly into the sand which is what occurs presently with the existing beach hut and every beach hut adjacent.

Porth Mawr beach runs at nearly half a mile in length and is known among locals for its golden sand and is mainly backed by the dunes.
A 19-year-old British woman has been detained in Tbilisi accused of carrying 14kg of cannabis into ex-Soviet republic Georgia.

The woman - identified as B.K. - could face 20 years jail or even life imprisonment, said the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A video shows the handcuffed woman after she was held at Tbilisi Airport.

'During the inspection, 34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana were found in the passenger's bag, as well as 20 packages of hashish,' said a local report.

Footage showed the drugs allegedly carried by the woman.

She is accused of bringing 'a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs to Georgia'.

The Interior Ministry said: 'B.K., born in 2006, is charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia.

'The committed crime envisions up to 20 years - or life imprisonment.

A British woman, 19, has been detained in Tbilisi accused of carrying 14kg of cannabis into ex-Soviet republic Georgia

The woman - identified as B.K. - could face 20 years jail or even life imprisonment, said the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. A video shows the handcuffed woman after she was held at Tbilisi Airport

'During the inspection, 34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana were found in the passenger's bag, as well as 20 packages of hashish,' said a local report

'Law enforcement officers, as a result of the defendant's luggage inspection at Tbilisi International Airport, seized a particularly large amount of the narcotic drug marijuana, up to 12 kilograms, and 2.068 kg of the narcotic drug hashish in her travel bag.'

Her luggage was identified as suspicious during a scanner check at the airport, said the ministry's statement.

The ministry did not say where the woman was flying from when she was detained.

The investigation is being conducted by the Central Criminal Police Department in Tbilisi.

It comes just one week after a British man was hauled into court in Bali for allegedly smuggling a kilo of MDMA to the party island where drug crimes can result in the death penalty.

Thomas Parker, a 32-year-old electrician from Cumbria who is accused of trying to push Class A drugs police said they recovered in a mail package, appeared in a white shirt and red waistcoat as he was hauled in front of a judge on May 7.

The woman is accused of bringing 'a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs to Georgia'

The Interior Ministry said: 'B.K., born in 2006, is charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia'

Parker, from the small village of Seaton near Workington, was arrested at an AirBnB in the south of the Indonesian island in January as he was allegedly collecting the package, which contained over a kilogram of the party drug along with two mobile phones.

Authorities claimed that officers had noticed him 'acting suspiciously' while collecting a package from a motorcycle taxi driver on January 21, before his arrest.

Police approached Parker, who allegedly discarded the package in panic and fled the scene. He was traced back to the 7 Seas Villas in North Kuta, where he was arrested.

Indonesia is known for its harsh punishments for drugs crimes, which can carry penalties of death by firing squad.

General Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat, of the Bali Province National Narcotics Agency, said of Parker's arrest: 'After conducting a search and arrest, Thomas and the evidence were taken to the Bali Province National Narcotics Agency office for investigation.'
For months, Rongmei Yan thought she was exchanging text messages with her beloved daughter in Australia.

She did not realise Yang Zhao was pretending to be Qiong Yan in a bid to steal money after murdering her daughter and putting her in a tool box.

Almost five years after the decomposing body of Ms Yan, 29, was found on a Brisbane unit's balcony, Zhao was on Tuesday found guilty of murder by a Supreme Court jury.

Zhao, 30, received a life sentence and will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years.

'I feel sorry that all those days that the person I've been talking to was not my daughter... at the time she had already become a skeleton,' Ms Yan's mother said in a devastating victim impact statement on Tuesday.

During the two-week trial Ms Yan's mother sat silently in court as she endured evidence that detailed her daughter's 'senseless murder' and 'appalling treatment' of her body.

After flying in from Shanghai, she heard Zhao had killed her daughter by striking her on the head with a metal bottle and strangling her in September 2020 at their inner-Brisbane apartment.

Zhao then put Ms Yan's body in a tool box on their balcony and unlocked her phone, impersonating her for months via text messages to her mother.

Qiong Yan, 29, (pictured) was murdered and left to decompose in a tool box by her killer Yang Zhao who was on Tuesday given a life sentence five years after her body was discovered

Zhao, 30, received a life sentence and will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years

More than 2500 WeChat messages were sent with Zhao requesting bank transfers, stealing almost $500,000 from Ms Yan's mum who is now 'destitute'.

Ms Yan's mother broke down when the jury took just two hours to find Zhao guilty of murder before reading a heartbreaking statement translated to the court.

'When I heard the news that my daughter had been murdered I suddenly lost the capacity to walk,' she said.

'After several months of acupuncture treatment I gradually recovered.

'Every day I wash my face with tears. I still cannot accept the fact my daughter is gone.'

The money stolen by Zhao was compensation Ms Yan's mother had received from the Chinese government for relocating her house.

'Not only have you consigned her to a lifetime of grieving, you drained all her available money and as far as I can gauge, she's been left destitute as a result of no realistic prospect of recovering anything from you,' Justice Martin Burns told Zhao during his sentencing.

Justice Burns found Ms Yan had died of strangulation before Zhao began impersonating her.

Rongmei Yan, who was left destitute and bereaved, told the court 'Every day I wash my face with tears. I still cannot accept the fact my daughter is gone'

'You did this (impersonation) to keep up the pretence that Ms Yan was still alive and also to gain access to her mother's money,' he said.

'Your singular motive for the murder of Ms Yan and the concealment of her body - naked greed - was thereby realised.'

Zhao, a Chinese national living in Australia on a student visa, had pleaded not guilty to murder.

He instead pleaded guilty to interfering with Ms Yan's corpse, which was found by police in the tool box about 10 months after her murder.

Zhao spent three days giving evidence at the trial, claiming Ms Yan died accidentally after they had both spent up to four hours in the apartment inhaling nitrous oxide, which he referred to as 'nangs' or 'laughing gas'.

Zhao testified Ms Yan passed out on the floor and stopped breathing while he was asleep on a nearby couch.

He claimed he hid her body because he was afraid of being charged with supplying drugs.

Zhao admitted later drinking alcohol, inhaling 'nangs' and having sex in the apartment metres from where Ms Yan's body was located.
Reform is holding on to a five-point lead despite Keir Starmer's desperate efforts to win back voters, according to a poll today.

YouGov research has put Nigel Farage's party on 28 per cent - down one since last week. Labour has gained one to reach 23 per cent, with both changes within the margin of error.

The Tories were languishing on just 18 per cent, having barely improved their standing.

The survey was carried out on Sunday and Monday, partly before the Prime Minister formally unveiled his 'island of strangers' crackdown on immigration.

However, the measures were widely trailed over the weekend.

Panic has been mounting in Labour circles about the rising threat from Reform, which picked up ten councils, two mayoralties and the previously safe Commons seat of Runcorn on May 1.

Sir Keir has insisted he 'gets' the message from voters, and has been stepping up his rhetoric on immigration. He also hailed a trade deal with the US to help revive the stalling economy.

YouGov research has put Reform on 28 per cent - down one since last week. Labour has gained one to reach 23 per cent, with both changes within the margin of error

The survey was carried out on Sunday and Monday, partly before Keir Starmer (pictured) formally unveiled his 'island of strangers' crackdown on immigration

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told a behind-closed-doors meeting of MPs last week that the party is facing the 'fight of our lives'.

But factions are at odds over how to respond to the surge.

The Labour Growth Group, an influential caucus of new MPs, has sounded the alarm that Mr Farage will become prime minister unless the UK gets out of an 'economic doom loop'.

Chairman Chris Curtis told the Guardian: 'Britain is stuck in a complete economic doom loop. We've had low growth.

'That's led to pretty awful cuts. It's led to public services that are broken. And it's led to disillusionment and division among the country...

'Until we get out of that economic doom loop, Nigel Farage is going to become prime minister. I think the stakes are that high.'

The Red Wall group of MPs have demanded a 'break away from Treasury orthodoxy'.

Left-wingers have been calling for a 'wealth tax' to replace cuts to the winter fuel allowance and benefits.

There has also been a push from the so-called 'Blue Labour' faction for a stronger crackdown on immigration.


The SNPs long-running ferry shambles continued yesterday after bosses at a nationalised shipyard announced another six-month delay to a lifeline vessel.

The Glen Rosa, already seven years behind schedule, will not now be handed over until the second quarter of 2026, while the cost has increased to a maximum of 185 million.

It had previously been hoped the vessel would be delivered in September this year, ahead of joining the Glen Sannox in serving the Arran route, though the shipyard had acknowledged a risk this deadline would be missed.

The state-owned shipyard has been under intense scrutiny around the delays and cost increases of the two ferries, which are about four times the original price tag of 97 million.

The latest update from Ferguson Marine means Glen Rosa's cost has increased from 150 million to 172.5 million, with an additional risk contingency giving a maximum forecasted cost of 185 million.

Former Babcock chief executive Graeme Thomson joined Ferguson Marine as its new chief executive in March.

He said: This is not the announcement we wanted to be making at this stage and cannot overstate our understanding of the importance of providing realistic handover schedules to support CalMac to provide a more reliable and robust service to the communities it serves.

No one wants to see the swift delivery of MV Glen Rosa more than Ferguson Marine and we are committed to working hard to ensure the vessel is delivered within this window.

The Glen Rosa ferry, already seven years behind schedule, will be delayed for at least another six months

We apologise unreservedly to islanders for this additional delay and want to assure everyone that we are working extremely hard to deliver a quality vessel that showcases the skill and experience of Clydebuilt ships.

Once delivered, MV Glen Rosa will be transformative for our island communities.

Conservative MSP Sue Webber said the latest delay was astonishing, adding: The enormous increase in both the delay and the cost of delivering the Glen Rosa beggars belief - and yet it is totally in keeping with the nationalists scandalous mismanagement of our ferry network.

In trying to buy some positive headlines, they allowed parts of the Glen Rosa to be cannibalised to prevent further delays to the Glen Sannox.

She added: Cynics might wonder if this news has been deliberately released today, while attention is focused on a major parliamentary vote.

Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene said: The MV Glen Rosa should have been delivered back in 2018, now islanders might have to wait until after the next Scottish Parliament election before this vessel enters service, which is a disgrace.

The hard-working staff at Ferguson Marine have been let down by bosses, all paid huge sums of public cash, yet islanders are still waiting on their ferries.

Labour transport spokesman Claire Baker said This is yet another sorry chapter in this fiasco and a hammer blow to the island communities desperately awaiting new ferries.

The SNPs ferry chaos means people on the islands are being cut off from loved ones, missing healthcare appointments, and struggling to keep businesses afloat.

Taxpayers are picking up a spiralling bill for SNP incompetence and our crumbling infrastructure is missing out on much needed investment.

Scotlands iconic shipbuilding industry is losing out on work because of SNP chaos and the skilled workers at Fergusons yard are being forced to clean up a mess they did not create.

The SNP has failed islanders, taxpayers and shipyard workers at every point in this farce.

We have had a merry-go-round of government Ministers and shipyard turnaround directors, but there has been a total vacuum in leadership.

Ferguson Shipyard, brought into public ownership by the SNP, has come under increasing pressure as the ferry saga continues

John Swinney must step up and take responsibility for delivering this ferry and securing future work for Fergusons yard.

On April 2, Holyrood's transport committee wrote to Ferguson Marine boss David Dishon complaining about the lack of an update for 'several months'.

Convener Edward Mountain said he was 'frustrated' by the lack of a delivery timeline for the ferry which is due to operate on the Arran route Mr Mountain told the yard to provide MSPs with a date and cost by April 16 'given the significant public interest in this matter'.

But it has taken until now for the yard to admit that the ferry is facing further major delays.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: I have communicated my disappointment and frustration to the board of FMPG (Ferguson Marine) at the confirmation of a further delay and increased estimated cost to deliver the Glen Rosa.

Taxpayers, and the communities which depend on the island ferries service, deserve better.

I have instructed that a new weekly review group be established, chaired by Ferguson Marine and comprising the yard and our independent technical advisers, CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd), to scrutinise the vessel's delivery plan and ensure it is realistic, efficient and cost-effective.

This is now operating alongside existing project meetings which continue to oversee key milestones, cost forecasts and operational performance.
After days of MAGA Republicans pushing back, GOP lawmakers are now worried

After Qatar announced its plan to gift Donald Trump a jet, the president's closest MAGA allies in Congress are telling the president to be wary of the 'bribe.'

The Qatari royal family has given the president a Boeing 747-8, a gift reportedly worth $400 million, which Trump said would serve as a replacement to Air Force One 'temporarily.'

The president has been frustrated that his 2018 order for new planes to replace the aging fleet has been continuously delayed by Boeing. Estimates range, but some indicate the Air Force One replacements won't come until after Trump's term ends.

'So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a gift, free of charge, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, top dollar, for the plane,' Trump posted.

'Anybody can do that! The Dems are world class losers!' Trump sneered.

However, since the president confirmed he would accept the 'free' plane, his MAGA allies have sounded off, warning the Republican against accepting it.

'The Constitution in Article II talks about how the president cant take emoluments or gifts from foreign leaders,' Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said on Fox News Monday night.

'Were not talking about a ride on the plane; were talking about the entire $400 million plane. I think its not worth the appearance of impropriety.'

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025

The Qatari-plane which Trump toured in February 2025 while at Palm Beach International Airport. The motorcade of Trump is parked next to an almost 13-year-old Boeing 747

An inside look at the plane gifted from Qatar to President Trump

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told reporters: 'It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.'

The Constitution states that no president should accept 'any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever,' without 'the consent of the Congress.'

'Im not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas. I dont know how you make it safe,' Trump's home state senator, Florida Republican Rick Scott, said.

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz also has questions about the plane's security.

'I think the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems,' Cruz said on CBNC. 'Well see how this plays out but I certainly have concerns.'

The plane would have to undergo a lengthy retrofitting to serve as the president's official ride.

The current models boast advanced sensor and communication arrays in addition to defense capabilities - many of which are classified.

The 13-year-old Qatari plane would serve as a replacement to the pair of 35-year-old Boeing 747 jets that presidents have been using since 1990.

A model of a proposed design for a new Air Force One plane sits on the table as US President Donald Trump meets with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 24, 2025

Sen. Rand Paul warned that Trump's accepting the gift could cut against the Constitution

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott said he would not ride on the plane

Trump remains adamant that refusing the 'free' plane would be 'stupid.'

'I think its a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much,' the president said on Monday. 'I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer.'

Democrats, in addition to Republicans, have also slammed the gesture as dishonest.

'This is corruption, plain and simple,' Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., posted on X.

Beyond the hallways of Congress, criticism has rung out from the ranks of MAGA pundits and show hosts as well.

'A $400 million plane is not a gift, it's a bribe,' Batya Ungar-Sargon, a conservative commentator and frequent Fox News and CNN guest, and typical Trump supporter, reacted.

'It's turning my stomach that Qatar, a state sponsor of terror, has become a major player on the global stage. Hamas is celebrating, which is all you need to know,' she said while appearing Monday on Newsmax.

Trump gestures as he exits his plane upon arriving at the airport in Riyadh on May 13, 2025

Conservative show host Ben Shapiro lashed out at Trump's acceptance of the plane

A seating area within the 747-8 plane resplendent with leather seats and coffee tables

'The administration's policy is too important for this sort of activity,' conservative talk host Ben Shapiro said on his show.

'Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, that's not America first. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop.'

Even some of the most staunch MAGA allies of the president signaled their disgust.

'I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade,' MAGA show host Laura Loomer wrote on X. 'We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift' from jihadists in suits.'

'The Qataris fund the same Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered US Service Members. The same proxies that have worked with the Mexican cartels to get jihadists across our border. This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.'
A high-speed police pursuit ended in a fiery wreck in Los Angeles, sending shockwaves through the Leimert Park neighborhood and leaving five people hospitalized  including a woman in critical condition and a 12-year-old boy.

The crash unfolded around 8:21 p.m. Monday about 7.5 miles south west of downtown LA after officers from the LAPDs Southwest Division attempted to pull over a DUI suspect.

The chase was called off moments before one of the patrol cars slammed into a red sedan, sparking a violent collision at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Vernon Avenue.

Dramatic video shows the LAPD cruiser engulfed in flames, its front end crumpled beyond recognition.

Thick smoke poured into the night sky as stunned witnesses looked on, sirens blared, and emergency lights lit up the street.

Two officers managed to escape the burning vehicle before it was left charred and smoking at the scene.

Firefighters rushed to the 4300 block of South Crenshaw Boulevard, where they found the red sedan mangled, its airbags deployed and its front bumper torn away.

A high-speed LAPD chase ended in a fiery crash in LAs Leimert Park, leaving five people hospitalized  including a critically injured woman and a 12-year-old boy  after a patrol car slammed into a red sedan

The suspect, wanted for DUI, managed to escape as dramatic video captured the charred wreckage and chaotic rescue efforts

Two occupants were trapped inside and had to be cut free by rescue crews, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart.

The video also shows the red sedan wedged against a dirt embankment near a construction site, surrounded by toppled plastic barricades and scattered debris.

The cars doors were flung open and trash was strewn across the sidewalk from the force of the crash.

Firefighters in yellow turnout gear worked under harsh lighting as a large fire truck blocked the road.

All five victims  including the critically injured 30-year-old woman and the young boy  were transported to nearby hospitals. The boys condition was not immediately released.

AIR7 footage captured paramedics treating multiple victims and loading them into ambulances.

Police said the original suspect, wanted on suspicion of DUI, managed to flee the area. No description has been released.

Authorities are continuing to investigate what led up to the crash, which left a trail of destruction in its wake.
The family of a young florist brutally battered to death in 1986 now face another painful quest for justice after a man was cleared of her murder following 38 years in prison.

Diane Sindall, who was 21 and engaged to be married, was savagely attacked while walking to get petrol after a late shift in a pub before her mutilated body was dumped in an alleyway in Birkenhead, Merseyside.

Local labourer Peter Sullivan was jailed for her murder a year later, but on Tuesday three senior judges quashed the 68-year-old's conviction after the Court of Appeal heard DNA evidence showed the killer was someone else.

Merseyside Police said the investigation into Miss Sindall's killing was reopened in June 2023 when it was notified by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) that DNA recovered at the scene was not a match for Mr Sullivan.

Finding the killer after nearly four decades will present a major challenge for detectives, who have already screened and ruled out 260 suspects, including Miss Sindall's family and her fiance.

They have been unable to find a match for the DNA on Miss Sindall's body which they are certain is that of her killer. Police will be hoping to find new witnesses who were present on the night of August 1, 1986.

At the time, Miss Sindall had just finished a shift behind the bar at The Wellington in Bebington, where she was working to save money for her upcoming wedding.

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Diane Sindall, who was 21 and engaged to be married, was savagely attacked while walking to get petrol after a late shift in a pub before her mutilated body was dumped in an alleyway

About 15 minutes into the short journey home, her Fiat Fiorino broke down near a roundabout in Birkenhead, forcing her to grab a plastic can from the back of the van and walk along a busy, well-lit road to find the nearest petrol station.

But at some point, shortly after midnight, she was hit multiple times on the head and indecently assaulted.

It would be another 12 hours or so before her body was discovered, on Saturday August 2, 1986. Diane She been beaten about the face, head and body, and sustained multiple fractures.

Her bra and T-shirt had been pulled up around her neck and her jeans, shoes, knickers and handbag were missing. Poignantly, she was still wearing her diamond engagement ring.

Merseyside Police launched its biggest ever murder inquiry in the hunt for the killer, who was dubbed the 'Beast of Birkenhead'.

The lead-up to her murder was later reconstructed for Crimewatch.

At about 11.45pm, witnesses saw Miss Sindall stop her Fiat van near a roundabout in Borough Road, Birkenhead. She was dressed in a white top with black spots, jeans, green high-heeled shoes and was carrying a handbag.

Bus driver Gary Lamb told police he spotted her at 12.03am just before a bus stop.

Another sighting at 12.10am was by a taxi driver looking for fares who saw a woman struggling with a man. He said they were arguing and appeared to know each other.

At 12.15pm on Saturday August 2, a woman dog walker discovered Diane's body in a narrow alley off Borough Road. Miss Sindall's van was parked and locked where she left it  just 500 yards away.

Two weeks later, the victims jeans, knickers, green high-heeled shoes and handbag were found burned on Bidston Hill, just outside of Birkenhead.

A witness subsequently recalled seeing a man, who he knew was called Peter, behaving oddly nearby, and described him as having a long nose and tattooed arms.

Police are now reinvestigating Miss Sindall's murder in the hope of bringing her killer to justice

The Wirral pub where Ms Sindall worked to help pay for her forthcoming wedding

On September 22, a plain-clothes policeman walked into a pub in Birkenhead and after talking to local man Mr Sullivan, noticed his pointed nose and forearm tattoos.

Three days later, police raided his home and found a crowbar.

After initially confessing, Mr Sullivan then denied being the killer, saying that apart from going to a nearby shop, he'd spent the night of Diane's death watching television with his pregnant common-law wife and twin stepsons before going to bed just before midnight.

He was charged with her murder.

At Mr Sullivan's trial at Liverpool Crown Court, which began in September 1987, the prosecution said that bite marks found on Diane's body 'proved' Mr Sullivan was the murderer, earning him the nickname 'The Wolfman'.

Jurors also heard a taped interview in which Mr Sullivan confessed to Diane's murder, adding: 'I don't know why I hit her.'

He described how he stopped her on Borough Road late at night and asked her the time before lashing out with a brick.

But Mr Sullivan later said he had been pressured into confessing. 'Why would I go out and kill a girl like that  only 21 years of age? She's got a lot to live for,' he told police. 'I have got no reason to go out and kill anybody.'

During the trial, the judge was forced to dramatically halt his summing up after a 'Mr X'  he has never been named  came forward to claim responsibility for stealing Diane's handbag, cash, clothing and her earrings after stumbling across her dead body at 6am.

The man also admitted he was the person spotted running away from Bidston Hill after setting fire to Diane's belongings there the day after the killing.

Mr X was arrested and interviewed several times by police, who concluded that he could not have been the killer because analysis of his teeth impressions did not match those found on Diane's breasts.

Peter Sullivan had his conviction for murder quashed after nearly 40 years behind bars. He is pictured in a court sketch

Mr Sullivan, who has learning difficulties, originally admitted killing Miss Sindall before saying he had been pressured into confessing

The mystery man later withdrew his evidence and said that he had made up the claim after reading newspaper reports and hearing details from a police and hospital source.

Mr Sullivan was convicted in November 1987, with the judge describing the murder as 'an abomination because of the brutality, ferocity and obscenity of the attack'.

He was told he would have to serve a minimum of 15 years before he would be considered for release. But release was contingent on him admitting to the murder  which he has always refused to do  meaning he stayed behind bars.

The detective in charge of a new investigation into Miss Sindall's death has said her family supported the new investigation and want 'justice'.

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said a 'dedicated team' had been exploring all lines of inquiry relating to the case since it was reopened in 2023.

She said 'We are in touch with Diane's family, they are very much supportive of our investigation. They want justice for Diane.

'Don't underestimate the impact of that after all this time. We are supporting them and our investigation has their full support.'

No match for the DNA discovered at the scene has been found by investigators.

Ms Jaundrill said: 'Our big focus is on the DNA, That's where our focus needs to be. We are sure that match is the person responsible.'

Merseyside Police has enlisted specialist skills and expertise from the National Crime Agency and 'extensive and painstaking inquiries' are underway to try and trace the killer.

Ms Jaundrill added: 'The point we're at now is to appeal for the public's help, appreciating it was a long time ago.

'It was very high profile at the time. Anyone with any information or suspicions, we'd appeal for them to come forward.

'It might be about someone who is now deceased but we really do want any information and anyone could be responsible.'

A memorial tablet on a grass verge near the scene of Ms Sindall's murder

The detective said she wanted to give reassurance to the public after Mr Sullivan was revealed to be the longest-serving victim of a miscarriage of justice in the UK.

She said: 'We haven't just picked this investigation up today. It's been ongoing for a couple of years, we are quite advanced and we are actively working to try and identify the person responsible.'

Police said Miss Sindall had been sexually assaulted and suffered extensive injuries to her body.

In the wake of Diane's murder, another seven women came forward to say that they had been subjected to sexual assaults in the same area. There are questions to be answered about how thoroughly these reports were investigated.

In the Crimewatch reconstruction of the case, detectives appealed for the driver of a white Ford Sierra to come forward.

The car was parked in a bus stop layby on Borough Road, across from the alleyway where the body was found around the time of the murder.

Speaking this afternoon to appeal for witnesses, Ms Jaundrill said: 'Diane's murder sent shockwaves through Birkenhead when it happened and I would appeal to anyone who lived in the area at the time, and has any information which could help us with our inquiries, to come forward.

'We believe there are people who have information, or suspicions, about the murder of Diane in 1986 and I would appeal to those people to come forward, as the information they have could be key to finding who the DNA belongs to.

'You may have been in the area of Borough Road on the night of the murder and may have seen someone acting suspiciously.

'If you were in the area, or had concerns about an individual at the time, let us know so our team can trace and request a DNA sample from the person you suspect, or a relative of theirs if they have perhaps passed away, or they have emigrated to another country.'

Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police on 101, quoting incident reference 23000584997, via the website or social media, or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Were in a new world - whether we like it or not.

Globalization, the deluded rush to give away our manufacturing base to foreign powers, is finally grinding to a halt.

People, we gather, do want borders, after all. It seems we do want our neighbors to be gainfully employed manufacturing goods which we then purchase.

And it turns out that if we want to secure our own economic future, we have to control the means by which it can be secured.

Who knew?

But if the West - led by the White House  is finally waking up, theres no ignoring the damage thats already done by globalization. Or the parlous state in which we find ourselves, or the gargantuan task that lies ahead.

This is not least when it comes to obtaining the minerals we require, the key to the high-tech future in which so many of our hopes are invested - substances such as graphite, lithium and the famous rare earths', which have a bewildering range of applications from advanced electronics to biomedicine.

Donald Trump and President Recep Erdogan already see eye to eye. Now it turns out that Turkey has rare earth minerals

Samples of rare earth minerals from left, Cerium oxide, Bastnasite, Neodymium oxide and Lanthanum carbonate

An open-pit titanium mine in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine

Minerals policy is now at the heart of a new Great Game as industrialized nations compete around the planet to secure supplies.

But America has arrived late to the scrap and is now fighting with one hand tied behind its back.

The US addiction to cheap imported goods - and the dangerously fragile supply chains that supply those products - has left the richest nation in the world dependent on foreign powers for key supplies, not least an expansionist China which now controls and refines most of the worlds 17 rare earths.

Through its vast campaign of investment and deal-making around the world, particularly in Africa, China has a dominant position when it comes to other key metals, also, including copper and lithium.

America only has itself to blame, of course, both for creating dangerously stretched supply chains and then failing to recognize the consequences.

But if the republic has been asleep, Trump is determined to rouse it from its slumbers as the recent Ukraine minerals deal shows.

Ukraine is estimated to control as much as a fifth of the worlds rare earth and essential minerals including titanium, zirconium, graphite and lithium, which is essential in making batteries for electric vehicles. In future America will have access.

Note, too, the presidents stance on Canada and Greenland, two territories he says - to general outrage - that the US should annex.

These northern landmasses certainly are important for their strategic position, as has been widely noted, but also - and this has attracted less attention - for the mineral deposits they control and their proximity to the Arctic, where yet more might be discovered.

The Ukraine deal is certainly welcome progress towards freeing the US from the grip of China, which currently has a near monopoly on the extraction of the 17 rare earths -chemicals such as yttrium, europium and neodymium, which is used to make the powerful magnets used in loudspeakers, computer hard drives, EV motors and jet engines

Yttrium and europium are used to manufacture television and computer screens because of the way they display colors.

But the Ukraine deal is only one small step along the road, and an uncertain one at that. Huge investment  and time  are needed to mine and process these minerals if the Ukraine deal is to work for either country.

By itself, the agreement with Kyiv is nowhere near enough to secure the materials that American technology demands.

The US must look elsewhere on the map  and show similar diplomatic energy and creativity, too.

Thats why, for example, Washington is pursuing what could turn out to be an even more significant deal for metals in the war-torn Great Lakes region of Africa.

According to Reuters, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has approached the Trump administration with a Ukrainian-style proposal in response to the rapid advance of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group in the east of the country.

Congo hopes Washington investment would help deter the insurgents, just as Ukraine hopes to deter the Russian advance.

But I would argue there are other solutions to hand which are both easier and less inherently risky.

Turkey, for example, has found what appears to be the worlds second-largest reserve of rare earth metals in central Anatolia.

Rare earth metals are vital for manufacturing advanced electronics, including smartphones

A laborer works at a site of a rare earth metals mine in Jiangxi province. China has a near monopoly on refining rare earths

Where China has some 800 million tons in its deposits, Turkey is a close second with an estimated total close to 700 million tons.

Moreover, the mineral field in Turkey is said to be close to the surface, suggesting that their extraction comparatively straightforward.

Then there are the rare earth deposits in Kazakhstan - another Turkic-speaking country - to the east.

Kazakhstan is said to have almost one million tons of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and yttrium, elements used as components in devices such as smartphones, digital cameras and computer hard disks.

Four prospective areas have been identified within the site with total estimated rare earth reserves reaching 935,400 tons, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction.

If this is correct, that would make it the third largest deposit of rare earths.

Washington already has good relations with Turkey, which not only has substantial deposits of these minerals but is the cultural leader of the Turkic speaking near East  a region that includes Kazakhstan.

Donald Trump and President Recep Erdogan already see eye to eye.

Ukraine and Kazakhstan are among the countries to discover significant deposits of rare earth metals

But it would be wise for Washington to strengthen that relationship still further, and not just for the sake of rare earth minerals.

Hydrocarbons still matter, after all  and as Trump knows better than most  and will continue to be essential for many years to come.

Here, too, Turkey and its neighbors are major players, controlling the vital network of pipelines that delivers oil and gas from the Caspian Sea to an energy-hungry West.

Meanwhile, it is Ankara that is playing a vital role in mediating between Moscow and Kyiv in an attempt to bring the bloodshed in Ukraine to an end.

We are no longer in a unipolar world. And, as Washington belatedly now accepts, American foreign policy will have to be considerably more agile than under the catastrophic Biden years.

Suddenly, the US needs friends all around the globe. And some friendships are not merely valuable, but vital.
Armed police ripped through the front door of a gang leader's house after he flooded the streets with 2million worth of drugs in just three months.

Officers arrested Asrar Rafiq, 35, after they cracked the secretive EncroChat messaging service used by organised criminals.

He used the encrypted systems to boast about his wealth, under the name 'Wisehorse', to discuss drug deals and offer weapons including including AK47S and Uzis, to other criminals.

Rafiq continued to sell drugs and weapons despite being one of 12 gang members given an injunction in 2014 after being described as a leading member of the Bordesley Green gang in Birmingham.

A court heard he had supplied 28kg of heroin and cocaine, worth around 2million, over three months.

He was finally caught when he was arrested at his home in Aston, Birmingham, in June 2020.

Incredible footage shows the moment police officers raided the house using a chainsaw to smash through his front door in the early morning raid.

Bodycam shows the moment a stunned Rafiq emerged half-naked and bleary-eyed from the bedroom as officers swarmed the property.

Incredible footage shows the moment police officers raided the house using a chainsaw to smash through his front door in the early morning raid

Bodycam shows the moment a stunned Rafiq emerged half-naked and bleary-eyed from the bedroom

Asrar Rafiq, 35, was arrested by police after they cracked the secretive EncroChat messaging service used by organised criminals

When he was arrested Rafiq claimed he was maliciously targeted by police until he was confronted by the damning EncroChat messages.

He admitted encouraging or assisting with the sourcing, advertising and sale of prohibited weapons and ammunition.

He also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.

Rafiq, of no fixed address, was jailed for 18-and-a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court last week.

Officers discovered he used EncroChat to share a list of weapons including AK47s and Uzis, which he told associates he would be able to secure for them.

The Regional Organised Crime Unit for the West Midlands (ROCUWM) discovered he used 13 different phone numbers in a bid to evade detection.

CCTV caught him using his phone while working out at a local gym.

But he was caught after police cracked the bespoke encrypted global communication service EncroChat, which was used exclusively by criminals.

Officers discovered he used EncroChat to share a list of weapons including AK47s and Uzis, which he told associates he would be able to secure for them.

A court heard he had supplied 28kg of heroin and cocaine, worth around 2million, over three months

Marketed as the 'world's most secure handset', the device was popular among hitmen, drug lords and other major criminals.

There were 60,000 users worldwide and around 10,000 users in the UK.

Police discovered Rafiq, using the nickname 'Wisehorse', had conversations with other gangsters about supplying drugs.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Cooke, from ROCUWM, said: 'Rafiq tried to claim the messages were just bravado and that he was trying to big himself up to other drug dealers.

'The claim was described as 'fanciful'.

'He was clearly a significant player in the criminal underworld of firearms and drug dealing, which causes so much misery on the streets of the West Midlands and beyond.'
A son appeared in court today accused of murdering his 72-year-old mother.

Daniel Cook, 39, was charged after retired teacher Ellen Cook was allegedly stabbed to death in the street outside her home.

Police were called to Biddle Road in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire on Sunday evening where Mrs Cook was found injured. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Mrs Cook has lived in the same semi-detached home on the quiet village street with her husband Russ, 76, since the 1980s.

The couple had three children, two daughters and Daniel and had recently become grandparents.

One neighbour said: 'I heard a woman shouting loudly. I thought it was just someone who'd had a few drinks and was getting lively.

'Next thing I knew the whole road was full of emergency vehicles.'

Retired teacher Ellen Cook, 72, died outside her home in Leicester on Sunday evening

Over a dozen emergency vehicles attended the scene in the village near Leicester.

One neighbour said: 'I did not hear anything until all the police were here, then I heard a man screaming very loudly. It was a terrible sound.'

Neighbours said that Mrs Cook had recently become a grandmother and was helping to look after her granddaughter.

'I would see her taking the little girl down to the swings. She was looking after the girl during the day while her daughter was at work,' said one.

A family member, who did not want to be named, said: 'Ellen was a lovely woman. She was enjoying her retirement. They had three children  two beautiful girls and one boy.'

On Tuesday afternoon police tape was removed from around the family home where three cars sat on the driveway.

Well-wishers left flowers of condolence.

One woman, leaving a bunch of flowers, said: 'I did not know the family but this is just so tragic.'

Daniel Cook, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Police were called to Biddle Road in the village of Littlethorpe on Sunday (May 11)

Wearing a grey sweatshirt, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and age during the two-minute hearing.

No pleas were entered. He was remanded in custody to appear at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday.

Leicestershire police said formal identification of the deceased is due to take place later this week.

It said officers were supporting the victim's family.

Appealing for witnesses on Monday, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, from East Midlands Special Operations Unit Murder Investigation Team, said it was an 'isolated incident.

He said: 'I appreciate that the nature of the incident may cause some concern among residents in the area. However, I would like to reassure them that this is an isolated incident, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

'If there is anyone who hasn't yet spoken to police and may have information connected to this incident, I would urge you to please get in contact with us, as what you saw or heard may be of significance to our investigation.

'We would also like to speak to anyone who may have captured video footage of the incident. We have set up a portal for people to upload any relevant footage.'
The family of a construction worker crushed to death by a falling air-conditioner has been awarded $640 million in damages.

David Loree, 56, was killed when a massive air handling unit tipped off a crane and fell 10ft on top of him at 1.59pm on September 22, 2021.

The father-of-two was working at the Texas A&M University-San Antonio College of Business and Library building for subcontractor Way Engineering.

His family sued TNT Cranes & Rigging, along with main contractor Byrne Construction Services and two other firms, claiming negligent worksite practices caused his death.

'[Loree's] death was not immediate. He bled to death while his coworkers watched him die slowly,' the lawsuit read.

'David Loree languished for almost an hour, suffering beyond description until he passed away later on the way to the hospital' at 2.47pm.

A Harris County District Court jury in Houston ruled in favor of Loree's family on Monday after a three-week trial and awarded $160 million in compensation.

Then on Tuesday, they awarded another $480 million in punitive damages after only about an hour of deliberation.

Loree's wife Milena, 61, burst into tears when the amount was read out, and buried her face in the table while clutching one of her lawyers' hands.

David Loree, 56, (pictured in the 1990s with his sons) was killed when a massive air handling unit tipped off a crane and fell 10ft on top of him at a construction site on September 22, 2021

Loree's wife Milena (pictured together) burst into tears when the amount was read out, and buried her face in the table while clutching one of her lawyer's hands

Her sons Cody, 34, and Zackary Loree, 37, who were seated behind her, kept their composure. Loree's mother Mary, 78, was present for the hearing but not for the judgement.

Milena, Cody, Zackary, and Mary will each receive a roughly equal share of the payout.

TNT Crane will have to pay 68 per cent of the judgement, mechanical and electrical subcontractor Way Mechanical 27 per cent, and the others five per cent.

'Make an example of them'

Tony Buzbee, the family's primary lawyer, said on Monday that TNT Crane blamed Loree for his own death throughout the trial and took no responsibility, offering about $6.9 million to settle the case.

But the jury wholeheartedly disagreed.

'The jury put 0% responsibility on David Loree and all on the corporate actors, with the lion's share placed on TNT Crane,' Buzbee said.

'I am so glad for this family. Not because of the enormous damages awarded. But because David Loree was completely vindicated.

'It is wrong to blame the victim who was killed. Life has value... I am very proud to speak for him and his family.'

Loree, his wife, and one of their sons in the 1990s

Buzbee, who is also the lawyer behind more than 100 sexual assault lawsuits against disgraced rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs, said the case was of 'enormous value'.

He said he was so motivated to 'make an example of this corporate wrongdoer' that he personally presented and cross-examined every witness.

Buzbee told the jury he was frustrated TNT Crane was still 'arguing technicalities' after already being found liable, instead of apologizing.

'They're trying to avoid justice, that's what's happening,' he said in his closing address on Tuesday, asking for punitive damages.

The lawyer argued the only way to make the company change its practices was awarding massive punitive damages to Loree's family.

'Let's make sure that they are sorry, the way you do that is... your message will be "your conduct was wrong your conduct will not be tolerated, period. You must change, figure it out".

'Because people were killed, someone was almost killed the day before!'

Buzbee encouraged the jury to 'make an example' of TNT Crane to deter it, and other construction companies, from worksite negligence.

'This was a needless killing of a good man - and even after four weeks of this, you haven't heard any remorse from them,' he told the jury.

Buzbee unleashed on the company after the jury awarded the enormous payout.

'Will the family ever actually see $640 Million? Unlikely,' he claimed.

Loree was working at the Texas A&M University-San Antonio College of Business and Library building (pictured the day after the accident) for subcontractor TNT Crane & Rigging

'What they did see was every piece of evidence, and heard all of the testimony, explaining how David Loree, their husband, father and son, was brutally killed.

'And they saw how this corporation was more interested in blaming the deceased or arguing technicalities rather than correcting systemic safety issues.

'That jury collectively declared that David Loree was needlessly killed due to clear and convincing gross negligence.'

How David Loree was killed

An Occupational Safety and Health Authority investigation completed on February 8, 2022, found Loree was 'crushed by an air handling unit'.

Loree and his colleagues were moving three air handling units - the heart of a central air-conditioner weighing several tons - into the third floor of the unfinished building.

The first unit was moved successfully, but the second one 'tipped over' as it was raised into position.

'The second unit was rigged on the ground and raised to the mechanical room,' the report read, citing other workers as witnesses.

'With the two [slings] on the back still on, a gust of wind supposedly picked the unit up and fell 10ft, crushing a worker.'

Loree suffered a partially severed arm and leg, along with horrific crush injuries, and was declared dead at 2.47pm.

His colleague Francisco Montelongo was rushed to hospital with body and head injuries, but survived.

The OSHA investigation did not issue any citations and found no safety or health violations during its inspection of the site in the hours after the accident.

Milena said that she 'knew she could always count on him, whether it was his physical strength, fearless heart, trustworthiness or forgiving manner as a family man'

The lawsuit provided more information about the leadup to the accident, blaming a perfect storm of management incompetence and sloppy safety standards.

First, the crane operator who arrived at the worksite was 'totally unqualified' and so inexperienced an extra superintendent was called in to supervise.

The crane operator admitted to never even looking at the plan drawn up to lift the heavy load, and instead made up his own without telling anyone.

'In fact, he admitted the math on the approved lift plan was entirely incorrect,' the lawsuit read.

TNT Crane's crew was also understaffed, and drafted in Loree and some of his colleagues to act as riggers and spotters.

But Loree and his Way Engineering coworkers were pipefitters, and had no training on how to do the job.

Wind was gusting at 45mph around the university, and even faster inside the unfinished building, and the lift was supposed to be called off if it hit 25-30mph.

However, TNT Crane pressed on despite its wind safety gauge being broken, and never told anyone about the defect or tried to determine the wind speed.

'The wind was "rocking" the unit to the point that workers became concerned and were complaining that the lift should be called off,' the lawsuit read.

Due to the pipefitters not knowing how to properly rig a load, two of the four cables holding the air handling unit came off, and it tipped over in the wind - dropping it on top of Loree.

Tony Buzbee (pictured with his wife), the family's primary lawyer, unleashed on the 'corporate wrongdoers' after the verdict

His family remembers

Loree's obituary praised his problem solving skills, which helped his career as a pipefitter in the construction industry.

'He never gave up and was always a hard worker. If he could help you in any way, he was there for you,' it read.

'His technical skills made him great as a musician, playing guitar, also in his cooking and his BBQing skills.

'David fondness for high performance engines was legendary among those who knew him, but it was his love for music, even if it was just listening to his stereo system, putting on his treasured vinyl records, tapes and CDs that gave him joy.'

Milena wrote that she 'knew she could always count on him, whether it was his physical strength, fearless heart, trustworthiness or forgiving manner as a family man'.

'He was everyone's friend, the one you could always depend on when you were in need.'
Vladimir Putin today ridiculed the West's 'moron' leaders threatening him with new sanctions if he refuses to fly to Turkey on Thursday for ceasefire negotiations with Volodymyr Zelensky.

Speaking at a meeting of Russia's top businessmen at the 20th Congress of the 'Business Russia' organisation, Putin said of Western countries: 'You'd think they wouldn't do this or that, since it clearly hurts them - but nope, they still do it.

Then, in what appeared to be a rare moment of emotion from the Russian leader, he exclaimed: 'Morons!'

The surprising declaration was met with laughter from the captive audience as Putin went on to apologise: 'Oh, I am sorry

'But, look, it's like this - the world's top economies are tipping into recession just to spite us.'

Western leaders have lined up to warn the Russian President that his country will face yet more sanctions if he fails to engage in peace talks in Turkey.

So far, there is no sign Putin will attend - despite Donald Trump indicating he could fly in to meet his Russian counterpart.

The White House is also dispatching special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to participate in the talks.

Ukraine's President has said he will only negotiate directly with Putin after weeks of talks between Ukrainian and US delegations yielded no progress.

Zelensky today told reporters in Kyiv he will be ready and waiting alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday to receive Putin.

If Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there from Ankara.

Speaking at a meeting of Russia 's top businessmen at the 20th Congress of the 'Business Russia' organisation, Putin said of Western countries: 'You'd think they wouldn't do this or that, since it clearly hurts them - but nope, they still do it.'

In what appeared to be a rare moment of emotion from the Russian leader, he exclaimed: 'Morons!'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, 13 May 2025

Civilians take part in a military training activity day conducted by the Ukrainian Volunteer Army

Zelensky declared he would 'do everything to agree on a ceasefire, because it is with (Putin) that I must negotiate a ceasefire, as only he can decide on it.

'If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,' Zelensky said, adding that he would expect allies to unveil 'the strongest sanctions package' against Russia should talks not progress on Thursday.

'I am ready for the meeting. I met this person in 2019, in December. I absolutely understand what to talk about - the truth is on our side.'

Despite earlier vowing never to negotiate with Putin, he said: 'I think we need to take the first step, for the sake of the people.

'And the whole world is already supporting this, first of all, for the sake of the Ukrainians. Everyone wants the war to end.

'We want to agree on the beginning of the end of the war. At least the beginning.'

European leaders have thrown their support behind Zelensky ahead of direct peace talks.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: 'We are waiting for Putin's agreement [to negotiations and a ceasefire] and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at the European level to significantly strengthen the sanctions.'

Turkey - the only NATO member state that is not on Russia's list of 'unfriendly countries' is seen as a relatively neutral third party suitable for hosting talks between the warring nations.

Putin is said to have a good personal relationship with Turkey's Erdogan, himself an autocrat who has long been in power, and Turkey's energy sector is heavily reliant on the provision of Russian gas and nuclear technology.

But Turkey has by no means backed Russia in its war on Ukraine. Ankara has said it does not recognise Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory and has supported Kyiv's bid for NATO membership.

Turkey has also sold a host of military technology, including the highly effective Bayraktar TB2 attack drone, to Kyiv.

Mortar platoon soldiers with an 82mm mortar perform a combat mission as Ukrainian soldiers hold their positions in the snow-covered Serebryan Forest

US President Donald Trump and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of the All-Russian public organisation 'Business Russia', via videoconference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Both Moscow and Kyiv have sought to show they are working towards peace after Trump prioritised ending the war, which has raged since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but have yet to agree any clear path.

Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine, hosted and mediated by Turkey, after ignoring a Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Trump publicly told Zelensky to accept the proposal.

The Ukrainian President quickly obliged and challenged Putin to enter direct, face-to-face talks.

The Kremlin chief had never made clear that he intended to travel himself but Zelensky has now called his bluff.

Asked who would represent Russia at the talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: 'As soon as the president sees fit, we will announce it.'

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying Moscow was ready for serious talks on Ukraine but doubted Kyiv's capacity for negotiations.

The agencies quoted him as saying realities 'on the ground' should be recognised, including the incorporation of what Moscow calls 'new territories' into Russia - a reference to territory in Ukraine that is occupied by Russian forces.

US officials want Russia a comprehensive 30-day land, air, sea and critical infrastructure ceasefire, a senior official in Washington said.
A court hearing for alleged-killer Karen Read's murder trial was abruptly called off just minutes before it was set to begin as officials issue a vague explanation.

Read, 45, was scheduled to appear in Boston court on Tuesday morning for the ongoing retrial of the convoluted case of her boyfriend John O'Keefe's 2022 death.

But the of day of testimony was mysteriously postponed, with a spokesperson from the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offering little detail about what happened.

'Please be advised that the trial in Commonwealth v. Karen Read is not taking place today due to unavoidable circumstances,' Court Spokesperson Jennifer Donahue wrote to DailyMail.com.

But a source close to the case revealed to WCVB the sudden and unexplained cancellation stemmed from Read being sick.

A court clerk also said the postponement was due to a 'health issue,' although they did not say who was experiencing it.

A private hearing was held to handle rescheduling, with prosecutors meeting in person with Judge Beverly Cannone, while Read's team appeared virtually.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Read's lead lawyer, David Yannetti, for comment.

Karen Read (pictured), 45, was scheduled to appear in Boston court on Tuesday morning for the ongoing retrial of the convoluted case of her boyfriend John O'Keefe's 2022 death

John O'Keefe (pictured) of the Boston Police Department, died in 2022 after Read allegedly dropped him off at a friend's house

A source close to the case revealed to WCVB the sudden and unexplained cancellation on Tuesday stemmed from Read being sick (pictured: Read and O'Keefe)

It has not been confirmed who was supposed to testify today and when court will resume. Donahue did not respond to DailyMail.com's inquiry about the court being rescheduled.

Tuesday morning's confusion adds to the already chaotic nature of Read's second murder trial.

The former Bentley University professor stands accused of ramming her SUV into O'Keefe, who was a cop, in the midst of a drunken argument on their way to an after party after leaving a bar January 29, 2022.

Police allege Read struck O'Keefe and drove off - leaving him unconscious on the ground during a blizzard.

O'Keefe, according to his autopsy results, died from hypothermia and blunt force trauma.

Read has long maintained her innocence and insisted that she was framed by his police officer friends.

She first went to trial last year, with prosecutors claiming she knowingly hit and left O'Keefe to die after dropping him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a retired Boston sergeant.

The defense fiercely argued she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party and thrown outside on the lawn.

After nearly a year, Read's trial started up again in April, with her supporters passionately rallying behind her (pictured: Read supporters outside court in 2024)

Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik (pictured) testified in court for three days. He was called to the stand for the last time on Monday

Read (pictured) is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death

Read allegedly realized he was missing and went looking for him with two other women, finding him dead outside of Albert's home.

A mistrial was declared after nine weeks when jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile.

After nearly a year, Read's trial started up again in April, with supporters passionately rallying behind her.

As she appeared in court for the first retrial hearing, demonstrators flaunted flags and signs reading 'Karen Read is innocent.'

At the center of Read's defense has been claims that the investigation was inappropriately handled by dishonorably discharged State Trooper Michael Proctor, who sent vulgar text messages about Read.

He was fired over texts that included calling Read a 'whack job' and a 'c***.'

In other messages, he joked about rummaging through her phone for nude photos during the investigation, and remarked that she had 'no a**.'

Although he was forced to read these messages aloud during last year's trial, his former supervisor, Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik, was grilled about them this time around by Defense attorney Alan Jackson.

Read (pictured) allegedly realized O'Keefe was missing and went looking for him with two other women, finding him dead outside of Albert's home

At the center of Read's defense has been claims that the investigation was inappropriately handled by dishonorably discharged State Trooper Michael Proctor (pictured), who sent vulgar text messages about Read

Aside from questions about Proctor's misconduct, he was also asked to read flirtatious text messages between Read and ATF agent Brian Higgins (pictured: evidence presented in court that allegedly depicts Higgins the night of O'Keefe's death)

'I believe that as a US citizen. He has the right to comment. That's his First Amendment right. We uphold the Constitution,' Bukhenik said during cross-examination.

'And it's unfortunate, unprofessional what he said the private text message communication. He might have been voicing frustrations. I cannot speak for Michael Proctor.'

Bukhenik's testimony took three days and ended on Monday.

Aside from questions about Proctor's misconduct, he was also asked to read flirtatious text messages between Read and ATF agent Brian Higgins.

Read and Higgins reportedly spoke about her plans of leaving O'Keefe and shared a kiss.

Read's team plans to name Higgins as a third-party culprit, WCVB reported. They believe Read stopped texting Higgins, which may have angered him and caused him to lash out.

Last year, Higgins testified in court and addressed his relationship with Read.

Higgins read some of the messages in court, in which they both said they were attracted to each other, and Read said her relationship with O'Keefe had 'deteriorated.'

During the correspondence, Read and Higgins reportedly spoke about a kiss they shared and her plans of leaving O'Keefe (pictured: O'Keefe and Read)

Read (pictured going to her SUV to look for O'Keefe) first went to trial last year, with prosecutors claiming she knowingly hit and left O'Keefe to die after dropping him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a retired Boston sergeant

Higgins (pictured) admitted to finding Read attractive and was called to testify in court during the first trial

He explained to the court he was trying to 'suss out' Read's intentions.

'Was the defendant interested in me? Was she at the end of her relationship with John? Was she trying to weaponize me against John and put me in the middle?' he said.

Read is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death.

If convicted, she could face up to life in prison.
A bodyguard for Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson has been suspended after he turned up to work drunk following a party to celebrate Donald Trump's inauguration, according to a police report.

Chicago Police Officer Josue Najera, 44, arrived for his 10-hour overnight shift guarding the mayor's residence at 9pm showing signs of intoxication, the report states.

He was 'agitated' and 'speaking loudly' according to the report, which also described his behavior on the evening of January 20 as 'erratic'.

When questioned by a supervising officer, Najera allegedly admitted to boozing the day away at a swanky event at the city's Trump Tower prior to his arrival.

A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed Najera's blood alcohol content to be 0.134 percent - well over Illinois' legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to Chicago Police Department internal affairs records.

Following the test, Najera was stripped of his police powers, his gun was confiscated and he was taken to the 15th District station for further questioning.

The next day, he turned in his ID, badge and hat shield. He has been reassigned to a different department within the police force.

A 25-day suspension has been recommended but has not yet been served.

Najera put the phone down when contacted for comment by DailyMail.com.

Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, speaks during a press conference at city hall in Chicago, Illinois on January 28

Officer Josue Najera, 44, allegedly arrived for his shift guarding the mayor's residence and immediately showed signs of intoxication, following an event at Trump Tower. Pictured: Trump Tower Chicago

Trump Tower hosted a viewing event from 10am to 3pm prior to Najera's shift.

At around 7pm that night, he demanded that a uniformed colleague allow him to sit in a CPD squad car, according to the report.

When a uniformed officer refused, Najera called the department's 18th District station to file a complaint against his colleague.

A supervisor from the 18th District then contacted a sergeant overseeing the mayor's detail, leading to a confrontation when Najera arrived at the politician's home.

'PO Najera was agitated, speaking loudly and avoiding eye contact while explaining the event,' the sergeant wrote in a report.

'His behavior was very uncharacteristic and erratic from the normal behavior (the sergeant) knows PO Najera to display

'(The sergeant) asked PO Najera if he had been drinking while at the Trump Tower and he said he was having fun with his family.

'(The sergeant) again asked if PO Najera had anything to drink and PO Najera answered in the affirmative - Yes.'

City Hall building is seen from the corner of Randolph and Clark Street in Chicago

A Chicago police officer assigned to Mayor Brandon Johnson's security detail has been suspended after reporting to his overnight shift intoxicated

Najera claimed his last drink was consumed around 6:30 pm, two and a half hours before his shift began.

Multiple CPD supervisors were notified following the sergeant's alleged outburst and the disciplinary process quickly followed.

A CPD spokesperson said Najera has since been reassigned to the department's Alternate Response Section.

Najera, who joined the Chicago Police Department in 2017, had been assigned to Johnson's security detail since August 2023.

According to records cited by the Chicago Tribune, he has no prior misconduct complaints and has never been the subject of a Summary Punishment Action Request, an internal disciplinary measure for minor infractions.

Neither the Chicago Police Department nor Mayor Johnson's office has publicly commented on the suspension.
A non-binary Navy lieutenant accused Donald Trump of 'coercion' after the president's officials issued an ultimatum to try and purge transgender troops from the military.





U.S. Navy Lt. Rae Timberlake spoke out after they and other transgender service members were warned they had to leave willingly or face being kicked out.

Timberlake is one of around 1,000 transgender personnel who have opted for what the Trump administration calls 'voluntary separation', in the hopes of receiving an honorable discharge and severance pay.

But they had stern words for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his officials.

'This is not a voluntary separation. This is coercion,' the service member of 17 years told CBC.

On Thursday, Hegseth announced that transgender service members have until June 6 to identify themselves to begin the 'voluntary separation' process which could see them possibly become 'eligible for separation pay.'

For those who chose not to come forward, the department has promised to comb through military members' medical records and start the 'involuntary separation' for transgender troops.

It is unclear what the involuntary process entails, but service members believe it could mean they will lose essential benefits, including health insurance and their pensions.

Hegseth's ultimatum is really 'kind of a veiled threat,' Timberlake told the outlet.

U.S. Navy Lt. Rae Timberlake (pictured) is one of around 1,000 transgender military members who have signed up for what Trump's administration has called 'voluntary separation'

Timberlake said they chose that path because they hope to be honorably discharged and receive severance pay, but still considers the demand from Trump's administration an act of 'coercion.' (Pictured: Trump on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia)

'I feel threatened. I know a lot of other transgender service members feel threatened. I think we deserve a lot better.'

Timberlake is not alone as Jennifer Levi, a senior director at GLAD Law - a pro-LGBTQ legal group - echoed their statement.

'It is just shameful. It is senseless to fast track people out of the military who are meeting standards and putting lives on the line to defend the country,' Levi told the outlet.

In Hegseth's memo, he mentioned that Trump 'clearly stated' in an executive order signed on January 27 that 'expressing a false "gender identity" divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for Military Service.'

He went on to say that 'individuals with a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibiting symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria is not in the best interest of the Military Services and is not clearly consistent with the interests of national security.'

Since the order was signed, the Republican administration has faced legal challenges that have postponed its transgender military purge.

But, on Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled they could enforce the ban while legal proceedings continue.

The Supreme Court's ruling lifted a lower court's decision to pause Trump's policy, which the administration called 'dramatic and facially unfair'.

On Thursday, Hegseth (pictured Tuesday) announced that transgender service members have until June 6 to identify themselves to begin the 'voluntary separation' process which could see them possibly become 'eligible for separation pay'

The order allows the Department of Defense to continue removing transgender service members from the military and denying enlistment while lawsuits continue in the lower courts.

After Trump signed the order, Washington state District Judge Benjamin Settle ruled that the ban violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and barred the government from enforcing Trump's policy.

The Trump administration appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit but it was rejected, prompting them to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Trump's lawyers argued that the ruling was 'contrary to military readiness and the Nation's interests'.

The liberal justices - Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson - would have decided against Trump, they indicated in the filing, but the Supreme Court ruling was not signed.

The ruling was an emergency appeal prompting an unusually swift ruling from the Supreme Court justices, although they can rule on the merits of the case at a later date.

The U.S. Department of Defense clarified that Active Component Service members have until June 6 to identify themselves, while Reserve Component Service members have a deadline of July 7.

Timberlake (pictured) is still on active duty, but they are unclear what exactly lies ahead for them

It remains unclear just how many troops will be affected by Trump's decision, but there are currently 4,240 active service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria, per CBC.

Not every transgender person has received a diagnosis. Previous estimates from the department found that there are approximately 9,000 to 12,000 transgender U.S. military troops.

To Timberlake, the new ultimatum will cause more problems for the already understaffed military.

'This affects everyone. There will be less people to meet the mission. There will be more work for the other team members,' they stated.

Timberlake is still on active duty, but they are unclear what exactly lies ahead for them.

'Knowing that any day could be my last day, it's kind of a difficult place to be,' they said.
This is the moment a heartless London bus driver was caught on camera leaving a disabled wheelchair-bound toddler by the side of the road after refusing to lower the ramp, as the child's mother claims it has happened hundreds of times.

The anonymous parent started recording the reoccurring encounters and one video, taken at 10:45am on Wednesday, shows her at the back entrance of the 197 bus in Croydon, south London.

She pressed the button to ask the driver to lower the ramp as she was taking her son, Charles, two, to a soft play session in his specialist chair.

The male driver gestures for her to come to the front of the bus, telling her 'it's just a buggy' and asking her to 'bump it up' - before driving off.

A second video, taken on their way home around 12:15, shows a female driver who came off the bus to attempt to lift the chair on board.

She got back into the cab when the mother said 'no' - and a supervisor told her to lower the ramp and the mother and her child were able to board the bus, she said.

She began filming the incidents because these incidents happen up to 12 times a week since Charles came out of hospital a year ago, she said.

Charles has chronic lung disease and needs to be on a ventilator for at least 16 hours a day. He is fed via a tube into his tummy, and he can't speak or walk.

A mother has shared footage of London bus drivers refusing to the lower the ramp to allow her to wheel her disabled two-year-old son Charles on board

The male driver gestures for her to come to the front of the bus, telling her 'it's just a buggy' and asking her to 'bump it up' - before driving off

Charles has chronic lung disease and needs to be on a ventilator for at least 16 hours a day. He is fed via a tube into his tummy, and he can't speak or walk

He was born weighing just 2lbs on August 8, 2022, four weeks after his twin sister died.

Charles travels in a specialised chair which his mother got from NHS wheelchair services.

His ventilator, oxygen cylinder, suction machine, and feeding pump, which he needs to take everywhere with him, are stored below the seat, his mum explained.

She doesn't want to bump the chair up onto buses in case the equipment gets hit and damaged, or falls, or Charles's feeding or waste tubes get dislodged, she explained.

The single parent, who gave up her job as a carer and in admin when Charles was born, said: 'It's awful and feels so humiliating when this happens, when I got to the soft play I was crying.

'Busses are Charles's absolute obsession, and once this has happened I just want to go home but I can't, I have to keep going for him.

'It's really upsetting to be left standing at the bus stop watching the bus driving off.

'They just don't care, all they have to do is press a button. Someone who doesn't need the ramp isn't going to ask for it.

The male bus driver shut the doors in the mother and son's faces before driving off after refusing to lower the ramp for them

Charles travels in a specialised chair which his mother got from NHS wheelchair services

A second video, taken on their way home around 12:15, shows a female driver who came off the bus to attempt to lift the chair on board

'People shouldn't be expected to explain their disabilities or justify their needs.

'It's discrimination just because it doesn't look like a wheelchair, and it's not fair.

'Some people have hidden disabilities, drivers have no right to ask them to discuss that.

'It's hard enough for us to go out, we don't have long before he needs to be back on the ventilator.

'Charles has to fight for every day of his life. Once I manage to get us out the door I just need for things to go smoothly, that's not too much to ask.

'All I want to do is get on the bus and have a bit of peace, not arguments.

'By the time we've had the discussion they could easily have just put down the ramp, it makes no sense.'

The mum posted the videos on TikTok where they got half-a-million views and other parents of disabled children said they have similar experiences regularly.

Rosie Trew, TfL's head of bus service delivery, said: 'Wheelchair users and others requiring use of the ramp have every right to expect to be able to use the ramp on every journey.

'Any unreasonable refusal to deploy the on-bus ramp is completely unacceptable and we are very sorry for the distress this has caused.

'We are working with the bus operator to fully investigate the incidents and continue to urge anyone who experiences issues like these to report them immediately.'
Police dramatically marched onto a Ryanair plane after a hoax bomb threat forced Belgium's second largest airport to suspend a number of flights today.

Shocking footage shows officers storming onto the jet as panicked passengers dart their gaze in several directions amid the commotion.

As police hurried towards the back of the aircraft at Charleroi Airport, worried travellers stood from their seats whilst others raised their phones.

A series of flights were suspended at Belgium's second largest airport after 'a bomb threat was triggered' on a landed jet at around 11am local time (9am GMT).

A security perimeter was set up around the aircraft, meaning the runway had to be closed and operations were paused.

Belgian prosecutors have since confirmed they were informed by Interpol 'that the report was in fact a hoax.'

Amid the chaos, a separate angle showed a Ryanair passenger sitting on the plane whilst specialist cops dressed in all-black gear stood outside.

Travellers alighted the plane, gathering their baggage while police officers and sniffer dogs inspected and combed the plane as well as the surrounding area.

Police dramatically combed through a Ryanair plane today at Charleroi Airport following a hoax bomb threat

Passengers gathered their luggage as cops with sniffer dogs combed through the area surrounding the plane

Footage showed specialist officers surrounding the plane as worried passengers sat on the aircraft recently stationed on the runway

Flights eventually resumed at around 1.45pm (12.45GMT) that same day, Ryanair later confirmed.

Charleroi Airport, located in the south of France, is a major European hub for low-cost airline Ryanair.

In 2023 alone, the airport served over nine million passengers, both arriving and departing, offering flights to 200 destinations across the globe.

Earlier today, a Ryanair spokesperson said: 'Ryanair was informed of a security threat on flight FR6313 from Faro to Brussels Charleroi today, 13th May.

'The aircraft landed normally at Charleroi as planned.

'Passengers have been disembarked and the aircraft is being prepared for return to service. We sincerely apologise to any passengers affected.'

The terminal was not evacuated, as it does not fall within the 500m perimeter.

A series of flights were suspended at Belgium's second largest airport after 'a bomb threat was triggered' on a landed jet at around 11am local time (9am GMT)

Belgian prosecutors have since confirmed they were informed by Interpol 'that the report was in fact a hoax'

Nathalie Pierard, an airport spokesperson, told The Brussels Times this morning: 'The plane has been moved to a separate area of the airport.

'The runway and the main road behind it are closed, and a security perimeter of 500 metres has been set up.

'The police are on the scene and the 166 passengers will be evacuated from the plane once approved by the police.

'It is currently unclear how long the disruption will last.'
The family of a British father sentenced to 10 years in a Saudi Arabia jail over a tweet have claimed he has been 'badly' failed by the UK government.

Ahmed al-Doush, a senior business analyst at Bank of America, had lived in Manchester with his wife and children before the day of his arrest.

Plain clothes officers detained the Sudan-born father-of-four as he prepared to fly home to the UK from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on August 31 last year with his family.

He was subsequently held in a maximum security prison under the country's strict anti-terrorism laws, on charges that included criticising the government on social media and associating with a London-based Saudi dissident.

But now, his distraught wife Amaher Nour has spoken out, alleging he is 'just another statistic in a long list of British citizens detained abroad'.

She said today: 'To me and my kids he is everything.

'That's why the news yesterday that Ahmed was sentenced to 10 years in a Saudi Arabian jail is heartbreaking, even more so that we don't know why.

'And so the nightmare my family has endured for the past eight months continues into a never-ending abyss, exacerbated by the lack of clear information provided to us by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office).

Ahmed al-Doush, a British citizen who worked as a business analyst at Bank of America, has been jailed for 10 years after being detained in Saudi Arabia last August over a now-deleted Tweet

Al-Doush was arrested while preparing to fly home to the UK from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (pictured) on 31 August last year with his family

His distraught wife Amaher Nour has spoken out today saying: 'To me and my kids he is everything'

'Before the judgment was handed down, Ahmed was already suffering with back and thyroid issues and was becoming increasingly mentally distressed. I can only imagine what he is going through now, knowing he won't see his family again for years.

'He should be at home surrounded by his loved ones, not in an overcrowded cell surrounded by second-hand cigarette smoke.

'Yesterday it became clear how badly the UK Government has failed me and my husband.

'The judgment needs to be a wake-up call for the Foreign Secretary to act. Our children need their father. He has done nothing wrong.'

The analyst was put in solitary confinement for 33 days after his arrest and denied consular assistance as well as access to legal representation for more than two months.

He has now been jailed for a decade after a state-appointed lawyer told his wife on Monday, Amaher Nour, that he had been convicted of an offence at a hearing but that he could not tell her what it was, The Times reports.

The case was discussed by the UK foreign secretary David Lammy with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, though details of their call were not disclosed.

Mr al-Doush had not met his baby son Youssef, after missing the birth in December due to his detention.

Al Doush is believed to have been detained in relation to a deleted Tweet about the war in Sudan, his homeland, which provided military support for Saudi Arabia in its ongoing conflict with Yemen

A letter from the Foreign Office to the civil rights group Reprieve confirmed UK foreign secretary David Lammy was aware of Al Doush's case

His wife was pregnant with their forth child when al-Doush was arrested - though he insisted that she and their three children board their flight back without him.

Ms Nour told The Times: 'The authorities asked for his documents and we thought it was just a problem with his visa. He called me from security and told me to fly with the children on to Turkey, our transit stop, and said, "I'll be with you shortly".'

It was only once the family touched down in Manchester that they received confirmation al-Doush had been imprisoned.

He was reportedly blocked from having any contact with his family until November 17 2024 - almost three months after he was first detained.

That month he appeared in Saudi court for the first time and was allowed a visit from British consulate officials.

It has been reported the Foreign Office were refused access to the trial, but it is understood that they did in fact have access to Al-Doush's most recent prior hearing.

He has been represented in the UK by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Reprieve, who have campaigned extensively for the end of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

The group penned a letter to the UK foreign secretary David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, advocating for Al Doush and received a reply back from a Foreign Office official.

Mr Lammy has reportedly discussed the case with his Saudi counterpart, foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, though details of the call were not revealed

The response reportedly stated that while Al Doush's detention was difficult for the family, the Foreign Office 'cannot interfere in another country's legal processes and must respect their systems, nor can we get British nationals out of jail'.

However, the official is believed to have confirmed that Mr Lammy is familiar with the case and added that British officials have repeatedly petitioned Riyadh over the conditions of Al Doush's detention.

Jeed Basyouni, Reprieve's head of death penalty for the Middle East and North Africa, said: 'For the past eight months, Ahmed's family have grappled not only with losing a father and husband, but with the FCDO failing to push hard enough for his release.

'Ahmed's case underscores that something is seriously wrong with the UK Government's approach to its citizens arbitrarily detained abroad, and now Ahmed and his family are the latest people to suffer the consequences.

'It is staggering that the Foreign Office still doesn't know what Ahmed has been charged with, but there are indications it relates to a single tweet.

'Will the UK Government stand idly by while a British family is torn apart, apparently over a social media post?'

Al Doush's UK lawyer Haydee Dijkstal, a barrister at 33 Bedford Row Chambers, emphasised prior to his trial it was unclear what he was being charged with or what the timeline was with his case.

He is believed to have been imprisoned in relation to a deleted Tweet from 2018 about the war in Sudan, his homeland, which provided military support for Saudi Arabia in its ongoing conflict with Yemen.

Al-Doush (pictured here outside Manchester City's Etihad Stadium with two friends) has yet to meet his baby son who was born in December

Al Doush has not posted about Saudi Arabia on his X account and only had 37 followers.

However, it is thought the Saudis may also have objected to his friendship with the son of a Saudi dissident - with whom his family say he did not talk politics.

'The night times are the hardest for me when I'm alone and it's quiet,' Ms Nour told The Times.

'I keep asking myself 'why, why, why has this happened', and I can't get to the bottom of it because it's not rational in any way. He has no political associations.'

Al Doush's lawyer Ms Dijkstal told The Guardian: 'Under international law, a detained person has the right to be promptly informed of both the reasons for arrest and continued detention and of the charges.

'This obligation not only means that the state must inform the detained person of the law and provision under which they are charged, but also the facts and evidence that form the charge.

'Over three months since Al-Doush was charged, and with indications of his trial nearing conclusion and a judgment imminent, it is still not clear whether the tweet allegedly supports the charge against him.

'This reality is not only in direct contradiction of the most basic principles of due process, but is exacerbated by information of numerous other fair trial and due process violations in his case.'

Al Doush has reportedly also not been allowed to select his own legal counsel in Saudi Arabia

Al Doush has reportedly also not been allowed to select his own legal counsel in Saudi Arabia.

It was reported in March that he was granted a single phone call at 6am every Wednesday with his wife, but was instructed by prison officers not to discuss his hearings or conditions he was experiencing in jail.

Since Al Doush was working on short term contracts with Bank of America, his extended detention has also plunged the family into financial difficulties, with his wife back in the UK forced to use food banks to get by.

A FCDO spokesman said: 'We are supporting a British man who is detained in Saudia Arabia and are in contact with his family and the local authorities.'

The Saudi Arabian embassy in London have been contacted for comment.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that he would be removing all sanctions from Syria.

'I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,' Trump told a crowd gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Trump landed in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, Tuesday morning to start his three-country, three and a half day tour of the Middle East.

He credited Saudi Arabia's de facto leader when making the announcement at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum.

'Oh, what I do for the crown prince,' Trump said, referencing Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud who had pressed the U.S. president on the sanctions issue.

'MBS' was seated nearby in the audience.

Earlier, after Daily Mail posed a question to Trump about whether he'd meet with Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa while visiting Saudi Arabia, the White House confirmed that the two leaders would 'say hello' Wednesday.

Ahead of the visit, al-Sharaa had floated building a Trump Tower Damascus and allowing the U.S. to have some of Syria's oil in exchange for sanctions relief.

President Donald Trump announced at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that he would end all sanctions on Syria

Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa had been wanting to come to Saudi Arabia during President Donald Trump's trip to the region and press for sanctions relief

He also said that Syria would back a detente with Israel, Reuters reported.

The sanctions were in place on the brutal Assad regime, which fell in December.

The Saudis, and also Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had both pressed Trump on the sanctions issue, the president said onstage Tuesday evening.

'Now is their time to shine,' the president said of Syria, now being led by a former revel leader.

He received a standing ovation from the audience with the sanctions announcement.

Additionally Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be meeting with his Syrian counterpart this week in Turkey.

Also heading to Turkey - but for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks - are Rubio and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, a White House official said Tuesday night.

The new Syrian president, al-Sharaa, was born in Riyadh to a Syrian Sunni Muslim before growing up in Damascus.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he left Syria and joined al-Qaeda in Iraq.

He remains on a U.S.-designated terror list over his al-Qaeda past.

In more recent years al-Sharaa renounced jihadism against western nations like the U.S.

al-Sharaa was a rebel commander during the Syrian civil war and became the country's de facto ruler in December after the fall of Assad.

He started serving as the country's president in January.

A U.S. and Syrian leader haven't greeted one another since the year 2000.
Meghan Markle has admitted she doesn't 'have time to cook every day' and instead makes takeaway dinners look as 'beautiful' as possible after being ridiculed for her food presentation on her Netflix lifestyle series.

The Duchess of Sussex chatted with Heather Hasson, co-founder of medical scrubs brand Figs, in the sixth instalment of her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder.

Speaking about entrepreneurs who start their own business, Meghan said: 'The whole point for me, and you'll probably speak to this too, is when you see something that is an easy solve in the everyday, that's not complicated, that's not fussy, how do you get your hands involved and change the way of thinking surrounding it so it doesn't feel daunting?'

'I see vegetables and I see takeout - because I don't have time to cook every day - and I go, "Alright, but how do I still make this flattering and beautiful and present well and something that people find appetising?"'

Hasson enthusiastically replied: 'I think when you take something so simple in your everyday life and you elevate it and you make it elegant, I think that's what makes it so special.'

Meghan previously demonstrated how to plate up Chinese takeaway food 'beautifully' as well as making banana split and fruit salad decorated with edible flowers on her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.

The royal's lifestyle series claims she was hoping to 'make magic out of elevating ordinary things'.

However, it was met with mockery from viewers when it aired in March as they poked fun at the idea of 'elevating' foods like beans on toast, pizza and hot dogs with flowers.

Meghan Markle has admitted she doesn't 'have time to cook every day' and instead makes takeaway dinners look as 'beautiful' as possible after being ridiculed for her food presentation on her Netflix lifestyle series

Meghan previously demonstrated how to plate up Chinese takeaway food 'beautifully' as well as making banana split and fruit salad decorated with edible flowers on her Netflix show With Love, Meghan

Heather Hasson, founder of medical scrubs brand Figs, is on Meghan's new podcast episode

Meghan also talked about her experience studying theatre and international relations at Northwestern University helped her prepare to be a company founder.

She said: 'I was a theatre major and part of the programme was that you couldn't just do the acting.

'You had to do soup-to-nuts every part of what a production would entail, which I actually think is incredible training for when you're running a team, because you appreciate what the sound person does and what the lighting person does.

'But wardrobe department and sewing was part of it too, so I am comfortable with a sewing machine.'

The Duchess also talked about creating her lifestyle business As Ever.

She added: 'The types of minutia that at the onset you kind of have to be across every single granular detail. For me, I don't know how to not have love in the details.'

Described her busy life establishing her company, the Duchess said: 'As I've been building As Ever, oh let me tell you, it is just a constant state of recalibration.

'There's joy in that but we are always in motion. If you're a founder yourself, you know exactly what I mean, because we're moving at work speed, problem solving, filling gaps in real time, scratching a million tiny, tiny things off of your to do list, but not in that fun way like a lotto ticket.'

The Duchess of Sussex launched the eight-part 'Confessions Of A Female Founder' podcast

The royal's lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, claims that she's hoping to 'make magic out of elevating ordinary things'

Family Ties star Justine Bateman joined in on the viral thread which was shared on X to take a swipe at the Duchess of Sussex for her food presentation

Other viewers also rushed to poke fun at the idea of elevating ordinary food such as pizza, hot dogs and beans on toast, and shared their very own interesting creations

And in today's podcast, the Duchess compared her gesture to Hasson, who was inspired to transform uncomfortable and unflattering healthcare clothes, and whose firm became the first company co-founded by a female duo to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021.

Meghan said: 'And, for you, you go, hold on this is something that you're doing every day, you're wearing this uniform every day, you're eating every day.

'How do we elevate that in a way that you feel really good about what you're doing, and you feel proud about what you're wearing, and you're able to have some functionality with it? In some ways they're actually a different version of the same thing.'

Scrubs maker Figs was started in 2013 by Hasson and Trina Spear, and received financial backing in its early days from actor Will Smith.

The firm saw a jump in demand for its medical apparel, face masks and shields from 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Figs makes medical apparel aimed at combining style with comfort, sold under the tagline, 'why wear scrubs, when you can #wearFIGS?'

It sells scrubs in different styles including 'skinny scrub' trousers and 'oversized' scrub tops and those with multiple pockets in colours such as royal blue, teal and bright red and facemasks with patterns featuring cats, pandas and kisses.

The company went public in 2021 and was valued at $4.6billion, although its sales and profits slowed over the following years as lockdown restrictions were eased.

Scrubs maker Figs was started in 2013 by Trina Spear (left) and Hannah Hasson (right)

FIGS was founded in 2013 and quickly became known for its form-fitting, fashionable scrubs

Meghan's As Ever products including her jam launched last month and rapidly sold out

Figs was valued at about $1billion when it received a takeover offer last December from private-equity firm Story3 Capital Partners, which it later rebuffed.

Today's episode was the sixth of Meghan's Lemonada Media podcast Confessions Of A Female Founder, which has been releasing a new part each Tuesday since April 8.

This has included interviews with Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, Highbrow Hippie co-founder Kadi Lee and IT Cosmetics co-founder Jamie Kern Lima.

In episode five last Tuesday, Meghan discussed leaving the UK for California as she interviewed Clevr Blends co-founder Hannah Mendoza who made the same move after struggling to 'fit in'.

It follows the Duchess's Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan coming out in March and the launch of As Ever, which is selling flower sprinkles and herbal tea.
Nick Ferrari has had his brand new 60,000 Jeep stolen from outside his gated home in London.

It is feared keyless car thieves may have used a device to unlock the LBC presenter's plush 4x4 before driving away without leaving a trace of evidence.

Mr Ferrari, 66, told MailOnline it felt 'strangely personal' before praising Scotland Yard's response to the brazen theft.

He said: 'While this in no way compares with being a victim of a personal or violent crime, and I'm not for a moment suggesting that, to open my gates, gain entry to the car without any smashing of glass or anything that left the slightest trace of evidence, is disturbing.

'The police have been hugely supportive and I've had both a phone call and an email.

'In this instance they couldn't be doing more. I just wish the bloody criminals were doing considerably less.'

Mr Ferrari had left his home in Blackheath at 5pm on May 12 but to his horror found his black Jeep Wrangler Overland was gone from the driveway when he returned the next day.

Has YOUR keyless car been stolen? Email matt.strudwick@mailonline.co.uk

Nick Ferrari has had his brand new 60,000 Jeep stolen from outside his gated home in London

Mr Ferrari, 66, (pictured in September 2024) told MailOnline it felt 'strangely personal' before praising Scotland Yard's response to the brazen theft

'As someone once sang, I love driving in my car I really did. I'd be immensely grateful if anyone who has information could help,' he said.

A spokesperson for the Met told MailOnline: 'On Tuesday, 13 May we received a report that a car had been stolen from outside a residential property in Blackheath.

'We are carrying out CCTV checks and house-to-house enquiries in the area. The investigation is ongoing.'

Car thefts have spiralled to a 15-year high with experts blaming 'smart keys' that allow keyless access to a wide range of high-end vehicles.

Armed with iPad-sized devices to emulate electronic fobs, thieves can open newer vehicles and drive away within seconds.

New laws are set to ban electronic devices used to steal cars - with the people who make or sell signal jammers facing as much as five years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Close to 130,000 car thefts were reported to the police in 2023/24, official statistics show, while more than 700,000 vehicles were broken into.

This marked the highest toll since 2008/09, when criminals were more likely to pick locks or smash windows before hotwiring cars and speeding off.

Although not all will have been by thieves using 'emulators', insurers say the trend is increasing.

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Official data shows an offender manipulates a signal from a remote locking device in 40 per cent of vehicles thefts.

Admiral, the UK's largest motor insurer, said around two-thirds of cars stolen in 2023 were keyless.

Terrifying CCTV footage has shown masked crooks, hidden by the cover of darkness, 'hacking' cars sat on their own driveway.

Earlier this year, a man had his 25,000 Ford Ranger stolen after two keyless car thieves made off with it in the dead of night.

Footage of the culprits revealed how they managed to steal the vehicle from the family driveway in less than 60 seconds.

One thief swiftly made his way towards the car door while the other runs over to the front of the house, holding what appears to be a signal-scanning device.

More shocking CCTV footage from March last year showed how thugs unlocked a Bentley Bentayga, which was parked in a gated driveway, using a 'master device' to copy the signals of the vehicle's keys and transmit them to a second device to open the car.

After successfully gaining access to the vehicle, worth 169,000, one of the criminals then reverses the motor through two sets of fences in order to escape off the property.

Perry Lovejoy, 29, Luke Jackson, 28, Billy Harrison, 30, and Harry Sales, 28, all admitted charges of conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to acquire criminal property.

They were sentenced collectively to 12-and-a-half years behind bars.

In December an organised crime gang which plundered luxury vehicles worth more than 215,000 were jailed for a total of more than 27 years.

The gang targeted high value cars parked at luxury homes in multiple burglaries across Surrey.

In 2023, police identified a series of residential burglaries which could be linked via a distinctive Audi A8 car, which was one of just 15 in the country.

Sophisticated electronic devices used by criminals in 40% of vehicle thefts in England and Wales will be banned under new laws as part of the government's mission to make the nation's streets safer. Pictured above is a signal jammer

Shocking CCTV footage from March last year showed how thugs unlocked a Bentley Bentayga, which was parked in a gated driveway by using a 'master device'

One of the criminals is seen using a 'master device' to copy the signals of the vehicle's keys and transmit them to a second device that unlocked the car

A photograph released by police shows tools and number plates used during a series of thefts in Surrey

The gang would scope out a target vehicle and either commit a burglary to steal the keys or use illegal devices to gain keyless entry.

Minister for Policing, Crime and Fire Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson said in March: 'These thefts have a devastating effect on victims, who need their vehicles to go about their everyday lives.

'We are aware of the real concerns people feel with the use of these electronic devices being so prolific.

'This is why we are introducing new laws focused on tackling this issue at source, which is what our Safer Streets mission and Plan for Change are all about.

'These new laws will prevent these devices from getting into the hands of thieves and organised crime groups.

'We will also continue to work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council, which includes supporting their National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, which brings together the police and manufacturers to clamp down on vehicle crime.'

Has YOUR keyless car been stolen? Email matt.strudwick@mailonline.co.uk
Corridor care has been pushed into the car park as A&E departments increasingly treat patients in ambulances outside hospitals, nurses have warned.

Patients are receiving unacceptable treatment outside wards too full to accept them, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) annual conference was told.

One nurse revealed how a patient died after waiting in an ambulance for more than a day, adding: This is not care, it is abuse.

It follows figures released last month showing half of ambulance crews waited at least six hours to hand over patients to A&E, while one in seven were held outside wards for more than 12 hours.

More than two thirds of the 600 ambulance staff surveyed by trade union Unison said they had seen patients deteriorate during such long delays. One in 20 said a patient had died in their care while waiting.

The highest-risk place in the NHS is now the back of an ambulance, said nurse Alison Milliken  who proposed the debate at the conference in Liverpool.

She added: Across the four UK nations we see what can only be described as a crisis. Unprecedented delay in the ambulance handovers are leaving inpatients stuck in ambulances for hours, sometimes entire shifts, outside emergency departments that simply cannot cope.

These vehicles are not equipped for prolonged care. They are not designated to be treatment areas. They are not staffed for extended patient care, and yet they have quietly become overflow spaces and an informal extension of our emergency departments.

One nurse told the Royal College of Nursing's annual conference how a patient died by waiting in an ambulance for more than a day

Nurses unanimously agreed to pressure the Government to decide who should take responsibility for those waiting outside A&E departments

She claimed the issue was part of the wider corridor care crisis  where patients are left on trolleys with little privacy or dignity because there are not enough beds available.

Ms Milliken added: We are seeing the same dangerous trends spilling beyond hospital walls and into ambulance bays.

Denise Kelly, the RCNs trade union committee chairman, said: This isnt just corridor care. Its been extended into the back of the car park, into the back of an ambulance, and its becoming dangerously normalised... Its unsafe, and its utterly unacceptable for our staff and, most importantly, for all patients.

Nurses unanimously agreed to pressure the Government to decide who should take responsibility for those waiting outside A&E departments.

There are no rules stating whether ambulance or hospital staff should take charge in these situations, meaning patients may have no one taking responsibility for their welfare.

The Department of Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.
A company owned by billionaire 'Asylum King' Graham King is planning 15,000 beds in new properties to replace migrant hotels.

Asylum accommodation provider Clearsprings Ready Homes insisted the facilities would be much more affordable than placing migrants in hotels on full board.

Clearsprings and two other companies which hold deals to supply asylum accommodation also told MPs they have yet to pay back any cash to the taxpayer under profit share clauses in their contracts with the Home Office.

It comes after watchdogs revealed last week that asylum seeker housing - including hotels and so-called dispersed accommodation such as self-catering flats - is costing the taxpayer 4million every day.

Managing director of Clearsprings Ready Homes Steve Lakey told a Commons committee: We have proposed - and were talking to the Home Office about it at the moment  some what is called overflow dispersed accommodation.

Its a slightly different variant on self-catering dispersed accommodation.

Clearsprings 'Asylum King' Graham King and his Latvian girlfriend Lolita Lace

Graham King's fortune is estimated to have soared past 1billion, according to the forthcoming latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List

Weve got about 15,000 bedspaces that we have proposed that could be utilised to replace hotels directly.

Much more affordable, much more akin to dispersed accommodation and - most importantly - self-catering and in [the] community, so less of a draw than hotels.

Clearsprings owner Mr King was catapulted onto the Sunday Times Rich List last year after cashing in on the UK's migrant crisis with an estimated net worth of 750million.

In the past year his wealth is estimated to have soared above 1billion and he is placed 154th in the 2025 edition of the list, to be published this weekend.

Graham King and his Latvian girlfriend Lolita Lace riding horses in the sea on the Caribbean island of Antigua in February 2015

Mr King leads a jet-set lifestyle patronising some of the world's top hotels and dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, often in the company of his glamorous Latvian girlfriend Lolita Lace, who at 39, is 18 years his junior.

Questioned on the companys profits, managing director Mr Lakey said Clearsprings contract has a profit share clause which requires it to refund the taxpayer for any profits above five per cent.

Steve Lakey, managing director of Clearsprings Ready Homes, told MPs the company has proposed plans for a new type of self-catering accommodation for asylum seekers that could take 15,000 migrants out of hotels

Its profits are currently running at 6.9 per cent, he said, and the total since the beginning of the contract is 32million.

None of the cash has yet been returned to the Treasury as it is awaiting audit, but is all there ready to go, he told the home affairs select committee.

Jason Burt of Mears Group, another asylum accommodation provider, said his firm had suggested repaying the Home Office 13.8million under a profit clause in their contract

Jason Burt of another provider, Mears, said his firm had suggested repaying the Home Office 13.8million from its profits under the clause  and their calculations are also currently being audited by the government.

Claudia Sturt of the third company, Serco, said it was not yet in scope for profit share.

Last week shock figures from the National Audit Office (NAO) showed the overall asylum accommodation bill of more than 15billion over 10 years is triple the Home Offices original estimate.

Claudia Sturt, Prisons and Immigration Director of Serco UK & Europe, said her company was not yet 'in scope' to repay profits under the same deal

Contracts were originally forecast to cost 4.5billion over a decade from 2019 but are now expected to run to 15.3billion over same period after the Channel crisis exploded.

It means that on average the taxpayer will spend 4,191,780 a day on housing asylum seekers over the life of the contracts.

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A separate breakdown from the NAO showed overall costs in 2024-25 were 1.67billion.

That amounted to 4,567,123 a day on average, or 3,172 a minute.

Asylum hotels 'may be more profitable' for companies holding the contracts than other types of housing, the government's official auditors said.

At the end of December, 42,000 asylum seekers were in Home Office 'contingency accommodation', including 38,000 in hotels, they added.

Bosses from the three companies were giving evidence to the Commons' cross-party home affairs select committee in the wake of a shock NAO report on the cost of asylum accommodation

It means that Clearsprings gets the go ahead for the new-style accommodation it could reduce the total number of asylum seekers in hotels by 40 per cent.

Clearsprings, Mears and Serco operate two or three UK regions each.

The Home Office currently has 210 asylum hotels in operation compared to a peak of more than 400, when they were costing 9million a day, it is understood.

Labour has closed 23 hotels since the general election and a further seven will shut by July.

However, arrivals across the Channel have surged by a third year-on-year.

In total since Labour came to power there have been more than 35,000 arrivals, with 601 migrants making it to British soil on Monday.

Last year saw more than 108,000 asylum claims  by small boat migrants and others  which was the highest number since records began in 1979.

A Home Office source said: 'We inherited chaos right across the system.

'The Conservatives just stopped making decisions, with people not being returned and disastrous contracts that were not properly scrutinised  wasting millions in taxpayer money.

'Earlier this year we removed one operator, Stay Belvedere Hotels, from government asylum operations. Unlike the Tories, we will not hesitate to take whatever action necessary to guarantee value for money for the taxpayer.'
A female hospital worker sobbed in court as she admitted to planning horrific sex attacks on young children.

Operating theatre assistant Tracy Turner, 51, made indecent images of children as well as arranging to rape a child.

A court heard Turner and her partner Stuart Compton, 45, plotted to carry out sex attacks on multiple children.

They had previously been charged with hatching an alleged kidnap and murder of a girl under 13, but the court heard those charges would no longer be pursued.

Turner, who cried in the dock, admitted two counts of making indecent images of a child and six counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

Compton admitted six counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

The charges include arranging the sexual assault of a child between five and eight along with arranging the rape of a child between seven and ten.

Turner and Compton, from Cardiff, pleaded guilty to all charges at Cardiff Crown Court.

Operating theatre assistant Tracy Turner, 51, admitted to making indecent images of children as well as arranging to rape a child

Her partner Stuart Compton, 45, also plotted to carry out sex attacks on multiple children

Judge, Recorder of Cardiff, Tracey Lloyd Clarke adjourned the case for sentence on July 28.

She said: 'I know you have both been told an immediate and substantial sentence is inevitable in this case.'

Turner worked in the busy operating theatre at the 800-bed University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff until she was suspended after police were contacted.

A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: 'The health board suspended the individual once we were made aware of the allegations against them.

Turner, who cried in the dock, admitted two counts of making indecent images of a child and six counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence

Turner and Compton, from Cardiff, pleaded guilty to all charges at Cardiff Crown Court

A judge told the couple that 'an immediate and substantial sentence is inevitable in this case'

Turner was suspended from her job as a theatre assistant (pictured: University Hospital of Wales)

'This is a sensitive issue and the health board has been cooperating with partners in South Wales Police.

'We are not able to comment further while court proceedings are ongoing.'
Disgraced former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini was having an affair with his family nanny who is set to testify against him as he faces charges of murdering of his wealthy father-in-law, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

The 51-year-old is on trial in Auburn, California, accused of the 2021 slaying of retired businessman Gary Spohr, 70, and the attempted killing of his wife Wendy Wood, then 69.

Samantha Scott, 35, admitted to what is coyly described as 'a flirtatious, romantic relationship' with Serafini in court papers obtained by DailyMail.com  with cops saying she spent the night before the murder with him at a seedy casino hotel in Elko, Nevada, where the pair enjoyed a lengthy boozing session.

But while Scott, admitted the fling and to driving Serafini to the scene of the slaying in Tahoe City, California, prosecutors say the real reason for the brutal murder was a family feud over money that had dragged on for more than a decade.

Along with flirty texts exchanged by Serafini and Scott, jurors will also see the string of furious emails - characterized by Judge Garen Horst as 'intense, verbally violent interactions' during a motions hearing last week  he barraged his in-law with.

Serafini played for six Major League teams most notably the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in a journeyman 12-year career between 1996 and 2007.

The trial will see his wife Erin, 36, come face-to-face with the former nanny testifying for the prosecution following a February plea deal. Erin, an equestrian, will speak in defense of her husband.

And while it has previously been reported that Wood had no memory of the attack, DailyMail.com can reveal that she had in fact recovered her memory  a twist revealed during a hearing last week when the prosecution and defense made arguments over whether to put that information to the jury.

Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini, 51, was having an affair with family nanny Samantha Scott who is now set to testify against him as he faces charges of murdering of his wealthy father-in-law

Retired businessman Gary Spohr, 70, and his wife Wendy Wood, then 69, were shot at their luxury Lake Tahoe home in 2021. He died and she miraculously survived only to hang herself two years later

That led to her dramatically cutting Erin and Serafini out of her will in favor of her other daughter Adrienne, 39.

Wood hanged herself in 2023 and her revised will is now the subject of a separate legal battle between her daughters.

The trial marks a steep fall from grace for Serafini who is now residing in South Placer County Jail's cell 176.

Even before his October 2023 arrest he had fallen to the point where he was living part time in a trailer and working as a miner in Nevada's remote Crescent Valley.

Most of the money he had earned during his MLB career had been sunk into a bar in Sparks, Nevada, named the Bullpen  later the Oak Tavern  that struggled and saw him appear on a 2015 episode of Paramount's Bar Rescue.

When it failed, the former pitcher and his wife found themselves partly reliant on handouts from her wealthy parents, with Wood handing Erin a check for $90,000 shortly before she and her husband were shot.

Despite the financial largesse, prosecutors say Serafini's relationship with his in-laws had been fractious from the moment he met Erin in 2010.

Nonetheless, the pair went on to marry in 2012 and set up home in a sprawling $1.1million five-bedroom property in Reno, Nevada, that they share with their two children aged four and seven.

Serafini's wife Erin, 36, will come face-to-face with the former nanny testifying for the prosecution. Erin, an equestrian, will speak in defense of her husband

The Lake Tahoe home where Robert Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood were killed in 2021

Spohr died instantly of a bullet to the brain. Wood survived two gunshots to the head and dialed 911, but she took her own life one year later while still in recovery

According to prosecution documents, Serafini was heard offering to pony up $20,000 to have his in-laws murdered the same year he and Erin married, while in 2016, he was heard describing them as 'wealthy pieces of s***'.

And, just three months before the murder in June 2021, he was overheard by mine foreman Eric Bunner saying he wanted to kill them following a furious phone call.

That bad blood, says the prosecution, came to a head when a masked man was caught on camera sneaking into Spohr's Tahoe City home on June 5 2021 at shortly after 5pm.

Erin had been visiting her parents that day with their children and was seen saying goodbye to them outside at 7:45pm that night. It was the last time her father would be seen alive.

Just over an hour later, five gunshots were heard in rapid succession from inside the property with the masked killer caught leaving the home a few minutes before 9pm.

When police arrived an hour later, they found Spohr dying on the couch from a gunshot wound to the head while his wife was found in an upstairs bathroom, shot twice in the head but miraculously still alive.

Police and the prosecution say the man captured on camera was Serafini who had been driven to Tahoe City by his lover Scott.

In initial interviews, Scott claimed to have been in Elko on the day of the murder and said Serafini had spent the previous night with her there at the Red Lion Casino before leaving to return to his Crescent Valley trailer.

According to prosecution documents obtained by DailyMail.com Serafini was heard offering to pony up $20,000 to have his in-laws murdered

Serafini played for six MLB teams including the Cincinnati Reds in a journeyman 12-year career between 1996 and 2007

Wearing a backpack and black hoodie, the man thought to be the killer carried a concealed .22-caliber gun as he strolled iaround Lake Tahoe on the day of the murder

Police caught a masked intruder entering the Spohrs' Hurricane Bay home on surveillance footage

But Scott's tale changed when police confronted her with cellphone pings that placed her first in Crescent Valley, then Reno and next crossing into California where her phone pinged near Truckee  a border town close to Tahoe City.

In Tahoe City, her tan Subaru was captured on home surveillance footage parking close to the Spohr residence at 6:42pm that night.

The car was repeatedly seen moving from parking spot to parking spot before driving off at 9:22pm that night allegedly with Serafini also inside.

According to court papers, Scott admitted to driving the former big-leaguer to Tahoe City that day but insisted she had left him there by the Fat Cat Bar and Grill after he said he needed 'to pick up a package' before collecting him a few hours later for the drive back to Crescent Valley.

Police say it was during that time that Serafini snuck into the house and attacked his in-laws, emerging from a hiding spot after his wife and children left.

Despite Scott turning witness for the prosecution, Serafini's defense lawyers David Dratman and David Fischer will argue that there were plenty of other people with reason to want to kill Spohr and Wood who had been nightmare neighbors and the subject of restraining orders at the time of the attack.

Court papers seen by DailyMail.com bear that out.

Wood was convicted of attacking a man with a paddle board paddle for fishing outside her home in 2018 while Spohr had been involved in a laundry list of court cases dating back to 2011.

Dratman and Fischer also say the Spohrs' other daughter Adrienne benefitted financially from her parents' deaths. She is currently dating a convicted bank robber named in court papers as 'T.H'.

Serafini was detained in Winnemucca, Nevada, and accused of murder, along with lying in wait and child endangerment because his two children were in the home shortly before the shooting

Serafini is being held in the South Placer Adult Correctional Facility in Roseville, California

DailyMail.com can reveal 'T.H' is Taylor Hatton, 39, who was convicted of robbing the First Community Bank in Taos, New Mexico, in 2008 and brandishing a firearm during the heist.

He was eventually arrested in Albuquerque, convicted and released from jail in 2014 according to Bureau of Prisons records.

They say the man caught on camera could have been Hatton, although Richard Miller  who is leading the prosecution  noted in court last week that Hatton is just 5ft 9 while the masked man is closer to Serafini's 6ft 1 height.

The trial is due to run for at least two weeks and will see Serafini face life in prison if he is convicted.

Scott will be sentenced at a later date.
Chinas new consumption sector witnessing IPO boom, showing rapid industry upgrade

10:19, May 13, 2025 By Qi Xijia ( Global Times

China's "new consumption" sector is witnessing an IPO boom, with a wave of brands ranging from tea chains to lifestyle retailers racing to list overseas, according to a report on Monday. This listing frenzy underscores China's rapid consumption upgrade, where new business models and emerging brands have become primary growth drivers, a Chinese expert said on Monday.

So far this year, Chinese consumer brands such as tea brands Mixue Group, Guming and Chagee have gone public in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the US. Many other brands, including fast food chains like Lao Xiang Ji and Xiaomian Noodles, are also seeking IPOs, the Securities Times reported on Monday.

This rapid succession of listings has followed the sector's explosive growth and investor enthusiasm. The market performance of these newly listed new-consumption companies has been extraordinary. Mixue's IPO attracted a record HK$1.8 trillion ($231 billion) of orders from retail investors before it started trading, and the share price has since doubled. Similarly, Pop Mart, China's blind box maker and pop culture retailer, has seen its stock price more than double this year, according to the Securities Times.

"New consumption represents a dynamic blend of technological innovation, shifting consumer demands and novel business models," Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday, adding that these new consumption models offer novel consumer experiences, allowing brands to engage with customers in personalized way.

In an article published in the Qi Zhi magazine, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao emphasized the importance of cultivating new forms of consumption and enhancing consumption momentum, according to the website of the Ministry of Commerce on May 8.

He noted that as technology advances rapidly and consumer demands upgrade, new consumption forms such as digital, green, intelligent and healthy consumption are booming. Efforts should be made to actively nurture new consumer business models, promote the "debut" economy, and drive integration in such forms as "AI + consumption" and "IP + consumption" to foster innovative consumer experiences and spaces.

The overseas IPO wave underscores a broader market shift in China, with consumers increasingly prioritizing quality, customization and niche experiences. Whether it's milk tea or limited-edition blind boxes, these products can meet people's emotional and social needs and China's new consumption economy is demonstrating remarkable resilience, Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times.

Zhang noted that these listings are expected to fuel further industry upgrades, with the proceeds typically channeled into supply chain optimization, research and development and brand building, creating spillover benefits for upstream sectors and employment. This creates a virtuous cycle where listed companies continuously innovate to meet growth expectations, ultimately driving consumption upgrades and broader domestic consumption, Zhang said.

China's retail sales, a key indicator of consumption strength, expanded 4.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, as government pro-consumption policies took effect.

This growth pace represented an acceleration of 1.1 percentage points over 2024 levels, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with total retail sales reaching 12.47 trillion yuan in the first quarter. In March alone, retail sales grew 5.9 percent year-on-year, accelerating from the 4 percent growth recorded in the first two months of the year, the NBS said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Episcopal Church has abruptly ended its longstanding partnership with the White House over a refusal to help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status by Donald Trump.

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe announced the church's decision the day after the first batch of the South Africans landed in Virginia after the Trump administration fast-tracked their applications.

The group comprises 49 Afrikaners - a white minority group in South Africa - who the Trump administration says have had their land seized by the South African government without compensation, an allegation denied by Cape Town.

Trump issued an executive order in February accusing the South African government of facilitating a 'genocide' against white farmers.

However, some have alleged Trump is stoking racial tensions and prioritizing white applicants while simultaneously shutting down much of South Africa's refugee program.

After fast-tracking the refugee applications of the Afrikaners, the Episcopal Church announced this week it was ending its program to help resettle the South African migrants as it cites its 'commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.'

The church also cited its ties to the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, with Rowe saying the church was against showing 'preferential treatment' to one group of refugees over another.

Rowe said the church has pledged to shut down its migration services' links to the federal government entirely by the end of the year, in a clear show of protest against Trump's acceptance of the 49 Afrikaners.

The Episcopal Church has abruptly ended its longstanding partnership with the White House over a refusal to help resettle white South Africans granted refugee status by President Trump. Pictured: Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe

The move comes after the Trump administration fast-tracked applications of 49 Afrikaners to enter the US as he accused South Africa of committing a 'genocide' against white farmers

The move from the Episcopal Church marks the end of almost four decades of work with the federal government to help resettle refugees.

The fallout primarily stems from Trump's moves to rapidly reshape and downsize the federal government since retaking office, including ending almost all foreign aid through the now-gutted USAID program.

While the Trump administration shut down legal pathways for many refugees to enter the US - including in South Africa - his decision to facilitate the applications from the Afrikaners to escape alleged genocide has led to claims of preferential treatment.

While the Church World Service said it would be open to resettling the South Africans, it has also publicly stated they should not be fast-tracked while 'life-saving resettlement to other refugee populations' is rejected.

Another faith-based aid group, the World Relief, also urged the White House to continue migration programs 'for a broad range of individuals who have fled persecution on account of their faith, political opinion, race, or other reasons outlined under US law.'

Before the migrants arrived this week in Virginia, Collen Msibi, a spokesman for South Africa's transport ministry, said the 49 refugees would have to be vetted by police to ensure there were no criminal cases or outstanding warrants against them before being allowed to leave.

Protestors seen at the arrival of the first Afrikaners on Tuesday, where one holds a sign reading: 'Real refugees are still waiting'

White South Africans demonstrate in support of Donald Trump in front of the US embassy in Pretoria, South Africa on February 15

Top Trump adviser, Sout African-born Elon Musk, has previously said there was a 'genocide of white people' in South Africa and accused the government of passing 'racist ownership laws'

When Trump was asked about the South Africans arrival, he said: 'It's a genocide that's taking place, and you people don't want to write about it.

'It's a terrible thing that's taking place, and the farmers are being killed; they happen to be white. Whether they are white or black makes no difference to me, but white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.

Top Trump adviser, South African-born Elon Musk, has previously said there was a 'genocide of white people' in South Africa and accused the government of passing 'racist ownership laws.'

The flight will be the first in a 'much larger-scale relocation effort', according to White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller.

He added that what was happening to Afrikaners in South Africa 'fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created', adding: 'This is persecution based on a protected characteristic  in this case, race. This is race-based persecution.'

But the South African government has firmly rejected these accusations.

They do not qualify for that status, according to us,' Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said at a press briefing on Monday.

'There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of white South Africans,' he added, saying crime in South Africa affects everyone irrespective of race.

In a statement on Friday, South Africa's Foreign Ministry said accusations the government discriminated against the country's white minority were 'unfounded' and the US's resettlement scheme was an attempt to undermine the country's 'constitutional democracy'.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (pictured) has furiously denied claims that his country is in the midst of a 'genocide' against white farmers

There are around 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80 per cent black

The clash also comes amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and South Africa.

In March, South Africa's ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled after accusing Trump of using 'white victimhood as a dog whistle', leading to the US accusing Mr Rasool of 'race-baiting'.

Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has cut all US financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington's ally, Israel.

There are around 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80 per cent black.

Whites still own three-quarters of private land and have about 20 times the wealth of the black majority, according to international academic journal the Review of Political Economy.
A former labourer freed from prison after his murder conviction of 38 years was dramatically quashed has said he is 'not angry' or 'bitter' over his decades-long incarceration.

Peter Sullivan was jailed for the murder of young florist Diane Sindall, 21, in Birkenhead, Merseyside in 1986, but today three senior judges quashed his conviction after the Court of Appeal heard DNA evidence showed the killer was someone else.

They found in favour of the 68-year-old, who has learning difficulties, marking the longest miscarriage of justice in UK history.

Mr Sullivan, watching the hearing remotely from HMP Wakefield, sat with his arms folded over his chest as the three judges, led by Lord Justice Holroyde, announced their decision following a two-hour hearing.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Sullivan - who was aged 30 when he was sentenced for murder - said in a statement read out by his lawyer: 'I lost my liberty four decades ago over a crime I did not commit.

'We now know how very different the times we live in are from scientific advances, legal practice and methods of investigation and questioning by the police.

'What happened to me was very wrong but it does not detract or minimise that all of this happened off the back of a heinous and most terrible loss of life.

'I did not commit murder or unlawfully take the life of any person throughout the span of my own.

After nearly 40 years behind bars and repeated attempts to clear his name, Peter Sullivan has finally had his conviction for murder quashed

The 68-year-old, who has learning difficulties, has been subjected to the longest miscarriage of justice in UK history

Part-time barmaid Diane Sindall, 21, was savagely battered to death: stripped half-naked, indecently assaulted, mutilated and her breasts bitten, and her body discarded in an alleyway

'As God is my witness, it is said the truth shall take you free. It is unfortunate that it does not give a timescale as we advance towards resolving the wrongs done to me, I am not angry, I am not bitter.

'I am simply anxious to return to my loved ones and family as I've got to make the most of what is left of the existence I am granted in this world.'

His sister, Kim Smith, said: 'We lost Peter for 39 years and at the end of the day it's not just us, Peter hasn't won and neither has the Sindall family. They've lost their daughter, they are not going to get her back.

'We've got Peter back and now we've got to try and build a life around him again.

'We feel sorry for the Sindalls and it's such a shame this has had to happen in the first place.'

Earlier, members of Mr Sullivan's family in the public gallery wept as Lord Justice Holroyde announced: 'We quash the conviction.'

The judge continued: 'Strong though the circumstantial evidence undoubtedly seemed at the trial, it is now necessary to take into account the new scientific evidence pointing to someone else - the unknown man.

'If the new evidence had been available in 1986, the evidence as a whole would have been regarded as insufficient. In the light of that evidence it is impossible to regard the appellant's conviction as safe.'

His sister, Kim Smith, said: 'We lost Peter for 39 years and at the end of the day it's not just us, Peter hasn't won and neither has the Sindall family'

Speaking outside court, Mr Sullivan's solicitor Sarah Myatt said: 'This is an unprecedented and historic moment.

'Our client Peter Sullivan is the longest-serving victim of a miscarriage of justice in the UK

'He has endured nearly 40 years in a category A prison for a truly horrific crime that he did not commit.

'Today, justice has been at last served, and his conviction has been quashed.'

It means the DNA found on Miss Sindall's sexually mutilated body belongs to a mystery suspect whose details are not on the National DNA Database or linked to any other unsolved offences.

Detectives with Merseyside Police have begun a fresh investigation into Miss Sindall's violent death.

Prosecutors admitted there was no basis on which Mr Sullivan would ever have been charged if the new evidence - made available by significant scientific advances - was available at the time.

Duncan Atkinson KC, on behalf of the CPS, told the Court of Appeal: 'We do not seek to argue that this fresh DNA evidence does not undermine the safety of the appellant's (Mr Sullivan's) conviction.'

The Wirral pub where Ms Sindall worked to help pay for her forthcoming wedding

Police are now reinvestigating Miss Sindall's murder in the hope of bringing her killer to justice

He said: 'Had this DNA evidence been available at the time a decision was taken to prosecute, it is difficult to see how a decision to prosecute could have been made.'

He added: 'The DNA evidence provides a clear and uncontroverted basis to suggest that another person was responsible for both the sexual assault and the murder.

'As such, it positively undermines the circumstantial case against Mr Sullivan as identified at the time both of his trial and his 2021 appeal.'

Miss Sindall was brutally killed after she left work in Bebington, Birkenhead, Merseyside, in August 1986. Mr Sullivan was convicted of her murder in November the following year.

Prosecutors said he had spent the day drinking heavily, and went out armed with a crowbar before a chance encounter with Miss Sindall.

Evidence at the time suggested Mr Sullivan had recently borrowed a crowbar from a neighbour, left for London shortly after the murder arousing suspicion, and was placed near the scene by witnesses who gave his description.

Miss Sindall's florist van had broken down on her way home from a pub shift and she was walking to a petrol station to get some spare fuel. She had been working late to pay for her forthcoming wedding.

She was ambushed, sexually assaulted and then beaten to death, her body left partially clothed and mutilated in an alleyway where it was discovered the following day.

Speaking outside court, Mr Sullivan's solicitor Sarah Myatt said: 'This is an unprecedented and historic moment'

In November the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said that Mr Sullivan's conviction had been referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis of DNA evidence.

Samples taken at the time of the murder were re-examined and a DNA profile that did not match Mr Sullivan was found, the commission said.

Mr Sullivan applied to the body to have his case re-examined in 2021, raising concerns about police interviews, bite mark evidence and the murder weapon.

He claimed he had not been provided with an appropriate adult during interviews and was initially denied legal representation.

Mr Sullivan had previously applied to the CCRC in 2008 raising questions about DNA evidence, but forensic experts said that further testing was unlikely to reveal a DNA profile.

He applied to the High Court for permission to appeal against his conviction in 2019 over bite mark evidence, but this was rejected by the Court of Appeal in 2021.

Mr Sullivan had initially confessed to the murder, before retracting the claims.

He said detectives forced a confession from him, initially barred him from seeing a solicitor and denied him support from an 'appropriate adult', who, it is said, should have been appointed to safeguard his interests as a vulnerable person.

Jason Pitter KC, representing Mr Sullivan, described how the most recent scientific advances backed his client's contention that he was the victim of wrongful conviction.

Members of Mr Sullivan's family in the public gallery wept as Lord Justice Holroyde announced: 'We quash the conviction'

A memorial tablet on a grass verge near the scene of Ms Sindall's murder

He told the Appeal Court: 'At this time this matter was originally before the court, there was not the scientific capability to carry out analysis of that material.

'The material was not able to be analysed. But since 2024, an analysis has been carried out on that material.

'The DNA from that cellular material found on the deceased  could be attributed to an unknown male.'

He added: 'The prosecution case is that it was one person. It was one person who carried out a sexual assault on the victim.

'The evidence here is now that one person was not the defendant.'

Mr Sullivan, once dubbed the Beast of Birkenhead, appeared overcome with emotion as the hearing concluded.

He could be seen rubbing his hands over his face, appearing to wipe away tears, and then looked towards the sky.

Merseyside Police said the vital DNA evidence was not available during the original investigation into Peter Sullivan and officers are now 'committed to doing everything' to find the person whose DNA was left at the scene where Ms Sindall died.

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Diane Sindall who continue to mourn her loss and will have to endure the implications of this new development so many years after her murder.

'We are committed to doing everything within our power to find whom the DNA, which was left at the scene, belongs to.

'Unfortunately, there is no match for the DNA identified on the national DNA database.

'We have enlisted specialist skills and expertise from the National Crime Agency, and with their support we are proactively trying to identify the person the DNA profile belongs to, and extensive and painstaking inquiries are underway.

'We can confirm that the DNA does not belong to any member of Diane's family, nor Diane's fiance at the time, and we believe it could be a vital piece of evidence linking the killer to the scene.

'To date more than 260 men have been screened and eliminated from the investigation which was reopened in 2023.

'The investigation team has obtained most of the samples locally, however, screening has also taken place in Swansea, Perth, London, Hull and Newcastle with the provision of voluntary DNA elimination samples.'

Downing Street said the Sullivan judgment must be carefully considered to get both him and Diane Sindall's family 'the answers they deserve'.

A Number 10 spokesman said: 'It's clear that Peter Sullivan has suffered a grave miscarriage of justice and our thoughts are also with Diane Sindall's family on what must be an incredibly difficult day.

'We must carefully consider this judgment and look at how this could have happened and get both him and Diane's family the answers they deserve.'
More than a million migrant workers already living in Britain may have to wait an extra five years to win permanent residence rights under a major review.

It is the first indication that Labours immigration reforms  published on Monday - could have sweeping consequences for migrants already in the country, not just those who arrive in future.

The Home Office is reviewing the criteria which may be applied to foreign workers who have come here since 2020, the Mail understands.

We have more than a million people who quite soon will become eligible for permanent rights and we need to make sure that it isnt booming out of control, a government source said.

Under current rules most foreign workers become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after living here for five years.

But the review will look at whether some or all should be required to wait a decade.

The period from January 2020 to December 2024 saw about 1.5million foreign workers handed visas.

nHome Secretary Yvette Cooper visits the Bentley factory in Crewe, Cheshire, today following the launch of the Government's Immigration White Paper

Yvette Cooper toured the Crewe factory in the wake of her immigration plans publication

The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper met workers on the Bentley production line during a factory visit

The Home Office does not publish figures on how many of those remain in the country.

It comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was grilled in the Commons by MPs from her own party over the impact of her immigration White Paper on permanent residency rights.

The Home Office published major plans for immigration reforms earlier this week

Florence Eshalomi, the Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, said she had been contacted by constituents who were understandably worried about where this uncertainty leaves them and were worried about their future plans.

She asked: One even told me that they were so worried that they were considering leaving the UK, because their settled status here is in jeopardy, so can the Home Secretary please outline whether this policy applies to people who are already living and working in the UK, or will it apply just to new visa applicants?

Ms Cooper replied: We will set out further details of the earned settlement and citizenship reforms later this year, and we will consult on them.

There will be plenty of opportunity for people to comment on and consider the detail, but it is important that we extend the sense of contributions and the points-based system to those reforms as well.

We have also said that we will maintain the current five-year route for those who have come on a dependant visa or a family visa, as part of maintaining families.

Separately, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has demanded more generous terms for foreign nurses.

The Home Office is reviewing how foreign workers should be able to claim permanent residency rights in Britain, it has emerged

Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said in a speech on Monday that indefinite leave to remain should be extended to all nursing staff without delay.
The nurse at the centre of a transgender row said biologically male doctors should be immediately banned from womens only spaces.

Sandie Peggie is embroiled in an employment dispute with NHS Fife, which she has accused of unlawful harassment after they let trans medic Dr Beth Upton use a female changing room.

Officials at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy said Dr Upton, born male, had the right to use female-only facilities but Mrs Peggie objected.

Yesterday, Mrs Peggie said in a statement issued by her solicitor, Mrs Peggie welcomed the landmark Supreme Court ruling making clear the legal definition of woman in law did not include biological men.

Lawyer Margaret Gribbon said: She is determined to continue with her legal claim in an effort to obtain accountability for the way she has been treated by Fife Health Board, simply because she objected to sharing a female-only workplace changing room with a man.

She now expects NHS Fife to immediately stop permitting any man who identifies as a woman access to female-only single-sex spaces in the workplace.

Nurse Sandie Peggie is involved in an employment dispute with NHS Fife after it let trans medic Dr Beth Upton use the female changing room

The employment tribunal, which will continue later this year, has been told how Mrs Peggie felt uncomfortable at the prospect of getting changed in front of Dr Upton.

It culminated in an incident in the changing room on Christmas Eve 2023, when Mrs Peggie challenged Dr Upton and the medic complained. Mrs Peggie was put on leave and suspended.

Since the employment tribunal was adjourned there have been a series of extraordinary interventions.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission wrote to NHS Fife and the Scottish Government to remind them about workplace legislation around single-sex spaces.

And the Supreme Court last month unanimously ruled that biological sex, not gender choice or a gender certificate, determined somebodys rights under the Equality Act 2010.

The decision puts women-only spaces off limits to biological males who identify as women, and represented a stunning defeat for the Scottish Government who had been battling against that definition.

MSP Tess White, the Scottish Conservatives equalities spokesman, said that Mrs Peggies intervention should urgently be listened to.

She said: After the decisive Supreme Court verdict, the public will rightly ask why NHS Fife is still pursuing this costly case against her while remaining wedded to a divisive gender self-ID policy.

However, the reason Sandie Peggie has had to make this call is because John Swinney is still shamefully refusing to issue a clear public sector directive requiring organisations to uphold the law.

Male born Dr Beth Upton arriving at the tribunal in Dundee earlier this year

Mrs Peggie's lawyer, Ms Gribbon said: She very much welcomes the recent Supreme Courts judgment that sex in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex.

She salutes the courage and tenacity of For Women Scotland for doggedly pursuing this strategically important case and is extremely grateful to them for their support with her own legal case.

She continues to draw strength and inspiration from the overwhelming support she continues to get from the public in this country and around the world.

Mrs Peggie has won a huge amount of support from well-wishers and an online fund-raising appeal set up by a supporter saw the nurse hand over thousands to charity.

And along with the immense public support she has won, Mrs Peggie has received the backing of politicians from across the political spectrum.

Ms Gribbon added: Sandie also wishes to place on record her gratitude to those elected members from across the political divide who have demonstrated their public support for her from the outset.

She plans to visit the Scottish Parliament before her employment tribunal resumes in July and looks forward to meeting many of those politicians in person.

An NHS Fife spokesman said the health board continues to await further expected guidance from the Scottish Government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission on its implications for NHS organisations across Scotland.

The spokesman added: The claimant has said, in her statement, that she is determined to continue with her legal claim.

The claimant is of course entitled to pursue her legal action. As a result, NHS Fife, as respondent, shall be required to continue to defend the case through the appropriate legal process.

The case involves a range of complex matters, including an internal investigation that was initiated following concerns raised by a member of staff.. NHS Fife believes it had a responsibility to fully investigate such matters.
A Wyoming town's beloved fire department has announced it will not participate as usual in this year's Fourth of July parade, citing a ban on water balloons.

For decades, the Cody Fire Department has been a community favorite in the annual Cody Stampede Parade which sees firefighters toss candy and water balloons to delighted spectators lining the streets.

However, this year, the department announced it will 'limit participation' in the celebration after parade organizers informed them that due to safety concerns, throwing candy and water balloons would no longer be allowed, reports Cowboy State Daily.

'The Cody Volunteer Fire Department has always looked forward to participating in the annual 4th of July parade - a tradition we deeply value and one that brings joy to both our members and the community,' the fire department's Chief, H.R. Coe, wrote on Facebook.

'In recent years, new rules and regulations have made our participation increasingly difficult,' he added.

'We initially agreed to stop throwing candy from our trucks, provided we could continue the long-standing tradition of water balloons.

'Unfortunately, we've now been informed that water balloons are no longer allowed either.'

The Cody Fire Department has, for decades, been a community favorite in the annual Cody Stampede Parade (pictured)which sees firefighters toss candy and water balloons to delighted spectators lining the streets

'The Cody Volunteer Fire Department has always looked forward to participating in the annual 4th of July parade - a tradition we deeply value and one that brings joy to both our members and the community,' the fire department's Chief, H.R. Coe (pictured), wrote on Facebook

The department's decision to withdraw their long-awaited festivities has since ignited a wave of controversy as many online have hit back at the parade committee's decision.

'So where do we go to complain about not allowing this?' one user wrote on Facebook.

'This isn't the same Cody I was born in. Unfortunately,' another quipped.

'That is so ridiculous! The sirens and the fun are a huge highlight of the parade!!' wrote another.

'So sad, really. I've seen several boards/committees bow to what their lawyers recommend instead of what is best for the group they have stewardship over in recent years. I love our fire dept!' another wrote.

In his statement online, Coe explained that the department 'understands the parade committee's concerns,' adding that the two parties tried to reach a compromise - but 'no flexibility was offered.'

'Faced with the choice of breaking the rules, altering our participation in a way that doesn't reflect the spirit of the tradition, or stepping back entirely, we sought a compromise with the parade committee. Unfortunately, no flexibility was offered regarding the established regulations,' Coe wrote.

Though the festivities are shaping up to look different than in years past, the Cody Fire Department has not pulled out of the celebration entirely.

Instead, it entered its 'historic Truck 00' and hose cart in the parade.

The Cody Stampede Parade Committee addressed the unrelenting firestorm that started with the axing of the water balloon fight, claiming the fire department 'shouldn't be surprised' as it technically haven't been able to do so for years.

'The prohibition against water balloons has been there for 15 or 20 years,' Mack Frost, a member of the Cody Stampede Parade Committee, told the Cowboy State Daily.

'It's printed on our entry forms. The assertion that these rules are new is not accurate.'

Frost acknowledged that water balloon 'fights' are a long-standing tradition of the Cody Stampede Parade - but that was part of the problem.

The department's decision to withdraw their long-awaited festivities has since ignited a wave of controversy as many online have hit back at the parade committee's decision. Pictured: Scenes from the Cody Stampede Parade

In his statement online, Coe explained that the department 'understands the parade committee's concerns,' adding that the two parties tried to reach a compromise - but 'no flexibility was offered.' Pictured: Scenes from the Cody Stampede Parade

'The problem arose when the spectators started throwing water balloons back at the fire department,' he said.

'Quite often, they would miss and arc over their entry in the parade and hit spectators on the other side who were completely unaware. It got out of hand.'

Innocent bystanders inevitably got caught in the crossfire and in one event, an older woman was hit in the face by a water balloon with enough force that it broke her glasses.

That was when the parade committee decided that the rules needed to be changed and enforced, Frost said.

From there, the committee set up areas where participants and the Cody Fire Department could have the water balloon brawl, so long as it didn't get 'out of hand.'

However, the compromise was only temporary as the water war quickly escalated, encroaching on the space of parade announcers, threatening to damage vital equipment.

'We are required to have liability insurance for the parade, and we can't get the insurance premiums we used to get,' he said. 'We could only find one insurer who would handle the parade this year, and it's costing us nearly double what it did last year.'

Without liability insurance, the City of Cody will not sign off on the parade.

'If water balloons caused us to lose our insurance, and subsequently lose the parade, I'm sure that would really look good on Facebook,' Frost said.

'There would be a very measured response if we couldn't do the Cody Stampede Parade because of water balloons.'
A toxic legal war has broken out between the parents of missing autistic teen Sebastian Rogers and internet sleuths hunting to find him.

Sebastian, 15, was last seen on February 25, 2024 at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Interest quickly grew in his case, leading many internet personalities and social media influencers to weigh in on what they think happened to the missing teenager.

Their fascination with his mysterious disappearance quickly caught the attention of Sebastian's mother Katie, stepfather Chris Proudfoot, and his biological father Seth - leading them to sue three YouTubers who shared theories about their son's case.

In August 2024, Katie filed an order of protection against Andra Griffin, also known as 'Bullhorn Betty' on YouTube and TikTok, alleging that her large social media following aided her in stalking her and her family.

Katie also alleged that Griffin accused her and Chris of harming Sebastian and called the YouTuber 'dangerous,' the filing, obtained by WKRN, said.

I've never talked to these people. Ive never tried to interview these people. Ive never knocked on their door,' Griffin told the outlet.

On Friday, a grand jury in Sumner County decided not to indict Griffin citing lack of evidence in the case.

A toxic legal war broke out between the parents of missing autistic 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers and internet sleuths hunting to find him

In August 2024, Katie and Chris Proudfoot filed an order of protection against Andra Griffin (pictured), also known as 'Bullhorn Betty' on YouTube and TikTok , alleging that her large social media following aided her in stalking her and her family

Meanwhile, in October, Sebastian's father Seth, Dog The Bounty Hunter, and seven others sued two others, Stephanie Trude and Jessica Seng in Pennsylvania.

They also filed injunctions against 50 unnamed people for harassment and endangering their safety, records showed.

Seng run's the YouTube channel 'Granny's Watching', while Trude is known online as 'BBQ Lady.'

A judge later dismissed the case against them, stating that there is a higher bar for them to reach in defamation cases as public figures, according to legal documents.

The judge also ordered Sebastian's father, Dog the Bounty Hunter and the unidentified seven others pay the YouTuber's legal fees.

'There is so much drama and different avenues for people to go down that it surpasses just the idea that a child vanished,' Seng said.

Trude called the entire legal ordeal and lawsuit 'frivolous' and said it took away from the search of the missing teenager.

'Nobody should ever entertain a frivolous lawsuit against people who just dont agree with your opinions, and thats really what I think it boils down to,' she explained.

Katie also alleged that Griffin accused her and Chris (pictured) of harming Sebastian and called the YouTuber 'dangerous'

Meanwhile, in October, Sebastian's father Seth, Dog The Bounty Hunter, and seven others sued two other YouTubers, Stephanie Trude (left) and Jessica Seng (right)

'Just the worst part is that it is all on the back of a missing child.'

Griffin, who describes herself as a 'victim right activist/advocate' who covers cases to 'help in the search of those missing and/or presumed dead,' has been left furious by Katie and Chris's attempt to try and take away her freedom of speech.

'When it comes to my speech, it has emboldened me more because it anchored me,' she stated.

'Like how dare someone trample on my freedom of speech? Im from Florida, and this is a public interest case, and Im entitled to my opinions.'

Although the legal drama is over, Trude told the outlet she has been left conflicted about whether she wants to continue to use her platform to 'raise awareness.'

'It has made me never want to help use my platform to raise awareness because this has obviously cost an enormous financial impact on us both, and we were spreading awareness, doing our due diligence,' she said of her and Seng.

News of the YouTuber's legal wins against Sebastian's family comes about a month after newly released video footage provided a vital clue in the search for him.

Video obtained by private investigator Steve Fischer, working with Sebastian's mother and stepfather, showed a figure appear at 12.17am on the night of his disappearance.

Sebastian's father Seth (pictured) and the others also filed injunctions against 50 unnamed people for harassment and endangering their safety, records showed

News of the YouTuber's legal wins against Sebastian's family comes about a month after newly released video footage provided a vital clue in the search for him

The footage was from a street located a single block from Sebastian's Sumner County home, prompting investigators to believe it may hold critical information.

The surveillance clip also captured a dog walker passing by shortly before the unidentified figure.

'It's definitely a person,' said Fischer. 'It looks like a thin person wearing dark clothing walks down south on Kellyn Lane behind a vehicle. And it appears like he or she is trying to stay out of eyesight of the person walking their dog.

'They go behind this car for a little while then they turn around and come back the same way they came from.'

The block is adjacent to a construction site where search dogs had previously indicated a potential lead.

Private investigator Fischer, who enhanced the video for clarity, confirmed that it has been passed on to law enforcement.

He acknowledged, however, that identifying the figure is unlikely.

'It took three times watching all the video, before we found that,' said Fischer.

The Sumner County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), which is working with the TBI and FBI, maintains there have been no confirmed sightings or significant leads in Sebastian Rogers' disappearance.
A cold-blooded killer from Colombia was among almost 500 illegal immigrants rounded up by ICE agents in a city-wide sting operation across Houston.

The killer, who has not been named, was detained this week in Texas as President Trump continued his crackdown on illegal immigration nationwide.

Fox News reported the arrest of the Colombian killer after joining ICE on its raids in Houston, finding he had been freely walking the streets despite being ordered to be deported some time ago.

ICE Houston Director Bret Bradford said the migrant has a homicide conviction in Colombia and was sentenced to 21 years there, but slipped into the US illegally in February 2024.

He had been given a court date for an immigration hearing and released at the time, but like many illegal immigrants let in under the Biden administration, he merely didn't show up.

Bradford said they tracked down the killer as he was ordered to be removed by an immigration judge in the US, and praised his arrest as a victory for Trump's policies.

'The biggest thing for me is public safety,' he said.

The outlet reported that among the 422 illegal immigrants who were arrested in the Houston raids, 262 have criminal convictions, 34 have pending convictions, and 126 have other immigration violations.

A cold-blooded killer from Colombia was among almost 500 illegal immigrants rounded up by ICE agents in a city-wide sting operation across Houston in recent days

A total of 422 illegal immigrants were detained in the Houston raids, including 24 individuals with aggravated assault convictions, 48 with DUIs, 37 with narcotics offenses, 21 with resisting arrest, and five with sexual assaults against children and minors

The Colombian national who spent 21 years in prison for murder was far from the only unsavory character rounded up in the ICE raids.

Another detained in the Houston crackdown was a 72-year-old from Mexico who had convictions for homicide, robbery, shoplifting and assault, yet who had remained in the US following a deportation order issued in 2018.

During the raids, Hector Castillo-Garcia, 40, was captured as he tried to flee ICE agents in his car and then on foot - and was found to have been convicted of a slew of charges in the US.

This included arson, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and driving while intoxicated, but he had remained in Houston despite being twice deported in the past.

In total, there were 24 individuals with aggravated assault convictions among the 422 detained migrants in Houston, as well as 48 with DUIs, 37 with narcotics offenses, 21 with resisting arrest, and five with sexual assaults against children and minors.

The shocking number of arrests in Texas this week come as President Trump continues his crackdown on illegal immigration nationwide

Officials said the killer who was detained in Houston had been given a court date for an immigration hearing and released in February 2024, but like many illegal immigrants let in under the Biden administration, he merely didn't show up

Bradford told Fox News that the criminals were tracked down thanks to the department's analysts who identified top-priority illegal immigrants who already own rap sheets.

'They are doing the database research to get the worst of the worst, the ones who have the most significant threat to public safety,' Bradford said.

'And then we want to look at the information we have on that individual, make sure it's a viable target, make sure we have good addresses, go out and do surveillance so we can see if we can a pattern of the subjects movements and behavior.

'So, we want to kind of combine the worst of the worst plus the ones we have the most likelihood of encountering and arresting, trying to merge those two things together to come up with the top targets.'

The raids come as reports suggest President Trump was underwhelmed by the number of illegal immigrants who have been rounded up and deported in his first months back in office. Pictured: Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan

ICE officials say they are ramping up efforts to streamline the deportation process to allow them to deport someone on the same day they are detained. ICE agents are pictured at a previous raid in Chicago, Illinois in January

The raids come as reports suggest President Trump was underwhelmed by the number of illegal immigrants who have been rounded up and deported in his first months back in office.

Bradford said ICE will soon be stepping up its efforts to remove migrants by accelerating the process of those with final orders to be removed, who will be transferred to designated hubs before being flown home to their native countries.

He branded it a 'hub and spoke' system, which is intended to speed up the removal process.

'We can arrest the individual this morning, process him this afternoon, and have him on a removal flight this evening, same day, saving taxpayer cost and just making it more efficient and expedited process to get these folks out of the country,' he said.
A Maryland man has confessed to the decades-old murder of his high school girlfriend's mother.

Eugene Gligor, 45, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree murder for the 2001 killing of 50-year-old Leslie Preer - who was the mother of his school sweetheart, Lauren Preer.

Preer was found dead in her Chevy Chase home on May 2, 2001, after she failed to show up to work that morning and her colleague decided to check on her.

The coworker, along with Preer's husband Carl, went to the house and found blood in the foyer, then her body in an upstairs bedroom.

'Mr. Preer called out his wife's name and looked quickly throughout the home but could not find her,' Assistant State's Attorney Jodie Mount said in court, reported The Washington Post.

Investigators concluded her death was a homicide as the result of blunt force trauma inflicted during a struggle.

Police collected DNA evidence from the scene, but with no leads, the case went cold for years.

In 2022, detectives re-examined blood gathered from the crime scene using new forensic genealogy to establish a DNA link, which then led them to Gligor.

Eugene Gligor (pictured), 45, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the 2001 killing of his high school girlfriend's mother

Leslie Preer (pictured) was found dead in her Chevy Chase home on May 2, 2001, after she failed to show up to work that morning

Gligor's arrest last year stunned the victim's daughter, Lauren Preer (center), who realized she had dated her mother's killer when they were teenagers

His arrest last year stunned the victim's daughter, Lauren Preer, who realized she had dated her mother's killer when they were teenagers.

'We started dating when we were 15, so his family and my family knew each other,' Lauren told Fox 5.

Eerily, Lauren had run into Gligor at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. before his arrest under normal pretenses. He acted like nothing had happened.

'I've spoken to him. He didn't seem weird and how you could look someone in the eye and know that you committed this crime and act like nothing happened is pretty unreal,' she said.

Police linked the DNA to Gligor using forensic genealogy that found a connection to 'distant relative from Romania.'

From there, investigators built a family tree that connected Gligor, a name they recognized as Lauren's young love.

Authorities then arranged for Gligor to be taken through extra airport security screening where they gave him a water bottle that was used to match the DNA, according to court documents.

No motive has been given for Preer's murder, but records indicate he was a mischievous high-schooler and had some substance abuse issues, reported Fox News.

Police linked DNA from the crime to Gligor over 20 years later using forensic genealogy that found a connection to 'distant relative from Romania'

There has been no motive given for Preer's (pictured) murder, and her daughter said she never suspected her ex-boyfriend to be responsible

Preer's death in her Maryland home (pictured) was ruled a homicide, but because there were no leads, her case went cold for years

Gligor worked at a real-estate firm and colleagues described him as 'zen' and 'a happy, positive person,' according the Post.

When asked if Gligor was ever on her radar as being a potential suspect, Lauren responded: 'No, not at all.'

Now, the grieving daughter is relieved that her mother and family is finally getting justice.

'Lauren, her family, and friends have waited 24 years to finally get closure and justice for this horrific crime that tore her family apart,' family attorney Benjamin Kurtz told Fox News Digital.

'The fact that it turned out to be someone they allowed in their home with open arms, just makes it that much harder to understand.'

Gligor faces up to 30 years in prison - the maximum sentencing for second-degree murder in 2001 when the crime occurred - and sentencing is scheduled for August 28.
A law student is facing a lengthy jail sentence after she was caught attempting to smuggle 150,000 of drugs through Edinburgh Airport.

Sage-Ahliea Gold was found to be carrying more than 35lbs of herbal cannabis in a suitcase when she arrived at the capitals airport in August last year.

Gold, who is currently studying law at the University of Greenwich, was said to have broken down in tears when she was confronted by border force officials following a search of her luggage.

The 25-year-old, from East Dulwich, London, was arrested and charged and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court where she pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday. (TUES)

Fiscal depute Jennifer McLaren told the court that Gold arrived at the Scottish capital after flying in from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on August 11 last year.

Ms McLaren said all the luggage from the flight was being screened and a suitcase was identified with a number of packages within.

Gold was subsequently seen uplifting the case and attending at the nothing to declare exit where she was pulled aside by security officials.

The court was told: Ms Gold was then stopped and she answered some standard questions and said she had travelled from New York and had packed her bag.

Sage-Ahliea Gold was found to be carrying more than 35lbs of herbal cannabis in a suitcase when she arrived at Edinburgh Airport last year

She unlocked the case and officers observed a number of personal possessions and vacuum packed packages that appeared to contain herbal material.

Ms Gold at this point was cautioned and told she did not need to provide information other than her name, date of birth and nationality.

She didnt respond and put her hand to her face and began to cry.

The prosecutor said there were 30 vacuum sealed packages found in the suitcase containing a total of 16.14 kilograms of cannabis with a value of 61,332.

The court was told if the drugs were spit into half kilo deals the value would be 75,000 and when split into one gram bags the value was 150,000.

Solicitor Charles Morrison, defending, said he would reserve his mitigation to the sentence hearing.

Sheriff Charles Walls said: You have now been convicted of the offence relating to the importation of drugs, a significant amount of cannabis.

This is obviously a serious offence with a lot of drugs involved so I will have to give this considerable consideration.

Gold was released on bail and sentence was deferred for social work reports to next month.
At least eight more prominent international politicians being scrutinized by US authorities face potential visa bans and bank account freezes, according to a former high ranking official in the Mexican government.

The bombshell claim comes after the Governor for Baja California Marina del Pilar and her husband had their tourism visas to the US revoked this week over reports of money laundering and ties to drug cartels, which she has denied.

Simon Levy, who previously worked in the Ministery of Tourism during the administration of former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, claimed the US was actively investigating current and former officials including four governors, one senator and one congresswoman.

He added that two unnamed former acting secretaries of state were being investigated for 'links' to the Gulf Cartel.

'As I told you before anyone else, today banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America canceled the accounts of Mexican public servants with deposited money, confirming that it comes from illegal activities, such as money laundering,' Levy wrote on X Monday afternoon.

Levy identified the officials on Tuesday as Senator Adan Agusto Lopez and former Congresswoman Clara Luz Flores, who is the director of the Interior Ministry's Religious Affairs and Social Prevention Unit.

He also named governors Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla [Michoacan]; Miguel Angel Navarro [Nayarit]; Ruben Rocha Moya [Sinaloa]; and Americo Villareal [Tamaulipas].

Ruben Rocha Moya, the governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, is among six of eight officials who were revealed by one-time Interior Ministry deputy Secretary Simon Levy as being investigated by the Untied States Department of Justice

Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla (right) and Nayarit Governor Miguel Angel Navarro (left) are allegedly being probed by the United States Department of Justice

It comes a day after renowned Mexican journalist Luis Chaparro accused Baja California governor del Pilar, and her husband Carolos Torres, of having their American bank accounts frozen as part of a Justice Department probe.

Chaparro reported that del Pilar met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of Homeland Security officials at a tourism event in the resort town of Rosarito on April 28, 2024, when she was first notified of the investigation.

'Both are being investigated by the United States for money laundering in an investigation involving other Baja California businessmen and officials...' Chaparro said during his YouTube show 'Pie de Nota'.

He added that the U.S. agents told her the investigation was looking into the 'Rusos Cartel' in Mexicali, as well as a network of individuals and businessmen from Baja California allegedly linked to members of organized crime in that region.

Dr. Americo Villarreal, the governor of the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, is among eight officials who are being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice

Adan Agusto Lopez (left), the Senator of the Republic, and former Congresswoman Clara Luz Flores (right) , who serves as the director of Mexico Interior Ministry's Religious Affairs and Social Prevention Unit, are reportedly under investigation

'She pleaded with CBP and DHS supervisors to please not make public the actions against her and her husband and to not inform the Mexican consulate to prevent them from being leaked to the media,' Chaparro said.

'The governor requested, as a personal favor, that her actions not be communicated to the Mexican consulate or any other Mexican authority so that the information would not spread.'

Del Pilar addressed the visa ban again in a press conference without making any comments over the alleged money laundering investigation or bank account closures, while also not make any reference to her husband or his visa ban.

'I have been included in a consular measure, and therefore today I do not have a visa to enter the United States,' del Pilar said.

'But that does not define me. Because I am not defined by what I have or by the permits granted or withheld. I am defined by my values, my convictions, and the purpose I have embraced since I decided to dedicate my life to public service.'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the allegations during her press briefing at the National Palace in Mexico City on Tuesday and said that del Pilar informed her that they did not have accounts in banking institutions outside of Mexico.

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar with her husband Carlos Torres. Both issued statements about the revoked visas on their Facebook pages on Sunday

A photo taken in 2019 showed alleged Sinaloa Cartel cell leader Emmanuel 'El Botas' Serrano (third from the left) and Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila (third from the right) hugging at an event where she was campaigning for mayor of Mexicali. The picture went viral in September 2022, a year and three months after she was elected governor

'I want to clarify because yesterday some media reported that there was an account freeze,' Sheinbaum said. 'We spoke with the governor and the governor told us that she does not have accounts abroad. That is information from the governor.'

Del Pilar's links to Mexican cartels have been questioned since 2022, when a photo emerged of her embracing alleged Sinaloa Cartel crime figure Emmanuel 'El Botas' Serrano while she was campaigning for mayor three years earlier.

Del Pilar's office dismissed the past allegations, saying she's photographed with thousands of constituents and public figures while campaigning and running the major Mexican governments.

The U.S. State Department press office said in a statement to media Monday that 'visa records are confidential under U.S. law; therefore, we cannot comment on individual cases.'

DailyMail.com reached out to the Department of Justice for comment regarding the eight officials who are allegedly under investigation.
A British teenager who went missing while on holiday in Thailand, sparking a huge search to find her, has been arrested in Georgia on 'drug offences.'

Bella May Culley, 18, from Billingham, County Durham, had been travelling around the country with a friend but had not been heard from since Saturday.

Her phone was said to have been turned off and she was last thought to be in the Pattaya area, which is close to Bangkok.

But now, Cleveland Police has said that authorities in Georgia have confirmed that 'an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested there on suspicion of drugs offences and that she remains in their custody.'

Questions remain as to how Bella journeyed from Thailand to Georgia.

The teenager first flew out to the Philippines just after Easter this year and flew to Thailand around May 3. Bella had been regularly posting on social media and last shared a picture to Facebook on Monday, May 5.

Her distraught family earlier appealed for help to trace her whereabouts, with police in Thailand involved in the search.

Bella, who has recently finished a course at Middlesbrough College with the aim of becoming a nurse, was in regular contact with her mother Lyanne Kennedy and was due to speak with her on Saturday.

Bella May Culley, 18, went missing while on holiday in Thailand sparking a huge search to find her

Bella had been regularly posting on social media and last shared this picture to Facebook on Monday, May 5

Her phone is said to have been turned off and she was last thought to be in the Pattaya area, which is close to Bangkok

Bella's father Neil Culley flew out to Thailand with his sister Kerrie Culley to try to get answers.

Lyanne previously told Teesside Live: 'She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks.

'She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3.

'The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later.

'That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.

'I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information.

'I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice.'

Lyanne also told the Sun that she had a bad feeling about Bella's trip to Thailand, telling the newspaper: 'I really didn't want her to go to Thailand. I begged her to come home. I don't trust some of the boys over there.

Bella (pictured) had been travelling around Thailand with a friend

Bella's mother Lyanne posted this appeal on Facebook for help to trace her whereabouts

'But she wanted to meet up with some friends she made over there on a previous trip. I don't know who any of them are.'

After Bella's father Neil arrived in Bankkok, he went straight to a police station, where officers told him to contact the country's immigration bureau to figure out where Bella was last staying.

Lyanne told the Sun: 'When she stopped answering messages I assumed it was because she was flying back to surprise me. But then nothing.'

The family previously got in touch with the airline, who revealed that Bella had made a request for a ticket but the payment never went through.

Lyanne added: 'We think she was last near Pattaya, and was supposed to fly back from Bangkok via Frankfurt according to the itinerary.'

'But I never heard anything about picking her up.'
A notorious child sex offender and animal abuser has been arrested after fleeing court-ordered home detention in Seattle.

David Williford, 38, vanished from his mothers home in West Seattles North Admiral neighborhood on May 5, just days after being fitted with a GPS ankle monitor.

Authorities say he cut off the device shortly after checking in with his assigned Department of Corrections officer.

Although law enforcement responded within 40 minutes, Williford had already disappeared.

But on Tuesday, officials confirmed he had been taken back into custody and booked into the Mason County Jail.

Williford had been released from the Washington Corrections Center on April 30 following a conviction for first-degree incest in Mason County.

He was sentenced to 13 months in custody followed by three years of community supervision, to be served under house arrest.

'He needs to be scooped up quickly before he does a last hurrah  or worse,' Jim Fuda, executive director of Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound, told KOMO news.

A notorious child sex offender and animal abuser who once posed as a pet rescuer on Craigslistonly to torture and kill the animalshas been arrested after fleeing court-ordered home detention in Seattle.

'When he cut that ankle bracelet off, he knew people would be looking for him.'

Williford's history paints a chilling picture. In 2015, he was charged with multiple counts of child rape and molestation  including allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted a woman who lived with him.

Another survivor reported that Williford raped her when she was just 14 years old.

The same year, he was also charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty after police made a grim discovery on his Olympia property.

Acting on a tip, officers arrived at Williford's home in Thurston County and found over 20 dead guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs  along with dozens of other animals in cages soaked with urine, littered with feces, and devoid of food, water, or light.

Some of the surviving animals were so malnourished they required immediate veterinary care.

One dead guinea pig had suffered blunt force trauma, according to the vet who examined it.

Williford allegedly acquired many of the animals by offering to adopt unwanted pets on Craigslist, pretending he was giving them a loving home.

He told animal control officers he was slaughtering the animals for meat, but no evidence supported that claim.

'He would actually go on the web and look for animals to take,' Fuda said. 'He would torture them and then kill them.'

Despite the severity of his record  and protests from law enforcement  Williford was granted home detention instead of prison time for his most recent conviction.

In 2015, officers arrived at Williford's home in Thurston County and found over 20 dead guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs  along with dozens of other animals in cages soaked with urine, littered with feces, and devoid of food, water, or light

That decision is now under fire, as officials warn he may pose a serious threat to the community.

Williford is described as 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, bald, and missing the last joint of his right index finger.

He has several tattoos, including the word 'Every Day' and an infinity symbol on his left hand, a puzzle piece on his left forearm, and four hash marks on his left wrist, according to Fox 13 Seattle.
Israel targeted Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in a massive strike on a hospital in Gaza tonight.

It was not immediately clear if the terror chief dubbed 'the Butcher of Khan Younis' had been killed but an official confirmed to the Mail that they had tried to take him out.

Multiple airstrikes pounded the European hospital in southern Gaza where the IDF claimed it had found 'Hamas terrorists in a command and control centre' underground.

Footage showed huge clouds of smoke billowing out of the facility in Khan Younis following one of the biggest strikes on the Strip in weeks.

It was unclear how many civilians were killed but medics said it was a 'catastrophe' with bodies left trapped under the rubble.

Sinwar became the de facto leader after his brother, Yahya Sinwar, was killed last October and if both siblings have now taken out it would represent a major blow to the terror group.

It comes just one day after Washington secured the release of Israeli American Edan Alexander through direct negotiations with Hamas.

The deal has sidelined Israel and there were increasing murmurings that Donald Trump was growing tired with Benjamin Netanyahu following the collapse of the ceasefire in March.

Israel targeted Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar (pictured) in a massive strike on a hospital in Gaza tonight.

A huge crater amongst the damage caused to the hospital by IDF air strikes on the Gaza strip

A European hosptial in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza strip which was partially damaged due to Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday

Palestinians inspect the damage following airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip on May 13, 2025

Just this week the President's special envoy Steve Witkoff had reportedly told Israeli relatives of hostages held in Gaza: 'Israel is prolonging the war, even though we do not see where further progress can be made.'

If Mr Netanyahu has now taken out the Hamas leader it would come at a crucial juncture and just as Mr Trump tours the Middle East.

Sinwar was considered just as hardline as his brother and a major obstacle to negotiations to end the war.

Experts believe his assassination could 'open the door for the release of all the hostages' and the end of the war.

Former Shin Bet agent, named only as Guy C, who interrogated Yahya, told the Mail: 'Among Gaza residents, Mohammad is considered an especially radical figure  a staunch jihadist.

'His name has also been linked to disturbing rumours, regarding deviant sexual behaviour.

'During the hostage negotiations, Mohammad Sinwar took an exceptionally hardline stance, rejecting every compromiseeven those accepted by Hamas's overseas leadershipand refused any flexibility.

'If reports of his elimination are confirmed, his likely successor is Az al-Din Haddad, the commander of Hamas's military wing in northern Gaza.'

Yahya Sinwar was killed in a clash with the IDF and a picture of his body went viral which Israel confirmed to be him hours later.

A Palestinian child walks outside the European Hospital, which was partially damaged following Israeli airstrikes

Smoke billows into the air following an Israeli attack on Gaza on April 19, 2025

The nature of this strike may make it harder to identify if his brother has died.

Both Sinwar brothers were seen as masterminds of the October 7 terror attack that killed 1,200 in the largest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust and sparked the conflict.

Israel's response has killed over 50,000 Palestinians according to the Hamas-run health ministry - but those figures do not differentiate between terrorists and civilians.

While Mr Trump managed to force Israel into a ceasefire before becoming President, since it has broken down the IDF has stepped up its assault.

Negotiations to end the war are set to take place in Qatar and it is not immediately clear how assassinating Hamas' leader would affect the talks.

Some 58 hostages remain in the Strip, of whom 23 are believed to be alive.
It was not, I concede, a foolproof plan.

Four decades ago, having failed to pay attention to a single thing in the few classes Id bothered to attend, I got out of bed at five am on the day of my O Grade chemistry examination and tried to learn two years worth of course-work before breakfast.

A couple of hours later, and struggling to grasp even the simplest scientific concept, I came up with an idea I was sure would see me through.

Messily, I scratched out the periodic table of the elements in black ink on the inside of my left forearm. Armed - quite literally - with this information, I would be able to decipher the various compounds being described in the paper.

But teenage boys are disgusting sweaty creatures and by the time I was sitting at the back of the exam hall my handiwork had become an indecipherable black smudge.

I failed the exam and ruined a shirt.

Forty years later, my two are in the thick of it all. The boy is halfway through his National 5s and his big sister has one Higher left before she starts her sixth-year course work.

They are handling things considerably better than I did. There have been long study sessions and missed nights out and, so far, not a single shirt has been ruined.

In my two, I see a seriousness of purpose that I did not possess at their age. I detect it, too, in many of their friends.

Im grateful and relieved because, boy, theyre going to need it.

It is customary, and tiresome, for each generation to reckon those coming after have it easy. Young people, say fools of my age, dont know theyre born.

Children sitting Nat 5s and Highers are under far greater pressure than youngsters were back in the mid 1980s

But the kids going through their Nat 5s and Highers right now are under far greater pressure than we were back in the mid 1980s.

My two have university in their plans and Ill be unbearably proud if they make it. But even if they do, they - in common with the vast majority of young Scots - will still face challenges I didnt.

In the 1980s, University was not the be-all-and-end-all. My generation had options unavailable to kids, today.

In those days, a decent degree was as close as one could get to a golden ticket into the world of well-paid work but for those of us who didnt make the academic grade for Higher Education, there were valuable opportunities elsewhere.

Apprenticeships in the trades were more plentiful and there were traineeships in the worlds of banking and insurance that allowed teenagers to step on the professional ladder without the need for a BA.

I know people who started on those five-grand-a-year jobs whore now contemplating comfortable retirements in their mid-50s (They would also allow you, in the 80s, to become a journalist with qualifications that wouldnt get you a start in a coffee shop, today. For this, I am still thankful).

Today, a degree may be useful in terms of broadening the mind but for most young people, it appears to confer no particular advantage when it comes to getting on the career ladder.

Im not, I should stress, a bloody students sort, worked up about pointless degrees. I firmly believe that Higher Education in itself is of huge value. Learning for learnings sake is a fine thing.

Three or four years spent examining new ideas and learning some critical thinking would, I know, have done me a world of good.

Whats more, Uni looks like a lot of fun and why shouldnt young people enjoy that?

In the academic year 2022-23, there were 292,240 higher education students in Scotland. Of those, 173,745 were from Scotland, while 83,975 were from outside the UK.

Those statistics presents a picture of a Higher Education system in rude health. The reality is somewhat different.

The SNP makes much of its free tuition fees policy, insisting it opens up university education to young Scots who would otherwise be denied life changing opportunities.

But, in order to make the numbers add up, there is a limit on the number of places available to Scottish students. Universities must balance the books with ever-increasing numbers of fee-paying students from overseas.

Currently, two of Scotlands universities - Edinburgh and St Andrews - have more foreign students than Scottish ones.

The astronomical sums handed over by students from outside Scotland are vital to ensuring universities survive.

This policy, say some lecturers I know, means not simply that spaces for Scottish students are limited but that it is more difficult than ever for kids who live here to find places in what we might think of as the more prestigious courses.

The facts of the matter are that ambitious, wealthy students from China or the USA do not, as a rule, spend tens of thousands of pounds a year in order to learn gender studies or public relations. Rather, they - quite understandably - look to medicine and the sciences, areas where Scotland needs more workers.

The free tuition policy was supposed to open higher education to all but, in reality, it has limited opportunities, particularly in those fields where graduates can expect to earn the highest salaries.

A recent survey by the Institute of Student Employers around that newly-advertised graduate-level jobs receive an average of 140 applications each.

And if the future looks uncertain for those who make it to Uni, its worse for those who dont.

Figures published by the Scottish Funding Council in February showed that the number of college places in Scotland fell by more than 8,000 last year to the lowest total in almost a decade.

In 2023-24, Scotlands colleges delivered 116,602 full-time equivalent college places.

One neednt have a degree to understand what has happened. In order to support and sustain its shiny free university tuition policy, the Scottish Government has hollowed out the further education sector.

The upshot of this is that while Scotland is producing record numbers of graduates, we are not giving enough young people opportunities that work for them or meet the needs of our economy.

For all the SNPs talk of closing the attainment gap, those who pay the price for this situation are those from the least privileged backgrounds.

As I write this, the girl has her head in a physics textbook and the boy is working through maths past papers. They have a focus they did not inherit from me.

Both are enthusiastic about the subjects theyve picked for next year and both have started to talk about what they might like to do for a living.

If theyre to achieve their ambitions, they will require grades of which I could only have dreamed when I was at school.

Of course, Im sure theyll succeed.

But just say they dont, what then? What good will all this work do if they lose a Uni place because of Scottish Government-imposed quotas?

Across Scotland, more than 130,000 teenagers are in the middle of a gruelling exam timetable. Their results will matter much more than those I achieved 40 years ago.

I wish them all the very best of luck. Theyre going to need it, no matter how good their grades are.
A Massachusetts college senior died a week before graduation after falling from a hotel balcony during a class trip to the Bahamas.

Gaurav Jaisingh, 21, attended the annual Bentley University senior class trip on Sunday when the freak tragedy occurred.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force responded to Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino around 10 p.m. to a report of someone falling from a balcony.

'[Jaisingh] was inside his hotel room with other roommates when it is reported that he accidentally fell from an upper-level balcony,' police said. 'He was later found unresponsive on a lower floor.'

'Emergency Medical Service responded and transported the male to the hospital; however, he succumbed while en route.'

Bentley University confirmed that Jaisingh, a finance major, was the student who was killed.

'We are profoundly sad to confirm that one of our students, Gaurav Jaisingh, passed away last night in a tragic accident during the annual senior class trip in the Bahamas,' the university told WCVB.

Jaisingh was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and the South Asian Students Association, according to his LinkedIn.

Bentley University senior Gaurav Jaisingh (pictured), 21, died a week before graduation after falling from a hotel balcony

Jaisingh was on the school's annual senior class trip on Sunday when the tragedy occurred at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino (pictured)

He served as the fraternity pledge coordinator from January 2024 to August 2024 and was also involved in the university's new student programs as an orientation leader and tour guide.

Photos on social media showed the college senior had traveled to Puerto Rico weeks earlier for spring break.

Friends started to flood the comments of Jaisingh's last post with tributes and condolences.

'Miss you brotha,' one person said. 'RIP,' added another. 'Couldnt have asked for a better pledge uncle,' a third person said.

After graduation, he was set to start a full-time position as a Client Solutions Associate at FactSet in New York City, having previously completed a summer internship with the company.

Jaisingh is from Shrewsbury, and lived with his parents in their $1.1million home they purchased in 2018.

Bentley is a small private university located in Walthman, just 12 miles outside of Boston. Tuition is $87,820 per year.

Jaisingh was set to graduate at the university's undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

For two decades, the school has offered the graduating class a five-day, four-night trip to the Bahamas during the week between finals and commencement.

Jaisingh was a finance major and was set to start a full-time position as a Client Solutions Associate at FactSet in New York City after graduation

Jaisingh (center) was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and the South Asian Students Association

Jaisingh (left) on vacation with a friend. the college senior had traveled to Puerto Rico weeks earlier for spring break

The senior (pictured right, on an unrelated vacation) fell from a balcony to his death

According to the school website, 'Registered participants will have a four night stay at The Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino, opportunities for nightly social events and activities, dining at local establishments and other community engagement opportunities.

'Through a connection with classmates, contributions to the local Bahamian community, and an exploration of the country's distinctive culture and traditions, Bentley in Bahamas has become a cherished tradition.

'It is a one-of-a-kind experience that seniors hold onto long after they walk across the stage at Commencement.'
A North Carolina Republican is back in the spotlight for yet another abrasive incident with a voter, but this time the lawmaker allegedly took matters into his own hands.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., reportedly smacked an attendee at a non-partisan event Saturday evening with a clipboard after going on a pro-Trump tirade, according to a witness account.

It's the second time in months he's stirred controversy at an event with constituents.

It occurred during an event focused on Hurricane Helene relief for Rotary District 7670 in Asheville, North Carolina, an area hit particularly hard by the storm.

The Republican's speech was expected to focus on relief efforts, given it was an apolitical gathering.

But Guy Gooder, a member of the Rotary club and organizer of the event, told The Charlotte Observer that Edwards went off script and used parts of his speech to defend Trump's tariffs and DOGE agenda.

'He spent 30 minutes basically insulting the rotarians intelligence in his speech.'

After leaving the stage and winding through the crowd, Edwards got in a heated discussion with an attendee before later smacking them with a clipboard, Gooder alleges.

The man said he heard the strike but did not see it as Edwards' body was blocking his view.

Edwards, meanwhile, alleges that he was the victim of a belligerent rant from a drunken man.

Republican North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards allegedly hit a man with a clipboard at a non-partisan event regarding Hurricane Helen relief on Saturday

It's not the first time Edwards has recently sparked controversy. In March, the Republican hosted a town hall event where he received brutal outrage from constituents

'The rotarian basically said that was a load of BS,' Gooder said of the clash.

'Chuck [Edwards] stops and kind of bends over, kind of in-his-face type of stuff,' he added.

Then, while the supposed heckler was still seated, Edwards 'hit the guy with his clipboard,' Gooder claimed.

The two men then argued as they left the room and the man who was struck later spoke to police over the phone, 'trying to come to a resolution.'

The Asheville Police Department confirmed to local outlets it responded to a disturbance Saturday evening at the Embassy Suites hotel were the event was hosted.

Authorities reported that the man hit with the clipboard called them about the assault from Edwards.

However, charges were never pressed.

The congressman's office released a statement on Sunday stating Edwards 'refused to engage with an intoxicated man that was cursing.'

Edwards appeared stunned at times during his March town hall where attendees swore at him as he spoke about his work in Congress

Asheville was hit with major flooding during Hurricane Helene. It destroyed or damaged major swathes of town and the surrounding region

'He became more belligerent and later called the police,' the statement continued. 'His behavior was embarrassing to the people at the event and was duly noted by the police. To my knowledge there was no further action taken by police.'

The outburst is the second headline-grabbing incident the North Carolina lawmaker has had in recent months.

In March, Edwards drew negative press for hosting a town hall that later descended into chaos as voters screamed and swore at the Republican.

The room steadily grew louder and the residents more unruly. Edwards struggled to keep control over the hundreds as he stood at the front of the room, stammering at times, listening to the cacophony of complaints.

'Bootlicker!' one attendee yelled at the March town hall.

Another in the audience yelled out: 'What do you plan to do to make sure North Carolina does not get taken over by dictatorship and fascism?'

Edwards had enough, admitting at one point: 'And you wonder why folks don't want to do these town halls.'

'I feel like this is not productive with everybody yelling at me,' he admitted.
The loving parents who were killed during a freak car crash on a highway in Western Australia had their 17-month-old daughter in the back seat.

Emergency services rushed to Forrest Highway near Yunderup, outside of Mandurah, south of Perth, on Sunday at about 6.20pm following reports of a crash.

Harrison McElroy, 24, and Kayla Sheppard, 31, had parked their car in the southbound emergency lane and had exited the vehicle when a dark blue Volvo station wagon travelling in the same direction crashed into them.

The driver of the Volvo immediately called emergency services and stopped at the scene to assist the couple.

Both Mr McElroy and Ms Sheppard died at the scene.

When police arrived, they found Ms Sheppard's 17-month-old baby girl, Mya, unharmed in the backseat of their white MG sedan.

The couple were travelling to Waroona to drop off Mother's Day presents and were less than half an hour from their destination when they were it.

It's unclear why the couple had parked in the emergency lane and left their vehicle.

Kayla Sheppard, 31,a nd Harrison McElroy, 24 were killed after they exited their parked car and were hit by another vehicle travelling in the same direction on the Forrest Highway, south of Perth

When police arrived at the scene they found Ms Sheppard's 17-month-old baby girl Mya in the backseat of the car unharmed

Family and friends have shared tributes to the loving couple whose lives were tragically cut short.

'The spark they did have was genuine and pure,' friend Kahu Beard told 9News.

Another friend of the couple, Ebony Brown said the pair were 'together forever now'.

'She was so loving and doting on her daughter. When I first met her she just lit up the room, and it was just like magic.'

On Tuesday, Mr McElroy's brother said he 'made a huge impact on all our lives' and described him as a a 'great father and a great son, uncle and brother'.

Mr McElroy leaves behind his young daughter, 18-month-old Ada, who he described as the 'most perfect little human' in a touching post on social media.

Major Crash detectives are investigating the exact circumstances of the crash and what made the pair leave their car.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, has dashcam or mobile phone footage, is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Tulsi Gabbard fired 'deep state' heads of the security council because they oppose President Donald Trump, according to insiders.

The director of national intelligence let Mike Collins, the acting chair of the National Intelligence Council and his deputy Maria Langan-Riekhof go on Tuesday, senior intelligence officials told Fox News Digital.

Sources told the outlet Collins already has whistleblower complaints against him for political bias and 'deliberately undermining' the Trump administration.

Collins also has close ties to Michael Morrell, the former deputy director of the CIA who penned a letter in 2020 that claimed Hunter Biden's controversial laptop has 'all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.' He also set out to get signatures from top ex-intelligence employees, officials revealed.

Meanwhile, Langan-Riekhof has been a 'key advocate' for diversity, equity and inclusion agendas, and is 'radically opposed to Trump,' whistleblowers alleged.

Top officials not only revealed Gabbard's recent firings, but also shared that she has decided to relocate the National Intelligence Council from the CIA to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

She chose to do so in a bid to 'directly hold accountable any improper action and politicization of intelligence,' they stated.

According to officials, many leakers are often 'career bureaucrats that are entrenched in Washington politics' and that 'it takes time to weed them out.'

Tuli Gabbard fired 'deep state' heads of the security council because they oppose President Donald Trump, according to officials

The Director of National Intelligence let Mike Collins (pictured), the acting chair of the National Intelligence Council and his deputy Maria Langan-Riekhof Tuesday

The source also noted that 'plans to eliminate non-essential offices within ODNI that we know are housing deep state leakers are underway.'

The CIA has agreed with Gabbard's decision to move the security council, adding that it 'has always been a DNI component' and 'makes sense for them to be physically located' there.

This is just Gabbard's latest exposure of 'deep state criminals' after unidentified officials leaked classified information to the Washington Post and New York Times, Fox News Digital previously reported.

'Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation's security at risk and must end,' Gabbard said as news of the charges broke.

'Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' she vowed.

Gabbard then went on to claim that the 'deep state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump's agenda.

'I look forward to working with the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals.'

The move to refer the three officials for criminal prosecution came after leading Trump officials came under fire for Secretary Pete Hegseth's and other top Cabinet officials' Signal chat with the Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

Langan-Riekhof has been a 'key advocate' for diversity, equity and inclusion agendas, and is 'radically opposed to Trump,' whistleblowers alleged

Sources told the outlet Collins already has whistleblower complaints against him for political bias and 'deliberately undermining the incoming Trump administration'

Speculation quickly mounted on whether Trump would fire former national security adviser Mike Waltz, and although he kept him in his role afterward, earlier this month the president sacked him.

Many thought he was fired for his role in the group chat, but Trump actually let him go because he said Waltz was plotting with Israel's leader to attack Iran, it was claimed.

The Washington Post reported the real reason for Trump's ire was that Waltz huddled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter's White House visit in February and 'appeared to share the Israeli leader's conviction that the time was ripe to strike Iran,' according to a source.

Trump was angered that Waltz 'engaged in intense coordination with Netanyahu about military options against Iran ahead of an Oval Office meeting between the Israeli leader and Trump.'

The source said: 'Waltz wanted to take US policy in a direction Trump wasn't comfortable with because the US hadn't attempted a diplomatic solution.

'It got back to Trump and the president wasn't happy with it. You can't do that. You work for the president of your country, not the president of another country.'

Waltz, a former Green Beret, was sacked from his position as head of the National Security Council (NSC) on Friday and will now become ambassador to the United Nations, a 'massive downgrade move to save face', according to one Trump insider.

Waltz has been temporarily replaced as head of the NSC by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Trump loyalist.
A British teenager who was reported missing while she was said to be holidaying in Thailand has been arrested 4,000 miles away.

Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation this week as she hadn't been in touch with her family since Saturday.

It has tonight been revealed the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, has actually been arrested on drug offences 4,000 miles away in Georgia.

Culley was said to have been on holiday with a friend when she vanished.

Her phone was said to have been turned off and she was last thought to be in the Pattaya area, which is close to Bangkok.

But now, Cleveland Police has said that authorities in Georgia have confirmed that 'an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested there on suspicion of drugs offences and that she remains in their custody.'

Footage shared by Georgian broadcasters appeared to show the 18-year-old girl being walked into the Central Criminal Police Department in Tbilisi while in handcuffs.

Culley had allegedly being caught carrying 14kg of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation after she was flagged during a scanner check at Tbilisi International Airport.

Bella May Culley, 18, was reported missing while she was said to have been on holiday in Thailand sparking a huge search to find her

Culley had been regularly posting on social media and last shared this picture to Facebook on Monday, May 5

Culley was detained in Tbilisi accused of carrying 14kg of cannabis into ex-Soviet republic Georgia

Culley was said to have been on holiday with a friend when she vanished

A local report claimed that during an inspection '34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana were found in the passenger's bag, as well as 20 packages of hashish'.

Culley was reportedly charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia.

The country's Interior Ministry said: 'The committed crime envisions up to 20 years - or life imprisonment.'

Local media reported that while she requested bail, the judge overseeing the case decided to imprison her as she posed a flight risk.

Questions remain as to how exactly Culley ended up in Georgia - and what her steps were in the lead up.

The teenager's family said she first flew out to the Philippines just after Easter this year and flew to Thailand around May 3. Culley had been regularly posting on social media and last shared a picture to Facebook on Monday, May 5.

Her distraught family earlier appealed for help to trace her whereabouts, with police in Thailand involved in the search.

Culley, who has recently finished a course at Middlesbrough College with the aim of becoming a nurse, was in regular contact with her mother Lyanne Kennedy and was due to speak with her on Saturday.

Her father Neil Culley flew out to Thailand with his sister Kerrie Culley to try to get answers.

Culley's alleged offences have been covered by media in Georgia

Questions remain as to how exactly Culley ended up in Georgia - and what her steps were in the lead up

She could face 20 years jail or even life imprisonment, said the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs

'I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice', said Culley's mother

Lyanne previously told Teesside Live: 'She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks.

'She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3.

'The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later.

'That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.

'I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information.

'I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice.'

Lyanne also told the Sun that she had a bad feeling about Culley's trip to Thailand, telling the newspaper: 'I really didn't want her to go to Thailand. I begged her to come home. I don't trust some of the boys over there.

'But she wanted to meet up with some friends she made over there on a previous trip. I don't know who any of them are.'

After Culley's father Neil arrived in Bankkok, he went straight to a police station, where officers told him to contact the country's immigration bureau to figure out where she was last staying.

Culley (pictured) said she had been travelling around Thailand with a friend

Culley's mother Lyanne posted this appeal on Facebook for help to trace her whereabouts

The Interior Ministry said Culley was charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia

She is accused of bringing 'a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs to Georgia'

Lyanne said: 'When she stopped answering messages I assumed it was because she was flying back to surprise me. But then nothing.'

The family previously got in touch with the airline, who revealed that Culley had made a request for a ticket but the payment never went through.

The distraught mother added: 'We think she was last near Pattaya, and was supposed to fly back from Bangkok via Frankfurt according to the itinerary.'

'But I never heard anything about picking her up.'
Prosecutors have charged a man they say posed as a Lyft driver so he could sexually assault a Colorado state representative last February.

Mukhammadali Mukadyrov, 42, was charged Tuesday with one count of felony unwanted sexual contact after Democrat Jenny Willford claimed he assaulted her in the back of the car near her home in Northglenn, a suburb north of Denver.

A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Mukadyrov, who is not in custody and is actively being pursued by police.

Mukadyrov allegedly picked Willford up on February 24, 2024, but used another man's rideshare account to do so, according to a lawsuit Willford filed against Lyft earlier this year.

A tearful Willford laid out the horrifying details of what happened to her at a press conference announcing the lawsuit in January.

Willford, who is married and has two kids, said that she had went out in the city with her friends and called a Lyft to get home.

On the ride back, Willford said things seemed off immediately because she said the driver asked her if she was married, according to Colorado Public Radio.

'Then it quickly escalated to inappropriate comments about what he wanted to do to me and how he felt that my husband wouldn't mind if we had sex. He clearly had a plan for how he wanted his night to turn out,' she said at the press conference.

Pictured: Jenny Willford prepares to give a press conference about her alleged sexual assault that occurred in a Lyft on February 24, 2024. The man who allegedly attacked her has been charged and is being actively pursued by police

Willford said the assault happened right outside her home, while her husband and two children were inside waiting for her

Once they arrived outside her home, Willford said the driver attacked her as she tried to exit from the backseat of his car.

'I don't know how to put into words how excruciating it was to be so close to home, so close to my husband and our two kids, and so close to safety while being assaulted in view of my house,' she said.

Willford named Mukadyrov in her lawsuit against Lyft as the man who attacked her, adding that he allegedly used the authorized driver account of a man named Kholmurod Halimov.

Halimov is the registered agent of a company called Shanu Transportation, which was also sued by Willford.

Willford claims that when she called for a ride in the app, the driver's name showed up as 'Shanu' because of a Lyft policy that allows 'drivers to avoid using their real, legal names and instead go by nicknames.'

According to Lyft's terms of service, riders are given their driver's 'name, profile photo, preferred pronouns, rating, real-time location, and the vehicle make, model, color, and license plate.'

It does not specify if the name being shared with the rider has to be the driver's legal name, or whether the driver can input any name they want, as Willford claims in her lawsuit.

Lyft has moved to dismiss Willford's suit and didn't immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

After Willford made her public statement on the alleged sexual assault she faced, she introduced a bill that would force companies like Uber and Lyft to implement more safety measures and better vet their drivers

Her bill mandates that all rides are audio and video recorded from start to finish by July 1, 2026

After Willford made her public statement on the alleged sexual assault she faced, she introduced a bill that would force companies like Uber and Lyft to implement more safety measures and better vet their drivers.

The bill says transportation network companies must conduct criminal record checks on all its drivers before they are hired.

The bill also seeks to prevent exactly what Willford claims happened to her, by telling rideshare firms they need to create policies that prevent imposter accounts, account sharing and account renting.

By July 1, 2026, it mandates that all rides are audio and video recorded from start to finish.

Willford's bill passed last week after its language was amended. Rideshare companies have opposed the measure, with Uber going so far as to threaten leaving the state of Colorado over it.

Uber told DailyMail.com that it already does background checks and offers riders a safety button if the rider is concerned about their safety.

'We urge Governor Polis to veto HB25-1291, a bill developed behind closed doors and driven by the financial interests of billboard attorneysnot the needs of Coloradans,' the Uber spokesperson said.

'If enacted, this legislation would force Uber to shut down operations, stripping thousands of drivers of flexible earning opportunities and cutting off a trusted, reliable transportation option for hundreds of thousands of riders.'

Pictured: Willford speaks in support of her rideshare safety bill on May 7, the last day of Colorado's legislative session this year

Willford issued a statement on April 23 slamming Uber for its opposition, adding that she and her colleagues have negotiated with the company on the language of her bill.

'This is a cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures,' she said.

'We have worked with Uber in good faith for months and accepted many of their amendment requests - including a full rewrite of the bill.'

She concluded: 'For years, Uber has checked the box on safety, but time after time failed to deliver for victims. It's clear Uber won't stand up for safety so they can continue to maximize profits rather than address the horrible incidents that change the lives of riders and drivers forever.'

The bill now awaits Governor Jared Polis' signature. He refused to tell reporters last week whether he would sign it or not.
A shattered grandmother has issued a tough message to a 14-year-old boy who gunned down her innocent teenage granddaughter while she was riding a scooter.

Evette Jeffrey, 16, was shot in the head when she got caught in the crosshairs of gang violence outside Bronx Latin School in New York on Monday.

Her accused killer is a 14-year-old boy who was known to police and reportedly had links to a gang. According to Mayor Eric Adams, the troubled teen had once even pulled a gun on his own mom.

It's understood the boy had been punched and knocked to the ground when an unidentified individual slipped him a pistol.

He fired three shots, apparently indiscriminately, into a crowd, fatally shooting Evette, who was innocently nearby.

Evette's grieving grandmother spoke to ABC after the tragedy, placing blame at the feet of the teenager's family.

'I don't forgive you,' she said in a message directly to the boy.

'I hold your family responsible. Because they should've been watching you. Whoever handed it to you or you had it, I will never forgive you. I don't care.

Sixteen-year-old Evette Jeffrey was shot in the head as she rode a scooter outside Bronx Latin School in New York about 5pm on Monday

He fired three shots, apparently indiscriminately, into a crowd, fatally shooting Evette, who was innocently nearby

'They can say I'm sorry a million times, I will never forgive any of you. Any of you.'

And speaking to the New York Post, she added: 'They took her away from us. They took her away from me.'

Evette had dreams of becoming a medical technician and going to college, her family said.

Charges are pending against the teenage boy.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said 'from the video we saw of that incident, it appears that our shooter was actually the winner of that fight.

'The altercation then carried out onto the walkway behind the school, where another individual ran up and punched the shooter. That person, we believe, was the intended target.'

Sources said police believe a feud between warring street gangs sparked the tragedy.

Evette had dreams of becoming a medical technician, her family said

Evette's grieving grandmother (right) shared her anguish after the tragedy, placing blame at the feet of the teenager's family

According to the publication, the two gangs involved in the melee which led to the shooting were Forest Over Everything and Kreep On Davidson - which is based at the Davidson Houses public housing complex nearby.

It is not clear which gang the alleged shooter was affiliated with.

Mayor Adams issued a heart-wrenching statement on X on Monday night, lamenting 'babies killing babies.'

'Tonight, a 14-year-old suspect shot and killed a 16-year-old girl. Babies killing babies. It's an unimaginable tragedy, and I am praying for the victim's family.

'I don't even know what to say when a shooting like this occurs. Us parents must continue to do everything in our power to make sure our kids cannot access guns.

Mayor Adams issued a heartwrenching statement on X on Monday night, lamenting 'babies killing babies'

Sources said police believe a feud between warring street gangs sparked the tragedy

'The girl was not the intended target... This young man who did the shooting, the person of interest, threatened his mother with a gun. She was afraid of him.'

Later, he added: 'It is heartbreaking and maddening that gang violence has once again cut short the lives of two young New Yorkers  a beautiful girl with so much life ahead of her and a 14-year-old suspect who could have chosen the right path.'

Evette's family have chosen to cremate her so they can carry a piece of her with them forever.

'The mom doesn't want her in the cemetery. The family doesn't want it,' her grandma said.
Kim Kardashian glided into the Palais de Justice like a tiny, dazzling empress from a far-off land, which pretty much sums up her global position.

With her hair pinned up and dressed in a black Galliano dress, plus plenty of plunge and cleavage up top  because why not?  she was very Barbie Goes To Court meets Superhot Justice Vigilante.

Her mother Kris Jenner was in attendance and the two reality TV stars made their regal procession through the famous court complex in the heart of Paris.

This is the place where, just over 230 years ago, Marie Antoinette received her death sentence. Revolution was in the air back then. Today we were in for a different type of reckoning from a different kind of queen, although the end goal was much the same  heads must roll.

'It wasn't just jewellery,' Ms Kardashian, 44, complained to the jury at one point. 'Someone took away my memories.'

Ms Kardashian entered the courtroom just after lunchtime through an ornate wooden door marked 'Temoins'  witnesses  and took her place at the stand.

In person, her perfect skin boasts the same kind of glaze as an iced doughnut and she is startlingly doll-like; a tiny presence but one that still radiates the affluent sheen of the high-maintenance, high-net-worth woman who is regularly poached in serums and buffed to perfection by an exhausted glam squad.

Kim arrived at the court wearing a $3 million necklace by Samer Halimeh New York, crafted in 18K white gold and featuring 80 diamonds

Kim Kardashian arrived at the Paris courthouse on Rue Tronchet for the trial of the 'Papys braqueurs,' accused of her 2016 robbery

She also wore over 1million worth of diamonds, which was either a glittering riposte to the men who robbed her, or business as usual for this most opulent of billionaires

She also wore over 1million worth of diamonds, which was either a glittering riposte to the men who robbed her, or business as usual for this most opulent of billionaires.

'Hello,' she said to Judge David De Pas, perhaps not meaning to sound quite so flirty and breathy, like a friendly waitress putting coasters down on the table, hoping for a nice tip on the order.

A titter ran through the Press benches as she thanked the court for giving her the opportunity to 'speak my truth' and blathered on about how much she once loved walking around Paris, window shopping and 'drinking hot chocolate'.

What? Did Madame have une madeleine, too? That is what nobody wanted to know.

Yet we didn't have to wait long for the big tears and the major drama to begin. Five minutes in and Ms Kardashian began to cry when recounting a desperate conversation with the men who robbed her nearly ten years ago.

'I told them, 'I have babies! You can take everything, I just want to get home to my babies',' she said. 'He pulled me towards him and I said a prayer,' she recalled, detailing when she most feared for her life. 'I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me. I absolutely did think I was going to die.'

A court artist's impression of Kim Kardashian as she testified in the trial for a 2016 jewellery heist in Paris

Kim's necklace was crafted in 18K white gold and featuring 80 diamonds

Ms Kardashian waved her hands around when emotional and her manicure was particularly mesmerising; long talons painted white.

In quieter moments, when not making a point, she clasped her hands together demurely and looked straight at the judge. You can't say she didn't give good witness, although her valley girl accent  complete with throaty vocal fry and whiny rising inflection at the end of each sentence  is a torture for the acoustically sensitive.

Imagine pointy white nails being dragging down a blackboard and you are halfway there. 'I do appreciate the letter for sure,' she said, about an apology one of the accused has sent her, 'but it doesn't change the emotion or the trow-mah.'

What else happened, the court wanted to know? Ms Kardashian said that, on the night, one of the robbers pointed to her finger and shouted: 'Ring, ring!', and it was clear he wasn't asking her to sing an Abba song.

She demonstrated this moment by pointing to her own finger again. This was coincidentally sporting yet another chunk of utterly solid, delicious diamond  which all goes to prove something, but God knows what.

Ms Kardashian has returned to Paris to give evidence at a trial known here as 'the Proces De La Rue Tronchet', the name of the street where the robbery took place. She had been attending Fashion Week in 2016 when she was robbed at gunpoint, bound with zip ties, gagged with duct tape, thrown in the bath of her luxurious hotel and relieved of 7.5million of jewellery.

A terrifying ordeal, but I know exactly what you are thinking: Who travels with that amount of bling packed in their luggage?

Kardashian jetted into the French capital on Monday, sharing a picture of her view from the plane that she captioned simply with a French flag

Yet some might argue Ms Kardashian's suitcase is a special case. After all, she is one of the richest women in the world, someone who is not in the least embarrassed by her gold toilets and private cashmere-lined jet. Different rules apply.

Nine men and one woman are standing trial for planning and executing the robbery, while the French Press have dubbed them the 'Grandpa Robbers' on account of their age.

Most are now in their sixties and seventies, while one suspect has already died and another has been excused because he has advanced dementia.

'I thought they were younger,' Ms Kardashian volunteered in court, which was very kind of her given the circumstances.

The accused were ranged around her, a dowdy hotchpotch of bald heads, stubble and scruffy jumpers, all of which were in sharp contrast to the shocking voltage of her glamour. At one point in the afternoon 'Old Omar' (real name Aomar Ait Khedache), 68, the criminal accused of being the ringleader, shuffled past her in his anorak, clutching a carrier bag. She didn't give him a second glance.

Just behind her in a purple sweatshirt sat Didier Dubreucq, 69, one of the men accused of robbing her at gunpoint. He apologised to Ms Kardashian following an invitation by the judge.

Then there was Yunice Abbas, 72, who has even written a book about his involvement in the robbery, unambiguously entitled: I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. I suspect his lawyers rather wish he had not, but it's too late now.

Kardashian described how they tied her hands with cable ties, dragged her to the bathtub and pointed a gun at her temple

The influencer, 44, was joined by her mother Kris Jenner as she made her way into the court room on Tuesday afternoon

At the side of the court sat Omar's 79-year-old mistress Christiane 'Cathy' Glotin, a career criminal who is also said to be involved and is my favourite gang member. She looks like Mademoiselle Marple and has a list of previous convictions as long as Ms Kardashian's limousine. If Glotin is not played by Helen Mirren in the inevitable Hollywood film, then there is no justice in the world.

Speaking of which, given that Ms Kardashian has said nearly all of her testimony in previous Press interviews, it was difficult to understand the purpose of her appearance here today, except perhaps to explain her suffering in greater detail.

Yet she also accepted the apologies and regrets of the accused because, she said, she had realised when having therapy that they had suffered too. 'I wanted to be a part of this because I am a victim in this case,' she said. 'This is my closure.'

All around Ms Kardashian in the courtroom, drab in the shadows of her diamond-encrusted wattage, the glum Grandpa Robbers seemed to understand that a long period of closure might very well feature in their not-too-distant futures, too.

The case continues.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the island of Crete in Greece on Wednesday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences said.

The quake was at a depth of 83 km - or 51.57 miles, the centre added.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a slightly lower quake, at 6.1 magnitude.

The current damage to the island is not currently known, though the USGS estimates that there is little risk of landslides or liquefaction, the loss of the ground's structural integrity, occurring.

According to the USGS, tremors will likely have been felt across dozens of Greece's islands, as well as the western coast of Turkey.

Tremors are also likely to have been felt inland, around the Mugla and Aydn provinces of Turkey.

Shaking was reported as far as Egypt, Syria and Israel.

The region lies in one of the most seismically active zones in Europe, where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the island of Crete in Greece on Wednesday (File image)

Earthquakes are common in this zone, particularly along the Hellenic Arc, which has produced several large and damaging events in the past.

Crete is home to more than 624,000 people, with around a third of the island's population living in the capital city of Heraklion.

The island is also one of the most popular holiday destinations in the whole of Greece, with 15% of visitors arriving in Heraklion.

Generally, any earthquake above a 6.0 can cause damage if it hits a populated area.

According to Michigan Tech University, an estimated 100 earthquakes with a magnitude between 6.1 and 6.9 are recorded every year.

More to follow.
It's no secret that Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton clashed over bridesmaid dresses ahead of Meghan and Prince Harry's royal wedding in 2018.

Initial reports suggested that Meghan had made Kate cry during a disagreement over the outfits - which the Suits actress later denied.

In his new book, Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Life Of Royal Servants, Tom Quinn claims both women were 'really upset' by the situation.

A former member of staff told the author: 'The truth is that during the discussions about the bridesmaid's dress Meghan said a few things she regretted and Kate said a few things she later regretted but it was all in the heat of the moment.

'Both women were crying their eyes out!'

The unnamed employee went on to explain that the incident was 'subtly altered' and 'made more significant than it really is' by the media.

This resulted in the disagreement becoming a 'marker for all the other problems that Meghan had with Kate and with William and other members of the family'.

However, Meghan gave a different version of events in her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave a bombshell interview with Oprah in 2021, with the duchess suggesting one royal family member had raised concerns about the colour of their son Archie's skin

It's no secret that Meghan and Kate Middleton clashed over Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress ahead of Meghan and Prince Harry's royal wedding in 2018

In his book Revenge, Tom Bower claimed that sources told him Meghan and Kate had a dispute over the length of Charlotte's hemline and the overall fit of her dress

She insisted that she was the one who had been hurt in the exchange, not Kate.

Meghan explained that Kate was upset about something but later took responsibility, apologised, and even brought her flowers.

'It wasn't a confrontation,' Meghan said. 'I don't think it's fair to her to get into the details of that, because she apologised.

'What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn't do but that happened to me.

'And the people who were part of our wedding were going to our comms team and saying, "I know this didn't happen. I don't have to tell them what actually happened".'

The discussion served as yet another example of Queen Elizabeth's famous phrase, 'recollections may vary,' which she famously used in response to the concerns raised by Harry and Meghan regarding racial issues.

At the time, royal expert Katie Nicholl claimed that Kate found it 'mortifying' that their disagreement had reached the press, as she never wanted it to become public knowledge.

While Meghan's interview sought to put the rumours to rest, Harry reignited the discussion in his memoir, Spare, providing new details about the dispute.

Kate and Meghan in the Royal Box on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2019, a year after their bridesmaid dress row

Meghan and Kate speak on stage at the First Annual Royal Foundation Forum in 2018

Kate walked ahead of Meghan during Queen Elizabeth II's lying-in-state in London's Westminster Hall

According to Harry, Kate messaged Meghan in the days leading up to the wedding, expressing concerns about the bridesmaid dresses - specifically Charlotte's.

Meghan suggested that Kate take Charlotte to a tailor at the palace for adjustments.

Later, when the two women spoke in person, Kate reportedly insisted that Charlotte's dress was too big and had made her cry when she tried it on.

Meghan, already overwhelmed by wedding preparations, was distressed by the conversation.

Harry wrote that when he returned home, he found his fiancee sobbing on the kitchen floor, overcome with stress.

However, he also noted that Kate later came to their house with a card and flowers as an apology.

Though the incident continues to be disputed, it remains one of the most talked-about moments leading up to the Sussexes' wedding - and a lingering factor in the family's rift.
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more

The Princess of Wales made a sartorial statement as she arrived at the British Fashion Council in London to present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

Channelling 70s-inspired glamour, Kate opted for a chartreuse trouser suit by Victoria Beckham.

The tailored ensemble featured a longline single-breasted blazer and wide-leg trousers with distinctive patch pocket detailing - an eye-catching yet elegant choice.

This statement two-piece may not be for the faint-hearted, but it's surprisingly versatile. Dress it down with chunky sandals for a chic off-duty vibe or style it with heels for a polished office-ready outfit.

Kate completed the ensemble with a Knatchbull ruffled blouse, her reliable Ralph Lauren court shoes and Queen Elizabeth's Bahrain Pearl Earrings, bringing a regal touch to the striking look.

The best part? Kate's exact suit, blouse and heels are available to buy below. But if you prefer more budget-friendly options, discover our high street edit.

High street alternatives

Blouses

Earrings

Shoes
A mysterious black smoke ring appeared in the skies over Kansas, sparking conspiracy theories that a portal to hell might have opened in the Midwest.

The bizarre sighting was captured by motorcyclist Frankie Camren as he rode down a quiet street Monday afternoon in Bonner Springs.

'I was out riding and heading down County Road 2 toward State Avenue when I noticed all the cars were moving slowly. I looked up and saw this big black ring in the sky,' Camren told DailyMail.com.

'Everyone else kept driving past iteven though they were clearly looking at itso I pulled over and started recording a video. I had no idea what was going on or how it even happened; it just looked super cool.'

The object appeared to be a thick, black ring of smoke, slowly dissipating as Camren recorded the scene.

He share the video on Facebook, asking friends to weigh in on what the black ring could be.

'It's the devil blowing smoke rings from hell,' one Facebook user commented.

'Pretty sure that's the Wicked Witch of the West doing a donut,' another joked.

At first, the bizarre object appeared to be a ring of thick, black smoke. Camren said he spotted it hanging over County Road 2 between State Ave. and K32

The object appeared to be a thick , black ring of smoke, slowly dissipating as Camren (pictured) recorded the scene

FOX Weather meteorologists analyzed Camren's video to determine a possible explanation for this anomaly.

They said the smoke ring was most likely the result of some type of explosion, similar to the way a mushroom cloud forms when rapidly rising air traps smoke in a circular formation because it is moving faster than the surrounding air.

For example, it could have been caused by fireworks, some type of industrial combustion process or the explosion of an electrical transformer.

Camren, who owns Kingdom Restoration of KC, told FOX Weather that some individuals in the nearby town of Tonganoxie had reported seeing similar, smaller rings the day before.

But exact source of the ring he saw on County Road 2 remains unknown.

Oddly enough, this isn't the first time one of these rings has appeared in the sky.

They have been spotted all over the world and throughout the US.

Motorcyclist Frankie Camren of Bonner Springs, Kansas was driving down a quiet street Monday afternoon when he spotted a strange black ring in the sky

In March, Seattle residents reported a similar sighting and contacted the National Weather Service, which confirmed that it was not related to any local weather phenomena.

According to FOX Weather, the ring appeared in the vicinity T-Mobile Park, home to the Seattle Mariners.

It seemed to originate from a motocross event across the street from the stadium at Lumen Field.

Back in June 2024, a similar ring-shaped cloud was spotted over Venezuela and captured in a now viral video.

'A flying saucer,' one of the young men filming the object shouted as they drove down a rode on a sunny afternoon.

And in July 2024, another floating black ring was photographed drifting across an orange and pink sunset over Pearland, Texas.

There have been numerous other sightings as well  it seems that these mysterious rings can pop up pretty much anywhere.
High in the mountains of Turkey sits a mysterious geological formation that some researchers believe could be the remains of Noah's Ark.

According to the Bible, the massive vessel saved humanity and every kind of animal from annihilation during a catastrophic flood more than 4,300 years ago.

Now, a team of American researchers working at Durupinar Formation near Mount Ararat has uncovered evidence of angular structures and a void deep within the mountain.

Andrew Jones, an independent researcher with Noah's Ark Scans, used ground-penetrating radar to detect what appeared to be a 13-foot tunnel running through the center of the formation.

The scans also captured three layers below the earth, matching the the Biblical description of the boat having three decks.

The Book of Genesis 6:16 states: 'Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks.'

And a new analysis of the team's GPR data claims to have found central and side corridors or hallways running through the boat.

'We're not expecting something that's fully preserved. What's left is the chemical imprint, pieces of wood and in the ground, the shape of a hall,' Jones told The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

So far, the scans have revealed angular structures as deep as 20 feet beneath the surfacefeatures that could represent rooms below a deck-like platform (pictured)

In Genesis 6:14, the Bible describes the ark: 'Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.' Pictured is a recreation of what the ark may have looked like

Located just 18 miles south of Mount AraratTurkey's highest peakthe Durupnar Formation has only been known to the modern world for less than a century.

According to local reports, heavy rains and earthquakes in May 1948 washed away surrounding mud, revealing the mysterious formation. It was then discovered by a Kurdish shepherd.

The Bible states that Noah's Ark came to rest on the 'mountains of Ararat' after a 150-day flood that drowned the Earth and every living creature not sheltered inside the wooden vessel.

What's intriguing is that the formation sits near a mountain with a peak that some believe matches the ark's shape and dimensions.

According to biblical measurements, the ark was '300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high'roughly 515 feet long, 86 feet wide, and 52 feet tall.

The idea that the ark landed on Mount Ararat has long sparked debate.

While many scientists argue that the formation is a naturally occurring geological feature, others are convinced it points to something far more extraordinary.

The team at Noah's Ark Scans firmly believes the latter.

Researchers used ground-penetrating radar to detect what appeared to be a 13-foot tunnel running through the center of the formation

The team has only been allowed to use non-invasive testing methods, such as ground-penetrating radar

Speaking to CBN News on Friday, Jones shared new details about the scans he and his team of independent researchers have conducted over the past few years at the Durupnar Formation.

So far, the scans have revealed angular structures as deep as 20 feet beneath the surfacefeatures that could represent rooms below a deck-like platform.

In Genesis 6:14, the Bible describes the ark: 'Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.'

'This is not what you'd expect to see if the site were simply a solid block of rock or the result of random mudflow debris,' said Jones.

'But it is exactly what you'd expect to find if this were a man-made boat, consistent with the biblical specifications of Noah's Ark.'

The team has also performed soil testing, uncovering what Jones described as 'some interesting things.'

And a new analysis of the team's GPR data showed central and side corridors or hallways running through the boat

The team also detected angular structures up to 20 feet below the surface

According to the Bible, the massive vessel saved humanity and every kind of animal from annihilation during a catastrophic flood more than 4,300 years ago

'We noticed that the grass growing within the boat-shaped formation is a different color compared to the area just outside it,' he said, suggesting this could point to a man-made origin rather than a natural one.

William Crabtree, another member of Noah's Ark Scans, added that a tunnel appears to run from the tip of the formation toward the middle, and it is large enough to walk through.

He also discussed their soil analysis, noting that organic matter was found to be twice as high inside the formation compared to the surrounding soil.

'The potassium levels inside are also about 40 percent higher,' Crabtree said.

'If you know soil scienceas I'm a soil scientistyou'll understand that potassium levels, organic matter, and pH can all be influenced by decaying organic material.'

'If this was a wooden boat and the wood had rotted over time, we would expect to see elevated levels of potassium, changes in pH, and higher organic contentand that's exactly what we're finding.'

Jones and the team plan to expand their soil testing efforts beyond the 22 samples they have already collected.

They also aim to complete a core drilling survey and conduct additional ground-penetrating radar scans around the site.

'We want to compare what's inside the formation to what's outside,' Jones said.

'That could give us a much clearer picture of whether this is truly something man-made.'
A trove of unearthed government documents has detailed a secret face-to-face encounter with aliens beings more than 60 years ago.

More than 50 pages of CIA files, which the FBI continues to say are fakes, claimed that a secret government program established communications with UFOs in 1959.

Project Sigma, started in 1954, used a binary computer language sent along radio signals into space to make contact with alien life.

Just five years after the interstellar connection, an official from the US Air Force met the extraterrestrials who received these messages.

The files claimed that on April 25, 1964, a single intelligence officer met with two aliens at a prearranged location in the New Mexico desert - the same state that the famous Roswell UFO crash allegedly took place.

The meeting lasted for about three hours, during which time the intelligence officer and the extraterrestrials shared 'basic information' about their respective races.

The documents also detailed how a secret government group called the Majestic 12 used their incredible power to keep top secret information on UFOs away from the military and the even White House.

Several classified projects focused on alien communication and UFO research allegedly fell under the Majestic 12's control - with the group revealing to the CIA that they succeeded in their goals of finding alien life.

The UFO task force was reportedly created by President Harry Truman in 1947

Project Sigma, which was allegedly run by the secret group Majestic 12, spent five years trying to make radio contact with UFOs before succeeding in 1959

According to documents that emerged in the 1980s, the Majestic 12 (MJ-12) was a committee of high-ranking military, scientific, and intelligence officials assembled after the now-famous UFO crash in Roswell.

The 12-person team was allegedly established through a secret executive order by President Harry Truman in 1947.

For over two decades, these experts were tasked with managing investigations into UFOs and extraterrestrial contact.

The CIA files stated that MJ-12 oversaw four specific projects charged with communicating with aliens, researching UFOs, recovering crashed alien ships, and testing out whatever advanced technology they could find.

MJ-12 stated that it took five years before they finally made successful contact with UFOs in 1959, noting that the group 'established primitive communications with the Aliens,' using binary code sent by radio.

Binary is the lowest-level language computers understand, directly corresponding to electrical states in hardware. It represents all data (text, numbers, instructions) as sequences of 0s and 1s.

And scientists searching for alien life still uses the method to this day.

This basic form of communication would led to the meeting between the Air Force and these aliens in 1964, with MJ-12 stating that 'the Air Force officer managed to exchange basic information with the two Aliens.'

A secret government group known as the Majestic 12 was allegedly in charge of test flying a recovered UFO

Majestic 12 wrote at the time that this project was still continuing 'at an Air Force base in New Mexico.'

Following the historic meeting, MJ-12 established Project Snowbird in 1972 with a mission of test flying a recovered alien aircraft.

The classified report said that project was still taking place in a secret Nevada base - which many UFO researchers today believe is Area 51.

Despite being secretly appointed by the president, the uncovered documents also detailed how MJ-12 actively withheld information from top officials and even insulted those who they felt didn't need to know about UFOs.

'Apparently, White House requested info,' the members of MJ-12 wrote in a CIA memo. 'Can't seem to make those fools realize [this] info is not available for any dissemination.'

Later in the same letter, the group told the CIA not to allow a group labeled as 'AF' (which may have stood for the Air Force) to have access their data.

The top secret encounter was not found in the declassified CIA archives, but were instead uncovered after being quietly made available to the public at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library that opened in 1991.

CIA files allegedly written by the Majestic 12 revealed that the group was openly keeping secrets on UFO research from government officials, including members of the White House

MJ-12's existence became public knowledge after an alleged government whistleblower mailed a report on the group's activities to UFO researchers in 1984.

However, the FBI labeled the mysterious UFO document as 'bogus' and claimed that the group, the involvement of the experts named in the report, and MJ-12's mission were all a work of fiction.

In 1988, the intelligence community added that there were serious inconsistencies and formatting errors in the decades-old briefing for President Eisenhower that suggests it's a forgery.

Despite the US intelligence community's attempt to discredit the whistleblower, the details in it matched several of the key facts found in the Reagan Library papers - including the names of the 12 men in Majestic 12.

According to the unearthed documents, MJ-12 included Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter, the first CIA director, Dr Vannevar Bush, head of US scientific research during World War II, James Forrestal, the first US Secretary of Defense, and General Nathan Twining, the Air Force commander in charge of research and development of new aircraft.

Coincidentally, this research and development program was based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio - the same military facility the debris from the Roswell UFO crash was allegedly taken to in 1947.

Dr Hal Puthoff, a physicist and UFO researcher, recently noted on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that one of his colleagues spoke to the commander of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and confirmed that the crash really happened.

'They say it was the real deal, that this was a real unidentifiable crash and these materials were really, really from out someplace,' Puthoff said.

In reference to Projects Snowbird and Pounce, Puthoff also claimed that the US government currently has 'at least 10' crashed UFOs in their possession that they're still studying.

Majestic 12 was allegedly created by a secret executive order by President Harry Truman following the UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico

Since the 1947 crash at Roswell, the US intelligence community has allegedly been keeping the existence of alien life and UFOs a secret, with some declassified documents from that time stating that officials believed the talk about UFOs would cause a public panic

As for why this shocking meeting in 1964 and all the communications between UFOs has been hidden for 60 years, another declassified CIA document appears to answer that mystery.

Found in the CIA's archives of declassified files, DailyMail.com uncovered a memo from 1953 which essentially shut down any public discussion of UFOs over fear that the US government would lose control over the general public.

According to the Scientific Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects in January 1953: 'The continued emphasis on the reporting of these phenomena does, in these perilous times, result in a threat to the orderly functioning of the protective organa of the body politic.'

The five-person panel, made up of academic experts from universities throughout the US, concluded that UFOs did not pose a direct threat to national security during the Cold War.

Moreover, the panel's memo recommended that the government 'strip' UFOs of the 'special status' these sightings had already attained after Roswell.
Most people spend their lunch breaks grabbing a sandwich or going for a walk.

But soon it could be possible to get a full-body MRI scan which detects the earliest stages of cancer during your lunch hour, thanks to AI.

Health tech pioneer Ezra has launched its screening service in the UK, marking a major expansion beyond the US.

Their AI-powered scans currently last an hour and cover 13 organs, with the added option of an extra lung CT scan and heart disease screening.

As cancer rates are rising  especially among young people  the company say they are the best defence against the disease.

With early detection, treatment can start earlier and prognosis improves dramatically.

The AI technology has already significantly reduced scan times to just one hour and provided a scoring system to help doctors prioritise findings.

A 13-organ full body scan currently costs 2,395 while the plus option to cover the lungs and heart is an extra 300.

The MRI scan currently takes about an hour, but experts say this could soon be reduced to just 15 minutes with the help of AI

Scan results showing the brain, spine, pelvis and abdomen. Any abnormalities will be flagged to the patient, who can then take the scans to their GP for further investigation

But as it continues to advance, the time could be reduced to just a quarter of an hour  and it could eventually cut the cost of a full-body checkup under 400.

Cancer Research UK reports a 24 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses among people in their 40s and 50s since 1995.

Despite advances in treatment, nearly half of all cancer cases in the UK are still diagnosed at late stages, limiting treatment options and outcomes.

Ezra say their mission is to shift this dynamic by making AI-powered early screening more accessible to those who may benefit from proactive monitoring of the disease.

This includes those with a family history of cancer or who have other risk factors.

Having witnessed the impact of late-stage cancer diagnosis in my own family, I understand the critical importance of early detection, said Emi Gal, CEO and founder of Ezra.

Our mission is to make comprehensive cancer screening fast, accurate and affordable.

The company has partnered with Alliance Medical, who offer the full-body scan at their Marylebone clinic in London.

Patients can easily access their scan results online. Ezra say they are trying to help people detect issues before any symptoms appear

There is already a waiting list in place, with plans for a nationwide rollout throughout the year.

What were really trying to do is were trying to help people find things before they have symptoms, Mr Gal told MailOnline.

Generally, if you have symptoms, its too late.

So really what you want to do is you want to find cancer before its symptomatic when its at its earliest stages, because thats when its most curable.

All scans are analysed by an Ezra doctor, with the help of AI, and any issues discussed with patients which can then be brought up with their own GP.

So 6 per cent of our members have found possible cancer, and we have stories from members who found cancer, got treated and now theyre cancer-free, Mr Gal explained.

I think theres a future in which we have a 15-minute, $500 (379) scan available to everyone.

Ezras full-body scan covers the brain, spine, gallbladder, spleen, thyroid, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, adrenal glands, ovaries, uterus and the prostate.

Mr Gal says 6 per cent of their patients have detected possible early signs of cancer - some of whom have since had treatment

Early detection can dramatically improve cancer survival rates, yet 50 per cent of cancers in the UK are diagnosed at late stages, said Dr Dan Brook, Ezra's UK Medical Director.

Our technology provides a powerful new tool for early detection, particularly for individuals with family history or elevated risk factors.

We are delighted to introduce full-body MRI screening in partnership with Ezra, Peter Winchester, Managing Director of Alliance Medical UK, said.

Its AI-driven approach represents the future of early cancer detection, and we are excited to integrate this technology into our imaging services to enhance diagnostic precision and accessibility.
Joe Rogan, who regularly entertains conspiracy theories and cover-ups, created one of his own when he declared that scientists 'would kill' anyone who tried to prove that giants were real.

On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast with TikTok personality Cody Tucker, Rogan brought up the theory that there was once an ancient race of giant humans living on Earth.

Rogan and Tucker discussed how civilizations throughout history have had similar stories of enormous people, citing biblical references like the story of David and Goliath.

While the two men agreed that there could still be undiscovered races of humans, Rogan was skeptical that the scientific community would allow such a history-changing discovery to be made public.

Rogan claimed that researchers who may potentially find giant human remains would be more inclined to say 'people can't handle this' and keep the information a secret.

The podcast host added that the thought of hiding the discovery would be 'infuriating' and then made one more bombshell claim about the potential unearthing of giant bones.

'They're gonna kill you, they're gonna kill you. The scientists will kill you. They're gonna run you off the road,' Rogan exclaimed.

The 57-year-old noted that there are already conspiracy theories claiming the Smithsonian Museum in Washington is hiding proof giants existed in their basement.

Joe Rogan claimed during an interview with Cody Tucker that the scientific community would attempt to kill people trying to reveal the existence of giants

Rogan cited stories since Biblical times that have all mentioned similar accounts of giant humans in ancient times

Rogan has frequently commented on various government cover-ups he believes to be true.

Those include the conspiracy to keep the existence of UFOs and alien life hidden, the secret existence of government surveillance programs, and even a cover-up to hide the government's role in instigating the January 6 riot at the Capitol.

Tucker, known for his viral history and pop culture videos, questioned why these giants aren't still alive today.

This led Rogan to speculate that giants in the distant past died out after a global cataclysm left them without enough food to survive.

'If you're that big, you need to eat a lot,' Rogan explained.

'They keep finding these additional types of humans,' Rogan added, noting that researchers had recently discovered Denisovans, an extinct group of humans, closely related to Neanderthals, who lived up to 200,000 years ago.

Despite citing a number of recent findings, Rogan quickly shot down the idea that scientists would come clean about finding a new race of immense beings.

'Who would put the cap on that?' Rogan asked. 'If they found a 10-foot human with a gigantic sword, would they just say 'we're wrong, giants existed.''

'They might say people can't handle it. It's not outside the realm of possibility,' Rogan added.

Rogan said that multiple conspiracy theories surround the possible existence of giants, including one that claims the Smithsonian Museum is keeping giant bones hidden in their basement

Rogan is not alone in his unconfirmed belief that Earth was once home to giant humans in prehistoric times.

TikTok theorists claim that giants, many times taller than a normal human, have existed since ancient times, likely helped to build pyramids around the world, and may still be walking among us today.

As strange as it sounds, some scientists admit that there might be an element of truth to these claims.

Giants, like the current world's tallest man Sultan Kosen who stands at 8 feet 1 inch (236.5cm), are a very real scientific phenomenon.

Likewise, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an ancient culture that would have towered over their peers.

The genetic traces of these huge people can still be found in the abnormal heights of groups scattered around the world.

The Irish Giant, Charles Byrne, was found to have a gene called AIP which causes tumors on the pituitary gland. This explains why his skeleton (pictured) to such an extreme height

In a medical sense, giants are real because of a condition called gigantism. Certain diseases can cause abnormal growth, leading to extreme height in some people.

People with giantism have existed throughout history right back to ancient times. Some Paleolithic groups also had heights which exceeded that of the modern people who discovered them.

Rogan and Tucker also noted that Vikings from Iceland were also enormous compared to the people in nearby lands they raided hundreds of years ago.

However, neither of these groups is a separate race from humans nor are their heights outside the bounds of human possibility.

Scientists maintain that their height is either a product of a disease or fortunate genetics and good nutrition.

Dr Pavel Grasgruber, an expert on the biology of height from Masaryk University, Czechia, told DailyMail.com: 'The idea that human giants existed in prehistoric times was mainly inspired by the findings of male skeletons in the Grimaldi cave system.'

When these caves, located on the Mediterranean coast near the French-Italian border, were first excavated in the late 1880s, scientists were shocked by the size of the human remains they found.

Seven of the 'Gravettian' people found there were about 5ft 11in on average but the tallest were up to 6ft 5in in height.

'The standard for male height in Europe was under 170cm! No wonder these people must have seemed like "giants" to the scientists of the time,' Dr Grasgruber said.

Thanks to 'the work of people with vivid imaginations', these findings slowly became part of a myth that the world was once populated by giants.
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A New Zealand skincare brand behind a cult favourite item that sells every 60 seconds has made its debut at Sephora Australia - sending beauty fans wild.

RAAIE has been shaking up the beauty world with its minimalist skincare range, offering a tiny yet mighty lineup of five hero products: Sun Milk Drops Tinted SPF50, Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, Cocoon Ceramide Cream, Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir and Golden Nectar Manuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser.

Backed by science, the AM/PM formulas contain 'powerful' ingredients that work in sync with the body's natural internal clock - protecting the skin during the day and repairing it overnight.

The best-selling skincare brand has been wowing shoppers with its high-performing formulas, thanks to antioxidant-rich botanicals native to New Zealand, paired with skin-boosting ingredients like retinal, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.

Designed for daily use, the sell-out products help improve the appearance of visible signs of ageing including fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and dullness.

'Our AM/PM approach not only enhances product efficacy but also simplifies the routine. It's essentially biohacking the skin's natural processes to deliver a visibly brighter, clearer, firmer and more radiant complexion,' RAAIE founder Katey Mandy told Daily Mail Australia.

'All RAAIE products are designed to work with your skin's natural rhythms. Used daily, it supports the skin's own antioxidant defences and helps build long-term resilience.'

The stand-out Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum is the brand's number one item they 'can't keep in stock' because it keeps selling out. It has won five prestigious awards, including being crowned the best serum on the market - even beating global beauty giants to take home gold.

RAAIE customer Jewel showing her incredible results after using the sell-out Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum consistently every morning for four weeks

NZ skincare brand RAAIE has been shaking up the beauty world with its minimalist range

And now, shoppers can reap the skincare benefits Down Under as RAAIE has landed in Australia, putting Aotearoa on the map as the first-ever Kiwi brand to hit Sephora, one of the world's biggest beauty destinations.

'It's a surreal and deeply fulfilling moment. Sephora is such an iconic global platform for beauty, and having RAAIE on its shelves feels like a milestone that validates our mission to bring New Zealand's botanical power to the global stage,' Katey said.

'It's been such a journey from working with native botanicals to now sharing them with a whole new audience.

'For Aussie shoppers, I'm excited for them to experience how these resilient botanicals, combined with cutting-edge actives, can transform their skin. It's more than skincare; it's a way to embrace a slower, more intentional routine.'

Resilience in a bottle

The nature-meets-science formulas are made with botanicals that have adapted to thrive in environments with harsh sun exposure. This means the same properties that allow these plants to survive under these conditions now support your skin.

'What sets RAAIE apart is our focus on potent New Zealand botanicals that have adapted to thrive in extreme UV environments - think powerful oceanic and alpine plants packed with antioxidants,' she said.

'In response, the plants have developed unique defensive mechanisms by producing very high levels of antioxidants. It's like they have created their own "plant sunblock".

'The botanicals aren't just beautiful - they're biologically resilient, and we've bottled that resilience.'

The formulas combine science-backed, highly-effective active ingredients, with locally-grown plant antioxidants, including manuka honey, Sauvignon Blanc grape seed, red marine algae, wild blackcurrant and kanuka - native botanicals known for their resilience and regeneration.

'We pair the botanicals with cutting-edge cosmeceutical actives... all strategically formulated to align with the skin's natural circadian rhythm,' she said.

Designed for daily use, the sell-out formulas help improve the appearance of visible signs of ageing including fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and dullness

RAAIE founder Katey Mandy (pictured) said she's thrilled to see her range launch at Sephora

The three best-selling RAAIE products The Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, Sun Milk Drops SPF50, and the Golden Nectar Manuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser - each one a game-changer in its own right. Morning Dew is your daily burst of radiance, supercharged with 15% vitamin C and powerhouse New Zealand botanicals that instantly brighten and even out your complexion. It has a dewy, hydrating texture and the skin just drinks it up. Sun Milk Drops SPF50 is an illuminating SPF and invisible shield. It provides protection against UVA, UVB, blue light, infrared, and pollution and has a peach that leaves your skin with a luminous, 'lit-from-within' glowy finish. The Golden Nectar Cleanser is a decadent multitasker, blending the purest Manuka honey with lush fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate and nourish, leaving your skin feeling fresh, bouncy, and utterly revived. Every step in this lineup is intentionally curated to amplify the next, creating a routine that's as indulgent as it is transformative. Advertisement

Each formula is housed in beautifully crafted, refillable sculptural vessels inspired by New Zealand's white river pebbles - a nod to nature's beauty and purity.

'We wanted each vessel to reflect that serene, organic aesthetic while embracing sustainability. The minimalist design tells the story of our skincare philosophy: fewer, better, and more potent products that truly deliver results,' Katey explained.

'Making them refillable was a natural choice, perfectly aligned with our commitment to conscious consumption and reducing waste. Plus, each vessel is crafted with a percentage of recycled materials, reinforcing our dedication to circular beauty.'

How it all started

After forging a successful career abroad in the beauty and fashion industries, Katey transitioned into launching her own skincare line.

'RAAIE began from a deeply personal place. After more than a decade in London and New York, I returned home to New Zealand during one of the most difficult times in my life. My mum was very ill,' she explained.

'After she passed, I found myself reassessing everything. I no longer saw beauty as something purely aesthetic. It became something more meaningful: a way of connecting with wellbeing, with nature, and with the things that last.'

Growing up in the far north of New Zealand, Katey remembers observing the resilience of local plants as she helped her dad plant native trees on their land.

'These plants aren't just beautiful, they're survivors,' she recalled.

'They've evolved under extreme conditions, including some of the highest UV exposures in the world. That resilience fascinated me, especially when we know that around 80 per cent of visible skin ageing is caused by UV damage.

'After years immersed in the global beauty space, I realised these powerful botanicals were largely being overlooked. I wanted to change that.

'I wanted to combine the strength of New Zealand's native plants with the most advanced skincare technologies (ingredients like retinal, biomimetic peptides, and growth factors) and create something that felt both modern and deeply rooted.'

The minimalist skincare brand offers a tiny yet mighty lineup of five hero products: Sun Milk Drops Tinted SPF50, Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, Cocoon Ceramide Cream, Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir and Golden Nectar Manuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser

Each formula is housed in beautifully crafted, refillable sculptural vessels inspired by New Zealand's white river pebbles - a nod to nature's beauty and purity

What is RAAIE? RAAIE is an award-winning New Zealand skincare brand that's now available at all Sephora Australia stores and online. Founded by New Zealander Katey Mandy, each product combines science-backed, highly-effective active ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and retinal, with powerful, locally-grown plant antioxidants. From our antioxidant-charged Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum to the transformative Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir, each formula is crafted to protect, repair, and renew skin, morning and night. Advertisement

And so RAAIE was born in April 2022.

'The formulas are clinically potent yet pared back: everything your skin needs, nothing it doesn't,' Katey said.

'Every detail, from the texture of the product to the way the bottle feels in your hand, was designed to reflect what RAAIE stands for: quiet luxury, intelligent simplicity, and a deep respect for the land that inspired it.'

Sell-out item

RAAIE has proven popular, experiencing 450 per cent year-on-year growth in 2024.

One of its best-sellers is the Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum, which won five coveted awards, with one bottle flying off the shelves every 60 seconds.

'The serum has had multiple waitlists, selling out three times in the past six months. We literally cannot make enough,' Katey said.

'Loved for its glow-boosting, antioxidant-rich formula, Morning Dew is our cult-favourite serum and top repeat purchase.'

'Worth the hype'

The serum is so popular, shoppers have given it a perfect five-star rating.

'It really is my most favourite part of my morning routine. The difference I have seen in the three months of using it is staggering. My skin is smoother, my dark spots have faded dramatically and the glow I have is insane. The texture is gorgeous and it goes on like a dream and absorbs quickly meaning you can carry on with your other skincare. I will never be without this product,' one shopper raved.

'It's definitely worth the hype. My skin says thank you - I can see a noticeable glow that wasn't there before and my skin tone has become more even in just a week. In addition to making me feel radiant, I've seen a significant improvement in my skin's texture: my skin feels firmer and supple. It's exceeded my expectations,' another said.

'The best product I've ever tried on my skin. Simply couldn't live without it,' one added.

RAAIE has proven popular, experiencing 450 per cent year-on-year growth in 2024

Katey Mandy's top beauty secrets My routine is all about fewer, high quality and consistency. In the morning, I cleanse with the Golden Nectar Manuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser, apply the Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum for antioxidant protection and brightness, and finish with the Sun Milk Drops Tinted SPF50 for hydration and sun defense. At night, after cleansing, I use the Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir to smooth and firm, followed by the Cocoon Ceramide Cream to lock in moisture and repair the skin barrier. It's a targeted routine that nourishes and protects while allowing each product to work its magic without overloading the skin. Advertisement

The antioxidant-rich serum is formulated to support brighter-looking skin. With two forms of vitamin C, it helps enhance radiance, visibly even skin tone, and improve the appearance of redness, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.

The formula contains skin-loving ingredients, including alpine rosehip - rich in vitamin A and omegas to support healthy-looking skin and mamaku (native black fern), which helps visibly smooth and firm the skin's appearance.

Antioxidant-rich blackcurrants help defend against environmental stressors, native kanuka is known for its soothing properties, while marine sea algae delivers nutrients and antioxidants that promote skin vitality.

'What I love most about this serum is its duality; it's incredibly effective, but also gentle. It brightens, firms, and protects, but never overwhelms the skin,' Katey said.

The Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum has won up to five awards - including Best Anti-Aging Product 2024 at the US C&T Alle Awards, Best Vitamin C Product 2024 in the Beauty Shortlist UK and Best Skincare Serum 2023 at the UK PURE Beauty Awards.

Perfect AM/PM duo

For anyone who has never tried RAAIE, Katey recommends starting with the Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum for the day and the Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir for night.

'RAAIE is the perfect blend of nature and science, offering potent, clean formulations that respect your skins natural rhythms,' she said.

'If you're looking to simplify your routine while achieving transformative results, start with our Morning Dew Vitamin C Serum for day and the Yellow Moonbeam Retinal Elixir for night.

'This AM/PM duo is designed to brighten, firm, and protect, making it a powerful yet minimalist introduction to the RAAIE ritual.'

A glow with healing and shielding properties, RAAIE is set to redefine botanical skincare by harnessing land, sea and alpine botanicals that survive in extreme New Zealand environments

RAAIE has thrilled fans with the news of its launch in Sephora stores across Australia and New Zealand, as well as online.

'It's a turning point for New Zealand skincare. To see our UV-resilient botanicals on Sephora's shelves, alongside the world's most respected names in beauty - is a deeply proud moment,' Katey said.

'RAAIE was born from the sunlight of Aotearoa, and now that light shines a little further. We're thrilled to bring these results to Sephora Australia and continue sharing RAAIE's story with even more beauty lovers.'

Fans of the brand have expressed their excitement, with one saying: 'This is huge!'

'Incredible! Congratulations and so well deserved,' another shared.

'Congratulations guys! Yessss... Now I can buy my favourite honey enzyme cleanser in person,' one revealed.

'MAJOR NEWS! Endlessly proud of you,' another added.

To shop RAAIE's skincare range at Sephora Australia, click here.
Virginia Giuffre was 'extremely distressed' in the lead up to her death and feared she would lose millions in a court battle with another victim of Jeffrey Epstein.

Giuffre was being sued by artist Rina Oh for falsely describing her as a girlfriend of Epstein and one of the convicted sex offender's recruiters.

The $10million lawsuit will now pass on to Giuffre's estate following her death by suicide on April 25.

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'Extremely distressed': Virginia Giuffre feared she would lose millions in a court battle with another victim of Jeffrey Epstein prior to her death

The 41-year-old is believed to have received a fortune in an out-of-court settlement made by Prince Andrew, whom she accused of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked to London by Epstein.

It was reported that he paid her around $12million in February 2022, a figure which has since been disputed.

Sources close to Giuffre have reportedly said that she feared losing her wealth in the weeks leading up to her death.

Legal battle: Giuffre was being sued by artist Rina Oh for falsely describing her as a girlfriend of Epstein and one of the convicted sex offender's recruiters

They also said that the mother-of-three had become depressed over the collapse of her marriage and losing her teenage children to her husband.

A source close to Giuffre told the Mirror: 'Virginia was extremely distressed in the weeks before she died. She felt like everything she had fought so hard for was going or gone.'

The source added that the distress she felt compounded 'with the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of Epstein'.

Sickening: Giuffre claimed she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew when she was just 17

As well as claims about the disgraced financier, tweets made under Giuffre's name detailed accusations of physical assault against Oh, who maintains she was also a victim of Epstein.

Oh has strongly denied Giuffre's claims, with her lawyer stating in a court filing: 'Considering the high profile nature of the Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew story, [Giuffre] knew that accusing [Oh], a fellow victim, of such horrible things, would maximize the spread and harm and damage to [Oh].

'[Giuffre] has maliciously reiterated and republished these defamations and slanders in prior and subsequent tweets and interviews on podcasts, TV and for magazines, as well as in her memoirs entitled Billionaire's Playboy Club.

'These defamations and slanders by Defendant are causing [Oh] great harm.'

Notorious: Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking

Prince Andrew's legal team was reportedly set to use Oh's lawsuit to attack Giuffre after she sued the royal for sex abuse in 2021.

He has strongly denied the allegations, and Giuffre received an out-of-court settlement in February 2022.

The payout figure, which has never been disclosed, may become clear as her estate is bequeathed to her estranged husband and three children.

It comes amid reports that video footage taken by Epstein which could show Giuffre with the Prince may be released in the U.S.

The FBI has been reviewing 'tens of thousands of videos' of pedophile Epstein, according to U.S. Attorney-General Pam Bondi.

Meanwhile, legal papers filed by Giuffre prior to her suicide last month outline her belief that U.S. authorities hold footage of her having sex with powerful Epstein associates.

The disgraced financier, who died by suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking in 2019, is understood to have had hidden cameras around all his homes.

Federal investigators seized a number of them following his death and the material contained on them is understood to form part of the 'Epstein Files'.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to make these public, with the White House stating earlier this month that the release of the 'bulk' of the files is being worked on.

A source told The Sun: 'Andrew will be sweating over their release. If there's anything in there that involves him, it would pile more misery and humiliation on him.'

Giuffre was one of the most prominent accusers of Epstein and his former girlfriend Maxwell, claiming the pair kept her as a sex slave as a teen.

The 41-year-old took her own life on April 25 at her farmhouse north of Perth in Australia, after the 'toll of abuse... became unbearable', according to her family.

Harrowing: Giuffre seen with a photo of herself as a teen, when she alleged she was abused by Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew, among others

She had been a leading voice for victims in the Epstein case and became known for her tireless advocacy on behalf of herself and other alleged victims of the millionaire's sex crimes.

Born in California in 1983, her life was shattered as a grade-schooler when she was sexually abused by a man her family knew.

She spent time as a runaway, was shuffled through foster homes and lived on the streets at just 14. She was first trafficked by Miami sex trafficker Ron Eppinger.

Eventually, Giuffre got free of Eppinger and reunited with her father Sky, according to The Miami Herald.

At 16, her father was working in maintenance at Mar-a-Lago resort, the private club owned by Trump, and got her a job as a locker room attendant.

It was there she said she met Maxwell, who offered her the opportunity to work as a massage therapist for Epstein.

She told the BBC: 'They seemed like nice people so I trusted them, and I told them I'd had a really hard time in my life up until then - I'd been a runaway, I'd been sexually abused, physically abused.

'That was the worst thing I could have told them because now they knew how vulnerable I was.'

Epstein and Maxwell groomed her to sexually service both of them as well as other clients, she said in an interview and a sworn affidavit.

She claimed in 2011 that she was sex trafficked to Prince Andrew on three occasions by Epstein and Maxwell, the first time being when she was 17.

She said: 'It started with one and it trickled into two and so on and before you know it, I'm being lent out to politicians and academics and royalty.'

The Duke Of York has consistently and vehemently denied her claims, as has convicted sex offender Maxwell, whom Giuffre claims acted on Epstein's behalf. Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019.

President Trump promised during his campaign to release the 'Epstein Files', vowing that his White House was committed to 'transparency' as the president signed an executive order in January to declassify various documents.

But in February, the 'first phase' of the release shared little new information about the case. The White House said earlier this month that there is 'no specific timeline' to release the rest of the files.
Appalling footage has been released of a New York highway superintendent allegedly opening fire on a food delivery driver, striking the man in the back as he attempted to drive away after becoming lost and asking for directions.

John J Reilly III, 48, an elected official for the Town of Chester, is at the center of a criminal investigation into what law enforcement and town officials are calling a senseless act of violence.

A young man had been doing his best to deliver food for DoorDash in a town he barely knew when he pulled into a rural driveway to ask for help.

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Shock attack: New York highway superintendent John J Reilly III was caught on camera opening fire on a lost food delivery driver in Chester

Minutes later, he was bleeding from wounds after being shot as he was attempting to drive out of Reilly's drive.

It was around 9:50pm on Friday May 2 when the 24-year-old delivery driver who had recently moved to Middletown found himself lost on the dark, winding backroads of Chester, roughly 60 miles north of New York City.

After his phone battery had died leaving him without any GPS, the man decided to knock on the door of a nearby house to ask for help.

According to New York State Police, the driver eventually reached Reilly's home.

What happened next was captured on doorbell camera footage and is now part of a police investigation. One town official described it as 'disturbing to watch.'

Innocent question: The DoorDash driver, 24, knocked on Reilly's door to ask for directions after his phone battery had died

Reilly came to the door armed and could be heard on the footage shouting at the driver to leave.

The delivery worker turned to comply and returned to his Toyota Corolla that was parked in the driveway.

The video sees Reilly firing a warning shot at the driver while yelling 'Go!' before letting loose at least two more rounds, one of which tore through the victim's car and into his body.

'He just started shooting at him,' a family member told reporters. 'He [the victim] thought his life was over.'

Arrested: Reilly, an elected official for the Town of Chester, is under police investigation

Shot while escaping: Reilly allegedly opened fire on the driver as he drove away in his vehicle

Incredibly, the wounded man managed to drive himself home, where he collapsed and was rushed to Garnet Health Medical Center.

He underwent emergency surgery and is now expected to require a second operation. Authorities say the injuries are non-fatal but potentially life-altering.

Brandon Holdridge, the Chester Town Supervisor, initially issued a measured statement but after seeing the footage, his tone shifted dramatically.

'I can't imagine what was going through minds in that scenario,' he said to ABC7. 'It's really just shock and disbelief.

'It's unfortunate that he was lost and his phone apparently was on one per cent or something. I feel terrible for him. I hope that he makes a full and healthy recovery.'

Statement: Brandon Holdridge, the Chester Town Supervisor, said the incident was shocking

Charged: Reilly faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree assault

Despite the graphic nature of the incident, Reilly was released from jail after posting $250,000 bail.

He faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm.

The victim's family is calling for Reilly's immediate removal from office, but as Holdridge confirmed, Reilly is an elected official, and under New York state law, he cannot be removed unless he resigns.

Meanwhile, DoorDash, the company the victim worked for, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the shooting.

'We're devastated by this senseless act of violence. No one should ever fear for their safety just for trying to make deliveries in their neighborhood. We're wishing the Dasher a full and speedy recovery.'

Reilly's background also adds a disturbing layer to the case. Not only is he a town official, he is also a federally licensed firearms dealer, a person authorized under federal law to sell weapons.

Police response: State Police Captain Joseph Kolek said the driver was only doing his job

That status has intensified scrutiny over whether someone in such a position should have opened fire under such circumstances.

'There's nothing to indicate the victim had any nefarious intentions,' said State Police Capt Joseph Kolek. 'He's just out there doing his job, trying to make a food delivery.'

The Chester Police Department has recused itself from the case due to Reilly's political role, and the New York State Police and ATF are now handling the investigation.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office confirmed that a grand jury is considering whether to indict Reilly.

A preliminary hearing in Chester Town Court is scheduled for Friday.
A Ukrainian OnlyFans model who was found seriously injured on the side of a road in Dubai is now feared to have been 'tortured by Russians', after friends feared she had been 'sold into sex slavery.'

Maria Kovalchuk, 20, went into a coma and suffered horrific injuries including a broken spine and limbs after she was discovered on a roadside on March 19 after having 'fallen from a height'.

The adult content creator was expected to attend a party but instead mysteriously vanished.

New story: A Ukrainian OnlyFans model who was found seriously injured in Dubai is now feared to have been 'tortured by Russians'

Now a source close to the Ukrainian model has insisted that she was abused by unidentified Russians in the United Arab Emirates before being found.

The source also denied multiple reports that Kovalchuk had left Dubai and was recovering in Ukraine.

The source said: 'We are in Dubai, and it was Russian citizens who tortured Maria.'

Shocking state: Kovalchuk was found with a broken spine and other broken limbs on the side of a road

Mixed reports: The new story comes after speculation that UAE citizens were involved in Kovalchuk's ordeal

The source continued: 'UAE citizens have nothing to do with it. That's all I can say for now.'

They 'hoped' local police were investigating the 'Russians' who 'tortured' her, and also condemned 'false' reporting surrounding the case.

The new account of events comes after multiple Ukrainian and Russian outlets said Maria had been abused after attending a party in Dubai.

Ukrainian news outlet 24TV said another model who had 'managed to escape from the fateful party' claimed it was a 'trap'.

The local outlet reported: 'Before the party and the trip to the villa, women were forced to sign a contract, according to the terms of which they had to simply accompany wealthy men.

'However, in reality, women were raped, beaten and mistreated.'

The source - named as Ksenia - said: 'Loud screams were constantly heard from closed rooms.'

Previous accounts: Multiple Ukrainian and Russian reports said Kovalchuk's had been abused after attending a party in Dubai

OnlyFans model, Dubai-based Alyona Omovich told Ukrainian outlet Obozrevatel: 'You can tell from her appearance that she was involved in something horrific. And that horror, apparently, is what led to her being so badly broken.'

She revealed a circuit of degrading 'elite parties' where foreign models and influencers are 'promised large sums - tens of thousands of dollars - in exchange for actions that border on violence, humiliation, and even physical mutilation'.

Maria is said to be 'getting better' but is still receiving treatment following her horrific ordeal.
Fed up of overcrowded holiday hotspots?

You might be in need of a destination dupe.

As some of the world's top destinations become ever more crowded and pricier, many people are seeking out alternatives.

Whether you want to escape the crowds in Barcelona or find somewhere even more remote than Iceland, find out where the experts recommend you travel instead...

Swap Iceland for the Faroe Islands

 Slide me  If you're looking for something 'more remote, dramatic and untouched,' the experts at Travel Counsellors recommend switching Iceland (left) for the Faroe Islands (right)

Iceland's tourism industry has surged over the last few years and the country even reinstated its tourist tax in 2024.

But there's an easy alternative to the Land of Fire and Ice.

If you're looking for something 'more remote, dramatic and untouched,' the experts at Travel Counsellors recommend the Faroe Islands as the 'perfect' dupe.

They say: 'The Faroe Islands remain wild and uncrowded, offering true solitude and a chance to experience nature in near-total isolation with sheer sea cliffs, emerald-green mountains and fjords that plunge straight into the Atlantic.'

Switch Barcelona for Girona

 Slide me  If you're looking for something less crowded, Skyscanner recommends switching Barcelona (left) for nearby Girona (right) instead

Barcelona is Spain's most visited city and recent protests have put its overtourism issues under the microscope.

If you're looking for something less crowded, Skyscanner recommends heading to nearby Girona instead.

The travel experts say: 'If a city is defined by its landmarks, green spaces, museums, cultural offerings and food experiences, then Spain's northeastern city of Girona has it in spades.'

'It's considerably cheaper and less crowded than Barcelona, which means you can splurge on lunch and dinner.'

Ditch Provence for Transylvania

 Slide me  If you're on the hunt for something more 'tranquil' and less crowded than Provence (left), Transylvania (right) could be a good alternative

With its spectacular landscapes and thriving wine industry, it's not hard to see why France's Provence is a leading holiday destination.

But if you're on the hunt for something more 'tranquil' and less crowded, Transylvania could be a good alternative, according to the experts at the Travel Counsellors.

The destinations 'share many common features' such as 'rolling hills, medieval villages and stunning countryside', say the experts.

They add: 'Transylvania feels much wilder, with the Carpathian Mountains offering a dramatic backdrop. [It] can be enjoyed at a fraction of the price of Provence with its medieval castles, farm-to-table meals and local wines, just to name a few.'

Scrap the Maldives for Fuerteventura

 Slide me  The Maldives (left) are beautiful but holidaymakers looking for a cheaper option could head to Fuerteventura (right), in Spain's cheerful Canary Islands instead

The Maldives are many people's dream honeymoon destination but the islands' pristine beaches don't tend to come cheap.

However, holidaymakers looking for a cheaper option could head to Fuerteventura, in Spain's cheerful Canary Islands instead.

The beautiful island has some spectacular beaches which have earned it the nickname 'Europe's Maldives'.

Britons can also pick up return flights to Fuerteventura for under 100 making it a great bargain choice.

Leave Machu Picchu for Ciudad Perdida

 Slide me  Machu Picchu (left) is much more crowded than Colombia's Ciudad Perdida (right)

Peru's Machu Picchu is considered one of the world's greatest ancient wonders but that means it tends to be extremely crowded.

The team at Travel Counsellors say: 'Ciudad Perdida in Colombia attracts far fewer crowds than Machu Picchu in Peru because of its relative inaccessibility - it can only be reached by a trek through the jungle, which takes several days.

'However, this makes it one of the last truly remote archaeological sites in the world.

'In addition, Ciudad Perdida is much older than Machu Picchu, having been built around 800AD, at least 600 years earlier.'
Earlier this year, it was revealed Trentino is offering up to 100,000 to those who choose to relocate to the Italian region where the Dolomites meet the Alps.

The grant came as part of an effort to repopulate and renovate more than 30 towns in Italy on the brink of extinction. Some such towns are home to more abandoned than inhabited properties.

In an effort to incentivise the purchase of abandoned or run-down houses, Trentino allocated more than 10million over the next two years towards the project.

And now, in an upcoming National Geographic series, Tucci in Italy, Stanley Tucci explores the countrys northernmost region, South Tyrol  made up of Trentino and Alto-Adige.

As the wealthiest region in Italy per capita, South Tyrol boasts one of the most efficient rail services in the entire country, and Stanley makes his way around the region by train for that reason.

While looking out of the window, he says: Its so nice travelling by train.

Theres just vineyard after vineyard, and very good wine, I might add.

The number of immigrants to Italy has tripled over the last two decades, and Stanley says South Tyrols position means theres a constant flow of new arrivals, bringing their culture and cuisine.

In an upcoming National Geographic series, Tucci in Italy, Stanley Tucci explores the countrys northernmost region, South Tyrol  made up of Trentino and Alto-Adige

Stanley visits a mountain hut, near the snowy ski slopes of Alpe di Sius

The number of immigrants to Italy has tripled over the last two decades, and Stanley says South Tyrols position means theres a constant flow of new arrivals, bringing their culture and cuisine. Above, he fly fishes in a glacial river with locals

On his trip, he samples a wide array of foods, including an unexpectedly delicious hay soup and pine needle pesto.

Hes also served gnocchi and dumplings by Michelin-starred chef Egon Heiss at Castel Fragsburg in Merano.

The spa-filled leisure capital of the region, Merano is described by Stanley as where Austrian and Italian cultures collide.

He adds: The alpine peaks can be comfortably admired from the warm and sunny terraces, and this makes Merano an oasis from which to enjoy the regions complex fare.

Meanwhile, in the capital of South Tyrol, Bolzano  which has long been a stopping point for outsiders crossing over the Dolomites  Stanley finds a local food market, where he tries out a wurst.

Sitting down to eat it, he says: Its so good with that perfect mustard. Its not spicy but has all the peppery flavour of the smoked wurst.

I love that you can get all the amazing Italian produce, as well as Austrian bread and sausage. Its amazing. A great mix of two different kitchens.

Those thinking of relocating to Trentino could be offered a grant consisting of around 80,000 towards renovation and a further 20,000 to help with the purchase of the property.

The spa-filled leisure capital of the region, Merano (pictured) is described by Stanley as where Austrian and Italian cultures collide. He adds: The alpine peaks can be comfortably admired from the warm and sunny terraces'

On his trip, Stanley samples a wide array of foods, including an unexpectedly delicious hay soup (right) and pine needle pesto

Anyone who chooses to sign up for a grant must commit to living in Trentino for a decade or, failing that, agree to rent the property out for the same amount of time.

Those who receive a grant and fail to adhere to such rules could be forced to return their funding.

President of Trento, the capital of Trentino, said: 'The goal is to revitalise local communities and promote territorial cohesion.'

Tucci in Italy is airing weekly on National Geographic from 21st May at 8pm, with all episodes available to stream from 19th May on Disney+.
A popular seaside town in England has been dubbed the 'Caribbean of the UK' during warmer months thanks to its palm trees, sunny weather and turquoise-blue sea.

While not known for coral reefs and tropical temperatures like many islands in the Caribbean, Eastbourne offers a fairly similar experience, according to visitors and locals.

The East Sussex tourist spot is known for its beautiful coastline, stunning chalk cliffs and its vibrant seaside attractions, including the Sovereign Harbour Marina and Eastbourne Pier.

The town has also been the backdrop for iconic films TV and shows, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Harry Potter, James Bond's The Living Daylights and Poirot.

But Eastbourne's appeal extends beyond its reputation as a traditional seaside hotspot, as people have compared it to an exotic destination you'd most likely find on the other side of the globe.

Wedged between the South Downs and the sea, Eastbourne has its own microclimate, giving it fairly consistent dry and warm weather throughout summer.

The resort town sees 1,892 hours of sunshine each year, which is almost 500 hours more than the UK average, according to Sunsave Energy.

It also holds the UK record for highest recorded amount of sunshine in a month, reaching 383.9 hours in July 1911.

While not known for coral reefs and tropical temperatures like many islands in the Caribbean, Eastbourne (pictured) offers a fairly similar experience, according to visitors and locals

Eastbourne's appeal extends beyond its reputation as a traditional seaside hotspot, as people have compared it to an exotic destination you'd most likely find on the other side of the globe

Wedged between the South Downs and the sea, Eastbourne has its own microclimate, giving it fairly consistent dry and warm weather throughout summer

While not technically turquoise like a tropical sea, Eastbourne's waters offer a vibrant blue-green hue in the summer, especially during clear, sunny days.

Along with vibrant flora and palm trees peppering its seafronts, the coastline's mix of shingle and sandy beaches resembles a picture-postcard destination from the other side of the world on the right days.

Both residents and visitors have taken to X in recent years to show their appreciation for Eastbourne's weather and landscape while drawing comparisons to the Caribbean, with many uploading stunning photos of their days out.

One person, while posting a photo of an area adorned with tropical trees, wrote: 'France, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Australia, United States Canada, Central America, Mexico, Middle East? NO. Eastbourne? YES.'

In a second post, which contained a photo of the sea, one person tweeted: 'Cannot believe how beautiful our coast is in England. Out paddle boarding yesterday it felt like the Caribbean.'

Another posted: 'Sunset over Eastbourne and the South Downs - pffft who needs the Caribbean?'

Finally, one person observed: 'When Eastbourne looks and feels like the Caribbean...'

It comes as British expats are flocking to a seldom-visited Mediterranean country dubbed the 'Maldives of Europe' with living costs a fraction of the UK and 300 sunny days a year.

Along with vibrant flora and palm trees peppering its seafronts, the coastline's mix of shingle and sandy beaches resembles a picture postcard destination from the other side of the world

Both residents and visitors have taken to X in recent years to draw show their appreciation for Eastbourne's weather and landscape while drawing comparisons to the Caribbean

Bargain-loving Brits say they are choosing to live in Albania, a formerly communist state overlooking the Adriatic and Ionian seas, describing it as 'prettier than Greece and much cheaper.'

Despite allegations from Albanian migrants that the country is unsafe when trying to claim asylum in the UK after crossing the English Channel, MailOnline has discovered many Brits are now heading the other way.

The country has been growing in popularity as a holiday destination, with over 100,000 Brits now travelling there each year. But more and more are deciding to settle.

As one of the cheapest countries in Europe, Albania particularly appeals to retirees because of its significantly lower cost of living, peaceful atmosphere, stunning scenery and friendly locals who welcome overseas visitors rather than opposing them as increasingly happens in popular parts of Western Europe.
Lorraine Kelly issued an update on her health and planned return to work as she shared a beaming photograph on Sunday with her baby granddaughter after a surgery scare.

The veteran ITV presenter, 65, underwent preventative keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries earlier this month.

She has since taken time away from her name-sake daytime show to recover.

Guest hosts have stepped in to cover for Lorraine, including Andi Peters, Sian Welby and Ranvir Singh, who had emergency surgery recently too. While today's show (May 13) was presented by Christine Lampard.

In a social media update, Lorraine confirmed when she may be back on screens.

She posted a photo of herself and granddaughter Billie in bed with the caption: 'Thanks so much for all your get well wishes. Billie providing the best medicine ever with lots of cuddles for her granny.

Lorraine Kelly issued an update on her health and planned return to work as she shared a beaming photograph on Monday with her baby granddaughter after a surgery scare

Guest hosts have stepped in to cover for Lorraine, including Andi Peters, Sian Welby and Ranvir Singh, who had emergency surgery recently too

The veteran ITV presenter, pictured, underwent preventative keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries earlier this month

Guest hosts have stepped in to cover for Lorraine, including Andi Peters , Sian Welby and Ranvir Singh , who had emergency surgery recently too. While today's show (May 13) was presented by Christine Lampard, left

'Hopefully back to work on Monday. Ive missed you.'

Fans rushed to comment well-wishes to the television host and penned: 'I love this picture  babies are the best medicine ever  take care my friend.';

'Wishing you a speedy recovery.';

'Oh, she's adorable and her mammy's double. Get well soon.';

'So happy that you feel well Lorraine. Billie is getting so big. Beautiful girls together.';

'Beautiful photo, hope you are feeling better xx.';

'Get well soon Loraine. I miss seeing you in the mornings.'

Actress and comedian Dawn French commented: 'Get better L!!! Xx.'

While TV host Vanessa Feltz gushed: 'The best medicine!'

However, Lorraine was ultimately unable to host her show on Monday, with Kate Garraway stepping in.

Lorraine took to X, formerly Twitter, on earlier this month to issue an update on her health after undergoing surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries

She also previously shared on social media how she was back home and recuperating as she heaped praise on the hospital staff and her surgeon for being so 'kind' and 'caring'

Lorraine previously shared a video from her hospital bed on May 3, revealing that she was having the operation.

Reassuring fans, she explained she was being well looked after and that the surgery was for 'purely preventative' reasons, after she'd been unwell for some time.

She then confirmed on May 4 that she was back home and recuperating as she heaped praise on the hospital staff and her surgeon for being so 'kind' and 'caring'.

The host shared a snap of herself surrounded by healthcare professionals, sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a T-shirt paying tribute to her late friend Dame Deborah James.

While last week, Lorraine revealed some positive news to her social media followers and even gave an exciting update on her popular programme.

She said: 'Thanx for all your lovely messages I'm recovering well. So proud of my top team - punching above our weight and bucking the trend.

'Just heard our ratings are up - we had the highest March for four years. Thanks @vixkennedy and the gang! Always know how to cheer me up [love heart]'

The procedure to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes is known as an laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

It is typically done preventively to remove the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

According to the NHS, it is suggested you stay off work for two to four weeks after having the surgery, meaning Lorraine may have to take a break from presenting her daytime show.
Only Connect fans raged 'I'm out' and some even 'switched channels' just minutes into the BBC quiz show.

First broadcast in 2008, Only Connect consists of a tournament-type format in which teams compete by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.

An audio-based special episode aired on Monday, May 12, and included a twist in the usual format.

Host Victoria Coren, 52, introduced the theme which involved the clues being audio clips - a style that has been used before on the show.

'Hello and welcome to an Only Connect special where tonight's theme is sound,' Victoria said.

'I don't mean that in a Mancunian sense of boss, mint, sorted like, we'll make that judgement at the end.

Only Connect fans raged 'I'm out' and some even 'switched channels' just minutes into the BBC quiz show. Pictured: Host Victoria Coren Mitchell

An audio-based special episode aired on Monday, May 12, and included a twist in the usual format

'No I mean it's about all things audio and once again we'll be hearing from some favourite teams of past eras.'

However, some viewers disliked the format and took to social media to share their disappointment.

Many posted on X: 'I love Only Connect, but as soon as the music round starts Im out. Its a quiz for thinkers, not karaoke night #onlyconnect.';

'Love the vowel round normally and that sucked tonight bring back the usual format #onlyconnect.';

'Let's never do that again, please #onlyconnect.';

'This isn't a good watch at all. #onlyconnect.';

'Its probably just me, but not warming to this sounds special, at all. #onlyconnect.';

'#OnlyConnect Ive abandoned this tonight as so many audio and music questions are no good for hard of hearing. Hope this isnt continuing every week.'

According to the Express, another viewer posted: 'This awful music format should never happen again. Switching channels.'

Host Victoria Coren, 52, introduced the theme which involved the clues being audio clips - a style that has been used before on the show

However, some viewers disliked the format and took to social media to share their disappointment

While someone else found the audio aspect difficult and said: '#onlyconnect wow didnt realise how much I rely on my vision!

'I usually fly through the missing vowels round but finding just listening to the clues incredibly hard!'

The audio episode comes after it was revealed BBC star Victoria is set to feature onto something new.

It has been confirmed that Victoria will be a guest host of Have I Got News For You.

She will appear on the popular show on Friday, May 23.

Alongside Victoria will be guest panellists comedian Chris McCausland and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter.

Janet is a regular on ITV's panel show Loose Women and has been on Have I Got News For You 17 times before.

Victoria has hosted Only Connect since 2008 and is known for her sharp wit.

The audio episode comes after it was revealed BBC star Victoria is set to feature onto something new. It has been confirmed that Victoria will be a guest host of Have I Got News For You

Alongside Victoria will be guest panellists comedian Chris McCausland and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter, pictured

The BBC show has so far seen over 500 episodes spanning across 20 series.

Naturally, there have been countless questions on the show that have left both fans and contestants alike baffled.

And the show was recently named one of the most difficult quiz programmes on television, in a survey part of Spin Genie AR's Treasure Quest launch.

Only Connect can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
Coronation Street and Emmerdale are set to make soap history with a landmark crossover episode.

Fans of the ITV soaps will be over the moon to know that characters from Weatherfield and The Dales will be teaming up for a dramatic stunt that will change their lives forever.

The crossover, which will be a one-off special hour-long episode, is to mark the channel's new power hour of soap - which starts in January next year.

So Coronation Street and Emmerdale joining forces is set to launch the new ITV1 and STV scheduling pattern.

ITV's press release explains: 'The distinctive worlds of Emmerdale and Coronation Street will merge for one night only in a mash-up of our two favourite communities.

'The producers, scriptwriters and production teams have conceived an ingenious way of linking the two universes, but with characters then returning to the soaps they are renowned for inhabiting in Manchester and Yorkshire.

Coronation Street and Emmerdale make soap history with landmark crossover episode - as characters from Weatherfield and The Dales team up for dramatic stunt that will change their lives forever

Fans of the ITV soaps will be over the moon to know that characters from Weathfield and The Dales will be teaming up for a dramatic stunt that will change their lives forever

'The episode will be self-contained, but the consequences of the high-stakes drama will have repercussions for both communities and see them linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps.'

That isn't the only exciting thing that is due to happen.

It has also been revealed that producers are allowing the audience to pick a character from each soap to have some form of interaction.

Viewers will have to wait until next month to find out extra information about the exciting crossover.

It will be posted on the show's official Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts.

After the epic crossover, the lives of the Weatherfield and Dales residents will resume as normal.

Viewers will expect to see Emmerdale at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm on ITV1 and STV.

Those who are keen to see the shenanigans before it goes live with the rest of the nation can watch the instalments on ITVX and STV Player from 7am that day.

It has also been revealed that producers are allowing the audience to pick a character from each soap to have some form of interaction

Emmerdale hit our screens in 1972.

The much-loved soap was created by Kevin Laffan and has had over 10,000 episodes air.

The current executive producer is Iain MacLeod.

While Coronation Street first aired in 1960.

The programme was created by Tony Warren.

And Kate Brooks is producer.

It comes after their rival EastEnders bagged a bittersweet win as Best Soap at the BAFTA TV Awards after ITV rival Emmerdale was forced to withdraw from nominations.

The BBC drama beat Casualty and Coronation Street and scooped the prize at the prestigious ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday.

Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw accepted the award and thanked fans for their support over the last 40 years, while cast members stood proudly beside him on stage.

However, the win comes after ITV competitor Emmerdale withdrew its entry for the award back in March after one of the scriptwriters was found guilty of domestic abuse.

Bosses at the channel pulled out of the nomination after writer Martin Fustes pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend.

According to The Sun, ITV felt it was inappropriate to be included after the recent developments, as the soap has recently featured and won acclaim for a storyline about domestic abuse.

A spokesperson for ITV and Emmerdale told MailOnline at the time: 'ITV and Emmerdale have taken the decision to withdraw from the Soap category from this years awards.

'This is in consideration of recent news involving a member of the scriptwriting team.'
Netflix has added a 'criminally underrated' movie starring Brad Pitt with a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score to the streaming service.

Ad Astra, written by James Gray and Ethan Ross, has been hailed as a 'genuine masterwork'.

The science fiction film, which is distributed by 20th Century Fox, hit our screens in 2019.

Now, six years on, fans can rewatch it on Netflix.

The movie's Rotten Tomatoes synopsis reads: 'Thirty years ago, Clifford McBride led a voyage into deep space, but the ship and crew were never heard from again.

'Now his son - a fearless astronaut - must embark on a daring mission to Neptune to uncover the truth about his missing father and a mysterious power surge that threatens the stability of the universe.'

Netflix adds 'criminally underrated' movie Ad Astra starring Brad Pitt with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score that's been hailed as a 'genuine masterwork'

The actor plays protagonist Roy Richard McBride in the popular film

Ad Astra also boasts a star-studded cast which includes Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland.

It has received pretty impressive reviews online, with various fans rushing to review site Rotten Tomatoes to share their thoughts.

Ad Astra managed to bag a whopping 83 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Others shared their positive thoughts, with one saying: '[Director James] Gray's Ad Astra, as a reflection upon loss and masculinity is as illuminating as the sun, personal in its careful inspection, and a repressed masterpiece.'

'This is an EXCELLENT film! It is one to watch multiple times to keep picking up little details. It may not appeal to folks with low attention spans who are afraid to think or commit to a film. For those who want to take a journey for a night, it's a 5/5!'

'Words can't describe how much I love this movie. I really wish it caught a better audience because most of the people writing reviews either didn't watch it or didn't experience it for the movie I see it as.

'Also a lot of people were really mad at the physics in this movie which I think is really, really stupid.'

'Requires focus and patience as it powers up but it is well worth the ride once it flies. Psychologically compelling, visually astute and thought-provoking.

Many have rushed to review site Rotten Tomatoes to share their positive reviews on the 2019 film

'For one, it captures enough of the emotional impact of extended space travel as to convince even those who love the idea of doing so to reconsider.'

'Wow... Astonishing! Probably one of the best films I've ever seen.

'Fantastic photography, excellent acting by Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones, and a captivating script.

'I felt immersed, exploring the space while the film masterfully guided me.'

'A great gripping movie, a fresh story, Brad Pitt solo performance definitely carried this space adventure.'

Hollywood legend Brad took on the role of Roy Richard McBride.

Tommy Lee Jones plays Roy's dad H. Clifford McBride, while Ruth Negga plays Helen Lantos.

Liv Tyler has taken on the role of Roy's wife Eve McBride, Donald Sutherland plays Colonel Thomas Pruitt and John Ortiz plays Lieutenant General Rivas.

It comes after Netflix fans raved over a gangster film with the 'greatest fight scenes ever' and a whopping 92 per cent Rotten Tomatoes scare.

They ended up hailing it as a 'no-holds-barred bloodbath'.

The Night Comes For Us, made and released by the streamer in 2018, follows a gangster named Ito, whose job as a crime enforcer is to use violence to ensure the syndicate's rules are followed and its business is protected.

It stars Indonesian actors Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais respectively as the hero and a gangster who hunts him down, with the latter known in Hollywood for co-starring with Mark Wahlberg in 2018 espionage action film Mile 22.
Selena Gomez's mental health startup Wondermind is reportedly in financial crisis, having reportedly missed multiple payments to associates over the past seven weeks.

Despite the 32-year-old A-lister's reported billionaire status, Wondermind associates such as 'employees, vendors and freelancers' have not been paid since late March, Forbes reported Saturday.

Selena's mother and Wondermind CEO Mandy Teefey, 49, told workers this past Thursday that she has taken loans out against her personal home to keep the startup funded amid tough times, sources told the financial publication.

Teefey, who has more than 251,000 followers on her Instagram page, was able to make good on partial monies owed with the cash infusion from the home loan, according to the outlet.

But a source told People Sunday that Teefey didn't actually take out a loan to make payroll, adding that Gomez herself 'immediately invested more money' into the company upon learning it was having money troubles.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Teefey, Wondermind and reps for Gomez for further comment on the Forbes report.

Selena Gomez's mental health startup Wondermind is reportedly in financial crisis, having reportedly missed multiple payments to associates over the past seven weeks. The superstar entertainer was in style last week filming Only Murders in the Building in NYC

Selena launched the startup with her mother Mandy Teefey, 49, in 2021

Gomez - who heads the successful Rare Beauty makeup brand - 'is not involved in the day-to-day operations' at Wondermind.

Gomez 'has invested millions of dollars over the years into [the company] to support her mother and their shared passion for mental health,' the source told People.

Still, Forbes reported that Wondermind owes freelancers and vendors a reported 'tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars.'

The Dallas-born businesswoman, who had the pop superstar when she was 16 with ex-husband Ricardo Joel Gomez, runs the company, which has around 15 employees, out of Los Angeles.

A rep for the organization acknowledged to Forbes Saturday that the company had been dealing with 'growing pains,' the situation was subsequently 'rectified,' and changes have been made to ensure business will go on as usual - and that everyone gets paid on time moving forward.

'In the coming days we will be transitioning into a new chapter for Wondermind,' said the rep, 'and continuing our important work in mental fitness that helps hundreds of thousands of people.'

In a statement titled 'Our Commitment To Mental Fitness' on its page, the company stresses people take daily measures to make sure they are staying mentally healthy and sharp.

'Mental fitness means working on your mental health - whatever that looks like to you,' the company said. 'It takes more than an inspirational quote to really change your mindset.

The Dallas-born businesswoman, who had the pop superstar when she was 16 with ex-husband Ricardo Joel Gomez, runs the company, which has around 15 employees, out of LA

Gomez, Teefey and entrepreneur Daniella Pierson touted the startup in late 2021

Selena and her mother were pictured in December of 2010 in Westwood, California

'But showing up for your mental health shouldnt be expensive, inaccessible, or time consuming.

The statement continued: 'Even if youre lucky enough to see a therapist, making time for your mind in between sessions can go a long way. Thats what were here forto give you easy, doable ways to put your mental fitness first every day.'

Wondermind subsequently said it provides a platform for practice; the necessary tools; and platforms for important conversations.

Despite the business setback, Gomez appears to be thriving in her personal life as she and her music producer fiance Benny Blanco have been dating for almost a year-and-a-half.

They were initially reported together in December of 2023, and got engaged one year later.

In March, the Only Murders In The Building star released her album I Said I Love You First, which she worked on with her beau, saying in a Hot Ones appearance that there was a natural chemistry in collaborating with Blanco.

Blanco, a 37-year-old native of Reston, Virginia, has been involved in the industry for more than 15 years as a musical artist, producer, and songwriter.

He's collaborated with a bevy of big name artists such as Gomez's ex Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Lizzo, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, SZA, Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban, according to Harper's Bazaar.

Despite the business setback, Gomez appears to be thriving in her personal life asshe and her music producer beau Benny Blanco have been dating for almost a year-and-a-half. They were initially reported together in December of 2023. Pictured in March on First We Feast

Blanco established himself earlier in his career working for Dr. Luke's Kasz Money Productions. He has been a songwriter on a number of hit tracks, including Rihanna's Diamonds, Maroon 5's Moves Like Jagger, Spears' Circus, and Ke$ha's TiK ToK, among others.

As a solo artist, he released his first album Friends Keep Secrets in December of 2018. The record, which topped out at 41 on the Billboard 200, included contributions from Bieber, Halsey, Calvin Harris, Omar Apollo and Gracie Abrams.

He has had six singles hit the Billboard Hot 100 over the last five years, including 2018's Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid); as well as 2019's Roses (with the late Juice WRLD and Brendon Urie) and I Can't Get Enough (with Gomez, Tainy and J Balvin).

In recent years, he's charted with the 2020 tracks Lonely (with Bieber) and Real S*** (with Juice WRLD) and 2022's Bad Decisions (with BTS & Snoop Dogg).

Blanco was past rumored to be in a romance with Elsie Hewitt, a 27-year-old model-actress from London. Gomez has past been in high-profile relationships with stars such as Bieber, The Weeknd, Zedd, Nick Jonas, and Taylor Lautner.
She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan.

Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain.

Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years.

After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans.

Katie, now 46, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017.

Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, MailOnline takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price.

The many faces of Katie Price: MailOnline takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts

1995 - Barefaced beauty

At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling.

At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan.

Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age.

1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling

1998 - First boob job

Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C.

The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure.

Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters.

1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C

1999 - Second and third boob job

Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21.

Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to a F cup.

Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones.

1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21

2001 - Lip fillers

At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers.

While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene.

Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions.

2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers

2004 - Botox

Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.'

At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.'

2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines

2006 - Fourth boob job

Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup.

The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle.

She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox.

2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup

2007 - First nose job and veneers

At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers.

'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.'

Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!'

2007:Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers

2008 - Fifth boob job

Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup.

The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job 10 years prior.

Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range.

2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup

2011 - Sixth boob job

Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup.

Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers.

The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'.

2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup

2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job

Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh.

Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.'

Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup.

2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast

2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup

Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust.

The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis.

Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration.

2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup

2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job

Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift.

The procedure is designed to lift a sagging cheeks and blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features.

However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml.

2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word

2018 - Second face lift

Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it.

She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had

He agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.'

2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40

2019 - Third face lift, boob job first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job

Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation.

The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck.

Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup.

2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck

2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers

Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel.

The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure.

Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.'

2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job

2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job

Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum.

The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal.

The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash.

2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts

2022 - Another brow and eye lift

Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage.

Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.'

It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work.

Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years!

'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow.

'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched.

'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face.

'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.'

2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to to travel to Turkey for more surgery

2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job

It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th.

The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium.

She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size.

Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more.

'I would go bigger as well  and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look.

'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.'

2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th

2024 - MORE facial surgery

In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing.

The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure.

A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court.
Pip Edwards made an appearance at the Carla Zampatti runway show at Australian Fashion Week on Monday.

And the fashion designer had a brush with royalty at the fashion event as she sat near Queen Mary's nephew Count Nikolai of Denmark.

The 45-year-old was seen chatting to her best mate Jackie O Henderson while sitting just two seats away from Nikolai, 25.

Nikolai, who has launched a modelling career since losing his title in 2022, sat front row at the Carla Zampatti show on day one of the event.

Alongside him was his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup, with the pair looking happy together after fielding split rumours late last year.

Pip flaunted her fit figure in a backless halter top that showed off lots of skin as she chatted to guests while seated in the front row.

Pip Edwards sat next to Count Nikolai of Monpezat (far right) at the Carla Zampatti runway show at Australian Fashion Week on Monday night

The 45-year-old was seen chatting to her best mate Jackie O Henderson while sitting just two seats away from Nikolai, 25

However, the socialite didn't appear to be impressed by the Married At First Sight stars attending the fashion event.

Pip looked the other way as she walked past Adrian Araouzou and Tony Mojanovski after arriving at the show.

She carried a black and white fur jacket as she rushed past the reality stars.

The designer wore her hair in beachy waves and chose a bronzed makeup palette with a nude lipstick.

Meanwhile, Nikolai looked dapper at the event in a navy blue suit paired with a light blue dress shirt and dark brown tie.

His girlfriend Benedikte stunned in a strapless, black peplum dress in a maxi length, along with camel-toned heels.

The 24-year-old chose a natural, barely there makeup look and wore her caramel locks down in waves.

Earlier, the Danish It-girl had arrived wearing a beige trench coat that perfectly matched her shoes.

However Pip didn't appear to be impressed by the Married At First Sight stars attending the fashion event

Nikolai, who has launched a modelling career since losing his title in 2022, sat front row at the Carla Zampatti alongside his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup

The couple looked relaxed and happy as they sat together watching the show, and exchanged loving looks while posing together before the runway show.

Late last year, the pair were rumoured to have split after Nikolai and Benedikte had not shared to social media any photos of them together for months.

Benedikte, who is the founder of Danish hair beauty company BeneSoie, had posted several glamorous modelling shots to Instagram - and Nikolai had been absent from all of them.

However, it was clear all was well as the genetically blessed couple cuddled up at the hottest event on the Aussie fashion calendar.
Irina Shayk was a picture of covered-up elegance as she arrived at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday in a conservative all-white outfit.

The Russian model, 39, wore a long, white skirt made up of two smaller garments - suggesting the second layer could have been a recent addition in light of the event's ban on risque outfits.

The skirt was accompanied by a white shirt and blouse that featured an additional vest underneath so that even the model's bra was not on show.

She opted for white flat shoes as she made a comfortable entrance, accessorising with a matching Birkin bag.

However, a touch of glamour was added to the look by the model with large, statement diamante earrings.

Irina, known for much more revealing looks, appeared at ease regardless and smiled widely as she greeted fans, even stopping to pose for selfies.

Irina Shayk was a picture of covered-up elegance as she arrived at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday in a conservative all-white outfit

The Russian model, 39, wore a long, white skirt that was made up of two smaller garments - suggesting the second layer could have been a recent addition in light of the event's ban on risque outfits

A touch of glamour was added to the look by the model, who was wearing large, statement diamante earrings

New nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' were implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opened the ceremony.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to the stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The new rules come amid increased controversy caused by naked dresses this year, with Bianca Censori notably causing outrage at the 2025 Grammy Awards by wearing a completely see-through garment.

The shocking outfit was initially hidden by a fur coat, which Bianca removed at the request of her husband Kanye West.

However, it is not just the stars who are expected to cover up at this year's event, so too are attendees.

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

The new rules come amid increased controversy caused by naked dresses this year, with Bianca Censori (pictured here with Kanye West) notably causing outrage at the 2025 Grammy Awards by wearing a completely see-through garment

Good old fashioned decency is expected to cast a tall shadow over the 78th Cannes Film Festival when the annual ceremony gets underway on Tuesday evening, with organisers refusing access to anyone wearing 'naked' dresses (pictured: Natasha Poly on the red carpet at previous Cannes ceremonies)

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry raised eyebrows after baring her cleavage at the Met Gala in New York City on May 5 (pictured)

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.
The Royal Family bowed to political correctness a decade ago and removed a vast cache of big-game hunting exhibits from the so-called Trophy Room at Sandringham.

Now, animal rights campaigners are demanding that a stuffed 8ft Bengal tiger from one of George V's big-game hunts in Asia should be removed from Bristol Museum, returned home and given a respectful burial.

The big cat was shot by King Charles's great-grandfather during his infamous ten-day hunting trip to Nepal in 1911 when he proudly claimed he killed 21 tigers, eight rhinos and a bear, describing the cull afterwards as 'a record'. He added: 'I think it will be hard to beat.'

The tiger was then shipped back from Nepal for the King and stuffed by a taxidermist.

It can be seen crouching hidden in long grass in front of a painted mural by the wildlife artist Stanley Lloyd.

The mural shows a bearded George V in a khaki safari outfit and pith helmet riding an elephant, with his shotgun poised ready to fire.

Above the cabinet is written the legend: 'Shot and presented by His Majesty King George V, 1911.'

Now, animal rights campaigners are demanding that a stuffed 8ft Bengal tiger from one of George V's big-game hunts in Asia should be removed from Bristol Museum, returned home and given a respectful burial

Elisa Allen, from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), says: 'Almost all animals stuffed and mounted were shot for sport or otherwise violently killed, and there are two ways to deal with this shameful past behaviour.

'Bury the dead respectfully, no matter how long it has been [since they died], just as we are returning human remains and artefacts to their countries of origin.'

Failing that, the museum should at the very least 'make sure the plaque describing [the animals] decries their horrific dispatch', she adds.

Dr Mark Jones, of the Born Free Foundation, says: 'Trophy hunting had a devastating impact on the populations of many species.'

Days after Monty Python colleague Sir Michael Palin turned 82, John Cleese mischievously suggests a wager.

The Fawlty Towers star, 85, announces: 'Michael Palin had a birthday. To mark the occasion, I propose a bet: $100 to whoever lives longer. Winner gets it from the other's will.'

Cleese appears to need rather more.

Reflecting on his 15 million divorce from Alyce Faye Eichelberger, he revealed: 'The third wife got two properties, one was in London and one was in New York, and we had to sell the other three.'

Damian's bid to be best dad

Damian Lewis made the Bafta TV awards a family affair by bringing his children along.

The Eton-educated star, 54, was joined on the red carpet at London's Royal Festival Hall by his daughter Manon, 18, and son Gulliver, 17.

Damian Lewis (centre) pictured with his son Gulliver McCrory-Lewis (right) and daughter Manon McCrory-Lewis at the champagne reception ahead of the 2025 BAFTA Awards on May 11

Their actress mother Helen McCrory (pictured) died from breast cancer in 2021, aged 52

Their mother, the Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory, died from breast cancer in 2021, aged 52.

Lewis was nominated for a best supporting actor award for his performance as Henry VIII in the BBC's acclaimed drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light, but was beaten by Ariyon Bakare for Mr Loverman.

Swimwear designer Melissa Odabash will soon mark 25 years in the business, but still suffers from body hang-ups because of working with models.

At the Fragrance Foundation Awards she tells me: 'I did a live casting on Skype with 35 models and it's not so easy.

'They all get their bikinis on in their houses. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I need to go to the gym'.'

How Zara tackled Mike's snoring

Zara Tindall has revealed that she secretly filmed her husband, Mike, while he was asleep to convince him to have surgery on his nose, which he broke at least eight times during his illustrious rugby career.

Zara Tindall has revealed that she secretly filmed her husband, Mike, while he was asleep to convince him to have surgery on his nose, which he broke at least eight times during his illustrious rugby career

'When he was playing, there was no point in doing it,' Zara says at the London Sporting Club lunch at Quaglino's in St James's.

'But when I started to film him at night when he was sleeping and stopping breathing, I was like, 'You see where I am coming from now?' '

King Charles's niece adds: 'I am a really deep sleeper and I normally get to sleep before him. It is fixed now, better than what it was.'

The former England captain said his mother-in-law, Princess Anne, asked him to have surgery before he married Zara in 2011. He finally did so in 2018.

Her first major role was in a television drama opposite her mother, Kate Winslet, but Mia Threapleton insists that she's no 'nepo baby'.

Kate Winslet and her daughter Mia Threapleton pictured arriving at the 2023 BAFTA Awards

'I feel like it's a misconception about me, considering who my mother is, that I grew up going to set or that I would know anything about this world because of her and what she does,' says the 24-year-old actress, whose father is the Oscar winner's first husband, film director Jim Threapleton.

'That is not the case at all. I genuinely can count on not even two hands the amount of times I went to set as a kid. There were never scripts lying around the house.'

Strictly no mention of Dame Arlene Phillips turning 82 next week.

The former Strictly judge tells me: 'My family said, "Do you just want to skip it?" I said, "That sounds like a very good idea." So, I'm skipping my birthday. I've had so many amazing birthdays  I don't need any more.'
Michelle Keegan has revealed that filming has wrapped on Brassic's seventh and final series, as she bid an emotional farewell to the show on Monday.

The actress, 37, has played Erin Croft in the Sky series since 2019, and in an emotional Instagram post, she paid tribute to the 'small and mighty series' for playing such a 'special' part in her life.

Michelle, who briefly returned to work to film her last scenes after giving birth to her daughter Palma in March, shared a gallery of snaps from her time in the series, including plenty of images with the rest of the Hawley gang.

The show, which focused on petty criminal Vinny (played by co-creator Joe Gilgun) and his gang of thieves attempting to get by in the fictional northern town, will broadcast its final series later this year.

She captioned her post: 'Goodbye Erin

'So finally the Brassic journey has come to an end (feels so strange saying that) and what an unbelievable seven years its been. I feel so privileged to have been a small part of such a mighty show.

Michelle Keegan has revealed that filming has wrapped on Brassic's seventh and final series, as she bid an emotional farewell to the show on Monday

The actress has played Erin Croft in the Sky series since 2019, and in an emotional Instagram post, she paid tribute to the 'small and mighty series'

Michelle, who briefly returned to work to film her last scenes after giving birth to her daughter Palma in March, shared a gallery of snaps from her time in the series

'From the moment I read the 1st script I knew this job was going to be special & it definitely was.

'Thank you to everyone who worked on the show over the years for the laughs, friendship and more importantly the memories What a magical seven years we had.'

Last week, as Michelle filmed her final scenes, she and husband Mark Wright brought along their baby daughter to the set to meet the rest of the Brassic cast.

Brassic's sixth series ended on a jaw-dropping, and literal, cliffhanger, with the entire Hawley gang's lives in jeopardy as their bus hung precarious over a ravine.

In January it was confirmed that the upcoming seventh series would be the last, with co-creator and writer Danny Brocklehurst saying: 'When Joe Gilgun and I sat down to create Brassic, we couldn't have imagined, in our wildest dreams, that we would do seven series and gather such a loyal and loving fan base.

'It's been a complete joy to create this eccentric world, but all good things must come to an end, and we want to stop while we are still riding high.

'Maybe they can finally give us that BAFTA.'

Brassic's blend of slaptick comedy and farcical action sequences has cemented it as one of the nation's favourite modern comedies.

Many of Michelle's snaps showed her posing alongside the famous Hawley gang, who have fronted the show for seven series

Michelle's character Erin, and Joe Gilgun's Vinny have been embroiled in a will they/won't they romance that has gripped viewers throughout the show's run

One of the snaps included the wedding between JJ and Sugar, which featured at the end of series six

The show, which focused on petty criminal Vinny and his gang of thieves attempting to get by in the fictional northern town, will broadcast its final series later this year

Brassic's sixth series ended on a jaw-dropping, and literal, cliffhanger, with the entire Hawley gang's lives in jeopardy as their bus hung precarious over a ravine

In January it was confirmed that the upcoming seventh series would be the last

Co-creator Danny Brocklehurst said: 'When Joe Gilgun and I sat down to create Brassic, we couldn't have imagined, in our wildest dreams, that we would do seven series and gather such a loyal and loving fan base'

Brassic's blend of slaptick comedy and farcical action sequences has cemented it as one of the nation's favourite modern comedies

Brassic follows the lives of a group of friends in a fictional town named Hawley, led by Joe's character Vinnie and featuring single mum Erin, played by Michelle

Leading man and producer Joseph Gilgun has been outspoken about ensuring the show is a warm and sympathetic portrayal of working class life and friendship

The show has been airing on Sky since 2019, however the first four series' also debuted on Netflix in August and were a huge success

As Michelle wrapped filming on Brassic's final season, she bid an emotional farewell to the beloved Sky show

A spokesperson for Sky said of the show ending: 'Fans very quickly became attached to this dynamic group of friends, as they found unconventional ways to win at life in northern suburbia.

'We would like to thank Joe Gilgun, Danny Brocklehurst and the whole cast and crew  past and present  for bringing us all a truly iconic series, which weve loved for its special mix of hilarity and heart.'

David Livingstone, Founder of production company Calamity Films, added: 'Somehow, some crazy stories and a bucketful of truth, combined with an astoundingly talented cast, have created the most loyal fanbase you could ever hope for.

'From Joe Gilguns unconventional imagination to Danny Brocklehursts brilliant writing, it's all been a blast. This farewell series is for the fans.'

Leading man and producer Joseph Gilgun has been outspoken about ensuring the show is a warm and sympathetic portrayal of working class life and friendship.

Brassic follows the lives of a group of friends in a fictional town named Hawley, led by Joe's character Vinnie and featuring single mum Erin, played by Michelle.

The show has been airing on Sky since 2019, however the first four series' also debuted on Netflix in August and were a huge success.
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson may be the queen of the kitchen, but she also knows how to unwind.

The British celebrity chef, 65, was seen indulging in some downtime in Sydney on Friday and popped into a local Woolies and a bottle shop to pick up some supplies.

Clad head-to-toe in a stylish black ensemble, the TV star cut a chic figure as she strolled the streets.

Nigella donned a belted black trench coat layered over wide-legged trousers and a fitted turtleneck, pairing the all-black ensemble with crisp white sneakers for a touch of casual flair.

She shielded her eyes with oversized sunglasses and accessoried with a big black leather bag.

Her signature cascading locks were styled in soft curls and she went for a barely-there makeup look.

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson may be the queen of the kitchen, but she also knows how to unwind

The British celebrity chef, 65, was seen indulging in some downtime in Sydney on Friday and popped into a local Woolies and a bottle shop to pick up some supplies

Clad head-to-toe in a stylish black outfit, the TV star cut a chic figure

Nigella donned a belted black trench coat layered over wide-legged trousers and a fitted turtleneck, pairing the all-black ensemble with crisp white sneakers for a touch of casual flair

She shielded her eyes with oversized sunglasses

The London-born TV star looked in good spirits as she visited Potts Point Liquor & Deli store, which is popular among locals

Oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses added a touch of old-Hollywood glamour to her off-duty look.

The London-born TV star looked in good spirits as she visited Potts Point Liquor & Deli store, which is popular among locals.

Earlier this month, Nigella landed in Sydney and wasted no time heading straight to her favourite local institution, Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point.

In a heartfelt post to Instagram, the British culinary icon described the Italian bistro as not just a regular stop, but a vital part of her philosophy for living well.

'My first stop in Sydney has to be Fratelli Paradiso. It's one of my rules for a good life,' she wrote.

'Walking through the doors after a year away just felt like coming home. I love everything about this place: great people, great mood, great food.'

While Nigella admitted the restaurant's dim lighting wasn't ideal for taking photos, she found a moment to capture the final course once her neighbouring table had cleared.

Her signature cascading locks were styled in soft curls and she went for a barely-there makeup look

Nigella landed in Sydney earlier this month and has been spotted taking in the local sights

Nigella also visited a local Woolworths supermarket

Nigella will be hosting three Vivid Sydney dinners fro

The dessert - the show-stopping Bombalaska - left her speechless.

'Behold the beauteous Bombalaska! I don't expect to eat a better pudding while I'm here, and I don't need to: I'll just keep coming back for this,' she wrote.

Prior to that, the much-loved British food icon first touched down in Western Australia and declared a tiny Margaret River winery one of her favourite places on Earth.

Taking to Instagram, Nigella shared a swoon-worthy post about her long lunch at Cullen Wines.

Nigella described it as 'heaven' and '[her] cure for jet lag and recipe for deep joy'.

It's not the only culinary destination Nigella was excited to visit for her trip down under - telling told Gourmet Traveller that Ester in Chippendale was also at the top of her list.

Praising chef Mat Lindsay as 'extraordinary' for his surprising yet delicious creations, she revealed it was the Sydney restaurant she can't stop thinking about.
Abbie Chatfield has hit back at Clementine Ford for claiming she doesn't prepare the content for her podcast.

The TV personality, 29, and the feminist writer are currently locked in an ongoing war of words on social media after Clementine accused Abbie of profiting from the 'performance of being politically engaged'.

Speaking on her It's A Lot podcast on Tuesday, Abbie admitted she was struggling over the weekend amid the feud.

'Been a bit of a rough weekend. Go to my TikTok if you want to know what's going on. I don't want to rehash it, but all I want to say is it's incredibly counterproductive to criticise someone for doing the thing you want them to do,' Abbie began.

'It makes no sense and it gives a certain energy that I think we all know.'

She went on to say she would be answering questions sent in by listeners before calling out some of Clementine's comments.

Abbie Chatfield has hit back at Clementine Ford for claiming she doesn't prepare the content for her podcast

'We are doing an ask me anything as I didn't prep, because contrary to what Clementine Ford says, I do prep for my own podcasts but I didn't have time to do that, Abbie said.

It comes after Abbie accused Clementine for 'writing a burn book' about her.

She took to Instagram on Sunday to slam the writer for mentioning her in her recent Dear Clementine Substack blog.

In the post, Clementine called out Australian influencers like Abbie whom she claims profit from the 'performance of being politically engaged' while criticising anyone who challenges them.

Abbie, who has 564K followers on Instagram, shared a video on the platform in which she called the columnist a 'weirdo' for having a bone to pick with her.

'She's literally writing a burn book about me and doing insults like "She thinks she's so hot",' she said.

'What a weirdo - oh my god.'

Abbie finished off the clip with a request for the writer.

'Clementine, take a step back from the internet. Take a step back from Reddit please.'

The TV personality, 29, took a swipe at feminist writer Clementine (pictured) on her It's A Lot podcast on Tuesday

Abbie later returned to the platform in tears as the social media feud took a dark turn.

In the clip, she asked Clementine to stop 'trolling' her personality online, revealing it was not only affecting her mental health but also made her feel unsafe.

'I get it enough from people on the right and trolls and men that hate me and want to threaten me and want me dead. Please stop dehumanising me,' she wept.

'Please, you can criticise my content you can criticise my work just I'm begging you to stop lying about my intentions.

'Stop saying that I have a personality disorder. You don't know me. This is so f****ing triggering I just want her to stop.'

'Please stop discouraging me from posting about Gaza,' Abbie went on.

'It isn't working, you're discouraging others... Please, like, I'm just trying to do what I can to help.

'I just don't understand why she's so adamant on proving that I'm awful. I don't get it. This is so incredibly stressful and awful what she is doing.'

It comes after Abbie called out Clementine on social media for 'writing a burn book' about her. She posted screenshots of comments made by the writer, calling Abbie an 'idiotic narcissist', 'completely shallow' and a 'deeply basic thinker'

In the clip, Abbie asked Clementine to stop 'trolling' her personality online, revealing that it was not only affecting her mental health but also made her feel unsafe

Abbie said she was now aware of 'someone spreading malicious lies about me again and again  because she claims to know my intentions on f***ing everything'.

'I'm scared of her. Please stop, Clementine. I am begging you to stop,' she sobbed.

'You don't know me at all, you're a stranger. I deal with so much, every single day. I deal with insults every single day, I do not need it from you because you know that when you say it you validate it for people on the left.

'You are f**ing my mental health. Please f***ing stop.'

She then posted screenshots of comments made by the writer, calling Abbie an 'idiotic narcissist', 'completely shallow' and a 'deeply basic thinker'.

'See how this isn't criticism? It's just insults,' she captioned the screenshots.
Bindi Irwin has thanked doctors after undergoing an emergency appendectomy and other procedures in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The conservationist, 26, suffered a ruptured appendix and was raced into surgery just hours after touching down in the US for the annual Steve Irwin Gala which honours her late father.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Bindi shared a video from her hospital bed and revealed she is on the 'road to recovery'.

Bindi said while her appendix was removed, doctors discovered another 14 lesions from her endometriosis. These were also successfully removed.

She also had a large hernia repaired which had developed after giving birth to daughter Grace, four, in 2021.

'I am so thankful that I got the help I needed with Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu at Lenox Hill Hospital. After many months of a grumbly appendix, I finally had to seek help the day of our Steve Irwin Gala,' she captioned her post.

Bindi Irwin has broken her silence after being rushed to hospital in Las Vegas on Saturday

'After consulting with Dr. Seckin, we agreed that if I flew to New York, he could also check for endometriosis again. Surgery was a success.

'My appendix was removed, along with another 14 lesions (after having 37 endometriosis lesions and a cyst removed two years ago). I also had a repair to a large hernia I acquired through childbirth four years ago.'

Bindi said she is grateful to be on the mend and thanked fans for all their kind messages.

She also praised her brother Robert for hosting the gala and thanked her husband Chandler, daughter Grace and mum Terri for 'always being there'.

'And rest assured, Ill see you at the next Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane this November. One day at a time. Time to heal now. Sending my love to you all,' she added.

Robert told People magazine on Saturday that Bindi was recovering after being raced into surgery.

'She's going to be okay, but surgery - out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,' Robert explained.

Terri also missed the event while accompanying her daughter to hospital and staying by her side through surgery.

She suffered a ruptured appendix and was raced into surgery just hours after touching down in America for a gala honouring her late father Steve

Robert explained that Bindi had been suffering some pain in the lead up to the gala but had tried to soldier on.

'She came to Las Vegas and was ready to put on a brave face. She said, "I'm just going to tough it out."

'But the surgeon told her, "Your appendix is going. It's got to come out."'

Both Terri and Bindi missed the gala, which raises fund for their organisation Wildlife Warriors, but Robert was able to attend, where he shared the grim news.

It's not the first time Bindi has suffered ill health in recent years.

In a rare interview, the media personality recently opened up about the hidden struggles she faced behind closed doors.

Speaking to Sarah Grynberg on a new episode of the A Life of Greatness podcast, she shared insights into her grief, chronic illness, and the importance of speaking up for women's health.

For more than a decade, Bindi battled severe, undiagnosed health issues that she kept private, known only to her husband Chandler, mum Terri, and younger brother Robert.

She shared a video from her hospital bed to Instagram on Monday and revealed she is on the 'road to recovery'

Robert (pictured) told People magazine on Saturday that Bindi was recovering after being raced into surgery

'Behind closed doors I was struggling to do anything and everything,' she said.

She was in constant pain, extreme fatigue, and forced to cancel work commitments, often leaving her feeling isolated and misunderstood.

'People must have thought I was just incredibly flaky because I was getting so sick I would try to get up, and I really would just throw up. I was in so much pain all the time,' Bindi said.

After years of being told by doctors that her symptoms were 'just part of being a woman', she finally was diagnosed with over 30 lesions of endometriosis, some so debilitating they had adhered her ovary to her side.

She underwent surgery in the United States, a procedure that changed her life.

'Endometriosis is an enormous problem for so many people, and it's not talked about enough. I went 10 years undiagnosed because doctors didn't know enough,' she said.

She explained how many women with endometriosis are misdiagnosed with conditions like IBS or hormonal issues, leading them to suffer in silence for years.

Bindi said she underwent every scan and test imaginable, including CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and blood tests for 'every tropical disease' but 'nothing came back'.

Both Bindi and her mum Terri missed the gala, which raises fund for their organisation Wildlife Warriors, but Robert was able to attend, where he shared the grim news

'I was so sick for so long,' she said.

Fortunately for Bindi, her family was always by her side.

'I was so lucky where I had such a supportive family and they never gave up on me,' she said.

'They dealt with it for 10 years just as much as I did, trying to find answers and helping me along the way and saying, "Hey, you're collapsed on the floor. You probably should get some help and you shouldn't listen to the doctors saying this is normal".'

'But so many people don't have that circle of people that they can count on. And so you turn to the medical industry looking for assistance and it can cause anxiety and depression - it's very isolating.

'And that's where it just is so difficult. So you turn to people who you think will help you, and sometimes you don't get the care that you so desperately deserve.'

Bindi credits the birth of her daughter Grace as the catalyst that pushed her to seek medical answers after years of suffering.

'When I was so sick, it was hard to be the mum I wanted to be. Then I thought, I have to do something. This can't just all be in my head,' she explained.
Ana de Armas put on a leggy display in black leather as she stepped out in New York while her boyfriend Tom Cruise celebrated his BFI fellowship dinner on Monday.

The actress, 37, who is has been linked to Tom, 62, since Valentine's Day, looked sensational in a black leather mini skirt as she enjoyed a stroll around the Big Apple.

She put on a leggy display as she layered a simple black T-shirt and a black leather sleeveless jacket over her garment.

Keeping her ensemble casual, Ana paired her look with a some chunky black leather loafers which featured a gold detailing.

She toted around her belongings in a flashy Louis Vuitton handbag as she accessorised with a pair of trendy black sunglasses.

Ana appeared in very happy spirits as she looked wind swept when she left a blacked out SUV.

Ana de Armas put on a leggy display in black leather as she stepped out in New York while her boyfriend Tom Cruise, 62, celebrated his BFI fellowship dinner on Monday

The actress, 37, who is has been linked to Tom (pictured) since Valentine's Day, looked sensational in a black leather mini skirt as she enjoyed a stroll around the Big Apple

Her appearance in the US state comes after her Hollywood actor boyfriend, 62, was supported by his ex-girlfriend and Mission: Impossible co-star Hayley Atwell during a BFI Chair's Dinner - where he received the British Film Institute Fellowship.

He looked happier than ever as graced the red carpet at London's Rosewood wearing a blue spotted tie which he paired with a crisp white shirt.

For the glitzy evening, Tom's ex Hayley also made an appearance as she stepped out in a classy structured black skirt and blazer which featured bold, padded shoulders.

She added inches to her statuesque frame as she slipped into a pair of towering white stilettos.

To finish her look she slicked her raven tresses into a sleek middle-parted bun and finished her look with a pair of simple earrings.

Tom is set to head to Cannes for Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning's premiere on Wednesday.

Hayley reprised her role as Grace, a former thief turned IMF agent and ally to the actor's character, Ethan Hunt.

The film, which has faced multiple delays, is finally due to hit cinemas on May 23 2025.

She put on a leggy display as she layered a simple black T-shirt and a black leather sleeveless jacket over her garment

Keeping her ensemble casual, Ana paired her look with a some chunky black leather loafers which featured a gold detailing

She toted around her belongings in a flashy Louis Vuitton handbag as she accessorised with a pair of trendy black sunglasses

Ana appeared in very happy spirits as she looked wind swept when she left a blacked out SUV

Her appearance in the US state comes after her Hollywood actor boyfriend, 62, was supported by his ex-girlfriend and Mission: Impossible co-star Hayley Atwell during a BFI Chair's Dinner - where he received the British Film Institute Fellowship

And while Tom has continued to conquer Hollywood action movies, he dreams of starring in another musical.

He ventured into musicals 13 years ago when he played rock star Stacee Jaxx in the film Rock of Ages, however, he has now indicated that one musical outing wasn't enough and he wants to explore that genre again.

The action star revealed that musicals were still on his career bucket list during a Tom Cruise In Conversation event at London's British Film Institute on Sunday.

'Definitely musicals' Tom said, reported Rolling Stone. 'Drama, action, adventures. It's endless. My goals are endless.'

He also shared that he and his longtime Mission: Impossible collaborator Christopher McQuarrie - who has written and directed every instalment since 2015's Rogue Nation - are also cooking up ideas together.

'We've got a lot,' he said of his ideas with McQuarrie. 'Our relationship is just endless stories.'

For the glitzy event, Tom looked happier than ever as graced the red carpet wearing a blue spotted tie which he paired with a crisp white shirt

For the glitzy evening, Tom's ex Hayley also made an appearance as she stepped out in a classy structured black skirt and blazer which featured bold, padded shoulders

The Hollywood star was first credited as a producer on the first Mission film, and he told the audience in London that he sought out the franchise because he liked 'the theme music' and wanted to push the boundaries of the action genre.

'It was about looking at Mission and going 'What can we do with action?' How I can evolve action and storytelling and imbue that kind of storytelling with greater amounts of emotion? That is my interest,' he said of the 1996 film.

Tom is currently on the press tour for Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, the eighth instalment in the franchise.

To celebrate the release during his London visit, the daredevil actor pulled off yet another stunt - appearing on the roof of the BFI IMAX cinema - on Sunday afternoon.
Child actor Jansen Andre has opened up about the heartbreaking reality of his role on iconic Australian comedy series Summer Heights High.

The mockumentary series, created by Chris Lilley, followed the goings on of the titular fictional high school.

Appearing on the Mind Your Head podcast, Jansen revealed his turn in the popular series only served to exacerbate bullying he was already experiencing in high school.

In the series, Jansen played Sebastian - a year seven student who begins a relationship with Year 11 student Ja'mie King, played by creator Lilley.

'My mum had a talent agency - I grew up a child model. 'I was always in the limelight and kids were always hanging s*** on me,' Jansen explained.

'The biggest one for me, I was in a show called Summer Heights High when I was 11 years old.

Child actor Jansen Andre has opened up about the heartbreaking reality of his role on iconic Australian comedy series Summer Heights High. Jansen is pictured with Summer Heights High creator and star Chris Lilley

'That came out Year seven - first year of high school. My role in that was Sebastian. I was dating Ja'mie who's Chris Lilley in real life, who is actually a guy but was playing a girl.'

'I went to an all boys private school, so you can just imagine what I was copping. All of the terms.'

Jansen added that it wasn't just taunts and jibes he was subjected to, but also physical violence.

'School is already a hard time for everyone so for them to have something to grab on to - they'd bash me for it,' he shockingly admitted.

'I would do anything to push those comments away so I could feel like I was part of the group.'

Despite only appearing in two episodes of Summer Heights High, Jansen admitted the role haunted him long after its airing.

'I was always the one that was bullied,' he said.

'I had money extorted from me, I was bashed a few times when I was 13 or 14. I got myself into the wrong circles, they turned and we had fights and stuff.'

Appearing on the Mind Your Head podcast, Jansen revealed his turn in the popular series only served to exacerbate bullying he was already experiencing in high school

In the series, Jansen played Sebastian - a year seven student who begins a relationship with Year 11 student Ja'mie King, played by creator Lilley

Despite his ordeal, Jansen said that he did not resent being cast in the series.

'I don't know if I resented it but it was just fuel to the fire for why I was getting picked on even more,' he said.

'I never look back and wish it never happened.

'I've grown from being that little scared boy that was constantly bullied and pining for validation into the man that I am today and I would never change it.'

Jansen's admission comes after Chris Lilley recently revealed the comeback of beloved Summer Heights High character Mr G.

The comedian took to Instagram in April to share a clip of himself as the iconic teacher he plays in the series

In the video, Chris could be seen crossing his foot, straightening his tie, folding his arms and, of course, awkwardly bouncing on his pink yoga ball.

The clip then cut to a grey background where 'Mr G is back' popped up on the screen in red, confirming rumours the Aussie funnyman was bringing his hilarious alter ego back to the screen

'I went to an all boys private school, so you can just imagine what I was copping. All of the terms,' he said

Jansen added that it wasn't just taunts and jibes he was subjected to, but also physical violence

In July 2021, four of his television shows were removed from Netflix due to concerns over 'blackface' portrayals.

It was announced Jonah from Tonga, Angry Boys, Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes would be removed from Netflix in Australia and New Zealand.

The shows raised questions about racial discrimination, as several characters were depicted using blackface and brownface.
Australian fans of Usher have taken to social media to complain about the sky-high ticket prices for his upcoming tour Down Under.

The multi-platinum artist, 46, is bringing his globetrotting Past Present Future tour Down Under in December for eight shows - four at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and four at Qudos Bank Arena In Sydney.

Triggering the outrage was a video shared to TikTok which revealed that Usher's 'Ultimate Meet and Greet VIP Lounge Experience' would set back concertgoers an eye-watering $2792.85.

'That's almost $3000! What the actual eff,' TikTokker Jacinda Chenelle said in her clip.

'For context, I have been with Taylor Swift and hung out with her backstage on multiple tours over the years.

'And do you know how much she charges? Zero dollars. Come on, almost $3,000 Australian. Usher babes youre not in your prime anymore.'

Australian fans of Usher have taken to social media to complain about the sky-high ticket prices for his upcoming tour Down Under

For Taylor Swift's Australian Eras Tour in 2024, VIP packages ranged from $349.99 to $1249.90, depending on the included benefits and does not include meet and greet opportunities.

However, the pop singer does not usually offer paid meet and greets at her concerts and instead has her team select fans from the crowd to meet her backstage after the show.

More than 100 TikTok users commented on the post, many from disgruntled Usher fans.

'This is absolutely ridiculous but I would very much pay this for Billie Eilish,' complained one person on the thread.

'That's absolutely insane,' said another fan, who added, 'I've been a fan since day one and I wouldn't even pay that to see him.'

'One would think for that price youd get to spend a night with him,' joked another.

The Ultimate VIP Experience includes one reserved seat ticket, an individual meet and greet, a photo opportunity and an invitation to a 90 minute pre-show VIP lounge.

A welcome cocktail is also included, as well as complimentary beer, wine & soft drink and light canapes.

One fan also complained about the cost of the cheaper tickets for Usher's shows in Australia.

Triggering the outrage was a video shared to TikTok which revealed that Usher's 'Ultimate Meet and Greet VIP Lounge Experience' would set back concert goers $2792.85

'The prices for the tour in general is absolutely ridiculous, I was going to take my mum but 600+ for two people is absurd,' they said.

Usher's promoters are offering a wide range of tickets, including $530.05 for premium reserve seating and $203.80 for B reserve seating.

Other ticket prices, detailed on the Ticketek website, include a seat for $285.40 or $224.20.

It will be more than a decade since Usher headlined an Australian run, with his last visit back in 2011 on his OMG tour.

He was last in the country back in 2018, performing alongside the likes of Salt-N-Pepa, T-Pain and Naughty By Nature for the RNB Fridays Live tour.

His current tour, which kicked off in the US back in August last year, has seen Usher perform in Europe and the UK.

With the tour currently in full swing, fans can expect a very well oiled machine by the time it hits Australian soil.

Usher has been on top of his performing game of late, with a bravura turn at the Met Gala in New York earlier this month.

The multi-platinum artist, 46, is bringing his globetrotting Past Present Future tour Down Under in December for eight shows - four at Melbourne 's Rod Laver Arena and four at Qudos Bank Arena In Sydney

The superstar also honed his act in a 100-show Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Park MGM between 2021 and 2023.

The Past Present Future tour got off to quite the rocky start however, with Usher having to postpone the commencement of the US leg due to injury.

The hitmaker ended up missing a trio of concerts after he hurt his neck preparing for the shows.

Usher will play at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on November 19, 20, 22 and 23, before heading north to Sydney's Qudos bank Arena on December 1, 2 4 and 5.

Tickets for all dates are on sale go on sale Friday May 16.

Eager fans can secure theirs early in an artist presale from Monday 12 May at UsherWorld.com
Ryan Phillippe is still wistful over losing his 'dream role' in the Star Wars prequels 25 years ago.

Star Wars: Episode II  Attack of the Clones might have been released in the year 2002, but the 50-year-old actor was 27 when he auditioned to play Anakin Skywalker just two years earlier.

The problem was that future Darth Vader was supposed to be 19, so director George Lucas wound up casting 19-year-old Hayden Christensen to play the love interest of 19-year-old Natalie Portman's Padme.

'Being a kid born in the seventies, I was like, "What a dream that would've been,"' Ryan (born Matthew) lamented on the Just for Variety podcast Monday.

'But I think things happen for a reason and it's easy to make peace with that. Part of what we have to develop as actors is that thick skin that comes along with rejection or maybe things not going the way you wanted in a particular project or potential job.

'So there's an element of being able to let go and release and not spend too much time thinking about those things.'

Ryan Phillippe is still wistful over losing his 'dream role' in the Star Wars prequels 25 years ago (pictured in 2023)

Phillippe wasn't alone as Hayden scored the plum part over Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Klein, Devon Sawa, Charlie Hunnam, Topher Grace, Joshua Jackson, James Van Der Beek, Colin Hanks, and Paul Walker.

In 2002, Portman recalled to TIME that Christensen 'gave a great reading. He could simultaneously be scary and really young.'

'I used to be the 25-year-old on set or the 22-year-old on set, and I am definitely not now,' the two-time SAG Award winner told Variety.

'It's just so humbling. Even if you take care of yourself, which a lot of people in our industry do, right? You exercise and all of this, it's still  you wake up with a soreness that's just randomly materialized out of nowhere that you can't trace back to anything you did.

'It's just there, and you got to deal with it. You know that the inevitable breakdown is something hard to reconcile, I think, for all of us.'

Ryan next portrays struggling mechanic Logan Maddox in John A. Norris' 10-episode coming-of-age drama Motorheads, which premieres May 20 on Amazon Prime Video.

The Pennsylvania-set series also features Nathalie Kelley, Michael Cimino, Melissa Collazo, and Nicolas Cantu.

'I felt like Yoda, they would all come to me with questions about what the old days were like,' Phillippe recalled.

'If they had questions about the industry or about upcoming decisions that they were making about project, I would be a sounding board. I have had a lot of experience.'

Star Wars: Episode II  Attack of the Clones might have been released in the year 2002, but the 50-year-old actor was 27 when he auditioned to play Anakin Skywalker just two years earlier (pictured in 2000)

The problem was that future Darth Vader was supposed to be 19, so director George Lucas wound up casting 19-year-old Hayden Christensen (R) to play the love interest of 19-year-old Natalie Portman's (L) Padme

Ryan lamented on the Just for Variety podcast Monday: 'Being a kid born in the seventies, I was like, "What a dream that would've been." But I think things happen for a reason and it's easy to make peace with that. Part of what we have to develop as actors is that thick skin that comes along with rejection' (pictured June 15)

Phillippe wasn't alone as Hayden scored the plum part over Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Klein, Devon Sawa, Charlie Hunnam, Topher Grace, Joshua Jackson, James Van Der Beek, Colin Hanks, and Paul Walker

In 2002, Portman recalled to TIME that Christensen 'gave a great reading. He could simultaneously be scary and really young'

The Prey producer-star's 21-year-old nepo baby Deacon scored the part of his onscreen brother Christian in Motorheads flashbacks.

'Our kids grew up on sets,' Ryan explained.

'They grew up around the industry. But he's a musician first and foremost. He's at NYU at the music school, and I think he's just one of those who's taking the opportunities as they come.

'I don't think he wants or needs to define himself just yet. He never came to me and said, 'Dad, I want to be an actor.' I think it's something he's still figuring out and exploring.'

Phillippe is evidently not close to his 25-year-old daughter Ava, whom he also welcomed during his seven-year marriage to former Cruel Intentions leading lady Reese Witherspoon that ended in 2007.

'Ava is estranged from her dad by choice,' a source told DailyMail.com on April 13.

'She has no contact with him and rarely mentions him. Ryan hasn't been a present father figure in her life for years.'

The two-time SAG Award winner told Variety: 'I used to be the 25-year-old on set or the 22-year-old on set, and I am definitely not now. It's just so humbling' (pictured in 2023)

Ryan next portrays struggling mechanic Logan Maddox in John A. Norris' 10-episode coming-of-age drama Motorheads, which premieres May 20 on Amazon Prime Video

Phillippe's 21-year-old nepo baby Deacon (L, pictured in 2022) scored the part of his onscreen brother Christian in Motorheads flashbacks

The Prey producer-star explained: 'Our kids grew up on sets. They grew up around the industry. But he's a musician first and foremost. He's at NYU at the music school' (pictured in 2018)

Ryan is evidently not close to his 25-year-old daughter Ava (L, pictured Sunday), whom he also welcomed during his seven-year marriage to former Cruel Intentions leading lady Reese Witherspoon (R) that ended in 2007

The insider added: 'Things really soured in 2018 around the time he was accused of abuse by his ex. Her issue with Ryan is his treatment of women, which she finds appalling.'

In 2017, the Delaware-born blond's ex-flame Elsie Hewitt sued him for $1M over alleged abuse and his former fiancee Paulina Slagter accused him of harassment.

Ryan denied all of the allegations and Elsie's lawsuit was reportedly settled for an undisclosed amount in 2019 just days before they were set to go to trial.

Phillippe is also father to 13-year-old daughter Kailani 'Kai' Merizalde from his five-month fling with Pitch Perfect alum Alexis Knapp back in 2010.
Jamie Marinos and Eliot Donovan have been raising eyebrows for weeks as rumours about their relationship continue to swirl.

And on Tuesday, the Married at First Sight stars teased fans once again with a new series of Instagram videos.

The fan favourites revealed they are sharing an Airbnb while spending time together in Sydney for Australian Fashion Week.

Queenslander Eliot, 35, created a video in which he showed off the luxury digs.

He then appeared to be 'surprised' to find that he was not alone in the apartment by discovering Jamie using the bathroom mirror.

Jamie, 28, also shared a video to her own stories where Eliot pretended to 'discover' her in the kitchen.

MAFS' Jamie Marinos and Eliot Donovan (pictured) have been raising eyebrows for weeks as rumours about their relationship continue to swirl

On Tuesday, the fan favourites revealed they're sharing an Airbnb while spending time together in Sydney for Australian Fashion Week

She also showed the chic split level flat they're staying in which features stunning city views.

It comes after Jamie broke her silence about her friendship with Eliot telling Nine that their relationship is not just for the cameras.

'We have so much fun together, getting to know each other, and making Tik Toks are always so much fun,' Jamie said.

'But for me, the important thing is that it's not a publicity stunt, we just genuinely enjoy being around each other.'

Jamie, who failed to find forever love with groom Dave Hand, said that she and Eliot, had simply clicked after their time on the Channel Nine series.

She said that Eliot had provided support in the weeks following her split with Dave.

'We only started hanging around each other since we both left our marriages, just over a month ago,' she said.

'He's always been a very good friend to me, but he's been a really amazing support system.'

Jamie broke her silence about her friendship with Eliot telling Nine last week that their relationship is not just for the cameras. Pictured: The pair at Daily Mail Australia's reunion party

While admitting that the pair had become close, Jamie stopped short of hard launching any romantic entanglement with Eliot.

'I understand everyone wants an answer but we're in the real world now, so it's not like we're going to be official or announce something tomorrow,' she added.

Jamie and Eliot certainly looked every inch the loved-up couple as they packed on the PDA for all to see at Warner Bros. Movie World last month.

Eliot spent most of the day with an arm around Jamie's shoulders, holding her hand or gently touching her back.

Jamie and Eliot also seemed unable to keep their hands off each other at Daily Mail Australia's recent reunion dinner.
Celebrity chef and style icon Nigella Lawson made an unexpected entrance at Australian Fashion Week, stunning onlookers with a rare fashion misstep that caught everyone's attention.

Known for her impeccable taste and glamorous appearances, the 65-year-old's choice of attire on Tuesday left fashion critics and fans alike in disbelief.

Arriving at the prestigious event in Sydney, Nigella opted for a baggy white dress adorned with ink blot-like floral decorations - a significant departure from her usual sophisticated ensembles.

Paired with white sneakers, the outfit seemed out of sync with the high-fashion ambience of the occasion, in which Nigella mingled with fellow stars including Pip Edwards and Tammy Hembrow.

Adding to the unconventional look, Nigella sported a dramatic layer of makeup, emphasising her features against the contrasting backdrop of her wavy jet-black hair.

While her bold fashion statement certainly turned heads, it wasn't necessarily for the reasons she might have hoped.

Celebrity chef and style icon Nigella Lawson (pictured) made an unexpected entrance at Australian Fashion Week 2025, stunning onlookers with a rare fashion misstep

Known for her impeccable taste and glamorous appearances, the 65-year-old's choice of attire on Tuesday left fashion critics and fans alike in disbelief

Despite the rare fashion misstep, Nigella remains a beloved figure in both culinary and style circles, known for her unwavering confidence and charisma.

Nigella's presence at Australian Fashion Week 2025 was a stand out as her unconventional attire ensured she commanded attention.

As the week unfolds, all eyes remain on the latest trends and style moments emerging from the event, where Nigella's unexpected appearance has added a memorable twist to the fashion conversation.

It comes after the British celebrity chef was seen indulging in some downtime in Sydney on Friday as she popped into a local Woolies and a bottle shop to pick up some supplies.

Clad head-to-toe in a stylish black ensemble, the TV star cut a chic figure as she strolled the streets.

Nigella donned a belted black trench coat layered over wide-legged trousers and a fitted turtleneck, pairing the all-black ensemble with crisp white sneakers for a touch of casual flair.

She shielded her eyes with oversized sunglasses and accessorised with a big black leather bag.

Her signature cascading locks were styled in soft curls and she went for a barely-there makeup look.

Arriving at the prestigious event in Sydney, Nigella opted for a baggy white dress adorned with ink blot-like floral decorations

Adding to the unconventional look, Nigella sported a dramatic layer of makeup, emphasising her features against the contrasting backdrop of her wavy jet-black hair

The London-born TV star looked in good spirits as she visited Potts Point Liquor & Deli store, which is popular among locals.

Earlier this month, Nigella landed in Sydney and wasted no time heading straight to her favourite local institution, Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point.

In a heartfelt post to Instagram, the British culinary icon described the Italian bistro as not just a regular stop, but a vital part of her philosophy for living well.

'My first stop in Sydney has to be Fratelli Paradiso. It's one of my rules for a good life,' she wrote.

'Walking through the doors after a year away just felt like coming home. I love everything about this place: great people, great mood, great food.'
Killers of the Flower Moon actor Samuel French tragically died, age 45, last Friday at a hospital in his native Waco, TX.

Paul Sinacore, the director of Samuel's final film Towpath, was first to share the news of his passing.

'Samuel was a dear friend and an incredible actor,' Paul said in a statement.

'Samuel carried a fire for acting that burned in every frame  unfiltered, fearless, and alive. He gave himself completely to the work, and it showed. I am deeply saddened by his loss and only wish he could have seen the final cut. He was one of a kind, and he will remain in our hearts forever.'

THR reported that French 'had battled a cancer that spread through his body over the past couple of years.'

The devout Christian - who called 2024 'the worst year known to mankind' - appeared gaunt in his final selfie dated April 23, which he captioned: 'Getting IV for much needed hydration...'

Killers of the Flower Moon actor Samuel French tragically died, age 45, last Friday at a hospital in his native Waco, TX (pictured in 2023)

Over the past year, Samuel frequently posted about 'healing' in the mineral-filled hot springs of De Leon Springs State Park as well as with red light sauna treatments and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

French is best known for his supporting turn as undercover FBI agent CJ Robinson in Martin Scorsese's 2023 crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon where he shared a one-on-one scene with Robert De Niro.

'No one could have played Robinson as well as you did,' Scorsese told him -according to Sinacore.

On August 2, the Blood Dried Hands actor announced his retirement after being 'constantly beat down' by the industry for 13 years with little representation.

'I do not blame my acting career 100% for what I am having to heal myself from today but it has been a huge part of it,' Samuel wrote.

'All the stress, the disappointment, and people who hurt me more than [helped] me (reps) did play a part, but today I let go. And OMG it is a special feeling, a release I thought was impossible. To everyone I've ever worked with or met it was a honor to create with you all and wish you all the success and happiness.'

French had an 'uncompromising dedication to his craft' even when guest-starring as Ben in one 2020 episode of FX's Fear the Walking Dead titled 'Welcome to the Club.'

Samuel also portrayed the titular private eye in Jody Stelzig's 2023 thriller Joe Haladin: The Case of the Missing Sister and he appeared in the History Channel's 2015 miniseries Texas Rising.

French brought an 'incredible intensity' as Detective Bernard Crooke in Paul Sinacore's 1964-set courtroom thriller Towpath, which he believed 'would change his career.'

Paul Sinacore (L), the director of Samuel's final film Towpath co-starring Eric Roberts (R), was first to share the news of his passing: 'Samuel carried a fire for acting that burned in every frame  unfiltered, fearless, and alive'

THR reported that French 'had battled a cancer that spread through his body over the past couple of years' (pictured March 9)

The devout Christian - who called 2024 'the worst year known to mankind' - appeared gaunt in his final selfie dated April 23, which he captioned: 'Getting IV for much needed hydration...'

Over the past year, Samuel frequently posted about 'healing' in the mineral-filled hot springs of De Leon Springs State Park as well as with red light sauna treatments and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (pictured in 2024)

French is best known for his supporting turn as undercover FBI agent CJ Robinson in Martin Scorsese's 2023 crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon where he shared a one-on-one scene with Robert De Niro (not pictured)

'No one could have played Robinson as well as you did,' Scorsese (L) told him

The Blood Dried Hands actor had an 'uncompromising dedication to his craft' even when guest-starring as Ben in one 2020 episode of FX's Fear the Walking Dead titled 'Welcome to the Club' (pictured on set)

Samuel - who retired on August 2 - left behind the 'love of my life' Melinda and their 12-year-old daughter Madison Ruby French (L, pictured June 13)

Samuel will also play Satan in Shaquala Taylor's horror film The Ladybug Files, and he's already been lauded for his performance as Cyrus in Devin Montgomery's horror film Monsters Within.

French left behind the 'love of my life' Melinda and their 12-year-old daughter Madison Ruby French.

'My heart goes out to his family, and especially to his daughter  he loved her deeply and spoke of her often with pride and tenderness,' Paul recalled.

Samuel is also survived by his parents, Gary and Darlene, as well as his brothers, Andy and Danny.
Former Real Housewives of New York City personality Sonja Morgan has been banned from New York City hotspot Tucci.

Over the weekend the 61-year-old star  whose ex-husband John Adams Morgan died in February  made a scene at the high-profile Italian restaurant when it came time to pay her nearly $1k bill.

The blonde Bravo celebrity expected to be comped for the dinner she enjoyed on Saturday night, and allegedly had a fit when she was told it wasn't on the house.

Morgan even dialed owner Max Tucci, only for him to deny her.

'She was absolutely hysterical and refused to pay. It was like she was filming a Housewives episode, shouting, "Im a celebrity!"' a source told Page Six.

The outlet reported that the outstanding balance was paid by Sonja by the end of the weekend, but that she is no longer welcome at the establishment.

Former Real Housewives of New York City personality Sonja Morgan has been banned from New York City hotspot Tucci

Over the weekend the 61-year-old star made a scene at the high-profile Italian restaurant when it came time to pay her nearly $1k bill

Tucci has previously treated Sonja to complimentary meals, but it hadn't been arranged for her most recent visit.

She'd gotten off on the wrong foot last weekend after she made a reservation for three but showed up as a party of five.

An onlooker recalled about Sonja's reaction to the bill: 'She was like, "I dont pay; people pay me [to go to their restaurants]." She was absolutely entitled and caused a scene about not paying.'

Morgan explained to Page Six about the ordeal, 'There was a clear miscommunication. I believed I was dining in exchange for a promotional post. I made that known to staff.'

She and others had reportedly planned to have dinner and drinks before heading to her cousin Jack Morgans 30th birthday bash at Boom Boom.

Tucci sided with his employees and has subsequently blacklisted Morgan from the eatery.

'Its not about me. Dont do that to my staff,' he relayed to the publication, adding, 'The cost of everything is so expensive right now [for restaurants], and shes just taking advantage.

'There was no arrangement for her to have a comped dinner. She just wanted free food and service.'

The blonde Bravo celebrity expected to be comped for the dinner she enjoyed on Saturday night, and had a fit when she was told it wasn't on the house

Sonja last appeared on Real Housewives of New York City during season 13 in 2021

Despite the unsavory incident, the mother-of-one took to Instagram on Sunday to mark Mother's Day with a trio of selfies.

She wrote in a caption to her 1.2 million followers, 'My Mothers Day look. Hoping all my Mothers celebrated themselves and their families yesterday.'

And her 24-year-old daughter Quincy Morgan, whom the reality star shared with her late ex-husband John Adams Morgan, gave her a shoutout online.

The University of Pennsylvania graduate uploaded four throwback photos and wrote, 'The best mom @sonjatmorgan.'

Sonja replied in the comments, 'Love you so much Quincy girl. I couldnt be any prouder than I am.'

She last appeared on Real Housewives of New York City during season 13 in 2021.
Samuel Johnson has undergone a radical transformation in a heartfelt gesture to honour his late sister Connie who lost her battle with cancer in September 2017.

The Australian actor, 47, shaved his head during a recent community event for his charity Love Your Sister, which is dedicated to the memory of his sibling.

On Saturday, Samuel took to social media to share a series of photos capturing the emotional moment he shed his locks to raise money for the charity.

The event drew a large audience and marked a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against cancer, a cause dear to Samuel's heart.

Sam expressed his gratitude to supporters, emphasising the event's success was a testament to community solidarity.

'My sister Connie would be beyond proud right now,' Samuel wrote, reflecting on the charity's enduring impact.

Samuel Johnson has undergone a radical transformation in a heartfelt gesture to honour his late sister Connie who lost her battle with cancer in September 2017

The Australian actor, 47, shaved his head during a recent community event for his charity Love Your Sister, which is dedicated to the memory of his sibling

'It's not over until we stop losing loved ones to cancer. We vanquish cancer with joy, together we are stronger.'

The event, which raised thousands of dollars, saw Sam humbly redirecting praise to the generous donors who made the achievement possible.

'Please don't hop into the comments and congratulate me,' he urged, echoing his sister's humility.

'Its YOU who need to be thanked, congratulated, loved and owed forever.'

The actor expressed his gratitude to the invaluable supporters, acknowledging their pivotal role in surpassing their fundraising goal.

He invited them to embrace Love Your Sister merchandise in the ongoing fight against cancer.

'Youve got twenty million reasons to rock your LYS gear NOW!" he exclaimed, urging followers to continue supporting the charity's mission.

Sam is seen with his trademark brunette locks

In June last year, Samuel revealed he is still struggling to cope in the aftermath of his sister's death. Connie Johnson lost her lengthy battle with cancer in September 2017.

In June last year, Samuel revealed he is still struggling to cope in the aftermath of his sister's death.

Connie Johnson lost her lengthy battle with cancer in September 2017.

The Victorian-born actor told the SBS series The Hospital: In the Deep End that he can't remember his sister not being sick after she was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 11 and uterine cancer at 22, before her eventual death at age 33 from breast cancer.

'Connie came home in dad's blue Torana and I knew something was up,' he said of the moment he learned Connie was ill.

'Dad said: "She's got a tumour." I didn't know what a tumour was. Then gradually, I learned that it was cancer.'

Samuel previously opened up on the grief he still felt at losing his sibling.

'I can't just bounce back from burying her and push forward blindly,' an emotional Samuel told 9Honey.

In 2012, the siblings launched the Love Your Sister charity, which has since raised millions in the fight against cancer.
Olivia Munn is opening up about the regrets she has in naming her daughter Mei June on Monday's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers.

The 44-year-old actress and mother of two with husband John Mulaney was promoting her new Apple TV Plus series Your Friends & Neighbors.

When host Meyers mentioned that she named Mei June as a tribute to her mother, she admitted, 'Well, I thought I did.'

Munn revealed her mother - Dung Kim Schmid - told what she thought was an innocent lie during a car ride, that led to the name.

'So, my daughter's name is Mei, with an accent over the 'E,' which is plum in Chinese. And we were thinking about what the middle name should be,' Munn began.

'And one day we were driving, my mom just says out of nowhere, "You know, people call me June." My mom's name is Dung, it's spelled d-u-n-g,' the actress said.

Olivia Munn is opening up about the regrets she has in naming her daughter Mei June on Monday's episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers.

When host Meyers mentioned that she named Mei June as a tribute to her mother, she admitted, 'Well, I thought I did'

'She said, people call me June. I said when do people call you June? And she was like, "You know, a lot of people call me June. It's the Americanized name for Dung,' Munn continued.

'I said, "People call you June?" She goes, "Yeah, everyone calls me June." I said, all right,' as Munn admitted, 'her middle name is Kim, so everyone calls her Kim.'

Some time after that car ride, her husband, comedian John Mulaney, mentioned, 'that would be such a pretty name and such a great way to honor your mother. So why don't we name her mei June.'

Munn added she thought it was, 'a great idea,' though when the child was born, she sent a text to the family chain, revealing she was named Mei June Mulaney and she was named after her mom.

'Then an hour later, my mom comes to the hospital. She's holding the baby, and I realized she didn't say anything about the name yet. So I said, mom, what do you think about her name? She goes, "It's okay,"' Munn said as the crowd laughed.

'I said, wait, what? Do you like the name? And she goes, "It's okay,' Munn said, adding that her grandmother's name is Estelle.

Munn told Kim, 'I was thinking about naming her mei Estelle. Maybe I should just do that. And she goes, "You should change it,"' which stunned the audience.

The actress said her mother was 'pitching out other names to change the baby's name,' when she began to realize why her mother said people call her June in the first place.

'She said, people call me June. I said when do people call you June? And she was like, "You know, a lot of people call me June. It's the americanized name for Dung,' Munn continued

'I said, "People call you June?" She goes, "Yeah, everyone calls me June." I said, all right,' as Munn admitted, 'her middle name is Kim, so everyone calls her Kim'

'And then one day it hits me. So, my mom loves to talk. She just talks, talks -- one time she spoke to me for 30 minutes about how she doesn't talk a lot,' Munn joked.

'I remember back to that day where she told us people called her June. And I remember that there was nothing being said in the car. It was just silence, and then she just came up with this June thing,' Munn said.

The actress ultimately confronted her mother, asking, 'Mom, I think I know what happened. Did you just want to talk that day so you came up with this story that people call you June but no one has ever called you June?'

Kim/June responded, 'Yes, people call me June,' and when asked when, 'She said in 1987, two women called me June."'

Munn added, 'I was like, you know what? It's staying June. We're not changing it. So, yeah, she's kind of in honor of my mother, but I hope she doesn't grow up to be as big a liar.'

Her mother's lying ways also lead to a bizarre new Thanksgiving tradition - a photo of her son Malcolm holding a turkey leg.

'She says to John, "You know, it's so exciting. In my family, with all of our kids, a tradition, we put a drumstick in their hand for their first Thanksgiving when they're a baby,"' Munn said.

'And then one day it hits me. So, my mom loves to talk. She just talks, talks -- one time she spoke to me for 30 minutes about how she doesn't talk a lot,' Munn joked.

Munn added, 'I was like, you know what? It's staying June. We're not changing it. So, yeah, she's kind of in honor of my mother, but I hope she doesn't grow up to be as big a liar'

Munn attends Apple TV+'s Your Friends & Neighbors New York Premiere at DGA Theater in April in New York City

And John was like, "Oh, that's cool." He says to me, "Hey, your mom's gonna do this thing." I was like, "That is not a tradition. What is she talking about?"' Munn said.

She added that her mother insisted, 'No, it is a tradition. Every Thanksgiving, for everybody's first Thanksgiving."'

Munn decided to call her siblings, asking, 'Do we have any photos photos of this? They said, "No, 'cause she's lying. That's not true,' she said with a laugh.

They show the photo of Malcolm, adding, 'My mom gets her Turkey leg, she puts it there, she pats his hand and goes, "Okay, a new tradition."'
Sopha Dopha - real name Sophia Begg - has raised some eyebrows after being spotted at Australian Fashion Week in an adventurous ensemble.

The TikTok star, 21, who has 1.4 million followers on the platform, arrived at Carriageworks in Sydney's Eveleigh district wearing a fluffy, green two-piece by Selezza London that resembled a leafy vegetable.

The top, which was made with a ruffled chiffon material, boasted billowy sleeves and was tied together at her chest to expose her killer abs and toned physique.

The low-rise, puffy skirt, which matched in colour and texture, sat on her hips and dropped to her ankles.

She accesorised the out-there fit with white, woven mules, a pearl necklace and a brown leather handbag as she posed for the cameras.

The social media influencer wore her hair in waves across her shoulders while opting for a natural, glowy makeup look, ensuring that her brightly-coloured ensemble stole the show.

Sopha Dopha - real name Sophia Begg - has raised some eyebrows after being spotted at Australian Fashion Week in an adventurous ensemble (pictured)

The TikTok star, 21, arrived at Carriageworks in Sydney's Eveleigh district wearing a fluffy, green two-piece by Selezza London that resembled a leafy vegetable

The top, which was made with a ruffled chiffon material, boasted billowy sleeves and was tied together at her chest

Sophia recently celebrated her 21st birthday in style with a wild party on the Sydney Harbour.

Throughout the day, she could be seen making out with a mystery beau who she has been dating for about one year.

The online personality has yet to show his face, only sharing her partner's voice off-camera or in photos shared to her Instagram with his head cropped out or covered by her hand.

Sophia took to her socials in December with a slew of content from her birthday celebration and she unwittingly revealed the identity of her high school sweetheart.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Sophia's man of mystery is Simon Collis, who she attended Terrigal High School with before enrolling in St. Joseph's Catholic College in East Gosford.

Simon, 21, has a private Instagram account with 443 followers and has made a mere 11 posts. His display picture shows the young couple posing together in his bedroom for a selfie.

Simon comes from a close knit family and is the youngest of three siblings, including an older brother and an older sister.

His father Andy Collis is an expressive painter and art academic, who attended Sophia's 21st birthday party alongside his older brother Tom and Tom's wife, Rachel.

Sophia recently celebrated her 21st birthday in style with a wild party on the Sydney Harbour. Throughout the day, she could be seen making out with a mystery beau who she has been dating for about one year

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Sophia's man of mystery is Simon Collis, who she attended Terrigal High School with before enrolling in St. Joseph's Catholic College in East Gosford

'Great night on an amazing yacht cruising around Sydney harbour last night to celebrate the 21st birthday of a beautiful friend. Xx thank you S. X,' Andy captioned a carousel of videos and photos from the early hours of Sophia's debaucherous birthday celebration.

In it, Simon can be seen relaxing with his family members and later, dancing with them aboard the rented yacht and Sophia's scantily clad besties.

'Looked like a wonderful birthday party. I'm still waiting for 'S' to be revealed,' a family friend comment on the post, referring to Simon.

The young couple appear to be smitten, with Sophia also commenting on Simon's dad's posts.

He celebrated his own 21st birthday last April, with Andy sharing a touching tribute to his son on Instagram, writing: 'It's our youngest child's birthday: Simon is 21!! I love you, son - more than you'll ever know. Have a brilliant birthday. X.'

It's unknown which profession Simon is in, however the entire Collis clan makes annual visits to volunteer at Kirsten Jade Children's rescue center in Thailand - an orphanage housing 50 children in Chiang Mai.
Imogen Anthony left little to the imagination as she attended Australian Fashion Week in a revealing number inspired by Joan of Arc.

The model and former girlfriend of radio personality Kyle Sandilands took to Instagram on Tuesday to share an array of pictures and videos from the annual fashion event, which is being held at Sydney's Carriageworks.

Imogen, 34, showed a fair bit of skin as she posed up a storm in the risque ensemble, which was made of a chainmail material.

Showing off her killer figure, ample side cleavage and trim pins, the flimsy dress scooped down her lower back and cut her upper thigh in a high slit, risking a major wardrobe malfunction.

She finished off the look with a silver head piece similar to the one worn by the patron saint of France, as well as a dramatic cat eye and strappy, silver heels.

'Joan of ARQ,' she captioned the piece, adding: '(rip iykyk)'

Imogen Anthony (pictured) left little to the imagination as she attended Australian Fashion Week in a revealing number inspired by Joan of Arc

The model and former girlfriend of radio personality Kyle Sandilands, 34, took to Instagram to share an array of pictures and videos from the annual fashion event, which is being held at Sydney's Carriageworks

She went on: 'A big mention to @alvi_chung who created and curated @wings_independent_fashion for the independent creatives and artists who drive this industry from the underground.

'I am so honoured to witness and take part in something which seemed to create a place for people who sometimes dont know where they stand within the fashion community,' she wrote.

'Everyone should be able to experience the wonder, not just those with an attractive name within the scene I really hope it continues and many more are inspired to create.'

This isn't Imogen's first look that had heads turning at Australian Fashion Week.

She stunned onlookers on Monday when she stepped out in a very racy, bejewelled top, giving the illusion of being topless in the barely-there frock.

She flaunted her figure with metal nipple pasties, custom-made by designer Ana Jol, which were interconnected with strings of pearls.

The stunning display came with a matching headpiece that sat against her forehead and ran down the bridge of her nose with more beautiful strings of pearls.

Imogen turned the medieval-style ensemble into a modern chic look as she paired it with baggy blue jeans from the controversial Dolls Kill, which hung low on her hips.

Imogen stunned onlookers on Monday when she stepped out in a very racy, bejewelled top, giving the illusion of being topless in the barely-there frock

She flaunted her figure with metal nipple pasties, custom-made by designer Ana Jol, which were interconnected with strings of pearls

She then covered up against the cold with a grey coat from Camilla and Marc before accessorising with a pair of pointed heels by Amina Muaddi.

The brunette beauty highlighted her piercing eyes with a cat-eye liner look, leaving her dark tresses hanging over her barely concealed chest.

Imogen and her ex-boyfriend Kyle Sandilands were together for eight years.

The media titan announced his shock split from the Big Brother VIP star on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November 2019.

She has since moved on with new partner Harley Jones, with the pair tying the knot during a Vegas wedding in 2022.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at AFW in 2024, the social media star ruled out a 'real-life wedding' and said the couple won't be starting a family anytime soon.

'No, I'm unconventional. That's how I roll,' she said. 'I'm not in any rush for anything like that. I'm in no rush to have kids.'

However, she didn't completely rule out the idea of babies in the future.

'Maybe one day. It's not out of the picture, out of the question. I'm just not, I ain't racing. I'm good,' she added.

Meanwhile, Kyle has since moved on with wife Tegan Kynaston, whom he married in 2023.

The couple also share a son, Otto, who they welcomed into the world in August 2022.
Kate Winslet's daughter Mia Threapleton has hit back at claims she is a 'nepo baby' and was given a helping hand in the industry because of her actress mother.

Mia, 24, whose first major role was opposite Kate in I Am Ruth, has weighed into the discourse about celebrity offspring benefitting from nepotism.

The actress has claimed there is a 'misconception' about her because of her mother that she was submerged in the acting world from an early age.

She said: 'I feel like it's a misconception about me, considering who my mother is, that I grew up going to set or that I would know anything about this world because of her and what she does.'

Mia, whose father is film director Jim Threapleton, added: 'That is not the case at all. I genuinely can count on not even two hands the amount of times I went to set as a kid. There were never scripts lying around the house.'

Earlier this year, Mia scooped the Breakout Artist Award during the Newport Beach Film Festival UK & IE Honours 2025 in London.

Kate Winslet 's daughter Mia Threapleton has hit back at claims she is a ' nepo baby ' and was given a helping hand in the industry because of her actress mother (pictured at the 2023 BAFTA Awards)

Earlier this year, Mia scooped the Breakout Artist Award during the Newport Beach Film Festival UK & IE Honours 2025 in London (pictured)

Mia took to the stage to accept the prize in February, bearing more than a passing likeness to her mother, who was the same age when she received her first Best Actress Oscar nod for Titantic.

She made her own acting debut in 2014's A Little Chaos, in which her mother starred, followed by a role in 2020 thriller drama, Shadows.

She then made waves with her performance in the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 drama I Am Ruth, alongside her famous mum in 2022 and is currently starring in the Apple TV+ adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel The Buccaneers.

It appears history is repeating itself, as her famous mother Kate currently boasts a staggering six Oscar nominations, with her winning in 2008 for her performance in The Reader.

The Sense and Sensibility star shared the screen with Mia for the first time in hard-hitting drama I Am Ruth, where they played mother and daughter.

Kate played concerned mum Ruth, who tries to help her teenage daughter Freya, played by Mia, overcome a mental health crisis after becoming consumed by the pressures of social media.

And she shared a sweet tribute to Mia as she accepted the BAFTA for Leading Actress for the role in 2023, saying: 'If I could break [the award] in half, I would give the other half to my daughter Mia Threapleton. We did this together, kiddo!'

Speaking about working with Mia, Kate admitted that she was 'blown away' by her daughter's courage on set.

She then made waves with her performance in the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 drama I Am Ruth, alongside her famous mum in 2022 and is currently starring in the Apple TV+ adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel The Buccaneers (pictured with Kate in 2023)

It appears history is repeating itself, as her famous mother Kate currently boasts a staggering six Oscar nominations, with her winning in 2008 for her performance in The Reader (pictured)

The film industry veteran insisted Mia didn't need her advice and would even tell her to 'shut up' and proudly gushed that her daughter has a 'power' that she herself never had as a young actress.

Appearing on Lorraine, she explained: 'As far as performance, she didn't need me at all. There are even moments where she'd look at me and go, "Shut up Mum, let me do it!"

'It was really amazing working alongside her and actually being blown away by her courage she's very, very powerful.

'I think this young generation of actors, I have to say there is a naturalism to their acting and they're just braver'.

Despite getting to call the legendary actress her mother, Mia has previously explained she didn't get to spend much time learning acting skills by watching her mother at work as a child.

Speaking to Variety, she admitted: 'I never actually spent much time around sets that my mum was working on. It was always a special treat.

'Its a very different experience when it is happening to you, and not just something I was getting to observe from time to time.

'I really understand why my mum has always impressed on us how hard the work is. She is right! And I loved every second of it.'

The Sense and Sensibility star shared the screen with Mia for the first time in hard-hitting drama I Am Ruth, where they played mother and daughter (pictured)

And she shared a sweet tribute to Mia as she accepted the BAFTA for Leading Actress for the role in 2023, saying: 'If I could break [the award] in half, I would give the other half to my daughter Mia Threapleton. We did this together, kiddo!' (pictured at BAFTAS)

And while Mia has been regarded as one of the biggest new nepo babies, Kate has been insistent that her daughter's success is down to her own talent.

She's previously said: 'What's great for her is she has a different surname so she slipped under the radar and the people who cast her didn't know she was my daughter and that was important for her self-esteem, of course'.

Kate met Mia's father Jim on the set of Hideous Kinky in 1998 where he was assistant director and they tied the knot the same year.

The couple went on to welcome Mia in 2000, but then divorced just a year later.

Kate has also insisted she was not the brains behind Mia's I Am Ruth casting, as she said the idea came from Dominic Savage, the show's creator, and said she told him: 'You have to audition her, and that has to be separate to me.'

Speaking of her casting in the show, Mia said: 'I had just finished school, was free of exam hell, and felt excited, nervous and ready to start auditioning for things, and hoping that the opportunities to audition would come my way...

'I just hoped I would get the chance to do what I had wanted to do for so long!'

While the show's producer Krish Majumdar, also confirmed in a radio interview that Mia had auditioned separately to her mother.

He said: 'Mia was there completely on merit and her performance was terrific.'
Sofia Vergara was left raging after failing to pick up any accolades during awards season following her performance in Griselda.

The actress, 52, played the infamous 'Cocaine Godmother' Griselda Blanco in the hit Netflix series and received nominations at both the Golden Globes and Emmy awards earlier this year.

However Sofia proved she was by no means a graceful loser as she made her true feelings known during an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show on Monday evening.

The host began: 'Can we talk about how great you are? Last time you were here we talked about Griselda and then bang you get nominated for a Golden Globe and you get nominated for an Emmy. Congratulations!'

Yet while the crowd cheered, Sofia exclaimed: 'And I didn't win any of it! I didn't win any of it.'

Trying to appease the star, Jimmy insisted: 'It doesn't matter,' while she hit back: 'It matters.'

Sofia Vergara was left raging after missing out on award wins following her performance in Griselda as she admitted she begged Jodie Foster to give her the Golden Globe

However Sofia proved she was by no means a graceful loser after she missed on on the Golden Globe to Jodie Foster (pictured) back in January

He continued: 'It does not mean anything, the nominations that's an honour.'

Sofia then took a dig at her fellow nominee as she said: 'Jodie Foster took everything.'

As Jimmy added: 'Jodie Foster is amazing of course,' Sofia continued: 'Yeah, but it doesn't matter.'

During the Golden Globes ceremony in January Jodie scooped the award for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her role as police chief Liz Danvers in True Detective: Night Country.

Yet her triumphant win was somewhat interrupted by a playful heckle from Sofia who was seen rising up from her seat and approaching the stage as she exclaimed, 'Oh no, give me one!'

Confirming she tried to take her award Sofia told Jimmy: 'I tried I tried to stop her in the middle of the Golden Globes but it was too late.'

'What did you say to her?' asked the host as Sofia replied: '"Give it to me" She took everything.'

Trying to spare the awkwardness Jimmy asked: 'But I think you are so good will you be back for more?'

Appearing on the Jimmy Fallon show on Monday evening Sofia exclaimed: 'And I didn't win any of it! I didn't win any of it'

Confirming she tried to take her award Sofia told Jimmy: 'I tried I tried to stop her in the middle of the Golden Globes but it was too late'

Sofia heckled the Hollywood icon as she got up onstage at the Golden Globes after losing out on the award

Speaking about starring in Griselda (pictured) she added: 'I mean I had fun but it was very difficult. I mean there's nothing like doing Modern Family and comedy, it was a lot of work'

Sofia hit back: 'I don't want to be back for more, for what they're not going to give me the award.'

'But you're a good dramatic actor,' insisted Jimmy.

'I mean I had fun but it was very difficult. I mean there's nothing like doing Modern Family and comedy, it was a lot of work.

'Maybe I do dramatic, but I don't know if I want to do it again with the prosthetics. Why don't you do it? It's difficult.'

Back in January as Jodie took to the stage Sofia rose up from her seat and approaching the stage as she exclaimed, 'Oh no, give me one!'

'I know, I know,' Jodie replied while chuckling, as she acknowledged the star's good-natured jest.

The camera then cut to Sofia's face, who looked momentarily serious before breaking into a laugh.

Jodie also acknowledged Sofia in her speech, telling the crowd: 'The greatest thing about being this age and being in this time is having a community of all these people, especially you, Sofia.'
Rhian Sugden put on a busty display in a sheer mesh bodysuit as she prepares to undergo breast reduction.

The glamour model, 38, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a racy snap as she slipped into a busty bodysuit with leopard print lining.

She posed up a storm as she sat on the edge of her bed to take the busty selfie, as she counted down to her surgery.

Rhian recently revealed she wanted to get breast reduction surgery as her size F-cup bust make it 'unbearable' to walk.

'One month to go until my breast uplift + reduction = one perkier, lighter, better version of me incoming!' Rhian captioned the selfie.

'The countdown to the boob reboot is ON! @pallmallcosmetics .'

Rhian Sugden put on a busty display in a sheer mesh bodysuit shared on Instagram on Tuesday as she prepares to undergo breast reduction

'One month to go until my breast uplift + reduction = one perkier, lighter, better version of me incoming!' Rhian captioned the selfie

Rhian previously shared a comparison photo of her breasts - one showing her current large breasts and another showing what they looked like before.

She also posted several screenshots of cruel comments from trolls criticising her decision to reduce her size, before revealing her 'soon-to-be nipple position' to her followers.

Explaining her reasons for wanting the surgery, Rhian said: '12 months ago before I got pregnant my boobs where large but still at a manageable size of a DD/E cup.'

'After having a baby my size has increased to an F and Im spilling out of my bras even at that size. Im having an uplift and a reduction.'

'Boob experts (men) are messaging me telling me to just lose weight and theyll shrink. Look at me!?? Im the size I was yet despite your professional advice my melons havent shrunk. Whod have thought?'

She went on: 'My back hurts. I long to wear backless dresses. Buy sexy lingerie, wear no bra when I go out, run, swim without them falling out of my swim suit. They dont make me happy this big.

'Messaging me and calling me deluded for wanting a reduction to go back to the size I was 12 months ago - is absurd. Seriously, what is wrong with humans these days.

'Its MY body. Its my Happiness and its MY choice.

Rhian recently revealed she wanted to get breast reduction surgery as her size F-cup bust make it 'unbearable' to walk

Rhian previously shared a comparison photo of her breasts - one showing her current large breasts and another showing what they looked like before

'The surgeon has said my nipples are 11 centimetres LOWER than they should be, that my friends is not where I want them.

'Im sharing my journey as its a very big and yes, scary move for me but this is something I NEED to do for myself. To make myself feel better.

'Itd be nice to have support and people that dont have anything nice to say just dont say anything at all '

The bombshell's saucy snaps came after she recently hit back at claims of 'marital issues' between her and actor husband Oliver Mellor, 44.

Rhian broke her silence last month after slamming Oliver online for 'going out drinking' while she and George were both rushed to A&E.

The model's 501,000 followers were quick to compliment her on her 'gorgeous' look in her new photos .

Rhian and Oliver welcomed their first child, George, in April 2024 after a challenging journey which involved undergoing eight gruelling rounds of IVF, costing 150,000.

The model revealed how the pair faced numerous hurdles, including a miscarriage scare at six weeks and a dramatic birth that required George to receive emergency oxygen, but despite that, his arrival took 'all the years of pain away'.

Rhian recently hit out at her former Coronation Street star husband after he 'went out drinking' while she'd been rushed to hospital twice with Quinsy - a 'Victorian disease' that left her in 'agony', while George had been struck down with possible measles.

She fumed: 'Anyone else ever been so ill they've ended up in A&E twice in two days and yet their husband would rather go out drinking with his mates instead of helping at home, or am I just the unfortunate one?'

Rhian later to her Stories to claim she was 'hormonal, ill, and momentarily lost the plot' - and revealed her husband 'deeply regrets choosing pints over paracetamol'.

She shared two jokey newspaper-style updates with her 502,000 followers.

In the first, she posted a snap of Oliver feeding some goats and quipped: 'Husband finally breaks silence to the goats at the petting zoo.

'Sources say he deeply regrets choosing pints over paracetamol. Relationship experts (and one particularly nosy goat) remain divided.'
Isabel Lucas has shown her face at Australian Fashion Week after a COVID-19 scandal saw her go MIA.

The former Home and Away star, 40, who made headlines a few years ago when she refused to get the Covid-19 vaccine, had all eyes on her as she dazzled in a slinky, silky dress in a bright green hue.

The midi-length dress boasted a modest neckline while accentuating the model's slender physique.

She paired the brightly-coloured frock with a pair of knee-high black boots and a black $15,600 Chanel handbag.

Isabel wore her long golden locks across her shoulders and down her back, securing her hair out of her face with two hair clips to show off her natural, bronzy makeup look.

In 2023 Isabel discussed her decision to skip the jab, admitting she knew it was 'highly likely I wont work for years if I share this'.

Isabel Lucas (pictured) has her shown face at Australian Fashion Week after a COVID-19 scandal saw her go MIA

Speaking to Stellar magazine, the star said that she had 'several' vaccines when she was growing up, but chose not to get vaccinated against Covid.

'For me, I appreciate, what might be right for you may not be right for me, but its not right that either of us are being stripped of the freedom to choose,' she explained.

'Our relationship with our body is very personal and its deeply complex and so are our choices, and were claiming to engage in conversations about inclusion and diversity  you know, gender, religion, sexuality, race  without allowing our beliefs or observations to be acknowledged,' she continued.

'The diversity of choice is yet to be included, in my experience.'

In November 2021, Isabel said that she was 'pro-choice' when it came to the Covid vaccine.

She later clarified her remarks on Instagram, saying she has 'concerns around "mandatory" vaccination, not vaccination itself'.

At the time, the star joined hundreds of people at a rally to protest Australia's Covid-19 vaccine mandates at the New South Wales-Queensland border.

Also in attendance at day two of Australian Fashion Week was Montana Cox, who went topless for the much-anticipated event.

The former Home and Away star, who made headlines a few years ago when she refused to get the Covid-19 vaccine, had all eyes on her as she dazzled in a slinky, silky dress in a bright green hue

The midi-length dress boasted a modest neckline while accentuating the model's slender physique

The Australia's Next Top Model alum, 31, had head swinging as she donned a floor-length black coat over a pair of high-waisted shorts and a bare chest.

She accessorised the revealing ensemble with knee-high, leather boots and a pair of sunnies.

The beauty showed off her brunette locks with a choppy fringe and messy waves that framed her face.

Jessica Gomes also opted for an all-black ensemble, wearing a casual henley-style shirt with a low-waisted sheer skirt which showed off her trim pins with a high leg slit.

The model, 39, wore black, knee-high, leather boots as she strutted outside the venue, along with a pair of sunglasses.

Her glossy locks hung across her shoulders as she posed for the camera and her makeup was kept paired back and simple.

Bambi Northwood-Blyth, an Aussie model and diabetes advocate, kept things tailored as she wore a statement broad-shouldered blazer over a brown-coloured henley shirt.

The leggy model, 34, showed off her trim pins in a mini pair of shorts and sheer stockings.

Also in attendance at day two of Australian Fashion Week was Montana Cox (pictured) who went topless for the much-anticipated event

The Australia's Next Top Model alum had head swinging as she donned a floor-length black coat over a pair of high-waisted shorts and a bare chest

Jessica Gomes (pictured) also opted for an all-black ensemble, wearing a casual henley-style shirt with a low-waisted sheer skirt which showed off her trim pins with a high leg slit

The model wore black, knee-high, leather boots as she strutted outside the venue, along with a pair of sunglasses

Bambi Northwood-Blyth (pictured), an Aussie model and diabetes advocate, kept things tailored as she wore a statement broad-shouldered blazer over a brown-coloured henley shirt

The leggy model showed off her trim pins in a mini pair of shorts and sheer stockings

She completed the look with $1,675 Jimmy Choo heels adorned with bows, $965 Balenciaga sunglasses and a $3,800 Balenciaga handbag.

Australian Fashion Week officially kicked off in Sydney on Monday, and the runway is already buzzing with drama, daring silhouettes, and that signature flair only Aussie designers can deliver.

Held from 12-16 May and presented by Shark Beauty, the annual fashion event is more than just a pretty catwalk - it's a week-long celebration of creativity, culture, and the next big things in fashion.

With cult names like Aje, Carla Zampatti, Romance Was Born, and Iordanes Spyridon Gogos gracing the calendar, alongside buzzy new names like BOTEH and Buluuy Mirrii, the event blends heritage and innovation - old guard meets next-gen.
Eva Longoria made sure to turn heads in a glamorous sequinned gown as she strutted through the five-star Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Monday ahead of the film festival.

The actress looked nothing short of sensational in the fitted plunging number which showed off her amazing figure.

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering coordinated heels and accessorised with a simple pair of drop earrings.

Styling her long brunette tresses in a half up do in waves, the Desperate Housewives star wore a glamorous palette of L'Oreal makeup, complete with a swipe of bold red lipstick.

Eva held onto her teams arms as she carefully made her way down the hotel staircase before sipping on a hot beverage.

The Land of Women star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way through the hotel lobby while holding onto a pair of sunglasses.

Eva Longoria made sure to turn heads in a glamorous sequinned gown as she strutted through the five-star Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Monday ahead of the film festival

The actress looked nothing short of sensational in the fitted plunging number which showed off her amazing figure

Earlier in the day, Eva took to Instagram and shared that she has worked with L'Oreal for 20 years as she posed with a number of gold balloons on her lavish bed.

She also shared a glimpse into her glam squad creating her stunning look for the day as multiple stylist diffused her hair and worked on her makeup.

Eva looked in good spirits as she relaxed in a dressing gown while also having her nails done for the occasion.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering coordinated heels and accessorised with a simple pair of drop earrings

Eva styled her long brunette tresses in a half up do in waves

The Desperate Housewives star wore a glamorous palette of L'Oreal makeup, complete with a swipe of bold red lipstick

Eva held onto her teams arms as she carefully made her way down the hotel staircase before sipping on a hot beverage

The Land of Women star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way through the hotel lobby while holding onto a pair of sunglasses

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

Eva was seen heading into an elevator

She flashed her gorgeous smile as she exited the five-star hotel

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to the stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Earlier in the day, Eva took to Instagram and shared that she has worked with L'Oreal for 20 years as she posed with a number of gold balloons on her lavish bed

She also shared a glimpse into her glam squad creating her stunning look for the day as multiple stylist diffused her hair and worked on her makeup

Eva later applied L'Oreal's bold red lipstick to complete her glam

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Jamie Azzopardi never misses the opportunity to stand out at Australian Fashion Week.

The controversial influencer sported not one, but two different dresses layered over each other at the second day of the A-list event in Sydney on Tuesday.

Azzopardi, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, draped a golden satin gown over a long sleeved white shirt for the unusual look.

On top of that, Jamie added another satin dress, this time in pearl white and with a feathered bodice.

Not skimping on accessories, Jamie had on pearl details at the cuffs and neckline of the shirt, as well as white heels and sunglasses, while carrying a feathered purse.

Later that evening, Jamie was back for more shows in an entirely new look - a 1920s style tasselled frock in a chic dark brown with matching high heels.

Jamie Azzopardi (pictured) never misses the opportunity to stand out at Australian Fashion Week. The controversial influencer sported not one, but two different dresses layered over each other at the second day of the A-list event

Azzopardi, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, draped a golden satin gown over a long sleeved white shirt for the unusual look

Jamie added another satin dress, this time in pearl white and with a feathered bodice

The internet star's look exemplifies the 'maximalist' trend popular with Gen Z fashionistas, particularly on TikTok, which involves layering lots of mismatched items and accessories at once for a deliberate 'dressed in the dark' look.

Jamie made a much anticipated return to Australian Fashion week on Monday.

The star has once again become the talk of the town after making a typically grand entrance at the 2025 event in Sydney on Monday.

The social media sensation wore a bold white gown which resembled a wedding dress - and had four assistants in tow.

The women held up Azzopardi's voluminous frock which featured a long, flowing train.

Azzopardi recruited four minders to hold up the elaborate frock which featured a ruffled neckline and sheer panels with pearl details.

The dress was belted at the waist and also featured layers of tulle around a beaded bodice.

Jamie wore a pair of sunglasses which had matching pearls and included a long pair of black boots.

It comes after Azzopardi arrived at Australian Fashion Week last year in an elaborate Edwardian-style outfit - before hitting back at their critics.

The internet star's look exemplifies the 'maximalist' trend popular with Gen Z fashionistas, particularly on TikTok, which involves layering lots of mismatched items and accessories at once for a deliberate 'dressed in the dark' look

Not skimping on accessories, Jamie had on pearl details at the cuffs and neckline of the shirt, as well as white heels and sunglasses, while carrying a feathered purse

Later that evening, Jamie was back for more shows in an entirely new look - a 1920s style tasselled frock in a chic dark brown with matching high heels

Azzopardi made an outrageous arrival at Carriageworks in Sydney flanked by an entourage of minders, to which Married At First Sight star Carolina Santos couldn't resist commenting on social media.

'What the f*** is that? Does Jamie think [they] are at the Met Gala or something? Why are people holding [their] clothes?' she said at the time.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia at the event last year, Jamie clapped back at Carolina's comment.

'Carolina, I do have a question because you have a lot to say about me: I just want to know, what do you know about the Met Gala?'

Jamie turned plenty of heads with their outfit, which consisted of a baby blue ruffled coat with a deep, plunging neckline.

The stylist paired the statement garment with a long black skirt and towering high heels.

Eyewitnesses described Azzopardi's arrival at Fashion Week 2024 as nothing short of a performance.

Dressed in a detailed gown which featured layers of fine fabric and intricate embellishments, the stylist made sure all eyes were on them.

The star has once again become the talk of the town after making a typically grand entrance at the 2025 event in Sydney on Monday

The social media sensation wore a bold white gown which resembled a wedding dress - and had four assistants in tow

Azzopardi's 'minders' were seen constantly adjusting every detail of their attire.

They were busy ensuring that not a single fold was out of place as photographers snapped away while Jamie posed up a storm.

Australian Fashion Week has gone from one of the country's most prestigious events to one flanked by reality stars, wannabes and micro-influencers.

Industry insiders have told Daily Mail Australia last year that designers are taking caution and want nothing to do with 'fame hungry MAFS stars desperate to be seen at fashion week'.
Aussies are all wondering whether Waleed Aly has gotten a hair transplant after the TV host dropped a big hint on The Project.

Waleed, 46, who has been a co-host on the Channel 10 program for over ten years, joined the panel on Tuesday as they discussed the ever-growing number of Australian men flying to Turkey to get hair transplants.

The procedure, which see healthy hair follicles moved from one part of the scalp to the other, is significantly cheaper in Turkey and comes with hotel packages, lifts to and from the airport and perks that make the clients 'feel like a king'.

This is why Turkey has seen a 70 percent increase in demand for hair transplants from Australian men, The Project reported on Tuesday.

In response to the statistics, Waleed along with Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton and Kate Langbroek discussed the growing popularity of the procedure and why balding was not an uncommon thing amongst men.

'I just think it's underestimated for men if they lose their hair,' Kate said.

Aussies are all wondering whether Waleed Aly (left) has gotten a hair transplant after the TV host dropped a big hint on The Project

'And you two have got hair privilege,' she added, pointing to Waleed and Sam.

However, Waleed made a subtle comment that implied he had undergone the hair transplant procedure himself.

'All I'll say is this, Istanbul is one of my favourite cities in the world,' he said.

Waleed did not elaborate before the commercial break - nor clarified if he was joking - but the telling comment drew interest to his hairline.

Over the years, it has remained largely unchanged, with Waleed sporting a similarly thick and luscious head of hair much like he had 20 years ago.

Waleed made headlines in February after he appeared in a bizarre comedy skit with comedian Sam during an episode of The Project.

The pair were seen 'taking a bath' together in the cringey segment which mortified co-host Sarah Harris.

'I vomited in my mouth a little bit,' she said after watching the playback which featured Waleed and Sam sitting at either end of an elegant tub filled with bubbles.

'All I'll say is this, Istanbul is one of my favourite cities in the world,' he said. Waleed did not elaborate before the commercial break - nor clarified if he was joking - but the telling comment drew interest to his hairline

Over the years, it has remained largely unchanged. Pictured in 2016

Waleed is sporting a similarly thick and luscious head of hair much like he had 20 years ago. Pictured in 2005

However, the twisted skit was actually an AI generated 'deep fake' video.

The clip was part of a report that covered a recent AI generated deep fake video in which President Trump can be seen sucking the toes of Elon Musk.

Sarah told viewers that the clip was played on a loop on public display monitors at the US Department of Housing.

The humorous video of President Trump and Musk included the caption, 'Love live the Real King'.

After viewing the disturbing video of the US President and the head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Sam joked: 'So it's not normal when your boss asks you to suck his toes.'

Later in the segment Project panelist Kate commented that the US video was an attempt to mock President Trump.

'You know what they are trying to do - they're trying to psyche out Trump by saying that Elon is the boss - the real King,' she said.

Meanwhile, Sarah introduced the AI deep fake of Sam and Waleed.

'You should have seen the weird AI loop we had in our offices at lunch time.'

'I think some people's dreams came true watching that,' Sam joked after watching the playback of himself and Waleed playing in the bath water.

'When did we do that it was 8.30 when we did that,' he quipped.

Kate then added: 'Is there room for three.'
Kim Kardashian sported a lavish diamond necklace and earrings as she prepared to testify at the trial of a gang accused of robbing her at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room in 2016.

The influencer, 44, was joined by her mother Kris Jenner as she made her way into the courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.

Kardashian - who was dressed in a black blazer, skirt and sunglasses - waved at onlookers and press before pulling her mother aside for a brief chat.

It marks the first time Kardashian will confront the suspected 'grandpa gang' of Paris robbers who are accused of stealing jewellery worth millions of dollars from her.

In the aftermath, Kardashian was said to have vowed to stop showing off her jewels on social media.

For her court appearance, the reality star wore a $3 million necklace by Samer Halimeh New York, crafted in 18K white gold and featuring 80 diamonds, culminating in a 10.13-carat pear-shaped center stone.

Kim Kardashian sported a lavish diamond necklace and earrings as she prepared to testify at the trial of a gang accused of robbing her at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room in 2016

The reality star wore a $3 million necklace by Samer Halimeh New York for her court date

The influencer, 44, was joined by her mother Kris Jenner as she made her way into the court room on Tuesday afternoon

She added a Sloan Pave diamond ear cuff worth $8,300 and a second Serti Sur Vide Earcuff by Repossi made up of 12 pear shaped diamonds for 4.55 carats.

Jeweller Zack Stone noted that Kim was sporting a diamond anklet that had been given to her by daughter North.

Stone told MailOnline: 'Kim's anklet looks like it could be the sentimental piece she received from North for Mother's Day, featuring the birthstones of her four children.

'Set with round-cut diamonds, it's delicately accented with a single pearl, a pear-cut garnet, a pear-cut zircon, and an emerald-cut emerald. I'd estimate its value at around $8,000.

'On her right hand, Kim is sporting a massive ring. While the exact cut is hard to confirm, the diamond appears to be at least 20 carats, set in a solitaire design that further emphasises its remarkable size.

'Given these details, its safe to assume the ring carries a hefty price tag - my estimate would be around $3.5 million.'

Inside the courtroom, Kardashian broke down in tears as she shared her fears that she thought she would raped that evening.

She previously told David Letterman about the heist in a 2020 interview: 'They kept on saying "the ring, the ring."

Kardashian - who was dressed in a black trouser suit and sunglasses - waved at onlookers

It marks the first time Kardashian will confront the suspected 'grandpa gang' of Paris robbers who are accused of stealing jewellery worth millions of dollars from her

Kim's necklace was crafted in 18K white gold and featuring 80 diamonds

'I kept looking at the concierge,' she continued, referring to the concierge of the exclusive hotel who had been forced at gunpoint to lead the gang to her apartment.

'I was like, "Are we gonna die? Just tell them I have children, I have babies... I have to get home".'

Yunice Abbas, 71, who is among the 10 suspects standing trial, many in their late 60s or 70s and dubbed 'the grandpa gang,' has told French media that he and others who took part in the robbery did not know who Kardashian was.

'It's not her, it's her diamond we targeted,' Abbas told C8 TV a few years ago. Abbas has admitted his participation in the robbery - writing a book about his role.

In interviews with French media, he said he was sorry for what he did and wanted to apologise to Kardashian.

There is no possibility of a guilty plea in such cases and Abbas is standing trial despite admitting to playing a role in the robbery.

Frank Berton, a lawyer representing 68-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, nicknamed 'Omar the Old,' said last month he hoped the fact that Kardashian is a global star won't affect the trial.

Khedache is accused of being the gang's ringleader, which he denies.

'This trial attracts international attention because of who the plaintiff, the victim, is,' Berton said.

'What we hope is that it won't change anything in the way the facts are judged,' he said. (Writing by Ingrid Melander, reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro; Editing by Michael Perry)

Kardashian jetted into the French capital on Monday, sharing a picture of her view from the plane that she captioned simply with a French flag

Jenner took to Instagram to reveal she had spent the evening prior at dinner with partner Corey Gamble and Michael Coste

Kardashian jetted into the French capital on Monday, sharing a picture of her view from the plane that she captioned simply with a French flag.

While it is not known what the SKIMS founder got up to the night before her day in court, her mother Jenner took to Instagram to reveal she had spent the evening at dinner with partner Corey Gamble and Michael Coste.

The suspects in the trial are accused of tying up billionaire Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making off with jewels, including a $4 million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye), according to investigators.

Ahead of Kardashian's testimony, her stylist Simone Harouche, who was asleep in the same luxury hotel flat at the time of the attack, spoke to the court on Tuesday morning.

'We've been friends since we were little girls. So when I heard this sound, it was very different, and it woke me up, because it was a sound that I had never heard from Kim.

It was terror,' Harouche, who was downstairs in the duplex flat, told the court.'I have babies, and I have to live' - that's what I heard her say,' Harouche recalled, adding that she rushed to lock herself in the bathroom and texted Kardashian's sister Kourtney and their bodyguard for help.

When the robbers left and Kardashian joined her downstairs, 'she was beside herself, I've never seen her like that before,' Harouche said.

'She just was screaming and kept saying we need to get out of here, we need help, what are we going to do if they come back.'

Cameras are usually not allowed in courtrooms in France, and Kardashian's testimony will not be broadcast live.
Eva Longoria looked radiant in a chiffon yellow midi-dress as she joined a host of celebrity jury members ahead of the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival.

The Desperate Housewives star, 50, joined fellow jury members Halle Berry and Julia Garner, as well as president Juliette Binoche, for a photo call on Tuesday.

Eva looked elegant in the swishing pale yellow sleeves dress as she basked in the sunshine leaving Hotel Martinez ahead of the opening ceremony later that evening.

Meanwhile Halle strutted through the French city in a black tweed two piece - after having to swap her outfit at the last minute due to the festival's new nudity ban.

The A-listers were seen posing for snaps with jury members Carlos Reygadas, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, Jeremy Strong, Dieudo Hamadi, Alba Rohrwacher and Hong Sang-soo.

Succession actor Jeremy was seen sporting a 225,000 euro watch and a bucket hat as he attended the Palme D'Or, this year honouring Robert De Niro.

Eva Longoria looked radiant in a chiffon yellow midi-dress as she joined a host of celebrity jury members ahead of the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival

The Desperate Housewives star, 50, joined fellow jury members Halle Berry and Julia Garner

Cannes Film Festival jury president Juliette Binoche was also in attendance for the photo call on Tuesday

Other stars spotted out and about ahead of the opening ceremony were model Shanina Shaik, actress Andie MacDowell and honouree himself De Niro - who attended with his partner Tiffany Chen.

Inventing Anna actress Julia also made an appearance, looking impeccably chic in a black suede A-line mini-dress with a high neckline.

Meanwhile Jury President Juliette looked stylish in a butter yellow jumpsuit, which featured a dramatic statement collar with a fitted bodice and buckled belt.

Actress Andie MacDowell was among the stars in attendance, as she was seen leaving Hotel Martinez in a light grey suede oversized biker jacket and knee-length skirt.

Australian model Shanina looked effortlessly sophisticated in a relaxed grey co-ord, consisting of a longline high-neck blouse and tailored trousers.

This year's festival has officially placed a ban on 'nudity' and 'voluminous outfits'.

The annual event - which is returning for the 78th time and is one of the most prestigious festivals in the movie industry's calendar - has updated its red carpet dress code in time for today's (13.05.25) opening, with certain fashion trends not allowed.

The official charter reads: 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.

'Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted. The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

Actress Halle spoke out on the ban as she said: 'I had an amazing dress to wear tonight, and I cannot wear because the train is too big.

'So I, of course, am going to follow the rules. had to make a pivot, but the nudity part, I do think is probably also a good rule.'

The A-listers were seen posing for snaps with jury members Carlos Reygadas, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, Jeremy Strong, Dieudo Hamadi, Alba Rohrwacher and Hong Sang-soo

Eva looked elegant in the swishing pale yellow sleeves dress as she basked in the sunshine

Eva spent that day at Lucia Cannes to promote her tequila, Casa del Sol at a luncheon

During the film festival, the French restaurant has launched a special menu with items made with Eva's tequila

Eva beamed as she enjoyed cocktails with friends

Halle strutted through the French city in a black tweed two piece ahead of the festival kicking off later tonight

Halle revealed she had to swap her outfit at the last minute due to the festival's new nudity ban

Inventing Anna actress Julia also made an appearance, looking impeccably chic in a black suede A-line mini-dress with a high neckline

Julia was beaming with her bright red lipstick on show as she carried around a cream leather Gucci handbag

Hayley Atwell ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived for the first day of the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival in France on Tuesday

Succession actor Jeremy was seen sporting a 225,000 watch and a bucket hat as he attended the Palme D'Or

The watch was red to match his relaxed ensemble consisting of a corduroy jacket and hat

Jeremy's quirky outfit consisted of a pink and dusty red co-ord trousers and shirt, with pink and black suede sneakers

Meanwhile Jury President Juliette looked stylish in a butter yellow jumpsuit, which featured a dramatic statement collar with a fitted bodice and buckled belt

Honouree himself De Niro - who attended with his partner Tiffany Chen - was spotted at the photo call celebrating him

De Niro playfully joked with fans as they seemed to chant his name during the photocall in Cannes

Actress Andie MacDowell was among the stars in attendance, as she was seen leaving Hotel Martinez

She donned a light grey suede oversized biker jacket and knee-length skirt

Australian model looked effortlessly sophisticated in a relaxed grey co-ord, consisting of a longline high-neck blouse and tailored trousers

Shanina sported a barely-there make-up look and natural hair and paired her tailored ensemble with black leather stilettos as she attended the Vanity Fair x IHG Hotels & Resorts Beach Lunch later that day

Director Quentin Tarantino arrived hand-in-hand with his glamorous wife Danielle as they arrived for the festival

Julia was also seen jetting from the Cannes photocall to the Vanity Fair x IHG Hotels & Resorts Beach Lunch as she posed up a storm

Another star to make a glamorous appearance at the Vanity Fair x IHG Hotels & Resorts Beach Lunch was Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau, who oozed sophistication in a figure-hugging white gown with a high-neck cape feature

Actress Naomie Harris made a colourful appearance at the Vanity Fair x IHG Hotels & Resorts Beach Lunch as she donned a bright yellow and white striped midi-dress complete with a capped sleeve and drooping cape design

Eva made sure to turn heads in a glamorous sequinned gown as she strutted through the five-star Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Monday ahead of the film festival.

The actress looked nothing short of sensational in the fitted plunging number which showed off her amazing figure.

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering coordinated heels and accessorised with a simple pair of drop earrings.

Styling her long brunette tresses in a half up do in waves, the Desperate Housewives star wore a glamorous palette of L'Oreal makeup, complete with a swipe of bold red lipstick.

Eva held onto her teams arms as she carefully made her way down the hotel staircase before sipping on a hot beverage.

The Land of Women star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way through the hotel lobby while holding onto a pair of sunglasses.

Earlier in the day, Eva took to Instagram and shared that she has worked with L'Oreal for 20 years as she posed with a number of gold balloons on her lavish bed.

She also shared a glimpse into her glam squad creating her stunning look for the day as multiple stylist diffused her hair and worked on her makeup.

Eva Longoria made sure to turn heads in a glamorous sequinned gown as she strutted through the five-star Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Monday ahead of the film festival

The actress looked nothing short of sensational in the fitted plunging number which showed off her amazing figure

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering coordinated heels and accessorised with a simple pair of drop earrings

Eva styled her long brunette tresses in a half up do in waves

The Desperate Housewives star wore a glamorous palette of L'Oreal makeup, complete with a swipe of bold red lipstick

Eva held onto her teams arms as she carefully made her way down the hotel staircase before sipping on a hot beverage

The Land of Women star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way through the hotel lobby while holding onto a pair of sunglasses

Eva looked in good spirits as she relaxed in a dressing gown while also having her nails done for the occasion.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'You've got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

Eva was seen heading into an elevator

She flashed her gorgeous smile as she exited the five-star hotel

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Earlier in the day, Eva took to Instagram and shared that she has worked with L'Oreal for 20 years as she posed with a number of gold balloons on her lavish bed

She also shared a glimpse into her glam squad creating her stunning look for the day as multiple stylist diffused her hair and worked on her makeup
Pip Edwards dared to bare as she attended Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old chose a completely sheer mini dress for day two of the event, with the sheet of see through black fabric sitting off one shoulder.

The designer flashed her bra underneath the frock, and also had on a tiny mini dress underneath in a black satin.

The star's unusual garment had a black satin train attached to the bottom that trailed on the ground behind her.

Pip added to the look with a pair of fur lined heels and a smattering of accessories including hoop earrings and a bracelet.

She chose a warm toned makeup look with a pink lipstick and heavy winged eyeliner while wearing her hair in beachy waves.

Pip Edwards (pictured) dared to bare as she attended Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Tuesday. The 45-year-old chose a completely sheer mini dress for day two of the event, with the sheet of see through black fabric sitting off one shoulder

The designer flashed her bra underneath the frock, and also had on a tiny mini dress underneath in a black satin

Pip also made an appearance at the Carla Zampatti runway show at Australian Fashion Week on Monday.

The fashion designer had a brush with royalty at the fashion event as she sat near Queen Mary's nephew Count Nikolai of Denmark.

She was seen chatting to her best mate Jackie O Henderson while sitting just two seats away from Nikolai, 25.

Nikolai, who has launched a modelling career since losing his title in 2022, sat front row at the Carla Zampatti show on day one of the event.

Alongside him was his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup, with the pair looking happy together after fielding split rumours late last year.

Pip flaunted her fit figure in a backless halter top that showed off lots of skin as she chatted to guests while seated in the front row.

However, the socialite didn't appear to be impressed by the Married At First Sight stars attending the fashion event.

Pip looked the other way as she walked past Adrian Araouzou and Tony Mojanovski after arriving at the show.

The star's unusual garment had a black satin train attached to the bottom that trailed on the ground behind her

Pip added to the look with a pair of fur lined heels and a smattering of accessories including hoop earrings and a bracelet. She chose a warm toned makeup look with a pink lipstick

She carried a black and white fur jacket as she rushed past the reality stars.

The designer wore her hair in beachy waves and chose a bronzed makeup palette with a nude lipstick.

Meanwhile, Nikolai looked dapper at the event in a navy blue suit paired with a light blue dress shirt and dark brown tie.

His girlfriend Benedikte stunned in a strapless, black peplum dress in a maxi length, along with camel-toned heels.

The 24-year-old chose a natural, barely there makeup look and wore her caramel locks down in waves.

Earlier, the Danish It-girl had arrived wearing a beige trench coat that perfectly matched her shoes.

The couple looked relaxed and happy as they sat together watching the show, and exchanged loving looks while posing together before the runway show.

Late last year, the pair were rumoured to have split after Nikolai and Benedikte had not shared to social media any photos of them together for months.

Benedikte, who is the founder of Danish hair beauty company BeneSoie, had posted several glamorous modelling shots to Instagram - and Nikolai had been absent from all of them.

However, it was clear all was well as the genetically blessed couple cuddled up at the hottest event on the Aussie fashion calendar.
Robert De Niro was supported by his wife Tiffany Chen ahead of receiving an honorary Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

Attending a photocall during the opening night, the actor, 81, stood hand-in-hand with his martial arts professional partner, 45, an smiled for some snaps.

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to present Robert with the award, which is the highest prize at the ceremony.

Posing for photos, he dressed smartly in a polo shirt and smart trousers with a dark grey jacket layered over the top.

Tiffany looked elegant in a strapless, striped A-line which she teamed with a cream cardigan and ballet flats.

She topped off her outfit with a pair of pink-tinted sunglasses and pulled her hair back into a low pony tail.

Robert De Niro was supported by his wife Tiffany Chen as he received an honorary Palme d'Or at the opening night of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

Attending a photocall, the actor, 81, stood hand-in-hand with his martial arts professional partner, 45, an smiled for some snaps

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to present Robert with the award, which is the highest prize at the ceremony

Posing for photos, he dressed smartly in a polo shirt and smart trousers with a dark grey jacket layered over the top

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to the stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Taxi Driver won the award back in 1976 (Robert pictured in the film)

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
He found global fame with his role in the iconic drama Succession.

And having made headlines for his 'method' approach to his character Kendall Roy, it appeared Jeremy Strong was taking inspiration from his TV alter-ego as he attended the Cannes Film Festival's Jury photocall on Tuesday.

The actor, 46, was decked out in a Swiss rectangular watch from Richard Mille with an eye-watering 189,000 price tag (225,000 Euros) as he posed for snaps.

While Jeremy's pricey accessory no doubt drew the most attention, the Oscar nominee teamed the piece with another quirky look.

Arriving alongside fellow jury members, including Halle Berry and President Juliette Binoche, Jeremy sported a pink corduroy co-ord, Lanvin trainers, and a matching bucket hat.

As the Jury prepared to kickstart this year's festival, talk quickly turned to the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on international films.

Jeremy Strong, 56, took inspiration from his wealthy Succession alter-ego by sporting a 189,000 Swiss watch while attending the Cannes Film Festival's jury photocall on Tuesday

The actor, 46, was decked out in a Swiss rectangular watch from Richard Mille with an eye-watering 189,000 price tag (225,000 Euros) as he posed for snaps on the red carpet

While Jeremy's pricey accessory no doubt drew the most attention, the Oscar nominee teamed the piece with another quirky look

Speaking at the festival's first press conference, Jeremy referenced his own portrayal of Trump's lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn in biopic The Apprentice, which landed him an Oscar nomination last year.

He said: 'The Apprentice really underlines the stakes. Roy Cohn, I see essentially as the progenitor of fake news and alternative facts, and we're living in the aftermath of what I think he created.

'I think that this time where truth is under assault, where truth is becoming an increasingly endangered thing, that the role of stories, of cinema, of art and here, specifically at this temple of film, the role of film is increasingly critical because it can combat those forces in the entropy of truth, and can communicate truths, individual truths, human truths, societal truths, and affirm and celebrate our shared humanity.

'So I would say that what I'm here doing this year is, in a way, a counterbalance to what Roy Cohn was doing last year.'

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

The acclaimed actor arrived for the first photocall in a head-to-toe salmon pink corduroy look, complete with matching trainers and a bucket hat

Jeremy braved the May sunshine in his bizarre look as he joined the other Cannes jury members for the photocall

Jeremy was joined by fellow Cannes jury members Halle Berry (left) and President Juliette Binoche

This year's Cannes Jury were in attendance for the photocall ahead of the first glitzy red carpet later in the evening

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to the stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

As the Jury prepared to kickstart this year's festival, talk quickly turned to the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on international films

Speaking at the first press conference, Jeremy referenced his own portrayal of Trump's lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn in biopic The Apprentice, which landed him an Oscar nomination

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Bella Hadid has argued it should be illegal to model when menstruating and made a very racy remark in a candid new interview.

The supermodel, 28, showed off her incredible figure as she posed topless before going braless beneath a chainmail co-ord set for a stunning Vogue photoshoot.

In a wide-ranging chat, Bella discussed her debilitating battle with chronic illness and why she wants The White House to give women two weeks off while menstruating.

She kicked things off with an X-rated remark as she made an outrageously cheeky joke about oral sex while apologising for having to previously cancel the interview.

Describing cancelling as her 'worst nightmare', Bella quipped: 'I'll give you a b**w job on the side! Just close your eyes!' in a flippant remark to the Vogue journalist.

In a more serious turn, Bella went on to discuss the reality of living with Lyme disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

Bella Hadid has insisted it should be illegal to model when menstruating and made a very racy remark while posing topless for a candid new interview

The supermodel, 28, showed off her incredible figure as she posed topless before going braless beneath a chainmail co-ord set for a stunning Vogue photoshoot

Endometriosis is a disease in which cells similar to the womb lining grow outside the uterus and cause severe pain, while PCOS is a hormonal disorder characterised by irregular periods and PMDD is a menstrual syndrome which impacts mood.

Opening up on her difficulties, Bella revealed she wants women to get two weeks off while menstruating and said it should be 'illegal' to model while on her period.

'We get our periods. You're shooting Victoria's Secret on your period, with endo. That should be illegal,' she told British Vogue's June issue.

'I'm going to talk to the White House about it, because we should literally ban women working on the week of their period. And the week before, to be honest.'

Bella said she often 'pushes' herself to work 14-hour days in fashion but it eventually results in her burning out, adding that she is in therapy to work on her confidence.

She said working can be hard because 'nobody really understands chronic illness' and admitted that some days she can find it even difficult to take a shower.

'But sometimes, if I have one day off, if I can get in the shower and make myself breakfast, I see that as an accomplishment,' she confessed, adding that she can be in 'excruciating pain' some mornings.

Bella also gave an insight into her new life in Texas with her boyfriend, cowboy Adan Banuelos, and told how she met him while visiting her mother Yolanda Hadid.

In a wide-ranging chat, Bella discussed her debilitating battle with chronic illness and why she wants The White House to give women two weeks off while menstruating

Bella discussed the reality of living with Lyme disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (she is pictured in hospital in 2023)

She revealed Adan, 35, was completely unaware of her worldwide fame when they first met and described him as a 'breath of fresh air'.

Detailing their first meeting at a horse show, she shared: 'He basically came in, walked into the exhibit hall, which is where we do all of the show stuff.

'I was getting a cowboy hat fitted. I just saw him and I was like that's the I always wanted the cowboy. And he's pretty gorgeous, let me tell you something.'

She also revealed she is looking ahead to starting a family and said she 'cannot wait' to become a mother.

'Family is on my mind. I can't wait to be a mom. I think that I'm somebody for a lot of people,' she gushed.

'But in the real intimate way of being the person that somebody can count on consistently, that will change my life for me, and I cannot wait.'

It is unclear how long Bella and Adan have been dating and they generally keep their relationship under wraps.

They were first spotted together in October 2023 walking through the historic Fort Worth Stockyards.

They went official on Valentine's Day 2024, when Bella posted a picture of Adan to her Instagram Stories calling him 'My Valentine'.

See the full feature in the June issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 20th May.
Halle Berry has revealed she's been forced to make a last-minute change to the dress she'd planned to wear for the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony, due to the event's strict new rules on risque gowns.

The actress, 56, is no stranger to stunning with her looks, and even went underwear-free in her daring dress at the Met Gala last week.

But as this year's festival is set to kick off with its opening ceremony on Tuesday, Halle confessed she's had to reconsider the outfit she'd planned, as its long train breached the festival's new rules.

Over the weekend, Cannes organisers released strict new guidelines in an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

Speaking at the festival's first press conference, Halle said: 'I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big.

'Of course, I'm going to follow the rules, so I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part, I do think, is probably also a good move.'

Halle Berry has revealed she's made a last-minute change to the dress she'd planned to wear for the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony, due to the event's ban on risque gowns

The actress is no stranger to stunning with her looks, and even went underwear-free in her daring dress at the Met Gala last week

The Catwoman star was also asked her thoughts on calls for a female incarnation of James Bond, following the rights to the franchise being acquired by Amazon.

Halle insisted there shouldn't be a female Bond, saying: 'I don't know if 007 really should be a woman.

'I mean, in 2025, it's nice to say, Oh, she should be a woman, but I don't really know if I think that's the right thing to do.'

The star has joined big names including Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Strong on this year's Cannes Jury.

'This is a huge honour to be asked to be a part of this jury,' Halle added.

'This is one of the biggest film festivals in the world. As we talked about in our jury meeting, careers are made in this festival, and so I take it as a real honour to be here and share this experience with these wonderful jurors.

'My expectations are to be a part of this jury and get to know all these wonderful people that are part of this experience. I expect to see wonderful films.'

'I don't think there's any preparation. I think just being in film for 30 years, I do think I have a unique perspective. We all do. We all have a unique perspective when we watch film.

But as this year's festival is set to kick off with its opening ceremony on Tuesday, Halle confessed she's had to reconsider the outfit she'd planned

The Catwoman star was also asked her thoughts on calls for a female incarnation of James Bond, following the rights to the franchise being acquired by Amazon

'No one person owns the truth. All we will be able to do, the nine of us, is to give our own individual perspectives on all the movies that we're going to see. I look forward to hearing what everybody else has to say.

'That's the beauty that makes us human is that we're all different and we all see things from our different cultural backgrounds, our family of origin, our age, our gender.

'I'm looking forward to the conversations and really seeing what brings us together, but also sometimes those things that separate us because that's also beautiful.'

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

The new rules have also banned voluminous gowns with long trains, as they 'hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre.'

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

Halle opted for a chic boucle black skirt suit as she posed for snaps at the jury photocall ahead of Cannes' opening ceremony

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Chloe Burrows has sparked concern among her fans after sharing a snap of herself with a swollen face.

The Love Island star, 29, took to Instagram on Tuesday to ask her followers how their morning was going, but instead garnered attention for her bruised and swollen eye and slightly puffy cheeks.

Chloe looked glum in the snap in which she went make-up free, with the blonde beauty's eye partially closed amid the mystery ailment.

In her next Instagram story, Chloe was quick to ensure her fans that she was fine, however, she did little to quell the concern as she was seen sporting a black eyepatch.

Giving a thumbs up while displaying the eye covering, Chloe penned: 'Guys the last story was meant to be funny pls don't be concerned x Regular programming by force.'

MailOnline have contacted Chloe's representatives for comment.

Chloe Burrows has sparked concern among her fans after sharing a snap of herself with a swollen face

In her next Instagram story, Chloe was quick to ensure her fans that she was fine, however, she did little to quell the concern as she was seen sporting a black eyepatch

Earlier this year, Chloe shared a very 'traumatising' experience from her trip to Australia.

The reality star spent Christmas and New Year down under with best pal Millie Court, Liam Reardon and a group of their friends.

Despite clearly having a lot of fun during the holiday, Chloe admitted she had one bad experience where lifeguards were forced to rescue her from a riptide.

On Joe Baggs' Not My Bagg podcast, he asked Chloe if she had any wild stories to tell listeners.

Chloe then shared: 'On Christmas day we went to Bronte Beach and it was an actual rave on the beach. I really need a wee and they had public toilets but the queue was f***ing huge so I was like, 'I'll just go in the sea I don't care.'

'So, I run with my friend down to the water to go for a wee and I got in and I'm trying to go for a wee and this huge wave, and I am drunk, like I should not be swimming it is unsafe and was very silly of me, but anyways this huge wave is taking me out.

'I got caught in a riptide so I'm now so far away from the shore and I'm like trying to call my friends.'

Joe asked: 'Did you still go for a wee?'

Chloe usually cuts a very glamorous figure

Earlier this year, Chloe shared a very 'traumatising' experience from her trip to Australia [pictured with pal Millie Court]

Despite having a lot of fun during the holiday, Chloe admitted she had one bad experience where lifeguards were forced to rescue her from a riptide

'I got caught in a riptide so I'm now so far away from the shore and I'm like trying to call my friends'

She replied: 'Yeah well I p***ed myself from being scared. I probably s*** in the sea as well, it was really traumatising and then two lifeguards are coming and pull me back to shore and I was just a drunk mess. It was just pure chaos.'

Chloe shared several stunning snaps to social media from her time in Australia, including one in a skimpy red bikini on Christmas day.

It comes after Chloe went public with her new romance, three years after her Toby Aromolaran split.

The influencer, who shot to fame on Love Island in 2021 with Toby, went public with her new man, Ruben Moreira as she moved on from her former romance.

She posted a picture on her Instagram Stories of her and Ruben, with fans immediately taking this to mean she was 'soft launching' her new relationship.

It's understood Chloe met Ruben through Love Island co-star and pal Liam Reardon, as the two men are friends.
Rebekah Vardy has revealed she is flogging her old designer bikinis after being ordered to pay Coleen Rooney 1.4M in legal fees.

Last week, the WAG, 43, agreed to pay 1,190,000 of Coleen's legal bill, plus a further 212,266 in assessment costs, after sensationally losing their high-profile libel case.

This takes the total Rebekah must pay to at least 1,402,266.20. MailOnline understands she has already paid some of the bill, including 800,000 four years ago and 100,000 last year.

It has now emerged that the TV personality is selling her clothes on resale site Vinted as she advertised the items on her Instagram Story on Tuesday.

Rebekah was advertising a range of her colourful swimwear, from luxury brands including Luli Fama, ViX and Good American.

One bikini from Luli Fama, where swimwear retails from around 170, was being listed on her page for a fraction of the price at 50.

Rebekah Vardy has revealed she is flogging her old designer bikinis after being ordered to pay Coleen Rooney 1.4M in legal fees

It has now emerged that the TV personality is selling her clothes on resale site Vinted as she advertised the items on her Instagram Story on Tuesday

Meanwhile, the ViX bikinis, which would cost around 200 to buy new were being listed for similar price tags.

Rebekah had also listed items of clothing from her wardrobe, as well as children's clothing she no longer wanted.

It comes after it was revealed she had left the UK after being ordered to pay Coleen a huge sum in their Wagatha Christie settlement following the years-long legal battle.

She shared a snap of herself jetting out of the country on a budget flight after being ordered to pay 1.4million to Coleen.

While Coleen shared her 'relief' that the ordeal had finally come to an end, Rebekah was clearly in no mood to hang around as she took the early morning flight.

Breaking her silence in a statement on Wednesday, Coleen, 39, insisted 'time and money should have been put to better use' in the scathing message to Rebekah.

She wrote: 'The ruling yesterday in my favour finally brings this claim to an end, it's a relief and brings closure for my family and I.

'Throughout this long process, I am grateful that the judgements have consistently gone my way.

Rebekah was advertising a range of her colourful swimwear, from luxury brands including Luli Fama, ViX and Good American

Rebekah had also listed items of clothing from her wardrobe, as well as children's clothing she no longer wanted

While Coleen shared her 'relief' that the ordeal had finally come to an end, Rebekah was clearly in no mood to hang around as she took the early morning flight

'However, as I have always maintained this claim did not need to be made or run for as long as it did.

'The time and money should have been put to better use.

'I want to thank my legal representatives, management, friends and family for their guidance and constant support.

'Thanks also to the public and many well wishers who have been in touch with such kind messages.

'This episode is not something I ever wanted in my life however I am thankful for the way my family and team have dealt with it.

'We look forward to moving on with our lives.'

Coleen must also pay Rebekah a total of 135,097.50 in costs under the terms of court orders from 2024, which will be set off against what Rebekah must pay.

A source close to Rebekah told MailOnline on Tuesday: 'It's a huge relief for Rebekah that this long legal battle is now coming to an end.

Breaking her silence in a statement on Wednesday, Coleen, 39, insisted 'time and money should have been put to better use' in the scathing message to Rebekah

She wrote: 'The ruling yesterday in my favour finally brings this claim to an end, it's a relief and brings closure for my family and I'

The WAG agreed to pay 1,190,000 of Coleen's legal bill, plus was ordered to pay a further 212,266 in assessment costs, after sensationally losing their high-profile libel case

'She's looking forward to putting the whole ordeal well and truly behind her.

'Now shes just focusing on the future. And there are some big plans coming up for her now that she just wants to get cracking with.'

Coleen ran up a legal bill of more than 1.8 million while successfully defending herself against Rebekah's High Court claim in 2022.

After losing their High Court showdown, Rebekah was ordered to pay 90 percent of Coleen's legal costs.

In written submissions to a specialist costs court hearing on Tuesday, Rebekah's barrister, Juliet Wells, said Coleen's total legal bill of 1,833,906.89 'has now been settled at 1,190,000, being [approximately] 1,125,000 plus interest of [approximately] 65,000'.

The court heard that while Coleen was also asking for a further 315,000 in 'assessment costs', Costs Judge Mark Whalan ordered Rebekah to pay 212,266.20 of Coleen's assessment costs, inclusive of VAT but before interest, on top of the 1.19 million settlement.

While Mrs Wells previously called for the 'grossly disproportionate' assessment costs to be capped at 'no more than 100,000', Judge Whalan said the amount awarded was 'reasonable and proportionate'.

He added that while there had been 'extraordinary expenditure of costs' on both sides, he was 'generally happy' the outcome was a 'commercially satisfactory conclusion' for the pair.

Rebekah has made many attempts in the past to bring down the sum she is expected to pay for Coleen's legal costs which were set at 1,833,906.89 (Pictured: Rebekah and her husband Jamie Vardy)

The post that started it all: Coleen accused Rebekah's social media account of leaking stories

Coleen pictured with her husband Wayne Rooney outside the Royal Courts of Justice in May 2022

'I do mean it when I say that I hope that this is the end of a long and unhappy road,' he added.

Rebekah's lawyer previously argued Coleen's team had used a 'kitchen sink' approach when calculating the total and included 'over 120,000 of costs to which Coleen has no entitlement'.

It was also claimed the bill included costs for one of the WAG's team to stay at Nobu - a five star luxury hotel - and 'substantial dinner and drinks charges as well as mini bar charges'.

The lawyer said Coleen's 1,833,906.89 legal bill was over three times her 'agreed costs budget of 540,779.07'.

But Coleen's lawyer, Robin Dunne, had argued it was 'frankly outrageous' to accuse them of dishonesty.

Rebekah unsuccessfully sued the I'm A Celeb star in the High Court in 2022 after she was publicly accused of leaking stories about her to the press.

The catalyst for the famous Wagatha Christie case was a dramatic open letter written by Coleen and posted on social media in October 2019 in which she revealed she had turned detective to figure out who had been leaking the stories.

Coleen publicly claimed Rebekah's account was the source behind three newspaper stories featuring fake details she had posted on her private Instagram profile - her travelling to Mexico for a 'gender selection' procedure, her planning to return to TV and the basement flooding at her home.

Penning that she had a 'suspicion' of who it could be, Coleen told her millions of followers that 'to try and prove this' she 'came up with an idea'.

'I blocked everyone from viewing my Instagram stories except ONE account,' she wrote.

For the next five months, she uploaded 'a series of false stories' to see if 'they made their way' into the press.

'And you know what, they did!' she penned 'The story about gender selection in Mexico, the story about returning to TV and then the latest story about the basement flooding in my new house.'

She continued to build suspense, writing: 'It's been tough keeping it to myself and not making any comment at all, especially when the stories have been leaked, however I had to. Now I know for certain which account/individual it's come from.

A court artist sketch of Rebekah wiping away tears as she gave evidence at the Royal Courts Of Justice

Court artist sketch of Coleen and Wayne Rooney (left) and Rebekah Vardy (right) sitting near to each other in the front row at court

'I have saved and screenshotted all the original stories which clearly show just one person had viewed them.'

And then, she delivered her final iconic line: 'It's.......... Rebekah Vardy's account.'

What followed was a tearful appearance from Rebekah on ITV's Loose Women in February 2020 in which claimed the stress over the dispute had caused her to have anxiety attacks so severe she 'ended up in hospital three times'.

The emotional display was met by Coleen with a statement to say she did not want to 'engage in further public debate' on the matter.

Four months later, in June 2020, Rebekah began legal proceedings against Coleen for libel with her lawyers alleging she had 'suffered extreme distress, hurt, anxiety and embarrassment as a result of the publication of the post and the events which followed'.

At the first preliminary hearing in London's High Court in November the same year, Mr Justice Warby ruled that Coleen's famous letter 'clearly identified' Rebekah as being 'guilty of the serious and consistent breach of trust'.

He concluded the 'natural and ordinary' meaning of the posts was that Rebekah had 'regularly and frequently abused her status as a trusted follower of Mrs Rooney's personal Instagram account' by secretly informing the press of Coleen's 'private posts and stories'.

When the case returned to the courts in February 2022, a series of explosive messages between Rebekah and her agent Caroline Watt were revealed with Coleen's lawyers alleging they were about her.

When the case returned to the courts in February 2022, a series of explosive messages between Rebekah and her agent Caroline Watt were revealed with lawyers for Coleen (pictured) alleging they were about her

Rebekah denied that one message calling someone a 'nasty b****' was in reference to Coleen.

When asked by defence lawyers to present Ms Watt's phone so they could further investigate the WhatsApp messages, they were told it had fallen into the North Sea when Ms Watt was on a boat during a holiday.

Coleen was denied permission to bring a High Court claim against Ms Watt for misuse of private information to be heard alongside the libel battle as it was brought too late.

Ms Watt was then dubbed not fit to give oral evidence, revoked permission for her witness statement to be used and withdrew her waiver which would have allowed journalists to say whether she was a source of the leaked stories.

Coleen's barrister then told the High Court Rebekah 'appears to accept' her agent was the source of the leaked stories and argued her new statement suggested this but Rebekah claimed she 'did not authorise or condone her'.

In May 2022, the women finally came face-to-face in court to give evidence as the Wagatha Christie trial began in the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Coleen secured her victory the next month when Mrs Justice Steyn delivered her verdict, dismissing the claim made by Rebekah and finding Coleen had proved the meaning of her famous accusatory letter was 'substantially true'.

Whilst Coleen said she was 'pleased' the judge had ruled in her favour, Rebekah declared she was 'extremely sad and disappointed' at the decision.

MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Coleen Rooney for com
At 50, Eva Longoria is planning what she'll do for the next 50 years.

'I want to make other people's dreams come true,' she told to Byrdie magazine for their summer issue as she posed in a bikini top.

And she is happy with where she is at these days.

'I don't mind aging,' said the L'Oreal Paris spokeswoman. 'I just want to age well. I'm grateful to be able to move my body and work out, hike up a mountain, and play with my son. I'm trying to be as mobile as possible for as long as possible.'

The actress, who is at the Cannes Film Festival as a member of the jury, says she will get behind the camera again soon.

'This summer, I'll announce the next movie I'm directing,' she told the outlet. 'It's been four years since I directed Flamin' Hot because I was picky about what I wanted to do next.'

At 50, Eva Longoria is planning what she'll do for the next 50 years. 'I want to make other people's dreams come true,' she told to Byrdie magazine for their summer issue as she posed in a bikini top

And she is happy with where she is at these days. 'I don't mind aging,' said the L'Oreal Paris spokeswoman. 'I just want to age well'

Longoria is gracing the cover of the magazine and posed for a sexy pictorial to go with the article.

Teasing her next project she said, 'This movie is a comedy, and the writer is someone I've been dying to work with. So I'll start prepping for that this summer and shooting in the fall. And then I'll be in Europe for the summer, spending time with my son on the beach.'

The Only Murders in the Building actress shares her son, Santiago, almost six, with her husband, Jose Baston, 56.

It's been 25 years since Longoria got her first on screen gig as playing flight attendant #3 on Beverly Hills 90210.

Since then, the former beauty queen has won Alma awards for her portrayals of Latinas as Isabella Brana Williams in The Young and the Restless, and as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives.

The Texas native explained her road to success was built with intention.

'When I look at the longevity I've had in this industry, it makes sense to me,' the Land of Women star and producer said.

'Of course, I'm going to work as hard as I can at whatever I do, and it just happens to be in this industry. I knew I'd be successful because I was surrounded by successful womenmy mother, sisters, and aunts were independent, strong, smart, and charitable. They were everything I wanted to be.'

'I'm grateful to be able to move my body and work out, hike up a mountain, and play with my son. I'm trying to be as mobile as possible for as long as possible,' she said

'I remember the first time I was on a billboard and somebody said to me, "Oh my God, who would have thought?" And I said, "Me. I thought it. I dreamt it."'

'If you don't champion yourself, who else is going to? That unwavering belief in yourself will take you so far,' she advised.

'I remember the first time I was on set as an extra, and I wasn't fascinated by the actors, I was fascinated by the people behind the monitors who made the decisions,' she revealed.

'People think I'm an actor-turned-director, but I've always been a director-producer who fell into acting. I always wanted to have control of the project. I always wanted to create my own opportunities, not sit back and wait for one.'

The Desperate Housewives alum is not surprised by her longevity in Hollywood. 'It makes sense to me. Of course, I'm going to work as hard as I can at whatever I do, and it just happens to be in this industry'

'Being Latina and being a woman, I knew we were going to have to create our own opportunities and not wait for the industry to open those doors for us. That was a big motivator for me' she said

Longoria said confidence in herself has been key. 'If you don't champion yourself, who else is going to? That unwavering belief in yourself will take you so far,' she advised

That includes providing more opportunities for the Latino community via her upcoming film and her role as co-founder of Hyphenate Media Group.

'Being Latina and being a woman, I knew we were going to have to create our own opportunities and not wait for the industry to open those doors for us. That was a big motivator for me.'

As she approaches the next 50 years, Longoria will make sure she makes decision with intention.

'When you're young, you should say "yes" to every opportunity, so you can decide what you want to do in life,' the People's Choice Award winner advised. 'Now that I'm 50, I'm prioritizing differently.'

Longoria, worries what her son might think of her past decisions and whether he 'might be embarrassed. Even with old sexy photoshoots, I think, 'Oh god, he's going to see this one day'"

Longoria is seen at Hotel Martinez during day one of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 13

'I definitely think more about what I want out in the world because my son is going to see it,' she explained.

'I think about whether he'd be proud of something or might be embarrassed. Even with old sexy photoshoots, I think, "Oh God, he's going to see this one day."'

As a result of this new focus, Longoria said, 'I'm curating my life to be very specific to what I want the next 50 years to look like.'

'I'm spending more time with my family, working less, and doing more of what I love. Being financially secure helps with those decisions, but I feel I've worked hard enough to say "no" now.'

What the Searching for Spain host is saying 'yes' to keeping up with her young son and enriching her relationships with family and friends.
Count Nikolai of Monpezat has been rubbing shoulders with the Australian A-list this week.

The 25-year-old, who is the nephew of Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark, attended Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday and was back again on Tuesday for day two of the festivities.

Nikolai, who has launched a modelling career since losing his title in 2022, opted for a mismatched, high fashion look.

He paired a tan jacket with a blue dress shirt, while adding a pair of grey slacks.

To add some earth tones to the ensemble, he wore a brown tie in a dappled fabric and dark brown belt.

Finally, Nikolai, cream shows matched his jacket and he skipped out on any other accessories.

Count Nikolai of Monpezat (pictured) has been rubbing shoulders with the Australian A-list this week

The 25-year-old, who is the nephew of Australian-born Queen Mary of Denmark, attended Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday and was back again on Tuesday for day two of the festivities

On Monday, he sat at front row at the Carla Zampatti show on day one of the event.

Alongside him was his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup, with the pair looking happy together after fielding split rumours late last year.

Nikolai looked smart in a navy blue suit paired with a light blue dress shirt and dark brown tie.

Benedikte meanwhile stunned in a strapless, black peplum dress in a maxi length, along with camel toned heels.

The 24-year-old chose a natural, barely there makeup look and wore her caramel locks down in waves.

Earlier, the Danish It-girl had arrived wearing a beige trench coat that perfectly matched her shoes.

The couple looked relaxed and happy as they sat together watching the show, and exchanged loving looks while posing together before the runway show.

Late last year, the pair were rumoured to have split after Nikolai and Benedikte had not shared to social media any photos of them together for months.

On Monday, he sat at front row at the Carla Zampatti show on day one of the event. Alongside him was his girlfriend Benedikte Thoustrup (right), with the pair looking happy together after fielding split rumours late last year

Late last year, the pair were rumoured to have split after Nikolai and Benedikte had not shared to social media any photos of them together for months

Benedikte, who is the founder of Danish hair beauty company BeneSoie, had posted several glamorous modelling shots to Instagram - and Nikolai had been absent from all of them.

However, it was clear all was well as the genetically blessed couple cuddled up at hottest event on the Aussie fashion calendar.

Nikolai appearance at Fashion Week comes after tensions had risen between the Danish Royal Family since late 2022, after Queen Margrethe stripped Prince Joachim's four children - Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena, of their titles.

At the time, Margrethe insisted the move would be 'good for them in their future.'

She said it would 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.
Lena Dunham made a rare red carpet appearance on Monday.

The Girls star, 38, was at a New York City special screening of Pee-wee As Himself at the Museum of Modern Art.

She was almost unrecognizable because her normally short light brunette hair was seen long and black.

Dunham also had on dramatic makeup with black eyeliner and ruby red lipstick for a goth appearance as she added earrings, rings and several necklaces.

The talent had on a Pee-Wee T0-shirt underneath a black-and-brown striped jacket with matching slacks and black shoes.

The outing comes after Dunham admitted that she stepped back from acting over body-shaming comments.

Lena Dunham made a rare red carpet appearance on Monday. The Girls star, 38, was at a New York City special screening of Pee-wee As Himself at the Museum of Modern Art

She was almost unrecognizable because her normally short light brunette hair was seen long and black

Last year Lena revealed she was stepping back from acting because she didn't want her body to be 'dissected again' by critics.

The star decided to cast Megan Stalter instead of herself in her semi-autobiographical 10-episode comedy series Too Much, which is set to premiere on Netflix this year.

'I was not willing to have another experience like what I'd experienced around [my HBO series Girls] at this point in my life,' the star explained to the New Yorker.

'Physically, I was just not up for having my body dissected again. It was a hard choice, not to cast Meg  because I knew I wanted Meg  but to admit that to myself.'

'I used to think that winning meant you just keep doing it and you don't care what anybody thinks. I forgot that winning is actually just protecting yourself and doing what you need to do to keep making work.'

Lena continued: 'I remember looking at Meg and being, like, "You are my muse. You inspire me every single day to go home and tap out pages upon pages." I definitely don't want to be my own muse.'

Dunham also had on dramatic makeup with black eyeliner and ruby red lipstick for a goth appearance as she added earrings, rings and several necklaces

. The talent had on a Pee-Wee T0-shirt underneath a black-and-brown striped jacket with matching slacks and black shoes. Dunham, Matt Wolf and Emma Tillinger

The outing comes after Dunham admitted that she stepped back from acting over body-shaming comments

Seen in March during the Trans Day of Visibility rally on the National Mall in Washington

Dunham gushed over how 'inspiring and unbelievably talented' the 33-year-old Hacks star is as her thinly-veiled character Jessica, who falls in love with a British musician called Felix (Will Sharpe) after moving from New York to North London.

The eight-time Emmy nominee also happens to be a New Yorker who had a bad break-up (Jack Antonoff) and moved to London where she married British-Peruvian musician Luis Felber, who's the composer and co-creator of Too Much.

'It's not a huge leap. But I knew from the very beginning I would not be the star of it,' Lena noted.

'I was thinking a lot about, like, What is it that allows women to be complicated on TV and still be embraced and seen and understood? There's an openness to Meg's presence that I think goes a long way. She has whatever the opposite of resting b***h face is. She has resting angel face.'

Dunham continued: 'Meg is one of the beautiful women working today. She is so alarmingly gorgeous. The fact that she is not a size 0, or that she's not part of the new class of Ozempic-thin women, is not part of it...It's really important to me that there be a love affair between a guy and a girl where the fact that she is not teensy-weensy doesn't drive it...We were, like, "We don't want anyone to think we're doing a show about a beautiful man doing someone a favor."'

However, the tattooed millennial does have a small acting part in Too Much as the spouse of the character played by Andrew Rannells, who previously played her Girls character Hannah Horvath's gay best friend Elijah.

The ensemble cast also includes Emily Ratajkowski, Richard E. Grant, Adele Exarchopoulos, Rita Wilson, Andrew Rannells, Janicza Bravo, Rhea Perlman, and Stephen Fry.

Dunham created, wrote, and starred in the HBO television series Girls from 2012 until 2017. The show garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards.

The show also notably launched the career of Adam Driver, 41, who played her charismatic boyfriend Adam, and went on to star as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars franchise. He has since nabbed multiple Academy Award nominations.

Lena has recently entered a creative partnership with Netflix. The streamer secured the rights to her rom-com 'Good Sex'  which she will write and direct  starring Natalie Portman, in a $55 million worldwide deal.

Dunham is also writing a film about cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried for Apple and A24, adapted from Michael Lewis's book Going Infinite.

She is pictured in 2012 in a still from Girls

Dunham created, wrote, and starred in the HBO television series Girls from 2012 until 2017. The show garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards; seen in a 2017 still with Riz Ahmed

In 2010 she directed and starred in the film Tiny Furniture.

Last May, Lena spoke out about her genetic condition, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, in an Instagram post.

The star revealed she was diagnosed with hEDS in 2019.

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danos syndrome is one type of EDS, caused by defects in a person's collagen.

Common symptoms of the condition include muscle and bone pain, hypermobility, easily bruised, skin that is slightly elastic, according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.

The star has been also candid about her struggles with endometriosis, her decision to have a hysterectomy at 31 due to her endometriosis and also mental health issues.
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Old habits appeared to die hard on Tuesday evening as a host of guests more familiar with fashion than film appeared to defy a new red carpet crackdown at the 78th annual Film Festival.

New nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' were implemented as French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opened the ceremony.

But an array of models and actresses, led by ceremony veteran Bella Hadid, appeared to flout the rule by baring flesh as they walked the Cannes Croisette ahead of Tuesday's screening.

The supermodel, 28, showed her jaw-dropping figure in a gorgeous black satin gown as she arrived at the event.

She went braless and opted for a thigh-high slit to complete her racy Cannes look, amid the new crackdown on risque outfits.

Meanwhile, supermodel Heidi Klum, 51, wowed in pink as she graced the screening of Partir Un Jour in a ruffled gown that resembled flowers and featured a long train.

Eva Longoria, 50, turned heads at the event in a stunning gold and black mirrored gown, flaunting her model figure.

And jury president Juliette Binoche, 61, cut a radiant figure in in a cream satin cowled top with a hood.

Old habits appeared to die hard on Tuesday evening as a host of guests more familiar with fashion than film appeared to defy a new red carpet crackdown at the 78th annual Film Festival

Heidi Klum's cascading ruffled pink Ellie Saab dress, hand stitched with individual pink gradient organza petals and a 12 foot train means perhaps she hadnt heard that the rules had changed (L) while Eva Longoria who turned heads at the event in a stunning gold and black gown (R)

An array of models and actresses, led by ceremony veteran Bella Hadid , appeared to flout the rule by baring flesh as they walked the Cannes Croisette ahead of Tuesday's screening

Halle Berry confided that she had had to re-plan her wardrobe as her initial choice was too big wore a modest halter-necked monochrome striped dress (L), while Alessandra Ambrosio looked incredible in a thigh-split green gown (R)

In high spirits, she tapped her foot and nodded her head along to Madonnas Vogue which was playing on the loudspeakers.

Halle Berry was also in attendance as she posed up a storm in a black and white sleeveless striped dress for her Film Festival look.

She was joined by models Irina Shayk and Shanina Shaik, who commanded attention in glittering black numbers.

Russian model Irina, 39, looked nothing short of sensational in a strapless black ballgown with large puffball sleeves and a white polka dot design.

Australian model Shanina, 34, posed up a storm in a unique dress boasting a diamante-encrusted maxi skirt and a corset-style top half.

Julia Garner, 31, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black maxi dress layered over a nude gown, featuring a thigh-high slit.

Alessandra Ambrosio looked incredible in green as she was joined by Eva Longoria who turned heads at the event in a stunning gold and black gown.

Also in attendance was Lady Victoria Hervey, who looked chic in a white feathered gown with a high slit and silver detialing and a matching headband.

Cannes ruled 'no nudity' this year  and also asked the A listers who make their way up that famous 22 step red carpet to steer clear of 'excessively voluminous' clothing.

That didn't stop the dozens of actresses and models who attended the opening night ceremony from going all out with trains, diamonds, ruffles, netting and gowns as plunging and as brief as decency would allow.

She went braless and opted for a thigh-high slit to complete her racy Cannes look, amid the new crackdown on risque outfits

Bella looked in good spirits as she waved to fans while walking the red carpet

She wore her long blonde tresses in a straight style and opted for a smoky and sultry palette of makeup

Cannes ruled 'no nudity' this year  and also asked the A listers who make their way up that famous 22 step red carpet to steer clear of 'excessively voluminous' clothing

Jury president Juliette Binoche, 61, cut a radiant figure in in a cream satin cowled top with a hood

In high spirits, she tapped her foot and nodded her head along to Madonnas Vogue which was playing on the loudspeakers

Halle Berry was also in attendance as the posed up a storm in a black and white sleeveless striped dress for her Film Festival look

Halle ensured all eyes were on her as she graced the stage during the ceremony

Alessandra Ambrosio looked incredible in green as she walked the red carpet

Models Irina Shayk and Shanina Shaik commanded attention in glittering black numbers

Robert De Niro looked dapper in black as he attended the opening ceremony with his partner Tiffany Chen

Robert and Tiffant were also joined by his daughter Helen Grace who he shares with his ex-wife Grace Hightower

Model and TV presenter Heidi's cascading ruffled pink Ellie Saab dress, handstitched with individual pink gradient organza petals and a 12 foot train means perhaps she hadnt heard that the rules had changed.

To be fair, they only announced the decree 24 hours before the opening ceremony, giving stylists on the Riviera collective heart failure.

Models Alessandra and Irina both opted for deeply plunging strapless dresses.

Jury member Halle even confided that she had had to re-plan her wardrobe as her initial choice was too big wore a modest halter-necked monochrome striped dress.

At a press conference earlier in the day she said: 'I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big.

'Of course, I'm going to follow the rules, so I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part, I do think, is probably also a good move.' Which may come as a surprise to anyone who remembers her crotch-flashing sheer panelled dress at the Met Gala ball last week.

Julia Garner, 31, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black maxi dress layered over a nude gown, featuring a thigh-high slit

Quentin Tarantino and his wife Daniella Pick put on a very loved-up display on the red carpet

Model Caroline Daur turned heads in a strapless gown with gold drop earrings

Also in attendance was Lady Victoria Hervey, who looked chic in a white feathered gown while fellow socialite Emma Weymouth opted for a stunning red shimmering dress

Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau looked sensational in a black strapless gown with a layered hemline

Irina's head-turning gown featured a white polk dot detail and dramatically oversized sleeves

French actress Frederique Bel risked breaking the new red carpet rules with her risque outfit

The ceremony was a big night for Robert De Niro who was awarded the Honorary Palme d'Or award for lifetime achievement, presented to him by Leonardo DiCaprio.

The pair first starred together in the 1993 film This Boys Life and then again in Killiers Of The Flower Moon in 2023. He was also joined on stage by film director Quentin Tarantino who Robert worked with in the 1997 film Jackie Brown.

It comes after Eva Longoria looked radiant in a chiffon yellow midi-dress as she joined a host of celebrity jury members ahead of the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival.

The Desperate Housewives star, 50, joined fellow jury members Halle Berry and Julia Garner, as well as president Juliette Binoche, for a photo call on Tuesday.

Eva looked elegant in the swishing pale yellow sleeves dress as she basked in the sunshine leaving Hotel Martinez ahead of the opening ceremony later that evening.

Meanwhile Halle strutted through the French city in a black tweed two piece - after having to swap her outfit at the last minute due to the festival's new nudity ban.

The ceremony was a big night for Robert De Niro who was awarded the Honorary Palme d'Or award for lifetime achievement, presented to him by Leonardo DiCaprio

He was also joined on stage by film director Quentin Tarantino who Robert worked with in the 1997 film Jackie Brown

Leonardo looked dapper in a black tuxedo as he posed alongside Juliette on stage

Robert gave Leo a kiss on the cheek as he took to the stage to accept hisaward

Bella exuded glamour as she posed with a bouqet of flowers at Hotel Martinez earlier in the day

Eva put on an animated display at the Hotel Martinez as she enjoyed a glassof champagne

Blanca Blanco attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and Leave One Day screening

Her gown was by French fashion designer Christophe Guillarme, seen right

The A-listers were seen posing for snaps with jury members Carlos Reygadas, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, Jeremy Strong, Dieudo Hamadi, Alba Rohrwacher and Hong Sang-soo.

Succession actor Jeremy was seen sporting a 225,000 euro watch and a bucket hat as he attended the Palme D'Or, this year honouring Robert De Niro.

Other stars spotted out and about ahead of the opening ceremony were model Shanina Shaik, actress Andie MacDowell and honouree himself De Niro - who attended with his partner Tiffany Chen.

Inventing Anna actress Julia also made an appearance, looking impeccably chic in a black suede A-line mini-dress with a high neckline.

Meanwhile Jury President Juliette looked stylish in a butter yellow jumpsuit, which featured a dramatic statement collar with a fitted bodice and buckled belt.

Actress Andie MacDowell was among the stars in attendance, as she was seen leaving Hotel Martinez in a light grey suede oversized biker jacket and knee-length skirt.

Australian model looked effortlessly sophisticated in a relaxed grey co-ord, consisting of a longline high-neck blouse and tailored trousers.

This year's festival has officially placed a ban on 'nudity' and 'voluminous outfits'.

The annual event - which is returning for the 78th time and is one of the most prestigious festivals in the movie industry's calendar - has updated its red carpet dress code in time for today's (13.05.25) opening, with certain fashion trends not allowed.

The official charter reads: 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.

'Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted. The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

Actress Halle spoke out on the ban as she said: 'I had an amazing dress to wear tonight, and I cannot wear because the train is too big.

'So I, of course, am going to follow the rules. had to make a pivot, but the nudity part, I do think is probably also a good rule.'

Eva Longoria looked radiant in a chiffon yellow midi-dress as she joined a host of celebrity jury members ahead of the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival

The Desperate Housewives star, 50, joined fellow jury members Halle Berry and Julia Garner

Cannes Film Festival jury president Juliette Binoche was also in attendance for the photo call on Tuesday

The A-listers were seen posing for snaps with jury members Carlos Reygadas, Payal Kapadia, Leila Slimani, Jeremy Strong, Dieudo Hamadi, Alba Rohrwacher and Hong Sang-soo

Eva looked elegant in the swishing pale yellow sleeves dress as she basked in the sunshine

Eva spent that day at Lucia Cannes to promote her tequila, Casa del Sol at a luncheon

During the film festival, the French restaurant has launched a special menu with items made with Eva's tequila

Eva beamed as she enjoyed cocktails with friends

Halle strutted through the French city in a black tweed two piece ahead of the festival kicking off later tonight

Halle revealed she had to swap her outfit at the last minute due to the festival's new nudity ban

Inventing Anna actress Julia also made an appearance, looking impeccably chic in a black suede A-line mini-dress with a high neckline

Julia was beaming with her bright red lipstick on show as she carried around a cream leather Gucci handbag

Succession actor Jeremy was seen sporting a 225,000 watch and a bucket hat as he attended the Palme D'Or

The watch was red to match his relaxed ensemble consisting of a corduroy jacket and hat

Jeremy's quirky outfit consisted of a pink and dusty red co-ord trousers and shirt, with pink and black suede sneakers

Meanwhile Jury President Juliette looked stylish in a butter yellow jumpsuit, which featured a dramatic statement collar with a fitted bodice and buckled belt

Honouree himself De Niro - who attended with his partner Tiffany Chen - was spotted at the photo call celebrating him

De Niro playfully joked with fans as they seemed to chant his name during the photocall in Cannes

Actress Andie MacDowell was among the stars in attendance, as she was seen leaving Hotel Martinez

She donned a light grey suede oversized biker jacket and knee-length skirt

Australian model looked effortlessly sophisticated in a relaxed grey co-ord, consisting of a longline high-neck blouse and tailored trousers

Shanina sported a barely-there make-up look and natural hair and paired her tailored ensemble with black leather stilettos as she attended the Vanity Fair lunch later that day

Director Quentin Tarantino arrived hand-in-hand with his glamorous wife Danielle as they arrived for the festival

Julia was also seen jetting from the Cannes photocall to the Vanity Fair lunch as she posed up a storm

Another star to make a glamorous appearance at the lunching was Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau, who oozed sophistication in a figure-hugging white gown with a high-neck cape feature

Actress Naomie Harris made a colourful appearance as she donned a bright yellow and white striped midi-dress complete with a capped sleeve and drooping cape design

Eva made sure to turn heads in a glamorous sequinned gown as she strutted through the five-star Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Monday ahead of the film festival.

The actress looked nothing short of sensational in the fitted plunging number which showed off her amazing figure.

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering coordinated heels and accessorised with a simple pair of drop earrings.

Styling her long brunette tresses in a half up do in waves, the Desperate Housewives star wore a glamorous palette of L'Oreal makeup, complete with a swipe of bold red lipstick.

Eva held onto her teams arms as she carefully made her way down the hotel staircase before sipping on a hot beverage.

The Land of Women star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way through the hotel lobby while holding onto a pair of sunglasses.

Earlier in the day, Eva took to Instagram and shared that she has worked with L'Oreal for 20 years as she posed with a number of gold balloons on her lavish bed.

She also shared a glimpse into her glam squad creating her stunning look for the day as multiple stylist diffused her hair and worked on her makeup.

Eva Longoria made sure to turn heads in a glamorous sequinned gown as she strutted through the five-star Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Monday ahead of the film festival

The actress looked nothing short of sensational in the fitted plunging number which showed off her amazing figure

She elevated her frame in a pair of towering coordinated heels and accessorised with a simple pair of drop earrings

Eva styled her long brunette tresses in a half up do in waves

The Desperate Housewives star wore a glamorous palette of L'Oreal makeup, complete with a swipe of bold red lipstick

Eva held onto her teams arms as she carefully made her way down the hotel staircase before sipping on a hot beverage

The Land of Women star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way through the hotel lobby while holding onto a pair of sunglasses

Eva looked in good spirits as she relaxed in a dressing gown while also having her nails done for the occasion.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'You've got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

Eva was seen heading into an elevator

She flashed her gorgeous smile as she exited the five-star hotel

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Earlier in the day, Eva took to Instagram and shared that she has worked with L'Oreal for 20 years as she posed with a number of gold balloons on her lavish bed

She also shared a glimpse into her glam squad creating her stunning look for the day as multiple stylist diffused her hair and worked on her makeup
Heidi Klum looked sensational as she posed up a storm at the luxurious five-star Hotel Martinez ahead of the first day of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The model, 51, put on a leggy display in a pink floral floor-length gown from Ellie Saab's 1001 Seasons collection.

The chic ensemble, which showed off her toned pins, featured a strapless bodice, a voluminous skirt with cascading pink floral ruffles, and a dramatic train.

She added height with a pair of pointed satin pink open-toe heels and kept accessories minimal, letting the extravagant gown speak for itself.

To complete the look, she styled her blonde locks in a voluminous curly blowout and opted for a glamorous makeup palette.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Heidi Klum looked sensational as she posed up a storm at the luxurious five-star Hotel Martinez ahead of the first day of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

The model, 51, put on a leggy display in a pink floral floor-length gown from Ellie Saab's 1001 Seasons collection

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government-controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

The chic ensemble, which showed off her toned pins, featured a strapless bodice, a voluminous skirt with cascading pink floral ruffles, and a dramatic train

She added height with a pair of pointed satin pink open-toe heels and kept accessories minimal, letting the extravagant gown speak for itself

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who's to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Scarlett's directorial debut, Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years, the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

To complete the look, she styled her blonde locks in a voluminous curly blowout and opted for a glamorous makeup palette

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven-day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets, and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline-grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions.

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump's biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Quentin Tarantino packed on the PDA with his glamorous wife Daniella Pick as they attended the glitzy premiere of Leave One Day on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The acclaimed director, 62, who tied the knot with Daniella in 2018, cosied up to his stunning spouse as they attended the premiere, which also acted at the opening ceremony for this year's festival.

Quentin, who recently announced he will only be making one more film, will be this year's guest of honour and front a special tribute to the late western film director George Sherman.

The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood frontman, who won the Palme dOr in 1994 for Pulp Fiction, will present 1949's Le Mustang Noir and 1950's Sur le territoire des Comanches before taking part in a discussion with Elvis Mitchell.

Daniella stunned in an elegant silver sequinned gown as she posed on the red carpet with her husband.

The couple, who met when he was promoting 2009'a Inglourious Basterds in Israel, married in 2018.

Quentin Tarantino, 62, packed on the PDA with his glamorous wife Daniella Pick, 41, as they attended the premiere of Leave One Day on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival

The acclaimed director cosied up to his stunning spouse as they attended the premiere, which also acted at the opening ceremony for this year's festival

They share a son, Leo, five, and a two-year-old daughter, whose name has not yet been revealed.

In January, Quentin flew from Israel to Utah to speak at Sundance Film Festival.

The renowned filmmaker joined film critic Elvis Mitchell in a conversation about his career, sharing when he plans to start his next movie.

When Mitchell asked the Reservoir Dogs director why he's turned his focus to writing over the last several years, Tarantino pointed to fatherhood.

'Im in no hurry to actually jump into production,' he answered. 'Ive been doing that for 30 years. Next month my son turns five, and I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

'When Im in America, Im writing. When Im in Israel Im an abba, which is Hebrew for father.'

In conversation with Mitchell, he added that 'the idea of jumping on a voyage when theyre too young to understand it is not enticing to me,' per an account from Variety.

He elaborated: 'I kind of want to not do whatever movie I end up doing until my son is at least 6. That way hell know whats going on, hell be there, and it will be a memory for the rest of his life.'

Daniella stunned in an elegant silver sequinned gown as she posed on the red carpet with her husband

Quentin, who recently announced he will only be making one more film, will be this year's guest of honour and front a special tribute to the late western film director George Sherman

The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood frontman won the Palme dOr in 1994 for Pulp Fiction, and has returned for the special tribute at this year's festival

Earlier in the day, Daniella showed off her abs in a cream crop top and matching trousers as she and Quentin arrived in Cannes

And he gushed about his daughter, '[She] is already such a genius, shell just get it.'

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'
Julia Garner exuded glamour as she posed on the red carpet ahead of the Partir Un Jour premiere during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The American actress, 31, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black gown layered over a shimmery nude slip, featuring a dramatic thigh-high slit.

Offering a glimpse of her long pins, Julia elevated her look with black patent leather platform open-toe heels.

She further accessorised her glamorous look with diamond drop earrings and statement rings.

To complete the look, she wore her short blonde hair in a tousled side-swept style and opted for a bold smoky eye makeup palette.

Partir Un Jour follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to forge a life of her own, only to be drawn back by a family emergency.

Julia Garner exuded glamour as she posed on the red carpet ahead of the Partir Un Jour screening during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

The American actress, 31, showcased her incredible figure in a sheer black maxi dress layered over a shimmery nude slip, featuring a dramatic thigh-high slit

Directed by Amelie Bonnin, the film stars French actress Dominique Blanc and actor Tewfik Jallab.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions.

Offering a glimpse of her long pins, Julia elevated her look with black patent leather platform open-toe heels

She further accessorised her glamorous look with diamond drop earrings and statement rings

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government-controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who's to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Scarlett's directorial debut, Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years, the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

To complete the look, she wore her short blonde hair in a tousled side-swept style and opted for a bold smoky eye makeup palette

The actress appeared in high spirits as she waved to the cameras ahead of the screening

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven-day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets, and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline-grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

Partir Un Jour follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to forge a life of her own, only to be drawn back by a family emergency

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions.

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump's biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Eva Longoria put on a show-stopping display in a classy metallic gown as she arrived at the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The Desperate Housewives star, 50, dazzled in the shimmering dress which featured a dramatic black train.

The actress joined a host of famous faces on the iconic red carpet before heading inside to enjoy a glass of champagne and watch Partir Un Jour screening.

This year's festival has officially placed a ban on 'nudity' and 'voluminous outfits'.

The annual event - which is returning for the 78th time and is one of the most prestigious festivals in the movie industry's calendar - has updated its red carpet dress code in time for Tuesday's opening, with certain fashion trends not allowed.

The official charter reads: 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.

Eva Longoria, 50, put on a show-stopping display in a classy metallic gown as she arrived at the opening ceremony of Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

The Desperate Housewives star dazzled in the shimmering dress which featured a dramatic black train

'Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The actress joined a host of famous faces on the iconic red carpet

She was joined by Carlos Sainz Jr on the iconic red staircase

The pair posed arm in arm on the red carpet

Eva looked out of this world as she flashed her age-defying figure in the silhouette dress

Eva enjoyed a glass of champagne at Hotel Martinez before the Partir Un Jour screening

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.
She has made headlines in recent years with her racy sheer dresses.

But Bella Hadid opted for a more conservative look than fans may be used to, as she returned to the red carpet for the Cannes Film Festival's 2025 opening ceremony on Tuesday.

The model, 28, showed off her eye-catching new blonde hairstyle as she slipped into an elegant black gown with a thigh-high split for the premiere of Leave One Day.

Bella's appearance was a far cry from the Cannes gowns of previous years, after organisers announced a ban on risque or voluminous gowns, but she still ditched her bra while posing in her dress with revealing side splits.

Regardless, Bella still put on a showstopping display in her form-fitting dress, while showing off her model pins with the revealing split.

The star beamed as she made her way down the red carpet, no doubt her first of many at this year's festival.

In the wake of Cannes Film Festival's ban on risque gowns, Bella Hadid opted for a more conservative look as she attended the opening ceremony on Tuesday

The model showed off her eye-catching new blonde hairstyle as she slipped into an elegant black gown with a thigh-high split for the premiere of Leave One Day

Bella still managed to add a racy twist to her outfit, by going braless in the dress which featured daring side splits

In 2021, Bella bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.

Over recent years the Cannes Film Festival has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

The star showed off her model physique in the revealing black dress which boasted a sexy thigh-high split

Bella was in high spirits as she arrived for her first red carpet appearance at this year's Cannes

Guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after Bella attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress

In 2021, Bella bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors)

A giddy Bella was seen arriving for the red carpet alongside the Swiss co-President of Chopard Caroline Scheufele

Over recent years the Cannes Film Festival has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is also taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements

This year's Cannes Film Festival is also taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.
Bianca Censori and Kanye West put on quite a show in Spain on Tuesday.

The couple, who have been visiting Mallorca with Censori's 29-year-old sister Angela, were taking part in what appeared to be a racy photo shoot when the couple engaged in quick but public display of affection.

Video share on X, shows Censori, 30, approaching a stage wearing a leather thong bodysuit which clearly displayed her bottom.

The model's displayed long, dark locks, but it was unclear if she had let her hair grow or if she was wearing a wig.

West, 47, was spotted wearing an oversized black jacket with black pants and a khaki green billed cap.

The rapper saw his wife walking toward him and sat down on the edge of the stage to help her up.

Bianca Censori, 30, and Kanye West, 47, put on quite a show in Spain on Tuesday; Pictured in Los Angeles in February

Censori's sister, Angelina (pictured earlier this year), was at the venue and dressed in a similar leather outfit with a bikini top, but kept her buns covered

As he grabbed her waist, the model appeared to straddle him for an awkward moment before standing upright on the platform.

Censori then extended her hand to West to help him get up.

They then walked away with the I Wonder rapper keeping his hand firmly on the Yeezy architect's lower back.

Censori's sister, Angelina, was at the venue and dressed in a similar leather outfit with a bikini top, but kept her buns covered.

In his latest controversial video and track, Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version), West rapped about his wife performing on him, while also describing himself as a 'cuck' a reference to men around by a partner's infidelity.

The song has been very popular on X, which is owned by Elon Musk, who made what many believe was a Nazi salute while concluding his speech celebrating the second Trump inauguration in January.

Other platforms, such as Spotify, SoundCloud and others have worked to removed the song.

YouTube told NBC it had 'removed the content and will continue to take down reuploads,' while noting accounts associated with the controversial rapper were not eligible for monetization.

Video share on X, shows Censori, 30, approaching a stage and West, 47 approaches her and sits down to help her up

As the Carnival rapper lifted his wife, her bare bottom was clearly on display via the leather thong body suit she was wearing. In an awkward moment Censori seemed to straddle him

The Yeezy architect then returned the favor, offering a helping hand to the I Wonder rapper, while her sister, Angelina, 29, looked on, wearing a similar outfit

The couple then walked away with the I Wonder rapper keeping his hand firmly on Censori's lower back

In the US, investigators are looking into what appeared to be a suspicious fire at a church building owned by the rapper in the Northridge area of Los Angeles in October 2024, according to The US Sun.

The Carnival rapper, has not paid for the inspections, and as such, two liens have been put on the property he bought for $1.5 million in January 2023 from the adjacent Cornerstone Christian Church, according to the outlet.

The rapper, has an estimated net worth of some $2.15 billion, according to Forbes. That is far less than the estimated $6.6 billion he had before he lost his partnerships with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga in 2022 following a string of controversial antisemitic comments.

Taxes on his Yeezy headquarters, along with several condos and a house he bought in Calabasas, CA following his divorce from Kim Kardashian, all have taxes due, totaling into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If those taxes and the fines being accrued are not paid, the rapper could lose those properties.
Robert De Niro looked dapper as he walked the red carpet with his wife Tiffany Chen and daughter Helen ahead of the Partir Un Jour screening during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening.

The American actor, 81, who received an honorary Palme d'Or at this year's festival, looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo.

He paired the ensemble with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie, and shiny leather shoes as he posed for photos alongside his family.

Meanwhile, his wife Tiffany, 45, cut a glamorous figure in a black gown adorned with sequins.

The eye-catching dress featured a sequin-embellished bustier, delicate spaghetti straps, and a semi-sheer, floor-length skirt with floral embroidery.

The couple was joined on the star-studded red carpet by Robert's youngest daughter, 14-year-old Helen, whom he shares with ex-wife Grace Hightower, 70.

Robert De Niro looked incredibly dapper as he walked the red carpet with his wife, Tiffany Chen, ahead of the Partir Un Jour screening during the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

The American actor, 81, who received an honorary Palme d'Or at this year's festival, was also joined on the star-studded red carpet by his youngest daughter, Helen, 14

Helen, born via surrogate in December 2011, is De Niro's youngest child.

The Oscar-winning actor has seven children with four different women - two each with Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith, and Grace, and one with his current wife, Tiffany.

Partir Un Jour follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to forge a life of her own, only to be drawn back by a family emergency.

Directed by Amelie Bonnin, the film stars French actress Dominique Blanc and actor Tewfik Jallab.

Robert's red carpet appearance comes shortly after he was seen attending a photocall hand-in-hand with Tiffany ahead of receiving his honorary Palme d'Or at the 78th Film Festival.

Leonardo DiCaprio wore a Celine tux as he presented Robert with the award, which is the highest prize at the ceremony.

Posing for photos, he dressed smartly in a polo shirt and smart trousers with a dark grey jacket layered over the top.

Tiffany looked elegant in a strapless, striped A-line which she teamed with a cream cardigan and ballet flats.

The actor looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo as he held his wife's hand while posing for several glamorous shots on the red carpet

He paired the ensemble with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie, and shiny leather shoes as he posed for photos alongside his family

Meanwhile, his wife Tiffany, 45, cut a glamorous figure in a black gown adorned with sequins

She topped off her outfit with a pair of pink-tinted sunglasses and pulled her hair back into a low pony tail.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions.

The eye-catching dress featured a sequin-embellished bustier, delicate spaghetti straps, and a semi-sheer, floor-length skirt with floral embroidery

She further accessorised her look with a black diamond statement necklace and drop earrings as she beamed for the cameras

To complete her look, she styled her dark tresses up in a ponytail and wore a glamorous makeup palette

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government-controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who's to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Scarlett's directorial debut, Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years, the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

The couple put on a sweet display as they posed for several snaps on the red carpet ahead of the screening

Partir Un Jour follows a young woman who leaves her hometown to forge a life of her own, only to be drawn back by a family emergency

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven-day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets, and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline-grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

Robert's red carpet appearance comes shortly after he was seen attending a photocall hand-in-hand with Tiffany ahead of receiving his honorary Palme d'Or at the 78th Film Festival

Leonardo DiCaprio presented Robert with the award during the Film Festival, which is the highest prize at the ceremony

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions.

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump's biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Irina Shayk and Shanina Shaik made sure to command attention as they graced the the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony red carpet in glittering black gowns on Tuesday evening.

Russian model Irina, 39, looked nothing short of sensational in a strapless black ballgown with large puffball sleeves and a silver polka dot design.

She wowed in the Armani Prive black tulle dress, which cinched in at the waist before flowing out into a long skirt.

The star added black velvet gloves and large gold droplet earrings to complete her look for the opening ceremony, which was also a screening of Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day).

Her jewelry, designed by Anita Diamonds, totals 165 carats. Irina wore her long dark tresses in a slick half-up-half fown style and opted for a sultry palette of makeup to elevate her natural beauty.

She was joined by Australian model Shanina, 34, who posed up a storm in a unique dress boasting a diamante-encrusted maxi skirt and a corset-style top half.

Irina Shayk (LEFT) and Shanina Shaik (RIGHT) made sure to command attention as they graced the the Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony red carpet in glittering black gowns on Tuesday evening

Russian model Irina, 39, looked nothing short of sensational in a strapless black ballgown with large puffball sleeves and a white polka dot design

Her gown certainly drew attention with a circular statement feature in the middle jutting out just above her waist and covered in gems.

She accessoried with a sparkling silver choker necklace and dainty droplet earrings to match.

The glamorous model wore her brunette locks tied back into a neat bun and chose a glowing palette of makeup for the red carpet.

Both Irina and Shanina seemed to be in incredibly high spirits as they posed and smiled for the cameras at the star-studded event.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

She wowed in the Armani Prive black tulle dress, which cinched in at the waist before flowing out into a long skirt

The star added black velvet gloves and large gold droplet earrings to complete her look for the opening ceremony, which was also a screening of Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day)

Irina wore her long dark tresses in a slick half-up-half fown style and opted for a sultry palette of makeup to elevate her natural beauty

She was joined by Australian model Shanina, 34, who posed up a storm in a unique dress boasting a diamante-encrusted maxi skirt and a corset-style top half

Her gown certainly drew attention with a circular statement feature in the middle jutting out just above her waist and covered in gems

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

She accessoried with a sparkling silver choker necklace and dainty droplet earrings to match

The glamorous model wore her brunette locks tied back into a neat bun and chose a glowing palette of makeup for the red carpet

Both Irina and Shanina seemed to be in incredibly high spirits as they posed and smiled for the cameras at the star-studded event

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Marlo Thomas - who played Jennifer Aniston's mother on Friends - has been seen for the first time since her husband Phil Donahue died in August.

The 87-year-old brunette actress was spotted on the red carpet at the Family Equality's Night at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City on Monday.

The iconic star from Michigan looked youthful with soft makeup and spring highlights as she wore a heart-shaped pendant around her neck.

The That Girl! star modeled a long pale pink gown with black accents as she was spotted posing with pal Demi Moore.

And Thomas - whose father was actor Danny Thomas - still had her gold wedding rings from Donahue on.

Marlo Thomas - who played Jennifer Aniston's mother on Friends - has been seen for the first time since her husband Phil Donahue died in August

The brunette actress was spotted on the red carpet at the Family Equality's Night at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City on Monday. The iconic star looked youthful with soft makeup and spring highlights as she wore a heart-shaped pendant around her neck

The host of The Phil Donahue Show passed away at the age of 88 in August.

He was surrounded by relatives, including his actress wife, at his home.

She wrote on Instagram, along with a sweet photo of the pair riding a motorbike together on vacation: 'I'm sure by now you've heard the very sad news that I lost my sweetheart last night.

'I know you understand that I'll be stepping away from this page for a while to take care of myself and the many people who took care of Phil, and held him close to their hearts.

'But I didn't want to disappear without saying thank you for the beautiful messages of love and support that have been coming in all day,' the 86-year-old actress disclaimed.

'[A]nd for the wonderful and generous way that you've let Phil and me share our life adventure with you over the years.'

She continued: 'As a man who spent his career loving his audiences, Phil got such a kick out of our cozy little community [on social media], and I know he would be very touched by the heartwarming thoughts and memories you've been sharing.

'Until I return, I wish you good health and happy days in the company of family and friends, and I hope that you will continue to hold close those you cherish most, just as I was blessed to do with my beloved Phillip,' Donahue's second wife said.

'Love, Marlo,' she went on to sign, while sharing a vintage photo of the pair on a European holiday.

The That Girl! star modeled a long pale pink gown with black accents as she was spotted posing with pal Demi Moore . And Thomas still had her gold wedding rings from Donahue on

(L-R) Merritt Johnson, Thomas, Moore, and Jason Weinberg

Thomas paid tribute to her late husband, talk show legend Phil Donahue (pictured during a European vacation), in August

'P.S. This is one of my favorite photos of Phil and me,' she wrote. '[T]aken on vacation.'

Countless comments offering words of consolation ensued, for a woman who had been married to Donahue for the past 44 years.

The pair actually met on the set of his program back in 1977 - with Donahue the host and Thomas his guest.

The two would go on to wed just three years later, following 'instant chemistry' felt by Thomas with the TV talker, she revealed in a 2015 post to Gacebook.

'Phil and I met on his talk show, 'Donahue,' in 1977,' Thomas, who continues to act and produce to this day, wrote at the time.

'He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love.'

The couple would then marry in 1980, having five children.

Meanwhile, the show went on, with Donahue hosting big names such as Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Johnny Carson, Ayn Rand, and Nelson Mandela over the course of 16 more years on his seminal show.

He would also go on to win 20 Emmys - 10 for outstanding host, and 10 for the overall show.

Just last month, Marlo posted a more recent photo of the icon on Instagram, showing him on a farm in Canada feeding a horse.

Unlike when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden back in May, he stood on his own accord with the aid of a cane, looking health and happy in the idyllic setting.

The shot was snapped at least a year-and-half ago, during filming for Hallmark's A Magical Christmas Village, which featured Thomas as a star,

Donahue was married to Thomas for the past 44 years, after he had already fathered five children. His youngest, Honolulu lawyer James Donahue, died from an unexpected aneurysm almost ten years ago to the day, at age 51

The pair (seen here on the set of the Phil Donahue show) actually met on the program back in 1977 - with Donahue the host and Thomas his guest

'Phil and I met on his talk show, 'Donahue,' in 1977,' Thomas wrote in 2015, recalling 'the instant chemistry. She added: 'He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love.' The pair would go on to marry in 1980, and had been married ever since

The actress remembered the occasion with a loving caption, writing to her 145,000 followers, 'Here's a favorite shot of Phil in the morning feeding the horses near the house where we were staying in Canada.

'A lovely way to start the day!'

Tributes have since poured in for the fondly remembered TV personality, who set an example for figures as far-ranging Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, and Sally Jesse Raphael with his approach to daytime TV.

Winfrey - who is worth more than $3billion - famously said in 2002: 'If there had been no Phil Donahue show, there would be no Oprah Winfrey', and shared her own statement reiterating those sentiments on Monday.

'There wouldn't have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously,' she wrote.

'He was a pioneer. I'm glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil.'

Donahue is survived by his wife sister, children, and grandchildren, all of whom were by his side when he passed.
Leonardo Di Caprio was joined by Juliette Binoche as he presented his close friend Robert De Niro with the the honorary Palme d'Or award at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

The star, 50, looked dapper in a black and white tuxedo by Celine as he took to the stage alongside jury president and French actress Juliette, 61.

He posed next to Juliette who cut a radiant figure in in a cream satin cowled top with a hood as she beamed ahead of announcing the award.

The legendary actor, 81, looked delighted to recieve the recognition, which is the highest prize at the ceremony.

The lifetime achievement award comes 14 years after he Presided over the Cannes jury in 2011.

'I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes' he declared on hearing of his honorary Palme d'or.

Leonardo DiCaprio was joined by Juliette Binoche as he presented his close friend Robert De Niro with the the honorary Palme d'Or award at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday

The legendary actor, 81, looked delighted to recieve the recognition, which is the highest prize at the ceremony

'Especially now when there's so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us together - storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. It's like coming home.'

Robert looked incredibly dapper as he walked the red carpet earlier in the eveningwith his wife Tiffany Chen and daughter Helen ahead of the Partir Un Jour screening during the opening ceremony.

The American actor, 81, looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo and paired the ensemble with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie, and shiny leather shoes as he posed for photos alongside his family.

Meanwhile, his wife Tiffany, 45, cut a glamorous figure in a black gown adorned with sequins.

The eye-catching dress featured a sequin-embellished bustier, delicate spaghetti straps, and a semi-sheer, floor-length skirt with floral embroidery.

The couple were joined on the star-studded red carpet by Robert's youngest daughter, 14-year-old Helen, whom he shares with ex-wife Grace Hightower, 70.

Helen, born via surrogate in December 2011, is De Niro's youngest child.

The Oscar-winning actor has seven children with four different women - two each with Diahnne Abbott, Toukie Smith, and Grace, and one with his current wife, Tiffany.

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films.

The star, 50, looked dapper in a black and white tuxedo by Celine as he took to the stage alongside jury president and French actress Juliette, 61

He posed next to Juliette who cut a radiant figure in in a cream satin cowled top with a hood as she beamed ahead of announcing the award

The legendary actor, 81, looked delighted to recieve the recognition, which is the highest prize at the ceremony

The lifetime achievement award comes 14 years after he Presided over the Cannes jury in 2011

'I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes' he declared on hearing of his honorary Palme d'or

He added: 'Especially now when there's so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us together - storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. It's like coming home'

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end.

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.

'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship.

'Youve got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'

Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.

The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.

The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.

In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.

Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end

Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories

This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films

This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) will all be unveiling their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section.

Many Cannes veterans will be back, too, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - whos to receive an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, to pay tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman.

The much-anticipated eighth and final instalment of Mission Impossible is one of the earlier premieres on this year's Cannes calendar, with its glitzy red carpet taking place on Wednesday, May 14.

Meanwhile Scarlett's directorial debut Eleanor The Great, will be unveiled on May 20.

However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni is not expected to attend.

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette.

But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' will be implemented when French director Amelie Bonnin's Leave One Day opens the ceremony this week.

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to the stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet.

'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document.

Robert looked incredibly dapper as he walked the red carpet earlier in the eveningwith his wife Tiffany Chen and daughter Helen ahead of the Partir Un Jour screening during the opening ceremony

The American actor, 81, looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo and paired the ensemble with a crisp white shirt, black bow tie, and shiny leather shoes as he posed for photos alongside his family

Meanwhile, his wife Tiffany, 45, cut a glamorous figure in a black gown adorned with sequins

'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.'

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour.

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed seven day schedule in Cannes.

It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles.

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted.

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement.

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Televisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements.

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Jeremy Clarkson has finally confirmed the future of co-star Kaleb Cooper on his Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm after he was 'replaced' with a new farmhand.

Fans were shocked to see stunning newcomer Harriet Cowan, 24, in the series four trailer last week, after Jeremy's beloved co-star Kaleb temporarily left the show.

Viewers will be welcomed back to Diddly Squat Farm soon when the new season airs on May 23, with two additional episodes released a week later on May 30, followed by the final two on June 6.

After much speculation, Jeremy, 65, has confirmed Kaleb is back on the farm as usual after Harriet 'held the fort' until he returned.

In a video posted on his Instagram on Tuesday, he clarified: 'There has been lots of reports that Kaleb has been 'replaced' - well, no he hasn't.'

He added: 'What happened is this, he went away on his speaking tour, for a couple of months because he imagined that after four years, I'd be able to manage on my own.

Jeremy Clarkson, 65, has finally confirmed the future of Kaleb Cooper on his Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm after he was 'replaced' with a stunning new farmhand

Fans were shocked to see newcomer Harriet Cowan, 24, (R) in the series four trailer last week, after Jeremy's beloved co-star Kaleb, 26, (L) temporarily left the show

'And I didn't - I made a complete mess of everything and had to bring in a young farmer called Harriet.

'Harriet is brilliant and looked after the fort until he got back. That is it - that's the story!'

The trailer showed Jeremy running into several obstacles on the farm, yet nurse Harriet made a good impression as she was quick to help.

She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty as she put in fences, loaded feed for the animals and even showed her welding skills on Diddly Squat Farm.

Harriet, a full-time nurse and farmer, admitted in the clip that she hadn't watched Clarkson Farm's before but she didn't let that slow her down.

Jeremy was left in awe at her work, turning to the camera and gushing: 'She's brilliant!'

Kaleb - who was on a nationwide tour - later returned to the farm and seemed to be getting along well with his replacement.

It's hardly surprising that Harriet was a natural on the farm, having grown up helping her father Eddy tend to his land.

After much speculation, Jeremy has confirmed Kaleb is back on the farm as usual after Harriet 'held the fort' until he returned

Kaleb - who was on a nationwide tour - later returned to the farm and seemed to be getting along well with Harriet (pictured with Jeremy)

She revealed on social media that her mother wanted her to become a nurse but her father wanted her to follow in his footsteps - so she opted to do both.

Harriet has a healthy social media following, boasting 35,000 TikTok followers, while her Instagram bio encourages her fans to 'come and watch the craziness'.

She also has a brand deal with Country Moos, a sock company dedicated to cow-print designs.

Harriet is in a relationship with fellow farmer James, with the pair cosying up together for a slew of sweet social media snaps.

In 2020, Harriet made headlines when she and her friends set up a challenge to cheer NHS staff during the pandemic.

The Belper Young Farmers group put a unique spin on the toilet roll challenge which had gone viral online.

In their clips, the group were filmed passing a loaf of bread between them as they worked on their land.

Speaking to Derbyshire Live about their videos, Harriet, then 19, said: 'I thought we should do something to get everybody together as our club isn't meeting because of coronavirus.

As well as working on the farm, Harriet is a nurse - having gained her qualification at the University of Derby

Harriet admitted in the trailer that she hadn't watched Clarkson Farm's before but she didn't let that slow her down

'We saw the challenge online but we wanted to do something different - everyone else was doing the same thing with toilet rolls.'

In the new eight-part series of Clarkson's Farm, Jeremy and his team will battle with mother nature as it makes one of the toughest years ever for British farmers.

The Mail's Richard Eden previously revealed that Jeremy's popular sidekick Kaleb pocketed 910,000 profit at Kaleb Cooper Productions, the company into which he channels his earnings from the series.

Accounts report 960,000 in assets before bills, including 400,000 in cash. Meanwhile, his takings, in the year to June 2024, include a 666,000 profit for the year.

He set up his TV company in 2021 and runs it alongside farming businesses K Cooper Contracting and K Cooper Holdings.

Profits made there amount to 100,000 combined, meaning Kaleb made his first million at 26.

The Chipping Norton native has long spoken about his dream of owning his own farm - something that now seems more achievable due to his newfound fame.

Kaleb had previously mentioned paying himself just 50p an hour due to the volatile nature of farming costs and profit margins, especially when experimenting with new business ventures.

In 2020, Harriet made headlines when she and her friends set up a challenge to cheer NHS staff during the pandemic, putting a unique spin on the toilet roll challenge

Harriet is in a relationship with fellow farmer James, with the pair cosying up together for a slew of sweet social media snaps

In 2022, he shared: 'When Im working for myself when Im feeding my calves in the morning - I bought eight calves,

'Its like a little bit of a new business idea that Im doing, buying calves in and then feed them on milk, which costs me about 200 a calf, then selling them at nine months.'

He added: 'Im trying to get a profit and see if it will work. I worked it out the other day, do you know how much my hourly rate is, how much I pay myself? 50p an hour.'

His hourly rate was a stark contrast to his hard work, as Jeremy, who has praised Kaleb as 'the hardest working person I know', pointed out that he works 18 hours a day, with no days off.

Kaleb, who shares two children with fiancee Taya, has consistently said that his 'one goal in life' is to own his own farm, something he wants 'more than anything.'

Jeremy previously announced that a fifth season of Clarkson's Farm had confirmed, before the fourth was even announced, back in November.

In a fun clip, a huge number five firework lit up the sky as Jeremy told his followers: 'Over the years bright lights in the sky have been used to make many important announcements.

'The birth of baby Jesus for example, but tonight they're being used to make an announcement that's even bigger than that.

It's hardly surprising that Harriet was a natural on the farm, having grown up helping her father Eddy tend to his land

Clarkson's Farm is set to return on May 23, with two additional episodes released a week later on May 30, followed by the final two on June 6

'Season 5 of Clarkson's Farm is coming,' Jeremy finished, before pointing towards the gold number five.

He captioned the post: 'It's the 5th November this just felt right, Clarkson's Farm S5 is officially in production.'

Jeremy's announcement sparked delight from many of his followers, who quickly shared their excitement in the comments.

Such is the success of Jeremy's hit show that it's been credited with inspiring a new generation of young farmers.

Data from university and college admissions body UCAS last year revealed that applications from 18-year-olds to agriculture, food and related degrees had risen from around 7,900 in 2019 to more than 9,400 this summer  an increase of nearly 20 per cent.

The number of applicants accepted on to agricultural courses was up 8 per cent compared to last year.

That was on the back of an 18 per cent rise in 2021  when Amazon Prime first broadcast Clarkson's Farm  and a 13 per cent rise in 2022.

Its third season broke Amazon Prime's UK ratings record, with the May premiere streamed by 5.1million in its first week.

Clarkson's Farm series one to three are available to stream exclusively on Prime Video.

Series four will air from May 23, with two additional episodes released a week later on May 30, followed by the final two on June 6.
James Argent has admitted to pushing his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson in a violent row during a romantic getaway in Spain.

The former TOWIE star, 37, shoved the Swedish beauty queen when trying to force her out of the front door of her apartment in the Costa del Sol, reported The Sun.

It caused the 32-year-old to tumble down two steps outside the home with her screams alerting neighbours who called the police.

Artursson is understood to have needed hospital treatment but the extent of her injuries are currently not known.

Argent was shortly arrested after the incident last Monday before being kept in police cells for several hours.

He was hauled before the courts in Fuengirola the same day where he admitted a domestic violence charge with an insider telling The Sun the couple's nine-month relationship is now over.

Artursson was in court to hear Argent admit the charge.

According to the newspaper, he was handed a six-month suspended sentence and a two-year restraining order.

Argent was also told to a complete a 'resocialisation course in the field of gender violence'.

James Argent has admitted to pushing his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson in a violent row during a romantic getaway in Spain. The couple are pictured here on May 2 in Spain, just days before the incident

Argent had days earlier looked smitten as he sunbathed on the beach with Artursson during their romantic getaway in Spain

Artusson is understood to have remained in Spain with Argent believed to have flown back to Essex with a friend saying he is 'extremely sorry'.

They told The Sun: 'He said he had a row with Nicoline and that he tried to end the argument. James said he pushed Nicoline and that she fell.

'He is remorseful about what happened but is insisting he never meant any harm.'

It comes just days after Argent looked smitten as he sunbathed on the beach with Artursson during their romantic getaway in Spain.

Reports had emerged the TV favourite was 'planning to take the relationship to the next level' with the former Miss Sweden - nine months after meeting casually in a supermarket.

The reality star was said to have 'never been happier' after overcoming several challenges with insiders saying two weeks ago that the model 'loves him for who he is'.

'He's totally smitten. He's definitely looking to pop the question and start their future together,' a source told OK! Magazine earlier this month.

'He has absolutely no doubt that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, they are absolutely soulmates, there's no question about it.'

Argent's nine month relationship with Artursson is now over after he was handed a two year restraining order

Artursson is understood to have needed hospital treatment but the extent of her injuries are currently not known

Speaking to OK! Magazine last November in their first joint interview, Argent and Artursson revealed that it was love at first sight for the pair after they bumped into each other outside a Spanish supermarket.

Describing the moment they met, Argent revealed he thought she was out of his league but decided he had nothing to lose.

He said: 'I was walking to my gig at Elliott Wright's restaurant in Marbella.

'All of a sudden I see this woman coming towards me. I was like, "Wow, she's beautiful". She was just in her gym clothes, wearing no make-up. She'd actually just fed a stray cat.'

And after summoning up the courage, he asked her out.

Despite Argent's confession on their first date about his seven-year drug addiction which saw him go through a near-fatal overdose, a hospitalisation and a stint on rehab, the model was unfazed.

He explained: 'It was probably quite a lot to take in, but she was really cool. She was fine about everything. Being open and honest and putting your cards on the table from the start is so important.'

MailOnline has contacted Argent's representatives for comment.
Kyle Sandilands took a swipe at radio rival Jase Hawkins on Wednesday morning, calling his former assistant a 'little sidekick b***h'.

The KIIS FM star, 53, whose multimillion-dollar radio deal put Jase, 43, and his co-host Lauren Phillips out of a job last year, revealed details about how the pair first met.

Kyle said Jase, who was once known professionally as Labby, got his first paycheck because of him and was treated like a 'slave' early on in his career.

'Jase Hawkins, who we used to call Labby, but he wanted his own name up in lights... He was a great little b***h around here, a little sidekick b***h,' Kyle said.

'And I met him when he was 16 in Brisbane, he's not even from Melbourne.'

'How did you guys meet?' co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson asked.

Kyle Sandilands, 53, (left with Jackie 'O' Henderson) took a swipe at radio rival Jase Hawkins, 43, on Wednesday morning, calling his former assistant a 'little sidekick b***h

'Well, I started working at Triple M in Brisbane at the night show and he just started as like an assistant to me after the assistant on the show,' Kyle explained.

'He was just answering phones and cutting up things and splicing up tapes... I actually thought he was employed there and I treated him like a slave.

'Until I realised he was volunteering. That's when I felt bad and I made sure he got paid, so his first paycheck was thanks to me, but he was a great little worker.

'I moved to Sydney and then I moved him cause he was a great little worker. So I brought him to Sydney as well and he lived with me for a few years.'

Kyle then went on to note Jase's various gigs in radio following their time together, saying he was a fame w***e.

'Then he wanted to be the big fame w***e himself and he went up to Brisbane, failed. Then went to Melbourne, worked for KIIS, failed,' Kyle said.

Jase co-hosted the successful Labby, Stav & Abby on B105 in Brisbane and also worked with Kyle and Jackie, 50, at 2DAY FM, hosting the Hot30 Countdown.

However, Jackie went on to note Kyle failed to mention Jase was also a success over in New Zealand where he hosted Jase & PJ with Polly Harding.

The KIIS FM star, whose multimillion dollar radio deal with Jackie 'O' Henderson put Jase and his co-host Lauren Phillips out of a job last year, revealed details about how the pair first met

'Oh, well, no one knows New Zealand. It's still failure in Australia but people in America would go, "Oh successful in Australia is not really successful,"' Kyle said.

'Anyway, the guy finally got a run and has had some success in Melbourne and he's very good, don't get me wrong, I don't not like the guy.

'But, you know, really he's had success because of the woe is me campaign that they run down there. "Oh, we got fired." You got fired because the show was s***.'

Jase and his co-host Lauren, 42, are currently making it big at Nova and embroiled in a ratings war with Kyle and Jackie in Melbourne.

The pair defected to Nova after KIIS axed their morning show to make way for The Kyle & Jackie O Show's multimillion-dollar expansion into the Victorian capital.

'We've just got to do our own thing. Let everyone else get caught up in the drama and s*** and we'll keep doing us and having fun,' Jase told Daily Mail Australia last year.

Jase and Lauren, who spoke while at the ACRA Awards, also said they were thrilled their program was rating so well in Melbourne.

'It's a blessing in disguise. It's been a year where our heads are spinning,' Jase said.

Kyle said Jase, who was once known professionally as Labby, got his first paycheck because of him and was treated like a 'slave' early on in his career

'The show didn't change when we moved to Nova, but we feel more accepted there. It's been the best,' he continued.

'We've definitely felt the support of Melbourne, which has been really nice,' Lauren added.

'I think back to last year's awards when we were feeling so uncomfortable and so unsure of what our future was. We sat at the very back table over there,' she said.

'We're really chuffed with the nomination tonight.

'Not just for us, but we've got our whole team here tonight. Quite a few of them have come over to Nova with us so they've been on this roller coaster with us.'

The two teams have been battling it out in the Melbourne market with Nova's Jase & Lauren soundly beating The Kyle & Jackie O Show in the ratings.

However, this year could be a turning point as the KIIS FM show has been steadily gaining market share in recent surveys while Jase & Lauren are dropping.
More Americans are taking out a drastic insurance policy as gun ownership and stand-your-ground laws continue to spread across the country.

Around two million Americans now have self-defense insurance for incidents where they may shoot or kill another person while being attacked or fearing for their own life.

These policies, which tend to fall between the regulatory cracks, can cover legal fees, provide attorneys or provide bail or the costs of a civil lawsuit brought by victims and their families.

Critics call these businesses providers of 'murder insurance', while others claim it is a natural consequence of increased gun ownership and stand-your-ground laws, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Stand-your-ground laws, though varying in detail between states, argue that an individual has the right to use force to protect themselves against an intruder or to defend their own life.

Policies with companies such as U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and their main rival U.S. Law Shield can cover a range of incidents from shootings to threatening another person with a gun, so long as there is a plausible self-defense claim.

There are also upgraded plans that can include grisly details such as crime-scene cleanup costs and cover for minor children, as well as TSA-violation expenses and accidental-discharge costs.

Fees can range between $11 and $59 a month depending on the provider and the level of coverage selected.

Some self-defense insurance policies will cover minors

For these businesses, the proof of the need for their existence is in how many of their clients have been represented and later exonerated after self-defense shootings.

'There's literally thousands of cases that have gone to trial that we have defended our members and exonerated them from charges,' USCCA's founder and owner Tim Schmidt told The Wall Street Journal.

However, there are limitations to the coverage these policies will provide.

Many policies will not cover shooters who are intoxicated at the time of the incident.

While others will not represent those who have shot a family member.

Self-defense insurance leaders told the Journal that their membership has doubled in the last five years.

The businesses saw a large uptick in members following the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

There was a 40 percent rise in pre-purchase background checks for firearms in 2020 compared to the year before.

Kirk Evans, president of U.S. Law Shield called the business 'very profitable'

USCCA owner Tim Schmidt owns three private jets

Membership to such businesses has doubled in the last five years

One business, CCW Safe, said its membership doubled in the last five years and now sits between 100,000 and 150,000 members.

USCCA, which has around 860,000 members, is among the largest in the industry.

As a result of such a tailwind these businesses are now highly profitable.

USCCA is 100 percent owned by Tim Schmidt and his ex-wife, and the pair also own three private jets, the Journal reported.

According to the Journal's analysis, the company's membership revenue last year was around $300 million.

The number of clients who actually end up needing a defense attorney for a self defense shooting are actually very small.

The businesses claim they use profits to put on training classes for their members, advising them on when to use force or not, as well as teaching them about the criminal justice system.

'We're the No. 1 firearms and self-defense training organization in the country,' Schmidt told the Journal.

U.S. Law Shield, which has around 600,000 to 700,000 members, only spent around 15 percent of its revenue on its clients legal expenses in recent years, according to insurance filings.

'The number of people who ended up with charges is minuscule. That's why they made so much money,' former U.S. Law Shield attorney Stanley Marks told the Journal.

'We're very profitable,' president of U.S. Law Shield Kirk Evans admitted.
Joann's biggest rival is working to pilfer shoppers, even before the glitter settles on the major craft chain's bankruptcy.

Michaels, which operates over 1,000 stores nationwide, is positioning itself as the new home for knitters, sewers, and DIY diehards.

The company posted a not-so-subtle pitch on its website last week.

'Welcome JOANN Customers,' Michael's wrote on its internet homepage. 'We've got your go-to essentials & so much more!'

For years, the two companies have offered different products while serving very similar customers.

Joann's catered to knitters and sewers with a deep lineup of fabrics, sewing patterns, and threads, while Michael's features a wider array of art, stationary, and home decor.

But Joann's is permanently unspooling, right as the hobby is picking up steam.

'I am so heartbroken by this,' a Joann's fan wrote on Reddit. 'I go to Joanns primarily to buy fabric for baby clothes, toys, and accessories  a truly joyful hobby and a wonderful way to bring joy to others.'

Joann's shoppers are mourning the loss of the craft chain online, saying they're 'heartbroken'

Joann's, formerly known as Joann's Fabrics, entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. The court filing is the death knell for the brand's 800 stores.

The company has already shut down its online store.

It was the second time in a single year that Joann's filed for bankruptcy, as financial headwinds and an increasingly tricky balance sheet  including $615.7 million in debt  sunk the brand.

Joann's stores have reported in court filings that they're nearing their end.

More than 500 locations have run 50 to 80 percent off liquidation sales, and have reported that they're nearly sold out of their products.

The company expects the final stores to close by the end of May.

This isn't the first time Michael's stepped in during another company's misery.

The Texas-based craft chain also released a lineup of new balloons, weeks after celebration store Party City decided to shut down all of its retail locations.

Joann's is shutting down all 800 stores - the latest bankruptcy will bring an end to the retailer

Customers have flocked to the sewing destinations in their final days to scoop up products during a 50 to 80 percent off sale

In mid-April, Michael's unveiled the product launch for 300 new balloons and more than 500 new celebration products.

Party City announced in December that it was shutting down all 850 stores in its US portfolio.

There are only 29 operational stores listed on the company's website.

Party City is not facing the same complete demise that has fallen onto Joann's fabrics.

In February, New Amscan, a company known for owning brands like Chia Pets, handed the company a $20 million lifeline.

The new owners plan on reviving Party City as an online-only retailer.
How inheritors and craftsmen are passing along the 'Four Treasures of the Study'

People's Daily Online) 10:24, May 13, 2025

The techniques of making Huzhou ink brushes, Huizhou inksticks, Xuan paper, and Duan inkstonesrepresenting the "Four Treasures of the Study," an esteemed collection of tools used in traditional Chinese calligraphy and paintinghave all been inscribed into the first batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage list. These crafts have been well preserved and passed down across generations.

: An artisan works on a Huzhou ink brush. (Photo/Shen Yongqiang)

: A worker works on Huizhou inksticks. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Shexian county committee)

Huzhou ink brush

Shanlian town in Nanxun district, Huzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province is known for making the Huzhou ink brush, or Hu brush, one of the prestigious writing brush types in traditional Chinese writing and painting art.

The production of a Huzhou ink brush involves 12 major procedures. Qiu Changming, a national-level inheritor of the techniques of making Huzhou ink brushes, has dedicated 45 years to one specific procedure of the craft. Like him, the vast majority of workers at the Shanlian Huzhou Ink Brush Factory in Shanlian town devote themselves to a single process, committing their entire careers to perfecting that process.

In 2023, Huzhou city issued regulations to protect and promote the development of Huzhou ink brushes. Simultaneously, Nanxun district introduced a special plan for the ink brush, establishing a collaborative protection framework among government, society, schools, and enterprises.

At a store run by a renowned family of Huzhou ink brush makers, visitors are greeted by an array of exquisitely crafted cultural and creative products related to the ink brush. The post-90s generation store owner, Yao Yulin, who is Qiu's last apprentice, said innovative designs relevant to the ink brush particularly appeal to young people.

In recent years, a new generation of Huzhou ink brush artisans, represented by Yao, has continued to innovateopening online stores, creating short videos, and hosting livestreamsto introduce the ink brush to broader audiences.

: Yang Zhuozhong, a national-level representative inheritor of Duan inkstone making techniques, works on a Duan inkstone. (Photo/Wu Yisheng)

: Workers make Xuan paper at a workshop in Xuancheng city, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Huizhou inkstick

The Huizhou inkstick, or Huimo in Chinese, is one of the sterling examples of China's high-quality ink products. Huizhou inksticks originate from Huizhou, today's Huangshan city in east China's Anhui Province.

Making ink involves complex techniques and a secret formula: smoke refining, glue mixing, shaping, drying, decorating, gilding, packaging, and mold making.

Two smoke types are used  pine soot and oil soot. For pine soot, pine branches are burned in 80-meter-long smoke kilns, and soot is scraped from the walls after cooling. For oil soot, sealed smoke rooms are used. Oil lamps are lit with rush wicks, and porcelain bowls cover the flames to collect soot inside.

Once soot and glue are mixed, the dough is pounded again on heated platforms. Workers then roll the dough into balls, press them into molds, cool, and demold. After prolonged drying, skilled hands paint gold inscriptions. The whole process takes months or even years.

The resulting ink is glossy black with a strong scent, leaving writing that can last for centuries without fading  truly, "as dark as lacquer, enduring for ages."

"The Huizhou inkstick is an essential carrier of Chinese culture. It's our responsibility to inherit its making techniques and help more people to appreciate and use it," said Zhou Meihong, a national-level inheritor of Huizhou inkstick making techniques and head of the Ancient Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory located in Shexian county, Huangshan city.

The factory was founded by Hu Kaiwen, one of the four great Huizhou ink masters in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In 1915, the factory's inkstick products won a gold medal during the Panama Pacific International Exposition.

Since 2017, the factory has developed 40 sets of cultural and creative products annually, generating cumulative revenue of approximately 26 million yuan ($3.6 million). To date, it has produced over 1,000 products that enjoy high reputations domestically and are also exported to Japan and South Korea.

The factory's annual sales volume via livestream sessions reaches about 16 million yuan, said Zhou Jian, director of the factory's product development department.

"Through communication with online followers during livestreams, we gain insights into young people's preferences for inkstick sizes, patterns, and packaging. This gives us clearer direction for production," Zhou Jian said. More importantly, livestreaming helps promote traditional culture, allowing more people to understand and experience Huizhou inksticks.

Xuan paper

Originating in Anhui Province's Jingxian county, which was under the jurisdiction of Xuanzhou in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Xuan paper has a history of over 1,000 years and is known for its long lifespan.

The traditional technique includes over 100 steps, involving raw material processing, pulp preparation, and papermaking. Bark from sandalwood trees and rice straw are transformed into pulp, which is then turned into paper through scooping, drying, trimming, and packaging. Most steps still cannot be mechanized. The entire process takes up to three years and each sheet is the result of sweat and dedication.

"Xuan paper is not just a craft but also a national cultural icon. Treating the making of Xuan paper as an art form has increased my sense of pride and responsibility," said Zhou Donghong, a provincial-level inheritor of Xuan paper-making techniques.

In Wuxi village of Jingxian county, the Xuan Paper Town, covering nearly 3-square kilometers, attracted over 400,000 tourist visits in 2024, generating nearly 20 million yuan in economic benefits.

In Dingjiaqiao town, Jingxian county, there are over 1,100 merchants operating in an e-commerce cluster dedicated to Xuan paper, with annual shipments exceeding 5 million orders. More than 2,000 people work in the Xuan paper e-commerce sector and related industries, with per capita annual income surpassing 50,000 yuan.

To further support the Xuan paper industry, Jingxian county has established a large Xuan Paper market in the Dingjiaqiao town industrial park, covering areas such as trade in the four treasures of study, cultural tourism, art exchanges, artist reception, e-commerce, and logistics services. In 2024, industries related to the four treasures of study in Xuancheng city generated revenue of nearly 2 billion yuan.

Duan inkstone

Once known as Duanzhou, Zhaoqing city in south China's Guangdong Province is famous for the Duan inkstone, which has been celebrated nationwide since the early Tang Dynasty. Duan inkstones are prized for their fine stone quality, unique patterns, and exquisite carvings.

The craft boasts a 1,400-year history. Traditionally, inkstone craftsmen followed strict rules of secrecy, adhering to ancestral codes that forbade sharing skills with outsiders. But in modern times, artisans have broken with this secrecy, openly accepting apprentices and passing down their techniques to promote and preserve the tradition.

There are 29 representative inheritors (including those deceased) of Duan inkstone making techniques, over 800 professional technical talents, and more than 12,000 practitioners.

Before this year's Spring Festival, a magnificent Duan inkstone work donated by Zhaoqing city to the Bai'etan Greater Bay Area Art Center in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, captured widespread attention. Created by Yang Zhuozhong, a national-level representative inheritor of the craft, the artwork depicts the Pearl River's scenery, inlaid with Guangzhou's landmark buildings, showcasing the city's vibrant spirit and status as a pioneer of reform and opening up.

Such innovation has become a trend, giving rise to cultural and creative products that integrate other crafts, such as ornamental timepieces and fridge magnets.

Due to the rarity of Duan inkstone materials, Zhaoqing halted all inkstone mining in 2000 and introduced regulations to protect its resources. To preserve and promote Duan inkstone culture, relevant departments have worked to cultivate artistic masters and representative inheritors, support inkstone artisans in establishing national-level productive protection demonstration bases for the craft, and introduce Duan inkstone culture and carving techniques to primary and secondary schools.

"After enduring thousands of years of change, the Duan inkstone is no longer just a scholar's tool," says Luo Jianquan, 16th-generation inkstone carver of the Luo family and a provincial-level inheritor of the craft. "It has become a living heritage, imprinted with the marks of historical development and cultural continuity."

"To make traditional craftsmanship resonate with the pulse of the timesthat is my duty," Luo added with conviction.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Comrade Starmer, supreme commander of the Peoples Republic of Soviet Britain, has made another one of his outstanding speeches about the wonderful fake asylum seekers coming to Britain by the thousands daily in rubber dinghies from France.

Our open borders welcome all. Whether you are a fake asylum seeker, chicken nugget lover, or a terrorist, you are welcome in the PRSB.

Comrades, our goal in the Peoples Republic of Soviet Britain is to make our communist nation a third world paradise where inclusivity and woke progressive soviet ideologies flourish.

You may wonder why you cannot get an appointment to see your doctor for a potentially fatal illness, or find a place for your child in school to receive state sponsored propaganda training. You may wonder why no one speaks English any more, or that women are no longer safe to walk in the streets. Do not bother your simple selves with such lofty thoughts. You must simply accept your lot in life and obey every diktat without question.

Your ignorance is our safety. Due to the hundreds of thousands of fake asylum seekers being directed to our shores by the French, effective immediately sugar rations will be discontinued indefinitely and replaced by mustard. Plebs, mustard is in plentiful supply, and if you want a cup of tea, or a cake, use mustard instead, hmmm, yum, yum, delicious.

I must leave you now. I have a free 3,500 VIP ticket to watch a concert that none of you plebs could possibly get a ticket for in a million years.
Bellaghy GAC will hold a public demonstration The walk for truth in the County Derry village this Friday for murdered GAA chairman Sean Brown.

The Bellaghy man (61) was brutally abducted and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries 28 years ago on 12 May 1997.

The demonstration will be in full support of the Brown family and their pursuit of a public inquiry.

The gathering will commence this Friday 16 May from St. Marys Church Bellaghy car park to Pairc Sean de Brun. The meeting will start from 6.30pm with walk at 7pm.

In a post on Facebook the club reflected on the murder of their club chairman 28 years ago saying:

Sean was murdered whilst locking the gates of our club after the weekly committee meeting- a routine task that every GAA volunteer will have carried out at some point.

He was a dedicated & committed volunteer of the entire community - described by Seamus Heaney as A man of great integrity and goodwill.

They continued calling for action to be taken and justice for the Bellaghy mans murder

28 years later - no one has been brought to justice for this callous murder

28 years later - the Brown family are still awaiting answers to so many unanswered questions

28 years later - repeated delays and obstruction to simply carry out a full and thorough investigation - a basic human right.

On Seans anniversary we ask for YOUR support - to stand in solidarity with the Brown family on Friday 16th May and to make an extraordinary public statement - please join us in The Walk For Truth

No more delays - justice for Sean Brown

This comes following the decision by the UK Government to seek an appeal to the Supreme Court over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into the killing of Mr Brown.

Support has also been pledged by the Irish government. The Brown family recently met with deputy Irish premier Simon Harris.

Mr Harris said the failure to effectively investigate the murder was simply unacceptable, and pledged to continue to use every channel available to me to pursue this matter.
The Bishop of Derry has revealed how he had a private meeting with the new Pope last year.

Bishop Donal McKeown met with then-Cardinal Robert Prevost for thirty minutes last October, when the pair discussed the future of the Derry Diocese, including Inishowen.

And now that 69-year-old Chicago native Cardinal Prevost has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, Bishop McKeown couldnt be happier.

I was delighted to hear about the election of Pope Leo.

Finally, it is great to have a Pope younger than I am! he smiled.

IN PICTURES: Derry vigil in memory of Buncrana tragedy victims

Bishop McKeown (75) feels the Conclave got it right by opting for Prevost  the first North American to become Pope  who was elected on just the second day of the Vatican vote.

The early agreement on Cardinal Prevost suggests that there was a quick consensus on what sort of person was needed to take on the huge task of following Pope Francis, he says.

The new Pontiff may be relatively young, but Bishop McKeown says he brings a lifetime of invaluable experience to his role as leader of the Catholic Church globally.

From his time in charge of the Vatican Department, which helps the Pope to choose bishops, he will have a good knowledge of how the Church is in many parts of the world, he explained.

He has huge experience as a missionary in Latin America too  a very important point for the leader of a missionary church, Bishop McKeown added.
The bereaved families at the centre of the Buncrana drowning tragedy have been deeply touched and overwhelmed by the local communitys support.

A Buncrana-based charity has set up a Go Fund Me campaign to support them during their time of unimaginable need, with more than 25,000 donated so far.

Insight Inishowen, a voluntary group which works to promote good mental health, organised the fundraiser to support the families of Matt Sibanda and Emmanuel Familola with expenses  and to help family members travel here from Africa for the funerals, which are expected to be held next week.

Ruth Garvey-Williams, a member of the Insight Inishowen charity, which is based out of The Exchange in Buncrana, says the families have been deeply touched and overwhelmed by the publics response.

We [The Exchanage/Insight Inishowen] are completely overwhelmed at the response, Ms Garvey Williams said. For the first few days, the mothers were worried about how they were going to pay the funeral expenses.

They are single mothers and both are working locally, but they were worried about meeting those expenses with being out-of-work for this next period of time.

But the way the community has helped has been an even greater response than we could have imagined.

I was speaking to one of the African community leaders from Letterkenny, who was thanking us on behalf of the whole African community, saying that they are so grateful for the support.

Not just the messages of support, but the kindness and how people have come forward to help these families in their time of need.

Ms Garvey-Williams said the families were overwhelmed by the many hundreds of local people who attended a prayer vigil in St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana on Sunday afternoon too.

They didnt expect it, she said. They thought it would just be themselves and their friends, and they were moved to tears by the demonstration of kindness and hospitality of the community and all those who attended.

Arrangements are now being made for family members to travel to Buncrana for the boys' funerals which are expected to be held next week. Temporary visas will be issued by the authorities so that family members living abroad can be present when 18-year-old Matt, originally from Zimbabwe, and 16-year-old Nigerian boy Emmanuel are laid to rest.

Ruth said that the boys were members of a youth group at the Exchange and after Mass on Sundays went there with their families and friends to worship in the African Christian manner.

Fr Bradley and us at The Exchange are working closely with the families to understand how they conduct a funeral in their own cultures, Ms Garvey-Williams said. We dont want to force them into an Irish funeral. There will be elements that will be the same, but some will be different.

This time of sadness has given the Buncrana and wider Inishowen community a time to reassess negative attitudes towards immigration.

During Sundays prayer vigil, Buncrana Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley emphasised how Matt, Emmanuel and their families were new parishioners rather than immigrants.

These are new parishioners. Theyre not immigrants, theyre new parishioners, new members of our community, he said.

IN PICTURES: Derry vigil in memory of Buncrana tragedy victims

Ms Garvey-Williams agreed that the tragedy has changed the conversation and helped everyone recognise our shared humanity.

These boys and their families are members of our community. They were going to school and studying. Their mothers are working hard and contributing to our society, and many of the families have volunteered at the Exchange and elsewhere.

And to have a tragedy like this hit, on top of the trauma theyve already had, is just terrible. The trauma from which theyve escaped - torture, war, trafficking, kidnapping, abuse.

Many have already lost children and family members, and when a child dies like this, that can be triggering for them, as this community knows all too well.

Im happy with what we have raised so far. We just want to stand with the families.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of two murders and one attempted murder in Belfast.

The 50-year-old has been detained in connection with the murder of Jim Donegan, 43, in west Belfast in 2018; the murder of Danny McClean, 54, in north Belfast in 2021 and the attempted murder of taxi driver Sean OReilly in west Belfast in February.

He was arrested after detectives from the PSNIs major investigation team searched a house in north Belfast on Tuesday.

Detectives investigating the murders of Danny McClean and Jim Donegan, and the attempted murder of a man in west Belfast, have arrested a 50 year old man in north Belfast. Full details here:https://t.co/m7ZcLSnbIn pic.twitter.com/GAU4GfHQIx  Police West Belfast (@PSNIBelfastW) May 13, 2025

Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said all three shootings were cold, calculated and ruthless.

In respect of the attempted murder in west Belfast, here, a 49-year-old man was shot as he sat inside a taxi in the Bell Steel Manor area on the morning of Sunday 23 February, she added.

We believe two gunmen approached the vehicle on foot, and a number of shots were fired in a cold-blooded attack intended to kill.

Danny McClean, aged 54, was murdered on the evening of 2 February 2021.

He was shot a number of times by a gunman as he sat in a car parked in the driveway of a property on the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast.

Jim Donegan, aged 43, was murdered as he waited, in his car, to collect his son from school.

This was in the Glen Road area of west Belfast on the afternoon of 4 December 2018.

Mr Donegan was shot several times by a gunman.

Ms Quinn added: All three attacks, one in north Belfast and two in west Belfast, were cold, calculated and ruthless.

All three were carried out in busy, residential areas when any members of the public, including children, could easily have been passing by.

Two of the attacks left families bereft, and all three have left loved ones and communities shaken.

Please be assured that our determination to bring those responsible to justice remains as steadfast as ever.

I am taking this opportunity to reiterate my appeal to anyone with information, or footage, to contact detectives on 101.

The charity Crimestoppers is currently offering a reward of up to 20,000 for information received directly that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone linked to the attempted murder in Bell Steel Manor in February.
It is likely a source who made allegations against Gerry Adams in a BBC documentary would be killed if they were identified, a journalist for the broadcaster has told a libel trial.

Mr Adams is suing the BBC over what he has deemed to be a grievous smear made by a confidential source in a Spotlight documentary that alleged he had sanctioned the killing of a former Sinn Fein official who turned out to be an informant.

He claims a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement.

The BBC argues the claim was corroborated by other sources and the reporter involved said the confidential source who made the allegation would likely be killed if their identity was revealed.

Mr Donaldson was shot dead in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years.

In 2009, the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing, and the Spotlight programme was broadcast in September 2016 while a garda investigation into the matter was ongoing.

In the programme, a man identified as Martin who says he was an informant for Special Branch within the IRA, claims that the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and said Mr Adams gives the final say.

Mr Adamss legal team says his reputation as a peacemaker had suffered an unjustified attack because of the broadcast of the BBC programme, and the online article with the headline: Gerry Adams sanctioned Denis Donaldson killing.

At the High Court in Dublin on Tuesday, the BBC opened its defence and said it is incomprehensible to suggest that Mr Adams has a reputation solely as a peacemaker.

Eoin McCullough SC, for the BBC, told the jury that the broadcaster fundamentally disputes what Mr Adams is putting forward as the meaning of the article.

He went on to say that whatever the proper meaning of the article or whether it was right or wrong, it was a proper piece of investigative journalism that was a fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.

He told the jury even if they deem that that was not the case, that they should not award damages as Mr Adams had a reputation for being in the IRA and being on the Army Council and presiding over a campaign of violence in which many people were killed.

Mr McCullough said they should not award damages on the allegation that he had given the final word on one more murder.

He told the jury it was up to them to decide what an average reasonable person would understand the meaning of the broadcast and the article to be, adding that a reasonable person would read the whole article and not just the headline.

He said the BBC said the meaning of both was not that Mr Adams had sanctioned and approved the murder, and that the organisation had reported on an allegation and made clear that it was disputed by the former Sinn Fein leader.

He said the BBC would not take on the burden of proving the allegation as it did not present it as a fact.

Mr McCullough said there was an important issue of free speech and journalism in the case, adding that a journalist is entitled to publish materials in the public interest as long as they do so in good faith and act fairly and reasonably.

He said the Spotlight programme was thoughtfully made, carefully researched and was based on multiple sources.

On Mr Adamss reputation, Mr McCullough said it was accepted by the plaintiff that allegations on his connection to the IRA and Army Council were reported on multiple times.

He said the jury had heard several pieces of evidence which point to Mr Adams having the reputation of being in the IRA.

How can Mr Adams acknowledge he has a reputation of having been in the IRA, having been on the Army Council, having organised violence on that account  at the same time tell you did you know my reputation is as a peacemaker?.

He said there were red herrings in the case, including what the jury thought of the legitimacy of a campaign of violence and how loyalists and the British Government acted.

Mr McCullough said Mr Adams had a reputation of being involved in violence, adding: It makes no difference at all that ultimately peace was achieved.

The BBC also called the main reporter in the documentary as a witness, who told the court that if the identity of Martin is revealed it is likely that he would be killed.

Jennifer OLeary said it was completely standard to protect confidential sources in journalism and added: It is rare to have a source where if his identity was revealed, it is likely that he would be killed.

She told the court that the last IRA informer crucial to a defamation case, whom she identified as Eamon Collins, was found dead on a road with his tongue cut out.

Referring to her notes, Ms OLeary outlined how a total of five other sources corroborated Martins claim that Mr Adams would have signed off on the killing of Mr Donaldson.

These included two sources from the republican community, and three sources related to security services operating in Northern Ireland.

The jury was shown a portion of the Spotlight documentary, which they had watched in full previously, which showed Ms OLeary reporting that elements of the South Armagh IRA had begun to blame Mr Donaldson for operations that were compromised and were pushing for action.

She relayed information she said she received from sources that an alleged IRA figure in the region insisted Mr Donaldson be killed.

The programme includes Martins allegation the Mr Adams gives the final say in the killing, before Ms OLeary reads out the former Sinn Fein leaders denial which was issued to the BBC by his solicitor.

Ms OLeary said the Spotlight programme was made in the context of the murder of former IRA figure Kevin McGuigan in August 2015, adding that the then-PSNI chief constable George Hamilton had said the IRA was still in existence and that members had been involved in the murder.

She said Mr Adams had said that the organisation was off the stage and that no IRA members were involved.

She added that a PSNI and MI5 report from October of that year also said the IRA was still in existence.

Ms OLeary said she first heard the assertion that the IRA was involved in the killing of Mr Donaldson in late 2015, from a man she told the court she would be identifying as Republican Source B.

This source, who she said was a former IRA operative, said the organisation would let them make the claim  referring to dissident republicans.

Ms OLeary said she was later contacted by Martin, whose identity she said she knew but would not disclose, during the course of another programme on gangland activity in Dublin.

She said she was really constrained about what she could say without identifying him.

Ms OLeary said she spoke about the IRA being behind the murder of Mr Donaldson, rather than dissident republicans.

She said she was able to verify details about him and his involvement in Sinn Fein, but his role as an informer created difficulty in sussing out some details.

She said she was sceptical but said details appeared to be credible.

Ms OLeary said there was a personal element to his motivation for speaking about Mr Donaldson, and that this presents constraints for what she could say.

She went on to say that Martin had disclosed to security services that Mr Donaldson was taking documents out of Stormont, without knowing that he was an informer.

Ms OLeary said it was not true to suggest she had any animus towards Mr Adams, adding: I had no agenda whatsoever.

She said she was aware that he had a widely reported reputation of being involved in the leadership of IRA which he had consistently rejected.

Prior to the BBC opening its defence, the jury was given as an exhibit a spreadsheet including agreed figures on the established viewership of the Spotlight programme in the Republic of Ireland.

These calculated that the documentary was viewed in 11,700 households in that jurisdiction, equating to an average viewership of roughly 15,800 individuals for any given minute of the 56-minute broadcast.

They were also told that it is believed the only article was viewed roughly 750 times between 2016 and 2017, but were advised that this figure would be checked and provided to them at a later date.

They were also shown a 12-minute montage containing 17 segments of news coverage of aspects of Mr Adamss public life.

Judge Alexander Owens told the jury that this was being shown on balance as to an example of good publicity rather than as proof of the facts contained in the reports, after a separate montage was introduced earlier in the proceedings by the defence.

Mr Adamss team closed its evidence with this montage, which showed him meeting with various taoisigh, US president Bill Clinton, South African president Nelson Mandela, his election as an MP, and shaking hands with Prince Charles as well as various other points in the peace process.

The case continues.
An increase in employers national insurance contributions has added 140 million to financial pressures in Northern Irelands health service, Mike Nesbitt has said.

The Health Minister said the Department of Health would take a financial hit rather than leave healthcare providers to deal with the increased costs alone.

The health service in Northern Ireland is already dealing with a significant budget crisis.

Mr Nesbitt said the new pressures from the UK Governments hike in National Insurance contributions would include approximately 100 million in relation to directly employed staff in trusts and other statutory organisations.

The Health Minister has laid out details of funding to mitigate National Insurance increases for employers in the health and social care system. Read more: https://t.co/XkPahYMam2 pic.twitter.com/pd008FmfRv  Department of Health (@healthdpt) May 13, 2025

The minister said he has also agreed that funding be made available to help support non-statutory providers of health and social care in meeting their additional national insurance bills.

This package involves a projected 40 million and includes social care providers and hospices as well as family health service providers such as GPs, dentists, community pharmacies and opticians.

Mr Nesbitt said 3.5 million has been earmarked for GPs for national insurance and detailed in the 2025/26 GP contract discussions.

However, he said the British Medical Association (BMA) has asked its GP members to reject the GP contract on offer.

Of the other family health service providers, 4 million has been earmarked for community pharmacies, 2.5 million for general dental services and 1 million for general ophthalmic services.

Mr Nesbitt said: My three-year plan for health and social care includes stabilisation of services amid the current severe financial pressures.

Providing assistance with rising national insurance bills very much fits in with the stabilisation objective.

It is crucially important to support providers who have been hit with additional costs for reasons entirely outside their control.

I have therefore decided to take a financial hit rather than leave health care providers to deal with the UK Governments hike in national insurance contributions by themselves.

That would have been deeply unfair and would have been detrimental to health and social care provision.
Food from Northern Ireland should not be undercut by cheap imports from the US, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said.

Speaking during a speech delivered on the eve of the Balmoral Show, Mr Muir also said he was continuing to make the case to the Government for a comprehensive SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) veterinary agreement between the UK and EU.

The Balmoral Show, the largest agricultural show in Northern Ireland, begins on Wednesday near Lisburn with more than 100,000 people expected to attend over the four days.

Addressing the annual Farmers Club dinner held in Queens University Belfast, Mr Muir reiterated his opposition to proposed changes to inheritance tax.

From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than 1 million, which were previously exempt, will have to pay inheritance tax at 20%.

Farmers in Northern Ireland have said they will be disproportionally affected by the changes.

Mr Muir said: I do have to again express my bitter disappointment at the UK Governments plans to change inheritance tax.

Let me be clear, the family farm tax is wrong, it should not proceed.

The minister said he had been making ongoing representations to the Government about the need for an SPS veterinary agreement between the UK and EU.

He said: I have been making the case strongly to UK Government ministers on this and other matters and I am quietly confident that my points are being heard.

There is still a way to go with UK/EU negotiations but I am hopeful there will be a positive and significant outcome for agri-food.

The minister also highlighted his representations to the Government urging against concessions on agriculture in discussions with the US on trade.

He said: Farmers in Northern Ireland produce quality food to the highest welfare standards, they should not be undercut by cheap imports from the USA or elsewhere.

Mr Muir urged partnership working to deliver economic and environmental sustainability for the agri-food sector.

He said: Helping our farmers mitigate cost and price pressures by improving their productivity and resilience, while also achieving environment improvement is my guiding mission.

Theres lots to do, but together, led by the science and by investing in the technology, a strong and positive future is ahead.

The pace of change in recent years is unprecedented. Looking back just 10 years ago is clear proof of that transformation.

Addressing current challenges requires us all to work in partnership to protect both farm families and our environment.

The minister cited a range of challenges facing the agriculture sector including bovine TB, climate change, water quality, nature recovery and ammonia.
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Europe considers ban on Chinese solar inverters, citing cybersecurity concerns

Europe is grappling with growing concerns over the cybersecurity risks posed by Chinese-made photovoltaic inverters, prompting discussions about restricting high-risk suppliers from connecting to its power systems. The debate mirrors the 2019 US ban on Huawei solar inverters, which cited potential remote control threats to the power grid, particularly during wartime.

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) has proposed an EU "Inverter Security Toolbox," modeled after the 5G security framework, to address vulnerabilities in grid-connected inverters, particularly those from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and Sungrow.

The urgency stems from Europe's heavy reliance on Chinese solar equipment: 95% of solar modules and over 80% of inverters are sourced from China, with Huawei and Sungrow controlling remote access to GW of Europe's solar capacityequivalent to over 200 nuclear power plants. A SolarPower Europe report warns that a cyberattack on just GW of inverter capacity could destabilize the European grid.

In 2023, Chinese vendors supplied 70% of global secure solar inverters, with Huawei holding the largest market share. Recent developments have heightened scrutiny. Huawei has been expelled from European solar associations, including SolarPower Europe and BusinessEurope, while Eurelectric is considering suspending Huawei's membership by June.

EU and Belgian investigations since 2021 have uncovered Huawei's lobbying efforts, involving economic incentives and event invitations, leading to prosecutions and expanded bans on Huawei-linked lobbying groups.

The strategic importance of electricity, especially in conflict scenarios, amplifies these concerns. The 2019 US ban on Huawei inverters was driven by fears that adversaries could remotely disrupt critical applications like home electricity and electric vehicle charging. Although Huawei has exited the US market, other Chinese manufacturers have filled the gap, offering cost-competitive products that continue to dominate globally.

Critics argue that banning Chinese inverters could raise costs and disrupt supply chains, as European alternatives are 30-50% more expensive. The European Commission is assessing cybersecurity risks in the solar value chain, with the ESMC advocating for measures like Lithuania's 2023 ban on Chinese inverters. As Europe balances energy security and economic considerations, the proposed toolbox aims to enforce risk assessments and limit remote access by high-risk vendors.

Article edited by Jack Wu
iPhone monthly shipments in China halved as Apple cuts prices ahead of 618 shopping festival

The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) released data on smartphone shipments in March 2025, showing an overall year-over-year increase of 6.5%, with Chinese brand shipments rising by 18.4%. Based on these figures, shipments of non-Chinese brand smartphonesdominated by Appledeclined nearly 50% year-over-year.

According to CAICT data, March smartphone shipments in China totaled 22.73 million units, with Chinese brands accounting for 20.88 million units or 92% of the market. This means non-Chinese brand shipments were approximately 1.85 million units, representing 8%. Compared to March 2024, when non-Chinese brand shipments were about 3.84 million units, this represents a sharp halving of volume.

For the first quarter of 2025, total shipments in China reached 69.67 million units, up 3.3% year-over-year; Chinese brand shipments increased 9% to 60.75 million units. Meanwhile, non-Chinese brand shipments fell over 25% to 8.92 million units.

Counterpoint Research reported that in the first quarter of 2025, the Chinese smartphone market share rankings were led by Huawei at 19.4%, followed by Vivo at 17%, Xiaomi at 16.6%, Oppo at 14.6%, and then Apple at 14.1%. Despite the overall smartphone market growing 2.5%, iPhone sales declined 7.7% during the same period.

Apple's performance in China has been under close scrutiny lately. In its fiscal report ending March 2025, revenue from Greater China dropped 2%. Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that compared to an 11% decline during the 2024 end-of-year shopping season, the company's results in China represent significant improvement.

When addressing questions about the Chinese market, Cook acknowledged that China's "national subsidies" have indeed helped. He also reminded that products priced above CNY6,000 (approx. US$832.95) do not qualify for these subsidies.

With the upcoming 618 shopping festival, platforms like JD.com and Tmall are gearing up for strong promotions. Reports indicate Apple is further reducing prices on some iPhone 16 Pro models to meet subsidy eligibility requirements, aiming to boost sales and regain market share.

Article edited by Jack Wu
Louth and Cooley Kickhams players of other days joined together in a walk across the Cooley Mountains last Saturday week. They were commemorating a son of the peninsula, and at the same time raising funds for a worthy cause.

Padraig ONeill played with both Louth and Kickhams, as did his brothers, Gareth, Redmond and Ogie. His lamented death took place last July at the age of 58.

Louth Past Players have staged a walk over the past few years. This was the fourth outing, and given the connections of the one in whose name it was being staged, the setting was entirely appropriate.

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Starting-point was The Lumpers in Ravensdale, which was bedecked in red-and-white for the walk and, you could say, the times that are in it.

From there the 50 or so walkers made their way across the side of the mountain, and along the way were joined by others, including members of the ONeill family, Padraigs wife Susan, and her children, Cillian, Neasa and Aoibhin.

The frontwalkers arrived in Carlingford about three hours after setting out, with others coming in at respectful intervals. They were heartened by the number that came out to greet them, among them Susans parents, Paddy and Mary Kirk.

It was Susans choice that the money raised would go to the Irish Heart Foundation.

There was never a chance of me taking up the invitation chief organiser, Seamus OHanlon, had sent this way to go on the hike. The occasional walk up to the Bluer Anchor is my butt.

However, I got along to the start and, and because OHanlon had suggested in his message to all those taking part to wear a county jersey, I brought the one I got while training with the county team along with me  under my arm, of course  and just missed out on meeting a former Louth colleague, Leslie Toal.

I got the jersey around the late 1960s, and this being a time when there were no perks for county players, this hand-out was a rarity.

My jersey was that well worn at the time, it could now be over 60 years old. Theres no cuff on the right sleeve, and the number is missing.

But the crest is intact. Its an embroidered green St Brigids Cross in a shield stitched on to the jersey and is much more attractive than the one worm on todays jerseys.

Fintan Murphy was proud to tell me it was Carlingford lady, Lily Woods, John Woods aunt, who suggested having a crest and came up with the idea of a St Brigids Cross.

Seamus OHanlon says the craic was mighty on the walk and afterwards in Carlingford. Some of the old stories lost nothing in the re-telling  in fact, some were probably embellished, and may even have been true, he says. The singing was good, as well.

The former Clan na Gael player, helped in organising the event by JP Rooney and Peter McGinnity, says another outing is planned for next year, and again the money raised will go to a deserving cause.

The three walks that took place prior to this one were in memory of Stephen Melia, Benny Reilly and Colm Quinn.
17,776 in funding has been allocated for refurbishment of the children's playground in Blackrock, Co Louth, it was announced on Monday by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley.

The funding is part of a 500,000 funding package that has been awarded for 28 playgrounds and play areas around the country through the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation.

The scheme provides funding to support city and county councils in upgrading existing playgrounds or developing new playgrounds. It offers maximum funding of up to 20,000 per project, an investment that is expected to see positive impacts delivered to children and families across the country.

It was obligatory for councils to consult with local children and young people to receive any grant funding for playgrounds and play areas under the scheme. Councils also had to provide matching funding of at least 25 per cent of the cost of the project.

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Minister Foley said: I am delighted to announce this capital funding that will directly benefit families and children in every corner of Ireland. These grants will enable city and county councils to create and upgrade playgrounds, making them more accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

"I want to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to the local authorities for their applications and I look forward to seeing the benefits these projects will provide to local communities for many years to come.
Louth TD Ruairi O Murchu has invited people to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians to mark the 77th anniversary of the Nakba this Friday.

The gathering, which takes place behind the Imperial Hotel and at the back of Williamsons Mall on May 16th at 2pm, marks the anniversary of Nakba, which Deouty O Murchu said was "the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through violent displacement and dispossession of their land and the destruction of their society, culture and identity".

Deputy O Murchu said: "It is not enough to utter words of condemnation, there needs to be action. As we approach the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, it is an appropriate time to pass the Occupied Territories Bill.

"It is a term used to describe events in 1948 but as we are all witnessing, those events are continuing and escalating today as we see the genocide unfolding in front of our eyes. I invite people to come along on Friday to a solidarity protest we are holding to mark the 1948 Nakba and to show support for the Palestinian people. Bring flags and banners and everyone who is appalled at the events in Gaza is welcome."

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The United Nations says this about the Nakba: "The Nakba, which means catastrophe in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Before the Nakba, Palestine was a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. However, the conflict between Arabs and Jews intensified in the 1930s with the increase of Jewish immigration, driven by persecution in Europe, and with the Zionist movement aiming to establish a Jewish state in Palestine.

"In November 1947, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution partitioning Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under a UN administration. The Arab world rejected the plan, arguing that it was unfair and violated the UN Charter. Jewish militias launched attacks against Palestinian villages, forcing thousands to flee.

"The situation escalated into a full-blown war in 1948, with the end of the British Mandate and the departure of British forces, the declaration of independence of the State of Israel and the entry of neighbouring Arab armies. The newly established Israeli forces launched a major offensive. The result of the war was the permanent displacement of more than half of the Palestinian population.
Senator Alison Comyn has been meeting with residents of Collon, Co Louth, who say that speeding traffic through the village is making life difficult and often dangerous for locals.

The Louth Fianna Fail representative has contacted council officials to see what traffic calming measure may be appropriate, as the volume and speed of traffic, in particular lorries, is creating a daily hazard to local drivers.

I was contacted by many residents I had met whilst campaigning for the general election last year, who still have serious concerns for the traffic coming through the village on the N2 between Ardee and Slane, said Senator Comyn.

The sheer volume and speed of the traffic, which does contain a high number of large articulated lorries, is phenomenal, and I can see why locals are hoping for either traffic lights or other traffic calming measures, to help traffic cross towards Lobinstown on the Kells Road.

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There is a pedestrian crossing on Ardee Street, closer to Donegans pub, Senator Comyn says the sensible thing to do would be to move that to the crossroads as timed traffic lights, which would assist vehicles and pedestrians.

I spoke to one local Martin Sherlock, who says motorists are taking their life in their hands trying to cross the busy intersection of the N2/Kells Road, and something needs to be done immediately to slow the traffic down, she adds.

I am calling for a traffic report to ascertain what measures would be most suitable, and to be included in roads and infrastructure budgeting as a matter of urgency, before a serious incident occurs at this lethal junction.

I think a roundabout would be too tight, and ramps would not be suitable on such a main road, so traffic lights, with signs and rumble strips would seem a viable option.
North Louth Hospice & Homecare Foundation has announced that Hospice Sunflower Days is returning for its 35th year next month with the on-street collection taking place on Friday 6th June and Saturday 7th June 2025. Hospice Sunflower Days Ambassadors, Miriam OCallaghan and Jenny McCarthy, were on hand to officially launch this years campaign.

As well as the on-street collection, the public can also support North Louth Hospice & Homecare Foundation by donating online throughout the month of June at www.sunflowerdays.ie. Every euro raised locally, stays locally and the donation will go directly to North Louth Hospice & Homecare Foundation.

The funds raised play a vital role in supporting the delivery of specialist palliative care in communities across Ireland. Hospice and specialist palliative homecare services provide free-of-charge care and support to those living with a life-limiting illness, whilst also helping and supporting the patients family members. The funds raised will be used for Patient Driver Services, Family Support and Nursing Care.

2025 Hospice Sunflower Days campaign, Anne Newell, North Louth Hospice, said: We are thrilled to launch the 35th Hospice Sunflower Days campaign. We rely so much on the publics support which allow us to continue to provide our vital services. We are calling on everyone from Louth to donate what they can, either on-street or on-line this June, as every euro raised locally, stays locally and really does make a big difference at a local level.

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Hospice Sunflower Days Ambassador, Miriam OCallaghan, commented, The Hospice Sunflower Days campaign is one I am absolutely delighted to support as I have seen firsthand the fantastic work and care that hospices and homecare services provide to patients and families all across the country. With hospices needing to raise approximately 20 million each year to continue to provide their specialist care, it is so important for the public to show their support by donating on-street or on-line during this years campaign.

You can support North Louth Hospice & Homecare Foundation by donating to the on-street volunteers on Friday 6th or Saturday 7th June, or by donating online throughout the month of June via the website, www.sunflowerdays.ie
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, Minister with Responsibility for Older Persons, Kieran ODonnell and Minister with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins have announced allocations to local authorities of over 117 million for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People.

Louth County Council has received a 36% increase in exchequer funding for 2025, rising from 1.98m in 2024 to 2.69m in 2025. When combined with the contribution from the local authority, Louth County Council has a total budget of 3.17m for the grant.

Nationally, the 99.5 million exchequer funding combined with the local authority contribution, represents an overall funding of 117m.

Following a review completed last year, the Government has also introduced significant improvements in the grant including:

an increase in the maximum level of Housing Adaption Grant for Disabled People to 40,000 (an increase of 10,000)

an increase in the maximum level of the Housing Aid for Older People Grant to 10,700 (an increase of 2,700); and

an increase in the maximum level of the Mobility Aid Grant of 8,000 (an increase of 2,000)

Commenting today Minister Browne said:

The increased level of funding available in 2025 will continue to ensure delivery of these vital grants and empower local authorities like Louth County Council to further assist older and disabled individuals in living independently within their own homes.

"Having met many grant recipients across the country, I've witnessed at first-hand the remarkable difference they make in empowering older and disabled individuals to live independently at home for longer.

"These grants also support local economies, creating employment opportunities for local contractors.

Minister with responsibility for Older People, Kieran ODonnell said:

In my role as Minister of State with responsibility for housing for older people, my absolute priority is to enable individuals to continue living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Today's funding announcement is a further positive step towards achieving this.

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Minister with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins said:

I want to compliment local authorities for the key role they play in administering the grants, including assessing applications and arranging home inspections where adaptations are proposed.

Through this work, local authorities are empowering older and disabled people in their daily routines enabling them to maintain their independence within their own homes.

The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 provided the legal basis for the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review completed in 2024.

The key changes included an increase in the grant limits of over 30%, an increase of 25% in the income thresholds for eligibility. The legislation also adjusts the burden sharing for local authorities by reducing the local authority funding contribution to 15% (from the existing 20%).
Continuing the tradition of giving, the Beauty That Counts NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Create Change is available to all Filipinas who want to gloss for a change or want to be part of something that helps women and children in need. In the Philippines, a US dollar will be donated to a local charitable institution from each sale of the Beauty That Counts NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss.



The Beauty That Counts NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss is no ordinary lip gloss. With its creamy, ultra-comfortable formula, it provides brilliant shine, plus an instant boost of moisture that leaves lips feeling supple. Its nourishing, non-sticky formula contains a complex of antioxidant-rich vitamins and plant-derived minerals to smoothen, protect and condition lips. So goodbye plain lips and hello instant moisture plus smoothing, soothing and serious shine!The Beauty That Counts NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss is available through a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Available while supply last.

Stay gorgeous everyone!
For five days in August, Cork city will transform into a vibrant, exciting festival hub, celebrating the very best of its food and drink culture.

Returning for a fourth year from August 13-17, with a programme thats bigger and better than ever, Cork On A Fork Fest has become a much-anticipated event in the summer programme for the city.

Its an eclectic mix of food trails, once- off pop-ups, supper clubs, guest chefs and meet the maker experiences, cocktail shenanigans, peeks into the worlds of brewing and distilling, and events celebrating the multicultural tastes and flavours of Cork.

The festival weekend will again see Emmet Square come to life with a street market, and not one, but two, festival marquees hosting cookery demos, cook-offs, talks and tastings - all free, all day long.

Clodagh McKenna, Aishling Moore, Takashi Miyazaki, Orla McAndrew, Ali Honour and Rob Fitzpatrick are just some of Corks best-loved chefs who will grace the stage.

The jewel in the festivals crown is the VQ Long Table Dinner, set to host 450 this year along MacCurtain Street. Sponsored by Birra Moretti, this spectacular long-table dinner will see 20 chefs from the citys VQ area curate shared plates for what is always the festivals hottest ticket. Tickets are expected to sell out fast, so be quick to grab a seat at the table.

Cork On A Fork Fest is a chance to showcase the connection between our great producers and the chefs, bakers, and mixologists who are passionate about supporting local in every bite and sip.

Corks reputation as Irelands food capital is long-standing and well respected internationally as well as at home. In recent years, the next generation of producers and chefs have been working dynamically to lift Corks food culture up another level again, with a real sense of pride in what they put on a plate.

Fahmeda Naheed, from SECAD, with chef Orla McAndrew at the launch of Breaking Bread, an immersive food and community experience taking place during Cork On A Fork Fest in St Peters. Pictures: Joleen Cronin

Cork On A Fork Fest is all about our distinctive food identity. As a farm-to-fork destination since its origins as a trading port in the 10th century, Cork has led the way in Irelands modern speciality food movement, and has more artisan producers than anywhere else in the country. From Atlantic seafood and artisan cheeses to spiced beef, tripe and drisheen, this is a city where food tells a story.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle said: Cork On A Fork has quickly become one of our citys most loved festivals, and its a true celebration of everything that makes Corks food culture so unique - from our passionate producers and creative chefs to our vibrant hospitality scene.

This years programme is bursting with flavour, innovation, and community spirit, and I encourage everyone to get involved, support local, and enjoy the incredible experiences on offer across the city.

So, here are my hot ticket events to make a beeline for at this years Cork On A Fork Fest:

Meet The Producers Bus Tour, 2-6pm, Friday, August 15, 95pp: An exclusive Producers Bus Tour hosted by leading Cork food historian, Regina Sexton. Visit some of Corks best food producers with behind-the-scenes tastings and insights into their craft. Stops include The English Market, Hannas Bees, Frank Hedermans Tasting Room in Cobh, Ardsallagh Cheese and Killahora Orchard.

Young Chef Collaboration Dinner, 7-10pm, Thursday, August 14, Farmgate Cafe at The English Market, 80pp: Farmgate Cafes head chef Pamela Kelly invites two rising stars - and friends - of Corks culinary scene, Joe Quane and Stephen Cronin, to cook supper in the English Market. Joe began his culinary journey at the Farmgate Cafe six years ago, going on to work under acclaimed chefs Ross Lewis (Chapter One) and Niall Davidson (Allta). Stephen, a Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador in 2022, works with Dan Geurin at Cush in Midleton. A celebration of friendship, the flavours of the English Market, and the next generation of Cork culinary talent.

International Tea Ceremony and Cooking Demos, 2-4pm, Saturday, August 16, Tea Room and Lecture Theatre, Nano Nagle Place/School of Architecture, FREE: Explore international tea and food, its cultural considerations and stories, at this multi-cultural tea ceremony with Cork Migrant Centre. Enjoy tasters of food and a selection of tea and coffees from different regions.

On The Pigs Back: Artisan Producers Market, 2-7pm, Saturday, August 16, St. Peters, North Main Street, FREE: An On the Pigs Back curated market bringing together some of the regions best artisan producers. Sample local cheeses and charcuterie, sweet and savoury treats, and meet some of the makers behind iconic Cork food brands.

Afternoon Tea on the Train - A FoodCloud Experience, Meet at 12.30pm for 1pm departure, Friday, August 15, Kent Station, 35pp: All aboard for a one-of-a-kind experience with a purpose! Join FoodCloud and Irish Rail on a unique journey celebrating sustainability, delicious food, and the power of food sharing. Enjoy afternoon tea crafted by talented chefs who aim to reduce food waste without compromising on flavour by using surplus ingredients. Travel in style between Cork and Midleton and indulge in a thoughtfully curated selection of sweet and savoury delights while learning about FoodClouds mission to tackle food waste and food insecurity.

Breaking Bread: A Cultural Connection, 6-9pm, Friday, August 15, St Peters North Main Street, 25pp (all profit to local communities): An immersive food and community experience curated by Chef Orla McAndrew. An evening of flavour and connection where guests taste dishes created by Corks vibrant migrant community. Enjoy performances by the Cork Shakespearean Company and other community groups. Breaking Bread celebrates unity, identity, and the evolving spirit of Corks rich food culture.

Balance, Beats & Bites with The Yoga Tree and Spice Genie, 6.30pm-late, Friday, August 15, Old Cork Savings Bank, 1 Lapps Quay, 99pp: A feelgood evening of movement, wellness, uplifting beats, great food and drinks kicks off with a yoga session set to live beats by DJ Bill, then unwind with a drinks reception of cocktails and mocktails by Moxy Corks mixologist, followed by award-winning Indian street food from Spice Genie and wholesome raw treats, all to the sounds of Cork Rebel Brass.

Organised and supported by Cork City Council in partnership with local businesses, Cork on a Fork Fest is supported by Failte Ireland, Pure Cork, Cork Airport, Cork Business Association, IHF Cork, the Irish Examiner, and Corks RedFM.

With so many more events, visit www.corkonaforkfest.ie to view the festival programme, sign up to the newsletter, or follow @corkonaforkfest on social media for updates.
Update 8am: The N40 has now fully reopened to traffic following an earlier incident.

A single vehicle collision occurred between junction nine Ringaskiddy and junction 10 Mahon before 6.30am.

A garda spokesperson said no injuries have been reported and the route is fully open to traffic.

Earlier: Motorists are advised to take extra care on the South Ring Rd this morning following a collision.

The incident occurred between junction nine Ringaskiddy and junction 10 Mahon eastbound before 6.30am.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has appealed to motorists to slow down and expect delays.
A record number of cruise calls are expected to Cork County Council harbours this year, bringing more than 4,000 passengers.

The first of 24 cruise liners for the 2025 season, Le Bellot, made its inaugural visit to Kinsale Harbour on Thursday, May 8.

Ships will once again visit Kinsale, Schull, and Bere Island, with Baltimore, Youghal, and Ballycotton being added to the destinations this year.

The Mayor of County Cork Joe Carroll said that Cork is uniquely positioned to attract visitors arriving by sea, stating: We have one of the longest coastlines in Ireland, extending to more than 1,100km.

It is wonderful to see new locations in both East and West Cork being added this year, and we look forward to welcoming the thousands of visitors.

A delegation from Cork County Council were on hand to mark Le Bellots first visit to West Cork, with councillor Alan Coleman making a presentation to the ships captain, Francois-Xavier Avril.
At the 40th birthday Celebration & Annual Award Ceremony for Blackpool Glen Farranree Community Youth Training Centre learners at City Hall, Cork. Special guest Youenn Lowry, co-founder of SE Systems, shares his educational journey and the route to his current role as managing director of SE Systems, employing over 100 people including Patrick McCarthy, a former student of the centre,.. Picture: Larry Cummins

Graffiti Theatre workshop

Blackpool-based Graffiti Theatre will hold a drama-based workshop for primary school children this month and next.

The venue said: Are you a sixth-class teacher, primary school principal, or parent association member looking for some final activities for your class as they prepare for the move to secondary school?

We have a gentle, inclusive drama-based workshop to support young people at a time that can be both exciting and daunting. Using theatre games and drama techniques, students can prepare for the transition by exploring ways to navigate potential challenges, embrace new opportunities, and celebrate the work they have achieved so far.

Give Christine a call at 021 439 7111 or email at bookings@graffiti.ie to find out more and to book your class in. Discounts available for multiple class groups.

Festival role for Firkin Crane

Shandons Dance Cork Firkin Crane is taking part in the Cork Midsummer Festival 2025.

A spokesperson said: We are excited to announce five sublime dance performances taking place as part of Cork Midsummer Festival.

Co-presented in partnership with Dance Cork Firkin Crane, the programme features works by renowned Irish and international artists: Alessandro Sciarroni (Italy), Yvon Bonenfant (Ireland), Pony Cam (Australia), and a welcome return to Cork by Lewis Major (Australia).

Also featured in the programme is a work-in-progress sharing by Emily Terndrup developed while in residence at DCFC.

Visit www.dancecorkfirkincrane.iefor details.

Cleaner position at Everyman

The Everyman is hiring a cleaner on the Community Employment (CE) scheme.

The venue said: We have a vacancy for a CE scheme position as a cleaner. They will work within a team to ensure that all areas of The Everyman are kept to the very highest standards of cleanliness for both the visiting public and all theatre staff. This is a developmental opportunity, no experience necessary.

For information and to apply visitjobsireland.ie, vacancy keyword #CES-2389066.

James Leonard and Jordan McCarthy of Cork City Council with Sandra Morrissey of Blackpool Tidy Village Group at the Lord Mayors Civic, Culture Community & Voluntary, and Culture Awards Ceremony 2025. Picture: Larry Cummins

Art group seeks volunteers

Cork Community Art Link (CCAL) on Watercourse Rd is looking for volunteers.

CCAL said on its Facebook page: Come join us in the making of surreal and bizarre creatures, props, and costumes for all to experience in a fantastical street event this June.

All are welcome, no matter your level of experience. Open drop-in workshops (18s+) will be held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2-5pm, at The Lido, 71 Watercourse Rd, Blackpool, T23 DV24. Email info@corkcommunityartlink.com or call 0214553747.

Lotto jackpot hits 16,200

The parish lotto jackpot has reached 16,200, with a 400 consolation prize also up for grabs. Watch the draw today on facebook.com/bbgparish, and also on the Cathedral Facebook page at facebook.com/corkcathedral.

Tickets are also available after all Masses.

During the week, offline tickets are available in our parish offices at The Cathedral and Blackpool. Tickets are also available in local shops.

Have Blackpool, Shandon and Ballyvolane news to share? Contact robert.mcnamara@theecho.ie
Several books of condolences have been opened across Cork to honour Garda Kevin Flatley, who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.

Mr Flatley, who was a 49-year-old father of two, was killed after he was struck by a motorcycle on Sunday afternoon.

The fatality occurred whilst Mr Flatley was undertaking a routine checkpoint on the R132 at Lanestown in Dublin at approximately 1pm.

Following his passing, a number of Garda stations across Cork have announced that there is a book of condolences available in their station for members of the public to come in and pay respects to the deceased.

Three books have been opened at Anglesea Street Garda Station, Bandon Garda Station and Mitchelstown Garda Station, as well as online through the official garda.ie website.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin shared his sympathies on Monday following the death of the on-duty garda, saying his passing would be keenly felt by those who knew him, but also in communities across Ireland and by all gardai.

Our thoughts and prayers go [out] to all those in mourning following this terrible tragedy, said Mr Martin.

Additionally, tributes were paid to the late Mr Flatley at the beginning of last nights Cork City Council meeting, with the Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle asking for members of the council to share their sympathies via the available books.

Can I ask that the council pass condolences on the death of Garda Kevin Flatley, who died on Sunday whilst on duty, said Mr Boyle.

This morning, myself and the chief executive [of Cork City Council, Valerie OSullivan] attended the opening of a book of condolences for Garda Flatley.

Members of the public are invited to visit the aforementioned Garda stations to pay their respects to Mr Flatley and his loved ones, or to contribute online via: https://tinyurl.com/48ny5zrr.
Richard Satchwell told gardai that his wife "flew" at him with a chisel and described holding the belt of her bathrobe at her neck "until she got heavier", when he was re-arrested on suspicion of her murder after her body was removed from under the stairs of their Cork home.

"Before I know it, it had all stopped, it just stopped. I put my arms around her, she fell down on top of me. I didn't know what to do. I held her for a good 20 minutes or half an hour. The two dogs just there sitting looking. They came over, started licking her, I just laid there," said Mr Satchwell.

The English truck driver told detectives he had kissed Tina, who he said he called "my Irish rose", on the head but "there was no taking it back......shame, panic I don't know".

He said his wife wasn't a bad woman "just angry at times" and when she was calm "she was loving".

The Central Criminal Court jury also heard that Mr Satchwell told officers he had buried his wife under the stairs because part of it "wasn't concreted for some reason, muck and stone".

He added: "I was panicked, once I'd it told I couldn't go back on it.....I ain't got no excuses once its done I couldn't take it back".

Evidence

Evidence has already been given of the moment gardai uncovered the body of Tina Satchwell in a grave dug almost one metre deep beneath the stairway of their home, over six years after she was reported missing.

Earlier today, a consultant forensic anthropologist told the murder trial that there were no injuries to any of Ms Satchwell's bones, including the hyoid bone, at the time of death, and no evidence she had ever suffered a fracture.

Expert witness, Ms Laureen Buckley, said she had identified the remains of an adult female who was probably over 45 years of age and because the body was lying face down in a gravesite, it was "more preserved on the front".

Under cross-examination, the witness told Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that the hyoid bone is "sometimes but not always" found damaged in strangulation cases.

In her evidence, Ms Buckley told Gerardine Small SC, prosecuting, she studies bones and assists the state pathology office when bodies are decomposed or skeletonised.

The witness said she was contacted on October 12, 2023, by assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster and told a body had been discovered in a planned search of a missing person's house in Youghal.

Ms Buckley said when she went to the scene at Grattan Street in Youghal on October 12, 2023, Ms Satchwell's body had not been fully excavated and she had offered assistance to the forensic archaeologists.

The witness said the body, which was lying face down, was wrapped in plastic and had a slab over the head area. She said there was enough preservation of the soft tissue to identify the body as female.

Ms Buckley said there was no evidence of any fracture to any of the bones including the skull at the time of death and the hyoid bone was intact.

In cross-examination, the witness confirmed to Mr Grehan there was no evidence Ms Satchwell had ever suffered a fracture.

Conference

The next witness, Detective Garda David Kelleher told Ms Small that he attended a conference at Midleton Garda Station on the evening of October 11, 2023, where he became aware of the discovery of remains buried beneath the stairs at Grattan Street.

Mr Satchwell was rearrested at 12.02pm on October 12, 2023, at O'Brien Place in Youghal on suspicion of the murder of his wife Tina. The accused was brought to Cobh Garda Station where he was interviewed by gardai at 3.35pm.

The trial continues this afternoon before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.

The Central Criminal Court has heard that on March 24, 2017, Mr Satchwell told gardai that his wife Tina had left their home four days earlier but that he had no concerns over her welfare, feeling she had left due to a deterioration in their relationship.

The accused formally reported Ms Satchwell missing the following May but her body was not discovered for over six years, when gardai in October 2023 conducting 'an invasive search' of the Satchwell's home found her decomposed remains in a grave that had been dug underneath the stairs.

Searched

Mr Satchwells home was searched by a team of 10 gardai on June 7, 2017, but the jury have been told this was a non-invasive operation.

The trial has heard gardai first went with a search warrant to Grattan Street in Youghal at 5pm on October 10, 2023, where they arrested Mr Satchwell for the murder of Tina Satchwell on or about March 19, 2017, and brought him to Cobh Garda Station. An invasive search of Grattan Street was conducted simultaneously, with gardai bringing in building equipment to excavate the couple's home.

Having been detained at interview, the accused was released from custody at 4.39pm on October 11, but the 'ongoing search' continued at Grattan Street.

In her opening address, Ms Small told the jury that after the body was recovered, Mr Satchwell told gardai that he lost his footing and fell to the ground when his wife tried to stab him with a chisel. He told detectives that he held her weight off with a belt but that in a matter of seconds, she was dead in his arms.

Mr Satchwell (58), with an address at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork has pleaded not guilty to murdering his 45-year-old wife Tina Satchwell - nee Dingivan - at that address between March 19 and March 20, 2017, both dates inclusive.
A man wanted to stand trial on terrorism charges has appeared in court in Co Tyrone after being extradited from the Republic of Ireland.

Omagh Magistrates Court heard that Sean Walsh, 58, of Belmont Park, Ballinlough, Douglas, Co Cork, is alleged to have attended a meeting which was targeted in a police surveillance operation against the New IRA.

A PSNI detective sergeant told the court that he had executed the extradition warrant on Mr Walsh on Tuesday morning outside Newry.

He said there had been a lengthy courts and appeal process in the Republic of Ireland after the warrants were first issued by a Belfast court in November 2021.

The detective told the court the case against Mr Walsh related to Operation Arbacia, which was a surveillance operation targeting alleged New IRA meetings.

He said police believe Mr Walsh attended a meeting in 2020 in the Omagh area.

A number of other people have been charged as part of the same operation.

Mr Walsh is to stand trial for offences of belonging to a proscribed organisation, directing terrorism, conspiracy to direct terrorism and preparation of acts of terrorism.

The charges relate to a meeting that allegedly took place at an address on Buninver Rd in Gortin, Co Tyrone.

A prosecuting barrister told the court that she would oppose any application for bail.

She said Mr Walsh had no address in Northern Ireland and had fought his extradition to the jurisdiction.

District Judge Peter Magill pointed out that Mr Walsh had no legal representative in court and adjourned the case until tomorrow in Dungannon to allow for his lawyer to be present to make a bail application.
A young man caught drug-dealing in Macroom effectively signed his own imprisonment warrant by continuing to use drugs and failing to turn up for his probation appointments.

Judge Helen Boyle told Charlie McSweeney at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that in this respect, he had himself to blame for his jail term of 18 months.

Detective Garda Shannon Ryan testified that on Friday April 7, 2023, he obtained a search warrant under Misuse of Drugs Act to search the residence of Charlie McSweeney at 48, The Glenties, Macroom, Cork.

The search on April 7, 2023, resulted in the discovery of cocaine, cannabis herb, LSD and benzocaine, a weighing scales, small clear bags, and 740 cash from two locations, the home of Charlie McSweeney, and his stash points at the end of the estate in overgrowth, ferns and a wall.

At the scene of the search, Charlie McSweeney stated he owned the drugs discovered and admitted selling cocaine.

He was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs for sale or supply, cautioned and conveyed to Bandon Garda Station. Charlie McSweeney was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 2006 for the investigation of the offence.

Admitted

He admitted in interview that he was selling cocaine and cannabis, that the cash seized was mostly the proceeds of selling drugs. Charlie McSweeney admitted too that the benzocaine was for mixing with cocaine.

The drugs were bagged in self-sealing evidence bags and forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

Judge Helen Boyle said that the gravity of the offence was a factor that had to be taken into consideration, including the fact that the drugs had a street value of 4,900. The judge also noted that he had two previous drug-dealing offences, for which he was given suspended jail terms.

You had a drug problem at the time. You had a debt you were trying to pay off. You got suspended sentences on both of those (dealing convictions). In mitigation, your plea of guilty saved the time and expense of a trial. You co-operated with the search - you showed where drugs were outside.

At 22 years of age, you are still very young. Two probation reports on you unfortunately read very poorly.

Missed appointments

The judge referred to missed appointments, followed by then missing re-scheduled appointments.

Judge Boyle noted that the defendant continued to be a drug addict but she said that even where that was the case people could be assisted and supported  they could rehabilitate even where they relapsed.

Having been told to co-operate you signed your own warrant unfortunately, Judge Boyle said.

The judge told the young man that he needed to address his addiction because it was so serious that it caused the loss of his work apprenticeship and he chose not to co-operate with the probation service.

Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of two years and three months, and suspended the final nine months.
Richard Satchwell told gardai that he buried his wife's body under the stairs of their Cork home as he wanted to keep her with him and didn't want to leave her alone.

"I wanted her to know the hand that killed her was also the hand that loved her," the murder accused told interviewing detectives.

Following the discovery of her remains at the couple's home in Youghal, over six years after Tina Satchwell was reported missing, the British truck driver told gardai that "the worst thing of all" was once the lies started, he couldn't stop and he had a "sense of relief" that the truth was out.

The Leicester native told detectives that he used to talk to the area in which he had buried Tina and the hardest thing was "not getting anything back".

A consultant forensic anthropologist also told the Central Criminal trial that there were no injuries to any of Ms Satchwell's bones, including her hyoid bone.

INTERVIEW FOLLOWING RE-ARREST

Detective Garda David Kelleher told Gerardine Small SC, prosecuting, that at the outset of his first interview with gardai following his re-arrest on October 12 2023, Mr Satchwell said that he and Tina had been at a car boot sale on March 19, 2017 when she hit him a slap.

"Without a word I got a slap, knocked glasses ...someone insulted her or said something nasty I don't know and that triggered the slap in the car".

The accused said that when he walked into the sitting room of his home the following morning, Tina was at the bottom of the stairs with a chisel in her hand taking down plasterboard.

He added: "This day she flew at me - I went back, fell against the floor. The belt of the bathrobe was where I held her up with the belt like this until she got heavier. Before I know it, it had all stopped, it just stopped.

"I put my arms around her, she fell down on top of me. I didn't know what to do. I held her for a good 20 minutes or half an hour. The two dogs just there sitting looking. They came over, started licking her, I just laid there. Sometime later I don't know I got up and just like to keep things normal".

Mr Satchwell told gardai he was holding his wife and kissing her on the head. "There was no taking back I just don't know. Shame, panic, I don't know".

The accused said he later went to the couple's "favourite spot" in Youghal and sat there thinking what to do next and what his "next move would be".

He said his wife wasn't a bad woman, "just angry at times". He said when she was calm, "she was loving".

The accused went on to tell gardai: "Once I'd told it I couldn't go back on it. Buried her under the stairs. Part of the stairs wasn't concreted for some reason, muck and stone. I went and got roses and called her my Irish rose but none - Mother's Day so I got her tulips," he continued.

"I ain't got no excuses; once it's done I couldn't take it back," he added.

Mr Satchwell later told gardai he might have "startled" his wife, who was wearing a lilac coloured nightgown, when he asked her what she was doing as she scraped away plasterboard with the chisel.

He said Tina just "flew" at him with "so much force" that he fell backwards onto the floor with her on top of him. "She flew straight at me, she flew for me, she jumped at me and just went for me". He said he had his arms up in the air and was holding his wife up.

"I don't know why the robe belt was loose, I put me hands up, next thing I know she goes limp...the only thing I can tell you was she was angry. It happened so fast like," he said.

He said Tina was in a "blind rage" and her face was "distorted". He told gardai that his wife had "lurched" and "pounced" at him as he stood eight foot away from her.

"It happened in a flash and within seconds it was over. It happened so fast I can't put it into detail," he continued.

Mr Satchwell called it the worst day of his life.

Asked by gardai whether had he caused Tina to die, the accused said he imagined it was the way she was forcing her weight down on top of him and the belt being where it was, "not being able to breathe".

"I can't turn around and say, oh her neck was broke or strangulate, I don't know, it just happened so fast". He said this was the only time he ever "truly defended" himself against Tina.

"All the weight come down, the throat on the belt as I was holding up by the belt".

He said he wasn't a "monster" and the worst thing of all was once the lies started, he couldn't stop. He said he never wished to harm Tina and that's why he put up with "the stuff" he did.

Mr Satchwell told gardai there was "a sense of relief" that the truth was out but he hated himself.

"You've no idea how many times I nearly walked off the fish pier," he said, adding that he had stayed for the love of their two dogs, which he said were like children to him.

Asked why he hadn't called anyone, the accused said it was panic and shame. "I was actually holding the same 17-year-old girl that I met nearly 30 years before. I know your thinking in your head you crazy bastard".

Mr Satchwell said he initially laid Tina on the couch and the next few days went by "in a blur".

He said he put Tina inside a large chest freezer in the shed two days later on March 22 or 23, away from the dogs as they kept coming over to her. "I just lifted her into it and she fell in".

"I was robotic, working on automatic. My brain wasn't working. She was heavy, so heavy, it was like trying to lift a ten tonne bag of coal".

He said he dug out underneath the stairs with a spade and laid his wife on the black plastic on the kitchen floor. "I wanted her to know the hand that killed her was also the hand that loved her".

He said he had buried her on the following Sunday afternoon, March 26. "I know that this is sick, I wanted to keep her with me, I didn't want to leave her alone... it's been killing me since I did it".

He said it could have been 20 minutes or 20 hours, he didn't know how long it took to dig the hole.

"It was light when I started and dark when I finished".

He said he dug a hole and carried her into it. He described working in the tight space under the stairs and said his knuckles were bleeding.

He cried as he told gardai: "I actually carried her into the hole, I didn't drop her into the hole, I wasn't disrespectful. I can remember folding the plastic around her, putting the flowers in". He said he had bought a couple of bunches of Tulips from Tesco and put her wedding ring in the pocket of her bathrobe.

Asked by gardai where he had got the black plastic she was wrapped in, Mr Satchwell said they had a roll of it which they used to cover the ground at the car boot sales to lay "stuff" on.

"I didn't want to dirty her so I wrapped her in black plastic, before I covered her I threw flowers in, I wanted to get her roses but I couldn't".

"I was actually in the hole with her. And if I could have done I would have covered the two of us".

He added: "I can remember starting to chuck a bit of the black sandy stuff down and the next thing I remember was covering it with cement". He said the cement he used was already in the house and he had filled the hole with it.

The accused told gardai that they would probably never do anything as evil as what he had done and said he knew he was a bad person.

The accused said nothing could make it right, adding: "The amount of times I sat and talked to that piece of ground you wouldn't believe it".

He said he use to open the door under the stairs and talk to Tina and sometimes it could just be "hello love". He said the hardest thing was "not getting anything back".

"I can't put it into words what happened. I should have just let her stab me, let it be the end of me," he said.

CONSULTANT FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST

Earlier, a consultant forensic anthropologist told the trial that there were no injuries to any of Ms Satchwell's bones, including her hyoid bone, at the time of death and no evidence she had ever suffered a fracture.

Expert witness Ms Laureen Buckley said she had identified the remains of an adult female who was probably over 45 years of age and because the body was lying face down in a gravesite, it was "more preserved on the front".

Under cross-examination, the witness told Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that the hyoid bone is "sometimes but not always" found damaged in strangulation cases.

In her evidence, Ms Buckley said when she went to the scene at Grattan Street in Youghal on October 12, 2023 Ms Satchwell's body had not been fully excavated and she had offered assistance to the forensic archaeologists.

The witness said the body, which was lying face down, was wrapped in plastic and had a slab over the head area. She said there was enough preservation of the soft tissue to identify the body as female.

Ms Buckley said there was no evidence of any fracture to any of the bones including the skull at the time of death and the hyoid bone was intact.

In cross-examination, the witness confirmed to Mr Grehan there was no evidence Ms Satchwell had ever suffered a fracture.

The trial continues tomorrow Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women.

The Central Criminal Court has heard that on March 24, 2017, Mr Satchwell told gardai that his wife Tina had left their home four days earlier but that he had no concerns over her welfare, feeling she had left due to a deterioration in their relationship.

The accused formally reported Ms Satchwell missing the following May but her body was not discovered for over six years, when gardai in October 2023 conducting "an invasive search" of the Satchwell's home found her decomposed remains in a grave that had been dug underneath the stairs.

The trial has heard gardai went with a search warrant to the accused's home on Grattan Street in Youghal on October 10 2023, where they arrested hime for the murder of Tina Satchwell on or about March 19, 2017 and brought him to Cobh Garda Station. An invasive search of Grattan Street was conducted simultaneously, with gardai bringing in building equipment to excavate the couple's home.

Mr Satchwell (58), with an address at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork has pleaded not guilty to murdering his 45-year-old wife Tina Satchwell - nee Dingivan - at that address between March 19 and March 20, 2017, both dates inclusive.
I visited the seaside town of Blackrock, Co Louth, for the first time recently. Bathed in sunshine, the bustling seaside village is filled with shops, medical centres, pubs, and a church with one of the best views in Ireland.

At the far end of the promenade is a block of apartments and what was once a den for sea scouts. A closer look revealed photos along the low boundary of an outdoor seawater swimming pool built in 1956 at a cost of 20,000. When it opened in 1962, it was the only 50m pool in the country. Its tiered seating could accommodate up to 800 spectators and for 20 years it was one of the principal recreational facilities in Louth. It eventually closed in the 1980s and was demolished in 1995.

One wonders why such an amazing community facility was allowed be lost. But then we have a similar story in Cork.

The Lee Baths closed in 1986, two years before I arrived in the city. So many people have recounted fond memories of what was a big part of city life for young and old.

As pools across the city are bursting with babies taking their first strokes for expensive lessons, and clubs have long waiting lists for competitive swimming, isnt it time we resurrected the baths and recreated the concept of a spanking new 50m outdoor swimming pool in the heart of the city?

A safe, open-air, 50m pool would bring huge and much-needed economic, social, community as well as health and wellbeing benefits.

It could be used for year round recreation and competitive swimming and diving events. Hundreds of young workers spilling out of offices, cafes and apartments would welcome an opportunity to shake off the shackles of a working day and dive into cold sea water. Swimming classes for babies and young kids at a minimum fee would keep the pool busy at other times. School trips from city schools and further afield would avail of its facilities.

For me, the benefits are immediate. Swimming in the open air is a teeth-chattering, mind-bending, sleep-inducing experience that is better than almost anything else.

Health benefits

Experts recommend adults get 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity every week  swimming is one of the best ways to work your entire body, including heart and lungs.

But dont take my word for it. The evidence shows swimming increases your heart rate without stressing your body. It tones muscles, builds strength and endurance. Each stroke builds on different muscle groups and the water provides a gentle resistance.

The former Lee Baths in Cork city.

There is evidence of risk of death in swimmers being about half that for non-swimmers, including for walkers and runners. Research shows swimming is good for lowering blood pressure and controlling blood sugar. It can help reduce and improve recovery after an injury. One study showed it can reduce pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis.

A key benefit of regular swimming is its impact on sleep. In a study of older adults with insomnia published in 2011, participants reported a boost in quality of life and in sleep after engaging in all types of regular exercise including swimming.

It is also an excellent way to burn calories. A 160lb swimmer burns about 423 calories an hour at a low or moderate pace. At a vigorous pace, in can increase to 715 calories an hour.

Mental health

The benefits of exercise in the treatment of depression have been documented for over 100 years. We know the brain releases chemicals during exercise that both prevent and treat depression, such as opiates, cannabinoids and endorphins. Further research outlines how exercise confers benefits like self- esteem, a sense of achievement, being in control, improvements in memory and cognition. and having a sense of purpose.

Best of all, when I swim in the sea or in a pool, it is like a switch in my brain turns off. All those emails, likes, reminders and WhatsApp messages, all the external noise that distracts and the internal reminders that push into your frontal lobe for immediate attention. There is something special about gliding up and down a pool in the open air, friction-free, that puts everything else on hold.

Dublin has a number of outdoor swimming facilities. Galway has Blackrock diving tower in Salthill, while the City Council has recently applied for funding to create a tidal pool.

Over 100 outdoor swimming facilities in the UK are experiencing a surge in interest and are popular with tourists. Barcelona has two outdoor lidos beside the beach constantly occupied by swimmers. Many of these lidos in Europe are run as social enterprises to benefit the local community.

In 2021, Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced a 400 million urban regeneration investment package in Cork, funding work in the docklands, including transport and mobility infrastructure, public realm schemes like the Marina Park, as well as infrastructure to support thousands of new apartments.

Children splashing around at the Lee Baths, Carrigrohane Road in 1951.

While older adults and the very young are catered for in these city schemes, there is a major gap when it comes to the needs of teenagers and young adults.

Research by the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences showed secondary school age adolescents in Ireland reported more mental health problems in 2021, including an increase in suicide attempts compared to previous years. Are we paying attention?

A quarter of adolescents described their mental health as bad or very bad, more than a third reported self-harming in their lifetime and one in ten reported attempting suicide.

Yet when it comes to urban design and public realm infrastructure, the specific needs of youths are inadequately addressed.

The Cork Lido Campaign estimates the cost of an outdoor swimming pool to be around 9m, with a number of sites under consideration including Horgans Quay.

It is time Cork City Council took the plunge and built a state-of-the-art 50-metre open-air pool, aligned with public transport infrastructure that would benefit citizens from every age and background for generations to come.

And its not just Cork  all our major coastal cities would benefit from significant investment in outdoor swimming facilities.

Good public facilities that are both affordable and accessible within the city are a win-win for everyone. Lets just get on with it.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A man wanted to stand trial on terrorism charges has appeared in court in Co Tyrone after being extradited from the Republic.

Omagh Magistrates Court heard that Sean Walsh, 58, of Belmont Park, Ballinlough, Douglas, Co Cork, is alleged to have attended a meeting which was targeted in a PSNI surveillance operation against the New IRA.

A PSNI detective sergeant told the court that he had executed the extradition warrant on Walsh on Tuesday morning outside Newry.

He said there had been a lengthy courts and appeal process in the Republic after the warrants were first issued by a Belfast court in November 2021.

The detective told the court the case against Walsh related to Operation Arbacia, which was a surveillance operation targeting alleged New IRA meetings.

He said police believe Walsh attended a meeting in 2020 in the Omagh area.

A number of other people have been charged as part of the same operation.

Walsh is to stand trial for offences of belonging to a proscribed organisation, directing terrorism, conspiracy to direct terrorism and preparation of acts of terrorism.

The charges relate to a meeting that allegedly took place at an address on Buninver Road in Gortin, Co Tyrone.

A prosecuting barrister told the court that she would oppose any application for bail.

She said Walsh had no address in Northern Ireland and had fought his extradition to the jurisdiction.

District Judge Peter Magill pointed out that Walsh had no legal representative in court and adjourned the case until Wednesday in Dungannon to allow for his lawyer to be present to make a bail application.
By David Young, PA

Stormonts speaker has cautioned a Sinn Fein minister against voicing policy opinions that contradict the official stance of her department.

Edwin Poots accused Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald of making inappropriate comments in the chamber after she told MLAs she was supportive of the underground routing of cables required for the planned electricity interconnector linking the power grids in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

SDLP leader of the opposition, Matthew OToole, challenged the minister on her comments, highlighting that planning approval for the Northern Ireland section of the interconnector was granted on the basis of the cables being routed on overhead pylons.

He said the Department for the Economy was a key delivery partner for the project in its current form.

Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald (Liam McBurney/PA)

Are you saying one thing while your department is delivering another? he asked.

Ms Archibald earlier told MLAs that she voiced support for undergrounding the cables during a meeting with her counterpart in the Irish government, Transport, Climate, Environment and Energy minister Darragh OBrien.

Responding to Mr OToole, Ms Archibald added: I dont agree with the member in respect of my comments, because I think Ive been consistent in respect of my partys position, and the party has been consistent in respect of that position (undergrounding of cables), which would help secure community buy-in.

And I think in respect of the planning permission (that) was granted by the previous Infrastructure minister (Nichola Mallon) who was your party colleague, and, as ministers in the Executive, we are obliged to fulfil the commitments in respect of that planning consent.

After Assembly question time concluded, Mr OToole raised Ms Archibalds comments with the Speaker.

Responding, Mr Poots said it was important for ministers to deal with facts, not opinions.

A minister may have an opinion, and if they think that opinion is important enough and they run the department, then it is up to them to change the position on the department, he said.

But it is a ministers task to come to the floor of the chamber and to represent the departments policies as they exist, and thats why I did indicate that were here to hear facts, not to hear opinions.

And if the minister wishes to change the position that the Department for the Economy has on whether the interconnector is underground or overground, then thats a matter for the minister.

But she shouldnt be coming to the chamber and saying this is the departments position, this is my position. I dont think that thats appropriate.
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.  Standing before the spring Class of 2025 with the same passion that made Stomp a praise anthem and I Smile a global declaration of hope, 20-time Grammy Award-winning gospel music legend Kirk Franklin didn't sing. Instead, he testified.

To a sea of caps and gowns in the Vaughan Center, Franklin told the graduates about the importance of value, overcoming difficult situations, and resisting the urge to be "mid."

However, the message didn't come without personal stories from Franklin's life.

Abandoned by his mother and father and adopted when he was four years old by a 64-year-old woman with only a fourth-grade education, Franklin used his life experiences, trials and triumphs to tell graduates that nothing is by accident.

"The woman who adopted me, her name was Gertrude, and she recycled newspapers and cans to pay for my piano lessons for five dollars. Every Friday at 4:00, I'd go to Mrs. Jackson's house and learn piano."

It was a deeply personal message from a man whose music has healed millions. This time, his instrument was his voice alone. Raised in poverty and rejection, Franklin told ECSU's graduates that their paths, no matter how winding, are purposeful. According to Franklin, an intentional life is never too comfortable in the pursuit.

"Everyone has gotten comfortable: the work ethic, the contribution, the ambition, the drive. No one wants to pursue the higher level, so we get 'mid' at every experience," Franklin said. "Young men and women, you are about to enter a society where people celebrate accomplishments, but they are happening at a lower level."

Franklin stood to challenge the audience to push beyond mediocre and ordinary.

Known for blending gospel with hip-hop, R&B and pop, Franklin has long defied labels, just as he encouraged graduates to defy the odds. From his SiriusXM channel Kirk Franklin's Praise to Netflix and BET features, to topping Billboard's Gospel Songwriters chart for over 100 weeks, his career is a masterclass in not letting where you started dictate where you finish.

"I'm trying to speak to the little boy that didn't get a chance to make his momma proud," he continued. "I'm speaking to somebody who may feel like nobody sees them and that your labor, you feel, is in vain. I need you to understand that all of that is a lie. Everything you're doing at this moment is very, very intentional. No luck, no coincidence. It's all a divine plan."

Honoring Academic Excellence

ECSU conferred 212 degrees189 undergraduate and 23 graduate degreesat the commencement ceremony.

Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds addressed the graduates, showing her appreciation for their dedication to the journey and allowing ECSU to be a part of their story.

"Thank you for allowing Elizabeth City State University to become a part of the rich and colorful tapestry of your life," Edmonds said. "Over the past few years, you have grown, persevered and achieved academically, personally and professionally."

Top honors included recognition of the Bearer of the Macethe student or students who enter ECSU as a first-time freshman and leave with the highest cumulative GPA in the prospective graduating class, and the Bearer of the Shieldthe student or students who enter ECSU as a transfer student and have the highest cumulative GPA in the prospective graduating class.

Among those graduates is this year's Bearer of the MaceAlexis D. Neathery, biology; and Bearers of the ShieldVictoria Blount, criminal justice; Raymond Bugarin, aviation science; Chelsea Patrick, interdisciplinary studies; Micah Tucker, kinesiology and Anna Zak, elementary education.

During the ceremony, sorrow stood alongside strength, as the ECSU community stood for a moment of silence for Isaiah Caldwell, who tragically lost his life in the April 27 on-campus shooting during the university's annual VikingFest celebration.

"In recent days, our campus community experienced the unimaginable, claiming the life of one and injuring others. In times like these, we are reminded of the strength and resilience that define us as Vikings. We lean on one another, uplift one another, and find hope in the unity of our ECSU family," said Edmonds.

For some, Franklin's speech was a keynote. For others, it was a breakthrough.

He reminded the class of 2025 that success doesn't begin with applause or accolades. Instead, it starts with showing upscars and alland believing that your story still matters.

The ceremony also honored the families, faculty and community members who stood behind the graduates, much like how Gertrude once stood behind a little boy with big dreams and five-dollar piano lessons.

As tassels turned for the spring 2025 graduates, Franklin left them with more than a message. He left them a mission: to not avoid the pain of growth.

Interim Chancellor Edmonds gave the charge to the graduates as their final lesson of the semester, and encouraged them to tell the university's story, and more importantly, write their own. "Let your accomplishments be a beacon of what is possible with hard work, faith and determination. You stand today at the threshold of opportunities. Walk through the doorway with purpose and confidence. The world is waiting for your ideas, your voice and your vision."
Google I/O, the search giant's annual developer conference, kicks off on Tuesday, May 20. The event is arguably the most important on the company's annual calendar, offering the opportunity for the company to share a glimpse at everything it has been working on over the past year  and contextualize its biggest priorities for the next twelve months.

The dance card for Google I/O was apparently so packed that the company spun off a dedicated Android showcase a whole week earlier. (See everything that was announced at the Android Show or go to our liveblog to get a feel for how things played out.) With that event now behind us, Google can stay focused on its most important core competency: AI.

Google's presentation will come on the heels of announcements from three big rivals in recent days. Further up the Pacific coast, Microsoft is hosting its Build developer conference, where it's already unveiled an updated Copilot AI app. Meanwhile, at the Computex show in Taiwan, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang highlighted a partnership with Foxconn to develop an "AI factory supercomputer" powered by 10,000 Blackwell AI chips. And Meta held its debut LlamaCon AI conference last month, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans for AI dominance have reportedly since hit some snags. (Apple will share its updated AI roadmap on June 9 when its WWDC developers conference kicks off.)

If you'd like to tune in from home and follow along as Google makes its announcements, check out our article on how to watch the Google I/O 2025 keynote. We'll also be liveblogging the event, so you can just come to Engadget for the breaking news.

Android 16

The presentation featured Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. We saw Samat and his colleagues show off years, Android hasn't had much of a spotlight at Google's annual developer conference. Thankfully, last week's Android Show breakout let Google's mobile operating system take the spotlight for at least a day.

The presentation featured Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. We saw Samat and his colleagues show off the new Material 3 Expressive design, and what we learned confirmed some of the features that were previously leaked, like the "Ongoing notifications" bar. Material 3 Expressive is also coming to Wear OS 6, and the company is expanding the reach of Gemini by bringing it to its smartwatch platform, Android Auto and Google TV. Android is also amping up its scam-detection features and a refined Find Hub that will see support for satellite connectivity later in the year.

Speaking of timing, Google has already confirmed the new operating system will arrive sometime before the second half of the year. Though it did not release a stable build of Android 16 today, Samat shared during the show that Android 16 (or at least part of it) is coming next month to Pixel devices. And though the company did cover some new features coming to Android XR, senior director for Android Product and UX Guemmy Kim said during the presentation that "we'll share more on Android XR at I/O next week."

It clearly seems like more is still to come, and not just for Android XR. We didn't get confirmation on the Android Authority report that Google could add a more robust photo picker, with support for cloud storage solutions. That doesn't mean it won't be in Android 16, it might just be something the company didn't get to mention in its 30-minute showcase. Plus, Google has been releasing new Android features in a quarterly cadence lately, rather than wait till an annual update window to make updates available. It's possible we see more added to Android 16 as the year progresses.

One of the best places to get an idea for what's to come in Android 16 is in its beta version, which has already been available to developers and is currently in its fourth iteration. For example, we learned in March that Android 16 will bring Auracast support, which could make it easier to listen to and switch between multiple Bluetooth devices. This could also enable people to receive Bluetooth audio on hearing aids they have paired with their phones or tablets.

Android XR

Remember Google Glass? No? How about Daydream? Maybe Cardboard? After sending (at least) three XR projects to the graveyard, you would think even Google would say enough is enough. Instead, the company is preparing to release Android XR after previewing the platform at the end of last year. This time around, the company says the power of its Gemini AI models will make things different. We know Google is working with Samsung on a headset codenamed Project Moohan. Last fall, Samsung hinted that the device could arrive sometime this year.

Whether Google and Samsung demo Project Moohan at I/O, I imagine the search giant will have more to say about Android XR and the ecosystem partners it has worked to bring to its side for the initiative. This falls in line with what Kim said about more on Android XR being shared at I/O.

AI, AI and more AI

If Google felt the need to split off Android into its own showcase, we're likely to get more AI-related announcements at I/O than ever before. The company hasn't provided many hints about what we can expect on that front, but if I had to guess, features like AI Overviews and AI Mode are likely to get substantive updates. I suspect Google will also have something to say about Project Mariner, the web-surfing agent it demoed at I/O 2024. Either way, Google is an AI company now, and every I/O moving forward will reflect that.

Project Astra

Speaking of AI, Project Astra was one of the more impressive demos Google showed off at I/O 2024. The technology made the most of the latest multi-modal capabilities of Google's Gemini models to offer something we hadn't seen before from the company. It's a voice assistant with advanced image recognition features that allows it to converse about the things it sees. Google envisions Project Astra one day providing a truly useful artificial assistant.

However, after seeing an in-person demo of Astra, the Engadget crew felt the tech needed a lot more work. Given the splash Project Astra made last year, there's a good chance we could get an update on it at I/O 2025.

A Pinterest competitor

According to a report from The Information, Google might be planning to unveil its own take on Pinterest at I/O. That characterization is courtesy ofThe Information, but based on the features described in the article, Engadget team members found it more reminiscent of Cosmos instead. Cosmos is a pared-down version of Pinterest, letting people save and curate anything they see on the internet. It also allows you to share your saved pages with others.

Google's version, meanwhile, will reportedly show image results based on your queries, and you can save the pictures in different folders based on your own preferences. So say you're putting together a lookbook based on Jennie from Blackpink. You can search for her outfits and save your favorites in a folder you can title "Lewks," perhaps.

Whether this is simply built into Search or exists as a standalone product is unclear, and we'll have to wait till I/O to see whether the report was accurate and what the feature really is like.

Wear OS

Last year, Wear OS didn't get a mention during the company's main keynote, but Google did preview Wear OS 5 during the developer sessions that followed. The company only began rolling out Wear OS 5.1 to Pixel devices in March. This year, we've already learned at the Android Show that Wear OS 6 is coming, with Material 3 Expressive gracing its interface. Will we learn more at I/O? It's unclear, but it wouldn't be a shock if that was all the air time Wear OS gets this year.

NotebookLM

Google has jumped the gun and already launched a standalone NotebookLM app ahead of I/O. The machine-learning note-taking app, available in desktop browsers since 2023, can summarize documents and even synthesize full-on NPR-style podcast summaries to boot.

Everything else

Google has a terrible track record when it comes to preventing leaks within its internal ranks, so the likelihood the company could surprise us is low. Still, Google could announce something we don't expect. As always, your best bet is to visit Engadget on May 20 and 21. We'll have all the latest from Google then along with our liveblog and analysis.

Update, May 5 2025, 7:08PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on a leaked blog post discussing "Material 3 Expressive." Expand Update, May 6 2025, 5:29PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on the Android 16 beta, as well as Auracast support. Update, May 8 2025, 3:20PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on how to watch the Android Show and the Google I/O keynote, as well as tweak the intro for freshness. Update, May 13 2025, 3:22PM ET: This story has been updated to include all the announcements from the Android Show and a new report from The Information about a possible image search feature debuting at I/O. The intro was also edited to accurately reflect what has happened since the last time this article was updated. Update, May 14 2025, 4:32PM ET: This story has been updated to include details about other events happening at the same time as Google I/O, including Microsoft Build 2025 and Computex 2025. Update, May 19 2025, 5:13PM ET: Updated competing AI news from Microsoft, Meta and NVIDIA, and contextualized final rumors and reports ahead of I/O.

Google's annual I/O developer conference kicked off on Tuesday, May 20. See everything Google has announced at I/O 2025 so far, including an AI-powered movie creation tool called Flow, real-time translation in Google Meet, virtual clothing try-ons based on uploaded photos, AI enhancements to Project Astra computer vision and more. Follow Engadget's Google I/O liveblog for recap of the event as it unfolded in real-time. Google previewed some key pre-I/O Android 16 news during its Android Show video stream last week.

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President Donald Trump's administration has undone one of the last regulations set by his predecessor. Today, the Department of Commerce rescinded the AI Diffusion Rule implemented by former President Joe Biden, a policy that restricted the export of US-made AI chips to select international markets. The rule was introduced by Biden's administration in January and slated to take effect on May 15. Trump had previously walked back the broader AI guidelines adopted by Biden in October 2023 as part of his initial wave of executive orders upon taking office.

Although the Department of Commerce is not enforcing the previous AI Diffusion Rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security said it will release a replacement policy at a later date. The press release included three additional actions from the BIS:

"Issuing guidance that using Huawei Ascend chips anywhere in the world violates US export controls.

"Issuing guidance warning the public about the potential consequences of allowing US AI chips to be used for training and inference of Chinese AI models.

"Issuing guidance to US companies on how to protect supply chains against diversion tactics."
The UK's House of Lords just voted to add an amendment to a data bill that mandates that tech companies disclose which copyright-protected works were used to train AI models, as reported by The Guardian . The amendment faced government opposition but resoundingly passed with 272 votes to 125.

The vote came just a few days after hundreds of artists and organizations joined together to urge the government not to "give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies." The artists involved in this push included Paul McCartney, Elton John and Dua Lipa, among many others.

Yesterday, the Lords asked the government to think again on the #DataBill, voting through changes on processing personal data, AI models, and the collection of sex data.



 Find out more https://t.co/5T0A3BvCe6  House of Lords (@UKHouseofLords) May 13, 2025

The government's preferred position has been a provision that would force copyright holders to formally opt-out of being used to train AI models. Critics say this would be impractical and unworkable for many artists. The bill will now return to the House of Commons for another vote. If today's amendment is removed, it will likely lead to another confrontation with the House of Lords.

The House of Lords has once again taken the right decision by voting to establish vital transparency obligations for AI companies," Sophie Jones, chief strategist for the British Phonographic Industry, told Billboard . "Transparency is crucial in ensuring that the creative industries can retain control over how their works are used.

This isn't the first time the House of Lords has demanded tech companies make clear whether they have used copyright-protected material when training AI models. Back in January, the body voted 145 to 126 in favor of adding amendments to the bill aimed at strengthening copyright protections .

"Creators do not deny the creative and economic value of AI, but we do deny the assertion that we should have to build AI for free with our work, and then rent it back from those who stole it," Baroness Beeban Kidron of the House of Lords said during a debate before this week's vote.

There are some signs that Prime Minister Starmer is backing off the proposed "opt-out" idea that would force creators to petition AI companies not to use their work. The government recently added its own amendments to the data bill that include a commitment to conduct an economic impact assessment and to publish reports on transparency with regard to licensing. Technology secretary Peter Kyle has been looking into a new proposal that would, instead, create a licensing system for copyright holders and AI developers, according to a report by The Telegraph .

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This Thursday is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), and as has been its custom for the last few years, Apple's accessibility team is taking this time to share some new assistive features that will be coming to its ecosystem of products. In addition to bringing "Accessibility Nutrition Labels" to the App Store, it's announcing the new Magnifier for Mac, an Accessibility Reader, enhanced Braille Access as well as a veritable cornucopia of other updates to existing tools.

According to the company's press release, this year in particular marks "40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple." It's also 20 years since the company first launched its screen reader, and a significant amount of this year's updates are designed to help those with vision impairments.

Magnifier for Mac

One of the most noteworthy is the arrival of Magnifier on Macs. The camera-based assistive feature has been available on iPhones and iPads since 2016, letting people point their phones at things around them and getting auditory readouts of what's in the scene. Magnifier can also make hard-to-read things easier to see, by giving you the option to increase brightness, zoom in, add color filters and adjust the perspective.

With Magnifier for Mac, you can use any USB-connected camera or your iPhone (via Continuity Camera) to get feedback on things around you. In a video, Apple showed how a student in a large lecture hall was able to use their iPhone, attached to the top of their MacBook, to make out what was written on a distant whiteboard. Magnifier for Mac also works with Desk View, so you can use it to more easily read documents in front of you. Multiple live session windows will be available, so you can keep up with a presentation through your webcam while using Desk View to, say, read a textbook at the same time.

Accessibility Reader

Magnifier for Mac also works with another new tool Apple is unveiling today  Accessibility Reader. It's a "new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision." Accessibility Reader will be available on iPhones, iPads, Macs and the Apple Vision Pro, and it's pretty much the part of Magnifier that lets you customize your text, with "extensive options for font, color and spacing." It can help minimize distractions by getting rid of clutter, for instance.

Accessibility Reader also supports Spoken Content, and as it's built into the Magnifier app, can be used to make real-world text like signs or menus easier to read as well. You can also launch it from any app, as it's a mode available at the OS level.

Apple

Braille Access

For people who are most comfortable writing in Braille, Apple has supported Braille input for years, and more recently started working with Braille displays. This year, the company is bringing Braille Access to iPhones, iPads, Macs and Vision Pros, and it's designed to make taking notes in Braille easier. It will come with a dedicated app launcher that allows people to "open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected braille device." Braille Access also enables users to take notes in braille format and use Nemeth code for their math and science calculations. Braille Access can open files in the Braille Ready Format (BRF), so you can return to your existing documents from other devices. Finally, "an integrated form of Live Captions allows users to transcribe conversations in real time directly on braille displays."

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) support for controlling devices with your mind

In an earlier version of this story, I noted the following:

Speaking of connected devices, Apple is also adding a new protocol to Switch Control that would enable support for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs). Theoretically, that would mean brainwave-based control of your devices, and Apple lists iOS, iPadOS and visionOS as those on deck to support this new protocol. Again, it's uncertain whether we can go as far as to say brainwave-based control is coming, and I've also asked Apple for more information on this.

As it turns out, the Wall Street Journal published an exclusive story this morning detailing how "Apple wants people to control devices with their thoughts." Basically, the company is working with Synchron, a brain computer interface startup, to bring BCI-powered Switch input support to its products. More in our article here: Apple has teamed up with Synchron to develop tech that lets people control its devices with thoughts.

Apple Watch gets Live Captions; Vision Pro gets Live Recognition

Wrapping up the vision-related updates is an expansion of such accessibility features in visionOS. The Zoom function, for instance, is getting enhanced to allow wearers to magnify what they see in both virtual reality and, well, actual reality. This uses the Vision Pro's cameras to see what's in your surroundings, and Apple will make a new API available that will "enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes." Finally, Live Recognition is coming to VoiceOver in the Vision Pro, using on-device machine learning to identify and describe things in your surroundings. It can also read flyers or invitations, for example, and tell you what's on them.

For those who have hearing loss, the Live Listen feature that's already on iPhones will be complemented by controls on the Apple Watch, plus some bonus features. When you start a Live Listen session on your iPhone, which would stream what its microphone picks up to your connected AirPods, Beats headphones or compatible hearing aids, you'll soon be able to see Live Captions on your paired Apple Watch. You'll also get controls on your wrist, so you can start, stop or rewind a session. This means you can stay on your couch and start Live Listen sessions without having to go all the way over to the kitchen to pick up your iPhone and hear what your partner might be saying while they're cooking. Live Listen also works with the hearing health and hearing aid features introduced on the AirPods Pro 2.

While we're on the topic of sound, Apple is updating its Background Sounds feature that can help those with tinnitus by playing white noise (or other types of audio) to combat symptoms. Later this year, Background Sounds will offer automatic timers to stop after a set amount of time, automation actions in Shortcuts and a new EQ settings option to personalize the sounds.

Personal Voice, which helps those who are at risk of losing their voice preserve their vocal identity, is also getting a major improvement. When I tested the feature to write a tutorial on how to create your personal voice on your iPhone, I was shocked that it required the user to read out 150 phrases. Not only that, the system needed to percolate overnight to create the personal voice. With the upcoming update, Personal Voices can be generated in under a minute, with only 10 phrases needing to be recorded. The resulting voice also sounds smoother and with less clipping and artifacts. Apple is also adding Spanish language support for the US and Mexico.

Last year, Apple introduced eye-tracking built into iPhones and iPads, as well as vehicle motion cues to alleviate car sickness. This year, it continues to improve those features by bringing the motion cues to Macs, as well as adding new ways to customize the onscreen dots. Meanwhile, eye-tracking is getting an option to allow users to dwell or use a switch to confirm selections, among other keyboard typing updates.

More across Apple TV, CarPlay, Head Tracking and Settings

Apple's ecosystem is so vast that it's almost impossible to list all the individual accessibility-related changes coming to all the products. I'll quickly shout out Head Tracking, which Apple says will enable people to more easily control their iPhones and iPads by moving their heads "similar to Eye Tracking." Not much else was shared about this, though currently head-tracking on iPhones and iPads is supported through connected devices. The idea that it would be "similar to Eye Tracking" seems to imply integrated support, but we don't know if that is true yet. I've asked Apple for more info and will update this piece with what I find out.

For those who use Apple TV, Assistive Access is getting a new custom Apple TV app featuring a "simplified media player," while Music Haptics on the iPhone will offer the option to turn on haptics for an entire track or just the vocals, as well as general settings to fine-tune the intensity of taps, textures and vibrations.

The Sound Recognition feature that alerts those who are deaf or hard of hearing to concerning sounds (like alarms or crying babies) will add Name Recognition to let users know when they are being called. Sound Recognition for CarPlay, in particular, will inform users when it identifies crying children (in addition to the existing support for external noises like horns and sirens). CarPlay will also get support for large text, which should make getting glanceable information easier.

Other updates include greater language support in Live Captions and Voice Control, as well as the ability to share accessibility settings quickly and temporarily across iPads and iPhones so you can use a friend's device without having to painstakingly customize it to your needs.

There are plenty more accessibility rollouts from Apple across its retail locations, Music playlists, Books, Podcasts, TV, News, Fitness+ and the App Store, mostly around greater representation and inclusion. There isn't much by way of exact release window for most of the new features and updates I've covered here, though they have usually showed up in the next release of iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS.

We'll probably have to wait until the public rollout of iOS 19, iPadOS 19 and more to try these on our own, but for now, most of these seem potentially very helpful. And as always, it's good to see companies design inclusively and consider a wider range of needs.

Update, May 13 2025, 12:28PM ET: This story has been updated to create a new section for brain computer interface input and add details from a Wall Street Journal report and move the earlier mention of this feature to that section.

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Android 16's new Advanced Protection feature simplifies the task of managing your phone's security settings. (Google)

Google is introducing and expanding several new security measures that should make it more difficult for criminals to scam Android users or take advantage of stolen Android phones. After introducing AI features in March that detect fraudulent messages based on common language patterns, Google is working on teaching its models to recognize a wider range of text scams, such as those unpaid road toll scams you've probably seen this year. It's also adding faster pattern analysis to Google Play Protect so it can unmask malicious apps more quickly.

In addition, Google is in the process of making it impossible to grant certain accessibility privileges while on a call with an unknown contact. Meanwhile, the new Key Verifier feature prevents scammers from co-opting your known contacts, letting you and a trusted contact swap public encryption keys to confirm each other's identities.

With the upcoming release of the Android 16 operating system update, Google will also be adding new ways to protect your phone against thieves. The Identity Check feature requires extra biometric verification to change sensitive settings outside user-designated safe locations. It launched on some Pixel and Galaxy devices in January, but Android 16 will widen the rollout. These upgrades should help protect against "shoulder surfing" device thefts and bank account breaches, in which thieves learn passcodes by watching targets unlock their phones, then steal and unlock the devices themselves. Such attacks have been vexing smartphone owners in bars and other crowded venues for years.

New anti-theft features include a security question for deactivating remote locks and more restrictions on what can be done to a device after a factory reset. If a phone running Android 16 is not unlocked or connected to Wi-Fi for a while, the lock screen will hide two-factor authentication codes received through texts.

Along with the new security features, Android 16 will centralize security under a single device-level feature called Advanced Protection. While the Advanced Protection switch is active, no feature under its umbrella can be turned off.

As a final complement to the Android 16 security updates, Google is expanding its Find My Device feature into Find Hub, a dashboard that can locate basically any object with smart capabilities or a bluetooth tag. Find Hub can use ultra-wide band (UWB) on compatible devices to narrow down more precise locations, and can also communicate via satellite so its features work outside cell range.

Update, May 14, 2025, 6:28PM ET: This story has been updated and retitled to reflect that the scam detection and key verifier improvements Google announced during the Android Show presentation are not dependent on upgrading to Android 16.

During its pre-taped Android Show stream on May 13, Google announced its latest Material 3 Expressive design language, the expansion of Gemini AI to Wear OS and Android Auto and enhanced security features for its mobile operating system. The search giant will be following up with more AI announcements at its Google I/O 2025 developer conference, which runs from May 20 to May 23.

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After teasing us for months, Samsung has formally revealed the Galaxy S25 Edge. At just 5.8 millimeters (0.22 inches) thick, its the slimmest member of the S25 family  and its slimmest smartphone ever. Its available to preorder now and launches on 30 May, starting at $1,100.

Samsung said that S25 Edge unlocks a new era of growth for the mobile industry"  and its easy (too easy!) to cynically see this as a way of hawking another Samsung phone into a thinner  and yet similar  slice of hardware, with familiar cameras, technical specs and AI software. This isnt an Ultra, nor is it a new foldable. However, it could be a new direction for Samsungs flagship S series.

Whats the difference between the S25 and S25 Edge?

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

Surprise! The Edge is thinner. While the S25 Edge measures in at less than the base S25, which is 6.4mm (0.25 inches) thin, it weighs almost the same. In fact, theres only a grams difference between the two, despite the S25 Edge packing a much bigger 6.7-inch screen than the S25s 6.2-inch one.

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And boy, can you tell the difference. The most contemporary comparison I can make is when Apple switched to a titanium frame for the iPhone 15 Pro. Spec sheets and numbers be damned: I could sense how much lighter the device was. Despite having a much bigger screen than my iPhone 16 Pro, the thinner S25 Edge felt light yet premium. I easily slipped it in and out of my pants pockets, because, well, how else am I going to assess the biggest selling point for Samsungs latest phone?

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

The thing is: Device thickness isnt an issue I have with flagship smartphones  its the screen size. The base Galaxy S25 (or the Pixel 9 Pro) hit the sweet spot for my hands. While this new S25 Edge may be easier to hold than similar-sized phones, a 6.7-inch screen isnt for everyone.

Like most phones (the Pixel 9a is a curious outlier), the S25 Edge still has a substantial camera unit derailing otherwise clean hardware lines. The dual-camera setup protrudes a good 4.5mm (0.17 inches), although it features the same 200-megapixel sensor packed into the pricier S25 Ultra.

Samsung says it re-engineered the camera unit to ensure it could fit on the Edge, but it still sticks out  a lot. Before I got to handle the phone, I thought this would lead to the new phone being oddly unbalanced and top-heavy. But whatever Samsung has done to arrange the component furniture inside the S25 Edge, it worked. The phone doesnt feel lopsided or fragile at all, but like any other premium flagship smartphone.

The Galaxy S25 Edges cameras

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

Alongside the primary 200MP sensor, Samsung included a 12MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and macro photography support. And thats it. Theres no dedicated telephoto system, which typically takes up more space however you position the camera . The two lenses are stacked in a vertical arrangement, which I think looks cleaner than the camera cornucopias found on other devices  but many folks are going to miss the versatility of a true telephoto. Sure, you can digitally zoom by cropping in on that huge 200MP sensor, but its not the same.

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The S25 Edge can also capture up to 8K video and packs all the other photography tricks youd expect in an S-Series phone, like night photography and lossless zoom. Of cours,e it also handles post-capture AI tools like generative editing (removing photobombers and unwanted objects from your photos) and Audio Eraser for cleaning up video in loud environments.

And when it comes to AI  or Galaxy AI  youre getting the same array of features that we saw in the base S25 and S25 Ultra, powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM. Those AI tools include the Now Brief and Now Bar which takes contextual clues from your apps and smartphone to lay out a plan for your day, remind you of the weather and more. Samsungs integration of Googles Gemini now includes Gemini Live, so you can tap into your camera feed to ask questions about your photos and things in your surroundings.

Itll likely pick up any future Gemini and Android upgrades, too: The Galaxy S25 Edge will receive seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

At a media briefing, Samsung also outlined how its trying to ensure the S25 Edge runs cool despite all the packed-in hardware, using a new Thermal Interface Material (TIM) for better heat dissipation within that limited space. I didnt really get the time to push the device to its limits during the briefing, so well wait for a review to assess whether it works well enough.

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The company did have to make compromises to fit all the S25 Edges features into this svelte profile. It has a 3,900mAh battery, which is small for a phone with a 6.7-inch display that costs more than $1,000. In comparison, the base S25 has a 4,000mAh cell  that's a bigger battery on a cheaper phone with a smaller screen. Then, there's the S25+, which has a 4,900mAh battery with the same screen size as the S25 Edge.

In its defence, Samsung has made considerable progress on the battery life of its devices (particularly with this years crop of Galaxy S phones). The company claims the S25 Edge can run video for up to 24 hours. However, with a bigger screen inside a thinner device, battery life may be the biggest compromiseand its something we will have to test when we review the Edge properly.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is priced at $1,100 (1,100) with 256GB of storage. It will launch on May 30 in three colors: Silver, Jet Black and Icy Blue. Its hard to draw any concrete conclusions on whether the S25 Edges compromises for a smaller device footprint are worth it, but expect our review in the next few weeks.
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An Israeli-American hostage crossed into Israel after his release by Hamas during a brief pause in fighting in Gaza, but there was no deal on a wider truce or hostage releases as monitors warned of famine in the devastated enclave.
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US President Donald Trump opened his four-day Middle East trip on Tuesday by paying a visit to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for talks on U.S. efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more.


On May 13, 2025, X is ablaze with global conversationsfrom a French courts ruling against Gerard Depardieu to India-Pakistan border tensions and a US-China tariff truce. These 10 trending stories capture the worlds pulse today. Jump into the dialogue on X and share your take!

1. Gerard Depardieu Convicted of Sexual Assault in France

A French court found actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021, sentencing him to an 18-month suspended prison term on May 13, 2025. The ruling has sparked heated debates on X, with some users calling it a win for justice, while others defend the film icons legacy. Whats your stance on the verdict?





2. India-Pakistan Ceasefire Under Strain After Drone Sightings

Despite a May 12 agreement to reduce troops along their border, tensions flared as drones were spotted in Jammu and Kashmirs Samba region. X users are speculating about potential violations, with some referencing PM Modis Operation Sindoor speech, where he warned of Indias vigilance. Can this ceasefire hold?





3. US-China Tariff Deal Boosts Global Markets

Global stock markets surged after the U.S. and China agreed to slash tariffs for 90 days, easing fears of a trade war. X users are cautiously optimistic, though some worry the 90-day window is too short to resolve deeper issues like non-tariff barriers. Does this deal signal a real thaw in US-China relations?





4. Trumps Total Reset in US-China Ties Divides Opinion

Following the tariff deal, Trump announced a total reset in US-China relations, a move trending on X. While some users praise the diplomatic pivot, others see it as a political stunt ahead of future negotiations. Whats your take on Trumps strategy?





5. Zelenskiy Offers to Meet Putin in Turkey

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said on May 13, 2025, that hes ready to meet Putin in Turkey on Thursday to discuss peace. X is buzzing with cautious hope, but many users doubt Russia will agree, citing past failed talks. Could this meeting finally bring progress?





6. Champagne Makers Lose Trust in U.S. Market Over Tariffs

French Champagne makers, like Charles Fourny in Vertus, are voicing frustration on X over Trumps impending tariffs, saying theyve lost trust in the U.S. market. With prices already rising, users are debating the impact on global trade. How will tariffs affect your spending?





7. CBSE Class 10 Results Spark Joy and Debate

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced its Class 10 results for 2025, with a 93.66% pass rate. X users in India are celebrating, but some are questioning regional disparities in performance, especially in Prayagraj. What do these results mean for Indias education system?





8. Kim Soo-hyun Faces Crisis After Kim Sae-rons Death

The death of actress Kim Sae-ron continues to trend on X, with her ex, actor Kim Soo-hyun, facing a media storm. South Korean fans are sharing tributes, but others on X are critical of the intense scrutiny on Soo-hyun. How should celebrities handle such crises?





9. Blueskys 26 Million Users Fuel X Exodus Debate

Blueskys growth to 26 million users is trending on X, with many users debating whether its a viable alternative amid Xs privacy and moderation concerns. Some call Bluesky a better X, while loyalists arent convinced. Are you considering a switch to Bluesky?





10. Spotifys TikTok-Like Feed Trends for Music Discovery

Spotifys new Best New Artists 2025 feed, mimicking TikTok, is gaining traction on X. Users love the fresh music discovery format, but some argue its just another copycat move. With podcast downloads now available across devices, Spotifys updates are making waves. Does this feed change how you find music?
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Monday, May 12, 2025

Broken Windows Open Call: Best-Selling Author Michael Levine Launches Global Hunt for Worst Customer Service Horror Stories

Best-selling author and renowned business expert Michael Levine is putting customer service failure on trial  and the public is invited to testify.

In a bold new campaign titled "Broken Windows  Hall of Shame," Levine calls on consumers from around the globe to submit their worst-ever customer service experiences. Whether it's waiting 40 minutes in a phone tree, being transferred endlessly, or getting ghosted after a legitimate complaint  Levine wants to hear it all.

Author of the widely acclaimed business classic Broken Windows, Broken Business (www.BrokenWindowsBook.com), Levine argues that small, seemingly minor acts of negligence  the "broken windows"  signal a much larger collapse in corporate culture and accountability.

"These stories aren't just petty gripes," said Levine. "They are red flags, warning signs of a culture in decay  and businesses ignore them at their peril."

Levine, who has counseled many 500 companies and authored 19 books, offers consumers a platform to call out service disasters. Selected submissions will receive the notorious "Broken Windows  Hall of Shame" award and may be featured on Levine's official website and social media channels. Some may even be invited to participate in future promotional content.

Academic research echoes Levine's alarm:

A 2023 PwC report revealed that 32% of consumers will leave a brand they love after just one bad experience.

revealed that 32% of consumers will leave a brand they love after just one bad experience. A 2024 Harvard Business Review study found that average response times to customer complaints have doubled since 2018.

"It's time we expose companies that treat customers like burdens instead of blessings," Levine said. "Your broken window might just be the spark that helps repair a broken system."

To submit your horror story, email AmandaK@BoundlessMediaUSA.com.

www.BrokenWindowsBook.com
Need Gifts for Graduation, Celebrations  Just YOU?

For Immediate Release



Contact: Judith Briles



Judith@Briles.com



303-885-2207

Need Gifts for Graduation, Celebrations  Just YOU?



Meet Local Authors at Colorado Blvd Barnes & Nobel Saturday, May 17

DENVER, COLO, May 14, 2025. Ten award-winning and bestselling local authors will be gathering at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair on Saturday, May 17 at Colorado Blvd. in Glendale, CO to sign their newly published books from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

The book singing event will feature the bestselling books of Hilary Afshary and Judith Briles. Genres include YA, Historical Fiction, Cookbooks and more. Afshary's Dorm to Doorstep is the ideal gift to get into the hands of young women ages 17-25perfect for graduation celebrations.

Briles' historical fiction series is based in the 11th century and features a strong female protagonist. Her Cooking with Judith cookbook is for cozy comfort and her books on writing and publishing are must have for the author who desires to be successful.

Combined, the authors have sold in excess of one million copies and earned over 60 book awards.

###
President Donald Trump invoked a wartime and emergency law in March to bolster critical materials and rare-earth metals mining production in the U.S.

"The Defense Production Act (DPA) will be used to expand domestic mineral production capacity," reads the order, referring to the federal law that was established during the Korean War, invoked during the Cold War to help bolster U.S. aluminum and titanium industries, and most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase manufacturing of masks and ventilators.

Now, there could be an effort by Trump to use his emergency powers under the DPA to bolster platinum and palladium mining in Montana and curtail Russian imports of the precious metals.

Montana is the only state where platinum and palladium (the latter used mostly in catalytic converters for cars and trucks) is mined.

Russian metals imports  which have not been restricted by U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine  have driven down the price of palladium, according to Sibanye-Stillwater LLC, which operates two mines in Montana.

The price of palladium was as high as $3,000 per ounce in March 2022 right after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The price has dropped more than 68% since then with palladium prices trading at or below $1,000 per ounce, according to APMEX.com. Palladium closed at $944.50 per ounce on Monday, May 12.

South Africa-based Sibanye-Stillwater cut 640 jobs at its Montana mines last year, citing lower palladium prices. There are still more than 1,000 workers at the Montana mines. Palladium is part of the platinum family of metals. It is also used in jewelry, coinage, dentistry and electronics.

Heather McDowell, vice president of legal and external affairs for Sibanye Stillwater, said palladium prices need to reach sustained levels of at least $1,200 and ideally $1,500 per ounce to make Montana mining operations financially viable and sustainable.

To get over $1,200, to get to $1,500, that would be a very good thing for us, she said.

Those price levels would have to be sustained at least for a couple of months for the mining group to ramp up its Montana operations again, McDowell said.

The group is also trying to get its own costs down to $1,000 per ounce at its Montana mines.

Thats our stated goal, she said.

For the most recent quarter ending March 31, Sibanye-Stillwater reported costs at its U.S. mines in Montana were $1,284 per ounce down from $1,560 per ounce at the end of 2024 and $1,335 for the same quarter a year ago.

The mining firm and Montanas four GOP lawmakers are also pushing for restrictions from Congress and/or Trump on Russian precious metals imports  including platinum and palladium.

Russia accounts for between 40% and 45% of the worlds palladium. Last year, it was 39.5%.

South Africa mined 37.9% and the U.S. 4% of palladium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Montana U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and U.S. Reps. Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke (all Republicans) have introduced a bill in Congress to ban Russian imports of platinum, copper, zinc, nickel, palladium, braggite, ruthenium and rhodium.

China is also a top producer of many rare earths and precious metals.

The GOP quartet also wrote to Trump on April 29 asking for him to take actions to address palladium imports from Moscow.

To strengthen our domestic supply chain, protect our national security, support American markets, and put our mining and processing workers back to work, we respectfully urge you to address unfair Russian trade practices and illegal dumping by taking any necessary and appropriate actions, the Montana lawmakers, who have all been endorsed by Trump, said.

Trump has not included Russia in his expansive tariffs regime since taking office, arguing that it excluded Moscow in the midst of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump did impose a 10% tariff on Ukraine in "Liberation Day levies. But he has more recently talked about additional U.S. sanctions. Trump has issued other emergency and wartime powers to impose tariffs as well as to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

Trump issued an executive order in March invoking the DPA for potential critical minerals production, including streamlining approval processes for mining on public lands. Last month, Trump also ordered a federal inquiry into the national security ramifications related to the reliance on imports of critical resources and rare-earth elements used in technology equipment, vehicles and other essential items.

The federally designated critical minerals list includes palladium, platinum, lithium, arsenic, cobalt and 45 other metals and elements.

McDowell said supply chain needs are part of the law, which was first used during the Korean War and also invoked during the COVID-19 pandemic by Trump and former President Joe Biden for medical equipment and supplies.

We think the market is still greatly affected by Russian dumping into the U.S., McDowell said.

She said while other critical resources projects are in the planning phases and years away from reality, the Montana mines are operational.

We really think its a very, very good fit, she said of potential federal financial help for palladium mining as well as restrictions via the DPA on Russian imports.

Downing welcomed efforts to incentivize domestic palladium production along with the Montana lawmakers legislation restricting Russian metals imports as long as the war persists.

Decreasing American reliance on foreign inputs has never been more important to decouple our supply chains from foreign adversaries and strengthen U.S. national security, said Downing, whose eastern Montana district includes the two palladium mines.

My Stop Russian Market Manipulation Act takes a big step in the right direction by banning imports of Russian critical minerals like palladium. I welcome efforts to incentivize domestic palladium production that augment this legislation and extend a lifeline to the Stillwater mine in my district.

Still, future demand for palladium has been complicated by the global growth for electric cars, which don't utilize catalytic converters.

Most of the demand for platinum and palladium comes from catalytic converts in internal combustion vehicles. Many have been bearish on these metals because of the fear that growing electric vehicle demand will reduce demand for these metals, said John Berman, chief investment officer for Berman Capital Group LLC, a Philadelphia-based investment firm.

So while the demand for these metals decades from now might be substantially less due to electrification, it seems pretty clear to me that internal combustion engines are not disappearing anytime soon, he said.
SALEM, Ohio  Pennsylvania communities that restrict oil and gas activity could lose crucial funding as proposed in a new state senate bill.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 102, sponsored by state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Monongahela, would pull impact fee funding from communities that unreasonably restrict oil and gas drilling.

The Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee advanced the bill in a 7-4 vote on May 7.

The bill comes at a time when some communities in western Pennsylvania are seeking to increase oil and gas well pad setback distances from residential homes and businesses, as more studies have linked the proximity of oil and gas wells to health impacts.

Critics of the legislation say its punishing local lawmakers who are doing what they can to protect their residents from the harms of living near oil and gas activity.

It is effectively going to cut off these municipalities from these fees that the state, our legislature, have agreed should be paid to these communities as a way to compensate them to host natural gas development, said Ethan Story, advocacy director for the Center for Coalfield Justice.

What is the impact fee?

The impact fee was established in Pennsylvania Act 13, passed in 2012, to offset the impacts of unconventional oil and gas drilling in hosting communities. Impact fees typically fund infrastructure improvements, emergency preparedness and environmental programs.

Well operators pay a tax for each well drilled in a township, with the price determined by the average price of natural gas at the time. The impact fee is distributed by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.

Senate Bill 102 ensures that the original intent of Act 13 is upheld, said Bartoletta at the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing.

The impact fee was specifically designed to compensate municipalities hosting or neighboring natural gas development for their impacts that they experience, said Bartoletta. These funds were never intended for communities that actively block the responsible use of Pennsylvanias natural resources.

The bill would prohibit PA PUC from distributing impact fee funding to municipalities that impose unreasonable restrictions on oil and gas drilling. The bill would also require the state agency to withhold funds while any litigation challenging the validity of a local zoning ordinance is pending.

Pennsylvania municipalities have had the right to determine their own zoning rules regarding oil and gas drilling since 2013, when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down a portion of Act 13 that restricted municipal zoning power over oil and gas development.

The bill is unclear on whether PA PUC would withhold impact fee funding for restrictions on future wells or for both future and already existing wells in the townships.

A punishment

While Bartolotta sees the bill as upholding the law, the minority chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-West Chester, sees the bill as a punishment for local elected officials.

Respectively, I wish this majority would move my bill, with Sen. (Steven) Santarsiero, to increase well setbacks. But if we dont, we shouldnt try to punish elected officials who will, said Comitta at the May 7 hearing. If they are brave enough to better protect their constituents, we should applaud them, not penalize them.

Comitta refers to Senate Bill 650, which she helped introduce in 2022 to increase unconventional oil and gas drilling setbacks from buildings and water wells to 2,500 feet and 5,000 feet to reservoirs, schools and hospitals.

In the bill and at the hearing, Comitta referred to numerous health studies that have found a link between proximity to oil and gas development and increased health impacts, including Pennsylvanias 43rd statewide grand jury report and a study led by health researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.

The bill comes just months after a township in Bartolottas district significantly increased wellpad setbacks. Cecil Township, in Washington County, increased its setback distance from 500 feet from homes, the state minimum, to 2,500 feet, the number recommended by the grand jury report.

The ordinance, passed in November, is currently being challenged by energy company Range Resources, and is one of the largest setbacks adopted by a heavily-fracked community in western Pennsylvania.

This does look like a targeted attack on Cecil and its community members, Story said. He adds that if impact fee funding is cut, communities like Cecil could see an increase in damaged roads and underfunded emergency services and environmental programs.

According to PA PUC data, Pennsylvania counties received roughly $179 million from the impact fee in 2023. Of that funding, counties used over $9 million of it to fund emergency preparedness and public safety programs, the second largest use of the impact fee behind the capital reserve fund. Individual municipalities spent the most on public infrastructure construction, over $28 million.

Senate Bill 102 will move on to the full Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.

(Liz Partsch can be reached at epartsch@farmanddairy.com or 330-337-3419.)
Cranswick has suspended operations at its North Moor Farm in Lincolnshire after undercover footage allegedly showing illegal practices and poor animal welfare was made public.

The findings depict disturbing scenes including piglet thumping  a banned method of euthanasia  as well as botched shootings and animals left in poor living conditions.

The footage, released by Animal Justice Project, was reportedly captured in 2024 by an undercover investigator over several weeks.

The activist group said the footage was filmed at a farm run by Elsham Linc Ltd, owned by meat processor Cranswick, which supplies Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons.

It goes on to claim that all these retailers have now suspended supplies from the farm in response to the findings.

A Cranswick spokesperson confirmed immediate action: The welfare of the animals we rear is of the utmost importance and we are extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at North Moor Farm.

As soon as we saw the footage, we immediately suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation.

"We have also suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed.

North Moor Farm houses approximately 6,000 pigs, while Cranswick processes over 34,000 pigs each week across its operations.

Sainsburys, which recently signed a 10-year partnership with Cranswick to supply its British pork products, said the allegations involved "unacceptable treatment of animals, which has no place in our supply chain".

"We are urgently investigating this with Cranswick and in the meantime, all supply from this farm has been suspended.

A Morrisons spokesperson added: We care deeply about animal welfare and these are shocking and concerning allegations.

We understand that Cranswick are investigating urgently and we have suspended supply from this farm until further notice.
The government has been told to take urgent action to support small abattoirs, as their continued decline threatens both rural livelihoods and the UKs high animal welfare standards.

Speaking during a debate in parliament, Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick highlighted the sharp fall in the number of small abattoirs in recent years.

Between 2018 and 2022, the number of red meat facilities declined by 25%, while small poultry abattoirs dropped by 40%.

Support for small abattoirs is absolutely vitalnot just in my constituency, but for rural communities across the United Kingdom, Mr Chadwick told MPs.

He criticised both the previous Conservative government and the current Labour administration for failing to step in, citing the closure of the Small Abattoir Fund in 2024 and the lack of a replacement scheme.

The MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe also accused the Welsh government of years of inaction in protecting rural abattoir infrastructure.

Emphasising the wider importance of these facilities, Mr Chadwick spoke of their role in reducing food miles, enabling ethical farming, and boosting local supply chains.

He pointed to WJ George Butchers in Talgartha family-run business operating for over 135 yearsas a key example of how small abattoirs benefit rural communities.

These facilities reduce stress on animals, ensure traceability for consumers, and add value for local farmers, he said.

Mr Chadwick also raised concerns over the Food Standards Agencys recent decision to increase meat inspection fees by 20%, describing the hike as a crushing burden on small-scale operators already under pressure from high compliance costs.

In response, he urged the government to consider new approaches, including mobile slaughter units and more proportionate regulation, to lower operational costs without compromising safety or animal welfare.

He also called for clearer food labelling to improve consumer understanding of meat origin and production standards.

Following the debate, Mr Chadwick added: Small local abattoirs are the backbone of ethical, local food production. They are being driven out of business by rising costs and regulatory pressure.

If the government is serious about sustainability, rural jobs, and animal welfare, it must act now to replace the Small Abattoir Fund, consult with the sector, and reform outdated regulations.

"The time for warm words is overwhat we need is meaningful action.
Major Vietnamese companies recently informed the government they plan to intensify engagements and meetings with US partners till June this year to advance the signing of contracts to implement earlier agreements and memoranda of understanding.

Vietnams Industry and Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien recently chaired a session with major Vietnamese enterprises to implement the Prime Minister's directive on promoting trade agreements to help balance US-Vietnam trade ties.

Major Vietnamese firms plan to intensify engagements and meetings with US partners till June to advance the signing of contracts to implement earlier pacts and MoUs. As bilateral trade is yet to reflect its full potential, industry and trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien stressed the need for both sides to review and resolve outstanding issues to facilitate trade of essential goods and services.

As bilateral trade is yet to reflect its full potential, the minister stressed the need for both sides to urgently review and resolve outstanding issues to facilitate trade of essential goods and services.

He called on enterprises to take a more proactive approach in unlocking this vast potential, stressing that such efforts will play a crucial role in deepening economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two nations in a substantive and effective manner, a domestic news agency reported.

During the meeting, the corporations reported on the progress of procurement agreements signed in 2025. They also made assessments and forecasts regarding this year's and future demand for import of equipment, goods, services and materials in which the US is strong.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Commentary: China and LatAm join hands to draw blueprint for next decade of cooperation

13:15, May 13, 2025 By Zhao Kai, Meng Yifei ( Xinhua

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with foreign ministers and representatives of the Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China in Beijing, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

China-CELAC forum serves a vital platform for enhancing mutual political trust, aligning development strategies, and strengthening people-to-people bonds.

MEXICO CITY, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Amid the accelerating changes in the global landscape, the 4th ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum opened Tuesday in Beijing.

The return to Beijing 10 years after the forum's debut ministerial meeting marks a significant milestone. It is expected to further advance the vision of a China-Latin America community with a shared future and enhance cooperation among the developing countries of the Global South.

United by a commitment to multilateralism and self-improvement as Global South nations, China and Latin America have achieved plenty over the past decade. Against this backdrop, the forum has grown into a vital platform that enhances mutual political trust, aligns development strategies, and strengthens people-to-people bonds.

Over the past years, close high-level contacts and strategic communication have guided China-LAC relations through a shifting international landscape, paving the way for a new stage of equality, mutual benefit, innovation, and openness, with tangible benefits for both peoples.

Deepened political trust was evident when Panama, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras established or restored diplomatic ties with China, and when Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia, and Nicaragua upgraded or established a strategic partnership with China.

Notably, relations between Brazil and China have been elevated to foster a community with a shared future for a more just world and a sustainable planet. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is contributing to development in more than 20 economies in the LAC region, highlighted by multiple landmark cooperation projects currently underway.

This aerial drone photo taken on May 8, 2025 shows a city view of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, is a key economic hub and preserves rich cultural heritages. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

China is now Latin America's second-largest trading partner, and the region has become the second-largest destination for overseas Chinese investment, with 600.8 billion U.S. dollars in stock by the end of 2023. Currently, China has five free trade partners in the region. The country has been the largest market for Chilean cherries for years, and Chinese companies account for 37 percent of automobiles sold in Ecuador.

The China-LAC cooperation is also expanding into new sectors, such as renewable energy, digital technology, and transnational e-commerce, with dynamics driven by successful bilateral forums on science and technology innovation, digital technology cooperation, and space cooperation, all under the framework of the China-CELAC Forum. China's cloud computing, big data and AI technologies have widely empowered local industries to facilitate digital transformation.

High-level BRI construction is also helping advance the region's industrial upgrade, such as fully equipping Trinidad and Tobago's Phoenix Park Industrial Estate with a state-of-the-art 5G network.

The deepening of China-LAC relations has boosted employment, including the creation of higher-income jobs through BRI projects. Among recent examples is the April reopening of the Mexico City Metro's key Line 1, a project assisted by Chinese expertise aimed at improving residents' transit experience.

Meanwhile, a wide range of programs have strengthened cultural exchanges and the people-to-people bonds. These include Chinese government scholarships and vocational training programs for CELAC member countries, the China-LAC Youth Development Forum, the China-LAC Cultural Exchange Year, and China's foreign aid projects aimed at improving livelihoods.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China-LAC relations and cooperation are expected to build on the previous accomplishments and enter a new era replete with opportunities and broader prospects.

The China-CELAC Forum meeting in Beijing is sending a strong message of unity from the Global South, particularly in response to the increasing uncertainty and unpredictability stemming from rising unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying actions.

Undoubtedly, enhancing China-LAC relations and collaboration will contribute to stability and foster positive momentum in a tumultuous world.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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!
Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie.



Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht.



In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



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Beauty-Stem's Annual Gala in Southern California Celebrates Cutting-Edge Regenerative Technologies

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 / On April 19, 2025, Beauty-Stem hosted its annual gala in Southern California, bringing together philanthropists, celebrities, and leaders from the medical and wellness industries. The evening spotlighted the U.S. debut of the Miracle-48 Revitalization Series, an innovation combining skincare and regenerative science.

Victoria Summer's Performance

Victoria Summer, recently honored as Best Supporting Actress at the FARO International Film Festival in Portugal, continued to shine on stage, further amplifying her magnetic presence.

Victoria Summer's Testimony and Performance

International superstar Victoria Summer lit up the stage with a captivating live performance that left the audience in awe. During the event, she also shared her personal experience with the Miracle-48TM Revitalization Series, praising its remarkable transformation.

"Miracle-48TM has truly changed my skin," Victoria said with heartfelt enthusiasm. "In just two months, my complexion has become noticeably smoother, more elastic, and radiant with a youthful glow. It's given me my confidence back."

Moved by the vision and mission of Beauty-Stem, Victoria has proudly embraced the role of global ambassador, championing the brand's commitment to natural health and wellness.

"I believe Beauty-Stem's products are set to make a profound impact - especially among those who value natural, health-conscious regeneration," she added. "It's the 21st century's fountain of youth."

Fresh off her award for Best Supporting Actress at the FARO International Film Festival in Portugal, Victoria continued to shine on stage, leaving a lasting impression with her elegance and magnetic presence.

CD34 Nu-Signals: The Core Technology Behind Cellular Repair

CD34 Nu-Signals supplement is the result of over 20 years of dedicated research by Dr. Chai Ching Lin, President and Chief Developer of Power-Stem Biomedical. Dr. Lin's team, consisting of medical doctors, PhDs, and leading university professors, has successfully brought this revolutionary formula to market, securing FDA certification and establishing it as one of the industry's leading innovations.

From CD34 to Miracle-48TM: Comprehensive Internal and External Care

Dr. Sahar Lashin, MD, PhD, founder of IntegrUtopia, explained how CD34 Nu-Signals and Miracle-48 work in tandem. While Miracle-48 targets external skin aging through exosome technology, CD34 Nu-Signals promotes internal regeneration and tissue repair. Together, they offer a holistic solution for aging - inside and out.

Beauty-Stem's Breakthrough in Regenerative Medicine: Expanding From Asia to the Americas, Now Eyeing Southeast Asia

As the brand continues to make groundbreaking advancements in the field of regenerative medicine, this year's annual gala marks a significant achievement for Beauty-Stem, establishing its roots in one of the world's most dynamic markets for regenerative medicine. In a short time, the company has made remarkable progress in the clinical development of preventive medicine.

Currently, Power-Stem Biomedical has successfully established strong footholds in both Asia and the Americas, with its sights now set on expanding into Southeast Asia, specifically Malaysia. With a commitment to continuous innovation and excellence, Beauty-Stem is poised to thrive globally, making further strides in stem cell regenerative medicine and skin rejuvenation.

Contact Information

Beauty-Stem Marketing

Media Department

marketing@beauty-stem.com

888-341-7505

SOURCE: Beauty-Stem Biomedical (US)

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/from-inside-out-hollywoods-own-victoria-summer-unveils-the-future-of-1023845
Six out of 10 (58%) pet owners reveal they prefer to spend time with their pets when feeling stressed. Putting pets ahead of partners, family, children or friends

A new global survey of over 30,000 pet owners conducted by Mars and Calm uncovers the many ways pet cats and dogs impact our daily wellbeing

From being the go-to companion in a moment of stress to nudging people to take more breaks, pets are quietly helping us be more zen

Pets are even encouraging us to take breaks from activities that can fuel our stress - from doomscrolling, chores, work and other tasks

And while for many it's the silent support they value, 77% find talking to their pets relaxing

Mars and Calm are teaming up to celebrate the special bond with pets through a series of pet-inspired content for pet lovers, set to go live during Mental Health Awareness Month in the US and Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK

BRUSSELS, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- If you would rather hug your pet than talk to your partner after a stressful day then you're not alone. A new global survey of over 30,000 pet owners,(1) commissioned by Mars, the leading pet care business, and Calm, a leading mental health company, found that the majority of pet owners (58%) prefer to spend time with their pet when feeling stressed - more than those who say their partners (32%), family (23%), or even children or friends (both 18%). In fact, 83% of people surveyed believe their pet has positively impacted their mental wellbeing.

The global survey across 20 markets highlights the powerful ways our pets improve our mental health and wellbeing. From encouraging us to switch off in our day-to-day with breaks from screens, work and chores, to offering silent comfort when words feel too much, the findings paint a striking picture of how pets are helping millions of people around the world find peace in an always-on world.

Pets: the silent wellbeing guides always by our side

Sometimes, it's not what they do - it's just that they are there. More than half of pet owners (56%) say their pets provide company without the need to talk during stressful times. While others find chatting to their pet a help - with nearly a quarter (23%) saying their pet provides a space for them to express worries or concerns without expecting a response. A huge 84% of pet owners say the simple presence of their pet is relaxing, offering a sense of calm that doesn't require words or actions.

"While we love our pets, we often don't realise how much they give back," said Dr. Tammie King, a specialist in human-animal interaction and Senior Research Manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. "Reframing your pet's daily 'interruptions' as loving reminders to pause, breathe and be present can be a powerful wellness tool. Research shows that touch-based pet interactions can boost oxytocin levels in humans.(2) The findings of this survey will help more people reflect on and acknowledge the little wellbeing moments pets nudge us towards on a daily basis."

A look, wag or a boop: the survey also reveals how our pets' behaviours give us daily nudges towards better wellbeing habits:

Stepping away from the daily grind: Almost eight in 10 (78%) say their pet reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks, with 50% saying this happens daily - a gentle reminder to stop, breathe and reset

Almost eight in 10 (78%) say their pet reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks, with 50% saying this happens daily - a gentle reminder to stop, breathe and reset Calming the mind: 73% of owners say their pet encourages them to stop overthinking or worrying - helping them feel calmer and more centred

73% of owners say their pet encourages them to stop overthinking or worrying - helping them feel calmer and more centred Time in the great outdoors: 73% of pet owners say their pet encourages them to spend time outside, turning walks with a pet into wellbeing

73% of pet owners say their pet encourages them to spend time outside, turning walks with a pet into wellbeing Even screens take a backseat when pets are around: 77% say their pet encourages them to take a break away from screens - and for half (50%) it's a daily reminder to unplug, a vital counter to constant scrolling and digital burnout

Dr. Chris Mosunic, Chief Clinical Officer at Calm said: "We know that small, intentional moments of calm can have a big impact on our overall wellbeing, and our pets have an incredible way of guiding us there. A quick dog walk, or cat cuddle at our desk when they stroll in front of the screen, can provide a simple moment to reset and recharge. We're proud to partner with Mars and bring this data to the forefront to highlight the potential of our bond with pets and help more people discover the wonderful wellbeing benefits our relationship with pets can bring."

The survey marks the launch of a first-of-its-kind partnership between Mars and Calm which aims to explore and celebrate the deep connection between people and pets as a force for everyday wellbeing. Turning insight into action, Mars and Calm have teamed up to create new content to help support wellbeing while nurturing the bond with your pet. The Mars x Calm content collection is a series of pet-inspired content to help you relax, reflect and recharge. This is Calm's first collection created just for pet lovers and inspired by the mutual relationship between people and their pets.

To celebrate the partnership, Mars and Calm are launching a social search to find touching stories from pet owners of their pets that showcase the power of the human-animal bond. Pet owners have the chance for their pets' story to become the inspiration for exclusive Calm content later this year.*

As part of this search, Mars and Calm are launching My Pet Guru - an interactive quiz available on Kinship. The tool identifies one of six pet wellbeing superpowers based on responses to five simple questions, designed to help pet owners recognise and celebrate the unique ways their pets support emotional and mental wellbeing.

For more information on the Mars x Calm partnership, visit: kinship.com/petsandwellbeing

References

(1)The research was conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of Mars. Total sample size was 31299 adults across 20 markets (UK: 2507, Brazil: 2502; Canada: 1347; Germany: 1584; Indonesia: 2510; India: 1001; Mexico: 1567; Malaysia: 1036; Poland: 1349; US: 3748; China: 1054: Belgium: 1084; Australia: 1525; New Zealand: 1066; Spain: 1322; Netherlands: 1074; France: 1526; Denmark: 1093; Sweden: 1070; Italy: 1334). Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th February - 31st March 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted at an individual country level to be representative of all dog and cat owners (aged 18+) in the respective markets.

(2)Oxytocin, Children and Dogs | WALTHAM

*Participating markets only (US, UK, Australia), T&Cs on kinship.com/petsandwellbeing

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN, PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, CESAR, DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, SNICKERS and BEN'S ORIGINAL. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, VCA, ANICURA and LINNAEUS span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For more information on the PAWS program, visit: https://www.mars-petsandwellbeing.com.

About Calm

Calm is a leading consumer mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Known for its flagship consumer app-ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across 190 countries-Calm helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices. Building on this foundation, Calm has created a broader portfolio including evidence-based solutions like Calm Health, offered through employers and health plans, designed to expand access to mental health and sleep support, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes. Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 15 million covered lives through Calm Health. Calm has been recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company and one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter.

Learn more at calm.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685135/Pet_owner_dog.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685136/Pet_owner_cat.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2623456/5313743/Mars_Incorporated_Logo.jpg

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Razor Labs Launches DataMind AI 4.1: Unlocking Faster, Smarter Predictive Maintenance for Mining Operations

SYDNEY, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Razor Labs (TASE: RZR), a leader in AI-driven predictive maintenance, proudly announces the release of DataMind AI Version 4.1. This major update delivers groundbreaking innovations that accelerate real-time decision-making, strengthen diagnostic power, and transform maintenance workflows for mining and industrial teams.

DataMind AI 4.1 is built to meet the growing operational demands of heavy industry environments, helping maintenance teams protect critical assets, optimize performance, and reduce unplanned downtime.

"Version 4.1 represents a major leap forward in empowering maintenance teams with the tools they need to act faster, intervene smarter, and achieve operational excellence," said Raz Roditti, CEO of Razor Labs. "We remain committed to delivering practical, high-impact innovations that transform maintenance strategies across the mining sector."

"Every feature in Version 4.1 is designed with a singular focus: empowering reliability and maintenance experts to achieve faster insights, better decisions, and earlier interventions," added Assaf Eden, VP of Product at Razor Labs. "We are pushing the boundaries of predictive maintenance, making it simpler, smarter, and more aligned with real-world operational needs."

Key Innovations in DataMind AI 4.1

Instant Asset Health Insights : Revolutionary Health Status Cards provide immediate visibility into equipment conditions, empowering proactive maintenance actions that prevent costly failures.

: Revolutionary Health Status Cards provide immediate visibility into equipment conditions, empowering proactive maintenance actions that prevent costly failures. Streamlined Maintenance Tracking : An enhanced Maintenance Data Table centralizes work orders, asset health, and maintenance scheduling into a single, intuitive hub, simplifying operations across teams.

: An enhanced Maintenance Data Table centralizes work orders, asset health, and maintenance scheduling into a single, intuitive hub, simplifying operations across teams. Sharper Asset Prioritization : Powerful Site and Asset Filters enable faster, risk-based targeting of critical assets requiring urgent attention, boosting maintenance efficiency and focus.

: Powerful Site and Asset Filters enable faster, risk-based targeting of critical assets requiring urgent attention, boosting maintenance efficiency and focus. Faster, Smoother Workflows : A fully upgraded interface accelerates workflows from diagnostics to intervention, reducing operational friction and enabling faster response times.

: A fully upgraded interface accelerates workflows from diagnostics to intervention, reducing operational friction and enabling faster response times. Enhanced Diagnostic Power: A new Oil Report Add-On, developed specifically for reliability experts, strengthens DataMind AI's advanced sensor fusion analytics, catching hidden lubrication-related risks before they escalate into costly failures.

DataMind AI's predictive insights have already helped leading mining operations prevent equipment failures and optimize asset performance, demonstrating measurable real-world impact.

DataMind AI 4.1 will also be showcased at GRX 2025, the global mining event held May 20-25, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia.

About Razor Labs

Razor Labs (TASE: RZR) is a global leader in mining technology, specializing in predictive maintenance solutions that combine advanced AI Sensor Fusion with real-time diagnostics. With operations across Australia, South Africa, the United States, and Colombia, Razor Labs helps critical industries transform asset reliability, efficiency, and safety.

Learn more: www.razor-labs.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/razor-technologies-inc

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RazorLabsAI

Media Inquiries:

Liel Anisenko, Director of Marketing

Phone: +61.488.860.440

Email: pr@www.razor-labs.com

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The International Symposium on Global Climate Governance and Green Transformation was held in Shanghai on April 9. Experts from China, the U.S., Italy, Japan, South Korea, India, and international organizations including representatives from Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Tongji University, China Eastern Airlines (CEA), NYU Shanghai, the EU-Asia Centre, King's College London, and Kookmin University engaged in constructive discussions on mechanisms for collaborative climate governance.

Dr. Liu Yuanling, scholar from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), emphasized that climate change is a critical challenge for all humanity, and underscored its commitment to advancing climate governance through emission reduction, mitigation, and adaptation strategies, guided by the vision of building a "community with a shared future for mankind." Efforts to promote ecological civilization and a "Beautiful China" will continue alongside enhanced global cooperation. Furthermore, she referred to collaborating with stakeholders worldwide to actively contribute to addressing climate change. During the on-site case-sharing session, representatives from China Eastern Airlines (CEA) presented the company's practices and achievements in the field of sustainable aviation technologies. In recent years, CEA has made many notable breakthroughs in new energy airport equipment, driven by independent R&D and international collaboration. CEA's innovations have garnered global attention at industry exhibitions and facilitated multiple cross-border partnerships.

This international symposium concluded successfully, offering valuable insights into global climate governance through the exchange of ideas. As emphasized in the discussions, effective climate actions must go beyond short-term policy shifts, strengthen mechanisms for cooperation, and promote joint efforts to advance green and low-carbon development on a broader scale.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250511266645/en/

Contacts:

Company: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, CASS

Contact Person: Liu Yuanling

Email: liuyuanling@cass.org.cn

Website: http://www.cass.cn/

Telephone: (86)18610846689
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 12, 2025) - New Zealand Energy Corp. (TSXV: NZ) ("NZEC" or the "Company") announced today that, further to its July 20, 2021, August 16, 2021, July 18, 2022, October 31, 2022, April 6, 2023 and October 20, 2023 news releases, in connection with the CAD$2,000,000 loan agreement (the "Loan") plus accrued interest of CAD $753,997, currently held by Vliet Financing B.V. ("Vliet"), the Company has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") dated May 8, 2025, with Vliet, to terminate the Loan in exchange for the payment by the Company to Vliet of CAD$500,000 and the issuance of 1,000,000 common shares of NZEC. In the event that the Company has been unable to make the payments to Vliet on or before July 31, 2025, Vliet has agreed to extend the maturity date of the Loan to September 20, 2026. In addition, pursuant to the Agreement, the Loan has been amended to be non-convertible. The Agreement is subject to a partial or full revocation of the existing failure to file cease trade order issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission on May 6, 2025, and subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Vliet is a company controlled by Frank Jacobs, Chairman and a director of NZEC, and therefore the termination of the Loan pursuant to the Agreement is a related party transaction for the purposes of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (the "Related Party Policies") . NZEC has determined that exemptions from the various requirements of the Related Party Policies are available in connection with the Agreement (Formal Valuation - Issuer Not Listed on Specified Markets; Minority Approval - Fair Market Value Not More Than $2,500,000).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Michael Adams"

CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding: the business of the Company, including future plans and objectives, the Loan and the Agreement. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects NZEC's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to NZEC and on assumptions NZEC believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of NZEC and its common shares, TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Agreement; NZEC's current and initial understanding and analysis of its projects and the development required for such projects; the costs of NZEC's projects; NZEC's general and administrative costs remaining constant; and the market acceptance of NZEC's business strategy. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NZEC to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; industry condition; volatility of commodity prices; imprecision of reserve estimates; environmental risks; operational risks in exploration and development; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting NZEC; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in NZEC's disclosure documents on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Although NZEC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of NZEC as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, NZEC expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251868

SOURCE: New Zealand Energy Corp.
Zakeke has been named Visual Commerce Solution of the Year at the 2025 Retail Tech Breakthrough Awards. Recognized for its advanced tools like AR and 3D customization, Zakeke enhances e-commerce experiences, serving 10,000+ clients globally while driving sustainability and innovation in retail technology

Photo Courtesy of Zakeke

MILAN, May 13, 2025, a global leader in visual commerce technology, has been honored as the Visual Commerce Solution of the Year at the 2025 Retail Tech Breakthrough Awards. This prestigious accolade acknowledges its contributions to the retail technology industry, particularly its ability to enhance online shopping experiences through tools like augmented reality (AR), virtual try-on features, and real-time 3D customization.

The Retail Tech Breakthrough Awards recognize excellence in retail technology by spotlighting companies that deliver transformative solutions. With thousands of nominations from across the globe, this recognition highlights how Zakeke has reshaped interactions between businesses and consumers in the digital marketplace.

Enhancing E-Commerce Through Advanced Tools

Zakeke is a cloud-based visual commerce platform that enables brands and retailers to offer real-time product customization, 3D visualization, and augmented reality experiences. Its technology empowers merchants to deliver interactive and personalized shopping journeys that drive engagement and boost conversions. The platform combines engaging personalization with AI-driven fit technology and hyper-realistic 3D and AR visualization, allowing customers to interact with products in more meaningful ways. This immersive experience helps bridge the gap between online and in-store shopping by offering greater confidence and clarity during purchase decisions.

"This award reflects our mission to make e-commerce more engaging and accessible through visual technologies," said Angelo Coletta, CEO of Zakeke. "We are honored to be recognized for empowering businesses with tools that enhance customer interactions while supporting growth."

This recognition comes as visual commerce becomes an essential component of e-commerce success. Industry forecasts indicate that the global e-commerce market will continue expanding through 2024. Visual content is expected to be critical in driving customer engagement and conversions. The company's solutions align with these trends by offering scalable and customizable tools that integrate seamlessly with existing systems.

The company's achievements extend beyond this award. It has received multiple accolades over the years, including recognition at the AI Breakthrough Awards, the World Future Awards, and the Global Tech Awards. Zakeke currently serves more than 10,000 customers across 150 countries and collaborates with prominent brands such as Valentino, Uber Eats, and Zippo.

Prioritizing Customer Expectations and Brand Alignment

Retail continues to grow rapidly, and Zakeke helps brands keep pace with the demands of today's consumers. Its platform allows businesses to create immersive, personalized shopping experiences that resonate with shoppers seeking more tailored interactions. Through advanced digital visualization, merchants can customize their offerings and communications, which helps each customer feel understood and valued.

Coletta highlights the company's focus on anticipating market trends and delivering practical solutions that address real-world challenges. "Our focus remains on delivering value to our customers by staying ahead of market trends and offering practical solutions," Coletta said. "Receiving this award motivates us to continue exploring new opportunities in visual commerce." Zakeke stands out as a partner for brands that want to adapt to shifting consumer demands and maintain a competitive edge.

Retailers face complex challenges in today's market, and adopting the right technologies has become essential. Zakeke empowers businesses to create standout experiences, tailor every interaction, and exceed customer expectations. As shoppers seek greater convenience, personalization, and engagement, platforms like Zakeke provide brands with the resources to meet these expectations. This ability to adapt quickly helps merchants build loyalty and drive growth, creating lasting customer relationships.

About Zakeke

Founded in 2017 as an Italian startup, Zakeke has grown into a global leader in visual commerce technology. Its platform enables merchants to create interactive shopping experiences using features like real-time product customization, 3D visualization, AR integration, and virtual try-on capabilities. With over 10,000 clients across more than 400 verticals worldwide, it continues to set benchmarks for customer satisfaction in e-commerce.

Contact Information:

Contact Person's Name: Alessia Dozzo

Organization / Company: Zakeke

Company website: zakeke.com

Contact Email Address: @a.dozzo@zakeke.com



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0e860f2-a81b-41cd-9311-3acae598ca94
Release of new open source quantum software library accelerates research towards unlocking 10-100x reductions in qubit requirements and clearing a key hurdle for potential quantum use cases

A team of researchers at Infleqtion, working with JPMorgan Chase, today announced the release of a new open-source research software library designed to dramatically accelerate research progress towards improving the efficiency of potential quantum applications. The announcement, along with other strategic insights, will be discussed in more detail during Infleqtion CEO Matthew Kinsella's featured appearances during the Economist Impact Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 event, taking place May 13-14 in London.

The library, available here, introduces advanced error-correction techniques that enable 10-100x reductions in the number of physical qubits required to run quantum programs. This step-change improvement addresses one of the biggest barriers in quantum computing today: the sheer scale of hardware typically needed to achieve practical fault tolerance.

"Efficient error correction is one of the key enablers for commercially relevant quantum computing," said Pranav Gokhale, General Manager of Computing, Infleqtion. "Through our work with JPMorgan, we're showing how software and hardware innovation, especially the flexibility of our Sqale quantum processor, can work together to move the financial industry toward commercial use of quantum computing faster."

Unlocking Efficiency Through Hardware-Aware Software

Historically, building a fault-tolerant quantum computer has required massive overhead: it's been estimated that a single logical, error-corrected qubit might need up to 1,500 physical qubits to function reliably. By contrast, the new library reduces that requirement to between 15 and 150, depending on the implementation, dramatically shrinking the hardware footprint needed for real-world applications.

The tools implemented in the qLDPC library are particularly suitable to Infleqtion's neutral atom-based quantum computing hardware, which allows highly customizable qubit layouts. This hardware flexibility makes it possible to implement more efficient error-correcting codes.

Open Access for Maximum Impact

To encourage collaboration and ongoing innovation, qLDPC is available as an open-source library, allowing developers, researchers, and hardware partners to engage directly with the codebase. The project is intended as a shared foundation for quantum developers to explore new methods for improving error correction and optimizing quantum workloads across a variety of platforms.

This announcement also marks another milestone in Infleqtion's growing quantum footprint in the UK, where it continues to lead joint R&D initiatives at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and other academic and industrial collaborations.

To access the library and learn more, visit http://github.com/qLDPCOrg/qldpc.

Infleqtion at Economist Impact's Commercialising Quantum Global 2025

Infleqtion's Matthew Kinsella and Pranav Gokhale are leading several discussions during Europe's largest quantum event, Commercialising Quantum Global, which kicks off today in London. Sessions include:

May 13: "Closing the classical gap: when and how will quantum overtake" fireside chat, featuring Mathew Kinsella

May 14: "Quantum in action: real applications, real advantages" interactive roundtable, featuring Mathew Kinsella and Pranav Gokhale

"Quantum in action: real applications, real advantages" interactive roundtable, featuring Mathew Kinsella and Pranav Gokhale May 14: "Let's get entangled: fostering international collaboration and alliances" panel session, featuring Matthew Kinsella

More information can be found at the Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 website.

About Infleqtion

Infleqtion is a world-leading quantum technology company pioneering transformative solutions that enhance precision and performance across multiple essential industries. With more than 18 years of experience commercializing quantum technology with neutral atoms, Infleqtion specializes in atomic clocks, quantum software, quantum RF, and neutral-atom quantum computing. We deliver state-of-the-art solutions for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), compute, precision timekeeping, and optimization. Our unparalleled expertise makes us the preferred partner for global customers seeking advanced quantum solutions for defense, enterprise, and compute applications. For more information, please visit us at www.infleqtion.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250512326653/en/

Contacts:

Matt Stubbs

Voxus PR

mstubbs@voxuspr.com
Financing round led by Jeito Capital and co-led by Forbion Growth, with participation from Seroba, Pictet Group and other existing investors

Proceeds to fund two Phase 3 pivotal programs with nizubaglustat, lead asset in Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC) and GM1/GM2 gangliosidoses as well as expanding the Azafaros pipeline to other indications

Nizubaglustat has been awarded Orphan Drug Designation in both the US and Europe as well as Fast-track status in the US. The company expects to initiate both Phase 3 studies later this year

Azafaros, a clinical-stage company focused on developing disease-modifying therapeutics to offer new treatment options to patients with rare lysosomal storage disorders, announces the completion of an oversubscribed 132M Series B financing led by Jeito Capital, co-led by Forbion Growth and with additional participation from Seroba, Pictet Group and existing investors Forbion Ventures, Schroders Capital and BioGeneration Ventures (BGV).

This financing enables Azafaros to accelerate the development of its lead product nizubaglustat, scheduled to enter Phase 3 studies for Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC) and GM1/GM2 gangliosidoses later this year, as well as expanding the Azafaros pipeline to other indications.

Rachel Mears, Partner at Jeito Capital; Julien Elric, Senior Principal at Jeito Capital; and Audrey Cacaly, Principal at Forbion Growth will also join Azafaros's Board of Directors as Board members.

Founded in 2018 by BGV, leveraging science from Leiden University and Amsterdam UMC, Azafaros is led by a team of highly experienced industry experts in rare disease drug development and commercialization. The company is developing a first-in-class dual-acting drug candidate to offer new treatment options to patients with lysosomal storage disorders, a group of severe rare genetic diseases that often cause progressive neurodegeneration and, in many cases, fatal outcomes.

"This successful Series B round marks a significant milestone for Azafaros, allowing us to accelerate the development of nizubaglustat and leverage our scientific understanding and competencies to bring additional candidates into development," said Stefano Portolano, Chief Executive Officer at Azafaros. "The fact that we have been able to attract leading life sciences investors to join our existing, strong group of specialist investors is a testament to the impressive accomplishments of the team and the large unmet medical need that currently exists for patients with these hugely debilitating neurological diseases. We look forward to bringing nizubaglustat to patients

"Azafaros has been impressive in its execution, with nizubaglustat poised to begin Phase 3 clinical development and the potential to significantly improve the lives of NPC and GM1/GM2 patients. We are excited to support and accelerate the Azafaros team in this important next step in the Company's clinical development journey. Leading this round further demonstrates Jeito's commitment to making a meaningful difference in patients' lives by pursuing much needed benefits for those suffering from rare diseases," said Rachel Mears, Partner at Jeito Capital.

"Azafaros exemplifies the kind of science-driven, mission-focused company we seek to back. Nizubaglustat has the potential to fundamentally change the treatment landscape for rare genetic diseases, and we are proud to support their journey as they move closer to delivering real hope and this much needed treatment option to patients and families," noted Audrey Cacaly, Principal at Forbion Growth

About nizubaglustat

Nizubaglustat is a small molecule, orally available and brain penetrant azasugar with a unique dual mode of action, developed as a potential treatment for rare lysosomal storage disorders with neurological involvement, including GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses and Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC).

Nizubaglustat has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designations (RPDD) for the treatment of GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses and NPC, Orphan Drug Designations (ODD) for GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis (Sandhoff and Tay-Sachs Diseases) and NPC, as well as Fast Track Designation and IND clearance for GM1/GM2 gangliosidoses and NPC from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, nizubaglustat has been awarded Orphan Medicinal Product Designation (OMPD) for the treatment of GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Innovation Passport for the treatment of GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

About GM1 and GM2 gangliosidoses

GM1 gangliosidosis and GM2 gangliosidosis (Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases) are lysosomal storage disorders caused by the accumulation of GM1 or GM2 gangliosides respectively, in the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in progressive and severe neurological impairment and premature death. These diseases mostly affect infants and children, and no disease-modifying treatments are currently available.

About Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC)

Niemann-Pick disease Type C is a progressive, life-limiting neurological lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 gene and aberrant endosomal-lysosomal trafficking, leading to the accumulation of various lipids, including gangliosides in the CNS. The onset of disease can happen throughout the lifespan of an affected individual, from prenatal life through adulthood.

About Azafaros

Azafaros is a clinical-stage company founded in 2018 with a deep understanding of rare genetic disease mechanisms using compound discoveries made by scientists at Leiden University and Amsterdam UMC and is led by a team of highly experienced industry experts. Azafaros aims to build a pipeline of disease-modifying therapeutics to offer new treatment options to patients and their families. By applying its knowledge, network and courage, the Azafaros team challenges traditional development pathways to rapidly bring new drugs to the rare disease patients who need them. Azafaros is supported by leading healthcare investors, including Jeito Capital, Forbion Growth, Seroba, Pictet Group and a syndicate of leading Dutch and Swiss existing investors including Forbion Ventures, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), BioMedPartners, Asahi Kasei Pharma Ventures, and Schroders Capital.

About Jeito Capital

Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity fund with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients' access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito has built a diversified portfolio of clinical biopharmas with cutting-edge innovations addressing high unmet needs. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States. For more information, please visit www.jeito.life or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Forbion

Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and offices in Naarden, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately 5 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. In addition, Forbion's team consists of over 30 investment professionals who have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with 128 investments across 11 funds. Forbion typically selects impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250512102563/en/

Contacts:

For further information:

Azafaros B.V.

Email: info@azafaros.com

www.azafaros.com
Multiple orders received in the last 12 months for Blighter's ground-based border surveillance radars (fixed and mobile applications) from customers in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Central Europe and the Five Eyes

Blighter's reputation enhanced by the success of its deployment of over one Blighter B400 series solid-state, non-rotating, low power and near zero maintenance electronic-scanning radar units along the 250km Korean Demilitarised Zone

CAMBRIDGE, England, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blighter (www.blighter.com), a pioneering designer and manufacturer of smart electronic-scanning radars, has achieved a record 25 million order book in the last 12 months. This follows a series of contract wins for its ground-based border surveillance radars - for fixed and mobile surveillance applications - from customers in three different continents.

In the Middle East and North Africa, Blighter secured contracts to deploy multiple long-range radars along extensive national borders. Two further orders were for radars integrated into mobile surveillance vehicles, one in Southeast Asia and another to monitor a European Union land border. In addition, a Five Eyes customer ordered twenty-two ground surveillance radars for deployment on its armoured vehicles.

James Long, CEO at Blighter, says, "It has been a record breaking 12 months for the company with orders totalling more than 25 million for our border surveillance radars. This growth is being driven in part by the increasing geopolitical tensions and border disputes globally as governments look to monitor and secure their boundaries effectively from illegal crossings, smuggling, people trafficking and other security breaches.

"However, our success is also fuelled by governments and homeland security experts understanding the compelling business case for investing in COTS-based electronic-scanning radars for border surveillance. The Korean Army's deployment of around one hundred of our radar units on the 250km Korean Demilitarised Zone over a decade ago is testament to this."

Blighter's solid-state, non-rotating, low power and near zero maintenance radars have been operational in South Korea since 2011. The radars provide a persistent surveillance capability along the DMZ in what is considered one of the world's most mountainous countries with environmental extremes of -30C in winter and a humid +40C in summer. They work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, monitoring the 4km-wide DMZ for any human, vehicle or low-flying aircraft incursions.

"The DMZ has become an excellent reference site for the ultra-reliability and effectiveness of our ground movement radars," says James Long. "We are confident that we can build on our sales success in the last 12 months by continuing to innovate and by leveraging the growing number of reference sites - our radars are now operational in more than 40 different countries."

The Blighter B400 series radars are particularly well suited to national border surveillance applications with their long-range detection capability, 20 wide elevation beam, which provides simultaneous hill-top and valley coverage. The radars can detect very small and slow targets such as a crawling person up to 6.4 km away and a walking person up to 15 km, and a vehicle at up to 32 km, even in cluttered environments.

Since introducing the world's first, non-rotating, solid-state, electronic-scanning, micro-Doppler ground radar in 2003, Blighter has continued to lead this market with ITAR-free 2D, 3D and 4D radars and advanced AI (artificial intelligence) assisted software to detect, track and classify small and slow-moving threats in complex environments.

Pattern of life analysis is now used to enhance situational analysis and the speed and efficiency of threat detection. Blighter radars also feature Low-Probability-of-Intercept (LPI) waveforms and are designed for rugged operation at fixed and mobile locations and on the move. Blighter supports the local assembly of certain products to enable indigenous manufacture.

For more information about Blighter's range of electronic scanning radars, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email hello@blighter.com.

Media photo:

https://www.blighter.com/wp-content/uploads/James-Long-Blighter-Radars.jpg

Photo caption: Blighter's CEO, James Long, celebrates his company's record order book of 25m following a series of smart radar contract wins in the last 12 months.

About Blighter (www.blighter.com)

Blighter, Cambridge UK, is a pioneering designer and manufacturer of ground-based electronic-scanning radars for surveillance of moving objects on the ground, along coastlines and in the air. Blighter radars use patented ultra-reliable, low SWaP - size, weight, and power (4 Watts) - electronic-scanning antenna technology and advanced AI (artificial intelligence) assisted software to detect, track and classify small and slow-moving threats in complex environments. Blighter radars are also used as part of short-range air defence (SHORAD) systems to detect drones and FPVs (first person view). Blighter radars are trusted by the UK Ministry of Defence for forward operating base (FOB) protection, the South Korean Army for border surveillance along the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), by the United States Air Force for drone detection, and the UK's major airports for perimeter protection.

Blighter's commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product portfolio includes ITAR-free 2D, 3D and 4D radars and a range of software applications to simplify the integration, configuration, control and viewing of multiple networked radars. Pattern of life analysis is used to enhance situational analysis and the speed and efficiency of threat detection. Blighter radars feature Low-Probability-of-Intercept (LPI) waveforms and are designed for rugged operation at fixed and mobile locations and on the move. Blighter supports the local assembly of certain products to enable indigenous manufacture and works in partnership with international systems integrators to create layered multi-sensor surveillance systems for asset and area protection. Blighter is located in Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, UK.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/blighter-achieves-record-25m-order-book-following-border-surveillance-smart-radar-contract-wins-302453001.html
Jeito Capital leads EUR 132 million oversubscribed Series B financing in Azafaros to advance Phase 3 clinical programs of innovative therapies

in rare inherited neuro-metabolic disorders

Proceeds will support two Phase 3 pivotal programs with nizubaglustat, lead asset in Niemann-Pick disease Type C disease and GM1/GM2 gangliosidoses, three forms of rare lysosomal storage disorders, as well as expanding Azafaros pipeline to other indications





The patient benefit drives Jeito's mission. This investment in life threatening rare genetic disorders, affecting children and young adults illustrates Jeito's commitment to accelerate the development of high-impact treatments for patients with high unmet needs





Paris, France, May 13, 2025 - Jeito Capital ("Jeito"), a global leading independent Private Equity fund dedicated to biopharma, announces today it is leading an oversubscribed

EUR 132 million Series B financing round in Azafaros, a clinical-stage company focused on developing disease-modifying therapeutics to offer new treatment options to patients with rare lysosomal storage disorders.

The financing is led by Jeito Capital, and co-led by Forbion Growth, with participation from Seroba, Pictet Group and existing investors Forbion Ventures, Schroders Capital and BioGeneration Ventures.

Rachel Mears, Partner, and Julien Elric, Senior Principal at Jeito Capital will join Azafaros's Board of Directors as Board members.

Founded in 2018 and built on scientific discoveries from Leiden University and Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Azafaros is led by a seasoned team of experts in rare disease drug development and commercialization. The company is developing a first-in-class dual-acting drug candidate to offer new treatment options to patients with lysosomal storage disorders, a group of severe rare genetic diseases that often cause progressive neurodegeneration and, in many cases, fatal outcomes. Its lead asset, nizubaglustat, has been awarded Orphan Drug Designation in both the US and Europe as well as Fast track status in the US.

The financing will advance two Phase 3 programs with nizubaglustat, lead asset in Niemann-Pick disease Type C (NPC) disease and GM1/GM2 gangliosidoses as well as expanding Azafaros pipeline to other indications. The company expects to initiate both Phase 3 studies later this year.

Dr. Rafaele Tordjman, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, said:

"This investment reflects Jeito's commitment to accelerating the development of impactful therapies for patients with high unmet needs. Azafaros has the potential to develop new efficient, safe and tolerable therapeutic options for young patients suffering from progressive debilitating and even fatal rare metabolic disorders that generates very high expectations. We look forward to supporting the talented Azafaros team with our collective expertise to accelerate its pivotal clinical developments to go faster to patients."



Rachel Mears, Partner at Jeito Capital, added:

"Azafaros has been impressive in its execution with nizubaglustat poised to begin Phase 3 clinical development and the potential to significantly improve the lives of NPC and GM1/GM2 patients. We are excited to support and accelerate the Azafaros team in this important next step in the Company's clinical development journey. Leading this round further demonstrates Jeito's commitment to making a meaningful difference in patients' lives by pursuing much needed benefits for those suffering from rare diseases."

Stefano Portolano, Chief Executive Officer at Azafaros, concluded:

"This successful Series B round marks a significant milestone for Azafaros, allowing us to accelerate the development of nizubaglustat and leverage our scientific understanding and competencies to bring additional candidates into development. The fact that we have been able to attract leading life sciences investors to join our existing strong group of specialist investors is a testament to the impressive accomplishments of the team and the large unmet medical need that currently exists for patients with these hugely debilitating neurological diseases. We look forward to bringing nizubaglustat to patients."

About Jeito Capital

Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity fund with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients' access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito has built a diversified portfolio of clinical biopharmas with cutting-edge innovations addressing high unmet needs. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States.

For more information, please visit www.jeito.life or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Azafaros

Azafaros is a clinical-stage company founded in 2018 with a deep understanding of rare genetic disease mechanisms using compound discoveries made by scientists at Leiden University and Amsterdam UMC and is led by a team of highly experienced industry experts. Azafaros aims to build a pipeline of disease-modifying therapeutics to offer new treatment options to patients and their families. By applying its knowledge, network and courage, the Azafaros team challenges traditional development pathways to rapidly bring new drugs to the rare disease patients who need them. Azafaros is supported by Leading Healthcare investors including Jeito Capital, Forbion Growth, Seroba, Pictet Group and a syndicate of leading Dutch and Swiss existing investors including Forbion Ventures, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), BioMedPartners, Asahi Kasei Pharma Ventures, and Schroders Capital.

Contacts:

Jeito Capital

Rafaele Tordjman, Founder & CEO

Jessica Fadel, EA

Tel: +33 6 33 44 25 47

MaiorICR Healthcare

Stephanie Elbaz Mary-Jane Elliott / Davide Salvi / Kris Lam

Tel: +33 6 46 05 08 07 Jeito@icrhealthcare.com

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700

Sean Leous

ICR Healthcare

sean.leous@icrhealthcare.com

Tel: +1 (646) 866 4012
Long term follow-up in this curative setting demonstrated clinically meaningful survival benefit when adding adjuvant Perjeta (pertuzumab) to Herceptin (trastuzumab) and chemotherapy 1

21% reduction in the risk of death was seen in the pre-specified subgroup of people with lymph node-positive disease 1

Data to be presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Breast Cancer Congress

Basel, 13 May 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), the Breast International Group (BIG), Institut Jules Bordet Clinical Trials Support Unit and Frontier Science Foundation, announced today statistically significant final overall survival (OS) results from the phase III APHINITY study in people with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early-stage breast cancer.1 After ten years, the risk of death was reduced by 17% for people treated with Perjeta (pertuzumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab) and chemotherapy (the Perjeta-based regimen) for a year as post-surgery (adjuvant) treatment, compared with individuals who received Herceptin, chemotherapy, and placebo.1

"Early treatment of breast cancer can provide substantial patient benefit and also increases the chance for cure. For people with early-stage HER2-positive disease, the APHINITY results validate the sustained benefits of the Perjeta-based regimen," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roche's Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "These long-term data reinforce the regimen's value as a well-established standard-of-care treatment in the curative setting."

"After 10 years, the APHINITY trial clearly shows a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement of the overall survival," said Prof. Sibylle Loibl, APHINITY Study Chair, Chair of the German Breast Group (GBG) and the Chief Executive Officer of the GBG Forschungs GmbH. "Adding Perjeta to a standard adjuvant treatment is most beneficial for people with HER2-positive breast cancer with lymph-node positive disease who are at high risk of recurrence."

After ten years, results show:

91.6% of people treated with the Perjeta-based regimen were alive at ten years versus 89.8% of those treated with Herceptin, chemotherapy, and placebo (hazard ratio [HR]=0.83, 95% CI: 0.69-1.00, p-value=0.044). 1

A 21% reduction in the risk of death was seen in the prespecified subgroup of people with lymph node-positive disease (HR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.97). 1

The previously reported invasive disease-free survival (primary endpoint) benefit was maintained (HR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.68-0.92), strengthening results from earlier APHINITY analyses. 1,2 No benefit was seen in the node negative subgroup. 1

No benefit was seen in the node negative subgroup. The safety profile, including cardiac safety, was consistent with previous studies and no new or unexpected safety signals were identified.1,2

Full results will be presented as a late-breaking abstract on Thursday, 15 May at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology Breast Cancer Congress.

"The international collaborations in APHINITY have facilitated important insights about HER2-positive breast cancer and are continuing to yield promising findings," said Liz Frank, Independent Research Advocate. "Scientists and clinicians are working together with the broader goal of improving our understanding of HER2-positive breast cancer, improving the quality of life for people living with the disease and ultimately, helping them to live longer with no disease occurring."

The collaborative efforts of Roche, BIG, and study partners enabled the initiation of pivotal trials such as APHINITY and HERA. These studies led to Herceptin and Perjeta becoming standards of care and helped improve outcomes for people with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.3

About the APHINITY study

APHINITY/ BO25126/ BIG 4-11) is a global, phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Perjeta (pertuzumab) plus Herceptin (trastuzumab) and chemotherapy, compared with Herceptin and chemotherapy, as post-surgery (adjuvant) treatment in 4,804 people with operable human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive early-stage breast cancer.4

The primary endpoint is invasive disease-free survival, which in this study is defined as the time a patient lives without recurrence of invasive breast cancer (when the cancer returns locally or spreads into the surrounding breast tissue and/or beyond) or death from any cause after post-surgery treatment.4 Secondary endpoints include cardiac and overall safety, overall survival and health-related quality of life.4

About the Perjeta-based regimen (intravenous (IV) Perjeta (pertuzumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab) and chemotherapy)

The Perjeta-based regimen is approved in more than 120 countries/regions for the treatment of both early-stage and metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. In the neoadjuvant (before surgery) early-stage breast cancer setting, the Perjeta-based regimen has been shown to almost double the rate of pathological complete response compared to Herceptin and chemotherapy.5 Additionally, the combination has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of invasive disease or death in the adjuvant (after surgery) early-stage breast cancer setting.6 In the metastatic setting, the combination has shown an unprecedented survival benefit in previously untreated (first-line) patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.7 Phesgo - a subcutaneous fixed-dose combination of Perjeta and Herceptin - is also approved in more than 120 countries/regions and provides faster and more flexible administration of Perjeta and Herceptin under the skin in approximately eight minutes, compared to hours with standard IV administration.8,9 The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recently recommended updating Phesgo's label in the European Union to allow administration outside of a clinical setting (such as in a person's home) by a healthcare professional, which can help to alleviate treatment burden and free up cancer care capacity in clinics.10

About Roche's medicines for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer

Roche has been leading research into the HER2 pathway for over 30 years and is committed to improving the health, quality of life and survival of people with both early-stage and advanced HER2-positive disease. HER2-positive breast cancer affects approximately 15-20% of people with breast cancer.11

Survival outcomes for people with HER2-positive breast cancer, once seen as an aggressive type of the disease, have been transformed through the development of targeted therapies, including Roche molecules Herceptin (trastuzumab), Perjeta (pertuzumab), Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) and Phesgo (pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase subcutaneous).12,13 Long-term survival is now a possibility for many people, which also contributes to societal and economic benefits.14

Eligibility for treatment with Roche's HER2-targeted medicines is determined via a diagnostic test, which identifies people who will likely benefit from these medicines at the onset of their disease.

About Roche in breast cancer

Our medicines, along with companion diagnostic tests, have contributed to bringing breakthrough outcomes in human epidermal growth factor 2-positive and triple-negative breast cancers. As our understanding of breast cancer biology rapidly improves, we are working to identify new biomarkers and approaches to treatment for other subtypes of the disease, including oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which is a form of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the most prevalent type of all breast cancers.

About Roche

Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice.

For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roche's business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.



References

[1] Loibl S, et al. Adjuvant pertuzumab or placebo + trastuzumab + chemotherapy.

[4] Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study of Pertuzumab in Addition to Chemotherapy and Trastuzumab as Adjuvant Therapy in Participants With Human Epidermal Growth Receptor 2.

[5] Gianni L, et al. Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab and trastuzumab in women with locally advanced, inflammatory, or early HER2-positive breast cancer.

[9] Perjeta pertuzumab. Early Breast Cancer Treatment. The infusion process [Internet; cited 2025 May]. Available from: https://www.perjeta.com/early-breast-cancer/iv-infusion.html.

[10] O'Shaughnessy J, et al. Preference for the fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injection in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer.



Roche Global Media Relations

Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com

Hans Trees, PhD

Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech

Phone: +41 79 935 81 48



Nathalie Altermatt

Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas

Phone: +41 79 568 24 95



Simon Goldsborough

Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine

Phone: +41 79 461 86 83



Nina Mahlitz

Phone: +41 79 327 54 74 Kirti Pandey

Phone: +49 172 6367262



Yvette Petillon

Phone: +41 79 961 92 50 Dr Rebekka Schnell

Phone: +41 79 205 27 03

Roche Investor Relations

Dr Bruno Eschli

Phone: +41 61 68-75284

e-mail: bruno.eschli@roche.com Dr Sabine Borngraber

Phone: +41 61 68-88027

e-mail: sabine.borngraeber@roche.com (mailto:sabine.borngraeber@roche.com)



Dr Birgit Masjost

Phone: +41 61 68-84814

e-mail: birgit.masjost@roche.com

Investor Relations North America

Loren Kalm

Phone: +1 650 225 3217

e-mail: kalm.loren@gene.com





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Kuros Biosciences to share latest MagnetOs market impact and strategic priorities at Capital Markets Day in Zurich

Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland, May 13, 2025 - Kuros Biosciences ("Kuros" or the "Company") a leader in innovative biologic technologies, is pleased to announce today's Capital Markets Day on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 9am CEST, at the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport, The Circle, Zurich, Switzerland. The event will also be available virtually via live webcast.

Capital Markets Day will provide institutional investors, analysts, and the media with an opportunity to hear directly from the Kuros leadership team about the company's breakthrough science, global commercial strategy, and transformative approach to bone healing. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the market performance of MagnetOs, its clinical efficacy, and the company's strategic priorities. Kuros will also provide updates on its expanding global footprint, new market opportunities, and continued innovation in both spinal and extremity applications. Joining the Kuros leadership team will be a U.S. orthopedic surgeon explaining the power of MagnetOs from the surgeon and patient perspective.

Key highlights of the presentation will include:

An overview of MagnetOs, Kuros' proprietary bone healing technology, which has been shown to deliver more predictable fusions in surgical procedures. In a Level I human clinical study published in Spine, MagnetOs demonstrated nearly twice the fusion rate of autograft, with even more significant results among active smokers which is traditionally a high-risk patient group. *1 -3 MagnetOs grows bone on its own thanks to NeedleGrip - a proprietary submicron surface technology that harnesses the immune system to stimulate bone growth without added cells or growth factors. 4-9

MagnetOs grows bone on its own thanks to NeedleGrip - a proprietary submicron surface technology that harnesses the immune system to stimulate bone growth without added cells or growth factors. Kuros's global commercial strategy, including the ongoing expansion of MagnetOs across new markets. The company is targeting both spinal and extremity markets, with an anticipated growth trajectory in the U.S., Europe, and many markets in the rest of the world. Kuros is also leveraging its strategic alliance with Medtronic to broaden market access and accelerate product adoption globally.

A look at Kuros' commitment to science, with seven Level I human clinical trials currently underway, demonstrating the ability of MagnetOs to promote bone growth and fusion across various surgical applications.

Surgeon perspective with a patient story and clinical insights from Dr. Greg Berlet, a leading orthopedic surgeon, sharing firsthand experiences and explaining why MagnetOs is becoming the preferred choice for surgeons in extremity surgeries.

How Kuros is transforming the business to manage the company's strong growth and achieve operational leverage.

"Kuros is at the forefront of science and innovation in the orthobiologic space, and we are thrilled to share the progress we have made with MagnetOs as well as our long-term vision," said Chris Fair, CEO of Kuros Biosciences. "As we scale our business and expand into new markets, we are committed to improving patient outcomes and driving shareholder value through continued innovation, strategic partnerships, and global growth."

Webcast

Virtual access: Join the live webcast (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/u4eyp4ug/)





For further information, please contact:

Alexandre Muller Daniel Geiger Investor Relations Chief Financial Officer Tel +41 43 268 32 31 Tel +41 44 733 47 41 IR@kurosbio.com (mailto:IR@kurosbio.com) daniel.geiger@kurosbio.com (mailto:daniel.geiger@kurosbio.com)

About MagnetOs

MagnetOsTM is a bone graft like no other: thanks to its NeedleGripTM surface technology, it grows bone even in soft tissues.10 This surface technology provides traction for our body's vitally important 'pro-healing' immune cells (M2 macrophages).4,10 This in turn, unlocks previously untapped potential to stimulate stem cells - and form new bone throughout the graft.11-13 The growing body of science behind NeedleGrip is called osteoimmunology. But for surgeons and their patients it means one thing: a more predictable fusion.#4

Indications Statement

Please refer to the instructions for use for your local region for a full list of indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions.

About Kuros Biosciences

Kuros Biosciences is on a mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative biologic technologies. With locations in the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands, the company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company's first commercial product, MagnetOsTM, is a unique advanced bone graft that has already been used across four continents. For more information on the company, its products and pipeline, visit kurosbio.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This media release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "will" or "expect" or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include scientific, business, economic and financial factors. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility for updating forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments.

* Radiographic fusion data of the smoker subgroup were not statistically analyzed as a subgroup and were not included in the peer-reviewed publication of the study.1

 Results from in vitro or in vivo laboratory testing may not be predictive of clinical experience in humans. For important safety and intended use information please visit kurosbio.com.

 In large animal models.

 MagnetOs is not cleared by the FDA as an osteoinductive bone graft.

 For a 510(k)-cleared synthetic bone graft.

# MagnetOs has been proven to generate more predictable fusions than two commercially available alternatives in an ovine model of posterolateral fusion.

1. Stempels, et al. Spine. 2024;49(19):1323-1331. 2. Van Dijk, LA. 24th SGS Annual Meeting (Swiss Society of Spinal Surgery). Basel, Switzerland. Aug 2024. 3. Berman, et al. Int J Spine Surg. 2017;11(4):29. 4. Van Dijk, et al. eCM. 2021;41:756-73. 5. Van Dijk, et al. J Immunol Regen Med. 2023;19:100070. 6. Instructions for Use (IFU) MagnetOs Granules (US). 7. Instructions for Use (IFU) MagnetOs Putty (US). 8. Instructions for Use (IFU) MagnetOs Easypack Putty (US). 9. Instructions for Use (IFU) MagnetOs Flex Matrix (US). 10. Duan, et al. eCM. 2019;37:60-73. 11. Van Dijk, et al. JOR Spine. 2018;e1039. 12. Van Dijk, et al. J Biomed Mater Res. Part B: Appl Biomater. 2019;107(6):2080-2090. 13. Van Dijk, et al. Clin Spine Surg. 2019;33(6):E276-E287.

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MUNICH, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- May 7-9, Antaisolar participated in Intersolar Europe 2025, presenting its distinctive brand identity and comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions tailored for the European market. The showcase included smart tracking systems, distributed rooftop solutions, carports, and ground-mounted structures.

As a key global PV market, Europe is projected to see demand reach a hundred-gigawatt scale in 2025. Different regions exhibit diverse requirements shaped by geography, industrial structures, and energy policies-ranging from large-scale ground-mounted power plants to commercial/industrial rooftops, and emerging applications in innovative scenarios. Antaisolar has keenly identified these nuances, developing specialized solutions such as the TAI-Space multi-rotation single-axis 1P independent tracking system for utility-scale projects, the MetaRoof series for rooftop installations, four-pillar PV carports, and integrated fence/balcony systems. Antaisolar highlighted its next-generation solar roof designing platform - SolarAid, dedicated to simplifying the design and quoting process of rooftop PV projects for both end-users and distributors.

The company's ability to deliver market-specific solutions stems from its robust localized support framework. Anchored by its R&D center in Spain and subsidiary in the Netherlands, Antaisolar provides localized design services, rapid delivery, and comprehensive operation/maintenance support-ensuring products align seamlessly with regional regulatory requirements, climatic conditions, and market expectations across Europe.

During Intersolar Europe 2025, Antaisolar further strengthened its European footprint by signing a 120MW distribution agreement with French distributor Sunliberty, underscoring Antaisolar's growing influence in the region. With Europe's energy transition accelerating, the PV market's potential is set to expand further. Antaisolar is poised to leverage its all scenario mounting solutions and SolarAid intelligent system to offer European customers more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective choices, driving the continent's shift toward sustainable energy.

About Antaisolar:

Antaisolar, expert in digital intelligent PV mounting system solutions, is a pioneer in renewable energy solutions specializing in structure and automation control. It ranks among the top 500 global new energy companies and is one of the top ten tracking system brands worldwide.As of 2024, the company's cumulative global shipment has reached 41.7GW, with leading positions in markets such as Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

Learn More: antaisolar.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/antaisolar-showcases-full-scenario-pv-mounting-solutions-at-intersolar-europe-2025-secures-120mw-distribution-contract-302453419.html
Progress on share buyback programme

ING announced today that, as part of our 2.0 billion share buyback programme announced on 2 May 2025, in total 6,750,294 shares were repurchased during the week of 5 May 2025 up to and including 9 May 2025.

The shares were repurchased at an average price of 17.97 or a total amount of 121,321,670.87. For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at www.ing.com/investorrelations.

In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the total number of shares repurchased under this programme to date is 7,950,294 at an average price of 17.99 for a total consideration of 143,015,150.87. To date approximately 7.15% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.

Note for editors

For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries Investor enquiries Christoph Linke ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000 +31 20 576 6396 Christoph.Linke@ing.com Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)

ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as 'AA' in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong'. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation').

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to di?er materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may di?er materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

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Syensqo announces revised segment reporting

Consumer & Resources segment renamed Performance & Care, focused on Novecare & Technology Solutions

New "Other Solutions" segment comprised of Aroma Performance and Oil & Gas



Brussels, Belgium - May 13, 2025 - 8:30 CEST

Syensqo SA ("Syensqo" or the "Company") today announced that it has changed its segment reporting structure to align with its previously announced intention to divest its Oil & Gas and Aroma Performance business units.

Effective from the first quarter of 2025, the Company will disclose net sales, underlying EBITDA, working capital and capital expenditure for its four reportable segments; Materials, Performance & Care, Other Solutions and Corporate & Business Services:

Materials will continue to consist of the Specialty Polymers and Composite Materials global business units (GBUs). The Materials segment offers a unique portfolio of high-performance polymers and composite technologies used primarily in sustainable mobility applications. Its solutions enable weight reduction and enhance performance while improving CO 2 and energy efficiency. Major markets served include next-generation mobility in automotive and aerospace, healthcare and electronics.

will continue to consist of the and global business units (GBUs). The Materials segment offers a unique portfolio of high-performance polymers and composite technologies used primarily in sustainable mobility applications. Its solutions enable weight reduction and enhance performance while improving CO and energy efficiency. Major markets served include next-generation mobility in automotive and aerospace, healthcare and electronics. Performance & Care , the new name for Consumer & Resources, will now comprise the Novecare and Technology Solutions GBUs. This new name denotes the segment's customer value proposition (i.e., enhanced performance, improved efficiency, and optimized resource utilization in applications), while "care" reflects the segment's focus on sustainability, with an emphasis on natural, renewable, and biodegradable solutions. Novecare's portfolio of surface chemistry solutions and deep formulation & application expertise, is dedicated to innovations for natural and sustainable solutions spanning the home and beauty care, coatings and agricultural end markets. Technology Solutions is a global leader in specialty mining reagents and technical services to maximize performance in metal extraction and mineral processing.

, the new name for Consumer & Resources, will now comprise the and GBUs. This new name denotes the segment's customer value proposition (i.e., enhanced performance, improved efficiency, and optimized resource utilization in applications), while "care" reflects the segment's focus on sustainability, with an emphasis on natural, renewable, and biodegradable solutions. Novecare's portfolio of surface chemistry solutions and deep formulation & application expertise, is dedicated to innovations for natural and sustainable solutions spanning the home and beauty care, coatings and agricultural end markets. Technology Solutions is a global leader in specialty mining reagents and technical services to maximize performance in metal extraction and mineral processing. Other Solutions combine the specialty formulations of the Aroma Performance and Oil & Gas GBUs. Aroma Performance is the world's largest integrated producer of synthetic and natural vanillin and a global leader in the Hydroquinone market. Oil & Gas delivers a comprehensive range of products and solutions tailored for the upstream oilfield sector, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and performance.

combine the specialty formulations of the Aroma Performance and Oil & Gas GBUs. Aroma Performance is the world's largest integrated producer of synthetic and natural vanillin and a global leader in the Hydroquinone market. Oil & Gas delivers a comprehensive range of products and solutions tailored for the upstream oilfield sector, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and performance. Corporate & Business Services will continue to include corporate and other business services, such as research & innovation, cogeneration units dedicated to the Syensqo activities, new business development (NBD) and the Peroxides activities in the Zhenjiang entity.

The Company has recast previously reported quarterly and full year segment financial information for fiscal year 2024 to reflect the new reportable segments. The segment changes have no impact on previously reported consolidated financial statements.

To illustrate the changes, the Company has included the unaudited segment financial information in the supplemental information below.

The Company will report under the four segments, as illustrated in Table 1 of the supplemental information below, with its results for the first quarter of 2025, which will be announced on May 15, 2025.

Contacts

Investors & Analysts

investor.relations@syensqo.com (mailto:investor.relations@syensqo.com) Media

media.relations@syensqo.com (mailto:media.relations@syensqo.com) Sherief Bakr

Bisser Alexandrov

Loic Flament

Robbin Moore-Randolph +44 7920 575 989

+33 607 635 280

+32 478 69 74 20

+1 470 493 2433 Perrine Marchal

Laetitia Schreiber +32 478 32 62 72

+32 487 74 38 07

About Syensqo

Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates.

Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.

Useful links

Earnings materials (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/financials/earnings)



Strategy (https://www.syensqo.com/en/about-us/our-strategy)



Share information (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/share-information)



Credit information (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/financials/bond-information)



Separation documents (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/spinoff/documents)



Webcasts, podcasts and presentations (https://www.syensqo.com/en/investors/financial-calendar-events-and-presentations/webcasts-and-presentations)



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Amsterdam-based real estate investment management company to enhance commercial processes and improve workflows with a cloud-based solution

AMSTERDAM, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PingProperties, an investment management organisation based at Schiphol Airport, has selected Yardi's cloud platform to help streamline its internal operations and enhance the management of its growing commercial office and retail portfolio. The company has recognised the need to streamline internal communication and create a single source of truth for portfolio and performance data.

PingProperties will implement solutions from Yardi's end-to-end commercial and asset management platform. This includes Yardi Voyager, which will unify property and financial data to enable real-time decision-making and greater transparency. Yardi Procure to Pay will streamline procurement and invoice workflows, reducing manual processes and improving accuracy. Additionally, Yardi Investment Accounting will centralise financial reporting, offering deeper insights into fund performance and investor returns.

"We are excited to partner with Yardi as we take this important step toward internal optimisation," said Roel Van Grinsven, CFO at PingProperties. "With a fully integrated real estate software platform, we can finally bridge our internal communication gaps and gain the insights we need to better serve our clients."

"Yardi is proud to support PingProperties in this digital transformation journey," said Neal Gemassmer, vice president & GM of international for Yardi. "Together, we're enabling a more connected, data-driven approach to real estate investment management."

See how Yardi can streamline your commercial real estate operations with a cloud property management solution.

About PingProperties

PingProperties is an investment management organisation that adds sustainable value to buildings and neighbourhoods, and by doing so creates high-value ESG investments for the future. It invests in stranded assets or assets suitable for conversion and transforms these investments to give them a sustainable future in keeping with its ESG ambitions. For more information, visit pingproperties.com.

About Yardi

Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. With over 9,500 employees, Yardi is working with our clients globally to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energised for Tomorrow, visit yardi.co.uk.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Danish Center for AI Innovation (DCAI) is pleased to announce that Kvantify, a Danish pioneer in quantum software for chemistry and drug discovery, will be using the AI supercomputer Gefion to simulate quantum computers at scale. While Gefion has previously supported quantum computing research initiatives, Kvantify is the first dedicated quantum software company to harness its capabilities.

Kvantify is leveraging Gefion's GPU-accelerated infrastructure to run and scale its novel simulator optimized for chemistry problems. Kvantify's software includes proprietary algorithms which are essential for accurately modeling molecular systems and reaction pathways relevant to drug design and enzyme engineering.

"Gefion provides exaflop class performance for AI, and its specialized hardware happens to also be perfectly suited for simulated quantum computing," said Casper Kirkegaard, Head of Engineering at Kvantify. "This allows us to simulate future quantum computers today, which we are currently looking to utilize for industry relevant molecules such as penicillin using hundreds of qubits"

The collaboration also highlights Gefion's broader role as an infrastructure backbone for emerging quantum R&D. As quantum technologies continue to evolve, Gefion provides the computational power needed to simulate, test, and refine quantum algorithms, enabling researchers to accelerate breakthroughs in a variety of fields-from materials science to optimization problems.

"Gefion was built to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI infrastructure-and Kvantify is showing how that same AI hardware can deliver impact in quantum computing" said Nadia Carlsten, CEO of DCAI. "Their use case demonstrates how quantum software companies can meaningfully advance their work today using classical infrastructure designed for scale and specialization."

"Simulating quantum computers is a fundamental step toward unlocking their real-world potential," said Hans Henrik Knudsen, CEO of Kvantify. "Gefion allows us to do this at a scale and speed we've never had before. This will directly accelerate the development of quantum algorithms and open new possibilities for future applications in science and technology."

Kvantify's use of Gefion further underscores the AI supercomputer's versatility across domains beyond machine learning, including quantum simulation, molecular modeling, and next-generation HPC workflows. It also reflects a broader trend: the convergence of quantum research and classical infrastructure to solve today's most complex scientific problems.

About Kvantify

Kvantify is a pioneering quantum software company based in Denmark. The company leverages quantum and high-performance computing to create revolutionizing solutions for complex scientific and industrial challenges. Kvantify's mission is to make quantum computing technology widely accessible, and a valuable tool for businesses worldwide. For more information, please visit (www.kvantify.com).

About DCAI

The Danish Centre for AI Innovation (DCAI) owns and operates Gefion, Denmark's flagship AI supercomputer, designed specifically for large-scale AI projects. Gefion ranks among the most powerful supercomputers globally powered by 1.528 NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs. DCAI's mission is to lower the barrier for accessing advanced computing capabilities, enabling customers to innovate and fostering ecosystem growth. DCAI customers include academic researchers, startups, government institutions, and enterprise customers doing large scale innovation. DCAI was formed as a company and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and EIFO in 2024.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ai-supercomputer-gefion-welcomes-new-customer-kvantify-to-simulate-quantum-computers-302452750.html
GTCR partners with CEO Nick Houghton and Synova to accelerate JMG's expansion across the UK insurance market

CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GTCR, a leading private equity firm, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire leading UK insurance broker JMG Group ("JMG" or the "Company"), in partnership with existing investor Synova LLP ("Synova"), a leading European mid-market investor. GTCR and Synova will collaborate to support JMG's strong existing management team, led by CEO Nick Houghton, which will continue to operate the business and retain substantial equity ownership.

Headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, JMG Group is a leading UK insurance broker providing comprehensive risk management solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 2020 through a partnership between CEO Nick Houghton and Chairman Tim Johnson, JMG has rapidly scaled into a top 30 UK broker, placing over 350 million in gross written premium annually. With a team of over 750 insurance professionals across the country, JMG has a differentiated strategy of acquiring local and regional brokerages and leveraging its platform to enable local offices to deliver above-market organic growth.

JMG represents the latest partnership in GTCR's long history of investing in the insurance ecosystem. GTCR previously founded brokerages Alliant Resources and AssuredPartners and invested in high-net-worth insurance brokerage Winged Keel, insurance carrier Ironshore and insurance technology and data companies itel, Solera and UK-based Premium Credit Limited. This partnership with JMG further builds on that track record as GTCR continues supporting leading platforms across the entire insurance value chain.

"JMG is an exceptional business with a proven track record of M&A execution and organic growth, driven by the outstanding leadership of Nick Houghton and his team," said Aaron Cohen, Managing Director and Head of Financial Services & Technology at GTCR. "At GTCR, we empower talented leaders to drive transformational growth in great businesses, while preserving the values and culture that made them successful. We believe Nick and the JMG team exemplify this approach, and we are excited to partner with them to support the next phase of growth, drawing on insights from our decades of successful investments in the insurance sector."

"From the start, we've built JMG with a client-first culture and a centralized platform that enables our teams to deliver exceptional service. That foundation has fueled our rapid growth and made JMG a natural home for entrepreneurial brokerages across the UK," said Nick Houghton, CEO of JMG Group. "With the GTCR partnership, we're joining forces with a team that shares our long-term vision and core values, and we look forward to leveraging their expertise to accelerate our growth and continue delivering lasting value to our trusted clients."

"The JMG partnership builds on GTCR's successful track record of backing proven leaders and high-quality businesses across Europe, particularly in markets like the UK insurance sector where we have deep history across several deals, including Premium Credit Limited and Callcredit Information Group. That history creates domain expertise and conviction regarding the sector's strong long-term fundamentals," said Michael Hollander, Managing Director at GTCR. "We're excited to support JMG in partnership with Synova during this next chapter and help accelerate their continued growth in a market and geography we know well."

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Jefferies Group LLC acted as financial advisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to GTCR.

About GTCR

Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm that pioneered The Leaders Strategy - finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. GTCR is focused on investing in transformative growth in companies in the Business & Consumer Services, Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare and Technology, Media & Telecommunications sectors. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $30 billion in over 280 companies, and the firm currently manages more than $45 billion in equity capital. GTCR is based in Chicago with offices in New York and West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About Synova

Synova is recognized as one of Europe's most innovative growth investors, generating market leading returns investing in companies valued between 20 and 250 million in the UK, Ireland, and continental Europe. Synova has been consistently recognized as one of the best performing global managers by industry benchmark, Preqin, and was recently awarded Private Equity House of the Year at the 2025 Private Equity Awards.

About JMG Group

JMG Group was established in 2020 following a management buyout of JM Glendinning Insurance Brokers led by Group CEO Nick Houghton and backed by Synova. The JMG Group has ambitious growth plans, built upon supplementing strong organic growth with a series of complementary strategic acquisitions. Now operating with a team of over 750 colleagues across 45 offices - stretching from the highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England - JMG Group has built its reputation as one of the UK's leading insurance brokers through its quality team and range of client services.

GTCR Media Contact:

Prosek Partners

Josh Clarkson / Ryan Smith

212-279-3115

pro-GTCR@Prosek.com

Synova Media Contact:

press@synova.pe

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The new funding round, led by EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), enables access to Saildrone's unique maritime intelligence technology for critical European security and defense needs

Saildrone, the global leader in maritime autonomy, today announced the closing of a $60 million investment round led by EIFO, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark. The investment will be used to bring Saildrone technology to Europe to address the urgent need for maritime security for critical infrastructure and wider defense applications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513296505/en/

Four Saildrone Voyager uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) will be deployed in Danish waters during the summer of 2025 in partnership with the Danish Armed Forces. The operational testing will begin in June and is part of a broader effort to integrate uncrewed systems into Denmark's defense architecture.

The Baltic, North Sea, and European Arctic waters are currently facing unprecedented threats, and the need for persistent maritime domain awareness has never been greater. Saildrone's extreme endurance unmanned surface vehicles utilize sophisticated sensors, combined with proprietary AI algorithms, to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface.

"I am thrilled to partner with EIFO and the Danish government to establish Saildrone's European headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark," said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone's founder and CEO. "Denmark's unique geographic and political position at the heart of northern Europe makes it the perfect place to establish our European headquarters and operational hub. Working initially with the Danish Armed Forces, we plan to roll out Saildrone's maritime intelligence services to multiple NATO countries during the course of the year. Our goal is to provide 24/7, year-round coverage for all critical infrastructure within the Baltic and North Sea, safeguarding these highly valuable installations for current and future generations."

In addition to EIFO, other participants in the round included existing investors Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, and Academy Securities, joined by new investors Pinegrove, BZH Capital, What If Ventures, and Calm Ventures.

"We are thrilled to invest in Saildrone and subsequently that Denmark has been chosen as the center for Saildrone's European activities. Saildrone is a leading company in a rapidly growing market, and gaining access to this technology can become critical for both Denmark's and Europe's security. We expect Saildrone will have an impact on both the Danish defense industry and the Danish challenges with surveillance in the Arctic and counteracting sabotage in Danish waters-at a fraction of the cost of a patrol ship," said Peder Lundquist, CEO of EIFO.

Saildrone will deploy the first four Saildrone Voyagers in the Baltic Sea in June 2025, under contract to the Danish Armed Forces.

About Saildrone

Saildrone is a maritime defense and oceanographic survey company creating a paradigm shift in how navies, governments, and commercial organizations obtain the real-time, accurate data required to monitor the maritime domain. Powered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy, Saildrone's fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) provides long-duration operations measured in months, not days. Saildrone USVs carry sophisticated sensors combined with proprietary AI algorithms to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface, supporting border protection, critical infrastructure security, and hydrographic survey. Saildrone has sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical miles from the High North to the Southern Ocean and spent over 50,000 days at sea in the harshest ocean conditions on the planet.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513296505/en/

Contacts:

Jenn Virskus

Director Marketing, Saildrone

Office: (510) 956-8361

jenn.virskus@saildrone.com
Funding supports continued expansion and bolsters Room00's leading position in European urban lifestyle hospitality

MADRID, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- King Street Capital Management ("King Street"), a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced a strategic equity investment of up to 400 million in Room00 Group ("Room00"), Southern Europe's leading urban lifestyle hospitality platform.

King Street's investment will support Room00's pan-European expansion strategy, allowing the company to continue its accelerated development in key markets such as Spain, Portugal and Italy. The funding will primarily be used to acquire hotel properties in prime micro-locations in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto, Milan, Rome and Florence. As such, Room00 will continue to rely on its existing growth model based on leases and hotel management agreements, with the capacity now to acquire properties directly. In Italy, Room00 has selected Kryalos SGR to set up an Italian property investment vehicle.

Room00's ecosystem of more than 2,500 rooms and 50 assets in operation or under development operate under a portfolio of brands designed to appeal to different profiles of the modern traveler: Room00 Hostels, Toc Hostels, room Select Hotels and LETOH LETOH. Each brand responds to a growing demand for authentic experiences, contemporary design and prime urban locations. Room00 intends to grow its portfolio to 200 assets and 15,000 rooms in the next four years across Southern Europe, plus another 20 assets and 1,000 rooms in London, which the company is negotiating to enter with its first asset by the end of 2025.

"We view Room00 as one of the strongest, most innovative and scalable platforms in the European hospitality landscape," said Paul Brennan, Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate at King Street. "Its fully integrated operating model and strategic focus on prime city centre locations position it as a valuable partner for our real estate growth strategy in Europe."

"This investment from King Street validates our business model as the leading vertically integrated hotel operating and investment platform in the Southern European urban lifestyle hospitality industry, and will allow us to accelerate growth via acquisitions of prime real estate, attract the best talent and open new opportunities for collaboration with investors who share our long-term vision," said Ignacio Requena, Founder & CEO of Room00 Group.

Room00 was advised by GRC IM and CBRE Investment Banking. Garrigues, Cuatrecasas and Across Legal served as legal advisors to the company. Uria Menendez and Allen & Overy Shearman served as legal advisors to King Street. EY provided financial due diligence and PwC advised on tax structuring.

About King Street Capital Management

King Street is a global alternative investment firm founded in 1995, managing over $28 billion in assets across public and private markets. The firm combines deep fundamental research with tactical trading expertise and differentiated sourcing capabilities to uncover dislocations and mispriced opportunities across asset classes and throughout the capital structure.

King Street Real Estate focuses on debt and equity investments in special situations and thematic platforms. Our special situations strategy identifies compelling risk-adjusted investment opportunities across the capital structure, in high-quality real estate assets in major markets. Our exclusive, thematic platforms are built around property sectors with compelling secular tailwinds. Since its inception, King Street has completed transactions totaling $20 billion in real estate securities and real estate-related investments.

For more information, please visit www.kingstreet.com . Follow King Street Capital Management and King Street Capital Real Estate on LinkedIn.

About Room00 Group

Room00 is Europe's leading lifestyle urban hospitality platform, with an approach that combines design, local expertise and technology to offer unique accommodation in prime locations. The company operates with its own flexible brands, aimed at the urban traveler seeking authenticity and comfort. Currently present in Spain, Portugal and Italy ROOM00 GROUP is in the process of expanding throughout Europe.

Press contacts:

King Street Capital Management

Prosek Partners

Pro-kingstreet@prosek.com

Room00

WH Communications

Shani Halstead

Shani@whcommunications.co.uk

Tel: +447968361479

Kate Woodyatt

kate@whcommunications.co.uk

Tel: +4407736676136

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GIBRALTAR, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bullish , one of the fastest-growing regulated virtual asset exchanges, today announced its partnership with the Gibraltar Government and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) to develop the world's first regulation for the clearing and settlement of derivative contracts settled in virtual assets. This innovation will enable virtual asset derivative contracts to be cleared and settled in virtual assets by a recognized clearing house for the first time. This groundbreaking initiative moves beyond the limitations of traditional fiat-based clearing and settlement infrastructure and marks a significant milestone in the evolution of virtual asset regulation.

Over the past six months, Bullish and the GFSC have collaborated and agreed to create a regulatory framework that seamlessly adapts traditional finance clearing regulations with the unique requirements and capabilities of the virtual asset market.

For example, under the proposed clearing framework, select virtual assets may be eligible as collateral and settlement currency. The selection criteria will follow the principles underpinning existing traditional clearing regulations. Additionally, the framework will expand the range of institutions authorized to hold collateral, enhancing market integrity and participation while mitigating key risks.

Setting the standard for a crypto clearing solution

Major virtual asset exchanges have been performing the clearing function without appropriate regulatory oversight, leading to failures impacting customers. The proposed regime introduces a regulated clearing house entity, separate and independent from the exchange and its participants, with improved transparency and capitalization to strengthen market infrastructure protection.

In a separate announcement, His Majesty's Government of Gibraltar expressed its enthusiasm for the framework, which fosters trust, resilience, and integrity in virtual asset markets. Bullish warmly welcomes their announcement and is excited to work alongside the government and GFSC to bring this groundbreaking regulatory framework to fruition.

"There is currently no regulation that specifically addresses the clearing needs of the crypto industry. We aim to change that by introducing a framework that manages risk for virtual asset trading and is aligned with traditional market infrastructure standards," said TomFarley, Bullish Group CEO. "While Central Counterparties have become more robust in other asset classes, this initiative will bring that same robust risk management and regulatory oversight to the crypto clearing space that EMIR & Dodd-Frank brought to traditional derivatives markets. We welcome the announcement from the government of Gibraltar and look forward to introducing our joint proposal to the market."

The HonNigelFeetham KC MP, Minister for Financial Services adds, "Gibraltar is renowned for pioneering clear regulation and embracing forward-looking technology, being the first jurisdiction globally to introduce legislation for firms using Distributed Ledger Technology. We are excited to deepen our relationship with Bullish and to introduce this unprecedented virtual asset clearing solution to the market."

Bullish exchange poised to become first regulated virtual asset clearing house globally

In anticipation of the new framework, Bullish plans to introduce its Clearing Services offering alongside Options trading later this year. This initial launch will integrate a variety of clearing benefits into the market as Bullish moves toward establishing a standalone clearing house under the new regulatory framework. With licenses from the GFSC, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) , and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) , Bullish is well-positioned to set the standard for virtual asset clearing solutions.

"Our long-term goal is to establish a robust regulatory framework that not only meets the current needs of the virtual asset ecosystem but also anticipates future developments. This initiative underscores our commitment to operating a regulated, compliant exchange that supports institutional participation with an end-to-end clearing solution," said RandiAbernethy, Head of Clearing and Group Risk at Bullish. "Several market participants have already voiced strong support for our business model because they recognize the value of regulated central clearing. We look forward to Bullish becoming the first operational regulated digital assets clearing house in the world."

In advance of this, Bullish will form a clearing member working group to bring industry leaders together to share their expertise, establish the initial clearing network, and enhance the robustness of Bullish's clearing ecosystem.

Media contact

Bullish

media@bullish.com

HM Government of Gibraltar

pressoffice@gibraltar.gov.gi

Gibraltar Financial Services Commission

media@fsc.gi

About Bullish exchange

With a focus on developing products and services for the institutional digital assets sector, Bullish has rewired the traditional exchange to benefit asset holders, enable traders and increase market transparency. Supported by the Group's well-capitalized treasury, Bullish's digital asset spot and derivatives trading services utilize high-performance central limit order matching and proprietary market making technology to deliver deep liquidity and tight spreads within a compliant framework.

Launched in November 2021, the exchange is available in 50+ select jurisdictions in Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Bullish prioritizes compliance and safeguarding customer assets through robust security measures and regulatory oversight. The business is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission , German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority , and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission . For more information on the Bullish exchange, please visit bullish.com and follow LinkedIn and X .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" relating to future events or the Bullish Group's future financial or operating performance, business strategy, and potential market opportunity. Such forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Bullish Group, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and the Bullish Group undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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Combines Recipharm's development and manufacturing capabilities with PLG's product development expertise and regulatory affairs experience

Reduces timelines to first-in-human clinical trials and market approvals, through the combined expertise of two leaders in product development

Benefits patients suffering from diseases with high unmet medical needs



PARIS, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recipharm, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), and ProductLife Group (PLG), a global provider product development and regulatory affairs services, announced a strategic collaboration aimed at supporting (bio)pharmaceutical companies in accelerating time to clinical trials and market approval while reducing supply chain, compliance, and regulatory challenges during product development.

This agreement brings together Recipharm's fully integrated development and manufacturing capabilities across small molecules, traditional biologics and advanced therapies medicinal products (ATMPs) with PLG's deep expertise in product development, regulatory affairs and market access. By combining forces, the two companies will ensure customers receive comprehensive support from early-stage development to approval and market access, which will result in earlier availability of medicines to the market.

For Recipharm's customers, the partnership offers immediate access to PLG's product development expertise as well as their global regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and market access experience. With PLG integrated into Recipharm's service offering, pharma and biotech companies can now begin with the end in mind, aligning product development, regulatory and market access plans in early stages of product development while maintaining both control and foresight throughout scale-up and manufacturing.

For PLG's clients, the collaboration opens access to Recipharm's manufacturing infrastructure, including integrated and intelligent development, manufacturing support for faster and more cost-effective development, and predictive models for biologics production and release, offering a high-value solution tailored to global needs.

Greg Behar, Recipharm's CEO explains: "This partnership brings together Recipharm's development and manufacturing expertise, with PLG's 2,000 regulatory experts, operating across 150 countries. By integrating scientific, regulatory, operational and commercial strategy from the outset we help our customers move faster, avoid costly delays and build confidence that their product submissions will meet and exceed, agency requirements, for critical medicines worldwide. "

Xavier Duburcq, PLG's CEO confirms: "As regulatory complexity grows, our clients need integrated solutions that connect strategy and execution. With Recipharm's 700 product development experts and over 400 projects delivered annually, this partnership allows us to embed regulatory thinking directly into product development and operational planning. Together, we help our clients ensure compliance and build stronger submissions from the start."

This collaboration represents a powerful alignment of capabilities designed to address the growing complexity of global regulatory requirements. By uniting PLG's regulatory depth with Recipharm's robust development and manufacturing infrastructure, clients gain a streamlined pathway from early development through to submission and launch. Together, the two companies offer a unified approach that supports innovation, reduces time to market and meets the demands of a rapidly evolving global regulatory environment.



For more information

About Recipharm

Recipharm is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) employing over 5,000 employees worldwide. Recipharm provides manufacturing services of pharmaceuticals in various dosage forms, including sterile fill & finish, oral solid dosage and biologics; clinical trial material development and manufacturing services; and pharmaceutical product development. Its ReciBioPharm division works with customers to develop and commercialise advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs): pre-clinical to clinical development, commercial development and manufacture for new biological modalities, encompassing technologies based on live viruses and viral vectors, live-microbial biopharmaceutical products, nucleic acid-based mRNA and plasmid DNA production.

Recipharm manufactures several hundred different products to customers ranging from big pharma to smaller research and development companies. It operates development and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the US and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

For more information on Recipharm, please visit www.recipharm.comand www.recibiopharm.com

Media contact:

Guenaelle Holloway, Head of communications

Guenaelle.Holloway@recipharm.com

+44 7730 303 708

About ProductLife Group:

ProductLife Group's mission is to support patient access to safe and effective healthcare solutions by delivering worldwide consulting and outsourcing services through the entire product life cycle.

Combining local expertise with global reach spanning more than 150 countries, PLG is the Life Sciences Industry reference strategic partner for the development, market introduction and life cycle management of product portfolios, and related business and digital transformation.

With a goal of continuously improving the value delivered to teams and clients, PLG is committed to long-term partnership, innovation, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

For more information, visit https://productlifegroup.com/

Media contact:

Fabrice Galzin

ProductLife Group Head of Marketing

fgalzin@productlife-group.com




KUALA LUMPUR, May 13, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - EdgePoint Infrastructure ("EdgePoint"), an ASEAN-based independent telecommunications infrastructure company, today announced that it has successfully built and equipped 12 digital classrooms under its Connectivity For Communities (CFC) programme, a regional corporate responsibility initiative aimed at providing access to connectivity for students in underserved communities across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.Since launching the programme just over a year ago, the company has built digital classrooms in these twelve schools, complete with access to seamless connectivity, the necessary digital devices and refurbished student common rooms. In addition, they have collaborated with teachers and local organizations to implement long-term digital literacy programmes ensuring the more than 6,500 students currently benefiting from the project are able to maximize the resources provided. These initiatives are crucial for increasing digital literacy, ensuring that students in underserved areas are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to seize future opportunities and secure brighter, more prosperous futures.Chee Wi Lyn, Executive Vice President- People and Corporate Office said, "We are pleased that these digital classrooms have transformed the learning experiences for students as they can now learn through interactive online modules, research topics which interest them, look for reading materials online and so on. It has also empowered students to develop new skills alongside their daily studies, such as video editing and presentation creation. We have been closely monitoring the progress of the CFC projects and are pleased to share the positive impact the program is making. Attendance has improved by an overall of 10%, which led to a 6% overall increase in exam scores. Teachers have also noted a significant increase in digital literacy scores of the students, with assessments showing up to 100% improvement in some schools".Speaking on the extended benefits of connectivity to the surrounding communities she added "Beyond the classroom, reliable internet access and digital resources have positively impacted the families of these students as well. Community members are leveraging connectivity for online gigs, financial transactions, and upskilling, all of which contribute to harnessing their full potential and improving their quality of lives. This connectivity is not only enhancing individual opportunities but also empowering the community to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world" she added.Aligned with EdgePoint's focus on bridging the digital divide in the countries in which it operates, the company collaborates with local organizations in these countries to ensure the right underserved communities are empowered by the CFC programmes. EdgePoint aims to close the year with 20 digital libraries built in schools across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.ABOUT EDGEPOINT INFRASTRUCTUREEdgePoint Infrastructure is an ASEAN based independent telecommunications infrastructure company that aspires towards Building a Connected, Digital ASEAN. Headquartered in Singapore with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, through EdgePoint Towers Sdn Bhd, PT Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk and EdgePoints Towers Inc. respectively, the company is focused on providing sharable and leading-edge telecom structures, small cells and in-building systems. EdgePoint aims to be an industry leader through scale and innovation, driving operational efficiencies through the adoption of analytics and digital technologies. For more information on EdgePoint, please visit https://edgepointinfra.com/.Source: EdgePoint InfrastructureCopyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HI-VIEW RESOURCES INC. ('HI-VIEW' OR THE 'COMPANY') (CSE: HVW; OTCQB: HVWRF; FSE: B63) announces that it has entered into an agreement with three arms-length vendors to acquire a 100% interest 613.24 hectares of contiguous claim in close proximity to Amarc Resources Ltd.'s ("Amarc") and Freeport-McMoRan Inc.'s ("Freeport") recently announced drilling discovery at the AuRORA porphyry target. (See Amarc News Release dated January 20th, 2025). The new claims are located contiguous to Hi-View's Lawyers East claim block that is contiguous to the western flank of Amarc's JOY Property.

See project page for more information: Toodoggone Mining District - Hi-View Resources

Hi-View Resources CEO Robert Nick Horsley states, "In 2025, the Toodoggone Region has solidified its status as one of Canada's premier mining districts. Amarc Resources' AuRORA discovery is potentially British Columbia's highest-grade porphyry find to date. Thesis Gold secured a $24.5 million investment from Centerra Gold-the operator of Kemess South, the region's last active mine-which will fund a robust drill program at the Lawyers-Ranch complex. A Q4 resource update is anticipated, potentially positioning Thesis as an attractive takeover target. Skeena Resources added further momentum to the region by selling its Sophia project to TDG Gold and committing a strategic $11.5 million investment. Meanwhile, Hi-View's land package-highlighted by historic drilling at the Golden Stranger and the underexplored Southeast Block-offers exciting untapped potential, setting the stage for the upcoming exploration season."

Planning has commenced for a follow up exploration program on the Company's 9,787 Hectare ("Ha") Golden Stranger Project and Lawyers South, East and West claims located in British Columbia's Toodoggone region of north-central British Columbia ("Toodoggone").





Figure 1. Hi-View Resources New Acquisition in Royal Blue

Hi-Views' management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Hi-View may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Terms of the Agreements

The Company has acquired 100% interest in the claim blocks from three arm's length vendors by issuing 600,000 common shares of the Company and $1,073.16 in Cash.

About Hi-View Resources Inc.

Hi-View is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada and the USA. The Company, through its subsidiary holds a 100% interest in the newly acquired Babine Copper-Gold property as well as interests in the Golden Stranger Property and the Lawyers West, East, South projects, all located in the Toodoggone region of northern BC, prospective for gold, silver, and copper.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

" R. Nick Horsley "

R. Nick Horsley, CEO

For further information, please contact:

Hi-View Resources Inc.

Howard Milne - President

Email: hdmcap@shaw.ca

Telephone: (604) 377-8994

Website: www.hiviewresources.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

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. Forward-looking statements in this news release includes statements related to the proposed Transaction and related matters. 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. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. 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.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1,2 AuEq in Thesis News Release dated Spetember5th, 2024 is defined in the mineral resources as being Au=Ag/80.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7cbdab6-24c2-4004-8020-5ad88def0d90
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC PINK:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), a bioscience company specializing in advanced drug delivery systems, is pleased to announce the integration of its research, development and commercialization activities to the Gen-Plus GmbH & Co. KG (Gen-Plus) Contract Research and Development Organization (CRDO) in Munich, Germany. The move provides BioNxt with enhanced R&D capabilities, collaboration opportunities, and accelerated innovation potential within a major European biotech hub.

The Company seeks to leverage the advanced and innovative infrastructure of the Gen-Plus Laboratory and harness the facility's 1,000 square meters of state-of-the-art space designed for high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients and GMP-compliant processes. The lab's specialized equipment, including advanced technologies for solid and semi-solid dosage forms and capabilities in drug printing, will empower BioNxt to maximize the potential of its proprietary drug delivery systems, neurodegenerative disease therapeutics, and next-generation biomedical technologies.

In the coming weeks, BioNxt and Gen-Plus will be working together closely and focused on the development and commercialization of the Company's lead product, BNT23001, a sublingual thin-film formulation of Cladribine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Preparation activities for the planned human bioequivalence study include placebo trials, product and technology transfer, upscaling of manufacturing, and analytical validation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

About Gen-Plus GmbH & Co. KG

Gen-Plus, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is a premier Contract Research and Development Organization (CRDO) with over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical formulation and development. The company operates a 1,000-square-meter state-of-the-art laboratory equipped for handling high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients and licensed for GMP-compliant production, including narcotics.

Gen-Plus specializes in developing solid and semi-solid dosage forms, transdermal patches, and oral thin films, offering end-to-end services from feasibility studies to clinical trial supply production. The company leverages advanced technologies such as hot-melt extrusion, drug printing, and amorphization of APIs to deliver comprehensive pharmaceutical solutions.

Committed to innovation, Gen-Plus collaborates with leading European research institutions and biotech companies to drive advancements in pharmaceutical solutions. The company's expertise and cutting-edge infrastructure make it a trusted partner in accelerating drug development and commercialization.

About BioNxt Solutions Inc.

BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery technologies, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. The Company's proprietary platforms-Sublingual (Thin-Film), Transdermal (Skin Patch), and Oral (Enteric-Coated Tablets)-target key therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and longevity.

With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization e?orts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.

BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Hugh Rogers, Co-Founder, CEO and Director

Email: investor.relations@bionxt.com

Phone: +1 778.598.2698

Web: www.bionxt.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bionxt-solutions

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bionxt

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on management's expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions as of the date of this press release. It is subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, market conditions, regulatory risks, technological advancements, and other factors described in the Company's public disclosure filings.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, as actual outcomes may differ significantly from those expressed or implied, due to various factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/bionxt-reports-expanded-research-development-and-commercialization-ca-1026983
HSINCHU, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wincomm, a global leader in medical-grade computing solutions, has been awarded the Best Choice Award in the Digital Health Category at COMPUTEX Taipei 2025 for its WMP-27T-PIS, a 27-inch medical panel PC engineered for the demands of modern operating rooms.

Powering the Future of AI Surgery

As European healthcare systems increasingly invest in AI-enabled surgery, the demand for computing platforms that combine clinical performance with safety and integration has grown. Wincomm's WMP-27T-PIS directly addresses this need, offering real-time AI processing, surgical imaging, and EMR support in a single, hygienic platform.

At its core is the Intel 13th Gen Core i7-13800HE processor with Iris Xe Graphics, delivering high-performance computing required for AI-assisted diagnostics, 4K video streaming, and multi-system integration. A key feature is its 4K UHD display, optimized with adjustable color temperature and anti-glare options to support accurate medical imaging in high-brightness environments.

Designed for Medical grade Safety

Built with a fanless, antibacterial aluminum housing, the WMP-27T-PIS offers up to 95% MRSA resistance. Its IP65/IP54 ingress protection and medical safety certification (UL/EN 60601-1) ensure safe operation and full cleanability in surgical suites and ICUs.

Seamless Integration and Expandability

The panel PC features dual LAN (1GbE + 2.5GbE), support for dual displays, and a PCIe x4 expansion slot to connect capture cards, surgical cameras, or custom modules. Designed for long-term interoperability, it also includes USB and serial ports for both legacy and modern peripherals.

Recognition and European Relevance

The Best Choice Award, organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), highlights innovation with commercial impact. Wincomm's win reinforces its commitment to supporting digital health transformation across Europe and beyond.

Meet Wincomm at COMPUTEX 2025

European partners, healthcare providers, and integrators are invited to visit Booth P0719 at COMPUTEX Taipei 2025, from May 20-23 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2. Attendees can explore how the WMP-27T-PIS can enhance precision surgery and digital hospital operations.

Learn more at www.wincomm.com.tw .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2679311/Surgery_OR_PC_Wincomm.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wincomm-wins-best-choice-award-at-computex-2025-for-ai-driven-surgical-panel-pc-302452505.html
AI Insights is the first solution to QA benchmarks with multilayer defenses, ensuring full transparency, and providing clear guidance for safe, scalable LLM adoption

LatticeFlow AI, a leading company connecting AI governance and operations, today announced the launch of AI Insights, the first independent LLM risk evaluation service for secure business adoption. AI Insights gives AI and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) leaders clear, actionable intelligence on enabling fast, secure and confident adoption of foundation models.

Rooted in Swiss values of neutrality, precision, and trust, AI Insights addresses growing concern over the lack of transparency, relevance, and independence in today's leaderboard-driven benchmarks. Most rely on static benchmark evaluations or crowdsourced ratings, methods that have often been proven to be gamed and disconnected from real-world enterprise needs.

AI Insights sets a new standard, favoring transparency, independence, and real-world relevance over leaderboard rankings and performance metrics. It's designed to provide enterprise leaders independent, trustworthy, and business-oriented evaluations that support secure and compliant AI adoption.

"For the first time, AI, risk and compliance leaders can get independent, transparent and technical evidence about whether a foundation model is fit for use, before it's deployed," said Dr. Petar Tsankov, CEO and Co-founder of LatticeFlow AI. "AI Insights enables organizations to accelerate AI adoption by ensuring secure and compliant AI deployment."

Business Value: Transparency, Readiness, and Actionable Guidance

AI Insights delivers independent evaluations of foundation models using the most comprehensive set of benchmarks tailored to real-world business requirements, covering security, fairness, and regulatory alignment.

Each evaluation provides clear, actionable recommendations to support secure and compliant generative AI adoption. The results are presented in intuitive reports that explain model behavior, flag critical issues like bias or prompt vulnerabilities, and offer mitigation recommendations.

Addressing Current Concerns Around AI Benchmarks

The launch comes as scrutiny mounts around traditional AI benchmarks, many of which reward models for optimizing against leaderboards rather than performing safely and reliably in practice. AI Insights offers a new model, one that prioritizes transparency over leaderboard hype, and business requirements over performance points.

AI Insights builds on LatticeFlow AI's experience building COMPL-AI, the first technical framework aligned with the EU AI Act, welcomed by the EU AI Office and co-developed with ETH Zurich and INSAIT.

About LatticeFlow AI

LatticeFlow AI empowers enterprises to deploy AI systems that are high-performing, trustworthy, and compliant, bridging the gap between AI governance frameworks and technical operations.

The company offers the first solution to evaluate the business-readiness of foundation models through AI Insights, helping risk, compliance, and business leaders make evidence-based adoption decisions. It also provides AI Go!, a comprehensive solution that operationalizes AI governance by linking business risk requirements to technical AI controls, enabling organizations to assure trust, safety, and compliance across their AI systems.

In collaboration with ETH Zurich and INSAIT, LatticeFlow AI developed COMPL-AI, the first open-source framework translating the EU AI Act into actionable technical checks.

LatticeFlow AI is part of the AI Champions initiative and has received global recognition, including awards from the US Army, the White House's U.S. PETs Challenge, and repeated inclusion in the CB Insights AI 100.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513967893/en/

Contacts:

Media Enquiries:

Gloria Fernandez, Marketing Director

media@latticeflow.ai

LatticeFlow AI
atNorth has committed to sponsoring the IMWomen program, supporting efforts to elevate digital infrastructure industry awareness across all sectors

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth, the leading Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, has announced its support of the Infrastructure Mason's IMWomen program. The initiative is designed to increase the number of women pursuing careers in digital infrastructure through a series of events, masterclasses, and partnerships that promote awareness, retention, develop skills and professional growth.



The IMWomen program is open to all women in the digital infrastructure space and aims to create meaningful pathways for advancement across the industry.

atNorth has a longstanding commitment to fostering diversity, creativity and teamwork within its business to inspire innovation and collaborative working - something that has no doubt contributed to atNorth's continued success.

"With the rapid growth of the infrastructure industry there are a wealth of career opportunities available", says Camilla O'Leary, Director of Client Management at atNorth and member of the IMWomen EMEA team. "IMWomen is a fantastic resource and aligns directly with atNorth's dedication to workforce development, employee wellbeing and professional growth.

"We are proud to sponsor the Infrastructure Masons IMWomen program", says Eva Soley Gubjornsdottir, CFO & Deputy CEO at atNorth. "By investing in initiatives that support the career advancement of women we aim to help create a more equitable and innovative digital infrastructure industry for the future".

"Our mission is to unite the builders of the digital age by increasing industry awareness across all sectors. People drive innovation and innovation drives efficiency" said Santiago Suinaga CEO at Infrastructure Masons. "The support from organizations like atNorth is invaluable in driving global impact across the industry empowering our digital society and economy. We look forward to working together to foster workforce development and leadership."

The news follows the recent appointment of a number of key female roles within atNorth's business, including; Cora Olsen, Director of Sustainability, Marie Ekstrom, Director of People & Culture, Charlotte Ware, Design Director, Taina Ahti-Aalto as Operations Director for Finland, Anna Kristin Palsdottir as Chief Development Officer, Mardis Heimisdottir, Director of Strategy Implementation, Tracey Pewtner, Marketing Director and Elisabet Arnadottir, Director of Security and Compliance.

About atNorth

atNorth is a leading Nordic data center services company that offers cost-effective, scalable colocation and high-performance computing services trusted by industry-leading organizations. The business acquired leading High Performance Computing (HPC) provider, Gompute, in 2023 enabling a compelling full stack offering tailored to AI and other critical high performance workloads.

With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. The tailor-made solutions enable businesses to calculate, simulate, train and visualize data workloads in an efficient, cost-optimized way.

atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates eight data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, with a site to open in Ballerup, Denmark in 2025, as well as its tenth under construction in Kouvola, Finland and its eleventh site in lgod, Denmark. The business has also secured land for a future mega site in the Solleftea Municipality in Sweden.

For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Press Contact:

Caroline Brunton

Kite Hill PR for atNorth

+44 (0) 7796 274 416

caroline@kitehillpr.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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First Institutional Trade Successfully Executed

The New UK Trading Venue Brings Institutional-Grade Market Infrastructure, Central Clearing, and Deep Liquidity to Digital Asset Derivatives

LONDON, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GFO-X today announced the successful launch of its UK FCA regulated trading venue for centrally cleared digital asset derivatives. The venue is designed to meet the increasing institutional demand for secure, transparent, and compliant digital asset futures and options. GFO-X brings together best-in-class market infrastructure, deep liquidity, and central clearing to solve for credit and significantly reduce counterparty risk.

As part of its successful debut, the first institutional trade between two leading financial institutions, Virtu Financial and IMC, was executed on GFO-X and centrally cleared through LCH DigitalAssetClear, marking a milestone in the evolution of institutional-grade digital asset markets. The new venue brings additional depth, breadth, and diversification to the limited choices in centrally cleared digital asset index derivatives.

GFO-X CEO, Arnab Sen, said, "The launch of GFO-X is a further foundational step toward increased institutional digital asset derivatives trading, providing the infrastructure, central clearing, robust risk mitigation, and liquidity. With our first trade executed between two leading financial institutions providing deep liquidity, we are expanding the market for centrally cleared digital asset derivatives."

Addressing the Institutional Surge in Digital Asset Derivatives Demand

The global market for digital asset derivatives has seen explosive growth, with options and futures trading volumes growing exponentially. Institutional investors, including hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and asset managers, increasingly turn to structured products underpinned by derivatives to hedge risk, enhance yield strategies, and gain exposure to crypto markets with greater regulatory clarity.

GFO-Xhas been purpose-built to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets by offering:

Regulated Trading & Transparency - Operating under UK FCA authorisation, ensuring compliance with global financial standards.

- Operating under UK FCA authorisation, ensuring compliance with global financial standards. Institutional-Grade Liquidity - Deep order books supported by industry leading market makers and participants, including IMC, Laser Digital and Virtu Financial.

- Deep order books supported by industry leading market makers and participants, including Leading Clearing Bank integrations at launch - including ABN AMRO Clearing, Nomura and Standard Chartered.

Central Clearing for Counterparty Risk Mitigation by LCH DigitalAssetClear ensures secure margining, collateral management, and default protections.

ensures secure margining, collateral management, and default protections. Advanced Market Infrastructure - A high-speed matching engine designed for low-latency execution and high-frequency trading.



With institutional adoption accelerating, GFO-X will continue expanding its product suite, initially offering Bitcoin index futures and options.

Market participants can now onboard and begin trading, with several additional leading financial institutions already lined up for integration. As institutions increasingly seek regulated, scalable solutions for digital asset derivatives trading, GFO-X is positioned to become a premier venue in the evolving landscape of institutional crypto derivative markets.

For more information about GFO-X and its upcoming developments, please visit www.gfo-x.com or contact sales@gfo-x.com . For press enquiries, contact Serra Balls, Eterna Partners gfo-x@eternapartners.com .

Marcus Robinson, Head of DigitalAssetClear and CDSClear, LCH, said, "We are delighted to partner with GFO-X to launch this highly anticipated service from LCH SA. The regulated clearing infrastructure within LSEG's post trade ecosystem has allowed us to build something meaningful for our participants and address the availability of options for a rapidly growing asset class. It is essential that we find ways to offer regulated, segregated and trusted routes to provide customers with a diverse breadth of services and we are excited to continue working with GFO-X to offer a regulated marketplace for this asset class."

Barry Polak, Lead Product Commerce, ABN AMRO Clearing, said, "We areexcited to partner with GFO-X, the UK's first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives. This strategic collaboration underscores our shared commitment to advancing the institutional digital asset futures and options market. By leveraging LCH DigitalAssetClear's clearing services, we enhance transaction security and minimise counterparty risk, offering our clients unparalleled confidence in trading Bitcoin futures and options. A logical step to continue to lead the way to safe and transparent markets."

Osi Lilian, IMC Strategic Investments Co-Lead, said, "IMC was proud to be one of the earliest investors in GFO-X in 2021. We aligned with their vision of establishing the UK's first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue for digital asset derivatives, built on secure, high-performance technology and robust risk management. As a market maker, our strategic connection with GFO-X underscores our commitment to the institutional digital asset futures and options market - a rapidly evolving space we believe holds significant potential for continued growth and opportunity."

Olivier Dang, Head of Ventures at Laser Digital, said, "We are thrilled to partner with GFO-X as they launch the UK's first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision to drive innovation and growth in the digital asset market."

Andy Ross, Global Head, Prime & Financing, Financing & Securities Service, Standard Chartered, said, "We're delighted to support the launch of GFO-X derivatives and to join LCH SA as a general clearing member to enable our clients to trade and clear. We continue to invest in servicing our clients broadly across the crypto space in coin, token and derivative form.

"Virtu makes markets globally and is excited to support new and innovative platforms for digital assets in this role. We see broadening adoption and increasing demand as the crypto markets continue to mature and embrace the risk management benefits and capital efficiencies of centralised clearing."

About GFO-X

GFO-X is the UK's first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives.



GFO-X provides comprehensive risk management with clearing provided by the London Stock Exchange Group's (LSEG) LCH SA DigitalAssetClear.



Combining proprietary high-performance technology with industry-leading partnerships and infrastructure, GFO-X delivers the requirements necessary to grow the institutional digital asset derivatives market.



Backed by M&G Investments and authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2022, GFO-X's regulation-first approach has enabled it to partner with some of the largest financial institutions in the world.



GFO-X believes the digital asset futures and options markets will grow exponentially over the coming years as the asset class matures and more sophisticated investors begin to participate in greater size. By solving market constraints such as counterparty risks and technology challenges, GFO-X has been established to deliver a robust market structure and innovative products to propel the next leg of growth of the digital asset ecosystem.



Contact:

GFO-X@eternapartners.com

+44 7762943498
Regulatory News:

The management of Orano has still received no information regarding the director of Orano Mining Niger, after the Nigerien security services raided the offices of its subsidiaries SOMAIR, COMINAK, IMOURAREN SA and Orano Mining in Niamey on Monday, May 5th

During this intrusion in the premises, electronic devices and cellphones belonging to all staff were seized and the managing directors of these subsidiaries were held and interrogated in their offices.

Following this operation, the director of Orano Mining Niger is reported to have been taken to the headquarters of the Nigerien General Directorate of External Documentation and Surveillance (Direction Generale de la Documentation et de la Securite Exterieure, DGDSE). Following this arbitrary, extra-judicial arrest, it has proven impossible to establish any communication with him and the police is still preventing access to subsidiary offices at Niamey.

Orano deplores this intervention, for which no legal basis nor reason has been offered, and has therefore decided to file a suit with the courts of the Republic of Niger for arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and unjust confiscation of the property of Nigerien companies, subsidiaries of Orano and the State of Niger itself.

The Group once again expresses its deep concern at this situation and is doing everything it can to support its arrested colleague and the teams affected. Orano's top priority remains the security of all of its staff.

For the record, last December, Orano observed that it had lost control of subsidiaries in Niger, and opened several international arbitration proceedings against the State of Niger.

About Orano

As a leading international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano group's 17,500 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.

Orano, giving nuclear energy its full value.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513036045/en/

Contacts:

Press Office

+33 (0)1 34 96 12 15

press@orano.group

Investor relations

Marc Quesnoy

investors@orano.group
BARCELONA, Spain, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The ninth edition of IOT Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC), the main global event in the transformation of industry through the use of disruptive technologies, will showcase, from May 13 to 15, the latest technologies and solutions to accelerate the digital transformation of the industrial sector.

Under the theme 'Connected to the next level', the event organised by Fira de Barcelona will take place in Hall 8 of the Gran Via venue and will feature a total of 257 exhibitors, 65% international, with an important presence of Chinese, German, American and French companies. Among these are AG Solution, Avanci, Edge Impulse, Emnify, STMicroelectronics, LoRa Alliance and Orange Empresas. IOTSWC will also include a StartUp Pavilion with 19 companies from Germany, Spain, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Poland.

The exhibition zone will also include an area dedicated to semiconductor chips. With the support of ACCIO, the Catalan Government's agency for business competitiveness, it will host companies that operate in Catalonia in this field.

AI, star of the Congress

Likewise, the show will bring together a hundred speakers from all over the world at its Congress, including the Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) services at Fujitsu Spain, Elisabeth Margarit Borras; the President of The All Data Robotics Association (ADRA), Emanuela Girardi; the Executive Director of Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, Marta Pascual Estarellas; Atlantis Industries Founder and CEO Brad Morrison; the expert in generative AI and Co-Founder of Microbrains, Claudio Lima; and the Head of the Telecommunications Programmes of the Future division of the European Space Agency, Xavier Lobao.

Also, to bring the LoRaWAN protocol closer to the industrial sector, the LoRa Alliance association will organize a conference highlighting success stories, implementation options and end-user experiences of this low-power open and wireless communication technology for data transmission between IoT devices.

International awards

IOTSWC will hold a new edition of the Industry Solutions Awards to Likewise honour the most innovative and inspiring initiatives on the market. With 15 finalists from Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, France, Iran, Spain and the United States, the winner will be announced on May 14th.

IOTSWC 2025 will be held together with the sixth edition of the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, an annual event co-organized with the Agencia de Ciberseguretat de Catalunya to extend the culture of cybersecurity to all industries.

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Almost half (45%) of UK sole traders are at risk of failing to comply with new tax legislation.

Three quarters (76%) say that they feel they should be more aware of the changes.

Awareness and preparedness declines with age, while younger generations are more likely to manage their finances using technology like third-party software.

LONDON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half (45%) of UK sole traders - representing approximately 1.4 million businesses* - report feeling unprepared for upcoming tax reporting changes, putting them at risk of non-compliance. That's according to new research from IRIS Software Group**, who surveyed 1,000 UK sole traders.

Under the new Making Tax Digital rules, which mandate digital record-keeping and quarterly income tax updates starting April 2026, non-compliance can lead to significant penalties. These will likely match existing penalties for VAT non-compliance, which include fines of up to 400 for not using compatible software and 200 penalties for repeated late submissions, along with accruing interest charges for late payments.

Alarmingly, the study found that almost one in three (31%) sole traders have never heard of MTD, underscoring the urgent need for increased awareness and preparation to avoid potential financial repercussions.

MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA) will require self-employed individuals, landlords and small businesses earning over 50,000 to keep digital financial records and submit quarterly updates using compatible software like IRIS Elements from April 2026. The threshold drops to 30,000 in 2027 and to 20,000 in 2028.

The changes could place a significant burden on business owners, who will be required to submit at least five updates to HMRC each year. IRIS' study suggested an anxiousness from sole traders, with three quarters (76%) of respondents telling IRIS they wished they were more aware of the requirements. Many sole traders pointed to a lack of awareness around the changes, with a third (34%) believing HMRC could have done more to proactively inform them. Almost three quarters (74%) of respondents told IRIS they would welcome more support and guidance from HMRC to help them navigate the changes.

Others were more relaxed, with nearly a third (32%) believing they should be more aware but plan on researching it in their own time, and 7% trusting their accountants to advise them at the appropriate time.

With less than a year to go, only 23% of sole traders believed they were very prepared for the requirements.

Mark Chambers, Managing Director at IRIS Accountancy, said: "These findings highlight an important moment of opportunity for the UK's sole traders. With MTD just around the corner, there's a real chance for businesses to modernise their financial processes, unlock efficiencies, and gain better visibility of their income and expenses.

"It's encouraging to see that nearly a quarter feel ready to meet the requirements, but that leaves a significant portion not experiencing the benefits of digitalised tax reporting that compliance will bring."

Generations divided over digital accounting

Younger sole traders were more likely to feel very prepared for the forthcoming requirements and expressed greater optimism about the changes compared to older respondents. This generational divide may reflect broader attitudes toward digitalisation - with MTD representing just the first step in the government's wider push to modernise and digitise tax and accounting processes in the years ahead.

Nearly two in five (37%) of 25-34-year-olds felt they were very prepared for April 2026, compared to 23% of those aged 35-44, and only 10% of 45-54-year-olds. Following the trend, nearly two thirds (64%) of those aged 25-34 felt the changes would have a positive impact on their approach to filing taxes, compared to 48% of those 35-44 and only 30% of respondents aged 45-54.

Younger generations were the most likely to be using third party software for managing their taxes, and the least likely to be using paper-based filing systems, highlighting the link between technology and compliance.

Overall, more than half (56%) agreed that MTD will support their budgeting and help them to avoid surprises when paying their tax bill, with younger sole traders even more likely to agree. Respondents overall were also more likely to agree than disagree that MTD changes would have a positive impact on their costs.

Mark Chambers continued: "It's particularly promising to see younger sole traders already embracing digital tools. That trend signals real momentum for a wider transition to more efficient, tech-enabled ways of working. The next step is making sure everyone, regardless of age or experience, has access to the knowledge and resources they need to move confidently towards compliance.

"As an HMRC-recognised software provider for Making Tax Digital, IRIS is well-positioned to support both sole traders and accountants on their journey to compliance. With intuitive tools and expert guidance, we're here to help users not only meet regulatory requirements but also embrace the wider benefits of digital bookkeeping - from improved accuracy to greater efficiency."

For more information, visit IRIS' MTD hub.

*Based on 3.1 million sole traders operating in the UK

**A poll of 1000 UK sole traders aged 18+ completed independently by Censuswide, commissioned by IRIS, between the 9thApril 2025 and 15thApril 2025.

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Riyadh Air, the digitally native national carrier of Saudi Arabia, is joining forces with Ink Innovation to deliver a flexible and convenient air travel experience. Together, they aim to redefine standards of delivery management in a world influenced by e-commerce, cloud computing, and evolving traveller expectations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513792260/en/

Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said:

"Ink is a key partner to Riyadh Air and continues to foster innovation at every step of the journey. As a like-minded tech-innovator, it is an ideal collaborator as we aim to provide an outstanding digital experience for our guests at their first travel touchpoint."

Moving beyond legacy systems

Airlines have long struggled with outdated infrastructure-systems built to move passengers from point A to B, but not to delight or adapt. This partnership aims to change that.

Riyadh Air and Ink are implementing a full Delivery Management System aligned with the IATA Modern Airline Retailing (MAR) model. The platform lets you manage and interact with orders in real time, without outdated systems that rely on PNLs or PNRs. This puts travellers in charge of their journeys.

Passengers will be able to make changes on-the-go, add services mid-trip, and connect with third-party content in one streamlined experience. Instead of static, pre-booked trips, travel becomes modular, personal, and responsive.

Proven in the field

The system has already proven its readiness. Riyadh Air achieved its Air Operator Certificate using Ink's platform, with proving flights across continents. All flight handling, check-in, and load control functions were completed using Ink's digital tools.

By leveraging mobile-based operations and cloud-native architecture, Riyadh Air teams can respond instantly to passenger or operational needs, whether a last-minute seat change or managing disrupted flights without the drama typical of legacy systems.

From airline to travel ecosystem

The broader ambition goes well beyond the airport terminal experience and check-in upgrade. Ink and Riyadh Air have built their system to connect travellers to hotels, airport transfers, local experiences, and multimodal transport like rail. It is designed to support upselling, cross-selling, and personalised service delivery, all aligned with the modern expectations of today's traveller.

"We are developing a platform that aligns perfectly with the Modern Airline Retailing model," said Shawn Richards, CEO and Co-Founder of Ink Innovation. "Our vision for travel is about empowering passengers much more than they are today. We believe that travellers will want the ability to change, enhance, or remove parts of their journey with ease. Right now, that's not possible.

While many airlines continue to plan digital upgrades and launch Delivery systems in 2027 and beyond, Riyadh Air and Ink will fully deploy this system in 2025.

Ink provides a dynamic platform designed to evolve with passenger travel.

About Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air, owned by PIF, is a world-class airline. Launched in March 2023, the airline will be a digitally led, full-service airline that adopts the best global sustainability and safety practices across its advanced fleet of aircraft. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030 through offering an exceptional guest experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart.

Website: www.riyadhair.com

About Ink Innovation (Ink)

Ink provides a dynamic platform of cloud-hosted systems, self-service devices, and mobile/browser-based solutions for airport and airline operations. It is designed to evolve with passenger travel. Founded in 2011, based in Spain, Ink operates globally, partnering with clients such as Copenhagen Airport, JFK Terminal One, Jet2, TUIfly, Marabu, Lift, and Menzies Aviation.

Website: www.innovation.ink.

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Contacts:

Contact information:

Elena Popova, Ekaterina Arkadeva

media@innovation.ink
Delivering High-Quality, Economical Alternatives to OEM Repairs & Replacements

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, May 13, 2025and maintenance, has announced a major expansion of its pump department in response to demand from UK industries. The department has now expanded its capacity by 50% within IPS Newcastle's 135,000 sq ft facility, driven by increased demand from major water utilities and critical infrastructure sectors such as mining.

This expansion maximises IPS Newcastle's position as a cost-effective, rapid-response alternative to OEM pump repair services, particularly for key players in the water industry including United Utilities, and Northumbrian Water.

"We operate a tight ship here," said Brian Tait, Head of the Pump Department. "We offer what others in the industry struggle to match - a high-quality, economical alternative to OEM repairs or replacements. Water utilities are realising the value we bring, not just in cost savings, but in fast turnaround and long-term reliability."

IPS Newcastle's expansion will create new skilled jobs in the UK, supporting the company's mission to deliver sustainable, high-quality repairs while contributing to the UK economy. The move aligns with the company's aim to boost its profile as a trusted partner for critical infrastructure and to grow its market share in the UK market.

A key differentiator for IPS is its ability to deliver bespoke pump overhauls, emergency repair services, and complete electromechanical solutions - encompassing both pump and electric motor systems. Unlike OEMs tied to specific brands, IPS Newcastle offers flexible, cross-brand capabilities with shorter lead times and competitive pricing.

One example that highlights the company's critical role occurred just before Christmas, Northumbrian Water faced a pump failure that risked disrupting water supply to thousands of homes. IPS Newcastle's emergency response team restored full service within hours, averting a major holiday crisis and demonstrating the impact of fast, dependable support.

"In today's climate, extending the life of existing assets is not just economical - it's essential," said Craig Hutton, Area General Manager at IPS Newcastle. "Our clients are beginning to understand that with IPS, they can get 'as new' or even better performance without the cost and delay of full replacement."

IPS Newcastle aims to increase awareness of the company's specialist capabilities in the water and mining sector, drive new business opportunities, and position IPS as the go-to partner for keeping critical systems running - reliably and cost-effectively.

About IPS Newcastle

IPS Newcastle improves the performance of electro-mechanical assets around the world. We use our technical expertise to work with customers to solve their problems offering a high-quality monitoring, maintenance, repair and life extension service for motors, generators, pumps and all electrical rotating equipment. For more information, visit https://www.houghton-international.com/.

Attachments

Single Stage Split Casing Pump Overhaul at IPS Newcastle (https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/bcee1cc5-cf8b-4859-ab29-34b9832d107e)

Expanded Pumps Department at IPS Newcastle (https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/26d718be-ec2e-41a8-a3b5-3105bff20eb8)

Connor Benson, Marketing Executive IPS Newcastle +44 (0)191 234 3000 connor.benson@ips.co
HELSINKI, Finland, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- We are delighted to announce that Kim Povlsen will become CEO of Bluefors, effective latest October 1, 2025. In his new role, Povlsen will lead Bluefors globally with 700 employees delivering industry-leading cooling systems for quantum technology.

Kim Povlsen joins Bluefors from the position of President and CEO of Universal Robots A/S. During his earlier career, Kim has held several leadership positions at Schneider Electric, a global high-tech company, where he led business transformation and technology strategies in Europe, the US, and Asia.

"I am excited to join Bluefors on its mission to accelerate the quantum technology breakthrough," says Kim Povlsen. "Bluefors has a proven track record of successfully co-creating products with global technology corporations. As the market leader in their field of cooling solutions for Quantum Technology and Low Temperature Physics Research, they have achieved an undisputed role as the company who delivers transformational technology - making real-world, large-scale quantum computing accessible today. I see tremendous opportunities to further strengthen Bluefors as the benchmark for the industries that they serve."

Chairperson of the Bluefors Board, Kimmo Alkio, is pleased to welcome Kim Povlsen, a visionary leader in the global high-tech industry with a strong track record in building top-performing and customer-centric teams.

"We greatly value Kim's ability to combine strategic thinking, customer orientation and drive for operational excellence. He is the catalyst of effective decision making, a leader who motivates change by communicating openly. Customer-centricity is in his DNA and meets Bluefors' philosophy perfectly: designing and producing products that customers need and want - together with the customers themselves - is one of the cornerstones of our operating model," he says.

Former CEO Jonas Geust stepped down at the end of last year due to personal reasons, with Bluefors Founder Rob Blaauwgeers acting as the Interim CEO since then. On behalf of Bluefors, Kimmo Alkio extends his gratitude to Jonas Geust for his significant contributions to the company's growth and development.



For more information:

Ingela Waismaa, Director - Marketing and Communications, Bluefors

ingela.waismaa@bluefors.com

+358 9 5617 4848

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB) (OTC Pink: LRRIF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce lithium assay results from its recent surface sampling program at the Volney Project, South Dakota. The results include values up to 5.3% Li2O from stockpile material and 3.7% Li2O in pegmatite outcrops and extend the lithium-bearing pegmatite trend to 1,000 m by 500 m. Located 20 km southwest of Spearfish in the Black Hills Mining District, Volney is a past-producing, multi-commodity project that hosts high-grade gold, high-grade lithium, and high-grade tin.

News Highlights

High-Grade LCT Pegmatites in Outcrop - Significant Expansion Potential: A total of 26 outcrop samples returned values exceeding 1.0% Li2O, confirming multiple high-grade lithium-bearing pegmatites at surface across a 1,000 m by 500 m corridor, that remains open in all directions. Importantly, newly sampled outcrops located 600 m from the historic Giant Volney pegmatite returned values up to 3.7% Li2O, underscoring the broader potential for high-grade lithium mineralization beyond historically known zones and highlighting the opportunity to significantly expand the mineralized footprint.

Validation of Historic High-Grade Material: A total of 43 stockpile and mill waste samples returning values above 1.0% Li2O and up to 5.3% Li2O. In the historic Giant Volney pit area, 26 stockpile samples yielded an average grade of 3.8% Li2O, confirming high-grade lithium values reported in historic bulk sampling.

High-Grade Multi-Commodity Potential Includes High-Grade Gold and Tin: In addition to lithium, a total of 13 stockpile and mill waste samples returned tin (Sn) values above 1.0% Sn, indicating significant potential for by-product recovery. The property is also host to high-grade gold mineralization with historic grades up to 8.0 g/t Au over 43.0 m and 18.2 g/t Au over 18.3 m.

Private Land - Fast-Tracked Permitting: The Volney Project is situated on 142 hectares of privately held land with surface and mineral rights, enabling rapid drill program execution and accelerated permitting from exploration through production.

Dale Ginn, President and CEO of Lion Rock, stated, "These strong lithium results confirm the high-grade potential of the Volney Project. The combination of high-grade outcrop samples and historically mined material presents an exciting opportunity for continued exploration, both at surface and through drilling. With 142 hectares of private land, we're able to fast-track permitting and quickly advance toward drill testing. We're also highly encouraged by the multi-commodity potential of the system, which also includes high-grade gold and tin, and we look forward to expanding the known pegmatite extents through our upcoming exploration program."





Figure 1. Lithium grab sample results from recent sampling at the Volney Lithium Project.

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Lithium Surface Sampling

An initial surface sampling campaign at the Volney Project successfully returned strong lithium values, with 69 out of 100 samples assaying above 1.0% Li2O. The program included sampling of mill waste, stockpiles, and pegmatite outcrops (Table 1), targeting both historically known and newly mapped pegmatites. Outcrop sampling covered more than twenty previously unsampled pegmatite and confirmed anomalous lithium mineralization across a broad area measuring approximately 1,000 m by 500 m (Figure 1). The highest lithium value from outcrop was 3.7% Li2O, returned from a previously untested pegmatite located over 600 m from the historic Giant Volney pegmatite.

The lithium-bearing pegmatites observed were composed of quartz-oligoclase and typically hosted visible accessory minerals including spodumene, amblygonite, cassiterite, and tantalite. Exposed pegmatite outcrops ranged in width from 10 to 30 m.

Stockpile sampling also produced encouraging results, with grades up to 5.3% Li2O. A total of 26 stockpile samples collected from the historic Giant Volney pit area averaged 3.8% Li2O, supporting the presence of high-grade lithium in historically mined material. Several stockpile and mill waste samples also returned significant tin values, indicating potential for multi-commodity recovery. Further work is warranted to locate the bedrock source of the tin anomalies.

In addition, tin mill tailings contained notable lithium values up to 0.8% Li2O, while three samples from a remaining ore bin at the historical tin mine returned between 1.2% and 1.6% Li2O. These results confirm that the historically mined Rough & Ready pegmatite units were also lithium-bearing.

Complete assay results for outcrop samples exceeding 1.0% Li2O and stockpile samples over 3.0% Li2O are presented in Tables 2 and 3, respectively.

Table 1. Sample Type and Result Count

Sample Type Number

Collected Number

>1% Li2O Number

>1% Sn Outcrop 46 26 0 Stockpile 41 40 5 Mill Waste 13 3 8 Total 100 69 13

Table 2. Pegmatite Outcrop Grab Sample Highlights

Sample ID Li2O (%) LR24-P86 3.7 LR24-P83 2.8 LR24-P88 2.8 LR24-P20 2.7 LR24-P17 2.6 LR24-P26 2.6 LR24-P77 2.4 LR24-P84 2.1 LR24-P23 1.9 LR24-P87 1.9 LR24-P79 1.8 LR24-P19 1.5 LR24-P08 1.3 LR24-P114 1.3 LR24-P78 1.3 LR24-P70 1.3 LR24-P69 1.3 LR24-P71 1.3 LR24-P07 1.2 LR24-P110 1.2 LR24-P113 1.2 LR24-P18 1.1 LR24-P90 1.1 LR24-P03 1.0 LR24-P09 1.0 LR24-P16 1.0

Table 3. Historic Stockpile Grab Sample Highlights

Sample ID Li2O (%) LR-49 5.3 24-P61 4.8 LR-44 4.6 LR-58 4.4 LR-50 4.4 LR-41 4.3 24-P62 4.3 LR-51 4.3 24-P66 4.3 LR-61 4.2 24-P58 4.2 LR-56 4.2 LR-52 4.1 LR-54 4.1 24-P06 4.0 LR-43 3.9 24-P68 3.9 LR-62 3.9 LR-46 3.9 LR-40 3.9 24-P63 3.8 LR-42 3.8 LR-53 3.8 24-P65 3.7 24-P64 3.7 24-P05 3.7 LR-60 3.7 LR-47 3.6 24-P59 3.6 24-P04 3.6 LR-59 3.5 LR-45 3.3 24-P67 3.2 LR-48 3.1

Grab samples are selective in nature and may not be representative of the overall mineralization on the property.

About the Volney Project

The Volney property is a multi-commodity project strategically located in South Dakota's Black Hills, a historically rich and active mining region (Figure 2). The Black Hills have produced over 62 million ounces of gold, including from the prolific Homestake Mine, one of the most significant gold producers in North American history. The district continues to attract modern exploration efforts, with companies such as Dakota Gold Corp. actively advancing projects within the Black Hills. The project encompasses high-grade gold, high-grade lithium, and high-grade tin mineralization, with notable historic grades up to 18.2 g/t gold over 18.3 m, 5.3% Li2O, and 2.5% Sn. The Volney Project is home to the Giant Volney pegmatite, a 635 m long LCT (Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum) pegmatite with strong expansion potential, and an extensive high-grade gold system. The project is accessible year-round and consists of private claims with surface and mineral rights, which facilitates rapid permitting and project advancement.

Figure 2. Volney Project regional map in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

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QA/QC

Samples were collected by Lion Rock personnel and were crushed, pulverized and pulps prepared by Bond Mineral Services, LLC, an ISO-certified preparatory laboratory located in Central City, South Dakota. Sample pulps were analyzed by ALS Geochemistry in Reno, NV, a laboratory accredited in accordance with the standards of ISO 17025:2017. Sample pulps were analyzed using industry standard analytical package ME-MS89L. Internal laboratory QA/QC was relied upon for the purposes of this sampling campaign.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carl Ginn, P.Geo., consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101.

About Lion Rock Resources Inc.

Lion Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company committed to advancing high-grade gold and lithium projects across North America. The Company's flagship asset, the Volney Project, is located in South Dakota's Black Hills, a mining-friendly jurisdiction surrounded by active gold operations. The Volney Project hosts high-grade gold, lithium and tin mineralization, with historic drill results showing gold grades of up to 18.2 g/t Au over 18.3 m, lithium concentrations as high as 5.3% Li2O. The Company is led by an award-winning team with a proven track record of mineral discoveries, project development, and financing.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", "potential", "indicative" and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information is based on the current expectations of management of the Company. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation risks and uncertainties inherent in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuations in commodity prices, counterparty risk, market conditions, regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251824

SOURCE: Lion Rock Resources Inc.
All currency listed in CAD dollars unless otherwise stated.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Barksdale Resources Corp. (TSXV: BRO) (OTCQX: BRKCF) (FSE: 2NZ) ("Barksdale" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its required 7,620 metres (25,000 feet) of drilling and $6 million defined expenditures that entitles it to acquire an initial 51% interest in the Sunnyside project.

The Company can trigger the acquisition of 51% by making payments of $1.0 million cash and 5.0 million Barksdale shares to Regal Resources USA ('Regal") any time before September 2025. Once triggered, the Company has 20 days to decide whether it will stay at 51% ownership or increase its interest to 67.5% by going to Phase 2 which requires another 7,620 metres of drilling, payment of an additional $550k cash and the issuance of another 4.9 million common shares to Regal within two years of triggering the original 51%.

The Company has already spent $6.0 million of the additional, defined expenditure ($12 million cumulative) on the property required under the agreement to increase its ownership interest to 67.5%. The Barksdale board is currently debating the merits of remaining at 51% or increasing to 67.5% as Regal has been delisted since 2016. The Company anticipates making this decision by June 30, 2025.

The Sunnyside project is approximately 26 kilometres (16 miles) northeast of Nogales, Arizona, in the Patagonia Mountain Range.

Barksdale interim CEO William Wulftange said, "Surpassing the Phase I drill footage earn-in requirement to maintain 51% ownership while testing the near-surface porphyry intrusive located solely on the Sunnyside project are two significant accomplishments the Barksdale team has made in early 2025. We believe that the Sunnyside project hosts more than the down-dip extensions of South 32's Taylor and Peake deposits. Results from this recent round of drilling will begin to support this belief."

Near Surface Copper-base metal Porphyry Drill Program

The spring 2025 drill program is focused on testing surficial volcanics and the underlying intrusive porphyry lithologies known to host shallow Manto and Porphyry style copper and base metal deposits, as described in an internal ASARCO Summary Report dated July 1993. This report identifies three targets, including:

"a deep chalcopyrite zone, a shallow upper-level chalcocite zone in breccias above the Sunnyside zone, and deep carbonate Pb-Zn-Ag in sediments."

Considering the extensive surficial alteration, previous drill intercepts, and known copper mineralization at the Sunnyside project, a three-hole exploration program was designed (Figure 1, inset 1) and carried out to initiate definition of this near surface target.

Visual analysis by stereomicroscopy of the chips from the RC drill program shows extensive alteration and mineralization in all three drill holes, consistent with the Company's geologic model. The drill program collared in felsic volcaniclastic rock with the quartz-monzonite and monzonite porphyry intrusions encountered at depth. The contact between these rock types appears to be either a steep paleo-topography, unconformable surface, or faulted and veined, suggesting it was once a conduit for hydrothermal fluids.

Alteration observed in the three holes varied from argillic dominant in volcaniclastic rocks to intense quartz-sericite-pyrite with silicification and quartz veins present in the intrusive rocks. Both rock types contained narrow potassic zones.

Mineralization within the porphyritic intrusive includes several percent disseminated sulfide with quartz-sulfide veins; the sulfide primarily consists of pyrite but also contains chalcocite and chalcopyrite, along with minor sphalerite and galena.

The completion of this drill program brings the total drilled footage from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 drill programs to 7,936 metres (26,038 ft), thus completing the required 7,620 metres (25,000 ft) of drilling as part of the earn-in agreement with Regal. Sulfide dominant intervals from the three holes have been sent to American Assay Lab in Sparks, Nev., for ICP analysis. Initial results are expected by the end of May 2025.

Next Phase of Drilling

The Company remains in discussions with a global drilling company to complete some or all the next phase of drilling at Sunnyside for either equity or a combination of equity and cash. The plan would be designed to test both down-dip extensions of South 32's Taylor and Peake deposits and to follow-up on the potential positive results on the near-surface porphyry intrusive. We expect this next drill phase planning to be completed in conjunction with the decision to trigger the 51% ownership interest and the decision on whether to increase our ownership to 67.5%.

Figure 1, Inset 1





Location map of drill holes SUN25-001,002 and 003 drilled on the same platform.



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Barksdale Begins the FAST-41 Application Process

Given the recent positive changes towards the role and importance of mining strategic metals such as copper, zinc and antimony by the new U.S. administration and the acceptance of the Taylor/Hermosa project into the Fast-41 process, Barksdale has begun the Fast-41 application process to expedite permit approvals and Records of Decision as outlined in the links below.

The Trump administration announcement may be found here.

The Fast-41 process is legislatively establish for improving federal agency coordination and timeliness of environmental reviews for infrastructure projects. More information may be found here and here.

Corporate Update

Mr. Ira M. Gostin, MBA, APR, of Reno, Nev., an independent advisor to the Company, has been hired to lead our investor relations outreach for the Company. He is an award-winning, veteran investor relations and strategic communications executive with extensive experience in the mining sector. Gostin begins with a six-month contract with the Company, which began on May 1, 2025.

Gostin will be paid a fee of USD$10,000 per month and provide oversight for all investor relations, marketing, communications and social media functions for the Company.

He will be focused on delivery of both retail and institutional outreach strategies as the Company grows its resource base through ownership of the Sunnyside project and successful on-going drill results.

Management Option Awards

The Company announced it has granted stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to acquire an aggregate of 2.45 million common shares in the capital of the Company, pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The stock options are each convertible into a common share at an exercise price of $0.12 until May 9, 2028. With respect to vesting provisions, a total of 1/3 of the stock options vest on May 9, 2025 (the "Grant Date"), 1/3 on the date that is six months from the Grant Date, and the final 1/3 on the date that is 12 months from the Grant Date.

Qualified Person

William Wulftange, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. He is interim CEO and a director of Barksdale.

About Barksdale Resources Corp.

Barksdale is a base metal exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, focused on the acquisition, exploration and advancement of highly prospective base metal projects in North America. Barksdale is currently advancing the Sunnyside copper-zinc-lead-silver and San Antonio copper projects, both of which are in the Patagonia mining district of southern Arizona, as well as the San Javier copper-gold project in central Sonora, Mexico. The Company was named an OTCQX Best 50 Company in 2023. For more information, visit www.BarksdaleResources.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 news release.

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to triggering the acquisition by making the requisite payments and, if triggered, potentially increasing the Company's interest in the Sunnyside project, the anticipated receipt of assay results by the end of May 2025, and further exploration are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Barksdale, 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 and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in the Company's continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release concerning these items. Barksdale does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251765

SOURCE: Barksdale Resources Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Vext Science, Inc. (CSE: VEXT) (OTCQX: VEXTF) ("Vext" or the "Company"), a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio, today announced that it plans to release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, before market open on May 21, 2025.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on the same day, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 08:00 a.m. ET to discuss the financial results.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

Date: May 21, 2025 | Time: 8:00 am E.T.

Participant Dial-in: +1-647-849-3159 or 1-833-752-3966

Replay Dial-in: +1-412-317-0088 or 1-855-669-9658

Conference ID: 10199977

Playback #: 5885585 (Expires on June 4, 2025)

Listen to webcast: https://www.gowebcasting.com/14070

A replay of the conference call and webcast will be available on Vext's investor website following the conclusion of the call. For more details, contact the IR team at investors@vextscience.com.

About Vext Science, Inc.

Vext Science, Inc. is a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio. Vext's expertise spans from cultivation through to retail operations in its key markets. Based out of Arizona, Vext owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, fully built-out manufacturing facilities as well as dispensaries in both Arizona and Ohio. The Company manufactures Vapen, one of the leading THC concentrates, edibles, and distillate cartridge brands in Arizona. Its selection of award-winning products are created with Vext's in-house, high-quality flower and distributed across Arizona and Ohio. Vext's leadership team brings a proven track record of building and operating profitable multi-state operations, with the Company having operated profitably since 2016. The Company's primary focus is to continue growing in its core states of Arizona and Ohio, bringing together cutting-edge science, manufacturing, and marketing to provide a reliable and valuable customer experience while generating shareholder value.

Vext Science, Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol VEXT and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol VEXTF. Learn more at www.vextscience.com and connect with Vext on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

For more details on the Vapen brand:

Vapen website: VapenBrands.com

Instagram: @vapen

Facebook: @vapenbrands

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Vext's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the expected filing date of the financial results, future developments and the business and operations of the Vext, all of which are subject to the risk factors contained in Vext's continuous disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although Vext has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; being engaged in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. Federal laws; change in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindered market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Because of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Vext disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Vext does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE: Vext Science, Inc

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251826

SOURCE: VEXT Science, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Romios Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: RG) (OTCQB: RMIOF) (FSE: D4R) ("Romios Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has started its 2025 field work on its 100% owned Kinkaid high grade Cu-Au-Ag project in the Walker Lane of southern Nevada.

"We've had early success as our team uncovered two previously unknown broad zones of epithermal-style alteration about 20 metres wide near known high-grade Au +/- Ag mineralization," stated Stephen Burega, President and CEO. "In addition, minerals characteristic of porphyry-type alteration have now been mapped around one of the major Au-Ag-Cu vein deposits (the Montreal Au-Ag Mine), and porphyry-type alteration has been located in widespread boulders near a series of high-grade copper-rich boulders on the KIN claims."

At least 12 clusters of old mine workings on the main Kinkaid claim block (see Map 1) have returned numerous high-grade gold, silver and copper assays over the past 2-3 years of Romios' work.

"The historic workings on the southern claims exploited quartz +/- barite veins flanked by often intense sericite alteration and those on the northern claims were developed on skarn deposits," stated John Biczok, VP Exploration. "This geological setting suggests that the veins and skarns are part of the upper portions of several possible porphyry Cu-Au-Ag centres."

Masters of Science (M.Sc) Research Project with Lakehead University

Under the terms of an existing, fully funded research agreement with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an M.Sc. student under the guidance of porphyry copper expert Dr. Pete Hollings has now begun mapping and sample collection on the Kinkaid claims in an effort to help determine the origin, extent, controls and potential of this mineralization. The work will include age-dating various lithologies of interest, fluid inclusion studies of the vein deposits, plus hyperspectral, geochemical and mineralogical analysis of the alteration patterns around the mineralized zones.

Alteration minerals such as actinolite, epidote and biotite, which are typically developed concentrically around porphyry copper deposits, are being documented near some of the main workings and will be studied to help assess the premise that these Cu-Au-Ag vein deposits are related to porphyry systems at depth.

Dr. Pete Hollings has authored or co-authored more than 175 publications, primarily on mineral deposits and greenstone belt geology, in collaboration with researchers from many countries including Australia, Canada, China, and the Philippines. He is currently the NOHFC Industrial Research Chair in Mineral Exploration and has recently been onsite at Kinkaid providing guidance to the M.Sc. student and sharing his expertise with Romios personnel.

ONGOING EXPLORATION: In conjunction with the M.Sc. research, Romios personnel have resumed geological mapping and sampling of the extensive old mine workings and showings on the main KINKAID claim block as well as exploring the potential source area of high-grade copper boulders found on the adjacent KIN claims in 2023. Numerous epidote+/-garnet altered boulders typical of porphyry/skarn systems have now been located across a broad area on the KIN claims and work is ongoing to locate the source of the nearby mineralized boulders. Nine samples of these boulders sampled in 2023 returned assays of 0.73% to 13.3% Cu, and averaged 5.03% Cu (see Romios press release Oct. 12, 2023).

"Work around the >500 metre long series of innumerable Montreal Au-Ag Mine workings has now outlined strong hydrothermal alteration (sericite +/- epidote, actinolite, rare magnetite, etc.) across a width of 200 metres," Biczok continued. "Mapping of one of the northernmost underground workings revealed an excellent example of a mineralized vein up to 1 m wide with locally abundant chalcopyrite and secondary copper minerals (see Photo #1). Gold is typically proportional to the copper content in this deposit so we are optimistic that the pending Cu-Au assays from this site will also be encouraging."

Photo 1: View of one of the northernmost workings of the Montreal Au-Ag mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5376/251869_00069f43747cb9ca_002full.jpg

EPITHERMAL POTENTIAL: In addition to this renewed work on the high-grade vein and skarn prospects, the 2025 work has targeted several broad zones of potential low-grade epithermal style gold mineralization. During a brief visit in 2024 Romios' geologists collected a sample of "low temperature silica" near the PM skarn on the northern claims and this sample assayed 0.79 g/t Au and a chip sample of two narrow quartz veins nearby assayed 10.6 g/t Au. An examination of this area in 2025 revealed similar looking silica boulders and veins up to 50 cm wide across a 20 metre wide zone (See Photo 2); the 2025 assays from this site are pending. A small mine dump nearby consists of iron carbonate - quartz vein material that assayed 1,725 g/t Ag with high mercury, antimony, zinc and lead, providing further evidence of an epithermal mineralizing event overprinting the skarns in this area (see Romios Press Release March 10, 2022).

Photo 2: Possible epithermal silica overprint on the PM skarn area.

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Similarly, broad zones of potential epithermal-style alteration adjacent to vein prospects with high gold, silver, copper and barite contents have been sampled for the first time at a number of other sites; assays are pending.

Once the assay results have been received from the current work program an appropriate follow-up program will be planned and executed.

Map 1: Kinkaid Project main claim block, prospects and possible porphyry centres.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Claim Details and Location

The Kinkaid property is wholly owned by Romios and now consists of 139 claims, covering approximately 11.0 sq km, located 18 km east of the town of Hawthorne where the prolific Walker Lane trend overlaps the southern edge of the mineral-rich Basin and Range geological province. The claims begin 1.4 km north of Highway 95 between Reno and Las Vegas and are largely accessible by road and short hikes. A significant power line crosses the SW corner of the claims.

QA/QC

Rock samples reported herein were a mix of chip and grab samples considered generally representative of the various mine dumps, veins and outcrops being sampled. Samples collected in 2021-2023 were submitted to the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited ALS lab in Reno Nevada for analysis. Samples collected in 2024 and 2025 were submitted to the Standards Council of Canada ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited Bureau Veritas laboratory in Reno, Nevada for analysis. As a matter of procedure, a rigorous quality assurance and quality control program was implemented in the form of blanks and Certified Reference Material standards inserted at every 10th position in the sample series. The assay results of these standards and blanks have been within the acceptable ranges.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Biczok, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Romios Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. In addition to his extensive experience with several major mining companies exploring for a wide variety of ore deposit types across Canada and India, Mr. Biczok spent 12 years conducting exploration and research at the Musselwhite gold mine in NW Ontario.

About Romios Gold Resources Inc.

Romios Gold Resources Inc. is a progressive Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in precious- and base-metal exploration, focused primarily on gold, copper and silver. It has a 100% interest in the Lundmark-Akow Lake Au-Cu property plus 4 additional claim blocks in northwestern Ontario and extensive claim holdings covering several significant porphyry copper-gold prospects in the "Golden Triangle" of British Columbia. Additional interests include the Kinkaid claims in Nevada covering numerous Au-Ag-Cu workings, and the Scossa mine property in Nevada which is a former high-grade gold producer. The Company retains an ongoing interest in several properties including a 2% NSR on McEwen Mining's Hislop gold property in Ontario; a 2% NSR on Enduro Metals' Newmont Lake Au-Cu-Ag property in BC, and the Company has signed a definitive agreement with Copperhead Resources Inc. ("Copperhead") whereby Copperhead can acquire a 75% ownership interest in Romios' Red Line Property in BC.

For more information, visit www.romios.com

As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.

To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. TSX Venture Exchange or its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251869

SOURCE: Romios Gold Resources Inc.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) ("QIMC" or the "Company") North America's leading natural hydrogen company, is pleased to announce a significant milestone under its strategic partnership with Black Tree Energy Group (BTEG), marked by the launch of the Orvian special purpose vehicle US Projects Initiative. This jointly owned SPV is specifically designed to expand and build a robust pipeline of district-scale natural clean hydrogen projects across the United States.

Jorge Ruiz del Vizo, CEO of Black Tree Energy Group, stated: "This partnership with QIMC marks a significant strategic expansion into the rapidly growing natural hydrogen sector in the U.S. market. The exceptional results achieved by QIMC have attracted significant interest from major industry players seeking to leverage our combined expertise. Together, we are uniquely positioned to rapidly scale our operations and deliver innovative clean natural solutions to the US market."

"The Orvian Projects Initiative signifies QIMC's continued leadership in clean natural hydrogen," stated John Karagiannidis, CEO and Chairman of QIMC. "Our proven results, methodology and IP from our projects highlight our unmatched expertise in subsurface analysis and clean natural hydrogen assessment. Through the Orvian Initiative, we aim to systematically deploy our successful model to unlock significant hydrogen district scale across the U.S."

Following the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, QIMC and BTEG have established Orvian Natural Resources I LLC, a dedicated special purpose vehicle that will support clean natural hydrogen development activities. Leveraging QIMC's proprietary expertise and innovative exploration methodologies, where the company has achieved pure, clean natural hydrogen findings-this initiative is strategically positioned to replicate and scale this success across the US.

Numerous district-scale projects are currently under active review, underscoring the aggressive U.S. expansion strategy and scalability of the Orvian Initiative as a cornerstone of QIMC's broader growth strategy. This initiative not only reinforces QIMC's leadership but positions the Company to significantly contribute to the rapidly expanding US hydrogen market.

For further information on Orvian Natural Resources I LLC please visit http://orvianH2.com.

About Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (QIMC)

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company dedicated to exploring and harnessing the potential of Canada's abundant resources. With properties in Ontario and Quebec, QIMC is focused on specializing in the exploration of white (natural) hydrogen and high-grade silica deposits. QIMC is committed to sustainable practices and innovation. With a focus on environmental stewardship and cutting-edge extraction technology, we aim to unlock the full potential of these materials to drive forward clean energy solutions to power the AI and carbon-neutral economy and contribute to a more sustainable future.

For more information about Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. and its products, please visit www.qimaterials.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Quebec Innovative Materials' actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Although Quebec Innovative Materials believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. This press release contains forward-looking statements, including the anticipated success and timing of drilling permits and exploration activities. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could materially affect actual results. Investors are advised to consult the detailed disclosures available on SEDAR+.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251870

SOURCE: Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTCQB: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), a leader in functional mushrooms and home grow kits across North America and Europe, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, 4316747 Nova Scotia Limited o/a Happy Caps Mushroom Farms ("Happy Caps"), has officially re-stocked its Mushroom Home Grow Kits in Costco Canada stores nationwide, now available in the majority of select Costo Canada locations from coast to coast.

This milestone follows Costco Canada's recent Informal Projection Letter (IPL), outlining a major order of 20,160 units of Happy Caps' newly designed 2kg "Mega Block" Mushroom Home Grow Kits, featuring Shiitake, Lion's Mane, and Oyster varieties. The 20,160 kits were delivered recently and are available, this week, across the country in time for the Victoria Day weekend.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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"We're thrilled to see Happy Caps kits on Costco shelves nationwide," said Todd Shapiro, CEO and Director of Red Light Holland. "Costco's expanded commitment demonstrates strong national demand for our grow-your-own mushroom kits. This is more than just a retail win, it's a meaningful moment for our Happy Caps' brand growth with focus on the mushroom movement."

In addition to its partnership with Costco Canada, Happy Caps continues to explore opportunities with major retailers across North America. With this new Costco Canada launch, Happy Caps products now have seasonal presence in over 430 retail stores across North America.

For more information about Happy Caps and its range of mushroom home grow kits, and the Company's newly launched Functional Mushroom Gummies please visit www.happycaps.ca.

About Happy Caps Mushroom Farm

Happy Caps is an urban gourmet mushroom farm specializing in quality 'grow your own mushroom kits' and Functional Mushroom Gummies.

About Red Light Holland

Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based company focused on the production, growth, and sale of functional mushrooms and mushroom grow kits across North America and Europe. The company also offers premium psilocybin truffles in the legal recreational market in the Netherlands.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-Looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or its respective subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained in this news release. Examples of such information include statements with respect to: the stated plans, goals, and benefits of the partnership with Costco Canada, including the products and mushroom varieties to be offered for sale, the Costco Canada locations which the Company's products will be available for purchase, the amount of locations where Happy Caps Mushroom home Grow kits are located; and the timelines thereof; the stated benefits of the Company's Happy Caps Mushroom Home Grow Kits; the Company's continued exploration of partnerships with major retailers across North America; and the Company's stated number of retail locations where the products are seasonally, its business plans and goals.

Forward-Looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the Company's ability to carry out its stated plans, goals, and benefits of the partnership with Costco Canada under the stated timelines; the Company's ability to realize upon the stated benefits of the Company's Happy Caps Mushroom Home Grow Kits; the Company's ability to continue its exploration of partnerships with major retailers across North America; and the Company's ability to carry out its stated business plans and goals.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, the Company's inability to obtain continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the Company's inability to carry out its stated plans, goals, and benefits of the partnership with Costco Canada under the stated timelines; the Company's inability to realize upon the stated benefits of the Company's Happy Caps Mushroom Home Grow Kits; the Company's inability to continue its exploration of partnerships with major retailers across North America; the Company's inability to maintain the stated seasonal locations and their repeat orders and business; and the Company's inability to carry out its stated business plans and goals.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251879

SOURCE: Red Light Holland Corp.
Strategic partnerships enhance and optimize technology stacks for joint customers

Armis, the cyber exposure management security company, today announced that it has added 10 global technology integration partners over the past quarter. These integrations increase the functionality and efficiency of organizations' existing technology stacks with added benefits from Armis' platform and solutions.

"Relying on siloed security solutions is no longer enough to gain a comprehensive, real-time understanding of an organization's attack surface," said Nadir Izrael, CTO and Co-Founder at Armis. "Integrating Armis' best-in-class platform with other leading vendors' offerings empowers businesses to consolidate their technology stacks. By driving greater value in their security investments, organizations can ensure their entire attack surface is continuously defended and managed."

New Armis global technology integration partners include AnzenOT, Brinqa, ColorTokens, EasyVista, SaltyCloud, Salvador Tech, SIGA, Spectro Cloud, Stellar Cyber, and Synqly. From compliance to network security, vulnerability management and more, these integrations help joint customers solve their toughest cybersecurity challenges and further enhance Armis' growing partner ecosystem.

When asked about the benefits of partnering with Armis, executives from new and existing partner organizations shared the following:

"By leveraging the Armis Centrix platform, we are able to help customers understand their device landscape, prioritize risks, and adjust recovery objectives for each asset. This integration creates a comprehensive cybersecurity solution covering protection, detection, rapid response, and immediate recovery. It offers a truly resilience-focused platform to ensure operational and business continuity." Amit Hammer, CEO, Salvador Tech

"?Elisity and Armis are fundamentally changing how healthcare organizations approach cyber-physical security. By combining the cyber exposure management capabilities of Armis Centrix with our non-disruptive segmentation and least-privilege policies, we help joint customers like Main Line Health secure their vital clinical infrastructure, minimizing downtime and ensuring that the technology supporting life-saving treatments is always protected and available." James Winebrenner, CEO of Elisity

"We're excited to partner with Armis and bring the power of Armis Centrix into our integration framework. Synqly is the first integration platform purpose-built for cybersecurity, enabling security vendors, IT operations teams, and managed service providers to build high-quality, native integrations. This partnership allows customers to expand their ecosystem with Armis' leading cyber exposure management capabilities, resulting in improved operational efficiency and a more robust cybersecurity posture." Joel Bauman, Co-Founder and CEO of Synqly

Armis continues to experience great demand driven by its award-winning Cyber Exposure Management Platform, Armis Centrix. The company was recently recognized in the CRN Security 100 list, named to Inc.'s Best in Business and won five Global InfoSec Awards, including "Best Solution" for Cyber Exposure Management.

Learn more about Armis' global technology integration partners here.

About Armis

Armis, the cyber exposure management security company, protects the entire attack surface and manages the organization's cyber risk exposure in real time. In a rapidly evolving, perimeter-less world Armis ensures that organizations continuously see, protect and manage all critical assets from the ground to the cloud. Armis secures Fortune 100, 200 and 500 companies as well as national governments, state and local entities to help keep critical infrastructure, economies and society stay safe and secure 24/7. Armis is a privately held company headquartered in California.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513936193/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Rebecca Cradick

Vice President, Global Communications

Armis

pr@armis.com
Strategic expansion will bring nearly a gigawatt of future data center capacity in key regions around the globe

NTT DATA, a global digital business and technology services leader, today announced the accelerated expansion of its Global Data Centers division, securing land across North America, Europe, and Asia over the past six months to support nearly a gigawatt of planned data center capacity. This growth is part of NTT DATA's previously announced $10 billion investment aimed at expanding the business through 2027.

"By bringing new capacity to high-growth regions, we're building the foundation enterprises need to innovate, scale and lead confidently in an AI-driven economy," said Doug Adams, CEO and President, Global Data Centers, NTT DATA. "With the backing of our parent company, we are uniquely positioned to be able to invest and build proactively, ahead of market demand, delivering the resilient, sustainable infrastructure our clients need to succeed, while staying ahead of industry shifts."

NTT DATA's expanding global data center footprint

With the rapid expansion of AI-driven applications and growing reliance on cloud computing, enterprises require infrastructure that can support high-performance workloads and data-intensive applications. Over the past six months, NTT DATA acquired land across seven high-demand markets, positioning the company to deliver scalable, AI-ready infrastructure to meet growing enterprise needs.

Key NTT DATA land acquisitions include:

Land acquisition in new markets:

Milan, Italy Entering a new market, NTT DATA will establish operations in Milan to meet growing demand for hyperscale and AI-ready infrastructure in Southern Europe. The newly acquired 53-acre site will be home to a facility with 128MW of capacity.

Entering a new market, NTT DATA will establish operations in Milan to meet growing demand for hyperscale and AI-ready infrastructure in Southern Europe. The newly acquired 53-acre site will be home to a facility with 128MW of capacity. Tochigi, Japan Acquired 32 acres in the Tochigi Inter Industrial Park near Tokyo. Plans include two high-capacity data centers totaling approximately 100MW.

Land acquisition in existing markets:

Hillsboro, Oregon, USA - Acquired new land to expand its footprint in Hillsboro, a region strategically located within the Pacific Northwest technology corridor with direct connectivity to Asia via NTT's Subsea Connect network. The new site will bring an additional 216MW of capacity to NTT DATA's existing Hillsboro presence, bringing NTT DATA's total planned capacity in the Hillsboro market to 354MW.

Acquired new land to expand its footprint in Hillsboro, a region strategically located within the Pacific Northwest technology corridor with direct connectivity to Asia via NTT's Subsea Connect network. The new site will bring an additional 216MW of capacity to NTT DATA's existing Hillsboro presence, bringing NTT DATA's total planned capacity in the Hillsboro market to 354MW. Phoenix, Arizona, USA Acquired 174 acres in Mesa, Arizona to develop a new multi-data center campus, with seven planned facilities and an anticipated capacity of 324MW. The first data center is scheduled to open in FY2028. NTT DATA has an existing 102-acre campus supporting 240MW of capacity. With the new campus, total planned capacity will be just under 600MW.

Acquired 174 acres in Mesa, Arizona to develop a new multi-data center campus, with seven planned facilities and an anticipated capacity of 324MW. The first data center is scheduled to open in FY2028. NTT DATA has an existing 102-acre campus supporting 240MW of capacity. With the new campus, total planned capacity will be just under 600MW. London, England Secured 26.3 acres of land for a new planned site (LON2) and acquired the underlying freehold at its existing London facilities, strengthening NTT DATA's position in one of the world's most active colocation markets and a strategic hub for multinational enterprises. The new London facility will be NTT DATA's eighth facility in the London area.

Secured 26.3 acres of land for a new planned site (LON2) and acquired the underlying freehold at its existing London facilities, strengthening NTT DATA's position in one of the world's most active colocation markets and a strategic hub for multinational enterprises. The new London facility will be NTT DATA's eighth facility in the London area. Frankfurt, Germany Expanded its presence in Germany's financial and technology capital, home to DE-CIX, one of the world's largest internet exchanges and a key location for hyperscalers and enterprises requiring high-capacity, secure infrastructure. The new facility will be NTT DATA's fifth site in the Frankfurt area and is expected to bring an additional 80MW of capacity.

Expanded its presence in Germany's financial and technology capital, home to DE-CIX, one of the world's largest internet exchanges and a key location for hyperscalers and enterprises requiring high-capacity, secure infrastructure. The new facility will be NTT DATA's fifth site in the Frankfurt area and is expected to bring an additional 80MW of capacity. Osaka, Japan Acquired eight acres in Osaka Nishiai to develop two data centers, totaling 36MW. The first facility is slated to open in FY2027. This will bring NTT DATA's total data center count in the Osaka region to three facilities with a total capacity of approximately 70MW.

"Our land acquisitions are about more than growth; they're about shaping the future of digital infrastructure on a global scale," said Adams. "As the digital landscape evolves at unprecedented speed, NTT Global Data Centers is investing boldly to ensure our customers are ready to lead in an increasingly connected and dynamic world."

As the world's third-largest data center provider, NTT Global Data Centers has continuously accelerated its global footprint over the past year, including opening 10 new data centers across North America, EMEA, and APAC and adding more than 370MW of new IT capacity. These efforts are part of NTT Global Data Centers' broader strategy to invest more than $10 billion through 2027 to deliver critical, AI-ready infrastructure and support the growing digital economy.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513431704/en/

Contacts:

Sally Comollo

Director, Global Communications Marketing for NTT Global Data Centers

Tel.: +1 781.366.5580

sally.comollo@global.ntt
Novotech a globally recognized full-service clinical research organization (CRO) and scientific advisory company, is proud to announce it has been awarded the Citeline CRO Partnership of the Year Award in recognition of its collaboration with Tune Therapeutics, a pioneering epigenetic editing company. This honor celebrates the teams' partnership and sets a benchmark for CRO-biotech partnerships.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513574699/en/

Novotech is proud to announce it has been awarded the Citeline CRO Partnership of the Year Award in recognition of its collaboration with Tune Therapeutics.

The CRO Partnership of the Year award honors outstanding collaboration between a CRO and a pharmaceutical or biotech company that has advanced clinical programs through strong alignment and shared goals.

Sarah Anderson, Director of Therapeutic Strategy, and Steve Roan, Associate Director of Business Development, accepted the award on behalf of Novotech at the Citeline Awards ceremony held on May 8, 2025, in Boston. Katie Tarashuck, Vice President of Finance at Tune Therapeutics, attended as a partner representative.

Novotech and Tune Therapeutics' partnership focuses on a groundbreaking clinical trial program advancing an epigenetic therapy with the potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB). The partnership combines Novotech's regulatory, operational, and therapeutic expertise with Tune's innovative scientific platform and agile development strategy.

"This recognition from Citeline reflects not only the strength of our partnership with Tune Therapeutics but also the dedication of our global teams to help bring novel therapies to patients faster," said Dr. John Moller, CEO of Novotech. "We are honored to collaborate with visionary biotech companies like Tune and look forward to continuing to deliver clinical excellence across the development spectrum."

"Tune is delighted to receive this partnership award with Novotech," said Dr. Heidi Zhang, Chief Development Officer at Tune Therapeutics. "Together, we have achieved a global first in bringing this epigenome editing therapy to the clinic, and new hope to over 250 million people living with CHB worldwide."

The award acknowledges Novotech's ability to align closely with biotech partners, applying its regulatory and therapeutic expertise to support the effective delivery of clinical trials across varied global settings.

"The strength of this collaboration," added Dr. Zhang, "lies in our shared commitment to transparency, willingness to confront challenges directly, and ability to act quickly and effectively as one team."

About Novotech

Novotech is a globally recognized full-service clinical research organization (CRO) and scientific advisory company trusted by biotech and small- to mid-sized pharmaceutical companies to guide drug development at every phase.

With a global footprint that includes 30+ offices across the Asia-Pacific region, North America, and Europe and partnerships with 5,000+ trial sites, Novotech provides clients an accelerated path to bring life-changing therapies to market by providing access to key clinical trial destinations and diverse patient populations.

Through its client-centric service model, Novotech seamlessly integrates people, processes, and technologies to deliver customized solutions that accelerate the path to market for life-changing therapies. By adopting a true partnership approach, Novotech shares a steadfast commitment to client success, empowering innovation, and advancing healthcare worldwide. Recipient of numerous industry accolades, including the Frost Sullivan CRO Company of the Year award for 19 consecutive years, Novotech is recognized for its excellence in clinical trial execution and innovation. Its deep therapeutic and regulatory expertise, combined with local market insights, ensures streamlined clinical trials, optimized data analytics, and accelerated patient recruitment strategies.

Together with clients, Novotech transforms scientific advancements into therapies that improve global health outcomes, embodying a mission of driving innovation and delivering impactful results.

For more information or to speak to an expert team member visit www.Novotech-CRO.com.

About Tune Therapeutics

Tune Therapeutics is pioneering a new therapeutic modality (termed epigenome editing or genetic tuning) that enables the targeted control of gene expression without cutting or resequencing DNA. Armed with its powerful and innovative genetic tuning platform (TEMPO), Tune Therapeutics aims to bring gene, cell, and regenerative therapies into a new era of human medicine expanding their range of application to common and chronic diseases.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513574699/en/

Contacts:

Media

Toyna Chin

mediacontact@novotech-cro.com

USA: +1 415 364 8135
Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Tiny Ltd. (TSXV: TINY) ("Tiny" or the "Company"), a Canadian technology holding company that acquires wonderful businesses for the long term, announced today that the Company has completed its previously announced arm's length acquisition (the "Acquisition") of a majority interest in Serato Audio Research Limited ("Serato") for total initial consideration of US$66,000,000. For further details regarding the Acquisition, see the Company's press release dated March 31, 2025.

Pursuant to the terms of the share purchase agreement dated April 1, 2025, as amended (the "Acquisition Agreement"), Tiny acquired 66% of the issued and outstanding shares of Serato from the shareholders of Serato (the "Sellers") for a base purchase price of US$66,000,000, subject to customary adjustments (the "Purchase Price") which was paid through: (i) the issuance of 29,360,451 Class A common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") to the Sellers having an aggregate value of US$23,600,000 (the "Completion Shares"), and (ii) the payment of US$42,400,000 in cash to the Sellers.

The Completion Shares were issued at a price of US$0.8038 (CAD$1.15) per share and are subject to a statutory four month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. In addition, the Sellers have agreed to contractual restrictions on the sale of their Completion Shares whereby the transfer of such shares will be restricted for a period of 24 months following closing, with 50% of such Completion Shares becoming freely trading upon the first anniversary of the closing date and 12.5% being released quarterly thereafter.

In addition to the Purchase Price, the Acquisition Agreement provides that the Sellers are eligible to receive additional contingent consideration upon satisfaction of certain total revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA performance targets within the two years following the closing of the Acquisition (the "Contingent Consideration"). The Company will satisfy the first US$15,000,000 of Contingent Consideration in cash with any additional Contingent Consideration above US$15,000,000 payable through a combination of cash and up to 5,000,000 Common Shares, at the Company's discretion, at a price per share that is equal to the greater of the: (i) maximum allowable discount under the policies of the applicable stock exchange, and (ii) volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares during the 30 trading days immediately preceding the issuance of such shares. If the Contingent Consideration targets are met, the Contingent Consideration will be paid after 90 days following the second anniversary of the date hereof or on such other date as agreed by the parties.

Concurrently with the closing of the Acquisition, the Company entered into a shareholders' agreement with Serato and those Sellers who will continue to retain an interest in Serato setting out the terms upon which the parties will conduct the business and operations of Serato. The shareholders' agreement includes put rights in favour of the Sellers and call rights in favour of the Company, exercisable upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, and providing for the acquisition by Tiny and certain other shareholders of Serato, of up to 9% of the remaining shares in the capital of Serato. Where applicable, the mechanisms in the shareholders' agreement, including the exercise of the put rights and call rights, will be subject to certain conditions, including minimum financial performance obligations and, where applicable, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). If the put rights or the call rights are exercised, the purchase price payable for the additional shares of Serato will be payable in cash and, subject to the approval of the TSXV, the issuance of Common Shares, at a price per share that is equal to the greater of the: (i) maximum allowable discount under the policies of the TSXV; and (ii) volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares during the 30 trading days immediately preceding the exercise date of such rights.

In connection with the closing of the Acquisition, the escrow release conditions related to the subscription receipts issued in connection with the to the Company's "bought deal" public offering (the "Offering") that closed on April 9, 2025 (the "Subscription Receipts") were satisfied. On May 12, 2025, the proceeds of the Offering were released to the Company and each Subscription Receipt automatically converted into one Common Share and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of CAD$1.45 per Common Share until 1:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on April 9, 2027. Following the issuance of the 29,360,451 Completion Shares and the conversion of the 17,400,000 Subscription Receipts, the Company has 234,272,071 Common Shares issued and outstanding.

The Company may accelerate the expiry of the Warrants if, at any time after the date that is four months after the closing of the Offering, the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares is equal to or greater than CAD$2.90 for any 20 consecutive trading days on the TSXV or such other stock exchange on which the Common Shares are then listed (the "Acceleration Right") provided that the Company issues a notice of acceleration to the holders of the Warrants and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as warrant agent, (the "Warrant Agent") within 10 business days following the occurrence of an event triggering the Acceleration Right. The Warrants will be governed by an amended and restated warrant indenture dated May 9, 2025, between the Company and the Warrant Agent.

In connection with the conversion of the Subscription Receipts, trading in the Subscription Receipts has been halted. Effective at the close of business on May 14, 2025, the Subscription Receipts will be delisted from the TSXV.

The 8,700,000 Warrants issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts will commence trading on the TSXV under the ticker symbol "TINY.WT" effective at the opening of trading on May 15, 2025, under the CUSIP 88770A126.

Advisors and Counsel

Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Roth Canada, Inc. acted as financial advisors to Tiny in connection with the Acquisition. Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP and Chapman Tripp acted as legal counsel to Tiny in connection with the Acquisition and the associated financings. The Raine Group acted as financial advisor to Serato. Avid.Legal acted as legal counsel to the shareholders of Serato in connection with the Acquisition.

About Tiny

Tiny is a Canadian holding company that acquires wonderful businesses using a founder-friendly approach. It focuses on companies with unique competitive advantages, recurring or predictable revenue streams, and strong free cash flow generation. Tiny typically holds businesses for the long-term, with a parent-level focus on capital allocation, collaborative management and operations, and incentive structures within the operating companies to drive results for Tiny and its shareholders.

Tiny operates across three principal reporting segments: Digital Services, delivering design and development solutions that help global companies build exceptional products; Software and Apps, offering industry-leading applications and themes that empower merchants in the Shopify ecosystem; and Creative Platform, featuring Dribbble, the premier social network for designers, alongside Creative Market, a marketplace for high-quality digital assets including fonts, graphics, and templates.

For more information about Tiny, please visit www.tiny.com or refer to the public disclosure documents available under Tiny's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this press release and in the Company's oral and written public communications may constitute forward-looking statements that reflect management's expectations regarding the Company's future growth, financial performance and business prospects and opportunities, including in respect the Acquisition, as of the date of this press release. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "forecast", "expect", "estimate", "predict", "intend", "would", "could", "if", "may" and similar expressions.

Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that reflect management's current expectations, including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition, the delisting of the Subscription Receipts and the listing of the Warrants. These statements reflect current expectations of management regarding future events and operating performance, and speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. By their nature, forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is a significant risk that predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections will not prove to be accurate, that management's assumptions may not be accurate and that actual results, performance or achievements may differ significantly from such predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release as a number of factors could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the targets, outlooks, expectations, goals, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: general global economic, market and business conditions; governmental and regulatory requirements and actions by governmental authorities; relationships with employees, customers, business partners and competitors; and diversion of management time on the Acquisition. As a result of the foregoing, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this news release. For a more detailed discussion of certain of these risk factors, see the list of risk factors in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 29, 2025 and in the Company's prospectus supplement dated April 2, 2025 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated September 29, 2023 which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under the Company's profile. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the other filings of the Company with securities regulators.

The Company cautions that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible factors, as other factors could adversely affect our results. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the Company and its securities, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, or whether as a result of new information or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION,

DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN

OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251908

SOURCE: Tiny Ltd.
Amaze Brings Premium Merch and Digital Engagement to the Iconic Tour

NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / As the Outlaw Music Festival celebrates its milestone 10th anniversary, Amaze Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American:AMZE) ("Amaze" or the "Company"), a global leader in creator-powered commerce, is joining the legendary tour as an Official Sponsor and Exclusive Branded Merchandise Partner. Through this collaboration, Amaze will provide official Outlaw Music Festival merchandise available on-tour as well as online, engaging passionate fans at one of the most iconic live music events in the country.

With nearly half a million fans expected to attend in person, Amaze will facilitate the production and delivery of exclusive tour apparel and merchandise available for sale throughout the duration of the festival. Amaze's presence will also be showcased across the Outlaw Music Festival's official website, select social and email campaigns, IMAG screen branding, and VIP gift packs.

"Our partnership with the Outlaw Music Festival is an opportunity to provide fans with premium merchandise and potential new ways to commemorate their show experience," said Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze. "The Outlaw Music Festival is a celebration of community found through music, and we are looking forward to providing opportunities for fans to further connect with the festival experience."

On-site during the tour, Amaze and the Outlaw Music Festival will also highlight and promote a private-label wine. Leveraging Fresh Vine Wine's Napa Valley, California sourced premium grapes and direct-to-consumer fulfillment capabilities, Amaze and the Outlaw Music Festival are co-developing a limited-edition 10th anniversary premium red wine label, honoring the spirit and legacy of the festival's milestone 10th anniversary in a distinctive and memorable way.

As Amaze continues to grow, this partnership reflects the work that defines the Company's path forward-creating real-world experiences that bring fans closer to the moments and communities they love. This partnership is another meaningful milestone in Amaze's journey to support live event experiences for artists and attendees alike.



The 2025 Outlaw Music Festival kicks off May 13 in Phoenix, AZ, and continues through September, with stops at some of the most legendary venues in the country.

For investor information, visit IR@amaze.co

For press inquiries, please contact PR@amaze.co

About Amaze:

Amaze Software, Inc. is an end-to-end, creator-powered commerce platform offering tools for seamless product creation, advanced e-commerce solutions, and scalable managed services. By empowering anyone to "sell anything, anywhere," Amaze enables creators to tell their stories, cultivate deeper audience connections, and generate sustainable income through shoppable, authentic experiences. Discover more at www.amaze.co .

About Outlaw Music Festival:

The Outlaw Music Festival proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of unforgettable performances and camaraderie among music luminaries and fans alike. Since its 2016 inception in Scranton, PA, the festival has become a hallmark of authentic Americana, developing into one of North America's largest annual touring franchises. Learn more at blackbirdpresents.com/concert/outlaw-music-festival-tour-2025

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These statements relate to future events and developments or to our future operating or financial performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based estimates and assumptions. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our strategies, initiatives, growth, revenues, expenditures, our plans and objectives for future operations, and future financial and business performance. These statements can be identified by words such as such as "may," "might," "should," "would," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and are based our current expectations and views concerning future events and developments and their potential effects on us.

These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statement. These risks include: our ability to execute our plans and strategies; our limited operating history and history of losses; our financial position and need for additional capital; our ability to attract and retain our creator base and expand the range of products available for sale; we may experience difficulties in managing our growth and expenses; we may not keep pace with technological advances; there may be undetected errors or defects in our software or issues related to data computing, processing or storage; our reliance on third parties to provide key services for our business, including cloud hosting, marketing platforms, payment providers and network providers; failure to maintain or enhance our brand; our ability to protect our intellectual property; significant interruptions, delays or outages in services from our platform; significant data breach or disruption of the information technology systems or networks? and cyberattacks; risks associated with international operations; general economic and competitive factors affecting our business generally; changes in laws and regulations, including those related to privacy, online liability, consumer protection, and financial services; our dependence on senior management and other key personnel; and our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel and senior management.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other future filings and reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the press release. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or developments.

SOURCE: Amaze Holdings, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/amaze-to-provide-merchandising-services-as-an-official-sponsor-of-1026940
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) (OTCQB: SUNXF) (FSE: 6330) ("Stardust Solar" or the "Company"), a leading franchisor of renewable energy installation services, today announced that it has awarded and sold five new franchise territories encompassing Miami-Dade County, Florida, increasing the Company's network to 92 territories across North America.

The Miami-Dade territories were secured through a multi-unit franchise agreement with renewable-energy entrepreneur Christophe Ayassamy-Cally from France, providing exclusive rights to serve more than 2.7 million residents across the county. The expansion complements Stardust Solar's growing presence in the Southeast U.S. and aligns with Florida's expanding residential solar market.

With the addition of Miami-Dade, Stardust Solar has signed 14 new U.S. territories year-to-date 2025, representing an 18 percent increase since the start of the year. System-wide, the Company's franchise network now spans 24 states and nine Canadian provinces, supported by corporate services that include engineering, supply-chain management, and Tesla Powerwall distribution.

"Florida continues to rank among the top solar states, and Miami-Dade is one of the country's most dynamic regions for clean-energy adoption," said Mark Tadros, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "By partnering with seasoned operators like Christophe, we accelerate our mission to make sustainable power accessible while moving closer to our goal of surpassing 100 territories by the end of 2025."

In addition to geographic expansion, Stardust Solar continues to invest in certified training programs and strategic partnerships. The Company is onboarding its newest U.S. franchisees onto its proprietary CRM and design platform and providing access to Tesla Powerwall products. Management expects these initiatives to further support system-wide revenue growth.

About Stardust Solar:

Stardust Solar is a North American franchisor of renewable energy installation services, specializing in solar panels (PV), energy storage systems, and electric vehicle supply equipment. The Company equips entrepreneurs with branded business management services, cutting-edge equipment, and comprehensive support, including marketing, sales, engineering, and project management. With franchises across Canada and the United States, Stardust Solar drives the adoption of clean energy solutions that boost economic development and create a more sustainable future.

Disclaimer:

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 TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the Company's business plans and expected future growth, expected franchise expansions, the outlook of future operations, revenue growth, new opportunities and the demand for the Company's products. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention. It assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251807

SOURCE: Stardust Solar Energy Inc.
On March 25, Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei was awarded the prestigious Okochi Memorial Prize, which acknowledges significant contributions to the areas of production engineering, production technology R&D, and the implementation of high-level production methods in Japan. The Okochi Memorial Foundation recognized the contribution of Asahi Kasei's MCC Ceolus UF grade to solving challenges with poor compactibility and flowability, two pressing formulation issues for pharmaceutical companies in the development and manufacturing of tablets.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513415309/en/

Asahi Kasei's Hideki AMAKAWA Involved in development of Ceolus in early 2000s.

Made from natural pulp, MCC Ceolus is used as an excipient for pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements. MCC is primarily applied as a tablet binder, an additive which provides a powder formulation for tablets' compactibility and flowability. High compactibility provides tablets a sufficient hardness to prevent issues such as capping and chipping, while high flowability will contribute to productivity by filling a powder evenly and quickly in the tableting machine. However, achieving the right balance between these two properties in MCC has been a long-term challenge.

Asahi Kasei has developed the Ceolus UF grade, which features high compactibility and flowability with a porous particle shape and fine space inside. This has achieved high tablet productivity and sufficient API uniformity even in low-dose API tablets. It also supports the development of challenging dosage forms such as small tablets, contributing to the supply of tablets that make pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements easier to take for patients and customers. This achievement has been highly evaluated and led to recognition by the Okochi Memorial Foundation.

"We are very proud to achieve this reward and believe it emphasizes Ceolus' key role in the pharmaceutical industry and the value we bring to customers worldwide. This recognition adds to our dedication to innovating the tablet industry and continuing to improve end-user experience by solving our customer's most difficult development challenges," commented Hideyuki Kimura, Senior General Manager of Asahi Kasei Healthcare Materials Division.

Nitrosamine reduction solutions with low nitrite levels of 0.1 g/g (ppm) and less

In addition to the UF grade, Asahi Kasei is also improving nitrosamine risk reduction by distributing low-nitrite level products.

In 2018, several pharmaceuticals were found to contain a nitrosamine impurity, which was later identified as potentially carcinogenic, resulting in a significant increase in public awareness of the potential health hazards of nitrosamine. Guided by regional authorities such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food Drug Administration (FDA), the pharmaceutical industry carries out extensive assessments and research to identify the cause of such impurities. One risk factor for the formation of nitrosamine is nitrosation-a reaction of secondary or tertiary amines with nitrites during or after the manufacturing process of drug substances and products. Reducing the concentration of nitrites in raw materials for pharmaceuticals is an effective way to lower the risk of nitrosamine formation. In order to reduce potential health hazards due to nitrosamine impurities, Asahi Kasei's MCC Ceolus provides nitrite concentrations of 0.1 ppm or less across our available primary product lines. Test results confirming these levels are provided in every Certificate of Analysis.

To learn more about Ceolus and view testing results, click here.

About the Okochi Memorial Foundation

Established in 1954, the Okochi Memorial Foundation commemorates Dr. Masatoshi Okochi's services to academic societies and industries and recognizes notable contributions in the areas of production engineering, production technology research and development, and the implementation of high-level production methods in Japan.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Healthcare. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.com.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513415309/en/

Contacts:

Europe Contact:

Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Sebastian Schmidt

sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu

North America Contact:

Asahi Kasei America Inc.

Christian OKeefe

christian.okeefe@ak-america.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Empress Royalty Corp. (TSXV:EMPR)(OTCQX:EMPYF) ("Empress Royalty" or the "Company") announces financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

"Empress' royalty and streaming revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was nearly 2.8 times higher than the same period in 2024," stated Alexandra Woodyer Sherron, CEO of Empress Royalty. "This increase, coupled with positive operational cash flow, underscores our strength of our business model as we continue to grow Empress. We continue to deliver robust financial performance, driven by increased production from our existing portfolio and supportive gold and silver prices. As we expand our portfolio through disciplined, strategic investments, we remain focused on building long-term value for our shareholders."

Selected key highlights from the March 31, 2025, financials include royalty and stream revenue of US$2.74M for a total revenue of US$1.85M. The Company achieved positive operating cash flow of US$1.75M, with an adjusted EBITDA of US$1.39M, and a net income of US$0.44M - an improvement from the US$0.53M net loss for the same period in 2024.

The financial statements have been filed on Sedar+ at www.sedarplus.ca and are available on our website at www.empressroyalty.com.

ABOUT EMPRESS ROYALTY CORP.

Empress is a global royalty and streaming creation company providing investors with a diversified portfolio of gold and silver investments. Empress has built a portfolio of precious metal investments and is actively investing in mining companies with development and production stage projects who require additional non-dilutive capital. The Company has strategic partnerships with Endeavour Financial and Terra Capital which allow Empress to not only access global investment opportunities but also bring unique mining finance expertise, deal structuring and access to capital markets. Empress is looking forward to continuously creating value for its shareholders through the proven royalty and streaming models.

ON BEHALF OF EMPRESS ROYALTY CORP.

Per: Alexandra Woodyer Sherron, CEO and President

For further information, please visit our website at www.empressroyalty.com , or contact us by email at info@empressroyalty.com or by phone at +1.604.331.2080.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

The information contained herein includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", continue", "believe", "plans", "anticipate" or similar terms.

Forward-looking information and statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that Empress Royalty Corp. ("Empress" or the "Company") expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including those regarding future growth and ability to create new streams or royalties, the development and focus of the Company , its acquisition strategy, the plans and expectations of the operators of the projects underlying its interests, including the proposed advancement and expansion of such projects; the results of exploration, development and production activities of the operators of such projects; and the Company's expectations regarding future revenues.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about Empress's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions and although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information and statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of Empress to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of Empress including, without limitation, any inability of the operators of the properties underlying the Company's royalty and stream interests to execute proposed plans for such properties or to achieve planned development and production estimates and goals, risks related to the operators of the projects in which the Company holds interests, including the successful continuation of operations at such projects by those operators, risks related to exploration, development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any such projects, risks related to international operations, government relations and environmental regulation, uncertainty relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and the Company's ability to carry out its growth plans as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other related risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements, refer to the annual information form of Empress for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its other publicly filed documents under it profile a www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information and statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information and statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws. Disclosure relating to properties in which Empress holds royalty or stream interests is based on information publicly disclosed by the owners or operators of such properties. The Company generally has limited or no access to the properties underlying its interests and is largely dependent on the disclosure of the operators of its interests and other publicly available information. The Company generally has limited or no ability to verify such information. Although the Company does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such third-party information is complete or accurate. In addition, certain information publicly reported by operators may relate to a larger property than the area covered by the Company's interest, which often may only apply to a portion of the overall project area or applicable mineral resources or reserves.

SOURCE: Empress Royalty Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/empress-reports-2025-first-quarter-financial-results-1026977
Prestigious Annual Awards Program Recognizes Standout Retail Technology Companies and Solutions Around the World

NEW CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Revuze , a Unified Market Intelligence leader with modern tech for insights and action based on the Voice of the Customer data, today announced it has been selected as winner of "RetailTech AI Platform of the Year" in the 3rd annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by RetailTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that recognizes standout retail technology companies around the globe.

Revuze is the first AI-powered Market Intelligence platform that incorporates data across a plethora of sources to provide a 360 "Voice of Customer" view. Revuze transforms the data into strategic actions and recommendations that help brands make smarter business decisions across marketing, product, CI and eCommerce in real-time. Revuze uniquely combines multiple sources of sentiment, ratings and reviews, social media, and surveys, enabling brands to move beyond trend tracking and into predictive, data-driven decision-making and results-focused actions.

Revuze identifies unmet consumer needs by analyzing sentiment shifts, recurring pain points, and feature-level feedback across entire product categories. The platform reveals the attributes that drive satisfaction, allowing for data-backed decisions.

In addition, the platform provides eCommerce performance enhancements by identifying the product features that matter most to online shoppers. Brands can use Revuze insights to prioritize features that influence purchasing decisions and refine pricing, packaging, and promotions accordingly.

"AI is transforming the retail landscape by allowing brands to proactively act upon emerging product opportunities, refine messaging, and optimize product detail pages for higher conversions. Our AI-driven platform enables brands to detect trends earlier and make informed business decisions and take action," said Guy Yair, Revuze CEO. "It's an honor to receive this recognition from RetailTech Breakthrough.

The mission of the annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is to celebrate the global innovators who are transforming the retail technology landscape. The RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program conducts the industry's most comprehensive analysis of standout leaders shaping the future of retail. This year's program received thousands of nominations from 14+ countries worldwide, reflecting the global impact of retail technology advancements.

"By transforming raw sentiment into clear and strategic recommendations, Revuze empowers businesses to stay ahead of shifting market dynamics. Brands can no longer rely solely on traditional market research methods. AI allows businesses to leverage the complete spectrum of consumer sentiment, marking a shift from passive observation to decision intelligence," said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, RetailTech Breakthrough. "Revuze is a game-changer for retail. With a deep understanding of consumer needs through comprehensive AI analytics, brands can confidently develop products, refine messaging, and optimize eCommerce strategies. Congratulations to Revuze for being our pick for 'RetailTech AI Platform of the Year!'"

An AI-powered Unified Market Intelligence company, Revuze provides CPG brands with data-driven, actionable insights and recommendations by analyzing the complete VoC. Revuze serves 100+ brands globally. Revuze's ActionHub recently received several awards, including the Data Leadership Award from Consumer Goods Technology. https://www.revuze.it/

About RetailTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough , a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is the premier awards platform devoted to honoring excellence in retail technology companies around the world. For more information, visit retailtechbreakthrough.com .

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

SOURCE: Revuze LTD

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/revuze-recognized-with-%22retailtech-ai-platform-of-the-year%22-by-r-1023468
Flin Flon, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Boreal Gold Inc (CSE: BGLD) ("Boreal" or the "Company") announces that it has been conditionally approved for $300,000 from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund for the Fay Lake Property in Manitoba. Boreal's project represents important value to both Manitoba's mineral sector and its emerging critical mineral sector, further contributing to the development of resources that are crucial to the province's economic future and the global transition to clean energy. The condition of approval is confirmation of required permits and licensing from the Province of Manitoba for the proposed project. Boreal has submitted a work permit application to the Manitoba Government and is anticipating that the work permit will be issued soon since Boreal Gold has a letter of support from the Kiciwapa Cree Nation for the Fay Lake Project for the early-stage exploration work as described in the work permit application.

Boreal is grateful for MMDF's generous grant and continued support for this project, which has been ongoing since 2023. We are pleased that the Manitoba government shares our vision to create short-term and potentially long-term jobs in the Flin Flon area in the north where they are greatly needed while also strengthening the provincial economy. The MMDF was launched by the Manitoba government in 2020 with the specific goal of jump-starting mineral and economic development initiatives throughout the province. The MMDF aims to support new economic development opportunities that capitalize on existing assets across Manitoba.

FAY LAKE

Boreal Gold intends to perform ground geophysical surveys over the western portion of the Fay Lake grid (not previously covered) as well as the eastern portion of the Fay Lake grid that will be cut and surveyed to follow the strike extension of the Sunrise conductor to the eastern shore of Fay Lake. Drill testing of designed targets will follow up confirmation of Airborne conductors by ground geophysics on the Fay Lake property subject to a successful financing and direct consultation with Kiciwapa Cree Nation. Also planned is detailed mapping, prospecting, sampling and line cutting on the Fay Lake Property on a small portion of Redwin VMS horizon that remains unmapped but contains conductors.

Separate to the VMS exploration at Fay Lake above, gold exploration through mapping and prospecting of the western portion of the Puffy Lake Mine style gold mineralization trend east of the Railroad. Approximately 10-line kilometers is planned on this trend where samples assayed up to 14.33 g/t Au, to evaluate its on strike continuity. The gold potential at Koscielny Lake located at the eastern end of the property south of the Puffy Lake Gold Mine will also be assessed. Here mineralization contained values of up to 11.81 g/t Au (0.38 oz/ton Au) over 1 m.

Qualified Person

Stephen L. Masson, M.Sc., P.Geo. is the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") for these properties, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Mr. Masson acts as a consulting Geologist for the Company.

About Boreal Gold Inc

Boreal Gold Inc is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with a specific focus on mineral properties in northwest Manitoba and northeast Saskatchewan, Canada. All of the Issuer's properties are currently at the exploration stage. The Issuer has assembled a portfolio of base metal and precious metal prospects in strategic locations in the Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Boreal Gold Inc

"signed"

Richard Masson

President & CEO

No stock exchange or securities regulatory authority has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Issuer's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Issuer or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251915

SOURCE: Boreal Gold Inc.
BERLIN, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Beatbot, a global leader in cutting-edge robotic pool cleaning technology, marks its annual Beatbot Day with a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and commitment to the future. From high-profile partnerships to STEM education initiatives and exclusive offers, Beatbot continues to redefine pool ownership worldwide.

Chosen By Those Who Demand the Best

Beatbot is proud to announce its collaboration with Joe Manganiello, a prominent actor known for his dedication to the arts and love for cutting-edge technology. Manganiello's relentless pursuit of excellence in acting aligns perfectly with Beatbot's mission to deliver advanced, time-saving solutions for modern lifestyles.

"It's sleek, quiet, and the best way to clean," said Joe Mangianello about Beatbot's latest AquaSense 2 Ultra.

Inspiring Future Innovators

As part of its Beatbot For Future ESG program, Beatbot is sponsoring the MATE ROV Competition, a global underwater robotics challenge that empowers students to develop critical STEM skills. This initiative underscores Beatbot's commitment to fostering education, innovation, and sustainability in robotics.

"Supporting STEM education is core to our vision," says York Guo, CMO at Beatbot. "Just as we've revolutionized pool care with smart technology, we want to inspire young minds to tackle tomorrow's challenges with creativity and ingenuity."

Celebrate Beatbot Day with Exclusive Savings

To commemorate Beatbot Day, the company is offering limited-time offers on its award-winning AquaSense 2 Series robotic pool cleaners. From May 19 to June 01, customers can enjoy the steepest discounts of the year, with up to 30% off of Beatbot's lineup and trade-up coupon offers. These promotions are available only on Beatbot's official Amazon store and Beatbot.com.

The Road Ahead

As Beatbot enters its new chapter, the company remains committed to pushing boundaries in AI-powered cleaning, sustainable design, and accessibility, proving that luxury pool care should be effortless, smart, and within reach for everyone.

For media inquiries, contact:

eu.marketing@beatbot.com

About Beatbot

Beatbot is the fastest-growing robotic pool cleaning brand globally, revolutionizing swimming pool care through cutting-edge automation. Founded by industry experts with decades of experience in robotics, Beatbot combines sleek, durable design with unmatched engineering, earning global acclaim, including the prestigious iF Design Award and Red Dot Award for its premium aesthetics and user-centric innovation.

With offices worldwide and a powerhouse R&D Team (70% of its workforce), Beatbot pioneers core technologies like brushless water pumps, AUV spatial locomotion, sonar laser SLAM, and AI-powered mapping algorithms. The company holds 221+ patents (128 for inventions), cementing its leadership in redefining pool maintenance.

From award-winning product design to hassle-free smart solutions, Beatbot is committed to transforming how the world cleans its pools-elevating performance, sustainability, and luxury.

Learn more: www.beatbot.com

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NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from the Indianapolis Zoo announce Dr. Lily-Arison Rene de Roland, renowned scientist and biodiversity conservationist in Madagascar, as the 2025 Winner of the Indianapolis Prize .

Throughout his years of research and expeditions, Rene de Roland has discovered several new species, led the establishment of four national protected areas and developed community-focused conservation programs. Since 2004, he has been the National Director of The Peregrine Fund's Madagascar Program, where he oversees a team of 48 Malagasy conservationists working to conserve wildlife and landscapes in his homeland.

Rene de Roland is the tenth Winner of the Indianapolis Prize.

"Dr. Rene de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflicts-they have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems. He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner," said Dr. Rob Shumaker, President and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo.

Rene de Roland's contribution to the discovery of a variety of species is substantial, including the rediscovery of the Madagascar pochard, a rare duck thought to be extinct since the 1990s. He and his team rediscovered the species during a challenging expedition to a remote area of northern Madagascar in 2006. Rene de Roland has also contributed to the discovery of two previously undescribed lemur species in northern Madagascar. Due to his extensive impact on biodiversity conservation, scientists named a newly described wolf spider, Katableps lilyarisoni, after Rene de Roland in 2021. Most recently, during a 2022 expedition, Rene de Roland led a team to the rediscovery of the Dusky tetraka, a small songbird that had eluded ornithologists for 20 years.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo," said Rene de Roland. "My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people."

Rene de Roland has led the creation of four national protected areas in Madagascar totaling over 1,500 square miles, including rainforests, dry forests, wetlands, mangroves and savannahs. These efforts not only preserve endemic Madagascar species under threat but also improve the lives of local people, with whom Rene de Roland works to manage these areas and sustainably leverage their resources.

Through his work, Rene de Roland has also helped to shape the next generation of Malagasy conservationists. His legacy extends to more than 100 students at local Madagascar universities, with his mentees earning 90 master's degrees and 16 doctoral degrees.

"The Peregrine Fund is tremendously proud of Lily, whose commitment to science, conservation and his community inspires us all," said Chris N. Parish, President and CEO of The Peregrine Fund. "We are beyond excited that the Indianapolis Prize is recognizing him for his research, mentorship and decades of work in the conservation profession."

Rene de Roland earned his master's degree, doctoral degree and professorship at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar. He joined The Peregrine Fund as a student in 1992 to study Madagascar's imperiled raptors.

Established by the Indianapolis Zoo in 2004, the Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards the world's preeminent animal conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. Winners receive $250,000, which is the largest individual monetary award given in the animal conservation field.

Rene de Roland, the 2025 Indianapolis Prize DeHaan Finalists and the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award Winner will be celebrated at the Indianapolis Prize Gala on Sept. 27, 2025, presented by Cummins Inc., in downtown Indianapolis.

For additional media assets for the 2025 Indianapolis Prize, click here . To learn more about the previous Indianapolis Prize Winners, visit IndianapolisPrize.org .

About the Indianapolis Prize

The Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. The Emerging Conservationist Award, a newly established accolade in 2023, is given to a conservationist aged 40 or younger. Since 2004, the Indianapolis Prize has awarded more than $7.5 million in unrestricted cash awards, advancing the work of conservation scientists through financial support and public awareness.

The Indianapolis Prize is a conservation initiative of the Indianapolis Zoo.

Connect with the Prize on Facebook , X , Instagram and indianapolisprize.org .

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In India, Texas, and Spain, innovative Power Purchase Agreements contribute to Cisco's net-zero goals while helping drive wind and solar development.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Tech and energy have a complex relationship.

One the one hand, tech innovation can help energy grids and power generation become more efficient and secure. On the other, the rapid adoption and development of emerging technologies is increasing power consumption.

Cisco is approaching the issue from multiple angles. It begins with Cisco's net-zero goals and expands to include everything from circularity and smart grids to more energy-efficient products and investments in new solutions like wave power.

Another strategy? Long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for clean energy.

With the help of these PPAs - the most recent of which were signed in Texas and India last year, as well as in Spain in 2023 - the company looks to fully power Cisco operations carbon free, while supporting clean-energy developers, outside communities, and Cisco partners.

"Cisco is striving to source 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030," said Andy Smith, who leads energy and sustainability efforts within Cisco's Workplace Resources (WPR) department. "As part of that goal, we're trying to diversify how we source clean energy, with a big focus on signing long-term Power Purchase Agreements that will support our energy targets where we operate."

In India, Cisco's Bangalore campus, which includes offices, a research lab, and a large data center, is three months into a 15-year, fixed-price agreement with a clean energy plant 164 miles away. At any given time, the Cisco complex runs on anywhere from 98 to 100 percent clean power.

And in Texas, PPAs led by Cisco's Global Energy Management and Sustainability (GEMS) team - and including partners like Juniper, BioRad, Cadence, and IDEXX Laboratories - have been signed with three solar plants through Sustainability Roundtable's Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB).

"Cisco's involvement can be essential to the viability of these projects," explained Evan Brown, Cisco's energy and sustainability manager for the Americas and EMEA. "Our strong credit rating supports the developer's ability to secure financing, making it possible to move from concept to construction."

For the business, and for the planet

Together, these four plants will produce more than 500,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year for Cisco. That's approximately the energy needed to power 72,000 homes in the United States for one year. And while the approaches in India and Texas vary in some ways, the goal is the same: supporting the adoption of clean energy in ways that are good for business and good for the planet.

Mary de Wysocki, Cisco's chief sustainability officer, stressed the importance of these deals and others that are being signed or explored for the future.

"When I think about Generative AI, yes, it's going to require more power," she said. "But we in the private sector have an opportunity to invest in net-new energy sources. The Power Purchase Agreements that are underway in India and Texas are one way to help offset this. And we hope to do more in the future. In Spain, for example, we've reached another agreement that could power most of our offices in Europe."

Vijayakumar Ettiyagounder, Cisco's energy and sustainability manager for Asia-Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC), played a key role in making the India deal happen.

"This agreement gives us access to 92 megawatts of electricity," he explained. "And it's a hybrid plant, so a mix of solar and wind. That increases the hours of generation, because renewables can be intermittent in nature."

While in India, Cisco is the sole buyer, in Texas the company has been the lead buyer in a consortium of eight partners, all of which have their own sustainability goals.

"The energy suppliers feel that they're negotiating with one buyer because we are the ones negotiating on behalf of everybody in the consortium," Brown said. "So, it helps these other folks, especially the smaller companies."

For example, a partner like PTC Therapeutics might need 10 megawatts of energy in the deal, while Cisco's needs would be at least 50. But all benefit.

"They're not going to find those kinds of deals out there on the open market by themselves," Brown added. "But pairing with us, they get the pricing and the benefits. And we do as well, because when I negotiate the deal, I'm no longer a 50-megawatt buyer; I'm a 200-megawatt buyer."

Expanding the energy ecosystem

As a leader in this space, Cisco is showing the kind of market-development impact that a large organization can have.

"High credit-worthy companies like Cisco can play a big role in adding incremental renewable energy to the grid," Smith argued. "That's ultimately what we all have to do to maximize the benefits of renewable energy."

Texas and India are prime places to expand clean energy resources.

"Texas is a hot market for energy right now," Brown said. "It's a mostly deregulated region of the country, with a thriving open market for power. As a result, that has attracted a lot of data centers, bitcoin mining, and other energy-intensive activities. On the meteorological side, there is plenty of sunlight."

With growing electricity demand in India new solutions and investments are more and more welcome.

"India is dominated by coal-based power plants, followed by natural gas," said Ettiyagounder. "But in the last seven or eight years, new capacity is coming mostly from the renewable side. So, the challenges are there, but the market is responding, and adoption is speeding up."

New demands from AI - and whatever comes after

Of course, artificial intelligence (AI) is another of those energy-intensive activities. That's why companies like Cisco are trying to get ahead of future demand.

"With AI, there's a tremendous amount of data, a lot of processing, and a lot of automated decision making," said Ettiyagounder. "So, it's energy intensive. Even a small server is doing a lot of work. And as more and more concentrated data centers are built, we'll need more power. As a conscious company, for Cisco that will mean more clean energy."

As organizations across the economy look to integrate AI, every successful energy solution or innovation will be needed. And Brown is excited about the future of consortiums like those Cisco is leading in Texas.

"Cisco and Juniper may be fierce competitors in the IT world," he said, "but we share a common goal when it comes to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. It will be great to see more cooperation like this."

At the same time, Cisco's solutions around AI, smart grids, smart buildings, more energy-efficient products, and circularity will combine with new new PPAs - to support the needs of Cisco customers and contribute to a net-zero future. "Our goal is to create more renewable energy for Cisco to use," Smith said. "But in supporting new wind and solar farms, we're also bringing more diverse sources of energy to the grid and to the communities. And that helps to strengthen energy resiliency."

As De Wysocki stressed, the cooperation inherent in Power Purchase Agreements bodes well for the future.

"The more we work with diverse stakeholders," she concluded, "as well as so many of our customers and partners on thinking through the demand, our investments in renewables, and our net-zero goals, I think we can really make this possible."

Continue reading here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/a-cisco-strategy-to-support-clean-energy-1027077
Transformational grant will accelerate program designed to help farmers build viable businesses.

SEATTLE, WA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Washington Farmland Trust, a nonprofit that protects threatened farmland and supports farmers across the state, has received a $400,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation.

Funds from the grant will support the organization's Farm to Farmer program, which helps farmers find land, access resources, and thrive as business owners and stewards of the land. This is the largest private grant this program has received to date. The program has a special focus on assisting farmer collectives in gaining long-term tenure of farmland, a model that leverages collective expertise and resources to allow farmers to build viable businesses and secure land affordably. The collective model is greater than the sum of its parts, empowering farmers to work together to overcome challenges and achieve shared goals.

The Farm to Farmer program offers dedicated support for farmer collectives through all stages of formation and organizational development, working through the funding and land acquisition process and bringing together networks of like-minded individuals.

"At KeyBank, our mission is to help the communities we serve thrive," said Brian Marlow, KeyBank's Washington State Market President. "The Farm to Farmer program is a vital step toward creating a food system that benefits everyone, where local farmers can come together to build sustainable businesses as they provide fresh, healthy food to their neighbors."

"Through my role supporting farmer collectives at Washington Farmland Trust and as a farmer myself, I know first-hand how difficult it is to farm. Collective farming models offer a solution to the isolation, land access challenges, and affordability concerns that so many farmers face. I am deeply grateful to this multi-year grant from the KeyBank Foundation so that we can keep supporting this important work." Alex Machado, Farmer Collectives Manager, Washington Farmland Trust.

About Washington Farmland Trust

Washington Farmland Trust (WFT) is an accredited land trust working to protect and steward threatened farmland across the state. WFT aims to keep land in production by making it accessible to a new generation of farmers. Since its founding 25 years ago, Washington Farmland Trust has conserved 34 farms, stewarded 3,747 acres, and provided direct support to 610 farmers. Learn more at wafarmlandtrust.org/25.

About KeyCorp

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

###

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Contact Info:

Spokesperson: KeyBank

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Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: KeyBank

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Champaign, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - The Dr. Linus Anukwu Scholarship organization proudly announces the launch of its national scholarship initiative designed to support and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. As part of its commitment to fostering academic excellence and social responsibility, the organization is offering a one-time $1,000 scholarship award to an undergraduate student who demonstrates both a passion for medicine and a dedication to making a meaningful difference in their community.

The Dr. Linus Anukwu Scholarship Launches Initiative to Support Future Medical Leaders

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The scholarship is open to currently enrolled undergraduate students at accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Eligible applicants must be pursuing a pre-medical track or a closely related major, such as biology, chemistry, or health sciences, and must be able to articulate a strong interest in pursuing a career as a physician.

Through this initiative, the organization seeks to encourage students who not only aim to succeed academically but also recognize the importance of addressing real-world healthcare challenges. By supporting students from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, the Dr. Linus Anukwu Scholarship organization hopes to contribute to a more inclusive, compassionate, and effective healthcare system in the years to come.

To apply, students must submit an original essay of 500 to 750 words in response to the following prompt:

"How do you plan to use your medical career to address a pressing healthcare challenge facing your community, and how has Dr. Linus Anukwu's dedication to patient care inspired your goals?"

Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted in PDF format through the official scholarship website at https://drlinusanukwuscholarship.com.

The review panel will evaluate applications based on originality, clarity, relevance to the prompt, and how well the applicant aligns with the scholarship's mission. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate a sincere desire to improve public health outcomes, especially in underserved or vulnerable communities.

The deadline for submissions is December 15, 2025. The recipient of the Dr. Linus Anukwu Scholarship will be announced on January 15, 2026, via the scholarship's official website. The selected student will receive both financial support and national recognition for their commitment to becoming a future leader in medicine.

This initiative reflects the Dr. Linus Anukwu Scholarship organization's dedication to education, equity, and innovation in healthcare. By investing in promising students, the organization hopes to contribute to a brighter, healthier future for all.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251032

SOURCE: GYT
PLANO, Texas, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , a global leader in digital upskilling, has launched a Professional Certificate Program in Lean Six Sigma in collaboration with Virginia Tech. This advanced program will equip professionals with the tools, skills, and strategies to lead transformational projects, improve quality, and drive operational efficiency.

The Professional Certificate Program in Lean Six Sigma is an intensive, multifaceted training experience for individuals seeking to enhance their careers and make significant impacts in areas like process improvement, quality management, and digital transformation. Delivered through a blended learning format combining self-paced online modules, live virtual classes, and hands-on projects, the program empowers learners to master Lean Six Sigma methodologies and lead successful quality improvement initiatives within organizations. It also includes exclusive Masterclasses on the applications of generative AI in quality management.

The program's curriculum covers essential Lean Six Sigma concepts, including process efficiency, yield improvements, waste reduction, and applying critical technologies for digital transformation. Learners will gain expertise in Lean management, Six Sigma, statistical analysis using Minitab, and more, with specialized training in industries such as healthcare and IT. Learners will engage in real-world learning through 17 hands-on projects, 3 Harvard Business Publishing case studies, and exclusive Masterclasses from KPMG experts and Virginia Tech instructors. They will also have the opportunity to work on real-world capstone projects guided by industry experts from KPMG, culminating in a final presentation of actionable insights to demonstrate their proficiency in Lean Six Sigma principles.

Upon completion, learners will receive a certificate from Virginia Tech and access to the Virginia Tech Continuing Education alumni network, providing global recognition of their achievement.

The program is open to professionals from various fields, such as quality control supervisors, project managers, IT analysts, and others seeking to advance their careers in quality management and operational excellence, with no prior experience in quality management required for admission. Learners will receive valuable mentorship and expert guidance throughout the program from seasoned industry professionals, including Anita Stalin, CEO and Master Black Belt Consultant, who will provide insights and support to help learners succeed in their learning journey.

Mr. Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn, said, "As industries continue to evolve, the need for skilled professionals who can drive operational excellence and promote continuous improvement is more critical than ever. At Simplilearn, we are committed to empowering learners with the tools, knowledge, and real-world experience necessary to lead successful Lean Six Sigma initiatives. Through our partnership with Virginia Tech, this program offers a transformative learning experience that equips professionals with the expertise to make a tangible impact in their organizations."

Ms. Shelly Jobst, Director Continuing and Professional Education, Virginia Tech, said, "At Virginia Tech, we are committed to delivering top tier education that empowers professionals to drive innovation and achieve operational excellence. Our collaboration with Simplilearn underscores our dedication to equipping learners with the expertise needed to lead transformational projects. This program integrates traditional methodologies with digital Lean strategies, enabling professionals to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and foster sustainable growth within their organizations."



About Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech, founded in 1872, is a renowned public research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia. It offers diverse academic programs, with strong emphasis on engineering, business, agriculture, and sciences. Known for its hands-on learning and cutting-edge research in areas like cybersecurity, robotics, and renewable energy, Virginia Tech fosters innovation and practical skills. The university's motto, 'Ut Prosim' (That I May Serve), highlights its commitment to community service and global impact. With strong industry partnerships and a broad alumni network, Virginia Tech prepares students to succeed in an ever-changing workforce and contributes to the advancement of knowledge and technology.

About Simplilearn

Founded in 2010 and based in Plano, Texas, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn is a leading digital economy skills training provider. Simplilearn offers individuals and businesses worldwide access to world-class work-ready training through 1,500+ live classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting over 8 million learners globally. The programs are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and academic leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and large enterprises, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals.

For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com/

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Drug Device Combination Products Market, valued at US$224.70 billion in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 9.3%, reaching US$243.02 billion in 2025 and an impressive US$379.17 billion by 2030. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide, coupled with the introduction and approval of innovative advanced therapeutics, is driving significant market expansion. The trend towards advanced drug-device combination products is gaining momentum, influenced by the rising demand for self-administration solutions in home healthcare environments. This shift toward home-based care is largely attributed to the aging population, which has led to a larger demographic of patients managing conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Furthermore, favourable reimbursement policies and enhanced healthcare infrastructure are facilitating improved access to these combination products. As a result, sustained growth is anticipated in this market segment over the forthcoming years.

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300 - Pages

By Based on product type, the market for drug-device combination products can be categorized primarily by product type into injectable drug delivery devices, drug-eluting stents, inhalers, infusion pumps, transdermal patches, drug-eluting balloon catheters, and other product types. Among these, injectable drug delivery devices hold the predominant market share, attributed to their rapid, precise, and efficient medication administration, which is critical for the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. The user-friendly nature of these devices, exemplified by options such as prefilled syringes and autoinjectors, significantly enhances patient compliance through streamlined self-administration. Furthermore, injectables play an essential role in the delivery of biological therapies, which are often incompatible with oral administration due to low bioavailability. The escalating prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with ongoing advancements in injectable technologies further cements their leadership position in the market.

By end user, the drug-device combination products market is categorized based on end-users into several segments: hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, long-term care facilities, home care settings, and other users. In 2024, the home care segment accounted for the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the escalating incidence of chronic conditions, demographic shifts with an aging population, the increasing feasibility of self-administration, technological advancements, and favourable reimbursement policies. The adoption of drug-device combination products is rapidly growing in home care settings, and it is expected to dominate the market by 2024. This growth is fueled by an increase in chronic diseases requiring ongoing management, an aging population needing accessible healthcare solutions, and advancements in technology that enhance product usability. Self-administration devices now offer features such as real-time monitoring and automated dosing to improve treatment adherence. Additionally, favorable reimbursement policies are encouraging both manufacturers and patients to embrace these innovations. Overall, the combination of rising chronic disease rates, demographic trends, technological progress, and supportive reimbursement is driving the uptake of these products in home care.

By geography, the drug-device combination products market is categorized by region into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America holds a significant share of this market, primarily driven by the growing geriatric population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Additionally, enhancements in healthcare infrastructure and the introduction of supportive government policies aimed at improving access to drug-device combination products are contributing factors. The geographical expansion and presence of key industry players in this region are likely to catalyze further growth in the North American drug-device combination market.

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As of 2024, the drug device combination products market was dominated by Abbott (US), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), Medtronic (Ireland), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Novo Nordisk A/S (Denmark), Sanofi (France), Eli Lilly and Company (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), and AbbVie Inc. (US), among others.

ABBOTT (US):

Abbott is a prominent key player in the global drug device combination products market. Abbott's Medical Devices segment delivers a combination of products, particularly in high-impact areas such as cardiovascular care and diabetes management; notable innovations include drug-eluting stents and drug-coated balloons, which exemplify the company's cutting-edge approach. The company maintains a leading market position due to its extensive product portfolio and robust geographic presence across North America, Europe, and globally. With manufacturing and R&D facilities spread across over 100 countries, Abbott's products reach more than 160 countries worldwide. The company's strategy emphasizes driving innovation through substantial investments in R&D, diversifying its product offerings, and enhancing global market access. By strategically acquiring advanced technologies and focusing on enhancing its capabilities in medical devices and combination products, Abbott continues to position itself as a trailblazer in the industry.

ELI, LILLY AND COMPANY (US):

ELI, LILLY AND COMPANY is a key player and holds the second position in the global drug device combination products market. The company prioritizes R&D, maintaining a robust clinical-stage pipeline centered on biologics. It manufactures, develops, and commercializes pharmaceuticals and combination drug-device products across multiple therapeutic areas. Specifically, the company provides bespoke injection systems tailored for pharmaceutical & biotechnology firms, particularly those operating in diabetes management, growth modulation, and additional therapeutic domains. To enhance user experience in medication delivery, the company has launched innovative products. Notably, it was the pioneer in introducing the digital insulin pen, HumaPen. The organization operates across 14 countries and distributes its products in 125 countries worldwide, with a strategic emphasis on expanding its market presence in emerging economies to drive sales growth.

MEDTRONIC (Ireland):

MEDTRONIC dominated the global drug device combination products market in 2024. Medtronic's predominant market position is underpinned by its extensive portfolio of combination therapies, which includes advanced medical devices such as drug-eluting stents, implantable infusion pumps, and smart insulin pens. The company boasts a robust global footprint, operating across key regions, including the US, Europe, and the Asia Pacific, and delivering solutions to clinicians, healthcare facilities, and patients in over 160 countries. R&D is a fundamental strategic pillar for Medtronic, with the company allocating approximately USD 2.84 billion to R&D in fiscal year 2024. This investment underscores the importance of innovation in maintaining and enhancing Medtronic's competitive edge, particularly in the dynamic combination products sector. Furthermore, the company actively engages in both organic growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions to reinforce its leadership and adaptability in an evolving market landscape.

For more information, Inquire Now!

Related Reports:

Injectable Drug Delivery Market

Top 10 Medical Device Technologies Market

Home Healthcare Market

Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery Market

Drug Discovery Services Market

Get access to the latest updates on Drug Device Combination Products Companies and Drug Device Combination Products Market Size

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LoopMe, a global leader in brand performance, has today announced a broadened collaboration with Google Cloud that will support LoopMe's ongoing commitment to sustainability in the advertising ecosystem. Having chosen Google Cloud as a partner because of its leading tools, including Google Kubernetes Engine and BigQuery, the expanded collaboration will involve LoopMe leveraging Google Cloud's scalable and secure infrastructure to support the depth and complexity of its advanced AI models, enabling more sophisticated optimization of advertising performance.

Having previously become a carbon-neutral advertiser in 2023, LoopMe worked with Google Cloud to maximize efficiencies through the migration of its data centers to Google Cloud renewable-powered sites. The continued collaboration underscores LoopMe's commitment to building a better, more environmentally-friendly ecosystem and supply chain for all of their clients and partners.

LoopMe has been delivering all media with renewable power for two years and has since reduced gross emissions per CPM delivered, or every 1,000 impressions an ad receives, by 71.5% compared to its base year, 2021. Other internal carbon footprint reduction efforts have included reducing electricity consumption; establishing environmentally-geared HR policies, and investing in high-quality carbon removal projects.

"Our collaboration with Google Cloud marks a significant milestone in our sustainability journey," said Stephen Upstone, CEO and Founder, LoopMe. "This enables us to further reduce our environmental impact while maintaining the cutting-edge performance our clients expect, demonstrating that business growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand."

"We are excited to collaborate with innovative companies like LoopMe, who are pushing the boundaries of sustainable advertising," said Adrian Poole, Director, UKI Digital Natives at Google Cloud. "By leveraging Google Cloud's scalable and sustainable infrastructure, LoopMe is able to focus on delivering cutting-edge AI-driven solutions while minimizing their environmental impact. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this collaboration on the industry."

??LoopMe's other internal carbon footprint reduction efforts have included utilising renewable electricity sources for leased offices where available, locating efficiencies to reduce hosting usage requirements, sharing a comprehensive travel reduction plan to help reduce business travel emissions, and investing in high-quality carbon removal projects.

About LoopMe

LoopMe is the global leader in brand performance, redefining brand advertising for the digital and app ecosystem. LoopMe was the first to apply AI to brand advertising and its Intelligent Marketplace, finding solutions to industry challenges that haven't previously been solved. With consumer insights and AI at its core, LoopMe makes brand advertising better, outperforming industry benchmarks for leading global brands. Our vision is to change advertising for the better, by building technology that will redefine brand advertising. LoopMe was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in the UK, with global offices across New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, Dnipro, Krakow, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.loopme.com.

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Contacts:

loopme@teamgingermay.com
Vienna, Austria--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Best Vacation Home, a leading provider of vacation real estate solutions, today announced the release of its free guide, "Making Smart Decisions: A Practical Guide to Vacation Real Estate."

This comprehensive resource offers valuable insights and expert advice for individuals and families seeking to buy vacation properties.





Best Vacation Home Releases Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Vacation Property Owners

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New Guide Unveils Creative Strategies and Industry Secrets to Discover, Purchase, and Manage Vacation Properties in International Markets

Best Vacation Home understands that individuals may have diverse motivations for investing in vacation homes. Some may seek a lifestyle improvement, personal retreat or a place to create lasting memories with loved ones and build long-term wealth, while others may prioritize generating rental income and flip properties.

The guide addresses these varying goals, offering insights and strategies for achieving success in each area.

"This guide is designed to be a roadmap for anyone considering a vacation property purchase," said Borislava Kostova-Seib, MA, MBA, exclusive representative of Best Vacation Home Gmbh in Austria. "It provides a step-by-step approach to making informed decisions, from evaluating personal priorities to safeguarding one's wealth."

The Guide Addresses Key Questions and Concerns That Buyers Often Face

The guide covers key topics such as:

Evaluating property markets and understanding market cycles

Comparing vacation properties, villas, and traditional residential properties

Exploring different ownership models, from full ownership to fractional shares

Selecting the right real estate agency, building company, and legal representation

Understanding local legislation, taxes, and visa requirements in different countries

Calculating the total cost of ownership and avoiding hidden expenses

It's Never Been Easier to Make Smarter Decisions

The company emphasizes the importance of choosing the right location and property type to align with individual needs and preferences. "Making Smart Decisions: A Practical Guide to Vacation Real Estate" provides guidance on evaluating market stability, tourism potential, accessibility, and local amenities, enabling individuals to make informed choices that support their investment objectives.

A Resource for Both New and Experienced Investors

Best Vacation Home also recognizes the value of professional guidance and support throughout the vacation property ownership journey. The guide highlights the importance of selecting trustworthy partners, including real estate agents, building companies, and legal professionals. It also offers advice on managing risks, budgeting for expenses, and developing an exit strategy.

In addition to the guide, Best Vacation Home offers a range of services to assist buyers, including personalized consultations, property selection assistance, and access to exclusive listings.

The company's commitment to client satisfaction and its expertise in the vacation real estate market make it a trusted partner for individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of international property ownership.

For those interested, people may visit: https://www.bestvacationhome.at/get-free-guide to learn more.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251834

SOURCE: Jeremy McGilvrey
AI voice technology to power nationwide outreach campaign, helping more Americans connect with life-changing grant opportunities.

KATY, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / BioQuest Corp. (OTC:BQST), the parent company of conversational AI leader BotMakers, is proud to announce it has secured a nationwide outbound AI voice campaign contract with Atlas Grants, one of the country's fastest-growing organizations specializing in connecting individuals with grants, funding opportunities, and nonprofit assistance programs.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for both companies as they work together to scale outreach using BotMakers' advanced AI calling technology, which combines natural language voice agents with intelligent workflow automation. The goal: to connect millions of Americans with real funding opportunities - efficiently, respectfully, and at scale.

About Atlas Grants

Atlas Grants is a national platform dedicated to helping individuals and families locate grants and financial aid across categories such as housing, education, small business, and emergency assistance. With a mission rooted in access and equity, Atlas Grants has become a trusted source for connecting underserved communities with real resources-without red tape or predatory practices. To learn more or explore available funding opportunities, visit www.atlas-grants.org.

Under this agreement, BotMakers will deploy a fleet of AI voice agents capable of handling over 200,000 outbound calls per month-educating recipients, screening eligibility, and driving verified leads to Atlas's intake and support teams.

Trent Daniel, CEO of BotMakers and Product Development Director at BioQuest, shared the following statement:

"Atlas Grants is doing truly impactful work, and we're honored to play a role in expanding their reach. This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when mission meets technology. Our AI voice agents aren't just about automation-they're about connection, efficiency, and scalability with heart. We believe this campaign will help tens of thousands of people access resources they didn't even know were available to them."

The campaign is expected to launch Q2 2025 and will continue to scale nationally throughout the year. Additional integrations with SMS, email, and live-agent follow-up are already in development.

For more information about BotMakers' AI solutions or BioQuest's portfolio of innovations, visit www.botmakers.ai or www.bioquestcorp.com.



Media Contact:

Tamares Davis

PR & Media Relations

BotMakers, Inc.

press@botmakers.ai

1-866-753-8002



Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information 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. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "seeks," "estimates," and similar expressions. They are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors - some of which are beyond the company's control.

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. BioQuest, Inc. and BotMakers, Inc. undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: BioQuest

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Dental Anesthetics Market, valued at US$1.43 billion in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 4.0%, reaching US$1.48 billion in 2025 and an impressive US$1.80 billion by 2030. Several factors are driving the global market for dental anesthetics. These include an increase in dental infections, a growing patient population, and a rise in dental issues such as periodontitis and cavities. The market also benefits from a heightened awareness of oral health, a growing interest in cosmetic dentistry, and improved access to dental care, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, advancements in anesthetic systems, such as Computer-controlled Local Anesthetic Delivery (CCLAD), are expected to further boost the demand for dental anesthetics.

The market also faces challenges such as high dental treatment costs, side effects from dental anesthetics, and financial constraints for low-income individuals. Moreover, strict product approval processes and a shortage of skilled dentists may hinder market growth. However, the market is expected to continue growing in the future, driven by the expansion of dental clinics and an aging global population, both of which contribute to an increase in the volume of dental procedures worldwide.

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By Based on Type, Articaine is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to its many advantages over other types of anesthetics. The presence of a thiophene ring in articaine enhances its tissue penetration and lipid solubility, making it more effective. It diffuses efficiently into both soft and hard tissues, which is particularly beneficial for mandibular infiltrations, where other anesthetics often require nerve blocks. This quality makes articaine preferred by dentists for use in areas with dense bone.

Additionally, numerous studies have confirmed its safety profile when administered properly, including in geriatric and pediatric populations. These advantages contribute to the increasing use of articaine in dental practices.

By Based on Route of Administration, the dental anesthetics market is segmented by route of administration into four categories: topical anesthetics, injectable anesthetics, syringes, and needles. Injectable anesthetics are particularly popular due to several factors. They allow for precise targeting through nerve blocks, feature advancements in injection techniques, and offer high reliability with a fast onset of action. This results in more profound and longer-lasting numbness, making them ideal for complex dental procedures.

Another significant advantage is their versatility, as they can be used in various treatments ranging from simple fillings and deep cleanings to more intricate surgeries, such as root canals and implant placements. Additionally, injectable anesthetics can be tailored in terms of dosage, technique, and duration, further enhancing their appeal and increasing their market share in the dental anesthetics sector.

By end user, Dental clinics hold the largest market share in the dental anesthetics sector for several reasons. They have access to advanced anesthetic systems and digital imaging technologies, enabling them to effectively manage complex dental cases and offer customized solutions. Their widespread availability and ability to treat a large number of patients, combined with the presence of trained professionals, significantly enhance their capacity to deliver high-quality dental care.

Furthermore, dental clinics have established a strong reputation that fosters patient confidence, leading individuals to choose them for their dental needs. Their capability to provide a wide range of services under one roof-including general dentistry and endodontic procedures-further strengthens their competitive advantage in the dental anesthetics market.

By geography, the global market for dental anesthetics is divided into six main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa, and the GCC Countries.

Europe is anticipated to be the largest regional market for dental anesthetics during the forecast period due to its advanced healthcare systems, significant investments in healthcare, and the presence of key industry players. Residents in the region enjoy a high standard of living, which fosters greater awareness of dental health and boosts demand for both restorative and cosmetic dental procedures. This, in turn, increases the need for dental anesthetics. Major manufacturers of dental anesthetics in Europe are actively working to expand their product offerings and improve their distribution networks.

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The prominent players in the global dental anesthetics market are Septodont Holding (France), DENTSPLY SIRONA (US), Pierrel (Italy), Huons Global (South Korea), Normon (Spain), DFL Industria e Comercio S/A (Brazil), Ultradent Products Inc. (US), Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (UK), Clarben Laboratories (Spain), New Stetic S.A (Colombia), Primex Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Keystone Industries (US), Centrix, Inc. (US), GC SHOWAYAKUHIN CORPORATION (Japan), DMG America LLC (US), Zeyco (Mexico), Zymeth Pharmaceutical (India), Cetylite, Inc. (US), ICPA Health Products Limited (India), Crosstex International, Inc. (US), Young Innovations, Inc. (US), Mark3 (Cargus International, Inc.) (US), J.Morita Corp. (Japan), Kulzer GmbH (Germany), and Integra Lifesciences Corporation (US)

Septodont Holding (France):

Septodont Holding based in France, held the largest share of the global dental anesthetics market in 2024. This family-owned pharmaceutical and medical device company is renowned for its excellence in dental anesthetics and supplies. With a long history in dental care, Septodont has established itself as a world leader in creating, manufacturing, and distributing products for dentists and oral surgeons. The company's offerings primarily focus on dental pain management and include a range of items such as injectable and topical anesthetics, dental needles, safety syringes, reversal agents, and other innovative delivery systems. Septodont's products are available in over 150 countries worldwide.

DENTSPLY SIRONA (US):

dentsply sirona held the second-largest share of the global dental anesthetics market in 2024. As the world's largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, DENTSPLY SIRONA operates through four main divisions: Connected Technology Solutions, Orthodontic and Implant Solutions, Essential Dental Solutions, and Wellspect Healthcare. Under its Essential Dental Solutions segment, the company offers a diverse range of products, including endodontic tools such as motorized handpieces, files, sealers, and irrigation needles; restorative materials; curing lights; diagnostic systems; ultrasonic scalers; polishers; dental anesthetics; prophylactic pastes; sealants; and impression materials. DENTSPLY SIRONA serves dental and healthcare professionals in nearly 150 countries worldwide through a global distribution network supported by an extensive network of international subsidiaries.

Pierrel (Italy):

Pierrel, based in Italy, held the third-largest share of the global dental anesthetics market in 2024. The company is a leading worldwide supplier of pharmaceutical services, focusing on developing, manufacturing, licensing, and registering synthetic medications, particularly dental local anesthetics and medical devices for oral health. Pierrel's primary activities include producing pharmaceutical specialties for third-party clients, as well as the registration and marketing of dental anesthetics. These products are distributed globally under proprietary brands, including the well-known Orabloc. The company primarily distributes Orabloc, a dental anesthetic, in the US, Canada, Europe, Russia, and various non-EU countries. Pierrel operates in 68 countries worldwide and has obtained over 100 market authorizations.

For more information, Inquire Now!

Related Reports:

Needles Market

Dental Implants and Prosthetics Market

Orthodontic Supplies Market

Dental Consumables Market

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Get access to the latest updates on Dental Anesthetics Companies and Dental Anesthetics Market Size

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Teams across the bank's footprint hosted volunteer parties to support autistic and neurodivergent customers and communities.

By Candace Higginbotham

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Regions associates celebrate many observances throughout the year, and they're more than just calendar entries. Teams across the footprint use these occasions as opportunities to roll up their sleeves and get to work supporting customers, associates and communities in different ways.

In April, Regions teams celebrated two company observances, Autism Awareness Month and Share the Good, with one very impactful volunteer activity.

Autism Awareness Month is especially meaningful at the bank because so many people are affected. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 31 eight-year-old children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Nearly everyone has a family member, friend or acquaintance that lives with this condition.

Share the Good is an annual, month-long community outreach program that encourages associate volunteerism. And it happens to coincide with National Volunteer Month.

This year, Schiela Pena, Disability Services and Outreach manager at Regions, wanted to make the most of both observances and host volunteer events throughout Regions' markets to benefit customers and communities.

For several years Regions has prioritized a company-wide initiative to accommodate, serve and support the autistic and neurodivergent community.

Schiela Pena, Regions Disability Services and Outreach manager

"For several years Regions has prioritized a company-wide initiative to accommodate, serve and support the autistic and neurodivergent community," Pena said. "We've developed tailored products and services, incorporated innovative resources such as the MagnusCards app, along with specialized financial wellness curriculum and associate training. And we provide autism sensory packs and quiet rooms in many of our branches to ensure a safe and comfortable environment."

Regions sensory packs include a stress ball, fidget cubes, sunglasses and noise-canceling earbuds that assist customers with autism who may experience sensory episodes due to noise, lights and other factors.

To ensure Regions branches are well equipped with sensory packs and to also support local organizations that serve the autistic and neurodivergent community, Pena collaborated with Bibiana Gomez, Regions Inclusion, Belonging and Impact program manager, to engage the Regions Impact Networks. More than 15 markets participated, and thousands of sensory packs were assembled. Here's just a sampling:

Memphis

Members of the Memphis Impact Network and attendees of the market officer meeting put together 150 sensory packs for local Regions branches and community partner Star Center. More than 35 associates participated and according to Hunter Linnell, Retail Operations Manager and co-chair of the Memphis Impact Network, the event was a huge success. "Supporting the autism and neurodivergent community is important; everyone deserves to feel understood, supported, and included," Linnell said. "By taking small but meaningful actions like creating these sensory kits, we are helping to create environments where all individuals can feel more comfortable and respected. It's a reflection of our core values and our commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive."

Indiana

The Indiana Impact Network organized a volunteer event prior to their inaugural book club meeting. The team of 18 associates made quick work of assembling 300 packs before gathering to discuss Brene Brown's book, Dare to Lead. All 41 branches in the market received a sensory pack and 25 are being delivered to The Arc of Greater Boone County. Anson Branch Manager Soofia Strain and her team are actively engaged with this organization, including delivering financial wellness sessions.

Birmingham

The team in the headquarters city was a model of efficiency, with three shifts and many hands to assemble 300 sensory packs in record time. The packs are being delivered to local branches and to community partner Disability Rights & Resources. According to Elizabeth Shaw, Regions Corporate Compliance analyst and member of the Regions Impact Network in Birmingham, it was a fulfilling effort. "Assembling sensory packs for Autism Awareness was such a meaningful and fun experience that allowed me to contribute to creating inclusion and support to our friends with sensory needs," Shaw said. "I'm proud that Regions acknowledges the neurodivergent community, and I know the sensory packs will make a difference in someone's day."

Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Impact Network, led by network co-chair and Mortgage Regional Manager Steve Pickett and Consumer Banking Manager Adrian Goas, along with all the local branch managers, assembled 150 sensory packs that will be distributed to local branches and delivered to community partner The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation. "This cause is near and dear to my heart, as my 20-year-old nephew is autistic and I have three local associates who share a common bond as parents of autistic children," Pickett said. "I am so grateful Regions is an autism friendly bank and provides resources to improve the lives of those who live on the spectrum." The Impact Network also hosted an Autism Awareness call in April featuring three associates who are parents of autistic children who shared their experiences and offered information and education for better serving this community.

Other Regions teams supported the disability community this month in different ways. Members of the Birmingham-based Legal department spent a morning building trikes at Iron City Trykes/ Birmingham AMBUCS, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic tricycles for children and veterans with adaptive needs. "These adaptive trikes are uniquely designed to accommodate riders of all ages and abilities, helping people overcome mobility challenges while fostering strength, confidence, and inclusion," said Bradley Blair, Assistant General Counsel at Regions, who coordinated the activity. "This volunteer event was a great way for our team to come together, have fun, and make a meaningful impact in our community." Other Legal associates volunteered at the New Visions Day Program in Calera, Alabama, just south of Birmingham. New Visions provides services to adults with intellectual disabilities.

This reference sheet outlines the resources Regions provides for people with disabilities, including the autistic and neurodivergent community.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

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Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Regions Bank

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Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - FluroTech Ltd. (TSXV: TEST.H) ("FluroTech" or the "Company") announces that effective December 16, 2024, Dr. Brendan Miles and Michael Rodyniuk have resigned from the board of directors of the Company, with Michael Rodyniuk also resigning as President and CEO of the Company. Further, effective December 28, 2024, Danny Dalla-Longa has resigned from the board of directors of the Company. The Company would like to thank each of Dr. Brendan Miles, Michael Rodyniuk and Danny Dalla-Longa for their valuable contributions to the Company and wish them every success in their future endeavors.

As of the date of Mr. Dalla-Longa's resignation, the Company's board is comprised of James O'Brien and Richard Paolone. We note that the Company is not currently in compliance with TSX Exchange (the "Exchange") Policy 3.1 regarding the minimum number of directors & independence requirements. The Company is actively searching for a replacement independent director for the Company's board with the intent of filling the vacant position by the end of June, 2025.

The Company is also pleased to announce that, effective December 16, 2024, Richard Paolone has been appointed to the position of President and CEO of the Company.

Mr. Richard Paolone is a practicing securities lawyer focused on mining, agriculture and cannabis. Mr. Paolone is the principal lawyer of Paolone Law Professional Corporation. In his private practice, he has developed experience with respect to public companies, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and other facets fundamental to the natural resources sector. Mr. Paolone currently serves as Director and CEO of several other private and reporting companies.

About FluroTech Ltd.

FluroTech was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on May 24, 2018. FluroTech is currently inactive with limited operations and the Common Shares of FluroTech are currently halted on the NEX. FluroTech has no commercial operations and no assets other than cash and is a reporting issuer in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

Neither Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the 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/251929

SOURCE: FluroTech Ltd.
CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Smart Robots Market is projected to be valued at USD 33.83 billion in 2024 and reach USD 135.83 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 26.5% according to a new report by The Research Insights. The market for smart robots is driven by the integration of AI and advanced sensor technologies into new applications. The market expanded globally through organizational demands for productivity and safety improvements while the combination of cognitive systems and sensor technology enhanced their utility and accelerated adoption for global smart robot market

The report runs an in-depth analysis of market trends, key players, and future opportunities. In general, the Smart Robots market growth of 26.5% comprises a vast array of Component, Operating Environment, Mobility, End Use and Geography which are expected to register strength during the coming years.

For More Information and To Stay Updated on The Latest Developments in The Smart Robot Market, Download the Sample Pages: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/request_sample?id=6218

Market Overview and Growth Trajectory:

Smart Robot Market Growth: According to an exhaustive report by The Research Insights, the Smart Robot Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the rising integration of intelligent technologies with advanced sensor systems is leading to increased demand for smart robots in multiple industries. Smart systems enable robots to operate complex tasks independently while adapting to changing environments and enhancing their capabilities through ongoing learning. Advanced high-precision sensors allow robots to better perceive their environment which leads to improved navigation accuracy along with superior detection capabilities and enhanced interaction possibilities. Recent technological breakthroughs enable smart robots to become practical solutions for emerging fields like healthcare and agriculture along with logistics and home applications. Organizations aiming for increased productivity and safety levels see smart robots as essential tools due to the synergy between cognitive systems and sensor technology which drives both adoption rates and market expansion for Global Smart Robot Market.

Smart Robotics Revolutionizing Industry and Daily Life: AI Integration and Functional Expansion Reshape the Smart Robots Market

The smart robot market experiences significant changes due to the merging of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and robotic automation in multiple sectors including healthcare and defence through to hospitality and industrial automation. According to Artificial Intelligence in Robotics Market reports, the ability of smart robots to perform complex, decision-driven tasks is expanding rapidly, enabling them to operate autonomously in dynamic environments. Top companies concentrate their efforts on developing systems that offer greater flexibility along with increased payload capacity and multitask effectively. ABB has advanced industrial automation with its IRB 7710 and IRB 7720 robots which provide 46 new options and can manage payloads of up to 620 kg. FANUC's high-capacity CRX and CR collaborative robots demonstrate the industry movement toward small-sized sturdy systems that require minimal maintenance and enable safe human interaction.

In the consumer space, The iRobot Roomba Combo Essential showcases how home robotic devices are meeting advanced user expectations by providing smart solutions that combine vacuuming and mopping functions. These advancements align with findings in the Elder Care Assistive Robots Market, where intelligent robots are increasingly supporting elderly populations, home care, and facility operations. Meanwhile, the 2025 strategic partnership between SoftBank Robotics and McLaren International to develop hospitality facility management solutions in Australia demonstrates the integration of service robotics into mainstream commercial settings through AI-based automation technology which meets efficiency requirements and delivers superior guest experiences.

Sector-Specific Robotics Drive Specialized Innovation: From Battlefield to Operating Room

Smart robots have evolved from generic tools into specialized solutions designed to perform high-risk and high-precision tasks with maximum efficiency in essential industries. The Firefighting Robots Market reports highlight growing investments in robotics designed for extreme environments and hazardous missions, where human risk must be minimized. The introduction of cost-effective modular robots from companies including KUKA AG demonstrates their KR CYBERTECH series Edition as part of a movement to make robotics widely accessible in manufacturing and automotive industries through scalable and economical options for inspection and material handling tasks.

In the medical field, applications are becoming more precise and patient-centric. Reports like the Nanorobots in Healthcare Market, confirm the critical role of smart robotics in enhancing surgical precision, streamlining pharmaceutical workflows, and even enabling nanoscale interventions. Robotic technologies quickly become essential components of medical infrastructure as healthcare systems around the world focus on automation to improve throughput while reducing errors.

The current market evolution demonstrates continual growth and personalization alongside AI-driven smart capabilities which change how robots operate within physical spaces alongside human workers and complicated data systems. The smart robot industry will evolve into a fundamental support structure for industrial and social systems through its ability to enable advanced automation in all economic sectors.

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Human-Centric Automation Reshapes Services and Workforce Support: Robots as Collaborative Partners

The design of smart robots now focuses on creating intelligent partners rather than mere tools to boost human productivity and ensure safety while improving overall quality of life. As detailed in Elder Care Assistive Robots Market, the requirement to develop robotics capable of collaborating safely with humans in ever-changing real-world situations propels research and development of human-robot interaction methods along with intuitive control mechanisms and adaptive learning systems. Healthcare assistance robots alongside those supporting elderly care and handling pharmaceuticals and logistics tasks work together to deliver precise results while minimizing human physical workload.

Recent deployments underscore this evolution. In January 2025 SoftBank Robotics joined forces with McLaren International to revolutionize hospitality facility management by implementing AI-driven robotics for service automation. This partnership demonstrates how service robots that surpass basic automation functions support both guest satisfaction and operational efficiency improvements. FANUC's new CRX and CR collaborative robots which handle payloads up to 50 kg illustrate industrial cobots' growing versatility as they offer compact designs with powerful safety features and minimal maintenance requirements thus making them perfect for human-robot collaboration in warehouse, assembly, and light manufacturing contexts. This trend is also present in specialized healthcare environments. Human movement responsive robotic systems enter elder care facilities, surgical theatres, and pharmacies where they act as assistive partners or automation collaborators and surgical assistants. Smart robots transform the workforce by enhancing worker abilities and reducing operational risks while addressing staffing shortages throughout service-heavy industries.

Geographical Insights: Asia Pacific dominated the smart robot's market with the largest revenue share of 51.3% in 2024; it would continue to dominate the market during the forecast period. Followed by North America.

The Asia Pacific region leads in technological progress thanks to strong government backing and increasing industrial automation. The leading developers in robotics technology include China, Japan, South Korea and India because they focus on applications within manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and consumer services. The "Made in China 2025" initiative prioritizes AI and robotics investment to transition towards high-tech industrial development. Japan and South Korea leverage their sophisticated robotics infrastructure to deploy smart robotic solutions in elderly care, healthcare, and service sectors as they tackle challenges from aging demographics and insufficient workforce supplies. The growing middle class and rising consumer expenditures in Southeast Asia and India are driving the wider adoption of smart home and service robots. The region emerges as a primary global centre for smart robot production and consumption because top robotics manufacturers operate there along with rising R&D investments and government support which drives its fast expansion in the Global Smart Robot market.

Global Smart Robots Market Segmentation and Geographical Insights:

Based on component, the market is divided into hardware & software. The hardware segment held the largest share in 2024 of the global smart robots market because of their dominant revenue share which results from increased environmental awareness combined with supportive government policies and ongoing advancements in battery technology and charging systems.

Based on operating environment, the market is divided into Ground and Marine. The Ground-based robots segment held the largest share in 2024 of the global smart robots market due to their wide deployment in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and domestic sectors.

Based on Mobility, the market is divided into Mobile Robots, and Stationary Robots. The Stationary robots segment held the largest share in 2024 of the global smart robots market. They are ideal for repetitive, high-precision tasks such as assembly, packaging, and welding, where stability and accuracy are critical.

Based on end use, the market is divided into Personal and Professional. The personal use segment held the largest share in 2024 of the global smart robots market due to the growing demand for smart robots as companions, educational aides, household assistants, and solutions for routine tasks.

The Smart Robots Market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa.

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Key Players and Competitive Landscape:

The Global Smart Robots Market is characterized by the presence of several major players, including:

iRobot Corporation

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Fanuc Corporation

Omron Corporation

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

OTC Daihen Inc.

Panasonic Industry Europe GmbH

Yaskawa Electric Corporation

Kuka AG (Midea Group)

Boston Dynamics

These companies are adopting strategies such as new product launches, joint ventures, and geographical expansion to maintain their competitive edge in the market.

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Global Smart Robots Market Recent Developments and Innovations:

In January 2025: SoftBank Robotics Group entered into a strategic alliance with McLaren International Pty Ltd which stands as a top provider of hospitality cloud technology and systems integration services across the Asia Pacific region. The partnership seeks to transform facility management in Australia's hospitality industry through the implementation of robotic and AI automation technologies. The partnership demonstrates their mutual dedication to advancing technology which drives operational excellence and improves guest satisfaction through innovative solutions.

In May 2024: The introduction of the IRB 7710 and IRB 7720 models allowed ABB to extend its modular large robots portfolio. The introduction of the IRB 5710-IRB 5720 and IRB 6710-IRB 6740 models expands the total offerings to 46 robot variants with payload capacities between 70 and 620 kg. Customers now benefit from increased operational flexibility and performance along with expanded options thanks to this expansion.

In April 2024: The Roomba Combo Essential Robot from iRobot Corporation serves as a dual-function cleaning device with adjustable suction and liquid settings along with a V-shaped multi-surface brush and an edge-sweeping brush and uses a microfiber mop pad to both vacuum and mop hard floors at the same time. The company reached a significant achievement by selling more than 50 million robots across the globe.

In May 2023: KUKA AG introduced the KR CYBERTECH series Edition robot which provides affordable automation solutions for industries including manufacturing and automotive. The adaptable robot achieves superior performance in handling, quality checks and grinding operations through its compact and rapid design. The combination of its low cost and high efficiency positions this machine as the best option for basic automation tasks in entry-level machining and handling operations.

In May 2023: Fanuc Corporation introduced two high-payload capacity collaborative robots at the Automate 2023 show. The CRX and CR collaborative robot lines introduce models designed to handle weight capacities from 4 kg up to 50 kg. The CRX-25iA cobot with a 30 kg capacity and the CR-35iB cobot with a 50 kg capacity were showcased during the demonstrations. FANUC emphasized the CRX cobots' reliability and maintenance benefits together with their flexibility as well as the CR-35iB's strong build and minimal size to demonstrate efficient handling of heavy products.

Conclusion:

Advancements in artificial intelligence combined with machine learning and sensor technologies are transforming the smart robot's market and meeting increased demands from multiple industries. The shortage of workers in manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors speeds up the implementation of intelligent robotic systems due to their precise, autonomous, and adaptable functionalities. The use of smart robots is now critical for various tasks including warehouse automation and surgical support along with personalized customer service and eldercare assistance. The advancement of seamless human-robot collaboration requires the prioritization of safety measures along with the capability for real-time data processing and development of intuitive user interfaces. The combination of cloud robotics with IoT connectivity leads to better operational efficiency and improved remote-control functions. Customizable learning-enabled robotic systems are becoming essential components of intelligent ecosystems by following the larger patterns of Industry 4.0 and digital change initiatives.

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The report from The Research Insights, therefore, provides several stakeholders- Technology developers, robotics hardware and component manufacturers, AI and software solution providers, system integrators, industrial and manufacturing firms, healthcare providers, defence agencies, and government policy makers -with valuable insights into how to successfully navigate this evolving market landscape and unlock new opportunities.

With projected growth to US$ 135.83 billion by 2034, the Global Smart Robots Market represents a significant opportunity for AI and software developers, robotics hardware manufacturers, sensor and component suppliers, system integrators, automation service providers, logistics and manufacturing companies, healthcare service providers, defence contractors, investors, and others. By staying abreast of market trends, embracing innovation, and focusing on quality and performance, companies can position themselves for success in this dynamic and evolving market landscape.

Related Report Titles:

Military Robots & Unmanned Vehicles Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report

Virtual 3D Nanorobots Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report

Laboratory Robotics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report

AI-based Surgical Robots Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report

Healthcare Companion Robots Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report

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BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Plc - Portfolio Update

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 13

The information contained in this release was correct as at 30 April 2025. Information on the Company's up to date net asset values can be found on the London Stock Exchange Website at

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-home.html.

BLACKROCK LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI - UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151 )

All information is at 30 April 2025 and unaudited.



Performance at month end with net income reinvested



One

month

% Three

months

% One

year

% Three

years

% Five

years

% Sterling: Net asset value^ 5.9 5.3 -14.4 1.6 52.9 Share price 3.7 4.1 -12.9 -6.3 49.8 MSCI EM Latin America

(Net Return)^^ 3.3 2.4 -10.3 8.8 65.9 US Dollars: Net asset value^ 9.6 13.2 -8.6 8.1 62.0 Share price 7.4 11.9 -7.1 -0.2 58.8 MSCI EM Latin America

(Net Return)^^ 6.9 10.0 -4.3 15.8 75.7

^cum income

^^The Company's performance benchmark (the MSCI EM Latin America Index) may be calculated on either a Gross or a Net return basis. Net return (NR) indices calculate the reinvestment of dividends net of withholding taxes using the tax rates applicable to non-resident institutional investors, and hence give a lower total return than indices where calculations are on a Gross basis (which assumes that no withholding tax is suffered). As the Company is subject to withholding tax rates for the majority of countries in which it invests, the NR basis is felt to be the most accurate, appropriate, consistent and fair comparison for the Company.

Sources: BlackRock, Standard & Poor's Micropal

At month end

Net asset value - capital only: 358.48p Net asset value - including income: 359.92p Share price: 313.00p Total assets#: 116.1m Discount (share price to cum income NAV): 13.0% Average discount* over the month - cum income: 11.7% Net Gearing at month end**: 7.0% Gearing range (as a % of net assets): 0-25% Net yield##: 5.5% Ordinary shares in issue(excluding 2,181,662 shares held in treasury): 29,448,641 Ongoing charges***: 1.23%

Total assets include current year revenue.

#The yield of 5.5% is calculated based on total dividends declared in the last 12 months as at the date of this announcement as set out below (totalling 22.86 cents per share) and using a share price of 418.07 US cents per share (equivalent to the sterling price of 313.00 pence per share translated in to US cents at the rate prevailing at 30 April 2025 of $1.3357 dollars to 1.00).

2024 Q2 Interim dividend of 6.13 cents per share (Paid on 08 August 2024)

2024 Q3 Interim dividend of 6.26 cents per share (Paid 08 November 2024)

2024 Q4 Interim dividend of 4.92 cents per share (Paid on 07 February 2025)

2025 Q1 Interim dividend of 5.55 cents per share (Payable on 15 May 2025)

*The discount is calculated using the cum income NAV (expressed in sterling terms).

**Net cash/net gearing is calculated using debt at par, less cash and cash equivalents and fixed interest investments as a percentage of net assets.

*** The Company's ongoing charges are calculated as a percentage of average daily net assets and using the management fee and all other operating expenses excluding finance costs, direct transaction costs, custody transaction charges, VAT recovered, taxation and certain non-recurring items for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Geographic Exposure % of Total Assets % of Equity Portfolio * MSCI EM Latin America Index Brazil 57.3 58.6 60.4 Mexico 32.6 33.4 27.6 Multi-Country 3.5 3.5 0.0 Argentina 2.6 2.7 0.0 Chile 1.8 1.8 6.3 Peru 0.0 0.0 4.0 Columbia 0.0 0.0 1.7 Net current assets (inc. fixed interest) 2.2 0.0 0.0 ----- ----- ----- Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 ===== ===== =====

^Total assets for the purposes of these calculations exclude bank overdrafts, and the net current assets figure shown in the table above therefore excludes bank overdrafts equivalent to 9.5% of the Company's net asset value.

Sector % of Equity Portfolio* % of Benchmark* Financials 24.5 34.8 Materials 18.3 15.5 Consumer Discretionary 13.9 1.5 Consumer Staples 13.0 15.2 Industrials 8.2 10.3 Health Care 6.8 0.8 Real Estate 5.7 1.2 Energy 5.4 8.7 Information Technology 2.7 0.5 Utilities 1.5 7.7 Communication Services 0.0 3.8 ----- ----- Total 100.0 100.0 ===== =====

* excluding net current assets & fixed interest



Company Country of Risk % of

Equity Portfolio % of

Benchmark Vale: Brazil ADS 6.4 Equity 1.1 5.7 Petrobras: Brazil Equity 0.9 Equity ADR 2.5 3.5 Preference Shares ADR 2.0 4.0 Grupo Mexico Mexico 5.2 2.7 Grupo Financiero Banorte Mexico 5.0 3.7 Walmart de Mexico y Centroamerica Mexico 4.8 2.8 FEMSA: Mexico ADR 1.0 Equity 3.7 3.1 Rede D'or Sao Luiz Brazil 4.2 0.8 XP Brazil 4.1 1.0 Nu Holdings Ltd Brazil 3.7 6.6 B3 Brazil 3.4 2.2

Commenting on the markets, Sam Vecht and Gordon Fraser, representing the Investment Manager noted;

The Company's NAV rose by +5.9% in April, outperforming the benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Latin America Index, which returned +3.3% on a net basis over the same period. All performance figures are in sterling terms with dividends reinvested.1?

Emerging Markets had another positive month in April, gaining +1.0%, and once again outperforming US and Developed Markets equities despite heightened trade policy uncertainty. Latin America (+6.3%) was the best performing region. Mexico led the way with a +12.3% gain, driven by a relatively low 7%-8% accumulated tariff compared to around 28% in Asia and 20% in Europe. The market was also bolstered by strong exports in the manufacturing sector in the first quarter, as companies front-loaded ahead of tariffs. Meanwhile, Brazil's market saw a +4.3% increase in April.

At the portfolio level, security selection in Brazil and an overweight position to Mexico were the largest contributors. On the other hand, security selection in Chile hurt.

From a security lens, an overweight position to Brazilian footwear retailer, Azzas 2154, was the largest contributor, rebounding from March lows. Another stock that did well was financial technology and software solutions provider, StoneCo. An underweight position to Brazilian state-owned oil producer, Petrobras, was another relative contributor. The oil price experienced a sharp drop amidst Donald Trump's tariff threats and concerns around their potential impact on global growth. Lojas Renner, the Brazilian retailer, was also additive to relative returns after a broker upgrade.

On the flipside, the biggest detractor over the month was our overweight position in Brazilian real estate developer, EZ Tec. Whilst the first quarter operational data was decent, the number fell short of buy-side expectations. Brazilian iron ore producer, Vale, was another detractor as the stock fell on the back of a 1Q production miss following heavy rainfall.

Portfolio positioning remained largely unchanged in April. We took profits in B3 and Bradesco, as the stocks have delivered strong relative returns over the past two months while we topped up our position in NU Holdings, which has lagged. We continued to add to our holding in IT services company Globant, on the view that the stock looked oversold ahead of the US tariff announcement.

Mexico remains the largest portfolio overweight as of April end, while Chile is the largest underweight.?

Outlook

With Donald Trump securing a second term, there is potential for an acceleration in the already shifting geopolitical landscape. The President has been clear on his "America First" policy since his inauguration, which in our view is supportive of our "World in 3" narrative where we see a world splitting into three groups: those aligned with China, those aligned with the US and the rest (neutrals). Markets have entered a new regime where there is greater division of geopolitical ideology. Trade lines and supply chains are being redrawn, and 'neutral' countries, many of which are in Latin America, stand to benefit from this economic fragmentation.

Year-to-date, Latin America has outperformed broader MSCI Emerging Markets Index by as much as 16%, and the MSCI World Index by 20%, proving to be an unlikely defensive candidate amid an increasingly volatile world. Despite this run, Latin American equities are still cheap - notably, the MSCI Emerging Market Latin America Index is currently trading at a discount to both broader Emering Markets and the US. Yet, the region is still broadly out of favour.

We see interesting bottom-up opportunities particularly in Mexico and Brazil. In Mexico, we do not see a major change in the secular trend of nearshoring of supply chains, as Mexico will remain a much cheaper location to manufacture than the United States. Sheinbaum's pragmatic approach to trade negotiations underscores this view.

In Brazil, we favour companies with lower leverage and stronger earnings outlook.? Given cheap valuations, we also see the potential for share buybacks supporting the market in 2025.

1Source: BlackRock, as of 30 April 2025.

13 May 2025

ENDS

Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.com/uk/brla on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Equity Insider News Commentary

Issued on behalf of RUA GOLD Inc.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Insider News Commentary - It's almost universal now that analysts see the price of gold going higher than its current position. Now analysts at JPMorgan are making even bolder predictions than normal, saying that gold could reach $6,000 per ounce by 2029 , if just 0.5% of US assets held by foreign investors is reallocated to the precious metal. Already, jewelry merchants in the USA are seeing a frenzy for gold buying , meaning Main Street is bullish on gold too. In the market, several gold miners are making strides in developing their assets, with recent news coming from RUA GOLD Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF), Montage Gold Corp. (TSX: MAU) (OTCQX: MAUTF), Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (OTCPK: MWSNF), Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQB: LMGDF), and West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLFG).

Both industry heavyweight Rob McEwen and billionaire investor John Paulson are expecting gold to nearly hit $5,000 within the next few years, which could set the stage for a major rally in gold mining equities. Deutsche Bank sees $3,700 gold on the horizon, as gold mining stocks are starting to reflect that renewed momentum.

RUA GOLD Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF) is a gold exploration company working both of New Zealand's main islands-an unusual advantage in one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic mining regions. The company holds the largest position in the Reefton Goldfield on the South Island and is now expanding activity near OceanaGold's high-profile WKP project on the North Island.

RUA has just finished its second round of surface exploration at Glamorgan, moving closer to drilling what may be one of the most promising new gold targets in the Hauraki district. Fieldwork has outlined three priority zones with overlapping gold-arsenic soil anomalies, high-grade rock samples up to 43 g/t gold, and deep resistive features that often point to quartz-rich veins at depth. These are considered classic markers of a large-scale epithermal gold-silver system-identical to what's been seen at OceanaGold's Wharekirauponga (WKP) project less thank 3km kilometres away.

This is elephant country, with the Waihi Mine in the same goldfield having produced over 10M ounces of gold to date and still operating, and the WKP project already having an indicated resource of 1.4Moz at 17.9g/t of gold, and still open and expanding.

The company's technical team used drone-based magnetics, clay mineral analysis, and ground-based CSAMT geophysics to zero in on where the strongest signals converge. Four gold-arsenic anomalies were mapped, each stretching over four kilometres, but three have now been ranked highest for near-term drilling. An access agreement is being submitted by the end of May, and the full dataset is now being analyzed through VRIFY's DORA platform , an AI-assisted mineral discovery tool that RUA is working with to help rank and refine upcoming drill targets.

Glamorgan is just one part of RUA's larger play to revive New Zealand's historic gold belts using modern exploration methods and technology.

On the South Island, RUA holds roughly 95% of the Reefton Goldfield-an area that has historically produced over 2 million ounces from grades ranging between 9 and 50 g/t.

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Drilling at the company's Auld Creek project continues to turn up high-grade gold-antimony intercepts below the current resource outline, including 9.0 metres at 5.9 g/t AuEq and 1.25 metres at 48.3 g/t AuEq. Mineralization remains open at depth, and only two of four known shoots are currently included in the resource model-suggesting room for expansion. Integration of traditional mapping with predictive modeling has delivered compelling results , including 12 metres at 12.2 g/t gold equivalent, highlighted by a 2-metre section grading 54.8 g/t gold.

Elsewhere in Reefton, RUA is advancing the Gallant prospect, located just 3 kilometres from the past-producing Globe Progress mine, which had produced over 610,000 ounces between 2007 and 2016, with another 424,000 ounces extracted prior to 1950.

Gallant was initially flagged using AI-aided analysis (from VRIFY) of over 170,000 datapoints, and is now being tested for potential extensions of a 20.7-metre vein that previously returned 62.2 g/t gold -including a 1-metre interval grading 1,911 g/t. A few kilometres away, visible gold has been logged in most of the holes drilled at Murray Creek, where VRIFY's AI engine is helping prioritize zones with the strongest geological signals.

Gold is the central focus-but it's not the whole story.

In January 2025, New Zealand officially added antimony to its Critical Minerals List , recognizing the metal's importance to global supply chains. With surface samples at Auld Creek returning antimony grades over 40%, and drilling delivering intercepts above 8%, RUA may be sitting on one of the few Western assets with meaningful exposure to this increasingly strategic element. With antimony prices now above US$50,000 per tonne , and China tightening exports, that critical metals angle could become a compelling layer of upside.

Led by a technical team with a combined track record of more than $11 billion in past mining exits , and backed by $5.75 million in fresh capital, RUA GOLD is executing a focused, data-driven campaign to rediscover high-grade opportunities across both islands. With gold above $3,400 and investor interest returning to miners with real targets and tangible progress, RUA is quietly putting overlooked ground back on the map.

CONTINUED Read this and more news for RUA GOLD at: https://equity-insider.com/2025/04/24/others-found-1911-g-t-here-before-now-a-proven-11b-mining-team-is-back-to-finish-the-job/

In other industry developments and happenings in the market include:

Montage Gold Corp. (TSX: MAU) (OTCQX: MAUTF) is deepening its footprint in Cote d'Ivoire through a strategic partnership with Aurum Resources, gaining a 9.9% stake in the company. This move aligns Montage with heavyweight backers like the Lundin family and Zhaojin, as all eyes turn to the underexplored Boundiali belt. With aggressive drilling underway and feasibility studies expected soon, the region's gold potential is drawing serious institutional attention.

"With our Kone project located immediately south of Aurum's Boundiali gold project, both companies see significant opportunity for collaboration to enhance value creation for all our stakeholders," said Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage. "As construction at Kone continues to rapidly advance on budget with first gold pour well on track for Q2-2027, we remain focused on executing our strategy of creating a leading African gold producer."

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (OTCPK: MWSNF) reported a standout drill intercept of 28.6 metres at 10.3 g/t gold from deep below its Sunday Creek project in Victoria, Australia. This result supports a growing trend: grades at depth are improving across the property, similar to nearby Rising Sun.

The project now boasts over 60 ultra-high-grade intercepts and is notable for its mix of gold and antimony-a critical metal facing supply threats from China. As drilling continues, Sunday Creek is shaping up as one of the few Western assets positioned to supply both precious and strategic metals from a single, scalable discovery.

Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQB: LMGDF) is being acquired by CMOC in an all-cash deal worth C$581 million, offering shareholders a 71% premium over the recent trading average. The move underscores the strategic value of Lumina's Cangrejos project in Ecuador, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the region. As major players move in, it's a reminder that quality gold assets are becoming increasingly scarce-and valuable.

"After advancing the Cangrejos project for over 10-years and taking it from no defined resources to being poised to be one of the largest gold projects globally, the Lumina Group is excited for the transition of the Cangrejos project to CMOC," said Marshall Koval, CEO of Lumina. "The Lumina team looks forward to working with CMOC and all existing stakeholders to ensure the successful future development of the project."

West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLFG) has wrapped up a bulk sample at its Madsen Mine, delivering 2,498 ounces of gold with grades and tonnage aligning almost perfectly with expectations-a key milestone for mine readiness.

"We acquired Madsen because we believed an accurate geological model, detailed engineering design, and disciplined mining practices would enable exactly this - a mine that delivers to plan," said said Shane Williams, President and CEO of WRLG. "I am extremely pleased to deliver these bulk sample results and I look forward to ramping up operations at the Madsen Mine in the coming months."

The company sold 2,350 of those ounces between late March and early May, generating US$7.7 million at an average gold price of US$3,293 per ounce. With a 95% recovery rate and strong reconciliation from three separate zones, Madsen is proving its ability to deliver on plan. For investors, it's a promising sign that WRLG could soon join the ranks of Red Lake's next generation of gold producers.

Article Source: https://equity-insider.com/2025/04/24/others-found-1911-g-t-here-before-now-a-proven-11b-mining-team-is-back-to-finish-the-job/

CONTACT:

Equity Insider

info@equity-insider.com

(604) 265-2873

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Equity Insider is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). This article is being distributed for Baystreet.ca media corp, who has been paid a fee for an advertising contract with RUA Gold Inc. (forty five thousand dollars Canadian for a three month contract subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement from the company direct). MIQ has not been paid a fee for RUA Gold Inc. advertising or digital media, but the owner/operators of MIQ also co-owns Baystreet.ca Media Corp. ("BAY") There may also be 3rd parties who may have shares of RUA Gold Inc. and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ/BAY does not own any shares of RUA Gold Inc. but reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of RUA Gold Inc. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material, including this article, which is disseminated by MIQ on behalf of BAY has been approved by RUA Gold Inc. Technical information relating to RUA GOLD Inc. has been reviewed and approved by Simon Henderson, CP, AUSIMM, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Henderson is Chief Operational Officer of RUA GOLD Inc., and therefore is not independent of the Company; this is a paid advertisement, we currently do not own any shares of RUA Gold Inc. but will likely buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles.

While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/how-a-modest-portfolio-shift-could-drive-a-6-000-gold-supercycleand-lift-miners-with-it-302454116.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Ewa Kudlinska-Pyrz, General Manager of Mary Kay Poland and Lithuania, speaks on a panel at the annual Seldia Conference in Brussels, Belgium.

That was the topic on everyone's lips at the European Direct Selling Association's 9th annual conference in March, in Brussels. For Mary Kay, the answer is yes! At the Seldia CEO panel titled, "Are Direct Sellers the Original Influencers?" Ewa Kudlinska-Pyrz, General Manager of Mary Kay for Poland and Lithuania explored alongside fellow executives the origins of direct selling, the influence and impact of social media on the business model, future growth, and most importantly, the social and economic influence of entrepreneurship on the lives of millions of independent entrepreneurs in Europe and globally.

Below, Ewa shares her thoughts on entrepreneurship, the role of social media in driving entrepreneurial growth, and the future of direct selling.

Q: How are social media and e-commerce reshaping the direct selling industry?

Do you know who the "primogenitor" or the "original creator" of social influence is? What if I told you that it is the iconic Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the beauty and entrepreneurship company, Mary Kay!

In her research, Professor Victoria Crittenden Professor of Marketing and Research Scholar at the prestigious Babson College in Massachusetts, found that Mary Kay Ash was an early influencer and one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in the USA. Mary Kay Ash's influence was her word. She accomplished this not by using her influence to sell products but by using her power as an influencer to help women achieve their own goals.

Since early days, the purpose of Direct selling has not changed. Social media brings wonderful new opportunities to expand the reach of our independent beauty consultants. It only changes HOW "she" engages and maximizes her impact.

The rise of social media and e-commerce also bring growth perspectives to direct selling. According to research by the Business Research Company[1], the global direct selling market is projected to grow from $194.89 billion in 2024 to $208.46 billion in 2025, which is a 7% annual growth rate. Key drivers of this growth are the rise of direct-to-consumer (D2C) distribution, the rise in the use of online tools, rising internet penetration, rapid growth in social media, and rising awareness regarding health and beauty.

Learn more about Victoria Crittenden's research paper titled "The Power Of Language To Influence People: Mary Kay Ash The Entrepreneur"

Q: How is Mary Kay blending e-commerce/ social media and direct selling effectively?

Combining social selling, e-commerce, and personalized customer service is the winning formula to attract the next generation of Independent Beauty Consultants as well as a new generation of consumers accustomed to the convenience and immediacy of online shopping.

The exciting news is that our Mary Kay business opportunity allows the blending of in-person and digital avenues to empower the beauty consultant to sell with confidence.

We want to make selling easy and delightful for our IBCs and our digital platforms enable seamless use of digital technology in day-to-day operations, including placing orders.

Thanks to a variety of Mary Kay's tools, consumers can easily find our Independent Beauty Consultants wherever they are and shop with them online, in person, or through social media apps and channels.

Q: Tell us about the "Next Gen" Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants?

Our "next gen" Independent Beauty Consultants seek selling options that align with their lives and priorities. They are confident running their businesses online and in-person. They are seeking time flexibility and methods to earn additional income. They are passionate about beauty and well-being, and they want to make a positive impact in their communities.

Recent research shows that Gen Z (ages 18-26) and Younger Millennials (27-35) have a significant interest in direct selling. They have a positive perception, are comfortable learning about its opportunities, [2] and being part of a cause.

As a global company, we know it's important to understand customer preferences and how they differ across the world. Consumers want authentic, ethical, socially responsible, environmentally conscious, and science-based effective products from brands who walk the walk, which is what we deliver.

Q: Your motto in this social day and age?

Our founder and trailblazer Mary Kay Ash said: "Nothing happens until someone sells something. "

Like never before, we now have boundless opportunities to reach costumers WHERE they are, no matter if it is somebody in your neighborhood or across the country!

About Ewa Kudlinska-Pyrz: In 2003, Ewa was instrumental in the launch of Mary Kay in Poland and later helped expand Mary Kay's presence to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. She especially takes pride in seeing women thrive in their businesses and become entrepreneurs. Ewa holds a Master's Degree in Engineering from Warsaw University of Technology. She is a recipient of several awards, including "The 50 Most Valuable Women in Poland" and "Pearls of Polish Business." She has also been serving on the Board of Directors for the European Direct Selling Association (Seldia) since 2021 and is also serving as the Chair of the Polish Direct Selling Association (2025 - 2026).

Did you know?

Seldia, founded in 1968 to be the voice of the European direct selling sector, represents 25 national Direct Selling Associations (DSAs), 12 Companies (Corporations), 12 Service Providers, as well as 5.3 million independent entrepreneurs engaged in the sector.

Mary Kay is a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets.

Two years in a row, Mary Kay Inc. has been named the #1 Direct Selling brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics in the World[3] by Euromonitor International.

About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

# # #

[1] Source: Direct Selling Global Market Report 2025, January 2025.

[2] Source: Direct Selling News - "Roadmap of the Future," a May 2023 research study led by Bridgehead Collective with the goal of discovering America's perceptions of entrepreneurship, the gig economy, and direct selling.

[3] "Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2024 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2023 data

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Mary Kay on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Mary Kay

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mary-kay

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Mary Kay

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/are-direct-sellers-the-original-influencers%e2%80%a6-1027143
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Some journeys are measured in miles. Others are measured in character. For Jason Wood, it's both-and he's just getting started.

Jason's path to becoming a decorated U.S. Army veteran began in college, when he made a decision that would ultimately set the course for his future.

"I initially committed to a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship as a way to help pay for college," he said. "I never expected just how much that decision would shape my life."

This scholarship marked the beginning of Jason's remarkable military career. But shortly after he signed his contract with the Army, the course of history shifted with the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

"My understanding of what my responsibilities would look like after college was completely altered on that day," he said. "The attacks changed everything-not just for me, but for an entire generation of service members."

Answering the call to serve in a time of uncertainty, Jason went on to complete a distinguished seven-year career as an Army officer, including three combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom. One of his most rewarding experiences was leading the 89th Transportation Company as Company Commander, where he guided soldiers through the challenges of combat and earned recognition as the Transportation Corps Officer of the Year.

"It was the shared experiences and camaraderie that left the greatest impact on me," he said. "The lessons I learned in the Army-teamwork, discipline, and mission success-continue to shape how I approach every challenge."

Following his retirement, Jason chose to continue his mission in support of the military as a Senior Project Manager on the Navy Maritime Maintenance Enterprise Solution (NMMES) contract at CACI. With boundless opportunities to make an impact and grow professionally, he plays a key role in driving the success of one of the Navy's most critical maintenance systems.

Jason's passion for service extends beyond the workplace through his involvement with Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB), a nonprofit that supports veterans through physical and social activities. He is one of 12 veterans currently participating in the Old Glory Ultra Relay, a historic 3,000-mile run from San Diego to Washington, D.C., which aims to break a world record and raise $1 million for veterans' health programs.

Training for this incredible feat was no small challenge. Jason has been running 60-90 miles a week, with additional cross-training to build strength and endurance. As he prepared, he drew encouragement from the significance of the journey.

"The opportunity to run alongside these veterans with our flag-a powerful symbol of American pride and unity-is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said. "We will finish the relay at the National Mall at the future site of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial, making the conclusion even more significant."

Jason's participation in the relay is just one example of how CACI employees' commitment to service-both to customers and to the military and veteran community-is deeply woven into its culture. Employees are being encouraged to support this extraordinary effort by donating to the campaign and cheering Jason on every step of the way.

Jason joined CACI nearly a decade ago and will soon celebrate his 10-year anniversary with the company. He's proud to be part of an organization that offers veterans limitless potential to grow, innovate, and make a difference.

"CACI's commitment to veterans and military resonates deeply with me," Jason says. "It's motivating to work alongside a forward-thinking organization that values the contributions of military veterans in such a tangible way. It's not just about the work we do, but the way we do it-together, with integrity and purpose."

Discover your limitless potential at CACI.

About CACI

At CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI), our 25,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers' greatest challenges in national security. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World's Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at www.caci.com.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media:

Lorraine Corcoran

Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications

(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CACI on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CACI

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/caci

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CACI

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/profiles-of-good-character-spotlighting-cross-country-patriot-jas-1027144
BANGALORE, India, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Counterweight Market is Segmented by Application (Elevator, Forklift, Excavator, Crane, Wheel Loader, Aerial Work Platform, Bridge, Marine, Automobile, Home Appliance).

The Counterweight Market was valued at USD 4394 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 6112 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.

Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-21J14720/Global_Counterweight_Market

Major Factors Driving the Growth of Counterweight Market:

The counterweight market serves as a foundational component across multiple industries, ensuring balance, stability, and operational efficiency in machinery and equipment. From construction and mining to logistics and renewable energy, counterweights are critical for safe handling and lifting operations.

Materials like concrete and steel dominate due to their density, durability, and cost-effectiveness, while innovations in modular and sustainable counterweight solutions are gaining momentum.

As industries increasingly prioritize automation, precision, and environmental compliance, the demand for adaptable and recyclable counterweights is expanding. With rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and the rise of smart machinery, the counterweight market is expected to witness sustained global growth across both emerging and established economies.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTERWEIGHT MARKET:

Concrete plays a crucial role in driving the growth of the counterweight market due to its cost-effectiveness, high density, and availability. It is widely used in applications such as cranes, forklifts, elevators, and construction equipment where stable load distribution is essential. Precast concrete counterweights are increasingly adopted for their versatility and ability to be molded into different shapes and sizes, making them adaptable for various equipment designs. Additionally, concrete counterweights provide excellent resistance to environmental wear, making them suitable for outdoor use. Their non-corrosive nature and relatively low production cost offer manufacturers a competitive advantage, especially in emerging markets. As construction and infrastructure development activities surge globally, the demand for concrete-based counterweights continues to rise, fostering substantial growth across industrial and commercial sectors. This widespread adoption is reinforcing concrete's dominance in the counterweight market.

Steel is significantly contributing to the growth of the counterweight market, particularly in high-performance applications requiring compactness and higher density. Its superior strength-to-weight ratio enables the creation of smaller, yet heavier, counterweights, which is beneficial in equipment with spatial constraints. Steel counterweights are extensively used in elevators, escalators, heavy-duty machinery, and ships where precision balancing is critical. The recyclability of steel also adds to its appeal, aligning with sustainability goals across industries. Moreover, advancements in fabrication techniques have allowed the production of custom-engineered steel counterweights with enhanced durability. This has made steel the material of choice for premium and technologically advanced applications. With rising automation in logistics and increased reliance on vertical transportation in urban areas, demand for high-strength counterweights is growing, placing steel at the forefront of material selection in the market.

Elevators and forklifts are among the key application areas that are significantly propelling the counterweight market. In elevators, counterweights are essential to offset the car weight, reduce motor load, and ensure smooth vertical mobility. The expansion of high-rise buildings and increased urban development are intensifying demand for elevators, directly impacting counterweight consumption. In parallel, the growing logistics and warehousing industry is fueling the need for forklifts equipped with precise counterbalance systems. Counterweights in forklifts ensure operational safety and load handling efficiency. As e-commerce and automated warehouses continue to expand globally, the forklift market is witnessing robust growth, further pushing counterweight requirements. Manufacturers are innovating with modular and adjustable counterweights to meet specific application demands. These developments in elevator and forklift sectors are collectively boosting the counterweight market's growth trajectory.

The global surge in construction and infrastructure projects is a major factor propelling the counterweight market. Counterweights are indispensable in construction equipment such as tower cranes, excavators, and aerial platforms, where load balancing ensures operational safety and performance. As governments invest in smart cities, roadways, railways, and urban housing, the demand for heavy lifting machinery is escalating, which in turn drives the need for reliable counterweight systems. The emphasis on safety compliance and precision handling is further amplifying adoption. Additionally, construction activities in emerging markets are boosting demand for cost-effective counterweight materials such as concrete. The increasing need for modular and transportable counterweights in modern equipment design is encouraging manufacturers to offer innovative solutions, making this sector a significant growth contributor to the overall counterweight market.

The expansion of the renewable energy sector, particularly in wind and hydropower, is significantly contributing to counterweight market growth. Wind turbine installation and maintenance involve lifting and balancing large components, necessitating heavy-duty cranes with precise counterweights. Similarly, hydroelectric dam construction requires stability solutions in excavation and machinery positioning. As countries invest in clean energy infrastructure to meet sustainability targets, demand for related construction and handling equipment is increasing, indirectly boosting the counterweight market. Manufacturers are also developing eco-friendly counterweight materials to align with environmental regulations in this sector. This trend is especially evident in Europe and Asia-Pacific, where green energy deployment is advancing rapidly. As renewable projects become larger and more complex, the demand for high-capacity lifting systems and corresponding counterweights continues to grow steadily.

The growing preference for customizable and modular machinery is contributing significantly to counterweight market growth. Equipment manufacturers are increasingly offering machines with modular designs that allow users to adjust counterweight configurations based on specific applications. This flexibility reduces the need for separate equipment types and improves efficiency across operations. Adjustable counterweights are particularly valuable in rental equipment, where machinery must accommodate a variety of user needs. The trend is especially strong in the construction, logistics, and industrial sectors where space and load variability are common. Manufacturers are also adopting smart technologies to enable weight monitoring and remote adjustment, enhancing safety and productivity. This rise in demand for adaptable counterweight systems aligns with broader industry goals of cost reduction and operational efficiency, encouraging continuous innovation.

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COUNTERWEIGHT MARKET SHARE:

North America, with its mature construction and logistics sectors, continues to be a key market driven by modernization and safety regulations.

Europe shows strong growth, particularly in renewable energy and vertical mobility solutions. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region, powered by rapid industrialization, urban expansion, and heavy investments in smart city projects. China and India are leading contributors due to large-scale construction and mining operations.

The key manufacturers of Counterweight include SIC Lazaro, Konstanta, Max Iron, FMGC (Farinia), Blackwood Engineering, etc. the top five players hold a share over 27%.

In terms of material, it includes Cast Iron, Steel, Concrete, Lead, Tungsten Alloy. Concrete is the largest segment, occupied for a share of 61%.

Key Companies:

FMGC (Farinia)

Blackwood Engineering

Sic LAZARO

Gallizo

Max Iron

Swebor

Ondo Metal

Mars Metal

International Steel & Counterweights

Ultraray Metals

Crescent Foundry

Konstanta

AMAC Alloys

Huaining County Hengyuan Renewable Technology

Agescan International

Innotec

Zunhua Wanxin Construction Machinery

LB Steel

Hameco

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ST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- iotaMotion, Inc., a leader in robotic-assisted systems for cochlear implant surgery, today announced the first use of the iotaSOFT Insertion System outside of the United States. The technology is in use as a pre-market clinical investigation at University Hospital of Zurich, led by Professor Alexander Huber.

The study, titled "Analysis of electrocochleographic signals during speed-controlled cochlear implant electrode array insertion in a non-randomized controlled trial," represents a significant milestone in iotaMotion's history and the broader cochlear implant market. The iotaSOFT Insertion System, which has been used in more than 750 cases in the United States, provides unprecedented control of the electrode array insertion, enabling the optimization of intracochlear recordings using real-time electrocochleography (ECochG).

Professor Huber highlighted the significance of the collaboration: "Bringing this new robotic-assisted technology for cochlear implantation to University of Zurich was extremely important to our team. It will enable us to continue to advance cochlear implant care and explore techniques that have never been used clinically prior to this study."

The study leverages robotic control of the array insertion to analyze the relationship between electrode insertion dynamics and cochlear function, as measured by ECochG signals. This approach may pave the way for future advancements in cochlear implant programming and hearing preservation strategies.

"This represents a major milestone for iotaMotion as we expand outside of the United States with our technology," said Mike Lobinsky, President & CEO of iotaMotion. "The team in Zurich has been an exceptional partner, and we look forward to continuing our relationship."

While currently under pre-market clinical investigation, wider availability of the iotaSOFT Insertion System is planned for 2026.

About iotaMotion

iotaMotion, Inc. is a medical technology company based in St. Paul, MN, dedicated to advancing cochlear implant surgery beyond human capability through robotic-assisted solutions. Its flagship technology, the iotaSOFT Insertion System, is designed to provide a slow and consistent electrode array insertion that is designed to preserve delicate intracochlear structures. The system is commercially available in the United States and under clinical investigation in other global markets.

For more information, visit www.iotamotion.com or contact Wade Colburn, Vice President of Marketing and Clinical, at pr@iotamotion.com.

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Eindhoven, the Netherlands / Turin, Italy, 13th May, 2025. Leading global vendor finance company DLL (De Lage Landen International B.V.) and Iveco Group (EXM: IVG), a global automotive leader active in the Truck, Bus, Defence, Powertrain, and related Financial Services arenas, are entering into a Joint Venture (JV) to facilitate the energy transition in Europe. Together they will amplify access to low- to zero-emission commercial vehicles.



Subject to regulatory approvals, DLL will acquire a majority interest (51%) in GATE, presently a fully owned subsidiary of Iveco Group, through a reserved capital increase, to support the transition to low- to zero-emission commercial vehicles in Europe, while Iveco Group will retain 49% of the share capital. The new JV structure will provide GATE with strengthened financial backing and asset financing expertise, crucial for accelerating its growth strategy, driving its further development and expansion, and enabling it to achieve its ambitious objectives more efficiently and swiftly.



GATE facilitates access to more sustainable mobility through its rental solutions for low- and zero-emission vehicles. The formula is tailored to the customers' specific needs, offering an extensive digital ecosystem and high-quality services through premium partners. GATE will continue helping customers to build more sustainable fleets under the newly formed JV structure, strengthening activities that began in Italy in 2023 and that were extended to France and Germany in 2024. The GATE JV intends to further extend its reach to additional countries where both DLL and Iveco Group are already active and, over time, to offer similar solutions for other brands beyond IVECO.



Lara Yocarini, Chief Executive Officer of DLL commented: "One of DLL's goals is to be a transition partner for a better world. We are serious about our energy transition strategy, which focuses on working with partners and customers to help them achieve decarbonization, by financing, also through rental solutions, more sustainable, cost-effective, and future-proof assets. In the past few years, we have been investing heavily in e-Mobility. Partnering with Iveco Group, a pioneer in more sustainable transport, perfectly fits into our strategy. We are delighted to be able to join forces with such a reputable player and can't wait to start offering full-service solutions together with Iveco Group through this new GATE Joint Venture."



Simone Olivati, President, Financial Services, Iveco Group, stated: "This collaboration with one of the top players like DLL opens a significant new chapter for GATE. We have found in DLL a partner who fully shares the spirit of innovation with which we have tackled the challenges of the energy transition. GATE was conceived as an innovative business model with the primary goal of supporting the energy transition for our customers. We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our business and on the future of sustainable mobility."



About DLL

DLL is a global asset finance company for equipment and technology with a managed portfolio of more than EUR 47 billion. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, DLL provides financial solutions to the Agriculture, Construction, Energy Transition, Food, Healthcare, Industrial, Technology, Transportation and Workplace industries in more than 25 countries. The company partners with equipment manufacturers, dealers, and distributors to enable easier access to equipment, technology and software, to support business growth. The company also delivers insights and advice to partners and customers that drive smarter and more economical methods of use. DLL is committed to a more sustainable future for the environment and the communities in which it operates. To advance on this commitment, the company has embedded sustainability into its business strategy. Combining customer focus and industry knowledge, DLL provides financial solutions for the complete asset life cycle, including commercial finance, retail finance and used equipment finance. DLL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rabobank Group. To learn more about DLL, visit www.dllgroup.com.

About Iveco Group

Iveco Group N.V.



NOTE FOR THE EDITORS ** the following information is not intended for publication:

For more information contact:





DLL Corporate Communications

Annebelle Wijnen

Email: Annebelle.Wijnen@dllgroup.com

Tel.: +31 40 2338047

www.dllgroup.com

LinkedIn company page: www.linkedin.com/company/dllgroup

Iveco Group Media Contacts

Francesco Polsinelli, Tel: +39 335 1776091

Fabio Lepore, Tel: +39 335 7469007

E-mail: mediarelations@ivecogroup.com

Iveco Group Investor Relations

Federico Donati, Tel: +39 011 0073539

E-mail: investor.relations@ivecogroup.com



Attachment
Acquisition Expands Kele's Industrial Automation Portfolio and Geographic Reach

MEMPHIS, TN AND YORBA LINDA, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Kele, Inc. ("Kele"), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC ("Stephens Group"), is pleased to announce its acquisition of Tom Ponton Industries, Inc. ("Ponton Industries"), an instrumentation sales and consulting firm. The acquisition further expands Kele's footprint within the instrumentation sales market. Ponton Industries will become an integral part of the industrial offerings of the Kele Companies, which include Lesman Instrument Company (Bensenville, IL), A-Tech Inc. (Tulsa, OK), and AC Controls (Concord, NC). Ponton Industries specializes in providing its customers with complete solutions to their flow, level, temperature, pressure, and process control requirements. The company serves customers through engineering consulting and technical support for process instrumentation selection. The transaction marks Kele's seventh acquisition in the last seven years.

Kele President and CEO?Danny Lyons?said, "We are thrilled to welcome Ponton to the Kele Companies. Marty Ponton, President of Ponton Industries, and the Ponton team bring a wealth of experience serving the industrial markets, OEMs, and municipalities across California, and we look forward to leveraging that experience across Kele."

Mike DeLacluyse, President of Kele Industrial,?said, "We have worked with Marty and his team for many years and have great respect for the organization they have built. We are excited to join forces with them and continue expanding along the West Coast."

"After carefully evaluating our options for a strategic partner to propel our company forward, we firmly believe that Kele's robust tools and forward-thinking vision align perfectly with our customers' increasing demands for cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. We are thrilled to unite with Kele Industrial and drive our shared goals to new heights!" said Marty Ponton, President of Ponton Industries.

Grant Jones, Managing Director at Stephens Group, added, "The acquisition of Ponton Industries further strengthens Kele's position in the industrial automation space. This is a natural fit with Kele's existing operations and will provide new growth opportunities, particularly in the Western U.S. We are thrilled to support this acquisition as we continue to build a market leader in the industrial automation sector."

About Kele, Inc.?

Kele, Inc. is a leading distributor of Commercial and Industrial Automation products and controls solutions globally. Kele serves the Commercial and Industrial Automation markets with more than 300 brands and 3+ million parts in stock, including actuators, gauges, relays, sensors, switches, transmitters, valves, and more. Value-added services include custom panel assembly, specialized sourcing, and technical support. Kele is a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC of?Little Rock, Ark.?To learn more about Kele, visit? kele.com .

About Ponton Industries?

Ponton Industries has been providing automation machinery manufacturing solutions since 1972. It specializes in providing its customers with complete solutions throughout all of California and Western Nevada. Its focus is to support customers from product selection to start-up and commissioning. Ponton Industries is committed to its customers with a goal of making it as easy as possible to do business and providing the latest, most reliable and most cost-effective technologies to solve customers' measurement and control applications.? Learn more about Ponton Industries at pontonind.com .

About The Stephens Group, LLC

The Stephens Group, LLC ( https://www.stephensgroup.com ) is a private investment firm that partners with talented management teams to help build valuable businesses. Backed by the resources of the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, the firm combines the operational expertise of a private equity firm with the flexibility provided by long-term capital. With over $2 billion of private equity assets under management, the firm has a long history of providing informed, sophisticated expertise and working with owners and managers to help them successfully achieve their strategic visions and build long-term value. Since 2006, The Stephens Group has invested in over 50 companies, targeting investments in industries across the U.S., including industrial products and services, specialty distribution, and vertical software.

Contact Information

Tena Rutledge

Senior Director, E-Commerce

tena.rutledge@kele.com

9016055134

Kate Griffin

Marketing Content Specialist

kate.griffin@kele.com

9013561956





SOURCE: The Kele Companies

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/kele-inc.-completes-acquisition-of-ponton-industries-1027104
Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Commerce Resources Corp. ("Commerce" or the "Company") (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated April 9, 2025, the Company has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of secured convertible notes (the "Notes") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$2,150,000 (the "Offering").

The Notes accrue interest at a rate of 20.0% per annum, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in an applicable interest period and on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be (the "Interest") and mature on May 12, 2027 (the "Maturity Date"). Unless converted or redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes (the "Principal Amount") will be owing and accrued Interest due and payable at the Maturity Date. As previously disclosed, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering as interim funding to be used for the continuation of studies for the development of the Ashram Project and for working capital while the Company's proposed transaction (the "Transaction")with Mont Royal Resources Limited, as announced in the news release dated April 8, 2025, is completed.

If the Transaction occurs within 12 months from the date of issuance of the Notes: (i) the Principal Amount will automatically convert into common shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") at the implied price per Share at which equity securities of the Company or of another issuer are issued under a financing undertaken in connection with the Transaction (the "Automatic Conversion Price"), provided that the Automatic Conversion Price is equal to or greater than C$0.06 (being Commerce's closing share price on April 8, 2025); and (ii) the amount representing the aggregate Interest that would be accrued on the Principal Amount of the Notes for the entire 12-month period beginning on the date of issuance will be accrued but unpaid and shall convert into Shares in accordance with the Interest Rules (as defined below) (the "Additional Interest Payment"). For greater certainty, the Additional Interest Payment will only be applicable in the event of an automatic conversion.

In the event the Transaction is not completed within 12 months from the date of issuance, the holders of the Notes may, at its sole discretion, elect to convert all of the Principal Amount on the Maturity Date at the price of C$0.12 per Share (the "Optional Conversion Price") or, at a conversion price lower than the Optional Conversion Price in the event the Company undertakes an equity financing lower than the Optional Conversion Price, subject to a minimum conversion price of C$0.10 (rather than C$0.06 as disclosed in the news release dated April 9, 2025) and the prior approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"). If the Transaction does not proceed within 12 months of the date of issuance of the Notes, the holders of the Notes will also have a pre-emptive right to participate in any equity financing of the Company up to the aggregate amount of the Principal Amount and Interest outstanding.

The number and terms of any Shares issued in payment of any accrued Interest on the Principal Amount, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payments will be based upon a price per Share that is not less than the closing price of the Shares listed for trading on the TSX-V at the time such accrued Interest, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payment becomes payable and any such payment of accrued Interest, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payment in Shares shall be subject to prior TSX-V acceptance, with the application for the TSX-V acceptance to be made by the Company at the time such accrued Interest, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payment becomes payable (the "Interest Rules").

The Company may redeem the Notes at any time prior to the Maturity Date at a price equal to the aggregate amount of the Principal Amount owing and accrued Interest outstanding and a cash amount equal to the sum of half of all payments of interest that would be due through the Maturity Date after redemption.

The Notes are secured under a general security agreement and rank pari-passu as between themselves and all holders of Notes have entered into an interlender agreement in connection therewith. The Notes and the underlying Shares issuable thereunder, are subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months plus one (1) day following the closing of the Offering.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to Alpha Node Capital Pty Ltd. (the "Finder") a cash finder's fee in the amount of $66,000, representing 6% of $1.1 million placed by the Finder. The Company also issued 1,100,000 finder's warrants (the "Finder Warrants") attributable to the $1.1 million placed by the Finder. Each Finder Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share of the Company until May 12, 2028, at an exercise price of $0.075 per Share. All Shares and Finder's Warrants issued in relation to these finder's fees are subject to a hold period expiring four (4) months plus one (1) day following the closing of the Offering.

Closing of the Offering is subject to final acceptance by the TSX-V.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or to any "U.S. Person" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")) of any equity or other securities of the Company. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption therefrom. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located within their Eldor Property, in northern Quebec, Canada. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (more than 30 - 45% TREO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (more than 60 - 75%) in line with active global producers.

The Ashram Deposit also has a fluorspar component which makes it one of the largest potential sources of fluorspar in the world and could be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market.

Additionally, Commerce is committed to exploring the potential of other high-value commodities on the Ashram Property such as niobium and phosphate minerals, which may help advance Ashram by reducing costs through shared development.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

Ian Graham Chairman

Tel: 604.484.2700

Email: info@commerceresources.com

Web: http://www.commerceresources.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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which includes any information about activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the proposed Transaction and the terms thereof; the intended use of proceeds of the Offering; the conversion of the Notes and the Obligations, as applicable; the continued advancement of the Ashram Project to development; that Ashram's fluorspar component which makes it one of the largest potential sources of fluorspar in the world and could be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets; that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth element producers globally, with a focus on being a long-term global supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide; and that the Company may explore the potential of other high-value commodities on the Ashram Property. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these events, activities or developments from coming to fruition include: the ability to obtain approvals in respect of the Transaction and to consummate the Transaction, ability to consummate any equity financing in connection with the Transaction, actual results of current and future exploration activities; that the Company may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Ashram Project; that even if the Company is able raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that the Company may not have sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of the proposed drill program and any future work programs may not be completed as proposed or at all; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful or samples derived from the Ashram Project may not yield positive results, and even if such tests are successful or initial sample results are positive, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the anticipated market demand for rare earth elements and other minerals may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; geopolitical risks which may result in market and economic instability; and despite the current expected viability of the Ashram Project, conditions changing such that even if metals or minerals are discovered on the Ashram Project, the project may not be commercially viable, or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions, including the non-occurrence of the risks and uncertainties that are described above and in the filings made with the applicable Canadian securities regulators or other events occurring outside of our normal course of business, and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/commerce-resources-announces-closing-of-c2.15-million-non-brokered-private-placem-1027189
The 2025 cohort of Knight-Hennessy scholars represents 25 countries and 46 graduate degree programs across Stanford University.

STANFORD, Calif., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University today announced its 2025 cohort of 84 new scholars. This eighth cohort comprises students from 25 countries who will pursue degrees in 46 graduate programs across all seven graduate schools at Stanford. For the first time ever, the cohort includes scholars with citizenship from Cameroon, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Spain, Sudan, and Tunisia.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate fellowship program across all seven schools at Stanford University. Knight-Hennessy scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world. Scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

"Our world has never been in greater need of leaders to address a wide range of challenges," said John L. Hennessy, Stanford University president emeritus and the Shriram Family Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. "Our scholars are ready to think boldly, act wisely and humbly, and lead with purpose, helping build a better future for all of us."

Knight-Hennessy scholars grow as emerging leaders who have a commitment to the greater good and the tools needed to drive meaningful change. The King Global Leadership Program is a core part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience, offering a wide range of workshops, lectures, projects, and experiences that complement scholars' graduate school education, helping them reach their leadership objectives.

Among the 2025 scholars , 48 percent hold a non-U.S. passport. Fifty-three percent of U.S. scholars identify as a person of color, and 11 percent have served in the U.S. military. The scholars earned undergraduate degrees at 58 different institutions, including 20 international institutions and 20 institutions represented for the first time. Eighteen percent are the first in their family to graduate from college. The eighth cohort brings the total scholar count to 597 to date, beginning with the inaugural cohort enrolled in 2018.

"Our community is enriched by the distinct experiences and insights each new scholar offers," said Tina Seelig, executive director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. "It's inspiring to see the scholars build connections across disciplines, cultures, and ways of thinking, strengthening their capacity to take on the world's most urgent challenges."

The application for the 2026 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars will open June 1, 2025, and is due October 8, 2025. Prospective scholars can attend information sessions to learn about the community, the leadership development program, and the admission process. Knight-Hennessy Scholars has no quotas or restrictions based on region, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration.

Announced in 2016, Knight-Hennessy Scholars is named for Phil Knight, MBA '62, philanthropist and co-founder of Nike Inc., and John Hennessy, chairman of Alphabet Inc. and president emeritus of Stanford (2000-2016). Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the largest, university-wide, fully endowed graduate fellowship in the world. Learn more at kh.stanford.edu .

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Lyon, France - Austin, Texas, United States - Mai 13, 2025 - 6.00 pm CET - Theranexus, a biopharmaceutical company developing drug candidates for rare neurological diseases and the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF), today announced new real-world data strongly supporting the efficacy of Batten-1 (miglustat) as a treatment for CLN3 disease, also known as juvenile Batten disease.

The analysis evaluated visual acuity outcomes in CLN3 patients treated with Batten-1 (miglustat, n=11), versus untreated patients (n=22), using real-world data collected from natural history studies, family interviews, published reports, and prescribers' personal communications. This analysis focused on patients with measurable visual acuity at baseline (visual acuity score  1.9 LogMAR) and compared the progression of visual function between groups over a 12-month period. To ensure an appropriate comparison between the treated and untreated groups, a propensity score methodology was applied.

The analysis demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful difference in favor of Batten-1 treatment on visual function with a notable preservation of visual acuity in treated patients compared to untreated patients. The notable preservation of visual acuity in treated patients compared to untreated patients add to the positive results from the Phase 1/2 study of Batten-1[1] and underscore the potential of miglustat to address critical unmet needs in Batten disease. The visual acuity endpoint used in the real-world analysis is the same as that selected for the planned pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of Batten-1, a design endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[2] and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)[3].

"We are deeply grateful to the patients, their families, and the healthcare providers who made this important analysis possible by agreeing to share their experiences and those unique clinical data. This collaboration has been essential in demonstrating Batten-1 potential to change the course of CLN3 disease" explains Craig Benson, Chairman of the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation.

"Achieving near stabilization of visual acuity over 12 months in CLN3 patients is truly remarkable and unprecedented. In this population, we would typically expect a relentless decline in vision. These results offer real hope for altering the natural progression of the disease," commented Dr. Gary Clark, MD, Chief of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

"These results have been observed using the primary efficacy endpoint defined in our Phase 3 trial, this is highly reassuring. These findings strongly support our development strategy and reinforce the relevance of our endpoint in demonstrating Batten-1 potential efficacy" concluded Marie Sebille, Chief Medical Officer at Theranexus.

Results will be submitted for presentation at the NCL 2025 Conference, to be held in Australia in October.

About Batten-1

Batten-1 is a novel and exclusive proprietary drug containing the active ingredient miglustat. The mechanism of action of this substance blocks the accumulation of glycosphingolipids and neuroinflammation, thus significantly reducing neuronal death that contributes to a progressive loss of function in patients. For patients over 17 years of age in the Phase I/II trial, the product is administered in solid form. In the Phase III trial, it will be administered in a liquid form better suited to pediatric patients.

Phase I/II trial design: this is an open-label trial involving 6 patients over 17 years of age with CLN3 Batten disease, treated with miglustat up to 600 mg/day for an 18-month period. The primary endpoint is patient safety and tolerability, assessed using reports of adverse effects, biological tests and ECG, as well as the pharmacokinetics of miglustat. The secondary endpoints include biomarkers (NfL, glycosphingolipds), efficacy monitoring: Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale, visual acuity, measurement of brain volumes by MRI and measurement of the thickness of the neuronal layer of the retina by optical coherence tomography scans. Administration of Batten-1 in escalating doses with a maximum of 600 mg/day was well tolerated, with no severe side effects observed causing treatment discontinuation. The most commonly reported adverse events are reversible gastrointestinal effects of often light to moderate severity, thus demonstrating the good tolerability profile of Batten-1 in this population. Further information about the trial is available on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05174039 .

About Batten disease

Juvenile Batten disease, also known as Spielmeyer-Vogt or CLN3 disease, is a rare, fatal, inherited disorder of the nervous system for which there is no treatment or cure. Juvenile Batten disease belongs to a group of disorders referred to as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs). Over 400 different errors in 13 genes have been attributed to various forms of NCL, which differ from one another primarily by when symptoms first appear. The first symptom in the juvenile form, progressive vision loss, appears between the ages of 4 and 6 and is followed by cognitive disorders, behavioral disorders, and motor disorders. Seizures commonly appear within 2-4 years of the onset of disease. Over time, patients continue to decline mentally and physically. Eventually, those affected become wheelchair-bound, are bedridden, and die prematurely.

Juvenile Batten disease is always fatal; usually by the late teens to early 20s. In the United States and Europe, the juvenile form is the most common of the NCLs, which together, affect nearly 2,000 patients[4]. In pathophysiological terms, interactions between neurons and glial cells play key roles in the emergence and progression of all the NCLs.

About Beyond Batten Disease Foundation

Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF) is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research for a treatment and cure for juvenile (CLN3) Batten disease. Since its inception in 2008, over $35 million has been invested in research by leveraging donations, co-funding and strategic partnerships. BBDF is spearheading a unique, cohesive strategy, incorporating independent scientific resources and collaboration with related organizations to drive research in juvenile Batten Disease. Today there is a treatment in sight. BBDF funded research has discovered a drug - Batten-1 - that slows the progression of the disease in Batten models. More information can be found at www.beyondbatten.org .

About Theranexus

Theranexus is an innovative biopharmaceutical company that emerged from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The company has a unique platform for the identification and characterization of advanced therapy drug candidates targeting rare neurological disorders and an initial drug candidate in clinical development for Batten disease.

Theranexus is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (FR0013286259- ALTHX).

For more information:

http://www.theranexus.com

Follow us on X and LinkedIn

Contacts:

THERANEXUS

Christine PLACET

Chief Financial Officer

contact@theranexus.com

FP2COM

Florence PORTEJOIE

Medias Relations

+ 33 (0)6 07 76 82 83

fportejoie@fp2com.fr

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Theranexus and its business, including its prospects and product candidate development. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Theranexus considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the universal registration document of Theranexus filed with the AMF on 29 April 2025 under number D.25-0350 (a copy of which is available on www.theranexus.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Theranexus operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Theranexus or not currently considered material by Theranexus. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Theranexus to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. Theranexus expressly declines any obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

[1] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_Results_18_Nf_biomarkers_DEF.pdf

[2] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_End_of_phase_2_meeting_VDEF1.pdf

[3] https://www.theranexus.com/images/pdf/Theranexus_PR_Positive_Opinion_EMA_VDEF.pdf

[4] National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)/Orphanet

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Strong performance in the second quarter, with an increase of +13.1%

Annual targets confirmed

Rungis, 13 May 2025 - Omer-Decugis & Cie (ISIN Code: FR0014003T71; symbol: ALODC), an international group specializing in fresh and exotic fruits and vegetables, announces its revenue for H1 2024/25 (1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025) and Q2 2024/25 (1 January to 31 March 2025).

000 - French GAAP, unaudited Q2

2023/24 Q2

2024/25 Change 6 months

2023/24[1] 6 months

2024/25 Change SIIM division 42,191 50,407 +19.5% 92,947 110,958 +19.4% Bratigny division 15,555 14,902 - 4.2% 30,912 29,440 - 4.8% Omer-Decugis & Cie 57,746 65,309 +13.1% 123,859 140,398 +13.4%



Omer-Decugis & Cie maintained its strong growth momentum in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024/25, with revenue of 65.3m, up 13.1% (+10.8% organic growth) compared to the first half of the previous fiscal year.

The SIIM division recorded revenue of 50.4m, reflecting strong growth of 19.5% (+16.4% organic growth). This performance was driven by robust demand, the development of avocado and exotic product ranges, and an aggressive commercial expansion strategy across all segments and distribution channels, including the Scandinavian markets, now supplied directly by EMA'S.

The Bratigny division, however, reported a 4.2% decline in revenue to 14.9m over the period. This is primarily due to a slowdown in demand observed since last September in the retail segment, as consumers shifted toward mass-market retails channels in a challenging socio-economic environment. Bratigny's business, after several years of strong growth, is temporarily impacted by the division's restructuring and product range adjustments following the acquisitions of Champaris and Anarex.

At the end of the first half of fiscal year 2024/25, Omer-Decugis & Cie reported revenue of 140.4m, representing an increase of 13.4% (+10.3% organic growth) compared to the same period the previous year. This sustained growth was largely driven by the SIIM division's strong performance, which generated half-year revenue of 111.0m, up 19.4% (+15.4% organic growth). This momentum underlines the effectiveness of the Group's commercial strategy and the strength of its market positioning and product offerings. Significant market share gains across nearly all segments (BAMA, exotic and ethnic products) reflect not only the enduring quality of the Group's European offering but also validate its capacity expansion strategy over the short, medium, and long term.

The Bratigny division posted half-year revenue of 29.4m, reflecting a slight decline of 4.8%, due to a softer market environment and the gradual restructuring of its product offering.

Vincent Omer-Decugis, Chairman and CEO of Omer-Decugis & Cie, stated: This first half confirms the momentum behind the Group's global development, with record revenue of 140.4m, up 13.4% year-on-year. This excellent performance reflects the growing strength of our strategic BAMA segment (Banana, Pineapple, Mango, Avocado) and the sustained expansion of our complementary exotic product ranges, which continue to resonate strongly with European consumers. The wholesale business, meanwhile, is experiencing a pause, due to both economic factors (a shift in consumption patterns at year-end) and the ongoing restructuring of its product offering. This temporary dip remains under control and does not call into question the fundamentals of our business model in this sector.

The Group is now entering a new phase of development, with the opening of its future logistics platform in Dunkirk Port. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, following the issuance of the construction permit. 

Outlook

With a strong business outlook towards the end of the fiscal year, the Group is entering the second half of 2025 with confidence and reaffirms its annual targets: revenue growth of 10% and an EBITDA margin of around 5%.



Forthcoming financial events:

H1 2024/25 results and Q3 2024/25 revenue, 21 July 2025 (after close of trading)

FY 2024/25 revenue, 3 November 2025 (after close of trading)

For more information: www.omerdecugis.com

About Omer-Decugis & Cie

Omer-Decugis & Cie is a family-run group founded in 1850, specialising in fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly exotic produce, for European consumers. With expertise in the entire value chain, from production to import, as well as specific know-how in ripening, the Group markets its fruit, mainly from Latin America, Africa and Europe, through all distribution networks (supermarkets and hypermarkets, out-of-home catering, specialised distribution and fresh-cut). Committed to sustainable agriculture that respects the local environment and people, the Group achieved a rating of 81/100 in the EthiFinance ESG Ratings 2024 campaign, underlining the maturity of its ESG approach. Based at Rungis Market, Omer-Decugis & Cie had sales of 247 million at 30 September 2024, representing more than 160,000 tonnes distributed.

Contacts

Omer-Decugis & Cie

Emeline Pasquier

epasquier@omerdecugis.com

www.omerdecugis.com ACTUS finance & communication

Corinne Puissant - Investor Relations

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 77 - omerdecugis@actus.fr

Fatou-Kine N'DIAYE - Presse Relations

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 34 - fndiaye@actus.fr

[1] SIIM: Integration of 100% of EMAS consolidated since March 1st, 2024

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - AnalytixInsight Inc. (TSXV: ALY) (OTC Pink: ATIXF) ("AnalytixInsight"), is pleased to announce it has amended and restated the amalgamation agreement (the "Original Amalgamation Agreement") dated March 3, 2025 among AnalytixInsight, Polymath Research Inc. ("Polymath") and 16737803 Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AnalytixInsight ("Subco") (the "Amended Amalgamation Agreement"). AnalytixInsight also announces that Polymath has entered into an asset purchase agreement dated May 13, 2025 (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") among Polymath, Polymesh Association ("Polymesh Switzerland") and Polymesh Labs Ltd. ("Polymesh Labs"), a wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary of Polymath. AnalytixInsight also provides an update on the reverse takeover transaction with Polymath announced March 4, 2025 including the brokered concurrent financing for Subscription Receipts (defined below) on a commercially reasonable efforts private placement basis (the "Concurrent Financing"). AnalytixInsight announces that, in light of the signed Amended Amalgamation Agreement, it has elected to cancel its previously scheduled annual general and special meeting (the "AGSM") set for June 19, 2025. The AGSM has been rescheduled and will now take place on August 25 2025. Further details regarding the August 25, 2025 AGSM, will be provided in due course.

Amended and Restated Amalgamation Agreement

On May 13, 2025, AnalytixInsight, Polymath and Subco entered into the Amended Amalgamation Agreement, pursuant to which AnalytixInsight is proposing to consolidate (the "Consolidation") its common shares (each, a "Common Share") on the basis of 25 pre-Consolidation Common Shares into one (1) new post-Consolidation Common Share (the Original Amalgamation Agreement previously contemplated a Consolidation ratio of 25:1). The Amended Amalgamation Agreement also increases the exchange ratio (the "Exchange Ratio") from 1:4.292 to 1:6.25427 such that each one (1) security of Polymath will be exchanged for 6.25427 securities of AnalytixInsight. The adjusted Consolidation ratio and Exchange Ratio reflect an increase in the value of Polymath following the completion of the Polymesh Labs Acquisition (as defined below). The outside date to complete the reverse takeover of AnalytixInsight by Polymath (the "Transaction") has been extended from July 31, 2025 to October 31, 2025 (the "Outside Date"). All other provisions of the Original Amalgamation Agreement continue in full force and effect.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to approval by a simple majority (50%) of the shareholders of AnalytixInsight, excluding those votes attaching to securities beneficially owned by Non-Arm's Length Parties (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV")) to AnalytixInsight who are receiving any "collateral benefit" (as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions) and Non-Arm's Length Parties (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) to the Transaction. AnalytixInsight anticipates that each of Polymath, TDK Cashflow Ltd., a company existing under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and wholly-owned by Trevor Koverko, Trevor Koverko, Natalie Hirsch, Vincent Kadar, David Hackett, and Deven Soni will be excluded from the shareholder vote to approve the transaction.

As disclosed in AnalytixInsight's news release dated March 4, 2025, pursuant to the Transaction, AnalytixInsight expects to change its name (the "Name Change") to "Polymath Network Inc." or a similar name (referred to as the "Resulting Issuer"). The Name Change and the Consolidation will require approval by a special resolution of AnalytixInsight's shareholders (66 2/3%) at the AGSM. All shareholders of AnalytixInsight will be entitled to vote in connection with the Name Change and Consolidation at the AGSM.

It is anticipated that Polymath will obtain shareholder approval for the Transaction by unanimous written consent resolution. In addition to shareholder approval of AnalytixInsight and Polymath, the completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, closing conditions customary to transactions of the nature of the Transaction, the approval of all regulatory bodies having jurisdiction in connection with the Transaction, and acceptance by the TSXV. The Transaction and related transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, where permitted, waiver of certain additional conditions precedent, including, but not limited to the completion of the Concurrent Financing. There is no guarantee that these conditions will be met at all or before the Outside Date.

Acquisition of Polymesh Assets by Polymath

On May 13, 2025, pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, Polymath, indirectly through Polymesh Labs, agreed to acquire certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Polymesh Switzerland, including POLYX tokens held by Polymesh Switzerland (the "Polymesh Labs Acquisition"). Polymesh Switzerland is a not for profit association formed under the laws of Switzerland and is an Arm's Length Party (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV). The Polymesh Labs Acquisition is subject to certain conditions, and is expected to close prior to the Transaction.

The Polymesh Labs Acquisition will enable Polymesh Labs' principal business to include the oversight of the Polymesh blockchain, including POLYX tokens associated with the Polymesh blockchain, and the development of TokenStudio, the Polymesh wallet, other software application, and further investment in developing the Polymesh ecosystem. The Polymesh blockchain is a Layer-1 public-permissioned blockchain using Polkadot's modular tool substrate framework that is designed for tokenizing real-world assets. It builds on the ERC1400 standard and layers in additional capabilities around governance, identity, compliance and confidentiality. POLYX tokens are the native tokens of the Polymesh blockchain and are used as a utility tokens to provide holders access to the Polymesh blockchain. POLYX tokens are only created when block rewards are minted to reward those that participate in the proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms that validates transactions and produces new blocks on the blockchain. These participants are referred to as "validators" and "nominators", collectively referred to as "stakers".

Following the Polymesh Labs Acquisition, Polymesh Labs will offer TokenStudio a self-service decentralized application built on the Polymesh blockchain. Versions of TokenStudio have facilitated the issuance of over 200 different tokens on Ethereum and the Polymesh blockchain, ranging from assets representing $2.5 billion in real estate, which was facilitated by a U.S.-based investment platform, to corporate loans, startup equity, revenue-sharing agreements, and more. TokenStudio enables issuers to reserve, configure, and manage their tokens on the Polymesh blockchain. It provides customers with different functionalities, such as ticker symbol reservation, token configuration, compliance rule setup, and token distribution, all of which is accessible through the Polymesh wallet that is designed for securely managing assets and identities on the Polymesh blockchain.

Select financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2024 with combined Polymath (audited) & Polymesh Switzerland (unaudited) numbers are set out below:

As at December 31, 2024(1)



Current assets $ 4,899,088.76

Total Assets $ 97,179,654.02

Current liabilities $ 2,784,061.97

Total liabilities $ 95,819,536.67

Revenue $ 18,068,122.86

Profit/(Loss) from Operations $ 2,900,056.77



(1) Polymesh Switzerland financial information included in the numbers above are unaudited and subject to change.

"We are excited to announce the acquisition of Polymesh Switzerland's assets," stated Vince Kadar, the Chairman of the board of directors of AnalytixInsight and the Chief Executive Officer of Polymath. "This acquisition represents a strategic step forward in streamlining our efforts to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology in capital markets. By acquiring Polymesh Switzerland's capabilities into Polymesh Labs, we strengthen our ability to deliver regulated, purpose-built infrastructure for the tokenization of real-world assets. This move enhances our ability to support institutions and innovators seeking compliant, scalable solutions for issuing and managing digital securities. It's a milestone not just for us, but for the broader blockchain ecosystem by providing greater governance and transparency of the Polymesh blockchain as it matures and embraces the tokenization of real-world assets as a foundational use case."

General Information on Polymath

Polymath wishes to clarify its business description announced in the press release dated March 4, 2025. Polymath's principal business is the creation of its flagship white label SaaS technology solution, referred to as Polymath's Capital Platform, which includes the Polymath dApps and enables customers to create platforms to tokenize real-world assets. Polymath's Capital Platform technology solution is available for license by third parties. Under this licensing arrangement, Polymath may provide technology services to its customers for the setup, maintenance, and support of their use of Polymath's Capital Platform technology solution. In each case, Polymath works with, or will work with, the customer to tailor the technology to the particular requirements of the customer and the assets to be tokenized. Polymath as a technology services provider is not registered with any Canadian or foreign securities regulatory authority and its services do not include acting as a broker or the promotion or marketing of securities.

Polymath also generates revenue by staking proprietary POLYX token that is held in its treasury. Staking is not a service offered to third parties, but it is a revenue stream that monetizes treasury assets. Crypto staking is an important aspect of the nominated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which defines which blocks get written to the blockchain, as well as the blockchain network's roles, rules, and incentives. Polymath stakes 100% of the POLYX tokens held in its treasury, with 50% of the staking rebonded on the Polymesh blockchain and the other 50% converted to fiat and bitcoin reserves.

Polymath no longer offers subsidizer or node-as-a-service.

Capital Platform

Polymath's Capital Platform is a full suite of technology services based, in part, on the Polymath dApps, that relate to the tokenization of real-world-assets, each targeting different segments of the market. The fundamental focus of the technology is to reduce the administration costs of each customer of the technology while adhering to the regulatory frameworks applicable to the customer and the customer's tokenized assets. Polymath anticipates that customers of Polymath's Capital Platform will be issuers, dealers, fund managers, and other market participants. These customers will use the technology services represented by Polymath's Capital Platform to build their own proprietary platforms for tokenized assets. Polymath aims to assist market participants in making capital markets efficient from a business and operational perspective and to create a safe and trusted environment for all participants in the capital markets ecosystem.

Concurrent Financing

As part of the Transaction, Polymath has engaged Canaccord Genuity Corp. as sole bookrunner (the "Sole Bookrunner") and Research Capital Corp. to act as co-lead agents (together with the Sole Bookrunner, the "Agents"), in connection with the Concurrent Financing. Pursuant to the Concurrent Financing, Polymath will issue a minimum of 18,750,000 subscription receipts (each, a "Subscription Receipt") at a price of $1.00 per Subscription Receipt (the "Offering Price") for gross proceeds of at least $18.75 million pursuant to a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") to be entered into by Polymath, the Agents and a subscription receipt agent. AnalytixInsight, Polymath and the Agents anticipate entering into an agency agreement (the "Agency Agreement") prior to the closing of the Concurrent Financing. The Agents have an option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), to sell up to an additional 15% of the number of Subscription Receipts issued under the Concurrent Financing, at the Offering Price, exercisable at any time, for a period of 30 days from and including closing date of the Concurrent Financing.

Each Subscription Receipt will be automatically converted on the Escrow Release Date (as defined below), immediately before the completion of the Transaction into a unit (each, a "Unit") of Polymath without further payment or action on the part of the holder. Each Unit shall consist of one underlying common share of Polymath (each, a "Polymath Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each a whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one Polymath Share or, following the Underlying Share Exchange (as defined below), such number of common shares of the Resulting Issuer (on a post-Consolidation and post-Transaction basis, the "Resulting Issuer Shares") as is equal to the Exchange Ratio applied to the securities of Polymath pursuant to the Transaction for a period of 60 months from the Escrow Release Date at an exercise price of a minimum of $1.25, unless otherwise agreed between the Sole Bookrunner and Polymath. Immediately after conversion of the Subscription Receipts, each Polymath Share issued pursuant to the conversion of the Subscription Receipts will automatically be exchanged pursuant to the terms of the Transaction into such number of Resulting Issuer Shares pursuant to the Exchange Ratio, which such exchange will be completed pursuant to the Amended Amalgamation Agreement (the "Underlying Share Exchange"). Polymath shall be entitled to designate a list of purchasers (the "President's List") that may subscribe for up to 25% of the Concurrent Financing.

The Release Conditions include (i) written confirmation from each of Polymath and AnalytixInsight that all conditions to the completion of the Transaction (including the Underlying Share Exchange) have been satisfied or, with the consent of the Agents, waived, other than the release of the escrowed funds; (ii) the receipt of all regulatory, shareholder and third-party approvals, if any, required in connection with the Transaction; (iii) Polymath and AnalytixInsight shall not be in breach or default of any of its covenants or obligations under the Subscription Receipt Agreement or the Agency Agreement, except (in the case of the Agency Agreement only) for those breaches or defaults that have been waived by the Agents and all conditions set out in the Agency Agreement and Subscription Receipt Agreement shall have been fulfilled, which shall all be confirmed to be true in a certificate of a senior officer of Polymath, to the satisfaction of the Agents; and (iv) the delivery of the release certificate to the escrow agent in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement (collectively, the "Release Conditions"). The Release Conditions must be satisfied on or before the later of: (a) 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the date that is 120 days after the closing date of the Concurrent Financing; and (b) such later date as Polymath and the Agents may agree in writing.

Pursuant to the Agency Agreement, the Agents will receive a cash commission equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Concurrent Financing (the "Cash Commission"), other than from the sale of Subscription Receipts to subscribers under the President's List, for which a 3.5% Cash Commission will be payable, inclusive of proceeds from any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, 50% of which is payable on the closing date of the Concurrent Financing and the remaining 50% payable on the Escrow Release Date. Polymath will issue that number of non-transferable Agent's Warrants equal to 7.0% (3.5% for President's List purchases) of the Subscription Receipts sold under the Concurrent Financing (the "Broker Warrants"), including any Subscription Receipts sold upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price, each Broker Warrant exercisable to acquire one Polymath Share or, following the Underlying Share Exchange, such number of Resulting Issuer Shares based on the Exchange Ratio and with the corresponding adjustments to the exercise price. In addition, Polymath will pay a corporate finance fee of C$250,000 paid in cash to the Sole Bookrunner. Subject to the completion of the Concurrent Financing, the Sole Bookrunner shall have a right of first refusal to provide financial advisory services for a 12 month period following the closing of the Concurrent Financing.

The proceeds of the Concurrent Financing, assuming the satisfaction of the Release Conditions, will be used by the Resulting Issuer for: (i) Partnering with regulated and licensed entities across key jurisdictions to design and deploy compliant token exchange infrastructure. This initiative aims to provide robust, legally sound trading venues for tokenized securities, facilitating broader institutional adoption; (ii) strengthening and expanding the capabilities of the Polymesh blockchain through targeted investments, strategic technology partnerships, and integrations that unlock new use cases and utility across financial services, compliance, and identity; (iii) growth through acquisitions by targeting traditional finance (TradFi) companies with the potential to transition to Web3-native models. These acquisitions will enable the Resulting Issuer to consolidate offerings, migrate legacy systems onto blockchain infrastructure, and build an end-to-end, vertically integrated platform that drives usage and monetization of Polymesh; and (iv) marketing and business development to accelerate awareness, adoption, and commercial engagement through a coordinated global go-to-market strategy.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and disinterested AnalytixInsight shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required AnalytixInsight 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 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 AnalytixInsight 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 news release.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions and neither of the foregoing entities has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, the 1933 Act, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding AnalytixInsight, Polymath and their respective businesses, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Transaction by the Outside Date or at all, the terms on which the Transaction is intended to be completed, the ability to obtain regulatory and shareholder approvals, the Name Change, expectations with respect to Polymath business plans, objectives and, product lines (including but not limited to the Polymesh blockchain, Polymath's Capital Platform, staking and TokenStudio), statements regarding the Concurrent Financing (including but not limited to the use of proceeds and the fulfillment of the Release Conditions), the Polymesh Labs Acquisition, and statements regarding the AGSM.

Often but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "expect", "intends", "anticipated", "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the management of each entity, and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of AnalytixInsight and Polymath, and cannot be predicted or quantified, including risks related to: the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular; the ability to manage operating expenses, which may adversely affect AnalytixInsight's financial condition; the ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors; volatility in the trading price of the Common Shares; the demand and pricing of cryptocurrency assets held by AnalytixInsight or Polymath; AnalytixInsight's ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet customers' needs; the ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; competition in the industry; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of AnalytixInsight.

Although the management of each entity believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, including completion of the Transaction, the Concurrent Financing (and the proposed terms upon which the Transaction, the Concurrent Financing are proposed to be completed), the Consolidation, the ability to secure shareholder and regulatory approval, and the success of future product advancements, may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting AnalytixInsight, including risks regarding market conditions, economic factors, management's ability to complete the Transaction and related matters as expected or at all, management's ability to manage and to operate the business of the Resulting Issuer, and the equity markets generally. Although AnalytixInsight and Polymath have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward- looking statements or information. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and neither AnalytixInsight nor Polymath undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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/251939

SOURCE: AnalytixInsight Inc.
Regulatory News:

The Board of Directors of Llama Group SA (the Company ") (Paris: ALLAM) (Brussels: ALLAM) is pleased to invite shareholders, holders of convertible bonds and holders of subscription rights to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 28, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.(Belgian time) at the Company's headquarters.

Agenda and proposed decisions

1. Authorized capital.

1.1. Review of the special report drawn up by the board of directors, in accordance with Article 7:199, paragraph 2 of the Companies and Associations Code, indicating the specific circumstances in which it may use the authorized capital and the objectives that, in doing so, it will pursue.

1.2. Proposal to renew the authorization granted to the board of directors, for a period of five (5) years from the publication in extracts in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of 28 May 2025 (or in the event of postponement if the required attendance quorum is not reached, of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of 19 June 2025), to increase the capital in one or more times up to a maximum amount of twenty-two million eight hundred forty-one thousand seven hundred forty-two euros and eighty-seven cents (EUR 22,841,742.87), an amount currently reduced to fourteen million six hundred sixty-five thousand six hundred ninety-nine euros and eighty cents (EUR 14,665,699.80) This authorization will be valid from the date of publication of this authorization.

Until the approval of this proposed decision and its publication in extracts in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Journal, the existing authorization will continue to apply.

Proposed decision: The general meeting decides to renew the authorization granted to the board of directors, for a period of five (5) years from the publication in extracts in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of May 28, 2025 (or in the event of postponement if the required attendance quorum is not reached, of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of June 19, 2025), to increase the capital in one or more times up to a maximum amount of twenty-two million, eight hundred forty-one thousand, seven hundred forty-two euros and eighty-seven cents (EUR 22,841,742.87), an amount currently reduced to fourteen million, six hundred sixty-five thousand, six hundred ninety-nine euros and eighty cents (EUR 14,665,699.80) This authorization will be valid from the date of publication of this authorization. Until that date, the existing authorization will continue to apply.

2. Decision to adapt Article 7 of the Company's Articles of Association to reflect the renewal and extension of the authorized capital.

Proposed decision: The general meeting decides to amend Article 7 of the statutes as follows:

Article 7 Authorized capital

The board of directors is authorized to increase the capital in one or more times, up to a maximum amount of twenty-two million eight hundred and forty-one thousand seven hundred and forty-two euros and eighty-seven cents (EUR 22,841,742.87), an amount currently reduced to fourteen million six hundred and sixty-five thousand six hundred and ninety-nine euros and eighty cents (EUR 14,665,699.80)on the dates and in accordance with the terms and conditions to be set by the board of directors and for a period of five (5) years from the publication in extracts in the Annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of May 28, 2025 (or in the event of postponement if the required attendance quorum is not reached, of the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of June 19, 2025) This authorization is renewable under the conditions provided for by law.

The terms of use of the capital authorized by the board of directors will be identical to the terms of capital increase decided by a general meeting, without any other restriction and in accordance with the Companies and Associations Code.

Within the framework of this authorized capital, the board of directors may issue shares and, in general, securities that may eventually give entitlement to shares in the company. More specifically, this authorization will allow the board of directors to increase the subscribed capital in one or more installments within the limits provided for by Article 7:198 of the Companies and Associations Code, under the conditions it determines, and in particular:

(i) by capital increase, by cash subscription, by contribution in kind within legal limits, by incorporation of available or unavailable reserves or issue premiums, with or without creation of new securities, with or without voting rights;

(ii) by issuing convertible bonds or bonds repayable in shares, subordinated or not;

(iii) by issuing subscription rights attached or not to bonds or other securities;

(iv) by any other security, including capital increases made in favor of one or more specific persons and in particular for the benefit of staff.

Capital increases decided under this authorization may be carried out both by contributions in cash or in kind, within the limits permitted by the Companies and Associations Code, and by incorporation of available or unavailable reserves or issue premiums, with or without creation of new shares.

The board of directors may, when using the authorized capital, limit or remove the preferential right of existing shareholders.

The board of directors may, generally and in cases authorized by law or the company's articles of association, remove or limit the preferential right of existing shareholders whenever it deems it necessary in the corporate interest.

Where applicable, the board of directors may also, if it deems it necessary, grant to the shares issued within the framework of the authorized capital a right to dividends allocated during the financial year in which these shares are issued.

The board of directors may, with the power of subdelegation, amend the articles of association to take into account capital increases resulting from the exercise of its powers under this article

3. Powers.

Proposed decision: The meeting grants all powers (i) to each director, for the purpose of carrying out the administrative procedures subsequent to the meeting; and (ii) to the notary acting for the establishment and filing of a coordinated version of the statutes.

4. Approval of Maxximum SA's fees related to the personal guarantee of EUR 7,000,000 provided by Maxximum SA to Patronale Life NV as security for the proper performance by the Company of its obligations under the Debt Rescheduling and Security Restructuring Agreement entered into on February 18, 2025 between the Company, Maxximum SA, Winamp SA and Patronale Life NV, as these fees appear in the draft Compensation and Subrogation Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Maxximum SA.

4.1. Review of the fees of Maxximum SA included in the draft Compensation and Subrogation Agreement to be concluded between the Company and Maxximum SA.

4.2. Due to the potential conflict of interest that may exist between Mr. Alexandre Saboundjian and Ms. Pioch, directors of Maxximum SA and the Company, the Company's board has, in accordance with best practices and the spirit of Article 7:96 of the Companies and Associations Code, decided to submit this item to the Company's general meeting of shareholders for approval.

Proposed decision: The general meeting decides to approve the fees of Maxximum SA related to the personal guarantee of EUR 7,000,000 provided by Maxximum SA to Patronale Life NV as security for the proper performance by the Company of its obligations under the Debt Rescheduling and Security Restructuring Agreement entered into on February 18, 2025 between the Company, Maxximum SA, Winamp SA and Patronale Life NV, as these fees appear in the draft Compensation and Subrogation Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Maxximum SA.

In order to be adopted, the proposals included under items 1. to 3. of the agenda of the extraordinary general meeting require a quorum of half of the capital and a majority vote of three-quarters of the votes present or represented at the extraordinary general meeting. In the event that the extraordinary general meeting cannot validly deliberate due to the lack of a quorum of at least half of the capital, a new extraordinary general meeting is already convened and may validly deliberate on the same items, regardless of the share of the capital represented. This second extraordinary general meeting, convened in the event of a quorum not being reached, will be held on June 19 at 11:30 a.m. (Belgian time) at the Company's headquarters.

The proposal set out in point 4. does not require a quorum and requires a vote by an absolute majority of the votes present or represented at the extraordinary general meeting.

Participation formalities

To attend the extraordinary general meeting, shareholders must comply with the following provisions:

In accordance with Article 25, first paragraph of the Company's articles of association, owners of registered shares who wish to attend the extraordinary general meeting or who wish to be represented there must inform the board of directors no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025 by email to legal@winamp.com.

In accordance with Article 25, second paragraph of the Company's articles of association, owners of dematerialized shares who wish to attend the extraordinary general meeting or who wish to be represented there, must deposit at the Company's registered office or send by email to legal@winamp.com no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025, a certificate issued by their authorized financial institution certifying the unavailability of the dematerialized shares until the closing of the general meeting.

Individuals participating in the meeting as owners of securities, agents or organs of a legal entity must be able to prove their identity in order to gain access to the meeting. Representatives of legal entities must provide documents establishing their status as organs or special agents.

Participants are invited to come to the Company's headquarters between 10 :30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to complete the registration formalities.

Each shareholder may be represented at the general meeting by a proxy Original proxies, drawn up in accordance with the model prescribed by the Company, must be submitted to the Company's registered office no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Proxies may also be sent no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025 by email to legal@winamp.com provided that the signed originals are submitted to the office of the general meeting at the latest before the start of the meeting. The proxies, drawn up in accordance with the model prescribed by the Company, are available on the Company's website at https://llama-group.com/investors/documentation/.

In accordance with Article 25, last paragraph of the Company's articles of association, holders of convertible bonds or subscription rights who wish to attend the extraordinary general meeting may attend (with an advisory vote only) but must inform the board of directors no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025 by email to legal@winamp.com.

Shareholders' Right to Ask Questions

In accordance with Article 7: 139 of the Companies and Associations Code, a shareholder may submit written questions to the directors and/or the auditor prior to the extraordinary general meeting. These questions must be submitted by Tuesday, May 20, 2025, by email to legal@winamp.com. Shareholder questions will only be considered if the shareholder has complied with all admission formalities to participate in the general meeting.

Available documents

All documents relating to the extraordinary general meeting that the law requires to be made available to shareholders may be consulted on the Company's website at the following address: https://llama-group.com/investors/documentation/ from the publication of this notice. A copy of these documents will also be sent by email to shareholders who, no later than seven days before the extraordinary general meeting, have completed the formalities to be admitted to the general meeting.

For the Board of Directors,

Alexandre Saboundjian,

Managing Director

NEXT MEETING

March 28, 2025 10:00 am: Ordinary General Meeting

March 28, 2025 11:30 am: Extraordinary General Meeting

About Llama Group

Llama Group is a pioneer and leader in the digital music industry. With extensive expertise across various sectors, the group owns the iconic Winamp platform, the Bridger copyright management company, and the Jamendo music licensing company. Llama Group's ambition is to build the future of the music industry through sustained investment in a range of innovative solutions and in the talent and skills of people who love music. The group stands by its brand values: empowerment, access, simplicity, and fairness. Winamp's vision is a world where a cutting-edge music platform connects artists and their fans like never before. Bridger's mission is to support songwriters and composers by providing a simple and innovative solution for collecting royalties. Jamendo enables independent artists to generate additional income through commercial licenses. Finally, Hotmix offers a bouquet of more than sixty thematic and free digital radio stations.

LLAMA GROUP SA

Societe anonyme

HQ: Route de Lennik 451

1070 Brussels

Belgium

Company registered number (RPM Bruxelles, section francophone): 0473.699.203

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513671038/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Olivier Van Gulck

investors@llama-group.com
Regulatory News:

The Board of Directors of Llama Group SA (Paris: ALLAM) (Brussels: ALLAM) (the "Company") is pleased to invite shareholders, holders of convertible bonds and holders of subscription rights to attend the ordinary general meeting of shareholders which will take place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.(Belgian time) at the Company's registered office

Agenda and proposed decisions:

Review of the management report of the board of directors and the auditor's report on the annual accounts for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.



Approval of the annual accounts for the financial year ending December 31, 2024 and the allocation of the results.



Proposed decision: The general meeting approves the annual accounts for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.



Continuity of the Company (continuation of the Company's activities)



Proposed decision: The general meeting decides to continue the activities of the Company after having taken note of the Special Report of the Board of Directors drawn up in accordance with Article 7:228 of the Companies Code.



Discharge of directors from all liability for the performance of their mandates for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.



Proposed decision: The general meeting, by separate vote for each director, discharges the directors from all liability for the execution of their mandates for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.



Discharge of the auditor from all liability for the performance of his mandate during the financial year ending December 31, 2024



Proposed decision: The general meeting discharges the auditor from all liability for the execution of his mandate for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.

To be adopted, the proposals included in points 2 to 5 of the agenda of the ordinary general meeting must obtain a simple majority of the votes present or validly represented participating in the vote.

Participation formalities

To attend the ordinary general meeting, shareholders must comply with the following provisions:

In accordance with Article 25, first paragraph of the Company's articles of association, owners of registered shares who wish to attend the ordinary general meeting or who wish to be represented there must inform the board of directors no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025 by email to legal@winamp.com

In accordance with Article 25, second paragraph of the Company's statutes, owners of dematerialized shares who wish to attend the ordinary general meeting or who wish to be represented there, must file at the Company's registered office or send by email to the address legal@winamp.com no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025, a certificate issued by their authorized financial institution certifying the unavailability of the dematerialized shares until the closing of the general meeting.

Individuals participating in the meeting as owners of securities, agents or organs of a legal entity must be able to prove their identity in order to gain access to the meeting. Representatives of legal entities must provide documents establishing their status as organs or special agents.

To complete the registration formalities, participants are invited to come to the Company's headquarters, 451 Route de Lennik 1070 Brussels between 10 a.m. and 10:20 a.m.

Each shareholder may be represented at the general meeting by a proxy Original proxies, drawn up in accordance with the model prescribed by the Company, must be submitted to the Company's registered office no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Proxies may also be sent no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025 by email to legal@winamp.com provided that the signed originals are submitted to the office of the general meeting at the latest before the start of the meeting. The proxies, drawn up in accordance with the model prescribed by the Company, are available on the Company's website at https://llama-group.com/investors/documentation/.

In accordance with Article 25, last paragraph of the Company's articles of association, holders of convertible bonds or subscription rights who wish to attend the ordinary general meeting may attend (with an advisory vote only) but must inform the board of directors no later than Tuesday, May 20, 2025 by email to legal@winamp.com.

For the Board of Directors,



Alexandre Saboundjian,

Managing Director

NEXT MEETING

March 28, 2025 10:00 a.m: Ordinary General Meeting

March 28, 2025 11:30 am: Extraordinary General Meeting

About Llama Group

Llama Group is a pioneer and leader in the digital music industry. With extensive expertise across various sectors, the group owns the iconic Winamp platform, the Bridger copyright management company, and the Jamendo music licensing company. Llama Group's ambition is to build the future of the music industry through sustained investment in a range of innovative solutions and in the talent and skills of people who love music. The group stands by its brand values: empowerment, access, simplicity, and fairness. Winamp's vision is a world where a cutting-edge music platform connects artists and their fans like never before. Bridger's mission is to support songwriters and composers by providing a simple and innovative solution for collecting royalties. Jamendo enables independent artists to generate additional income through commercial licenses. Finally, Hotmix offers a bouquet of more than sixty thematic and free digital radio stations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513777240/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Olivier Van Gulck

investors@llama-group.com
Abstract of white paper on China's national security in new era

Xinhua) 15:10, May 12, 2025

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The Information Office of China's State Council on Monday issued a white paper titled "China's National Security in the New Era." An abstract is as follows:

In the new era, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core creatively proposed a holistic approach to national security, established a national security commission under the CPC Central Committee, comprehensively deepened the reform of the system and mechanisms for national security, and accelerated the modernization of the national security system and capabilities.

China's national security in the new era is one that takes the people's security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task, and national interests as the guiding principle.

It is also one that serves and promotes high-quality development, supports further expansion of high-level opening up, and operates under the rule of law. China coordinates its own security and common security, opposes the generalization of security, does not implement security coercion, and does not accept threats and pressure. The country adheres to independence and self-confidence and the path of national security with Chinese characteristics.

I. China injects certainty and stability into a world of change and disorder

Currently, China has entered a critical period of building itself into a stronger country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. Facing the complex situation of deepening adverse effects brought by changes in the external environment and increasing internal risks and challenges, China pursues a national rejuvenation strategy amid global changes of a scale unseen in a century. The country has maintained overall stability and steady progress in national security. China works together with Asia-Pacific countries to uphold regional peace and development. These inject stability into a volatile and unstable world.

II. A holistic approach to national security guides national security efforts in the new era

A holistic approach to national security fully draws on the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture and systematically summarizes the theoretical achievements and practical experiences of the CPC in safeguarding national security. It is the first major strategic thinking established as the guiding principle for national security efforts since the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and represents a major theoretical contribution from contemporary China to the global community.

A holistic approach to national security emphasizes taking the people's security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task, economic security as the foundation, military, technological, cultural, and social security as the guarantee, and promoting international security as the support. It takes coordinated steps to ensure development and security, external and internal security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and China's own security and common security. It both upholds national security and creates the conditions for ensuring it. With this new security architecture, China will be able to better safeguard its new pattern of development.

III. Providing solid support for the steady and continued progress of Chinese modernization

In the new era, focusing on achieving national strategic goals and implementing a holistic approach to national security, China's national security firmly fulfills the major responsibilities entrusted by the Party and the people. It upholds the Party's position as the governing party and the socialist system, improves the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, ensures high-quality development, safeguards national territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests, and ensures the safety and reliability of emerging fields. It forestalls and defuses various risks in the process of advancing Chinese modernization, fortifies the security shield essential to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and provides strategic support for promoting world peace and development.

IV. Reinforcing security in development and pursuing development in security

In the new era, China has clearly identified the coordination of development and security as one of the major principles of governance, integrating it into the overall framework of economic and social development. The country remains unwavering in advancing high-quality development as its "primary task" while prioritizing the safeguarding of national security as its "paramount mission." By unifying development and security, China ensures they are jointly planned, holistically deployed, and mutually reinforced.

As China continues to grow by coordinating opening up and security, its door will only open wider. The nation emphasizes leveraging international rules to uphold security while opening up, drawing on global best practices to accelerate the establishment of modernized risk prevention and control mechanisms. It is refining institutional frameworks to guard against external risks while remaining committed to opening up, fostering synergy between openness and security.

V. Implementing the Global Security Initiative and promoting the common security of the world

The Global Security Initiative advocated by China addresses the urgent need of the international community to uphold world peace and prevent conflicts. It echoes the shared aspirations of the vast majority of nations for win-win cooperation over hegemony and bullying, aligning with humanity's common pursuit of lasting peace and universal security. The initiative offers a new pathway to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, tackle global security challenges, and improve global security governance.

China advocates strengthening global security governance by practicing the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration in engaging in global governance. It upholds true multilateralism, promotes adherence to international law, and drives reforms to make the global security governance system fairer, more equitable, and responsive to the will and interests of the majority of countries. This approach better meets practical needs in addressing global challenges.

VI. Advancing the modernization of the national security system and capacity through deepening reforms

On its new journey in the new era, China is comprehensively deepening reforms with greater emphasis on coordinating development and security, elevating the priority of safeguarding national security, and accelerating the modernization of its national security system and capacity. By 2035, China aims to fully strengthen the system and capacity, creating a robust security shield for the basic realization of socialist modernization. A unified blueprint has been laid across four dimensions: the national security system, public security governance mechanisms, social governance systems, and foreign-related national security mechanisms.

Guided by reform and innovation, and focusing on systematic and institutional improvements, China is refining its national security mechanisms. It emphasizes synergy and efficiency, law-based thinking, technological empowerment, and grassroots foundations to achieve a healthy interaction between high-quality development and high-level security.

In the new era, China's national security has evolved through comprehensive reform, grown through great struggles, and strengthened through Chinese modernization. As the nation strives toward building a strong country and national rejuvenation, it remains committed to safeguarding its hard-won security, protecting people's safety, and upholding global peace. China will continue to lead the way in peaceful development, promote global stability and prosperity, and work hand in hand with all other nations to build, share, and sustain international common security and strive for a world of lasting peace and universal security.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
To work toward even brighter future for China-EU relations

13:40, May 13, 2025 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Photo shows a Hungarian e-commerce park in the Central European Trade and Logistics Cooperation Zone. (Photo by Hao Dong)

On May 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulations with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU).

Xi noted that since the establishment of their diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China and the EU have maintained close exchanges across various levels and sectors, saying that the accomplishments of their dialogue and cooperation are fruitful, cultural and people-to-people exchanges vibrant, and multilateral coordination productive.

He added that China-EU relations have become one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world, contributing greatly to enhancing the well-being of their people, and promoting world peace and development.

In this half-century-long relationship between China and the EU, the most valuable asset is mutual respect, the most powerful impetus is mutual benefit, the greatest unifying consensus is multilateralism, and the most accurate characterization is partnership.

China always views its relations with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective, and regards Europe as an important dimension in its major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and an important partner on its path toward Chinese modernization.

In March 2014, Xi paid a historic visit to the EU headquarters and proposed that the two sides should jointly forge China-EU partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization, enriching the strategic substance of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Since the beginning of this year, China and the EU have maintained frequent high-level interactions, sending a strong signal to the international community that they are both committed to multilateralism and free trade. Amid mounting global uncertainty, the two sides continue to serve as anchors of stability and constructive forces.

A man shops in a store that sells products imported by China-Europe freight trains in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. (Photo by Wen Rui/People's Daily Online)

China and the EU enjoy complementary strengths and mutual benefits in economic and trade cooperation, forming a robust relationship of economic symbiosis.

In the past five decades, China-EU trade has expanded from $2.4 billion to $785.8 billion in 2024. Investment has increased from almost zero to close to $260 billion. China-Europe Railway Express has run more than 100,000 cargo trips and become a golden passage connecting Asia and Europe.

According to China's General Administration of Customs, in the first quarter of this year, trade between the two sides reached 1.3 trillion yuan ($179.29), which translates to over 10 million yuan in trade every minute.

China's pursuit of high-quality development and high-level opening up is creating new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Recently, European political and business leaders have actively visited China to attend events such as the China Development Forum and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. European multinationals have launched new products at Chinese expos and deepened their engagement with the Chinese market.

A man poses for a picture in front of humanoid robots manufactured by a Chinese company at the Hannover Messe 2025, one of the world's premier industrial trade fairs, dedicated to the topic of industry development. (Photo by Liu Zhonghua/People's Daily)

At the same time, Chinese business delegations have also held trade and investment matchmaking events in several European countries. The sustained two-way economic and trade engagement reflects the strong internal momentum and bright prospects of China-EU relations.

As China and the EU continue to act as partners for mutual success, their cooperation will not only support each other's development but also provide stronger momentum for the stability of global industrial and supply chains as well as global development.

A healthy and stable China-EU relationship not only promotes mutual achievements, but also illuminates the world. From jointly promoting the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, to enhancing cooperation on biodiversity conservation, and advancing collaboration on global AI governance, China and the EU have engaged in effective multilateral coordination and cooperation in many fields, laying a solid foundation for their partnership in global governance.

Today, as unilateralism, protectionism, hegemonism, and power politics pose severe threats to international rules and order, deepening China-EU cooperation takes on even greater practical significance. Together, China and the EU account for over one third of the global economy and more than a quarter of global trade. As long as the two sides choose dialogue and cooperation, camps of confrontation will not emerge, and as long as they opt for openness and mutual benefits, the trend of economic globalization will not experience a fundamental reversal.

As two major forces promoting multi-polarization, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations advocating diversity, China and the EU should remain committed to multilateralism, uphold fairness and justice, oppose unilateralism and bullying, join forces in addressing global challenges, and jointly build an equitable and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization, so as to make greater contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

The history of China-EU relations demonstrates that as long as both sides uphold mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and engage in candid dialogue, they can advance cooperation and make significant achievements.

China is willing to work with the EU to uphold the comprehensive strategic partnership, make bilateral relations more stable, constructive, reciprocal and global, better benefit the two peoples and the international community, and work toward an even brighter future for China-EU relations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The "Europe Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics Q2 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The social commerce market in Europe is expected to grow by 20.7% on annual basis to reach US$146.35 billion in 2025. The social commerce market in the region experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 25.5%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 15.6% during 2025-2030. By the end of 2030, the social commerce sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 121.29 billion to approximately USD 302.74 billion.

This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the social commerce sector in Europe, covering market opportunities and risks across a range of retail categories. With over 50+ KPIs at the regional and country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.

European social commerce is evolving, with distinct trends emerging in different countries. While the UK leads in live shopping events, Germany shows significant revenue growth, and France leverages influencer partnerships. However, regulatory challenges across the European Union necessitate careful navigation. To effectively capitalize on the growing social commerce landscape, brands must adopt country-specific strategies, considering local consumer behaviors and regulatory environments.

The social commerce landscape in Europe is characterized by significant growth, with major platforms like Meta and TikTok leading the market and new entrants such as Shein and Temu expanding their presence. Recent acquisitions, including Brave Bison's purchase of Social Chain and Charlesbank's acquisition of Front Row, indicate a trend toward consolidation. However, companies must navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment shaped by the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act to remain competitive and compliant in the evolving market.

Address Regulatory Challenges in the European Union

Strict data protection laws and cultural factors have slowed the growth of social commerce in Europe. For instance, the European Commission has raised concerns about potential violations of EU antitrust laws by major platforms.

The European Union's emphasis on data privacy and fair competition creates a complex environment for social commerce platforms. Cultural preferences for traditional retail experiences also play a role.

Businesses will need to navigate regulatory frameworks carefully and adapt their strategies to align with local preferences, potentially slowing the rapid adoption of social commerce compared to other regions.

Embrace Platform Diversification in Spain

Spanish consumers are engaging with various social media platforms for shopping, with a notable presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The diverse preferences among Spanish consumers for different content formats and community interactions drive engagement across multiple platforms.

Brands targeting the Spanish market will benefit from a multi-platform approach. To maximize reach and sales, content will be tailored to suit each platform's unique features and audiences.

Assess Current Market Dynamics

Although the European social commerce market is experiencing significant growth, Europe's adoption of social commerce lags behind other regions. This is attributed to strong retail traditions and strict data protection laws.

Identify Key Players and New Entrants

Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram): Dominant in the European market, leveraging extensive user bases to integrate shopping features.

TikTok: Rapidly gaining traction with features like TikTok Shop, influencing purchasing decisions through viral content.

Shein: The Chinese fast-fashion retailer has expanded its presence in Europe, attracting consumers with low-priced products.

Temu is another Chinese platform making inroads into the European market.

Highlight Recent Partnerships, Mergers, and Acquisitions

In 2024, Brave Bison acquired Social Chain, a global social commerce agency. This acquisition aims to enhance Brave Bison's capabilities in the social commerce space.

In August 2024, Charlesbank Capital Partners acquired digital agency Front Row, specializing in beauty, health, and wellness sectors, to enhance online sales strategies through social media influencers.

Analyze Regulatory Developments Impacting the Competitive Landscape

The DSA and DMA, enacted by the European Union, impose stricter regulations on online platforms, including content moderation, transparency, and fair competition measures.

In November 2024, the European Commission fined Meta for engaging in abusive practices related to its Marketplace online classified ads business.

Market Evolution Over the Next 2-4 Years

The European social commerce market is expected to continue its growth trajectory, with increased participation from established players and new entrants.

Regulatory frameworks are anticipated to become more stringent, emphasizing consumer protection, data privacy, and fair competition.

Building consumer trust through ethical practices and robust data protection will be crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the European market.

A bundled offering provides detailed 16 reports (704 tables and 912 charts), covering regional insights along with data centric analysis at regional and country level:

Europe Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Austria Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Belgium Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Denmark Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Finland Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

France Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Germany Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Greece Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Ireland Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Italy Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Netherlands Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Poland Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Russia Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Spain Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Switzerland Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

United Kingdom Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook)

Scope for Each Report

Country reports in this bundled offering provide in-depth analysis of Social Commerce industry. Below is a summary of key market segments offered at country level.

Ecommerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2021-2030

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators, 2021-2030

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Retail Product Categories, 2021-2030

Clothing Footwear

Beauty and Personal Care

Food Grocery

Appliances and Electronics

Home Improvement

Travel

Hospitality

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Consumer Segment, 2021-2030

B2B

B2C

C2C

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by End Use Device, 2021-2030

Mobile

Desktop

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2021-2030

Domestic

Cross Border

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Location, 2021-2030

Tier-1 Cities

Tier-2 Cities

Tier-3 Cities

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Payment Method, 2021-2030

Credit Card

Debit Card

Bank Transfer

Prepaid Card

Digital Mobile Wallet

Other Digital Payment

Cash

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Platforms

Video Commerce

Social Network-Led Commerce

Social Reselling

Group Buying

Product Review Platforms

Social Commerce Industry Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics Behaviour, 2024

By Age

By Income Level

By Gender

Social Commerce Market Share by Key Players, 2024

Facebook

Instagram

Shopify Austria

Refurbed

wikifolio

kyddo

snooopit

Kazidomi

My Social Book

myShopi

Lokkal

Earnieland

Unisport

My SkatePro

Flauntin

Apprl

StyleDoubler

Swappie

Rue du Commerce

Smiirl

Sephora

mobile.de

Zalando

idealo

Tomigo

Greeks.Social

Broombids

Popdeem

Irish Brands

Bantoa

GreenApes

Comehome

eBay

Orderchamp

Productpine

Brainly

Ganymede SP. Z.o.o.

Vkontakte

Youla

Shoppilot

Playtomic

21Buttons

Moodyo

YouTube

SHEIN

ImmoScout24

Inyova

LOOKK

Depop

AGORA

Company Shop

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/slfzmn

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513423595/en/

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The "United States Social Commerce Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook 50+ KPIs on Social Commerce Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics Q2 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The social commerce market in United States is expected to grow by 14.4% on annual basis to reach US$114.70 billion in 2025. The social commerce market in the country experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 18.1%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% during 2025-2030. By the end of 2030, the social commerce sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 100.22 billion to approximately USD 188.35 billion.

This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the social commerce sector in United States, covering market opportunities and risks across a range of retail categories. With over 50+ KPIs at the country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of social commerce market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics.

The social commerce landscape in the United States is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by integrating e-commerce into social media platforms, the rise of influencer marketing, and the adoption of seamless payment solutions. Consumers are increasingly engaging with brands through personalized and interactive experiences, with platforms like TikTok Shop and Instagram leading the way in facilitating direct purchases. The growing reliance on influencers for product recommendations underscores the shift towards social commerce as a mainstream sales channel, and businesses are expected to further refine their strategies to maximize engagement and conversions.

However, regulatory scrutiny over data privacy and social media platform operations introduces potential challenges for businesses relying on these channels. Proposed restrictions on platforms such as TikTok could reshape the competitive landscape, requiring brands to diversify their approach to social commerce. Companies that prioritize compliance, security, and transparency while leveraging emerging trends will be well-positioned to succeed in this evolving market. As consumer expectations for convenience and authenticity grow, businesses that adapt to these changes will likely see sustained growth in the social commerce space.

Competitive Landscape and Regulatory Developments in the United States's Social Commerce Market

The U.S. social commerce market is set for continued expansion, driven by increasing consumer engagement on social media platforms and integrating advanced shopping features. Established players like Meta Platforms, Inc., and new entrants such as Whatnot are innovating to enhance user experiences and capitalize on growing demand.

However, regulatory scrutiny over data privacy, platform security, and antitrust concerns may introduce uncertainties for businesses operating in this space. Potential restrictions on platforms like TikTok could reshape the competitive landscape, forcing companies to diversify their social commerce strategies. Brands embracing emerging technologies, strengthening partnerships, and prioritizing compliance with regulatory changes will be better positioned to thrive in this evolving market.

Integration of E-commerce Features into Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms in the U.S. increasingly incorporate e-commerce functionalities, enabling users to purchase products directly within these applications. For instance, TikTok Shop, launched widely in the U.S. in September 2023, achieved $100 million in single-day sales on Black Friday 2024, highlighting the growing fusion of social media and online shopping.

The high internet penetration rate in the U.S. and widespread smartphone usage have led to significant engagement on social media platforms. Businesses are leveraging these platforms to reach a broader audience, utilizing the seamless integration of social interaction and shopping to enhance customer engagement and drive sales.

This trend is expected to intensify, with more platforms adopting integrated shopping features and businesses increasingly utilizing social media as primary sales channels. The convenience and personalized shopping experiences offered by these platforms are likely to boost consumer spending, further solidifying social media's role in the U.S. e-commerce ecosystem.

Growth of Influencer Partnerships

Influencer partnerships have become a central strategy in U.S. social commerce, as brands increasingly collaborate with social media personalities to enhance product visibility and credibility. These influencers, ranging from celebrities to niche content creators, leverage their loyal followings to drive product awareness and conversions. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have become key channels where influencer-driven shopping experiences directly influence consumer purchasing decisions.

Consumers place high trust in recommendations from individuals they follow online, driving the growing reliance on influencer marketing. Unlike traditional advertisements, influencer promotions feel more organic, fostering stronger engagement and brand loyalty. Brands are investing in both macro-influencers with large audiences and micro-influencers who cater to niche demographics, ensuring targeted outreach and higher conversion rates.

Over the next 2-4 years, influencer marketing in social commerce is expected to evolve with greater emphasis on data-driven strategies and advanced content formats. The rise of AI-driven analytics will allow brands to measure influencer effectiveness more accurately and optimize campaigns in real time. Additionally, as consumers demand more authenticity, brands may prioritize long-term partnerships with influencers who align with their values rather than one-off collaborations.

Adoption of Integrated Payment Solutions

The integration of seamless payment solutions within social media platforms is reshaping the social commerce landscape in the U.S. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram now offer in-app payment systems, allowing users to browse, shop, and complete transactions without being redirected to external sites. This streamlined approach enhances the consumer experience by reducing checkout friction and increasing the likelihood of completed purchases.

The demand for convenient and secure digital payments is a key driver of this trend, as U.S. consumers increasingly prefer contactless and mobile transactions. Integrated payment solutions help businesses improve conversion rates by eliminating unnecessary steps in the purchasing process. With trust in digital payments growing, more brands are investing in these solutions to create seamless shopping experiences directly within social media platforms.

Over the next 2-4 years, integrated payment systems are expected to become a standard feature of social commerce platforms. Consumers will come to expect instant, secure, and frictionless transactions, encouraging brands to refine their payment infrastructure to meet evolving expectations. As digital payment technologies advance, companies prioritizing security, speed, and ease of use will likely see increased sales, higher retention rates, and stronger customer loyalty.

Emphasis on Authenticity and Personalization

U.S. consumers are placing greater importance on authenticity and personalized experiences when engaging with brands on social media. As social commerce expands, brands that communicate transparently and meaningfully are better positioned to foster stronger connections with their audience. Consumers are increasingly drawn to companies that align with their values, leading brands to focus on storytelling, direct engagement, and personalized interactions to build long-term relationships.

The rise of AI-driven personalization tools enables brands to tailor their content and product recommendations to individual consumer preferences. U.S. shoppers are likelier to trust brands that understand their needs through customized messaging and curated product suggestions. This shift prompts businesses to refine their strategies, leveraging data insights and machine learning to deliver hyper-personalized shopping experiences.

Over the next 2-4 years, authenticity and personalization will become key differentiators in the competitive social commerce landscape. Companies that prioritize transparent communication, user-driven content, and data-backed personalization will likely see stronger customer loyalty and engagement. As consumer expectations for individualized experiences grow, brands that fail to integrate personalization into their social commerce strategies may struggle to maintain relevance in an increasingly crowded market.

Regulatory Considerations Impacting Social Media Usage

Regulatory scrutiny over social media platforms in the U.S. is intensifying, particularly concerning data privacy and national security. States like Texas have banned AI chatbots like DeepSeek and social media alternatives such as RedNote from government-issued devices, reflecting broader concerns over digital security. These measures indicate a growing trend of increased oversight that could impact the operational landscape of social commerce platforms.

The primary drivers of this regulatory focus are concerns about consumer data protection, misinformation, and social media's influence on young users. Lawmakers and regulatory bodies are exploring stricter measures to ensure platforms comply with transparency standards and data security regulations. Businesses operating in social commerce must stay ahead of these evolving policies to avoid potential disruptions and legal challenges.

Over the next 2-4 years, companies relying on social commerce may need to adjust their strategies to align with new regulatory frameworks. This could involve diversifying marketing efforts across multiple platforms, enhancing data privacy compliance, and adopting secure transaction systems to maintain consumer trust. While increased regulation may present operational challenges, businesses that proactively address compliance requirements and emphasize transparency in their practices will be better positioned to sustain long-term growth in the evolving digital landscape.

Key Players and New Entrants

Established platforms like Meta Platforms, Inc. (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Pinterest, Inc., and Snap, Inc. have been at the forefront of integrating shopping features into their social media ecosystems. These companies have developed in-app purchasing options, allowing users to buy products directly through posts and stories.

New entrants like Whatnot and ShopMy have emerged, focusing on live-stream shopping experiences. Whatnot, for instance, secured $265 million in funding and achieved $3 billion in live-stream sales in 2024. These platforms are gaining traction by offering interactive and engaging shopping experiences tailored to niche markets.

Recent Launches, Mergers, and Acquisitions

The influencer marketing sector has seen notable consolidation. In late 2024, Later, a social media marketing company, acquired Mavely, a platform that facilitates commission payments to social media creators for direct sales, for $250 million. This move reflects a broader trend of integrating influencer marketing capabilities to enhance social commerce offerings.

Additionally, platforms are forming partnerships to expand their e-commerce functionalities. For example, TikTok has collaborated with various brands to enhance its shopping features, although potential regulatory challenges may impact its operations in the U.S.

Outlook

The competitive landscape of U.S. social commerce is anticipated to become more dynamic, with established players and new entrants innovating to capture market share. Investments in live-stream shopping, augmented reality (AR) features, and enhanced payment solutions are expected to drive competition.

However, regulatory developments will play a crucial role in shaping the market. Companies may need to adapt their strategies in response to potential platform bans or increased scrutiny, leading to a possible shift towards alternative platforms or the development of proprietary social commerce solutions.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d86jz6

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513347819/en/

Contacts:

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For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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The "Dental Overdentures Market Size, Share Trends Analysis Europe 2025-2031 MedSuite Includes: Dental Overdentures and Implant Bridges" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The European market for overdentures and implant bridges is set to experience significant growth. Valued at 1.2 billion in 2024, it is projected to rise at a CAGR of 2.6%, reaching over 1.4 billion by the end of the forecast period. This upward trend is largely driven by Europe's aging population and the increasing adoption of digital technologies in dental care.

The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the market, segmented into overdentures, implant bridges, and implant bars and attachments. It provides extensive market intelligence, including unit sales, average selling prices, market value, and growth trends. Market forecasts extend to 2031, while historical data traces back to 2021, offering a robust framework for understanding the industry's trajectory.

As Europe's elderly demographic expands, the demand for prosthetic dental solutions surges. The industry is undergoing a transformation with the integration of advanced design and scanning technologies, prompting manufacturers to innovate and improve production efficiency.

The competitive landscape is dominated by notable players like Nobel Biocare and Zest Dental Solutions. Nobel Biocare leads the CAD/CAM implant bar segment, leveraging its strong legacy in the dental implant sector. Meanwhile, Zest Dental Solutions excels in the attachment market, with its renowned Locator attachment system, although it faces rising competition from economical alternatives.

The report dissects the implant bar market, emphasizing CAD/CAM-manufactured implant bars, thus highlighting the consolidation within this segment compared to the fragmented market for traditionally produced bars. The market segmentation extends across various prosthetic and implant types, incorporating parameters like traditional and mini implants, as well as diverse implant support types, catering to distinct market requirements.

The research scope covers numerous European regions, including Germany, France, the U.K., and more, setting its base year in 2024. The forecast period spans from 2025 to 2031, with historical data from 2021 to 2024. Quantitative coverage comprises market size, shares, forecasts, growth rates, and units sold, while qualitative coverage delves into the COVID-19 impact, growth trends, market limiters, competitive analysis, and SWOT assessments for top competitors. Moreover, the study's data sources encompass primary interviews with industry leaders, regulatory data, and import export statistics, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the market dynamics.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

Avinent

Nobil-Metal

CADstar

Panthera Dental

Core3dcentres

Phibo

Dentsply Sirona

Proscan

DentWise

Rhein83

DESS

Sineldent

Fresdental

Sterngold Dental

Kerator

Straumann Group

Kulzer

Supra Solutions

LaStruttura

Sweden Martina

Local distributors

Zest Dental

Nobel Biocare

ZimVie

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pl4zsp

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513300771/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

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LEESBURG, VIRGINIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Vertosoft, a leading distributor of innovative technology solutions to the public sector, is proud to announce they have signed an agreement to become Darktrace Federal's newest distributor. Darktrace Federal, an Arlington, Virginia-based affiliate of Darktrace, delivers complete AI-powered IT, OT, and email cybersecurity solutions to defend U.S federal customers from cyber disruption. This partnership aims to ensure cybersecurity resilience within the public sector by granting Darktrace Federal access to Vertosoft's Federal government contract vehicles and channel partners. This addition to Vertosoft's line card is strengthening their cybersecurity portfolio by incorporating a solution that leverages AI to learn from agency business data to ensure mission operations, accelerate security team operations, and actively defend networks and communications.

Vertosoft x Darktrace Federal



Darktrace Federal products use Darktrace's proven Self-Learning AI, which establishes an ecosystem-specific understanding of normal operational behavior in order to autonomously defend an agencies' environment, organization, and operations. Darktrace Federal's Cyber AI platform, consisting of Cyber AI Mission DefenseTM and Cyber AI Email ProtectionTM, forms an adaptive knowledge of every device, user, peer group, network segment, and email communication, helping agencies defend against sophisticated threats including nation-state attacks, insider threats, zero-days, supply chain compromise, phishing attacks and more. Darktrace Federal solutions are FedRAMP High Authorized, demonstrating compliance with the federal government's most rigorous security standards for cloud service providers.

"We are thrilled to partner with Darktrace Federal and bring their innovative AI-driven cybersecurity solutions to the public sector," said Josh Slattery VP of Tech Sales at Vertosoft. "This collaboration aligns with our mission to provide innovative technology to the government. Leveraging Darktrace Federal's advanced security capabilities, we can enhance our commitment to providing robust and scalable technology solutions that ensure cyber resilience across all levels of government."

"Vertosoft's strong reputation, contract vehicles and channel ecosystem will accelerate Darktrace Federal's ability to deliver complete AI-powered solutions to defend U.S. federal government OT and IT networks and email communications to help ensure operational resilience," said Marcus Fowler, CEO of Darktrace Federal. "The need to strengthen cybersecurity across the U.S. federal government has never been more critical and together, Darktrace Federal and Vertosoft can empower agencies to transform their security operations and zero trust strategies, helping to reduce risk while augmenting human defenders."

About Vertosoft

At Vertosoft we are a trusted, value-driven distributor of innovative technology solutions. Our experienced team and tailored services equip our channel partners and suppliers with the tools, contracts, and secure systems needed to succeed in the public sector market. Visit vertosoft.com for more information.

Contact Information

Mary Dawson

Digital Marketing Manager

info@vertosoft.com

571-707-4132

Nicole Bongianino

Channel Marketing Specialist

nicole.bongianino@vertosoft.com

571-707-4130





SOURCE: Vertosoft

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/vertosoft-signs-new-distribution-agreement-with-darktrace-federa-1025923
PROVO, UT / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / RevRoad Capital (RRC), the early stage venture fund that broke records when it debuted in 2023, unveiled today a new brand identity - Stalwart Ventures - a reflection of the fund's portfolio success and expanded leadership team since its debut.

Stalwart Ventures (L-R) David Mann, Jeff Martin, Rachelle Morris, and James Prasad

"I'm excited to usher in a new chapter with the Stalwart Ventures identity," said Executive Managing Partner David Mann. "This is more than a name change - it's a reaffirmation of the values that have defined us from the start: rigorous investment discipline, deep engagement with our portfolio companies, and an unwavering commitment to long-term value creation. We want the world's best founders to know that we are steadfast, tenacious, and loyal partners - fully invested in their success throughout every stage of their entrepreneurial journey."

Stalwart Ventures cofounders Mann and Rachelle Morris recently unveiled its new brand identity at the firm's investor day to the fund's limited partners, 30 percent of whom are women. The fund also reported 2024 growth for every portfolio company, including multiple experiencing >100% YoY revenue growth in what was a tough year in the US for early stage startups.

Building on this momentum, Stalwart Ventures has expanded its leadership team, adding Managing Director Jeff Martin, a serial entrepreneur, award-winning innovator and former direct report to Steve Jobs at Apple. Martin's expertise in AI, multimedia design, and mobile commerce is underscored by his leadership roles with The Smithsonian Astronomy Council, Harvard Center of Astrophysics, and position as the first co-chair of the Albert Einstein Foundation.

"The breadth of experiences and network I've been able to develop throughout my career in Silicon Valley is a perfect fit for Stalwart Ventures," said Martin. "Our shared goal of uncovering and scaling prolific founders, who are on the cutting edge of science and technology, and its attention to operational excellence led me to join as a managing director. I'm excited to work with Stalwart Ventures as we take it into its next stage of growth."

Stalwart Ventures has also added Chief Financial Officer James Prasad, a respected technologist, serial entrepreneur and former Red Hat executive whose experience in scaling startups to IPO, while intermixing his expertise in engineering, operations and financial optimization. Prasad's skillsets are an invaluable addition to the team.

"I'm thrilled to join Stalwart Ventures, where I'm able to work with such unique startups to leverage not just my work in engineering, but optimizing finances to ensure our portfolio companies are on the right track from day one," said Prasad.

Stalwart Ventures' current portfolio includes: Hypercraft , Particl , Kinectify , Halosight , Sierra , Skill Struck , ReferPro , Nomyx , Proteus , Innovera and Volta .

For more information, please visit www.StalwartVentures.com.

Investor Relations:

info@stalwartventures.com

Media Inquiries:

sonia@gallerypr.com

About Stalwart Ventures

Stalwart Ventures is a seed-stage venture fund designed to scale founders faster and help them drive more value for customers, employees, and investors. We combine our deep operational experience with a commitment to keeping our promises to help founders allocate capital, build high-performing teams, prevent premature scaling, and enlist the help of others to scale their businesses. We're not just passive investors; we actively participate in the startup journey, matching our capital with expertise.

SOURCE: Stalwart Ventures

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/utahs-%231-early-stage-venture-fund-unveils-new-brand-identity-exp-1027236
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Destiny Media Technologies Inc. (TSXV: DSY), announced today that on May 7, 2025 the Company received a notice of suspension from trading on the TSX as a result of a Cease Trading Order ("CTO") issued from the BC Securities Commission due to the non-filing of the Company's February 28, 2025 quarter results on SEDAR+. The Company filed on a timely basis with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") but the Company's filing service provider, failed to file on SEDAR+. This oversight was rectified on May 6, 2025 and the BC Securities Commission revoked its CTO on May 7, 2025. The TSX has received the revocation and is currently reviewing the reinstatement. The Company's shares remain in good standing and freely trading on the OTCQB.

About Destiny Media Technologies Inc.

Destiny Media Technologies Inc. ("Destiny") provides software as service (SaaS) solutions to businesses in the music industry solving critical problems in distribution and promotion. The core service, Play MPE (www.plaympe.com), is the world's leading provider of music promotional delivery services, dedicated to empowering artists and industry professionals with innovative solutions for success in the digital age. More information can be found at www.dsny.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251562

SOURCE: Destiny Media Technologies, Inc.
Regulatory News:

The shareholders of Etablissements Maurel Prom S.A. (Paris:MAU) (the "Company") are hereby informed that an Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting will be held on first notice of meeting on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, at 10 a.m., at Salons de l'Hotel des Arts et Metiers 75116 Paris, France.

Availability of the Shareholders General Meeting's preparatory documents

A notice of meeting was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires ("BALO") of April 21, 2025 which contains the agenda and the draft resolutions which will be submitted to the General Meeting, A convening notice was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires ("BALO") of May 12, 2025. Such notice and the related report of the Board of Directors are available on the Company's website (www.maureletprom.fr, section "Investors", sub-section "General Meeting 2025").

The preparatory documents for the Shareholders General Meeting referred to in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code are available, within the time period provided for in the applicable regulation, on the Company's website, at the abovementioned address. In addition, the preparatory documents for the Shareholders General Meeting referred to in Articles L. 225-115, L. 225-116 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code are available, within the time period provided for in the applicable regulation, at the Company's registered office (51, rue d'Anjou, 75008 Paris).

Shareholders may request that the Company send them the documents and information referred to in Articles R. 225-81 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code, up to the fifth day before the meeting (inclusive), i.e. Wednesday 21 May 2025. Requests should be sent preferably by email to ir@maureletprom.fr (otherwise by post to the Company's head office at 51, rue d'Anjou 75008 Paris, France or by request sent to Uptevia, Service Assemblees Generales, 90 110 Esplanade du General de Gaulle, 92931 Paris La Defense Cedex). It is recalled that holders of bearer shares will have to prove they are shareholders by providing a certificate of account registration.

Finally, please note that any shareholder able to prove its status can attend the General Meeting in person, voting online by logging in to the secure voting platform VOTACCESS before the General Shareholders' Meeting, vote by post, or voting by appointing the Chairman of the General Shareholders' Meeting or a third party as proxy.

The applicable rules for attending the General Meeting are described in particular in the notice of meeting published in the BALO. This document is available on the Company's website (www.maureletprom.fr, website section "Investors", sub-section "General Meeting 2025").

In accordance with Article R. 22-10-29-1 of the French Commercial Code, the general meeting will be broadcast live in its entirety, accessible on the Company's website at the following address: https://www.maureletprom.fr/en/investisseurs/assemblees-generales

A recording of the Combined General Meeting will be available on the Company's website.

For more information, please visit www.maureletprom.fr/en/

This document may contain forecasts regarding the financial position, results, business and industrial strategy of Maurel Prom. By their very nature, forecasts involve risk and uncertainty insofar as they are based on events or circumstances which may or may not occur in the future. These forecasts are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which may prove to be incorrect and which depend on a number of risk factors, such as fluctuations in crude oil prices, changes in exchange rates, uncertainties related to the valuation of our oil reserves, actual rates of oil production and the related costs, operational problems, political stability, legislative or regulatory reforms, or even wars, terrorism and sabotage.

Maurel Prom is listed on Euronext Paris

SBF 120 CAC Mid 60 CAC Mid Small CAC All-Tradable PEA-PME and SRD eligible

Isin FR0000051070 Bloomberg MAU.FP Reuters MAUP.PA

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513776765/en/

Contacts:

Maurel Prom

Shareholder relations

Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 83 16 45

ir@maureletprom.fr

NewCap

Investor/media relations

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 98 53

maureletprom@newcap.eu
On Thursday, May 15th, Shawn Windle, ERP Advisors Group's ERP Expert to CEOs & CFOs, will be joined by Ryan Baca, Director of Consulting for EAG, to discuss why you should hire a consultant to support your ERP project.

LAKEWOOD, COLORADO / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Shawn Windle, Founder and Managing Principal, and Ryan Baca, Director of Consulting, will outline the reasons you should hire an ERP selection consultant and how a consultant can ensure your project reaches a successful go-live.

Open registration is available at: https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com/events

Sign up here for the live broadcast: https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com/events/why-should-you-hire-an-erp-consultant-event

During this webinar, Shawn and Ryan will explore how ERP selections go wrong and the long-term ramifications, as well as the key roles that must be performed by either internal resources or external consultants throughout the selection process.

Shawn and Ryan each bring over 30 years of experience in the ERP industry, having worked with the largest technology consulting firms in the world and advised clients ranging from small businesses up to multinational enterprises.

About ERP Advisors Group

ERP Advisors Group is one of the world's most trusted enterprise software advisory firms, helping hundreds of organizations purchase and implement the right enterprise software solutions to meet their unique needs. ERP Advisors Group is technology independent, with a proven track record of successful ERP software selections that lead to successful go-lives.

Meet the independent ERP Consultants of ERP Advisors Group.

To register for the webinar, please visit https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com/events/why-should-you-hire-an-erp-consultant-event

SOURCE: ERP Advisors Group

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/erp-advisors-group-hosts-a-free-webinar-detailing-the-benefits-o-1027243
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Given the changing dynamics in the global energy market, how businesses access and consume energy can be complicated. Geopolitical conditions, regulatory pressures, and market demand can create scenarios that can affect business operating costs and stability.

One option that many businesses are evaluating is the adoption of renewable energy sources, with potential benefits ranging from brand enhancement to cost resilience. While renewables may not be the right fit for every organization, understanding the available incentives and market drivers can help inform strategic energy decisions.

To better understand today's energy landscape, it's helpful to explore how renewable energy incentives have developed over time, and what they might offer businesses evaluating their energy strategies.

This blog provides an overview of key financial opportunities and operational considerations, including tax breaks, long-term cost savings, and potential brand positioning benefits, to support informed decision-making about renewable energy investments.

Understanding Renewable Energy Incentives and Their Evolution

The global push towards renewable energy has prompted governments worldwide to introduce incentives that support businesses in adopting sustainable energy sources. Tax credits, grants, and rebates have become instrumental in making renewable energy more accessible and financially feasible for organizations of all sizes.

The origins of incentive programs

The groundwork for renewable energy incentives began in the 1970s, as the oil crisis steered the conversation toward the need for energy alternatives. The 1978 Energy Tax Act in the U.S. was a foundational policy that introduced tax credits for solar and wind investments. Meanwhile, in Europe, countries like Germany and Denmark launched Feed-in Tariff (FIT) programs in the 1990s, offering businesses fixed payments for renewable energy production. These FIT programs provided a reliable revenue stream, encouraging companies to invest in solar and wind technologies by guaranteeing consistent returns.

These early initiatives helped build the foundation for the renewable energy market by making adoption more financially attractive, sparking a ripple effect of innovation and further investment worldwide.

How incentives have evolved over time

As global awareness of climate change has grown, renewable energy incentives have been adapted to drive adoption at scale, supporting a range of technologies beyond solar and wind, and aligning with global climate agreements like the Paris Accord.

Key examples of today's expanded incentives include:

Investment and Production Tax Credits (ITC and PTC) - United States: The ITC allows businesses to deduct up to 30% of renewable energy project costs, while the PTC, primarily for wind energy, provides credits based on energy produced. While President Donal Trump's Unleashing American Energy executive order paused clean energy-related federal disbursements, this does not currently impact these tax credits.

European Green Deal (EU) : Launched in 2019, this initiative provides grants and funding for businesses adopting renewable energy to help Europe reach its target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Companies can apply for funds to support renewable projects across industries, making adoption accessible and cost-effective.

Canada's Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit : Canada's federal government offers a tax credit for businesses investing in clean technologies, including solar, geothermal, and battery storage systems. This program supports renewable energy adoption as part of Canada's climate strategy.

Japan's Green Investment Promotion Program: To support its decarbonization goals, Japan offers financial incentives such as subsidies and low-interest loans for companies investing in renewable energy, particularly in solar and hydrogen.

Today, businesses have access to a broad spectrum of tax breaks, grants, and credits that reduce the initial costs of renewable energy adoption. These include federal incentives, state and local programs, and international initiatives, making renewable energy projects more financially accessible and appealing.

Key Takeaways

The landscape of renewable energy incentives has evolved significantly over the past several decades, offering businesses a range of opportunities to explore sustainable energy sources. While each organization's path to renewable energy adoption may differ based on operational needs, market conditions, and regulatory environments, understanding the financial tools available-such as tax credits, grants, and rebates-can support informed decision-making.

As energy markets continue to shift, staying aware of evolving policies and incentives can help businesses assess whether renewable energy aligns with their broader strategic goals. Whether the priority is cost management, risk mitigation, or contributing to broader sustainability objectives, having a clear view of available resources ensures that companies are well-positioned to evaluate all their energy options.

Questions? Our team is here to help you get answers. Reach out today!

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Antea Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Antea Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Antea Group

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/renewable-energy-adoption-key-insights-for-a-changing-market-1027260
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Totec Resources Ltd. ("Totec") (TSXV:TOTC.P), a capital pool company, and Usha Resources Ltd. ("Usha") (TSXV:USHA)(OTCQB:USHAF)(FSE:JO0), are pleased to jointly announce that they have entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") dated May 13, 2025. Pursuant to the LOI, Totec proposes to acquire (the "Transaction") from Usha an option (the "Assigned Option Interest") to acquire a 100% interest in 240 claims (the "Acquired Property") currently forming part of Usha's White Willow Pegmatite Property (the "White Willow Property"), located in the Thunder Bay Mining Division near Atikokan, Ontario.

As currently contemplated, the Transaction will be structured as follows: (i) Usha will assign the Assigned Option Interest to a newly incorporated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Usha ("Usha SubCo"); and (ii) Totec will then acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Usha SubCo. The Transaction is intended to constitute Totec's qualifying transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction"), as defined in Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). For Usha, the Transaction represents a strategic step to focus on its other core assets, while retaining exposure to the Acquired Property through an equity interest in Totec.

Usha's Interest in the White Willow Property

Usha's White Willow Property consists of 469 mineral claims optioned on March 15, 2023. The White Willow Property covers approximately 9,978 hectares in the Thunder Bay Mining Division, approximately 170 kilometres west of Thunder Bay. To date, Usha has incurred approximately $454,000 in exploration expenditures on the Property, including several rounds of prospecting, mapping and other grassroots fieldwork in preparation for a maiden drill program.

The White Willow Property is subject to an underlying option agreement requiring cash payments totaling $220,000 and the issuance of 3,600,000 common shares of Usha. Payments made to date include $120,000 and the issuance of 2,600,000 common shares of Usha. The White Willow Property is also subject to net smelter return royalties ("NSR") of 3.0%, 1.5% to each of 2758145 Ontario Ltd. and Grid Metals Corp. Two-thirds of the NSR may be purchased from 2758145 Ontario Ltd. and Grid Metals Corp. at any time for consideration of $1,250,000 and $1,000,000, respectively.

In connection with the Transaction, Usha will commission an independent technical report on the Acquired Property prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The costs associated with this report shall be borne by Totec. Completion of the Technical Report is a condition precedent to closing.

Overview of the Proposed Transaction

The LOI contemplates that Usha will first transfer the Assigned Option Interest to Usha SubCo, a wholly-owned subsidiary governed under the laws of British Columbia. Totec will then acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Usha SubCo, thereby indirectly acquiring the Assigned Option Interest in the Acquired Property. The final structure and form of the Transaction remains subject to satisfactory tax, corporate and securities law advice for both the Company and Usha and will be set forth in a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") to be entered into among the parties, which will replace the LOI.

It is anticipated that, prior to completion of the Transaction, Totec will complete a consolidation of its share capital (the "Consolidation"), whereby every two (2) common shares will be consolidated into one (1) common share (each, a "Common Share").

The consideration for the acquisition of Usha SubCo will be satisfied through the issuance by Totec to Usha of 5,750,000 Common Shares (on a Post-Consolidation basis) at a deemed price of $0.075 per share (the "Consideration Shares"), representing an aggregate deemed value of $431,250.

Additionally, Totec will agree to make an aggregate $100,000 cash payment due to the underlying optionor (the "Underlying Optionor") of the White Willow Property by March 2026, an obligation which would otherwise be Usha's. Usha will remain responsible for an aggregate 1,000,000 Usha common share issuance to the Underlying Optionor due by March 2026.

Closing of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including but not limited to satisfactory due diligence investigations, the negotiation and execution of the Definitive Agreement, receipt of all required shareholder, regulatory and third-party approvals and consents, including that of the Exchange and the Underlying Optionor, satisfactory completion by Totec of the Concurrent Financing (defined below), and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Transaction cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

No finders fees will be payable in connection with the Transaction.

Additional information concerning the Transaction, including financial information respecting the Acquired Property, will be provided in a subsequent news release.

Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction and Shareholder Approval

Mr. Deepak Varshney, the Chief Executive Officer of both Totec and Usha, is a common director and officer of the two companies. As such, the Transaction constitutes a "Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction" under Exchange Policy 2.4. Consequently, Majority of the Minority Approval (as defined in Exchange policy 2.4) will be required. Totec intends to seek such approval either through a special meeting of shareholders or via written consent from shareholders holding more than 50% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares, excluding any shares beneficially owned or controlled by Mr. Varshney and any other person required to be excluded by the policies of the Exchange.

Similarly, Usha will obtain approval for the transaction from shareholders holding more than 50% of its issued and outstanding shares, excluding shares held by common directors and officers and any other person required to be excluded by the policies of the Exchange. The independent directors of each of Totec and Usha have determined the proposed terms of the Transaction to be fair and reasonable.

Notwithstanding is characterization as a "Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction" under Exchange Policy 2.4, the Transaction is not expected to constitute a "Related Party Transaction" under MI 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions.

Concurrent Financing

Prior to or concurrent with completion of the Transaction, Totec will complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Concurrent Financing") of up to 20,000,000 units of Totec (each, a "Unit") on a Post-Consolidation basis at a price of $0.075 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one (Post-Consolidation) Common Share and one (Post-Consolidation) Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Post-Consolidation Common Share at an exercise price of $0.20 for a period of three (3) years from the date of issuance. The proceeds from the Concurrent Financing are expected to be used to fund the costs associated with completing the Transaction, carrying out the phase 1 exploration program on the Acquired Property (as will be recommended in the Technical Report), the $100,000 option payment due by March 2026, and for general working capital, as will be set out in more detail in the Form 3B2 Filing Statement or Form 3B1 information circular to be filed on SEDAR+ in connection with the Transaction.

The pricing of the Concurrent Financing at $0.075 per Unit has been determined based on current market conditions and arm's length negotiations with potential investors and has been reviewed and approved by the independent directors of each of Totec and Usha.

Subject to Exchange approval, Totec may pay commissions on proceeds raised under the Concurrent Financing commensurate with industry norms. No finders fees will be payable in connection with the Transaction itself. All securities issued in connection with the Concurrent Financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Resulting Issuer

Upon completion of the Transaction, and assuming the full subscription of the Concurrent Financing on the terms described above, the resulting issuer (the "Resulting Issuer") will have 28,813,000 Common Shares issued and outstanding. The anticipated share ownership of the Resulting Issuer will be approximately as follows:

Group of Shareholders Number of Common Shares Held Ownership Percentage of Resulting Issuer Existing Totec shareholders 3,063,000 10.63% Participants in the Concurrent Financing 20,000,000 69.41% Usha 5,750,000 19.96% Total 28,813,000 100.0%

The Resulting Issuer will be engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the development of the Acquired Property. Upon completion of the Transaction, subject to receipt of all requisite approvals, it is anticipated that the Resulting Issuer will be listed on the Exchange as a Tier 2 - Mining issuer.

Upon completion of the Transaction, Totec's board of directors and officers will remain in their current roles. Totec's current officers are Deepak Varshney, CEO, and Khalid Naeem, CFO, and Totec's board is currently comprised of Deepak Varshney, Andres Abogado, James Walker, and Paul McGuigan. Biographic information respecting each of these individuals is provided below:

Deepak Varshney - Chief Executive Officer and Director

Deepak Varshney brings a wealth of experience in mineral exploration and corporate leadership. As a professional geologist with over a decade of experience, Mr. Varshney has demonstrated a keen ability to identify and develop high-potential mineral assets. Mr. Varshney's expertise spans across various roles in the mining sector. He currently serves as part of the leadership of multiple resource companies, including Doubleview Gold Corp., showcasing his capacity to manage and drive growth across multiple ventures simultaneously. With an educational background from Simon Fraser University, Mr. Varshney combines academic knowledge with practical industry experience. Mr. Varshney has been instrumental in raising over $40 million in the last three years and is part of the Varshney Family Office, known for their successful ventures in the mining and real estate industries, which has successfully founded and funded projects worth over $100 million over the past three decades.

Khalid Naeem - Chief Financial Officer

Khalid Naeem brings over 18 years of financial expertise to his role as CFO. His extensive experience as a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant has provided him with a deep understanding of financial management, tax compliance, mergers & acquisitions, risk management, and financial reporting. Mr. Naeem's career in the resource sector is marked by his ability to navigate the complex financial landscapes of exploration and mining companies. His current portfolio includes serving as CFO for several public issuers, including Usha Resources Ltd., Xander Resources Inc., and Formation Resources Inc. This multi-company experience demonstrates his capacity to manage diverse financial challenges and opportunities within the mining industry. Prior to joining the public company sector, Mr. Naeem held several positions of progressively increasing seniority at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Andres Abogado - Director

Andres Abogado is a lawyer in Mexico and Canada. He holds an LLB in Mexican Law, an NCA issued by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and a Masters of Law from the University of British Columbia, with specialization in international and immigration law. He has 12 years' experience as counsel both in Mexico and Canada. He advises junior mining companies and Canadian companies with legal needs in Mexico and Latin America, including regulatory compliance, permits, complex corporate structures and agreements. Mr. Abogado has also acted as counsel on a wide variety of matters, such as contract and settlement advice, immigration applications, regulatory compliance and complex settlement agreements in Mexico, Spain and Latin American countries. He has also acted as counsel for individuals both in the Provincial Court and the Supreme Court of British Columbia in the application and interpretation of international treaties and he has prevented extraditions to Spanish speaking countries. Mr. Abogado is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Vancouver Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the British Columbia Arbitration and Mediation Institute and he has been appointed by the Mexican government as external counsel for the Mexican Consulate in Vancouver.

James Walker - Director

James Walker has extensive experience in engineering and project management; particularly within mining engineering, mechanical engineering, construction, manufacturing, engineering design, infrastructure, safety management, and nuclear engineering. He is also the CEO and President and Director of Ares Strategic Mining and a Director of Bayhorse Silver Inc. and Xander Resources Inc. Mr. Walker's professional experience includes designing nuclear reactors, submarines, chemical plants, factories, mine processing facilities, infrastructure, automotive machinery, and testing rigs. Mr. Walker holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering, as well as qualifications in Project Management and Accountancy, and is a Chartered Engineer with the IMechE, and registered as a Project Manager Professional with the Association for Project Management.

Paul McGuigan - Director

Paul McGuigan is a Professional Geoscientist registered with the Association of Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, with 45 years of international experience in mineral exploration, deposit evaluation, mine operations, and corporate governance. As a geochemical researcher, he developed mineral separation techniques commonly employed in exploration and heavy mineral sands mapping. First employed by Resource Associates of Alaska, Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann, and Esso Minerals Canada, he operated in Canada and the USA. For the last 34 years, Mr. McGuigan has managed the Cambria group of consulting companies in North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the SW Pacific. In civic service, he has served as a member of the Consulting Practice and the Geoscience Committees of the Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, as a director of the BC Neurological Centre, and, lately, as past-president / director of the BC Centre for Ability Foundation.

Sponsorship

The Transaction is subject to the sponsorship requirements of the Exchange unless an exemption from those requirements is granted. Totec intends to apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements; however, there can be no assurance that an exemption will be obtained. If an exemption from the sponsorship requirements is not obtained, a sponsor will be identified at a later date. An agreement to act as sponsor in respect of the Transaction should not be construed as any assurance with respect to the merits of the Transaction or the likelihood of its completion.

Filing Statement

In connection with the Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange, Totec intends to file a Form 3B2 Filing Statement or Form 3B1 information circular on its issuer profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), which will include comprehensive information regarding the Transaction and the Resulting Issuer.

Additional Information

Trading in the common shares of Totec has been halted, and will remain halted, pending the satisfaction of all applicable requirements of Policy 2.4 of the Exchange. There can be no assurance that trading of common shares of Totec will resume prior to the completion of the Transaction. Further details concerning the Transaction (including additional information regarding Usha) and other matters will be announced when a Definitive Agreement is reached.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.

About Totec Resources Ltd.

Totec is a Capital Pool Company within the meaning of TSXV Policy 2.4, has not commenced commercial operations, and has no assets other than cash.

For further information, please contact:

Deepak Varshney, CEO and Director

Telephone: 778-899-1780

Forward Looking Statements:

The information provided in this press release regarding Usha has been provided to Totec by Usha and has not been independently verified by Totec.

The information provided in this press release regarding Totec has been provided to Usha and has not been independently verified by Totec.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including but not limited to Exchange acceptance, and if applicable pursuant to Exchange policies, 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 Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including assumptions that all conditions to the closing of the Transaction will be satisfied and that the Transaction will be completed on the terms set forth in the LOI. Although Totec and Usha consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors may include, among others, the risk that required approvals and the satisfaction of material conditions are not obtained in connection with the Transaction, the risk that the Transaction is not approved or completed on the terms set out in the LOI or Definitive Agreement (which has not or may not be entered into between Totec and Usha) or at all and that sufficient funds may not be raised pursuant to the Concurrent Financing. Although Totec and Usha believe that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Totec and Usha disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

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.

SOURCE: Totec Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/usha-resources-ltd.-and-totec-resources-ltd.-announce-strategic-partnership-via-l-1027261
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / For the tenth straight year, a leading U.S. precious-metals dealer has teamed up with the nation's preeminent sound money policy groups to help students pay for the ever-increasing costs associated with continuing education.

Money Metals Exchange , Sound Money Defense League , and the Sound Money Foundation are proud to present the 2025 Sound Money Scholarship -- the first gold-backed scholarship of the modern era.

Starting in 2016, these organizations set aside 100 ounces of physical gold to fund scholarships, at the time valued around $120,000. Today, as a result of excessive money printing and deficit spending, 100 ounces of gold is worth more than $330,000. Using this fund, the groups seek to reward outstanding students who display a thorough understanding of economics, monetary policy, and sound money.

The Sound Money Scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students with an interest in economics, specifically the free-market tradition. Applicants do not have to be economics majors to be eligible to receive this scholarship.

The coalition of sound money proponents also announced this year's blue-ribbon panel of judges for the 2025 Sound Money Scholarship:

Michael Maharrey serves a Market Analyst for Money Metals and is the national communications director for the Tenth Amendment Center. He hosts the Money Metals' Midweek Memo podcast . Michael is the author of four books and several e-books on the US Constitution and nullification.

Michael earned a degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Kentucky. He speaks at events across the United States, and frequently appears as a guest on local, national, and international radio shows advancing constitutional history and America's founding principles.

Chris Powell is a journalist in Connecticut, where he worked for the Journal Inquirer, a daily newspaper in Manchester, for 56 years, 44 of them as managing editor. He continues to write three political columns each week for newspapers throughout the state and the Patch internet site in his hometown. He frequently appears on talk radio programs on several Connecticut stations.

Powell is also secretary/treasurer of the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Inc. (GATA), which he co-founded in 1999 to expose and oppose the rigging of the gold market by Western central banks and their investment bank agents. He edits the GATA Dispatch, that organization's daily electronic newsletter, and speaks on behalf of the organization at financial conferences in the United States and abroad.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information and was its state legislative chairman for many years.

Tho Bishop is Outreach Director for the Mises Institute. Prior to joining the Mises Institute team in 2015, he served as Deputy Communications Director for the House Financial Services Committee. His work has been featured in a number of publications, including The Federalist,The Washington Times, and Business Insider.

Dr. Paul F. Cwik is a Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Mount Olive and a Fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute. For nine years, he taught the BB&T classes on the Foundations of Capitalism at North Carolina State University. He earned a BA from Hillsdale College, an MA from Tulane University, and a PhD from Auburn University, where he was a Mises Research Fellow. He has taught at several colleges and universities, including Auburn University, Campbell University, and Walsh College. Dr. Cwik's book, Austrian Business Cycle Theory: An Introduction, was released in 2024.

The Sound Money Scholarship has received entries from students attending hundreds upon hundreds of high schools and higher learning institutions across nearly 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and nearly a dozen countries, and across five continents, and nine exceptional students were awarded $11,500 in scholarship money.

Following the intense popularity of the Sound Money Scholarship, the two groups established the Sound Money Fellowship, offering yet another opportunity for students and independent researchers to contribute to our understanding of sound money through written research. Click the link to read more about the Sound Money Fellowship .

The deadline to submit applications for the Sound Money Scholarship is October 31, 2025. For more information, please visit moneymetals.com/scholarship or email scholarship@moneymetals.com .

Contact: Jp Cortez

E-mail: jp.cortez@soundmoneydefense.org

SOURCE: Money Metals Exchange

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/money-metals-exchange-announces-international-sound-money-scholarship-for-10th-st-1027251
CHISINAU, MD / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / PQ.Hosting continues its global expansion with the addition of a new country to its network - Malaysia. This marks the company's 49th location in its international infrastructure and another step toward complete global coverage. With servers now live in Southeast Asia, clients gain access to a reliable, low-latency hosting environment tailored for projects targeting Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and neighbouring countries.

As with all PQ.Hosting locations, the servers in Malaysia are hosted on the company's hardware, with no rentals, intermediaries, or compromises in performance. This approach is a rare practice among hosting providers. The infrastructure uses KVM virtualisation, avoids cloud-based solutions, and features ports up to 10 Gbps and NVMe drives across all plans and locations, with no inflated prices or hidden limits.

"We are steadily building an infrastructure that meets the real business demand for fast, stable, and transparent operations worldwide. Malaysia is a key point on the map, and we're proud to add it to our active locations," - says Ivan Nekulitsi, Founder and CEO of PQ.Hosting.

In addition to VPS servers, customers can also access dedicated servers, VPN services, proxies, domain names, and SSL certificates - all managed through a unified control panel. 24/7 customer support is available, and migration from other hosting providers is free. Services are offered at standard rates globally, starting from just 5.77 per month.

With the launch of Malaysia, PQ.Hosting reinforces its position as one of the few providers offering true global coverage, its own hardware, and 10 Gbps speeds without artificial limitations.

Visit the website for a full list of available locations and more details. VPS hosting - VPS/VDS hosting rental - Buy a VPS server with a trial period - Cheap price of a virtual PQ server. Hosting

Media Contact:

stella

social@pq.hosting SOURCE: PQ Hosting

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/pq.hosting-launches-its-49th-location-malaysia-joins-the-global-s-1027280
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX: GRC) (OTCQB: GRCAF) (the "Company"), reports the release of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations ("MD&A"). In this press release, all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, decreased to $0.14 million compared with $0.15 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024. Exploration spending during the three months ended March 31, 2025, increased to $0.09 million, from $0.07 million incurred during the same period of 2024. During the three months ending March 31, 2025, the Company reported a net loss of $0.17 million ($nil loss per share) compared with net loss of $0.16 million ($nil loss per share), primarily resulting from an increase in foreign exchange losses. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash of $0.02 million.

Operations Update

The Company is pleased to announce that it has engaged ADT Environmental & Mineral Consultants and Global Resource Engineering to apply for permits to build a heap-leach processing pilot plant on private land and a starter pit at the South Jumbo area in Utah, where a resource estimate of 214,565 oz M&I Au has been identified*.

In addition, the Company plans to complete a water well near the processing facility, which will have the capacity to supply water for a large-scale operation.

* Please refer to the technical report: "Mineral Resource Estimate NI 43-101 Technical Report - Gold Springs Project - Utah-Nevada, USA" dated July 11, 2022 for additional information (Measured: 114,558 oz Au (6,456,000 tonnes with a grade of 0.55 gpt) - Indicated: 100,007 oz Au (5,657,000 tonnes with a grade of 0.55 gpt - M&I: 214,565 oz AU (12,115,000 tonnes with a grade of 0.55 gpt)).

About Gold Springs Resource Corp.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX: GRC) (OTCQB: GRCAF) is focused on the exploration and expansion of the gold and silver resources of its large Gold Springs project located on the border of Nevada and Utah, USA. The project is situated in the prolific Great Basin of Western USA, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world.

Qualified Person

Randall Moore, Executive Vice-President Exploration, Gold Springs Resource Corp., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He has approved the scientific or technical information in this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements herein may include words such as "creating", "believe", "would", "continue", "will", "promising", "should", and similar expressions and includes the statement relating to the construction of a processing plant and starter pit at South Jumbo, the South Jumbo mineral resource estimate and the completion of a water well that will have the capacity to supply a large-scale operation. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, risks of the mineral exploration industry which may affect the advancement of the Gold Springs project, including possible variations in mineral resources, grade, recovery rates, metal prices, capital and operating costs, and the application of taxes; availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; availability of equipment and qualified personnel, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes in project parameters, including water requirements for operations, as plans continue to be refined; regulatory, environmental and other risks of the mining industry more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form and continuous disclosure documents, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The assumptions made in developing the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of current resource estimates and the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the continuing support for mining by local governments in Nevada and Utah; the availability of equipment and qualified personnel to advance the Gold Springs project; execution of the Company's existing plans and further exploration and development programs for Gold Springs, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such plans or programs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe the Company's expectations as of the date hereof.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252010

SOURCE: Gold Springs Resource Corp.
JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / ParkerVision, Inc. (OTCQB:PRKR) ("ParkerVision" or the "Company"), a developer and marketer of technologies and products for wireless applications, today announced results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

2025 Summary and Recent Developments

The district court in the Middle District of Florida (Orlando) has ordered a third claim construction briefing following the remand from the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The parties submitted their briefs in April 2025 and are awaiting the court's ruling. In addition, the parties are awaiting the court's rulings on other outstanding pre-trial motions including the Company's motion to substitute its technical expert due to serious medical issues and Daubert motions regarding damages, among others. The court has indicated that it will set a pre-trial conference once it has ruled on these outstanding motions and then set a date for trial.

As anticipated, several trial dates have been rescheduled in the Western District of Texas with a Realtek trial commencing in January 2026, followed by Texas Instruments, NXP and MediaTek, all within the first quarter of 2026.

Jeffrey Parker, CEO of ParkerVision, commented, "Trial dates in the Western District of Texas have been rescheduled for the first quarter of 2026 as a result of the time that was required to resolve disputes with respect to discovery requests. The Texas court is holding weekly discovery hearings between ParkerVision and the four defendants that have first quarter 2026 trial dates scheduled in order to address, in real-time, any further disputes and/or delays with respect to discovery. I believe this procedure will be effective at keeping these cases on track for their revised trial dates. Meanwhile we are hopeful that the Florida district court will likewise issue rulings on outstanding motions expediently in order to schedule our Qualcomm case for trial."

Mr. Parker continued, "In the first quarter of 2025, ParkerVision launched a targeted video campaign to raise awareness of the essential role small innovators play in driving technological leadership. By emphasizing the need for strong intellectual property protections, we aim to align with ongoing policy discussions that directly impact the U.S. innovation economy. We believe this effort not only elevates our visibility but also reinforces our long-term value proposition to investors as IP protections remain central to national competitiveness and security."

Financial Results

ParkerVision reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2025 of $3.8 million, or $0.03 per common share, compared to a net loss of $0.7 million, or $0.01 per common share for the third quarter of 2024.

The increase in net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025, is primarily the result of a $2.5 million non-cash charge for a change in fair value of the Company's contingent payment obligations. The increase in fair value of the Company's contingent payment obligations is the result of changes in estimated amounts and timing of projected future cash flows for the repayment of the Company's contingent payment obligations. The assumptions used in these estimates are highly subjective and may not be reflective of amounts actually repaid in the future which are contingent upon receipt of proceeds from patent enforcement, licensing and other patent-related items.

The Company used approximately $1.8 million in cash for operations for the first three months of 2025, and ended the quarter with $3.3 million in cash and cash equivalents.

About ParkerVision

ParkerVision, Inc. invents, develops and licenses cutting-edge, proprietary radio-frequency (RF) technologies that enable wireless solution providers to make and sell advanced wireless communication products. ParkerVision is engaged in a number of patent enforcement actions in the U.S. to protect patented rights that it believes are broadly infringed by others. For more information, please visit www.parkervision.com. (PRKR-I)

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding the timing, scheduling, and expected outcomes of current and future legal proceedings; the potential impact and significance of such proceedings; and expectations concerning court rulings, trial dates, and pre-trial motions. Forward-looking statements also include estimates and assumptions underlying financial information, including the fair value of contingent payment obligations and the Company's ability to support ongoing operations and litigation.

These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions as of the date of this release, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Words such as "believe,""anticipate,""hopeful,""aim,""will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements include these words. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ include, among others: adverse developments or delays in legal proceedings; unfavorable court decisions or rulings; changes in the legal or regulatory environment; inaccuracies in financial estimates or assumptions; and risks disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent filings.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Cindy French

Chief Financial Officer

ParkerVision, Inc.

cfrench@parkervision.com

(TABLES FOLLOW)

ParkerVision, Inc.

Balance Sheet Highlights (unaudited)

?

(unaudited) (in thousands) March 31,

2025 December 31,

2024 Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,280 $ 4,918 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 256 127 Intangible assets & other noncurrent assets 813 834 Total assets 4,349 5,879 Current liabilities 2,949 2,408 Contingent payment obligations 49,120 46,659 Convertible notes, net of current portion 1,708 3,023 Other long-term liabilities 166 201 Shareholders' deficit (49,594 ) (46,412 ) Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit $ 4,349 $ 5,879

ParkerVision, Inc.

Summary Results of Operations(unaudited)

Three Months Ended (in thousands, except per share amounts) March 31, 2025 2024 Licensing revenue $ - $ - Cost of sales (54 ) (59 ) Gross margin (54 ) (59 ) Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,243 773 Total operating expenses 1,243 773 Interest expense and other (41 ) (81 ) Change in fair value of contingent payment obligations (2,461 ) 220 Total other (expense) income, net (2,502 ) 139 Net loss $ (3,799 ) $ (693 ) Basic and diluted net loss per common share $ (0.03 ) $ (0.01 ) Weighted average shares outstanding 115,831 88,164

ParkerVision, Inc.

Summary of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended (in thousands) March 31, 2025 2024 Net cash used in operating activities $ (1,827 ) $ (793 ) Net cash used in investing activities (34 ) - Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 223 (33 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (1,638 ) (826 ) Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 4,918 2,560 Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 3,280 $ 1,734

SOURCE: ParkerVision, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/telecommunications/parkervision-reports-first-quarter-2025-results-1027231
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - The Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE" or "the Exchange") today welcomed the listing of WISR AI Systems Inc. ("WISR" or the "Company"). The Vancouver-based company recently filed a prospectus enabling it to qualify for listing on the CSE and its common shares began trading today under the symbol WISR.

WISR is a software development company that predicts, detects and responds to enterprise risks by utilizing an AI-driven platform that harnesses local and global data sources. By integrating a sophisticated data ingestion system and innovative AI technology, WISR generates real-time, bespoke risk metrics and automated recommendations for enterprises and the inherent risks posed by their third party infrastructure connections. This advanced capability ensures that organizations can efficiently meet the expanding demands of governance, risk and compliance, securing a competitive advantage in managing evolving cyber threats.

"Business is only beginning to scratch the surface of important applications for AI technology," said James Black, the CSE's Vice President, Listings Development. "Employing it for enterprise risk assessment is clearly a novel and highly worthwhile use. We are pleased to list the shares of WISR AI Systems and wish the company success with its development program."

"Today marks a major milestone for WISR AI as we begin trading on the CSE," said Rob Goehring, CEO of WISR. "This listing strengthens our commitment to delivering cutting-edge, Agentic AI-powered cybersecurity solutions that help organizations stay ahead of risk. We're excited to invite investors to join us on this journey as we scale globally."

About the Canadian Securities Exchange:

The Canadian Securities Exchange is a rapidly growing exchange invested in working with entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors to access public capital markets in Canada. The Exchange's efficient operating model, advanced technology and competitive fee structure help its listed issuers of all sectors and sizes minimize their cost of capital and enhance global liquidity.

Our client-centric approach and corresponding products and services ensure businesses have the support they need to confidently realize their vision.

The CSE offers global investors access to an innovative collection of growing and mature companies.

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE CSE

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Website: https://thecse.com/

Blog: https://blog.thecse.com/

CSE TV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/csetv

CSE's "The Exchange for Entrepreneurs" Podcast: https://blog.thecse.com/category/cse-podcast/

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/canadian-securities-exchange

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252005

SOURCE: Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE)
Regulatory News:

The Combined General Meeting of shareholders of GenSight Biologics (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, took place on May 13, 2025, at 2:00 pm CEST at the Company's headquarters, 74 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France. The General Meeting was chaired by Laurence Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

All resolutions recommended by the Board of Directors and submitted to the Combined General Meeting were adopted, with the exception of Resolution A, which was rejected, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. The quorum on first convening amounted to 56.51%.

During the General Meeting, the Chief Executive Officer reviewed the key achievements of 2024, a year marked by careful cash management, strengthened financial structure with the participation of new investors and renewed support from historical shareholders, as well as the renegotiation of the Company's financial obligations. She also highlighted progress in manufacturing, including the optimization of GenSight's technology, preparation for technology transfer to a new manufacturing partner, and the successful mixing and pharmaceutical release of two active substance batches. On the regulatory and clinical fronts, the year saw the preparation of the Phase III RECOVER protocol, the planned submission of the Early Access Program (AAC) application in November 2024, and the continuation of strong scientific communication through international congresses and high-impact journal publications.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Company will maintain strict spending discipline while actively pursuing refinancing opportunities. Strategic priorities include the finalization of the Phase III RECOVER protocol in alignment with health authorities, the submission of the LUMEVOQ registration dossier to the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and the resumption of the Early Access Program in France through continued engagement with the French agency ANSM. On the manufacturing side, efforts will focus on successfully completing the technology transfer initiated at the end of 2024, optimizing LUMEVOQ production yields, and finalizing the quality control plan. In parallel, the Company will continue to explore strategic options through discussions already underway.

The results of the vote by resolution and the videocast of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the Company's website in the Investors section (www.gensight-biologics.com/investors-media).

About GenSight Biologics

GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics' pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics' lead product candidate, GS010 (lenadogene nolparvovec) is in Phase III in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible blindness in teens and young adults. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics' product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250513743163/en/

Contacts:

GenSight Biologics

Chief Financial Officer

Jan Eryk Umiastowski

jeumiastowski@gensight-biologics.com
Bechtel signs Saudi airport deal during U.S. President's visit

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel today signed an agreement with the King Salman International Airport Development Company to serve as the delivery partner for three new terminals at King Salman International Airport (KSIA) in Riyadh. Signed during President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, the agreement highlights growing U.S.-Saudi infrastructure ties and builds on Bechtel's experience delivering more than 300 projects in Saudi Arabia, including the recently opened Riyadh Metro.

The airport, expected to be the world's largest when it opens in the coming decade, is a pillar of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 that will serve as an economic engine for Riyadh and the surrounding region.

"The King Salman International Airport is a landmark project that will reshape Riyadh and enhance the lives and communities it serves," saidDarren Mort, President of Bechtel's Infrastructure Business. "Bechtel's award-winning aviation team has delivered some of the world's largest and most complex airports, incorporating innovative and sustainable solutions. We look forward to partnering with the King Salman International Airport Development Company to bring their vision of a world-class passenger experience to life."

When completed, the KSIA will operate six parallel runways and handle an anticipated capacity of 185 million passengers and 3.5 million tons of cargo annually by 2050. The new terminals will support economic growth in Riyadh and the surrounding region, while enhancing global connectivity and delivering a world-class passenger experience.

Bechtel will work with the King Salman International Airport Development Company to manage delivery of a terminal for commercial carriers, Terminal 6 for low-cost carriers, and a new private aviation terminal with hangars. The project team will prioritize achieving LEED Platinum certification by integrating innovative sustainable practices into the design and construction of all three terminals. The terminals will absorb or replace all existing facilities of the King Khalid International Airport.

Bechtel is an industry-leading engineering, project management and construction management services firm that has delivered airport projects around the world, including Hamad International Airport in Qatar, Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, London City Airport in the U.K., and Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport in Australia.

Learn more about Bechtel's airport infrastructure business at bechtel.com.

About Bechtel

Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction, and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs; grown economies; improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure; increased access to energy, resources, and vital services; and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com

Media Contact:

Luke Miller

lkmiller@bechtel.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bechtel-to-lead-expansion-of-saudi-arabias-king-salman-international-airport-302454475.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:ASM)(NYSE American:ASM)(FSE:GV6) a long-standing silver producer in Mexico, announces its audited consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2025. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.

"Avino started off 2025 the same way we ended 2024, achieving another quarter of record financial results and strong operational execution," said David Wolfin, President and CEO. "The Company posted record earnings and continues to demonstrate strength across key financial metrics, as our operating margins further strengthened our debt-free balance sheet with record highs in working capital. Our operating costs decreased for another consecutive quarter and further increased margins, where we delivered record quarterly earnings. Looking forward to growth, I am thrilled with the development progress at La Preciosa, as we continue to work towards being a multi-asset producer. I would like to thank our operations team for continuing to deliver positive cost improvements, your dedication to the entire operation does not go unnoticed. With strong operational performance, a healthy cash position, and record working capital of over $31 million, Avino is well-positioned to capitalize on positive market trends in the precious metals sector. We remain disciplined and committed to our organic growth strategy. Backed by our financial strength, management is actively exploring opportunities to accelerate our expansion plans. We are focused and on track to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value for all stakeholders and shareholders.

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights (compared to Q1 2024)

Record Quarterly Net Income: Net income after taxes was $5.6 million, or $0.04 per share, a meaningful increase from $0.6 million, or $0.00 per share. Net income was also 10% higher than the $5.1 million realized in Q4 2024.

Robust Revenues: Avino realized revenues of $18.8 revenue, representing a 52% increase from Q1 2024, primarily as a result of increased metal prices and consistent production. At the end of the quarter, there was $5.6 million in concentrate sales receivable, that was settled subsequent to quarter end.

Record Quarterly Gross Profit: Gross profit, or mine operating income, was $10.6 million and represented an increase of 352%. The significant improvement was a result of meaningful unit cost reductions and currency movements between the US dollar and Mexican Peso and builds off the $10.5 million generated in Q4 2024.

Strong EBITDA and Adjusted Earnings : The Company realized earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $9.7 million, up 466% and 7%, from Q1 2024 and Q4 2024, respectively. Adjusted earnings 3 was $9.8 million, or $0.07 per share, an increase of 374% from Q1 2024 and a decrease of 2% from Q4 2024.

Improved Costs per Ounce Metrics: Cash costs per silver equivalent payable ounce sold 1,2,3 was $12.62, and all-in sustaining cash costs per silver equivalent payable ounce sold 1,2,3 was $20.08, a reduction of 15% and 1%, respectively.

Increased Working Capital from Cash Flow Prior to Working Capital Movements: The Company's balance sheet continued to strengthen with working capital1 increasing to $31.3 million, up $6.1 million, or 24% from $25.2 million at the end of 2024, as a result of another quarter of cash generation. Cash provided by operating activities of $0.8 million was impacted by working capital movements, with $6.6 million in working capital movements, primarily in increases to amounts receivable from sales, concentrate and stockpile inventory, as well as income tax payments in Mexico during the quarter. Prior to working capital movements, cash generated from operating activities was $7.4 million, or $0.05 per share.

Financial Highlights

Operating Highlights and Overview

1 st Quarter Operating Highlights (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.

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 started underground development work at La Preciosa after receiving all required permits for mining operations.

2025 Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures, including lease and loan payments on equipment, in Q1 2025 were $2.3 million, compared to $2.5 million in 2024, on track for our capital expenditure guidance previously disclosed in our 2025 outlook news release.

ESG Initiatives

Avino follows the ESG Standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were developed as a call to action by all countries developed and developing in a global partnership.

We have two dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) teams-one at each of our mine sites-ensuring that community engagement and social initiatives are tailored to the unique needs of each region. This localized approach allows each team to build strong relationships with local stakeholders, respond to community priorities in a timely and meaningful way, and implement programs that generate lasting social value.

Mexican nationals account for 100% of our mine work force. Currently, we have approximately 483 direct jobs which includes the workers at the mine site and in our Durango offices. This translates to approximately 3 times the number of indirect jobs for services, consultants and suppliers in the surrounding communities and the Durango area.

The earnings should be read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the corresponding period, which can be viewed on the Company's website at www.avino.com, or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Qualified Person

Peter Latta, P. Eng, MBA, VP Technical Services, Avino, who is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.

Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures

The financial results in this news release include references to non-IFRS Accounting Standards measures. These measures are used by the Company to manage and evaluate the operating performance of the Company's mining operations and are widely reported in the silver and gold mining industry as benchmarks for performance, but do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP measures, please refer to the "Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures" section of the Company's MD&A dated May 13, 2025 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which is incorporated by reference within this news release and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Conference Call and Webcast

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.

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 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:

In Q1 2025, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of $31.67 per oz Ag, $2,866 per oz Au and $4.17 per lb Cu. In Q4 2024, AgEq was calculated using metals prices of $31.34 oz Ag, $2,662 oz Au and $4.17 lb Cu. In Q1 2024, AgEq was calculated using metal prices of $23.36 per oz Ag, $2,072 per oz Au and $3.83 per lb Cu. Calculated figures may not add up due to rounding. "Silver equivalent payable ounces sold" for the purposes of cash costs and all-in sustaining costs consists of the sum of payable silver ounces, gold ounces and copper tonnes sold, before penalties, treatment charges, and refining charges, multiplied by the ratio of the average spot gold and copper prices to the average spot silver price for the corresponding period. Non-IFRS Accounting Standard measure. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and the calculation methods may differ from methods used by other companies with similar reported measures. See Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures section of the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis for further information and detailed reconciliations.

SOURCE: Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/avino-achieves-another-quarter-of-record-financial-performance-for-q1-2025-1027258
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Jane Griffith, President, Griffith Group, and other members of the The LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Canada Association, joined Dani Cohen, Head of Talent and Organizational Development, Human Resources, TMX Group, to close the market to recognize the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).





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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX23l5hKM7M

The LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Canada Association is focused on bringing diversity to Canada's Corporate Governance World through an LGBTQ+ presence. The Association is the first and only organization of its kind to provide services, support and networking on behalf of LGBTQ+ existing and aspiring Board Members. The Association's Members include top-tier LGBTQ+ professionals with the skills and expertise to make a difference in the Boardroom.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) which is celebrated on May 17, 2025, aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and promote the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. The theme for 2025 is "The Power of Communities". This year's event aims to highlight the crucial role communities play in advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252022

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Universal Digital Inc. (CSE: LFG) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that that on May 13, 2025, it entered into a definitive share exchange agreement to acquire the remaining 81% equity interest in Geometric Galaxy Ltd. ("GGL"), a British Virgin Islands company that owns and operates BullWave, a SaaS analytics platform for crypto traders.

Universal Digital previously acquired a 19% equity interest in GGL as part of its change of business and rebranding strategy. This new transaction, once completed, will result in Universal Digital holding 100% ownership of GGL, consolidating full control of the BullWave platform.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company will issue an aggregate of 20,828,572 common shares (the "Consideration Shares") at a deemed price of $0.35 per share to the remaining GGL shareholders in exchange for 810 common shares of GGL, representing the balance of the issued and outstanding equity capital of GGL. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of any required regulatory approvals.

The Consideration Shares will be subject to a statutory four-month hold period. In addition, GGL shareholders have agreed to a voluntary lock-up for the Consideration Shares, with staggered releases expiring on July 31, 2026.

BullWave is an analytics and portfolio insights platform designed to support crypto traders through real-time market signals, intelligent portfolio tracking, and performance benchmarking tools. The platform does not custody assets or facilitate crypto trading.

Following completion of the acquisition, GGL will continue to be led by its co-founders Warren Hui (Chief Executive Officer) and Andrew Lam (Chief Investment Officer), both of whom bring deep domain expertise across digital assets, advanced trading strategies, and technology investing.

Warren Hui is the CEO and Co-founder of GGL, with a background spanning investments in crypto, blockchain, AI, deep tech, and the consumer internet. Warren is also a founder and partner at Soul Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on disruptive technology. At Soul Ventures, Warren has led investments in OpenAI, Neuralink, SpaceX, Epic Games, and Reddit, and currently serves as a General Partner at Type One Ventures and an Advisor at Smash Capital. Warren previously worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley, focusing on IPOs, M&A, and capital raising across Asia Pacific, and began his career in Debt Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley.

Andrew Lam, CIO and Co-founder of GGL, is also the Founder and Portfolio Manager of 45 Degree Markets, where he manages a high-performance portfolio using arbitrage strategies that have delivered over 50% annualized returns. He was recognized as the most profitable trader on BitMEX in Q2 2021 and held the highest trading volume on the platform in September 2021. Andrew previously served as a bookrunner of Commonwealth Options at HSBC.

"We're thrilled to now move toward full ownership of BullWave," said Timothy Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Universal Digital. "This acquisition aligns directly with our strategy of integrating scalable digital infrastructure. With BullWave under our full control, we'll have a powerful analytics platform at the core of our portfolio and one that supports long-term value creation for shareholders and accelerates our digital investment roadmap."

About Universal Digital Inc.

Universal Digital Inc. is a Canadian investment company focused on digital assets, businesses and private and publicly listed entities that are involved in high-growth industries, with a particular focus on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency technologies. The Company aims to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth through a diversified investment approach, and to participate in the transformation of global finance through the integration of digital asset strategies.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the closing of the acquisition of GGL, regulatory approval of the acquisition of GGL and the expected impacts of the acquisition of GGL on the Company's business and operations.

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 acquisition of GGL may not close, that the Company may not receive regulatory approval for the acquisition of GGL, and that the Company may not receive the anticipated results on its business or operations following completion of the acquisition of GGL; the volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency markets; the impact of governmental or regulatory orders or decisions on the digital asset and cryptocurrency sectors; and market volatility for the Company's securities.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the Company will proceed with the change of business; the Company will receive regulatory approval for the acquisition of GGL; the acquisition of GGL will benefit the Company's business and operations; and the digital asset and cryptocurrency sectors will continue to see growth.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252018

SOURCE: Universal Digital Inc.
TSX and OTC: MPVD

TORONTO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) & (OTC: MPVD) today announces financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 ("the Quarter" or "Q1 2025") from the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine ("GK Mine"). All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Financial Highlights for Q1 2025

426,000 carats sold, with total proceeds of $44.0 million (US$30.7 million) at an average realised value of $103 per carat (US$72).

Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $6.1 million.

of $6.1 million. Loss from mine operations of $22.4 million.

Net loss of $34.4 million or $0.16 basic and diluted loss per share.

1Cash costs of production, including capitalized stripping costs, and adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures with no standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS. See "Reconciliation of non-IFRS measures" at the end of the news release for explanation and reconciliation.

Operational Highlights for Q1 2025

(all figures reported on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated)

925,773 ore tonnes treated, a 15% increase relative to Q1 2024, (Q1 2024: 805,557 tonnes treated;)

762,978 carats recovered, 40% lower than Q1 2024 (Q1 2024: 1,264,887 carats)

Average grade of 0.82 carats per tonne, a 48% decrease relative to Q1 2024 (Q1 2024: 1.57 carats per tonne)

Cost per carat recovered, including capitalized stripping of $192/carat, and cost per tonne processed, including capitalized stripping of $158/tonne.

Sales Highlights for Q1 2025

As previously released, during Q1 2025, 426,000 carats were sold for total proceeds of $44.0 million (US$30.7 million), resulting in an average value of $103 per carat (US$72 per carat). These results compare to Q1 2024 when 938,000 carats were sold for total proceeds of $89.4 million (US$66.1 million), resulting in an average price of $95 per carat (US$70 per carat).

Mark Wall, the Company's President, and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"The diamond market remained depressed in Q1 2025, and this was a real challenge from a cashflow perspective. On the mine operations side we executed another successful ice-road resupply season safely and on plan. Safety at the operations remained a key focus area, with the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) finishing at 2.14, which was a material improvement on the TRIFR of 6.37 for Q1 2024.

The processing plant continued to perform very well, with total tonnes treated in Q1 2025 improving by 15% compared to Q1 2024. On the negative, the grade for Q1 2025 was 48% lower than Q1 2024. The grade reduction was expected while lower grade stockpiles were treated during the period that we are stripping down to the higher grade NEX orebody, although the grade reduction experienced in the stockpile was greater than anticipated. Confidence remains in the overall grade of the stockpile, but at around 3 million tonnes there are pockets of higher and lower grade that will be experienced. We have begun treating areas of higher grade although the minerology of the ore will reduce the tonnes able to be treated by the processing facility.

On the all-important mining side, the total tonnes mined increased by 28% in Q1 2025 when compared to Q1 2024. The significant increase in mining rate is the result of a sustained focus on drill and blast efficiency, people efficiency, maintenance efficiency and short-term planning efforts. At this time, I anticipate earlier access to the high grade NEX ore than was originally anticipated in the plan, which will help us later in the year.

I am optimistic that the turbulence in the global markets will stabilize as we move through 2025 and the diamond market will recover.

As previously announced, during Q1 2025, we saw the closing of the Refinancing Transactions , which served to address the reclamation liabilities owed to De Beers as operator of the GK Mine, provide an immediate injection of capital to address the 2025 near cash flow deficit faced by the Company, and extend the term of the Second Lien Notes to December 2027, which were due to mature in December 2025. Furthermore, we recently announced that at our AGM to be held on May 16th, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution approving a new working capital facility from Dunebridge Worldwide Ltd., a related party of the Company, in the amount of CAD33,000,000, or the USD equivalent amount. In respect of these transactions for which we have received much appreciated support from De Beers and our financing partners, I would like to recognize the stalwart support of our largest shareholder and debt holder, Mr. Dermot Desmond. "

Gahcho Kue Mine Operations

The following table summarizes key operating statistics for the Gahcho Kue Mine in Q1 2025, and Q1 2024.















Three months ended Three months ended





March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024











GK operating data







Mining







*Ore tonnes mined kilo tonnes - 1,947

*Waste tonnes mined kilo tonnes 10,092 5,938

*Total tonnes mined kilo tonnes 10,092 7,885

*Ore in stockpile kilo tonnes 3,142 3,458











Processing







*Ore tonnes processed kilo tonnes 926 806

*Average plant throughput tonnes per day 9,851 8,857

*Average diamond recovery carats per tonne 0.82 1.57

*Diamonds recovered 000's carats 763 1,265

Approximate diamonds recovered - Mountain Province 000's carats 374 620

Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, net of capitalized stripping ** $ 90 51

Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, including capitalized stripping** $ 158 88

Cash costs of production per carat recovered, net of capitalized stripping** $ 109 33

Cash costs of production per carat recovered, including capitalized stripping** $ 192 56











Sales







Approximate diamonds sold - Mountain Province*** 000's carats 426 938

Average diamond sales price per carat US $ 72 $ 70



* at 100% interest in the Gahcho Kue Mine **See "Reconciliation of non-IFRS measures" at the end of the news release for explanation and reconciliation. ***Includes the sales directly to De Beers for fancies and specials acquired by De Beers through the production split bidding process

Financial Performance





Three months ended Three months ended (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted)

March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024







Sales $ 43,995 89,438 Carats sold 000's carats 426 938 Average price per carat sold $/carat 103 95 Cost of sales per carat* $/carat 156 63 (Loss) earnings from mine operations per carat $ (53) 32 (Loss) earnings from mine operations % -51 % 34 % Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 2,542 3,542 Operating (loss) income $ (25,102) 26,760 Net (loss) income for the period $ (34,374) 6,864 Basic (loss) earnings per share $ (0.16) 0.03 Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (0.16) 0.03

Conference Call

The Company will host its quarterly conference call on Wednesday May 14th, 2025, at 11:00am ET.

Title: Mountain Province Diamonds Inc Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call

Conference ID: 19522

Date of call: 05/14/2025

Time of call: 11:00 Eastern Time

Expected Duration: 60 minutes

Webcast Link:

https://app.webinar.net/pKjva5r9zNm

Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: (+1) 888-699-1199

Participant International Dial-In Number: (+1) 416-945-7677

A replay of the webcast and audio call will be available on the Company's website.

Reconciliation of Non-IFRS measures

This news release refers to the terms "Cash costs of production per tonne of ore processed" and "Cash costs of production per carat recovered", both including and net of capitalized stripping costs and "Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes Depreciation and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)" and "Adjusted EBITDA Margin". Each of these is a non-IFRS performance measure and is referenced in order to provide investors with information about the measures used by management to monitor performance. These measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. They do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Cash costs of production per tonne of ore processed and cash costs of production per carat recovered are used by management to analyze the actual cash costs associated with processing the ore, and for each recovered carat. Differences from production costs reported within cost of sales are attributed to the amount of production cost included in ore stockpile and rough diamond inventories.

Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to analyze the operational cash flows of the Company, as compared to the net income for accounting purposes. It is also a measure which is defined in the Notes documents. Adjusted EBITDA margin is used by management to analyze the operational margin % on cash flows of the Company.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin with the net income on the condensed consolidated interim statements of comprehensive (loss) income:



Three months ended Three months ended

March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024





Net (loss) income for the period $ (34,374) $ 6,864 Add/deduct:



Non-cash depreciation and depletion 23,075 22,104 Net realizable value adjustment included in production costs 10,181 - Share-based payment expense 154 242 Fair value gain of warrants 1,099 (541) Gain on lease 4 (55) Finance expenses 10,078 10,337 Derivative (gains) losses (815) 2,340 Current and deferred income taxes (3,800) 2,325 Current income taxes 160 150 Unrealized foreign exchange losses 313 6,187 Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and depletion (Adjusted EBITDA) $ 6,075 $ 49,953 Sales 43,995 89,438 Adjusted EBITDA margin 14 % 56 %

The following table provides a reconciliation of the cash costs of production per tonne of ore processed and per carat recovered and the production costs reported within cost of sales on the condensed consolidated interim statements of comprehensive (loss) income:





Three months ended Three months ended (in thousands of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted)

March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024







Cost of sales production costs $ 39,289 32,728 Timing differences due to inventory and other non-cash adjustments $ 1,541 (12,393) Cash cost of production of ore processed, net of capitalized stripping $ 40,830 20,335 Cash costs of production of ore processed, including capitalized stripping $ 71,597 34,927







Tonnes processed kilo tonnes 454 395 Carats recovered 000's carats 374 620







Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, net of capitalized stripping $ 90 51 Cash costs of production per tonne of ore, including capitalized stripping $ 158 88 Cash costs of production per carat recovered, net of capitalized stripping $ 109 33 Cash costs of production per carat recovered, including capitalized stripping $ 192 56

About Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kue diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kue Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls more than 113,000 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kue Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat, at February 2019. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct, at February 2019. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat, at February 2019. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off.

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Tom McCandless, Ph.D., P.Geo, and Mr. Tysen Hantelmann, P.Eng., independent advisors to the Company and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to operational hazards, including possible disruption due to pandemic such as COVID-19, its impact on travel, self-isolation protocols and business and operations, estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the development of operation hazards which could arise in relation to COVID-19, including, but not limited to protocols which may be adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any impact of such protocols on Mountain Province's business and operations, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.

These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provides additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Although Mountain Province has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mountain Province undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed.

Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities, Mountain Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mark Wall, President, and CEO, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: info@mountainprovince.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mountain-province-diamonds-announces-first-quarter-financial-results-for-2025-302454492.html
BUCHI sets a new standard in material analysis, offering tailored solutions for quality assurance at key stages of the supply chain in food, feed, and chemicals industries

FLAWIL, CH / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / BUCHI Labortechnik AG announces the acquisition of Si-Ware Systems' NeoSpectra platform, including Si-Ware Systems' handheld NIR analyzer and the NeoSpectra cloud-based software portal for data, device, and calibration model management. By combining Si-Ware Systems' field-ready solutions with BUCHI's high-end laboratory, at-line, and on-line Near-Infrared (NIR) analysis expertise, BUCHI now delivers an integrated ecosystem that enhances quality assurance and enables data-driven decisions across the supply chain, particularly in industries such as food, feed, and chemicals.

"With this strategic acquisition, BUCHI becomes the only provider to offer a fully integrated NIR ecosystem - including innovative handheld solutions - designed to meet the unique analytical needs at key stages of the supply chain in food, feed, and chemical industries" states Thomas Braunschweiler, CEO of BUCHI.

Whether at the sourcing stage, during production, or for final quality checks, BUCHI ensures instant, precise, and non-destructive analysis. By uniting all instruments under the interconnected open NeoSpectra software platform, stationary and portable solutions work together harmoniously, offering comprehensive functionality for diverse applications. In addition, the system allows seamless transfer of calibration models across devices and from different manufacturers.

"With this integration, BUCHI empowers users to maximize the utility of their NIR devices while maintaining consistency and transparency for all stakeholders across supply chains. We believe this will bring much bigger value to our customers." said Ruedi Hartmann, Director NIR Business at BUCHI.

The NeoSpectra Scanner - now introduced as BUCHI ProxiScout - plays a key role at the sourcing stage, acting as an in-field analyzer that immediately detects adulteration or variations in critical parameters such as moisture and protein content. This vital data is sent directly to procurement teams, enabling them to reject compromised batches and avoid unnecessary logistical and processing costs. Upon arrival at manufacturing facilities, additional BUCHI NIR instruments-such as ProxiMate, NIR-Online, and NIRFlex N-500- continue the analytical process at different production stages. Synchronizing all analytical data through the NeoSpectra Cloud Portal ensures that insights from each stage seamlessly inform decisions at subsequent steps, creating a cohesive quality assurance system.

"This is an important step in scaling the opportunities that Si-Ware Systems' MEMS NIR spectral sensors can enable. While NeoSpectra will now be part of BUCHI's portfolio, we are confident that it will continue to thrive under its stewardship. At Si-Ware Systems, we remain committed to our mission of pioneering new technologies that redefine industries." said Hisham Haddara, CEO of Si-Ware Systems.

BUCHI welcomes existing NeoSpectra customers and partners and remains committed to ensuring a seamless transition and continued support. The integration aims to maintain uninterrupted operations while expanding the value delivered through the combined NIR ecosystem.

BUCHI & Si-Ware Systems invite industry professionals to explore this transformative ecosystem through an exclusive webinar. Discover how BUCHI's NIR Ecosystem can elevate your quality assurance processes, ensure consistency, and redefine your approach to quality and innovation.



About BUCHI

For over 85 years, BUCHI has been a global leader in laboratory technology, serving research and development, quality control, and production across a wide range of industries. Headquartered in Eastern Switzerland, BUCHI operates R&D, manufacturing, sales, and service facilities around the world. Our innovative, high-quality products and solutions contribute significantly to the health and safety of people and the environment. By optimizing laboratory workflows, we deliver substantial added value to our customers-supporting their efforts in research, development, and quality assurance.

For more information, please find your nearest BUCHI office or distributor at www.buchi.com/en/support/buchi-worldwide.

About Si-Ware Systems

Si-Ware Systems is a global deep-tech innovation company that delivers ready-to-deploy products and custom-developed solutions that bridge the physical and digital worlds through an integrated stack of technologies that sense, process, and respond to the world around us. With core expertise spanning material sensing, inertial sensing, sensor fusion, and sensing control software, we combine our multidisciplinary strengths across MEMS, optics, embedded systems, AI, and software to deliver fully integrated, scalable solutions. We collaborate with customers across industries to bring impactful innovations to life, contributing to a future shaped by deeper understanding, better-connected systems, and continuous innovation.

For more information, visit website www.si-ware.com or contact: press@si-ware.com

SOURCE: Si-Ware Systems

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/telecommunications/buchi-acquires-si-ware-systems%e2%80%99-neospectra-platform-to-establish-a-fully-integra-1027303
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company), a B.C. based company engaged in the exploration, in Nevada, for organic, sedimentary raw rock phosphate, is pleased to announce it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 10,000,000 units (each, "Unit") at a price of $0.03 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $300,000.

Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of sixty months following the date of issuance (the "Date of Issue"). Each Warrant will be subject to an acceleration provision providing that, if the volume weighted average price for the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE", or such other exchange on which the common shares may be traded at such time) is equal to or greater than $0.08 for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time after the Date of Issue, the Company can accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by disseminating a news release advising the holders of the acceleration and, in such case, the Warrants will expire on the thirtieth day after the date of such notice.

The aggregate proceeds of the Offering are anticipated to be used for advancement of the Company's Murdock Property and for general working capital. The Company may pay a finder's fee on a portion of the gross proceeds of the Offering. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after the Date of Issue, as set out in National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities. The Offering remains subject to regulatory approval and the approval of the CSE.

Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.

NOP is a junior exploration company with a sedimentary rock phosphate property (the "Murdock Property") hosting a nearly flat lying sedimentary bed of known phosphate mineralization in NE Nevada.

The increasing interest in organic and sustainable agriculture practices has contributed to the demand for organic fertilizers, including those derived from rock phosphate. Organic rock phosphate is often marketed as a fertilizer that not only provides phosphorus but also contributes to overall soil health.

The Issuer aims to be one of the only certified organic rock phosphate producers with large scale potential in North America. The Murdock Property is situated adjacent to a main highway and the rail head to California.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. Forward- looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251944

SOURCE: Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.
DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Firex21 Capital, a London-based fintech leader in global asset management, proudly announces its official expansion into the United States. The firm aims to transform how Americans invest by offering institutional-grade financial tools to individuals and small institutions-breaking down long-standing barriers in traditional finance.

Founded in October 2020, Firex21 Capital has grown to serve over 100,000 investors globally, delivering stable financial growth and long-term wealth accumulation through its proprietary AstraQuant Intelligent Quantitative Trading System.

"We're entering the U.S. not just to compete-but to redefine what financial freedom can look like for everyone," said Oliver Hawthorne, co-founder of Firex21 Capital.

Innovation at the Core: AstraQuant Trading System

At the heart of Firex21's approach is AstraQuant-an AI-powered system that integrates big data, machine learning, and high-frequency algorithmic trading to:

Detect real-time market movements

Execute trades using predictive analytics

Offer personalized investment plans

Optimize asset allocation under changing conditions

By combining automation and data science, AstraQuant helps investors make faster, more informed, and more profitable decisions.

Strategic U.S. Entry and Global Collaboration

Firex21 Capital's U.S. market entry in 2025 marks a key step in the firm's global growth strategy. To support this move, the company is partnering with MavinEx Exchange of Australia, combining technical expertise and advisory strength to better serve American investors.

The U.S. division will deliver localized services while maintaining the firm's global perspective-tailoring strategies to the unique financial goals and market realities of American clients.

Financial Access for All: Breaking Barriers

Firex21 Capital is committed to democratizing finance by:

Offering ultra-low commission structures

Providing premium-level service regardless of investor asset size

Delivering institutional-grade tools to retail investors and small-to-mid-size institutions

"We're not just creating returns-we're creating access," said Hawthorne. "Fair finance should be a right, not a privilege."

Commitment to Social Responsibility and Sustainability

In addition to delivering market value, Firex21 Capital partners with U.S.-based nonprofits and foundations to support:

Financial education

Environmental initiatives

Community development

This reflects the firm's belief that finance should be a force for positive, long-term social change.

The Firex21 Community: Education Meets Empowerment

Firex21 fosters investor growth through its global Firex21 Community-an education and strategy hub offering:

Webinars hosted by co-founders Oliver Hawthorne and Theodore Ashcroft

Real-time market analysis and quant strategy breakdowns

Live trade learning for hands-on investing experience

A collaborative environment to build skills and confidence

The community ensures that every investor-regardless of experience-can understand and benefit from the AstraQuant system.

Looking Ahead: A New Chapter in U.S. Wealth Growth

With its expansion into the U.S., Firex21 Capital is poised to become a key player in American asset management. The firm is focused on:

Delivering quantitative investment solutions to U.S. households and retirement investors

Driving fintech innovation for a rapidly evolving market

Ensuring fair, transparent, and sustainable access to global financial growth

Why Investors Choose Firex21 Capital

Break Down Barriers - Ultra-low fees + elite service = financial equality

Quantitative Edge - Proprietary AI-driven AstraQuant system for smarter investing

Global Vision, Local Execution - Customised strategies for U.S. investors

Purpose Beyond Profit - Commitment to sustainability and financial literacy

Ready to Unlock Your Financial Freedom?

Join the thousands of investors already transforming their futures with Firex21 Capital.

Media Contact:

Firex21@firex21.com

1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202

SOURCE: Firex21 Capital

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/firex21-capital-expands-into-the-u.s.-market-aiming-to-revolutionize-1027430
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Pineapple Financial Inc. (NYSE: PAPL) ("Pineapple" or the "Company"), a tech-enabled mortgage brokerage and fintech platform, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the submission of a special resolution to shareholders to authorize a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of between 10 and 20 pre-Consolidation shares for each one post-Consolidation share.

The proposed Consolidation will be presented to shareholders for approval at a special meeting scheduled for June 26, 2025, with a record date set for May 23, 2025.

"This proposed share consolidation reflects our continued efforts to strengthen our capital structure, enhance our trading profile, and position the Company for future growth," said Shubha Dasgupta, CEO of Pineapple Financial. "As we continue to grow our volume, expand our verticals, and improve operational efficiency, we believe this step supports our long-term commitment to delivering shareholder value."

The Consolidation, if approved, is expected to increase the per-share trading price of the Company's common shares, which may improve the Company's ability to attract institutional investors and meet minimum share price requirements for continued listing on the NYSE American exchange. It does not affect any shareholder's proportionate ownership interest or voting rights, except for minor rounding adjustments.

Further details regarding the Consolidation and special meeting will be included in the management information circular to be filed and mailed to shareholders in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About Pineapple

Pineapple is an award-winning fintech and leading Canadian mortgage brokerage network, focusing on both the long-term success of agents and brokers as well as the overall experience of homeowners. With hundreds of brokers within the network, Pineapple creates cutting-edge cloud-based tools and AI-driven systems to enable its brokers to help Canadians realize their dream of owning a home. Pineapple is active within the community and is proud to sponsor charities across Canada to improve the lives of fellow Canadians.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @pineapplemortgage @empoweredbypineapple

Facebook: Pineapple Mortgage

LinkedIn: Pineapple Mortgage

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. They are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and economic needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. It encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

Related Links:

https://gopineapple.com

http://empoweredbypineapple.com

Investor Relations Contact:

For investor relations inquiries, please contact Pineapple Financial Inc.

ir@gopineapple.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252039

SOURCE: Pineapple Financial Inc.
Vienna, Austria--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Best Vacation Home, a trusted advisor in the vacation real estate market, today announced it is offering complimentary consultations to individuals and families seeking unique vacation and investment properties.

With knowledge in international markets and a commitment to personalized service, Best Vacation Home guides clients toward destinations that offer lifestyle enhancement.

Best Vacation Home Offers Complimentary Consultations to Investors Seeking Unique International Properties

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8843/251835_bestvacation.jpg

Personalized Guidance from Experienced Professionals to Help Potential Investors Make Informed Decisions

The company's team possesses in-depth knowledge of these markets, including local regulations, property ownership laws, and investment potential.

They guide investors through the entire process, from property selection and due diligence to financing and legal considerations.

"Best Vacation Home recognizes that navigating the international real estate market can be challenging," said Borislava Kostova-Seib, MA, MBA, the exclusive representative of Best Vacation Home Gmbh in Austria. "These complimentary consultations provide a valuable opportunity for people to discuss their goals, explore diverse options, and gain insights from experienced professionals. According to BVH's experience, the best locations for buying vacation homes change every 12 to 24 months, giving a short window to act, making it crucial for buyers to stay in tune with market trends."

Unlocking Opportunities in International Real Estate Markets

Best Vacation Home specializes in assisting investors in various, both emerging and mature destinations, such as:

North Cyprus: A hidden gem in the Mediterranean with pristine beaches, affordable property prices, and a growing tourism sector. The region offers a relaxed lifestyle, a rich history, and a favorable tax regime.

Spain: A diverse country with a rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and beautiful beaches. From bustling cities to charming coastal towns, Spain offers a wide range of investment opportunities to suit various lifestyles and preferences.

Dubai: A global hub of luxury and innovation, rich with iconic architecture, world-class shopping, and vibrant nightlife. Dubai offers investors high-end properties with strong rental potential in a rapidly growing market.

By offering complimentary consultations, for a short period of time, along with a range of supportive services, Best Vacation Home empowers individuals and families to achieve their vacation home dreams while making smart financial choices.

The company's expertise, personalized approach, and commitment to client satisfaction make it a trusted partner for anyone seeking to navigate the exciting world of international real estate. Individuals interested in scheduling a complimentary consultation can visit: https://www.bestvacationhome.at/free-consultation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251835

SOURCE: Jeremy McGilvrey
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the following marketing and investor awareness engagements.

The Company reports that it has engaged InvestorBrandNetwork ("IBN"), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company, to provide corporate communications expertise and related services. The Company expects that IBN will leverage its investor-based distribution network of 5,000+ key syndication outlets, various newsletters and other outreach tools to generate awareness of the Company. The Company has engaged IBN for a period of one year, commencing May 8, 2025, at a cost of US $23,200 per quarter.

The Company has additionally engaged Goldinvest Consulting GmbH ("Goldinvest") for a 6-month period which commenced on May 5, 2025 at a cost of EUR 4,050 per month. Goldinvest will prepare corporate videos and assist with investor awareness activities in Germany.

Lastly, the Company also announces that it has entered into a media awareness and consulting agreement (the "Marketing Agreement") with Outside the Box Capital Inc. ("OTBC") of Oakville, Ontario, to provide publicity consulting and investor relations services, including marketing services through social media channels and online media distribution.

The Marketing Agreement, dated May 13, 2025, is for a period of 12 months and can be cancelled by either party at the end of each quarter with 30 days notice. In consideration of the services to be provided by OTBC, the Company will pay a cash fee in the amount of $160,000. Further, a total of 100,000 stock options to purchase the common shares of the Company will be issued to OTBC, with a strike price equal to the greater of the market price on the date of the grant and $1.60 per common share. The options will have a 5-year term and will vest at the rate of 25% every 3 months. The Company will also pay $25,000 to be used by OTBC for its influencer marketing campaign.

OTBC specializes in leveraging various social media platforms and will be able to facilitate greater awareness and widespread dissemination of the Company's news. The engagement of OTBC, as contemplated in the Marketing Agreement and summarized above, remains subject to TSXV approval.

The above-noted engagements represent additional steps in the Company's efforts to enhance communication with the current investor community and expand visibility to a greater audience.

# # #

About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term establishment of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the U.S. State of Louisiana, subsequent Strategic Metal Complexes in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA.

Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."

For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements.

For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, the CDF, the Demo Plant and ongoing Programs (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's most recently filed MD&A, as filed on www.sedarplus.ca as well as the risks described below.

Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX RapidSX failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACTS

Mr. Peter Manuel, Ucore Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.

For additional information, please contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252055

SOURCE: Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
ISLAMABAD and NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MindHYVE.ai, a California-based artificial intelligence company competing with OpenAI and Google in the AI space with a unique suite of large reasoning models and AGI agents has announced a $22 million foreign direct investment into Pakistan to establish it as a global hub for applied AI innovation.

The announcement was made by Founder & CEO Belal Faruki during the Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) Conference, which took place April 29-30, 2025, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, international delegates, and global tech leaders.

"This isn't outsourcing-this is digital nation-building," said Belal Faruki. "We're not just bringing capital-we're bringing our most advanced agentic, autonomous systems, large reasoning models, AI knowhow and co-creating sovereign AI solutions with Pakistan."

Key Strategic Initiatives

MindHYVE.ai outlined a five-year plan to:

Launch three AI Labs in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi for R&D, workforce training, and entrepreneurship.

Seed 20-30 AI-powered startups across strategic verticals.

Hire 1,500-5,000 professionals, empowering them with AI fluency to scale local expertise.

Expand AI in education, including pilots in Kohat and the upcoming national deployment of ArthurAI, a revolutionary AGI-powered learning platform.

Deploy agentic systems in healthcare, enabling precision diagnostics, intelligent treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes.

Partner with NGOs, the Higher Education Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, SIFC and other ministries to implement AI across public sector operations.

Pakistan: The First AGI Frontier

This investment represents the first national-scale deployment of MindHYVE.ai's U.S.-engineered agentic systems-placing Pakistan at the forefront of sovereign AI development.

The MindHYVE.ai delegation was later hosted at a private dinner by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's House, where long-term digital infrastructure partnerships were further explored.

"Pakistan has the population, the talent, and now the technology," said Belal Faruki. "This is digital self-determination in action."

About MindHYVE.ai

Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, MindHYVE.ai builds domain-specific AGI agents, autonomous and semi-autonomous agentic systems, and domain specific large reasoning models to transform national infrastructure and industry through intelligent automation and decision systems.

?? www.mindhyve.ai | ?? hello@mindhyve.ai | - +1 (949) 200-8668

Media Contact:

Marc Ortiz | marc.ortiz@mindhyve.ai

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686713/MindHYVEai.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686714/MindHYVEai_Team_at_DFDI.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mindhyveai-commits-22m-fdi-to-pakistan-launches-national-ai-digital-transformation-push-302454595.html
Cart.com, a Houston, TX-based unified commerce solutions provider, raised additional $50M in funding, at $1.6 Billion valuation.

Backers included BlackRock and Neuberger Berman, new investors such as eGateway Capital, and others.

The company intends to use the funds to further accelerate its global expansion through strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and M&A.

Led by CEO and Founder Omair Tariq, Cart.com is a provider of unified omnichannel commerce and logistics solutions that enable B2C and B2B companies, as well as public sector agencies, to unify order and inventory management from product discovery to product delivery. Its enterprise-grade software, services and logistics infrastructure, including its own network of fulfillment and distribution centers, are used by brands and companies to drive their growth.

Since its founding, Cart.com has raised a total of $475M.

FinSMEs

13/05/2025
Saildrone, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based company which specializes in maritime autonomy, raised $60M in funding.

The round was led by EIFO, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, with participation from Lux Capital, Washington Harbor Partners, Crowley, and Academy Securities, joined by new investors Pinegrove, BZH Capital, What If Ventures, and Calm Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to offer its maritime intelligence technology to European security and defense needs.

Led by CEO and Founder Richard Jenkins, Saildrone is a maritime defense and oceanographic survey company that enables navies, governments, and commercial organizations to obtain the real-time, accurate data required to monitor the maritime domain. Empowered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy, its fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) provides long-duration operations measured in months. The USVs carry sophisticated sensors combined with proprietary AI algorithms to give a full picture of the maritime environment above and below the sea surface, supporting border protection, critical infrastructure security, and hydrographic survey.

The company has sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical miles from the High North to the Southern Ocean and spent over 50,000 days at sea.

FinSMEs

13/05/2025
Amid Operation Sindoor, Nimrats old interview recalling her father being kidnapped and terminated in 1994 in the Kashmir Valley has resurfaced on the internet. read more

Actress Nimrat Kaur, who featured in projects like The Lunchbox, Airlift, Dasvi and recently released Kull, is a daughter of a brave army officer Major Bhupinder Singh who lost his life in a terrorist attack in Kashmir in 1994.

Amid Operation Sindoor, Nimrats old interview recalling her father being kidnapped and terminated in 1994 in the Kashmir Valley has resurfaced on the internet.

He was a young army major, an engineer posted on the border roads of the army in a place called Verinag (the first valley after the Jawahar Tunnel on your way to Srinagar from Jammu). Kashmir was not a family station, so we continued living in Patiala when he went to Kashmir, Nimrat told ETimes.

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We were on our winter vacation in January 1994 and visiting our father in Kashmir, when the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen kidnapped him from his place of work and, after seven days, terminated him. They had made some ridiculous demands of some terrorists to be released that he obviously did not agree to. He was just 44 when he died. We got the news and flew back with his body to Delhi, and I saw his body for the first time only in Delhi, she explained.

But, the army stands by you like a rock. They are your family, and even today, they will come at the drop of a hat if you need something, and they will do anything for you. I also think its to do with my fathers goodwill and his relationship with people, she shared.

Apart from Nimrat, celebs like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Anushka Sharma, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Gul Panag, Neha Dhupia, Preity Zinta and Arjun Rampal, also hail from army families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Adampur gains significance in light of the fact that Pakistan claimed to have targeted the airbase with a missile on May 9 in response to Indian airstrikes. Islamabad said it had damaged the base as well as an S-400 Triumf system, which Modis visit debunked. Experts say the visit was rife with symbolism and subtext, not just for Pakistan but also the world read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the Adampur airbase a day after he made a speech to the nation on Operation Sindoor. Image courtesy: X

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Adampur in Punjab.

Modis visit to the Adampur airbase a day after he made a speech to the nation on Operation Sindoor.

We are not here to maintain old red lines. We are here to draw new ones, Modi said.

If there is another attack on Indian soil, we will strike at the roots. India will not accept nuclear blackmail. We will not make a distinction between a government that sponsors terror and the terrorists themselves, he added.

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India and Pakistan agreed on May 10 to stop military actions.

India has, however, insisted that it has merely paused its operation and its future actions will be guided by Pakistans conduct.

But what do we know about the visit? Why was it significant?

Lets take a closer look

What do we know?

Modi during the visit interacted with Indian Air Force personnel who participated in Operation Sindoor.

Catch India-Pakistan ceasefire live updates

PM Modi went to the Adampur airbase early morning. He was briefed by Air Force personnel and he also interacted with our brave jawans, a source said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Indian Air Force personnel at Adampur airbase. Image courtesy; X

Modi later wrote on X, Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation.

Modi also posted a picture of himself at the Adampur with a message on the wall behind him reading, Why Enemy Pilots Dont Sleep Well

Adampur airbase and its significance

Adampur, located near Jalandhar, is Indias second biggest airbase.

Around 100, kilometres from the border, it has played a critical role in earlier conflicts with Pakistan  particularly during the 1965 war.

Islamabad had claimed that it damaged the Adampur base  a claim which PM Modis visit has clearly debunked. Image courtesy: X

As per India Today, Adampur was the only base Pakistan could not penetrate during the conflict five decades ago.

Modis visit gains significance in light of the fact that Pakistan had targeted the Adampur with a missile on May 9 in response to Indian airstrikes  which New Delhi saw as a dangerous escalation.

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As per News18, after Pakistan targeted this airbase, India responded by launching strikes on at least eight Pakistan Air Force bases.

Islamabad had claimed that it damaged the Adampur base  a claim which Modis visit has clearly debunked.

MiG-29 and S-400

Modi was also photographed with MiG-29 fighter jet and the S-400 Triumf system in the backdrop  both of which played important roles during Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan had also claimed that it destroyed the S-400 Triumf system at Adampur during its attack on India  which New Delhi had unequivocally rejected.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had earlier said, Pakistan has also attempted to execute a continued malicious misinformation campaign, with claims of destruction of the Indian S-400 system, destruction of airfields at Surat and Sirsa India unequivocally rejects these false claims being spread by Pakistan.

Modi was also photographed with MiG-29 fighter jet and the S-400 Triumf system in the backdrop  both of which played important roles during Operation Sindoor. Image courtesy: X

The latter, nicknamed by Indian officials as the Sudarshana Chakra, was responsible for shooting down many of Pakistans drones and missiles and keeping India in control of its airspace.

The S-400, a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, is made by Russia.

It is considered among the best air defence systems in the world.

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According to the outlet, the presence of the S-400 in the background of Modis visit was also a reminder that India purchased the system from Russia despite objections and threats of sanctions from the US.

Modi during his visit also reiterated his remarks on Monday.

Our Lakshman Rekha for Pakistan is very clear; any terror attack will be met with a definitive reply on our own conditions, Modi said, as per Moneycontrol.

Message to Trump

According to Moneycontrol, the visit also seemingly sent a message to US President Donald Trump.

Trump, who had broken the news of the ceasefire on social media on Saturday, has been eager to take credit for the development.

President Donald Trump had announced the ceasefire on social media on Saturday. AP File

However, India has insisted that it was a deal between two parties and that no third party was involved.

The subtext was clear: it was Indias soldiers and weaponry  not third-party mediation  that proved decisive in the conflict, the Moneycontrol piece noted.

Spirit of armed forces

The piece also added that the visit was a reminder of the upbeat spirit of the Indian Armed Forces.

The roaring chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai throughout PM Modis address, his proud interactions with airmen, and the charged atmosphere  all of this signaled a state of high preparedness and projected an image of national pride and glory, the piece stated.

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PM Modis visit was a reminder of the upbeat spirit of the Indian Armed Forces. Image courtesy: X

Moreover, Modis hat featured a trishul  the spear symbolizing Shivas power to destroy evil, ignorance and ego. That itself was a clear message of Indias unwavering resolve to any counter aggression, it concluded.

With inputs from agencies
Dozens of White South Africans have been flown to the US as part of a new refugee programme backed by Trump, who claims they face racial persecution. The controversial move has sparked backlash, with South Africa denying the allegations and critics questioning the racial motivation behind Americas selective refugee admissions read more

Demonstrators hold placards in support of US President Donald Trump's stance against what he calls racist laws, land expropriation and farm attacks, outside the American Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, February 15, 2025. File Image/Reuters

United States President Donald Trump has opened the door to White South Africans  particularly members of the Afrikaner minority  seeking asylum in the US, citing claims of racial discrimination and violence in South Africa.

The decision has come under intense scrutiny, especially as the Trump administration has otherwise maintained a hardline stance against most other refugee groups.

On Monday, the first group of 49 Afrikaners landed at Washington Dulles International Airport after departing from Johannesburg, marking the beginning of what the administration says is a humanitarian programme aimed at helping those discriminated against by their government.

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Despite a broad freeze on refugee admissions from most parts of the world, this specific group is being fast-tracked for entry and resettlement across ten US states.

I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years, US Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau told the arrivals, according to the Associated Press. We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the years.

What Trump alleges happens to White farmers in South Africa

In February, Trump signed an executive order directing that Afrikaners in South Africa be prioritised for refugee resettlement in the US, citing allegations of systemic bias and targeted violence.

The order accused the South African government of dismantling equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, and said its actions were fuelling disproportionate violence against racially disfavoured landowners.

Trump defended the programme on Monday, saying: I dont care about their race, their colour, I dont care about their height, their weight, I dont care about anything, I just know that whats happening is terrible, while noting they happen to be White.

Demonstrators hold placards in support of US President Donald Trumps stance against what he calls racist laws, land expropriation and farm attacks, outside the American Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, February 15, 2025. File Image/Reuters

He added, White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated, describing the situation as a genocide.

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The South African government has repeatedly denied these claims. There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of White South Africans or White Afrikaners in particular, said South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.

He stated that White farmers get affected by crime just like any other South Africans.

What is behind this move by Trump

South Africas land reform has been central to the Trump administrations criticism. The Expropriation Act, passed in January , allows the government to redistribute land without compensation under certain conditions, aiming to address land ownership disparities stemming from apartheid.

The South African government maintains the legislation is constitutionally guided and has not yet resulted in any actual land seizures. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote on X at the time that it is a legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.

South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land.



The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal  Cyril Ramaphosa  (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 3, 2025

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Still, Trumps order called on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to prioritise humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement  for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.

The White House contends that farm attacks  though relatively rare  are racially motivated. Refugee supporters point to violent robberies and assaults on White farm owners in rural parts of South Africa as evidence of ongoing persecution.

However, data from South African farming organisations indicates there have been around 50 or fewer farm homicides annually in recent years, a small fraction of the countrys broader crime problem, which saw over 20,000 homicides across all racial groups last year.

Why this move by Trump contradicts his refugee policy

The Afrikaner admissions stand in contrast to the administrations otherwise hardline stance on immigration . On his first day back in office, Trump suspended nearly all refugee admissions, directing that entries only resume once it could be determined that they align with national interests.

His executive order pointed out that refugee admissions must be limited to individuals who can fully and appropriately assimilate into American society, citing national security and resource constraints.

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In practice, this has meant shutting down refugee applications from much of sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq and other regions experiencing conflict.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greets Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, US. File Image/AP

This selective approach has sparked criticism and legal action from refugee organisations, which argue the policy is discriminatory and impedes their ability to assist vulnerable populations.

When asked about the exception for Afrikaners, US Deputy Secretary Landau said, Some of the criteria (to allow people in) are making sure that refugees did not pose any challenge to our national security and that they could be assimilated easily into our country.

He added that the Afrikaners admitted had been carefully vetted pursuant to our refugee standards.

How South Africa has responded to Trumps move

The South African government responded with concern to Trumps statements and policies. In February, it called the claims of great concern and lacking in factual accuracy.

The move was also criticised as ironic given that Afrikaners are amongst the most economically privileged in South Africa, while the US continues to deny asylum to vulnerable people  from other parts of the world.

South Africas ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled in March following his accusation that Trump was using White victimhood as a dog whistle. The US retaliated by accusing Rasool of race-baiting.

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The dispute between the two governments has also deepened due to South Africas position on other international issues.

The US criticised South Africa for its stance at the International Court of Justice, where it has accused Israel of genocide in its war against Palestinians  allegations Israel strongly denies.

How Trumps preferential resettlement has sparked backlash

The Trump administrations decision to offer refuge to Afrikaners has sparked debate among religious and civil society groups.

The Episcopal Church announced that it would terminate its refugee resettlement contracts with the US government by years end, citing concerns about racial preference.

In a public statement, presiding Bishop Rev. Sean W. Rowe said the church could not support the administrations demand to resettle Afrikaners, citing the churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Sharing the letter written by Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Sean Rowe declining to assist the federal government in resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa.



He explains in the letter that is has been highly painful to watch a group of refugees, selected in a pic.twitter.com/YNuoWnN2ig  Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) May 13, 2025

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He added, It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.

Who are the Afrikaners?

Afrikaners are descendants primarily of Dutch, French and German settlers who arrived in South Africa during the 17th century.

They speak Afrikaans, a language recognised as one of South Africas 11 official languages. Afrikaners make up roughly 2.7 to 3 million of South Africas 62 million population and were historically the political and social leaders of the apartheid regime, which enforced racial segregation until it ended in 1994.

Afrikaner refugees from South Africa arrive, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, US. File Image/AP

Although apartheid has been dismantled for more than three decades, many Afrikaners continue to live in rural farming communities and hold significant economic power. Some allege that they now face reverse discrimination due to affirmative action laws and land reform policies.

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Still, experts and South African officials insist the group does not face state-sponsored persecution. Afrikaners are among the richest and most successful people in the country, the South African government stated. They are amongst the most economically privileged.

Will the programme be expanded to other South African minorities?

Initially, the US refugee policy targeted only those of Afrikaner descent. However, new guidelines released by the US Embassy suggest that individuals of Afrikaner ethnicity or [who] are members of a racial minority in South Africa may now apply.

These minorities include people of Indian, South Asian and biracial heritage, totalling millions of South Africans.

While it is unclear how many have applied under this expanded definition, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the administration would welcome more Afrikaners as refugees in the coming months.

Is Elon Musk part of the Afrikaner community?

Two key figures in Trumps inner circle  Elon Musk and David Sacks  are South African by birth . Musk, who has become one of Trumps most influential advisers following major campaign donations, has publicly stated that he is not of Afrikaner background.

Neither is David Sacks, a PayPal co-founder and Trumps point person on cryptocurrency and AI.

Meanwhile, Trump suggested that South African leaders were expected to meet him in Washington soon, but cast doubt on the meeting occurring unless that situations taken care of.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier from New Jersey, was released after 583 days in Hamas captivity following the October 7 attacks. His freedom marks a rare moment of hope in a long-running crisis, with 58 hostages still held in Gaza. His familys relief now fuels renewed pressure for more releases and international action read more

People hold a picture and a sign with a picture of the Israeli-American hostage, Edan Alexander, who was kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack, in Tel Aviv, Israel, May 12, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier captured during Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, was released from captivity in Gaza this week after nearly 19 months in detention.

Alexander was handed over to Israeli authorities on Monday , with his family present shortly thereafter at a military base.

According to visuals released by Israeli media, he was visibly emotional as he embraced his mother, Yael, who said, How strong you are. I love you so much, Edan. We were so worried.

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He was also reunited with his father, brother and sister before being flown via Israeli Air Force helicopter to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.

More from Explainers Hamas frees last US-Israeli hostage ahead of Trump's Middle East visit

Captured at the age of 19, Edan Alexander was among the first wave of individuals seized by Hamas when terrorists launched a surprise incursion across the Israeli border.

People carry posters with pictures of Edan Alexander, kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, as supporters of Israeli hostages take part in a protest and they demand the release of all hostages in the 555 day since the kidnapping, in Jerusalem, April 13, 2025. File Image/Reuters

He was serving as a soldier on a military base in southern Israel and had opted to remain on duty during the Jewish Sabbath.

He was one of 251 people taken hostage that day, an act that precipitated the full-scale conflict that has since devastated large parts of Gaza and led to thousands of deaths.

Who is Edan Alexander?

Born and raised in Tenafly, New Jersey  a suburb outside New York City  Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after finishing high school. He enlisted in the Israeli military soon after his arrival.

His capture and prolonged captivity became a rallying point for hostage advocacy efforts in both Israel and the United States, particularly in his hometown, where weekly marches were held every Friday calling for the release of all hostages.

A video released by Hamas in November 2024, during the Thanksgiving weekend, showed Alexander appearing gaunt and emotionally distressed, pleading for assistance. While the footage was painful for the family to witness, they expressed relief that it confirmed he was still alive.

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Edan Alexander, who has been released from captivity by Hamas, after he had been kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, reacts as he reunites with his parents in Reim, southern Israel, before flying to Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025. GPO via Reuters

Other hostages who were later freed reported to the family that Alexander had lost a significant amount of weight but had shown resilience, even advocating for other detainees.

Notably, they said he defended a group of Thai workers also held hostage, telling his captors that those individuals were uninvolved in the conflict and should be released.

In April 2025, another video surfaced, this time showing Alexander in a dark room. His family believed he was being held within Hamas underground tunnel network.

Shortly thereafter, Hamas claimed to have lost communication with the unit holding him after an Israeli airstrike allegedly targeted their location. Israeli officials did not issue a public response to this claim.

Despite several ceasefire efforts since the beginning of the war, Alexander was not included in previous hostage exchanges.

In January and February this year, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and returned the remains of eight others as part of a deal in which Israel freed nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. However, young male soldiers such as Alexander were excluded from those arrangements.

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Back in Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered in Hostage Square to celebrate Alexanders release. Among them were members of his extended family, wearing shirts emblazoned with his name. They erupted in cheers upon hearing the official confirmation from the military.

Relatives and friends of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander gather to watch the TV broadcast of his release from Hamas captivity in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025. File Image/AP

His grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, was overjoyed to see a recent photograph of him: He seemed like a man. He has really matured. She noted that he even made a joke during his first phone call with his mother, a testament to his enduring spirit. Hes got such a sense of humor, she added.

Celebrations also broke out in Tenafly, New Jersey. Crowds filled the town square, waving Israeli flags and holding signs with Alexanders image. Residents who had marched weekly for the hostages watched the moment of his release unfold live on a large screen.

Why was Alexander finally released?

Hamas said Alexanders release was intended as a goodwill gesture ahead of US President Donald Trumps visit to the region this week .

The group has long insisted that any comprehensive release of hostages still held in Gaza would only happen under terms involving a long-term ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, and the release of additional Palestinian prisoners  conditions the Israeli government continues to reject.

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Trump acknowledged the development in a social media post, stating, Edan Alexander, American hostage thought dead, to be released by Hamas. Great news!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited both military pressure on Gaza and political coordination with the Trump administration for securing Alexanders freedom.

A photograph released by Israeli authorities showed Alexander aboard a military helicopter holding a handwritten sign: Thank you, President Trump.

Adam Boehler, Trumps lead hostage negotiator, was closely involved in efforts to secure Alexanders release and shared an image of Alexanders mother on a flight to Israel on Monday.

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US Special envoy Steve Witkoff, also involved in the negotiations, was expected to arrive in Israel around the same time. Four-party talks involving Hamas, the United States, Qatar and Egypt played a crucial role in facilitating this outcome.

Qatari and Egyptian officials expressed hope that this could serve as the foundation for future negotiations aimed at freeing the remaining captives.

Alexanders family welcomed the end of their ordeal with immense relief. We received the greatest gift imaginable  news that our beautiful son Edan is returning home after 583 days in captivity in Gaza, they said in a public statement.

Edan Alexander, who has been released from captivity by Hamas, after he had been kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, embraces his brother as he reunites with his family in Reim, southern Israel, before flying to Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025. GPO via Reuters

They also urged continued international efforts to free the remaining hostages, stating: Please dont stop. We hope our sons release begins negotiations for all 58 remaining hostages, ending this nightmare for them and their families.

Despite the joy of one family, many others are still waiting for similar news. Among the critics of the current hostage policy is Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains in captivity.

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Speaking alongside other relatives of hostages, she urged the United States to help bring the ordeal to an end. Addressing Trump, she said: The Israeli people are behind you. End this war. Bring them all home.

Who remains in captivity?

As of now, Israel reports that 58 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with only about 23 believed to be alive. The majority of the original 251 hostages taken in the October 2023 attack have either been freed in exchange deals or confirmed dead.

Humanitarian agencies and hostage advocacy groups have repeatedly called for renewed talks to secure the release of those still held, many of whom are reported to be in poor health.

Here are names of the 23 hostages still believed to held in Gaza, as seen on The Washington Post:

Matan Angrest, 22 Gali Berman, 27 Ziv Berman, 27 Elkana Bohbot, 36 Rom Braslavski, 21 Nimrod Cohen, 20 Ariel Cunio, 27 David Cunio, 34 Evyatar David, 24 Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24 Maxim Herkin, 36 Eitan Horn, 38 Bipin Joshi - from Nepal Segev Kalfon, 29 Bar Kupershtein, 24 Omri Miran, 48 Eitan Abraham Mor, 24 Tamir Nimrodi, 20 Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 24 Alon Ohel, 24 Avinatan Or, 32 Nattapong Pinta - believed to be the last Thai hostage alive. Matan Zangauker, 25

Following Alexanders release, Israeli authorities said they would send a delegation to Qatar on Thursday to explore a new round of negotiations. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), approximately 500,000 people in the enclave face the risk of starvation, with a potential famine looming by September if conditions do not improve.

Despite the temporary pause in hostilities to enable Alexanders release, Israeli military activity resumed shortly afterward. Palestinian officials reported that three people were killed and several wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a shelter in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

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Another woman reportedly died, and others were injured when tank shells struck a school in northern Gaza that was housing displaced civilians.

Israel maintains that its campaign in Gaza will continue until all hostages are released and Hamas is militarily defeated. Netanyahu and intends to escalate operations in the territory.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Donald Trump has launched a new war, this time against pharmaceutical companies. He has signed an executive order to reduce the prices of prescription drugs in the United States. But how did the US president come up with this plan? Its all thanks to his brilliant and overweight friend read more

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with US President Donald Trump. Trump said his administrations new plan to impose price controls on prescription drugs was inspired by hearing from a friend about the low cost of weight loss medication in the United Kingdom compared to what the same person paid for the same medication in America. File image/AP

After his tariff war, Donald Trump is waging a new one  the pharmaceutical war. On Monday (May 12), the US president signed an executive order that aims to reduce high prescription drug prices. He claimed that the order signed by him would help cut drug prices by at least 59 per cent  and in some cases as high as 80 or 90 per cent.

And what is the inspiration for this move? US President Donald Trump said he was inspired by hearing from a friend about the low cost of weight loss medication in the United Kingdom compared to what the same person paid for the same medication in America.

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This got many people asking  who was the US president referring to? Was it Elon Musk or was it someone else? We take a closer look and get you the answers.

What is Trumps move to slash drug prices?

On Monday (May 12), Trump unveiled an aggressive drug pricing strategy, promising to dramatically cut prescription drug costs for American consumers. Starting today, the United States will no longer subsidise the health care of foreign countries, which is what we were doing, Trump said before signing the executive order.

Under the plan, Trump aims to institute a Most Favoured Nation policy that pins the cost of drugs sold in the United States to the lowest price paid by other countries for the same drug. As Reuters explained, it seeks to narrow the gap between the US and foreign drug prices.

Basically, what were doing is equalising, Trump said. We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. We will get whoever is paying the lowest price, thats the price that were going to get.

US President Donald Trump holds an executive order on prescription drug pricing next to US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr, during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. Reuters

It is not yet clear which medications the order will apply to. Also, its unclear when  and if  Americans will see lower prices.

However, in a social media post, Trump claimed drug prices will be cut by 59%, PLUS! He later claimed drug prices may fall even more, between 59 per cent and 80 per cent, or I guess even 90 per cent.

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Trumps move comes at a significant time  drug prices in the United States are among the highest in the world and they surpass what European countries pay.

Notably after Trumps move, share prices of major drug makers, such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly and the UKs GSK were hit. But they staged a quick recovery. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the industrys main trade association, praised Trump for coming down hard on other countries. The Administration is right to use trade negotiations to force foreign governments to pay their fair share for medicines. U.S. patients should not foot the bill for global innovation, said Stephen Ubl, PhRMAs CEO.

How did Trumps overweight friend inspire his move?

But how did Trump think of the idea to cut drug prices? When asked the same during a press conference, the US president hinted to his fat friend.

Ill tell you a story. A friend of mine  hes a businessman, very, very, very top guy. Most of you wouldve heard of him. Highly neurotic, brilliant businessman, seriously overweight, and he takes the fat shot drug, Trump said, adding that the unnamed businessman recently called him with a question.

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Im in London. And I just paid for this damn fat drug I take. I said, Its not working, Trump added, drawing some laughter from the room. I just paid $88. And in New York I pay $1,300. What the hell is going on?

Trump: "A friend of mine who is a businessman. Very very very top guy. Most of you would've heard of him. Highly neurotic. Brilliant businessman. Seriously overweight. And he takes the fat shot drug." pic.twitter.com/pFFyXT6pHF  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2025

Trump said he later confronted a pharmaceutical company representative about the discrepancy. I brought it up with the drug companies, represented by somebody whos very, very smart, good person too. And we argued about it for about a half-hour. And then finally, he just said, because they cant justify it, he just said, Look, you got me. You got me. I can no longer justify [the price difference].

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Is Trumps overweight friend Elon Musk?

Soon after Trump spoke at the White House, speculation began as to whom was Trump referring to. Many soon said on social media that the US president was referring to First Buddy and outgoing Doge leader Elon Musk.

Trumps remarks sparked speculations about whom the US president was talking about. People on the internet pointed out several names, but the one persistent name was that of his First Buddy Elon Musk. File image/Reuters

Netizens said that it was Musk, as the billionaire publicly stated that he uses a weight-loss drug called Mounjaro, which is made by Eli Lilly, and has jokingly referred to himself as  Ozempic Santa , using the name of a better-known option made by Novo Nordisk, which also produces Wegovy.

Pointing out Musks previous confession, one user wrote, Elon Musk has admitted to taking the fat shot drug as Donald Trump calls it. Is he the seriously overweight and highly neurotic businessman that Donald is talking about? Hilarious that Donald said its not working.

Elon Musk has admitted to taking the fat shot drug as Donald Trump calls it.



Is he the seriously overweight and highly neurotic businessman that Donald is talking about?



Hilarious that Donald said its not working.



pic.twitter.com/jiqkWtlP6I  Art Candee  (@ArtCandee) May 12, 2025

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Another called Trumps story an Elon shade.

But not everyone thought that Trump was referring to Musk. Trumps suggestion that his friend worked in New York and London indicates Musk was not whom the president was referencing. Moreover, during the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump had praised Musks physique, joking about his abs.

Other social media users noted that Trump could have been talking about author Robert Kiyosaki, who wrote the book Rich Dad Poor Dad. Hes a friend of the US president and his physical description matches what Trump said, noted many social media users.

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With inputs from agencies
On May 13, 1952, the first Rajya Sabha meeting occurred in Delhis old Council Chamber of Parliament House. Dr S Radhakrishnan was elected as the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. On this day in 1989, thousands of Chinese students launched a hunger strike in Beijings Tiananmen Square during the pro-democracy protests read more

The Council of States' first session began with a Presidential address to both the Upper and Lower Houses, a tradition that endures annually. Representational image

One of the most important days in the history of India is May 13. It was on this day in 1952 that the newly constituted Council of States sat together for the first time. This Second Chamber of the Parliament of India, was later named the Rajya Sabha in 1954.

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

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On this day in 1989, thousands of Chinese students launched a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, marking a critical escalation in the pro-democracy protests that had gripped China for weeks.

Here are some of the events that took place across the world.

First Rajya Sabha meeting

It was on May 13, 1952 that the newly formed Council of States sat for the first time in the Parliament. It came to be known as the Second Chamber of the Parliament of India which was later named Rajya Sabha.

Following the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, the need for a bicameral legislature was formalised to ensure a more balanced and representative form of governance. The Rajya Sabha was envisioned as a body that would provide a forum for sober and considered debate, acting as a check on hasty legislation from the directly elected Lok Sabha.

The inaugural session was held in the old Council Chamber of Parliament House in New Delhi. Dr S Radhakrishnan, who would later become Indias second President, was elected as the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in his capacity as Vice President of India. In his address, Dr Radhakrishnan emphasised the importance of high moral standards, reasoned debate and the role of the Rajya Sabha in representing the states and union territories fairly.

The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Parliament. Representational image

At the time of its inauguration, the Rajya Sabha had 216 members, including 12 nominated by the President for their contributions to literature, science, art and social service. The remaining members were elected by the legislative assemblies of the states and union territories.

The Council of States first session began with a Presidential address to both the Upper and Lower Houses, a tradition that endures annually and after every general election. However, in contrast to modern parliamentary sessions, this address was not followed by a Motion of Thanks, and a Question Hour session, now a regular occurrence, did not take place. The Upper House of the Parliament of India is presently structured with a capacity of 250 members.

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Thousands of Chinese students began a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square

On this day in 1989, thousands of Chinese students launched a hunger strike in Beijings Tiananmen Square marking a critical escalation in the pro-democracy protests that had gripped China for weeks. The movement, initially sparked by the death of reform-minded leader Hu Yaobang, had grown rapidly as a result of frustrations over corruption, lack of political freedoms and calls for government accountability.

As a peaceful and symbolic act, a hunger strike was initiated by university students with the objective of compelling the Chinese leadership to engage in dialogue and respond to their demands, which centred on freedom of the press, greater transparency and democratic reforms. The students, identifiable by their white headbands and banners, proclaimed their dedication to nonviolence and patriotism, despite the growing physical risks they faced in the extreme heat of Beijing.

Tiananmen Square is filled with thousands during a pro-democracy rally in Beijing, China on May 17, 1989. File image/AP

By mid-May, the square was densely populated with tens of thousands of supporters, students and observers. The timing of the hunger strike was deliberately chosen to coincide with a scheduled state visit by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, marking the first such visit since the 1960s. Recognising the presence of international media covering the summit, the students hoped that global attention would serve to amplify their message and exert pressure on the Chinese government to issue a positive response.

The hunger strike, while serving to galvanize public support for the demonstrators, concurrently established the conditions for the subsequent military suppression. The initial appeal for reform, spearheaded by students, would tragically culminate in the Tiananmen Square massacre in less than a months time, specifically on June 4, 1989, when the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army violently suppressed the burgeoning pro-democracy movement.

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This Day, That Year

On this day in 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in St Peters Square, Vatican Square.

British politician Winston Churchill faced the House of Commons for the first time in 1940.

The US declaration of war on Mexico was approved in 1846.
Indias air defence response during Operation Sindoor showcased its sophisticated Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). From drones to missiles, IACCS enabled real-time threat detection and neutralisation across a multi-layered defence network involving the IAF, Army, Navy and paramilitary forces. How does this digital backbone secure Indias skies? read more

The team operating the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) can be seen in this picture shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

Indias ability to defend its airspace during recent escalations under Operation Sindoor was not the result of coincidence, but a reflection of its sophisticated and layered air defence network.

Central to this success was the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), a system that ties together data, surveillance, weapon systems and decision-making tools across the Indian Air Force (IAF), Army, Navy and other allied units.

As tensions escalated and waves of Pakistani drones, rockets and missiles were launched to target Indian military positions and critical infrastructure, Indias response came swiftly and decisively.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded Indias air defence during his Tuesday (May 13, 2025) visit to the Adampur airbase in Punjab . Pakistans drone, their UAVs, aircraft and missiles - all of those failed before our capable air defence. I extend heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of all air bases of the country and every air warrior of the Indian Air Force. You have done a really fantastic job. I am proud of the of the fact that India forces took great care not to harm civilian aircrafts, he said, addressing members of the Indian Armed Forces.

Behind all the rapid and successful retaliation was a digital backbone: IACCS.

This network-enabled command structure helped coordinate the countrys multi-tiered air defence environment, thwarting the aerial threat in real time and preserving both civilian and strategic targets.

What we know about the IACCS

The Integrated Air Command and Control System is an automated command and control infrastructure developed by the Indian Air Force. It brings together various data streams and assets  from radars and fighter jets to unmanned systems and surveillance platforms  to generate a live, comprehensive view of the airspace.

This view, known as the Recognised Air Situation Picture (RASP), enables commanders at all levels  strategic, operational, and tactical  to make informed, time-sensitive decisions.

The IACCS system processes inputs from homogeneous and heterogeneous radars  both two-dimensional and three-dimensional  along with feeds from airborne early warning platforms (AWACS), UAVs, airbases, civil aviation radars and observation posts.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

These are all compiled at centralised Command and Control Centres. The output is a precise, real-time air situation image, critical for ensuring rapid detection, tracking and neutralisation of any incoming threats.

The connectivity framework that enables IACCS is built upon a wide-area IP-based network, ensuring secure and fast transmission of data. This architecture is key to Indias network-centric warfare (NCW) capabilities.

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How a modern defence grid was built in India

The roots of IACCS lie in the transformation of military communication systems post-1999. Following the Kargil conflict, it became evident that India required a more centralised and technologically superior method of managing its airspace and battlespace operations.

In 2003, the Directorate of IACCS was established, and the groundwork began to digitise air command and control across the country.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

The true leap occurred in 2010 with the launch of the Air Force Network (AFNET)  a secure, digital communications grid that replaced outdated troposcatter systems from the 1950s.

AFNET served two purposes: modernising defence communications and contributing to national telecom infrastructure.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

At its inauguration, then Defence Minister AK Antony said the network had the potential to support net-centric operations, a significant shift from earlier communication methodologies.

To demonstrate its effectiveness, two MiG-29s from an airbase in Punjab conducted a live interception of simulated targets in the western sector. This interception was displayed live on large screens in the Air Force auditorium, marking a new era of integrated air operations.

Building on AFNET, the IACCS framework was rolled out in phases.

Today, IACCS integrates air defence elements from multiple services, acting as a bridge between command centres and real-time battlefield awareness.

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How India shields its airspace

Indias air defence structure is based on a multi-tiered concept that addresses threats across different altitudes and ranges.

Inner layer: This includes systems tailored for short-range, low-altitude targets such as drones. Platforms like legacy L70 guns, ZSU-23 Shilka, MANPADS and counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) are deployed for immediate defence.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

Second layer: Comprising point defence systems that protect specific strategic installations, this layer features short-range surface-to-air missile systems like the Spyder, OSA-AK and Pechora.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

Middle tier: This level includes medium-range SAMs such as the indigenously developed Akash missile system and the Indo-Israeli MRSAM  both vital for intercepting more distant threats.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

Outer layer: The final shield consists of long-range platforms including the S-400 Triumf air defence system and combat-ready fighter aircraft. These are tasked with eliminating hostile assets well before they enter sensitive airspace.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

During the events of May 7 to May 10, this multi-tiered grid successfully neutralised a variety of aerial threats  including Pakistani drones and PL-15 missiles  before they could inflict damage.

What we know about BEL-developed Akashteer

One of the latest advancements in Indias integrated air defence framework is the incorporation of the Akashteer system, developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

Operated by the Army Air Defence Corps, Akashteer automates the processes of air defence control and reporting for ground-based units. Its command centres are vehicle-based, offering mobility and resilience in adverse conditions.

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A major milestone has been the integration of Akashteer with IACCS, allowing seamless coordination between the Army and Air Force.

A display of Indias air defences shown during a tri-services press briefing in New Delhi, India on May 12, 2025. Image/PIB

This unification boosts the effectiveness of Indias air defence by tightening the sensor-to-shooter loop  the time taken between identifying a threat and neutralising it.

Currently, over 400 command and control centres have been ordered under the Akashteer programme, with 107 already delivered.

How IACCS was crucial during Operation Sindoor

During Operation Sindoor, Indias air defence systems demonstrated remarkable coordination. Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal AK Bharti, highlighted the critical role played by the IACCS and the dedication of personnel behind its functioning.

A photo released during the press briefing featured the team responsible for running IACCS  a rare recognition of the people operating behind the scenes.

Picture of the Integrated Air Command and Control System releasedcrucial to the success of Operation Sindoor.#OperationSindoor pic.twitter.com/spabxZS1Pt  MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) May 12, 2025

Air Marshal Bharti highlighted that IACCS provided the country with a net-centric operational capability, which is vital to modern-day warfighting. He also praised the performance of indigenous systems , saying:

Our battle-proven systems have stood the test of time, and take them head-on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade.

The systems were coordinated not just across the Air Force, but also with the Indian Navy, Army and security forces like the Border Security Force.

Can we do even better?

The idea of creating a tri-service Air Defence Command (ADC) was earlier proposed by the late General Bipin Rawat, Indias first Chief of Defence Staff .

The vision was to consolidate the air defence assets of all three services under a single command.

However, the plan faced institutional and logistical challenges  particularly in reallocating defence resources across a geographically vast and diverse country  and has not yet been implemented.

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Despite this, the integration achieved between IACCS and Akashteer, and the cooperative functioning of all forces during Operation Sindoor, hint at what a future ADC might look like in practice.

The Integrated Air Command and Control System has emerged as the linchpin of Indias airspace management and defence.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Indians have called for boycotting travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan, which have seen a growing interest as tourist spots in recent years. After the Indian Army revealed that Pakistan sent Turkish-made drones in border areas, the anger towards Ankara in India has increased, with even politicians supporting the idea of a ban on Turkish goods read more

Tourists and commuters sail through Bosphorus on a ferry in Istanbul, Turkey, April 23, 2025. File Photo/Reuters

Indians are calling for a boycott of travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Travel companies have joined this chorus by pausing bookings to these countries, citing national sentiments.

Turkey and Azerbaijan drew the ire of social media users in India after coming out in support of Islamabad following Indian Armed Forces strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor early May 7. Since then, there has been a clarion call to boycott travel to these nations as Indians question their pro-Pakistan stand.

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Will Indias boycott hurt Turkey and Azerbaijan? Lets take a look.

Indians boycott Turkey, Azerbaijan

After Indias Operation Sindoor, Ankara and Baku showed solidarity with Pakistan.

Turkiyes foreign affairs ministry condemned Indias unprovoked aggression violating Pakistans sovereignty and killing innocent civilians. It said Operation Sindoor raised the risk of an all-out war.

Turkey also called on both sides to exercise common sense and refrain from unilateral actions.

Later, the Indian Army revealed that the 300-400 drones sent by Pakistan across Indias border areas in the wake of Operation Sindoor were Turkish-made Songar drones .

Decrying Indias military action, Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement backing Islamabad. Being in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, we express condolences to the families of the innocent victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means," it said.

This pro-Pakistan stance hurt the sentiments of Indians, with some calling for a travel boycott of these Muslim nations . Several travel companies have since paused bookings for Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Travel platform EaseMyTrip issued an advisory, asking travellers to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan only if absolutely necessary. Its founder and chairman, Nishant Pittie, said, Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey and Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary.

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He advised people not to travel to these countries unless absolutely essential.

Please stay updated on current developments and exercise caution while making travel plans. We are deeply concerned by the recent developments. The safety of travellers is our top priority. We advise all our customers to exercise utmost caution and stay updated on official travel advisories before planning trips to sensitive regions," Pittie added.

Ixigo has suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, China and Azerbaijan. Respecting the sentiments shared by all Indians at this time, we have suspended all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China. Our commitment is to act responsibly and in alignment with our countrys broader interests, while prioritising the trust, safety, and interests of Indian travellers. Blood and bookings wont flow together, Aloke Bajpai, CEO of Ixigo, told ThePrint.

For the love of our nation, we stand united. pic.twitter.com/GqKKzQ4as9  ixigo (@ixigo) May 10, 2025

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WanderOn, a D2C (direct-to-consumer) travel-technology firm, has also shut bookings for the two nations. We have closed the bookings for these two places and we are not making any new bookings. As for the existing bookings for the two places, Indians are saying they dont want to travel and are asking for a refund to check to reschedule their travel to other destinations, the companys chief executive officer and founder, Govind Gaur, was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol.

Cox & Kings said it will temporarily stop all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey.

In light of recent developments, we have decided to pause all new travel offerings to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. This decision is driven by our commitment to uphold principles that matter deeply to us and the people of our country. We also advise Indian travellers to exercise discretion and avoid any non-essential travel to these destinations until there is greater clarity and alignment in the broader geopolitical environment, said Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings.

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Travel accommodation brand Go Homestays has ended its partnership with Turkish Airlines. We are officially ending our partnership with Turkish Airlines due to their unsupportive stance towards India. Going forward, we will no longer include their flights in our international travel packages, the firm said.

Travomint has also reportedly suspended all travel packages to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

In numbers: Indian tourists in Turkey, Azerbaijan

The demand for travel to Turkey and the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, has jumped in recent years.

According to Turkeys Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 3,30,000 Indians travelled to the country last year, compared to 119,503 arrivals in 2014.

Its tourism board said that Turkeys tourism revenue reached an all-time high of $61.1 billion in 2024, an 8.3 per cent increase from the year before.

Turkey reported an average visitor spend of $972 (Rs 82,922) last year, as per an Economic Times (ET) report.

Indians have contributed to Turkeys tourism growth, with the number of visitors rising by 20.7 per cent last year, compared to 2023. This can be attributed to several factors, including better air connectivity between the two nations, growing interest among Indian wedding planners and MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions] organisers, ET reported, citing the tourism board.

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Azerbaijan has also captured the interest of Indian travellers in recent years.

While just 4,853 Indians visited Azerbaijan in 2014, the number of tourists spiked to 243,589 in 2024, Livemint reported, citing the Azerbaijan Tourism Board. Around 1.17 lakh Indians had arrived in the country in 2023.

Tourists and souvenirs are seen at a traditional market in the Old Town of Baku, Azerbaijan May 30, 2019. File Photo/Reuters

India has reportedly emerged as the fourth-largest tourist source for Azerbaijan, after Russia, Turkiye, and Iran.

The blend of tradition and modernity makes the country an appealing choice for Indians.

According to Booking.coms Travel Predictions 2025, Azerbaijans cities of Gabala and Baku were among the top 10 International Trending Destinations for Indian travellers this year.

How Indias boycott will impact Turkey, Azerbaijan

As calls for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan gain momentum, Indians are likely to avoid travelling to these destinations.

WanderOns CEO Gaur told Moneycontrol that Indians are cancelling their bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan in the wake of these countries support for Pakistan. Over 50 per cent drop in bookings is expected from India to Azerbaijan and Turkey. India is one of the biggest markets after China for the destinations, he said.

The business leader also predicted that the loss to Turkey and Azerbaijan will be bigger than when Indians boycotted the Maldives last year for derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some ministers.

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I see a much larger impact as compared to the Maldives. Baku or Azerbaijan is on travellers minds because of Indian tourists. Last year, they had the highest number of people travelling to Azerbaijan from India. There wont be any new bookings and this is peak season time for them. Turkish Airlines will also see a significant impact because they are already boycotting the airline. We will see a much larger impact on them in the coming days, Gaur said.

Indian politicians have also slammed Turkey for supplying drones to Pakistan. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi rebuked a purported statement by Ankaras tourism department, which urged Indians not to postpone or cancel any trips to Turkey.

Sharing the statement, she wrote on X, No Turkiye, Indians wont come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan. Look for your tourists elsewhere, our money aint blood money.

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No Turkiye, Indians wont come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan. Look for your tourists elsewhere, our money aint blood money. pic.twitter.com/m9t8xxxbcw  Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 13, 2025

Congress MLA from Himachal Pradesh, Kuldeep Singh Rathore, has called for an immediate ban on Turkish imports.

Accusing Turkey of diplomatic betrayal, he reminded Ankara of Indias assistance during the 2023 earthquake under Operation Dost.

I strongly demand that India immediately ban the import of apples and other goods from Turkey. Our countrymen must also boycott Turkish products and tourism. We cannot allow any nation to enjoy our goodwill while arming those who threaten our national security, Rathore reportedly said.

Former police chief Prakash Singh argued that India should redefine its ties with Turkey. Any agreement on route-sharing between any Indian airlines and Turkish airlines must be terminated, he wrote on X.

India must re-define its relations with Turkey. Any agreement on route-sharing between any Indian airlines and Turkish airlines must be terminated. @PMOIndia, @MoCA_GoI  Prakash Singh (@singh_prakash) May 12, 2025

As per an ANI report, Pune traders have started boycotting apples imported from Turkey.

We have decided to stop purchasing apples from Turkey and are instead opting for produce from Himachal, Uttarakhand, Iran, and other regions, Suyog Zende, an apple merchant at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market in Pune, told the news agency. This decision aligns with our patriotic duty and support for the nation.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has demanded that the management of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai cancel the contract with the Turkish company handling the ground services.

Turkey is helping Pakistan. How can we allow their companies to earn here? They are earning here and helping Pakistan. This will not happen, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, who led the protest, said, as per Deccan Herald.

He said they have also informed the Mumbai Police Commissioner about the issue.

We have given an ultimatum of 10 daysif nothing happens, we will make a 10,000-plus morcha at the Mumbai airport, he said. We will not allow any Turkish firm to work herewe will identify such companies and ask them to leave.

The Shiv Sena will make sure that no Turkish company bags any contract in Maharashtra, Patel said.

With inputs from agencies
The UK has announced sweeping curbs on immigration to prevent it from becoming an island of strangers, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday (May 12). From reforms across all visa routes to making deportation of foreign criminals easier, here are all the proposed changes. How could this hurt Indians? read more

People enjoy the sun on the wall of the Bank of England building in London, Britain, March 19, 2025. File Photo/Reuters

The United Kingdom (UK) government is tightening its immigration policies to prevent the country from becoming an island of strangers, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer put it on Monday (May 12). He has announced sweeping reforms to the UKs immigration system.

The Starmer-led Labour government aims to cut down net migration significantly over the next four years. This comes amid political challenges from Nigel Farages right-wing party, Reform UK, and growing public discord over a spike in arrivals to the country.

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But what did Starmer say? What will the UK immigration changes include and how will they affect Indians? We will explain.

Keir Starmers tough stance on migration

UK PM Keir Starmer on Monday announced a tougher immigration policy to take back control of our borders.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, the Labour leader said that he wanted to bring down net migration significantly by the end of this Parliament, without setting a specific numerical target.

Nations depend on rules, fair rules. Sometimes they are written down, often they are not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other, Starmer was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

In a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together, he added.

The British PM also rejected the belief that immigration spurs economic growth. The theory that higher migration numbers necessarily lead to higher growth has been tested in the last four years, he said.

Weve had the highest net migration when the last government lost control, to nearly one million (10 lakh), and stagnant growth. And so that link doesnt hold on that evidence.

The Labour governments crackdown on immigration comes in the wake of anti-immigration Reform UKs gains in local elections this month.

Starmers island of strangers remark comes off as ironic given that the British colonised half of the world. While this is a popular belief, a report in The Atlantic says Great Britain has invaded 90 per cent of the countries on the globe.

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UKs immigration white paper

After the British PMs press conference, the UKs immigration white paper was published, underlining the governments plan to introduce strict rules for all visa routes.

Skilled worker visas: The British government proposes strengthening skilled work visas by limiting them to applicants who have a degree.

There will also be time-limited access to jobs below this graduate-level qualification. However, it will be based on evidence of labour shortages.

The white paper also endorses a 32 per cent rise in the immigration skills charge paid by employers who hire skilled overseas workers, as per The Guardian report. The extra funds have to be utilised to upskill UK workers in priority sectors.

Social care visa: The white paper suggests barring care homes from recruiting staff from abroad. Social care providers will be allowed to hire international care workers already in the UK.

There are fears that these changes will cause a shortage of staff, impacting the care available to people.

English language requirements: The UK has proposed raising English language requirements across visa categories. Foreign workers will be expected to show a higher standard of English, and even their adult family members will have to display at least basic English skills and progress over time.

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Helping individuals integrate into their local community, find employment and reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse was the main reason cited for this change, Downing Street said in a statement, as per PTI.

Student visas: The UK is making requirements stricter for universities enrolling international students. A six per cent levy will be introduced on the income that universities get from foreign students and reinvested in the higher education and skills system.

The tests for colleges and universities will be made tougher for foreign students. Graduates who remain in the UK to work after their studies can do so for only 18 months, a decline from the current two years.

A student walks across a lawn in front of All Souls College, Oxford University, ahead of the new academic year, in Oxford, Britain, September 17, 2020. File Photo/Reuters

Settlement: The new immigration system will end the right of overseas workers to automatically apply for settlement in the UK after five years. Instead, the migrants will have to wait for 10 years to be eligible for permanent residency. The new rules, however, include a fast track for foreign workers who can show their contribution to the economy and society through a points-based system. This will be applicable for high-skilled and high-contributing migrants, such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI specialists.

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Dependants will still have to wait for five years before applying for settlement.

Deporting criminals: The reforms make it easier to deny entry or asylum to foreigners who have broken the law. It also allows for the deportation of offenders, especially if they are on short-term visas. The new rules will apply to all offences, particularly sexual offences, as reported by The Guardian.

The UK has said it is not exiting the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), but Starmer hinted at reviewing how Article 8  which allows people to appeal on the basis of their right to a family life  is interpreted.

eVisas for foreigners: The UK will introduce eVisas for all foreigners to monitor arrivals. This new digital identity system will replace the current system of biometric residence permit cards for overseas citizens.

How will Indians be impacted?

The UKs immigration reforms will hit Indians hard. India makes up for one of the largest sources of overseas professionals and students arriving in the UK.

In 2023, Indians comprised the largest group of immigrants to the UK, with 250,000 arrivals, according to the Office for National Statistics. The latest UK Home Office data shows that Indians received the most number of work visas and study visas in 2024. Of the 369,419 work visas issued by the British government last year, 81,463, or 22 per cent, went to Indian nationals  the highest among all countries.

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However, the total number of work visas granted to Indians halved, from 162,655 in 2023 to 81,463 in 2024.

The Indians who got the work visas, as many as 34,954 were main applicants and 46,509 were dependents, including spouses and children.

Of the total 419,312 study visas issued by the UK last year, Indians got the second highest with 92,355 visas. China topped the study visa recipient list with 103,561 visas.

The Starmer government expects the new policy will lead to 100,000 fewer migrants every year.

The UKs net migration was 728,000 in the 12 months to June 2024. This figure had jumped to a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023 under the previous Conservative government.

A new Home Office assessment shows the net migration could plunge to 300,000 by 2029.

With inputs from agencies
American reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint, tied up, and had her mouth taped as a group known as the grandpa robbers in 2016. Ten people, including nine men and one woman, stole jewellery worth millions of dollars from her Paris suite. At the time, it was the biggest robbery targeting an individual in France in over two decades and made headlines worldwide. Nearly a decade later, the trial is finally underway, with Kardashian set to testify in court on Tuesday read more

She was held at gunpoint, tied up, and had her mouth taped. Reuters/File Photo

American reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian will appear in a Paris court on Tuesday as a witness in a burglary case that took place in 2016.

The case involves a group of elderly men, dubbed the  grandpa robbers  by the French press, who are accused of stealing jewellery worth several million euros from Kardashian.

At the time, it was the biggest robbery targeting a single person in France in over two decades and made headlines around the world.

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Nearly ten years later, the trial is finally underway, with Kardashian taking the stand herself.

So, what exactly happened during the robbery? Who are the so-called grandpa robbers? And how did the incident affect Kardashian on a personal level?

We answer these questions.

Heres a look:

What happened?

Ten people, nine men and one woman, are facing charges related to the robbery and kidnapping of Kim Kardashian and the concierge at the luxury residence where she was staying on the night of October 2-3.

She was held at gunpoint, tied up, and had her mouth taped.

During what French media have called the heist of the century, masked men stole jewellery worth millions of dollars.

Two of the accused allegedly forced the concierge to take them to Kardashians suite. He later told police they shouted, Wheres the rappers wife?

Nearly ten years later, the trial is finally underway, with Kardashian taking the stand herself. Reuters/File Photo

According to Sky News, Kardashian said she had been dozing in bed when the men entered her room.

She later said she believed her posts on social media gave the robbers a chance to act.

I was Snapchatting that I was home, and that everyone was going out, she said.

In her police statement, according to French weekly Le Journal Du Dimanche, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star gave a detailed account of the attack.

They grabbed me and took me into the hallway. They tied me up with plastic cables and taped my hands, then they put tape over my mouth and my legs.

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What was stolen during the heist?

Among the items taken was a diamond ring gifted to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West, valued at 3.5 million euros ($3.9 million).

The thieves also stole a large Louis Vuitton jewellery box, which Kardashian said held everything I owned.

In a police report filed with French authorities at around 4.30 am on the night of the robbery, Kardashian listed the stolen items as:

 Two diamond Cartier bracelets

 A necklace with six small diamonds

 Earrings by Yanina

 An iPhone 6 and a BlackBerry

 Three gold necklaces by Jacob

 Various small bracelets, rings and other jewellery

 A diamond necklace by Lauren Schwartz

 Diamond earrings designed by Lauren Schwartz

 A necklace with Saint spelt out in diamonds

 A diamond-encrusted cross pendant by Jacob

 A gold and diamond necklace by Jacob

 A yellow gold Rolex watch

 Two yellow gold rings

According to a Sky News report, police were only able to recover the diamond-encrusted cross, which was dropped by the robbers as they fled.

Who are the grandpa robbers?

The people on trial are mostly men in their 60s and 70s, all with past criminal records.

They are known by underworld names such as Old Omar and Blue Eyes, nicknames that sound like characters from old French gangster films of the 1960s and 70s.

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Aomar Ait Khedache, aged 68, has admitted to tying up Kardashian but denies that he was the one who planned the robbery. Another accused, Yunice Abbas, later wrote a book about what happened.

Defendant Aomar Ait Khedache, left, one of the men accused in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian, arrives at the palace of justice. AP

At first, 12 people were facing trial. Since then, one has died and another cannot take part due to medical reasons, leaving ten people, nine men and one woman, on trial.

Five of them are facing charges of armed robbery and kidnapping:

 Yunice Abbas

 Marc-Alexandre Boyer

 Harminv Ait Khedache

 Didier Dubreucq

 Aomar Ait Khedache

The other five are accused of either helping with the crime or having an illegal weapon:

 Francois Delaporte

 Gary Madar

 Marc Boyer

 Florus Heroui

 Christiane Glotin

As most of the accused are now elderly and dealing with health problems, and have already served time in custody, all ten are currently out on judicial supervision.

Learned to be more private

The robbery led Kim Kardashian to rethink how she shared her life, both online and offline. Her fame had been built on openness, with her every move followed by millions, but that approach changed.

I learned to be more private, she said later. Its not worth the risk.

She stepped up her personal security, bringing in professionals with backgrounds in top-level protective services, including reported former members of the US Secret Service and CIA. She also stopped posting her whereabouts in real time. Expensive gifts and jewellery mostly disappeared from her social media.

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Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in 2016. Reuters/File Photo

Her shift had a wider impact in Hollywood and fashion circles.

Model Gigi Hadid increased her own security in the months that followed. She was seen at Paris fashion shows with several bodyguards.

Kardashians sister, Kendall Jenner, also reportedly took extra precautions ahead of the 2016 Victorias Secret Fashion Show in Paris, following tighter safety rules and greater care online.

Publicists and agents started urging their clients to delay social media posts, avoid tagging locations, and think carefully before showing off luxury items.

Kardashian is expected to give evidence starting May 13. The trial is set to continue until May 23.

With inputs from agencies
Days after Indias cross-border Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army launched Operation Keller in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district, killing three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Who were they, why was the operation significant and how does it fit into Indias broader counterterror strategy amid rising tensions with Pakistan? read more

The Indian Army launched Operation Keller in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district, killing three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on May 13, 2025. Representational Image/X-adgpi

The Indian Army eliminated three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in the dense forest region of Keller, Shopian district in Kashmir, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The operation, dubbed Operation Keller, was launched following precise intelligence inputs from a Rashtriya Rifles unit about the presence of terrorists in the Shoekal Keller area.

According to an official Army statement posted on X, OPERATION KELLER. On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce firefight ensued, which resulted in elimination of three hardcore terrorists. Operation is in progress.

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OPERATION KELLER



On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce pic.twitter.com/KZwIkEGiLF  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 13, 2025

The encounter reportedly began in the adjoining Kulgam district and extended into Shopian, where the terrorists were finally gunned down during a heavy exchange of fire.

What we know about the terrorists killed in Operation Keller

Security forces identified the slain terrorists as Shahid Kuttay, Adnan Shafi Dar and Haris Nazir  all linked to Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Shahid Kuttay, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian and the son of Mohammad Yousuf Kuttay, had joined LeT on March 8, 2023.

He was involved in multiple terror activities, including a firing at the Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, that left two German tourists injured.

He was also linked to the killing of a BJP sarpanch in Heerpora on May 18, 2024, and is suspected of killing a Territorial Army personnel in Kulgams Behibagh on February 3, 2025.

Adnan Shafi Dar, hailing from Wanduna Melhora, Shopian, joined LeT in October 2024. He was responsible for the murder of a non-local labourer in Wachi, Shopian, the same month he joined.

Haris Nazir, reportedly from Pulwama, was also implicated in the April 2024 Danish Resort attack, although his full background is still being investigated.

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Recovered from the site were three AK-47 rifles along with other arms and ammunition, confirming the groups preparedness for continued terror activity in the region.

Operation Keller follows Sindoor

The , following Indias bold cross-border counterterrorism offensive  Operation Sindoor  on May 7, during which nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were targeted.

That operation was a retaliatory measure for the brutal killing of 26 civilians, including tourists, in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam on April 22.

Indian intelligence attributes that April 22 attack to three Pakistan-based terrorists  Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa  whose posters labelled Terror-Free Kashmir have since been plastered across Shopian .

Authorities have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for credible information on their whereabouts.

Operation Keller is seen as a continuation of Indias stepped-up counterterror campaign in the Valley, reinforcing its zero-tolerance approach to cross-border terrorism.

What this says about Indias counter-terrorism strategy

Operation Keller also unfolds in the backdrop of renewed ceasefire fragility between India and Pakistan. The recent weeks have witnessed cross-border shelling and drone incursions, prompting India to raise its security posture along the Line of Control (LoC).

Indian Armys swift operations  Sindoor followed by Keller  highlight the evolving strategy to act on actionable intelligence and dismantle threats before they materialise.

These high-impact operations reflect a shift in Indias security calculus, aimed at proactive and preemptive neutralisation of terror threats, both within Jammu and Kashmir and across the LoC.

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Following Operation Sindoor, Kellers success reinforces New Delhis message that those who perpetuate terror will be tracked and eliminated  within or beyond borders.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Tamil Nadus Coimbatore Mahila Court convicted all nine accused in the Pollachi sexual assault case, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The investigation uncovered a disturbing pattern of exploitation, involving at least eight women, including college students read more

Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore Mahila Court on Tuesday convicted all nine accused in the brutal Pollachi sexual assault case. Image for Representation

In a verdict that was six years in the making, Tamil Nadus Coimbatore Mahila Court on Tuesday convicted all nine accused in the brutal Pollachi sexual assault case.

The sinister group had lured young women and college students, sexually assaulted them, and filmed the acts to extort and repeatedly abuse them. Since their arrest in 2019, they have remained in jail and were prosecuted for a range of offences, including criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gang rape, and repeated rape on the same woman.

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The court has now found all nine accused guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the remainder of their life, bringing an end to a disturbing chapter that shook Tamil Nadu. The court also directed the state government to pay a total compensation of Rs 85 lakh to eight survivors of the assaults, reports The Hindu.

Heres what happened

The chilling Pollachi sexual assault case

Between 2016 and 2018, a group of men from Pollachi orchestrated a deeply disturbing pattern of sexual abuse and blackmail targeting young women.

The case surfaced in February 2019, when a 19-year-old college student lodged a complaint at the Pollachi East Police Station. She alleged that she had been sexually assaulted and blackmailed by four men inside a moving car near the town.

According to her testimony, the ordeal began when an acquaintance named Sabarirajanalso known as Riswandhasked her to meet him alone, claiming he had something important to discuss. As per The News Minute, she agreed to meet him at a bus stop in Pollachi one afternoon.

There, she saw Sabarirajan waiting near a car, accompanied by another familiar faceThirunavukkarasu. The two convinced her to get into the vehicle, saying they would speak during the ride. As Thirunavukkarasu drove, Sabarirajan sat in the back seat beside her.

Without warning, two more menSathish and Vasanthkumarentered the car. The four then allegedly disrobed her by force and recorded a video of the assault. They also stole her gold chain.

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The case surfaced in February 2019, when a 19-year-old college student lodged a complaint at the Pollachi East Police Station. She alleged that she had been sexually assaulted and blackmailed by four men inside a moving car near the town. Image for Representation. PTI

The group reportedly threatened to leak the video online if she refused to comply with their demands for sexual favours and money. Though traumatised, the girl remained silent initially. But as the blackmail and threats continued, she confided in her family, and they approached the police.

What investigators found on the accuseds phones and laptops would soon unravel a far more sinister and organised crime ring.

A disturbing extortion network exposed

Investigators revealed that mobile phones seized from the accused revealed a vast cache of videos, not just of the 19-year-old survivor who first came forward, but also of several other women.

These disturbing clips showed the extent of the abuse the group had carried out over the years, often filming their victims without consent after sexually assaulting them at various locations.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Tamil Nadu government handed over the case to the Crime Branch-CID on 12 March 2019. But with mounting public pressure and growing demands for an impartial probe, the investigation was soon transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which officially took over on 25 April 2019.

What the CBI uncovered was a deeply systematic pattern of abuse. Survivors told investigators they were blackmailed with threats that the explicit videos would be shown to their families or circulated in their communities if they didnt comply with the perpetrators demands. In cases where encounters were initially consensual, the men used the recordings to extort further sexual favours, money, or valuables.

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As per The News Minute, the CBI identified nine men as accused in the case:

N Sabarirajan, also known as Riswandh

K Thirunavukkarasu

M Sathish (33)

T Vasanthakumar (30)

R Mani, aka Manivannan (32)

P Babu (33)

T Haronimus Paul (32)

K Arulanantham (39)

M Arunkumar

Each played a distinct role in the operation. Sabarirajan was found to be the key figureoften luring women into the trap. Thirunavukkarasu, a financier, operated alongside Vasanthakumar, who worked as his collection agent. Sathish ran a garments shop in Pollachi.

The victims, many from lower and middle-income backgrounds, were carefully targeted. Though investigators believe many more women were victimised, only eight survivors came forward to testify in court.

Also read: 1.8 million users, 91,000 videos: What is Kidflix, the largest paedophile platform in the world, now busted?

Backlash, politics, and botched handling

The investigation didnt go without controversy.

Political connections of some of the accused further complicated the case. Arulanantham, one of the nine convicted, was the AIADMKs Pollachi town students wing secretary. He was expelled from the party a day after his arrest, as per the Hindu.

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Early on, the case drew criticism when the Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police R Pandiarajan publicly revealed the name of the survivor during a press briefingan action that likely discouraged other survivors from stepping forward out of fear of public exposure.

On Tuesday, they were brought to the Coimbatore court under heavy police security; vigilance was intensified across the city. Inside the court, a chamber made of one-way glass prevented others from seeing the survivors during the hearing and trial of the case.

Over 200 documents and 400 items of electronic evidence, including forensic-validated videos of the assaults, were presented during the trial.

Womens rights activists welcomed the convictions but demanded a systemic follow-through. This verdict is a relief, but survivors need compensation, counselling, and government job assurances to rebuild their lives, an NDTV report quoted a member of the Tamil Nadu Womens Collective as saying.

With input from agencies
India, during Operation Sindoor, inflicted damage on several Pakistani Air Force assets. These included bases in Rawalpindi, Sindh, northern Sindh, Pakistans Punjab, Sargodha, and Thatta. Radar and defence sites at Pasrur, Sialkot, Chunian and Lahore were also hit with precision munitions. How badly were they damaged? read more

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) inflicted heavy damage on at least eight Pakistani Air Force bases last week. Reuters

India during Operation Sindoor inflicted damage on a number of Pakistani Air Force assets.

According to several media reports, the Indian Air Force (IAF) inflicted heavy damage on at least eight Pakistani Air Force bases last week.

These strikes came in response to Pakistan trying to hit over two dozen Indian locations on Saturday.

India conducted Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.

But which Pakistani air force assets were attacked? How bad was the damage?

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Lets take a closer look:

Which air force assets were attacked?

As per NDTV, the IAF hit Pakistans Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi, Sukkur base in Sindh and Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistans Punjab.

Bases in Sargodhas Mushaf, Shahbaz Jacobabad in northern Sindh, and Bholari in northern Thatta were also targetted.

The Sarghoda bases was targetted by the IAF. Image courtesy: Detresefa/X

Bases in Rafiqui, and Murid were also hit with air-launched precision weapons.

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Radar and defence sites at Pasrur, Sialkot, Chunian and Lahore were also hit with precision munitions.

The Indian Air Force also struck Malir Cantonment in Sindh.

Nur Khan

As per Indian Express, Nur Khan, previously known as PAF Chaklaka, is one of Pakistans most important military bases.

Pakistan Air Forces (PAFs) Air Mobility Command and the PAF College Chaklaka is in Nur Khan.

Nur Khan, previously known as PAF Chaklaka, is one of Pakistans most important military bases. Moneycontrol

Pakistan Armys General Headquarters and the Strategic Plans Division  the operational arm of the countrys nuclear command  are also nearby.

Images buildings at the base severely damaged.

Sukkur

As per Indian Express, Sukkur is a forward operational base of the PAF.

It falls under the PAFs Southern Air Command.

It also serves as the Begum Nusrat Bhutto International Airport Sukkur.

This is the second major civilian airport in Sindh  other than the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

As per NDTV, a building on the Sukkur base has been completely wrecked.

Rahim Yar Khan

As per Indian Express, the Rahim Yar Khan base falls under the PAFs Central Command.

Its runway is used by the Sheikh Zayed International Airport  which was named for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the UAE.

Nahyan paid for the airport terminal to be built.

All flight operations have been suspended after the bases runway was completely destroyed in the air strike. News18

The airport is operated by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

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All flight operations have been suspended after the bases runway was completely destroyed in the air strike.

Mushaf Air Base

As per Indian Express, the Mushaf air base is arguably the PAFs most important strategic asset.

A satellite image shows a view of the response crew vehicles at damaged runway of PAF Base Mushaf following airstrikes in Sargodha. Reuters

According to India Today, the base is the headquarters of PAK Central Air Command.

It is home to Pakistans elite fighter jets  the F-16, the Chengdu J-7, the French Mirage 5 and the JF-17 Thunder.

Shahbaz Jacobabad

As per Mint, Shahbaz Jacobabad base was extremely important to the US war on terror .

It was used by Nato forces during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Images show a building on the base has been hit in the strikes. Moneycontrol

Like Mushaf, it too has some of Pakistans most advanced aircraft and equipment. These include the JF-17 Block II Thunder Fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Italian Leonardo AW139 helicopters of the 88 Search and Rescue Squadron.

Images show a building on the base has been hit in the strikes.

Bholari

As per Mint, this base was inaugurated in December 2017  making it Pakistans newest airbase.

The base in 2020 witnessed a major joint aerial exercise between Islamabad and Beijing.

Images show some damage to the Bholari base. Moneycontrol

Bholari too has JF-17 Thunder fightet jets, F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, as well as Saab 2000 AEW&C aircraft equipped with the Erieye radar system.

Images show some damage to the Bholari base.

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Rafiqui

As per Mint, Rafiqui base is 337 kilometres south of Islamabad.

It is named after Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui.

Rafiqui is one of Pakistans most celebrated fighter pilots.

He was recognised for feats of heroism during the 1965 war.

The base has JF-17s, Mirage 5s, and the French Alouette III utility helicopters.

Murid

As per Mint, Murid is one of the PAFs most important forward operational bases.

It is the main hub for Pakistans growing fleet of combat drones.

Its more than eight hangars hold several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including the locally developed GIDS Shahpar and NESCOM Burraq, the Chinese Chengdu Wing Loong II, and the Turkish Bayraktar TB2**.**

Swift and calibrated response

Economic Times quoted Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told the media, In a swift and calibrated response, Indian Armed Forces carried out precision attacks only on identified military targets. These included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas. She added, Pakistan military targets at Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian were engaged using air-launched precision weapons from our fighter aircraft. Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted using precision munitions. While carrying out these responses, India ensured minimum collateral damage.

These were calibrated responses meant to degrade Pakistans offensive potential without widening the scope of conflict, Singh added.

India agreed to a truce on Saturday after the Pakistan DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart on the military hotline.

India on Saturday vowed that every misadventure and future escalation by Pakistan will be responded to with strength and decisive action.

With inputs from agencies
Chinese defence stocks, which surged as much as 36 per cent following the launch of Operation Sindoor last week, have now slumped as much as 8.5 per cent since the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. But what happened and why? What do experts say? Lets take a closer look read more

AVIC Chengdu Aircraft makes J-10C fighter jets as well as the JF-17 Thunder planes  which are considered the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force since the US stopped supplying Pakistan with F-16s. Image courtesy Valka

Many are celebrating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

But not Chinese defence firms.

In fact, Chinese defence stocks have slumped ever since the two countries announced the ceasefire on May 10.

The development came days after Chinese defence stocks surged following Indias launch of Operation Sindoor.

But what happened? Why did this happen? What do we know?

Lets take a closer look

What happened?

Shares of major Chinese defence firms came under heavy pressure on Tuesday.

As per Moneycontrol, Chinas Hang Seng China A Aerospace & Defence Index was three per cent lower on Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, AVIC Chengdu and Zhuzhou Hongda were 8.6 per cent and 6.3 per cent lower respectively.

As per Financial Express, shares of China State Shipbuilding Corporation  a firm that makes both military and commercial ships  fell over four per cent.

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This came days after some Chinese defence firm shares increased as much as 36 per cent over two days last week.

AVIC Aerospace, listed in Hong Kong, was up over six per cent.

As per Economic Times, AVIC Chengdu Aircraft saw a 17 per cent rise on Wednesday and a 20 per cent rise on Thursday  its biggest two day gain since October 2024.

Chengdu Tianjian Technology, Sun-Create Electronics, and Chengdu ALD Aviation also all increased almost 10 per cent last week.

Why did this happen?

Because many of these firms manufacture arms and equipment that India destroyed during Operation Sindoor .

As per News18, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is a big state-owned firm that makes much of Beijings aircraft and weapons.

The AVIC Chengdu Aircraft makes J-10C fighter jets as well as the JF-17 Thunder planes  which are considered the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force since the US stopped supplying Pakistan with F-16s.

Economic Times quoted Indias Air Force Air Marshal AK Bharti as saying that India shot down a few Pakistani warplanes during Operation Sindoor.

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Their planes were prevented from entering inside our border Definitely, we have downed a few planes Definitely, there are losses on their side which we have inflicted, said Air Marshal Bharti. He assured that all our pilots are back home.

Air Marshal AK Bharti, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Vice Admiral AN Pramod and Major General SS Sharda attend a press briefing at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, India, May 11, 2025. Reuters

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that these were deployed during the engagement with India.

Zhuzhou Hongda, meanwhile, manufactures the PL-15 missiles used by the Pakistan Army.

India shot down the Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles, designed by Chinas Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA), during the conflict.

Zhuzhou Hongda also makes electronic components for the military, as per Financial Express.

Pakistan remains dependent on China

The development only further highlights Islamabads growing dependence on Beijing when it comes to military arms and equipment.

China remains the largest seller of weapons to Pakistan.

From 2020-2024, Beijing comprised 81 per cent of Islamabads defence exports, as per data from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Pakistan between 2019 and 2013 imported arms worth $5.28 billion from China.

That comprises around 63 per cent of its total arms imports, as per SIPRI data.

Making things worse for Pakistan, experts say China is giving its all-weather friend equipment that is inferior to what it uses domestically.

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The PL-15 air-to-air missile on a J-20 Stealth fighter. Image Courtesy: X

A piece in News18 noted that the JF-17s radar is inferior to the one that Indias Rafale has  which impacts detection range and accuracy.

It also noted that the PL-15E missiles have a smaller range (around 145 kilometres) compared to Chinas domestic PL-15S (200 to 300 kilometres)  which gives the advantage to Indias Rafale jets which are equipped with Meteor missiles with a 200 kilometre range.

Chinas refusal to share cutting-edge technology, such as the J-20 stealth fighters, has left Pakistan with outdated systems, while Indias mix of Russian, Western, and homegrown technology has reduced its dependency risks and enhanced adaptability, the piece stated.

India defence stocks soar

Indias defence stocks, meanwhile, soared today.

Shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Dynamics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) rose by up to eight per cent.

BDL rose 7.81 per cent to hit a high of Rs 1,692.35. HAL increased 4.32 per cent to Rs 4,631.35.

BEL surged 4.28 per cent to Rs 336.60. Zen Technologies increased 4.3 per cent to Rs 1,539.95. Data Patterns (India) Ltd gained 2.45 per cent to Rs 2,442.75. Astra Microwave Products Ltd increased 2.79 per cent to Rs 892.15.

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With inputs from agencies
Though Washington remains  certainly in official communications  Israels strongest global ally and chief supplier of arms, US President Trump is promoting a West Asia policy that is, at times, distinctly at odds with the interests of Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Lets take a closer look at what Trump has planned and whats on the agenda read more

US President Donald Trump is set to meet the Saudi crown prince and Emirati and Qatari leaders on Wednesday. Reuters

President Donald Trump will sit down with the Saudi crown prince and Emirati and Qatari leaders on Wednesday in what is being heavily touted as a high-stakes summit. Not invited, and watching warily, will be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Like many other members of his right-wing coalition, Netanyahu appeared delighted at the election of Trump as US president in November, believing that the Republicans West Asia policies would undoubtedly favour Israeli interests and be coordinated closely with Netanyahu himself.

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But it hasnt quite played out that way. Of course, Washington remains  certainly in official communications  Israels strongest global ally and chief supplier of arms. But Trump is promoting a West Asia policy that is, at times, distinctly at odds with the interests of Netanyahu and his government.

In fact, in pushing for an Iran nuclear deal  a surprise reversal from Trumps first administration  Trump is undermining long-held Netanyahu positions. Such is the level of alarm in Israeli right-wing circles that rumours have been circulating of Trump announcing unilateral US support for a Palestinian state ahead of the Riyadh visit  something that would represent a clear departure for Washington.

As a historian of Israel and the broader West Asia, I recognise that in key ways Trumps agenda in Riyadh represents a continuation of the US policies, notably in pursuing security relationships with Arab Gulf monarchies  something Israel has long accepted if not openly supported. But in the process, the trip could also put significant daylight between Trump and Netanyahu.

What is Trump planning?

The four-day trip to the Gulf, Trumps first policy-driven foreign visit since being elected president, ison the surface more about developing economic and security ties between the US and traditional allies in the Persian Gulf.

Trump is expected to cement trade deals worth tens of billions of dollars between the US and Arab Gulf States, including unprecedented arms purchases, Gulf investments in the US and even the floated Qatari gift of a palatial 747 intended for use as Air Force One.

Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud attends the joint news conference after the 7th OPEC (Organization Of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. AP File

There is also the possibility of a security alliance between the US and Saudi Arabia.

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So far, so good for Israels government. Prior to the October 7 attacks, Israel was already in the process of forging closer ties to the Gulf states, with deals and diplomatic relations established with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain through the Abraham Accords that the Trump administration itself facilitated in September 2020. A potential normalisation of ties with Saudi Arabia was also in the offing.

What about Iran?

But central to the agenda this week in Riyadh will be issues where Trump and Netanyahu are increasingly not on the same page. And that starts with Iran.

While the country wont be represented, Iran will feature heavily at Trumps summit, as it coincides with the US administrations ongoing diplomatic talks with Tehran over its nuclear program. Those negotiations have now concluded four rounds. And despite clear challenges, American and Iranian delegations continue to project optimism about the possibility of reaching a deal.

The approach marks a change of course for Trump, who in 2018 abandoned a similar deal to the one he is now largely looking to forge. It also suggests the US is currently opposed to the idea of direct armed confrontation with Iran, against Netanayhus clear preference.

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Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. While the country wont be represented, Iran will feature heavily at Trumps summit, as it coincides with the US administrations ongoing diplomatic talks with Tehran over its nuclear program. Reuters

Diplomacy with Tehran is also favored by Gulf states as a way of containing Irans nuclear ambitions. Even Saudi Arabia  Tehrans long-term regional rival that, like Israel, opposed the Obama-era Iran nuclear diplomacy  is increasingly looking for a more cautious engagement with Iran. In April, the Saudi defense minister visited Tehran ahead of the recent US-Iranian negotiations.

Netanyahu has built his political career on the looming threat from a nuclearised Iran and the necessity to nip this threat in the bud. He unsuccessfully tried to undermine President Barack Obamas initial efforts to reach an agreement with Iran  resulting in 2015s Iran nuclear deal. But Netanyahu had more luck with Obamas successor, helping convince Trump to withdraw from the agreement in 2018.

So Trumps about-turn on Iran talks has irked Netanyahu  not only because it happened, but because it happened so publicly. In April, the US president called Netanyahu to the White House and openly embarrassed him by stating that Washington is pursuing diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.

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Tension over Yemen

A clear indication of the potential tension between the Trump administration and the Israeli government can be seen in the ongoing skirmishes involving the US, Israel and the Houthis in Yemen.

After the Houthis fired a missile at the Tel Aviv airport on May 4  leading to its closure and the cancellation of multiple international flights  Israel struck back, devastating an airport and other facilities in Yemens capital.

But just a few hours after the Israeli attack, Trump announced that the U.S. would not strike the Houthis anymore, as they had surrendered to his demands and agreed not to block passage of US ships in the Red Sea.

It became clear that Israel was not involved in this new understanding between the US and the Houthis. Trumps statement was also notable in its timing, and could be taken as an effort to calm the region in preparation of his trip to Saudi Arabia. The fact that it might help smooth talks with Iran too  Tehran being the Houthis main sponsor  was likely a factor as well.

A fighter plane takes off, said to be, for an operation against the Yemens Houthis at an unidentified location in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on March 18, 2025. US CENTCOM via X/Handout via REUTERS

Timing is also relevant in Israels latest attack on Yemeni ports. They took place on May 11  the eve of Trump setting off for his visit to Saudi Arabia. In so doing, Netanyahu may be sending a signal not only to the Houthis but also to the US and Iran. Continuing to attack the Houthis might make nuclear talks more difficult.

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Bibis me, me, me approach

Critical observers of Netanyahu that he prioritises continued war in Gaza over regional calm for the sake of holding together his far-right coalition, members of which desire full control of the Gaza Strip and de-facto annexation of the West Bank.

This, many political commentators have argued, is the main reason why Netanyahu backed off from the last stage of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in March  something which would have required the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. File image/ Reuters

Since the collapse of the ceasefire, Israels army has mobilised in preparation for a renewed Gaza assault, scheduled to start after the end of Trumps trip to the Gulf.

With members of the Netanayhu government openly supporting the permanent occupation of the strip and declaring that bringing back the remaining Israeli hostages is no longer a top priority, it seems clear to me that de-escalation is not on Netanyahus agenda.

Trump himself has noted recently both the alarming state of the hostages and the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Now, in addition to the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, the US is also engaged in negotiations with Hamas over ceasefire and aid  ignoring Netanyahu in the process.

The allure of Gulf money

Current US policy in the region may all be serving a greater aim for Trump: to secure billions of dollars of Gulf money for the American economy and, some have said, himself.

But to achieve that requires a stable West Asia, and continued war in Gaza and Iran inching closer to nuclear capabilities might disrupt that goal.

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Of course, a diplomatic agreement over Tehrans nuclear plans is still some way off. And Trumps foreign policy is notably prone to abrupt turns. But whether guided by a dealmakers instincts to pursue trade and economic deals with wealthy Gulf states, or by a genuine  and related  desire to stabilise the region, his administration is increasingly pursuing policies that go against the interests of the current Israeli government.

Asher Kaufman, Professor of History and Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .
For years, families in a small Brazilian town, Serrinha dos Pintos, watched their children slowly lose the ability to walk, and no one knew why. Thanks to biologist Silvana Santos and her research of 20 years, the village now has an answer: Spoan syndrome. The disorder manifests when a person inherits the same mutated gene from both parents read more

A 2010 study led by Santos revealed that more than 30 per cent of couples in Serrinha were related by blood. And among those couples, one-third had at least one child living with a disability, according to the BBC. Image for Representation. Pixabay

For years, families in a small Brazilian town watched their children slowly lose the ability to walkand no one knew why.

In Serrinha dos Pintos, tucked deep in the northeast of Brazil, kids would grow up like any others. But by the time they reached their teens, something began to change. Their legs weakened. Some others could barely move their arms.

Families had no idea why it was happening. Generation after generation, the same heartbreaking pattern repeated itself with a growing sense of worry that something was wrong.

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Then came Silvana Santos.

A biologist and geneticist from Sao Paulo, Santos first arrived in the village more than 20 years ago. What started as a small investigation slowly turned into something much biggeryears of research, DNA samples, and interviews with dozens of families.

Eventually, she pieced it all together. The mystery illness had a name: Spoan syndrome.

Caused by a genetic mutation, the syndrome gradually affects the nervous system, weakening the body over time and in most cases, the person becomes fully dependent by their 50s.

Spoan syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation. The syndrome gradually affects the nervous system, weakening the body over time and in most cases, the person becomes fully dependent by their 50s. Image for Representation. Pixabay

Santoss discovery was groundbreaking. It marked the first time this disease had ever been identified anywhere in the world. And for the people of Serrinha dos Pintos, it changed everything.

She gave us a diagnosis we never had. After the research, help came: people, funding, wheelchairs, said Marquinhos, one of the patients, speaking to the BBC.

So what exactly is Spoan syndrome, and why has it affected so many people in this one Brazilian town? Heres a closer look.

Serrinha dos Pintos: A world of its own

When Silvana Santos first arrived in Serrinha dos Pintos, she said, it was like stepping into a world of its own - not just because of the lush scenery and mountain views, but also because of how closely connected everyone was.

The more she walked and spoke with locals, the more surprised she was at how common marriages between cousins were. The town of over 5000 people has stayed fairly isolated for generations, with little movement in or out. As a result, cousin marriages are socially accepted and remarkably common.

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A 2010 study led by Santos revealed that more than 30 per cent of couples in Serrinha were related by blood. And among those couples, one-third had at least one child living with a disability, according to the BBC.

To put it in perspective, globally, cousin marriages account for around 10 per cent of all unionsbut the numbers vary wildly. In countries like Pakistan, the rate is above 50 per cent. In contrast, its less than 1 per cent in places like the US and Russia. In Brazil overall, its between 14 per cent.

In Brazil, cousin marriages are between 14 per cent. Representational Image | Pixabay.

While most children born to cousins are completely healthy, geneticists point out that the risk of passing on rare inherited disorders nearly doubles when both parents share the same DNA background.

If a couple is unrelated, the chance of having a child with a rare genetic disorder is about 23 per cent. For cousins, the risk rises to 56 per cent per pregnancy, explained Luzivan Costa Reis, a geneticist at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

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In Serrinha dos Pintos, deep down, were all cousins. Were related to everyone, says 25-year-old Larissa Queiroz, who married her distant relative. She said that she and her husband, Saulo, only discovered their common ancestor after several months of dating.

A gene game

What started as a simple research trip for Silvana Santos quickly became a mission that would span years.

She drove the 2,000 kilometres from Sao Paulo to Serrinha dos Pintos more times than she could countknocking on doors, collecting DNA samples, sitting down with families over coffee, and slowly piecing together the puzzle.

By 2005, her team published the first scientific paper describing Spoan syndrome. It was a breakthrough.

The cause? A tiny deletion on one chromosome leads to the overproduction of a key protein in brain cells. Over time, that imbalance begins to break down the bodys nervous system.

Spoan Syndrome is caused by a tiny deletion on one chromosome that leads to the overproduction of a key protein in brain cells. Over time, that imbalance begins to break down the bodys nervous system. Image for Representation. Pixabay

But what fascinated researchers even more was just how old the mutation seemed to be, possibly dating back centuries, long before the town itself had even formed.

When scientists looked closer at the DNA of Spoan patients, they found strong European ancestry: Portuguese, Dutch, and Sephardic Jewish roots.

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That theory gained weight when two people in Egypt were also diagnosed with Spoan. Their DNA showed the same genetic markers as the cases in Brazil.

It likely came with related Sephardic Jews or Moors fleeing the Inquisition, Santos told the BBC. She also believes there could be more undiagnosed cases out therepossibly in Portugal and beyond.

So far, 82 cases have been identified across the world.

Is there a cure?

Theres no cure for Spoannot yet. But Santos research has helped shift public understanding. Where once children with the condition were labelled cripples, people now speak of them with clarity and compassion. Theyre simply said to have Spoan, reports BBC.

Today, Santos is part of a government-backed initiative that will screen 5,000 couples across Brazil for recessive genetic diseases.

The project, supported by the Ministry of Health, isnt aimed at stopping cousin marriages. Instead, its about giving families the knowledge to make informed choices.

Now a university professor, Santos is still pushing for better genetic testing and education, especially in Brazils underserved northeast, where stories like Serrinhas are still unfolding.

With input from agencies
The Adampur Air Base is one of the locations that Pakistan tried to attack, but was unsuccessful after the Indian military thwarted its attempt read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the Adampur Air Base in Punjabs Hoshiarpur, a day after he addressed the nation on Operation Sindoor .

The Adampur Air Base is one of the locations that Pakistan tried to attack, but was unsuccessful after the Indian military thwarted its attempt.

At the air base, PM Modi was briefed by officials on the success of Operation Sindoor, following which he interacted with jawans.

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, PM Modi wrote on X.

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Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation. pic.twitter.com/RYwfBfTrV2  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

How Paks misinformation campaign targeted Adampur AFS

The Adampur base in Hoshiarpur was part of Pakistans massive misinformation campaign claiming that it had been hit by the countrys aerial attacks.

The (26) targets included air force and aviation bases at Suratgarh, Sirsa, Adampur, Bhooj, Nalia, Bathinda, Barnala, Halwara, Avantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Mamoon, Ambala, Udampur and Pathankot  all of which sustained major damages, said Pakistan Armys chief spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry last week, as per Dawn.

PM Modis address

In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, PM Modi on Monday sternly warned Pakistan that India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail and sent a clear message to the world: terror and trade, terror and talks cannot go together.

Operation Sindoor is Indias new policy against terrorism and our unwavering pledge for justice. It is the new normal. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan and the future will depend on their behaviour, Modi said in a 22-minute address.

He also had an advice to Pakistans rulers: The terrorists they have been feeding and nurturing all these years will swallow Pakistan itself. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to root out terrorism. India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and terrorists, Modi said, warning of decisive action in case of any misadventure.

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This is not an era of war, but this is not the era of terror either, Modi said, as he paid glowing tributes to the armed forces for successfully forcing Pakistan to plead for peace after eight of their airbases were heavily damaged.

Any talks with Pakistan can happen only on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the prime minister said.

With inputs from agencies
Despite the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the survival of the truce will depend on the sincerity shown by Islamabad read more

Just two days after agreeing to halt hostilities under Operation Sindoor, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan held a second round of talks on Monday, focusing on de-escalation efforts along the border.

At 5 pm, Indian DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah spoke again, aiming to reinforce their earlier decision to cease all forms of military aggression. This was their second direct communication since Saturdays truce.

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The Indian Express reported that the discussion emphasised a mutual pledge to refrain from any gunfire or hostile activity. Both sides also explored the possibility of reducing troop deployments in border and forward areas to lower tensions further.

Ceasefire breach and Indian response

Despite the diplomatic dialogue, Indian military officials expressed strong displeasure after Pakistan reportedly breached the ceasefire agreement. Late Saturday night, just hours after the initial truce was to take effect, Pakistan allegedly deployed another swarm of drones across the western sector, triggering a sharp reaction from New Delhi.

As reported by The Times of India, Lt Gen Ghai warned on Sunday that any breach of the ceasefire agreement by Pakistan would be met with a decisive and punishing retaliation. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has given operational commanders complete freedom to initiate forceful military responses if provoked.

Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan has significantly reinforced its military posture near the Line of Control and the International Border. This includes the forward movement of reserve troops, armoured units and Chinese-manufactured SH-15 155mm self-propelled artillery systems.

India has responded with equivalent force mobilisations mirroring Pakistans actions to maintain strategic balance.

Strategic buildups and defensive postures

Tensions along the India-Pakistan border have intensified, with the Shakargarh Bulgea strategic protrusion of Pakistani territory between the Chenab and Ravi riversemerging as a significant hotspot. Indian reconnaissance has revealed a heavy Pakistani military presence in the area, including a build-up of tanks and armoured units, heightening concerns of a potential flashpoint.

Earlier on Monday, the Indian Armed Forces released new imagery showcasing the extent of damage inflicted on 13 Pakistani military sites during recent retaliatory strikes. These visuals served to reinforce claims of Pakistans failed attempts to breach Indian airspace and damage key infrastructure. According to the military, a comprehensive and layered air defence system effectively neutralised incoming threats over the past week.

Indias multi-tiered defence framework

During a detailed briefing on Operation Sindoor, senior officials from the army, air force and navy outlined the extent and sophistication of Indias defensive capabilities. They reported that Pakistan employed a variety of offensive technologies including missiles and drones sourced from China and Turkey, as well as loitering munitions and armed UAVs, in its recent operations targeting Indian military and civilian assets.

Indias air defence strategy, described as multi-tiered and highly integrated , played a critical role in intercepting these threats. The first line of defence consisted of counter-drone technologies and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), followed by layers equipped with point and short-range missile systems. A final shield comprised long-range surface-to-air missile platforms, forming a robust grid that protected strategic locations.

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The Indian Air Force deployed a range of systems under its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), a networked structure that allowed for real-time threat detection and response coordination. This framework supported both soft and hard-kill counter-drone measures, backed by legacy platforms like the Pechora and OSA-AK, as well as newer indigenous solutions such as the Akash missile system.

Navys vigilance and maritime defence

Despite minor incidents of damage, officials confirmed that all Indian defence installations remain fully functional and are prepared for further operations if required. The navy, too, played a vital role by extending its surveillance operations across vast maritime domains. Utilising a combination of long-range radars, aerial reconnaissance platforms and real-time intelligence inputs, naval forces maintained a constant watch for incoming threats.

A layered Fleet Air Defence system, operating as part of a composite force, enabled early detection of aerial threatsincluding drones, missiles and aircraft. Advanced identification technologies ensured rapid differentiation between civilian and hostile aerial activity, allowing preemptive action well beyond engagement ranges.

The navys continuous surveillance, combined with its precision targeting capabilities, ensures any developing threat is addressed promptly, reinforcing the broader tri-service defensive posture that has so far prevented any major breach of Indian defences.
Dismissing reports suggesting that India struck Pakistans nuclear facility in Kirana Hills under Operation Sindoor, India on Tuesday said its military action was entirely within the conventional domain and that it was for the Pakistani side to respond to those claims read more

Dismissing reports suggesting that India struck Pakistans nuclear facility in Kirana Hills under Operation Sindoor, India on Tuesday said its military action was entirely within the conventional domain and that it was for the Pakistani side to respond to those claims.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about social media buzz on nuclear leakage in Pakistan after the Indian strikes.

Those are questions for them (Pakistan) to answer, not for us. Our position was made very clear during the defence briefing. As for your question, the Pakistani minister has already made some remarks on that, he said.

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Responding to US President Donald Trumps remarks, in which he claimed that the US played a role in preventing a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan that could have claimed millions of lives, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, The military action from our side was entirely in the conventional domain There were some reports, however, that Pakistan National Command Authority will meet on 10th May but this was later denied by them. Pakistan FM has himself denied the nuclear angle on record.

#WATCH | On speculation by US President Donald Trump on nuclear war, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "...The military action from our side was entirely in the conventional domain...There were some reports, however, that Pakistan National Command Authority will meet on 10th pic.twitter.com/yBo4tQknq8  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

He said India has a firm stance that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it.

In conversations with various countries, we have also cautioned that their subscribing to such scenarios could hurt them in their own region, he added.

President Trump had on Monday claimed that US intervention prevented a bad nuclear war between India and Pakistan, after the South Asian rivals agreed a ceasefire following a series of clashes.

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We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war, millions of people could have been killed. So Im very proud of that, Trump told reporters at the White House.

With inputs from agencies
Days after US President Donald Trump claimed to have brokered the India-Pakistan ceasefire, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the ceasefire was reached after Pakistan reached out to India with a request for a ceasefire. read more

India has said that direct talks requested by Pakistan led to the ceasefire between the two countries and not any external mediation.

The clarification comes days after US President Donald Trump claimed that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. While the Trump administration was working to ease the tensions, just like Saudi Arabia and others, it did not broker any ceasefire.

India has said that Pakistan reached out on Saturday (May 10) with the request for a ceasefire. The understanding to cease fire was formalised in the talks between the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of the two sides that day.

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At a media briefing on Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that there was no scope of any third-party intervention on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He also went into the details of India-Pakistan talks that led to the ceasefire.

We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan, said Jaiswal.

The MEAs assertion of the longstanding, bipartisan standing comes after Trump offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan reached out with ceasefire request, says MEA

While the MEA had previously said that Pakistan had approached India for a ceasefire on Saturday, Jaiswal gave a detailed timeline in todays press conference.

Jaiswal said that the MEA received a call from the Pakistani High Commission at 12:37 pm on Saturday with a request for a meeting between the DGMOs of the two sides.

While a hotline exists between DGMOs that they can use to talk to each other directly, Jaiswal said that Pakistan had initial difficulties connecting the hotline for technical reasons.

ALSO READ: Was this the reason Trump jumped into the Indo-Pak conflict?

After India received Pakistans request for a DGMO-level meeting via the high commission, the two DGMOs held talks at 3:35 pm, according to Jaiswal.

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During the talks, the understanding for a ceasefire was reached, as per Jaiswal.

As for the involvement of third-parties, Jaiswal said that the Indian position, which was that India would its strikes stop if Pakistan would its attacks, was conveyed to them and they would have naturally conveyed it to Pakistan as well.

Jaiswal said, As regards conversations with other nations, the message from India was clear and consistent. And exactly the same message that we were conveying from public platforms was the one conveyed in private conversations. It was that India was responding to the 22 April terrorist attack by targeting the terrorist infrastructure. However, if the Pakistani armed forces fire, Indian armed forces will fire back; if Pakistan stops, India will also stop. This was also the message that was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the time of the commencement of Operation Sindoor, which was not heeded to by the Pakistani side at that time. It is natural that many foreign leaders who heard this from us would have shared it with their Pakistani interlocutors.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the speed and accuracy with which Indian military struck targets inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the speed and accuracy with which Indian military struck targets inside Pakistan was such that it surprised even him. He lauded the Indian armed forces for their swift and precise execution of Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases deep inside Pakistan.

Even I was surprised at your speed and accuracy, PM Modi said, commending the Indian Air Force for striking locations deep inside Pakistan within 20-25 minutes.

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Addressing the soldiers at the Adampur airbase in Punjab that Pakistan repeated attempted to hit during the recent military stand-off, PM Modi said, This can only be done by a professional force loaded with modern technology. The enemy did not realise when missiles pierced deep into the enemys heart.

The prime minister said, In 20-25 minutes, the Air Force struck locations deep inside Pakistan. This can only be done by a professional force loaded with modern technology. The enemy did not realise when missiles pierced deep into enemys heart.

Fresh warning to Pakistan

PM Modi repeated his warning to Pakistan, saying, The spilling of Indians blood calls for destruction. Not just terrorist camps, but Pakistans audacity was destroyed.

He emphasised that any future attacks would be met with decisive force. He said, We will enter their homes and eliminate terrorists. We wont even give them a chance to escape.

He began his speech with the chant of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, translating to victory to Mother India. His chants were responded to by soldiers listening to his speech.

Amid chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Modi said, This cry is the voice of every Indian who wants to do something for the country. When our drones, missiles hit our enemies, they hear Bharat Mata Ki Jai. When our armed forces neutralise nuclear blackmail, our enemies realise the meaning of Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

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National security redefined

The prime minister declared that Operation Sindoor had set a new benchmark in Indias fight against terror and established a new normal in national security doctrine. Operation Sindoor has defined a new normal in Indias national security doctrine. No blackmail will work on India, he asserted.

Ive come here to salute your courage. Your bravery ensures the country sleeps in peace, Modi told the personnel, expressing the nations gratitude for their unwavering courage and professionalism.

PM Modi clarified that while a ceasefire understanding had been reached, India had only paused, not ended, retaliatory actions. We will test every step of Pakistan to see what role it has adopted, he said, signaling continued vigilance.

PM Modis visit to Adampur, a key target during the recent hostilities, underscores his governments vision of how it sees the issue of national security, and how much importance it accords to military action in dealing with threats originating from outside the country.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated that India will definitely respond if Pakistan launches any other attack on its soil, as he addressed Indian Air Force officials during his visit to Adampur Air Base in Punjabs Hoshiarpur read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated that India would definitely respond if Pakistan launched any further attacks, as he addressed Indian Air Force personnel at the Adampur Air Base in Punjabs Hoshiarpur.

Praising the IAF for its role in Operation Sindoor, Modi stated that the Air Force had emerged as capable of outmaneuvering the enemy with advanced weapons, data systems, and drones.

Our objective was to strike the terror headquarters and terrorists inside Pakistan, the Prime Minister said. But the conspiracy Pakistan hatched by placing civilian passenger planes in the line of fire  I can only imagine how difficult that must have been. I am proud that you achieved your objective without harming the civilian aircraft.

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Highlighting the technological edge of the Indian armed forces, Modi said, Today, we have the capability of new and cutting-edge technology which Pakistan cannot counter. In the last decade, the worlds best technologies have reached the Air Force and all our other Forces. But we all know that new technology and challenges are equally big. Maintaining a complicated and sophisticated system and operating it efficiently is a prominent skill. You connected tech with tactics. You have proven that you are excellent in this game.

Referring to the IAFs swift offensive capabilities, he said, Our Air Force targeted the terror bases deep inside Pakistan. Within 20-25 minutes, you hit the pinpoint targets across the border. It can only be done by a modern technology professional force.

Applauding the coordination of Indias defence systems during Operation Sindoor, Modi said, Besides manpower, the coordination of machines in Operation Sindoor was also fantastic. Be it Indias traditional air defence system, which has witnessed several battles, or our Made in India platforms like Akash  all of these have been given unprecedented strength with modern and capable defence systems like S-400. A strong defence cover has become the identity of India. Despite all the attempts of Pakistan, be it our air base or other defence infrastructure, all of these were impacted. The credit goes to all of you. I am proud of all of you.

Concluding his address, Modi remarked, Our drones, our missiles  thinking about it, Pakistan will not be able to sleep for many days Through Operation Sindoor, you have increased the self-confidence of the country, bound the country in the thread of unity and you have protected the borders of India, raised the pride of India to new heights. You have done that which is unprecedented and unimaginable.
India has briefed defence attaches of 70 nations on Operation Sindoor against terrorists and their backers. Sources said that India excluded Chinas and Turkeys officials from the briefing. read more

Lieutenant General DS Rana, the Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), briefs defence attaches of 70 nations on Operation Sindoor. (Photo: X/IDS HQ)

India has briefed defence attaches from 70 nations on Operation Sindoor conducted in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Sources, however, told CNN-News 18 that officials from China and Turkey were not invited to the briefing. Both of these countries have supported Pakistan in the conflict and provided weapons that Pakistan used to attack India.

Under Operation Sindoor, India initially struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) on May 7. Later that day, Pakistan launched missiles and drones at many Indian cities and India responded the next morning with strikes on Pakistan air defence units and radar sites. Over the next two days, in response to continued Pakistani aggression, India struck at least eight Pakistani airbases in addition to more air defence and radat sites.

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Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief Lieutenant General DS Rana led the briefing that touched upon the aspects of planning, targeting, and joint functioning of the armed the military during Operation Sindoor.

DIA chief briefs about Operation Sindoor

In a post on X, the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) Headquarters said that Rana briefed defence attaches from 70 nations.

The IDS HQ said that Operation Sindoor has set new normals in India-Pakistan relations, highlighting Indias demonstrated strength and national resolve through military superiority in the new-age warfare.

DG DIA elaborated on deliberate planning process for selection of targets with confirmed terror linkages. The integrated, precise, and prompt response by Indian armed forces to achieve the stated objectives, executed through intense-multi domain operations was also highlighted, the IDS said.

Lt Gen DS Rana, Director General Defence Intelligence Agency #DG_DIA briefed the Foreign Service Attaches of 70 nations on the successful conduct of #OperationSindoor that has set #NewNormals in #India - #Pakistan relations, highlighting India's demonstrated strength and national pic.twitter.com/3aF7rRpddg  HQ IDS (@HQ_IDS_India) May 13, 2025

Previously, India had briefed envoys of 13 of the 15 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member-states about Operation Sindoor. Only Pakistan and Sierra Leone, which does not have an envoy in Delhi, were not briefed at the time.

The IDS HQ further hailed the joint funcioning of the forces under Operation Sindoor and said the the briefing highlighted the technological superiority of Indian armed forces in niche non-kinetic domains of space, cyber, and electronic warfare.

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ALSO READ: Operation Sindoor: With battlefield edge, India cornered Pakistan to seek peace & thats new normal

Rana also informed the attaches about the anti-India misinformation campaign by adversaries and its ramifications for regional peace.

China and Turkey excluded from briefing

Sources told CNN-News 18 that China and Turkey were not invited to the briefing of defence attaches.

While they did not give any reason for their exclusion, it could have been because of their active involvement in Pakistans attacks on India.

Pakistan used Chinese JF-17 warplanes and used PL-15 missile to attack India. Pakistan also used Turkish drones to attack India.

Turkey and China also issued statements favourable to Pakistan that indicated that they were picking the side in the conflict.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a call with Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that China would continue to stand by Pakistan in upholding its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence. Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shortly after the Pahalgam attack and extended unwavering support to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

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In its ongoing efforts to combat the terrorist ecosystem, the Srinagar Police is actively targeting associates of proscribed terrorist outfits as part of investigations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The police are conducting intensified searches across multiple locations in the city to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in the district.

To date, searches have been conducted at the residences of several terrorist associates to target the support systems for terrorist activity.

Recently, the Srinagar Police conducted searches at the residences of the following individuals:

1. Noor Mohammad Sheikh, son of the late Gh Mohammad, resident of Kanimazar, involved in case FIR No. 156/2023 under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act, and sections 13 and 23 of the UAPA.

2. Waseem Tariq Matta, son of Tariq Ahmad, resident of Rampora, involved in case FIR No. 46/2023 under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act, and sections 4/5 of the Explosive Act, and sections 18, 23, and 38 of the UAPA at Police Station Chanpora.

3. Anjum Younis, daughter of Mohammad Younis, resident of Kenihama, involved in case FIR No. 27/21 under sections 302, 392, 7/27 of the Arms Act, and sections 13, 16, 18, and 20 of the UAPA at Police Station Nowgam.

4. Bilal Ahmad Lone, son of Ab Rehman, resident of Syedpora Eidgah, involved in case FIR No. 51/021 under sections 302, 147, 148, 149, and section 13 of the UAPA at Police Station Safakadal.

5. Faizyab Showkat Dewani, son of Showkat Ahmad, resident of Pater Masjid Zainkadal, involved in case FIR No. 35/2022 under sections 505, 153-A, and 153-B of the IPC, and sections of the UAPA at Police Station M.R. Gunj Sgr.

6. Bilal Lone (alias Choonin), son of Ab Rahman Lone, resident of Saidpora Eidgah, involved in case FIR No. 51/2021 under sections 302, 147, 148, 149, and 341 of the RPC, and case FIR No. 130/16 under sections 147, 148, 336, and 152 of the RPC at Police Station Safakadal.

7. Manzoor Tola (released militant), son of Asadullah Tola, resident of KhaneSokta, involved in case FIR No. 156/2023 under sections 13 and 19 of the UAPA at Police Station Safakadal.

8. Mohammad Ayoub Dar, son of Gh Mohammad Dar, resident of Reiteng Khanyar, involved in case FIR No. 31/2024 under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act, and sections 13, 18, 20, and 23 of the UAPA at Police Station Khanyar.

9. Mushtaq Ahmad Bachoon, son of Gh Mohi ud din Bachoon, resident of Kathidarwaza Rainawari, involved in case FIR No. 31/2024 under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act, and sections 13, 18, 20, and 23 of the UAPA at Police Station Khanyar.

10. Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, son of the late Gh Qadir, resident of Trehgam Kupwara/A/P Deviagan Hawal, involved in case FIR No. 31/2024 under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act, and sections 13, 18, 20, and 23 of the UAPA at Police Station Khanyar.

11. Firdous Ahmad Dar, son of Gh Mohd Dar, resident of Ibrahim Colony, involved in case FIR No. 46/2023 under sections 7/25 of the Arms Act, and sections 4/5 of the Explosive Act, and sections 13, 23, and 38 of the UAPA at Police Station Chanpora.

These searches were conducted in accordance with legal procedures, in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses, under the supervision of officers from the J&K Police. The objective of these operations was to seize arms, documents, digital devices, and other evidence to gather intelligence and detect or deter any conspiratorial or terrorist activity against the security of the nation.

The decisive actions taken by the J&K Police aim to dismantle the terrorist ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir by identifying and prosecuting individuals engaged in anti-national and criminal activities.

The Srinagar Police remains committed to maintaining peace and security in the city. Any individual found to be promoting violence, disruption, or unlawful activities will face strict legal consequences.
Two-way flights from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh and some other border towns have been shut for May 13. It is, however, not clear when flight operations will resume for these destinations read more

Indian airline carriers like IndiGo and Air India have suspended flight operations to several border towns, after resuming operations briefly on Monday.

Two-way flights from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh and some other border towns have been shut for May 13. It is, however, not clear when flight operations will resume for these destinations.

In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May, Air India said late at night on Tuesday.

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#TravelAdvisory

In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May.



We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated.



For more  Air India (@airindia) May 12, 2025

In light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority, flights to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot are cancelled for 13th May 2025, IndiGo said in a post on X on Monday.

These six airports are among those that were reopened for civilian flights on Monday after being temporarily shut in the wake of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.

On Monday evening, an IndiGo flight enroute to Amritsar returned to the national capital after precautionary blackout measures were enforced in Amritsar, according to PTI.

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Which airports have resumed operations?

Meanwhile, several other airports which were shut in the wake of the India-Pakistan tensions have resumed operations from this week. These include Adhampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bikaner, Halwara, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Sarsawa, Shimla, Thoise and Uttarlai.

On May 9, thirty-two airports across northern and western parts of the country were closed.

On Saturday, India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions with immediate effect, prompting the resumption of airport services across the country.

With inputs from agencies
India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani diplomat working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status read more

India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani diplomat working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status.

The Pakistani diplomat has been directed to leave the country within 24 hours.

The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

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The statement added that a formal demarche conveying this decision was issued to the Charge dAffaires of the Pakistan High Commission.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following a series of cross-border strikes launched under Indias Operation Sindoor.

The operation was carried out in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives  the majority of them tourists, including a Nepalese national  and targeted terror infrastructure across the border.

With inputs from agencies
Last weekend, authorities called for a detailed assessment of the property damaged in Poonch, the border district worst hit by the Pakistani shelling between May 7 and 10 read more

A house damaged after an attack from Pakistan, in a residential area of Jammu. PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that houses destroyed by Pakistani shelling will be compensated for by the regions government.

Speaking to reporters in Kupwara district, Abdullah said, You have seen the damage here. Thankfully, there has been no loss of lives, but there has been damage to property. Damage assessment and compensation will be done. Community bunkers made here have not been utilised for a long time, and no new bunkers have been made in recent times.

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#WATCH | Kupwara | Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah says, "You have seen the damage here. Thankfully, there has been no loss of lives, but there has been damage to property. Damage assessment and compensation will be done. Community bunkers made here have not been utilised for a pic.twitter.com/hq27k9Gxx6  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

Last weekend, authorities called for a detailed assessment of the property damaged in Poonch, the border district worst hit by the Pakistani shelling between May 7 and 10.

Twenty persons, including some security personnel, lost their lives and over 50 others were injured in cross-border shelling in the district with a large number of houses, religious places and commercial buildings damaged along with dozens of private vehicles.

Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Vikas Kundal, on Sunday visited several areas of the town affected by the recent cross-border shelling and directed the authorities concerned to conduct a detailed assessment of property damage and submit comprehensive reports promptly.

During the visit, Kundal inspected Qazi Mohra, Dungus, Sarain, district police lines, district court complex, Jamia Zia Ul Uloom, Geeta Bhawan, Kamsar, radio station, Gurudwara Singh Sabha and Kama Khan  all of which suffered damage due to the shelling.

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With inputs from PTI
Prahlada Ramarao, the then project director of Akash, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO, said that the fully-indigenous missile systems credit goes to thousands of scientists who worked tirelessly for 15 years to develop it read more

The medium-range Akash air defence system is in service with the Indian Army and Air Force. (Photo: BEL)

The Akash missile defence system was the star of the show in the success of Operation Sindoor. The missile shield system was among the many other made-in-India weapons that were used in the military operation and found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to the nation on Monday.

Akash is the brainchild of Prahlada Ramarao, who celebrated a proud moment after the missile system thwarted Pakistans air incursions last week, as it launched its offensive following Operation Sindoor of the Indian armed forces.

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Ramarao, the then project director of Akash, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO, said that the fully-indigenous missile systems credit goes to thousands of scientists who worked tirelessly for 15 years to develop it.

We started work on this project in 1994 with an initial budget of Rs 300 crore. When you invent something, you fail several times. We also failed. But we learnt from our mistakes. Developing Rajendra, a complex multi-function electronically scanned phased array radar, was the biggest challenge. But we overcame that challenge after several hits and trials. Later, the project budget was raised to Rs 500 crore, he said.

How was Akash used in Op Sindoor?

The Akash defence system was put to the test for the first time in an active military combat during last weeks Operation Sindoor. It was successfully used to counter Pakistani drones and missile attacks.

IAF DGMO Air Marshal AK Bharti spoke of the triumphs of Akash during a press briefing on Monday, asserting that the defence system stood like a wall during the operation.

My eyes welled up when my baby worked so well. It is the happiest day of my life. This is bigger than my Padma award, Ramarao told TOI.

Who is Ramarao?

In the early 1990s, Ramarao was chosen by Indias Missile Man, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, to lead the Akash programme as its youngest project director at the age of 35. At the time, Kalam was heading the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) in Hyderabad under the DRDO, before going on to serve as the scientific adviser to the defence minister and later becoming the President of India.

However, Akash is just one of his successes. Ramarao has also contributed significantly to the development of 10 different surface-to-air and air-to-air defence systems. He also played a role in the creation of Astra and BrahMos.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with soldiers and air warriors at the Air Force Station Adampur on 13 May 2025. Image courtesy X/@narendramodi

A day after his first televised speech since the Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur airbase in Punjab that Pakistan attempted to attack during the recent military standoff over the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, killing 26 people at popular tourist meadow in Jammu and Kashmir.

PM Modis visit was filled with symbolic messaging as he met soldiers from the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army and the Border Security Force at the Air Force Station, Adampur. He wore a cap that denoted both Trishul (trident) and Tandav (the famous dance of Shiva in angry form), and also a war cry besides being the insignia of the Western Air Command, whose Eighth Wing is based in Adampur.

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The prime ministers visit at the airbase Pakistan tried hard to hit saw a roar that would have rivalled the scream of missiles launched from the S-400 air defence system, against whose background PM Modi was photographed purposefully. Pakistan had claimed that it destroyed Indias S-400 air defence system.

To top it up, there were chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai (translating to victory to Mother India) to make the atmosphere electrifying for soldiers, who had turned up to listen to PM Modi, who said Operation Sindoor reminded the countrys enemies of the slogan that is Indias battle-cry.

Prime Minister Modi addresses Indian Armed Forces on Tuesday

Addressing the air warriors and soldiers with steely resolve, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the message he had delivered to the nation on Monday: Indias fight against terror has entered a new, unforgiving era. Going forward, he declared, three principles will guide the nations response.

India alone will decide the time, place and manner of its retaliation. There is no tolerance for nuclear blackmail, meaning the shadow of nuclear weapons will not shield those who sponsor or shelter terror. There will be no distinction  none  between terrorists, their masterminds or the states that enable them.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi visited AFS Adampur to meet our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness, the prime minister said in a statement on X.

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation. pic.twitter.com/RYwfBfTrV2  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

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With the strikes in Balakot and Uri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi redefined the contours of Indias response to external threats. Following Operation Sindoor Indias most intense military action since the Kargil WarPrime Minister Modi outlined a new counterterrorism strategy.

A doctrine redrawn: Modis strategic shift

Importantly, Prime Minister Modi maintained strategic ambiguity. Military operations were described not as concluded but merely paused , placing the onus on Islamabads future actions. In the days ahead, he said in his address to the nation on Monday, Pakistan will be judged solely on its conduct and intentions.

Framing it as a  new normal , Indias policy shift introduced a heightened level of assertiveness and lowered its threshold for retaliatory strikes in the event of future provocations.

This marks the continuation of our evolving counter-terror policy, the prime minister said. From surgical strikes to air strikes, and now to Operation Sindoor, each phase reflects an escalated commitment and a new standard in our resolve.

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Indias new counter-terror playbook

Another standout moment was Prime Minister Modis explicit naming of terror networks such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and to link them with notorious international attacks in US and UK, the Indian Express reported. This situated Indias counterterrorism efforts within a globally recognised security framework shaped by post-9/11 principles.

He also spotlighted Indias military preparedness and superiority. The world watched as Pakistans drones and missiles were neutralised mid-air by our robust defence systems. While they aimed for our borders, we reached deep within Pakistani territory. Our drones and missile systems hit strategic airbasesinstallations that Pakistan once paraded with pridewith pinpoint accuracy.

Our unity in the face of terrorism is our strongest weapon. While this may not be a time for conventional wars, it is certainly no time for terrorism. A zero-tolerance stance is the only path to a safer world, he added .

In whatever scale it is measured  whether by domain experts, political opposition, scrutinising media, or common citizens  there is no doubt that Indias fight against terror underwent a paradigm shift once Prime Minister Modi assumed office.

The contrast between the UPAs handling of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Modi governments responses to Uri (2016), Pulwama (2019), and Pahalgam (2025) is stark. Where the Congress-led era was marked by caution and delay, Prime Minister Modis India has demonstrated speed, strength, and clarity of purpose.

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Whether through surgical strikes, air assaults, or relentless international diplomacy, the Modi government has redefined Indias counter-terror doctrine. Under his leadership, India speaks from a position of strength, ensuring every hostile action is met with a firm and visible response.

Prime Minister Modis address to the nation on Monday

His actions are not mere rhetoric but concrete execution, unlike the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, among the deadliest in Indias history, claimed 166 lives and shocked the nation.

The Singh government chose a restrained approach, opting for diplomatic channels despite clear evidence of Pakistani involvement. While the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established, public sentiment reflected deep dissatisfaction. The absence of a visible or forceful response led to widespread perceptions of weakness and indecisiveness.

Uri 2016: Modi breaks the mould with surgical strikes

Under Prime Minister Modi, Indias response to terror entered a new era. When 19 Indian soldiers were martyred in the Uri attack, the government made it clear that business as usual was over.

Just 11 days later, India conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control, targeting terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This bold move marked Indias first publicly acknowledged cross-border military operation in response to terrorism. It sent a strong signal to both Pakistan and the global community: India would retaliate to defend its sovereignty.

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Pulwama 2019: Air power unleashed in Balakot

In February 2019, the Pulwama suicide bombing killed 40 CRPF personnel, sparking national outrage. Modis government responded with unprecedented force, authorising airstrikes deep inside Pakistans Balakot region.

For the first time since the 1971 war, Indian fighter jets crossed the LoC in an offensive operation, destroying a key Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp. The action underscored that India, under Modi, would not tolerate provocation without consequence.

A subsequent diplomatic offensive led to Jaish chief Masood Azhar being designated a global terrorist by the UN  a testament to the success of Indias twin military and diplomatic strategy.

Pahalgam 2025: Fury unleashed

On April 22, 2025, gunmen disguised in military uniforms launched a brutal attack on tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people. Witnesses reported that the attackers separated men from women and children, targeting those who could not recite the Islamic Kalima  a chilling act interpreted as selecting non-Muslims for execution. Victims included Indian and foreign nationals, both civilians and military personnel. The calculated cruelty of the attack became the catalyst for a seismic shift in Indias counter-terror doctrine.

In retaliation, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke, among others. Air Marshal AK Bharti confirmed that precision-guided munitions were used to ensure maximum impact with minimal collateral damage. The operation was backed by comprehensive target system analysis signalling Indias advanced military capabilities and unwavering resolve.

The Indian Embassy in Washington clarified that no Pakistani civilian, economic, or military infrastructure was targeted during the initial phase of Operation Sindoor. However, when Pakistan retaliated by attacking Indian civilian and military sites, the Indian response was swift and overwhelming. Facing severe losses, Pakistan was forced to seek a truce  a stark reflection of the new deterrence India now wields.

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A shift of no small significance

The shift from passive diplomacy to proactive deterrence marks a significant transformation in Indias national security posture under Prime Minister Modi. From Uri to Pahalgam, the doctrine has evolved from restraint to resolve, Indias security doctrine has evolvedfrom strategic restraint to decisive retaliationredefining how the nation safeguards its sovereignty.
PM Modi visited the Adampur AFS early on Tuesday, a day after he addressed the nation for the first time since last weeks Operation Sindoor. The Adampur Air Base is one of the locations that Pakistan tried to attack, but was unsuccessful after the Indian military thwarted its attempt read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that there will be no place left safe for terrorists, not even under Pakistan Armys shelter, as he addressed air force officials at the Adampur airbase in Punjabs Hoshiarpur.

Rattled with Operation Sindoor, the enemy tried to attack this air base and several of our other air bases multiple times. They targeted us again and again but the nefarious designs of Pakistan failed each time, he said after he met jawans at the Indian Air Force.

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#WATCH | At the Adampur Air Base, PM Narendra Modi said, "Rattled with #OperationSindoor, the enemy tried to attack this air base and several of our other air bases multiple times. They targeted us again and again but the nefarious designs of Pakistan failed each time.". pic.twitter.com/elRUmUDUgr  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

PM Modi visited the Adampur AFS early on Tuesday, a day after he addressed the nation for the first time since last weeks Operation Sindoor. The Adampur Air Base is one of the locations that Pakistan tried to attack, but was unsuccessful after the Indian military thwarted its attempt.

The prime minister said that Indias response to terrorism has been foolproof. Hum ghar mein ghus kar maarenge aur bachne ka ek mauka tak nahi denge (We will enter their territory and strike them without giving them a chance to save themselves).

#WATCH | At the Adampur Air Base, PM Narendra Modi says "...Hum ghar mein ghus kar maarenge aur bachne ka ek mauka tak nahi denge..."



He says "The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have defeated the Pakistani Army on which these terrorists were relying. There is no pic.twitter.com/4vgoTAfX27  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

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The Adampur base in Hoshiarpur was part of Pakistans massive misinformation campaign claiming that it had been hit by the countrys aerial attacks.

The (26) targets included air force and aviation bases at Suratgarh, Sirsa, Adampur, Bhooj, Nalia, Bathinda, Barnala, Halwara, Avantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Mamoon, Ambala, Udampur and Pathankot  all of which sustained major damages, said Pakistan Armys chief spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry last week, as per Dawn.
Operation Sindoor marked a decisive shift in Indias military strategy reflecting progress toward theatre commands and the IBG doctrine read more

(File) Operation Sindoor displayed on the screen during a press briefing by the Indian armed forces, in New Delhi on May 11, 2025. PTI

On May 7, 2025, India launched a bold and a military operation as Operation Sindoor, aimed at destroying terrorist camps and infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This powerful response came just two weeks after the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed, including 25 Indians and one Nepalese citizen. The scale and cruelty of the Pahalgam attack shocked the nation and made it clear that a strong, direct response was needed.

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The barbarity displayed by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22 had shocked the entire country and the world. The merciless killing of innocent citizens in front of their family and their children on the basis of their religion was a very gruesome face of terror and cruelty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the nation on 12 May 2025.

Operation Sindoor was that responsea clear signal that India would no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism. The operation didnt just eliminate key terrorist targetsit also marked a shift in Indias counter-terror strategy, showing that the country was now prepared to act with greater precision, speed, and coordination. This growing capability reflects planned structural reforms in the military, such as the creation of Integrated Theatre Commands and Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs). These changes, now in advanced stages of planning, aim to make Indias armed forces more effective in joint operations. Operation Sindoor, currently on pause, offered a glimpse of a response strategy that goes beyond retaliationone rooted in long-term preparedness and a stronger, more integrated defence posture.

Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal, Prime Minister Modi said.

The trigger: April 22 Pahalgam attack

The immediate impetus for Operation Sindoor was the Pahalgam terror attack, in which terrorists opened fire on tourists killing 26 civilians. This incident triggered public outrage and a call for swift retribution. Probe and security agencies traced digital footprints of the terror attack to Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-backed The Resistance Force claimed responsibility of the attack, and retracted later with strategic backing from Pakistan. Against this background, the Indian government authorised a robust and coordinated military response.

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This was also a disgusting attempt to break the harmony and unity of the country. For me personally this was very painful, he said.

Operation Sindoor: Execution and objectives

Operation Sindoor was launched with well-defined objectives, aimed at significantly altering Indias counter-terror strategy. At its core, the operation focussed on neutralising terrorist infrastructure by dismantling active camps and training centres in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and deep within Pakistan. A key goal was to eliminate high-value targets, particularly the terrorist leaders who were behind planning and executing attacks on Indian soil.

Operation Sindoor is not just a name but its a reflection of the feelings of millions of people of the country. Operation Sindoor is our unwavering commitment to justice, Prime Minister Modi said.

Beyond the immediate objective of neutralisation, Operation Sindoor also served as a powerful demonstration of Indias growing military precision and capability, showcasing the armed forces ability to conduct coordinated, multi-domain strikes with minimal collateral damage.

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Additionally, the operation was designed to establish strategic deterrence, sending a clear and direct message to both state and non-state actors that India would no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism and would respond with swift, decisive force.

The operations execution reflected the seriousness of its intent. Indian forces successfully struck nine major terrorist camps, including those affiliated with LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, causing significant damage to their logistics and training networks.

More than 100 dreaded terrorists have been killed in these attacks by India, the prime minister said.

One of the most notable achievements was the elimination of Yusuf Azhar, a top JeM commander and a relative of Masood Azhar, who was directly linked to the 1999 IC-814 hijacking.

The missions focus was on eliminating top terror leaders, particularly from JeM in Bahawalpur and LeT in Muridke. Terrorist bases, like Bahawalpur and Muridke are universities of global terrorism, he said.

In a move that shocked Pakistan, nine key locations were identified and targeted successfully. These locations included: Bahawalpur, Muridke, Gulpur, Bhimber, Chak Amru, Bagh, Kotli, Sialkot and Muzaffarabad. Each of these strikes was executed with precision marking a significant blow to the terrorist networks operating in the region.

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In addition to these ground operations, the Indian military launched air and missile strikes on military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur and Sialkot areas of Pakistan, emphasising the depth and reach of the operation. This happened in response to Pakistans attempt to hit India military and civilian areas.

Integration with military reforms: Theatre commands and IBGs

While Operation Sindoor was largely reactive, its successful execution was made possible by Indias ongoing military reforms, particularly the advanced stage plans on the implementation of integrated theatre commands and IBGs (Integrated Battle Groups).

After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is Indias policy against terrorism, Prime Minister Modi said.

These reforms have been central to Indias vision of modernising its armed forces and improving jointness among the army, navy and air force ensuring better coordination and operational efficiency.

A key element of these reforms is the restructuring of Indias military into theatre commands, which integrate the command structures across the three services. This model is designed to enhance inter-service coordination, streamline decision-making and improve resource utilisation. The proposed theatre commands include the Western Theatre Command, focussed on operations along the Pakistan border, the Northern Theatre Command, primarily tasked with addressing threats from China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Maritime Theatre Command (MTC), responsible for operations in the Indian Ocean Region and the Air Defence Command (ADC), which integrates air surveillance and response capabilities. Each theatre command is expected to be led by a three-star general, with resources pooled from all three services to enhance operational readiness and synergy.

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Another significant innovation is the introduction of IBGs, which play a crucial role in Indias defence strategy. IBGs are brigade-sized units that are highly mobile, self-sufficient and tailored for swift offensive and defensive operations, particularly in response to border threats. These groups are designed to be highly flexible and capable of rapid deployment, with a size of 5,000 to 7,000 troops. IBGs incorporate a wide range of capabilities, including infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, logistics and air defence. They are capable of mobilising within 12-48 hours ensuring rapid response to emerging threats.

Additionally, the terrain-specific configurations of IBGswhether for mountainous, desert or plains regionsallow them to be optimised for the specific challenges of different theatres. Although infantry and mechanised infantry were not deployed at a full-scale level, their deployment would have also reflected the ongoing military reforms.

The introduction of IBGs significantly enhances Indias ability to conduct short-duration, high-intensity conflicts aligning with the Cold Start doctrine for limited conventional warfare. This combination of theatre commands and IBGs marks a shift toward a more integrated and agile military capable of responding quickly and effectively to a wide range of threats.

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Technological integration and precision

Operation Sindoor also highlighted Indias growing reliance on network-centric warfare, real-time intelligence and precision weapon systems.

We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge, PM Modi said.

The operation showcased how advanced technologies have become central to modern military strategy, enabling more targeted and efficient strikes. Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities played a critical role with satellite surveillance, drone reconnaissance and signal intelligence all working in tandem to identify and track terrorist targets with precision.

In terms of offensive capability, India utilised advanced missile and air power with platforms like the Su-30MKIs, Mirage 2000s, Rafales and BrahMos cruise missiles deployed to strike terrorist camps and military installations.

Moreover, electronic warfare and cyber operations were essential in disrupting enemy communications and disabling radar systems ensuring that the strikes could be carried out with minimal interference.

This approach represents a significant departure from traditional, large-scale military deployments reflecting a shift toward more surgical, technology-enabled operations. The integration of these advanced capabilities allowed India to execute the operation with greater precision and effectiveness minimising risks and maximicing impact.

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Geopolitical and strategic implications

Operation Sindoor had far-reaching geopolitical ramifications affecting both domestic and international relations.

India caused heavy damage to Pakistan in the first three days itself, which it had never imagined, the prime minister said.

Domestically, the operation significantly bolstered public morale, demonstrating the Indian governments firm resolve against terrorism and reinforcing its commitment to national security. This display of strength resonated with citizens, who viewed it as a strong response to cross-border terrorism.

On the international stage, while some nations called for restraint, many others, including US, France and Australia, expressed support for Indias right to self-defence, acknowledging the legitimacy of Indias actions in response to terrorism. In contrast, Pakistan found itself in a difficult position.

Terror and talks cannot go together Terror and trade cannot go together. Water and blood cannot flow together, PM Modi said in his address on Monday evening.

Hit hard by the operation, Pakistans military response was aggressive but was thwarted by Indias air defence systems. Pushed into a corner and not able to garner much international support, Pakistan sought truce.

From a China perspective, the operation held particular significance. With the growing ties between China and Pakistan, the operation sent a clear message to Beijing about Indias willingness to act decisively across multiple fronts to protect its interests. This served as a reminder of Indias military capability and its readiness to counter threats not just from its immediate neighbours but in broader regional dynamics as well.

Future outlook

Operation Sindoor may be remembered as a key moment in Indias military evolution. Its successful execution has not only validated the ongoing shift toward theatre commands and IBGs but is also likely to accelerate further reforms within Indias defence strategy.

Today the world is witnessing that in 21st century warfare the time has come for Made in India defence equipment, the prime minister said.

The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of these reforms and highlighted the need for continued modernisation of Indias armed forces to meet evolving security challenges.

Looking ahead, there are several key developments on the horizon. One of the most significant is the full operationalisation of theatre commands, which is expected to be completed by 2026, marking a major step in improving inter-service coordination and operational effectiveness.

Additionally, the expansion of IBGs will continue with more units being tailored for diverse terrains, including the strategic North East. To further enhance combat readiness, India is also increasing its focus on joint exercises with global partners like US, France and Japan, which will help improve interoperability and strengthen defence ties.

Moroever, there is a growing emphasis on indigenous defence production, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign systems and build long-term strategic autonomy for Indias defence industry.

Operation Sindoor: Not a mere military operation

Operation Sindoor was more than just a retaliatory strike. It was a clear display of Indias growing military strength and its evolving strategy.

This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism. Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee for a better world, Prime Minister Modi said.

The operation showed that India is capable of combining intelligence, technology and combat power across different areas to carry out a coordinated response. As India continues to reshape its military with theatre commands and more flexible BGs, the lessons learned from Operation Sindoor will help guide future military actions. With these changes, India is moving towards a defence strategy that focusses on precision, speed and strategic depthall of which are crucial in todays security challenges.
Under Operation Sindoor, India maintained escalation dominance and never allowed Pakistan to respond, forcing it on the backfoot and making it seek peace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled that such an offensive will now be Indias defence against terrorism. read more

The medium-range Akash air defence system is in service with the Indian Army and Air Force. Image courtesy BEL

US President Donald Trump might claim that he leveraged trade to bring India and Pakistan to a ceasefire, but the reality is that it was the Indian military campaign that forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire  as Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said.

Under Operation Sindoor, India maintained escalation dominance from the beginning, did not allow Pakistan to retaliate, and imposed costs so substantial while remaining beneath the nuclear threshold that even a leader as rabid as General Asim Munir sought a ceasefire.

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After the first round of Indian strikes on nine terrorist sites in the early hours of May 7, Pakistan rebuffed Indian outreach in false confidence. Three days later, after taking a beating across the spectrum, Pakistan reached out with a request for ceasefire.

India hammered at least eight Pakistani airbases in addition to several air defence units and radar sites. The airbases struck included some of Pakistans crown jewels, such as the Chaklala and Sargodha airbases. The Chaklala airbase is next door to the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi  the true seat of power in the country. India also struck Lahore and took out the citys air defence system.

India neither called Pakistan for a ceasefire nor gave it an off-ramp and maintained an upper hand throughout the conflict, says Yusuf Unjhawala, a scholar of geopolitics at the Takshashila Institution.

Unjhawala tells Firstpost, India initially gave Pakistan a chance to de-escalate. As soon as Pakistan indicated its intention to not de-escalate, India struck Pakistan and kept striking until Pakistan reached out to seek a ceasefire. Pakistan could never respond to the first round of Indian strikes and was left confused with Indian strikes left, right, and centre and was reduced to playing catch-up. That was by design as India kept the heat on so much that Pakistan simply did not have any room to attack. India threw the final punches and came out on the top in the conflict.

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Pakistanis Nur Khan airbase at Chaklala, Rawalpindi, was among those struck by India under Operation Sindoor.

As Firstpost had previously reported , the Modi government had decided that there would not be any de-escalation from Indias side and the ball of de-escalation lay in Pakistans court. The government was firm that there would neither be any off-ramp to Pakistan nor any face-saving for Munir  and the government stayed true to these commitments until the end.

Indias calculated and continuous escalation achieved the desired outcome, says Unjhawala.

India calls out Pakistans nuclear bluff, forces Pakistan

For more than two decades, the Kargil War was thought to be the last conventional conflict between India and Pakistan.

Once Pakistan acquired nuclear weapons, its leaders started invoking them at every chance. Pakistans development of lower-yield tactical weapons and the dominance of a jihadist military convinced many leaders and strategists that Pakistan had acquired the ultimate deterrent against conventional attacks from India. But that was until last week.

As India struck every corner of Punjab, including the prized airbases housing top fighter planes, and reached as far as Karachi with precision strikes, India called out Pakistans nuclear bluff.

Pakistans cry for help to the international community included nuclear blackmail  the so-called alarming intelligence received by the Donald Trump administration that made Vice President JD Vance reach out to PM Modi is understood to be Pakistans false claim about India going for its nuclear sites or nuclear chain of command.

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When Vance asked Modi to exercise restraint, Modi listened to him but told him that India would respond to Pakistan with more force and strength come what may  and it did. India kept hitting Pakistan and forced it into a corner.

In the address to the nation last evening, Modi called out Pakistans nuclear bluff.

India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of the nuclear blackmail, said Modi in Hindi.

Modi further referred to Pakistan playing foreign powers, like Vance, and how India did not allow such games to deter its response.

Pakistan was pleading to the world to ease tensions. And after suffering heavy losses, Pakistans army contacted our DGMO on the afternoon of 10th May. By then, we had destroyed the infrastructure of terrorism on a large scale, said Modi.

India proves combat capabilities  and draws lessons

Under Operation Sindoor, India struck a host of targets across Pakistan with precision.

India cratered runways, hit aircraft hangars, terrorist infrastructure, radar sites, air defence units, and established combat superiority.

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The sites that India struck in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.

Unjhawala, the geopolitics specialist at Takshashila, says that India gained immense insights into Chinese military systems in the conflict with Pakistan, which will help the country in confrontation with China.

Around 80 per cent of the Pakistani militarys equipment is of Chinese origin, ranging from missiles and fighter planes to air defence systems. Pakistan used all of them against India and India successfully dealt with all of them. The greatest successes are the destruction of the Chinese HQ-9 air defence system and missiles mounted on JF-17s, says Unjhawala.

ALSO READ: Operation Sindoor: As jihad drives Pakistan, India can only impose costs  deterrence is impossible

Learnings from the conflict would undeniably be put to use soon.

As Pakistans perpetual war on India is driven by a self-consuming jihadist national ideology, it is not possible to impose permanent restraint. What is possible is to impose costs so high that the frequency of misadventures is minimised  and that is what India has done.

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The Balakot airstrike brought India six years of deterrence. Operation Sindoor should also bring many years of restraint. But Pakistan will attack again and India should be prepared. The preparation has to start now. The first step should be to raise the defence budget, hopefully to 4 per cent. Then, India should smoothen the procurement process and go heavy on indigenisation, says Unjhawala.

As India denies him face-saving, Munir stands weaker than ever

Munir, otherwise the strongest man in Pakistan, stands weaker than ever.

With the Pahalgam attack and the response to Indian strikes on May 7, he overplayed his hand and now finds himself in a corner.

While Munirs position was already untenable, it is now weaker than ever. We are not used to seeing the Pakistani Army this week, says Unjhawala.

One of the reasons behind Munir greenlighting the Pahalgam attack was to enter into a conflict with India to restore the militarys primacy inside Pakistan. Now that Pakistan stands as a loser in the conflict, Munir has neither received a victory nor a face-saving exit.

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It remains to be seen how long Munir would be able to rely on a pliant media and rally-around-the-flag effect. As Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif declared victory over India, victory parades have been reported in the country. But, when stories of continued bombardment and images of devastated airbases, trickle to the public, would the propaganda still hold?

ALSO READ: From piety to proxy war: How General Munir embodies Pakistans military-jihadi complex

As Pakistani generals attended funerals of terrorists , the entire world saw what India had been saying for years  there is no difference between the Pakistani military and terrorists.

With Operation Sindoor and the speech laying down the Modi Doctrine, the prime minister has promised a new normal regarding terrorism and Pakistan  one and the same thing for most Indians.

Under the Modi Doctrine, Operation Sindoor will serve as a benchmark for response to a terrorist attack, terrorists and governments sponsoring them will not be differentiated, and nuclear blackwill will not be tolerated.

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Unjhawala says, Now that the government has set a new normal, it has to live up to it. It is yet to be seen whether attacks on soldiers would also have a response like Operation Sindoor.
The posters, carrying the message Terror Free Kashmir, offered a Rs 20 lakh reward for anyone who provides credible information about the terrorists and promised to keep the identity of the informants discreet read more

Soldiers inspect the debris of a mosque after Indian airstrikes in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, on May 7, 2025. (Photo: AFP)

The hunt is still on for the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, as posters of the perpetrators were put up across Jammu on Tuesday seeking information on them.

The posters, carrying the message Terror Free Kashmir, offered a Rs 20 lakh reward for anyone who provides credible information about the terrorists and promised to keep the identity of the informants discreet.

#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir | Posters appear in different parts of Pulwama District, announcing Rs 20 lakh reward on information of terrorists involved in Pahalgam terror attack pic.twitter.com/QN6cqfHq7r  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

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Security agencies are on the lookout for the three terrorists  Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai aka Talha Bhai and Hashim Musa aka Suleiman  all linked to Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of LeT, has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attacks.

Meanwhile, at least three LeT terrorists were killed in J&Ks Shopian district on Tuesday following an encounter with security forces. The operation first started in the Kulgam district, after which the terrorists shifted to Shopian. Joint units of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces were involved in the mission to eliminate the militants.

In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, PM Modi on Monday sternly warned Pakistan that India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail and sent a clear message to the world: terror and trade, terror and talks cannot go together.

Operation Sindoor is Indias new policy against terrorism and our unwavering pledge for justice. It is the new normal. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan and the future will depend on their behaviour, Modi said in a 22-minute address.

With inputs from agencies
India on Tuesday said that ban on the Awami League in Bangladesh without due process is a concerning development and called for holding free, fair and inclusive elections in the country as soon as possible read more

India on Tuesday said that ban on the Awami League in Bangladesh without due process is a concerning development and called for holding free, fair and inclusive elections in the country as soon as possible.

#WATCH | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The ban on the Awami League (in Bangladesh) without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the pic.twitter.com/yBdAyesWwp  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

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Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, The ban on the Awami League (in Bangladesh) without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshs interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday officially banned the Awami League  the party of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina  under the countrys anti-terrorism legislation, PTI quoted a statement issued by Yunus office.

The announcement, described as a statement of the council of advisers (functioning as the interim Cabinet), said the ban will remain in force until the completion of the ongoing trials of the Awami League and its leaders in Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The council cited national security and sovereignty concerns as reasons for the ban, saying that the move was also aimed at ensuring the safety of the leaders and activists involved in the July 2024 uprising  which led to the downfall of the Awami League government  as well as the complainants and witnesses participating in the ICT trials.

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In a parallel move, the interim Cabinet, chaired by Yunus, amended the ICT law to empower the tribunal to prosecute political parties and their affiliated organisations.

Founded in 1949, the Awami League denounced the move as unconstitutional and politically motivated. All decisions of the illegal government are illegal, the party declared on its official Facebook page.

Sheikh Hasina, ousted from power in July, has been living in exile in India since August 5. Her official residence in Dhaka was stormed by protesters shortly after her departure.

Adding to the political pressure, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia returned to Dhaka earlier this month following four months of medical treatment in London. Her return has intensified calls on the interim administration to announce a timeline for fresh elections in the country.

With inputs from agencies
PM Modis surprise visit to Adampur airbase, with the S-400 system visibly intact, debunks Pakistans claims of its destruction and sends a strong message of support for Indias armed forces. read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unannounced visit to the Indian Air Forces Adampur airbase in Punjab on Tuesday, delivering a clear message of support for the armed forces and directly countering Pakistans recent claims of destroying Indias S-400 air defence system.

This came a day after he addressed the nation for the first time since the Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor to target terror hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan last week. The punitive military exercise shocked Pakistan, which retaliated with a barrage of drones and fighter aircraft towards Indian airspace, leading to heavy engagement between the two sides.

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Speaking on Monday evening, PM Modi said, The world saw how Pakistans drones and missiles fell like straws in front of India. Indias strong air defense system destroyed them in the sky itself. Pakistan had prepared for an attack on the border, but India struck at the heart of Pakistan.

More from India Day after Op Sindoor address, PM Modi visits Adampur airbase Pakistan tried to attack

This was a strong rebuttal from the Indian prime minister as it came in the wake of Pakistans claim that its aerial attacks destroyed Indias air defence systems of which S-400 and Akash were core components.

A show of strength

During his early morning visit, PM Modi interacted with air force personnel and was briefed on the security situation following the recent India-Pakistan hostilities triggered by Operation Sindoor.

The operation, launched after a deadly terror attack in Kashmir, saw India strike multiple terrorist sites across the border. In retaliation, Pakistan targeted several Indian airbases, including Adampur, with drones and missiles.

In his Mondays address, PM Modi said, Indias drones and missiles attacked with precision. They damaged those airbases of the Pakistani Air Forces, of which Pakistan was very proud. India caused heavy damage to Pakistan in the first three days itself, which it had never imagined.

Debunking disinformation

A striking image from the visit showed PM Modi waving to jawans with an MiG-29 jet and a fully intact S-400 system in the background-directly contradicting Pakistans assertion that its JF-17 fighters had destroyed the S-400 at Adampur.

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Open-source intelligence and on-ground reports confirm no visible damage to the S-400 or critical infrastructure at the base, exposing the Pakistani claim as disinformation.

The visit served significant two purposes. It came as a reassurance to the nation and the armed forces from the government of its unwavering support. And it publicly debunked Pakistans narrative, reaffirming the operational readiness of Indias most advanced air defence assets.

While interacting with soldiers, PM Modi said, India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, underscoring his governments appreciation and the symbolic significance of the visit.

Ceasefire, but with caution

While a ceasefire between India and Pakistan was agreed upon on May 10, India has clarified that its military operations are only paused and future actions will depend on Pakistans conduct. The situation remains tense, but there is calm at the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. PM Modis visit is also Indias message to Pakistan and the rest of the world at large that the nation stands resolute against both physical and information warfare.

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An uneasy calm prevails between India and Pakistan as the guns have fallen silent and the fighter aircraft are back in their bases. Based on an urgent request from Pakistan, the ceasefire, which India agreed to, came into force at 5.00 pm on May 10. It, however, became fully effective only around 10.00 pm, after Pakistani forces tried another feeble attempt at misadventure in the air in the evening, but were promptly repulsed. India has warned Pakistan against any misadventure and has put a new price on any future act of cross-border terror from Pakistan:  An Act of War .

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While Pakistan reels under the shock of blows inflicted on it through the blitzkrieg launched by Indian armed forces over three days, it will be quite some time before it can fully count its losses and recover from it, both physically and psychologically. What has happened in the midst of all this is the fact that the cost and caution that was imposed upon Pakistan after the Balakot airstrike by India in February 2019 has been significantly raised, to a scale where it would be near suicidal for Pakistan to think of another terror attack in the future.

How did it come about?

All this may not have happened had a financially bankrupt and militarily shaky Pakistan not tried to do what it had mastered in the last three decades in its proxy war against India- launch a terror attack in Kashmir to divert the attention of the public in Pakistan as well as the international community towards Kashmir. Going exactly by this playbook, Pakistani-backed terrorists launched a deadly terror strike on April 22, killing 26 innocent tourists in a popular tourist spot in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The anger and outrage in the country were magnified many times over as the victims (all men) were specifically identified by their religion (Hindu), and the men were shot dead in front of their women.

Pakistan had banked on three factors while launching this terror attack. First, the manner of killing (men, non-Hindu) would trigger communal clashes in Kashmir and elsewhere in India. Second, the economic development and progress happening in Kashmir would come to a halt, with security once again taking over as the primary focus in Kashmir. Third, India, at best, would retaliate and carry out a Balakot-kind of strike into Pakistan.

Pakistan was in for a huge shock this time. Instead of clashes, the whole nation came together. Indias response began with diplomatic and economic measures, as early as April 23, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) being held in abeyance being the biggest shock. The IWT, signed in 1960, is an instrument through which Pakistan has been able to get more than its justifiable share of water through the treaty which governs the water sharing of six rivers, Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas, that start from India and drain into the Arabian Sea through Pakistan. It had never been addressed in any of the previous wars, 1965, 1971 or the Kargil War of 1999. With the Kharif crop due to be sown from mid-May onwards, Indias decision struck Pakistan where it hurts the most- its agricultural economy of Punjab.

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There was unease and debates as the nation waited for revenge. The wait was not long as Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The precision strikes across nine locations, all known terror infrastructure, were an absolute shock for Pakistan. The fact that the missile strikes were delivered almost simultaneously over a frontage of hundreds of kilometers stretching from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) to Bahawalpur in Punjab, and none of them were intercepted by Pakistans air defense, added to the shock and awe. Also, the fact that four of the target locations were in Pakistan across the international border and included the Headquarters of terror groups like JeM (Bahawalpur) and LeT (Muridke) was unimaginable for the Pakistani military.

Its response was hasty and it hurled swarms of drones and missiles at India which were thwarted by an effective, multilayered, and integrated air defence. Over three nights, Pakistan tried its best but achieved little. Despite Indias clear indication that it had targeted only terror infrastructure on May 7 and has no intention of hurting any civilian or military infrastructure, Pakistan made valiant attempts to target civilian and military infrastructure in India, including a reported effort to target Delhi through a ballistic missile.

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Exercising its right to respond and teach a befitting lesson, Indian armed forces once again did the unthinkable, targeting 11 military airfields and bases in precision strikes synchronised in time and space, severely crippling the air power capability of Pakistan on May 9. The strike at the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi was not only a strike at the heart of Pakistans military but also very near to its critical nuclear weapon establishments. Having been crippled and devastated, Pakistans DG of Military Operations was soon on the phone, requesting for a ceasefire on the afternoon of 10th May.

Evolution of Indias war on terror

Indias war against terror did not always have such punitive dimensions. Its fight against terror dates back to the early 1990s when Pakistan under its President Gen Zia-ul-Haq had launched this low-cost war option to keep India bleeding. And bleed we did, for over two decades when terror incidents inflicted injury and insult to India not only in Kashmir but also in the rest of India. While it is not possible to recount all of them in a single piece, some key ones could be discussed to understand the evolution.

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The first and most important landmark has to be the incident of hijacking of Air Indias flight IC-814 on 24th December 1999, just a few months after the Kargil war. In one of Indias weak moments and still evolving strategy against terror, India agreed to release dreaded terrorists like Ahmed Omar Sheikh and Masood Azhar, in exchange for over 160 civilian hostages. Masood Azhar, as is well known, then went ahead and founded the terror group JeM, which has been responsible for many major terror attacks against India thereafter.

The terror attack on the Indian Parliament on 13th December 2001 has to be the next major landmark. Launched by five terrorists of JeM, it led to a year-long mobilization of Indian armed forces under Operation Parakaram. Still, it didnt result in any direct punishment to Pakistan for it. Contrary to it, it imposed huge economic costs on India owing to the prolonged deployment of forces as also a number of military and civilian casualties during the mobilization due to minefields and other accidents.

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The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was a milestone in many ways. It was widely considered as Indias 9/11 moment and it brought global attention to Indias war against terror. However, once again, it did not lead to any punishment to Pakistan or the terror group LeT, despite clear evidence of the operation being master-minded and controlled from Pakistan. In a sense therefore, till then, there was no clear policy against terror except to gather evidence, prepare folders and put forth in front of the world and Pakistan, seeking action against the perpetrators.

It was the Uri terror attack on September 18, 2016, by a group of JeM terrorists on an army camp that the strategy of fight against terror actually started taking shape. Enraged by the terror attack, the Modi government in Delhi decided that enough was enough and that Pakistan as well as the terror groups need to be repaid in kind. The surgical strikes thereafter were not only a strong reply but a statement of intent.

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While Uri signaled a shift in Indias strategy of fight against terror, the terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Kashmir on February 14, 2019, took the fight against terror to another level. In response to the terror attack, India Air Force launched a synchronised attack on a known terror camp of JeM in Balakot on February 26. This attack broke many glass ceilings as this was the first time that the Indian Air Force had intruded into Pakistani airspace to launch a strike. This was also marked by India calling the nuclear bluff of Pakistan, which it had always threatened, trying to put caution in the Indian leadership against taking any direct action inside Pakistan. Remember Operation Parakram in 2001-02?

The Pahalgam terror attack now has broken many more glass ceilings and has set a new threshold in Indias war against terror. By striking key terror locations as well as key military assets deep into Pakistan, India has given a clear signal that the era of restraint and patience is over and that Pakistan will have to pay a direct and heavy price for any terror attack in the future.

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By launching such a massive military operation in such a short time, India has also made it clear that any future actions will be determined by the requirements of its national security only, irrespective of how the world thinks about it and the restraint that that world seeks from India. The declaration that any future act of terror will be taken as an act of war too imposes huge costs on Pakistan, going forward.

Going forward

The Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian armed forces is not only an act to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack but also a statement of intent. It is also a demonstration of Indias military prowess and the massive gap between the military capability of India and Pakistan, where India could strike at will deep inside Pakistan, but all that Pakistan fired was intercepted by Indias air defence.

By targeting air bases, India has sent out a clear and loud signal; the Pakistani nuclear weapon boggy is no longer a restraining factor and that Indian forces can take out nuclear weapons sites in Pakistan too, if required.

Most importantly, India has scaled up its fight against terror to a level like never before. A strategy that started with inaction and helplessness almost 25 years back has now evolved into a bold strategy where the terrorists and their backers are assured of an unimaginable punishment, and there is no place for them to hide. A new, bold, and confident India is all set to bury the threat of terror effectively, forever.

Col Rajeev Agarwal is a West Asia expert and a Senior Research Consultant at Chintan Research Foundation, New Delhi. His X Handle is @rajeev1421. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Pakistan, having spent decades exporting instability and terror under the guise of plausible deniability, finally faced an adversary that neither flinched nor forgave read more

Operation Sindoor marked a definitive shift in South Asias security landscape, showcasing Indias evolving strategic doctrine and technological superiority in response to decades of asymmetric aggression. Unlike previous confrontations that teetered on the edge of diplomatic compromise, Operation Sindoor was unapologetically decisive. At its core, it was a multidimensional military endeavour that drew from classical deterrence theory, blended with contemporary airpower doctrine, to deliver a staggering blow to Pakistans military infrastructure and psychological posture.

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Crushing the PAF

At the onset of the operation, Indian forces initiated a targeted aerial campaign that neutralised several high-value Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases. The success of these strikes was not merely in the destruction of runways or aircraft hangars but in the demonstration of air supremacy. Using advanced precision-guided munitions and real-time satellite coordination, India rendered Pakistans forward air bases in Sargodha, Muridke, and Chaklala non-operational within the first 48 hours.

The swiftness and precision of these bombings represented a tactical recalibration, aligning with the theories of John Wardens Five Rings model, which prioritises systemic paralysis over attrition-based warfare. By targeting the core command structures and logistical nodes of the PAF, the operation induced a strategic disarray within Pakistans air defence network, compelling them into a reactive posture.

Further amplifying the psychological and tactical dimensions of the operation was the deployment of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) deep into Pakistans urban centres. In an unprecedented move, Indian drones conducted coordinated strikes in Karachi, Multan, and Islamabad, hitting suspected ISI safehouses, communication hubs, and munitions stockpiles. These drone assaults marked the first time a South Asian power successfully demonstrated long-range autonomous strike capability within a nuclear adversarys interior without escalation to full-scale nuclear retaliation.

This success not only redefined the contours of cross-border military engagement but also exposed Pakistans internal security fragility. Drawing from the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) paradigm, the use of drones in Operation Sindoor highlighted how advanced surveillance, AI-enabled targeting, and precision weaponry can render traditional territorial defences obsolete.

Strikes without warning

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One of the crowning achievements of Operation Sindoor was the neutralisation of the aerial defence grid over Lahore. This symbolic and strategic target was chosen deliberately. Lahore, often positioned by Pakistan as its cultural and ideological heartland, was protected by a layered missile and radar system believed to be bolstered with Chinese and Turkish technology. Yet, through electronic warfare measures, cyber infiltration, and high-altitude jamming platforms, Indian forces dismantled the citys air shield in a matter of hours.

This action not only opened a corridor for subsequent airstrikes but delivered a psychological woundPakistans self-perceived invulnerability was punctured with chilling accuracy. The deactivation of Lahores air defenses reaffirmed the Indian Air Forces mastery over fourth- and fifth-generation warfare techniques, merging physical destruction with cognitive dominance. Operation Sindoors achievements extended beyond direct military outcomes; it signaled a deeper doctrinal assertion. For decades, India had adhered to a largely reactive and restraint-based military posture in the face of Pakistani provocations ranging from state-sponsored terrorism to low-intensity conflicts along the LoC.

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This operation, however, echoed the logic of the Schneider escalation ladder, whereby a dominant state must demonstrate its willingness to engage at higher rungs of conflict to recalibrate deterrence. By doing so, India effectively reversed the normative inertia that had shielded Pakistan from kinetic consequences, particularly due to its nuclear posturing and reliance on international diplomatic buffering.

The day air defences fell

In strategic terms, Operation Sindoor exposed the hollowness of Pakistans nuclear deterrence doctrine. For years, Rawalpindi had brandished the threat of tactical nuclear weapon use as a counterbalance to Indias conventional superiority. However, the calibrated yet overwhelming nature of Indias strikes limited in scope but absolute in precisionrevealed a new threshold management technique. Thomas Schellings theory of the threat that leaves something to chance was subtly invoked: India maneuvered just below the threshold of nuclear retaliation, creating ambiguity and stress within Pakistans decision-making elite. The outcome was paralysis, not retaliation, a testament to the operations deterrence recalibration.

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Equally significant was the diplomatic insulation achieved by Indian planners prior to the launch. Through deft signaling and backchannel engagements, India had laid the groundwork for plausible strategic autonomy. Western powers, long critical of Indias so-called aggressive posture, were confronted with irrefutable intelligence of Pakistans continued complicity in harboring anti-India militant networks. In fact, many nations quietly endorsed Indias right to self-defense, a rare occurrence in post-colonial conflict narratives. This lent a layer of international legitimacy to an operation that might otherwise have drawn condemnation.

Pakistan, on the other hand, found itself diplomatically isolated, its cries of Indian aggression drowned in a chorus of veiled reproaches over its longstanding duplicity in regional stability. In tactical execution, Operation Sindoor also introduced innovations in joint command integration. The seamless coordination between the Indian Air Force, cyber units, and satellite intelligence assets marked a maturation of Indias warfighting machinery.

Borrowing from Colin S Grays concept of strategic culture, this integration illustrated a shift in Indias self-conceptionfrom a restrained regional power to an assertive security actor willing to exercise punitive deterrence. No longer was India content with reactive strike packages or symbolic gestures; Sindoor was a declaration of capability, intent, and resolve. The economic underpinnings of the operation were also noteworthy. Strikes on Pakistans energy and transport infrastructure disguised beneath broader military targets resulted in cascading economic disruption. Oil refineries in Punjab province were disabled, rail lines cut off, and digital banking nodes disrupted.

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This layered warfare, where economic and military objectives overlapped, followed the teachings of hybrid warfare scholars like Frank Hoffman. It illustrated how 21st-century conflicts are won not just on the battlefield but across the interconnected grids of finance, data, and civil infrastructure.

The internal reverberations within Pakistan were immediate and stark. Protests erupted in several cities, not against India, but against the failure of the Pakistani military establishment to protect the homeland. The once-mythologized deep state was now a subject of public ridicule. Leaks from within the Pakistani armed forces revealed severe miscommunication, low morale, and logistical breakdowns. The ISI, once feared, found itself in a crisis of credibility as its supposed strategic assets lay exposed and destroyed.

This societal disillusionment with the military elite long the de facto rulers of Pakistan hinted at a deeper unraveling. Strategic theorists like Barry Buzan have often emphasized how state insecurity can become existential when domestic legitimacy erodes. Operation Sindoor triggered precisely such a trajectory. Above all, what Operation Sindoor achieved was a reframing of strategic discourse in South Asia. It punctured the myth of Pakistani parity, dissolved the aura of its nuclear brinkmanship, and exposed the vulnerabilities of its internal military architecture.

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In doing so, India reestablished a form of strategic clarity that had been absent since the Kargil conflict. The rules of engagement had changednot through declarations, but through demonstrable action. In retrospect, Operation Sindoor will be studied not merely as a military victory but as a doctrinal milestone. It demonstrated that strategic patience, when coupled with technological preparedness and political resolve, can evolve into strategic preemption.

Pakistan, having spent decades exporting instability and terror under the guise of plausible deniability, finally faced an adversary that neither flinched nor forgave. The ashes of its radar installations, its shattered airstrips, and the silent skies over Lahore are not just symbols of defeat; they are monuments to a failed ideology and a broken state.

Tehmeena Rizvi is a Policy Analyst and PhD scholar at Bennett University. Her areas of work include Women, Peace, and Security (South Asia), focusing on the intersection of gender, conflict, and religion, with a research emphasis on Kashmir, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Pakistans use of al Taqiyya, instead of proving to be a masterstroke of deception, might cost it dearly in the days to come. India is not likely to let down its guard or let Pakistan off the hook so easily this time read more

Did Pakistan lie, dissemble, cringe and deceive United States Donald J. Trump to win a temporary reprieve in the ongoing war with India. Worse, did President Trumps narcissism and compulsive social media impetuosity allow him to be so easily played by Pakistan? Regrettably, the answer to both these questions is, possibly, yes. Pakistan deployed al-Taqiyya, a classic Islamic ruse to deceive a stronger enemy in order to save its skin.

Most observers would agree that Pakistan, known to be an unscrupulous, terror-harbouring and terror-promoting rogue state, was getting the worst drubbing of its life in the on-going fight with India. Its airfields badly damaged, air defence nearly crippled, and badly losing its drone war against India, tried a weapon of second-last resort. Why do I say second last? Because the last resort option was, surely, the nuclear one. But India has, it would seem, once and for all called Pakistans nuclear bluff.

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What, then, is left for Pakistan, expect to cringe, beg, and run to big brother to save it? Pakistan used the N threat to game the US President, Donald J Trump into urging India into a ceasefire when we were clearly winning the war.

Trump, eager to position himself as a global peacemaker, took the bait. On May 10, 2025, he announced on his Truth Social platform: After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

What Pakistan accomplished is known in classical Islamist theology and strategy as al Taqiyya, dissimulation and subterfuge to ensure self-preservation in face of a stronger adversary. Al Taqiyya, a concept historically associated with Islamic jurisprudence, particularly in Shia theology but also recognized in broader Sunni contexts, permits deception in times of existential threat to protect oneself or the community.

In Pakistans case, this strategy was not merely theological but a calculated geopolitical manoeuvre. The conflict with India, sparked by a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists in April 2025, had escalated into the worst fighting between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. Indias retaliatory strikes targeted Pakistani military bases, including airfields and drone launchpads, severely weakening Pakistans military capabilities. Facing mounting losses and unable to counter Indias superior firepower, Pakistan needed a way to halt the conflict without conceding defeat.

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Posts on X suggest Pakistan may have amplified this narrative to pressure the United States, with some users claiming Pakistan won the war by telling USA that they would launch nuclear weapons, prompting Trump to intervene. While these posts are deceptive, because there is considerable evidence to suggest that India did hit Pakistans nuclear storage facilities, Pakistan did exploit nuclear fears to gain leverage. China, a long-standing ally of Pakistan, reportedly played a role in amplifying this narrative, possibly through diplomatic channels or misinformation campaigns, to ensure the United States would act swiftly to de-escalate the situation.

Trumps Truth Social statement, celebrated by his supporters as a diplomatic triumph, was the culmination of intense US-led mediation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance engaging senior Indian and Pakistani officials. However, Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later clarified that the ceasefire was negotiated directly between the two countries military operations directors, downplaying US involvement and suggesting Pakistan had exaggerated the American role to legitimize the truce domestically.

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Pakistans deception achieved its immediate goal: halting or at least slowing down Indias military offensive. Within hours of the ceasefire announcement, explosions were reported in Kashmir. Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, posted on X: What the hell just happened to the ceasefire? Explosions heard across Srinagar!!! India accused Pakistan of breaching the agreement, with Misri stating, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire agreed today, and ordering Indian forces to deal strongly with any further violations.

The role of China in this manoeuvre cannot be overlooked. As Pakistans strategic partner, China has a vested interest in countering Indias regional dominance and maintaining Pakistan as a buffer against Indian influence. In fact, China has come out openly on Pakistans side in this war.

This aligns with Chinas broader geopolitical strategy of using Pakistan to keep India preoccupied, thereby limiting New Delhis ability to challenge Beijing as an alternate production hub after the Trump tariffs.

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Pakistans success in manipulating Trump highlights the vulnerabilities of his administrations foreign policy approach. Trumps desire for quick diplomatic wins, coupled with a lack of deep engagement in South Asian complexities, made him susceptible to Pakistans ploy. Vice President JD Vances earlier comment that the India-Pakistan conflict was fundamentally none of our business underscored an initial reluctance to intervene, but the spectre of nuclear escalation changed the calculus.

But the aftermath of the ceasefire reveals the limitations of Pakistans al Taqiyya strategy. While it secured a temporary reprieve, the underlying tensions with India remain unresolved. The ceasefire did not address the root causes of the conflict, particularly Pakistans alleged support for terrorist groups operating in Kashmir, which India cites as the catalyst for its military actions. Moreover, Pakistans credibility suffered as India and global observers noted the rapid violations, reinforcing perceptions of Pakistan as an unreliable actor.

Pakistans use of al Taqiyya, instead of proving to be a masterstroke of deception, might cost it dearly in the days to come. India is not likely to let down its guard or let Pakistan off the hook so easily this time. India has recognized Pakistans repeated perfidy and will hit back harder, as PM Modi said, if needled again.

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The writer is an author and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness, said Trump at an investment forum in Riyadh read more

US President Donald Trump speaks at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Reuters

In a significant diplomatic shift, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria after a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump made the unexpected announcement while on a three-nation tour that began in Saudi Arabia. He will also be traveling to United Arab Emirates and Qatar. It is the first major foreign trip of his second term.

The move marks a major boost for Syrias interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he attempts to bring stability to a nation devastated by over a decade of conflict.

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I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness, Reuters quoted Trump as saying at an investment forum in Riyadh.

Its their time to shine. Were taking them all off, Trump said, Good luck Syria, show us something very special.

The White House confirmed that the US president would say hello to Sharaa during the visit, suggesting a face-to-face meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, reported Reuters.

Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who spent five years in US custody in Iraq, assumed Syrias interim leadership following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December after 13 years of brutal civil war.

According to Reuters, citing sources within the Syrian presidency, Sharaa would travel to Riyadh to meet with Trump in what is being seen as a highly symbolic gesture of international recognition.

Saudi Arabia has been a leading voice calling for the sanctions to be lifted.

Trump said he would remove all sanctions against Syria, saying they had served an important function, but it was now time for Syria to move forward.

Sharaa was for years the leader of al Qaedas official wing in the Syrian conflict, before he severed ties with the global jihadist network in 2016.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group Sharaa led and which was formally dissolved in January, is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States and the United Nations.

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With inputs from agencies
Violent conflicts remained the leading cause of internal displacement in 2024, forcing nearly 90 per cent of displaced individuals to flee within their own countries read more

(File) Somalis, who have been displaced due to drought, settle at a camp on the outskirts of Dollow, Somalia. AP

A historic and sobering milestone has been reached in the global displacement crisis. According to the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025, released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the number of people internally displaced within their own countries soared to 83.4 million by the end of 2024the highest figure ever recorded.

This unprecedented number reflects the compounding impacts of armed conflict, natural disasters and climate change, each contributing to the crisis in increasingly intertwined ways. It marks a doubling of the total figure in just six years highlighting a rapidly worsening global emergency that the reports authors describe as both a humanitarian and political failure.

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Conflict and violence: The leading driver

In 2024, the vast majority of internal displacements were driven by conflict and violence, which were the primary forces uprooting people from their homes. These factors were responsible for close to 90 per cent of all cases, making them the leading contributors to the global surge in internally displaced populations. An estimated 73.5 million people were forced to flee their homes due to armed violence, ethnic strife, civil war or other forms of conflicta staggering 80 per cent increase since 2018.

The report singles out Sudan, currently engulfed in a devastating civil war, as the country with the highest number of IDPs in the world. At the end of 2024, 11.6 million people remained displaced within Sudans borders, the highest figure ever recorded in a single country. The conflict has led to the collapse of basic services and overwhelmed humanitarian efforts, creating a massive crisis that shows little sign of resolution.

In the Gaza Strip, nearly two million peopleessentially the territorys entire populationwere internally displaced by the end of 2024. This figure predates the renewed escalation of violence that erupted after a temporary ceasefire ended on March 18, 2025. With Israel resuming its military operations in Gaza, new waves of displacement have since taken place, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

At least ten countries had more than three million conflict-displaced individuals by the end of 2024, double the number from just four years ago. Other heavily impacted nations include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan and Myanmar, all grappling with protracted conflicts and fragile governance structures.

Disasters and climate: Accelerating displacement

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While armed conflict remains the leading cause of displacement, the role of climate-related disasters is growing rapidly. In 2024, disasters triggered 45.8 million new internal displacements marking the highest annual figure ever recorded since the IDMC began monitoring in 2008.

This total represents more than double the annual average of the past decade, and significantly more than the 20.1 million displacements caused by conflict in the same year.

Weather-related eventsespecially those intensified by climate changewere responsible for 99.5 per cent of disaster-related displacements in 2024. These include:

Cyclones and Hurricanes: Hurricanes Helene and Milton were particularly destructive in the United States, leading to 11 million internal displacementsnearly a quarter of the global total for disaster-related movement.

Floods: Flooding was the second-most common cause of disaster displacement, responsible for 42 per cent of such movements. Countries like Chad, Afghanistan, Brazil, the Philippines and regions across Europe all experienced severe flood events that displaced millions.

Typhoons: In East Asia, Typhoon Yagi alone triggered mass evacuations and displacement across several nations.

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Although some displacements were pre-emptive evacuationsused as a life-saving measure in high-risk areasthe report warns that many of these individuals remain displaced for prolonged periods due to inadequate recovery planning and insufficient support systems. A total of 53 countries and territories reported using pre-emptive evacuations in 2024, though the actual number is likely higher given incomplete data.

Overlapping crises: Conflict and climate intertwined

An increasingly concerning trend is the convergence of conflict and disaster-driven displacement in the same countries. Since 2009, the number of nations experiencing both has tripled. In these areas, overlapping crises not only erode resilience but also strain already limited governmental resources.

According to the report, over three-quarters of people displaced by conflict in 2024 were living in countries deemed highly or very highly vulnerable to climate change. This intersectionality exacerbates the difficulty of recovery, stretches the capacity of humanitarian response systems, and heightens the likelihood of secondary or repeated displacements.

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The situation is particularly dire in fragile states and regions with limited governance, where people are often forced to flee multiple times throughout the year due to shifting frontlines, repeated flooding or ongoing natural disasters.

Humanitarian response under pressure

The alarming rise in internal displacement comes at a time when humanitarian organisations are under immense financial strain, especially following the return of US President Donald Trump to office in January 2025. One of his administrations first actions was to freeze most U.S. foreign aid funding, significantly reducing global support for displaced populations.

The NRC and other humanitarian groups warn that these funding cuts have immediate and devastating consequences for millions of IDPs, who already receive less international attention than refugeesthose who cross national borders.

Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said that every time humanitarian funding was cut, another displaced person lost access to food, medicine, safety, and hope. He added that the lack of progress was both a policy failure and a moral stain on humanity.

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Egeland urged the global community to treat internal displacement not just as a humanitarian issue, but also as a development and political challenge that requires sustained leadership, accountability and investment.

A call for global solidarity and action

The report concludes with a strong call to action. Both Alexandra Bilak, Director of IDMC and Egeland stress that the data must not be ignored. Without a substantial shift in political will, policy innovation and financial investment, the number of displaced people will continue to risealong with human suffering.

The cost of inaction is rising, and displaced people are paying the price, Bilak told Le Monde.. We now have the data and the tools. Its time to use themto prevent displacement where possible, support recovery when it happens, and invest in building the resilience of communities at risk.

Bilak emphasised the need for long-term solutions to displacement, which include addressing the root causes of conflict and poverty, adapting to climate risks and ensuring displaced people are included in national development plans.

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The record-breaking figures outlined in the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025 paint a stark picture of a world in crisis. With over 83 million people displaced within their own countries, the need for global solidarity, strategic action and durable solutions has never been more urgent.

Unless the international community responds decisively, the burden of displacement will continue to fall disproportionately on the worlds most vulnerableeroding lives, livelihoods, and the hope for a more stable and equitable future.
India welcomes Russias offer for direct talks with Ukraine. Talks present an opportunity for both parties to address their concerns through dialogue and diplomacy, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. read more

India on Tuesday welcomed Russias offer of direct talks with Ukraine, saying it provides an opportunity to both sides to address their concerns through dialogue and diplomacy.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has consistently called for sincere and practical engagement between Russia and Ukraine to resolve their ongoing conflict.

India welcomes Russias offer for direct talks with Ukraine. Talks present an opportunity for both parties to address their concerns through dialogue and diplomacy, he said.

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India has consistently advocated the need for sincere and practical engagement between Russia and Ukraine to ensure early and abiding peace, he added. Jaiswal was responding to a question at a media briefing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that he will travel to Turkey this week for a potential face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, under mounting pressure from the United States and European leaders to pursue a negotiated end to the war, now in its fourth year.

Zelenskyy said he would arrive in Ankara on Thursday for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after which both leaders will head to Istanbul and await Putins arrival.

With inputs from agencies
During a meeting with Nepals Parliament Speaker Indira Rana, Yunus called for an integrated economic plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Seven Sisters read more

Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has once again appeared to have suggested that Indias Northeast is independent from the country, months after he called the region landlocked.

In a post on X, the interim government elaborated on Yunus meeting with Indira Rana, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives of Nepal Parliament, saying, Yunus has called for an integrated economic strategy between Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Seven North Eastern States of India, emphasising the potential of cross-border collaboration in hydropower, healthcare, and road connectivity.

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Chief Adviser Calls for Regional Economic Integration and Hydro Power Collaboration with Nepal



DHAKA, May 12: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called for an integrated economic strategy between Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Seven North Eastern States of India, pic.twitter.com/ouwJ24b6fZ  Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) May 12, 2025

He called for an integrated economic plan for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Seven Sisters, adding that these countries and Indias Northeast have more to gain together than apart.

Last month, during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the chief advisor sparked a row by calling the Northeastern region landlocked and saying that there is no way for the seven states to reach out to the ocean.

Seven states of India, eastern part of India, called seven sisters they are landlocked country, landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean, Yunus said.

We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So this opens up a huge possibility. So this could be an extension of the Chinese economy. Build things, produce things, market things, bring things to China, bring it out to the whole rest of the world, the Bangladesh leader added.

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Macron and his wife, Brigitte, will stay at Windsor Castle for the visit, which will take place from July 8 to July 10, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday. read more

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, speaks with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on March 27, 2025. File Image- AP

French President Emmanuel Macron will make a state visit to the United Kingdom in July, as the two countries seek to bolster ties to counter Russian aggression and the economic fallout from U.S. President Donald Trumps aggressive trade policy.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte, will stay at Windsor Castle for the visit, which will take place from July 8 to July 10, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday.

The dates mean that Macron will likely beat Trump to London. Charles in February invited Trump to make an unprecedented second state visit to Britain, but a date hasnt yet been set.

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Charles and Queen Camilla traveled to France in September 2023 in a visit that highlighted the historic ties between Britain and its closest European neighbor. The trip came after years of sometimes prickly relations strained by Britains exit from the European Union and disagreements over the growing number of migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats.

Speaking to French lawmakers in the Senate chamber in Paris on the second day of that visit, Charles said the alliance between Britain and France was more important than ever as he recalled how they had worked together to defeat Nazi Germany.

Charles was a frequent visitor to France before becoming king, making 35 official visits to the country as heir to the throne.

The last time a French head of state made a state visit to Britain was in March 2008, when President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, were the guests of Queen Elizabeth II.

State visits are ceremonial meetings between heads of state that are used to honor friendly nations and sometimes smooth relations between rivals. While the king formally issues the invitation for a state visit, he does so on the advice of the elected government.

State visits to Britain are particularly prized by some heads of state because they come with a full complement of royal pomp and circumstance, including military reviews, carriage rides and a glittering state banquet hosted by the monarch.

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The events normally take place in and around Buckingham Palace in central London. But the Macrons will stay at Windsor Castle, to the west of the capital. Buckingham Palace is undergoing extensive remodeling.
In Indias response to Pakistani attacks on Indian military and civilian sites, at least 11 personnel were killed and 78 were injured, according to Pakistani military read more

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief General Asim Munir attend the funeral of a person killed in an Indian airstrike on a terrorist facility conducted on May 7, 2025, under Operation Sindoor. (Photo: Pakistan ISPR)

Pakistan has said that at least 11 soldiers were killed in the exchange of fire over the past week.

After India launched airstrikes on nine terrorist sites under Operation Sindoor on May 7, Pakistan responded with attacks on Indian military and civilian sites. This led to Indian bombardment that hammered at least eight Pakistani airbases in addition to air defence installations, radar sites, and other military facilities. The two sides were also locked in intense cross-border firing along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

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India has said that at least 35-40 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Indias response to Pakistans cross-border firing. India has also said that more than 100 terrorists were also killed in Indian strikes, which included high value targets like Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassir Ahmad, who were involved in the IC-814 hijacking.

Pakistan has said that six among the dead were from the Army and five were from the Air Force. It further said that 78 soldiers were injured.

Pakistan said that the following personnel from the Army were killed:

Naik Abdul Rehman

Lance Naik Dilawar Khan

Lance Naik Ikramullah

Naik Waqar Khalid

Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar

Sepoy Nisar

Pakistan said that the following personnel from the Air Force were killed:

Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf

Chief Technician Aurangzeb

Senior Technician Najeeb

Corporal Technician Farooq

Senior Technician Mubashir

The way Pakistan joined the fight on the side of terrorists and its senior military and civilian officials attended terrorists funerals showed the complicity between of Paksitani military in terrorism.

ALSO READ: Operation Sindoor: Pakistans innocent man leading prayers is US-sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Abdur Rauf

In response to Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and dubbed the period between May 7 and May 10 as Marka-e-Haq, loosely translated into English as Battle of Truth.

While India made sure to not attack civilian sites, Pakistani attacks have caused great damage in the Jammu region, particularly in Poonch district where several houses and neighbourhoods have been shelled and people have had to flee for their lives. Pakistan also shelled a temple, a gurdwara, and a school in the district.

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In a major boost to US-Saudi ties, President Trump secured a $600 billion investment pledge from Riyadh and agreed on a $142 billion arms deal  touted as Washingtons largest-ever defence agreement read more

US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Reuters

In a major boost to US-Saudi ties, President Donald Trump secured a $600 billion investment pledge from Riyadh and agreed on a $142 billion arms deal  touted as Washingtons largest-ever defence agreement

Trump is on a three-nation tour that began in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. He will also be travelling to United Arab Emirates and Qatar. It is the first major foreign trip of his second term.

Trump emerged from Air Force One punching in the air as he was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two later signed a sweeping agreement in Riyadh covering energy, defence, mining, and other sectors.

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As part of the visit, Trump also finalised a nearly $142 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia, which the White House described as the largest defence cooperation deal in US history.

The package includes contracts with over a dozen American defence firms in key areas such as air and missile defence, aerospace, maritime security, and military communications.

Today we hope for investment opportunities worth $600 billion, including deals worth $300 billion that were signed during this forum, Reuters quoted the Saudi crown prince as saying in a speech during a US-Saudi Investment Forum session held in Riyadh on the occasion of Trumps visit.

We will work in the coming months on the second phase to complete deals and raise it to $1 trillion, he added.

Saudi Arabia ranks among the top buyers of US weaponry. In April, Reuters reported that Washington was preparing to offer the kingdom an arms package exceeding $100 billion in value.

I really believe we like each other a lot, Reuters quoted Trump as saying during a meeting with the crown prince, Saudi Arabias de facto ruler.

The US and Saudi Arabia have held talks on Riyadhs possible acquisition of Lockheed Martins F-35 fighter jets, Reuters quoted sources familiar with the discussions, a deal long sought by the kingdom. However, it remains unclear if the F-35s are part of the package announced Tuesday.

President Trump, joined by US business leaders including Elon Musk, will continue his Gulf tour with stops in Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Interestingly, Israel is not on the itinerary, prompting speculation about its current standing in US foreign policy priorities. The focus of Trumps visit is centered on economic investment rather than regional security.

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While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih told the investment forum.

As a result  when Saudis and Americans join forces very good things happen, more often than not great things happen when those joint ventures happen, he said before Trumps arrival.

Trump told the investment forum that relations with Saudi Arabia will be even stronger.

He was shown speaking with Riyadhs sovereign wealth fund governor Yaser al-Rumayyan, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, and Falih as he toured a hall that showed off models for the kingdoms flashy, multi-billion-dollar development projects.

Trump called the Saudi crown prince a friend and said they have a good relationship, according to a pool report from the Wall Street Journal, adding that Saudi investment would help create jobs in the U.S.

Big investments

Business leaders at the investment forum included Larry Fink, the CEO of asset management firm BlackRock; Stephen A. Schwartzman, CEO of asset manager Blackstone; and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Musk chatted briefly with both Trump and the crown prince, who is otherwise known as MbS, during a palace reception for the U.S. president. And joining Trump for a lunch with MbS were top US businessmen including Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

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MbS has focused on diversifying the Saudi economy in a major reform programme dubbed Vision 2030 that includes Giga-projects such as NEOM, a futuristic city the size of Belgium. Oil generated 62% of Saudi government revenue last year.

The kingdom has scaled back some of its ambitions as rising costs and falling oil prices weigh.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have maintained strong ties for decades based on an ironclad arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security in exchange.

Trump left Israel off his schedule although he wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a new ceasefire deal in the 19-month-old Gaza war.

Israels military operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its assassinations of the two Iran-allied groups leaders, have at the same time given Trump more leverage by weakening Tehran and its regional allies.

U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Oman at the weekend to discuss a potential deal to curb Tehrans nuclear program. Trump has threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.

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Trump told the investment forum he wants to offer Iran a new and better path toward a more helpful future. If no new nuclear deal is reached, he said, Tehran will face maximum pressure.

Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said last week he expected progress imminently on expanding accords brokered by Trump in his 2017-21 first term under which Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco recognised Israel.

Trump said it was his fervent hope that Saudi Arabia would soon sign its own normalization agreement with Israel, adding, But youll do it in your own time.

Still, Netanyahus opposition to a permanent stop to the war in Gaza or to the creation of a Palestinian state makes progress on similar talks with the Saudis unlikely, sources told Reuters.

With inputs from agencies
Sentiment shifts influenced by the Trump administrations America First rhetoric and related immigration policies are exacerbating tourism woes, as is the strong US dollar read more

US President Donald Trump's moves seem to have upset the US tourism industry. File image/AP

The United States is bracing for a substantial decline in tourism revenue, projected to lose $12.5 billion in 2025, marking a 7 percent drop year-on-year, according to exclusive data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Bloomberg reported.

Visitor spending is anticipated to fall below $169 billion by years end, reflecting a 22 per cent decline since the peak in 2019, making the US the only nation among 184 analysed to see a projected decrease in tourism income.

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Julia Simpson, president and chief executive of WTTC, highlighted the severity of the issue: Other countries are really rolling out the welcome mat, and it feels like the US is putting up a we are closed sign at their doorway. Simpson emphasised that the ramifications could be severe given tourisms significant economic footprint, with the sector accounting for nearly $2.6 trillion, or 9 per cent of the US economy, employing 20 million people and contributing approximately $585 billion annually in taxes.

Are Trumps policies, stances bad for tourism?

Several factors contribute to this downturn. Lingering Covid-era travel restrictions initiated during the Biden administration initially deterred international travellers. However, the persistently strong dollar has amplified the cost barriers, notably discouraging key visitor groups from Japan and Europe. Simpson added, The Japanese used to visit the US a lot, but the strong dollar made it quite an expensive place Same with Europeans.

Moreover, sentiment shifts influenced by the current administrations America First rhetoric and related immigration policies are exacerbating tourism woes. Recent data from the US Department of Commerce shows significant declines in arrivals from major markets: visits from the UK dropped 15 percent year-over-year in March, while German visits plunged 28 per cent, and South Korean arrivals fell 15 per cent. Markets such as Spain, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic reported declines between 24 and 33 per cent.

The impact is particularly stark in major gateways and border regions. New York City revised its 2025 forecast downward, anticipating 400,000 fewer tourists and a $4 billion decline in revenue compared to the previous year. Although domestic visits are set to rise modestly, international visitors, who spend more and stay longer, will decrease sharply.

Governor Kathy Hochul indicated similar challenges in upstate regions, particularly near the Canadian border, where 66 per cent of businesses reported significant drops in Canadian bookings due to President Donald Trumps 51st state comments and increased tariffs. As a result, about 26 per cent of these businesses have already adjusted staffing levels.

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WTTC now forecasts it could take until at least 2030 for US tourism to rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Proposed legislative changes, such as increasing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee from $21 to $40, threaten to compound difficulties.

Can US tourism numbers bounce back?

Simpson remains optimistic but warns, The thing about tourism is its extremely resilientIf you push the right buttons, it will bounce back. But increasing the cost of an ESTA will only deter people further.

Meanwhile, competitor nations, including India, China, and those in the Middle East, are capitalising on simplified visa processes and attractive policies, further intensifying the competition the US faces in reviving its travel industry.
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Donald Trumps surprise claim of brokering peace between India and Pakistan has sparked debate over his sudden move. While India rejected his assertion about trade threats, analysts see his move as part of a broader bid to reclaim global relevance amid unfulfilled promises. read more

In the tense aftermath of Operation Sindoor, as hostilities between India and Pakistan drew international concern, US President Donald Trump made a surprise diplomatic pitch that has left analysts debating his move. Was it a genuine attempt to defuse tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbours or a calculated move tied to his own legacy and electoral fortunes?

While senior American officials engaged in backchannel talks with New Delhi to manage the crisis, Trump publicly claimed that his administration had brokered a ceasefire and warned both countries of losing access to US trade if they did not stand down. However, India on Monday refuted Trumps claim, stating categorically that Washington had issued no such threat that bilateral trade would suffer unless it agreed to de-escalate tensions with Pakistan.

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The Nobel Peace Prize factor

Trump has long nurtured ambitions of being remembered as a global peacemaker, a theme he emphasised right from his inaugural address, where he stated: My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. Thats what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.

In the years since, he has made no secret of his yearning for a Nobel Peace Prize. According to a 2020 report in The Hill, Trump privately complained about not receiving a Nobel Prize, saying: If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds.

According to foreign policy experts at the Brookings Institution, Trumps offer to mediate between India and Pakistan came during a period when he was facing criticism for failed negotiations with North Korea. Reuters reported at the time that the offer was immediately rejected by India, which maintains that Kashmir is a bilateral issue.

A pattern of unfulfilled promises

Trump has made similar grandiose claims about resolving other global conflicts. With both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict continuing to rage, and with little progress on normalising Israeli-Saudi ties or reviving the Iran nuclear deal, Trumps international diplomacy record remains mixed. Analysts say this may explain his current pivot to South Asia.

The Indo-Pak conflict has historically drawn global concern but limited foreign intervention. Trumps sudden comments on the issue, calling for urgent de-escalation and offering US assistance, appear to insert himself into a high-stakes regional crisis to avoid various international and domestic issues.

Domestic political factors may also be influencing Trumps renewed global ambitions. Facing flagging poll numbers and backlash over economic policies, such as tariffs that hurt American manufacturers, Trump has returned to campaign promises of tax cuts and lowering drug prices. But foreign policy optics, especially the image of a peace-broker in a volatile region, could serve as a more dramatic boost to his international stature and voter appeal.

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With his signature tariffs hurting key voter bases, as reported by Politico, the Kashmir mediation offer may have been an attempt to shift public attention.

Israeli-Saudi normalisation slipping away

Trump had touted his Abraham Accords as a breakthrough in Middle East diplomacy, laying the groundwork for possible Israeli-Saudi normalisation. But with the Gaza war raging and civilian casualties mounting, those plans have receded and there is little momentum toward resuming talks. Similarly, his earlier push for a nuclear deal with Iran appears stalled, with no new initiatives visible on the horizon.
Trump essentially halted refugee arrivals after taking office, but is making an exception for the Afrikaners despite Pretorias insistence that they do not face persecution in their homeland read more

The first group of Afrikaners from South Africa to arrive for resettlement listen to remarks from US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar (both out of frame), after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, on May 12, 2025. AFP

A group of around 50 white South Africans arrived on Monday for resettlement in the United States after President Donald Trump granted them refugee status as victims of what he called a genocide."

Trump essentially halted refugee arrivals after taking office, but is making an exception for the Afrikaners despite Pretorias insistence that they do not face persecution in their homeland.

Welcome to the land of the free, Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau said as he greeted the South Africans, several of whom were waving small American flags, at Dulles Airport in Virginia following their flight from Johannesburg.

Were sending a clear message that the United States really rejects the egregious persecution of people on the basis of race in South Africa, Landau said.

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Speaking at the White House shortly before the groups arrival, Trump, who is expected to meet with South African leaders next week, said the Afrikaners were fleeing a terrible situation back home.

Trump, whose tycoon ally Elon Musk was born in South Africa, said white farmers were being killed in the country and repeated an allegation of genocide that has been widely dismissed as absurd.

Its a terrible situation taking place, the president said. So weve essentially extended citizenship to those people to escape from that violence and come here.

Those being resettled just happen to be white, but whether theyre white or black makes no difference to me, Trump said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed claims Afrikaners were being persecuted and said he recently told Trump what he is being told about their situation is not true.

A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political persecution, religious persecution, or economic persecution, Ramaphosa said. And they dont fit that bill.

Were the only country on the continent where the colonizers came to stay and we have never driven them out of our country, he added at a forum in Abidjan.

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South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola also scoffed at claims that white Afrikaners face persecution or are being targeted for murder.

Most victims of killings in South Africa are young black men in urban areas, according to official data.

The crime that we have in South Africa affects everyone irrespective of race and gender, Lamola said.

Beyond absurd

Under eligibility guidelines published by the US embassy, applicants for US resettlement must either be of Afrikaner ethnicity or belong to a racial minority in South Africa.

They must also be able to articulate a past experience of persecution or fear of future persecution.

Trump and Musk have accused South Africas government of targeting Afrikaners with a controversial land seizure law enacted this year.

On Monday, Trump threatened to not attend an upcoming G20 summit in South Africa unless the situation is taken care of.

Americas biggest trading partner in Africa is also under fire from Washington for leading a case at the International Court of Justice accusing US ally Israel of genocidal acts in its Gaza offensive, a claim Israel denies.

Many have expressed bemusement that whites could be assigned victim status in South Africa.

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Prominent Afrikaner author Max du Preez said the resettlement was beyond absurd.

This is about Trump and MAGA, not about us. Its about their hatred for DEI, he told AFP, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion programs that have become a favorite Trump target.

The people who have now fled have probably been motivated by financial considerations and/or an unwillingness to live in a post-apartheid society where whites no longer call the shots, he said.

Whites, who make up 7.3 percent of the population, generally enjoy a higher standard of living than the black majority. They still own two-thirds of farmland and on average earn three times as much as black South Africans.

Mainly Afrikaner-led governments imposed the race-based apartheid system that denied black people political and economic rights until it was voted out in 1994.
Apple is preparing to increase prices for its iPhone 17 lineup, expected to launch in fall 2025, sources told The Wall Street Journal. The price hikes will accompany new features, including a thinner design, but Apple wants to avoid tying the increases to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Most iPhones are made in China, where a 20% U.S. tariff, enacted by President Trump in his second term, targets smartphones due to Beijings role in the fentanyl trade. A separate reciprocal tariff on Chinese goods dropped from 125% to 10% under a recent U.S.-China trade agreement, with smartphones exempted.

Apples CEO, Tim Cook, said tariffs will add $900 million in costs this quarter, with more expected later. The company is carefully framing the price increases to focus on new designs rather than trade policies.

New iPhone Designs and Tariff Challenges

The iPhone 17 lineup will include an ultrathin model replacing the iPhone 16 Plus, which starts at $899. Current iPhone 16 models range from $799 for the base version to $1,199 for the Pro Max. The new designs aim to justify the higher prices, though specific features remain unclear.

Apple faces pressure from the U.S.-China trade conflict, which impacts its supply chain. Tim Cook revealed that most U.S.-bound iPhones for the AprilJune 2025 quarter will originate from Indias manufacturing plants.

This shift aims to reduce reliance on Chinese production amid tariff challenges. China remains essential for high-end Pro and Pro Max models, which have advanced cameras and larger batteries. Jefferies estimates 36 to 39 million of the 65 million iPhones sold in the U.S. last year were these premium models.

Supply Chain Shifts and Production Limits

Apple finds it difficult to cover tariff-related costs by cutting supplier expenses, making higher prices necessary to maintain profits. Company leaders are hesitant to cite tariffs as the reason for price increases, preferring to highlight other factors to justify the change to customers.

Apple is exploring U.S. production but expects it to take years, according to the Journal. Supply chain planners believe tariffs on Chinese goods will stay higher than those on Indian or Vietnamese goods, pushing Apple to expand in India. Last year, India handled 13% to 14% of global iPhone shipments, a figure expected to double in 2025, said TechInsights analyst Abhilash Kumar.

Future Production Goals and Market Demands

Kumar believes India could meet U.S. and Indian iPhone demand by late 2026 or early 2027, though China will remain key for components. Jefferies analysts are less optimistic, calling it a tall order for India to produce 40 million high-end iPhones within two years to cover both markets.

Apples strategy involves balancing trade challenges, scaling production in new regions, and introducing fresh designs. The company aims to maintain customer trust while managing rising costs and evolving global trade policies. The iPhone 17s price increases and new features reflect Apples efforts to adapt to these complex dynamics.

Source
motorola just launched the razr 60 ultra, the companys latest flagship flip phone in India, as it had promised. The phone packs a large 7-inch FHD+ internal foldable LTPO pOLED screen with 1-165Hz refresh rate.

It retains the large 4-inch FHD+ outer pOLED screen with 1-165Hz LPTO screen, and the brightness has increased for both the displays. It is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, gets a 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide and a 50MP front camera.

The phones come with a moto ai prompts, Catch Me Up, Pay Attention, and Remember This, which have evolved based on consumer feedback, according to the company.

There is a dedicated AI Key to easily access moto ai from anywhere. When the phone is in stand or tent mode, users can go hands-free and enable Look & Talk with just a glance and converse with moto ai to answer quick questions, summarize notifications or transcribe conversations. It packs a 4700mAh battery with 68W TurboPower fast charging and 30W wireless charging.

motorola razr 60 ultra specifications

Internal  6.96-inch (12242992 pixels) FlexView 1.5K pOLED LTPO display, 1-165Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, up to 4,000 nits peak brightness

External  4-inch (12721080 pixels) QuickView pOLED LTPO display, 1-165Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic protection, up to 3,000 nits peak brightness

Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Elite 3nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 830 GPU

16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 512GB UFS 4.0 storage

Android 15 (3 OS + 4 Years SMR)

Dual SIM (eSIM + nano)

50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, OIS, 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.0 aperture

50MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture

USB Type-C Audio, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos

Dimensions: 73.99 mm (open and closed) x 171.48 mm (open) / 88.12 mm (closed) x 7.29 mm (open) / 15.69 mm (closed); Weight:189g

Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Water resistant (IP48)

5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7 802.11be (2.4GHz & 5GHz & 6GHz) MIMO, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou, USB Type-C, NFC

4700mAh battery, 68W TurboPower fast charging, 30W wireless charging

Pricing and availability

The motorola razr 60 ultra comes in PANTONE Scarab, PANTONE Rio red and PANTONE Mountain Trail colours and is priced at Rs. 99,999 for the single 16GB + 512GB model. With bank offers, the effective price is Rs. 89,999.

The phone will be available from Amazon.in, in addition to motorola.com, Reliance Digital and offline stores starting from May 21st.

Launch offers

Rs. 10,000 Instant Bank discount from leading banks

Additional No Cost EMI offer upto 12 Months starting at 7500/ per month on leading banks

Benefits worth Rs. 15000 with Reliance Jio SIM

Commenting on the launch, T.M. Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola India said:

With the motorola razr 60 ultra, were proud to introduce a device that perfectly blends iconic design with next-gen intelligence. Powered by an incredibly powerful processor and our most advanced moto AI capabilities, the razr 60 ultra transforms the way users interact with their smartphonemaking it smarter, more intuitive, and deeply personal. Its advanced triple 50MP camera system sets a new standard for imaging in the segment, while the ultra-premium design underscores our commitment to combining style with substance. This launch is a bold stride in our mission to deliver meaningful innovation to the flagship smartphone segment, aligned with our vision of Motorola as a true lifestyle tech brand.
Chinese FM meets Brazilian guests in Beijing

Xinhua) 14:03, May 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, and Celso Amorim, special advisor to the president of Brazil, in Beijing on Monday.

Both sides reviewed the frequent exchanges between the two heads of state in recent years, and made preparations for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to China, especially the important talks about to be held between the two heads of state.

They unanimously agreed to promote the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future in accordance with the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, adhere to multilateralism, safeguard common international rules and the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South, and make contributions to promoting world peace, stability and development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues, expressing support for direct dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and pledged to play their role in the Group of Friends for Peace to gather more international consensus for promoting the political settlement of the crisis.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
She used a da Vinci robot for the procedure, which passes skinny arms holding tiny surgical instruments, including a camera and microscope, through a single port into the mouth. She controls the arms with a console in the operating room.

Its kind of like a video game, she said. It lets us get to places that are hard to reach.

Using the robotic arms, Marchiano took a tiny sample of Davids tonsil.

She sent it to pathology, which confirmed the location of the cancerous cells in real time, guiding her to what she needed to remove.

David had what Marchiano calls a classic presentation of the cancer.

He came in with a lump in his neck, but he didnt have any symptoms because his tumor is tiny, she said.

However, Marchiano saw microscopic evidence that his cancer may be growing outside his lymph nodes.

The team had a plan for that, too.

The other side of things

The TORS procedure eliminated the need for radiation to his throat, but David still needed radiation therapy for his neck to improve swallowing and prevent dry mouth.

He received proton therapy at Fred Hutch one of fewer than 100 centers worldwide that offer it  because it spares more tissue than standard radiation and decreases side effects to surrounding tissues.

On Davids first day of therapy, he got a boost of courage from an unexpected source.

The folks he works with at Seattle Childrens had just brought a child to Fred Hutch for the same treatment he was receiving.

I showed up and one of our teams was there taking a kid for proton therapy, he said. We dont do that often. I havent taken a kid to proton for a few months now. But there they were, the team I work with. They came over and gave me a hug. It was strange to be on the other side of things, but I figured if this was where we take our own patients, I knew I was in the right place.

'Crazy nice' people

Pain after surgery was excruciating for David, which Marchiano had warned him about, but proton therapy was more manageable.

I still have nerve pain in my neck and jaw, but Im learning to live with my new face and neck, he said. My jawline, right earlobe and the whole right side of my neck feel numb and tingly. It's the new me. I look like everything is fine, but I feel it constantly. My neck feels a little goofy, but I'll take it  I'm alive.

David's cancer has more than a 90% five-year overall survival rate, said Marchiano, who sees David every six months for follow-up, including imaging.

We were able to piece together really high-quality care because of our team of experts, she said. His side effects and functionality are excellent, and we gave him equivalent survival outcomes with fantastic functional outcomes because we have all these team members to think outside the box and come up with a plan.

David said his job takes him to many hospitals and Fred Hutch stands out.

Dr. Marchiano is such a badass and everyone else is too, he said. Its crazy to be somewhere where every single person, whether its the person who takes your name when you check in or your doctor, is so nice. Walking through the hallways, there is just a lot of sadness there. But everyone who works there is so happy. Even going to get coffee in between appointments, its like, Oh, theyre lovely as well.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard (a joint group with the Grand Junction Police Department) prepares the U.S. and Colorado flags to fly at half mast in honor of fallen law enforcement officers. The Monday vigil in front of the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, 215 Rice St., is the first of a few events taking place during National Police Week.
U.S. and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces Launch African Lion 25 in Morocco

U.S. and Royal Moroccan Armed forces officially began the Morocco portion of African Lion 25, the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent, with training events beginning this week across multiple regions of the Kingdom of Morocco.

By SETAF-AF Public Affairs Office , United States Africa Command AGADIR, Morocco May 12, 2025

U.S. and Royal Moroccan Armed forces officially began the Morocco portion of African Lion 25, the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent, with training events beginning this week across multiple regions of the Kingdom of Morocco.

African Lion 25 (AL25) demonstrates the enduring strategic military partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States. The exercise features joint operations involving ground, air, and combined staff components, designed to strengthen regional security, promote interoperability, and build readiness across allied and partner forces.

"Exercise African Lion 25 exemplifies the robust and enduring defense partnership between the United States and Morocco, showcasing our shared commitment to regional stability and security," said U.S. Air Force Col. Seward Matwick, the defense attache for U.S. Embassy Rabat. "Through this joint effort, we enhance our operational readiness and strengthen the bonds of cooperation with our Moroccan counterparts and other participating nations."

This year's Morocco-based activities include field training exercises (FTX), a planning exercise (PLANEX), and live-fire drills, along with humanitarian and academic exchanges focused on enhancing multinational coordination and operational effectiveness. The Kingdom of Morocco is hosting the largest concentration of activities for this iteration of African Lion, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of regional security cooperation.

AL25 further deepens the U.S.-Morocco defense partnership through the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The Utah National GuardMorocco's official state partner since 2003 will play a direct role in the humanitarian civic assistance exchange during this year's exercise.

AL25 serves as a practical demonstration of U.S. Africa Command's (USAFRICOM) ability to project power across Africa. From strategic airlift to sustainment operations, the exercise tests and validates the Army's expeditionary logistics network.

African Lion demonstrates our ability to project combat power across Africa," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Hannah K. Williams, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) G4 exercise chief. "The strategic lift, reception, and onward movement of forces and materiel required to support this exercise not only highlight our logistical capabilities, but also our commitment to global readiness. We don't just movewe position ourselves to respond rapidly and decisively alongside our partners."

"Our logistics teams and Moroccan counterparts have developed a seamless working rhythm over the years," added U.S. Army Maj. Jonathan F. Alvis, SETAF-AF logistics planner for AL25 in Morocco. "Exercises like African Lion show that we don't just plan together, we solve problems together, under pressure and in real time."

Participating nations include Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, France, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"Morocco is a strategic partner that for the last 21 years has been the primary host for Exercise African Lion, their steadfast support, multinational inclusion, and unwavering support make the exercise successful year after year. They remain a vital and trusted partner in our shared pursuit of stability and security in the region," said Eldridge Browne, Chief of Exercises for SETAF-AF. "African Lion showcases how we train, deploy, and operate together as a combined and joint all domain force."

AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by USAFRICOM with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win.

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DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan

May 12 2025

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem today announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan. The TPS designation for the country expires on May 20, 2025, and the termination will be effective on July 12, 2025.

At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate U.S. government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met, and if so, how long to extend the designation.

"This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent," said Secretary Kristi Noem. "We've reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country. Additionally, the termination furthers the national interest as DHS records indicate that there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security. Reviewing TPS designations is a key part of restoring integrity in our immigration system."

After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Noem determined that conditions in Afghanistan no longer meet the statutory requirements. The Secretary's decision was based on a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services review of the country conditions and in consultation with the Department of State. The Secretary determined that, overall, there are notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to ongoing-armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions. She further determined that permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States.

Additional information is available in the Federal Register Notice.

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United Arab Emirates - CH-47F Chinook Helicopters

NEWS | May 12, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 24-118

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.32 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy six (6) CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters with air-to-air refuel probe capability and extended range fuel tanks; sixteen (16) T-55-GA-714A engines, (12 installed, 4 spares); fourteen (14) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) devices with M-Code (12 installed, 2 spares); eight (8) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (6 installed, 2 spares); twenty (20) AN/ARC-231A communications security (COMSEC) radios (18 installed, 2 spares); and twenty (20) M-240 machine guns (18 installed, 2 spares). The following non-MDE items will also be included: Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) classified software; AN/APR-39A radar warning receivers; AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets (LDS); AN/ARC-220 high frequency (HF) radios; KY-100M COMSEC terminals; aircraft survivability equipment (including impulse cartridges for cable cutters and aircraft cartridges); AN/ARN-147 Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni Directional Radio Range/Instrument Landing System (VOR/ILS) receivers; WESCAM MX-15HDi electro-optical/infrared imaging systems; AN/ARN-153 Tactical Airborne Navigation System (TACAN) radios; AN/APN-209 radar altimeters; AN/APX-123A identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; KIV-77 COMSEC IFF cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; services to support the mission equipment; hardware and services required to implement partner-unique modifications; Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction Systems (FRIES); Internal Extended Range Fuel Systems (ERFS); in-flight refueling capability; firefighting equipment; ballistic armor protection systems; air worthiness support; spare and repair parts; communications equipment; personnel training and training equipment; site surveys; tool and test equipment; ground support equipment; repair and return; publications and technical documentation; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.32 billion.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner. The United Arab Emirates is a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will improve the United Arab Emirates' capability to meet current and future threats by extending its range of flight operations. The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations. The United Arab Emirates will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment 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 contractors will be Boeing Helicopter Aircraft Company, located in Ridley Park, PA; and Honeywell Engine Company, located in Phoenix, AZ. 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 sale will require an estimated two U.S. Government and eight contractor representatives to travel to the UAE for up to sixty months for equipment de-processing, fielding, system checkout, training, and technical logistics support.

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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United Arab Emirates - F-16 Sustainment

NEWS | May 12, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-25

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of F-16 Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $130 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy additional F-16 aircraft components, spares, and accessories; and other related elements of logistics and program support that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was below the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $40.9 million ($0 in MDE), included Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); munitions support equipment; night vision device (NVD) support and spare equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories; repair and return support; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; site surveys; studies and surveys; transportation support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services. The estimated total cost is $130 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 defense partner. The UAE is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will improve the United Arab Emirates' ability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity to meet its national defense requirements. The United Arab Emirates will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

There are no principal contractors associated with this potential sale. 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 additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the UAE.

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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Joint Press Statement regarding the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin

Germany Federal Foreign Office

12.05.2025 - Press release

Joint Press Statement regarding the Peacekeeping Ministerial by the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Defence

Peacekeeping is one of the most effective and cost-effective instruments that the international community has at its disposal to help promote peace and security. Currently, around 70,000 men and women in eleven missions are striving to maintain stability for people who in many cases have been suffering for years under the impact of war and violence. And they do so with a budget that is smaller than that of the New York Police Department. Nevertheless, United Nations Peacekeeping is coming under increasing pressure - with regard to financing, acceptance and in connection with large-scale missions which are not always able to completely fulfil their mandate. In a world full of crises and conflicts, we need the UN peace missions more than ever. Therefore, we want to tackle these challenges.

The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial is the most important conference for generating support for UN peacekeeping operations. They require funds, material and equipment as well as civilian, police and military personnel. At Germany's invitation, representatives from more than 130 countries will come together to make concrete pledges. Germany will likewise make additional funds available.

Not only do we need to ensure that peacekeeping has sufficient resources. We also need to talk about how future UN peace missions could be better structured. At the instigation of Germany, the countries at this conference will therefore, for the first time, also discuss the future of peacekeeping. The focus will be on reforms and on how UN missions could be better tailored and more adaptable to often evolving situations on the ground. By tailoring peace missions more closely to the actual needs of the countries in which they are deployed, we seek to boost their effectiveness and their acceptance.

Germany is the fourth-largest financial contributor to peacekeeping and the UN system. That is another reason why we enjoy the trust of the international community, and that is also why more than 130 countries have accepted our invitation to Berlin. The fact that Germany is hosting the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin is a clear sign of Germany's determination to continue to assume responsibility for peace and security within the United Nations.

Statement by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the run-up to the conference:

The United Nations was founded to maintain peace and security in the world. Across the globe, courageous UN peacekeepers are defending the rules of our common UN Charter. The large number of conflicts means that UN-Peacekeeping is more important than it has ever been. Yet the challenges, too, are greater than ever before. Together with German Defence Minister Pistorius, I am therefore grateful that the international community has accepted our invitation to the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin. The discussions there will centred on the question of what needs to be done to ensure that the world can continue to be able to rely on UN peacekeepers as the face and the arm of the UN.

Statement by Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius in the run-up to the conference:

Even if Germany is focusing more on national and collective defence in the current European threat environment: We are determined to strengthen UN peacekeeping missions worldwide. Germany continues to participate in blue helmet missions. Unique to our approach is that we support other troop contributors in helping them build up their own capabilities. That means we provide training - not only in Germany, but also in mission. We provide support with material and help, for example, with setting up field hospitals, mobile command posts or dealing with Improvised Explosive Devices. We thereby contribute to the professional deployment of blue helmets on the ground. I am delighted that we are coming together in Berlin 80 years after the end of the Second World War to discuss Peacekeeping and to initiate necessary reforms.

Background

On 13 and 14 May 2025, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Defence will, together with the UN, be co-hosting the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin. Delegations from more than 130 countries will participate. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to attend.

Currently, just under 70,000 UN peacekeepers from 120 countries are serving in eleven United Nations peace missions. Of these, some 55,000 are military personnel, some 1100 are civilian experts and some 6000 are police officers.

The three largest UN peace missions are MINUSCA in the Central African Republic (approx. 17,000 personnel), UNMISS in South Sudan (approx. 15,500 personnel) and MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (approx. 12,000 personnel).

Some 300 German Bundeswehr soldiers are presently deployed and serving in the UN operations MINURSO in Western Sahara, UNMISS in South Sudan and UNIFIL in Lebanon. The UN's UNIFIL mission is being supported by a German Maritime Task Force vessel, among other things.

Germany is currently contributing a total of 13 police officers to UN peace missions: to UNMIK in Kosovo (1), UNMISS in South Sudan (8) and UNFICYP in Cyprus (4). The Center for International Peace Operations has one deployed staff member serving in UNMISS in South Sudan Sudan and one serving in UNTMIS in Somalia.

The overall budget for UN peacekeeping operations this fiscal year (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) amounts to USD 5.59 billion. With a share of 5.7%, Germany is the fourth-largest contributor, after the United States, China and Japan. In recent years, Germany has been the largest provider of voluntary contributions.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2024, global military expenditure amounted to USD 2.718 trillion. This means that expenditure on UN peace missions is equivalent to a mere 0.5% of global military expenditure. Consequently, United Nations Peacekeeping is one of the most cost-efficient means of addressing conflicts.

Since UN Peacekeeping was established in 1948, the UN has carried out more than 70 Blue Helmet missions.

In the 1970s, the German Bundeswehr supported UNEF II in the Middle East and UNIFIL in Lebanon. Since 1991, it has participated in the following UN peacekeeping operations: UNAMIC/UNTAC in Cambodia (1991 -1993), UNOSOM II in Somalia (1993-1994), UNOMIG in Georgia (1994-2009), UNAMIR in Rwanda (1994), UNPROFOR in the former Yugoslavia (1995), UNMEE in Ethiopia and Eritrea (2004-2008), UNMISS in Sudan (2005-2011), UNMIL in Liberia (2015-2016), UNAMID in Darfur (2008-2020), MINUSMA in Mali (2013-2023), UNIFIL in Lebanon (2006-today), UNMISS in South Sudan (2011-today), MINURSO in Western Sahara (2013-today).

Germany has prepared military personnel from more than 100 countries for their deployment as UN peacekeepers, through training courses at the Bundeswehr United Nations Training Centre in Hammelburg, at the Federal Armed Forces Command and Staff College and with Bundeswehr Mobile Training Teams, for example.

Germany is committed to improving the rescue chain in the context of operations, enhancing the provision of mental health care and making available better first aid equipment.

Germany provides support for the employment of reconnaissance drones and transport drones for medical logistical purposes.

Germany equips UN missions with systems to generate renewable energy, in order to reduce logistical dependencies and to save fuel.

Germany provides bilateral support to the troop contributors Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia with regard to explosive-ordnance disposal, communications, drones, IED detection and disposal, mobile command posts and medical services.

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Top military officials of India, Pakistan hold talks

Global Times

Structural disputes still exist despite intl-brokered peace: expert

By Zhang Han and Shen Sheng Published: May 12, 2025 11:09 PM

Top military officials from India and Pakistan held talks on Monday to discuss finer details of the ceasefire and next steps for the nuclear-armed neighbors on Monday, according to media reports.

The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on Monday held a scheduled conversation over the hotline for the first time, according to India Today.

Sources told India's business news channel, CNBC-TV18 that the DGMOs of both the countries held a further discussion on the understanding reached to stop firing and military action. The outcome of the talks is not yet known, India Today reported.

Qian Feng, director of the Research Department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, believes that repairing mechanisms of mutual trust should be a key priority for the two sides at this moment.

Since neither side wants further escalation, Qian said the two countries could consider the rollback of some retaliatory measures and the gradual restoration of basic trade and economic exchanges in order to consolidate the positive momentum of the ceasefire.

Latest news from First Post showed that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to open schools and colleges in all non-border areas in Jammu as well as Kashmir from May 13 (Tuesday) onwards.

According to the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir experienced a peaceful night, with no hostilities reported. This marks the first calm night after recent tensions, Economic Times reported Monday.

Commenting on the India-Pakistan consensus on a ceasefire which was brokered by China and several other countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday the ceasefire between India and Pakistan is in the fundamental and long-term interest of both countries, and is conducive to regional peace and stability. This is also what the international community hopes to see. China supports and welcomes this latest development.

China hopes that India and Pakistan will cement and continue the ceasefire momentum, avoid further conflict, properly handle differences through dialogue and negotiation, and return to the track of political settlement, Lin said, adding that China is ready to stay in communication with India and Pakistan and play a constructive role in realizing a full and lasting ceasefire between the two countries and keeping the region peaceful and stable.

Indian airspace has now fully reopened for commercial flights, and a notice ordering the closure of 32 airports was withdrawn, signaling a complete return to normal aviation operations across all previously restricted zones, India Today reported Monday.

Pakistan's sovereign bonds rallied more than 4 cents and its stock exchange halted trading on Monday for an hour, after the benchmark KSE-100 share (.KSE) jumped 8.84 percent in early trade. India's benchmarks jumped over 3 percent and were on track to log their best session in almost a year, Reuters reported Monday.

This round of fierce fighting between the two countries started on May 7 after New Delhi carried out airstrikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, evoking a strong response from Islamabad. The Indian strikes were undertaken to avenge the killing of 26 people by gunmen in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Qian told the Global Times on Monday that the current ceasefire is a positive signal amid the latest escalation of the situation, but maintaining lasting peace remains a challenge, as the regional situation is still delicate.

At a Monday press conference, Indian Air Marshal AK Bharti said all of India's air defense systems are operational and ready for "future missions if need be... All our military bases and equipment are on alert," he said, adding that India can strike at will if the situation arises, per India Today.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has made his X account private after being vehemently criticized on social media by right-wing users for the ceasefire, according to local media outlet The Wire.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said India has been defeated on all five fronts - not just the army, navy, and air force - but diplomatically and in the media as well.

Those are all signs that despite the ceasefire, there are complicated factors that could have an impact on bilateral engagement and future talks, according to Xie Chao, an associate professor from the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University.

Qian also noted that there are structural contradictions between India and Pakistan, therefore international mediation is more of an immediate fix than a long-term solution.

Looking ahead, India and Pakistan face deep-rooted and complex disputes that make genuine reconciliation difficult.

"Border demarcation, religious and ethnic issues, terrorism-related accusations, and water disputes...problems left over from history keep hindering bilateral relations," Qian said.

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China supports and welcomes India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement: FM spokesperson

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 12, 2025 05:17 PM

When asked to comment on media reports that India and Pakistan had reached a consensus on Saturday to immediately cease fire and hold further talks, and that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken separately by phone on Monday night with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval, with many countries also playing a positive role in easing tensions between the two sides, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China had taken note of the relevant reports and believes that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan serves the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, contributes to regional peace and stability, and reflects the shared expectations of the international community. He added that China welcomes and supports this development.

Lin said that India and Pakistan are neighbors that cannot be moved and are both neighboring countries of China. Since tensions between India and Pakistan began, China has maintained close communication with all relevant parties, calling on both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation.

He noted that on Saturday night, Wang had separate phone conversations with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval, during which Wang pushed for de-escalation and the realization of a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire. Both sides, he added, responded positively.

Lin noted that China hopes India and Pakistan will consolidate and maintain the momentum of the ceasefire, avoid renewed conflict, and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation, returning to the path of political settlement. China stands ready to maintain communication with both sides and continue to play a constructive role in achieving a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire and safeguarding regional peace and stability, said Lin.

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Activities of Chinese marine science research vessel near Diaoyu Islands within China's sovereign rights: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 12, 2025 04:26 PM

Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, and the activities of Chinese marine science research vessels in the relevant waters fall entirely within the scope of China's sovereign rights, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.

Lin was responding to a Kyodo News report that cited the Japan Coast Guard, which claimed that a Chinese marine research vessel was extending a pipe-like object into the sea within Japan's so-called exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near China's Diaoyu Islands on Sunday.

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Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard on the situation in Gaza.

Government Offices of Sweden

Statement by Maria Malmer Stenergard

Published 12 May 2025

What is unfolding before our eyes is the worst humanitarian situation since the war broke out in October 2023. Israel has the right to defend itself. That right must be exercised in accordance with international law including international humanitarian law, which the Swedish Government has demanded since the start of the war. Various UN bodies testify that food stocks are depleted, and that there is a lack of medicines and water. The civilian suffering is devastating.

The Israeli Government's announced plans to expand its military offensive in Gaza and carry out large-scale forced displacement of civilians are unacceptable. Sweden reiterates that Gaza's territory must not be reduced or altered.

In talks with the Israeli Government, Sweden has repeatedly demanded that humanitarian access be ensured. We take a very serious view of our and others' calls not being heeded.

Israel must ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors in accordance with Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law. It is crucial that food, water and medicines quickly reach the severely affected civilian population, many of whom are women and children living under inhumane conditions. Life-saving humanitarian assistance must never be politicised or militarised.

Civilians, aid workers and health care personnel must be protected and respected. Israel must ensure respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence in cooperation with humanitarian organisations.

Sweden demands that Hamas immediately release the hostages and urges both sides to return to a ceasefire and resume negotiations. Hamas cannot have a place in the future governance of Gaza. We want to see a united Gaza and West Bank led by a reformed Palestinian Authority. Hamas' violence and reprisals against Palestinian civilians who oppose them must cease.

It is deeply regrettable that the progress achieved during the ceasefire, when acute famine was averted, has now been lost. Together with the EU, the Swedish Government demands that Israel act immediately to alleviate human suffering.



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Government to increase support to peace and security research

Government Offices of Sweden

Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 12 May 2025

The Government has authorised an additional SEK 14 million in funding to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2025. This funding helps enhance SIPRI's opportunities to contribute research, analysis and partnerships to promote peace and security.

"We are facing a volatile international situation in which several armed conflicts are causing poverty and great human suffering. Not least for women and children who are particularly vulnerable in war and conflict situations. Peace research is crucial to preventing war and conflict. We are therefore increasing support to the SIPRI peace research institute," says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

SIPRI's scientific research helps increase understanding of the preconditions for peaceful solutions to intra-state and cross-state conflicts at a time of increasing geopolitical tensions. SIPRI makes important contributions to peacebuilding related to political, economic and social development.

Violent conflicts inflict suffering and poverty on large parts of the world and force people to flee. Accordingly, there are a number of reasons why Sweden should contribute to the global efforts for peace and security.

The approved funding supports SIPRI's efforts in policy-related research, analysis, data, dialogue and partnerships to promote peace, security and development. The focus is on three challenges: disinformation during conflict, migration and forced displacement, as well as climate and security. Particular attention is being paid to regions of particular interest to Sweden.

This disbursement supplements the funds already allocated to SIPRI, which total SEK 28 million for 2025.







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Araqchi draws attention to Israeli sabotage in international politics

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 12, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Before an Israeli-American prisoner was released by Hamas, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has drawn attention to reports that Israeli leaders worked to hinder a potential agreement between the Palestinian resistance group and the United States.

On Monday, Araqchi shared a report titled "Netanyahu and Dermer worked to stop U.S.-Hamas deal to free only American prisoner" on his X account, describing the matter as "the tip of the iceberg" of the destructive measures taken by Netanyahu.

According to Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Netanyahu and Ron Dermer, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs, had launched a "frenzied campaign" to stop a proposed U.S.-Hamas agreement that would have secured the release of the only American prisoner held in Gaza.

Hamas has announced it will free Edan Alexander, the sole remaining American prisoner in Gaza, as part of an agreement with the U.S. intended to advance ceasefire talks and restore humanitarian assistance. The announcement comes just ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to the Middle East.

However, Israel has not consented to any ceasefire or prisoner exchange with Hamas ahead of Alexander's expected release, according to its prime minister, who emphasized that military operations in Gaza are being ramped up.

In a Monday statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office clarified that while ceasefire discussions would proceed, Israel was simultaneously preparing to escalate its offensive. The statement stressed that Israel had "not agreed to any ceasefire" or the release of Palestinian prisoners, only permitting safe passage for Alexander's return.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that President Donald Trump decided to sever direct contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after close advisors warned him that Netanyahu was manipulating him, according to Israeli Army Radio correspondent Yanir Cozin.

The strained relationship was attributed to Netanyahu's failure to present concrete plans on Iran, Yemen's Ansarullah, and Gaza, as well as Israeli Minister Ron Dermer's perceived arrogance in discussions with Republican leaders.

The report comes as Iran and the United States have held four rounds of indirect talks on the former's nuclear program. Iran has condemned attempts by others, particularly Netanyahu, to sabotage the negotiations.

3266**2050

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Dozens more Palestinians are killed as Israel keeps up attacks on Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 12, 2025

Gaza's Health Ministry has announced 33 more fatalities in Israel's relentless bombing and shelling campaign across the besieged Palestinian territory.

The victims include at least 17 people who were killed in an airstrike on a refugee school in the norther city of Jabalia, Palestine's Shahab news agency cited a statement from the ministry on Sunday.

According to Palestinian sources, more than 40 Palestinians were killed and some 100 others injured in various areas of the coastal territory since early hours of today.

Israeli warplanes heavily bombed Gaza City and Rafah, with the occupying army extensively demolishing houses in the south of the strip.

The destruction of residential areas was also reported elsewhere as Israeli tanks shelled Al-Taffah neighborhood, and the Nuseirat camp in east and northeast as well as the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

As the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip continues, the Palestinian death toll since October 7, 2023 has reached 52,862, and the number of injured now stands at 119,648.

4399**9417

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Prime Minister's Office Statement

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Redemption of hostages

Media Statements

The 37th Government

12.05.2025

Prime Minister's Office Statement

The Prime Minister's Office, this evening :

The Government of Israel embraces IDF Staff-Sgt. Edan Alexander, who has been returned from being held hostage by Hamas.

His family has been updated by the responsible authorities that he is with our forces.

Together with all elements of the security establishment, the Government of Israel will assist in his readjustment and will accompany him and his family.

The Government of Israel is committed to the return of all of the hostages and missing, living and deceased.

We will continue to act relentlessly until all of them have returned home, to Israel.

"Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies." (Psalm 31:16;)

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The Prime Minister's Office

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Media Statements

The 37th Government

12.05.2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, met with the US President's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

The Prime Minister then spoke with US President Donald Trump and thanked him for the assistance in the release of IDF soldier Edan Alexander.

US President Trump, for his part, reiterated his commitment to Israel as well as his desire to continue the close cooperation with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

In his meeting with Special Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee, the Prime Minister spoke about the latest effort to implement the framework for the release of the hostages presented by Envoy Witkoff, before the expansion of the fighting. To this end, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed that a negotiations team leave for Doha tomorrow.

The Prime Minister made it clear that the negotiations would only take place under fire.

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NATO wraps up Dynamic Mongoose 2025: Allies join forces in high-intensity anti-submarine warfare training

NATO Allied Maritime Command

May 12 2025

Reykjavik, Iceland -- NATO's biggest and most demanding annual anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise, Dynamic Mongoose 2025, has officially come to an end. Hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard and led by NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), the exercise was held in the challenging waters of Northern Atlantic, bringing together more than ten Allied nations for an intensive few weeks of training at sea. Submarines, frigates, helicopters, Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and coast guard vessels worked side by side in scenarios designed to push both crews and equipment to their limits.

Dynamic Mongoose 25 saw participating forces rotate between hunting and evading in complex undersea warfare scenarios, sharpening their skills and strengthening the bonds that make NATO a unified maritime force. The High North's cold, rough seas and unpredictable environment provided a tough but realistic backdrop to the exercise.

Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Arjen S. Warnaar, Commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), reflected on the importance of the event: "Dynamic Mongoose is NATO's largest and most intensive annual anti-submarine warfare exercise in Northern European waters. This year's version, Dynamic Mongoose 25, has come to an end. It was both a great success and a memorable experience. With over 10 countries participatingwith submarines, frigates, support ships, helicopters, Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and coast guard vesselswe have truly shown we are stronger together."

The GIUK-N Gap, a key maritime corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom/Norway, continues to be a focus area for NATO. Exercises like Dynamic Mongoose ensure the Alliance remains ready to detect and counter undersea threats in this vital region.

SNMG1 is one of NATO's four standing maritime task groups under the operational control of Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM). These task groups form the core maritime capability of NATO's Allied Reaction Force (ARF) and provide a continuous maritime capability to execute NATO missions across the spectrum of operations, demonstrating solidarity and strengthening the bond and interoperability between Allied naval forces.

Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM

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Marka-e-Haq - 22 April 2025 to 10 May 2025 The conduct of Pakistan Armed Forces Operation "Bunyanum Marsoos", on 10 May 2025 as part of the military conflict Marka-e-Haq, was in response to Indian military's dastardly attacks that began on the night of 6 & 7 May 2025, resulting in the loss of innocent civilian lives, including women, children, and the elderly.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - May 12, 2025

No PR-152/2025-ISPR

Marka-e-Haq - 22 April 2025 to 10 May 2025

The conduct of Pakistan Armed Forces Operation "Bunyanum Marsoos", on 10 May 2025 as part of the military conflict Marka-e-Haq, was in response to Indian military's dastardly attacks that began on the night of 6 & 7 May 2025, resulting in the loss of innocent civilian lives, including women, children, and the elderly. Pakistan had vowed justice and retribution for the reprehensible Indian military aggression and brutal killings of our citizens. Alhamdulillah! Pakistan Armed Forces have delivered the promise made to our people.

Armed Forces thank Almighty Allah for His infinite blessings, mercy, help, and divine support. Allah has ordained the believers to retaliate whenever they are wronged. We bow our heads to Him in utmost humility for enabling us to translate our resolve into decisive actions on the battlefield.

Our hearts and sympathies are with the wards and families of the Shuhada who sacrificed their lives for the beloved country. We pray for the quick recovery of our injured countrymen.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every officer, soldier, airman, and sailor of the Armed Forces of Pakistan who made this success on the battlefield possible through their courage, professionalism, and sacrifice.

The Armed Forces of Pakistan express their profound appreciation and gratitude to the brave Pakistani nation whose unwavering moral strength, resolve, and above all, wholehearted support and prayers remained with us during these trying times. This support was indeed the most potent force multiplier for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

We are especially indebted to the youth of Pakistan, who became frontline soldiers as the cyber and information warriors of the country.

Profound gratitude is also due to the vibrant media of Pakistan, which stood like Bunyanum Marsoos, a steel wall against the Indian media's dis-information blitz and reckless war-mongering.

We also extend our appreciation to the diplomatic corps for effectively representing Pakistan's just case on international fora with clarity and conviction.

We express gratitude to our scientists and engineers for developing indigenous and specialized niche technologies that were instrumental in the magnificent success of Operation "Bunyanum Marsoos".

Armed Forces are extremely grateful to the political leadership of all political parties, without any distinction, for the show of unified resolve in our support for the defence of our motherland.

The Armed Forces are specifically grateful to the inspiring leadership of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his Cabinet Ministers for taking destiny-altering decisions for the country and steering it through this critical situation.

During Indian ghastly attack on night 6/7 May, India launched missiles from stand-off on civilian infrastructure and places of worship targeting innocent civilians including women and children. Pakistan Air Force and Ground Based Air Defence Systems did not allow any Indian aircraft to enter Pakistan's airspace. In the ensuing battle, 5 Indian fighter aircraft including 3 Rafaels, 1 SU-30 and 1 Mig 29 were struck and destroyed by Pakistan Air Force and Air Defence Systems in addition to a Heron Unmanned Aerial System. Allhamdolillah, Pakistan Airforce remained unscathed in the battle and demonstrated par excellence professionalism.

Pakistan's retaliatory response named Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, Quranic phrase meaning Wall of Steel, initiated on night 9/10 May was a textbook demonstration of integrated tri-services jointness, enabled by real-time situational awareness, network-centric warfare capabilities, and seamless multi-domain operations. This synergy across air, land, sea, and cyber domains allowed for precision engagement, overwhelming lethality, and lightening operational tempo. All platforms operated in synergy, delivering coordinated effects at carefully selected decisive points.

Using precision-guided long-range Fatah series missiles F1 and F2 of Pakistan Army, precision munitions of PAF, highly capable long-range loitering killer munitions, and precision long-range artillery, 26x military targets as well as facilities that were used to target Pakistani citizens, and those enterprises that were responsible for fomenting terrorism in Pakistan, were engaged in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and also mainland India.

The targets included Air Force and Aviation bases at Suratgarh, Sirsa, Bhuj, Naliya, Adampur, Bhatinda, Barnala, Halwara, Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur, Mamun, Ambala, and Pathankot, all of which sustained major damages.

BrahMos storage facilities at Beas and Nagrota were also destroyed, which had fired missiles on Pakistan killing innocent civilians including women, children and elderly.

S-400 battery systems at Adampur and Bhuj were also attacked and effectively neutralised by Pakistan Air Force.

Military logistics and support sites, which helped sustain this unlawful operation against innocent Pakistani civilianslike Field Supply Depot at Uri and Radar Station at Poonchwere also targeted.

Military Command Headquarters which helped plan the operational killing of our innocent citizens, especially the children, including 10 Bde and 80 Bde at KG Top and Naushera, were completely destroyed.

Facilities which harboured, trained, and capacitated proxy elements that perpetrated terrorist attacks inside Pakistan and killed innocent civilians were specifically identified and destroyed. These include intelligence units and their forward field elements at Rajauri and Naushera.

Across the LOC, military elements including HQs, logistic bases, artillery positions, and posts that had caused civilian casualties in Azad Jammu and Kashmir through unprovoked artillery and small arms fire were relentlessly targeted and heavily damaged, until they raised white flags and asked for restraint.

India used drones to violate Pakistani airspace to intimidate our civilians and spread fear. All through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, dozens of Pakistani armed drones hovered over Indian major cities and sensitive political and government facilitiesincluding their capital New Delhiand from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir all the way to Gujarat to clearly manifest our lethal long-range unmanned capability, indicating the futility of the use of this domain in warfare.

Pakistan Armed Forces also carried out comprehensive and effective cyber operations to temporarily cripple and degrade critical infrastructure and services that were being used by Indian Armed Forces to sustain their operations.

Pakistan Armed Forces possess an 'adequate' suite of very sophisticated 'niche military technologies', and only a limited number and type were used with restraint in this conflict.

Despite all this, compared to Indian relentless provocations, Pakistan's military response has been precise, proportionate, and still remarkably restrained. It was carefully calibrated to avoid civilian casualties and exclusively targeted those entities and facilities which were directly involved in orchestrating and executing the cold-blooded killings of Pakistani civilians and those carrying out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistan also sustained an abnormal and immediate spike in Indian-sponsored terrorism across KP and Balochistan while its armed forces were busy in operations on the eastern front. This further vindicates that India is directly involved in fomenting terrorism in Pakistan, and its proxies were fully operationalised during this time to distract our attention.

The resilient Armed Forces of Pakistan carried out most effective counter-terrorism operations in the western region without any pause simultaneously with the conduct of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

Marka-e-Haq has been a great example of the synergy between all elements of national power, with overwhelming support of the Pakistani public, to effectively counter the threat to our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

No one should doubt that whenever Pakistan's sovereignty is threatened and territorial integrity violated, the retributive response will be comprehensive and decisive. Pakistan Armed Forces thank and salute the Pakistani nation for its courage, resilience, and fervour during this conflict.

"THEY PLAN AND ALLAH PLANS.

AND ALLAH IS THE BEST OF PLANNERS" (Surah Anfal)

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

AFWAJ-E-PAKISTAN PAINDABAD

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Senate race seen as critical to VP Sara's impeachment trial

Philippine News Agency

By Wilnard Bacelonia

May 12, 2025, 6:30 pm

MANILA -- Senators on Monday underscored the high stakes of the 2025 midterm elections, warning that the incoming Senate would be immediately thrust into a politically charged impeachment trial involving Vice President Sara Duterte.

"We are facing an impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte. That's why I urge the voters to vote wisely," Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, a former impeachment judge, said in a radio interview.

Estrada said that while being a lawyer is an advantage in impeachment trials, it is not required so long as senators are willing to learn and consult legal experts.

"This is a numbers game. This is a political issue, not just a legal one," he added.

Senator Joel Villanueva echoed Estrada's sentiments, emphasizing that the incoming senators will have to juggle their legislative duties and constitutional role as impeachment judges.

"Hindi biro yung trabaho namin this time dahil alam nating lahat (na) may impeachment trial (Our job this time is no joke because we all know that there is an impeachment trial)," he said. "Hindi lang pagiging legislator o paggawa ng batas ang ating pagtutuunan ng pansin kundi ang pagiging miyembro ng impeachment court (Our focus will not only be on being a legislator or making laws, but also on being a member of the impeachment court)," he said.

Villanueva said the Senate must uphold integrity, transparency, and the constitutional due process in the proceedings.

He also reminded incoming senators of the Senate's broader mandate, including budget crafting, legislative oversight, treaty ratification, and institutional accountability.

"Public office is a public trust. Ang pagsisilbi sa bayan ay hindi negosyo, hindi para sumikat, kundi isang responsibilidad (Serving the nation is not a business, not for fame, but a responsibility)," he said.

Congress is scheduled to resume session on June 2, when the Senate is expected to formally convene as an impeachment court. (PNA)

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Famine 'catastrophically intensifying' under Israel's blockade: Hamas

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 7:41 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has accused Israel of deliberately seeking to "create famine and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe" in the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a statement released on Monday, Hamas called for the Israeli blockade to be lifted to allow humanitarian aid to flow into the blockaded region "under UN supervision and free from any interference from the [Israeli] occupation".

The resistance group also rejected a US-Israeli push to launch a new foundation to distribute assistance to Gaza and circumvent the United Nations.

"The only entities authorized to manage and distribute aid are the relevant UN and governmental organizations, not the occupation or its agents," the group said.

Humanitarian organizations also have rejected any alternative aid distribution efforts, saying the UN is best equipped to handle deliveries of much-needed assistance to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Separately, food security experts said in a stark warning on Monday that the besieged Palestinian strip is at critical risk of famine if Israel doesn't lift its blockade and stop its military campaign.

Outright famine is the mostly likely scenario unless conditions change, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises.

Nearly a half million Palestinians are in "catastrophic" levels of hunger, meaning they face possible starvation, the report said, while another million are at "emergency" levels of hunger.

Commenting on the report, the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said any delay in restoring the flow of aid "bringing us closer to famine."

"If we fail to act, we are failing to uphold the right to food, which is a basic human right," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said.

Israel has banned any food, shelter, medicine or other goods from entering the Palestinian territory for the past 10 weeks, even as it carries out waves of airstrikes and a brutal ground military campaign in the besieged region.

Gaza's population of around 2.3 million people relies almost entirely on outside aid to survive, because Israel's 19-month-old military campaign has wiped away most capacity to produce food inside the territory.

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Hamas releases Israeli-US soldier, Trump looks forward to more captives

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 6:48 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has released an Israeli-American soldier, reiterating its readiness to begin Gaza ceasefire talks stalled by Israel.

On Monday, Hamas said it released Edan Alexander "following contacts with the US administration".

According to the statement, the move comes "as part of the efforts made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open crossings, and deliver aid to the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement.

"This step comes after important communications in which Hamas demonstrated positivity and high flexibility," the movement said.

Hamas stressed that "serious" talks will lead to the release of Israeli captives, warning that the ongoing Israeli war "will prolong their suffering and may kill them".

The movement also reiterated its readiness to "immediately" begin talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement of a permanent ceasefire, leading to the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the end of the Israeli siege, the exchange of prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Hamas urged the administration of US President Donald Trump "to continue its efforts to end this brutal war waged by the war criminal [Israel's prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu against children, women, and unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip".

According to media reports, Red Cross vehicles have picked up Edan Alexander north of Khan Younis.

Trump had hoped that more captives would be released.

"We hope that we're going to have other hostages released, too," Trump said ahead of the expected release of Alexander.

"We'll get Edan today," he said.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, killing nearly 53,000 Palestinians.

Last 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.

The 42-day first stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.

Since March 18, the regime has launched strikes on Gaza, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement that had lasted nearly two months.

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Israeli minister: Trump's scheme to expel Palestinians from Gaza 'still on table'

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 2:14 PM

The Israeli energy minister says US President Donald Trump's controversial plan for the mass deportation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip "remains on the table."

Speaking to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN on Monday, Eli Cohen said the so-called "voluntary migration" plan proposed by Trump "is being followed up."

Since February, Trump has consistently advocated for the takeover of Gaza and the resettlement of its inhabitants to transform the area into a tourist attraction. This proposal has been met with rejection from the Muslim world and numerous other countries, who argue that it constitutes ethnic cleansing.

"Efforts to implement the plan are ongoing on the ground," Cohen said, without providing further details.

The Israeli minister said there are "advanced talks" with two countries regarding the issue, without naming them. He, however, said that one of the two countries is "Islamic."

"I don't see a serious reconstruction process on the horizon for the Gaza Strip in the coming years," Cohen said.

"Promoting the option of voluntary migration has become a realistic necessity imposed by the current situation in Gaza," he noted.

On Sunday evening, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that his military is persistently demolishing residences in Gaza to deter Palestinians from returning and to compel their emigration.

The Israeli military resumed bombardment of Gaza on March 18, killing thousands of Palestinians, and injuring many others, after it shattered the 2-month ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas and the deal on the exchange of Israeli captives with Palestinian abductees.

At least 52,862 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 119,648 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and former Israeli minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.

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'Tip of the iceberg': Iran says Netanyahu sabotages release of US-Israeli captive

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 2:09 PM

Iran says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attempted to stop a reported deal between the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and the United States to free an Israeli-American captive held in Gaza.

"Tip of the iceberg," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on his X account on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, Abu Obeida, spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, said the movement is about to release Edan Alexander following what has been billed as a reported deal with the US that was clinched without the Israeli regime's involvement.

The 21-year-old Alexander has been held captive since October 7, 2023, when the resistance fighters launched a uniquely courageous operation against the occupied Palestinian territories.

In a statement on Sunday, Hamas said, "Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US national, will be released as part of efforts towards a ceasefire."

The Hamas leader in Gaza said that Alexander will be released as a first step toward a ceasefire, the opening of Gaza's crossings, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Israel, however, says it has not committed to a ceasefire "in any way" for Hamas's release of Alexander, but will set up a "safe corridor" to facilitate the move.

The regime has also not agreed to a ceasefire or any deal involving the exchange of more captives with Palestinian prisoners after it entirely sabotaged a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which had been reached in January, by re-launching the genocide, and with more intensity still.

Netanyahu said the regime had permitted a safe corridor for Alexander's release, but emphasized that military attacks against Gaza would continue.

US officials, including regional envoy Steve Witkoff, are reportedly preparing to oversee the process of Alexander's release.

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German FM calls for Gaza ceasefire, saying Israelis cannot resolve war by 'military means'

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 1:52 PM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on the Israelis to reinstate the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, warning the regime that the Palestinian issue cannot be resolved by "military means."

The Palestinian issue cannot be resolved with military means, and a political solution should be the key to resolving the Gaza conflict, the new German FM said on Sunday, visiting Al-Quds Jerusalem, Palestine, emphasizing that Berlin favored a political solution to the conflict.

Wadephul noted that Gaza is part of the Palestinian territory, expressing concerns about the Israeli regime's genocidal war against the Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

He even voiced doubt about whether the ongoing Israeli atrocities and arrogant violation of international humanitarian laws served the Israelis' security.

Wadephul underscored the need for ceasefire negotiations between the two sides.

"I am not sure whether all of Israel's strategic goals can be achieved in this way [through a military campaign] and whether this will serve Israel's security in the long term," Wadephul said. "That is why we are appealing for a return to serious negotiations on a ceasefire."

Before his visit, Wadephul said the situation in the Gaza Strip had become "unbearable".

"I will ask about the strategic objective of the fighting, which has intensified again since March," he said on Saturday, stressing also the importance of creating a solid political and economic future for the Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israel insists it is against a ceasefire "in any way."

The regime sabotaged the ceasefire agreement, which had been reached in January, re-launching the genocidal war and blocking the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The regime has prevented any supplies, including medicine, from reaching Gaza and has plunged the region's healthcare system into crisis.

Humanitarian groups have raised alarm about the Israelis' blocking of aid, with charity kitchens, the last source of food for many, shutting down as their supplies run out, and raising the prospect of dozens of additional closures.

The death toll since October 2023 has reached 52,862, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

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Norway wealth fund divests from largest Israeli fuels company over atrocities in West Bank

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 10:36 AM

Norway's gigantic sovereign wealth fund has sold all of its shares in the largest Israeli fuels company Paz Retail and Energy because it owns and operates infrastructure for the supply of gasoline and other petroleum products to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The divestment, which was announced on Sunday, marks the second instance following the adoption of a stricter interpretation of ethical standards by the fund's ethics watchdog, the Council on Ethics, in August for businesses supporting Israel's activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The first divestment was from the Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq last December.

The fund, which owns 1.5% of listed shares across 9,000 companies globally, operates under guidelines set by Norway's parliament and is seen as a leader in the environmental, social and governance field.

It is the latest decision by a European financial entity to cut back links to Israeli companies or those with ties to the Tel Aviv regime since the outbreak of the genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023.

Paz Retail and Energy Ltd, formerly known as Paz Oil Company Ltd (Paz), is an Israeli energy company, engaged in the refining, production, storage, importing and marketing of oil and refined products. It has nine stations in the occupied West Bank.

"By operating infrastructure for the supply of fuel to the Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Paz is contributing to their perpetuation," the Council on Ethics said in its recommendation to divest.

"The settlements have been established in violation of international law, and their perpetuation constitutes an ongoing violation thereof."

The watchdog makes recommendations to the board of the Norwegian central bank, which has the final say on divestments.

The fund has now sold all its stock in the company.

It was not immediately clear if more divestments would happen.

In March, the fund's oversight body announced that it had cleared the majority of the companies it assessed regarding their operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, following a new review initiated after the onset of the Gaza conflict.

The regulatory authority stated that it had issued two divestment recommendations - one for Bezeq in December and another for Paz - but did not disclose if additional recommendations had been made.

Overall, the watchdog evaluated approximately 65 firms within the fund's portfolio, which operate in various sectors such as energy supply, infrastructure development, travel and tourism, and banking, among others.

Israel has ramped up violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and killed at least 962 Palestinians and inured more than 7,000 others since it launched a genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023, .

The International Court of Justice declared in July 2024 that Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land is illegal and demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation al-Aqsa Flood against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 52,829 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 119,554 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

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Hamas says it will release US-Israeli captive as Tel Aviv stresses 'not committed' to ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 9:48 AM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas is about to release an Israeli-American trooper in its captivity following, what has been billed as, a reported deal with the United States that was clinched without the Israeli regime's involvement.

Speaking on Monday, Abu Obeida, spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, said the development was about to get underway later in the day.

The 21-year-old has been held captive since October 7, 2023, when the Gaza Strip's resistance fighters launched a uniquely-courageous operation against the occupied Palestinian territories.

Big blow to Netanyahu as Israel left out

Israeli opposition politicians blasted Netanyahu for failing to secure the release of the remaining captives in Gaza after the US held direct talks with Hamas over Alexander.

Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party wrote on X that, "The reports of direct contacts between Hamas and the US are a disgraceful diplomatic failure by the Israeli government and its leader."

Benny Gantz of the Israeli Resilience Party also lambasted Israeli regime's "lacks of initiative and responsibility".

Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli Democratic Party said the "fact that Edan Alexander is released only because he holds American citizenship is a disgrace and humiliation".

As many as 251 Zionists were ensnared during the operation that took place in response to decades of deadly Israeli occupation and aggression.

The release is reportedly part of a broader agreement between Hamas and the US.

Alexander's release would follow reported direct negotiations between Hamas and US officials, bypassing Israeli involvement entirely.

Trump: A step in good faith towards US

US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude over the prospect of the release, saying, "I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen." He also called it a "step taken in good faith towards the United States."

He considered such development to be a positive one concerning mediators Qatar and Egypt's efforts too, while being a step towards cessation of "this very brutal war."

Israel, however, says it has not committed to a ceasefire "in any way" for Hamas's release of Alexander, but will set up a "safe corridor" to facilitate the move.

The regime has also not agreed to a ceasefire or any deal involving the exchange of more captives with Palestinian prisoners after it entirely sabotaged a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which had been reached in January, by re-launching the genocide, and with more intensity still.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the regime had permitted a safe corridor for Alexander's release, but emphasized that military attacks against Gaza would continue.

US officials, including regional envoy Steve Witkoff, is reportedly preparing to oversee the process of Alexander's release.

The stance has, meanwhile, drawn sharp criticism from Israeli opposition officials and families of other captives, who feel that their family members, who are still being held in Gaza, were being neglected in favor of an American citizen.

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Hezbollah chief to Israel: Resistance will never surrender to threats

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 11:12 PM

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem has warned the Israeli regime and its supporters that the resistance will not surrender to any threat or pressure.

Sheikh Qassem made the remarks in an address on the ninth martyrdom anniversary of senior Hezbollah commander, Sayyed Mustafa Badreddin, on Monday.

He said the Israeli regime launched a war on Lebanon to end the resistance, vowing that the objective will not be achieved through pressure on the Lebanese government or violation of the ceasefire.

He emphasised Lebanon's commitment to the ceasefire agreement with Israel, even though Tel Aviv violated the agreement 3,000 times.

Following significant losses sustained over nearly 14 months of conflict and the failure to meet its objectives in the offensive against Lebanon, Israel was compelled to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah. This ceasefire took effect on November 27.

Since the commencement of the agreement, the occupying forces have been launching assaults on Lebanon, breaching the ceasefire, which includes airstrikes throughout the Arab nation.

Lebanon has condemned the continued presence of Israeli military forces, viewing it as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the established timeline for withdrawal. Senior officials in Beirut have expressed their commitment to take "all necessary measures" to remove the occupying troops from the nation.

Hezbollah's leader condemned Israel's systematic starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, blaming the US for the crimes being committed by the regime.

"The war on Gaza is a US-Israeli genocidal scheme aimed at wiping Palestine off the map," he said.

"The great sacrifices, along with the legendary steadfastness, prove that the great people of Palestine are worthy of regaining their land, and they are capable of doing so. Steadfastness now is the foundation of the future," Sheikh Qassem stated.

He stressed that the people in Gaza came out glorious and the resistance hasn't laid down their arms, and hailed their epic steadfastness.

"Congratulations to the Palestinian people, to the people of Gaza and to the resistance fighters, for this agreement that has not changed from what was proposed in May 2024. This indicates the steadfastness of the resistance, and that it achieved its demands while the Israeli enemy was not able to impose its terms," he said.

Sheikh Qassem pointed to the isolation of Israel.

"Israel is now an international pariah; its image is bleak. The condemnation of the International Criminal Court is enough to know the extent of this great impact that the resistance of the Palestinian people has had and how it has exposed this Israeli entity," he said.

He then praised all those who stood by Gaza and Palestine, specifically the Islamic Republic of Iran, led by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

"History will record, as the field did, those who supported Gaza with sacrifices and contributed to foiling the Israeli enemy's project. The most prominent contributors are the Islamic Republic of Iran, led by Imam Khamenei, who has not missed an opportunity to emphasise standing with the Palestinian people to liberate it from the sea to the river, and has provided all kinds of military, moral, material and political support," he said.

He also praised the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and its external branch Al-Quds, along with the arm's former head General Hajj Qassem Soleimani.

Sheikh Qassem also congratulated Yemen for its victory against the US, saying the leaders and the great nation of Yemen forced the US to stop its aggression against the Arab country.

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Indian Prime Minister Warns Pakistan Against 'Terrorist Attacks' As US-Brokered Cease-Fire Appears To Hold

By RFE/RL May 12, 2025

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12 warned Pakistan against launching any "terrorist attack on India," saying that New Delhi would respond with a "fitting reply" if it did.

Modi's comments -- his first since the Indian military launched strikes on what New Delhi said were "terrorist camps" across the border -- came after the nuclear-armed neighbors agreed to a cease-fire announced over the weekend by US President Donald Trump following.

"If there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given...on our terms," Modi said in a televised address. "In the coming days, we will measure every step of Pakistan...what kind of attitude Pakistan will adopt."

He also sad India has only "paused" its military action and will retaliate if there is any more attacks on his country.

Modi spoke after Indian and Pakistani authorities said there was no gunfire reported overnight along the heavily militarized region between their countries.

Pakistan denies Indian accusations that it supports militants and says the locations hit by India last week were civilian sites. There was no immediate response from Islamabad to Modi's comments.

Pakistan and India both declared victory on May 11 as the US-mediated cease-fire appeared to largely hold and the two sides stepped back from a potential full-scale war over the disputed Kashmir region.

The truce was reached after the two sides used missiles and drones over four days of violent exchanges that killed dozens of civilians.

The military confrontation began on May 7 when India said it launched strikes on nine "terrorist infrastructure" sites in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir following an attack on Hindu tourists by Islamist militants in Indian Kashmir last month that killed 26 men.

Islamabad denied any links to the attack and called for a neutral investigation.

Trump said Islamabad and New Delhi agreed to an immediate cessation of hostilities after a "long night of talks mediated by the United States." He announced on May 10 that India and Pakistan had agreed to a full and immediate cease-fire.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country agreed to the cease-fire "in the spirit of peace" but will never tolerate violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He spoke during a meeting with the Turkish ambassador, according to a government statement on May 12.

India and Pakistan regularly come close to igniting a catastrophic full-scale war in the tense South Asian region, usually related to the disputed Kashmir region, which is split into Indian- and Pakistani-controlled areas but claimed in full by both.

In apparent efforts to reassure their domestic populations, both sides claimed victory in the latest outbreak of violence.

On May 11, New Delhi offered a tally of its claimed success during the flare-up in violence, saying its military strikes into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan earlier in the week killed more than 100 militants.

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, director general of Indian military operations, claimed that among those killed were prominent militant leaders.

"We achieved total surprise," Ghai told a New Delhi news conference, describing Pakistan's response as "erratic and rattled."

Meanwhile, Pakistani Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif told a news briefing that Islamabad's forces on May 10 hit 26 Indian military installations in response to missile strikes launched by New Delhi.

Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation for its "victory" over India, while at the same time expressing desires for meaningful dialogue with India and for resolution of all issues dividing the bitter rivals.

"This is a victory not just for the armed forces, but for the whole nation," Sharif said.

International leaders welcomed the cease-fire breakthrough.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the governments of India and Pakistan had agreed "to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site."

In a post on X on May 10, Rubio said he and Vice President JD Vance had been in contact with senior Indian and Pakistani officials over the previous 48 hours.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the cease-fire agreement a "positive step" and "hopes the agreement will contribute to lasting peace and foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two countries," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Trump has said he is ready to work to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan and to help boost the economies of both nations.

"While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a 'thousand years,' a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!"

The cease-fire follows weeks of escalating violence that began after a deadly April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 civilians, most of them Hindu tourists. India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault -- a claim Islamabad denies. The incident triggered a series of strikes, including reported missile and drone attacks, cross-border shelling, and cyberattacks.

India and Pakistan, which gained independence from Britain in 1947, fought full-scale wars in 1948, 1965, and 1971, and a limited conflict in 1999. The central issue remains the Kashmir Valley, which India regards as its Atoot Ang -- integral part -- while Pakistan sees it as the "unfinished agenda of partition" of the subcontinent.

Kashmir is divided between three nuclear-armed neighbors, with India controlling about 45 percent, Pakistan about 35 percent, and China -- following a brief war with India in 1962 -- the remaining 20 percent.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, AP, Reuters, and the BBC

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-pakistan-kashmir-ceasefire- trump-sharif/33410773.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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India's PM Modi Drops Bombshell Statement on Pakistan Operation

Sputnik News

20250512

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered a statement regarding India's recent military response to Pakistan. "Pakistan attacked usbut we struck back HARDER!", Modi said.

PM Modi reveals shocking details of India's Operation Sindoor:

Pakistan's Initial Attack

Pakistani forces targeted Indian civilian areas and military positions

Indian air defense systems successfully intercepted incoming missiles

India's Military Response

Conducted precision strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan

Operations reportedly achieved objectives within first 72 hours

Diplomatic Developments

Pakistan initiated contact for talks on May 10

Communication occurred through DGMO (Directorate General of Military Operations) channels

Current Status

Military operations temporarily paused

All Indian armed forces remain on high alert

 Sputnik

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Finnish President Stubb

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 12, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The Secretary highlighted President Trump's commitment to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine and welcomed Finland's support in this endeavor. Secretary Rubio expressed gratitude for Finland's significant contributions to European security, to include Finland's decision to increase defense spending, and our ongoing cooperation on icebreakers.

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Risk of famine for children across Gaza, new report says

UNICEF

UNICEF and WFP warn of looming catastrophe as 71,000 children and more than 17,000 mothers are threatened by acute malnutrition.

12 May 2025

ROME/NEW YORK, 12 May 2025 -- Populations across the Gaza Strip are at risk of famine as fighting has surged again, border crossings are still closed, and food is dangerously scarce. Hunger and malnutrition have intensified sharply since all aid was blocked from entering on 2 March, reversing the clear humanitarian gains seen during the ceasefire earlier this year.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) snapshot released today, 470,000 people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5), and the entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity. The report also projects an alarming 71,000 children and more than 17,000 mothers will need urgent treatment for acute malnutrition. At the beginning of 2025, agencies estimated 60,000 children would need treatment.

"Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border. We can't get it to them because of the renewed conflict and the total ban on humanitarian aid imposed in early March," said the UN World Food Programme's Executive Director Cindy McCain. "It's imperative that the international community acts urgently to get aid flowing into Gaza again. If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people."

The IPC snapshot for Gaza projects that renewed military operations, the ongoing complete blockade, and the critical lack of supplies needed for survival could push food insecurity, acute malnutrition and mortality levels past the famine thresholds in the coming months.

The vast majority of children in Gaza are facing extreme food deprivation as confirmed by 17 UN agencies and NGOs in the IPC report. Coupled with the severely limited access to health services and critical shortages of clean water and sanitation, rapid increases in acute malnutrition are expected in North Gaza, Gaza and Rafah governorates.

"The risk of famine does not arrive suddenly. It unfolds in places where access to food is blocked, where health systems are decimated, and where children are left without the bare minimum to survive. Hunger and acute malnutrition are a daily reality for children across the Gaza Strip," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "We have repeatedly warned of this trajectory and call again on all parties to prevent a catastrophe."

Border crossings into Gaza have been closed for over two months - the longest the population has ever faced - causing food prices in markets to spike to astronomical levels, putting what little food is available out of reach for most families.

At the same time, more than 116,000 metric tons of food assistance - enough to feed one million people for up to four months - is already positioned in aid corridors, ready to be brought in. Hundreds of pallets of lifesaving nutrition treatments are also prepositioned for entry. United Nations agencies stand ready to work with all stakeholders and food security partners to bring in these food and nutrition supplies and distribute it as soon as borders reopen for principled aid delivery.

The UN World Food Programme and UNICEF remain on the ground in Gaza ready to deliver lifesaving aid according to required humanitarian principles.

WFP depleted its last food stocks to support hot meals kitchens for families on 25 April. Almost a month earlier, all 25 WFP-supported bakeries closed as wheat flour and cooking fuel ran out. The same week, WFP food parcels for families - with two weeks of food rations - were exhausted. UNICEF continues to deliver water and critical nutrition services but its stocks for preventing malnutrition have run out and supplies for the therapeutic treatment of acute malnutrition are critically low.

UNICEF and WFP urge all parties to prioritize the needs of civilians and allow aid to enter Gaza immediately and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.

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Gaza: Starvation looms for one in five people, say food security experts

12 May 2025 - Gazans remain at "critical risk of famine," UN-backed food security experts warned on Monday, a full 19 months since war began with Israel and 70 days since deliveries stopped of all aid and commercial supplies.

"Goods indispensable for people's survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks...The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity," said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform.

In its latest update, the IPC estimated that one in five people in Gaza - 500,000 - faces starvation.

Prices have soared for basics such as a 25 kilogramme sack of wheat flour, which now costs between $235 and $520, representing a 3,000 per cent price spike since February.

"In a scenario of a protracted and large-scale military operation and continuation of the humanitarian and commercial blockade, there would be a critical lack of access to supplies and services that are essential to survival," the IPC said.

Guterres voices alarm

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was alarmed by the findings, especially that most children are now facing extreme hunger.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and children's agency, UNICEF, warned that hunger and malnutrition have intensified sharply since all aid was blocked from entering on 2 March.

WFP chief Cindy McCain said families are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border. "It's imperative that the international community acts urgently to get aid flowing into Gaza again," she said. "If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people."

Aid partners on the ground in Gaza report that the number of hot meals served by those community kitchens that are still operating is declining very quickly. Today, about 260,000 meals have been prepared and delivered across the Gaza Strip.

That marks a decrease compared to 840,000 meals last Wednesday - a 70 per cent reduction of 580,000 daily meals in just five days.

New strikes on UN shelters

The development comes amid continuing reports of Israeli bombardment across Gaza on Monday.

On Saturday, another school run by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA was hit, this time in Gaza City at around 6.30pm, reportedly killing two people and injuring an unknown number.

A day earlier, four more people were reportedly killed when another UNRWA facility was bombed in Jabalia camp, north Gaza. The agency's office was "completely destroyed" and three surrounding buildings sustained severe damage, including a distribution centre. There were no supplies in the distribution centre when it was hit, owing to the continuing Israeli blockade, UNRWA said, noting that it ran out of food for Gaza "more than two weeks ago."

Echoing the wider aid community's rejection of the Israeli plan to manage deliveries of food and non-food items across Gaza's governorates, the IPC deemed it "highly insufficient to meet the population's essential needs for food, water, shelter and medicine."

IPC's assessments help aid agencies decide where needs are greatest around the world. Food insecurity is measured on a scale of one to five, with IPC1 indicating no hunger and IPC5 denoting famine conditions.

According to the latest data, 15 per cent of people in the governorates of Rafah, North Gaza and Gaza are classified as IPC5. Most of the remainder are little better off.

Israel plan scepticism

Amid this disastrous and deteriorating situation, Israel's proposed distribution plan will likely create "significant access barriers [to aid] for large segments of the population," the IPC said.

And pointing to Israel's recently announced large-scale military operation across the Gaza Strip and persistent obstacles impeding the work of aid agencies, it warned that there was "a high risk that 'Famine (IPC Phase 5)' will occur" between now and 30 September.

With hunger everywhere, a high number of households have reported having to resort to "extreme coping strategies" such as collecting rubbish to sell for food. But one in four of this number say that "no valuable garbage remains," while social order "is breaking down" the IPC reported.

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World News in Brief: Sudan aid update, child migrant deaths at sea, nursing shortages, invasive pest scourge

12 May 2025 - The UN expressed deep concern on Monday over the impact of ongoing drone attacks on civilian infrastructure across Sudan.

Port Sudan - the main entry point for humanitarian supplies and personnel into the country - came under attack for the ninth consecutive day. As the UN's main humanitarian hub in Sudan, drone strikes on the coastal city have gravely impacted aid delivery.

Nonetheless, UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights were able to resume on 8 May, providing a continuation of a key humanitarian lifeline as the war between rival militaries for control of Sudan continues, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed.

Targeting of civilian infrastructure has sparked panic and displacement. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported last week that 600 people were displaced within Port Sudan alone because of the attacks.

Catastrophic situation in North Darfur

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, warned on Sunday that the situation in the North Darfur camps of Abou Shouk "is catastrophic."

Although the UN and its partners continue to scale up their humanitarian response, both camps remain, in effect, cut off from aid.

Ms Nkweta-Salami issued an urgent call for a ceasefire and humanitarian pauses to allow life-saving deliveries to resume.

Call for action after deaths of migrant children at sea

Two young children, aged 3 and 4, have died from dehydration aboard a rubber dinghy found adrift in the central Mediterranean, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.

The vessel, which departed Libya carrying 62 migrants including several children, had reportedly been stranded for days after its engine failed.

According to survivors, the children had died nearly a day before rescuers arrived.

One additional passenger is believed to have drowned earlier in the journey. Many others onboard suffered severe chemical burns caused by contact with a mixture of seawater and spilled fuel - injuries which require urgent medical attention.

All surviving passengers were eventually rescued and transferred to Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard.

'Devastating reminder'

Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, called the incident "another devastating reminder" of the deadly risks migrants face.

She stressed the need for coordinated search and rescue missions, and greater investment in support services for migrant families.

"The central Mediterranean remains one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world," Ms. De Dominicis said. "Without immediate action, more lives will continue to be lost."

UNICEF continues to call on governments to meet their obligations under international law and protect vulnerable children seeking safety.

Nursing workforce grows, but deep inequalities persist worldwide

The number of nurses around the world has increased in recent years, but a new UN report published on Monday shows that many countries and regions still face serious shortages, highlighting ongoing inequalities in access to nursing care.

Low-income countries are particularly affected, struggling with too few nurses to meet the needs of their growing populations, said the UN World Health Organization (WHO) which crunched the data.

Poor prospects at home

While these countries are training new nurses at a faster rate than wealthier nations, challenges such as rapid population growth and limited job opportunities are making it hard to close the gap, WHO added.

These imbalances in where nurses are working mean that millions still don't have access to basic health services.

This is holding back efforts to achieve universal health coverage, protect global health, and meet international development goals linked to health.

"We cannot ignore the inequalities that mark the global nursing landscape," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO is urging governments to create more nursing jobs and ensure they are fairly distributed, especially in communities where healthcare services are lacking.

Plant pests continue to threaten global food supplies

Protecting crops from pests is key to ensuring everyone has enough to eat, said the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday, who stressed that access to food is a basic human right.

Each year, around 40 per cent of the world's crops are lost to plant pests and diseases, causing over $220 billion in economic damage.

Invasive pests turn up the heat

Migratory pests like locusts and armyworms are among the biggest threats, especially in regions already hit hard by conflict and climate change.

Countries in the Near East and North Africa - including Algeria, Libya and Tunisia - are currently dealing with a serious outbreak of desert locusts that began in the Sahel.

These insects destroy crops and pastureland, putting food supplies for both people and animals at risk, and threatening the survival of farming communities.

"No country can face these challenges alone," said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, at a high-level conference in Italy marking the International Day of Plant Health.

He called for greater international cooperation and more funding to tackle cross-border pests and diseases.





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Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Gaza

United Nations Secretary-General

New York

12 May 2025

Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General welcomes the release of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli national who had been held hostage in Gaza since 7 October 2023. He is profoundly relieved that Mr. Alexander has been freed and is now returning to his family and loved ones after this harrowing ordeal.

The Secretary-General renews his urgent call for an immediate permanent ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages. Hostages must be treated humanely and with dignity.

He calls on all parties to immediately ensure the rapid, unhindered, and safe humanitarian relief, including the delivery of critical services, for all civilians in need. Aid is not negotiable.

The Secretary-General commends the sustained efforts of the mediators - Egypt, Qatar, and the United States - to bring about an end to the hostilities. The Secretary-General urges all parties to build on today's release to reach a comprehensive agreement that will ensure the release of all hostages, an end to the hostilities, the provision of humanitarian aid and the long-overdue alleviation of the human suffering in Gaza.



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Strengthening Partnerships through Rule of Law

US Navy

12 May 2025

From U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

PRAIA, Cabo Verde -- A rule of law exercise, held May 5th through May 9th during Obangame Express 2025, brought together representatives from Western Africa partner nations and European Allies, enhancing the practical and academic application of joint maritime operations.

A rule of law exercise, held May 5th through May 9th during Obangame Express 2025, brought together representatives from Western Africa partner nations and European Allies, enhancing the practical and academic application of joint maritime operations.

This year's focus was improving partner nation interoperability in vessel boarding, evidence collection, case building, and prosecution.

According to U.S. Air Force Maj. Felix Rodriguez-Cartagena, U.S. Africa Command legal advisor, the symposium meaningfully connected maritime operators with legal practitioners.

"Rule of law promotes better governance, it promotes democracy, and it promotes better, well-run militaries," said Rodriguez-Cartagena. "This year we tried a more holistic approach. Instead of having a room full of attorneys or having a room full of first responders, we got all those people in the same room."

Each participating nation provided both a legal representative and maritime operators. The symposium featured multiple table top exercises, a mock vessel boarding, and a simulated courtroom setting that required maritime operators to testify on their findings.

The symposium also considered the respective maritime concerns of each participating country.

"We are talking about illegal immigration, illegal fishing, unreported fishing, and also drug trafficking, which are threats to our waters," said Capt. Francisco Moreira, Operations Director of the Cabo Verdean Coast Guard. "Cabo Verde also invited all the national agencies that work together in these operations. I think that from now on, we will be better prepared for our missions."

A holistic rule of law understanding from the vessel to the courtroom was a foundation of the symposium.

"One of the key takeaways from the exercise has been bringing together prosecutors and operators to ensure a legal start and finish to boarding operations," said British Royal Marine Capt. Thomas Jenkins, Boarding Team 42 Lima Commando. "It's incredibly important to know what happens in a courtroom in order to ensure that the correct evidence is collected and all legal practices are adhered to."

According to Moreira, the collaborative learning approach provides his team with tangible takeaways that can help address Cabo Verdean threats.

"We will be better equipped in terms of knowledge, in terms of ideas, and, of course, we will put it into practice. Because of our geostrategic situations, we have to do it," Moreira said.

Obangame Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Sixth Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allies, international partners, and other U.S. government departments and agencies to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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People in Gaza starving, sick and dying as aid blockade continues

12 May 2025

News release

Cairo/Geneva/Jerusalem

The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing blockade.

The entire 2.1 million population of Gaza is facing prolonged food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death. This is one of the world's worst hunger crises, unfolding in real time.

The latest food security analysis was released today by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership, of which WHO is a member.

"We do not need to wait for a declaration of famine in Gaza to know that people are already starving, sick and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Today's report shows that without immediate access to food and essential supplies, the situation will continue to deteriorate, causing more deaths and descent into famine."

Famine has not yet been declared, but people are starving now. Three quarters of Gaza's population are at "Emergency" or "Catastrophic" food deprivation, the worst two levels of IPC's five level scale of food insecurity and nutritional deprivation.

Since the aid blockade began on 2 March 2025, 57 children have reportedly died from the effects of malnutrition, according to the Ministry of Health. This number is likely an underestimate and is likely to increase. If the situation persists, nearly 71 000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next eleven months, according to the IPC report.

People in Gaza are trapped in a dangerous cycle where malnutrition and disease fuel each other, turning everyday illness into a potential death sentence, particularly for children. Malnutrition weakens the bodies, making it harder to heal from injuries and fight off common communicable diseases like diarrhoea, pneumonia, and measles. In turn, these infections increase the body's requirement for nutrition, while reducing nutrient intake and absorption, resulting in worsening malnutrition. With health care out of reach, vaccine coverage plummeting, access to clean water and sanitation severely limited, and increased child protection concerns, the risk of severe illness and death grows, especially for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, who urgently need treatment to survive.

Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are also at high risk of malnutrition, with nearly 17 000 expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition over the next eleven months, if the dire situation does not change. Malnourished mothers struggle to produce enough nutritious milk, putting their babies at risk, while the delivery of counselling services for mothers is heavily compromised. For infants under six months, breastmilk is their best protection against hunger and disease - especially where clean water is scarce, as it is in Gaza.

The long-term impact and damage from malnutrition can last a lifetime in the form of stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and poor health. Without enough nutritious food, clean water, and access to health care, an entire generation will be permanently affected.

The plan recently announced by Israeli authorities to deliver food and other essential items across Gaza via proposed distribution sites is grossly inadequate to meet the immediate needs of over two million people. WHO echoes the UN's call for the global humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality to be upheld and respected and for unimpeded humanitarian access to be granted to provide aid based on people's needs, wherever they may be. A well-established and proven humanitarian coordination system, led by the UN and its partners, is already in place and must be allowed to function fully to ensure that aid is delivered in a principled, timely, and equitable manner.

The aid blockade and shrinking humanitarian access continue to undermine WHO's ability to support 16 outpatient and three inpatient malnutrition treatment centres with life-saving supplies, and to sustain the broader health system. The remaining supplies in WHO's stocks inside Gaza are only enough to treat 500 children with acute malnutrition - a fraction of the urgent need - while essential medicines and supplies to treat diseases and trauma injuries are already running out and cannot be replenished due to the blockade.

People are dying while WHO and partners' life-saving medical supplies sit just outside Gaza - ready for deployment, with safeguards in place to ensure the aid reaches those who need it most in line with humanitarian principles. WHO calls for the protection of health care and for an immediate end to the aid blockade, which is starving people, obstructing their right to health, and robbing them of dignity and hope. WHO calls for the release of all hostages, and for a ceasefire, which leads to lasting peace.



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At More Informal EPC Summit In Tirana, EU Leaders Can 'Get Creative' On Ukraine

By Rikard Jozwiak May 13, 2025

Leaders from across Europe will gather on May 16 on Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana for the European Political Community (EPC) summit. The EPC, an idea conceived by French President Emmanuel Macron as a direct response to the war in Ukraine, meets at the highest level twice a year with the host rotating between the 27 EU member states and the 20 non-EU countries.

Now it's Albania's turn, and the event will be something of a crowning achievement for Prime Minister Edi Rama. In power since 2013, he is already one of the most experienced operators in the room, and the meeting comes just five days after a general election in the Western Balkan republic in which his socialist party will finish on top yet again.

Brussels holds Rama in high esteem, with EU officials praising him for his diplomatic skills and sharp wit. A reflection of this is Albania's progress on joining the European Union. In less than a year it has opened a majority of the EU accession chapters and is set to open more by the end of this month.

What Is The European Political Community?

The EPC is not an EU vehicle, nor is it a substitute for EU membership as some EU hopefuls fear. Essentially it's a forum for talking shop that doesn't officially produce any concrete deliverables or a final communique; it has no permanent seat or secretariat.

While the media struggle to explain what sort of animal it is and what purpose it serves given there are so many other European institutions (such as the Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to name a few), leaders appear to love attending its summits.

This is largely because there is minimal official choreography compared to, for example, NATO and EU summits, which follow strict protocols. Sure, there's an opening ceremony, a plenary session, and a family photo. Leaders are then divided into three thematic roundtables focusing on security, competitiveness, and migration.

Most of the one-day gathering, however, will be devoted to various planned and spontaneous bilateral meetings that can quickly turn into larger meetings if needed. It happens without too many accredited aides and advisers, meaning a lot of diplomatic speed-dating and huddles in a nice setting with plenty to eat and drink. It offers "a little bit of freedom and creativity in their otherwise structured lives" as one diplomat put it to me.

EU Leaders Invited To EPC Summit

So far, no one's declined the invitation that went out to all European nations except Belarus, Russia, and the Vatican. The three presidents of the European Council, Commission, and Parliament will attend, as will NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

This will be German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first multilateral meeting, as well. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to show up even if it's not confirmed until the last minute, and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to come, though he skipped some of the previous EPC summits.

At previous EPC summits there was a political push to have Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders meet, often together with the French and German leaders, but no such attempt is expected this time around even though it can never be ruled out.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is invited, as he was to the last one in Budapest in November. EU diplomats are keen to point out that the Tirana meeting is EPC and not the EU, considering the latter imposed a policy not to engage with high-level Georgian officials after the contested Georgian parliamentary elections last October. If Kobakhidze shows up, it will be interesting to see how EU leaders react.

An Eye On Fico And Vucic

In a similar vein, it will be worth watching how leaders interact with Serbian President Alexander Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, both of whom attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, rubbing shoulders with Vladimir Putin.

Fico is largely isolated on the EU level even though no types of sanctions or punishment are in the making after his Moscow trip. Brussels warned Vucic not to make the journey to Russia, noting that as an official candidate country Serbia should align with the bloc's foreign policies.

Vucic looks set to get away with it though. A senior EU official confirmed at a background briefing ahead of the Tirana summit that Serbia will remain a candidate country and there's no consensus among member states to impose sanctions on the country.

The only consequence will be that Serbia won't advance on its EU accession path -- something that is rather moot anyway as the Balkan republic hasn't opened a single negotiating chapter in the past four years.

A Big Week For NATO

On May 14, the chiefs of defense of the military alliance's 32 members meet in Brussels for their last session before the NATO summit at The Hague next month.

Support for Ukraine and NATO missions, operations, and defense plans will all be top of the agenda. On the same day but in the Turkish seaside resort of Antalya, Rutte will gather NATO foreign ministers for an informal two-day meeting. The gathering is controversial given Turkey's repressive policies against the opposition, notably the recent jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/epc-summit-eu-macron- security-ukraine-/33411469.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 - 13 May 2025 - Day 1175

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that so far, the Russian enemy has attacked the positions of the Defense Forces 84 times. It is most actively in the Pokrovsky direction.

The border areas of Ukrainian country were affected by Russian artillery shelling, in particular the settlements Sosnivka, Bila Bereza, Petrushivka, Bratenitsa, Popivka, Passages, Dmitrivka, Simeykine - Sumy region; Yanzhulivka, Hrinivka - Chernihiv region; Lemishchine - Kharkiv region.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian enemy once tried to advance to the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of vovcans ka.

The Russian opponent once attacked in the Kupyans komu direction, near Pi any from the beginning of the day.

In the Lyman direction Ukrainian units repelled 11 attacks in the areas of Novomikhailivka, Kolodyaziv, Grigorivka and in the direction of Ridkodub, Linden, Green Valley, Olgivka. Three more attacks are ongoing so far.

In the sivers komu direction Ukrainian warriors repelled one Russian attack. Russian units tried to advance towards Grigorivka.

At the moment, six Russian assaults have taken place in the Kramatorsky direction. Russian forces attacked in the areas of Chasovogo Yaru and towards the White Mountain. Three clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Toretsky direction Russian occupiers conducted four assaults of the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the Toretsk area and in the direction of Diliyivka.

In the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of the day, the Russian occupiers have already carried out 25 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements Malinivka, Elizavetivka, Zvirove, Kotline, Novosergiyivka, Udaachne, Novooleksiyivka, Novoolexandrivka, Zaporizhia , Andriyivka and in the direction of settlements Muravka, Oleksiyevka, Nova Poltavka, Yablunivka, Mirolyubivka, Zorya, Romin. Withholding enemy pressure, rebuked 22 attacks, three confrontations continue so far. Aviation aggressor struck kabama on poltavka and rusinom yar.

In the Novopavlovsk direction, the Russian zagarbniki 15 times went into the offensive on the position of Ukrainian troops near Konstantinopol, Skudny, Privilny, Free Field, Shevchenko, Bagatyr, Novopol, Odradny. Ukrainian warriors have already fought nine attacks.

In the direction of Gulyajpil s komu, Russian forces made aviation strikes on Vysoku and Gulyajpol.

Today in the orihivs komu direction the Russian occupiers attacked in the direction of novodanilivka and small tokmacka. Both enemy attacks averted.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, Russian forces attacked four times in the direction of Sadovoye - unsuccessful.

In Kur ,ini, according to the information available at this time, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attacks. In addition, the Russian enemy launched five air strikes, dropping ten controlled bombs, and carried out 179 artillery shells, including nine from reactive systems of arson-fire.

In other directions, no significant changes have been noted at the moment.





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Chinese Company and Three Chinese Nationals Indicted for Unlawfully Importing Pill-Making Equipment Used to Manufacture Controlled Substances

Monday, May 12, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A federal grand jury returned a 21-count indictment against a Chinese company and three Chinese nationals for their alleged role in the illegal importation of pill-making equipment, the Department of Justice announced.

According to an indictment returned April 23 and unsealed today, CapsulCN International Co. Ltd. (CapsulCN) and Xiochuan "Ricky" Pan, 40, Tingyan "Monica" Yang, 37, and Xi "Inna" Chen, 30, all of the People's Republic of China, were charged with smuggling, Controlled Substances Act, and money laundering offenses in connection with CapsulCN's unlawful import and distribution of tableting machines (also known as "pill presses"), encapsulating machines, and counterfeit die molds capable of producing millions of potentially lethal fake pills. The indictment also charges Pan, CapsulCN's principal officer and a shareholder, with leading a continuing criminal enterprise. Additionally, four internet domains used by CapsulCN to market and sell illicit pill-making equipment to U.S. customers were seized today in connection with this investigation.

"This indictment and today's domain seizures send an unmistakable message to criminals in the People's Republic of China and across the world  the Department will use every weapon in its arsenal to combat those who facilitate the manufacture and distribution of deadly drugs in the United States," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

"This U.S. Attorney's Office is focused on bringing the full force of justice to anyone who conspires to poison our communities with fentanyl," said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. "Whether through the importation of pill presses and related materials, as alleged in this indictment, or through trafficking precursor chemicals and the drug itself, it is evident that bad actors are determined to harm Americans with fentanyl. Our federal prosecutors, through collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners, are determined to stop them."

Many of the fake pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances seized in the United States are manufactured using relatively inexpensive pill-making equipment  such as pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds  obtained from Chinese pharmaceutical equipment companies and imported into the United States. These fake pills often mimic the look, feel, and effect of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs and are particularly dangerous and misleading to U.S. consumers, who may falsely believe they are taking legitimate prescription medication that is safer and less addictive than the fentanyl and methamphetamine the pills really contain.

According to court documents, between December 2011 and April 2025, Pan led CapsulCN, which advertised and sold pill-making equipment to U.S. customers on websites, popular e-commerce platforms, and various social media accounts. CapsulCN marketed and catered to customers seeking to make counterfeit pills that mimicked the look and effect of prescription drugs. In 2020, Pan and Yang created a new brand, "PillMolds," to advertise, sell, and promote counterfeit die molds to the United States. Although the PillMolds brand was part of CapsulCN, thereafter, CapsulCN ceased marketing and selling die molds via its www.capsulcn.com website and instead did so using the website www.pillmold.com. Today, HSI seized both of these websites, along with two others (www.ipharmachine.com and huadapharma.com) that CapsulCN used to facilitate its unlawful sales and imports of pill-making equipment.

The indictment alleges that, between December 2011 and April 2025, CapsulCN imported and distributed pill presses and encapsulating machines to customers in the United States, knowing or having reason to believe that those items would be used to manufacture controlled substances. CapsulCN also distributed counterfeit die molds, which can be used to compress inactive and active ingredients into pills that mimic the shape and imprinted markings of legitimate pharmaceutical drugs such as oxycodone, dextroamphetamine, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and alprazolam. Drug traffickers often replace these active ingredients in the legitimate pharmaceutical drugs with other controlled substances such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The indictment alleges that CapsulCN concealed the nature and purpose of the pill presses, encapsulating machines, and die molds from U.S. customs officials and law enforcement by using deceptive packaging and false manifests that undervalued and misidentified the contents. Some customers sought to avoid mandatory requirements to report the import and distribution of pill presses and encapsulating machines to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). CapsulCN also allegedly helped conceal the nature of its shipments avoid detection by disassembling the machines and shipping the parts in separate packages, again with false manifests. CapsulCN employees then would direct customers to social media accounts maintained by CapsulCN that contained videos instructing customers on how to reassemble the machines once in the United States.

According to court documents, Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives communicated extensively with potential customers in the United States over company emails and encrypted electronic messaging applications. In these communications with customers, Yang, Chen, and others agreed to smuggle pill-making equipment to U.S. customers and assisted customers in selecting die molds that best replicated identified pharmaceutical drugs. Yang, Chen, and other CapsulCN sales representatives also exchanged electronic messages and emails negotiating payment for CapsulCN products that were smuggled into the United States and imported and distributed for use in manufacturing controlled substances. CapsulCN maintained bank accounts in the People's Republic of China and accounts with online payment services to facilitate the transfer of funds from the United States to China in furtherance of CapsulCN's criminal activities.

The HSI El Paso Field Office investigated the case with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigation's El Paso Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Trial Attorneys Colin W. Trundle, Cadesby Cooper, Kaitlin Sahni, Edward E. Emokpae, Scott B. Dahlquist, Assistant Director Katharine A. Wagner, Deputy Director of Criminal Litigation A.J. Nardozzi, and Director Amanda Liskamm of the Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Gregory and Donna Miller and OCDETF Chief Steven Spitzer of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas are handling the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Components: Civil Division

Office of the Deputy Attorney General

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

Press Release Number: 25-495

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Head of the Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti Delivers Remarks at SIFMA's Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Conference

Monday, May 12, 2025

Location

Washington, DC

United States

Thank you, Bernard, for that kind introduction. And thank you to SIFMA for having me here at your annual AML and Financial Crimes Conference.

Over the last several months, the Department has made clear that its mission is to protect hard-working Americans from the most serious threats. In the Criminal Division, we are working relentlessly to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), dismantle human smuggling operations, curb the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, and neutralize child predators and violent criminals, including by securing significant charges and prison sentences against the worst criminal actors.

White-collar crime also poses a significant threat to U.S. interests. Unchecked fraud in U.S. markets and government programs robs hardworking Americans and harms the public fisc. The deadly activities of cartels and TCOs are enabled by international money laundering organizations and other financial facilitators. Illicit financial and logistical networks undermine our national security by facilitating sanctions evasion by hostile nation-states and terror regimes.

Today, I'm here to discuss the role the Criminal Division plays in combating these crimes.

The Criminal Division has always been a leader in white-collar enforcement and in the development of corporate enforcement policy. Our work prevents the distortion of markets through unfair external forces based on fraud and deceit.

But recently, those efforts have come at too high a cost for businesses and American enterprise. Companies need clear guidance and certainty on the concrete benefits that each company, their shareholders, boards, and customers can earn through self-reporting, owning up to criminal conduct, remediating, and cooperating with the Department. Too often, businesses have been subject to unchecked and long-running investigations that can be costlyboth to the Department and to the subjects and targets of its investigationsand can unduly interfere with day-to-day business operations. These costs and uncertainty have deterred companies from working with the Department and diverted the Department's resources from tackling the most significant threats facing our country.

In short, if companies continue to assume that the Department will be quick and heavy-handed with the stick, and stingy with the carrot, the system will continue to generate lengthy drawn-out investigations that are ultimately detrimental to companies and the Department. This approach has deterred companies from cooperating and allowing the Department to more readily target the most culpable actors.

And so the Criminal Division is turning a new page on white-collar and corporate enforcement.

We start from first principles: recognizing that law-abiding companies are key to a prosperous America. As stated in the America First Investment Policy, "Economic security is national security." Through hard work and innovation, we can build a stronger economy that benefits Americans from Main Street to the C-suite. We have created the safest and most secure financial system in the world, ensured an even playing field whereno matter your backgroundyou can compete in our marketplace, and rooted out those who would prey on the vulnerable through scams and schemes.

Most corporations and financial institutions want to play by the rules and provide value for their shareholders and their customers. And that is what we want them to remain focused on. Excessive enforcement and unfocused corporate investigations stymie innovation, limits prosperity, and reduces efficiency.

So that ends today. Current Department leadership recognizes the critical role that American companies playnot just in growing our economy, but also in the fight against the most serious criminal actors. Many of you, particularly those of you in an AML compliance role, are on the front lines defending your companies against criminal actors. You work every day to implement systems to keep your companies, your customers, and your shareholders safe. You follow the guidance from your regulators. And you can provide critical information to ensure that the Department can prosecute the worst offenders, the individual fraudsters, those that shadow bank for hostile nation-states, cartel enablers, and other financial facilitators of transnational crime. We are here to prosecute criminals, not law-abiding businesses.

To that end, I am announcing the Criminal Division's white-collar enforcement plan. This plan will focus the Criminal Division's efforts on the most egregious white-collar crime to make our nation safer and more prosperous, vindicate victims' rights, maximize the use of the Department's resources, and provide fairness and transparency to individuals and companies alike. As part of this plan, I am revising three of the key corporate enforcement policies of the Criminal Division to reflect these priorities.

So, let me take a few minutes and walk you through the changes I am implementing at the Criminal Division under the new Administration.

Effective white-collar prosecution requires focus, fairness and efficiencythree principles that will guide the work of Criminal Division prosecutors going forward.

The Criminal Division is laser-focused on the most urgent threats to our country, our citizens, and our economy. I have instructed all of our prosecutors to focus their white-collar prosecution efforts on the key threats to America.

Fraud perpetrated against Americans as individuals, as taxpayers, and as recipients of government services are core to this focus. Millions of Americans are victimized by fraudsters every day, some losing their hard-earned life savings. These schemes harm the public and weaken the integrity of our markets.

Similarly, dishonest actors seek to take advantage of our government and enrich themselves through waste, fraud, and abuse. Those that defraud Medicare, our defense infrastructure, and other public benefit programs and government agencies, steal not only from the government but divert much-needed support from the most vulnerable Americans.

Criminals also seek to exploit our financial system, which is the safest in the world. Just as Americans seek the security that the system provides, dangerous cartels, hostile nation states, and terrorists seek to exploit that system to further their heinous crimes and threaten our economy and our national security.

You are the first line of defense against these schemescompanies and particularly financial institutions with well-functioning compliance programs have a unique role to play in this fight.

We are here to work with you. Our goal is practicality. Root out criminal conduct in the most cost-effective ways. But make no mistake, the Criminal Division will hold accountable those that choose a different path, those that enable criminals. It is incumbent upon us as representatives of the American people to do so.

Today, the Criminal Division is releasing revised corporate enforcement policies that emphasize the role of and benefits for law-abiding companies and companies that are ready to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes. Specifically, we are making clearer the benefits for companies that self- report. Companies that are ready to take responsibility should not be overburdened by enforcement. The revised policies are aimed at incentivizing you to come forward, come clean, reform, and cooperate with the government in efficient investigations and prosecutions of the most culpable actors.

Let me take a minute to outline the changes you'll see in our policies.

We have revised the Criminal Division's Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, or CEP. The CEP is the Criminal Division's primary guide to corporate enforcement and voluntary self-disclosure. But it had gotten unwieldy and hard to navigate. We want to be as transparent as we can to companies and their counsel about what to expect under our policies. Therefore, under my direction, the Fraud Section and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section have revised the CEP to simplify the policy and clarify the outcomes that companies can expect.

What is the primary message I want you to take back to your companies about the new CEP? Self-disclosure is key to receiving the most generous benefits the Criminal Division can offer. Why? Because coming forward and coming clean lets the Department devote its resources to investigating and prosecuting individual wrongdoers and the most egregious criminal schemes. Companies can avoid what we have all seen in the past: burdensome, years-long investigations that inevitably end in a resolution process in which the company feels it must accept the fate the Department has ultimately decided.

Under the new CEPwith an easy-to-follow flow chartcompanies that voluntarily self-disclose and meet other criteria will receive a declination, not just a presumption of a declination. More precisely, those companies that meet our core requirementsvoluntarily self-disclose to the Criminal Division, fully cooperate, timely and appropriately remediate, and have no aggravating circumstanceswill not be required to enter into a criminal resolution. This is a clear path to declination.

For companies that are willing to meet all the voluntary self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation requirements but may have concerns about coming forward because they have aggravating circumstances, the revised policy makes clear that you may still be eligible for a CEP declination based on weighing the severity of those aggravating circumstances and the company's cooperation and remediation.

And the changes aim to also provide enhanced clarity and benefits for companies who in good faith self-disclose either not quickly enough or afterunbeknownst to themthe Department has already become aware of the misconduct. The CEP revisions put an end to the guessing game companies previously faced under these circumstances.

Now, the CEP makes clear that those companies are still eligible to receive significant benefitsan NPA with a term of fewer than three years, 75% reduction of the criminal fine, and no monitor.

As I said beforethe key here is self-disclosure. Where a company does not self-disclose, it will not receive these benefits. But, consistent with the high-level principles I've discussed, in those circumstances, Criminal Division prosecutors still have discretion to recommend a resolution of any form, with a three-year term, monitor and up to 50% reduction in the fine.

I am also announcing revisions to our monitor selection policy.

As with unchecked enforcement, unrestrained monitors can be a burden on businesses that are frequently making self-directed improvements and investing significant amounts in their own compliance programs to solve problems internally and proactively. Without appropriate oversight from the Criminal Division, monitors can create an adversarial relationship with the companies they monitor, impose significant expense, stray from their core mission, and unduly interfere with business. At times, the money companies spend on their monitor could be better spent investing in their compliance programs or, if they haven't already, making victims whole.

In short, the value monitors add is often outweighed by the costs they impose, so you can expect to see fewer of them going forward. For pre-existing monitorships, the Criminal Division is reviewing each one in an effort to narrow their scope or, where appropriate, terminate a monitorship altogether, based on a totality of the circumstances review.

In limited circumstances, however, a narrowly-tailored monitorship that is right-sized to the conduct it seeks to remedy, can be an effective resource to provide independent oversight and review to companies that are struggling to implement effective compliance programs on their own.

I have asked the experts in the Criminal Division to revise the Division's policy on selection of monitors, consistent with these principles and concerns. Our new policy clarifies the factors prosecutors must consider to impose a monitor and to narrowly scope and tailor the monitor's mandate when a monitor is imposed.

Let me walk you through some of the key changes. The top line value criterion is that the benefits of the monitor should outweigh its costs, both monetary costs, as well as burdens on the business' operations. A monitor's costs must be proportionate to the severity of the underlying conduct, the profits of the company, and the company's present size and risk profile. Therefore, factors prosecutors will consider are:

First, the nature and seriousness of the conduct and the risk that it will happen again. In analyzing the nature and seriousness of the conduct, the Department will focus chiefly on harms to Americans and American business.

Second, the availability of other effective independent government oversighti.e., regulator oversight.

Third, the efficacy of the company's compliance program and culture of compliance at the time of resolution.

Fourth, the maturity of the company's controls and ability of the company to test and update its compliance program.

And when a monitor is imposed, that monitor must understand that she or he serves the public by ensuring the company will not reoffend and has an appropriate compliance program.

The goal of the Department, the monitor, and the company should be alignedto bring the company back into good standing and to prevent future misconduct. In keeping with this public service, the Criminal Division will ensure that costs are proportionate with the underlying criminal conduct, the company's profits, and the company's size and risk profile. We will do that by requiring a fee cap, approving budgets for all workplans, and requiring biannual tripartite meetings between the Department, the monitor, and the company.

And finally, we have made changes to our corporate whistleblower program to reflect our focus on the worst actors and most egregious crimes.

To do this, I asked MLARS and Fraud to review the corporate whistleblower awards pilot program and recommend additional areas of focus reflecting the Administration's priorities.

Today, we have added the following priority areas for tips: procurement and federal program fraud; trade, tariff, and customs fraud; violations of federal immigration law; and violations involving sanctions, material support of foreign terrorist organizations, or those that facilitate cartels and TCOs, including money laundering, narcotics, and Controlled Substances Act violations.

As with every other area in our program, these tips must result in forfeiture to be eligible for an award.

What does all this mean for you, the compliance professional and particularly those of you in anti-money laundering and financial crime departments? We want to hear from you and we want your companies to hear from you. Now is the time to report, remediate, and strengthen compliance to ensure American prosperity.

Never before have the benefits of self-reporting and cooperating been so clear. And you are the eyes and the ears of your companies. You have the opportunity to see something, report something, and make sure your company can work with the Department to root out individual misconduct and receive all the benefits we have to offer.

Thank you, again, for having me today.

Speaker

Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Criminal Division

Component

Criminal Division

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China launches new remote sensing satellites

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:10, May 12, 2025

TAIYUAN, May 11 (Xinhua) -- China sent a remote sensing satellite group into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Sunday.

Launched at 9:27 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a modified version of the Long March-6 rocket, the Yaogan-40 02 satellite group has entered planned orbit successfully, according to the launch center.

These satellites will be used to carry out electromagnetic environment detection and related technical tests.

Sunday's launch marks the 574th mission undertaken by the Long March rocket series, according to the center.

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Press conference - Canberra

Transcript

Monday 12 May 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. Last Saturday the Australian people voted for Labor and for Labor to keep building Australia's future. And that is certainly what we intend to do in this, our second term. We'll continue working hard, day and night, for all Australians. We have the largest ALP Caucus in history since Federation. A Caucus brimming with capacity, talent and energy in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. I think we're up to claiming 92 seats in the House of Representatives. But in addition to that, we have the electorate of Bean, Calwell, potentially Longman as well. So, we are ahead in two of those seats and counting will continue. Calwell will be some time because of the nature of the candidates being close, there will have to be a full distribution there. And in the Senate we expect to have at least 28 Senators with additional counting taking place in Western Australia and Victoria. But we are hopeful of securing additional seats in those states as counting continues forward. As a result of that it is an extraordinary opportunity for Ministers, but for the entire Caucus going forward, to put in place the agenda that we put forward positively to the Australian people. An ambitious agenda to change this country for the better. I'm deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my Government with the election and we certainly won't take it for granted. I intend to recommend to the Governor-General, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn, the following makeup of the Ministry to be sworn in tomorrow at 9am. It will be followed by a full ministry meeting here in Parliament House.

The Cabinet will be made up of Richard Marles as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. Penny Wong as Foreign Affairs Minister. Jim Chalmers, Treasurer. Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Public Service, Women and Government Services. Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State.

During the election campaign, I confirmed that all of those people would come continue to fulfil their responsibilities.

Tony Burke will be Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, Cyber Security as well as the Arts. Mark Butler as Minister for Health and Ageing, Disability, and the NDIS. Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Amanda Rishworth will be the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Jason Clare, Minister for Education. Michelle Rowland will be the new Attorney-General. Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Social Services. Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Clare O'Neil, Minister for Housing, Homelessness as well as Minister for Cities. Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia. Murray Watt, Minister for Environment and Water. Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. Anika Wells, Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport. Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs. Anne Aly comes into the Cabinet as Minister for Small Business, also she will be the Minister for International Development and Multicultural Affairs. Tim Ayres also enters the Cabinet as Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science.

In the Outer Ministry. Matt Keogh will continue as Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel. Kristy McBain, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. And in addition, she will be the Minister for Emergency Management. Andrew Giles, Minister for Skills and Training. Jenny McAllister will be the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Dan Mulino enters the Ministry as the Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services. Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Youth. Sam Rae, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors.

In Assistant Ministers. Patrick Gorman will continue as my Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, also Assistant Minister for the Public Service, Employment and Workplace Relations. Matt Thistlethwaite will be the Assistant Minister for Immigration, Foreign Affairs and Trade. And can I pass on my condolences publicly to Matt. He had the funeral of his father last Friday, who died during the election campaign. It was a really difficult time when you're going through a public election campaign to lose your father. And on behalf of the Labor Party, I express my condolences to Matt and his family. Andrew Leigh, the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury. Ged Kearney, the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. Emma McBride, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health. Senator Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Resources, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, and also for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Josh Wilson, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Assistant Minister for Emergency Management. Julian Hill, the Assistant Minister for Customs and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Minister for International Education. Rebecca White, a new Member of Parliament, comes in as the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and Assistant Minister for Women. Andrew Charlton will be the Cabinet Secretary, will also serve as the Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy. Senator Nita Green enters the Executive as the Assistant Minister for Northern Australia, Assistant Minister for Tourism and Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs. Peter Khalil enters the Executive as the Assistant Minister for Defence.

I have agreed also to appoint a number of people as Special Envoys. Susan Templeman will continue her work as the Special Envoy for the Arts, and Luke Gosling for Defence, Veterans Affairs and Northern Australia. In addition to that, Dan Repacholi will take up the new position as Special Envoy for Men's Health, something that he is very passionate about and something that I think he will make an extraordinary contribution in. Josh Burns becomes a Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness. Marion Scrymgour becomes the Special Envoy for Remote Communities. When I spoke to Marion, she was in a remote community in the Northern Territory. Kate Thwaites is the Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, and that will have particular tasks if we are successful in our bid to host the COP meeting in a couple of years' time or next years' time. Tim Watts as the Special Envoy for the Indian Ocean. Happy to take some questions.

JOURNALIST: If I could just ask about Social Services. Obviously a big portfolio, foundational supports is going to be a big part of that. Do you see Tanya Plibersek having that role until we next go to the election?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm just announcing it today and you're asking me are people moving on? This is the Ministry that I'm announcing today. I hope it continues for three years across the board.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, how did Tanya Plibersek take being given the Social Services portfolio and did you give any consideration to shifting Chris Bowen?

PRIME MINISTER: She was very positive about the portfolio and no.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, with Bill Shorten stepping away from Parliament, you lose someone who was not only a firm advocate for the NDIS, but someone who was also very hard-line when it came to some of the misuse and abuse of the NDIS. What expectation do you have of Mark Butler on that front and with regard also to his Assistant Minister?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah well, he has a Ministerial responsibility. Jenny McAllister, we've moved, and this is something that we were discussing even when Bill was still here, is the NDIS we're moving into health. There are a number of MoG changes which you will see tomorrow confirmed - that's one of them. We're trying to get everything in the right spot with the experience that we've had during our first term of government. And Mark Butler, of course, has a great interest in this area, has had an interest for a long period of time. But Jenny McAllister as well I think has shown in the work that she's done in Emergency Management in a short period of time that she's been in the Ministry. She is someone who has a capacity to have a great attention to detail, and that is precisely what's required when it comes to the reform of the NDIS. We want to make sure that the NDIS fulfils what its intention was - that everyone has the best opportunity to contribute to Australian society and that people with a disability don't get left behind. But we also want to make sure that there isn't some of the activity that we've seen that Bill Shorten began, making sure that some of that waste and inefficiencies weren't there because that's not serving the people with disabilities. So, I'm very confident that Mark and Jenny are ideally suited to perform that task.

JOURNALIST: PM, Murray Watt's been one of your better Ministers over the last term. Is the decision to give him Environment an indication of your desire to get the Nature Positive stuff done and done quickly? And you've also noticed in the Envoys, the ones for Social Cohesion and so forth have gone. Is that also a sign you no longer regard those as priorities?

PRIME MINISTER: Sorry?

JOURNALIST: The Special Envoys for Social Cohesion that you had in the last term are no longer there. Could you explain?

PRIME MINISTER: No. On the latter first, we will continue to work as a whole government on social cohesion. Peter Khalil had that role and performed it well. We have, of course, a Special Envoy outside the Parliament for both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and they're doing their job. Murray is an outstanding performer as a Minister. I regard the Environment as a really central portfolio. It's the only one I've ever asked for in this building, and I regard it as very much a senior role in a Labor government. Murray will do it very well.

JOURNALIST: You've changed some of the personnel in the national security team. Will the division of responsibilities change as well?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to there, just to be clear -

JOURNALIST: The Attorney-General's Department and Home Affairs, will they still keep the same things?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah look, we'll have some cross swearing in so that people can work seamlessly on it. But we're very confident that we've got it right, that we want to make sure that people can have access to all of the information at the appropriate time. So, there were issues that arose out of information sharing during the, let's call it the caravan incident for shorthand, and we wanted to make sure that we got it right and learned from that experience.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, did you fight for either Mark Dreyfus or Ed Husic to stay in the Ministry? And if not, why not?

PRIME MINISTER: Look, we have a process in the Labor Party Caucus. You've been watching it for some time.

JOURNALIST: Thanks, Prime Minister. One for the economists. Why has Daniel Mulino been named Assistant Treasurer?

PRIME MINISTER: Because he's terrific and he'll do a very good job. He is very well qualified for the job. He's someone who was very pleased to get that job, I assure you. He's someone who, in terms of his qualifications, and I've got it here somewhere. He's got a PhD in economics from Yale. That's kind of handy. I know that there have been articles written about people's economics degrees in recent times and I thank them for the character references. I'm not sure the University of Sydney does, but it's a handy uni. Probably not regarded quite the same as a PhD from Yale. And he's played a role in the Parliament here in economics. I think the economics team remains very strong, led, of course, by Jim and Katy.

JOURNALIST: PM, Anika Wells has got Communications and Sport. Is that a bid as a circuit breaker to get through some further restrictions or further reforms on gambling advertising? And she'll also have to implement the under 16 social media ban later in the year. Are you confident that that age assurance trial is running as it should be?

PRIME MINISTER: I am. Anika, we're putting sport with infrastructure. It's one of the changes that we'll make to put Sport across from Health. The Commonwealth's major responsibility for sport is essentially infrastructure. So it will go in the department that includes Infrastructure, includes Communications and will include Sport. And it was a natural fit as well to have Anika Wells - there's this thing happening in 2032 in Brisbane and that will be a big focus of sporting activity leading up to then. And Anika has played a really important role as well as a Queenslander in getting that together. And so that will be an important part of her remit. And we wanted some continuity there. There's been the change of government in Queensland, of course. There's changes of personnel, I've brought in Greg Norman as one of the appointees on the Olympics board. And I thought it was important that there be a period of continuity there.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, do you expect the new minister to proceed with recommendations of Peta Murphy's review on gambling?

PRIME MINISTER: I expect us to continue to do work as we have.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister -

PRIME MINISTER: I'm going along. You're next.

JOURNALIST: Will Andrew Charlton have a voice in Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary? Or is he just a more passive role there?

PRIME MINISTER: No, no, Cabinet Secretary is an administrative role, but they obviously have an important role to play in determining the Cabinet agenda, in liaising with the Prime Minister's Office making sure working across government. Andrew Charlton is very experienced as a Sherpa at various international conferences. I saw firsthand the work that he's done at the G20 meeting that was held in London, I think it was in 2009 at the height of the Global Financial Crisis. He is, I think, exceptionally qualified to do that and I think he'll play a really important role there. His policy role will be not that, to not go across all of the portfolios. His policy role will be to particularly work with Tim Ayres in the industry area on new technology, AI, all of that impact that it's going to have on the nature of work and the changing nature of our economy. And I think Andrew will be a contributor there.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you spoke about the importance of the Environment portfolio. Can you just explain why you've decided to shift Tanya Plibersek out and Murray Watt into that role?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've changed a range of portfolios around. I've got people who are, I think, in the best positions, and that's across the board. There's been, I think, of the Cabinet there's been multiple changes made. That's what happens. And just as there are new members entering the Cabinet, there were new members last year as well. You know, Anika Wells, for example, came in but kept the same portfolios. Ageing and Aged Care is really part of Health. And as you know, the structure would normally be a Cabinet Minister and then a Minister. We've put that in place and I think we've got the right people in the right places.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you met with Ed Husic this morning. What did you make of his outburst on my colleague's program next door in relation to calling the Deputy Prime Minister a factional assassin? And what's your message to him in terms of some of the complaints that he's raised about the process here?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the process occurred in the normal way of the Caucus, the way that we select the Ministry. And I had a constructive discussion with Ed this morning. I always have constructive discussions with Caucus members and indeed with other members of the Parliament. What I've done is to allocate portfolios. That's a system that's there. It's one that Ed and others have supported for a long period of time. A long period of time.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).

PRIME MINISTER: Obviously not. So, I though, you know, we had this system that was put in place when I was Deputy PM. It changed after 2013, resumed to that, and put in place the Caucus selecting the frontbench in the way that that it has.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, it has obviously been very busy with this reshuffle. But there has been news over from DFAT that there has been an Australian death in Ukraine. A young Australian man, 28 years old, working for a humanitarian organisation. What can you tell us about this case and the danger for Australians going into that war zone?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Australian man who, the family and DFAT, the advice I have at this point in time is to not name him because of the information that is going forward. It's important to express the deepest condolences and sympathies with his family and his loved ones at this very difficult time. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing support to his family. Out of respect for the family's privacy and consistent with our obligations, there's a limit to what we can say publicly at this time. I can confirm, though, he wasn't a participant in the conflict, he was volunteering with a humanitarian organisation. And so I do want to remind Australians that Ukraine is a do not travel zone. The situation is extremely dangerous and we continue to strongly advise all Australians not to travel to Ukraine under any circumstances.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Labor party room is 57 per cent women. I'm curious why, at the Assistant Ministry level, it's only one third, or about a quarter, sorry, of the people that are being put forward.

PRIME MINISTER: I think this is, in terms of the Ministry and the Cabinet is the most significant representation of women ever. Ever. And I think, you know, that's just a fact that it stands out and I'm very proud to have so many women in very senior roles.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you created a new assistant portfolio I think, international education for Julian Hill. What's your thinking behind that? Is that going to be around the caps or attempt to put caps on foreign students?

PRIME MINISTER: International education is such an important export for Australia. We know there's been examples as well of inappropriate activity. Overwhelmingly, the sector is important and provides not just assets for Australia and income for Australia, but it also provides us to have connections with the world. People who come and study here and then go back and become advocates for our relationship. I've seen that firsthand. I launched the Australia-India Alumni Association probably about 10 years ago when I was in Opposition in New Delhi. There are literally hundreds of thousands of students who have a relationship with Australia. So, this is an important industry. It's important that students who come here get a quality education. It's important we get it right. This sector is complex and Julian Hill is someone who's been involved as a local Member as well, and I think he'll be a very good appointment. I discussed it with him and with Jason Clare as someone having particular responsibility for that area.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, we're talking about the domestic angle here, but there's also the international one. You're going to Indonesia tomorrow - Wednesday, sorry. And you're also booked in for the G7 in Canada. There's another international event coming up, which is the Pope's Confirmation Mass in Rome. Are you thinking of going to that? And is there any update on whether you might go to Washington DC?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Thanks very much, David. You're heading off soon as well, somewhere, more permanently. I will travel. We're just finalising arrangements. I've been invited to the formal Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. It's taking place on Sunday. It's my intention - we're sorting out logistics at the moment, to travel from Jakarta to Rome and to the Vatican City to be able to attend and represent Australia at that event, which will be so important for Catholics around the world and those of faith here in Australia as well. This comes at an important time for the Catholic Church and for the world, and my Government looks forward to continuing Australia's strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo's Pontificate. We'll finalise that, though, obviously the invitation only came in recently and we are also - it will be an opportunity to have bilateral discussions with a range of world leaders who will be there. People I haven't met before face to face, including Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada has confirmed that he will be there, but leaders are reaching out and organising meetings on the side, if you like, given people will be in Rome. People would have seen -

JOURNALIST: Is Donald Trump going?

PRIME MINISTER: It's not clear at this stage and I'm not in charge of President Trump's itinerary and he probably wouldn't appreciate it if I did announce he was going. So, I know some people who are going, but we'll leave that to them to announce, frankly, is the way that we deal diplomatically. But there will be, obviously, a range of senior world leaders, including, I know Prime Minister Carney will be there, President Macron and a range of others as well. Ursula von der Leyen I will meet. We've had contact with her, the head of the European Union. Obviously, there's discussions to be held as well about trade and tariff issues with Europe as well. We tried to have a free trade agreement with Europe and it will be good to have a discussion further about whether that can be advanced. We chose not to conclude that because it wasn't in Australia's national interest. But quite clearly, in today's uncertain world, with tariffs and trade issues being so central, no doubt there will be discussions and I'll take the opportunity as well as having what will be an incredible honour for me, I've got to say. I mean, you know, it was Mother's Day yesterday. And can I say this - my mum would be pretty, pretty chuffed at the idea that her son will be going as Prime Minister to see the inauguration of a Pope in the Vatican City. Thanks very much.

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China releases first white paper on national security

Global Times

By Fan Anqi Published: May 12, 2025 10:47 PM

China's State Council Information Office on Monday issued the country's first white paper on national security. Facing a complex landscape of deepening adverse external impacts and increasing internal challenges, overall, China's national security situation has maintained stable and steady progress, as China works with Asia-Pacific nations to jointly uphold regional peace and development, injecting stability into a turbulent world, an official of the department concerned elaborated on the white paper.



China's national security in the new era is one that takes the people's security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task and national interests as the guiding principle, read the abstract of the white paper, per the Xinhua News Agency on Monday.

It is also one that serves and promotes high-quality development, supports further expansion of high-level opening-up, and operates under the rule of law. China coordinates its own security and common security, opposes the generalization of security, does not implement security coercion and does not accept threats and pressure. The country adheres to independence and self-confidence and the path of national security with Chinese characteristics, says the white paper.

It also emphasizes that China's national security in the new era will safeguard high-quality development, uphold national territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests, ensure security and reliability in emerging domains in order to prevent and mitigate various risks in the process of Chinese modernization.

In the new era, China has explicitly identified the coordination of development and security as one of the major principles of national governance, incorporating it into the overall consideration of economic and social development, according to the white paper. It stressed that China will continue to grow stronger by balancing openness and security, with its doors opening ever wider.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese expert on national security, aerospace and military affairs, told the Global Times that China's first national security white paper has clearly delineated security threats across all domains, revealing that external threats pose unprecedented challenges to our nation.

Externally, the world is entering a period of heightened turbulence. China's neighboring flashpoints, such as India-Pakistan conflicts, resurface intermittently. Also, the US-led Western bloc's provocations in China's periphery, coupled with spillover effects from conflicts like Russia-Ukraine, are creating comprehensive security pressures. Internally, non-traditional security threats including extremist infiltration, color revolution attempts, terrorism risks, as well as ethnic and religious issues, also could challenge national stability, Song said.

Amid global transformations and technological advancements, the white paper has expanded the concept of national security. While traditional concerns like territorial sovereignty and maritime rights remain vital, emerging domains such as biosecurity and space security are gaining strategic prominence.

Significantly, the document establishes that China's security paradigm encompasses not only sovereignty interests but also developmental interests. "With substantial overseas investments and cooperation projects underway, the security of these assets has become a vital manifestation of our developmental interests, and constitute a priority consideration in our national security framework," Song added.

Elaborating on the white paper, the official of the department concerned told press on Monday that the key to China's holistic approach to national security emphasizes the idea of "big security," focusing on major issues of the nation that serve to safeguard the survival and sustainable development of the country.

However, not all risks in every field are classified as national security risks, nor is China's approach about pursuing absolute security or the generalization of security. China's approach to maintaining national security has clear boundaries, which fundamentally differs from the US' tendency to generalize the concept of national security, and engage in extensive sanctions, decoupling and coercive tactics, the official said, Xinhua reported.

In response to a question regarding the US tariff issue, the official stated that China has always handled China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and is committed to the stable, healthy and sustainable development of these relations. China views the pressure from the US as a driving force, considering the challenges as a strategic opportunity to accelerate the construction of a new security framework and to advance the modernization of its national security system and capabilities.

Looking ahead, China will strengthen the rule of law in foreign affairs, improve mechanisms to counter sanctions, interference and "long-arm jurisdiction," and enrich its toolbox of countermeasures to firmly safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, the official said.

China is also a proactive actor in advancing international common security. The Global Security Initiative rejects outdated concepts such as zero-sum games, absolute security and alliance-based confrontation, driving the global security governance system toward a more just and equitable direction. By the end of 2024, the initiative had garnered support and appreciation from 119 countries and international organizations and had been incorporated into 123 bilateral and multilateral political documents.

"China will always remain a steadfast force in safeguarding national interests, a just force in maintaining global peace and stability, a progressive force in upholding international fairness and justice, and a constructive force in promoting global common development. We will actively foster broader consensus for building an equal and orderly multipolar world, injecting greater certainty into a turbulent world," the official said.

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When China and Brazil join hands, Global South will gain respect the world has never seen beforeBrazilian president

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha and Bai Yunyi Published: May 12, 2025 11:49 PM

The relationship between China and Brazil will be unbreakable, for both sides need each other; and as long as the two countries join hands, the Global South will gain unprecedented respect in the world, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said at China-Brazil Business Forum in Beijing on Monday, noting that the potential of the China-Brazil relationship is limitless.

Lula is on a state visit to China from May 10 to 14. This is Lula's sixth visit to China, and his second since 2023. During his visit, President Lula will attend the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

Media analysis suggests that against the backdrop of a significant rise in global economic instability triggered by tariff threats, Lula's visit to China not only marks a further advancement of China-Brazil relations but also holds the promise of alleviating the concerns of global investors.

Hundreds of Chinese and Brazilian business people and several Brazilian ministers attended the China-Brazil Business Forum on Monday, the Global Times learned. Lula said his visit to China with a large delegation composed of ministers, governors, parliamentarians and entrepreneurs aims to demonstrate Brazil's commitment to jointly building a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet together with China.

Lula emphasized in his speech the prospects for cooperation between China and Brazil in such fields as new energy and infrastructure. He also stated that Brazil should enhance the added value of its industries and shake off its dependence on exports of primary commodities and raw materials. In this regard, Brazil can learn from China's experience, increase investment in education, and cultivate more engineers, mathematicians and artificial intelligence experts.

Chinese people can study at Brazilian universities, and more Brazilians can also come to China to study, said the Brazilian president, noting that everyone says Chinese is difficult to learn, but what's truly difficult is building something like the Great Wall just as the Chinese people did.

The relationship between China and Brazil is not only based on practical cooperation but also on the shared vision of getting rid of poverty, said Lula. "I want to tell Chinese entrepreneurs that our relationship is not ordinary. It is between two countries that have a commitment to solving the problem of poverty that has plagued our lives for a long time."

He said China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, and Brazil has lifted 54 million people out of poverty. The two sides will continue to cooperate in the field of poverty reduction.

In his speech, Lula also stated that it is multilateralism that has ensured years of harmony among countries after World War II, and protectionism may lead to war.

Jorge Viana, CEO of Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, told the Global Times that Brazil and China are both committed to promoting multilateralism and free trade. He introduced that at the seminar that day, Chinese companies expressed an investment intention of up to tens of billions of dollars in Brazil, which he described as a "historic moment." Brazil welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country, especially to establish joint ventures locally and export jointly produced products to North America, South America, and Africa, he said.

Marcio Elias Rosa, executive secretary of the Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, told the Global Times on Monday that China has a very strategic role to play in Brazil's development.

Chinese enterprises possess advanced technical capabilities and are able to provide high-tech solutions in multiple fields, including new energy. Against the backdrop of the global ecological transformation and the accelerated shift of the industry toward a low-carbon model, China's technological and capital advantages are highly complementary to Brazil's abundant natural resources and clean energy foundation. China can help Brazil achieve sustainable development, said the executive secretary.

Currently, there is a high level of coordination between Brazil and China, said Elias Rosa.

He said China and Brazil are not only business partners, but also have the potential to develop into industrial partners in the future. Both Brazil and China have always adhered to multilateralism, opposed protectionism and any form of unilateral measures. The cooperation between the two countries is not only beneficial to their mutual complementarity, but also conducive to building a more just and sustainable global economic order, Elias Rosa said.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on May 12, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: May 12, 2025 19:59

CCTV: During the state visit to Russia and the celebrations marking the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin signed the Joint Statement on Further Deepening the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era, and issued the Joint Declaration on Further Strengthening Cooperation to Uphold the Authority of International Law. President Xi also held bilateral meetings with leaders of multiple countries, during which they had communication and coordination on carrying forward a correct historical perspective on WWII, staying true to multilateralism and defending international fairness and justice. With the post-war international order facing risks and challenges, what is the unique importance that lies in defending the outcomes of the victory of WWII?

Lin Jian: President Xi Jinping's trip to Russia was a full success, which included a state visit to Russia and attending the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. China has released information about the details of the visit, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has given a comprehensive and in-depth overview of the visit to the media.

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. Eighty years ago, China made great national sacrifices and decisive contributions to the victory of the Anti-Fascist War together with the progressive forces around the world including the Soviet Union. Key members of the anti-Fascist alliance, including China, jointly agreed to establish the United Nations, formulated the UN Charter, and opened the historic chapter of countries uniting for peace and development.

The painful lessons of WWII show that militarist aggression, power politics and bullying acts are definitely not the way of peace. Zero-sum game and the winner-takes-all mentality are not the path toward development. Only when all countries join hands to safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, defend international fairness and justice, and keep pursuing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, can the vision of "saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war" in the preamble of the UN Charter become a reality and can human society truly achieve peace, stability, progress and development.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, the more complex the international landscape is, the greater the need to stay committed to and defend the authority of the UN. As the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will never allow the world to return to the law of the jungle where might is right. We will work with the international community to jointly defend the outcomes of the victory of WWII, stay committed to true multilateralism, safeguard the hard-won peace and strive for an even brighter future for humanity.

Xinhua News Agency: On China's announcement of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to China, how does China view its current relations with Brazil? Could you share with us the program and China's expectation for the visit?

Lin Jian: China and Brazil are both major developing countries and emerging markets. Both are BRICS members, and important members of the Global South. The relations between China and Brazil have always been at the forefront of China's relations with fellow developing nations. Last year, amidst bilateral celebrations for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Brazil and the two presidents announced joint efforts to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet, and to seek synergy between China's Belt and Road Initiative and Brazil's development strategies, ushering in a new stage for China-Brazil relations.

President Lula da Silva is an impactful leader of a major Latin American country and seasoned global statesman. The visit is President Lula da Silva's sixth visit to China and his second visit to China since 2023. China believes that in light of all the changes and turbulence in today's world, this visit carries special significance. It will enrich the strategic substance of the China-Brazil community with a shared future, and demonstrate the firm resolve and sense of responsibility of the two countries in driving towards greater solidarity and coordination among Global South countries and making the region and the world more stable and prosperous.

While in China, President Lula da Silva will attend the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and other events. China attaches great importance to Brazil's vital role in Latin American and Caribbean affairs, and stands ready to work with Brazil for new progress in building the China-CELAC community with a shared future.

RIA Novosti: Russian President Putin proposed on May 11th to unconditionally resume negotiations with Ukraine, saying that new ceasefire might be agreed upon during the negotiations. What is China's comment on this?

Lin Jian: China's position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We support all efforts for peace. We hope that relevant parties will continue to work for the conclusion of a fair, lasting and binding peace deal that is accepted by all parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation and ultimately realize the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Bloomberg: We understand that as a result of the talks in Switzerland, China will lower tariffs on U.S. goods to 10 percent from 125 percent for 90 days and the U.S. will cut its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent for 90 days. Can you comment on the outcome of the negotiations in Switzerland? (A similar question was asked by China-Arab TV)

Lin Jian: Regarding the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs, the Chinese side has issued a readout, and the two sides have just released a joint statement reached at the meeting, which you may refer to.

Kyodo News: Yesterday the Japan Coast Guard said they found a Chinese research vessel around "Senkaku Islands" of Okinawa Prefecture, and the vessel lowered a pipe-like object into the sea within Japan's exclusive economic zone. The Japan Coast Guard urged to stop this activity. What is the purpose of the research vessel? What is the Chinese Foreign Ministry's comment on this issue?

Lin Jian: Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have always been China's territory. It is fully within China's sovereign rights to have Chinese research vessels carrying out activities in relevant waters.

China News Service: It was reported that India and Pakistan agreed on an immediate ceasefire on May 10. The two sides will hold talks again on May 12. We also noted that Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India's National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval respectively on the night of May 10. Many countries played a positive role in easing the tensions, for which Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed appreciation. What is China's comment?

Lin Jian: China noted the reports. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan is in the fundamental and long-term interest of both countries, and is conducive to regional peace and stability. This is also what the international community hopes to see. China supports and welcomes this latest development.

India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbors. They're both China's neighbors as well. Since tensions started to rise between India and Pakistan, China has been in close communication with relevant parties and urged the two countries to exercise calm and restraint, and avoid escalation. On the night of May 10, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India's National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval respectively to counsel de-escalation and realization of a full and lasting ceasefire. Both Pakistan and India responded positively.

China hopes that India and Pakistan will cement and continue the ceasefire momentum, avoid further conflict, properly handle differences through dialogue and negotiation, and return to the track of political settlement. China is ready to stay in communication with India and Pakistan and play a constructive role in realizing a full and lasting ceasefire between the two countries and keeping the region peaceful and stable.

Ukinform News Agency: Ukraine, European countries and the United States have proposed a 30-day ceasefire starting today. There is no response from Russia but I'd like to ask about the Chinese side's view on such an initiative for a 30-day ceasefire. And the second one: U.S. President Donald Trump called major powers to have more active participation in resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war, he spoke about Turkiye and China in particular. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this?

Lin Jian: As I said just now about China's position on the Ukraine crisis, we support all efforts for peace, and hope that parties will continue working towards a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation, and ultimately achieve a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

China remains of the view that dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the crisis. China will continue to, in light of the will of the parties to the conflict, work with the international community to play a constructive role in ultimately solving the crisis and achieving lasting peace.

Bloomberg: An additional question about the talks in Switzerland. I just want to clarify, will China remove any export licensing requirements for rare earth or critical minerals?

Lin Jian: For anything specific of the meeting, I'd refer you to China's readout and the joint statement by the two sides.

China Daily: It was reported that on May 9, the Taiwan authorities issued wrongful comments on the contribution of the Communist Party of China to the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, specifically regarding what is said in the China-Russia joint statement. The Taiwan authorities said that the "Republic of China's sovereignty over Taiwan" was "confirmed in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation", that Taiwan "never belonged to the People's Republic of China" in terms of history, international law and reality, and that "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait being not subordinate to each other" is the status quo in the Taiwan Strait widely known by the international community. What's your comment on that?

Lin Jian: Relevant rhetoric once again revealed that it is the DPP authorities' go-to tactic to distort history and facts and spread disinformation. It also shows their nefarious inclination to use any means possible to advance their separatist agenda.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the World Anti-Fascist War, and the restoration of Taiwan. Under the national united front against Japanese aggression advocated and built by the Communist Party of China, Chinese sons and daughters, unintimidated and united in their efforts, made great sacrifices to defeat the Japanese militarists and wrote a heroic chapter of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Taiwan's restoration to China in 1945 is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the post-war international order. A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, all confirm China's sovereignty over Taiwan, which is solidly rooted in history and the law.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Although the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the fact that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China have never and will not be changed. This is the true status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future.

No matter what the DPP authorities say or do, they cannot change the factsupported by history and the lawthat Taiwan is part of China's territory, nor can they change the prevailing international commitment to the one-China principle. China will be reunified, and this is unstoppable.

Bloomberg: On a separate topic. Last Friday, the EU's Ambassador to China said that China had been ignoring European Union's concerns over trade and economic issues for the past 20 years. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comment?

Lin Jian: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU. Over the past 50 years, the interaction and dialogue between China and the EU have become increasingly close, with continuously deepened convergence of interest, significant enhancement in the scale and level of cooperation, and effective multilateral coordination. The two sides have established over 70 dialogue mechanisms, engaged in in-depth communication on their concerns over bilateral cooperation, and achieved many common understandings, which promoted the sound development of China-EU relations. The annual trade has surged from US$2.4 billion to US$785.8 billion, an over 300-fold increase. The two-way investment stock has grown from nearly zero to US$260 billion. China's unilateral visa-free policy has benefited 24 EU member states.

Facts have proven that China and Europe have helped each other succeed and achieved common development. The China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has not only brought tangible benefits to the nearly 2 billion people in China and Europe but also set a fine example for mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization.

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HMAS Sydney deployed on sanctions enforcement against North Korea

Issued by Defence Media

12 May 2025

The ADF is supporting the enforcement of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea through the deployment of HMAS Sydney under Operation Argos.

Since 2018, the ADF has enforced UNSC sanctions against North Korea to deter and disrupt illegal maritime activity, including ship-to-ship transfers at sea.

These sanctions limit North Korea's imports of refined petroleum and crude oil, and its exports of coal.

HMAS Sydney's support to Operation Argos marks the 13th time a Royal Australian Navy vessel has been deployed to enforce UNSC sanctions since 2018.

Operation Argos underlines Australia's ongoing contribution to regional peace and stability, as well as its support for the rules-based global order.

Quotes attributable to Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones:

"Operation Argos supports the international community's goal of the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea.

"Australia also deploys maritime patrol aircraft to enforce Operation Argos, with a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon having deployed to Japan in April.

"Enforcing UNSC sanctions against North Korea is consistent with Australia's commitment to a rules-based global order."

Quotes attributable to Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney, Commander Ben Weller:

"HMAS Sydney previously supported Operation Argos in September 2024. The ship's company is proud to support this important work; upholding UNSC resolutions whilst also building their experience working with international partners.

"We work closely with the Enforcement Coordination Cell located at Yokosuka in Japan, and sail in areas where suspected illegal activity is expected to take place.

"The ship is equipped with an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and a suite of sensors that allow us to monitor illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods.

"We are supporting Operation Argos as part of a three-month Regional Presence Deployment which commenced in late March."

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North Korea's 1st daughter makes debut at diplomatic event with Kim Jong Un

Teen Kim Ju Ae's appearance at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang for World War II anniversary fuels speculation she's being groomed to be leader.

By Do-Hyoung Han for RFA Korean

2025.05.12

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II  accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, in her first-ever appearance at an official diplomatic event.

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the embassy visit and, for the first time, referred to Kim Ju Ae as Kim Jong Un's "most beloved daughter." Until now, state media had typically described her using honorifics such as "respected child," "beloved child."

Believed to have been born in 2013, Kim Ju Ae made her first public appearance in November 2022, when she accompanied her father during an inspection of what analysts identified as an intercontinental ballistic missile. Since then, she has appeared at several major events, including missile launches, military banquets, and troop visits. Her latest appearance  wearing a navy suit while walking beside Kim at the Russian Embassy  marks a new phase in her growing public visibility and diplomatic exposure.

Video aired by Korean Central Television showed Kim Ju Ae seated in the front row next to Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora during Kim's speech. Matsegora was also seen lightly kissing her cheek during the farewell.

A photo showing Kim Jong Un's bodyguard holding an umbrella for Kim Ju Ae has also drawn attention as well.

"This visit to the Russian Embassy effectively marks Kim Ju Ae's debut on the international stage," Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a South Korean government-affiliated think tank, told RFA on Monday. "It formalizes the fact that she is undergoing succession training, both domestically and internationally."

Cho noted that while Kim Ju Ae's presence is increasingly prominent, there has been no official designation of her as a successor within North Korea's system. He pointed out that Kim Jong Un himself received his first official title  vice chairman of the Central Military Commission  in his mid-20s, whereas Kim Ju Ae is still too young, and would need to be at least 20 to receive such a role. She is believed to be around 12 or 13 years old.

Some observers have speculated that bringing Kim Ju Ae to a diplomatic event at the Russian Embassy could signal a desire to secure Moscow's support for a future succession. But Cho said it is more likely that Pyongyang wants to showcase her growing role to its allies rather than seek approval.

"She has now been introduced publicly to the international diplomatic community," Cho said. "While this strengthens the impression that she is being groomed as a successor, I don't think North Korea is in a position where it needs outside backing to solidify this path."

A similar view was offered by Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector and head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, who also spoke with RFA on Monday.

"There are doubts due to North Korea's male-dominated culture," Ahn said. "But ultimately, North Korea is a society that moves according to Kim Jong Un's will. Even if he doesn't have public consensus, he can enforce his decision."

Ahn added that Kim Ju Ae's presence at the embassy could foreshadow her joining future overseas trips, such as a potential visit to Russia later this year.

"If Kim Jong Un decides she'll join him, she will," Ahn said. "This visit suggests that the leadership is accelerating the process of establishing a succession structure."

Though Kim Jong Un did not attend Russia's official Victory Day celebrations - where Putin hosted allied leaders including China's Xi Jinping - this was his first visit to the Russian Embassy since taking power in 2012. The two nations have forged closer ties in the past year as North Korea has sent war weapons and materiel and thousands of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Cho from the Korea Institute for National Unification said a summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears increasingly likely, with a visit to Vladivostok in September seen as the most probable scenario.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) previously cautioned against prematurely viewing Kim Ju Ae as a formal heir, citing North Korea's patriarchal norms. However, the agency has gradually shifted its position.

In a closed-door parliamentary briefing on July 29, 2024, the NIS reported that Kim Ju Ae was being groomed as a potential successor. By October, it noted signs of her elevated status, including being escorted by senior officials like Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un and Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. And in a recent April 30 report, the agency said her frequent public appearances alongside Kim Jong Un suggest a clear move toward establishing a hereditary power structure.

Edited by Sungwon Yang

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with German Chancellor Merz

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 11, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and congratulated him on his recent appointment as Chancellor. They discussed the vitality of the U.S.-German bilateral relationship and the importance of working together to advance the many shared interests between the United States and Germany.

With respect to Ukraine, they discussed the meeting between the Chancellor, President Macron, Prime Minister Starmer, Prime Minister Tusk and President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and our shared goal of ending the war in Ukraine.

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Misusing JCPOA 'snapback' mechanism will lead to consequences: Foreign minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 12, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has issued a fresh warning to the European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal against misusing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)'s snapback mechanism.

"Iran has repeatedly made its position clear. We have officially cautioned all JCPOA signatories that any abuse of the snapback mechanism would lead to consequencesnot only ending Europe's role in the deal, but potentially escalating tensions to a point of no return," Araqchi wrote on X late Sunday.

He urged Britain, France, and Germanycollectively known as the European Troika or E3to reflect on how the situation reached its current impasse.

Araqchi said that he had expressed readiness to travel to London, Paris, and Berlin in order to open a new chapter in relation and his initiative led to preliminary talks at the level of deputy foreign ministers resulting in "a fragile but promising beginning."

The top diplomat called on Europe to respond more profoundly at this critical moment to shape the future bilateral relations with Iran, adding that the Islamic Republic and its European partners need to turn the page toward deeper diplomatic engagement.

Araqchi's statement followed an op-ed he wrote for the French Weekly Le Point on Sunday, where he referred to repeated threats from the three European countries to invoke the snapback mechanism and reinstate U.N. sanctions against Iran.

He warned that such brinkmanship "risks triggering a global non-proliferation crisis" that could primarily impact Europe itself.

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Top general: Iranian Army, IRGC naval units at height of operational, combat readiness

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 6:58 PM

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri has underscored the combat and operational readiness of the country's Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) naval units to confront hostile acts, warning the enemies that any miscalculation would have dire consequences.

He made the remarks during a ceremony on Monday as he was paying a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and IRGC naval units stationed on the shores of the Persian Gulf and the northern tip of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami and several top-brass military commanders were in attendance.

"We are in our best form in terms of combat capability and readiness. Thank God our Armed Forces are in the best situation as to intelligence collection, operational planning, and readiness to implement scenarios," Bagheri stated.

"Our advice to the enemies who sometimes pose threats against the establishment is: You may initiate a conflict with the Islamic Republic based on a miscalculation, but the ending, manner, timing, location and developments on the battleground will not be within your control. It will be the Islamic Republic of Iran that will determine them," the high-ranking Iranian military figure pointed out.

He further noted that all operational plans and conditions were inspected in the course of his visit, and assurances were made that the Iranian Armed Forces are in their optimal situation in terms of training and maneuvers, readiness to work, and mental and operational readiness.

"In case the enemies make a mistake, or intend to take action against the [Islamic] establishment and the sacred waters and soil of the Islamic Republic of Iran, our Armed Forces have the ability and readiness to confront them," Bagheri stated.

Iranian officials say the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which is entirely meant for defense.

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'Irreversible escalation': Iran warns JCPOA signatories against 'consequences' of misusing snapback mechanism

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 7:04 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that invoking the so-called snapback mechanism by signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) could lead to consequences and irreversible tensions.

In a post on his X account on Monday, Araghchi said abuse of the snapback mechanism would not only end Europe's role in the JCPOA but would also escalate tensions that could become irreversible.

The so-called snapback mechanism allows for the return of anti-Iran sanctions that were suspended under the JCPOA.

The Iranian foreign minister added that the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement - Britain, France and Germany -- need to ask themselves how the situation reached this impasse.

He added that following recent consultations in Russia and China, he also expressed his willingness to travel to Paris, Berlin, and London to begin a new chapter in ties.

This initiative has led to preliminary discussions at the deputy foreign minister levela fragile but promising start, Araghchi said, warning that time is running out.

The way that the parties to the JCPOA will behave at the current sensitive moment will determine the future of Iran-Europe relations far more profoundly than many imagine, he added.

The top Iranian negotiator expressed the country's readiness to turn the page and hoped that the European partners will also demonstrate the same determination.

Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that France, along with Germany and Britain, "will not hesitate for a single second to reapply all the sanctions" scrapped a decade ago if European security is threatened by Iran's nuclear activities.

In comments published by French weekly Le Point on Sunday, Araghchi warned European countries against a "strategy of confrontation" over Tehran's peaceful nuclear energy program, stressing that the move could risk provoking a nuclear proliferation crisis.

The comments come as Iran and the United States held the fourth round of indirect talks in the Omani capital of Muscat on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters following the end of the talks, the Iranian foreign minister said Iran and the United States reached a "better understanding" of each other's positions, and their stance has become somewhat closer.

"The fourth round of discussions was much more serious and candid than the previous three rounds," Araghchi added, noting that the sides moved away from general issues and focused on more "detailed" topics.

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Top general reaffirms Persian Gulf defense, asserts 'no threat will go unanswered'

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 6:05 AM

The Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces has reaffirmed the country's readiness to safeguard its national interests and protect the Persian Gulf, stating that his Forces remain "fully prepared" for any scenario.

Major General Mohammad Baqeri, who arrived in Bandar Abbas at the head of a high-ranking military delegation, made the remarks while addressing army commanders on Sunday.

"This visit to the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Sea of Oman aims to assess the operational situation in the region and evaluate the readiness of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iranparticularly the Army's ... Navy and the IRGC Navyin defending Iran's territorial waters, international waters, and national resources" he said.

"During this visit, necessary field assessments will be conducted to ensure full preparedness for executing various operational plans," he said, adding that Iran's Armed Forces "remain in a state of full readiness for any scenario, and no threat will go unanswered."

Iranian officials have repeatedly reiterated that the presence of foreign naval forces in the Persian Gulf undermines regional security and hampers Iran's efforts to safeguard this strategically vital region

Iran views US military vessels lurking in the waters of the Persian Gulf as a source of tension and instability in the region.

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Iran 'serious' in talks and seeks deal, will 'powerfully' pursue peaceful nuclear activities: Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 5:28 AM

Iran's president has emphasized that the Islamic Republic is "serious" in its indirect talks with the US in pursuit of an agreement based on peace, underlining the country's continued all-out determination to pursue peaceful nuclear activities.

"We are negotiating [seriously] because we desire peace," Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday, while underscoring that the country would not give up its nuclear achievements, particularly in the realm of peaceful energy.

"We will continue to pursue these peaceful activities in a powerful manner," he added, addressing a cabinet meeting.

'Dismantlement of Iran's entire nuclear sites unacceptable'

Pezeshkian, meanwhile, clarified that the Islamic Republic found the demand for dismantlement of its entire nuclear infrastructure "unacceptable."

For years, the United States and its allies have sought to accuse the Islamic Republic of pursuing "nuclear weapons," despite Iran's consistent and unwavering declarations that it does not seek, develop, or stockpile such weaponry in line with its moral and religious principles.

As per the claims, the US and its allies have targeted the Islamic Republic with a whole host of illegal and unilateral sanctions.

The US and the Israeli regime, Washington's most cherished regional ally, have also been issuing recurrent threats of attacking Iran's nuclear sites, and calling for wholesale elimination of the nation's nuclear facilities -- a demand that was most recently reiterated by US President Donald Trump.

This is while, the Islamic Republic's commitment to a peaceful nuclear program has been thoroughly validated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has found no evidence to support Washington's and its allied parties' claims.

Unexceptional verification of the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities have been the result of the IAEA's putting the country's nuclear work under the most rigorous scrutiny compared to any other member state.

Pezeshkian likewise noted that "the Islamic Republic of Iran has never pursued, is not pursuing, and will never pursue nuclear weapons."

He reaffirmed the nation's religious and legal position against the development of nuclear weapons, citing Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei's fatwa (religious decree), which has categorically forbidden such pursuit.

The president, meanwhile, said that Iran was decisively following up its nuclear energy work since nuclear technology significantly benefited the nation, not just in terms of energy production, but as far as vital sectors such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental protection were concerned.

The cabinet session also addressed broader regional issues, with Pezeshkian reiterating that Iran also sought peace and security for the entire region.

He repeated Iran's belief in a stable West Asia region, without the interference of foreign powers.

Accordingly, the president called for regional solidarity, while denouncing the Israeli regime for exacerbating instability in the region through incessant occupation and acts of deadly aggression.

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Junta bombs a school in central Myanmar, kills at least 20 students

Two teachers also die in the airstrike in Sagaing and medical centers struggle to cope with the wounded.

By RFA Burmese 2025.05.12 -- Junta forces bombed a school in central Myanmar on Monday, killing at least 20 students, local sources and the country's exiled civilian administration told Radio Free Asia.

A fighter jet fired at Sagaing region's Oe Htein Kwin village in Tabayin township, which is under rebel control.

The airstrike killed 20 students and two teachers, and more than 20 others were wounded, according to local sources who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

Earlier, Nay Bone Latt, a spokesperson for the prime minister's office of the shadow National Unity Government said that 17 students had died but that the death toll could rise.

It was one of the deadliest attacks on children by the military since it seized power in a coup against an elected government four years ago, triggering widespread civil conflict.

The airstrike came despite the junta declaring a ceasefire until May 31 after a March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,800 people, mostly in Sagaing and Mandalay regions. Airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks have continued, killing more than 200 people.

Nay Bone Latt claimed that the children in school were intentionally targeted in the bombing. "The junta often uses propaganda to say after deliberately attacking areas with displaced people and children, that they were bombed because of revolutionary forces," he told RFA.

Calls to junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun went unanswered. But state-run MRTV television denied the reports of the airstrike on Monday evening's news broadcast, saying subversive media outlets were intentionally spreading fake news, Associated Press reported.

The fighter jet, likely flying from Mandalay region's Meiktila Air Force Base, attacked the school in Oe Htein Kwin village around 9:30 a.m., during class time, according to residents.

Medical centers nearby are overwhelmed because many victims are severely injured, one of the residents said.

According to the nongovernment Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which records fatalities in addition to numbers incarcerated by the junta, more than 6,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since the February 2021 coup.

The worst recorded fatal event for children since the coup was an April 11, 2023, airstrike on Pazigyi village, Kantbalu Township, Sagaing region, which killed 128 people, including 40 children.

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Reporting by Kyaw Kyaw Aung. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mat Pennington.

Updates death toll, state-run TV denying the airstrike.

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Meeting with Ivanovo Region Governor Stanislav Voskresensky

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Ivanovo Region Governor Stanislav Voskresensky.

May 12, 2025

13:45

The Kremlin, Moscow

Stanislav Voskresensky provided an update on the region's evolving economy, the emergence of new technological competencies, and the development of smaller towns.

The Governor emphasised that the textile industry remains the region's core sector and is progressing steadily with the integration of advanced technologies.

Russia's first full-cycle membrane fabric production facility has been launched in the region, covering the entire process from innovative membrane materials to finished fabrics, garments, and workwear, including supplies for the Armed Forces. Additionally, the country's first spinning facility utilising recycled materials is now operational, producing workwear as the final product. This initiative also contributes positively to the environment by reducing textile waste in landfills.

The Governor also reported on the construction of a major road machinery plant in Ivanovo. In response to the exit of Western manufacturers, the facility is being developed by Professional, a company that has established itself in the global market for buckets, and some types of quarry buckets rank among the top five producers worldwide. The region is also advancing high-tech manufacturing in collaboration with the Rosatom State Corporation. To support this, specialised training programmes at Ivanovo Power Engineering University are being expanded to meet the needs of the nuclear industry. Additionally, the Governor noted that the region is preparing to serve as a hub for training international specialists, positioning higher education as a distinct sector of the local economy. In agriculture, a key development is the reconstruction of a large, long-standing dairy processing plant, marking a significant step forward in the region's agricultural processing capabilities.

The discussion also addressed the influx of new investments, the modernisation of existing industrial facilities, and the role of small businesses, which account for over one-third of the region's economy. Key topics also included the creation of a supportive business climate, demographic development, efforts to ensure a family-friendly environment, children's healthcare, tackling staff shortages in rural medical and obstetric stations, and the implementation of a kindergarten renovation programme.

Stanislav Voskresensky noted that in the Ivanovo Region, half of the urban families and regional residents live in small towns, which often serve as vital centres for surrounding rural communities. He outlined the measures being taken to support their development. Notably, the region has achieved high standards in road quality between these towns, which are also well connected by comfortable rail services. Social infrastructure is being renovated, and the Bright Town project is underway. As part of this initiative, by the end of 2025, more than 90 percent of streets in small towns will be equipped with street lighting.

The Governor also noted that residents of small towns tend to differ in their values and behaviour compared to those in larger cities, showing a stronger attachment to traditional foundations. Therefore, he believes the goal should not only be to preserve small towns, but to turn them into drivers of economic growth and investment - particularly in light of the national agenda to modernise the country's industrial framework. In this context, small towns could serve as growth hubs for core industrial competencies. As an example, he mentioned the towns of Rodniki and Furmanov, which are national centres of expertise in knitted fabric production. In Shuya, alongside textile industry, one of the country's largest facilities for the production of computer equipment, servers and various IT solutions is operating.

To support small towns in competing with larger urban centres, the Governor asked the President to instruct the Government to develop a comprehensive package of measures aimed at infrastructure development and attracting investment to small towns. He emphasised that the issue at hand is not merely preservation, but enabling small towns to become growth points.

Stanislav Voskresensky also thanked the President for his executive order on celebrating the 800th anniversary of Yuryevets in the summer of 2025. He described it as a proud small town which was one of the gathering points for Prince Pozharsky's militia in 1612 during the expulsion of Polish-Lithuanian forces from Moscow. The town is also the birthplace of many prominent figures known both in Russia and abroad. The Governor expressed hope that the anniversary celebrations would help spur the town's further development.

Referring to the President's executive order encouraging foreign nationals who share Russia's traditional conservative values and wish to relocate, Stanislav Voskresensky extended an invitation to such individuals to settle in small towns, where, he believes, they may find life more comfortable than in large cities. The President thanked the Governor for raising this point.

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Moscow Vows Response to Closure of Russian Consulate in Krakow

Sputnik News

20250512

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow will give an "adequate" response to the closure of the Russian Consulate in Poland's Krakow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Monday.

"An adequate response to these inadequate steps will come soon," Zakharova said.

Polish authorities continue to deliberately destroy relations with Moscow and act against the interests of citizens, the spokeswoman added.

Earlier in the day, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Poland had decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Krakow.

 Sputnik

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Jolani proposes Trump Tower in Damascus, peace with Israel for sanctions relief: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 5:04 PM

The head of the HTS-led administration in Syria has offered to build Trump Tower in Damascus, reach peace with Israel and provide the US with access to Syria's oil and gas, as he is seeking US sanctions relief, a report says.

Citing several sources familiar with the issue, Reuters said Abu Mohammed al-Jolani is trying to get face time with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of his upcoming visit to West Asia this week.

Jonathan Bass, an American pro-Trump activist who met Jolani in Damascus late last month, has been trying to arrange a meeting between Trump and Jolani, who still remains a US-designated terrorist over his al-Qaeda past, on the sidelines of the US president's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Bass said the meeting could help soften the Republican President and his administration's thinking on Damascus and cool increasingly tense ties between Damascus and Tel Aviv.

Jolani "wants a business deal for the future of his country," Bass said, noting it could cover energy exploitation and engagement with Israel.

"He told me he wants a Trump Tower in Damascus. He wants peace with his neighbors. What he told me is good for the region, good for Israel," Bass added.

According to the Syrian presidency, Jolani spoke with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Sunday.

Afterwards, a person close to Jolani said a meeting between Trump and the HTS head remained possible in Saudi Arabia, but would not confirm whether Jolani had received an invitation.

"Whether or not the meeting takes place won't be known until the last moment," the person said.

The report, however, ruled out the meeting as "unlikely", citing Trump's tight schedule, his priorities and lack of consensus within Trump's team on how to tackle Syria.

Last week, Israeli media reported that a delegation from the HTS-led administration in Syria made a secret visit to the occupied territories to hold direct talks with Israeli officials after HTS head Abu Mohammed al-Jolani signaled readiness to normalize ties with Israel.

That came as Reuters reported that the UAE had facilitated a backchannel between Syrian and Israeli officials.

Jolani has recently expressed readiness to normalize ties between Syria and Israel amid Washington's plans to revoke anti-Damascus sanctions and Israel's occupation of more Syrian land.

The HTS, a former branch of al-Qaeda, along with other militants, seized control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, forcing Assad, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, to leave the country.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently described how the Israeli military helped the HTS takeover of Syria in December.

Since Assad was toppled, Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Syria and occupied large swathes of territory in the country, in addition to the Golan Heights, which it occupied during the Six-Day War in 1967.

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Ministry of National Defense Statement on the PLA's Joint Combat Readiness Patrol

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/05/11

Time: 1800 hours, May 11, 2025

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (May 11) that, starting at 1448 hours, a total of 30 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraftincluding J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, various combat and support aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)were successively detected conducting operations around Taiwan. Of these, 17 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, entering the northern, central, and southwestern airspace, in coordination with PLA naval vessels, as part of a joint combat readiness patrol.

The Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces closely monitored the situation using integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and responded appropriately by dispatching mission aircraft and naval vessels, and deploying shore-based missile systems.



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Taiwan conducts first live-fire drill of U.S.-supplied HIMARS

ROC Central News Agency

05/12/2025 09:21 PM

Taipei, May 12 (CNA) Taiwan's military conducted its first live-firing of the U.S.-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) at a base in Pingtung County on Monday.

The drill, carried out by the Army's 58th Artillery Command, was held at the Jiupeng Base in Manjhou Township.

The HIMARS can be equipped with one pod containing six 227mm rockets or a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 kilometers.

A total of 33 rockets were fired, with 11 launch vehicles each firing three rounds. The military, however, did not provide any details on how the drills went.

Colonel Ho Chih-chung (), the 58th artillery's deputy commander, said the U.S. supplier also sent its personnel to the site to assist with any technical issues during the live-fire exercise.

Taiwan has purchased 29 HIMARS from the United States, and the first shipment of 11 was delivered in 2024.

According to a Ministry of National Defense report submitted to the Legislative Yuan in March, the second batch of 18 HIMARS is scheduled to be delivered next year instead of 2027 as was originally planned.

(By Lin Ke-lun and Ko Lin)

Enditem/ls



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Scholar urges Taiwan to enhance ties with democracies other than U.S.

ROC Central News Agency

05/12/2025 05:04 PM

Taipei, May 12 (CNA) A scholar from the United Kingdom on Monday urged Taiwan to strengthen its economic and trade ties with major global powers beyond the United States, given the uncertainties and challenges arising from Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Robin Niblett, a former distinguished fellow at Chatham House in London, made the recommendation during a forum in Taipei, where he spoke about the ongoing new Cold War between the United States and China.

In his keynote speech to open the half-day forum, Niblett, author of the "The New Cold War: How the Contest Between the U.S. and China Will Shape Our Century," told the audiences that given the chaos brought by Trump's second presidential term, Asia Pacific countries, including Taiwan, are poised to face turmoil.

"The problem we have is that each side, the United States and China, fears that the other system is a threat to it," he said.

Taiwan is at the center of the First Island Chain that prevents China's expansion.

While America wants to prevent China's rise both militarily and economically, China wants to be economically secure as the world's largest exporter and wishes to "break out of the First Island Chain," which runs from South Korea through Japan and Taiwan, to the northern Philippines, he said.

"In that context, I think they [Beijing] believe that Taiwan, in a way, is being used as a kind of missile of democracy, as I describe in my book, against the Chinese Communist Party."

"And so Taiwan is not just part of the geopolitical contest between the US and China, it is also part of the ideological contest between the two countries."

However, unlike his immediate predecessor Joe Biden, Trump "does not believe in alliances," according to the British scholar.

To Trump "allies are the ones to be taken advantage of," Niblett argued. "In fact, it's better off to try to abuse allies because they need you, especially if you're the world's largest consumer market and the provider of your allies' security," he added.

Trump's new approach is creating risks for U.S. allies worldwide, in particular for the Asia Pacific region, including Taiwan, the scholar said.

Given the uncertainties and challenges arising from Trump's return to power, Niblett suggested that Taiwan should pursue deeper ties with G7-plus countries beyond the United States.

"Taiwan's future lies with the other liberal democracies that rely on America for their security," he said.

"And therefore, looking for deeper economic relationships and business relationships with the G7-plus countries, EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia would be absolutely vital for Taiwan's future," he added.

Niblett made the remarks during the annual forum organized by the think tank Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI).

The third edition of the think tank's annual forum is titled "Building Resilience on Shaky Ground in the Asia Pacific," focusing on the steps to take now to build more resilient societies in the future, according to CAPRI.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW





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'De-Han-ification'? Executive Yuan webpage edit sparks controversy

ROC Central News Agency

05/12/2025 04:07 PM

Taipei, May 12 (CNA) Updates to an Executive Yuan webpage on ethnic groups in Taiwan sparked a minor culture war over the weekend, after what critics said was a deliberate attempt to obscure the Han Chinese ethnicity of most Taiwanese.

The story first gained attention Saturday, when a user posting on the PTT web forum noted that an Executive Yuan webpage titled "ethnic groups" had removed a section referring to Han Chinese as Taiwan's largest ethnicity, comprising 96.4 percent of the total population.

The revised version of the page, updated as of March 24, said that of the registered households in Taiwan, 2.6 percent were from Indigenous groups, 1.2 percent were of foreign origin, while 96.2 percent were "the rest of the population."

As the changes were picked up by the media, they began drawing sharp criticism from many in the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), who viewed them as an effort by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government to gloss over any Taiwanese connection to China.

KMT Legislator Chen Ching-hui () slammed the page's wording as "truly absurd," questioning why minority groups comprising 3.8 percent of the population would be clearly labeled, while the other 96 percent of people would be vaguely referred to as "the rest."

This blurring of Taiwan's ethnic composition "is not only unhelpful in terms of information transparency, but also makes one suspicious about the motive behind it," she said.

In a statement to reporters late Saturday, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee () said the government publishes such information every year, and that the ethnicities section is based on definitions found in various laws.

In December 2022, Control Yuan member Hung Yi-chang () said the term Han Chinese comprises various groups, including the Hoklo people, Hakka people and post-Chinese Civil War immigrants, Lee said.

On those grounds, Hung said the use of "Han" and "Indigenous" as two broad population groups was not conducive to eliminating racial discrimination or promoting equality, and suggested the Interior Ministry's Department of Household Registration adjust the page's wording, Lee said.

Lee said that in Taiwan, only Indigenous people legally register their ethnic status, while foreign resident statistics are based on records of their first household registration.

While there are not detailed statistics on other ethnic groups, it would be inaccurate to classify them all as Han Chinese, she said, though she acknowledged that the Hoklo and Hakka peoples and post-war immigrants from China were all part of the Han Chinese group.

The adjustment of the webpage's wording, therefore, was made on the basis of facts, and not any type of political considerations, Lee said.

(By Lai Yu-chen and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/ls





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Taiwan companies 'critical' to Trump's re-industrialization goals: AIT

ROC Central News Agency

05/12/2025 01:12 PM

Washington, May 11 (CNA) Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said Sunday at an investment summit that Taiwanese companies will be "critical" to the achievement of President Donald Trump's goal of re-industrializing the United States.

Greene made the remarks at a reception for Taiwan's delegation at the U.S. Department of Commerce's 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, which is being held in Maryland from Sunday through Wednesday.

In a speech welcoming the delegation, Greene noted that only 10 years ago, 80 percent of Taiwan's foreign investment went to the People's Republic of China.

In 2024, more of Taiwan's foreign investment went to the United States than to any other country, he said.

Just as Taiwan's companies were crucial to the industrialization of China 30 years ago, "we expect Taiwan companies to be just as critical to achieving President Trump's mission for re-industrializing the United States," Greene said.

Greene said the AIT has helped support the growing interest of Taiwan companies in America, particularly in fields like semiconductors, AI, and quantum technology.

The Taiwan delegation to the 2025 SelectUSA summit was the largest among all the participants, he noted.

Cabinet Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (), who is leading the Taiwan delegation, and Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (), also spoke at Sunday's reception, urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to prevent double taxation between Taiwan and the U.S.

The United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in January and must be passed by the Senate and signed by the president to become law.

In a statement last week, Taiwan's Cabinet said the delegation to the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit would include representatives from industries such as ICT, semiconductors, AI, chemical engineering, biotechnology, smart manufacturing, aerospace, and financial services.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/pc





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Taiwan test fires new U.S.-supplied rocket system for first time

HIMARS launched in annual drills boost the island's capabilities against a potential Chinese invasion.

By Xiaoxia Hua for RFA Mandarin

2025.05.12

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's military test-fired for the first time on Monday a new U.S.-supplied rocket system intended to stiffen its defenses against China.

The self-ruling island received its first batch of the U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, last year. The same system has been used by Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Taiwan conducted the tests during an annual missile exercise, firing the projectiles into oceans off the south of the island.

Taiwan faces growing pressure from China's expanding warfare capabilities, as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claim over Taiwan.

"The HIMARS can suppress China's launch capabilities at the source," Su Tzu-yun, director of the Division of Defense Strategy and Resources at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told RFA. "It can more effectively counter China's potential amphibious invasion and enhance Taiwan's overall defense capabilities."

The HIMARS represents a significant upgrade for Taiwan.

The maximum range of Taiwan's existing Thunderbolt-2000 multiple rocket system is just 45 kilometers (28 miles), according to Heh Tzeng-yuan, director of the institute's Cyber Warfare and Decision-Making Simulation Division. In contrast, HIMARS is capable of striking targets up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away with an accuracy margin of about 10 meters. It could hit coastal targets in China's southern province of Fujian, on the other side of the Taiwan Strait, according to Reuters.

A Taiwanese army officer told Radio Free Asia that a total of 33 HIMARS rockets were fired on Monday, with 11 launch vehicles each firing three rounds. The officer did not provide any details on how the drills went.

Separately, Taiwan's army artillery units on Sunday conducted a live-fire exercise using the Thunderbolt-2000 system, firing a total of 837 rockets in six volleys. The drills drew crowds of military enthusiasts.

Chieh Chung, associate researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taiwan, said the HIMARS' guided rockets could help fill critical gaps in Taiwan's defenses.

The United States has close, unofficial ties with Taiwan and is required by U.S. law to provide defense supplies for the island's defense. What's new, analysts say, is Washington's willingness to provide weapons capable of striking across the Taiwan Strait, like HIMARS.

China has been dialing up the military pressure on Taiwan with drills and maneuvers close to the island. For years, Beijing has threatened to take Taiwan by force if it declares independence.

On Sunday, Taiwan's defense ministry reported detecting 36 Chinese military aircraft in the past 24 hours, 17 of which crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line. Eight Chinese navy vessels and two government ships were also spotted.

Edited by xxxx and Mat Pennington.

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/05/12

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. May. 11 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. May. 12 (Mon.) (UTC+8)

2. PLA activities:

36 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 17 out of 36 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140512_PLA activities_1 [Open a new window]

1140512_PLA activities_2 [Open a new window]

1140512_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

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FM spokesperson refutes DPP authorities' "Taiwan independence" fallacy

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:10, May 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Taiwan had never been and never would be a country.

"Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future," spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily press briefing in response to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' "Taiwan independence" fallacy.

The remarks made by the DPP authorities once again fully exposed their habitual tactics of distorting history, manipulating facts, and spreading falsehoods in their pursuit of "Taiwan independence," Lin said.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the World Anti-Fascist War, and the restoration of Taiwan, Lin noted, adding that Taiwan's restoration to China in 1945 is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order.

A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, have all confirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan, and the historical and legal facts are beyond doubt, he added.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, Lin stressed.

Although national reunification has yet to be fully realized, the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China have never changed and cannot be changed -- this is the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait, Lin said.

Lin stressed that no matter what the DPP authorities say or do, they cannot change the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, nor can they alter the one-China principle, which is a widely recognized consensus in the international community.

"China will be reunified, and this is unstoppable," said Lin.

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Kurdish militant group announces disbandment in effort to achieve peace with Turkey

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 12, 2025

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced the results of its 12th conference on Monday, declaring an end to all actions carried out in its name, including its armed struggle against the Turkish government.

After the congress in northern Iraq on Friday, the PKK said that it had made "historic" decisions.

The Firat News Agency, a media outlet close to the group, reported that a statement from PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was presented during the congress, outlining his perspectives and proposals.

Imprisoned since 1999, Ocalan urged the PKK in February to cease its armed struggle and disband itself in an effort to resolve the conflict, which has resulted in over 40,000 deaths since the 1980s.

Classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey and most Western countries, the PKK announced a ceasefire shortly thereafter but stipulated conditions for its disbandment, including the establishment of a legal framework for peace negotiations.

The future of PKK militants remains uncertain, particularly regarding the possibility of their relocation to other countries. Details about any concessions the PKK may receive in return for the disbandment have not been revealed so far.

Established in 1978, the militant group began a separatist insurgency in southeastern Turkey in 1984. PKK militants carried out suicide attacks and employed guerrilla tactics aimed at military sites, government institutions, and Turkish diplomatic missions across the world.

4208**9417

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Pakistan Welcomes the Announcement of the Dissolution of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan welcomes the announcement regarding the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). We consider this development as an important step towards sustainable peace and stability.

Pakistan and Turkiye, bound by deep-rooted fraternal ties, have always supported each

other in all areas of mutual interest including counterterrorism efforts.

Islamabad

12 May 2025

135/2025



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PKK militant group disbands, ends armed struggle against Turkey: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 12 May 2025 7:50 AM

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group that has been in armed conflict with the Turkish state for over four decades, has reportedly announced its dissolution and the end of its armed struggle.

The decision, reported by the Kurdish-language Firat News Agency on Monday, followed a congress held last week in northern Iraq and is in response to a call from the group's jailed chief, Abdullah Ocalan, to disband.

Observers say, upon potential confirmation by the PKK itself, the announcement would mark a significant shift in the longstanding conflict, which has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths since the militancy began in 1984.

The group is designated as a "terrorist organization" by Turkey and its Western allies.

The Turkish government has not yet issued a statement in response to the announcement.

The report followed a series of events earlier this year, including Ocalan's call for the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve, and a ceasefire declared by the group in March.

Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has urged the country's parliament to pass legislation supporting the disarmament of the PKK and to facilitate a peace process.

The PKK disbandment would mark a historic development that, experts say, could pave the way for peace efforts between the Turkish state and various Kurdish groups or revisiting of the Turkish-Kurdish relations.

The PKK was founded in 1978 by Ocalan, initially aiming to establish an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey.

The conflict escalated into armed clashes in 1984, leading to widespread violence and significant losses of life.

Previous attempts at peace, including a ceasefire between 2013 and 2015, ultimately failed to bring an end to the hostilities.

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PKK Ends Armed Struggle, Seeks Peaceful Path For Kurdish Rights

By Kian Sharifi May 12, 2025

The Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, has announced it is dissolving its organizational structure and ending its decades-long armed struggle against Turkey, marking a historic shift after more than 40 years of conflict that has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people.

The decision, announced on May 12, marks a significant step toward ending one of the region's longest and deadliest insurgencies, with the group now calling for the Kurdish issue to be resolved through democratic means.

The decision was made during the group's 12th congress, held last week in northern Iraq, and comes in response to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who urgedthe group in February to lay down arms and pursue peace. The announcement was first reported by the Firat News Agency, an affiliate of PKK.

"The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organizational structure and end its method of armed struggle," the group said in a statement. "As a result, activities carried out under the name 'PKK' were formally terminated."

Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a political analyst specializing in Kurdish affairs, told RFE/RL that the Kurdish community in Turkey had grown "tired of the conflict and is hoping for peace."

However, he added that Kurds were not sure whether they could trust the Turkish government and wondered if Ankara would take steps toward reconciliation, such as releasing Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas and recognizing Kurdish rights.

"So, they're a bit mistrustful and unsure about what will happen," van Wilgenburg said.

Resolution Through Democratic Means

The PKK said the practical process of dissolution and disarmament will be managed and overseen by Ocalan, who has been incarcerated on an island near Istanbul since 1999.

According to the congress declaration, the PKK's struggle had "brought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing its historical mission."

The group did not elaborate on what the exactly means, but van Wilgenburg said it was unlikely PKK commanders would enter Turkish politics, seeing as there already is an active pro-Kurdish party in Turkey in the form of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

"Most likely they mean that from now on Kurdish politics will be conducted through legal politics and the Turkish parliament, not guerrilla warfare," he added.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, began its insurgency in 1984 with the initial aim of creating an independent Kurdish state. In recent years, its demands shifted toward greater autonomy and rights for Kurds within Turkey.

United, But To What Extent?

Earlier this year, the PKK declared a unilateral cease-fire, stating it was "to pave the way for...peace and democratic society," but set conditions including the creation of a legal framework for peace negotiations.

The group's statement said its mission had been completed and expressed hope that Kurdish political parties would "fulfill their responsibilities in developing Kurdish democracy and ensure the formation of a Kurdish democratic nation."

Van Wilgenburg noted that while PKK seems united in its decision, the organization has had issues with splinter groups in the past, such as when Ocalan's younger brother Osman Ocalan broke away and formed his own short-lived political-military group in 2004.

One key question, van Wilgenburg said, is whether the organization's affiliates in other countries, such as Iran, will abide by the decision or continue their struggle.

Omer Celik, a spokesman for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), demandedon May 12 that the PKK's decision to disarm and disband be implemented "concretely and in full as well as in a manner comprising all of the PKK's branches."

It is estimated that 40,000 people have lost their lives in the PKK-Turkey conflict, with some casualties resulting from PKK attacks on military and civilian targets, as well as Turkish military operations against the group and the communities that supported it.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kurdish-pkk-turkey- disband-disarm-ocalan/33411438.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 Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 12, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan today. The Secretary thanked Turkiye for hosting and facilitating Russian and Ukraine direct negotiations and welcomed the possibility of an immediate ceasefire. The Secretary and Foreign Minister Fidan also discussed the upcoming NATO Informal Ministerial in Antalya and the importance of strengthening U.S.-Turkiye commercial and defense ties.

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"We have passed another critical threshold in the process of a terror-free Turkiye"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

12.05.2025

In remarks following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdogan said: We have passed another critical threshold today in the process of a terror-free Turkiye. The terrorist organization has announced its decision to disband and disarm. We find this decision important for the consolidation of our country's security, our region's peace, and our nation's eternal brotherhood."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"We are walking towards the goal of a terror-free Turkiye with firm steps by breaking prejudices, overcoming obstacles, and foiling the traps of sedition and discord. In the process of a terror-free Turkiye that we as the People's Alliance have launched with a great sincerity to reinforce our internal front, we have passed another critical threshold today. The terrorist organization has announced its decision to disband and disarm. We find this decision important for the consolidation of our country's security, our region's peace, and our nation's eternal brotherhood. We view this announcement as a decision that encompasses all the extensions of the organization, particularly those in Northern Iraq, Syria and Europe. With the complete elimination of terror and violence, doors to a new era will open up in every area, first and foremost for the empowerment of politics and enhancement of democratic capacity," President Erdogan said.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 11, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The Secretary reaffirmed the U.S. position on the Russia-Ukraine war: our top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate ceasefire. On India-Pakistan, the Secretary and Foreign Secretary Lammy emphasized the need for both sides to maintain the ceasefire and to continue to communicate. The Secretary expressed U.S. support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications.

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PM call with Prime Minister Carney of Canada: 12 May 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, this evening.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

12 May 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, this evening.

The Prime Minister began by congratulating Prime Minister Carney on his fantastic election win.

The leaders reflected on the opportunities to deepen the friendship between the two countries, including through economic cooperation and technology ties to deliver for working people in both the UK and Canada.

Discussing the Coalition of the Willing call in Kyiv on Saturday, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Carney for joining, and leaders underlined the need to increase pressure on President Putin to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister said he was looking forward to travelling to Canada for the G7 Summit next month, which would be another important moment to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

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PM meeting with Prime Minister Kristersson of Sweden: 12 May 2025

The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson to Downing Street this afternoon.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

12 May 2025

The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson to Downing Street this afternoon.

Following the successful Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in Oslo last week and the Coalition of the Willing call in Kyiv on Saturday, the leaders underlined that now more than ever it is vital to be united on defence and security.

They agreed to continue support for Ukraine and put the pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table - without conditions. The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Kristersson for Sweden's contribution to Operation Interflex - the training programme for Ukrainians in the UK.

On trade, defence and civil nuclear, the leaders agreed to closer working.

They both looked forward to discussing migration, security and defence at the European Political Community meeting later this week.

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Prime Minister Tusk in Kyiv: We Call on Russia to Accept Unconditional Ceasefire

Republic of Poland - The Chancellery of the Prime Minister

10.05.2025

From Kyiv, a city under destruction and bombardment, comes a call for a just and lasting peace. Poland, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ukraine, and other members of the Coalition of the Willing are calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. The ceasefire could pave the way for genuine peace talks. But if Russia rejects the proposal, it will face serious consequences - including severe sanctions. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk traveled to Ukraine together with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During the visit, the leaders also held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Europe and Ukraine Respond to Russia's Shame Parade

Ukraine has a sacred right to territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty. The Western community of states stands united in defense of that right. On May 10, the day after Victory Day, the four most prominent European leaders traveled to Kyiv, where they called on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

"What happened over these two days is highly symbolic. Yesterday, the parade of shame in Moscow, organized by the aggressor, once again featured brutal, hostile rhetoric. A day laterKyiv (...). A meeting that resulted in a call for peace, for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, starting Monday" said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The Polish Prime Minister emphasized that this appeal for a ceasefire and swift peace talks comes from a city being bombed, destroyed, and attacked by the aggressor.

"The readiness of President Zelensky and Ukraine to enter these talks with no preconditions is a great gesture. We do not know whether the aggressor will appreciate it, but all of us will know and remember who made a genuine move toward peace on such a significant day," he added.

The 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is expected to apply on land, sea, and air, starting Monday, May 12. It was also discussed in Kyiv during a videoconference with other coalition countries from Europe and beyond.

An Offer Russia Cannot Refuse

The ceasefire is intended to create conditions for real and fair peace negotiations. It serves as a test of Russia's intentions.

"If Russia rejects these proposals, then there will no longer be any doubt (...) about who is for peace and who is for war," said the Polish Prime Minister.

The leaders agreed that if Moscow refuses the truce offer, it will face consequences.

"All participants of the meeting, including President Trump, confirmed that if this proposal (...) for an unconditional ceasefire and immediate entry into peace talks is rejected (...), then we are prepared to intensify sanctions and further unite the West around Ukraine in its fight for independence," emphasized Prime Minister Tusk.

The same applies if Russia violates the terms of the ceasefireshould it agree to one. To prevent such breaches, monitoring of the ceasefire will be essential.

"Everyone present here (...) agreed that the ceasefire (...) will be monitored by the United States, but also by all European countries willing to participate," said French President Emmanuel Macron.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shed light on Russia's past reactions to ceasefire or peace proposals.

"It has been almost two months since President Zelensky agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire. During that time, Russia has carried out some of the deadliest attacks of the entire warincluding here in Kyiv," Starmer recalled.

Support for the ceasefire is not coming only from Kyiv. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced that if Russia violates the ceasefire, it will face even tougher EU sanctions.

Sanctions Have Already Hit Russia

Sanctions are working because they are severely limiting the strength of the Russian economy. That's why, during the Polish presidency of the EU Council, work began on a new, 17th sanctions package against Russia. In February, the 16th package was adopted.

"Without sanctions, the situation would be incomparably worse. Anyone claiming that sanctions don't work is, knowingly or not, advocating lifting themwhich is exactly what Russia wants," stated the Polish Prime Minister.

The 17th sanctions package currently under development will address, among other things, the "shadow fleet" that allows Russia to circumvent existing restrictions.

The Free World United

The events in Kyiv show that all leaders of the free world who oppose using military aggression as a political tool stand united.

"The entire worldfrom New Zealand to Canada, from Iceland to Ukraine, the United States, all of united Europe, Norwayyes, we all spoke with one voice," noted Prime Minister Tusk.

He emphasized that the idea of a ceasefire and starting peace talks has united President Zelensky, President Trump, and the leaders present in Kyiv from Poland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Security Guarantees

The leaders also discussed how to ensure that any future peace in Ukraine would be lasting and just. The conclusion was clear: Ukraine must be strengthened to the point where it can defend itself independently.

"We agreed that the priority will be strengthening Ukraine's security and defense forces, as they are the main guarantor of security and sovereignty. A key security guarantee will also be the support contingent," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that partners from across Europe and the world are ready to work on security guarantees for Ukraineincluding operational plans and support by land, sea, and air.

The Polish government has repeatedly emphasized that its contribution to post-war stabilization in Ukraine will consist of logistical support for allied operations. Poland does not intend to send troops to Ukraine.

Polish Support for Ukraine

Poland and Ukraine are connected not only by the threat from Russia but also by a shared memory of the tragic history of World War II.

"For me, as the Polish Prime Minister (...), the opportunity to be here in Kyiv 80 years after the end of World War II is especially meaningful. From the very first hours of the Russian invasion, Poland has supported the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian state, and President Zelensky with all its strength. We are nations that still remember the terrible sacrifices we made during World War II," recalled the Polish Prime Minister.

Germany's new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also invoked World War II in relation to what is now happening in Ukraine. He said that after 1945, Germany was given a chanceby the U.S., France, and the U.K.to join the community of democratic civilizations.

"That great opportunity given to Germany is, for us today, a commitment to serve global freedom and peace," said Chancellor Merz.

Poles opened their hearts and homes in 2022 to millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war, while the Polish government opened its weapons warehouses.

Poland has been providing military, logistical (via the hub in Jasionka), and training support since 2022. So far, it has delivered 45 aid packages to Kyiv worth around 4 billion. Deliveries under the 46th package are currently underway.

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Ukraine: Council approves conclusions assessing cohesion policy's action for Ukrainian refugees in Europe

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

12 May 2025 11:05

Today, the Council approved conclusions on a European Court of Auditors' (ECA) report aiming to assess cohesion policy's action in support of Ukrainian refugees in Europe.

To address migratory challenges caused by the war in Ukraine, the EU gradually adapted cohesion policy rules by adopting Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE).

The ECA examined whether member states effectively used CARE and the cohesion policy funds available to address the needs of the refugees, and concluded that CARE did help member states use the available cohesion policy funding to address the crisis. However, ECA also found that the monitoring of cohesion policy funding does not capture the entire support and the use of CARE and recommended that, if the Commission were to prepare proposals for new crisisrelated measures or amendments, it should ensure that there is an appropriate monitoring system with data necessary to assess their effectiveness.

In its conclusions, the Council recalls the three regulations on Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE, CARE Plus and FAST-CARE) that increased flexibility, liquidity and simplification to cohesion policy for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFFs) and made it easier for member states to finance projects helping to address the migratory challenges resulting from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Council agrees, however, with the Court's conclusion that there is a risk that the repeated use of cohesion policy to address crises may impact its primary strategic goal to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion between European regions.

Finally, the Council invites the Commission to ensure an appropriate monitoring system is in place, should it prepare new crisis-related measures or amendments, so that data necessary for assessing the effectiveness of such measures is available. The Commission should notably aim for a proportionate monitoring system that allows for a rapid response and avoids excessive administrative burden.

Background information

The Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) initiative supports member states and regions in providing emergency assistance to people fleeing from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On 12 February 2025, ECA published its special report titled 'Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe: Increased flexibility but insufficient data hinders future assessment of effectiveness', which provides an in-depth assessment of the use of the three regulations on cohesion's action for Ukrainian refugees in Europe (CARE, CARE+ and FAST-CARE) by member states, the available cohesion policy funds to address the specific needs of displaced people from Ukraine, and the support provided by the Commission for the implementation of CARE measures.

The report found that CARE provided member states with flexibility, liquidity and simplification to facilitate the use of cohesion policy funds to respond swiftly to migratory challenges, despite the limited funding available under 2014-2020 programmes. Managing authorities found the assistance and guidance provided by the Commission on the CARE provisions and their implementation timely and suitable, and considered the CARE flexibility mechanisms helpful in responding to the migratory challenges. However, their uptake varied substantially among programmes and member states, as the crisis did not affect all of them equally.

The report also found that reprogramming was affected by the uncertain or unavailable information concerning the flows of refugees from Ukraine and the need for support resulting thereof and that operations to address the specific needs of refugees were selected and implemented quickly, in accordance with the need for immediate action. Moreover, ECA assessed that the supported operations were adapted to the specific situations and needs, and participants considered them useful and meeting their most urgent needs.

Finally, the report found that effectiveness of the assistance provided through CARE was, however, rarely measured and incomplete information on the use of CARE limits the assessment of its overall effectiveness.

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Weimar+: press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas ahead of the meeting

European External Action Service (EEAS)

12.05.2025

London, 12/05/2025

EEAS Press Team

Good morning everybody,

It is great to be back in the UK.

Today we are going to discuss very important topics, including the EU-UK relations and of course what is happening in Ukraine and how we can really proceed with the ceasefire and also peace in the end. Right now, we have seen what Putin has said, but what they have done, overnight - again, over 100 drone attacks on Ukraine. In order to go into any peace talks, there has to be a ceasefire.

We also need to see that Russia wants this, to show goodwill to sit down and talk to Ukrainians. It is not there. We have to put pressure on Russia to really want peace, and to sit down and to talk with Ukraine.

On EU-UK relations, we have the negotiations going on about the Defence and Security Partnership. It think the partnership is very important in this very turbulent time. And that our very close partner, the UK, and the EU, have this relationship.

Also regarding defence and security, we already have a lot of cooperation points. We need to develop them further. So, I am hoping that we get this agreement signed in the EU-UK Summit that is coming up next week.

Q&A.

Q. At that Summit, what is the EU looking for specifically from the UK [inaudible]?

Specifically, we are looking into cooperation regarding cyber security, regarding crisis response cooperation, regarding different topics where we already exchange information - intelligence sharing and all this part that makes us both stronger.

Q. How significant is that partnership, do you think, and this moment will be?

I think it is very important we know that our relationship has had some difficulties over the past years - and this is a good point, considering what is going on in the world. We are the most likely partners and that is why I think we need to move forward with this partnership.

Q. You say for weeks already that Putin needs to come to the table. What are the ways to bring him in?

Well, we have to put more pressure on our side. We are working on the 17th sanctions package that should be adopted next week at the Foreign Affairs Council. But also, I am very much welcoming the Senator Lindsey Graham sanctions package in the US. I think when we are doing this together, then the effort that we do together will pressure Russia into the talks.

Q. Would you like to see Putin on Thursday in Turkiye?

If they are continuing bombing Ukraine all the time, if there is no ceasefire, there cannot be talks under fire.

Q. Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said that he would be waiting in Turkiye. He said he awaits a ceasefire, but it looks like he might be following Trump's call to hold those talks anyway, even without a ceasefire. Would you object to that in some way? If he goes ahead even without a ceasefire.

Well, we want to see also that Russia wants peace. It takes two to want peace, it takes only one to want war. And we see that Russia clearly wants war. It has been over two months already since Ukraine agreed to unconditional ceasefire. Russia has just played games. I think they are playing games right now as well.

Q. We are closer the [inaudible] sanctions against Russia [inaudible]?

Yes, I think the moment is there. This is what really fuse their war machine to get their proceeds from oil and gas. So, we should put more pressure on that, because we all want this war to stop and therefore all the efforts are needed.

Q. [Inaudible]

No, not within this week. The preparations are already ongoing when it comes to the 17th package of sanctions. But, as soon as we get that adopted, we will start also to prepare for the next one. And I think there, the United States is also a very important player.

Q. Do you think that Donald Trump is more keen now [inaudible]?

Well, I think it is clear to everybody that we need to put the pressure on Russia because they are playing games. And in order to put the pressure, we have to use the tools that we have. And this is one of the tools. Therefore, it is also vital that we cooperate on different fields. Thank you very much.

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Strengthening European defence, supporting Ukraine: Foreign Minister Wadephul at the Weimar Plus meeting in London

Germany Federal Foreign Office

12.05.2025 - Article

Foreign Minister Wadephul attends a meeting with European counterparts in London today, in the Weimar Plus format, at which they will discuss strengthening European defence and maintaining support for Ukraine. Read on to find out more.

Jointly addressing security in Europe - a meeting at Lancaster House

Foreign Minister Wadephul travels to London today at the invitation of the United Kingdom. The foreign ministers of key European countries are gathering at historic Lancaster House today to address central questions related to security and defence policy. This is already this year's third meeting in the Weimar Plus format - after previous gatherings in Paris and Madrid.

The format brings together Germany, France and Poland with the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, as well as the EU's High Representative. Ukraine, too, will be represented during a part of the talks, by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The main goal is to strengthen close coordination and mutual support with regard to European security policy - in response to Russia's war of aggression, geopolitical tensions and a transatlantic order that is undergoing transformation. The format also underscores the strategic importance of cooperation with the United Kingdom.

Focus on Ukraine: support on all levels

A key topic at the meeting is comprehensive support for Ukraine - military, political and financial. This is not just about current forms of aid, but also about strategic issues, such as: How could a future ceasefire be secured? What security guarantees will Ukraine need after the war? And how can long-term support be provided for the restructuring of the country's armed forces?

Participants will also continue their discussion on frozen Russian assets. The aim is to find legally secure ways of stepping up economic pressure on Russia and giving Ukraine new financial scope.

Germany is leading by example: in addition to 40 million euro in humanitarian relief, the German Government has announced it will increase its aid for Ukraine in 2025 by three billion euro - thereby visibly underscoring its continued solidarity.

Euro-Atlantic security: Europe assuming responsibility

The meeting's second focus is on common security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Russia's threatening actions, along with changes in United States foreign policy, make clear that Europe must become more self-confident in its actions.

In London, participants will therefore discuss specific steps to strengthen NATO, intensify European defence initiatives and achieve fair transatlantic burden-sharing. Attention will also focus on European contributions to the NATO Summit and on the implementation of key European Commission projects to strengthen European defence, such as SAFE and EDIP.

Signalling European unity

With its meeting in London, the Weimar Plus format is sending a clear signal: Europe stands as one - fully determined, capable of action, and in solidarity: with Ukraine, for European security and for a common future in a strong transatlantic alliance.

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Traditional Chinese medicine bridges hearts between China, Russia

14:46, May 13, 2025 By Xiao Xinxin ( People's Daily

A Russian woman experiences cupping therapy at Nanyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Nanyang, central China's Henan province. (Photo by Gao Song)

"The new building of Moscow State University, perched on Lenin Hills, is being adorned with masterpieces by Soviet sculptors, painters, and decorative artists... Among them are exquisite portraits of the great Chinese scientist Zu Chongzhi and herbalist Li Shizhen," read the front page of Pravda on March 28, 1953.

"This reflects the profound respect of the Soviet people for the great and friendly Chinese people, whose ancient civilization boasts a brilliant cultural heritage," the article continued.

Founded in 1755, Moscow State University completed its iconic main building in September 1953. Today, visitors entering the main auditorium pass through a corridor where a decorative frieze beneath the ceiling displays mosaic portraits of some of the world's most renowned scientists, rendered in vibrant marble. Among them are Zu Chongzhi, the mathematician, astronomer, and scientist of China's Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), and Li Shizhen, the acclaimed pharmacologist in China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

While decades have passed, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and TCM culture that Li represents continue to flourish. In today's Russia, TCM is steadily gaining ground, with a growing number of people turning to its treatments.

At the St. Petersburg TCM Center established by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Svetlana, a local resident, was receiving therapy. She has long suffered from dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and persistent pain in her shoulders and arms. On her family's recommendation, she visited the center, where doctors applied cupping therapy, acupuncture, and moxibustion.

A China-Russia conference on traditional medicine cooperation and exchange is held at Beijing Fengtai district hospital of traditional Chinese medicine, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo provided by Beijing Fengtai district hospital of traditional Chinese medicine)

"The results were remarkable! My symptoms have eased significantly, and I feel much more at ease," she said. "I now truly understand the value of TCM."

Opened in July 2016, the St. Petersburg TCM Center was the first TCM hospital in Russia to receive legal accreditation under local medical regulations. According to Liu Qingguo, head of the center, it has treated over 4,000 patients and provided more than 10,000 treatment sessions. Treatments such as scalp acupuncture, fire needling, heat-sensitive moxibustion, and therapeutic massage have offered relief to many suffering from chronic ailments.

The center has also forged partnerships with Russian medical research institutions and regularly hosts free consultations, public lectures, and joint clinics to broaden understanding of TCM within the local community.

"With growing interest in TCM among Russians, we are expanding training programs for practitioners," said Huang Guorong, president of the Russian Association of Specialists of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Founded in 2018, the association has played an increasingly active role in TCM education. In 2024 alone, its international school of oriental medicine in Moscow conducted nearly 100 specialized training sessions, teaching over 7,000 trainees from Russia and neighboring countries. Many graduates have since entered the TCM field professionally.

In recent years, medical tourism centered on TCM has flourished along the China-Russia border. An increasing number of Russian tourists are traveling to northeast China in search of TCM treatments. In cities like Heihe and Suifenhe, both in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Russian "medical tour groups" have become a familiar presence. Meanwhile, the Wudalianchi scenic area in Heihe, renowned for its volcanic landscape and mineral-rich cold springs, welcomes nearly 10,000 Russian visitors annually for therapeutic retreats.

Fedot Tumusov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, noted that China and Russia are deepening heathcare cooperation, and both doctors and patients in Russia are showing greater openness toward TCM.

"We look forward to continued collaboration that fosters mutual learning and promotes the deeper integration of TCM into Russia's healthcare system to benefit more people," he added.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Joint statement of The Nordic and Baltic Countries on Ukraine

Finnish Government

Government Communications Department

Publication date 12.5.2025 17.26

Press release

The Nordic and Baltic Countries (NB8) stand with Ukraine on the path towards peace and the end of Russia's war of aggression.

Ukraine wants peace. We, the Nordic and Baltic Countries, want peace. We reiterate our call for a full, unconditional, immediate ceasefire for 30 days, with the possibility of renewal. Only the aggressor, Russia, has refused to accept this approach.

We welcome progress towards negotiations in good faith, paving the way for a just and lasting peace. We commend president Zelenskyy of Ukraine for his readiness to meet in person. In the run up to the launch of the talks, we urge Russia to refrain from all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Together with the European Union, the United States and partners, we stand ready to impose further sanctions if the ceasefire is not respected.

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Chinese FM spokesperson responds to Putin's proposal of holding direct negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 12, 2025 04:59 PM

When asked to comment on reports stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent and clear. "We support all efforts that promote peace and hope the relevant parties will continue to engage in dialogue and negotiations to reach a fair, lasting, binding, and mutually acceptable peace agreement, ultimately leading to a political resolution of the issue."

In what is regarded by media as "an ultimatum," leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland told Russian president to accept unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine, The Guardian reported.

Putin has rejected the ultimatum by European leaders, but has proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine this week, The Guardian reported.

When asked to comment on this matter as well as US President Trump's call for major powers to play a more active role in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Lin stated: "We support all efforts aimed at peace and hope that the parties involved will continue to reach a fair, lasting, binding, and mutually acceptable peace agreement through dialogue and negotiation, ultimately achieving a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis. We have always believed that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable paths to resolving the Ukraine crisis. China is willing, based on the willingness of the parties involved, to work constructively with the international community to ultimately resolve the crisis and achieve lasting peace."

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Mechanism for implementing EUR 500 million allocated by the Netherlands to the Ukrainian defence industry discussed in Brussels

Ukraine Government

Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, posted 12 May 2025 19:02

During the Second EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Forum (DFNC2: EU Edition) in Brussels, Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, and Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine for European Integration, Davyd Aloian, held a meeting with Koen Davidse, Director of General Policy at the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.

The meeting focused on financial mechanisms to support Ukraine's defence industrial complex. In particular, discussions centred on the implementation of the EUR 500 million previously allocated for the "drone line" - the production of unmanned aerial vehicles. This was announced by Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans in late March this year.

"Since then, discussions have been ongoing regarding the mechanism for deploying these funds. The financing will be implemented through the 'Dutch model,' which involves direct contracts with manufacturers. I sincerely thank the Government of the Netherlands for their unwavering support of Ukraine, particularly our defence industry," said Herman Smetanin.

Representatives of the Dutch delegation emphasised the introduction of new investment mechanisms for Ukraine's defence industry and reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine: "The Netherlands stands with Ukraine. We held a productive discussion on investing in Ukraine's innovative defence industry, drones, air defence, and support for Ukraine's defence industrial complex. Collaboration is key; Ukraine needs Europe, but Europe also needs Ukraine."

As a reminder, on 31 March, Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, held a working meeting with Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans at one of Ukraine's defence enterprises, where potential investments in Ukraine's defence industry were discussed.

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Ministry of Strategic Industries signs cooperation agreement in defence industry

Ukraine Government

Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, posted 12 May 2025 18:51

Today, at the Second EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Forum (DFNC2: EU Edition) in Brussels, Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, and Jan Pie, Secretary General of the ASD Europe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the defence industry.

The Memorandum aims to advance the shared interests of Ukrainian industry and ASD members. To this end, the Ministry of Strategic Industries and ASD agreed to foster collaboration and partnerships between Ukrainian defence companies and ASD members, as well as to facilitate the inclusion of Ukrainian companies in industrial consortia under relevant EU programmes. One of the first steps under the agreement is the creation of the ASD Connect B2B online platform, which, among other objectives, seeks to promote partner searches between Ukrainian and other European defence companies.

The Memorandum of Understanding is valid for three years, with the possibility of extension.

"We see interest from European companies and associations in Ukraine's defence industry, and this interest is mutual. We are keen on mutually beneficial cooperation, as we can strengthen our partners with our experience, expertise, ability to quickly adapt to frontline needs, and rapidly implement innovations. I thank ASD for their active support of Ukraine's defence industry and for organising the second Defence Industries Forum. This Memorandum is a roadmap for action, and we are ready to move forward - together with ASD and all European arms manufacturers," said Herman Smetanin, Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine.

Jan Pie, Secretary General of ASD, stated that amid russia's ongoing aggressive war against Ukraine and its people, the European defence industry plays a crucial role in supporting the commitments of EU and NATO members to stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary in its fight for territorial integrity and self-determination. He emphasised that, with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, ASD, as the representative of the European defence industry, reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and its readiness to assist in the development of Ukraine's defence industry and its integration into the European defence technological and industrial base. He expressed confidence that this cooperation would be mutually beneficial and contribute to the security of both Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

ASD represents the European aerospace, security, and defence industry - a sector that unites and protects. Based in Brussels, the association brings together over 4,000 companies, accounting for 98% of the industry's total turnover and 93% of its total employment in Europe. ASD actively supports the competitive development of its sectors in Europe and globally, advocating shared positions and providing technical expertise to public institutions and member companies.

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Budrys: without ensuring Russia accountability for its crime of aggression against Ukraine, peace will be just an illusion

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-05-12

On 9 May in Lviv, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kestutis Budrys, participated in a meeting of the coalition on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy emphasized that establishing the Tribunal will mark a new stage in the accountability for the crime of aggression and in the history of international law.

"History is often written through court decisions. The decisions of the Special Tribunal on Russia's accountability for the crime of aggression are necessary to avoid a repetition of aggression in the future. The aggression cannot be forgotten or forgiven, like all other international crimes that Russia continues to commit every day against Ukraine. We need to ensure accountability for thousands of international crimes, because a peace that is not fair, sustainable, and comprehensive will be just a big illusion," said Budrys.

The Minister noted that the current decisions on establishing the Special Tribunal were the result of complex compromises. According to Budrys, this will be the first Tribunal for the crime of aggression after the Nuremberg trials.

The formal process for the establishment of the Special Tribunal will be launched at the session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg on 14 May, following the submission of the request by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

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Taiwan Expresses Intent to Support Ukraine Demining Efforts

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

2025-05-12

Representatives from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence and the Defence Material Agency held talks with the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius regarding support for Ukraine. The focus was particularly on demining operations to help the Ukrainian people return to war-affected areas. During the meeting, Taiwan expressed its intention to contribute to Lithuania's ongoing demining efforts in Ukraine, with possibility of donating $2 million.

Lithuania, which is leading the international demining capability coalition for Ukraine, welcomes Taiwan's interest in supporting this critical humanitarian initiative. The removal of explosive hazards remains one of the most pressing challenges for Ukrainian civilian safety and economic recovery. During the meeting, it was emphasized that cooperation with Taiwan in this area is of significant importance. This is one of the ways democratic societies can work directly together on specific initiatives that contribute to Ukraine's security and reconstruction.

Taiwan and Lithuania unanimously recognize the importance and necessity of cooperation in addressing the issue of clearing unexploded mines in Ukraine. Both sides acknowledged that these hazardous remnants of war pose a severe threat to civilian security and are a major obstacle to socio-economic progress in conflict-affected regions worldwide.

Taiwan's contribution will directly help Ukraine to build a humanitarian demining capacity to address the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion. This support sends a clear message about the shared commitment to assist Ukraine with its reconstruction and security efforts. The partnership demonstrates how targeted cooperation between like-minded nations can have a tangible humanitarian impact in crisis situations. Former President Tsai witnessed the signing ceremony and is happy that the partnership between Lithuania and Taiwan has been further strengthened.

This initiative builds un Taiwan's established record of cooperation with Lithuania on humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Taiwan has already successfully supported development cooperation projects with Lithuania targeting the rebuilding of Ukrainian schools and kindergartens damaged during the conflict. These joint efforts have helped to restore educational opportunities for Ukrainian children in affected communities. The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence continues to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. A major priority area remains demining efforts, covering both humanitarian and combat demining. This year, the Ministry will support the demining coalition's activities by contributing of 30 million to the Coalition Fund. Bilateral assistance to Ukraine in the form of equipment transfer will amount to an additional 30 million.

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The President called for accelerated military assistance to Ukraine at the coalition of the willing meeting

President of the Republic of Lithuania

May 12, 2025

President Gitanas Nauseda participated on Saturday in another meeting of the coalition of the willing. The virtual summit focused on efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine, including joint actions to strengthen Ukraine's air, land, and naval forces, as well as continued support for the Ukrainian armed forces as the first line of deterrence.

The Lithuanian leader called for a review of priorities among coalition nations and for the acceleration of military assistance delivery. "Ukraine's armed forces need equipment here and now, including purchases directly from Ukraine's defense industry," the President emphasized. "Strengthening Ukraine's military power and ensuring ongoing support are key elements in deterring Russia."

According to the President, it is time to move forward. A ceasefire proposal, unconditionally accepted by Ukraine but ignored by Putin, has remained on the table since March. Russia continues to carry out attacks against civilians even during the so-called three-day ceasefire period falsely announced by the Kremlin. "We must focus on what we can do: strengthen Ukraine's right to self-defense, ensure military support and firmly uphold its territorial integrity. We also say 'no' to disarming Ukraine or forcing it into neutrality, and we must maintain sanctions pressure on Russia until a sustainable peace agreement is reached. Together with the United States and coalition partners, we discussed the need to present a new 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposal. If rejected or violated, strict measures against Russia must follow, including the strengthening of sanctions," the President stated.

The President also underscored the importance of securing active U.S. involvement in implementing security guarantees. At the same time, he stressed the necessity of European-led security forces. These forces must be credible, sufficiently numerous and equipped with clear rules of engagement and mandates to act without delay.

The meeting, organized by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as the leaders of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Norway, Canada, the Czech Republic, Romania, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Croatia, and Turkiye. Also in attendance were NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The President's Communication Group

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Weimar+ Meeting in London

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

12.05.2025

The gathering of the chief diplomats of the EUs Big Five and the UK focused on continuing the talks on comprehensive support for Ukraine and on strengthening Euro-Atlantic ties. Along with the foreign ministers of Poland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the meeting was attended by Ukraines top diplomat.

The participants discussed the priorities of long-term support for Kyiv. They also addressed challenges on the path to a just and lasting peace, stressing the need for Europe and the United States to work together to that end. They agreed that the unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by President Zelenskyy would be a good starting point for direct negotiations with the Russian side. In that regard, the participants announced that the existing sanctions would be maintained and the economic pressure on Russia would be increased as long as the Russian aggression went on. They condemned the continued military attacks on civilian population and infrastructure.

Minister Sikorski stressed that when it comes to both putting an end to war and facing challenges related to future reconstruction of Ukraine the Euro-Atlantic community must act decidedly and thoughtfully. Poland is actively involved in the Coalition of the Willing, whose work is an important European contribution to the efforts aimed at restoring peace in the region. The head of the Polish MFA encouraged the partners to support EU mechanisms and Allied instruments (including NSATU and JATEC) for Ukraine. He emphasised that this represents an investment in the entire Europe's security. It is in our joint interest to defend ourselves against Russian hybrid, cyber, and disinformation threats affecting most of the European countries.

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Kremlin Avoids Comment On Zelenskyy Peace Talks Proposal As Russian Drones Attack Ukraine

By RFE/RL May 12, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15, a call Moscow avoided agreeing to after it launched dozens of attack drones at Ukraine.

Zelenskyy late on May 11 proposed a cease-fire to begin on May 12, which the Kremlin did not address.

He added that he will be in Istanbul this on May 15, "and I expect Putin to come to Turkey as well."

"A full and unconditional cease-fire -- one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy -- could significantly bring peace closer. Ukraine has long proposed this, our partners are proposing it, and the whole world is calling for it," Zelenskyy wrote.

"We await a clear response from Russia."

Zelenskyy said Kyiv has "absolutely no problem engaging in negotiations, and we are ready for any format."

It wasn't immediately clear if Zelenskyy was conditioning his trip to Turkey on the immediate start of a cease-fire, or on whether he would only meet with Putin, and not other Russian officials if Moscow sent them instead.

The Kremlin on May 12 said Putin was "serious" about seeking a peace agreement, saying "we are committed to a serious search for ways of a long-term peaceful settlement."

But he refused to comment further on issues such as whether Putin would sit down with Zelenskyy, or other issues related to any possible talks in Istanbul.

"That's all. I've said everything I could about this story," Peskov said.

Trump Pushes Direct Russia-Ukraine Talks

Speaking at the White House before departing for a trip to the Middle East on May 12, US President Donald Trump insisted that the May 16 meeting "is very important" and that he "really insisted it take place."

"I think good things can come out of that meeting," he told reporters. "I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen."

The day before, he had taken to his social media platform Truth Social to urge Putin and Zelenskyy to the table this week.

"Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote. "At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!"

Putin and Zelenskyy have met only one time, back in 2019, well before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump has said that a "deep hatred" between the two sides has hindered peace efforts.

Cease-Fire Before Talks Or After?

Trump's demand that Ukraine drop its precondition for a cease-fire and go straight into negotiations with Russia came just hours after his Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, backed Kyiv's call for a cease-fire.

"As President Trump has repeatedly said, stop the killing!!" Kellogg wrote on X. "An unconditional 30-day cease-fire first and, during it, move into comprehensive peace discussions. Not the other way around."

Late on May 11, the US State Department issued a statementsaying that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone with British counterpart David Lammy and stressed that Washington's "top priority remains bringing an end to the fighting and an immediate cease-fire," without elaborating.

Speaking to Russian pro-Kremlin media, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on May 11 dismissed Kyiv's calls -- backed by its allies -- for Russia to pause the war, saying Kyiv must have misread the Russian leader's message.

"Putin made it clear in his statement," she said. "First talks about the root causes, and then we can perhaps talk about a cease-fire."

Zelenskyy's presidential adviser Andriy Yermak responded on Telegram to Putin's call for talks by saying: "First, a 30-day cease-fire -- then everything else."

"Russia must not disguise its desire to continue the war behind rhetorical constructions," he said. "A cease-fire is the first step toward ending the war, and it will demonstrate Russia's willingness to stop the killings."

Russian Drone Attacks On Ukraine Continue

As news of Zelenskyy's proposal for a cease-fire on May 12 spread, Ukraine said Russia launched another attack, sending 108 Shahed drones at targets in several areas of the country.

Residential buildings in the southern coastal city of Odesa were reported to be hit, injuring one person, while a civilian freight train and rail lines in the eastern Donetsk region was also struck.

"Cease-fire proposals are being ignored, and the enemy continues attacks on railway infrastructure," Ukrainian national railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said, adding that a train driver had been wounded by the attack.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-putin-erdogan-turkey- russia-ukraine-trump-ceasefire/33410776.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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Russian Forces Liberate Kotlyarovka Settlement in DPR - MoD

Sputnik News

20250512

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have taken control of the settlement of of Kotlyarovka in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"The settlement of Kotlyarovka in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated by decisive actions of the units of Battlegroup Tsentr," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated more than 440 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The enemy's losses amounted to over 440 servicepeople, three combat armored vehicles, 14 cars and two artillery pieces," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated over 230 Ukrainian servicepeople, while Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated over 200 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the ministry said.

 Sputnik

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"Turkiye has become a country whose mediation is sought in peace diplomacy"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

12.05.2025

Delivering remarks following the Presidential Cabinet meeting, President Erdogan, on the upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, said: "Turkiye has become a country whose assistance, support and mediation are sought globally in peace diplomacy. We came very close to finding a solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis in March 2022. Yet, our efforts were thwarted with the interventions of war barons. Unfortunately, the price for this was paid mostly by civilians, children and women."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"WE ALWAYS STAND ON THE SIDE OF PEACE, STABILITY, DIPLOMACY AND DIALOGUE"

President Erdogan said: "Turkiye's power and prestige, and its capacity to resolve crises are increasingly being appreciated. We have witnessed this fact once more recently. I especially would like to express our pleasure over the termination of the tension between Pakistan and India through a ceasefire. We have displayed a very clear stance both in the Jammu and Kashmir terror attack and the missile attacks targeting Pakistan. While openly expressing our support for the Pakistani people, we have also exerted intensive efforts for the de-escalation of the tension that has escalated to grave proportions. My phone call with my brother Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, was of great importance. I once again congratulate our Pakistani brothers and sisters for their patient, restrained and foresighted stance. I hereby would like to reiterate our warning against falling for provocations in the next phase. I hope that the atmosphere of tranquility achieved with the ceasefire will also facilitate the solution of other problems, particularly the water issue. We will continue to stand with the brotherly people of Pakistan through thick and thin."

President Erdogan stated: "Our stance is evident during periods of such crises. We always stand on the side of peace, stability, diplomacy and dialogue. We reject the understanding that sees one's win in the loss and devastation of others in the international relations. We believe that the best path is a competition that benefits everyone instead of a hot conflict that makes all parties pay a price, small or big."

"WE STAND READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS AND WILL BE PLEASED TO HOST THE TALKS"

"Yesterday was quite busy in terms of telephone diplomacy. I first spoke with President of France, Mr. Macron, and then, had a comprehensive phone call with President of Russia, Mr. Putin. We discussed with Mr. Putin a wide range of important issues, particularly ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that has been going on for 3.5 years. Also, I have just spoken with President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy. I addressed this issue with U.S. President Mr. Trump as well last week, discussing the steps that can be taken to stop the bloodshed. I support my treasured friend Mr. Trump's will to resolve hot conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy," President Erdogan said.

President Erdogan went on: "Turkiye has become a country whose assistance, support and mediation are sought globally in peace diplomacy. We came very close to finding a solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis in March 2022. Yet, our efforts were thwarted with the interventions of war barons. Unfortunately, the price for this was paid mostly by civilians, children and women. At this stage, Russia, Ukraine, the U.S. and Europe have agreed on the resumption of negotiations. As the only country that is trusted by all parties, we have reiterated that we stand ready to contribute to the negotiations and will be pleased to host the talks. The recent talks have opened a new window of opportunity. We believe that this time the opportunity will not be allowed to go to waste."

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Weimar+ Joint Statement on Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security

Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom plus the EU High Representative, following their meeting in London

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP

12 May 2025

We met in London on 12 May to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security.

On Ukraine, we reiterated our solidarity with the Ukrainian people, our sympathy for the victims of recent attacks by Russia, and our full support for Ukraine's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

We welcomed US-led peace efforts and the prospect of further talks this week. So far, Russia has not shown any serious intent to make progress. It must do so without delay. We joined Ukraine in calling for an immediate, full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for talks on a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.

Any peace will only last if it is based on international law including the UN Charter and Ukraine is able to deter and defend against any future Russian attack.

We discussed how we would further step up European efforts to support Ukraine in its ongoing defence against Russia's war of aggression. Ukraine should be confident in its ability to continue to resist successfully Russian aggression with our support.

Strong Ukrainian armed forces will be vital. We agreed to work with Ukraine on initiatives to strengthen Ukraine's armed forces, restock munitions and equipment, and further enhance industrial capacity.

We are committed to robust security guarantees for Ukraine. This includes exploring the creation of a coalition of air, land and maritime reassurance forces that could help create confidence in any future peace and support the regeneration of Ukraine's armed forces. And we will work on new reconstruction and recovery commitments, including at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on 10-11 July, to ensure that Ukraine's future security is underpinned by a vibrant economy.

We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy. We will keep Russian sovereign assets in our jurisdictions immobilised until Russia ceases its aggression and pays for the damage caused.

On Euro-Atlantic security, we reaffirmed that NATO is the bedrock of our security and prosperity. The Alliance has secured peace for over 75 years. A strong, united NATO, based on a strong transatlantic bond, an ironclad commitment to defend each other, and fair burden-sharing, is essential to maintain this.

European countries must play a still greater role in assuring our own security. We will further strengthen NATO and the contribution of European Allies by stepping up security and defence expenditure to meet the requirement to deter and defend across all domains in the Euro-Atlantic area.

We will use all feasible levers to strengthen our collective defence capability and production and reinforce Europe's technological and industrial base. To that end, we will build on work in NATO, the EU and likeminded groups to achieve these goals.

An enhanced security and defence relationship between the UK and EU is key to improving the lives of our people and making our continent more safe and secure, as will enhanced cooperation between NATO and the EU on the basis of the three Joint Declarations, and greater co-operation with Ukraine.

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Andriy Yermak Coordinates Ceasefire Process with European Partners

President of Ukraine

12 May 2025 - 21:22

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held talks with representatives of the European Union institutions, Northern Europe and the Baltic states, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

The Ukrainian side informed partners about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's readiness to meet with Vladimir Putin in Turkiye.

"Ukraine will do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire and begin negotiations on establishing a just and enduring peace. Our position is constructive," Andriy Yermak emphasized during the discussions.

Andriy Yermak briefed the attendees on the meeting of leaders of Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland in Kyiv, as well as on the details of the Joint Statement on the ceasefire, which is to begin on May 12.

He also extended special thanks to the diplomatic advisor to the President of France, the advisor to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the representative of the German Federal Chancellor's Office for the productive visit of their leaders to Ukraine and the successful holding of the latest meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

The Ukrainian side coordinated next steps with its European partners.

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Unfortunately, the World Still Has Not Received a Clear Response from Russia to the Numerous Proposals for a Ceasefire; Russian Shelling and Assaults Continue - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

12 May 2025 - 21:00

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

I've just spoken with President Erdogan of Turkiye. It was a meaningful conversation. I'm grateful to the President for the support. I reaffirmed to him my readiness for direct and substantive negotiations with Putin. Ukraine has always supported diplomacy. I'm ready to come to Turkiye. Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia to the numerous proposals for a ceasefire. Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence. One way or another, Russia will have to end this war - and the sooner, the better. There is no sense in continuing the killing. President Erdogan has expressed full readiness to host the meeting. It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come to Turkiye.

There was also a great deal of work today with our partners - with the Americans, with the Europeans - diplomatic work.

I also had a very good conversation with the Pope today  I started the day with it. Pope Leo XIV spoke warm and very important words about Ukraine and our people - about a just and durable peace for our country, and the return of our people - the unconditional return of prisoners and children who were abducted by Russia. I thanked him for his support. We discussed possible meetings, and I invited the Pope to visit Ukraine. Today, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported to me on his conversations with colleagues from the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, France, the European Union, and the United States. I'm grateful to all of them for their constructive approach and their readiness to take the necessary steps to make peace a reality. From the very beginning, Ukraine has not wanted this war - not for a single second. Together with our partners, we are working to ensure security, preparing a solid foundation for peace, and taking joint action to make diplomacy truly work.

I held a Staff meeting today. The key topics were Ukraine's missile program and our drones - all types of drones we need. There were also reports on drone usage - precision and effectiveness of strikes on the front lines. I want to thank all our manufacturers working to ensure that Ukraine maintains its technological edge. We are also working to protect our infrastructure and ensure long-term defense capabilities - these are systemic decisions, and responsibility for their implementation is personal.

And one more thing.

I want to thank all our warriors - each and every one who is now at the front, on combat posts and missions. Today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi delivered reports - Donetsk and Kursk directions are where the fiercest fighting is ongoing. I want to thank our men of the 33rd, 225th, and 425th Assault Regiments. In the Kramatorsk direction - warriors of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade - well done! In the Pokrovsk direction - the 14th Operational Brigade of the National Guard and the 117th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - thank you! Fighting alongside all our Forces at the front are also units of the National Police of Ukraine - the "Liut" and "Khyzhak" assault brigades, KORD units, and rifle battalions - thank you all! Ukraine has defended its independence. Ukraine defends its right to life every single day. And we will definitely guarantee Ukraine's security - exactly as needed.

Glory to Ukraine!

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President of Ukraine Holds Phone Call with President of Turkiye

President of Ukraine

12 May 2025 - 20:19

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss strategic cooperation and plans for the coming days.

The Head of State thanked President Erdogan for his personal contribution and Turkiye's constructive role in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace.

The main topic of the conversation was the key details of the upcoming meeting in Turkiye, which could help bring the war closer to an end. President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the support and readiness at the highest level to advance diplomacy.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed his counterpart about the Coalition of the Willing meeting that took place in Kyiv on May 10. The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland participated in person, while representatives from over 30 other countries joined the summit online. It was agreed that, starting today, a full and unconditional ceasefire must begin, lasting for at least 30 days.

Both the Ukrainian and Turkish Presidents agreed on the necessity of a ceasefire. They also underscored the importance of its proper monitoring by international partners - a task Turkiye is ready to support.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to continue joint efforts in the pursuit of peace.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy Speaks with Pope Leo XIV

President of Ukraine

12 May 2025 - 12:10

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Pope Leo XIV. It was His Holiness' first phone call with a foreign leader.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Saint Peter and thanked him for the support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

The President expressed gratitude for the words of His Holiness during the first Sunday Blessing in St. Peter's Square about the need to achieve a just, true, and lasting peace for Ukraine and the release of prisoners.

The Head of State informed that Russia has deported and illegally transferred thousands of Ukrainian children. Ukraine is counting on the Vatican's assistance in bringing them home. Pope Leo XIV assured that the Holy See would continue its efforts to resolve all humanitarian issues.

The conversation focused in detail on peace efforts. Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed His Holiness on the agreement between Ukraine and international partners that a full and unconditional ceasefire, lasting at least 30 days, must begin today. He also reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness for further negotiations in any format, including direct talks, which our state has repeatedly emphasized. The President stressed that Ukraine wants to end the war, is doing everything to achieve this, and awaits corresponding steps from Russia.

The Head of State invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine, stressing that such a visit could bring real hope to the Ukrainian people.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Pope Leo XIV agreed to remain in contact and to plan a personal meeting in the near future.

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Hundreds Of Ukrainian Homes In Crimea Seized As Russian Property

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Alla Khotsyanivska and Yevhen Holovyn May 13, 2025

"I'm your neighbor, Volodya. Your apartments have been sold. Call me -- it's urgent."

When that message reached Svitlana Kolisnichenko and her family in May 2024, it confirmed their worst fears about the property they left behind in Crimea after moving to Kyiv.

Since the initial illegal Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014 -- and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 -- hundreds of buildings, homes, and other properties in Crimea have been seized by Russian authorities, according to international rights observers.

In Kolisnichenko's case, they learned that a former Ukrainian soldier who was now a Russian citizen was living in their three-room apartment without their consent. He was also registering his children and wife as residents there.

The new tenant was certainly not paying the Kolisnichenkos' rent.

"I think our neighbor, Lyudmila, and her husband, Vitaliy, gave him the keys," Kolisnichenko said. "She must have started renting out our apartment or something."

She says she only found out about this when Volodya called her to tell her that Lyudmila "was letting strangers into the apartment, including military men."

"In my building, where we used to live, there are already seven such apartments. It turns out this is something of a mass phenomenon," Kolisnichenko said.

According to rights organizations, the seizure of properties belonging to Ukrainians who oppose Russian occupation has been systematic and on a mass scale.

Those like Kolisnichenko who refused the offer of Russian passports have been a frequent target, it seems.

"We were against Russia's policies -- that's why we didn't take a passport, that's the only reason," Kolisnihenko said. "I had the full right to get a passport and my mother is in Russia, but I didn't want to. I didn't like this aggression."

The policy has cost hundreds of Ukrainians their homes and buildings, say observers.

"If [countries] treat Russian aggression unfavorably and impose sanctions, then [its] citizens will be considered unfriendly," said Mykyta Petrovets of the nonprofit Regional Center for Human Rights. In cases like this, under Russian law, "the corresponding confiscation of property can take place."

Many Ukrainian property owners were given about a year either to transfer or sell their properties, Petrovets said, after which "forced sales through court orders began. Now such plots are being sold at auctions. From this perspective, their property is effectively being expropriated as well."

Yulia Stezhko, whose family invested in a plot of land in Crimea and planned a house there, discovered it had been seized by a court decree after they left the peninsula.

The land, which she described as being "with a view of the sea, generally a nice property," is a significant loss.

"We bought it with the savings of the whole family," she says, adding they had hoped their children's vacations would be spent there in accordance with family tradition. "Besides, my maternal grandfather is buried there."

When she inquired with the authorities in Crimea, Stezhko was told "that a decree had come into effect, according to which I had no rights to the property, and that's it."

In 2023, the Russian-installed authorities in Crimea announced their intention to sell around 1,000 properties, including the apartment in Yalta belonging to Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was sold for 44 million rubles ($530,000).

By the end of 2023, more than 2,600 assets belonging to Ukrainians had been illegally appropriated, an investigation by RFE/RL's Crimea.Realitieshas shown.

Russia No Longer Bound By ECHR

In March 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree pronouncing nearly all of Crimea a so-called border territory of Russia. That act prohibited "foreign citizens," including Ukrainians, from owning land in occupied Crimea.

Under Ukrainian law, nothing has changed; the property ownership of Ukrainians is still fully recognized. But Russian-installed officials in Crimea have published long lists of addresses and titles of plots of land they plan to seize.

The Regional Center for Human Rights has documented that, in just three years, the number of plots owned by so-called foreign citizens in Crimea has decreased by 50 percent -- from over 11,000 to 5,000.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has sued over the land seizures and declared the Russian policy illegal. But in 2022, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe and is no longer a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, meaning its government is no longer legally bound by the court's rulings.

The Russian authorities have since declared that decisions by the ECHR will not be enforced.

Some 1,101 lawsuits filed by Ukrainians with the ECHR over human rights violations in occupied Crimea remain on record, more than half over the expropriation of property.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/crimea-property-seizures- ukrainians-targeted-by-russia/33410669.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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Kalo Gold Corp. (TSXV:KALO) ("Kalo", "Kalo Gold" or the "Company")is pleased to announce that it has closed a first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 81,335,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,066,750. The Offering, originally announced for gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000, was upsized in response to strong investor demand. The second tranche will be expected to close on or around May 31, 2025.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund:

Up to 9,000 metres of diamond drilling at the Vatu Aurum Project in Fiji, including drill testing of epithermal upwelling zones within the Aurum Epithermal Field such as the Dua, Rua, Tolu and Va Targets on the Namalau Trend), and high-grade diatreme and surge deposits within the Qiriyaga Complex;

Continued geological mapping, trenching, and drilling along the Namalau, Loma, and Buca Trends;

Surface exploration - including soil sampling, trenching, and geological mapping - at Coqeloa and Wainikoro;

General working capital and marketing initiatives.

3L Capital Inc. Provides Strategic Support and Acts as Financial Adviser to the Offering

The Company would like to acknowledge and thank 3L Capital Inc. for its extensive support as financial adviser to the Offering. In addition to introducing strategic investors and acting as finder, 3L provided Kalo with valuable capital markets insight, transaction structuring, market advisory, and strategic communications support throughout the financing process. Their involvement included evaluating near-term market dynamics, advising management on structure and timing, and contributing to the successful execution of the Offering.

The Offering

Each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.08 per Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance. In addition, the expiry date of the Warrants is subject to acceleration if the volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") (or such other stock exchange where the Shares are then listed or quoted) is greater than $0.15 for a period of twenty (20) consecutive trading days, in which case the expiry date of the Warrants may be accelerated to a date that is thirty (30) days following the date the Company provides notice to the Warrant holders, by way of a news release, that the expiry date has been accelerated.

Each Share and Warrant comprising the Unit is subject to a statutory hold period expiring on September 13, 2025, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Any Shares issued upon the exercise of a Warrant prior to that date will also be subject to the same hold period, expiring on September 13, 2025.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche, the Company paid finders' fees to eligible finders, consisting of $125,023 in cash and 2,780,450 finders' warrants. Each finder's warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $0.08 per Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance.

Insider Participation

Kevin Ma, Executive Vice-President and Director, and Cam Grundstrom, Co-Founder and Director (collectively the "Insiders"), participated in the private placement. The Insiders collectively purchased a total of $50,000 of the Offering as per the following table:

Mr. Ma 800,000 Units Mr. Grundstrom 200,000 Units

Such participation constitutes a "related party transaction" within Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance to the insiders is exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) as the fair market value of the consideration of the securities issued to the related parties did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Debt Settlement

The Company also announces that it has entered into a shares-for-debt settlement agreement to settle debts totalling $150,000 with a company that has supplied services to the Company. The Company will issue a total of 3,000,000 Shares at a deemed price of $0.05 per share ("Settlement Shares") subject to the approval of the TSXV. The Settlement Shares will be issued pursuant to prospectus exemptions available under Canadian securities law and will be subject to a four-month hold period.

United States Securities Law Disclaimer

The securities offered 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 applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, they 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 U.S. Securities Act) unless registered or an exemption is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT 3L CAPITAL INC.

3L Capital is a premier boutique investment banking firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada, led by a veteran team with over 70 years of combined experience across major financial institutions. 3L offers tailored financial solutions, extensive distribution capabilities, and a proven track record of success. With a focus on empowering businesses, 3L Capital combines personalized service with industry-leading expertise. Its services include innovative financing solutions, strategic advisory, and corporate marketing - all designed to help companies unlock their full potential. The firm's mission is to navigate success through collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Since inception, 3L Capital's platform clients have consistently outperformed industry benchmarks, reflecting its commitment to delivering exceptional value through customized research, corporate marketing, and pivotal relationship introductions within the investment community. The firm has played a key role in completing over 439 transactions, raising

more than C$13.6 billion across diverse industries.

For more information, please visit www.3l-capital.com.

ABOUT KALO GOLD CORP.

Kalo Gold Corp. is a gold exploration company focused on the discovery of low sulphidation epithermal gold deposits at its 100%-owned Vatu Aurum Project, located on Vanua Levu (North Island) in the Republic of Fiji. The Project covers 367 km under two Special Prospecting Licenses and encompasses a regionally significant back-arc basin hosting multiple volcanic calderas. Historical and ongoing exploration has identified over two dozen high-priority gold targets across structurally controlled and diatreme-hosted systems.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Kalo Gold Corp.

Terry L. Tucker, P.Geo.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Ma, CPA, CA

Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Director

For more information, please write to info@kalogoldcorp.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to the closing of the Offering, use of proceeds and other such future events and Kalo's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Kalo's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, and unforeseen events and developments. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Kalo. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Kalo undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent management's discussion and analysis. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.



Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution, or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.



SOURCE: Kalo Gold Corp.


BROSSARD, May 12, 2025 - G Mining Ventures Corp. ("GMIN" or the "Corporation" or "we") (TSX: GMIN) (OTCQX: GMINF) today announces that it will restate its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, along with a corresponding restated Management Discussion and Analysis, to reflect two non-cash accounting adjustments identified during its first-quarter 2025 financial review. All amounts are in USD unless stated otherwise.

The non-cash accounting adjustments have no impact on the Corporation's cash position, liquidity, operating income, cash flows, or compliance with any financial covenants.

The adjustments total approximately $32 million and relate to the application of IAS 21 - The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. The underlying business remains strong, and the restatement reflects a technical correction with no effect on the Corporation's financial health or performance.

GMIN will now release its first quarter 2025 financial results after market close on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. A conference call hosted by senior management will follow on Thursday, May 15, 2025 (details below).

"GMIN is committed to delivering accurate, transparent, and high-quality financial reporting to support investor confidence and informed decision-making. These adjustments are non-cash in nature and have no impact on our liquidity, operations, or overall financial health. That said, we take the integrity of our financial reporting very seriously. We are acting decisively to enhance our internal processes and ensure continued confidence in the quality and transparency of our disclosures." said Julie Lafleur, GMIN's VP Finance and CFO.

Summary of Adjustments: Unrealized Foreign Exchange Reclassification

Approximately $11 million of unrealized foreign exchange losses relating to certain external debt balances were recorded through the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) under Cumulative Translation Adjustment ("CTA"), rather than being reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).





Approximately $21 million in income tax recovery related to unrealized foreign exchange losses on intercompany loans at the subsidiary level was recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss), rather than being reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) under CTA.

Impact on 2024 Financial Results:

The following table summarizes the line items impacted in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss):



Q4 2024 As Filed Q4 2024 Re-Stated In thousands of $, except as otherwise noted



Net Income

47,597 15,238 Basic EPS

0.21 0.07 FD EPS

0.21 0.07 Adjusted Net Income(1)

57,956 25,597 Basic Adjusted EPS

0.26 0.11 FD Adjusted EPS

0.26 0.11 (1) These measures are non-IFRS financial measures. Refer to section "Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" in the associated MD&A

for further information and a detailed reconciliation to comparable IFRS measures.

The accounting adjustment is non-cash and has no impact on the Corporation's cash position, liquidity, operating income, cash flows, or any key performance indicators commonly used by investors, analysts, and management to evaluate the business. There is also no impact on regulatory compliance or debt covenants.

Restatement and Disclosure

In accordance with IAS 8 - Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors, GMIN will restate and refile its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, along with a corresponding restated Management Discussion and Analysis, immediately prior to the filing of its Q1 2025 results.

Update - First Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call and Webcast

GMIN will release its first quarter 2025 results on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, after market close. GMIN's senior management will host a conference call the following day, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) to discuss the Corporation's financial and operating results, which will be followed by a Q&A session. Participants may join the conference call using the following call-in details:

Conference ID: 4077930

Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1-800-715-9871

Participant International Dial-In Number: 1-646-307-1963

Participants can also access a live webcast of the conference call via https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ybh84bka or via the GMIN website at: https://gmin.gold/investors/presentations-and-events/

A replay of this conference call - via phone and webcast - will be available until June 15, 2025. Replay details will be provided on the GMIN website 24 hours after the call at: https://gmin.gold/investors/presentations-and-events/.

About G Mining Ventures Corp.

G Mining Ventures Corp. (TSX: GMIN, OTCQX: GMINF) is a precious metals company focused on unlocking value through disciplined mine development. Leveraging strong access to capital and a proven track record in project execution, GMIN is well-positioned to become the next leading mid-tier gold producer. GMIN's portfolio is anchored by the Tocantinzinho Mine ("TZ") in Brazil, complemented by the Gurupi Project in Brazil and the Oko West Project in Guyana - each offering significant exploration upside in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" and "forwardlooking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to (i) the restatement of previous financial disclosure; (ii) the impact of such restatement on the 2024 financial results of the Corporation; (iii) the quoted comments and expectations of GMIN's Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer, and (iv) more generally, the section entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp.".



Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions include, without limitation, those relating to the effect on the 2024 financial results of the Corporation of applying IAS 21 in the manner described above, and those underlying the items listed on the above section entitled "About G Mining Ventures Corp.". Those assumptions also include, without limitation, those relating to the price of gold and currency exchange rates, and those outlined in technical studies relating to the Corporation's mineral assets.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that, notably but without limitation, (i) GMIN's restated financial results will be as anticipated above, or (ii) GMIN will be able to promptly and efficiently implement the appropriate remediation steps into its financial reporting. In addition, there can be no assurance that (i) GMIN will use TZ and Oko West to grow into the next intermediate producer, or (ii) Brazil and/or Guyana will remain mining friendly and prospective jurisdictions, as future events could differ materially from what is currently anticipated by the Corporation.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in the Corporation's other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the relevant sections of the (i) Annual Information Form of the Corporation dated March 27, 2025, for the financial year ended December 31, 2024, and (ii) Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/g-mining-ventures-announces-restatement-of-its-2024-financial-statements-following-non-cash-foreign-exchange-accounting-adjustments-302453024.html

SOURCE G Mining Ventures Corp
VANCOUVER, May 12, 2025 - Prime Mining Corp. ("Prime" or the "Company") (TSV: PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: O4V3) is pleased to report its operating and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. Prime is focused on the exploration and development of its wholly owned high-grade Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project in Sinaloa State, Mexico ("Los Reyes" or the "Project").

Prime Chief Executive Officer Scott Hicks commented, "The Prime team continued to progress our technical understanding of the Los Reyes Project through the first quarter of 2025, in preparation for a high quality, high value Preliminary Economic Assessment. Our geologists have been re-analysing lithological data, enhancing geostatistical data from early drilling and evaluating new potential discovery areas ahead of an eventual return to the field. In reflection of the quality of the Los Reyes Project, we were very well received at the prestigious Core Shack at PDAC in March. And, in April, our local team had an equally strong reception at the leading technical mining event in Latin America: the Discoveries 2025 Mining Conference in Mazatlan. We continue with our program of fiscal prudence and closed the quarter with $18 million in cash, providing a well-funded 2025 drilling campaign, which we anticipate would be further supported by the $1.10 warrants that are coming due on June 12, 2025."

Corporate Highlights During the Quarter

(Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are presented in Canadian dollars.)

On February 19th, the Company announced its 2025 Outlook for the Los Reyes Project including a planned 40,000m drill program and drilling status update.



Exploration Highlights During the Quarter

Prime Tahonitas Footwall Discovery: Intersects New Continuous High-Grade Veins at Tahonitas in the Z-T Trend (January 15, 2025)

Expansion Drilling Highlights at Z-T

The Company is reporting 25 core holes at the Z-T Trend, 14 of which are from Tahonitas, located in the south-east end of the Z-T Trend, with the following highlights:

5.67 gpt AuEq (2.23 gpt Au and 266.1 gpt Ag) over 4.2 m ETW in hole 24TA-149, including: 9.49 gpt AuEq (3.94 gpt Au and 428.7 gpt Ag) over 2.1 m ETW;

1.62 gpt AuEq (1.36 gpt Au and 19.9 gpt Ag) over 15.2 m ETW in hole 24TA-144, including: 4.94 gpt AuEq (4.22 gpt Au and 55.3 gpt Ag) over 3.7 m ETW;

4.93 gpt AuEq (2.55 gpt Au and 184.0 gpt Ag) over 3.3 m ETW in hole 24TA-153, including: 14.09 gpt AuEq (7.09 gpt Au and 541.0 gpt Ag) over 1.1 m ETW;

And also, 0.92 gpt AuEq (0.72 gpt Au and 15.2 gpt Ag) over 19.2 m ETW in hole 24TA-153.



Prime's Central Trend Continues to Deliver Strong Grades and Continuity, Defining a 400-metre High-Grade Shoot at Noche Buena (January 30, 2025)

Expansion Drilling Highlights in the Central Trend

The Company is reporting 14 core holes at the Central Trend, 9 of which are from Noche Buena, at the southernmost part of the trend, with the following highlights:

3.48 gpt AuEq (3.12 gpt Au and 27.7 gpt Ag) over 7.6 m ETW in hole 24NB-78, including: 8.64 gpt AuEq (7.8 gpt Au and 64.8 gpt Ag) over 2.8 m ETW, including: 16.22 gpt AuEq (15.00 gpt Au and 94.0 gpt Ag) over 1.4 m ETW;

2.16 gpt AuEq (1.75 gpt Au and 31.9 gpt Ag) over 11.3 m ETW in hole 24NB-67, including: 8.65 gpt AuEq (7.42 gpt Au and 95.3 gpt Ag) over 2.3 m ETW;

1.65 gpt AuEq (1.03 gpt Au and 47.6 gpt Ag) over 11.2 m ETW in hole 24NB-77, including: 4.24 gpt AuEq (2.40 gpt Au and 142.0 gpt Ag) over 1.8 m ETW.





Prime's Fresnillo Generative Target Extended by 120 metres (February 24, 2025)

Generative Drilling Highlights: Fresnillo - A Prime Original Discovery

The Company is reporting 14 core holes, two that intersected only Fresnillo structures, four that intersected both Noche Buena and Fresnillo structures, and eight that intersected Mariposa structures. Fresnillo is located between the Z-T and Central Trends with the following highlights in today's results:

1.99 g/t gold-equivalent ("AuEq") (1.82 g/t Au and 13.1 g/t Ag) over 9.6 m estimated true width ("ETW") in hole 24NB-75, including: 20.02 g/t AuEq (18.4 g/t Au and 125.0 g/t Ag) over 0.8 m ETW;

2.83 g/t AuEq (2.52 g/t Au and 23.6 g/t Ag) over 6.2 m ETW in hole 24NB-71, including: 5.99 g/t AuEq (5.38 g/t Au and 47.0 g/t Ag) over 2.8 m ETW;

1.46 g/t AuEq (1.08 g/t Au and 29.7 g/t Ag) over 9.8 m ETW in hole 24NB-69, including: 6.76 g/t AuEq (5.35 g/t Au and 109.0 g/t Ag) over 1.4 m ETW;

1.45 g/t AuEq (1.17 g/t Au and 21.6 g/t Ag) over 6.8 m ETW in hole 24FRE-29.



Maintaining Health and Safety Protocols

Prime remains engaged with local stakeholders and is proactive in monitoring employees and contractors concerning general health conditions. The Company continues to closely adhere to the directives of all levels of government and relevant health authorities in Mexico and Canada.

Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship Strategy

We continued to gather environmental and community data in the quarter in support of our ESG programs, including completion of a materiality assessment, strategic plan, and disclosure matrix. We strive to minimize the environmental footprint of our activities and ensure that Los Reyes has a positive impact on our host communities.

The Company released its initial sustainability report during April 2023 which establishes a baseline and a new yardstick to measure our progress in meeting our commitments regarding sustainability and stewardship of the environment, relevant social issues, and corporate governance. The Company expects to release its 2025 Sustainability Report in the coming weeks.

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data is summarized from the Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto (the "Financial Statements") for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A is available at www.primeminingcorp.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Three Months

ended March 31,

2025

Three Months

ended March 31,

2024

Loss and comprehensive loss $(3,615,113) $(6,450,142) Loss per share - basic and diluted $(0.02) $(0.04)





March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024

Cash $18,199,852 $19,056,585 Total assets $33,054,051 $33,177,148 Total current liabilities $561,298 $2,203,583 Total liabilities $1,393,967 $3,049,145 Total shareholders' equity $31,660,084 $30,128,003



2025 Outlook

The Company plans to continue its success-based approach to drilling to further identify new prospective targets, expand the existing resource, and infill drilling. Additional work will include geological mapping and geochemical sampling to identify further discovery areas.

Six drill rigs remain on site at Los Reyes, with planned fiscal 2025 exploration focused on:

Extending the high-grade Z-T Area shoots that remain open at depth, as well as along strike, both north and south.

Expanding the known high-grade mineralization at Guadalupe East.

Increasing the Central Area resource through additions southeast at Noche Buena and its connection to San Miguel East.

Generative target drilling of high-grade intercepts at Las Primas, Fresnillo and Mariposa to further grow these emerging resources, as well as other target discovery areas to demonstrate the significant resource expansion potential at Los Reyes.

Project activities are also planned to include:

Technical: Further refine metallurgical, geotechnical, mine planning and development parameters for project development, including process and underground mining optimization, infrastructure assessment and permitting requirements. We continue to sponsor and benefit from a strong geologist intern program, supporting geology students from local colleges and universities.

Community Engagement: Continue to engage with and support local ejidos (communities) through educational, community and environmental programming, access (road) improvements and infrastructure development.

On January 28, 2025, drilling was paused in response to a deterioration in the security situation in parts of Sinaloa, including the Los Reyes area. This pause is not currently expected to impact the Company's ability to drill a minimum 40,000m program over 12-months from the recommencement of drilling. Drill rigs remain on site and drill contractors are on standby to resume drilling as soon as security improves. The Company will continue to work with local authorities to monitor the current situation.

The Company continues to engage with several engineering firms to advance its understanding of the Los Reyes Project. Activities will continue to include review of metallurgical and geotechnical information, and engineering work contributing towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment as announced on February 19, 2025.

About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project

Los Reyes is a high-grade, low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. On October 15, 2024, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit and underground resource based on exploration drilling up to July 17, 2024. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent more than $64 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 221,000 metres of drilling.

October 15, 2024 Resource Statement1

(based on a $1950/oz gold price, $25.24/oz silver price, economic-constrained estimate) Mining Method

and Process Class Tonnage

(kt)

Gold Grade

(g/t)

Gold Contained

(koz)

Silver Grade

(g/t)

Silver Contained

(koz)

Gold Equiv.

(g/t)

Gold Equiv.

(koz)

Silver Equiv.

(g/t)

Silver Equiv.

(koz)

Open Pit - Mill Indicated 24,657 1.13 899 35.7 28,261 1.60 1,265 123.3 97,723 Inferred 7,211 0.89 207 42.8 9,916 1.45 335 111.8 25,911 Underground Indicated 4,132 3.02 402 152.4 20,243 5.00 664 386.1 51,290 Inferred 4,055 2.10 273 78.6 10,247 3.12 406 240.7 31,380 Total Mill Indicated 28,789 1.41 1,301 52.4 48,504 2.08 1,928 161.0 149,012 Inferred 11,266 1.33 480 55.7 20,163 2.05 741 158.2 57,291 Open Pit - Heap Leach Indicated 20,254 0.29 190 8.4 5,492 0.40 261 31.0 20,201 Inferred 5,944 0.30 58 7.3 1,398 0.40 76 30.6 5,856 Total Indicated 49,042 0.95 1,491 34.2 53,995 1.39 2,190 107.3 169,213 Inferred 17,210 0.97 538 39.0 21,561 1.48 817 114.1 63,147 1. Refer to the Additional Notes section for the gold equivalent grade ("AuEq") calculation method and further information.

Drilling is ongoing and suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas. Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Prime's acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies.

QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures

Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetres "mm"), reducing to NQ (47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are homogenized and split into 2 halves, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half stored.

Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole.

Samples are picked up from the Project by the laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns.

Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements.

Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21.

Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratories.

Additional Notes

Prime's MRE as of October 15, 2024 is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") "CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the "CIM Definition Standards") and in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Metres is represented by "m"; "etw" is Estimated True Width and is based on drill hole geometry or comparisons with other on-section drill holes; "Au" refers to gold, and "Ag" refers to silver; "g/t" is grams per metric tonne; some figures may not sum due to rounding; Composite assay grades presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum average of 0.20 g/t or 1.0 g/t as indicated in "Au Cut-off" column of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 g/t Au cut-off is used to define higher-grade "cores" within the lower-grade halo.

Gold equivalent grades are calculated based on an assumed gold price of US$1,950 per ounce and silver price of $25.24 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade (g/t) = Au grade + (Ag grade x $25.24 / $1,950). Metallurgical recoveries are not considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are estimated to be 95.6% and 81% for gold and silver, respectively, when processed in a mill, and 73% and 25% respectively when heap-leached. Additional details are available in the associated Technical Report, filed on November 27, 2024.

Qualified Person

Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release.

About Prime Mining

Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Project. The Company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership. Prime is targeting a material resource expansion at Los Reyes through a combination of new generative area discoveries and growth, while also building on technical de-risking activities to support eventual project development.

For further information, please visit https://www.primeminingcorp.ca/ or direct enquiries to:

Scott Hicks

CEO & Director

Indi Gopinathan

VP Capital Markets & Business Development

Prime Mining Corp.

710 - 1030 West Georgia St.

Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3 Canada

+1(604) 238-1659

info@primeminingcorp.ca

Cautionary Notes to U.S. Investors Concerning Resource Estimates

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "inferred mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources," "measured mineral resources" and "mineral resources" used or referenced in this presentation are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the CIM Standards. The CIM Standards differ from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the "SEC Modernization Rules") under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system, the Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, the Company's disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had the Company prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Company's properties, including additional exploration potential of Los Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the Company's exploration and development plans in Mexico. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19 and other future pandemics, delays in or failure to receive access agreements, on-going receipt of amended and/or operating permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, physical access to the property, security risks, availability of contractors and skilled labour, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated March 25, 2024, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
VANCOUVER, May 12, 2025 - Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF) ("Ascot" or the "Company") announces the Company's unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 ("Q1 2025"), For details of the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2025, please see the Company's filings on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

All amounts herein are reported in $000s of Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

Q1 2025 AND RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

On January 15, 2025, the Company announced a leadership transition. Mr. Derek White, president and CEO, Mr. John Kiernan, COO, and Mr. Bryant Schwengler, VP &GM, had resigned from the Company. Mr. James (Jim) Currie was appointed as CEO and Director and served as interim COO. Ms. Coille Van Alphen, portfolio manager for Equinox Partners, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company. Ms. Diana Mark, Greystone Corporate Services Inc. had been hired as Corporate Secretary and KIN Communications had been retained to handle the Company's investor relations and communications.





On March 7, 2025, the Company announced it had entered into an agreement with respect to a brokered private placement (the "2025 Offering"), to be marketed on a best-effort basis, which consisted of: (i) hard dollar units of the Company (the "HD Unit") at a price of $0.115 per HD Unit for gross proceeds of a minimum of $40 million and up to a maximum of $45 million; and (ii) charity flow-through units of the Company (the "CDE Unit") at a price of $0.1403 per CDE FT Unit for gross proceeds of approximately $20 million. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one warrant to purchase a Common Share. The common shares and warrants underlying the CDE FT Units shall qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)).





On March 14, 2025, the first tranche of 2025 Offering closed and it consisted of 142,551,675 CDE FT Units at a price of $0.1403 per CDE FT Unit and 191,435,095 HD Units at a price of $0.115 per HD Unit for gross proceeds of $42 million. The second tranche of the 2025 Offering closed on April 10, 2025 which was consisted of 166,686,959 HD Units at a price of $0.115 per HD Unit for gross proceeds of $19.2 million. Total gross proceeds raised was $61.2 million.





On March 14, 2025, Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. ("SRSR") and Nebari Gold Fund 1, LP, Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund II, LP and Nebari Collateral Agent LLC (collectively, "Nebrari") extended their existing waiver and forbearance conditions until September 30, 2025, pursuant to definitive agreements entered into with the Company. The Company also entered into an amending agreement to the amended and restated credit agreement with certain Nebari entities dated November 18, 2024, which amended the conversion price under the Convertible facility to $0.155. The exercise price of the existing Nebari warrants was also amended to $0.155. SRSR has committed to release the currently held US$7.5 million Second Stream Deposit from escrow upon achieving the agreed development and funding targets, consistent with the terms of the Company's amended and restated purchase and sale agreements, dated November 15, 2024, with SRSR.





On April 15, 2025, the Company provided an update on mine development and restart of operations. Through April 13, 2025, Procon has completed more than 800 metres of mine development since remobilization in late December 2024. The Company has commenced the re-opening of the Big Missouri workings, where work was paused when PGP was placed on care and maintenance last fall. Power availability and camp space capacity are expanding to accommodate the increase in productive operations. With contributions from both PNL and Big Missouri, Ascot targets the stockpiling of 40,000 tonnes of material for processing prior to mill startup August 2025.





On April 22, 2025, the Company announced that Mr. Christopher Park will be joining the Company as Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective May 15, 2025. He succeeds Ms. Carol Li, who will retire as Chief Financial Officer and transition into an advisor role with the Company effective May 15, 2025.

SUBSEQUENT TO THE QUARTER

Contract negotiations

The Company wishes to advise the market that it is in the process of renegotiating mining and development contract rates, which are trending higher than current rates. The Company will provide a further update in due course. If negotiations on viable mining and development contract rates are unsuccessful, the Company's cash flows, mine development progress, and timeline for restarting mill operations will be adversely affected.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company will postpone the update previously scheduled for May 15, 2025.

Board Changes

As previously disclosed, Coille Van Alphen has resigned from the board of Ascot.

The Company also advises that Rick Zimmer, Chairman of Ascot, has announced his retirement from the Board, effective immediately, due to family health reasons. The Board of Directors expresses its deep gratitude to Mr. Zimmer for his leadership, strategic insight, and many years of dedicated service to the Company. Under his guidance, Ascot has made significant progress in advancing its projects and strengthening its position in the gold sector. We extend our best wishes to Rick and his family during this time and thank him for his lasting contributions to Ascot's growth and success. The Board has elected Bill Bennett as Interim Chairman. Mr. Bennett has served on Ascot's Board since 2017 and brings extensive experience in public policy and the mining industry, including his previous role as British Columbia's Minister of Mines and Minister of Energy and Mines.

FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025

The Company reported a net income of $3,362 for Q1 2025 compared to a net loss of $6,208 for Q1 2024. The increase in net income for Q1 2025 is mainly driven by the accounting gain due to change in the fair value of derivative assets as a result of the higher gold and silver prices and the decrease in fair value of the convertible option embedded derivative liability due to lower share price of the Company.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As at March 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $36,151 and a working capital deficiency (current assets minus current liabilities) of $40,724. Excluding the current portion of deferred revenue of $11,765 and $21,919 of convertible facility which is classified as current due to the lender's right to exercise the conversion option at any time at a variable price, the working capital deficiency was $7,040. The increase in cash and cash equivalents since December 31, 2024 was mainly due to the receipt of net proceeds from the first tranche of the 2025 Offering partially offset by expenditures in mine development, plant and equipment of $27,823, share issue costs of $1,920, financing costs $585 and payment of lease liabilities of $886.

The delay in underground development, suspension of operations and the builder's liens filed on the mineral properties would have resulted in a default on Ascot's credit facilities and stream arrangement. However, the Company obtained waivers and forbearance conditions from its secured lenders providing for limited suspension of covenant compliance requirements until September 30, 2025. The waivers were in effect as of March 31, 2025 and until September 30, 2025.

In Q1 2025, the Company closed the first tranche of the 2025 Offering and received net proceeds of $40 million and subsequent to the quarter end, it closed the second and final tranche of the 2025 Offering and received net proceeds of $19 million. In addition, SRSR has committed to release the currently held US$7.5 million Second Stream Deposit from escrow upon achieving the agreed development and funding targets in 2025. Concurrent with closing of the first tranche of the 2025 Offering, the Company's mining contractor agreed to amend the addendum to the mining contract dated on November 18, 2024 and defer the payment of the promissory note to commencing on September 30, 2025. The amendment also allowed the contractor to review the new scope of work and adjust the mining contract rates in May 2025. Subsequent to the end of Q1 2025, the Company has been renegotiating the mining and development contract rates with the contractor, which are trending higher than current rates. If negotiations on viable mining and development contract rates are unsuccessful, the Company's cash flows, mine development progress, and timeline for restarting mill operations will be adversely affected. The Company may not have sufficient funding for the next twelve months of operations and additional funding may be required

In Q1 2025, the Company issued 335,203,202 common shares, 333,986,770 warrants, and granted 4,372,016 stock options, 43,181 Deferred Share Units ("DSUs") and 2,564,102 Restricted Share Units ("RSU"). Also, 6,059,740 stock options expired or were forfeited, 419,623 RSUs were forfeited.

MANAGEMENT'S OUTLOOK FOR 2025

The Company has been working to transition from the development of the mine and related infrastructure to steady state gold production. The key priorities in the remainder of 2025, subject to the outcome of contract negotiations as noted above, include:

Continue with optimizing a comprehensive plan to accelerate mine development at PNL in order to achieve a successful restart of production.

In order to operate the processing plant at 2,400 tpd (100 tph) the company needs to complete the mine development of PNL, ensuring that it, in conjunction with Big Missouri production (if achieved), supplies sufficient mill feed to the processing plant on a 2-weeks-on and 2-weeks off basis.

Making progress towards achieving steady state production .

Completing various environmental initiatives to ensure compliance with the Mine's environmental permits.

Qualified Person

James A (Jim) Currie, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company is the Company's Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ascot Resources Ltd.

"James A (Jim) Currie"

CEO & COO

For further information contact:

KIN COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Email: AOT@kincommunications.com

Phone: 604-684-6730

About Ascot Resources Ltd.

Ascot is a Canadian junior exploration and development company focused on re-starting the past producing Premier Gold Mine, located on Nisga'a Nation Treaty Lands, in British Columbia's prolific Golden Triangle. Ascot shares trade on the TSX under the ticker AOT. Concurrent with progressing the development of Premier, the Company continues to explore its properties for additional high-grade underground resources. Ascot is committed to the safe and responsible development of Premier in collaboration with Nisga'a Nation as outlined in the Benefits Agreement.

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or visit the Company's web site at www.ascotgold.com, or for a virtual tour visit www.vrify.com under Ascot Resources.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events may constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward- looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "targeted", "outlook", "on track" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements in respect of the leadership transaction and the ability of the Company to accomplish its business objectives. 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 risks related to the need for future waivers or forbearance agreements from the secured creditors of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to development, production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and indigenous groups in the exploration and development of Ascot's properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to finance operations and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in future plans and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; the need for TSX approval, including the Exemption, and other regulatory approvals and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Ascot's filings with Canadian securities regulators, available on Ascot's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca including the Annual Information Form of the Company in the section entitled "Risk Factors". Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Although Ascot 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 Ascot can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Ascot does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE:GCC) (OTC:GCCFF) (WKN:A402CQ) (FSE:3TZ) announces that the current drill hole QGQ25-23 in the NNW-extension of the Halo zone at the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property (the "Property"), located 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) from Hixon, central British Columbia, drilled a broad zone of gold mineralization within strong quartz-carbonate veining showing visible gold ("VG") in three occurrences.

Drill hole QGQ25-23 was set up at an azimuth of 013 and inclination of -45 as a 65 m step out.

QGQ25-23 was collared into graphitic argillites. At a depth of 193 m (633 ft), it intersected the lithologic contact towards to underlying andesitic volcaniclastics, which comprise the uppermost portion of a greenstone package (April 15, 2025 News Release). An intense stockwork of several centimetres to over one metre wide quartz-iron-carbonate veins occurs on both sides of the contact starting at a depth of 118 m (387 ft). The veins contain VG in three occurrences between 202.4 m (664 ft) and 281.2 m (922.6 ft) as shown in Figure 1. At a depth of 288.04 m (945 ft), QGQ25-23 was abandoned within the mineralized zone due to technical difficulties, resulting in a drilled length of the vein stockwork of 170 m (558 ft).

The mineralization is highly similar to a zone intersected in QGQ24-20, which returned 1.45 g/t Au and 16.05 g/t Ag over 137.17 m (450 ft) within a broader intercept (February 25, 2025 News Release), and to the mineralization intercepted in QGQ24-21, which is currently ALS Canada for assaying.

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Dr. Sarah Palmer, P.Geo., a qualified person with respect to NI 43-101.



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Photo 1: Example of VG in quartz-carbonate vein in QGQ25-23 at 202.4 m (664 ft)



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Photo 2: VG bearing quartz-carbonate veins in the contact zone between black graphitic argillites and sericite-iron-carbonate altered greenstones (tan to grey coloured). The location of the vein in Photo 1 is marked by the red box.



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Figure 1: Current status of drilling at Halo zone



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Figure 2: Location of the Halo Zone Discovery and nearby infrastructure

About Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is rediscovering the Cariboo Gold Rush by proceeding with highly targeted drilling and trenching programs on its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property, which is bordered by Osisko Development Corp. (NSE:ODV/TSXV:ODV) and partly intertwined at the north end of the Cariboo Gold Project, and located along a favorable corridor adjacent to the Spanish and Eureka thrust faults over a 94,889 hectare (234,501 acre) area. Historically, over 101 placer gold creeks on the 90 km (56 mile) trend from the Cariboo Hudson mine north to the Project have recorded production and successful placer mining continues to this day.

Golden Cariboo's Project is 4 km (2.5 miles) northeast of, and road accessible from, Hixon in central British Columbia. It includes the Quesnelle Quartz gold-silver deposit, which was discovered in 1865 in conjunction with placer mining activities. Hixon Creek, which dissects the old workings, is a placer creek which has seen small-scale placer production since the mid 1860s.

For further information please contact:

GOLDEN CARIBOO RESOURCES LTD

"J. Frank Callaghan"

J. Frank Callaghan, President & CEO

Tel: 604-669-6463

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.goldencariboo.com

LIKE AND FOLLOW

Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

Neither the "CSE" Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements:

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding; the expectation that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; the expectation that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; the expectation that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; the Company's exploration plans with respect to its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property; and the anticipated participation of the insider in the Offering.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company will have the resources required to proceed with its exploration plans; that the Company will not run into regulatory or other barriers in carrying out its business plans; that the insider will participate in the Offering, on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management; and that the Company will be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis anticipated.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will not receive the necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will not complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the Company will be unable to use the proceeds for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company may incur unanticipated costs; that the Company may not have the resources required to pursue its exploration plans; that the Company's operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; that the insider may not participate in the Offering on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management, or at all; and that the Company may not be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis currently expected. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this news release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this news release.

The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date they were originally made. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.


Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Ltd. (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) ("Class 1 Nickel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of an independent NI 43-101 Technical Report (the "Report") for its Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Project (the "Project"), located approximately 45 km northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario. The Report includes an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Dundonald North Deposit (see also news release 27 March 2025), one of 4 nickel sulphide deposits within the 3,093 hectare Alexo-Dundonald Project.

The Technical Report, titled "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimates for the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project: Including Updated Dundonald North Mineral Resource Estimate, Porcupine Mining Division, Ontario, Canada", with an effective date of 27 March 2025 and an issue date of 12 May 2025, was prepared under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") standards by Qualified Persons (QPs from Aticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. and Caracle Creek Chile SpA).

David Fitch, CEO of Class 1 Nickel, commented: "This updated resource marks another step forward in realizing the full value of our Alexo-Dundonald Project," said David Fitch, President and CEO of Class 1 Nickel. "With Dundonald North now contributing a meaningful resource base alongside our other three deposits, we are strengthening our position in a well-established nickel camp. We remain focused on growing our high-grade resource inventory while advancing plans to return the Project to production."

The MRE for the Dundonald North ("D-N") Deposit was completed by Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. ("Atticus") and their strategic partner Caracle Creek Chile SpA ("Caracle") (together the "Consultants"). This Report replaces the NI 43-101 technical report titled, "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimates, Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project: Including Updated Dundonald South MRE, Porcunpine Division, Ontario, Canada", with an effective date of 1 October 2024 and issue date of 14 November 2024 (Jobin-Bevans et al., 2024).

Table 1. Mineral Resource Statement (I) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit, C$96/t NSR cut-off.

Dundonald North

Resources

Tonnage

(t)

Grade

Contained Metal

Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (k lbs) Cu (k lbs) Co (k lbs) Underground (C$96/t NSR COG) Inferred 2,500,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 153 42,000 2,600 1,200

Notes to Table 1:

(1) The independent Qualified Person for the MRE, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #7795) of Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd., working with Caracle Creek Chile SpA. The effective date of the MRE is 27 March 2025.

(2) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(3) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(4) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated and/or Measured mineral resources with continued exploration.

(5) The Mineral Resources were estimated following the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines prepared by the CIM Mineral Resource & Mineral Reserve Committee and the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions.

(6) Geological and block models for the MRE used core assays (3,960 samples from historical drilling). The drill hole database was validated prior to resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using industry-standard control charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercial certified reference material inserted into assay batches.

(7) The block model was prepared using Micromine 2020. A 12 m x 12 m x 12 m block model was created, with sub blocks to 1.0 m x 1.0 m x 1.0 m and rotate 60 degrees. Drill composites of 1.0 m intervals were generated within the estimation domains, and subsequent grade estimation was carried out for Ni, Cu and Co using Inverse of Distance Weighting interpolation method.

(8) Grade estimation was validated by comparison of input and output statistics (Nearest Neighbour), swath plot analysis, and by visual inspection of the assay data, block model, and grade shells in cross-sections.

(9) As a reference, the average estimated density value (specific gravity) within the mineralised domain is 2.85 g/cm3 (t/m3).

(10) Estimates have been rounded to 3 significant figures for Indicated resources and 2 significant figures for Inferred sources.

(11) The MRE considers a geological dilution of 5% and a mining recovery of 95%.

(12) US$ metal prices of $8.00/lb Ni, $3.25/lb Cu, $13.00/lb Co were used in the NSR calculation with respective process recoveries of 85%, 70%, and 80%; gold, platinum and palladium are not considered in the current NSR calculation.

(13) Pit-constrained Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers processing, and G&A costs, applying a factor of 5% for mining dilution, that respectively combine for a total of (($45.00 + $5.00) * (1 + 5%)) = C$52.5/tonne processed.

(14) Underground Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers ore mining, processing, and G&A costs that respectively combine for a total of ($46.00 + $45.00 + $5.00) = C$96.0/tonne processed.

(15) The Underground grade blocks were quantified above the $96.0/t cut-off, within the constraining mineralized wireframes. Additionally, only groups of blocks that exhibited continuity and reasonable potential stope geometry were included. All orphaned blocks and narrow strings of blocks were excluded. The long-hole stoping with backfill mining method was assumed for the Underground MRE calculation.

(16) The NSR calculation is as follows: NSR C$/t = ((Ni% x 199.89) + (Cu% x 66.87) +(Co% x 305.71)) x 95%.

(17) The NiEq% calculation is as follows: NiEq% = (Ni% x 1) + (Cu% x 0.33) + (Co% x 1.53).

Table 2. Mineral Resource Statement (II) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit, 0.46% Ni cut-off grade (COG).

Dundonald North

Resources

Tonnage

(t)

Grade Contained Metal Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (k lbs) Cu (k lbs) Co (k lbs) Underground (0.46% Ni COG) Inferred 2,600,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 150 43,000 2,100 1,200

*see Notes to Table 1 above

Figure 1. Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project showing the location of the 4 nickel deposits with an oval over the area of the Dundonald North Deposit and optimized pit shell outlines for Alexo North, Alexo South and Dundonald South deposits, all overlain on the generalized geology of the Project (Caracle, 2025).

The updated Dundonald North MRE was calculated entirely from historical drilling (22,041.97 m in 64 holes) completed on the D-N Deposit by previous operators and verified by QP Simon Mortimer.

Updates to the mineral resources of the Alexo South, Alexo North, Dundonald South deposits were announced 24 April 2024, 22 May 2024, and 3 October 2024, respectively (Table 3 and Table 4).

Table 3. Mineral Resources for the 4 Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Deposits at 1.0% Ni, using various %Ni cut-offs.

Deposit Type Resource

Category Ni (%)

Cut-Off Ni Grade

(%) Tonnage

(t) Contained Ni Metal

(klbs) Alexo South Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.52 1.00 77,700 1,720 Alexo North Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.28 1.01 33,900 791 Dundonald South Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.67 1.09 388,000 9,350 Dundonald North Underground (no pit) Inferred 0.71 1.01 1,000,000 23,000 Total: Indicated 1.07 499,600 11,861 Total: Inferred 1.01 1,000,000 23,000



Table 4. Summary of Mineral Resources for the 4 Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Deposits.

Deposit

Resource

Category

NSR Cut-Off

Tonnage

(t)

Grade Contained Metal Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) NiEq

(%) NSR

(C$/t) Ni

(klbs) Cu

(klbs) Co

(klbs) Within-Pit

Alexo North Indicated C$52.5/t 35,100 0.98 0.11 0.04 1.08 206 759 83 33 Inferred C$52.5/t 470 0.32 0.04 0.02 0.36 68 3 0 0 Alexo South Indicated C$52.5/t 275,000 0.58 0.02 0.02 0.62 123 3,490 133 133 Dundonald South Indicated C$52.5/t 2,540,000 0.49 0.02 0.01 0.52 103 27,400 911 755 Inferred C$52.5/t 3,600,000 0.42 0.01 0.01 0.11 88 33,000 1,100 1,100 Total: Indicated 2,850,000 0.50 0.02 0.01 0.53 106 31,700 1,130 921 Total: Inferred 3,600,000 0.42 0.01 0.01 0.44 88 33,000 1,100 1,100 Out-of Pit (Underground) Alexo North Indicated C$96.0/t 7,540 0.63 0.08 0.03 0.70 134 105 12 5 Alexo South Indicated C$96.0/t 297,000 0.65 0.03 0.02 0.69 139 4,240 190 157 Inferred C$96.0/t 130,000 0.54 0.03 0.02 0.58 116 1,500 75 52 Dundonald North Inferred C$96.0/t 2,500,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 152 42,000 2,600 1,200 Dundonald South Indicated C$96.0/t 201,000 0.95 0.03 0.02 0.99 198 4,210 145 80 Inferred C$96.0/t 390,000 0.57 0.02 0.01 0.60 120 4,900 160 120 Total: Indicated 505,000 0.77 0.03 0.02 0.81 162 8,560 347 242 Total: Inferred 3,000,000 0.72 0.04 0.02 0.60 120 48,000 2,900 1,400 Combined Within-Pit and Out-of Pit (Underground) Resources Total: Indicated 3,350,000 0.54 0.02 0.01 0.58 115 40,200 1,470 1,160 Total: Inferred 6,600,000 0.56 0.02 0.01 0.51 100 81,000 4,000 2,500



As stated in the Company's news release of 4 December 2024, the primary objectives of Class 1 are to expand known mineralization and resources at its 4 existing magmatic nickel sulphide deposits within the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project.

Furthermore, the Company will be launching an exploration program to examine the numerous underexplored areas of the Project including the numerous nickel sulphide occurrences that exist outside of the known deposit areas. Much of this exploration will be guided by recently completed airborne geophysics and historical drilling, with new ground geophysics and remote sensing surveys being planned.

Deposit Types and Project Potential

In addition to the high-grade nickel sulphide (>1.0% Ni) potential we see at Alexo-Dundonald, immense potential exists to target and develop large tonnage, low-grade komatiite-hosted deposits such as those being developed in the Timmins area by Canada Nickel Company (Crawford Project), EV Nickel Inc. (CarLang A Deposit) and Aston Minerals Ltd. (Boomerang Project). The Company is currently planning a targeted diamond drilling program to outline this deposit type within the Alexo-Dundonald Project.

This two-pronged approach - develop "traditional" high-grade nickel sulphide resources and in parallel large-tonnage, low grade nickel deposits - brings together the best of both nickel deposit types which are actively and aggressively being explored for and developed within the Timmins Mining Camp.

Core Handling, Assay and QA/QC Procedures

The historical analytical methods used in the years 1955-1993 and 2001 from the Falconbridge Ltd. and Hucamp Mines Ltd., respectively, are not precisely specified. However, the core samples from the 2004-2005 First Nickel Inc. were transported to Laboratoire Expert in Rouyn-Noranda. The samples, along with certified standards and blanks included by the Company for quality assurance and control, were prepared and analyzed at Laboratoire Expert.

The samples were prepared using industry-standard procedures and analyzed for gold, palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt, and zinc. The analytical methods employed consisted of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for multi-element analysis (including Ni, Cu, Co, and Zn), Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (over-range) for the same elements (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn), and fire assay collection with ICP-OES finish for palladium, platinum, and gold.

Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project

The A-D Project is located about 45 km northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario, covers an area of approximately 3,093 hectares (30.93 km2), and was originally acquired by the Company in September 2018. The A-D Project includes four foundation nickel deposits (Alexo North and South and Dundonald North and South) of which the Alexo North and Alexo South (aka Kelex) were small-scale past producers of relatively high-grade nickel (i.e., 1957; 2004-2005). The 4 deposits are located on a near-continuous folded komatiite-ultramafic rock sequence that extends for at least 14 km within the Property and which has never been systematically explored. The 4 mineral resources are open at depth and along strike and could increase in size with additional drilling (Class 1 news releases 18 April 2024, 22 May 2024, 23 September 2024).

Qualified Persons

The Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, for the Dundonald North Mineral Resource Estimate reported herein, Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #7795), Principal Geoscientist at Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. (Cornwall, UK and Lima, Peru). All other technical information and data in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo., PGO #0183), Principal Geoscientist at Caracle Creek Chile SpA and a Qualified Person under the definitions established by NI 43-101.

About Class 1 Nickel

Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) is a Mineral Resources Company focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide projects: the Alexo-Dundonald Project, neat Timmins, Ontario (4 nickel sulphide deposits) and the Somanike Project, near Val-d'Or, Quebec (includes the historical Marbridge Ni-Cu Mine). Both projects comprise extensive property packages covering past-producing nickel mines, offering near-term production opportunity and excellent exploration upside.

Class 1 Nickel's current focus is to continue brownfield and greenfield exploration on its large property packages to aggregate additional nickel resources and in parallel look to advance the A-D Project back into production. The A-D Project sits on a 14+ km strike-length, folded komatiite unit containing several nickel-copper-cobalt and PGE mineral resources plus numerous underexplored sulphide occurrences. Decades of successful capital expenditure and investment into the Project has resulted in the discovery and delineation of four main nickel Mineral Resources that occur along the folded komatiite unit. The A-D Project was previously mined via a direct-shipping model, and the Company will soon commence a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) study to determine the best path forward.

In addition, the Company also holds a 100% interest in its River Valley PGE Project located about 65 km northeast of the City of Sudbury, Ontario, the world's largest and longest operating nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE mining camp (Company news release dated 13 December 2023).

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David Fitch, President & CEO

T: +61.400.631.608

E: info@class1nickel.com

For additional information please visit our website www.class1nickel.com and our Twitter feed @Class1Nickel.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information 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, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90d69442-1479-49c0-be90-48a8b6316983


MONTREAL, May 13, 2025 - Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") announces that, as part of the annual compensation review of its Board of Directors, it has granted an aggregate of (i) 1,273,900 stock options of the Company (the "Options") to certain senior officers and non-executive employees of the Company, (ii) 1,177,200 restricted share units of the Company ("RSUs") to certain senior officers and non-executive employees of the Company, and (iii) 229,573 deferred share units of the Company ("DSUs") to its independent directors (collectively, the "Incentive Awards"), in accordance with the terms of the Company's omnibus equity incentive plan ("Omnibus Plan").

The Incentive Awards constitute the Company's annual security-based compensation grants, consistent with its regular annual compensation cycle. The Options are exercisable at a price of C$2.57 per common share of the Company (based on the closing price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange as of the close of markets on May 12, 2025) and will expire on May 13, 2030. Vesting of the Options will occur in three equal parts on the following dates: May 13, 2026, May 13, 2027 and May 13, 2028, respectively. The RSUs will cliff vest on May 13, 2028. The DSUs will vest in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Plan.

The Omnibus Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 26, 2025 and approved by shareholders of the Company at the annual and special meeting of shareholders that was held on May 7, 2025. The Omnibus Plan is a fixed 20% plan, providing for a maximum of 27,324,297 common shares of the Company reserved for issuance pursuant to Options, DSUs, RSUs and performance share units governed thereunder (less any shares reserved for issuance under other share compensation arrangements of the Company). The Omnibus Plan has received final acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange.

For more details regarding the Omnibus Plan, please refer to the Company's management information circular dated March 26, 2025 (the "Circular") which is accessible on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile. The full text of the Omnibus Plan is appended as Schedule "C" to the Circular. A copy of the Circular and the Omnibus Plan is also available on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Osisko Development Corp. is a North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its flagship permitted 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada. Its project pipeline is complemented by the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico-brownfield properties with significant exploration potential, extensive historical mining data, access to existing infrastructure and skilled labour. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally responsible mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact:

Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Vice President, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644

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.
Star Diamond Corp. ("Star Diamond" or the "Company") reports that unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, will be filed today on SEDAR+ and may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca once posted. (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except common share or per share amounts or as otherwise noted).

Overview

Star Diamond is a Canadian natural resource company focused on exploring and evaluating Saskatchewan's diamond resources. Star Diamond holds a 100% interest in the Fort a la Corne Project, (FALC Project, which includes the Star - Orion South Diamond Project, or the "Project"). These properties are in central Saskatchewan, near established infrastructure, including paved highways and the electrical power grid, which provide significant advantages for future possible mine development.

The Company also holds a 100% interest in the exploration and evaluation properties and assets of the Buffalo Hills Diamond Project (the "BH Project") located approximately 400 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (see "Corporate Developments").

Fort a la Corne mineral properties

The Company currently holds a 100% interest in certain Fort a la Corne ("FALC") kimberlites (see March 26, 2024, news release: Star Diamond Corporation completes acquisition of Rio Tinto's 75% interest in Fort a la Corne Joint Venture) including the Star and Orion South Kimberlites. The FALC mineral properties are located in the Fort a la Corne Provincial Forest, 60 km east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Highway 55, located to the north of the Project, connects Prince Albert with several towns located directly north of FALC to the town of Nipawin, east of FALC. Highway 6 runs north south and is located to the east of FALC.

Recent activities relating to the Star - Orion South Diamond Project and Fort a la Corne mineral properties

The Revised Mineral Resources estimate (see July 24, 2024 news release: Star - Orion South Diamond Project Revised Mineral Resources Estimate) will now be incorporated into a re-optimized open pit mine plan for the Project, which will include a re-evaluation of Mineral Reserves and an economic assessment based thereon. It is anticipated that this work will be completed during 2025-26 and will result in an updated Pre-feasibility Study including a revised statement of Mineral Reserves for the Project, if warranted, and an economic assessment based thereon.

Effective January 1, 2025, the Company has outsourced the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") to Mr. Carmelo Marrelli, replacing Mr. Rick Johnson.

In January 2025, the Company disposed of its remaining share position in Wescan Goldfields Inc. ("Wescan") for gross proceeds of $114.

On February 18, 2025 and February 27, 2025, Star Diamond closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of convertible debentures (the "Debentures") to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $335 and $230, respectively, which resulted in total gross proceeds of $565. The Debentures bear simple interest at a rate of 8% per annum and are convertible into common shares of the Company in certain circumstances, including upon a qualified offering to raise aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $2,000. Pursuant to the closing of both tranches of the Offering, the Company issued an aggregate combined total of 28,250,000 share purchase warrants ("Warrants"), being one Warrant for each $0.02 principal amount of Debentures purchased. Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.06 for a period of 2 years from the closing. In connection with the Offering, Mr. Mason, CEO of the Company, purchased Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $25. Ms. Lisa Riley, director of the Company, has purchased Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $20.

On February 27, 2025, the Company announced the resignation of George Read as Senior Vice President Corporate Development effective February 28, 2025) and his appointment as a Senior Technical Advisor.

Buffalo Hills mineral properties

The Company holds a 100% interest in the exploration and evaluation properties and assets of the Buffalo Hills (BH) Project. Located approximately 400 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the BH Project includes 21 mineral leases covering 4,800 hectares and is a significant and accessible field of diamond-bearing kimberlites, with similarities to the Company's Fort a la Corne kimberlites. The BH Project is located in the Buffalo Hills Kimberlite District, which contains at least 38 individual kimberlite bodies, of which 26 kimberlites are diamond-bearing and a number of which outcrop at surface. Exploration on these kimberlites started in 1996, and small parcels of diamonds have been collected from various exploration programs on many of those considered most prospective.

Quarter End Results

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recorded a net loss of $966 or $0.00 per share (2024 - net loss of $886 or $0.00 per share). The increase in net loss was primarily due to the following:

Exploration and evaluation expenditures increased to $467 in 2025 (2024 - $289). Exploration and evaluation expenditures incurred during 2025 were primarily due to security and maintenance, continued diamond analyses, and test work for the FALC Project. due to increased depreciation of property, plant and equipment. In 2025, exploration and evaluation expenditures also included $225 of depreciation of property, plant and equipment (2024 - $1).

Unwinding of discount of environmental rehabilitation provision increased to $66 in 2025 (2024 - $nil).

Corporate development decreased to $13 in 2025 (2024 - $138) due to reduced marketing and publications issued in 2025.

On March 31, 2025, the Company had $321 (December 31, 2024 - $164) in cash and cash equivalents and a working capital deficit (excess of current liabilities over current assets) of $1,002 (2024 - working capital deficit of $1,017). The decrease in working capital deficit was a result of proceeds received from convertible debentures and sale of shares in Wescan Goldfields Inc., offset by net cash used in operating activities. In 2025, the Company initiated the following cost reductions:

We have moved our head office to a smaller area in the same building resulting in a 70% drop in our office lease payments;

All marketing and consulting contracts have been paused;

The Board agreed to forgo cash compensation until such time as the Company is on better financial footing; and

Certain management/employee functions will be reduced or eliminated.

A budget has been prepared for the completion of the PFS of $3,000 which is subject to the completion of a financing.

However, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern and fund its expenses in an orderly manner will require additional forms of financing. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in obtaining additional financing, now or in the future. Failure to raise additional financing on a timely basis could cause the Company to suspend its operations and planned activities.

Selected financial highlights include:

Selected financial information of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 is summarized as follows:



Three months ended March 31, 2025 $ Three months Ended March 31, 2024 $ Net loss (966) (886) Net loss per share (1) (0.00) (0.00) Current assets 449 4,761 Total assets 14,287 19,489 Current liabilities 1,451 2,534 Total non-current liabilities 8,350 7,683 Working capital (deficit) (1,002) 2,227

(1) Basic and diluted.

Summary of Quarterly Result



2025 2024 2023

Qtr 1 Qtr 4 Qtr 3 Qtr 2 Qtr 1 Qtr 4 Qtr 3 Qtr 2 Total assets ($ millions) 14.3 14.4 16.2 16.3 19.5 1.2 1.3 1.8 Total liabilities ($ millions) 9.8 9.2 8.7 8.6 10.2 1.0 0.7 0.7 Expense ($ millions) 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 0.9 1.0 0.6 0.6 Net loss ($ millions) 1.0 2.0 1.4 1.6 0.9 1.0 0.6 0.9 Net loss per share (1) ($) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Shares outstanding (millions) 617.8 617.6 611.5 599.9 494.8 482.7 476.4 476.0

(1) Basic and diluted.

Outlook

Fort a la Corne mineral properties

Star Diamond's technical team will focus on the technical investigation and evaluation of the Star - Orion South Diamond Project, with the goal of a future development decision. The initial work was completed in 2024 with a revised Mineral Resource estimate for the Star - Orion South Diamond Project, which will form the foundation of an updated Prefeasibility Study ("PFS"). The PFS will enable a Feasibility Study, on which a production decision can be based.

Buffalo Hills mineral properties

Management continues to review the recent results from the diamond valuation and typing analysis with a view to possible work programs and a potential path forward for the asset. A more detailed update on activities at Buffalo Hills will be provided as it becomes available.

About Star Diamond Corporation

Star Diamond is a Canadian natural resource company focused on exploring and evaluating Saskatchewan's diamond resources. Star Diamond holds a 100% interest in the Fort a la Corne Project, (FALC Project, which includes the Star - Orion South Diamond Project, or the "Project"). These properties are in central Saskatchewan, near established infrastructure, including paved highways and the electrical power grid, which provide significant advantages for future possible mine development.

The Company also holds a 100% interest in the exploration and evaluation properties of the Buffalo Hills Diamond Project (the "BH Project") located approximately 400 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (see "Corporate Developments").

Technical Information

All technical information in this MD&A has been prepared under the supervision of Mark Shimell, VP Exploration, Professional Geoscientist in the Province of Saskatchewan, who is the Company's "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101.

Stay Connected with Us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarDiamondCorp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/star-diamond-corp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Star-Diamond-Corp/100058096376664/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stardiamondcorp/

Caution Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and/or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements 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 the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Star Diamond's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Star Diamond and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Risks exist that forward-looking statements will not be achieved due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, statements regarding Rio Tinto Canada, the Company's ability to obtain financing to further the exploration, evaluation and/or development of exploration and evaluation properties in which the Company holds interest, the economic feasibility of any future development projects, developments in world diamond markets, changes in diamond prices, risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and other currencies relative to the US dollar, the impact of changes in the laws and regulations regulating mining exploration, development, closure, judicial or regulatory judgments and legal proceedings, operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in Star Diamond's most recently filed Annual Information Form, and annual and interim MDA.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Star Diamond assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Star Diamond Corporation







For further information, please contact:



Phone: (306) 664-2202, Email: stardiamondcorp@stardiamondcorp.com, Website www.stardiamondcorp.com


New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. Its also where the blues and so many other genres have been refined. It still swarms with buskers -- street performers -- random parades and live music bars. But recently tension has grown between those who make the music and those living near it. Although the citys initial response was to tamp down on the noise, it has since launched an educational campaign called Sound Check to reduce complaints while letting the music play on.Noise complaints, says Scott Hutcheson, adviser for cultural economy to Mayor Mitch Landrieu, have been a constant in New Orleans, dating back to the 1800s. But they have grown worse since Hurricane Katrina, as historically musical neighborhoods like the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny and Treme have welcomed new residents, many of them unaccustomed to local culture.The city initially acted aggressively to shut down the noisemakers. Starting around 2007, it harassed and even shuttered some unlicensed but long-established music joints. It also used zoning rules to prevent other music venues from expanding, stopped buskers from playing after 8 p.m., broke up some of the citys famous second line parades and even tore down community fliers that advertised shows.This infuriated local musicians, who claimed that the city was ruining their livelihoods and suppressing the culture. After a failed attempt by the city council to amend the existing noise ordinance for greater flexibility, it fell to the Landrieu administration to address the situation. The administration has responded by launching Sound Check and refusing to enforce many regulations, such as the curfew laws that discouraged buskers.The goal of Sound Check is to tackle noise complaints through education. Instead of imposing top-down rules enforced by the police -- such as the austere 85-decibel limit -- the health department sends inspectors to neighborhoods to address issues case by case, based on the location and tenor of the complaints. One of the great benefits of Sound Check is that theyre trying to find out from all of those stakeholders what issues exist, Hutcheson says, which will help us find out if we need to amend ordinances.In its first four months, the program has already reduced complaints. The ultimate aim is for the program to lead to an ordinance that gracefully factors the economic importance both of New Orleanss music industry and its post-Katrina residential growth.If the program succeeds at this, it could prove instructive for other musically oriented cities struggling with noise problems. After all, when officials are legally rigid toward noise, they may squelch a cultural asset. But when officials mediate between residents, musicians, venues and other stakeholders, they can save the music.
New name for F1 race in Barcelona still unknown

Spanish officials are still remaining tight-lipped over negotiations with Formula 1 about extending Barcelona's race contract.

Max Verstappen, Spanish GP 2024

 Red Bull

2026 is not only the last year in the Circuit de Catalunya's existing contract, it will mark the debut of the long-term street race in Madrid.

Tellingly, Madrid will take over as the official 'Spanish GP' - with Barcelona bosses admitting they aren't sure what their own race will be called.

We'll see what it will be called in a few days, months, the regional minister for business, Miquel Samper, told Spanish journalists at the launch of the forthcoming 2025 Spanish GP in Barcelona.

I can't say anything more because I don't know anything more, and we can't even say the things we know, he added.

What is clear is that we want to continue to organise this grand prix. It's obvious that we all know it's ending next year, and we're negotiating the extension of this contract.

Earlier this year, Barcelona successfully extended its deal with MotoGP through 2031, and Samper said officials are now keen to replicate the way those negotiations were handled.

As with the motorcycles, the key to these things going well is silence, he confirmed. "The key to success is discretion. So we can't explain how the negotiations are going, although we are committed to communicating very quickly when agreements are reached - if they are reached.

As of today, we are in the midst of negotiations, said the minister.

Meanwhile, although Montreal's contract with F1 already runs through 2031, Le Journal de Montreal reports that officials are keen to follow in Miami's wheel-tracks by concluding a new long-term deal.

We're seeing extensions of agreements elsewhere, an unnamed government source said, "so we have communicated our intentions.

Discussions are cordial, but nothing suggests that it's not a possibility, the source added.

(GMM)
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Advans Ghana, partners provide GH8.5m relief to Kantamanto traders

Business Desk Report Business News May - 13 - 2025 , 09:30

THREE financial institutions have paid GH 8.5 million to 227 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owners affected by the Kantamanto fire outbreak.

They are Advans Ghana, Turaco Inclusive Ghana (T/A Turaco) and Enterprise Insurance Ltd.

The timely gesture has helped traders to clear their outstanding loans, while providing capital to rebuild their businesses during this challenging period.

The January 2 fire at the Kantamanto Market claimed one life, injured 14 people and left over 30,000 traders affected, with more than 7,000 shops reduced to ashes.

Speaking to the media after a short presentation in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Advans Ghana, Guillaume Valence, said the payments were critical in giving their customers the peace of mind and the needed financial relief in such a difficult time.

He said, At the core of our mission is the understanding that when we support traders and small businesses, we are supporting the entire economy of Ghana."

At Advans, we are intentional about embedding insurance into our services so our customers are protected in moments like these.

Our partnership with Turaco and Enterprise Insurance is part of that proactive approach to safeguarding livelihoods and this payout demonstrates the power of building nancial resilience in advance, he said.

Promoting insurance

The Deputy Commissioner for the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Bernard Ohemeng-Baah, said the commission was focused on promoting insurance for underserved communities.

He said the support provided to victims of the January fire outbreak in Kantamanto demonstrates that insurance works and plays a key role in helping affected individuals recover and rebuild their businesses.

He urged the partners to expand their coverage beyond the 227 individuals supported so far to enable a greater number of people to have access to the benefits of insurance in future occurrences.

For her part, the General Manager for Turaco Ghana, Leona Lilian Abban, explained that micro insurance was a customer-centric service that made it possible for the most vulnerable people to access nancial protection when they needed it most.

This is evident in our partnership with Advans Ghana and Enterprise Insurance, where insurance is embedded directly into nancial services.

Together, we have insured over 200,000 customers across Ghana, helping them bounce back from lifes unexpected shocks. The Kantamanto response shows that strategic partnerships and seamless delivery can turn risk into resilience, she said.
Amidst global trade wars: Can Ghana embrace Chinas zero tariff to boost 24-Hour Economy?

Samuel Kofi Darkwa Business News May - 13 - 2025 , 13:08

As the global trade landscape undergoes significant transformation, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has been the lifeline to many African economies, has not been spared.

The recent introduction of a 10-per cent tariff on all African exports to the United States, a policy enacted by the Trump administration, has led to a substantial decline in the effectiveness of AGOA.

Originally established in 2000, AGOA has provided preferential access to the U.S. market, allowing eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export about 2,000 products at zero tariffs. This initiative has been a cornerstone of US-Africa trade policy for a quarter of a century since its inception.

AGOA

However, this new tariff regime undermines AGOA's benefits, particularly impacting countries such as Ghana, which have heavily relied on foreign exchange from exports to the United States.

In light of these challenges, the recent announcement of China's zero-tariff policy for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), effective from December 1, 2024, including 33 African countries, presents an unprecedented opportunity for Ghana.

This policy shift comes at a crucial time when President Mahama's vision for a 24-hour economy is aimed at enhancing production for both local consumption and exports.

Ghana can strategically harness China's zero-tariff initiative to revitalise its economy and strengthen local markets.

The key to achieving this lies in a robust alignment of policies and investment strategies that take full advantage of the trade benefits offered by China.

The potential for export growth is not merely an economic advantage. It represents an opportunity for Ghana to develop a vibrant, resilient economy capable of continuous operation.

Central to establishing a successful 24-hour economy is the capability to produce continuously, while meeting both local and international demand.

This means focusing on enhancing Ghana's agricultural sector, encouraging crop diversification and investing in value addition.

Key commodities such as cocoa, cashew nuts, essential minerals and various fruits possess considerable export potential and should see increased funding in processing facilities.

By transforming raw agricultural inputs into finished products such as chocolate and fruit juices, Ghana can cater to local consumers and tap into the zero-tariff Chinese market.

To bring this vision to fruition, cooperation between the government, local farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses is essential.

Developing training programmes that impart best practices in production and processing will help local farmers meet domestic and international quality standards.

Additionally, establishing an efficient supply chain that encompasses everything from farms to processing facilities and distribution networks will be vital in reducing post-harvest losses and promoting efficiency.

24-Hour economy

Infrastructure development is equally crucial for a thriving 24-hour economy. Ghana must prioritise the enhancement of transportation networks, storage facilities and energy supply systems necessary for continuous production and distribution.

Reliable roads and energy sources are fundamental for facilitating round-the-clock operations across farms, factories and transport sectors.

Government initiatives aimed at constructing modern logistical hubs near key ports and urban centres can greatly improve trade efficiency.

By enhancing market accessboth locally and globallyGhana can increase domestic consumption and bolster its appeal as a preferred export destination.

Furthermore, partnerships with China could facilitate investment in infrastructure through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

This initiative offers a pathway to develop essential infrastructure projectsroads, railways and portsthat can significantly enhance Ghanas trade capabilities.

Collaborative efforts can lead to energy development projects that power factories, thereby boosting production capacity, and support advancements in digital technology and communications, fostering greater operational efficiency.

The 24-hour economy also hinges on nurturing a dynamic entrepreneurial culture.

Diversification

By encouraging the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Ghana can diversify its economic structure and stimulate innovation.

Creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurship will require access to financing, mentorship programmes and the reduction of regulatory barriers.

Establishing special economic zones (SEZs) could attract investment and facilitate production by offering tax incentives and simplified operational procedures.

By elevating SMEs and fostering a culture of innovation, Ghana can create a resilient economy capable of sustained round-the-clock operations.

Moreover, preparing the workforce to meet the demands of a 24-hour economy is crucial for ensuring sustainable growth. Investments in education and vocational training aligned with market needsparticularly in sectors poised for growth such as manufacturing and technologyare necessary.

Collaborative efforts involving the government, educational institutions, and private sector actors can develop programmes that equip individuals with relevant technical skills.

Establishing training centres with a focus on entrepreneurship, industrial skills and trade knowledge will create a versatile workforce prepared to engage in continuous production.

Global trade

In conclusion, as Ghana navigates the complexities of a shifting global trade environment impaired by the deterioration of AGOA, the potential to foster a thriving 24-hour economy lies within reach.

By leveraging Chinas zero-tariff policies for LDCs, promoting local production, enhancing infrastructure, and cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit, Ghana can embark on a promising economic journey.

Embracing these opportunities will not only help Ghana stand firm amidst global trade challenges but will also pave the way for sustainable growth and prosperity in the years to come.

The writer is a Governance Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs
Labour Ministry to undertake QSMS to address gaps across formal, informal sectors

Beatrice Laryea Business News May - 13 - 2025 , 16:47

Starting next month, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MLJE) will roll out a nationwide Qualifications and Skills Mismatches Survey (QSMS) targeting individuals in employment across both the formal and informal sectors.

The objective is to generate data that will inform evidence-based policymaking, particularly to bridge the gap between education, skills and the labour sectors.

The QSMS, as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), assesses the extent to which workers qualifications and skills align with the requirements of their jobs.

It identifies mismatches such as underqualification, overqualification, or a disconnect between the skills held by workers and those demanded by employers.

In collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the national QSMS project aims at measuring the prevalence of skills and qualifications mismatches in the Ghanaian workforce.

The data collected will support the development of policies that better match education and training programmes to labour market needs, while also serving as a complementary measure of labour underutilisation in sectors within regions across the country.

As part of preparations for the upcoming survey, the ministry held a stakeholder engagement last Wednesday in Accra, bringing together representatives from the education sector, as well as public and private institutions.

Participants discussed the institutional and individual components of the QSMS and deliberated on the way forward for the successful implementation of the national project.

In attendance were the Director, Research, Statistics and Information Management, MLJE, Shadrack Mensah; acting Chief Director, Gloria Borteley Noi; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor; representative of the Ghana Employers Association, Kingsley Narh, and Bernard Adjei from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.

Comprehensive data

The Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, in a speech read on his behalf by the Acting Chief Director, Gloria Borteley Noi, at the statekeholder engagement yesterday said as the lead policymaker on employment and labour-related issues, his outfit recognised the critical need for comprehensive data to address mismatches in employment.

"The QSMS will be Ghanas first nationally representative survey to measure these gaps across formal and informal employment sectors, inform policy, align education with labour market needs, and ultimately enhance productivity," Dr Pelpuo said.

Economic growth

The minister stressed that countries worldwide were focusing on economic growth by improving labour productivity, while economies like Ghana, which once absorbed many low-skilled workers, especially in agriculture, technological advancements were now reducing demand for such jobs.

"This challenge is compounded by the perceived shortage of critical skills and the mismatch between qualifications/skills and the labour market needs. These gaps hinder proper placement and utilisation of employees, affecting both formal and informal sectors of our economy," he said.

Pilot survey

The Director, Research, Statistics and Information Management, Mr Shadrack Mensah, mentioned that the ministry had already conducted a pilot survey in the Greater Accra, Northern, and Upper West regions to refine the survey instrument and monitoring frameworks, as well as build the capacity of field teams and identify logistical challenges.

He urged stakeholders, industrial leaders, policymakers, and development partners to actively support the survey's successful execution, which would provide valuable information to inform National Human Capital Development policies and programmes.

The Focal Person for the MLJE at the GSS, Jane Geraldo-Acolatse, emphasised that the GSSs core mandate was to produce data and statistics to support policy formulation and evidence-based decision-making.

She added that the upcoming QSMS fell squarely within this mandate and appealed to all stakeholders, especially the media, to help raise public awareness of the survey.

That, she explained, would ensure smooth cooperation between field officers and respondents during the data collection process.
Taking small business to next level

Priscilla Araba Cournooh Business News May - 13 - 2025 , 09:04

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental to Ghanas economy, representing 92 per cent of all businesses and contributing 70 per cent of the countrys GDP.

Despite their crucial role, many SMEs face significant challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure and gaps in managerial expertise.

For a business to transition from survival mode to a sustainable one, SMEs must become investment-ready, positioning themselves to attract external funding from investors such as venture capitalists, angel investors or private equity firms.

Understanding investment readiness

An investment-ready business has demonstrated strong growth potential and is well-prepared to secure external funding. Such a business typically exhibits several key traits that instil confidence in investors.

First and foremost, a business must have a clear and scalable business model. Investors seek companies with a well-defined strategy, a unique value proposition and an expansion plan. A comprehensive business plan that outlines market opportunities, competitive advantages and financial projections is essential.

To attract investors, financial transparency and sound management are equally important.

Investors require accurate financial records, including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements.

A business that can present realistic valuations and a clear path to profitability stands a better chance of securing funding. Another critical factor is a competent leadership team. Investors place significant trust in the people behind a business.

A management team with industry experience, a strong track record and the ability to execute growth strategies is far more likely to attract investment.

Moreover, investment-ready SMEs must demonstrate market demand and traction. Evidence of a growing customer base, increasing revenue and expansion opportunities makes a business more appealing to investors.

Finally, risk management plays a vital role. Every business faces challenges but those with contingency plans for economic shifts, supply chain disruptions, or regulatory changes are better positioned to reassure investors of their long-term viability.

Importance of investment for SMEs

Becoming investment-ready is not just about securing funds, its about setting a business up for sustainable success.

And since many SMEs struggle to grow due to financial constraints, investment readiness unlocks funding that can be used for expansion, product development and market penetration, allowing businesses to scale effectively.

Beyond funding, investment readiness enhances a companys credibility and reputation. A well-prepared business is perceived as professional and trustworthy, making it more attractive not only to investors but also to customers, partners and top talent.

The process of preparing for investment also drives operational improvements. SMEs that refine their financial controls, governance structures and strategic planning often see increased efficiency and long-term stability.

Moreover, investment-ready SMEs contribute to broader economic growth. By scaling operations, they create jobs, stimulate innovation and strengthen local economies, particularly in emerging markets such as Ghana.



Challenges of SMEs securing investment

Despite the clear advantages, many SMEs encounter obstacles when seeking investment. One major hurdle is inadequate financial documentation.

Many small businesses operate with informal bookkeeping, making it difficult to present accurate financial statements to potential investors.

Without proper records, securing funding becomes an uphill battle. Limited awareness of funding options is another challenge.

While traditional bank loans are a common go-to, many SMEs are unaware of alternative financing methods such as venture capital, crowdfunding or government grants.

Exploring diverse funding sources can open new opportunities.

Also, investors often perceive SMEs as high-risk ventures. Without a proven track record or substantial collateral, small businesses may struggle to convince investors of their stability and growth potential.

Building a strong case with market validation and financial projections can help mitigate this concern.

Finally, regulatory and administrative burdens can deter both SMEs and investors. Navigating complex legal requirements, tax compliance and bureaucratic processes can be daunting, but proper preparation and professional guidance can ease these challenges.

Become investment-ready

To overcome these challenges and position themselves for investment, SMEs should take deliberate steps. SMEs owners must prioritise strengthening financial management. Implementing reliable accounting systems, maintaining up-to-date financial records and developing realistic projections are essential. Digital tools such as QuickBooks or Xero can streamline this process and improve accuracy.

A compelling business plan is another cornerstone. This document should include thorough market analysis, competitive positioning, revenue models and a clear exit strategy for investors. A well-structured plan demonstrates foresight and professionalism.

Building a strong leadership team is equally important. Investors place great emphasis on the people running a business.

Surrounding oneself with skilled professionals who can execute the companys vision enhances credibility and operational effectiveness.

Exploring diverse funding options beyond traditional loans can also be beneficial. Angel investors, venture capital and government-backed initiatives such as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) offer alternative pathways to securing capital.

Lastly, leveraging technology can significantly boost an SMEs appeal. Adopting digital tools for e-commerce, marketing automation, and data analytics improves efficiency, reduces costs and enhances competitivenesskey factors that attract investors.

Advice for SMEs

Taking a small business to the next level requires more than ambition; it demands preparation, strategic thinking and resilience.

SMEs that prioritise financial discipline, strategic planning and innovation will not only attract investors but also secure their place in a competitive market.

Continuously gathering feedback and adapting to trends keeps a company relevant and competitive. Embracing innovation is another key to long-term success.

Whether through new technologies, business models or operational efficiencies, SMEs that innovate are better positioned for growth.

For Ghanaian SMEs, the potential to drive economic growth is vast. Now is the time to take bold steps toward sustainable expansion. If you are ready to take your business to the next level, start today by assessing your investment readiness and implementing strategies for long-term success.
TBSC version 7.0 launched with 26 competing schools

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News May - 13 - 2025 , 16:28

Twenty-six schools will be participating in the seventh version of the Tertiary Business Sense Challenge (TBSC).

The participating schools are: University of Ghana (UG), Legon; University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA; University of Cape Coast (UCC), University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Technical University (TATU), and University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Catholic University of Ghana (CUG); Kumasi Technical University (KSTU), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Christian Service University (CSUC), and Sunyani Technical University (STU).

The rest are University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Nduom School of Business and Technology (NSBT), University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), Koforidua Technical University (KTU), Academic City University (ACU), Accra Technical University (ATU), Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), Central University (CU), Heritage Christian University (HCU), Pentecost University (PU), West End University College (WEUC), Wisconsin International University College (WIUC) and Valley View University (VVU).

The annual competition for business students in tertiary institutions is organised by the Graphic Business, the nations leading business and financial newspaper that is published by the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL).

This years edition on the theme: Entrepreneurial Edge: Sharpening Skills for a Dynamic Future, seeks to unearth the entrepreneurial skills and application of business knowledge and skills of tertiary business students.

In a speech read on his behalf at the launch in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, commended the GCGL for its commitment to youth development and entrepreneurship.

He highlighted the significant impact the Challenge has had over the years, particularly in grooming young business minds who had transitioned into various sectors of the economy with competence and confidence.

Those who associate with the brand and this programme have, therefore, chosen to associate with excellence and forward-looking ideas, he said.

Real-world impact

The Director, Marketing at GCGL, Franklin Sowa, announced that this years edition will introduce a business case component to test the entrepreneurial skills of the contestants.

We anticipate an extremely engaging journey not just for fun, but also to build capacity in understanding business principles and models. As we have shared with you, this year we will introduce a business case component across the various clusters or sectors of the quiz.

Our expectation is that participants will be prepared, as this is how we test our entrepreneurial skills and capacity. It also helps us demonstrate to our sponsors the value of the conversations we hold on this platform, he said.

About TBSC

The TBSC aims to develop the minds of business students to be abreast of issues around business and the economy as a whole to help build successful business careers in the future.

University of Cape Coast (UCC) remains the two-time champions of the competition after emerging winners in the maiden and third editions.

The second edition saw the University for Development Studies (UDS) defeat UCC in the finals to win the contest.

The fourth edition was won by KNUST after battling with UPSA and UCC in the finals while UEW was crowned winner after defeating UCC and KNUST at the finals.

The reigning champions, UG, won last years edition after qualifying to the finals for the first time.
King Promise pledges to fund PRO Tilly's master's degree programme

Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News May - 13 - 2025 , 19:15 2 minutes read

Reigning TGMA Artiste of the Year, King Promise has pledged to sponsor his Public Relations Officer, Tilly Akua Nipaa's master's degree programme as a token of appreciation for her efforts in promoting his work during the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

He made this announcement during an interview on Accra FM earlier today.

"I like Tilly. I believe that she did a good job. I was talking to my managers a while ago, I think she's gonna go do her master's and I want to pay for it because she's done a great job. She's contributed very well to what we did," he said.

Ahead of the TGMAs, King Promises team enlisted Tilly Akua Nipaa as his Public Relations Officer to promote his work to the awards board, academy, and the public.

Tilly implemented various campaign strategies to boost King Promise's chances. Her efforts paid off, as King Promise outshone competitors like Stonebwoy, Joe Mettle, Black Sheriff, King Paluta, Team Eternity, and Kweku Smoke to claim the coveted Artiste of the Year award last Saturday.

Following the TGMA, speculation arose about the status of the working relationship between King Promise and his PRO, Tilly Akua Nipaa.

However, in an interview with Graphic Showbiz, Tilly revealed that King Promise had personally reached out to her, confirming that she remains a valued member of his team. (Read #TGMA26: King Promise wins Artiste of the Year, King Paluta grabs popular song of the year with Aseda, TGMA26: Stonebwoy congratulates King Promise on Artiste of the Year win, TGMA26: Kofi Kinaata makes history with fifth Songwriter of the Year award)

Yes, King Promise called me, we spoke and he assured me I was part of the team now. This is a big win for me and I cant wait to see what the future holds for me, she stated.

King Promise's decision to sponsor Tilly's master's degree programme demonstrates his appreciation for her outstanding work on this year's campaign and commitment to their continued collaboration.

Apart from the Artiste of the Year award, he also took home the Afropop Song of the Year with 'Paris', Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, and Album of the Year with 'True to Self' at the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
MUSIGA advances minimum wage initiative through consultations

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News May - 13 - 2025 , 20:41 2 minutes read

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) is intensifying efforts to establish a minimum wage for musicians, a move aimed at ensuring fair remuneration and improving livelihoods within the industry.

MUSIGA is currently in the process of engaging Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, popularly known as Sax, as a consultant to support this critical initiative.

In addition, MUSIGA has held productive meetings with the owners of +233, Ghanas leading venue for live performances, to discuss the implementation of the minimum wage.

These engagements mark important steps in MUSIGAs strategy to collaborate with key industry stakeholders to secure sustainable and fair compensation for musicians.

The unions efforts come amid ongoing conversations sparked by statements from prominent religious leaders. The Founder of the Lighthouse Chapel, Rev. Dag Heward-Mills, and Rev. Elishah Amoako have both commented on the issue of compensating musicians for their skills and contributions.

It's against this backdrop that establishing a minimum wage based on fair remuneration is the way forward for the Ghanaian music industry.

S.K. Agyemang, General Secretary of MUSIGA, stated: "Our discussions with Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah and the owners of +233 demonstrate our commitment to securing fair pay for musicians.

The statements from respected leaders like Rev. Dag Heward-Mills and Rev. Elishah Amoako reinforce the necessity of this initiative. MUSIGA is dedicated to ensuring that musicians receive the recognition and compensation they deserve through a structured minimum wage system."

MUSIGA continues to build on its collaborations with international experts and local stakeholders to develop a robust framework that guarantees fair wages and fosters a sustainable music industry in Ghana.
Africa must generate its own food safety data  GAEC and GSA urge at regional training in Accra

Daniel Kenu May - 13 - 2025 , 12:45 2 minutes read

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), in partnership with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), is leading a call for African nations to generate credible, scientific data to underpin food safety standards, warning that failure to do so risks economic marginalisation.

This came to the fore during a regional training on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), currently underway in Accra, aimed at strengthening the continents capacity to conduct supervised field trials of crops. The two-week programme, which began last Monday, is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through its Technical Cooperation Programme under the regional project RAF5091: Enhancing Human and Analytical Capacities for Food Safety Standards.

Eighteen African countries are taking part in the training, including Ghana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Togo, and Zimbabwe.

Addressing participants, the IAEAs Technical Officer, Mr James Sasanya, stressed the critical need for African countries to produce their own scientific data to inform global food safety benchmarks such as Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)  key to protecting public health and facilitating trade.

Without scientific data, standards can become technical trade barriers. Countries that do not participate in data generation risk being sidelined in decisions that affect their food systems and economies, he warned.

He urged African countries to invest in good laboratory practices and build strong regional partnerships, noting that the IAEAs four-year food safety project, launched in 2024, focuses on pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, mycotoxins, and toxic metals. The project also provides technical training, specialised lab equipment, and support for human resource development.

The Director-General of GAEC, Professor Samuel Boakye Dampare, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Professor Joseph Richmond Fianko, Director of Schools at GAEC, said Ghana was honoured to host the initiative. He reiterated the importance of harmonised food safety standards across the continent to remain competitive in international markets.

We must work together to ensure that the continent develops systems that meet international requirements, he said.

Professor Alex Dodoo, the Director-General of the GSA, encouraged scientists to play a proactive role in shaping policy rather than remaining confined to academic research.

Scientists must speak up, shape policies, and not operate only within the confines of research journals, he stated, calling for evidence-based advocacy to influence national and regional standards.
Agradaa pledges to return $800 gift amid backlash over Sammy Gyamfi donation

GraphicOnline May - 13 - 2025 , 11:09 3 minutes read

Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, has pledged to return an $800 cash gift she received from the Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, in response to growing public criticism and calls for his sacking.

The donation, which came to light through a widely circulated video showing Gyamfi handing over what appeared to be US dollars to Agradaa, has stirred controversy, especially among members of the Minority in Parliament. They have labelled the act inappropriate and demanded his immediate removal from office.

Addressing the matter in a live Instagram video, Agradaa said her conscience would not allow her to become the reason for Gyamfis downfall. I will return the $800 and film it as evidence if thats what itll take for Sammy Gyamfi not to lose his job and for the NDC members to leave me alone, she said.

She further stated her readiness not only to refund the money but to double the amount to protect Gyamfis reputation. I will return the $800 and even double it. I will do my best to find his office, and I will go there with my camera and show it to Ghanaians that I have returned the money, she added.

The former fetish priestess turned evangelist defended Gyamfis gesture as one rooted in Christian charity, citing scripture to reinforce her position. This is my mantle, my Bible, and my anointing oil. As a great woman of God, I say that I will set my church on fire if I am the reason Sammy will lose his job, she declared. Because the Bible said we should do good to everybody. The Bible did not discriminate when it said that. So, if Sammy Gyamfi gives me money, he deserves to do that.

Meanwhile, Gyamfi has issued an apology for the incident, which he described as a simple act of charity that was never intended for public view. This was simply a kind gesture to a fellow human being, in line with my daily and lifelong custom of lending a helping hand to people in need, he explained in a social media post.

He added that he did not anticipate the act becoming public: I sincerely thought I was doing this act of kindness in private, and never imagined it could find its way into the public space. That is unfortunate and regrettable.

Responding to the backlash within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Gyamfi acknowledged the concerns of party members: I understand the uproar this gesture has generated, particularly from comrades who are sincerely hurt by it. To all such comrades, I AM SINCERELY SORRY for this unfortunate act of indiscretion.

He reiterated his commitment to public service, saying, My view of public office as a privilege to serve society remains unchanged.

The incident has reignited debate over dollarisation and its perceived effect on Ghanas currency. Critics argue that such displays of foreign currency by public officials could undermine public confidence in the Ghanaian cedi and contravene the government's Code of Conduct.
Man, 36, jailed 10 years for impregnating 15-year-old daughter

GNA May - 13 - 2025 , 07:00 3 minutes read

The Circuit Court at Tokor in the Ketu South Municipality, presided over by Joseph Ofosu Behome, has sentenced a 36-year-old father to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for impregnating his daughter.

The convict, Kofitse Zigah, an electrician residing at Adoteykope, a suburb of Aflao, defiled his 15-year-old daughter on two occasions, resulting in the pregnancy.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement and was jailed accordingly. Police Inspector Albert Kombor, prosecuting, narrated to the court that the complainant, Miss Faustina Elikplim Korwu, who is the Assembly member for Avoeme West Electoral Area, on May 1, 2025, led the victim to complain to the Aflao Police Station, which led to the convicts arrest.

He said one evening in February, this year, the victim consumed a non-alcoholic beverage, which the convict gave to her, while observing his birthday, and dozed off moments later.

The Prosecutor said the victim, after waking up, found a dried whitish fluid substance on her lap and in her pants, which she showed to the convict, who declined to make any comment.

Inspector Kombor further said on April 15, 2025, the convict celebrated the victims birthday and once more, gave her a soft drink suspected to be laced with a sedative, after which he again took the victim into the bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her. He said later in the month, the victim experienced tiredness and a headache and informed the convict about the development.

Inspector Kombor said on May 1, 2025, the convict sent the victim on an errand, when the complainant chanced on her and, upon questioning her, the victim narrated her ordeal, for which the case was reported to the police.

The Prosecutor said that after the report was made, the Police issued the complainant with a medical form, which was taken to Ketu South Municipal Hospital, and the returned report revealed that the victim was 15 weeks, 4 days pregnant.

The convict pleaded guilty simpliciter when he was first arraigned before the court on Monday, May 5, 2025, and was given the jail term during his second appearance in court.

Reacting to the sentence, the complainant, Miss Korwu said she was pleased with the swift delivery of justice and said though she expected the convict to have gotten a longer jail term, the presiding judge might have considered his complete admission of guilt and his health status saying, the man didnt look healthy to me.

Per the Criminal Code, 1960 (ACT 29), a person convicted of having sexual intercourse with a child under age 16, with or without his or her consent, shall be imprisoned for a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 25 years.
First Lady celebrates Mothers Day at Korle Bu Maternity Block

Mary Mensah May - 13 - 2025 , 10:05 3 minutes read

The First Lady and Founder of the Lordina Foundation, Lordina Mahama, has commended nurses for the vital role they play in providing care and support to expectant mothers, new mothers and babies.

She made the commendation when she visited the Maternity Block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to celebrate this years Mothers Day event on Sunday.

Mrs Mahama made a donation to more than 250 mothers on all five floors of the block, presenting them with gift hampers containing assorted items such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes and creams, and food items such as rice, oil, mackerel, sardines, milk and canned tomatoes.

The First Lady also covered the medical bills of all the mothers, some of whom had been in the hospital for weeks because they could not pay their bills.

Motherhood journey

Mrs Mahama described her visit as special and nostalgic as it brought back fond memories of her motherhood journey, which she said goes beyond childbirth, and highlighted the love, sleepless nights, and resilience that define the experience.

Lordina Mahama commending some nurses at the maternity ward

At the time of the visit, some expectant mothers were experiencing labour pains, and she supported and encouraged them to remain strong and focused on the joy that follows child delivery.

Motherhood is indeed a beautiful experience, the First Lady said and extended warm wishes to all who play motherly roles in society.

Challenges

Recognising the challenges many mothers face daily, Mrs Mahama expressed solidarity with women striving to build better lives for their families, and stressed the strong link between the well-being of homes and the broader progress and stability of the nation.

She also reiterated the shared vision she holds with her husband, President John Mahama, to build a nation where every family can thrive.

The President is dedicated to positioning the country as a preferred destination for local and international investment and business to ultimately improve the living conditions of citizens and also ensure a brighter future for our children, Mrs Mahama added.

The First Lady also used the Mothers Day celebration to encourage stakeholders to recommit themselves to empowering women to create an inclusive society, while pledging her continuous support to the vulnerable.

The contributions of the Lordina Foundation in health, education and business, among others, over the years have been significant in changing lives.

Appreciation

The Head of Midwifery at Korle Bu, Barbara Adu, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her generous donation, saying that the items would significantly alleviate the burdens faced by the majority of mothers who visited the hospital.

She, however, lamented the poor condition of elevators in the facility, which she said made it difficult for both pregnant and new mothers to use.

The beneficiaries were also full of praise and appreciation for the gesture, which they said would alleviate their suffering.
Next article: Introduce policy on mobile phone use by students on campus, the ban is ineffective - NAGRAT President

Government courts UAE technical expertise to support national airline revival plan

Mohammed Ali May - 13 - 2025 , 12:34 2 minutes read

Ghana is exploring the return of a national airline with help from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following talks between senior government officials in Abu Dhabi.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed the development in a Facebook post on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

The announcement came after a two-day official visit to the UAE at the invitation of that countrys government.

Mr Ablakwa stated that the discussions included plans for technical support from the UAE to assist Ghana in setting up a new national airline. He described this as one of the current governments priorities under President John Dramani Mahama.

We also discussed two priority areas of President Mahamas government, labour export for Ghanaian youth to the UAE and technical support for a new national airline, Mr Ablakwa wrote.

Talks were held with high-level UAE officials, including His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State; and Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs. Ministers responsible for foreign trade and investment also participated in the meetings.

Mr Ablakwa said the two countries had agreed to begin formal political consultations, the first of their kind between Ghana and the UAE.

Ghana has made several unsuccessful attempts in the past to restore a national carrier. Ghana Airways ceased operations in 2004, and Ghana International Airlines followed in 2010.

Although there have since been proposals involving both private and public interests, none have been implemented.

As part of renewed efforts under the current administration, the government on May 8, 2025, inaugurated a 10-member National Airline Task Force to lead the revival process.

The task force has been asked to develop a business model, coordinate with strategic and technical partners, and oversee regulatory certification. It will also handle operational matters, including staffing, aircraft acquisition and route planning.

The task force is chaired by Charles Asare, a former Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited. Other members include aviation experts, former officials of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and presidential advisor Joyce Bawa Mogtari.

In his update, Mr Ablakwa also indicated that his meetings in Abu Dhabi had opened doors for investment from UAE companies in areas including renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, aviation and defence.

These developments, he said, align with President Mahamas message that Ghana is open for business again.
Govt gives committee four weeks to fast-track implementation plan for second gas plant project

Mohammed Ali May - 13 - 2025 , 10:55 2 minutes read

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has given the newly inaugurated Implementation Committee for Ghanas Second Gas Processing Plant (GPP II) four weeks to submit a final implementation plan, stating that the time for bureaucracy is over.

Dr Forson issued the directive on Monday, May 12, 2025, at a ceremony held in Accra to officially inaugurate the committee.

He was joined at the event by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdulai Jinapor.

He noted that the project had been delayed for too long, pointing out that Ghana currently spends over $1 billion each year importing liquid fuels to power its plants, an expense he said continues to weigh heavily on the economy and the pockets of Ghanaians.

With this new gas processing plant, we have the opportunity to save nearly $500 million and create over 1,000 jobs for our people, Dr Forson said.

The committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister for Energy, has been tasked with accelerating work on the project to meet expected timelines. The gas plant is projected to play an important role in meeting Ghanas energy needs.

Dr Forson told committee members that the country was relying on them to deliver. The nation is counting on them to deliver, he said.

He also noted that the Atuabo Gas facility has been a crucial part of Ghanas energy infrastructure, and the addition of a second processing plant would help reduce reliance on fuel imports and support economic recovery.

The committee is expected to present a detailed plan by mid-June. Dr Forson reaffirmed that government would provide the necessary support to ensure the project is completed.

We are committed to getting it done! he said.

Once completed, the Second Gas Processing Plant is expected to expand domestic gas processing capacity, reduce fuel import costs, and create employment within the energy sector.
Next article: See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on May 1314, 2025

Koo Fori granted bail on $50,000 fraud charge

GNA May - 13 - 2025 , 06:40 3 minutes read

The Dansoman Circuit Court has admitted Samuel Seth Karikari aka Koo Ofori, an actor who rose to fame on the Efiewura television series, to bail in the sum of GH320,000 with three sureties to be justified.

This was after he pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences.

The Court also ordered Karikari to deposit his Ghana Card at the Registry of the court, and he report to the Police once a month.

Adjourning the matter to June 25, 2025, the Court ordered prosecution to file their disclosures for Case Management Conference.

Karikari is said to have defrauded one Dr Emy Oduro-Burton of $50,000 equivalent of GH309,000. He is alleged to have collected the amount to purchase a parcel of land at Spintex, Accra.

The Court had earlier on issued a bench warrant to arrest the actor for failing to appear before it.

When he appeared today before the Court with his lawyer, accused lawyer, Derrick Aboagye Asamoah, the bench warrant was rescinded.

Defence counsel told the Court that the accused person did not intend to disrespect or disregard the Court.

According to counsel, his client was outside the jurisdiction of the court.

The trial Judge therefore rescinded the bench warrant and ordered that the accused persons plea to be taken.

Earlier, defence counsel prayed the Court to admit him bail because the accused person was not a flight risk and he would appear to stand trial.

Counsel said his client had a fixed place of abode at Nungua and he would appear to stand trial.

He said the accused person under the law was presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Defence counsel contended that his client had paid some of the money and he was left with $15,000.

According to defence counsel, the Court had no jurisdiction on the matter, the facts of the matter did not support the charge.

The Counsel said the matter between the complainant and the accused was contractual and civil in nature.

The Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder did not oppose bail but told the Court that the bail condition should compel the accused person to attend court.

Prosecution case was that the complainant, Dr Emy Oduro-Burton as a medical practitioner domiciled in the United States of America while the accused resided at Nungua, near Accra.

Sometime in the year 2021, the accused in a conversation told the complainant that he had seen a full plot of land at Spintex and would like to purchase it for her for a project.

The Prosecution said the accused later told the complainant that the plot of land measuring 70 x100 was being sold at $50,000, the equivalent of GHC309,000.

The complainant paid the said amount into the accused persons bank account for the plot purchase.

Prosecution said the accused paid GHc170,000 to one Kwaku Danso, a witness in the case and the rightful owner of the land.

According to prosecution, when the complainant returned to Ghana and after inspecting the land, she realised that it was a half plot of land and was priced at GHC170,000 and not $50,000 as presented by the accused.

The Court head that the complainant reported the matter to the Police after several attempts to get her money back had failed.

The accused person was arrested and in his investigation caution statement he admitted the offence.
Introduce policy on mobile phone use by students on campus, the ban is ineffective - NAGRAT President

Mohammed Ali May - 13 - 2025 , 11:28 2 minutes read

The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonou, is urging the government to introduce a national policy to regulate the use of mobile phones by students on the campus of senior high schools.

In a radio interview with Citi FM on Tuesday [May 13, 2025], Mr Carbonou said it was time to move away from outright bans and instead adopt practical ways of managing phone usage among students.

He explained that mobile phones were already widely present in schools, and pretending otherwise was no longer helpful.

Over 98 per cent of students at [name withheld] have phones, and at [name withheld], students hide phones inside cut-out Bibles, Mr Carbonou claimed, recounting experiences from schools he had visited. Since phones are already in schools, we need a policy to manage their use effectively.

Mr Carbonu revealed that NAGRATs national council was scheduled to meet to deliberate on the issue.

He said the association recognised the need to balance classroom discipline with the realities of digital learning.

According to Mr Carbonou, the use of mobile phones and other devices has made it easier for students to access both academic materials and inappropriate content, adding that the current absence of clear guidelines puts teachers and school heads in a difficult position.

He referred to practices in other countries, noting: Universities in the U.S. use platforms like Blackboard to share notes across institutions. A student studying government in one school in Ghana could benefit from materials shared by a teacher in another, if we set up our systems properly.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) maintains a ban on mobile phones in schools, in line with its official code of conduct. But reports suggest that the rule is widely flouted, with many students using phones secretly.

Mr Carbonou believes that a clear national direction will help schools address the situation in a way that is practical and fair, without compromising academic work or student safety.
Next article: Cedi at 60: Bank of Ghana to celebrate currency milestone with nationwide events

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Police arrest man with 207 rounds of ammunition and military gear

Jemima Okang Addae May - 13 - 2025 , 13:39 1 minute read

A 25-year-old man has been arrested by the police for possessing a cache of ammunition and other suspicious items.

A police statement said Yussif Mohammed was apprehended on May 8, 2025 near the Asankare Police barrier. He was arrested with a backpack containing the ammunition and other materials.

He was apprehended with the assistance of some vigilant members of the public.

Police preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspect was travelling on a bus which was heading towards Accra from Kumasi

The arrest came after the suspects backpack fell from the vehicle, drawing the attention of police officers on duty nearby. The officers approached and questioned him after he claimed ownership of the backpack.

A search of the bag uncovered a range of alarming items, including two empty CZ magazines, one empty G3 magazine, two G3 magazines loaded with eight rounds each, one BB round, thirty-five rounds of CZ ammunition, and forty-two rounds of AK-47 ammunition.

Additional items included 97 rounds of G3 ammunition, 16 rounds of redheaded G3 ammunition, and a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

Other items retrieved were a bulletproof vest, two black jackets, a green jacket, a crash helmet, a black pullover, a green pullover, two smocks embedded with talismans, and two pairs of military trousers and boots.

Attache below is a copy of the police statement
Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi and former GIIF CEO Solomon Asamoah charged over Sky Train deal

Graphic.com.gh May - 13 - 2025 , 16:12 1 minute read

Criminal charges have been filed against Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi a former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) and Solomon Asamoah a former GIIF Chief Executive over the Sky Train deal.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and willfully causing final loss to the state.

The charge sheet filed by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice on Tuesday May 13, 2025 indicates that the two agreed to act together with a common purpose to willfully cause financial loss in the sum of US$2 million to the Republic by causing without authorisation, the said amount belonging to the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) and the Republic to be paid to the Africa Investor Holdings Limited purportedly for the building of an urban sky train system in Accra, which was never built.

In February 2025, the Attorney General announced that Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi was under investigation for financial matters related to his tenure as Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructural Investment Fund (GIIF).

The probe, he said, was specifically on financial approvals made during his time at GIIF.

Count One: Conspiracy to commit a crime  wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic

Count Three: Wilfully causing financial loss to the Republic

Count Four: Conspiracy to commit a crime  intentional dissipation of public funds

Count Six: Intentional dissipation of public funds
Ghanaian nurse selected as finalist for $250,000 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award

Kweku Zurek Health May - 13 - 2025 , 15:03 2 minutes read

Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, an Oncology Nurse Specialist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has been selected as one of the top 10 finalists for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2025, which comes with a $250,000 cash prize. She was chosen from more than 100,000 nominations submitted across 199 countries.

The award recognises exceptional nurses who have demonstrated exemplary commitment and leadership in advancing healthcare. Naomis selection, along with Kenyas Khadija Mohamed Juma, marks a major moment for African healthcare excellence on the global stage. The final winner will be announced at a grand ceremony in Dubai on May 26, 2025.

Naomi, who also serves as Head of Nursing at Ghanas National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, is being recognised for her transformative impact on cancer care across Africa. Over a 23-year career, she has pioneered specialist oncology training in Ghana, mentored over 60 oncology nurse specialists and 10 breast care nurses, and helped develop the countrys first postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum in 2015.

Her work extends well beyond Ghanas borders. Naomi is a member of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and co-investigator on the Global Bridges Oncology Grant.

She also serves as global faculty for the American Society of Clinical Oncologys Multidisciplinary Cancer Management Courses. Her efforts have earned her numerous accolades, including the Ministry of Healths Excellence Award and the Dr Dorcia Kisseh International Award.

Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, praised the impact of the two African finalists: Their stories demonstrate extraordinary courage, innovation, and commitment to community healthwhether it's transforming cancer care or revolutionising blood donation systems. These nurses are redefining leadership in healthcare.

The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award is now in its fourth edition and is one of the worlds most respected honours for the nursing profession. Finalists were selected through an independent process overseen by Ernst & Young LLP and reviewed by an international jury of healthcare experts.

Public voting to support the finalists remains open until May 19, 2025. Ghanaians can show their support for Naomi by casting a vote via https://apo-opa.co/44vBEWR.
Next article: Former Deputy North East Regional Minister enskined as Chief of Gambaga

Previous article: Minority raises concern over power vacuum with President Mahama, Veep, and Speakers absence from jurisdiction

CHRAJ petitioned to probe GoldBod boss Sammy Gyamfi's dollars gift to Agradaa

Graphic.com.gh Politics May - 13 - 2025 , 17:44 1 minute read

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has received a formal petition asking that Sammy Gyamfi, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board should be investigated for corruption.

The petition, filed by a citizen identified as Eric Dumenu Akatsi, invokes Article 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution and accuses Mr. Gyamfi of engaging in conduct deemed inconsistent with the ethics required of a public official.

In a letter addressed to CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal, the petitioner referenced a viral video allegedly showing Mr. Gyamfi splashing U.S. dollar bills on popular evangelist Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, also known as Agradaa.

The petitioner described the act as a clear indication of unexplained wealth, further alleging that Mr. Gyamfi maintains two private accounts at Consolidated Bank Ghanaone in Ghana cedis and the other in U.S. dollarsreportedly containing deposits totalling over GHS 100 million.

It is important to understand that, prior to his current position, these accounts never had the said substantial inflows, the petition stated.

This, I contend, including the splashing of dollars, leads to the irresistible conclusionsupported by the accuracy of mathematicsthat these are instances of suspected corruption.

Citing his civic responsibility under Article 41(f) of the Constitution, Mr. Akatsi urged CHRAJ to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the source of Mr. Gyamfis alleged wealth and financial activities.
Code of Conduct should be 'shredded' if Sammy Gyamfi goes unpunished - NPP

Beatrice Laryea Politics May - 13 - 2025 , 18:01 5 minutes read

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged President John Dramani Mahama to uphold the principles of the recently launched Code of Conduct for government appointees by taking a decisive action against the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi.

This follows Gyamfis act of gifting dollars to Nana Agradaa.

The NPP argues that this public display of wealth not only violates the provisions of the new Code of Conduct but also contravenes the Foreign Exchange Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, insisting that Sammy Gyamfi must face repercussions as outlined in these laws.

The NPP contends that Sammy Gyamfis conduct undermines the Codes fundamental values of integrity, honesty, impartiality, respect, decency, accountability, competence, and professionalism and warns that any attempt to sweep the incident under the capet will render the Code "useless and must be shredded."

Press conference

The National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, addressing a press at the party's headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, May 13, stated that Section 1.2 of the Code of Conduct mandates Sammy Gyamfi to manage his personal affairs in a manner that can withstand the highest level of public scrutiny and uphold the integrity and reputation of the office he occupies.

"Unsurprisingly, Mr Sammy Gyamfi, like an incorrigible child, has blatantly violated both obligations under the Code and the President must, in accordance with Section 6 of his pledge, at page 9 of the Code, deal swiftly and decisively with Mr Sammy Gyamfi. It is important," he said.

"The act by Sammy Gyamfi, which has been condemned, and rightly so, by well-meaning Ghanaians and institutions, including international bodies and other CSOs, like the Transparency International, is a patent indiscretion, which breaches several laws of the land, and more importantly, mocks and makes nonsensical the recently enacted Code of Conduct by President Mahama," he stressed.

Lack of confidence

The NPP further stated that Sammy Gyamfis actions reflect a lack of confidence in the Ghanaian cedi, which remains the sole legal tender in the country.

The law, both in letter and in spirit, prohibits the hoarding of foreign currency, as it recognizes only the Ghana cedi as legal tender. We do not operate a multi-currency system in Ghana  the cedi is the only accepted legal tender, the party emphasized.



"You would recall that the Bank of Ghana has over the years issued several notices cautioning that without an authorization from the Bank of Ghana, no person is permitted to advertise, price, pocket, receive, gift, make payment of goods and services in foreign exchange including United States dollars and this action by the Bank of Ghana is important because it helps in stabilizing our cedi.

Cedi stabilisation concerns

The party also questioned how Sammy Gyamfi, who heads an institution touted by the government as central to stabilising the Ghanaian cedi, could be found keeping large sums of dollars in his car for routine use.

It is particularly ironic that Mr. Gyamfi currently leads the Gold Boardan institution established to play a crucial role in stabilising the cedi by maintaining adequate gold reserves, Nana Boakye stated.

They emphasized that one of the key justifications for the creation of the Gold Board was to centralize all gold-related transactions as part of efforts to strengthen the cedi. This was a widely publicized argument in support of the Boards formation, they noted.

If the CEO of such a vital institutiontasked with safeguarding reserves to help stabilize the currencyis personally transacting in dollars as part of his daily routine, it raises serious questions about the government's commitment and strategy. It suggests that this might be the prevailing mode of operation, he said.

Source of funding

The NPP also raised serious concerns about the source of Sammy Gyamfis wealth, particularly in light of President Mahamas own admission that appointees, including ministers, have not received their salaries since taking office.

It is important to note that Mr. Gyamfi has not been paid any salary since his appointment. Therefore, the amount of money he was seen distributing appears grossly disproportionate to his known income, the party stated.

The NPP further called on the President to immediately suspend Sammy Gyamfi from his role as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, or at the very least, place him on administrative leave pending a full investigation by state criminal investigative bodies.

We also demand a thorough investigation into Mr. Gyamfis tenure as Acting CEO of both the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) and the Ghana Gold Board. Law enforcement must search all his properties, scrutinize any assets he has acquired during his time in office, and, if he fails to justify the source of the large sums of money in his possessionsome of which he was seen spraying publiclyhe must be prosecuted accordingly, the party asserted.

Huge salary

The NPP also raised concerns about the substantial salary and benefits received by Sammy Gyamfi in his role as head of the Ghana Gold Board, despite actions that, in their view, contradict the core objective of his officeprotecting the value of the Ghanaian cedi.

The state pays Mr Gyamfi a gross annual basic salary of GH 1.5 million, subject to an annual review with a 15 per cent upward adjustment. In addition, he receives a clothing allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of his annual salary, paid once every year, among several other benefits, the party revealed.

As a responsible political party, the New Patriotic Party finds it necessary to speak out on critical issues in our democratic journeynot only to expose the truth behind the National Democratic Congress deceptive politics but also to reassure the people of Ghana of our unwavering commitment to the progress, unity, and prosperity of our nation, he added.
Previous article: Code of Conduct should be 'shredded' if Sammy Gyamfi goes unpunished - NPP

Minority raises concern over power vacuum with President Mahama, Veep, and Speakers absence from jurisdiction

Gertrude Ankah Politics May - 13 - 2025 , 17:59 2 minutes read

The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the absence of President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman and the Speaker of Parliament Alban S.K. Bagbin from Ghana.

According to the Minority, the absence of the three from the jurisdiction had created a power vacuum and a potential constitutional breach.

The Minority is arguing that there was a major constitutional breach with the simultaneous absence of the President, Vice President, and Speaker of Parliament from Ghana without appointing an acting President  a move they describe as a threat to democracy.

In a statement signed by John Darko, Legal Counsel to the Minority Caucus, the opposition lawmakers expressed alarm over what they called the "conspicuous and alarming absence" of the President, Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin from the country at the same time, in direct contravention of Article 60 of Ghanas 1992 Constitution.

According to the Minority, the Constitution was unequivocal on presidential succession: when both the President and Vice President are absent from the jurisdiction, the Speaker of Parliament must be sworn in to act as President.

This interpretation, the statement notes, has been affirmed by the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Asare v. Attorney General, which emphasised that Ghana must never be left without a constitutionally recognised head of state.

A constitutional vacuum

According to the Minority the Speaker of Parliament reportedly departed Ghana on May 8, 2025. The Vice President had travelled earlier for medical treatment abroad.

They said President Mahama knowing of these absences, also left the country without ensuring the constitutional procedure of swearing in an Acting President.

"This conduct is not only unconstitutionalit is deliberate and calculated," said John Darko.

Read the full statement below:
Following months of teasers, leaks, and rumors, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge is finally fully official as the Korean company's preemptive strike against the iPhone 17 Air that's supposedly coming this fall.

As you may have expected, it's all about the thinness - 5.8mm, in fact. The phone weighs just 163g, and in order to reach those numbers the obvious sacrifice was in the battery compartment, where a 3,900 mAh cell will have to make do.

It charges at up to 25W via wires with an advertised 55% reached in "around 30 minutes" with a Samsung adapter (that you'll have to buy separately as there isn't one in the box). There's wireless charging support too.

The S25 Edge's 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display has QHD+ resolution, 1-120 Hz variable refresh rate, and Corning's Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on top. It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, paired with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

On the rear there's a 200 MP main camera with f/1.7 aperture and OIS, which Samsung says is capable of "2x optical quality zoom". Next to it is a 12 MP ultrawide with f/2.2 aperture and autofocus for macro shots. Selfies get taken care of by a 12 MP camera with f/2.2 aperture.



Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

The S25 Edge runs Android 15 with One UI 7 on top, is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, has a titanium frame, and will be offered in "a captivating range of colors", Samsung's press release says, including Titanium Silver, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Icyblue. Its full measurements are 158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8 mm.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is now on pre-order, starting at $1,099 for its base 256GB version, but during the pre-order period you get a free upgrade to the higher 512GB tier. You also get a bonus if you trade in your old phone. The actual units will be delivered by May 30.

Source
A new report by The Wall Street Journal suggests that Apple is considering a price hike for the iPhone 17 series. The decision is yet to be finalized and is reportedly unrelated to the US tariffs on Chinese imports.

Despite the newly agreed 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs between Washington and Beijing, Chinese goods entering the US are still subject to a combined 30% levy. Cupertino will not attribute the upcoming iPhone 17 series price hike to the tariff war between the US and China.



iPhone 17 series dummy units (credit: AppleTrack)

According to the new report, which is backed by people familiar with the matter, Apple will aim to justify the iPhone 17 price hike with the design changes, including the ultra-thin and light iPhone 17 Air, and new features. The 17 Pro models are expected to get an updated camera island, aluminum frame and reverse wireless charging.

Apple has been ramping up its iPhone inventory in the US with reports of all new iPhones sold in the US to be sourced from India. Foxconn will reportedly double its iPhone production in India this year, up to 30 million units.

Source (paywall)
Bank of Guam, along with its board of directors, on Tuesday announced five promotions and additions.

Tomokane

Merced Marcie Tomokane has been appointed to the position of vice president/ CNMI regional development officer.

In this new role, Tomokane leads Bank of Guams mission to strengthen community relationships, address critical needs, and champion financial empowerment across the region.

She also oversees the implementation of the banks corporate social responsibility efforts in the CNMI, aligning sustainability and social impact strategies while working closely with local leaders, government, and community partners to drive long-term economic development and education opportunities.

Tomokane previously served as vice president, CNMI regional manager, a role she held since 2003. She brings more than 31 years of experience in banking operations and management with Bank of Guam, having also served as assistant vice president/branch operations manager and vice president/branch manager.

She began her banking career with Bank of America in 1973 and held a position in the CNMI government. She is a 2006 graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking.Dave Guerrero has rejoined Bank of Guam as vice president/CNMI regional manager.

Guerrero brings over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services across Guam, CNMI and California. He most recently served as economic development manager for the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority, where he led efforts to develop and implement strategies positioning the CNMI as an investment destination.

He previously served as assistant vice president, anti money laundering and fraud investigation officer for Bank of Guam and assistant vice president, investment officer for BG Investment Services Inc., a subsidiary of Bank of Guam.

Guerrero holds an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Northern Marianas College, and both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Economics from California State University, East Bay.

Ditchen

Ryan Ditchen has been appointed to the position of vice president, Pohnpei Branch manager.

A proud son of Pohnpei, Ditchen brings deep family roots and strong community ties that have shaped his values and leadership style. He has over 10 years of banking experience with Bank of Guam, starting in 2014 as a customer service associate teller.

He quickly rose in the bank, serving as a new accounts representative and joining the pilot team for the Banks Familia Ambassador Program, a model that blends classroom learning with hands-on experience, combining the traditional role of a teller with the upskilled expertise of a universal banker.

Ditchen played an instrumental role in converting most of the Guam and Palau branches into the program. He also served as customer experience officer and facilities and security officer before being promoted to vice president, Majuro branch manager in 2024.

While in the Marshall Islands, Ditchen led the Majuro Branchs Familia Ambassador conversion, completed branch renovations, and guided Bank of Guam in becoming the financial partner with The Smart Island Project initiative under the United Nations. He also facilitated partnerships to sponsor the 10th Micronesian Games, along with the Majol Canoe Paddling Club.

Paul

Rington Paul joins Bank of Guam as vice president, Majuro branch manager.

Paul previously served as deputy managing director for the Marshall Islands Development Bank and assistant manager for investment promotion and business development at the Office of Commerce, Investment, and Tourism in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

A proud son of Jaluit, Paul is a graduate of Xavier High School and holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from St. Martins University and a Masters in Business Administration from University of South Pacific.

He is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Finona-Sablan

Jennifer Marie Finona-Sablan has been appointed to the position of assistant vice president, Tinian branch manager.

Finona-Sablan brings over 22 years of experience with Bank of Guam, having started as a customer service associate in 2003. She previously served as assistant cashier, Harmon branch operations manager, and was a member of the Familia Ambassador Program Pilot Team. She is a 1995 graduate of Simon Sanchez High School.

Bank of Guam president and CEO Joaquin P. L.G. Cook, in a statement, said Bank of Guam is proud to celebrate some incredible leaders who not only bring decades of experience in the banking and financial industry, but who deeply understand the needs of their communities  places where they were born, raised, and have a deep connection to serving.

As The Peoples Bank, it is the People behind us that sets us apart. We dont just operate in the region, we live here, Cook said. We believe in hiring locally, promoting from within, and continuing to invest in leaders who embody our commitment to serve, uplift, and grow with our people. Congratulations to Marcie, Dave, Jennifer, Ryan, and Rington!
The Office of the Attorney General followed the law when it procured a $1.1 million contract with Tropical Palm Hotel, Deputy Attorney General Fred Nishihira testified in court Tuesday.

Nishihira was the second witness called by Adelup legal counsel Leslie Travis in the governors lawsuit over the Dignity Project.

Attorney General Douglas Moylan, who took the stand Monday, pointed to Nishihira as the deputy AG who oversaw procurement that resulted in the Tropical Palm Hotel contract.

The hotel was meant to start feeding and housing homeless and drug-addicted residents on April 28, as part of the Dignity Project.

But funds for the project were frozen, after Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on April 25 sued the AGs office and Moylan, alleging they violated procurement law and never got her signature on the hotel contract.

Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin, in an April 25 statement, referred to blatant acts of corruption.

Hotel contract

On Tuesday, Adelup attorney Travis pressed Nishihira about how the AGs office came to provide a $1.1 million contract to Tropical Palm Hotel through a sole source, or non-competitive procurement.

The AGs office tried to procure services for the Dignity Project twice, but canceled both bids before the AG signed the Tropical Palm Hotel contract on April 15.

Travis on Monday presented documents showing that prior to the April 15 contract, requests for quotes were sent to three hotels, one of which was Tropical Palm.

How did you select who to even solicit? Travis asked Nishihira.

Thats a good question, he replied. I dont know the answer to that.

The deputy AG told Travis that while he gave legal advice for the procurement, the Dignity Project team, led by AGs office staffer Tahni Duenas, had handled much of the work.

Would you agree if I said there are over 30 hotels on Guam? Travis asked.

I wouldnt disagree, Nishihira replied.

Travis questioned Nishihira about legal requirements for sole source procurement, and whether the AGs office had followed those requirements.

At one point, she asked whether the office made any written determination that the costs for Tropical Palm Hotel were reasonable.

Nishihira told her that the AGs signature was that determination.

When Moylan signed the contract, obviously he determined the contract fit into the budget, he told Travis.

She replied that it would have been great if the office put that determination in writing, instead of an off the cuff determination that they complied with the law.

Zero response

During a cross-examination, Assistant Attorney General Ramiro Orozco asked Nishihira how it was determined that a hotel would be secured through sole source procurement.

Nishira said he was the one to recommend sole source procurement, after the first Dignity Project procurement totally failed and the second got zero response.

The deputy AG said he decided to go out on a sole source procurement after no hotel expressed interest in the Dignity Project. He said it was likely no one wanted homeless or drug-addicted residents at their facility.

If it was toilet valves, and nobody responded, I would have said, lets go sole source, he told Orozco. Because were not going to not fix toilet valves.

Upon questioning from Orozco, Nishihira said the office had done everything in accordance with the law when it went out on the first two procurements.

Only one required

After Orozcos cross-examination, Travis pressed Nishihira further.

She asked the deputy AG how they knew to send a request for a quote directly to Tropical Palm Hotel, if nobody put in a bid previously.

Nishihira told her that they didnt send it directly to Tropical Palm Hotel, but to three hotels.

Emails between Nishihira and Dignity Project lead Duenas, presented by Travis, reflect the three requests for quote.

We were only required to do one, Nishihira noted.

Travis asked how Nishihira could have known that just one vendor would respond, and how he could have known that they would not get more response from contacting 10 hotels, instead.

Could we have done 10? Absolutely, Nishihira replied. Could we have done one? Yes.

He said the three requests for quotes were sent out in the interest of fiscal responsibility.

Nishira told Travis he was not involved in the decision to not send the governor the hotel contract.

Asked by Travis about a legal opinion from Chief Deputy Attorney General Joe Guthrie that found the AGs office did not need the signature, Nishihira said, I looked at it.

Nishira said if the court found the governor had to sign off on every single procurement by the government, for things as simple as pencils and pens, it could potentially leave other contracts void and unenforceable.

Attorneys at odds

The AGs office was on track to call general accounting supervisor Tom Paulino and Dignity Project lead Duenas to the stand for testimony on Tuesday afternoon.

But when parties returned, around 1 p.m., Moylan asked the court to make a judgement immediately on the case.

The AG has asserted that the court must weigh the harm to homeless residents who cant take advantage of the Dignity Project against the alleged harm the governor claims in her lawsuit.

Travis told the court that it did not have to weigh any harm against the defendants if they were violating the law.

Superior Court Judge Elyze Iriarte told the AG there were still questions to be resolved, and she would not issue a judgment or decide on a dismissal yet.

Moylan and Travis got into further disagreement about the standard of evidence that applied to the injunction hearing, and whether the court should weigh signed declarations from the governor in the case, in lieu of her appearing to testify.

The AG said his office sought to bring in Leon Guerrero for testimony, but she declined.

Parties are due back before Iriarte Wednesday to argue those matters, before proceeding with witness testimony.

A temporary restraining order freezing the Dignity Projects funds expires May 19.

The governor, through her attorneys, is arguing for a longer term injunction.
Superior Court Judge Elyze Iriarte ruled that the Guam Department of Education violated two students rights over a lack of special education teachers and unsafe conditions, while also ordering a trial to determine whether mold at both Oceanview Middle School and Agueda Johnston Middle School created unsafe learning environments.

In a 19-page decision issued May 6, the judge ruled that GDOE violated a students right to adequate education by failing to provide a certified special education teacher on at least 29 occasions.

The judge also granted another student declaratory relief for unsafe conditions at Oceanview.

Iriarte granted partial summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffstwo public school students with disabilities who filed claims under Guams Adequate Education Act and the Government Claims Act.

The ruling confirmed the court has jurisdiction to hear the case and that declaratory relief is available even when injunctive relief may no longer apply.

The court declares that on those 29 or more occasions that GDOE failed to provide the student with a certified teacher, that is, a teacher meeting the stringent standards for teaching student A., a special education student, it violated the Adequate Education Act, Iriarte stated in her ruling.

On June 26, 2023, Guam Legal Services Corp. submitted claims on behalf of two students, citing lack of certified teachers, unsanitary campus conditions, and the presence of mold.

The lawsuit claims GDOE failed to provide safe, sanitary, and healthful learning environments at Agueda Johnston and Oceanview.

It claims that GDOE failed to provide student A with a certified special education teacher, as well as another student with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, eczema, asthma, and multiple allergies, enrolled at Oceanview.

The court found that GDOE violated the Adequate Education Act when Oceanview operated for nearly a year with a failing public health inspection grade.

The school received a score of 56 out of 100 in September 2022, and a failing grade of 61 in April 2023.

Conditions cited in the inspections included mosquito breeding grounds, cockroach droppings, indoor temperatures exceeding 83 degrees, clogged toilets, and restrooms without toilet paper or soap.

These were just some of the circumstances that [student B] faced as he attended OMS in the 2022-2023 school year, and which possibly amplified his eczema, asthma and allergies, not to mention detrimentally affected his ability to learn while dealing with cerebral palsy, Iriarte wrote in her ruling.

The court granted student B declaratory relief, affirming that from the time the claim was filed on June 26, 2023, until the school received a passing inspection on June 9, 2024, GDOE violated the law.

However, the judge denied injunctive relief because the school is now in compliance.

For student A, the court denied injunctive and declaratory relief regarding sanitation because of insufficient evidence that the school posed health hazards during the time it lacked a sanitary permit.

The permit expired June 30, 2023, and a passing grade was not issued until May 6, 2024. The only evidence submitted during the gap was a statement from student As parent, who reported seeing a rusty desk and a bucket with muck next to it.

However, the court ruled in favor of student A on her claim about uncertified teachers.

According to Agueda Johnstons principal, her special education teacher was absent 41 times during the 2023-2024 school year and 12 of those days were covered by certified teachers.

In the remaining 29 days, GDOE failed to provide a certified instructor.

Plainly stated, the Adequate Education Act does not make exceptions for when children can go without qualified teachers, the court stated. This Court interprets the Adequate Education Act as written, and the Act requires GDOE to ensure [student A] has a teacher qualified to teach her.

Student As certified teacher was replaced as of Dec. 30, 2024, so injunctive relief was denied, but declaratory relief was granted for past violations.

Molds at both campuses

The presence and effect of mold at both campuses remains unresolved.

Department of Public Health and Social Services campus inspections do not evaluate mold, although mold was mentioned in GDOEs own reports.

On July 25, 2023, GDOE issued a public update identifying mold among its top 10 post-typhoon recovery concerns. The update said mold growing and persisting due to damp conditions and lack of air circulation was a key area to address.

Both schools were included in an undated Mold Abatement and Remediation Plan, and Superintendent Erik Swanson confirmed the issue in a June 14, 2024 report to the board.

There are EPA regulations around mold and spores in schools they must abide by, and the DPHSS inspections do not address mold, Swanson stated.

GDOE employee Jimmy Pangelinan disputed the presence of mold.

Mold remediation and abatement are not always for the existence of mold, he stated. As far as Im concerned, there are no problems in GDOE schools currently.

The conflicting accounts prompted the court to deny summary judgment on mold-related claims, ordering a trial to determine whether mold exists at the campuses and whether it violates the Adequate Education Act.

Trial scheduling will proceed on those issues.
After a weeks deliberation, a jury on Tuesday voted unanimously to convict Michael L. Marasigan, Christine C. Chan and Jose Arthur Art D. Chan Jr. on all charges against them related to illegal gambling and money laundering

The trio was accused of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling operation, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in regards to a bingo operation run by Hafa Adai Bingo, with the blessing of non-profit group and beneficiary Guam Shrine Club.

Its not right. All my life I have worked for the Shriners, Jose Arthur Chan said as he exited the federal courthouse Tuesday afternoon.

Christine Chan and Marasigan both declined comment following the verdicts.

Collectively, the trio, along with four other co-defendants, was accused of taking millions of dollars over seven years, from 2015-2021.

Marasigan was accused of taking more than $15 million, according to Leon Guerreros amended plea agreement.

Shrine Club officials wrote hundreds of checks to the defendants and entities they controlled in that time, money from illegal gambling and money laundering proceeds, said the government.

The court clerk on Tuesday read off verdicts for each count: Each defendant was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling operation and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Jose Chan was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Christine Chan was found guilty of 26 counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Marasigan was found guilty on 63 counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Appeal

Attorney Michael Phillips, for Marasigan, told the chief judge that he would be filing a motion for acquittal despite the verdicts.

Afterward, Phillips released a statement: It was very clear by the end of the case the prosecution gave up on a Government of Guam problem, retreated to the few days of seven years (the Guam Shrine Club) didnt have a permit, then in the end accused them of making too much money. You wont find any of this in the indictment.

Its also not a crime to make money, no crime as such listed, Phillips said. An absolute appeal should the district court judge not reverse it on her own.

Phillips and attorney David Lujan are co-counsel for Marasigan.

Sentencing on Aug. 14

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood scheduled a sentencing hearing for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 14.

The defendants, who have all complied with their release conditions since their indictments, will continue their release until at least that date.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marivic David requested the judge to schedule an evidentiary hearing for forfeiture judgement against each defendant, in order for the government to collect money that it deemed illegally obtained.

David also declined to comment on the case.

4 co-defendants

The four other original co-defendants: Alfredo Leon Guerrero, Juanita Capulong, Minda San Nicolas and Won Sun Min all signed plea agreements with the government and testified against the trio during trial.

According to Leon Guerreros amended plea agreement, Leon Guerrero  the former president of the Guam Shrine Club  wrote more than $18 million in checks to the defendants or entities that they controlled in that time.

Between 2017 and 2021 when the Guam Shrine Club was authorized to operate charity bingo, the government said money in excess of $34 million passed through the Shrine Club bank accounts.

That money was part of an illegal gambling operation and part of a conspiracy to commit money laundering, said the government.
There are just eight burial plots left at the islands only government-owned cemetery, according to testimony Tuesday for a bill that would give the Department of Parks and Recreation about 11 acres of land in Piti to expand the cemetery.

At just $500 a plot, the Vicente A. Limtiaco Cemetery, commonly called Tiguac Cemetery, is Guams most affordable burial option.

But officials have been warning the cemetery is running out of space for years, Pacific Daily News files show.

We are down to less than maybe a month of burials left at Tiguac, Parks and Recreation Director Angel Sablan told senators during a hearing on Bill 49-38.

My only other choice is, if we dont get additional property, is we close it to further burials, he said.

Acting Parks Administrator John Glenn Taitague told senators there were just eight plots left at Tiguac as of Tuesday.

The cemetery has existed since 1966, and now has over 5,000 burials on site, he said.

Taitague said the frequency of burials goes up and down, but could sometimes get up to 20 a week.

Sen. Tina Muna Barnes, sponsor of Bill 49-38, said the property considered by the bill is next door to the Tiguac cemetery. Muna Barnes noted the indigent community often takes advantage of Tiguac.

She said the land, Lot No. 258, is already surveyed and belongs to the government of Guam but is not assigned to any agency, yet.

Rearranging burial spaces

Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Warren Pelletier said the cemetery has been shifting burial plots around for years, rearranging the infant burial area and other spaces to try and make room for deceased adults.

But right now, we are at a very critical point, Pelletier said.

Pelletier said the extra 11 acres of land would give Tiguac an estimated five more years of burial capacity, or 20 to 25 years if the site can be expanded with crypts.

DPRs Taitague, who oversees burials at Tiguac, said the parks department wants to expand the site with multi-layer crypts, but needs funding to do so.

Pelletier asked that lawmakers attach minimal funding to the land transfer so that pathways and gravel can be laid into the new property for access.

Deplorable

But there was some opposition to the plan to transfer more property to the cemetery.

Piti Mayor Jesse Alig, whose village Tiguac sits in, said he respectfully opposes Bill 49-38.

I understand the need for burial plots truly, but I also understand the need for dignified burial plots for our people, Alig said.

Alig said more care should be given to the cemetery before it is expanded, noting he and the majority of Piti residents are not happy with the state of it.

The current state of that cemetery is deplorable. The route to Layon Landfill looks way better than going into Tiguac Cemetery, Alig said.

The mayor, who is also president of the Mayors Council of Guam, said he could not support giving Parks and Recreation more property if they could not currently manage Tiguac.

I dont disagree with his sentiments, DPRs Sablan said. Its true: If you dont fund it, if you dont maintain it, youre going to get what you dont fund for.

There were also people who came into the cemetery at night and dumped bags of trash off the back end of their trucks, who park patrol officers were trying to catch.

Sablan said he was hoping to change Aligs mind with some concrete plans that the parks department has to fix up Tiguac.

He said the current leadership has been trying to turn around many years of neglect.

According to Pelletier, there is a master plan for the cemetery, which would provide burial space for up to 50 years.
After launching its inaugural Tokyo-Mongolia flight on May 1, United Airlines has now also opened bookings for its new year-round direct Tokyo-Palau route with the flight set to launch on Oct. 29, subject to government approval.

The nonstop flights between Tokyo/Narita and Koror, Palau are now on sale at united.com and through travel agents.

Sam Shinohara, United Airlines managing director of airport operations for Asia/Pacific, noted that the Guam operation will play a big role in servicing Uniteds new flights to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Koror, Palau.

With our new route launches, we will offer our customers in the region more route options and convenient connections, Shinohara said in a statement. We continue to identify how we can better serve our customers in the Pacific.

He said Uniteds pilot and flight crew teams and assets based in Guam play an important role in supporting the seamless connectivity through Tokyo/Narita, which will provide even more opportunities for us to offer our customers an unprecedented array of vibrant, unique and extraordinary destinations.

Mongolia flights take off

When United launched its inaugural flight from Tokyo/Narita to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on May 1, it became the first and only U.S. airline to serve Mongolia.

Uniteds new seasonal service connects travelers between Ulaanbaatar and the continental U.S. through Tokyo/Narita from five United hubs in the continental U.S.: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Newark/New York, and Denver.

Additionally, passengers can connect in Tokyo from Uniteds services from Guam, Saipan, and Cebu or from Uniteds joint venture partner ANAs network.

United said it will operate the new flight from May until October, three times per week, departing Tokyo/Narita at 4:30 p.m. and arriving in Ulaanbaatar at 8:55 p.m.

Return flights from Ulaanbaatar will depart at 9:55 a.m. and arrive in Tokyo/Narita at 3:45 p.m. All times local.

United said it will operate the flights with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, offering 166 seats  16 of which are business class.

Getting ready for Tokyo/Narita-Palau

United said it is the only U.S. airline to serve Palau, complementing its existing services to Guam and Manila from Koror.

This new flight will also enable easy one-stop connections for travelers coming from the mainland U.S. to experience the pristine marine ecosystems.

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., in a statement via the airline, said the United Airlines service to Tokyo restores our link to Japan, the mainland U.S. and the rest of Asia through United and its partners global reach.

It is great news for Palau citizens, tourism, and the broader economy. All visitors can expect a warm Palauan welcome and a wonderful experience in our pristine paradise, Whipps said.

With nearly 350 islands in Palau, visitors can plan the ultimate underwater adventure with snorkeling or scuba diving to see the diverse coral and fish in the Pacific.

This new route will provide our customers with greater travel choice, as well as the opportunity to visit the many attractions in each destination, said Ken Kiriyama, United Airlines director of sales for Japan, Micronesia, Philippines and Taiwan. Together with other new Asia routes we have announced, we are bringing a new exciting range of destinations to our customers in the region and around the globe.

The Koror flight to Tokyo Narita is scheduled to depart at 11:25 a.m. and arrive in Tokyo at 4 p.m. local time.

Return flights from Tokyo Narita are planned to depart at 5:55 p.m. and arrive in Koror at 10:50 p.m.

United said it plans to operate the flights with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, offering 166 seats, 16 of which are in business class.
President Trump on May 1 signed an executive order to end public funding of National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service. NPR and PBS receive taxpayer funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CPB.

With cuts in CPB funding by the Trump administration, a significant impact on PBS Guam will be felt as it relies on CPB for a portion of its staff salaries.

Local general fund may be able to provide some relief of this shortfall, but it would depend on the overall budget situation of our local government and its priorities.

If local funds are limited or there are competing needs, it may not be feasible to fully cover the loss of funds to PBS Guam.

If local funds cannot fully compensate for the cuts, layoffs of employees funded by CPB could become necessary. The decision would ultimately depend on the financial situation of PBS Guam and the availability of local funds.




Haiti - Diplomacy : A total of 20 Kenyans from the mission were injured





Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's First Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs, and Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez met to discuss issues of mutual interest such as trade, cultural exchange, and cooperation within the framework of the implementation of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (MMSS).



The diplomats discussed the transformation of the MMSS into a hybrid mission, which is currently under consideration by the Security Council. In this hybrid mission, logistical and operational operations would be supported by a United Nations support office, funded by permanent contributions to peacekeeping operations. In this regard, they called on the international community, and particularly the countries of the region, to demonstrate consistency in implementing this proposal. In addition, the two Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the medical evacuation and repatriation of the wounded and deceased from Kenya who are part of the MMSS.



"This agreement represents a sincere commitment to those who risk their lives to ensure a safer future for Haiti and our region. It is a deep satisfaction to have provided the dignified, respectful, and compassionate care they deserve to twenty members of the MMSS for their exemplary courage and sacrifice in favor of a sister nation and regional security," said Foreign Minister Alvarez.



For his part, Minister Musalia Mudavadi expressed his gratitude to the Dominican Republic for its support. "We wish to state that your role will continue to be invaluable in bringing other nations together... using your diplomatic skills, which will be essential within the framework of the United Nations so that we can strengthen international collaboration in peace efforts in Haiti." The Kenyan diplomat also thanked the Dominican Republic Chancellery for the tribute paid during this visit to the Kenyan soldiers who died in Haiti while carrying out their duties.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Migration : Dominican authorities expelled 982 unaccompanied Haitian minors in 3 months





During the first three months of 2025, Dominican authorities deported 2,530 minors in an irregular migration situation to Haiti, 982 of whom were unaccompanied by their parents or guardians at the time of their identification, according to data from the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI).



CONANI President Ligia Perez explained that the return process is part of the Program for the Identification, Care, and Protection of Children and Adolescents on

Displacement. During the first two years of the protocol's implementation, 2,736 unaccompanied minors were returned to Haiti.



Analysis of the figures presented shows a significant increase in the number of minors returned to Haiti in recent months. The President of CONANI attributes this increase to the tightening of immigration measures implemented by the executive branch in early April https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44640-haiti-flash-presidents-abinader-hardens-his-position-against-illegal-haitians.html



Ligia Perez reaffirmed her institution's commitment to ensuring that this process takes place with the least possible impact, while guaranteeing the fundamental rights of these minors, particularly unaccompanied minors.



Asked about the protocol for the identification and return of these minors, she explained that when a child is taken to an Interception Center after being identified, whether by the National Police, immigration services, or another civil society institution, because they were alone on the street, the person receiving them must protect them.



The Attorney General's Office and CONANI are then informed of the minor's care, and the care protocol is immediately activated, involving the system's institutions, including the National Health System, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor, and other relevant entities.



She specified that this process is applied to all minors in these circumstances, regardless of their immigration status. For children of Haitian nationality, the aforementioned mobility protocol applies. "We are in direct communication with the Institute of Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) in Haiti, which is in some ways CONANI's counterpart.



Once these minors are identified, if we find that they have no relatives here, we entrust them to IBESR, which takes them into care [...]," she explained.



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Education : Promotion and Installation of three Inspectors General of National Education





On Friday, May 9, 2025, at the General Inspectorate of the National Education and Vocational Training Administration (IGAENF) in Musseau, Minister Augustin Antoine, assisted on this occasion by its Director General, Professor Yves Roblinq, installed three senior Executives of the Ministry, who were promoted to Inspectors General of National Education: Renan Michel, Lazare Joseph Accou, and Andre Louis Samuel Estriplet.



It should be noted that the work of the General Inspectorate covers five specific areas, namely :

1. Teaching and assessment;

2. Support for educational institutions;

3. Managerial administration of the education system;

4. Administration and financial management;

5. Management of human and material resources.



"It is an honor for me to welcome the new Inspectors General," declared Inspector General Nadine Henry, summarizing for the newcomers the task they will face. It is a laborious undertaking. "So arm yourselves with courage and rigor to continue with us to reflect on appropriate strategies to design, develop, and advise on improving the Haitian education system," she stated.



Learn more about these three new Inspectors General :



Renan MICHEL :

He has a 40-year career in the education system, including 34 in the public sector. A graduate of the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENSA), a mathematics and physics teacher, he was successively Director of the Lycee Antenor Firmin, the Lycee Alexandre Petion, and then Departmental Director of Education for the North. Subsequently, he was appointed Assistant Director, then Director of the National Bureau of State Examinations (BUNEXE), while simultaneously coordinating the Support Unit.



Lazare Joseph ACCOU :

A civil engineer, he has 18 years of service at the Ministry of National Education. For 13 years, he was Director of School Engineering. His career in education spans 43 years. A doctoral student in Educational Sciences at the University of Lille Nord de France, he is preparing to defend his thesis : "Educational Spaces, Academic and Career Guidance: Levers for Student Educational Success."



Andre Louis Samuel ESTRIPLET:

A 36-year career in the education system. This graduate of the Ecole Normale Superieure of the State University of Haiti, Department of Chemistry and Natural Sciences, taught for years in several educational institutions in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. He was Director of the Center for the Training of Education Managers (CFCE), Director of the Technical Unit of the General Directorate of the MENFP (National Ministry of Education and Training), and then Coordinator of the said Unit. He has attended several continuing education courses on education administration and financing, and school management. He holds a Master's degree in Education and Training Sciences from the University of Paris 8, France. He is currently a doctoral student at the same university.



With these new appointments, the composition of the General Inspectorate of the Administration of National Education and Vocational Training (IGAENF) is complete.



Distribution of the General Inspectors into permanent and specialized groups :



 Renan MICHEL, in charge of the Teaching and Assessment group;

 Lazare Joseph ACCOU, Head of the School Support Group;

 Marie Claire Nadine HENRY, Head of the Administration and Financial Management Group;

 Andre Louis Samuel ESTRIPLET, Head of the Human and Material Resources Management Group;

 Louis Fritz DORMINVIL, Head of the Management Administration and Education System Group.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





"Barbecue" threatens Dominicans

In a recent video shared on social media, Jimmy Cherizier, aka "Barbecue," leader of the "Viv Ansanm" gang coalition, made direct threats against Dominican citizens, exacerbating tensions between the two countries. He claims that Dominicans "ignore the truth" and uses extreme and violent language, calling for attacks and the killing of citizens of the Dominican Republic. These statements have raised serious concerns, particularly regarding the safety of Dominicans living in Haiti and the potential impact on bilateral relations and border stability.



Referendum and elections, unrealistic according to Senator (D) Jeanne Shaheen

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed her concerns to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a letter. She expressed concern that current plans for this year's referendum and elections are unrealistic given the current security situation. She emphasized that these plans are highly vulnerable to criminal infiltration, which could undermine the democratic legitimacy of Haiti's future Constitution and Government.



Recruitment of 450 nurses

On the occasion of International Nurses Day, May 12, 2025, the Minister of Health, Bertrand Sinal, announced the recruitment of 450 nurses, the integration of the 70 graduates of the last official competitive examination, and the integration of midwives into the Nursing Directorate.



Dr. Phaimir Jean Charles assassinated

Dr. Phaimir Jean Charles, an epidemiologist, was murdered on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at her residence in Delmas 75. Unidentified individuals entered her home and tied up the occupants before stabbing the doctor several times.



One of the alleged Automeca arsonists arrested

The Haitian National Police (PNH), through the Southeast Departmental Directorate, arrested Saint Louis Anthony Santo, an active member of the Simon-Pele gang led by Jouma, in the town of "Nan Gota," in the commune of Anse-a-Pitres (Southeast Department). He is suspected of involvement in the arson attack that destroyed the "Automeca" car dealership on the night of May 7-8, 2025. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44867-haiti-flash-major-automeca-dealership-attacked-looted-and-reduced-to-ashes-video.html



Fear of being deported, she dies in childbirth

Lourdia Jean Pierre, a 32-year-old Haitian woman, gave birth at home on Friday, May 9, 2025. Fearing deportation by Dominican immigration services, she unfortunately succumbed to complications related to childbirth. Fortunately, the baby is doing well.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















In future, Microsoft Teams will offer the option of preventing unauthorized screen recordings of Teams conferences. The aim is to better protect the content of the conference, such as shared screen content or the webcam views of individual participants.

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As can be read in the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the software company is working on a corresponding function called "Prevent Screen Capture". When this is activated, the Windows window with the Teams conference turns black as soon as a user attempts to take a screen capture.

Microsoft does not provide any further details, but logically this should only happen for users who are trying to take a screen recording. However, it is still unclear whether the new function will be switched on by default or whether the organizers of a conference will have to switch it on first. Theoretically, it would also be conceivable to allow all participants to decide individually  then screen recording would no longer be possible as soon as just one user prohibits screen recording.

However, it could be stupid for users whose device does not support the new function: In future, they will only be able to participate with audio view if their Teams client does not support the new function. Here too, Microsoft has failed to provide more precise details, such as which constellations could fall into this category. Anyone who only has an outdated version of Teams, on the other hand, will quickly be at a loss anyway: Microsoft wants to make Teams clients that are older than 90 days unusable.

The new function is planned for Android, Windows, Mac, iOS and the Teams web app and is due to arrive in July 2025. Of course, it will not be possible to completely prevent unwanted recordings of Teams conferences. With the new function, it would still be possible to film or photograph the screen with an external camera, for example on your own smartphone.

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Microsoft's approach is somewhat reminiscent of Netflix. The streaming provider also rigorously attempts to prevent screen recordings while users are streaming its content. In the past, for example, users of the OBS video software reported in the OBS support forum that browser windows with Netflix could only be recorded in black and without sound.

Screenshot ban for Recall too?

It will also be interesting to see how the screenshot ban in Teams fits in with the controversial Microsoft Recall. This more or less consists of continuously taking screenshots of the user's screen  in order to evaluate them later with Microsoft's AI Copilot and offer the user helpful recapitulations of their activities, or so Microsoft claims. Although Recall is not yet available in the EU anyway , Microsoft will have to consider how Recall fits in with the ban on screen recording in Teams. The roadmap is also silent on this.

(nen)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has appealed to the EU legislative bodies to abolish the European Supply Chain Directive, which was only passed last year, as quickly as possible. "We will repeal the national law in Germany," emphasized the conservative with regard to the relevant provisions here, which the EU's so-called Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) goes beyond in some cases. "I also expect the European Union to follow this step," explained Merz on Friday during his inaugural visit to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU).

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The EU really must repeal this directive, which is also controversial in the Council of Ministers and in the economy, Merz emphasized to the press. He welcomed the fact that the Commission wanted to systematically reduce bureaucracy. The German government would support this. "We will also make proposals as to how we can go further," announced the head of government. In addition to postponing legislation, the complete abolition of some European rules would be the next logical step.

However, the black-red coalition agreement makes no mention of an end to the EU Supply Chain Act. It states: "We support the European omnibus procedure on supply chain due diligence (CSDDD), sustainability reporting (CSRD), taxonomy and carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and are committed to a low-bureaucracy solution, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises." The three parties involved want to create legal and planning certainty and support the companies concerned "with a good implementation of the law".

Merz command tone irritates the Greens

The aforementioned Commission draft for a package to reduce bureaucracy provides for the CSDDD to take effect later, affecting only a fifth of the companies currently covered and revealing less information. The directive is generally intended to oblige large corporations in particular to mitigate their negative impact on human rights and the environment, such as child labor, slavery, labor exploitation, pollution, deforestation, excessive water consumption or damage to ecosystems. This applies to their own business activities  but also to those of subsidiaries and business partners. They must set up appropriate review processes and document them. Previously, abuses in the supply chains of Apple, Samsung & Co. were uncovered on several occasions.

Sven Giegold, deputy party leader and Europe spokesperson for the Greens, considers the Merz initiative, which was presented on Europe Day in a "commando tone", to be "completely improper". The European idea stands for human rights and the rule of law. It contradicts the ideas of the European treaties to make people work for themselves in global supply chains without basic safeguards. Many companies have long paid attention to social and ecological standards in their supply chains. For Giegold, it is therefore clear that the SPD and the Christian Democratic Workers' Party (CDA) must now make it clear that the coalition agreement will continue to apply and that Germany will not advocate the abolition of supply chain laws. Of course, these would have to be implemented as unbureaucratically as possible.

(nie)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
CVS reopens months after Helene

Maureen Cormier, a senior vice president at CVS, cuts a ribbon while celebrating the reopening of a store closed in Hendersonville after Hurricane Helene. CVS leaders Devon Peightal and Jennifer hold the ribbon for Cormier.

Emergency responders gave employees of the CVS on South Main Street just 20 minutes to evacuate on the afternoon of September 26.

View the Slideshow



The southern end of Hendersonville where the store is located was beginning to flood well ahead of Hurricane Helenes arrival early the next morning, and emergency officials worried if the store stayed open longer than a few more minutes workers there would be stranded.

Little did those employees know when they gathered their belongings and rushed out of the store that afternoon it would be eight more months before they could again come to work in the building.

CVS celebrated the reopening of the store and the return of 100 percent of its staff on Monday with a ribbon cutting and remarks from company leaders.

Maureen Cormier, a senior vice president at CVS, told those gathered for the event that she was in awe of the work done to renovate the building and excited we are open for the community again.

Cormier also noted that the CVS is one of the first stores to reopen in the South Main Street area after the storm.

The Fresh Market across the road from the CVS remains closed along with several other businesses on the south end of Hendersonville that were devasted during the hurricane. The nearby McDonalds on Monday appeared to be on course to reopen soon with Now Hiring signs located in front of the restaurant on Spartanburg Highway.

A representative from N.C. Governor Josh Stein attended the ceremony and congratulated CVS for reopening the store. U.S. Rep. Chuck Edward sent a letter to the stores team recognizing them for their hard work.

Of all the CVS locations in Western North Carolina, Hendersonvilles South Main Street store sustained the most damage during Helene and took the longest to reopen, Brian Bache, a CVS regional director, said after the ceremony.

Bache visited CVS stores in Black Mountain and Swannanoa before coming to Hendersonville four days after Helene.

We were so fortunate in both those locations. Black Mountain was untouched. Swannanoa opened quickly, he said. This was the hardest hit. We knew we wouldnt be open soon.

Flooding left four feet of water inside the store and caused extensive damage to its interior. Photographs on display during Mondays ceremony showed the buildings saturated carpet with the contents of its shelves scattered in piles along the floor.

What we thought would take two or three months turned into eight, Bache said of the work to first gut the structure and then renovate its interior.

Employees who worked at the location were given jobs at other stores for the months it took to reopen.

A trailer the company usually uses during hurricanes in Florida was also stationed outside the CVS to allow people access to the stores pharmacy while work continued inside the store.

Bache said CVS never seriously considered closing the store after the storm and decided to do what need to be done to reopen.

It just takes a while, he said.
What we aimed to find in our Helene coverage

You dont want to get behind me when Im driving my Rav4 down a slope out in the country.

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Im a slow-driving rubberneck, looking to the left and the right at the stream or creek beneath the bridge at the bottom of the hill. Im looking at the fallen trees and the piles of debris on the upstream side, trying to spot the highwater mark, thinking of what tributaries feed this waterway and what creek or river this waterway empties into.

Call it an occupational hazard of Helene.

Here at the Lightning we have been working since last Sept. 27, you might say, on UNIMAGINABLE, the special section that we published last week, one day before the six-month anniversary of the hurricane. Im not saying we knew in the hours after Helene exited to the northwest toward Tennessee and Kentucky the full magnitude of the storms damage at that moment. But it didnt look long.

We were blessed at our house to lose only one tree, which fell away from the house, and to get power restored before sundown Monday. I have thought since the storm passed that living on a north-facing ridge saved us. The storm came from the south. Plus, southern Flat Rock, Tuxedo and Green River got less rain than Hendersonville, Fruitland, Edneyville and certainly the Hickory Nut Gorge.

I have been fortunate enough, if thats the word, to visit Gerton, Bat Cave and Chimney Rock for reporting purposes. My windshield survey of storm damage is overwhelmed down there. It will be a long time before the roads are fixed in the gorge. We just have to be patient and thank the NCDOT for the work its crew achieved quickly to restore access  if one lane only  and for the work its starting on U.S. 64, U.S. 74 and N.C. 9 to rebuild two-lane roads.

On the left is our announcement of a reprint of our Helene special edition and how to buy one. Among the goals in the reporting that produced the six-months-later lookback was to answer some basic questions:

What in the heck happened? Matt Matteson (better known as AskMatt) went back to Monday, Sept. 23, to trace the origins of Helene and track its path and its growth. Associate Editor Amy McCraw scored a long interview with Steve Wilkerson, the chief meteorologist at the Greer, S.C.-based office of the National Weather Service, who described the combined effects of the predecessor rain event and Helene, which dumped 21 (upper Mud Creek) to 34 inches of rain (the gorge).

Matt Matteson (better known as AskMatt) went back to Monday, Sept. 23, to trace the origins of Helene and track its path and its growth. Associate Editor Amy McCraw scored a long interview with Steve Wilkerson, the chief meteorologist at the Greer, S.C.-based office of the National Weather Service, who described the combined effects of the predecessor rain event and Helene, which dumped 21 (upper Mud Creek) to 34 inches of rain (the gorge). Why was the damage so great? The one person I could think of who knew the most about drainage basins, stormwater runoff and creek capacities was Bill Lapsley, who spent 50 years as a civil engineer designing systems to manage rainwater before his current career as a county commissioner. Short answer: If over three days 2 feet of rain falls in our 72,000 acres of watershed, well, its not going to be good.

The one person I could think of who knew the most about drainage basins, stormwater runoff and creek capacities was Bill Lapsley, who spent 50 years as a civil engineer designing systems to manage rainwater before his current career as a county commissioner. Short answer: If over three days 2 feet of rain falls in our 72,000 acres of watershed, well, its not going to be good. Why werent we prepared? The question, which ricocheted off the walls of social media in the days after Helene, was the most annoying and ignorant reaction of all. It implied that our emergency responders didnt prepare. We interviewed the fire chiefs of all 12 volunteer fire & rescue departments and many other first responders. There was not one that didnt describe in detail preparations they made in advance starting Tuesday. Tell me what your idea of catastrophic is, Sheriff Lowell Griffin told us. Is your idea of catastrophic U.S. highways being washed away. Nobody said, Expect roadways to be washed away. We knew there were going to be trees down. Nobody said there's going to be houses that are just washed off the side of the mountain.  Did we make preparations for it to wipe out all of the fiber optic cables and wipe out all of the cellular communications. No, we didn't. Nobody did.

The hardest hit areas like Gerton and Bat Cave and Deep Gap and Big Hungry are maybe a tenth of the way down the road to recovery. Its a long road ahead.

A big difference in that corner of our mind that stores experience and memory  between Sept. 26 and every day after  is now we have lived through what before we could not imagine. Which leads to one more common response by everyone weve talked to: We hope to never see this again.

* * * * *

Contact editor Bill Moss at billmoss@hendersonvillelightning.com.
China's expanding automotive footprint in South Africa: Jetour's GAIA Platform signals a new era of hybrid off-road innovation

15:06, May 13, 2025 By Karabo Mohamme ( People's Daily Online

At the opening of Auto Shanghai 2025, Chinese automaker Jetour unveiled its groundbreaking GAIA architecture, an advanced hybrid off-road platform poised to reshape global automotive standards. But beyond its technological sophistication, GAIA also reflects a broader trend: the increasing influence of Chinese automotive brands in international markets, particularly South Africa.

Jetour, a relatively young brand launched in 2019, made waves with the introduction of two new flagship SUVsthe Jetour G700 and G900, both built on the GAIA platform. Engineered for extreme versatility, these vehicles feature high-efficiency hybrid powertrains (Super Hybrid iDM-O and Amphibious Off-Road iEM-O), a marine-grade chassis, and smart multi-terrain adaptability. The GAIA platform even integrates features such as low-orbit satellite connectivity and an onboard oxygen-generation system, technologies typically associated with aerospace rather than automobiles.

The debut of GAIA at Auto Shanghai wasn't just about showcasing Chinese innovation though, it also signaled China's deepening automotive ties with South Africa, one of the fastest-growing markets for Chinese car exports. South African influencers and automotive journalists were invited to attend the unveiling, underlining the strategic importance of the country to Jetour's global expansion plans.

Jetour entered the South African market in late 2024 with the compact Jetour Dashing SUV, and it has quickly gained traction. In March 2025, the company recorded its highest sales month to date in South Africa, selling over 600 units. The rugged T1 and T2 models are expected to arrive later this year, and Jetour has now confirmed that the GAIA-based G700 will also reach South African shores by 2026 or 2027.

This move aligns with a broader wave of Chinese automakers, such as Chery, Haval, and BYD, increasingly viewing South Africa as a key gateway to the rest of the continent. China is currently South Africa's largest trading partner, and this relationship is deepening in the automotive industry, with Chinese vehicles now capturing a growing share of South Africa's SUV and bakkie (pickup truck) segments.

The synergy between China's manufacturing strength and South Africa's growing demand for affordable, tech-rich vehicles is reshaping the local market. Chinese brands are no longer seen as budget alternatives, but as innovators, often introducing cutting-edge technologies faster than traditional Western automakers.

As Chinese automakers continue to scale globally, South Africa finds itself at the intersection of a transformative shift in the global car industry. The success of Jetour and others in the regionincluding BAIC, which has established a manufacturing plant in the Eastern Cape and continues to expand its footprint with models like the Beijing X55 and X7may well define the future of mobility in emerging markets, a future that's increasingly hybrid, intelligent, and Chinese-engineered.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Anthony, from Mount Gambier in South Australia, is believed to have struggled to swim against the strong currents when he disappeared.

SA man Anthony John Heathcote was found dead on Saturday at Freedom Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Source: Asia Pacific Press/7News

Tributes are flowing for an Australian father-of-two who was found dead in Thailand, two weeks into a dream holiday with his wife and three days after he failed to return from an outing.

South Australian man Anthony John Heathcote, 41, was reported missing last Wednesday. His body was eventually found on Saturday in waters about 20 metres from the shore at Freedom Beach, at the popular tourist town of Phuket.

Anthony, from Mount Gambier, is believed to have struggled to swim against the strong currents when he died, with warnings now issued to other travellers in the wake of the tragedy.

"We believe that the sea currents were too strong for him to swim back to land," Police Lieutenant Colonel Wiwat Chamnankit told local media, according to Sky News.

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"Tourists should not go in the sea during these conditions when there are strong waves, unless they are with an experienced guide."

Anthony's body has since been taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a formal autopsy, and his family have been notified.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson said it is providing consular assistance to the family "We send our deepest condolences to their family at this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson told Yahoo News.

Anthony, a father of two, was from Mount Gambier. Source: 7News

Aussie dad remembered as 'remarkable' family man

Paying tribute to the 41-year-old, loved ones have remembered Anthony as "a loving member of our family", with the "tragic loss deeply felt".

Anthony's family shared his love for adventure, kind spirit and sharp mind in a statement to 7News Adelaide.

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"Were all deeply saddened at the loss of Anthony," a family spokesperson said. "He was a remarkable man, loving brother, uncle, son and father."

It's understood that Anthony's family are now working with diplomats to have his body returned home.

The tragedy comes just days after another Australian, 22-year-old Melbourne roof plumber Corey Walsh, drowned while on a tour boat off the coast of Phuket.

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Police are investigating and have asked anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.

Hailey Hald was devastated to discover her car on fire while she was camping at a popular Queensland campground. Source: Hailey Hald/Getty

A university students peaceful weekend camping trip has ended in disaster after receiving a troubling phone call from police early one morning. Hailey Hald was visiting the popular SS Dorrigo campgrounds at Inskip Point with her partner, when they were forced to cut their trip short.

At about 7.30am on Saturday morning, Hailey got a phone call from the local Tin Can Bay police to inform her that her car had been destroyed in a fire. She had parked outside the campgrounds on the main road as the area around the campsites is recommended for 4WD vehicles.

With strong winds during the night, the fire from the car had already spread into the nearby bushes by the time firefighters arrived. Incredibly, Hailey had no idea this was all taking place just a short walk from her tent.

She believes the winds could be the reason why they didn't hear the commotion, or the tyres exploding in the blaze.

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"It was blowing like 30 knots or more, and it was so windy. Couldn't hear a thing," she told Yahoo News.

Hailey was devastated to find her car had been torched. Source: Hailey Hald

Hailey, a biomedical student, also works as a carer for the elderly and disabled and relies on her car to travel to and from work. Unfortunately, the car only had third-party insurance.

Her partner has now started up a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising enough money to purchase a new car. In the meantime, she is going through the "overwhelming" process of getting all of her licences and cards replaced. Also lost in the fire were her university notes and work uniform.

"It's not the end of the world, but to be honest, I don't really have family, so all the places I've gotten to, like university and buying a car and to get a licence... I pay for all these things myself. I've done all these steps. It's just frustrating to have to do them again," she said.

Inskips history of crime

Over the last decade police have issued reminders to tourists to remain vigilant after multiple thefts from campsites and cars across the seven different campgrounds along the Inskip Peninsula.

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In 2023, a caravan was stolen from the MV Beagle camping area. Other campers have reported valuable items stolen from their campsites that were briefly left unattended.

The real problem is camp safety, that is leaving your camp to visit the beach and having your camp ransacked by thieves whilst you were away, one disappointed camper wrote alongside a one-star review.

Anything of value has to be packed in your vehicle and locked away, or have someone stay by the camp and guard your gear. We left our camp for about 2 hours and when we returned found that we had been raided by thieves and any valuable gear was stolen.

There are seven different campgrounds along the narrow strip of the Inskip Peninsula, all within metres of the beach. Source: Google Earth

Police investigating car fire

Queensland Police told Yahoo News they were called to the campground at 1.43am on Saturday morning.

The female owner of the vehicle told police she was camping a short distance away from the vehicle in a nearby campground when the fire happened, a spokesperson said.

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No one was physically injured in the fire.

Anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area around the time of the fire or has any dashcam to assist the investigation is asked to come forward.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Policelink via their online suspicious activity form or by calling 131 444.

Crime can also be reported anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via their website.

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Animal welfare advocates are celebrating the planned live export ban, but farm workers say it will have an unintended ripple effect on the economy.

Shearers fear wool sheds like these could soon stand empty due to ripple effects from a ban on live sheep exports. Source: Darren Spencer

A classic Aussie trade could be gutted in one state if the Albanese Labor Government follows through on a controversial plan, according to industry insiders.

Shearers point to a unique set of circumstances that mean an upcoming ban of live sheep exports will have a ripple effect set to decimate the prized merino wool industry in Western Australia.

The ban doesn't come into effect until May, 2028 but farmers are making decisions now on what they do, WA Shearing Industry Association president Darren Spencer told Yahoo News. Right across our membership here, most contractors have got a lot less work, he said.

Cramming live sheep into pens and shipping them 10,000km has long been controversial, and animal advocates are thankful for Labors planned ban. Groups like Animals Australia and the RSPCA say the industry has a dark history and raised concerns about welfare at sea and after disembarking in the Middle East where butchering traditions are different to our own.

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Live sheep export is fundamentally cruel and it cannot be fixed. Literally millions of sheep have died and all have suffered through this trade in live animals, an Animals Australia spokesperson told Yahoo.

Animals Australia has conducted dozens of investigations over two decades and always finds suffering, lodging 76 legal complaints showing exporters' unwillingness to follow even basic rules.

The wool industry supports more than just shearing jobs. Source: Darren Spencer

Shearers who can process 150 sheep a day can make $600 to $750 a day. Source: Darren Spencer

While Animals Australia argues suffering associated with live export is ongoing, inherent and unfixable, peak body the Australian Livestock Exporters' Council has dismissed allegations about ongoing animal welfare problems.

Its CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton told Yahoo theres no doubt there were issues prior to reforms in 2018, but exporters have significantly improved, with one just recording its best voyage ever  22 mortalities out of a shipment of 50,000 animals.

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What it boils down to is this government has made a deal with activists and made this decision based on ideology rather than evidence, he said.

Will only farmers and shearers be impacted by the ban?

Harvey-Sutton estimates Western Australias flocks have already declined by 25 per cent in the last 12 months. The industry warns it's not just the farmers and the labourers they employ that will be impacted, but also shops and other businesses in rural communities they buy from. The wool industry alone isnt just shearers and farmers, there are also brokers, handlers, dumpers, testers and transporters.

If you look at the precedent that this sets, this is the first time the government's actually shut down a rural industry. We anticipated what the impact would be, and so far we've been proven correct. But in terms of how bad the damage is, sadly, we'll just have to see over time, he said.

Perth is widely considered the worlds most isolated major city, and so it's unsurprising that Western Australias sheep market runs separately from the rest of the country.

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South Australia ceased live sheep export in 2018, but in the west, the industry continues to have a major influence on sheep prices. Although live export only makes up 1 per cent of Australias sheep and wool exports, Harvey-Sutton says it plays an important role, creating pricing competition in Western Australia.

[Now] exporters and processors have to compete with each other, so you get a higher price naturally, he said.

You take that away, they don't have to compete prices drop, and then that's less income for the producer. Then the producer has to make a decision  am I earning enough income to continue producing sheep?

Animals Australia claims live export has inherent and unfixable problems, but the industry maintains it has reformed itself. Source: Getty

How will ripples of live export ban harm the wool industry?

Theres a specific impact on the wool industry that the WA Shearing Industry Association has witnessed.

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Cross-bred sheep put on weight so fast and are often slaughtered before they've sprouted a fleece worth shearing. Merino sheep are slower to mature and are reared because their fleece is of a superior quality. Theyll normally be shorn multiple times before theyre sent to slaughter, providing lots of work for shearers.

Merino ewes are always sought after, you can always get rid of them for breeding. But its the merino wethers [non-breeding males] that you cant get rid of, Darren Spencer said.

Merino sheep are generally shorn multiple times before slaughter, while cross-breeds put on weight much faster. Source: Getty

After 12 months of age, these wethers are considered mutton and they sell for a lower amount than lamb. While finding an abattoir to slaughter them at a good price in Western Australia can be a problem, theres more interest overseas.

Live export is so important to us, because it takes those slower maturing merinos out of the system and gives them a much better value than they have in the [local] abattoirs, Spencer said.

When sheep lost value in the 1990s, farmers simply shot and buried them, and Spencer is fearful of history repeating. While the planned live export ban isnt the only issue sheep farmers face, he thinks the loss of live export will be an added blow that will cut the guts out of the wool industry.

There are few abattoirs left in Western Australia that process sheep, and much of the state is in drought. Rearing animals in feedlots so they put on weight before they become mutton is expensive because the price of grain is high. So those wanting to raise merino sheep are looking to the greener pastures in the east of Australia.

Shearers who can process 150 sheep can make $600 to $750 in a day, but the work is increasingly inconsistent.

"That's the problem now, we will have banks to work for three to four months, and then there'll be time to sit down," Spencer said. "It's not really good having groups of shearers just sitting around."

Was the sheep industry already in trouble?

Animals Australia argues the sheep export trade has been in terminal decline for decades, with numbers falling from six million annually in the early 2000s to around 400,000 in 2024. It told Yahoo decreases in flock size have been triggered by farmers moving from livestock to cropping.

The change is happening and whether the live sheep trade was to have continued or not, farmers and utility workers such as shearers would be adapting, its spokesperson said.

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Australias coastlines are shifting faster than many people realise  and in some towns, the change is already impossible to ignore.

Shocking images show a dramatic change in Lancelins coastline since 2020 (left), where it's estimated 25 metres of beach has been lost. Source: Facebook/Lancelin

A leading oceanographer is calling on authorities to plan for long-term environmental change, warning that erosion-prone coastlines must be managed with future generations in mind.

It comes as sobering new photos reveal an immensely popular tourist beach on the west coast has lost nearly half its shoreline in five years. Monash University's Professor Ruth Reef says the rapid erosion seen in places like Lancelin  where more than 25 metres of land has disappeared since 2020  reflects a broader national trend.

Shocking images show a dramatic change in Lancelins coastline, with more than six metres lost in just the past three months alone. Reef told Yahoo News Australia the issue is devastating for local communities and may accelerate as climate change intensifies.

"Environmental change poses real societal challenges, and any change to the environment is accompanied by feelings of loss, and I have empathy for people experiencing such losses," she said.

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"Coastal zones are inherently dynamic, especially when considering timescales that involve infrastructure that is designed for centuries, such as homes and roads. It is important that town planning considers such well-known, long timescale changes so that community impacts are minimised."

Why are dunes so vital to our beaches?

Dramatic photos taken this month show the eroded beachfront at Harold Park, including the exposed foundations of a community-built gazebo that had to be moved by the Shire of Gingin for the third time.

The Shire said it is revising its 2019 coastal adaptation strategy and is also seeking public feedback on a new regional master plan. As part of its efforts to strengthen natural dune defences, it plans to explore limiting 4WD access to primary dunes  a proposal that has sparked significant community backlash.

Reef said dune systems are essential to coastal resilience and that disturbing vegetation or trampling dune crusts  such as through four-wheel-driving  can "destabilise dunes by breaking cohesion, making them easier to erode under normal sea conditions".

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"They trample vegetation and break fine cohesive layers that develop in sand over time [crusts]. They can also reshape the beach and redirect water flow through channelling," she said.

She said vegetation plays a key role in preventing erosion during storms, with decades of scientific studies showing coastal plants "enhance the cohesion of the sand on the dune, making it so less sand is moved offshore." While seawalls and barriers can protect assets in some cases, Reef said their cost and unintended consequences make them unsuitable for widespread use.

A 2020 image shows a decent walk down to the beach from the nearby reserve. Source: Facebook/Lancelin

A 2025 picture shows that walk has drastically reduced, with a footpath now exposed at the edge of the dune. Source: Facebook/Lancelin

"We can arrest the movement of sand by building barriers such as sea walls, but these are very expensive to build and to maintain, and they do have an impact on other parts of the coastal system that can lead to erosion elsewhere," she said. "Sometimes the best idea is to let the shoreline realign to the new conditions  through a managed retreat of our assets."

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"Depending on the timescales, eventually this coastline will be under water as sea levels rise  yes, you can protect it, but it will be costly. Often, relocation is cheaper. This is something for communities to decide how to invest their resources."

Council's management plan met with mixed responses from locals

Shire President Linda Balcombe warned the council couldnt afford large-scale protection works and has asked the state government for help. She branded the contrast in the images "incredible".

"Coastal erosion is a very serious problem around the whole of Australia, and that portion of the town ... is receding quite quickly at the moment. It is a big concern," she told radio station 6PR. "We've been properly measuring it since February ... it's lost six metres, and we've had to remove that footpath for safety reasons, and we're removing the bottom two parts of the Hinchcliffe Lookout as well."

"Unfortunately, this has got worse since we put in our last application to the state for funding. We cant afford to fund all of this along our coast."

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The beach is far from the only area of Aussie coastline that is on the move. Source: Facebook/Lancelin

In 2023, a draft coastal risk management plan strongly recommended that Lancelin begins removing assets and retreating from areas forecast to face severe flooding and erosion. The plan included stark mapping that placed most of the towns infrastructure at high or very high flood risk within 50 years, warning it would be "difficult to protect in the long term."

It also ruled out major interventions like seawalls, groynes and offshore reefs as unfeasible. But under pressure from local backlash, the Shire shelved the plan.

"A group of people in town think the plan was over the top, and we didnt need to relocate," one long-time property owner told The Age, requesting anonymity due to the controversy. Lancelin is about 127 kilometres north of Perth, another coastal region that's also battling to combat significant erosion.

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By studying artefacts, researchers have unearthed a new understanding of the Aztec Empire. But for the lead researcher one object stands out as unique.

A scythe-like object (middle-top) found near two human skulls was one of the 788 obsidian objects studied. Source: Jesus Lopez, courtesy of Proyecto Templo Mayor, INAH

Mystery surrounds an ancient scythe or blade discovered at a ceremonial offering site between two human skulls. The dark-green tool is one of almost 800 important artefacts from the Aztec Empire that archaeologist Diego Matadamas-Gomora has studied, and yet it's this one that stands out as unique.

While associations between the scythe and the Grim Reaper gathering the souls of the dead date back to the fourteenth century in Europe, its believed the object found inside Templo Mayor in modern-day Mexico City developed independently, despite its similar shape.

Because it was located very close to these human skulls, its probably something related to the dead or the underworld, Matadamas-Gomora told Yahoo News Australia.

Theres only one in the entire world so far, and Im very intrigued. Its beautiful and complex, and making it required a lot of specialisation. This artefact is not sharp, you cant cut anything with it, so its a symbol. We call it a scythe for comparison, but we dont know what it is.

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An indentation at the end of the 10cm-long miniature indicates the scythe once fastened onto a handle thats long since disappeared. It was crafted from material collected in the city of Pachuca, around 90km north of the city.

Related: Lost Maya world discovered in 'race against time' to save ancient ruins from growing threat

Among the 788 objects, there is nothing else like the scythe. Source: Jesus Lopez, courtesy of Proyecto Templo Mayor, INAH

Researchers categorise staggering 788 objects

Tulane University PhD candidate Matadamas-Gomora led an international team that included Mexico's Templo Mayor Project and the National Institute of Anthropology and History. Together they investigated changes in Aztec artefacts between 1375 and 1520 CE, including how the strengthening of the empire in 1430 CE impacted what types of materials they used.

The researchers examined almost 800 obsidian artefacts. Source: Mirsa Islas

The team focused exclusively on obsidian, a type of volcanic glass that was crafted into blades, jewellery and miniature objects that were placed inside graves and offering sites.

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This is the first compositional analysis of such a large sample of artefacts. In previous studies, scholars studied no more than 10 or 15, but we examined 788, Matadamas-Gomora said.

First of all, we are providing a large amount of quantitative data for future analysis. And second, we are exploring the use and consumption of obsidian by the Mexicas [the Aztec people] in their capital city, which was the most important city in Mesoamerica in the 16th century, just before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Aztec objects split in two categories

Obsidian comes in a multitude of colours and strengths. By understanding where each sample was sourced from using a portable X-ray fluorescence machine, the researchers built a picture of the influence and power of the empire, and where its political alliances and economic trade routes stretched.

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We can explore different questions about how the Aztecs were organised within their city, but also in relation to the entirety of Mesoamerica. But not only in their territory, also beyond their political boundaries, Matadamas-Gomora said.

Diego Matadamas-Gomora (left) and his colleagues looked at both ritual and everyday objects. Source: Leonardo Lopez Lujan

As the Mexica consolidated power, the researchers were surprised to learn the rulers didnt maintain a monopoly over prized green Sierra de Pachuca obsidian and instead continued to trade with other cities.

Using eight different types of obsidian  more than any other city  they created objects divided into two main categories  ritual and everyday. The former were often miniature projectile points, sceptres, and clubs that were used to decorate effigies deposited into offering sites.

The elements combined together to create a representation of a god. For example, if that god was holding a sceptre, it would be made of obsidian, Matadamas-Gomora said.

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We found the symbol of the God of Wind, which is very common in the offerings. We also found funerary vessels, one of them very important, because it contained the ashes of a human, potentially an early Aztec ruler.

While items inside the offering sites had been placed with intention, the everyday tools found around their periphery were likely discarded or dropped.

They were probably deposited during the labour construction by the same people, but used for completely different purposes than the rituals, Matadamas-Gomora said.

The research was published in the journal PNAS.

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Drivers can face fines as high as $1,845 if they ignore rules when moving through roadworks sites.

The sight of a "cheeky" roadside camera targeting drivers going through road upgrades has prompted a reminder that even if workers are not present, speeding motorists can still cop a fine.

The remote-controlled and solar-powered camera, known as a Roadways Behaviour Monitoring System (RBMS), was spotted by a driver who branded the sighting on the A1 in Queensland last month "cheeky", sparking a discussion about revenue-raising.

However, authorities and motoring groups have urged drivers to remember that even if workers are not present, there may still be hazards, and fines still apply.

"These camera devices enforce the speed limit 24 hours, 7 days a week, regardless of the presence of road-workers," a spokesperson for Transport and Main Roads told Yahoo News.

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In Queensland, drivers caught speeding less than 11km/h over the limit will cop a $322 fine, and the fine increases by every 10km over the speed limit. Drivers caught going 40km/h over the limit will face a $1,845 fine. In the new financial year which is just weeks away, fines in the state will increase by 3.5 per cent.

The state-of the-art cameras are catching out drivers in roadworks zones. Source: Transport and Main Roads Queensland

Roadside cameras designed to be moved around worksites

The cameras began issuing fines in Queensland in April last year following a two-year data collection trial. The portable solar-powered devices were designed and built to sit on top of a mobile platform and be easily moved around worksites via a remote control.

Their main goal is to protect roadside workers from speeding drivers around Queensland, however, they were previously criticised for being unrecognisable by passing drivers.

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RACQ spokesperson Gregory Miszkowycz told Yahoo there are "strict procedures and approvals" for roadworks speed limit setting and signing to ensure they are relevant for the type of work being completed.

"Its important to slow down and obey the speed limit as these sites often have road workers within close proximity of traffic as well as other hazards for drivers, including road alignment changes, narrow lanes and loose surfaces," Miszkowycz said.

Queensland's sobering road toll reminder

In 2024, Queensland recorded a 15-year high road toll with 303 people killed, and 1,300 deaths were recorded nationally. "Time and time again we see the same Fatal 5 dangerous driving behaviours causing the majority of fatal crashes," Miszkowycz said.

The fatal 5 behaviours include:

Speeding

Drink and drug driving

Driving distracted

Driving tired

Not wearing a seatbelt

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RACQ is calling on drivers to change their attitudes towards speeding, to slow down and follow road rules. It is also calling on the state government to "improve law and order" on roads.

"Were calling for an increase in highly visible on-road police, more random roadside drink and drug testing, and point-to-point speed cameras in high-crash zones, as well as cracking down on the states most dangerous drivers through expanded impoundment or immobilisation laws," Miszkowycz said.

Transport and Main Roads also urged Aussies to remember that "somebody's family member may be working in these environments, and they want to get home safely".

In the 10 years between January 1, 2014 and 30 June 2024, there were 508 casualties in road works zones, with eight fatalities.

"Slowing down, adhering to the speed limit, staying alert, driving to conditions, and following directions from traffic controllers will help ensure everyone gets home safely to their families," the spokesperson said.

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Feature: Chinese doctors bring tech, training and trust to Guinea's hospital

Xinhua) 15:13, May 13, 2025

CONAKRY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Morning light streams through the windows of the newly opened medical complex at the Sino-Guinean Friendship Hospital in Conakry. Radiologist Liu Peng and her Guinean colleague Amelie Lamah examine spinal scans on a 1.5T MRI machine, seamlessly switching between French and Chinese as they work.

This moment of teamwork captures the daily rhythm at one of Guinea's largest public hospitals, a flagship Chinese aid project. Since 1963, China has sent over 25,000 medical team members to 48 African countries, treating more than 230 million patients and winning the hearts of the African people with dedication.

They have been working to fight Ebola outbreaks, improve medical procedures and train generations of local professionals, shifting the focus from short-term aid to sustainable empowerment.

In March 2025, the 31st Chinese medical team arrived at the hospital, comprising 24 specialists from Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing Municipal Health Commission and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control. More than half hold senior titles or doctorates. Beyond traditional expertise, they brought technologies such as orthopedic AI planners and surgical robots.

"The AI system enables precise joint replacement modeling," said team leader Wang Bin, adding that although Guinea's intermittent power supply poses a challenge, the team is developing joint protocols with local staff to ensure stable application and long-term adaptability.

Hands-on knowledge transfer continues across departments: Guinean surgeons hone their joint replacement skills under Chinese guidance, and traditional medicine experts explore acupuncture treatments.

Cooperation of the kind has grown through decades of consistent engagement. Since 1968, Chinese doctors have trained thousands of African medical professionals through hands-on clinical mentoring and exchange programs.

Lamah, director of radiology department, said their "diagnostic capabilities keep improving through this partnership."

The hospital's August 2023 expansion marked a major milestone, doubling clinical capacity through new Chinese-built facilities that now serve dual purposes: elevating patient care standards while creating advanced training opportunities for medical professionals.

"Better infrastructure benefits both patients and medical advancement," said Mohamed Diane, director general of the Sino-Guinean Friendship Hospital.

Wang reflected on the long-running partnership: "For 57 years, every Beijing medical team has shared one goal -- making technology take root here."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby is one of more than 100 Australian native mammals teetering on the edge of extinction.

Another seven southern brush-tailed rock-wallabies have just joined the Jedbinbilla Safe Haven in the ACT. Source: ACT government

Theres fresh hope on the horizon for one of Australias most endangered marsupials.

Another seven southern brush-tailed rock-wallabies have just joined the Jedbinbilla Safe Haven in the ACT, as part of a considered effort to rescue the species from the brink of extinction.

The species is classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals believed to be surviving in the wild, with years of habitat loss, predation by introduced species such as foxes and feral cats, and shrinking gene pools bringing the once widespread animal to the edge.

Conservationists hope the latest arrivals will bolster the small but thriving colony at the 120-hectare predator-proof sanctuary, located within the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, southwest of Canberra. By introducing new animals, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service hopes to improve genetic diversity  a vital step in protecting the population from disease, environmental stress, and the risks of inbreeding.

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The department told Yahoo News the goal is to create a "genetically robust insurance population" that can support broader recovery efforts and safeguard the species into the future.

"While the number of animals within the safe haven remains small, we undertake ground surveys and use motion sensor cameras to determine where they have settled, if there are signs of injury, behaviour, and reproductive status," a spokesperson said.

Conservationists hope these new arrivals will bolster the small but thriving colony at the 120-hectare predator-proof sanctuary. Source: ACT government

These carefully managed populations act as a safety net, allowing researchers and wildlife managers to repopulate suitable habitats in the future while avoiding the irreversible loss of unique genetic lineages. The aim is to have populations that can be re-introduced into the wild in the ACT and Victoria in the years ahead.

The safe haven launched in June last year with an initial group of eight wallabies, which adapted quickly to their new environment. Encouragingly, they began forming breeding pairs and producing joeys within months  a rare and positive milestone for a species under serious threat.

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Researchers continue to monitor the animals closely to track their behaviour, health and interactions with each other.

What happened to the brush-tailed rock-wallaby?

The southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby is among more than 100 Australian native mammals currently teetering on the edge of extinction.

Once common across rocky outcrops and escarpments in southeastern Australia, its range has collapsed to just a handful of isolated populations in Victoria and NSW. Genetic fragmentation  where isolated groups can no longer interbreed  has further limited their chances of long-term survival.

It's thought there are fewer than 100 southern brush-tailed rock-wallabies left in the wild. Source: ACT government

Small, fragmented populations are also more likely to experience inbreeding, which reduces their ability to adapt to environmental pressures and increases vulnerability to illness.

Australia's sad mammal extinction crisis

These little marsupials are far from alone. Australia has one of the worst extinction records in the world when it comes to mammals. Since European colonisation, the continent has lost more than 30 native mammal species, giving us the highest rate of mammal extinctions globally.

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With ecosystems increasingly under threat, climate impacts worsening, and invasive species proving hard to control, conservation efforts like Jedbinbilla have become even more critical. For researchers and volunteers, the success at Jedbinbilla is a reminder that targeted, well-resourced conservation efforts can make a real difference  and that, even in the face of a national extinction crisis, hope is not lost.

Although the sanctuary is not open to the public, visitors to Tidbinbilla can still catch glimpses of brush-tailed rock wallabies in areas like the Eucalypt Forest or along the Barayngu Murawung walk.

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Edit by Liam McGuire, Comeback Media.

Jimmy Jomboy OBrien isnt a reporter  and hell be the first to tell you that.

Its the very first line in his bio on X (formerly Twitter). But he is a media figure. When you build a platform, fill it with content, and shape the conversation around a major league team, you dont get to opt out of the responsibility that comes with influence. Jomboy may not call himself a journalist, but his weekly interviews with Yankees manager Aaron Boone  now done in place of Boones traditional WFAN spot  show just how much that distinction matters.

Which brings us to the Yankees. And Aaron Judge.

On Sundays Talkin Yanks, Jomboy awarded Judge the Im glad you didnt die in a car accident your senior year of high school award. Then he asked his producer to pull up a reenactment video Judge made in high school, part of a drunk-driving PSA program, where hes zipped up in a body bag as if he had, in fact, died.



Yes, they actually showed that.

Its a scary what if because hes one of the best hitters ever, said Jomboy.

And hes not actually dead; theyre faking it, Jomboy adds. Its a PSA against drinking and driving. Dude, I cant believe this is a reenactment, and they actually zip it over his head fully.

Of course, Judge was never in a car accident. The video came from a school awareness campaign. But instead of letting it stay what it was  a solemn PSA  they resurrected it for a segment that managed to be jarringly weird and unintentionally grim.

Sure, we get the idea: Were glad Aaron Judge is alive. Thats a fine sentiment. But when the way you express it involves cueing up footage of your team captain playing dead, zipped into a fake body bag, it might be time to ask whether the bit is worth the joke.

And then, after all that, they tossed in a sunny Mothers Day shoutout to Judges mom, Patty.

Because nothing says Happy Mothers Day quite like watching your son get zipped up like a corpse on your favorite Yankees podcast.
Rapper Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, has been hospitalized following an alleged stabbing by another inmate while serving his prison sentence, according to a report from TMZ.

The incident reportedly occurred Monday morning in the yard of the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi. Multiple sources told the outlet that Lanez was attacked and later transported to a hospital in Bakersfield for treatment. While the exact nature of his injuries remains unclear, TMZ reported they are considered non-life-threatening. His current condition has not been officially disclosed.

Authorities have not released further details on the motive behind the attack, and the incident remains under investigation.

Lanez, 31, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in August 2023 for the 2020 shooting of fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete. In December 2022, he was found guilty on three felony counts related to the shooting, which took place in the Hollywood Hills following a house party hosted by Kylie Jenner.

During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion testified that the shooting occurred after an argument in a vehicle. She told the court that Lanez shouted "Dance, *****" before firing at her, injuring her foot.

Peterson has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. His legal team has continued to pursue appeals and other post-conviction remedies.

Officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation have not yet issued a public statement on the incident.
A Houston man is in custody after allegedly stabbing his mother to death and seriously injuring his father on Mother's Day, telling police the killing was motivated by a disturbing dream of impending "global war."

Bao Dinh, 36, claimed he was compelled by a vivid dream to kill his parents in order to "prevent a massive global war," KTRK reported. Authorities say Dinh began the attack by striking his father multiple times with a dumbbell before stabbing him. When his father cried out for help, Dinh reportedly turned on his mother at the bottom of the stairs, fatally stabbing her.

The attack occurred at the family's home in northwest Houston. Dinh's mother was transported to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries around 6 a.m. His father survived the attack and is recovering.

Dinh did not appear in court on Sunday, but a judge described him as a public safety threat and set bond at $1.5 million.

Court records and police scanner traffic indicate first responders believed Dinh was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, eyeing business deals even as accords on the Middle East's hotspots will likely be harder to reach.

The trip marks the US president's first major visit abroad of his second term, with the White House saying he looked forward to a "historic return" to the region.

Eight years ago Trump also chose Saudi Arabia for his first overseas trip as president -- when he memorably posed with a glowing orb and participated in a sword dance.

His decision to once again bypass traditional Western allies to travel to the oil-rich Gulf states underscores their increasingly crucial geopolitical role -- along with his own business relations in the region.

Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in the capital Riyadh. The Saudi royal family plans a lavish welcome for the 78-year-old billionaire, who will also address an investment forum.

Trump will take part in a summit of Gulf Arab leaders Tuesday before heading to Qatar.

In the days before the trip, the White House has played an instrumental part in hammering out a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the release of an American hostage in Gaza and holding another round of nuclear talks with Iran.

Those initiatives came after a surprise announcement by Trump last week of agreeing to a truce with the Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen.

But the focus during the tour of the Gulf will likely be locking down business agreements.

"White House sources have indicated that the president will focus on 'deals'," wrote Daniel B. Shapiro, a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump will promote a vision where "extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges".

The Gulf states have positioned themselves as key diplomatic partners during Trump's second term.

Doha remains a major broker for negotiations between Hamas and Israel, while Saudi Arabia has facilitated talks on the war in Ukraine.

Talk of returning to the kingdom has been circulating for months, with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowing to pour $600 billion into US trade and investments.

"I'll be asking the crown prince, who's a fantastic guy, to round it out to around one trillion. I think they'll do that because we've been very good to them," Trump said in response to the offer.

According to a Saudi official close to the defence ministry, Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defence systems worth billions of dollars.

"We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump's term," the source told AFP.

On the ground in Saudi Arabia, residents expressed mixed feelings about what the trip would mean.

"I expect that this visit will result in political decisions that will matter to the whole region," Khalifa Oneizi, a 47-year-old Riyadh resident, told AFP.

Others were less confident.

"I am not optimistic about this visit or its results," said Hamad Shahrani, a 62-year-old Saudi national.

Efforts to push Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel are not likely to feature high on the agenda this trip, with Riyadh insisting a Palestinian state must be established before a deal can be brokered.

Iran, meanwhile, is likely to feature prominently during the visit, following a fourth round of talks in Oman over the weekend.

Controversy is also swirling over the president's plans to accept a luxury Boeing jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One.

Late Sunday, Trump went on the offensive amid a wave of criticism, saying the plane was a temporary "gift".

He later called the deal "a very public and transparent transaction", and on Monday said before leaving Washington for his trip: "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."
Feature: Two decades of volcano monitoring in northeast China's Changbai Mountains

Xinhua) 16:50, May 13, 2025

CHANGCHUN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Ascending the Changbai Mountains in northeast China, the fresh green of early spring slowly gives way to lingering snow. On a slope stands a three-story building -- the largest volcanic monitoring station in the country.

Located in Jilin Province, the Changbai Mountains are well-known for their mysterious Tianchi crater lake, yet few know that they were the site of one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history. In 946 A.D., an eruption dispersed ash more than 10,000 kilometers away to Greenland.

To strengthen China's capacity to study and predict volcanic activity, the station was established in the mid-1990s by the China Earthquake Administration and the Jilin provincial government.

Over the past two decades, it has evolved into China's most comprehensively equipped volcanic monitoring facility. The station now operates 15 monitoring points across the northern, western and southern slopes of the mountains, and its research team has expanded from just three people to 10.

Kong Qingjun, head of the station, remembers the challenges in the early days, when there was no optical fiber communication. "Most of the data had to be stored on hard disks and retrieved manually every 10 days," he said. "Once, my colleague and I got lost in heavy fog while trying to replace the hard disks."

Thanks to infrastructure improvements in recent years, many field stations now have optical fiber and Wi-Fi connections, which greatly enhance real-time data transmission, Kong said.

But challenges remain. "Continuous data collection is crucial," he said. "Yet the harsh conditions -- strong winds, heavy snow and lightning -- demand constant vigilance from our technicians."

Globally, volcano research has a much longer history. The world's first observatory was founded in 1841 at Italy's Mount Vesuvius, followed by the first modern observatory at Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano in the United States around 70 years later.

By comparison, China still lags behind some developed countries in volcanic monitoring, facing challenges such as limited historical data, a shortage of advanced equipment and insufficient monitoring technologies.

"Volcanic eruptions are rare and occur over long cycles, so we place great importance on collaborating with scientific institutions both domestically and internationally," said Liu Guoming, the station's chief engineer, noting that researchers from the station have visited volcano observatories in countries like Italy and the United States, sometimes even witnessing eruptions firsthand.

With its growing academic reputation, the station has built long-term partnerships with volcano experts and institutions in countries such as the United States, Japan, Italy and Russia. Moreover, China's continued investment in the field has brought in new technologies, such as satellite remote sensing and drone-mounted instruments.

According to Kong, the station is now working with the Jilin Earthquake Agency to upgrade its early warning system. "We're building an AI-powered platform to improve our ability to detect and issue warnings for potential volcanic activity," he said.

"After over 20 years of continuous monitoring, we are gradually uncovering the secrets of the Changbai Mountains," he noted. "Our goal is to grow into a world-class volcanic monitoring station."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Today, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announces the appointment of Marco Tabet as General Manager of the iconic Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island in California, inclusive of all five hotel neighborhoods encompassing both the Curio Collection by Hilton and LXR Hotels and Resorts. A seasoned hotel executive with more than 20 years of experience, Tabet brings his extensive leadership skills and global expertise to The Del after a successful six-year tenure as General Manager at Conrad Punta de Mita in Nayarit, Mexico.

Tabet brings a wealth of experience in luxury hospitality management, having served as General Manager at several renowned Hilton properties, including Hilton Los Cabos, Hilton Lima Miraflores in Peru, and Waldorf Astoria Panama. His diverse background in operations and food & beverage management, showcased through his leadership roles at Hilton Los Cabos and British Colonial Hilton Nassau, has honed his expertise in managing luxury resorts. Tabet's commitment to enhancing guest experiences and his versatility in the hospitality industry will undoubtedly contribute to maintaining the high standards of service and excellence at Hotel del Coronado.

As General Manager of Hotel del Coronado, Tabet will oversee the daily operations and overall strategic direction of the renowned beachfront resort following a six-year-long, $550 million reimagination project incorporating new dining experiences, a reimagined spa, expanded fitness facilities, and upgrades to various accommodation offerings, further elevating The Del's status as a premier Southern California destination.

Hotel del Coronado is located at 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118. To make a reservation, please visit Hilton.com or call +1 212 262 8100. For more information about Curio Collection by Hilton and LXR Hotels and Resorts, please visit Stories.Hilton.com.

For more on Hotel del Coronado and resort updates, please visit hoteldel.com.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, one of Accor's leading luxury brands, announces the appointment of Emma Darby as Global Vice President Spa & Wellness. In this role, Emma will assume overall responsibility for spa and wellness operations across Fairmont's global portfolio of 92 properties. The diverse collection of luxury properties and flagship spas in iconic destinations worldwide, includes Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Canada, Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles, Fairmont Mayakoba, Mexico, and Fairmont Riyadh, KSA, delivering a truly holistic wellness experience.

An inspiring leader in the wellness space, Emma Darby brings over two decades of hospitality experience, having held senior roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group. Driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of wellness, an ethos that aligns closely with Fairmont's commitment to making guests feel truly cared for, Emma has consistently delivered strategic growth, operational excellence, and elevated guest experiences. Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer at Resense Spas, she led a global portfolio of luxury spas, overseeing business expansion, spearheading new openings and renovations, and embedding a consistently high standard of holistic wellness across all touchpoints.

As Fairmont continues its significant global expansion with 29 new hotels in the pipeline, including the highly anticipated Fairmont Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and Fairmont Hanoi in Vietnam, the brand reinforces its commitment to exceptional, wellness-driven guest experiences around the world. Emma's appointment brings leadership continuity and a unified wellness vision across the growing portfolio. Her priorities will center on deeply understanding the current wellness landscape across Fairmont properties, identifying opportunities to elevate the guest experience, and implementing strategies that drive both innovation and consistency. This approach is designed to strengthen the performance of the Fairmont portfolio, driving financial growth, and expanding leadership pathways in the long term.

Her leadership philosophy is centered on clarity, collaboration, and a guest-first mindset. Emma believes in giving teams a strong sense of purpose, along with the tools and support they need to thrive. As a leader, Emma is values-driven - therefore building trust, encouraging innovation, and supporting both personal and professional growth. As Vice President, across Fairmont's spa and wellness portfolio, Emma will champion integrity, inclusivity, and curiosity, building the foundation for a strong team structure throughout the business.
Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, is pleased to announce that Ms Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, Vice President - Operations (Central & Southern Thailand) and Government & Business Relations, has been appointed President of the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) for the 2025-2026 term.

TICA, a non-profit organisation established in 1984, plays a vital role in promoting Thailand as a preferred destination for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE).

With more than three decades of service to TICA, including her most recent role as Vice President of TICA, and a distinguished track record in Thailand's MICE sector, Ms Tantiprasertsuk brings deep industry insight, a firm commitment to sustainability, and a collaborative spirit to the role. Her appointment highlights Dusit International's ongoing contribution to advancing Thailand's tourism and hospitality landscape through strong leadership and values-driven engagement.

Drawing on Dusit's four core pillars of Dusit GraciousnessService (personalised and gracious), Locality (uniquely linking guests with the local community), Well-Being (delivering wellness experiences beyond the spa), and Sustainability (social, economic, and environmental)Ms Tantiprasertsuk intends to integrate these values into TICA's national MICE strategy.

Ms Tantiprasertsuk takes the helm from Mr Sumate Sudasna Ayutthaya, who served as TICA President for 16 years. Inspired by his visionary leadership, she is committed to preserving TICA's strong reputation while continuing to promote transparency, professionalism, and the empowerment of future leaders.

Her appointment adds to a growing list of Dusit executives making meaningful contributions to the industry at both regional and global levels.

Dusit's industry contributions also extend through Dusit Hospitality Education, which has been nurturing hospitality professionals for over 30 years. Beginning with the launch of Dusit Thani College in 1993, the company's education portfolio now includes Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School and The Food SchoolBangkok-based institutions that equip students with internationally relevant skills.

Students from Dusit Thani College regularly participate in prestigious international events such as WorldSkills Lyon 2024, the Rising Star Hotelex China International Young Chefs Competition 2025, and the Startup Thailand League, while also hosting global academic forums. Recently, the college welcomed the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) for a seminar on "Sustainable Transformations in Asia Pacific"further reinforcing Dusit's role as a thought leader in responsible tourism.
Paris - Accor, a global leader in hospitality, and World Monuments Fund (WMF), the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the worlds most treasured places, today announce new projects at four heritage sites selected from the 2025 World Monuments Watch. The Watch is WMFs biennial program that advocates for heritage places in critical need of protection, galvanizing action and support for their preservation. The four projects spanning France (Chapel of the Sorbonne), Latin America (Qhapaq Nan), Greece (Serifos Historic Mining Landscape), and India (Historic Water Systems of Bhuj) will receive support provided by Accor, helping to restore and enhance destinations for their long-term sustainable progress and resilience.

In September 2024, Accor and WMF formalized a pioneering three-year partnership seeking to shape and maximize the benefits of tourism to cultural heritage places. Bringing together their complementary expertise and global reach, the partnership aims to set new standards for how the tourism industry can play a part protecting cultural destinations from overuse, promoting visitation to lesser-known heritage places, and strengthening the role of heritage in local community well-being. In this context, Accor has committed to supporting multi-faceted projects focused on preserving and enhancing diverse built heritage, offering meaningful benefits to communities, and building long-term local resilience.

The World Monuments Watch, launched in 1996, is a biennial program dedicated to discovering, spotlighting, and taking action on behalf of global heritage sites. Every two years, WMF identifies 25 sites facing significant challenges, such as climate change, tourism, and conflict, and are in need of vital support. To date, WMF has contributed over $120 million to nearly 350 Watch sites, while the visibility of the Watch has helped inspire an additional $310 million in public and private support.

As part of this years Watch, Accor will collaborate with WMF at four significant sites, located in different regions of the world.

Chapel of the Sorbonne, Paris, France

Qhapaq Nan, Andean Road System,Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Serifos Historic Mining Landscape, Greece

Historic Water Systems of Bhuj, India

Together, Accor and WMF will help develop and implement innovative strategies for distributing tourism to lesser-known destinations, enriching the visitor experience, and capturing local benefit from the tourism industry. Local communities will gain the skills and knowledge needed to protect these sites while also reaping the benefits that result from expanded sustainable tourism. Each project was also assessed based on its alignment with Accors goals for global development, climate change adaptation, and sustainable tourism development.

Cultural heritage is at the center of the tourism industry and a major part of why people fall in love with travel. The industry has a deep responsibility to protect, conserve and treasure important sites. Our partnership with WMF is a testament to our dedication as we continue to pioneer responsible hospitality and connect cultures with heartfelt care. Across these four projects we hope to inspire a new approach to protecting cultural heritage and I look forward to witnessing their progress and success. Sebastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO Accor

Supporting communities in the stewardship of their cultural heritage has long been central to our work. By supporting projects that create new economic opportunities, improve site management, and elevate local storytelling, this partnership makes it possible to protect cherished places while delivering a unique visitor experience. Accors commitment to this effort demonstrates how the hospitality industry can play a meaningful role in shaping a more inclusive and responsible future for cultural heritage. Benedicte de Montlaur, CEO of the World Monuments Fund

The four Watch projects Accor has selected to collaborate with WMF on are as follows:

The Chapel of the Sorbonne  France

As an iconic French heritage site located in Paris, a major destination for Accor, the Chapel of the Sorbonne resonates strongly with the Groups identity and roots in French hospitality. Located in the citys Latin Quarter, it is a masterpiece of classical architecture and key part of Sorbonne Universitys rich heritage. Currently closed to the public, the chapel suffers from severe deterioration, requiring extensive restoration work to preserve its structure and artistic heritage.

Together with the City of Paris and the Chancellery of the Sorbonne, WMF and Accor aim to reopen the chapel, transforming it into a vibrant destination for students and Parisians. The project will help foster collaboration among the city, students, and stakeholders to revitalize this historic site, enhancing its accessibility and ensuring its legacy for future generations. The focus is not only on restoring the building, but on supporting its return as a place of learning and engagement for the broader community, reinforcing the importance of heritage in shaping local identity.

Qhapaq Nan, the Andean Road Network  Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

Qhapaq Nan, the Andean Road Network, is a remarkable system of trails that connects Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It was built over centuries and consolidated as a network during the Inca period to facilitate transport, communication, and cultural exchanges across diverse Andean cultures. Today, despite its UNESCO World Heritage status, Qhapaq Nan faces ongoing threats, including erosion, vandalism, and unregulated development. WMF and Accor aim to catalyze transnational cooperation to strengthen local and regional site management, encourage thoughtful approaches to tourism, and support the communities whose heritage and daily lives are closely ties to this historic network.

Accors support reflects its longstanding presence in Latin America and its commitment to responsible hospitality. The significant sustainable tourism and climate change risk mitigation angles embedded in this project align strongly with Accors focus and expertise. Sustainable management and preservation of the Andean Road Network promises to bring measurable economic benefits to the local communities across six Latin American countries, positioning this a strong example of how the protection and enhancement of these sites can bring diverse benefits for society.

Serifos Historic Mining Landscape  Greece

The Historic Mining Landscape of Serifos, a captivating island in the Cyclades, represents one of Greeces most significant industrial heritage sites. From the 1870s to 1965, this unspoiled island of dramatic landscapes and beautiful beaches was a leading mining center with rich iron ore deposits. The site includes the iconic Mega Livadi loading bridge, administration buildings, mining tunnels, and other remains of the industry, now threatened by years of neglect and lack of legal recognition.

The WMF and Accor partnership will support critical technical preparation and stakeholder engagement to advance conversation planning and explore sustainable visitor experiences for this endangered industrial landscape. The project exemplifies how thoughtful heritage management can revitalize lesser-known destinations while protecting their authentic character and cultural significance.

Historic Water Systems of Bhuj  India

At the heart of Bhuj in western India, Lake Hamirsar symbolizes the citys enduring relationship with water. Built in the 16th century, this artificial reservoir and its complex network of stepwells, reservoirs, and canals have sustained the growth of Bhuj despite harsh climate conditions. Today, many of these systems are underused or in disrepair, even as the region faces growing water insecurity linked to climate change and rapid urban development.

Together with the CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), WMF and Accor will help revitalize the citys historic hydrologic systems by integrating traditional knowledge into current water management strategies. As part of this project, Accor will lend its expertise to support sustainable development in what is a region undergoing significant growth and change. By reconnecting the citys historic systems with its present-day needs, the project will improve local water resilience while restoring the local communitys cultural relationship with water.

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Line Crieloue

Group external communications - Executive Director - Corporate

+33 1 45 38 18 11

Accor

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA  IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the worlds leading hospitality companies, has announced the signing of three new hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Future Hospitality Summit Riyadh 2025. In partnership with Ashaad, a leading Saudi real estate developer, the trio of hotels, Hotel Indigo Jeddah Gate, InterContinental Al Khobar Al Hamra, and voco Al Khobar Al Andalus, further cement IHGs commitment to the Kingdoms tourism ambitions and Saudi Vision 2030.

All three hotels are expected to open between 2028 and 2030, and together will add more than 1,700 rooms to IHGs growing portfolio in Saudi Arabia. The hotels will be operated under IHGs management agreements, further expanding the groups footprint in key cities across the Kingdom.

InterContinental Al Khobar Al Hamra

This 326-key hotel promises a new era of luxury hospitality in the Eastern Province, true to the InterContinental brand. Adjacent to the high-end Al Shubaily Grand Mall, InterContinental Al Khobar Al Hamrawill provide discerning travellers with the signature luxury and service synonymous with the InterContinental name. Al Khobar continues to be one of Saudi Arabias most dynamic markets in the Eastern province, and the new hotel will serve both business and leisure guests in the heart of the Dammam metropolitan area.

voco Al Khobar Al Andalus

As IHGs fastest-growing premium brand, voco hotels are celebrated for their distinct character and reliably delightful experiences. voco Al Khobar Al Andalus is the latest addition to the brands growing portfolio, featuring 717 thoughtfully appointed rooms that will blend the brands signature charm with premium hospitality. With proximity to key attractions including the Corniche, the hotel will deliver on vocos hallmarks 'Come on in', 'Me time', and 'voco life', enriching the brands presence in the Eastern Province and serving the citys growing mix of business and leisure demand.

Hotel Indigo Jeddah Gate

With 700 keys, Hotel Indigo Jeddah Gate will be located a dynamic mixed-use development featuring residential, commercial, and hospitality components. Just a short drive from the historic Al Balad District, Jeddah Central Development, and the Royal Court, the hotel is positioned to meet the rising demand for modern, lifestyle-driven hospitality in southern Jeddah. Hotel Indigo Jeddah Gate will offer guests immersive experiences that reflect the areas rich culture, unique identity, and diverse community.

We mark a significant milestone in our journey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the signing of three new hotels in partnership with Ashaad. With over 1,700 rooms across Jeddah and Al Khobar, this latest expansion strengthens our commitment to the Kingdoms ambitious tourism plans under the Vision 2030. Our premium, lifestyle and luxury portfolio has grown significantly in recent years, and the signing of three new hotels alongside Ashaad will support the growth we are witnessing in the Kingdom. The three brands we are signing today are going to offer new and compelling luxury and premium hospitality experiences to cater to the needs of most discerning of travellers across Jeddah and Al Khobar. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts, India, Middle East & Africa

In line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias ambitious Vision 2030 and its ongoing economic transformation, which is positioning the Kingdom among the worlds leading destinations, Ashaad Company is proud to contribute to this dynamic developmental journey. We are pleased to announce a strategic partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts to introduce three distinguished hotel brands across the western and eastern regions of the Kingdom. This milestone represents a significant advancement in our ongoing efforts to deliver world-class hospitality projects that meet and exceed international standards. This collaboration underscores our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional hotel experiences that strengthen the Kingdoms standing as a premier global tourism destination, catering to both domestic and international guests. At Ashaad, we are honored to support the growth of the hospitality sector in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, through innovative and outstanding projects that reflect the evolving aspirations of the market. Mr. Ali bin Mohammed Al Ali, Chairman of Ashaad Company

IHG currently operates 45 hotels across six brands in Saudi Arabia, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and voco, with 49 hotels in the development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years.

About IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Ankita Chopra

Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, IMEA

+971 4 213 6043

IHG

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Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has launched the Bodu Huraa Tree Planting Project, a community-driven sustainability initiative designed to offset Scope 3 carbon emissions while deepening the Resorts long-standing partnership with its neighbouring island, Bodu Huraa. The initiative aligns with the global Four Seasons For Good framework, reinforcing the brands commitment to environmental stewardship and local empowerment.

The first phase - completed on April 17, 2025 - saw the planting of 50 Casuarina trees along a 260-metre (850 foot) stretch of public land on Bodu Huraa, with a total of 100 trees set to be planted over the second quarter of the year. Conducted with the support and approval of the Bodu Huraa Island Council, the project brings together the Resorts Green Team and Grounds & Landscaping department with members of the Bodu Huraa community in a shared act of contribution.

Chosen for their drought tolerance and hardiness in coastal conditions, the Casuarina trees will form a resilient greenbelt that enhances the local environment with minimal water needs - an intentional move that balances ecological benefit with practical care.

Beyond its environmental value, the Bodu Huraa Tree Planting Project signals a strategic step in the Resorts approach to climate responsibility: focusing on hyper-local action that generates measurable impact while reinforcing inter-island relationships. It follows the successful 100-coconut-tree planting project at Kuda Huraa and marks a shift toward carbon offsetting strategies that prioritise community relevance and cross-generational benefit.

Our relationship with Bodu Huraa goes far beyond geography. This project is a reflection of our shared values, mutual respect, and commitment to nurturing the place we both call home - together. Didier Jardin, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

As part of its broader environmental and social responsibility goals, the Resort will continue to explore localised solutions that contribute to climate action while strengthening the ties that bind land, people, and purpose.

To find out more about our conservation efforts at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, including the Bodu Huraa Tree Planting Project and other impactful initiatives, click here.

About Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts opened its first hotel in 1961, and since that time has been dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. Currently operating 119 hotels and resorts, and 44 residential properties in major city centres and resort destinations in 47 countries, and with more than 50 projects under planning or development, Four Seasons consistently ranks among the world's best hotels and most prestigious brands in reader polls, traveller reviews and industry awards. For more information and reservations, visit fourseasons.com. For the latest news, visit press.fourseasons.com and follow @FourSeasonsPR on Twitter.

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In a competitive hospitality landscape, Singapore based Millennium Hotels and Resorts, with more than 80 destinations spread across four continents, has selected Amadeus digital media solution to increase brand awareness and bookings at its properties.

Amadeus data-driven marketing expertise and proprietary insights empower Millennium to connect with its target audiences more effectively, fostering engagement and loyalty. Using a combination of search engine optimization (SEO), social media, display advertising, and metasearch, Millennium can strategically target potential travelers at the right time and through the right channels. The partnership exemplifies how tailored media strategies can enhance brand visibility and drive bookings.

Millennium has already enjoyed a strong partnership with Amadeus: a global relationship that has focused on continuous innovation and effective campaign execution. By subscribing to other Amadeus solutions such as its global distribution system (GDS) for distribution, travel intelligence for insights and Delphi for its group events business, Millennium has enhanced its operations and guest experiences.

We are thrilled to celebrate a decade of successful collaboration with Amadeus, especially as this renewal coincides with Millennium commemorating 30 years in the hospitality industry. This partnership has been instrumental in enhancing our digital presence and connecting with our guests more effectively. We look forward to continuing this journey of innovation and excellence in the years to come. Anthoney Jayasekara, Vice President, Global Digital Marketing, CRM & Platforms, Millennium Hotels and Resorts

We are proud to mark ten years of strategic partnership with Millennium Hotels and Resorts across many of our products. This collaboration has demonstrated the impact of strategic media solutions in boosting brand visibility and driving profitable demand. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue innovating and leveraging our data-driven marketing expertise, along with our BI suite, to better inform our digital marketing strategy and help customers connect with travelers in meaningful ways. Jan Tissera, Head of International, Hospitality, Amadeus

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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Earlier today, on stage at the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia taking place at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh this week, the winners of the 2025 FHS Awards were announced.

The recipient of the Future Leader Award is Lama AlQawasmi, Co-Founder and COO, Hospitality Talents.

In partnership with Sommet Education, the Future Leader Award recognises young, ambitious talent shaping the future of hospitality in Saudi Arabia. Based on three key criteria  innovation, impact and leadership - Lama was chosen as the winner by a jury consisting of Louis Nicolas Barrios, Regional Manager Innovation Education and Investment, UN Tourism; Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO, The Bench; Carlos Diez de la Lastra, Chief Executive Officer, Les Roches and Anouck Weiss, Sommet Education Chief Communication Officer, Co-founder and Executive Vice President of The Sommet Education Foundation.

On the occasion, Anouck Weiss shared: Lama AlQawasmi embodies the empowering, people-centric leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, and deep passion for hospitality that we strive to nurture at Sommet Education. She represents exactly the kind of leader the hospitality world needs - driven by purpose, committed to others, and unafraid to shape the future.

As part of Lamas prize, she will get access to an exclusive scholarship opportunity within Sommet Educations portfolio of Masters, Executive Masters or part-time education at Glion Institute of Higher Education or Les Roches Global Hospitality in the UK, Switzerland, and Spain, access to Sommet Education's alumni networks, internships, and job placement opportunities.

The winner of the Impact Leader Award by #FHSWomenPower is Narjes Fattalah, Revenue Manager, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel.

The award celebrates Saudi-national women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, career growth, and industry impact. Narjes was chosen as the winner from a selection of candidates by a jury consisting of Dr. Abeer A. Alamri, Skills Development and Talent Optimization Expert; Nikolina Angelkova, Former Minister Tourism, Bulgaria and Sarah Gasim, Senior Vice President, Head of Hotels KSA, JLL.

Narjes Fallatah is one of the very few Saudi females in Revenue Management and she is dedicated to nurturing local talent, empowering women in hospitality, and driving commercial success through data-driven decisions. She has demonstrated a strong belief in and commitment to the industry, successfully paving the way for future careers. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, organiser of FHS Saudi Arabia

By recognising these rising stars, we aim to empower and support the next generation of hospitality leaders who are already leading with impact, creativity, and purpose in the hospitality space. As part of our commitment to championing gender diversity and empowering women in hospitality, the #FHSWomenPower Impact Leader Award is the first of its kind, recognising outstanding Saudi national women shaping the future of the industry , Worsley added.

FHS Saudi Arabia is taking place at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh from 11-13 May 2025, with the overarching theme of Where Vision Shapes Opportunity. For more information, visit https://www.futurehospitality.com/sa

About FHS Africa

For over a decade, the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa) has been the launchpad for hospitality investment in Africa, driving growth, connecting visionaries, and transforming the continent's tourism and hospitality landscape. As a beacon of opportunity, FHS Africa brings together global investors, developers, operators, and industry leaders committed to turning potential into reality.

About The Bench

The Bench has a legacy of delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these events has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way businesses connect; Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meetings for the industry.

For over two decades, government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups, and consultants have been participating in The Bench's events. These include FHS Africa, FHS World, FHS Saudi Arabia and AviaDev, where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right individuals, opportunities and knowledge.

Anne Bleeker

In2 Consulting

+971 56 603 0886

The Bench
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia 2025 is officially underway at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, taking place from 11-13 May.

Under the theme Where Vision Shapes Opportunity, FHS Saudi Arabia, the Kingdoms most influential hospitality investment conference, brings together hospitality leaders, investors and decision-makers to discuss hotel performance and development, the outlook for hospitality investment in the Kingdom and the key market trends driving the sector.

The official opening remarks were delivered this morning by His Highness Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khalid Al Saud, Secretary General, King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Al Khozama Investment Company.

Hospitality in Saudi Arabia is no longer just about infrastructure or service - its about identity, culture, talent, and future leadership. It is about creating opportunities for the people of this country to tell their story, and to shape the experience of those who come to discover it. HH Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khalid, Secretary General, King Faisal Foundation

The address was delivered in the distinguished presence of Mahmoud Abdulhadi, Deputy minister of tourism for destination enablement, Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, who also took to the stage to discuss Where Vision Shapes Opportunity.

The FHS Saudi Arabia program, which covers everything from start-ups to staffing and innovation to investment over three days, features 150+ speakers across 80 sessions in 18 different content tracks, covering key themes including Investment, Financing & Real Estate, Destination Development, Technology & Innovation, Sustainability & ESG, and Luxury, F&B and Experiential Hospitality.

We are delighted to be back at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, thanks to our host sponsor Al Khozama Investment and look forward to a very exciting few days of strong debate and valuable insights from the regions most respected and experienced leaders to help shape the future of our industry. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, organizer of FHS Saudi Arabia

Khalid Saud AbuHaimed, Chief Executive Officer, Al Khozama Investment, commented: Our partnership with FHS reflects our belief in the power of hospitality to drive opportunity and excellence.

The event kicked off yesterday with the launch of the NextGen: Investment Forum, a brand new, first-of-its-kind event that tackled the key issues and opportunities surrounding education, training, and talent retention in Saudi Arabia's hospitality industry. With 1 million new tourism jobs predicted by 2030 and 320,000 new hotel rooms, investing in the next generation of leaders in hospitality is fundamental to delivering KSAs Vision 2030 goals.

The action-packed agenda features a wide variety of session formats from main stage keynotes, panel discussions and exclusive leadership conversations, master classes, roundtable discussions and networking sessions. In addition to the main conference programme a record number of signing ceremonies for new projects and partnerships are set to take place this year, following USD$ 1.1 billion in business opportunities announced at FHS Saudi Arabia in 2024.

About FHS Africa

For over a decade, the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa) has been the launchpad for hospitality investment in Africa, driving growth, connecting visionaries, and transforming the continent's tourism and hospitality landscape. As a beacon of opportunity, FHS Africa brings together global investors, developers, operators, and industry leaders committed to turning potential into reality.

About The Bench

The Bench has a legacy of delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these events has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way businesses connect; Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meetings for the industry.

For over two decades, government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups, and consultants have been participating in The Bench's events. These include FHS Africa, FHS World, FHS Saudi Arabia and AviaDev, where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right individuals, opportunities and knowledge.

Anne Bleeker

In2 Consulting

+971 56 603 0886

The Bench
From Left to Right Yap Lip Seng - CEO RJJ Hotels Sdn. Bhd, Liu Hegeng - General Manager Hotel Department Sanher Investment & Development Co., Ltd, Zhou Ying - Director Sanher Investment & Development Co., Ltd Amin Sidek - Executive Director RJJ Hotels Sdn. Bhd Dato' Seri Shaheen Shah - Managing Director RIYAZ International Sdn. Bhd Ng Kok Ming - Director NOVAC Hospitality Sdn. Bhd

RIYAZ International Sdn. Bhd. has partnered with Jin Jiang Hotels China Region to form a joint venture, RJJ Hotels Sdn. Bhd. The venture aims to manage and expand five Jin Jiang brands across Southeast Asia.

The first Hotel Management Agreement under this partnership has been signed for a property in Luang Prabang, Laos, marking the beginning of RJJ Hotels' operations in Southeast Asia.

The hospitality and lifestyle group, RIYAZ International Sdn. Bhd., has joined forces with Jin Jiang Hotels China Region, to create a new joint venture named RJJ Hotels Sdn. Bhd. The partnership was made official by signing the first Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) on May 3, 2025.

RJJ Hotels has been given the rights to manage and expand five prominent brands under Jin Jiang Hotels across Southeast Asia. Over the next five years, the joint venture will sign 181 hotel management agreements and operate 108 hotels across growth markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos.

The first HMA was signed with Sanher Investment & Development Co. Ltd. for a Luang Prabang, Laos hotel. The hotel, part of Jin Jiang Hotels' Metropolo portfolio, is set to open in early 2026. Metropolo hotels are typically 4- to 5-star properties with 100 or more rooms, located in cities rich in history. The brand is recognized for combining classic luxury with local cultural elements.

Malaysia, currently serving as the ASEAN Chair, will be RJJ Hotels' operational headquarters. In 2024, Malaysia recorded over 25 million international tourists, and it will host significant regional events in the coming years.

RJJ Hotels will manage five hotel brands under the Jin Jiang portfolio, including METROPOLO JINJIANG HOTELS, GINCO HOTEL, RENJOY HOTEL, LAVANDE, and JINJIANG INN. These brands are expected to anchor RJJ Hotels' presence in key cities and leisure destinations.

An investor conference launch event is scheduled for August 27, 2025, to mark the collaboration between RJJ Hotels and Jin Jiang Hotels. The event will introduce the Jin Jiang Global Purchasing Platform (GPP) in Southeast Asia, managed by NOVAC Hospitality Sdn. Bhd. GPP will provide streamlined access to Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E) as well as Operating Supplies and Equipment (OS&E), offering cost savings, quality consistency, and faster rollouts to support regional expansion.
Hotel Giants Bet on Latin America and Caribbean Despite Regional Uncertainties - Image Credit Unsplash

Stephanie Ricca of CoStar reports from the recent Americas Lodging Investment Summit CALA conference that despite the inherent uncertainties in Latin America and the Caribbean, global hotel brand leaders are optimistic about long-term growth opportunities in the region. They are banking on strong intra-regional travel and reliable local financing partners.

Hotel Brands' Growth Strategy

Despite the region's inherent uncertainties, hotel brand leaders are bullish on the long-term prospects in Latin America and the Caribbean. They are focusing on expansion in this region, considering variables such as government changes and socio-economic situations.

Gilda Perez-Alvarado, chief strategy officer and CEO of the Orient Express brand for Accor, noted that despite some deceleration of CALA-based travelers coming to the U.S., American travel to the CALA region, especially dollar-denominated nations, remains robust. Accor currently has 500 hotels and 75,000 rooms in the region, making up nearly 10% of its global portfolio.

Positive Trends and Deal Opportunities

Jolyon Bulley, CEO of the Americas for IHG Hotels & Resorts, highlighted the region's "strong fundamentals," such as rising middle-class populations and wealthier retirees willing to travel. Gustavo Viescas, president of the CALA region for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, asserted that the ability of hoteliers in this part of the world to navigate downturns is a key strength. This is evidenced by Wyndham's 268 regional hotels and 45,000 rooms.

Bruce Wardinski, chairman and CEO of Playa Hotels & Resorts, pointed out that every downside has an upside. For example, if Canadians travel to Mexico or the Caribbean instead of the U.S. during winter, it would be a significant plus for them.

Concerns and Anticipations

Despite expressing concerns about slowing deals, hotel executives remain largely optimistic. Keith Pierce, executive vice president and president of franchise and development for Sonesta, noted that deal volume in various Latin American countries is frothy, which could signal performance improvement.

However, Andres Fajardo, CEO of GHL Hoteles, expressed caution, observing that the "willingness to invest is not there" at the moment, indicating a need for a wait-and-see approach.

Opportunities for Growth and Expansion

Despite the slowdown in transactions, many see this period as an opportunity for growth. This could come via conversions from other brands, and there's also an opportunity for consolidation among management companies.

A crucial aspect of these expansions is the presence of solid, local development partners. As Perez-Alvarado noted, the largest hotel owners in Latin America are Latin Americans. Major hotel brands have been working with local entities to ensure deal success. This often requires creative deal structuring, including residential units or aggressive deal structures.

Bulley also pointed out that high-end hotel development with residential components drives cash flow across their business. IHG's Kimpton Monterrey, scheduled to open in Mexico next year, will bring hotel rooms and residences to the city's new-build Torre Rise mixed-use development, touted to be the tallest tower in Latin America upon completion.

Discover more at CoStar.
Hotel Corte Rosada - Image Credit Melia Hotels

Melia Hotels International is set to expand its Mediterranean portfolio by including Hotel Corte Rosada, which will open in Sardinia in summer 2025.

The new beachfront hotel will take Melia's presence in Italy from 8 to a projected 15 properties by 2027, doubling the company's portfolio.

Melia Hotels International is set to further expand its Mediterranean portfolio with the addition of a new property in Sardinia, Italy, one of the country's most attractive coastal destinations. The company has announced the Hotel Corte Rosada, which is expected to open in the summer of 2025. The 4-star beachfront property is in Alghero, 15 minutes from Riviera del Corallo Airport.

Situated along the coast of Alghero, within the Porto Conte Regional Natural Park, Hotel Corte Rosada will provide guests with a remarkable setting where nature, wellness, and the Mediterranean lifestyle meet. The property, with direct access to the sandy beach and surrounded by crystal-clear waters, pine forests, and dramatic cliffs, offers an ideal environment for relaxation and outdoor exploration. The hotel will have 152 rooms, a wellness center, and various dining options, including a restaurant, bar, and breakfast venue, all designed to deliver a relaxed and immersive island experience.

Alghero, a Catalan-origin enclave known for its natural beauty and cultural charm, is located on Sardinia's northwestern coast. It offers a vibrant old town, access to iconic sites such as Capo Caccia, Neptune's Grotto, Punta Giglio, and Monte Doglia, proximity to nature reserves, vineyards, and diving spots, providing a perfect mix of sea, heritage, and outdoor adventure for modern travelers.

Hotel Corte Rosada marks the second property by Melia on the island, joining Bellevue Sardinia, which opened in 2024, and it will be the fifteenth hotel in the company's growing Italian portfolio. In addition to Alghero, Melia is also planning to debut new properties in Venice and Milan later in 2025, emphasizing its commitment to key cultural and tourism centers across Italy.

The company currently operates 8 hotels in Italy and plans to increase this number to 15 properties by 2027.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Signs First EVEN Hotel in the Middle East - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to launch its first Middle East EVEN Hotel in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The wellness-focused lifestyle brand aims to redefine the concept of "travel well" in the region. The new hotel will open in January 2029 in a partnership with Marassi Al Bahr Development Company, a subsidiary of the Al Khaldi Holding group of companies.

The EVEN Hotel Dammam is designed to provide its guests with fulfilling, inclusive, and personal wellness experiences. The hotel features in-room wellness zones, various food and drink options, and state-of-the-art fitness and recreation facilities. The hotel is further designed to adapt to the guests' evolving needs, balancing productivity, relaxation, and connection.

Located in the King Abdullah Civic Center in Dammam, the hotel will provide direct access to government buildings, cultural institutions, and commercial zones, enhancing the area's status as a growing civic and business hub.

The city of Dammam, the commercial heart of the Eastern Province, offers considerable potential for business and leisure travelers. IHG Hotels & Resorts already operates 45 hotels across six brands in Saudi Arabia, and this new signing continues to strengthen its presence in the Eastern region.

The EVEN Hotel Dammam launch aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 tourism and lifestyle ambitions. The signing marks the brand's debut in the Middle East and sets the stage for IHG Hotels & Resorts' future growth in the region. With this new addition, IHG Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its portfolio, with 47 hotels currently in the development pipeline and set to open within the next three to five years.
Lola Greene Legacy Scholarship Applications Available

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Applications are now being accepted for the Lola Greene Legacy Scholarship.

A one-time grant of $250-$500 will be awarded to a graduating high school senior from Berkshire County who is planning to continue to study Latin and/or the Classics in college.

The scholarship will be awarded based on scholastic achievement with emphasis on Latin study and related activities, future plans to continue Latin and Classics studies, and demonstrated leadership and good moral character.

Lola Greene taught at Mt. Greylock Regional High School from 1984 through 2000. During this time she developed the school's Latin program and Junior Classical League into one of the most successful programs in the state. She instituted toga and catapult contests, won numerous teaching awards, and has a place in the school's Hall of Fame.

Lola lived a life filled with integrity, compassion, and love for all those around her. She was a dynamic and dedicated educator who inspired her students to achieve to the best of their abilities.
Michael and Renee Tessier at Renee's Diner will be welcoming a film crew this month to document the diner and its most popular dishes. Renee's favorite dish is a vegetable omelet with feta cheese. Michael like the fried eggs and hash browns. PreviousNext

Renee's Diner to be Featured on America's Best Restaurants



Renee's opened in 2009 and offers indoor and outdoor dining (in good weather) with a wide range of breakfast and lunch offerings. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  A local diner has been selected as one of America's best restaurants and a camera crew will be rolling in at the end of May.

"We're nervous, but excited to get the acknowledgement and notoriety that we feel like Renee's Diner has really built," owner, Renee Tessier said. "We've built this, and we're excited to share it with not only our community, but now the whole United States is going to know when they come into Massachusetts.

"And how fun for North Adams that they're going to have this ... you got this best restaurant. I think that's huge for our city."

Tessier opened the diner in 2009. She said she loves food and had waitressed at many local restaurants and catered at the Clark Art Institute for awhile before opening the diner.

"I love to show my love through food, and I love the people, and I really feel like I've created an environment in my restaurant where we're just friends, and you're at my house, and you're having breakfast with us, and you know, it's more of a family-type setting," she said.

She added that to run a business, you have to love what you do like she does.

"I would say owning a restaurant is more of a passionate thing than a financial endeavor," Tessier said. "And so I feel like anyone that knows me could attest to the fact that I love the restaurant."

Tessier also credited her hardworking staff  head waitress Mary Jo Nelson, who's been with her for seven years, and head chef, Michael Harris, who has been with Renee's Diner for 13 years.

"I'm good at the restaurant, and I think that's showcased with the staff that I've picked that represent me and our restaurant out front, and the staff that lovingly cooks our food with myself included, and my two cooks in the back, I think that represents what we're about and what I'm about," she said.

"Wouldn't be Renee's Diner without them."

The diner in the former bus depot offers from scratch baked goods, soups and salads, sandwiches, burgers and fries, comfort food and, of course, breakfast. One of her favorite dishes is the vegetable omelet, while her husband, Michael, who also helps out at the diner, loves the hash.

"Mine would be the vegetable omelet. It's all fresh eggs and vegetables, fresh produce. I love feta cheese in my omelet. The way our omelets are made, they're like, big and fluffy and the rye toast," she said.

The diner has had strong support from the community, Tessier added, and spoke of how important the community is to her.

"We are in this for the community and for the long haul, and being recognized by being on America's Best Restaurants really puts North Adams on the map," she said. "Maybe not everybody would agree with, you know, Renee's Diner is the best restaurant, but we surely agree with that, and I know that the customers that love and support us agree with that, and I feel like our community would, agree with that."

She's sure the diner will be going strong the next five years and sees the restaurant being put on the map for Massachusetts as a validation of her efforts.

"I think my hard work has been has paid off with the recognition of what's going to happen at the end of May," she said.

America's Best Restaurants contacted Tessier last year saying they were interested in the diner for the show.

"I think they contacted me last year, last September, and their one of their scouts, his name was Kyle, lives in Tennessee, works for America's Best Restaurant, contacted me through our website and said that they had been scouting us, reading our reviews, looking at the restaurant, looking at our photos, and they were interested in bringing our business to their producers," she said. "And would I be interested if the producers were interested in talking to me, if I were interested in talking to them?"

The answer was "yes" and show's crew will arrive on May 29 to film and taste the food from 9 to noon.

The show is now in its fifth season with more than 2,000 videos on YouTube of between 10 and 13 minutes. It also appears on other social media platforms.

Tessier said she gets to pick three dishes the host will eat and will talk to them about the diner while they try their food.

America's Best Restaurant encourages a packed house and Tessier is inviting the community to come out and support them on this day.
The Board of Health voted Monday to suspend the permit for the Stay Berkshires motel on Cold Spring Road for code violations. The board also endorsed a bylaw to ban smoking in multi-unit buildings.

Williamstown Board of Health Endorses Smoking Ban Proposal



Board members Chair Win Stuebner, left, and Devan Bartels participate in Monday's meeting. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Board of Health on Monday voted to "strongly support" the passage of a town meeting warrant article that would ban smoking in much of the town's multi-family housing stock.

Article 30 on the May 22 meeting warrant would disallow smoking or vaping tobacco products inside any multi-family dwelling with an exemption for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units.

William Raymond of Stratton Road pitched the idea to the board back in March, and the Select Board last month voted , 4-1, to recommend town meeting passage, an endorsement that appears on the printed warrant.

The Board of Health did not meet in time after Raymond's initial presentation to take an advisory vote that could appear in the warrant, but on Monday, four members of the board in attendance voted unanimously to sign a brief letter that Raymond will be welcome to read aloud from the floor of town meeting.

"While the BOH has enacted stringent rules for where smoking is allowed and has also prohibited smoking in open areas outside restaurants, schools, etc., second-hand smoke is a well-documented public health hazard that is more difficult to regulate," the letter drafted by Chair Win Stuebner reads, in part. "However, it has many of the same detrimental health effects that smoking does. In multi-unit housing, smoke can migrate through the ventilation system, walls, open spaces, etc., and can expose the vulnerable, e.g., children, the elderly and those with chronic cardiac and lung disease, to its harmful effects."

Before voting to sign the letter, the panel held a discussion during which members both expressed strong concurrence with the intent of Raymond's proposal and wondered aloud whether the proposed bylaw would be enforceable and how much the burden of enforcement would fall on Health Inspector Ruth Russell.

They also acknowledged the personal freedom issues that may come up at town meeting, leading Stuebner to wonder about Article 30's chances when put to a vote.

"That's a question voters will have to decide at town meeting," Devan Bartels said. "That's why we're not legislating this. The Board of Health can recommend it be passed.  I'm going to sign my name to a recommendation it be passed as a member of the Board of Health and a resident of Williamstown. We're going to find out whether the people of Williamstown agree or disagree.

"But when I put on my Board of Health hat, [a smoking ban], to me, is a greater good than the protection to vote or vape wherever you want. People will disagree with me, and that's their right.

"We're not the board of privacy. We're the Board of Health."

The proposed bylaw, as drafted by Raymond, would impose a $100 fine for the first violation, a $200 for a second violation within a 24-month period and a $300 fine for each subsequent violation within 24 months of the first violation.

Bartels noted that the proposal would bring privately-owned multi-family housing in town up to the same standards as publicly financed housing, where smokers must stay at least 25 feet from any part of the building.

Russell told the board that she already fields complaints from residents about smokers, specifically referencing the senior housing at Proprietor's Field, and she works with the property's manager to address those concerns. But Russell added that she expects if Article 30 passes and gets the blessing of the Attorney General's Office in Boston, she likely would see an increase in those complaints and enforcement actions.

"If this gets passed, I'll do everything in my power to make sure it's followed correctly," Russell said. "I think it's tricky, but it's doable."

In other business on Monday, the Board of Health took an enforcement action against a local hotel, suspending the permit for the Stay Berkshires property on Cold Spring Road, near the junction of Routes 2 and 7, in South Williamstown.

Russell told the board that the motel had its certificate of occupancy revoked by the town's building department on April 2, and that she joined the building inspector on a review that led to the revocation and found, in addition, violations of the state sanitary code that are under the board's jurisdiction.

She noted that the motel cannot operate without a certificate of occupancy but suspending the permit will force the operator to address both the building and health-related issues before again welcoming guests.

"Noteworthy, there was no hot water at this time, the railing on the second story is very close to not being able to hold weight  lots of shower fixtures are missing," Russell said. "It doesn't look like it's ready to open."

One issue for the building inspector was that the property had work done without taking out building permits, Russell said. The owner has since pulled those permits, and the work is under review by the building department.

"Some of the reasons for violations on the health code end might have to do with a pipe bursting in the winter," Russell said. "Insulation falling from ceilings, some moist areas. I don't think it's anything that can't be solved.

"I felt as though without a certificate of occupancy, I didn't think they should hold a permit at this time."

Stuebner, Barrels, Ronald Stant and James Parkinson voted to suspend the motel's permit. A fifth member of the board, Sandy Goodbody, did not attend Monday's meeting.

In other business on Monday, Russell told the board that she soon will be rolling out a small program to provide free air-conditioners and fans to residents who need them make their living spaces safer during the heat of summer.

The town was one of a couple of communities chosen by the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association for a pilot program, and Williamstown received a handful of air-conditioners to distribute. Russell is working with the town's Council on Aging to develop a plan to distribute the, admittedly, scarce resource, and Russell will collect data from recipients about how the units helped them  data the county association can use to seek future grants.
DevOpsCon San Diego 2025

19.05.2025 bis 22.05.2025

Art der Veranstaltung: Seminar Ort: San Diego Datum: 19.05.2025 - 22.05.2025 Uhrzeit: 9:00 - 18:00 Veranstalter: Software & Support Media GmbH Teilnahmeoptionen: Prasenzveranstaltung, Aufzeichnung Zielgruppe: C-Level, Fachexperten, Branchenoffentlichkeit, Arbeitnehmer URL: https://devopscon.io/san-diego/ E-Mail: marketing@sandsmedia.com Telefon: 017693102012 Voranmeldung erwunscht: ja

Join us for DevOpsCon San Diego, taking place from May 1922, 2025, in sunny San Diego. This top-tier conference is perfect for DevOps professionals, developers, and IT leaders looking to master the latest in continuous delivery, automation, and cloud-native technologies. Whether you're a seasoned DevOps expert or just getting started, DevOpsCon San Diego offers invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you boost your skills and drive innovation in your organization.



The conference features a rich program of keynotes, hands-on workshops, and interactive panel discussions led by leading DevOps experts. Topics will cover Kubernetes, microservices, CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps, and much more, providing you with the tools and techniques needed to optimize your workflow and ensure reliable, high-performing systems. You'll walk away with actionable strategies to implement right away.



DevOpsCon San Diego is ideal for DevOps engineers, developers, IT managers, and anyone passionate about modern IT infrastructure and operations. Don't miss this chance to connect with like-minded professionals, expand your network, and gain the skills needed to stay ahead in the fast-moving world of DevOps. Visit our website today to explore the full agenda and secure your ticket. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The Hong Kong administration has fast-tracked the enactment of new legislation under its domestic security law to include a maximum of seven years of jail term for disclosing ongoing investigations by Beijing.

The new legislation appears to be enacted to consolidate Beijing's control over the financial hub, which has witnessed a steady clampdown on dissent.

The Safeguarding National Security Regulation was enforced on Tuesday, just a day after the government proposed the subsidiary legislations in a meeting at the Legislative Council.

The city authorities on Monday announced the new legislative changes to amend the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to provide better "clarity" and support to Beijing's national security office. Hong Kong authorities last year imposed the domestic security law, also known as Article 23, despite growing international criticism that it could erode freedoms in the city.

The subsidiary laws were tabled before a Legislative Council panel on Tuesday and enacted through a negative vetting procedure" which allows the law to be first published before being reviewed by lawmakers.

A government spokesperson said the subsidiary law was enacted "against the increasingly turbulent global geopolitical landscape, national security risks to which the HKSAR [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] is exposed can arise all of a sudden", according to Hong Kong Free Press.

The two pieces of subsidiary legislation are essential from the perspective of protection in respect of the OSNSs [Beijing's Office for Safeguarding National Security] effective performance of its mandate under the requirements" of the city's national security legislation, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson claimed the subsidiary legislation will not affect the lives of the general public, nor hinder the operations of any institutions and organisations.

The new legislation will facilitate the work of Beijings national security office in the city, which includes investigating cases that it exercises jurisdiction over. The law includes designating premises linked to Beijing's national security offices, known as the Office for Safeguarding National Security (OSNS), as "prohibited places".

Anyone who discloses information related to Beijing's OSNS investigations will face a fine of up to HK$500,000 or up to seven years, the law states. Those found guilty of providing false or misleading information to Beijing will also be punished with a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and a jail sentence of up to seven years.

The legislation was gazetted and signed by acting chief executive Eric Chan due to city leader John Lee's current trip to Kuwait.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

In one of the gravest escalations between India and Pakistan in recent memory, both countries appeared perilously close to a full-scale war before an unexpected ceasefire agreement pulled them back from the edge.

For four days, missile strikes, drone attacks, and aerial dogfights pushed the region into a state of high alert, with fears mounting globally about the risks of a nuclear conflict. Now, newly emerged details have shed light on how intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy  led primarily by the United States and supported by China, Saudi Arabia and others  steered the two nuclear powers away from the brink.

According to officials on both sides, a breakthrough came on Saturday afternoon, when India and Pakistans top military commanders spoke directly for the first time since hostilities erupted earlier that week. Though the accounts differ sharply in some areas, both governments now acknowledge that a ceasefire was finalised during a phone call between their respective directors general of military operations.

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Indias director general of military operations (DGMO), said in a briefing on Sunday that the hotline call took place at 3.35pm local time, just as Indian officials were assessing their options following early morning Pakistani strikes. During the conversation, the two sides agreed to halt all offensive operations, and a follow-up call was scheduled to work out terms to ensure the truce would hold.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in his first address to the nation since the conflict began, reiterated the claim that Pakistan contacted India, following Indias aggressive action and began seeking escape routes, appealing globally to de-escalate.

open image in gallery Indian Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) personnel stand guards at the entrance road of the Shri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport on the outskirts of Amritsar on 12 May 2025 ( AFP/Getty )

After being badly defeated, on the afternoon of May 10, the Pakistani army contacted our DGMO, Mr Modi said. By then, we had already destroyed a large part of the terrorist infrastructure, eliminated many terrorists, and turned their terror nests in Pakistan into ruins.

India took Pakistans appeal into consideration after the hostile neighbour pleaded and said it would refrain from further terrorist and military provocations, he said.

Pakistans military confirmed initiating contact but said its outreach had also involved diplomatic intermediaries. A Pakistani official, speaking to CNN, revealed that the US had been pivotal in delivering messages and pushing for resolution behind the scenes. Islamabad reportedly received assurances from Washington that India would honour the ceasefire terms.

The United States took a hands-on approach in the final hours before the truce. According to The Guardian, the first urgent call came at 4am in Islamabad, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted Pakistans army chief General Asim Munir. That call marked the beginning of an intense, eight-hour effort to bring both sides back from escalation.

open image in gallery Schools reopen in Lahore following Pakistan-India ceasefire ( EPA )

Indias initial strikes, carried out on Wednesday, 7 May, were in response to a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, in which 26 people were killed, after being singled out on basis of their religion. India said it was targeting terrorist training camps in Pakistan, not military or civilian sites. New Delhi maintained that its response was proportionate and aimed only at protecting national security.

But the action triggered swift retaliation from Pakistan, which saw the missile launches as a direct threat to its sovereignty and military infrastructure. Early on Saturday morning, Pakistan launched strikes on multiple Indian military bases, including those it believed were involved in the original attacks.

We gave a proportionate response, said Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of Pakistan. An eye for an eye.

The Pakistani military said it waited until after its own retaliatory operations before agreeing to any ceasefire. The Indians requested a ceasefire after the 8th and 9th of May, Major General Chaudhry told reporters, after they started their operation. We told them we will communicate back after our retribution.

open image in gallery Indian Army Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai (L), Indian Airforce Air Marshal AK Bharti (C), Indian Navy Vice Admiral AN Pramod (R) gestures after a press conference in New Delhi, on 12 May 2025 ( AFP/Getty )

From the Pakistani perspective, diplomacy was already being given a chance, with the US playing a leading role. However, Pakistan said it was caught off guard when India struck again early Saturday morning, attacking several key airbases, including Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi  home to Pakistans military leadership and the command responsible for its nuclear arsenal. That strike, according to Pakistani security officials, intensified concerns of imminent nuclear confrontation.

Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly convened a meeting of the National Command Authority, Pakistans top nuclear decision-making body, though the government later denied that such a meeting took place.

At this point, the fear for everyone was a nuclear war between two arch rivals, a Pakistani security official said.

Former prime minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, who had access to high-level discussions, confirmed that the US had conveyed to Pakistans leadership that continued escalation could lead to catastrophic consequences, reported The Guardian. President Donald Trump later claimed on his social media platform that he had averted a bad nuclear war.

Mr Trump, who initially appeared indifferent to the conflict, took credit for brokering peace, announcing the ceasefire on Saturday evening via Truth Social. After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE, he posted.

open image in gallery Students exercise during the morning assembly at their school, following its reopening after the Pakistan-India ceasefire, in Srinagar, India, 13 May 2025 ( EPA )

Indian officials, however, played down Washingtons involvement. Indias foreign ministry insisted the agreement was reached through direct military-to-military communication, not through third parties. Lieutenant General Ghai supported this version, saying India had contacted Pakistan earlier in the week to communicate our compulsions to strike at the heart of terror.

He added that the initial outreach from India was met with a brusque refusal from Pakistan, which warned that a severe response was imminent.

Nevertheless, the American account  supported by Pakistan  suggests that Washingtons role was instrumental. According to Pakistani sources, Mr Rubio was in continuous contact with not only General Munir but also national security adviser Asim Malik and Mr Sharif, reported the Guardian and CNN. Meanwhile, vice president JD Vance held separate conversations with Indias leadership, including prime minister Narendra Modi, urging them to seek an off-ramp to avoid further escalation, reported BBC.

Multiple countries joined the diplomatic push. Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi reportedly spoke with senior officials in both New Delhi and Islamabad, voicing support for a ceasefire. Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom also quietly used diplomatic backchannels to urge restraint.

By 2.30pm Pakistan time on Saturday, the military leaders in both the countries were in direct contact. Although an initial ceasefire was scheduled for 4pm, further incidents along the contested Line of Control in Kashmir caused the start to be delayed slightly.

In the hours that followed, both sides confirmed the agreement publicly. While New Delhi stressed that it had dealt directly with Islamabad, Pakistan made no secret of its gratitude to Washington. We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region, said Mr Sharif.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, 13 May 2025 ( AP )

Differences over the narrative reflect deeper political postures. India, as a self-perceived regional power with a history of rejecting third-party mediation, especially on the Kashmir issue, remains wary of any suggestion of external involvement. Pakistan, by contrast, has historically welcomed international attention, particularly when it believes it has a stronger case to present globally.

As part of the ceasefire, officials say both countries have agreed to future talks aimed at maintaining stability. These discussions are expected to be hosted in a neutral third country, possibly the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement released after the ceasefire, India reiterated that its fight was only with terrorists, adding, It is a shame that the Pakistan military chose to intervene.

Mr Trump, newly invested in the regions affairs, later suggested he would be willing to help resolve the Kashmir dispute. After a thousand years, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir, he wrote on social media. Though the claim was historically inaccurate  the dispute began in 1947 after partition  it marked growing international concern over the stability of one of the worlds most dangerous rivalries.
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Narendra Modi has confirmed that Indias military actions against Pakistan have only been "paused", following an escalation of hostilities last week.

The pause came after both sides launched missile strikes and drone attacks on each others key military facilities, but the Indian prime minister made it clear that this was not the end of Indias offensive stance.

In his first national address since the missile strikes on 7 May, which followed the deadly attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April, Mr Modi expressed that Indias resolve to combat terrorism remains firm.

He underlined that the temporary ceasefire, brokered with the help of international diplomatic efforts, was due to Pakistans urgent plea for de-escalation, and that India would closely monitor Pakistan's actions moving forward.

We have set a new normal, he declared, reiterating that Indias counter-terrorism operations, embodied in Operation Sindoor, are a clear message to Pakistan. He stressed that the operation is not just about striking terrorist hideouts but ensuring that those who sponsor terrorism face consequences.

open image in gallery Indian prime minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation in New Delhi, India, 12 May 2025 ( EPA )

Operation Sindoor was launched after the attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Many of the people killed  all but one tourists  were targeted in front of their families and children based on their religion.

Mr Modi expressed personal anguish over the assault, describing it as an attempt to disrupt India's unity and social harmony. This was an extremely gruesome face of terror, and it shook not only the nation but the world," he said.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, India gave its military full operational freedom to eliminate the terrorists responsible for planning and executing such acts.

The resulting military actions included a series of air and missile strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan, particularly in the regions of Bahawalpur and Muridke  locations known for their historical association with global terror activities. These sites, according to Mr Modi, had long served as training grounds for terrorists linked to major international attacks, including 9/11 and the 2005 London tube bombings.

open image in gallery Students walk to attend classes as their school reopened after a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, in Srinagar on 13 May 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Major terror attacks across the world have had links to these very bases, Mr Modi remarked, adding that more than 100 terrorists had been killed in Indias strikes. The terrorists never imagined India would take such bold action, he said, describing how Indias missiles and drones dismantled Pakistans terror infrastructure and shattered the morale of its terrorist factions.

Pakistan's Army said on Tuesday 11 armed forces and 40 civilians were killed in a military clash with India.

The escalation led to a tense military confrontation, with both sides exchanging missile fire and engaging in drone strikes. Pakistan, after suffering significant damage to its military infrastructure, called for a ceasefire on 10 May, but Mr Modi said India made it clear that this is not an end to the offensive. We have only paused our activities, Mr Modi emphasised. In the coming days, we will continue to assess Pakistans every move.

While Pakistani officials claimed that the ceasefire was negotiated with the intervention of US officials, including secretary of state Mike Pompeo, Mr Modi did not acknowledge the role of international actors in bringing about the truce. Instead, he maintained that Pakistan made the first move, appealing to the global community for de-escalation after its military infrastructure was severely damaged by Indian strikes.

Mr Modi also reiterated Indias stance on future talks with Pakistan, stating that any discussions would be strictly confined to terrorism and the disputed region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He emphasised that India will not tolerate any form of nuclear blackmail and will not differentiate between the Pakistani state and the terrorist groups it allegedly supports.

"Terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go hand in hand," Mr Modi asserted. "Water and blood cannot flow together." He went on to warn that Pakistans continued sponsorship of terrorism could lead to its eventual downfall. "If Pakistan wants to survive, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure, he said.

The Indian prime minister also expressed pride in his countrys military capabilities, particularly in the context of Indias domestically developed defence systems. The world now recognises that the time for Made-in-India defence equipment in 21st-century warfare has arrived, Mr Modi declared. He noted that Indias air defences had successfully intercepted Pakistani drone and missile attacks, with Pakistani missiles and drones being blown away in front of our strong air defence systems.

open image in gallery Television screens show a live telecast of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation for the first time since recent escalations in the India-Pakistan conflict ( EPA )

Mr Modis address to the nation also came on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, a day commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. Drawing a parallel between the teachings of Buddha and Indias approach to international relations, Mr Modi said, The path of peace also follows from the path of strength. He called on the world to recognise Indias position that its strength is fundamental to its pursuit of peace, adding that the countrys unity against terrorism would serve as a powerful example.

As of now, the fragile ceasefire appears to be holding, and the situation along the Line of Control (LoC), the disputed border between Indian and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, has remained relatively calm. Both sides have reportedly agreed to scale back troop deployments in the region, while India has reopened its airports in northern regions that had been closed due to the conflict.

In the aftermath of the ceasefire, tens of thousands of people evacuated from border areas have begun returning to their homes, while Indian authorities have sent teams to clear unexploded ordnance left by the shelling.

Despite this, the underlying tension remains. Mr Modis speech underscored Indias firm stance on combating terrorism, a position that has drawn global attention in light of the ongoing tensions with Pakistan. We have defeated Pakistan every time on the battlefield, and this time Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension, he concluded, saluting the courage and unity of the Indian people and armed forces.
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The brief but deadly military exchanges between India and Pakistan last week reignited long-standing tensions over the disputed region of Kashmir, drawing a surprise offer of mediation from US presidentDonald Trump  an overture that has stirred discomfort in New Delhi.

India has not openly responded to Trumps suggestion that he could help find a solution to the matter of Kashmir, a Himalayan region that is administered in part and claimed in its entirety by both countries. Its resistance to the idea has instead come through unofficial channels and carefully-worded statements from government sources.

In his first national address since the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir that killed 26 people, prime minister Narendra Modi reiterated Indias hardened stance on its nuclear-armed neighbour, who he blamed for the attack. Islamabad has denied involvement.

I also want to say this to the global community  our declared policy remains: if talks are to happen with Pakistan, they will only be on terrorism, he said. And if talks happen with Pakistan, they will be about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Modi added, using the Indian name for the part of Kashmir Pakistan administers.

Terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. Terror and trade cannot go hand in hand. And water and blood cannot flow together, he said, the latter sentence a reference to Indias threats to suspend a key water-sharing treaty amid the two countries standoff.

Notably absent from Modis speech was any mention of Trumps offer to mediate in the conflict. The omission reflects Indias deep-seated unease with external involvement in the Kashmir dispute, a position it has held since the partition of 1947. Despite a four-day conflict that involved drones, missiles, and cross-border artillery  killing at least 66 people  India maintained that the ceasefire that followed was the result of direct military-to-military engagement, not outside intervention.

Trump, however, took credit for the de-escalation, posting on his social media platform that the US had helped broker peace and that he would work with both countries to see if, after a thousand years, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. Pakistan welcomed the remarks, thanking Trump for what it called a constructive role.

open image in gallery An Indian soldier feeds pigeons at a market, day after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire ( AP )

"We also appreciate President Trumps expressed willingness to support efforts aimed at the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, said the Pakistan government, according to India Today.

India, by contrast, remained publicly silent while reinforcing its view that Kashmir is an internal matter.

Major General Rameshwar Roy, a retired Indian Army officer, dismissed Trumps offer outright, calling it irrelevant and intrusive.

It has no meaning as far as India is concerned because our stated position on this issue has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, and the world has nothing to do with it, he told The Independent.

open image in gallery Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif addresses the nation after Pakistan-India ceasefire agreement ( EPA )

Trump also has nothing to do with it, and we do not want it at any point of time We have never sought or welcomed third-party intervention in Jammu and Kashmir, he said in an apparent reference to the Simla Agreement, in which India maintained that any talks on Kashmir, if held, must strictly remain bilateral.

Indian officials reiterated that they view Kashmir as off-limits for foreign commentary or mediation. India doesnt want anyone to mediate. We dont need anyone to mediate, a senior Indian official told India Today, echoing General Roys view.

According to Harsh V Pant, a visiting professor at Kings College London, this position is deeply entrenched in Indias strategic doctrine. Broadly, there is a discomfort in India, primarily because India doesn't see this as an issue where others have any locus standi, he told The Independent. Any idea of another country trying to butt in is something India opposes.

open image in gallery Local residents remove a burnt motorbike from near their shops damaged by Indian shelling, at the main bazaar, a day after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced ( AP )

The recent flare-up marked a shift from previous skirmishes, which were mostly confined to the volatile Line of Control. This time, both sides targeted installations deeper within each others territories, raising fears of a broader war between the two nuclear powers.

Critics argue that Trump's remarks bolstered Pakistans long-standing efforts to bring the Kashmir issue back into the international spotlight.

A core and consistent Pakistani foreign policy goal is to internationalise the Kashmir issue. And thats exactly what has happened here, Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst based in Washington, told the Associated Press. Much to the chagrin of an Indian government that takes a rigid position that the issue is settled.

Major General Roy agreed that Trump's comments may have inadvertently helped Pakistan achieve this strategic objective. Pakistan has been able to once again put Kashmir on the centre stage of world affairs and particularly Americas attention, he said. And that has been one of the gains they appear to have made during this crisis, which has been growing since 22 April.

open image in gallery A villager stands outside a house damaged by overnight Pakistani artillery shelling ( AFP/Getty )

Opposition leaders in India have seized upon Trumps comments to challenge the governments handling of the crisis. Have we opened the doors to third-party mediation? asked Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh. Swapan Dasgupta, a former lawmaker from Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, said the ceasefire had not gone down well in India partly because "Trump suddenly appeared out of nowhere and pronounced his verdict".

Professor Pant downplayed the practical impact of Trumps remarks. No one [in the Trump administration] is really interested in Kashmir. I dont think Trump is particularly. He doesnt even know the history of Kashmir, he said. Maybe this has to do with the heat of the moment issue [to] just putting an end to the hostilities between India and Pakistan. American foreign policy has different equities at this point. They have different priorities at this point.

The Trump administration, if anything, is hyper-isolationist. The reason they want to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East is because they want to get out of these conflict situations, he said. If Pakistan believes that Trump administration is interested in Kashmir, he suggested, theyre living in a fools paradise.

open image in gallery People light fireworks in Pakistan after ceasefire announcement ( AP )

In Monday nights speech, Modi framed Indias military response to the 22 April attack in Kashmir as part of a cohesive new counter-terror policy. It has set a new benchmark  a new normal. The suggestion was that if terrorists target civilians in Kashmir again  and India again blames Pakistan  then strikes on Pakistani territory will follow.

Yet while Modi laid out the principles of this approach in a 30-minute speech, calling it Indias right to respond on our terms, in our way, he somehow managed to do so without mentioning Kashmir once.

Experts warn that any path to lasting peace in the region must involve Kashmiris themselves. The two countries have to give Kashmiris a chair at the table of negotiations for a more durable peace process, Praveen Donthi, of International Crisis Group, told the Associated Press. Civilians in Kashmir have borne more casualties than the militaries of either side.

For many Kashmiris, the prolonged dispute has become an existential burden. Lets be honest, India and Pakistan are fighting over Kashmir. So let it be resolved once and forever, said Shazia Tabbasum, a student in Srinagar.
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A tigress killed a forest ranger inside a national reserve in the Indian state of Rajasthan on Sunday, authorities confirmed.

He was the second human victim of the tigress named Kankati. A seven-year-old child was killed by the same predator in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur last month.

The ranger, Devendra Chaudhary, 40, was killed Sunday afternoon after the animal grabbed him by the neck and dragged him into the forest, according to eyewitnesses.

Chaudhary was taken to a local hospital but declared dead on arrival, a forest official told The Times of India. Chaudhary is survived by his wife and one-and-a-half-year-old son.

Tourism has been suspended in parts of the reserve where the tigress was last seen, Ranthambhores field director, KR Anoop, told The Independent.

He said the states forest department formed a committee on Tuesday to decide whether to relocate Kankati.

They had also halted pilgrimage to the Trinetra Ganesh temple inside the reserve until further notice, he said.

Forest officials said there had been increased sightings of tigers along the pilgrim route to the temple and at an old fort inside the reserve.

Kankati fatally attacked a seven-year-old boy walking back from the temple with his grandmother on April 16. The tiger reportedly emerged from the forest and dragged the child away.

Kankati is the daughter of an ageing tigress named Arrowhead. Kankati is a Hindi word that roughly translates to someone with a torn ear. Kankati is identifiable to rangers and safari guides by her torn ear.

Mr Anoop told The Independent the forest department had resorted to using firecrackers to deter tigers from crowded areas inside the reserve for now.

He said the department started bursting crackers to keep tigers away after the last incident of last month in which the seven-year-old was killed.

Reserve workers started feeding Kankatis mother in 2023 after a hip injury left her unable to hunt, The Indian Express reported.

Her cubs  Kankati and two other tigresses  too started feeding on the bait and came to roam crowded areas near Jogi Mahal, an iconic hunting lodge used by erstwhile rulers of the region.

There are 13-14 tigers currently active in the vicinity of the temple, the fort and Jogi Mahal.

The newspaper reported that officials dismissed calls to shift Kankati after last months fatality and instead opted to use firecrackers to deter tigers.

Like the Trinetra Ganesh temple in Ranthambore, there are religious sites inside several other tiger reserves in India where pilgrims routinely make offerings.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has mandated that every reserve develop plans to manage religious tourism, but a 2019 study found that efforts to implement conservation measures had been hampered by the challenge of balancing ecological protection with community visitation rights.

One example is Keralas Periyar Tiger Reserve, where the Sabarimala temple, a renowned Hindu shrine, draws five to six million pilgrims each year. Activists say it causes disturbance to the wildlife and significant environmental damage to the reserves fragile forest ecosystem.

Kankati is not the first maneater in Ranthambore. A tiger named Ustad was linked to the deaths of four people in the reserve between 2010 and 2015. The animal killed a local villager in July 2010 and another in March 2012. In October 2012, it reportedly killed a forest guard and in May 2015 fatally mauled Rampal Saini, a veteran forest ranger, near the Trinetra Ganesh temple.

The May 2015 attack sparked outrage among local villagers who demanded that Ustad be relocated. The maneater was removed to the Sajjangarh Biological Park in Udaipur in 2016.

Ustad died on 28 December 2022.
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Bangladeshs election commission has suspended the registration of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasinas party, effectively blocking the Awami League from contesting polls.

The move comes days after the interim government of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus banned all activities of the former ruling party, citing national security threats and a war crimes investigation into hundreds of deaths during the agitation that toppled Ms Hasina last year.

The former prime minister, who fled to neighbouring India after her rule collapsed, remains in exile. She is wanted in over 100 cases related to the killings of the protesters.

With the home ministrys ban on all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, the election commission has decided to suspend the partys registration, the federal bodys secretary, Akhtar Ahmed, announced on Monday.

Asif Nazrul, law affairs adviser to the interim administration, said earlier on Saturday they had decided to ban Awami Leagues activities online and elsewhere under the antiterrorism law.

This decision is aimed at ensuring national security and sovereignty, protection of activists of the July movement and plaintiffs and witnesses involved in the tribunal proceedings, he said.

The Awami League, which ruled Bangladesh for over 20 years until Ms Hasinas ouster, is now barred from contesting elections.

This means theres now a comprehensive ban on all forms of activities of the Awami League and its affiliates, including publications, media appearances, online and social media campaigns, processions, meetings, rallies, and conferences.

Protesters injured in last years protests against Sheikh Hasina during a demonstration in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 11 May 2025 ( AP )

The restrictions will stay in place until the International Crimes Tribunal concludes ongoing proceedings against the partys leaders and activists.

After her ouster, Ms Hasina and several top Awami League leaders were charged with murder.

The dramatic decision to ban the Awami League followed mass protests in the capital Dhaka on Saturday where thousands of people, including backers of a political party formed by students who led last years agitation, issued an ultimatum to the interim rulers to outlaw Ms Hasinas party by that night.

On Monday, the interim rulers said the ban on Awami Leagues activities did not infringe upon the freedom of expression of any individual or political entity, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

In February, the UN human rights office estimated that as many as 1,400 people could have been killed during the agitation that toppled her government.

Another former prime minister, Khaleda Zia, returned to Bangladesh earlier this month after nearly four months of medical treatment in London, intensifying calls for the interim government to announce elections. Ms Zia had been jailed for several years during her rivals rule.

Mr Yunus has hinted that elections may be delayed until 2026. Speaking in a national broadcast last December to mark the 53rd anniversary of Bangladeshs independence, Mr Yunus said election dates could be fixed by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026.

Pressure has been mounting on Mr Yunus to set an election date for the country of nearly 170 million people. The interim leader has earlier called the task of restoring democracy in the country extremely tough.
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Radical religious leaders in Bangladesh have once again pitted Islam against women amid growing concern over their rights in the embattled South Asian country.

Nearly 20,000 men gathered in Dhaka earlier in May to protest against the Womens Affairs Reform Commission, installed by the interim government to ensure equal rights for women.

Mahfuzul Haque, leader of Hefazat-e-Islam, an Islamist group which had called the protest, urged the interim rulers to abandon what he called a "suicidal concept" of pluralism and asked to protect the religious practices of believers in the majority Muslim nation. Failing to do so, he threatened, would have severe consequences.

Mohammad Shihab Uddin, leader of a women's madrassa, or religious school, said "men and women can never be equal.

The Quran, he told news agency AFP, outlined specific codes of life for both genders. "There is no way we can go beyond that.

The commission, established last November and placed under the leadership of activist Shireen Parveen Haque, has given 433 recommendations for reducing, if not ending, gender-based discrimination in the country.

Key recommendations include giving women equal inheritance rights, increasing parliamentary seats for them, criminalising marital rape, and protecting the rights of sex workers.

The Islamist group has opposed the commissions use of terms like "gender equality", "gender discrimination" and "third gender" while arguing that women's social progress should not be dictated by Western values. The employment of terms such as "inclusion" by the commission, the group has argued, could lead to a "destructive, anti-religious pro-homosexual society", the Daily Star reported.

The protesters threatened to reject any proposal they perceived to be anti-Islamic in a country with 92 per cent Muslim population.

open image in gallery Supporters of Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam denounce proposed recommendations for equal rights for Muslim women in Dhaka ( AP )

The weekend rally comes amid a sharp rise in violence and discrimination against women as the fragile nation recovers from last year's mass protests that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

We are worried about the increased visibility and the amount of space the right-wing has found after last year's protest, Dr Maleka Banu, secretary general of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, the countrys largest women's organisation, said.

The Islamists were using their increased visibility since the agitation to create an environment of fear so that women were confined to their homes, Dr Banu told The Independent.

Last year, Bangladesh witnessed a student agitation snowball into a bloody revolution against Ms Hasina's Awami League government. It forced Ms Hasina to flee to India on a helicopter as an angry mob marched towards the presidential palace.

The power vacuum was quickly filled by a caretaker government under Hasina critic and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to the country to be named interim leader.

"We are concerned about the lack of public condemnation from the political parties and the interim government," Dr Banu said. "Does the government think these rallies will play a part in changing public policy?"

open image in gallery Supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam denounce proposed recommendations for equal rights for Muslim women during a protest in Dhaka on 3 May 2025 ( AP )

Ms Hasina's government, autocratic and tainted with allegations of corruption and human rights abuses, was known to block Islamist movements.

The agitation that caused her ouster saw widespread participation of women armed with sticks and stones who clashed with the police.

"Women who took part in the anti-discrimination movement are realising that they are getting sidelined," Dr Banu said.

A 21-year-old Dhaka University student who spent weeks organising and demonstrating against Ms Hasina with male fellow students agreed with Dr Banu, calling for "anti-discrimination".

Now, she said, fear gripped her whenever she stepped out due to the shrinking space for women. There are constant efforts to control women, and the Islamists are at the forefront of it, the student, who asked not to be named for reasons of safety, told The Independent.

It is a shame that the government has been notoriously silent so far and has allowed these radicals to make their voices heard and the lawlessness just adds to the crisis. Can you imagine such a revolution without the participation of women Bangladesh has resisted for long. They must not be allowed to thrive."

open image in gallery Activists of Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam protest in Dhaka ( AP )

Ms Haque, chair of the womens commission, earlier said womens participation in the agitation was unprecedented and so invigorating and so inspiring.

The disappointing part is that once it was all over, the women disappeared, she told the American magazine Foreign Policy. They were not to be seen in any serious decision-making.

After Ms Hasina fled, law and order collapsed in Bangladesh as police refused to return to the streets, citing targeted violence.

Although the law enforcement apparatus limped back to work after some days, the situation remained grim, with reports of women being publicly humiliated because of their clothes, appearances and movements. It hasnt gotten any better since.

"Women are being harassed in public spaces and hatred is being spread through social media. Our concern is that the state of lawlessness is making women panic," Dr Banu said.

There is so much animosity toward women in this country that they are unable to freely access public space.

The shift in stance was noted when a portrait of one of the first feminists in undivided India, Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, was defaced with ink in December last year.

Social media videos purportedly showed conservatives exploiting the unstable law and order situation to morally police women over their choice of clothes.

In another incident, men were seen thrashing an effigy of what seemed to be a woman dressed in a saree resembling the ousted prime minister.

In March this year, at least 442 women and girls were subjected to various forms of violence, including rape, murder, and harassment, Mahila Parishad said.

In Bangladesh, women make up a substantial section of the labour force, which has been credited with lifting the economy out of a rut. Though their participation in the labour force increased to 42.7 per cent in 2022, it was largely confined to the unorganised sector, including the garments industry.

The sector employs about four million people, mostly women, and contributes over 10 per cent of the nation's GDP.

"Are those protesting prepared to deal with the collapse of the economy if women's participation is suddenly removed, given how much they are being pushed to the confinement of home, said Dr Banu.

She said, historically, whenever we tried to raise our voices with demands of equality, the right wing has pushed back.

In the past, we have seen the government rolling back the measures swiftly after the protests in fear of losing votes. No government has taken concrete steps. They always bow down in front of the right-wing and forget women's rights," she complained.

At least 67 rights groups have jointly condemned the derogatory remarks made by the Islamist group as well as the acts of aggression surrounding the recommendations of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission.

The National Citizens Party, formed by members of the student-led agitation following Ms Hasina's ouster, said it "deeply understands women's freedom, right to expression, their struggle in society".

"We believe it is necessary to keep the door open for constructive discussions with all representative stakeholders on the issues where disagreements have arisen," it said, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

Hefazat-e-Islam has threatened to hold mass rallies on 23 May if its demands are not fulfilled by the Yunus administration.

The Independent has reached out to the interim leaders office for comment.
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Pakistan will celebrate the success of its recent military operation against India every year on 10 May, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced.

Youm-e-Marka-e-Haq, or Day of the Battle of Truth, will be observed across the country with fervour and passion of national solidarity", Mr Sharif was quoted as saying by local media.

Pakistan will also pay tribute to the armed forces for "achieving magnificent success on the defence front and bow before Allah in gratitude" on Friday, the prime minister said, adding that special prayers will be offered that day for the progress of the country.

For four days last week, India and Pakistan engaged in the most intense fighting in decades that killed at least 70 people before a ceasefire was reached over the weekend.

The conflict ensued after India, in an overnight attack last Wednesday, struck nine alleged militant hideouts in Pakistan. The airstrikes, dubbed "Operation Sindoor", were conducted in retaliation for the killing of 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in a terror attack in Kashmir on 22 April.

New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing the gunmen who carried out the massacre. Islamabad denied the charge and sought an independent investigation.

open image in gallery People remove debris from their houses damaged by Indian shelling in Jura sector of Neelum Valley in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on 10 May 2025 ( AFP via Getty )

In the wake of the attack, the two nations expelled each others diplomats, suspended visas, and closed airspaces and land borders. India also suspended a crucial treaty on river water sharing.

The Indian strikes escalated the tensions into a military conflict as the two sides exchanged heavy fire along their de facto border in the restive Kashmir region as well as missile and drone strikes on military installations.

The Indian military claimed to have killed nearly 100 militants with its overnight strikes and 35-40 personnel of Pakistans armed forces in subsequent action along the de facto border.

The Pakistani army said on Tuesday that the clash with India had left 11 soldiers and 40 civilians dead. A Pakistani minister last week claimed their armed forces had killed 40-50 Indian soldiers.

open image in gallery A villager stands outside a house damaged by Pakistani artillery shelling in Kotmaira village in Kashmir ( AFP via Getty )

Both India and Pakistan claimed to have downed each others fighter jets in a dogfight that reportedly involved over 125 aircraft, making it the largest aerial battle since the Second World War.

Both nations also claimed victory in the overall fighting, which was halted after US president Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on Saturday afternoon.

The Pakistani military said on Sunday they had not asked for a ceasefire, as was claimed by India, and that it was India which had sought a truce.

Pakistan also denied Indias accusation of violating the ceasefire by sending drones across the border. Instead, Islamabad said on Monday, India had violated the truce agreement by resorting to "unprovoked" shelling across the Kashmir border, killing a civilian.
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At least 13 people have died in an explosion during the disposal of expired ammunition in Indonesias West Java province on Monday, army officials told local media.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.

Members of the Indonesian army had been carrying out the disposal of unusable and expired ammunition when the initial explosion occurred, shortly followed by another blast, said Maj. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi, the Indonesian military spokesperson.

The ammunition was being stored in a military warehouse centre, in an environmental conservation area in Sagara village of the Garut district.

Nine civilians and four army members were killed, Sianturi said, adding that several other people were being treated for various injuries.

open image in gallery The cause of the incident is still being investigated ( AP )

The cause of the incident is still being investigated, with a focus on whether the standard procedure for ammunition disposal was followed, Sianturi said. The investigation will include how civilians were allowed so close to the detonation site.

It occurred on vacant land under the management of West Javas Natural Resources Conservation Agency and is a location far from residential areas and often used for munitions disposal.

However, such activities often attract the attention of nearby residents, who take metal fragments, copper or scrap iron from grenades and mortars, Sianturi said, And there might be an unexpected second explosion after that.

The area has been cleared to ensure safety in case of further explosions.

Local television footage showed an explosion lighting up the sky and thick black smoke, followed by a second blast a few minutes later. Another video showed ambulances evacuating the injured victims and the dead.

Monday's blast is the second incident involving Indonesian military ammunition in little over a year.

In March last year, a massive fire broke out at an Indonesian military depot storing expired ammunition near Jakarta, causing a series of explosions.
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Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has won the mayorship of the city of Davao, despite being in detention thousands of miles away in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity, according to preliminary results.

After 80 per cent of the votes were counted, an unofficial and partial tally showed Mr Duterte, 80, won 537,775 votes, 53 per cent of the total votes cast as of 8am local time on Tuesday.

It was eight times more votes than his closest rival, Karlo Nograles.

The mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on a fierce feud between president Ferdinand Marcos and impeached vice-president Sara Duterte.

With the two not running themselves, it is a proxy battle between the Duterte and Marcos dynasties in an election that could redraw the political map of power in the country of 110 million.

Mr Duterte was arrested by the International Criminal Court in March and brought to The Hague over his bloody "war on drugs" that killed thousands of people, giving him a reputation as a crime-buster that earned him the nicknames "Duterte Harry" and "the Punisher".

open image in gallery Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte takes an oath as he attends a senate probe on the drug war during his administration, in Manila ( AFP via Getty Images )

It is alleged his administration oversaw the execution of around 4,000 people during anti-drug operations in the country. Most of those killed were poor Filipinos living in urban areas. Human rights groups have long said that the actual number of dead could be far higher.

While the families of those killed and human rights groups called it a long-overdue victory against impunity, analysts have said his arrest has only hardened support for him and his family, in Davao and beyond.

Congratulatory messages poured into Mr Dutertes old Facebook account with many expecting his return from The Hague.

"Congratulations, Tatay (father) D! Let's bring him home," read one of the comments.

Davao remains a stronghold of the Duterte family where the 80-year-old served as the mayor of Davao City for over two decades and launched his anti-drug campaign.

The former president's two sons were also set to win posts on Monday, one reelected congressman and the other winning the contest for Davao vice mayor and likely to serve in his father's absence.

open image in gallery Detainees held at the Manila City Jail vote during the mid-term election ( AFP via Getty Images )

Two of his most loyal aides, including the police chief in charge of enforcing his drug war, have been reelected to the countrys senate.

However, the fate of Mr Dutertes daughter, vice president Sara Duterte, hangs in the balance as the allies of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr looked set to win at least half of the available Senate seats.

Ms Duterte, who is widely expected to run in the presidential election in 2028, is facing an impeachment trial and the prospect of being banned from politics for life.

Mr Marcos' allies were on course for half of the 12 available seats in the 24-member Senate, likely guaranteeing support for his policy agenda after the dramatic collapse of his once formidable alliance with Ms Duterte.

Asked earlier on Monday about her father's likely victory, she said plans would be made for him to be sworn in as mayor.

"The ICC lawyer said once we get proclamation papers, we will discuss how he can take oath," she said.
When it comes to national and personal identity, Paul Gauguin attached the only three questions that matter to his enigmatic masterpiece, a haunting landscape of Tahitian women led by an allegorical depiction of Eve: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

Who we are, in the historical present, is an ageless question that demands political savvy and a rhetorical imagination. Occasionally, the cries of pain from those at the top who find themselves on the wrong side of this argument pierce the background hiss of everyday events. Watch ex-president Joe Biden on BBC TV denounce Donald Trumps brutal Oval Office mugging of Volodymyr Zelensky (What kind of president even talks like that? Thats not who we are) and you see the anguish of a man coming to terms with his residence in the dustbin of history.

This search for new and better narratives in a changing world has become a top theme for disrupted times. The election of Pope Leo XIV is a reminder that its not just the US (and the UK) that are absorbed in that all-important quest for identity. Some commentators, indeed, have framed the election of Leo as a reassertion of classic American pluralism by the Roman Catholic hierarchy, a priestly riposte to Trumps ugly America First viciousness.

In Britain, that search for a role has bedevilled our politics since Suez, with Brexit just the worst expression of who we aspire to be, a false step thats steered our politics into its current impasse: a clueless Labour government and a pointless Conservative opposition, with the jackals of Reform snapping at their heels in an opportunistic, unhinged parody of little-England protest.

National identity is fraught with rabbit holes. While you might hesitate trying to unscramble What does it mean to be British?, many Brits still declare allegiance to any number of totems  national, sporting, ethnic, civic or sexual  braided into a weird tapestry of Britishness. To take one small example, our literature includes the work of Conrad (Polish); Swift, Wilde, Joyce and Beckett (Irish); Naipaul and Walcott (West Indian), Hume, Burns, and Stevenson, (Scots); and Henry James and TS Eliot (American).

British remains a puzzle at the core of who we are. In 2007, when Gordon Brown attempted to define the nature of this conundrum, he was widely mocked for the rhetorical equivalent of trying to pin the tail on the donkey. One newspaper (The Times) sponsored a campaign for a British motto, something to match Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. Something a bit less embarrassing than Cool Britannia. Readers suggestions included, for example: Dipso. Fatso. Bingo. Asbo. Tesco. Closely followed by: No Motto Please, Were British.

open image in gallery Winston Churchill  a favourite icon of Englishness and Britishness alike  used a sense of national identity to his advantage ( Getty )

In 2025, our national identity remains contentious. Whats not said is the important bit. With some Britons, a raised eyebrow can be as meaningful as a national mission statement  except, of course, in a crisis. Its crises that remind us who we really are. As the Luftwaffe massed over London, George Orwells brilliant essay The Lion and the Unicorn explored the complexity of a society at war. We call our islands by no less than six different names, he wrote. England, Britain, Great Britain, the British Isles, the United Kingdom and, in very exalted moments, Albion. Finally, even Orwell was forced to exclaim: How can one make a pattern out of this muddle?

Perhaps the last time British made sense was in 1940. Winston Churchill wrapped himself in the union flag to unite and mobilise the country. We shall fight on the beaches became an atavistic cry of defiance. The latest celebration of VE Day throughout the shires tells you all you need to know about its place in the national psyche. The sea and the beach embody the paradoxes of island life.

Churchills rhetorical genius knew what chord he was sounding. Its the sea that defines, aggravates and inspires us; the sea thats always separated us from our enemies and sponsored an urgent traffic with the wider world, translating vigilant curiosity into trade and exploration.

We have salt in our blood. Today, the tides and climate of the sea continue to shape British identity. Some 30 per cent of Britons live within six miles of the coast, and one millennial YouGov poll placed being an island sixth in the top 10 of Best things about Britain. Best thing of all  at 65 per cent? The countryside. Compared to, say, the French, we are a proud but fundamentally conservative people. And its the sea that makes us British. The sea is not just the best defence known to man, and a great natural highway: people who live by water are different. We islanders have different physical, and psychic, horizons. Brexit began on our beaches.

The sea also sponsored the British concept of privacy. Islanders are insular, and insular is synonymous with defiant, separate, alone, divergent, and self-sufficient. As Orwell noted, British respect for individual privacy is so deeply ingrained, it is almost a national characteristic. The flip side of privacy is self-assertion, just as shy can be the antonym of arrogant. To be a native of these islands was  and still is  to be conscious of a unique and distinctive character.

open image in gallery The wide expanse of water that surrounds Britain imbues its people with defiance and self-sufficiency ( PA )

Down south, for instance, ours was the first society in Europe to promote its identity, composing a vernacular account of its history, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. As islanders, our ancestors were imprinted with the DNA of self-expression: Words, words, words.

For hundreds of years, the name of this misty archipelago was in flux. There were rival kingdoms, in Mercia, Wessex, East Anglia, and further north in the kingdom of Cumbria. The mythic Britain of King Arthur or King Lear was defined by its cliffs and seas. Blessed  and cursed  by its position. As well as being highly interactive, our ancestors suffered constant invasion.

The South and Midlands knew what it meant to be subdued by the Romans and successive waves of Anglo-Saxons. Then converted to Christianity by St Augustine. Next, almost annihilated by the Danes. Finally, subjugated by the Normans. The upshot was a tradition of fierce domestic individuality. Today, the legacy of that unique and distinctive character is the worlds understanding of what it means to be British. This remains paradoxical at every level.

The juxtaposition of sea and land opposes the awesome majesty of the ocean with the petty, parochial and mundane shabbiness of the domestic hearth. As Tolkien implies, at one level, were all hobbits. Despite the veneration surrounding Shakespeares sceptrd isle, one timeless British quality is a grotty, subtopian mess.

Nevertheless, the English continue to repeat this story in versions more and more detached from reality, celebrating the soft power of English and Englishness as our gift to the world. In this vein, Amorous or Loving: The Highly Peculiar Tale of English and the English by Rupert Gavin explores the vicissitudes of English language and culture, from the mythic origins of The Land of Tattooed People to the London Olympics of 2012. Inevitably, there is another reading, one that has little of the cultural superiority implicit in what we might call the BBC version.

My England and its English are indeed peculiar, but chiefly as the upshot of chance, cock-up, crisis, and catastrophe. Its people survived successive invasions by the skin of their teeth, acquired a fierce and precocious sense of provincial identity, and discovered in words and argument a useful way to regulate the violence of common life with common law.

open image in gallery William Shakespeare dramatised the temper of the English commoner in Henry VI: Part 2 ( National Portrait Gallery )

A thousand years ago, they were comprehensively humiliated by a French army that imposed  top-down  an authoritarian regime famous for its cruelty. But the defeated Anglo-Saxons were a people who had only just acquired  and would never forget  a taste for free thought and free speech.

For more than a hundred years (and even into the 14th century), this language and culture went underground, surviving on the lips and in the minds of common folk while finding self-expression in ballads, riddles, folk tales, and out-of-doors drama. Their governors, meanwhile, spoke French, and ruled in Latin.

Shakespeare dramatised the temper of the English commoner in Henry VI: Part II with lets kill all the lawyers. Indeed, Will Shakespeare from Stratford is the product of a highly informal, provincial society, the son of a Midlands glover. When he came to London, he joined a community of players barely distinguishable from vagabonds.

The pioneers of the English culture we celebrate today were, like the first English writers and artists, outsiders within this society. The idea that their poetry and plays should be a gift to global culture would have seemed absurd, even unthinkable. Shakespeare himself was first and foremost an entertainer, never fully recognised as an author until the publication of the First Folio (1623), seven years after his death. Approximately a generation later, the playwrights London audience watched the execution of Charles I: a profound expression of the English belief in the sovereign identity of the free citizen.

Amorous or Loving: The Highly Peculiar Tale of English and the English by Rupert Gavin is published by Unicorn, 25
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Is your job silently killing you?

Whether you work from home or in an office, sitting for hours at a time every day can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, weight gain, and other negative health impacts.

But, how much sitting is too much sitting, and what other aspects should employees monitor to stay healthy and please their employers?

Heres what you need to know...

Sitting is the enemy

In office jobs, theres likely no choice without a standing desk: sitting is inevitable. On average, the Heart Foundation says adults spend more than half of their day sitting.

However, adults should be aware of how much time they spend in a sedentary position.

To offset these effects, doctors recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity a week. But, even lighter intensity activities can be beneficial.

Light-intensity physical activity can include vacuuming, sweeping the floor, washing the car, leisure strolling, stretching, or playing catch, Steven Hooker, the dean of San Diego State Universitys College of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.

open image in gallery Is your desk job silently killing you? Sitting can be linked to disease and spinal damage ( Getty Images/iStock )

Good posture is your friend

Poor posture and workplace ergonomics can damage the spinal structure, according to UCLA Health.

Sitting in a slouched position can overstretch the spinal ligaments and strain the spinal discs, it said.

But, theres a way to help alleviate pain from bad posture. Put your upper arms parallel to your spine, check that you can easily slide your fingers under your thigh at the front of the chair, ensure the armrest slightly lifts your arms at the shoulder, press your butt against the back of the air, and pass your clenched fist between the back of your calf and the front of your chair to make sure the chair isnt too deep.

Lastly, make sure your gaze is where it needs to be.

Close your eyes while sitting comfortably with your head facing forward. Slowly open your eyes. Your gaze should be aimed at the center of your computer screen, UCLA Health said.

Close those peepers

The average American worker spends seven hours a day on the computer, according to the American Optometric Association.

While using devices will likely not damage your eyes permanently, staring at screens for too long can come with some unfortunate consequences.

The screens can decrease your blink rate, leaving you susceptible to dry eyes. This risk increases as we age, according to Nebraska Medicines Dr. Ana Morales.

Tears drops and adjustments to monitors can help alleviate eye stress.

But, prolonged use may continue to affect users visual abilities, blurring their vision, even after stopping work at a computer.

If nothing is done to address the cause of the problem, the symptoms will continue to recur and perhaps worsen with future digital screen use, the association said.

open image in gallery Taking a deep breath can help alleviate stress. Try breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth ( Getty Images/iStock )

Take a deep breath

Workplace stress contributes to at least 120,000 deaths each year, according to Stanford University professors.

The deaths are comparable to the fourth- and fifth-largest causes of death in the country  heart disease and accidents, said the schools Stefanos Zenios, a professor of operations, information, and technology. Its more than deaths from diabetes, Alzheimers, or influenza.

Researchers at Indiana University have found that work stressors are more likely to cause depression and death as a result of jobs in which workers have little control. Chronic stress can age people faster, Yale researchers say.

So, whats an employee to do?

Follow a breathing technique for short-term stress release, but remember to take care of yourself; eat healthy, prioritize good recovery activities, establish boundaries, and see friends and family.

Socializing and spending time with loved ones is an important part of our mental health, and failing to do so can lead to isolation and loneliness, which can worsen depression and anxiety, Dr. Danielle Qing, an internal medicine specialist at Mount Sinai, told The New York Post.
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A new Unicef report paints a bleak picture of child wellbeing in the UK, ranking it near the bottom of high-income countries.

The study reveals a concerning global trend: children are increasingly struggling with academic performance, obesity, and unhappiness. The UK's position is particularly alarming, trailing behind many European counterparts.

The report assesses child wellbeing across 36 high-income nations, placing the UK at a dismal 21st. Countries like France, Spain, and Portugal significantly outperform the UK, while even Romania, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Hungary rank higher.

The Netherlands and Denmark continue to hold the top two spots, highlighting the stark contrast in child wellbeing across Europe.

The UK's poor performance extends to mental health, where it ranks 27th out of 36 countries. Perhaps most concerning is the UK's near-bottom ranking for teenage life satisfaction, tied with Chile and only surpassed by Turkey.

Data reveals a decline in reported high life satisfaction among UK teens, falling from 64 per cent in 2018 to 62 per cent in 2022. A significant gender gap also emerges, with girls considerably more likely to report unhappiness than boys.

open image in gallery The Netherlands and Denmark continue to hold the top two spots, highlighting the stark contrast in child wellbeing across Europe ( Alamy/PA )

Frequency of talking with parents had a strong positive link with satisfaction, while frequency of being bullied had a major negative effect.

Researchers said rates of frequent bullying remain high in the UK and are the third highest among high income countries, with 27 per cent of 15-year-olds experiencing frequent bullying in both 2018 and 2022.

The UK youth suicide rate has also increased in recent years, rising from a three-year average of four per 100,000 population aged 15 to 19 in 2018 to 5.12 in 2022.

Elsewhere, the UK is in the middle third of countries for physical health (22 out of 41) and 15 out of 41 for social skills and academic proficiency.

Furthermore, more than 30 per cent of children were overweight in 2022, above the rich country average of 28 per cent.

Between the ages of two and five, the average UK toddler gets 61 per cent of their calories from ultra-processed food, much higher than children in other countries including the US, the report also found.

There is also a higher proportion of sugar in infant food pouches in the UK than other countries, and persistent marketing of unnecessary toddler/growing up milks which are high in sugars.

Overall, the Unicef report card found that children in many of the worlds wealthiest countries have seen a decline in their mental wellbeing, physical health and academic performance between 2018 and 2022, a time also covering the Covid pandemic.

open image in gallery Researchers concluded that, in many wealthy countries, children are becoming less happy with their lives, more likely to be overweight and obese, and are not doing well at school

Dr Philip Goodwin, chief executive of the United Kingdom Committee for Unicef, said: The latest figures from Unicefs report card give us a deeply concerning insight into just how much UK children are struggling.

Our teenagers are reporting some of the lowest life satisfaction levels, which must be a wake-up call for the Government.

However, action to tackle these issues is not coming fast enough.

The UK Governments comprehensive spending review next month must show it is serious about improving the lives of children by addressing the record numbers living in poverty and investing in essential health and education services to support children right from the very start of their lives.

Unicef warned of a polycrisis facing children across the globe, such as the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic, climate change and developments in digital technology.

Researchers concluded that, in many wealthy countries, children are becoming less happy with their lives, more likely to be overweight and obese, and are not doing well at school.

The report card specifically examined teen life satisfaction aged 15 and adolescent suicide between the ages of 15 and 19.

On skills, it looked at academic proficiency (aged 15) and social skills (aged 15).
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Two siblings from Birmingham have been found guilty of murdering a 21-year-old man in a frankly brutal knife attack on one of the citys streets.

Bank worker Mya Marsh, 23, was caught on CCTV as she passed a knife to her brother Isaiah Marsh during an attack on Minister Enfrence. The 21-year old suffered over 20 wounds to his body, arms, hands and head and died of his injuries nearby.

Mr Enfrence may have been attacked during an argument because Ms March was kept waiting to buy cannabis or over a damaged bicycle, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

After the court was shown CCTV footage of Mr Enfrence being repeatedly stabbed on Monday, jurors deliberated for less than four hours. The incident took place in the Medway Grove area of Kings Norton, Birmingham, on November 5 last year.

Mr Marsh, 21, claimed he acted in self-defence, while his sister said she did not believe her brother would use the knife to stab the victim.

The defendants, both of Teviot Grove, Kings Norton, denied murder and manslaughter.

open image in gallery Mr Enfrence, who was the victim of the knife attack in November last year ( West Midlands Police/PA Wire )

Jurors heard the stabbing took place just around the corner from the joint home of the defendants, who both knew Mr Enfrence as an associate and had had previous phone contact with him.

Opening the case against the pair at the start of the trial last month, prosecutor Jennifer Josephs KC said: It is apparent that the two defendants knew Minister and knew him before the incident took place.

There is no dispute as to who was there. Much of the CCTV comes from nearby houses.

Ms Marsh had chosen to arm herself with a kitchen knife, which she held in the street and could be seen brandishing while shouting, Ms Josephs said, while Mr Enfrence could be seen empty-handed.

As well as alleging that the male defendant grabbed Mr Enfrence before he carried out a frankly brutal stabbing, Ms Josephs said of the female defendant: She joins in, we say. She is on top of them and hands her brother, we say, a knife.

This was, we say, an unprovoked, senseless and violent attack by the pair of them.

As far as the prosecution are concerned, it might have been an argument about Mya being kept waiting by Minister. It seems Mya wanted to buy cannabis. It might have been an argument about a damaged bicycle.

open image in gallery Mya Marsh and Isaiah Marsh were appearing at Birmingham Crown Court (Chris Radburn/PA) ( PA Archive )

After the killing, Ms Josephs said, Ms Marsh went to her workplace as if nothing had happened and slept at a different address in the evening, while Mr Marsh told police he had lost his phone when he handed himself in.

The male defendant left the dock and walked through a door towards the cells shortly after the verdicts were returned, while his sister stayed in court to listen to comments made by the judge to barristers.

Judge Simon Drew KC remanded both defendants in custody until sentencing on Thursday.

Speaking after the guilty verdicts, Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt said: Ministers murder has had a devastating impact on all who knew and loved him, especially his family.

This was a brutal and cold-hearted attack in broad daylight. The vicious nature of the attack is highlighted by the number of wounds that Minister suffered. The callous nature from the two shown afterwards further highlighted the nonchalant attitude after taking the life of a man.

Nothing will ever bring Minister back, but I hope that todays verdicts will provide a level of comfort to his family and loved ones.
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A former Metropolitan Police officer who told a 16-year-old girl he met while on duty that he would pick her up from school and make love to her has been jailed.

Che Homersham, 37, was sentenced to six months imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to abusing his position as a police constable by attempting to instigate a sexual relationship with the girl between December 2018 and January 2019.

Homersham, then aged 30, was on duty in full uniform attached to an emergency patrol and response in north London on December 21 2018, the court was told.

While responding to a domestic incident involving a female suspect, he took her childrens personal details including the telephone number of the 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The victims mother was released from police custody on December 22 2018 and on the same day Homersham called the girl from his personal phone, saying he needed to take a witness statement from her and asking where she was.

After being told she was at her grandmothers house, Homersham arrived in his personal car at the address, telling the girl he had done so to make her feel more comfortable, prosecutor David Miller said.

He then drove her to the Harrow Viewpoint, a secluded location well-known for people going to have sex, Mr Miller said.

The prosecutor added: He asked if she wanted to go for a walk in the forest and said lots of people got arrested for having sex.

After the girl said he could be a psychopathic serial killer, Homersham replied that he was a police officer and would know how to cover it up.

open image in gallery Ex-Met Police officer Pc Che Homersham at Westminster Magistrates Court in London (James Manning/PA) ( PA Archive )

Homersham, of Southgate, north London, asked to kiss the girl and she refused, the court was told.

On December 30 2018, he asked if he could meet the girl again and they met in a McDonalds car park.

Homersham discussed his sexual preferences with the girl, the court was told.

Mr Miller said: He made several attempts to kiss her but she backed off until the third or fourth attempt when she just let it happen.

He also touched her thigh and waist over her clothes.

Homersham subsequently sent the girl a text in which he said he was going to pick her up from school and make love to her, the court was told.

The text made the girl uncomfortable and her mother told her to stop all contact with Homersham, Mr Miller said.

Following this, Homersham infrequently messaged the girl and also helped her arrange driving lessons.

Judge Christopher Hehir said Homershams behaviour was highly inappropriate.

Delivering his sentencing remarks, the judge told Homersham: You came into contact with her when she was vulnerable.

In those circumstances when it is a domestic incident, your job is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of any child you encounter, not to target one of them for sexual activity.

You obtained the girls telephone number under the pretext of needing a witness statement from her.

There was in fact no need for a witness statement at all and you had something completely else in mind.

The judge said Homersham had collected the girl and taken her to a secluded location, where what is often referred to as dogging takes place.

He added: Even if you had not been a police officer, one might wonder why a 30 or 31 year-old man was making sexual advances to a 16-year-old.

This was highly inappropriate, entirely wrong and unlawful.

The judge said delays to the case made for a substantial degree of mitigation, adding it had resulted in a substantially lower sentence than I had in mind.

He told Homersham: As a former police officer, the experience of prison will not be a pleasant one.

In a statement read out to the court, the victim said she was now aware she had been taken advantage of as a vulnerable teenager having shown interest in joining the police and that she felt sick about what had happened.

She added that she did not trust men or the police and did not report anything at the time as she was taken advantage of.

Homershams counsel Emma Kutner said in mitigation: This is a man who is ashamed and is remorseful of his behaviour.

Ms Kutner added Homersham had seen some horrific crime scenes that had taken a toll upon him and was at the time of the offences receiving counselling while struggling with mental health and being subject to workplace bullying.

Homersham was charged after an investigation by the Metropolitan Polices anti-corruption unit which started in June 2023 and was carried out under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: Police officers hold a position of trust in the community and to abuse this position for a sexual purpose is a form of serious corruption.

Such unacceptable conduct can cause significant damage to the publics trust and confidence in the police, and is particularly serious where the victim is a vulnerable person.

We know this incident has had a significant impact on the young victim and damaged her trust in police officers.

Homersham met her after responding to a domestic incident. The child was hoping to join the police and she trusted the officer, who had promised to help her with her career.

However, instead of helping her, he took advantage of his position as a police officer to pursue a sexual relationship. As a result of his actions he now has a criminal conviction.

Homersham resigned from the Met in February 2024, which he had joined at the end of July 2017, having previously been a special constable since October 2015.

The IOPC said it would liaise with the Metropolitan Police to progress misconduct proceedings.
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Aristocrat Constance Marten has declined to continue her cross-examination by the prosecution as she stands trial over the death of her newborn baby.

Jurors at the Old Bailey were told on Tuesday that the mother, 37, who was due to answer questions from prosecutor Joel Smith KC, had indicated she didnt wish to continue giving evidence.

She has previously given her evidence in chief and spent half a day in the witness box responding to questions from her partner and co-defendant Mark Gordon, who decided to represent himself in court after his barristers withdrew.

Ms Marten and Mr Gordon, 50, deny gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter Victoria and causing or allowing her death while they were on the run in January 2023.

The prosecution alleges Victoria died from hypothermia or was smothered while co-sleeping in a "flimsy" tent after they took her off-grid on the South Downs in a bid to stop her from being taken into care like their four other children.

Victorias decomposing remains were later found stashed in a rubbish-filled shopping bag in a disused allotment shed.

Last week she called Mr Smith KC diabolical and heartless as he started the cross-examination for the prosecution, asking her whether leaving Victorias body in a bag filled with rubbish was a "despicable thing" to do.

Mr Smith you are diabolicalI find the way you cross examine me really uncouth, she said. You really are a heartless human being.

After he questioned her journalism experience and why she gave fake names at hotels while police were looking for her, she broke down, telling the court she found Mr Smith abhorrent and she was tired of being grilled and my character being defamed.

I understand that I am being prosecuted but I am just not going to sit here and be spoken to like that, she added.

When jurors returned to court on Tuesday they were told that she had been given special permission to speak to her barrister in the middle of her evidence as she decided whether to continue, but it remained her firm view that she would not return to the witness box.

The Recorder of London, Mark Lucraft KC, told the jury: I, in due course, will direct you about what consequence that has.

As you may expect, if somebody doesnt complete their evidence the weight you have to give it should be considered very carefully.

Marten previously told jurors that sheltering in the tent was intended to be a "pit stop" to avoid "prying eyes". She wept as she said that she would "turn back time" if she knew Victoria was in danger, adding that they "spent so long trying to protect her".

She described taking Victoria on the run as a selfless act, adding: Mark and I dont relish being on the move constantly it is a constant upheaval you cant put down roots anywherebut we did it because we love our daughter so much. It was a parental love, it was a selfless act.

She said she did not know if she fell asleep, blacked out or fainted but woke up slumped over the lifeless infant.

Last year, the parents were convicted of concealing the birth of the child and perverting the course of justice in a previous trial.

The retrial continues.
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A pensioner who has spent nearly 40 years behind bars has had his murder conviction overturned in whats thought to be the longest-running miscarriage of justice in British history.

A Labour MP has called for an independent inquiry into the wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan for the 1986 murder of Diane Sindall in what a No 10 spokesman described as a grave miscarriage of justice.

The 68-year-old was 30 when he was handed a life sentence for the brutal murder of the 21-year-old part-time florist in Bebington, near Merseyside.

He served 38 years in prison before his conviction was finally overturned at the Court of Appeal, after tests revealed his DNA was not present in samples preserved from the crime scene.

He had previously tried to overturn his conviction twice over concerns around analysis of bite marks and the manner in which his police interviews were conducted.

Mr Sullivan appealed against his conviction for a third time  17 years after his first attempt to overturn it  and the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred his case to the Court of Appeal.

open image in gallery Diane Sindall was murdered after she left work in Bebington, Merseyside, in August 1986 ( Merseyside Police )

Quashing the conviction, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Goss and Mr Justice Bryan, said they had no doubt that it is both necessary and expedient in the interests of justice to accept the new DNA evidence.

He said: In the light of that evidence, it is impossible to regard the appellants conviction as safe.

As the decision was given, Mr Sullivan, who attended the hearing via video link from maximum security HMP Wakefield, held his hand to his mouth and appeared tearful while members of his family embraced.

The West Yorkshire jail, sometimes known as Monster Mansion, has been home to some of the countrys most dangerous prisoners, including Sarah Paynes killer, Roy Whiting, and notorious sex offender Ian Watkins, the frontman of the Lost Prophets.

In a statement through his solicitor, Mr Sullivan said he was not angry or bitter, and added: What happened to me was very wrong but does not detract that what happened was a heinous and most terrible loss of life.

His sister Kim Smith added: We lost Peter for 39 years and at the end of the day its not just us, Peter hasnt won and neither has the Sindall family. Theyve lost their daughter, they are not going to get her back.

MP Kim Johnson, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on miscarriages of justice, said Mr Sullivans case exposes deep, systemic failures in our justice system and called for an independent inquiry into the case.

She also demanded root and branch reform of the CCRC, warning: There are almost certainly others still imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

She added: Peter Sullivans case should be a national wake-up call. It must lead to a root-and-branch reform of the CCRC, proper investment in its capacity, greater transparency, and meaningful accountability for failings across the justice system.

Justice delayed is justice denied  and for Peter, justice was denied for 38 years too long.

Downing Street said the judgment must be carefully considered to get both Mr Sullivan and Ms Sindalls family the answers they deserve, adding: Its clear that Peter Sullivan has suffered a grave miscarriage of justice and our thoughts are also with Diane Sindalls family on what must be an incredibly difficult day.

Despite spending 38 years wrongly incarcerated, Mr Sullivan must now prove to justice secretary Shabana Mahmood that he is innocent beyond reasonable doubt if he wishes to claim compensation from the government.

Toby Wilton, of Hickman and Rose, who is representing Andrew Malkinson in his application for compensation after he was wrongly jailed for 17 years for rape, said this hurdle is something many wrongly convicted people struggle to overcome.

And even for those whose claims are accepted, payouts are capped at a maximum of 1m. In Mr Sullivans case, this would equate to just 26,315 for each year he was wrongly jailed.

Until recently, victims of miscarriages of justice could also have their living costs in prison deducted from their payout, although this was scrapped by Alex Chalk, then justice secretary, in 2023.

open image in gallery Kim Smith, sister of Peter Sullivan, said they had lost him for 39 years ( PA )

No one should underestimate the impact of miscarriages of justice like this on people, Mr Wilton told The Independent.

And the longer you have been a victim of a miscarriage of justice and the longer you have been in prison, the harder it is to rebuild your life after your conviction is quashed.

These people are, in my experience, injured both physically and mentally by what has happened.

Ms Sindall, who was engaged to be married, was walking to a petrol station after her van broke down when she was beaten to death, with her body left partially clothed and mutilated following a frenzied assault.

Semen which was discovered on her abdomen had been partly diluted by rainfall, and therefore had not been possible to test until 2024.

It was alleged during his 1987 trial that Mr Sullivan had spent the day drinking heavily after losing a darts match, and had armed himself with a crowbar before a chance encounter with Ms Sindall.

Mr Sullivan initially denied the attack but later signed a confession, which he subsequently retracted. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years and has never been released.

In November, the CCRC said that Mr Sullivans conviction had been referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis of DNA evidence.

Samples taken at the time of the murder were re-examined and a DNA profile that did not match Mr Sullivan was found, the commission said.

open image in gallery Peter Sullivans conviction was quashed at an appeal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice ( PA )

Mr Sullivan previously applied to the body to have his case re-examined in 2021, raising concerns about police interviews, bite mark evidence and the murder weapon.

He claimed he had not been provided with an appropriate adult during interviews and was initially denied legal representation.

Speaking to the court, his barrister Jason Pitter KC said that Mr Sullivan was mentally handicapped and a fantasist, and offered blatantly wrong answers and inconsistencies when questioned.

To summarise, the appellant was extremely vulnerable in an interrogative situation, because of his limited intellectual functioning, combined with his problems with self-expression, his disposition to acquiesce, to yield, to be influenced, manipulated and controlled and his internal pressure to speak without reflection and his tendency to engage in make-believe to an extreme extent.

He continued: What he was saying was nonsense, in plain terms.

Merseyside Police have since reopened the investigation into the murder and said 260 men have been eliminated from their inquiry.

The Crown Prosecution Service did not oppose the appeal. Duncan Atkinson KC told the court the DNA evidence provides a clear and uncontroverted basis to suggest that another person was responsible for both the sexual assault and the murder.

open image in gallery The memorial stone for Diane Sindall on Borough Road in Birkenhead, Wirral ( PA )

Speaking outside court, Mr Sullivans solicitor Sarah Myatt said: This is an unprecedented and historic moment. Our client Peter Sullivan is the longest-serving victim of a miscarriage of justice in the UK.

He has endured nearly 40 years in a category A prison for a truly horrific crime that he did not commit.

Today, justice has been at last served, and his conviction has been quashed.

A CCRC spokesperson said that despite the DNA evidence not being available in 2008, the organisation did regret that we were not able to identify Mr Sullivans conviction as a potential miscarriage of justice in our first review.

As an organisation, we are committed to taking forward learning from previous reviews, and we continue to develop our understanding around forensic opportunities, they added.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson added: Peter Sullivan suffered a grave miscarriage of justice, and our thoughts are with him and the family of Diane Sindall.

We will carefully consider this judgment, looking at how this could have happened and making sure both Mr Sullivan and Dianes family get the answers they deserve.
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A man who spent nearly four decades in prison has had his murder conviction quashed.

Peter Sullivan was jailed in 1987 for the murder of Diane Sindall and has since spent 38 years in prison.

His conviction is believed to be the longest-running miscarriage of justice in British history. Three senior judges quashed his sentence  17 years after his first attempt to overturn it.

Ms Sindall, a 21-year-old barmaid, was found dead in Bebington, Merseyside, in August 1986, with Mr Sullivan arrested the following month and convicted in November 1987.

He has remained behind bars despite being given a minimum term of 16 years.

On Tuesday, three senior judges quashed his conviction after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, following new DNA evidence.

Who was Diane Sindall?

open image in gallery Diane Sindallbehind the bar at the Wellington pub in Bebington on 1 August 1986 ( Merseyside Police )

Ms Sindall was from Seacombe in Wirral. Her family ran a floristry business, and shed often deliver flowers.

She was working behind the bar at the Wellington pub in Bebington on 1 August 1986 to save up for her wedding the next year. She left the pub at 11.45pm in a blue Fiat van.

She got out of the van after running out of petrol on Borough Road in Birkenhead and was seen by several witnesses walking along the road between midnight and 12.20am on Saturday.

She was raped and brutally murdered, and her body was found on 2 August in an alleyway just off Borough Road.

Police said she had been sexually assaulted and suffered extensive injuries to her body.

Why was Peter Sullivan jailed?

The prosecutions case against Mr Sullivan relied on discredited bite mark analysis and circumstantial evidence.

Then aged 29, he had been drinking at a pub 10 minutes from where Ms Sindall was murdered.

Eyewitnesses, who later failed to identify him, claimed to have seen him at Bidston Hill, where her burned clothes and handbag were found. He said he had gone there to urinate.

open image in gallery Peter Sullivan ( PA Media )

A neighbour alleged he borrowed a crowbar before the murder, believed to be the possible weapon, which he denied having.

Mr Sullivan gave inconsistent accounts, saying he couldnt recall his movements.

He made and retracted several confessions during police questioning, including one unrecorded interview. He later claimed police assaulted and verbally abused him.

At trial, two experts  one of whom had initially dismissed the link  told the jury that bite marks on Ms Sindalls body matched Mr Sullivan.

open image in gallery Peter Sullivan attends his Court of Appeal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London ( Reuters )

Why has he been released?

Mr Sullivan first challenged his conviction in 2008, but the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) declined to refer it. He then lost an appeal in 2019.

In 2021, he reapplied to the CCRC, which found DNA from the scene did not match him.

At Tuesdays Court of Appeal hearing, his lawyers argued the evidence proved Ms Sindalls killer was not the defendant.

open image in gallery Lord Justice Holroyde quashed the conviction at the Court of Appeals on Tuesday ( PA )

Crown prosecutors said the DNA findings gave no credible basis to oppose the appeal and were enough to cast doubt on the safety of the conviction.

Quashing the conviction, Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Mr Justice Goss and Mr Justice Bryan, quashed the conviction, stating they had no doubt that it is both necessary and expedient in the interests of justice to accept the new DNA evidence.

New investigation underway to find her killer

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Jaundrill said a dedicated team had been exploring all lines of inquiry relating to the case since it was reopened in 2023.

No match for the DNA discovered at the scene has been found by investigators, and the force is appealing for witnesses to come forward almost 39 years on from the murder.

The family of Miss Sindall and her fiance at the time have been ruled out of the investigation, along with more than 260 men identified as potentially linked profiles who have been screened, Ms Jaundrill said.

The Merseyside force has enlisted specialist skills and expertise from the National Crime Agency, and extensive and painstaking enquiries are underway to try and trace the killer.
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The government has banned a Botticelli painting worth more than 10m from being exported outside the UK.

The Virgin and Child Enthroned, painted by the Italian master Sandro Botticelli in the 15th century, is at risk of leaving the country after it was sold by Sothebys London last December for 9.7m.

The UK government has now placed a temporary export bar on the work, which has been valued at 10.2m.

The order will prevent it from leaving the UK until 8 August and allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the painting for a British collection.

The painting depicts an image of the Virgin Mary sitting on a throne with the child of Christ. It is believed to have been painted in the 1470s, early in Botticellis career.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said if saved, the painting would represent a significant addition to the body of work by Botticelli, best known for his painting The Birth of Venus, in UK collections.

open image in gallery Botticellis The Birth of Venus , perhaps his most famous painting ( AFP/Getty )

It added: Very few early Botticellis remain in the UK and it would provide a richer and more detailed understanding of his work and the development of Florentine painting in the later fifteenth century.

Christopher Baker, a member of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art and objects of cultural interest, which advises the government, said: Dating from the early 1470s, this affecting devotional work demonstrates the sophistication of Botticellis painting early in his career in Florence.

Probably intended to inspire private prayer in a domestic setting, it is an image that has a wider resonance as it delicately explores the power of maternal love.

According to Sothebys, the painting was housed in the Convent of San Giuliano in Florence in the early 19th century and was later taken to a small chapel attached to a group of farmhouses near the village of Vaggio.

It was then inherited by the owners of the property, who then sold it to an art dealer in 1903.

open image in gallery The painting depicts an image of the Virgin Mary sat on a throne with the child of Christ ( Department of Culture, Media and Sport )

It was then purchased by Lady Wantage in 1904, and the painting remained in the same family collection until the present day.

The cult of, or enthusiasm for Botticelli, of which it formed a part, had grown during the Victorian era and the painting arrived in Britain in 1904; it was acquired by Lady Wantage and entered the renowned Lloyd collection, Mr Baker added.

Further research on the placement of Botticellis work in his career and the organisation of his workshop, as well as links with the wider context of Florentine Renaissance art would all be of enormous benefit.

In view of these intriguing possibilities every effort should be made to try and secure this beguiling painting for a British collection.
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Elon Musk and his platform X played a central role in amplifying Islamophobic narratives around grooming gangs in the UK, a damning new report has said.

The Centre for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) said X had become a high-velocity distribution channel for hate speech and conspiracy theories, particularly targeting British-Pakistani men and other South Asian and immigrant communities.

The CSOH report Racialised Grooming Gangs: Elon Musk, X, and Amplification of Islamophobia in the UK looks at the tech billionaires influence in the debate around grooming gangs earlier this year. In January, Musk repeatedly posted or reposted about child grooming in the UK, accusing the Labour government of not doing enough to tackle it and calling for safeguarding minister Jess Phillips to go to prison.

Based on an analysis of 1,365 posts with over 1.5 billion engagements, the report found that Musks personal interventions  alongside far-right channels  played a pivotal role in weaponising the grooming gang discourse to scapegoat Muslims in the country, particularly British Pakistani men.

That is despite police chiefs saying that most grooming gang offences in the UK were carried out by white men.

The discourse surrounding the grooming gangs  amplified at unprecedented scale by Elon Musks interventions on X  illustrates a dangerous convergence between far-right ideologies and the failure of digital platforms to enforce even basic content moderation policies, the report said.

This report finds that X became a central hub for the spread of these narratives. In particular, we identified coordinated global activity involving individuals and organisations linked to promoting Islamophobic content. The grooming gangs discourse must also be understood as part of the global far-rights broader search for political legitimacy in a post-2024 UK.

The report described Musks role as instrumental in amplifying the grooming gangs narrative, with his allegations against political figures like Keir Starmer offering legitimacy to far-right talking points. Musk accused Sir Keir of failing to tackle the scandal when he was the country's chief prosecutor, saying he was "complicit in the rape of Britain".

His repeated accusations against prime minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party  alleging cover-ups and complicity  offered political legitimacy to fringe actors and injected far-right talking points directly into the mainstream, the report stated.

By positioning himself as a champion of free speech, Musk created cover for the amplification of hate and disinformation, often quoting or engaging with known extremists. His platform served not only as a megaphone for these views, but as a shield against accountability, framing any criticism of disinformation as censorship or political suppression, it said.

The myth of institutional cover-up alleges that authorities  including the Labour Party, judiciary, and media  deliberately concealed crimes to protect minority communities or preserve political advantage.

The aforementioned constructs multiculturalism and so-called political correctness as conduits to such crimes, thus positioning diversity itself as a threat. Together, these sensationalist conspiracies serve to racialise sexual criminality, delegitimise and erode public trust in liberal public institutions.

The CSOH also pointed to another social media trend: sexual violence was being weaponised, with entire communities blamed for individual crimes.

The scapegoating of Muslim men (particularly British Pakistani men) relies on long-standing orientalist and racist tropes to frame them as collectively (and sometimes solely) responsible for sexual violence, the report said. Social media posts often portrayed Muslim men as foreign predators and accused institutions of shielding them due to political correctness and multiculturalism, the report added.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was among the public figures vilified based on his ethnicity and religion, with the report pointing to attacks by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Tommy Robinsons X account called Sadiq Khan the Pakistani mayor of London despite the fact Khan is a British citizen by birth. The post generated 854.1K views, 31K likes, 7.4K reposts and 1K comments.

The report also claimed to have uncovered what it called a coordinated effort by India-based Hindu nationalist accounts to inject transnational Islamophobic narratives into the UK debate, further fuelling racialised paranoia and online hate.

Of the 650 posts promoting hate against men of British Pakistani heritage, other South Asians, and immigrants, 107 explicitly Islamophobic posts were linked to X accounts associated with Hindu nationalists. These posts collectively received a total engagement of 7.96 million views, 251K likes, 84.3K reposts, 12.3K bookmarks and 5.7K replies.

In January, Sir Keir responded to Musks attacks, amid mounting calls for a new public inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming in Oldham.

Sir Keir said: Those that are spreading lies and misinformation, as far and as wide as possible  theyre not interested in victims, theyre interested in themselves.

The Independent has reached out to Musk and X for comment.
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King Charles is to host French President Emmanuel Macron on a state visit to the UK from July 8-10, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The French leader and his wife Brigitte Macron will stay at Windsor Castle and will be feted with a state banquet at the historic Berkshire royal residence.

Buckingham Palace said: "The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 8th July to Thursday 10th July 2025.

open image in gallery Macron will stay in July ( PA )

The President and Mrs Macron will stay at Windsor Castle.

While a date has not yet been announced for President Donald Trumps second state visit, he is widely expected to travel to the UK in September after Sir Keir Starmer extended an invitation earlier this year on a trip to the White House.

open image in gallery The King paid France a state visit in 2023 ( AFP/Getty )

The King and Queen paid a state visit to France in September 2023.

The last state visit to the UK from France was in March 2008 when President Nicolas Sarkozy also stayed at Windsor as the late Queen Elizabeth II's guest.

President Trumps upcoming state visit breaks from tradition as second-term US presidents are not usually offered a state visit. Instead they are invited for tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle.

He said of the honour: They're going to do a second, as you know, a second fest that's what it is: a fest, and it's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person.

And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it's an honour I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.

And I think they're setting a date for September.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump and Charles, then the Prince of Wales, in 2019 ( PA )

Just last week the UK struck an economic deal with the US leader to cut tariffs on car exports and reduced tariffs on steel and aluminium, while keeping a 10 per cent baseline tariff on most goods.

The Kings unprecedented invitation to the US leader proposed a meeting to discuss details of the state visit at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, both in Scotland, where Mr Trumps mother was raised.

Mr Trumps last state visit was in 2019 where he and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, met the late Queen.

A state visit usually begins with a ceremonial welcome from the monarch and other members of the Royal Family to the visiting Head of State, which takes place on Horse Guards Parade.

A state banquet takes place on the first night, usually at Buckingham Palace, with around 150 guests invited based on their cultural, diplomatic or economic connections to the country being hosted. Prior to dinner, the King makes a speech and proposes a toast to the visiting Head of State, who returns a toast to His Majesty.

As well as meeting the King and Queen, the visiting Head of State will meet the prime minister, as well as government ministers and leaders of the main political parties.

The two state visits are set to take place at Windsor Castle due to ongoing refurbishments at Buckingham Palace.
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More than 400 people who fought for the Islamic State are believed to have returned to the UK after travelling to the Middle East to join the banned terrorist group, according to a committee of MPs and peers.

None of these supporters have been successfully prosecuted for their crimes, Parliaments Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) says.

This is despite the possibility that many engaged in killings, terror attacks and persecution of minorities in Iraq and Syria.

IS, which once held large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, was responsible for widespread campaigns of terror, murder and rape often targeted against minority religious groups like the Yazidis.

Estimates suggest 5,000 Yazidis were killed and more than 200,000 displaced from their homes by the terrorist group.

The committee called on the Government to take steps to ensure they can be tried in British courts, rather than in Iraq or Syria where the crimes took place.

open image in gallery IS, which once held large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, was responsible for widespread campaigns of terror ( AFP/Getty )

Ministers have previously said any such crimes are best investigated and prosecuted under local laws, according to the committee.

But the parliamentarians said this was unlikely to happen in the Middle Eastern countries where IS operated.

Where the UK has jurisdiction over international crimes, the UK should seek to investigate and prosecute such crimes, the committees latest report said.

The UK courts face a key barrier to exercising justice on war crimes and genocide, the committee said, as it is not possible to prosecute people for these crimes unless they are UK nationals, residents, or subject to service personnel laws.

Ministers must use the Crime and Policing Bill currently making its way through Parliament to amend the law, and ensure anyone suspected to have committed genocide or war crimes can face justice in the UK, the committee added.

It also called for better co-operation between the Crown Prosecution Service and specialist police officers involved in investigating genocide, to ensure evidence is not lost.

open image in gallery An ISIL billboard is seen destroyed in the middle of the road on November 8, 2016 in Qaraqosh, Iraq ( Getty )

Lord Alton of Liverpool, chairman of the JCHR, said: This is not something the UK can simply wash its hands of because it happened overseas. We know that British nationals committed the most horrendous crimes in Iraq and Syria under the Daesh regime and we have a duty to see them brought to justice.

To date, no Daesh fighters have been successfully prosecuted for international crimes in the UK and we find this unacceptable.

He added: We want to see more action from the Government in identifying the perpetrators, some of whom may have returned to Britain, others likely detained in camps in Syria. This will require better co-ordination from law enforcement and criminal justice, and also the removal of barriers preventing some prosecutions.

The report also calls for greater transparency about how the Government uses its power to strip British people of their citizenship because of links with IS.

Shamima Begum, who travelled to IS-held territory a decade ago, aged 15, is the most famous example of the states use of this power.

But the report said the UK uses deprivation of citizenship orders more than almost any country in the world, and ministers must account for this.

More must also be done to repatriate children held in camps in north-east Syria, the committee said, where conditions are deplorable, according to Lord Alton.

He added: It is in the UKs interest to ensure they do not become a new generation of the radicalised and they must be brought home.
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Tesco has written an apology to customers after the supermarket giant mistakenly told them they had received 100 worth of Clubcard points.

Shoppers were sent an email on Sunday afternoon, informing them that 100 in points had been added to their account.

The hand-out was linked to a promotion alongside EasyJet this year where Clubcard members booking holidays using vouchers got 10,000 Clubcard points.

However, the email was incorrectly sent out to shoppers who had not booked a holiday through the deal.

Less than 24 hours after the initial promise of points, the supermarket giant sent another email, apologising to customers for the mistake.

Customers annoyed by the miscommunication still vented their annoyance on social media.

open image in gallery The email sent by Tesco to customers after the supermarket mistakenly told shoppers they had received 100 in Clubcard points ( The Independent )

Tom Curzon wrote on X: WTF is this about Tesco? I demand 100 of club card points NOW!!

Ellie wrote: Did anyone else get this weird Tesco email today about 100 of clubcard points being ours and then not being ours?

Liz wrote: Very disappointed for the false advertising. When will you update my clubcard account with the 100?

The correction email sent by Tesco was Monday was titled Oops - that email wasnt meant for you!

In the email, Zoe Evans, from the UK customer engagement centre, wrote: We sent you an email about our Reward Partners on Sunday 11 May (great!). Unfortunately, we mistakenly said wed added 100 of Clubcard points to your account for booking an easyJet holiday (not so great!).

Were very sorry for any confusion we caused, and we hope you have a lovely summer, whatever your holiday plans.

The promotion on receiving Clubcard points through EasyJet bookings lasted from 17 February to 13 April, with the points allocated to those eligible by the end of June.

The deal with the holiday-maker was to mark the 30-year anniversary of the clubcard scheme.

Shoppers use the card in-store or online to earn a point for each 1 spent. Once a set number of points have been earned, the money is turned into a voucher that can be used to get money off a shop at Tesco, or with reward partners.
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The UKs large-scale aid cuts will have a huge impact, the new development minister has admitted to MPs  but, she said, the days of viewing Britain as a global charity are over.

Jenny Chapman replaced Anneliese Dodds as development minister in February. Dodds resigned in protest at the prime ministers plan to cut aid spending from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of the UKs gross national income (GNI)  a measure of the nations total wealth. That amounts to roughly 6 billion cut from a current budget of 15.4bn.

Addressing the international development select committee, Baroness Chapman said the UK needed to sharpen our focus on health, the climate crisis and humanitarian aid in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, which is actually where the public expects us to lead.

But this would likely come at the expense of programmes around women and girls education, she said.

There will be a huge impact, Im not pretending otherwise, Chapman said. I cant promise to protect every good programme.

Baroness Chapman went on to claim there was an "absolute crisis" in public support for international aid, adding that "many of our partner countries" also wanted to "move on from this model". Monica Harding, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the committee, said other polling suggested UK residents did support foreign aid when it is, within their interests, when it supports defence and security and soft power.

Arguing that the UK needed to focus more on sharing expertise than providing cash, Baroness Chapman said: "While our commitment to helping those living through emergencies is unwavering - for countries developing, we need to be an investor and not just a donor.

"It's about partnership and not paternalism."

An explicit plan to spend less on gender might appear to mirror the rhetoric coming from across the Atlantic, as Donald Trump has ruthlessly slashed any spending he considers to be in the service of gender ideology.

Trumps cuts are already having wide-ranging destructive effects, from leaving millions on the brink of famine, to derailing the end of the AIDS pandemic, driving millions of preventable deaths.

But Chapman was keen to put a distance between Labours plans and the USs blitz on all aid - especially any project that has a whiff of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Asked by Harding whether these plans were just following the US, Chapman denied the claim.

We have made our choice for very very different ideological reasons. This is about necessity and having to shift some spending to defence, Baroness Chapman said.

We maintain our commitment to go back to 0.7 [per cent] when we can.

In the future, the UK should offer its expertise from its education, health, tech and financial sectors to support countries to build their own systems, Chapman said.

The alternative would be to salami slice without strategy, which would be wrong.

An analysis by Save the Children previously shared with The Independent found savage cuts to UK foreign aid would leave 55.5 million of the worlds poorest people without access to basic resources.

Chair of the international devleopment committee, Sarah Champion, said development money - which usually sits in a different pot from humanitarian money - is how you prevent conflicts in the future. It is how you prevent terrorists in the future.

The plans will be finalised by 11 June when the spending review, setting out government departments budgets, closes.

Baroness Chapman also pushed back on estimates from The One Campaign which suggested UK aid cuts could lead to 600,000 preventable deaths and 38 million fewer children being vaccinated, saying the government hadnt got the point of making those decisions yet. More clarity on where the UKs aid cuts will fall will come in the summer.

This article was produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
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More than one million people in the UK are on zero-hours contracts, new data has revealed, despite Labours pledge to eliminate the exploitative contracts last year.

Some 1.17 million people were on zero-hours contracts, meaning that they are not guaranteed any minimum working hours by their employer, between January and March of this year.

The only period on record when more people in the UK were on zero-hours contracts was between April and June of 2023, when 1.2 million workers were in such roles.

Labour ushered in a plan to offer guaranteed working hours as part of its Employment Rights Bill, which is currently being scrutinised in the House of Lords.

As a result, experts expected that bosses would shy away from zero-hours contracts; but in fact, the opposite has happened, with a 12.5 per cent increase in the past year.

The law is likely to be passed later this year, and we had expected to see the start of a long-term decline of zero-hour contracts in the UK, said Rebecca Florisson, analyst at the Work Foundation.

But this marked increase may signal some employers are resistant to dropping zero-hour contracts ahead of new legislation being introduced.

The figures are a concern, with the UK seeing 106,000 fewer employees on the payroll compared to the previous year, according to new ONS statistics.

Around 130,000 more people have been employed via zero-hours contracts in the first quarter of this year than were last year.

This makes up 3.4 per cent of the total UK workforce, according to the latest Labour Force Survey.

Many workers are currently trapped in these unstable jobs as they have limited choices to find other forms of employment, and often have to trade security for much-needed flexibility to manage their health or their childcaring responsibilities, explained Ms Florisson.

One in four of these workers  291,000 people  are working fewer hours than theyd like, the data shows, and are either seeking more hours, an additional job, or a new job with longer hours.

Some people are drawn to zero-hours contracts due to their temporary nature, but the majority (67 per cent) of people on these contracts have been with their employer for over a year; and some for 10 years or more.

open image in gallery Research suggests that three in four people working zero-hours contracts are in severely insecure work ( PA Archive )

Women are more likely to be employed in this way than men, and concerningly make up 81 per cent of the growth in zero-hours contracts in the past year.

The growth in zero-hour contracts is likely to impact groups facing structural inequalities in the labour market, warns Ms Florisson.

Zero-hour contract work is often concentrated in lower paid sectors like retail and hospitality, and our previous research has shown that women, young and older workers are more likely to be in routine and semi-routine jobs in these sectors.

Young people aged 24 and under are most likely to work on zero-hours contracts, and also more likely to be in education while working.

But hundreds of thousands of people in older age groups also work on unstable contracts, including 321,000 people aged 50 and above.

Research from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University also suggests that three in four people working zero-hours contracts are in severely insecure work.

This means they face a worrying mix of financial and contractual insecurity, which also limits their rights and protections, says Ms Florisson.

The East Midlands sees the highest proportion of workers on zero-hours contracts, at 4.7 per cent of all people in employment; a jump from 3.7 per cent the previous quarter.

When will the Employment Rights Bill come into force?

A package of labour reforms was introduced in the Employment Rights Bill last year.

As part of the bill, zero-hour contracts without the offer of work will be banned, and guaranteed hours will be set by the number worked in a 12-week period.

The bill passed in its third reading by a majority of 233 votes, and is undergoing scrutiny in the House of Lords.

A timeline for implementation is not yet set, but the majority of reforms are not expected to take effect until at least late 2026.

Employers report that their labour costs are increasing due to the rise in the national living wage and the national minimum wage and the increase in employer national insurance contributions, said Ms Florisson.

In that context, it is possible that employers will continue using zero-hour contracts for as long as they can as a way to balance out resourcing demands and increasing costs.
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Peter Mandelson has dismissed the notion of Nigel Farage becoming Britains prime minister, despite Reform UKs success in the local elections.

The UKs ambassador to the US said Mr Farage, who is leading in the polls and won hundreds of council seats this month, was capitalising on voters frustrations at the lack of progress made by Labour in power.

Speaking at an event in Washington, Lord Mandelson said: Im not sure [the recent success] translates into people imagining that hes going to be prime minister.

But I take him seriously. Obviously, I think hes got a strong, popular vote.

open image in gallery Lord Mandelson stood beside Donald Trump as he announced the trade deal with Britain ( AFP/Getty )

Describing the results as extraordinary, he said Sir Keir Starmer was facing a similar situation to Sir Tony Blairs New Labour following its 1997 landslide election win. The party began losing by-elections the following year.

Within a year, I heard people say, Oh, they got this colossal great majority at the election and whats Blair done with it? Why hasnt the world changed? Why hasnt the country changed in a year? You know, people are impatient, Lord Mandelson said.

The Labour peer, who was a key architect of New Labour and held a number of roles in Sir Tonys government, also noted that the same volatility of nationalism and populism did not exist in 1997, and that there had been no threat of Mr Farage.

open image in gallery Lord Mandelson said Sir Tony Blair faced similar frustration a year into power ( PA )

Reforms surge in the polls has sent shockwaves through Westminster. The latest Techne UK poll for The Independent saw Labour fall two points to 23 per cent, with Reform rising three points to 28 per cent.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats also performed better than both the Labour and Conservative parties during the local elections.

Lord Mandelson added: "When I was in government and I organised the election that we did in 1997, we didnt have the same volatility of nationalism and populism that exists.

"We didnt have as fragmented a political system. We certainly didnt have Nigel Farage. And the reason why politics has changed is partly because of the global struggle, partly because of the social impact of rapid globalisation and the impact of that on peoples lives."

Speaking of his experience in the White House working with Donald Trump, who he previously described as a danger to the world, Lord Mandelson said he was a rather gracious individual.

Following the UK-US trade deal announced last week, the ambassador said he was looking forward to continue negotiating to bring down further tariffs.

Lord Mandelson told BBC Newsnight last week: Im very pleased with what weve achieved. Its taken many months of very tough negotiation, and its also a platform going further and opening up more trade opportunities.

He added: Were going to negotiate further and bring down further tariffs and remove further barriers to trade between us, thats what were committed to, and Im looking forward to doing that.
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The government has unveiled a slate of new requirements and restrictions around migration to the UK, from a higher level of English language proficiency to eliminating the careworker visa pathway entirely.

If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English. Thats common sense, said Sir Keir Starmer on X (formerly Twitter).

The changes could make British citizenship among the hardest to achieve in the anglophone world, with a decade-long wait to apply.

Extending the standard route to settlement to 10 years risks making it harder for people to contribute and settle into their communities, said Marley Morris, associate director at the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Here, The Independent looks at how some of Labours new rules compare to immigration systems in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Migration still at high levels

The most recent figure for net migration to the UK stands at 728,000 people in the year to June 2024.

Some 1.2 million people entered the country during that period, while 479,000 left the UK.

A one-nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control. Well, no more, Sir Keir said on Monday. The experiment is over. We will deliver what you have asked for  time and again  and we will take back control of our borders.

The figure was down overall by 20 per cent from the previous year, when net migration hit a record-high level of 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

Net migration to the UK remains far above its pre-Brexit level, when it stood at around 200,000 to 250,000.

New migration figures are set to be released next week, revealing the first full migration numbers since Sir Keirs Labour government came to power.

The figures, showing net migration up to December last year, will provide an insight into the effectiveness of the governments immigration strategy so far.

Decade-long barrier to citizenship

The new route to settlement, which doubles the time a person is required to have lived in the UK from five years to 10, will mean British citizenship is among the hardest to acquire in the world.

This decade-long requirement is over twice as high as in comparable countries, and is perhaps the most significant change made in this white paper.

Mr Morris added: Visa holders will spend lengthy periods on an insecure status, increasing their risk of poverty and losing status altogether. This could inhibit integration while doing little to bring down numbers.

Even in the United States, which is considered to have one of the toughest immigration systems, migrants only have to have lived in the country for five years on a visa before they can begin to apply for citizenship.

The same requirement exists in New Zealand, and its even lower  four years  in Australia.

The UK will become a relative outlier on the global stage, where 10 years to gain settlement is rare, explained Jonathan Beech, managing partner at immigration law specialists Migrate UK.

[This brings into question] how attractive the UK will be to those with the skills and expertise the UK requires to be an economic powerhouse.

Language requirements

The government has placed a new emphasis on English language requirements for incoming migrants.

Skilled workers and those looking to settle in the UK will see the language requirement rise from B1 to B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, along with other changes.

This is a higher stage of the independent user level of proficiency in English.

However, the UK is not necessarily unusual in imposing this requirement.

The new B2 language requirement is broadly equivalent to a 5.5 - 6.5 score on the IELTS scale used by other countries ( IELTS )

For skilled workers and students, New Zealand requires a minimum 6.5 score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which is equivalent to the upper end of a B2 score in the European framework.

Australia also requires a score of 6 to 6.5 on the IELTS scale, which is broadly in line with the new B2 standard.

The US, meanwhile, is less strict on English language proficiency. There is no standardised score that applicants must achieve.

However, a basic level of English is generally required, with the US citizenship test requiring applicants to read, write, speak, and understand English.

Tighter restrictions for graduates

As part of Labours crackdown on migration, students in the UK will be made to leave sooner after they graduate.

Currently, foreign students in UK universities can stay on for two years after they finish their degree, via the graduate visa route. The new changes will reduce this period to just 18 months.

Meanwhile, in Australia, graduates can stay up to twice as long on a graduate visa, from two to three years. Foreign graduates in New Zealand can also remain for up to three years.

In the United States, students must leave just 60 days after they graduate, unless they receive an optional practical training visa. In limited cases, graduates can stay for up to 12 months, or 24 months for science, technology, engineering or mathematics students.

This puts the UK on the more restrictive end of opportunities for foreign students post-graduation, though it is mostly in line with the US.

In the 2022/23 academic year, there were around 750,000 international students in higher education, according to research by the House of Commons, which is equal to one in four university students. International students contributed 12bn in tuition fees in 2022/23, making higher education a lucrative sector.

Meanwhile, research from London Economics estimates that international students could bring net benefits worth 37.4bn to the UK. Yet the governments paper notes there has been an increase in students sponsored by lower-ranking education institutions, and not enough international students are moving into graduate-level roles.

Though shortening the timeframe for those on a graduate visa could speed up the transition into higher-paid roles, Mr Beech also warned it could force talented foreign graduates to leave the UK.

For those who do obtain an 18-month graduate visa, they will be keen to lock in a sponsored role with the first graduate-level opportunity they come across, explained Mr Beech.

In addition, employers will be worried about compliance and scrutiny when deciding whether the vacancy being offered to a graduate visa holder meets the required level. Not all job codes exactly match the vacancy being offered, and it could be a route of anxiety for HR teams who are not well versed in immigration rules and guidance.
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Sir Keir Starmer has doubled down on his inflammatory comments on immigration as Labour backlash over the language he used grows.

The prime ministers warning that Britain is becoming a island of strangers as a result of migration has sparked alarm with claims that it was almost word for word as a line from Enoch Powells infamous rivers of blood speech in 1968 that whipped up a frenzy of anti-immigration hatred across the UK.

Downing Street has denied that any comparisons should be made with the right-wing Tory, who is a political hero of Nigel Farage, and the prime minister has already denied that his hardline approach on immigration is a reaction to Reform UKs surge in popularity and crushing Labour in the recent local elections.

A spokesperson for the prime minister insisted that Sir Keir absolutely stands by his language, including claims that mass immigration has done incalculable damage to the British economy.

He added: We have set out a number of priorities, getting net migration down is one of those. The PM made his argument in his own language.

But veteran Labour MP and anti-racism campaigner Diane Abbott, a former shadow home secretary, has led the latest wave of criticism from Labours backbenches against Sir Keirs stance.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference on the immigration white paper in the Downing Street Briefing Room ( PA )

Ms Abbott, a long-term critic of the prime minister and ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, said: This was a shameful day in British politics and a shameful day for the Labour party. It will not end well for either.

The prime minister was also not helped by his home secretary, Yvette Cooper, repeatedly refusing to use the same language as him on the morning broadcast round.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has also distanced himself from Sir Keir, but in a shock show of support for the PM, right-wing Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick  a former immigration minister  has supported him.

And to add to the concerns, Sir Keir was praised by the EUs most right-wing government, Hungary, for his language.

Speaking to The Independent, Viktor Orbans state secretary Zoltan Kovacs said: We see Sir Keir Starmer saying the exact sentences and words actually weve been talking about for the past 10 years.

He added: This realignment is going to come because in democracy, you have to talk for the people and represent the people of your country.

Pressed on the comparisons with Powell, a Downing Street spokesperson vehemently denied the claims.

He said: We completely reject that comparison. Youve heard the PM say in his speech yesterday that migrants make a massive contribution to the country, as just reflected on from cabinet is both right and fair to say that migrants have made a massive contribution to our society for generations.

However, he added: We are not going to shy away from this issue. The British public rightly expect the government to get control of immigration in a way that the previous government lost control of immigration and to put working people at the heart of our plans and ensure that weve got a system based on fairness and control and get down the sky high levels of immigration that we saw under the previous government.

But the PM has been very clear, Britain is an inclusive country. We have welcomed immigrants for generations, but the level of immigration, and the last few years, has been too high, that migration must come down.

open image in gallery Diane Abbott says this was a shameful day in British politics and a shameful day for the Labour party ( PA )

But Labour MPs have both publicly and privately made their anger clear.

A number have privately pointed out that they have already had to swallow tough decisions on slashing winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners, cutting disability welfare, tax rises on jobs, cosying up to Donald Trump and halving international aid.

Already, MPs are looking at what happens with the Hamilton South by-election for the Scottish parliament, where Labour are in a dog fight with Reform to even come second to the SNP as a barometer of how well Sir Keir is doing as prime minister.

After the disastrous local elections earlier this month, some MPs are privately even circling the Scottish and Welsh elections in May next year as a point when to make a judgement on whether Sir Keir should lead them into the next election.

Labour MP Olivia Blake told Times Radio: I think the use of strangers was very problematic and I think, or at least I hope, that the people who wrote the speech or were involved in developing the speech had never heard that speech before because if they were trying to rhyme with the rhetoric of that speech I would be exceedingly disappointed.

But I think this language of strangers has been used by the far right for generations to make divisions within our communities, but it couldnt be further from the truth. Like I said yesterday, you know, migrants arent just my neighbours, theyre my family, they are our community, you know, theyre our teachers, our nurses.

Sir Sadiq said he would not have used the phrase island of strangers, but declined to criticise the prime ministers announcement on immigration.

Speaking to LBC, the mayor of London said: The sort of language I use is different to the language used by others. Thats not the sort of words I would use.

He added that he thought Sir Keir was referring to promises made by Brexiteers and recent high levels of migration, and not that contribution we make to this multicultural capital city and country.
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Former immigration minister and Tory frontbencher Robert Jenrick has issued a defence of Sir Keir Starmers claim that the UK risks becoming island of strangers as a result of migration.

Sir Keir faced backlash for the remark, which he made while laying out some of the toughest rules in recent history to crack down on immigration.

The PM also said that the number of people entering the country is causing incalculable damage  comments that have provoked a furious backlash, with his own MPs joining trade unions and charities in comparing the language with that of the far right and Enoch Powell.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism of his immigration plans from across the political spectrum ( PA )

But asked what he made of the prime ministers characterisation, the shadow justice secretary  who has typically been at loggerheads with the Labour leader on migration  said: I think its true. In fact, I think in some places we already are. Aggressive levels of mass migration have made us more divided.

He suggested that the UK was not a united country, adding: If you look at communities in our country, for example central Bradford, 50 per cent of people were born outside of the United Kingdom; in central Luton, 46 per cent of residents arrived in the past decade.

There are places like Dagenham where the white British population has fallen by almost 60 per cent in the last 25 years.

Speaking to Sky News, he added: People in many parts of our country are experiencing profound change as a result of the levels of migration that weve seen, and weve got to bring that back to the historic levels that we enjoyed as a country which enabled us to be a well-integrated and united country, rather than the one that were seeing today.

Mr Jenrick oversaw a significant rise in net migration  the difference between the number of people moving into the country minus those leaving  during his time in office.

He held the role between October 2022 and December 2023, which was the same year net migration hit a record high peak of 906,000.

Meanwhile, home secretary Yvette Cooper defended the PMs language and said it was not right to make those comparisons with Mr Powells rivers of blood speech.

open image in gallery Yvette Cooper said she was not aware of the PMs plans to use the island of strangers phrase, and would not say whether she agreed ( PA )

But, asked repeatedly whether she would use the island of strangers comment herself, Ms Cooper refused four times to endorse the remarks. She also said she was not aware of the PMs plans to use the controversial phrase.

She told BBC Breakfast: Part of the point that he is making is that we have to recognise people have come to the UK through generations to do really important jobs in our NHS, founding our biggest businesses, doing some of the most difficult jobs.

But its because thats important, the system has to be controlled and managed, and it just hasnt been.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Todays programme, she said it was not right to make comparisons with Enoch Powells infamous rivers of blood speech.

The 1968 speech whipped up a frenzy of anti-immigration hatred across the UK after it imagined a future where the white population in Britain found themselves made strangers in their own country.

I dont think its right to make those comparisons. Its completely different, Ms Cooper said.

The prime minister said yesterday, I think almost in the same breath talked about the diverse country that we are, and that being part of our strength.

Asked if Sir Keirs speech-writers had been aware of the similarity in language, the home secretary replied: I dont know.

She also insisted that critics should focus of the substance of the migration plans, saying: I think we do actually have to be able to have a serious conversation about the policies.

Youre right. Everybody always gets caught up in focusing on different phrases, but we do have to be talking about the policies.

The home secretary had earlier refused to put a number on the amount she wanted to see net migration reduced by because, she said, targets used by the Tories in government had been meaningless.

In a dramatic early morning press conference on Monday aimed at seizing the political agenda after a series of disastrous local election results, Sir Keir insisted his new immigration plans were being unveiled because they are the right thing to do.

Among the measures announced were a ban on the recruitment of care workers from overseas, increased English language requirements for immigrants and the tightening of access to skilled worker visas.

But while Sir Keir denied his governments white paper was a reaction to a political party following the success of Nigel Farages Reform UK at the local elections, critics condemned his attempts to pander to Mr Farage.

Sir Keirs language marked an extraordinary turnaround in the last five years from when he was Jeremy Corbyns shadow immigration minister promoting open borders and from three years ago when he claimed that those raising immigration as an issue were racist.

One senior Labour backbencher compared his language to Enoch Powells infamous rivers of blood speech in 1968 which whipped up a frenzy of anti-immigration hatred across the UK.

open image in gallery Robert Jenrick said Britain is already an island of strangers ( PA )

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis told The Independent: This kind of language doesnt just alienate communities, it drives people away from our country altogether. And if those at the top think this is a clever tactic to win another five years by rolling out the red carpet for Nigel Farage, theyre mistaken. We are losing far more progressive voters than we are gaining from Reform UK.

Meanwhile, MP Nadia Whittome said the rhetoric was shameful and dangerous, and accused the PM of mimicking the scaremongering of the far right."

Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake suggested the phrase could risk legitimising the same far-right violence we saw in last years summer riots.

But asked to respond to accusations he had adopted Powells rhetoric, Sir Keir told the Guardian: Migrants make a massive contribution to the UK, and I would never denigrate that.

Britain is an inclusive and tolerant country, but the public expect that people who come here should be expected to learn the language and integrate, he added.
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Ed Milibands wife has objected to the redevelopment of a new block of flats near the familys home, amid the governments push to build 1.5 million new homes by the next election.

Dame Justine Thornton, who has been married to the energy secretary since 2011, is opposing the development in north London, claiming it is too tall, too bulky and too dense for their neighbourhood.

A source close to the High Court judge told The Independent she had no objection to the principle of new housing on the site, but was simply referring to a specific design.

open image in gallery Dame Justine Thornton, wife of Net Zero secretary Ed Miliband, has joined other north London residents in objecting to the plans ( PA )

Her objection to the development comes following Labours vow to take on Nimbys (not in my back yard) who oppose new housing, and the partys plan to build 1.5 million new homes by the next general election.

Before entering Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer promised a tough approach towards any Labour MPs who oppose new housing in their own constituencies, repeatedly pledging to back "builders not blockers". He also unveiled plans to rip up red tape to help developers build more homes.

The prime minister said he would stand up to his own party if they side with Nimbys, proudly declaring himself a Yimby - someone who would say yes in my back yard.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to get tough on Labour MPs who oppose development in their constituencies ( PA )

Developers of the five-storey block opposed by Dame Justine have relied on Labours changes to planning rules to argue more homes are needed and that local objections should not derail housing on brownfield sites.

But Dame Justine has said Camden Council should send the developers back to the drawing board.

Her objection, submitted last month, said: No objection to the principle of redevelopment into flats, particularly in the context of the need for more housing.

However, the proposed design appears to be too tall, too bulky and too dense for its plot given the context of the surrounding houses and the wider conservation area.

The nearby Highgate Newtown residential development is a brilliant example of thoughtful design in harmony with neighbouring properties.

This application presents another opportunity for the council to demonstrate its commitment to the provision of sympathetically designed housing by acknowledging the benefit of redevelopment whilst rejecting this particular design.

open image in gallery Actor Benedict Cumberbatch also opposes the development ( Getty )

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is also among those opposed to the planning application for the redevelopment of the site, arguing it is out of keeping with the architectural style of the area and will disrupt the aesthetic of the street.

You only have to look at the adjacent properties to see the difference in style, materials, colours and feel to the local area, he added.

The prime minister's official spokesperson said: "I'm not going to get drawn into individual personal views, let alone somebody who is not in the government."

But he added the government was clear on its plans for 1.5 million homes by the next election and on taking decisions on major infrastructure projects.

"We are willing to rip up the planning rulebook and pass the radical Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get spades in the ground and get the homes and infrastructure this country needs built," he said.

A source close to Dame Justine said: "Justine Thornton made clear she had no objection to the principle of new housing on the site. She was referring to a specific design."

Camden Council has been contacted for comment.
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The House of Lords continues to stand off with the Government in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman, with one peer arguing that passports can no longer be relied upon to verify someones sex.

On Monday, peers voted on measures to demand public authorities record sex data based on biological sex. An amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill was backed by 200 to 183, majority 17, a Tory change which aims to ensure collection of relevant information is based on sex at birth, natal sex or biological sex.

The Labour defeat came after a similar amendment was rejected by MPs and means a continuation of the tussle at Westminster, known as parliamentary ping-pong, where legislation is batted between the two Houses until agreement is reached.

Last month, top judges unanimously ruled the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

open image in gallery Sir Patrick Vallance said: We need to work through the effects of this ruling (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Archive )

Speaking in Parliament, science minister Lord Vallance of Balham said: Let me be clear that this Government accept the recent Supreme Court judgment on the definition of sex for the purposes of equality legislation.

We need to work through the effects of this ruling holistically and with care, sensitivity and  dare I say it  kindness. In line with the law, we need to take care not to inappropriately extend its reach.

He pointed out the Supreme Courts ruling related specifically to the meaning of sex in equalities legislation.

Lord Vallance added: This Government are clear that data must be accurate for the purpose for which it is being used and must not be misleading.

It should be clear to digital verification services what the information public authorities are sharing with them means.

I will give an important example. If an organisation needs to know a persons biological sex, this Government are clear that a check cannot be made against passport data, as it does not capture biological sex.

DVS could only verify biological sex using data that records that attribute specifically, not data that records sex or gender more widely.

But his Conservative frontbench counterpart Viscount Camrose said: It is now very clear that we need accurate sex data recorded for a whole host of reasons, including for medical research and the protection of same-sex spaces.

There is no reason why gender may not also be recorded in a separate field, and it is important that gender data is accurate too.

Tory peer and former MP Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom also stressed the need for accurate data.

He said: In the absence of any reliable document, how is a care home to ensure that a person who is to provide intimate care for an elderly woman, who has understandably demanded that such care be provided by a woman, will actually be provided by a woman?

In the absence of anything else, I suspect a care home will have to fall back on the passport, which, as we have all agreed, is unreliable.

Retired top judge Baroness Butler-Sloss said: If we are to have data, the data must be accurate.

Non-affiliated peer Baroness Fox of Buckley said: The minister called on us to have kindness. Of course, we should all have kindness all the time, in every instance. However, nobody here is trying to be unkind. The intent is to clarify.

The Government went on to suffer a further setback as the Lords supported by 289 to 168 votes, majority 121, extra safeguards against peoples data being harvested by AI companies without consent.

Independent crossbencher Viscount Colville of Culross said: This amendment is a push-back against the way the AI companies have been abusing the use of peoples data in training their AI models.

He argued the Bill as drafted gave a powerful exemption which allowed AI companies to reuse data without consent if they could show their work aligned with the definition of scientific research set out in the legislation.

Lord Colville added: I fear that this definition is so widely drawn that it will allow AI models to reuse data without consent, claiming that they are carrying out scientific research when in fact they are using it for product development and their own profit.

But Lord Vallance earlier told peers: The Bill contains strong safeguards.

Adding precise definitions in the Bill would not strengthen these protections but impose a significant, new legal obligation on our research community at a time when, in line with the good work of the previous government, we are trying to reduce bureaucracy for researchers, not increase it with new processes.
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The equalities watchdog has been threatened with legal action after saying trans women must use mens toilets,The Independent can reveal.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)s interim guidance was published in the wake of last months Supreme Court ruling on gender, which ruled trans women are not legally women under the Equalities Act.

The guidance states that trans women should not be permitted to use the womens facilities in workplaces or public-facing services such as shops and hospitals.

open image in gallery EHRC chair Baroness Kishwer Falkner ( PA )

But lawyers acting on behalf of leading UK trans rights group TransLucent have now sent a letter to the watchdog warning that the guidance incorrectly states the legal position of the court ruling.

The letter, seen by The Independent, criticises the body, saying it failed to consult with trans people before publishing its interim guidance, ahead of an ongoing consultation on the issue.

It demands the EHRC issue a clarification statement and criticised the commissions chair Baroness Falkners description of the ruling as a "a victory for common sense and another which stated: "If a male is allowed to use a women-only service, it isn't any longer a single-sex space."

The campaigners argue the remarks have caused immense distress to the trans community and confusion to both service providers and employers.

Meanwhile, lawyers Leigh Day warned: The worry for our client is that there has not yet been any consultation with trans communities and other affected groups, and the statements from the chair and commissioner that followed the publication of the update, particularly in relation to provision of single sex spaces, suggest that their minds are closed to any other outcome.

The letter adds: If those are their personal views, then, while still unsatisfactory, they should have made that very clear. In any event, it is incumbent on the EHRC to provide urgent clarity so as not to undermine the fairness of the forthcoming consultation.

It urges the EHRC to respond by May 19 and confirm whether it plans to issue clarification.

Steph Richards, CEO of TransLucent, warned that the watchdog appears to have ignored the fact that trans people are still protected under the Equality Act and, as such, can only be legally discriminated against in circumstances when it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

It comes amid mounting concern over the impact of the EHRCs guidance, with Labour MP Nadia Whittome telling The Independent it was a devastating blow for trans people and their rights.

This guidance is not statutory but it indicates what the draft statutory guidance is likely to contain. It is essential that the government rejects it, the MP for Nottingham East said.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission should be safeguarding trans peoples rights at a time when they are being threatened. Sadly, this vital institution has fallen victim to successful attempts by the previous Conservative government to co-opt it in line with its agenda, undermining its independence and neutrality.

Meanwhile, Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said the interim guidance was rushed and ill-thought-through, and was clearly drawn up without consulting trans people on their experiences and needs.

Im worried that the guidance could act as a bigots charter, emboldening people to harass and victimise trans people in public places, and the Green Party has called for it to be withdrawn until something more considered can be produced.

jane fae, director of fellow trans rights group TransActual, told The Independent the organisation is also watching very carefully and are ready to take legal action should it be necessary.

We welcome this analysis from TransLucent. It is very clear that in her intemperate rush to self publicity, the head of the EHRC Baroness Falkner did not take the time to consult with groups affected and as a result she has caused alarm, distress and further encouraged vigilantism against trans people.

We echo TransLucents conclusion that her stance is very concerning and would question whether she is a fit person to be in charge of the equalities commission, she said.

open image in gallery The Supreme Court judgment has proven controversial ( PA )

The letter was sent to the EHRC on Monday, The Independent understands.

A UK government spokesperson said: The EHRC is an independent regulator, and we will review their Code of Practice and work with them to ensure it provides the certainty and clarity service providers and businesses need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.

A spokesperson for the EHRC said it would will shortly launch a consultation on the draft updates to its Code of Practice following the Supreme Court judgment.

We know there is uncertainty among duty-bearers and affected groups, including trans people. We will consider every response carefully and amend the draft where necessary following the consultation. The EHRC is wholeheartedly committed to upholding everyones rights and tackling discrimination in all its forms.

Baroness Falkner has been approached for comment.
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Russia has signed nuclear energy partnerships with at least 20 countries in Africa, according to new analysis from The Independent, as it seeks to establish itself as the frontrunner in such deals across the continent.

This deals have been funnelled through the state-owned nuclear company Rosatom. The most recent was announced last month with Burkino Faso, which has finalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Rosatom to build a nuclear plant. Other deals include a June 2024 agreement with Guinea to develop floating nuclear power plants and a partnership with Congo to develop nuclear energy and hydroelectric power signed the next month. Since 2014, Russia has also agreed deals with Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia and a number of others.

Other countries pursuing nuclear partnerships with Russia include Niger, a close ally of Russia since the countrys military coup in 2023, which announced last year it is actively seeking Russian investment in its vast uranium deposits. Meanwhile, it was reported last month that Namibia has also held nuclear cooperation talks with Russia.

Of the major countries that supply nuclear technology to Africa  which include the US, China, South Korea, Canada, and France  Russia has established itself as the clear leader. Rosatom boasts a track record of completed projects around the world that other countries are unable to match, and also offers extremely favourable contracts and repayment terms.

These agreements are geopolitically significant because nuclear projects are large-scale, long-term commitments that can tie a country to Russia for decades. For Moscow, this is not just about business  its also a tool of political influence, explains Dmitry Gorchakov, a nuclear expert who left Russia to work for the Bellona Foundation environmental NGO in Vilnius, Lithuania after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In the context of Russias confrontation with the West, showing that it still has international partners is politically important, which is why it is willing to promise a lot to countries that are open to working with it.

As Russia pushes to grow its sphere of influence through energy infrastructure, the West is moving in the opposite direction, with the US pulling funding for energy projects across Africa thanks to Donald Trumps international aid cuts. Major US programmes to be terminated include Power Africa, which was established by Barack Obama in 2013 to support economic growth and development by increasing access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in Africa.

The past twelve years saw Power Africa deploy some $1.2 billion (900 million), which in turn catalysed a further $29bn from other funding sources, to develop more than 150 power projects in 42 countries in Africa, and bring electricity to more than 200 million people. Power Africa also supported US companies in $26.4bn worth of deals, according to analysis from the Center for Global Development think tank. The projects supported were a mixture of renewable and gas-fired power projects.

The US has also withdrawn from the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP), a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched in 2021 to help emerging economies move away from coal and other non-renewable energy sources, with South Africa losing the promise of tens of millions of dollars in grants and another $1 billion in potential commercial investments.

Without such programmes, it will be even harder for the US not just to compete [in Africa] but even to gain a foothold there, Mr Gorchakov said. Thats why they have to put in a lot of effort  and without government-backed support programs, entering these markets will be nearly impossible.

A crown jewel

The crown jewel in Russias nuclear partnerships with Africa is the $28.75 billion (21.38 billion) El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt, which will become the continents second nuclear power plant, arriving some 40 years after South Africas ageing Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

El Dabaa broke ground in 2020, and is set to begin supplying power from 2026. At 4.8 Gigawatts (GW), it will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of a major US city, and it has been financed 85 per cent by Russia, with highly favourable repayment terms.

Bellonas Dmitry Gorchakov suggestes that there are several reasons why the prospect of a Russia-backed nuclear plant is so compelling for African countries.

For starters, the deals are backed by the Russian state, which assumes much of the upfront financial and operational responsibility, and offers decades-long repayment timelines at extremely favourable rates. Such deals help make nuclear plants affordable  though they tie the recipient closely to Russias nuclear fuel and service supply chains, says Gorchakov.

Western nuclear companies, such as Frances EDF, operate on a commercial basis and cannot provide the same level of state-backed financing, risk-sharing, or diplomatic support that Rosatom offers.

Western nuclear companies have also struggled to demonstrate that they can deliver projects on time and within budget. The expected cost of EDFs Hinkley Point plant in Somerset has ballooned from 18bn to 35bn, for example, while a project to install two US AP1000 reactors at the Summer Nuclear Station in South Carolina was abandoned in 2017, with bill-payers footing a $9bn after years of delays and cost overruns.

Political and regulatory constraints also tend to make Western nuclear exports slower, more bureaucratic, and harder to coordinate, adds Gorchakov.

Moreover, Western suppliers rarely offer the kind of integrated, full-cycle package that Rosatom provides  including reactor technology, fuel supply, training, waste management, and long-term service  all under a single institutional umbrella.

China is more likely to offer a full package of support with its nuclear investments  but similar to the West, the country lacks a large portfolio of completed overseas nuclear projects, with only one completed plant in Pakistan.

In contrast, Rosatom has a much larger active portfolio of ongoing and completed international projects, which allows it to present itself as a more reliable and proven partner in the eyes of many potential customers, says Gorchakov.

Indeed, according to data from lobby group the World Nuclear Association, which has been analysed by The Independent, Rosatom is responsible for 26 major nuclear power units currently under construction in seven countries around the world: Russia, Egypt, Turkey, India, China, Bangladesh, and Iran.

The four reactors under construction in Egypt are all based on tried-and-tested Rosatom design, adds Jonathan Cobb from the World Nuclear Association. There are still some first-time challenges in construction, but they can essentially take a cookie-cutter approach based on previous projects they have done, he told The Independent.

Aggressive energy

For many countries in Africa - a continent where 600 million people continue to still lack reliable access to electricity - a new nuclear plant represents the possibility of large quantities of low carbon, reliable electricity: things that neither variable renewables like solar and wind, nor polluting coal-fired or gas-fired power stations, can match.

Robert Sogbadji, coordinator of Ghanas national nuclear power programme, envisages nuclear power as complementary to the countrys plans to build more renewables. It is currently hoped that the countrys first large-scale nuclear plant can be completed by the mid-2030s.

If we want base-load energy to support our renewable ambitions, then we have to continue aggressively on our nuclear power programme, he told The Independent.

Ghana has chosen the US to build small modular reactors (SMRs) - a modern, smaller nuclear reactor that can be housed in smaller plants  but is in the process of choosing who will provide the technology for its first large-scale plant, Sogbadji said. Russia is in that mix.

Nuclear power remains controversial, with concerns about long-term nuclear waste storage, while relying on large power plants, rather than renewable energy sources spread across the country, potentially makes the power grid more vulnerable to risks like cyber attacks or extreme weather events.

Its a little bit concerning to see so many countries in Africa looking to build these massive new plants, when the economics of the electricity industry have for a long time moved towards less centralised power sources, which bring more resilience to power systems, Mike Hogan, from the US think tank the Regulatory Assistance Project, told The Independent.

These big signature infrastructure projects make people in power feel like they're doing something important, but its really a 20th Century solution to a 21st Century problem, he added.

Russia, a country that has faced biting sanctions from the US and Europe over the illegal annexation of Ukraines Crimea in 2014 and the wider invasion in 2022, is seeking to expand its sphere of influence, so non-aligned nations in Africa that have long-struggled with underinvestment represent a logical focus for its nuclear industry. And the countrys partnerships have made nations take notice  with some 49 out of 54 African countries attending the last RussiaAfrica economic summit in St Petersburg in 2023, despite heavy US pressure to stay away.

Many of the nuclear deals that have been signed by African nations are preliminary in nature, and only the very first step in the long and complex process of nuclear project development. But even these serve an important symbolic purpose for Russia in its current state of geopolitical isolation, believes Bellonas Gorchakov.

Nuclear exports were worth around $16bn to Moscow in 2023 - far less than the $300bn value of Russias pre-war fossil fuel exports - but the sector is seen as a prestige industry to Moscow, Gorchakov says.

For Moscow, the deals are not just about business: It is a tool of political influence, he says.

This story is part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid series
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At a drop-in centre on Ugandas border with Kenya, along a busy trucking route, groups of people gather to play Ludo and pick up their HIV medication. Its a safe space for people from LGBT+ communities who have been turned away or harassed at other facilities.

But the centre is now quiet  three-quarters of its staff have had to be laid off after cuts to US aid. Stocks of drugs are running low and most of its regular clients have stopped showing up. Since January, when Donald Trump came into office for the second time, the centre has lost its funding.

I have a friend who is taking antiretrovirals [ARVs]. He has now gone a week without, explains Shafiq, 24, who relies on the centre, putting him at risk of getting sick or infecting others. It really tortures us so much.

This comes in the wake of The Independent revealing that the US cuts have derailed the projected end of the Aids pandemic, which could lead to 4 million extra deaths by 2030.

Uganda has faced international criticism for harsh anti-homosexuality laws passed in 2023  punishing consensual same-sex relationships with penalties of up to life in prison. As a result, specialist services that help LGBT+ people access HIV care are generally run by charities and community organisations outside of the public health system.

The centre in the town of Busia, which is run by the Amalgamated Transport General Workers Union (ATGWU), started life when its founder observed how truckers would spend time there, creating a market for sex workers  and a hotspot for HIV transmission. Now it serves as a clinic and meeting place for LGBT+ people too. While it remains open at the grace of volunteers, supplies of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)  to reduce the risk of contracting HIV  condoms and ARVs for treatment have been dwindling. Staff pay and stipends for volunteers came from US funding  now all gone.

The hostile law makes it hard enough to reach these groups with prevention services, while also deterring people from seeking support and medication. Trumps cuts are only making things worse. The Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC), an NGO supporting vulnerable communities, confirmed to The Independent that it has recorded incidents of people being denied medical care in public hospitals because of their identities since the US cuts were announced in January.

You are isolated

Shafiqs story is illustrative of this discrimination. He says he found his way to the drop-in centre in Busia, having been denied antibiotics for a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) at a public hospital. He found a friendly place and started working there, helping others to access free medicines, testing and counselling. It gives me a chance to talk about what Im really going through, Shafiq adds.

It allowed him to get supplies of PrEP to protect him from contracting HIV. But owing to the aid cuts, Shafiq took his last dose of PrEP five days ago, when stocks ran out.

open image in gallery Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis  PrEP  can stop people developing HIV ( PA )

He worries that without it, his next partner could infect him with the virus. More than one in 10 gay men in Uganda are estimated to be living with HIV.

HIV testing and medication are supposed to be available to everyone in public hospitals and clinics. The treatment is there, but they cannot give it to us just because they know what we are doing is illegal, Shafiq says, speaking about being turned away for treatment when hospital staff found out he was gay.

You are discriminated [against]. You are isolated and you feel like shying away. You also feel like you are unwanted within the community, Shafiq adds.

In hospital facilities, he says: They ask you so many questions. After asking you so many questions, they start judging you.

Most of our peers were suffering from such incidents, he adds, referencing harassment while waiting in line at public hospitals or at times outright denial of services.

Hostile laws

Richard Lusimbo runs the UKPC, a leading organisation in the country supporting groups euphemistically referred to as key populations. This vague language is designed to ward off the hostility that can come with openly advertising that you are helping LGBT+ people (and other vulnerable groups like sex workers).

open image in gallery Strict anti-homosexuality laws came into force in Uganda two years ago ( PA )

Lusimbo has begun to hear reports from contacts around the country of trans people being turned away at hospitals.

We saw some cases of increasing stigma and discrimination in health facilities.

In eastern Uganda theres a facility where a trans person was turned away by a security guard saying Trump does not support you people, so leave.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health said the allegations raised in this were untrue.

A spokesperson said: As a government, we uphold a non-discriminatory policy in service delivery, ensuring equal access to healthcare for all. Despite the funding cut, were reorganising our system to maintain continuity ... Our clinics remain open to all patients, providing care without discrimination.

But for Lusimbo, the US cuts have helped send people back to spaces where theyve been discriminated against, theyve been castigated, again making them more vulnerable.

Withdrawal of health resources has a serious and disproportionate impact on groups of people that are highly vulnerable to HIV, the UN Aids agency (UNAIDS) deputy director, Angeli Achrekar, says.

Not only does this first and foremost harm those vulnerable communities, it creates the risk that the progress made in the fight against HIV will go into reverse, says Achrekar.

That would be a tragedy for global health, she adds.

This article was produced as part of The Independents Rethinking Global Aid project
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A budget airline serving smaller U.S. cities has launched federal deportation flights from Arizona, sparking controversy and a boycott petition.

Avelo Airlines confirmed the move, which involves using three Boeing 737-800s for charter deportation flights from Mesa Gateway Airport near Phoenix.

The airline announced the agreement with the Department of Homeland Security in April.

The decision places Avelo among several companies seeking to profit from the Trump administration's increased focus on deportations.

Congressional discussions last month centred on a tax bill partially aimed at funding the annual removal of 1 million immigrants and detaining 100,000 people. The Republican proposal also includes hiring 10,000 additional ICE officers and investigators.

Avelo, launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, generally operates older, more affordable Boeing 737 jets and utilizes less congested, cost-effective secondary airports. The airline focuses on routes overlooked by larger carriers and reported its first profitable quarter in late 2023.

open image in gallery Avelo Airlines, a budget airline serving smaller U.S. cities has launched federal deportation flights from Arizona ( Reuters )

However, its involvement in deportation flights has drawn sharp criticism, including from the union representing its flight attendants, and sparked an online petition calling for a boycott of the airline.

Andrew Levy, Avelo's founder and chief executive, said in announcing the agreement last month that the airline's work for ICE would help the company expand and protect jobs.

We realize this is a sensitive and complicated topic," said Levy, an airline industry veteran with previous stints as a senior executive at United and Allegiant airlines.

Financial and other details of the Avelo agreement  including destinations of the deportation flights  havent publicly surfaced. The AP asked Avelo and ICE for a copy of the agreement, but neither provided the document. The airline said it wasnt authorised to release the contract. Avelo did not grant an interview request.

Several consumer brands have shunned being associated with deportations, a highly volatile issue that could drive away customers. During Trump's first term, authorities housed migrant children in hotels, prompting some hotel chains to say that they wouldn't participate.

Many companies in the deportation business, such as detention center providers The Geo Group and Core Civic, rely little on consumer branding. Not Avelo, whose move inspired the boycott petition on change.org and drew criticism from the carrier's flight attendants union, which cited the difficulty of evacuating deportees from an aircraft in an emergency within the federal standard of 90 seconds or less.

open image in gallery The decision places Avelo among several companies that will profit from the Trump administration's increased focus on deportations ( AFP via Getty Images )

Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation and risk injury or death, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in a statement. It also impedes our ability to respond to a medical emergency, fire on board, decompression, etc. We cannot do our jobs in these conditions.

In New Haven, Connecticut, where Avelo flies out of Tweed New Haven Airport, Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker urged Avelos CEO to reconsider. For a company that champions themselves as New Havens hometown airline, this business decision is antithetical to New Havens values, Elicker said in a statement.

In Mesa, over 30 protesters gathered on a road leading up to the airport, holding signs that denounced Trumps deportation efforts. In Connecticut, about 150 people assembled outside Tweed New Haven Airport, calling on travellers to boycott Avelo.

John Jairo Lugo, co-founder and community organising director of Unidad Latina en Accion in New Haven, said protesters hope to create a financial incentive for Avelo to back out of its work for the federal government.

We need to cause some economical damage to the company to really convince them that they should be on the side with the people and not with the government, Lugo said.

Mesa, a Phoenix suburb with about 500,000 people, is one of five hubs for ICE Air, the immigration agency's air transport operation for deportations. ICE Air operated nearly 8,000 flights in a 12-month period through April, according to the advocacy group Witness at the Border.

open image in gallery Passengers walk in front of Mesa Gateway Airport, where Avelo Airlines started making deportation flights on behalf of the federal government ( AP )

ICE contracts with an air broker, CSI Aviation, that hires two charter carriers -- GlobalX and Eastern Air Express -- to do most of the flights, said Tom Cartwright, who tracks flight data for Witness at the Border.

Cartwright said it was unusual in recent years for commercial passenger carriers to carry out deportation flights.

Its always been with an air broker who then hires the carriers, and the carriers have not been regular commercial carriers, or what I call retail carriers, who are selling their own tickets, Cartwright said. At least since I have been involved (in tracking ICE flights), theyve all been charter companies.

Avelo will be a sub-carrier under a contract held by New Mexico-based CSI Aviation, which didnt respond to questions about how much money Avelo would make under the agreement.

Avelo provides passenger service to more than 50 cities in the US, as well as locations in Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Avelo does not operate regular commercial passenger service out of Mesa Gateway Airport, said airport spokesman Ryan Smith.

In February 2024, Avelo said it had its first profitable quarter, though it didn't provide details. In an interview two months later with the AP, Levy declined to provide numbers, saying the airline was a private company and had no need to provide that information publicly.
Testimony is underway in the trial of a woman charged with negligent homicide in a 2022 incident on Bismarck Expressway in which a 56-year-old Mandan man was killed and his wife injured.

Madisyn Heidt, 21, was charged with the offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison on Aug. 23, 2024, nearly two years after a crash that occurred after 11 p.m. near the Cash Wise grocery store on East Bismarck Expressway on Aug. 27, 2022. Heidt's SUV allegedly crossed out of her traffic lane and into the lane occupied by Scott Culver, who was riding a motorcycle that was struck by the right front tire of Heidt's vehicle.

Heidt, then 18, was reportedly living in Mandan at the time, according to police.

Opening statements

During opening statements Monday, Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Britta Joyce and defense attorney Lloyd Suhr agreed on one point -- that what happened was a tragedy.

"But a tragedy does not a crime make," Suhr told the jury.

Both attorneys noted that Culver was riding westbound on Expressway in the lane nearest the curb, but close to the center line dividing traffic lanes. Heidt was reportedly driving in the left-hand lane when she allegedly crossed into the right lane and her vehicle's right front tire struck a hard sidesaddle bag on Culver's motorcycle, pushing it into the curb which resulted in Culver being thrown from the machine. He was pronounced dead at a Bismarck hospital.

Joyce told jurors they would hear testimony from a crash reconstruction expert with Bismarck police who said "it's not uncommon" for bikers to ride near the center line. The expert also calculated the time from the reported impact with Heidt's vehicle until the motorcycle struck the curb at less than 1  seconds.

"Time was not in Scott's favor," Joyce said.

The prosecutor said that following the crash, Heidt reportedly told police "she thought she saw a motorcycle, but wasn't sure if it was before the accident."

Joyce said the prosecution's position is that Heidt's failure to maintain her lane directly led to Culver's death.

Suhr noted Culver was not wearing a helmet or any other protective gear -- which is legal -- and he also alluded to the fact Culver had been drinking at the Brother's Keepers Motorcycle Club's Bismarck headquarters prior to riding toward his home in Mandan.

"His blood-alcohol content was 1  times the legal limit," Suhr said. The legal limit in North Dakota is 0.08.

Suhr also noted a comment in the crash reconstruction report that indicates it's not uncommon for motorcycle riders to use the center lines as guides when they might be impaired.

Widow's testimony

Following opening statements, Christa Culver, Scott's widow, testified her husband of 35 years usually rode in that location.

Asked by defense co-counsel Kayla Peterson if there was any reason why Scott wasn't riding closer to the curb on Aug. 27, Christa replied, "It would have been out of character."

She testified she arrived at the motorcycle club's headquarters in southeast Bismarck at roughly 11 p.m. and met Scott, who had reportedly arrived around 8 p.m. She said she bought Scott one beer and ordered a seltzer-style drink for herself. The two left the clubhouse at roughly 11:15 p.m., and Scott gave no indication of impairment or she would have had him leave his motorcycle behind and ride home in her car, Christa said.

She testified that while they were traveling -- him in front and her following behind -- she witnessed Heidt's SUV cross into Scott's lane twice, the second time striking his motorcycle.

Both attorneys said surveillance video captured by a camera at the grocery store shows the crash and events immediately before and after. That video will be presented to the jury, following what Suhr described as "months of careful enhancement."

Christa Culver testified that immediately after the crash, she purposely rear-ended Heidt's SUV "because she wasn't slowing down," and Culver thought Heidt was attempting to flee the scene. She testified that because she was injured in that crash she didn't learn her husband was dead until she was being treated at a local hospital.

Suhr said that Heidt was hysterical in the aftermath of the incident, and that police reports do not indicate her being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He also noted police found no evidence Heidt was potentially distracted by being on her phone or accessing the device in any way, nor was Heidt issued any citations for any traffic violations immediately following the crash.

"Nothing until she was charged nearly two years later," he said.

Heidt posted $5,000 bond and was released from jail after being charged. But in March she was taken back into custody after her probation stemming from unrelated 2023 drug charges was revoked.

Testimony in the trial is scheduled to last through Wednesday.
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A police officer assigned to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons security detail was suspended from work earlier this year after reporting for duty still drunk, having attended an event celebrating President Donald Trumps inauguration, according to a report.

Officer Josue Najera, 44, had been scheduled to work the 9 pm to 6 am shift guarding Johnsons home on West Superior Street on January 20 but was suspected of being intoxicated upon arrival, according to Chicago Police Department (CPD) internal affairs records cited by The Chicago Tribune.

According to the report, the officer is believed to have attended a celebratory inauguration viewing event at Trump Tower on the Chicago River just prior to reporting for duty, a site that also attracted anti-Trump protesters that day, with activists braving sub-zero temperatures to make their opposition to the new president known.

The CBD records show that around 7 p.m. on the evening in question, Najera asked a uniformed CPD officer to let him sit in a squad car. The officer refused, prompting Najera to call the departments 18th District station to ask that a complaint be filed against his colleague.

A supervisor there subsequently contacted Najeras sergeant overseeing the mayors security arrangement to notify them of the incident, leading to the confrontation at Johnsons residence when the officer arrived for his shift.

open image in gallery Chicago Police Department officers outside of Trump Tower in the Windy City ( Getty )

PO Najera was agitated, speaking loudly and avoiding eye contact while explaining the event, an internal affairs report states.

His behavior was very uncharacteristic and erratic from the normal behavior [the sergeant] knows PO Najera to display.

[The sergeant] asked PO Najera if he had been drinking while at the Trump Tower [party] and he said he was having fun with his family [The sergeant] again asked if PO Najera had anything to drink and PO Najera answered in the affirmative  Yes.

The officers gun was duly confiscated, and he was subsequently taken to the 15th District for questioning and given the breathalyzer test, the records state, the outcome of which led to Najera turning in his ID, badge, and hat shield the following day.

When a breathalyzer test returned a result of 0.134 blood alcohol content later that evening, he was handed a 25-day suspension, which the newspaper reports he has yet to serve.

Najera, who joined the CPD in 2017, is understood to have been first assigned to Mayor Johnsons detail in August 2023.

He has no prior sustained misconduct complaints on his record and has never been the subject of a Summary Punishment Action Request, an internal procedure for handling minor infractions.

A CPD spokesperson said Najera has since been reassigned to the departments Alternate Response Section.

Online records show that Najera is paid $97,974 per year.

The Independent has contacted the Chicago Mayors Office for comment.

open image in gallery Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ( Getty )

President Trump and his administration have been highly critical of Illinois in recent months over Chicagos crime rate and the states handling of immigration policy, with Mayor Johnson summoned to address Congress on the latter subject in March and state governor JB Pritzker expected to follow suit next month.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drew criticism after staging a speech attacking migrant crime outside the Springfield home of murder victim Emma Shafer after her original plan to speak at Pritzkers mansion had to be abandoned due to expected protests.
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A Bentley University student from Massachusetts died after falling from a hotel balcony during the school's senior class trip to the Bahamas.

"We are profoundly sad to confirm that one of our students, Gaurav Jaisingh, passed away last night in a tragic accident during the annual senior class trip in the Bahamas," the school said in a statement. "We share our deepest condolences with Gauravs family, friends and loved ones."

The school indicated that an investigation was underway, but noted that it appears as though Jaisingh accidentally fell from a balcony. The university said further information would be made available as it's uncovered.

According to Bentley's website, the university travels to the Bahamas every year between finals and commencement for a senior class trip.

"This is an enormous tragedy for our community," Bentley said in its statement.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force posted a press update saying officers had been called to the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino on Sunday night after receiving a report that a guest had fallen from a balcony.

"According to initial reports, sometime around 10:00 p.m., the victim was inside his hotel room with other roommates when it is reported that he accidentally fell from an upper-level balcony. He was later found unresponsive on a lower floor," police said in a statement.

Medical first responders rushed to the scene, but Jaisingh died on the way to the hospital.

Jaisingh was pursuing a bachelor of science degree in finance with a minor in computer information systems, according to his profile on LinkedIn. He worked as an orientation leader at Bentley and was a member of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, according to MassLive.

Bently has declined to provide further details about Jaisingh or the trip, citing privacy concerns for his family.

The university said it would provide resources for members of its community that, and noted that its undergraduate commencement is is still planned for Saturday.
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Campus activism has flared as the academic year winds down, with pro-Palestinian demonstrations leading to arrests at several colleges.

Compared with last spring, when more than 2,100 people were arrested in campus protests nationwide, the demonstrations have been smaller and more scattered.

But the stakes are also much higher. President Donald Trump's administration has been investigating dozens of colleges over their handling of protests, including allegations of antisemitism, and frozen federal grant money as leverage to press demands for new rules on activism.

Colleges, in turn, have been taking a harder line on discipline and enforcement, following new policies adopted to prevent tent encampments of the kind that stayed up for weeks last year on many campuses.

What are protesters demanding?

More are pushing for the same goal that drove last year's protests  an end to university ties with Israel or companies that provide weapons or other support to Israel.

Protesters who took over a Columbia University library this month issued demands including divestment from occupation, apartheid and genocide and amnesty for students and workers targeted for discipline by the university. About 80 people were arrested at the protest, which also called for police and federal immigration officials to stay off campus.

A protest at the University of Washington days earlier demanded the school end ties with Boeing, a supplier to the Israeli Defense Forces. Activists wanted the school to return any Boeing donations and bar the companys employees from teaching at the school. Thirty people were arrested.

Other protests have sparked up at schools including Swarthmore College, Rutgers University, the University of California, Los Angeles and Brooklyn College.

Tensions break out as the academic year ends

The timing of recent protests may owe to developments in the war itself and the approaching end of the school year, said Robert Cohen, a professor of history and social studies at New York University.

Cohen said activists may be energized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's discussion of an escalation of the war, at a time many Palestinians already are at risk of starvation amid an Israeli blockade of food and other goods. And the fact that it is the end of the semester  maybe it seems like the last chance they have to take a stance, to publicize this, he said.

Still, he sees the latest flare-up as a return to the kind of protests that campuses occasionally saw even before the Israel-Hamas war. As colleges have imposed stricter rules, many students may be unwilling to risk punishment, he said.

Essentially, you have a small core of people, and the larger mass movement has been suppressed, he said of the latest activism. These are small, scattered protests.

The stakes are much higher this spring

Colleges navigating protests risk losing federal grants for research if their response runs afoul of the government.

The handling of last years protests has been at the center of the Trump administrations fight with Columbia, Harvard and other universities.

Some schools have had money frozen for what the administration calls a failure to root out campus antisemitism. Federal officials have demanded tougher action against protesters, new limits on protests and other changes aimed at pro-Palestinian activism along with diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

After the University of Washington protest, a federal antisemitism task force said it was launching a review. It applauded quick action from police but said it expected campus leaders to follow up with enforcement actions and policy changes that are clearly necessary to prevent these uprisings moving forward.

The stakes are also higher for international students as the federal government moves to deport students with ties to pro-Palestinian activism.

Colleges are cracking down aggressively

After calling police to clear the library occupied by protesters last week, Columbia University suspended 65 students and barred 33 others from campus.

Columbias response drew praise from the Trump administrations task force, which said it was encouraged by the universitys strong and resolute statement condemning the protest.

Even before the latest protest, Columbia had agreed to other changes amid pressure from federal officials, including a ban on face masks used to conceal identities and the hiring of new public safety officers empowered to make arrests on campus.

The University of Washington protest also drew a swift response, with 21 students later suspended.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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Three raging wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced evacuations and the deployment of members of the states National Guard to battle the blazes.

The fires continued to expand on Tuesday, fanned by hot, dry, and windy weather conditions.

In Brimson, the largest of the three wildfires, known as the Camp House fire, rapidly ballooned to 11,778 acres. The fire, which started on Sunday, has destroyed more than 40 structures and led dozens of people to evacuate. There were 80 people working to respond to the incident, and several road closures implemented.

The fire has been very active the last two days, with the burning period going into the night, the Minnesota Incident Command System wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

open image in gallery Three wildfires in northern Minnesota have burned dozens of structures and forced evacuations, burning nearly 20,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon. Governor Tim Walz said he was deploying the states National Guard in response ( Minnesota Department of Natural Resources )

In the nearby Superior National Forest, the Jenkins Creek Fire had spread over 6,800 acres, quadrupling in size after erupting Monday morning.

The fire moved quickly, driven by strong southerly winds, according to officials.

Southwest of the two wildfires, the Munger Shaw fire tore over more than 1,400 acres, according to the wildfire-tracking app Watch Duty. More evacuations were reported in that area, according to the national forest.

The causes of all of the fires remain under investigation. Not one of the fires is contained.

open image in gallery The fires have led to road closures. Not one of the three blazes of varying size has been contained ( Lake County Sheriff's Office )

On Monday, Democratic Governor Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris 2024 running mate, said he had authorized the National Guard to assist in the response.

"Wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced families to evacuate and caused severe damage to and loss of property. My thoughts are with those Minnesotans who are being impacted by this dangerous and unpredictable fire," said Walz.

As the fight continues, an air quality alert issued due to the spread of wildfire smoke has been extended through Wednesday.

Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency warned.

Similar alerts were issued at around the same time last year due to wildfire smoke coming from Canada.

open image in gallery Firefighters are working to fight the fires amid hot and windy conditions. Smoke from the fires has forced air quality alerts ( Duluth Minnesota Fire Department )

Walz and the states forestry officials told residents to be extra careful about anything that could cause heat or sparks. Burn restrictions were in place.

Red flag warnings have been issued for 65 counties, and any wildfire that starts in this weather is expected to explode. Climate change is making wildfire-prone conditions more frequent.

The governor said that while Minnesota typically sees more than 1,100 wildfires a year, 970 have already occurred this year. Of those, 40 were on Sunday and Monday, according to WCCO News.

"I've worked for DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Forestry for nearly 30 years, and the weather the last few days is just really unprecedented," Patty Thielen, director of forestry for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the station. "Really low humidity, high winds have allowed fires to spread really quickly."
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The Democratic mayor of San Jose, California, is standing firm on his plan to arrest members of the citys homeless community who refuse shelter.

Mayor Matt Mahan's Responsibility to Shelter comes amid a fresh crackdown on homelessness from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who announced Tuesday that the state's cities and counties should ban homeless encampments.

Encampments pose a serious public safety risk, and expose the people in encampments to increased risk of sexual violence, criminal activity, property damage and break-ins, and unsanitary conditions, the statement said.

Mahans policy is that those who refuse shelter on three occasions will be detained, arrested, or hospitalized.

Part of the plan requires officials to make every reasonable effort to shelter the unhoused. Our goal is to get everyone indoors, into shelter or treatment, Mahan told KRON4 this week.

The stations report mentions that Mahan will have to get the city council on board with the plan before it comes to fruition.

open image in gallery Mahan said the temporary housing on offer would include secure accommodation with private bathrooms ( Medium/Matt Mahan )

At Monday's city council budget meeting, Mahan said that city officials have spent millions clearing encampments throughout the city.

As you know, we already do hundreds of encampment abatements per year, prioritizing areas where the public right of way has been blocked, where there's an accumulation of trash or biohazards, particularly in our waterways, the mayor said.

The mayor reiterated that his plan was designed to help the citys unhoused people.

When someone's refusing to come indoors, there's a sign that there's a deeper issue, a deeper need, and we have a responsibility to intervene. We just saw in the last week, a police officer stabbed by an unhoused resident. A 15-year-old student punched on his way to school, he said.

Dozens of protestors rallied outside San Joses City Hall Monday to speak out against the bill.

California as a whole has become ground zero for the homelessness crisis, Mahan said last month when the plan was first announced.

Far too often we encounter folks who, largely due to addiction or mental illness, are unwilling or unable to say yes to the help that were providing so while we have to hold ourselves responsible for building shelter, people also have a responsibility for coming indoors when its being provided, the mayor said in an NBC News interview.

Prior to his election in November 2022, Mahan worked as a teacher through Teach for America, and was also involved in several business ventures, founding companies focused on empowering neighborhoods and holding our government accountable.

According to his mayoral manifesto, Mahan pledges to fight for basic quality of life issues that impact us every single day. In the NBC News interview, the mayor claimed the city was adding over 1000 new shelter options.

Most people who are homeless gratefully accept these options and use that as a jumping off point to turn their lives around. We also run into a portion of the population that repeatedly refuses to come indoors, and usually, theres a pattern, he said.

Usually, it has to do with an underlying substance abuse issue, so my proposal is that if someone is repeatedly refusing individual interim housing, we should use the justice system to get them into a drug court and give a judge the ability to mandate treatment.

According to a 2023 City of San Jose census, the city has over 6,000 unhoused people.

According to a city survey, homelessness was the top concern among San Jose residents by a two-to-one margin, reports The New York Times.

NBC reports that the San Jose City Council will make a budget decision on the policy in June.
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Southern California authorities conducted dozens of emergency rescues during an early-season mini heat wave over the weekend.

Amid record temperatures, the Orange County Fire Authority said fire officials and other agencies had partnered to conduct operations, including one captured on video in Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park.

Over a dozen people have been rescued collectively, it wrote in a post on Facebook.

The agency noted that it was 96 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-afternoon in the city of Aliso Viejo. The heat wave was swift, jumping to as many as 20 degrees above normal around Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service.

Conditions led the Orange County Fire Authority to urge inexperienced bike riders and hikers to wait to enter the terrain until the weather cooled.

If you do head out, please bring plenty of hydration with you, it advised.

open image in gallery An Orange County firefighting helicopter works to rescue stranded hikers in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park ( Orange County Fire Authority/Facebook )

Multiple hikers were caught off guard across the region.

A 55-year-old woman who was hiking in the Hollywood Hills and was weak from heat exhaustion was also taken to the hospital in a helicopter. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed the rescue to The Independent on Monday, saying her condition was fair.

Another hiker in Riverside County was stranded and dehydrated. Riverside County firefighters also hoisted the patient out of the area using a helicopter. They were transported to a local area hospital in an ambulance with critical injuries.

More rescues were reported in Riverside County and Anaheim, according to The Los Angeles Times. No other information about the hikers was provided.

The life-saving efforts came after forecasters warned about the hottest weekend of the year.

On Saturday, the high temperature calendar day record was broken in Woodland Hills, up from 99 degrees in 1984 to 102 degrees. Paso Robles missed their record by just one degree. On Sunday, Woodland Hills and Downtown Los Angeles reached record highs again. Temperatures eased by the end of the weekend.

open image in gallery Arizona firefighters respond to a mountain rescue operation. One person died ( Superstition Fire & Medical District/Facebook )

In nearby Arizona, one person died and several other hikers were rescued in sweltering weather. The unidentified hiker was 33 years old, according to The Arizona Republic.

In the West and Southwest, temperatures are projected to be above or leaning above average this summer, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Climate change is making hot temperatures hotter and dry conditions drier, as Earth continues to trap planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in its atmosphere. Last year was the hottest year on record. Temperatures and no rain fueled this years deadly Los Angeles County wildfires.

We are seeing much more rapid warming of inland areas that were already hotter to begin with, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain told Cal Matters last year.
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Three rock climbers were killed last weekend as they rappelled down a mountain when their anchor failed, causing them to fall 400 feet during a descent in the North Cascades mountains, Washington state.

Authorities said in a statement Monday that the four men, from Renton and Bellevue10 miles from the center of Seattlehad been scaling a steep gully near North Early Winters Spire off of State Route 20 near Mazama when they all fell.

When Okanogan County Sheriffs Office personnel and Search and Rescue arrived at the scene at around 11.30 a.m. Sunday, three of the climbers  aged 36, 47, and 63 were confirmed dead. All three of their bodies have been recovered.

Cristina Woodworth, head of the sheriffs search and rescue team, shared that it took him a number of hours to self-extricate.

He reportedly sustained internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury in the fall, reported The Seattle Times.

open image in gallery Four men plummeted around 400 feet while descending a steep gully in the area of North Early Winters Spire, Washington at the weekend ( Okanogan County Sheriff Office )

A fourth climber who was with the group managed to free himself after the equipment failed.

Multiple media reports say the fourth man, who managed to free himself from the entanglement, walked back to the trailhead and drove to a payphone to call for help.

He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Okanogan County Undersheriff David Yarnell said.

He didnt realize he had as significant of internal injuries as he did, Yarnell shared.

The terrifying fall is believed to have occurred either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, said Woodworth.

As it stands, authorities believe the cause of the accident was triggered because of an anchor failure while the group were rappelling, however, an investigation is still ongoing.

All four men are believed to have been tied to the same anchor point, which Yarnell said was not preferred.

Yarnell said the climbers noticed a storm rolling in as they were scaling the Early Winter Couloir route and descending a wedge between the north and south spires.

All we know is that the anchor point that they were all tied off to failed, Yarnell told The Seattle Times.

Woodworth said they all plummeted approximately 400 feet.

Their names have not yet been released.

Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team assisted local authorities with removing the three deceased members of the group from the technical mountainous terrain, Okanogan County officials said.
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Ticketmaster has pledged to display all-in ticket pricing upfront as a new federal rule cracking down on hidden fees comes into effect.

The Biden administration's ban on so-called "junk fees" began Monday, targeting industries like ticketing, hospitality, and vacation rentals.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the rule in December, requiring businesses to disclose processing, cleaning, and other supplementary charges upfront.

Ticketmaster, frequently criticized for its opaque pricing practices, confirmed it would comply with the new regulation and expressed agreement with the FTCs action.

Ticketmaster has long advocated for all-in pricing to become the nationwide standard so fans can easily compare prices across all ticketing sites, Ticketmaster Chief Operating Officer Michael Wichser said in a statement.

open image in gallery The move was implemented by the Biden administration ( AP )

Ticketmaster said it will also tell customers where they are in line when they log in to buy tickets to an event. It will also give real-time updates to customers whose wait times exceed 30 minutes, letting them know ticket price ranges, availability and whether new event dates have been added.

Ticketmaster has been in the hot seat since 2022, when its site crashed during a presale event for Taylor Swifts upcoming stadium tour.

The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers in order to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites.

Thousands of people lost tickets after waiting for hours in an online queue.

Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Black Sabbath, Harry Styles, Sabrina Carpenter, and Oasis have also been impacted by issues with Ticketmaster.

Last year, the dynamic pricing system was criticized by Oasis fans attempting to secure tickets to their much-awaited Reunion Tour.

The system, used often in the US, works by altering the prices of tickets based on demand - much like Uber.

open image in gallery Taylor Swift fans reported several issues with Ticketmaster when attempting to get Eras Tour tickets ( Getty Images )

Fans were shocked by the fact standard tickets more than doubled from 148 to 355 on Ticketmaster. It prompted the Government and the UKs competition watchdog to pledge they will look into the use of dynamic pricing.

Meanwhile, others were left angry and disappointed after being left empty-handed, having battled website issues, being mislabelled as bots and waiting in an online queue for hours to buy tickets.

In February 2025, fans were left disappointed after claiming they faced long queues, glitches and dynamic pricing on the Ticketmaster website for Black Sabbath tickets.

Ahead of his summer 2025 dates, Springsteen fans dubbed his Ticketmaster pre-sale a fiasco while also complaining about high prices.

Ticketmaster, which is owned by Beverly Hills, California-based concert promoter Live Nation, is the worlds largest ticket seller, processing 500 million tickets each year in more than 30 countries. Around 70 per cent of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster said Monday's changes would bring North America in line with the rest of the world, where full ticket prices typically are displayed as soon as customers start shopping.

SeatGeek, a platform for buying and selling original and resale tickets, said it also updated its features Monday to make all-in pricing the default setting.

Fans deserve pricing thats clear from the start, said SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger said. "Were proud to roll this out across our platform and encouraged to see the industry move in this direction.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly that drives up U.S. ticket prices and asking a court to break them up. That case is ongoing.

President Donald Trump is also eyeing the industry. In March, he signed an executive order that he said would help curb ticket scalping and bring commonsense changes to the way live events are priced.

Under the order, the FTC must ensure price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process and take enforcement to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct.

Anyone whos bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years  no matter what your politics are  knows that its a conundrum, said Kid Rock, who joined Trump in the Oval Office as Trump signed the order.
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UnitedHealth Group announced on Tuesday that its CEO, Andrew Witty, would be stepping down for personal reasons, as the nations largest health insurer suspended its full-year financial outlook due to surging medical costs.

Chairman Stephen Hemsley, who served as CEO from 2006 to 2017, will be returning to the role, effective immediately, the company added.

Witty led the company during a difficult period that resulted in an earnings shortfall last month that caused shares to drop by more than a third, costing nearly $190 billion in market capitalization, the Wall Street Journal reported.

UnitedHealth said it was suspending the reduced 2025 earnings outlook that it issued last month, as the medical costs of new enrollees in the companys Medicare plans were higher than anticipated. The announcement sent its shares down more than 10 percent premarket.

open image in gallery UnitedHealth Group announced Tuesday that its CEO, Andrew Witty, would be stepping down due to personal reasons. ( Getty )

The company says it expects to return to growth next year.

While stepping into the role of CEO, Hemsley will remain chairman. Meanwhile, Witty will take on the role of a senior adviser to Hemsley.

Wall Street investors will likely welcome the ex-CEOs reinstatement. Hemsley previously presided over the company during a transformative period as it grew into a $400 billion conglomerate.

The move will also soothe worried investors who have been skeptical ever since the company announced earnings that fell short of Wall Street expectations last month. The company cut its guidance for the full year to between $26 to $26.50 a share in adjusted earnings, while earlier projections had been adjusted for earnings of $29.50 to $30 a share, per the Journal.

The company then suspended the outlook for the year without offering a new one.

Following the lower performance forecast, UnitedHealths stock price sank last month by about $130 in its worst one-day performance in over 25 years, according to CBS News.

open image in gallery UnitedHealth Group says it expect to return to growth next year. ( AP )

In announcing the move, Hemsley said he was grateful for Andrews stewardship of UnitedHealth Group, especially during some of the most challenging times any company has ever faced.

The healthcare conglomerate has been inundated with troubles over the past year.

Last week, investors filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming information was withheld about how UnitedHealth was handling backlash to their response to the December killing of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Thompson, 50, was shot dead on December 4 outside a New York City hotel. Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged with his murder. Mangione is currently being held in a federal detention in New York City where he faces more than a dozen counts in state and federal courts, including murder charges.

He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
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A top campaign aide during former Vice President Kamala Harriss failed 2024 presidential run has placed the blame for her loss solely at the feet of President Joe Biden, according to a new book.

David Plouffe, who was drafted into Harris's campaign after Biden stepped away from the race last summer, didn't parse words, saying the then-president "totally f***ed us" by not dropping out of the race sooner.

Before working with Harris, Plouffe managed former President Barack Obamas winning 2008 campaign and served as a senior adviser in his White House.

He gave his unfiltered opinions in Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, a new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson.

Plouffe is quoted as calling Harris's 107-day campaign "a f***ing nightmare," which he said was "all Biden."

open image in gallery A top aide working with former Vice President Kamala Harriss failed 2024 presidential campaign said former President Joe Bidens decision not to step away from the race earlier totally f***ed us. ( AP )

In the book, Plouffe says he received calls from several donors worried about what they saw as Biden's declining health and cognitive skills, and his ability to deliver speeches. He said he pushed the White House and the Democratic Party on whether or not they really felt hitching their electoral hopes to Biden again in 2024 was the best course of action.

In addition to Plouffe, authors Tapper and Thompson spoke to approximately 200 people, including members of Congress, the White House, and campaign insiders about the campaign. Plouffe wasn't the only one sounding the alarm about Biden, according to their reporting.

A senior aide, who quit the White House because they did not believe Biden should be running, told the authors that "we attempted to shield him from his own staff so many people didn't realize the extent of the decline beginning in 2023."

The staffer said that they "love Joe Biden," but also felt that it was " a disservice to the country and to the party for his family and advisers to allow him to run again.

Another prominent Democratic strategist accused Biden of "stealing" a 2024 victory from the American public.

It was an abomination. He stole an election from the Democratic party; he stole it from the American people," the strategist reportedly said.

The book also reveals that Biden's aides had discussed his potential use of a wheelchair if he were re-elected.

Biden's physical deterioration  most apparent in his halting walk  had become so severe that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldn't do so until after the election, Tapper and Thompson write.

Aides at the time believed that putting Biden in a chair during the election would hurt his chances of beating Donald Trump. But Biden's doctor, Kevin O'Connor, reportedly privately said that if [Biden] had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery.

The book further claims that Biden did not recognize actor George Clooney  who eventually called for the president to step away from the race, despite his admiration for him  during a 2024 fundraiser.

open image in gallery Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, a new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, cites staffers close to former President Joe Biden who claim he did not recognize actor George Clooney during a 2024 fundraising event ( AFP via Getty Images )

While questions of Biden's apparent decline were circulating behind closed doors in the White House and Democratic movers and shakers, the public focus on his cognitive abilities came to a head following his disastrous debate performance against Trump in June of 2024.

According to the book, Senator Chuck Schumer confronted Biden after the debate at his home in Rehoboth, Delaware, and tried to convince him to step aside to preserve his legacy. He reportedly warned that if he continued and lost to Trump, half a century of "amazing, beautiful work goes out the window."

"But its worse than that  you will go down in American history as one of the darkest figures," Schumer reportedly said.

Biden reportedly replied to Schumer by telling him he had "bigger balls than anyone I've ever met."

The former president did eventually heed the calls to step aside, but many of the book's subjects argue it was too late to salvage an effective campaign.
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Disability rights protesters in wheelchairs clashed with Republican lawmakers Tuesday as they sought to discuss and debate their sprawling legislation on Medicaid, which led to police dragging advocates out.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which governs Medicaid, began its mark up for its part of the legislation that Republicans have taken to calling One Big, Beautiful Bill.

At one point, one advocate shouted at Republican lawmakers saying: You will kill me! As Capitol Police escorted the protester out, she shouted: Bulls***! Liar!

Throughout the hearing disability rights activists interrupted discussions to protest the cuts.

Protesters chant 'no cuts to Medicaid' during House committee hearing

Under the House Budget resolution that passed earlier this year, the House has to find $1.5 trillion in spending reductions to unlock $4.5 trillion worth of tax cuts. If Republicans fail to cut $2 trillion worth of spending, the amount of money left for tax cuts will be reduced by the difference between $2 trillion and the final number of savings.

Republicans claimed throughout the hearing that the legislation would not hurt people with disabilities. Under the bill, able-bodied adults without dependents must engage in at least 80 hours of either work, community service or education to be eligible for Medicaid.

Republican Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama pushed back against accusations that people with disabilities would lose their Medicaid coverage.

The people who are legally eligible for Medicaid are not going to lose their Medicaid, he insisted. Weve all got family members, friends, weve got people in our districts, we all know these stories, people that are depending on Medicaid, and you will not lose your Medicaid.

But the protester interrupted Palmer, identifying herself as from Youngstown, Ohio and said that her drugs cost $10,000 a month.

Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas tried to tamp down criticism as people with disabilities expressed fear that they might lose their coverage.

Heres my apology to you: I am sorry that people lie to you, I am sorry that so many people in the media and the left have lied to you, he said.

Many Republicans have said that the legislation would only cut coverage for able-bodied men, and specifically focused on undocumented immigrants.

But disability advocates say that the legislations requirements to have states determine if patients are eligible for Medicaid every six months could cause some to lose benefits.

There are lots of people with disabilities ... who may not meet the specific social security definition, but who absolutely do have disabilities, Katy Neas, the CEO of the Arc, told The Independent.

Neas also said that the cuts to Medicaid could wind up causing states to cut optional programs such as Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services, which allows for people to stay in their homes rather than in nursing homes. Because its an optional program, it has long waiting lists to apply, varying by state

The choice is to go in an institution, or, more likely, people will just be put out, and their families will do the best they can for them, but isn't going to be sufficient for what they need, she said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who joined the committee this Congress, praised the activists for their protests.

First and foremost, I think that they have demonstrated a tremendous amount of courage and bravery putting themselves on the line in order to defend Medicaid for people across the country, and the Affordable Care Act, she told The Independent. She feared that the able-bodied requirement might exclude some people who desperately need Medicaid.

Does it include people with varying degrees of mental health diagnoses? she asked.

Ocasio-Cortez also pointed out that the legislation would also roll back a rule from the Biden administration requiring that a minimum number of staff work at nursing homes.

This is definitely going to affect people who rely on nursing homes, the staffing that happens in nursing homes, this is all in the text of the bill, and on top of that, including people who are eligible and covered by Medicaid, she said.

During the hearing, Ocasio-Cortez pointed out how many people in areas  including those represented by Republicans  depend on Medicaid.

Rep. Greg Landsman, a moderate Democrat from Ohio, questioned why people needed to be dragged out from the hearing.

It seems strange that folks in wheelchairs would be arrested, he said. Quite frankly, it's a life or death situation for them. I understand that they can't disrupt a proceeding, so they need to be removed. But why arrested?

Numerous House committees are engaged in marathon markups of their parts of the bill. Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, hope to pass the bill that ramps up spending for immigration enforcement at the Mexican border and boosts oil exploration while also extending the 2017 tax cuts that Trump signed in 2017.

But the bill will face stiff opposition in the Senate, where many Republicans, including allies of the president, worry about steep cuts to Medicaid.
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David Hogg went out swinging as he accused his former colleagues at the Democratic National Committee of being asleep at the wheel as he left his leadership role within the party.

Hogg, 25, said Wednesday he will not fight to hold onto his leadership role after igniting a firestorm over his push to target long-serving Democrats in safe congressional seats.

In a thread on X, Hogg also said that his political action committee would become the Emilys list for progressive young Democrats. A reference to the advocacy group for Democratic female candidates.

Weve sought to find the best of the best of our generation and do everything we can to help them run the best campaigns possible and get the financial support they need to win, he wrote.

After seeing a serious lack of vision from Democratic leaders, too many of them asleep at the wheel, and Democrats dying in office that have helped to hand Republicans an expanded majority, Hogg concluded.

open image in gallery David Hogg wont try to keep his DNC role amid dispute over Democratic primaries ( AP )

Hogg announced his retreat hours after the DNC removed him and another officer, Pennsylvania state lawmaker Malcolm Kenyatta, from their vice chair roles, stating that the February elections they won did not comply with the partys rules. Hogg said he will not run in the redo elections to be held over the weekend.

With dejected Democrats looking for a path back to relevance after a disastrous 2024 election, Hogg said earlier this year that he plans to raise millions of dollars through Leaders We Deserve.

He says the party needs a shake-up to bring in leaders who will more aggressively confront Trump and connect with younger voters and offer an inspiring new vision for a party voters are rejecting. The push rankled many Democrats, who said DNC officers should be focused on defeating Republicans, not sowing division among Democrats.

open image in gallery In April, DNC Chair Ken Martin, shown here, proposed bylaw changes to require party officers to remain neutral in all Democratic primaries ( AP )

In April, DNC Chair Ken Martin proposed bylaw changes to require party officers to remain neutral in all Democratic primaries. Party neutrality is crucial to maintaining the confidence of voters, he argued, pointing to the bitter feud that emerged after supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign believed he was stymied by party insiders putting their thumb on the scale in favor of Hillary Clinton, who won the nomination but went on to lose the general election to Donald Trump.

Martin paid tribute to Hogg on Wednesday, commend[ing] David for his years of activism, organizing, and fighting for his generation, and while I continue to believe he is a powerful voice for this party, I respect his decision to step back from his post as Vice Chair.

I have no doubt that he will remain an important advocate for Democrats across the map. I appreciate his service as an officer, his hard work, and his dedication to the party, he said.

Hogg rose to prominence as a gun-control advocate after surviving the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Episcopal Church is ending its refugee resettlement partnership with the federal government over the Trump administrations preferential treatment of white South Africans whom Donald Trump has baselessly claimed have been targeted by genocide.

Presiding Episcopal Bishop Sean Rowe announced Monday in a statement that the church was calling it quits on a joint program with the federal government, shortly before 59 South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on a taxpayer-funded charter flight and were warmly greeted by a Trump administration State Department delegation.

In light of our churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step of helping the white South Africa immigrants, Rowe wrote.

Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.

It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, he wrote.

Rowe noted that the previously bipartisan U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in which the church was active has already essentially shut down. Virtually no new refugees have arrived, hundreds of staff in resettlement agencies around the country have been laid off, and funding for resettling refugees who have already arrived has been uncertain, he noted.

As Christians, we must be guided not by political vagaries, but by the sure and certain knowledge that the kingdom of God is revealed to us in the struggles of those on the margins ... and we must follow that command. Right now, what that means is ending our participation in the federal governments refugee resettlement program and investing our resources in serving migrants in other ways.

White South Africans, descended from the largely Dutch Afrikaners who immigrated to South Africa centuries ago, long held an elevated status over native Black residents. The Afrikaners imposed the brutally discriminatory apartheid policies until they ended in 1990 that kept a small minority in control of the country, to the suffering and impoverishment of the Black majority.

To this day white farmers continue to own roughly 70 percent of commercial farmland in the country even though white South Africans make up only about 7 percent of the population.

Earlier this year Trump promised a rapid whites-only pathway to citizenship for the Afrikaners after he was reportedly pressed on the issue by tech billionaire and DOGE hatchet man Elon Musk, who was born and raised in apartheid South Africa.

Rowe wasnt only upset about Trumps fast-tracking American citizenship for white South Africans.

I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country, Rowe also wrote.

Trumps favored white South Africans jumped ahead of thousands of would-be refugees overseas who have been undergoing years of vetting and processing. The Afrikaners also seemed somehow about to leap-frog even other foreign green-card holders, many of whom have been deported by Trump administration orders.

Episcopal Migration Ministries has long resettled refugees under federal grants. Rowe said that government officials contacted the church last month and said that it expected the ministry to resettle some of the South Africans.

South Africas government has strongly denied Donald Trumps allegations of discriminatory treatment of its white minority residents, and considers the claims of genocide against them preposterous.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Federal customs agents allegedly subjected Hasan Piker, one of the countrys most popular progressive online streamers, to lengthy questioning at a Chicago airport over the weekend about his views on Trump and the war in Gaza, prompting concern from civil liberties advocates.

The reason for why theyre doing that is I think to try to create an environment of fear, to try to get people like myself, or at least others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security, to shut the f*** up, Piker, a U.S. citizen, later said on a stream, suggesting the administration wanted to get something out of me that I think they could use to basically detain me permanently.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told The Independent that Piker was stopped for routine additional inspection, a process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler.

Claims that his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless, a CBP official said. Our officers are following the law, not agendas.

The commentator, who has nearly 3 million followers on Twitch, said agents seemed aware of his past videos and asked him about his opinions on President Trump, if hed interviewed members of militant groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah, and whether he considered Hamas a terror organization or a resistance group.

I kept repeating the same statement over and over again, Piker said of his responses to the questioning. I kept saying ... I'm on the side of civilians. I want the endless bloodshed to end. I am a pacifist. I want wars to end.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

Piker said he was asked if he had interviewed militant groups and what he thought about President Trump ( screengrab )

Civil liberties experts condemned Pikers alleged questioning.

No U.S. citizen should be detained by law enforcement, at the border or anywhere, because of their protected speech, Ari Cohn, of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression free speech watchdog group, wrote on X.

If Piker was in fact singled out because of his views, it would mark an escalation of the Trump administrations continued campaign to prosecute activists and academics it deems as holding unacceptable views, which has so far concentrated on non-citizens.

Tufts University scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student, was held in immigration detention for six weeks and continues facing potential deportation after co-writing an op-ed with Tufts students in a student newspaper that criticized Israels war in Gaza.

Simply and purely, she was detained for the expression she made or shared in the op-ed critical of Israel, Louisiana federal Judge William K. Sessions III said in a ruling this week granting the Ozturk bail.

I put the government on notice they should introduce any such evidence ... That was three weeks ago, and there has been no evidence, Sessions said. That literally is the case. There is no evidence here as to the motivation, absent consideration of the op-ed.

The Trump administration is also reportedly using artificial intelligence to "catch and revoke" the visas of foreign students who officials perceive as supporting Hamas and other designated terror groups.

Trump signed an executive order in January calling on agencies to review migrants for their views, ensuring immigrants both seeking to enter and already inside the U.S. do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.

As The Independent has reported, pro-Palestine activists, or those accused of aligning with them, have fled the country for fear of unjust prosecution by the administration.
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Former President Joe Biden didnt recognize one of the most famous men in America and perhaps the entire world  actor George Clooney, whom hes known for nearly two decades  at a glitzy Hollywood fundraiser where his former running mate had to step in, a new book reports.

Biden was in a state of serious mental decline throughout the 2024 election to a point that seriously alarmed those outside of his inner circle long before his disastrous June debate with Donald Trump signaled the end of his campaign, according to first-hand accounts reported in Originan Sin by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson.

His decline was evident months earlier, but family and close aides supported his run for president to the bitter end  an end Democratic A-listers like Sen. Amy Klobuchar and many others now openly say was a mistake that robbed their party of a proper primary contest last year. The former presidents stubbornness, on the side of his diminished capabilities, was present throughout, the book claims.

According to an unnamed Hollywood VIP who witnessed the interaction, Biden seemed a shell of his former self at the fundraiser, which took place in June of 2024. Two weeks before the debate that would herald the beginning of the end of his career, the president shuffled around a room with film industry A-listers organized by Clooney and producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, appearing almost catatonic and showing clear signs of mental decline, according to the authors description of attendees accounts.

open image in gallery Joe Biden had to be prompted by an aide to recognize George Clooney, one of the most recognizable actors in the world ( AFP via Getty Images )

The interactions took place on the sidelines of the Democratic Partys biggest fundraising night of the year up until that point: a panel discussion with Biden and former President Barack Obama hosted by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

It was like watching someone who was not alive, the VIP who saw the pre-show interaction with Clooney recalled. It was startling. And we all looked at each other. It was so awful.

During that interaction the 46th president, who was being led around by an aide, had to be prompted to remember who Clooney was, according to the VIPs firsthand account.

It was not O.K., they recalled to the authors. That thing, the moment where you recognize someone you know  especially a famous person whos doing a f*****g fund-raiser for you  it was delayed. It was uncomfortable.

You know George, the aide said, repeating the actors full name, with stress on the surname: George Clooney.

Oh, yeah! Biden reportedly responded. Hi, George!

open image in gallery Clooney, Biden, Roberts and Obama came together to raise a record-breaking sum for the Democratic Party in June of 2024 ( X/@mmpadellan )

The awkward moment was one of several that night which, according to the authors, spurred Clooney to pen his now-famous op-end urging Biden to drop out of the race and for the Democrats to run with a new nominee in the November election, which at the time was a little more than 100 days away.

Onstage, Biden would go on to give downright confusing answers, according to the authors, and once again sounded quiet and whispery  neither of which was reflected in immediate coverage of the event, which focused on the record-smashing total of $30m raised by the campaign over that Saturday and the following Sunday. His onetime running mate would often complete sentences for him or push him back on track, according to the book.

Emily Favreau, a Democratic campaign consultant and wife to Pod Save America host and Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, told Tapper and Thompson bluntly: I wanted to make everyone stay in this theatre and say, No one is going anywhere until we have a plan, because this cant be it.

An unnamed spokesperson for the former president told the authors: No one has been able to point out where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or make a presidential address where he was unable to do his job because of mental decline. In fact, the evidence points to the oppositehe was a very effective president. Evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity.

Biden freezes mid-answer during presidential election debate

Clooney was criticized sharply for speaking out, but other members of Bidens party in elected office moved to work both behind the scenes and publicly to pressure the president to step down. He did one month later. In the end, even former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was hinting publicly that it was time for the president to step aside.

Harris would go on to lose the presidential election to Donald Trump, ushering in the second Trump presidency with a drubbing in which the vice presidents party lost every major battleground state to the Trump campaign.

David Plouffe, a longtime Democratic campaign veteran called in to rescue Harris in the wake of her running mates withdrawal, laid the blame entirely on the former president: He totally f***ed us.

The book also claims that staff had discussed getting Biden to use a wheelchair if he was re-elected.
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Two officials at the Justice Department selected by Donald Trump to take on positions at the Library of Congress were turned away from the premises on Monday in what was described to the media as a stand-off by employees.

After the president abruptly fired Carla Hayden, the Barack Obama-appointed Librarian of Congress, the agency has become the newest target of the White Houses efforts to bring every part of government under the thumb of Trump and his team. Though the Library of Congress is part of the Legislative Branch, its director is appointed by the president, with Senate confirmation.

On Monday, Trump reportedly selected Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as the acting agency director. But employees at the agency, seeking guidance from Congress, refused entry to two other Department of Justice officials tapped for supporting roles at the Library of Congress early Monday morning.

The stand-off, as it was described by The New York Times, involved Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins, who was appointed to serve as acting director of the US Copyright Office, and Brian Nieves, who was set to be acting deputy librarian under Blanche.

Their entry was reportedly refused by the agencys general counsel and staffers, who called U.S. Capitol Police to defuse the situation. But Nieves and Perkins left the building before police arrived, according to reports, and a statement from a U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson confirmed that officers were not involved in denying anyone entry or escorting anyone from the building.

open image in gallery Two officials at the Justice Department were denied entry to the Library of Congress, which is controlled by the Legislative Branch ( Getty Images )

Democrats say that Trumps unprecedented move to exert control over the typically independent Library of Congress is related to a race-oriented effort to purge diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) language and rhetoric from the federal government. Hayden was the first Black American and first woman to run the Library of Congress.

Donald Trumps termination of Register of Copyrights, Shira Perlmutter, is a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis. It is surely no coincidence he acted less than a day after she refused to rubber-stamp Elon Musks efforts to mine troves of copyrighted works to train AI models, Joe Morelle, a New York House Democrat, said in a statement Saturday

This action once again tramples on Congresss Article One authority and throws a trillion-dollar industry into chaos. When will my Republican colleagues decide enough is enough?

On Monday, Morelle escalated his attack. In a new statement, he accused DOGE staffers of having improper conversations with Library of Congress employees and requesting the unauthorized transfer of data from the agency. He and five other Democrats called for an investigation in a letter to the Librarys Office of Inspector General.

The Library is part of the legislative branchan independent and coequal branch of government. The executive has no authority to demand or receive confidential legislative branch data, and the Library has no legal basis to supply such information without authorization from Congress, the lawmakers wrote in a joint letter to the Library of Congress inspector general.

The Members request that the IGs Office investigates ... whether the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) or other executive branch entities have requested or otherwise attempted to access or review Library data, including but not limited to communications between the Congressional Research Service and congressional offices, the letter added.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, on Friday proved that she did not understand the function of the agency as she depicted Hayden and her staff as loaning out books  like a typical public library  as she tried to defend Haydens firing during a news conference.

open image in gallery Donald Trumps press secretary accused the head of the nations literary archives of putting inappropriate books in the library for children, proving she does not know what the Library of Congress does ( EPA )

There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children, Leavitt claimed, without giving examples.

Prior to Haydens firing, a president had not removed a Librarian of Congress in more than 100 years.

Agency staffers, according to the Times, are currently recognizing principal deputy librarian Robert Newlen as the librarys acting director until Congress Joint Committee on the Library provides clarity. With both chambers of Congress currently in Republican hands, the chair of the committee is GOP Rep. Bryan Steil and the vice chair is Senator Mitch McConnell, formerly his partys Senate majority leader.
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Will Democratic primaries become a new battleground for the MAGA-aligned right?

After the partys bruising loss to Donald Trump and successive Senate defeats in 2024, the Democratic Party is at a crossroads. The next two years will determine whether the party embraces a populist, progressive path or abandons issues like transgender rights to focus on winning moderates and Republicans dis-enthused with Trumpism  or some combination of the two.

Some conservatives with deep pockets seem to smell an opportunity. With the Democrats divided and the partys national leaders weaker than ever, some are hoping to steer the course of the left away from progressivism with strategic investments in off-year races.

Elon Musk, the presidents DOGE baron-in-chief, made a ham-fisted attempt at doing so earlier this year. With a massive investment in Wisconsins Supreme Court race, Musk sought to block a liberal judge from cementing a left-leaning majority on the states highest court. His efforts failed, thanks in no small part due to a massive campaign led by Democrats aimed at exposing his influence.

In New Yorks heated mayoral primary, this phenomenon was embodied on Monday by Republican megadonor John Catsimatidis, a Trump supporter and longtime radio host who made his strategy plainly clear on WABC: "I am supporting [Andrew] Cuomo to wipe out all the socialists on June 24th.

Cuomo, the former governor, resigned in disgrace after several women came forward and accused him of sexual harassment and attempts to silence victims. Hes now leading in polling for the upcoming Democratic primary after the incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, became embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Hundreds of miles south in Pittsburgh, a separate tale of MAGA Republican influence in a Democratic Party primary continued to play out on the same day.

A historically working-class city in the far western reach of the state, Pittsburgh is a deep-blue bastion surrounded by comparatively much purpler and redder districts. In March, the citys mayoral race made headlines after a number of high-profile Pennsylvania conservatives put money behind the effort to unseat incumbent Ed Gainey in a Democratic primary.

open image in gallery Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey accused his opponent of taking in money from Republican donors ( AFP/Getty )

The fears of MAGA influence have only grown more intense as the race nears the May 20 primary election.

On Monday, the mayor opened up a new offensive against his rival, Corey OConnor.

Gainey, in a news release, reacted to a state election board filing detailing how a PAC supporting OConnor, Common Sense Change, took in $150,000 during the last filing period  the majority of its contributions  from a separate PAC funded entirely by a nonprofit housed in Delaware with no public face identified only as Good Leadership Action Inc. That comes despite a claim last month from Common Sense Changes administrator, Mike Mikus, stating that it was mostly funded by trade unions. Only a third of the PACs contributions in April and early May came from three unions backing OConnor.

"My opponent has taken $160,000 from MAGA donors, been backed by 80 percent of the developer money in this race, and flipped his position on [University of Pittsburgh Medical Center] lawsuits after taking thousands from its corporate board, said Gainey.

Now, his backers are hiding the source of hundreds of thousands of dollars from voters because they know people in this city won't support developers, MAGA money, or whoever these people are trying to buy Pittsburgh, he charged.

Through the funneling scheme, the moneys origins are untraceable. But with the mayoral race coming down to a divide along key local issues, including development and affordable housing, there are signs that specific interests are working to unseat the mayor.

Democracy Wins PAC, the D.C.-based organization funded entirely by Good Leadership Inc., previously spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to block a Colorado state representative known for battling corporate landlords from winning a seat in the state senate. That time, it funneled money through a different PAC, Brighter Futures Colorado.

OConnor responded on Monday, accusing Gainey in his own statement of taking so-called dark money, given the more than half a million dollars the Working Families Party has put towards the mayors campaign.

It has made campaigns nastier and more personal, and its part of why voters are so frustrated with the political process, OConnor said in a statement first reported by Public Source.

We dont coordinate with any outside groups, and I believe all campaigns and committees, no matter who they support, should be transparent about where their money is coming from. That includes both Common Sense Change and the Working Families Party, he said.

OConnor outraised his opponent in direct funding over the course of the campaign, but dueling internal polls released by his team and Gaineys show the race tightening in the final weeks.

While the Working Families Party PAC backing Gainey is registered nationally, conflating it with the groups channeling money in support of his opponent is a stretch.

Founded in 1998, the Working Families Party is a well-known progressive organization that has been active in Democratic politics across the East Coast for decades, issuing endorsements and encouraging Democratic candidates to run on the partys ballot line in New York, where the party began. The WFP is supporting 36 candidates in Pennsylvania in this cycle alone.

open image in gallery Elon Musks attempts to sway the Wisconsins Supreme Court race fell flat. ( Getty Images )

The same cannot be said for either OConnors independent expenditure or its main backer.

The website for Democracy Wins, now funding OConnors independent expenditure, still reads as a pre-2024 artifact. It depicts the group as an organization bent on funding a now-failed bid to oust Rep. Lauren Boebert, who switched districts to avoid a tougher reelection fight. Theres no statement on the website explaining why the group has now engaged in two separate, unrelated Democratic primary races.

With the election a week away, Democrats are watching to see how this proxy fight for the partys future plays out. But regardless of the result, the true outcome could already be plain: Republicans with deep pockets increasingly see the intra-party struggles of their opponents as just as relevant a battlefield as any general election in a swing state or district.

As Musk takes a step back from DOGE (and likely his efforts to bankroll GOP causes to curry favor with Trump dwindle as well), many Democrats will be breathing a sigh of relief. But that doesnt mean their partys fight against conservative money is over  not by a long shot. It may just be more difficult to recognize.
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Disgraced congressman turned MAGA cable host Matt Gaetz led a delegation of Republican lawmakers - and one Democratic congressman - on a visit to El Salvadors notorious mega-prison, where prisoners deported from America heckled and taunted the group as they toured the facility.

Claiming that he is the first American journalist inside the ward that holds inmates who are accused of being in the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Gaetz aired a segment on his One America News show Monday night of his visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.

Throughout Gaetzs report, which included the Trump loyalist walking through the halls of the maximum-security facility with several members of Congress, much of the footage focused on the difference in behavior between accused MS-13 members and those incarcerated in the TdA ward.

What no other news organization has shown you until now is the specific ward at CECOT that holds the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua members President Trump deported. See if you can notice them reacting differently, Gaetz noted on Monday night.

open image in gallery OAN host Matt Gaetz and a delegation of lawmakers tour the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, where deported inmates heckle and taunt them. ( One America News )

He then aired a lengthy clip of the delegation walking through the section housing accused TdA members who had recently been deported from America through the Alien Enemies Act, a little-used wartime powers law. After the president announced the proclamation, a federal judge paused the deportations, but planeloads of Venezuelan migrants had already been shipped to El Salvador and have been imprisoned since. Additional deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants have remained on hold amid court battles.

According to the footage Gaetz aired, the inmates in the MS-13 ward were generally polite and calm when the delegation passed by, while the TdA ward featured the prisoners loudly heckling, taunting and shouting at the OAN host and lawmakers. The members of Congress who accompanied Gaetz were Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), whom Gaetz described as the usually reasonable Texas Democrat.

Noting the harsh conditions that the majority of inmates suffer while housed in the prison, Gaetz then asserted that the prisoners deported from America are provided better accommodations and food. Pointing out that the rest of the prisoners are only served rice and beans for meals, Gaetz aired footage of a CECOT guard displaying a box containing a burger and fries, insisting that this is the typical meal in the TdA ward.

Thats a good meal. Can I try it? Can I take a bite? Luna declared before nabbing a fry.

Americans are paying for the Tren de Aragua incarceration. Its a bargain at $6 million, Gaetz stated in his report. For that, El Salvador is actually treating the Venezuelan new arrivals better than their murderous countrymen.

open image in gallery Gaetz led a Congressional delegation for a made-for-TV tour through the mega-prison, which has been decried by human rights groups as a tropical gulag ( AFP via Getty Images )

Gaetz leading a Congressional delegation for a made-for-TV tour through the mega-prison, which has been decried by human rights groups as a tropical gulag, should hardly come as a surprise.

Following the former Florida lawmakers failed bid to become Trumps attorney general, it was reported that Gaetz actually pitched Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on the idea of sending migrants to CECOT after he visited El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele last year.

During the visit, Bukele told Gaetz that hed be willing to imprison migrants at the prison that Trump wanted removed from the United States if Trump won the election. The following day, Gaetz was given a tour of CECOT, prompting him to float the idea to Miller when he returned from the trip.

The conditions had zapped the inhabitants of any will to fight, Gaetz said of the visit. Its tough to see the state of the human condition drained of hope.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went swimming with his grandchildren in Rock Creek in Washington, D.C., even amid warnings that the waterway isnt safe for swimming because of high bacterial levels.

Kennedy wrote on X that he went on a Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson and took a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek.

The 71-year-old posted a number of photos, showing him shirtless, jeans on, in the water in the Potomac River tributary.

Swimming and wading are not allowed due to high bacteria levels, the National Park Service states on its website. Stay out of the water to protect streambanks, plants, and animals and keep you and your family (including pets!) safe from illness.

In addition to the high levels of bacteria, the waterway also has other infectious pathogens, making swimming, wading, and any other water contact a hazard for humans and pets alike.

Swimming has been forbidden there since the 1970s, primarily due to contamination from the areas old sewer system. However, there have recently been attempts to lessen the ban, and its rarely enforced. But signs along Rock Creek warn of the dangers of going in.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Washington. On Mothers Day, Kennedy took his grandchildren swimming in the contaminated Rock Creek ( AP )

The Senate confirmed Kennedy in February despite concerns on both sides of the aisle about his unconventional stances on a range of issues. He has faced criticism for his anti-vaccine beliefs.

Appearing on Fox News on Thursday, Kennedy described himself and his allies at the department as renegades and juggernauts against convention.

In court documents, it was previously revealed that doctors told Kennedy in 2010 that a parasite had eaten part of his brain. He also suffered from mercury poisoning, likely from eating fish.

Kennedy faced mockery on X after posting about his swim in the creek, with Jared Facundo writing: Imagine hiking through Rock Creek and finding the HHS Secretary wading in contaminated water.

Yashar Ali noted that the National Park Service prohibits swimming and wading in the water in Rock Creek due to oil, heavy metals, pesticides, pet waste, and raw sewage in the water.

High levels of E. Coli and fecal coliform bacteria are often detected in the water, posing a serious risk of infection, he added. Contact with contaminated water can cause skin infections, gastrointestinal illness, ear/eye infections, and other diseases, especially in children and people with compromised immune systems.

Getting into Rock Creek anywhere inside the Beltway is sort of weird and kooky, getting into Rock Creek downstream from the National Zoo is bugnuts. Basically begging for a zoonotic parasite. Forget Chinese wet markets, this guy is cooking up COVID-25 inside his grandkids, one user said.
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Donald Trumps administration is pointing to an increase in tourism under Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to justify the cancellation of humanitarian protections for more than 11,000 Afghans in the United States.

On Monday, the administration announced plans to strip temporary protected status to roughly 11,700 Afghans who fled the country following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in the wake of the devastating years-long war.

Weve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent [sic] them from returning to their home country.

Refugee aid and resettlement groups have blasted the administrations decision, noting that many Afghans are now threatened with being removed from a country they risked their lives to support.

The decision to terminate TPS for Afghans is not rooted in reality  it's rooted in politics, according to Shawn VanDiver, president of refugee assistance group AfghanEvac, calling the administrations announcement unconscionable.

Its just patently obscene, he told The Independent.

Homeland Securitys notice to the federal government claims there have been notable improvements in Afghanistans national security, now under the control of the Taliban, and requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.

The notice in the federal register also claims that the Taliban government is promoting tourism to shift its global image.

Tourism to Afghanistan has increased, as the rates of kidnappings have reduced, the notice added. Tourists are sharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage, according to some reports.

open image in gallery Taliban security stand guard as Afghan refugees returning from neighboring Pakistan arrive at a medical camp near the border in Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 3 ( EPA )

More than 23 million people in the country still need critical humanitarian assistance, according to the notice. But Homeland Security points to that as a relative success, as the number of Afghans in need of humanitarian aid has declined from 29 million over the previous year.

The TPS designation was opened to Afghans in 2022 after the fall of Kabul and extended in 2023.

"During my combat tours in Afghanistan, local Afghans protected my unit and helped us return home. We promised to protect them. The Trump administration is breaking that promise, Army veteran and Democratic Rep. Jason Crow said in a statement.

Without protections, impacted Afghans will lose authorization to legally work in the United States and can be detained and removed from the country altogether, which could prevent them from legally entering the country for at least 10 years.

If America breaks its promises, we wont have friends in the future, Crow said. Without friends America will be less safe.

The administration is betraying Afghans who risked their lives for America, built lives here, and believed in our promises, AfghanEvacs VanDiver shared in a statement. This policy change wont make us safer  it will tear families apart, destabilize lives, and shred what's left of our moral credibility.

Matthew Tragesser, chief of public affairs at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, claims bad actors are taking advantage of the program.

A critical part of the USCIS screening and vetting mission is to combat fraud and address vulnerabilities that pose risks to the integrity of our nations immigration system and the safety of the American public, he said in a statement to The Independent. Fraud detection efforts have found several cases of egregious deception by aliens using multiple identities by willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts, raising significant national security concerns. We believe this is only the tip of the iceberg.

open image in gallery Kristi Noems revocation of temporary protected status for Afghans could put women and girls at risk of systemic oppression and gender-based violence, aid groups says ( Getty Images )

Without protections, Afghans in the United States could be forced to return to unimaginable circumstances, according to Krish OMara Vignarajah, president of refugee aid group Global Refuge.

Country conditions in Afghanistan have continued to remain unsafe over the last three and a half years of Taliban rule. Afghans still endure violence and repression at the hands of the Taliban, particularly reprisals against those who aided the United States, she added.

Ending protections for Afghan women and girls means they face oppressive conditions and restrictions on work, their ability to travel and get an education, she said. This decision contradicts U.S. intelligence and human rights assessments, and in doing so, will jeopardize thousands of lives, according to Vignarajah.

The group is calling on the administration to extend TPS designations by at least six months, and has urged members of congress to reintroduce legislation that would open a pathway to lawful permanent status for Afghans who came to the United States following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.

We promised to protect our Afghan allies and those who were forced to flee, Vignarajah said. This is not just an egregious recission of that oath  it may be a death sentence.

Under the terms of a federal lawsuit trying to block the cancellation of TPS, temporary protected status for Afghans will expire May 20 and the elimination of the program takes effect July 12.

Afghans with TPS who also have a pending asylum claim or special immigrant visa case or other pending immigration case are not supposed to be impacted by the decision, though the administrations maneuvers are unclear.

Refugee groups anticipate battling it out in court.

The lawsuit from immigrant advocacy group CASA Inc represents a man identified in court filings as A.F., an Afghan with TPS protections living in Virginia. He has an engineering degree and works as a project manager under his TPS-based work authorization, according to court documents

Without those protections, his employer could terminate him or, at best, place him on a lengthy unpaid administrative leave as a precursor to firing him. He cannot afford either option, the lawsuit states.

Although he is a citizen of Afghanistan, he has never lived there and has spent only around five weeks of his life in the country, when he was a child, according to the lawsuit. A.F. has no immediate family in Afghanistan and no prospects of building a safe or stable life there.

This story was initially published May 12 and was updated with developments
Russians in Heilongjiang | Harbin  Where My Heart Settles

People's Daily Online) 16:35, May 13, 2025

Chankova Svetlana Nikolaevna arrived in Harbin from Krasnoyarsk, Russia in 2011 and now teaches Russian at Heilongjiang University. Though she never planned to stay long-term, China's diverse culture and rich traditions captivated her. Before she knew it, she'd spent 14 years in this city.

In this video, Nikolaevna shares the remarkable changes she's witnessed in Harbin and reveals why this Chinese city holds such a special place in her heart.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
NEW DELHI (BNS): Honble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh released the 14th edition of global military yearbook Brahmand World Defence Update 2025 on 11th May during the inauguration of BrahMos Integration & Testing facility in Lucknow which was inaugurated virtually. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath along with other senior ministers, officials and scientists, including Dr. Jaiteerth R. Joshi, DG (BrahMos), DRDO and CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace, attended the inaugural event of the new BrahMos production facility in Lucknow.



Brahmand World Defence Update 2025 comprehensively and incisively covers important defence-related data, facts & figures of 101 countries worldwide, including 33 strategic countries selected from each continent/ region. The up-to-date coverage includes each countrys overall military capability with a focus on existing weapons inventory, ongoing/ future arms procurement plans, annual defence spending and core conflict areas in addition to important political & defence personnel, thus providing an assessment of present-day global military order.



In its latest edition, the yearbook has covered a special chapter on Rising Defence Economies & Shift in Global Power Dynamics. It has highlighted how emerging countries like India have taken transformative shift from being reliant on imports to becoming a self-sufficient manufacturing hub, meeting the majority of their needs through domestic production.



Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, has penned the Foreword for the yearbook.



Like all its previous editions, Brahmand World Defence Update 2025 promises to be a vital source of reference for the armed forces and defence establishments and also for the global arms manufacturers, research institutions, academia, think-tanks, Captains of industries and even for the general readers keen to know about latest global military developments and trends.



The yearbook is published by Pentagon Press.


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In its latest demand to the Supreme Court to begin swiftly deporting immigrants from the United States, Donald Trumps administration claims a group of Venezuelan men imprisoned in Texas tried to barricade themselves inside their unit, covered surveillance cameras and threatened to take hostages.

A group of 23 men the administration accused of being Tren de Aragua gang members have proven difficult to manage, according to a sworn statement in court documents from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official.

In an incident on April 23 that has not previously been reported, the men allegedly refused their breakfast trays and barricaded both the front and rear entrance doors of their housing unit using bed cots and covered the surveillance cameras and blocked the housing unit windows.

open image in gallery A drone image captures a group of immigrants imprisoned at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas holding up a sign reading we are not terrorists ( Getty )

They threatened to take hostages and injure facility contract staff and ICE officers and attempted to flood the housing unit by clogging toilets, according to Joshua D. Johnson, acting ICE director for the Dallas office.

On May 4, those 23 men were moved from the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson to the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado  under a different court jurisdiction that immigrants right attorneys say is more favorable to the Trump administration.

In its filing on May 12, the government argues that the alleged incident reveals the dangers posed by Tren de Aragua members while in detention rather than summarily deporting them.

The episode follows only a few public glimpses into the lives of the immigrants detained at Bluebonnet, where drone footage from Reuters captured a group of men in red prison jumpsuits  which designates them as high-risk inmates  spelling out SOS with their bodies.

Another image captures a group holding up a sign that reads, in Spanish, Help, we want to be deported. We are not terrorists. The sign says VZLA, a reference to Venezuela, and suggests they are pleading with authorities to avoid their imprisonment in El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, labeled by human rights groups as a tropical gulag and concentration camp.

A lawyer for the ACLU representing immigrants in detention declined to comment.

open image in gallery A drone view of detainees at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility form the letters SOS on April 28 ( Reuters )

Nearly two months after deporting dozens of Venezuelan immigrants to the Salvadoran prison, the Trump administration is embroiled in courtroom battles across the country  and at the nations highest court  following challenges to the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act to rapidly remove alleged gang members from the country.

The Supreme Court has issued two orders stemming from those cases. Justices agreed that the president could rely on the centuries-old wartime law to remove immigrants from the country  provided they first have an opportunity to challenge those claims in court. The justices also temporarily blocked the government from deporting a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas while their lawyers scrambled to challenge the allegations against them.

In his proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, 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 that many of the 137 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador in March 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.

Under the terms of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the president has authority to remove immigrants during a declared war or if there is an "invasion or predatory incursion by any foreign nation or government.

Several federal judges  including a Trump appointee  have said the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act is unlawful, and wrongly uses immigration as an excuse to subvert the plain readings of war, invasion and predatory incursion.

A recently uncovered intelligence memo from the Trump administration also denies any link between Nicolas Maduros regime and Tren de Aragua, noting that the intelligence community has not observed the regime directing TDA, including to push migrants to the United States, which probably would require extensive coordination and funding between regime entities and TDA leaders.

Lawyers for detained immigrants told the Supreme Court last month that the administration is failing to provide adequate notice of their removal, and comes nowhere near satisfying the courts order.

Whatever due process may require in this context, it does not allow removing a person to a possible life sentence without trial, in a prison known for torture and other abuse, a mere 24 hours after providing an English-only notice form (not provided to any attorney) that gives no information about the persons right to seek judicial review, much less the process or timeline for doing so, attorneys wrote.
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President Donald Trump has said he is ordering the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria to start the process of normalizing relations between Washington and Damascus in hopes of bolstering the war-torn countrys new government, more than a decade after the Obama administration severed diplomatic ties at the outset of the civil war that ended with the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad last year.

Speaking in Riyadh, where he addressed a Saudi-American investment forum on the first day of his four-day, three-country swing through the Middle East, Trump said the new Syrian government will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace after the countrys people had seen their share of travesty and war over many years.

He told the audience of Saudi and American dignitaries that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the new Syrian foreign minister in Turkey later in the week, and, citing discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump also revealed that he is ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give the new government a chance at greatness.

The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served an important, really an important function, nevertheless, at the time, but now its their time to shine. Its their time to shine. Were taking them all off, he said. So I say, good luck Syria. Show us something very special, like theyve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia.

open image in gallery Donald Trump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ( EPA )

Ahead of the presidents speech, a White House official also said Trump had agreed to say hello to Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa  the former Islamic militant leader who has served as Syrias de facto president since Assad fled the country and took up an offer of asylum in Russia last December  even though Sharaa remains on a list of terrorists maintained by the American government.

Sharaa once fought with al-Qaeda in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. He later led the Syrian branch of the terror organization that carried out the 9/11 attacks, before breaking away in 2016 to form what became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that ousted Assad.

Since coming to power in a blistering offensive last year that swept away the Assad dynasty after it had held sway for more than five decades, Sharaa has promised to deliver an inclusive government until free and fair elections can be held.

Trumps announcement of an end to more than a decade of harsh economic penalties  which were levied against the former Assad regime as a result of the now deposed dictators use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people, and other atrocities  came moments after he restated his openness to a relaxation of tensions with the Iranian government.

In his remarks, he offered a rhetorical olive branch to Iran and said the United States wants it to be a wonderful, safe, great country if its leaders choose to forswear their longtime pursuit of nuclear weapons. This was the latest in a series of signals meant to de-escalate decades of tensions between Washington and Tehran by reaching a new nuclear nonproliferation agreement, eight years after he threw out the one that was reached under the Obama administration.

Trump contrasted Irans economic isolation since the 1979 Islamic Revolution with the prosperity that Saudi Arabia has enjoyed over the same time period, during which Riyadh replaced Tehran as Americas main ally in the petroleum-rich region.

Irans decades of neglect and mismanagement have left the country plagued by rolling blackouts lasting for hours a day  all the time you hear about it. While your skill has turned dry deserts into fertile farmland, Irans leaders have managed to turn green farmland into dry deserts, he said.

But the American leader said he had not come to Riyadh to condemn the past chaos of Irans leaders and instead offered Tehran a new path, and a much better path, toward a far better and more hopeful future.

open image in gallery Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a former Islamist militant, became president of Syria in January ( AP )

He said he has always been willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even with those with whom he has had profound differences, such as Irans leaders.

I have never believed in having permanent enemies. I am different than a lot of people think. I dont like permanent enemies, but sometimes you need enemies to do the job, and you have to do it right, said Trump, who pointed to Americas history of forging alliances with former adversaries. He told the audience that he would like to do the same with Iran, provided that the Iranian government chooses to cease causing chaos in the region.

I want to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran, Ill be very happy if were going to make your region and the world a safer place. But if Irans leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure and drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before, he said.

Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. But with that said, Iran can have a much brighter future, Trump continued. The choice is theirs to make. We really want them to be a successful country. We want them to be a wonderful, safe, great country, but they cannot have a nuclear weapon.

The presidents offer of a relaxation of tensions with Tehran comes on the heels of multiple meetings between American and Iranian negotiators with an eye to an agreement that would take Iran off the path to achieving nuclear weapons capability.

When Trump first came to the presidency in 2017, there was just such an agreement in place. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral deal negotiated between Tehran, the five permanent U.N. Security Council members, Germany and the European Union provided for the lifting of sanctions imposed as a result of Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons technology, in exchange for strict limitations on Iranian nuclear research and power capabilities and inspections of nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The agreement, which followed years of painstaking talks, was part of an effort by the Obama administration to open dialogue with the longtime U.S. antagonist. Iran was once one of Americas closest allies in the Middle East region, with a pro-Western and largely secular government under the Pahlavi dynasty. But Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since April 1980, when the U.S. cut ties and imposed an economic embargo in the wake of the 1979 seizure of the American embassy and the resulting 444-day hostage crisis.

Trump entered office opposed to the deal because it was negotiated in part by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and, with further prodding by Israeli and Saudi leaders, he eventually pulled the U.S. out of the agreement.

Now, eight years on from his decision to withdraw from the JCPOA and impose a maximum pressure sanctions campaign against Tehran, his administration is pushing for a new deal that would, in principle, reinstate much of what was in place under the old deal.

But Trump warned that Irans window for negotiating with Washington, even indirectly, will not be open for long. He explicitly stated that his offer will not last forever and said that the time for them to choose is right now.

We dont have a lot of time to wait. Things are happening at a very fast pace. Happening right here. Theyre happening at a very fast pace. So they have to make their move right now  one way or the other, make your move, he said.

With reporting by Richard Hall
 Close Trump wants to make deal with Iran - on three conditions

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Donald Trump says the U.S. and Iran are very close to securing a deal that would see America drop its longstanding sanctions and Iran give up the prospect of developing a nuclear weapon.

Speaking during his three-nation tour of the Middle East, Trump said they were getting close to securing a deal as Iran had sort of agreed to terms.

"I think we're getting close to maybe doing a deal, he said in Qatar.

Trump has repeatedly said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and earlier in his Gulf nations tour he warned U.S. could be forced to take a violent course with Iran if the friendly course of action does not work.

During his Gulf nations tour Trump has signed billions of dollars worth of economic deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and also taken significant steps towards normalizing relations with Syria after making a surprise announcement that the U.S. would lift all sanctions on the country.

The president will leave the U.A.E later on Friday and hinted he was leaving for destination unknown, but will likely return to Washington.
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A new report says that the free, very expensive jet that Donald Trump is expected to accept as a gift from Qatars royal family will require billions of dollars of investment and retrofitting to make it into a makeshift Air Force One.

The renovations are such that they would be impossible to complete before 2028.

The administration set off legal and ethical alarms over its plan to accept the $400 million Boeing 747-8 for use as the presidential aircraft. At the same time, a pair of Boeing VC-25 B planes are being completed to stringent military standards in the US. Neither is expected to be completed until 2027.

The president hailed Qatar's great gesture and said that only a stupid person would not have accepted the gift.

However, the so-called free plane will carry hefty costs from a raft of upgrades, which range from ensuring secure communications to electromagnetic shielding.

The plane is currently being held in San Antonio, Texas. It is unclear if any retrofitting has already taken place.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday ( AP )

Current and former U.S. officials told the Washington Postthat retrofitting the newer plane to Air Force One requirements will take years of work and cost billions of dollars.

Completing the task before Trump leaves office in January 2028 would be impossible, according to the newspaper.

Inside the split-deck Qatari jet, the same base model as the two VC-25Bs under modification by Boeing, there are two full bathrooms, nine lavatories, a master bedroom and a guest bedroom, multiple lounges, and a private office.

Meanwhile, the current planes are fitted with state-of-the-art defensive countermeasures, in-flight refueling capability, and secure communications equipment.

A private contractor would likely have to rip the plane apart before it was fit for use, including adding secure communications and classified upgrades.

open image in gallery A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft that President Donald Trump toured on February 15 at Palm Beach International Airport to check out new hardware and technology features ( AP )

This isnt really a gift, Connecticut Representative Joe Courtney, a top Democrat on the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, told Politico.

Youd basically have to tear the plane down to the studs and rebuild it to meet all the survivability, security, and communications requirements of Air Force One. Its a massive undertaking  and an unfunded one at that.

Maintenance and operation costs of presidential planes are also an expensive affair.

According to a 2021 internal Pentagon estimate, each VC-25B costs more than $2.5 billion, with an additional $7.7 billion in projected long-term operations and support costs over 30 years.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office behind a model of the new version of Air Force One on order from Boeing that won't be delivered until 2027 at the earliest ( Getty )

A White House official told the Post it was premature to place a timeframe on how long the upgrades to the Qatari plane might take.

The Qatari Defense Ministry is in talks with the White House about transferring the jet to the Pentagon, which would oversee its retrofitting.

The White House official said that Qatar offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense, but Trump would not accept it this week during his stop in the country, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as he embarks on his first major foreign trip of his second term.

The plane is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation in 2029. A source told CNN that Trump intends to use the plane as a private citizen, something that the president denies.
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Donald Trump is coming under fire from some of his most prominent MAGA supporters for his decision to accept a luxury Boeing 747 as a gift from Qatar to replace Air Force One.

I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million gift from jihadists in suits, said Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has wielded enormous influence over the president in Trumps second term.

Loomer accused the Qatari government, which has acted as an intermediary for negotiations between Hamas and international powers, of funding Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered U.S. Service Members.

The plane has been described as a "palace in the sky," and it would likely not be made available to Trump to use as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which point he said it would be transferred to the foundation responsible for the Trump presidential library.

The president has repeatedly complained about delays in the production by Boeing of a new Air Force One to replace the current planes, two modified 747-200 jumbo jets known by the model number VC-25A, which date from 1990.

open image in gallery Some of Donald Trump's biggest MAGA allies are blasting him for accepting a $400 million plane from Qatar as a gift. ( AFP/Getty )

This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true, Loomer, a regular visitor to the White House, wrote on X.

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called the decision skeezy.

Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jazeera, all the rest, that's not America first, he said on The Ben Shapiro Show.

I think if we switch the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, we'd all be freaking out on the right, he added.

Mark Levin, a conservative radio host and MAGA influencer, accused Qatar of spreading "anti-American" propaganda.

"Their jet and all the other things they are buying in our country does not provide them with the cover they seek," he wrote X.

He later wrote "Ditto" in response to Loomer's post.

Trump even received criticism from one of his most fervent Republican supporters in the Senate.

"My view is that it would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America. That would be ideal," Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said.

open image in gallery Right-wing activist Laura Loomer bashed the move saying the U.S. cannot accept a gift from Qatar. ( AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File )

Trump said this week that he planned to accept what is likely the most valuable gift ever given to the U.S. by a foreign government  a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet owned by Qatars royal family, with an estimated value of $400 million.

Trump bristled at the suggestion that the gift would classify as corruption, as both his opponent and supporters have implied.

"I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer," he told reporters on Monday. "I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane."

The president will likely face further questions about the lavish gift over the coming days as he tours the Middle East this week.
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What President Donald Trump has referred to as his big beautiful bill, currently being shepherded through Congress, includes a proposal for a MAGA savings account for children.

The savings account name stands for money account for growth and advancement, but shares an acronym with the Trump slogan, Make America Great Again.

The bills own name also harkens back to what Trump has called it. The legislation is called the one, big, beautiful bill in all capital letters and includes a number of Trumps campaign pledges.

House Republicans have come under pressure to pass tax reform, which Trump pledged to do during the campaign.

The MAGA account is a tax-advantaged account that can be opened for children aged eight and under. They then wont be able to access the account until they turn 18, Newsweek noted.

The legislation says that the federal government would add $1,000 to the accounts of children born between 2025 and 2028; however, contributions are limited to $5,000 a year. Eligible children must be U.S. citizens at birth and have a Social Security number.

Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been a proponent of the idea of a savings account for children.

The case I made to my colleagues is: We should ask ourselves in this bill, what will be the legacy that people will remember and talk about 10 years from now, 20, 30, 40 years from now? Cruz told Semafor earlier this month.

A bill pushed by President Donald Trump includes MAGA savings accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 ( Getty )

The legislation would create accounts for every child born in America to help them begin the journey of savings and benefit from the wonders of compound interest, he added.

In the House legislation, the proposal is listed as the "MAGA Accounts Contribution Pilot Program." The accounts would be "exempt from taxation, the draft of the House bill states.

Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has previously put forward the idea of baby bonds, which also suggested putting $1,000 in savings accounts for U.S. babies.

The savings account is a small part of a massive bill that currently suggests tax cuts of $4.9 trillion to aid tipped workers and those working overtime, as well as retired Americans. The cuts would partly be funded with cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and green energy initiatives.

It would also hit private universities with a new endowment tax of as much as 21 percent. For instance, Harvard remains reliant on its endowment amid a legal battle with the Trump administration. The Trump White House has removed Harvards federal funding and said that it will remove the universitys tax-exempt status. Harvard has said the effort has no legal basis.

The bill would also increase the federal debt ceiling by $4 trillion. Trump has spoken about the matter in private for months, noting that he wouldnt want to be pushed into a spending agreement with Democrats to avoid a default, Politico reported.

When I return from the Middle East, where great things will happen for America, we will work together on any and all outstanding issues, but there shouldnt be many  The Bill is GREAT. We have no alternative, WE MUST WIN! Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

I sure hope House & Senate leadership are coming up with a backup plan, Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy wrote on X on Monday. Because Im not here to rack up an additional $20 trillion in debt over 10 years or to subsidize healthy, able-bodied adults, corrupt blue states, and monopoly hospital CEOs.
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When police in Dalton, Georgia pulled over Ximena Arias-Cristobal, officers accused the 19-year-old college student of making an illegal right turn at a red light.

She told officers she didnt have her international drivers license on her, according to a police report, and she was taken into custody.

Then she was moved to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center roughly four hours away, and now she faces the possibility of being removed from the country along with her family.

But local police this week admitted the officers made a mistake.

After a review of dash cam footage from the traffic stop on May 5, it was determined that Ms. Arias-Cristobals vehicle appeared similar to the offending vehicle but was not the vehicle that made an improper turn, according to a statement from the Dalton Police Department.

Police and prosecutors dismissed the charges against her, but Donald Trumps administration intends to remove her from the United States, where she has lived since she was four years old.

open image in gallery Ximena Arias-Cristobal poses for a senior portrait provided by family friend Hannah Jones. The Georgia college student is facing deportation after she was mistakenly arrested by local police and put into ICE custody ( Courtesy Hannah Jones )

Arias-Cristobals parents did not have legal permission to enter the United States from Mexico in 2010 when she was a toddler, and she did not qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which ended the year before her family entered the country, according to family friends.

She is now isolated from her family members  except one. Her father Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar was recently arrested after allegedly going 19 miles over the speed limit and is inside the same ICE detention center, according to online detention records reviewed by The Independent.

The family will be able to return to Mexico together, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Independent following her arrest.

Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to. We are not ignoring the rule of law, she added.

The Trump administrations CBP Home app is giving parents illegally in the country a chance to take full control of their departure and self-deport, with the potential ability to return the legal, right way and come back to live the American dream, McLaughlin said.

Her bond hearing is scheduled for May 20.

During a news conference on Monday, Daltons assistant chief of police Chris Crossen we certainly regret the circumstances that led us to where we are today.

Ximena is one of many young, innocent people who have had the misfortune of being caught up in Trumps cruel dragnet, her attorney Dustin Baxter told The Independent.

The fact that Ximena, like many others, has committed no crime for which they can be deported means nothing anymore, he said.

Growing up in the United States and being a beloved member of her community means nothing to ICE, Baxter said. The administrations reinstatement of a so-called no release policy and arrest quotas make a mockery of Trumps promise to deport bad people, he added.

The reality is there are very few bad immigrants. Most are just like us, they want to work hard, care for their families, and contribute to society, Baxter told The Independent. It is a shame that we do not let them. We remain committed to obtaining Ximenas release from custody and fighting against a broken immigration system to allow her to remain in the country in which she grew up and which she loves.

open image in gallery Dalton police and prosecutors have dropped charges against Ximena Arias-Cristobal after officials admitted officers mistakenly pulled her over on May 5 ( Whitfield County Sheriffs Office )

Arias-Cristobal is a recent graduate of Dalton High School and a cross country athlete now attending Dalton State College. She was enrolled for the spring 2025 semester, a college spokesperson told The Independent.

Her arrest sparked outrage and ongoing protests throughout the Dalton community, and Republican state Representative Kacey Carpenter is pressing an immigration judge for her swift release.

Its impossible. I mean, thats the argument that you hear all the time from people on the other side is, well, theyve been here 15 years. Why haven't they become a citizen? Because its impossible, Carpenter told NewsChannel 9. There is not a pathway for someone that is in America right now towards citizenship, unless they get married or they have a child, and the child grows up and the childs 18, then they can petition for their parents. But as far as an individual thats between the ages of four and 25, theres no pathway.

A GoFundMe established by family friend Hannah Jones, whose children Arias-Cristobol baby-sat for several years, has raised nearly $80,000 as of this publication.

Dalton is a largely Republican-leaning part of the state, but Jones told The Independent last week that everyone knows this is wrong.

She is currently jailed inside Georgias Stewart Detention Center, operated by private prison firm CoreCivic. At least 10 people died in the facility between 2017 and 2024, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union, which had previously criticized the facility for inadequate conditions and due process violations.

Her arrest follows several high-profile cases across the country involving immigrant families with mixed legal statuses, as the president and immigration officials embark on a sweeping, aggressive anti-immigration agenda.
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Amid an ongoing exodus of talent from the Washington Post as staffers have grown increasingly demoralized with the direction of the legendary paper and embattled chief executive officer and publisher Will Lewis has been described as going into a state of hiding as his apparent drinking has become a joke among employees.

In a damning and comprehensive story by The New Yorker, reporter Clare Malone dives into the identity crisis occurring at the Post while wondering if mega-billionaire owner Jeff Bezos is selling out the publication as he cozies up to Donald Trump following the presidents return to the White House.

In some ways, this is all a story about Jeff and how he changed over the course of his ownership and really became a different person with huge implications for the institution, one former top editor at the Post told Malone.

During Trumps first term, Malone notes, Bezos suffered through the media-bashing presidents relentless attacks on him and his paper before welcoming Joe Biden into office. However, Bezos felt a sense of betrayal after the Biden administration sued Bezos cash cow Amazon in 2023 for illegally maintaining monopoly power.

In the run-up to the 2024 election and in the first months of the second Trump administration, Bezos made a number of moves at the paper that raised the ire of Post staffers and its readers, who took the outlets Democracy Dies in Darkness motto to heart.

open image in gallery Will Lewis has come under fire from the Washington Post staff for his absence from the newsroom as well as his rumored drinking. ( TWP )

Notoriously, the owners last-minute decision to block the editorial boards endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for president led to hundreds of thousands of canceled subscriptions and the resignations of several board members. Bezos mandate that the opinion section only concentrate on free market principles and personal liberties left staffers outraged and prompted the opinion editor to quit. Meanwhile, there has been a steady exodus of talent over the past few months, many of whom have jumped ship to The Atlantic.

Though Bezos and Lewis have implemented these changes while insisting the staff needs to be disciplined, both leaders of the paper have largely been missing in action despite calls from employees for meetings. Lewis leadership, or lack thereof, has been cited as a key reason why many reporters and editors have left.

In exit interviews, meanwhile, staff members have attributed their departures to Lewiss lack of a discernible plan for the paper, Malone pointed out.

The idea that the newsroom is the reason for the Posts struggles is unfair, a former editor told the New Yorker. The newsroom is not always its own best friend, but Will somehow convinced Jeff that it is the problem, when really there is no business strategy.

Lewis has also apparently had a falling out with the papers executive editor Matt Murray, the former Wall Street Journal editor who was initially supposed to just temporarily replace Sally Buzbee but was permanently given the role when no other candidates took the offer. Much of his anger with Murray, according to Malone, is due to the papers coverage of Lewis scandal-plagued tenures at both the Post and the British tabloids.

I know Will [Lewis] was very upset with Matt [Murray] for the Posts coverage and for some period of time wouldnt talk to Matt, a former senior editor said. Both Murray and Lewis denied this to Malone, but in the end, Murray did institute a policy discouraging reporters from covering the paper itself.

open image in gallery Washington Post and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos has come under fire for his seemingly cozying up to Donald Trump in recent months.. ( AFP/Getty )

Since last June, Lewis has gone into what a number of Post staffers described as a state of hiding, Malone added. Rumors began circulating about Lewis drinking heavily in social settings. One thing that has damaged him internally is that his drinking is widely known in the newsroom, the former senior editor said. Its literally something his employees joke about. (Lewis declined multiple requests to speak with reporters.)

The New Yorker additionally noted that during his time at the Telegraph, Lewis had a a clique of mannish guys and a reputation for hard drinking. While the Guardian reported at the time that no one has ever seen him drunk or late for work, he picked up the nickname Thirsty Will Lewis.

A person who has known Lewis for decades described him to me as a wide boyBritish slang for someone who survives by his wits, often on the wrong side of right, an associate of Lewis told Malone.

Lewis absence at a number of staff-wide events has been notable, such as the recent Pulitzer Prize celebrations for the paper and a screening party for a documentary on the Posts legendary publisher Katharine Graham. Murray and Bezos also skipped the documentary screening.

In fact, Bezos has been incredibly hard to reach for the Posts leadership team. When the opinion editors attempted to set up an opportunity to talk with the billionaire in August, Lewis told them that Bezos's schedule was full until late September. Despite other requests from staff, and Bezos edicts demanding change in coverage, the owner hasnt visited the paper since before the election.

A Post spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
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A toxic algal bloom in South Australia has killed over 200 marine species, including deepwater sharks, octopuses and leafy sea dragons, in what conservationists have called one of the worst marine die-offs the region has ever seen.

The algae, Karenia mikimotoi, has spread across more than 150km of coastline since it was first detected in March, nearly the size of the Kangaroo Island.

Since the algae appeared, local people and scientists have observed mass deaths of fish, shellfish, sharks, sea dragons, rays, cuttlefish, and deepwater species along the southern coastline.

South Australias environment minister said the outbreak had grown to an unprecedented scale. "It is a larger bloom than we have ever seen before," Susan Close said.

Scientists say that it is being fuelled by an ongoing marine heatwave, with sea temperatures 2.5C above average, and calm conditions that allow it to thrive.

Described as a toxic blanket, the bloom suffocates fish by damaging their gills and attacking red blood cells and the nervous system. It can lead to haemorrhaging and erratic behaviour in affected animals. It is like a horror movie for fish, Brad Martin of OzFish told The Guardian.

Ms Close said there was not much the government could do. "The only thing that is going to break this bloom up is a change in the weather and starting to get strong westerly winds," she said.

File. Green algae blooms on Lake Okeechobee, Florida, in 2018 ( Getty )

An analysis of over 1,400 citizen science reports found around half of the dead species were ray-finned fish and more than a quarter were sharks and rays. Cephalopods like squid and cuttlefish and crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters were among the affected species as well.

Though not toxic to humans, the algae has caused skin irritation and respiratory symptoms in some beachgoers.

Authorities have temporarily closed several oyster farms and banned pipi harvesting in parts of South Australia.

An alarm about the bloom was first sounded by beachgoers back in March after thick foam and dead marine animals washed up on Waitpinga and Parsons beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Professor Shauna Murray, a marine biologist at the University of Technology Sydney, identified the algae under a microscope and through DNA analysis.

She told The Guardian that K mikimotoi was known to produce reactive oxygen that could suffocate marine life.

South Australias government said winds needed to disperse the algal bloom were being delayed by persistent high-pressure systems  another symptom of shifting climate patterns.

Authorities say the full ecological and economic impact of the bloom is yet to be understood but environmental groups urge improved monitoring and stronger action on marine heatwaves, which are growing much more frequent as oceans continue to warm.

Alongside the marine heatwave, southern Australia is suffering through one of the worst droughts on record.

Ms Close sounded the alarm on how climate change was making the crisis worse.

The minister said ocean monitoring showed a full-scale climate emergency in our coastal waters, with the bloom extending across an area roughly the size of Kangaroo Island and up to 20m deep.

These extreme marine heat waves are not just anomalies, they are the new reality. And our marine ecosystems are the first casualties.
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An internationally recognised mushroom expert told the court on Tuesday that he discovered the poisonous mushroom near the house where Erin Patterson lived during the triple murder trial that has gripped Australia.

Dr Thomas May, a mycologist or scientist specialising in fungi, took the witness stand on Tuesday with pictures of various types of mushrooms and the remains of the fateful beef wellington meal taking the centre stage.

Ms Patterson ,50, is accused of serving a meal laced with deadly mushrooms that killed her former husbands father, mother and aunt  Don Patterson, Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson  and left his uncle, Ian Wilkinson, critically ill.

Ms Patterson, who is from Victoria, denies the charges of murder and attempted murder brought against her. She insists the poisoning was a tragic accident.

Dr May told the court that the sightings of death cap mushrooms were recorded near Ms Pattersons home in Leongatha in April and May 2023.

He said he submitted a post about the sightings of the dangerous mushrooms in the Loch and Outtrim areas of Leongatha on the iNaturalist website on 21 May 2023 after spotting and picturing the fungi on a walk.

open image in gallery Ian Wilkinson (R), the only surviving guest of a lunch at Erin Patterson's house, leaves after testifying at a Supreme Court sitting at the Latrobe Valley Courts in Morwell, Victoria ( EPA )

The jurors were shown a screenshot image of the post from his profile under the name Funkey Tom.

The court was previously told by prosecutors that Ms Patterson visited Loch on 28 April and Outtrim on 22 May, citing her phone records.

The lunch after which three people lost their lives happened on 29 July 2023.

Dr May said that the death cap mushrooms were most commonly found in the month of May and varied in colour but always grew around oak trees.

"There are certainly some mushrooms that occur in Victoria that are quite similar (in appearance) to the death cap," he said.

"I put a very precise latitude, longitude geocode in the location," he told the court about his post on the website.

The death cap mushrooms are at the centre of the trial after the court was told that the mushrooms were part of the paste that was used to make the beef wellington main course served to her guests. Doctors confirmed that the four guests who ate the dish suffered from Amanita phalloides poisoning, with only one surviving after long treatment at a hospital.

open image in gallery An exterior view of the Leongatha home where Erin Patterson allegedly served the death cap mushroom-laced lunch ( EPA )

These mushrooms, known by their scientific name, Amanita phalloides, are among the most poisonous and have been involved in the majority of human fatal cases of mushroom poisoning. These were first reported in Australia in the 1960s.

Dr May said these mushrooms were European species that now grow in places including Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

He said these mushrooms, however, did not grow in China after Ms Patterson reportedly said she sourced the mushrooms from an unspecified Chinese or Asian grocer in Melbourne.

The defence of Ms Patterson on Tuesday showed a dozen photos of various types of mushrooms to Dr May and challenged him to guess which ones were poisonous.

Dr May was shown 10 photos of mushrooms, which he identified as likely death caps. On Tuesday, Dr Varuna Ruggoo, an emergency physician at Monash Health where Ms Patterson was assessed said she seemed clinically well two days after the lunch.

She said she administered IV fluids and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to Ms Patterson for potential liver issues on 1 August 2023.

She appeared clinically well. In a normal mood and affect, the doctor told the court.
Wielding a long knife with two handles, Hopell Nelson saws into a pepperoni stick. Its Wednesday morning at the factory in Sanborn where they make pizza logs. The extra long pepperoni sticks are fed into the top of stainless steel machines, as if the pepperoni was timber and the machine was a blazing hearth.

The room is loud with the rhythmic clanging of heavy machinery. If one person or machine fails to perform their duty, the whole operation is thrown off balance.

Everybody works pretty hard, said Vince Marzolf, plant manager at Finger Food Products, as he conducts a tour of the nearly 70-person plant.

For years after Robert F. Cordova founded Original Pizza Logs in 1991 (it eventually became Finger Food Products), the only way to make them was the old-fashioned way. You roll and fold an egg roll wrapper with pepperoni, mozzarella and tomato sauce, then send it to the deep fryer. That is, essentially, still the process.

But since Finger Food Products makes at least 25 million pizza logs a year  up about 20 million logs from a decade ago  a lot of the process is done by stainless steel and sensors, instead of warm hands.

Still, theres a balance to be had.

You can be overautomated, Marzolf said.

That is why each assembly line begins with an employee. Their task is simple, but laborious when done full time, and their entire shifts are spent on their feet. Each worker takes a slab of egg roll wrappers, bangs them against the table to loosen them up, then places each wrapper, one by one, onto a plate attached to a conveyor belt.

Once on the belt, the wrapper enters a silver cave, out of which a pepperoni stick protrudes from the top. The wrapper receives its pepperoni slice  the first ingredient  before moving onto its next station, where another machine shoots a mozzarella stick next to the pepperoni. (That is the most recent automation. There used to be a person at every assembly line who would place the cheese into the roll.)

Now a trio, they move down the line for a squirt of tomato sauce. A new machine folds each side of the wrapper delicately until the wrapper looks like a flat burrito.

A series of chain-link rollers spin the log, fluffing it up until it looks recognizable. Each log reappears at the end, smoothed over from the rollers, and drops onto a perpendicular conveyor belt, which will carry it down the room to the final step: the deep fryer.

Its mesmerizing watching them come off of that, said operations manager Phil DeRousseau, whose eyes were transfixed on the emerging logs. I find myself just watching it sometimes ... just watching them come off the chain.

A handful of workers straighten each log and make sure that it has all of its ingredients. If not, they remove the log from the line and fix it. In their spare moments, they turn to a table at their side and hand-roll new logs. No time is wasted. Around 2% to 3% of pizza logs are hand-rolled or fixed, Marzolf said.

More than 60 people, including many refugees and immigrants from countries such as Myanmar, work at the Sanborn plant.

While Marzolf works to automate more of the process  a wider conveyor belt will eliminate the need for so many straighteners, and a new detection system will be able to perform quality control  he moves the workers to other positions or cuts the roles once people leave. There can be a lot of turnover at the pizza log factory, when people fatigue from standing on their feet all day long.

Its monotonous, you know, Marzolf said.

Past, present and future

Robert Cordova told The Buffalo News during the Italian Festival in 1992, the year after he started the pizza logs brand, to watch the faces of customers as they ate their first pizza logs: They taste better than they look.

Back then, he rolled every log by hand on a stainless steel table in Niagara Falls. He turned the Italian-Chinese fusion food into a staple in both the grocery store freezer section and local restaurants appetizer menus across Western New York for decades (though many people outside of Buffalo still dont know what a pizza log is, and settle instead for their more famous predecessor, Totinos Pizza Rolls).

Lucy Toughtarian, a Niagara Falls resident, has been there since nearly the beginning. She has been making pizza logs for 26 years.

Its been very, very interesting, Toughtarian said. We went through a lot of sad moments and happy moments.

Sadness came when Cordova died in 2013. Cordova poured everything he had into his company. He never bought a house, or spent any of his money on himself, instead reinvesting all of his money back into the work.

He dreamed big and he believed in the product. All he had to do, he would tell his son Jason, was convince someone to eat a pizza log. From there, the flavor would do the rest of the work. Maybe, he thought, his pizza logs would even be sold at the Bills stadium one day.

Happiness swept in after Jason Cordova took over and expanded the company, Toughtarian said. A year after his fathers death, Jason landed a big account: the Buffalo Bills.

I cried my eyes out, Cordova said. I knew at that moment that this product would no longer be a regional thing.

They moved into a much larger Sanborn headquarters and started selling pizza logs in grocery stores throughout the country. Over the past decade, the company has grown exponentially. Cordova sold to Albies Foods in 2022, though he retains a minority ownership share.

Finger Food Products has already nearly outgrown its 35,000-square-foot Sanborn facility. Some new off-site cold storage will free up space for the companys planned growth, which includes a recent contract with Walmart to sell pizza logs in 800 stores.

Were a niche Buffalo product, and Buffalonians love pizza logs, Marzolf said. Were trying to expand that sales nationwide.

Despite growing up in East Aurora, Marzolf had never eaten a pizza log before he started working for the company in 2016.

Now, he eats pizza logs fresh off the assembly line fryer. He orders pizza logs when hes out at dinner. He checks the shelves at gas stations and grocery stores to see if pizza logs are receiving prime placement. If theyre not, then he moves the boxes toward the front. His car, which he drives from Orchard Park to Sanborn and back every day, wears a pizza log magnet.

Youd think, Marzolf said, Id be sick of these things.
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Sussan Ley has become the first woman to lead Australias opposition Liberal Party which suffered a bruising election loss to prime minister Anthony Albanese.

Born in Kano, Nigeria, to a British intelligence officer, Ms Ley is a former outback pilot who holds three finance degrees. She replaces Peter Dutton as leader of the conservative party after securing 29 votes in the partyroom, narrowly defeating Treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor, who received 25.

The 63-year-old is now the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party in its 80-year history. In her first address to the country after her election, Ms Ley said her appointment as the first woman leader of the Liberal Party "sent a signal" to Australian women.

Although she said her agenda would be "much more than that", flagging the need for new policies on economic and tax reform.

open image in gallery Sussan Ley has severed in varied portfolios, including as environment minister, health minister and agriculture minister ( Getty Images )

"We did let women down, there is no doubt about that, and it is true that the number of women supporting us is declining and I want to rule a line under that," she told a press conference in Canberra, reflecting on the conservative party's loss.

Ms Ley said the Liberal Party needs to "meet modern Australia where they are" and "do things differently.

"Government is always formed in the sensible centre," she added.

The reshuffle in the Liberal party comes after Mr Albanese won a historic second term on Tuesday after his Labor Party rode on the wave of backlash over global instability caused by Donald Trump's policies in the May 3 national election.

Mr Dutton, who had been labelled "DOGEy Dutton" by Labor, was believed to have lost mainly for echoing Mr Trump policies to cut thousands of public service jobs including diversity and inclusion roles.

open image in gallery Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley addresses the media at a press conference at Parliament House ( Getty Images )

Ms Ley, whose mother was in end-of-life care, spent her early childhood in the United Arab Emirates before she moved to Australia with her family in 1970s at the age of 13.

A former wool and beef farmer and tax office executive, Ms Ley holds three finance degrees and joined the Liberal Party in 1994.

Ms Ley is a mother of three and grandmother of six, and revealed in the past that she enjoyed a brief punk rock period in the 1980s. She added an extra S to her first name in her 20s, guided by numerology. Ms Ley is a former member of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine and advocated for a two-state solution. She said the 7 October attacks against Israel have impacted her thinking but she still supports the Palestinian people.

The hideous events of October the seventh in Gaza have changed my thinking on the entire subject. Having said that, I remain a steadfast friend of the Palestinian people, she said.

open image in gallery Australia's Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley speaks at a press conference at Parliament House ( AFP via Getty Images )

During her speech, she launched an attack on Labor for its approach on Jewish Australians, saying the current government was the biggest threat to social cohesion.

Everything that happens overseas, and I have reflected on that, has domestic implications, she said.

We have a foreign minister, Penny Wong, who has let down Australia in the UN, and we have a prime minister who is intent, it seems, on letting down Jewish Australians on the streets of our cities.

Ms Ley has represented the vast regional seat of Farrer in New South Wales since 2001 and has held senior ministerial roles across multiple portfolios. She also served as deputy leader of the Liberal Party under Peter Dutton, making her one of the most experienced leaders in the Liberal party.

Former speaker Andrew Wallace said it is for her 24 years of experience that she has been made the leader of the party and it was not to send a message to women.

"If you're asking me was that the sole reason [to elect her as leader], absolutely not. Absolutely not."
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French actor Gerard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set.

Depardieu was convicted of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021. The 76-year-old was handed an 18-month suspended sentence in a Paris court on Tuesday, a term requested by the prosecution during the trial, and fined 29,040 (24,420). The court also called for Depardieu to be registered in the national sex offender database.

One of the victims, who cannot be identified, said she was very moved by the decision. Depardieu did not attend the sentencing.

Depardieu is a giant in French cinema, having starred in more than 250 films. He received an Oscar nomination in 1991 for his performance as the swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac. He had repeatedly denied wrongdoing during the trial, but Judge Thierry Donard, in his concluding remarks, said the actors explanation of events had been unconvincing.

One of the two plaintiffs, the set decorator, had told the court the actor had groped her all over her body as he trapped her between his legs and made explicit sexual comments.

open image in gallery Judge Thierry Donard said Depardieu had been unconvincing and contradictory in his claims of innocence ( Reuters )

He touched everything, including my breasts, she told the court. I was terrified, he was laughing.

Judge Donard said two witnesses corroborated her account, while Depardieu had been contradictory in his accounts.

The trial has placed the global star at the centre of Frances broader reckoning over sexual violence and is seen as a potential watershed for the #MeToo movement in the country.

Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, representing one of the victims, hailed the decision as a victory not only for the two women, but also for all the women behind this trial.

More than 20 women have accused Depardieu of misconduct, either publicly or using formal complaints, though none of these have gone to court. Some of the cases were dropped because of a lack of evidence or after the statute of limitations had expired.

On the 2021 set, Depardieu trapped the set dresser with his legs before groping her waist and breasts in front of witnesses. He also used obscene language and had to be pulled away by bodyguards.

open image in gallery Depardieu is pictured in court in Paris on the first day of his trial ( AP )

The actor groped the assistant director both on set and in the street. The women, who have not waived their anonymity, sat side by side in court on the first day of the four-day trial.

Taking the stand, Depardieu rejected the accusations, saying hes not like that. He acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualised language on the film set and that he grabbed the set dressers hips during an argument, but denied that his behaviour was sexual.

The trial came in the wake of Gisele Pelicots mass rape case at the end of last year and the ongoing trial of ex-surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec in Frances largest-ever child abuse case.

France has grappled for years with its #MeToo movement. While Hollywood saw powerful men fall swiftly and publicly, the French film industry responded more slowly. Some dismissed #MeToo as an American export incompatible with French values, citing concerns over free expression and what they viewed as an erosion of flirtation culture.

open image in gallery Women demonstrating outside the palace of justice during Depardieus trial there ( AP )

At the time of the assaults, Depardieu was already under formal investigation for rape. In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home. That case is still active, and in August 2024, prosecutors requested that it go to trial.

His lawyer said after sentencing on Tuesday that they would appeal the decision.
Hi, Im Kim Kardashian, she says.

The voice is instantly recognisable, of course  from endless hours of reality TV consumed by millions, from thousands of social media posts and parodies. She is, as ever, impeccably dressed: a sharp black suit, sparkling jewellery; poised, perfectly made up.

But this is no ordinary public appearance for the woman famous for being famous. On Tuesday, at the Palais de Justice  which houses Frances highest court  Kardashian has come to give crucial evidence in a case that revisits the harrowing crime she endured nearly a decade ago; the night she was bound and gagged, her hands zip-tied, her mouth taped shut, as she feared she would be raped, shot, and left for dead.

Kardashians highly anticipated appearance, she tells the packed courtroom, is to tell my truth. She is to testify against 10 men  most of them elderly, all with long criminal records  accused of kidnapping and robbing her on the night of 3 October 2016.

Twelve suspects were originally charged. One has since died, and another was excused due to illness. The French press dubbed them les papys braqueurs  the grandpa robbers  but prosecutors insist they are anything but harmless retirees. All deny the allegations. More than $10m (7.5m) worth of jewellery was stolen during what would be dubbed the heist of the century  a brazen and violent attack that took place inside Kardashians luxury hotel room just before 3am, during her visit to Paris for Fashion Week.

The crime  along with its aftermath  was brutal. Kardashian tells the court she was held at gunpoint and, fearing sexual assault, began saying a prayer.

The Parisian court is still as she describes in detail the horrors that she says changed her life almost a decade ago: after demanding her $4m, 18.88-carat engagement ring and locating her jewellery box, they tied her first with zip ties, then duct tape, she told the court, while she became hysterical. She was naked under her robe as one man pulled her legs towards him on the bed, she said; she began saying a prayer to prepare herself to be raped.

open image in gallery A sketch of Kim Kardashian as she testifies in court on 13 May ( Reuters )

"The robe opens up and everything is exposed on my bottom half," she says. "I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me. I was on the bed and the other one had the gun up to me, and at that point I was certain that was when they were going to shoot me and it was over.

She turned to the concierge  the only person she knew spoke English in the room  and begged him, Please translate for them. Tell them I have babies, I have to get home. The men fled as quickly as they arrived after dumping Kardashian in the bathroom of her suite, and scooted over to the sink, she told the court, which was made from marble with an iron leg. I went to try and get the tape off by rubbing it on the metal, she said.

Yet, once the ordeal was over, another began: in the days after the robbery, Kardashian found herself in the firing line  this time from the public. After police claimed that her frequent social media updates, posted in real time, aided the accused in carrying out their plan, the influencer found herself publicly dismissed and victim-blamed for creating a blueprint by her own broadcast.

In the days after the break-in even the likes of Karl Lagerfeld suggested she had been too public  yet, as Kardashian told the court on Tuesday afternoon, I never thought in my wildest dreams that me posting something would be an invitation for someone to come and take something. Others accused her of staging the entire thing as a stunt for her reality TV show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians (or KUWTK)  something which, again, she was forced to address in court yesterday.

At the time, the consensus was as cold as it was harsh: the court of public opinion appeared to deem that anyone as wealthy as Kim Kardashian had no right to complain about being robbed of jewellery; that anyone as willing to put their life up for public consumption should expect as much. People like Kardashian  deemed too vacuous for sympathy, too sexual for seriousness  signed up for this swathes of the public declared, as the news stories broke. It speaks volumes that one of her attackers, Yunice Abbass, sought to capitalise on the obvious lack of sympathy elicited initially by writing a book, crudely titled I kidnapped Kim Kardashian in 2021.

Nine years later she faced Abbass, along with the other nine defendants, for the first time, sitting just feet away from them in court yesterday. Of course, it was always going to be a hearing unlike most others: the mere image of it  of Skims founder Kardashian clasping her hands at a lectern under impossibly high ceilings and giant, gilded Neoclassical paintings inside Paris historic Cour DAppel  is nothing but surreal.

The media circus that rolled into town for a taste  more than one hundred journalists queued outside the court from as early as 6am, all camera-clad and clutching lanyards  could see it a mile off. The fans queued in grand corridors near to where the hearing was being held, equally transfixed. But it wasnt the celebrity expected to appear that made this would-be show-trial feel remarkable  it was the woman behind that.

You will undoubtedly already have an opinion on Kim Kardashian, as everybody does  even if that opinion is that youre not interested in having an opinion on Kim Kardashian. Since 2007, when KUWTK  a series chronicling the lives of Kardashian and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, along with their half-sisters Kendal and Kylie Jenner  she has been all but public property and, more to the point, completely unavoidable.

Her rise and rise to fame was meteoric and unflappable, yet one of the most Googled things about her remains, what is Kim Kardashian famous for?. Those who adore her say accusations that she is shallow miss the point of her genius  that commodifying her life and selling it as assets is simply good business acumen. Her marriages, first to Damon Thomas, then Kris Humphries and, finally, most famously, to Kanye West in 2014, only seemed to fortify the flashy public narrative that has followed her around ever since. Her image has continually complicated her narrative  press material was reportedly issued during the trial that praised her Samer Halimeh diamond necklace, for example  Kardashian has repeatedly appeared to acknowledge the obvious contradictions head on.

open image in gallery Almost immediately after the robbery, Kardashian was publicly dismissed and dehumanised ( AFP/Getty )

In fact, over the years shes embraced it, often calling herself an underdog, appearing to playfully enjoy others trivialisation of her. After the robbery, Kardashian declared her interest in the law, following in the footsteps of her father, Robert Kardashian, who famously defended OJ Simpson. Much to her critics surprise, she passed the California state bar exam. On Tuesday, she told a roomful of barristers that she too now works in justice system reform, explaining that she regularly fights for victims who have been through horrific crimes and who just want to be heard and understood.

Its true: in recent years shes advocated for and helped secure the release of multiple people from prison. On Tuesday she even found empathy for the alleged ringleader of the gang who orchestrated the attack on her, who had written her a letter expressing his regret. I appreciate the letter, for sure, I forgive you, she said, looking at 68-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache. But it doesnt change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed. But I do appreciate the letter, thank you.

It was another surreal moment in a series of them at the Palais de Justice. At 8.45am, the only female defendant, Christiane Cathy Glotin, 78, casually strolls past me at security; during an afternoon break another, Marc Boyer, dressed in Nike trainers and a beaded necklace, who is accused of supplying the weapon used to threaten Kardashian, jumps the line at an overworked coffee vending machine by court Voltaire. Most of the accused wore surgical masks to try and conceal their identity to roam about the court building, but their presence was keenly (and bizarrely) felt  it seemed unfathomable that a group of men charged with such serious, violent crime had been free to roam about  free to write books  while awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, Kardashian told the court, for her freedom is something of the past.

Paris was always a place I loved so much, she said yesterday, I used to walk around the city when I woke up in the middle of the night, or early in the morning Id take walks around the city, and always felt really safe. Now, it only harbours trauma. Since the robbery took place she "cant sleep at night" without "multiple security". "I need between four and six night security for me to feel safe," she explained; she no longer trusts drivers, her jewellery taken off before she arrives home and stored in a separate location; when staying in hotels, she has guards staying outside her door.

I think that that moment changed her life forever, Simone Harouche, Kardashians lifelong friend and stylist, who was staying downstairs from her in the same hotel when the robbery occurred, testified a few hours earlier. I think that it changed for both of us, but I think particularly for her, her loss of freedom  She now has a completely different lifestyle.

In terms of security, she cant go  she doesnt go  alone to places any more. To lose your sense of freedom is horrible. The robbery was a reckoning not just for Kardashian but for digital security as a whole. Across the board managers began advising their clients to delay posts on social media, concealing their real time location, and questions about visibility, blame and the price of celebrity began to surface. Kardashians victimhood became not a given, but a point of debate.

There was no doubt of it in Paris Tuesday. Kardashian wore a power-shouldered John Galliano skirt suit according to Vogue, and her hair neatly tied back  not too formal, but not too feminine either; a balancing act that most female victims will recognise from afar. For the most part, save for the occasions when she wiped away tears, she was controlled in how she spoke  I dont want to answer because Im not absolutely certain, she says a couple of times  but theres also no hiding the horror of her account of the night in question. [It] changed my life and it changed my familys life, Kardashian told the captivated court. She looked straight ahead, at the president judge when she said, I absolutely did think I was going to die.

open image in gallery Kardashian waves to fans in Paris ahead of her witness testimony on Tuesday ( AFP/Getty )

After four hours on the stand, Kardashian left court yesterday having told her truth and, finally, she said drawing a line under the incident. This is my closure, she told the court. This is me putting this, hopefully, to rest. In the decade since the robbery, a lot has changed  #MeToo reframed how we talk about violence against women, more recently, in another French court, Giselle Pelicot redefined victimhood. Yesterday, Kardashian appeared in Paris not as a celebrity, but as a woman wanting to be heard, who deserves praise for facing down her attackers this week.

The trial will continue in Paris  its expected to go on until May 28  when a verdict will decide the fate of the ten men accused of robbery and kidnapping the star. Whatever the outcome may be at the Palais de Justice, perhaps her testimony might provide a lesson for the court of public opinion: not to underestimate Kim Kardashian and certainly never to dismiss her.
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A major seismic swarm of earthquakes has hit Italys Naples region, causing panicked residents to flee into the streets for the third time in a year.

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck the volcanic area of Campi Flegrei around Naples in southern Italy at 12.07 pm, at a depth of three kilometres, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. It was preceded by two earthquakes of a 2.1 magnitude and followed by a 3.5 quake 15 minutes later.

The tremors were felt in Naples and neighbouring Pozzuoli. The mayor of Pozzuoli, Gigi Manzoni, described the succession of earthquakes as a major seismic swarm, adding: I immediately ordered all local police patrols to take to the streets.

[These are] strong earthquakes that inevitably scared the population. I invite everyone to calm down, to stay in open places, these are moments of great learning.

An elderly woman living in the Campi Flegrei area described hearing a very loud bang as the earthquakes started.

open image in gallery A resident of Bagnoli, southern Italy, exmaines the damage caused by an earthquake in March ( EPA )

Rita, 83, told Italian outlet Rai: I heard a loud bang and then the floor wouldn't stop moving. First, there was a milder shock, then a very strong one. Glasses and flower holders fell.

Schools were evacuated as a precaution, with Mr Manzoni announcing that he had ordered local authorities to inspect the schools for any damage. I demanded maximum accuracy and timeliness, he said. The safety of our kids comes first.

The Naples metro and the city's cable car were also temporarily suspended. There have been no reports of injuries.

It was the third time in a year that the area had been hit by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake.

In March, an earthquake lasting around 20 seconds shook the area in the early hours, injuring multiple people.

Firefighters worked through the night to rescue panicked residents, pulling an injured woman from the rubble of her home after the ceiling collapsed in Pozzuoli.

Elsewhere in the neighbouring Bagnoli district, rescuers freed trapped residents, while others climbed out of their windows, news agency ANSA reported.

open image in gallery Debris lies in the street following an earthquake in March in Bagnoli ( EPA )

Last May, another quake hit the city of the same magnitude. It was the strongest earthquake in the area in four decades.

The area is Europes largest active caldera. The hollow was created after the volcanic eruption of Campi Flegrei roughly 40,000 years ago, which was the most powerful in the Mediterranean to date.

It stretches from the outskirts of Naples into the sea, measuring some 7.4 by 9.3 miles. The area is populated by 500,000 people.

There was a mass evacuation of Pozzuoli in the early 1980s following a resurgence of seismic activity.

Specialists, nonetheless, maintain that a full-blown eruption in the near future remains unlikely.
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Germany has launched a major crackdown on the country's largest Reich citizen group, Kingdom of Germany, banning the far-right extremist organisation and conducting raids across multiple states.

Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt described the group as a "counter-state" operating within Germany, built on criminal financial structures and fuelled by antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Hundreds of security personnel were deployed early Tuesday to search properties associated with the group and the homes of its leading members.

The Reich citizen movement, or Reichsburger, rejects the legitimacy of the modern German state, clinging to the belief that the historical German Reich persists. This denial extends to the country's democratic institutions, laws, and courts, with members often refusing to pay taxes, social security contributions, or fines.

The movement has also been described as neo-Nazi, holding similar ideas and having many members with links to Germanys illegal neo-Nazi groups.

open image in gallery German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt ( Getty Images )

The members of this association have created a counter-state in our country and built up economic criminal structures, Mr Dobrindt said, adding that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives  a behavior that the country cannot tolerate.

We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order, the minister added.

The so-called Kingdom of Germany was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement. It claims to be a counter-state that seceded from the German federal government.

The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes.

It's not the first time that Germany acts against the Reichsburger movement.

In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States.

Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germanys government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
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The United Nations aviation council ruled that Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight which killed 289 people nearly 11 years ago.

The Boeing 777 aircraft was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur at an altitude of 33,000 feet on 17 July 2014 when it was allegedly shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine. Intense fighting was going on at the time between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

Flight MH17 crashed near the Ukrainian village of Hrabove, killing all 298 passengers and crew members on board. Among the victims were 196 Dutch citizens, 38 Australians, 10 Britons, as well as Belgians and Malaysians.

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ruled on Monday that Russia "failed to uphold its obligations under international air law in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17".

Agreeing with claims brought by Australia and the Netherlands that Russia shot down the passenger jet, the council said their accusations were well founded in fact and in law.

The council said that it would consider what form of reparation was in order as Russia continued to deny responsibility for the air disaster.

open image in gallery Dutch judge Hendrik Steenhuis views reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 at the Gilze-Rijen military airbase ( AFP via Getty )

The decision is an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones," Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said after Monday's ruling. This decision also sends a clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity."

The Netherlands and Australia now wanted the council to order Russia to start negotiations on reparations, Mr Veldkamp added.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong demanded Russia finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct.

open image in gallery MH17 wreckage is seen in a field in Donetsk region on 23 July 2014 ( AFP via Getty )

In 2022, a Dutch court convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian of murder in absentia for their alleged role in the crash. They were sentenced to life in prison, but Moscow called the ruling "scandalous" and said it would not extradite its citizens.

The Dutch government spent more than 158m dealing with the aftermath of the airliners downing from repatriating bodies of the victims to investigating and prosecuting those responsible.

In 2023, a team of investigators from the Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine, Malaysia and Belgium said there were "strong indications" that Russian president Vladimir Putin signed off on a decision to supply the missile that downed the aircraft.
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Volodymyr Zelensky has thrown down the gauntlet  and is calling Vladimir Putins bluff  by announcing he will indeed be in Turkey on Thursday for direct talks on a ceasefire.

To add further intrigue to what is already extraordinary encounter, if it happens at all, Donald Trump has now suggested he may fly into Tukey as well, if it would be helpful.

Over the weekend, Putin effectively rejected the Ukrainian presidents call for 30-day unconditional truce, which is backed by Sir Keir Starmer, the leaders of France, Germany and Poland (who were all in Ukraine) as well as members of the 31-country coalition of the willing.

The month-long break from fighting was designed, Zelensky said, as the foundation for diplomacy to allow talks for a longer deal. It was supposed to be a continuation of a three-day temporary truce that Putin had initially called, but which expired on Sunday.

Never one to be cajoled, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday, launching 108 attack drones from six directions, Ukraines air force said.

And instead of pausing fighting, Putin called for direct peace talks to be held on 15 May in Istanbul, brokered by his frenemy, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

We can only assume Putin expected his spanner-in-the-works suggestion to be rejected by Zelensky.

But the Ukrainian leader stepped up to the challenge  particularly after Donald Trump cast doubt on Ukraines interest in a peace deal, ending a social media post over the weekend with HAVE THE MEETING NOW!!!

I will be in Turkey this Thursday, 15 May, and I expect Putin to come to Turkey as well, personally, Zelensky said bluntly on Monday.

I hope that this time, Putin wont be looking for excuses as to why he cant make it. We are ready to talk, to end this war. Thursday. Turkey.

Zelenskys most trusted confidante and chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, goaded Moscow on his own Telegram channel, adding: What about Putin? Is he afraid? Well see.

open image in gallery Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, French president Emmanuel Macron and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer tour the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine, after they attended a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing at the presidential palace ( PA )

If this encounter goes ahead, it would be the first meeting between Putin and Zelensky since December 2019.

The question is: will Putin travel to Istanbul, and could this be a final breakthrough? And if talks begin, will Russia agree to a halt in fighting during the process, as Ukraine and its European allies have called for?

As EU Commission vice-president Kaja Kallas said over the weekend: If there is no ceasefire, there cannot be talks under fire.

There may well be an empty chair moment, where Putin does not show up himself  or another scenario where he sends his foreign insider Sergey Lavrov.

The Kremlin has been making positive noises: they said a call between Putin and Erdogan showed the Turkish leader fully supported the Russian proposal and is ready to provide a platform for the talks and assistance in organising them.

Turkey itself appears committed. In a separate phone call to French president Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, Erdogan said a historic turning point had been reached in efforts to end the war, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office.

Turkey may be well placed as a key negotiator to end the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War.

Erdogan has a domestic interest in making it work and presenting himself as a vital world statesman, as he seeks a constitutional amendment to remove term limits and allow him to run for office again  which, according to some reports, is not that popular in Turkey.

He has taken opposing sides to Russia in several bloody conflicts from the Middle East to North Africa. But he is also increasingly in an alliance of convenience with Moscow, as the axis of the excluded from the West, where they share a mutual grievance over being isolated from Europe.

Turkey, meanwhile, also has good relations with Ukraine. Turkish-made Bayraktar drones delivered to Ukraines military were a game-changer at the start of the war, helping to thwart Russian armoured vehicles and artillery systems. They became so popular that a radio station was named after them, and there were even reported incidents of people naming their pets after the weapon. The drones manufacturer, Baykar  owned by the family of one of Erdogans sons-in-law  began constructing a manufacturing plant in Ukraine last year that is expected to be completed this summer.

open image in gallery A resident stands next to a damaged home after Russian shelling in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine ( AFP/Getty )

Pressure is on Putin to do something. On Saturday, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland threatened Russia with new sanctions if the proposed 30-day truce was violated  though it is unclear what firepower they are able to muster on that front in the near term.

The UK has led the charge, with foreign secretary David Lammy saying on Monday, No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays, after Starmers latest visit to Ukraine.

Also on Monday, Germany warned the clock is ticking and European countries will start prepping new sanctions against Russian within hours unless the Kremlin starts abiding by the extended ceasefire plan by the close of play.

President Trump also pressured Ukraine to attend the Turkey meeting IMMEDIATELY, adding on Truth Social that at least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!

All eyes will be on the gathering in Istanbul on Thursday  to see if Trump really does show up and whether the other seat next to Zelensky will indeed be filled.
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The chances of a breakthrough for peace in Ukraine have dropped after Moscow sent a low-level team to negotiate with a Kyiv delegation in Turkey.

Two days ago, the prospect of a three-way meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had raised hopes of a major step forward in the negotiations.

But then, the Kremlin revealed that Putin wouldnt be attending and the Russian delegation would instead be led by his aide, Vladimir Medinsky. Soon afterwards, Trump confirmed he would not be travelling to Istanbul - and said there will be no peace in Ukraine before he and Mr Putin get together.

Despite the presidential no-shows, delegations from Kyiv and Moscow are meeting in Turkey on Friday for the first direct talks since March 2022.

It comes amid a backdrop of Russias repeated rejection of Ukraines calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, insisting that its maximalist demands, which include the effective ending of Ukraines sovereignty, have not been addressed.

The return of Trump to the White House has forced the two sides to the negotiating table, after more than three years of war and around a million people killed or wounded, but their differences appear still to be irreconcilable.

What have Trump, Putin and Zelensky said?

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky said he was in Turkey to meet with Putin on Thursday ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have found themselves in a diplomatic standoff over the proposed direct talks.

After Putin called for direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow over the weekend, Mr Zelensky said he was ready to meet face-to-face with the Russian president in Istanbul.

Then on Wednesday night, an official list of delegates was released: Adviser Vladimir Medinsky; deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin, who took part in the last talks held between the two sides in 2022 in the weeks following Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbour; and Igor Kostyukov, director of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the GRU, Russia's Foreign Military Intelligence Agency. Putins name was absent.

The Ukrainian president was the most vocal about attending. He wrote on social media earlier this week that he supported Trumps calls for direct talks with Putin, and flew to Ankara for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan while challenging Putin to meet with him.

I am here, we are ready for direct negotiations, he said in a press conference on Thursday. Kyiv insists that Putin is the only decision-maker in Moscow.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has decided to return to the US ( REUTERS )

Donald Trump, who had first proposed the face-to-face meeting between the leaders who last met in 2019, said earlier he was thinking about flying over.

But on Friday, shortly before returning to Washington after a three-nation tour of the Middle East, Trump said he knew Putin would only have gone if he did.

I said, you know, they all said Putin was going, Zelensky was going. And I said, If I don't go, I guarantee Putin [wont be] going, Trump said, but added it was time for us to just do it and get a ceasefire worked out.

Weve got to get it done. 5000 young people are being killed every single week on average, and we're going to get it done.

Who is confirmed to be attending?

The highly anticipated talks to settle the war in Ukraine are being held at the Dolmabahce Palace in Turkey.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio is in Turkey for a critical day of international diplomacy, but he wont be playing a direct role in the talks.

Instead, Michael Anton, the US director for policy planning, will represent the US in talks between Ukraine and Russia, a US state department spokesperson has told the BBC.

open image in gallery US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, centre, and members of the Ukrainian delegation attending a meeting at the Presidential Office in Istanbul ( EPA )

Its another blow for Mr Zelensky, who had hoped that by sending a higher-level delegation defence minister Rustem Umerov than the Russian side - and offering to meet Putin directly - would reveal to Washington that Moscow is not serious about peace.

The White House appears to have accepted Moscows decision not to send a high-level delegation to the talks, itself sending a lower-level representative into the room.

Mr Zelensky has tasked defence minister Rustem Umerov to lead the Ukrainian delegation would be sent to Ukraine.

The Russian team is being led by former culture minister and presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, accompanied by the deputy defence and foreign ministers and the director of Russias foreign military intelligence agency.

A source from the Turkish foreign ministry confirmed that talks would unfold in different formats, with trilateral meetings between Ukraine, Russia and Turkey scheduled, as well as separate discussions involving the US, Ukraine and Turkey.

Trump said he still planned to meet up with Putin as soon as we can set it up.

What are the chances of a deal to end the war?

open image in gallery Ukrainian servicemen fire an Archer self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a position in Zaporizhzhia region ( Reuters )

Few are optimistic about the talks. While the Trump administration says it is positive that the two countries are sitting down for talks after three years, the reality of their irreconcilable positions remains.

Putin insists that Ukraine must effectively disarm, abandon its bid to join Nato, and cede four regions, including parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson that are not controlled by Russia.

Ukraine and its Western allies insist that this amounts to attempts to remove the countrys sovereignty and leave Kyiv weakened while facing the possibility of a second Russian invasion.

Moscow also wants Ukraine to recognise the Crimean peninsula as Russian, a red line that Kyiv says it will never do. Putin illegally annexed the peninsula, which borders Russia in the Black Sea, in 2014 following pro-European and pro-democracy protests on mainland Ukraine.

Ukraines European partners, including the UK, have insisted that Russia must agree to a ceasefire before any truce is negotiated. If Putin refuses, they will slap additional sanctions on Moscow.

Russia has responded by saying it will not respond to threats.

The last face-to-face peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, held in Turkey in March 2022, broke down without any agreement.

Russia also declined to renew a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations to allow Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea in the summer of 2023, a year after it was agreed.

There have been dozens of ceasefires and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in the wake of Putins initial invasion in 2014 after the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. None of them materialised into a substantial agreement.
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An out-of-control Russian spacecraft has probably plummeted to Earth, after 53 years stuck in orbit, experts say.

In recent weeks, the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 has been making an uncontrolled approach towards Earth. Experts have been tracking it since  though they noted that it was very unlikely that it would land over a populated era.

Now, the European Space Agency and others say the spacecraft has most likely hit the Earth. It was not spotted on its most recent pass over radar in Germany, the agency said, and predictions based on its orbit and previous location suggest that it would probably have already fallen to Earth.

As of Saturday morning, the US Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecrafts demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit.

But it remains unclear when and where exactly it dropped down.

The spacecraft was originally made to land on Venus, and was built to survive the extreme atmosphere there.

open image in gallery The Kosmos 482 lander probe ( NASA )

But it was hit by technical problems during its launch, and got stuck in orbit around Earth. For the 53 years since, it has been floating around our planet until its orbit collided with the Earth.

Since the spacecraft was made to land on the hot and high-pressure planet of Venus, experts have speculated that it could have survived the descent through Earths atmosphere, rather than breaking up like many other uncontrolled descents.

But experts said it was likely to come down over water, covering most of the world, or a desolate region.

The odds of it slamming into a populated area are infinitesimally small, said University of Colorado Boulder scientist Marcin Pilinski.

While we can anticipate that most of this object will not burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry, it may be severely damaged on impact, Mr Pilinski said.

By Friday, all indications pointed to a re-entry early on Saturday morning, US Eastern Time, give or take several hours.

While space debris trackers around the world converged in their forecasts, it was still too soon to know exactly when and where the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 would come down.

That uncertainty was due to potential solar activity and the spacecrafts old condition.

Its parachutes were expected to be useless by now and its batteries long dead.

open image in gallery It was thought highly unlikely that the spacecraft would land in a populated area ( PA )

Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek estimated the impact speed at 150mph if the spacecraft remains intact.

The Soviets launched Kosmos 482 in 1972, intending to send it to Venus to join other spacecraft in their Venera programme.

But a rocket malfunction left this one stuck in orbit around Earth.

Gravity kept tugging on it and was expected to finally cause its doom.

Spherical in shape, the spacecraft  3ft (one metre) across and packing more than 1,000lb (495kg)  will be the last piece of Kosmos 482 to fall from the sky.

All the other parts plummeted within a decade.

Any surviving wreckage will belong to Russia under a United Nations treaty.
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International travel spending in the United States is projected to fall by $12.5 billion, or seven per cent, in 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

WTTC CEO Julia Simpson said the unpopular policies from the administration of President Donald Trump, fear of being stopped at the border and an unfavourable exchange rate had pushed international tourists towards alternative destinations.

"Of 184 countries, the U.S. is the only one that's seeing an absolute decline in international visitor spending," Simpson said.

"The U.S. is definitely losing its crown in this area."

The U.S. is the largest travel and tourism economy globally, she said. However, international visitor spending in the country is projected to fall under $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion in 2024 and 22 per cent below its previous peak in 2019.

open image in gallery International travellers fear being stopped at the border ( Getty )

A strong dollar, which makes U.S. vacations more expensive, caused a decline in foreign travel spending in the country in 2024, Simpson said, but now politics and worries about crossing the border were also weighing on U.S. visitation figures.

In March, Germany updated its U.S. travel advisory to emphasise that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry after several Germans were detained at the border.

The Trump administration requires all foreigners 14 or older to register and submit fingerprints if they stay beyond 30 days. This includes Canadians, who previously could visit for up to six months without a visa.

"The rest of the world are putting up open signs and getting people to come and see their country," Simpson said. "The U.S. at the minute has firmly got a 'we're not open for business, closed' sign, which is a great shame."

open image in gallery The Trump administration requires all foreigners 14 or older to register and submit fingerprints if they stay beyond 30 days ( AFP/Getty )

While 90 per cent of U.S. travel and tourism spending comes from domestic tourists, Canadian travellers spend three times more on U.S. vacations than Americans, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Overseas visitors spend seven to eight times more than U.S. travellers.

Travel from Canada and Mexico, the largest source of inbound visitors to the U.S., is down about 20 per cent year-over-year, the organisation said. Visits from British, German and South Korean travellers are also trending lower.

Overall, overseas travel to the U.S. fell about 12 per cent year-over-year in March but rose 8 per cent in April, according to data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.
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As we crossed the Keswick Bridge into the rolling hills outside Inverness, green fields of early-spring barley still had months to grow until harvest. The grain will be sent to a nearby malting factory and eventually made into whisky at some of Scotlands 150-plus distilleries.

Interspersed among the barley fields were yellow rows of flowering rapeseed, used to make cooking oil, and herds of grazing sheep that seemed to outnumber people.

It was a tableau I thought would have been the same for a thousand years. But rapeseed only started to be planted in the 1970s, and at one point there were a lot more people than sheep, said my guide, Cath Findlay.

During the tumultuous hundred years of the Highland Clearance, landowners kicked out most of the tenants and replaced them with sheep, which were more valuable to them than people, Findlay said.

open image in gallery The Greig Street Bridge appears over the River Ness in Inverness ( Albert Stumm via AP )

At the time, the British government were fighting all over the world, and they needed wool for uniforms and meat for their soldiers, she said. So in much of the Highlands, we see that its hilly, and there are lots of sheep.

The history lesson resonated because it was obvious throughout my week in Scotland that the past is very much present. But Inverness and its environs are hardly stuck in the past.

Small, but thriving

Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands, a rugged, windswept region of northwest Scotland. The small but thriving city, one of the fastest-growing in the United Kingdom, is best known as the jumping-off point for mystical monster hunters attracted by the legend of Loch Ness.

Read more: What to do and see on the Isle of Mull

In recent years, however, its carving out an international identity beyond whisky, Nessie and tartan plaid, though there still is plenty of that too.

The centre of town can be crossed on foot in a leisurely 15 minutes. Overlooking a cliff at one end, the red sandstone Inverness Castle was covered in scaffolding when I visited this spring. A renovation to turn it into an interactive attraction focused on stories of the Highlands is expected to finish this year.

Right in the centre is the recently refurbished Victorian Market, a once bustling hall that was on the verge of closing anyway when the Covid lockdown arrived.

open image in gallery The entrance to the renovated Victorian Market, hosting over 30 independent businesses ( Albert Stumm via AP )

Read more: Where to stay on an Edinburgh break

Town leaders took advantage of the moment to breathe new life into it. The market now includes a mix of craft stores, cafes, jewellery shops, barbers and one remaining butcher (try their meat pies, which Findlay said are better than homemade).

The seafood market was replaced with a lively food hall, with the acclaimed Bad Girls Bakery as its first tenant. Following soon were innovative but affordable seafood at The Redshank, pulled meat at Ollies Pops, vegan at Salt N Fire, and more.

Now, there is live music every day and 75,000 people pass through the market during busier weeks, nearly the size of the population of the entire city.

It was dead as a doornail, and now its the beating heart of the town, Findlay said.

Just up Church Street, the main drag, The Walrus and Corkscrew opened soon after as the towns only wine bar. And nearby at Black Isle Bar, wood-fired pizzas come paired with one of 24 organic beers that the owners brew on their own farm just outside town.

A story with your meal

In the nearby village of Beauly, the Downright Gabbler guesthouse has four suites and a full-time storyteller.

Garry Coutts and his wife, Jane Cumming, opened with a small dining room and their daughter Kristy as chef. Its not a restaurant, exactly, but they hold several themed events each week that combine Coutts encyclopaedic knowledge of Scottish history and legend with their daughters modern take on traditional dishes.

Read more: Best hotels in Glasgow for location and style

Among the events is the regularly held Highland Banquet, six courses that trace the regions people from prehistory to modern times. Venison carpaccio with pickled blackberries, for instance, was inspired by hunter-gatherers, although Coutts noted they ate much more seafood and foraged vegetables than deer.

Theyre very difficult to catch, Coutts quipped. They run away!

open image in gallery Garry Coutts and his wife, Jane Cumming appear outside of their at their guest house and restaurant, Downright Gabbler, in Beauly ( Albert Stumm via AP )

The courses unfolded with stories peppered throughout, ranging from some illegal origins of Johnnie Walkers whisky blends to the couples distaste for Las Vegas. Also on the table was a deck of cards, each printed with the name of a prominent Scot to be drawn at random for a story told on the fly.

I pulled Alexander Graham Bell, who likely holds the record for having the most challenges from competitors for patent infringement, Coutts said.

Its amazing the number of Americans that come in here and tell me hes not Scottish, he said.

Where to stay

Lodgings include the Ness Walk Hotel, a modern, five-star property a 20-minute walk from the centre.

Another good option is the Heathmount Hotel, a cosy, independent, three-star option within a 10-minute walk of Church Street.

Travellers tip

For such a small town, there is a shocking amount of live music. Performers attract crowds at Hootananny and The Highlander every night, and most nights at MacGregors, among other spots.

Find more information on visitscotland.com.

Albert Stumm writes about travel, food and wellness. Find his work at www.albertstumm.com.

Read more: An under-the-radar Scottish road trip
Video released by the Metropolitan Police shows Bulgarian spy ringleader Orlin Roussev denying any James Bond activity to officers.

Roussev was one of six Bulgarians jailed on Monday after being convicted of spying for Russia.

I will be thrilled to see how on Gods Earth there is a connection between me and Russia or any other state, because I havent been a spy or a government agency employee for a state or states, he tells officers in the video.

There was no James Bond activity on my end, I guarantee it, he adds.
For President Donald Trump, accepting a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar is a no-brainer.

But Trumps plan threatens to turn a global symbol of American power into an airborne collection of ethical, legal, security and counterintelligence concerns.

Trump tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he would donate the plane to a future presidential library after his term ends. Democrats are united in outrage over the plan.

Even some of the Republican presidents allies have expressed concerns.
He made his call and then it was up to me to make my call and I did  Joey OBrien on decision to take over from Damien Duff and nervy win over Cork
Its not about the money, its just having to do it all again  home that had 600,000 Room to Improve makeover is damaged in blaze
US technology giant Microsoft is moving to cut as much as 3pc of its global workforce, with more than 100 jobs in Ireland understood to be at risk.

The global business employs around 4,000 people in Ireland, mostly at Microsoft itself, with around 2,000 at LinkedIn. Both businesses have their European headquarters in Ireland. LinkedIn only recently moved into a new Irish campus in the swish Wilton Park office development in Dublin this year.
Today the National Association for Business Economics and the Central Bank will co-host an International Economic Symposium at the banks headquarters in Dublins docklands.

Organised around the theme of Trade, Technology, and Policy: The Changing Dynamics of Growth, it will look at the challenges facing the US and EU economies. Speakers include Adriana Kugler, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
I wont wait for agreement from farm organisations on TB overhaul  Minister Martin Heydon

Agriculture Minister vows to push ahead with programme reforms with or without consensus

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon says he is ready to show leadership in reforming the TB eradication programme. Photo: Denis Byrne

Ciaran Moran Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon warned he will not wait for consensus from farm orgs before pushing ahead with reforms to Irelands failing bovine TB eradication programme, and described controversial plans to display the disease risk status of farmers herds at marts as a gaping hole if not implemented.
US beef could be served in London restaurants without diners knowing under trade deal, warns farming boss

With supermarkets unlikely to break rank with their British suppliers, imported US beef may end up in food service

The agreement allows for 13,000 tonnes of American beef to be exported to the UK, with the same amount of British beef eligible to go in the opposite direction. Photo: Getty Images

Nicholas Cecil Evening Standard Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

US beef imported into Britain under the new trade deal could be served in restaurants in London and other parts of the country without diners knowing, a farming boss is warning.
Mans prosecution over claims he harassed ex-wife paused due to legal challenge

Accused claims his former lawyer warned him that gardai had killed people before for contesting charges and he was advised to plead guilty

The Four Courts in Dublin. Photo: Collins

Shane Phelan Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

A High Court judge has paused the finalisation of a criminal prosecution in which a man pleaded guilty to harassing his ex-wife and her parents, pending the outcome of a legal challenge.
Owners of the Ford Kuga have been warned not to charge its battery until an update its made due to a technical fault with the battery.

Ford said only a small number of vehicles worldwide have reported an issue with battery thermal venting, with no reported issues in Ireland.

Lisa Brankin, Chair and Managing Director of Ford of Britain and Ireland said: To all of our affected customers, were really sorry that an issue has occurred with the Ford Kuga PHEV battery.

"Our engineers are working closely with the supplier of the affected part, and are putting all of their resources into perfecting a software update to remedy the issue.

Ms Brankin said the software update will be available within 10-15 days and will give the Battery Energy Control Module enhanced capability to detect cell anomalies indicative of separator damage.

It will also provide advanced warning to owners of a high-voltage battery issue before thermal venting occurs.

In the event of anomaly detection, dealers will replace the vehicles high voltage battery pack, the company said.

Ford is asking all Kuga PHEV drivers to use their cars in Auto EV mode and avoid charging until the software update is installed by their Ford dealer and completed.

It said resolving this issue speedily and expertly is its priority, and it will continue to monitor vehicles in operation while engineers and software teams work on the issue.

If customers have any concerns about their Kuga PHEV, they can contact their local dealership for reassurance, and to book in for a complimentary Kuga PHEV Check-Up* to reassure them that the vehicle is safe and road-worthy when in Auto EV mode.

Ford said it also extending the warranty for high voltage components to 10 year/240,000km, covering the high voltage battery, for all affected Kuga PHEVs in Europe.

If customers require further assistance or would like to discuss how they are being affected by this recall notification, they can contact Fords customer relationship team on 1800 771 199 between 9am and 5pm.

Ford is committed to bringing a great lineup of hybrid and electric vehicles to market in Ireland helping to serve our customers needs, reduce emissions and being there for our dealers and communities long into the future, the automobile company said.

"We are committed to resolving this issue as quickly as possible for our customers and thank you for your patience and trust in us.
The Government will seek to attract academics and university lecturers to Ireland under a new scheme which would use state funds to boost their salaries.

The initiative aims to take advantage of the brain drain from the US where Donald Trumps regime is threatening dozens of colleges and universities.

Higher Education Minister James Lawless will today seek cabinet approval for a Global Talent Initiative which aims to pump millions of euro into bringing academics to Ireland.

He would deploy a hit squad of academic talent scouts, or talent attaches around the world, with a focus on recruiting in the areas of research and innovation, medical technology, renewables and food technology.

The initiative would seek to attract global talent with attractive packages, including pay, with the Government agreeing to contribute up to half of salaries offered by third-level institutions.

It comes as Mr Trump strips billions of dollars in research grants from educational institutions. The US government is seeking to dictate what subjects and topics are taught, and to influence hiring decisions.

James Lawless (PA)

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Education Minister Helen McEntee will also tell her cabinet colleagues today that students will face less Leaving Cert stress and pressure from September.

Insisting she is delivering meaningful reform, Ms McEntee said more than 70,000 students will benefit from changes to reduce the pressure on students that come from final exams.

But the Irish Independent understands the initial moves for the next academic year only involve the provision of sample papers for students better understanding of what they will be faced with, allied to better supports for teachers and schools.

Last month, Ms McEntee invited teacher unions the ASTI and TUI to join intensive engagement regarding what further supports could be provided for schools and teachers in the senior cycle.

She is offering new arrangements for teachers to secure permanent contracts earlier; a reconfiguration of the Croke Park Agreement hours for extra flexibility; and additional posts of responsibility in schools.

The package also contains confirmation on how the local-bargaining clause of the Public Sector Agreement can be satisfied by post-primary teachers in return for salary increases under the agreement. The unions will now ballot their members on this package with results expected early next month.
The audit report into possibly unnecessary hip operations on children could be published "sooner than you think", the Taoiseach has told the Dail.

It could also be that "the implications are disturbing", he added, amid new claims that the Irish operation rate was five to ten times higher than in other countries.

Micheal Martin was commenting after disclosure of the drafting of an Action Plan that could see thousands of hip dysplasia cases examined.

Read more Probe into childrens hip surgery scandal could look back 15 years

"No-one is stalling or refusing information," Mr Martin said, after Sinn Fein accused him of refusing to issue basic information.

Despite a draft audit report having leaked, the Taoiseach said its publication was pending immediately, telling the House that the necessary clinical replies to the draft had now been received.

"The fundamental point is that no-one is ducking and diving, or dodging anything," he said, saying the independent auditor had to be allowed to formally report.

There was thus "no final timeline" for publication, "but it may be sooner than you think," he said.

But Peadar Toibin of Aontu said there was an urgency to make the report public as soon as possible. He added that he had accompanied his own child into an operating theatre for an unrelated procedure.

"I saw the fear in his eyes as I left the theatre. You can imagine the fury of parents who left their children in such circumstances," he said, if it turned out the surgery was not warranted.

Any operation could have resulted in harm, such as through infection, while giving any child a general anaesthetic was a risk.

He said the rate of operating on children in Ireland was "five to ten times more" than would be indicated in equivalent populations.

Mr Martin said he appreciated that the absence of information could "compound anxiety" for parents. After publication, an action plan would be implemented, he said.

"I can't draw conclusions until I and the minister [for Health] have the report," the Taoiseach said. "But the implications are disturbing, if some of the allegations emerge to be the case."

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill "has now finally confirmed that parents are receiving measures about operations on children as far back as 2010".

This was the first confirmation "that this scandal goes back at least 15 years, and not the two-year period previously asserted by Government," she said.

Parents were at their wits' end having received letters from Children's Health Ireland (CHI) regarding operations on their children from 15 years ago, Ms McDonald added.

"Those parents are now asking themselves, was my child operated on unnecessarily? How could this have happened? And what are the consequences now?"

Every time the Government had been questioned on the scandal, it had responded with non-answers, she said.

"You've refused to give clarity. Parents have been stonewalled by CHI and stonewalled by your government.

"After weeks of trying to obtain the truth, we have finally in black and white from the Minister for Health confirmation that letters have been issued to parents of children who had operations 15 years ago."

The 2021-2023 audit recalled 561 children's cases, she said, asking if the full look-back process could involve thousands of children. Mr Toibin made the same suggestion.

The letters were about patients not included in the audit sample, "but who may be affected by any findings", she said, asking the Taoiseach: "Can you explain to me exactly what that means?"

Padraig Rice of the Social Democrats, who is chairman of the Dail Health Committee, said the letters suggested that "we are dealing with a scandal of nearly unparallelled proportions".

The letters suggested "an appalling vista of perhaps thousands of children" having unnecessary surgery, and it indicated that the grave findings of the draft report were being upheld.

The Taoiseach snapped: "Of course we want to reveal the facts, with no holding back." But he said the report was needed, and to politicise the issue was reprehensible.
Probe into childrens hip surgery scandal could look back 15 years

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said letters have been sent out to families of patients who had hip dysplasia procedures since 2010

Families are now receiving letters about operations on their children from 15 years ago

Senan Molony Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

Families are now receiving letters about operations on their children from 15 years ago, increasing the likelihood that a scandal over unnecessary surgery is about to deepen sharply.
Sixty people have died on Irish roads so far this year

Six counties have not recorded a fatal traffic crash so far this year, with road deaths down by 12.5pc compared with last year.

The decline came despite Garda Roads Policing Unit (RPU) personnel numbers remaining at near record lows.

Sixty people have died on Irish roads so far this year. That contrasts to 68 who lost their lives in traffic tragedies by the same point last year.

The deaths this year have included 24 drivers, 15 pedestrians, six passengers, 10 motorcyclists, four pedal cyclists and one pillion passenger.

Almost one in three deaths this year have involved motorcyclists or pedal cyclists.

Road safety campaigner group Parc conducted an analysis of crashes, which revealed road deaths were spread across 20 counties  three counties more than on March 1. Six counties  Clare, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Monaghan and Wicklow  have not recorded a road death so far this year.

A total of 184 people died on Irish roads in 2023, the highest death toll for over a decade.

Last year, a total of 174 people died in traffic tragedies. That represented a 4pc decline.

Road safety chiefs have ordered studies into the varying nature of fatal crash statistics to better understand the reasons for surges and declines in fatalities.

There have also been inexplicable regional variations in fatal collisions.

Irelands most populous county, Dublin, has recorded six road deaths so far this year. However, Galway and Donegal have also both recorded six traffic fatalities each this year despite having only a fraction of Dublins population and traffic volumes.

There have been seven fatalities this year in Mayo.

Parc founder Susan Gray said their study revealed that 18 of the 60 people who died on Irish roads so far this year were aged 30 years or younger.

She said the cornerstone of road safety was the strict enforcement of safety regulations and proper resourcing of the gardai.

There is an undeniable link between Road Policing Unit numbers, enforcement of road safety regulations and the safety of our roads, she said.

She said the priority for the Government should be the provision of maximum resources for the gardai.

Ms Gray said RPUs deserved enormous credit for the work they had achieved with depleted resources. RPU personnel numbers are 40pc down on 2009 levels.

We desperately need to get the road safety message across and ensure that road safety regulations are rigorously enforced, she said.

But this includes all the stakeholders from the Government to state agencies and from prioritising recruitment to the gardai to closing loopholes in the law and devoting the resources to road safety to reduce the number of fatalities.

August was the deadliest month on Irish roads in 2023, but was one of the safest last year.

Ireland had 138 road deaths in 2018  29pc below last years number.

Garda Roads Policing Unit (RPU) personnel numbers are at near record lows. Stock image

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Since 2018, road deaths have steadily climbed: 2019 (140), 2020 (146), 2021 (130/Covid lockdowns), 2022 (155) and 2023 (184).

Almost half the road deaths over the past 18 months have involved vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and e-scooter riders.

An RSA submission to the Government last year noted that, in the space of five years, deaths among young people aged between 16 and 25 almost doubled.

Overall, road users aged 16 to 25 represented the largest proportions of fatalities (26pc) and serious injuries (22pc) over the past year.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) warned that frontline resources were a major issue for the force as it responded to multiple operational challenges.

Gardai insisted that 150 extra personnel would be deployed to RPU work nationwide by the end of this year.

Gardai do not comment on current or future deployment of resources for operational reasons, a spokesperson said.

An Garda Siochana (AGS) is committed to its aim to transfer 150 personnel into Roads Policing by the end of 2025. (We) commenced this allocation with the transfer of 23 garda members to RPUs during the second half of 2024.

Competitions took place in three garda regions and panels are now in place across all four garda regions. Transfers from those panels will take place throughout 2025. Internal garda competitions are conducted by garda HR in accordance with agreements with the Garda Staff Associations, the spokesperson added.

Managing deployment of resources in a large national organisation such as AGS with over 560 garda stations throughout the country, and competing priorities such as roads policing, economic crime, drugs and organised crime, cyber crime and maintaining frontline policing is a complex process.

In 2014 there were 192 road deaths when there were 742 assigned RPU members. In 2017 there were 154 deaths when there were 623 assigned RPU members.
Opposition parties have dismissed the idea of a social media ban for children aged under 16, saying it is unfeasible and amounts to kite-flying.

Tanaiste Simon Harris has said serious consideration needs to be given to a ban, and asked peoples views on the idea on Instagram at the weekend.

He said he would be seeking cross-party examination of whether Ireland could follow the Australian ban and believes the Oireachtas should work constructively on the issue.

But Sinn Fein described his comments as kite-flying and said a comprehensive study was needed first, to take into account the views of mental health experts, school representatives and youth groups.

If a ban is to be considered, then it should only be considered on the basis of empirical data after consultation with experts in the field, the partys communications spokesperson Joanna Byrne said.

I am unsure a complete ban would be technologically feasible, as the headline social media companies such as Google, X, TikTok and Meta may agree to ban under-16s, but there is an array of other platforms that teenagers use, such as gaming platforms and chatrooms.

Laws passed in Australia earlier this year, which will come into force in December, ban under-16s from using social media including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X.

YouTube, which is sometimes used for school activities or learning, is exempt from the laws for educational and health reasons.

The laws will place the onus on the operators themselves to implement restrictions, using age-verification technology, or else face hefty fines.

Tanaiste Simon Harris. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Ms Byrne said while the suggestion may be lauded as attempting to save this generation of youths mental health, it might also take the voice away from the younger generation, or marginalised sections of the younger generation, if a total ban is implemented, on a whim and without proper consideration.

A spokesperson for the Social Democrats said the party doesnt believe the ban is workable but believed that social media companies needed stronger regulation.

Communications Minister Patrick ODonovan described the online space as the Wild West and said he was examining ways to force tech companies to comply with age-verification rules for teenagers.

There is likely to be strong pushback from tech companies, many of which have their European headquarters in Dublin.

But Mr Harris said that Ireland would not be brow-beaten by anyone in efforts to put a regulatory structure in place that protects our democracies, protections our people and most importantly, protects our children.

In response to a question from Independent TD Paul Gogarty last week, Mr Harris said: This is an area that requires a lot more action, adding that the era of self-regulation is over.

This is an area that we should act on. Very serious consideration should be given to the idea of having to be 16 before you are on social media.

The Irish Medical Organisation has also put its weight behind such a ban, saying it is imperative to protect children from accessing extremely damaging content.
THE LATEST

Zephyr completes first phase of South Buffalo cannabis campus.

After Evans deal, NBT Bank is sizing up its growth opportunities in the Buffalo and Rochester markets.

What's a pharmacy desert? And why Rite Aid closing could create one in some smaller Western New York communities.

Developer Douglas Jemal is walking away from plans to turn the Mahoney state office building into a boutique hotel. Instead, he wants to sell it at auction.

Rite Aid is closing 59 stores in the Buffalo Niagara region  and all of its stores in New York  if it can't find a buyer for them.

Neighbors don't like the idea of a six-story building on Hertel Avenue, but the Buffalo Planning Board gave it the OK.

The historic Hotel Lenhart in Bemus Point has a new owner  and hopes to reopen for the first time since 2022.

The United Steelworkers union is joining PVS Chemicals in opposing a proposed soccer stadium next to the chemical plant.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.
Supporters of the family of GAA official Sean Brown, with widow Bridie Brown (Liam McBurney/PA)

The family of a murdered GAA official has held a meeting with Tanaiste Simon Harris as part of a campaign for a public inquiry into his death.

It comes after the UK Government confirmed it will seek a Supreme Court appeal over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into the killing of Sean Brown.

Mr Brown, 61, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Co Derry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

Simon Harris speaking to Sean Browns widow Bridie Brown (Niall Carson/PA)

No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

After the meeting with the family of Mr Brown, Mr Harris said they have waited far too long for an investigation into the GAA officials murder.

Mr Harris said the failure to effectively investigate the murder was simply unacceptable.

Today is the 28th anniversary of Sean Browns murder and a stark reminder that the Brown family have waited far too long for truth and accountability, he said.

I reiterated this point, as I have previously, to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in a phone call with him last Friday. I say it again today and I will continue to use every channel available to me to pursue this matter.

In the absence of an effective investigation into his death  which the UK Government agrees has not yet taken place  the passage of time makes this increasingly pressing.

Bridie Brown and her family have shown enormous strength in pursuing this case and I will continue to use my influence and that of the Irish Government to bring about a resolution that is acceptable to the Brown family. They have waited too long.

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

Appeal Court judges in Belfast affirmed an earlier High Court ruling compelling the Government to hold a public inquiry.

It said the failure to hold such a probe was unlawful.

However, the Northern Ireland Secretary contends the case involves a key constitutional principle of who should order public inquiries, the Government or the judiciary.

Speaking on the familys way into the meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Browns daughter Siobhan said: Today marks the 28th anniversary of our father Sean Browns murder.

We are very appreciative of the Tanaiste to take the time to meet with us as a family.

Were now at the stage that were looking for political support to back up the five High Court judges in the north of Ireland calling for a public inquiry into our fathers murder.

Speaking alongside her sister Claire and their mother Bridie, she added: We hope he will give us that support that we require, that there will be a public inquiry and he will put pressure on the British Government to grant us a public inquiry into our fathers murder.

GAA president Jarlath Burns is among those supporting the family, telling reporters it was important to keep the issue in the public eye.
Graduate planners at local councils will have a real and direct impact on sculpting areas where they live, Galway City Councils chief saidA total of 43 new posts are now available, offering a starting salary of almost 39,000 and 24 days annual leave

Liam Conneally, chairman of the County and City Management Associations Planning and Land Use Committee, left, with planning graduates Grace Hamilton (now Meath County Council) and Mateusz Ciesiolka (Dublin City Council) at the launch at Dublins Seven Mills development of a major recruitment campaign (Robbie Reynolds/Media Consult/PA)

A new recruitment drive is trying to attract graduate planners into under-pressure county and city councils.

The local government initiative, launched on Tuesday, seeks graduates exiting degree or masters courses in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain and internationally.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to shape the future development of cities, towns and villages over the coming decades.

A total of 43 new posts are now available in 26 of the 31 county and city councils nationwide, offering a starting salary of almost 39,000, 24 days annual leave and a structured career allowing graduates to progress to professional planning.

The initiative is part of the Governments ministerial action plan on planning resources, which sets out a roadmap to increase the pool of planning expertise in local authorities.

Planners are critical to tackling the big challenges facing the world in which we live, including housing, protecting our environment, biodiversity and heritage, said Liam Conneally, chairman of the County And City Management Associations planning and land use committee.

Local government plays a vital role in shaping entire communities and we now need dynamic graduate planners to join our teams across the country, where they can be involved in exciting projects, share their ideas and learn from experienced planners.

This new stream of planners will have a real and direct impact on sculpting areas in which they themselves live, added Mr Conneally, who is also the chief executive of Galway County Council.

Mateusz Ciesiolka (24), from Dublins Drimnagh, graduated from TUD Bolton Street with a degree in Planning and Environmental Management.

Now working with Dublin City Council, he says having a vision for an area is one of the core attractions of a planning career.

Youre helping to determine the future development of your city or your village, but most importantly, we plan for people, he said.

Planner Grace Hamilton secured a graduate position with Meath County Council two months after finishing her full-time studies at Queens University in Belfast last August.

The Co Down native said: Every day is different, and it makes you see the world differently, there are things you wouldnt notice otherwise, and you can see the transformation of an area from start to finish.

John Cummins, the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said taking on dynamic graduate planners was crucial to drive the enhancement and development of cities, towns and villages.

My department is working with the local government sector to ensure planning authorities have the requisite level of staffing, resources and expertise to efficiently and effectively perform their planning functions, he said.

In October 2024, my department published a ministerial action plan on planning resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector.

This provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for current and future needs.

The new vacancies are open to recent graduates with an honours Level 8 degree or higher in planning, or those who are due to graduate this year and expect to achieve an honour in a Level 8 degree or higher, and are entitled to work in the Republic of Ireland.
Lucinda OSullivans restaurant review: Prepare for pure culinary mastery in the early bird menus at these popular restaurants

Value menus are more in demand than ever, writes our critic, as she discovers some of the best offers on the table

Clockwise from front: Volpe Neras mackerel and kiwi tartlets, pickles, pancetta arrotolata and orange and hazelnut butter. Photo: Lucinda O'Sullivan

Lucinda O'Sullivan Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

There was a time when, probably having downed four vodkas in the pub with a crowd of friends, itd be 9pm before wed even think of descending on a restaurant; a time when the early bird was only for elderly Americans. Everything changed when the recession hit and early birds suddenly became a necessity, keeping the restaurant industry and ourselves afloat. This all reared its head again after the lockdowns, with restaurants finding themselves empty by 10pm. The long Covid for the industry, not helped by the VAT situation, is that many restaurants are closed in the early part of the week and once again theres a prevalence of value menus. Call them what you like, pre-theatre or whatever, but theyre basically early birds and offering value thats not to be sniffed at.
Adrian Blomfield: Vladimir Putin is not interested in talks  but now his bluff has been called

If the Russian leader shows up to talks with Ukraines Zelensky this week, hopes for a deal will rise, but with Donald Trumps apparent support, theres no great pressure

Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks to journalists in the Grand Palace at the Kremlin in Moscow. Photo: AP

Adrian Blomfield Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

A game of brinkmanship is afoot. On Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, will be seated at a negotiating table in Istanbul. The question is whether Vladimir Putin will be opposite him.
Paddy Agnew: What happened at Pope Leo XIVs audience with the media

Pontiff had warm words for the press during Vatican event, in which he called for journalists to work for peace

Pope Leo XIV is surrounded by journalists as he arrives at Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican to speak to thousands of media workers. Photo: Getty

Paddy Agnew Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

Four days after his momentous election, Pope Leo XIV yesterday met about 4,000 reporters, cameramen and technicians from the accredited media organisations which have been covering the last 10 weeks of the illness and funeral of the late Pope Francis, as well as the election of Leo XIV himself.
David W Higgins: Cost of housing isnt the only thing stopping young people leaving the family home

Lowering the average age of leaving the family home is as much a social question as it is financial

The milestone of leaving the family home is happening later in life. Photo: Getty

David W Higgins Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30

Irelands housing debate is guided by several rules of thumb. High rents are bad. Low house prices would be better. Supply is what we need. The generation before us had it easier. The list goes on.
Starving civilians will not bring Israel total victory over Hamas and cannot be justified

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli strike at a school sheltering displaced people in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Among the terrible lessons of October 7, 2023 was that it became perfectly clear Hamas is willing to sacrifice the Palestinian people in its war to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. Israel must not help Hamas by sacrificing its own morality.

Hamas continues to bear the greatest responsibility for the suffering of its own people, most particularly by using its citizens as human shields. American and Israeli officials have accused Hamas of confiscating desperately needed humanitarian food and supplies for its fighters while civilians starve.

Hamass cruelty in that regard (among many others) knows no bounds, though condemnation from the international community is rare.

Nonetheless, Hamass actions do not excuse Israels policy of cutting off humanitarian aid to innocent civilians in Gaza.

A just war, such as Israels efforts to prevent Hamas from attacking it again and curtailing its governance in Gaza, must be fought with just means that align with international humanitarian law and the values of Jewish rules of war.

Even in biblical times, the admonition to refrain from using the horrors of starvation as a tool of war was clear. Deuteronomy 20:19 teaches us: When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them, for you may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down.

It is not at all certain that the new sites would provide enough aid to alleviate the suffering

For the past two months, Israel has blocked food and supplies from entering Gaza. This is the longest complete blockade it has ever imposed. Just days ago, the Israeli cabinet voted to create designated zones in southern Gaza for food distribution to be administered by US security contractors. This plan, which would entail shutting down most of the existing humanitarian aid sites and soup kitchens, is terribly flawed.

There is no time frame by which the new distribution centres would be up and running, and it is not at all certain that the new sites would provide enough aid to alleviate the suffering. In contrast, during the most recent ceasefire, Israel significantly increased the amount of food aid to Gaza, easing widespread hunger.

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli strike at a school sheltering displaced people in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Starving Gazan civilians will neither bring Israel the total victory over Hamas it seeks nor can be justified by Jewish values or humanitarian law. Will this policy bring home the 59 remaining hostages, including the 24 who are still alive? Its unlikely  and contrary to the wishes of almost 70pc of Israelis who, in a recent poll, prioritised the hostages return over that elusive total victory.

Of equal concern, far-right Israeli politicians see the aid blockade as part of a broader plan to permanently push most Gazans from northern Gaza and replace them with Jewish settlements.

Hamas is willing to sacrifice thousands of Palestinians by hoarding humanitarian aid; Israel must not

As a proud Zionist who continues to feel deep solidarity with the people of Israel, including those who wear the Israel Defence Forces uniform, I cannot be silent in the face of the immense suffering of civilians in Gaza, including hundreds of thousands of children.

Hamas is willing to sacrifice thousands of Palestinians by hoarding humanitarian aid; Israel must not.

Depriving Gazans of food and water will not make Israel safer or hasten the return of the hostages. Each of us who loves Israel must say so  and urge Israel to change this policy.

Rick Jacobs is a rabbi and the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest denomination of Judaism in North America
As Irish people, we are collectively falling for the media ruse that Kneecap warned us not to swallow.

Their statement could not have been clearer. They do not support Hezbollah or Hamas. They do not wish to incite murder. And they would rather we talked about the starvation and slaughter in Gaza than year-old footage of a rap group.
A US customs and border protection officer processes a passenger into the US at an airport. Photo: James Tourtellotte

What are the steps to navigating tech at US border control? How can we learn from Lithuanias cyber defence? And what is the new sport of sperm racing?

JJ Clarke, producer, joins host, Katie Byrne, standing in for Adrian on this weeks episode of The Big Tech Show.

Katie began by discussing an article that featured in the Irish Independent about navigating US border control phone checks at the airport. The article written by tech editor, Adrian Weckler, explained that you can delete your WhatsApp, Gmail and other social media with no loss of data as long as you back it up before you delete the apps. This will stop US border control agents checking these apps but may look suspicious as the phone wont have any social media apps.

You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts
St Flannans College campus in Ennis recently became Munsters largest school

An artists impression of the new 2,500 sqm development at St. Flannans College in Ennis. Image: Healy Partners Architects.

The first phase of a significant expansion of St Flannans College campus, the historic school in County Clare and Munsters largest school, will be completed in time for the beginning of the next school semester in September.

The expansion of St. Flannans College campus in Ennis comprises special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room.

The 2,500 sqm development is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland.

Appointed in September 2024, contractor Lidan Designs and the award-winning design team at Healy Partners Architects were tasked with delivering a fully completed school within a 12-month period.

Construction began in January 2025, with prefabricated elements arriving on site by April. The building will be delivered in phases from July, with full completion scheduled for December.

At the end of the first phase, 297 students of Knockanean National School will be accommodated at the new St. Flannans development from September until their approved new national school is delivered.

Fr Iggy McCormack, Principal of St. Flannans College, said the completion of the new facilities will significantly enhance the secondary schools capacity to support its growing student population, which increased to 1,280 for the current school year.

An artists impression of the new 2,500 sqm development at St. Flannans College in Ennis. Image: Healy Partners Architects.

He explained: Our enrolment numbers are expected to grow further in the coming years, which is why investment is needed in our infrastructure to support a modern, proactive, welcoming, and inclusive 21st-century educational environment. Most importantly, the addition of new SEN classrooms comes at a critical time, addressing the severe shortage of such spaces in the greater Ennis area."

On behalf of the Board of Management, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Minister for Education Helen McEntee, her predecessor Norma Foley, and the staff of the Planning and Building Unit in the Department for supporting the educational needs of our school and those of our 34 feeder schools. The completion of these new facilities will be warmly welcomed by parents, teachers, and students alike."

Aran Healy, Architect and Director of Healy Partners Architects, explained that the project has been designated as an exemplar scheme by the Department of Education.

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From the outset, he said, a commitment was made to deliver the building using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to achieve efficiency, speed, and quality.

Mr Healy said: The new development includes six SEN classroom bases, along with a suite of dedicated support spaces  central activity zones, practical skills areas, indoor and outdoor breakout spaces, and accessible play areas. 87% of the building is prefabricated off-site by Lidan Designs in Roscommon, a national leader in sustainable and bespoke timber construction. This off-site approach has enabled tighter quality control, reduced environmental impact, and faster on-site assembly.

What sets this project apart is its ability to act as both a contemporary educational facility and a respectful architectural response to a cherished historic setting, added Mr Healy.
A new Lidl in Clare has been given the go-ahead this week as plans are approved for a branch of the supermarket to be built in the village of Sixmilebridge.

An application was put forward by the chain in 2024 to Clare County Council for the construction of a single storey, discount foodstore spanning a gross floor area of 2,290sqms.

Plans would also involve construction of surface level car parking spaces, including electrical vehicle (EV) charging spaces and pre-wiring other spaces to accommodate future EV parking, cycle stands, trolley bay canopy, hard and soft landscaping and all advertising signage including a flagpole sign at the entrance.

The development also includes car parking and an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point at the south west corner of the site.

The development faced opposition from local residents when plans were first put forward back in 2024, when prominent Catholic priest Fr Harry Bohan told Clare County Council in a submission that Sixmilebridge is changing fast, probably too fast. Our local, human, social values are threatened.

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In the objection submitted to the council he said: We need our local shops and businesses to survive, always did. When they are threatened, we need our community to be aware of that threat.

Fr Bohan asked: Are The Bridge people well enough serviced by discount stores in the surrounding area?

The plans were approved by Clare County Council subject to 16 conditions.
You can get a pilots license quicker than a driving license, stated Cllr William OLeary during a debate on the current backlog in driving tests in Cork County.

Recent figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) showed that more than 83,000 applicants were waiting for a driving test nationally in April which is the highest number recorded since the pandemic.

The figures also reveal that waiting times have got significantly longer over the past year.

In April 2024 the wait time for a test in Mallow was 14 weeks. It now stands at 35 weeks.

Independent councillor William OLeary tabled a motion at Mondays full council meeting requesting that Cork County Council write to the Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien and the RSA expressing serious concerns at the ongoing backlog in driving tests across all license categories and to call for urgent action to address delays.

His motion also requested that Cork County Council would seek the establishment of additional driving test centres in County Cork to meet current and future demand.

Cllr OLeary said the driving test system particularly for Category B drivers has completely collapsed over the last three to four years. This is seriously hampering peoples progress and independence. It is about jobs, college courses, parents doing school runs and apprenticeships trying to get to work. I am all for road safety. The 12 lessons are very important. In terms of our driving tests, the whole system is outdated.

For the biggest county in Ireland we need additional test centres, said Cllr OLeary. Fermoy and Mitchelstown need their own test centre. We havent had an additional test centre in this county certainly not in the last 25 years. The RSA said the south of Ireland is completely catered for with regards current driving test infrastructure.

That response wasnt acceptable. You can add the waiting lists for driving tests to health waiting lists to school places. We are not able to cater the services for the current population at the moment, added Cllr OLeary.

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Marie O'Sullivan who said the whole structure needs to be looked at. In Spain there are no provisional licenses and you have to go to a driving school. You do your lessons and the driving instructor will decide when you do the test which you then do in the driving school.

Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington said the issues needs to be addressed. I know one young mans date has been moved four times. He is not on the stats for somebody who is waiting for a driving test. They do this to keep the figures low. It shouldnt take this long to get a driving test.

Cllr Harrington suggested that the driving lessons become part of the secondary school curriculum. Maybe it should become part of our education system. Maybe they can do their lessons in Transition Year and they can come out of school with a full license. We need more testers and more centres.

Fianna Fail councillor Dominic Finn revealed that there are a lot of young people going outside the county to sit driving tests. My own son had to go to Tralee to do his test. It is easier to get a test in Kerry than County Cork. We need to get more testing in Cork.

His party colleague, Cllr Frank OFlynn said: I am going to put forward the Corrin Mart Centre when the review of our county development plan comes up, both as an NCT and a driving lesson centre. It is an ideal centre. It covers Fermoy and Mitchelstown. It has ease of access and Cork Marts has a proud track record of delivering tests centres. We need it.

Cllr OLeary agreed that the issuing of provisional driving licenses are putting pressure on the system. You can get a pilots license quicker than a driving license.

It was unanimously agreed that a letter would be sent from Cork County Council to both Minister OBrien and the RSA seeking urgent action to tackle the current delays in sitting driving tests in Cork County.
The council has performed a u-turn on closing toilets at the top of Grafton Street

Dublin City Council has reversed its decision to close public toilets at the top of Grafton Street after cross-party pressure from councillors.

The proposal had attracted major criticism, including from Labour councillor Dermot Lacey, who said he 1,000 percent rejected the report which had recommended closure.

It should be a fundamental responsibility of a city and county council to provide toilets, he said.

To read in a report that permanent public toilets might be installed by the summer of 2026 is absurd  its crazy  and there can be no justification for it.

It quite frankly makes a laugh of the council. If we cannot get public toilets right, what on earth are we doing? he added.

Barry Woods, Head of Waste Management, gave an update on the current state of, and future plans for, public toilet facilities in Dublin city centre.

The council has been spending nearly 400,000 annually to maintain the units at the top of Grafton Street, installed during the pandemic and the only public facility in the city centre.

In 2023, the city sought commercial partners to host permanent public toilets, but nobody came forward.

Two service providers proposed alternatives  one with automated self-cleaning units, which were rejected due to concerns about anti-social behaviour, and another offering a more traditional model with on-site maintenance and security.

Mr Woods confirmed the Grafton Street unit must be removed, as its owner is liquidating their company and the facility no longer meets regulatory standards.

Looking ahead, he outlined plans to install permanent public toilets at Grafton Street, OConnell Street, and College Green.

Our intention is to install a permanent solution in the Grafton Street area, he said.

Green Party councillor Clare Byrne thanked Mr Woods for the update and acknowledged the issue of public toilets on Grafton Street was sensitive and there may have been valid reasons for their proposed closure.

However, she urged the council to keep the facilities open until a permanent solution is in place.

This is an ongoing issue stemming from this city councils failure to deliver a very basic service for our citizens, she said.

This matter is raised time and time again  especially at this time of year  when we have the same discussions around outdoor drinking and the lack of basic facilities.

Now our only public toilet is about to close, and we have no replacements, she added.

Cllr Byrne described it as an abhorrent ongoing failure to provide for a basic human right.

Derek Kelly, Director of Services at the council, told councillors a solution had been worked out over the weekend to keep the Grafton Street facility open while we simultaneously develop and finalise a long-term solution for toilets in the city centre.

The current operator is liquidating  that has pushed the situation  they want to cease the service, he said.

However, the council says it will attempt to persuade the company to continue operating until replacement toilets are in place next year.

Failing that, the council will seek to purchase the units and appoint a new operator.

Green Party councillor Hazel Chu said what is needed now are permanent structures.

Weve been promised that with this halt on the temporary closure, there will be a permanent structure put in place at St Stephens Green and at two other locations around the city, she said.

But thats not good enough  weve been pushing for more permanent structures for years now.

I was the Lord Mayor at the time we installed these temporary structures to provide this basic human right to the public.

Five years later, we are still fighting for the same thing. That is absolutely not good enough.

So yesterday, we asked that all public buildings owned by Dublin City Council with toilet facilities  such as civic offices and libraries  be opened for public use.

Weve also asked them to update the city map to show where toilet facilities are located, and they have started doing that.

Everyone needs to pee  whether youre a child or an older person  and especially those who are sick or marginalised.

They need to be able to access a toilet without having to go into a retail premises and ask or negotiate to use such a basic facility, she added.
Pauline McKeown, CEO of Coolmine Therapeutic Community, which has released its first-quarter 2025 statistics marking a rise in female engagement across Dublin. Pic: Gerry Mooney

There has been a significant rise in the number of women seeking addiction support in Dublin, according to new figures from Coolmine Therapeutic Community.

The organisation, which provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation services across the capital, revealed that female presentations increased by 37pc in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

A total of 305 women accessed its services between January and March, up from 223 in 2024.

Coolmine said the rise reflects growing trust in its trauma-informed, family-focused services, particularly among vulnerable groups such as mothers and members of the Traveller community.

Cocaine remains the most commonly reported substance among those seeking treatment in Dublin, accounting for 35pc of all cases.

Alcohol followed at 29pc, with benzodiazepines noted as the most prevalent secondary drug, appearing in nearly a quarter of presentations.

All of Coolmines community and residential services in Dublin operated at full capacity during the first quarter of the year, with a total of 756 people engaging in support programmes.

Speaking about the figures, Anita Harris, Deputy Head of Services at Coolmine, said: Were seeing more women seeking help, fewer missed appointments, and growing trust in our trauma-informed, family-based services.

These figures show real progress, not just in engagement but in outcomes. Were proud of the trust our community places in us.

"Recovery is an ongoing process, and todays figures highlight the vital services Coolmine provides in Dublin.

I encourage anyone facing addiction to reach out  support is available, and its never too late to turn things around.

Our clients are rebuilding relationships, improving their health, and finding positive pathways in work, training and education, she added.

The charity also highlighted the success of its targeted supports for parents and families.

In the first three months of this year, 12 children stayed in residential care with their mothers through the Mother & Child Programme, while 100 families received tailored support via the Parents Under Pressure initiative.

Additionally, 48 members of the Traveller community were supported in accessing addiction services during the same period.
Photographed at the launch of the new Irish language book. Left to right: Anne Coffey, Pat Coffey, Victor Bayda. Photo by Christy Riordan

The Kirby family photographed at the book launch. Left to Right: Anne Coffey, Margaret Donnelly, Martina Forde and Tim Kirby. Photo by Christy Riordan

Anne Coffey, daughter of the late Michael Kirby, speaking at the book launch in Cahersiveen library. Photo by Christy Riordan

Photographed at the launch of Glor on Sceilg. Left to right: Tommy O'Connor (county librarian), Micheal O Leidhin, Anne Coffey, Pat Coffey, Victor Bayda, (language planning officer for South Kerry) and Seaghan O Suilleabhain (language planning officer for Cahersiveen). Photo by Christy Riordan

Cahersiveen library played host to a large crowd as a new Irish language book featuring some of the best work of a late great Ballinskelligs writer was launched on Thursday.

Glor on Sceilg is a book which contains a selection of work extracted from the eight original Irish language books released by the late Michael Kirby, or Micheal Ua Ciarmhic.

Though the author took up writing very late in life, he managed to release several highly regarded books in Irish and English before he died in 2005.

Victory Bayda, Irish language planning officer for Uibh Rathach Gaeltacht, was fear an ti at the event, where he spoke of how important the new book is for preserving the richness of the language in the Ballinskelligs Gaeltacht.

Anne Coffey, the daughter of Michael Kirby, welcomed guests and thanked the many people who contributed to the book, including editors Mairin Nic Eoin and Mary Shine Thompson and those at publisher Cork University Press.

Glor on Sceilg was launched by local man and community activist Micheal O Leidhin, who outlined the life lived by Michael Kirby in great detail to those in attendance.

Topics discussed by Mr O Leidhin included Michael Kirbys involvement in the Ballinskelligs community and founding of a local development group, his role in the local drama society and above all, his commitment to preserving the culture and language of the place.

Seaghan O Suilleabhain, language planning officer for Cahersiveen, was the final speaker at the book launch. He outlined the richness of Kirbys language and the treasure this book will be for future generations of Irish students.

As well as being a renowned author, Michael Kirby was also an accomplished painter, a pursuit which he took up prior to his writing career. Those who attended the book launch in Cahersiveen had the opportunity to view over 80 images of his paintings, which were played on a slide loop at the event.
South Kerry

Kerry is ideal location for EU presidency meetings  Where else would you bring them?

Kerry and Killarney town has been described as the ideal location to host meetings for the EU presidency next year when Ireland takes on the six month role.
Husky Rescue Ireland based in Rathdowney, Laois has been issued with an intermediary sanction from the Charities Regulator Authority for six months effective immediately.

Member of the recue centre met with the regulator in April 2024 and stated that it has since worked to improve policies, governance and accounting protocols to ensure that oversight would not result in a sanction.

On social media, the charity stated: We are disappointed with the regulators decision however we accept the consequences and will continue to do everything in our power to have the sanction lifted as early as possible in the interest of animal welfare.

The rescue centre confirmed that at no point during the review process with the charity regulator was the welfare of the dogs looked after by Husky Rescue Ireland ever under question.

It is of utmost importance to all our trustees and employees that our supporters are aware that this sanction in no way relates to the care of the dogs in our rescue, in foster care and those that have been rehomed.

Husky Rescue Ireland is committed to ensuring the welfare of all dogs, particularly those under our care, the charity stated.

The rescue centre will not be able to accept donations or gifts of any kind during the next six months, including money donations, food, services, bedding, or toys.

Members of the public with direct debits set up to the charity will be contacted shortly and notified on the steps to take to stop donations.

We wish to apologise to our donors, who have donated to the care of our dogs in good faith for many years, to our employees and volunteers, who work tirelessly each day in the best interests of all our dogs and finally but most importantly, to our beautiful dogs who will be made the most vulnerable by this sanction and deserve it the least, the charity stated.
Uisce Eireann has warned customers in Dundalk that they may expect discolouration of the water supply this summer

Uisce Eireann is warning that households and businesses in Dundalk may expect discolouration of the water supply once again this summer.

The water provider has written to local councillors informing them that a programme of proactive flushing of the water network supplied by Cavan Hill Water Treatment Plant is planned for the summer, getting underway this week.

They say that discolouration issues affecting the Cavan Hill supply, which supplies Dundalk and surrounding areas, are typically experienced as rising temperatures over the summer months are associated with increased levels of manganese in raw water which result in instances of discoloration.

The first round of flushing works will start in Carlinn Hall and will continue working down the west side of Dublin Road to Hill Street. They will then work their way back out the East side of the Dublin Road back towards the Inner Relief Road.

The second round of flushing works will take place at Muirhevnamor, Tom Bellew Avenue, Avenue Road and Bay Estate.

The duration at each location will depend on the quality of water as flushing progresses.

Householders and business customers are warned that discolouration may occur as flushing progresses, however, the intermittent issues with the discoloration in Dundalk, and the nature of the problem means that Uisce Eireann is unable to predict where, when, and for how long that the discoloration will happen, the only thing that we can predict is that it will happen somewhere in the network during the summer months, and the only thing that the customer can do is to run the tap until it runs clear.

"As we are unable to predict where this happens we are unable to notify people in advance. The only advice we can give to customers is to run the tap until the water comes clear.

Details of the flushing programme can be found on the Uisce Eireann website.
Mens Aid Ireland, headquartered in Meath, the national agency which serves as the voice for men, their children and families, has appointed Shane Kelly as its new CEO.

Kelly is a native of Beaulieu, Louth and has most recently served as CEO with Drogheda Homeless Aid (DHA).

Chairperson of the Mens Aid Ireland board, Seamus Scott welcomed the new CEO: Shanes extensive experience and passion for our mission makes him a strong leader to guide our organisation towards growth.

We wish to expand the remit of Mens Aid Ireland in the provision of support and guidance for those who seek our services.

The services include a national helpline, counselling support, provision of helpful information, court support and education programmes for a wide range of organisations to raise awareness and increase levels of knowledge.

Mens Aid Ireland currently provides support to over 8,000 outreach and engagement contacts per annum.

Kelly will commence his position this year on June, 3. He currently works as CEO with DHA and previously held CEO position with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), where he made a significant contribution in respect of fundraising and increasing their membership.

He has held leadership positions with the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), and he has run his own counselling and psychotherapy clinic.

Kelly has also worked as director of operations for Fianna Fail MEP Colm Markey in 2024, for Fine Gael MEP Nina Carberry and for Fianna Fail Senator Alison Comyn.

Kelly said he looks forward to working with the team and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of men facing challenges.

Mens Aid is a registered charity which is supported largely by statutory funding from Cuan, the dedicated agency committed to talking domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

It is dedicated dedicated to supporting men in need through advocacy, education, and comprehensive support services.
A book of condolence has been opened in Sligo and Leitrim following the tragic death of Garda Kevin Flatley.

A book of condolence has been opened at local Garda stations in Sligo and Leitrim following the tragic death of Garda Kevin Flatley.

Garda Kevin Flatley, a 49-year-old father of two, was hit by a motorcycle as he recorded vehicles' speeds on the side of the road on the R132 at Lanestown in north Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Gda Flatley was discovered with fatal injuries.

He was pronounced dead a short time later.

The driver of the Yamaha motorbike, aged in his 30s, was also seriously injured in the collision, and remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital.

Gda Flatley, from Balbriggan in Dublin, had served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018.

Following his death, tributes have flooded in from all over the country.

People in Leitrim and Sligo are invited to express their sympathies to Gda Flatleys family, friends and colleagues as a book of condolence has been opened at local Garda Stations.

A spokesperson for gardai in Sligo and Leitrim said, A Book of Condolence has been opened in Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Stations in loving memory of Garda Kevin Flatley, 27260D, who died in the line of duty on 11th May 2025.
What started as one mothers determination has now sparked a national call for change.

The Year of Care Campaign was officially launched in Strandhill on Saturday, led by Sligo woman Aolish Gormley, whose personal experience and fierce advocacy have ignited a movement demanding a full year of postnatal support for every mother in Ireland.

Among the keynote speakers were renowned activist Ailbhe Smyth, whose decades of feminist leadership inspired the gathering and Tracy Holmes, a maternal health advocate and author of Raising Resilience who spoke movingly about the gaps and inequalities mothers face in the current system.

With the launch of the Year of Care Campaign, we are witnessing the beginning of a long overdue conversation about how we care for mothers after birth not just in the days or weeks that follow, but for a full year, said Aolish.

This is the first national campaign in Ireland to demand a seismic shift in how we support women postnatally.

Until now, our systems have too often treated childbirth as an endpoint, rather than the beginning of one of the most physically and emotionally demanding transitions in a womans life. The Year of Care is here to change that.

The physical recovery from birth can take months.

The emotional toll can last even longer.

Yet many mothers find themselves isolated, unsupported, and expected to carry on as though nothing has changed.

This campaign is a call to action for government, healthcare providers, employers, and communities to finally recognise the fourth trimester and beyond as a crucial period that deserves investment, compassion, and care.

We are demanding policy change, extended maternal healthcare services, better access to mental health support and flexible community care options. But more than that, were demanding a cultural shift: one that sees the mother, not just the baby, one that honours the act of caregiving, and refuses to let women fall through the cracks.

This campaign is rooted in lived experience. It speaks to the silent struggle of countless women who are expected to bounce back within weeks of giving birth, often with little more than a six-week checkup before theyre left to navigate physical recovery, emotional upheaval, and round-the-clock infant care on their own, said Aolish.

People can learn more about the campaign by visiting www.yearofcare.ie or following the campaigns journey on social media @yearofcarecampaign
A team from Summerhill College has been crowned champions at the 2025 Bank of Ireland Money Smarts Challenge.

This years Money Smarts Challenge saw over 1,700 students from 420 school teams across Ireland take part in four virtual events held on March 25th and 26th, with the Summerhill College team of Daniel Rattigan, Jamie OHara, Brian Healy and Thibaud Gerard claiming the 2,000 first prize for their school.

The four victorious Summerhill College students, along with their teacher Dervilla Casey, were recently presented with their prizes at their school by Connacht Rugby stars Temi Lasisi, Shane Mallon and Colm Reilly.

There were four winning schools in total as part of this years Money Smarts Challenge, along with four runners up and four third-place teams in each of the four virtual events.

The Bank of Ireland Money Smarts Challenge is now in its 7th year. Money Smarts is Bank of Irelands free financial literacy programme for 2nd Level students, with an all-Ireland financial literacy quiz at the centre of the programme.

The quiz is designed to help students learn about managing their finances and develop good Financial Wellbeing habits.

Commenting on the Money Smarts Quiz Challenge, Rory Carty, Head of Customer Segments Bank of Ireland said:

The importance of children and young adults learning about finances and savvy money habits cannot be over-emphasised, with Bank of Irelands latest Financial Wellbeing Index revealing a decline in the Financial Literacy score amongst the youngest cohort surveyed.

We know that teachers see the benefits of the Money Smarts programme, with over 600,000 students having taken part in a range of initiatives since 2017, helping ensure young people can make smart financial decisions and better manage their money.

Id like to congratulate the winning team and teacher from Summerhill College on their victory in the 2025 Money Smarts Challenge. And I also want to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all the teachers and students across the country who took part in this years Money Smarts Challenge, enhancing their financial literacy skills for the future.
On foot of the great spell of weather were enjoying, lots of us have been out and about enjoying the countryside, which has burst forth with bloom and colour.

A happy coincidence then that Biodiversity Week starts later this week and runs until almost the end of May, helping us understand the fundamentals of our trails environment and a greater appreciation for the delicate balance we need to strike to live in harmony with nature.

The good weather has led amazing growth, and this should lead to bumper sightings during the Biodiversity Week walks.

Its the ideal time of year for this, because as weve seen the hawthorn has burst into life, the swallows are back, and its really when the beautiful countryside is coming to life, says Ruth Hanniffy, Biodiversity Officer with Sligo County Council.

Beginning on Saturday 17th May and ending on Sunday 25th May, Biodiversity Week will provide a range of events, both indoor and outdoor, including walks and talks that will help lift the veil on the amazing plant and animal life that surround us.

Starting on Saturday next (10am), we head to Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird - The Devils Chimney - a very popular local walk overlooking Glencar Lake, where Fiona Magennis will talk to us about how over the past 20 years she redeveloped the broadleaf forest from being overgrown into becoming a haven for wildlife.

After that, at 5pm, we head to Mullaghmore for a whale watching event that will hopefully lead to some sightings.

Make your way around the head to the Wild Atlantic Way roadside car park where youll be directed onto a nearby hillside for the best view. Allow a bit of time to get there and we suggest you park in the village and walk out to the car park - this will take no more than 20 minutes and as we know, theres nowhere more spectacular than the Mullaghmore Coastal Walk at any time of year, particularly during warm Summer evenings.

Other highlights include a walk at Ballygawley Lough and Union Wood with ecologist Michael Bell (Wednesday 21st 2pm) to learn about the important ecology of this site.

Union Wood is a nature reserve and contains one of the largest remaining native oak woodlands in the area and provides important habitats for birds and mammals like red squirrels and pine martens.

Theres a biodiversity walk at the Tatty Hoaker farm in north Sligo (May 18th 2pm) and at Longford Demesne in Beltra (May 19th 2pm) where Diarmuid McAree, a Director of Crann - Trees for Ireland, will lead a walk.

Bat Conservation Ireland are in year two of a project surveying two Sligo woodlands and this walk will take place along the woodlands at Doorly Park at sunset (Wednesday 21st 9:30pm) where we will expect to see species of bat like Pipistrelle, Daubenton and Leisler in the company of bat expert David Clarke.

If you really want to discover nature with your kids, bring them along to Michael Bells beachcombing walk at Dunmoran Strand (Friday 23rd 11am). Gathering at Dunmoran Strand car park, Michael will lead a leisurely walk of the beach, helping to identify the natural treasures we can see on our local beaches.

A number of indoor talks will also take place. On that topic, where better to begin than on Thursday next (May 22nd 7-10pm Radisson Hotel) where a talk will be given titled Wolves in Ireland.

A fascinating insight on an often misunderstood species that freely roamed the woods and countryside in times past. There have been discussions about the possible repercussions of reintroducing wolves to Ireland, a topic which, no doubt, is likely to be discussed at this event.

Elsewhere, (Saturday 25th 9:30am) the Sligo Bioblitz will take place at Mullaghmore. This family-friendly initiative invites anyone and everyone to help discover and record as many local wildlife species as possible, contributing to national citizen science and local environmental awareness.

The event is supported by Sligo County Council, Breeding Waders EIP, Field Studies Ireland, Woodrow APEM Group, and Nature Learn. It will be a fantastic and inclusive opportunity to connect with nature, learn from local experts, and celebrate the rich biodiversity of the Mullaghmore area.

So there you have a taste of the week ahead, there is plenty to interest us all, so do try to get along and attend some of the walks, lectures and other educational events, no doubt well all pick up lots of information and knowledge along the way.

Every event is free and the purpose is to connect people with nature to inspire people so that they can take action and restore it. So were getting people out and about all over the county, from dawn to dusk, all different kinds of habitats to celebrate nature and to get up close and personal with how they can experience and protect it, says Ruth.

The events are open to all - though note that children need to be accompanied by an adult and some events are unsuitable for younger children. For most events, its a matter of just turning up at the appointed place on time and to wear footwear and clothing that are suitable.

If attending the whale watching event, bring a pair of binoculars with you - although there may be a few to spare - and bring the sun tan lotion if the good weather continues into next week. One or two events - the Beach Yoga event with Blaithin Sweeney at Mullaghmore following the BioBlitz (Sunday 25th) for example have a limit on numbers. So to find out the latest details on all Biodiversity Week events, (and there are others besides the ones we mention) follow the Sligo Heritage Facebook page or email biodiversity@sligococo.ie.
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The impacts of invasive plants on natural habitats can be devastating as they outcompete native species, said Marina Mulligan, Waterford City and County Councils Biodiversity Officer

Waterfords war with invasive species will be highlighted at a book launch in Ardmore this week.

Ardmore Tidy Towns will host Dr Fran Giaquinto and Phoebe OBrien for the launch of their new book, Identification Guide to the Non-Native Invasive Plants of Britain and Ireland, on Friday, May 16, during Invasive Species Week.

The launch takes place from 12pm to 3pm in the Round Tower Hotel, which includes a fieldtrip to local habitats. The event is free to attend, and all are welcome.

The afternoon will be filled with informative chats about the pressures of invasive plant species on Irelands native flora, an insight into identification and an exploration of the actions that can be taken to prevent their spread.

Following the launch, attendees will take a trip through the habitats of the village with both experts, as they point out several species which are of concern in Ireland, whilst also highlighting the important habitats that occur within this area that sits alongside the Ardmore Head Special Area of Conservation.

Cllr Declan Barry recently raised the issue of invasive species at Waterford Council. He said a person reported the growth of Japanese knotweed. Cllr Barry asked management how prevalent the weed is in Waterford, as it has started to encroach from public on to private land.

Marina Mulligan, Waterford City and County Councils biodiversity officer, said: It is a privilege to have both experts working in Ardmore over the summer for what will undoubtedly be two impactful projects for the area  it is great to see the local community of Ardmore taking this initiative which will provide valuable information towards monitoring habitats at a county level.

The impacts of invasive plants on natural habitats can be devastating as they outcompete native species. Due to their ability to spread quickly across an area, they can also reduce the diversity of plant life found within a habitat by reducing light and changing soil nutrients.

This has knock-on consequences for insects, mammals, fish and birds who depend on certain plants for food, laying eggs or nesting. People may be aware of Japanese knotweed and rhododendron but may not be aware of many other species like three-cornered leek, American skunk cabbage and Nuttalls waterweed.

Over the coming months, both botanists will be working closely with the local community on two significant biodiversity projects for the area. The event is supported by Waterford City and County Council, the Heritage Council and the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

The first will survey the flora of the Ardmore Cliff Walk funded under the NPWS Peatlands and Natura 2000 Community Engagement Fund, and the second will involve carrying out habitat surveys to produce a Community Biodiversity Action Plan for the village under Community Foundation Irelands Biodiversity Fund.

The schedule for Fridays event is as follows.

12pm  12.10pm Welcome and introduction to the event with Marina Mulligan, WCCC biodiversity officer

12.10pm  1pm Book launch and conversation with Dr Fran Giaquinto and Phoebe OBrien

1pm  1.20pm Invasive Species Recording with Kate Moore, National Biodiversity Data Centre

1.30  3pm Fieldtrip: Discover the species and habitats of Ardmore with Dr. Fran Giaquinto, Phoebe OBrien and Ardmore Tidy Town Committee.
Fleadh Cheoil Loch Garman set to take place this weekend

Goiste playing at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Barbara Walsh, Cllr Donal Kenny, Eddie Taaffee, Chief Executive of WCC, Sharon Ni Chiulinn, Cathaoirleach Pip Breen and Liz Hore at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Billy Byrne, Norma Quinsey, Philip Knight District Manager, Barbara Walsh, Cllr Donal Kenny, Eddie Taaffee, Chief Executive of WCC, Sharon Ni Chiulinn, Cathaoirleach Pip Breen, Cllr Mary Farrell, Cllr Nicky Boland, Liz Stanley, Liz Hore and Fionntan O Suilleabhain TD at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Philip Knight District Manager, Barbara Walsh, Cllr Donal Kenny, Eddie Taaffee, Chief Executive of WCC, Sharon Ni Chiulinn, Cathaoirleach Pip Breen, Cllr Mary Farrell, Cllr Nicky Boland, Liz Hore and Fionntan O Suilleabhain TD at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Cllr Nicky Boland, Aidan Weafer and Cllr Donal Kenny at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

CCE Gorey, Ballygarret Committee at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Cllr Donal Kenny, Liz Hore and Fionntan O Suilleabhain TD at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Baibhin, Izzy and Evie at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Elaine O Connor and Sharon Ni Chiulinn at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Michael Murphy Chairperson of the Enniscorthy Branch of Ceoltas and Seamus Coleman at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Paula Carroll, Grainne Farrell and Aileen Kennedy at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Paula Carroll presenting Aoife Weafer Leinster and Ireland Rugby Player with a gift at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Eddie Taaffee, Chief Executive of WCC and Cathaoirleach Pip Breen at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Cllr Donal Kenny giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Aine Mc Geeney from Goiste playing at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Aidan Weafer, Aoife Weafer Leinster and Ireland Rugby Player and Samantha Weafer at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Alan Reid from Goiste playing at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Colm Phelan from Goiste playing at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Colin and Laura Sinnott at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Eddie Taaffee, Chief Executive of WCC giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Maura Bell, Billy Byrne and Emma Bell at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Paula Carroll giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Sharon Ni Chiulinn giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Aoife Weafer Leinster and Ireland Rugby Player giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive of WCC giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Patrick Abbermoss, Joey Brauders, Cian Connolly and Millie Brauders at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Daithi and Sean White at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Sean, Daniel and Ella Doyle at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Orla and Ella Vigors at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Cathaoirleach Pip Breen giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Darren Kenny and Tanya Kenny at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Eimear Comorford and Ruby Lacey at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Niamh and Eli Devlin at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Philip Knight District Manager giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Caroline, Caitlin and Callum O Leary at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Molly Carroll playing the Harp at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

The CCE County Board Members at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Wexford County Council and Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District launched Fleadh Cheoil Loch Garman 2025 and Fringe Fleadh 2025 at a special event held in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, on Sunday, May 11.

This event marked the beginning of a season of Irish music, culture, and community celebration, with Gorey Community School once again playing host to the County Fleadh, taking place from May 16 to 18, for the second consecutive year.

At the launch, Leas Cathaoirleach of Gorey Municipal District Cllr Donal Kenny, welcomed all attendees and praised the talent, energy, and dedication of all involved. He spoke of the excitement felt throughout Gorey to once again be home to this important cultural event.

Speaking on the 2025 Fringe Fleadh line-up, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Pip Breen, described the festival as an immersive cultural experience designed to celebrate the richness of Irish identity.

Colin and Laura Sinnott at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

These events dont just entertain  they connect us, he said. They weave a thread between communities, between generations, and between the past and the present. Thats what makes the Fringe Fleadh so special here in Wexford. They remind us of who we are and the values we hold dear; creativity, community, heritage, tradition, and heart.

This years Fleadh Cheoil Loch Garman was organised once again by CCE Gorey/Ballygarrett. Chairperson Paula Carroll thanked her hardworking team for their tireless commitment over two consecutive years.

CCE Gorey, Ballygarret Committee at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

She also thanked the members and staff of the Gorey-Kilmuckridge District for their continued support, highlighting the lasting friendships and community spirit fostered through the event. Paula also welcomed Irish international rugby player Aoife Wafer, who spoke about how her early involvement in Irish music remains a part of her life to this day and continues to help her connect with people across the world.

Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe, officially launched the Fringe Fleadh programme, which will see cultural events taking place across Wexford throughout the summer in the lead-up to Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in August.

Mr Taaffe paid tribute to the members of Wexford County Council, the members of the Fleadh Cheoil Executive Committee (FEC) and to the many dedicated volunteers who have played a pivotal role in the success of both this and last years Fleadh.

Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive of WCC giving a speech at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Chairperson of Comhaltas Loch Garman, Sharon Ni Chuilinn, also addressed the crowd in attendance, praising the commitment and collaboration of volunteers and organisers across the county.

Reflecting on last years success, she shared her enthusiasm for the Fringe Fleadh 2025 programme, which will bring the spirit of Irish music, dance, art, and storytelling to communities across Wexford this summer.

Sharon thanked Gorey Community School for supporting Comhaltas with such a fantastic venue which enables us cater for almost 1,000 competitors and their families over the weekend. The event concluded with the Chairperson officially launching Fleadh Cheoil Loch Garman.

Cllr Nicky Boland, Aidan Weafer and Cllr Donal Kenny at the Fringe Fleadh Launch in The Ashdown Park Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

The evening concluded with a concert by internationally acclaimed traditional Irish band Goitse, warmly welcomed by the local Comhaltas branch CCE Gorey/Ballygarrett. Their performance marked a fitting celebration of the official launch and set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season of culture and community.

Full details of the Fringe Fleadh programme are available via QR codes on-site or by visiting www.visitwexford.ie.
Residents at Oakfield Nursing Home take part in traditional arts workshops ahead of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day on May 16th, in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland and Age & Opportunity. Photo; Mary Browne

Residents at Oakfield Nursing Home take part in traditional arts workshops ahead of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day on May 16th, in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland and Age & Opportunity. Photo; Mary Browne

Residents at Oakfield Nursing Home take part in traditional arts workshops ahead of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day on May 16th, in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland and Age & Opportunity. Angela Keeley. Photo; Mary Browne

Residents at Oakfield Nursing Home take part in traditional arts workshops ahead of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day on May 16th, in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland and Age & Opportunity. Photo; Mary Browne

Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) and Age & Opportunity are teaming up again this year to celebrate National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, taking place on Friday, May 16, as part of the 30th anniversary of the Bealtaine Festival.

Now in its fifth year, this special partnership highlights and celebrates the vibrant creativity, artistic expression, and storytelling traditions flourishing within nursing homes and care settings across Ireland. Homes and day centres nationwide are planning events to showcase the wonderful creative work of their residents and members.

Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: "We are extremely proud to partner with Age & Opportunity in supporting National Arts in Nursing Homes Day. This important initiative reminds us of the deep creativity, storytelling and artistic expression that lives within our nursing homes. Across the country, residents and staff are embracing the day with enthusiasm, showcasing the vibrant communities that thrive within them."

Mr Daly also paid special tribute to Oakfield Nursing Home in Wexford, which has been awarded one of the National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Awards for 2025. Oakfield Nursing Home has collaborated with renowned community artist Rachel Ui Fhaolain to develop a unique traditional song and folklore project focusing on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Irelands patroness saint.

Oakfield Nursing Home has been recognised for its special collaboration with community artist Rachel Ui Fhaolain on a traditional song and folklore project centred on St. Brigid and the local wells dedicated to Irelands patroness saint. Through a series of traditional song and folklore workshops, residents are working with Rachel to develop a new cultural collection of stories, songs, prayers and social history, culminating in a community participatory event on 16 May.

Residents at Oakfield Nursing Home take part in traditional arts workshops ahead of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day on May 16th, in partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland and Age & Opportunity. Angela Keeley. Photo; Mary Browne

"Oakfield Nursing Homes collaboration with Rachel Ui Fhaolain is a wonderful example of the creativity and cultural richness that nursing home residents contribute to wider community life," said Mr Daly. "Their work preserves vital traditions while giving residents an active, meaningful role in cultural storytelling and knowledge transfer across generations."

Dr Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager at Age & Opportunity, added:

"We are so delighted to congratulate Rachel Ui Fhaolain and Oakfield Nursing Home on winning one of our National Arts in Nursing Homes Day awards for their special folklore project and event on 16th May. On the 30th anniversary of Bealtaine, and in our fifth year of running this important initiative with our partner Nursing Homes Ireland, we are confident that more residents of nursing homes like Oakfield are engaging in enjoyable arts activities that give both themselves and the staff of those settings a greater sense of purpose and meaning."
There was great sadness in the Enniscorthy and Waterford community following the passing of Luke Whelan, who sadly passed away on Wednesday, May 7.

A resident of Gracedieu, Waterford, he originally lived in St Aidan Villas and Milehouse in Enniscorthy and his funeral was held in St Aidans Cathedral on Friday, May 9.

At the funeral, his oldest grandson Jordan gave a moving speech about how his grandfather was a shining example of love and kindness, with a great passion for travelling around the world.

"He was incredibly hard-working and worked until he was 78 years of age doing maintenance in Rockshire Nursing Home when he was older than some of the residents, he said.

"He loved travelling around the world with his partner Mary  he was a man of the world. His stories always started with When I was in Cuba, Egypt, Mexico. It would be quicker to say where he had never visited.

Despite his great travels, Luke was always there to give a helping hand and advice whether it was asked for or not.

"He was always there and was so generous. And he always had sage advice. All he asked for in return was time, he was a true family man who worked so hard so no one would go without, he added.

He finished by asking that everyone remember his impact on their lives and to continue his memory by telling his stories.

Mourners also took to RIP.ie to leave messages of condolences following his passing.

One mourner wrote: I had some lovely, fun filled enjoyable chats with Luke. Such a lovely gentleman. He spoke of you all so highly and he was so proud of his grandchildren and beautiful great grand children.

Another wrote: Luke you was always a big part in my life, you was there when I needed you and I will never forget my days in the Shannon.

Beloved husband of the late Nancy, loving partner of Mary, and dearly loved father of Penny, Luke and Con and much loved brother of Mary and the late Jim, Tuner, Pat, John, Michael and Tony, he will also be greatly missed by daughters-in-law Maria and Alison, his adored grandchildren Jordan, Shauna, Dion, Robyn, Abbie and Evan and great-grandchildren Sunny and Emmy, family, relatives and friends.
Arklow-based safety company ASL Safety & Training recently completed the second Offshore Renewables Wind Turbine Technician Training programme, whose participants are now ready to start careers in the burgeoning wind industry in either onshore or offshore roles.

Held in conjunction with the Green Tech Skillnet and Wind Energy Ireland, the training programme for the latest batch of wind turbine technicians followed the Global Wind Organisations (GWO) entry level framework and includes traditional classroom, virtual reality, real world simulations, swimming pool and our own wind turbine towers.

Delivered at ASLs dedicated training centre at Kish Business Park in Arklow, the intensive training programme featured sea survival, vessel transfer, slinger signaller, enhanced first aid, and many other international GWO components.

Following completion of the programme, ASL MD Mark Corcoran said that the company is very proud to have delivered yet another offshore-oriented wind turbine technician training programme from their base in Arklow, Irelands home of offshore wind.

With a strong pipeline of offshore wind projects getting closer to construction, we are delighted to be doing our bit to help prepare our own local Irish workforce and give them some of the skills that will be needed as this industry opens up, ASL will continue our investment in this area and associated technologies and training, he added.

We will be seeking to collaborate with other bodies as the industry continues to grow, and look forward to helping grow the Irish Workforce and supply chain.

A key to Irish success in offshore renewables will be gaining buy-in from our 16-24-year-olds, those moving towards leaving cert now- they will be the target workforce for this emerging industry.

Our centres in Belfast, Dublin, Arklow and Wexford and our mobile training units will allow us to be a big part of the training of a new workforce, but also to aid in transitioning people from other similar sectors
Wicklow artist Elis Taves (right) with Brazilian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Flavio Helmold Macieira, and his wife Mrs Josieane Macieira.

Brazilian ambassador to Ireland, Mr Flavio Helmold Macieira, will honour Wicklow artist Elis Taves by officially opening her new exhibition Water Colour at the Tinahely Courthouse Arts Centre on Sunday, May 18.

Since she first began capturing reflections, movements, and transformations in Dingle, County Kerry, in 2009, Brazilian-born Taves has been developing a visual archive centred on water.

A member of Visual Artists Ireland and current president of the Bray Camera Club, selected works from her Water Colour collection have been showcased in group exhibitions internationally, including at the Carrousel du Louvre in France, as well as in Belgium, Osaka, Helsinki, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Dublin.

Working from her Wicklow studio, Taves photographic practice blends abstraction, documentary, and poetic sensitivity. Capturing moments with both digital cameras and mobile phones, her instinctive approach is attuned to the subtleties of light, environment, and the emotional resonance of water.

In her work, water becomes a metaphor for impermanence, time, and the urgent concerns of the present, especially in the face of the climate crisis, with her reflections on water inviting viewers to contemplate not only the natural world but also the fragility of life itself.

Looking ahead to the exhibition launch, Taves said she will be delighted to welcome guest speaker Mr Macieira, who attended her innovative exhibition, Page by Page, with his wife, Mrs Josieane Macieira, in Arklow Library in January.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Ireland, and having Mr Macieira here to open the exhibition helps mark that significant milestone, she said.

Wicklow artist Elis Taves.

Water Colour will open on Sunday, May 18, from 3 pm to 5 pm. The exhibition will run until June 8 and be open between 10 am to 4 pm from Wednesday to Saturday, and from 12 pm to 4 pm on Sundays.

A bus can be booked via the Courthouse website at a cost of 10 per person. It will depart from the Signal Arts Centre in Bray at 1.45 pm and return from Tinahely Courthouse at 5 pm.
A popular Wicklow playground that gets a lot of use and abuse out of hours has been awarded funding of over 18,000 as part of the the 2025 Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme.

The facility, which is located at the south beach in Greystones, was opened seven years ago at a cost of some 300,000 but has recently fallen into a state of disrepair.

The impressive playground was designed for children of every ability and the design took into account both visible and invisible disabilities and additional needs. The musical area was the first of its kind in Ireland and consists of hand-crafted, pitch perfect, percussion instruments. However, the specialised nature of the novel features meant they were prone to damage and hard to replace.

At the April meeting of Greystones Municipal District, the outgoing district engineer Ruairi OHanlon remarked how the playground gets a lot of use and a lot of abuse as well, particularly at night, and that replacing the equipment required specialised contractors, so it was a difficult issue.

He added that the facility does need a higher level of support, which is now forthcoming following an announcement by Greystones Tanaiste Simon Harris, who said on Monday, May 12, that a total of 18,442 has been aside.

"This is great news for families in Greystones, he said. As a father of two young children I know all too well the importance of playground facilities right across our county.

I am continuing to work with the council to get more playgrounds but it is all the more important we continue to invest in the playgrounds we have already. We need to upgrade our playgrounds and keep them safe for our children. The upgrade of the playground in Greystones will provide children with a more accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable space to play.

As a community, we understand the vital role that high-quality recreational facilities play in children's development, social inclusion, and family life.

The funding will support the enhancement of playground facilities in Greystones, with a focus on accessibility and inclusive play equipment. This is part of a national scheme in which 28 projects were funded, prioritising the needs of all children, including those with disabilities or additional needs.

I want to commend Wicklow County Council for their commitment to improving community infrastructure and for successfully securing this funding, the Tanaiste continued. Projects like these are essential in ensuring our public spaces are welcoming and beneficial to every child.

The scheme requires a 25pc match in funding from the local authority.
Bella Hadid wearing a naked dress on the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival last year. Photo: Getty

Cannes Film Festival has banned nudity on the red carpet over a celebrity craze for the naked dress.

Organisers of the festival on the French Riviera have threatened to refuse entry to guests who do not cover up.

Nudity rules have been added to the dress code for the event, which begins today and will be attended by a host of Hollywood stars.

Festival organisers said the move had been made in the interests of decency following the increasing use of red carpets to show off naked dresses.

Halle Berry wore a sheer gown at the Met Gala in New York this month that revealed her body between sequinned black panelling, while model Bella Hadid went braless in a sheer brown dress last year.

Stars of their calibre often grace the Cannes red carpet in front of the Grand Theatre Lumiere, where the highest-profile films premiere.

Cannes stated in a festival document: For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.

The rules add: The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.

This prohibition was not stated in previous years, and has been included in a festival-goers charter outlining expected behaviour.

Red carpets are shown on TV by companies including Frances national broadcaster, France Televisions, although it is not known whether the risk of airing nudity played a role in deciding on the ban.

The dress code for red carpet events requires dinner jackets and long dresses.

A little black dress is also permitted, or a cocktail dress, a dark-coloured pant suit, a dressy top with black pants; elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel.

In addition to banning nudity, Cannes has also prohibited voluminous dresses with large trains.

This is for practical reasons, as billowing gowns hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating.

It is not yet clear whether Cannes bosses will waive the nudity regulations for the A-list guests attending the festival.

The festival has a recent history of flouting its own rules, particularly when VIPs are involved.

In 2021, Cannes banned personal contact as part of its Covid guidelines, including la bise, the customary French peck on each cheek.

However, on the first red carpet of the event, Pierre Lescure, the festival president at the time, greeted guests including Carla Bruni and Jessica Chastain with the customary bisous.

Masks were also made obligatory at Cannes, and standing and mingling over cocktails was banned in the Riviera resort, but guests were spotted without face coverings and many parties continued as they had before.

The festival has also set out a number of stringent environmental targets.

However, in 2022, Tom Cruise, famed for playing a daring fighter pilot, took flak from French Green politicians for taking to the skies above Cannes.

The Top Gun star arrived at the festival by helicopter, despite rules that celebrities should be brought to the red carpet by electric cars.

Cruises landing was followed by a jet fly-past in his honour.

Thierry Fremaux, the festival director, has promised audiences a raft of big stars this year, and Cruise is expected to be in attendance once again to premiere the latest Mission Impossible film.

He may be joined by stars including Paul Mescal, Emma Stone and Scarlett Johansson. ( Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd)
A man walks past shops damage by Indian shelling at the main bazaar in Jura, a day after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced. Pic by AP/M.D. Mughal.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan yesterday that New Delhi would target terrorist hideouts across the border again if there were new attacks on India.

Mr Modis first public comments since Indian armed forces launched strikes on what New Delhi said were terrorist camps across the border last week indicated a hardening of Indias position on ties with its neighbour, which were icy even before the latest fighting.
The leader of a British-based Russian spy ring that prosecutors said carried out surveillance for the Kremlin was sentenced yesterday to nearly 11 years in jail, as his five team members were jailed for a total of about 40 years.
Trump offers to take part in potential peace talks in Istanbul

US president says he would join with Putin and Zelensky to get it done

From left, Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk speak with US president Donald Trump via phone during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 10, 2025. Press Service of Ministry of Foreign Affair of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS

Tom Balmforth, Yulia Dysa and Steve Holland Reuters Tue 13 May 2025 at 03:30







US president Donald Trump offered yesterday to join prospective Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey later this week as European countries pushed to get the Kremlin to accept their demand for a 30-day ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.
I was a hostage of the Iranian regime: The Tipperary native on being held in dire conditions and the war with Israel
The Kurdish militant group PKK announced yesterday that it is disbanding and renouncing armed conflict as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey, ending four decades of hostilities.

The decision by the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, promises to end one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East and could have significant impact in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
A citizens panel tasked with meeting every 10 years to update the Erie County charter narrowly voted down an effort to establish term limits for all countywide elected offices Monday night.

Had it passed, it would have been the most consequential recommendation of 62 proposals received and considered by the commission after more than two dozen meetings, including eight public hearings, over five months. While term limit recommendations failed to gain approval, other proposals aimed at improving public engagement and effectiveness were approved.

Erie County Charter review panel urges Legislature to create public comment period The most noteworthy change to the Erie County Charter being recommended by a citizens panel is the establishment of a public comment period so that any resident interested in addressing the Legislature can do so.

That includes tougher requirements for serving on one of the many volunteer advisory boards established by the county executive and County Legislature. Under the new recommendations proposed and adopted Monday, the board approved new requirements that would mandate any advisory board to have an approved statement of purpose and objectives, criteria for membership, an open and public application process, attendance requirements, published meeting minutes and annual reports and ethics standards.

Each board should set some criteria for membership. They dont all have that, said commission member Andrea O Suilleabhain, executive director of the Partnership for the Public Good. Now, each time a board is open or launched, there should be a public call for applications. It doesnt say you must take all members for that, but you least have to announce it and open it for applications.

The recommendation originally came from County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard, who led the charge this year to abolish the ineffective Erie County Corrections Specialist Advisory Board and to have new members appointed.

Last week, the commission also recommended that the County Legislature establish a public comment period so that any resident interested in publicly addressing the Legislature can have the opportunity. That was approved as a commission recommendation in a 14-1 vote. The recommendation originally came from Paul Wolf, founder of the New York Coalition for Open Government. He said the county legislatures for Niagara, Monroe, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Orleans and Wyoming counties already offer public comment periods as part of their meetings.

Assuming the recommendation is adopted by the County Legislature, it would still require legislators to set rules governing how and when the public may comment at its meetings.

Of all the proposals considered by the Charter Revision Commission, 33 came forward for a vote, and 28 were approved over two meetings.

The last 16 recommendations were voted on Monday night. Three failed, including an effort to establish term limits for county legislators, and another to prohibit political party chairs from serving as one of two Erie County Board of Elections Commissioners. Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner currently serves as one of the board commissioners.

Last week, the commission voted on 17 proposed recommendations and approved 15 of them. Most were technical in nature.

On Monday, the board finished its work by voting on two of its most controversial proposals, both originally recommended by members of the public and brought forward by former Republican Congressman Chris Jacobs.

One was to recommended term limits that would have limited all elected county officials to serving eight years in office. But that failed in a 9-8 vote, with opponents noting that County Legislator John Bargnesi already has a separate term limits law under consideration by the County Legislature, which is going nowhere fast. Because the commission is composed of 19 members, though two were absent Monday, any resolution would have required 10 votes to pass.

A second recommendation from Jacobs, recommended by Wolf, would also bar the chair of any political party from serving as a Board of Elections commissioner or deputy commissioner, because of the appearance of a conflict of interest and concerns of its potential impact on candidate access to Board of Elections resources. It would not have been retroactive, meaning that Zellner, the countys Democratic Party chairman, would not have been forced to step down had the recommendation passed and ultimately been adopted. But that measure failed in a 10-7 vote.

Overall, Commission Chairman Shawn Connolly said he was pleased with the effort, respect and hard work put in by all committee members over the past five months.

Im just proud that it was done in a very professional, cordial atmosphere, with a lot of respect for a lot of different opinions, he said in his closing remarks to the group. We have 19 pretty active civic leaders at this table, and everyone displayed incredible professionalism, character, insight and experience that I think was very valuable.

The commission recommendations now go before the Erie County Legislature for consideration. Any recommendations that are adopted by the Legislature could still be subject to a veto by the county executive, though the types of recommendations that moved forward appear unlikely to raise any concerns with County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

One recommendation that may raise objections from some legislators involves allowing the county administration be free to transfer up to $50,000 between accounts within the same department or division without legislative approval. The current threshold for transferring funds without Legislature approval, which has been unchanged for decades, is $10,000.

Erie County charter panel removes harsh proposals from report A committee charged with reviewing and revamping how Erie County government works has proposed longer terms for legislators, looser conditions for giving elected officials raises, tougher ethics language and greater diversification of county leadership among other noteworthy recommendations. The Erie County Charter Revision Commission, which convenes every 10 years, has proposed 55 changes to the Erie County charter. Though

In general, however, the commission took a fairly conservative approach to recommending charter changes, compared with the last time the commission was convened a decade ago. Wolf praised the commissions work and leadership, but expressed disappointment that only one recommendation from the public was approved, saying he wished the commission hadnt taken so narrow an approach to their work.

The last time the Erie County Charter Revision Commission met, when the Legislatures Republican caucus still held the majority, more controversial proposals moved forward.

That panel voted in favor of extending legislator terms from two years to four years, tripling the size of the Board of Ethics, and changing language to make it nearly impossible for the county executive to fire his county attorney appointee on his own. Republican-supported legislators tried to push through the commissions roughly 50 recommended charter changes with their one-vote majority. But Poloncarz vetoed the measure. The County Legislature ultimately adopted a much less controversial set of recommendations months later.
Afrikaners gather at the US Embassy in Pretoria last February to hand in a memorandum to thank officials and US president Donald Trump and Elon Musk for their expression of interest in South African affairs. Photo: Getty
US President Donald Trump opened his four-day Middle East trip on Tuesday by paying a visit to Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for talks on US efforts to dismantle Irans nuclear programme, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more.
US slashes 'de minimis' tariff on small China parcels to 54pc

White House cuts de minimis tariff on China shipments to 54pc Tariff reduction follows broader truce announcement after Geneva talks US de minimis rule criticized for enabling cheap imports and smuggling

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Monday, May 12, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Farah Master and Casey Hall Reuters Tue 13 May 2025 at 12:28







The United States will cut the "de minimis" tariff for low-value items imported from China, a White House executive order said on Monday, further de-escalating a potentially damaging trade war between the world's two largest economies.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
Eva Lasting Season 3 OTT Release Date: Good news for fans of teen romance and heartfelt drama, Eva Lasting is back with Season 3! The much-loved Colombian coming-of-age series starring Emmanuel Restrepo and Francisca Estevez is all set to stream on Netflix starting June 4, 2025, according to What's on Netflix. If youve been following the emotional rollercoaster of Camilo and Eva, mark your calendars now.

A recap of Eva Lasting

In the first two seasons, we followed the story of Camilo, a shy teenager in 1970s Bogota, whose life turns upside down when Eva, a bold and intelligent girl, enters his all-boys school. Eva challenges everything Camilo thought he knew about love, gender roles, and growing up.

Eva Lasting beautifully explores teenage relationships, social norms of the era, and the bittersweet moments of first love. Season 2 ended on a slightly emotional note, leaving fans wondering about the future of Eva and Camilos relationship. There were tears, misunderstandings, and a few unresolved issues that had viewers desperate for more.

What to expect in Eva Lasting Season 3?

Created by by Dago Garcia, Eva Lasting Season 3 promises to dive even deeper into the complexities of Camilo and Evas bond. The makers have hinted at big changes, personal growth, and new life decisions for the young couple. Will they stay together? Will they go their separate ways? Thats what Season 3 will explore.

Theres also buzz that the new season will tackle more serious social issues, like political unrest and gender dynamics in a changing Colombia, while still keeping the emotional core of Eva and Camilos story intact. The chemistry between Emmanuel and Francisca is still the soul of the show, and fans cant wait to see where their journey leads next. Dont miss Eva Lasting Season 3 this June.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
The Royals has become the buzz of the town despite getting mixed reviews, and not simply because of its plot or acting. Ishaan Khatter has swiftly taken center stage thanks to his incredible washboard abs, causing social media to go crazy. His toned appearance has won praise from both critics and fans, demonstrating that occasionally a well-kept body can overpower a subpar storyline. People have been going gaga in a way that theyve said that Ishans abs are pretty much the only reason to watch the show.

Ishaan Khatters abs in The Royals break the internet

Taking to X after watching the show, viewers wrote about how Ishaan has clearly worked hard on his physique and how fantastic he looks on screen.

ishaan in the new royals show on netflix  I need him pic.twitter.com/5L9gAM3cVf  riya  (@tabrcnnnie) May 9, 2025





#IshaanKhatter is all kinds of unforgettable in The Royals brooding, bold, and beautifully human. He truly is bollywood's new age hearthrob..#TheRoyals pic.twitter.com/sM5rDr2FRQ  Vinamra (@vinamravinamra8) May 9, 2025

One wrote, Ishaan Khatter in The Royals is flawless, the only ONLY reason to watch that show.

The only person I was watching in The Royals was Ishaan Khatter cause WHAT A MAN!!!!!!   Moesha  (@momozzzz23) May 10, 2025

I'm going to start watching the royals cause of ishaan khattar he's so sexy omg  Ololademrsmoneyyyyyyy (@petitemoren) May 10, 2025

Saw one tiktok of ishaan khatter in the royals and that was all the convincing I needed to watch the show   Shiv  (@vekamleyaa) May 11, 2025

Ishaan Khatter is the only good thing about the royals. While I do like bhumis movies, she is EXTREMELY miscasted in this. Shouldve chosen another actress for this role   (@Nitesky) (@mediafilmss) May 12, 2025

ishaan is literally the only plot in royals. so hot, so effortless.  shyra (@shyranotshayar) May 13, 2025

A second added, Ishaan is literally the only plot in royals. so hot, so effortless.

A third went on to add, Saw one tiktok of ishaan khatter in the royals and that was all the convincing I needed to watch the show.

Ishaan Khatters role in The Royals

Ishaan Khatter stars in The Royals as Aviraaj Singh, aka Fizzy, the eldest son of the Maharaja of Morpur. After his fathers death, he becomes the new Maharaja of a royal family that is essentially broke and in debt. He is shown falling in love with an entrepreneur, played by Bhumi Pednekar, and together they take on the task of restoring the palace and carrying forward the late Maharajas legacy.

More about Ishaan Khatter

Ishaan Khatter is the son of actors Neelima Azeem and Rajesh Khattar, and the half-brother of Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor. He made his on-screen debut as a child in Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!. His breakthrough came in 2017 with his first lead role in Beyond the Clouds, directed by renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi. He rose to fame with Dhadak (2018), in which he starred opposite Janhvi Kapoor.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Tucci in Italy OTT Release Date: Hold on to your forks, food lovers! The charming, ever-curious Stanley Tucci is back, and this time, hes exploring the heart and belly of Italy like never before. From wild mountain recipes to the secret soul of pasta, Tucci in Italy is a feast you dont want to miss. The five-part docuseries Tucci in Italy will officially premiere on May 18 at 8/7c on National Geographic, with a streaming release on May 19 on Disney+, JioHotstar and Hulu.

What is Tucci in Italy all about?

More than a food show, this is Tucci in Italy, a heartfelt, visually stunning journey through five distinct regions of Italy. Stanley Tucci, the award-winning actor and real-life foodie, takes us beyond the pizza and pasta cliches and into the untold stories behind Italys most cherished dishes.

From Tuscanys outdoor feasts and Lombardys futuristic farms, to the snowy slopes of Trentino-Alto Adige, the raw beauty of Abruzzo, and the rustic traditions of Lazio, each episode is like a postcard from a secret Italian kitchen.

Youll see Stanley Tucci sip pine needle pesto on a mountain, chat with local fishermen on ancient wooden platforms called trabocchi, ride with Tuscan cowboys and unpack history, identity, and cultureone bite at a time. Tucci himself says it best: Italy is a feast for the senses TUCCI IN ITALY is an invitation to the table.

Tucci in Italys episode line-up you shouldnt miss

Tuscany (Ep 1)  Traditional cowboy life meets Renaissance flavours.

Lombardy (Ep 2)  Think space-age farms and rare ingredients.

Trentino-Alto Adige (Ep 3)  A German-Italian mix of snow, soup, and history.

Abruzzo (Ep 4)  Wild food and centuries-old traditions.

Lazio (Ep 5)  Rustic heartland meets ancient Rome.

So, whether you're a die-hard foodie, a fan of Italy, or just someone looking for a comforting, soulful watch, youll find yourself hooked on Tucci in Italy. So grab a bowl of pasta, log in to JioHotstar and join Stanley Tucci on this unforgettable journey. Spoiler alert: Youll want to book a flight to Italy by the end of Episode 1.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Untamed OTT Release Date: Netflixs new murder mystery series is all set to drop this July 17, and its bringing the wild side of Yosemite National Park straight to your screen. Untamed is a six-episode mystery thriller that dives into a brutal murder deep inside Yosemite National Park, but its more than just a whodunit.

Eric Bana stars as Kyle Turner, a special agent with the elite Investigative Services Branch (ISB) of the National Parks Service. His job? Solve crimes that happen in some of Americas most remote and breathtaking landscapes. This time, Turner is on the trail of a killer who seems to know Yosemite just as well as he does. As he hunts down clues, Turner also has to face some dark secrets from his own past and those hidden within the park itself.

Who else is in the cast?

Eric Bana (Troy, Dirty John) as Kyle Turner, the lead investigator.

as Kyle Turner, the lead investigator. Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) as Paul Souter, the experienced Yosemite chief ranger and Turners longtime friend.

as Paul Souter, the experienced Yosemite chief ranger and Turners longtime friend. Rosemarie DeWitt (La La Land) as Jill Bodwin, Turners ex-wife, who still plays an important role in his life.

as Jill Bodwin, Turners ex-wife, who still plays an important role in his life. Lily Santiago (La Brea) as Naya Vasquez, a rookie ranger from L.A., learning the ropes of wilderness law enforcement.

as Naya Vasquez, a rookie ranger from L.A., learning the ropes of wilderness law enforcement. Wilson Bethel (Daredevil) as Shane Maguire, a wildlife officer and ex-Army ranger who prefers the solitude of nature.

A still from Untamed | Credits: Netflix

The people behind the series

Untamed comes from the minds of Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, American Primeval) and Elle Smith (The Marsh Kings Daughter). The show is designed to focus on characters and human emotion just as much as mystery and suspense. Speaking about the idea behind the series, co-creator Mark L. Smith said, Everyone thinks of Yosemite as this beautiful place with all the vistas and all the scenery, but we were trying to touch on the dangers that are just beyond that. I love stripping all the cheats away, stripping all the more modern tools that people can use. It really gets down to the character and what they can find within themselves.

Catch all six episodes of Untamed starting July 17, 2025, only on Netflix.

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One Piece episode 1129 release date and time: After Nightmare in Sight  The God of Scientific Defense, Saint Saturn, One Piece episode 1129 is being highly anticipated. Last week, a special episode featuring Bonney and Kuma was released, and the story will continue from episode 1128 this week. If youve been waiting to see more of the anime and are all caught up with the latest episodes, weve got you covered. Heres everything you need to know about One Piece episode 1129.

What to expect from One Piece episode 1129?

The episode will then go on to present Bartholomew Kuma and Bonney's entire backstory, as the title Kuma's Past - Better Off Dead in This World implies. Chapter 1095 of the manga will probably be covered in One Piece Episode 1129, following Saturn's easy recovery from Bonney's onslaught. He'll take her, render Sanji helpless, and try to murder Luffy before Franky steps in. As per Pinkvilla, a flashback exposing Kuma's past will be triggered by Bonney, who is horrified by Saturn's acts. Fans will discover more about the World Nobles' enslavement of Bartholomew Kuma, a member of the Buccaneers race.

One Piece episode 1129 preview

The preview was shared by the makers on YouTube and if you have not watched it yet, here it is:

One Piece episode 1129 release date and time

Local Japanese networks will broadcast One Piece Episode 1129, 'Kuma's Past - Better Off Dead in This World,' on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 11:15 p.m. JST. Internationally, it will be released on Crunchyroll.

One Piece episode 1129 global release schedule

Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 7:15 AM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 10:15 AM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

British Summer Time (BST): 3:15 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

Central European Summer Time (CEST): 4:15 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

Indian Standard Time (IST): 7:45 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

Philippine Standard Time (PST): 10:15 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

Japanese Standard Time (JST): 11:15 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

Australia Central Standard Time (ACST): 11:45 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025

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Following the release of a few episodes, Witch Watch is gradually gaining popularity and becoming a popular anime. In the anime, Nico Wakatsuki, a young witch, moves into a home with her childhood friend Morihito Otogi, an ogre with a human appearance, after completing her magical training. Here's when to watch the next episode if you've already seen the most recent ones.

What is Witch Watch about?

Crunchyroll claims that high school student Morihito Otogi possesses ogre-like power. In the anime everything is quiet until Nico Wakatsuki, a witch-in-training and friend from his youth, moves in. Nico introduces Morihito to her, expressing excitement over their reunion. His quest to shield Nico from the threats foretold must now be his primary concern. They are about to embark on their magical, troubled days!

Witch Watch episode 7 release date and time

Witch Watch episode 7 will be released on 18th May 2025 JST.

Witch Watch episode 7 global release time

Pacific Time (PT): 1:00 AM

Central Time (CT): 3:00 AM

Eastern Time (ET): 4:00 AM

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 8:00 AM

Central European Time (CET): 10:00 AM

Indian Standard Time (IST): 1:00 PM

Philippine Time (PHT): 4:00 PM

Australia Central Time (ACST): 5:30 PM

Where to watch Witch Watch episode 7?

Viewers in Japan can visit websites like JNN (MBS, TBS). Additionally, there are a number of websites that offer Witch Watch episode 7 with English subtitles; the most popular ones for viewers from other countries are Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.

Witch Watch manga

Since February 2021, the series has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, Shueisha's shonen manga magazine. Its chapters have been collected into twenty-one tankobon volumes as of April 2025. The manga had more than 1.1 million copies in circulation by November 2022.

Also, did you know? Kenta Shinohara disclosed that the characters in Witch Watch are drawn in five days, whilst the storyboards require two and a half days.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
ALBANY  Trying to help mend the states deeply troubled history with the nine Indigenous nations within its borders, the New York State Senate unanimously passed a resolution on Monday to apologize for the states role in the cultural erasure inflicted on children who attended the former Thomas Indian School on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, and Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens, came after Seneca Nation of Indians President J.C. Seneca testified before the first meeting in more than a decade of the Senates Native American Relations Subcommittee. Leaders of the Shinnecock Nation and St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, among others, were also in attendance.

I think the state and native relations have not been, lets say, very good over the course of history and course of time, Seneca, who was elected in November, told the subcommittee, which included Borrello. Id like to say that since Ive become president, weve started engaging in regard to issues here in Albany. I see a change happening, and Im glad to see that. Ive been at some really bad meetings here in Albany, but as of late, Ive been at some been really some good meetings.

Seneca added: Although we do have to deal with our history, we also have to deal with today and the future.

During a visit to Albany in March, Seneca revealed that Gov. Kathy Hochul had promised to apologize on behalf of the state for its role in the horrific history of the Thomas Indian School, a boarding school on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation where children were abused physically and emotionally and subjected to efforts to rob them of their culture.

Initially opened in 1855 as the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children, the state ran it from 1875, and changed its name to the Thomas Indian School. It was one of many locations across the country where American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children were forcibly removed from their families in an attempt at cultural assimilation. The school closed in 1957, but scars remain, according to members of the nation.

In 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior began an initiative to investigate the history of the schools. In October, former President Joe Biden apologized on behalf of the country for the Thomas Indian School.

There were a lot of stories that were just never told to us because it was too painful, said Odie Porter, a member of the Seneca Council.

In reading the resolution, Borrello said the Thomas Indian School stands as a stark and shameful reminder of a chapter in American history that saw government power used to strip away language, culture and identity from the native children. Its been called a school, but, as this resolution rightly says, it was not a haven. It was a tool of forced assimilation. It was part of a system designed to kill the Indian and save the man. Thats in quotes. Thats what their mission was stated as  those words still echo with horror today.

Sen. Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma, said the resolution was a long time coming, and he was very proud to stand here today where we are condemning what took place.

Seneca president says Hochul will apologize for state's role in Thomas Indian School The president of the Seneca Nation said Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to issue a formal apology for the abuse and deaths of children at the former Thomas Indian School.

Earlier, Klint Nephew, a member of the Seneca Council, said there was progress in simply having the communitys concerns be considered.

Having us come to the table is monumental, he said. I think, a lot of times, our voices werent heard  I felt as if we were invisible in New York State and through the world, actually.

Seneca, whose nation includes 8,000 members, said he is working with the Governors Office to schedule a date when Hochul will visit the Seneca Nation and apologize on the Cattaraugus territory. In March, a Hochul spokesperson said the governor was committed to strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the Seneca Nation and the State of New York.

Seneca gaming talks 'paused' as new Albany session nears As the wait for a compact agreement continues, the stalemate has drawn optimism from Hochul, criticism of the governor by Republicans and a call for financial help from at least one Niagara Falls-based advocate who hoped the gaming money would once again fund her cause.

Since 2002, the Senecas have had an agreement with the state to exclusively operate casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca. In turn, the state receives 25% of the profit. Seneca has maintained that he believes the states percentage should be zero. After being sworn into office on Nov. 12, Seneca said he hoped to hold a series of community meetings to gather input from constituents on any future compact with New York.

J.C. Seneca wins Seneca Nation presidency in dominant fashion "With tonights election, it is my goal to take all I have learned in that time and blend it into my platform of 'unifying the Seneca People,' Seneca said after claiming 87% of the vote.

On Monday, as Seneca and other members stressed that their nation is about more than gambling, the president said he was hopeful that he could soon meet with Hochul about the future of the compact. He said there are members of the nation who are OK with sharing some profits with the state, but said there has to be a value in that.

The way I look at it right now, what value of anything in the gaming world can the state give to us and for them to have a revenue share? What is that? Seneca said. The way it is right now, with our brick and mortar and what weve done in the last 20 years, New Yorks had a great deal over the last 20 years and plus. Its time for us to get a good deal.
The 2025 edition of the Cannes Film Festival will start from May 13 with several Indian names set to make an impact. Among them is Alia Bhatt, who will make her debut at the festival, along with Nitanshi Goel, who will also walk the red carpet for the first time. From celebrated veterans to new-age performers, Indian cinema will be represented across generations this year in Cannes, France.

Nitanshi Goel becomes youngest Indian actor to debut at Cannes

Nitanshi Goel, known for her role in Laapataa Ladies, is set to appear at Cannes 2025, making her the youngest Indian actor to debut at the festival. After her film was selected as Indias official entry to the Oscars 2025, this marks another milestone in her career.

Speaking to IANS, Nitanshi said, Im that girl who is representing every Indian girl out there who dreams big and is ready to go and achieve them, come what may. She also called the Cannes appearance an absolute honour and said its not just about fashion or fame but empowerment for young women.

Alia Bhatt | Credit: X

Alia Bhatts Cannes debut among the most awaited

Alia Bhatt, known for her performances in Gangubai Kathiawadi and other major Bollywood films, is another key name attending the festival for the first time. Though specific details about her Cannes appearance havent been revealed, fans are looking forward to her red carpet presence and fashion choices.

Alias global recognition and consistent screen performances make her Cannes debut one of the major highlights of the festival.

Other Indian actors making an appearance at Cannes 2025

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a Cannes regular, will return to the festival this year. She has consistently represented India at the event and is known for her red carpet presence.

Actors Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khattar are also set to attend the event. Both will be present for the world premiere of Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, which will be screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the festival.

Laapataa Ladies and its Cannes connection

Nitanshi Goel rose to fame with her role in Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao. The film follows two newlywed women who are mistakenly switched during a train journey to their in-laws homes, leading to a series of events with both humour and emotion. The film, which also stars Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam, was praised for its storytelling and message of empowerment.

Now, with its Oscar selection and Cannes debut, the film and its cast continue to gain international attention.

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The 78th Cannes Film Festival is underway from May 13 to May 24, 2025, in Cannes, France. This years edition, held along the iconic French Riviera, brings together international stars from film, fashion, and the arts. Along with major film premieres and red carpet appearances, the Palme dOr remains the most awaited honour at the festival.

Grand opening and streaming details

The festivals official opening ceremony is scheduled for May 13 at 7:15 PM local time (10:45 PM IST), where the prestigious Palme dOr dHonneur will be presented. Audiences across the globe can tune in as the entire festival is being streamed live 24/7 on the official Festival de Cannes YouTube channel, Mubi, FilmyDoo (from 2:30 PM IST for Indian users), and the festivals official website.

In addition to live coverage, the festivals Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) handles will provide regular updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses throughout the event.

New dress code for Gala screenings

This year, the organisers of the festival have updated the dress code for gala screenings at the Grand Theatre Lumiere, which typically occur around 7 and 10 p.m. The new rules prohibit outfits that promote nudity, citing decency standards.

According to the official document quoted by ANI, guests attending gala screenings are expected to wear formal evening wear. Acceptable options include long dresses, tuxedos, little black dresses, cocktail dresses, dark-coloured pantsuits, or dressy tops with black pants. Formal footwear, including elegant sandals (with or without heels), is encouraged, while sneakers are not permitted. Men are required to wear black or navy-blue suits with bow-ties or dark-coloured ties.

Items such as tote bags, backpacks, and oversized bags are not allowed. Voluminous dresses, especially those with long trains, are also restricted as per the updated policy.

Strong line-up from India

India has a significant presence at this years Cannes. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returns to the red carpet, while Alia Bhatt is confirmed to make her debut, as announced during a recent media interaction in Mumbai.

It's time for Cannes Film Festival 2025 featuring Alia Bhatt. #CannesFilmFestival pic.twitter.com/Kdm1ITat9U  Eishaan (@eishaanix) May 12, 2025





Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter will also debut at Cannes for the premiere of Neeraj Ghaywans Homebound, which is part of the Un Certain Regard category. Filmmaker Karan Johar will accompany them as Dharma Productions is backing the project.

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore will attend for the world premiere of the restored version of Satyajit Rays 1970 film Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest), which will be showcased under Cannes Classics. Tagore was part of the festivals main jury in 2009.

Writer-director Payal Kapadia is on the main competition jury this year. Her 2024 film All We Imagine As Light had premiered at Cannes last year and won the Grand Prix.

Young actor Nitanshi Goel of Laapataa Ladies fame is also set to walk the red carpet, making her the youngest Indian actor to debut at Cannes this year. She will appear for L'Oreal Paris, which remains the official beauty partner for Cannes for the 28th consecutive year.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Tuesdays episode of The Bold and the Beautiful will be filled with emotionally charged moments, tough decisions, and shifting relationships. As Steffy sets a firm boundary with Luna, and Hope surprises Liam with a new proposal, tensions rise and futures become uncertain in Los Angeles.

Steffy confronts Luna in a heated showdown

Steffy Forrester is furious to see Luna Nozawa at her home and doesnt hesitate to confront her. Luna claims she came to connect with her father, Finn, but Steffy doesnt believe it. She insists that Luna has no place in their family and tries to shut down the relationship entirely. Luna stands her ground, reminding Steffy that blood relationships cant be erased, and Finn should have the right to decide for himself. While it seems Finn might defend Luna, he ultimately supports Steffys stancefor now. His brief hesitation, though, doesnt go unnoticed.

Luna in The Bold and the Beautiful | Credit: X

Finns loyalty is put to the test

After Luna leaves, Steffy voices her concern about Finns reaction. She warns him again to keep Luna away, worried that emotional ties could disrupt their life. Steffy makes it clear that their familys safety is at risk, and she expects Finn to protect itwithout any doubts.

Hope makes a surprising suggestion to Liam

Elsewhere, Hope Logan and Liam Spencer share a quiet and heartfelt moment at Brookes house. As they reflect on their past, Hope unexpectedly proposes a fresh start together. Liam is caught off guard, unaware that Steffy mightve pushed Hope in this direction by leaking medical rumors. Later, Carter overhears Hope speaking about her future with Liamleaving him emotionally shaken.

As loyalties blur and emotions rise, The Bold and the Beautiful sets the stage for major changes. Will love win or wounds deepen?
Maharashtra SSC result 2025 announced: The wait is over! The Maharashtra SSC result 2025 has officially been declared today, May 13, by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Pune. The announcement was made by the board's chairman, Sharad Gosavi, during a press conference held at the board headquarters.

This year, the overall pass percentage in the Maharashtra SSC exams stands at 94.10%, slightly lower than last year's 95.81%.

Girls Outshine Boys Yet Again in Maharashtra SSC 2025

Following the consistent trend of recent years, girls have once again outperformed boys in the Maharashtra SSC result 2025. While girls secured a pass percentage of 96.14%, boys achieved a success rate of 92.31%.

This year, 8,23,611 boys and 7,22,968 girls appeared for the Maharashtra SSC board exams. Out of these, 7,60,325 boys and 6,95,108 girls successfully passed.

Repeater Student Performance in Maharashtra SSC 2025

Out of 23,954 repeater students who took the SSC exam this year, 9,448 passed. This results in a pass percentage of 39.44% among repeat candidates.

Despite the challenges, many repeaters have shown determination and succeeded  congratulations to them too!

Congratulations to All Students on Their Maharashtra SSC Result 2025

Passing the Maharashtra SSC board exam is a big milestone. Whether you're a topper or have improved your performance, you deserve to be celebrated.

Below are 35+ congratulations messages and quotes to share with your friends, family, or students who have succeeded in their Maharashtra SSC result 2025.

Congratulations Messages for Maharashtra SSC Students

Congratulations on your amazing Maharashtra SSC result! Your hard work has truly paid off.

Well done on passing your SSC exams! Wishing you more success ahead.

Hats off to you for shining in the Maharashtra SSC exams. Youre an inspiration!

Youve passed with flying colours! Im proud of your dedication and effort.

Congratulations on topping the Maharashtra SSC board! Youve made us all proud.

Cheers to your brilliant result in the SSC exams. Keep up the great work!

Passing your exams is no small feat. Great job and congratulations!

Youve achieved something remarkable in the Maharashtra SSC result. Celebrate your success!

All those sleepless nights were worth it. Well done!

This is just the beginning of your bright future. Congratulations on your SSC result!

Congratulations on this beautiful achievement! May this be the start of many more wins in your life.

So proud of you for passing your SSC exams. Your dedication truly shines through!

Great job on crossing this milestone! Wishing you success in all your future studies.

Well done! You've shown that hard work really does pay off.

This is just the beginning of your journey  congratulations on making it count!

Hats off to your efforts and success in the Maharashtra SSC result!

Youve made your family proud today. Congratulations and keep soaring!

Youve crossed a big hurdle, and were all so happy for you!

Success doesnt come easy, but youve earned every bit of it!

Passing your 10th exams is a big achievement  celebrate it, you deserve to!

Congratulations on your brilliant result. Let this be your first step towards greatness.

Youve done amazingly well! Your marks are proof of your hard work and dedication.

Best wishes on this big success. Youve shown that anything is possible with effort.

Passing your SSC exams is just the beginning  may your future be full of many such wins.

So proud of how far youve come! This result is a reward for all your sleepless nights.

Congratulations on shining bright in your Maharashtra SSC result!

This victory belongs to you  wear it with pride.

Youve earned your success today. Enjoy the moment!

Cheers to you and your amazing achievement in the 10th board exams!

Hard work always pays off  and today, you've proved it perfectly!

Inspirational Quotes for Maharashtra SSC Result 2025

Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.  Robert Collier

Hard work always pays off. Todays result is proof!

Exams are tough, but youre tougher. Congratulations!

Dream big, work hard, and you shall succeed. Well done!

Youve turned your dreams into reality with your Maharashtra SSC success.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.  Eleanor Roosevelt

"Your success is not an accident; it's a result of your determination and effort."

"You studied in silence, and now your success is making the noise!"

"Every small effort you made has built up to this big achievement."

"Success is the sum of small efforts repeated daily  and today, it shows!"

"Todays achievement is tomorrows foundation. Keep building!"

"This result proves that the best way to predict your future is to create it."

"Your results speak of your journey  from struggle to success."

"Youre not just a student anymore  youre an achiever!"

"Your report card is glowing with the results of your patience and persistence."

"Success doesnt come from what you do occasionally, but what you do consistently  and you nailed it!"

"Congratulations! You are the light that shines through even the hardest exams."

"Hard work has never failed anyone  and your results prove it once again."

"Exams are tough, but champions like you make them look easy!"

"Your grades are just the beginning of a bright journey ahead."

"Youve battled stress and sleepless nights  and came out victorious!"

"Success is sweeter when it follows true effort  just like yours."

"The marks you got are just numbers, but they represent your passion and efforts."

"This achievement is yours forever. No one can take it from you!"

"Youve passed more than an exam  youve proven your potential."

"This is the start of something big. Believe in yourself and aim even higher!"

Funny & Light-hearted Wishes for SSC Exam Toppers

Youve proven that beauty and brains go hand in hand. Congrats, superstar!

Youre not just a topper; youre the reason others are inspired to study!

If hard work were a superhero power, youd be the ultimate hero. Congratulations!

Exams were scared of you, and the results show why. Well done!

Personalised Congratulations Quotes (Insert Name or Subject)

(Name), Im so impressed by your performance in the Maharashtra SSC result 2025. Keep it up!

Wow, (Name)! Youve aced your papers and made everyone proud.

Fantastic job in (Subject), (Name)! Your effort is shining through.

(Name), your SSC result is a reflection of your dedication. Congratulations!

Wishes for Repeaters and Improvement Students

You didnt give up, and thats what matters the most. Congratulations on passing the SSC exam!

Progress is progress  be proud of your success!

Failing once doesnt define you. Youve risen again with courage. Congratulations!

Your journey might be different, but your destination is just as grand. Well done!

Share the Joy of Maharashtra SSC Result 2025

If you know someone who passed the Maharashtra SSC 2025 board exams, send them a heartfelt congratulations message or quote to celebrate their success. Whether its a topper, an average scorer, or someone whos improved, every student deserves recognition for their effort.

Let these Maharashtra SSC congratulations messages and quotes spread happiness and encouragement.

The Maharashtra SSC result 2025 is more than just numbers  it's a celebration of perseverance, effort, and dreams coming true. Whether youre a student, parent, or teacher, take a moment to appreciate this milestone.

Congratulations once again to all SSC students. May your future be just as bright!

Maharashtra SSC Result 2025: Official websites to check your result

Students can check their Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2025 on the following official portals:

mahresult.nic.in

mahahsscboard.in

sscresult.mahahsscboard.in

results.gov.in

results.nic.in

mahahsc.in

How to check Maharashtra SSC result 2025 online?

Follow these steps to check and download your Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 marksheet:

Visit any official Maharashtra SSC result portal such as mahresult.nic.in.

Click on the link titled SSC Examination March 2025 Result.

Enter your roll number and mothers first name as mentioned on your hall ticket.

Verify the details and click on the Submit button.

Your Maharashtra Board Class 10 result 2025 will appear on the screen.

Download or take a screenshot/printout of your marksheet for future reference.

Important highlights of the Maharashtra SSC result 2025

Below are the important highlights of the Maharashtra SSC result 2025:

Total students appeared: 16,11,610 (8,64,120 boys, 7,47,471 girls, 19 transgender candidates)

Exam dates: February 21 to March 17, 2025

Result declaration date and time: May 13, 2025, at 1 PM IST

Result announced via press conference at 11 AM IST followed by online release at 1 PM IST.

Students can also access results via DigiLocker and SMS services.

FAQs

1. When will the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 be declared?

Answer: The Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 was declared today, May 13, 2025, at 1 PM IST by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE).

2. Where can I check my Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 online?

Answer: You can check your Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 on official websites such as mahresult.nic.in, mahahsscboard.in, and sscresult.mahahsscboard.in.

3. What details are required to check the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025?

Answer: Students need to enter their roll number and mothers first name as per the hall ticket to access the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 online.

4. Can I download the Maharashtra SSC marksheet online?

Answer: Yes, students can download a provisional marksheet online from the official portals. The final original marksheet will be provided by their respective schools.

5. Is there any other way to get the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025?

Answer: Apart from the official websites, students can also receive their Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 via DigiLocker and SMS by sending their roll number to the provided number.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Maharashtra SSC result 2025 out: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has officially announced the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 today, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 1 PM IST. Over 16 lakh students who appeared for the Class 10 board exams held from February 21 to March 17, 2025, can now check their results online.

The Maharashtra SSC 2025 results are accessible through multiple official websites including mahresult.nic.in, mahahsscboard.in, and sscresult.mkcl.org. Students are advised to use their roll number and mother's first name to download their marksheets and view subject-wise scores.

How to check Maharashtra SSC result 2025?

Students can easily check and download their Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2025 by following these steps:

Visit any of the official result portals: mahahsscboard.in, mahresult.nic.in, or sscresult.mkcl.org.

Click on the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 link.

Enter your roll number and mothers first name as mentioned on the admit card.

Submit the details to view your Maharashtra SSC 2025 result.

Download and take a printout of the Maharashtra SSC Marksheet 2025 for future reference.

Direct links to check Maharashtra SSC result 2025

These links/websites will provide the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 along with subject-wise marks, total score, grade, and qualifying status.

Key highlights of Maharashtra SSC result 2025

The overall pass percentage for Maharashtra SSC 2025 stands at an impressive 94.10%. The board conducted the exams in two shifts and ensured a smooth evaluation process. After the result declaration, students dissatisfied with their scores can apply for revaluation or verification within two weeks.

Supplementary exams are expected to be held in July 2025 for students who need to improve their performance.

FAQs

1. When was the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 declared?

Answer: The Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 was declared on May 13, 2025, at 1 PM by MSBSHSE through a press conference.

2. Where can I check my Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 online?

Answer: You can check your Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 on official websites such as mahahsscboard.in, mahresult.nic.in, sscresult.mkcl.org, and results.digilocker.gov.in.

3. What details are required to check the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025?

Answer: To check the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025, students need to enter their roll number and mothers first name as per their admit card.

4. How can I download the Maharashtra SSC Marksheet 2025?

Answer: After checking the Maharashtra SSC 2025 result online, students can download the Maharashtra SSC Marksheet 2025 by saving or printing the scorecard.

5. Is there a provision for revaluation or supplementary exams after the Maharashtra SSC Result 2025?

Answer: Yes, students who are not satisfied with their Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 can apply for revaluation or verification. Maharashtra SSC 2025 supplementary exams are expected to be conducted in July 2025.

For more news and updates from the world of Education, keep reading Indiatimes education.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was among several prominent American business leaders who joined US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday. The meeting was the beginning of Trumps major foreign tour during his new term and focused on economic partnerships and regional cooperation.

Musk, along with OpenAIs Sam Altman and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, was seen greeting both leaders at the Saudi royal court ahead of a formal lunch hosted by the Crown Prince. The gathering comes as Trump begins a multi-country tour across the Persian Gulf region, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar on the agenda.

Business leaders gather at Riyadh royal court

The Riyadh event brought together a high-profile lineup of US business leaders. In addition to Musk, Altman and Fink, the delegation included Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, IBMs Arvind Krishna, Citicorps Jane Fraser, Boeings Kelly Ortberg, NVIDIAs Jensen Huang and Palantir CEO Alex Karp. According to media reports, these figures were seen lining up to speak with Trump and bin Salman before attending the official lunch.

US President Donald Trump | Credit: X

Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone also attended and is listed among the speakers for the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum taking place the same day. The forum aims to deepen US-Saudi ties across sectors including technology, defense and finance.

$600 Billion in Saudi investment, more possible

Saudi Arabia has already pledged $600 billion in investments into the US. The commitments include defense deals, technology transfers, AI initiatives, and stock market participation. Trump has indicated that the total Saudi investment may ultimately reach $1 trillion. These figures signal strong Saudi interest in long-term collaboration with American businesses and institutions.

Alongside economic deals, Trump and bin Salman are expected to discuss a potential civil nuclear program and increased defense cooperation. These topics were previously linked to normalization efforts between Saudi Arabia and Israel, similar to the Abraham Accords.

U.S.-Saudi investment forum and broader gulf tour

The Saudi-US Investment Forum is being held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. A statement on the events website says, The Forum will bring together major Saudi and American investors to celebrate a partnership that has been nearly a century in the making. It adds that the relationship between the two countries dates back to the 1945 meeting between King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud and President Franklin D. Roosevelt aboard the USS Quincy.

Trump is expected to headline the forum alongside Saudi ministers, White House crypto adviser David Sacks, and several business leaders.

Following Riyadh, Trump will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting and then travel to Qatar on Wednesday for talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and a visit to the U.S. militarys Al Udeid Air Base. His final stop on Thursday will be Abu Dhabi, where he will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Even as 32 airports reopened on Monday (May 12) following the India-Pakistan ceasefire under Operation Sindoor, airlines are proceeding with caution. Leading carriers IndiGo and Air India have suspended several flight operations to northern and western Indian cities on Tuesday, May 13, citing security concerns and precautionary airspace measures.

Although the Airports Authority of India (AAI) lifted NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) for civilian flights, IndiGo and Air India have opted to delay resuming full-scale services due to continuing security alerts and localised airspace monitoring.

IndiGo cancels flights to six cities

IndiGo, Indias largest carrier, has cancelled all flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until 11:59 PM on Tuesday. The airline issued a public advisory: We understand how this may disrupt your travel plans, and regret the inconvenience caused. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will promptly keep you informed of further updates.

Notably, a scheduled IndiGo flight to Amritsar on Monday evening had to return to Delhi mid-air due to blackout measures being suddenly implemented in Amritsar, according to a PTI report.

Air India suspends services to eight airports

National carrier Air India has also cancelled round-trip services to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot on May 13. In an official advisory, the airline said: In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from these locations are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May. We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated.

The airline, however, added that it is working toward a phased resumption of services: Following a notification from aviation authorities on the reopening of airports, Air India is working towards progressively commencing flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot. We appreciate your understanding at this time.

Security Concerns: Drones and precautionary measures

The delayed resumption by airlines follows drone sightings in Samba, Akhnoor, Jaisalmer, and Kathua sectors late Monday (May 12). However, Army sources clarified to ANI that no recent drone activity had been confirmed in the last 24 hours and emphasised that the ceasefire remains intact.

In the Samba sector, Indian air defence systems reportedly intercepted Pakistani drones, with red flares and explosions visible in the night sky. Army sources said a small number of drones were engaged, but that the situation is under control and there is nothing to be alarmed about.

#TravelAdvisory

In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May.



We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated.



For more  Air India (@airindia) May 12, 2025

Security is still tight at airports

As part of precautionary measures already in force since last week, BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) has intensified security protocols at all Indian airports:

Mandatory Secondary Ladder Point Checks (SLPC) for all passengers

Ban on visitor entry to terminal buildings

Deployment of CISF personnel for supervision of cargo and baggage screening at 69 civil airports

Continuous surveillance and random onboard checks

These temporary measures are expected to remain in effect until May 18.

What does this mean for passengers?

Despite the reopening of airspace, passengers flying to or from key conflict-adjacent zones are likely to face cancellations or reschedules, especially for cities such as Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Bhuj, and Rajkot. Airlines are offering full refunds and rebooking options, but travellers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates before heading to the airport.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Alia Bhatt, the Bollywood diva, is all set to make her debut at Cannes 2025, and fans are eagerly waiting to see a glimpse of her look at the biggest film festival. Amid this, the actress has dropped an emotional post on her Instagram just hours before the Cannes Film Festival is about to kick off.

The 'Raazi' actress took to her Instagram to pen down a long heartfelt note for every mother who has sent her children to the army and for every army man or woman sacrificing their sleep to save our lives.

'The last few nights have felt... Alia Bhatt pens down an emotional post for soldiers

Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Alia's post was dedicated to the Indian soldiers.

The actress shared how the last nights felt and shared, "There's a certain stillness in the air when a nation holds its breath. And over the past few days, we've felt that stillness. That quiet anxiety. That pulse of tension that hums beneath every conversation, behind every news notification, and around every dinner table."

"We have felt the weight of knowing that somewhere, out there in the mountains, our soldiers are awake, alert, and in danger," she added.

Credit: Instagram

'The soldiers sacrifice their everything'

She went on to explain in her post that most of us are sitting comfortably in our homes while some men and women are standing in the dark, guarding our sleep with theirs.

Sharing about how much the soldiers sacrifice their everything, Alia added, "Because you realise this isn't just bravery. It's a sacrifice. And behind every uniform is a mother who hasn't slept either. A mother who knows her child is facing a night not of lullabies but of uncertainty. Of tension. Of silence that can shatter in an instant."

She also highlighted the sacrifices their mothers made and how they raised heroes and carried that pride with a little more steel in their spines.

"While flowers were being handed out and hugs were exchanged, I couldn't help but think of the mothers who raised heroes and carry that quiet pride with just a little more steel in their spine. We mourn the lives that have been lost, soldiers who will never come home, whose names are now etched in the soul of this country. May their families find strength in the nation's gratitude," the post added.
The Cannes Film Festival starts on Tuesday, May 13, and ahead of the mega event, it has made a formal announcement about its new guidelines restricting nudity and overly large garments on its red carpet.

The major decision has come after a series of headline-grabbing incidents, including the one involving a topless protester in 2022 and Bianca Censori's sheer ensemble at the Grammys in 2025.

The festival issued a statement on the same, explaining that although the dress codes have existed, they are now being strictly monitored in regard to both the festival's standards and French law.

The Cannes Film Festival is banning nudity on the red carpet and introducing a decency dress code. Anyone not respecting the dress code will be denied entry onto the red carpet. pic.twitter.com/cBGXV7rHfo  Brittany Hugoboom (@BritHugoboom) May 12, 2025





A look at the statement of the Cannes Film festival

In an official statement, the festival stated, "The objective is not to control fashion in general but to avoid total nudity and extremely bulbous clothing at red carpet events."

The organisers of the show pointed out that such outfits may interfere with the experience of other celebs and may pose safety concerns.

Credit: X

Huge costumes are also banned at the Cannes Film Festival 2025

Meanwhile, on the other hand, as per a report by Variety, the revised charter empowers the festival to ban the entry of those whose costumes could hinder the movement or if they complicate the seating arrangements.

However, they did not mention the costumes featuring long trains, like Greta Gerwig's elaborate pink ensemble that could be affected, especially on the cramped steps of the Palais des Festivals.

Credit: X

Red carpet dress has been a source of controversy

The festival had faced multiple criticisms for its requirement of 'elegant' footwear at nighttime screenings. Moreover, in the past few years, Red Carpet dress code regulations at Cannes have been a source of controversy.

But Cannes remains committed to its tradition of sophistication and prestige, which the organisers hope to balance with fashion freedom, decorum and functionality.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
In just a matter of months, the eldest member of the worlds biggest group, BTSKim Seokjinis set to release his second album, ECHO. On May 13, he dropped the teaser for his upcoming song Don't Say You Love Me, which went viral within minutes. The video features him and his love interest in a museum, gazing at each other from a distance.

The teaser ends with Jin singing the emotional line, You just gotta let me go, capturing the essence of two heartbroken lovers reuniting after a long time. BTS fans, known as ARMY, are in a frenzy, already developing theoriesone of the most popular being that Jin looks like a K-drama lead.

Jin's K-drama era

Jin is clearly in full boyfriend mode, as he previously shared that the album would revolve around a couples love story approaching its end. The newly released teaser beautifully reflects that theme.

Fans react

ARMY took to X (formerly Twitter) to gush over how stunning Jin looks, praising both his visuals and the female lead's elegance and beauty. One said, "don't know if he'll do a Kdrama (he should though) but bringing kdrama to his music video, im locked in".

don't know if he'll do a Kdrama (he should though) but bringing kdrama to his music video, im locked in https://t.co/Mpwc7AttCn pic.twitter.com/u8obJ263kN  Monica   (@MonicaYadav08) May 13, 2025

Another said, "Damn I was so into those few seconds I forgot it was only a teaser. They are sooooooo visually pleasing in that one frame".

Damn I was so into those few seconds I forgot it was only a teaser. They are sooooooo visually pleasing in that one frame. https://t.co/DN1KEJIiBI  Maisse() (@Maisse51089073) May 13, 2025

One wrote, "Why does this feel like it might hurt?".

Why does this feel like it might hurt? https://t.co/tRuSzqG3D6  Sam  (@sevenwithsam) May 13, 2025

Another wrote, "Chills, literally chills all over my body. We have actor Jin!".

Chills, literally chills all over my body. We have actor Jin! https://t.co/N0SfZTKgYY  Seokjin YouTube Team (@YoutubeSeokjin) May 13, 2025

About ECHO

After the success of his first solo album Happy in 2024, Jin is set to release his highly anticipated follow-up, ECHO, on May 16, 2025. The album will include seven tracks, with Yena making a special guest appearance on one of them, as confirmed by Big Hit Music.

Jin will also launch his first solo world tour, titled RunSeoKjin Ep. Tour, in support of the new album. The tour will kick off on June 28 in Goyang, South Korea, and will continue across several countries, including Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
News / Local

by Nqaba Matshazi

Ward 15 Councillor for Insiza South, Lesley Dube, has officially entered the race for the upcoming Insiza North by-election as an independent candidate, marking a significant political shift in the constituency.The parliamentary seat became vacant following the passing of Zanu PF legislator Farai Taruvinga, who had represented Insiza North since 2018. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has scheduled the nomination court for May 15, with the by-election set to take place on June 14, 2025.Dube, who was elected under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) banner in the 2023 harmonised elections, cited internal party challenges as the reason for his decision to run independently."Since there have been numerous issues with CCC and the brand is currently struggling, I plan to run as an independent candidate," Dube said in an interview.He added that the decision came after much contemplation and external encouragement, though it was not made easily."I have received advice to stand as an independent, but I'm doing so with a heavy heart. It is my hope that party leaders will eventually sit down and resolve the issues. I would have loved to stand under my party, but the situation on the ground is not conducive."Dube's campaign is rooted in the work he has done as Ward 15 councillor, where he has earned praise for hands-on leadership and development-focused initiatives."I have made the decision to run for MP because I have been doing a lot of good work as a councillor, and my voters are telling me I should do even more," he said.He believes his experience at ward level has given him a deeper understanding of the challenges affecting the wider Insiza North district."I would like to work with fellow councillors in the constituency and help them develop their areas. I want to take that spirit to the constituency and cover all the wards in Insiza North because I've done great work in Ward 15."If elected, Dube pledged to prioritise infrastructure development, which he described as the constituency's most pressing concern."I will be working hard to bring improvements because there are no roads, very few schools and clinics, and the infrastructure is generally poor," he stated.Dube, who is also a miner based in Filabusi, said he is financially prepared to support his campaign, although he welcomes assistance from supporters."I am financially secure because I work as a miner in Filabusi, but I am also open to donations from anyone who wishes to help," he said.He also expressed a willingness to work with leaders from other political parties, provided they share a commitment to development."As long as it involves development, I am willing to collaborate with any Member of Parliament," Dube said.His entry into the by-election as an independent sets the stage for a dynamic race in Insiza North, as voters weigh experience, local impact, and party loyalties in choosing their next representative.
US President Donald Trump is back again with a new viral speech. Recently, President Trump took a public jab at one of his 'very successful, very rich' friends who allegedly uses Ozempic, the weight loss drug.

In his speech, he mentioned that his friend uses 'the fat shot drug' but hasn't noticed any success yet. Trump said, "A friend of mine whos a businessman  most of you wouldve heard of him." The video at the White House on Monday is now doing the rounds on the internet.

He goes on to add that his highly neurotic, brilliant businessman, who is also seriously overweight, takes the fat shot drug.

Netizens speculate who Trump referred to in his speech

In the viral speech, Trump also mentioned that his unnamed friend allegedly told him that he paid $88 for the famous weight-zapping drug in London while dishing out $1,300 for it in New York. And 'It's not working'.

President Trump says his obese friend is on Ozempic, or semaglutide, "the fat shot drug," and Trump says, "Its not working." The friend paid $88 for it in London, and in NYC he paid $1,300. "What the hell is going on?!" pic.twitter.com/zxvSAllvDF  Bruce Snyder (@realBruceSnyder) May 12, 2025





Well, as soon as the viral video surfaced on social media, netizens began speculating who the politician could be referring to in his speech. Some think the Ozempic-using pal could be Chris Christie.

One curious netizen asked, "Only $88!? If it cost that much in America, wed see fewer fat people  Which fat businessman is he talking about???" Is it "Chris Christie"?

Credit: X

While some drew different conclusions, saying that the pal in question is the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. One user on X (formerly called Twitter) wrote, Trump likely referred to Elon Musk, who has admitted to using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and fits the description of a brilliant businessman."

However, there is no evidence, as Musk complained about the drug's price, adding to the uncertainty.

Credit: X

Donald Trump's Ozempic story indicates a weight-loss medication price control plan

On the other hand, apart from the speculations, Trump's speech could also be his move to justify his administration's new remedy to weigh out the staggering price differences of medicines in the UK and the US, as reported by Financial Express.

Since then, the internet has been ablaze with frenzied reactions as POTUS came up with a new term to be synonymously recognised with viral weight loss medication. Donald Trump's so-called 'most-favoured nation' policy focuses on requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to match the prices Americans pay for medications with the ones who paid in the lowest-cost developed countries, reported the Independent.

Although the executive order signed by Trump doesn't explicitly mention medication price caps, it directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose rules implementing the most-favoured-nation pricing.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
French actor Gerard Depardieu has been convicted of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of a movie in 2021. A Paris court sentenced him to an 18-month suspended prison term and imposed a fine of 29,040 (about $32,350). His name will also be added to Frances national sex offender registry. Depardieu, who did not attend the hearing, has denied the accusations and plans to appeal the verdict, according to his lawyer.

Trial outcome and legal response

Depardieus lawyer, Jeremie Assous, confirmed the actor would challenge the ruling. He said, Questioning the accusations is considered an additional assault, which means now the defense is no longer accepted.

Gerard Depardieu | Credit: X

The court, consisting of three judges, stated that Depardieus version of events was not credible and described the two accusers testimonies as constant, reiterated and substantiated. It also noted the defenses strategy as aggressive, with comments that aggravated harm to the women, justifying the fine.

Details of the assault allegations

The two women involved in the case worked as crew members on the 2021 film. One, a set dresser, described how Depardieu trapped her between his legs as she walked through a narrow corridor and groped her from behind and in front, later grabbing her chest. She said Depardieu also made a vulgar comment asking her to touch him and suggested rape.

The other woman, an assistant, testified that Depardieu touched her buttocks and breasts in three separate incidents. Both women gave detailed accounts in court, with the set dresser saying that Depardieus composed behaviour in court was far removed from his actions on set.

After the verdict, the set dresser told reporters, Thats a victory for me, really, and a big progress, a step forward. I feel justice was made.

Past allegations and support within the industry

Depardieu, who has appeared in over 250 films and was nominated for an Oscar in 1991, has faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour from more than 20 women in recent years. However, only this case has gone to trial, as others were dropped due to lack of evidence or time limitations.

Despite the trial, the actor continues to receive support from some in the film industry. Actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant were present in court in support of him. Depardieu was also reportedly working on a film with Ardant in Portugals Azores islands last week.

More legal trouble may follow

Depardieu may face another trial soon. In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnould accused him of rape. That case remains open, and prosecutors have requested it move to trial as of August 2024.

For decades, Depardieu was a major figure in French cinema, known for his wide range and strong screen presence. But scrutiny of his behaviour has intensified in recent years, particularly after a 2018 documentary showed him making inappropriate gestures and remarks during a visit to North Korea.

Lawyers representing the women said the verdict marked a step forward for accountability in the film industry. Carine Durrieu Diebolt, the set dressers lawyer, said, We hope to see the end of impunity for an artist in the world of cinema.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
WWE Raw May 12 results: AJ Styles beat Finn Balor in a keenly contested match on the latest episode of WWE Raw. The veterans put on a wrestling classic and proved that they are still among the best in the business. In the end, AJ got the big win with some help from Penta.

AJ Styles picks up a big win on Raw

AJ Styles reignited his rivalry with Finn Balor on the latest episode of Raw. The two locked horns in a singles match that was announced last week when Dominik Mysterio asked his The Judgement Day stablemate to take care of the veteran for him. The contest delivered as both men pushed each other to the limit. At one point, AJ even countered a Pele Kick into a Styles Clash but it wasnt enough to get the job done.

JD McDonagh and Carlito, who were at the ringside, inevitably got involved, but their plans were foiled by Penta. The Mexican stars interference gave AJ an opportunity to nail Finn Balor with The Phenomenal Forearm and pick up the win.

The road ahead

The events that transpired on this weeks edition of Raw have added a new dimension to Pentas feud with The Judgement Day. The international sensation is set to team up with AJ Styles to take on JDM and Finn Balor next week on the red brand.

For all the latest coverage on WWE, track updates here
The experience of hiking and running acrossis described as dreamlike, making it an ideal destination for enthusiasts of exploration and nature
Greek authorities are investigating the deaths of three members of the Sidiropoulos family, who died within just 13 days in Elliniko, a southern suburb of Athens, in a case that has raised serious questions.

The investigation is focusing on a Bulgarian domestic worker who began working for the family shortly before the deaths. She has denied any involvement, telling Mega TV that she is being unfairly

blamed: Without being at fault, I will get into trouble.

Investigators are examining inconsistencies in her statements, particularly regarding her possession of the familys house keys and her actions after the deaths. The woman claimed she tried to return the keys to police but had earlier said she would not hand them over to anyone.

Another point of interest is her decision to wash the familys bedsheets immediately after the deaths. She insists she was following instructions given by the elderly family member before hospitalization.

Authorities are also probing her inconsistent accounts about the deceased 75-year-old male relative and her remarks regarding the handling of the funerals.

The domestic worker has suggested others might be involved, specifically friends of the familys son, and maintains she has taken nothing from the household.

Police investigations are ongoing.

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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin later Tuesday, the first foreign leader to visit since Merz took office, as the two seek to strengthen bilateral ties and address key European challenges.

Economic cooperation, defense issues, and migration policy

are expected to top the agenda, with Greece aiming to solidify its position as a stable partner in Europe

The meeting comes as Athens expresses concerns over a potential sale of Eurofighter jets to Turkey, which Greece opposes unless Ankara commits to respecting international agreements.

Defense programs must not be used to threaten allied countries, said Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis on Monday, signaling Athens firm stance.

The Eurofighter issue remains unresolved among the producing nationsGermany, Britain, Italy, and Spainand is likely to test European defense unity.

The visit underscores improving relations between Greece and Germany, strained during the eurozone debt crisis.

Mr. Mitsotakis has cultivated a close relationship with Merz since he took over the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

With its economy recovering, Greece seeks a larger role in Europes economic and geopolitical future. Greece is no longer the black sheep of Europe, a senior Greek official said ahead of the meeting.

Migration remains a shared challenge.

Germany faces domestic pressure from the far-right, while Greece advocates for stronger EU border protection. Both leaders are expected to call for a common European approach. A German government spokesperson said that the German migration policy will be resolved in harmony with European neighbors.

The talks follow Mr. Mitsotakis recent meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where they discussed the shifting balance of power within the EU.

Southern economies are now growing faster than many in the north, proving that we can implement bold reforms, Mr. Mitsotakis said.

The Berlin meeting signals a broader effort to strengthen EU strategic autonomy while maintaining transatlantic ties. Mr. Mitsotakis and Chancellor Merz are expected to align on defense priorities that reflect Europes foreign policy interests.

   iefimerida.gr
Zakynthos, a Greek island renowned for its iconic Navagio beach and as a key nesting area for endangered loggerhead turtles, has been ranked Europes most overcrowded tourist destination, according to a new study.

The report by "Which? Travel" indicates that Zakynthos has the highest visitor-to-resident ratio in Europe,

with nearly 150,000 overnight stays per 1,000 permanent residents  roughly 150 tourists for every local.

While tourism provides a boost to the local economy, the islands aging infrastructure struggles to keep pace.

Residents point to a port and airport that have seen little change in decades, strained water and sewage systems, and overwhelmed roads and waste management facilities.

The island previously gained notoriety for piles of uncollected trash, overshadowing its popular attractions.

Meanwhile, accommodations continue to increase, driven by short-term rental platforms, despite limited capacity elsewhere.

Experts warn of "overtourism," a situation where the negative impacts of excessive visitor numbers outweigh the economic benefits.

Similar issues affect Croatias Istria (133 tourists per resident) and Spains Fuerteventura (119 tourists per resident).

In contrast, Eastern European regions such as Targovishte in Bulgaria and Rybnik in Poland face significantly less tourism pressure.

   iefimerida.gr
Vasiliki Vlachou, the former judicial supervisor of Greeces intelligence agency during a period of mass surveillance, has been promoted to Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Courtdespite her central role in a still-unfolding wiretapping scandal that targeted politicians, ministers, military officials, and journalists, raising urgent questions about democratic accountability and judicial independence.

In

a move that has reignited debate over government accountability in Greece, Vasiliki Vlachou  the former judicial overseer of the countrys National Intelligence Service (EYP)  has been promoted to Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Court. Her elevation to one of the highest ranks in the judiciary comes despite her central role in a sweeping surveillance scandal that continues to cast a long shadow over Greeces democratic institutions.

Vlachou served as the supervising prosecutor for EYP between 2020 and 2022, a period during which she authorized an extraordinary number of communications interceptions. Citing national security as justification, she signed off on thousands of wiretap orders  far exceeding the norm for such authorizations in Greece. Critics argue that the sheer volume of approvals raises serious doubts about whether any substantial judicial review took place, or whether Vlachou had functionally become a rubber stamp for the agencys surveillance operations.

Among the most politically sensitive disclosures to emerge from ongoing investigations is the revelation that Nikos Androulakis  then a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the opposition PASOK party  was under surveillance by both EYP and the illegal spyware Predator. This took place during Vlachous time overseeing the agency, with her signature authorizing the legal basis for the monitoring.

Also targeted was then-Minister of Energy Kostis Hatzidakis, who now serves as Deputy Prime Minister. Surveillance records show that Vlachou approved multiple orders for his ongoing monitoring. Further reports have revealed that Greeces intelligence agency, under her supervision, surveilled at least six other high-profile figures, including military officials and a high rank prosecutor.

One of the most prominent cases was the then General Konstantinos Floros, Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces. Internal documents identified him as a surveillance target under a codename, though sources within the agency reportedly indicated that the true motive behind the monitoring had more to do with arms procurement contracts and financial dealings than national security.

Vlachou is also alleged to have authorized surveillance of journalists, business executives, politicians, and other public figures  often without clear justification, relying instead on vague claims of protecting national security. The broad scope and opaque rationale behind these interceptions have alarmed legal experts, journalists, and civil society organizations, who argue that such practices undermine the rule of law and erode democratic oversight.

The gravity of the situation was further underscored when Greeces Constitutional Court ruled that Nikos Androulakis had the right to be informed of the reasons behind his surveillance  a decision that struck at the heart of the legal framework used to justify these wiretaps.

When summoned to testify before the Hellenic Parliaments Committee on Institutions and Transparency, Vlachou defended her actions, claiming that all her decisions were lawful and necessary. She famously asserted that my judgment is beyond scrutiny, a remark that many interpreted as indicative of a broader culture of impunity within the intelligence and judicial apparatus. Her defense, however, failed to quell public criticism.

In 2022, a disciplinary investigation was opened under the direction of Christos Tzanerikos, then Vice President of the Supreme Court, to assess whether Vlachou had acted negligently or intentionally bypassed legal safeguards. Though ultimately exonerated and cleared to continue her career, concerns about her conduct remain unresolved in the eyes of many observers.

Adding to the paradox, Greeces Data Protection Authority later revealed that Vlachou herself had been a target of Predator spyware during the same period she was authorizing its use on others. The spyware, developed by Intellexa and reportedly deployed in Greece between 2020 and 2022, has been linked to numerous illegal surveillance operations. The Greek government has denied any formal involvement with the Predator system, but evidence continues to mount suggesting otherwise. Since 2019, the EYP has operated directly under the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, placing its activities in closer proximity to executive power than at any point in recent memory.

Vlachous promotion to Greeces Supreme Court is, for many, not just controversial  it is emblematic of a system veering dangerously off course. At a time when the country is still reeling from the largest surveillance scandal of its democratic era, elevating the very official who signed off on thousands of wiretap orders sends a chilling message: that complicity in institutional overreach is not only tolerated but rewarded. Rather than confronting the grave questions raised about judicial independence, political interference, and the abuse of intelligence powers, the Greek state appears to be doubling down. This appointment signals a deliberate choice to protect the machinery of surveillance rather than dismantle it  and to silence accountability rather than uphold the rule of law. In doing so, it casts doubt not only on the integrity of the judiciary but on Greeces commitment to democratic governance itself.

#DEMOCRACY #SCANDAL #GREECE #ENGLISH_EDITION
Famellos accusations highlight potential violations of political financing laws, urging a formal investigation into the connections between ND officials, a private firm, and state contracts, amid claims of political propaganda targeting opponents.

The leader of Greeces main opposition party, Sokratis Famellos of SYRIZAProgressive Alliance, has called on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to publicly address mounting allegations of illegal financing involving the

ruling New Democracy (ND) partys communications network , known as the "Truth Team ." In a pointed parliamentary question, Famellos accuses the government of orchestrating a covert media operation funded through private channels and potentially with public money, designed to target and discredit political opponents.

The controversy centers on a series of investigative reports revealing that a private firm, Blue Skies AE, employed several ND-affiliated individuals, including current ministers and advisers, during the run-up to the partys rise to power. These individuals were allegedly involved in operating or supporting the Truth Team, a digital platform known for aggressively promoting the ND line and attacking rivals through coordinated online campaigns. The reports further suggest that Blue Skies had business ties with public institutions and the communications firm V+O, raising concerns over a potentially illicit nexus between state contracts and political propaganda.

In his intervention, Famellos asked Mitsotakis to clarify who funds the Truth Team and similar anonymous online accounts, and whether any ND officials working for the party were simultaneously employed by Blue Skies. He also questioned how the government ensures compliance with laws governing political financing, which prohibit parties from receiving undeclared funds or channeling public money into partisan communications.

The Prime Ministers office has not yet offered a detailed response to these questions. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis confirmed in an interview that Deputy Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis and Social Cohesion Minister Sofia Michailidou had previously worked for Blue Skies. However, critics note that neither they nor others named in the reports disclose this affiliation in their official resumes. When asked about the Truth Teams ties to ND, Mitsotakis acknowledged the groups ideological proximity to the party, but denied any misuse of public funds.

Famellos filed a formal complaint with prosecutors, urging an investigation into possible breaches of campaign finance laws. On the same day, the Truth Team announced it would pursue civil and criminal action against him, which he says proves the government is attempting to intimidate and silence the opposition. Your effort to gag us with threats of prosecution is unprecedented in Greeces democratic historyand it will fail, Famellos said in a statement.

He warned that the affair reflects broader issues of transparency and democratic integrity. This isnt just about political mudslinging, he said. Its about whether Greek democracy is being undermined by an opaque system of funding and propaganda, where the lines between party, state, and private interests are dangerously blurred.

#KYRIAKOS_MITSOTAKIS #SYRIZA #NEW_DEMOCRACY #PROPAGANDA #ENGLISH_EDITION
Three Peoples Democratic Partys senators from Kebbi State, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The defectors, identified as Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), announced their defections at plenary on Tuesday.

In separate letters to the President of the Senate, the Senators said that they decided to leave PDP because it had become disconnected from the aspirations of the Nigerians it seeks to lead.

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The letters were read by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary.

Aliero said in his letter that he decided to quit PDP after a deep reflection, extensive consultations and a careful assessment of the current political and socio-economic realities of the country and his constituency.

He said: I have decided to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party and rejoin the All Progressive Party (APC) of which I was a founding member.

READ MORE: Massive Defection Hits PDP As Delta Gov, Okowa, Others Joins APC

This decision was not made lightly. Ive been a proud member of the PDP, a party under whose platform I was elected to serve.

However, politics must never be about personal loyalty to a platform; it will always be about service, solutions and results.

Today, I made this move in response to a simple question that every responsible leader must ask himself or herself: what is best for the people I serve?

Over the past month, that has become increasingly, I mean firstly, clear to me, that PDP, as it currently stands, has become disconnected from the aspirations of the very Nigerians it seeks to lead.

Internal divisions, lack of ideological clarity and inability to provide a credible forward-looking agenda have made it difficult for leaders like me to pursue the reform and development agenda that our people deserve.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Kwekwe woman, Angela Nyathi, has lost her US$50,000 civil damages lawsuit against Electrosales Hardware after alleging that a male employee made sexually inappropriate comments to her while she was with her husband in the store.Nyathi, a prominent figure in Kwekwe and the leader of Vendors4ED, sued Electrosales Hardware and its employee, Herbert Sithole, seeking damages for sexual harassment, defamation, and medical expenses. She had demanded US$45,000 for general damages, US$4,000 for defamation, US$500 for aggravating factors, and US$165 for medical costs incurred due to the alleged harassment.The court heard that the incident occurred on June 5 last year, when Nyathi and her husband, Jabulani Msipa, visited one of the Electrosales branches in Kwekwe. While at the till, Nyathi picked up a water bottle and asked Sithole for its price. Sithole, who was the till operator, allegedly made sexually explicit comments, which Nyathi later described in her lawsuit.Sithole's alleged comments included: "I am available for you I can make you hot I desire you on a weekend at your place or mine I will undress you You will remain naked" The language used was detailed and highly sexual in nature, prompting Nyathi to take legal action against the hardware store for vicarious liability.However, Electrosales Hardware, represented by prominent lawyer Patrick Nyeperayi, defended the case, arguing that the comments made by Sithole were not within the scope of his duties as a till operator. Nyeperayi contended that Sithole had acted independently and not on behalf of the company, emphasizing that the hardware store had immediately suspended him and conducted a disciplinary investigation, leading to his dismissal.Sithole, in his defense, denied the allegations of sexual harassment, claiming that he regarded Nyathi as a long-time friend and made the comments in a friendly, joking manner. He explained that he had known Nyathi for over ten years and had even bought lunch from her canteen in the past. Sithole suggested that Nyathi's lawsuit was motivated by a desire for financial compensation rather than a legitimate grievance.The court was also informed that Sithole had been arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in a public place, later paying an admission of guilty fine.Nyathi, in her testimony, described how the incident affected her health, citing a rise in her blood pressure and the loss of bowel control on the way home. She also alleged that her husband became angry and assaulted her over the incident, leading to further emotional distress. Nyathi said her reputation had been tarnished, and her marriage was at risk as her husband accused her of infidelity.However, Nyeperayi argued that Nyathi's delay in seeking medical attention for her elevated blood pressure indicated that the incident may not have been the sole cause of her health issues. He also contended that Sithole's remarks were not related to Electrosales Hardware's business interests but were personal in nature.In delivering the ruling, Kwekwe Magistrate Itayi Kagwere dismissed Nyathi's claims, stating that Sithole's actions were not connected to Electrosales Hardware's business. "By no stretch of imagination can it be said that discouraging a customer from purchasing Electrosales Hardware's products can be promoting the business of Electrosales Hardware," the magistrate stated.Kagwere further emphasized that Sithole's actions appeared to be aimed at advancing his personal interests rather than serving his employer. The court concluded that Electrosales Hardware had acted appropriately by dismissing Sithole for his conduct.As a result, Nyathi's US$50,000 lawsuit was dismissed, and she left the court without the compensation she had sought.
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has applauded the appointment of former Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, and ex-Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, to the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the development as a step in the right direction.

Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District, also extended his congratulations to former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, and other appointees, stating that their inclusion signals a renewed effort to reposition the PDP for future electoral success.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the senator said the appointees bring with them invaluable experience, wisdom, and commitment to the partys ideals.

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I believe in the ability and capacity of Dr. Ortom and the other appointees to deploy their vast experience to better the fortunes of the PDP, Moro said.

He particularly praised Ortoms leadership pedigree, highlighting his consistent loyalty to the party and his deep understanding of grassroots politics.

Senator Moro also reassured party members of his dedication to the partys stability and revival ahead of the 2027 elections.

Everything possible will be done to return the party to its winning ways in the nearest future, he added.

The PDP has recently made moves to strengthen its internal structures amid growing defections and internal rifts, with the BoT appointments seen as a strategic effort to foster unity and restore confidence within the ranks.

The Board of Trustees, often regarded as the conscience of the party, plays an advisory role and is tasked with providing guidance to the partys leadership.
National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, has said that the ruling party is not responsible the ongoing internal crisis of Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking on Channels TV, during an interview on Monday, Morka said that the opposition cant be blaming APC for its predicament when the party doesnt even have a settled national chairman and secretary.

The APCs chieftain questioned how a party like the PDP, which they claimed cannot resolve issues surrounding its chairmanship and secretary, can be trusted to lead the country.

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Morka said: First of all, I am sure that my brother (Ologbondiyan) does not mean a whole lot what he said because he cant possibly under any guise be blaming the APC for the utter dysfunction and immobility within the internal ranks of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

READ MORE: Tinubus Performance Killed PDP, Lamido Will Soon Join APC  Ganduje

Recall that in April 2025, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, along with his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, several commissioners, and others, defected from the PDP to the APC.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that some speculations are claiming that more governors from the opposition parties may follow suit in the near future.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two individuals, Tobilola Olamide, popularly known as TobiNation, and Babatunde Peter Olaitan, also known as TDollar, for the abuse of the Nigerian currency.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, sentenced both individuals to six months in prison each, with an option of a 200,000 fine.

The duo were separately arraigned on one-count charges related to tampering with Naira notes, a violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007. They both pleaded guilty to the charges.

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READ MORE: Three Teenagers Killed As Fire Service Truck Crashes In Abuja

The EFCC revealed that the offence occurred on April 8, 2025, at a party held at 23 Macdonald Road in Ikoyi, where the convicts were filmed in widely circulated TikTok videos throwing 200 notes while dancingan action classified as illegal under Nigerian law.

While testifying in court, EFCC investigator Ibrahim Bukar stated that the agency began a TikTok-driven intelligence operation on April 10, which resulted in tracking down and inviting the suspects for questioning.

Olaitan admitted to spraying the Naira at a nightclub after a fan gifted him a bundle of N200 notes, Bukar said.

Prosecuting counsels C.C. Okezie and H.U. KofarNaisa presented video footage and the defendants confessional statements as evidence, which the court accepted.

Justice Owoeye then convicted the defendants and imposed the sentence, emphasizing that such actions jeopardise the integrity of the national currency.
Management of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria has ordered the immediate closure of two female student hostels over alleged immorality.

It was gathered that the hostels, identified as Al-Ansar, Indabo, are located at Hotoro and UDB Road in Kano metropolis.

In a statement on Monday, by the Universitys Vice President, Campus Life, Dr. Hamza Garba, disclosed that the institution, withdrew its approval for the use of the apartments, following reported violations of its code of conduct.

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Garba said: I am directed by the management to inform and bring to the attention of our esteemed parents and students that the university has withdrawn its approval for Al-Ansar Indabo Female Student Hostels located at UDB Road and Hotoro, respectively.

READ MORE: Lagos Varsity Dismisses Three Lecturers Over Alleged Sexual Harassment

Non-compliance resulted in several unwanted situations and activities within the hostel, including immoral conduct, insufficient water and power supply, student violence, unauthorized student movement late at night, and shared facilities with unknown tenants. These issues pose a serious threat to the well-being of our students.

Accordingly, all affected students are strongly directed to vacate the hostel immediately after the completion of the fall semester examination and to avoid further association for their safety and security. Meanwhile, the management is collaborating with relevant security agencies to ensure total compliance.
The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party has suspended its former Chairman, Pastor Dayo Ekong, and former Secretary, Sam Okpala, due to allegations of gross misconduct and violation of the partys constitution.

The party also announced the dissolution of all Local Government Ward Executive Committees across the state.

This action was communicated in a statement issued on Monday from the partys Caretaker Committee Chairman, Rotimi Odunaike, and Secretary, Dorcas Omorodion, who condemned the actions of the former executive.

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According to Odunaike, Ekongs suspension is a direct result of her holding the positions of both the state chairman and national financial secretary, a clear breach of the partys constitution. The former state executive committee members were also suspended for six months over allegations of anti-party activities.

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The statement read, The former state Chairman of the party, Pastor Mrs Dayo Ekong is hereby suspended for 6 months for gross misconduct and breach of the constitution of the party by holding the offices of the state chairman and national financial secretary at the same time.

Further details revealed that all Local Government and Ward Executive Committees appointed by the Ekong-led Exco have been dissolved, with their members also facing a six-month suspension.

The dissolution of these committees aims to restore the integrity and discipline within the party, signaling a strong stance against any actions perceived to undermine the partys structure.

This development has raised questions about internal governance and power dynamics within the Lagos Labour Party as the party prepares for future political engagements.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, approached him for reconciliation amidst the ongoing political crisis in the state.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike revealed that Fubara visited him in the company of two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in a bid to seek peace.

Wike and Fubara have been at odds since the latter assumed office in 2023. Their rift escalated to the point that President Bola Tinubu intervened by suspending Fubara for six months and appointing a Sole Administrator to oversee the states affairs.

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READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/my-spirit-has-left-rivers-govt-house-suspended-gov-fubara.html

The President had called for peace severally and I cant sit down and say no when the President has called for peace, Wike stated. Yes, he came with two governors, unfortunately they are APC governors  I wont pursue him. He said he wants peace and I also want peace.

He stressed that Fubara must take necessary steps if he truly desires lasting reconciliation, labeling the crisis a self-inflicted injury.

Wike also dismissed claims that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State is divided. We dont have problem with PDP in my state, he said.

He criticized businessman Atedo Peterside for describing political appointees as riff-raffs, calling the comment extreme and unfair to professionals serving the state.

Wike further recalled advising late banker Herbert Wigwe to invest in Rivers before his death, which led to plans for a world-class university.
A 16 year old student in SS2 class of a private secondary school in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, have been arrested for faking her kidnap.

It was gathered that the girl, who whose identity was not disclosed said to have demanded a ransom of N2 million from her family for her release.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the teenager allegedly contacted a family member, claiming she had been kidnapped.

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Speaking during a press briefing in Abakaliki on Monday, Spokesman for Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said that a family friend helped her plan the hoax.

He added that the girl is said to be a native of Izzi Local Government Area and was due to return to school for the third term on Saturday.

Ukandu said: She told Police that she went to buy clothes at the market when suddenly an unknown person who just came down from a Jeep tapped her from behind. According to her, she lost consciousness of any other thing that happened till the following day which was Sunday at Ishieke junction.

READ MORE: Two Travellers Returning From Funeral Killed, 23 Others Injured In Ebonyi Road Accident

Meanwhile she said she had always been dreaming where she was kidnapped. So, when that happens, she will tell her mother and they will pray for her. So, at Ishieke junction, having regained consciousness, she started asking people where she was and how she could get to Abakaliki town.

According to the teenage student, on getting to town, she decided to go to house of one of their family friends who was not aware of her missing. With the mans phone, she chatted her brother and told him that she was kidnapped and that they (her family) will pay two million naira ransom before her release. So, the brother requested that she give the phone to those that kidnapped her so that he can bargain with them and know the location to bring the ransom but she refused and blocked his brothers line.

After some time, the brother now requested that an account number be forwarded to the family for digital transfer of the two million naira ransom.

Before you know it, the girl collected and sent account number of the same family friend hosting her and same person she was using his phone to chat the family to fake her own kidnap. With those evidences, the family alerted the police who stormed his house and arrested them.
Gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists have attacked base of Nigerian Army, located at Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

It was gathered that some yet to be ascertained figures of soldiers were killed in the attack, which happened at Forward Operation Base of the 153 Task Force Battalion, at about 3 am on Monday.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that two teachers were also killed by a landmine planted by the terrorists in the Damboa Local Government Area of the state.

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Reacting over the unfortunate incident on Tuesday, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, in a statement by his Spokesman, Dauda Iliya condemned the attacks.

Zulum reaffirmed the state governments commitment to work closely with Federal Government, military, and other security agencies in containing the security challenges.

He said: These acts of terror are deeply condemnable. The recent tragic loss of our education workers, gallant troops, and innocent civilians is a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face.

READ MORE: Gov Zulum Accuses Security Personnel Of Promoting Insecurity In Borno

I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state.

The recent surge in attacks will not deter our resolve to tackle the scourge of the 16-year-long insurgency. I urge the people of Borno to remain resilient and prayerful. This is a partial eclipse and we shall overcome it, Insha Allah.
Nigerian social media critic VeryDarkMan has fired back at those mocking his mothers job as a school teacher, saying their insults reflect a failed system, not shame on her.

The activist came under fire after he took his mother to the bank to address alleged deductions from her salary.

Critics took to social media to mock him, questioning why his mother still worked as a teacher while he spends money on giveaways and charity.

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READ MORE: Navy Experience Was My Toughest Phase  Cute Abiola

Reacting to the comments in a video on his Instagram page on Monday, VeryDarkMan condemned the idea that being a teacher is something to be ridiculed.

He argued that the profession should be among the highest paid and most respected in society.

I see a lot of posts of people mocking me say I dey do give away say my mother na ordinary school teacher, say I for don open business for her, he said. The truth is that I dont blame you people. Na the yeye Nigerian government na him cause am, cause normally because the welfare of teachers suppose dey above the roofs.

He further emphasized that his respect for his mother remains intact and that no amount of online trolling would diminish the pride he has in her dedication.
Christine Visco, 48, of Conshohocken, Pa., president of Terra Vida Holistic Center, holds Sour Grape and Lime Sorbet Strands of cannabis in 2019. Read more

Imagine walking into a Pennsylvania State Store  not for wine, but for weed.

Thats the vision behind a newly passed bill in the state House, which proposes legalizing recreational marijuana and selling it exclusively through state-run cannabis shops. Modeled after the Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, the proposal would make Pennsylvania one of the only states in the country to operate a government-controlled retail marijuana system.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dan Frankel (D., Allegheny) and Rep. Rick Krajewski (D., Philadelphia), passed the House in a narrow 102-101 vote on May 7. Its unlikely to become law  the Republican-controlled Senate has shown little interest in legalizing recreational cannabis  but it marks the first time a recreational marijuana bill has cleared a chamber of the state legislature.

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Unlike Pennsylvanias medical marijuana program or recreational systems in states like New Jersey, where private dispensaries dominate the market, the proposed legislation would give the state complete control over retail sales. That means no privately owned dispensaries and likely no flashy storefronts  just state-run shops, stocked and overseen by the government.

What would a state-run cannabis store look like?

Though the bill faces long odds in the Senate, it offers a preview of how recreational weed could work in Pennsylvania  and what it might look like if the Liquor Control Board ran cannabis sales.

For starters, the cannabis market would be overseen by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which would set product prices  not individual businesses. The board would also determine where stores could operate, and some Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations could be converted into hybrid shops selling liquor and cannabis.

The bill includes purchase limits for recreational weed, as most legal states do, though Pennsylvanias proposed caps would be more restrictive than those in New Jersey, New York, or California.

Notably, private citizens and businesses would not be allowed to apply for or operate cannabis retail stores  a restriction that has drawn criticism from legalization advocates and business groups. However, Pennsylvanians age 21 and older could apply for a home cultivation permit to grow a small amount of marijuana for personal use, something still not permitted in New Jersey.

While the bills retail structure stands out, many of its other provisions  including how cannabis would be cultivated and manufactured  mirror systems already in place in other legal-weed states.

 READ MORE: When will recreational weed be legal in Pennsylvania? The wait isnt over.

Why are lawmakers proposing a state-run weed industry?

The bills sponsors, Krajewski and Frankel, have argued that leaning into Pennsylvanias nearly century-old liquor store system could help streamline the path to legalization by using a framework both lawmakers and residents are already familiar with. It also protects the smaller, independent entrepreneurs, who in other states have found themselves in debt from attempting to open dispensaries, Krajewski told The Inquirer in March.

Its an extremely difficult market to compete in, particularly if youve been directly impacted by the War on Drugs, Krajewski said. Many people are told this kind of pipe dream that, Youre going to make it big, open a dispensary, and then smaller operators fall into cycles of debt or theyre bought out by big investors who can withstand the turbulence of a newly legalized market.

Still, the proposal has drawn pushback from some legalization advocates. Pennsylvanias chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said it sent 1,000 letters from residents urging lawmakers to reject a state-store-only model. Critics say it would sideline small and Black-owned businesses from participating in the legal market.

The reality is that small-business owners, for the most part, get the retail store and the delivery permits, said Chris Goldstein, NORMLs regional organizer. They dont have the capacity to start growing cannabis or get into the manufacturing side, but they can afford to rent a storefront and make the investments in retail to comply with state law.

Will this recreational weed bill become law?

Probably not  at least not yet.

In March, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) told The Inquirer that the Republican caucus is not ready to support recreational cannabis legalization. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) has also expressed reluctance, citing marijuanas federal status and concerns over how the states medical program was implemented.

In Pennsylvania, we already have a medical marijuana program in place which was not implemented well and could benefit from potential changes to make that program more airtight, efficient, and productive, Pittman said.

For now, nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians are registered medical marijuana patients and are served by more than 180 dispensaries across the state. Recreational use remains illegal  but this latest vote marks a shift in how some lawmakers are beginning to envision the future of cannabis in the Commonwealth.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Edgars Stores Limited, one of Zimbabwe's leading clothing retailers, has announced a strategic shift toward the low-end market, revealing that 60% of the country's clothing market now falls within the affordable segment. This move is part of the retailer's broader plan to expand its Express Stores, which are aimed at catering to lower-income consumers in response to the growing dominance of second-hand clothing vendors.In January, Edgars outlined plans to launch 20 new Express Stores throughout the year with an investment of approximately US$200,000. These new outlets are expected to serve the economically disadvantaged demographic by offering affordable clothing items priced between US$1 and US$10. The Express Stores, which vary in size from 100 to 150 square meters, have already gained traction in Zimbabwe's informal retail sector."The Zimbabwe market is primarily in the informal sector. Our internal research indicates that about 60% of the market is in the low-end segment, which has traditionally been serviced by small players such as open space traders (Kotamayi), runners, and boutiques," said Collin Mupatiki, General Manager of Edgars Express Stores. "As a market leader in the clothing industry, it became imperative for Edgars to recalibrate and focus on this space, which holds significant growth potential."The rise of the second-hand clothing market has had a profound impact on formal retailers like Edgars, as they struggle to compete with the affordability and variety offered by pre-owned garments. Despite this, Edgars' decision to focus on the low-end market comes as part of its strategic response to the growing demand for budget-friendly fashion."The rapid success of the Express Stores highlights the potential for revenue growth in this space, especially as there is substantial cash circulation in the informal sector," Mupatiki added. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the informal sector is currently circulating at least US$2.5 billion in cash, offering a significant opportunity for businesses catering to this segment.In response to this demand, Edgars plans to sustain its growth through targeted marketing strategies aimed at engaging local communities. These include roadshows, flyer distributions, and promotions through local radio stations. The company is also leveraging digital marketing through social media geo-targeting and SMS campaigns to reach Zimbabwe's tech-savvy youth.Edgars' Express Stores are part of a broader retail portfolio that also includes Edgars Stores, which cater to the high-end market with international fashion trends, and Jet Stores, which target the middle-income market with stylish and trendy clothing for families. Mupatiki emphasized that Express Stores fill the gap by offering affordable clothing for the entire household in the low-end market."By the end of fiscal year 2025, we aim to have opened 20 new Express Stores," Mupatiki said. "We also measure our performance based on the number of open stores, sales, and basket size, with a target average spending of US$10 per invoice."The company's latest addition, the Shurugwi Express Store, marks another step in Edgars' efforts to expand its retail footprint and meet the needs of the low-income demographic across the country.With the success of its Express Stores and its strategic focus on affordability, Edgars is positioning itself to thrive in the increasingly competitive and price-sensitive Zimbabwean market.
A Liberian immigrant who prosecutors said was a bodyguard for the countrys former president and convicted war criminal Charles Taylor was sentenced Tuesday to 12 months in federal prison for lying on documents he used to seek legal residency in the United States, and later on a citizenship application.

Isiah Kangars alleged connections to Taylor  and any role Kangar may have played in back-to-back civil wars that roiled the West African nation two decades ago  were barely mentioned during a sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney.

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Instead, Kearney focused on the fact that Kangar  who for years has lived in Bristol, Bucks County  used his brothers name while obtaining a green card, in applying for citizenship, and during interviews with immigration authorities during his 15 years in the country.

Your crime is lying about who you are to stay in the United States, Kearney said.

In an unusual twist, Kearney also spent time questioning how and when he should impose Kangars sentence because of the Trump administrations immigration policies. While federal judges often give defendants convicted in nonviolent cases a few weeks or months to surrender, Kearney said that doing so in this case could expose Kangar to arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement before his prison term begins.

Mr. Kangar, you understand if I defer this [surrender date], you are at some risk of being picked up in the interim by immigration authorities, Kearney said, calling it a risk that wasnt true six months ago.

Kangar said he understood but wanted time to prepare and arrange his affairs, particularly because the judge ordered him to be deported to Liberia after his term of incarceration ends.

Kangar also apologized for his deception. The 52-year-old pleaded guilty last year to counts including conspiracy, visa fraud, and unlawful procurement of U.S. citizenship. And although he did not say Tuesday why he had used his brothers name on his paperwork, he said he lied because he wanted to remain in America to work and be able to send money back to his relatives in Liberia and South Africa.

Im sorry for what I did, Kangar told Kearney. I do accept everything Ive done, but I was just doing it for the support of my children.

Kangars case was another example of how federal prosecutors in Philadelphia have used immigration cases in recent years to pursue those who took part in the Liberian wars. At least three other Liberian nationals living in the region have been convicted of deceiving immigration authorities by omitting mention of atrocities during the conflicts.

Until those prosecutions, there had been little criminal accountability for actions in Liberia in the 1990s and 2000s, when two civil wars left an estimated 200,000 civilians dead. (Taylor was convicted of war crimes in an international criminal court in 2011, but the charges stemmed from his conduct during a civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone.)

Still, unlike in the other cases, Kangar was not accused of wartime misconduct. And prosecutors mentioned his alleged association with Taylor only as part of his background, saying he had admitted being associated with Taylor during a failed bid for asylum in South Africa in 2006.

Kangars attorney, Jack McMahon, said that wasnt true. Kangar, he said, had simply made up an association with Taylor to try to bolster his chances of being admitted to South Africa as a refugee.

The criminal charges against Kangar focused narrowly on his use of his brothers name on immigration documents in the United States  beginning in 2009, when he first applied for a visa, and continuing as he obtained and renewed his green cards over the years, and even when he had a naturalization interview in 2022 as he sought to become a citizen.

The prolonged course of conduct, Kearney said, is what merited a 12-month sentence. The judge said he would wait to officially impose the penalty for a few weeks to avoid triggering potential apprehension by immigration authorities, but said that once he did so, Kangar would need to surrender immediately to begin serving time behind bars.

Its not just one instance of lying, the judge said. You lied repeatedly to stay here.
A Deptford PTO member has been charged with stealing more than $50,000 from funds raised by parents to support several schools, police said Tuesday.

Tara A. Webb, 36, was arrested Monday and charged in connection with the alleged theft, Deptford Police Chief Joseph J. Smith said. She surrendered without incident and was transported to the Salem County jail, he said.

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Webb was charged with theft by unlawful taking following a three-month investigation, Smith said. The investigation is ongoing, he said.

Police said Webb was PTO treasurer for Shady Lane School and Pine Acres School.

In a letter to parents Tuesday, Deptford Schools Superintendent Kevin Kanauss and police Detective Maureen Packer detailed the allegations but did not include Webbs name. Neither the school district nor any district employees were involved, the letter said, and only the person charged is believed to have been involved.

In addition to the alleged misappropriation of funds, the person charged also failed to pay thousands of invoices related to PTO activities, the letter said.

It was not immediately clear whether Webb is represented by a lawyer.

We understand the gravity of this situation and the impact it will have on our school communities, the letter said. Our priority remains the well-being and trust of our students, families and staff.

PTOs, or parent-teacher organizations, typically raise funds to support school budgets. The money can be used to purchase supplies, pay for teacher materials, and sponsor enrichment events.
The seven Pennsylvania State University campuses recommended for closure face declines in enrollment and finances, low student housing occupancy, and a significant backlog in maintenance, according to a 143-page report obtained by The Inquirer.

And things are not expected to get any better with declines in population on the horizon, said the report from a committee appointed by Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi to study the potential closure of 12 of 20 Commonwealth campuses and make recommendations.

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The projected low enrollments pose challenges for creating the kind of robust on-campus student experience that is consistent with the Penn State brand, said the report, which recommended the closure of the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, York, Wilkes-Barre, and Shenango campuses. Keeping them open would require an estimated $19 million in annual financial support, $21 million in annual overhead expense, and more than $200 million in future facilities investment  resources that could be redirected to enhance and strengthen the campuses that remain.

 READ MORE: Penn State administration is proposing to close seven Commonwealth campuses

The board of trustees is expected to discuss the recommendation at a private meeting Thursday. Bendapudi has endorsed the committees recommendations to the board.

Board chair David M. Kleppinger said in an interview that he anticipates holding a public meeting to vote on the plan in the next week or two.

The input that weve received from a variety of constituents is that the uncertainty creates anxiety, and the best solution to eliminate uncertainty is to get to a final conclusion, he said.

Despite a few board members who have spoken out publicly against closing campuses, Kleppinger said he is optimistic the board will support the recommendation.

It would take a simple majority of the more than 30-member board to pass the plan.

Collectively, the seven campuses, which are spread from Western Pennsylvania to Northeastern Pennsylvania, enrolled nearly 3,200 students as of the fall semester and experienced enrollment declines over the last five years ranging from 15% at York to 32% at DuBois, according to enrollment data on the universitys website.

At Mont Alto, Penn States oldest Commonwealth campus, dating back to 1901, only 122 students were living in campus housing as of October 2024, which represents about 40% occupancy, the report said. At the Shenango campus, enrollment had declined 67.7% since its peak in 2004.

 READ MORE: Penn States plan to close some Commonwealth campuses gets pushback from faculty and two trustees

The five that were studied but not recommended for closure are Hazleton, Schuylkill, Beaver, Greater Allegheny, and Scranton. The committee recommended they remain open and receive focused investment  based on their strategic importance, financial resilience, academic offerings, regional relevance, and/or potential to absorb and support students from closing campuses.

The report noted pluses for these campuses, from new esport facilities at Beaver to Penn States only undergraduate clinical research program at Allegheny.

The three Commonwealth campuses in the Philadelphia region  Brandywine, Abington, and the graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley  were not considered for closure. They are among the systems largest. The others not considered for closure are Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley.

 READ MORE: Penn State plans to close some Commonwealth campuses

Difficult enrollment landscape

The committee, headed by Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth campuses; Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff; and Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost, noted the difficult enrollment landscape Penn State faces. Another dip in the number of high school graduates nationwide is expected to start next year, with some areas of the state projecting more acute population drops than others, and state funding has lagged.

Closures and mergers are happening more frequently regionally and nationally. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education already merged six of its universities into two new entities. The University of the Arts and Cabrini University shut last June, while Rosemont College announced it will close for good in 2028.

In the face of shrinking public investment and a shifting demographic landscape, Penn State must act with foresight and courage, said the report, which included pages of data analysis, profiles of each campus, and arguments for why each should close or remain open, plus financial projections.

Smith, one of the committee leaders, said the plan allows the campuses two years before closure  time to help students finish their degrees or transfer, to help faculty and staff prepare for the transition, and for the administration to decide what to do with those campuses. The university is committing to keeping tenured faculty and honoring contracts for nontenured faculty, he said.

Neeli is trying to prioritize act[ing] now so we can act compassionately, we can act thoughtfully, and we can do right by Penn States mission, certainly, but right by our people in the short term, he said. We really believe that this is going to leave Penn State stronger in the end.

Commonwealth campuses have seen declining enrollment since 2010, some more precipitously than others. At the 12 campuses reviewed, enrollment slid by 51.3% since 2010 and by 35% in the last decade alone, the report said. Ten of the campuses enrolled fewer than seven students in more than 20% of their classes.

And despite university investments, they have continued to slide, the report said.

The seven campuses proposed to be shuttered in two years currently enroll 3.6% of Penn States total students and employ 3.4% of faculty and 2.2% of staff.

By closing the campuses, the university will erase an annual net loss of nearly $20 million in direct expenses, which could be redirected toward programs and employees who serve a larger proportion of the student body at the 13 campuses that will remain open, the report said. It also means the university would not have to cover more than $200 million in maintenance backlog and capital investments, the report said.

Pushback against the process

The seven-campus closure plan is likely to face pushback from faculty and some trustees, who already have objected to closing campuses and called for more transparency in the process and more time for consideration.

It was very disappointing to see the name of my campus there, Julio Palma, an associate professor of chemistry at Fayette in Western Pennsylvania, said after The Inquirer published on Monday the list of seven campuses recommended for closure. But I think this is once more a failure in the leadership of this university.  They havent been transparent. The process has been very secretive.

He called the pace of decision-making dangerous and reckless.

The process should have started with an analysis of enrollment and projected population, but also with an eye toward innovation, he said.

Thursdays meeting of the trustees to discuss the plan should be held in public and in person, not in private on Zoom, and the public should be allowed to speak, he said.

Josh Wede, chair of Penn States faculty senate, also said the discussions should be held in public and said the secrecy has only contributed to morale problems.

We have asked for transparency in the process from the beginning, and our recommendations have been ignored, said Wede, a teaching professor of cognitive psychology at University Park.

The senate has not yet taken a position on the seven campuses proposed for closure, but Wede said more time is needed.

The campuses are facing challenges on multiple fronts, and we need to take a hard look at how all of the campuses fit into the Penn State ecosystem, he said. This is something we should have been doing for the past 20 years and failed to do so. But with such a large decision, we need to take the time to get this right.

The president of the Penn State chapter of the American Association of University Professors also raised concerns that closing Commonwealth campuses could roll back recent improvements in serving students from underrepresented backgrounds  Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The administration credited such gains in diversity to the accessible flexible Commonwealth Campus model and recruitment in diverse cities such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia "

Wede said Commonwealth campuses are more diverse socioeconomically than University Park.

Langkilde, the interim provost, said Penn State will continue to serve a significant number of Pell Grant-eligible students.

Theres no change in our focus on doing that important access-oriented work, Langkilde said.

Factors considered in making the recommendations, in addition to enrollment trends and population projections, included academic program vitality and student success, financial performance, housing occupancy, and maintenance backlog.

The committee also looked at other colleges within a 30-mile and 50-mile radius, the report said, and aimed to maintain a campus or campuses in the Pittsburgh area and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Snow pea leaves are among the most prized of Asian greens, quickly blanched then fried in a hot wok at Dim Sum Mania in Media. Read more

As the server repeated the lineup of dishes for our meal at Dim Sum Mania in Media  hand-pleated soup dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, crispy turnip cakes, punchy kung pao chicken  she raised her index finger in thought and paused to let us know we were missing an essential: snow pea leaves.

Theyre very special right now, Ann Zeng said, and I want you to try them.

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The snow pea leaves arrived moments later, a steaming mound of delicate stems and silken leaves so luminous, they glowed like battery-powered jade. And what a crunch: Their tiny stems gave a tender yet sturdy snap, with a vegetal, nutty sweetness that, if I closed my eyes, I could actually imagine growing into a pea. They were so flavorful, seasoned with little more than a pinch of salt, sugar, and garlic. The natural beauty of those tendrils, tumbled through the blazing heat of chef Tom Guos wok, does all the rest.

We always choose greens to go with a Chinese meal, because they add balance, healthy freshness, and contrast to all the other flavors. But pea leaves are my favorite, said Guo, who owns branches of Dim Sum Mania in Media and Berwyn. You can call them the Queen of Greens.

Snow pea leaves ( in Chinese) are among the most expensive Asian greens, thanks to their fragile nature and the need to painstakingly prune through each batch, snapping off large parts of stem that can become woody.

Sometimes they may be $7 a pound, but once you trash so much of them, they become almost $10 or $11 pound. Sometimes I even lose money, said Guo, who currently charges $15 for a plate. But people like them so much, you need to cook them.

TingTing Wan, who owns EMei in Chinatown, said pea leaves are her favorite green, too, not just because of their tenderness, but their fleeting seasonality. While their season has been extended to nearly year-round by modern agriculture in North America  most are currently grown in Mexico  according to Yan Lin of Chinatowns Asianfresh market, pea leaves are most prized during the cold months in China, from February into early spring, with a second burst in early fall. By the end of May, Wans chefs at EMei will already be turning their attention to water spinach, which has its own virtues (especially served cold) but is also considerably less flavorful.

That means there are still a few weeks left to capture pea leaves in their prime at Dim Sum Mania or one of the better Cantonese kitchens in Chinatown, like seafood stalwart Tai Lake (134 N. 10th St.), where the greens luxury status is celebrated in signature dishes alongside other premium ingredients  poached alongside two kinds of eggs in chicken broth, for example, or topped with rehydrated dried scallops.

For such a delicate green, the pea leaves stood up nicely to all those other ingredients, with both stems and leaves pitching in for a resonant crunch to contrast the jellied texture of preserved dark century eggs and the spongy snap of straw mushrooms. Still, I love pea leaves most when cooked simply on their own. And Guo makes them look so easy at Dim Sum Mania, completing the dish from start to finish in just over a minute.

Guo agreed to provide a tutorial for cooking them. He has the advantage of a professional wok, which has firepower that cant be replicated in most home kitchens, but with all your prep in place  including a pot of boiling water beside your wok  you can come close. Take 1 pound of well-trimmed greens and blanch them in boiling water for 10 seconds, then quickly remove and drain them, a process that sets the color, tenderizes the stems, and enhances their sweetness. Add a tablespoon of oil to a hot wok, then a quarter teaspoon of salt. Once its smoking hot, add your greens and stir-fry vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Add a pinch of sugar, a teaspoon of minced garlic, and toss in the wok for a few more seconds over the fire.

They were so good at Dim Sum Mania, we ended up eating the dumplings to accompany our pea leaves, rather than the other way around. The Queen of Greens, indeed, is a draw in her own right.

Snow pea leaves, currently $17.95a plate at Dim Sum Mania: 17-19 E. State St., Media, 610-557-8757; or 300 Swedesford Rd., Berwyn, 484-320-8879; dimsummania.com
The scene outside of the National Constitution Center ahead of the Presidential debate in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Read more

The National Constitution Center on Tuesday announced the single largest donation in the organizations history.

The $15 million donation from billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin will support the creation of two new galleries focused on Americas founding principles, the separation of powers, and federalism, said Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center president and CEO.

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The new galleries, which will open in time for Americas 250th anniversary next year, known as the Semiquincentennial, will display loaned copies of Griffins incredible rare copy of the U.S. Constitution and his rare first print of an early draft of what would become the Bill of Rights.

Both documents will be on public display through 2026, Rosen said. The new galleries represent the first reimagining of the Constitution Centers core exhibit since the institution opened in 2003.

Its so important during the 250th anniversary of America to converge around the ideals that unite us, Rosen said in an interview. In these polarized times, the ideals of the Declaration and the Constitution are what binds America.

In recognition, the Constitution Center will name its central welcoming and convening space, with its sweeping views of Independence Mall, the Kenneth C. Griffin Great Hall.

Its just going to be transformative for the National Constitution Center, Rosen said.

In 2021, Griffin, CEO of multinational hedge fund Citadel, paid $43.2 million for a first-edition copy of the U.S. Constitution at a Sothebys auction, outbidding a group of cryptocurrency investors.

At the time of his purchase, Griffin said he intended to ensure that his copy of the Constitution  one of 14 known original, official prints from which all subsequent printings of the final text of the Constitution originate  would be made available for all Americans. The document has been on display at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.

The remarkable prosperity of America over the past 250 years is a testament to the genius of the republic, as enshrined in our Constitution. The authors of the Constitution had incredible foresight in designing a system of government that has withstood the test of time and now, more than ever, protects the American Dream, Griffin said in a statement. I am proud to partner with the National Constitution Center to share these sacred documents with all Americans.

Griffin, 56, of Florida, is also the founder of Griffin Catalyst, which focuses solely on personal giving. He is a frequent and generous donor to charities and nonprofit cultural organizations across the nation, having donated over $2 billion in recent decades.

In July 2007, he donated $19 million to the Art Institute of Chicago and loaned one of his Paul Cezanne paintings to the museum. In 2015, he donated $40 million to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Three years later, he donated $20 million to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Fla.

In 2014, Griffin gave $150 million to Harvard University, his alma mater. At the time, the gift represented the largest single donation ever made to the institution.

The $15 million gift will help the Constitution Center continue its first major renovation of its main exhibit, The Story of We The People.

The two new galleries will join a First Amendment Gallery the institution opened two years ago.

The Founding Principles, scheduled to open in February 2026, will explore how Americans declared independence, fought a revolution, learned from early challenges, and ultimately formed a new constitutional government here in Philadelphia, Rosen said.

The Separation of Powers gallery will examine how the Constitution defines and balances power among the three branches of government  and between the federal government and the states. That space is set to open in May 2026, per Rosen.

Both galleries, which will be included in the museums existing space, will also include other rare documents; interactive displays, such as biographies of the Founding Fathers; and other displays that detail major compromises of the Constitutional Convention over national power, states rights, and the stain of slavery.

Its really thrilling to be able to tell the story of Americas founding in such a powerful and compelling way, Rosen said.

The nonpartisan National Constitution Center was founded to devotion of the study of the Constitution.

To be able to stand in the Constitution Center, to gaze at Independence Hall, the most inspiring constitutional view in America, and then to see rare copies of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights should be an incredibly moving and inspiring experience, Rosen said.
A Burlington County man is facing child porn and animal cruelty charges after an investigation uncovered a trove of illegal videos.

Hunter Roy, 26, of Maple Shade, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts involving the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Prosecutors said they received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about Roys online activities. An investigation discovered Roy distributed more than 9,000 files depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, some of which he sent to an underage boy, officials said.

Officials also said Roy made recordings of himself engaging in sexual acts with at least two dogs, including a Rottweiler, and traded them online for others.

Roy is being held in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing.
Billboard for Councilwoman Quetcy M. Lozada along Allegheny Avenue and Rosehill Street in Philadelphia. Read more

Philadelphia politicians want you to know more about their accomplishments.

They also want taxpayers to pay for the privilege.

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In recent months, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, members of City Council, and other Philadelphia elected officials collectively spent at least $2 million on contracts for outside communications firms, campaign-style billboards, magazine-like mailers, and various digital, television, newspaper, and radio ads  all with the stated goal of elevating their work to everyday Philadelphians.

Parkers office finalized a $120,000 contract last month with a Erie-based public relations firm that aims to promote Mayor Parkers initiatives and their successes, according to a request for proposals issued in February.

In April and May, Council spent nearly $83,000 on a glossy 48-page mailer that promoted legislators work last year. An additional $102,000 went toward ad buys and a series of billboards featuring members names and likenesses, timed to promote four budget town halls  meaning each event had an average advertising cost of over $25,000.

Many people dont even know who their elected officials are, said Vincent Thompson, communications director for City Council President Kenyatta Johnson. What the Council president wants to do is expose the citizens to City Council and let them know who their elected officials are.

Some of the advertising appears geared toward constituents who are already in the know. Council sent its 48-page mailer exclusively to super voters, the most civically engaged voters who tend to cast ballots in every election.

Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of government watchdog Committee of Seventy, said that these efforts could create the impression of self-promotion on the publics dime.

Were all for promoting city services and opportunities for residents to engage with their government, she said. Anything that is promoting an individual, rather than city programs, services, and opportunities, should definitely be handled on the political side.

Susan Thompson, an 80-year-old retired special education teacher who lives in Councilmember Jeffery Youngs district, said she and her neighbors in the Art Museum area were baffled by the mailer, which features numerous photos of smiling Council members.

She said the money could have been spent on other, more pressing needs, noting news reports on maintenance lapses in Philly public schools.

There are public schools that dont even have working sinks or toilets, she said. I think $80,000 could have paid for some plumbing.

City Halls booming PR fleet

City Hall, meanwhile, is seeking to grow its flank of contracted public relations officials despite already spending millions on in-house communications.

The mayor, City Council, and other city agencies employ nearly 70 different communications, media, or PR staffers, with combined salaries of $5.3 million annually, according to payroll records.

The mayors office alone is budgeted for a nine-person, $1.1 million communications office, roughly 20% more than under Parkers predecessor, Jim Kenney.

For comparison, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro employs the same number of communications staffers despite helming a much larger government body  and operates without help from outside PR firms.

The Parker administration said it needs help spreading the word about the mayors agenda.

To that end, it contracted Kate Philips & Co., an Erie marketing firm founded by Kate Phillips, a former spokesperson for Gov. Ed Rendell, to garner positive coverage of successes, write op-eds, book media appearances, post on social media, and do crisis communications support.

Two of Phillips local staffers will also work on the contract. One is Kristi Del Grande, a former Rendell press secretary. The other, Daniela Snyder, is the daughter of Democratic political consultant (and former Rendell staffer) Ken Snyder.

Parkers spokesperson, Joe Grace  who himself once worked for Rendell as deputy campaign manager  defended the contract.

As year two of the administration unfolds, we want to do even more, he said. Tell more stories, and inform the public even better on all of the dynamic and positive work of the Parker administration.

Kenney brought in an outside firm to handle crisis communications in 2022 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, that contract was issued toward the end of his second term, as staffers were departing.

Parkers in-house press office, meanwhile, is in the process of hiring for several unfilled staff jobs, including a $110,000-a-year press secretary to assist Grace, who earns $180,000.

Other city agencies have aided Parkers promotional efforts, with the sanitation department paying $107,000 to wrap 20 garbage trucks and 80 Big Belly trash cans with the mayors One Philly, United City slogan  next to her name.

Her press office is also notable for a controversial citywide communications policy after Parker took office in January 2024 that requires the dozens of spokespersons at other city departments to route media requests, social media posts, and any other public statements through the mayors office for approval.

That policy appears to have resulted in a bottlenecking of media requests that used to be handled by city agencies. Grace and his team have frequently struggled to respond in a timely manner to media inquiries, including requests for basic information, during Parkers first 16 months in office.

The proposal request states that Kate & Co will be expected to assist in the coordination of multiple departments to craft unified city messaging. Grace denied any connection between the contract and the policy.

Council hits the billboards

Parker is not alone in using tax dollars to trumpet her accomplishments. Under Johnson, Council has embarked on annual multimedia ad blitzes.

Thompson, Johnsons communications director, said the $185,000 spend on billboards and other ads is mostly aimed at promoting a series of town halls about the city budget.

The Council president wants to make sure we are very aggressive at letting the public know what were doing with their tax dollars, he said.

The 13 billboards  one featuring each district Council member and three of Johnson himself  cost taxpayers $18,500. For about one month, Councilmember Mark Squilla, who represents parts of Center City and South Philadelphia, gazed serenely from a digital billboard over motorists on I-95, with his name and a slogan reading, Your city, your budget.

Those tuned to the right radio station or digital stream can also hear Council members promoting the budget town halls. Airtime cost: $50,000. Readers of Phillys dozen or so neighborhood newspapers, like the Sunday Sun or the South Philly Review, will also see ads featuring their local district council member, courtesy of another $34,000 ad expense.

Thompson said the outreach efforts helped soften public criticism of the legislative body.

One of the things [Johnson] noticed during his tenure was that a lot of Philadelphians had a negative impression of Council. But when they found out what Council does, their impression became more positive, Thompson said.

Last year was one of Councils least productive sessions in recent history, in terms of the number of bills introduced and adopted. The most high-profile issue lawmakers tackled  a December vote to approve the 76ers proposal to build an arena in Center City  fizzled out weeks later when the team walked away from the plan.

Councils 48-page brochure mailed to voters recently is titled An Incredible Year In Council. It primarily depicts lawmakers engaging in decisive activities  attending ribbon-cuttings or authoring resolutions  with mention of the arena relegated to a back page, near a chart showing the seating order of each member inside the chamber.

Thompson says that these expenses are small in the grand scheme of Councils $20 million annual budget, and that the legislative body is only following an example set by other elected officials.

This isnt any different from getting a newsletter from a state representative or state senator, he said.

Politicians spending on publicly paid-for promotion does appear to be contagious.

City Controller Christy Brady and Councilmember Mike Driscoll both contract Ceisler Media at a cost of $84,000 and $35,000, respectively  although neither employs in-house media staff.

In February, City Council also inked a $40,000 contract with TML Communications to enhance brand awareness and secure positive coverage for Councilmember Cindy Bass, according to a proposal request. This role is in addition to her 12 office staffers, who includes a community outreach director.

TML was also contracted in 2021 at a cost of $144,000 annually to place advertising notices for the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office  and, in practice, to serve as a spokesperson for Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, despite the office budgeting for an $75,000-a-year public information officer. The sheriff has also poured public money into a podcast, a newsletter, and other promotional materials using public dollars.

And five months before the 2024 presidential election, the Philadelphia Office of the City Commissioners  an elected board that oversees local elections  issued a $1.4 million contract to Maven Communications to handle media relations, communications, and engagement.

These contracts  about $900,000 of which has been spent to date  helped disseminate information about voting in the election, but also featured ads and billboards prominently, with photos of Chair Omar Sabir.

Susan Thompson, the retired teacher, said she doesnt buy that all the spending is just to better educate the public.

Its self-promotion, she said. So when they run again, maybe people have flipped through something and remember them.  I think its an embarrassment.

Staff writer Max Marin contributed to this article.

An earlier version of this article stated that TMLs contract with Councilmember Cindy Bass was not competitively bid. It was.
The exterior of Barstool Sansom Street at 1213 Sansom St. in Center City. Read more

Im a lifelong Philadelphian. I was raised here, built my life here, and now work daily to advance a more just and pluralistic society in this city.

Ive always believed in what Philadelphias founding promise is: liberty, fairness, and shared responsibility. But in this moment, as a Jewish Philadelphian, I  and many others  feel shaken by how far we are drifting from those values.

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Last week, a disturbing incident took place at Barstool Sansom Street. Patrons ordered a light-up bottle service sign that featured a hateful message that mocked the identity and trauma of Jewish people.

What followed was even more revealing. One of the individuals involved later appeared on a platform known for promoting white supremacist views, where a Jewish business owner was smeared with a slur that has long been used to justify violence and exclusion.

In this moment, as a Jewish Philadelphian, I  and many others  feel shaken.

When challenged, the student claimed on social media that he was merely sharing a provocative message. Let me be clear: Bigotry is not provocative  its harmful.

Slurs dont just offend; they deepen fear, inflame tension, and contribute to a climate where people targeted question their safety in spaces that should feel like home.

As someone who works daily to build bridges across Philadelphias diverse communities, I know that hatred  whether spoken, posted, or implied  doesnt exist in a vacuum. It shapes behavior. It forces people to hide parts of themselves. It erodes trust between neighbors.

According to the Anti-Defamation Leagues most recent Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, Pennsylvania recorded the fourth-highest number of such incidents in the United States in 2024.

These arent just statistics. They represent swastikas graffitied in schools, slurs hurled in the streets, online harassment, intimidation on college campuses, and physical threats against Jewish families and institutions. Far too many Jewish Philadelphians are adjusting their routines out of fear  mirroring findings from a recent American Jewish Committee report showing that, for the first time, a majority (56%) of American Jews say they have changed their behavior due to safety concerns.

Parents are having new and heartbreaking conversations with their children about how to stay safe. Students are asked to choose between their Jewish identity and social belonging.

That is not the Philadelphia we should aspire to be.

Far too many Jewish Philadelphians are adjusting their routines out of fear.

And yet, through all of this, Jewish Philadelphians remain deeply engaged in the fabric of our city  guided by a commitment to compassion, justice, and community care.

Our values call us to seek peace, build understanding, and support our neighbors. This spirit is reflected in ongoing efforts to foster dialogue and respond to moments of need with empathy and solidarity.

At the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, where I work, we are growing our efforts to bring people together across lines of difference. We are expanding school and workplace programming, partnering with faith leaders, and working with allies from all backgrounds who believe  as we do  that hate has no place in our city.

But we cannot do this work alone. We need our citys leaders  in government, education, business, and culture  to speak out with consistency, not just in moments of crisis. We need policies that protect all communities. And we need public conversations that go beyond sound bites to address the complexity of identity, history, and belonging.

Philadelphia has always prided itself on being a city of bold ideals  revolution, resilience, and responsibility. Weve been tested before, and weve come through stronger. This moment is another test.

Hatred directed at any group undermines the foundations of a just society. It isolates, divides, and makes us all more vulnerable. If we truly believe in brotherly love and sisterly affection, now is the time to live those values out loud.

Lets not respond with silence. Lets lead with clarity. Lets say  together  that there is no place for hate in our city. Not in our bars. Not on our campuses. Not in our streets. And not in our silence.

Philadelphia is better than this. Lets prove it.

Jason Holtzman leads the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
A Delaware County secured drop box for the return of ballots is pictured in 2022 in Newtown Square, Pa. The county's voters will choose party nominees on May 20 for the two seats on the Delaware County Council. Read more

Voters across Pennsylvania will head to the polls next week to cast their ballots in county, municipal, judicial, and school board elections.

The races are quieter affairs than last years presidential contest and are traditionally low in turnout. But the lead-up to the May 20 primary has been defined by intraparty disputes among local Republicans and Democrats in the collar counties as they choose nominees for Novembers general election.

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Here are the races to watch in Philadelphias suburbs:

Norristown School Board

Two incumbent Norristown Area School Board members are running a write-in campaign in an effort to retain Latino representation on the board as the local Democratic Party works to oust them.

The local Democratic committee for Norristown, East Norriton, and West Norriton endorsed five candidates  all of them are newcomers and one of the candidates, Bill Caldwell, is a party leader for the area.

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The candidates  Cynthia Davenport, Terell Dale, Jeremiah Lemke, Jordan Alexander, and Caldwell  are all running on the Democratic ballot, and some cross-filed to appear on the Republican ballot as well. They are the only candidates on the ballot in either party.

Citing broad leadership concerns, the party declined to endorse incumbent board members Chris Jaramillo and Tessi Ruiz. Both candidates, and two others who were running alongside them, were then removed from the ballot for paperwork deficiencies. Ruiz and Jaramillo launched a write-in campaign in response.

The removal of Ruiz and Jaramillo would leave the Norristown Area School Board, which governs a district whose student body is half Latino, without any Latino representation. Jaramillo has argued that the party revoked its support of him because the board rejected a tax abatement plan for an affordable-housing project last summer.

Downingtown Mayor

Erica Deuso is running for mayor of Downingtown. She would be the first trans person elected to the role in the commonwealth if she prevails. Read more Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

Downingtown may become the first Pennsylvania community to elect a transgender mayor this fall.

Erica Deuso, a longtime Democratic activist and advocate for LGBTQ rights, was endorsed by the local Democratic Party in her race against Barry Cassidy, the former leader of Downingtowns main street program, in the Democratic primary for mayor.

Barry Cassidy in 2018 Read more Philadelphia Inquirer

The winner of the race will face Republican Rich Bryant in November.

Deuso has run on a broad campaign focused on being a good neighbor and working with public safety officials in Downingtown. Cassidy has focused intensely on flooding concerns within the Chester County borough. Neither has made Deusos identity a major point of their campaign.

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I want to be known as a good mayor, I want to be known as a good person. I want to be known as a person who gets things done. Not just a trans one. Not just a visible one, Deuso told The Inquirer.

Delaware County Council

Brian Burke (top) and Liz Piazza (left) are the endorsed Republicans running for Delaware County Council. Activists Charlie Alexander (right) is mounting a write-in campaign. Read more Courtesy of Liz Piazza and Charlie Alexander, and Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

Republicans are hoping to regain representation on the Delaware County Council this year, as two of five seats are on the ballot. Democrats currently hold all five seats on county council.

The county GOP endorsed Brian Burke, a former Upper Darby Council member who left the Democratic Party to run for mayor two years ago, and longtime county employee Liz Piazza for the seats. Democrats are backing incumbent Council member Richard Womack and County Controller Joanne Phillips.

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The race has been rife with drama and GOP infighting that hit a fever pitch when right-wing activist Charlie Alexander, who filed to run as a Republican, was removed from the ballot.

He is running a write-in campaign for the primary.

Delaware County Court of Common Pleas

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer holds a news conference in 2024. Stollsteimer is running for judge. Read more Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

Across Pennsylvania, voters will decide on nominees for the Court of Common Pleas. In Delaware County, Novembers election could force a change of leadership in the prosecutors office.

District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, who flipped the DAs office blue in 2019, is one of two Democrats endorsed by the local party for two open seats on the Court of Common Pleas. He is running alongside attorney Mike Power in the noncompetitive primary where both candidates will advance.

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Stollsteimer unsuccessfully ran in the Democratic primary for state attorney general last year after winning a second term as district attorney in 2023.

Republicans have put up just one candidate, Frank Zarrilli, for the court.

Bucks County law enforcement

Bucks County Sheriff Frederick A. Harran (center) listens during public statements in front of Buck County Commissioners during a May meeting. Read more Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

Mays primary will launch two key law enforcement races in Bucks County, the only Philadelphia suburb that voted for President Donald Trump last year.

Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran is up for reelection. Harran is a Republican who has frequently clashed with the Democratic board of commissioners and came under fire last month for efforts to use local deputies to help ICE.

His Democratic opponent is Danny Ceisler, part of an influential Philadelphia political family. Ceisler is a veteran who most recently worked in Gov. Josh Shapiros administration before joining Ceisler Media as a vice president this year.

Bucks Countys former solicitor Joe Khan is challenging District Attorney Jennifer Schorn, the incumbent Republican. Khan unsuccessfully ran for state attorney general last year.

Both races will serve as a key indicator of political movement within one of Pennsylvanias most critical battleground counties. But the candidates in each race are unopposed in the primary.

Central Bucks School Board

Supporters cheer before the five new school members were sworn in in Central Bucks School District in December 2023, when Democrats took control of the board. Read more Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer

In Central Bucks, one of Pennsylvanias largest school districts, eight candidates are running for four open seats and have cross-filed on both party ballots. Amanda OConnor, Daniel Kimicata, Katrina Filiatrault, and David Comalli are backed by CBSD Neighbors United, a political action committee that bills itself as standing strong for public schools and has supported Democrats in recent elections.

Four other candidates  Betty Santoro, Roman Szewczuk, Brenda Bagonis, and Andrew Miller  have support from the local Republican Party, which says they will bring leadership and balance to return excellence to CBSD.

Central Bucks has been a hotbed of controversy over culture-war issues in recent years, featuring deep partisan divisions and heavy spending on school board races. Allegations over abuse of special education students in a district elementary school have created new tensions. Democrats currently control the board by 8-1, and the lone Republican seat is up for grabs, meaning the balance of power wont shift  though with just one incumbent (Kimicata) seeking reelection, its composition could change significantly.

Lower Merion School Board

The Lower Merion school board discusses the backlash to a policy committee discussion about equity during a meeting Sept. 16, 2024, at Lower Merion High School. Read more Maddie Hanna

In heavily Democratic Lower Merion, the local Democratic committee has endorsed two incumbents  school board president Kerry Sautner and member Anna Shurak  along with newcomers Juanita Kerber and Jennifer Rivera for four open seats. The slate says it has fought to strengthen public education and uphold equity, but political groups are trying to roll back our progress.

Challenging them are five other candidates who will also appear on the Democratic ballot: Rich Lester, who is running on a platform of good governance and says the district needs guideposts to drive decision-making; Rebecca Brodsky, who says she would bring fiscal experience as a small-business owner; and Talia Nissim, Jacob Rudolph, and Deena Pack  the three of whom are running as the Imagine Better LMSD slate, along with Omer Dekel. That slate is backed by the local Republican committee, and lists combating antisemitism as a top priority.

Lower Merions school board has faced criticism over the past year from Jewish families who say it is failing to adequately address antisemitism. Sautner and Shurak, along with their running mates, say their reelection is crucial to stop external political agendas and prevent further destabilization in a district that has undergone numerous recent superintendent changes.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU) have marked a significant milestone in their growing economic partnership, with trade between the two entities increasing by 30% and foreign direct investment (FDI) surging by 90% in recent years.At a press conference held during the EU Day celebrations in Harare last week, Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sheilla Chikomo, expressed her excitement about the strong economic ties between the southern African nation and the European bloc. Chikomo highlighted the growing trade and investment, saying, "It is something to be applauded. I am excited because today is a special day, and in 11 days we will be having a business forum. This is a great milestone."The announcement comes ahead of the inaugural European Union-Zimbabwe Business Forum, set to take place in Harare from May 20-22, 2025. The event is organized in partnership with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), ZimTrade, and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI). The forum will serve as a key platform for Zimbabwean and European investors, businesses, and public institutions to explore new investment opportunities and strengthen economic relations between the two regions.EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jobst von Kirchmann, addressed the press conference and emphasized the significance of the forum. "This is a good moment to bring European companies to Zimbabwe and show them the opportunities here," von Kirchmann said. "I often say, if a European company comes here, it's better to work together with a local company than have an individual investment because you need to understand the local context-language, culture, and market conditions."The upcoming forum is expected to focus on three key sectors: agriculture, mining, and renewable energy. These sectors have been identified as areas with substantial growth potential for both Zimbabwe and European investors.The EU reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with Zimbabwe, with von Kirchmann stating that the partnership was based on mutual respect and a shared vision for a more prosperous and inclusive future. "Europe is open to cooperation, to fair trade, and to a shared future that benefits us all-a future powered by a thriving EU and Zimbabwe private sector," he said.Trade between the EU and Zimbabwe has seen a steady rise, with EU-Zimbabwe trade increasing by over 30% since 2021. Additionally, foreign direct investment into Zimbabwe has surged by 90% over the past three years, a sign of the EU's continued focus on promoting private sector development and economic cooperation. The EU has been particularly supportive of Zimbabwe's efforts to boost infrastructure development and transition to more sustainable, green growth models.This year's EU Day celebrations were held under the theme Global Gateway: Powered by the Private Sector, highlighting the central role of private investments in driving development. The EU's Global Gateway initiative supports sustainable infrastructure, green transitions, and inclusive growth, and is particularly active in Zimbabwe, where the private sector is seen as a key driver of economic progress.The upcoming business forum is expected to strengthen these partnerships, paving the way for increased collaboration between Zimbabwe and the European Union in sectors critical to the country's economic growth.
The 1906 beaux arts state capitol building in Harrisburg Feb. 4, 2025. The 14'6 high gilded bronze sculpture by Roland Hilton Perry atop the dome is Commonwealth. She holds a garlanded mace in her left hand upholding the standard of statehood. The right hand is extended in benediction. ( legislature commonwealth government general assembly senate statehouse representatives capital Pennsylvania ) Read more

HARRISBURG  After years of opposing such a measure, Pennsylvania Democrats on Tuesday were poised to allow a vote in the state House on a bill that, if passed, would create new ID requirements to vote in the state  acquiescing on a top GOP priority and marking the first step toward breaking a yearslong stalemate over election law in Pennsylvania.

But hours before the bill was expected to be called to the Pennsylvania House floor, it was House Republicans who requested that it not come up for a vote. They didnt have the support they needed for the legislation to pass.

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The bill, House Bill 771, would have required all voters to present a form of identification every time they cast a ballot. The vote was supposed to be paired with a sweeping election reform bill in House Bill 1396, intended to expand election access and streamline election administration, among other long-sought changes from Democrats and county election administrators.

House Democrats still approved the election code changes Tuesday in a party-line vote, 102-101. But without the accompanying voter ID component to draw Republican lawmakers to the negotiating table, the changes are all but certain to be unsuccessful in the GOP-controlled state Senate.

A top House Republican leader said some GOP members had outstanding issues with the voter ID bill that led them to postpone the vote Tuesday.

Pennsylvania Democrats have broadly rejected ID requirement expansions in the past due to concerns that they would create new barriers to cast a ballot and disenfranchise voters, while doing little to address voter fraud concerns.

But the concept, a Republican priority, is widely popular among Pennsylvanians, and despite some opposition within their party, Democratic leaders were prepared to allow the vote in the state House  showing a willingness to negotiate on voter ID regulations in exchange for a wide range of reforms aimed at expanding ballot access and streamlining election administration.

In the end, though, Republicans could not get the votes to advance the GOP-authored voter ID bill Tuesday.

House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R., Bedford) said in a statement that GOP lawmakers had issues with the bill that they are still working through.

These bills are about more than concepts, its about voting on law, Topper said. While I strongly support Voter ID, it is clear that our caucus has specific concerns with the details of this bill and we are continuing to try to work through those concerns.

Topper, in a brief interview later, declined to elaborate on what concerns members have with the bill. However, several grassroots conservative groups launched advocacy efforts Monday, asking GOP lawmakers to oppose the bill and arguing that it does not go far enough to secure the ballot box because it offers voters alternative ID options besides photo identification.

This is NOT a real voter ID bill, Audit the Vote PA wrote Monday in a call to action on Telegram.

Under the legislation stalled Tuesday, Pennsylvania voters would be required to show ID every time they cast a ballot. The bill includes a wide-ranging list of accepted forms of voter ID, from photo identification to state-issued voter registration cards and utility bills.

If voters do not have an approved form of identification when voting, they would have the option to sign an affidavit attesting to their identity or ask a friend or relative to sign paperwork vouching for them, according to the bill.

Pennsylvania voters are currently required to show ID only the first time they cast a ballot at a polling location, and present proof of ID every time they apply for a mail ballot.

Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R., Dauphin), who authored the voter ID bill, said it was drafted with respect to a 2012 state appellate court ruling, which struck down a previous voter ID law that required photo identification every time someone casts a ballot.

This is what were trying to explain to our caucus members and friends, that if you go any stronger, were sitting with a 2012 court case that holds precedence over what we can do, Mehaffie said.

The policy had gained the support of longtime opponents of voter ID, including key Democratic legislative leaders. Even the ACLU of Pennsylvania, which has successfully argued in front of appellate courts to overturn prior voter ID laws, did not oppose the policy.

The organization stopped short of supporting the proposal, but Liz Randol, legislative director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, called the proposal benign and said it did not raise legality or disenfranchisement concerns.

It does not run afoul of a lot of the concerns that the ACLU has typically had from a legal perspective, she said, adding that the organizations position would change if the General Assembly altered the bill to limit the forms of acceptable ID or eliminate options for voters to fill out an affidavit in lieu of an ID.

For Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate, requiring voter ID was a must before considering any other election reforms, including early in-person voting and more time for officials to process mail ballots  both changes for which advocates and election officials have been begging for years.

A top Senate Republican leader said earlier this year that if Democrats are willing to negotiate on voter ID, it unlocks the opportunity to have discussion on a number of issues that have not been able to advance over the last two years.

There are a number of items that are out there for conversation  the pre-canvassing issue, the early voting issue, same-day voter registration issue  all those conversations were willing to have, so long that we have confidence in the integrity of the process, said Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) earlier this year. The most significant thing we can do to ensure the integrity of the process is to require voter ID.

Now that the voter ID bill has stalled, however, the future of the election reforms sent to the Senate on Tuesday is in question.

Senate Republicans prefer a constitutional change over a statutory change like the one proposed in the House, since voter ID statutory changes have previously been struck down by the courts. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) said Tuesday that House Democrats would not allow a vote to enshrine voter ID requirements in the state constitution.

Several House Republican members remained optimistic that they will get enough support in the future for Mehaffies bill to change the states current voter ID provisions.

Sometimes you just have to hold things for a little bit until more people from both sides of the aisle are comfortable with this bill, Mehaffie added.

Rep. Martina White (R., Philadelphia) said she believes that there is still bipartisan support for new voter ID requirements, but that individual members have their own threshold of what those requirements should be to ensure the integrity of our elections.

Had it come up for a vote Tuesday, she would have supported it, she added.

Some long-sought changes still missing

Lawmakers still approved a sweeping reform measure on a party-line vote, 102-101, with all Democrats supporting it. The bill was authored by House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) and is aimed at expanding ballot access and streamlining election administration.

McClintons election bill, if approved by the Senate, would establish early in-person voting in the state, allow counties to process mail ballots before Election Day, and eliminate the date requirement for mail-in ballots, among other changes.

Lawmakers from both parties may feel a sense of urgency to address Pennsylvania counties well-documented issues ahead of the midterm election next year, after a number of issues arose during the 2024 presidential election.

State courts issued conflicting rulings on whether undated ballots should be counted just days before Election Day. Bucks County was ordered to allow an additional day of in-person mail-in voting after people spent hours waiting in line for the states arduously slow version of early voting. And election officials spent the months before the election warning voters results may not be available on election night because of state law blocking them from processing mail ballots until Election Day.

The bill seeks to address several of these items, in many ways crossing off a wish list for advocates and election officials.

The bill would require all counties to notify voters whose mail ballots may not be counted and create more detailed regulations around drop boxes.

By eliminating the date requirement for mail ballots, the bill would address an issue that has been tied up in courts for years. And establishing early in-person voting may avoid the long lines that plagued election offices in the days leading up to the 2024 election.

It sort of has sort of something for everyone, Randol said.

However, GOP lawmakers and election officials contend the bill still does not address some of the biggest issues with Pennsylvanias election code, including permitting a mail ballot application deadline that allows voters to apply for ballots so close to Election Day that the U.S. Postal Service may not deliver it on time.

Thad Hall, the election director in Mercer County, said significant changes would be needed to make the bill work for small counties.

Some of the policies, he said, appeared written for Pennsylvanias larger counties with dozens or hundreds of staff members. McClintons bill requires that early voting be available on weekends and that counties have two drop boxes, checked daily by two workers. While a big county may manage this easily, Hall said, it would be burdensome for counties with a total of just one or two election workers.

It doesnt help your cause if you dont consult smaller counties and you put things in there that legitimately would undermine our ability to do our work, he said.

But the concepts were on the right track, Hall said, noting that he was bracing for a s show in 2026 if early in-person voting is not approved by then.

I am grateful that somebody in leadership took the time to actually put together a bill that, even if its not perfect, at least it has the good moving parts in it that could be fixed, he added.
Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli speaks after the first Republican debate Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. Read more

President Donald Trump endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for governor Monday evening in a highly anticipated move in the New Jersey gubernatorial race.

Jack Ciattarelli is a terrific America First Candidate running to be the next Governor of a State that I love, NEW JERSEY! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

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Ciattarelli, 63, found out about the prized endorsement when Trump called him just moments before sharing his decision online, according to his campaign.

The presidents endorsement is viewed by Republican politicos in the state as highly valuable for the June 10 GOP primary, in which Ciattarelli will face four competitors. The question as to who Trump would endorse, or whether he would endorse anyone at all, has been looming for months.

Ciattarelli, a former member of the N.J. General Assembly, unsuccessfully ran in the 2017 Republican gubernatorial primary before winning the GOP nomination in 2021 and coming within roughly three points of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the general election. With Murphy term-limited, Republicans see an opportunity to flip the states executive office red this year in part because the state shifted more conservative in the 2024 presidential election.

Ciattarelli and former radio host Bill Spadea, rivals in this years Republican primary, have been arguing for months over who is more loyal to Trump, dominating the two primary debates with their attacks. Both men have sought out his endorsement and have criticized Trump in the past.

Ciattarelli and and Spadea will also face state Sen. Jon Bramnick, a Trump critic, and two lesser-known candidates Justin Barbera, a contractor, and Mario Kranjac, the former mayor of Englewood Cliffs. Ciattarelli has led in polling in the race.

Ciattarelli said in a statement Monday that he was truly humbled and honored to receive Trumps very strong endorsement.

Its time to unite our party, win big in November, and make New Jersey affordable and safe again, Ciattarelli said. When Im Governor, we will.

Spadea said in a statement that his resolve to fight for the people of New Jersey has never been greater and cited Trump-endorsed candidates who failed to capitalize on the presidents support and lost their races.

Given Jacks history as a repeat loser, I believe it will be three losses in a row, Spadea said. Let the countdown begin: 29 days until Jack Ciattarelli last says the words President Trump in his 2025 campaign.

 READ MORE: Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadeas rivalry dominates another GOP debate for N.J. governor

From Reagan Republican to Trump Republican

In 2015, Ciattarelli called Trump a charlatan who wasnt fit for the presidency. During his 2021 run, Ciattarelli tried to reach moderates without losing Trumps base but largely avoided talking about him. When he won the primary that year, he called himself a Reagan Republican.

Now hes a Trump Republican.

Jack, who after getting to know and understand MAGA, has gone ALL IN, and is now 100% (PLUS!), Trump said in his endorsement post.

Political consultants who support Ciattarelli have compared his criticisms of Trump in past years with those expressed by Vice President JD Vance, another MAGA latecomer.

 READ MORE: The battle for President Trumps endorsement reached new heights when candidates visited Bedminster

Ciattarelli, who was endorsed by the most Republican Party leaders in the state for this years primary, cut out early from a Republican leadership convention in Atlantic City in March to visit Trumps Bedminster country club. Ciattarelli supporters at the convention rumored with hope that Trump would endorse him after Ciattarelli shared a photo of the two posing together at the club.

But Republican political insiders admitted at the time that no one knew what Trump was going to do.

Spadea also met with the president at Bedminster that weekend, though he did not seem to have the same blessing to publicize the visit that Ciattarelli did.

 READ MORE: Kellyanne Conway expected Trump to weigh in on the gubernatorial primary

However, Spadea, who has also criticized the president in the past, has touted posing with Trump for photos in Wildwood last year and even hosted him on his radio show in May 2024.

Trump criticized Ciattarelli on air for not seeking out his support during his 2021 run and suggested that he could have won if he had done so. Trump said Spadea, on the other hand, had his back since the beginning.

This guy never came to ask for my support, Trump said of Ciattarelli. And you know what? When MAGA sees that, they dont like it, and they didnt vote for him. He would have won easily if he did, but he didnt do that. He thinks hes hot stuff I guess, and he didnt have to do that.

 READ MORE: Taking on Donald Trump has become a requirement in the Democratic primary for N.J. governor

Democrats respond to Trumps endorsement

Trump has also had influence over the Democratic primary, where six candidates are arguing they can best fight against the presidents administration.

Democrats foreshadowed their general election strategy of going on the offense over Republicans ties to Trump and leveraging dissatisfaction with the president to ask for support.

Ryan Radulovacki, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, said in a statement Monday that Ciattarelli will always put loyalty to Trump first.

This is only a band-aid on a deeply contentious, bitter GOP primary that still has a month to go, Radulovacki said. The race to court Trumps far-right MAGA base will cause turbulence for whoever emerges from this slugfest, long after June 10th.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, one of the candidates in the Democratic primary, was getting ready to debate her Democratic competitors Monday evening when she heard the news and used the opportunity to ask for campaign contributions.

This is a huge moment  all but ending the GOP primary, unlocking huge $$, and enabling our opponent to turn towards the general election," she said in a post on X about Trumps support of Ciattarelli.
Sen. Andy Kim is calling for more transparency from President Donald Trumps administration after visiting with air traffic controllers in Philadelphia who have faced radar outages for flights going in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport.

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The main thing that we need to clear up to the American people is when and how are they going to get assurances that there will be no more blackouts? Kim said in an interview on Monday. That is a goal that is necessary, and we should have that answer immediately. We should have had it days ago.

Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, visited air traffic controllers in Philadelphia and Newark on Saturday, just one day after the second outage in two weeks took place on Friday at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), a facility where air traffic controllers direct planes in and out of Newark. Another outage took place just the next day, on Sunday, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously referenced the issue on Sunday as a telecommunications issue.

The FAA has been scaling back Newark flights as a safety precaution, causing flight delays and cancellations. Five controllers went on trauma leave after the late April outage.

Duffy said that along with staffing issues, the countrys air traffic control system is too old and he wants to revamp it.

We dont want more Newarks to happen throughout the country, he said in a press briefing on Monday.

In the briefing, Duffy repeatedly blamed President Joe Bidens administration for not fixing problems with the system. He said that temporary software fixes should prevent future outages at Newark and that the FAA is assembling a tiger team of experts to fast-track issues impacting Newark.

But Kim said in an interview earlier in the day that he, along with the air traffic controllers who faced the outages, were not provided an explanation as to what exactly went wrong and what would be done to address the problems for Newark. His office said his concerns about transparency remained after Duffys briefing.

We need to know exactly what is causing these blackouts, Kim said. If the people that are working this day in and day out, 24 hours a day, arent being told about this, if the American people are not being told about this, I just find that to be irresponsible and reckless.

Kim said Philadelphia staffers told him on Saturday that there had been upward of six to eight outages since they were transferred from a Long Island facility last summer in a move he criticized as rushed. Duffy said Monday he will order an investigation into that transfer, which took place during Bidens term.

Kim said the Philly facilitys infrastructure isnt up to par with facilities across the country. The Philly controllers told him that dealing with the Newark airspace is just completely different than others across the country.

Theyre just there in front of the radar scopes just with this constant anxiety of like, when is that going to happen again? Kim said. When their staffing is only two-thirds of what they had last year, which was already less than what they needed, and ... they are certainly not being given the kind of backing that they deserve.

Duffy said that as his agency addresses issues in Newark, he is concerned similar situations could pop up around the country.

The Trump administration recently proposed a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system, envisioning six new air traffic control centers and technology and communications upgrades at all of the nations air traffic facilities over the next three or four years. Congress would need to approve it.

This is a plan to build everything new, Duffy said. Its going to be complicated.

Kim hasnt been impressed with the level of detail provided so far from the administration when it comes to addressing the problems with the FAA and specific needs at Newark.

When they just say theyre reducing flights, its causing more panic without actually being able to help people understand what is the magnitude of this problem and how long will it take to fix and thats just causing even more anxiety out there, across New Jersey, and, frankly, across the country, as so many people are transiting, Kim said prior to Duffys briefing.

Duffy had previously emphasized that the FAA is decreasing flights from Newark to address safety concerns, but he said in his briefing that the FAA replaced copper lines with fiber lines over the past couple of weeks at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports, which will be tested in the coming weeks before going live. He also said the FAA is working with Verizon and L3Harris to add telecommunication lines between Newark and Philadelphia.

As of 5:15 p.m., there had been 217 delays and 86 cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, according to FlightAware.

Trumps administration cut about 400 FAA jobs earlier this year. His administration said none of those people had critical safety roles but a union representing laid-off workers said otherwise. Duffy said on NBC on Sunday that none of the probationary employees who were cut held safety positions and that the agency has actually hired more air traffic controllers.

This article includes information from the Associated Press.
Newark Mayor Ras Barakas arrest at an ICE facility on Friday thrust him into the national spotlight as a fighter of President Donald Trump just weeks before New Jersey Democrats are to decide whom they want as their candidate for governor. In a race that has so far been about who could best take on the president, the arrest was well-timed.

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Barakas voice can already be heard in stadiums across the country, since his political spoken-word poem from the early 2000s is featured on Beyonces tour. (He was also featured as a teacher  when he was actually an elementary school teacher  on Lauryn Hills 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.)

But now, Americans tuned into national TV could put his name to his face  and his face to the election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

How could the visibility boost affect Barakas chances in the race?

Standing up to Trump

All six candidates in the Democratic primary argue they are the best person to fight Trump. The president offered his highly sought endorsement in the GOP primary on Monday to former Assembly member Jack Ciattarelli, and Democratic operatives are already using it against the potential Republican candidate in hopes of reaching voters who are dissatisfied with Trumps term so far.

Barakas arrest could be the proof voters need that he can stand up to Trump.

He has the bona fides to show it, said Antoinette Miles, the director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, which endorsed Baraka. He doesnt just say, like, Im a fighter.

Standing up to Trump is one of the most important things candidates in the competitive Democratic primary race need to convince voters they can do, said Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics.

The question voters will have to answer: Is this what we meant by stand up to Trump? he added.

The answer to that question could alter the June 10 primary, in which the winner could claim victory with less than 20% of the vote.

Becoming national news

On Friday, Baraka attempted to conduct an oversight tour with members of Congress at a newly opened Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark that he has long opposed. Federal agents accused him of trespassing and arrested him outside the facilitys gates. The incident caused a national uproar among Democrats, and his five primary competitors came to his defense. Republicans used the opportunity to attack him. He was riding the national news cycle.

Barakas arrest follows another Newark politicians time in the national spotlight for resisting Trump: Democrat Sen. Cory Booker, a former Newark mayor, spent 25 hours criticizing the president on the Senate floor earlier this year. Both made headlines at a time when Democratic Party leaders have been criticized for not doing more to push back against Trump.

Baraka has been trying to reach voters who feel they have been ignored by the Democratic Party, namely working-class voters of color who dont show up to every election but do vote when they are motivated enough. This political moment could build momentum for those voters  and reach others. Miles said, for example, that canvassers for Baraka noticed that Princeton voters were excited over the weekend about Barakas national moment.

Barakas campaign raised money off his arrest while he was still detained on Friday, and, according to NBC News, a pro-Baraka super PAC plans to launch an ad highlighting his arrest.

A Rutgers-Eagleton Poll in early April found that 36% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters had not made up their mind about which candidate they prefer in the primary. Many voters earlier this year were still exhausted from the 2024 election or too wrapped up in national news to tune in to the gubernatorial primary, and primaries in off-year elections generally have lower turnout anyway. But with the primary less than a month away and voters already returning mail ballots, now is the time they are deciding whom they support.

Just as many voters are making up their minds, Baraka is national news, Rasmussen said. And I think it would take a lot for any candidate to get more coverage than Barakas arrest has gotten.

That recognition could be for better or for worse, he added.

At a Democratic debate Monday night, Briana Vannozzi, an NJ Spotlight News anchor, asked Baraka how voters can trust that he could work with the federal government and not interfere with federal law enforcement.

We havent interfered with federal law enforcement, Baraka responded. What they can trust is that we will protect them at all costs, and thats what people need now. They need leadership. They dont need people to acquiesce, to hide in the middle, to run under this veil of Im working with the president of the United States.

Republicans seize the moment

Baraka is one of the most progressive candidates in the race and he has argued that Democrats should not play nice with Trump.

New Jersey Republicans offered a chorus of attacks on Baraka the night he got arrested. The moment  and Republicans interpretation of what happened  is political fodder to describe Baraka as antithetical to Trumps tough-on-crime approach to undocumented immigrants. They accused him of a political stunt  which he denies.

They also took the opportunity to make broad attacks on the city of Newark, where Baraka has been mayor for a decade.

Rasmussen said that Republicans are salivating at the chance that Barakas arrest helps him win the Democratic primary.

If they could take their pick, hed be the one that they would run against, he said.
Pa. Democratic State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta during an Election Day watch party last November when he unsuccessfully ran for auditor general. Read more

What is being called a procedural error in a vote taken within the Democratic National Committee could endanger the position of committee vice chairman held by State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia).

Kenyatta, who was elected to the post in February, expressed his disappointment Monday on X, saying, I worked my a off to get this role and have done the job every day since Ive held it  Im frustrated.

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Kenyatta has represented North Philadelphia since 2019. He has been an anti-gun activist and is the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He has increasingly taken on larger roles in national Democratic politics.

On Monday evening, a subcommittee of the Democratic National Committee recommended that the organization invalidate one of its February vice chair votes over claims that it unfairly disadvantaged female candidates, according to NBC News.

The entire DNC needs to vote on the matter, which is not official. The timeline for that vote was not clear Tuesday.

An invalidation could mean that Kenyatta has to run for vice chair again and face a possible loss. On X, Kenyatta called the subcommittees decision a slap in the face," adding, but Ill be ok.

In an interview Tuesday, Kenyatta said: The most unfortunate aspect of this is that we are now talking about internal party procedures, when as we speak, Republicans are gutting Medicaid, Medicare, trying to overturn Obamacare, and getting rid of food stamps.

Oklahoma Democratic Committeewoman Kalyn Free, who unsuccessfully ran against Kenyatta and fellow vice chair David Hogg, a Florida activist, challenged the vote.

Hogg became nationally known as a gun-control advocate after he survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2018. Named to the Time 100 list that same year, Hogg has gone on to support liberal causes through protests and marches. Lately, he has been the subject of ire from others in the DNC for his belief that incumbent Democrats should face primary challenges that he said he would finance to recharge the Democratic Party, which he has said is asleep at the wheel.

The DNC call for another vote is related to his disagreements with the party, Hogg has said.

In Frees view, it was impossible for a woman to have won a vice chair seat, given the way the February vote was held.

According to DNC rules, the partys executive committee of vice chairs has to be equally divided along gender lines, or as close to equal as possible.

As NBC reported, the party needed to elect at least one man to the final two vice chair spots to make sure that the male-female ratio on the seven-person executive committee was equitable.

In a move that is now disputed, the party held a single vote to decide the final two slots, instead of holding separate votes for each position.

That was unfair, according to Free.

She claimed that the combined ballot of two men  Hogg and Kenyatta  made it impossible to vote for a woman, because members had to vote for at least one man on the combined ballot.

If the ballots had been separated, Free maintained, it is possible members could have voted differently.

Representatives for Hogg and Kenyatta disagreed with the challenge, saying the party had the right to conduct the vote as it did.

On Tuesday, Kenyatta criticized Hogg, saying: David Hogg has intentionally misrepresented what this is about. Hes tried to take this process and set it in the narrative of the party out to get David. That is not only wrong but deeply inappropriate in a moment when American people are enduring challenges to their lives.

Hogg could not be reached for comment.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials, along with five other individuals, have been arrested and brought before the Harare Magistrates' Courts following allegations of smuggling 17 tonnes of T-shirts into the country to evade import duties.The accused include Zimra officials Brian Simbachako and Alford Choruvanda, Jeed Investments director Jethro Mavangwa, Rufaro Nenyasha, a representative from a private voluntary organization (PVO), clearing agent Norest Marara, and truck driver Tony Chisuse. They face charges of conspiring to smuggle the goods into Zimbabwe and evade taxes.The matter was heard before Regional Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, who remanded the accused persons to appear in court again tomorrow for a bail ruling. The complainant in the case is represented by Yulita Toma, a Zimra revenue supervisor.The alleged smuggling scheme began in October 2024 when Mavangwa imported 1,066 cartons of cotton T-shirts from Slovenia. The consignment weighed over 17 tonnes and was initially loaded into a container at Port Koper, Slovenia, on October 31, 2024. The shipment was sealed and dispatched to Beira in Mozambique, with final delivery to Manica Warehouse in Harare.A bill of lading was issued to Mavangwa, listing him as both the consignee and the notifying party. However, when the consignment arrived in Beira on February 13, 2025, Mavangwa is said to have approached CMA CGM, a shipping company, on March 4 to request an amendment to the bill of lading, changing the consignee's details to Rufaro Nenyasha of the PVO.The accused are alleged to have created a fake waybill and altered the shipping details to declare the consignment as "drip irrigation equipment," thereby avoiding import duties by falsely describing the goods. The altered documents listed the port of origin as Xiamen, China, instead of Slovenia, and the consignment was misclassified as agricultural equipment.On March 23, the consignment arrived in Harare at Manica Warehouse, where the seal from Port Koper remained intact. On April 17, Marara allegedly subcontracted a clearing agent, Best Gadzikwa Mawonera, to clear the goods through Zimra. Mawonera processed the documents using the fake bill of lading and invoices, listing the goods as drip irrigation equipment. This allowed the consignment to bypass the import duty requirements.The Zimra officials, Simbachako and Choruvanda, were reportedly responsible for conducting the physical examination of the goods to ensure that the items matched the description in the documents and to determine the correct duties and taxes. However, the accused allegedly cleared the consignment without carrying out any examination, allowing the goods to be taken to Bramfield Farm in Nyabira without paying the required import duty or VAT.The consignment was initially valued at US$78,880.35 or ZWG2,167,608.35 in import duties and VAT, which were not paid due to the fraudulent scheme.As the court proceedings unfold, the accused individuals face serious charges for their involvement in the illicit scheme that cost the state significant revenue. The case highlights the challenges faced by Zimra in preventing smuggling activities and underscores the need for strict oversight in customs procedures.The accused will appear before the court again tomorrow for a bail ruling as the investigation continues into the smuggling operation.
The Toyota Tundra is described by NTI as the most powerful Toyota model sold in Australia. It includes features such as a 14-inch multimedia screen compatible with both Apple and Android platforms, wireless phone charging, and dual-zone climate control. It is also equipped with Toyotas Safety Sense technology, which includes a pre-collision system that can detect pedestrians and cyclists, active cruise control, and lane departure alerts with steering assist.
We are almost half-way through 2025. Its been a significant year so far. Global headwinds, including natural disasters such as the LA fires and economic uncertainty due to the imposition of tariffs, have made this a challenging time for us. Closer to home, the impact of climate risks has resulted in major devastation through fires, floods, and cyclones. Amid this backdrop, there was a federal election, with Australians having their say about their future at the polling booth.
ASIC's action follows the regulators mandate to oversee the integrity of the licensed financial services sector. Under section 915B, cancellation of a licence may occur not only if a business ceases operations but also under other conditions such as insolvency, serious fraud convictions, failure to pay levies under the ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Act 2017, or non-compliance with decisions of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
The model mentioned does not seem in principle to be different to the approach usually adopted by insurers in responding to third-party claims, he said. That is, if a claim made against the insured is assessed to be weak or there's a very strong defence case, then  and unless there are good reasons to do otherwise  an insurer and their insured would customarily fight.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The ambitious Gwayi-Shangani Dam construction project, seen as a critical solution to Bulawayo's chronic water shortage, may not meet its 2025 completion target due to continued delays in the release of necessary funds by the Treasury. With only eight months remaining until the set deadline, concerns are growing over whether the project will be completed as planned.The Gwayi-Shangani project, which has been under construction since 2004, has faced multiple setbacks and missed deadlines. In 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised that the dam would be completed by the end of 2019, but budgetary constraints and construction delays caused the project to miss this target. The completion date was then moved to 2022, but that deadline also came and went without the dam's completion. In 2023, the government revised the target yet again, setting the new completion date for the end of the 2023/2024 summer cropping season.However, despite repeated assurances and shifting timelines, the project remains behind schedule. The latest setback comes after Treasury has failed to release funds on time, threatening the project's timely completion.In response to a question raised by Hwange East legislator Hon. Joseph Bonda, Lands Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos acknowledged the significant financial challenges plaguing the project. Haritatos indicated that the project's future hinges on the timely release of funds, without which progress will continue to be delayed."What needs to be done is that the release of funds has to be done on time. If the releases are not done on time, unfortunately, it is outside of our purview. We can make promises. We want to keep to the timeline. If the money comes, we will do our best," Haritatos said.He further emphasized the importance of the project, not just for the Matabeleland provinces, but also for Bulawayo, where the dam's completion will address the long-standing water crisis. The project includes a 276-kilometre reticulation system aimed at providing reliable water supplies to the southern region of the country.Haritatos explained that the project faces financial hurdles that go beyond just the release of funds. Each section of the dam's construction has specific requirements, with every two meters of height needing approximately US$4 million in funding. "If we are only given, for example, two million dollars, this means no changes at the Gwayi-Shangani Dam. We require four million US dollars for the dam to be raised another two metres," Haritatos stated, underscoring the need for substantial financial allocations to ensure progress.He also highlighted the inefficiency of receiving partial funding, noting that "the releases cannot be in drips and drops. They have to be in multipliers of four million and above" to meet construction needs.The deputy minister called for urgent action to secure the necessary funding for the project, urging stakeholders and the public to pressure the Treasury to prioritize the completion of the dam. He stressed that the Gwayi-Shangani Dam is crucial not only for the water security of Bulawayo and Matabeleland but also for the broader development of the region."The contractors are on-site, and they have every incentive to complete the work. They want to continue and move on," Haritatos said, emphasizing that the project's completion was not just a government priority, but also one that directly affects communities.As the project faces uncertainty, the people of Bulawayo and surrounding regions are hoping for swift government action to ensure that the dam, which holds the promise of resolving the city's water crisis, is completed without further delay.
The regulator has taken action against directors involved in misconduct. In the first quarter of 2025, ASIC investigated and prosecuted directors who allegedly misused company funds. One of these cases involved a director of two construction companies accused of transferring company funds for personal use, leading to liquidation. Another case saw a director using company funds to annul his personal bankruptcy. These examples serve as a warning to all directors about the risks of mismanaging company resources.
The report highlights a rise in the percentage of homeowner insurance claims closed with no payment. Nationally, 41.9% of claims were closed without payment in 2024, up from 25.8% in 2004. In Louisiana, the rate was higher, at 44.6%. Several insurers closed more than half of their homeowner claims without making any payments.
Kings entry into the Senate race brings the perspective of a state-level insurance regulator to the campaign. His background includes policy oversight across the property/casualty and health insurance sectors, as well as engagement with the broader risk and reinsurance communities. He has also participated in national insurance regulatory forums and has worked with industry stakeholders on issues such as affordability and access to coverage.
Is it murder insurance?

Critics have labeled these offerings murder insurance, arguing that they may incentivize the use of force. Regulatory scrutiny has increased in several states. New York and Washington have taken legal action against providers, asserting that coverage for illegal acts violates state laws. In response, some firms argue that they offer prepaid legal services or operate as membership organizations, exempting them from traditional insurance regulations.
Of the 119 employees identified, 28 either retired or resigned as a direct result of the investigation, and another 30 departed for unrelated reasons. A total of 12 employees have been criminally charged; seven of those have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Findings related to the remaining 61 active employees were referred to Amtrak for potential administrative disciplinary action.
Mounting financial and reputational strains

The abrupt transition marks a pivotal moment for UnitedHealth, which is grappling with the convergence of several damaging crises. These include a recent cyberattack on its technology arm, growing scrutiny from US federal agencies over its consolidation strategy, and public backlash following the December 2024 shooting of Brian Thompson, who had led the firms insurance division. The fallout from the executives death, and the companys response to it, are now the subject of a shareholder lawsuit filed in federal court last week.
Often, its the involvement of a new financial buyer (that drives the switch), said Balous. Its the perfect opportunity to look at not only your broker and the services theyre providing, but youre your carrier. Are they the right fit?
Marks & Spencer Group Plc said some personal customer data was stolen by hackers as the British retailer continues to investigate and manage a highly-damaging cyber incident.

The stolen data does not include useable payment or card details and there is no evidence it has been shared, the food, clothing and homewares group said Tuesday. Customers do not need to take any action but will be prompted to reset their passwords when they log into the retailers website, it said.

M&S said its working closely with cyber security experts and law enforcement as it tries to recover from the sophisticated nature of the incident.

Shares of M&S were up 0.8% at 8:45 a.m. in London, after closing at the lowest level since March 26 on Monday.

The company first announced it had been targeted by hackers on April 22. Some of its systems were infected with ransomware, which encrypts files stored on computers so they cannot be used. In the aftermath, M&S stopped accepting contactless payments and shut down online orders, and its website is still not working for transactions.

A cybercrime gang has taken credit for a disruptive campaign of attacks on UK retailers, with the Co-op Group and luxury department store Harrods Ltd. also targeted. Supermarket chain Co-op said this month hackers were able to extract customer data from one of its systems during the recent attack.

A spokesperson for the gang, known as DragonForce, told Bloomberg that it carried out the attacks with partners to extort money from victims.

Photograph: The entrance to a Marks & Spencer Group Plc store on Oxford Street in London. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber Fraud
Everest Promotes Mesagaes as Reinsurance Head of Renewable Energy

Everest Reinsurance, the reinsurance division of Everest Group Ltd., announced that Jonathan Mesagaes has been named head of Renewable Energy.

He will report to John Hyland, head of Underwriting and Marine, and will support clients across the divisions Global Specialties business.

With more than two decades of experience in underwriting, risk management, and actuarial pricing, Mesagaes joined Everest in 2007 and most recently served as senior marine underwriter, where he led the growth and transformation of the reinsurance renewable energy portfolio. Prior to that, he held several leadership roles at Everest including group reporting and exposure management lead, and chief risk officer and head of actuarial function in Ireland, where he played a key role in launching the companys local insurance operation. Mesagaes began his actuarial career at Crum & Forster.

Jonathan has built an impressive renewable energy portfolio, demonstrating the strategic vision, expertise, and collaborative leadership essential to enhancing our dedicated offering, said Hyland. As the energy transition accelerates, and we evolve our offerings to best serve brokers and clients, renewable energy is a key long-term growth area for our business. I look forward to collaborating with Jonathan and the rest of the team to expand our solutions in this dynamic market.

***

Westfield Specialty International Taps Poulteney and Kailia for Offshore Energy Team

Westfield Specialty International has appointed Michael Poulteney as class underwriter and Manraj Kailia as senior underwriter to expand its offshore energy team.

Poulteney and Kailia will be based in London, with Poulteney reporting to Jon Hamilton, head of Marine and Energy.

This is the latest in series of senior level hires being made by Westfield Specialty International this year as it continues to build-out its offering, the company said.

Poulteney joins Westfield Specialty International with over 15 years experience in the insurance industry. He arrives from Arch Insurance, where he spent 10 years in underwriting roles and was most recently head of Offshore Energy. This followed a six-year spell at QBE.

Kailia also joins from Arch, where he has been for seven years. Kailia started his insurance career as part of the Lloyds graduate scheme in 2016.

About Westfield Specialty International

Westfield Specialty International is part of Westfield Specialty, a prominent specialty insurance carrier which leverages the financial strength of Ohio Farmers Insurance Company (OFIC), a U.S.-based property and casualty insurance company. Syndicate 1200 is a Lloyds of London syndicate acquired by Westfield in 2023. Westfield Specialty currently underwrites 10 lines of business in the U.S., 15 in the U.K., five in Dubai, and has over 400 employees.

Topics Excess Surplus Energy Reinsurance
Global banking regulators on Monday agreed to intensify efforts to better understand the financial risks posed by climate change amid pushback from the United States.

The oversight body of the worlds forum for banking regulators met on Monday to take stock of the committees work on climate-related financial risks and agreed to prioritize efforts to understand financial risk implications of extreme weather events, the Bank for International Settlements said in a statement.

The agreement comes as policy makers and banking regulators on both sides of the Atlantic are debating the extent to which climate change should be embedded into central bank policy, a tussle analysts say is likely to shape central bank decision making around the world.

In Europe, rulemakers have doubled down on efforts to address climate-related risks, with the European Central Bank making management of climate risks a key priority; in the United States, efforts have been scaled back or shelved.

The group of central bank governors and heads of supervision, which make up the oversight body of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, also said it will publish a voluntary disclosure framework on climate-related financial risks for jurisdictions to consider.

While the Basel Committee has no international authority or enforcement powers, its work on climate sets international standards which have a strong influence on national rulemaking.

Analysts say its thinking is more closely aligned to European and British regulators which are taking steps to integrate climate risks into supervisory expectations for banks than to those in the United States.

In recent years, the U.S. Federal Reserve has taken some steps to integrate climate change into its work through preliminary analysis and reports, but Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly insisted the Fed has a limited role to play.

More recently, U.S. President Donald Trump and other climate-skeptic Republicans have led a backlash against policies linked to environmental, social and governance issues across government, from coal mining to electric vehicles and DEI.

In January, the Fed withdrew from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a global body of central banks and regulators devoted to exploring ways to police climate risk in the financial system.

The U.S. Treasury Departments Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in March withdrew from a jointly agreed set of climate principles for large U.S. banks, calling the framework overly burdensome and duplicative.

Law firm Mayer Brown said in April it expects the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Fed to withdraw from the joint climate principles in the near future.

(Reporting by Virginia Furness; editing by Nick Zieminski)
News / National

by Staff reporter

Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga failed once again to appear before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, defying expectations that he would explain the gross mismanagement of US$400 million in public funds flagged by the Auditor General's report.The no-show has further strained relations between Parliament and Treasury, with the committee now threatening to issue formal summons through the Clerk of Parliament if Guvamatanga does not appear at a rescheduled hearing set for Friday, May 23.PAC chairperson and Kuwadzana East MP Charlton Hwende confirmed that Guvamatanga had written to Parliament requesting more time to compile documentation linked to the questionable payments. These payments were made directly to suppliers without going through the line ministries, in breach of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), according to the Auditor General.Among the companies that received direct payments from Treasury are Fertiliser Seed Grain (FSG), Ziminya Dam Construction, Ventures Borehole & Exploration, Semwa Dam, Makomo Engineering, Nyika Kanengoni & Partners, and Ren-Form CC - the South African company controversially linked to politically connected businessman Wicknell Chivayo.Hwende said the committee had reluctantly agreed to postpone the hearing until May 23 to allow both Guvamatanga and Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to attend and provide oral evidence. The committee expects them to clarify both operational and policy issues raised in the damning Auditor General's report."The Ministry will now appear before the Committee on Friday, 23 May at 10:00 AM," said Hwende. "We resolved as a committee that the Ministry of Finance permanent secretary needs to appear, and we also resolved last week that the minister must also come because there are policy issues that he must address."Hwende added that the minister will be appearing before the committee for the first time, while the permanent secretary's continued absence is now a matter of grave concern."The permanent secretary must also appear with his team, together with the minister, and failing to appear, we resolved that the Clerk of Parliament must issue summons in terms of the Standing Orders that same Friday," said Hwende. "We're giving them a very final chance to appear, and if they don't, summons are issued immediately."The PAC is also expecting the Ministry of Finance to account for its failure to submit treasury minutes to Parliament, a statutory obligation that has not been met. Lawmakers argue that this persistent non-compliance is eroding transparency and undermining the constitutional role of Parliament in holding the executive to account.The Auditor General's findings have sparked outrage over alleged corruption and mismanagement within the Finance Ministry, with critics accusing Treasury of bypassing accountability mechanisms and enabling irregular payments to politically connected entities.All eyes will now be on Friday's rescheduled hearing - viewed as a final test of Parliament's resolve to enforce financial accountability at the highest levels of government.
Alphabet Inc.s Google is facing at least 12 billion ($13.3 billion) in damage claims from dozens of price comparison websites across the European Union which allege that the search and advertising giant stole their customers, according to a Bloomberg News review.

The civil suits are linked to a 2017 decision by the European Commission to fine Google 2.4 billion for illegally leveraging its search dominance to give its own shopping service an edge. That unleashed a wave of so-called follow-on suits, which were delayed for years as Google appealed. Then, last year, a tribunal confirmed that the company did violate antitrust laws  meaning EU-based plaintiffs no longer have to prove that in court. Many of the cases are now moving ahead.

Bloomberg News has identified 12 ongoing civil cases in seven countries in Europe. While not all of the courts and parties involved were willing to disclose how much was at stake, the value of nine of the claims exceed 12 billion.

The suits, which have proliferated in recent years, represent a new front in Googles legal battles in Europe. If successful, they could encourage more companies to take action against the tech titan, and come on top of the fines that have already been handed down by EU regulators.

The amounts claimed in follow-on suits are often many times higher than EU penalties for the same activity, said Christian Kersting, a law professor at Dusseldorf University. The claims also compound the companys legal headaches at a moment in which the US Department of Justice is seeking to force it to spin off key parts of its advertising and search browser businesses following losses in two antitrust cases.

Google denies that any of the European civil suits have merit. The company, valued at just under $2 trillion as of early May, declined to say how many claims were brought around the antitrust decision, or the amounts in question.

Many of the cases will soon have their day in court. At the end of June, a London judge will consider a 1 billion ($1.6 billion) claim by the British website Kelkoo and the now-defunct site Foundem. In September, a court in Amsterdam will hear oral arguments in a suit brought by the Dutch company Compare Group.

Two hearings are planned in Hamburg in October, and judges in Berlin have scheduled two more in November, including a 3.3 billion case brought by Axel Springer-owned Idealo. Google is also fighting a 2.1 billion claim by the Swedish website Pricerunner, now owned by Klarna; and a 500 million claim by the Polish website Ceneo.

At the same time, new claims are still being submitted. A 900 million suit was filed in Amsterdam last month on behalf of several companies including PreisRoboter, a German website that went out of business, and Portugals KuantoKusta, according to litigation firm LitFin, which brought the case. Last week, Italys Moltiply Group SA announced that it had notified Google about a 2.97 billion claim for losses that it alleges its comparision shopping website Trovaprezzi suffered between 2010 and 2017.

As time has passed, some plaintiffs have increased their claims and recruited external litigation funders, alleging that Google continues to violate antitrust laws by manipulating search results and failing to comply with the EUs 2017 order. That, they say, has allowed the tech giant to unfairly dominate web traffic and profits.

Were stressing our demand for effective consequences for abusive behavior, Albrecht von Sonntag, co-founder of Idealo, said in February after the company raised its 500 million claim to 3.3 billion. The internet cant and mustnt be dominated by monopolies to the detriment of consumers, fair competition and the European economy.

Thomas Hoppner, a lawyer at Hausfeld LLP, which represents Idealo and other companies in the dispute, said the damages claims are so high because the infringement has been going on since 2008 and e-commerce has grown considerably during this period.

Google rejects the accusations, saying an ad display it introduced in 2017 for price comparison sites has worked well. The company doesnt differentiate between its own shopping service and those of rivals, a spokesperson added, noting that more than 1,550 comparison shopping sites in Europe currently use its display  up from just seven in 2017.

We strongly disagree with these lawsuits, which are brought by companies looking for a payout instead of investing in their own products, a Google spokesperson said.

Apart from the civil cases, the EU has also imposed roughly 8 billion in fines on the company since 2017 over antitrust violations, though some of these penalties have been rolled back. In addition to the 2.4 billion levy in the price comparison ruling, Google was fined 4.34 billion and 1.49 billion for practices related to its Android system and advertising contracts. Google is currently appealing the Android fine, which was reduced by a lower court. The fine in the advertising case was annulled, although the European Commission may still appeal.

Even with the backing of the European Commission decision, the civil suits now wending their way through the courts are not certain victories. The plaintiffs still need to prove that the search giants actions were responsible for the decline in their profits  a hurdle that Kersting, the law professor, said could be difficult to clear.

You have to factor out other causes, he said, explaining that the companies must demonstrate that market swings or poor business strategies, for example, were not to blame. That makes things very time-consuming and extremely complicated.

Enforcement could pose another challenge. While Kersting described civil cases as a pillar of antitrust enforcement in the EU, on equal footing with regulators actions, should companies win their cases and Google choose not to pay, they would likely have to ask US courts to step in. That could risk triggering the wrath of the White House, as Donald Trump has already attacked European regulators for unfairly targeting US tech companies.

Meanwhile, Googles court troubles arent restricted to Europe. Last year, Yelp Inc. filed a suit in San Francisco accusing Google of abusing its market dominance. It alleged that the company favored reviews from its own crowd-sourced rating system over those of its rivals  a claim Google has said is without merit.

Photograph: The Google Docks building, background center, in the Silicon Docks area of Dublin. Photo credit: Paulo Nunes dos Santos/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Claims Europe
Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature voted to kill most of the top spending priorities of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, including legalizing marijuana, even as both sides negotiate a tax cut.

The Legislatures Republican-controlled budget committee voted late last week along party lines to kill more than 600 budget proposals put forward by Evers, including spending more state money on child care providers, expanding Medicaid and raising taxes on joint tax filers those who earn more than $1 million.

Republicans did the same thing in each of Evers previous three budgets and had said they were going to do it again. Some of the killed ideas, like allowing absentee ballots to be processed before polls open on Election Day, have had bipartisan support in the past and could return in another form.

The cuts come amid uncertainty about how much federal money the state will get as President Donald Trumps administration moves to drastically reduce government spending. Evers budget as introduced would have spent about $119 billion money over two years, a 20% increase in spending.

Evers and Republicans have been talking about a tax cut plan they both could support but have not released details. Republicans argue that most of the states roughly $4 billion surplus should be returned as tax cuts rather than used to support spending on K-12 schools, the University of Wisconsin and other state programs.

Evers proposals stripped from the budget on Thursday include: eliminating the tax on tips; increasing funding to combat what some people call forever chemicals or PFAS; targeted property tax cuts for veterans, seniors and people with disabilities; spending $128 million on new financial aid targeting low-income college students and adding gender-neutral language such as person inseminated to state law.

Republicans talk a lot about what theyre against, but not what theyre for, Evers said in a statement. There are pressing challenges facing our state. Wisconsinites are sick and tired of having a do-nothing Legislature. Republicans must get serious about getting things done.

Republican Sen. Howard Marklein, co-chair of the budget committee, said popular items could return as separate bills. Co-chair Rep. Mark Born said just because the committee was rejecting Evers approach to various issues facing the state doesnt mean they wont be addressed in other ways.

The vote gutting the governors spending plan marks the first step in what will be a weekslong process of slowly rebuilding the two-year budget to include more Republican priorities. Evers can make more changes with his broad veto power once the Legislature passes a budget, which typically happens in late June or early July.

However, Republicans have talked about taking longer to pass a budget this year, or passing only certain top priority spending bills, in reaction to a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling upholding a line-item budget veto Evers made in 2023 that extended a K-12 spending increase for 400 years.

That ruling affirmed the governors power to veto digits from a budget bill, allowing him to create new amounts and years not envisioned by lawmakers.

The court noted in its ruling, however, that the Legislature could rein in the governors veto powers in several ways. That includes passing a constitutional amendment thats under consideration curbing a governors veto power and drafting budget bills in a way to prevent a governor from making such a sweeping veto.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Politics Cannabis
Residents jumped from the windows of a four-story apartment building in Milwaukee during a Mothers Day fire that killed four people, critically injured four others and grew so intense that the blaze outmatched the first firefighters to arrive, authorities said.

Ladder trucks were used to rescue other residents from windows while some firefighters inside the burning building crawled on hands and knees to get people out, Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said Sunday. In all, about 30 people were rescued.

Authorities have not said how the fire might have started.

Lipski said the building did not have a sprinkler system and was built in 1968, predating a law that would have required one, according to the fire chief.

If we had sprinklers in the building we would have stopped the fire very, very small. We would not of had to have people jumping out of windows, he said.

Several other residents were treated for lesser injuries in the fire that began sometime before 8 a.m. The blaze rendered the 85-unit building uninhabitable, displacing an estimated 200 people.

James Rubinstein, a resident in the building, said he jumped to the ground floor.

There was so much smoke. I climbed out the courtyard with my cat in my backpack, Rubinstein told television station FOX6 Milwaukee.

Emergency operaters received calls that people were trapped and jumping to escape. The first firefighters to arrive were far, far outmatched by intense flames, Lipski said.

Authorities did not immediately release the identities or ages of the victims. Lipski said the fire began in a common area and spread to multiple floors.

Eddie Edwards, another resident of the building, said he also jumped to escape.

I wasnt thinking about nothing but getting away, he told Milwaukee television station WISN. Getting out and saving everyones life. It was a scary moment.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Paul Atkins, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, laid out his vision for overhauling the agencys cryptocurrency policies on Monday, saying he plans to establish guidelines for distributions of crypto tokens that are securities and consider whether additional exemptions are necessary.

In remarks made at the outset of a public meeting of the SECs crypto task force, Atkins also indicated that the SEC may consider tweaking its rules so that registered broker-dealers with an alternative trading system  or ATS  can also facilitate trading in non-securities, such as bitcoin or ether, the two largest cryptocurrencies.

A key priority of my chairmanship will be to develop a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets that establishes clear rules of the road for the issuance, custody and trading of crypto assets while continuing to discourage bad actors from violating the law, Atkins said.

Atkins, who was sworn in last month, has said his top priority as SEC chair will be to have a firm foundation for digital assets and keep politics out of securities laws.

The crypto industry has long clashed with regulators over how federal securities laws translate to digital assets, with many arguing that most crypto tokens are more akin to commodities. Tokens classified as securities would require firms to register with the SEC and provide certain disclosures to investors.

President Donald Trump, who campaigned on promises to be a crypto president, has pledged to reverse an industry crackdown under former President Joe Bidens SEC, which sued multiple crypto companies, including Coinbase and Kraken, alleging they had flouted its rules. The SECs new leadership has agreed to withdraw or pause many of those cases.

Republican SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is leading the SECs crypto task force, which is charged with developing rules and guidance for the sector.
You cant cut yourself to greatness.

Simon Wilson, chief executive officer of Markel Insurance, made the simple statement at a Markel Group brunch meeting for investors in Omaha, Nebraska on May 4 to convey the idea the hard work of reducing underperforming insurance business has been largely done in recent years.

Markel Insurance is now intent on growing its bread-and-butter excess and surplus lines insurance business, written through wholesale brokers.

While Markel has been busy correcting underwriting mistakes, like cutting back on U.S. construction business, the E&S market has experienced industrywide growth of 20% for the last five years, said Wilson, the former head of the international insurance business, who ascended to the role of CEO of Markel Insurance in March.

Markel Group CEO Tom Gayner and Michael Heaton, chief operating officer of Markel Group, preceded Wilson with separate presentations during the meeting, describing the three profit-producing engines of the group: Insurance, Investments (returns from equity and fixed maturity investment of insurance float) and Ventures (a division made up of 21 noninsurance businesses). Heaton said Markel will seek to be a market leader in each of our pursuits, noting Markel Insurances No. 4 position in the U.S. surplus lines market (based on direct written premiums) and referring to Markel Insurance as the biggest diamond in Markel Group.

Still, both executives expressed disappointment in the results of the crown jewel insurance engine in recent years, and alluded to corrective actions Wilson is putting in place now.

Our core insurance business has not reached its full potential. And to deliver on our promise to you, it absolutely must, Heaton told shareholders. Speaking candidly, we had to begin by mopping up a few messes in the aisleways several years ago, he said.

While we have not been top quartile in recent years, make no mistake, we aim to return to the front ranks, Gayner said, referring to the specialty insurance businesses that include admitted and nonadmitted programs written through managing general agents in addition to E&S wholesale.

Wilson referenced combined ratios of competitorsKinsale, averaging 78.7 over the last five years, and RLI, averaging 87.2. Markels average combined ratio was 94.7 over the same period, he said, setting out profit aspirations that will accompany renewed growth in E&S wholesale business, as well as moves to grow workers compensation and surety programs.

On the day that Markel announced Wilson would take the reins of the insurance engine, the holding company also announced that RLIs former Chair, CEO and President Jon Michael would fill a spot on the board of directors vacated by former Vice Chair Tony Markel, who is retiring.

Were going to learn a lot from him as to how they produce, Wilson said.

Markel Insurances underperformance against its peers is one of the issues that sparked a board-level review of all the businesses, which Markel Group announced in February.

Related: Markels Board Commencing Review of Go-Forward Business Structure

This is an excerpt of an article first published in Carrier Management, Insurance Journals sister publication. Click HERE to read the entire story.

On the Agenda: Simplify and Empower

After presenting examples of the types of risks that Markel underwriters had tackled in the last weeka container vessel voyaging in the Red Sea, the builder of a floating wind farm near the coast of South Korea, and the owner of 10 gas stations in Richmond, Va. seeking pollution liability coverWilson outlined his plan to refocus on this type of core specialty insurance expertise by simplifying the organizational structure and empowering business unit leaders. He also provided some specifics on what ill-performing accounts are no longer part of the Markel Insurance portfolio.

Jokingly suggesting that the school nickname Simple Simon may have gotten him his new job, Wilson introduced the new simplified structure of Markel Specialty, which will now be divided into two core business unitsU.S. Wholesale and Specialty led by Wendy Houser, and Programs and Services led by Alex Martin. Housers division is responsible for all U.S. specialty insurance business that flows through the companys core wholesale and retail channels, and Martins encompasses a collection of businesses that include personal lines, Bermuda, surety, workers compensation, small commercial general package, programs and insurtech.

Related: Markel Insurance Restructures Markel Specialty, Appoints Leaders

The restructuring serves to clearly align core businesses with the buying behavior of customers and distribution partners, Wilson suggested. He also said that Markel Insurance will ditch a shared-service model, progressively shifting services like IT away from the corporate center and into frontline underwriting divisions.

Within the two broad specialty divisions, encompassing some 50 or 60 individual specialty businesses, not only will there be stronger alignment between underwriting and technology, but underwriting business leaders, each responsible for a clear set of accounts, will also have full accountability for their individual profit and loss statement, he said.

When you give someone a clear task to go and get done, and the tools to go and do it, if theyre good enough, nine times out of 10 they will get the job done. And thats what were going to be doing here, he said.

Weve got to start really pushing growth into this business again, Wilson added. Core strategy is something that we need to think about.

Weve got this fabulous business at the center, he said, referring to U.S. E&S Wholesale and Specialty as the biggest diamond within the insurance business. Weve almost taken it for granted that we will just continue to win in that area. Weve gone after other bits of the market saying, Oh, theres lots of premium over here, theres lots of premium over there. And meanwhile, Kinsale has gone right into that wholesaling specialty E&S market and started making money at a 70-something combined ratio.

Weve taken our eye off the ball of our bread and butter business.Weve had a little bit of a grass-is-greener strategy for a few years.

Wilson also said that as Markel Insurance grew, its structure became overly complex, confusing the strategy. He promised absolute clarity going forward

We are a specialty insurer and were going to put the [task] of driving the strategy in the [hands of] leaders who are closer to the customer and understand how their businesses are run. Were going to empower those people to get it done.

The U.S E&S market is where we made our reputation, and this is where we are perceived by brokers to have the greatest strength.

Topics Excess Surplus
Mike McGavick is returning to the insurance world as a strategic advisor and board chairman of Mea Platform, an artificial intelligence firm focusing on transactions and operations for carriers, managing general agents, and brokers.

McGavick is the former CEO of XL Group and was at the helm when it was acquired by Paris-based AXA in 2018 for $15.3 billion cash. Several years prior, McGavick led the merger with Catlin Group. He was also CEO of Safeco from 2001 to 2005. He is currently co-chair of the operating board of directors at asset management firm, Bridgewater Associates.

Bermudas Mea Platform said it is built to [find] maximum value in the massive amounts of unstructured data and critical information locked inside proprietary formats and legacy systems with the use of generative AI and agentic AI.

Ive spent my career helping this industry evolve, and one of the most persistent obstacles has always been value from data, said McGavick in a statement. The insurance industry has spent untold millions to use the data it has, structuring and confirming it, with frustration and no where near the promised outcomes. And painfully, these efforts are combined with the false promise of tech solutions that never quite deliver.

McGavick said Mea worksand it works now. The firm boasts cutting clients submissions processing to minutes, increasing productivity and reducing expenses up to 65%. Mea said it has kept a 100% client retention rate since launch.

Interestingly, McGavick had costs on his mind when he spoke to Carrier Management in 2019. Related: AXA XLs McGavick Looks Ahead to The Golden Age of Insurance | Thinking Past the Obvious: Former CEO of XL Group McGavick Looks Back

Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
Five American small businesses asked a U.S. court on Tuesday to halt President Donald Trumps Liberation Day tariffs, arguing that he overstepped his powers by declaring a national emergency to impose across-the-board taxes on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy.

The Republican presidents April 2 imposition of the tariffs represents and unprecedented and unlawful expansion of executive authority, Jeffrey Schwab, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told a panel of three judges at the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade.

Trumps interpretation, Schwab said, would allow him to impose tariffs at any rate, at any time, simply by declaring a national emergency.

The lawsuit, the first major legal test of Trumps tariffs, was filed by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small U.S. businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the duties.

The companies, which range from a New York wine and spirits importer to a Virginia-based maker of educational kits and musical instruments, have said the steep tariffs will hurt their ability to do business.

The U.S. Justice Department, which will make its arguments before the judges later, has said Trump has the broad authority to regulate imports in response to a national emergency.

The Liberty Justice Centers lawsuit is one of seven court challenges to Trumps tariff policies, and it is the first to seek a ruling that would stop the tariffs from moving forward.

The Court of International Trade previously rejected the request by the plaintiffs to temporarily pause the tariffs while their lawsuit went forward, but then quickly scheduled Tuesdays court hearing to decide whether to rule against the tariffs or impose a longer-term pause. It is expected to issue a written ruling in the coming weeks.

The court hears disputes involving international trade and customs laws. Its decisions can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court.

When Trump imposed the new tariffs, he said the U.S. trade deficit was a national emergency that justified a 10% across-the-board tariff on all imports, with higher tariff rates for countries with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficits, particularly China.

Many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later, and on Monday the Trump administration said it was also temporarily slashing the steepest China tariffs while working on a longer-term trade deal with Beijing. Both countries agreed over the weekend to cut tariffs on each other for at least 90 days.

Trumps on-and-off-again tariffs have shocked U.S. markets. He has framed them as a way to restore Americas manufacturing capability.

The presidents executive order announcing the tariffs invoked laws including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives presidents special powers to combat unusual or extraordinary threats to the U.S.

The Liberty Justice Center said the law does not give the president the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs on any country he chooses at any rate he chooses.

The law is meant to address unusual and extraordinary threats, and the U.S. decades-long practice of buying more goods than it exports does not qualify as an emergency that would trigger IEEPA, according to the lawsuit.

The Justice Department has said that the plaintiffs lawsuit should be thrown out, because they have not been harmed by tariffs they have not yet paid, and because only Congress, and not private businesses, can challenge a national emergency declared by the President under IEEPA.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance
A federal judge sentenced a McAllen woman who reportedly helped commit property and title fraud schemes to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane also ordered Mayela Saby Cantu to pay $350,000 in restitution.

The FBI, McAllen Police Department and the Texas Department of Insurance conducted an investigation after customers of a title firm suspected that title insurance transactions were being mismanaged.

Cantu, an escrow officer at the title company, pled guilty in December after admitting she used falsified lien payoff statements, fraudulent warranty deeds and deceptive emails to mislead lenders, title companies and property buyers.

In one instance, Cantu reportedly directed others to create an email address resembling that of a legitimate lienholder. Cantu then used the account to send false payoff amounts via interstate wires, leading a title company to wrongly pay out more than $350,000.

Cantu facilitated other false property transactions, including arranging closings on properties that had already been sold and accepting undisclosed cash payments.

Topics Texas Fraud
A Sarasota County sheriffs deputy used excessive force on a handicapped, 100-pound driver in 2020 and is not entitled to immunity from lawsuits, a federal appeals court ruled in a case that could affect officers insurance coverage in similar cases.

In Jeremy Jones vs. David Ceinski Jr., the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said last week that law officers are generally allowed some use of force when a motorists firearm is nearby. But once the person is subdued, a chokehold and punch to the head is considered a violation of the drivers constitutional rights, the court said.

Unlike the initial force used to restrain Jones, Ceinskis uses of force after he had fully secured Jones were excessive and gratuitous, 11th Circuit Chief Judge William Pryor wrote in the May 8 opinion.

The decision overturns a lower federal courts 2023 ruling that granted summary judgment to the police officer and dismissed the lawsuit brought by Jones. The appeals court remanded the case to the district court to proceed with the suit.

An officer, employee, or agent of the state or of any of its subdivisions may not be held personally liable in tort or named as a party defendant in any action for any injury or damage suffered as a result of any act, event, or omission of action in the scope of her or his employment or function, unless such officer, employee, or agent acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property. (Florida Statute 768.28)

Its not clear if Sarasota County carries liability insurance on law officers or if the deputy had his own coverage. Florida law caps most damage awards in tort lawsuits filed against local governments, but they are free to obtain insurance coverage for up to the cap amount, attorneys said.

Sarasota County officials and the county attorney in the case could not be reached for comment Monday. In general, large Florida cities and counties are self-insured to cover claims of excessive force by officers, but medium and smaller cities and counties often rely on insurance carriers or trusts, including the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust and the Florida Association of Counties Trust. The Counties Association Trust does not cover Sarasota County, an official there said Monday.

The Ceinski case began late one night in August of 2020. Deputy Ceinski observed a car with the passenger door open as the vehicle turned a corner. He pulled the car over, the court explained. The driver, Jeremy Jones, complied with the deputy, stopped the car and remained inside. Ceinski asked him to step out. But because of severe osteoporosis, a deformity that causes his hands and feet to remain in a permanently flexed position, Jones appeared to take a long time to open the door. There was no evidence he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the court noted.

Jones also is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs only about 100 pounds. After reviewing Jones drivers license and registration, the deputy asked the driver if any weapons were in the car. Jones said yes and volunteered that he held a concealed-carry permit.

After he saw the gun under the drivers seat, Cienski grabbed Jones by the wrist, twisted his arm and pushed him against the car.

While pressing Jones against the car, Ceinski put his arms around [Joness] neck and choked him to the point that [he] was unable to breathe,' the court wrote, quoting from Jones testimony.

Ceinski then told Jones to stop resisting. Jones responded, Im not resisting. Youre choking me. I cant breathe. Let me go. Ceinski then punched Jones on the top of the head with a closed fist while he held him in the chokehold, the court recounted.

Ceinski retrieved the firearm. He also called Jones a handicapped person and used a racial epithet, Jones testified.

Jones soon after filed suit against Ceinski, alleging that the officer violated his Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force. Jones said he had suffered minor injuries and emotional distress in the incident.

At all material times, Officer Ceinski had a legal duty to use only that amount and degree of force as was reasonable under the circumstances, reads the lawsuit complaint, filed in 2022. Jones, with his open and obvious handicap, posed no threat to Officer Ceinski.

A federal magistrate judge for the Middle District of Florida granted Ceinskis motion to dismiss, citing the doctrine of qualified immunity for law officers. The deputy did not violate any of Jones established rights, the lower court judge decided.

The appellate judges disagreed.

When we view the facts in the light most favorable to Jones, we conclude that a reasonable jury could find that Ceinski used excessive force when he choked and punched Jones after he was subdued, the appeals court opinion reads.

The judges went to some length to explain that court rulings through the years have granted law officers considerable leeway on when to use force on people in traffic stops and other encounters, an issue that has been at the heart of numerous police brutality claims in recent years, across the country.

When an officer confronts an armed suspect in a tense and dangerous situation, the law does not require the officer to hope for the best and wait until the moment a suspect uses a deadly weapon to act to stop the suspect, the appeals court wrote, citing its decision in a 2010 case.

In that circumstance, an officer is entitled to continue his use of force until a suspect thought to be armed is fully secured,' the Pryor court wrote. Twisting Jones arm and pushing him against the car were reasonable uses of force.

But thats where officers must draw the line.

The mere presence of a gun may not warrant an officers use of force if the suspect cannot access the firearm, the court noted. A person who at one time had a gun, but clearly has had the gun removed, is no different than any other unarmed individual.

Ceinskis attorneys argued in court that the officers use of force was minimal, producing only minimal injuries. But the court said that has never been a defense used to immunize officers when a subject poses no threat.

Jones also had to show that his constitutional right was clearly established. It was, the appeals court said, thanks to numerous court rulings through the years that underscore the limits of law officers use of physical force. Here, we apply the clear and obvious principle that an officer violates a suspects rights under the Fourth Amendment when he uses unprovoked force against a non-hostile and non-violent suspect who has not disobeyed instructions.'

The judges also noted that a court may consider an officers vile language in such a case but noted that words alone cannot prove an unconstitutional use of force. The officers evil intentions should not be considered when evaluating excessive force, the court said.

Jones attorney said the 11th Circuit opinion affirms established law on law enforcements use of force and it should inform officers actions going forward.

The officer should have known what he was doing was wrong, said attorney David Smith, of Sarasota.

Barring an unlikely decision by the 11th Circuit to reconsider its ruling, a jury will now be asked to decide on damages, and jurors will be able to see Jones physical condition, Smith said. A date for the trial has not been set.

We welcome the opportunity for a jury to see what he has to go through, every day, Smith said. Its hard for him to do basic functions. Its a challenge for him and its hard to appreciate what its like to live in his shoes. I hope this can be resolved and he can find some peace.

Smith declined to comment on why Sarasota County or the sheriffs office was not named as a defendant, or if they may be included in litigation at a later date.

Attorneys for Ceinsky could not be reached for comment.

Topics Lawsuits Florida
Inflammatory Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wont, but Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King will run for the U.S. Senate now held by Democrat John Ossoff.

King, a former police chief in Georgia, was appointed to the insurance commissioner job in 2019 by Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after former commissioner Jim Beck was forced out of office and was convicted of defrauding a homeowners insurance association he worked for. King was then elected commissioner in 2022, defeating a Donald Trump-endorsed Republican and a Democrat insurance agent.

Im running for the U.S. Senate because Jon Ossoff is AWOL, and Georgians deserve a senator who fights for them and puts America First, King said on his campaign website.

King, a retired U.S. Army National Guard major general, stepped into the commissioners role at a time that rising auto insurance rates had become an issue statewide. He won a significant change in 2023 when state lawmakers revised the law and barred use-and-file auto rate increases from taking effect for 60 days, giving the insurance office time to review. That came after Allstate Insurance had raised auto rates by 40%.

Also in 2023, King ordered Farmers Insurance to rescind thousands of nonrenewal notices sent to homeowners in the state. Georgia law forbids carriers from changing underwriting guidelines or eligibility rules for existing policies unless the changes apply to an entire class or territory and has been approved by the commissioners office.

King may have plenty of campaigning to do before the 2026 election. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, of Georgia, also has announced his plans to run for the Senate seat. And a recent poll shows King trailing Ossoff by 13 points, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

More prominent Republicans, including Greene and Kemp, have declined to enter the Senate race.

Kings insurance commissioner term is due to end in early 2027.

Getting elected to higher office is fairly rare for insurance commissioners, but not unheard of. Former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, of Florida, served as state treasurer and insurance commissioner before he was elected to Congress and then to the Senate. Ben Nelson was Nebraskas insurance department director before he was elected governor and then senator.

Topics USA Georgia Politics
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed receiving a formal request from South African authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to help locate and identify the relatives of Zimbabwean nationals who tragically died during the recent Operation Vala Umgodi targeting illegal mining activities in South Africa.In a statement, the ZRP released the names of 20 individuals believed to be Zimbabweans who lost their lives in the mine. Authorities have yet to receive any claims from next of kin for the deceased, and some victims' full identities are still being established.The victims have been identified as: Bothwell Mlambo, Bobo Sithole, Gladman Mlambo, Blessing Mlambo, Shepherd (surname unknown), Kenisa Majoni, Benard Mamombe, Trust Makitisa, Jairosi Pasa S, Moses Chidumba, Thomas Chipanza, Jack Mlambo Maeza, Edzai Mlambo Maeza, Make Mlambo, Pindirai Dumbarimwe, Tendai Mubaiba, Mebishengs Mutubuki, Tinashe Shangure, Tafadzwa Ndlovu, and Justice Mwapinda.Although some of the deceased do not yet have full identification details, the ZRP confirmed that concrete information from South African authorities points to all the victims being Zimbabwean nationals. The police are now calling on families and friends of the deceased to come forward to aid in identification and the repatriation of the bodies for burial back home."The cooperation of relatives will assist in the identification of the victims and repatriation of the bodies for burial in Zimbabwe," said the police in their appeal.Relatives and friends who may have information or suspect a missing loved one could be among the deceased are urged to contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or send a WhatsApp message to 0712 800197. Alternatively, they can report to any nearest police station for assistance.The ZRP expressed condolences to the families affected and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with South African authorities to ensure a dignified and timely resolution to the tragic incident.
The family of a helicopter pilot who died when his helicopter crashed while fighting a wildfire in Southern California reached a $15 million settlement with the company that maintained the aircraft, their attorneys said.

Michael Fournier was making water drops on Aug. 19, 2020 over hilly, rugged terrain when his bright red Bell UH-1H copter suddenly plunged into a hillside as he was helping battle the Hills Fire burning 10 miles south of the small Central Valley town of Coalinga.

Fournier worked for a private Southern California company that contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, and other agencies to provide firefighting aircraft and other services.

The Fournier familys lawsuit sought answers and accountability, and this result does just that, said Andrew Robb, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit. Robb said the family would not be making any public comments.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Boards concluded that the helicopter crashed because of a hydraulic system failure.

Moments before the crash Fournier radioed to air traffic control that he was having trouble with the helicopters hydraulics, Robb said.

Fournier was working with Guardian Helicopters, which is based in Fillmore, California and at the time had a contract with Cal Fire to provide emergency services. The settlement was paid by Rotorcraft Support, Inc., the company that maintained the helicopter. A phone message left with the helicopter maintenance company was not immediately returned Friday.

Fourniers copter went down in a remote, hilly, smoke-filled area that took a Fresno County Sheriffs Department search and rescue team nearly four hours to reach.

Fourteen team members in five Jeeps traveled for miles through soft dirt under smoke-filled skies, finally abandoning the vehicles to walk the last several hundred yards to the crash site. There, they carefully wrapped the body in an American flag and carried it to one of the vehicles.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters California Wildfire
One person was killed and 32 people were injured, including two critically, when a tour bus and a sport utility vehicle collided on a Los Angeles area freeway, officials said.

The lone occupant of the SUV died after the vehicle became engulfed in flames following the crash just after 5 a.m. on Sunday in the Hacienda Heights area, about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown L.A., the California Highway Patrol said in a news release.

CHP Officer Zachary Salazar said 32 people were taken to hospitals, including the two in critical condition. He said the remaining people transported had injuries ranging from moderate to minor.

A passenger on the bus, Joe Runnel, told KTLA-TV that people were begging for mercy in the moments after the crash that closed two lanes of State Route 60 for several hours.

I was thrown from the back seat of the bus to the floor about three or four seats down, Runnel said. Glass was on me  there was a lot of hollering.

The preliminary investigation suggests that the SUV became disabled for unknown reasons in a lane and the tour bus then collided with the rear of the SUV, the CHP said. After the impact, the bus veered to the right across all lanes and collided with the guardrail along the shoulder, the news release said.

There was significant damage to the front of the bus, including a shattered windshield. The L..A County Fire Department said the fire did not spread to the bus.

Salazar said 63 people were aboard the bus, including the driver. He said 31 people were able to leave the scene in a separate bus.

The bus was headed from the Indio area of the desert near Palm Springs to the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, officials said. Police originally said the bus was coming from Morongo.

The highway was fully reopened by late morning.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana
It looks like Californias largest homeowners insurer is getting a large rate increase following billions of dollars in losses from the Los Angeles wildfires and pullback on writing new policies in the state.

Administrative Law Judge Karl Seligman recommended approval of State Farm interim rate hike on Monday. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara still must make the final approval.

Specifically, State Farms non-tenant HO-3 line would get a 17% increase, a 15% increase in its renter/condo line and a 38% increase in rental dwelling, while the carrier committed to refraining from a new round of nonrenewals through the end of 2025. The agreement also stipulates that parent company State Farm Mutual will make a $400 million capital infusion into State Farm.

Related: In The Wake of Devastating LA Fires, Residents Begin to Rebuild

The interim rates remain temporary, and are subject to a full hearing process.

S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday lowered its financial strength and issuer credit ratings on State Farm General Insurance Co. to A+ from AA.

The ratings remain on CreditWatch with negative implications, according to an announcement from S&P.

The rating action indicates uncertainties related to capital support from the State Farm group, raising questions about SFGIs group status assessment and the associated rating impact, the announcement states. The company has had weak underwriting performance over the past five years and potential earnings and capital pressures in 2025. This was largely from the recent California wildfires and led to capital deteriorating near the regulatory authorized control level (ACL).

During the time of underperformance and declining capital, State Farm has not provided any capital support to SFGI beyond reinsurance agreements. We also consider the California Insurance Departments ambiguity around rate approval, the statement reads.

Consumer Watchdog, which has opposed State Farms requests for a rate hike, said the decision would make consumers pay now and allow State Farm to wait months before having to justify the hike is a great disappointment for consumers.

Voter-approved Proposition 103 says a rate hike shouldnt come before the rate justification, but thats what happened here, the statement continues. We urge the Commissioner to reject the proposed decision so State Farm policyholders, many of whom are struggling to get their claims paid by the company after the Los Angeles fires, arent overcharged, said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog.

Laras office issued the following statement through a California Department of Insurance spokesman:

Californians deserve a process grounded in fairness, transparency, and integrity  not politics or posturing. That is why I requested an independent review of the evidence by an administrative law judge, who presented a proposed decision. I ordered this hearing to ensure that the parties have the opportunity to present their arguments before a neutral arbiter. I am balancing all the facts. Protecting all State Farm customers and the integrity of our insurance market is an urgent matter.

State Farm issued the a statement in response to a request for comment:

We thank the Administrative Law Judge for his careful consideration of this important matter. We look forward to the Commissioners final decision.

The companys California emergency rate request made in February was provisionally OKd in March by Lara, who made the hike dependent on the company justifying the rate increase with data during a public hearing.

The request was then dropped to 17% after an early April hearing during which lawyers for the company, the California Department of Insurance and Consumer Watchdog presented arguments to determine the fate of State Farms request.

Related: Bill to Address California Wildfire And Insurance Crises Moving Through Legislature

State Farm has put some of its troubles on the L.A wildfires, which destroyed more than 11,500 properties. As of March, the carrier had reported paying out $2.5 billion for the LA wildfires in January.

The fallout from the wildfires touched many large carriers and has made the marketplace in California tougher, with availability and high rates already a growing concern. According to the California Department of Insurance, 37,749 claims have been filed related to the fires and $12.1 billion has been paid out.

The losses have factored into bottom lines and even the states carrier of last resort. Lara in February approved a controversial California FAIR Plan request for a $1 billion assessment on admitted market insurers to cover claims from the wildfires.

Bloomington, Illinois-based State Farm said at the time of its initial request that the increases were needed to align cost and risk, and enable State Farm to rebuild capital. Over the last nine years, the lack of alignment has meant that for every $1 collected in premium, the carrier has spent $1.26, resulting in more $5 billion in cumulative underwriting losses, according to State Farm.

Adding to State Farms troubles, the company is also part of two lawsuits filed in Los Angeles that allege major home insurance companies colluded to limit coverage in California communities at high risk for wildfires and force homeowners onto the FAIR Plan.

Insurers, including State Farm and 24 other companies that hold 75% of Californias home insurance market, were part of an illegal scheme in violation of Californias antitrust and unfair competition laws, according to one of the lawsuits filed in April.

Topics California Legislation Pricing Trends
A long 42-acre stretch of land adjacent to the village of Rathangan in Co Kildare makes for an intriguing proposition.

With the Grand Canal on its southern boundary and the River Slate just to its north, the grassland holding is as close as a piece of purely agricultural land can be to an urban settlement without being zoned for development.

It may have development potential at some point in the future, said selling agent Charlie McDermott of Sherry FitzGerald McDermott. Its in the village, really.

The property has been in the same family for the last 150 years at least, the selling agent says.

It was part of a mill property and they had the mills running there for several generations, said Mr McDermott.

That part of the business went during the time of the present owner's grandfather so its historic in the area and the address of it is known as Sallymills.

The property is easily accessed via a short stretch of public road frontage on its northern side. It is currently all in grass, with natural ditch and trees around its bounds. Given its location and the nature of the property, it has multiple potential options for the future  from a simple outside farm for grazing purposes to an equestrian property or any number of others, including the building of a dwelling.

There has been a good level of interest in the property and the price guide of 750,000 (18,000/acre) is reasonable for the location and package on offer.
Farmers in West Cork have posed a Timoleague Teaser for agriculture minister Martin Heydon over the nitrates derogation.

They have been farming to a stocking rate of 250 kg N/ha, but the Department of Agriculture recently revealed this is to be reduced to 220 kg N/ha for some areas in December.

Mr Heydon told the Seanad he was doing everything to ensure the country continues to have a derogation from the European Commission. It is pivotal to everything we do, he said.

But he also warned in some areas, science shows our water quality is not what it should be.

As a result, the maximum derogation stocking rate will reduce to 220kg livestock manure nitrogen (N) per hectare for some additional areas from December 1.

This reduction is necessary to best prepare for discussions with the commission regarding Irelands next nitrates derogation, he said.

Senator Noel ODonovan, who raised the issue, said the reduction affected areas of his Cork South-West constituency.

This came as a serious shock to some of the local farmers, although discussions would have been held in recent years in which it might have been forecast.

I recently visited the catchment area, and I saw at first hand the work the farmers are doing, he said.

Mr ODonovan said most of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water sampling for testing took place in Courtmacsherry bay.

It does not take place on the catchment rivers, which are pristine and showing improvements.

Farmers fear the EPA testing is picking up residual pollution and residual matter in the water.

I do not want to be alarmist but there are man-made issues relating to wastewater facilities that have contributed to the pollution in our rivers, streams and bays, he said.

Mr ODonovan said if EPA testing in bays and wider estuaries took in other forms of pollution, it must be acknowledged so the blame is not attached to farmers.

Mr Heydon, referring to the senators point about the EPA and other contributors to water quality, said it was exactly why the Government established a Cabinet sub-committee on water.

We had our first meeting on March 31 and have another scheduled for June, chaired by the Taoiseach. This is not just about shining a light on what our agriculture and our farmers are doing.

"It is also about holding to account the EPA, our local authorities and Irish Water to make sure everybody pulls on the green jersey, and we all do everything we can to retain a derogation beyond this year, he said.

Mr Heydon said he recognised the integral importance of dairy farming, the rural economy, the community, farmers and farm families.

He said the December nitrates date was selected to allow farmers maximum time to prepare and manage their cows through the normal spring calving lactation cycle.

By being able to give them the maximum amount of time until December, the rate is effectively just short of the 250kg N/ha for this year.

It will be 220kg N/ha from next year on. This allows farmers the time and space to be able to plan for the new rate, he said.

Mr Heydon said his officials would shortly write individual letters to farmers potentially impacted by this change. Access to a derogation is contingent on improving water quality across the country.

The agrifood sector is engaging in significant, unprecedented and very welcome action to reduce its impact on water quality. However, securing its renewal is the top priority for me.

We are already starting to see results from the work led by farmers, with the most recently published EPA data showing significantly reduced nitrates concentrations in our rivers last year, he said.

Mr Heydon said he had visited Timoleague in West Cork in recent years and seen first-hand the work under way by farmers to progress developments in water quality.

Accepting Mr ODonovans invitation to visit West Cork again soon, he said he looked forward to going down and meeting many of those farmers with him and seeing the great work happening in that space.
Months of dreary EU jargon will have to be endured, as the Commission, Parliament, and member states start their summer squabble over seven-year EU budgeting, and the funding for the next common agricultural policy (CAP) is slowly hatched.

But the latest Brussels leak brings a little welcome relief from the tedium, as the Euractiv media network which specialises in EU affairs says it has seen a draft regulation in which the Commission proposes to cut links between the Green Deal and the CAP.

Euractiv says this could be "the most significant blow yet" to the green pro-environment legislation that dominated the previous EU administration.

Going back much further, since about the year 2000, EU farmers had to prove they meet ecological conditions in order to access the full farm income support offered by the CAP. But that bargain with Brussels began to wear very thin, especially after the Green Deal took hold since 2020.

The Green Deal headline commitment is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. To play their major role in this, farmers were set some very ambitious tasks up to 2030.

They would have to reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides; reduce by 50% the use of more hazardous pesticides; reduce fertiliser nutrient losses by at least 50%, while ensuring no deterioration on soil fertility; reduce all fertiliser use by at least 20%; reduce by 50% the sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture; and achieve organic farming on 25% of EU farmland.

Some of these asks were shot down along the way, but it all became too much for farmers, on top of the existing CAP and national rules and bureaucracy, and they exploded onto the streets and roads of Europe in February 2024, protesting in their thousands.

So the alleged leak of a commission proposal to cut links between the Green Deal and the CAP is welcome news for many farmers. And not such a huge surprise, because many member states and MEPs have called for continued simplification of CAP administration, and relaxation of environmental measures, a process which the Commission began after the farmer protests.

But the Commission's "vision" roadmap in February for the EU farming and agri-food sector gave no inkling of wider scrapping of Green Deal commitments. In fact, it said transition to a low-carbon economy was to continue, and rigorous enforcement and controls of food safety standards remained non-negotiable.

Among the only concessions were that the Commission would "carefully consider any further ban on the use of pesticides, if alternatives are not available". The "vision" document promised comprehensive simplification, as part of its effort to make farming an attractive sector for young people to enter.

But the latest leak hints at greater concessions, when agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen presents his proposals, expected this week. However, that might just be reading too much into a few leaked words, with an environmentalist slant.

There was plenty of that recently, after the European State of the Climate 2024 report said 2024 had a record 335 climate-related deaths due to storms and flooding, at least 413,000 people affected by storms and floods, and an additional 42,000 affected by wildfires.

Realpolitik

The European Greens warned that, instead of strengthening climate protections, political forces on the right were actively dismantling the Green Deal.

Instead of these paranoid left versus right suspicions which now dominate EU politics, there may be a more realpolitik explanation for giving farmers a break from over-ambitious green regulations.

The fact is that the CAP money pot has been shrinking for decades, diluted by inflation and by EU enlargement.

A huge cut in CAP funding may be inevitable, and perhaps the only way to sweeten it for farmers will be to remove demanding money-for-green terms and conditions.

In other words, what used to be the single payment, and is now made up of the BISS and other direct payments, might reduce, but an easing of environmental requirements (and possibly of inspections) might be the quid pro quo.

There is speculation that two legal provisions that currently require EU member states to adapt their CAP strategic plans in line with new climate and environmental legislation will be completely removed in proposals by Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen.
Pat Doherty has the distinction of having sat for three portraits  two paintings and a copperplate etching  by the legendary British painter Lucian Freud.

Several copies of the etching feature in the exhibition, Lucian Freuds Etchings: A Creative Collaboration, which has just launched at Titanic Belfast in partnership with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Doherty became acquainted with Freud through a mutual friend, Andrew Parker Bowles, whom Doherty has known since the early 1970s, when he began doing building work for a development company that Parker Bowles ran with his brother-in-law, Nick Paravicini, and the architect Michael Heber-Percy.

We did that for three years, says Doherty, and then I went into partnership with them. They had the money, and I had the building experience. We were a good team.

Doherty and Parker Bowles could hardly have come from more disparate backgrounds. Doherty is one of a family of ten. He left school at 14 and served his apprenticeship with an uncle in Donegal before emigrating to London, aged 19, in 1962.

I started doing contract work a few years later, he says. Brickwork and carpentry. I knew guys coming out who were good carpenters, good bricklayers. Theyd all done apprenticeships, I knew they could do good work. We soon had 30 guys on the books, and we kept building up from there.

Lucian Freud's painting of Andrew Parker Bowles, 'The Brigadier', at Christie's New York in 2015, where it sold for $34.89m. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

Parker Bowles, by contrast, was born in Donnington Castle House in Berkshire. His godparents included the Queen Mother and his grandfather, the millionaire racehorse owner Sir Humphrey de Trafford. He attended Ampleforth College and Sandhurst Military Academy, rode in the Grand National and played on Prince Charles polo team.

In 1973, Doherty attended Parker Bowles wedding to Camilla Shand, who, after their divorce in 1995, went on to marry Prince Charles. She is now the Queen of the United Kingdom.

Parker Bowles agreed to sit for a portrait by Freud in the early 2000s. Parker Bowles was a career army officer as well as a developer, and Freud chose to paint him in his full regalia as The Brigadier. The portrait took months of sittings, and Doherty unwittingly became a witness to its execution.

I could walk from my house to Lucians studio in two and a half minutes, it was just around the corner, he says. Id go round to pick Andrew up after a sitting, and wed go out to dinner. I did that three or four times before Andrew said, come on, Ill introduce you to Lucian. So we went in, had a glass of champagne and a chat. And then, every time Id call to pick up Andrew, wed chat with Lucian some more.

Pat Doherty, chairman of Titanic Belfast, features in several works by Freud. Picture courtesy of Titanic Belfast

One evening Andrew said to me, 'Lucian said would you sit for him'. And my reply to that was, 'F**k off, would you?' Sitting for an artist, I had no interest in that. But Andrew kept on about it.

"He said, look, its such an honour to be asked by this man. Youll regret it, you know. And I said, Andrew, I certainly will not regret it. But he kept on, and I thought, Christ, okay.

Doherty admits he did not quite realise what he was letting himself in for. In my head I thought it would just take two or three sittings, he says. But the first time I sat for a portrait, it took 85 three-hour sittings, I think it was. And then he asked me to sit again, to do an etching, which took about 35 sittings. And then another painting, which took nearly 100 sittings. So I sat in front of him three times. He asked would I sit again, but I said no. Id had enough of it.

In all, Doherty spent at least 600 hours sitting for Freud. He was a very temperamental man, but very talented. You didnt get on the wrong side of him; youd know when to chat and when not to. I remember when it started, at first, you know, everything he was doing, I was watching. Hed be walking around you, looking you over. I realised, hes trying to get into my head, and Im trying to get into his. But that was never going to work, you know. That was just a daydream. So I let him get on with it.

German-born British painter Lucian Freud. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)

Freud famously did not flatter his subjects, and he certainly did Doherty no favours; the paintings present him as ruddy-faced and jowly, and the etching is less forgiving again. Asked what he thought of them, Doherty chuckles: The first time I saw the etching, I said, Lucian, if someone paid you money and came in to collect that, I think theyd die.

But we stayed friends, you know. For years afterwards, wed go out once a week for dinner at the Wolesley. There was no expectation that Doherty would buy any of the portraits, but, knowing how revered a figure Freud had become, he did eventually, paying 2.3 million for the two paintings and a copy of the etching. In 2023, he sold one of the paintings, Profile, Donegal Man, at auction for 15 million.

Thats a good return, I thought at the time. But in hindsight, I wish I hadnt sold it. The other one I kept, thats on loan now to the National Gallery in Dublin.

Doherty was at Freuds house, along with Parker Bowles and the artists studio assistant David Dawson, on the night of his passing in 2011. Lucian was unconscious, he says. Andrew, David and I went out for dinner at Sally Clarkes, the restaurant next door. And then one of the girls came in and said hed gone.

Lucian was complicated, a complicated man, but Id glad to have known him all the same.

Doherty has business interests all over the world, and is invariably cited as one of Irelands most successful property developers. Asked what his greatest achievement has been, he says with a twinkle, surviving".

He still lives in London, and is grateful for the opportunities the city has given him. I love Donegal, he says. Im from Donegal. Ive got a house there, and I visit regularly. But I grew up in London. When people ask if Ill retire to Donegal, I say no, I dont see that.

He laughs suddenly. But I'll be buried there, he says.

Lucian Freuds Etchings: A Creative Collaboration runs at Titanic Belfast until September 30. Further information: titanicbelfast.com

David Dawson

David Dawson still describes himself as a "farmboy, despite having worked as Freuds studio assistant in London for the last 20 years of his life.

Dawson grew up in rural Welshpool, in Wales. He studied painting at the Royal College of Art in London, and had just graduated when he was introduced to Freuds art dealer, James Kirkman. Kirkman in turn introduced him to Freud, who was increasingly busy in his career and needed help in his studio.

I was a sort of run-around boy, really, says Dawson. Id buy the paint and prime the canvases, that kind of thing. Lucian and myself got on immediately. I happened to live in Notting Hill, close to his home, so he just phoned me every day from then on. He'd say, can you do this, can you do that? And it just developed from there. At that stage, Freud was 69. He was well-established as a figurative painter, and had settled into a routine of painting portraits in the two-roomed studio upstairs in his home at 138 Kensington Church Street.

David Dawson with Lucian Freud's painting of Pat Doherty at the recreation of the painter's studio at Titanic Belfast.

A degenerate gambler in his day, reputed to have lost millions betting on the horses, Freud had more or less quit by then. Dawson insists he drank in moderation, and only smoked the odd cigar. Freud was a notorious womaniser - he acknowledged 14 children, and may have fathered as many as 40  but Dawson is discreet about his relationships. Lucian had many close friends, he says. They all meant something to him. He chose who he wanted to get really close to, and others he kept out. Freud was also notorious for the commitment he required of his models, who could expect to spend hundreds  and sometimes thousands  of hours sitting for his portraits. It suited some better than others. Among those he painted often were the benefits supervisor Big Sue Tilley and the performance artist Leigh Bowery.

The first painting I saw when I visited his studio was a big portrait he did of Leigh, says Dawson. That was halfway done. It was a really important moment in my life, a pivotal moment, to see that being made. At that stage, Lucian was just beginning to really stretch into what people now call his mature phase. He really went for it in the last 20 years of his life.

He always worked very hard. The sitter would arrive at eight in the morning. I'd be there before them. Id have set up the studio, with the right canvas, the right placing of the bed or whatever. Lucian would work on that painting till lunchtime, then hed rest for the afternoon, and go back painting in the evening. He'd do that every day, seven days a week.

Over the course of his twenty years with Freud, Dawson produced a series of photographs of the artist and his subjects at work. It began when Freud was painting his fellow artist, David Hockney.

Lucian had just finished the portrait, and hed gone out to take a phone call. I wanted to take a little photo of David with the portrait, but as I pressed the button on my camera, Lucian walked back in through the door. And because it was film, I didn't know what Id got until I had it developed. But I showed it to Lucian and he thought it was fantastic. So after that, I would have my little point-and-shoot camera, and I'd take photos when I could.

Over several months in 2000/1, Freud painted Queen Elizabeth II. It was intended that she would sit for the portrait in his studio, but when the press got wind of the arrangement, they had to meet instead at St Jamess Palace.

Dawson was present for the sessions, and took several photographs. I did ask Her Majesty, he says. And she said, yes, I think it's quite a historic moment. So I took four photographs. The first one's blurred because I was so nervous, but then there are two good ones of the Queen, and the last is after shes gone; theres just the painting and the empty chair.

Titanic Belfasts CEO Judith Owens and conservator Sean Madden unbox Donegal Man, an etching by Lucian Freud of Titanic Belfasts chairman Pat Doherty. Picture by Jonathan Porter

Freuds portrait of the queen was arguably the most controversial of his career. Robin Simon, the editor of the British Art Journal, said it makes her look like one of her corgis who has suffered a stroke. The Sun thought Freud should be locked up in the Tower for his impertinence.

What did Dawson make of it? I like it because it's so small, he says. It's one of the great things that Lucian could do, is make a very small painting very powerful. Not many artists can do that. And I think it's a true portrait of a woman in a unique position of being a monarch, a head of state.

Did Her Majesty express an opinion of the painting? Absolutely not!

Freud also painted the supermodel Kate Moss, and Dawson photographed the two in bed towards the end of the artists life. That was a lovely moment, he says.

Lucian wasn't feeling too good, so Kate just jumped in for a hug. It was very sweet. And I said, oh, can I take a photo? Apart from painting, the only medium Freud liked to work in was etching. The master printer Mark Balakjian, with whom he collaborated, would prepare copper plates with a wax ground, which Freud would sketch into with an etching needle.

Again, it was all from life, says Dawson. And the etchings were always done after the oil painting. It could take months, but not quite as long as a painting. He knew the face of the person well by then, and the line would come more fluently.

On his death, aged 88, in 2011, Freud left Dawson his home. He had mentioned that hed do so. There was a plan, but I never listened to it too strongly. It's a lovely house. Early Georgian. I did a total refurb. I put it back to how it looked before. I've kept Lucians studio. It's still alive. And I have my own studio, separate.

Dawson also has charge of Freuds archives. Which means I've got control of the copyright, he says. It's just me and the lawyer, so we can make decisions quickly and clearly. Bridgeman Art Library manage the archives, and I just say yes or no to requests. I know what feels right and what doesn't. Freud sometimes fretted that his schedule left Dawson too little time to devote to his own painting. But Dawson has no regrets. I put Lucians work first, he says. I felt that what he was making was so extraordinary, I wanted to be around to see it made. I thought it was worth it. And I still hold to that.

Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast opened in 2012, on the 100th anniversary of the launch of the RMS Titanic

Titanic Belfast is the brainchild of Pat Doherty, from Buncrana, Co Donegal, who made his fortune as a property developer in London. The centre commemorates the history of the ill-fated liner, along with the maritime heritage of Belfast, and is the jewel in the crown of a 200-acre development on the site of the old Harland & Wolff shipyard, which Doherty bought with another Irish businessman, Dermot Desmond, in 2003.

A general view of the Titanic Museum on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

Pat is one of the great visionaries when it comes to regeneration and bringing heritage to life, says Judith Owens, who has served as Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast since 2017, having previously been Director of Operations and Deputy CEO.

Owens family was involved with Harland & Wolff for generations. My grandfather worked in the shipyard, and my dad was general manager of the electrical division, she says. So I grew up in the area, and many years ago, I actually owned one of the shipyard officer's houses. Most people around here have a connection to the shipyard, it was such a big part of industrial Belfast.

When Owens first got involved with the Titanic Belfast project, there were just four of us on staff, she says. We now employ over 300. We'll have about 500,000 people coming through the doors between now and September, and were averaging about 850,000 a year.

"Obviously, we have the Titanic exhibition, but we have an art gallery and high-end conference and banqueting facilities as well.

The whole idea with Titanic Belfast was that we were to be a catalyst to kick-start tourism, and particularly international tourism, after the Good Friday Agreement. Weve certainly succeeded in that.
Barnardos ambassador Louise Duffy is calling on little ones everywhere to get involved in The Big Toddle, a half-mile sponsored walk for creche and pre-school aged children.

The Big Toddle is a fundraiser that Barnardos has organised every May and June for the past 22 years, raising 4.84m for Barnardos early years services in the process.

Taking part couldnt be easier. All creches, childminders, and parents have to do is register at www.barnardos.ie/bigtoddle.

Once they sign up, they will receive a free fundraising pack as well as details of extra activities and games they can play as they prepare for their fundraising walk.

Anticipating birthdays

A Little Birdie Told Me is a gorgeous new picture book by the Irish-based author and illustrator Tarsila Kruse.

It tells the story of a little birdie excited at the thought of someone coming to a surprise birthday party that will include cake, balloons, dancing, decorations, games, and music. Who is that special someone? Its the birthday boy or girl themselves, of course.

Its best to read this book in the days and weeks leading up to the childs birthday, as it will help build a sense of anticipation of the celebrations to come.

A Little Birdie Told Me is published by OBrien Books and costs 13.99.

Childrens sun hats

The clear skies and bright sunshine of recent weeks will have prompted parents all over the country to take steps to protect childrens skin from too much sun exposure.

Because childrens faces, necks, and ears are some of the areas most susceptible to sun damage, getting them to wear a wide-brimmed sunhat, such as one from www.puddleducks.ie, can be very useful.

This lightweight hat provides shade for the face and neck and blocks up to 97.5% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. It comes in sizes that fit children from newborns up to age five and has a Velcro strap which adjusts its brim size.

The hat can also be turned inside out to give it a completely different look.

Puddle Ducks is a Cork-based company that specialises in outdoor wear for children. This sunhat comes in various colours and patterns and costs 14.95.

Good week to saddle up

This week is Bike Week, and to mark the occasion, Cycle Freedom Cork is offering free bike rentals from 9.30am to 5.30pm every day from now until May 18.

They aim to get more people outside, exploring their natural surroundings and enjoying cycling. Bikes can be hired from Cork Bike Hire in the Cork City Depot (Eircode: T12 YX76).

For other events being organised nationwide, see exa.mn/bike-week.

Colourful fun in Cobh

Young children can enjoy messy, sticky, and colourful fun at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh this Saturday, May 17. From 11am to 12pm, artist Catarina Araujo will facilitate a workshop for toddlers aged one to three. Designed to spark curiosity and foster early learning, the workshop will allow children to explore mixing and blending colours and paint pictures with the resulting shades.

The workshop costs 10 per child, and tickets can be purchased from exa.mn/colour-explorers.

Aid for exam anxiety

Exam season is almost upon us, and teenagers will likely look for ways to deal with the stress.

An Anxiety Aid Pulse Pointer from Killarney Organic could be just the thing.

This little bottle contains a blend of oils that can be applied to the skin.

Sweet orange and ylang ylang are known for helping ease anxiety and promoting calm, while geranium is said to promote positivity.

It could be just what they need to get through their exams.

The Anxiety Aid Pulse Pointer can be purchased from killarneyorganic.ie for 14.95.
Every morning across Ireland there are parents contemplating whether their child really is too sick to go to school.

Meanwhile, the pupils of Temple Street Hospital School, at CHI at Temple Street, are attending classes from their hospital beds and even isolation units to avoid missing out on the childhood experience. All the while, its teachers are doing everything in their power to help children thrive, despite inadequate staff numbers and limited resources.

The principal of the hospital school is calling for an end to staffing shortages at the facility amid struggles to provide one-to-one classes for its young patients.

Ann Higgins was speaking as HOPE congress 2025 takes place this week in Dublin. Hosted by HOPE  the hospital teachers of Ireland  the event includes everything from panel discussions to testimonials from former patients, and the staffing challenges facing hospital teachers across Ireland.

Ms Higgins said there are currently more than 70 school-going patients overall. While the hospital classroom can facilitate small groups, many of the children are unable to leave their hospital beds. This poses obvious challenges for the team, which is made up of two secondary and four primary school teachers.

Despite their limited numbers, staff members including deputy principal Ciara Jenkins have been doing everything they can to ensure kids dont miss out on important educational milestones including school tours.

The Gate Theatre and Dublin Zoo were among the locations visited by some hospital school students who have been well enough to enjoy temporary leave from hospital.

Teachers also take a proactive approach by individualising lesson plans to cater to the childs interests. Ms Higgins is keen to see the team expand to ensure more children suffering from illnesses and physical trauma receive individual attention.

She said urgent action is needed in response to staffing issues.

It is groundbreaking what is happening here at the moment because were going to have the National Council for Special Education reviewing our staffing allocation. This is really important because we dont have enough staff here. The first thing any hospital school will tell you is that we are pretty much predominantly understaffed. This is because our staffing allocation hasnt been reviewed by the Department of Education for years.

For example, today our deputy principal had 18 children on two wards. These are not like the children you have in your run-of-the-mill classrooms. Students are in wards. They are in beds after surgery. Some of them cant get out of their beds. Teachers come to kids in isolation with PPE equipment. We are talking about every type of need. These children, generally speaking, need one-to-one support but this is just not possible.

Temple Street Hospital School principal Ann Higgins. Picture: Gareth Chaney

She expressed hope that their concerns over staffing levels will be listened to and heard.

We had our first visit from the NCSE and weve been told that there will be a second visit looking at our staffing. Obviously time is of the essence. We are fighting to have our voices heard.

The recently-formed National Association of Special School Principals are supporting us too and have written to the NCSE to try and ensure that we have our staffing review done in a timely way. This will help us look at what staffing were going to have on site for September. It will enable us to do recruitment in line with every other school in the country instead of always being on the back foot.

Its really difficult because we are presented in here every day with a different number of children. For us, every single day is like the first day of September.

We have a database and we upload our enrolment for the day and every day thats different. Its very challenging for teachers because they might have children who are here for a longer stay. Those children would always be prioritised for the teacher. However, we also have a cohort of children that is changing literally on a daily basis. Hospital schools are categorised by the Department of Education as special schools. However, up until recently we werent supported by the NCSE.

Its a huge development to think we will be supported by them. This is also a huge milestone for hospital schools.

The principal spoke about what sets hospital teachers apart.

The teachers have to be thinking on their feet constantly. They are the most creative and intuitive teachers because they need to be.

Other teachers in schools can plan for their whole year in advance. Our teachers have to plan every day. They may even make a plan for the following day. However, that can go belly up for all kinds of reasons.

She described the positive impact their school has on its pupils social and emotional development.

There was a little boy here who was due to start junior infants last September. When the time came for his first day of school he just wasnt well enough. It was an awful shame he was missing out on meeting all his classmates. His teacher and our teacher worked together and they organised for him to have a zoom call every single morning he came to the hospital classroom. They clicked into his classroom down the country and watched all his little pals. Every one of them could see him and they made sure he was doing the same activities as his classmates in the school at the same time. It meant that when the time came for him to go back to school they all knew him.

The teacher often came on screen and chatted to him so that when he was eventually well enough to attend school for the first time they were all familiar to him.

Teachers at the school often liaise with other frontline workers to establish the best way forward for the children.

We dont work in isolation. Were part of a multidisciplinary team where there will be a lot of discussion with people involved in all of the disciplines including speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. This is never a teacher going off on a solo run. Its always a team decision when deciding if a child is well enough to do their exams.

She lauded the determination of her students.

Children are often sitting their junior search exams here. They can be children who are here for a long period of time. Some think they have missed out on the opportunity until we explain that we can set ourselves up as an exam centre and collect the papers from a nearby school. The children and their determination is the most important part for me. We had a young man who did his junior cert here last year who started his exams in the hospital classroom only to find he was in too much pain to sit in the chair for long periods. He continued the rest of his exams from his bedside and was facilitated in doing his exams there. We will do everything we can to be as adaptable as possible.

Deputy principal Ciara Jenkins said the school experience can normalise hospital for many children.

Temple Street Hospital School vice principal Ciara Jenkins at CHI at Temple Street. Picture: Gareth Chaney

It mimics the school experience for them in a way that normalises hospital, Ms Jenkins explained.

The kids are used to coming and learning with other children in the classroom setting, so it certainly helps with that kind of thing.

They also make little pals as well. The kids often ask about their friends and are keen to catch up with them.

They know whats expected of them in a school setting whereas the hospital can be an uncertain environment for them. Its scary sometimes. When it comes to their health you know that the children dont have a choice but in school we try and offer lots of choice to make them feel that little bit of control. They want to be able to experience normality.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the department provides funding and staffing for schools attached to seven hospitals where children are treated as inpatients.

The department also funds education provision in a small number of on-site schools attached to Camhs inpatient units.

As part of the annual special school staffing review, the staffing arrangements for hospital schools and schools attached to Camhs units are currently being reviewed.

The National Council for Special Education is leading on this work and engaging directly with these schools. The outcome of the review process will be communicated directly to each of the schools concerned.
Plans are being drafted for Ireland to host the best and brightest of US researchers as US universities come under threat and face funding shutdowns by the Trump administration.

Further and higher education minister James Lawless is to bring proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday aimed at attracting US scientists wishing to relocate.

Mr Lawless will seek permission from Cabinet to establish a team of talent attaches who will travel to the US and other countries to recruit academics to come and work in Ireland.

Irish 'talent attaches' already at work

Two agents have already been signed off on and will work in Boston and San Francisco. One agent travelled over last week and the second to follow shortly.

US college campuses, academic institutions and research organisations have been upended since Donald Trump took office, and recent months have seen frozen funding, cut grants, and deported foreign students.

Speaking at an Irish Universities Association event, Mr Lawless said the last few months have undoubtedly changed how people view the US when it comes to research and higher education. He said:

It has unfortunately become a cold place for free thinkers and talented researchers. Faculties are having funding revoked, and institutes face shutdowns of significant impairments to their work.

Setting aside any cultural wars, I think investment in innovation and cultivation of the best minds is a key economic strategy.

With both existing attaches working in the US, there will be a strong emphasis on recruitment on that side of the Atlantic but it is not the sole focus of the plans.

A global talent initiative is to be set up here at home and will seek to recruit individuals who would previously have sought to work in America but might now be rethinking their options given the current US administration.

It is hoped that competitive packages which will include salary and potentially offers of start-up funding for particular will entice talent to move to Ireland. It is intended that the universities will co-fund salary support.

Ireland competing with other EU states

Mr Lawless will be seeking funding for the initiative but said that there is good support across Government for what he is trying to achieve.

Ireland will be competing with other EU countries to entice scientists, with French president Emmanuel Macron last week pledging 100m to help attract foreign scientists.

Mr Lawless said there are already soft noises being made with people querying what Ireland has to offer those considering a move.

In his keynote speech, Mr Lawless made reference to how America became a global leader in research after the Second World War, as scientists such as Enrico Fermi, Albert Einstein, Leo Szilard, and Edward Teller moved to the US.

As US research freedoms come under threat, we have in Ireland unique opportunity to emulate that post war success and see the tide of talents now flow in a different direction across the Atlantic, Mr Lawless said.

We can offer a stable, open, EU aligned environment where researchers can thrive, contribute and shape the future of science.

We know that talent is our greatest natural resource. It is also our best defence to any economic turbulence.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The ownership dispute involving Zimbabwe's largest chrome mining and smelting company, Zimasco, has taken a decisive turn after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal against a High Court interdict that barred lawyer Wilson Manase from operating as the company's corporate rescue practitioner.The Supreme Court ruling effectively upholds the High Court's earlier decision in favour of Zimasco, maintaining that Manase cannot assume the role pending the resolution of legal questions over the legitimacy of his appointment.Manase, a prominent lawyer, has been at the centre of controversy for allegedly backing Kwekwe businessman Shephard Tundiya's attempted takeover of Zimasco, citing the company's alleged financial challenges.According to court documents, Manase reportedly obtained a High Court order earlier this year declaring him the corporate rescue practitioner of Sinosteel Zimasco (Pvt) Ltd, a separate legal entity from Zimasco. Using that order, he allegedly approached Zimasco management demanding access to company bank accounts  a move that was swiftly rejected by the firm.Zimasco challenged the move in court, arguing that the order had been fraudulently obtained and that the company had not been properly served with legal papers. A different High Court judge ruled in favour of Zimasco, leading Tundiya's company, Avim Investments, to file an appeal at the Supreme Court.That appeal has now been thrown out, leaving the High Court interdict in place.In a statement, Zimasco confirmed that it is still pursuing a full legal challenge to nullify the earlier order appointing Manase, including an application for a declarator and, alternatively, for rescission or setting aside of the disputed judgment.Zimasco maintains that it was never served with the initial court papers used to install Manase and insists the appointment was irregular and invalid.The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing wrangle over control of the chrome giant, which plays a key role in Zimbabwe's mining sector and is a critical player in the ferrochrome value chain.
Bernard Gloster, CEO of the HSE, is to step down in March next year in a shock announcement just two years into his term.

Mr Gloster on Tuesday confirmed that he will step down from the role at the beginning of next March.

The HSE said he will retire from the public service at that time, having served almost 38 years in the public health service, including three of those as CEO of the HSE.

Mr Gloster said: I continue to be privileged to serve in this very important role and, for the coming months, I will be working hard with the Board, the Minister, and the Department to advance many improvements and responses to challenges.

He added: I wanted to bring certainty to the future leadership of the organisation as I am now in my third year as CEO.

He has submitted his resignation to the Chair of the HSE Board, Ciaran Devane, and Minister Carroll MacNeill.

I particularly want to thank the Chair and the Minister for the kindness shown to me during this significant personal decision. I will retire from the public service on March 5th, 2026, he said.

I also want to express my deep appreciation to all of our staff for the work they continue to do every day to serve the public.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said after his announcement: I extend my enormous thanks to Bernard, an extraordinary public servant, who has dedicated himself, seven days a week, to improving the health service for everyone in Ireland.

She said he brought over 30 years of public sector experience to leadership of the HSE.

I have greatly appreciated his work, his expertise and his friendship in my short time as Minister, she said.

I look forward to working with him in the coming months to continue our good work to advance a health system that works better for all.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin praised Mr Gloster and said it was a big shock that he was stepping down.

Mr Toibin said: Bernard Gloster did good work in Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), in fairness to him. Tusla was in a very difficult situation.

He was very open and very straight in terms of the work and the engagements he had in relation to Tusla. Hes not long really as the head of the HSE, and I think that is a shock.

- additional reporting from PA
The Tanaiste and minister for defence, Simon Harris, will today announce plans to extend Irelands role in the peacekeeping mission in Southern Lebanon by a further 12 months.

In his keynote speech to the PDFORRA Conference in Killarney, he will confirm that he intends to bring a memo to Cabinet to renew Irelands mandate to participate in the UNIFIL mission.

Ireland currently has the longest unbroken peacekeeping record of any country in the world, with some 340 troops currently deployed with the 125th Infantry Battalion.

By re-committing to the UNIFIL mission, Ireland is sending out a clear message that we support peace, we value stability, and we care about the people and communities of Southern Lebanon, the Tanaiste will say.

It also demonstrates our commitment to continuing Irelands proud peacekeeping record, now the longest unbroken record held by any country in the world.

Ireland will extend its peacekeeping mission in Lebanon and continue pressing for justice in the killing of Sean Rooney.

Meanwhile, Mr Harris will tell the conference that the Irish Government will do everything it can to help ensure those behind the killing of Private Sean Rooney are brought to justice.

The Tanaiste will update the conference on his recent visit to Lebanon, where he raised the case of Private Rooney with both the Lebanese foreign affairs and defence ministers.

The family of Sean Rooney deserve answers; they deserve accountability, he will say.

My officials and I will continue to raise our concerns with the Lebanese Government at the highest level so that the people responsible for Sean Rooneys death are finally brought to justice.

In his speech to the conference, the Tanaiste will also speak about the Governments plans to ramp up defence spending and invest in the likes of radar and sonar capabilities.

While accepting that challenges still exist around recruitment and retention  particularly in relation to specialiststhe Tanaiste will welcome the fact that numbers are stabilising.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has spoken to the British prime minister about a deal on trade and security with the EU that could be agreed as early as next week.

It is now hoped that a security pact between the EU and Britain will be signed at the first Brexit reset summit due to be held in London.

Special attention will also be given to access to waters for fisheries and energy cooperation at the meeting.

The European Council has said the summit will also examine sanitary and phytosanitary measures, internal security and criminal matters, emissions trading systems, as well as people-to-people contacts, including migration and youth mobility".

"Ireland anticipates a good outcome to that summit," Mr Martin said after the call with Keir Starmer, which lasted more than 20 minutes.

Both men also discussed the productive 'coalition of the willing' meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine.

They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions.

Separately, the Government is opposing People Before Profits Trade Union Recognition Bill, set for debate and vote on Wednesday, which will force companies to recognise and negotiate with workers who organise.

At the moment, a worker can join a union, but the boss has no obligation to even acknowledge it. This leaves workers vulnerable in the face of bullying, low pay, and unsafe conditions.

However, the Government has decided to oppose the bill for a number of reasons, including the constitutionality of it as it is considered that it would breach Article 40.6.1(iii).

"Other considerations we have reviewed in opposing this bill are the burden that it would put on the Labour Court and the WRC, the misinterpretation of the purpose of Employment Regulation Orders and sections which are already in effect in existing legislation," a Government spokesperson said.

Irelands attractiveness as an investment location and the basis for much of our competitive advantage has been due to the stability and industrial peace provided by our voluntary model for social dialogue.

"The Government is committed to delivering an action plan this year which will provide strong support to unions and employers to ensure that they have the capacity to support worker rights and business transformation.

"It will be important to do this in a manner that is ambitious, balanced, legally sustainable, and cognisant of the views of the consultation that is currently underway."

Separately, the Government will table an 18-month timed amendment to the Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025 as it is at the early stages of considering the programme for government commitment to explore restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children".

"A body of work will need to be carried out to identify any public health concerns with regard to energy drink consumption in Ireland and to identify appropriate policy responses. It is too early at this stage to consider draft legislation as set out in this Private Members Bill," a government spokesperson said.
Parts of Cork city centre have become dangerous no-go areas, a meeting of Cork City Council was told, as councillors clashed over calls for new measures to take back the city centre.

Fianna Fail Cllr Sean Martin led the calls at the May meeting of Cork City Council on Monday, with a motion urging the council to work with other government agencies and elected representatives to formulate a plan to take back the city centre.

He was accused of telling lies, sensationalising the problem, and damaging the citys reputation, but he told councillors that two of his four children have been the victims of assault in the city, while a daughter of his witnessed a savage assault outside a nightclub.

He revealed his direct family experience after Solidarity Cllr Brian McCarthy said the image of the city becoming more dangerous  that its awash with drugs and violence  is just not true.

Take back from who? It hasnt been taken over by anyone. Its not a no-go area for the public, or some lawless no man's land, Mr McCarthy said.

Its not perfect. It has the same problems you find in a lot of cities of the same size  some crime, some theft, some substance abuse problems, some derelict buildings.

One of the only councillors living in the city centre, Mr McCarthy said the only reason some people are afraid to visit town is because of the lies being spun by councillors in the council chamber and the media.

This motion is the epitome of sensationalism, he said.

Social Democrats Cllr Niamh OConnor also expressed concern about the wording of Mr Martins motion and asked, Who is the city being taken back from?

There has been a lot of talk about gardai, and thats important, but we really need to look at the causes of crime, and the social issues that cause people to be out on the streets, she said.

But Mr Martin said his motion suggests that a range of issues beyond security need to be addressed, including dereliction, vacancy and retail strategies.

His party colleague, Colm Kelleher, said there is no point in tiptoeing around the issue.

Certain parts of the city centre are a no-go area for people. My wife wouldnt dream of into town at certain times in the evening, he said.

Its not just a policing issue, its vacancy, dereliction, substance abuse, and traffic problems.

Independent Ireland Cllr Noel OFlynn said three women told him at the weekend that they are afraid to visit the city centre.

They showed me a video of a person being kicked on the street, on one of our main streets, by two hooded assailants, he said.

That video is circulating on social media and people are getting the impression that Cork could be dangerous. But Sinn Fein Cllr Joe Lynch said for the first time in a long time, he saw gardai on the beat in the city over the weekend.

It makes a difference when that visible policing presence is there, he said.

Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle insisted the city is safe.

There are societal problems, a downturn in civility and a growth of intolerance, he said.

That not located in any geographical location. Thats not centred on Cork city centre. Thats just as likely to happen in a suburban location, and violence that people may come across is likely to happen in a family and home setting as it is in any city centre setting.

We have to be careful that we dont create an impression that ours is an unsafe city. It is not an unsafe city. In comparison to other cities, it is a good place to live.

The indicators in recent years are going in the right direction. The right direction is being pointed towards. Our responsibility as a council is to look at the speed of that progress.

Mr Martin was told that a dedicated city centre directorate has been established, and a number of initiatives are underway that will make a positive difference, with a Cork Futures Group being established to shape a city strategy and delivery programme.

The meeting was also told that a vacant kiosk on Grand Parade may be converted for use as a dedicated city centre Garda base following a motion from Fine Gael Cllr Damian Boylan. He said such a Garda base would replicate the successful presence of the Garda van in the city centre over Christmas, and serve as a point of contact for the public to report crime, seek assistance, and enhance the perception of safety in the city centre.

Officials said they will engage with An Garda Siochana to assess the feasibility of his proposal.

Meanwhile, Independent Cllr Albert Deasy has questioned the findings of an IPSOS Behaviour and Attitudes survey from last summer, which gave the impression that the city centre is a safe and secure place in which to live, shop, visit, and do business.

He said the survey is unrepresentative of the views of the citizens of the five electoral areas, many of whom, he said, avoid the city centre because of drug-taking, anti-social behaviour, violent disorder, rough sleeping, and a general air of threat and menace.

He called for a repeat of the survey, taking into account the views of citizens located in each of the five electoral areas, to determine whether or not they regularly visit the city centre  and if not, why not.

He was told the council plans to undertake city centre perception surveys from time to time, that its methodology will be informed by good practice, and that consideration will be given to identifying survey locations in the broader city.
The driver of a bus that crashed into a wall in Cork city was taken to hospital.

The incident occurred in a housing estate in Ashmount, Silversprings, Tivoli, shortly after 7pm.

It is understood that the 208 bus crashed into a garden wall after going off the road.

Four people were on the bus; three passengers and the driver.

A garda spokesperson confirmed the driver, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital for medical assessment.

"The three passengers on board at the time did not require immediate medical treatment," added the spokesperson.

Victor Shine of the Cork Fire Brigade told the Irish Examiner that the driver suffered minor injuries but required observation, so he was taken to the hospital.

He added: "The three passengers were discharged at the scene of the incident by HSE staff.

"The bus was recovered by Bus Eireann".
Tariffs are likely to remain in place even if the EU is able to reach a deal with the US, Tanaiste Simon Harris is set to tell Cabinet.

Mr Harris is to update Government on the progress of EU-US trade talks, in the wake of an agreement being signed between the US and Britain last week.

The foreign affairs minister is due to tell Cabinet that the US-UK agreement will formalise and solidify tariffs, it is understood.

This is despite both Ireland and the EU seeking a free trade deal which removes barriers as well as lowers, or in some areas, abolishes tariffs altogether.

However, Mr Harris will say that an initial analysis of the deal does appear to have averted the prospect of different tariff rates on both sides of the border.

Its understood the Tanaiste has been in contact with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic in recent days, after the Commission revealed its proposed countermeasures, to outline Irelands position.

Its expected there will be further engagement with Mr Sefcovic at the EUs foreign affairs council later this week.

The Cabinet will also be updated by education minister Helen McEntee on Leaving Cert reform, which is due to begin its first phase this September.

The reforms include project work, known as additional assessment components, to be worth 40% of a students total grade in a subject.

Both teacher unions, the ASTI and TUI, are due to ballot their members on the proposals after new supports were confirmed.

Additionally, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will ask the Government to approve the new 2025 Slaintecare implementation plan, alongside the 2024 progress report.

It is understood the progress report outlines a reduction in cumulative daily trolley counts by 11% compared to 2023, despite an 8% increase in patients attending emergency departments.

It also details that 95% of GPs have signed up oto the chronic disease management programme, with 650,000 patient reviews last year.

Meanwhile, housing minister James Browne will seek Cabinet approval to extend the First Home shared equity scheme for another two years, alongside providing a further 30m in funding.

A Government source said the extra funding will match commitments by banks participating in the scheme  AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB.
The world is in a terrible state of chassis, son. That was an expression my father used to use a lot when I was a kid. In fact, it was his explanation for everything  why we couldnt have the immersion on; why the buses or the banks were on strike; why the weather was too miserable to allow us to go down to the seafront in Bray.

I never knew quite what it meant, although it seemed to sum everything up perfectly. Especially the things for which there wasnt a proper explanation in the first place. It wasnt until years later that I discovered that the phrase was actually the last line in Sean OCaseys great play Juno and the Paycock. It was uttered by the Paycock himself, Captain Jack Boyle, right at the end, as he sinks into drunken despair.
India has launched military strikes against a number of sites in Pakistan and Pakistans side of the disputed region of Kashmir, reportedly killing at least 31 people and injuring dozens more. India claimed the attacks were on terrorist infrastructure, but Pakistan denied this, and said these were civilians.

India says another 10 people on the Indian side of the Kashmir region have been killed by shelling from Pakistan in the same period.

The exchange comes two weeks after a terrorist attack in Kashmir killed 26 people. The group Resistance Front (TRF), which India argues is a proxy for the Pakistani-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

India claimed that Pakistan had indirectly supported the terrorist attack, but Pakistan vehemently denies this.

The escalating conflict between two of the worlds major military powers has the potential to de-stablise Asia and beyond. Already, many countries around the world, including the UK, France and Russia, have made public their concerns about what happens next.

How do India and Pakistans militaries compare?

India is ranked as one of the worlds top five military nations by Military Watch magazine and Pakistan is ranked ninth. Both countries have nuclear weapons.

Overall, India is considered to have the military edge with a bigger and more modern military force, while Pakistan has a smaller and more agile force that has been primarily focused on defensive and covert activities.

While neither country has used nuclear weapons in a conflict, there are always concerns that this norm may be broken. Both countries are nuclear powers with India holding 180 nuclear warheads, and Pakistan possessing about 170.

Though India has a no first use policy, which it claims means the country would never use nuclear weapons first, there have been signs it is reconsidering this policy since 2019.

Pakistan has never declared a no first use policy and argues that tactical nuclear weapons are important to countering Indias larger conventional forces.

The concern is that even if a small nuclear exchange were to take place between the two countries, it could kill up to 20 million people in a matter of days.

Why are the countries fighting over Kashmir?

Kashmir has been a source of tension and conflict even before India and Pakistan gained independence from the British empire in 1947. Originally the Muslim-majority Kashmir was free to accede to either India or Pakistan.

While the local ruler (maharaja), Hari Singh, originally wanted Kashmir to be independent, he eventually sided with India, leading to a conflict in 1947. This resulted in a UN-mediated ceasefire in 1949 and agreement that Kashmir would be controlled partly by Pakistan and partly by India, split along whats known as the Line of Surveillance (or Line of Control).

As Kashmir is rich in minerals such as borax, sapphire, graphite, marble, gypsum and lithium, the region is strategically important. It is also culturally and historically important to both Pakistan and India.

Due to the regions significance and disagreement over sovereignty, multiple conflicts have taken place over Kashmir, with wars erupting in 1965 and 1999. Tensions were renewed in 2016, after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in Uri, on the Indian side of Kashmir. India responded by launching surgical strikes across the Line of Control, targeting alleged militant bases.

Then in 2019, a bombing in Pulwama (again part of the Indian-administered Kashmir) that killed more than 40 Indian paramilitary personnel led to Indian airstrikes in Balakot which borders Kashmir. This was the first action inside Pakistan since the Indian-Pakistani conflict in 1971 and again led to retaliatory raids from Pakistan and a brief aerial conflict.

A Kashmiri villager examines the damage caused to his house by Indian shelling in Neelum Valley, a district of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Saturday. Photo: AP/M.D. Mughal

These past conflicts never intensified further in part because India applied a massive diplomatic pressure campaign on the US, the UK and Pakistan, warning against escalation, while Pakistan showed a willingness to back down. Both sides as nuclear powers (India gained nuclear weapons in 1974 and Pakistan in 1998) had an understanding that escalating to full-scale war would be incredibly risky.

What will happen next?

The question is whether or not cooler heads will prevail this time. The strikes by India, part of Operation Sindoor, were met with mass approval across many political lines in India, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party voicing their support for the operation.

This helps Modi gain more backing, at a time when his popularity has been falling. Modi and the BJP suffered a shocking result in the 2024 election, losing 63 seats out of 543 seats and falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament).

Under Modi, India has been rapidly becoming more autocratic, another source of concern as such countries are more likely to take risks when it comes to conflict. As power becomes increasingly personalised and dissent is repressed, would-be autocrats may be more likely to take on bold moves to garner more public and elite support.

An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard on the banks of Dal Lake after loud explosions were heard in Srinagar on Saturday. Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan

Pakistan may also have reason to respond with more force to Indias recent attack than in the past. Pakistans powerful military has often stoked fears of a conflict with India to justify its enormous military budget. Regardless of the outcome, it needs a success to sell to its domestic audience.

Pakistan has been de facto led by its military for decades, which also makes it more likely to engage in conflict. In spite of intervals of civilian rule, the military has always held a lot of power, and in contrast to India (where there is a wider role for a civilian minister of defence), the Pakistani military has more influence over nuclear and security policy.

Both military regimes and multi-party autocracies may see conflict as a way of gaining legitimacy, particularly if both regimes think their political support is unravelling.

This most recent escalation is also significant because it is the first time in the Kashmir conflict that India has struck at Punjab, considered the heart of Pakistan. Pakistan will face internal pressure to respond, settle the score and restore deterrence.

Both sides have been resolute in not losing an inch of territory. The question is how quickly diplomatic pressure can work. Neither India nor Pakistan are engaged in security dialogue, and there is no bilateral crisis management mechanisms in place.

Further complicating matters is that the USs role as a crisis manager in south Asia has diminished. Under Donald Trump, Washington cannot be counted on. This all makes deescalating this conflict much more difficult.

Natasha Lindstaedt is a Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex.

(c) The Conversation
A 21-year-old man has been arrested over suspected arson attacks on two properties linked to British prime minister Keir Starmer.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
A Paris court on Tuesday found actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexual assault on a 2021 film set, sentencing him to an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

The actor, 76, was convicted of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

The panel of judges will deliver a verdict regarding another plaintiff and pronounce a sentence later on Tuesday.

The case is widely seen as a key post-#MeToo test of how French society and its film industry address allegations of sexual misconduct involving prominent figures.

Depardieu has denied the accusations.

Depardieu is charged with the sexual assault of a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during the shooting of the feature film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in 2021. He denied all the charges, telling the court he had been dragged through the mud by calumny and lies.

Depardieu is accused of trapping the set decorator, identified only as Amelie, between his legs on the film set and grabbing her buttocks, pubis and chest. She said he grabbed and trapped her with force, used obscene language and had to be pulled off her.

Amelie told the Paris criminal court: It was the fact that he knew I was afraid  I saw his eyes light up with a kind of pleasure in making someone afraid. I remember that savagery. He really terrified me, and that amused him. She said that at the time of the attack she had been working on set trying to track down parasols for the film. Thats where I understood the strength he had, he held me very, very hard, she told the court. I remember his eyes, I saw this big face, red eyes, very angry, very agitated. And he was saying: Come touch my big parasol, with a crazy look. Depardieu is also accused of sexually assaulting an assistant director, who has not been named in the media. She told the court Depardieu touched her buttocks and breasts on three occasions.

Depardieu admitted in court that he sometimes used vulgar language on set, such as shouting Dick! Pussy!. He said this was simply like saying wee wee poo poo for a child. He denied sexual assault.

The state prosecutor Laurent Guy told the trial that Depardieu should be found guilty, denouncing what he called the actors total denial and failure to question himself.

Guy said the attack on the set dresser was an indisputable sexual assault with three witnesses. He said Depardieus grabbing of the assistant director was also sexual assault and crew members were made aware of the incidents at the time.

The womens lawyers described Depardieu, who has made more than 200 films and TV series, as a sexual predator. They said he was an all-powerful star who deliberately targeted junior women.

Everyone knew, said a 30-year-old actor who was called as a witness. She said that during her first role, aged 20, in the Netflix series Marseille, Depardieu suddenly put his hand inside her shorts and underwear, against her skin. She pushed him away and he did it again, she said. When she protested, he said: What? I thought you wanted to succeed in cinema, the court heard.

Depardieu told the trial that the media had used allegations against him to damage his reputation. He attacked the #MeToo movement as well as the women who had held protest placards outside a concert tour he was on at the time of the allegations. This movement is going to become a terror, he said.

The actors lawyer, Jeremie Assous, said the two complainants were lying and part of a conspiracy to bring down a great man. Today, being charged with sexual assault has an atomic effect; it neutralises you, kills you socially, Assous said.

The Paris prosecutors office has requested Depardieu face a further trial for rape and sexual assault in a separate case brought by the actor Charlotte Arnould, but no date has been set.

In an open letter to Le Figaro in 2023, Depardieu denied the allegations, saying any encounter with Arnould had been consensual.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Harare woman who claims to be the executor of the estate of the late Brian James and Elizabeth Rhodes - individuals she alleges were relatives of British imperialist Cecil John Rhodes  abruptly halted her testimony during a theft of trust property trial on Tuesday, citing a medical condition.Elizabeth Parirenyatwa was testifying in a case she brought against Adam Wood and Brian Murphy, whom she accuses of unlawfully taking control of Karoi Properties, a company she claims forms part of the Rhodes estate. However, after completing her main testimony before Harare magistrate Jacqueline Gara, Parirenyatwa failed to return for cross-examination after the lunch break, claiming that her sugar levels had dropped and she was unwell.Her sudden exit was met with skepticism from the defence, who accused her of attempting to dodge tough questions from the accuseds lawyers. The lawyers argued that the information Parirenyatwa had supplied to the court was contradicted by certified documents from the Registrar of Companies, which validated the accuseds positions and actions.Magistrate Gara postponed the matter to May 20.Investigations and genealogical records presented in the case have found no documented family link between Cecil John Rhodes and the deceased Brian James Rhodes, undermining Parirenyatwas claim of familial ties to the historical figure.In earlier testimony, an official from the Master of the High Court revealed that multiple complaints had been received from the children of the late Brian James Rhodes. The complaints specifically challenged Parirenyatwas appointment as executor of their father's estate, citing concerns about her conduct and mental state.One of the defence lawyers claimed Parirenyatwa was "mentally unstable and a criminal," echoing the family's insistence that she be removed from her role in managing the estate.Two State witnesses from the Deeds Office also took the stand and confirmed that there had been no wrongdoing by the accused. They testified that neither Murphy nor Wood had submitted any documents in their personal capacities and that no misconduct was recorded in the administration of Karoi Properties.Additionally, the court heard that there was no evidence submitted to the Master of the High Court linking Brian James Rhodes to share ownership in Karoi Properties. Instead, High Court rulings indicated that the shares belonged to the Phoenix Trust. This was further supported by a court order recognizing Murphy and Wood as the legitimate directors of the company, which was duly acknowledged by the Registrar of Companies.It was also confirmed in court that Brian James Rhodes had passed away on July 29, 2006, and that his wife, Elizabeth Anne Rhodes, subsequently registered the estate under DRI 426/1. Parirenyatwa was reportedly appointed executor dative following a power of attorney granted to her by Anne Rhodes.Parirenyatwa claims that Wood and Murphy conspired to appoint themselves as directors of Karoi Properties by falsely claiming that Rhodes had resigned from the company on April 30, 2012-six years after his death.The case continues to unfold amid growing questions about the legitimacy of Parirenyatwas role and her controversial claims surrounding the estate and its alleged historical connections.
The German government has banned the largest Reich citizen group, an extremist far-right organisation that calls itself the Kingdom of Germany and seeks to undermine the countrys democratic order, and arrested four of its leaders.

Since early Tuesday morning, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the associations properties and the homes of leading members.

The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures

Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said: The members of this association have created a counter-state in our country and built up economic criminal structures.

He added that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives  a behaviour that the country cannot tolerate.

We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order, Mr Dobrindt said.

The so-called Reich citizen, or Reichsburger movement, does not recognise Germany as a state.

Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the countrys democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts.

They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines.

The so-called Kingdom of Germany was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, the interior ministry said in a statement.

It claims to be a counter-state that seceded from the German federal government.

This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks, the minister told reporters later in Berlin. Thats why its being banned today.

The groups online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes.

It is not the first time that Germany has acted against the Reichsburger movement.

In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States.

Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germanys government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will not attend an Arab League summit in Iraq this week and the countrys delegation will be headed by the foreign minister, the presidents office has said.

A short statement released by the office of President Ahmad al-Sharaa did not give a reason why he will not attend the summit but an invitation by the Iraqi government last month trigged sharp political divisions in Iraq.

The summit is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on Saturday.

Mr al-Sharaa and his interim government in Syria have been scrambling to establish ties with countries across the Middle East in a bid to ease scepticism about his former ties to al Qaida and to convince Washington to lift crippling economic sanctions on the battered country.

Attending the Arab Summit would have been a major symbolic diplomatic victory for Damascus as well, as Mr al-Sharaa struggles to deal with opponents in the countries, largely from non-Sunni Muslim minority groups, as he tries to exert state authority across Syria.

Mr al-Sharaa took power after leading a lightning rebel offensive that unseated his predecessor, Bashar Assad, in December.

Since then, he has positioned himself as a statesman aiming to unite and rebuild his country after nearly 14 years of civil war, but his past as a Sunni Islamist militant has left many  including Shiite groups in Iraq  wary.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Mr al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al Qaida insurgents battling US forces in Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq.

During Syrias conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside Assads forces, making Mr al-Sharaa a particularly sensitive figure for them.
Turkey is closely monitoring any attempts to undermine its peace initiative with the PKK, a senior official said, following the militant Kurdish groups announcement that it is dissolving and ending its decades-long armed conflict with the Turkish state.

The PKK, widely designated as a terrorist organisation, announced the historic decision on Monday months after its imprisoned leader called for the group to formally disband and disarm  a move that could bring an end to one of the Middle Easts longest-running insurgencies.

In making the call, the PKK leader stressed the need for securing Kurdish rights through negotiation rather than armed struggle.

We are closely following attempts to sabotage the process and we will not allow anyone to test our states determination in this regard

Previous peace efforts with the group have failed, most recently in 2015. Given the past failures, a close aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed determination to uphold the current initiative and prevent any disruptions.

We are closely following attempts to sabotage the process and we will not allow anyone to test our states determination in this regard, Fahrettin Altun, the head of the Turkish presidential communications office said.

The PKK initially launched its struggle with the goal of establishing an independent Kurdish state.

Over time, it moderated its objectives toward autonomy and greater Kurdish rights within Turkey.

The conflict, which has spilled into neighbouring Iraq and Syria, has claimed tens of thousands of lives since it began in the 1980s.

The latest peace effort, which the government has labelled Terror-Free Turkey was launched in October, after a key ally of the president suggested parole for PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan if the PKK renounces violence and disbands.

Officials have not disclosed details about the process that will follow the PKKs decision.

Media close to the government have reported that the PKKs disarmament process is expected to take three to four months, with weapons being collected at designated locations in northern Iraq under official supervision.

According to Hurriyet newspaper, the disarmament could be overseen jointly by Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq or through a commission involving Turkey, the US, European Union nations and Iraq.

The newspaper also suggested that high-ranking PKK members may be relocated to third countries, while lower-ranking militants without arrest warrants could return to Turkey once a legal framework is established to facilitate their reintegration.

Turkish officials have not responded to requests for comment on the report.

Analysts expect Mr Ocalan to see improved prison conditions following the PKKs disbandment.

Mr Erdogan said on Monday that the PKKs declaration should apply to all PKK-affiliated groups, including Kurdish groups in Syria.

The Kurdish fighters in Syria have ties to the PKK and have been involved in intense fighting with Turkish-backed forces there. The leader of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces previously said Mr Ocalans call for a dissolution does not apply to his group in Syria.

The group then reached an agreement with the central government in Damascus for a nationwide ceasefire and its merger into the Syrian army. Despite the deal, Kurdish officials in Syria later declared their desire for a federal state, sparking tensions with the Syrian government.

Some believe the main aim of the reconciliation effort is for Mr Erdogans government to garner Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his term ends.
Former Uruguayan president Jose Mujica has died at the age of 89.

He was a one-time Marxist guerrilla and flower farmer whose radical brand of democracy, plain-spoken philosophy and simple lifestyle fascinated people around the world.

His death was announced by Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi, who called Mr Mujica a president, activist, guide and leader.

A warrior has the right to rest

Mr Mujica had been under treatment for cancer of the oesophagus since spring 2024, when the affliction was diagnosed.

Even as the treatment left him weak and hardly able to eat, Mr Mujica reappeared on the political stage in the autumn, campaigning for his left-wing coalition in national elections that vaulted his preferred candidate and protege Mr Orsi to the presidency.

In September, Mr Mujicas doctor reported that radiation had eliminated much of the tumour, but in January the doctor announced that the cancer in his oesophagus had returned and spread to his liver.

His autoimmune disease and other underlying medical problems led Mr Mujica to decide not to pursue further treatment.

Honestly, Im dying, he told weekly magazine Busqueda in what he said would be his final interview. A warrior has the right to rest.

During his 2010-15 presidency, Mr Mujica, widely known as Pepe, oversaw the transformation of his small South American nation into one of the worlds most socially liberal democracies.

He earned admiration at home and cult status abroad for legalising marijuana and same-sex marriage, enacting the regions first sweeping abortion rights law and establishing Uruguay as a leader in alternative energy.
Several cousins of Erik and Lyle Menendez have told the brothers resentencing hearing that they should be released after serving nearly 30 years in prison for the murder of their parents, and that they would welcome them into their homes.

The brothers did not show any apparent emotion during most of the evidence as they appeared by videolink, but appeared to chuckle when one of their cousins, Diane Hernandez, told the court that Erik Menendez received A+ grades in all his classes during his most recent semester in college.

A Los Angeles judge is presiding over the hearing that is expected to last two days. If he shortens their sentences, the brothers would still need approval from the states parole board to get out of prison. They could then potentially go free on time served.

We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough. They are universally forgiven by our family

They were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering their father Jose Menendez and mother Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time.

While defence lawyers argued that the brothers acted out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

Due to wildfires in the LA area, and disputes between prosecutors and defence lawyers, the hearings were delayed for months.

The case has captured public attention for decades  and last year, the Netflix drama Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story and documentary The Menendez Brothers brought new attention to the case. Supporters of the brothers have flown in from across the country to attend rallies and hearings in the past few months.

Ana Maria Baralt arrives at court in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

The judge started the hearing by reminding the packed courtroom that prosecutors must prove the brothers are at an unreasonable risk of committing serious and violent crimes if they are released.

The defence began by calling Ana Maria Baralt, a cousin of Erik and Lyle, who said the brothers have repeatedly expressed remorse for their actions.

We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough, she said. They are universally forgiven by our family.

Another cousin, Tamara Goodell, said she had recently taken her 13-year-old son to meet the brothers in prison, and they would contribute a lot of good to the world if released.

Lyle and Erik Menendez in court in 1990 (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

Lyle is so excited to continue the Green Space project, Ms Goodell said, referring to a prison beautification initiative he started a few years ago. They are going to do amazing work.

Finally, Ms Hernandez, who also gave evidence during Erik and Lyles first trial, spoke about the abuse she witnessed in the Menendez household when she lived with them.

When Jose was with one of the boys  you couldnt even go up the stairs to be on the same floor, she said. She and several cousins called it the hallway rule that facilitated Jose Menendezs sexual abuse of his son.

The resentencing hearing will centre on whether the brothers have been rehabilitated in prison and deserve a lesser sentence of 50 years to life. That would make them eligible for parole under Californias youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26.

Lawyer Mark Geragos (Jae C Hong/AP)

Their defence lawyer, Mark Geragos, said outside the court on Tuesday that he wants the judge to reduce thei charges to manslaughter and give them time served to allow them to be released immediately.

At least seven family members are expected to give evidence at the hearings.

Los Angeles County prosecutors say the brothers have not taken complete responsibility for the crime. Prosecutors are likely to reference preliminary findings from a forensic psychologist who looked at whether the brothers posed a risk to society if released, an assessment ordered by the state parole board.

The admissibility of the results in court have been a point of contention for the two sides as they have not been made public, but the judge said last Friday that some parts can be included.
Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 (1:00 am) - Score 3,440

Nexfibre, which shares some of their parentage with ISP partner Virgin Media (O2), recently published their latest quarterly (Q1 2025) build update and confirmed that their new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband network now covers 2.2 million UK premises. But a big chunk of their future build plan for 2025-26 has now vanished.

Just to recap. Back in 2022 Telefonica, Liberty Global and InfraVia Capital Partners setup nexfibre as a new 4.5bn joint venture (here), which aimed to deploy an open access (wholesale) full fibre network to reach up to 7 million UK homes (starting with 5m by 2026) in areas NOT served by Virgin Medias own network of 16m+ premises. The funding reflects 3.3bn of fully underwritten financing and up to 1.4bn in equity commitments.

NOTE: Virgin Media is currently the only ISP on NetCo in H1 2025 ( Virgin Media is currently the only ISP on nexfibre s network via an exclusive partnership ( here ), although giffgaff will be added in the future ( here ). But plans to open Virgins own network up to wholesale viain H1 2025 ( here ) have since been paused ( here ).

However, its worth noting that nexfibres latest Q1 2025 build update was recently published, which now reflects the impact from wider events that we covered last week (here). In short, nexfibre now only expects to reach 2.5 million premises in 2025 (they had previously been adding c.1m premises per year), which compares with 2.2 million premises ready for service today (up from 2m in Q4 2024).

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The CEO of Liberty Global, Mike Fries, attributed part of this slowdown to JV partner Telefonica and their recently announced strategic review, including the related uncertainty flowing from the Spanish operators new leadership (inc. political influence from the government of Spain).

In addition, Fries talked about Liberty Globals desire toward retaining capital discipline in an increasingly irrational altnet environment, although he also spoke of pursuing more growth through M&A (consolidation) with other alternative network operators. So less new build, but possibly more consolidation, seems to be the plan.

Suffice to say that the above changes within the JV have already had an impact on the latest nexfibre build update. For example, a lot of areas across South West and South East England, as well as Wales, seem to have completely vanished from the Q1 map of planned build locations in 2025-26. But on a more positive note, much of nexfibres planned deployment across Scotland remains intact.

You can get a better idea by looking at the visualisation of nexfibres earlier Q3 2024 and Q1 2025 build maps below.

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Nexfibre Build Maps  Q3 2024 (Left) vs Q1 2025 (Right)

The above comparison may also provide some clues as to where nexfibre may be looking when they contemplate future mergers and acquisitions. Speaking of which..
Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 (10:54 am) - Score 2,440

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today opened a new investigation into wireless broadband operator IX Wireless (supported by UK ISP 6Gi / Opus Broadband), which will examine whether the network provider failed in its duty to minimise the visual impact of a 15-metre metal mast / pole when it was installed in Rochdale during 2023.

The operator, which holds an aspiration to cover 250,000 UK premises with their new network (here), is currently building their hybrid fibre and wireless broadband network across several towns in the North West of England, such as Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Nelson, Accrington, Thornton-Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Blackpool, Tameside and Oldham etc.

However, the up to 15-metre-high metal poles (masts) that they build dont always go down well with residents in all the areas where they build (many people often highlight their negative visual appearance), although in being a wireless service they only need to deploy a smaller number in order to cover a wide area.

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Poles can often be built using Permitted Development (PD) rights and that means they dont have to go through the usual planning process (i.e. they can pop up quite quickly, often without all residents getting much of a say). But the Electronic Communications Code (ECC), which reflects a set of rights that are designed to facilitate the installation and maintenance of such networks, does still impose some general requirements.

In this case, Ofcom appears to be looking at a single deployment of an IXW pole in Rochdale during 2023, and whether or not the operator correctly considered the need to minimise the impact on the visual amenity of nearby properties during their installation.

Ofcom Statement  CW/01294/04/25 Ofcom has today opened an investigation into IX Wireless compliance with its obligations under the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003/2533 (as amended) (the Regulations). The Electronic Communications Code is designed to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks across the United Kingdom. As a designated Code Operator IX Wireless benefits from certain rights under the Code but is also subject to conditions and restrictions when installing telecommunications apparatus. Among other requirements, IX Wireless must, so far as reasonably practicable, minimise the impact on the visual amenity of properties when installing an electronic communications apparatus (Regulation 3(3)(a)). Ofcoms investigation will examine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that IX Wireless has failed to comply with these Regulations when installing a 15-metre piece of metal infrastructure on a residential street in Rochdale in 2023. We will gather further information and publish an update to our investigation in due course.

Ofcoms powers in this area remain quite limited (here) and investigations like this often take a long time to run their course (theyve also been investigating Brsks deployment of poles since Sept 2024  here), which means that we might have to wait until late 2025 or even 2026 before a final outcome is published.

Network operators will no doubt still be watching the regulators investigation very closely, since it has the potential to set new precedents for their own deployments of similar infrastructure. On the other hand, IXWs large metal poles/masts are visually quite different, as well as being much larger, than your typical c.9 metre high wooden telegraph / telecoms poles (i.e. any ruling may not be directly translatable to the latter).

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Finally, its worth noting that the ISPA and INCA recently published new Best Practice Guidance for gigabit broadband operators that are building new poles as part of their UK network expansions. The guidance aims to support the Governments goal of ending the deployment of unnecessary telegraph poles (here), not least by requiring providers to engage more closely with communities before they build (details here).
May 12, 2025



Speaking from the podium at spring commencement ceremonies, Idaho State Alumni Donell Morgan told graduates he remembered being where they are today.

When I came to ISU, I didnt have it all figured out. I had a scholarship, a few suitcases and a dream  like many of you did when you first got here. I thought I knew where I was going. I thought purpose was a destination, he said. But let me tell you what Ive learned since then. Purpose isnt something you stumble onto. Its something you build: one choice, one experience, one relationship at a time.

Morgan, executive director at Elevate Oregon and youth development advocate, spoke at commencement ceremonies, along with student speaker Scott Bouman at the morning ceremony and Cristal Castillo

More than 2,000 graduates were honored at Saturdays Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies. The institutional reader was Geoffrey Bennett. Idaho State University President Robert Wagner conferred the degrees. Medicine Thunder Drum Group and dancers Hunter, Wren and Cassie Osborne and Raliah Marshall offered an honor song for graduates.

You graduates are not here by chance, or coincidence, Wagner said. You are here because of your hard work, grit and tenacity. I also know that many of you did not arrive at this point alone, but with the help and companionship of others along the way. Today, we celebrate you and them. So, for all of you, take a moment and enjoy the achievement. You did this.

Bouman told graduates that his journey has been one of transformation.

As a non-traditional, first-generation international student returning to school after more than 20 years, I had to let go of comfort and embrace fear. That took courage, he said.

You see, courage is not the absence of fear. Its moving forward, despite it.

At the afternoon ceremony, Castillo told her fellow graduates that they will do great things in the world.

The world needs all of the unique roars filling this room. Your roar may be different from mine, but we will bring our ability to receive, observe, act and remember, as we leave our footprints here at Idaho State University, she said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

It never rains but pours for embattled Harare businessman Moses Mpofu, who now finds himself entangled in a growing web of criminal allegations, many of which are being linked to his bitter fallout with flamboyant and politically connected entrepreneur Wicknell Chivayo.Mpofu, along with his wife Nobukhosi and brother Vusumuzi, is facing fraud charges involving US$415,290 connected to their company Synlak (Pvt) Ltd and the mismanagement of the European Union-funded Mbare Biogas Project, under the City of Harare.According to court documents, in 2015, Synlak was awarded a tender to design and construct four biogas digesters and supply a 100KVA biogas generator. The tenders terms clearly stipulated that payment would only be made after full delivery, installation, and commissioning of the project equipment.However, Synlak allegedly misrepresented their readiness and financial capacity, submitting a US$465,290 invoice for full delivery  despite no installation or commissioning having been done. Working allegedly in collusion with then City of Harare finance director Tendai Kwenda  who is yet to be arrested  US$415,290 was paid in advance into Synlaks CABS and BancABC accounts.Investigators say the funds were immediately withdrawn and diverted for personal use. No generator was ever supplied, and no valid completion certificates were issued. Further, Synlak is accused of falsely claiming to be an authorised reseller for Camda New Energy Technology Co. Ltd, a key condition in winning the bid.The charges come as yet another blow to Mpofu and his jailed associate Mike Chimombe, who were previously arrested over the alleged misappropriation of US$7.7 million in the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme, following scrutiny of their involvement in the controversial US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) tender scandal.Analysts say the corruption net is tightening around Mpofu, with fresh allegations surfacing almost weekly, each appearing to further implicate him in a trail of financial misconduct that spans both the private and public sectors.Many close to the saga suggest that the relentless legal onslaught is not just about justice, but politics, stemming from Mpofu and Chimombes fallout with Chivayo  a man widely regarded as untouchable due to his close ties to the highest office in the land.Sources claim Chivayo has privately vowed that Mpofu and Chimombe will 'rot in jail', and recent developments seem to echo that threat.With the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) continuing to unearth more deals linked to Mpofu, legal observers say his future appears increasingly bleak  especially as the allegations become more deeply entangled with political rivalries and elite interests.
News / Regional

by Staff Reporter

Delani Moyo has officially won the ZANU-PF Insiza North primary election rerun, securing a commanding 1,781 votes, well ahead of Moses Langa, who polled 941. Qhubani Mpofu came third with 676 votes, marking the end of a fiercely contested and controversial primary process.Earlier in the day, partial results had already shown Moyo leading with wide margins in various wards, including 369 votes in one ward compared to Langa's 55. The rerun was ordered by the ZANU-PF Politburo following reports of vote buying, rigging, and use of state resources in favour of Langa during the initial election.Despite low voter turnout caused by short notice and allegations of military presence during the rerun, Moyo maintained a strong lead throughout the count. In Lambamai, he received 141 votes, edging out Langa who got 129.The initial primary, which had controversially seen Langa declared the winner, was nullified after concerns were raised over a Harare-based delegation allegedly campaigning for him using party vehicles and 2023 presidential campaign materials - advantages not extended to other candidates.With this decisive win, Delani Moyo has become ZANU-PF's official candidate for Insiza North ahead of the upcoming general elections.Party insiders described the result as a "restoration of internal democracy" and praised the grassroots for standing firm despite the tensions surrounding the election.
Deportations Would be Unlawful, Subject Detainees to Horrific Conditions

( Human Rights Watch )  (New York)  The United States should not forcibly transfer migrants to Libya, where inhumane detention conditions are well-documented, including torture, ill-treatment, sexual assault, and unlawful killings, Human Rights Watch said today. Based on numerous media reports citing US officials, the Trump administration may be poised to imminently deport an unknown number of detained migrants to Libya. A US judge ruled that the government cannot immediately proceed with deporting people to Libya.

The Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and its Foreign Ministry issued statements denying reports of a deal with the Trump administration. Its rivals, the Eastern-based Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), and its affiliated Foreign Ministry also issued statements refuting claims of a deal. When asked about the plans, US President Donald Trump said: I dont know.

It is dystopian to strong-arm a fractured country like Libya with a well-documented history of horrific detention conditions by unaccountable armed groups to take in more detainees, said Hanan Salah, associate Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. Libyas ill-treatment of migrants is notorious, its detention centers are hellholes, and refugees have nowhere to turn for protection.

At the request of immigrant rights advocates, a US federal judge on May 7, 2025, ruled that any effort to deport migrants to Libya would clearly violate a prior court order barring officials from swiftly deporting migrants to countries other than their own without first weighing whether they would face persecution. Court filings say that Trump administration officials gave detainees held in a center in Texas oral notice and in at least one case paperwork to sign notifying them of their expulsion to Libya. They include nationals of the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Mexico.

Human Rights Watch has for two decades documented inhumane conditions and serious abuses in migrant detention centers and prisons in Libya. Most are controlled by abusive, unaccountable armed groups. Such violations include severe overcrowding, beatings, torture, lack of food and water, forced labor, sexual assault and rape, and exploitation of children.

Human Rights Watch and other groups have also documented pervasive long-term arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances of both men and women, killings under torture, and unlawful killings in places of detention.

The abuses and violations of detainees rights are systematic and widespread, and the United Nations has said they amount to crimes against humanity. Major humanitarian organizations including UN agencies and experts do not have regular access to Libyas prisons and detention centers.

Every annual report on human rights practices in Libya published by the US State Department since at least 2011 highlights patterns of abuse against migrants and refugees, including arbitrary detention, abduction and kidnapping, inhumane detention conditions, and torture and ill-treatment by armed groups and criminal gangs.

Libyas judiciary is fragmented and overwhelmed, with a lack of adequate judicial review and due process rights. Armed groups and quasi-security forces who control detention facilities do not always carry out release orders or comply with court summonses of detainees.

Deep divisions persist in Libya with two the rival authorities vying for control. The GNU, appointed as an interim authority through a UN-led consensus process, and affiliated armed groups control western Libya. Their rivals, the LAAF and affiliated security apparatuses and militias, control eastern and southern Libya. A civilian LAAF-affiliated administration is known as the Libyan Government. Armed groups and security agencies operate detention facilities across the country, while the GNU Justice Ministry exercises nominal oversight over prisons.

GNU-affiliated security forces in March conducted raids in several western cities including Tripoli, violently arresting migrants and refugees amid a resurgence of discriminatory and racially motivated statements by authorities in both the eastern and western parts of the country. The Tripoli Internal Security Agency on April 2 further escalated its repression, shutting down the headquarters of 10 international nongovernmental organizations that provided support to migrants and refugees.



Photo of Tripoli, Libya by Jane Woolfenden: https://www.pexels.com/photo/child-walking-in-alley-in-town-17876046/

One court filing also references a Lao detainee verbally informed that he would be imminently removed to Saudi Arabia on a military flight. Human Rights Watch has documented Saudi Arabias deplorable rights record for years, including detention conditions migrants have experienced such as torture, beatings, serious allegations of deaths in custody, and extreme overcrowding, as well as past cases of torture and ill-treatment of Saudi detainees.

The Trump administration has used the Alien Enemies Act as a run around basic due process and human rights protections to carry out mass deportation of migrants, including to remove at least 137 Venezuelan men to El Salvador, where they are being held arbitrarily, indefinitely, and incommunicado in a notorious prison.

It has carried out mass expulsions of 299 third-country nationals to Panama, subjecting them to harsh detention conditions and mistreatment, while also denying them due process and the right to seek asylum. It has also summarily expelled 200 third-country nationals, including 81 children, to Costa Rica.

The European Union and member states are already complicit in serious violations against migrants and asylum seekers intercepted at sea and sent back to Libya. Their continued cooperation with abusive and dangerous Libyan Coast Guard forces, providing supplies, technical support, and aerial surveillance to help them intercept Europe-bound migrants at sea, has increased the crisis. Migrants and asylum seekers who are returned to Libya by these abusive forces are detained arbitrarily and face the risk of serious harm.

Collective summary expulsions from the United States would violate international law. There is no provision in Libyan law to detain a third-country national deported from the United States. Detention of migrants in Libya is also arbitrary and violates due process rights because there is no remedy or right to appeal. Libya is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no asylum law or procedures whatsoever.

Expelling people to countries known to have appalling detention conditions shows the Trump administrations utter disregard for due process, Salah said. Expelling people to Libya would raise the question of whether there is any country on earth where the Trump administration would not send someone.

Via Human Rights Watch )
By Julie M. Norman, UCL

(The Conversation)  Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared on May 5 that his government intends to intensify military operations and indefinitely reoccupy Gaza. The announcement has dashed hopes for a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

The plan, which was unanimously approved by Israels security cabinet, includes displacing Gazas 2.1 million inhabitants to a single humanitarian area on less than a quarter of Gazas territory. This will result in Palestinians leaving in great numbers to third countries, said Israels far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.

It is tempting to view the plan as another move by Netanyahu to placate the hard-right members of his coalition. It can also be viewed as a pressure tactic on Hamas  a threat to force the militant group to agree to a short-term ceasefire ahead of the visit of the US president, Donald Trump, to the Middle East from May 13.

However, Netanyahus announcement is much more than rhetorical sabre-rattling. Israels recent operations in Gaza indicate that the plan should be taken literally and seriously. Since March, when the war in Gaza resumed following a temporary ceasefire, Israel has declared about 70% of the enclave either a military red zone or under evacuation.

The new plan affirms what many have long feared: that expanding territorial control is not merely a short-term military tactic but a long-term occupation. In my view, this will only bring more suffering for Palestinians, less security for Israel, and more instability to the region.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza cannot be overstated. Many observers have described the current situation as the worst of any time during the past 18 months.

The flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza has been politicised and widely criticised throughout the war, often slowing to a trickle. However, at least some aid trucks were allowed to pass into the Strip from late October 2023, shortly after the war began. This was followed by a surge of aid during the ceasefire in January and February 2025.

But no food, fuel or medicines have entered Gaza since early March. This has led to near-famine conditions and the breakdown of the few remaining healthcare services.

Israels proposed plan would forcibly move Gazans, nearly all of whom have already been displaced multiple times, into militarised sterile zones in the south. Humanitarian aid would be managed there by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and private US companies.

UN agencies and international NGOs operating in Gaza have rejected this plan as contravening humanitarian principles. They have likened it to de facto internment conditions.

Complicating Israeli security

Deteriorating humanitarian conditions, combined with further displacement, will only create more security challenges for Israel. Entrenched occupation fuels armed resistance and further mobilises insurgency.

The US saw this following its 2003 invasion of Iraq, which resulted in over 8,000 US military personnel and contractors being killed. Israel has repeatedly faced the rise of armed militant groups in response to prolonged military occupations in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas has already dismissed further ceasefire talks in the wake of the new plan, and the group is seemingly having no trouble recruiting new members to its military wing. This has ensured a costly deployment for IDF ground troops.

It goes without saying that Hamas should release all of the remaining hostages  and should have done so long ago. But Hamas now sees little incentive to do so when Israeli ministers are calling for what appears to be the complete destruction of Gaza, with or without a hostage release.

A renewed occupation of Gaza will also further complicate regional dynamics. Arab states that have promised billions of dollars for Gazas reconstruction, alongside a credible plan for a two-state solution, will balk at subsidising Israeli military control.

The stalled US-backed normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which has long been sought both by the Trump and Biden administrations, will probably be pushed even further back. It may even be abandoned entirely if Israel retrenches in Gaza.



Gaza 34, Digital, Midjourney, 2025

And any US involvement in Israels new Gaza plan could complicate negotiations between the US and Iran over Tehrans nuclear programme. The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has already accused Netanyahu of dragging the US into a disaster in the Middle East by attempting to brazenly dictate what Trump can and cannot do in his diplomacy with Iran.

But perhaps most importantly, the reoccupation of Gaza  coupled with incursions, annexations and settlement expansion in the West Bank  communicates in no uncertain terms that the Israeli government is torpedoing any pathway to a two-state solution.

This has long been clear to Palestinians and many onlookers. Most realists accepted that any moves towards Palestinian self-determination would be non-starters in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks on southern Israel.

However, Israels friends in the international community, especially in Europe, have been holding on to the hope that Israel would eventually come back to the two-state framework. This latest plan calls their bluff.

France and the UK are already in discussion about possibly recognising Palestine as a state at a conference in June. The UK has long preferred recognition as part of a peace process towards two states, rather than a symbolic gesture.

But a retrenched capture of Gaza, combined with another massive civilian displacement, may speed up serious consideration of this recognition  while there is still Palestinian territory left to recognise.

Julie M. Norman, Senior Associate Fellow on the Middle East at RUSI; Associate Professor in Politics & International Relations, UCL

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Chinese technology firms are increasingly competing with US ones in major Middle Eastern markets, escalating technology-related US national security concerns.

London (Special to Informed Comment; feature)  Chinese technology companies are poised to play a growing role in the Middle Easts digitalization process, amid expanding ties between Chinese entities and local regional partners. Firms including Huawei, Alibaba and Tencent  which face various longstanding US measures to monitor or blacklist them  are partnership with local telecommunications companies like Saudis Zain KSA to enter local technology sectors like cloud computing. Tencent launched a new regional cloud service in the kingdom in February. Meanwhile, Alibaba entered Saudi Arabias market via a joint venture with Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the Saudi Cloud Computing Company. This entity will aim to support Saudi Arabias 2030 Vision development initiative, which is backed by the kingdoms de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Qatars government said in February it was seeking more Chinese companies to move to the country and that it had invested $2.5 billion in data and artificial intelligence.

Washington has growing concerns about Middle Eastern firms links to Chinese entities, with US officials forcing United Arab Emirates (UAE) technology company G42 sell stakes in Chinese firms last year. Moreover, Chinese firms expanding role in the Middle Easts growing digital infrastructure also threatens to challenge the significant commercial role played by US technology companies in the region in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence or building smart infrastructure. The result is likely to be growing US-China technology competition in Middle Eastern states.

US & China Race for Middle Eastern Investment

The Middle East is a commercially attractive area for Chinese technology companies seeking to expand their global operations. Geographically, it stands at the cross-roads of Europe, Africa and Asia, meaning entities with a presence there are easily able to reach other markets in neighbouring regions. Many parts of the region are also digitalizing rapidly, especially Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar or Bahrain. US companies took an early lead in these efforts, with Amazon Web Services launching a data centre in Bahrain as early as 2019. Today, US firm Oracle operates multiple cloud computing services across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while Google, Microsoft and Amazon have all established footprints in various Gulf countries.

The US government is wary of Chinese technology companies entrance into Middle Eastern digital technology or infrastructure markets, especially ones belonging to US regional allies. Chinese companies have been aligning their proposals with regional governments economic and political priorities to deepen commercial ties. Chinas growing success is one reason the White House is keen to rejuvenate political and commercial ties between the US and Middle Eastern states. However, Chinese companies may benefit from US pressure on regional governments to make economic concessions to Washington under US President Donald Trumps America First policies. In April, President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Egypt should allow US commercial and military shipping to pass through the Suez Canal without being charged. He wrote: American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America. Trump tasked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to examine the issue in the same post.

Trump Visits US Gulf Allies, Pushes for Closer Links

Despite tensions between Gulf governments and the US over Gulf-China technology ties, the coming summer is likely to see more US efforts to cultivate its allies for economic and geopolitical reasons. President Trump will visit US allies in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in May, where he hopes to pressure for more Middle Eastern investment, including in technology-related areas like artificial intelligence. The European Council on Foreign Relations said that Saudi Arabia has offered $600 billion in trade and investment with the US over the next four years. It also said the UAE had announced plans to invest $1.4 trillion over the next decade in the US. The focus of this investment would be in semiconductors and artificial intelligence infrastructure, likely in part to assuage US concerns about growing China-UAE economic and technology collaboration in recent years. The US president has pledged a very, very big announcement ahead of his visit, indicating his trip will see Gulf leaders line up to re-confirm their diplomatic and commercial ties with the US and the Trump administration itself.



Photo of Dubai by Aleksandar Pasaric: https://www.pexels.com/photo/concrete-high-rise-buildings-under-blue-sky-618079/

A major aim of Washingtons in 2025 will be to limit further Gulf States movement towards Beijing, especially in areas that trigger US national security concerns like technology. However, the expansion of Chinese technology companies in the Middle East marks a new movement in the regions evolving technology landscape, independent of their links to Chinas government. It signals Gulf countries and likely other regional governments want to reduce their dependence upon US technology companies and see China as offering a legitimate alternative. The Middle East meanwhile offers China and Chinese technology giants a region to invest in as Beijing seeks to cultivate alternative markets to Western countries, where firms like Huawei are closely monitored or simply barred from building or operating digital infrastructure.

China will not simply replace the US as Middle Eastern countries sole economic or technology partner in 2025, especially US allies like the Gulf States. However, Beijing and Chinese technology firms ambition to expand overseas into new regions like the Middle East will grant local governments more leverage in their bilateral relations with Washington. For example, the US administration recently said it was very excited to help Saudi Arabia develop a civil nuclear program, with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright saying there would be meaningful developments this year. Trump had previously said Riyadh would need to recognize Israel to achieve this step. Gulf States are likely to continue to invite Chinese companies to partner with local firms to counterbalance the regions early dependence upon US technology firms too. As a result, US unease about Gulf-China ties and Chinese penetration of Middle Eastern digital networks will persist long after President Trump returns from his trip in May.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Romios Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: RG) (OTCQB: RMIOF) (FSE: D4R) ("Romios Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has started its 2025 field work on its 100% owned Kinkaid high grade Cu-Au-Ag project in the Walker Lane of southern Nevada.

"We've had early success as our team uncovered two previously unknown broad zones of epithermal-style alteration about 20 metres wide near known high-grade Au +/- Ag mineralization," stated Stephen Burega, President and CEO. "In addition, minerals characteristic of porphyry-type alteration have now been mapped around one of the major Au-Ag-Cu vein deposits (the Montreal Au-Ag Mine), and porphyry-type alteration has been located in widespread boulders near a series of high-grade copper-rich boulders on the KIN claims."

At least 12 clusters of old mine workings on the main Kinkaid claim block (see Map 1) have returned numerous high-grade gold, silver and copper assays over the past 2-3 years of Romios' work.

"The historic workings on the southern claims exploited quartz +/- barite veins flanked by often intense sericite alteration and those on the northern claims were developed on skarn deposits," stated John Biczok, VP Exploration. "This geological setting suggests that the veins and skarns are part of the upper portions of several possible porphyry Cu-Au-Ag centres."

Masters of Science (M.Sc) Research Project with Lakehead University

Under the terms of an existing, fully funded research agreement with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, an M.Sc. student under the guidance of porphyry copper expert Dr. Pete Hollings has now begun mapping and sample collection on the Kinkaid claims in an effort to help determine the origin, extent, controls and potential of this mineralization. The work will include age-dating various lithologies of interest, fluid inclusion studies of the vein deposits, plus hyperspectral, geochemical and mineralogical analysis of the alteration patterns around the mineralized zones.

Alteration minerals such as actinolite, epidote and biotite, which are typically developed concentrically around porphyry copper deposits, are being documented near some of the main workings and will be studied to help assess the premise that these Cu-Au-Ag vein deposits are related to porphyry systems at depth.

Dr. Pete Hollings has authored or co-authored more than 175 publications, primarily on mineral deposits and greenstone belt geology, in collaboration with researchers from many countries including Australia, Canada, China, and the Philippines. He is currently the NOHFC Industrial Research Chair in Mineral Exploration and has recently been onsite at Kinkaid providing guidance to the M.Sc. student and sharing his expertise with Romios personnel.

ONGOING EXPLORATION: In conjunction with the M.Sc. research, Romios personnel have resumed geological mapping and sampling of the extensive old mine workings and showings on the main KINKAID claim block as well as exploring the potential source area of high-grade copper boulders found on the adjacent KIN claims in 2023. Numerous epidote+/-garnet altered boulders typical of porphyry/skarn systems have now been located across a broad area on the KIN claims and work is ongoing to locate the source of the nearby mineralized boulders. Nine samples of these boulders sampled in 2023 returned assays of 0.73% to 13.3% Cu, and averaged 5.03% Cu (see Romios press release Oct. 12, 2023).

"Work around the >500 metre long series of innumerable Montreal Au-Ag Mine workings has now outlined strong hydrothermal alteration (sericite +/- epidote, actinolite, rare magnetite, etc.) across a width of 200 metres," Biczok continued. "Mapping of one of the northernmost underground workings revealed an excellent example of a mineralized vein up to 1 m wide with locally abundant chalcopyrite and secondary copper minerals (see Photo #1). Gold is typically proportional to the copper content in this deposit so we are optimistic that the pending Cu-Au assays from this site will also be encouraging."

Photo 1: View of one of the northernmost workings of the Montreal Au-Ag mine.

EPITHERMAL POTENTIAL: In addition to this renewed work on the high-grade vein and skarn prospects, the 2025 work has targeted several broad zones of potential low-grade epithermal style gold mineralization. During a brief visit in 2024 Romios' geologists collected a sample of "low temperature silica" near the PM skarn on the northern claims and this sample assayed 0.79 g/t Au and a chip sample of two narrow quartz veins nearby assayed 10.6 g/t Au. An examination of this area in 2025 revealed similar looking silica boulders and veins up to 50 cm wide across a 20 metre wide zone (See Photo 2); the 2025 assays from this site are pending. A small mine dump nearby consists of iron carbonate - quartz vein material that assayed 1,725 g/t Ag with high mercury, antimony, zinc and lead, providing further evidence of an epithermal mineralizing event overprinting the skarns in this area (see Romios Press Release March 10, 2022).

Photo 2: Possible epithermal silica overprint on the PM skarn area.

Similarly, broad zones of potential epithermal-style alteration adjacent to vein prospects with high gold, silver, copper and barite contents have been sampled for the first time at a number of other sites; assays are pending.

Once the assay results have been received from the current work program an appropriate follow-up program will be planned and executed.

Map 1: Kinkaid Project main claim block, prospects and possible porphyry centres.

Claim Details and Location

The Kinkaid property is wholly owned by Romios and now consists of 139 claims, covering approximately 11.0 sq km, located 18 km east of the town of Hawthorne where the prolific Walker Lane trend overlaps the southern edge of the mineral-rich Basin and Range geological province. The claims begin 1.4 km north of Highway 95 between Reno and Las Vegas and are largely accessible by road and short hikes. A significant power line crosses the SW corner of the claims.

QA/QC

Rock samples reported herein were a mix of chip and grab samples considered generally representative of the various mine dumps, veins and outcrops being sampled. Samples collected in 2021-2023 were submitted to the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited ALS lab in Reno Nevada for analysis. Samples collected in 2024 and 2025 were submitted to the Standards Council of Canada ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited Bureau Veritas laboratory in Reno, Nevada for analysis. As a matter of procedure, a rigorous quality assurance and quality control program was implemented in the form of blanks and Certified Reference Material standards inserted at every 10th position in the sample series. The assay results of these standards and blanks have been within the acceptable ranges.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Biczok, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Romios Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. In addition to his extensive experience with several major mining companies exploring for a wide variety of ore This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. types across Canada and India, Mr. Biczok spent 12 years conducting exploration and research at the Musselwhite gold mine in NW Ontario.

About Romios Gold Resources Inc.

Romios Gold Resources Inc. is a progressive Canadian mineral exploration company engaged in precious- and base-metal exploration, focused primarily on gold, copper and silver. It has a 100% interest in the Lundmark-Akow Lake Au-Cu property plus 4 additional claim blocks in northwestern Ontario and extensive claim holdings covering several significant porphyry copper-gold prospects in the "Golden Triangle" of British Columbia. Additional interests include the Kinkaid claims in Nevada covering numerous Au-Ag-Cu workings, and the Scossa mine property in Nevada which is a former high-grade gold producer. The Company retains an ongoing interest in several properties including a 2% NSR on McEwen Mining's Hislop gold property in Ontario; a 2% NSR on Enduro Metals' Newmont Lake Au-Cu-Ag property in BC, and the Company has signed a definitive agreement with Copperhead Resources Inc. ("Copperhead") whereby Copperhead can acquire a 75% ownership interest in Romios' Red Line Property in BC.

For more information, visit www.romios.com

As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.

To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. TSX Venture Exchange or its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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.
May 13, 2025  TheNewswire - New Age Metals Inc. (TSX.V: NAM | OTCQB: NMTLF | FSE: P7J) (NAM or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has received a Letter of Acceptance from the Mineral Lands Division of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, authorizing grassroots-level exploration on its recently staked gold-antimony (Au-Sb) properties in central and south-central Newfoundland (Figure 1)1,2. The acceptance enables NAM to initiate its 2025 exploration program, which involves activities such as mineral prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, channel sampling, and backpack drilling.

Highlights

Letter of Acceptance Received: New Age Metals (NAM) has received a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from the Mineral Lands Division of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, which authorizes grassroots mineral exploration across its recently staked gold-antimony (Au-Sb) properties. Phase 1 exploration is set to commence mid-May.

Exploration Plan for 2025: The Companys technical consultants have designed a two-phase exploration program for 2025. Phase 1 is focused on 1st-pass mineral prospecting and field mapping of known mineralized occurrences, prospective trends identified from desktop reviews, and outcrop exposures throughout the properties. From the results of Phase 1, Phase 2 will focus on more detailed follow-up geochemical surveys, geological mapping, and rock sampling of promising mineralized showings.

Expansion of Land Holdings: NAM staked 175 additional hectares across three licenses, bringing its total Newfoundland landholding to 19,300 hectares across 10 properties.

Strategic Location: These map-staked properties are situated along the same geological trend as the Beaver Brook Antimony Mine, Canadas only primary antimony (past) producer, and near New Found Gold Corp.'s Queensway South Gold Project

Market Opportunity: Gold prices have reached ~US$3,500/oz amid geopolitical uncertainty. Antimony (Sb), a critical metal, has surged to ~US$51,500/tonne as North America seeks secure supply chains.1

Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO stated, Receiving the Letter of Acceptance is an important milestone for our Newfoundland Au-Sb Division. We would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for their continued support and for implementing a clear and efficient permitting process. NAM is pleased to continue working with Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. (Axiom), our longstanding technical partner, who has identified numerous high-priority target areas and will manage and execute the 2025 exploration program on our behalf. We are looking forward to getting boots on the ground.

Exploration Permit Granted

Permits for reconnaissance exploration on all NAMs Au-Sb properties have been received by NAM. The permit applications were reviewed and approved by the Mineral Lands Division of the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. By issuing the Permit, the responsible Government Department accepted the prospecting, small-scale channel sampling, back-pack drilling, and geochemical survey work as outlined in the application. As a result, NAM plans to commence Phase 1 of its planned two-phase exploration program in mid-May.

Phase 1: Desktop Work, Regional Mapping and Mineral Prospecting to Begin Mid-May

The initial program is planned to cover and evaluate the full property portfolio in order to define and prioritize exploration areas for follow-up target generation. The Phase 1 program will commence on the properties in Central Newfoundland, which are on-trend to the southwest of the Beaver Brook Sb Mine and adjacent to the Queensway Gold South Project, and then move southwards to the properties in South-Central Newfoundland (Figures 2 and 3). Key activities will include:

1. Historical data compilation and target generation;

2. Field mapping of known showings and favourable trends; and

3. Rock and soil sampling.

SGS will provide analytical services, with a sample turnaround time of ~21 days. A sample receiving facility is located in Grand Falls-Windsor, near the project area. NAM has a long-standing relationship with SGS.

Phase 2: Target Refinement and Geochemical Surveys

Pending Phase 1 results, a follow-up and more focused field program is planned that will include three main exploration activities:

1. Geochemical sampling surveys (soil, till and lake sampling), with approximately 500 to 750 samples across prospective zones and areas with limited outcrop exposure;

2. Additional detailed mapping, sampling, and structural and alteration analysis of mineralized trends; and

3. Channel sampling and backpack drilling of promising discoveries.

Phase 2 is scheduled for late summer or early fall 2025, subject to Phase 1 outcomes.

Additional Staking

Three new properties have been mapped staked by NAM: Sentinel 2, Sentry and Garrison (Figure 2). Sentinel 2 is a small property adjoining the larger Sentinel Property, and is therefore considered part of the latter property. These new properties are included under the LoA and will be explored during Phase 1.

This new staking brings the total number of non-contiguous properties in the Central Newfoundland area to 5 for a total area of 4,950 ha of prospective Au-Sb ground. The number of the non-contiguous properties and their area in south-central Newfoundland, 100 km south, remains unchanged. The overall number of Au-Sb properties in Newfoundland is now 10 for a total area of 19,300 ha.

Central MinX 2025 Conference and JEA Program Application

Axiom (on behalf of NAM) will attend the upcoming Central MinX Conference (May 13-15) in Gander, Newfoundland. NAM is also preparing an application to the Newfoundland Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program. The JEA Program is designed to encourage junior exploration in Newfoundland by refunding 30 to 50% of eligible exploration expenditures in the province.

The Company continues to review the regional geoscience and exploration datasets in order to assist in the evaluation of potential additional property acquisitions in NL.

Figure 1. Overview map showing the location of NAMs gold-antimony mineral exploration properties in Newfoundland.

Figure 2. Map showing the location of NAMs gold-antimony properties in the Beaver Brook Antinomy Mine and Queensway South Gold Property area, near the Town of Gander in Central Newfoundland. The new properties are Sentry, Garrison and the small block adjoining the east boundary of Sentinel (Sentinel-2).

Figure 3. Map showing the location and distribution of NAMs 5 gold-antimony properties in the St Albans area of South-Central Newfoundland.

Regional Significance

The Beaver Brook Antimony Mine was Canadas only primary Sb producer, with a historical resource of 2.2 Mt grading 3.99% Sb at a 1.5% cut-off grade (Sandeman et al., 2018)23.

The Queensway South Gold Project is the ~80 km long southern extension of the highly gold mineralized trend at Queensway North4. The Project has seen a marked increase in exploration efforts over the past 3 years (2022 to 2024) totalling 19,980 metres of diamond drilling in 89 holes, 1,200 rock samples, and 9,900 soil samples. Recent highlights include:

Astronaut Zone: 19.0 g/t Au over 3.15 metres in drill hole NFGC-QS-22-20

Nebula Zone: 4.92 g/t Au over 3.05 metres in drill hole NFGC-QS-22-25

Camp Zone: 1.2 g/t Au over 16.80 metres in drill hole NFGC-QS-24-89 and a 479 g/t Au grab sample from surface.

Qualified Person

Dr. William Stone, Ph.D., P.Geo., NAMs Lead Geoscience Consultant and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved all the scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release.

The Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on the Properties or neighbouring properties. Nevertheless, the Qualified Person considers that drilling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The reader is cautioned that mineral occurrences, prospects and deposits on neighbouring properties are not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Companys properties. This information may provide an indication of the exploration potential of the Properties, but might not be representative of exploration results.

About NAMs PGE Division

New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration, and development of green metal projects in North America. The Company has two divisions: a Platinum Group Element division and a Lithium/Rare Element division.

The PGE Division includes the 100% owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, one of North Americas largest undeveloped Platinum Group Element Projects, situated 100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the Genesis PGE-Cu-Ni Property in Alaska.

About NAMs Lithium Division

The Companys Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where the Company is exploring for hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum, rubidium, and cesium. NAM is developing its lithium division in conjunction with its Farm-in/Joint Venture agreement with Mineral Resources Ltd. (MinRes), one of the worlds largest lithium producers. A minimum budget to maintain the Projects has been approved by Mineral Resources Ltd for May 2025 to April 2026. The Companies agreed to the minimum budget due to current lithium pricing.

In April 2024, a $1.5M NSERC Alliance grant was awarded to a collaboration led by the University of Manitoba (Drs. Fayek and Camacho), with academic partners from Lakehead University (Dr. Hollings) and industry partners including New Age Metals and Grid Metals. This research is focused on advancing Canadas critical metals sector, with New Age Metals portion targeting its Bird River lithium properties. Approximately $107,000 of work is planned on New Ages properties in 2025. The early work will include core sampling and field visits starting this summer. The project will likely extend beyond the original 3-year term, due to its delayed start.

The Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) is a $20M provincial initiative administered by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to support northern economic development and mining projects that promote Indigenous partnerships, local employment, and regional investment. New Age Metals intends to apply for MMDF funding.

New Age Metals Inc. is supporting a successful $180K Mitacs research grant, awarded in 2023, through its $90K contribution (already accounted for and paid under the Mineral Resources joint venture). This academic partnership with the University of New Brunswick and the University of British Columbia is focused on understanding the origin and controls of lithium pegmatite mineralization in the Cat LakeWinnipeg River field. Fieldwork for the MSc. thesis has been completed, while the post-doctoral phase is ongoing at UNB. This collaboration provides access to top-tier scientific expertise and equipment, significantly reducing analysis costs and adding long-term value to the project.

Management is currently aggressively seeking new mineral acquisition opportunities. Our philosophy is to be a project generator with the objective of optioning our projects with major and junior mining companies through to production.

The Company is actively seeking an option/joint venture partner for its River Valley Palladium Project and its road-accessible Genesis PGE-Cu-Ni Property in Alaska.

Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Harry Barr at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Farid Mammadov at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613 659 2773.

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On behalf of the Board of Directors

Harry Barr

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as continue, efforts, expect, believe, anticipate, confident, intend, strategy, plan, will, estimate, project, goal, target, prospects, optimistic or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Companys ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

1 New Age Metals (2025). New Age Metals Inc. Stakes New Gold-Antimony Properties in Newfoundland and Labrador. Company press release dated February 27, 2025. Available on the Companys website and under its profile on SEDAR+.

2 New Age Metals (2025). New Age Metals Inc. Expands its Strategic Gold-Antimony Land Package in Central Newfoundland. Company press release dated March 20, 2025. Available on the Companys website and unders its profile on SEDAR+.

3 Sandeman et al. (2018). Beaver Brook Antimony Mine Revised: An update on operations and new structural and geological observations. Current Research Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural resources. Geological Survey Report 18-1, p. 123-152.

4 New Found Gold Corp. Website (March 2025). Available at: https://newfoundgold.ca/project/queensway-project/
Vancouver, British Columbia, May 13, 2025  TheNewswire - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) (Westward or the Company) is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Quinton Hennigh as Independent Chairman of the Companys Board of Directors, effective May 12, 2025. Dr. Hennigh is replacing outgoing Chairman Mr. Mark Monaghan, who has served in that role for over 4 years.

Colin Moore, President & CEO, noted: On behalf of Westwards management and Board of Directors, I would like to extend our deep gratitude to Mark for his unwavering support and guidance over these last many years. He took a chance on a small upstart gold explorer and helped realize our growth potential despite significant challenges in the capital markets. I have no doubt Mark will continue to be a strong advocate for the Company moving forward, both as one of our largest shareholders, and valued mentors.

Mr. Moore continued: As we turn our attention towards the future  and in the short term, the most significant field season in Westwards history  we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hennigh to the Company. His depth of knowledge as it relates to Carlin-type gold exploration, the Cortez District in particular, and the broader capital markets, will be put to immediate use. He has been a staunch believer in the potential of our historically-underexplored region for almost two decades, and were delighted to have him officially onboard to test it.

Dr. Hennigh is an internationally-renowned economic geologist with over 25 years of exploration experience and expertise with major gold mining companies including Homestake Mining Company, Newcrest Mining Limited, and Newmont Mining Corporation, where he last served as senior research geologist in 2007. In that role, he undertook a palinspastic reconstruction of the Great Basin that was used to target favourable extensions of the regions most important gold districts. This led to the recognition of the Toiyabe District as being a critical missing piece of the world-class Cortez Gold District.

Since that time, he has been responsible for a number of significant gold discoveries for junior exploration companies, notably the 5-million-ounce Springpole alkaline gold deposit near Red Lake, Ontario, for Gold Canyon Resources. He currently serves as Chairman and President of Novo Resources Corporation, and an adviser to Eskay Mining Corp. and Lion One Metals Ltd. Dr. Hennigh holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri, and M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Geology and Geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines. He is a member (P.Geo.) of the Society of Economic Geologists, and the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America. He is also currently CEO of private miner, San Cristobal Mining Inc.

Dr. Hennigh will serve as Independent Chairman and not as a representative of Crescat Capital LLC (Crescat), the Companys largest shareholder (see press release dated April 8, 2025, for additional information). He continues to serve as Crescats Geologic and Technical Advisor, however no Board nomination rights were granted alongside Crescats investment in the Company.

Option & Restricted Share Unit Grant

The Company also announces that its Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee has approved and granted an aggregate of 5,000,000 stock options (the Options) and 4,850,000 restricted share units (RSUs) to Westward management, Board of Directors, advisors and consultants. The Options, which vest immediately, are exercisable at a price of C$0.12 per common share of the Company for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant. The RSUs granted will vest over a period of 24 months, with 50% vesting on the 12-month anniversary of the date of grant, and the remaining 50% vesting on the 24-month anniversary.

About Westward Gold

Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Hills area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities.

For further information contact:

Andrew Nelson

Chief Financial Officer

Westward Gold Inc.

+1 (604) 828-7027

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.westwardgold.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements and forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate, potential, on track, forecast", "budget", target, outlook, continue, plan or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms.

Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Companys expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statements that express managements expectations or estimates of future plans and performance.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Companys properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Companys material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Companys ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Companys latest management discussion and analysis under Risks and Uncertainties, which is available under the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Companys forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or managements assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Silver47 Exploration Corp. (TSXV: AGA) (OTCQB: AAGAF) ("Silver47") and Summa Silver Corp. (TSXV: SSVR) (OTCQX: SSVRF) ("Summa") (together, the "Companies") are pleased to announce that they have entered into an arm's length definitive arrangement agreement dated May 12, 2025 (the "Arrangement Agreement") for an at-market merger, pursuant to which Silver47 and Summa have agreed to combine their respective companies (the "Transaction") by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement. The combined company (the "Combined Company") is expected to continue under the name "Silver47 Exploration Corp."

Gary R Thompson, CEO of Silver47, stated: "This merger with Summa fits perfectly with our desire to scale up, providing better access to capital. We believe that this transaction is accretive to shareholders, and we look forward to unlocking further value by growing our resources and advancing them toward development. This transaction will hold several high-profile projects within one of the world's top mining jurisdictions."

The Combined Company will become a premier high-grade silver focused explorer and developer with a portfolio of silver-rich mineral resource staged projects in the United States (Alaska, Nevada and New Mexico). Collectively, the Companies' mineral resources equal approximately 10 Moz AgEq at 333 g/t AgEq of indicated mineral resources and 236 Moz AgEq at 334 g/t AgEq inferred mineral resources (see mineral resource table below for full details) with substantial upside and a shared vision for significant additional silver discovery and consolidation.

Galen McNamara, CEO of Summa, stated: "This merger with Silver47 is a transformative step toward our shared vision of building a premier precious metals company moving towards 1 billion ounces of silver equivalent ounces in the ground anchored in America's most prolific mining jurisdictions. By uniting Summa's and Silver47's high-grade projects, we expect to create a leading silver development company with the scale, expertise, and ambition to unlock value for our shareholders and lead the next wave of development in the U.S. silver sector."

Under the terms of the Transaction, Summa shareholders will receive 0.452 common shares of Silver47 (each whole share, a "Silver47 Share") in exchange for each Summa common share (each a "Summa Share) held (the "Exchange Ratio"). Upon completion of the Transaction, existing Silver47 shareholders and Summa shareholders will own approximately 56% and 44% of the outstanding Silver47 Shares, respectively (but prior to the completion of the Offering (as defined below)). The Exchange Ratio implies consideration of C$0.30 per Summa Share based on the 20-day volume weighted average price ("VWAP") of the Silver47 Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") on May 12, 2025. The consideration represents a no-premium Transaction to Summa's 20-day VWAP.

Strategic Rationale for Transaction

Creation of a Leading High-Grade US-Focused Silver Explorer and Developer: The combination of Silver47's Red Mountain project in Alaska with Summa's Hughes project in Nevada and Mogollon project in New Mexico establishes a premier portfolio of high-grade silver-focused assets in the United States enhancing the Combined Company's scale, leverage to silver and appeal to investors

Expanded Resource Base for Accelerated Growth: The Transaction consolidates significant mineral resources of approximately 10 Moz AgEq at 333 g/t AgEq of indicated mineral resources and 236 Moz AgEq at 334 g/t AgEq inferred mineral resources (see mineral resource table below for full details) with significant growth potential between the three United States-based projects positioning the combined company to accelerate exploration and development towards production.

Significant Re-Rate Potential Based on Valuation of Peers: The Combined Company is currently undervalued on an EV/oz metric of US$0.19/oz AgEq for their pro forma current total MI&I resource endowment. The Combined Company has significant growth potential through re-rating relative to peers, through systematic exploration, resource growth, and strategic acquisitions.

Enhanced Capital Markets Profile and Liquidity: By consolidating projects and increasing market capitalization, the Combined Company can be expected to benefit from improved visibility and access to capital, appealing to institutional investors seeking exposure to high grade U.S.-based silver projects, supported by a tight share structure with strong backing from investors like Mr. Eric Sprott and Crescat Capital LLC. The Combined Company will have a strong combined cash position of C$10M, plus the net proceeds from the Offering, to achieve near-term value add catalysts.

Continued Growth and Value Creation: The Combined Company will pursue organic and acquisitive growth to consolidate and create a high-quality silver portfolio in the U.S. The Combined Company will plan to (i) advance the current portfolio, creating strong silver development projects by expanding on resources and grade; and (ii) continue to consolidate the silver market, acquiring high-quality silver projects in tier 1 jurisdictions at accretive valuations.

Exceptional Technical & Capital Markets Team, and Commitment to Shareholder Value Creation: The board of directors and management team of the Combined Company will include members with deep experience in the capital markets as well as proven mine finding and mine development histories.

Benefits to Silver47 and Summa Shareholders

Shareholders of the Combined Company will have exposure to a diversified portfolio of high-grade United States silver projects, reducing risk while positioning for upside in a rising silver market.

The Combined Company's enhanced scale will strengthen its ability to attract strategic partnerships, unlocking capital for exploration and development to drive share price appreciation.

Shareholders of the Combined Company will benefit from a unified management team with complementary expertise, optimizing project execution at Red Mountain, Hughes, and Mogollon for efficient resource growth and development.

The Transaction's all-share structure aligns long-term shareholder interests, ensuring shared commitment to advancing projects and pursuing value-accretive opportunities.

An expected increase in market exposure from high-profile United States assets should enhance the Combined Company's appeal to global investors, supporting potential inclusion in silver-focused indices and ETFs.

Shareholders of the Combined Company are expected to benefit from reduced G&A, cost savings, and prioritized work programs and asset catalysts to drive a potential re-rating for the Combined Company.

Combined Silver Mineral Resource Summary

Classification Company Project Tonnes Ag Au Zn Pb Cu AgEq Ag Au Zn Pb Cu AgEq (Mt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (Moz) (koz) (kt) (kt) (kt) (Moz) Inferred Silver47 Red Mountain 15.6 71 0.4 3.4 1.4 0.2 336 36.0 214 532 216 26 168.6 Indicated Summa Hughes 1.0 188 1.6 - - - 333 5.8 49 - - - 10.3 Inferred Summa Hughes (In Situ) 2.4 204 2.4 - - - 421 15.9 188 - - - 32.9 Inferred Summa Hughes (Tailings) 1.3 44 0.3 - - - 68 1.8 11 - - - 2.7 Inferred Summa Mogollon 2.7 139 2.7 - - - 367 12.1 238 - - - 32.1 Total Indicated Mineral Resources 1.0 188 1.6 - - - 333 5.8 49 - - - 10.3 Total Inferred Mineral Resources 22.0 92 0.9 2.4 1.0 0.1 334 65.8 651 532 216 26 236.3

Notes to Silver47 Mineral Resources:

The 2024 Red Mountain mineral resource estimate ("MRE") was estimated and classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") "Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines" dated November 29, 2019, and the CIM "Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" dated May 10, 2014. Mr. Warren Black, M.Sc., P.Geo. of APEX Geoscience Ltd., a "qualified person" ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), is responsible for completing the MRE, effective January 12, 2024. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have no demonstrated economic viability. No mineral reserves have been calculated for Red Mountain. There is no guarantee that any part of the mineral resources discussed herein will be converted to a mineral reserve in the future. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, market, or other relevant factors. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources is uncertain, and there has not been sufficient work to define the inferred mineral resource as an indicated or measured mineral resource. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Reported grades are undiluted. A standard density of 2.94 g/cm is assumed for mineralized material and waste rock. Overburden density is set at 1.8 g/cm. For mineralized material blocks with iron assays close enough to estimate an iron value for the block, density is calculated using the formula: density (g/cm) = 0.0553 * Fe (%) + 2.5426. Metal prices are US$2,750/tonne Zn, US$2,100/tonne Pb, US$8,880/tonne Cu, US$1,850/oz Au, and US$23/oz Ag. Recoveries are 90% Zn, 75% Pb, 70% Cu, 70% Ag, and 80% Au. ZnEQ (%) = [Zn (%) x 1] + [Pb (%) x 0.6364] + [Cu (%) x 2.4889] + [Ag (ppm) x 0.0209] + [Au (ppm) x 0.1923] AgEQ (ppm) = [Zn (%) x 47.81] + [Pb (%) x 30.43] + [Cu (%) x 119] + [Ag (ppm) x 1] + [Au (ppm) x 91.93] Open-pit resource economic assumptions are US$3/tonne for mining mineralized and waste material, US$19/tonne for processing, and 48 pit slopes. Underground resource economic assumptions are US$50/tonne for mining mineralized and waste material and US$19/tonne for processing. Open-pit resources comprise blocks constrained by the pit shell resulting from the pseudoflow optimization using the open-pit economic assumptions. Underground resources comprise blocks below the open-pit shell that form minable shapes. They must be contained in domains of a minimum width of 1.5 m at Dry Creek or 3 m height at West Tundra Flats. Resources not meeting these size criteria are included if, once diluted to the required size, maintain a grade above the cutoff.

Notes to Summa Mineral Resources:

Silver Equivalent (AgEq) cut-off grade for the Hughes Project in situ Mineral Resources is based on a silver price of $25/oz, recovery of 90% Ag, and cost assumptions including: USD$88.2/t average mining cost for approximately 70% longhole stoping and 30% cut and fill mining, USD$36.3/t processing cost, USD$9.7/t G&A cost, USD$0.20/oz Ag refining cost for a total mining, processing and G&A cost of USD$134.2/tonne. A 3% royalty has also been applied to the cut-off grade determination. Silver Equivalent (AgEq) cut-off grade for the Hughes Project tailings Mineral Resources is contained within an optimized pit and based on a silver price of $25/oz, recovery of 90% Ag, and cost assumptions including: USD$2.25/t mining cost, USD$21.0/t processing cost, USD$9/t G&A cost, USD$0.50/oz Ag refining cost for a total mining, processing and G&A cost of USD$33.34/tonne. A 3% royalty has also been applied to the cut-off grade determination. Silver Equivalent (AgEq) cut-off grade for the Mogollon Project Mineral Resources is based on a silver price of $25/oz, recovery of 97% Ag, and cost assumptions including: USD$83/t mining cost for longhole stoping, USD$36.3/t processing cost, USD$9.7/t G&A cost, USD$0.20/oz Ag refining cost for a total mining, processing and G&A cost of USD$129/tonne A 3% royalty has also been applied to the cut-off grade determination. AgEq is based on silver and gold prices of $25/oz and $2100/oz respectively, and recoveries for silver and gold of 90% and 97%, respectively for the Hughes Project, and 97% and 97%, respectively, for the Mogollon Project. AgEq Factor= (Ag Price / Au Price) x (Ag Rec / Au Rec); g AgEq/t = g Ag/t + (g Au/t / AgEq Factor). Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources estimated will be converted into mineral reserves. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred mineral resources as Indicated mineral resources. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to the Indicated mineral resources category. The Mineral Resources were estimated in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices Guidelines (2019) prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. There are no known environmental, permitting, legal, or other factors which could materially affect the MREs.

Red Mountain Project Overview

The Red Mountain project, located 100 km south of Fairbanks, Alaska is Silver47's flagship silver-gold-zinc-copper-lead-antimony-gallium VMS-SEDEX project. Strategically situated in the Bonnifield mining district, Red Mountain hosts an inferred mineral resource of 15.6 million tonnes at 7% ZnEq or 335.7 g/t AgEq, totaling 168.6 million silver equivalent ounces, as reported in the NI 43-101 Technical Report with an effective date of January 12, 20241. Recent exploration has identified significant concentrations of critical minerals, including antimony (up to 0.623%) and gallium, enhancing the project's strategic value amid growing demand for such elements. With high-grade intercepts, such as 22.3 meters at 601 g/t AgEq (150.6 g/t Ag, 0.82 g/t Au, 5.86% Zn, 2.60% Pb, 0.13% Cu) from a depth of 18.9 meters at the Dry Creek Deposit area, Red Mountain offers substantial growth potential through ongoing drilling and resource expansion.

*Metal equivalents at Red Mountain are calculated using ratios with metal prices of US$2,750/tonne Zn, US$2,100/tonne Pb, US$8,880/tonne Cu, US$1,850/oz Au, and US$23/oz Ag. Metal recoveries are based on metallurgical work returned of 90% Zn, 75% Pb, 70% Cu, 70% Ag, and 80% Au. Silver Equivalent (AgEq g/t) = [Zn (%) x 47.81] + [Pb (%) x 30.43] + [Cu (%) x 119] + [Ag (g/t) x 1] + [Au (g/t) x 91.93]. ZnEQ (%) = [Zn (%) x 1] + [Pb (%) x 0.6364] + [Cu (%) x 2.4889] + [Ag (ppm) x 0.0209] + [Au (ppm) x 0.1923]

Hughes Project Overview

The Hughes project, located in central Nevada's prolific Tonopah mining district, is Summa's first flagship silver-gold asset. Anchored by the high-grade past-producing Belmont Mine, one of the United States' most prolific silver producers between 1903 and 19292, Hughes hosts indicated in-situ mineral resources of 0.98 million tonnes at 333 g/t AgEq totalling 10.3 million silver equivalent ounces, inferred in-situ mineral resources of 2.44 million tonnes at 421 g/t AgEq totalling 32.9 million silver equivalent ounces and, inferred tailings mineral resources of 1.26 million tonnes at 68 g/t AgEq totalling 2.74 million silver equivalent ounces, all as reported in an NI 43-101 Technical Report dated March 3, 20253. Recent drilling has confirmed exceptional high-grade mineralization, with intercepts such as 1,450 g/t silver equivalent (812 g/t Ag, 8.4 g/t Au) over 3.0 meters in hole SUM23-59 at the Ruby discovery, underscoring significant resource expansion potential. Strategically positioned near existing infrastructure, Hughes leverages modern exploration techniques to unlock new targets across its underexplored land package across a 4 km extension of the historic Tonopah mining district.

*Silver Equivalent at Hughes is calculated using US$20/oz Ag, US$1,800/oz Au, with metallurgical recoveries of Ag - 90% and Au - 95%. AgEq = (Ag grade x Ag recovery)+((Au grade x Au recovery) x (Au price / Ag price)).

Mogollon Project Overview

The Mogollon project, covering southwestern New Mexico's prolific Mogollon mining district, is Summa's second flagship silver-gold asset. As the largest historic silver producer in New Mexico, with 13.1 million ounces of silver and 271,000 ounces of gold produced prior to World War II4, Mogollon hosts an inferred mineral resource estimate of 2.72 million indicated tonnes at 367 g/t AgEq totalling 32.1 million silver equivalent ounces as reported in a NI 43-101 Technical Report dated March 2, 20255. Recent drilling has confirmed exceptional high-grade mineralization, with intercepts such as 448 g/t silver equivalent (129 g/t Ag, 3.88 g/t Au) over 31.0 meters in hole MOG22-05 at the Consolidated target, underscoring significant resource expansion potential. Spanning 7,730 acres and centered on the 7.5 km-long Queen Vein, Mogollon covers a vein field totalling approximately 77 km in cumulative strike length that remains largely unexplored representing a rare and unique American silver discovery opportunity.

*Silver Equivalent at Mogollon is calculated using US$20/oz Ag, US$1,800/oz Au, with metallurgical recoveries of Ag - 90% and Au - 95%. AgEq = (Ag grade x Ag recovery)+((Au grade x Au recovery) x (Au price / Ag price)).

Management Team and Board of Directors

The Combined Company's board of directors will initially be comprised of two nominees of Silver47 and two nominees of Summa, including Gary Thompson as Executive Chairman, Ryan Goodman, Galen McNamara, and Thomas O'Neill as directors.

The Combined Company will be managed by Gary Thompson as Executive Chairman; Galen McNamara as Chief Executive Officer; Martin Bajic as Chief Financial Officer; Giordano Belfiore as VP Investor Relations; Alex Wallis as VP Exploration; and Chris York as VP Operations.

Summa Special Committee and Fairness Opinion

Summa established a special committee of its board of directors (the "Summa Special Committee") to review the Transaction. The Summa Special Committee engaged Evans & Evans, Inc. ("Evans & Evans") to provide a fairness opinion with respect to the Transaction.

The fairness opinion provided by Evans & Evans confirms that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such opinion, the consideration to be received by Summa shareholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to Summa shareholders.

The Summa Special Committee has unanimously recommended that the board of directors of Summa approve the Arrangement Agreement and that the Summa shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.

Board of Directors' Recommendation and Voting Support

The Arrangement Agreement and the Transaction have been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of Silver47 and Summa, and the board of directors of Summa has recommended that Summa shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.

Each of the directors and senior officers of Summa have entered into voting support agreements with Silver47 and have agreed to vote in favour of the Transaction at the special meeting of shareholders of Summa to be held to consider the Transaction. Further information regarding the Transaction will be contained in an information circular that Summa will prepare, file and mail in due course to its shareholders in connection with the Summa special meeting.

Transaction Summary

The Transaction will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and will require approval by 66% of the votes cast by Summa shareholders. The special meeting of Summa shareholders is expected to be held in late June or early July 2025.

The Arrangement Agreement includes customary representations and warranties for a transaction of this nature as well as customary interim period covenants regarding the operation of the Companies' respective businesses. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for customary deal-protection measures. In addition to shareholder and court approvals, closing of the Transaction is subject to applicable regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, TSXV approval and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, Silver47 and Summa expect that the Transaction will be completed in the third quarter of 2025. Details regarding these and other terms of the Transaction are set out in the Arrangement Agreement, which will be available under the SEDAR+ profiles of Silver47 and Summa at www.sedarplus.ca.

Following completion of the Transaction, the Silver47 Shares will continue trading on the TSXV and the Summa Shares will be de-listed from the TSXV. Approximately 122.3 million Summa Shares are currently outstanding on a non-diluted basis and approximately 70.4 million Silver47 Shares are currently outstanding on a non-diluted basis. Upon completion of the Transaction (assuming no additional issuances of Silver47 Shares or Summa Shares, and excluding issuances in connection with the Offering), there will be approximately 125.7 million Silver47 Shares outstanding on a non-diluted basis.

Pursuant to the Arrangement, each Summa option (a "Summa Option"), whether vested or unvested, shall be transferred to Silver47, with the holder thereof to receive as consideration an option to purchase from Silver47 such number of Silver47 Shares as is equal to the Exchange Ratio multiplied by the number of Summa Shares subject to the Summa Option, at an exercise price per Silver47 Share equal to the applicable Summa Option exercise price divided by the Exchange Ratio, exercisable until the original expiry date of such Summa Option and otherwise governed by the terms of the Summa stock option plan.

Pursuant to the Arrangement, each Summa warrant to purchase common shares (a "Summa Warrant") will, upon the exercise of such rights, entitle the holder thereof to be issued and receive for the same aggregate consideration, upon such exercise, in lieu of the number of Summa Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon exercise of such Summa Warrants, the kind and aggregate number of Silver47 Shares that such holder would have been entitled to be issued and receive if, immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement, such holder had been the registered holder of the number of Summa Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon exercise of such Summa Warrants. All other terms governing the warrants, including, but not limited to, the expiry date, exercise price and the conditions to and the manner of exercise, will be the same as the terms that were in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, and shall be governed by the terms of the applicable warrant instruments.

None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any securities laws of any state of the United States, and any securities issued pursuant to the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and similar exemptions under applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

Brokered Offering

Summa and Silver47 have entered into an engagement letter agreement with Research Capital Corporation ("RCC"), as co-lead agent and sole bookrunner, and together with Haywood Securities Inc., as co-lead agent, on behalf of a syndicate of agents, including Eventus Capital Corp. (collectively, the "Agents") in connection with a best efforts basis, brokered private placement offering of subscription receipts of Summa (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.25 per Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 (the "Offering").

In addition, Summa has granted the Agents an option to offer up to an additional number of Subscription Receipts for gross proceeds of up to 15% of the gross proceeds of the Offering at any time up to 48 hours prior to closing of the Offering.

Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof, without payment of any additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder, upon the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined herein) to receive one unit of Summa (a "Unit"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of Summa (a "Summa Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, an "Summa Warrant"). Each Summa Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of Summa (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.36 per Warrant Share until the date that is 24 months following the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions (defined herein).

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund advancement of the Combined Company's silver project portfolio in the U.S., and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Offering is anticipated to close on or about the week of June 3, 2025, or such later date as Summa and the Agents may agree upon (the "Closing Date"). The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

The gross proceeds of the Offering, less the Agents' expenses and 50% of the cash commission will be deposited and held by a licensed Canadian trust company or other escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent") mutually acceptable to RCC (as defined herein), Summa, and Silver47 in an interest bearing account (the "Escrowed Funds") pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement to be entered into on the Closing Date among Summa and RCC, and the Escrow Agent. The Escrowed Funds (less 50% of the remaining cash commission and any remaining costs and expenses of the Agents) will be released from escrow to the Combined Company, as applicable, upon satisfaction of the following conditions (collectively, the "Escrow Release Conditions") no later than the 90th day following the Closing Date, or such other date as may be mutually agreed to in writing between Summa, Silver47, and RCC (the "Escrow Release Deadline"), including:

the completion, satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent to the Transaction in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement, to the satisfaction of RCC; the receipt of all required shareholder and regulatory approvals, including, without limitation, the conditional approval of the Exchange for the Transaction; the securities of the Silver47 or the Combined Company issued in exchange for the securities of Summa not being subject to any statutory or other hold period in Canada; the representations and warranties of Summa and Silver47 contained in the agency agreement to be entered into in connection with the Offering being true and accurate in all material respects, as if made on and as of the escrow release date; and Summa, Silver47 and RCC having delivered a joint notice and direction to the Escrow Agent, confirming that the conditions set forth in (A) to (D) above have been met or waived.

If (i) the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions does not occur on or prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, or such other date as may be mutually agreed to in writing among Summa, Silver47, and RCC, or (ii) Summa has advised RCC and/or the public that it does not intend to proceed with the Transaction (in each case, the earliest of such times being the "Termination Time"), then all of the issued and outstanding Subscription Receipts shall be cancelled and the Escrowed Funds shall be used to pay holders of Subscription Receipts an amount equal to the issue price of the Subscription Receipts held by them (plus an amount equal to a pro rata share of any interest or other income earned thereon). If the Escrowed Funds are not sufficient to satisfy the aggregate purchase price paid for the then issued and outstanding Subscription Receipts (plus an amount equal to a pro rata share of the interest earned thereon), it shall be Summa's sole responsibility and liability to contribute such amounts as are necessary to satisfy any such shortfall.

Summa has agreed to pay to the Agents a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. In addition, Summa has agreed to issue to the Agents broker warrants of Summa exercisable for a period of 24 months, to acquire in aggregate that number of Summa Shares which is equal to 6% of the number of Subscription Receipts sold under the Offering at an exercise price of $0.25 per Summa Share.

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 of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. 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 account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as 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.

Advisors and Counsel

Haywood Securities Inc. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Silver47. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as Canadian legal advisor to Silver47.

Eventus Capital Corp. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Summa. Evans & Evans has provided fairness opinions to the board of directors of Summa. Forooghian + Company Law Corporation is acting as Canadian legal advisor to Summa.

Conference Call and Webcast

Silver47 and Summa will jointly host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Transaction on May 13, 2025, commencing at 1:30 p.m. PST / 4:30 p.m. EST.

Conference Call Details

Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-844-763-8274

International callers: 1-647-484-8814

Webcast Details

Participants may join the webcast by registering at the link below:

https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=76aDbPLs

Technical Disclosure and Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release with respect to Silver47 has been reviewed and approved by Alex S. Wallis, P.Geo., is Vice President of Exploration for Silver47, a QP as defined in NI 43-101. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release with respect to Summa has been reviewed and approved by Galen McNamara, P. Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Summa, a QP as defined by NI 43-101.

About Silver47

Silver47 Exploration Corp. is a Canadian-based exploration company that wholly-owns three silver and critical metals (polymetallic) exploration projects in Canada and the US. These projects include the Red Mountain Project in southcentral Alaska, a silver-gold-zinc-copper-lead-antimony-gallium VMS-SEDEX project. The Red Mountain Project hosts an inferred mineral resource estimate of 15.6 million tonnes at 7% ZnEq or 335.7 g/t AgEq, totaling 168.6 million ounces of silver equivalent, as reported in the NI 43-101 Technical Report dated January 12, 2024. Silver47 also owns the Adams Plateau Project in southern British Columbia, a silver-zinc-copper-gold-lead SEDEX-VMS project, and the Michelle Project in the Yukon Territory, a silver-lead-zinc-gallium-antimony MVT-SEDEX project. For detailed information regarding the resource estimates, assumptions, and technical reports, please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report and other filings available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. The Silver47 Shares are traded on the TSXV under the ticker symbol AGA.

About Summa

Summa Silver Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company. Summa owns a 100% interest in the Hughes Project located in central Nevada and the Mogollon Project located in southwestern New Mexico. The high-grade past-producing Belmont Mine, one of the most prolific silver producers in the United States between 1903 and 1929, is located on the Hughes Project. The Mogollon Project is the largest historic silver producer in New Mexico. Both projects have remained inactive since commercial production ceased and neither have seen modern exploration prior to Summa's involvement.

Summa Silver Contact Information

Galen McNamara

Chief Executive Officer

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www.summasilver.com

Summa Silver Investor Relations Contact:

Giordy Belfiore

Corporate Development and Investor Relations

604-288-8004

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www.summasilver.com

Follow Summa Silver on X: @summasilver

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/summa-silver-corp/

Website: https://www.summasilver.com

References

1. Raffle K.J., et al. (2024), Technical Report on the Red Mountain VMS Property, Bonnifield Mining District, Alaska, USA. (https://www.silver47.ca/images/projects/redMountain/S47_RM_NI43101_DRAFT_20240627_APEX_TSXV_Revisions_final.pdf)

2. Production of the Tonopah Belmont Development Company, 1903-1932, Nevada Bureau of Mines Report No. 48400131

3.Bourque, S. and., Bickell, J.B. (2025), Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Hughes Silver-Gold Property, Tonopah District, Nye County Nevada, USA. (https://summasilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2024-43-101-Technical-Report-Hughes-gold-silver-final.pdf)

4. Blackhawk Mines corporate production records, 1942

5. Bourque, S. and., Bickell, J.B. (2025), NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources at the Mogollon Silver-Gold Property, Catron County, New Mexico, USA. (https://summasilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-NI43-101-Summa-Silver-Mogollon-Property_final.pdf)

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 and other cautionary statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forwardlooking statements" and "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the potential benefits to be derived from the Transaction (including those under the section "Benefits to Silver47 and Summa Shareholders"), the goals, synergies, strategies, opportunities, profile, mineral resources and potential production, project timelines, prospective shareholding and comparables to other transactions; the closing of the Transaction, including receipt of all necessary court, shareholder and regulatory approvals, and the timing thereof; the future financial or operating performance of the Companies and the Companies' mineral properties and project portfolios; information concerning the anticipated sale and distribution of Subscription Receipts pursuant to the Offering; Silver47's intended use of the net proceeds from the sale of Subscription Receipts; the ability to satisfy the Escrow Release Conditions, the anticipated benefits and impacts of the Offering; the results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the development, operational and economic results of technical reports on mineral properties referenced herein; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Companies' mineral properties and project portfolios; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; underground exploration potential; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; exploration prospects of mineral properties; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; and future development plans.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include: the successful completion of the Transaction (including receipt of all regulatory approvals, shareholder and third-party consents), the Offering, the integration of the Companies, and realization of benefits therefrom; the Companies' ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at mineral properties; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render mineral properties economic; the Companies' ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forwardlooking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to the Transaction, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain necessary approvals in respect of the Transaction and to consummate the Transaction; integration risks; general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties and management's ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Although the Companies have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Silver47's management's discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended January 31, 2025 and 2024, and Summa's annual information form dated December 20, 2024 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024.

There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Companies undertake no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Companies' plans, objectives and goals, including with respect to the Transaction, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements. This news release also contains or references certain market, industry and peer group data, which is based upon information from independent industry publications, market research, analyst reports, surveys, continuous disclosure filings and other publicly available sources. Although the Companies believes these sources to be generally reliable, such information is subject to interpretation and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other inherent limitations and uncertainties. The Companies have not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release and accordingly, the accuracy and completeness of such data is not guaranteed.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Exploits Discovery Corp. (CSE: NFLD) (OTCQB: NFLDF) (FSE: 634) ("Exploits" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") with Pavey Ark Minerals Inc. ("Pavey Ark"), an arms-length party, whereby Pavey Ark has granted the Company the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Hawkins property, located in Ontario, Canada (the "Property").

By entering into the Agreement, the Company secures a prominent exploration opportunity along a 60+ km belt of locally mineralized geology that replicates the setting of the Hemlo Gold Deposit, where over 21 million ounces of gold have been mined over the past 30 years. This is a district scale opportunity in Northern Ontario within 200 km of several operating gold mines.

The Property is anchored by the McKinnon Gold Zone, where a 2020 NI 43-101 compliant study that outlines a historic inferred resource of 328,800 ounces of gold, grading an average of 1.65 g/t gold, located within 200 meters of surface*. Mineralization at McKinnon remains open at depth and along trend. Compilation of historic data suggests the presence of encouraging gold sample values within early trenching located within one km of the eastern resource shell. Exploration will be planned to follow up on this near-term expansion opportunity to the east.

"Securing the Hawkins Property is a major milestone for Exploits Discovery," said Jeff Swinoga, President & CEO. "This acquisition delivers immediate value with McKinnon Gold Zone resource of over 300,000 ounces, and even more importantly, positions us in a Hemlo-style geological setting with clear district-scale potential in one of Canada's most prolific gold-producing regions. The McKinnon Zone remains open both at depth and along strike, with historic data indicating promising gold values in early trenching conducted within one km east of the current resource boundary."

Mr. Swinoga continued, "With multiple untested targets along a 60 km mineralized belt, and a historic resource already in place, this project provides an exceptional foundation for long-term discovery and value creation in a highly prospective region of Northern Ontario. It's a rare opportunity to acquire such a largely underexplored land package in Ontario, and we are excited to unlock its potential for shareholders."

"We're pleased to be partnering with Exploits Discovery, whose technical expertise and vision for advancing high-potential gold assets aligns well with our vision for the Property," said Richard Sutcliffe, President of Pavey Ark. "The Hawkins Project has significant untapped potential, and we look forward to seeing it move forward under Exploits' capable stewardship."

Significant groundwork has already been completed by the previous operator across multiple sites, enabling Exploits to move quickly to define and test high-value drill targets.

*The above referenced resource estimate for the Property is considered historical in nature and is based on prior data prepared by a previous property owner. While the Company considers the estimate to be reliable, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current resource. Significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the historical estimate can be classified as a current resource. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resource, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company is not aware of any more recent estimate prepared for the Property. Even if classified as a current resource, there is no certainty as to whether further exploration will result in any inferred mineral resources being upgraded to an indicated or measured resource category.

Figure 1: Regional location map of the Hawkins property. (Production Statistics reported to End of 2023 - as listed in Report of Activities, 2023, for Timmins & Thunder Bay South Districts, of the Resident Geologist Program - OGS).

Figure 2: Long-section of the McKinnon Zone. Discs represent intercept values of gold grams/tonne. Yellow-shaded areas represent Exploits' higher-priority exploration targets, once fieldwork commences onsite.

Mineralization at McKinnon appears to remain open at depth and along trend. Compilation of historic data suggests the presence of encouraging gold sample values within early trenching located within one km of the eastern resource shell.



Figure 3: Detailed plan map of the central portion of the Hawkins property, with embedded geophysical mapping of Total Magnetic Intensity responses collected via 2020 airborne geophysical surveys. Note the distribution of historic surface samples (Falconbridge, 1980's) and corresponding gold values.

Geological Setting of the McKinnon Zone

Previous technical studies indicate gold mineralization at the McKinnon Zone may be hosted within a sheared contact between felsic intrusive rocks and greenstone metavolcanics, with higher gold values typically associated with strongly silicified felsic units. Surface and drill core observations show presence of the sericite-silica-pyrite alteration, typically seen within the large orogenic gold systems situated within northern Ontario's gold-mining regions. Exploration reports and presentations by earlier operators suggest the main target-trend spans approximately 3.7 km length, with localized occurrences of gold mineralization apparently generating grab-sample assays reaching 10 g/t in value.

The Agreement

Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company shall have the right to earn a hundred (100%) percent interest in and to the Property in consideration for a series of cash payments, the issuance of common shares of the Company (valued on the basis of a 20-day volume weighted average trading price at the time of issuance) and incurring exploration expenditures on the Property, as follows:

Cash Shares Exploration Expenditures Year 1 $200,0001 $200,0001 $500,000 Year 2 $200,000 $200,000 $500,000 Year 3 $200,000 $200,000 $500,000 Year 4 $200,000 $200,000 $500,000 Year 5 $200,000 $200,000 $500,000 TOTAL $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,500,000 1. Due upon signing.

Upon exercise of the option, Pavey Ark will retain a 2.0% net smelter royalty ("NSR") over the Property (other than in respect of the certain claims in the Agreement that are subject to a pre-existing royalty, which shall be subject to a 0.5% net smelter royalty).

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure

Ken Tylee, P.Geo., VP of Exploration with Exploits, is a qualified person within the Province of Ontario as defined by NI 43-101 standards. Mr. Tylee has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.

About Exploits Discovery Corp.

Exploits is a Canadian mineral exploration company advancing its high-potential gold projects in Ontario and Newfoundland with a focus on value creation. Exploits aims to become a leading company in Canada's mineral exploration sector.

On Behalf of the Board

/s/ "Jeff Swinoga"

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain 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. Readers 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 including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.
TORONTO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Ltd. (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) ("Class 1 Nickel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of an independent NI 43-101 Technical Report (the Report) for its Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Project (the Project), located approximately 45 km northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario. The Report includes an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Dundonald North Deposit (see also news release 27 March 2025), one of 4 nickel sulphide deposits within the 3,093 hectare Alexo-Dundonald Project.

The Technical Report, titled National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimates for the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project: Including Updated Dundonald North Mineral Resource Estimate, Porcupine Mining Division, Ontario, Canada, with an effective date of 27 March 2025 and an issue date of 12 May 2025, was prepared under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) standards by Qualified Persons (QPs from Aticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. and Caracle Creek Chile SpA).

David Fitch, CEO of Class 1 Nickel, commented: This updated resource marks another step forward in realizing the full value of our Alexo-Dundonald Project, said David Fitch, President and CEO of Class 1 Nickel. With Dundonald North now contributing a meaningful resource base alongside our other three deposits, we are strengthening our position in a well-established nickel camp. We remain focused on growing our high-grade resource inventory while advancing plans to return the Project to production.

The MRE for the Dundonald North (D-N) Deposit was completed by Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. (Atticus) and their strategic partner Caracle Creek Chile SpA (Caracle) (together the Consultants). This Report replaces the NI 43-101 technical report titled, "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimates, Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project: Including Updated Dundonald South MRE, Porcunpine Division, Ontario, Canada", with an effective date of 1 October 2024 and issue date of 14 November 2024 (Jobin-Bevans et al., 2024).

Table 1. Mineral Resource Statement (I) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit, C$96/t NSR cut-off.

Dundonald North

Resources Tonnage

(t)

Grade

Contained Metal

Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (k lbs) Cu (k lbs) Co (k lbs) Underground (C$96/t NSR COG) Inferred 2,500,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 153 42,000 2,600 1,200

Notes to Table 1:

(1) The independent Qualified Person for the MRE, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #7795) of Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd., working with Caracle Creek Chile SpA. The effective date of the MRE is 27 March 2025.

(2) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(3) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(4) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated and/or Measured mineral resources with continued exploration.

(5) The Mineral Resources were estimated following the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines prepared by the CIM Mineral Resource & Mineral Reserve Committee and the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions.

(6) Geological and block models for the MRE used core assays (3,960 samples from historical drilling). The drill hole database was validated prior to resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using industry-standard control charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercial certified reference material inserted into assay batches.

(7) The block model was prepared using Micromine 2020. A 12 m x 12 m x 12 m block model was created, with sub blocks to 1.0 m x 1.0 m x 1.0 m and rotate 60 degrees. Drill composites of 1.0 m intervals were generated within the estimation domains, and subsequent grade estimation was carried out for Ni, Cu and Co using Inverse of Distance Weighting interpolation method.

(8) Grade estimation was validated by comparison of input and output statistics (Nearest Neighbour), swath plot analysis, and by visual inspection of the assay data, block model, and grade shells in cross-sections.

(9) As a reference, the average estimated density value (specific gravity) within the mineralised domain is 2.85 g/cm3 (t/m3).

(10) Estimates have been rounded to 3 significant figures for Indicated resources and 2 significant figures for Inferred sources.

(11) The MRE considers a geological dilution of 5% and a mining recovery of 95%.

(12) US$ metal prices of $8.00/lb Ni, $3.25/lb Cu, $13.00/lb Co were used in the NSR calculation with respective process recoveries of 85%, 70%, and 80%; gold, platinum and palladium are not considered in the current NSR calculation.

(13) Pit-constrained Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers processing, and G&A costs, applying a factor of 5% for mining dilution, that respectively combine for a total of (($45.00 + $5.00) * (1 + 5%)) = C$52.5/tonne processed.

(14) Underground Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers ore mining, processing, and G&A costs that respectively combine for a total of ($46.00 + $45.00 + $5.00) = C$96.0/tonne processed.

(15) The Underground grade blocks were quantified above the $96.0/t cut-off, within the constraining mineralized wireframes. Additionally, only groups of blocks that exhibited continuity and reasonable potential stope geometry were included. All orphaned blocks and narrow strings of blocks were excluded. The long-hole stoping with backfill mining method was assumed for the Underground MRE calculation.

(16) The NSR calculation is as follows: NSR C$/t = ((Ni% x 199.89) + (Cu% x 66.87) +(Co% x 305.71)) x 95%.

(17) The NiEq% calculation is as follows: NiEq% = (Ni% x 1) + (Cu% x 0.33) + (Co% x 1.53).

Table 2. Mineral Resource Statement (II) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit, 0.46% Ni cut-off grade (COG).

Dundonald North

Resources Tonnage

(t)

Grade Contained Metal Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (k lbs) Cu (k lbs) Co (k lbs) Underground (0.46% Ni COG) Inferred 2,600,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 150 43,000 2,100 1,200

*see Notes to Table 1 above

Figure 1. Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project showing the location of the 4 nickel deposits with an oval over the area of the Dundonald North Deposit and optimized pit shell outlines for Alexo North, Alexo South and Dundonald South deposits, all overlain on the generalized geology of the Project (Caracle, 2025).

The updated Dundonald North MRE was calculated entirely from historical drilling (22,041.97 m in 64 holes) completed on the D-N Deposit by previous operators and verified by QP Simon Mortimer.

Updates to the mineral resources of the Alexo South, Alexo North, Dundonald South deposits were announced 24 April 2024, 22 May 2024, and 3 October 2024, respectively (Table 3 and Table 4).

Table 3. Mineral Resources for the 4 Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Deposits at 1.0% Ni, using various %Ni cut-offs.

Deposit Type Resource

Category Ni (%)

Cut-Off Ni Grade

(%) Tonnage

(t) Contained Ni Metal

(klbs) Alexo South Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.52 1.00 77,700 1,720 Alexo North Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.28 1.01 33,900 791 Dundonald South Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.67 1.09 388,000 9,350 Dundonald North Underground (no pit) Inferred 0.71 1.01 1,000,000 23,000 Total: Indicated 1.07 499,600 11,861 Total: Inferred 1.01 1,000,000 23,000

Table 4. Summary of Mineral Resources for the 4 Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Deposits.

Deposit Resource

Category NSR Cut-Off Tonnage

(t)

Grade Contained Metal Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) NiEq

(%) NSR

(C$/t) Ni

(klbs) Cu

(klbs) Co

(klbs) Within-Pit

Alexo North Indicated C$52.5/t 35,100 0.98 0.11 0.04 1.08 206 759 83 33 Inferred C$52.5/t 470 0.32 0.04 0.02 0.36 68 3 0 0 Alexo South Indicated C$52.5/t 275,000 0.58 0.02 0.02 0.62 123 3,490 133 133 Dundonald South Indicated C$52.5/t 2,540,000 0.49 0.02 0.01 0.52 103 27,400 911 755 Inferred C$52.5/t 3,600,000 0.42 0.01 0.01 0.11 88 33,000 1,100 1,100 Total: Indicated 2,850,000 0.50 0.02 0.01 0.53 106 31,700 1,130 921 Total: Inferred 3,600,000 0.42 0.01 0.01 0.44 88 33,000 1,100 1,100 Out-of Pit (Underground) Alexo North Indicated C$96.0/t 7,540 0.63 0.08 0.03 0.70 134 105 12 5 Alexo South Indicated C$96.0/t 297,000 0.65 0.03 0.02 0.69 139 4,240 190 157 Inferred C$96.0/t 130,000 0.54 0.03 0.02 0.58 116 1,500 75 52 Dundonald North Inferred C$96.0/t 2,500,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 152 42,000 2,600 1,200 Dundonald South Indicated C$96.0/t 201,000 0.95 0.03 0.02 0.99 198 4,210 145 80 Inferred C$96.0/t 390,000 0.57 0.02 0.01 0.60 120 4,900 160 120 Total: Indicated 505,000 0.77 0.03 0.02 0.81 162 8,560 347 242 Total: Inferred 3,000,000 0.72 0.04 0.02 0.60 120 48,000 2,900 1,400 Combined Within-Pit and Out-of Pit (Underground) Resources Total: Indicated 3,350,000 0.54 0.02 0.01 0.58 115 40,200 1,470 1,160 Total: Inferred 6,600,000 0.56 0.02 0.01 0.51 100 81,000 4,000 2,500

As stated in the Companys news release of 4 December 2024, the primary objectives of Class 1 are to expand known mineralization and resources at its 4 existing magmatic nickel sulphide deposits within the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project.

Furthermore, the Company will be launching an exploration program to examine the numerous underexplored areas of the Project including the numerous nickel sulphide occurrences that exist outside of the known deposit areas. Much of this exploration will be guided by recently completed airborne geophysics and historical drilling, with new ground geophysics and remote sensing surveys being planned.

Deposit Types and Project Potential

In addition to the high-grade nickel sulphide (>1.0% Ni) potential we see at Alexo-Dundonald, immense potential exists to target and develop large tonnage, low-grade komatiite-hosted deposits such as those being developed in the Timmins area by Canada Nickel Company (Crawford Project), EV Nickel Inc. (CarLang A Deposit) and Aston Minerals Limited (Boomerang Project). The Company is currently planning a targeted diamond drilling program to outline this deposit type within the Alexo-Dundonald Project.

This two-pronged approach  develop traditional high-grade nickel sulphide resources and in parallel large-tonnage, low grade nickel deposits  brings together the best of both nickel deposit types which are actively and aggressively being explored for and developed within the Timmins Mining Camp.

Core Handling, Assay and QA/QC Procedures

The historical analytical methods used in the years 1955-1993 and 2001 from the Falconbridge Ltd. and Hucamp Mines Ltd., respectively, are not precisely specified. However, the core samples from the 2004-2005 First Nickel Inc. were transported to Laboratoire Expert in Rouyn-Noranda. The samples, along with certified standards and blanks included by the Company for quality assurance and control, were prepared and analyzed at Laboratoire Expert.

The samples were prepared using industry-standard procedures and analyzed for gold, palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt, and zinc. The analytical methods employed consisted of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for multi-element analysis (including Ni, Cu, Co, and Zn), Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (over-range) for the same elements (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn), and fire assay collection with ICP-OES finish for palladium, platinum, and gold.

Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project

The A-D Project is located about 45 km northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario, covers an area of approximately 3,093 hectares (30.93 km2), and was originally acquired by the Company in September 2018. The A-D Project includes four foundation nickel deposits (Alexo North and South and Dundonald North and South) of which the Alexo North and Alexo South (aka Kelex) were small-scale past producers of relatively high-grade nickel (i.e., 1957; 2004-2005). The 4 deposits are located on a near-continuous folded komatiite-ultramafic rock sequence that extends for at least 14 km within the Property and which has never been systematically explored. The 4 mineral resources are open at depth and along strike and could increase in size with additional drilling (Class 1 news releases 18 April 2024, 22 May 2024, 23 September 2024).

Qualified Persons

The Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, for the Dundonald North Mineral Resource Estimate reported herein, Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #7795), Principal Geoscientist at Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. (Cornwall, UK and Lima, Peru). All other technical information and data in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo., PGO #0183), Principal Geoscientist at Caracle Creek Chile SpA and a Qualified Person under the definitions established by NI 43-101.

About Class 1 Nickel

Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) is a Mineral Resources Company focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide projects: the Alexo-Dundonald Project, neat Timmins, Ontario (4 nickel sulphide deposits) and the Somanike Project, near Val-dOr, Quebec (includes the historical Marbridge Ni-Cu Mine). Both projects comprise extensive property packages covering past-producing nickel mines, offering near-term production opportunity and excellent exploration upside.

Class 1 Nickels current focus is to continue brownfield and greenfield exploration on its large property packages to aggregate additional nickel resources and in parallel look to advance the A-D Project back into production. The A-D Project sits on a 14+ km strike-length, folded komatiite unit containing several nickel-copper-cobalt and PGE mineral resources plus numerous underexplored sulphide occurrences. Decades of successful capital expenditure and investment into the Project has resulted in the discovery and delineation of four main nickel Mineral Resources that occur along the folded komatiite unit. The A-D Project was previously mined via a direct-shipping model, and the Company will soon commence a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) study to determine the best path forward.

In addition, the Company also holds a 100% interest in its River Valley PGE Project located about 65 km northeast of the City of Sudbury, Ontario, the worlds largest and longest operating nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE mining camp (Company news release dated 13 December 2023).

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David Fitch, President & CEO

T: +61.400.631.608

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For additional information please visit our website www.class1nickel.com and our Twitter feed @Class1Nickel.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information 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, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Companys managements discussion and analysis as filed under the Companys profile at SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 / KALO GOLD CORP. (TSXV:KALO) ("Kalo", "Kalo Gold" or the "Company")is pleased to announce that it has closed a first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 81,335,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,066,750. The Offering, originally announced for gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000, was upsized in response to strong investor demand. The second tranche will be expected to close on or around May 31, 2025.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund:

Up to 9,000 metres of diamond drilling at the Vatu Aurum Project in Fiji, including drill testing of epithermal upwelling zones within the Aurum Epithermal Field such as the Dua, Rua, Tolu and Va Targets on the Namalau Trend), and high-grade diatreme and surge deposits within the Qiriyaga Complex;

Continued geological mapping, trenching, and drilling along the Namalau, Loma, and Buca Trends;

Surface exploration - including soil sampling, trenching, and geological mapping - at Coqeloa and Wainikoro;

General working capital and marketing initiatives.

3L Capital Inc. Provides Strategic Support and Acts as Financial Adviser to the Offering

The Company would like to acknowledge and thank 3L Capital Inc. for its extensive support as financial adviser to the Offering. In addition to introducing strategic investors and acting as finder, 3L provided Kalo with valuable capital markets insight, transaction structuring, market advisory, and strategic communications support throughout the financing process. Their involvement included evaluating near-term market dynamics, advising management on structure and timing, and contributing to the successful execution of the Offering.

The Offering

Each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.08 per Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance. In addition, the expiry date of the Warrants is subject to acceleration if the volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") (or such other stock exchange where the Shares are then listed or quoted) is greater than $0.15 for a period of twenty (20) consecutive trading days, in which case the expiry date of the Warrants may be accelerated to a date that is thirty (30) days following the date the Company provides notice to the Warrant holders, by way of a news release, that the expiry date has been accelerated.

Each Share and Warrant comprising the Unit is subject to a statutory hold period expiring on September 13, 2025, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Any Shares issued upon the exercise of a Warrant prior to that date will also be subject to the same hold period, expiring on September 13, 2025.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche, the Company paid finders' fees to eligible finders, consisting of $125,023 in cash and 2,780,450 finders' warrants. Each finder's warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $0.08 per Share for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of issuance.

Insider Participation

Kevin Ma, Executive Vice-President and Director, and Cam Grundstrom, Co-Founder and Director (collectively the "Insiders"), participated in the private placement. The Insiders collectively purchased a total of $50,000 of the Offering as per the following table:

Mr. Ma 800,000 Units Mr. Grundstrom 200,000 Units

Such participation constitutes a "related party transaction" within Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance to the insiders is exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) as the fair market value of the consideration of the securities issued to the related parties did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Debt Settlement

The Company also announces that it has entered into a shares-for-debt settlement agreement to settle debts totalling $150,000 with a company that has supplied services to the Company. The Company will issue a total of 3,000,000 Shares at a deemed price of $0.05 per share ("Settlement Shares") subject to the approval of the TSXV. The Settlement Shares will be issued pursuant to prospectus exemptions available under Canadian securities law and will be subject to a four-month hold period.

United States Securities Law Disclaimer

The securities offered 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 applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, they 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 U.S. Securities Act) unless registered or an exemption is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

ABOUT 3L CAPITAL INC.

3L Capital is a premier boutique investment banking firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada, led by a veteran team with over 70 years of combined experience across major financial institutions. 3L offers tailored financial solutions, extensive distribution capabilities, and a proven track record of success. With a focus on empowering businesses, 3L Capital combines personalized service with industry-leading expertise. Its services include innovative financing solutions, strategic advisory, and corporate marketing - all designed to help companies unlock their full potential. The firm's mission is to navigate success through collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Since inception, 3L Capital's platform clients have consistently outperformed industry benchmarks, reflecting its commitment to delivering exceptional value through customized research, corporate marketing, and pivotal relationship introductions within the investment community. The firm has played a key role in completing over 439 transactions, raising

more than C$13.6 billion across diverse industries.

For more information, please visit www.3l-capital.com.

ABOUT KALO GOLD CORP.

Kalo Gold Corp. is a gold exploration company focused on the discovery of low sulphidation epithermal gold deposits at its 100%-owned Vatu Aurum Project, located on Vanua Levu (North Island) in the Republic of Fiji. The Project covers 367 km under two Special Prospecting Licenses and encompasses a regionally significant back-arc basin hosting multiple volcanic calderas. Historical and ongoing exploration has identified over two dozen high-priority gold targets across structurally controlled and diatreme-hosted systems.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Kalo Gold Corp.

Terry L. Tucker, P.Geo.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kevin Ma, CPA, CA

Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Director

For more information, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to the closing of the Offering, use of proceeds and other such future events and Kalo's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Kalo's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, and unforeseen events and developments. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Kalo. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Kalo undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent management's discussion and analysis. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
CALGARY, AB  TheNewswire - May 13, 2025  Ashley Gold Corp. (CSE: ASHL) (Ashley or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Noah Komavli to President and Director, effective immediately. Darcy Christian will retain CEO position and additionally move into the Chairman of the Board role vacated by George Stephenson last year.

Mr. Komavli brings experience in Industrial Engineering, credit, capital markets, corporate communications and project management, further strengthening Ashleys leadership as it advances its portfolio of high-grade gold and base metal properties.

We are delighted to welcome Mr. Komavli as President and also his appointment to the Ashley Gold Corp. Board of Directors, said Darcy Christian, CEO of Ashley. His strategic contributions at Pegasus Resources Inc., combined with his Industrial Engineering background and capital markets experience, align seamlessly with our goal of unlocking value from our exploration portfolio. Having worked closely with Mr. Komavli for several months, I am confident in his ability to propel our organization forward.

It is an honor to step into the President position of Ashley Gold Corp. at such a critical time. stated Noah Komavli. The Companys focus on high-potential gold and base metal properties, coupled with its commitment to shareholder value, is compelling. I look forward to applying my experience to support Ashleys success, as well as communicating our developments to our shareholders.

The appointment of Mr. Komavli to the Board of Directors of Ashley Gold Corp. fully satisfies the conditions outlined in the Icefield purchase agreement. Mr. Komavlis appointment underscores Ashleys commitment to assembling a skilled and dynamic board to advance its exploration objectives and create long-term value.

Since July 2023, Mr. Komavli has served as a Director of Pegasus Resources Inc. (TSX-V: PEGA), where he has provided strategic insights into the companys exploration and development initiatives. His tenure at Pegasus is distinguished by his ability to foster collaborative approaches to mineral exploration, most recently through the sale of the Icefield Portfolio to Ashley Gold Corp. This transaction strengthened the asset bases of both companies and enhanced shareholder value. Mr. Komavlis understanding and passion for the resource sector, particularly in precious metals and mining, make him an invaluable addition to Ashleys board.

A graduate of the University of Toronto in Industrial Engineering, specializing in Information Systems, Mr. Komavli has developed a strong foundation in optimizing operational efficiency, driving continuous improvement and enhancing value chains. His entrepreneurial drive is evidenced by co-founding two startup software companies, showcasing his ability to innovate. With years of investment experience in exploration-focused companies, Mr. Komavli possesses keen capital markets acumen, equipping him to guide Ashley through market dynamics and investor relations. His proficiency in corporate communications and project management will further support the Companys exploration programs and ensure clear, impactful stakeholder engagement.

Option Grant

Ashley also wishes to announce the granting of stock options to certain directors, consultants and officers of the Company to purchase an aggregate of 3,400,000 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.05 per share, expiring in three years from the date of grant. The Options are subject to a 4 month 1 day restricted hold period. The Options were issued pursuant to the terms of the Company's stock option plan and the requirements of the CSE.

ABOUT ASHLEY GOLD CORP.

Ashley Gold Corp. is dedicated to discovering the next multi-million-ounce gold deposit through efficient and innovative exploration. Operating in mining-friendly and politically stable jurisdictions, Ashley focuses on regions with proven neighboring success stories, creating a clear path toward value generation.

As one of the first movers in the highly coveted Dryden area of Northwest Ontario, Ashley is strategically positioned to leverage the regions rich geological potential. Our mission is to deliver substantive, long-term value for shareholders by uncovering and advancing world-class gold deposits in one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions globally.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Darcy Christian, P.Geo, President and CEO

(587) 777-9072 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. https://x.com/AshleyGoldCorp www.ashleygoldcorp.com

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.

DISCLAIMER & FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on currently available information, Ashley Gold Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Factors which cause results to differ materially are set out in the Companys documents filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Nova Pacific Metals Corp. (CSE: NVPC) (OTCQB: NVPCF) (FSE: YQ10) (WKN: A40GFH) (the "Company", or "Nova Pacific") is pleased to announce the appointment of Zachary Kotowych to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Kotowych brings nearly a decade of experience in the mining and capital markets sectors to Nova Pacific, combining technical expertise with financial acumen. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary, and a Director of Troubadour Resources Inc. (TSXV: TR), a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company.

Before joining Troubadour Resources, Mr. Kotowych held corporate development roles at several junior mining companies, most recently at Abitibi Metals Corp., where he helped advance the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Deposit and the Beschefer Gold Project. His background also includes equity research roles at Haywood Securities and Red Cloud Securities, focusing on mining equities.

Mr. Kotowych's technical experience encompasses exploration work with Great Bear Resources (now part of Kinross Gold Corp.), Carlisle Goldfields (now part of Alamos Gold), and Solstice Gold. He holds a Master of Science in Geophysics and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Geology from the University of Toronto.

"We are thrilled to welcome Zachary to our Board of Directors," stated Sam Eskandari, Director of Nova Pacific. "His unique blend of technical knowledge and capital markets experience will be invaluable as we continue to advance our Lara VMS Project and explore new opportunities in the mining sector."

Mr. Kotowych's appointment complements Nova Pacific's active and experienced advisory board, which plays a crucial role in guiding the Company's strategic direction and exploration initiatives.

Corporate Update

Nova Pacific also announces that the Company has amended the expiry date of an aggregate of 7,410,000 share purchase warrants that were scheduled to expire on May 31, 2025 for a further one (1) year, until May 31, 3026. Each warrant was originally issued in a unit private placement that closed on May 31, 2021, which was prior to the date on which the Company's common shares were listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange, and is exercisable into one common share at a price of $0.40 per share.

The Company is not planning to deliver replacement warrant certificates to the holders of the warrants, with the original certificates remaining valid until the amended expiry date.

Rights of Indigenous Communities Statement

Nova Pacific pursues early and meaningful engagement with First Nation communities to ensure our mineral exploration and development activities are well coordinated and broadly supported by addressing local priorities and concerns, while optimizing opportunities for collaboration. In particular, we seek to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups within whose traditional territories our project is located. All work programs are carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental and social performance.

About Nova Pacific

Nova Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on the Lara Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) Project on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Nova Pacific holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Lara Project. The project boasts a significant historical resource rich in critical and precious metals situated in a prime location near excellent infrastructure. Nova Pacific's forward-looking strategy includes verification and exploration drilling, completion of an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE), with additional technical and exploration studies to be considered following these milestones. The Company is committed to creating value for its shareholders while supporting environmental responsibility and strong community relationships.

For additional information please visit: www.novapacificmetals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Sam Eskandari,

Director

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's exploration plans. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forwardlooking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forwardlooking information. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information.

Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization; the Company's plans to execute its exploration program including the start of drilling and a completion of a current mineral resource; exploration and mine development plans; and the timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other Indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB) (OTC Pink: LRRIF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce lithium assay results from its recent surface sampling program at the Volney Project, South Dakota. The results include values up to 5.3% Li 2 O from stockpile material and 3.7% Li 2 O in pegmatite outcrops and extend the lithium-bearing pegmatite trend to 1,000 m by 500 m. Located 20 km southwest of Spearfish in the Black Hills Mining District, Volney is a past-producing, multi-commodity project that hosts high-grade gold, high-grade lithium, and high-grade tin.

News Highlights

High-Grade LCT Pegmatites in Outcrop - Significant Expansion Potential: A total of 26 outcrop samples returned values exceeding 1.0% Li 2 O, confirming multiple high-grade lithium-bearing pegmatites at surface across a 1,000 m by 500 m corridor, that remains open in all directions. Importantly, newly sampled outcrops located 600 m from the historic Giant Volney pegmatite returned values up to 3.7% Li 2 O, underscoring the broader potential for high-grade lithium mineralization beyond historically known zones and highlighting the opportunity to significantly expand the mineralized footprint.

Validation of Historic High-Grade Material: A total of 43 stockpile and mill waste samples returning values above 1.0% Li 2 O and up to 5.3% Li 2 O. In the historic Giant Volney pit area, 26 stockpile samples yielded an average grade of 3.8% Li 2 O, confirming high-grade lithium values reported in historic bulk sampling.

High-Grade Multi-Commodity Potential Includes High-Grade Gold and Tin: In addition to lithium, a total of 13 stockpile and mill waste samples returned tin (Sn) values above 1.0% Sn, indicating significant potential for by-product recovery. The property is also host to high-grade gold mineralization with historic grades up to 8.0 g/t Au over 43.0 m and 18.2 g/t Au over 18.3 m.

Private Land - Fast-Tracked Permitting: The Volney Project is situated on 142 hectares of privately held land with surface and mineral rights, enabling rapid drill program execution and accelerated permitting from exploration through production.

Dale Ginn, President and CEO of Lion Rock, stated, "These strong lithium results confirm the high-grade potential of the Volney Project. The combination of high-grade outcrop samples and historically mined material presents an exciting opportunity for continued exploration, both at surface and through drilling. With 142 hectares of private land, we're able to fast-track permitting and quickly advance toward drill testing. We're also highly encouraged by the multi-commodity potential of the system, which also includes high-grade gold and tin, and we look forward to expanding the known pegmatite extents through our upcoming exploration program."

Figure 1. Lithium grab sample results from recent sampling at the Volney Lithium Project.

Lithium Surface Sampling

An initial surface sampling campaign at the Volney Project successfully returned strong lithium values, with 69 out of 100 samples assaying above 1.0% Li 2 O. The program included sampling of mill waste, stockpiles, and pegmatite outcrops (Table 1), targeting both historically known and newly mapped pegmatites. Outcrop sampling covered more than twenty previously unsampled pegmatite and confirmed anomalous lithium mineralization across a broad area measuring approximately 1,000 m by 500 m (Figure 1). The highest lithium value from outcrop was 3.7% Li 2 O, returned from a previously untested pegmatite located over 600 m from the historic Giant Volney pegmatite.

The lithium-bearing pegmatites observed were composed of quartz-oligoclase and typically hosted visible accessory minerals including spodumene, amblygonite, cassiterite, and tantalite. Exposed pegmatite outcrops ranged in width from 10 to 30 m.

Stockpile sampling also produced encouraging results, with grades up to 5.3% Li 2 O. A total of 26 stockpile samples collected from the historic Giant Volney pit area averaged 3.8% Li 2 O, supporting the presence of high-grade lithium in historically mined material. Several stockpile and mill waste samples also returned significant tin values, indicating potential for multi-commodity recovery. Further work is warranted to locate the bedrock source of the tin anomalies.

In addition, tin mill tailings contained notable lithium values up to 0.8% Li 2 O, while three samples from a remaining ore bin at the historical tin mine returned between 1.2% and 1.6% Li 2 O. These results confirm that the historically mined Rough & Ready pegmatite units were also lithium-bearing.

Complete assay results for outcrop samples exceeding 1.0% Li 2 O and stockpile samples over 3.0% Li 2 O are presented in Tables 2 and 3, respectively.

Table 1. Sample Type and Result Count

Sample Type Number

Collected Number

>1% Li 2 O Number

>1% Sn Outcrop 46 26 0 Stockpile 41 40 5 Mill Waste 13 3 8 Total 100 69 13

Table 2. Pegmatite Outcrop Grab Sample Highlights

Sample ID Li 2 O (%) LR24-P86 3.7 LR24-P83 2.8 LR24-P88 2.8 LR24-P20 2.7 LR24-P17 2.6 LR24-P26 2.6 LR24-P77 2.4 LR24-P84 2.1 LR24-P23 1.9 LR24-P87 1.9 LR24-P79 1.8 LR24-P19 1.5 LR24-P08 1.3 LR24-P114 1.3 LR24-P78 1.3 LR24-P70 1.3 LR24-P69 1.3 LR24-P71 1.3 LR24-P07 1.2 LR24-P110 1.2 LR24-P113 1.2 LR24-P18 1.1 LR24-P90 1.1 LR24-P03 1.0 LR24-P09 1.0 LR24-P16 1.0

Table 3. Historic Stockpile Grab Sample Highlights

Sample ID Li 2 O (%) LR-49 5.3 24-P61 4.8 LR-44 4.6 LR-58 4.4 LR-50 4.4 LR-41 4.3 24-P62 4.3 LR-51 4.3 24-P66 4.3 LR-61 4.2 24-P58 4.2 LR-56 4.2 LR-52 4.1 LR-54 4.1 24-P06 4.0 LR-43 3.9 24-P68 3.9 LR-62 3.9 LR-46 3.9 LR-40 3.9 24-P63 3.8 LR-42 3.8 LR-53 3.8 24-P65 3.7 24-P64 3.7 24-P05 3.7 LR-60 3.7 LR-47 3.6 24-P59 3.6 24-P04 3.6 LR-59 3.5 LR-45 3.3 24-P67 3.2 LR-48 3.1

Grab samples are selective in nature and may not be representative of the overall mineralization on the property.

About the Volney Project

The Volney property is a multi-commodity project strategically located in South Dakota's Black Hills, a historically rich and active mining region (Figure 2). The Black Hills have produced over 62 million ounces of gold, including from the prolific Homestake Mine, one of the most significant gold producers in North American history. The district continues to attract modern exploration efforts, with companies such as Dakota Gold Corp. actively advancing projects within the Black Hills. The project encompasses high-grade gold, high-grade lithium, and high-grade tin mineralization, with notable historic grades up to 18.2 g/t gold over 18.3 m, 5.3% Li 2 O, and 2.5% Sn. The Volney Project is home to the Giant Volney pegmatite, a 635 m long LCT (Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum) pegmatite with strong expansion potential, and an extensive high-grade gold system. The project is accessible year-round and consists of private claims with surface and mineral rights, which facilitates rapid permitting and project advancement.

Figure 2. Volney Project regional map in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

QA/QC

Samples were collected by Lion Rock personnel and were crushed, pulverized and pulps prepared by Bond Mineral Services, LLC, an ISO-certified preparatory laboratory located in Central City, South Dakota. Sample pulps were analyzed by ALS Geochemistry in Reno, NV, a laboratory accredited in accordance with the standards of ISO 17025:2017. Sample pulps were analyzed using industry standard analytical package ME-MS89L. Internal laboratory QA/QC was relied upon for the purposes of this sampling campaign.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carl Ginn, P.Geo., consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101.

About Lion Rock Resources Inc.

Lion Rock Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company committed to advancing high-grade gold and lithium projects across North America. The Company's flagship asset, the Volney Project, is located in South Dakota's Black Hills, a mining-friendly jurisdiction surrounded by active gold operations. The Volney Project hosts high-grade gold, lithium and tin mineralization, with historic drill results showing gold grades of up to 18.2 g/t Au over 18.3 m, lithium concentrations as high as 5.3% Li 2 O. The Company is led by an award-winning team with a proven track record of mineral discoveries, project development, and financing.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", "potential", "indicative" and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information is based on the current expectations of management of the Company. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation risks and uncertainties inherent in the exploration and development of mineral properties, fluctuations in commodity prices, counterparty risk, market conditions, regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 13, 2025) - Rua Gold Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF) (WKN: A4010V) ("RUA GOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the second phase of surface exploration on its Glamorgan Project, an epithermal gold system in the Hauraki Goldfield, North Island, New Zealand.

The Hauraki Goldfield is a major epithermal gold province, with over 50 historic mines having produced more than 15 million ounces of gold. The Glamorgan Project lies adjacent to OceanaGold's Wharekirauponga deposit, with Indicated Mineral Resources of 1.4Moz at 17.9 g/t Au and is scheduled to enter construction in the second half of 20251.

Highlights:

The Company has completed its second phase of surface exploration, identified initial drill targets, and will submit its Access Agreement application at the end of May.

Results indicate classic features of a major epithermal gold-silver system and are identical to the surface features of neighboring OceanaGold Project, Wharekirauponga.

Four significant gold-arsenic soil anomalies trending north, north-east and north-northwest strike out individually over 4 kms in length.

Rock chip samples containing up to 43 g/t Au highlight specific targets for evaluation, coincident with the intersection of two gold-arsenic soil anomalies.

TerraSpec soil and clay mineralogy has identified a zonal clay distribution that reflects high-level epithermal alteration coincident with gold anomalism.

Ground-based geophysics Controlled-source Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) has identified three major resistive structures coincident with surface alteration and gold mineralization. These resistive structures may represent pervasive silica-quartz at depth - key criteria for targeting the drilling within a major epithermal gold system.

All of the above results are being uploaded to the VRIFY AI-platform, where geological modelling is starting to assist in the systematic identification and ranking of drill targets.

Simon Henderson, COO of RUA GOLD, commented: "This comprehensive, district-wide surface work has provided valuable new information, highlighting not just one, but three significant zones of potential mineralization for drill testing. These targets will be included in the Access Agreement for drilling, which is scheduled for submission at the end of May 2025.

Following detailed surface geological mapping, comprehensive soil geochemistry, specialist clay mineralogy, ultra-high resolution UAV magnetics, and proven depth-penetrating CSAMT geophysics, three significant zones have emerged as high-potential targets for drill testing. High-grade rock chip samples further support the potential to discover a major epithermal gold-silver vein system.

Results from this inaugural district-wide program are now streaming in and are being compiled, reviewed and actively prioritized in partnership with the VRIFY AI-platform to confirm and prioritize the drill program. The exploration team is excited to advance to the drilling phase of this unique and prospective target area."

Program Overview

Exploration activities - including extensive geological mapping, TerraSpec clay mineralogy, and ultra detailed magnetic and resistivity surveys - have focused on four major alteration cells that envelope these structures. These cells are directly associated with surface quartz veins, platy quartz after calcite, quartz-adularia minerals, and sinter-like textures, all indicative of the high levels of an epithermal gold-silver system.

The principle components of the surface work are detailed below.

Geological Mapping

Exploration in the first quarter of 2025 included the completion of geological mapping across the major drainages within the Glamorgan prospect, along with detailed examination of areas exhibiting intense alteration and mineralization identified in Stage 1. The Company also completed follow-up testing of the significant gold grades (8-43.1 g/t Au) previously reported in rock float and insitu rock samples (reported on January 25, 2025). Additional rock chip sampling (2-8 g/t Au) has identified key areas proximal to resistive zones and high-level clay alteration.

Figure 1: Geological map of the Glamorgan area.

TerraSpec Clay Mineralogy

A TerraSpec 4 High-Res portable spectrometer was used to analyze all soil and rock-chip samples, as well as available historical drill core. The hyperspectral reflectance data collected were interpreted using the cloud-based AI software program, aiSIRIS.

Anomaly A trends north-northwest for 4.2 kms with conjugate gold-arsenic trends extending in a northeast direction (Anomalies C and D). Montmorillonite clays mirror this anomaly, indicating strong structural control on fluid flow along this trend.

Anomaly B trends northerly, following north to northeasterly quartz veins mapped over 4 kms that remain open to the north and south. The southern end of this anomaly coincides with historical mine workings. This anomaly is highlighted by strong illite clay alteration enveloping quartz-calcite veins observed in mapping.

Anomalies C and D trend northeast, parallel to insitu quartz veining in the Phoenix Stream (Anomaly C), and silica-clay alteration along Wires Ridge (Anomaly D) (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Arsenic-Gold soil geochemistry with strong anomalies outlined.

Magnetics

Ultra detailed UAV magnetics flown by the RUA GOLD team highlight strong alteration (de-magnetization of the host rocks) enveloping the four anomalies and demonstrating a major alteration cell indicative of a significant epithermal system.

Resistivity

A CSAMT survey was completed in February 2025 by the RUA GOLD team. CSAMT is particularly effective at detecting ground resistivities to depths of several hundred meters, which can be interpreted to represent strong silicification and quartz veining when directly related to an area of intense alteration.

The survey identified several major, deep structures that align with features previously identified by UAV magnetics, gold-arsenic geochemistry anomalies, and mapped quartz veins, silicification and clay alteration (Figure 3).

Figure 3: CSAMT and IP resistivity results.

Glamorgan Exploration Overview

Following grant of a drone concessions in May 2024, and minimum impact exploration in July 2024, RUA GOLD's exploration commenced with UAV ultra detailed magnetic surveying completing 590-line kms of flying using Geometrics MagArrow magnetometer suspended under a DJI M300 drone. Interpretation of the data has assisted in defining key aspects of lithology and alteration of the Whitianga Group rhyolites, and Coromandel Group andesites. Major structural elements are interpreted in the data aligning with regional mineralization trends.

Soil sampling commenced in July 2024 sampling along 250m spaced crosslines with a sample spacing of 20m. 3181 samples were collected, dried, sieved in RUA GOLD's Waihi facility, then transported to Reefton for pXRF analysis. Each sample was also scanned using a TerraSpec 4 Hi-Res mineral analyzer to complete a picture of clay/alteration system enabling identification of the higher levels of the epithermal system. 50gms of soil was then freighted to ALS Brisbane for low-level precision gold assay. Arsenic anomalism with coincident gold anomalism highlights the four major soil anomalies A-D (Figure 2).

Anomaly A trends North north-west for 4.2 kms with conjugate gold-arsenic trends in a north-east direction. This anomaly remains open to the northeast. This north-east direction mirrors the orientation of the significant Wharekirauponga gold deposit 3 kms southeast of the Glamorgan permit.

Anomaly B trends northerly and follows north to northeasterly quartz veins mapped over 4 kms and open to the north and south. The southern end of this anomaly coincides with the Wentworth/Auckland historical mine workings.

Ultra detailed UAV magnetics flown by the RUA GOLD team highlights strong alteration (de-magnetization of the host rocks) enveloping the two anomalies and demonstrating a major alteration cell indicative of the footprint of a major epithermal system.

Field mapping (ongoing) has highlighted broad alteration and veining in situ, and areas of quartz-adularia float displaying banded, platy quartz after calcite, and brecciated andesite with stockwork veining increasing toward the zones of interest. Rock sampling both float and in situ sampling has returned encouragingly anomalous gold (refer to Table 2 in the appendix below), coincident with the zones of high soil geochemistry.

Figure 4: Location map with soil geochemical heatmap over the Wires 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 geophysical, sampling, and mapping programs to verify that they have been conducted in accordance with the 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 SOIL SAMPLES

A bulk sample of ~0.5-1 kg was collected in the field. 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 Waihi facility for preparation. 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 50-100g was scooped from the <180 m size fraction for analysis. The remaining material was retained and stored in Waihi.

The 50-100-g fine-sieved (<180m) soil sub-sample was sent to RUA GOLD's Reefton facility for pXRF using an Olympus Vanta hand-held analyser, and then on to ALS Geochemistry, Brisbane, for Au-TL43 analysis. The ALS analysis consisted of 25-g sample digestion by aqua regia, followed by trace Au analysis by ICP-MS. The detection limit for Au by this method is 1ppb. ALS Brisbane is independent to RUA GOLD.

Field duplicates were collected every 20th sample and underwent the same drying, sieving, pXRF, and gold assay process outlined above. Duplicates were checked and validated by RUA GOLD's Isogonal data validation system to ensure compliance.

QA/QC ROCK-CHIP SAMPLES

Rock-chip samples were collected in the field during routine mapping and soil sampling. The location of each sample was recorded in the field with a Garmin GPSMAP 66i and details of the samples recorded in a notebook or mapping application. Samples were photographed and sent to SGS Waihi for sample preparation. Sample information was entered into .csv files and uploaded to an SQL database.

Samples were crushed to 75% passing 2 mm (SGS code CRU75) and pulverised to 85% passing 75 m (SGS code PUL85_CR). The pulverised rock-chips were split into two samples: a ~50 g sent for laboratory analysis, and the reject returned to RUA GOLD for pXRF analysis and storage.

The 50 g sub-samples were analysed by AAS after fire assay at SGS Waihi (SGS code FAA505). Detection values for this method are 0.01-100 ppm Au.

SGS is independent to RUA GOLD and its laboratories are accredited to applicable ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

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 project and the results thereof; and the Company's acquisition of Reefton Resources Pty Limited. 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 unfavourable 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 CSE Form 2A - Listing Statement filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.

This news release references projects near to the Glamorgan Project and historical production from certain areas of New Zealand. Mineralization on nearby projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Glamorgan Project. Historical production from the Reefton Gold District or the Hauraki District is not an necessarily an indication that significant production will be possible from the Glamorgan Project.

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: Significant gold and arsenic assay results from soil samples.

Sample ID Easting_NZTM Northing_NZTM Au (ppm) As (ppm) WR10019 1846387 5875239 0.66 1052 WR18022 1845455 5873468 0.28 15 WR14016 1845843 5874398 0.26 36 WR05107 1848533 5875462 0.26 367 WR07134 1848758 5874761 0.26 26 WR06119 1848620 5875127 0.22 487 WR15027 1845911 5874072 0.19 119 WR11057 1846925 5874648 0.18 398 WR10018 1846369 5875249 0.18 353 WR09143 1848669 5874237 0.17 241 WR04109 1848691 5875660 0.14 1391 WR10019 1846387 5875239 0.66 1052 WR04111 1848726 5875641 0.06 954 WR04110 1848709 5875650 0.05 922 WR01116 1849182 5876244 0.10 896 WR16124 1847478 5872900 0.05 877 WR15118 1847496 5873177 0.12 857 WR11048 1846769 5874736 0.03 784 WR10033 1846630 5875102 0.06 772 WR15149 1848036 5872872 0.02 607

Table 2: Significant assay results from rock-chip samples.

Sample ID Location Type Easting_NZTM Northing_NZTM Au (ppm) GERS1666 Sutcliff Stream Float 1847056 5874959 8.25 GERS1669 Sutcliff Stream Float 1847092 5875111 7.15 GERS1661 Sutcliff Stream Float 1846787 5874763 4.37 GERS1663 Sutcliff Stream Float 1846916 5874785 3.95 GERS1667 Sutcliff Stream Float 1847113 5875120 2.46

1 See OceanaGold's news release dated February 19, 2025, for more information.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Mawson Finland Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MFL) is pleased to announce an important milestone in the permitting process that relates to the development of its 100%-owned Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in the Lapland region of Finland. The Company has initiated the "second phase" of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) procedure and chosen the consultant Ramboll Finland Oy ("Ramboll") responsible for the preparation work. This is a critical step for the development of the project and will foster further collaboration with both the authorities and stakeholders in the region.

Ms. Noora Ahola, Mawson Finland CEO, states: "We are very happy to announce that we have advanced in our Environmental Impact Assessment procedure, and have now selected a suitable consultant after a rigorous selection process. Ramboll is a highly respected and very experienced international consultancy office with a wide global network of experts, including experience in developing EIAs and related studies with Finnish mining operators. We are all very pleased to start working together and further develop the Rajapalot asset on its path to production. We would like to thank our shareholders, local stakeholders and communities for all the support and encouragement to continue developing and de-risking the Rajapalot project."

Highlights:

Significant milestone of the mine development journey by initiating the "second and final phase" of the EIA procedure De-risking the project and future mine permitting Further strengthening the stakeholder engagement and communication within the local communities



Responsible consultant selected for preparing the EIA Report ("second phase of the EIA procedure); Ramboll Part of international Ramboll Group A/S Widely experienced global network of experts Dedicated team of Finnish experts Recent clients from the Nordic mining industry includes for example Agnico Eagle (Kittila Gold Mine), Finnish Minerals Group (Terrafame Mine), Yara Suomi (Siilinjarvi Mine), Boliden (Kylylahti Mine) and Anglo American (Sakatti Mine project)

Strong local support for the progress and development of the project

EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure

In Finland and the European Union, regulatory environmental planning processes form the foundation for a structured permitting path required for sustainable mine development. The EIA procedure lays the groundwork for moving the Rajapalot project through all future mine permitting requirements (i.e., industrial zoning, extraction and operational permits etc). Throughout this procedure the Rajapalot project and future mine permitting can be further de-risked while the company continues the on-going resource expansion work.

This EIA procedure ensures not only the project's environmental responsibility but also facilitates meaningful stakeholder engagement in the development process. The EIA procedure includes two major phases: the Program phase (ie., "first phase") and the Report phase (ie., "second phase"). The "first phase", or the EIA Program, was finalized in late 2024 (see MFL news release dated December 10, 2024). This "second phase" or the EIA Report, will document and address any significant environmental impacts from mine development and continued operations. As such, Mawson has now achieved a significant milestone in this development journey by initiating the final "second phase" of the EIA procedure.

It is important to note that while this EIA procedure is not a permit, it provides the vital and underlying foundations on which any further mine permitting processes will require. It provides both the environmental baselines of the area, and any possible effects of the project which will be continuously referred to by the governing authorities during subsequent mine permitting. The EIA Report can be finalized after the Pre-Feasibility has been completed.

This same EIA procedure has been or is being presently undertaken by all the other mineral development projects in Finland, including the Ikkari project of Rupert Resources, Suhanko ("Arctic Platinum") project of CD Capital Natural Resources Fund III L.P., the Sokli project of The Finnish Minerals Group, and the Sakatti project of Anglo American.

Ramboll

Ramboll is a global engineering, architecture, and consultancy company with over 18,000 experts worldwide and 2,500 in Finland. In the mining sector, Ramboll combines international expertise with local insight to deliver responsible, technically sound solutions across the full mine life cycle. Core services include ESIAs, permitting, closure planning, and stakeholder engagement, all aligned with IFC, EBRD, and Equator Principles to ensure compliance and financing readiness. Ramboll's recent assignments include for example acting as GISTM Designer of Record for Boliden Kylylahti mine and leading the EIA for Yara Suomi's Siilinjarvi mine expansion. Ramboll has also delivered zoning and impact assessments for Anglo American Sakatti Mining, an IFC-compliant ESIA for Sydvaranger AS in Norway, and environmental permitting and risk assessments for Terrafame mine. Ramboll have provided land-use and permitting services also for Agnico Eagle's Kittila gold Mine.

About Mawson Finland Limited

Mawson Finland Limited is an exploration stage mining development company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of precious and base metal properties in Finland. The Company is primarily focused on gold and cobalt. The Corporation currently holds a 100% interest in the Rajapalot Gold-Cobalt Project located in Finland. The Rajapalot Project represents approximately 5% of the 100-square kilometre Rompas-Rajapalot Property, which is wholly owned by Mawson and consists of 12 granted exploration permits and one extension permit application for a total of 11,262 hectares. In Finland, all operations are carried out through the Company's fully owned subsidiary, Mawson Oy. Mawson maintains an active local presence of Finnish staff with close ties to the communities of Rajapalot.

Additional disclosure including the Company's financial statements, technical reports, news releases and other information can be obtained at mawsonfinland.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Media and Investor Relations Inquiries

Please contact: Neil MacRae Executive Chairman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +1 (778) 999-4653, or Noora Ahola Chief Executive Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +358 (505) 213-515.

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 news release. No securities regulatory authority has reviewed or approved of the contents of this news release.

Forward-looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information") which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, 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 information may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "aims", "may", "could", "would", "will", "must" or "plan". Since forward-looking information is based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, and management of the Company believes them to be reasonable based upon, among other information, the contents of the PEA and the exploration information disclosed in this news release, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, any expected receipt of additional assay results or other exploration results and the impact upon the Company thereof, any expected milestone independent data verification, the continuance of the Company's quality assurance and quality control program, potential mineralization whether peripheral to the existing Rajapalot resource or elsewhere, any anticipated disclosure of assay or other exploration results and the timing thereof, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, including drilling, soil sampling, geophysical and geochemical work, any expected search for additional exploration targets and any results of such searches, potential acquisition by the Company of any property, the growth potential of the Rajapalot resource, all values, estimates and expectations drawn from or based upon the PEA, and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: any change in industry or wider economic conditions which could cause the Company to adjust or cancel entirely its exploration plans, failure to identify mineral resources or any additional exploration targets, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, any failure to receive the results of completed assays or other exploration work, poor exploration results, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary and uncertain nature of the PEA, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Violent clashes between rival armed groups rocked the Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday night, with media reporting that the leader of an armed faction was killed.

AFP reporters heard heavy arms fire and explosions in several areas of the capital from 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) and authorities urged residents to stay indoors.

Libyan television channel Al-Ahrar and news site Al-Wasat reported the death of Abdelghani al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus, an influential armed group based in south Tripoli.

The interior ministry of the national unity government in Tripoli urged in a statement "all citizens to stay at home for their safety".

Local media said clashes broke out in the southern suburbs between armed groups from Tripoli and rivals from Misrata, a major port city 200 km (125 miles) east of the capital.

Libya is struggling to recover from years of unrest following a 2011 revolt that led to the fall of the late dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

It is currently divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, controlled by the Haftar family.

Despite relative calm in recent years, clashes periodically break out between armed groups vying for territory.

In August 2023, fighting between two powerful armed groups in Tripoli left 55 dead.

Several districts of the capital and its suburbs announced that schools would be closed on Tuesday until further notice.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya called for calm.

"UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli, with intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas," it said on X.

It urged "all parties to immediately cease fighting", warning that "attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes."

"UNSMIL fully supports the efforts of elders and community leaders to de-escalate the situation."
Bangladesh's election commission has suspended the registration of the Awami League, the political party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, barring its participation in future parliamentary polls.

The move comes after the interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus banned the Awami League on Sunday pending the outcome of a trial over its crackdown on mass protests that prompted Hasina's ouster last year.

The Awami League is the oldest political party in Bangladesh and led the country's liberation war in 1971.

According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 protesters died in July-August 2024 when Hasina's government launched a brutal campaign to silence the opposition.

Hasina, 77, remains in self-imposed exile in India and has defied an arrest warrant from Dhaka over charges of crimes against humanity.

Akhter Ahmed, senior secretary of the Bangladesh Election Commission, said they had suspended the registration of the Awami League based on a recommendation from the home ministry.

"The home ministry has imposed a ban on all sorts of organisational activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and the organisations aligned with it," he told reporters late Monday.

"In continuation of that decision, the election commission has decided to suspend the AL's registration with the commission."

Yunus, 84, has said parliamentary elections will be held as early as December, and by June 2026 at the latest.

The election commission also issued a directive prohibiting the party and its affiliates from conducting any political activity, including rallies and conferences, until the International Crimes Tribunal completes its proceedings.

In Bangladesh, political parties must be registered with the election commission to engage in political activities, including participating in elections.

It is the third time the AL has been banned.

The first came in 1971 under Pakistani military ruler Yahya Khan and the second was in 1975 under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman when he initiated a one-party government in Bangladesh.
Overnight clashes in Libya's capital killed at least six people, an emergency medical service said Tuesday, with local media reporting that an armed group leader was among the dead.

Heavy arms fire and explosions were heard in several areas of Tripoli from 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Monday as violent clashes between rival armed groups rocked the capital.

"Six bodies have been retrieved from the sites of clashes around Abu Salim" in Tripoli, the Emergency Medicine and Support Centre said.

Reports said Abdelghani al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) which controls the southern district of Abu Salim, was killed, with unverified images of his body circulating on social media.

The reports said he was shot at a base of the rival 444 Brigade while attending a meeting for mediation.

Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui said on social media that Kikli was likely ambushed at the base, citing a relative of the SSA leader.

Harchaoui described Kikli as one of Tripoli's "most successful armed group leaders", with an "ability to outmanoeuvre Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah".

The 444 Brigade, which controls other parts of southern Tripoli, is aligned with Dbeibah.

Harchaoui said this would mean a "territorial reshuffle" in the capital, with the 444 Brigade seizing areas formerly controlled by the SSA.

Libya is struggling to recover from years of unrest following the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that led to the overthrow and killing of longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi.

The North African country is currently divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli led by Dbeibah and a rival administration in the east, controlled by the Haftar family.

- 'Security and stability' -

Authorities had urged residents to stay indoors before saying several hours later that the fighting had been brought under control.

The Tripoli-based government on Tuesday said a "military operation" to restore "security and stability" in the capital had been successful.

An AFP photographer saw men in fatigues and armoured vehicles deployed in the city's main roads.

Dbeibah, in a post on X, thanked government forces "for restoring security and asserting the state's authority in the capital".

He later announced that several bodies previously run by the SSA would be dissolved or seized.

He also said Lotfi al-Harari, long seen as Kikli's right-hand man, would be replaced by Mostafa al-Waheshi as head of the Internal Security Agency.

"What was accomplished today shows that official institutions are capable of protecting the homeland and preserving the dignity of its citizens," Dbeibah said on X.

Despite relative calm in Libya in recent years, clashes periodically break out between armed groups vying for territory.

In August 2023, fighting between two powerful armed groups in Tripoli left 55 dead.

Authorities in several parts of the capital said schools would be closed on Tuesday until further notice.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya called for calm and urged "all parties to immediately cease fighting", warning that "attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes".

"UNSMIL fully supports the efforts of elders and community leaders to de-escalate the situation," it said on X.

bur/fka/bou/jsa

X
By Adam Plowright and Alice Hackman

More than 380 figures from the cinema world including "Schindler's List" actor Ralph Fiennes condemned "genocide" in Gaza in an open letter published Tuesday ahead of the Cannes Festival opening.

"We cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza," read the letter initiated by several pro-Palestinian activist groups and published in French newspaper Liberation and US magazine Variety.

The signatories -- which include Hollywood stars Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon as well as acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and former Cannes winner Ruben Ostlund -- decried the death of Gazan photojournalist Fatima Hassouna.

Hassouna, 25, is the subject of a documentary which will premiere in Cannes on Thursday by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, titled "Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk".

Hassouna was killed along with 10 relatives in an Israeli air strike on her family home in northern Gaza last month, the day after the documentary was announced as part of the ACID Cannes selection.

Farsi welcomed the impact of her film but called on Cannes Festival organisers to denounce Israel's ongoing bombardment of the devastated Palestinian territory.

"There needs to be a real statement," she told AFP. "Saying 'the festival isn't political' makes no sense."

This year's Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche was initially said by organisers to have signed the petition, but her spokeswoman told AFP that she had not endorsed it and her name was not published by Liberation.

Other signatories include Jonathan Glazer, the British director of Jewish origin who won an Oscar for his 2023 Auschwitz drama "The Zone of Interest", as well as US star Mark Ruffalo and Spanish actor Javier Bardem.

- War programming -

The Cannes Festival kicks off on Tuesday on the French Riviera, with an opening ceremony headlined by Robert De Niro and three films showing the devastation of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Two documentaries featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a third film shot on the brutal frontlines of Europe's biggest war in 80 years are to be screened on a "Ukraine Day" of programming.

It is "a reminder of the commitment of artists, authors and journalists to tell the story of this conflict in the heart of Europe", the festival said.

Nothing similar has been planned for the war in Gaza, but the film on Hassouna is set to "honour" her memory, organisers said previously.

Gazan filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser are also set to showcase their fiction feature set in 2007 in the Palestinian territory in one of the secondary sections of the festival.

The opening film on Tuesday evening is "Leave One Day" by French director Amelie Bonnin, a newcomer, before Hollywood heavyweight De Niro receives an honorary Palme d'Or.

- Depardieu -

De Niro is one of the most outspoken critics of US President Donald Trump in the American cinema world, with the "Taxi Driver" star often struggling to find words harsh enough for the US president.

Trump has made himself one of the main talking points in Cannes after announcing on May 5 that he wanted 100-percent tariffs on movies "produced in foreign lands".

The idea sent shock waves through the film world, though few insiders or experts understand how such a policy could be implemented.

Cannes director Thierry Fremaux talked up the festival's "rich" American film programme on Monday, with movies from Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Ari Aster and Kelly Reichardt in the main competition.

"American cinema remains great cinema. The United States remains a great country of cinema," he said.

Off-screen news in France is also likely to overshadow the red-carpet action in Cannes on Tuesday, with French film icon Gerard Depardieu facing a verdict in a sexual harassment case in Paris.

Depardieu, who has acted in more than 200 films and television series, is the highest-profile figure caught up in France's response to the #MeToo movement against sexual violence.

- Cruise in town -

While independent cinema forms the core of the Cannes festival, organisers also hand over part of the programme to major Hollywood studios to promote their blockbusters.

Tom Cruise is set to return to the Riviera for the premiere of the latest instalment of his "Mission: Impossible" franchise on Wednesday, three years after he lit up the festival while promoting "Top Gun: Maverick".

The festival will also see a series of high-profile debut films from actors-turned-directors, including "Eleanor the Great" from Scarlett Johansson and "The Chronology of Water" by Kristen Stewart.

Organisers on Monday denied reports that they had banned provocative near-nude dresses from the red carpet.

However, "full nudity on the red carpet" has been formally outlawed, "in keeping with French law".
The footage is grainy, and the sound quality muffled, and yet UN and Ugandan Judge Lydia Mugambes sharp gasp is audible, as her eyes widen. She has just been told by a British police officer  whose bodycam footage gives us the view of the scene  Unfortunately, I am now going to have to arrest you under the UKs Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The arrest took place in Mugambes home, in a village just a 20 minute drive from where she was pursuing her PhD in law  with a focus on human rights  at Pembroke College Oxford. In February 2023, police had received information indicating that a woman was being held as a slave at this address. In a trial at Oxford Crown Court in February and March 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) detailed how Mugambe had worked alongside Ugandas then-Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, John Leonard Mugerwa, and how the two had arranged to bring a young woman from Uganda to the UK on a visa that stated she would be working for Mugerwas office. Instead, Mugambe picked the woman up at the airport and drove her to her home, confiscated her passport and phone, and forced her to perform domestic labour.

Lydia Mugambe, as she is told that she is being arrested under the Modern Slavery Act. Still from Officer Bodycam footage shared by Sky News.

She said she would burn my passport

When the woman reached out to a friend who contacted UK police, evidence then showed that Mugambe tried to persuade the woman not to testify. The victim  who, under the UKs Modern Slavery Act, has been granted lifelong anonymity  told the court: My existence to Lydia was not important Even after the police had visited her house on first occasion, Lydia told me she had the authority and that she would burn my passport and bank card. She also said she would call the police because I was in the UK illegally.

A jury found Mugambe guilty of four counts: conspiring to break UK immigration law, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, conspiracy to intimidate a witness, and facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation. On 2 May 2025, Justice Sir David Foxton handed Mugambe a prison sentence of six years and four months, in what he said was a very sad case. The first three years of the sentence are to be served in prison, with the second half on license, in the community. She was also handed a lifelong restraining order against the victim, and ordered to pay 12,160 [14,440 ] in compensation.

A more political affair than it seems

The extraordinary case, which seemed to unfold rather quietly at first, finally ended this month with expressions of shock and indignation from various observers, practitioners, and researchers on international criminal law. But the events themselves reveal much deeper questions and issues of power, privilege, and politics.

In the rush to note the irony of an international judge and PhD student in international law and human rights being convicted of such serious crime, theres another aspect of Mugambes case that has been slightly obscured: the political.

First is the issue of her co-conspirator, John Leonard Mugerwa. Mugerwa knew, according to prosecutors, that the victim would work in servitude for Mugambe. According to media reports, Mugerwa and Mugambe struck a deal whereby he would support the victims fraudulent visa application in exchange for Mugambe trying to influence a judge back in Uganda, where Mugerwa was facing legal action. Justice Foxton noted that the Ugandan judge in question, to her credit, had refused to take Mugambes calls.

According to his LinkedIn, Mugerwa moved back to Kampala, Uganda, in September 2024, where he is currently serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The prosecution had authorised a charge against Mugerwa similar to Mugambes, but was unable to proceed due to his diplomatic immunity, which (unlike the UNs response to Mugambes charges) the Ugandan government did not waive.

It is possible that Mugambe herself may not remain in a UK prison, even for as long as half of her sentence. Ugandas Monitor reported as early as October 2024 that the Ugandan government had plans to save judge on trial in the UK. In April 2025 Uganda signed agreements with several governments  including the UK  which allows for Ugandans serving prison sentences abroad to serve the remainder of their sentences at home. Protesters outside Oxford Crown Court in May held up signs defending Mugambe and decrying the case as one of cultural differences, and political exploitation. One sign asked the question Who is Exploiting Who in this Case?.

While it was not clear (to me) what the insinuation of that slogan was, it does speak to a sense of perceived political manoeuvring apparently felt both by those defending Mugambe, and those at the prosecution office trying to unpack her conspiracy with Mugerwa. The March 2025 bodycam footage in which Mugambe indignantly asserted diplomatic immunity  I am a judge in my country. I even have immunity  smacked of privileged entitlement, at the time. While those words were not, strictly speaking, true, there is no doubt that the case is more political and politicised than it first appeared.

Power and (International) Law

Mugambe worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in the early 2000s and early 2010s, first in the Chambers Legal Support section, and then in the Office of the Prosecutor. In 2013, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni appointed her to Ugandas High Court. She served there until 2020, when she began working towards a PhD in Law, at the University of Oxford. Alongside her PhD, she was appointed as a Judge at the ICTRs successor, the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Trials (UN IRMCT).

Her profile on the IRMCT website  removed only recently, listed her initial appointment as 26 May 2023, and her current term as stretching from 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2026. She was listed as having been involved in a number of matters as a single judge. A scouring of available documentation on the Mechanisms digital database reveals just one mention of Mugambe. In November 2023, President of the Mechanism, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, denied the Stanislav Galics application for early release. Galic  former commander in the Bosnian Serb Army  was convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for his role in the campaign of sniping and shelling attacks on the civilian population of Sarajevo, between 1992 and 1994. In 2006, an Appeals Chamber altered Galics 20-year sentence to one of life imprisonment. In September 2023 Galic applied for early release (he also did so in 2021, and again in 2024). Judge Gatti Santana noted, in her decision to deny his release, that she consulted with Judge Alphons Orie, who had been a judge on the bench which sentenced Galic. As no other judges who imposed the sentence upon Galic are Judges of the Mechanism, she also consulted one Judge Lydia Mugambe, who agreed with Orie that Galic was ineligible for early release.

UN Mechanism opaque statement

As someone who observes a lot of international criminal trials  through the archive, video-link, or in person  I am always keen to remind people that judges are human, and not the consistently removed, objective, and rational automatons a trials audience often insists that they be. Usually, when I make the point about flawed judges, I am referring to instances where they get angry, emotional, or even on occasion fall asleep during a boring trial hearing.

When a serving Mechanism Judge was convicted of modern slavery, however, I expected quite a swift, severe, and public reaction from an institution steeped in the language of justice for victims of serious crimes. On all three counts, my expectations were disappointed. First, Mugambes profile remained on the Mechanisms website until 3 days after her sentencing  two months after her conviction. Second, the removal of the profile coincided with an opaque statement, noting that the Mechanism had waived the immunity Mugambe would have been entitled to as a UN Judge, but saying very little else. Third, the statement vaguely noted that since the Mechanism had become aware (in July 2024) of the investigation into Mugambe, it had taken all appropriate administrative actions, including discontinuing Judge Mugambes participation in Mechanism business. Mention was made only of certain charges against her: nothing about the nature of the crimes for which she was convicted.

As someone who had followed Mugambes case for months at this point, I found this reaction frustrating. But it also raises some important questions. What duty does an institution like the IRMCT have when dealing not with crimes committed by individuals it pursues, arrests, and tries, but by its own staff? Suspending Mugambes participation is only one step, surely, to protect the integrity of the institution. The statement ends with a note that further comment is impossible due to the confidential nature of internal procedures. But this confidentiality, combined with the slow response, gave observers an impression of inaction at best, and apathy at worst, in response to Mugambes crimes.

Integrity goes, surely, beyond the procedural? As the International Criminal Courts prosecutor Karim Khan faces a new onslaught of allegations that he is avoiding his own reckoning by Hiding Behind Atrocities, other justice mechanisms must surely reckon with the more political, public-facing aspects of the integrity of their work. In the case of Mugambe, a better balance between confidentiality, condemnation, and clarity seems to be in order. Two days after the first statement, a second followed, when Mugambe officially resigned as a UN Judge. Though almost identical, it contained a paragraph which read as follows: The charging and conviction of a United Nations judge for crimes of modern slavery, immigration violations, and witness intimidation are extremely grave matters. The Mechanism has and remains committed to facilitating the proper, fair, and efficient administration of justice.

How should international justice mechanisms proceed when the cries of injustice are coming from inside the house? It is, unfortunately, an all too topical question. The story of Judge Mugambe can (hopefully) show other institutions that the answer is not to plead confidentiality and fall silent. Procedural and public integrity must form a balancing act.
Bangladesh's election commission has suspended the registration of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's political party, barring its participation in future polls, a decision described as "concerning" by India on Tuesday.

It came after the interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus banned the Awami League party on Sunday, pending the outcome of a trial over its crackdown on mass protests that prompted Hasina's ouster last year.

The Awami League is the oldest political party in Bangladesh and led the country's liberation war in 1971.

According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 protesters died in July-August 2024, when Hasina's government launched a brutal campaign to silence the opposition.

Hasina, 77, remains in self-imposed exile in India and has defied an arrest warrant from Dhaka over charges of crimes against humanity.

"The ban on the Awami League is a concerning development," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi.

"We strongly support the holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh."

Akhtar Ahmed, senior secretary of the Bangladesh Election Commission, said the suspension followed a recommendation from the home ministry.

"The home ministry has imposed a ban on all sorts of organisational activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and the organisations aligned with it," he told reporters late Monday.

"In continuation of that decision, the election commission has decided to suspend the AL's registration with the commission."

Yunus, 84, has said parliamentary elections will be held as early as December, and by June 2026 at the latest.

The election commission also issued a directive prohibiting Awami League and its affiliates from carrying out political activities, including rallies and conferences, until Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal completes its proceedings.

The court was set up in 2009 by Hasina to investigate crimes committed by the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's war for independence in 1971.

Political parties in Bangladesh must be registered with the election commission to engage in political activities, including contesting elections.

It is the third time the Awami League has been banned.

The first came in 1971 under Pakistani military ruler Yahya Khan and the second was in 1975 under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman when he initiated a one-party government in Bangladesh.
United Nations relief chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday called on the UN Security Council to take action "to prevent genocide" in Gaza, delivering a scathing account of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territory.

Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, demanded that Israel lift its aid blockade on Gaza, where its offensive has killed tens of thousands and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.

"For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now?" asked Fletcher. "Will you act -- decisively -- to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?"

He alleged that Israel was "deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory."

Fletcher said UN agencies had "life-saving supplies" ready to deliver at the borders but were denied access by Israel. He also decried Israel's conditions for allowing aid delivery as "a cynical sideshow."

"It makes starvation a bargaining chip," Fletcher said. "A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement. If any of this still matters, have no part in it."

The Israeli proposal for aid deliveries, the details of which have not been made public, "practically excludes many, including people with disabilities, women, children, the elderly and the wounded," he said.

In a joint statement, five European members of the UN Security Council said that they were "deeply concerned" at the Israeli plan, "which the UN has said would not meet humanitarian principles."

"Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or a military tactic," read the statement by France, Britain, Slovenia, Greece and Denmark.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected the allegations against his government as "baseless and outrageous accusations."

- 'Children scream' -

The UN relief chief warned that while the International Court of Justice deliberated over whether Israel's actions in Gaza constituted genocide, "it will be too late."

"We have briefed this Council in great detail on the extensive civilian harm we witness daily: death, injury, destruction, hunger, disease, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, repeated displacement, on a large scale.

"We have described the deliberate obstruction of aid operations and the systematic dismantling of Palestinian life, and that which sustains it, in Gaza," he said.

On Tuesday, Israeli strikes on Gaza continued, with rescue officials saying an attack near a hospital in the south of the territory killed at least 28 people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his military would enter Gaza "with full force" in the coming days, after recommencing operations having broken a ceasefire two months ago.

The war began in October 2023 after a Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.

Israel launched a withering offensive in response, killing at least 52,908 people -- mostly civilians -- according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.

It has also targeted civilian infrastructure, destroying roads, schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods, alleging that Hamas was using them as cover.

"I can tell you from having visited what's left of Gaza's medical system that death on this scale has a sound and a smell that does not leave you," said Fletcher.

"As one nurse described it: 'children scream as we peel burnt fabric from their skin.'"

The senior official charged that the UN Security Council was not doing enough to prevent the violence.

"For those who will not survive what we fear is coming -- in plain sight -- it will be no consolation to know that future generations will hold us in this chamber to account," he said.

"But they will. And, if we have not seriously done 'all we could,' we should fear that judgment."






Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Kenyan socialite Amber Ray has penned a heartfelt post on Instagram to celebrate her daughter, Africanah Rapudo, as she turns two.

In a deeply personal reflection, Amber shared how the journey to motherhood for the second time unfolded.

Already a mom to her teenage son, Gavin, Amber disclosed that she had once vowed never to have another child before marriage.

Before I found out I was pregnant with you, the universe was already preparing me, the post reads.

I had vowed never to have another child before marriage, even though I knew I had the strength to raise one.

But God had His plan and He really wanted you here.

Apparently, she discovered she was pregnant just days after a painful breakup with her partner, Kennedy Rapudo.

At that time, your dad and I had broken up Yet even he had a dream of you, exactly how you are today.

However, the break up didnt last long.

Despite the fears of raising another child alone, Amber chose to embrace the journey.

I was scared but the moment I knew you were growing inside me, all those fears disappeared. I chose you with my whole heart.

She named her daughter Africanah, a name symbolizing the richness and strength of the African continent.

You are so loved, so adored. Your name, Africanah, carries the spirit of Africaits richness, power, and beauty.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - The opposition has rejected President William Rutos nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), accusing the President of manipulating the process to secure his 2027 re-election bid.

In a joint statement, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Martha Karua of the People's Liberation Party, the opposition decried what they termed as the blatantly partisan selection of commissioners.

They questioned the appointment of Erastus Edung as IEBC chairperson, citing his alleged ties to Deputy Chief of Staff Josphat Nanok.

They also raised concerns over Hassan Noors inclusion, claiming his selection was influenced by links to National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed.

"President Ruto has handpicked a partisan IEBC tailored to serve his re-election ambitions.

This is a project designed to rig the next election with the silent approval of his new ally, Raila Odinga," the opposition claimed.

They described the selection panel as an extension of State House, composed of loyalists and political insiders.

In response, they announced plans to establish a Peoples IEBC, a citizen-led watchdog to monitor the commissions activities.

We will not sit back as democracy is subverted.

The Peoples IEBC will uphold transparency, integrity, and constitutional values, they declared.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - A dramatic scene unfolded when President William Ruto was addressing a roadside rally after a man was blocked from gifting him bananas by one of his bodyguards.

The incident happened as the Head of State addressed a crowd about issues surrounding the cost of living and made his usual promises.

The man emerged from the crowd and attempted to approach the President with a bunch of bananas, only to be swiftly intercepted by a vigilant bodyguard.

In the video, the man is seen holding up a bunch of bananas and chanting hustler slogans, hoping to catch the President's attention.

However, he is ushered back into the crowd, bananas still in hand, as onlookers record the moment on their phones.

The incident has taken X by storm, with users sharing the video alongside humorous captions and memes.

Many have praised the bodyguards quick action, noting the importance of stringent security protocols, especially in light of recent breaches, such as the shoe-throwing incident in Migori.

Others, however, have expressed sympathy for the man, arguing that his gesture was a harmless act of goodwill, reflective of Kenyan hospitality.

Watch the video.

Kwenda Kabisa!! The moment RUTOs bodyguard blocked a man from gifting him bananas pic.twitter.com/Zb6T7cIwGn  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) May 13, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Former Chief Justice David Maraga and Peoples Liberation Party leader, Martha Karua, have strongly condemned President William Rutos recent comments regarding abductions and enforced disappearances in Kenya.

In separate statements issued on Tuesday, May 13th, the two leaders criticised President Ruto for what they described as a casual admission of past abductions, particularly those recorded in 2023, without acknowledging the suffering endured by the victims and their families.

Maraga specifically took issue with Rutos claim that no ongoing abductions exist and his assurance that such incidents would be eradicated.

He cited the unresolved case of Brian Odhiambo, who disappeared while allegedly in the custody of Kenya Wildlife Service officers.

It is unconscionable to hear the President claim, without any apology, that there are no ongoing enforced disappearances and that accountability mechanisms are in place, Maraga said.

Brian Odhiambos mother continues to search for her son, who was abducted four months ago.

There are many other similar cries for justice as we have seen in the petition launched on Mothers Day by the parents of youth killed during the protests in June 2024. He added.

He further demanded that the Government implement recommendations from the May 1st Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, which called for impartial investigations into excessive force used during protests and urged accountability.

Maraga also called for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Karua, on her part, demanded that President Ruto acknowledge the role of security forces in the alleged abductions and extrajudicial killings.

Citing the recent BBC documentary Blood Parliament, she urged the Government to hold accountable those security officers caught on camera.

Now that William Ruto has acknowledged abductions, he needs to go further and acknowledge extrajudicial killings and disappearances and the role of security forces in this, and take steps to have the culprits, including those captured in the BBC documentary, held accountable, she said.

President Ruto made the controversial remarks on May 12th, stating that all victims had been reunited with their families and vowing an end to such violations.

This comes after ten Kenyan civil society groups released a report titled Brutal Policing: 2024 Annual Report, documenting 159 cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances, with 104 linked to police officers.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi is facing a backlash online after making bold claims about the 2027 presidential election.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ngunyi alleged that President William Ruto has already laid the groundwork to secure a second term - despite growing opposition, particularly from Gen Z.

Ngunyi claimed that Rutos Government will deliberately frustrate Gen Zs access to national IDs, hindering their ability to register as voters.

He further alleged that Ruto has installed a friendly Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), led by Chairperson Ethekon, and will rely on the provincial administration under Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to control the electoral process.

In his post, Ngunyi wrote: Who will give Gen Z IDs? Murkomen.

Who will register them as voters? Ethekon.

Who will count the votes? Ethekon, with help from the provincial administration.

Who gives the orders? Their boss. Result? JUST GIVE UP!

The post triggered sharp reactions from netizens, many of whom dismissed Ngunyis remarks as alarmist.

Others pointed out that he made similar predictions about Raila Odinga's victory in 2022, which failed to materialize, accusing him of clinging to outdated political narratives.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - The Sudanese Government has announced plans to take decisive action against an unnamed "regional sponsor" of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rebel militia currently engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese army.

In a strongly worded statement, Sudans Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the external actor of launching airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and supplying the RSF with advanced weaponry, including drones and other military equipment.

Sudan claims the aggressors objective is to dismantle the Sudanese state, render it uninhabitable, and obstruct the return of millions of displaced citizens.

"The aggression is clearly designed to prolong the conflict and destabilize Sudan by supporting RSF with strategic drones, mercenaries, and other forms of military assistance," the statement read.

Officials further alleged that drone fragments recovered from attack sites indicate sourcing from the United Arab Emirates.

RSF leaders were recently hosted in Nairobi, where they were received by Kenyas Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji.

The rebels reportedly held closed-door meetings and were facilitated in signing a charter to advance their political and military agenda - raising serious diplomatic concerns.

This development follows earlier accusations by Sudan against President William Rutos administration for allegedly supporting the RSF.

Kenyas continued engagement with the rebel group has sparked regional and international concern, especially given its traditional role as a neutral mediator in African conflicts.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Tom Tuite

New criminal organisation charges have been brought against five men accused of attacking a man allegedly branded "RAT" and beaten in west Dublin.

Brothers Jason Hennessy Jr, 28, Devon Hennessy, 29, and 22-year-old Brandon Hennessy of Sheephill Avenue, Kenneth Fitzsimons, 45, and his son, Dean Fitzsimons, 24, of Castlecurragh Vale, Dublin 15, were remanded in custody earlier in connection with an incident on February 12 last at the Hennessy's home.

They were charged with various offences, including: causing serious harm to the alleged victim and falsely imprisoning him, as well as producing an article during a dispute.

However, the five appeared again before Judge Alan Mitchell at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday when gardai charged each of them with extra serious offences.

They were under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, "for the purpose of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence", on February 12 at the Hennessys' house.

Brandon Hennessy is accused of knowingly "holding down" the man while "RAT" was branded onto his face and torso.

Jason Hennessy and Dean Fitzsimons received identical charges alleging that their role was "branding the word RAT to the face and torso" of the man.

Kenneth Fitzsimons and Devon Hennessy's new charges were the same, accusing them of assaulting the man "in preparation for branding the word RAT onto his face and torso".

It is alleged that when the five men committed the offences outlined, they were "participating in an activity of the organisation".

Garda Sergeant Emma Ryan told Judge Mitchell they did not reply when charged. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed a trial on indictment at a higher level.

The five men represented by solicitors Amanda Connolly and Simon Fleming have yet to enter pleas.

They were remanded in custody pending the preparation of books of evidence and will appear again next Tuesday.

Due to the category of the new charges, bail applications can only be made in the High Court.
Athy Sing and Sign group spent their bank holiday Monday fundraising for the Deaf Ethiopian Project (DEP).

Some members of the group generously gave up their holiday to help screen print designs created by deaf students from Holy Family School for the Deaf, Bishopstown, Bishopstown Community School, and Mid West School for the Deaf in Limerick.

These unique designs were developed last year during a creative collaboration in Athy as part of their creative cluster schools project.

The prints are being ordered by members of the Deaf Community to raise vital funds for the Deaf Ethiopian Project, which is a voluntary organisation committed to raising funds for the education of Deaf children at the Ambo Lazarist Deaf School in Ethiopia

With the school year drawing to a close and limited resources available, it wasn't possible to organise this screen printing activity again within the school setting.

Recognising the need for support, the senior group of Athy Sing and Sign was asked if they could help. In a great show of charity Amy Knowles, Megan Byrne, Ben Byrne, Amelia Nolan, Caoimhe Owens, Lily Bowden, and Mary Byrne stepped in to lend their time and skills.

I am incredibly proud of our members at Athy Sing and Sign who gave up their Bank Holiday to support this project," said Maggie Owens, chair Person of Athy Sing and Sign Club.

"Seeing their enthusiasm to help screen print these beautiful designs, created by deaf students, is a testament to our amazing members and our commitment to making a difference, at home and abroad."

The group wanted to express a massive thanks to Angelina Foster for generously giving up her time and opening her studio to allow them to create these bespoke prints.

The money raised from the sale of these prints will make a huge difference in the Ethiopia Deaf School. It will help deaf children there to learn a language and to communicate and providing the resources to make it possible.

For more information on EDP please check out their website at https://www.edp-ambo.com/
Kilkenny is to welcome a host of expert speakers in areas of law, history and technology this weekend for the inaugural Kilkenny Law Festival.

The festival is the latest addition to the summer events calendar from Kilkenomics founder Naoise Nunn. It will feature a wide-ranging variety of talks and events offering insights into the law and how it affects society, from talks on censorship and the Trump administrations assaults on justice, to fireside chats and podcasts with judges, to a discussion on a new Constitution for a United Ireland.

Other events include a screening of the documentary Blue Road: The Edna OBrien Story by director Sinead OShea, discussions mapping the future of legal tech and AI, and a debate on libel, defamation and the media.



Author Mark OConnell will speak about the Malcolm McArthur murders, while journalist Nicola Tallant will present an episode of the hugely popular Crime World podcast.

CLICK HERE FOR KILKENNY CRIME AND COURTS NEWS

There will also be talks on the merger of An Garda Siochana and DMP 100 years ago, and a legal-eyed review of the Sunday newspapers, while musical comedian Paddy Cullivan will be performing his sell-out historical show about the murder of Wolfe Tone and its impact on the formation of Ireland.

Im really excited for our audience in Kilkenny to get a better insight into the law and how it operates and affects them, said Festival Director and co-founder of Kilkenomics Naoise Nunn. Just like Kilkenomics, which has been going for 15 years now, I have similar hopes and expectations that Kilkenny Law Festival will become an annual opportunity for people to get to grips with everyday legal issues and their impact on their lives  and have a lot of fun too.



This is not a conference; more of an un-conference. We want people to have fun while theyre learning and understand that the conversations off stage are often as important as the ones onstage!

READ NEXT: WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY

Weve had a lot of support and engagement from the local community, with backing from the likes of Michael Lanigan, partner at PKHL solicitors and Kilkenny County Council.

Another of the festival founders, Mark Tottenham author and presenter of The Fifth Court podcast, said: As a barrister in practice, I am aware of the myths and misunderstandings about the law. However, the law affects almost every part of our lives, whether we like it or not. The aim of the Kilkenny Law Festival is to shed light on some of the legal issues of interest to the attendees as well as to discuss shortcomings in the law in an informative and entertaining way.

We are particularly lucky to have as speakers Marguerite Bolger, a High Court Judge from Kilkenny, as well as Alice Doyle, who sat on the Circuit Court in Kilkenny for well over a decade.

Enda Leahy, founder of digital startup Courts Data Solutions, which works with the UK Government to digitise legal data for public interest use-cases, said the idea was of a space involving world-class experts on stage with comedians, journalists, historians and commentators.

Its a great combination, aimed at making issues of law across the board, from history and society to emerging technologies, issues that might otherwise be arcane and inaccessible, into a fun and engaging event which anyone would be interested in, he said. And where better to do it? The finest little city in Ireland, with a long history of arts, education, and most importantly, craic!

For more information and tickets, click here.
Three Kilkenny students were honoured at a prestigious national awards ceremony celebrating outstanding entries in this years CareersPortal Career Skills Competition.

The Career Skills Competition, run by CareersPortal.ie, saw nearly 1,400 entries this year from students who had completed work experience placements.

Anna Morrissey from Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny City was awarded First Place in the Transition Year category for her in-depth career investigation into Medicine.

PHOTO: Pictured at the National Career Skills Competition by Careers Portal at the Department of Education was Eimear Sinnott (Careers Portal) and winner Anna Morrissey, Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny.Pic: Gary Ashe.

Her schoolmate Ruby Campion was also commended for her project exploring a career in Hospitality.

PHOTO: Pictured at the National Career Skills Competition by Careers Portal at the Department of Education was Eimear Sinnott (Careers Portal) and winner Ruby Campion, Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny. Pic: Gary Ashe.

Meanwhile, Wuraola Ojuolape, also from Presentation Secondary School in Loughboy, claimed Third Place in the Vlog category for her engaging video on a career in Pharmacy.

PHOTO: Pictured at the National Career Skills Competition by Careers Portal at the Department of Education were winners Bo Fleming (Gorey Educate Together), Maissane Chabira (Our Lady's Grove Secondary School) and Wuraola Ojuolapa (Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny). Pic: Gary Ashe.

All three students were recognised at a special event held at the Clock Tower in the Department of Education, where the top 29 students nationwide gathered to celebrate their achievements with families, teachers, and guidance counsellors.

Now in its 15th year, the Career Skills Competition encourages senior cycle students to reflect on their work experience and explore a potential future career. This year saw a record number of entries, with nearly 1,400 submissions and a 10% increase in participation.

Eimear Sinnott, Managing Director of CareersPortal, praised the calibre of this years entries: This competition continues to showcase the incredible talent, curiosity, and ambition of Irelands young people. By exploring real-world careers and reflecting on the skills theyve developed, students are not only planning for their futures  theyre actively shaping them.

Each winning student received a high-spec tech prize, ranging from MacBook Airs to iPads and Apple AirPods, while four schools were awarded 1,000 each to support their career guidance programmes.

The event also highlighted a growing interest among students in healthcare, hospitality, teaching, construction, politics, and space science, among many other fields.

Students were asked to detail relevant education pathways, key skills required, and how their experience influenced their career aspirations. The event also forms part of the Gaisce Presidents Award programme, with entries eligible under the Personal Skills challenge area.

The competition is proudly supported by a range of key industry and education partners, each presenting special awards in their respective fields. Failte Ireland recognises excellence in entries related to Tourism and Hospitality, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) recognises careers in the construction sector, ESERO Ireland champions careers in space, science, maths and physics, while An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta (COGG) celebrates outstanding entries through the Irish language. Their continued support is vital in inspiring and guiding the next generation of professionals across diverse sectors.

READ MORE | Five Kilkenny heritage gems you should visit as the sun shines!
The Winona Senior High School cafeteria is no longer just a place to prepare and eat food -- it's a place to grow it, too.

Each month, about 200 pounds of lettuce is grown in the cafeterias six hydroponic flex farms from the company Fork Farms.

The schools new farming system was introduced this school year and is the first flex connect growing system in the state and matches a growing trend in the region focused on hydroponic farming.

Across the river in Wisconsin, Tomah School District also offers students a fresher choice in veggies with its hydroponic practices.

Instant upgrade

The Tomah School District's entry into hydroponic food began two years ago, when the district agreed to purchase lettuce from Superior Fresh in Hixton for its lunch program.

District food service director Jesse Bender said students and staff noticed an instant upgrade in quality. He said the bright green color appealed to students, who suddenly were throwing a lot less lettuce in the trash.

"We were getting lettuce from California and Florida, and we found a lot of the lettuce we were bringing in was brown and rusted  it would last only a few days when it got to us," Bender said. "Kids just threw it away. They didn't want to eat it."

Superior Fresh stopped supplying schools late last year. But instead of returning to a conventional vendor, the district, with the help of local donations, bought its own hydroponic towers from Fork Farms. They were installed in December. By the end of January, Tomah students were already eating fresh, bright green lettuce grown within eyesight of the serving line.

The lettuce takes about 4 to 6 weeks to grow. One tower can feed the high school, and two can feed the entire school district. Bender expects the hydroponic towers to produce 100% of the school's lettuce needs next school year.

Bender said the Tomah district was paying $8,000 per year for lettuce. He anticipates the towers will pay for themselves within three years.

"This is super fresh, right here, right now," Bender said. "I wish we could have done something like this years ago."

I don't think it can be any more fresh," said Jennifer Walters, Winona schools nutrition director.

While the lettuce at Winona high school is helping fill stomachs there, it isn't actually cutting back on how much lettuce Walters orders from the district's other vendor.

I just see that the kids are actually eating more lettuce, more salads," Walters said.

The students eat about 60 pounds of lettuce each week.

Educational experience

Bender said the Tomah project is about more than just providing quality and cost-effective produce. Students maintain the towers and learn about hydroponic agriculture and the evolving science of plant growth.

"We wanted to get students involved in the process, so they can learn about where their food comes from, watch it actually grow and then get to eat it right here," he said.

The Winona project also has a student manager helping with the process. Sophomore Miriam Jackson helps harvest, plant, propagate seeds and checks the farms' water.

Jackson also regularly checks the farms' nutrient and pH levels and makes adjustments to ensure optimum growing conditions.

Jackson has been involved in hydroponic farming since her freshman year, using the agriculture department's two previous hydroponic farms.

Walters purchased the four additional farms for the cafeteria later, along with other necessary equipment, using grants.

Students are able to visually see sustainable agriculture and how that works and the process that goes into it, Jackson said.

Walters has taken note of the curiosity students express about the process.

There's students that are learning what goes into actual growing produce," she said. They're interested in knowing about where their food comes from, but I think it's really neat to show them how it's grown, because they can see it from the sprouts all the way to a full head of lettuce.

Growing program

The cafeteria isn't the only place in the Tomah high school where hydroponic food is grown. Towers in the agriculture classroom grow lettuce, while towers in the foods classroom have branched out into tomatoes and bell peppers.

Bender acknowledged there are questions about whether hydroponic farming can ever become a large commercial enterprise. For now, he said hydroponic agriculture is most suitable where the food is harvested for consumption on premises  a restaurant, school or hospital.

"For us, it's right here," he said. "You're not paying for transportation."

Bender is looking to keep the program going through the summer and establish a stand at the Tomah Farmers Market.

Walters and Jackson hope to expand the Winona district's hydroponic farming, possibly by adding different produce and more farms.
A guest post by Nick Hanne of the Free Speech Union:

As commemorations of the 80th anniversary of V.E. Day occur this week, it is worth remembering not only the 46 million lives that were lost, but also how close fascism came to permanently erasing liberal democracy in Europe. Until recently, the West found this commemoration of the end of WWII a comforting reminder that our forebears secured an unrivalled period of prosperity and peace. Liberal democracies for a good two generations have lived off the afterglow of that victory.

But in the last decade especially the durability of that prosperity and peace has been thrown into question. Major geopolitical upheaval  foreign conflicts, trade instability, and a rapidly changing information environment  has shaken our confidence in the seemingly unlimited promises of the post-war era. Anti-democratic approaches are no longer stigmatised. Many now embrace illiberalism online, not just in fellow democracies but here too in NZ. I think many of us, deep down, have been feeling quite acutely this vertiginous slide toward the precipice. The question is how to arrest it.

Last week, my colleague Steph and I had an opportunity on the Free Speech Union podcast to discuss with Shamubeel Eaqub, a NZ economist and commentator, his recently released research into social cohesion, or the notable lack thereof in this country. The news is bleak. Significant numbers of people feel disconnected from their local communities, while trust toward government and media is at rock bottom. Broadly speaking, Kiwis dont feel heard, are losing faith in public systems and institutions, and appear willing to entertain less democratic political solutions in the face of growing social and economic issues. Part of Eaqubs prescription for our fraying social fabric is a willingness for Kiwis to have the uncomfortable conversations where we confront the issues we ordinarily shy away from.

But how do we do this in the online world, where respectful discourse often takes a back seat to the spiteful vitriol of anonymous trolls? Understandably, many women feel vulnerable in this hostile environment, as Minister for Women Nicola Grigg recently pointed out at a Local Government NZ conference. The prevalence of online harm has become a serious issue, she argued, disproportionately impacting women who are in the public eye.

The question though, is what realistically can be done about it? It isnt clear beyond current laws, which address physical threats of violence and menacing behaviours like stalking, what feasible options remain for dealing with the problem of misogyny. This is why free speech must be protected: so we can all call out opinions we disagree with. Censorship does absolutely nothing to change someones mind and attitudes. Hateful, abusive statements online may be morally reprehensible and emotionally disturbing, but the sort of censorship dragnet needed to curb such nasty behaviour will inadvertently stifle non-malicious forms of expression essential for the preservation of democratic norms and culture.

Even if AI could provide an ideal moderating regime (which it has not yet even come close to sensibly or fairly achieving), a censorship filter would be doing little more than papering over the widening cracks emerging in civil society.

The increasingly troubled state of mind behind hateful language should be of deeper cause for concern and something which will require intervention at the level of local community rather than state regulation. There is also utility to consider; online discourse is the canary in the coalmine, a gauge of social cohesion and a test of the health of the body politic. But we deny ourselves this early detection device if the bird cant sing.

The Ministry for Women has released new training modules to address abuse directed at women online and while well-intentioned, at the Free Speech Union we are concerned the material leans too heavily on vague legal definitions that risk blurring the line between harm and legitimate dissent.

When people feel threatened and crave a sense of safety, its easy to settle for the appearance of safety rather than the real thing. Language, while capable of inflicting emotional harm, is not in itself the greatest threat to our well-being  physical violence is. Thats in part because violence, unlike speech with its dual powers for good and ill, has no potential upside.

Ample historical evidence exists of democracies refusing to tolerate violence without becoming police states. What we dont have are any examples of democracies where speech was ever comprehensively restricted without significant illiberal consequences.

If only certain staff at Environment Canterbury had understood this when they proposed that all members  including elected councillors  of the local government organisation be subject to a draconian media policy designed to limit criticisms of the organisation from within. If passed, it would have amounted, bristled one councillor, to a gagging order, with another asserting that as an elected representative of Canterbury ratepayers, the ability to challenge others in the organisation is my prerogative.

Unsurprisingly, with strident defenders of local democracy like these willing to resist such managerial overreach, the measure was soundly defeated. The long overdue resistance within local government is asserting itself and regaining territory hitherto surrendered to self-appointed censors.

As the army recruitment officers used to say, the question now is how many other Kiwis are willing to do their bit. Because lest we forget, it takes all sorts to preserve a democracy.
>>> 2025-05-11 air traffic control (PDF)

Air traffic control has been in the news lately, on account of my country's declining ability to do it. Well, that's a long-term trend, resulting from decades of under-investment, severe capture by our increasingly incompetent defense-industrial complex, no small degree of management incompetence in the FAA, and long-lasting effects of Reagan crushing the PATCO strike. But that's just my opinion, you know, maybe airplanes got too woke. In any case, it's an interesting time to consider how weird parts of air traffic control are. The technical, administrative, and social aspects of ATC all seem two notches more complicated than you would expect. ATC is heavily influenced by its peculiar and often accidental development, a product of necessity that perpetually trails behind the need, and a beneficiary of hand-me-down military practices and technology.

Aviation Radio

In the early days of aviation, there was little need for ATC---there just weren't many planes, and technology didn't allow ground-based controllers to do much of value. There was some use of flags and signal lights to clear aircraft to land, but for the most part ATC had to wait for the development of aviation radio. The impetus for that work came mostly from the First World War.

Here we have to note that the history of aviation is very closely intertwined with the history of warfare. Aviation technology has always rapidly advanced during major conflicts, and as we will see, ATC is no exception.

By 1913, the US Army Signal Corps was experimenting with the use of radio to communicate with aircraft. This was pretty early in radio technology, and the aircraft radios were huge and awkward to operate, but it was also early in aviation and "huge and awkward to operate" could be similarly applied to the aircraft of the day. Even so, radio had obvious potential in aviation. The first military application for aircraft was reconnaissance. Pilots could fly past the front to find artillery positions and otherwise provide useful information, and then return with maps. Well, even better than returning with a map was providing the information in real-time, and by the end of the war medium-frequency AM radios were well developed for aircraft.

Radios in aircraft led naturally to another wartime innovation: ground control. Military personnel on the ground used radio to coordinate the schedules and routes of reconnaissance planes, and later to inform on the positions of fighters and other enemy assets. Without any real way to know where the planes were, this was all pretty primitive, but it set the basic pattern that people on the ground could keep track of aircraft and provide useful information.

Post-war, civil aviation rapidly advanced. The early 1920s saw numerous commercial airlines adopting radio, mostly for business purposes like schedule coordination. Once you were in contact with someone on the ground, though, it was only logical to ask about weather and conditions. Many of our modern practices like weather briefings, flight plans, and route clearances originated as more or less formal practices within individual airlines.

Air Mail

The government was not left out of the action. The Post Office operated what may have been the largest commercial aviation operation in the world during the early 1920s, in the form of Air Mail. The Post Office itself did not have any aircraft; all of the flying was contracted out---initially to the Army Air Service, and later to a long list of regional airlines. Air Mail was considered a high priority by the Post Office and proved very popular with the public. When the transcontinental route began proper operation in 1920, it became possible to get a letter from New York City to San Francisco in just 33 hours by transferring it between airplanes in a nearly non-stop relay race.

The Post Office's largesse in contracting the service to private operators provided not only the funding but the very motivation for much of our modern aviation industry. Air travel was not very popular at the time, being loud and uncomfortable, but the mail didn't complain. The many contract mail carriers of the 1920s grew and consolidated into what are now some of the United States' largest companies. For around a decade, the Post Office almost singlehandedly bankrolled civil aviation, and passengers were a side hustle [1].

Air mail ambition was not only of economic benefit. Air mail routes were often longer and more challenging than commercial passenger routes. Transcontinental service required regular flights through sparsely populated parts of the interior, challenging the navigation technology of the time and making rescue of downed pilots a major concern. Notably, air mail operators did far more nighttime flying than any other commercial aviation in the 1920s. The post office became the government's de facto technical leader in civil aviation. Besides the network of beacons and markers built to guide air mail between cities, the post office built 17 Air Mail Radio Stations along the transcontinental route.

The Air Mail Radio Stations were the company radio system for the entire air mail enterprise, and the closest thing to a nationwide, public air traffic control service to then exist. They did not, however, provide what we would now call control. Their role was mainly to provide pilots with information (including, critically, weather reports) and to keep loose tabs on air mail flights so that a disappearance would be noticed in time to send search and rescue.

In 1926, the Watres Act created the Aeronautic Branch of the Department of Commerce. The Aeronautic Branch assumed a number of responsibilities, but one of them was the maintenance of the Air Mail routes. Similarly, the Air Mail Radio Stations became Aeronautics Branch facilities, and took on the new name of Flight Service Stations. No longer just for the contract mail carriers, the Flight Service Stations made up a nationwide network of government-provided services to aviators. They were the first edifices in what we now call the National Airspace System (NAS): a complex combination of physical facilities, technologies, and operating practices that enable safe aviation.

In 1935, the first en-route air traffic control center opened, a facility in Newark owned by a group of airlines. The Aeronautic Branch, since renamed the Bureau of Air Commerce, supported the airlines in developing this new concept of en-route control that used radio communications and paperwork to track which aircraft were in which airways. The rising number of commercial aircraft made in-air collisions a bigger problem, so the Newark control center was quickly followed by more facilities built on the same pattern. In 1936, the Bureau of Air Commerce took ownership of these centers, and ATC became a government function alongside the advisory and safety services provided by the flight service stations.

En route center controllers worked off of position reports from pilots via radio, but needed a way to visualize and track aircraft's positions and their intended flight paths. Several techniques helped: first, airlines shared their flight planning paperwork with the control centers, establishing "flight plans" that corresponded to each aircraft in the sky. Controllers adopted a work aid called a "flight strip," a small piece of paper with the key information about an aircraft's identity and flight plan that could easily be handed between stations. By arranging the flight strips on display boards full of slots, controllers could visualize the ordering of aircraft in terms of altitude and airway.

Second, each center was equipped with a large plotting table map where controllers pushed markers around to correspond to the position reports from aircraft. A small flag on each marker gave the flight number, so it could easily be correlated to a flight strip on one of the boards mounted around the plotting table. This basic concept of air traffic control, of a flight strip and a position marker, is still in use today.

Radar

The Second World War changed aviation more than any other event of history. Among the many advancements were two British inventions of particular significance: first, the jet engine, which would make modern passenger airliners practical. Second, the radar, and more specifically the magnetron. This was a development of such significance that the British government treated it as a secret akin to nuclear weapons; indeed, the UK effectively traded radar technology to the US in exchange for participation in US nuclear weapons research.

Radar created radical new possibilities for air defense, and complimented previous air defense development in Britain. During WWI, the organization tasked with defending London from aerial attack had developed a method called "ground-controlled interception" or GCI. Under GCI, ground-based observers identify possible targets and then direct attack aircraft towards them via radio. The advent of radar made GCI tremendously more powerful, allowing a relatively small number of radar-assisted air defense centers to monitor for inbound attack and then direct defenders with real-time vectors.

In the first implementation, radar stations reported contacts via telephone to "filter centers" that correlated tracks from separate radars to create a unified view of the airspace---drawn in grease pencil on a preprinted map. Filter center staff took radar and visual reports and updated the map by moving the marks. This consolidated information was then provided to air defense bases, once again by telephone.

Later technical developments in the UK made the process more automated. The invention of the "plan position indicator" or PPI, the type of radar scope we are all familiar with today, made the radar far easier to operate and interpret. Radar sets that automatically swept over 360 degrees allowed each radar station to see all activity in its area, rather than just aircraft passing through a defensive line. These new capabilities eliminated the need for much of the manual work: radar stations could see attacking aircraft and defending aircraft on one PPI, and communicated directly with defenders by radio.

It became routine for a radar operator to give a pilot navigation vectors by radio, based on real-time observation of the pilot's position and heading. A controller took strategic command of the airspace, effectively steering the aircraft from a top-down view. The ease and efficiency of this workflow was a significant factor in the end of the Battle of Britain, and its remarkable efficacy was noticed in the US as well.

At the same time, changes were afoot in the US. WWII was tremendously disruptive to civil aviation; while aviation technology rapidly advanced due to wartime needs those same pressing demands lead to a slowdown in nonmilitary activity. A heavy volume of military logistics flights and flight training, as well as growing concerns about defending the US from an invasion, meant that ATC was still a priority. A reorganization of the Bureau of Air Commerce replaced it with the Civil Aeronautics Authority, or CAA. The CAA's role greatly expanded as it assumed responsibility for airport control towers and commissioned new en route centers.

As WWII came to a close, CAA en route control centers began to adopt GCI techniques. By 1955, the name Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) had been adopted for en route centers and the first air surveillance radars were installed. In a radar-equipped ARTCC, the map where controllers pushed markers around was replaced with a large tabletop PPI built to a Navy design. The controllers still pushed markers around to track the identities of aircraft, but they moved them based on their corresponding radar "blips" instead of radio position reports.

Air Defense

After WWII, post-war prosperity and wartime technology like the jet engine lead to huge growth in commercial aviation. During the 1950s, radar was adopted by more and more ATC facilities (both "terminal" at airports and "en route" at ARTCCs), but there were few major changes in ATC procedure. With more and more planes in the air, tracking flight plans and their corresponding positions became labor intensive and error-prone. A particular problem was the increasing range and speed of aircraft, and corresponding longer passenger flights, that meant that many aircraft passed from the territory of one ARTCC into another. This required that controllers "hand off" the aircraft, informing the "next" ARTCC of the flight plan and position at which the aircraft would enter their airspace.

In 1956, 128 people died in a mid-air collision of two commercial airliners over the Grand Canyon. In 1958, 49 people died when a military fighter struck a commercial airliner over Nevada. These were not the only such incidents in the mid-1950s, and public trust in aviation started to decline. Something had to be done. First, in 1958 the CAA gave way to the Federal Aviation Administration. This was more than just a name change: the FAA's authority was greatly increased compared to the CAA, most notably by granting it authority over military aviation.

This is a difficult topic to explain succinctly, so I will only give broad strokes. Prior to 1958, military aviation was completely distinct from civil aviation, with no coordination and often no communication at all between the two. This was, of course, a factor in the 1958 collision. Further, the 1956 collision, while it did not involve the military, did result in part from communications issues between separate distinct CAA facilities and the airline's own control facilities. After 1958, ATC was completely unified into one organization, the FAA, which assumed the work of the military controllers of the time and some of the role of the airlines. The military continues to have its own air controllers to this day, and military aircraft continue to include privileges such as (practical but not legal) exemption from transponder requirements, but military flights over the US are still beholden to the same ATC as civil flights. Some exceptions apply, void where prohibited, etc.

The FAA's suddenly increased scope only made the practical challenges of ATC more difficult, and commercial aviation numbers continued to rise. As soon as the FAA was formed, it was understood that there needed to be major investments in improving the National Airspace System. While the first couple of years were dominated by the transition, the FAA's second director (Najeeb Halaby) prepared two lengthy reports examining the situation and recommending improvements. One of these, the Beacon report (also called Project Beacon), specifically addressed ATC. The Beacon report's recommendations included massive expansion of radar-based control (called "positive control" because of the controller's access to real-time feedback on aircraft movements) and new control procedures for airways and airports. Even better, for our purposes, it recommended the adoption of general-purpose computers and software to automate ATC functions.

Meanwhile, the Cold War was heating up. US air defense, a minor concern in the few short years after WWII, became a higher priority than ever before. The Soviet Union had long-range aircraft capable of reaching the United States, and nuclear weapons meant that only a few such aircraft had to make it to cause massive destruction. Considering the vast size of the United States (and, considering the new unified air defense command between the United States and Canada, all of North America) made this a formidable challenge.

During the 1950s, the newly minted Air Force worked closely with MIT's Lincoln Laboratory (an important center of radar research) and IBM to design a computerized, integrated, networked system for GCI. When the Air Force committed to purchasing the system, it was christened the Semi-Automated Ground Environment, or SAGE. SAGE is a critical juncture in the history of the computer and computer communications, the first system to demonstrate many parts of modern computer technology and, moreover, perhaps the first large-scale computer system of any kind.

SAGE is an expansive topic that I will not take on here; I'm sure it will be the focus of a future article but it's a pretty well-known and well-covered topic. I have not so far felt like I had much new to contribute, despite it being the first item on my "list of topics" for the last five years. But one of the things I want to tell you about SAGE, that is perhaps not so well known, is that SAGE was not used for ATC. SAGE was a purely military system. It was commissioned by the Air Force, and its numerous operating facilities (called "direction centers") were located on Air Force bases along with the interceptor forces they would direct.

However, there was obvious overlap between the functionality of SAGE and the needs of ATC. SAGE direction centers continuously received tracks from remote data sites using modems over leased telephone lines, and automatically correlated multiple radar tracks to a single aircraft. Once an operator entered information about an aircraft, SAGE stored that information for retrieval by other radar operators. When an aircraft with associated data passed from the territory of one direction center to another, the aircraft's position and related information were automatically transmitted to the next direction center by modem.

One of the key demands of air defense is the identification of aircraft---any unknown track might be routine commercial activity, or it could be an inbound attack. The air defense command received flight plan data on commercial flights (and more broadly all flights entering North America) from the FAA and entered them into SAGE, allowing radar operators to retrieve "flight strip" data on any aircraft on their scope.

Recognizing this interconnection with ATC, as soon as SAGE direction centers were being installed the Air Force started work on an upgrade called SAGE Air Traffic Integration, or SATIN. SATIN would extend SAGE to serve the ATC use-case as well, providing SAGE consoles directly in ARTCCs and enhancing SAGE to perform non-military safety functions like conflict warning and forward projection of flight plans for scheduling. Flight strips would be replaced by teletype output, and in general made less necessary by the computer's ability to filter the radar scope.

Experimental trial installations were made, and the FAA participated readily in the research efforts. Enhancement of SAGE to meet ATC requirements seemed likely to meet the Beacon report's recommendations and radically improve ARTCC operations, sooner and cheaper than development of an FAA-specific system.

As it happened, well, it didn't happen. SATIN became interconnected with another planned SAGE upgrade to the Super Combat Centers (SCC), deep underground combat command centers with greatly enhanced SAGE computer equipment. SATIN and SCC planners were so confident that the last three Air Defense Sectors scheduled for SAGE installation, including my own Albuquerque, were delayed under the assumption that the improved SATIN/SCC equipment should be installed instead of the soon-obsolete original system. SCC cost estimates ballooned, and the program's ambitions were reduced month by month until it was canceled entirely in 1960. Albuquerque never got a SAGE installation, and the Albuquerque air defense sector was eliminated by reorganization later in 1960 anyway.

Flight Service Stations

Remember those Flight Service Stations, the ones that were originally built by the Post Office? One of the oddities of ATC is that they never went away. FSS were transferred to the CAB, to the CAA, and then to the FAA. During the 1930s and 1940s many more were built, expanding coverage across much of the country.

Throughout the development of ATC, the FSS remained responsible for non-control functions like weather briefing and flight plan management. Because aircraft operating under instrument flight rules must closely comply with ATC, the involvement of FSS in IFR flights is very limited, and FSS mostly serve VFR traffic.

As ATC became common, the FSS gained a new and somewhat odd role: playing go-between for ATC. FSS were more numerous and often located in sparser areas between cities (while ATC facilities tended to be in cities), so especially in the mid-century, pilots were more likely to be able to reach an FSS than ATC. It was, for a time, routine for FSS to relay instructions between pilots and controllers. This is still done today, although improved communications have made the need much less common.

As weather dissemination improved (another topic for a future post), FSS gained access to extensive weather conditions and forecasting information from the Weather Service. This connectivity is bidirectional; during the midcentury FSS not only received weather forecasts by teletype but transmitted pilot reports of weather conditions back to the Weather Service. Today these communications have, of course, been computerized, although the legacy teletype format doggedly persists.

There has always been an odd schism between the FSS and ATC: they are operated by different departments, out of different facilities, with different functions and operating practices. In 2005, the FAA cut costs by privatizing the FSS function entirely. Flight service is now operated by Leidos, one of the largest government contractors. All FSS operations have been centralized to one facility that communicates via remote radio sites.

While flight service is still available, increasing automation has made the stations far less important, and the general perception is that flight service is in its last years. Last I looked, Leidos was not hiring for flight service and the expectation was that they would never hire again, retiring the service along with its staff.

Flight service does maintain one of my favorite internet phenomenon, the phone number domain name: 1800wxbrief.com. One of the odd manifestations of the FSS/ATC schism and the FAA's very partial privatization is that Leidos maintains an online aviation weather portal that is separate from, and competes with, the Weather Service's aviationweather.gov. Since Flight Service traditionally has the responsibility for weather briefings, it is honestly unclear to what extent Leidos vs. the National Weather Service should be investing in aviation weather information services. For its part, the FAA seems to consider aviationweather.gov the official source, while it pays for 1800wxbrief.com. There's also weathercams.faa.gov, which duplicates a very large portion (maybe all?) of the weather information on Leidos's portal and some of the NWS's. It's just one of those things. Or three of those things, rather. Speaking of duplication due to poor planning...

The National Airspace System

Left in the lurch by the Air Force, the FAA launched its own program for ATC automation. While the Air Force was deploying SAGE, the FAA had mostly been waiting, and various ARTCCs had adopted a hodgepodge of methods ranging from one-off computer systems to completely paper-based tracking. By 1960 radar was ubiquitous, but different radar systems were used at different facilities, and correlation between radar contacts and flight plans was completely manual. The FAA needed something better, and with growing congressional support for ATC modernization, they had the money to fund what they called National Airspace System En Route Stage A.

Further bolstering historical confusion between SAGE and ATC, the FAA decided on a practical, if ironic, solution: buy their own SAGE.

In an upcoming article, we'll learn about the FAA's first fully integrated computerized air traffic control system. While the failed detour through SATIN delayed the development of this system, the nearly decade-long delay between the design of SAGE and the FAA's contract allowed significant technical improvements. This "New SAGE," while directly based on SAGE at a functional level, used later off-the-shelf computer equipment including the IBM System/360, giving it far more resemblance to our modern world of computing than SAGE with its enormous, bespoke AN/FSQ-7.

And we're still dealing with the consequences today!

[1] It also laid the groundwork for the consolidation of the industry, with a 1930 decision that took air mail contracts away from most of the smaller companies and awarded them instead to the precursors of United, TWA, and American Airlines.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Columbia police set up a mobile command post in the Boone Health parking lot to provide support to personnel in East Campus.
CNNs Taylor Romine, Nick Watt and Elizabeth Wolfe reported and wrote from Los Angeles, and Zoe Sottile reported from New York. CNNs Matthew J. Friedman contributed to this report.
"Trumps war on science is not making America healthy again. It is making Americans and people throughout the world sicker," Sen. Bernie Sanders said in a statement.
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BLACKPINK's Lisa turned heads with a questionable outfit for the 2025 Met Gala.

The chart-topping star, famous for her stylish outfits and swanky performances, sported a black look for her first attendance at the sparkling event.

Though the ensemble was initially met with delight from fans over the striking black blazer accented with sheer panels, it soon became the center of an online controversy when fans noticed the embroidered faces on her lingerie  with some taking to social media to speculate that one of the embroidered faces bore a resemblance to a civil rights activist.

Met Gala Look Stuns Crowd for Entirely Wrong Reasons

Louis Vuitton dressed the 28-year-old K-Pop sensation for the Met Gala, which took place on May 5, 2025, in New York and followed the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."

The look consisted of a tightly fitted black blazer, which featured sheer panels, and a pair of black tights with the Louis Vuitton logo strewn all over them. But it was the lace bodysuit beneath that was the attention-grabber. The embroidered portraits on the underwear, which appeared to be of faces stitched into the fabric, caused speculation about one portrait being of Rosa Parks.

The backlash was swift. One social media user wrote:

despite saying the n-word multiple times and never apologizing, lisa doesnt seem to care as she wears underwear with images of ROSA PARKS, a civil rights icon who fought against racial injustice. pic.twitter.com/78P1LnCros  rim  (@bratzzzmin) May 5, 2025

Another user seconded their thoughts:

she didnt know it wasnt on purpose leave her alone its WILD how her fans will defend her grown ahh no matter what, even when she disrespects an entire movement, repeatedly uses slurs against black people, AND refuses to take accountability. pic.twitter.com/DUW1BiLoNY  rim  (@bratzzzmin) May 6, 2025

The third user raised concern too and asked why such a design on the carpet of the Met Gala, which clearly isn't in good taste:

And theres a logo covering like a quarter of her face. Her top had space for those faces if she wanted to pay homage to them, why the panties, not even respecting their faces and leaving them alone but also putting logos on topsmfh  Daisy (@bbynouve89) May 6, 2025

She is quite literally making fun of black culture on purpose because it is full of self victimization and absolute racism against not only whites but also Asian peoples. If people desire for this to stop, they should quit doing the same thing that they virtue signal against to  Lucifer (@revelifice18562) May 6, 2025

Louis Vuitton Explains the Design's Meaning

The debate about Lisa's ensemble had many questions about whether the faces stitched into her bodysuit were, in fact, intended to be images of Parks.

In response to the outcry, Louis Vuitton explained the design further. A spokesperson for the fashion house confirmed the embroidered faces had been designed by artist Henry Taylor, who had previously collaborated with the brand on the Men's Spring-Summer 2024 collection presentation. Taylor's work  a series of portraits of important people in his life, like Fern Fordham and Tom of Finland  was integrated into Lisa's look, which was intended as a larger artistic statement.

Louis Vuitton said the work had featured a "portraits of figures who have been a part of the artist's life," while declining to confirm whether it was that of Parks. In this case, the image may have been a nod to cultural and historical figures in fashion, given it occurred within the context of the Met Gala's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which among Black dandyism also encompasses a history of Black style,  but it sent mixed reactions online.

Originally published on Music Times
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Welcome to this weeks DefenseTech Brief from Defense-Update. This report brings you the latest developments in military technology, business, and investment opportunities, drawing on our recent articles and analysis. This week, we cover significant advancements across ground, air, and naval domains, highlighting new procurements, modernization efforts, and the increasing integration of autonomous systems. We also examine a recent geopolitical event that underscores the evolving nature of warfare and the critical role of advanced defense technologies.



Focus Shift? Autonomous Robotic Formations or Manned-Unmanned Teaming?

Following the cancellation of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) development, MQ-1C Grey Eagle UAS, and some of the AH-64D Apache squadrons, the US Army maintains its pursuit of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), with initial Human Machine Integrated Formations (HMIF) planned for fielding in 2027. Development focuses on introducing common control systems for both ground and aerial robots, enabling more streamlined operability of humans and robots.

The Armys HMIF concept envisions dismounted personnel and manned vehicles operating alongside robotic platforms serving as wingmen or systems capable of performing dangerous tasks, with machines making first contact with the enemy. The development includes modular, open architecture systems facilitating rapid technology integration. Control systems are being designed for integration into vehicles like the XM-30, current AMPV, and portable devices for infantry. The phased approach begins with teleoperation and progresses to greater autonomy based on field experiments and soldier feedback.

This approach represents a significant step towards modernizing ground combat, emphasizing phased autonomy and the reduction of risk to personnel. The focus on common control systems and modular architecture aims to create a flexible robotic ecosystem. Deferring larger platforms like the RCV indicates a desire to build experience with smaller systems before committing to more complex ones.

European Armored Modernization Efforts Underway

While the US Army discontinues large-scale productions of armored vehicles, European armies and armored vehicle manufacturers are scaling up manufacturing. CV-90, Boxer, Ajax/Ascod 2, and CAVS are only a few examples of the growing demand that spans all European countries, not only the largest military forces.

Greece is modernizing its mechanized forces by upgrading Leonidas AIFVs and M-113 armored personnel carriers. Israels Rafael and Elbit Systems have submitted competing proposals for M-113 modernization with engine upgrades, enhanced armor, and weapon systems. France has proposed selling surplus VBCI vehicles and producing new Philoctetes MK II VBCIs locally. Romania plans to purchase 246 tracked infantry fighting vehicles with bids from multiple manufacturers, emphasizing localized production and technology transfer.

Greek modernization brings legacy platforms to modern standards with comprehensive upgrades. Israeli proposals upgrade M-113s to A3 standard with improved automotive systems, armor, and weapons including 30mm turrets and SPIKE LR2 missiles. The French VBCI Philoctetes offer includes interim vehicles and local production with 40mm cannons. For Leonidas upgrades, EODH and Valhalla propose remote weapon stations and enhanced protection. Romanias acquisition is driven by the need to strengthen NATOs eastern flank, prioritizing industrial participation and technology transfer.

These programs demonstrate a trend toward enhancing the capabilities and survivability of armored forces in Europe. Greeces approach balances cost and capability needs, while the emphasis on local industry participation in both countries reflects common European procurement requirements. Romanias large-scale purchase signals significant investment in its land forces.

Denmark Bolsters Coastal Defense with Naval Strike Missiles

Denmark is strengthening its naval capabilities by acquiring Kongsbergs Naval Strike Missile (NSM), considering reactivation of coastal defense batteries, and boosting the anti-ship capabilities of its Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates. This acquisition replaces older Harpoon missiles and supports Denmarks plan to expand its naval capacity.

The NSM acquisition represents a significant upgrade for the Royal Danish Navy, providing advanced anti-ship capabilities. Reactivating coastal defense batteries with NSMs indicates a focus on area denial and maritime approach control. Utilizing the same missile system on both coastal batteries and frigates provides operational flexibility while supporting Denmarks naval expansion plans.

Denmarks decision underscores a clear intention to strengthen anti-ship capabilities and maritime area control, consistent with the broader European trend of investing in modern coastal defense systems. Platform integration across land and sea offers strategic advantages.

Advancements in Autonomous Aerial Logistics

Airbus U.S. and Shield AI are integrating Hivemind autonomy software into the UH-72 Lakota helicopter, creating the MQ-72C Logistics Connector capable of autonomous operations without GPS, communications, or human input. This supports the Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector program. Concurrently, Airbus pursues various European autonomy projects, including the VSR700 tactical UAS and advanced cockpit automation research.

The MQ-72C initiative aims to provide resilient supply lines for distributed operations in challenging environments. Hivemind enables autonomous flight without reliance on GPS or communications, addressing electronic warfare vulnerabilities. This transforms a conventional helicopter into an autonomous aircraft. Airbuss European projects include the VSR700 for naval missions and Clean Sky 2 research for civil aircraft cockpit automation. European autonomy programs like the Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) project focus more on foundational technologies for systems beyond 2030.

The MQ-72C represents a rapid application of advanced autonomy for contested logistics, contrasting with Airbuss broader European projects spanning civil and military domains. The U.S.-Shield AI collaboration leverages commercial expertise and rapid prototyping, with GPS-independent operation providing significant advantages in modern warfare scenarios.

Progress in RPAS Airspace Integration

The UKs Protector RG Mk1 (MQ-9B) has received certification to operate without geographic restrictions, including flying over populated areas. The German Heron TP has completed cross-border and upper-airspace flights, while the Swiss Hermes 900 Starliner has received dual military and civilian certification. European regulatory bodies are working to enable the full integration of large RPAS into general air traffic.

The Protector certification marks a landmark achievement, allowing a large RPAS to operate in the same airspace as manned aircraft. The German Heron TPs test flights refine procedures for RPAS integration, though it doesnt yet have unrestricted flight rights across Europe. The Hermes 900s dual certification allows civilian airspace operation. EDA and EASA efforts aim to eliminate special mitigation measures for large RPAS.

These developments show that regulatory and technical hurdles to integrating military RPAS into civilian airspace are being systematically addressed. The NATO STANAG 4671 standard serves as a key benchmark. Successful integration is crucial for routine deployment without requiring segregated airspace, though complete integration remains an ongoing effort.

UKs StormShroud Drone Enhances Electronic Warfare Capability

The UK has introduced the StormShroud unmanned aerial decoy for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), based on the Tekever AR3 UAS with Leonardos BriteStorm electronic warfare payload. The system is ground-launched and parachute-recovered, with Tekever announcing significant UK defense investment.

StormShroud provides the RAF with SEAD capability using a proven UAS platform. The ground-launched, parachute-recovered system favors endurance and simple deployment by small teams. Leonardos BriteStorm payload offers stand-in jamming and deception capabilities designed for small UAVs and attritable platforms. Importantly, BriteStorm is platform-agnostic and capable of integration into various systems. Tekevers investment strengthens the UK-Portugal defense technology partnership.

StormShroud with BriteStorm gives the RAF specialized electronic warfare and SEAD capabilities. The platform-agnostic payload increases utility across various uncrewed systems. The focus on an attritable platform accepts potential system loss during high-risk missions, an important capability in contested environments where air defense systems pose significant threats.

US Marine Corps Embraces Loitering Munitions with OPF-L Program

The US Marine Corps Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program aims to equip infantry battalions with loitering munitions, including AeroVironments Switchblade 300 and a reusable VTOL munition from Teledyne FLIR. The program began in September 2023, with the first systems for evaluation scheduled in early 2026. OPF-L supports the USMCs Force Design 2030 initiative.

OPF-L increases small-unit lethality and reduces reliance on external fire support. The battle-proven Switchblade 300 provides precision-guided strike capability at battalion level, while reusable systems offer mission flexibility. The program is explicitly linked to Force Design 2030, reflecting the Marine Corps shift toward distributed operations and incorporating lessons from recent conflicts. This initiative includes force structure changes, training, and new military occupational specialties.

OPF-L represents a major doctrinal and technological shift for USMC infantry, providing organic precision strikes at lower echelons supporting dispersed, self-reliant units. Multiple vendors and system types create a complementary capability mix, with rapid fielding timelines underscoring urgency.

Replicator 2: Scaling Autonomous Systems and Counter-Drone Tech

The Replicator initiative aims to rapidly acquire thousands of attritable autonomous systems. Replicator 1 focused on multi-domain autonomous systems, while Replicator 2.0 targets Counter-small UAS (C-sUAS) with low collateral damage capabilities. The initiative uses the Defense Innovation Units Commercial Solutions Opening process to involve non-traditional companies. Systems include loitering munitions, uncrewed vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and AI-enabled detection technologies.

Replicator 1 counters Chinas military buildup with mass quantities of low-cost autonomous systems. Replicator 2 addresses the growing threat of small drones, minimizing risks in complex environments. The CSO acquisition process bypasses traditional procurement bottlenecks. Replicator encompasses a portfolio including Switchblade 600 loitering munitions, AI for data processing, swarms management, and open system architectures. Allied participation demonstrates willingness to leverage international R&D.

Replicator represents a transformative DoD effort prioritizing speed, scale, and autonomy. The pivot to C-sUAS highlights the critical drone threat and need for scalable countermeasures. Non-traditional acquisition methods and broader industry engagement reflect fundamental shifts in defense procurement strategy.

India-Pakistan Conflict (May 2025): A Case Study in Modern Warfare

The week of May 5th-11th, 2025, saw rapid escalation to multi-domain conflict between India and Pakistan, including aerial combat, missile strikes, drone warfare, artillery duels, and cyber activities. India launched Operation Sindoor while Pakistan responded with Operation Bunyan al-Marsus. A US-mediated ceasefire faced immediate violations. Pakistan claimed cyberattacks against Indian domains, satellites, and government servers, while India released images of an allegedly Pakistani Turkish-made loitering munition.

This brief conflict demonstrated the operational integration of modern military technologies. Both sides employed missile strikes from standoff range, with India reportedly targeting terrorist infrastructures and military sites using cruise missiles, drones, and guided aerial weapons inside Pakistani areas. Pakistan claimed interception of five Indian fighter planes inside Indian territory, using Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air/air missiles, particularly Chinese PL-15 air/air missiles used in combat for the first time.

The conflict demonstrated the effectiveness of Indias multi-layered Air Defense network. These air defenses were employed primarily against Pakistani attacks by ballistic missiles, rockets, and drones. At the same time, across the border, Pakistans combat air defense relied on a massive deployment of fighter aircraft to repel the Indian attacks. However, this massive counter-air campaign failed to defeat the air-launched and ground-launched cruise missile attacks launched by the Indian side, allegedly at terror infrastructure and, later, early warning and air-base targets.

Drone warfare was prolific, with India and Pakistan claiming to have shot down dozens of Pakistani drones without providing clear evidence of such numbers. Pakistans claimed offensive cyber operations introduced non-kinetic attacks targeting critical infrastructure, causing disruption and outages in power services in Northern India. The rapid escalation highlighted volatility between these nuclear-armed states.

This conflict illustrates that modern conflicts are likely to be multi-domain, involving conventional, unmanned, missile, and cyber capabilities. The extensive use of drones validates the urgent focus on C-sUAS technologies. Claimed cyberattacks demonstrate the expanding attack surface in contemporary warfare, while rapid escalation underscores the importance of crisis management mechanisms and advanced defense capabilities.
While the United States Army continues to slow down and discontinue acquisitions of armored vehicles such as the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), European nations are aggressively moving forward with procurement and modernization programs for hundreds of armored fighting vehicles. This shift highlights diverging priorities in military spending and force structure development between the US and its European allies.

European Rely on Domestic Suppliers

The contrast between US and European acquisition strategies has become increasingly apparent. Even as Ukraine reportedly stands ready to commit to purchasing AMPV vehicles from BAE Systems to help sustain production lines that the US military is scaling back, multiple European nations are simultaneously launching or accelerating their own armor modernization initiatives.

These programs have evolved into comprehensive modernization plans spanning hundreds of combat vehicles that often include significant domestic industrial participation, technology transfer arrangements, and long-term sustainment strategies. Among these are various variants of the ASCOD II and Piranha 5 from GDELS, thousands of KF41 Lynx from Rheinmetall, various types of BAE Systems CV90s, and Polish Borsuk to be produced by the local company HSW, as well as CAVS 66 APCs, acquired under a joint procurement of four European countries. Upgrading and manufacturing of Main Battle Tanks include the latest Leopard 2A8 and new Rheinmetall KF-51 Panther tanks and future MGCS, currently on the drawing boards in Germany and France. US-made combat vehicles are almost absent from this race, as European countries tend to rely on local suppliers for their combat systems. Three countries that are about to invest billions of Euros in new AFV programs are Greece, Netherlands, and Romania.

Greeces Comprehensive Armor Modernization

Greece represents one of the most ambitious cases of armor modernization in Europe today. The Hellenic Armed Forces are pursuing multiple parallel tracks to modernize their mechanized infantry capabilities, with a focus on enhancing protected transport, mobility, protection, and firepower.

M-113 Modernization Proposals

A cornerstone of the Greek modernization effort involves upgrading their fleet of aging M-113 armored personnel carriers. At least two Israeli companiesRafael and Elbit Systemshave submitted competing proposals for this program through government-to-government channels.

Rafaels proposal, showcased at the recent DEFEA 2025 exhibition, involves modernizing between 300-500 M-113s in collaboration with Greek company METKA. Their prototype features a remotely controlled Samson 30 turret housing a 30mm Bushmaster cannon coupled with Spike LR2 missile launcher capability. The modernization package also includes enhanced armor protection, a new more powerful engine to handle the added weight, and comprehensively upgraded electronic communications systems to meet contemporary battlefield requirements.

Rafael has committed to establishing a production line in Magnesia, with METKA handling local assembly, manufacturing, and integration tasks.

Elbit Systems has countered with its own proposal based on established M-113 upgrade programs it has implemented for other international clients. Their upgrade would transform the M-113A1 into A3 configuration with comprehensive automotive system upgrades throughout the platform. The package includes a more powerful engine and improved drive systems to support the increased weight and operational demands of the modernized vehicle. Central to the upgrade is the integration of advanced 30mm turrets with M44 Bushmaster cannons along with SPIKE 2LR guided missile capability, significantly enhancing the vehicles firepower and engagement range.

Both Israeli proposals emphasize significant Greek industrial participation as a key differentiator.

The French Philoctetes Alternative

France has entered the competition with a proposal centered on the VBCI (Vehicule Blinde de Combat dInfanterie). The French offering includes an initial delivery of 88 surplus VBCI armored infantry fighting vehicles from French Army inventory as an interim solution, followed by the production of enhanced VBCI MK I vehicles fitted with remotely controlled turrets. These vehicles would feature 40mm CTI cannons, which the French position as more modern and powerful than the 30mm Bushmaster systems offered in competing proposals. The program would eventually transition to local production of an additional 280 Philoctetes MK II VBCIs, creating a substantial industrial opportunity for Greece. The package is rounded out with a comprehensive ammunition supply arrangement, extensive follow-on support commitments, and potential financing options from French banking institutions to make the proposal more economically attractive to Athens.

KNDS, the Franco-German defense manufacturer, has partnered with METLEN (a METKA subsidiary) to localize production, creating an interesting competitive dynamic as METKA is simultaneously partnered with Rafael on the Israeli proposal.

Leonidas AIFV Upgrade Option

A third modernization path focuses on Greeces indigenous Leonidas armored infantry fighting vehicles. The proposed Leonidas 3000 upgrade centers around replacing the STEYR 7FA diesel engine with a more powerful Caterpillar C7 providing 360 horsepower and 1,254 Nm of torque. The modernization incorporates the HWS Tyr 25/30 remote-controlled weapon station from Slovenian company Valhalla, with options for either a 12.7mm heavy machine gun with coaxial 7.62mm or a repurposed Mauser MK30F 30mm cannon sourced from retired Artemis 30 anti-aircraft systems. Crew comfort and protection receive significant attention with the addition of air conditioning, comprehensive NBC protection systems, and an Auxiliary Power Unit for improved field operations. The electronic architecture is completely overhauled with a digital backbone network featuring analog-to-digital interfaces for legacy systems, enhanced crew displays, and modern battlefield information systems. Survivability improvements include synthetic add-on armor panels, spall liners to protect against fragments, and reinforced underbelly protection against the persistent mine threat. EODH Dynamics, a new subsidiary of the EODH group, displayed the Leonidas 300 at the recent DEFEA. The vehicle was displayed with a turret provided by Slovenias Valhalla defense company and counter-UAS system provided by SignalGeneriX, among other upgrades.

Romanias Major IFV Acquisition Program

Greece is not alone in pursuing ambitious armor modernization. Romania has announced plans to purchase 246 tracked infantry fighting vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen NATOs eastern flank in response to perceived Russian threats.

Multiple platforms are under consideration for the Romanian requirement, with competitive offerings from across the global defense industry. These include the German KF41 Lynx from Rheinmetall, the British CV90 from BAE Systems, the Korean K21 Redback developed by Hanwha Defense, and the European ASCOD 2 platform that has seen service with several NATO countries. Each represents different approaches to balancing firepower, protection, and mobility for modern mechanized infantry operations.

Romanias program emphasizes technology transfer and domestic production capabilities, building on its existing experience manufacturing Piranha 5 IFVs and the upcoming production of Turkish Cobra II light armored vehicles.

Netherlands Seeking Combat General Purpose Vehicles

The Dutch Armed Forces are also advancing procurement plans for 100-150 Combat General Purpose Vehicles (CGPVs) to support their 43rd Heavy Mechanized Brigade. Implementation is expected between 2029 and 2031.

The Dutch procurement requirements specify Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) platforms to minimize development risk and accelerate fielding. The most likely candidates include the ACSV G5 from Germanys FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH, which the Dutch already operate in air defense and missile carrier variants, as well as the BAE Systems CV90, which currently serves in Dutch inventory as both a troop carrier and armored infantry fighting vehicle. The familiarity with both platforms would offer significant logistical and training advantages if either were selected.

Analysis: Diverging Transatlantic Priorities

These European procurement initiatives highlight a significant shift in defense priorities between the United States and its European allies. While the US Department of Defense has increasingly focused on high-end capabilities for great power competitionsometimes at the expense of legacy platforms like the AMPV and JLTVEuropean nations appear to be doubling down on traditional armored capabilities.

This divergence likely reflects differing threat perceptions, with European nations more immediately concerned about conventional land warfare scenarios on the continent. The continuing conflict in Ukraine has reinforced the enduring importance of armored vehicles in modern warfare, prompting these modernization efforts.

For defense contractors, particularly those with significant armored vehicle portfolios, these European programs represent crucial opportunities as US funding for similar platforms diminishes. The willingness of companies like BAE Systems, Rafael, Elbit Systems, and KNDS to pursue competitive industrial partnerships demonstrates the strategic importance of these programs to the global defense industrial base.

As the US continues to reassess its own force structure priorities, these European modernization programs may ultimately influence future Pentagon decisions about the role and importance of armored vehicles in future conflicts.
DEAR ANNIE: Im an 18-year-old girl, and Ill be starting college this fall -- a big, exciting change! But I have a friendship dilemma thats been weighing on me.

Back in 2022, I met a Japanese girl through a language exchange app. She was looking for someone to trade small gifts with, and even though it might sound strange, we hit it off right away and began exchanging packages and letters. Over the past two years, weve grown close, even though weve never met in person.

Recently, she spent a month studying abroad in Malta and made new friends there. While Im genuinely happy for her, I cant help but feel anxious. Im afraid shell drift away from our friendship and become closer to the people she met in Malta. I know its not fair, but I feel a bit jealous -- partly because Im an only child and dont have many close friendships, so I tend to hold on tightly to the ones I do have. I realize this can come across as territorial, even if I try to hide it.

I want to be honest with her about how Im feeling, but Im scared it will push her away. I dont want to come across as clingy or possessive, especially since we come from different cultures and communicate mostly online.

How do I handle these feelings without damaging a friendship I truly value? -- Only Child Holding On

DEAR HOLDING ON: Its natural to feel a little insecure when someone you care about forms new connections, especially when you dont have many close friends yourself. But friendship isnt a competition, and trying to hold on too tightly can do more harm than good. Instead of confessing jealous feelings, focus on continuing to be a kind, thoughtful friend. Trust that your bond will hold if its meant to be. Good relationships bloom when there is enough room to breathe.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.
Italian Presbyterian Church at 824-832 Ferry St. as seen on May 7, 2025. Chelsea McClure | For Lehighvalleylive.com

A former Italian Presbyterian church will soon offer Easton residents affordable housing.

For the past several months, Eastons Redevelopment Authority has been renovating the former church at 824-832 Ferry St. into apartments. With the units nearly complete, it will begin welcoming residents by July.

RDA will partner with Safe Harbor to place those who have graduated from their case management programs, according to RDA Deputy Director Michael Brett. He said it will set these individuals up for housing success, as many have faced past evictions.

Its a second chance for them, Brett said.

An affordable housing unit, which sits inside a former Italian Presbyterian Church, will begin welcoming residents in July. Chelsea McClure | For Lehighvalleylive.com

Rent will cost $925-950 per month, and residents will have 12-month leases. With four units in total, the apartments are equipped with a full kitchen, bathroom, laundry unit, closet spaces, and 1-2 bedrooms.

Each unit is about 700 square feet, and the entire building is about 3,000 square feet.

The project was funded by the HOME American Rescue Plan program, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and Community Development Block Grant. CMG of Easton completed the construction, and Scott Voelker of Eggmanink Design did the design work.

An affordable housing unit, which sits inside a former Italian Presbyterian Church, will begin welcoming residents in July. Chelsea McClure | For Lehighvalleylive.com

Brett said RDAs goal is to develop more affordable housing in Easton. With this in mind, they began seeking obsolete buildings.

Affordable housing is difficult to find in this market, Brett said.

The Italian Presbyterian Church opened in 1923 and it served as such until 1954 when the next parish took over. It was the Holy Temple of Easton until COVID-19 ultimately led to its shutdown.

The Easton Redevelopment Authority is converting a vacant church at 824-32 Ferry St. in Easton into four affordable housing units. Courtesy of the Easton Redevelopment Authority

RDA eyed the property, but a developer came in with intentions of high-end housing. It fell through, and Brett said it is unclear why. This opened the opportunity for RDA, and they purchased the gutted property in 2022.

Brett said the redevelopment makes efficient use of the small space, while keeping some of the historic aspects of the building. This includes the carved-in-stone sign for the church.

The purpose of the church was outreach and helping people who needed it, Brett said. That aligns with what were trying to do here.

Chelsea McClure can be reached at cmcclure@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on instagram at @chelsealehighvalley.
The U.S. State Department issued its highest travel advisory for Russia, warning Americans not to travel there "for any reason." AP

If youre thinking about traveling to Russia anytime soon, take note that the country is one place you should avoid traveling.

The U.S. State Department issued its highest travel advisory for Russia, warning Americans not to travel there for any reason.

Here is what you need to know about the travel advisory and why the U.S. government is saying you shouldnt travel there.

What does the latest travel advisory to Russia mean for you?

Item Detail Start Date May 8, 2025 Whats changing Updated travel advisory urging travelers not to travel to Russia for any reason due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism and wrongful detention. What will happen? Travelers should not travel to Russia and U.S. citizens already there are urged to leave immediately because the U.S. government can provide little support to Americans wrongly detained for any reason. Who will it affect? Travelers to Russia

The agency gave a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory to Russia due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism and wrongful detention.

What is the highest travel advisory?

There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4. When planning a vacation, you should check the current travel advisory for that destination.

Level 1 : Exercise Normal Precautions  This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.

Level 2 : Exercise Increased Caution  There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.

Level 3 : Reconsider Travel  There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.

Level 4: Do Not Travel  This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.

What should travelers to Russia do in light of this travel advisory?

The U.S. State Department warns travelers who decide not to heed the travel warning to do the following:

Be ready for the possibility of detention for an unknown amount of time, possibly without a clear reason, and without the ability to contact your embassy or anyone else for help.

Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries or power of attorney.

Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Review this list of documents to prepare for your trip.

Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care and custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.

Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.

Develop a communication plan with family, your employer or host organization. List how and when youll confirm youre safe (text or call). Specify how often you will do this.

Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.

Dont bring U.S. debit and credit cards or any electronic devices.

Log out of all social media accounts and do not access your social media accounts while in Russia.

Keep travel documents up-to-date and easily accessible.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Laois Biodiversity Week is back from May 16th to May 25th, and a wide array of wonderful wildlife events will be taking place across the week.

Hosted by Laois County Council in collaboration with the Heritage Council, this week-long celebration is packed with free events for all agesfrom bat walks to nature photography, from films to riverside strolls. Whether you are a nature enthusiast or just curious about the world around you, there is something for everyone.

Biodiversity Week is about opening the door to nature for everyone  whether thats through a walk, a workshop, or a film," said Lisa Doyle, Biodiversity Officer with Laois County Council.

Pictured: A Laois County Council Biodiversity Week event in 2024

"These events are a reminder that biodiversity is not something remote or abstract; its all around us, and it depends on us to thrive.

All events are free of charge, but booking may be needed for some due to limited spaces. To view the events see biodiversityweek.ie and email to book: biodiversity@laoiscoco.ie.

See the full list of events below:

FRIDAY MAY 16

Dusk chorus at Abbeyleix bog

Take a walk with the Birdwatch Ireland Laois branch to experience the dusk chorus at Abbeyleix Bog. Taking place from 8pm to 9:30pm, meeting first at Polly's Cafe in Abbeyleix. Attendees are advised that no dogs are allowed.

SATURDAY MAY 17

The Longest Malin to Mizen in Dunamaise Arts Centre

Grounded in Soil and Laois Co Co have come together for the Laois Premier of "The Longest Malin to Mizen" film screening and regenerative farm food event at Dunamaise Arts Centre. Your ticket includes a range of unique Organic and regenerative food Canapes cooked on the night.

The longest Malin to Mizen is an adventure undertook in August 2024 when the Grounded in Soil group cycled 1240km from Malin Head in the tip top of Donegal to Mizen Head the most southerly point of Ireland. Calling into ten of the top regenerative and organic farms to showcase the infinite health benefits of regenerative and organic agriculture on your community spirit, mental and physical resilience, environmental biodiversity while still producing the most nutrient dense and nourishing foods. Doors open at 5:30pm, with food served from 5:30pm to 6:20pm. The Film will show from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, followed by a Q&A to 8pm.

Portlaoise Bat Walk

An event for both adults and children. Learn about bats with activities for children. Discover the secret lives of bats on an evening stroll in People's Park, Portlaoise with Bat Conservation Ireland. Brought to you in collaboration with Laois County Council and the Heritage Council.

Attendees are asked to bring Hi-vis, Torch, sturdy footwear. Children must be supervised.



Meeting at Laois Partnership, R32 VY22 on Saturday, May 17 9.00 pm.

SUNDAY MAY 18

Nature photography with Rossa Bracken

Bring your camera and join photographer Rossa Bracken for a fantastic morning of nature photography.



Meeting at Richard Duff's Bird Hides, Ballyfin, R32 FFDO, from 9am to 11am.

Richard Duff's hides provide a perfect opportunity to see wildlife like this.

The participants will get to use professional cameras and learn basic camera skills.

Pictured: Stunning photography from Rossa Bracken

TUESDAY MAY 20

Ballyfin Dawn Chorus

Wake up with the birds and experience the magic of morning melodies at Irish Photography Bird Hides

at Richard Duff's Bird Hides Ballyfin, R32 FFDO Tuesday, May 20 at 5.30am.

WEDNESDAY MAY 21

Nature and Bees workshop

Calling all children! Come join Edel to learn about the importance of pollinators in our area in Durrow library. Discover the secret lives of bees on an afternoon stroll to identify flora and fauna.

THURSDAY MAY 22

Biodiversity in Business workshop

Kyra and team are delighted to give local SMEs a tour of the glamping sites, highlighting how we have embraced sustainability & biodiversity into our business.

Kyra and team and created habitats to enhance soil and pollinators, while running a successful glamping business

at Glamping Under the Stars, Cullenagh, R32 WP7V Thursday May 22 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm.

To book email: biodiversity@laoiscoco.ie.

The walk will include a trip through a wildflower meadows with information & examples of the wild plants, explaining meadow management & impact on everything from soil health to insect life, animal life, & bird life.

Kyra will highlight the various ways she have taken steps to maximise re-wilding & habitat creation wherever possible  adding hundreds of native trees, creating untouched wild areas, and grass roofs, and a large biodiversity pond, etc.

Pictured: Glamping Under the Stars' grounds

The team will share the story of the difference it has made to the immediate environment & the range of flourishing species on the site  from unusual insect life to bird life, amphibians, and small mammals from shrews & dormice to hares, foxes, squirrels, bats & pine marten.

The team will explain why this is important for business, branding, and guests, and perhaps give some inspiration to other businesses to look for ways to incorporate biodiversity into their own businesses.

There is an eco-friendly/low intensity warre hive for their own interest and attendees will be offered a taste of the small batch of honey harvested from the hive.

Water Quality Sampling- the river Erkina

The team at Nore Vision are delighted to host a river sampling evening on the River Erkina.

Maura and team will show you how to carry out river water quality sampling by looking at the invertebrates in the water. The numbers and types of invertebrates can determine the health of the river system.

Taking place at Bob's bar Durrow, R32 YY38 Thursday, May 22 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm.

FRIDAY MAY 23

Moth trapping and farm walk at Ballykilcavan

The Biodiversity walk at Ballykilcavan Farm will take in some of the natural and installed features on the farm that conserve and promote biodiversity.

David is one of the farmers taking part in the National Biodiversity Data Centres moth survey in 2025, and will have a moth trap to open to see what species are present (all moths will be released unharmed).

Pictured: A tour of Ballykilcavan Farm for Heritage Week, 2024

The walk will also take in the wildflower areas, wild grass areas, red squirrel feeders and pollinator habitats, and David will talk about land management and barn owl boxes.

Meeting at 8:30am at the visitor centre at Ballykilcavan, the event will run until 10am. The event is fully outdoors, so please dress appropriately.

SATURDAY MAY 24

Bat walk at Dunmore Woods

An event for both adults and children. Learn about bats with activities for children on Saturday 24 May from 9.30pm to 10.30pm.

Discover the secret lives of bats on an evening stroll with Bat Conservation Ireland. Brought to you in collaboration with Laois County Council and the Heritage Council.

Attendees are asked to bring Hi-vis, Torch, sturdy footwear. Children must be supervised.

Pictured: Dunmore Woods, Durrow. Photo credit- Laois Tourism

SUNDAY MAY 25

Nature and Heritage farm walk in Cullahill

Take a guided walk through farmland and wild habitats in Cullahill, with spectacular views from 2:30pm to 4:30 pm at Bunlackan Brew (R32 T9T2).

Coffee and Tea provided.
A man accused of murdering his wife said he held her and kissed her head moments after she died, telling Irish police there was no taking it back following the discovery of her body at their family home, a court heard.

Richard Satchwell said he lay on the floor with her body, and told detectives there was shame and panic.

Satchwell was arrested for the murder of his wife, Tina Satchwell, in October 2023, after her body was found in a shallow clandestine grave under the stairs of their home on Co Cork, six years after he reported her missing.

Satchwell, 58, of Grattan Street in Youghal, is accused of murdering his wife between March 19 and 20 2017.

He denies the charge.

Satchwell, originally from Leicester in England, formally reported his wife missing on May 11 2017.

He initially claimed he believed she had left their family home because their relationship had deteriorated and she had taken 26,000 euro in cash they kept in the attic.

Mrs Satchwells decomposed body was discovered lying face down in the grave, with her legs folded back over her thighs.

Following the discovery, Satchwell was arrested and questioned at Cobh Garda Station for almost three hours.

The jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin has been watching the lengthy interview.

Wearing a black polo T-shirt and grey trousers, Satchwell removed his glasses and wept as he claimed that on the morning of March 20 2023, his wife held a chisel in her hand and flew at him and he went flying back on the floor.

He made stabbing gestures as he described how his wife stood over him with the chisel, adding that he did not know how it happened.

He claimed he held her up with the belt of her bathrobe, adding that it was all he could do to hold her up before she just stopped.

Satchwell told officers he did not know what to do and lay there for a good 20 minutes to half an hour.

He said their two pet dogs sat looking at them and came over to his wife and started to lick her.

Satchwell claimed he held his wife and kissed her on the head.

There was no taking it back, he said.

I had shame, panic. I dont know.

He also told officers that the real reason he went to the church on his way to Dungarvan that morning was to light a candle for his wife, her mother and their dead pet parrot, Pearl.

Satchwell sat listening to his interview with his head in his hands and looking down at the court floor.

He told officers that after he returned to their home in Youghal, he was trying to think what he would do next and what my next move would be.

He said that Mrs Satchwell was a beautiful woman but said her face was all distorted with anger.

She wasnt a bad woman, just angry at times.

When she was calm she was loving.

I couldnt go back on it.

I panicked and once the lie was told I couldnt go back and thats the truth.

He said there was no excuses in not coming forward and revealing the circumstances of his wifes death.

He then told officers that he buried her under the stairs.

Giving evidence, Dr Laureen Buckley, a consultant forensic anthropologist, who studies bones, said that Mrs Satchwells body was found lying face down and wrapped in a sheet of black plastic.

She confirmed that no fractures were found on any of her bones, including her skull and neck.

Mrs Satchwell was removed from the shallow grave and placed in a body bag and taken to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

She said that her lower legs were folded back over her thighs.

Her right arm was tightly flexed and her left arm was loose and lay over her lower stomach.

She was dressed in her dressing gown and a purse was found in the left pocket.

Dr Buckley said that some of her bones had separated from her body, including two ribs and a neck vertebra.

She took a sample of her head hair a piece of bone was taken from her toe to carry out DNA testing.

Her identify was confirmed using dental records, the court was told.

The trial continues.
A man wanted to stand trial on terrorism charges has appeared in court in Co Tyrone after being extradited from the Republic of Ireland.

Omagh Magistrates Court heard that Sean Walsh, 58, of Belmont Park, Ballinlough, Douglas, Co Cork, is alleged to have attended a meeting which was targeted in a police surveillance operation against the New IRA.

A PSNI detective sergeant told the court that he had executed the extradition warrant on Walsh on Tuesday morning outside Newry.

He said there had been a lengthy courts and appeal process in the Republic of Ireland after the warrants were first issued by a Belfast court in November 2021.

The detective told the court the case against Walsh related to Operation Arbacia, which was a surveillance operation targeting alleged New IRA meetings.

He said police believe Walsh attended a meeting in 2020 in the Omagh area.

A number of other people have been charged as part of the same operation.

Walsh is to stand trial for offences of belonging to a proscribed organisation, directing terrorism, conspiracy to direct terrorism and preparation of acts of terrorism.

The charges relate to a meeting that allegedly took place at an address on Buninver Road in Gortin, Co Tyrone.

A prosecuting barrister told the court that she would oppose any application for bail.

She said Walsh had no address in Northern Ireland and had fought his extradition to the jurisdiction.

District Judge Peter Magill pointed out that Walsh had no legal representative in court and adjourned the case until Wednesday in Dungannon to allow for his lawyer to be present to make a bail application.
A Laois toll bridge has sustained damage following a fire on Saturday May 10.

A horse transporter and two of the toll booths at the M7 Toll Plaza in Portlaoise sustained damage when a vehicle travelling eastbound erupted into flames.

A Laois County Fire & Rescue Service Fire Officer has confirmed with the Leinster Express / Laois Live that no injuries were reported.

Fire control received multiple calls to a vehicle on fire at the M7 Toll Plaza, eastbound, at approximately 19:00 hrs on Saturday May 10," the representative explained.

"Fire crews from Portlaoise and Abbeyleix, along with a senior fire officer, responded and were in attendance at 19:23 hrs.

"When crews arrived, a horse transporter and 2 of the toll booths were on fire. The horse was safely removed from the vehicle.

"The incident was closed shortly after 22:00 hrs," they finished.

A video taken by a person on scene is circulating on social media.

Along with damage to the two toll booths, the full extent of damage is unknown as of yet.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a fire on the M7 near Junction 18 in Co. Laois yesterday, Saturday, 10th May 2025. The incident occurred at approximately 7.15pm. There were no reports of injuries. Enquiries are ongoing."

The toll road is on the M7 Limerick to Dublin route which also serves the Cork to Dublin route.

The toll plaza is located on the section of the M7 between Junction 18 (Portlaoise West) and Junction 19 (the M7/M8 interchange junction).

The Portlaoise toll bridge, located on the M7/M8 motorway, was officially opened in May 2010. It was designed and constructed by Roughan & O'Donovan-AECOM.
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Users of the Barrow have lodged a legal appeal against Waterways Ireland's plans dredge it and replace its banks with rocks.

Waterways Ireland was granted planning permission in March to carry out dredging and maintenance on the Barrow in Kildare, Carlow and Laois over the next five years.

The Barrow has an EU protected Eco status as a Special Area of Conservation.

Members of a Carlow group who had objected to the applications, have now gone to the national planning authority asking it to review the decisions.

Rosalind Murray and Art Mooney are members of the Carlow Barrow Users Group.

They had pleaded to protect the riverbanks, listing species living there including butterflies, otters, salmons, kingfishers, bats and bees.

"It is difficult to understand how a public body can submit such a destructive application in the 21st Century. The river corridor represents a last refuge for wildlife (continuous and significant habitat and biodiversity loss in Ireland has been well documented) and the proposed works by Waterways Ireland is going to erode and destroy this last refuge. This application, if permitted will allow this public body to destroy what it is charged to protect," they had said.

"It cannot be overstated how destructive the interventions proposed will be on the natural environment. Now Waterways Ireland intends to build retaining rock armour on 6650M of the Barrow Trackway. Soft, natural interface between bank and river is effectively to be replaced by a rock armour retaining wall. Trees and back drains are to be cleared without specification. We are hugely concerned that if Waterways Ireland implements its plans, in part or in full, the damage to our waterway system and the SAC will be significant and beyond repair.

"We ask the Councils and Planning Authories to demand that Waterways Ireland develop a sustainable plan for works on the River Barrow Navigation, which meet the Qualifying Interests of the Special Area of Conservation and Natura 2000 and to protect and sustain the river habitats and historic structures of the navigation for generations to come.

"The River Barrow is much loved by the community and visitors alike. It is a place where people stop and talk and the conversation always returns to what a special and unique place it is, and how lucky we are to have it. The grassy towpath was selected by the Irish Times in 2015 as one of the top tourist attractions in the whole island," the objectors said.

Read also: Laois to be part of new European Columban Way pilgrimage route

They also said that the public notices erected had not faced a public road.

The dredging work in Laois is proposed along a three hectare stretch of the Barrow Navigation in the townlands of Clogrenan, Crossneen and Ballyhide. It was approved subject to 17 conditions.

In its application to Laois County Council, Waterways Ireland had requested permission for;

(i)Maintenance and repair works to the Barrow Navigation comprising post-flood spot dredging and maintenance dredging, (ii) A new temporary access road providing access to the Barrow trackway from Leighlin Road to facilitate the proposed works, (iii) Temporary mobile welfare units and (iv), All works ancillary and incidental to the maintenance and repair works referred to above."

An Bord Pleanala will now review all the documents and submissions in the planning application and make a decision in the coming months.
A woman's ex-partner slashed the four tyres on her car after she ended their relationship, she told Naas District Court.

Tomasz Stalis, 36, whose address was given as Apartment 9, The Court, Dublin Street, Kildare denied criminal damage at Kerdiff Close, Naas, on March 27, 2023.

READ NEXT Man attempted to bite his partner, Kildare court told

CCTV footage of the incident which was obtained from a camera erected at the property by the landlord was shown in court. It showed a man approached a vehicle, making stabbing motions towards each of the tyres and leaving the area.

The defendants ex-partner said they showed the man approaching the vehicle and she recognised him as the defendant because of the way he walked, his short legs and his clothing.

Cross examined by solicitor David Powderly, the woman said she couldn't see the defendants face but she was 100% sure it was him.

Garda Ronan Fahy told of arresting the defendant at his address and said he was questioned.

Gda Fahy told Mr Powderly that the defendant denied the offence and said the man in footage was not him.

The garda agreed the only witness was the injured party and the defendants face was not visible on the footage. He said clothing which was similar to what was seen on the images was taken from the defendants apartment.

The defendant told the court that the man in the footage, shortly after 9pm, was not him. He said that two years previously he was charged with a similar incident and he said his ex partner had cut his tyres.

He also said he had accepted the break up of the relationship with her.

Judge John Brennan said there were other cars in the footage which the man could have gone for but didnt.

The court heard that the defendant has 54 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic infringements and is serving a sentence from June 2024 with a release date in 2026.

Judge Brennan imposed a four months custody term to run concurrently.
Garda officers and staff from across the country gathered in Dublin for a service to remember Kevin Flatley.

Colleagues of the garda who died after being struck by a motorcyclist on Sunday embraced in emotional scenes at Dublin Castle on Monday evening as they met ahead of the memorial service.

Those in attendance included colleagues both past and present from across Ireland who came to pay their respects, and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

Prayers were led by the Rev David Pierpoint and Father Joe Kennedy, both longstanding chaplains at An Garda Siochana.

Mr Flatley, 49, died after being hit by a motorcycle as he was recording vehicles speeds on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon.

President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris are among those who have expressed their sympathies and shock following the death of the married father of two who had served for 26 years.

He was the 90th officer to die on duty since the creation of the force in 1922.
The family of murdered GAA official Sean Brown have hailed a very promising meeting with Irish deputy premier Simon Harris.

Mr Browns daughter, Siobhan, said they left Mr Harris in no uncertain terms what us as a family have been going through.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Harris said the Brown family have waited far too long for an investigation into his murder.

Mr Harris said the failure to effectively investigate the murder was simply unacceptable, and pledged to continue to use every channel available to me to pursue this matter.

It comes after the UK Government confirmed it will seek to appeal to the Supreme Court over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into the killing of Mr Brown.

Mr Brown, 61, the chairman of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Co Londonderry, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997.

No-one has ever been convicted of his killing.

Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.

It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning.

Appeal Court judges in Belfast affirmed an earlier High Court ruling compelling the Government to hold a public inquiry.

It said the failure to hold such an inquiry was unlawful.

However, the Northern Ireland Secretary says the case involves a key constitutional principle of who should order public inquiries, the Government or the judiciary.

GAA president Jarlath Burns was part of the delegation which met Mr Harris at Government Buildings in Dublin on the 28th anniversary of Mr Browns murder.

Ms Brown said after the meeting that they had provided Mr Harris with clear documents as to what weve received throughout the course of inquiries and the failings by the British Government in dealing with an article two compliant investigation into our fathers murder.

He (Mr Harris) was very empathetic to our cause today and listened closely to us and we look forward to the Irish Government working alongside us in support of a public inquiry into our fathers murder, she said.

Speaking alongside her sister, Clare, and their elderly mother Bridie, she said they made it clear that the only mechanism to go forward is to have a public inquiry.

At this point we do (have confidence in the Irish Government), he has been provided with copies of all the documents that we have in our possession. He is fully aware of all the redacted material.

He is fully aware of the issues that we have encountered in this inquiry.

Mr Burns said he was there to represent the support of all the GAA people.

We have made it very clear that we will be with this family throughout this process, and I want to thank the Tanaiste for the time that he took to meet the family, the sympathy that he showed and the support that the Irish Government has given this family right from the beginning of this tragedy, and we know that that will continue and it will continue into his pressuring the British Government and (Northern Ireland Secretary) Hilary Benn to support the public inquiry as it should.

That is not an unreasonable request on behalf of the family and we are heartened by his words today.

Mr Harris also paid tribute to the family after the meeting

Bridie Brown and her family have shown enormous strength in pursuing this case and I will continue to use my influence and that of the Irish Government to bring about a resolution that is acceptable to the Brown family. They have waited too long, he said.
Uisce Eireann has launched a new Advanced Water Stewardship Programme for business customers who produce trade effluent and companies in Leitrim are being encouraged to sign up.

This fully funded training is delivered in partnership with Water Stewardship Ireland and the Sustainable Enterprise Skillnet. It is designed to help businesses address water quality and trade effluent challenges, prepare for upcoming regulations, and manage future charges more effectively.

One of the first companies to join the programme is Mondelez Ireland. Padraig Nolan, Facilities and Environmental Manager shared: We are delighted to have the benefit of this fully funded training, which supports both our business and the wider community.

"Its a fantastic initiative and we would highly recommend it to other companies managing trade effluent. The programme has helped us to think differently about our sites water impact and take positive steps toward environmental stewardship.

According to Uisce Eireann, the programme is ideal for site managers, environmental leads, and professionals responsible for water use.

Through a series of interactive workshops, participants will develop a tailored Water Charter for their facility  identifying risks, mapping water use and drainage, and finding opportunities to reduce, reuse and restore water on site.

Geoffrey Bourke, Head of Customer Operations at Uisce Eireann said: This programme supports our trade effluent customers and enhances water quality across Ireland.

"At Uisce Eireann, we are working toward a future where water is respected and protected for all. Supporting businesses in this way is key to that vision.

To learn more and register, click here

READ MORE: Leitrim secures major funding boost for Housing Adaptation Grants
This weeks Tech Tuesday, we look at six powerful marketing automation tools helping small and mid-sized businesses do more with less.

Whether its sending better emails, nurturing leads, or building customer journeys that feel personal at scale, these platforms are redefining how SMEs grow, engage, and convert. Some offer the ease of plug-and-play templates, others allow for deep behavioral targeting and CRM integration. But all of them are built to save timeand drive results.

HubSpot

HubSpot continues to be one of the most popular all-in-one platforms, especially for growing businesses that want simplicity without sacrificing depth. Known for its clean interface and seamless integration between marketing, sales, and customer service, HubSpot allows users to create automated workflows, manage leads, and track ROI in one place.

One of its standout features is the built-in CRM, which updates in real-time as contacts move through the funnel. HubSpots drag-and-drop email builder, smart content options, and robust analytics dashboard make it ideal for teams that want to scale without tech headaches. Its ecosystem is especially valuable for companies looking to unify all touchpoints, from website interactions to email campaigns and sales calls.

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign stands out for marketers who want more advanced control over their automations. It combines email marketing, CRM, and automation into one platform, with a strong emphasis on customer experience. Unlike more basic tools, ActiveCampaign offers multi-step, condition-based automation flows that can respond to user behavior with precision. Its ideal for businesses that want to build personalized journeys using if/then logic, scoring systems, and predictive sending.

Another plus is its powerful segmentation engine, which allows for highly targeted campaigns based on behavior, location, engagement, and purchase history. Despite its depth, its still accessible to non-technical users, though some onboarding is needed to unlock its full potential.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp remains a familiar name, especially for small businesses, freelancers, and creators who want easy-to-use tools without a steep learning curve. While it started as an email-only service, it has since expanded into a broader platform offering landing pages, basic automation, and even ecommerce support. What makes Mailchimp appealing is its simplicity: users can get started quickly, create branded campaigns with templates, and set up basic drip sequences. It also offers built-in analytics to track open rates, click-throughs, and revenue. While its not as advanced as others on this list, its affordability and beginner-friendly interface make it a go-to for those just entering the world of automation.

Klaviyo

Klaviyo has become the tool of choice for ecommerce brands, particularly those on Shopify or WooCommerce. It specializes in sending highly personalized messages across email and SMS, using real-time customer data to power its automation. Klaviyos strengths lie in its product-focused featuresthink dynamic product recommendations, abandoned cart flows, and post-purchase follow-ups. It offers deep segmentation based on browsing behavior, order history, and lifecycle stage, helping stores build relationships that convert. Its intuitive builder and strong reporting capabilities make it a favorite for online retailers who want to go beyond generic blasts and deliver messages that feel timely and relevant.

Marketo

Marketo, part of Adobes suite of enterprise tools, remains a powerful platform for B2B marketers and large organizations with complex needs. Its known for its advanced lead management, account-based marketing, and in-depth analytics. Marketo is built for scale, offering customizable workflows, dynamic content, and integrations with CRMs like Salesforce.

It excels at nurturing long sales cycles, scoring leads, and automating multi-channel campaigns. While its interface is less modern than some newer platforms, its feature set is unmatched for enterprise-level teams who need precision and control across multiple touchpoints and geographies.

Drip

Drip, on the other hand, is tailored for ecommerce businesses that want automation without the bulk. Its designed to be intuitive, offering pre-built workflows for common ecommerce triggers like cart abandonment, first purchase, and product views. Drips visual workflow builder and deep Shopify integration make it easy for brands to start personalizing quickly.

One of its biggest pros is the ability to create highly tailored messaging based on user behavior and preferences without requiring a developer. Its a strong choice for online stores looking to increase repeat purchases and lifetime value through targeted communication that doesnt feel spammy.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Telee Brown, a candidate for the North Shore City Council seat, appears in an undated photo. (Courtesy: Brown for City Council)
***READER DISCRETION ADVISED***

A MARRIED Cork farmer was found guilty of raping a man on two separate occasions in County Limerick, in a unanimous verdict by a jury.

Thomas Tossy Nyhan, aged 64, of Crookstown, County Cork, can be named for the first time, after a judge lifted reporting restrictions last Friday at the conclusion of an 11-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Mulgrave Street in Limerick city.

The accused, represented by Liam Carroll BL and Mark Nicholas SC, denied two counts of anal rape of the victim at a location in County Limerick, on dates in January 2011 and in April 2019.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring ordered that no details be reported which might lead to the identification of the victim.

READ MORE: 'A boy has got to do what a boy has got to do': Limerick rapist told teenage victim

The rape allegations were outlined in court by prosecuting senior counsel Fionnuala OSullivan and prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL, instructed by Aoife OHalloran, Chief State Solicitors Office.

The rape allegations first came to light after the victim told his doctor about the sex crimes following the second rape.

Nyhan accepted some sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim when questioned by gardai but he denied raping him, the court heard.

Speaking about the rapes, the victim told the court: I told him to stop, I didn't like it.

When the victim was asked by Nyhans counsel - Mr Nicholas - what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied, I was just scared, I just froze.

Mr Nicholas said Nyhan claimed the victim asked him for 150 cash for sex, and that the victim had removed his own pants and underpants for sex.

Mr Nicholas suggested the victim had been in possession of a knife and that as Nyhan was afraid youd harm yourself, he pretended to go along with it.

The victim told the court this was bulls**t.

He (Nyhan) put his penis into me, and before he put his penis into me, he spat down on my hole, said the victim.

READ MORE: 'Sexually abused for your sick pleasure': Man jailed for sex crimes against two sisters in Limerick

The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and despite pleading with Nyhan to stop the farmer thrust himself into the victim, told him he loved him, raped him, and afterwards kissed the victim on his testicles.

The victim told the court Nyhans denials of the rapes were lies.

It was like barbed wire going up your, (pause), it was like hell, like something burning you, said the victim, who became emotional while giving evidence.

The victim agreed with Mr Nicholas that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011.

The victim denied claims by Nyhan that he had asked him for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhans crotch a number of times.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both rape counts

Nyhan was remanded on continuing bail.

Sentencing of the convicted rapist by Ms Justice Ring is due to take place on June 23.
TWO LIMERICK students have been awarded an All-Ireland Scholarship, which will cover the full duration of their undergraduate studies.

Laurel Hill student, Olga Kyrychenko from Limerick city, and Luke O'Mara from Cappamore who attends school in Scoil Na Trionoide Naofa, Doon, were honoured at a ceremony on April 25 in the University Concert Hall (UCH), University of Limerick (UL).

In attendance at the ceremony was All Ireland Scholarships sponsor JP McManus, guest of honour and CEO of Cuan Mhuire Bruree, Sr Agnes Fitzgerald, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Patrick ODonovan TD and director of Skills, Strategy and Policy, Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, Graeme Wilkinson as well as the family, friends and school representatives of the scholarship recipients.

JP McManus said: I am honoured to be here to celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of these 125 students.

READ ALSO: Bright sparks from Limerick schools take home top prizes in national competition

To date, 1,924 students have received an All Ireland Scholarship and 1,382 of those students have since graduated from university.

Today is a very special occasion for the class of 2024, their families, friends, and teachers. We wish them all the very best as they pursue their studies and university and look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the years to come.

The All-Ireland Scholarships, established by JP McManus in 2008, provide financial support to gifted students pursuing third-level education.

Each year, 125 scholarships are awarded across the 32 counties of Ireland.

Recipients receive 6,750 per annum in Ireland and 5,500 per annum in Northern Ireland, covering the duration of their undergraduate studies.

The third-level educational scholarship is awarded to 125 of the highestachieving students per year, with a minimum of two students from each county.

The recipients must meet a further set of criteria, including attending a non-fee-paying school and be in receipt of a third level education maintenance grant from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) or be in receipt of an Education Maintenance Allowance in Northern Ireland.

The scholarship offers full academic and financial support for the duration of the students' third-level studies.
PLANS are being made to build a new special educational needs (SEN) unit at a city centre secondary school.

The board of management at St Clements College have announced their intention to seek planning permission for the construction of the unit as part of an extension to its building at South Circular Road.

An upgrade and replacement to an existing SEN unit the school has, the new development will feature three significant sized classrooms according to principal Michael OConnor.

READ MORE: Tensions high in Limerick town as armed gardai patrol streets after vehicle rammed

Also planned is an office, a practical activities room, a central activities room, a multi-sensory room, plus facilities focused on daily living skills.

Any addition is fantastic to a school. In this case it will make sure the students we currently provide for in our special classes will continue to be provided for, but now in state-of-the-art facilities, said Mr OConnor, who was appointed principal last autumn.

Parents, the principal said, are delighted with the development which is being led by the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

Senator Maria Byrne, who lives nearby, also welcomed the plans at the all-boys school.

Its a good news story to see this. Its a very welcome addition. Certainly so many students attend on a daily basis and I wish them the best of luck with their planning application, she said.
CEO of the HSE, Bernard Gloster will step down in March 2026 - three years on from his appointment.

The Limerick man will retire from the public service next year after almost 40 years in the public health service, it was confirmed in a statement this Tuesday morning.

Born in 1966, he grew up in Limerick city, but now resides in Kildimo.

READ MORE: Much-needed piece of equipment donated to Milford Care Centre

I continue to be privileged to serve in this very important role and for the coming months I will be working hard with the board, the minister, and the department to advance many improvements and responses to challenges, said Mr Gloster.

He has 38 years experience working in the health service and held a number of senior management positions. These included nine years as chief officer of HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare and three years as chief executive of Tusla before being appointed CEO of the HSE.

Mr Gloster said he wanted to bring certainty to the future leadership of the organisation as he is now in his third year as CEO.

I have today submitted my resignation to the chair of the HSE, Ciaran Devane and Minister Carroll MacNeill, allowing time to prepare for the next phase of leadership of our health and personal social services.

"I particularly want to thank the chair and the minister for the kindness shown to me during this significant personal decision. I will retire from the public service on March 5, 2026.

I also want to express my deep appreciation to all of our staff for the work they continue to do every day to serve the public, concluded Mr Gloster.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill extended her enormous thanks to Mr Gloster, describing him as an extraordinary public servant, who has dedicated himself, seven days a week, to improving the health service for everyone in Ireland.

Since he took over his position in 2023, Bernard has brought over 30 years of public sector experience to advance leadership across the HSE organisation and I have greatly appreciated his work, his expertise and his friendship in my short time as minister.

"I look forward to working with him in the coming months to continue our good work to advance a health system that works better for all, said Ms MacNeill.
Xi Focus: Nurturing overall cooperation between China, Latin America

Xinhua) 08:05, May 13, 2025

An aerial drone photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows the BYD battery factory in Manaus, capital of Amazonas state, Brazil. (Xinhua/Wang Tiancong)

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Invoked by the 18th-century English writer Samuel Johnson, the phrase "From China to Peru" once conjured images of distant lands bound only by imagination. Today, it sketches a far more concrete arc -- marked by shipping lanes, megaports and logistics corridors -- linking China and Latin America across the Pacific.

This transformation has gathered pace over the past decade, thanks in large part to the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, a cooperative mechanism launched under the aegis of Chinese President Xi Jinping. What Xi once described as "a young seedling" has since taken firm root.

Ten years on, this mechanism has matured into a key platform for South-South collaboration that has drawn China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) into a closer partnership across political, economic, cultural and other domains.

The forum's fourth ministerial meeting is set to take place on Tuesday in Beijing. Xi will address its opening ceremony and unveil new initiatives and measures to promote closer ties.

Qiu Xiaoqi, the Chinese government's special representative for Latin American affairs, said the upcoming meeting is expected to deliver a message of peace, development and cooperation amid global turbulence, charting a new chapter in China-LAC relations.

TOP-LEVEL DESIGN

China and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are fellow developing nations that hold common political aspirations, face similar development tasks, and can benefit from complementary economic strengths.

Spanning one-fifth of the world's land area and accounting for a quarter of the global population and economy, China and the LAC combined represent one of the most dynamic and promising regions on the planet.

"Our shared aspiration for independence, development and rejuvenation has brought us closer together," Xi said.

Since the turn of the century, ties between the two sides have grown rapidly. Both sides realized they needed something more than the traditional one-on-one tango -- a broader framework for cooperation.

During the CELAC summit in Cuba in early 2014, Latin American and Caribbean leaders expressed support for such a framework. Xi welcomed the move, saying that "the time is ripe."

In July 2014, Xi flew half the globe for his second visit to the region as head of state. He was heading for a BRICS summit in Brazil, state visits to some countries in the region, and a historic moment -- the first meeting between leaders of China and Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the Brazilian capital Brasilia, the leaders announced the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum, an institutional framework to advance the vision of building a China-LAC community with a shared future.

At the meeting, Xi laid out the guiding principles for this comprehensive cooperative partnership -- equality, mutual benefit and common development. Backing his proposal was a roadmap driven by trade, investment and finance.

Six months later, the inaugural ministerial meeting of the forum was held in Beijing, turning the vision of an overall cooperation platform covering China and all 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean into reality.

Observers said this marked a new phase of China-LAC ties, where China's cooperation with the region as a whole complements and strengthens its bilateral relations with individual regional countries.

Xi proposed principles for the forum's growth -- equal partnership, shared wins, flexibility and pragmatism, and openness and inclusivity.

Comparing it to a seedling just breaking through the soil, he said that "the forum needs the dedication and cultivation of both sides for it to grow bigger and stronger."

In the decade that has followed, Xi has provided consistent support to nurture this forum. At each of the three previous ministerial meetings, he offered clear guidance that helped shape the forum's development at key moments in its evolution.

Under the guidance of Xi and his Latin American and Caribbean counterparts, the forum now hosts a constellation of institutional interactions such as ministerial meetings, dialogues among foreign ministers, coordinators' meetings, and a growing number of specialized sub-forums ranging from digital technology to poverty reduction.

Chai Yu, director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Xi has led by example in advancing the forum's development, which is key to deepening political trust and building consensus on cooperation.

COMMON DEVELOPMENT

Chancay, a modest city on the Peruvian coast, has been transformed into a megaport equipped with towering cranes and unmanned trucks.

Last November, Xi and his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte inaugurated the port via video link from the capital Lima, marking the launch of South America's first smart port.

Built in just three years through Chinese-Peruvian collaboration, the port shortens the shipping time across the Pacific by nearly one-third, reduces logistics costs by 20 percent, and is expected to create over 8,000 direct jobs.

Boluarte lauded the project as a bold stride toward "deeper integration and shared prosperity with China" and "a gateway opening Latin America to the vibrant promise of the Asia-Pacific."

Chancay's story is the latest episode in the booming cooperation under the China-CELAC Forum. Across the region, more than 200 Chinese infrastructure projects have been launched -- generating over 1 million jobs.

In Brazil, an ultra-high-voltage transmission project has overcome challenges in delivering clean hydropower over vast distances from the Amazon. In Jamaica, a Chinese-built highway has cut cross-island travel time by more than half, while in Bolivia, satellite collaboration has enabled free television access for half a million households.

Visitors learn about coffee beans at the booth of Honduras at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Numbers tell a compelling story. Trade between China and the region reached 518.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, doubling the figure recorded a decade ago. By 2023, Chinese investment in the region had exceeded 600 billion dollars. These figures have exceeded the goals announced by Xi when he and Latin American and Caribbean leaders met in 2014 to plan for closer cooperation.

As the second-largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, China now has more free trade agreements in the region than anywhere outside Asia.

One such deal with Chile has turned premium cherries into a symbol of thriving cross-Pacific commerce. In 2024, Chile's cherry exports surged 51.4 percent to 3.57 billion dollars -- with over 90 percent going to China.

"The Chinese market has created a positive ripple effect in Chile, generating jobs across the supply chain, from harvesting to packaging," said Hernan Garces Gazmuri, a Chilean cherry producer who moved his family to Shanghai for greater business opportunities.

As Pavel Aleman, a Cuban scholar from the University of Havana, pointed out, China-LAC cooperation is mutually beneficial in essence, with China's economic vitality fueling Latin America's development, while the region plays a vital role in supporting China's continued growth.

"Deeper cooperation between the two sides can help offset the impact of tariff barriers and effectively counter global risks," he said.

Xi's signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought China into closer partnership with countries across the vast Pacific. To date, more than 20 countries in the region have joined the Belt and Road cooperation framework, and 10 countries have signed cooperation plans with China under the initiative.

Xi once described Latin America as a natural extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road -- an essential pillar of the BRI. He emphasized China's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the region, aligning development strategies and promoting shared growth.

"As we roll out the blueprint for the BRI, we strive to forge a route of cooperation across the Pacific, in order to draw closer the two lands of abundance of China and Latin America and the Caribbean," Xi said in his congratulatory message to the second ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum.

Beyond trade and investment, collaboration between China and this region has also deepened in the fields of science, technology and environmental protection. China has supported joint Earth-resource satellite programs with Brazil, contributing to efforts aimed at curbing deforestation and preserving biodiversity in the Amazon.

Xi said China and Latin America and the Caribbean should promote joint development to contribute to strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth of the global economy.

HEART-TO-HEART CONNECTIONS

Xi has long believed that strong state-to-state relations are built on people-to-people connections. Over his six trips to the region as head of state, he made a point of engaging with everyday people despite tight schedules.

In Costa Rica, Xi visited the home of a coffee grower who showed him around his house and plantation. Over a cup of coffee, Xi chatted with the family and shared that he, too, had rural beginnings -- having spent years working the land in his youth.

A girl learns Chinese calligraphy at the 4th edition of the Chinese New Year cultural festival at the National Arts Center in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, Jan. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

His engagement has ignited vibrant people-to-people exchanges, with cultural festivals, youth projects and journalist initiatives flourishing under the China-CELAC Forum.

To date, China has provided the region with 17,000 government scholarships and 13,000 training opportunities. It has signed 26 educational cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding with 19 countries and established 68 Confucius Institutes or Confucius Classrooms in the region.

Connections between China and the region have also been strengthened through practical measures -- such as the launch of new direct air routes and the inclusion of more Latin American countries in China's 240-hour visa-free transit program.

As many countries in the region now officially celebrate the Chinese New Year, a growing number of Chinese travelers have headed to Latin America in recent years -- some for business, others as tourists drawn by the region's stunning landscapes and rich cultural diversity.

These efforts have brought China and the region closer than ever, said Qiu, the Chinese government's special representative for Latin American affairs.

Both China and Latin America are home to ancient histories and flourishing civilizations. For Xi, civilizations grow richer and more colorful through exchanges and mutual learning.

In 2013, at Mexico's Chichen Itza, Xi explored ancient Maya ruins with archaeologist Jose Huchim Herrera. Amid stepped pyramids and temples, he inquired about the features of the ruins, such as the meaning of carved reliefs.

His questions revealed a deep curiosity about the host civilization, said Huchim Herrera.

In a signed article published last November ahead of his visit to Peru, Xi highlighted a cultural connection by pointing out the resemblance between the Incan gold masks unearthed in Peru and those discovered at the Sanxingdui archaeological site in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

That same month, a joint exhibition in the ancient city of Cusco showcased dazzling gold artifacts, bronze statues, jade treasures and wooden relics from Sichuan's Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, captivating nearly 10,000 Peruvian visitors.

Daniel Grimaldi, executive director of the think tank Chile 21, praised exchanges between Chinese and Latin American civilizations for opening new channels of communication. Such interactions, he said, strengthen ties through mutual respect and open dialogue, while supporting both sides on their shared journey toward modernization.

As Xi has said, in a globalization and information age, the Pacific is no barrier but rather a bond and a bridge.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Slovakia-based company Klein Vision has unveiled the production prototype of its AirCar, a two-seat flying car set to launch in early 2026 for $800,000 to $1 million.

The AirCar, the first flying car to be released in 75 years, according to HypeBeast, features retractable wings, folding tail surfaces, and a parachute deployment system, with a wingspan of 8.2 meters. The vehicle can transition from car mode to flying mode in under two minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), according to the company.

Powered by a petrol-fueled engine, it comes in three versions, 280 hp, 320 hp, and 340 hp, all designed to meet future emissions regulations, according to BBC Top Gear.

The company also states a safe top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). In car mode the vehicle measures 2 meters wide, 5.8 meters long, and 1.8 meters tall, similar in size to a Rolls-Royce Phantom, apart from its height. With three fuel tanks totaling 160 liters, the AirCar can cover a range of 621 miles (nearly 1,000 km).

Manufacturing will take place in Nitra, Slovakia, according to IoT World Today. Additionally, Klein Vision has granted exclusive production and distribution rights to Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology in China under a licensing agreement.

Slovakia-based Klein Visions type="video"M flying car set to hit market in 2026 Slovakia-based Klein Visions type="video" million flying car set to hit market in 2026 Klein Vison promotional video for the AirCar. Video courtesy of Klein Vision Klein Vision introduced its flying vehicle at a gala dinner in Beverly Hills, U.S., last week, where designer Stefan Klein received the Special Recognition Award for Engineering Excellence. Klein expressed his gratitude, saying, "With the launch of our production prototype, we are one step closer to transforming how the world moves, merging the road and the sky into a new dimension of personal mobility."

Anton Zajac, co-founder of AirCar, stated, "The AirCar is a fusion of certified aviation engineering and advanced automotive design, a true dual-mode vehicle that meets rigorous standards in both air and ground performance."

"Were not just witnessing the future of transportation, were engineering it."

The AirCar holds a Certificate of Airworthiness and has completed over 170 flight hours, including more than 500 takeoffs and landings. It made history when French composer Jean-Michel Jarre became the first passenger in the vehicle last year at Piestany International Airport in Slovakia, flying at an altitude of 2,500 feet with Klein piloting.
Irish tourists have been warned to pack an essential travel item ahead of the summer holidays which could save them a lot of hassle and money while abroad.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a must when travelling incase you or any member of your family, including children, who you are travelling with suddenly gets sick and needs medical attention.

The EHIC will allow you to access public healthcare in any EU/EEA state for a reduced rate or completely free.

While this card is important to obtain, it important to understand that it is not an alternative to travel insurance, as it will not cover private healthcare, costs of travelling to receive healthcare, lost or stolen property while abroad and it does not cover the cost of a return flight.

It also does not guarantee free medical services and travellers should note that if something is free in Ireland it doesn't necessarily mean that service will be free in another country.

READ NEXT: Ten food businesses across Ireland forced to shut doors as mouse droppings and bad hygiene cited

The EHIC will enable you to get healthcare abroad at a reduced cost, or for free, if you're:

On holiday

On a short-term stay of no longer than three months

Studying abroad - students will be covered for the academic year

To obtain an EHIC you must live in Ireland or another EU country or EEA member state or Switzerland.

How to apply?

You can apply if you're living in Ireland and intent to live here for at least one year

In person at any local health office

Online - If you have a medical card or Drugs Payment Scheme Card

By post at any local health office

A parent or guardian must apply for any child under 16 and it should be noted that the card can take up to 10 days to arrive after applying.

If you need it sooner, the HSE has said, "If you need an EHIC urgently, you can get a temporary replacement certificate in person at your local public EHIC office."
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said there are disturbing implications if some of the claims made about unnecessary child hip surgeries are true.

An audit was conducted into a random anonymised sample of patients, aged one to seven years, who were operated on from 2021 to 2023.

The audit was carried out after concerns were raised around different standards and surgical practices for developmental dysplasia at Crumlin, Temple Street and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh.

The Taoiseach told the Dail that the audit was at an advanced stage and warned against worrying parents through a drip feed of information.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald suggested in the Dail that letters being sent to parents whose children were operated on 15 years ago was confirmation that the issue stretched back further.

Weve been raising it with you, conscious of all of those parents who are now asking themselves, was my child operated on (unnecessarily)? How could this have happened and what are the consequences now?

She accused the Government and Childrens Health Ireland of having stonewalled parents.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin accused Ms McDonald of being disingenuous and said the obvious thing was to wait for the audit report to be published.

He said he was conscious of the anxiety and concern from parents as surgery for a child is traumatic for that family.

But he said that bits of information here and there would only add to parents worry.

Anything we do in here must be done with that in mind, that were very conscious of anxiety that can be added to or created by anything we say, or by piecemeal information or by drip feed, in respect of this issue, he said.

To me, an experience tells me that when you ask someone to do an external audit, independently of politicians and of government, just let them finish their work.

Asked again about the issue by Aontu leader Peadar Toibin, Mr Martin said that the possible implications of the report are disturbing.

The implications are disturbing, if indeed some of the assertions come home to be the case, or emerge to be truthful.

I think there are issues already, as I outlined in an earlier reply, changes to practice and protocols has occurred in terms of multidisciplinary approach, in terms of pre-operative assessment, and that clearly wasnt there, it seems, in advance of this.
RAPID-BUILD modular homes will soon appear in Limerick city centre - a huge step forward in Mayor John Morans bid to eat into the housing waiting list.

Arthurs Quay Park is set to play host to two modular units, which will demonstrate how these temporary homes could appear if rolled out across Limerick.

And, notably, one of these units could be the size of just over two car parking spaces as the mayor scopes out whether the public are interested in living in smaller spaces for a lower rent.

READ MORE: Update issued on plans for new hospital in Limerick

Limerick City and County Council has been seeking expressions of interest from companies to deliver these units, and according to a specification provided to any interested bidder, one of these units could measure just 23.9 square metres, although Mayor Moran referenced a home of 30 square metres in an interview with Limerick Live.

Either way, these would be similar in size and scale to micro-apartments which are found in cities like Tokyo, Paris and New York City.

The other unit on display will have a more standard floorspace of 45 square metres.

What we are challenging the suppliers of modular units, which will function as one-bedroom apartments, is to come up with a unit that is 30 square metres, and come up with a unit that is 45 square metres. By definition one will be cheaper, said Mayor Moran.

Ultimately, people will be asked which one theyd prefer to live in, and what kind of a rent theyd be willing to pay.

My gut tells me in the same way when I was younger, when I was in Paris and New York, and I was prepared to trade a bit of extra space for extra cash in my pocket, that others would be happy to do that in Limerick, he said.

The smaller the unit, the more temporary homes which can be built, which would prove a major advantage to potentially bringing down the number of people waiting to secure a home.

The Expression of Interest says these demonstrator units could be up for a two-week period in Arthur's Quay Park between now and August.

But Mayor Moran says he feels they could be left in situ for longer, now the Riverfestival village has left the area.

The former chairman of the Hunt Museum said: I learnt from there, the problem is if you have a really good exhibition on for a week, by the time people are talking about it, it has gone. I think it will be easiest to leave it until we have the next big event coming along to Arthur's Quay.

He says: The gun is against my head, and he is trying to have a lot of these modular homes ready on public land in time for the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in just over two years.

The time period for companies to express interest in delivering these demonstrator homes has passed, with staff now assessing the bids.

According to related documents, the onus will be on the contractor to provide a secure compound, and the ability to lock the units at night-time to prevent unauthorised access.

CCTV will be maintained while they are in situ at Arthur's Quay Park.
Hero MotoCorp Ltd, which sells about one in four motorcycles and scooters in the country, reported strong earnings in the financial year 2024-25, buoyed by higher exports and strong demand for its new premium motorcycles.

The Delhi-based companys revenue from operations rose 9% to 40,756 crore for the fiscal year ended 31 March. Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation, or Ebitda, margin for the year increased 40 basis points to 14.4% due to higher sales of premium motorcycles. Its net profit during the year jumped 16% to 4,610 crore.

Our success during the year was underpinned by robust growth across the premium, scooter, and EV segments, fuelled by several new product launches, Vikram S. Kasbekar, executive director and acting chief executive officer at Hero MotoCorp, said in a statement.

The countrys largest two-wheeler maker recorded 9,939 crore revenue in January-March, an year-on-year rise of 4%. Net profit increased 6% to 1,081 crore.

Also read | Hero MotoCorps earnings to remain stable, but slowing sales to impact revenue Export volumes outpaced industry trends, and we further expanded our premium retail footprint across India while entering new global markets, Kasbekar added.

The companys exports surged 44% to 289,668 units in FY25, becoming a key growth driver.

Hero MotoCorp sold 5.9 million scooters and motorcycles in FY25, rising 5% from the year prior. This pace of growth, however, was far slower than its erstwhile partner Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd's 18% rise, which helped it sell 5.3 million two-wheeler sales.

FY25 proved to be remarkable for Hero's EV ambitions, as Vida scooter sales soared by 175% to 48,674 units. Consequently, their market share more than doubled to 4.2% from 1.8%, signaling a strong push to catch up with EV rivals like TVS Motor Company and Bajaj Auto.

The companys focus on international markets will deepen as it seeks to enter the European Union and the United Kingdom markets by the second half of 2025.

Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about the neartomidterm outlook. Key macroeconomic indicators, including revised income tax slabs, repo rate cuts, a strengthening rural economy, and a favorable monsoon forecast, are expected to support industry growth, Vivek Anand, chief financial officer at Hero MotoCorp, said.

Analysts cautious However, analysts are cautious about the company's growth prospects.

We believe while Hero retains dominance in the 125160cc space, the lack of traction in premium ICE bikes and evolving EV dynamics could lead to below-industry growth in FY26, Sanket Kelaskar, analyst- institutional equity at Ashika Group, said.

Kelaskar explained that although the company is pushing hard on the electric vehicle front, Hero struggled to scale above the 200cc+ segment amid intense competition from Royal Enfield and Triumph.

Heros growth has lagged behind its rival TVS Motor Company, whose full-year profit grew by over 30% to 2,710 crore, while revenue rose 14% to 36,309 crore.

Also read | Hero MotoCorp has hit a speed bumpcan it rebound? In FY25, the company launched five premium motorcycles ranging from Xtreme250r to XPulse 210. In the electric vehicle segment, it will now try to expand in the three-wheeler segment by acquiring a majority stake in Euler Motors. Hero is currently present in the two-wheeler segment only.

During the last financial year, the two-wheeler maker saw high-level exits, including CEO Niranjan Gupta and chief business officer Ranjivjit Singh.
Tata Motors Ltd reported a decline in annual net profit on Tuesday, as its British luxury car unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) faced margin pressures and the Indian automaker refrained from giving future guidance for the subsidiary citing global trade uncertainties fuelled by Trump tariffs.

The countrys largest passenger vehicle maker recorded a muted 1.3% growth in revenue to 4.39 trillion in FY25, as sales fell globally.Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or Ebitda, margin fell 100 basis points to 13.1% due to a decline in margins of JLR owing to higher discounts.

As a result, net profit for the full year fell 11% to 28,100 crore, from 31,800 crore in FY24.

Also read |Tata Motors set for a mixed performance in Q4 amid heightened competition

Tata Motors' Q4 revenue edged up 0.4% to 1.19 trillion, but profit more than halved to 8,600 crore. This sharp profit drop is partly due to a prior-year accounting boost: in January-March of 2024, Tata Motors recognized an 8,300 crore deferred tax asset, inflating that quarter's profit. The current quarter reflects a return to normal accounting.

Challenging environment In this challenging environment, Tata Motors was able to deliver highest-ever revenue and profit before tax (business earnings in India). The automotive business has also become net debt free, P.B. Balaji, group chief financial officer at Tata Motors said in a post-results media briefing.

Tata Motors' shares settled 1.8% lower at 707.90 apiece on BSE on Tuesday.

Jaguar Land Rover's FY25 revenue was steady at 28.9 billion, accounting for about 69% of Tata Motors overall revenue. The British firms Ebitda margin also declined by 160 basis points to 14.3% during the year.

Also read |Jaguar Land Rover tariff hit compounds Tata Motors domestic woes

"A major concern for the company would be international challenges but a positive is the fact that JLR continues to be profitable. Domestically, the company has to watch out for rising competition eating into its market share," Saji John, senior research analyst at Geojit Financial Services, said.

Tata Motors acquired the British luxury car brand for $2.3 billion in 2008.

There are still some details which need to be clarified before we are able to give the exact picture on impact on Jaguar Land Rover

The British brand has had to deal with a tough environment as tensions flared up between the United States and other countries as the Trump administration imposed 25% import tariffs.

Partly beneficial The company will partly benefit from the US-UK trade agreement, which brings down tariffs to 10% from the current 25%. However, the rate still remains higher than 2.5% tariffs auto imports attracted before.

Slowdown in sales of Tata Motors was visible in the decline in volumes globally. The firm's investor presentation showed that global sales declined 3% to 366,000 units in the January-March period.

Also read |Tata Motors braces for impact as Jaguar Land Rover pauses shipments to the US

The company believes that the global premium luxury segment and Indian domestic markets will be able to withstand the uncertainties.

Demand in the United Kingdom is expected to pick up further. The outlook for Europe is also looking better, Balaji said during the call.

Outlook unclear However, the company shied away from giving the exact outlook on the impact of global headwinds on Jaguar Land Rover as the situation is still evolving. However, the management maintained that there will be no changes to investment plans for the year ahead

There are still some details which need to be clarified before we are able to give the exact picture on impact on Jaguar Land Rover, Balaji told reporters.

Jaguar Land Rover, which gets about one fourth of its sales from the North American region, paused shipments to the region in April. The exports since then have resumed but the impact on its revenue and profit remains unclear.

On the domestic front, the passenger vehicle division of Tata Motors recorded a 7.5% decline in revenue to 48,445 crore in FY25 amid a 3% fall in total sales to 556,263 cars. Similarly, the commercial vehicle segment also recorded a 4.7% fall in revenue to 75,053 crore.
*

UK government says pact will unlock 50 billion pounds

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Aviva, Legal & General and USS among the signatories

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Stops short of order for now, pension funds opposed

By Iain Withers

LONDON, - Major British pension funds pledged on Tuesday to invest billions of pounds extra in UK businesses and infrastructure, as the government leans on private investors to help it fund public projects and boost economic growth.

Seventeen investment firms said they would invest up to 10% of their pension portfolios into infrastructure, property and private equity by 2030, of which half will be ringfenced for UK assets, according to a government statement.

The pact is backed by investment firms including Aviva , Legal & General and M&G and would unlock up to 50 billion pounds of additional investment, the government estimated.

The Mansion House Accord - which builds on an earlier pact in 2023 - is currently voluntary, but the government said it would monitor progress against the commitment and it would be "reinforced" by further measures in an upcoming pensions review.

The Financial Times and other media have reported that the government is considering giving itself the power to force pension funds to invest more in UK projects, which has concerned some executives who argue this would not be in the best interests of clients.

"We believe it is right to focus on efforts to unlock more domestic investment, but we believe the most sustainable solution lies in creating the right incentives, not mandates," a spokesperson for one of the signatories, Phoenix, said.

Britain's finance ministry was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

British finance minister Rachel Reeves said in a statement that the pact would help channel billions of pounds into major infrastructure projects, clean energy and startup businesses.

The new pact doubles the previous Mansion House investment target of 5% of pension pots on productive assets and broadens the range of applicable assets.

Other signatories include some of Britain's biggest pension funds, the Universities Superannuation Scheme, the National Employment Savings Trust and The People's Pension.
Indian holidaymakers have seen some relief on airfares, with domestic ticket costs down 4% year-on-year so far in FY26, but overall travel costs aren't easing just yet as hotel rates remain firm due to limited supply, Mahesh Iyer, managing director and CEO of Thomas Cook India, told Mint .

Iyer said while international airfares are flat compared to last year, a stronger euroup 5% versus the rupee over the past yearcould dent European travel demand. However, relative stability in the US dollar vs the rupee (USD is up 1.9% versus INR over the past year) means Indians are holidaying in the US at levels similar to last year, he added.

Euro woes

The sharp rise in the euro is expected to hit international outbound tourism, especially this summer, as Europe is generally a larger part of the holiday portfolios of many travel companies, including Thomas Cook India. Europe contributes 41% of its international travel business in the peak of summer.

"Even a 3-5% change in pricing pushes up the overall holiday price," said Iyer. That said, he expects the overall outbound travel industry to grow 4-5% over last year, led by US and Europe, as well as various short-haul (3-5 hour) destinations around India.

Also read: India hotel deals seen hitting 4,200 crore amid record IPO pipeline

Consumers, he said, are likely to get better travel deals owing to the 4% year-on-year drop in average domestic airfares this fiscal  barring holidays and blackout dates. Blackout dates are dates when travel rewards and other special discounts and promotions are not available. These dates typically fall on or around major holidays or other peak travel seasons.

But the pressure on domestic hotel prices is likely to continue, Iyer said. "So domestic holidays, average ticket size, and spending on holidays won't change this year," he added.

According to independent hospitality consultancy Hotelivate, hotel room rates in India rose 70% over 2023 and 2024. Mint reported in October that five-star deluxe hotels saw average nightly rates rise 20.2% to 15,655 in FY24, while standard five-star hotels saw a 19.8% increase to 8,756.

Pahalgam effect

Airlines and hotels have seen a rise in cancellations over the past few weeks owing to the Pahalgam attack and the ensuing India-Pakistan conflict. Iyer said until three weeks ago, Thomas Cook was seeing high-double-digit growth in its travel and tourism business in FY26, but since the attack it has seen "some amount of softness" its forward bookings for holidays.

Also read: Post-Operation Sindoor escalation disrupts Indians' travel plans

"The Pahalgam effect was seen on our business. We didn't see full cancellations but requests for changes in destinations. We are now seeing some amount of normalcy coming back to the market. The bad news is behind us. Both the domestic and international holiday porfolios will grow between 15-18% in FY26 as well," he said.

Tariffs put corporate travel in limbo

However, changes in tariffs have had an impact on the company's B2B or corporate business. Companies, especially IT and ITES firms, are still evaluating their travel budgets for employees. "The full impact of tariffs is yet not known because there is a hiatus at this time. Once there is more clarity on how the export markets will behave and how IT companies will be impacted, we will know more," he said.

This segment comprises 40-42% of the company's corporate travel portfolio. For the full year, Thomas Cook still expects to see a double-digit growth in the corporate and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) business.

Also read: Taj Hotels parent plans 1,200 cr investment for FY26, eyes sustained growth

The company's various businesses, he said, saw growth ranging from 12-20%, in FY25. "We have held our margins while growing our volumes," he added. The company's travel and travel-related services business saw 15% growth in income from operations, with equal contributions from the consumer and B2B segments. The consumer business largely grew on the back of outbound and domestic holidays, which grew at 20%. Inbound travel saw 25% growth in volumes, he said.

Bigger tax burden

The companys income from operations rose 11.5% to 8,139.5 crore in FY25 from 7,299.3 crore in FY24. However, profit declined 4.7% to 258.3 crore from 271.1 crore in FY24.

Some businesses that made losses in FY24 became profitable in FY25, which increased the company's tax burden, Iyer said. "Thomas Cook contributes about 50% of the group's profit, still continuing to be at the old tax rate. Sterling Holidays also contributed to higher taxes this year," he added.

The company added 13 new resorts to its portfolio in FY25, and Iyer expects them to reach their full potential and contribute more to the business in the current fiscal year.
McDonalds Corp. and its franchisees plan to recruit as many as 375,000 workers across the US this summer in what the burger chain says is its biggest hiring spree in years.

The Big Mac seller is gearing up to serve more customers as the weather warms up and the company expands, according to an announcement Monday. McDonalds said in 2023 that it would open 900 US locations over the following four years. The positions arent intended to be seasonal or temporary.

Roughly 800,000 people work at McDonalds restaurants. About 95% of the chains more than 13,500 US locations are franchised, meaning theyre run independently by operators who hire their own staff and set wages.

The hiring announcement follows a disappointing first quarter for McDonalds, with executives pointing to consumer economic distress. Third-party data suggest that US trends have improved in April, thanks in part to the launch of a limited-time Minecraft meal.

McDonalds estimates that about one in eight Americans have worked for the chain. More than 90,000 have gone through the Archways to Opportunity program, which offers assistance with college tuition and other types of training, since it launched 10 years ago.

The chain made the hiring announcement in a press conference alongside US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who said McDonalds program aligns with President Donald Trumps goal to upskill workers. The president has a goal of having 1 million active apprentices, she said.

The US restaurant industry employs more than 12.3 million people, a figure that recently rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
(Bloomberg) -- Hundreds of Starbucks Corp. employees have walked off the job since Sunday to protest the companys new dress code, according to the union representing baristas, with more strikes likely in the coming days.

The walkouts have occurred at more than 50 US stores, Starbucks Workers United said. The union represents baristas at about 570 of the chains more than 10,000 company-operated locations in the US. Starbucks said that theres been no significant impact to store operations on a national level and most stores are open and serving customers as usual.

The coffee chain on Monday implemented a new dress code that requires baristas to wear solid black tops, a change from prior practice that allowed any color. There are also new rules on the bottoms baristas can wear, among other changes.

Workers United filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board alleging that Starbucks dress-code changes during contract talks violate the law and show the company wasnt negotiating fairly.

The dress code also materially differed from a tentative agreement the two parties had reached during negotiations, according to a copy of the complaint. Starbucks said it would continue to bargain and ensure that differences between whats agreed to in negotiations and whats implemented in stores are addressed lawfully and fairly.

Baristas argue that the dress code wont improve operations or make their jobs easier, union delegate Michelle Eisen said in a statement from Workers United. Starbucks is trying to reverse five straight quarters of same-store sales declines.

This policy change puts the burden on baristas, many of whom are already struggling to get by, to buy new clothes or risk being disciplined, Eisen said. The company has said it would provide two Starbucks-branded shirts free of charge but couldnt guarantee they would arrive by May 12, when the new dress code went into effect.

In a statement, Starbucks said that thousands of workers showed up to work ready to serve customers, adding that the biggest update to dress code is simple: wear a black shirt  either your own or one we provide.

While Workers United, which represents less than 5% of our workforce, attempted to create disruption in a handful of stores, were focused on providing the best job in retail with a wage and benefits package that averages more than $30 per hour for hourly partners, Starbucks said in a statement. It called on the union to return to negotiations in order to finalize a reasonable contract.

About 500 baristas representing Starbucks unionized US stores voted in late April to reject the companys latest contract proposal over the issue of pay. Starbucks said at the time that the union presented delegates with an incomplete framework to vote on, effectively undermining our collective progress.

The two sides have been meeting over the past year to try to come up with a template for collective bargaining agreements at the locations that Workers United has organized since 2021.

--With assistance from Josh Eidelson.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
MUMBAI : French payments company Worldline has hired investment bank BNP Paribas to explore a potential sale of its India business, two people aware of the matter said.

Discussions are at a preliminary stage, and the deal size could be above $200 million, one of the two people said on the condition of anonymity.

The sale is expected to happen through an auction process among a wide buyer pool, including strategic players in the payments space in India," the person added.

The exit plan comes at a time Worldline is restructuring its global portfolio to restore investor confidence and revive growth and profitability amid macroeconomic headwinds.

Worldline declined to comment, while queries emailed to BNP Paribas remained unanswered.

Also read | The Netherlands SHV Energy appoints BNP Paribas to sell SunSource solar assets in $100 million deal

In India, Worldline operates as a business-to-business payments solutions firm serving banks and large merchants. The company has offices across Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Chennai and other cities.

According to the second person, Indian payments companies such as Razorpay and PayU could gain scale from an acquisition of the business.

The turnaround plan

Worldline's new chief executive Pierre-Antoine Vacheron said at an earnings call last month that the company would exit non-performing geographies and segments to revive growth, without sharing details.

We need to be more selective given the investment required to address innovation and compliance requirements. This will mean exiting from segments or geographies inherited from past acquisitions and considered as non-core," he said.

Founded in 1970, Worldline is a publicly listed solutions provider for payments companies operating across the globe, including Europe, India, Japan, and the US. It launched the turnaround plan in February, focussing on tightening cost controls, pruning its portfolio, and emphasising free cash flow improvements.

Read this | Mint Explainer: Why Razorpay and Cashfree are ditching Juspay, and what it means for the fintech sector

Worldline has also appointed banking advisors to sell its Mobility and e-Transactional Services (MTS) business, Reuters reported in November. In December, Reuters reported that the company is attracting early-stage takeover interest from private equity firms, including Bain Capital. However, Bain later denied evaluating Worldline.

The companys erstwhile CEO, Gilles Grapinet, stepped down in September 2024, as it issued its third profit warning within a year. Vacheron was later appointed as CEO, effective 1 March.

In the March quarter of 2025, Worldline's revenue stood at 1,068 million, down 2.3% year-on-year. It reported muted growth for 2024, with 4,632 million in revenue, up 0.5% in organic terms year-on-year, and a net loss of 297 million. It follows the calendar year as the financial year.

And read | Worldline confirms exclusive talks to sell terminal business to Apollo
President Donald Trump is committed to leaving no American behind. Since taking office, President Trump and his administration have secured the release of scores of detained Americans abroad. The most recent release is that of Edan Alexander, held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 19 months. The 21-year-old had been serving in the Israeli army on the border of Gaza when he was captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.



After announcing Alexanders imminent release, President Trump expressed his gratitude on Truth Social to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators  Qatar and Egypt  to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.



In a post on X, U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said Alexanders return gives hope to so many. He credited President Trumps leadership for making the release possible. He added, We remain committed to bringing every last hostage home.



Some of the other Americans released from captivity since President Trump assumed office include:



Ksenia Karelina  an American ballet dancer who was wrongfully detained in a Russian penal colony for 14 months. She returned home in April.



Marc Fogel  an American teacher who was wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for years  returned home in February, making good on a promise President Trump made to Fogels 95-year-old mother, Malphine.



Keith Siegel  an American held hostage by Hamas for 484 days  was freed in February. I am here, and I am alive. President Trump, you saved my life. You saved the life of 33 hostages because of your efforts, Siegel said.



George Glezmann  an American held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 836 days  was freed in March, joining Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released on the night of President Trumps inauguration.



This a new era said U.S. special presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler where were saying that it is not acceptable in any case to hold American citizens abroad wrongfully. And [President Trump] will continue to push until all of our Americans, dead or alive, are returned.
Mumbai: The proposal to sell 20% in Yes Bank Ltd to Japanese lender Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) has allowed the private sector lender to achieve three key objectives, and expects that the deal could lead to credit rating agencies re-rating the bank, its chief executive, Prashant Kumar, said on Monday.

One of the banks overhangs was the fate of State Bank of Indias (SBI) stake in the bank, and that has been taken care of, Kumar said in an interview at his office overlooking the Mumbai airports runway.

Moodys Investors Service has a long-term rating of Ba3 and a positive outlook on Yes Bank.

Following a deterioration in Yes Banks financial position, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) superseded the board in March 2020. Soon after, a clutch of banks led by SBI rescued Yes Bank. Now, a deal with SMBC, where the Japanese lender will acquire a 20% stake for 13,482 crore, would allow a partial exit to SBI and others. Kumar expects all approvals to come in by September.

Also read | Japan's SMBC succeeds in its pursuit of Yes Bank; to acquire a 20% stake

Meanwhile, the second objective of this deal, Kumar said, was that SBIs stake, albeit partly, is slated to be replaced by a strategic investor, which is the second-largest banking group in Japan and the 15th largest globally. (It is a) well-respected group and always has a very long-term view of their investments anywhere in the world," said Kumar, who visited Japan last year to discuss the deal.

The final objective, he said, centred around how the deal assuaged concerns that rating agencies have raised in the past. Kumar said that rating agencies had raised concerns about what would happen to SBIs shareholding in the bank.

Ratings agencies queries

Rating agencies also questioned Yes Banks management on its profitability trajectory, which Kumar said was answered by the lenders financials. Another concern of rating agencies was whether existing shareholder banks would be able to infuse more if the bank wanted to raise capital.

I think the possibility of rerating the bank is absolutely there. This is what we believe," said Kumar, whose term as the chief executive comes up for renewal in October. He was appointed in March 2020 and was reappointed for three years in October 2022.

In March 2024, Mint reported that Yes Bank was looking for a new promoter.

Kumar said on Monday that for a large stock like Yes Bank, the options are only in terms of either M&A (mergers and acquisitions) with a domestic bank, or bringing a strategic investor into the bank.

Also read | Wanted: A new owner for Yes Bank

So, we started this exploratory journey from a lens of finding a way out for the banks to exit. (There were) very limited options because industrial houses are not allowed to invest in banks," he said.

He said another option could have been a private equity (PE) investor, but PE always has a short-term objective, while Yes Bank was looking for a long-term strategic investor.

Maybe in 2022, when we got the money from the PEs, it was more in terms of survival capital," he added. In December 2022, the RBI had given conditional approval to private equity investors Carlyle Group and Advent International to acquire up to 9.99% each in private lender Yes Bank.

M&A deal

Kumar said that entering into an M&A deal with a domestic bank would have meant meeting the aspirations of both entities. He said that all M&As, whether small or large, also come with their own pain points in terms of human resources integration and tech integration, and usually take between two and three years.

Some of the investors had shown interest, and we entered into non-binding deals. Then there was due diligence, and there were certain expectations from those investors, some of which did not meet regulatory guidelines," he said.

Mint reported on 9 May that SMBC will look to increase its holding in Yes Bank over time, eventually triggering an open offer for additional shares, according to two bankers aware of the matter. However, SMBCs voting rights will be capped at 26%, as per Reserve Bank of India regulations, it added.

Also read | Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking gets RBI nod to pick 51% in Yes Bank

Analysts are somewhat sceptical about how the deal will pan out for SMBC.

We are unsure if SMBC would be able to raise its stake further by buying out at a later date or through subsequent equity infusion," analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities said in a note on 12 May.

The note said that the transaction does not change the business view of Yes Bank, but removes the uncertainty of a buyer. While we acknowledge that the transaction is set at a price higher than our fair value, we are constrained to view this transaction from the viewpoint of a minority shareholder and a wider spectrum of choices available to invest in the market," it said.

That said, the bank has put on hold prior discussions on any inorganic opportunities till the deal is done. In June 2023, Kumar told Businessline that Yes Bank started due diligence on a few non-banking financial companies in the microfinance space (NBFC-MFIs).
New Delhi: Young Indians are rethinking how they drink. A rising number of Gen Z consumers are cutting back on alcohol or trading quantity for quality, in line with a global shift towards health and wellness.

Data indicates that Gen Z drinkers in India are more inclined to reduce their alcohol consumption compared to millennials, who continue to be the primary consumers of alcohol in India.

There is a clear decline in alcobev consumption globally, and India is not immune to this trend," said Rajeev Samant, founder and CEO of Sula Vineyards. Even when we consider the demographic dividend, we still see people on Instagram advocating for a more alcohol-free lifestyle. Things have definitely changed. Alcohol consumption may not be evolving in the way we once expected."

Traditionally, the under-30 age group has never been a major wine-consuming segment, he said. That said, this cohort in India today likely consumes more wine, relative to previous generations."

According to data from IWSR, a global tracker of the alcoholic beverage industry, the attitude of Gen Z (those over the legal drinking age) towards alcohol in India differs significantly from millennials.

In our latest Bevtrac report on consumer sentiment in IndiaGen Z drinkers who choose to drink less outnumber those choosing to drink more by 5%," said Jason Holway, IWSR senior consultant.

In a recent survey of full-strength drinkers, 25% of Gen Z drinkers have never chosen to abstain from alcohol for lifestyle reasons, while 41% have chosen to be away from alcohol for one month or more for lifestyle reasons. "In India, boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z are more likely to choose to drink less rather than drink more (millennials are the exception and continue to drive alcohol consumption)," said Holway.

As per IWSR, millennials are the generation in India least likely to choose moderation. Millennials who choose to drink more outnumber those choosing to drink less by 8%. Around 28% of millennials have never chosen to abstain from alcohol for lifestyle reasons, while 36% have chosen to abstain from alcohol for a month or more for lifestyle reasons.

While older consumers continue with established drinking patterns, younger legal-age drinkers are actively reshaping norms, he said.

"Its pretty clear that Gen Z is consuming less alcohol when compared to millennials who continue to consume a copious amount of liquor," said Zorawar Kalra, Founder & Managing Director, Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd that operates fine-dine restaurants as well as cloud kitchens in India.

Gen Z is far more conscious today about their physical and mental health, and thus, some of the abstinence stems from there. They are also always online and have access to a lot of social media content around health and fitness which can influence their decision to consume, he said.

This doesnt mean Gen Z is abstaining entirely. With increased exposure to bars, pubs, and live events, younger consumers still drinkbut with more restraint and a conscious approach.

Take New Delhi-based Kanika Dua, for instance. The 28-year-old has cut down from three to four drinks a night to a maximum of two or three. It shows up the next day, and with work starting early, I cannot afford a mid-week binge," she said.

Gen Z continues to go out, eat out, order in and socialize unlike any other generation," said Kalra. "They have a lot of options available to them. But when it comes to drinking its a lot more 'sensible' drinking."

The era of guzzling is over, said Alok Gupta, managing director at liquor company Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD). There is a need to consume betterso instead of three large drinks consumers may opt for two nice cocktails. Consumers want to prioritise morning workouts or early morning work commitments," he said.

Also Read: Delhis beer shelves are fullbut where are the big brands?

Booze break

Gupta said growing awareness around health and fitness is influencing beverage choices. "The lens through which they consume F&B (food and beverages) has changed," he explained.

"The fitness piece brings focus on better consumption, considering factors like calorie count and protein-carb balance, which extends to both foods and beverages. The concern isn't just about drinking less, but also drinking better, leading to premiumization," he added.

Consumers are drinking better quality gin or tequila and even trading up to better whiskey or scotch.

There are early signs of the "sober curious" trend among Gen Z, though its impact in India is still marginal compared to countries like the US, Vikram Achanta, founder of Tulleeho, a Delhi-based drinks consultancy said.

Theres talk of younger consumers drinking less, but its not yet meaningful from a volume perspective. India is insulated from some of the shifts were seeing in the West," he said.

Still, theyre more conscious of alcohol content. "A Spritz (with 8-10% alcohol content) might appeal more than a Martini (with 20-35% alcohol content)," he said.

Mint earlier reported that a growing number of urban Indians were embracing sobriety or moderationnot necessarily due to heavy drinking but because of health concerns tied to their lifestyles.

This rising "sober curious" sentiment is fuelling demand for non- and low-alcohol alternatives. This gave rise to a number of new-age startups, brands like Catwalk Botanics, Sober, Copenhagen Sparkling Tea and others that are focused on either creating or importing products from different markets. Though the category remains under 1% of the broader alcobev market, it is slowly gaining traction in metro cities. Global giants like Heineken and Beefeater have also entered this space.

Despite growing moderation trends, alcohol consumption in India is growing. The country, with its large population, remains a large market for alcoholic beverages. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of total alcohol beverage industry in India from 2018 to 2023 was over 2%.

Also Read: Beer brewers, after two tepid years, raise a toast to a longer, meaner summer

According to Gupta of ABD, more legal drinkers are entering the market annually, and evolving social norms have led to greater acceptance of social drinking and increased alcohol consumption among women.

Volume growth may slow, but consumer numbers are rising, and theyre drinking better, Gupta said.

India had 18-19 million first-time voters in the 2024 general election and an estimated 65 million Indians will be of legal drinking age (depending on the region) over the next five years.

For brands, the message is clear: engaging with this evolving consumer base is critical. Samant of Sula said, "At festivals like SulaFest, 90% of the audience is Gen Z. So, were doing our part by introducing more people to at least entry-level wines."
Cipla does not expect any immediate impact from potential tariffs imposed by the US on pharmaceutical imports or from US President Trumps recent order to bring down prescription drug prices, the companys managing director and global CEO, Umang Vohra, said.

I think our business continues as usual, theres not been any stoppage at any place in the US on account of any confusion with respect to tariffsand so, we dont see the impact, Vohra said. He added that the company is monitoring ongoing developments, including trade talks between the US and Indian governments. We don't expect material changes to the business environment for generics, he said.

While Trump has not yet announced tariffs on pharmaceutical products, he has indicated he will bring in separate tariffs for pharma, aimed at bringing back manufacturing to the US.

On the executive order signed by Trump on Monday, which aims to bring down prescription drug prices by 59% in the US, Vohra said that while more clarity is needed, the order will likely target branded innovator drugs more. As of now, what we understand is that this is largely targeted towards branded drugsgeneric prices in the US are already very significantly comparable with the rest of the world, in some cases lower, he added.

Also read | Does US approval for key cancer drug make Cipla shares an attractive buy amid tariff concerns?

Vohra was speaking at a media briefing after the company posted its Q4FY25 results on Tuesday.

Ciplas Q4FY25 revenue rose 9% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 6,730 crore, while it reported profit after tax of 1,222 crore, up 30% from the previous year. The company reported Ebitda of 1,538 crore, with a margin of 22.8%. Ebitda is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

For the full year FY25, the company reported revenue of 27,548 crore, up 8% y-o-y, and profit after tax of 5,273 crore, up 28% y-o-y.

One India Business Ciplas One India Business grew at a healthy 8% y-o-y during the quarter. Its branded prescription business continued to outpace the market growth in key chronic therapies, the company said.

The companys North America business reported quarterly revenue of $221 million, with an all-time high annual revenue of $934 million, supported by traction in differentiated assets. North America accounted for 29% of the companys overall revenues.

Growth trajectory to continue The company is focusing on continuing its growth momentum, Vohra said, adding that the company has a pipeline of imminent launches which will drive the growth in the US.

I think the business is well poised now to project itself into a different trajectory of growth, despite the fact that Lenalidomide (Revlimid) will begin to reduce significantly over the next two years, Vohra said.

Companies like Cipla are set to lose exclusivity on the distribution of blockbuster drug Lenalidomide (brand name Revlimid) early next year. But we believe that we have a well-diversified business model with very significant resilience to offset the fall of Lenalidomide, Vohra said.

The companys pipeline includes its peptide products, some of which are expected to launch in FY26-28.

Industry average In India, the company is focused on outperforming the Indian pharmaceutical market (IPM), in-licensing drugs, and partnering with innovators.

It is a very important part of us being able to create awareness at the doctor level, of bringing new science to the doctors in India, and of benefiting the number of patients who could, you know, from these new discoveries, Vohra said.

The company is eyeing the launch of GLP-1 products (like Ozempic or Mounjaro) through partnerships with innovators as well as its own products.

And this | Family rift clouds $7 bn sale of Cipla

I think the biggest opportunity for us, at least, would continue to be the Indian market, where we will launch with the rest of the players. And we will de-risk our ability to launch as well through a partnershipWe'll have our own product as well as probably have a partnership with another player as well, just to make sure that we are adequately covered for the capacity of launch in India, Vohra said.

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug known by brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, is going off patent in India early next year.
Maharashtra SSC results 2025: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has announced the Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2025 today, May 13, according to the official notice. The day will mark an end to the long wait of nearly 15 lakh students across the state.

94.10% pass percentage, girls outperform boys MSBSHSE on May 13 declared the Maharashtra SSC Class 10th results 2025 in a press conference. According to officials, the overall pass percentage recorded is 94.10 per cent.

Meanwhile, girls outperformed boys, with a pass percentage of 96.14 per cent and 92.31 per cent respectively, they added.

Maharashtra SSC Results: Which Division topped? At the press conference, MSBSHSE Board Chairperson Sharad Gosavi said that of the state's eight divisions, the Konkan division topped the list with 98.82 per cent of passing students; while Nagpur stood at the bottom with a pass percentage of 90.78 per cent.

The following is performance of the other divisions:

Kolhapur recorded a pass percentage of 96.87 per cent,

Mumbai recorded a pass percentage of 95.84 per cent,

Pune recorded a pass percentage of 94.82 per cent,

Nashik recorded a pass percentage of 93.04 per cent,

Amravati recorded a pass percentage of 92.95 per cent,

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded a pass percentage of 92.82 per cent, and

Latur recorded a pass percentage of 92.77 per cent.

Also Read | Maharashtra SSC results 2025 likely tomorrow: Stepwise guide to check marksheets

211 students scored 100% marks MSBSHSE Chairman Sharad Gosavi announced the results and shared some highlights:

As many as 15,58,020 students registered for the Maharashtra Class 10th SSC exam this year, and 15,46,579 students appeared.

A total of 14,55,433 students passed the exams.

Of these, 211 Class 10th students got a perfect score  100 per cent.

The students were  113 from Latur; 40 from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 13 from Pune, and 12 from Kolhapur. With the remaining from Nagpur, Mumbai, Konkan and Amravati.

Meanwhile, of the 62 subject papers that the SSC Class 10th students appeared for, a 100 per cent pass percentage was recorded in 32 subjects. Where to check Maharashtra SSC results 2025? Once the results are declared, students can check the MSBSHSE Class 10th examination results on the official website  mahahsscboard.in. Besides this, other websites where Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 will be available include mahresult.nic.in, results.digilocker.gov.in and sscresult.mkcl.org.

Also Read | Maharashtra SSC results 2025 likely tomorrow: Stepwise guide to check marksheets

Also Read | CUET UG 2025: Take note of these 5 key guidelines for May 13 exam

Maharashtra SSC results 2025: Credentials required to check scores Essential credentials needed to check the MSBSHSE 10th scorecard include roll number and mother's first name as mentioned on the SSC Hall Ticket 2025.

The official website sscresult.mahahsscboard.in shows the timer and states, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Class X 2025 results will be available on 13th May 2025 at 1:00 PM.

The MSBSHSE Class 10 results will be announced through a press conference in which the state education board it will share some key statistics about this year's examination such as pass percentage, gender-wise performance and district-wise results.

Also Read | CUET UG 2025: Take note of these 5 key guidelines for May 13 exam

How to check Maharashtra SSC Result 2025? Steps to check Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 at mahresult.nic.in are given below:

Step 1: Go to the official Maharashtra board result portal - mahresult.nic.in

Step 2: Click on "Maharashtra SSC Result 2025" link available on the homepage.

Step 3: Enter Maharashtra SSC roll number and mothers first name in the specified fields.

Step 4: Click on View Result after entering the required details.

Step 5: Check and download Maharashtra board Class 10 result 2025. Take a printout and keep the hard copy for future reference.

How to check Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 via SMS? Steps to check Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 by using SMS service are given below:

To check 10th result 2025 Maharashtra board, students must send an SMS from their mobile phone in a specific format to the number provided below.

Step 1: Create a new message and type MHSSC, give space and then type Seat Number (Example: MHSSC Roll. No)

Step 2: Send this SMS to 57766

Step 3: The candidate will receive Maharashtra SSC result on the same mobile number.

How to download the Maharashtra 10th marksheet digitally with DigiLocker Here's a step-by-step guide to download the Maharashtra 10th marksheet digitally with DigiLocker is given below 

Step 1: Visit digilocker.gov.in or open the app

Step 2: Sign in using Aadhaar or mobile number

Step 3: Navigate to Education and select MSBSHSE

Step 4: Click on SSC Marksheet 2025 link and enter your details

Step 5: Download the digital marksheet and save it for future reference

Details mentioned on Maharashtra SSC 2025 scorecard Check following details mentioned on Maharashtra SSC 2025 scorecard

Board Name

Roll Number/Seat Number

Name of Student

Division

Subject Codes

Subject names and marks obtained

Qualifying Status (Pass/Fail) Last year's results Last year, the MSBSHSE Class 10th examination results were declared on May 27 and an overall pass percentage of 95.81% was recorded. A total of 14,84,431 students cleared these exams out of 15,60,154 who registered for the same.
Bollywood Alia Bhatt might not be marking her Cannes debut this year in light of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. While nothing has been confirmed, reportedly, her team is following the rising tension at the border.

Alia Bhatt to skip Cannes 2025? Alia was slated to join the French Riviera in her role as a Global Ambassador for L'Oreal Paris. She was expected to be seen with international faces such as Eva Longoria, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Aja Naomi King, Andie MacDowell, Simone Ashley, Elle Fanning, Bebe Vio, and Yseult.

Amid this, India Today quoted a source saying, Alia took this decision considering the tension at the borders. The Raazi actor did not feel it was right to go to Cannes at such a crucial time. However, thats not to say that she wont. Alias team is closely following the situation at the border and if things remain calm, she might look at another date to attend. However, right now she will skip her attendance.

Alia Bhatt's message for Indian Armed Forces As tension between India and Pakistan continues to make headlines, Alia recently penned a heartfelt message for Indian soldiers on Mother's Day.

It read, The last few nights have felt... different. There's a certain stillness in the air when a nation holds its breath. And over the past few days we've felt that stillness."

That quiet anxiety. That pulse of tension that hums beneath every conversation, behind every news notification, around every dinner table. We have felt the weight of knowing that somewhere, out there in the mountains, our soldiers are awake, alert, and in danger, it continued.

While most of us are tucked into our homes, there are men and women standing in the dark, guarding our sleep with theirs. With their lives.

And that reality... it does something to you. Because you realise this isn't just bravery. It's sacrifice. And behind every uniform is a mother who hasn't slept either. A mother who knows her child is facing a night not of lullabies, but of uncertainty. Of tension. Of silence that can shatter in an instant, she added.

On Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day. And while flowers were being handed out and hugs were exchanged, I couldn't help but think of the mothers who raised heroes and carry that quiet pride with just a little more steel in their spine.

We mourn the lives that have been lost, soldiers who will never come home, whose names are now etched in the soul of this country. May their families find strength in the nation's gratitude. So tonight, and every night forward, we hope for less silence born of tension, and more silence born of peace. And send love to every parent out there holding prayers, holding back tears. Because your strength moves this nation more than you'll ever know. We stand together. For our protectors. For India. Jai Hind," Alia paid her tribute to the Indian Armed Forces.

As her post arrived days after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, many on the internet bashed her for supporting her nation on time.
China has reassured its citizens they would have enough to eat without U.S. crops. It will have to unclog Latin Americas largest port first.

The decrepit port in this Atlantic coast city is the main gateway for South American exports of soybeans and other agricultural goods that represent Chinas only viable alternative supply to U.S. exports. Though China has reduced its reliance on U.S. foodstuffs, crops are still among the top U.S. exports to China.

Chinas state-owned agricultural conglomerate, Cofco, is building its biggest export terminal outside China at the port to manage shipments of corn, sugar and soybeans. It would increase the companys annual export capacity to 14 million tons from 4.5 million, but isnt expected to reach full capacity until next year.

The Santos port fits into Chinas wider plan to secure access to South Americas agricultural bounty amid shortages of water and arable land at home. Chinese companies are laying hundreds of miles of railroad across Brazils agricultural heartland and finishing work on a $3.5 billion deep-water port on Perus Pacific coast.

The trade war with the U.S. has heightened the urgency of these projects. Chinese leader Xi Jinping met South American leaders including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Beijing on Monday to discuss their deepening ties.

Brazilian officials are welcoming the chance to draw foreign investment to the countrys rickety roads, railroads and ports.

We need more and more infrastructure," Renan Filho, Brazils transportation minister, said in an interview.

A worker in the Cofco terminal at the Port of Santos in January.

Squeezed between rows of warehouses and the ruins of colonial-era sugar mills at the heart of the Santos port, a towering crane was putting the finishing touches to three Cofco silos, each the size of an apartment building.

Since entering the Brazilian market in 2014 by acquiring Dutch grain trader Nidera and the agricultural unit of Hong Kong-based Noble, Cofco has relied on third-party terminals at an extra cost of some 15%. But in March 2022, Cofco secured a 25-year concession to develop the STS11 terminal at Santos Port, committing to invest some $285 million into the site.

Chinas state ports conglomerate China Merchants Port Holdings had already acquired a 90% stake in the operator of Paranagua, another busy port in Brazils south, in 2017 for $925 million. The state company China Railway has also been building part of a railroad that connects Brazils central farming belt to ports in eastern and northern Brazil.

In Peru, Cosco Shipping built a deep-water megaport to speed trade between Asia and South America. Beijing has also discussed with the regions governments a vast railroad running from Perus Pacific coast to Brazilian ports on the Atlantic.

Chinese officials on April 28 said they can easily drop U.S. crop imports and still hit their 5% growth target this year. Braziland, to a lesser extent, Argentinawould fill the void, according to analysts tracking agricultural markets.

Brazil benefited from global trade tensions during President Trumps first term, displacing U.S. exports to China. Between 2017 and 2024, China increased imports of Brazilian soybeans 35% to 73 million tons, while cutting imports of U.S. soybeans 14% to 27 million tons, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

You only have to see what happened in the first Trump administration," said Claudia Trevisan, head of the Brazil-China Business Council. Trump imposed tariffs on imports from China, China retaliated, and Brazil increased its exports to China of products that the U.S. also used to supply, mainly soybeans."

By 2023, Brazil accounted for about a quarter of Chinese agricultural imports, while the U.S. share had dropped to about 14%, government data show. Brazil now supplies about 70% of soybean shipments to China. About 30% pass through Santos, with smaller shares sent through Paranagua and the northern ports of Itaqui and Barcarena.

Santos can hardly keep up. Santos handled a record 180 million tons of cargo last year, about 60% of it agricultural goods. Strikes are commonplace. More than 90% of Brazils port capacity for exporting agricultural bulk goods is in use, exceeding the operational safety limit of 85%, according to logistics consulting firm Macroinfra.

The Cofco terminal in the port of Santos isnt expected to reach full capacity until next year.

Because the country lacks the extensive railroads that carry soybeans and corn in the U.S., crops mainly arrive in Santos by truckas many as 20,000 a day, port authorities say. Traffic jams snake up to 20 miles down nearby highways.

God knows how anything leaves this country," said Silvia Ferreira, a schoolteacher in Santos, home to almost half a million people.

Farms are also under pressure, particularly as fertilizer costs soar.

Brazils temperate climate allows for three harvests a year, compared with the one most countries manage. But this drains the land of nutrients, and Brazils clay-based soils struggle to retain minerals during heavy rains. So fertilizer is critical.

Brazil, which imports 85% of its fertilizers, mainly from Russia, was already struggling to secure what it needed after Russia invaded Ukraine. Trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, a top fertilizer supplier to its neighbor, have further pushed up global prices.

Brazil has so much potential, yes, but that doesnt mean it can wave a magic wand and, overnight, expand production and meet Chinas demands," said Plinio Nastari, head of agricultural consulting firm Datagro. It has its own problems and all of this is part of the equation."

A drone view shows silos being built at the Cofco export terminal in the port of Santos.

Write to Samantha Pearson at samantha.pearson@wsj.com
China responded to President Trumps tariff hikes with a series of retaliatory measures. On April 4, among other moves, Beijing suspended the export of some of the 17 rare-earth metals and magnets that are vital to American defense, energy and automotive industries.

The commentary that ensued revealed profound anxieties about alleged Western vulnerabilities. The New York Post accused the Chinese of kneecapping US industry." The BBC declared that the communist nation had dealt a major blow to the US," while the Economist warned that Chinas control of rare earths was a weapon that could hurt America."

These commentators have a point. According to the International Energy Agency, China produces about 61% of rare-earth minerals, and it processes 92%. The anguished reaction from the American press, however, revealed a measure of obliviousness. The reality is that America has been here before.

Fifteen years ago, following a dispute with Tokyo over contested waters, China imposed a rare-earth embargo on Japan, while cutting its rare-earth export quotas to the rest of the world by 40%. Beijings actions rang alarm bells across the industrialized world. Prices of the rare-earth metals spiked, with cerium soaring from $4.15 a kilogram in January 2010 to $150.55 in July 2011. American defense analysts warned that Beijing was exploiting a strategic vulnerability. U.S. manufacturers scrambled for alternatives to the minerals, which play a crucial role in everything from wind turbines to precision-guided missiles.

The panic seemed justified. At the time China controlled 93% of global rare-earth production and more than 99% of the most valuable heavy rare earths. Congress convened a hearing on Chinas rare earths monopoly, with Rep. Don Manzullo (R., Ill.) saying that Beijings action threatens tens of thousands of American jobs."

The narrative was compelling: An authoritarian power was wielding its mineral wealth as a geopolitical weapon, putting a resource-hungry West at its mercy. Yet few people remember this supposed strategic calamity today.

Market mechanisms undermined Chinas attempt at resource leverage. In the early 2010s, supply growth outside China accelerated. Projects already in development by Molycorp in California and Lynas in Australia ramped up, adding tens of thousands of metric tons of production capacity. By 2014 Chinas market share of rare earths had fallen from more than 90% to about 70%.

Chinas export quotas also proved surprisingly porous. Producers exploited loopholes by shipping minimally processed alloys exempt from restrictions, while an estimated 15% to 30% of production was smuggled through neighboring countries. Beijings inability to police thousands of small miners fatally undercut its embargo.

Manufacturers displayed remarkable adaptability. Refineries temporarily substituted alternative catalysts, and magnet producers optimized alloys to use less rare-earth material, some even switching entirely to new technologies. This demand destruction" blunted the crisis effect even before new supplies could fully come online. Prices that had spiked in 2011 quickly retreated to pre-crisis levels.

The 2010 episode revealed fundamental constraints on attempts to use raw materials as geopolitical weapons. While China retains significant market share, the U.S. defense industry has reduced its reliance on rare earths to a minimum (the equivalent of less than 0.1% of global demand), and weapons programs maintain inventories to buffer temporary supply disruptions.

Despite their name, rare earths are quite abundant. Cerium is the 25th most common element on Earth. At 68 parts per million of Earths crust by weight, it is more abundant than copper. Rare earths are rare" because of geochemical dispersion. They tend to remain evenly mixed rather than found in their pure form. They also pose extraction challenges, since they are usually bound up in a handful of mineral hosts that often contain radioactive thorium or uranium. That is what makes rare-earth deposits relatively scarce.

That can sometimes translate into environmental challenges when it comes to teasing out the needed elements. But such concerns must at times give way to national-security considerations. Similarly, free trade and friendly relations with allies who produce rare earths at scale, such as Canada, should be a higher priority than unrealistic and counterproductive spats over national sovereignty and illegal border crossings.

More broadly, as the U.S. navigates new supply-chain anxieties in semiconductors, critical minerals and pharmaceutical ingredients, we should remember the rare-earth crisis that never wasa testament to the resilience of global markets and human innovation in the face of attempted economic coercion.

Mr. Tupy is founder and editor of HumanProgress.org and a senior fellow at the Cato Institutes Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity.
New Delhi: The Centre has tightened the rules for exports to check the wide abuse of medicines manufactured in India, three officials aware of the matter said. The guidelines are applicable to unapproved and approved new drugs for exports purpose only and manufacturers have to comply with the legal procedures, two officials aware of the matter said.

Also Read | India to boost production of combat medicines

With some of these drugs being used in overseas markets as narcotics, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has introduced a two-step verification for the manufacturer that will be checked at Indian ports.

In addition, the apex drug regulator has made it mandatory for manufacturers to obtain regulatory approval from the importing country for medicines classed as narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS).

Also Read | E-pharmacies, chemists at odds as govt mulls a stop to home delivery of drugs

The development comes against the backdrop of unapproved Indian-made drugs being exported to countries in Africa and being rerouted to other destinations.

Under the new rules, a manufacturer has to first obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Central Licensing Authority. Once approved, the consignment and all related documents will be verified at the port before shipment.

Also Read | You may soon get to buy non-prescription drugs at a friendly neighbourhood store

Earlier, there was no detailed verification of the manufacturer at Indian ports. The manufacturers will have to submit the details of quality of products, manufacturers name, name of the exporting country and details of the buyer.

These regulations have been made under the relevant provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drug Rule, 1945. A guidance document for manufacturers seen by Mint has been issued by CDSCO.

In case of unapproved FDC (fixed dose combination), unapproved NDPS and banned drugs in India, the manufacturer is required to mandatorily get the approval of the importing country's regulator.

This entire exercise will ensure that only approved consignment will be shipped from India to the destination country. This is one way to have greater vigilance for exports of unapproved and approved new drugs from India," said one of the officials cited above.

Step two involves the procedure for release of consignment at the Indian port office.

New guidelines have been issued and these requirements were not in place and divided in two steps. The first thing is online documentation to get the NOC and the second step is physical verification at the ports. This will have uniformity and create the system of traceability all throughout the process," said the second official.

As per the department of pharmaceuticals, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is worth approximately $50 billion with over $25 billion of the value coming from exports. About 20% of the global exports in generic drugs are met by India. The country has 10,000 pharmaceutical companies, out of which 2,000 are MSME drug firms.

Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered.
Air travellers planning getaways during the peak summer months of May and June should brace for higher fares, with domestic ticket prices already up by 10-15% compared to last year, according to data from travel portal EaseMyTrip.

Volatile aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and supply-side constraints are pushing domestic airfares in India skyward, with average ticket costs between major cities and popular holiday destinations seeing a 10-12% year-on-year increase in June. Domestic airfare in May has increased 10-15% from a year ago.

Rikant Pittie, CEO & co-founder of EaseMyTrip, attributes the increase in ticket prices to supply-side constraints amid grounded aircraft. "This is largely due to aircraft on ground situation and a reduction in flights by key players, creating supply-side constraints. The overall trend remains upward due to operational constraints, grounded planes and rising fuel expenses," Pittie told Mint.

Also read: Rafale brand owner Dassault Aviation share price dips 7% after India-Pakistan ceasefire

To be sure, out of a fleet of 818 commercial aircraft in the country, 133 planes are grounded due to engine and supply-chain concerns. Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed parliament in March that over 680 aircraft were operational in the country.

High-traffic routes such as DelhiMumbai, BengaluruDelhi, MumbaiChennai, KolkataBengaluru and HyderabadMumbai continue to see an increase in airfare, per EaseMyTrip. With strong advance bookings, these routes have recorded an average increase of 500-600.

Ixigo, another travel portal, said that cooler domestic destinations like Shimla, Kullu-Manali and Dehradun are seeing a surge in demand. EaseMyTrip has recorded a rise in average airfare between 20% and 30% from metro cities to these cooler holiday spots.

"Were seeing a strong surge in demand for cooler destinations like, Kullu, Dehradun, and Shimla. Flight bookings to these destinations have gone up by 50-100% YoY, this is pushing up ticket prices as passengers are preferring air travel," said Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, Ixigo.

Also read: Airline stocks Indigo, SpiceJet surge 10% on India-Pakistan ceasefire. Should you buy, sell or hold?

Jyoti Singh Mayal of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) expects a strong summer travel season for the industry.

"We are seeing a good demand for both domestic as well as for international destinations. Expect both domestic and international travel to increase 15% YoY this season," said Mayal.

She also said that despite tensions between India and Pakistan, both outbound and inbound travel has not seen any impact. She said, Though there was a minor hiccup for 2-3 days due to military operations, the confidence among travellers has not decreased."

Going International

Data by EaseMyTrip and Ixigo suggests that Indians are packing their bags for international destinations mainly across Southeast Asia and Europe. "This year, travellers are showing a growing interest in new destinations like Santorini in Europe and Bora Bora in Oceanic region. Reykjavik in Iceland is also gaining attention, Amsterdam and the Maldives continue to draw visitors," said Pittie

"This summer, were seeing a strong surge in international travel, especially to Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bali, which have seen an average 100120% YoY spike in bookings. Easy visa policies and affordable travel costs are driving this shift towards more budget-friendly international getaways," said Ixigo's Bajpai.

Also read: India-Pakistan Conflict: Was Rafale fighter jet downed during Operation Sindoor? Here's what DGAO said

As per Ixigo, destinations like Malaysia and Thailand have recorded an increase in flight bookings by 226% and 180% respectively. Due to easy visa policies, destinations like Almaty have seen an increase in demand by 77%. Similarly, Vietnam and Bali recorded a bookings surge of 64% and 52%, respectively.
US President Donald Trump has decided to slash the prices of prescription drugs in the country by 59% through an executive order. As per his plan, the US will pay the same price for a prescription drug as the nation that pays the lowest price for that drug anywhere in the world. What does this mean for Indian pharmaceutical companies, which count the US as their largest market?

For now, experts are unsure of the potential impact of Trumps decision on Indian drug exporters, who mostly ship relatively inexpensive generic drugs to the US. But they acknowledged that Trumps latest decision adds to the volatility already injected by his looming threat of additional tariffs on Indias drug exports to the US.

Mint decodes Trumps latest drug price policy and what it means for Indian pharma companies.

Why is the US government intervening on drug prices?

Prices of prescription drugs in the US, particularly of branded or patented specialty medicines, are the highest when compared with that of similar medicines in other parts of the world.

According to a report last year by US-based policy think tank RAND Corporation, prices of prescription drugs in the US were in general 2.78 times higher than in 33 other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations selected for the study. The gap was even wider for branded drugs, with US prices averaging 4.22 times higher than in other nations.

Branded medicines account for 91% of the US drug market by value. Hence, a reduction in the prices of branded medicines would save US consumers more than $85 billion over seven years, according to a 2020 report published by Trumps previous administration.

According to the RAND study, the US spends 10% of its healthcare budget on retail prescription drugs, with this spending increasing by 91% between 2000 and 2020. It expects the USs prescription drug bill to rise 5% annually through 2030. Ergo, Trump is determined to bring the global pharma industry to heel for charging exorbitant prices to US consumers.

Also read | US generics, domestic market to drive healthy sales growth for pharma companies

Why are US prescription drug prices in the US high in the first place?

Branded drug producers often cite high research and development costs for charging higher prices to US consumers. The US healthcare system is exposed to a lot of innovative drugs every year from branded players in critical therapy areas like oncology, arthritis or psoriasis. Hence, these drug makers charge a premium for innovation," said Tausif Shaikh, Indian pharma and healthcare analyst at BNP Paribas.

Moreover, the US grants long periods of patent protection and exclusivity for brand-name drugs, which delays the introduction of cheaper generics and biosimilars in the market. Pharmaceutical companies also use tactics such as evergreening, where they make minor changes to extend patent lives to prolong exclusivity and high prices.

A generic drug is similar to a branded drug in safety, efficacy and other characteristics, and is typically manufactured after the patent of a branded drug expires. Similarly, a biosimilar resembles an approved biologic drug that is produced from living organisms or their components. Both generic and biosimilar drugs are cheaper than their branded counterparts.

Also read | Pharma companies on edge over Trump tariff tantrum: Will he, wont he?

Prashant Nair, lead pharma and healthcare analyst at Ambit Capital, said the US healthcare system is quite opaque, which leaves a lot of room for pricing inefficiencies of prescription drugs. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), insurers, wholesalers, and pharmacies all play a role in the drug pricing chain.

Most branded drugs in the US are available to consumers through the government-run Medicare or Medicaid programs. However, PBMs negotiate rebates and discounts with pharma companies for adding their products in these programs but often do not pass on the savings to consumers, resulting in higher prices for consumers.

Has the US government taken similar action earlier?

The first Trump administration tried to implement a similar policy in 2020. But global pharma players thwarted his attempt by challenging his decision in court, arguing that lower prices would discourage innovation. The ruling went in their favour.

On a separate pricing-related issue, another federal appeal court ruled that the Trump administration lacked legal authority to force drug companies to disclose prices in TV advertisements.

Nair of Ambit Capital expects Trump will meet with heavy resistance this time around as well.

What does this all mean for Indian pharmaceutical companies?

Several listed Indian pharma companies sell cheaper generic versions of off-patented branded drugs in the US. The RAND study found that prices of unbranded generic drugswhich account for about 90% of the prescription drug volume in the USwere about 67% cheaper on an average in comparison with that of comparable branded drugs.

While there might be negligible impact of Trumps latest move on generic drugmakers, companies that sell specialty medicines in the US might face challenges if the policy is implemented, said Shaikh of BNP Paribas.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Indias largest drugmaker, derives 15-17% of its revenue from branded speciality medicines in the US. Its shares were the hardest hit following the news, dropping 3.15% on NSE on Monday. The broader Nifty Pharma index remained almost unchanged.

Also read | Indian pharma turns to home remedy as tariff malady looms
New Delhi: In a development that has brought palpable relief to trade and economic circles, the US and China have hit the pause button on a debilitating tariff war that threatened to derail world trade, cripple supply chains, and push the world towards a potential recession.

Weekend talks at Geneva between top officials of the two countries saw the US agree to cut tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%. Likewise, China agreed to lower tariffs on US imports from 125% to 10%, according to a joint statement issued by them on Monday. However, key sectors such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles are not covered under this arrangement, with 25% tariffs remaining in effect for all US trade partners.

Further, the rolled-back tariffs are effective for 90 days starting Wednesday, a temporary window that aims to ease trade tensions and allow for further negotiations towards a more lasting agreement.

A Reuters report on the development quoted Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management in Hong Kong, saying: This is better than I expected. I thought tariffs would be cut to somewhere around 50%...Obviously, this is very positive news for economies in both countries and for the global economy, and makes investors much less concerned about the damage to global supply chains in the short term."

Also read | Why the India-UK FTA has spooked medical device manufacturers. Hint: China

Ajay Srivastava, co-founder of New Delhi-based trade think-tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), said this effectively reopens the $660-billion US-China trade corridor and brings relief for strained global supply chains. By rolling back some of the steepest tariffs, it allows trade to resume more freely between the two countries," he said.

However, given the transient nature of the truce, experts are waiting for details to find cues for what it could mean for India, even while initial feedback throws up mixed views on the unravelling of the China+1 strategy that India was banking on.

As the tariff gap narrows, companies that had moved production to countries like Vietnam, India, or Mexico might shift operations back to China," said Srivastava. The China+1 strategydesigned to reduce reliance on Chinacould quietly unravel. Ironically, the agreement risks reversing the very supply chain diversification the tariff war was meant to encourage."

Similar noises echoed from stakeholders of Indias electronics sector. Ashok Chandak, president of industry body India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (Iesa), said the USs deals with the UK and China signal that the country is willing to negotiate, and do so generously as long as the overall trade tariffs suit them". However, he added that the deals suggest it is not necessary that India will retain its position as a geography with favourable import duties in the USamong the worlds top consumer electronics markets".

Read this | Foreign investors are seeking alternatives to China. Heres how India plans to pounce.

This means that the euphoria that India had at the onset of US President Trumps trade tariffs about it being a favourable geography could very well turn out to be misplaced," Chandak said.

At the same time, Chandak believes there is no reason to worry, since supply chain diversification is a reality for all major companies worldwide, and India, with its central government-driven push, will almost certainly get a decent share of business moving away from China".

The US-China deal may ease global trade tensions in the short term. But for India, the gap in tariff advantage over China on supply to the US has narrowed. To stay competitive, India must now focus on strengthening its position in global supply chains," said Saurabh Agarwal, Tax partner at audit and consulting firm EY.

Queries sent to the ministry of commerce remained unanswered.

Meanwhile, a textile industry expert has hailed the development, calling it a step toward easing global trade tensions and stabilising markets.

By lowering tariffs for 90 days, both countries are trying to keep up consumption momentumespecially in the USwhich is crucial for global trade flows," said Prabhu Dhamodharan, convenor, Indian Texpreneurs Federation (ITF), a textile entrepreneurs body based out of Coimbatore, adding that the truce comes at an opportune time for India considering the ongoing trade deal negotiations with the US.

And this | Apple bets on India to counter US-China trade spat, eyes 50 mn iPhones by 2028

If we manage to secure a preferential tariff ratepotentially 10% or even zeroit would sharply improve our competitiveness, particularly in textiles and apparel," said Dhamodharan. It places India in a favourable position compared to China, just as global buyers are looking to diversify their sourcing base."

But there are contrarian voices, too. If the US significantly lowers tariffs on Chinese goods that overlap with Indias export interests, such as clothing, it would reduce the chances of our exporters gaining ground in the American market," said Abhijit Das, an international trade expert and former head of the Centre for WTO Studies, New Delhi.

On medical devices, Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator at Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD), said at 30% tariffs levied on China compared to 10% on India, the differential serves as motivation for companies to move manufacturing from China to India to make in India and ship to the US".

The potential cost savings from manufacturing in India, including lower labour costs, raw materials, and other expenses, will need to be weighed against the costs of relocation," said Nath. The complexity of the supply chain, including sourcing of raw materials and components, will also impact the decision to shift manufacturing from China to India."

Also read | Traders, economists heave a sigh of relief as India-Pakistan border tensions recede, ceasefire brings hope

Uday Bhaskar, former director-general of Pharmexcil, said China is the largest manufacturer of APIs, key starting materials (KSMs) and basic chemicals, and is a big relief for US pharma sector in light of high tariffs. However, it is not going to make any significant difference in the Indian scenario. When compared with 125%, the revised 35% tariffs are good," he added.

According to Ajay Sahai, director general & CEO, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), India can leverage the truce to strengthen exports in sectors that remain relatively insulated from US-China trade, such as pharmaceutical APIs, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, smartphones, organic chemicals and IT-enabled services, among others.

India must proactively engage with the US to secure and expand its preferential trade access, emphasizing its role as a reliable alternate sourcing destination," said Sahai. The temporary nature of the tariff cuts may lead companies to hedge against future volatility by expanding manufacturing in India under the Make in India and PLI schemes."

Big but temporary

Meanwhile, the US and China have also agreed to take strong steps to stop the flow of fentanyl and its chemical ingredients from China to illegal drug makers in North America. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used medically to treat severe pain, especially after surgery or in advanced cancer cases.

A report in Bloomberg quoted US treasury secretary Scott Bessent saying that both sides agreed that they dont want to decouple. We had a very robust and productive discussion on steps forward on fentanyl", Bessent said, adding that talks might lead to China buying more American-made products.

We would like to see China open to more US goods," Bessent said. We expect that as the negotiations proceed, that there will also be the possibility of purchase agreements to pull what is our largest bilateral trade deficit into balance."

The Bloomberg report further quoted Bessent saying that the tariff reductions dont apply to sectoral duties imposed on all US trading partners, and the tariffs applied on China during the first Trump administration remain in place. Asked what would happen at the end of 90 days to avoid tariffs ratcheting back up, Bessent indicated theres a chance to extend the truce further.

Read this | India-UK free trade agreement to take effect more than three months later, UKs carbon tax deferred

China also said it would suspend or cancel its non-tariff countermeasures imposed on the US since April 2, Bloomberg reported, adding thats an apparent reference to Chinas addition on April 4 of seven rare earths to its export control list. Securing the removal of those restrictions was a priority for Washington as a range of industries faced disruption.

To be sure, China controls around 70% of global rare earth production and holds over 36 million tonnes in reserves, compared to the USs 2.3 million tonnes and Indias 6.9 million tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey data of 2024. China also dominates over 80% of global processing capacity for rare earth elements, which are vital for clean energy, electronics, and defense industries.

Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, pointed out that the deal is only for 90 days and China will take some time to arrive at a conclusion.

There were no details on the trade deal except for decreasing everything to 10%," said Kondapalli. However, there was no discussion about the tariffs imposed during the previous US administration. The major issue for the US is the $1.2 trillion trade deficit and they are exploring ways to reduce the trade deficit. So, the Chinese will have to act on this."

Inputs from Shouvik Das, Priyanka Sharma, agencies

And read | Free trade pact with EU possible by year-end amid shared urgency: Sitharaman
The market regulator plans to ease rules for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) that invest only in Indian government bonds as it seeks to draw more inflows after Indias inclusion in global bond indices.

Also Read | Sebis PSU delisting proposal sparks calls for parity with private companies

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed easier registration and compliance for such FPIs, according to a consultation paper released on Tuesday.

The move is aimed at improving the ease of doing business and attracting more stable, long-term capital into sovereign debt. India has been included JPMorgan Global Bond Index and Bloomberg Emerging Market Bond Index, and will be added to FTSE Russell Emerging Markets Government this year. That's expected to drive billions of dollars in passive flows into government securities.

FPI investment in bonds eligible under the fully accessible route (FAR) crossed 3 trillion as of March 2025, a nearly 10-fold jump from 2021 levels, Sebi highlighted.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the general limit for foreign investment in government bonds at 2.79 trillion for AprilSeptember and 2.89 trillion for OctoberMarch. This suggests that FAR investments have already exceeded 100% of the general limit for the first half of FY26.

To further ease such investments, Sebi decided to simplify the registration and compliance process for investors focusing solely on government bonds through voluntary retention route (VRR) and FAR.

VRR allows only FPIs to invest in government and corporate bonds with a minimum three-year lock-in and certain regulatory relaxations, while FAR permits all non-resident investors to invest in specified government securities without any investment limits or lock-in requirements.

For FPIs only investing in government bonds (IGB-FPIs), many of the Sebi FPI regulations, including equity investment limits and additional disclosure requirements, dont apply to them.

Greater freedom Sebis move to ease rules follows the RBIs 8 May decision to allow foreign investors greater freedom to buy Indian corporate bonds, giving them a chance to purchase more short-term debt.

In its consultation paper, Sebi proposed to align KYC norms for FPIs only investing in government bonds with RBI rules, requiring compliance every 2, 8, or 10 years, depending on the risk profile, instead of the current one- or three-year cycle.

Since such FPIs can only invest in sovereign bonds, the market regulator has proposed exempting them from disclosing investor group linkages, which are used to monitor investment concentration limits in equity and corporate debt.

Currently, non-resident Indians (NRIs), overseas citizens of India (OCIs) and resident individuals cannot contribute more than 25% individually or 50% collectively to the corpus of an FPI, and they are not allowed to control it.

Sebi has now proposed scrapping this restriction, which would align with the FAR route, where NRIs and OCIs can already invest in government bonds without limits. However, resident individuals must still invest through the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and in global funds with less than 50% Indian exposure.

Government bonds-focused FPIs would get a uniform 30-day window to disclose any material changes in their structure or key information compared with the seven- or 30-day timelines applicable today.

Sebi has also proposed a mechanism for regular FPIs to convert into IGB-FPIs (and vice versa) with appropriate declarations and after divesting from non-government bond holdings.
Construction projects occasionally face setbacks, and in some unfortunate cases, even structural failures. Often, investigations reveal a common issuea weak foundation.

This serves as a reminder of how important a solid foundation is, whether in construction or investing. In the case of a portfolio, that foundation is built on fundamentally strong stockscompanies with sound financials and steady long-term potential.

Interestingly, recent market volatility has brought down the share prices of several such companies, in some cases by up to 40%. For long-term investors, this presents a golden opportunity. Here are five such fundamentally strong stocks to watch out for.

These stocks have been handpicked using Equitymasters Stock Screener - Fundamentally strong stocks in India.

#1 Astral

Astral, previously calledAstral Poly Technik manufactures plumbing and drainage systems in India. The company manufactures and sells a range of products including pipes, water tanks, faucets, and sanitaryware.

These products cater to both residential and industrial plumbing and drainage systems.It has also forayed into adhesive business over the years.

In the past one year, its shares have declined 40%, falling from 2,215.5 to 1,339.8 as of intraday trade on 12 May 2025.

The quarterly performance of the company has remained largely flat to weak over the past three quarters, which may have contributed to the recent decline in its stock price. Revenue showed only modest year-on-year growth, 7.8% in Q1 FY25, 0.5% in Q2, and 2% in Q3.

The net profit trend has been more concerning. In particular, net profit remained almost unchanged in Q1, declined sharply by 17.5% in Q2, and dipping slightly by 0.5% in Q3.

Going forward, Astral is focusing on expanding its PTMT product range and infrastructure pipe capacity, while also strengthening its presence in the valve segment.

#2 Tata Technologies

The company is a global leader in engineering and product development services. It offers solutions in areas such as design, engineering, manufacturing, and IT services for industries like automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery, helping companies innovate and enhance their operations. It's a subsidiary ofTata Motors.

Over the past year, the companys shares have declined 32%, dropping from 1,021 to 695.7 as of intraday trade on 12 May 2025.

The fall is partly due to Tata Technologies heavy reliance on the automotive sector, which is facing global headwinds.

Regulatory uncertainties in the US and Europe, slowing EV adoption, and cost-cutting by automakers have led to delays in R&D and engineering outsourcing, impacting the companys growth prospects.

Additionally, mutual funds have been reducing their stake in the company. Their holding dropped from 2.4% in September 2024 to 1.9% in December 2024 quarter, and further declined to 1.25% in March 2025.

Another factor weighing on sentiment is a recent block deal in April 2025, where around 16 million shares (3.94% stake) changed hands on the NSE.

As per news reports, TPG Rise Climate sold 15.86 m shares in the price range of 670 to 698.5  a discount of 1-5% from the stocks closing price on 28 April.

Going forward, the company plans to focus on faster product launches.

The company is an integrated power equipment manufacturer. ABB India is a subsidiary of ABB Ltd.

It provides a complete range of engineering, products, solutions and services in areas of automation and power technology.

Over the past year, shares of the company have declined by around 32%, falling from 7,984 to 5,476 as of intraday trade on 12 May 2025.

The drop in stock price can be attributed in part to the companys post-earnings call in November 2024, where management shared a cautious outlook on order inflows and execution challenges.

While order inflows for the quarter stood at 33.4 bn, up 11% YoY, the figure fell short of analyst expectations.

The management also highlighted that despite order inflows in the range of 2,5003,000 crore, achieving 4000 crore remains difficult.

The slower conversion from order booking to revenue was attributed to the larger size of recent orders, which require longer execution timelines compared to smaller base orders.

Another factor behind the decline is consistent FII selling.

Foreign institutional investors trimmed their stake from 12.35% in September 2024 to 11.8% in December 2024, followed by a further drop to 10.3% in the March 2025 quarter.

Going forward, the company plans to expand its presence in the Indian market to drive future growth.

#4 Adani Total Gas

The company is engaged in city gas distribution (CGD) business and supplies natural gas to domestic, commercial, industrial and vehicle users.

It ventured into e-mobility and biomass businesses through subsidiaries - Adani TotalEnergies E-mobility and Adani TotalEnergies Biomass. It has also formed a 50:50 joint venture for its gas meter manufacturing business.

Its actively engaged in expanding its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) charging with an installed capacity of 6.6 MW across 329 charging points spread across 10 states in India. Additionally, it has over 1,050 charging points under construction.

Over the past year, shares of Adani Total Gas have fallen about 27%, dropping from 861 to 629 as of intraday trade on 12 May 2025.

One of the reasons for the decline can be attributed to corporate governance concerns stemming from the Hindenburg saga. The Adani Group denied Hindenburgs allegations.

Another factor weighing on the stock is two consecutive weak quarterly results. In the December 2024 quarter, revenue rose 12.6% but net profit fell sharply by 19.45%, which disappointed the street.

In the March 2025 quarter, revenue increased 15.5% but net profit declined 8% to 150 crore. In FY25, the company's standalone revenue from operations rose 12% YoY to 5,400 crore, driven largely by higher volumes in the CNG segment. However, profit after tax dipped 1% to 650 crore, adding to the pressure on the stock.

Going forward, the company plans to expand its CNG and LNG infrastructure, invest in EV charging stations, and diversify into fuel retail to support future growth.

#5 IRCTC

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC), which was listed in October 2019, is a strong monopoly stock. Its the only entity authorised by Indian Railways to offer online railway tickets. The company also enjoys a monopoly in packaged drinking water. It's the only entity authorised by the ministry of railways to manufacture and distribute packaged drinking water at all railway stations and trains under the Rail Neer brand.

IRCTC has also entered into other digital services, such as online hotel bookings and air ticketing. Over the past year shares of IRCTC have declined over 22%.

The steady decline in institutional holdings over the past few quarters appears to be one of the key reasons behind the fall in the stock price.

Mutual fund ownership in the company has dropped consistentlyfrom 3.9% in June 2024 to 2.8%

in March 2025. Similarly, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) trimmed their stake from 7.8% to 7.4% during the same period.

Another reason for the fall is the lack of fresh triggers in the Union Budget 2025, with railway allocation unchanged at 2.6 trillion.

Going forward, the company plans to improve its digital infrastructure.

Conclusion

Investing in fundamentally strong stocks at discount can be a smart long-term strategy. It increases the possibility of long-term returns by providing an opportunity to purchase high-quality companies at a reduced price.

For patient investors, these declines frequently offer alluring buying opportunities, particularly when the decline is brought on by short-term headwinds or general market sentiment rather than structural problems with the business.

However, there's a chance that the drop is a reflection of more serious problems or ongoing industry challenges, which could postpone recovery.

Therefore, careful research is necessary before making an investment to make sure the company's foundation is sound and its prospects for the future are still bright.

Investors should evaluate the companys fundamentals, corporate governance, and valuations of the stock as key factors when conducting due diligence before making investment decisions.

Happy investing.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open on a tepid note on Tuesday, after posting strong rally in the previous session, amid upbeat global market cues.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a negative start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 24,915 level, a discount of nearly 128 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

On Monday, the domestic equity market witnessed a stellar rally, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing above 24,900 level.

The Sensex jumped 2,975.43 points, or 3.74%, to close at 82,429.90, while the Nifty 50 settled 916.70 points, or 3.82%, higher at 24,924.70.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex spiked nearly 3,000 points, and formed a long bullish candle on daily charts, while breakout continuation formations on daily and intraday charts indicate a further uptrend from the current levels.

We believe that the 81,150 resistance zone of Sensex has now become a strong support zone for short-term traders. For day traders, buying on intraday dips and selling on rallies would be the ideal strategy. On the higher side, 83,000 - 83,300 would be the key resistance areas, while below 81,150 traders may prefer to exit their long positions, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head - Equity Research, Kotak Securities.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 closed 916.70 points higher at 24,924.70, forming a big bullish candle on the daily chart and crossed the major resistance zone of the 24,850  24,860, resulting in a fresh breakout.

Based on this breakout, if the Nifty 50 index sustains above 24,850, it could test 25,200 in the short term and 25,500  25,800 in the medium term. Hence, traders are advised to adopt a buy-on-dips strategy as long as the index holds above 24,850 on a closing basis, said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd.

Also Read | Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today

Om Mehra, Technical Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities, noted that the Nifty 50 reclaimed levels above the 9-day EMA (Exponential Moving Average), and the daily RSI turned upward after remaining range bound, indicating renewed bullish momentum.

Based on Fibonacci clustering, resistance remains near the 25,200 mark, while support has shifted higher to around 24,600. The index has given a strong breakout, out of its recent consolidation, and the broader trend has turned decisively positive. A buy-on-dips strategy may be preferred for the upcoming sessions, Mehra said.

According to VLA Ambala, Co-Founder of Stock Market Today, Nifty 50 can gain support at 24,820 and face resistance near 25,120 and 25,280. In this situation, she advises traders to adopt a buy-on-dips strategy.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty surged 1,787.60 points, or 3.34%, to close at 55,382.85 on Monday, forming a Morning Star candlestick pattern on the daily chart.

Bank Nifty index has been oscillating within a flag pattern and is now positioned above the median line of the channel, suggesting strengthening momentum. The index has now formed a Morning Star pattern (bullish), which further strengthens the ongoing momentum. The index has also moved above all key moving averages, while the daily RSI at 65 is trending higher. The immediate resistance is placed at the all-time high of 56,098.70. A decisive breakout above this level could open further upside toward 56,500  56,600, said Om Mehra.

The hourly MACD has turned positive, and a corresponding confirmation on the daily timeframe would strengthen the positive outlook. The support is placed at 55,000, followed by 54,750. The overall trend remains bullish, with any pullback likely to be a buy-on-dip opportunity, Mehra added.

Hrishikesh Yedve said that the Bank Nifty formed a Morning Star candlestick pattern on the daily chart, indicating strength.

The next key hurdle for the Bank Nifty is placed near the 56,000  56,100 zone, while major support is seen near 53,480. Traders are advised to hold long positions and consider booking profits around the 56,000 - 56,100 levels, said Yedve.
Pakistan stock market: Extending its gains to the third consecutive session, the equity benchmark index of Pakistan  Karachi Stock Exchange 100 (KSE 100)  surged over 2% on Tuesday, May 13, edging closer to its all-time high level.

Pakistan's stock market rose to its highest since early April today, after surging 9.4% on Monday following the ceasefire announcement, according to Reuters.

KSE 100 index jumped to the day's high of 119,828.88, up 2.4% over its last close, following a record 9% rally seen on Monday, following a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.

In the three sessions alone, the KSE 100 index has jumped over 15%, nearing its 52-week high level of 120,796.67.

The gains in the Pakistan stock market are fueled by optimism around the ceasefire following Operation Sindoor and the IMFs $1.4 billion loan approval, said Harsal Dasani, Research Analyst at INVasset PMS. As of yesterday's close, Dasani said the index was just 3% shy of its all-time high, reflecting a wave of investor relief and short-term euphoria.

Dasani added that despite the sharp spike seen in the Pakistan stock market on Monday, the total market capitalisation of the Pakistan Stock Exchange remains around 14.5 lakh crore. "In stark contrast, Indian equity markets added over 16 lakh crore in a single trading session  purely on intraday gains. This isnt merely a statistical difference  it highlights the sheer disparity in economic depth, institutional participation, and investor confidence between the two nations," he added.

Indian stock market today Meanwhile, the Indian stock market, after witnessing a record rally on Monday, wherein it posted the best intraday gains in four years, witnessed some profit-taking.

While the benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty dipped 1% following a 3.7% rally yesterday, the broader market trend remained strong.

Technically, the sharp rise in the Nifty marks a continuation of the uptrend following a three-week consolidation phase. Having crossed the previous swing high of around 24,857, the index is now poised to inch towards the 25,200 level, while the 24,40024,600 zone is expected to offer strong support on any dip, Ajit Mishra  SVP, Research, Religare Broking said on Monday.
Stock Market Today: The positive news flow led by India and Pakistan Ceasefire and the progress in tariff negotiations between US and China meant that the Benchmark Nifty-50 Index ended 3.82% higher at 24,924.70. The Bank Nifty also gained 3.34% to 55,382.85, while all the sectors led by IT , Metals and Realty saw sharp gains. The mid-cap and small-cap also ended more than 4% higher

Trade Setup for Tuesday The Nifty witnessed its best day in four years as multiple positive news developments triggered a risk-on sentiment. Going forward, any dips are likely to be bought into as long as the index remains above 24,350. On the higher end, this leg of the rally might extend towards 25,350/25,750 in the short term, said Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities

The next key hurdle for the Bank Nifty is placed near the 56,00056,100 zone, while major support is seen near 53,480, said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta.

Global Markets and Q4 Results Confluence of positive geopolitical and economic developmentsthe ceasefire between India and Pakistan, coupled with a breakthrough trade agreement between the US and Chinasparked the strongest daily market rally in recent times. Tarriff issue had the pivotal role in the stock market's consolidation over the year. Sudden easing of the US-China tariff war unlocked multiple investment avenues for investors. Sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) inflows, along with a resurgence in retail participation fuelled by expectations of a swift improvement in business sentiment, propelled today's upside. However, while the momentum remains strong, the market may enter a phase of consolidation in the near term as investors await concrete signs of earnings growth. In the meantime, mid & small caps are expected to maintain the optimism in the broad market, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited.

Stocks to buy today Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, has recommended two stock picks for today. Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, suggested three stocks, while Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager  Technical Research, at Prabhudas Lilladher has given two stock picks.

Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks 1] India Glycols Ltd - Bagadia recommends buying India Glycols at 1555 keeping Stoploss at 1500 for a target price of 1660

INDIAGLYCO has delivered an impressive up move, currently trading at an all-time high of 1563.2 levels. This surge in the stock continue to delivered a strong bullish momentum supported by steadily rising volumes and improving technical structure. The recent breakout above the crucial resistance at 1515 levels is a significant technical development.

2] Innova Captab Ltd - Bagadia recommends buying Innova Captab at 942.5 keeping Stoploss at 905 for a target price of 1010

INNOVACAP is currently trading at 942.5. The rally was backed by strong volumes and a sharp bullish candle, the stock is suggesting aggressive accumulation at lower levels near its 200-EMA.The counter which has been kept the stock largely sideways for over a month, marking a decisive breakout from a prolonged consolidation phase. The price action shows a clear breakout from a horizontal range expansion underscores renewed investor confidence and robust momentum in the stock

Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3] State Bank of India- Dongre recommends buying State Bank of India (SBI) at 800 keeping Stoploss at 765 for a target price of 840

In the short-term trend outlook, SBI is displaying a strong bullish setup, making it a compelling buy candidate. On the daily chart, the stock has formed a Bullish Engulfing patterna classic signal indicating a potential reversal following recent corrective action. The stock is currently holding key support near  765 and offers a favorable entry opportunity at the  800. Technical indicators suggest momentum may build toward the 840 target, with a prudent stop-loss to be maintained at  765 to manage downside risk.

4] Cyient Ltd- Dongre recommends buying CYIENT at around 1260 keeping Stoploss at 1200 for a target price of 1350

CYIENT has shown encouraging signs of a trend reversal on its daily chart, forming a Bullish Engulfing pattern after a period of decline. The stock is indicating renewed buying interest at lower levels. With strong support around  1200, CYIENT offers a short-term buying opportunity at  1260, aiming for a target of 2350 while keeping a stop-loss at  1200.

5] Apollo Tyres Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Apollo Tyres at around 481 keeping Stoploss at 470 for a target price of 510.

APOLLOTYRE is showing a bullish reversal candlestick pattern near its crucial support zone, signaling that recent selling may be losing steam. The stock is trading well above its 50-day EMA, further supporting the positive bias. With a current level around  481, APOLLOTYRE presents a buying opportunity for a potential move toward  510, with a protective stop-loss recommended at  470 to limit downside exposure.

Shiju Koothupalakkal's intraday stocks for today 6] Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO)- Koothupalakkal recommends buying HUDCO at around 224 for a target price of 235 keeping a Stop loss: at 219

The stock has indicated a higher bottom formation on the daily chart taking support near 204 level and has witnessed a decent pullback to cross above the 50EMA at 212 level improving the bias. The RSI has once again regained strength indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 235 level keeping the stop loss of 219 level.

7] Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying POWER GRID at around 309 for a target price of 326 keeping Stoploss at 302

The stock has taken support near the 50EMA at 296 level and witnessed a decent pick up with the bias improving and we can anticipate further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI is well placed indicating a positive trend reversal signaling a buy and can anticipate for further upward move. With the chart technically well positioned, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 326 level keeping the stop loss of 302 level.

8] Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd at around 143 for a target price of 151 keeping Stop loss at 140

The stock has overall maintained a positive bias and currently recovered from the important 50EMA at 135 level, anticipating for further rise. The RSI is well positioned and indicated a positive trend reversal to signal a buy with much upside potential visible. With the chart looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 151 keeping the stop loss of 140 level.
Heres a quick look at stocks likely to be in focus in today's trade. Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Hero Motocorp, Cipla Shares of Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Hero Motocorp, Cipla to remain in focus on Tuesday as companies will be announcing Q4 results today.

Tata Steel Tata Steel posted a consolidated net profit of 1,201 crore for the quarter ending March 2025.

Vedanta Vedanta, led by Anil Agarwal, has announced that it is investigating critical mineral resources in several states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh.

KFin Technologies US-based private equity firm General Atlantic, via its affiliate General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte, is expected to sell up to 6.9% of its equity stake in KFin Technologies Ltd, a financial services company, through block deals, according to reports.

Paytm Antfin is reportedly planning to offload up to a 4% stake in Paytm via block deals, with the total offer valued at approximately 2,066 crore, according to reports.

Ather Industries According to reports, promoter Purnima Desai is expected to sell up to 6.77% of her equity stake in the company through an Offer for Sale (OFS) on May 13 and 14.

Gensol Engineering The company announced that Managing Director Anmol Singh Jaggi and Whole-time Director Puneet Singh Jaggi have stepped down, nearly a month after the market regulator SEBI prohibited them from holding senior roles within the organization.

Also Read | Buy or sell: Vaishali Parekh recommends three stocks to buy today

Allied Blenders The company announced that its board will review a proposal to raise funds using various instrumentssuch as equity shares, convertible securities, debentures, or a qualified institutional placementduring its meeting on May 15.

Premier Explosives The Telangana Pollution Control Board in Hyderabad has issued closure orders to the company, directing an immediate halt to all industrial operations at its factory located in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Telangana. The directive follows an accident that took place at the facility on April 29, 2025.
Tata Motors Q4 Results: Automaker Tata Motors on Tuesday, May 13, announced its March quarter (Q4) results, reporting a 51.34 per cent year-on-year (YoY) fall in its consolidated net profit to 8,470 crore. In the same quarter last year, the company's profit was 17,407 crore. The company's revenue during Q4FY25 increased nominally by 0.4 per cent YoY to 1,19,502 crore.

EBITDA declined 4.1 per cent YoY to 16,700 crore, while EBITDA margin declined 60 bps to 14 per cent.

For FY25, the company reported record revenues of 4,39,695 crore, which was up 1.3 per cent YoY, while profit declined 11.4 per cent to 27,830 crore.

The company said the Tata Motors group turned net auto cash positive in FY25 with a net cash balance of 1,000 crore.

Further, it said lower depreciation and amortisation at JLR, better CV profitability and savings in interest cost were partially offset by lower volumes and lower operating leverage.

"Despite external headwinds, Tata Motors sustained its strong performance in FY25, delivering its highest ever revenues and PBT(before excluding exceptional items). On a consolidated basis, the automotive business is now debt-free, reducing interest costs," said PB Balaji, Group Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors.

"Drawing strength from it, in this environment of heightened uncertainty, we will remain agile, proactively drive our growth agenda, reduce our cash breakeven further whilst continuing to invest in our future. With the shareholders also approving the demerger, we are on track to realise the full potential of each of the businesses, said Balaji.

The company highlighted that tariffs and related geopolitical actions are making the operating environment uncertain and challenging.

It, however, underscored that the global premium luxury segment and Indian domestic markets are expected to weather this relatively better.

Meanwhile, the company announced a final dividend of 6 for FY25.

"We would like to inform that the board of directors has recommended a final dividend of 6 per Equity Share of 2 each (at 300 per cent) for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. The dividend, if declared at the AGM, shall be paid to the eligible shareholders on or before June 24, 2025," said the company.

Segment-wise performance Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) The segment's Q4FY25 revenue stood at 7.7 billion, which was down 1.7 per cent YoY. EBITDA margin dropped 100 bps YoY to 15.3 per cent.

Wholesales for "Defender" hit a new record in FY25 at 115,404 units, "Range Rover Sport" wholesales for the year were up 19.7 per cent YoY.

"JLR continued its trend of consistent performance, delivering record full-year and quarterly profits in a decade. Revenue for the quarter was 7.7 billion, down 1.7 per cent YoY, while full year revenue at 29.0 billion was flat YoY. PBT (before exceptional items) in Q4 FY25 was 875 million, up from 661 million in Q4 FY24, and full year profit before tax was 2.5 billion, up 15 per cent YoY and the best PBT in a decade," said the company.

The company said the US-UK trade deal reduces US trade tariffs on UK auto exports to the US from 27.5 per cent to 10 per cent, within a quota of 100,000 vehicles. This deal brings greater certainty for the sector and stakeholders.

"We will continue to engage with the UK Government on the details of the trade deal. Our priority is to ensure we deliver for our global clients and protect EBIT through the delivery of transformation and efficiency initiatives," the company said.

"Looking ahead, we expect investment spend to remain at 18 billion over a five-year period and will be funded by operational cash flows. We continue to evaluate the impact of global challenges and will provide an update at our Investor Day on 16 June 2025," Tata Motors said.

Tata commercial vehicles (CV) In Q4 FY25, domestic wholesale CV volumes were 99,600 units, down 4.8 per cent YoY. Exports were at 5,900 units, up 29.4 per cent YoY.

Revenues were marginally down by 0.5 per cent YoY to 21,500 crore on account of lower volumes. EBITDA and EBIT margins of 12.2 per cent (up 20 bps YoY) and 9.7 per cent (up 10 bps YoY), respectively, were delivered, driven primarily on account of improvement in realisations, said the company.

"With most macroeconomic indicators on track, improved fleet utilisation and stable sentiment index, we anticipate sustained growth despite global headwinds. We will continue to closely monitor government infrastructure spending and growth across key end-use segments," said the company.

"Our focus will remain to ensure a smooth transition of AC regulation in trucks, coupled with value enhancements. With an expansive product portfolio, smart digital solutions and new nameplate launches on the anvil, we are well-positioned to leverage market opportunities and grow," the company said.

Tata passenger vehicles (PV) In Q4, PV segment volumes were at 1,47,000 units (down 5.5 per cent YoY). Revenues in Q4 were at 12,500 crore, down 13.1 per cent YoY, while EBIT margin was at 1.6 per cent, down 130 bps YoY impacted by lower volumes and realisations, partially offset by cost savings and incentives.

In Q4, PV (ICE) business delivered EBITDA margins of 8.2 per cent, and EV business was EBITDA positive at 6.5 per cent, said the company.

"The overall demand growth will be shaped by macroeconomic factors such as consumption growth, inflation, infrastructure spending and global geopolitics. However, industry momentum is expected to be driven by continued innovation in line with evolving customer preferences," said Tata Motors.

"SUVS, CNG, and EVS will remain key growth drivers, fueling the industrys expansion. A well-conceived product portfolio with multiple powertrains, exciting new launches and a renewed focus on significantly improving after-sales service, places Tata Motors well to regain its winning momentum," said the company.
If you are a professional, its likely that you have recently completed a goal-setting exercise as part of your annual performance appraisal. Irrespective of the template followed for this activity by the HR department of your organisation, the fundamental principle behind such an exercise is similar for most enterprises: to help employees become more productive, accountable, and focused on meeting their targets in the new financial year.

One of the most common tools used in the corporate world to keep professionals on track is a goal-setting framework that goes by the acronym S.M.A.R.T. Management consultant George T. Doran first mentioned it in an article for Management Review in 1981. According to this model, the most effective goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable (originally Doran used Assignable), Realistic and Time-bound. I will run three times per week for 30 minutes each session to prepare for a 5K race in 8 weeks" is an example of a S.M.A.R.T goal.

A tried and tested tool for close to half a century, S.M.A.R.T goals not only strongly correlate with the outcomes desired of an individual, but also leave no room for ambiguity. Even to carry out daily tasks, it can prove beneficial, both for managers and their reportees. Instead of going down the slippery slope of vague promises, such as, Ill send over the presentation by E.O.D.," an individual working within the S.M.A.R.T framework will have to make a more precise commitment, such as, I will send over the presentation by 5pm."

There is, however, a flip side to this model. S.M.A.R.T goals tend to be overly focused on outcomes and the metrics attached to them. With no wiggle room for recalibration, these goals either leave you feeling triumphant or like a loser. Especially if the goal in question is personal, such as reaching a certain designation in a specific period of time, this framework may lead to burnout if not met.

Also read: When serendipity helps build a strong career

Further, the continuous pressure of being always on track may lead to toxic work habitssuch as pulling off the proverbial 70-hour-week, either in all honesty or to keep up the appearances. Come rain, shine, war or economic meltdown, S.M.A.R.T goals keep you on your toes, not accounting for the Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world we live and work in.

Let's make a PACT

The S.M.A.R.T framework may have worked for Boomers, Gen X and older millennials when the world of work was relatively insulated from the shocks and tremors of global upheavals in tech, AI and financial meltdowns. But for Gen Zs and Gen Alphas joining, or about to join, the workforce, the current reality calls for a different approach to productivity.

In her recent book Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World, former Google executive, neuroscientist, and founder of the mindful productivity platform Ness Labs Anne-Laure Le Cunff proposes an alternative to the S.M.A.R.T modelan approach that takes into account all the ups and downs we face in our VUCA world.

Instead of being tied to outcome-oriented linear goals, this French Algerian writer suggests that we shift towards setting non-linear goals and make a P.A.C.T. that is focused on the process and the output. Her acronymPurposeful, Actionable, Continuous and Trackableis an antidote to empirical metrics of productivity.

For example, Ill learn coding in the next six months" may be a worthwhile goal, but for it to work as a P.A.C.T., it will have to be re-framed as something along the lines of, I will code every day for one hour for the next six months."

Building motivation in individuals to achieve their goals almost always involves a carrot or stick approach. A pact, in contrast, offers a reprieve from the push and pull method. It relies on the momentum of the process to build skill and confidence through repeated action. Le Cunff calls these exercises to reframe our working style tiny experiments."

Mindful productivity

While it is difficult to imagine tiny experiments working at an organisational level, Le Cunffs ideas can prove transformative for personal productivity. And so, going beyond the theories of the fixed and growth mindsets proposed by psychologist Carol Dweck in her 2006 book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, she proposes a third model: the experimental mindset. To explain what such a mindset may look like in practice, she invokes the concept of metacognition," or heightened self-awareness achieved through repeatedly questioning the triggers behind our actions. If you are a serial procrastinator, for instance, your experimental mindset can help you see whats stopping you from getting on with your tasks. Is it your rational brain that sees no value in the work itself? Do your emotions feel that there are better things awaiting your attention? Or, perhaps, there are practical impediments for you to do the task?

Also read: The secret of success? Energy management

Based on your answers, Le Cunff suggests a persist, pause and pivot" model to get out of the rut. Her provocations may or may not work every time for everyone, but at least such tiny experimentsand there are several more in her bookwill put you in touch with some of the default blockages in your mind.

Work Vibes is a fortnightly column on ideas to help you thrive at what you do.
IDBI Bank provides numerous channels through which customers can seek help with credit card and debit card related problems.

Common issues that can be resolved through these channels include billing disputes, transaction queries, card closure, account concerns along with other card related queries.

Customers can reach out to the concerned IDBI Bank officials through email support, phone banking or by visiting their nearest branch.

The bank also provides helpline numbers and online support options through which customers can raise queries and seek guidance. Here are four different ways through which you can reach out to the customer support team of the bank:

1. Call the 24x7 customer care helpline You can speak to an IDBI Bank representative through the following numbers:

Toll-free number : 1800 425 7600

: 1800 425 7600 Landline (Chargeable): 022-4042 6013 These helplines are available in English, Hindi and regional languages. Their services are available 24x7, including Sundays and even public holidays. Further, these helplines can assist in card activation, unauthorised transaction escalation, PIN generation and reward point queries along with other associated services.

Note: The numbers discussed above are illustrative only. For the updated and most recent numbers refer to the official website of IDBI Bank.

Also Read | Credit Cards: These are the five costly mistakes cardholders must avoid

2. Email your queries You can also contact IDBI Bank through email for a more detailed or document-based concern:

General credit card queries : idbicards@idbi.co.in

: idbicards@idbi.co.in Transaction disputes : ccdisputes@idbi.co.in

: ccdisputes@idbi.co.in Reward points (Delight points) : membersupport@idbidelight.com

: membersupport@idbidelight.com Attach supporting documents, such as payment proofs or screenshots, for faster resolution. 3. Visit the official website Go to the Credit Card Contact Us section of IDBI Banks website. It lists all helpline numbers, grievance procedures, escalation levels, and relevant forms. The site also provides updates on card features, charges, and terms & conditions. Customers are advised to regularly check the website for policy changes.

4. Escalate unresolved issues Your issue will be resolved within eight business days. Still, if you are not satisfied with the provided resolution, you can email your grievance to customercare@idbi.co.in or send a written complaint to the customer service centre at the banks Mumbai headquarters for the updated details of the address refer to the official website of IDBI Bank.

Do ensure that you state your complaint ID, summary of the problem and contact information for quicker resolution while you reach out to the bank for help. Further, to resolve any doubts or issues related to the same, discuss your problem with the concerned customer service team of the bank.
MUMBAI : Employees of some public sector banks are unable to maximise returns on their retirement fund contributions as they have no choice but to park these savings with SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd.

However, SBI Pension Funds has delivered the least returns among the 11 pension fund managers under the National Pension System (NPS), a government-sponsored, market-linked retirement savings scheme, across time periods.

The fund registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.09%, 13.34%, 19.78%, and 11.88% over the past 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively (as of 9 May).

In comparison, DSP Pension Fund Managers Pvt. Ltd delivered the highest returns of 19.28% for the one-year period, followed by Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd at 9.68%, and UTI Pension Fund Ltd at 8.63%.

For the three-year period, UTI, ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management Co. Ltd, and Kotak delivered higher returns at 24.13%, 24.01%, and 23.95%, respectively.

Similarly, for the five-year period, HDFC Pension Fund Management Ltd recorded 13.18%, UTI 13.14%, and Kotak 13.11% CAGR.

This has hit State Bank of India's (SBI) own employees the hardest as they had to settle for SBI Pension Funds' default scheme, which caps equity/equity-related instruments at 15%. Employees of seven other state-run banks are also required to park their retirement savings with SBI Pension Funds.

There are approximately 530,000 public sector bank (PSB) employees enrolled in the NPS.

View Full Image Graphic by Gopakumar Warrier.

Why did this happen?

PSBs adopted the NPS in 2010 and stuck to the NPS central government pattern, allowing investments through one of the three pension funds run by pubic sector undertakings: LIC Pension Fund Ltd, SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd, and UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd.

However, on 14 November 2018, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority gave central government employees the option of choosing from any of the 11 pension funds in the NPS. Later, the finance ministry's 31 January 2019 notification allowed the central government subscribers to have the option of selecting pension funds and investment patterns in their tier-I account from 1 April 2019.

Tier-1 accounts restrict withdrawals till the age of 60, while tier-2 accounts are a voluntary add-on, giving people much more flexibility when it comes to withdrawals.

Initially, the Indian Banks Association (IBA) did not follow suit. However, in 2024, it left the decision with the PSBs.

Consequently, four of the 12 PSBs in the countryBank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Union Bank of Indiaallowed their employees to choose any pension fund manager and investment option.

PSBs are technically part of the NPS corporate sector. In this plan, the pension regulator has allowed employees to choose their own pension fund manager after one year and also their own individual asset allocation.

However, the PFRDA exempted organisations that joined the NPS before 2017 from this rule.

As a result, SBI and the other seven PSBs continue to follow the old regime.

Why do employees feel short-changed?

Currently, I am constrained to a default investment pattern in government securities, which offers minimum equity exposure. Moreover, I have only one pension fund manager, SBI Pension Funds, with no option to switch," a Bank of Baroda employee told Mint.

My current annual return under the default government scheme allocation is only 9.17%. In contrast, peers employed with the central and state governments, insurance companies, and regulatory bodies have achieved returns exceeding 14% as they opted for high equity exposure," this person added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Even with conservative estimates of 12% annual equity returns, the employee pointed out, the long-term impact could amount to a retirement corpus shortfall of several crores. This denial of flexibility directly undermines our ability to grow our retirement savings in line with market opportunities and personal financial goals," the Bank of Baroda employee added.

While employees have made multiple representations over the years, there has been little progress. The employee noted that Bank of Baroda acknowledged the receipt of clarification from the IBA and the PFRDA on 6 December 2024. Yet, no action has followed since.

However, not all PSBs are lagging. Bank of India has already allowed employees the option to choose a pension fund manager and asset class allocation. This proves that it is operationally feasible and highlights the lack of initiative in other banks," the Bank of Baroda employee added.

Mint's emails to SBI and Bank of Baroda went unanswered.

The fairness question

The financial and strategic consequences of this inaction could be far-reaching.

Employees are being denied the opportunity to align their retirement planning with their risk appetite. The delay also goes against the very spirit of the finance ministry's January 2019 directive," said a senior pension fund executive on the condition of anonymity. It is not just a policy issue anymoreits a question of fairness and future financial security."

There is cautious optimism among pension fund insiders that change is inevitable. Regulatory pressure from the PFRDA and growing awareness among employees are expected to gradually shift the tide. Bottom-up pressure is the only way this will change. The employees need to demand it, and the regulators must keep the heat on," the executive added.
Before you invest in a mutual fund, it is recommended to compare the returns delivered by the scheme and compare the same with those of other schemes in the same category  be it large cap, value funds, flexi cap or other.

Here, we list out the six mutual fund schemes which have delivered over 20 percent annualised return in the past three years. In other words, if someone invested 1,00,000 three years ago, the investment would have grown to 1,72,800 now by growing at an annualised rate of 20 percent.

Flexi cap funds For the unversed, a flexi cap mutual fund scheme is the one which is flexible to invest its assets across market capitalisation i.e., small cap, mid cap and large cap in any proportion. However, the fund must invest at least 65 percent in equity and equity-related instruments, as per the Sebis categorisation of mutual fund schemes.

Flexi Cap Fund 3-year-return(%) Franklin India Flexi Cap Fund 20.51 HDFC Flexi Cap Fund 24.26 Invesco India Flexi Cap fund 22.39 JM Flexi Cap Fund 24.73 Motilal Oswal FC fund 23.53 Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund 20.48

(Source: AMFI; returns as on May 8, 2025)

As one can see in the table above, JM Flexi Cap Fund has delivered 24.73 percent annualised return in the past three years and HDFC Flexi Cap Fund has given 24.26 percent in the past three years.

Also Read | Investment word of the day: Total expense ratio

Other schemes which have delivered more than 20 percent annualised return include Invesco India Flexi Cap fund and Motilal Oswal Flexi Cap Fund.

Meanwhile, it is important to note that the past returns do not guarantee future returns. This means just because a scheme has delivered good returns in the past, it does not mean it will continue to deliver the same returns in the future as well.

Aside from past returns, other factors which should affect your decision of whether to invest in a scheme or not include past performance of the fund manager, reputation of the fund house, category of scheme and overall market scenario.
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi snubbed US President Donald Trump over his pitch to work with both India and Pakistan to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) again rejected such a mediation, saying any issues have to be addressed by the two countries concerned bilaterally.

Addressing a briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed.

Only issue with Islamabad on Kashmir is return of illegally occupied territories to India by Pakistan, the foreign ministry said.

The MEA also officially rejected the trade offer that Donald Trump claimed to put forth before India and Pakistan, allegedly getting them to agree to an immediate ceasefire, saying the issue of trade did not come up in any discussion.

From the time of Operation Sindhoor, which commenced on 7th May, till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions, Randhir Jaiswal said.

Speaking on the Operation Sindoor, the foreign ministry said, Terrorist infrastructure India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around the world. It added, There is now a new normal, and sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better.

Pakistan nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale.
Delhi Airport issued a five-point travel advisory for passengers on Tuesday, May 13, after IndiGo, Air India and other Indian airlines cancelled several flights. These flight cancellations to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Leh and other Indian cities come amid tensions between India and Pakistan.

Here's what the advisory says  Stay informed through updates from their respective airlines.

Follow hand baggage and check-in luggage regulations.

Arrive early to allow for potential delays at security checkpoints.

Cooperate with airline and security staff for smooth facilitation.

Check flight status via their airline or the official Delhi Airport website. Additionally, the Delhi Airport has urged all passengers to rely solely on official sources for accurate information and avoid sharing unverified content.

However, Delhi Airport operations remain normal, but due to evolving airspace conditions and enhanced security measures directed by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, some flight schedules may be impacted, and security processing times could be longer, the advisory stated.

Also Read | Air India, IndiGo announce flight cancellation for THESE locations today

Flight cancellation by IndiGo IndiGo Airlines cancelled flights to and from six airports on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, over safety concerns.

In light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority, flights to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot are cancelled for 13th May 2025, states an advisory by Indigo Airlines on Monday, May 12, late in the evening.

Further, the airlines advised passengers to check flight status on their official website or app before heading to the airport.

Flight cancellation by Air India Apart from IndiGo, Air India cancelled flights to and from eight airports for Tuesday, May 13 2025.
By Natalia Siniawski

May 12 - The top diplomats from Kenya and the Dominican Republic met in Santo Domingo on Monday and called on the international community to fulfill and expand its promised funding for the UN-backed security mission in neighboring Haiti.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez and his Kenyan counterpart Musalia Mudavadi warned that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti is struggling to fight the country's worsening gang violence effectively due to a lack of funding and logistical support.

BY THE NUMBERS

Kenya deployed officers to the MSS in June 2024. The mission includes around 1,000 personnel, with approximately 75% from Kenya.

In the first three months of 2025 alone, over 1,600 people were killed in Haiti, and more than 1 million displaced, according to UN estimates.

KEY QUOTES

Both ministers "acknowledged that the Mission has been unable to be more effective due to the lack of financial and material resources necessary for the full and complete deployment of the troops stationed there," according to an official statement.

They urged the international community to "fulfill the contributions offered, and even increase them, so that the mission can fully operate."

CONTEXT Heavily armed gangs have expanded their control in Haiti this year as the MSS and local police struggle to contain escalating violence.
US President Donald Trump has yet again claimed credit for easing tensions between India and Pakistan, boasting that he brokered peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Speaking at US-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, Donald Trump also reiterated that he used trade to a large extent to get the two countries to halt strikes at each other.

Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan. I used trade to a large extent. I said let's make a deal, let's do some trading. Let's not trade nuclear missiles, let's trade the things you make so beautifully, Trump said to applause from the audience.

Speaking on India-Pakistan understanding, Donald Trump said, Both have very powerful, strong and smart leaders. It all stopped and hopefully it will remain that way...They [India-Pakistan] are actually getting along.

Maybe we can even get them together to go out and have a nice dinner. Millions of people could have died from that conflict that started off small and was getting bigger and bigger by the day.

Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of his four-day trip to the Gulf region.

The US President also applauded the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Marco stand up. What a great job you did on that. Thank you. Vice President JD Vance, Marco, the whole group worked with you, but there's a great, great job, and think they're actually getting along.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rejected the trade offer that Donald Trump claimed to put forth before India and Pakistan, allegedly getting them to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the issue of trade did not come up in any discussion.

From the time of Operation Sindhoor, which commenced on 7th May, till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions, Randhir Jaiswal said.
US President Donald Trump has landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as he begins his four-day tour of the Middle East focusing on economic deals. Trump was greeted at the airport by the de facto ruler Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

During his four-day Middle East trip, Donald Trump is expected to focus on economic deals. Trump has said he will ask for $1tn investment in the US. During the Riyadh stop, Donald Trump is expected to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100bn, Reuters reported citing people in the know.

Also Read | Middle Eastern states compete to wow Donald Trump

Further, Tesla CEO and Donald Trump's adviser Elon Musk is also in Riyadh, where he is expected to speak at the Saudi-US Investment Forum. Secretary of state and national security adviser Marco Rubio and defence secretary Pete Hegseth are also on the trip.

What Does UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia Demand o Trump? Each of the nations President Donald Trump is visiting has a list of priorities. Heres what they want from the US:

Saudi Arabia Last year, the US and Saudi Arabia came close to finalizing a defence and trade pact  but the deal stalled over Saudi insistence that Israel commit to a path toward Palestinian statehood.

Riyadh is also seeking US cooperation to develop a civil nuclear program, but that has been held up over its insistence on enriching uranium domestically  raising concerns in the US and Israel over nuclear weapons proliferation.

White House backing for a Saudi nuclear program could see American firms win lucrative contracts.

But for Riyadh to diversify away from oil, it still needs to sell oil to fund that transition. Donald Trump has said he wants oil prices lower, putting him at odds with Saudi Arabia.

During his first term (20172021), Donald Trump developed a close and strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia. His first foreign visit was to Riyadh in 2017, where he secured a landmark $110 billion arms deal and and a broader $350 billion economic package covering defence, energy, and infrastructure initiatives.

Trump prioritised economic and security ties over human rights concerns, notably maintaining strong relations despite the controversy surrounding journalist Jamal Khashoggis murder.

Donald Trump emphasised strengthening trade, trust, and cooperation, with Saudi Arabia pledging substantial investments in the US economy, including a $20 billion commitment to American infrastructure projects and a $45 billion investment in the SoftBank Vision Fund

United Arab Emirates The UAE sees investment as central to its strategy for deepening ties with the US. In March, it announced a $1.4 trillion investment plan over 10 years focused on AI, semiconductors, manufacturing, and energy.

The UAE sees a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a significant contributor in AI and advanced technology, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told CNN.

However, it wont be easy for Abu Dhabi to achieve its stated goal of becoming a global leader in AI by 2031 without US chips.

Also Read | Saudi Arabia and Qatar to pay back Syrias debt to the World Bank

Notably, during his first term, Donald Trump had deepened the US relationship with the UAE, emphasising strategic and economic cooperation.

A key milestone was the historic Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between the UAE and Israel, marking a major diplomatic breakthrough in the region.

Trump worked closely with Abu Dhabis Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, focusing on countering Irans influence and combating terrorism, while also strengthening military ties through defence agreements and arms sales.

The partnership was characterised by a transactional approach, with the UAE pledging substantial investments in the US economy and enhancing security collaboration, solidifying the UAEs role as a crucial US ally in the Gulf.

Qatar Qatar hosts the biggest US military installation in the Middle East, which the State Department describes as indispensable for US military operations in the region.

Qatar has also been a key mediator in a number of conflicts  from the war in Gaza to Afghanistan. Experts say it is part of an effort to remain relevant in the eyes of Washington.

Unlike UAE and Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump had a rather comlpex relations with Qatar during his first term.

Donald Trumps relationship with Qatar was complex and marked by tension amid the 2017 Gulf diplomatic crisis.

Initially, Trump appeared to side with Saudi Arabia and its allies by accusing Qatar of funding terrorism and supporting radical ideology, tweeting that his visit to Saudi Arabia was already paying off in pressuring Qatar.

However, the US military maintained a strong presence at Qatars Al Udeid Air Base, and the Pentagon and State Department sought a more neutral stance, urging dialogue and de-escalation.
As US President Donald Trump begins a trip to the Middle East, US officials said on Monday that the State Department has authorised the sale of $1.4 billion worth of military aircraft and equipment to the United Arab Emirates.

What's in the deal? According to Reuters, the deal includes the potential sale of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and F-16 components and sustainment, along with related equipment, to the United Arab Emirates for a total of $1.457 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Meanwhile, AFP quoted officials from the State Department Bureau of Political-Military Affairs as saying that the proposed sale to the Gulf state involves six CH-47F Chinook helicopters and other equipment for $1.32 billion that would "support the foreign policy and national security of the United States."

The State Department officials said the F-16 parts would improve the UAE's "ability to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity to meet its national defense requirements."

"The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations," they reportedly said. "The United Arab Emirates is a vital US partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," officials said.

Also Read | 119 more deported Indians to reach Amritsar amid Donald Trump's crackdown

The principal contractors for the sale of the helicopters are Boeing Helicopter Aircraft Company (BA.N), opens new tab and Honeywell Engine Company (HON.O), opens new tab, the Pentagon said in a statement. No contractors are associated with the F-16 sustainment sale, the Pentagon was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Congress has 30 days to block the proposed sale.

Trump's visit to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar Pesident Donald Trump set out on a three-nation visit to the Middle East on Monday, a trip he had originally intended to use to focus on his efforts to press wealthy Gulf nations to pour billions in new investment into the United States.

He is scheduled to visit the oil-rich states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE this week to discuss diplomatic needs on Gaza and Iran, along with major business deals that could touch on anything from defense and aviation to energy and artificial intelligence.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that the southwest monsoon advanced into parts of the south Bay of Bengal, south Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and some areas of the north Andaman Sea on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a weather official said there's a possibility of a cyclone brewing Bay of Bengal.

Also Read | Mumbai on yellow alert! IMD warns against downpours till May 14

Cyclone 'Shakti' brewing? The IMD said on Tuesday, May 13, An upper air cyclonic circulation lay over Andaman Sea between 1.5 km and 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwestwards with height at 0300 UTC of today, 13th May, 2025.

In a press release on Monday, May 12, the IMD said an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over northwest Uttar Pradesh and another over West Rajasthan and neighbourhood in lower tropospheric levels.

"The upper air cyclonic circulation over Northeast Assam & neighbourhood in lower & middle tropospheric levels," the IMD said.

Meanwhile, ABP Bengali quoted sources in the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) as saying that a low pressure area is likely to form near the east-central Bay of Bengal from May 16 to 22.

Bangladeshi meteorologist Mostafa Kamal Palash warned of a cyclone possibly brewing over the Bay of Bengal. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Palash said a cyclonic circulation forming between May 16th18th could intensify into a cyclone by May 23rd28th.

Also Read | Heatwave predicted in THESE states till 17 May, rains in Northeast India

However, the IMD is yet to confirm the formation of a cyclone. It's not possible yet to predict whether this cyclone will develop into a cyclone or not.

IMD weather update The IMD said several parts of the country may witness heavy rainfall "under the influence of these systems."

The IMD predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds in parts of Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad on May 12; Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh and Delhi, East Rajasthan on May 12 and 13; in Himachal Pradesh during May 16 and 17.

Also Read | Heatwave predicted in THESE states till 17 May, rains in Northeast India

Light/moderate rainfall are also likely in Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada, Chhattisgarh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Kerala and Mahe, interior Karnataka during May 12 and 14; Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam.

It said, Isolated heavy rainfall [are likely] over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya during 12th-16th and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura during 12th-15th with isolated very heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya on 13th-14th and over Tripura on 12th & 13th May.

Southwest monsoon advances The IMD said in a post on X, "Southwest Monsoon has advanced into some parts of south Bay of Bengal, south Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and some parts of north Andaman Sea today, the 13th May, 2025. The Northern Limit of Monsoon passes through 5N/75E, 5N/80E, 6N/86E, 8.5N/90E, Hut Bay, 13N/95E. and 16N/98E."

The IMD said more progress is likely in three to four days.
Posters have been put up in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, seeking help from locals in finding the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. The posters informed locals that the Jammu and Kashmir police have announced a 20 lakh reward for those providing information about terrorists involved in the deadly attack

The poster reads: Wanted terrorists; Please help find the culprits behind the murder of innocents. A prize of 20 lakhs. [roughly translated from Urdu].

Also Read | What is BLA that targeted Pakistan military sites and sent a message to India

On April 23, police announced a bounty of 20 lakh for information leading to the neutralisation of terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

Security agencies had released the sketches of three men suspected to be involved in the terror attack.

The men, all Pakistanis, are Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah and Abu Talha, officials were quoted by PTI as saying. They had code names Moosa, Yunus and Asif and were involved in terror-related incidents in Poonch.

Pahalgam terror attack At least 26 people were killed after a group of terrorists opened fire at tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's tourist spot Pahalgam on April 22.

Also Read | Operation Sindoor: 8 Pakistani Air Force Bases India wreaked havoc on

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said a group called the Resistance Front (TRS) claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran. This group is said to be an off-shoot of terror group Lashkar-e Taiba.

Misri alleged that Pakistan links were established in this attack.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, The barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world.

Those innocent people who were celebrating the leaves were killed in front of their families, after being asked about their religion, PM Modi said.

PM Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists.

Also Read | Vikram Misri to brief Shashi Tharoor-led parliamentary panel on May 19

Operation Sindoor In retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Under Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

India's Ministry of Defence said that the operation was a direct response to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen and injured several others.
Flight operations across 32 airports, which have been impacted in recent days due to the military conflict between India and Pakistan, are likely to resume normally on May 15.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday held a meeting with airline representatives and discussed flight disruptions.

Chaired a review meeting with all airlines and senior officials. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, I appreciate the extraordinary efforts of the security forces in safeguarding our nation. Also, kudos to the seamless coordination between the Ministry, DGCA, AAI and airlines during this emergency, said Naidu in a post on X.

Also Read | Hajj 2025 flights to resume from Srinagar airport tomorrow

The minister added that with the NOTAM ending on May 15, he suggested that airlines resume their normal schedules from that day across all 32 airports for which the NOTAM was issued.

All airlines responded positively to this suggestion, he added.

A total of 32 airports in the northern and western parts of the country were temporarily shut for civilian flights in view of the India-Pakistan conflict on May 9.

Some of these airports were closed immediately after India carried out missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan on May 7.

However, all 32 airports were reopened for civilian flights on May 12 after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the Delhi airport operator on Tuesday said operations remain normal.

"However, due to changing airspace conditions and enhanced security measures by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, some flight schedules may be affected, and security processing times could be longer," it said in a post on X.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital.

Also Read | Delhi Airport issues 5-point advisory for travellers amid flights cancellations
Operation Sindoor: The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a pan-India outreach campaign on Operation Sindoor, Indias military strike against terrorist camps in Pakistan, and the events that followed. Though the party had remained silent for many days since 07 May, when the operation begun, a formal outreach began soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on 12 May.

State units of the party will organise public programmes such as a 10-day Tiranga Yatra, call on families of the personnel killed in action, and reach out to people with the details of how India decimated terrorist camps in Pakistan, a report in Hindustan Times said. The Tiranga yatras will begin from Tuesday, 13 May.

Owing to the sensitivity of the operation the BJP did not make any comments or statements about the military action that was being executed by our armed forces. But the message from the very beginning was absolutely clear. The PM while addressing a rally in Bihar (on April 24) said the perpetrators (of the April 22 terror) attack in Pahalgam (in Kashmir) would be served punishment beyond their imagination and that has been fulfilled, the report quoted a BJP leader as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, 12 May asserted that India won't be bogged down by any nuclear blackmail' from Pakistan and that the country's military actions against terrorism have only been paused for now.

In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Modi said that the future course of action would depend on Pakistans behaviour. Operation Sindoor is now Indias new policy against terrorism and a new line has been drawn, Modi said.

On May 7 morning, India conducted strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan, two weeks after the brutal killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The strikes by India since 7 May were coined Operation Sindoor.

The PM... said the perpetrators... would be served punishment beyond their imagination and that has been fulfilled.

Operation Sindoor is now Indias new policy against terrorism and a new line has been drawn.

The decision about the outreach programme and the related details were discussed on Sunday evening in the meeting between party president JP Nadda and senior ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Bhupender Yadav, Kiren Rijiju and Ashwani Vaishnaw. A similar meeting was held at the party headquarters on Monday. Two party national general secretaries Vinod Tawde and Tarun Chugh were given charge of drawing up the details of the outreach in the meeting, according to Hindustan Times.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the Adampur air base and interacted with the jawans in Punjab, where he was briefed by the Air Force personnel.

PM Modi's visit comes after days of intense conflict between India and Pakistan following Indian strikes at terror sites in the neighbouring country on May 7 under Operation Sindoor.

Prime Minister visited the Adampur air base and interacted with the jawans in Punjab on Tuesday.

India and Pakistan agreed on May 10 to stop military actions. India has, however, made it clear it has merely paused its operation and its actions will be guided by Pakistan's conduct.

Defence Minister holds high-level meet Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reviewed the national security situation with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, and other senior military officials in New Delhi on Tuesday.

According to news agency PTI, the meeting was also attended by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi during a meeting on national security on Tuesday.

The meeting reviewed security situation along the Western frontier with Pakistan and related issues, the report said, quoting officials.

India-Pakistan conflict Tensions soared after the Indian Armed Forces on the intervening night of May 6-7 conducted precision strikes, under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

In the early hours of May 7, Pakistan began heavy shelling across the LoC in Poonch, increasing the intensity of unprovoked firing in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Medhar, and Rajouri sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

On May 8, the Indian armed forces targeted Pakistan's air defence radars and systems at several locations, in which the air defence system in Lahore was neutralised.

On the intervening night of May 8-9, Pakistan had launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks along India's western border, targeting 26 locations. Defence officials said the the attacks were intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile defence system, preventing significant damage.

Then, for the third consecutive day, on the intervening night of May 9-10, Pakistan violated Indian airspace by launching drones at several locations. Pakistan had also resorted to cross-border firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border.

On the morning of May 10, India carried out strikes at four airbases in Pakistan. Precision strikes were carried out on Pakistani military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases, using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter jets, the Indian Army said.

By the evening of May 10, India and Pakistan decided to stop firing and military action on land and in the air from 5 pm on Saturday, an agreement that Pakistan violated later that night.

On May 12, after the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held high-level talks, sources said on Tuesday that the two countries decided to adhere to a "mutual commitment".
At least 17 people died in five villages in Amritsar after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, leading to the arrest of five accused, a news agency reported on Tuesday.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney confirmed the death of 17 people, a PTI report said.

According to the report, police said six people have been hospitalised with complications caused by hooch. The deaths have occurred in five villages  Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Therewal and Talwandi Ghuman.

What we know so far  Six people have been arrested in the incident. They have been identified as Prabhjeet Singh, the main accused, Kulbir Singh, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh and Ninder Kaur, an ANI report said.

 Main accused Prabhjeet has informed the cops about Sahib Singh, a kingpin who supplies methanol, the report said.

 SSP Amritsar Rural Maninder Singh told ANI that Sahib Singh obtained 50 litres of methanol, which was diluted to make 120 litres. This is was what was sold to the local suppliers.

 A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Excise Act.

 Cops are now going door-to-door to sensitise people that fake liquor can have effect for 24-48 hours, a PTI report said.

What the cops said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar (Rural) Maninder Singh, said, We received information around 9:30 pm last night that here people have started dying after consuming spurious liquor.

"We took action immediately and rounded up four people. We arrested the main supplier, Prabhjeet Singh. We interrogated him and found out about the kingpin supplier, Sahab Singh. We have rounded him up as well. We are investigating which firms he has bought this," SSP Singh said.

We have been given strict instructions from the Punjab government that strict action must be taken against suppliers of spurious liquor. Raids are underway, the SSP told ANI.

"Manufacturers will be rounded up soon. Two FIRs have been registered under stringent sections. We aim to bust the entire distribution network. The civil administration, and we are going door to door to find out more people who have consumed this, to avoid further casualties and save people. 14 deaths have been confirmed and six people are currently hospitalised. This incident took place in five villages," SSP Singh said.

Shiromani Akali Dal slams CM Bhagwant Mann Sukhbir Singh Badal, former deputy chief minister of Punjab and president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state, accusing its MLAs of being involved in the illicit trade.

Calling it a man-made tragedy and a state-sponsored disaster, Badal said, This is Punjabs fourth hooch tragedy in three years, with similar tragedies occurring under the previous Congress government as well.

Addressing the chief minister directly, Badal, in a post on x, wrote, Illegal distilleries are flourishing, and innocent lives are being snuffed out. Where are your task forces, @BhagwantMann? This exposes the hollowness of your Yudh Nashian Virudh slogan. Your inaction is criminal. You have no right to remain in office if you cannot curb this menace.
An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials told news agency PTI.

According to the report, a cordon and search operation was launched in Shopian on Tuesday based on an input about the presence of terrorists in the Shukroo Keller area.

Officials said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired upon the forces, who retaliated. The exchange of fire is going on, and so far, there have not been any reports of casualties on either side, the report added.

India's policy against terrorism Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the nation, the first after Operation Sindoor was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, and said that the operation had carved a new benchmark in India's fight against terrorism.

PM Modi also referred to India conducting a surgical strike in 2016 at terror launch pads along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and to the air strikes at a terror camp in Pakistan in 2019 and said that after the two operations, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism.

The PM also said India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism.

Over 100 terrorists kiled He said more than 100 dreaded terrorists have been killed in India's precision strikes. "Many terrorist leaders were roaming freely in Pakistan for the last two and a half to three decades who used to conspire against India. India killed them in one stroke," he said.

Earlier on Monday, PM Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists.

In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai".

Also Read | Operation Sindoor: 8 Pakistani Air Force bases India wreaked havoc on

"We all have seen the capability and patience of the country in the last few days. I salute the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists. Today, I dedicate this valour, bravery, courage (of armed forces) to every mother of our country, to every sister of the country and to every daughter of the country," he added.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, PM Modi said, "The barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world".

In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties.
Three terrorists hwere killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian, police confirmed on Tuesday. The terrorists are suspected to be a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group.

The confirmation of the identification of two out of three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-affiliated terrorists has been made, sources told ANI.

According to news agency ANI, three terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Shukroo forest area of Keller in South Kashmirs Shopian district.

The Indian Army released a statement on Tuesday, saying, On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation.

During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce firefight ensued, which resulted in elimination of three hardcore terrorists. Operation is in progressm, the Army said.

A police officer said that a massive cordon and search operation was launched in the forests of Kellar after having specific input about the presence of some terrorists.

Also Read | 50 arrested across Assam for SM posts after Pahalgam terror attack: Report

As the team of police and army started combing operation, the hiding terrorists fired upon the party, triggering off gunfight.

According to the source, the terrorists were encountered around 8:00 am on Tuesday following specific intelligence related to terrorists hiding in the Shukroo forest area of Keller.

Who are the terrorists killed in J&K's Shopian? According to sources, one of the terrorists was identified as Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohd Yousuf Kuttay and a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian.

He was a Category A, LeT operative who was involved in the firing incident at the Danish Resort in Srinagar on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists and one driver were injured. He joined the terror outfit on March 8, 2023.

Kuttay was involved in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch at Heerpora on May 18, 2024 and was suspect involved in the killing of Territorial Army Personnel at Behibagh in Kulgam on February 3, 2025.

The other identified terrorist was Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohd Shafi Dar, who was a resident of Wanduna Melhora in Shopian. He joined the terror outfit on October 18, 2024 and was a category C LeT operative. He was involved in the killing of non-local labourers at Wachi in Shopian on October 18, 2024.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently shared photos of himself and his grandchildren swimming in contaminated waters in Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C., despite a National Park Service advisory against coming into contact with the water.

According to the advisory, swimming and wading are not permitted due to high bacteria levels.

In one of the photos posted on the social media platform X on Sunday, Kennedy Jr. is seen fully submerged in the water, with his grandchildren swimming nearby.

Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek, Kennedy Jr. wrote on X.

Stay out of the water to protect streambanks, plants and animals and keep you and your family (including pets!) safe from illness, the advisory said.

Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading, and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and pet) health, it added.

The authorities have banned swimming in Rock Creek, the Potomac River and other nearby waters since 1971 because of contamination.

The Health and Human Services Secretarys swimming photos are the latest in a string of outdoor activities that have drawn public attention.

Last year, Kennedy said that he had received a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute for his collection of a whale specimen from 20 years before.

He had also said that once he picked up a bear cub that was hit by a vehicle with plans to skin it, but instead left it in New York City's Central Park.

X users reactions Kennedy Jrs post has garnered more than 1 million views and several comments. Here are some of the comments X users posted on Kennedy Jrs post.
The BLA or Baloch Liberation Army reportedly claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks at several locations across Balochistan earlier last week. On May 10, news agency ANI cited the group as saying that these operations are still ongoing, with multiple strategic objectives being pursued.

Later on May 12, the New Indian Express reported that the Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for 71 coordinated attacks at over 51 locations across Balochistan.

Also Read | Pakistan blast: How bombing was carried outside Jinnah airport in Karachi

As per the report, the BLA targeted Pakistani military and intelligence sites, local police stations, mineral transport vehicles and infrastructure along major highways.

Several reports cited BLA as saying, The aim of these attacks was not simply to destroy the enemy but to test military coordination, ground control, and defensive positions, to strengthen readiness for future organised warfare.

Also Read | Operation Sindoor: 8 Pakistani Air Force Bases India wreaked havoc on

BLA's message to India In a press release on May 11, the BLA had a message for India  which launched Operation Sindoor against terror camps located in Pakistana nd Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir on May 7, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Addressing India directly, Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson, BLA, said that it wanted to deliver a "clear and unambiguous message to India" that "every talk of peace, ceasefire and brotherhood from Pakistan is merely a deception, a war tactic and a temporary ruse".

"We assure India that if it makes the final decision to eliminate the terrorist state of Pakistan, Baloch Liberation Army, along with the entire nation, is ready to attack from the western border. We will not only welcome the decision but will also become its practical and military arm. We are ready to surround Pakistan from both eastern and western fronts," he said, as per a press release shared by India Today.

"Now, it is the time for the sub-continent and the world to take decisive action against Pakistan," he highlighted.

What is Baloch Liberation Army? The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is an armed separatist group based in Balochistan, Pakistan, that seeks independence for the Baloch people, news agency ANI reported. The group aims to achieve an independent Balochistan.

The BLA was formed in response to long-standing grievances over political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and military repression by the Pakistani state.

The separatist group emerged in the early 2000s, the Conversation reported. It is considered a terrorist organisation by the Pakistani authorities and several western countries.

The BLA has carried out numerous attacks on Pakistani security forces, government infrastructure, and development projects--particularly those linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which it views as exploitative.

Accoridng to BBC, the BLA stands out as the militant group challenging the authority of Pakistan the most. Several Western countries, including the UK and the US, designated this group as a global terrorist organisation.

Pakistan claims that the group maintains hideouts primarily in Iran and sometimes in Afghanistan too.

Where is Balochistan? Balochistan is situated in the southwestern region of Pakistan. It shares borders with the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the northeast, Punjab, as per a government website.

It also shared a volatile border with Iran to the West and Afghanistan to the Morthwest, Sindh province to the Southeast. Balochistan also has a vast coastline along the Arabian Sea to the South.

Quetta, the capital and largest city of Balochistan, Pakistan, is located in the southwestern part of the country. With a population exceeding 1.5 million in 2024, it ranks as the tenth largest city in Pakistan, the informations on the Government of Balochistan website read.

Why is Balochistan important? Balochistan stands out as the richest Pakistani province in terms of natural resources, including gas and minerals and is a crucial part of a multi-billion dollar project funded by China called the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), BBC reported.

Balochistan, despite being rich in natural resources such as gas, minerals, and coastal assets, remains one of the poorest and most underdeveloped regions of Pakistan.

Balochistan: The political issue According to reports, the Baloch Liberation Army and locals claim that Balochistan's vast natural resources are being extracted without benefiting the local population.

The group also accuses the Pakistani government of denying the Baloch people their rights and autonomy.
Lieutenant General DS Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DG DIA), briefed the Foreign Service Attaches of 70 nations on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.

Operation Sindoor is an Indian military offensive launched on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terrorist camps and key military infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, resulting in the neutralisation of over 100 terrorists and significant damage to Pakistans war capabilities.

Lieutenant General DS Rana's briefing underscored Indias demonstrated strength and unwavering national resolve, showcased through military superiority in modern, multi-domain warfare, an update from the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters read.

The update posted on X further stated that Lt Gen DS Rana elaborated on the meticulous planning that went into selecting targets with verified terror linkages, emphasising that the operation was a precise, integrated and prompt response by the Indian Armed Forces.

During the briefing, DS Rana also highlighted how Operation Sindoors objectives were achieved through intense multi-domain operations, reflecting a high degree of coordination and operational effectiveness.

A key focus of the briefing was the synergised application of force achieved through jointness and integration across the Indian military branches during Operation Sindoor.

The Director General showcased the battle effectiveness of indigenous kinetic force multipliers-advanced technologies and weapon systems developed domestically-which played a crucial role in the operations success. Additionally, he highlighted Indias technological superiority in niche, non-kinetic domains such as space, cyber, and electronic warfare, underscoring the countrys edge in modern conflict scenarios.

Also Read | Operation Sindoor: 8 Pakistani Air Force bases India wreaked havoc on

Lt Gen Rana also addressed the persistent anti-India misinformation campaigns orchestrated by Pakistan amid the conflict with India, detailing their detrimental impact on regional peace and stability.

Pakistan-based channels and certain troll networks alleged that Lieutenant General DS Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, had been sacked and exiled to Kala Pani in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, after supposed operational lapses.

However, Lieutenant General Rana has been promoted to commander of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), a tri-services command.
As the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum is set to open in Beijing on Tuesday, expectations are running high for a new chapter in China-LAC relations, said Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China.

He expressed the hope for closer cooperation and stronger solidarity to tackle shared challenges and unlock new development opportunities.

"We visualize the cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries as a comprehensive strategic partnership with many different areas that we have been working on," said Lugris, who is also dean of the Diplomatic Corps of Latin American and Caribbean Countries in China.

Over the past decade, the China-CELAC Forum has evolved into a vital platform for dialogue, development and strategic coordination, he noted, adding that it has fostered deeper mutual understanding and produced tangible outcomes across the region.

China and CELAC member states have entered a new stage marked by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and tangible benefits for the people.

In a congratulatory letter to the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in early April, President Xi Jinping welcomed all CELAC member states to attend the upcoming fourth ministerial meeting in China to discuss ways to foster development and promote cooperation, and jointly contribute wisdom and strength to addressing global challenges, advancing global governance reform and safeguarding world peace and stability.

Lugris said, "We are very hopeful to see a very fruitful meeting that could reach agreements and consensus in order to project our cooperation for the next 10 years." He also expressed confidence that new areas of collaboration will be identified and expanded under the framework of the forum.

The forum has established several mechanisms  such as the ministerial meeting, dialogue of foreign ministers of China and the Quartet of CELAC and the meeting of national coordinators  to build a comprehensive network between both sides. The CELAC Quartet comprises the current rotating chair of CELAC, its previous rotating chair and its next rotating chair, as well as the current rotating chair of the Caribbean Community.

In recent years, China-LAC cooperation has steadily deepened in both quality and scope, extending into areas such as technological innovation and green development.

China is the second-largest trading partner of the Latin American and Caribbean community, while the region is the second-largest destination for Chinese overseas investment.

Uruguay, in particular, has been a key beneficiary of this partnership, Lugris noted.

"Uruguay has implemented many programs under the framework of the forum," he said, citing initiatives such as expanded scholarship opportunities for Uruguayan students in China, joint development projects, increased exchanges between political parties and think tanks, and growing trade ties.

"In the past decade, we have doubled our exports to China," Lugris said. "That is clearly an indication that China has truly opened its market to more Uruguayan products."

Amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, Lugris emphasized the forum's increasing importance in promoting experience-sharing and mutual understanding.

"The forum opens up doors for more exchange of experiences between the region and China," he said, adding that he expects robust discussions at the meeting.

Citing shared values such as upholding multilateralism and defending free trade, Lugris called for continued joint efforts to promote free trade.

"China has a very clear position in pushing for more active work at the World Trade Organization and continuing to negotiate free trade agreements with many countries around the world," he said.

China has signed free trade agreements with five LAC countries  Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua  and negotiations for similar agreements with Honduras and El Salvador are progressing in an orderly manner.

Despite what he described as "very severe" global circumstances, Lugris expressed strong confidence in China's economic outlook, noting that a healthy Chinese economy sends a positive signal not just to its citizens, but also to the world.

"There has been an incredible modernization of the Chinese economy in the past decades, with a lot of efforts in science and technology," he said, pointing to visible changes in daily life such as mobile payments, electric vehicles and other innovations that often surprise foreign visitors.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said that the Government of India has declared a Pakistani official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible with his diplomatic status. The official has also been asked to leave the country within 24 hours.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said, The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India.

The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today.

The development comes a few days after India and Pakistan engaged in a military conflict following New Delhi's Operation Sindoor to eliminate terrorists and terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Operation Sindoor was conducted in retaliation for the killings of 26 persons in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam. On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to halt all fire.

Earlier on April 22, after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 persons were killed, India had summoned Pakistan's top diplomat, Saad Ahmad Warraich, to Delhi and handed over a formal persona non grata note to Pakistan's military diplomats.

Persona non grata is a Latin term meaning unwelcome person. In everyday use, it refers to someone who is no longer accepted or welcome within a specific group, setting, or country.

In international diplomacy, declaring someone persona non grata is a formal way for a country to expel a foreign official, typically for actions deemed inappropriate or hostile to the host nations interests.
The last few days have been intense on the military side between India and Pakistan. What started as a NOTAM barring all Indian-registered aircraft and leased aircraft operated by Indian airlines from overflying Pakistan escalated to a conflict and a pause thereafter. As the military operations come to a halt, there is no word on the opening up of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers. IndiGo cancelled a handful of flights to Central Asia, while the larger impact was on Air India, which had to plan for technical stops (for refuelling) at Vienna or Copenhagen for its flights to North America, where it has a sizable presence in both Canada and the USA.

Air India had only recently started the campaign to attract transfer passengers via Delhi, having made changes to its schedule to have the fastest connection from Sydney and Melbourne to Frankfurt and Paris via Delhi. The changes in flight times affect these connections adversely and expose the location of Delhi amid geopolitical turmoil.

Air India, then a government entity, moved its hub to Delhi from Mumbai, where it also had its iconic headquarters, and thus Delhi overtook Mumbai in terms of total traffic in 2008-09. The expanse which Delhi airport had to build more runways and a new terminal gave it a headstart as compared to landlocked Mumbai, with little or no efforts made to remove encroachments and expand to its rightful land.

The closure of Pakistani airspace is the second instance in the recent past, with the last one being in February 2019, which lasted until July that year. It happened when Pakistan closed its airspace for all aircraft destined for India or originating from India in the aftermath of the Balakot air strike. Is it time for Air India to explore options or for IndiGo to explore opportunities beyond Delhi, as it welcomes its own widebody aircraft in 2027 and until then relies on wet-leased capacity, with three widebody aircraft already in the fleet?

Is Mumbai better geographically? Until 2008-09, Mumbai airport was the largest airport in the country. The building of T3 at Delhi airport and Air India moving its hub to Delhi led to Delhi's exponential growth, even as Mumbai grappled with limited expansion, and more importantly, two intersecting runways that could not be used simultaneously.

The closure of Pakistani airspace leads to a circuitous routing from Delhi, which is largely avoided from Mumbai, though it still takes longer to fly from Mumbai, and Air India has been forced to take fuel stops for flights to the USA from Mumbai, too. The total time for flights to Europe is almost similar as before closure from Mumbai, as compared to Delhi.

Will a move to Mumbai or a future hub in Mumbai, with higher feed routed via Mumbai, be helpful for Air India or IndiGo which is in the planning stages for establishing its widebody network, which would also rely on hub and spoke model to look for feeder traffic from the east and connect it to the west and vice versa?

But there is a problem Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is undergoing a major revamp. This will involve shutting down Terminal 1 to rebuild the old structure. It has had its repercussions with the airline asking freighter aircraft to stop operations at CSMIA and instead shift to Navi Mumbai, to be operated by the same parent company, Adani Airports.

Global industry body IATA (International Air Transport Association) came out with a statement recently in support of airlines, calling out the stop of freighter operations and withdrawal of historic slots for passenger movements for next season. In what seems like strong words, IATA says, We hope Adani Airports, as the operator of the two-airport system in Mumbai, is not using this situation to pressure airlines to move their operations to their upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport. We fear, however, that this is an example of airport capacity gaming which will harm aviation throughout India and beyond.

How will the airport operator be able to attract more aircraft and a functional hub if it says it is facing capacity constraints currently? As if the split terminal operations challenge wasn't enough, a split airport challenge is even harder to solve and until there is capacity to grow and build a functional hub, moving or creating a hub at Mumbai airport is going to be a challenge and Navi Mumbai may be too new to explore setting up of the hub, till the last-mile connectivity issues are resolved effectively.

Tail Note Adani Airports, which would operate both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports, has a golden opportunity to attract an airline to make Mumbai its hub. Jet Airways had a majority presence at Mumbai airport, but after the collapse of the airline, the airport has not had a major carrier, though both Air India and IndiGo have a large presence out of Mumbai.
New Delhi: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warned Pakistan against any future attacks against India, saying Indian forces are on high alert and that any engagement from Pakistanwhether through terror attacks or military operationswill face aggressive retaliation on India's terms.

Also Read | The IMFs Pakistan loan spotlights the case for voting power reform

Speaking to troops at Adampur base in Punjab, which was targeted during the four day-long conflict last week, Modi also said India had called Pakistan's nuclear weapons bluff and emerged victorious through Operation Sindoor.

Congratulating the forces at Adampur, Modi said Indian Air defence systems, which have capabilities such as the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missiles and the Russian S-400 long-range air defense missile system, had left a positive impression on the world.

Indian forces had used not just weapons, but also technology and drones in the conflict, he said.

"You have taken India's pride to new heights," said Modi. "Our Air Force targeted terrorist hubs deep inside Pakistan, and destroyed them with pinpoint accuracy in a matter of 20-25 minutes," he said, adding that this professional attack was possible with the aid of technology.

Also Read | Insurance for RE, hydro projects in border states to rise amid conflict

The three arms of the militaryArmy, Navy and Air Forcehad all worked in tandem to execute Operation Sindoor and defend Indian sovereignty in the conflict that ensued, he said. "The Navy created a dominant position in the sea, the Army strongly defended our borders, and the Air Force both attacked and defended our motherland," said Modi.

This came after the prime minister on Monday night announced a new policy against terrorism, where India will retaliate firmly against any terror act, not engage with nuclear weapons bluffs, and not differentiate between terrorists and governments backing terrorism.

India's target during Operation Sindoor was the terrorist bases and camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but Pakistan, by not closing its airspace for commercial flights, used civilian aircraft as a shield, said Modi.

Indian forces, however, showed remarkable restraint during this period, Modi said. "With great alertness and presence of mind, Indian forces retaliated strongly without putting civilian lives in danger," said Modi.

India's military operation against nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of 7 May, codenamed Operation Sindoor, was in retaliation against the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April which left 26 people dead.

The Indian operation killed over a hundred terrorists, said Modi.

After the operation, the Indian director general of military operations reached out to his Pakistani counterpart to apprise them of the situation. But Pakistan said it would respond sternly, according to military officials press briefings last week.

Pakistani armed forces used heavy artillery, loiter munitions, as well as drones to attack parts of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan, surveil Indian air defence systems and harass Indian civilians.

India deemed this as an escalatory move and hit Pakistani military infrastructure such as communication centres and air defence radars in key air bases, Army officials said.

Pakistan continued to target civilian infrastructure in India, while India had only focused on military targets in Pakistan. Several airbases and munition depots such as Rahimyarkhan, Chaklala, Jacobabad, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi, among others in Pakistan were targeted.

On Saturday evening, DGMO Pakistan reached out to India and the two countries called a ceasefire agreement. But Pakistan violated this ceasefire within hours by conduction drone rains in Indian airspace.

Over the last 24 hours, some media reports have reported drone sightings in areas of Jammu and parts of Punjab. But no major escalation has been reported.
Pakistan, for the first time, has admitted that the Indian strikes during the four-day escalation between the two countries resulted in the deaths of 11 of its military personnel. As many as 78 personnel from the Pakistani Army and its Air Force were also injured in India's miliary operation under Operation Sindoor.

In a statement, Pakistan Army said the military personnel who lost their lives were from the Pakistan Air Force. They include squadron leader Usman Yousuf, chief technician Aurangzeb, senior technician Najeeb, corporal technician Farooq and senior technician Mubashir.

From its Army, Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Dilawar Khan, Lance Naik Ikramullah, Naik Waqar Khalid, Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar and Sepoy Nisar were killed in the Indian strikes.

India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the killing of 26 persons  mostly tourists, one Nepali citizen and one pony ride operator  in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by at least four terrorists.

Accusing Pakistan of backing the terrorists it said were responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack  a charge Islamabad has denied  India on May 7 carried out strikes at nine locations in Pakistan and PoK, targeting terror infrastructure and killing at least a hundred terrorists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian Armed Forces for the remarkable success of Operation Sindoor, stating that the slogan Bharat Mata ki Jai echoes with a whizzing sound when Indian missiles strike their targets. He added that the very thought of Indias drones and missiles is enough to keep Pakistan awake at night.

IAF targeted terror bases deep inside Pakistan with speed and precision that left the enemy stunned. Pakistan will not get any sleep for a long time just thinking of our drones and missiles, PM Modi said.

Addressing the armed forces at the Adampur airbase, PM Modi also said that the Indian defence forces have created history and made billions of Indians proud.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged that illegal immigrants should be immediately deported to their home country. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, he said that the country should send murderers and other criminals out of the United States.

The post states, If were not allowed to send the murderers and other criminals of every type, size, and shape, IMMEDIATELY out of our Country, we arent going to have a Country anymore. Radical Left Judges and politicians dont care, but 90% of people in USA do. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will agree with this and, SAVE AMERICA!

Also Read | Trump offers to join Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey

Supreme Court halts deportation Last month, the US Supreme Court temporarily halted the deportation of two Venezuelan citizens held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law.

The court acted upon an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union, accusing immigration authorities of deporting these immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Earlier in April, the court stated deportations could be initiated if the illegal immigrants were given an opportunity to present their case in the court and provided a reasonable time to contest their pending removals.

Trump's self deportation scheme Meanwhile, in a move to encourage deportation, President Donald Trump launched the first-ever self-deportation scheme, providing incentives such as a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to individuals who want to leave the country voluntarily.

Today, I signed an Executive Order to launch the first-ever self-deportation program. Illegal aliens who stay in America face punishments, includingsudden deportation, in a place and manner solely of our discretion. TO ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS: BOOK YOUR FREE FLIGHT RIGHT NOW! Trump said in a social media post.
House Republicans on Monday (May 12) released the detailed tax provisions of their massive fiscal bill, outlining a Trump-aligned agenda that slashes taxes across the board while targeting elite universities, renewable energy incentives, and immigrant remittances. The package is the centerpiece of President Donald Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill  and comes after weeks of tense negotiations among GOP lawmakers.

While business interests won many of their top requests, the bill also weaves in Trumps populist campaign pledges such as tax breaks on tips and overtime pay.

No tax hike for millionaires Despite speculation, House Republicans rejected a proposal backed by Trump himself to raise the top income tax rate for individuals making more than $2.5 million annually. The bill would permanently retain the 37% top tax rate, avoiding its scheduled increase to 39.6% after 2025.

SALT deduction The state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap would rise to $30,000 for couples ($15,000 for single filers), but would phase out at incomes above $400,000 for couples. Republicans from high-tax states like New York and California have already criticized the increase as insufficient, threatening to block the bill without more relief.

Big breaks for workers: Tips, overtime, and auto loans Fulfilling key Trump campaign promises, the bill would make tips and overtime pay tax-exempt through 2028. It also offers deductions for interest on auto loans, all retroactive to January 1, 2025. These are among the most worker-facing elements in the proposal.

Ivy League, Private Foundations face steep taxes In a major escalation of Trumps culture war with elite academia, the bill would raise taxes on wealthy university endowments, moving from a 1.4% rate to as high as 21% based on endowment size and student population. Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT and Princeton would be among those hardest hit.

Private foundations  including the Gates Foundation  would also see new tiered tax rates up to 10%, depending on asset size. The provision is seen as part of a broader Republican effort to rein in powerful philanthropic entities.

EV and green energy credits slashed The bill would eliminate electric vehicle tax credits by the end of 2026 and scale back credits for used and commercial EVs. Clean energy production and investment tax credits would be phased out by 2031, cutting short programs expected to last through 2032.

A nuclear energy production credit would also end in 2031. These moves mark a sharp rollback of President Bidens climate agenda.

Bonus for senior citizens Senior citizens, aged 65 and older, who dont itemize their taxes would receive a $4,000 bonus on their standard deduction through 2028, phasing out individuals making more than $75,000 and couples making more than $150,000.

New tax on immigrant remittances The bill would impose a 5% tax on remittances sent abroad, a measure aimed at curbing money transfers to foreign countries. US citizens could apply for credits to offset the cost, but the tax will hit immigrant households hardest.

Wins for big business and manufacturers Multinational corporations would see an extension of lower foreign income tax rates, while US manufacturers would get 100% depreciation for new qualified production property such as factories built during a second Trump term.

The bill also reinstates a temporary R&D tax deduction through 2029  a top priority for the tech and manufacturing industries.

Child tax credit & MAGA accounts

The child tax credit would increase to $2,500 per child through 2028, before reverting to $2,000. The bill also introduces MAGA Accounts  new tax-exempt savings vehicles allowing up to $5,000 in annual contributions for children. Funds could be used for education, home buying, or launching small businesses.

Key House vote expected this week The House Ways and Means Committee unveiled the tax provisions of the bill on Monday, with a committee vote scheduled for Tuesday and a full House vote expected before May 26. Republicans hope for Senate approval by July 4. With no Democratic support expected, the GOP must maintain near-total unity due to their narrow majorities in both chambers.
Then US President Joe Biden began showing signs of memory loss as early as halfway into his first term, according to Original Sin, an upcoming book by journalists Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper. The book, set to be released on May 20, details how the president repeatedly forgot the names of lawmakers, world leaders, and even longtime aides.

Thompson and Tapper write that while Joe Bidens verbal stumbles were already apparent during his 2020 campaign, the decline became more noticeable over time. The decline accelerated over the course of his term, the authors note.

"Steve" and "Press": Oval Office lapses One striking episode occurred in December 2022, after Biden announced the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian custody. Attempting to convene a meeting in the Oval Office, Biden turned to his national security adviser Jake Sullivan and called him Steve.

According to the book, he also referred to his longtime aide and former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield simply as Press. Sullivan had been working with Biden since 2013, while Bedingfield first joined him in 2015.

Democratic allies grew alarmed Bidens former 1988 campaign political director and ex-Commerce Secretary Bill Daley was among the first to raise alarms after watching Bidens flubs on television. In early 2023, Daley began making calls to assess whether Democrats had a viable alternative candidate, as per a report in The New York Post.

Later that year, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison met the president at a Congressional Black Caucus event. According to the book, Biden kept shaking Harrisons hand without appearing to recognize him.

Foreign leaders confused By early 2024, Bidens public gaffes had become more frequent and more glaring. In February, the president confused French President Emmanuel Macron with a deceased predecessor, and also mixed up the leaders of Mexico and Egypt during a press conference.

That particular press briefing came shortly after Special Counsel Robert Hur decided not to prosecute Biden for mishandling classified documents. Hur noted in his report that a jury might view Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory.

I know what the hell Im doing Reacting to Hurs assessment, Biden fired back at the White House podium.

I am well-meaning, and Im an elderly man and I know what the hell Im doing, the president said.

But according to Original Sin, many close to the president were less convinced.

Inner circle kept silent Despite witnessing memory issues firsthand, Bidens longtime confidants did not question his re-election plans. Among them was Mike Donilon, a senior adviser who had worked for Biden since 1981.

The book reveals that Biden forgot Donilons name during a 2019 Iowa campaign stop, just weeks before the first Democratic caucuses. You, know, you know, Biden said, unable to recall the name of his aide of more than four decades.

Tapper and Thompson write that this was the only time aides worried about Bidens cognitive health during the primary.

Denials continued after debate meltdown After Bidens now-infamous June 2024 debate with Donald Trumpwhere the president froze on stageDemocratic insiders panicked. But Donilon reportedly brushed off concerns. I promise hes okay, he assured them.

However, one unnamed senior White House aide offered a sobering view of the situation. We attempted to shield him from his own staff so many people didnt realize the extent of the decline beginning in 2023, the aide told the authors.
Witness testimony in the high-profile murder trial of Karen Read was unexpectedly paused on Tuesday (May 13), just minutes before court was set to resume in Dedham, Massachusetts. The Norfolk Superior Court issued a brief statement citing unavoidable circumstances as the reason for the delay, offering no further explanation.

The court, twenty minutes before testimony was set to resume, said today's session is canceled due to "unavoidable circumstances". The next court date remains uncertain.

Trial set to enter day 15 The court was scheduled to continue with the 15th day of witness testimony in the trial of Read, 45, who is accused of murdering her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, in January 2022. Prosecutors allege she struck OKeefe with her Lexus SUV and left him to die in a snowstorm outside the home of fellow officer Brian Albert in Canton.

Key testimony from State Trooper Bukhenik The murder trial had been gaining momentum following three days of testimony from Massachusetts State Trooper Yuri Bukhenik, who wrapped up his direct examination on Monday.

Bukhenik told jurors that a broken taillight on Reads SUV led police to suspect her involvement in OKeefes death. That was what formed the case, Bukhenik said, referring to the taillight and the alleged admission.

Defense challenges credibility of investigation During a cross-examination, Reads defense attorney attacked the credibility of the investigation and questioned Bukhenik about the role of former State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was fired in March over unrelated misconduct. Proctor, a subordinate of Bukhenik during the early stages of the investigation, had allegedly sent vulgar and biased text messages related to Reads case.

Competing narratives: Deliberate hit or frame-up? Prosecutors say Read was intoxicated and deliberately hit OKeefe in a rage before fleeing the scene. She has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Read has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her attorneys argue that she is being framed, alleging that OKeefe died during a fight inside the home at 34 Fairview Road and was dragged outside to mislead investigators.

Also Read | Disturbing details about Sean Diddy Combs wild parties emerge

Background: A trial in the spotlight The first trial ended in a hung jury in 2024, leading to a mistrial. This retrial has garnered intense media coverage and public scrutiny, with legal observers watching closely for how new evidence and witness credibility will sway jurors.
In an unprecedented moment in global history, two of the worlds most influential figures  US President Donald Trump and newly elected Pope Leo XIV  hail from the same country. Yet their leadership styles, worldviews, and public personas couldnt be more different.

While Trump made his international debut with a fiery call to fight and an unapologetically nationalist agenda, Pope Leo XIV began his papacy with a single word: Peace. That contrast now defines the global stage, where Americas outsized influence is being projected through two starkly different lenses.

Power in parallel but diverging paths Donald Trump, leading the worlds largest economy and military, has reshaped US foreign policy around an America First doctrine  triggering trade wars, testing alliances, and stoking nationalist sentiment. His brash persona has drawn criticism for being combative and performative, especially in dealings with the press and international institutions.

In contrast, Pope Leo XIV  born Robert F. Prevost in Chicago  offers a quieter, bridge-building tone. A veteran missionary who spent two decades in Peru and recently headed the Vatican office responsible for overseeing bishops, Leo is seen as calm, deliberative, and inclusive. He made history last week as the first US-born pope and the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, representing 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

Two Americas on the global stage The dual emergence of Trump and Leo as global leaders has sparked debate about American influence at a time when many allies are questioning the reliability of US leadership. For decades, the Catholic Church had avoided selecting an American pope, wary of appearing too closely tied to a global superpower. But Leos selection  following Pope Francis death on April 21  signals a shift.

The irony of Leos election is that many in the rest of the world will view it as a sign of hope  as an American who can speak for them rather than act against them, said David Gibson, director of Fordham Universitys Center on Religion and Culture.

Conflict and contrast: Policy and persona Leos vision diverges sharply from Trumps, particularly on immigration, climate change, and the role of the media. He has previously criticized Trumps vice president, JD Vance, on religious grounds, sharing an article that rebutted Vances call to prioritize love for fellow citizens over outsiders. Leo, addressing thousands in St. Peters Square, offered a different message: We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open.

Trump, meanwhile, has remained politically dominant. During the mourning period for Pope Francis, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope  a move he later downplayed but which drew backlash from Catholic communities. He still offered congratulations, calling Leos election a great honor.

Not quite an American Pope Despite his US roots, Pope Leo's identity is far more global. He holds dual citizenship, spent most of his adult life outside the United States, and delivered his first papal address in Italian  not English. Vatican watchers noted that he made no reference to his American heritage in that speech, a subtle but clear signal of his broader mission.

Different lanes, shared moment Trump and Pope Leo represent two very different expressions of American power: one rooted in political dominance, the other in spiritual leadership. The Gospel meets the culture, said Catholic scholar Steven Millies. Thats not Trumps lane as a president, a reality TV star, or a businessman.

And yet, both men will shape global conversations  Trump from the White House and campaign trail, and Leo from the Vaticans Apostolic Palace. For the first time, the eyes of the world turn to two Americans, each offering a radically different answer to the question of what leadership looks like in 2025.

(With AP inputs)

Also Read | What to expect from Pope Leo XIV inauguration after first Vatican address
An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 1, 2024 shows people camping underneath persimmon trees in Dongping Village of Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua)

NANNING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- On a crisp April morning, Pan Rongfeng, a middle school teacher in his 30s, pulled up to a verdant campsite at the foot of Daming Mountain, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, before unloading his dog and a panoply of camping gear from his car.

It was a cherished holiday ritual for Pan as he took to the great outdoors to savor his time off.

"Over the past two years, more and more people around me have started to turn to campsites for a little escape from urban life," said Pan. "As long as the weather is agreeable, I love to gather outdoors to unwind."

In recent years, once a niche hobby, camping has broken into the mainstream across China, transforming the way people pursue quality time in their leisure.

Data from Meituan, a leading life services provider, highlighted the trend. During this year's Tomb-Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese holiday where people are entitled to a block of days off, searches for "campgrounds" in Guangxi skyrocketed 50 percent over the same period of last year.

The allure of such outdoor activity has not gone unnoticed on Chinese social media, with many camping-related posts amassing millions of views.

On rednote, a Chinese lifestyle app and the country's version of Instagram, the popularity of notes titled "camping tips" and "campsite recommendations" continued to rise before and during the five-day Labor Day holiday, while short-video platforms like Douyin have logged billions of plays for relevant content.

At a riverside park in Nanning, weekend campers packed the vast grassy field, with latecomers like Huang Xiaqing, a Nanning local, struggling to find a big enough space to settle her family and friends.

"If you arrive here half past nine on a weekend morning, it can be a huge hassle to find a spot to put up your tent," said Huang. "That has almost always been the case since we began this holiday ritual one year ago."

Wei Wanqing, a sociology professor with East China Normal University in Shanghai, believes that the growing appeal of camping has extended far beyond the scope of social media influencers doing location check-ins and boosting their online traction by sharing outdoor lifestyle photos.

"Families are increasingly embracing it as a way to bond and create shared memories," said Wei.

In recent years, camping, driven by the dual appeal of reconnecting with nature and fostering greater social connection, has gradually become a prominent element in China's cultural and tourism landscape while giving rise to a burgeoning industry in the country.

According to iiMedia Research, the growing appetite for camping generated about 213.97 billion yuan (about 29.69 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, with projections of continued growth in 2025, as the booming sector has also helped catalyze the growth of related businesses.

At a store specializing in outdoor gear in Nanning, Lyu Hongping, the shop owner, saw a 30 percent annual revenue spike over the past three years, fueled by various demands for camping and hiking equipment.

"Camping has gone from a niche pastime for some to something that has attracted an increasing number of people from all walks of life," said Lyu.

The influx of campers has a ripple effect, bringing in revenues for the local economy through increased patronage of nearby restaurants, rental shops and tourist attractions, noted Hong Tao with the China Consumer Economics Society.

"Some of the campsites serve as a one-stop shop that offers everything from essential outdoor gear to personalized travel arrangements," said Hong.

On Chinese e-commerce giant Taobao, a simple keyword search for "camping" would yield many relevant results, with many of the top sellers like waterproof mats, folding tables, and hammocks flying off the virtual shelves, some logging over 100,000 units sold in total and more than 1,000 daily purchases.

A recent consultancy report suggested that there has been a trend toward adding more eye-popping and tech-laden equipment and products, such as foldable outdoor projection screens and in-vehicle fridges, among modern-day campers.

Research highlights that the traditional style of "roughing it" with canvass tents and sleeping bags has given way to "glamping", a new form of camping that involves more amenities and comforts, as camping has transformed from a budget-friendly alternative to traditional travel to a highly customized activity that caters to different outdoor pursuits.

Xu Luyuan, a professor at Guangxi University of Finance and Economics, saw the rise of experience economy like camping as an indication of an exciting shift away from the "Daka" tourism, where tourists rush through cities and tick off as many attractions as possible within a limited timeframe, in favor of a form that focuses more on immersive experiences.

"It meets the growing demand among Chinese consumers for more personalized, experiential leisure pursuits, and helps drive up domestic consumption and charges up the integration of culture into tourism," said Xu.

However, the surge in campers has put nature's accommodating capacity to the test. Striking a balance between economic gains and environmental sustainability is a key challenge for the emerging sector to scale.

In response to the concern regarding the environmental impact of the rapid expansion of the camping economy, local authorities across the country have taken proactive steps by introducing guidelines to promote responsible camping practices that prioritize environmental protection and safety.

"Camping isn't just a fad," said Hong, who is convinced that with a focus on establishing a model that emphasizes differentiated services and supply-chain coordination, along with clear policy guidance, the sector can evolve beyond transient craze and become a lasting growth area for the country's economy.

Editor: ZAD
May 13 - Ukraine has concluded procedures for implementation of a deal with the United States on exploiting minerals, including the operation of an investment fund, the country's first deputy prime minister said on Tuesday.

Yulia Svyrydenko gave few details of the latest step in securing approval of the accord, promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump, but it was known that two additional documents were drawn up as part of its implementation.

"Another milestone on the path to launching the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund: Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on schedule," Svyrydenko wrote in English on social media.

She said a note certifying completion of the process had been handed to interim U.S. Charge d'Affaires Julie Davis.

"These are equal agreements  forward-looking, aligned with Ukraine's national interests, and structured to ensure investment flows exclusively into Ukraines recovery and growth," Svyrydenko wrote.

After weeks of tough negotiations following a shouting match between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Trump in the Oval Office, Svyrydenko signed the minerals agreement in Washington and it was ratified last week by the Ukrainian parliament.

After that vote, Svyrydenko described the accord as "not merely a legal construct  it is the foundation of a new model of interaction with a key strategic partner."

The minerals agreement hands the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and sets up the investment fund, which could be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine for the first 10 years.

Ukraine also sees the deal as a way to unlock supplies of new U.S. weapons, especially additional Patriot air defence systems it sees as vital to protect against Russian air attacks.

Zelenskiy hailed the reworked draft of the agreement as a marked improvement over earlier versions that some critics in Ukraine had denounced as "colonial." The accord also acknowledges Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.
nited Airlines has unveiled its United Elevated interior for its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, signaling a new era in international premium travel for US carriers. The new design features a suite of upgraded amenities that promise to elevate the travel experience for passengers across all classes. The introduction of the United Polaris Studio suites marks a significant step forward with luxury options and advanced technology, ensuring that United remains competitive in the premium international travel sector.

Polaris Studio suites: Larger, luxurious The standout feature of the new design is the United Polaris Studio suites, located in the first row of each business class section. These all-aisle-access suites offer a 25% larger area than the standard United Polaris seats and come equipped with privacy doors, extra ottoman seats for companions, and a 27-inch, 4K OLED screenthe largest among US carriers. These suites also offer exclusive services like an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche paired with Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, and luxury Perricone MD Cold Plasma skincare kits.

"We already deliver a superior international experience and fly to the most places across the Atlantic and Pacific - these new innovations provide a more premium experience overall, give customers even more reasons to choose United, and set our airline up to grow into the next decade and beyond," said Andrew Nocella, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at United. "We never stand still and are always looking for more ways to set ourselves apart from other carriers. And we're confident this elevated experience will take international flying to new heights."

Upgraded United Polaris: More privacy and comfort The reimagined United Polaris business class seats are also enhanced, now featuring sliding doors and 19-inch 4K OLED screens. United also offers a choice between seats that face the window or the center of the aircraft, catering to both solo travelers and those flying together.

Premium Plus and United Economy experience upgrades In addition to the premium sections, United Premium Plus and United Economy cabins also benefit from enhanced features. United Premium Plus seats now feature 16-inch 4K OLED screens and a privacy divider with a built-in reading light. Meanwhile, United Economy cabins will have the largest seatback screens in the world at 13 inches, along with Bluetooth connectivity for every seat.

Elevated food & beverage experience

United has committed to improving its inflight dining options, with over $150 million invested this year alone in food and beverage improvements. The airline will introduce new, regionally influenced meals, including a mid-flight tapas service and expanded dining options in United Economy, which will offer three entree choices, new desserts, and an appetizer course.

United's Polaris customers will continue to enjoy premium dining experiences, including new regional menus, rotating wine selections, and a rotating range of ice cream flavors on the Polaris sundae cart.

Starlink connectivity for global travelers One of the key features for Uniteds 787-9 with the Elevated interior is the availability of Starlink connectivity, providing fast and reliable internet in remote areas, including over oceans and polar regions. This service is part of United's effort to ensure that MileagePlus members have the best onboard connectivity available.

Looking to the future United has committed to delivering 30 of these new 787-9 aircraft by 2027, with the first international flights expected to depart in 2026. The 787-9 aircraft with Elevated interiors will fly to destinations such as Singapore and London from San Francisco, further expanding Uniteds position as the largest carrier across the Atlantic and Pacific.

Key features of the United elevated interior United Polaris Studio suites with 25% larger suites, privacy doors, exclusive caviar service, and 27-inch OLED screens

Upgraded United Polaris suites with sliding doors and 19-inch OLED screens

United Premium Plus seats with soft-touch materials, quartzite cocktail tables, and 16-inch 4K OLED screens

United Economy with the largest 13-inch seatback screens, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4K OLED screens in the world

Starlink connectivity available for MileagePlus members on international flights

$150 million investment in food and beverage, with upgraded onboard dining and new meal options, including regional tapas service and snacks from premium brands like Garrett's and Joe & Seph's.

Also Read | Donald Trump seals historic $600 billion deal with Saudi Arabia

New aircraft details Eight United Polaris Studio suites in the first row of business class

56 United Polaris suites in a 1-2-1 configuration across two sections

35 United Premium Plus seats (most in United's fleet)

33 United Economy Plus seats

90 United Economy seats

Largest seatback screens in the world for Economy class passengers at 13 inches

Uniteds 787-9 aircraft with Elevated interiors will not only feature state-of-the-art technology and luxurious seats but also introduce world-class amenities that reflect the airlines commitment to delivering the highest standard of international air travel.

Also Read | Pope Leo jokes about Sinner ban at charity tennis match
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty has stepped down for personal reasons, the company announced on Tuesday (May 13). The company, Americas largest health insurer, is grappling with a triple crisis: soaring medical costs tied to its Medicare Advantage business, shaken investor confidence after a rare earnings miss, and deep reputational damage following the high-profile murder of a senior executive late last year.

To all stakeholders, including employees and shareholders, Im deeply disappointed and apologize for the performance setbacks, said Stephen Hemsley, who has now stepped in as CEO, a role he held from 2006 to 2017.

A tumultuous exit amid surging costs UnitedHealth on Tuesday also suspended its full-year 2025 forecast, citing higher-than-expected medical expenses among new Medicare Advantage beneficiariesa move that sent its stock sliding another 9% before the market opened.

The company had already slashed its forecast last month after posting its first quarterly earnings miss in over a decade.

Many of the issues standing in the way are within our capacity to resolve, Hemsley said in a call with analysts, signaling a course-correction under familiar leadership.

The shadow of a murder Wittys departure also comes less than six months after the shocking December 4 murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, gunned down outside a New York City hotel. The alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, was indicted on federal murder charges last month.

The case quickly became a flashpoint in media coverage, fueling public resentment toward private insurers and igniting conversations about corporate accountability and executive safety.

UnitedHealth has struggled to control the narrative amid an onslaught of online outrage and increased scrutiny from lawmakers and consumer advocates.

From high growth to crisis mode Witty, who joined UnitedHealth in 2018 and became CEO in 2021, oversaw a 55% jump in revenue to over $400 billion and a 60% rise in share priceuntil things began to unravel late last year.

Since Thompsons murder, UnitedHealths stock has fallen 38%, wiping out billions in market value and exposing vulnerabilities in both its public image and core business operations.

UnitedHealths next chapter Witty will remain on as a senior adviser to Hemsley, who also continues as chairman of the board. Hemsley now faces the urgent task of rebuilding confidence across Wall Street, Capitol Hill, and within the companys own sprawling workforce.
US President Donald Trump, in a dramatic foreign policy turn, announced plans to normalise relations and lift sanctions on Syrias new government, offering support to the administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former insurgent who overthrew Bashar al-Assad.

There is a new government that will hopefully succeed, Trump said of Syria, adding, I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special.

"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump said to applause in a speech in Riyadh.

"It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off," Trump said, "Good luck Syria, show us something very special."

Trump is scheduled to meet al-Sharaa on Wednesday (May 14) in Saudi Arabia, marking the first direct meeting between a US president and a Syrian leader in over two decades.

Regional push behind Trumps rapprochement Trump said the diplomatic outreach came at the urging of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both of whom have backed Syrias political transition and view the new government as a buffer against Iranian influence in the region.

The President agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow, the White House said before Trumps remarks.

Al-Sharaas rise from insurgent to President Ahmad al-Sharaa, once known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, was a key militant figure during the Iraq insurgency and led al-Qaidas Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, before rebranding it as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and distancing it from al-Qaida.

He led the offensive that toppled the Assad regime in late 2024 and assumed the presidency in January 2025, ending the Assad familys 54-year rule.

Al-Sharaa had previously been imprisoned in Iraq and was once the target of a $10 million US reward for information on his whereabouts.

US allies divided, Israel cautions While Gulf nations have rallied behind al-Sharaa, Israel remains skeptical, pointing to his extremist past and lingering arrest warrants in Iraq for terrorism.

Trumps decision could put the US at odds with longtime allies and raise concerns about legitimising a former militant leader, despite the political shift he now represents.

Sanctions still in place, recognition pending The US has yet to formally recognise al-Sharaas government, and sanctions imposed during Assads rule remain in place.

The Trump administration had been weighing its approach since former President Joe Biden left the decision open, amid growing international momentum for re-engagement with Damascus.

Historic meeting on the horizon If the meeting goes ahead, al-Sharaa will become the first Syrian leader to meet a US president since Hafez al-Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.
US President Donald Trump offered to join prospective Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey later this week noting that these talks could be helpful to start the peace process. Trump spoke a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would travel to Istanbul and wait there to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What Trump said? Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that he might join the talks in Istanbul on Thursday while in the region. His current schedule has him visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this week.

"I've got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen, but we've got to get it done," he said.

"Don't underestimate Thursday in Turkey," Trump and further added.

Will Vladimir Putin join the peace talks? Kremlin was silent about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend, as per a AFP report.

Putin proposed the talks as a counteroffer to a 30-day ceasefire put forward by Kyiv and its allies, but while Zelensky said he would attend "personally", the Kremlin declined to say whom Russia would send.

The negotiations, planned to take place in Istanbul on Thursday, would be the first direct meeting between Ukrainian and Russian officials since the early months of Moscow's invasion in 2022.

Russian attacks had continues, says Zelensky In his nightly video address, the Ukrainian president noted that Russian attacks had continued on the front lines throughout the day, and Moscow still had not responded to his call for Putin to meet him for talks in Turkey later in the week.

"Russian shelling and assaults continue," Zelensky said. "Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence."

European countries threaten to ramp up Russia sanctions Meanwhile foreign ministers threatened to step up sanctions on Russia at a crunch meeting in London on Monday, as the continent's top diplomat accused the Kremlin of "playing games" over peace negotiations with Ukraine.

In a joint statement after their meeting in the British capital, the foreign ministers said they were concerned that Russia "had not shown any serious intent to make progress."
In view of the rising net migration in the UK, the Labour Party-led British government released a white paper that outlined its plan to crack down on immigration. This is not good news for Indians aspiring to settle in the UK.

A white paper titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System encapsulates the plan of the Keir Starmer-led Labour government to crack down on rising migration. The plan entails a higher threshold for getting work visas, widening the net of English language proficiency to dependents and importantly, stretching the time period for becoming eligible to apply for citizenship. The government statement says that the white paper sets out plans to create an immigration system that promotes growth but is controlled and managed.

Skilled worker visa The white paper mentions that the threshold for skilled worker visas should be raised to the graduate level from the current A-level measure. This will adversely impact the care workers who are hired from overseas. There are expectations that the changes will cut up to 50,000 lower skilled and care workers who are likely to come to the UK in the next year.

Longer wait for settlement Migrants will have to wait 10 years to apply to settle in the UK, rather than five years under the current system. This means migrants who come on a work visa to the UK will be eligible to apply for ILR (indefinite leave to remain) after 10 years instead of the current five.

English language requirement Another rule which has been put in place is the English language requirement across every immigration route into the UK. This is the first time that adult dependents will have to demonstrate some proficiency in English to integrate with the population. Critics have said that this would lead to a split in families when partners or parents fail to qualify for basic English skills.

Student visas Currently, students are eligible to stay unsponsored on a graduate visa for two years. The white paper recommends reducing this period to 18 months. The graduate visa was reintroduced in 2021 to allow graduates to stay in the UK for 24 months (36 for PhD holders) so that they can look for a job during this period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday (May 13) that he will be in Ankara on Thursday (May 15) to hold direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin  if he shows up. The long-anticipated face-to-face meeting, driven by mounting international pressure, aims to end the three-year war that has devastated Ukraine and killed tens of thousands.

Zelensky said he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in Ankara on Thursday and await Putins arrival. If Putin agrees, the meeting may move to Istanbul.

"I do not know the US president's decision, but if he confirms his participation, I think it would give additional impetus for Putin to come," Zelensky said at a press conference.

If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war, he warned.

The Ukrainian leader urged European and US leaders to make good on their threats of imposing tough new sanctions on Russia if Putin fails to attend the talks.

Trump sends envoy, backs talks US President Donald Trump, currently on a Middle East tour, has thrown his weight behind the Ankara talks. The White House confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend.

Washington has pushed both sides to return to the negotiating table since Trump assumed office in January, promising to end the war. His administration has made resolving the Ukraine conflict a top foreign policy goal.

Russia remains noncommittal The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend. Asked again on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only: As soon as the president considers it necessary, we will make an announcement.

Russia has offered to send a delegation to Istanbul without preconditions, but Ukraine insists on a presidential-level meeting.

No lower-level talks, Kyiv says Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak made it clear that Zelensky wont meet anyone but Putin.

Lower-level talks would amount to simply dragging out any peace process, Podolyak told Russian journalists in exile during a YouTube broadcast.

Drone strikes undermine ceasefire push Despite calls for calm, Russia continues military aggression. Overnight, Moscow launched 10 drones at Ukraine  the smallest barrage this year, but still a sign of ongoing hostilities. On Monday, over 100 drones were used in attacks.

Ukraine and Western allies had pushed for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting this week  a proposal Russia effectively rejected.

Also Read | Trump again boasts he brought peace between India, Pak
Nearly a decade after she was zip tied and held at gunpoint, American media personality and businesswoman Kim Kardashian on Tuesday will face the 10 men accused of robbing her once again.

Kim was locked in a marble bathroom while masked assailants made off with more than $6 million in jewels in 2016.

Court officials are bracing for a crowd, and security will be tight. A second courtroom has been opened for journalists following via video feed, an AP report said.

According to the report, Kim is expected to speak about the trauma that shaped her life. Her testimony is expected to revisit, in painful detail, how intruders zip-tied her hands, demanded her ring, and left her believing she might never see her children again, the report added.

The 2016 Paris robbery case Out of the 12 men who were originally charged, one has died, and another has been excused from proceedings due to serious illness. Most are in their 60s and 70s  dubbed les papys braqueurs, or the grandpa robbers, by the French press  but investigators insist they were no harmless retirees. Authorities have described them as a seasoned and coordinated criminal group, the report said.

While two defendants have admitted being at the scene, others deny involvement. But police say the group tracked her movements through her own social media posts, which flaunted her jewelry, pinpointed her location, and exposed her vulnerability.

Yunice Abbas, 71, who is among the 10 suspects standing trial, has told French media that he and others who took part in the robbery did not know who Kardashian was, a Reuters report said.

"It's not her, it's her diamond we targeted," Abbas told C8 TV a few years ago. Abbas has admitted his participation in the robbery - writing a book about his role. In interviews with French media, he said he was sorry for what he did and wanted to apologise to Kardashian. There is no possibility of a guilty plea in such cases and Abbas is standing trial despite admitting to playing a role in the robbery, the report said.

What Kim's lawyers say In the aftermath, she withdrew from public life. She developed severe anxiety and later described symptoms of agoraphobia, the AP report said. I hated to go out, she said in a 2021 interview. I didnt want anybody to know where I was  I just had such anxiety.

According to the report, Kim's lawyers confirmed she would appear in court. She has tremendous appreciation and admiration for the French judicial system, they wrote, adding that she hopes the trial proceeds in an orderly fashion  and with respect for all parties.

Her lawyers say she is particularly grateful to French authorities  and ready to confront those who attacked her with dignity.
Hayashin, a grill restaurant in Osaka, Japan, has created controversy by banning Chinese customers. A notice on its door, written in Chinese, says Chinese people are rude and not welcome.

The reason behind the ban is unclear, but this is not the first time a Japanese business has shown such discrimination towards Chinese customers.

One Chinese reservation agent in Japan earlier shared their struggles online. According to them, many Chinese tourists cancel bookings without informing.

One group didnt show up for a booking of 11 people despite many calls and emails. The restaurant even checked if the group had met with an accident. This incident led the agent to say it was not surprising some Japanese restaurants would avoid Chinese tourists.

Many Chinese users online also criticise such careless behaviour, saying people who dont respect rules wont be welcomed anywhere in the world.

In 2023, a Chinese influencer saw a Tokyo restaurant banning Chinese people with a note blaming the China virus. The sign was in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. When the influencer entered to question the staff, they threw him out.

Also Read | China says will continue to stand by Pak: Report

Another Tokyo restaurant also banned Chinese and South Koreans.

The South China Morning Post shared some angry Chinese reactions.

One Chinese user reacted, It is cheap to attract customers under the banner of patriotism.

A restaurant that posts such a note has even worse manners than the rude customers, wrote one user.

However, not everyone found it offensive. One user reacted that Chinese customers should complain to their fellows who behaved badly.

Ban on Chinese and Korean customers In 2024, an Italian restaurant in Tokyo faced heavy criticism for posting a sign that banned Chinese and Korean customers. The owner shared a photo of the sign online, saying they wanted to avoid negative thoughts.

Many Japanese users called it racist and compared it to past discrimination against Japanese in the US. Non-Japanese users called the move openly racist and warned others to avoid the place.
Scottish lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favour of a bill that would legalise assisted dying, the first step of a long process towards legislation.

The bill seeks to allow terminally ill people to request medical assistance to end their lives, with a final vote expected later this year.

After five hours of emotionally charged debate, 70 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) voted in favour of moving the bill forward, while 56 opposed it and one abstained.

"This is a landmark moment for Scotland," said the author of the bill, liberal democrat MSP Liam McArthur.

The bill "can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it", he added.

Safeguards in place: Two-doctor rule Under the current draft, assisted dying would be granted to terminally ill patients after two doctors deem them mentally competent to make the decision.

While political parties had not given instructions to their members ahead of Tuesday's vote, Scottish Prime Minister John Swinney had said he would vote against.

Amendments ahead Lawmakers will now be able to propose amendments to the original text.

The Scottish Parliament had previously rejected two assisted dying bills, in 2010 and 2015.

Similarly, MPs in England and Wales approved in November legislation in a first reading, which would grant assisted dying for certain terminally ill patients.

Also Read | Trump again boasts he brought peace between India, Pak

Isle of Man becomes first to pass law The Isle of Man, a self-governing British dependency lying between England and Ireland, became at the end of March the first British territory to pass an assisted dying bill.

The bill, which still needs royal assent, allows terminally ill adults with less than a year to live and who have been resident on the island for five years to end their lives.

Assisted suicide is illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
Over the years, the influence of China-Cuba cooperation in hospitals and rural clinics have expanded far beyond medical care, fostering people-to-people exchanges and deepening bilateral ties.

China's medical cooperation is growing stronger not just with Cuba, but with various Latin American countries.

HEFEI/HAVANA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- On the early morning of March 6, outside a rural mobile clinic in Changfeng County, east China's Anhui Province, villagers had already lined up to receive free eye consultation services from Chinese and Cuban doctors -- a tradition that has continued for more than a decade.

Over the years, the influence of China-Cuba cooperation in hospitals and rural clinics have expanded far beyond medical care, fostering people-to-people exchanges and deepening bilateral ties. It also stands as a testament to the fruitful collaboration between China and Latin America as a whole, strengthening mutual understanding and cementing friendships.

BELOVED "DR. P"

Cuba has some of the world's most experienced ophthalmologists in both surgical and medical fields, and it maintains close cooperation with China in this area.

Building on this partnership, since 2011, 29 Cuban doctors have worked alongside their Chinese colleagues to diagnose and treat eye diseases across Anhui Province, where they set up the China-Cuba eye hospital.

Cuban doctor Pedro Castro has worked there for four years treating local patients.

As a leading expert in treating eye diseases, he quickly became a beloved figure among Chinese colleagues and patients, who affectionately call him "Dr. P."

"When I was five, my parents first brought me here for treatment," said Cheng Junping, one of Castro's longtime patients. "All these years, I've been under the care of several Cuban doctors."

For Cheng, seeing Cuban doctors has become more than just routine medical care -- it represents trust and personal bonds built through years of care.

As a pediatric ophthalmologist, "Dr. P" is regarded as a trusted friend by many young patients, including Cheng. During examinations, he often offers plush toys to calm nervous children. His warm smile puts them at ease as he performs precise eye checks with gentle expertise.

"We came straight here after my daughter was diagnosed with strabismus during a school health check-up," said Xiong Jianjun, who accompanied his child for follow-up care.

"When I heard the Cuban doctors here were highly experienced, I brought her right away," he said.

While in China, Castro has experienced the kindness of Chinese people firsthand. A couple in his apartment building often invites him to go grocery shopping, take walks and visit parks together, knowing he is far from home.

Even though they don't speak the same language, their friendship has made Castro's life in China much more enjoyable.

"My colleagues and I are very happy to help the Chinese people. Everything has been wonderful," Castro said.

Last year, Castro and his Chinese colleagues offered free eye surgeries for 100 children with the support of the local government.

"I absolutely love working with children," Castro said. "They always express their feelings so honestly."

Pedro Castro (R) and Zhang Huiwen (C) conduct ward rounds at Anhui No. 2 Provincial People's Hospital in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

FROM TEACHER TO COLLEAGUE

"Dr. Pedro, thank you for your dedication over these years," said Zhang Huiwen, Castro's assistant and a young Chinese ophthalmologist, as she handed him a bouquet of flowers and gave him a warm hug.

It was a bittersweet farewell. Castro and his Cuban colleagues were preparing to conclude their mission in China and return home.

"I'm very excited because you were my teacher in Cuba, and we've worked side by side here for four years," Zhang said.

"While I'm happy to return to Cuba," Castro said, "I'm also sad to leave colleagues here and my Chinese colleagues are impeccable."

"Honestly, none of this would have been possible without my Spanish-speaking Chinese colleagues," Castro said, expressing particular gratitude for his assistant.

Yet Zhang's contributions went far beyond translating. As an ophthalmologist who had mastered both Chinese and Cuban medical approaches, she brought invaluable clinical insights to their cooperation.

Her journey began in the summer of 2009, just after high school, when she earned a Cuban government scholarship to study medicine. In the years that followed, she mastered Spanish, earned a master's degree, and immersed herself in Cuban medical training.

"Pedro was my teacher during my postgraduate studies," Zhang said. "Back then in Cuba, he was my teacher and I was his student. Now here in China, we're colleagues working together."

When she returned to China, she joined the China-Cuba eye hospital (inaugurated at Anhui No. 2 Provincial People's Hospital), where she served not only as an interpreter for Cuban doctors but also received professional training under their guidance.

"Chinese and Cuban doctors work side by side, overcoming every medical challenge together," said Zhang Bing, former president of Anhui No. 2 Provincial People's Hospital.

He said that Cuba-China medical cooperation has significantly advanced the study of ophthalmology, capacity building and talent cultivation in China's Anhui Province.

This professional relationship, built on mutual respect, has developed into a profound and enduring partnership.

Pedro Castro (L) provides free clinical service to a local resident at a health center of Changfeng County in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Jinzheng)

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT

Xu Yicong, former Chinese ambassador to Cuba, recalled the creation of the China-Cuba Friendship Ophthalmic Hospital.

"I was both a participant and a beneficiary of this program," Xu said, adding that he underwent successful cataract surgery through the joint efforts of Chinese and Cuban doctors.

"Cuban doctors conducted the examination and Chinese doctors performed the surgery. They also diagnosed and treated my glaucoma during the process," he said.

Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda said he is pleased to know that the Cuban ophthalmic medical team is welcomed in China and remembered by many, Miranda said.

The Cuban government considers China a strategic partner for scientific and technical exchanges in the healthcare sector, Miranda said in April during a Cuba International Convention on health.

China is among the main suppliers of medicines and biopharmaceutical supplies that Cuba imports for the national health system.

China has also steadily deepened its healthcare cooperation with the Latin American country. Last year, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine sent six doctors to Cuba to provide traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment for Cuban patients, conduct academic exchanges, and donate TCM medical supplies and books to Cuba.

In fact, China's medical cooperation is growing stronger not just with Cuba, but with various Latin American countries. In recent years, China has provided medical support, including vaccines and ventilators, for Latin American and Caribbean countries such as Mexico, Guyana and Ecuador.

It has actively provided human resources training programs to Latin American countries, and sent medical and agricultural experts there to boost development in the region.

Eduardo Regalado, a researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba, said that China's exchanges and cooperation with many Latin American countries stand as an exemplary model of international relations.

"As members of the Global South, we share common development goals and a foundation of mutual understanding and support," he said.

In September, a new group of Cuban ophthalmologists arrived in China's Anhui Province.

"I hope to serve as a bridge between China and Cuba, fostering friendships with peoples across Latin America and worldwide," said Yamila Rodriguez, chief physician and member of the fifth batch of Cuban Ophthalmologists to China.

Editor: ZAD
Bangladeshs interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on May 10 banned deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League under an anti-terrorism law after days of protest.

A statement by the government, according to Reuters, said that the ban would remain effective until the completion of the trial of the Awami League and its leaders in Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal in the interest of protecting the countrys security and sovereignty.

Bangladesh has seen rising tensions and protests in recent months, after deadly protests forced Sheikh Hasina to flee to India in August 2024 and an interim government led by Yunus took charge.

Why was the Awami League banned? Hasnat Abdullah, one of the leaders of the last year's uprising which resulted in the ousting of Hasina, was attacked last week. Supporters of Hasina's Awami League were blamed for the attack, calls for stricter action against the party gained more momentum, the report said.

The Awami League leaders were charged with committing crimes against humanity over the deaths of hundreds of people during last year's anti-government protests by a student platform. The protests resulted in the ouster of Hasina's 16-year-long regime on August 5 last year.

It said the decision was also taken for the security of the leaders and activists of the July 2024 uprising that eventually led to the ousting of the Awami League regime alongside the complainants and witnesses of the trial in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), the PTI report said.
The year 2019 saw the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approve a $6 billion bailout for Pakistan while the country was grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for allowing terror financing. The IMF thus helped stabilize a government under worldwide observation for harbouring extremist groups.

This, barely months after the Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of 40 Indian troops (an action linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad). India insisted on affixing responsibility for the carnage, while the global financial system swung the other way, giving balance-of-payments measurements priority over the blood-stained reality of Pakistans links with terror operations.

Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Pakistan's IMF bailout No. 24 and loan addiction

History has repeated itself. Indias rare public abstention on last weeks $2.4 billion IMF loan to Pakistan is part of a concerning trend whereby geopolitical convenience trumps moral clarity. It highlights a fundamental institutional flaw: the IMF continues to operate in accordance with the power hierarchy that emerged after World War II, with the result that legitimate Global South voices are frequently ignored and its conditionalities seem too selective. The Fund must alter its quotas and board seats and change its moral compass if it is to remain relevant in a multipolar age.

Indias abstention, reportedly driven by concerns over Pakistans misuse of IMF resources to potentially fund hostile activities, signals a loss of faith in the institutions ability to reflect the interests of those most affected by its decisions. But this is not just about India and Pakistan. It is about how the IMF continues to be governed by rules and quotas that reflect a post-World War II economic order.

Also Read: IMF outlook: The good, the bad and the unsaid

A recent report by Colodenco, Asef Horno, and Zucker-Marques (2025), published by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, makes the case forcefully. As it documents, emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) now account for nearly 60% of global GDP, yet hold only 40% of the IMFs voting power.

Meanwhile, advanced economies, particularly the US and European bloc, continue to wield disproportionate influence. The US alone holds enough voting share (about 16.5%) to effectively veto any structural reform, given that major IMF decisions require an 85% super majority.

This power imbalance has real consequences. As the report explains, the IMFs quota system is deeply flawed. It favours advanced economies through biased metrics such as market exchange rate-based GDP (instead of GDP adjusted by purchasing power parity) and outdated measures of economic openness that double-count the cross-border flows of rich economies.

The result is a formula that underestimates the true economic weight of countries like India, Indonesia and Brazil, and grossly over-represents Europe and Japan.

Also Read: Raghuram Rajan: The IMF needs governance reform to retain its relevance

The IMF likes to portray itself as a rules-based institution. But behind its formal architecture lies a web of politically driven negotiations, particularly when it comes to quotas, the foundation of the Funds financial structure and voting power allotments. IMF rules state that each countrys Calculated Quota Share (CQS) should reflect its relative position in the global economy, based on variables like GDP, trade openness, reserves and variability.

However, the actual quota share (AQS), which determines a countrys financial contribution and voting power, is the result of political bargaining, not strict adherence to economic indicators.

The disconnect doesnt stop there. IMF voting power is calculated not solely on the AQS, but by adding basic votes (a flat number granted equally to all members) to a countrys quota-based votes. This structure was originally intended to mitigate quota-based disparities, but as the number of IMF members increased and quotas expanded disproportionately in favour of large economies, the share of basic votes shrank, reducing its balancing effect.

Although recent reforms have marginally increased basic votes (now about 5.5% of total votes), the gap remains stark: advanced economies have too much authority.

This is a serious problem that must not be left unaddressed. For most EMDEs, the CQS exceeds the AQS, which translates to lower voting power on key decisions. Indias voting share, for instance, is far lower than what its current economic standing would suggest. The report estimates that India should gain nearly 0.9 percentage points in voting power if quotas were realigned fairly, a significant shift that could allow it to play a more consequential role.

As of now, we face a situation where a veto wielded by a single nation constrains the power of emerging economies.

Also Read: Another IMF loan for Argentina? Its fallout could be ugly

Unfortunately, the 16th General Quota Review of the IMF in 2023 failed to deliver any such realignment, opting instead for a proportional increase in quotas that preserved the status quo in terms of relative strength. The upcoming 17th Review, due in 2025, offers the Fund another chance in the near-term to correct course.

A reformed formula, one that gives greater weight to purchasing power parity in its economic calculations, eliminates biased variables and increases the representation of the worlds poorest countries could help restore the legitimacy and effectiveness of an increasingly contested institution.

India, as both an emerging economic power and a responsible voice in multilateral forums, is uniquely positioned to lead this conversation. Some would argue that any vote re-allotment would give China more power and may not change outcomes for a country like India when it comes to decisions like Pakistans loan. But the right thing must be done irrespective of specific outcomes.

The question is not whether Pakistan deserves IMF support. Rather, it is who decides and under what rules? Whose voice matters? Unless the IMF rebalances its governance structure to reflect todays global economic realities, it risks losing the trust of the very countries it is meant to serve.

These are the authors personal views.

The authors are, respectively, assistant professor of economics at the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, and a public policy professional.
India-Pakistan Conflict: India will keep "Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures support for cross-border terrorism, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on 23 April 2025, following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the death of 26 civilians.

The Indus Waters Treaty, a water-sharing agreement signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank, allocates the waters of the six rivers of the Indus basin between the two countries. Under the treaty, India was granted control over the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej while Pakistan received rights over the western rivers Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum.

However, in the wake of escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military conflicts in 2025, India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

This marked a significant shift in the bilateral relationship, as the treaty had been a longstanding pillar of cooperation despite political hostilities.

During the press briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said, India has a firm stance that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it.

Our military action was entirely in the conventional domain, Jaiswal said, rebutting US President Donald Trump's speculation on nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.

Terrorist infrastructure India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around the world, the MEA spokesperson added, defending Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale, he added.

On Monday, while addressing the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that after the surgical strike in 2016 and the air strike in 2019, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism.
(Bloomberg) -- Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine if hes convicted of a misdemeanor charge of trespassing during a protest at a private detention facility thats a key part of President Donald Trumps plans for mass deportations.

Baraka, 55, was charged with a state trespassing offense occurring on property in federal jurisdiction, according to a transcript released Monday of a court hearing held virtually on Friday night. Baraka, who denies wrongdoing, is a Democratic candidate for governor.

On Friday, Alina Habba, Trumps appointee as interim US Attorney in New Jersey, said Baraka committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the 1,000-bed Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark.

He has willingly chosen to disregard the law, Habba said in a post on X. That will not stand in this state.

US Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa released Baraka without making him post bail. He set a May 15 preliminary hearing, a sort of mini-trial where prosecutors can present evidence and witnesses to try to show probable cause that Baraka committed a crime.

At the hearing, defense lawyer Raymond M. Brown urged Espinosa to admonish prosecutors for statements made outside of court by Habba and Homeland Security officials that criticized Baraka. Espinosa said prosecutors must heed carefully to the rules of professional conduct on the boundaries of propriety for public comment related to an ongoing investigation and/or prosecution.

The judge said the prosecutor appearing before him, Desiree Grace, who is Habbas second-in-command, has always acted appropriately, including in the Baraka matter.

Baraka has protested repeatedly in recent weeks at Delaney Hall, which operator GEO Group Inc. recently reopened. In February, the US awarded the company a 15-year contract to detain immigrants in the facility, a deal the company values at more than $1 billion. Newark has sued to block GEO, saying it doesnt have proper permits.

In a statement after Baraka spent five hours in custody, his lawyers said he acted throughout with calm, restraint, and dignity. Still, Habba repeatedly made inaccurate, inflammatory, and unfair public statements, they said.

It is difficult not to conclude from the governments actions that it was less concerned with unlawful conduct than with advancing its political and policy agenda by any means possible, they said.

Three Democratic House members, Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman and LaMonica McIver, were also at the protest but were not arrested. Over the weekend, Homeland Security officials said they could be charged. They also deny wrongdoing.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
New Delhi: India is exploring levying retaliatory tariffs on a range of high-value US exports if a resolution is not found by early June on the Trump administrations extension of safeguard duties on Indian steel and aluminium exports, two persons familiar with the development said, ahead of commerce minister Piyush Goyal visit to Washington this week at the head of a trade delegation.

India on Monday informed the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it will impose $1.91 billion of levies on imports from the US in retaliation against Trump's move but left a 30-day window for talks, showed a communication from New Delhi to the global trade body.

The people cited above said American goods that could attract tariffs will be those with significant trade value and strategic relevance", including agricultural produce, petrochemicals and high-end medical devices.

The move signals New Delhi toughening its posture amid ongoing trade talks with the US on its tariffs hikes. It comes at a time when the UK and China have reached an understanding with the US, but only to lower  not eliminate  US tariffs.

Also read: US-China trade deal: Nomura turns bullish on Chinese stocks after truce on Trump's tariffs

According to Reuters, Goyal will lead a trade delegation to the US starting 16 May to advance trade negotiations, two government officials said on Tuesday, as both countries push for a bilateral trade pact.

The commerce ministry did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

New Delhi is seeking to clinch a trade deal with the US within the 90-day pause on tariff hikes announced by Trump on 9 April for major trading partners, including a 26% tariff on India.

A 10% base tariff continues to apply to India and many other nations during the pause.

The US is India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totalling some $129 billion in FY25. The trade balance is currently in favour of India, which runs a $45.7 billion surplus with the US.

India has not officially disclosed what products from the US it will target for retaliation, but almonds, apples, chickpeas and lentils have figured in similar moves by India in the past.

Indias action is under the WTOs agreement on safeguards and is in response to Trump's 10 February-move extending the 25% additional tariff on steel articles and 10% additional tariffs on aluminium goods with effect from 12 March.

These measures, introduced in 2018 and extended in 2020, are likely to affect Indian exports worth $7.6 billion, on which the duty collection would be $1.91 billion.

Accordingly, India's proposed suspension of concessions would result in an equivalent amount of duty collected from products originating in the United States," Indias communication to WTO stated.

Also read: Trump's drug price crackdown, like his trade war, could be more bark than bite

This is a calibrated and legally backed step. We are not acting in haste but exercising our rights under the WTO framework to protect our economic interests," said the first person quoted above.

Steel and aluminium are thought to be politically sensitive industries that form the backbone of India's Make in India initiative and are critical for job creation and industrial growth.

The retaliatory list could include items that have strategic trade relevance and will deliver a proportionate economic impact without harming domestic consumers, said the second person cited above.

"Unless consultations are initiated or the US measures are withdrawn, Indias retaliatory tariffs may come into effect 30 days from the notification dateon 8 June 2025. India has also reserved the right to adjust product coverage and tariff rates to ensure a proportional economic response, signalling its determination to use WTO mechanisms robustly," said Ajay Srivastava, former trade service official and founder of economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative.

India said in its communication that the measures announced by the US were not notified to the WTO, but are, in essence, safeguard measures. New Delhi also said it will inform both WTOs Council for Trade in Goods and Committee on Safeguards on its next steps.

The timeline of Indias move at the WTO notably coincides with the United States 90-day pause on its reciprocal tariffs targeting Indian exports. This temporary suspension, which lasts until 8 July 2025, had offered a brief window for both sides to explore a negotiated settlement. However, unless a breakthrough is reached, Indian goods exported to the US will face an additional 26% duty across the board once the pause ends.

Also read: US inflation logs smallest annual rise in four years, core CPI up 2.8% YoY in April; Gold rebounds on bargain hunt

Experts said that the absence of mandatory consultations under Article 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards has strengthened Indias case for retaliatory action.

Indias latest WTO move comes at a sensitive time, as New Delhi and Washington explore a broader Free Trade Agreement.

While the retaliation may add friction to ongoing talks, Indias measured, rules-based response contrasts with the unilateral nature of US trade actions, reinforcing New Delhis commitment to multilateral norms.

The action also signals a firmer Indian stance on trade, particularly in politically and strategically important sectors like steel and aluminium, in line with its Make in India push.

"Much now depends on Washingtons response. If the US engages in consultations or withdraws the contested measures, a resolution may be reached. Otherwise, Indias tariff response could take effect in early June, potentially affecting US exporters and deepening trade frictions," Srivastava added.

Industry executives said that for sectors with close global supply chain linkages, tariffs can be disruptive.

Weve experienced these challenges firsthand. For the instrumentation sector, which is closely linked to global supply chains, such tariffs have disrupted sourcing strategies and hurt export competitiveness. By raising this at the WTO, India is sending a clear message that future trade agreements must be anchored in fairness and reciprocity," said Sarvadnya Kulkarni, CEO of General Instruments Consortium, a manufacturer of precision instruments.

Queries sent on Tuesday to the ministry of commerce were not immediately answered.

In 2019, India had imposed higher tariffs on 28 US products, including almonds and apples, after the US ended Indias preferential access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and maintained duties on Indian steel and aluminium. That dispute was resolved in 2023 following Prime Minister Modis visit to Washington. The current move indicates that India is no longer willing to remain passive in the face of repeated trade curbs, added Srivastava of GTRI.

Gireesh Chandra Prasad contributed to this story.
Qatars offer of a luxury Boeing 747 to President Donald Trump has set off alarm bells within the US intelligence and diplomatic community, where gifts from foreign powers have long been viewed with suspicion.

Aside from any legal and ethical qualms about Trump accepting the plane  an 89-seater with a sumptuous French-designed interior  there are technical and security concerns too. Experts say any such gift on a foreign governments behalf presents opportunities for surveilling, tracking or compromising communications of the president and anyone traveling with him.

If we had built the plane, knowing it was going to a foreign government, we would probably have bugged it, said Thad Troy, a former station chief with the Central Intelligence Agency. He recalled serving in Cold War-era Moscow when the American Embassy was being dismantled brick by brick to remove a tangle of surveillance devices embedded into the very concrete of the building.

Trump ordered up two new presidential planes from Boeing Co. for $3.9 billion during his first term. Frustrated at delivery delays, hes been on the lookout for alternatives  and apparently had his eye on the Qatari plane even before it was offered to him as a gift this month.

Parisian Finish

The jumbo in question, built in 2012, was previously on call for Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. The 66-year-old is one of the Qatari royal familys wealthiest figures, having served as prime minister and head of the sovereign wealth fund.

It has creamy white and tan furnishings, rugs and artwork by Cabinet Alberto Pinto, a Paris interior design firm. There are custom-made Tai Ping rugs, sycamore and wacapou wood fixtures, and artwork by Alexander Calder. The upper deck has a master bedroom and bath, guest bedroom and private lounge, and downstairs there are lounges, an office and crew areas.

The plane would need to be retrofitted to standards that Air Force One currently maintains, according to Troy. That would include a hardening of its surface to withstand explosions and attacks, and technical extras like air-to-air refueling capabilities and classified communications and weapons systems.

It would also take months if not years for defense department officials and intelligence officers to take the plane apart and thoroughly sweep it for any tracking devices or detect monitoring of systems that could, among other things, reveal the planes location.

This is why it takes so long to build Air Force One, said Troy. It has so many things attached to it to make the president safe.

Such a Stain

Trump, whos blamed Boeing for falling way behind, has defended the gift.

Some people say, oh, you shouldnt accept gifts for the country, the president told Fox News while en route to Saudi Arabia where he began a Middle East visit on Tuesday. My attitude is, why wouldnt I accept a gift? Were giving to everybody else. He also said that Gulf monarchies have bigger and newer planes than the American government, and I believe that we should have the most impressive plane.

But some of the fiercest criticism has come from devoted supporters, whove called it a bribe or a brazen push for influence by the Gulf state.

Commentator Ben Shapiro asked how Trump voters would react if a Democrat had done this. I think if we switched the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, wed all be freaking out on the right, Shapiro said Monday on his podcast. President Trump promised to drain the swamp. This is not, in fact, draining the swamp.

This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true, far-right activist Laura Loomer posted on X. And I say that as someone who would take a bullet for Trump.

Qatar is a longstanding US ally, and has been a key mediator along with Egypt in efforts to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The country also hosts Hamass political office. Relationships like that pose a risk in terms of potential information falling into the hands of people who would use it for their own purposes, according to James Der Derian, who heads the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney in Australia.

To be sure, Qatar is not the Soviet Union, but it does have a pretty robust intelligence footprint, he said. It punches above its weight.

Still, while there are dangers in accepting gifts from foreign governments, turning them down isnt risk-free either. Since gift-giving is significant in Arab culture, it could amount to a diplomatic blunder  especially when Qatar is playing such an important role in the search for an end to the Gaza war.

Thats why this plane has taken on so much symbolic value right now, Der Derian said. Refuse the gift, and there could be a lot of upset leaders  not just the US but also Qatar and other Arab countries that think hospitality is a very important part of their culture.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
The British government suffered a setback to its plans to make it easier for AI companies to access data as the House of Lords backed more protection for content creators on Monday.

The Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to introduce a copyright exception for commercial generative AI training with its Data (Use and Access) Bill.

Under the proposed law, companies developing AI models would not need permission from creatives to access certain content -- a plan that has provoked a fierce backlash in the cultural sector.

More than 400 artists and other creatives have signed an open letter calling for the plans to be scrapped, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Dua Lipa.

Beeban Kidron, a member of the House of Lords, Britain's upper house of parliament, on Monday tabled an amendment to the bill that was passed by 272 votes to 125.

Under the amendment, authors must give permission for their work to be used and must also be able to see what has been taken, by whom and when.

Artificial intelligence companies "are stealing some of the UK's most valuable cultural and economic assets", said Kidron, who directed one of the Bridget Jones films.

"Creators do not deny the creative and economic value of AI. But we do deny the assertion that we should have to build AI for free, with our work, and then rent it back from those who stole it," Kidron said.

"It's Harry Potter, it's the entire back catalogue of every single music publisher in the UK. It's the voice of Hugh Grant, the design of an iconic handbag, the IP of our universities, great museums and library collections," she said.

Labour digital minister Maggie Jones said there was a "real risk" that too many "obligations" would lead to "AI innovators, including many home-grown British companies, thinking twice about whether they wish to develop and provide their services in the UK".

Starmer in January unveiled an "action plan" to make the UK "the world leader" in artificial intelligence and spark Britain's flagging economy, promising flexible regulations.

The bill will now be sent back to the House of Commons, the lower house of parliament, for further debate.
(Bloomberg) -- The Commerce Department issued guidance stating that the use of Huawei Technologies Co.s Ascend artificial intelligence chips anywhere in the world violates the governments export controls, escalating US efforts to curb technological advances in China.

The agencys Bureau of Industry and Security said in a statement Tuesday that its also planning to warn the public about the potential consequences of allowing US AI chips to be used for training and inference of Chinese AI models. The training of AI models involves bombarding them with data to teach them to recognize patterns. Inference, meanwhile, is the stage where models use that training to carry out tasks.

Commerces guidance stands to make it all the more difficult for Shenzhen-based Huawei to fulfill its ambitions of developing more powerful chips for AI and smartphones, efforts that have already hit major snags because of US sanctions.

Huawei was designing its next two Ascend processors  Chinas answer to Nvidia Corp.s dominant accelerators  around the same 7-nanometer architecture thats been mainstream for years, Bloomberg reported in November. US-led restrictions had already kept Huaweis chipmaking partners from procuring state-of-the-art systems.

The training of AI models involves bombarding them with data to teach them to recognize patterns. Inference, meanwhile, is the stage where models use that training to carry out tasks.

The bureau laid out the new instructions while more broadly announcing the rescission of Biden administration-era regulations on the export of semiconductors used in developing AI. Those rules had drawn strenuous objections from US allies and companies, including Nvidia and Oracle Corp.

Bidens regulations would have undermined US diplomatic relations with dozens of countries by downgrading them to second-tier status, the Commerce Department said in the statement Tuesday, adding that it will publish a notice that formalizes the rescission of the rule and issue a replacement in the future.

The Trump administration is drafting its own approach and could shift toward negotiating individual deals with countries, according to people familiar with the matter. The Commerce Department said in its statement that whatever comes of it will be a bold, inclusive strategy to American AI technology with trusted foreign countries around the world, while keeping the technology out of the hands of our adversaries.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
DTEK Energy plans annual eurobond buybacks of up to $100 mln, seeks changes to bond terms

Ukraine's largest private energy holding, DTEK Energy, has approached the holders of its eurobonds maturing in 2027 with a proposal to revise the current limited payment provisions and formalize a commitment to conduct annual bond buybacks of up to $100 million.

"The Group intends to continue its debt reduction strategy and is proposing the inclusion of additional issuer commitments to reduce debt," DTEK Energy stated in its consent solicitation published on the Irish Stock Exchange on Monday. As an incentive, the company is offering bondholders a 1% consent fee based on the nominal value of their bonds.

DTEK Energy clarified that outstanding bonds currently amount to $930.91 million in nominal value, out of a total issuance of $1.46687 billion.

Despite the challenges and disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine, the company has proactively reduced its nominal debt by approximately 47%, or $750 million, since the start of the war. This has been achieved through a combination of semiannual amortization payments of $8-10 million, a November 2022 bond buyback in accordance with the indenture, and voluntary Dutch auction buyback offers in December 2022, March 2023, and October 2023, along with other market purchases.

"As of the date of the Consent Solicitation, the Group's outstanding debt stands at approximately $931 million," the document states.

According to DTEK, its ability to continue implementing its debt reduction strategy hinges on existing restrictions imposed by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), specifically the ability of the Group's Ukrainian subsidiaries to provide foreign currency to the issuer  DTEK Energy B.V.  in the required volumes.

Under the proposal to bondholders, the company would be required to reserve any unused portion of the annual $100 million debt reduction commitment in a separate account in Ukraine, with limited options for short-term investments using those funds.

Additionally, DTEK Energy is seeking to amend its covenant package to enhance the company's investment appeal and increase its financial and operational flexibility for strategic investments. These amendments would include lifting restrictions on future business lines and raising thresholds for requiring independent valuations and bondholder approvals.

"DTEK Energy's operational and strategic vision is to continue supporting Ukraine's energy system by generating as much electricity as needed to meet national demand, while also providing balancing and other ancillary services. In line with this vision, the holding is continuing its campaign to repair or replace damaged or outdated equipment, which requires substantial capital investments," the document read.

Bond buybacks may be executed through tender offers or private transactions, in one or more tranches. Any remaining headroom under the NBU limit will be used for buybacks at par in conjunction with the scheduled semiannual amortization of $10 million.

Bondholder responses will be accepted through May 26, 2025.
UPDATE: IRONMAN officials say the swim portion of Sunday's triathlon has been cancelled.

The portion of the race has been cancelled due to the dangerous conditions expected in the Tennessee River.

IRONMAN officials said in the cancellation notice, "Due to the flow rate in the Tennessee River that will exceed the typical 20,000 CFS (cubic feet per second) and are forecasted to exceed 50,000 CFS on race day, it would be unsafe to swim. Based on expected flow rates, safety assets would not be able to maintain their position in the water to safely monitor and support athletes."

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) River Forecast Center, National Weather Service (NWS), and Hamilton County Emergency Management made the decision together in the interest of public safety.

UPDATE: Road closures and crowds: navigation Chattanooga's Ironman, how to prepare for traffic, closures One of Chattanooga's largest annual events is finally back, drawing in athletes, spectators and visitors looking to have some fun on Chattanooga's Riverfrontbut with it also comes the not-so-fun part: thousands of people maneuvering their way around barricades blocking main roads.

Officials said that all IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship slots will still be awarded based on each athletes time in the biking and running portions.

REVISED IRONMAN 70.3 CHATTANOOGA RACE TIMES:

5:30 AM - Transition Area Open (New Transition Time)

7:10 AM  Pro Time Trial Start

7:45 AM - Approximate Age Group Time Trial Start

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story.

PREVIOUS STORY: The Chattanooga Division of Transportation (CDOT) is getting the downtown area ready for IRONMAN 70.3 coming up this weekend.

CDOT will be closing off areas and streets starting Wednesday all in preparation for IRONMAN festivities leading to Sunday's big event.

STREET CLOSINGS FOR THE WEEK

The following roads will be closed from Wednesday, May 14 at 9:00am to Sunday, May 18 at 9:00pm:

Riverside Drive/Riverfront Parkway between Aquarium Way and Molly Lane

Chestnut Street between Aquarium Way and Riverfront Parkway

Power Alley from the parking lot to Riverfront Parkway

The southbound Veterans Bridge ramp to Riverside Drive

CLOSINGS AND DETOURS DURING FOR SUNDAY, MAY 18

Here are the start times for each portion of the race and the special streets closures for Sunday, May 18.

SWIMMING

The swim portion begins at 6:50am at Rosss Landing and athletes will have until 9:00am to move to the bike race.

The Tennessee River will be closed to the public between Ross's Landing and the Hubert Fry Center from 5:00am to 10:30am.

The Rivermont Park and Tennessee Riverpark boat ramps will also be closed.

BIKING

Athletes will participate in the biking portion of the race until 1:00pm.

STREET CLOSINGS & TRAFFIC INFORMATION:

The right southbound lane of Riverfront Parkway between Molly Lane and W MLK Boulevard

Riverfront Parkway southbound will be closed from W MLK Boulevard to Broad Street with all traffic being directed northbound

The right southbound lane of Market Street between West 20th Street and West 40th Street

West 40th Street between Alton Park Boulevard and Tennessee Avenue

I-24 on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at Market Street will be closed and all streets crossing this route will be controlled by CPD officers.

The following intersections will be 4-way stops from 5:00am until 1:00pm:

St Elmo Ave and W 42nd Street

Tennessee Avenue and Virginia Avenue at West 46th Street

Cyclists will also be on Tennessee Avenue and St. Elmo Avenue to the state line, riding with traffic.

Traffic will be stopped from crossing the cyclists' lane from 8:00am to 1:00pm on the following streets:

Riverfront Parkway

West 20th Street

Broad Street

Market Street

Alton Park Boulevard

RUNNING

Runners will be on the Riverwalk, Amnicola Highway, the Veterans Bridge, Frazier Avenue, Barton Avenue, and Riverfront Parkway from 10:30am until 1:00pm.

STREET CLOSINGS & TRAFFIC INFORMATION:

Dedicated bike lane on Frazier Avenue between Forest Avenue and the Veterans Bridge

The right northbound lane of Barton Avenue between Frazier Avenue and Baker Street

The right northbound lane of the Veterans Bridge between East 3rd Street and Barton Avenue

The right westbound lane of Amnicola Highway between Old Curtain Pole Road and Lindsay Street

Battery Place off-ramp from Riverfront Parkway

Aquarium Way between Riverfront Parkway and Walnut Street

All streets crossing along the route will be controlled by CPD officers to give right-of-way to the runners on Sunday, May 18 from 5:00am to 5:00pm for the IRONMAN 70.3 run portion.

All streets and affected areas are expected to reopen Sunday at 9:00pm.

You can learn more about IRONMAN 70.3 online.

Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story.
Rachel Briody and Paddy Whyte, two young farmers from Longford, have been chosen to take part in the new Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum  a dynamic new initiative designed to empower the next generation of Irish sheep farmers through innovation, sustainability, and leadership.

The Forum was officially launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, at an event hosted on one of Kepaks supplier farms, owned by Damien Flynn in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath.

Set against the backdrop of Teagascs 2024 National Farm Survey  which found the average age of Irish sheep farmers to be 56  the Forum aims to inject fresh thinking and renewed energy into the sector. Developed in collaboration with Bord Bia and Mountbellew Agricultural College, it brings together 15 young farmers from diverse educational and sheep farming enterprise backgrounds (including part-time and full-time farmers) to address the key challenges facing Irish sheep farming. By actively engaging young people in the future of farming, the Forum supports Irelands wider goals around generational renewal; a critical priority for the long-term sustainability of rural communities and agricultural production. In 2023, Less than half (46.5%) of farm holders had a succession plan in place, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO, 2023).

The initiatives core mission is to make sheep farming more attractive and viable for young people, while promoting sustainable and profitable practices. Through youth-led dialogue, hands-on experience, and access to industry networks, Kepak aims to support the next generation in shaping a future-focused and resilient sheep sector.

Minister Martin Heydon welcomed the initiative:

The future of Irish sheep farming depends on our ability to inspire and support the next generation. Kepaks Young Sheep Farmer Forum is a strong step in that direction. Its encouraging to see industry leaders investing in young talent, fostering innovation, and creating real opportunities for engagement and leadership within the sector. Im delighted to launch this initiative and look forward to seeing its positive impact across the country.

Brian Tormey, CEO of Kepak Meat Division Ireland, added:

At Kepak, we are committed to supporting the future of Irish agriculture. The Young Sheep Farmer Forum reflects our ambition to support a resilient, forward-looking sector that supports farmers, strengthens communities, and meets evolving market demands. By connecting ambitious young farmers with knowledge, networks and global perspectives, were helping to shape a sustainable and vibrant sheep sector for years to come.

Programme Highlights

On-Farm Workshops & Site Visits: Participants will gain hands-on insights through visits to research institutions such as Teagasc Athenry and to high-performing commercial farms, including Kepak suppliers. These experiences will showcase the practicalities of managing profitable and sustainable flocks.

Industry & Global Market Exposure: Farmers will engage directly with Bord Bia and Kepak to explore international market operations. A highlight includes a visit to Rungis, the worlds largest wholesale food market in France, where Kepak supplies Irish lamb and participants will meet key European customers.

Policy Dialogue & Influence: The programme will culminate in a focused discussion to shape a set of practical, farm-level policy recommendations. These will be submitted to the Department of Agriculture ahead of Budget 2026, ensuring that young farmers have a real voice in the future direction of the sector.

The Forum is designed to be collaborative and solutions-driven, with strong partnerships across education and industry. Participants have been selected from Kepaks supplier base as well as students from ATU Mountbellew, ATU Letterkenny, Teagasc, UCD, University of Galway and other institutions. The group will meet up to seven times over the course of 2025 to share knowledge, network with industry leaders, and co-create a roadmap for the future of sheep farming in Ireland.

Applications for future Forum cohorts will open in 2026, with Kepak committed to expanding the initiative in line with industry needs and youth interest.

Follow @Kepak_group on Instagram, @Kepak.onfarm on TikTok and Kepak Group on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep an eye on Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum updates
A new report shows how the growing OurKidsCode network of creative coding workshops and clubs for families is enabling parents in communities in Co. Longford and across Ireland to be more proactive in their childrens use of technology, with mothers comprising 72% of the parents involved.

The OurKidsCode project, whose partners include Longford County Council through its Broadband Officer Christine Collins, and the National Parents Council, builds parents confidence and skills in technology alongside their children at informal, hands-on creative coding workshops and clubs. These take place outside of school hours in libraries, primary schools and rural broadband connection point community centres.

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OurKidsCode workshops have successfully taken place in libraries in Ballymahon, Edgeworthstown and Granard as well as in community centres in Abbeyshrule, Carrickedmond, Moydow, Mullinalaghta and Latin School Community Centre, Moyne and Colmcille GAA, Aughnacliffe.

Creative coding is the playful use of computer programming to make art, stories, or interactive projects, combining coding, crafting and making.OurKidsCodeworkshops and clubs are appealing to parents, including in Co. Longford, who are looking for ways to increase their childrens active creation rather than passive consumption of technology.

Funded by Research Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development, OurKidsCode has reached 5,240 parents and children in 111 predominantly rural locations across Ireland including in Co. Longford. The report shows females (mothers and girls) comprised 55 per cent of participants, with males (fathers and boys) making up 43 per cent, busting the gender stereotype that females are not as interested in computing as males.

Read more: RIP: Longford nun leaves us with the memories of her legacy of work in Pakistan and Enniskillen

OurKidsCode is committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths). By partnering with DEIS schools, local development agencies and NGOs, it strives to make workshops that are accessible to all families.

A parent that attends OurKidsCode workshops in Co. Longford, who is quoted in the recently launched first OurKidsCode Impact Report, said: Building digital skills in rural communities with access to high-speed broadband means that we, as a farming family, can now imagine a future where not all of our children will need to leave our community to be able to work in high-tech jobs in the future.

Another Co. Longford parent said: I was bowled over to think that something like that was available to us in the middle of nowhere in south Longford. That was great. It made it accessible; it made it local and the community spirit was brilliant.

Read more: New Special Educational Needs unit to enhance facilities at Longford secondary school

Speaking at the recent launch of OurKidsCodes Impact Report, OurKidsCode project lead and assistant professor in the School of Computer Science and Statistics at TCD, Dr. Nina Bresnihan, said: OurKidsCode is committed to increasing opportunities for parental involvement in childrens computing education in Co. Longford and contributing to greater diversity, inclusivity and equal access, with a particular focus on rural communities where access to such initiatives is often limited. Getting parents involved in their childrens coding education can have powerful outcomes. Research in our new report shows how this boosts knowledge and confidence. It also sustains families engaging together in computing activities and promotes computing as a subject choice and future careers in STEAM-related fields. Furthermore, it challenges stereotypes by promoting female participation in computing based on mothers interest in their childrens early education. We see mothers who take part in our workshops acting as powerful role models for their daughters, demonstrating that STEAM is a viable and rewarding path.

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OurKidsCode, based in the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin, has built an infrastructure and partnership network with county councils across Ireland, the National Parents Council, and Microsoft Dream Space for the delivery of facilitator-led workshops and a Start a Club programme to support the establishment of parent-led creative coding clubs for families with primary-level children.

The full OurKidsCode 2021-2024 Impact Report is available to download at www.ourkidscode.ie/impact.

Find out more at www.ourkidscode.ie.
Ukraine has reached preliminary agreements with international donors to fund the restoration of flow in the Saksahan River and ensure water access for 1.4 million people, according to Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynychuk.

The Ministry reported that Hrynychuk visited Dnipropetrovsk region, specifically the Kryvy Rih district, to assess the desiccation zone in the Saksahan River valley.

The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant dam by Russian forces and the subsequent need to use the river's water for the city of Kryvy Rih's supply have nearly drained the Makortove Reservoir. Its current volume is only 19.6 million cubic meters, compared to the normative 57.8 million cubic meters. In prolonged droughts, natural replenishment of the reservoir could take up to 10 years. The other two reservoirs on the river  Kresivske and Saksahanske  are under constant pressure from highly mineralized mine waters.

"One of the technical solutions we're working on involves supplying Dnipro River water from the Kamianske Reservoir via the Saksahan River channel. This will require building a new 30-kilometer pipeline, along with pumping stations and water intakes," Hrynychuk explained.

The project would allow for the replenishment of the Makortove Reservoir, improve water quality to meet the needs of local residents in the Saksahan River basin, and fill wells in rural households lacking centralized water supply.

While local communities prepare feasibility studies, the Ministry is negotiating with potential investors to implement the project.

"All of our partners have shown openness to dialogue and respond quickly to Ukraine's challenges. A great example is the completed project in the Devladove community in Kryvy Rih district," Hrynychuk said.

Following the Kakhovka disaster, UNDP Ukraine and the EU Foreign Policy Instrument (EU FPI) provided 40 water purification units and 15 water trucks to 22 communities, including Devladove, ensuring access to clean drinking water for over 139,000 residents. Each station consists of two mobile units capable of purifying over 5,000 liters of water per hour, including seawater. The equipment is solar-powered and can operate autonomously even during power outages. The 10 m tankers are used to transport purified water to remote settlements.

The Minister also met with community representatives to discuss urgent environmental issues and future water supply initiatives.

"I'm grateful to UNDP and all our international partners for implementing initiatives that make life easier for Ukrainians during the war. Our goal is to launch as many projects as possible to help each region of Ukraine cope with the challenges of Russian aggression and build a sustainable, environmentally secure future," Hrynychuk concluded.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reported that ten Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses across Ireland during the month of April for breaches of food safety legislation.

The Enforcement Orders, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020, were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998.

Greenville Deli (Restaurant/Cafe), 45 Monkstown Avenue, Monkstown, Co. Dublin

Sirmone Limited T/A Soul Bakery and TPB, Unit L5, Ballymount Industrial Estate, Dublin 12

Six Closure Orders were served during April under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

The City Arms Gastro Bar/ Bistro (Closed area: The food storage and preparation area: preparation, cooking and service of food) (Public House), 50 High Street, Waterford

Tasty (Take Away), The Square Dromcollogher, Charleville, Limerick

Namaste Indian Cuisine, 88/89 King Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7

Bojon Spices (all the activities of the business, establishments, holdings or other premises be ceased and the internet sites or social media sites it operates or employs be ceased) (Restaurant/Cafe), Summerhill Road, Dunboyne, Meath

Barne Lodge (Restaurant/Cafe), Rathkeevan, Clonmel, Tipperary

Rio Latte Bar (Restaurant/Cafe), Unit 7, Park Shopping Centre, Prussia Street, Dublin 7

The FSAI says Improvement Orders were also issued under the FSAI Act, 1998 on two premises.

Sancta Maria Nursing Home, Parke, Kinnegad, Meath

Sligo Spice (Retailer), McGlynns Terrace, 1 Lower Pearse Road, Sligo

Further details regarding each of the Enforcement Orders are available to view on the FSAIs website.

READ ALSO: ALERT: Expert shares little-known health advice amid Ireland's mini heatwave

Confirming details of the Enforcement Orders issued during April, the FSAI has given examples of some of the breaches discovered.

These include: no documentation of pest control checks; multiple mouse droppings throughout the premises, including in a cupboard, under a sink and wash hand basin used for storing cleaning equipment; flies observed in the kitchen with no fly screen in place; failure by staff to demonstrate any knowledge of food safety management procedures; inadequate and uncalibrated equipment used to monitor temperatures; lack of evidence to support use-by dates on defrosted food; lack of cleaning and disinfection; no hot water or designated hand wash basin in the food preparation area; a heavily stained kitchen, with visible dirt and grease on cooking equipment and stainless steel surfaces; customer toilets and urinals that had not been cleaned; an outdoor sink unit positioned over an open drainage gully, posing a contamination risk.



Commenting on the figures, Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive of the FSAI, warned there is an obligation for food businesses to act responsibly and ensure the food they provide to their customers is safe to eat.

Food businesses owe it to their customers that the food they are selling is safe to eat. Not only is it the right thing to do, its also a legal requirement under food law.

Consumers have a right to trust that the food they buy is safe to eat and that it complies with all relevant food safety legislation. The findings that led to these Enforcement Orders highlight an unacceptable disregard for basic food safety and hygiene practices.

These are preventable issues, and there are simply no excuses for failing to comply with the law. Food businesses must remain vigilant, ensuring regular checks, effective pest control, and thoroughly cleaned well-maintained premises to protect their customers health and uphold consumer trust in the food chain.

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Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports section of the FSAI website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has been accused of a significant failing through presiding over a drop in staffing roads policing units.

Following the death of Garda Kevin Flatley at a speed checkpoint in Dublin on Sunday, the Garda Commissioner said there should be a real reset and rethink about our approach as a society to road safety.

Labour TD Alan Kelly has called on the Commissioner to clarify what he meant by this refocus.

The simple fact of the matter is that in 2009 there were 1,046 gardai of different ranks involved in roads policing in Ireland, he said at Leinster House on Tuesday.

Currently, I understand theres just in excess of 600. Thats a 40% drop.

Now, given where we are as a country, and given that this is such a huge issue, I think under his tenure to have that sort of a drop, despite his commitments in the justice committee last year, is a significant failing and something that he should answer questions on.

He said the Justice Committee was told by Mr Harris last year that 75 more gardai would join road policing units in 2024 and a further 75 in 2025.

He said that despite 285 gardai and sergeants being qualified for the role, very few have been appointed.

Hes got to really stand up for what he is saying as regards to resources that go into roads policing, and Im afraid hes not able to.

Mr Kelly and other TDs added to the tributes paid to Garda Flatley, who was killed after being hit by a motorbike while operating a speed detection checkpoint in north Dublin on Sunday.

The 49-year-old had served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018.

The married father-of-two was the 90th officer to die on duty since the creation of the force in 1922.

Gardai attended a memorial service held for Kevin Flatley at Dublin Castle on Monday, and a minutes silence was held in the Dail on Tuesday.

Mr Kelly said: Anytime a Garda dies in the line of duty, its obviously a very traumatic experience, firstly for the family, but also for the force.

Furthermore, its a traumatic experience for the country as well, because and An Garda Siochana are there to protect us all and help us all, and anytime one dies, particularly in a tragic accident like this, it awakens the fact that we should be so supportive of them.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin extended his sympathies to the family of Garda Flatley.

Its an absolute catastrophe for Kevins family, our deepest sympathies go to Kevins family, but its also a disaster for the country as well, to lose a Garda in such circumstances.

The 90th garda to lose his or her life in the line of duty as well.

Aontu and Independent Ireland called for greater protections for gardai.

Mr Toibin said: Everyday, gardai are being attacked in this country, and we in Aontu have a bill which, if implemented, would ensure that there is a mandatory minimum sentence for anybody who injures a garda in the line of work.

I do believe the state needs to do more to show that we have the back of gardai on duty today and every day in this country.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said a lot of gardai have contacted me about feeling vulnerable after the death of their colleague.

He said gardai have said they feel their vehicles arent properly flagged or properly visible to the public.

It is a tragic under tragic circumstances that their colleague has passed away.

Its got them feeling extremely vulnerable in many ways, he said.

Asked about the political groupings position on speed limits, he said it should be left to local authorities and gardai to decide on what they should be, instead of blanket limits nationwide.
A recruitment drive is aiming to attract graduate planners into Irelands county and city councils.

The local government initiative, launched on Tuesday, aims to attract graduates exiting degree or masters courses in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain and internationally.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to shape the future development of cities, towns and villages over the coming decades.

A total of 43 new posts are now available in 26 of the 31 county and city councils nationwide, offering a starting salary of almost 39,000 euro, 24 days annual leave and a structured career allowing graduates to progress to professional planning.

The initiative is part of the Governments ministerial action plan on planning resources, which sets out a roadmap to increase the pool of planning expertise in local authorities.

Planners are critical to tackling the big challenges facing the world in which we live, including housing, protecting our environment, biodiversity and heritage, said chairman of the County And City Management Associations planning and land use committee, Liam Conneally.

Local government plays a vital role in shaping entire communities and we now need dynamic graduate planners to join our teams across the country, where they can be involved in exciting projects, share their ideas and learn from experienced planners.

This new stream of planners will have a real and direct impact on sculpting areas in which they themselves live, added Mr Conneally, who is also the chief executive of Galway County Council.

Mateusz Ciesiolka, 24, from Dublins Drimnagh, graduated from TUD Bolton Street with a degree in Planning and Environmental Management.

Now working with Dublin City Council, he says having a vision for an area is one of the core attractions of a planning career.

Youre helping to determine the future development of your city or your village, but most importantly, we plan for people, he said.

Planner Grace Hamilton secured a graduate position with Meath County Council two months after finishing her full-time studies at Queens University in Belfast last August.

The Co Down native said: Every day is different, and it makes you see the world differently, there are things you wouldnt notice otherwise, and you can see the transformation of an area from start to finish.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins, said taking on dynamic graduate planners is crucial to drive the enhancement and development of cities, towns and villages.

My department is working with the local government sector to ensure planning authorities have the requisite level of staffing, resources and expertise to efficiently and effectively perform their planning functions, he said.

In October 2024, my department published a ministerial action plan on planning resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector.

This provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for current and future needs.

The new vacancies are open to recent graduates with an honours level eight degree or higher in planning, or those who are due to graduate this year and expect to achieve an honour in a level eight degree or higher, and are entitled to work in the Republic of Ireland.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 13 2025

Amityville, Bay Shore, Oakdale and Sayville Sites Open Doors to the Community in Statewide Event.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy is proud to announce its 15th annual Sacred Sites Open House on May 17 & 18 inviting visitors to explore the extraordinary architecture, art and history of diverse houses of worship throughout New York State. Participating sites will showcase their buildings, histories and community programs through guided tours, lectures and musical performances. Sacred Sites Open House is a free, state-wide event giving visitors an opportunity to discover remarkable architecture and art as a tourist in your own town.

This years theme, Building for Eternity: Religious Architecture and Artisans, highlights the incredible work of artisans and world-class art and architecture found at religious institutions across New York State.

Open House Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to explore buildings you might not have entered otherwise, says Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmarks Conservancy. We hope you will enjoy discovering the architectural treasures in your own community.

To date, congregations participating from Suffolk County in Sacred Sites Open House on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 2025, include:

Amityville

St. Marys Church, 1758 Broadway  Saturday, May 17, 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday, May 18, 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Join St. Marys Church in Amityville for refreshments and a musical showcase! Enjoy punch and cookies while experiencing demonstrations of our piano, organ, and harp. Instrument demonstrations are available upon request.

Bay Shore

United Methodist Church, 107 E Main Street  Saturday, May 17, 10:00am to 2:00pm

Join United Methodist Church of Bay Shore in celebrating their beautiful sacred space. Come take a tour and view their stained glass windows as well as its historical exterior architecture. We will also be serving refreshing beverages for you to enjoy.

Oakdale

St. Johns Episcopal Church, 1 Berard Boulevard - Saturday, May 17, 10:00am to 3:00pm and Sunday, May 18, 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Sayville

Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ, 131 Middle Road  Saturday, May 17, 1:00pm to 4:00pm and Sunday, May 18, 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Enjoy the church along with light refreshments and music. A guided tour will also be provided of the bell tower and an art show will be on display as well for your enjoyment.

For more information about the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Open House, visit nylandmarks.org.

#nysacredsites25 #sacredsitesofnewyork #nylandmarks #buildingforeternity

Facebook: @nylandmarks

X: @NYLCstaff

Instagram: @nylandmarks

YouTube: @NYLandmarks

Sponsors of Sacred Sites Open House include:

Adirondack Architectural Heritage; AIA NY Historic Buildings Committee; American Guild of Organists, Brooklyn Chapter; Art Deco Society of New York; Corona East Elmhurst Historic Preservation Society; Docomomo; East Village Community Coalition; Explore Buffalo; Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts; Village Preservation; Historic Albany Foundation; Historic Districts Council; Historic Ithaca; Institute of Classical Architecture & Art; Landmark Society of Western New York; Landmark West!; Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy; Lower East Side Preservation Initiative; Otsego 2000; Preservation Association of Central New York; Preservation Association of the Southern Tier; Preservation Buffalo Niagara; Preservation League of New York State; Preservation Long Island; Queens Historical Society; Save Harlem Now!; West End Preservation Society

About The New York Landmarks Conservancy

The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York Citys architectural legacy for more than 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, which has leveraged almost $1 billion in restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus, and supporting local jobs. The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations, and individuals. The Conservancys work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New Yorks distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 13 2025

LICAB Joins Governor Hochul at Press Conference in Farmingdale to Celebrate Landmark Policy.

The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying (LICAB) proudly joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul today in Farmingdale to celebrate the newly announced K-12 bell-to-bell cell phone ban, a major component of the state budget expected to pass in Albany. This first-of-its-kind measure makes New York the largest state in the nation to adopt a school-day cell phone ban, and LICAB hails it as a transformative win for student safety and well-being.

The new policy prohibits student cell phone use throughout the school day  from the first bell to the last  across all New York State public schools. It is designed to reduce distractions, protect students from cyberbullying, and restore in-person connection and focus in classrooms.

At the press conference, LICAB Founder & Executive Director Joe Salamone spoke alongside Governor Hochul to highlight the policys impact and the years of advocacy leading to this moment.

Smartphones are valuable tools, but without limits, they do real harm. We see it every day. Bullying no longer hides in stairways. It happens in group chats, in videos recorded without consent, often memorializing what should have been fleeting moments, said Salamone. Today, we begin restoring something essential  real childhood, real social growth, and real community.

Founded in 2013, LICAB is the regions only nonprofit solely dedicated to preventing and addressing bullying. The organization has long advocated for statewide protections for students, including its support of last years Safe For Kids Act, also championed by Governor Hochul.

Salamone noted the positive impact of similar cell phone restrictions already in place in select schools across Long Island.

In over 200 classroom visits I made this school year alone, administrators whove implemented similar bans estimate an 85% reduction in bullying and peer conflict. The results speak for themselves  this is no longer theory, its proven, he added.

The policy gives local school districts the flexibility to implement the ban in a way that fits their unique communities, while ensuring a uniform standard of safety and focus for all students statewide.

Come September, students all across New York will walk into schools no longer tethered to the pressures of their phones, said Salamone. They will be freer  freer to learn, to connect, and to thrive. This is not just policy, its progress. Its protection. And today, thanks to Governor Hochul, its a reality.

For more information about the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying and its mission, visit www.licab.org.

About LICAB:

The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to emphasizing the importance of bully-free communities on Long Island through education, increased awareness, and therapeutic support for children and families. LICABs services include school programming, family advocacy, peer support groups, and community education.
An Israeli flag with a yellow ribbon symbolizing the hostages is held aloft as Israelis await the return of Edan Alexander on a road in southern Israel. A helicopter carrying one of Alexanders family members descends in the background. (Seth J. Frantzman/LWJ)

On May 12, Hamas released Edan Alexander, one of 59 hostages still held in Gaza and the last living American hostage held by the terrorist group. Four other Americans who are presumed deceased are also held by Hamas. Alexander, a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was kidnapped during Hamass October 7, 2023, attack on Israel while serving with the Golani Infantry Brigade on the border. He was held in Gaza for 484 days.

Envoys from the Trump administration pushed for Alexander to be released over the last several months. He was not included in the ceasefire deal agreed to in January 2025, which saw 33 hostages freed. That deal was meant to include several phases, but Hamas and Israel could not agree on the second phase, and the agreement expired on March 1. The IDF began a new offensive in Gaza on March 18.

Hamas said on March 14 that it might release Alexander and four other people who have dual nationalities. This total referred to the four other Americans held in Gaza, all of whom are presumed deceased: Judi Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gad Haggai, and Omer Neutra and Itay Chen, both IDF soldiers.

The deal to release Alexander was announced on May 11. It came a week after Israels Security Cabinet approved a plan for an expanded operation in Gaza that is expected to see the IDF occupy parts of the territory long-term and establish a new humanitarian aid mechanism. The decision also happened as US President Donald Trump headed to the region for meetings in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. Hamas reportedly resorted to backchannels to the Trump administration in late April to rekindle talks about the release of Alexander. The US has informed Israel of Hamass intention to release soldier Edan Alexander as a gesture to the Americans, without conditions or anything in exchange, Israels Prime Ministers Office said on May 11.

Alexander was released in the late afternoon of May 12 in an area of Khan Younis. He was handed over to the Red Cross and then to the IDF, which transported him in a convoy to Reim base near Gaza. There, Alexander met with members of his family, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Envoy for Hostage Releases Adam Boehler before flying by helicopter to a hospital in central Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Netanyahus office said on May 12. The Prime Minister then spoke with US President Donald Trump and thanked him for the assistance in the release of IDF soldier Edan Alexander, Netanyahus office said, further commenting that the release was possible due to the vigorous policy that we have led with the backing of President Trump, and thanks to the military pressure of IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip.

The Alexander release comes amid potential major changes in Gaza. The US is preparing for an initiative that will see humanitarian aid enter the territory, Huckabee said on May 9. It is going to require the partnership not only of governments, but of NGOs, charitable organizations, nonprofits from around the world, he added. The aid will be distributed initially from points in southern Gaza secured by private security contractors. If a new deal is not signed with Hamas to release more hostages, Israel envisions a major offensive that will move civilians to southern Gaza, where they will receive aid.

The IDF continues military operations in Gaza. On May 13, Israel targeted Hamass Gaza leader, Mohammed Sinwar, in a large airstrike in Khan Younis. It was one of two precision strikes on hospitals used by Hamas in 24 hours.

First, on May 12, the IDF said it precisely struck significant Hamas terrorists who were operating from within a command and control center located in the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis. The compound was used by the terrorists to plan and execute terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. The second strike happened just before sunset on May 12. The Israeli military said it targeted a command and control center located in an underground terrorist infrastructure site beneath the European hospital in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
The markets of the Middle East and North Africa have become key destinations for Ukrainian sugar exports, serving as a vital alternative to the European market, which is currently limited by quotas.

This was announced by Yana Kavushevska, Head of the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine Ukrtsukor, during a meeting at the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

According to Ukrtsukor, nearly 90% of the 500,000 tonnes of sugar exported during the 2024/25 marketing year has been shipped specifically to these regions. Leading importers of Ukrainian sugar include Turkiye, Libya, Lebanon, Somalia, Jordan, and Cameroon. Ukrainian sugar producers are eager to further expand their export footprint in the region and are counting on the ministry's support to achieve this goal.

"We have real opportunities right now  and it's crucial to seize them," said Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval. "Ukraine currently holds only a 0.2% share of global sugar trade. But global demand for high-quality food products is growing, and Ukraine has long proven its capacity to be a reliable supplier. Our goal is to scale up this experience, open new markets, establish trade hubs, and make sugar exports systematic and sustainable."
Luxembourg will meet a 2% of gross national income (GNI) defence spending target by the end of this year, well ahead of a previous 2030 deadline, Prime Minister Luc Frieden announced during his State of the Nation speech on Tuesday, which also revealed details of the upcoming pension reform.

Frieden in the annual address in parliament recapped reforms introduced so far - such as tax cuts, facilitating access to social aid, investing in homes under construction that otherwise risk remaining unfinished and cutting red tape for planning permission and environmental rules.

The speech included a raft of remarks reflecting the governments previously expressed positions, for example on the importance of supporting Ukraine, upholding the rule of law, protecting the right to asylum while keeping migration manageable, protecting the Schengen area, and combating crime.

The prime minister discussed domestic and foreign policy priorities for the months to come and unveiled a number of new measures and details to previously announced reforms:

Defence

Luxembourg will aim to meet its 2% of GNI Nato defence spending target by the end of this year, not 2030 as previously announced. This new trajectory is in line with that of our key partners on security issues, notably Belgium, said Frieden. Details are due to be presented to parliament.

Should Nato allies at a June summit decide to raise a 2% of GDP spending target, Luxembourg will honour that decision, Frieden said. The Grand Duchy has an exemption to apply GNI instead of GDP to exclude the contribution of cross-border workers to the economy.

To fund this extra expense, the government plans to introduce a defence bond . Spending priorities will be reorganised  meaning potential delays, for example for some infrastructure projects. A third source of funding will be a national fund (managed by public lender SNCI) aimed at financial dual-use investments.

Frieden confirmed a Luxembourg Times report that the country will be launching a second government communications satellite for military purposes . The separate Luxeosys Earth observation satellite launch is foreseen for this summer.

The government later this year will present a National Resilience Strategy to coordinate civil and military services, public institutions and private actors in times of emergency.

Also read: GovSat-2: Luxembourg lines up next military satellite

Artificial intelligence

Luxembourg will be investing 3 billion - from both public and private players - into turning the country into an international centre for the secure and sovereign storage and valorisation of sensitive data from all over Europe, Frieden said.

The PM announced a Deep Tech Lab for the coming months. The goal of this new structure is to facilitate collaboration between academic and economic actors, with the aim of fostering research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Starting 2026, there will be an AI Academy within the Digital Learning Hub to foster local talent and offer AI programmes.

The government will develop a so-called Large Language Model (LLM), trained on Luxembourgs national and EU legislation. This could, for example, support citizen help desks in future but also facilitate the drafting of legislation, the premier said.

MPs on Wednesday will debate the premiers speech  Photo credit: Marc Wilwert

Tax and pension reform

The Ministry of Finance in July is due to present tax reform plans to parliament, labour unions and business groups. This could, for example, include creating a single tax class close to the current 1A bracket to ensure that every family model will be treated and taxed in the same way.

While the retirement age will stay the same - at 65 - the number of contribution years will be gradually increased , by three months each year over a number of years. Currently, that number is at 40 years. Frieden did not reveal by how much it would rise in the end. That should move the real average retirement age of 60 closer to the legal retirement age.

Years spent studying or out of work to have children will continue to contribute to those years.

The aim is to financially secure the system for the next 15 years, the PM said. The reform proposal in full will be presented before the summer and changes will not impact people already retired or close to retirement.

Housing

The tax incentives introduced last year to cut acquisition costs for buyers will not continue past June, Frieden said. However, the so-called Bellegen Akt tax credit, will remain at an elevated rate of 40,000.

The PM announced no new housing measures, saying that the immediate construction sector crisis is behind us and that it is not the states role to support the housing market indefinitely. The market has to function on its own.

Children and family

Mental health will become a greater priority in schools, with programmes to encourage screen-life balance (targeting both children and their parents) as well as a new digital tool to make it easier to keep track of each child throughout their school career.

Also read: Digital healthcare record first step to improve student health

The government this year will present plans for more flexible maternity leave and introducing part-time work for family reasons.

Carbon footprint

The PM pledged a 150 million package to benefit citizens and companies, for example to pay for part of grid costs.

Works continue on plan for pre-financing of solar panels and other environmentally friendly subsidies for homes, meaning that households no longer have to foot the initial bill and wait for reimbursement but the government aid will be dedicated from the start.

Red tape will be cut to speed up administrative procedures related to renewables and energy efficiency. For large-scale projects, the Ministry of the Environment will be able to process planning applications within two years , Frieden said.

Plans to install solar panels along motorways will proceed, the PM said, and distances for wind turbines to forests and roads will be reduced.

Also read: Luxembourg eyes solar panels along motorways in renewables push

Trade

Luxembourg will vote in favour of the Mercosur agreement, said Frieden about the EU trade deal with Latin America.

Members of parliament on Wednesday will debate Friedens speech.
Its time for Schrodingers Apple doom, where the company is not doomed but ehhhhh sorta a little doomed?

Writing for The Houston Chronicle, Dwight Silverman wants to have his anti-Apple doom headline and eat his Apple doom cake, too:

Apple isnt doomed, but it should change its ways amid mounting pressure (Tip o the antlers to Glenn Fleishman.)

This is a rare instance in which the title actually gets it more right than the article.

Apple is doomed has become such a cliche that the Macalope, a longstanding column in the venerable Macworld publication, has used it repeatedly over the years to sneer at those who think the company is hurtling towards its demise. Dwight Silverman, May 10, 2025

Sneer?! I meanthere has been some sneering. A smattering of sneering. A thin veneer of yeah, okay, fine.

But over the past year, the company has stumbled badly on multiple fronts

The Macalope is gonna stop you there. Not because youre wrong about Apple stumbling, but because that is a load-bearing but you have there. Not that the Macalope doesnt like a load-bearing but, but this one seems to suggest that maybe the company is hurtling towards its demise. It is not.

Heres an example. Just in the past few days, Apple stock has climbed back up to about where it was a year ago. That is a year before Apples troubles with Apple Intelligence, before a judge ruled against its anti-steering policy, and before huge tariffs (if not as giganto-huge as President Capslock said they would be). Despite all this, investors think it is in just a good a position as it was a year ago.

Stumbles are only devastating for the little people. Apple has built itself into such an unassailable position that it can probably Drunken Master its way along for many years to come and still be absolutely fine.

If youd like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Prices weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors. IDG

The gang in Cupertino has long had a reputation for being able to pull themselves out of a steep dive

The Macalopes not sure Apples had a steep dive since the 1990s but, yeah, they have a good rep. The second half of this sentence gets us to the point.

but whats ahead may require truly masterful flying.

The current U.S. presidential administration has put the company in unprecedented territory, both from an economic standpoint and one of public perception. Meanwhile, Apple has started to draw the ire of some of its biggest fans for a variety of reasons.

In the Apple-watching community, [John Grubers] screed was a turning point, [former Apple employee and tech analyst Michael] Gartenberg said, because here was a booster who was no longer boosting.

Silverman is not wrong about Grubers criticism being a red flag, and his voice is not the only one challenging the company these days. While the Macalope would describe himself as having been more anti-Apple doom cult over the years than simply pro-Apple, it is fair to say that his feelings about the company have changed of late as well. Why? Well, let him tell you.

Hey, you asked.

Apple and Tim Cooks decision to cozy up to the current presidential administration is, to put it bluntly, a real disappointment. After years of being pretty stridently apolitical, picking this moment in history to get friendly with politicians is a real look.

Apple does not make small phones anymore. (Dont act surprised, you knew the Macalope was going to bring this up.) Okay, maybe Apple is right. Maybe it just doesnt make economic sense for it to make small phones. It seems it would at least be a usability issue, but regardless, the net effect is that from this customers view, Apple doesnt remotely make the size of phone he wants to buy anymore.

Apples recent product development has been focused on things most users dont care about. The Vision Pro is a fine effort, but it is simply a non-event for most Apple customers because they cant afford one. Meanwhile, very few users wanted Apple Intelligence in the first place, certainly not the parts that Apples been able to deliver. Apple Intelligence is a product for Wall Street, not Apple customers.

Apples stubbornness in trying to claw back its anti-steering policya policy that has always been wrongnow seems petty, small, and just absurd for the richest company in the world.

All this said, the Macalope still likes the companys products better than pretty much anyone elses. At least for now.

Ultimately, however, Apple still holds all the cards. It rakes in the most money, has the highest margins, and a generational space ark full of cash. It is more than likely going to continue to be just fine for quite some time, despite all these woes.

Honestly, it might actually be better if Silverman were right, that all the headwinds affecting the company right now really did present an imminent danger to the company. Because if Apple were in more trouble than it currently is, maybe itd listen more.
Apple on Tuesday announced several new Accessibility features coming to macOS later this year. The features will be part of macOS 16, which will be revealed at WWDC25 on June 9.

The features are highlighted by a new Magnifier app with Continuity Camera functionality. Mac users are already familiar with Continuity Camera and its ability to use the iPhones camera as a webcam. Now, with the Magnifier app, a Mac can use the iPhone camera (or any other USB camera) to view the surroundings and zoom in.

For example, users in a lecture hall can use the Magnifier app and iPhone camera to get a closer look at a whiteboard at the front of the room. The Magnifier will also be able to display multiple live session windows where a user can watch a presentation and follow along in a book at the same time using Desk View. Brightness, contrast, color filters, and perspective are adjustable, and views can be captured, grouped, and saved to add to at a later time.

The new Accessibility Reader is a system-wide feature for making text easier to read. Text can be customized for color, font, and spacing, and users can also switch to Spoken Content. Since Accessibility Reader is system-wide, it can be used in any app, including the new Magnifier.

Other new Accessibility features coming to macOS 16 include: Braille Access : Users can use a built-in app launcher to open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected Braille device. Braille Access lets users take notes in Braille and do calculations using Nemeth Braille. Braille Ready Format (BRF) files can be opened directly from Braille Access. Live Captions integration lets users transcribe conversations directly on braille displays.

: Users can use a built-in app launcher to open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected Braille device. Braille Access lets users take notes in Braille and do calculations using Nemeth Braille. Braille Ready Format (BRF) files can be opened directly from Braille Access. Live Captions integration lets users transcribe conversations directly on braille displays. Background Sounds : Can be personalized with new EQ settings, playback duration times, and new actions for automations in Shortcuts.

: Can be personalized with new EQ settings, playback duration times, and new actions for automations in Shortcuts. Personal Voice : Uses on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence for a smoother, more natural-sounding voice. Support for Mexican Spanish will also be available.

: Uses on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence for a smoother, more natural-sounding voice. Support for Mexican Spanish will also be available. Vehicle Motion Cues: Available in the iPhone and coming to the Mac, this feature can help reduce motion sickness when riding in a moving vehicle by displaying animated dots that correspond to a vehicles movements.

Vehicle Motion Cues can help prevent motion sickness for those times youre using your Mac as a passenger on a bus, train, or car. Apple

Apple is also updating iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 with several new Accessibility features. Apple often takes the opportunity to showcase new Accessibility features about a month before the WWDC keynote. Last year, the company highlighted Eye Tracking, Music Haptics, and other features in iOS 18.
Since the beginning of 2025, 7,400 agricultural enterprises have received almost UAH 44.5 billion under various state programs, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported on Telegram following the results of a government meeting on Tuesday, emphasizing that Ukrainian farmers are quite actively using such support tools.

The prime minister emphasized that subsidies for the development of livestock farming have been accrued for 7,700 farms. The state has attracted more than UAH 390 million in grant funds from the World Bank to pay the next tranche under the relevant program.

In addition, under the demining compensation program, farmers received almost 1,400 hectares of land for cultivation. In general, thanks to the work of sappers, plots with a total area of over 35,000 sq km were returned to use.

"Within the framework of the comprehensive program Made in Ukraine, we pay compensation to agricultural producers who purchase Ukrainian equipment. Last year, farmers purchased 5,300 units of equipment. We expect that this year the demand will be even greater," the head of government added.
From November and over the winter months into 2026, Palma will cease to be a departure port for many Mediterranean cruises.

The president of the Aviba travel agencies association in the Balearics, Pedro Fiol, explains that cruise operators have eliminated Palma from their itineraries and are replacing the port with the likes of Valletta (Malta) and Barcelona.

Fiol believes that this could be because of "a certain weariness" on the part of shipping agents in the face of protests against cruise tourism that have been led by the platform against 'mega' cruise ships and the environmentalists GOB.

He says that cruises are the most popular holiday packages for people living in the Balearic Islands, especially during the low season. "It's the star product and offers a very competitive all-inclusive price in winter, starting at 600 per person. It's the type of holiday chosen by those who work in the tourism sector and who travel in the winter."

A typical route from Palma has included the south of France and Italy. "Now they're switching to Malta or Tunisia. Residents won't have cruises specifically from Palma." He does, however, distinguish between Spanish speakers and German speakers, as TUI, who use German as the main language on board, will continue with their cruise departures from Palma. Costa Cruises and MSC will stop embarking passengers in Palma from November 5 and are expected to resume operations in April 2026.

"People will now have to fly if they want to go on a cruise." And that will, for example, include flying to Barcelona, which will entail additional cost.

As Barcelona will continue to be a departure port, Fiol's argument about the impact of protests is perhaps questionable. Anti-cruise sentiment in Barcelona has been as great as in Palma, if not more.
ICU investment group together with Ulis company are creating real estate investment fund Ulis.Vorokhta with a declared volume of UAH 200 million, focused on tourist real estate.

"This is a response to the growing demand for this type of real estate within the country, but due to the high entry threshold, it was inaccessible to the majority," the director of asset management of ICU investment group in Ukraine, Hryhoriy Ovcharenko, told the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

According to him, the fund is being created in conditions of a limited choice of investment instruments, but high demand from the population.

As Ovcharenko specified, the fund's investor, having invested from UAH 125,000, automatically becomes a co-owner of the hotel complex Ulis.Vorokhta.

He added that the expected return is 10% per annum in US dollars under a conservative scenario of hotel capitalization, and the main part of the income is quarterly dividends, which are transferred to the investor after taxes.

By a decision of May 9, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) approved the prospectus and issue of investment certificates in the amount of UAH 200 million by Ulis.Vorokhta investment fund of AMC Investment Capital Ukraine LLC, which is part of ICU Investment Group.

The ICU Group is an independent financial group that provides brokerage services, asset management services and private equity. The company is also engaged in venture and fintech investments. The geography of ICU's interests is developing markets around the world. It manages assets in the amount of over $500 million, and the client investment portfolio is UAH 23.8 billion.

ICU co-owners are Makar Paseniuk and Kostiantyn Stetsenko.
A human skull, a viewing casket and an old childs casket stuffed with hay are just a few of the things one Brimfield Flea Market seller has found over the years that people might find weird.

But to Nick Burns, thats just a normal days work.

In my world, its not that weird, Burns said. I know that sounds crazy, but theres legit collectors of, like, that kind of stuff.

Burns considers himself a collector of a bunch of junk working in architectural salvage and antiques. And his 6,500-square-foot Palmer warehouse of treasures and junk proves it.

" Its been a weird journey," Burns told MassLive standing in the warehouse he took over in 2020 amongst paintings, carousel horses, sinks and old hospital gurneys. Im hungry for it. If I find somebody thats got a lead on something, Im gonna chase it. Even if it comes to nothing.

Read more: Brimfield Flea Market coverage

Some days he wakes up to messages from a friend whose aunt died and theyre looking to clean out her house. Other times, hes going with a demolition team into old warehouses or churches. And once he was asked to help clean out a cemetery maintenance garage.

" Maybe I find something, maybe I dont, he said. But I look at everything. Thats a key aspect of it, just doing the legwork."

Then he brings it back to his warehouse to eventually be sold at places like the Brimfield Flea Market, which opens for the 2025 season on Tuesday.

Nick Burns considers himself a collector of a bunch of junk working in architectural salvage and antiques. And his 6,500 square foot Palmer warehouse of treasures and junk proves it. Heather Morrison

Getting his start in flea markets

As a second-generation flea market vendor, Burns grew up in this world.

He describes his dad as having a " rags-to-riches story" as he had an eye for old items worth money. When Burns was around 8 or 9, his family began finding these items and selling them at flea markets.

We started making a ton of money on Sundays, Burns recalled.

His parents purchased the Crystal Brook field in Brimfield in September 2011. And his future in flea markets was solidified.

But he works to do his own thing, which was made possible when he purchased the warehouse in 2020. It allowed him to take in items that most flea market vendors dont have the space to store.

He recently did a whole church that had stained glass. It can be expensive to hire someone to remove the stained glass and have a place to put it all.

But Burns is self-sufficient, he said, showing MassLive some of the pieces, now mostly framed in wood ahead of the Brimfield Flea Market. He can also store weird sinks and doors and windows or local signs that might not have meaning except to those from Western Massachusetts.

" I just took this to a different level than Ive ever taken things to with the antiques [before]," he said.

10 1 / 10 Unusual flea market finds, Brimfield 2024

Brimfield Flea Market

Pyrex, vintage clothing and Christmas decorations are easy to find at various vendors throughout the acres of fields at the Brimfield Flea Market. But you likely wont find a lot of that at Burns booth.

I try to have a unique selection. I try to bring different stuff, he said. Me personally, I dont like the run-of-the-mill antique. I guess in a sense I like to have like a cool display.

During the May flea market, Burns will have unique glass art he recently found. But its just one of many things he had begun packing up to bring to the flea market in the week before.

He sells to people from all over the world while at his booth in Brimfield. Although, its not always about the sale.

Obviously I wanna make money, but I wanna make it fun, too, he said. So I want people to walk by my booth and be like, Oh man, that was so cool. Or taking videos or pictures and posting it on their Instagram. And I think its more fun to me to see my stuff like that.

He also posts his finds on his own Instagram.

Because of my Instagram, Ive met some of the best people in this business, he said.

Its those types of connections and kindness that he said makes this business worth it, especially when it can be cutthroat.

" It all comes back to just being a good person because not many people are willing to like, share their finds with you," he said, adding that its extra special when they do.

Nick Burns considers himself a collector of a bunch of junk working in architectural salvage and antiques. And his 6,500 square foot Palmer warehouse of treasures and junk proves it. Heather Morrison

Take a risk

If you head to Brimfield May 13-18  which also has shows in July and September  decide on an amount youre willing to spend and use that money to take a risk, Burns said.

It can also be a time to look for unique items for your home on a budget.

Theres a huge market for salvage doors, sinks, windows. People are using their old houses and they wanna make em look old still, he said.

A solid wood door can be $700 or more at Home Depot. Instead, Burns is selling salvage doors for closer to $150.

His warehouse isnt open to the public. But hes often selling at the Brimfield Flea Market and tag sales. Plus, hes always posting his finds on social media.

Burns also suggests keeping an open mind. Dont look at items for exactly what theyre supposed to be used for, he said.

" I take stuff that maybe somebody would throw away and I try to make it usable again," he said.

He took an offering station that was missing parts and cut it in half.

So, now its a 50-candle offering station, and it also has like a little counter space on it, Burns said. So it looks great and its usable.

He also uses a roof as a display rack, old barn wood to help display paintings and the side of an old farm truck replaces a wall.

" You just make do with what you got and try to do cool stuff with it," Burns said.
Mariana, a pseudonym, is an undocumented student in Massachusetts whose family moved to the U.S. when she was a child from Mexico. (MassLive/Juliet Schulman-Hall)

The risk of being undocumented in the United States has always been on the mind of 22-year-old Massachusetts college student Mariana  long before Donald Trump became president.

Theres always been a danger present. Its slightly increased now, but I mean, its nothing that were not used to, she said, her dark features outlined with bright blue mascara and a rainbow beaded flower necklace.
The first white shark of the 2025 season has been spotted off the coast of Massachusetts.

The sighting happened off of Nantucket on May 11, according to The New England Aquarium (NEAQ).

A person who was on the shore of Smiths Point in Madaket on the island noticed a pool of blood in the water, then saw a seal swimming toward the beach.

A shark was following close behind the seal, the witness said.

After the seal got to shore, an NEAQ scientist examined pictures of the seals wounds and confirmed its bites came from a white shark.

This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be shark smart as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England, where theyll hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall, said John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist in the Aquariums Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

To be shark smart, the public should be aware of sharks presence in shallow waters. The public is also advised to avoid areas where there are seals or schools of fish, and to stay close to shore.

Scientists also encourage the public to report shark sightings through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys Sharktivity app, which has information on shark activity.

Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem, but this recovery also means that people should take even more care while swimming or surfing, said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Anderson Cabot Centers Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies program.

Our work in the Aquariums Anderson Cabot Center focuses on balancing ocean use with preservation, meaning we recognize the importance of the ocean for human use while trying to reduce the impact of humans on sharks, and vice versa, Whitney said.
In a letter to United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Harvard University President Alan Garber wrote that they share the same common ground, but the university will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear.

As your letter suggests, we share common ground on a number of critical issues, including the importance of ending antisemitism and other bigotry on campus, Garber wrote in a letter to McMahon on Monday.

While Harvard is working to accomplish these and several other goals, Garber said the universitys efforts are undermined and threatened by the federal governments overreach. The governments actions toward Harvard ignore the many meaningful steps we have taken and will continue to take to live up to our principles and improve the lives of people across the country and throughout the world, Garber continued.

Pursuit of reform continues at Harvard, always in compliance with the law, Garber wrote.

But Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government.

Garbers letter to McMahon comes less than a week after she sent a letter to him in which she claimed Harvard was engaging in a systemic pattern of violating federal law and quoted hedge fund manager Bill Ackman by calling Harvard a political advocacy organization for one party.

I must refute your claim that Harvard is a partisan institution, Garber replied. It is neither Republican nor Democratic. It is not an arm of any other political party or movement. Nor will it ever be. Harvard is a place to bring people of all backgrounds together to learn in an inclusive environment where ideas flourish regardless of whether they are deemed conservative, liberal, or something else, a place where assumptions and claims are tested and challenged, respectfully and thoughtfully, in pursuit of knowledge and truth.

He defended the universitys international students, who McMahon claimed were [engaged] in violent behavior and show contempt for the United States of America ...

Our international students are vital members of our community who must meet the standards of performance and conduct we expect of our U.S. students, Garber wrote. They enrich our community in many ways. We are aware of no evidence for the allegation that they are collectively more prone to disruption, violence, or other misconduct than any other students. They come to this country to learn and achieve at the highest levels, just as our U.S. students do. Their presence, talents, and scholarly contributions enrich our campus community and our nation.

Lastly, Garber defended the universitys staff after McMahon slammed the hiring of former New York Mayor Bill De Blasio and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, along with former U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker becoming a fellow for the Harvard Corporation.

Garber replied that Harvard hires people because of their individual accomplishments, promise, and creativity in their fields.

Employment at Harvard is similarly based on merit and achievement, Garber wrote. We seek the best educators, researchers, and scholars at our schools. We do not have quotas, whether based on race or ethnicity or any other characteristic. We do not employ ideological litmus tests. We do not use diversity, equity, and inclusion statements in our hiring decisions.

He closed the letter with the hope that the partnership between higher education and the federal government will be vibrant and successful for generations to come.

Last week, President Donald Trump barred Harvard from acquiring new federal grants while the university continues to refuse to comply with the administrations demands for change on its campus. Harvard slammed Trumps actions and called the move an illegal and retaliatory action that withholds funding for lifesaving research and innovation.

Trump already asked that Harvards tax-exempt status be revoked and froze $2.2 billion in existing grants set to go to the university.
Karen Read attends her murder retrial in Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) AP

Karen Reads second trial in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, was expected to continue Tuesday in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court before Judge Beverly Cannone.

Read more: Recap of trial day 14

On Monday, a Massachusetts State Police sergeant who was one of the primary investigators into OKeefes death wrapped up his testimony, which took three full days. Prosecutors were expected to call their next witness when the trial resumed at 9 a.m. Tuesday. However, at 8:36 a.m. officials said the trial would not continue Tuesday due to unavoidable circumstances.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of OKeefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer on Jan. 29, 2022.

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorneys say her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.
No testimony will be heard Tuesday in the Karen Read trial.

Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of John OKeefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer on Jan. 29, 2022.

It is her second trial in connection with the death of her boyfriend.

Read more: Recap of trial day 14

Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck OKeefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Reads attorneys say her car never struck OKeefe and that others are to blame for his death.

A Massachusetts State Police sergeant who was one of the primary investigators into OKeefes death wrapped up his testimony Monday after three full days. Prosecutors were expected to call their next witness when the trial resumed at 9 a.m. Tuesday. However, at 8:36 a.m. officials said the trial would not continue Tuesday due to unavoidable circumstances.

No other information regarding the circumstances has been released.
Lockheed Martin will lay off 64 employees from its Andover facility this summer, per a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice. The WARN report for the week of May 9 states that the layoffs will take effect no later than July 5.

According to a report from Boston Business Journal, the layoffs will primarily impact team members in engineering and product operations and quality. A representative for the Maryland-based weapons and aerospace manufacturer told the journal that the decision was part of an annual business review, but did not elaborate on the reasons behind the cuts.

The Andover facility on Dascomb Road is one of Lockheed Martins Missiles and Fire Control locations. According to the companys website, the building is the official home and single site for developing, testing, and producing the companys GridStar Flow Battery project.

Of the 10 Missiles and Fire Control locations listed on the companys website, only two are in Massachusetts. The second location, in Chelmsford, employs 350 people and was not mentioned in the WARN report.

The news marks another round of major layoffs impacting Andover workers this summer; the Wilmington-based company Symbotic LLC will also lay off 400 employees from its Andover facility by the end of June.
About 40 years ago, a married Massachusetts couple went to a Halloween party. It was the last time 18-year-old Anna Foster was seen.

Her husband joined in on search efforts. Nearly three years later, he was convicted for her murder.

Earlier this month, he was denied parole for the sixth time.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting of the Staff Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on Monday.

I held a Staff meeting today. The key topics were Ukraines missile program and our drones  all types of drones we need. There were also reports on drone usage  precision and effectiveness of strikes on the front lines, Zelenskyy said in his evening address.

He thanked domestic producers.

We are also working to protect our infrastructure and ensure long-term defense capabilities  these are systemic decisions, and responsibility for their implementation is personal, Zelenskyy added.
Americans are being warned by the U.S. Department of State to not travel to Russia, citing unexplained detentions, crackdowns on privacy and speech and limited ability to assist citizens in need. TATYANA MAKEYEVA/Getty Images

Travel officials are telling American tourists to not travel to Russia for any reason.

The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Russia on Thursday, May 8.

U.S. travelers should not visit the country for several reasons, including dangers associated with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

They may also be questioned and threatened by Russian security officials as well as face added risks due to the lack of protection from the U.S. Embassy, especially outside of Moscow. There is no guarantee U.S. citizens will have access to consular services or be released before their entire prison sentence is served.

The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals remains high, the advisory reads. Even if a case is determined wrongful, there is no guarantee of release.

Even people with dual U.S.-Russian citizenship face dangers traveling to the country. Russia does not recognize dual citizenship and has blocked American consular officers from visiting detained people. It has even gone as far as forcing people with dual citizenship to join the military and prevented them from leaving the country.

In addition, local laws are enforced arbitrarily and terrorist acts are possible. With peaceful assembly and freedom of speech not protected rights in Russia, U.S. citizens who join a protest are particularly at risk.

Those who bring electronic devices should assume all communications are being monitored and be aware that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia. Electronic money transfers from America to Russia are nearly impossible.

Air traffic is especially dangerous and the Federal Aviation Administration has downgraded Russias airspace from Category 1 to Category 2 due to safety concerns. U.S. flights in certain areas of Russia are banned.

Russia is one of several countries on the State Departments Level 4: Do Not Travel list. Others include Venezuela, North Korea, Yemen, Iran, South Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, Ukraine, Haiti, Somalia and Sudan.
Waymo, a leading company for autonomous vehicles in the United States, is planning to traverse Greater Boston with its self-driving capable cars starting this month as it begins mapping the regions road network.

Under the umbrella of Alphabet Inc., Googles parent company, Waymo currently runs fleets of robotaxis in San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix and Los Angeles, with plans to expand into Atlanta and Miami, according to its website.

Multiple Boston-area news outlets reported Waymo plans to visit the Bay State in the coming weeks.

MassLive contacted Waymo for comment on its upcoming presence in the area, but did not receive an immediate response.

WCVB reported that, according to Waymo, its vehicles are scheduled to start scouting areas such as Mission Hill, East Boston, Cambridge, South Boston, the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 93 later in May.

There will be a limited fleet of vehicles with trained, human autonomous specialists behind the wheel at all times, as they manually drive through a range of neighborhoods, Waymo added in its statement to WCVB.

WBZ reported that, according to Waymo, before it begins operations in a new city, it first maps the territory with incredible detail and that there are 29 cameras on each car, giving the vehicle a 360-degree view.

In 2016, then-Gov. Charlie Baker laid the groundwork to allow for self-driving vehicle testing in the state, coupled with a directive from then-Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for similar testing of autonomous cars within the city.

The Cambridge company nuTonomy had previously signed a deal in 2016 with Boston to test its self-driving cars on public streets, the first of its kind in the city.

Any vehicles being tested on public roads are required to have a human driver inside the car capable of taking over control, MassLive reported in 2016. Companies seeking to test autonomous vehicles must also go through the state Department of Transportation.

On its website, Waymo said that it believes its technology is making roads safer and better since 94% of crashes involve human error or choice, adding that this is one place where we believe we really can bring technology to bear.

A study by AAA from February indicated that Americans continue to have low faith in self-driving cars, with only 13% of Americans saying theyd feel safe riding in one. This number represented a 4% increase in support over the previous year.
A Worcester City Council meeting is set to be held virtually Tuesday night instead of at City Hall out of an abundance of caution regarding public safety concerns, the city announced Monday afternoon.

Officials now plan to close City Hall at 5 p.m. and hold the 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting via Zoom, city officials said in a press release. There will be an opportunity for remote public participation, and citizens can join through the City Councils Zoom link or by calling 1-646-828-7666 and entering access code: 161 363 1913.
FILE - White South Africans demonstrate in support of U.S. President Donald Trump in front of the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

The Episcopal Church has severed a four-decade-old relationship with the federal government, citing its moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa the Trump administration had declared refugees.

The hearty nee (no in Afrikaans) from the religious denomination marks an extraordinary act of protest. The Episcopal Church long had participated in resettling refugees fleeing persecution and war in their home countries, Religion News Service reported.

In a letter to the church community, the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe  the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church  said the government informed the church two weeks ago that it was expected to resettle the white South Africans under the terms of its federal grant, the wire service reported.

The church, through its Episcopal Migration Ministries, has resettled some 110,000 people over the last four decades

That was a bridge too far for the church, a part of the global Anglican Communion, whose ranks once included the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who fought apartheid in South Africa.

In light of our churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step, Rowe wrote. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.

Rowe told his fellow believers that it had been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.

I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country, he continued. I also grieve that victims of religious persecution, including Christians, have not been granted refuge in recent months.

Some 60 white South Africans arrived in the United States on Monday, with President Donald Trump arguing that they faced violence and persecution in their home country, according to published reports.

Through this resettlement program for these folks who were vetted in South Africa, were sending a clear message that the United States really rejects the egregious persecution of people on the basis of race in South Africa. And we welcome these people to the United States and to a new future, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau told to the refugees who gathered in a hangar in Washington, D.C.

Trump signed an executive order in February decrying what the White House described as discriminatory practices against South Africas minority white population.

The order comes even as the White House has executed sweeping actions to remove undocumented immigrants from the global south, sometimes scooping up permanent U.S. citizens in its net.

South African religious leaders, including some Anglicans, sharply criticized the governments policy in a sternly worded letter.

The stated reasons for (Trumps actions) are claims of victimisation, violence and hateful rhetoric against white people in South Africa along with legislation providing for the expropriation of land without compensation, the religious leaders wrote, according to Religion News Service. As white South Africans in active leadership within the Christian community, representing diverse political and theological perspectives, we unanimously reject these claims.

In his letter to the church community, Rowe, meanwhile, said the church would find other ways to support refugees arriving in the United States.

As Christians, we must be guided not by political vagaries, but by the sure and certain knowledge that the kingdom of God is revealed to us in the struggles of those on the margins. Jesus tells us to care for the poor and vulnerable as we would care for him, and we must follow that command, Rowe said. Right now, what that means is ending our participation in the federal governments refugee resettlement program and investing our resources in serving migrants in other ways.
AmeriCorps members who respond to disasters and help nonprofits are let go in DOGE cuts (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file) AP

Massachusetts two U.S. senators and all nine members of its U.S. House delegation have called on the Trump administration to halt its gutting of AmeriCorps, calling the national service program a model for cost-effective public-private partnership.

In a letter shared exclusively with MassLive, the lawmakers called on President Donald Trump and Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, the elected officials argue that the $400 million the White House cut from the program nationwide in April [threatens] not only the continued operation of national service programs, but also the stability of community-based initiatives that deliver critical services to communities across Massachusetts and the nation.

About $8 million of that tally was earmarked for Massachusetts, the lawmakers wrote, impacting 17 initiatives across the state, from a trail system in Hampshire County to an environmental clean-up on Cape Cod.

The reductions were ordered by the Elon Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Established in 1993, the federal agency gives Americans opportunities to engage in volunteer work to address critical needs throughout the country.

The letter was coordinated by the office of U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who sits on the Senates Environment and Public Works Committee.

In a statement, the Bay State Democrat called AmeriCorps one of our countrys most effective and beloved service programs.

The program annually sees nearly 200,000 participants roll up their sleeves to support public health, education, disaster response, and environmental protection, Markey continued.

In 2024, more than 6,400 AmeriCorps members served at more than 800 locations across the state, according to Markeys office.

Despite the public good from the program, the Trump White House has slashed funding, fired staff, and proposed a full-scale elimination of AmeriCorps altogether, Markey asserted.

Markeys sentiment was shared by those on the ground who are feeling the impact of the cuts the most directly.

David Crowley is the president and founder of Social Capital Inc. in Woburn. The nonprofit provides AmeriCorps personnel to organizations that span the Greater Boston area.

Crowleys roots with AmeriCorps run deep. Hes been involved with it since former President Bill Clinton signed it into law more than 30 years ago. His deputy director, Phil Gordon, is a onetime AmeriCorps worker, he told MassLive.

Crowleys organization got news of the cut, as did others across the country, with a Sunday morning email in late April. He was directed to tell his AmeriCorps personnel that they didnt have to show up for work on Monday.

Working through channels, Crowley won his workers a two-week reprieve. Their official last day of work was last week. But he said hes trying to raise the money to keep them on through the end of the school year.

Cutting those workers loose on DOGEs timeline would have thrown the lives of those AmeriCorps workers and the students they mostly serve into complete upheaval, he said.

Suddenly terminating our AmeriCorps grant for no valid reason disrupts the youth programming we support and harms the relationships the AmeriCorps members have built with young people who look to them for mentoring, Crowley said in a statement included with the lawmakers letter.

The abruptness of the funding cut has resulted in AmeriCorps personnel across the state finding their lives turned upside down overnight, Lindsay Rooney, the director of operations and external affairs for the Massachusetts Service Alliance, told MassLive.

The cuts will leave communities across the state without the crucial services provided by these critical programs, Rooney said.

Last week, a federal judge issued a 14-day restraining order blocking Trumps efforts to restructure the federal government.

The order, by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, included AmeriCorps and a host of federal agencies.

The Trump administration immediately appealed the order to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, NPR reported.

In their letter, the Massachusetts lawmakers urged the White House to drop its legal fight.

Instead of allowing this lawsuit to play out in the courts, you can do the right thing for AmeriCorps members and the people they serve right now, immediately reverse course, restore AmeriCorps grants and member and administrative staffing, and reaffirm our countrys commitment to national service, they wrote.

In a separate lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell joined with Democratic leaders in 24 states and the District of Columbia to similarly challenge the White Houses actions.

The lawsuit argues that Trump doesnt have the authority under the U.S. Constitution to gut AmeriCorps, which was created by Congress, Reuters reported.

AmeriCorps is the epitome of service and civic engagement, offering more than 1,100 Massachusetts residents meaningful opportunities to serve in various fields including public health, education, disaster relief and more, Campbell said in a statement. I am proud to join my colleagues in pushing back on the Trump Administrations unlawful efforts to dismantle this service program.

The letter from Markey, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and the states U.S. House delegation also included a half-dozen questions for the administration seeking further clarity on the cuts impact in Massachusetts, on AmeriCorps workers, and the communities they serve.

The lawmakers asked for answers by May 20.

Cuts to the AmeriCorps program threaten not only the continued operation of national service programs, but also the stability of community-based initiatives that deliver critical services to communities across Massachusetts and the nation, they wrote.

On behalf of our constituents, we urge you to restore AmeriCorps grant funding, member service, and administrative staff immediately, they concluded.
Sen. Jacob Oliveira of Ludlow listens at a Joint Ways and Means Committee budget hearing on March 6, 2025. (Chris Lisinski/State House News Service)

So heres your daily reminder that, just because Democrats control everything on Beacon Hill, it doesnt mean that theyre always going to get along.

State Sen. Jacob Oliveira, D-Hampden/Hampshire/Worcester, was reminded of that first-hand on Monday when he attempted to testify remotely before the Legislatures Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

The Ludlow lawmaker has several bills before the committee. And on Monday, he was back in his district meeting with childcare providers, according to Senate President Karen Spilkas office.

When it was his turn to speak, the panels House chairperson, Rep. Tacky Chan, D-2nd Norfolk, cut him off, citing House rules requiring committee members to participate in hearings in person, Politico reported Tuesday.

Pursuant to the House rules, the chair is not recognizing committee members who are not here physically in person, Chan, of Quincy, said, according to State House News Service. As a result ... the chair does not recognize Senator Oliveira.

A bit of context: The two chambers are still sparring over joint operating rules that govern the flow of legislation between both sides of the State House.

While the House and Senate each have agreed to their own internal rules, theyve yet to reach an accord on this key bit of interchamber wheel-greasing.

Negotiators are set to meet again on Thursday, State House News Service reported.

Sen. Pavel Payano, D-1st Essex, the committees Senate chairperson, protested, accusing his House colleagues of violating the sacred principle that no voice in democracy could be silenced, the wire service reported.

Sidelining Oliveira was the same thing as sidelining his constituents in Belchertown, Palmer, Wilbraham, Longmeadow, South Hadley, Warren, Hampden, Springfield, Granby, East Longmeadow and Ludlow, Payano continued.

I think that that is a travesty, Payano said, according to State House News Service. Youre telling the entire community your concerns are not welcome here. This is just not a matter of procedural fairness. To me, I find it discriminatory. You know, the folks out in western Mass., its not the same as people that are closer to Boston.

Payano then read the testimony that Oliveira had prepared to deliver.

Chan, who said he understood there are complications for some folks, reiterated the House stance that legislators should testify in person.

The committee pile-up netted a stern rebuke from Spilka, who called the Houses power play deeply troubling.

The joint rules the House and Senate mutually agreed to in January do not prohibit remote participation, and the notion that one branchs rules can bind the operations of joint committees is without merit, Spilka said.

The Ashland Democrat said she could personally attest to [Sen.] Oliveiras hard work and dedication to his district, his constituents, and the Senate. I thank him for ably serving all three this morning.

That wasnt the end of the days drama.

On Monday, the House announced that it had reached an agreement on a short-term funding bill to keep the doors open at the agency that provides health insurance for state employees.

The Senate gaveled out for the day without taking up the rather urgent legislation, saying it would do so on Thursday.
HOLYOKE  The graduation rate among Holyoke students was 77.1% for the 2023-24 school year, according to recenly released state data, a rate 15 percentage points higher than before the district was placed into recievership.

Over the past four years, we have invested significantly in instructional leadership, standards-aligned curriculum, high-quality teaching practices, and social emotional support for our students, Anthony Soto, the districts superintendent and receiver, said in a statement. This is contributing to greater success for our students at all grade levels.
Damian Oquendo, 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union organizer, holds a banner outside the Mount Holyoke College campus Tuesday. He and others are rallying to demand fair union contracts before the expiration of the current agreements on June 30. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SOUTH HADLEY  Union workers at Mount Holyoke College rallied for better wages and benefits today, but in a sign of the times, they also want the college to start paying into a legal defense program in case immigrant workers need deportation protection.

The union of 170 employees includes custodians, food service workers, groundskeepers and tradespeople. They are asking the college to pay for legal services that would help workers pay for many issues, including immigration matters.
Massachusetts National Guard Major Gen. Gary Keefe, center, attends the announcement of $285,000 in equipment that will be given to Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and State Police to combat drug trafficking. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

SPRINGFIELD  As high-level drug dealers upgrade technology, law enforcement is fighting back with the help of $285,000 in new equipment that can detect narcotics in cars using X-rays, break encryptions on cell phones and a portable lab that rapidly tests drugs.

Officials with the Massachusetts National Guard announced Monday they have donated five high-tech devices to law enforcement through the Hampden District Attorneys Office as part of a long-running partnership to battle drug trafficking.
When I served as the first student member of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, deep in the 20th century (1983-1984), in the aftermath of Prop 2, I remember hearing the phrase tough budget year for the first time.

I have heard it virtually every year since. I wondered back then: Maybe our state simply does not have enough wealth to support the schools and colleges and communities we want.
Russia is deploying air defense systems to the occupied Crimean peninsula, exposing other areas, said Dmytro Pletenchuk, a representative of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Crimea is a symbolic and logistical value for Russia. The density of air defense on the island is higher than in many regions of the Russian Federation itself. Due to sanctions and a lack of microelectronics, the Russians have limited opportunities to replenish losses," Pletenchuk said on the air of a Ukrainian national telethon.

He noted that since the beginning of 2024, Ukrainian forces have destroyed a significant number of Russian air defenses, struck the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet and other facilities, but the Russian Federation continues to launch drones from the territory of Crimea.

"These are mobile installations that can be moved, but they mostly use proven locations," Pletenchuk added.
Worcester City Hall as seen from the top of Worcester Plaza. Adam Bass

The City of Worcester announced Monday that Tuesday nights city council meeting and standing committee on finance meeting would be held virtually instead of at City Hall out of an abundance of caution regarding public safety concerns.

The city hall itself will be closed to the public at 5 p.m., per the notification.

In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said that the change in venue is due to threats of violence made to elected and city officials.

Petty said tensions in the city have been high since a Brazilian woman was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Eureka Street last Thursday.

Following the incident, the events of the last few days ... have been deeply disturbing and raised many questions, the mayor said. As a result, many people  regardless of their viewpoint  are frustrated and angry.

Unfortunately, elected and city officials have received threats of violence, Petty continued. City employees and department heads have also faced threatening calls and emails. It is important to remember that the people that keep city hall alive are just that  they are people. Employees have shared concerns about their safety."

The announcement of the change in venue was made public less than 48 hours before the meeting, raising the question as to whether the city violated the states Open Meeting Law.

Guidance on holding meetings remotely under a continuation of COVID-19 measures in Massachusetts reads that meetings, including meeting locations, need to be posted at least 48 hours in advance  thats true even if the meeting is taking place remotely.

Section 20 of the law states that, except in the case of an emergency, a public body shall post notice of every meeting at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

According to the Massachusetts Attorney Generals office, a public body, in this case the city council, is allowed to change venues and post an amended notice at least 48 hours in advance.

However, if a meeting location is changed less than 48 hours in advance, the public body needs to provide the public with sufficient notice of the location change.

Additionally, a public body should also publicize the location through whatever channels it uses to communicate with the public, according to the Attorney Generals office.

Examples of these channels include automated email notifications, social media platforms and online messaging boards, according to the Attorney Generals office.

The public body must also be able to provide a rapid response to any email or phone inquiries from the public about meeting access.

Mondays announcement of the venue change was publicized by the city on social media platforms such as X, Instagram and Facebook.

On the citys website, a notification about Tuesdays meeting is highlighted at the top of the webpage. Clicking on the notification will bring the viewer to the full statement from the city along with a Zoom link, access code and telephone number to call into the meeting.

In order to ensure active public engagement, remote participation for both meetings is available through at the City Councils Zoom link, the statement reads.

A protest is still on

A protest at City Hall against the actions of ICE and the Worcester Police Department is set to take place on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

The protesters will demand that the city council request City Manager Eric D. Batista write a new policy for the Worcester Police Department that would prevent them from becoming involved in ICE operations, according to organizer Jim Miller of Worcester.

Protesters had planned to attend the city council meeting in person and speak during the meetings public comment period, Miller said.

He confirmed to MassLive on Tuesday that the protest is still on for 5:30 and that some rally members will speak at the city council meeting remotely.
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The number of Gardai stationed in Co Mayo has reduced by 4.5 percent with the Chief Superintendent for the county admitting that man power is an issue in the county.

Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon, who heads the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Garda Division, gave a presentation on Garda statistics to local councillors at yesterday's monthly meeting of Mayo County Council which was held in Bonniconlon.

During the meeting tributes were paid to Garda Kevin Flatley who was killed on duty while carrying out a checkpoint in north Dublin on Sunday afternoon. The married father of two was struck by a motorcycle near Lanestown at around 1pm.

Garda Flatley's father was a native of Clooncrim, Ballinlough which is close to the Mayo border in Co Roscommon and tributes were paid to him by a number of councillors.

Tributes

Chief Supt McMahon acknowledged the tributes to Garda Flatley and added that the incident brought home the dangers of being a member of An Garda Siochana.

During his presentation, Chief Supt McMahon who is stationed in Longford, explained that there has been a 4.5 percent reduction in the number of Gardai stationed in Mayo but 25 members have been transferred into the county from other divisions.

Chief Supt McMahon explained that there was a high number of gardai requesting to move to Mayo from other divisions and in order for that to happen they had to be replaced. He said it was an issue but he was hopeful there would be an increase in man power going to the county.

READ: Jeep burnt outside the front of home in Mayo

The meeting heard that there was a 75 percent reduction in burglaries recorded in Mayo and Chief McMahon said this reduction was largely to do with a Garda operation which targeted travelling gangs and many of them have been arrested and awaiting justice.

Chief Supt McMahon also acknowledged that intimidation of families of people involved in drugs was an issue but in the last five years only eleven incidents of drug related intimidation were reported to Gardai.

In order to make people confident to report these incidents to gardai, he has appointed people in the county to a unit headed up by a Detective Inspector to deal with these cases. He encouraged parents in particular to come forward in confidence and report these cases of intimidation.

Fianna Fail councillor Michael Loftus welcomed Chief Supt McMahon to the meeting and urged him to address the number of garda recruits being transferred to Mayo.

The future of policing in Ireland is not working in rural areas and I have said it many times but Mayo Roscommon and Longford is too big a division. I hope the new Commissioner will bring back our new Chief Superintendent to Castlebar and it is something we have to fight for.

Not enough recruits

We don't have enough gardai coming to Mayo and I keep saying that we don't have enough recruits coming down to Mayo. You said 25 members have transferred down to the area but that is not good enough. We need at least the 100 that goes to Dublin, we get at least ten sent to Mayo. The number of people retiring versus the number of people joining the Force is frightening. The numbers are the crucial thing and we have to get more gardai down to the west of Ireland, he said.

Ballinrobe-based councillor Michael Burke raised the question of anti-social behaviour in the former homeless shelter in the south Mayo town and felt that there is not enough co-operation between the local authority and the local gardai as to who is arriving into the town.

Cllr Al McDonnell lamented the loss of the Joint Policing Committee saying that it was a forum which worked and where issues could be raised regularly with Gardai.

Chief Supt McMahon thanked the councillors for their contributions and questions and while adding there were a number of issues which need addressing, he pointed out that Mayo is one of the safest counties in Ireland and Ireland remains one of the safest countries in Europe.
A MAYO councillor has asked for clarity on whether the extension of the Greenway onto Achill Island will be developed using permissive access model or under the new TII guidelines.

Planning for the extension of the Greenway from Achill Sound to Bunnacurry was approved by local councillors under the Part 8 planning process in June 2020. The first phase from Achill Sound to Saula has been completed and the next phase will see the Greenway extended for 5km from Cashel to Bunnacurry.

However, since December 2021 the development of all national and regional Greenways has been taken over by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) who have set their own guidelines for delivering greenways. Under the new guidelines, landowners allowing permissive access for a greenway and retaining ownership will no longer apply and instead the TII will purchase the land for the greenway.

READ: Planning refused to demolish and redevelop Mayo pub site

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Achill councillor Paul McNamara said that in June 2020, councillors voted for the greenway to be developed using the permissive access model and was not in favour of the new TII guidelines which allows for the compulsory purchase order (CPO) of land if landowners are not willing to allow access.

The Fianna Fail councillor asked for clarification if the Part 8 planning approval they made in 2020 was valid under the new TII guidelines.

Clarification

THE clarification I want for the next meeting is the Part 8 that we passed on June 30, 2020 is the Part 8 which is in place for the building of the Greenway from Achill Sound to Bunacurry and does not fall under the new guidelines that came out in December 2021. We did not pass a Part 8 that included the extra steps of the CPO of land. The Part 8 we passed was on permissive access. I want full clarification that we have permissive access and we will not be looking at a CPO route, he said.

The proposed route of the Cashel to Bunnacurry Greenway will go through a number of properties and consultants were recently appointed to assess the route and liaise with landowners.

Cllr Paul McNamara and Minister Jack Chambers at the opening of the Greenway from Achill Sound to Saula in 2023

Cllr McNamara told the meeting that before the Part 8 was passed in 2020, some residents in Cashel raised concerns and they were informed that all concerns would be addressed in the permissive access agreement.

The answer given back was Mayo County Council will prior to any construction work commencing, require a permissive access agreement with the landowner and this agreement will address the above concerns. What I want to know is will those observations raised be answered under that and not fall under the new guidelines for national and regional greenways. That is not the Part 8 which came before us. The Part 8 which came before us was a permissive access agreement and not the new guidelines, he said.

Under the new TII guidelines, the land will be independently valued and if there is an agreement between all parties, a voluntary land acquisition agreement will be signed. However, if there is no agreement the land can be CPO'd by the TII and Cllr McNamara said the thought of this terrified some people.

He said the permissive access model which was in place before this had worked well and he believes any development of greenways should go along those lines.

Communities onside

IF the greenway is to be a success it needs the communities onside and needs to work with permissive access and that is all greenways in my opinion. It needs the goodwill of the community and farmers and goodwill of all and it has worked. Why we should change to a new document that is completely different is beyond me, he added.

Independent councillor John O'Malley agreed that all greenways should be developed with permissive access and that the CPO of land will not work as did Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell.

Director of Services, Joanne Grehan told Cllr McNamara that she will seek clarification on the matter and if clarification is not available for the May monthly meeting it will be at the June meeting.
HHC has ripped and torn my life apart and caused me nothing but heartache. That is what a Mayo teenager said who has shared his story of addiction with The Mayo News, to raise awareness about the dangers of a substance that can currently be bought right across the county.

Speaking anonymously to The Mayo News, the student described how easy it is to buy HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol) but how difficult it is to give it up.

HHC is a semisynthetic cannabinoid and can be consumed in both vapes and in edibles, such as gummies and cakes. It is currently legal in this state and can be sold openly.

The fact that it is legal was reassuring to the teenager as he and his friends stopped smoking cannabis and replaced it with HHC.

When we made that swap, things started to seem weird. It didnt feel the same. It felt different. You know, youd wake up in the morning, it was like a hangover after drinking, and then youd go a day without , and you wouldnt be able to sleep, and youd have headaches. Theres irritability, stress, anxiety and cravings. Those are the first key signs of withdrawal for me, and thats when I kind of started to look into it.

Despite, by his reckoning, having attended about 20 talks on drugs over the last four years, the student says: I havent heard HHC mentioned once. Something like that exists in this country, and theres not even, you know, harm reduction information out there. I just find it a big let down from the HSE and the Government not warning people at the very least.

READ MORE: Funeral arrangements confirmed for Mayo man who died tragically at Newport Quay

Strong evidence

BANNING HHC should be a matter of urgency for the Government according to Mary Cannon, professor of psychiatric epidemiology and youth mental health at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), and consultant psychiatrist in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

The Government has been slow to act, its been an issue for us for two years and were seeing its effects more and more, she told The Mayo News.

Prof Cannon says there is strong evidence this substance can lead to psychosis. Not only that, it can it can be a very severe psychosis.

Its a very agitated psychosis and could be a harm to themselves and others as they lose touch with reality. Thats why they are ending up in the emergency department, she said.

Recent information shows HHC was the second most common substance, after cannabis, for teenagers accessing addiction services in Ireland. According to Professor Cannon, 25 percent of referrals were for addiction to HHC. This shows that young people are taking a chance here with their mental health.

The potential long-term consequences make for sober reading. The more episodes you have, the more risks you wont recover fully.

Consultant Psychiatrist Prof Cannon said about a third of people with drug induced psychosis go on to have long-term psychosis and that has a huge effect on their lives.

Doorway

THE question of where children can learn healthy coping strategies is one raised by mental health peer specialist and superviser, Elaine Browne. She views HHC as a doorway to other more dangerous drugs.

If you are numbing something with an addictive substance, you will build up a tolerance and unless it is interrupted, you will continue to use something else to numb the emotion.

Im hearing of children as young as sixth class or first year vaping. Some kids are going to the toilet to vape between classes. I wonders how a school can possibly manage that. It is very different to smoking a cigarette, where it can be smelt off you.

Mayo-based Browne also warns of the dangers of numbing emotions from a young age.

This can have a knock on effect in their twenties and thirties when they might try and quit, these emotions will come back and you will have to deal with them.

This is especially the case as there is an enormous amount of pressure on teenagers now, compared to even 20 years ago. Learning intentional practices for mental health would be a step forward and educating both kids and parents on the dangers is really important as a lot of parents wouldnt know this is happening.

Kids are victims of clever marketing by the vaping companies. Vapes are funky and cool looking and designed to get kids addicted, as well being affordable for kids to buy.

Parliamentary question

IN response to a recent parliamentary question from Labour Senator Marie Sherlock, the HSE confirmed that it has no plans to develop a specific campaign highlighting their use with parents or in schools, unless requested and resourced to do so.

The HSE went on to say: HHC vapes are neither a tobacco nor a nicotine inhaling product, so they do not currently fall under the scope of this legislation. A legislative gap exists as HHC products can still legally be sold to people under 18.

The HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme has been provided with once-off funding in 2025 to develop a general youth vaping prevention media campaign. Drug use prevention is covered more generally within the junior cycle curriculum.

How soon HHC is taken off Irish shelves remains to be seen. Prof Cannon notes that the UN have added HHC to their list of narcotic drugs: Things are going to have to change in Ireland. This is just the first in a whole line of substances and these substances can be tweaked in all sorts of ways. We need to respond more quickly when the next HHC substance pops-up and we cant be waiting two years when a new substance appears and is putting our young people at risk.
A MAYO councillor has called for unvetted immigrants who commit crime to be put on the boat back to the country they came from.

Independent councillor John OMalley made the comment at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District after revealing that an elderly man was mugged by a group of immigrants while walking home from a pub in a Mayo town.

The Carrowholly-based councillor claimed the country is being ruined by unvetted immigrants who commit crime and called for stricter action to be taken.

We have these gurriers in this country who should not be here. If these people are brought to justice they should be put on a boat and straight to where they come from. We need to get stricter.

READ: Mayo GAA clubs pay tribute to young player (16) following tragic passing

"This country is going down the tubes because of that ... it is time for the government to wake up and take care of the local people, he said.

In outlining the incident with the man who was attacked walking home from the pub, Cllr OMalley said this man had walked home for years from the pub but was now too afraid to do it again.

This is what we are putting up with and is this what we want to have for our young people? These kind of people coming into our country, that a person cannot walk at night and go home alone, he said.

Sympathy

CLLR OMalley added that he has great sympathy for people who are escaping war torn countries and those who are decent and hard working but felt too many people were being allowed into the country.

We have too many unvetted that are not good people and are ruining this country and our neighbourhoods.

The safest place now for people in rural Ireland is the local pub because they know the people in it and if any strangers come in or a group of strangers they will be shown the door fast.

This is happening in our county and this is the total disregard our government has for people in rural Ireland. They could change all those things if they wanted to but they dont want to and dont care, he claimed.

Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell also called on the Government to fund essential services in the west of Ireland and not send taxpayers money abroad in foreign aid.

I heard that the Government is going to up their allocation of foreign aid up to 171 million. Now listen to that figure of 171 million of our taxpayers money which people get up and work for everyday going out to abroad and our kids they wont build houses for.

We are all in agreement with foreign aid, God love them in countries that have their problems. But for the size of our little country if we gave them 50 million and took the 121 million that is left and divided it between the counties in Connacht and gave ourselves these things we need ... toilets on our beaches, improve our roads, our car parks. We are just a small nation trying to operate like a superpower, he said.
Mayo County Council have been asked to invite the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney to Mayo in recognition of his strong roots to the county.

The proposal to invite the Canadian Prime Minister to visit Mayo was made by Westport-based councillor Peter Flynn at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

Mark Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of England, became the Prime Minister of Canada in March after assuming the leadership of the Liberal Party. He called a Federal Election for the end of April and remained as Prime Minister after his party won the election.

His grandparents Robert and Nora Carney were both originally from Aughagower outside Westport before they emigrated to Canada.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn said that with the strong connections between Canada and Mayo at the moment it was the right time to invite the Prime Minister to the county.

Huge connection

Canada has over 40 million of a population with a huge connection to Mayo. We often concentrate on the US side and Lord knows how that will go in the months and years ahead. We should forge links with Canada and the fact they have a Prime Minister whose grandparents are linked into this municipal district, I would propose that a formal letter of invitation would go out to him.

READ: Planning refused to demolish and redevelop Mayo pub site

We would try to identify the links with Canada and Mark Carney and we would make it a special occasion and invite him back to our municipal district in the year ahead, Cllr Flynn commented.

His proposal was supported by Independent councillor John O'Malley who said there was great excitement in Aughagower following his election as Prime Minister.

They are already excited in Aughagower at the possible chance he will visit. His father visited Aughagower and possibly his grandfather but they are excited in Aughagower about it and we should go ahead and invite him. If it goes ahead it will be as big as Biden coming to Ballina.
A WESTPORT councillor has claimed that nimbyism has never been as strong in Ireland and selfishness in communities is holding back development.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn made the comments during the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District during a discussion on the development of Greenways and landowners allowing access for them.

Cllr Flynn commented that looking back, the development of the Great Western Greenway was near on miraculous and does not believe it would happen now.

I think it was a different point in time where I think people were not as selfish in so many ways to be honest with you. I think as a society we were not as wealthy and affluent and it is not just greenways but in general people are becoming more selfish and all about how it impacts on themselves.

READ: Did you find a large sum of money in this Mayo town?

Nimbyism [Not in my back yard] has never been stronger in Ireland. Everyone talks about a housing crisis but yet every single time we put in a development of any note the ones to object are the ones next door to it. If it is a road we are talking about we will have the same situation as we will with any type of infrastructure where people just dont want anything near them and want it contained in some other location. It is fine in someone elses back yard but not in mine, he said.

Cllr Flynn cited a 3km greenway between Murrisk and Bertra as an example of a project which he says was granted planning in 2017 and has yet to be completed due to local objections. He claimed that developing greenways using permissive access will no longer work because of selfishness.

A section of cycleway along the road from Murrisk to Bertra

As much as I would love to say permissive access is the way to go, unfortunately from my experience, as a society our viewpoint has changed and we have become very insular and selfish and we are all about nimbyism. As long as we continue down the road of that then as a county we will go backwards.

If we decide to go back to permissive access we might as well close down the notion of developing greenways in Mayo because it is not going to happen.

Proposed route

CLLR Flynn is the only Westport-based councillor to speak out in favour of the proposed route for the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway and said that councillors will have to make a serious decision on it in the coming months.

We are at a crucial point in our lives as elected representatives. We have to figure out if we go down the road of permissive access and close off greenways in Mayo. By and large lets do it by agreement but unfortunately if there is one or two people who will block it then we need to consider whether we look at the greater good or the possibility of appeasing two or three people. That is the decision we will have to make very soon in relation to Murrisk.

If we are to continue down into Achill and into Erris and the Ceide coast then we have very big decisions to make and we cannot bury our heads in the sand any longer. Permissive access is not working and sadly will not work in my view, he commented.

However, Louisburgh-based Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell said that everyone is in favour of a greenway to Murrisk but it will have to come along the main Westport to Louisburgh road.

If we want a greenway to come back there in my lifetime the only way in my opinion can be done is to go back the main road.

The authorities, the TII, Mayo County Council and anyone else need to wise up to the fact that that is the only way it will happen. We are in the county where the land league was founded and fought for the people of Ireland to own their land and I tell you the people in Clew Bay will not give it up that handy. The authorities will have to wise up now, he said.
Family members have travelled from Florida and Barcelona to see baby girl Alexandra Haack, dressed in her baptism gown, become the first girl baptised in the oratory of the church on the summit of Croagh Patrick.

Proud father Oscar and a cousin took it in turns to carry baby Alexandra up to the 764-metre high summit.

She joins her brother, Patrick, as one of only two children to be baptised on the holy mountain. Indeed Patrick was named after Croagh Patrick.

It continues something of a family tradition, as their parents, Oscar and Andrea, were married on the Reek in 2022.

The christening took place this afternoon in the church at the top of Ireland's Holy Mountain.

Fr John Kenny, who was celebrant for both baptisms and the wedding, told The Mayo News: "Todays celebration was a wonderful way to celebrate the Jubilee year Pilgrims of hope. Especially, with so much sad news in the world, its nice to have good news happening.

After descending from the mountain, Alexandras elated mother, Andrea, was very grateful to Fr Kenny: "He has been so amazing. He came up and made everyone feel so comfortable and blessed and explained the history behind it. He is such a kind person.

The kindness of people in Westport and the surrounding areas keeps drawing us to coming back, Andrea says.

Proud mother Andrea Haack with her daughter Alexandra after the historic christening

The Haack familys connection to the Reek began in February 2016, she explains: "When we first came, we didn't know how much meaning there was to the mountain and the church on top.

It was February and the weather was really bad and it was so windy at the top, I was on my knees. The sun came out and its very magical to see the sun come out and the weather improve. It was really meaningful, it did feel that God was there. For us, it was a very special moment and it has drawn us back.

You do feel closer to God. It makes you think as you go up, doing the prayers. It really helps you stop the rhythm of day to day and connect with nature and God. Thats the experience weve had every time that we have come.

After a busy day scaling Croagh Patrick, the celebrating family and their traveling party were looking forward to a well earned meal in JJ OMalleys on Bridge Street in Westport.

READ MORE: Mayo drivers warned of the dangers of sun glare during extended hot spell
Former head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Roman Nasirov has been released from custody after bail was posted on his behalf, public broadcaster Suspilne reported, citing Olesia Chemerys, spokesperson for the High Anti-Corruption Court.

According to Chemerys, the bail was posted for the former SFS chief, and he has been released from detention.

As reported, on April 24 the High Anti-Corruption Court remanded Nasirov in custody and increased his bail from UAH 27 million to UAH 40 million. The panel of judges thus partially granted the motion filed by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

On April 9, it emerged that Nasirov, who is facing charges of abuse of office along with former SFS department head Volodymyr Novikov, had voluntarily enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the final stage of his trial  the court debates.

On April 10, the Military Law Enforcement Service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that, following an order from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it was investigating the legality of Nasirov's enlistment while criminal proceedings against him were still ongoing.

Nasirov later published an open letter stating that he, "a simple guy from Chernihiv," had voluntarily enlisted in a "regular military unit" and was surprised by his sudden demobilization. He reiterated his belief that the criminal cases against him were politically motivated.
by Teresa Buyikian , May 12, 2025

Gallos new Lucky One Vodka Lemonade is on a mission not just to promote the RTD cocktail, but to help rescue dogs become the lucky ones as well.

The makers of High Noon seltzer created the canned non-carbonated vodka lemonade, which has 100 calories, is gluten free and made with no added sugar, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. The brand states the beverage was created in collaboration with viral 'furfluencer' Miss Peaches, who claims the title of America's favorite pit bull, due to her social media presence, which began after her rescue in 2024. The canine now has 1.5 million followers on Instagram and just over 900k on TikTok.

"Hard lemonade is having a moment -- and we saw an opportunity to bring something new to the table," said Brandon Lieb, vice president, Spirit of Gallo, in the announcement. "With vodka lemonade on the rise and malt-based options losing steam, Lucky One Lemonade is our answer; a premium, spirits-based RTD. Partnering with Miss Peaches brings even more heart to the brand, letting consumers enjoy summer with purpose."

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Miss Peaches isnt just a pretty spokesdog. As a rescue herself, she (along with Lucky One) have also launched the Our Pack Gives Back" initiative, which will run through Sept. 1 with the goal of raising $1 million to help rescue animals. The brand (which has a Miss Peaches image on its can) has partnered with LifeLine Animal Project, where Miss Peaches was adopted, and Best Friends Animal Society, as recipients.

The brand is using Miss Peaches for online promotion via its Instagram seen here.

Miss Peaches was one of 26 dogs that was rescued from a previous home due to hoarding and neglect. She rose to popularity after being adopted by social media personality Dave Portnoy, who later donated $270k to the Animal Lifeline Project.

The new vodka and lemonade RTD is available in 4-packs in four flavors: Original, Peach, Blueberry and Raspberry, which sells for $10.99 at national retailers. The brand also has variety 8-packs for $19.99.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 12, 2025

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to settle privacy claims in Texas -- including charges that it captured people's faceprints and voiceprints, in violation of a state biometric privacy law, Attorney General Ken Paxton said late last week.

The deal resolves two separate lawsuits brought by Paxton in 2022.

In one case, he accused Google of violating the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act, which requires companies to obtain people's consent to the collection of faceprints, voiceprints and other biometrics. That law -- one of a handful of state measures regulating biometric privacy -- can only be enforced by the attorney general, and provides for penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.

That complaint focused on Google Photos, the Nest smart-home hub, and the voice-activated Google Assistant. He specifically alleged that Google Photos and Nest use facial-recognition software to garner faceprints of users as well as non-users who appear in images, and that Nest and Assistant also allegedly capture voiceprints.

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The second suit involved claims that Google duped consumers about its collection and use of location data, and that it deceptively collected data from Chrome users who browsed in incognito mode.

That suit was dismissed in January by a Texas appellate court, which ruled that Texas courts lacked jurisdiction because Google's statements regarding privacy were not made by any of the company's approximately 5,500 Texas-based employees.

Paxton appealed the dismissal, and reached a settlement with Google while the appeal was pending.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the settlement covers a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed.

Google did not admit to wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

The company currently faces a separate class-action complaint alleging that it violated an Illinois biometric privacy law by failing to obtain consumers' written consent before collecting or storing scans of face geometry. That suit dates to 2020, when Illinois residents Steven Vance and Tim Janecyk alleged that Google acquired a database of faces from IBM, which itself reportedly obtained 100 million pictures from the photo-sharing service Flickr. Google allegedly obtained the database in order to improve its own facial recognition service.
Polish prosecutors have charged two Ukrainian nationals with involvement in the arson of a shopping center in Warsaw, allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence services, according to a report published Monday on the website of radio station RMF FM.

"These are two Ukrainians who collaborated with the arsonists. According to the National Prosecutor's Office, one of them, Danylo B., received instructions from Russia to record footage of the fire and firefighting efforts and send the video back to Russia, where it was then published on social media. The second suspect, Oleksandr V., is believed to have commissioned the recordings. Both are considered members of an organized group whose goal was to set fire to large buildings across the EU to spread fear," the report said.

The first suspect is currently in custody in Lithuania and is accused of engaging in foreign intelligence activities against Poland and committing a terrorist act of sabotage. The second suspect faces similar charges, but they have not yet been formally brought as he remains in Russia. An arrest warrant has been issued for him, along with a request for a European Arrest Warrant.

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Russia's intelligence services were behind the recent arson attacks on shopping centers in Vilnius and Warsaw, citing findings from Lithuania's prosecutor's office.

Investigators established that on May 8, 2024, the accused entered an IKEA store in Vilnius and planted an incendiary device with a timer, which went off in the early hours of May 9. "The suspect filmed the fire, disposed of his clothes and other evidence, and traveled with an accomplice to Warsaw. There, he received a BMW as a reward. He returned to Lithuania on May 13, collected equipment for a similar attack in Latvia, and took a bus to Riga the same day. He was apprehended en route," prosecutors said.

Arturas Urbelis, head prosecutor of the Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Department at Lithuania's Prosecutor General's Office, added that authorities had identified a broader terrorist group involving both Lithuanian and Russian citizens. "This group was coordinated via various social media platforms and encrypted communication tools, with instructions and orders sent directly to the perpetrators. We're talking about dozens of people across the entire chain  from planners to foot soldiers," he said.

The acts of terrorism were intended to intimidate the populations of both countries, pressure Lithuania, the European Union, and other countries into scaling back or halting support for Ukraine, and destabilize key political, economic, and social institutions. Lithuanian prosecutors have also linked the Warsaw mall arson to orders from Russian intelligence services.
by Danielle Oster , May 12, 2025

Bubly has a little something for moms disappointed by their Mothers Day gifts.

The PepsiCo seltzer brands Mothers Day Gift Glow Up campaign offers moms gifts valuing over $100,000 in total. From May 12-May 16, starting at 1 p.m. ET, the first 100 moms to visit bublygiftglowup.com will receive a gift of their choice from a list including concert tickets, a weekend getaway, or something to feel celebrated, paired with cans of Bubly, according to the brands description.

To promote the Gift Glow Up Shop, the brand launched a campaign video introducing the concept. It opens with the message, Youd think it would be the one day moms get exactly what they want, followed by a series of less-than-stellar Mothers Day gifts, like a home spa day disaster, yet another mug, or absolutely nothing, before concluding by showing moms satisfied with their gift glow ups.

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The campaign video launched across all of the brands social media channels, with paid media spending across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Bubly also partnered with popular mom influencers including Kristen Knutson, and Shawn Johnson on activations.

Moms unable to snag items from the Gift Glow Up Shop can get $2 off select purchases of $15, including wine, chocolate and self-care items.

The campaign follows PepsiCo launching a big push for Mountain Dew last week, introducing that brands refreshed visual identity, as well as Pepsi bringing The Pepsi Challenge to Coca-Colas hometown of Atlanta.
by Colin Kirkland , May 12, 2025

Days after announcing Under the Ghost at NewFronts, Snapchat kicked off the live music series with a set by rapper Kid Cudi, who performed his soon-to-be-released single, Neverland and more unreleased music for a small crowd of Snaps most viral creators, as well as what the company calls superfans.

According to Snapchat, the Under the Ghost sessions are designed as intimate in-person shows that simultaneously translate to a digital backstage pass for Snapchatters watching clips and coverage of the show on the app. Artists can use the opportunity to promote a new release, a tour, or to simply appeal to new Gen Z and Millennial audiences on Snap.

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Furthermore, advertisers are invited to sponsor individual Under the Ghost shows via full-funnel media packages, including Sponsored Snaps, creator content, Total Takeover placements and more. These advertising options will be present in future shows, Snap says.

Kid Cudis performance at Snaps Santa Monica offices included an interview as well. Cudi sat down with Snaps Head of Music Strategy, Manny Adler, to share insights about his new songs and an upcoming short film, also titled Neverland, directed by filmmaker Ti West and produced by Jordan Peeles Monkeypaw Productions.

Overall, Under the Ghost is Snaps answer to becoming an alternative home to the rise of music-related content and artist discovery opportunities on TikTok, a platform currently under threat from the U.S. government if its parent company ByteDance doesnt reach a sell-off deal.

Snapchats live studio sessions also provide new incentives for the platforms most celebrated and successful creators to push out more native content, while giving brands the chance to tap into and capitalize on culturally relevant moments.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 13, 2025

Advertisers expect Google, Microsoft and others to develop sophisticated agentic technology, but next week at one of Googles major conferences, the company could demonstrate what its developers have accomplished.

At one of Google's major events scheduled for next week, the company is likely to announce a software AI agent that will have visual features like Pinterest -- intended to inspire users when they think about topics related to fashion, design, travel, and more.

Google has reportedly demonstrated the tool to employees and select third-party developers ahead of the companys annual conference, according to a report by The Information, which suggests it could become a competitor to Pinterest.



The two major annual conferences that will take place next week include Google's developer I/O conference and Google Marketing Live focused on advertising and marketing.

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Google I/O typically announced Googles latest advancements in technology and provides developers with insights into the future.

Insights, for example, related to multimodal, which combines or integrates multiple methods like text, video, audio, and other inputs, has been a major focus for Google. A Pinterest-like features would become more visually engaging search experience.

The report said Google is testing voice-enabled interactions powered by its Gemini AI on upcoming XR devices.

Microsoft last week said it has embraced Googles recently launched open protocol for allowing agentic agents to communicate with each other, and that it will support Googles Agent2Agent (A2A) specifications, which Google released in April, to two of its AI development platforms, Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio.

The protocol powers semi-autonomous software programs to work together across clouds, apps and services. Microsoft also joined the A2A working group on GitHub to contribute to the protocol and tooling, the company explained in a blog post.

AI technology will continue to have an impact on search-related APIs. Bing in August will retire its search API, the company said. It applies to Microsoft partners still using "the F1 and S1 through S9 resources of Bing Search, or the F0 and S1 through S4 resources of Bing Custom Search," the company wrote in a blog post.

Microsoft also suggested that its customers consider "grounding with Bing Search" that allows Azure AI Agents to incorporate real-time public web data when generating responses with a large language model (LLM).
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 13, 2025

Elon Musk's X Corp. has withdrawn its ad-boycott lawsuit against Amazon's Twitch, according to court papers filed Monday with U.S. District Court Judge Jane Boyle in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The move was without prejudice, meaning that X Corp. could bring its complaint again in the future.

The withdrawal comes around four weeks after Boyle rejected a deal that would have paused the dispute until January 2026. That deal would have required Twitch to meet certain unnamed conditions by the end of the year.

Boyle refused to stay proceedings, saying in a written order that it would be inefficient to keep the matter on her docket for nine months after the parties reached a settlement.

The withdrawal notice, filed Monday, does not indicate why Musk withdrew the case -- or what conditions, if any, Twitch has promised to meet.

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The legal battle between Musk and Twitch began in November, when X Corp. added Twitch as a defendant to a lawsuit alleging that the World Federation of Advertisers and its now defunct brand safety initiative, Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), sparked a massive advertiser boycott that cost the company billions in ad revenue.

Other defendants include rsted, Mars, CVS, Abbott, Colgate, Lego, Nestle, Pinterest, Shell, and Tyson. The proceedings against them are continuing, and they are expected to file court papers today.

World Federation of Advertisers shut down GARM in August, days after the suit was filed.

Musk brought the complaint shortly 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.

The House staff report alleged that GARM colluded with others to cut ad revenue to X after Musk purchased it in October 2022.

A spokesperson for the now-shuttered GARM said at the time that the organization "enhances transparency in previously opaque practices relative to ad placements in digital social media."

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 in July.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 13, 2025

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost this week appealed an order that blocks the state from enforcing a social media law that would have restricted teens' ability to use tech platforms.

Yost has not yet yet filed substantive arguments with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which will preside over his appeal.

The law was permanently enjoined last month by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley in the Southern District of Ohio, who wrote that the statute fails to pass constitutional muster and is constitutionally infirm.

The Parental Notification By Social Media Operators Act, passed in 2023, would have prohibited some 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.

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 shows the law is based on content, and therefore violates the First Amendment.

Yost defended the statute, arguing 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 that argument, 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.

Other states including Arkansas, 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 Arkansas, Mississippi, Utah, Texas and California.
Youve got the bike. The throttle response is insane. Youre flying from 0 to 60 in just under 3 seconds on your F77. Youre not just riding; youre gliding through the city like its your racetrack. But hold up. Before that late-night ride or weekend trip to the hills, theres that one question quietly poking at the back of your mind Where am I going to charge this thing if the battery runs low? If that sounds like you, youre not alone. Ask any electric motorcycle rider in India, and theyll tell you the same thing: the fear of not finding a charging station when you need it most. But heres the truth: that fear is quickly becoming outdated. India is building its EV charging network like never before. Not just in the big cities, but in tier-2 towns, highways, tourist spots, and even petrol stations youve been stopping at for years. Lets get into exactly where these EV stations are coming up, why this change is happening now, and what it means for guys like you who ride hard and ride smart. Why the EV Charging Game is Changing Fast

 ultraviolette Lets not beat around the bush. For a long time, the EV scene in India felt like a club that only tech nerds or people in Bangalore were part of. But thats not the case anymore. Today, owning an electric bike is about performance, savings, and pride, all at once. So whats causing this sudden spike in charging network growth? 1. The Government is Finally Doing Its Job Yes, you read that right. The central government has rolled out funds to support public charging stations across the country. Theyre not just talking anymore. The implementation has started. Target? Thousands of stations in the next couple of years. 2. Private Players Are Hungry Startups and giants like Tata Power, Ather Grid, BPCL, Statiq, ChargeZone, and even Ola are fighting to dominate the EV charging market. For them, its the new fuel business. And theyre not holding back. These companies are investing in fast chargers, mobile apps, loyalty programs, and even coffee machines at EV stations. Charging is not just a service now. Its becoming an experience. 3. Demand Is Going Through the Roof The number of EVs sold in India grew by over 50% in the last year. Thats not just a trend. Thats a shift. And more EVs mean more people asking for charging points, loudly. When customers demand, businesses build. Hotspots Where Youll See More EV Charging Stations Soon

 ultraviolette Lets skip the usual "metro cities" list. You already know Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad are covered. Lets talk about the next wave, the places you didnt expect but are now rising fast as EV charging hubs. 1. National Highways & Expressways This one is a game changer. Imagine zipping down the DelhiJaipur highway on your F77, stopping just once for a fast top-up, and heading straight into the Aravallis. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is setting up fast chargers every 40-60 km across major expressways. These include:  DelhiMumbai Expressway  BangaloreChennai Highway  AhmedabadVadodara Highway  PuneGoa Highway Soon, your road trips wont revolve around where to find fuel. Theyll revolve around where the nearest DC fast charger is. 2. Tourist Hotspots Planning a ride to Manali, Ooty, or Goa? Good news. Tourist areas are getting a boost in EV infrastructure because more hotels, resorts, and even government guest houses are now adding EV chargers. Hospitality businesses know their guests are coming in with EVs, and they dont want to miss out. Pro tip: Start checking if your hotel offers EV charging before booking. Its already a filter on many hotel sites. 3. Tier-2 Cities Like Nagpur, Indore, Lucknow, Kochi Youd think smaller cities would lag, right? Wrong. Some of these cities are running pilot projects in partnership with state governments. For example:  Nagpur was the first city in India to have an electric public transport fleet and is now pushing for wider EV adoption.  Indore and Lucknow are actively promoting electric rickshaws and scooters, and setting up public chargers near markets and malls.  Kochi has launched EV-only streets in some parts of the city. And wherever e-rickshaws go, charging stations follow. 4. High-Density Housing Complexes If you live in a gated society or plan to shift into one soon, youll be surprised to know that many of them are now installing private charging bays. Builders and RWA groups are being nudged by state laws (especially in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu) to include EV-ready infrastructure. So even if you park your F77 in the basement, charging it overnight is going to be easier than ever. Whats Coming Next in the EV Charging World?

 Canva If you're wondering what's coming beyond this, here's the sneak peek: Wireless Charging Pads Just roll in, park, and your motorcycle starts charging without plugging in. These are being tested in tech parks and luxury homes. Battery Swapping (for Smaller EVs) While not yet suitable for performance bikes like the F77, battery swapping is catching on for delivery bikes and scooters. Its fast, clean, and scalable. Unified Charging App Ecosystems Soon, you wont need to download 5 different apps to find charging stations. Platforms like Bharat EV Yatra and Pulse Energy are building all-in-one apps with live station availability, booking slots, payment, and ride planning. Fast Charging Tech Standard chargers are being replaced by DC fast chargers that can power up your F77 from 20 to 80 per cent in just 2.5 hours using a Boost Charger. So, forget waiting half a day at a public charger. Were entering an era of power pit stops. What Does This Means For Riders Like You?

 ultraviolette Heres the straight talk. You're not riding an electric bike just to save the planet. You're doing it because it's smart. Its cost-efficient. It performs like a beast. And lets be honest, it looks damn good too. But for all that to make sense, the charging ecosystem around you must be solid. And now, for the first time in Indias history, it is. Youll soon be able to:  Plan a ride to the hills without carrying a charger in your backpack  Get live updates on station availability on your phone  Chill with coffee while your bike juices up  Charge at your societys parking space  Stop at petrol pumps that now offer electric fast charging This changes the whole game. No more range anxiety. Just pure riding freedom. The Bike Thats Ready For This New Era: Ultraviolette F77 SuperStreet
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rani Mukerji were in a race to be the leading Bollywood actress. But one woman was giving them more than just a run for their money, she was actually genuine competition for them. At her peak she was among the top Bollywood heroines of her generation. Who Is the Actress? Which actress are we talking about? Well, today we see her supporting the IPL team she owns from the stands with a lot of enthusiasm. Yes, we are speaking of none other than the gorgeous Preity Zinta. Her journey began with Dil Se in 1998 and Soldier was her first major hit in the same year. Films like Veer-Zaara, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Lakhsya and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in the coming years made her a popular actress.

 Dharma Productions Said No to Property Worth Rs. 600 Crore Preity is also the only actress to say no to a gift worth Rs. 600 crore. In 2011, filmmaker Shandar Amrohi, who loved her like a daughter, announced that he would leave his 600-crore wealth to Preity after he dies instead of his kids. Preity said no and later that year, he told Hindustan Times,"I am very senior to her. I had met her first in Marriott hotel where she was with her then boyfriend Ness Wadia. I told her she seems like a daughter to me, and even sent her gifts. When I got into a tiff with my siblings, someone informed her that I was in trouble. She came to my house and gave me moral support. Mujhe uske naraaz hone se koi farak nahi padta (Im not bothered about her getting upset)," he said. Whats really interesting is that after he passed away, Preity took his children to court with regards to a loan of 2 crore she gave him for medical expenses.
The Defense Forces have destroyed 10 out of 10 enemy drones that attacked Ukraine on Tuesday night, the Air Force of the Armed Forces reports.

"On the night of May 13 (from 23:00 on May 12), the enemy attacked with 10 Shahed-type strike UAVs and various types of drone imitators from Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russian Federation," the report says.

All 10 Russian drones were successfully shot down by air defense.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio blacklisted Cuba on Tuesday as a country that did not fully cooperate with U.S. counterterrorism efforts in 2024 and blasted the government in Havana for its refusal to discuss the return of people residing on the island who are charged in the U.S. for various crimes.

The State Department said in a statement there are 11 wanted fugitives harbored in Cuba, some facing terrorism-related charges, and the Cuban government made clear it was not willing to discuss their return to face justice in the United States.

Among those are William Morales, a bomb maker for a militant Puerto Rican group that bombed a New York tavern in 1975, killing four, and Joanne Chesimard, known in Cuba as Assata Shakur, convicted for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. They both escaped from prison in the U.S., eventually fleeing to Cuba, where Fidel Castro gave them refuge.

The State Department said that Cubas refusal to engage on the issue and unspecified other recent circumstances indicating non-cooperation on law enforcement matters related to terrorism made efforts to cooperate with Cuba on counterterrorism issues futile in 2024.

As Secretary Rubio stated, the regime in Cuba is an enemy of humanity, a senior State Department official said. Todays certification that Cuba is not fully cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism efforts is further proof that the Trump Administration will not turn a blind eye on countries that provide safe haven to U.S. fugitives of law.

The secretary of states annual certification to Congress of a list of not fully cooperating countries on counterterrorism efforts prohibits the sale or license to export defense articles and services to such nations.

Even if they are two separate designations, the certification of Cuba as not fully cooperating signals the country is also likely to remain designated as a state sponsoring terrorism in the foreseeable future.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump rescinded his predecessors last-minute decision to remove Cuba from the State Departments list of states that sponsor terrorism. President Joe Biden delisted Cuba as part of a deal brokered by the Vatican in exchange for Havana freeing dozens of political prisoners. That deal has since falled apart after Trump took office and Cuba stopped releasing political prisoners. Cuba also recently sent back to prison two prominent dissidents.

Cubas brief removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism was preceded by a May decision last year to no longer blacklist Cuba as not cooperating fully with anti-terrorist efforts.

In taking such a step, Biden administration officials said Cubas refusal to engage with Colombia on extradition requests for National Liberation Army, or ELN, guerrilla members who were in Havana for peace talks had supported Cubas certification in 2022. But in August 2022, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered his countrys attorney general to suspend the arrest warrants against 17 ELN commanders, including those in Cuba. Moreover, the United States and Cuba resumed law enforcement cooperation in 2023, including on counterterrorism, a State Department spokesperson said at the time.

Rubio, then a U.S. senator, criticized the administration, declaring at the time, President Biden is making it abundantly clear he wants to remove the Cuban dictatorship from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. As secretary of state he has vowed to implement a tough Cuba policy.

In addition to Cuba, Rubio has also determined that North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela do not fully cooperate with the United States on counterterrorism measures.

_____

2025 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Air Force has a new civilian leader after the Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's pick to be Air Force secretary, giving the Trump administration a full slate of service secretaries.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate voted 74-25 to confirm Troy Meink, who has been principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office since 2020.

Unlike Trump's other service secretaries, Meink brings an extensive military background to the role, garnering him considerable bipartisan support despite some questions that arose during the confirmation process about potential conflicts of interest. Still, all 25 "no" votes came from Democrats.

Read Next: Trump Orders VA to Build Homeless Veterans Center on West LA Campus

With a recent history of focusing on space policy, Meink's selection was seen as a sign of Trump's elevation of space in national security policy. As the head of the Department of the Air Force, Meink will also oversee the Space Force, the creation of which Trump considers a signature achievement of his first term in office.

During his confirmation hearing, Meink made clear that growing the 5-year-old Space Force is one of his top priorities.

"Space is critical. This is actually one of the areas that we're most challenged, I believe, from the rapidly evolving threat from China and others," Meink said at his confirmation hearing in March. "I think the key to both acquisition and operations is making sure you have the best talented workforce. These are some of the most complicated systems and, if the U.S. is going to maintain our advantage, which we need to do in space, we need to make sure we have the right workforce."

One of the first tasks facing Meink now that he's confirmed is a decision on the home of the Space Command headquarters, which has been at the center of a four-year battle between Alabama and Colorado politicians. Alabama lawmakers have said they expect Trump will move the headquarters to their home state, reversing former President Joe Biden's decision to keep it in Colorado.

As Air Force secretary, Meink will also play a key role in shepherding Trump's Golden Dome project, the ill-defined concept for a space-based missile defense shield over the U.S.

Another major program on his plate will be the Air Force's first sixth-generation fighter jet, which entered a critical phase this year with the awarding of a contract to Boeing to build the aircraft.

Meink joined the Air Force through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at South Dakota State University in 1988. His military career also included time as a KC-135 Stratotanker navigator and instructor and as a lead test engineer for the Missile Defense Agency.

In between his current role at the National Reconnaissance Office, or NRO, and a previous stint there, he served as deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space during the Obama administration. As principal deputy director of the NRO, he has been responsible for day-to-day management of the office that oversees the U.S. intelligence community's network of spy satellites.

During the confirmation process, Meink faced questions about allegations of favoritism toward SpaceX, the company and government contractor owned by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk.

In February, Reuters reported that a government watchdog investigated allegations that Meink used his role at the NRO to steer a multibillion-dollar contract toward SpaceX.

In written answers to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Meink also revealed that Musk sat in on his interview for the Air Force secretary job, Politico reported last month.

Two Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed Meink on the Reuters report in a letter ahead of his confirmation hearing, but concerns about any ties to Musk were not raised at the hearing itself.

Related: Signal Scandal Overshadows Confirmation Hearing for Air Force Secretary, Other Top Pentagon Nominees
KYIV, Ukraine  Russia launched 10 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Tuesday, in the smallest drone bombardment this year as the warring countries prepare for possible peace talks in Turkey.

The Kremlin hasnt directly responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys challenge for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to meet him in person at the negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday.

Zelenskyy will not be meeting with any Russian officials in Istanbul other than Putin, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said Tuesday on a YouTube show run by prominent Russian journalists in exile.

Lower-level talks would amount to simply dragging out any peace process, Podolyak said. European leaders have recently accused Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he attempts to press his bigger armys battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.

Russia effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire demanded by Ukraine and Western European leaders from Monday, when it fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine. Putin instead offered direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted a Russian delegation would be in Istanbul without preconditions.

Both sides are preparing a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, where a war of attrition has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said Monday that Russia is quickly replenishing front-line units with new recruits to maintain the battlefield initiative.

Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the U.S. and European leaders but offered direct talks with Ukraine.

Putin has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government, especially Zelenskyy himself, saying his term expired last year. Under Ukraines constitution, it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while its under martial law, as it now is.

In a further complication, a Ukrainian decree from 2022 rules out negotiations with Putin.

But the U.S. has been applying stiff pressure on both sides since President Donald Trump came to power with a promise to end the war.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Monday with the top diplomats from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland, who were meeting in London, to assess the way forward for a ceasefire and path to peace in Ukraine, spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

Those European countries had pledged further sanctions on Russia if it didnt comply with a full ceasefire that Ukraine had accepted from Monday, but they made no announcement of additional punitive measures.
With 2,400 Veterans Affairs employees fired by the Trump Administration, and DOGE plans to cut about 80,000 more, the uncertainty of jobs and services has left Wisconsin veterans on edge.

As veterans concerns about the impact of these cuts continue to grow, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin hosted a roundtable Friday with local veterans and service providers at the Onalaska Legion Post 336.

A lot of what were seeing happen has been done in the name of efficiency.  But what were seeing actually happen couldnt be further from that goal, said Baldwin. Its creating uncertainty, anxiety, frankly, for those who dont know how its going to impact them and their mental health and their physical health and their ability to access the benefits theyve earned in service to their country.

By August, DOGE plans to cut 83,000 more jobs within the VA, according to a leaked internal VA memo.

Baldwin said the cuts will sacrifice veterans health, access to disability benefits and more for the benefit of the wealthy.

DOGE may sound like a good idea, but the reason theyre doing this is in service of finding the room in the budget to fund massive tax breaks for corporations and billionaires, said Baldwin. We should not tolerate that, especially when we make promises to the people who serve us.

While a federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trumps efforts to fire thousands of federal workers, the future of the massive cuts to several departments, including the VA, remains uncertain.

Veterans in attendance aired their concerns to Baldwin, and emphasized they already struggle with long wait times to access VA services.

Viroqua-based veteran Kate Young has struggled to even get on the line with someone for whole health resources, as she waited on an empty line for over an hour, and ultimately reached nobody.

Theres wait time just trying to get a call placed, and I cant spend my time  an hour  trying to wait for somebody to come on the line and take my call. I usually end up just hanging up and going about my day, said Young.

With further DOGE cuts impending, she and others worry the situation and accessibility to other services offered by the VA will only worsen.

For Young, the potential inability to access many VA services is personal.

Im particularly concerned about the suicide hotline. While I was in service, I did lose a fiance to suicide, and I later found myself in that same spot a few years later, said Young. When theres cuts to that, its very triggering, and Im angry that they would even do that when the suicide rate is so high in the military.

About 20,000 of the jobs cut are expected to be positions held by veterans, according to Baldwin.

Theyre doing the best work they can  many of them are veterans that have taken a second job in the system, said Lee Van Landuyt, a Hillsboro-based veteran. Theyre continuing to serve their country, and theyre not being appreciated.  This whole thing is upside down.

Veterans service officers in La Crosse and Trempealeau counties are concerned about how cuts could affect functionality and response times.

If theyre waiting eight months to schedule that appointment, that could jeopardize their health, said Jane Brannan, La Crosse County veterans service officer.

Baldwin said despite enduring many obstacles, such as federal agencies stonewalling members of Congress trying to get information, she and other representatives are trying to fight back.

We need to use the courts, we need to use the Congress, and we need to stand by our constituents as they tell their stories, said Baldwin. We need to elevate them as they bring public attention to whats happening.  I want people  to know they have power and should not just roll over and say, Were going to allow an administration to overreach, break laws, to violate the Constitution. Everybody has power to be a part of the effort to push back.

 2025 the La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wis.). Visit www.lacrossetribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ANN ARBOR, MI  The University of Michigan has announced plans to renovate and repurpose two historic houses, making them part of its Central Campus in Ann Arbor.

That includes a house at 308 E. Madison St. where World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg lived as a UM student in the 1930s and a house at 439 S. Division St. where famous playwright Arthur Miller lived as a UM student in the 1930s.

UMs board of regents is expected to approve the renovation project at its meeting Thursday, May 15.

The estimated cost is $8 million with funding to come from university reserves.

22 1 / 22 Raoul Wallenberg and the house where he lived as a University of Michigan freshman in 1931 Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Ann Arbor historians have advocated for preserving both houses.

The Wallenberg house will be moved nearly half a mile to a site next to the Miller house, UM Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Geoffrey Chatas wrote in a memo to regents, recommending proceeding with the project.

The two houses will be connected by a new 845-square-foot addition with a shared elevator for accessibility, he said.

Both houses are expected to undergo full renovations to address deferred maintenance and code compliance issues. The combined and renovated houses will provide the university with flexible administrative and dry research spaces, Chatas said.

The Arthur Miller house at 439 S. Division St. in Ann Arbor on April 18, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

The eight-bedroom house at 439 S. Division St. is where Miller first resided when he arrived on campus in 1934, before he went on to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, penning Death of a Salesman, and marrying Marilyn Monroe. The house sits empty next to UMs Institute for Social Research and UM has had no takers for it after several years of trying to get someone to save it and move it to a different location.

The other house at 308 E. Madison St. that will be moved is where Wallenberg rented a room when he first arrived in Ann Arbor in 1931 as a UM freshman.

Raoul Wallenberg's University of Michigan freshman photo. Provided by John Godfrey

Coming from a prominent Swedish family, he delighted in Ann Arbors small-town charms and tree-lined streets as he started his journey studying architecture.

He graduated with honors in 1935 and went on to become a Swedish diplomat of sorts and famously helped save tens of thousands of Jews from the Holocaust during World War II, risking his life going into Hungary and creating diplomatic passes and safe houses where Jewish people could live under Swedens protection.

He was taken by Soviet forces in 1945 and never heard from again, but his memory as a WWII hero has been preserved via movies, books, statues and in other ways, including a memorial plaza on the UM campus.

A Holocaust memorial at Raoul Wallenberg Plaza on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor on March 10, 2024. Located off Washington and Fletcher streets, it was the first Jewish cemetery in Michigan, an 1848 extension of Ann Arbor's original village burial grounds. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

The modest house where Wallenberg first lived as a UM student has an Ann Arbor historic building marker on it, designating it the Raoul Wallenberg Residence. Of the handful of places he lived as a UM student, its the last still standing.

UM wants to move it to make way for a new campus housing development on the block. The development plans require either the houses relocation or demolition this summer, Chatas said.

Raoul Wallenberg's former residence at 308 E. Madison St. in Ann Arbor on March 26, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

In order to relocate the house, a basement and foundation need to be constructed early this summer for placement of the relocated house, he said. The project scope also includes architectural, electrical and mechanical work, with Frederick Fisher Partners designing the project.

A phased construction schedule is planned to minimize disruption to the academic calendar with construction to be completed in fall 2026, Chatas said.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
The Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor on May 11, 2025, with the marquee advertising the Cinetopia Film Festival coming up May 15-18. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR, MI  Cinetopia is back.

The film festival that started in 2012 returns to the screens of the Michigan Theater and State Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor for a four-day run from Thursday through Sunday, May 15-18.

Presented by Marquee Arts as the best films from the worlds best festivals, the lineup includes over two dozen films, including documentaries, narrative features and shorts.

Before Thursdays official kickoff, there will be a special festival preview screening Wednesday of the new comedy Friendship, starring Paul Rudd and metro Detroit native Tim Robinson, known for Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave.

The movie is about a budding friendship that spirals into chaos. It plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Michigan Theater.

The Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor on May 12, 2025, with the marquee advertising the Cinetopia Film Festival coming up May 15-18. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com) Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Lady Parts, another film with a Michigan connection, will make its Michigan premiere, showing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Michigan Theater and 9:30 p.m. Friday at the State Theatre.

Made by Ann Arbors own director Nancy Boyd and producer Meghan Griesbeck, both alums of Madonna University in Livonia, its about a woman who is on the verge of breaking into her dream career in Los Angeles and is forced to move back in with her parents and undergo surgery for vaginal pain.

Boyd and Griesbeck will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A with lead actress Valentina Tammaro.

The White House Effect, one of the documentaries showing, was produced by University of Michigan graduate Noah Stahl and examines the political discussion and lack of action on climate change during the George H.W. Bush administration in the late 80s and early 90s.

It plays at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre and 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Michigan Theater and will be presented with the Michigan-made short Go Down River.

Another documentary, 1969: Killers, Freaks and Radicals, examines the radical politics and cultural upheaval of the late 1960s and murders targeting young women in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Director Andrew Templeton, a metro Detroit native, will appear with the films creative team for a post-film Q&A when it shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Michigan Theater.

Also on the lineup are international films such as My Sunshine, Sister Midnight, The Spin, Where The Wind Comes From and Queens of Drama, and documentaries like New Wave, The Librarians, How to Build a Library, Mr. Nobody Against Putin and John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office.

Vulcanizadora, from Michigan indie maverick Joel Potrykus, is a slow-burn thriller following two friends deep into a forest. It plays at 10:15 p.m. Friday at the Michigan Theater and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre.

A series of Michigan-made shorts will show at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Michigan Theater.

See the full schedule, buy passes and learn about other festival events at Marquee-Arts.org/Cinetopia.

New John Lennon and Yoko Ono film documents slice of Ann Arbor history

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A 26-year-old man was killed Monday evening after his car collided head-on with a semitruck. File photo. Jake May | MLive.com

SUPERIOR TWP, MI  A 26-year-old man was killed Monday evening when his car collided head-on with a tractor-trailer.

The man, of Whitmore Lake, had been traveling in the wrong direction on eastbound M-14 when he crashed into the truck, Michigan State Police said. The crash occurred around 11:05 p.m. May 12 near Vorhies Road in Superior Township northeast of Ann Arbor.

The man was pronounced dead on scene. The 25-year-old Ontario man driving the tractor-trailer had minor injuries, police said.

It is unclear if the man crossed the median or began driving the wrong direction some other way, said Rene Gonzalez, Michigan State Police spokesperson.

Roughly 100 gallons of diesel fuel were spilled in the crash, said Capt. Jeff French with the Superior Township Fire Department. Crews have since cleaned the spill.

The crash closed the freeway until roughly 5 a.m., according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The scene was cleared around 2:30 a.m., French said.

Police believe alcohol and drugs were a factor in the crash, although it is still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Michigan State Police at 810-227-1051.

Fire crews from Superior and Ann Arbor townships aided the state police.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
University of Michigan Regent Sarah Hubbard during the Michigan Medicine Womens Health Luncheon at Michigan Central in Detroit on Thursday, April 24 2025. Chloe Miller | MLive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI - A University of Michigan regent and Lansing lobbyist has recused herself from negotiations with Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan amid questions of alleged conflict of interest.

Democratic regents such as Jordan Acker expressed concern over Regent Sarah Hubbard, a Republican and former board chair, and her business ties to the health insurer through her lobbying firm Acuitas. Acker called for an investigation into Hubbard in a Monday night story by The Detroit News.

The universitys health system is currently negotiating reimbursement rates for medical services with Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan. A rate hike could cost the health insurer hundreds of millions of dollars in increased costs.

Hubbard co-owns Acuitas, which Blue Cross Blue Shield has disclosed as a client for state government lobbying in Secretary of State filings. The health insurer confirmed it has worked with Hubbard for many years prior to her election to regent in 2020.

Her firm has no involvement in any contract negotiations on our behalf, a spokesperson told MLive/The Ann Arbor News. Blue Cross has not received any information from Sarah regarding Michigan Medicines position on reimbursement negotiations and we understand that she has recused herself from any such discussions going forward.

Hubbard said she and other board members do not sit at the negotiating table with the health insurer. While she attended some preliminary discussions regarding the universitys relationship with the insurer, she said she has taken no votes nor been involved in any decisions regarding negotiations.

She decided to recuse herself anyways. A University of Michigan spokesperson confirmed Hubbard officially recused herself on May 9.

My first loyalty is always to the University of Michigan, and I do not wish to be a distraction, she said.

Regent Mike Behm said he found out about Hubbards ties to Blue Cross Blue Shield on Friday, so he called her. Behm chairs and Hubbard serves on the boards health affairs committee.

Hubbard told him she previously publicly disclosed her firms work for the health insurer. Nonetheless, she obviously understood the appearance of impropriety, Behm said.

Therefore, he said she officially recused herself from any discussions involving Blue Cross Blue Shield, sending a note on May 9 to university secretary Jon Kinsey.

Michigan Medicine, one of the states largest health care systems, has a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield through its Domestic Student Health Plan. The health insurer also has more than 5 million members, according to its website.

Hubbard listed Blue Cross Blue Shield as one of her firms clients in a 2020 profile on Crains Detroit Business.

A regent has a conflict of interest if there is an existing or potential financial or other interest which impairs or might appear to impair the regents ... independence of judgment in the discharge of responsibilities to the university, according to board rules.

Prompt and full disclosures of potential conflicts by the regents are required to be sent to the boards secretary, rules state.

Hubbard described the criticism of her ties to Blue Cross Blue Shield as politically motivated. She and Regent Carl Meyers are the two Republicans versus six Democrats on the board.

This is a political attack from those frustrated with recent developments at UM, she said. The bottom line is that I have zero involvement with BCBSM on contract negotiations and my limited work with BCBSM has been well-known for years.

It is unclear what recent developments Hubbard referred to. Santa Ono stepped down as university president on May 4, and the regents accepted his resignation on May 8. UM-Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso is expected to have his appointment to interim president accepted on May 15.

Read more: Hell be missed: New University of Michigan president admired by Dearborn faculty

Hubbard pointed to many fellow board members having clients in their private business practices. However, she did not specify a board member nor a specific business relationship.

Some business relationships have helped university developments. Regent Denise Ilitch is part of the Detroit Ilitch family whose Ilitch Holdings firm helped facilitate the deal for the $250 million University of Michigan Center for Innovation.

Former Regent Ron Weiser also saw some criticism over his McKinley Inc. property management firm buying dozens of properties for eventual demolition to make room for a university dorm complex.

Read more: No conflict of interest in University of Michigan dorm project, legal expert says

Hubbard reiterated that she feels she has no conflict of interest with Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan.

I have voluntarily recused myself to avoid any distractions as the university goes through this transition process, she said.

If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not meet with anyone in Istanbul except Vladimir Putin, adviser to the head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak said on The Breakfast Show on Wednesday.

"No, of course not. Well, that's not the format," Podoliak said, answering the question of whether Zelenskyy would meet with another Russian representative if Putin did not come to the meeting.

Podoliak said a possible bilateral meeting in Istanbul at a lower level would be pointless, saying even people with the formal status of ministers are unlikely to discuss fundamental issues or have the authority to make decisions.
Flint residents in precinct 25 cast their ballots at Flint City Hall in this MLive file photo. (Nico Mendoza | MLive.com)

(This story has been updated with information from the city of Flint.)

FLINT, MI -- A Texas political activist charged with disorderly conduct after a protest outside Mayor Sheldon Neeleys home last week is making plans to return on June 1 -- this time with hundreds of additional demonstrators.
A Genesee County Sheriffs Department vehicle is shown in this Flint Journal file photo. Cody Scanlan

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson says a new search and rescue K9 that the department wants to purchase would bring a new set of skills to the field.
Ashes and debris clutter the front door on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Homeboy Barbecue in Clayton Township. The fire to Homeboy Barbecue broke out in the evening of May 6. Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com

CLAYTON TWP., MI -- Marina Kimball kept Homeboy Barbeque alive after her husband, Larry, died suddenly in 2022.

Three years later, shes still refusing to let the business they built together close after a devasting May 6 fire destroyed the Beecher Road building they operated from.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI  One man is dead and another in critical condition following a head-on crash Monday morning in Richfield Township.

Township police responded to the scene of the crash, on North State Road near East Coldwater Road, at around 10:12 a.m. on Monday, May 12.

It was determined that a 36-year-old man from Lapeer had been driving north on North State Road in a 2005 Ford Taurus and crossed the center line.

The Taurus then crashed into a southbound 2001 Chevrolet Trailblazer being driven by a 30-year-old man from Richfield Township.

The man from Lapeer was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The Richfield Township man suffered injuries to his abdomen as the result of the crash and was transported by ambulance to Hurley Medical Center. He is listed in critical condition, police said.

Speed is believed to have been a factor and the possible use of illegal substances is also being investigated.

Officers from the Davison City Police Department, Davison Township Police Department, Otisville Police and the Genesee County Sheriffs Office also assisted on scene, along with personnel from the Davison/Richfield Fire Department and the Forest Township Fire Department.

The road was closed for approximately 4 hours.

The crash remains under investigation. If anybody has any information that would be helpful with the investigation, they are asked to reach out to the Richfield Township Police Department at 810-653-3565.
FLINT, MI -- Moments after Horace Peterson learned his 52 years of incarceration were coming to an end, he looked into the courtrooms gallery, cracked a smile and waved to his 11-year-old great grandson.

Peterson thanked the court for reuniting him with the family whos worked tirelessly to free the man who they say was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton and defense attorney Michael Manley signed a joint petition to ask the court to vacate Petersons prior conviction.

He was convicted on a first-degree murder charge.

Peterson, 72, tagged along to a Flint music store with his friend, Nathaniel Porter, in 1973.

During an attempted robbery, Porter shot and killed 20-year-old employee Laurie Snyder.

Porter, who changed his name to Nathaniel Owusu, wrote in a November 2020 letter to Petersons family that Peterson wasnt involved in the robbery and the killing was accidental.

His conviction came just years before the Michigan Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to issue first-degree murder charges without proving malice or intent.

As Petersons family continued to fight for his freedom, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in April that 19- and 20-year-olds who commit first-degree murder cannot automatically be sentenced to life in prison.

That opened the door for Peterson to be freed.

Related: Michigan man imprisoned for over 50 years maintains innocence, new documentary tells his story

Prosecutors and attorneys worked together on a plea agreement that would allow Peterson to be released immediately.

They asked Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Brian S Pickell to vacate Petersons prior conviction, then consider a no contest plea to second-degree murder with a minimum sentence of 25 and maximum sentence of 40 with credit for time served.

He paid a steep price for being int he wrong place at the wrong time, Michael Manley, who represented Peterson, told the court during a resentencing hearing on Tuesday, May 13 in front of Pickell. ... He just wants to go home to his family.

Peterson is now eligible for immediate release from the Michigan Department of Corrections.

He became eligible for release a day before his daughter Onquette Woodyards 55th birthday.

Theres no better birthday gift than bringing her dad home, she said.

We did it, Onquette told assembled reporters.

Onquette and her son, Eric Woodyard, worked tirelessly for Petersons release.

They partnered with a New York-based filmmaker to create a documentary about his story.

Related: Flint family pushes for clemency for loved one who has served nearly 50 years in prison

Leyton told the story of Eric, a former MLive-The Flint Journal reporter, coming to his office to tell him about Petersons story.

The prosecutor said after he spoke with Eric and Owusu, he was sure it was time for Mr. Peterson to come home.

A day doesnt go by without Peterson thinking about and praying for Laurie Snyder, the victim in the 1973 shooting, he told those gathered in the courtroom.

I have a very passionate heart for Laurie, Peterson said. ... I wish her family the absolute best.

The courtroom was full of loving family members eager to reconnect with Peterson, who they have stuck by throughout his incarceration.

Ethan Woodyard, 11, shared a moment with his great grandfather immediately after the hearing concluded.

Peterson turned, smiled and waved to Ethan, who said he was eager to spend time with him upon his release.

I just want to send him love, Ethan said. It felt good just to see everybody joyful and to see him joyful  it just means a lot to me.

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Pictured is Grand Rapids chef Jenna Arcidiacono standing outside of The Jennifer Hudson Show ahead of the taping last month. (Photo/Jenna Arcidiacono) Jenna Arcidiacono

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Popular Grand Rapids-area chef Jenna Arcidiacano will appear on The Jennifer Hudson Show later this month.

Arcidiacono owns the popular Amore Trattoria Italiana restaurant alongside her husband, Maurizio, in Comstock Park.

She is set to be on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Thursday, May 22. It will air from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

I didnt know Id be on it until a few days before (taping), Arcidiacono told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Im glad they told me, though, because you need a proper outfit and everything to be on national television.

The journey to Hollywood started when Arcidiacono was nominated earlier this year for the local West Michigan Remarkable Women award hosted by Nexstar Media Group.

125 women from across the nation met in Hollywood for the award ceremony in April, and she was a regional nominee.

But little did Arcidiacono know shed get another life-changing moment in the coming days.

While still in California, she got a call from The Jennifer Hudson Show.

In a matter of hours, she was bused to the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, California, along with the 124 other women, preparing to walk down the viral spirit tunnel before talking with Jennifer Hudson herself.

A fan-favorite tradition, the spirit tunnel allows guests to have a grand entrance by the show staff, complete with clapping, high-fives, dancing and singing.

They made us all feel like stars, Arcidiacono said. It was just a really good vibe and a happy, happy place. Thats what Jennifer Hudson calls it: her happy place. It was amazing.

In celebration of her appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Arcidiacono will host a watch party from 9:55 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. on May 22 at Bridge Street Bar in Grand Rapids.

Better known as Chef Jenna across Michigan, shes been leaving her mark since opening her and her husbands restaurant at 5080 Alpine Ave. NW, in 2010.

Their focus on creating an outstanding customer experience has made them a favorite dining destination in West Michigan, even being named in 2018 as one of the top Italian restaurants in Michigan.

Chef Jenna has also made strides to support the local community since the COVID-19 pandemic through her nonprofit, Food Hugs.

She began delivering meals in 2020 to area first responders, hospitals, and those who just needed a slice of positivity during those times of uncertainty.

Because of the success, she began offering another initiative, Tip Back Thursdays. Since then, Food Hugs has given $1,000 tips to local restaurant workers at least 70 times, with the most recent one going viral.

To stay updated on when and where to watch Chef Jenna on The Jennifer Hudson Show, visit her Facebook page.

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BLACKMAN TWP., MI  It is still a mystery to Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety Officer Chandler Fryt what drew him to work in law enforcement when he was a child.

It just felt right, and he always wanted to help people, he said.
JACKSON, MI  Wrecking balls could soon start swinging at a condemned, fire-stricken facility on Jacksons north side.

The Jackson County Land Bank Authority approved a $483,000 contract in March with North American Dismantling Corp. to handle the first phase of demolition at the vacant industrial complex at the corner of West North and Hamilton streets.
Lifeguards dove into the water and made their way back to the beach in a series of rescue drills. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com)

SOUTH HAVEN, MI  The word lifeguard was uttered 23 times at the latest South Haven City Council meeting in early May.

But when it comes to paying for a new lifeguard program, questions remain.
Glenn Lee Brown, 15, was last seen walking into a wooded area behind Pennfield High School in Battle Creek, Michigan, on Thursday, May 7, 2025, according to Calhoun County sheriffs deputies. As of Monday, May 12, he has not been heard from. Provided by Calhoun County Sheriff's Office

CALHOUN COUNTY, MI  Authorities are asking for help locating a 15-year-old last seen leaving a Battle Creek high school on Thursday, May 7.

Glenn Lee Brown, 15, was last seen walking into a wooded area behind Pennfield High School, according to Calhoun County sheriffs deputies.

An extensive search, which included the use of drones, has been done in the area.

As of Monday, May 12, Glenn has not made contact with family or friends and does not have a cellphone in his possession, deputies said.

Brown is described as a white male with blond hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds.

Anyone with information about Browns whereabouts is asked to contact Lt. Benjamin Hess at 269-781-0880 or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.
Markarova on US bill on sanctions against Russia: Were grateful to every senator who supports it

Since its introduction, 72 senators from both parties have already joined the American bipartisan bill on sanctions against Russia, said Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova.

Thank you Lindsey Graham for your exceptionally important bipartisan piece of legislation Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 originally co-sponsored by 51 senators on the both sides of the aisle, Markarova said on X Monday.

She noted that since the introduction of Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 in early April the total number of its co-sponsors raised to 72. Were grateful to each US senator who endorsed this significant legislation for strong bipartisan support as Ukraine & the United States are committed to the cause of peace! the ambassador stressed.
A view of the exterior of the former Wenona School. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com) Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BAY CITY, MI  Bids are being sought for the former Wenona School building on the citys West Side, a structure that has been vacant for nearly 10 years.

The Bay County Land Bank Authority took ownership of the former school, located at 313 Wenona Ave., in 2020. It is seeking bids for the property, with the minimum bid starting at $3,500. Bidding closes on June 11.

The public bidding process works differently than an auction, where the highest bidder is selected. Once bids are sought, the land bank may choose from the bidders based on the price they offer, the feasibility of their plans and how it fits with the neighborhood. The land bank may also choose not to unload the property.

There has been a little momentum over there, so hopefully we can build on that, Bay County Treasurer Weston Prince said.

According to MLive archives, the school opened in the 1960s and was abandoned in 2006. Over the years, the building became a target for vandalism.

Originally owned by Bay City Public Schools, the district attempted to sell the property previously but claimed offers made did not meet the financial worth of the building.

Prince said the plan was always to find someone interested in redeveloping the property.

The land bank had accepted bids to redevelop the property, but none were financially feasible given the costs involved with demolishing the existing building.

The building has a fair amount of asbestos, Prince noted, and the land bank sought funding through local legislators to support demolishing the structure.

Despite receiving $750,000 through Congressman Dan Kildee for the demolition of the Wenona building as well as the former McKinley School, both buildings were reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office and deemed historically relevant to Bay County due to their age and unique infrastructure.

That roadblock led the land bank to once again revisit the possibility of redevelopment and a public bid process.

We are still exploring ways to complete the demolition of McKinley school, Prince said.

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The Brady Township property of Thomas W. Van Buren, shown with a fence surrounding it. Cole Waterman

SAGINAW, MI  A Brady Township man has filed a federal lawsuit against local officials, claiming they duped him into allowing them onto his property whenever they want.

Attorney Philip L. Ellison on April 23 filed the suit on behalf of Thomas W. Van Buren, naming Brady Township, Trustee and Enforcement Officer Gregory Corrin, township attorney Adam Flory, and Saginaw County Sheriffs Deputy Thomas Latty as defendants.

The whole gist of this suit is basically about the role of government coming onto your property, Ellison said. Im trying to bring some sanity to this area of law.

The lawsuit emerged out of a cottage industry of officials citing residents for violating antiquated ordinances, in turn generating revenue for the township, Ellison said.

The residents will come into court and agree to settle for a nominal amount of money, but in exchange, they agree to a court order that (township officials) can come onto your property whenever and for however long, Ellison said.

The problem arises once residents revoke their consent and the government wont get off their back, Ellison said.

Its a trick. Its a way to get around search warrants, he said. From the governments perspective, its a system that works if the property owner is tricked into giving up his Fourth Amendment rights.

Click here to read the entire lawsuit.

Van Buren has resided at 17672 S. Oakley Road since 2004. He operates TJ Customs from the site, performing custom paint jobs, collision work, autobody modifications, and detailing.

The township in 2024 empowered Corrin and Flory to enforce long-dormant ordinances that have been unenforced and notably underenforced for decades, seemingly to generate revenue through fines, the suit alleges.

Camera footage showing Brady Township Trustee and Enforcement Officer Gregory Corrin, attorney Adam Flory, and Saginaw County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Latty allegedly enter the property of Brady Township resident Thomas W. Van Buren on April 23, 2025. Cole Waterman

Corrin in late 2024 issued Van Buren a citation for allegedly violating the townships blight ordinance. Van Buren thereafter appeared in court for a hearing on the matter, the suit alleges.

Van Buren agreed to accept liability and pay a $75 fine. He also agreed to let township officials visit his property for future inspections.

After doing so, Van Buren reconsidered his decision, thinking it might go against his Fourth Amendment right protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. Van Buren was not accompanied by an attorney when he made the agreement, the suit states.

Van Burens property is enclosed by a tall wooden fence, preventing public view of any potential blight, the suit alleges. Ellison on April 18 sent a notice to Flory, saying Van Buren was withdrawing his consent for agents to visit his property without a warrant. He warned Flory that if officials set foot on Van Burens property without a warrant, he would file a federal lawsuit.

Despite this, Corrin, Flory and Deputy Latty on the afternoon of April 23 forcibly and permissionlessly visited Van Burens property. Video cameras captured the trios visit, which Ellison described as an illegal and unconstitutional violation.

Van Buren alleges the township is attempting to seize his property and shut down his business.

The suit contains one count, that being Fourth Amendment violations. Ellison is asking the courts to declare the defendants violated Van Burens rights and to enter an award for applicable damages and attorney fees.

It goes to the heart of the role government can play in coming onto your property, Ellison said of the suit. The courts have held you can revoke your consent to let government come onto your property at any time. Theyre saying you cant ever revoke your consent. Thats the legal issue at play in this lawsuit.

MLive could not reach Brady Township attorney Flory for comment.

Is blight the stuff republics stand and fall on? Ellison rhetorically asked. No, but it does stand on the notion government cant go on your property without your consent.

The suits next court date is pending.

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Bay City TSC Manager Steve Katenhus explains how the Lafayette Bridge works in Bay City in 2023. Parts of the bridge, which is being demolished, have begun arriving at the Bridge Component Gallery at Purdue University, a multi-acre corridor of full-scale bridge structures, pieces of complete structures and individual bridge components, where it will be studied and used for training. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

BAY CITY, MI  In West Lafayette, Indiana, there exists a farm many acres long, comprised of large steel structures. It grows a little each year, thanks to donations from states around the nation, coast to coast. Its not sprouting green vegetation, but rather amassing ghosts of the nations infrastructure. And soon, part of Bay City will be joining this concrete patch.

Portions of Bay Citys Lafayette Bridge have begun arriving at the Bridge Component Gallery at Purdue University, a multi-acre corridor of full-scale bridge structures, pieces of complete structures and individual bridge components.

Similar centers exist for aircraft, ships and other industries. But theres nothing like this elsewhere for the steel bridge industry, according to Robert J. Connor, an associate professor in civil engineering at Purdue and director of S-BRITE (Steel Bridge Research, Inspection, Training and Engineering).

Believe it or not, no one teaches bridge engineering at the university level, Connor said. Its always buildings. I mean, we do that, too. Its always buildings. But bridges are very unique.

Parts of the Lafayette Bridge were set aside upon the structures demolition, part of a $112 million project that will take until at least summer 2027 to complete.

MDOT officials have said the new structure will be safer, more reliable and will also include a new 8-foot-wide shared-use path.

Upon being set aside, the slabs of bridge were transported to Purdueon the dime of the S-BRITE programand will be reformed in the programs component gallery.

Connor said the gallery does not currently include any moveable or bascule-style bridges.

So, this was a great opportunity for us to get some of the details that are tricky to inspect, he said.

The pieces will be part of a hands-on learning opportunity for students at Purdue. Since the bridge components are not in service and are in more accessible conditions, costly traffic control and extensive fall protection are not required during training.

But that doesnt mean the bridge components arent situated in a way that they show real world conditions.

Imagine youre an undergraduate student, and someones trying to talk to you about steel design, or how stresses flow through something, Connor said. Its always conceptual. Its always a picture. Its always a drawing. I can tell you when I take our students down there, and they walk up to a girder thats 25 feet deep, or they walk up to these components from this bridge from Michigan, and they see the scale, they see the size. It sparks their interest.

Parts from the Lafayette Bridge will be joining 33 other bridge components from around the nation. More than 20 states have partnered with S-BRITE and have provided bridge components to be studied.

From Michigan, there is also the Indian Trail Road Bridge, a truss bridge built over the Belle River in 1937 and replaced in 2007 due to old age and deteriorating conditions. It arrived at S-BRITE in 2015, a donation from Calhoun County.

The bridge components, the Lafayette Bridge now included, all help future researchers and bridge inspectors get a real world look at conditions they may see down the road when doing the job for real.

I really applaud the states who support us, because we can help them, but we can also help train the next generation of people, Connor said. We have this unique facility, and were trying to build on that at Purdue to have a bridge engineering program.

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State Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, is under fire for what critics say was a racist speech on the House floor targeting immigrants. (Michigan House of Representatives) Michigan House of Representatives

State Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, is under fire for what critics say was a racist speech on the House floor targeting immigrants.

Schriver, in a floor speech on May 1, shared a quote questioning the loyalty of foreign-born people in America and alleged that immigrants from majority non-white continents arent integrating.

The largest population transfer in history is coming from all the races in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and they are not acclimating, they are not melting and they are not reforming to the American way of life, Schriver said. This is something that needs to be addressed. Sanctuary cities are harboring these illegal aliens.

The floor speech came ahead of a vote on a Republican bill package to withhold state dollars from local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Schriver said sanctuary cities are eroding the foundation of our nation.

Related: Sanctuary cities would lose all state revenue sharing money under Michigan House plan

House Democrats on Tuesday, May 13, introduced a resolution to censure Schriver. A censure is a formal expression of the chambers disapproval.

Democrats also called on House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, to denounce the remarks. To pass the resolution, Democrats will need to enlist members of the Republican House majority.

Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, D-Canton, said Schriver used the House floor to amplify white supremacy, xenophobia and hate, calling the comments an attack on families like his. Puri is the son of immigrants.

Rep. Schriver also specifically singled out countries whose people are overwhelmingly black, brown and non-white, not once mentioning European nations or white immigrants, said Puri. Thats not a coincidence. Thats racism, plain and simple. He didnt just invoke racist tropes. He leaned into dangerous great replacement theory, suggesting that immigrants of color are here to erase American identity.

Thats not policy. Thats paranoia rooted in white supremacy.

Schriver did not return a request for comment.

Schriver was punished last session in February 2024 after he shared a social media post in that endorsed the great replacement theory. Thats a far right, racist conspiracy alleging theres a concerted effort to replace white Americans through demographic shifts.

Democrats held the House majority last session and stripped Schriver of his committee assignments, reassigned his legislative staff and withdrew his offices budget.

Related: Michigan lawmaker stripped of committees, staff after endorsing racist conspiracy theory

Once again, I find myself standing here in front of you having to address hateful, dangerous, bigoted rhetoric from Josh Schriver, said state Rep. Jason Hoskins, D-Southfield. And once again, House Democrats are taking action to hold Representative Schriver accountable.

Hoskins called it a dereliction of duty that Republican House leadership allowed a member to spew hateful and blatantly racist rhetoric on the House floor without consequence.

Hall said Tuesday he hadnt heard Schrivers floor speech. After a reporter paraphrased the remarks to the speaker, Hall didnt say whether hed join with Democrats in the censure.

The people of Michigan had a chance to vote on the issue of Josh Schriver, and they reelected him by a lot in a primary and a general, Hall said. And so were looking at it and saying, People know Josh Schriver, they know about statements hes made and theyve decided to put him back by a lot, by a big margin.

Schriver won reelection last year with 64.7% of the vote in the Republican primary and 65.3% of the vote in the general election, according to the Oakland County Clerks Office. He was first elected to office in 2022.

Hall didnt condemn Schrivers remarks but noted hes disagreed with the representative before on speech.

Even though we might have differences at times in how we talk and how we communicate, and Ive expressed some of those in the past where him and I disagreed, Hall said of Schriver. I appreciate that hes working as a member of our team.
President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 13 announced a $600 billion strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States, part of a series of what he called transformative deals secured in Saudi Arabia.

Those deals include a $5.8 billion investment by a healthcare company, Shamekh IV Solutions, that Trump said will spend a portion in Michigan.

Its not yet clear how much of the $5.8 billion is planned for the state.

Not much information is available about the company online. The only contact information listed on its website is a Wilmington, Delaware address.

Requests for comment to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office were not returned as of the time of publication. Shamekh IV Solutions could not be reached.

Trump said only that the investment will include a plant in Michigan to launch a high-capacity IV fluid facility.

The second-term president began a four-day Middle East trip on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on economic agreements.

RELATED: Saudi crown prince welcomes Trump as he begins 4-day Middle East tour

In his fact sheet announcement shared Tuesday morning, Trump described the $600 billion investment as one creating economic ties that will endure for generations and representing a new golden era of partnership between the two countries.

The first deals under the announcement strengthen our energy security, defense industry, technology leadership and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals.

Among those mentioned by Trump is the $5.8 billion healthcare industry investment by Shamekh IV Solutions, LLC, an intravenous fluid (IV) manufacturer.

In a May 13 press release, the company said the investment is part of a global plan for a series of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities aligned with Trumps May 5 executive order, which aims to increase domestic production of pharmaceuticals by reviewing regulations.

The LLC said the first of the planned facilities will be established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with groundbreaking scheduled for the fall of 2025.

By establishing state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Saudi Arabia and across the Americas, we are reducing dependency on fragile global supply networks and ensuring a resilient, reliable flow of essential medical products, the company wrote.

It does not mention how much will be invested in Michigan.

The release includes mention of Detroit. A separate LinkedIn account for the company has a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan address listed.

The companys chairman, Dr. Stephen Shaya, also has ties to Michigan.

Hes affiliated with J & B Medical, a medical equipment supplier in Wixom, Michigan, as the companys executive servant leader. He also received his bachelors and doctorate degrees from Wayne State University.

In its press release, Shamekh IV Solutions pledged to prioritize hiring and training local talent and investing in workforce development programs.

The investment announcements by Trump also include a nearly $142 billion defense sales agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to provide weapons equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms.
A Michigan Court of Claims judge has struck down state laws mandating a 24-hour waiting period for an abortion, requiring anyone seeking an abortion to receiving counseling and limiting the ability of nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants to perform the procedure.

Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel ruled Tuesday that the laws violated the Reproductive Freedom for All amendment to Michigans Constitution approved by voters in 2022, which states in part that An individuals right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, burdened, nor infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.
If youre looking to add to your Owala ohana, say Aloha to these two designs.

The water bottle brand is launching a Lilo & Stitch collection on Tuesday, May 13, at noon ET.

Owalas launch includes a FreeSip bottle modeled after each of the characters in this iconic duo. Heres what we know.

Lilo Owala 32 oz. FreeSip Lilo Owala bottle - $39.99 Buy Now

Lilos Owala will be a 32-ounce FreeSip bottle, priced at $39.99. It will match the Hawaiian natives red dress, accented with white palm leaves. The lid is red with a white rim.

Stitchs Owala matches the cute and fluffy characters torso for $34.99. Its a 24-ounce FreeSip bottle that features the blues and light purple of Experiment 626.

Stitch Owala 24 oz. FreeSip Stitch Owala bottle - $34.99 Buy Now

For an extra splash of fun, the two bottles are available as a bundle for $74.98.

Owala releases regularly sell out within minutes, so be ready on the website ahead of launch time. Celebrate this iconic duos theatrical return early with Owalas new designs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed chief commander Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk from the Commander-in-Chief Staff Headquarters.

Corresponding decree No. 304 was published on the presidential website.

"In accordance with Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine On the Defense of Ukraine, based on the proposal of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, I decree ... to remove chief commander I. Havryliuk from the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief Headquarters," the text of the decree states.

The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.

As reported, Lieutenant General Havryliuk remains in the Ministry of Defense team, and his new area of responsibility will be announced soon.

In October 2023, Ivan Havryliuk was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense for Military-Technical Policy. In the Ministry of Defense, Havryliuk directly coordinated the procurement direction. He was appointed to the post of First Deputy Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov on May 17, 2024.

In April-August 2022, Havryliuk was the chairman of the Ukrainian working group at the aid coordination center in Germany. Before that, he served as the head of the Main Logistics Directorate and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From April 2015 to March 2018, Havryliuk was in charge of the Rear Services of the Armed Forces
63% of Indian accountants want to start their own business: Survey report

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Aamir Khan pays tribute to Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor': 'Saluting the heroes of..'

M Snehanjali

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Alia Bhatt makes a touching post for Indian soldiers, writes: 'behind every uniform is a mother who hasn't slept either'

Sarika Sharma

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Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and diplomatic adviser to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Fabrizio Saggio discussed, in particular, the progress of consultations with partners on the implementation of a 30-day ceasefire.

"I have had a telephone conversation with Fabrizio Saggio, diplomatic adviser to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. I expressed my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, for participating in the meeting of the leaders of the countries of the coalition of the willing, which took place in Kyiv in a mixed format - offline and online," Yermak wrote on his Telegram channel on Tuesday.

Yermak noted that Meloni's "clear and principled" position in support of Ukraine "is extremely important for us at this crucial time."

According to him, Yermak also informed Saggio about the conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. "It opens up new opportunities for moral and diplomatic influence to achieve a just peace," Yermak noted.

"We also discussed the progress of consultations with partners on the initiative to introduce an unconditional 30-day ceasefire regime - as a step towards implementing the Ukrainian Peace Formula," he added.

Yermak noted Italy's unwavering support from the first day of Russia's full-scale aggression. "The strength of Ukrainian-Italian relations is an example of a true strategic partnership," Yermak emphasized.
All We Imagine As Light filmmaker Payal Kapadia shines at Cannes 2025 as Jury Member

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Bigg Boss Season 10 fame Nitibha Kaul to make Cannes Film Festival debut, writes, "This is more than just a personal milestone"

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Dubai Blings Farhana Bodi and Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi bring global glamour and purpose to Cannes 2025

Gayatri Rani

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Sooraj Pancholi on his Bollywood comeback with Kesari Veer: Wanted to do a film that would bring me respect

101Reporters

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The Office spinoff The Paper premieres in September; read to know more about the cast

Palak Vij

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German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called for increased Western sanctions against Russia and increased military support for Ukraine, German television news service Die Tagesschau of the ARD channel reports.

Pistorius noted on the sidelines of the conference in Berlin that Vladimir Putin "is behaving as usual regarding discussions on a ceasefire and negotiations on a peace settlement," "so the consequences need to be taken now."
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CG Power OSAT unit to begin chip production by mid-2026, new R&D centers to work on 3nm chip design: Renesas India head

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

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Biocon geared up to be major supplier of insulins, GLP-1 weight loss drugs: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.

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Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India.

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Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

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Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Reforming US pharma will not be easy for Trump

Namrata Agarwal

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India only reserved right to impose retaliatory duty on US goods; may resolve issue via BTA talks

101Reporters

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The European Union is discussing ways to prevent Hungary from disrupting the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing informed sources.

There is only so much member states can take in terms of wilful abuse of the veto, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin told Euronews on Monday. We have seen it play out in Ukraine. There are a number of instruments that we can use and we shouldnt be afraid to use them.

While unanimity is needed to open and conclude EU accession negotiations, it is not legally required for opening or closing individual chapters in that process, said people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

In a closed-door discussion last week, some member states pushed the European Commission, the blocs executive arm, to explore options to open the first chapter of negotiations despite objections raised by Budapest over the treatment of Hungarian minority communities in western Ukraine, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the people, members believe Budapest aims to torpedo the process with Prime Minister Viktor Orbans plan to hold a national consultation on Ukraines EU membership  despite Hungarys prior approval to open the accession talks in 2023. Hungary only lifted its veto that December once Brussels unlocked EUR 10 billion ($1.1 billion) in EU funds, blocked due to corruption and rule of law concerns.
Priyansh Verma

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Trade minister Piyush Goyal to lead delegation to US for trade talks: Report

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IT, tech firms stay in wait and watch mode as Indo-Pak tensions settle

Reshab Shaw

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Debangana Ghosh

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BDL, BEL, HAL, other defence stocks soar up to 11% after PM Modi calls for 'Made in India' defence equipment

Debaroti Adhikary

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This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies

Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer

Alpha Desk

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Paras Bisht

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Brajesh Kumar

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Chart Check: Nifty may attempt to test new highs, rotate money into laggards, says Rahul Ghose of Hedged

Sunil Matkar

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Paras Bisht A financial journalist with over 10 years of experience, specialising in tracking stock market movements and fundamental developments that impact investors and the broader economy. A keen observer of global financial markets, I regularly engage with leading market voices to write stories. At Moneycontrol, I focus on decoding market trends, policy shifts and economic changes, driven by a constant passion to learn, analyse, and share knowledge with my readers.

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Situation in Novopavlivka axis quite difficult, enemy trying to break through to administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk region

Active fighting is underway in the Novopavlivka axis, the enemy is trying to break through to the administrative border of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, said the spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn.

"We have a rather difficult situation in the Novopavlivka axis, because the enemy is actively continuing both shelling and clashes, assaults by small groups of infantry, trying to break through to the administrative border of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. That is why a lot of enemy assault infantry has gathered there today," he said during a telethon.

According to the spokesman, these are assault units from four Russian regiments, which are trying to carry out their assault actions on a relatively small section of the contact line. The Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting maneuver defense, trying to destroy the enemy. The enemy here, according to Voloshyn, suffers heavy losses, in particular, approximately 150 personnel per day.

In addition, during the assaults, the enemy uses combat equipment, as well as a large number of motorcycle equipment, which the Defense Forces are also destroying.

Voloshin emphasized that in the Novopavlivka axis, the enemy is trying to capture several settlements (Zelene Pole, Vilne Pole, Novopil, Novosilka), which are under Ukrainian control, and break through to Dnipropetrovsk region.

"There is quite fierce and active fighting there today. However, the Defense Forces are conducting positional defense and are trying to keep the enemy out, causing him heavy losses," the spokesman stressed.

He noted that there was no "ceasefire as such" in the south, because the enemy continued artillery shelling and carried out air strikes with kamikaze drones, guided aerial bombs, and unguided aerial missiles. The Russians also carried out assault operations. In particular, in Novopavlivka, this is a fairly large number - 24 combat clashes, Voloshyn noted.

"The enemy is quite active in the south," he said.

The spokesman also reported that in the Orikhiv axis the enemy is trying to break through the defense line and seize a bridgehead near the settlements of Stepovoe, Lobkove, and Mali Scherbaky.

"He wants to take it under control in order to keep under fire control our logistical routes that go from Zaporizhia to the east - logistical routes to Hulyaipole and Orekhiv, as well as to have fire control from there on the very regional center of Zaporizhia, to shell its southern and eastern suburbs. Therefore, for several months in a row, it has been unsuccessful, but the enemy still continues its assault operations here," he emphasized.
Foreign investors ramped up bullish bets on stock futures on May 12 as border tensions subsided

Rohit Singh

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Small, midcap indices hold firm as Nifty, Sensex cool off in search of next triggers

Debaroti Adhikary

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Investing in the American Dream: Why global millionaires are betting on the US Golden Visa

Abhinav Kaul

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Tax rules for non-residents on Indian share buybacks: What you need to know

Manisha Lal Khandpur

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Lodha Ventures rebrands itself into Abhinandan Ventures after settlement with Macrotech

Shiladitya Pandit

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Ashish Mishra

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Rakesh Patil

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Smriti Mishra

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When Indian soldiers say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', enemies tremble with fear: Top quotes from PM Modi's Adampur speech

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Trump has yet to decide whether to visit Turkey in connection with talks between Ukraine, Russia  media

US President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether he will go to Turkey, where talks between Ukraine and Russia are expected, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing a source.

Top Trump administration officials plan to be in Turkey this week for expected Ukraine-Russia talks on Thursday, but President Donald Trumps possible attendance remains an open question that will largely be dictated by whether Russian President Vladimir Putin attends, according to a senior administration official, the TV channel informs.

It is all very dynamic right now, the official said, adding that no one knows much when it comes to what Thursday will end up looking like.

CNN previously reported, citing sources, that US presidential special envoys Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff plan to visit Turkey later this week.
'Curtailment of democratic freedoms': India 'concerned' over ban on Awami League in Bangladesh

Arindam Roy

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Chhabi Kala

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From 'Buddha is smiling' to Modis address, Buddha Purnima is the day of strategic re-sets for India 51 years on

Ria Kapoor

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India declares Pak high commission official persona non grata, asked to leave India in 24 hours

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Indias China Plus One edge may fade as Trump, Xi hit pause on tariffs

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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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy notes that US President Donald Trump's participation in peace talks in Turkey would have an additional impetus for Vladimir Putin to arrive there, but, according to him, he currently does not know whether the American president will arrive at them.

"We suggested that President Trump join. I do not know the decision of the US president, but in any case, if he confirmed his participation, I think that this would have an additional impetus for Putin to arrive," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on Tuesday.

At the same time, he said if Putin "is really ready not only in the media, but in real life to meet, and then at the level of leaders, we will do everything to agree on a ceasefire." "Since it is with him that I must agree on a ceasefire. Since only he will decide this," the president said.

Zelenskyy said the signal for direct negotiations came from Russia. There was also support from the United States for direct negotiations at the level of leaders. "I support this proposal. Why? Because Ukraine is constructive and supports any ways to end the war. If today Putin says  I don't want, again, there can be a billion reasons for direct negotiations, then I wanted, then I realized that I am ready, I no longer want," he said, noting that "we must get to the main point in any dialogue."

The President of Ukraine also said that during a possible meeting with Putin, "both sides will not get satisfaction from the dialogue." "Therefore, we can get a result that is much more important than any emotions. The result is the end of the war. The first step is a ceasefire. Everyone supports it unconditionally. Let's do it. I will be in Turkey. President Erdogan will be there. Everyone is ready to meet with the Russian leader. Especially since this is his initiative," Zelenskyy said.

He also called the statement that he supposedly has some kind of ban on negotiations with Putin a Russian narrative.

"This is the Russian narrative that I supposedly cannot talk to Putin... No one but me can conduct relevant negotiations with the leader of Russia and other countries, etc. according to the Constitution of Ukraine. These are my rights and obligations, by the way... And the Constitution is the Constitution of Ukraine. It is higher, by the way, than any regulatory act, any decree... Therefore, Putin's narrative that I must cancel something there is a narrative exclusively of the Russian Federation. I cannot and have not banned anything," the president said.

Zelenskyy noted he has an understanding of what to talk about with Putin in the event of a meeting. "I am ready to meet with this person. I met in 2019, in December. I absolutely understand what to talk about. The truth is on our side," he said.

"I consider the result in any case. Result number one is an unconditional ceasefire," Zelenskyy added.
Siddharth Chakravorty

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Karnataka to roll out its first dedicated MSME policy

Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_

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Kashmir issue a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan, no change in policy: MEA on Trumps comment

Smriti Mishra

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'Lakshman Rekha for Pakistan very clear': PM Modi reiterates India's new 3-point doctrine on terror

Abhinav Gupta

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MEA calls TRF a front of Lashkar-e-Taiba, will push for it to be listed as terror entity at UNSC

Yeeshu Yadav

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MiGs, missiles and messaging: Why PM Modis Adampur visit was high on powerful optics

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Pakistan changes tune again: 'Ceasefire with India won't hold if IWT issue not resolved'

Parimal Peeyush

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Priyanjali Ghose

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Vladimir Putin has to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, now the ball is in Russia's court, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, but Putin's agreement to this is in no hurry. Now it's up to Putin to accept this offer and agree to a ceasefire. The ball is in Russia's court," he wrote on the social network X.

The Chancellor later said the European Union was ready to impose tougher sanctions against Russia if progress was not made this week in ending the war in Ukraine, adding that a new package of sanctions had already been prepared, Reuters reports.

"We are waiting for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's agreement and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at European level for a significant tightening of sanctions," Merz said.
PM Modi's picture from Adampur base busts Pakistan's claim of destroying S-400 system: 'Look at the background'

Armaan Bhatnagar

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PM Modi's warning to Pakistan from Adampur airbase: 'India won't differentiate between terrorists and their godfathers'

Parimal Peeyush

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'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' chants thunder in air as PM Modi meets IAF personnel at Adampur air base after Op Sindoor

Surabhi Pandey

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Trade issues did not come up in conversations between India and US during Operation Sindoor: MEA

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Two Indian students killed after car crashes into tree and hits a bridge in Pennsylvania

101Reporters

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Two speeches, 5 key messages: How PM Modi shaped India's new doctrine on Pak-based terror post-Operation Sindoor

Parimal Peeyush

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Hemant Abhishek

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Mischenko on Tuesday met with head of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine Piotr ukasiewicz in connection with the situation near the Dorohusk checkpoint on the border with Ukraine, where Polish protesters resorted to blocking the movement of freight transport.

As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian side called for comprehensive measures to prevent the blocking of transport routes between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland, which are vital for supporting the economy of our state and are of humanitarian importance in the context of the ongoing Russian armed aggression.

Mischenko emphasized that the domestic political situation on the eve of the presidential elections in Poland should not affect the economic interests of our countries and Ukrainian-Polish relations in general.

"In this context, the Deputy Minister appealed to Piotr ukasiewicz with a request to ensure contact between the Polish government and the protesters as soon as possible to discuss the reasons for their actions and eliminate the grounds for blocking the Ukrainian-Polish border at this checkpoint," the message says.

In order to quickly resolve the situation on the border, the Deputy Minister proposed establishing direct contact between the leadership of the relevant ministries of both countries. The diplomat added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is ready to provide appropriate assistance to this process.
'We should go for the kill': IAF chief Amar Preet Singh led India's bold mission to strike Pakistan's Nur Khan base

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Sandeep Shrivastwa

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Rohit Kapoor currently serves as the CEO of Food Marketplace, Swiggy. A former McKinsey consultant, he is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business (ISB) and a CFA holder. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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India and Pakistan - An immoral equivalence by the Western media

Namrata Agarwal

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Siraj Hussain is a former Union Agriculture Secretary. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Trumps premature message on the ceasefire is a setback for India-US ties

Namrata Agarwal

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From calling terrorists 'militants' to holding Pakistan accountable: How foreign media changed its tune

Ankita Sengupta

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Ankita Sengupta

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and stated that Turkey has intensified efforts aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia by establishing a lasting and just peace, the Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from the Communications Directorate under the Turkish Presidential Administration.

"The Turkish leader said that as part of these efforts, he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The head of state stressed that Ankara firmly supports a comprehensive ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. At the same time, the head of state noted that Turkey will continue to adhere to its position that NATO should not be part of this conflict," the report says.

At the same time, Erdogan noted that the existing opportunity to establish peace should not be wasted.

As reported, Zelenskyy announced a meeting with Erdogan on Thursday in Ankara and announced an agreement between them to fly to Istanbul together if Putin arrives there. "If Putin flies to Istanbul, and not to the capital, I have sent a signal to President Erdogan, and the Turkish side is ready that President Erdogan and I will fly to Istanbul. That is, in any case, we will do everything to ensure that this meeting takes place," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on Tuesday.
Indian social media users troll Pakistan after PM Modi poses in front of S400 in Adampur. Here's why

Ankita Sengupta

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Shubhi Mishra

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New Pope identifies AI as major challenge to humanity. What he said

Shubhi Mishra

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Has Ranveer Allahbadia redeemed himself after appearance on Piers Morgan show? Internet reacts

Ankita Sengupta

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Sheetal Kumari

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1/10 Pangolins: Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals. Smuggled across continents, these elusive animals are poached for their scales and meat. Their scales are falsely thought to possess healing properties, and thus they become a target in illegal wildlife trade. (Image: Canva)

2/10 African Elephants: They are hunted for their ivory tusks. Illegal trade in ivory remains prevalent despite prohibitions at an international level. The animals are poached by traffickers and poachers, driving their population into perilous decline in various regions of Africa. (Image: Canva)

3/10 Rhinoceroses: Rhinos are hunted for their horns, which are thought to cure diseases. Demand is strongest in regions of Asia. Black market prices for their horns are high, which makes rhinos a target of choice for poachers. (Image: Canva)

4/10 Tigers: All subspecies of tigers are threatened. Sold in black markets, their bones, skin and claws are used to make traditional medicines and luxury items, leading to them being killed or farmed. (Image: Canva)

5/10 Turtles and Tortoises: Turtles and tortoises are smuggled for the exotic pet trade. They are also consumed or used in rituals. They are prized for decoration, which makes them among the most illegally traded reptiles globally. (Image: Canva)

6/10 Macaws and Parrots: Colourful parrots and macaws are caught and sold as pets. Illegal trade in birds endangers numerous wild species. They are subjected to suffering during smuggling, usually in crowded conditions without food or air, resulting in high mortality prior to sale. (Image: Canva)

7/10 Sharks: Sharks are targeted primarily for their fins, which are consumed in shark fin soup. Millions are slaughtered annually. The trade has disastrous impacts on marine ecosystems since sharks are important to ocean health. (Image: Canva)

8/10 Asiatic Black Bears: Also known as moon bears, they are trafficked for their bile. Bear bile is utilized in traditional medicine. They are kept under poor conditions and subjected to excessive cruelty on bile farms throughout Asia. (Image: Canva)

9/10 Helmeted Hornbills: Helmeted hornbills are hunted for their dense beaks, or "red ivory." Their distinctive casque is chopped and offered for sale unlawfully. Art markets are fueling swift population loss in Southeast Asian forests. (Image: Canva)
Apple rolls out iOS 18.5 with minor updates, new wallpaper, and more

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by Li Xirui NEW YORK, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The winding alleys of China's ancient canal towns and the lyrical tones of Wu dialect are echoing far beyond the Yangtze Delta, resonating onto the international stage and into the homes of overseas Chinese communities. The traditional Chinese opera art of Pingtan is once again taking center stage in the United States. The Shanghai Pingtan Troupe is touring major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta, with a special performance at the United Nations. This "Graceful Jiangnan in Spring Breeze" cultural exchange tour, running from April 30 to May 16, marks the troupe's second visit to the United States. Pingtan, a traditional performing art that originated in Suzhou over 400 years ago, blends storytelling, lyrical singing, and dialogue. Typically performed in Suzhou dialect by two artists accompanied by Chinese string instruments like sanxian and pipa, Pingtan is a hallmark of the culture of Jiangnan (south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River), celebrated for its poetic charm and literary depth. The Shanghai Pingtan Troupe, founded in 1951 and also known as the Shanghai Pingtan Art Heritage Institute, is China's first national-level performing arts group dedicated to Pingtan. The art form gained urban prominence in the 1980s in Shanghai and is also known as Suzhou storytelling (Pinghua) and string ballads (Tanci). Through melodic narration and expressive delivery, Pingtan conveys humor, drama, and the cultural richness of Jiangnan's folk heritage. "We didn't expect to tour back again in the U.S. this quickly," Gao Bowen, troupe leader of the Shanghai Pingtan Troupe, told Xinhua. The troupe first toured the United States during the 2024 Spring Festival. "Our first visit was more of a trial run. This time, we've brought a richer program of this traditional Chinese art form, with Pingtan opera, Yue opera and Huaji (burlesque) opera." The troupe features ten national-level performers and inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, presenting their art on international stages such as the United Nations and performing for local Chinese communities. "As the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary of founding this year and our home country China is one of the permanent members of the U.N., we want to bring Chinese and Eastern art and culture to the stage as part of the celebration," Gao said. "At the same time, I hope Pingtan opera can also reach Chinese communities here, bringing them authentic performances from home." In New York, the troupe collaborated with local communities and organizations, performing at the Flushing Town Hall for more than 200 attendees and joining the "Echoes of Suzhou: The Art of Pingtan Returns" program at the China Institute. They also presented a photo exhibition on the history and cultural heritage of Pingtan at the American Chinese Art & Culture Center in Flushing. "The exhibition is special because it's not just about the performances," Gao said. "We've worked with local communities to create a historical showcase of Pingtan opera, highlighting the founding artists of the Shanghai Pingtan Troupe, our predecessors, and how the art form has developed with new productions and emerging talent." "It presents over 70 years of history through images. I believe that after seeing it, audiences will gain a deeper understanding of Pingtan, of Shanghai's cultural legacy, and of the broader Haipai culture. It is more than just watching a performance. This is something truly meaningful," Gao added. Though the traditional art was usually known as a popular pastime event for local seniors and now becomes part of the traditional lifestyle in Jiangnan, Gao hopes to present it on diverse stages for broader audiences. The troupe has introduced "reformation" and "localization" to help international audiences better understand the art form. "Through our performances, we hope to offer our international audiences who are curious about and appreciative of traditional Chinese arts a direct and authentic experience of Chinese culture," he said. The performances also serve overseas Chinese from the Yangtze Delta region, who feel a deep emotional connection to the familiar dialects and melodies. "We hope this performance could help them stay connected to their cultural roots. This is a tradition that continues to grow and evolve with each generation," Gao added. For the performance at the Flushing Town Hall, the team provided English subtitles for local audiences. "My ears are happy to hear that," said John Riess, of Brooklyn in New York. "I've never attended anything like it. It was wonderful ... the whole sound, the whole ambiance and the gestures." Shang Jiemin, the organizer of the event and president of the American Chinese Art & Culture Center, called Pingtan, Yue opera, and Huaji opera "cultural treasures from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions that are beloved by overseas Chinese communities." "With its soft Suzhou dialect and delicate expression, Pingtan captures the poetic charm of our hometown," he said. "We hope to see more regionally distinctive cultural programs reach more global audiences and serve as bridges for cultural exchange."
KYIV. May 13 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Russia demonstrated its readiness for a ceasefire during May 8-10 with massive shelling and aerial bombings of Ukraine, but Ukraine always fulfills its promises, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"In these days, Russia has carried out 115 air strikes in Ukraine, dropped 197 guided bombs, carried out 12,100 shelling, some 187 of them were from multiple rocket launchers, and also hit our civilian infrastructure with 7,303 kamikaze drones. This was their ceasefire," Zelenskyy said during a briefing on Tuesday.

He said Ukraine had received a signal from the PRC that they supported the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, as well as signals from China and other states, "that it would be fair to go to a complete ceasefire, and that on these dates from 8 to 10 there would be security in the region, where many leaders, including China, will be present."

"We understand what is being said. Ukraine has once again confirmed with its steps that it always does what it promises  no strikes, despite Russian propaganda, on May 9 during the parade there were none," the President of Ukraine said.

According to him, earlier Russia did not support a complete unconditional ceasefire from March 11, as well as on Easter, April 20.

"What happened these days? Russian troops carried out 1,882 shellings, 33 strikes with multiple launch rocket systems, and used 957 kamikaze drones to attack Ukraine. This is what happened. Ukraine acted as I said  Ukraine is ready to support a ceasefire and we will act in a mirror manner," Zelenskyy said.

The president said Ukraine agreed to a complete unconditional ceasefire and showed that it wants the war to end, which he had repeatedly told U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I believe that Putin does not want the war to end, does not want a ceasefire, does not want any victories. I am already silent about the fact that he is afraid of direct victories with me," Zelenskyy said.
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SoftBank endorses OpenAIs restructure plan, but what will Microsoft do?

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'Dangerous precedent': Pakistan on PM Modi's new red line on terror, cries foul over IWT suspension

Abhinav Gupta

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First 59 white South Africans arrive in US, Trump claims they face discrimination

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Netanyahu says there is 'no way' Israel halts war in Gaza until Hamas is defeated

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Pakistan finds few takers as its 'Islamic bloc' narrative crumbles, Indias diplomatic outreach pays off

Abhinav Gupta With over 12 years in digital journalism, has navigated the fast-evolving media landscape, shaping digital strategies and leading high-impact newsrooms. Currently, he serves as News Editor at MoneyControl, leading coverage in Global Affairs, Indian Politics, Governance and Policy Making. Previously, he has spearheaded fact-checking and digital media operations at Press Trust of India. Abhinav has also led news desks at Financial Express, DNA, and Jagran English, managing editorial direction, breaking news coverage, and digital growth. His journey includes stints with The Indian Express Group, Zee Media Group, and more, where he has honed his expertise in newsroom leadership, audience engagement, and digital transformation.

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The German company Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian Defense Industry Joint Stock Company signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Tuesday on the possibility of creating facilities for production of artillery ammunition on the territory of Ukraine.

"The full-scale war has proven that the need for artillery shells is huge, and the existing capabilities of enterprises are not enough to fully cover it. Therefore, each new ammunition plant, each new production line are critically important for providing the army. We must use all opportunities to create such facilities," said Oleh Huliak, General Director of Ukroboronprom.

As reported, in June 2024, the first workshop for the repair and production of armored vehicles of the first joint venture of Ukroboronprom and Rheinmetal began operating.
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Trump lifts sanctions on Syria, to 'say hello' to new Syrian leader in Riyadh tomorrow

Abhinav Gupta

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Trump says he will remove US sanctions on Syria

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Trump skips Israel on Mideast tour, raising questions about shift in US support

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Trump touts Qatari jet as 'free gift,' but experts say it could cost US hundreds of millions

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US envoy says the Trump administration insists NATO allies raise defense investment to 5%

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'Utterly Ludicrous': Piers Morgan hits back at analyst over claim about Osama Bin Laden and Pakistan intelligence

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Photo: https://www.youtube.com/live/0pS1MWUz_Ko?si=fKpMQRHuO6zkYdNA

The Cassation Administrative Court of the Supreme Court granted the motion of the MP of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko, to request evidence from the President's Office that was the basis for imposing sanctions against him, the political force said on its website on Tuesday.

"The next court session will be held on June 19. The court granted the motion of the plaintiff's party and obliged representatives of the President's Office and the Government to provide all necessary documents regarding the grounds for imposing sanctions, the procedure for adopting this decision, and public officials who were directly involved in this process," the political force said.

Poroshenko said that with the imposition of sanctions on him, a precedent was established for the first time in the legal history of Ukraine, when the authorities are trying to defend the position that they can impose sanctions against anyone. "A citizen of Ukraine who has Ukrainian citizenship, who lives in a controlled territory, can be deprived of everything with a stroke of a pen  the right to participate in elections, the right to vote, the right to have accounts, the right to use their property, be discredited in accordance with the instructions of the President's Office to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a decree on sanctions to worldwide," he said following the court session.

According to the MP, the authorities are trying to delay the court proceedings, "to drag in into the summer, and then see how the situation unfolds."

"We have irrefutable evidence of the falsification of the sanctions decree  both at the stage of developing the draft decree, and then the next wave of falsifications occurred after the decree was signed and issued. They changed the versions four times, which is absolutely illegal. If you made a mistake  annul it, convene a new meeting of the National Security and Defense Council and adopt a new decision," Poroshenko said.

The politician also said representatives of 11 diplomatic missions, as well as representatives of foreign media outlets, were present at the court session.

According to Suspilne, representatives of the President's Office, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine arrived at the session, while representatives of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) and the Minister of Economy did not arrive.

The lawyer of businessman Ihor Kolomoisky stated her desire to join the case on the plaintiff's side, in the status of a third party and represent her client. She filed a motion, relying on the fact that the results of this case may violate his constitutional rights. The court refused to grant her request.

The next hearing is scheduled for 14:00 on June 19.

As reported, on February 13, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the NSDC decision On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions), of February 12, 2025. According to the annex to the document, sanctions were imposed against five individuals: Poroshenko, Kolomoisky, former owner of the bank "Finance and Credit" Kostiantyn Zhevaho, former co-owner of PrivatBank Hennadiy Boholiubov, and former MP Viktor Medvedchuk.

Poroshenko appealed the sanctions to the Supreme Court of Ukraine. On April 17, the court started considering the claim in the presence of Ukrainian MPs, as well as diplomats from the European Union mission, representatives of the embassies of Germany, Poland, Austria, Sweden, Lithuania and Denmark.

Poroshenko's representatives said the sanctions were imposed illegally, as they were imposed on a Ukrainian citizen who is in Ukraine, despite the fact that only Russia considers him a "terrorist." Therefore, there are no grounds under the law for sanctions.

In addition, the representatives said, the reasons for the application of sanctions are still unknown, since the announced data on the alleged "withdrawal of billions abroad" have never been made public. Moreover, the State Financial Monitoring Service, which was referred to when imposing sanctions, actually refused to confirm such facts, and the head of its legal department stated that this body had no right to provide anyone, including the government, with any financial information.

The Committee on Supervision and Regulation of Banking Activities of the National Bank of Ukraine on April 28 recognized Poroshenko's business reputation, as the owner of 64.98292% of the shares of the International Investment Bank, as not impeccable due to the application of sanctions to him by the NSDC. Poroshenko called this decision illegal and stated that he would "record all violations of laws for the sake of politically motivated persecution."






Whats on the table as Trump visits Middle East: Mega deals, Gulf summit, and more

Pragya Trivedi

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First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko handed over to the U.S. Embassy an official note of Ukraine confirming the completion of internal procedures regarding the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. to Ukraine Julie Davis said.

"Today I met with Yulia Svyrydenko. She delivered Ukraine's official note confirming completion of its internal procedures for the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. We welcome this important step and look forward to moving ahead together," Davis said in a statement posted on the Telegram channel of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday.

Svyrydenko later confirmed that Ukraine "has completed all necessary procedures to launch the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction [Investment] Fund."

"We can safely say that we have managed to fulfill the task set for our negotiating team by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, because we have an equal Agreement aimed at the future. The Agreement that respects Ukraine's national interests, provides for joint management and investment with America. The Agreement has no debt provisions and there is an obligation to invest exclusively in Ukraine," she said on Facebook.

"This is another clear signal: Ukraine is on the path to strategic investments," Svyrydenko said.

As reported, on May 8, the Verkhovna Rada ratified an agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the United States on the establishment of a reconstruction investment fund, Ukraine's contribution to which will consist of half of the funds that will be received after the agreement enters into force from the rent for the extraction of minerals (oil, gas, gas condensate, etc.) from new licenses, the issuance of new special permits for the use of subsoil, as well as from the sale of the state part of the production under new production sharing agreements. The agreement became known as the "subsoil agreement" or "mineral agreement." Some 338 MPs voted for bill No. 0309 on the ratification of the agreement.

According to the explanatory note, the bill was developed to implement the domestic procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and the United States on the Establishment of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, concluded on April 30, 2025 in Washington, District of Columbia, in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.

On April 30, the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement on the establishment of the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund with a 50/50 participation distribution. It contains 12 articles and a list of critical materials, is of a financial nature. From Ukraine, the participant in the fund will be the Agency for Support of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) under the Ministry of Economy, from the United States  the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

  
The United States government issued a new and forceful advisory on Monday, warning its citizens not to travel to Venezuela under any circumstances due to the high risk of arbitrary detention without access to due process.

The alert was published on the official website of the U.S. Department of State.

The agency also urged U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela to leave the country immediately in order to avoid potential reprisals in the near future.

An exterior view of the US Department of State headquarters in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images

What prompted the U.S. warning?



According to the official statement, U.S. authorities have identified a concerning pattern: American citizens are being detained in Venezuela without the U.S. government being notified, without legal representation, and without the ability to contact their families.

This alarming situation is further exacerbated by the absence of consular services.

Since March 2019, the United States has had no diplomatic presence in Venezuela.

This diplomatic break occurred after the Trump administration officially recognized Juan Guaidothen President of Venezuelas National Assemblyas the countrys interim president.

Since then, all diplomatic relations between the two nations have been suspended.

Venezuela Responds with Diplomatic Counterattack



Shortly after the U.S. announcement, Venezuelas Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official response rejecting the advisory and accusing Washington of hypocrisy.

In the statement, the Venezuelan government condemned the U.S. for kidnapping, imprisoning, and disappearing migrants, including children, while attempting to discredit Venezuela with what it described as baseless accusations.

It is worth noting that roughly two months ago, Venezuelas Foreign Ministry issued a similar warning to its own citizens against traveling to the United States, citing practices such as unjustified deportations, arbitrary detentions, and inhumane treatment, including alleged abductions in third-country prisons.

This latest exchange of diplomatic statements highlights the ongoing tensions between the two countries, with no resolution in sight.

As a result, citizens from both nations remain in a vulnerable position due to the complete breakdown of institutional communication channels.
Bank of Hawaii opens newest branch in Lahaina, and its foundation donates $100,000 to support residents
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/ivanna.klympushtsintsadze

U.S. President Donald Trump's attempts to force Russia and Ukraine to negotiate through an ultimatum will not yield results, MP from the European Solidarity faction Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze believes.

"I do not think that his [Trump's] attempts to stimulate Russia and Ukraine to negotiate through an ultimatum, forcing them to negotiate, will yield results. In fact, in my opinion, with such statements, the United States is losing a certain part of its leverage over Russia. It would be much more effective to switch to using direct pressure tools: for the Europeans  to seize frozen Russian assets, and for the Americans  to apply additional tough sanctions, including secondary ones. Obviously, to significantly increase military assistance to Ukraine," Klympush-Tsintsadze told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

Commenting on the U.S. threats to withdraw from the negotiations, the MP said: "We understand how much the administration there would like to end the public engagement with this war. They don't even make a secret of it." According to Klympush-Tsintsadze, the question now is how effective the interaction between Trump and his European counterparts will be  to prevent him from slamming the door on them.

The committee's head also said Russia, with its statements about its alleged readiness for negotiations, is covering up its desire to obtain Ukraine's surrender. "Russia is twisting like a snake, trying to convince the world that it is supposedly ready for something that would really be called negotiations. In fact, it is covering up its desire to obtain Ukraine's surrender with its statements," Klympush-Tsintsadze said.

According to the MP, it is good that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared his readiness to go to Istanbul for a direct conversation with Putin. "I think that Putin will not take advantage of this opportunity, but will look for excuses why he is not ready to talk to Zelenskyy. But the most important thing of all is how clearly Russia's lies and constant evasion will be assessed by the U.S. administration, how much the United States will be ready to take sharp and proactive actions to put pressure on Russia together with its European colleagues. I am convinced that the Europeans are more willing to act. Now is a critical moment to ensure the unity of the West in countering the aggressor," Klympush-Tsintsadze said.
United Airlines first ever flight from Tokyo Narita to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia commenced on May 1, 2025.

United Airlines photo
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during a campaign rally ahead of the elections, in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, May 9, 2025.

REUTERS
Full text: Joint Statement on China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva

Xinhua) 15:11, May 12, 2025

GENEVA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States on Monday released a joint statement on China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva.

The following is the English translation of the full text of the joint statement:

Joint Statement on China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva

The Government of the People's Republic of China ("China") and the Government of the United States of America (the "United States"),

Recognizing the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship to both countries and the global economy;

Recognizing the importance of a sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship;

Reflecting on their recent discussions and believing that continued discussions have the potential to address the concerns of each side in their economic and trade relationship; and

Moving forward in the spirit of mutual opening, continued communication, cooperation, and mutual respect;

The Parties commit to take the following actions by May 14, 2025:

The United States will (i) modify the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on articles of China (including articles of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region) set forth in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, by suspending 24 percentage points of that rate for an initial period of 90 days, while retaining the remaining ad valorem rate of 10 percent on those articles pursuant to the terms of said Order; and (ii) removing the modified additional ad valorem rates of duty on those articles imposed by Executive Order 14259 of April 8, 2025 and Executive Order 14266 of April 9, 2025.

China will (i) modify accordingly the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on articles of the United States set forth in Announcement of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council No. 4 of 2025, by suspending 24 percentage points of that rate for an initial period of 90 days, while retaining the remaining additional ad valorem rate of 10 percent on those articles, and removing the modified additional ad valorem rates of duty on those articles imposed by Announcement of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council No. 5 of 2025 and Announcement of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council No. 6 of 2025; and (ii) adopt all necessary administrative measures to suspend or remove the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States since April 2, 2025.

After taking the aforementioned actions, the Parties will establish a mechanism to continue discussions about economic and trade relations. The representative from the Chinese side for these discussions will be He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council, and the representatives from the U.S. side will be Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, and Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative. These discussions may be conducted alternately in China and the United States, or a third country upon agreement of the Parties. As required, the two sides may conduct working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Chinese FM meets foreign guests participating in fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum

Xinhua) 08:23, May 13, 2025

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday met respectively with some foreign ministers and representatives of the participating countries of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing.

When meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Wang said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel held a fruitful and important meeting in Moscow, charting the course for further progress in China-Cuba relations.

China will continue to support Cuba in its just struggle to safeguard national sovereignty and dignity and oppose blockade and sanctions, and advance the building of the China-Cuba community with a shared future to achieve new progress continuously.

Rodriguez expressed heartfelt gratitude for China's firm support to Cuba in opposing the blockade and sanctions, as well as its valuable assistance in helping Cuba overcome economic difficulties.

Cuba will continue to steadfastly uphold the one-China principle and work with China to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their meeting in Moscow, Rodriguez said.

When meeting with Uruguayan foreign minister Mario Lubetkin, Wang said that China is willing to work with Uruguay to deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership with stronger political mutual trust, higher-level mutually beneficial cooperation and closer multilateral collaboration.

Lubetkin said that Uruguay highly appreciates the series of global initiatives proposed by President Xi, supports free trade and is willing to jointly practice multilateralism, adding that the Uruguayan side firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the "one country, two systems" policy.

When meeting with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo, Wang said that President Xi and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte paid mutual visits last year, noting that China is willing to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership to continuously reach new heights.

The two heads of state jointly announced the opening of Chancay Port, which has become a symbol of promoting solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and accelerating their development and revitalization, Wang said, adding that China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Peru in various fields.

Schialer said that Peru firmly abides by the one-China principle, looks forward to deepening all-round cooperation with China in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, culture and so on, and is willing to jointly build Chancay Port Industrial Park, further promote free trade cooperation between the two countries, and speed up the negotiation and signing of double taxation avoidance agreements.

During the meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, Wang said that President Xi held a fruitful meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow, pointing out the direction for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

China firmly supports the solidarity and self-strengthening of regional countries and is willing to work with Venezuela and other Latin American countries to oppose hegemonic and bullying move and safeguard international justice, Wang added.

Noting that Venezuela is satisfied and proud of the establishment of all-weather strategic partnership between Venezuela and China and the important achievements in cooperation in various fields, Gil said that China plays an important role in safeguarding international rules such as the UN Charter, and Venezuela firmly supports China's just position.

When meeting with Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, Wang said that China is willing to work with Guyana, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, explore cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and green economy, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

China will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Guyana, and help Guyana upgrade its industries and achieve economic self-reliance, Wang added.

Noting that Guyana regards China as a reliable good friend, Todd said that Guyana is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese investment, Guyana appreciates China's leadership in improving global governance and is willing to jointly adhere to multilateralism and safeguard international law and international rules.

When meeting with presidential adviser of Nicaragua Laureano Ortega Murillo and minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, Wang said that China is willing to work with Nicaragua to consolidate high-level mutual trust, continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Nicaragua, and give priority to implementing cooperation projects conducive to Nicaragua's accelerated independent development.

China support its enterprises to invest and do business in Nicaragua, and believes that Nicaragua will continue to adhere to friendly relations with China and provide a favorable business environment, Wang added.

Laureano said that Nicaragua firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes unilateral acts of imposing excessive tariffs, noting that Nicaragua firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi which contribute to global peace, security, stability and development.

When meeting with Colombian foreign minister Laura Sarabia, Wang congratulated Colombia on taking over the rotating presidency of the China-CELAC Forum, saying that China has always viewed China-Colombia relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective and is willing to take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to carry out cooperation on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.

Sarabia expressed her gratitude to China for its support of Colombia's peace process and efforts to explore diversified development. She said that Colombia is willing to join the Belt and Road Initiative and promote more tangible results in bilateral cooperation and looks forward to China increasing investment in Colombia.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Laureano Ortega Murillo, presidential adviser of Nicaragua, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. Wang met with Laureano Ortega Murillo and Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua, here on Monday. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Laureano Ortega Murillo, presidential adviser of Nicaragua, and Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker, minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Laura Sarabia in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs Laura Sarabia in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Hugh Todd, minister of foreign affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Hugh Todd, minister of foreign affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A 21-year-old married woman from Chitungwiza has become the victim of a heinous crime, after she was reportedly raped by two men while praying at a graveyard on Saturday. The incident, which occurred at St Marys Mission graveyard, has sparked outrage and concern within the community.

According to reports, the woman was at the graveyard when she was approached by two men who identified themselves as caretakers of the burial site. What started as an interaction soon turned sinister, as one of the men allegedly brandished a knife and threatened the woman, demanding her compliance.

Under duress, the woman was reportedly led to a secluded area within the graveyard. There, the two men allegedly took turns raping her without protection, leaving her traumatised and violated. After the horrific act, the two men reportedly fled the scene, leaving the woman to grapple with the aftermath of the assault.

The woman, in a state of distress, reportedly made her way back to her place of worship, where she encountered her husband, who had been searching for her. She reportedly narrated the ordeal to him, recounting the horrifying events that had transpired at the graveyard.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the case, stating, Police are investigating a rape case at a graveyard in St Marys. The police have launched an investigation into the matter, seeking to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Zimbabwe has laws in place to protect women from sexual violence, but enforcement remains a challenge. Many cases go unreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and lack of confidence in the justice system. Even when cases are reported, the conviction rates are low, further discouraging victims from coming forward.

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In a separate incident, a 27-year-old herdboy from Rusape reportedly lost a substantial sum of money after boarding a mushikashika (illegal taxi) in Southley Park, Harare, on Sunday. Josphate Gadzikwa, of Goto Village under Chief Makoni in Rusape, was carrying US$4000 belonging to his employer, Esther Chaparanga, when the incident occurred.

According to reports, Josphate boarded a white Honda Fit mushikashika, which already had four other occupants, intending to travel to the Harare CBD and then proceed to Rusape. The driver reportedly suggested that he needed to collect one of the passengers luggage, and they all agreed to the detour.

However, instead of collecting luggage, the driver reportedly took the Masvingo Road direction and parked by the roadside near the Skyline tollgate. The driver then reportedly disembarked and approached Josphate, who was seated in the vehicle.

The driver allegedly drew a knife and ordered Josphate to surrender everything in his possession. The other occupants of the vehicle, who had been pretending to be passengers, also reportedly joined in the assault, taking turns to beat him.

The accused persons reportedly stole cash amounting to US$4000 and a Samsung cellphone with Econet simcard number 0781041714. They then drove away towards Masvingo Road, leaving Josphate lying on the ground.

Inspector Chakanza confirmed the case, stating, Police are investigating a robbery case involving a mushikashika vehicle in Southley Park. The police are currently investigating the incident and seeking to apprehend the suspects.

This incident highlights the dangers associated with using unregistered and illegal transport services. Mushikashikas, while often providing a convenient and affordable means of transportation, are also known to be associated with crimin al activities. Passengers who use these services are at risk of being robbed, assaulted, or even kidnapped.

The proliferation of mushikashikas in Zimbabwe is a reflection of the countrys economic challenges and the inadequacy of the formal transport system. Many people turn to mushikashikas out of necessity, as they cannot afford the fares charged by registered taxis or buses.

The government has been trying to regulate the mushikashika industry, but with limited success. Efforts to register and license these vehicles have been met with resistance from operators, who fear that it will increase their costs and reduce their profits.

In the meantime, passengers are advised to exercise caution when using mushikashikas. They should avoid boarding vehicles with suspicious-looking individuals, and they should never carry large sums of money or valuable items when using these services.

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In a move that has garnered widespread approval, Amai Eunor Guti, the leader of ZAOGA Forward In Faith Ministries International and widow of the late Archbishop Ezekiel Guti, has declined a substantial donation from controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo. The gift, which included a brand new Toyota VXR Land Cruiser 300 series and US$250,000 in cash, was intended as an honour to the late Archbishop Guti.

Highly placed sources within the Pentecostal church have confirmed that Amai Guti turned down the offer.

The proposed donation caused quite a stir within ZAOGAs leadership, with some reportedly seeing no issue in accepting the gift. However, Amai Guti has received praise online for refusing what many view as dirty money acquired through questionable means.

Chivayo made the donation last week, citing the late Ezekiel Guti as a source of support during difficult times. He also stated that the gift was well deserved because Guti stood with the government at all times of bother.

Chivayo took to social media to announce the gift, writing: In honor of 100 years of UNMATCHED SERVICE to the body of Christ and in recognition of the SELFLESS COMMITMENT to the Gospel, to charity, to education, to health, and to building a better nation, I am PROFOUNDLY HUMBLED to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved mother, DR. EUNOR GUTI. Ordinarily, I would say, please go and see Farai, but Farai from Faramatsi Motors, Club Chambers Showroom, along 4th Street, will come to you and deliver your 2025 brand new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series VXR, which is fully paid for and ready for delivery, subject to the Churchs Governing Boards consent. Furthermore, please accept USD250,000 in CASH for fuel and your personal use.

Many implored Amai Guti to turn down the gift, with some church members even pledging to buy the vehicle themselves, arguing that Chivayos wealth was tainted.

A senior church official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the churchs position: The church accepts and encourages people to give to their God. But they must do so following strictly the teachings from our father, which are all drawn from the word of God. The word of God is sufficient for us. It is the Kingdom of God with all the treasures in it. We are an indigenous church founded on the principle of righteousness. Our father, Professor Guti, was promoted to glory, but he left us with the Kingdom of God, which has everything that you can think of. The Kingdom of God is enough for us.

A source from the Guti family told New Zimbabwe that the family itself received no direct communication from Chivayo regarding the proposed donation. As a family, we did not receive any formal communication from Mr. Chivayo. We simply became aware of the offer through social media. The matter is neither here nor there. Honouring Baba Guti should be done in a manner that is pleasing to God. The church will respond in due course, the source said.

Amai Guti is now the second prominent figure to decline such a lavish gift from Chivayo, following in the footsteps of legendary musician Thomas Mukanya Mapfumo, who also refused both a vehicle and a house.

The move stands in stark contrast to other influential figures, including Sungura star Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Dorcas Moyo, and Prophet Ian Ndlovu, who have all accepted Chivayos gifts, leaving them at the mercy of public scrutiny.

Critics have accused those who accepted Chivayos gifts of profiting from corruption while ordinary citizens suffer the consequences of failing social services, particularly public hospitals that have become little more than death traps.

Amai Gutis decision has drawn comparisons to Prophet Ian Ndlovu, who recently accepted a substantial gift from Chivayo. Last month, Chivayo gifted Prophet Ian Ndlovu of Divine Kingdom Baptist Ministries with two brand-new vehicles and a substantial cash donation. The gifts, valued at over US$430,000, are intended to support the prophets ministry and his wifes charitable work across Matabeleland province.

The gifts include a state-of-the-art 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series VXR for Prophet Ndlovu himself, and a 2025 Toyota Fortuner 2.8D GD6 for his wife, Mrs. Ndlovu, to assist her in her philanthropic endeavours.

Chivayo praised Prophet Ndlovu for his unifying role in Zimbabwes spiritual landscape. Through the Divine Kingdom Baptist Ministries, you have stood as a beacon of truth, unity and peace in the body of Christ. Your consistent calls for national prayer for our countrys leadership, regardless of political affiliation, is a mark of political maturity and spiritual integrity. What I admire most is that you never use the pulpit to sow division, but rather you have used it to foster dialogue and reconciliation.

The businessman said that both vehicles worth US$280 000 are ready for collection at Faramatsi Motors in Harare. Additionally, he pledged US$100 000 towards the completion of the prophets church building and US$50 000 to support Mrs Ndlovus charitable initiatives.

Many Zimbabweans expected Prophet Ian Ndlovu to equally turn down the offer, the same way Dr Eunor Guti has rejected Chivayos gift.

Outspoken preacher Apostle Talent Chiwenga also launched a scathing attack on Prophet Ian Ndlovu, accusing him of compromising his spiritual integrity by accepting lavish gifts from controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo.

Ian Ndlovu is now Wicknell Chivayos sidechick, Apostle Chiwenga stated. Ian Ndlovu inzenza ya Wicknell Chivayo. You cant quote John Chapter 3 and say a man cannot receive anything except from God. We know the scriptures that say they are prophesying for a bribe. What you received is not from above. That car is not from above. It came from Zanu-PF. Wicknell Chivayo was very clear, everyone receiving cars from me, they must know its coming from Zanu-PF, said Apostle Chiwenga.

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The recent fighting between India and Pakistan has provided evidence of the diminishing role of the jet fighter pilot in modern warfare. A large air battle was fought between the two nations on May 6 and 7. India lost at least five jets, some of them advanced French Rafale fighters. Most of the losses were inflicted by BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air missiles. In the following video clip a Pakistani air force officer describes how their side of the battle was conducted.

Pakistan Air Force describes air battle with Indian Air Force: 1 sizeable air packages

2 AEW, BMC3 critical for air situation pix

3 Civilian air traffic redirected from AO

4 No plan survives 1st contact

5 While truth is 1st casualty,  proactive info push by PAF pic.twitter.com/l7p0nhd2TC  David Boey (@SenangDiri) May 11, 2025

Although this engagement was called a dogfight in some press reports, it was nothing of the kind. The missiles that downed the Indian fighter aircraft were launched from 20 to 100 miles away, with neither side crossing into the others airspace. No fancy maneuvering or daring aerobatics were needed. The role of the Pakistani pilots was reduced to following navigational directions and launching missiles against designated targets. The absence of successful ejections and recovery of downed pilots on the India side indicates that the targeted aircraft had insufficient warning, making evasive maneuvering impossible.

The Glory Days of Fighter Pilots

The star status of fighter pilots began in WWI, when flying skills and courage were the keys to victory in air-to-air combat. Manfred Von Richthofen, the Red Baron, had 80 confirmed kills to his credit. The vast scale of aerial combat in WWII resulted in over 5,000 pilots attaining ace status with more than five kills. A few German pilots achieved over 200 kills on the Eastern Front. The vast majority of these aircraft kills were achieved by rapid-firing guns with short ranges. Targeting depended on the eyesight and aiming dexterity of the pilots. Although popular culture depicts aerial battles as extended maneuvering contests, most kills in air combat after WWI resulted from surprise attacks, and the most successful pilots avoided dogfighting, preferring ambushes and first pass kills. Whatever the tactics, it was human eyes, brains, and muscles that resulted in the victories that made combat pilots heroes.

In the Korean War both sides used jet-powered fighters, and the mystique of the fighter pilot continued to grow. Steve Canyon, the comic book aviator created by Milton Caniff, became the symbol of a hero warrior piloting a high-tech jet in aerial combat. Aircraft guns still did the damage so all of the fighting was in visual range.

Enter the Missiles

During the Vietnam war, air-to-air missiles began to be used extensively in aerial combat. Missiles accounted for about two thirds of the kills made by U.S. fighter jets and about one quarter of the kills made by the North Vietnamese fighters. These early missiles had relatively short ranges and still required visual sighting of the target and maneuvering for a good firing position. After the Vietnam war, missiles became the dominant air combat weapon, with aircraft guns relegated to a secondary role.

As air-to-air missiles became more capable, with greater range and better guidance systems, the balance between WVR (within visual range) and BVR (beyond visual range) engagements also changed, and kills were increasingly achieved when the contending pilots were too far apart to see each other, rendering a maneuvering fight moot.

Returning to the latest fighting between India and Pakistan, the decisive actions were not taken by the fighter pilots. It was the radar operators of airborne surveillance aircraft and the commanders evaluating the tactical disposition of the planes on both sides who controlled the battle. The pilots were effectively just transporting the missiles and launching them under BMC3 direction (battle management, command, control, and communication) against targets too far away to see. This is not a heroic role, and theoretically it could be performed by unmanned aircraft.

Cultural Inertia

The history of warfare is marked by the persistence of ineffective practices. This has resulted in debacles such as suicidal infantry assaults in WWI, unprotected battleships sunk by aircraft in WWII, and the failure of U.S. forces against insurgents in Vietnam and Afghanistan. The meme of the combat pilot as a heroic champion is deeply entrenched in U.S. popular culture and in the ranks of the U.S. military. As a consequence, manned aviation remains a high priority in the U.S. defense establishment. Despite abundant indications of the impending dominance of drones and AI systems in future warfare, the U.S. continues to make massive commitments to manned fighters (F-35 and F-46) and bombers (B-2 and B-21).

Of particular concern is a proposal to develop drone combat aircraft intended to operate jointly with manned fighters. The U.S. Air Force has undertaken the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program to build a fleet of drones that would operate in formations directed by manned aircraft. An obvious problem with this concept is the overloading of pilots who would have to manage multiple accompanying drones. The notion of AI drone wingmen aircraft waiting for instructions from a stressed and fallible human formation leader raises a serious feasibility question. One could argue that in many circumstances the instructions should be going from the AI drones to the human pilot. Fortunately, simulations can easily reveal shortcomings of the CCA concept. Unfortunately, the Pentagon and the defense contractors have a history of ignoring or distorting test results to favor continuation of flawed programs. The most likely outcome is that the CCA program will deliver too little, too late, and at enormous cost.

Conclusion

The era of the heroic fighter pilot is coming to a close as technology relentlessly transforms the character of aerial warfare. Drone combat aircraft, unhindered by the biological limitations of human pilots, will eventually dominate the skies of armed conflicts. Cultural memes are difficult to erase, and entertainment media glorification of jet fighter pilots, like the Top Gun films (total gross: $1.86 billion) will help sustain political support for manned aircraft programs for many years. Military institutional inertia and perverse vendor incentives will continue working to keep human pilots in fighter planes. We can only hope that the costs will be limited to excessive Pentagon expenditures. The worst outcome could be a military disaster if we find that it is enemy combat drones that have the right stuff.
Yves here. We occasionally post articles by Simon Watkins, as we do today, to give readers a window into hard-core neocon thinking with respect to the Middle East. Remember, Watkins is not creating his assessments from whole cloth. His contacts really do believe, for instance, that Israel really does have the capacity to eliminate every major Iranian nuclear site that supports potential weapons development. Most readers know that many experts who appear to be very knowledgeable about the region contend the opposite, that Irans key nuclear enrichment sites, as well as many many sites with conventional missiles, are so deep underground as to be out of the reach of even a nuclear attack. Yet Watkins continues to depict his assessment as reasonable by working from a 2012 (no typo) Congressional Research Service analysis. Help me.

Nevertheless, he makes two points worth considering. One is that it is politically necessary for Netanyahu to proceed with an aggressive clearing of Gaza. He will hold off until Trump has completed his Middle East tour. Two is that Watkins contends that if the Israeli attack is ugly enough, OPEC members might re-run their 1970s embargo. As much as the resulting high prices would particularly hurt poor households, the resulting economic damage on top of tariff-inflicted pain would be a fitting punishment for the US and Trump in particularly for doing squat to stop the monstrous genocide in Gaza and intensified ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.

The spectre of starving children appears to have generated yet more well-warranted hostility towards the genocideeven in Israel:

In Jerusalem tonight, people holding photos of Palestinian children killed in Gaza. This specific form of protest is getting bigger every week now. Enough. pic.twitter.com/Fb2V9BgAQ4  Ami Dar (@AmiDar) May 10, 2025

And in another wild card, internal opposition to Netanyahus escalation track is increasing at senior levels in Israel:

In Jerusalem tonight, people holding photos of Palestinian children killed in Gaza. This specific form of protest is getting bigger every week now. Enough. pic.twitter.com/Fb2V9BgAQ4  Ami Dar (@AmiDar) May 10, 2025

By Simon Watkins, a former senior FX trader and salesman, financial journalist, and best-selling author. He was Head of Forex Institutional Sales and Trading for Credit Lyonnais, and later Director of Forex at Bank of Montreal. He was then Head of Weekly Publications and Chief Writer for Business Monitor International, Head of Fuel Oil Products for Platts, and Global Managing Editor of Research for Renaissance Capital in Moscow. Originally published at OilPrice

Israel prepares major Gaza operation that may forcibly relocate civilians and risks escalating regional tensions.

Geopolitical flashpoints intensify, with Israel reportedly ready to strike Iranian nuclear sites.

World Bank warns a large Middle East supply disruption could drive oil prices up by 5675%.

The next phase of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan for Gaza could well be the beginning of the endgame of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War that poses the most danger for the global oil market. According to his statement on 5 May, he said that Israel was on the eve of an intense entry into Gaza, and that once the tens of thousands of extra Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops drafted for the mission are in the territory, they will not enter and come out.

At the same time as the new IDF offensive against Hamas in Gaza is taking place, Israeli soldiers will force some, or all, of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza into a small area in the south. Humanitarian aid will then be distributed through private companies, as the United Nations agencies have said they will not cooperate because they regard the plans as violating the principles of humanitarian aid. Although aimed at freeing the remaining 24 living hostages in Gaza and repatriating the bodies of a further 35 of the 251 hostages taken during the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas, some see this latest Israeli manoeuvre as the permanent replacement of Palestinians with Israeli settlers.

The precise timing of this plan depends on the eventual outcome of U.S. President Donald Trumps upcoming visits to the key Arabic states of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. However, there is little doubt that the new plan for Gaza will be rolled out soon in any event, according to several Middle Eastern security sources exclusively spoken to by OilPrice.com since Netanyahus 5 May statement. Netanyahu has been told by his key parliamentary backers that if he doesnt go ahead, theyll bring him down, said one of the London-based sources last week.

If Trump is unsuccessful in fully persuading the three Arab nations that their best interests are served by staying out of the intensifying drama in Gaza, then one course of action that may well result is an embargo on oil exports from OPEC of the sort that prompted the 1973/74 Oil Crisis, as analysed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Indeed, the parallels between the onset of the current events in the Middle East and those that preceded the 1973 Oil Crisis are uncanny. Back then, the Egyptian military moved into the Sinai Peninsula, while Syrian forces moved into the Golan Heights  two territories that had been captured by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967  on the holiest day of the Jewish faith, Yom Kippur. This was the same multiple-direction attack method and religious date as the 7 October Hamas attacks used 50 years later by Hamas on targets across Israel.

The 1973 attack by two major Arab states on Israel then drew in further Islamic countries in the region as the conflict became one centred on religion rather than simply regaining lost territory. Military and other support came to Egypt and Syria from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Kuwait, and Tunisia before the War ended on 25 October 1973 in a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations.

However, the conflict in its broader sense did not end there. An embargo on oil exports to the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Canada, and the Netherlands was imposed by key OPEC members, most notably Saudi Arabia, in response to their collective supplying of arms, intelligence resources, and logistical support to Israel during the War. By the end of the embargo in March 1974, the price of oil had risen around 267%, from about US$3 per barrel (pb) to nearly US$11 pb. This, in turn, stoked the fire of a global economic slowdown, especially felt in the net oil importing countries of the West.

There is also Irans response to consider, given that Hamas is one of its key proxies in the region. Up until relatively recently it had still been engaged in an escalating series of tit-for-tat military strikes against Israel and had warned that more would come depending on the severity of the way in which Israel dealt with its key regional proxy Hamas in Gaza. Israel on the other hand has long threatened to end the ever-closer threat of Iran possessing nuclear weapons by launching direct attacks on its major nuclear facilities.

Donald Trump has repeatedly made it clear that he would be in favour of such strikes. On 4 October, the then-presidential candidate said that: Israel should hit the nuclear [facilities] first and worry about the rest later. In response to then-U.S. President Joe Bidens refusal to endorse the idea of Israeli attacks against these Iranian sites following Tehran-directed attacks against Israel, Trump added: Thats the craziest thing Ive ever heard. Thats the biggest risk we have. The biggest risk we have is nuclear  Soon theyre going to have nuclear weapons. And then youre going to have problems.

Israel has long possessed a full military operations plan to attack and destroy every major site in Iran connected to the development of a nuclear weapons capability. Some of this would be done through a combination of technology and human intelligence, while a larger element would have to be executed through air strikes. A U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report from 2012 analysed striking Irans Natanz, Esfahan, and Arak nuclear sites or similar targets in logistical terms would probably require 90 tactical fighters, although  assuming around a 10% margin for reliability  100 would be needed.

Back at the time of the report Israel had around 350 fighter jets, and the number has risen considerably since then. To work around the potential problem of Israeli aircraft crossing the sovereign airspace of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and/or Syria, the Report added that the aircraft could overfly NATO-member Turkey to reinforce its assets in Azerbaijan and use that as a staging post.

That said, there is every indication that Israel significantly expanded its military assets in Azerbaijan following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalation in 2023. As for the weaponry required to take out some of the deepest underground sites, the CRSs 2012 report highlighted that the U.S. had already sold Israel Guided Bomb Units (GBU) of the 27 2000-lb class and the 28 5000-lb class. Israel used the U.S.-made 2,000-pound BLU (Bomb Live Unit)-109 penetrator bombs to kill Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on 27 September last year. Although his bunker was only 100 feet underground compared to the 300 feet+ of some of Irans nuclear installations, the Report added in 2012 that: The U.S. may have quietly given Israel much more sophisticated systems or Israel may have developed its own. Aside from these logistical considerations, a telling fact remains that Iran clearly thinks Israel could pull it off, as in April 2024  shortly after the Iranian missile attack on Israel  Tehran closed its nuclear facilities.

Any further and sustained significant decreases in oil supply resulting from OPEC members and/or additional disruption to the Middle Easts key oil shipping routes could have extreme consequences for the oil price.

At the early stages of the initial Israel-Hamas conflict the World Bank laid out a range of scenarios for the oil price according to a gradation of risks. It stated that a small disruption  with the global oil supply being reduced by 500,000 to 2 million bpd (roughly the same as the decrease seen during the Libyan civil war in 2011)  would see the oil price initially rise 3-13%. A medium disruption  involving a 3 million to 5 million bpd loss of supply (roughly equivalent to the Iraq war in 2003) would drive the oil price up by 21-35%. And a large disruption  featuring a supply fall of 6 million to 8 million bpd (like the drop seen in the 1973 Oil Crisis)  would push the oil price up 56-75%.
China sends new communication technology test satellite into space

Ecns.cn) 11:09, May 13, 2025

A Long March-3C carrier rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan Province, May 13, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Yang Xi)

The satellite will be used mainly to carry out multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation tests. It was the 575th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

A Long March-3C carrier rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan Province, May 13, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Yang Xi)

A Long March-3C carrier rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan Province, May 13, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Yang Xi)

A Long March-3C carrier rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan Province, May 13, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Yang Xi)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Yola is in her joyful-rage era.

The U.K.-born, New York-based former Nashvillian says so during a late-March afternoon chat on Zoom amid preparations to hit the road on her Sovereign Soul Tour, which stops at The Basement East on Thursday. Yola launched the tour partially in support of her latest project, the My Way EP. Released in January, its her first release since the six-time Grammy nominees critically acclaimed second album Stand for Myself dropped in 2021.

My Way represents the latest incarnation of Yolas expansive sound, drawing upon her love for funk, soul, R&B and pop to dynamic and often surprising results. Thematically, the five-pack of new tunes grapples primarily with agency, whether in romantic situations  many of these songs reference a period of Yolas life when she was dating regularly  or in the act of expression itself. The result is her boldest, most self-realized work yet, as she advocates for her lived experiences through music that dares you not to dance along with her.

While each Yola project sounds different from its predecessor, that defiant spirit connects them to one another, something she says her fans often understand better than the music industry has. Yola shares that, while she was readying My Way, some industry folks around her were skeptical that fans would embrace this different sound. It draws more from influences that were a big part of her early work with dance producers  like Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson and 80s Tina Turner  and less from the old-school blues, folk and soul that inform her two previous Dan Auerbach-produced LPs, Stand for Myself and 2019s Walk Through Fire.

My fans were like, Girl, we knew this was coming for years, Yola says, laughing. Theyre like, Were not surprised. Now release the baby. Im like, Sorry, Ive got a little bit of a Broadway thing going on. And theyre like, Cute, actually. OK, that must be fun. None of us would turn down a lead on Broadway, so go and take that. But we know whats coming.

That Broadway thing was, of course, Yolas turn as Persephone in the critically acclaimed Broadway production of Hadestown, which she performed for several months last year. Though certainly a bucket-list experience, it didnt take Yolas eye off another prize: bringing the sounds that would populate My Way out of her head, into the studio and onto a record.

To help realize that vision, Yola assembled what she describes as starter teams, who helped her create pre-demos to take to recording sessions. These early collaborators include drummer Howard Artis, artist and multi-instrumentalist Haasan Barclay and Memphis-based production duo The PRVLG. The resulting tracks gave Yola something to take to Sean Douglas and Zach Skelton, who co-produced My Way with her.

They would help me get the beginning of these gazillion voice notes, or these things I can hear, into this kind of primordial shape where I can go, Heres my idea, she says. Thats what I like to try and populate my hard drive with  like, an inexhaustible number of pre-demos.

She cites the collaborative nature of making My Way as integral to realizing its full potential. This most recent experience stood in stark contrast to some past studio sessions, during which she had little control over how a finished song sounded.

I call that rapacious collaboration, for the people that dont understand what consent is, she says. When I talk about what is my way, my way is true collaboration. Its about really being truly open, and finding other people who are really, truly open.

My Way is Yolas first release with S-Curve Records, and being with a new label also gave her the freedom to make the record she wanted to make. She jokes that while making this EP, she didnt have to worry about the sausage-making situation of past projects, laughing as she says, I didnt even have to be a sausage this time. I could be a beef Wellington.

In turn, more creative freedom gave Yola the opportunity to dig into some difficult subjects, like she does in closing track Ready. It has roots in her mothers experience as part of the Windrush generation. Born in Barbados, Yolas mother was part of a wave of Caribbean people lured to the U.K. in the wake of World War II with promises of prosperity, only to arrive and find little waiting for them. Yolas mother never received what was owed to her, even at the end of her career.

They said that her work records were lost in a fire  an imaginary fire, that it turns out didnt happen, Yola says. They lost her records  and just coincidentally, all the other Black peoples records. She worked for 30 years, and they couldnt find the record, so she didnt qualify for her superannuation pension. She died before she ever got it.

Yola could have made Ready a dark, vengeful song. Instead, the tune sounds like a spiritual cousin to the Thriller standout Wanna Be Startin Somethin. It also has a deep connection to Afrobeat, a spiritual touchpoint for Yola.

When I hear reggae, dancehall  my butt will do the same thing any other Caribbean will do, she says. When I hear Afrobeat, I am still utterly entranced and obsessed. I dont know what the hell we did before Afrobeat, but I dont want to remember. Im not interested in remembering what happened before that.

Firmly connected to her roots, Yola says the joy in her music has permeated her offstage life. Finding her way through the past few difficult years has brought her to a place of peace and happiness. Its powerful enough that its reawakened her body  and her voice.

All my whistle tones are coming back, because Im happy. Im finally just blossoming.
Less than half of the 196 people arrested locally by Immigration and Customs Enforcement had any criminal history, the agency claims in an informational release published nine days after a sharp uptick in arrests in the Nashville area.

Fear Grips City After Traffic Traps by State Troopers, ICE Immigration roundups terrorize South Nashville and take residents with no criminal history

Tuesday's release is the publics most detailed look at the operation between federal agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol that has paralyzed many immigrants in the city with fear of deportation. In the release, the Department of Homeland Security calls Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell a pro-open borders politician and highlights 287g, a policy that allows collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE.

Under the policy, state troopers can communicate individuals immigration status to the federal government, which can then provide probable cause for an arrest.

The 101 arrested with no criminal history contradict ICE regional director Brian Acunas own claim that agents were targeting violent felonies over days of dragnet operations in South Nashville. Just 95 of the 196 arrested recently in Nashville had any criminal history, according to DHS, which named four individuals accused of or sentenced for violent crimes.

Metro Received Heads-Up Before ICE Roundup Federal agent requested police patrols for 'field operation' two days before mass immigrant arrests

The release does not include the number of stops by state troopers that resulted in no citation or no action whatsoever over the past nine days. The focus on Nashville also suggests that the city has been a national focus of ICE enforcement. Traffic traps dramatically decreased over the weekend, during which time ICE agents were seen on Lower Broadway probing bar and restaurant staff.

In the release, the Department of Homeland Security  headed by former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Donald Trump appointee  refers to ICE collaboration with state troopers on traffic traps as a successful operation. The release speaks about arrests in the past tense, suggesting a discrete effort that may lessen or have already concluded.

Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin referred to the 196 arrests as a successful operation that resulted in getting gang members, sex offenders, and other violent criminals off Nashvilles streets. The release cites the arrest of one Iraqi national who failed to register as a sex offender and one El Salvadoran man associated with MS-13, a Los Angeles-based criminal organization.

Numerous studies show that U.S.-born citizens commit violent crimes and weapons-related crimes at much higher rates than unauthorized immigrants. In fact, the threat of deportation has been linked to lower crime rates by undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Update, May 14: "Accountability must never come at the expense of due process, human dignity or community trust," reads a statement issued by the Metro Council's Immigrant Caucus on Tuesday evening. "The language and framing in the DHS announcement dangerously stigmatize entire immigrant communities in Nashville and misrepresents the reality of what has transpired. ... Federal agents  acting under the guise of public safety  approached children at bus stops, interrogated them about their parents' immigration status, and left a 9-year-old child alone for hours after his parent was detained."

The caucus also encourages donations to Nashville Unidos Fund and the newly launched Belonging Fund, initiatives providing assistance to families affected by the ICE sweeps.
CLIMATE DATA MANIPULATION published in blogs KEY to CLIMATE CHANGE MYTH now exposed in new book

Fake news is pretend news where all of mass media quotes and sources the same fake narrative as if its real, because the biggest lies that are repeated over and over everywhere are most likely to be believed. As goes for the climate change hoax, which, if you remember, used to be called global warming, until that myths data of falsified temperature and manipulated graphics were totally debunked, so the purveyors were forced to change the name.

Questionable Data Integrity: The IPCC and climate activists have repeatedly used a misleading graphic (traced to an Australian activist group) that exaggerates modern warming by omitting critical limitations in the original research, such as the inability to detect short-term temperature changes. Institutional Bias: The IPCC faces accusations of prioritizing alarmist narratives to secure funding and policy influence, with past scandals like "Climategate" revealing efforts to suppress dissenting views and cherry-pick data. Natural Variability Ignored: Climate narratives often downplay natural temperature fluctuations (e.g., Denvers daily 10C swings or Tokyos seasonal range), while framing gradual warming trends as "unprecedented" using flawed proxy data (ice cores, tree rings). Erosion of Trust: Critics demand greater transparency, arguing that misrepresented scienceand the rebranding from "global warming" to "climate change" after data controversiesundermines public confidence in climate institutions and policies.

Misleading climate graphic traced to activist group and climate alarmists, raising questions and serious doubt about IPCC data integrity

A widely circulated climate change graphic, often cited as evidence of unprecedented global warming, has been traced back to an Australian activist group rather than peer-reviewed science, according to an investigation by geologist Dr. Matthew Wielicki. The graphic, which compares smoothed historical temperature reconstructions with modern instrumental data, has been used by media outlets and even the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) despite known limitations in the underlying research. The revelation raises concerns about the reliability of climate narratives and the role of advocacy in shaping public policy.

Dr. Wielickis investigation found that the graphic first appeared in a 2018 activist handbook titled Dont Mention the Emergency?, published by the Climate Emergency Declaration group. The visualization, which suggests modern warming is historically unique, was inspired by a 2013 blog post analyzing a temperature reconstruction by paleoclimatologist Shaun A. Marcott. However, Marcotts original study explicitly cautioned that the data could not reliably detect temperature changes over periods shorter than 300 years  a critical limitation often omitted in public presentations.

Despite these caveats, the IPCC and climate activists have repeatedly used distorted versions of the graphic, amplifying public alarm. "Why have the authors and the IPCC remained silent when confronted with such blatant misuse of their data?" Wielicki asked in his analysis.

The misuse of climate data is not accidental, critics argue, but driven by institutional incentives. Organizations like the IPCC, which rely on government and private funding, face pressure to support climate crisis narratives. Wielicki notes that researchers whose work is misrepresented  such as Marcott  may avoid correcting the record due to fears of losing funding or credibility.

Historical context underscores the stakes: since the 1990s, climate policy has been shaped by IPCC reports, influencing trillions in global spending. Yet past controversies, like "Climategate" in 2009where leaked emails revealed efforts to suppress dissenting viewshave already eroded trust in climate institutions.

Real-World Context vs. Alarmism

Critics argue that climate narratives often ignore natural variability. For example:

Denver experiences daily temperature swings of 10C, far exceeding projected warming.

Tokyos annual range (2C to 31C) dwarfs gradual climate trends.

"Proclamations of unprecedented warming rely on deeply flawed interpretations of proxy data," Wielicki wrote, pointing to discrepancies in ice cores, tree rings, and other proxies used in reconstructions.

The controversy highlights the need for greater rigor in climate science communication. As policymakers weigh drastic measures  from carbon taxes to energy restrictions  ensuring accurate data is paramount. "To restore credibility, scientists and the IPCC must correct misinformation and reject alarmism," Wielicki argued. For now, the debate over climate graphics underscores a broader struggle: balancing scientific integrity with the demands of advocacy.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

BezoEarthFund.org

Expose-news.com
Lunar navigation breakthroughs: Europe and NASA pave the way for deepest space exploration

Spanish company GMV, backed by the ESA, developed LUPIN, a GPS-like navigation system for the Moon. Tested in Fuerteventuras moon-like terrain, it uses lunar satellites to provide real-time positioning, overcoming communication delays and "shadow zones" faced by current Earth-dependent systems.

NASAs Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) successfully tracked Earth-based GPS signals from the Moons surface in 2025, setting a record for signal reception at 209,900 miles. This enables autonomous navigation for future Artemis missions.

Both systems address critical gaps  LUPIN eliminates reliance on Earth-based tracking for rovers and astronauts, while LuGRE proves terrestrial GNSS signals (like GPS) can guide lunar missions, reducing ground-team dependency.

The advancements position Europe (via ESA/GMV) as a key player in lunar exploration, while NASAs LuGRE supports Artemis goal of a permanent Moon base by the 2030s. Reliable navigation is vital for lunar tourism, mining and Mars missions.

These systems mark a shift from Apollo-era manual navigation to autonomous, real-time decision-making, essential for colonization, science and commercial ventures. They lay the foundation for a connected Earth-Moon infrastructure.

Two groundbreaking advancements in lunar navigation are set to revolutionize humanitys presence on the moon, marking a pivotal step toward sustainable deep-space exploration. A Spanish technology company, GMV, has debuted a GPS-like system for the moon named LUPIN, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). Meanwhile, NASA has successfully demonstrated the ability to track Earth-based navigation signals from the lunar surface through its Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE). These innovations address critical challenges in real-time location tracking, positioning and communication, which currently limit astronauts, rovers and future missions to the moon.

Testing the lunar landscape: GMVs LUPIN takes shape in Spain

Spains GMV, a leading aerospace firm, has launched LUPIN, a navigation system mimicking Earths GPS, designed to enable precise, real-time location services for lunar missions. The project, part of ESAs broader effort to modernize lunar exploration, was field-tested in Fuerteventura, one of Spains Canary Islands, where its arid, rocky terrain mimics the moons surface.

Current lunar navigation relies on Earth-based tracking or relay satellites, creating delays and shadow zones where communication faltersa problem when rovers or astronauts must respond to hazards or shifts in the moons unstable terrain. LUPIN solves this by using signals from satellites orbiting the moon, similar to GPS systems on Earth. This software brings Europe closer to establishing a human presence on the moon, a stepping stone toward Mars, said Steven Kay, LUPIN project director, in remarks to Reuters.

The system integrates lunar cartography with data from orbital satellites, prioritizing shadowy regions like the south pole and far side. Rovers need to map the surface safely so astronauts can return and set up permanent bases, explained GMVs head of strategy, Mariella Graziano.

Historic milestone: NASAs LuGRE tracks signals from the moons surface

NASA achieved a first in March 2025 when its LuGRE experiment successfully tracked Earth-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals from the moons surface. Delivered by Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost lander, LuGRE demonstrated GNSS reception at unprecedented distances, marking 209,900 miles from Earth as the record for signal acquisition.

Traditional lunar missions depend on Earth-centric tracking, requiring oversight from human operators. LuGREs success means future Artemis missions could navigate autonomously, using terrestrial signals like GPS or Europes Galileo. Now we can use GNSS on the Moon, as we do on Earthfrom smartphones to planes, said NASAs Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator for space communications. The breakthrough reduces reliance on ground teams, freeing missions for deeper exploration and emergency response in real time.

Beyond navigation: Strategic and scientific implications

The advancements underscore a broader technological and geopolitical race to dominate lunar exploration. GMVs LUPIN positions Europe as a key player in an arena long dominated by U.S. and Chinese initiatives. Meanwhile, NASAs LuGRE aligns with the Artemis programs goal of establishing a permanent lunar base by the 2030s  a hub for Mars missions and resource mining.

Historically, lunar navigation was limited by primitive methods during the Apollo era, where crews navigated via star sightings and Earth-guided commands. Modern systems like LUPIN and LuGRE exemplify the shift toward autonomous, real-time decision-making crucial for long-term colonization and robotic missions.

Commercial interests also drive innovation, as companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin eye lunar tourism and mining. A reliable navigation network is foundational to attracting investment and ensuring safety.

Mapping the future of space exploration

These dual breakthroughs  Europes LUPIN and NASAs LuGRE  highlight humanitys growing proficiency at geo-mapping celestial bodies. As lunar tourism nears and resource extraction beckons, reliable navigation systems will underpin not just scientific progress, but also geopolitical strategy and economic expansion. This is the infrastructure needed to turn the moon into our next great stepping stone, Kay said. By bridging the Earth-moon gap in connectivity, these systems ensure that future explorers no longer wander in the dark, quite literally.

Sources for this article include:

Reuters.com

WizCase.com

Tech.Yahoo.com
House approves bill renaming Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America

The Republican-controlled House passed a bill (211-206) to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America," aligning with an executive order by President Donald Trump. Federal agencies would be required to update maps, though the change holds no international authority.

Supporters argue the current name reflects outdated Spanish colonial influence, while "Gulf of America" signifies modern U.S. dominance. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene framed it as a patriotic move, accusing Democrats of opposing it due to alleged ties to cartels.

Democrats dismissed the effort as frivolous, with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries calling it "silly" and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon labeling it the "dumbest bill" in her tenure. Republican Rep. Don Bacon also opposed it, deeming the proposal "juvenile."

The Gulf of Mexico's name has stood for centuries, tied to early European cartography. The bill's Senate prospects are uncertain, and the White House hasnt signaled efforts to seek global recognition, making the vote largely symbolic.

Critics argue the debate distracts from urgent economic and geopolitical issues, reflecting deeper tensions over national identity and the Trump administrations nationalist agenda.

In a move framed as a patriotic assertion of national identity, the House of Representatives voted to approve a bill renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."

The Republican-controlled House passed the proposal Thursday, May 8, in a 211-206 vote. The bill, which mirrors an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, would require federal agencies to update maps and documents to reflect the new name. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum would be in charge of ensuring that this change is implemented.

If passed, however, the bill holds no binding authority beyond U.S. borders. This means that Mexico and other international entities are under no obligation to follow the change.

GOP lawmakers defended the bill as a correction to what they argue is outdated colonial-era terminology. North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx explained that the current name reflects Spanish colonial influence. In contrast, "Gulf of America" better represents modern U.S. dominance in the region.

"The Gulf of America is one of the most important things we can do this Congress," Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said, framing the change as a matter of national pride. The congresswoman also alleged that Democrats are opposing the name change as drug cartels "are their business partners."

"Names matter," Greene continued. "Parents take a lot of time when they think about what to name a child that they're happy to welcome in the world. That's why they take pride in the name that they name their child."

Democrats  and one Republican  speak out against the name change

But not every GOP lawmaker was on board, as Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon broke ranks to oppose the bill. In an interview prior to the vote, the congressman for the Cornhusker State called the proposal "juvenile" and "a sophomore thing to do."

Democrats predictably derided the effort as frivolous, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York calling the bill "a silly, small-minded and sycophantic piece of legislation." Pennsylvania Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon meanwhile dubbed it as the "dumbest bill brought to the floor during the six years I've served in this Congress." New York Rep. George Latimer remarked that "no one is clamoring for a newly named body of water," adding that Americans "want lower grocery bills."

The Gulf of Mexico has carried its name for over four centuries, rooted in early European exploration and cartography. The Associated Press, which continues to use the old name, has previously clashed with the Trump administration over press access. It underscores broader tensions between media institutions and the president's nationalist agenda. (Related: Trump administration BANS Associated Press reporters from Oval Office, defying court order.)

The bill's prospects in the Senate remain uncertain, and the White House has not indicated whether it will pursue diplomatic efforts to encourage global recognition of the new name. As the debate unfolds, the vote stands as a symbolic gesture in a larger cultural and political battle over American identity  one that critics say distracts from pressing economic and geopolitical challenges.

Head over to BigGovernment.news for more similar stories.

Watch Alex Jones of InfoWars explaining why President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

This video is from the Ruth Mackenzies channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

SETTING THE TONE: Trump plans to issue at least 25 executive orders on Day 1.

Coastal cities along the Gulf of America brace for HISTORIC snowfall and blizzard conditions.

Trump to issue sweeping executive orders on immigration, energy, and federal reform on Inauguration Day.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Axios.com

Newser.com
Israel warns nations NOT to recognize Palestine, even though 147 countries already do

The Israeli government has once again threatened retaliation against nations that dare to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state , revealing the true nature of its apartheid regime. Foreign Minister Gideon Saars warning comes as more countries challenge the Zionist narrative, refusing to accept Israels brutal occupation as a permanent reality. But behind the diplomatic posturing lies a deeper truth: Israels existence as an ethnonationalist state depends on the continued subjugation of Palestinians, backed by Western military aid and political cover. As the world slowly awakens to the reality of Jewish supremacy from the river to the sea, the question remains  how long will the international community remain complicit in this ongoing crime against humanity?

Key points:

Israel threatens diplomatic retaliation against nations recognizing Palestinian statehood, framing it as a "reward for Hamas."

At least 147 countries already recognize Palestine, but Western powers, including the U.S. and most of Europe, refuse  enabling Israels apartheid policies.

Historical peace efforts have failed because Israel demands Palestinians accept Jewish supremacy while denying their right to self-determination.

Israels military-industrial complex profits from occupation, selling "battle-tested" weapons to authoritarian regimes worldwide.

The two-state solution is dead; the only path forward is a single democratic state with equal rights for all.

The myth of the two-state solution

For decades, Western leaders have peddled the illusion of a two-state solution, despite Israels relentless expansion of illegal settlements and systemic discrimination against Palestinians. The Oslo Accords, once hailed as a breakthrough, were nothing more than a smokescreen for continued land theft. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak admitted in 2010 that negotiations were a farce, designed to maintain Israeli control while paying lip service to peace.

The reality is stark: Israel has never intended to allow a viable Palestinian state. Since 1967, it has methodically annexed East Jerusalem, carved up the West Bank with settlements, and besieged Gaza in what human rights groups call an open-air prison. The recent push by Spain, Ireland, and Norway to recognize Palestine is a direct challenge to this colonial project  one that Israel will resist with every tool at its disposal.

The global arms trade fueling apartheid

Israels occupation is not just a political issue  its a lucrative business. The Israeli arms industry, worth over $11 billion annually, markets its weapons as "field-tested" on Palestinian civilians. From drone strikes in Gaza to surveillance tech deployed in the West Bank, these tools of repression are then sold to authoritarian regimes worldwide.

Andrew Feinstein, an arms trade expert, witnessed this firsthand at the Paris Air Show, where Israeli defense firms proudly showcased footage of attacks on Palestinian neighborhoods. "No other country would dare show actual footage of bombing civilians," he said. "But Israel operates beyond international law, and the West lets it happen."

This militarized economy depends on perpetual conflict. When nations like South Africa accuse Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, theyre not just condemning war crimes  theyre challenging the entire infrastructure of occupation that enriches Israel and its allies.

The future: One state or endless apartheid?

The two-state solution is a corpse, long buried under settlements and checkpoints. The only just resolution is a single democratic state with equal rights for Jews and Palestinians. This idea terrifies Israels leaders because it dismantles the Zionist dream of an ethnically pure Jewish state.

But history is shifting. Young Jews in the diaspora, alongside Palestinian activists, are rejecting the narrative of eternal victimhood used to justify oppression. As Israeli journalist Gideon Levy warns, "The world is waking up to apartheid. The question is whether it will act before more blood is spilled."

Sources include:

RT.com

RT.com

Hoover.org
Health Ranger Report: Miguel Casas shares shocking truths about OPEN BORDERS and HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Faith-driven firearms trainer Miguel Casas founded the SheepDog Initiative in Texas, offering holistic training focused on defensive handgun skills, dynamic movement and worst-case scenarios in a supportive, family-friendly environment.

Casas highlights the $250 billion human trafficking industry, fueled by cartels and linked to pornography, with many asylum seekers lying about their circumstances. He shares harrowing rescue stories, including a Honduran officer's family saved by his 7-year-old daughter.

Thousands of individuals from adversarial nations (e.g., China, Syria, Iraq) cross daily, with evidence of weapons caches (e.g., AKs, missiles) and suspicious land purchases (e.g., a Chinese colonel near the Rio Grande) raising terrorism concerns.

Casas advocates for faith-based action, education and his Warrior Line curriculum to combat spiritual and physical threats. He stresses merit-based immigration and community self-defense.

Handguns are limited in stopping power; Casas recommends rifles like 9mm carbines for better ballistics. He criticizes inadequate law enforcement training and urges professional instruction for responsible ownership.

The Health Ranger Mike Adams sat down with firearms trainer Miguel Casas to discuss the alarming realities of open borders and human trafficking. The conversation, which spanned a wide range of topics from firearms training to the socio-political landscape of the United States, was both enlightening and deeply concerning.

Casas, a faith-driven individual with a deep understanding of the role of God and Christ in his life, has dedicated himself to the cause of humanity. His journey began with a passion for firearms training  something the owner, lead instructor and ministry steward of SheepDog Initiative honed at a prestigious facility in Nevada.

Casas learned his craft under the tutelage of legendary figures like Jeff Cooper, the father of modern combat handgun training. He emphasized the importance of learning from every master and adapting techniques to suit individual needs, a philosophy he applies to his training at the SheepDog Initiative (SDI).

Located in Bastrop, Texas just outside Austin, SDI is not your typical firearms training facility. Casas describes it as a "resort" rather than a military training camp, focusing on creating a comfortable and supportive environment for all students, including families. His approach is holistic  emphasizing personal safety, marksmanship and weapons manipulation, with a strong focus on defensive handgun training.

Casas highlights the importance of understanding the realities of a gunfight, stating that 90 percent of the battle is the ability to draw the weapon quickly and accurately. His training includes dynamic movement, shooting while moving, and worst-case scenario simulations, such as hostage rescue and multiple adversary engagements.

The shocking reality of human trafficking

The conversation took a somber turn as Casas revealed the shocking truths about human trafficking at the border. He recounted his experiences rescuing individuals from the clutches of cartels, emphasizing that the majority of those claiming asylum are not telling the truth. (Related: HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Mexican cartels offer $15,000 VIP border crossing packages to migrants trying to get into the U.S. via tunnels.)

The SDI founder shared a harrowing story of a Honduran police officer and his family, who were kidnapped by a coyote working for the cartel. Their miraculous rescue was a testament to the power of faith and the courage of a seven-year-old girl.

Casas emphasized that the human trafficking industry is a $250 billion behemoth, surpassing Hollywood and Washington in terms of financial influence. This staggering figure, he explained, is largely fueled by American men. Pornography, he added, serves as the gateway to the dark world of child sex trafficking.

"All of these nefarious organizations like the cartels are never going to let go of human trafficking," Casas told Adams. "It is the largest criminal organization that exists now."

The firearms trainer painted a grim picture of the situation at the border, revealing that thousands of individuals from countries like China, Syria and Iraq are crossing into the U.S. daily. He mentioned a Chinese colonel who defected and purchased land along the Rio Grande, suggesting the possibility of an airstrip for nefarious purposes. Casas also highlighted the presence of weapons caches across America, including fully automatic AKs and surface-to-air missiles, raising concerns about domestic terrorism and foreign infiltration.

Casas encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their communities. He advocates for merit-based immigration and rigorous vetting processes to ensure that those who enter the country are truly in need and have good intentions.

The role of firearms in personal defense

The interview also delved into the importance of firearms for personal defense. Casas emphasized the ballistic deficiencies of handguns, stating that they are carried for their portability and concealability rather than their stopping power. He advocates for the use of rifles, particularly the 9mm carbine, which offers better ballistics and versatility.

Casas also addressed the issue of firearm safety, emphasizing the importance of proper training and responsible ownership. He criticized the lack of adequate training among law enforcement and military personnel, urging individuals to seek out professional instruction and practice regularly.

The interview with Casas was a sobering reminder of the challenges facing America and the world today. His insights into the realities of open borders and human trafficking, coupled with his call for faith-based action and preparedness, offer a roadmap for individuals seeking to protect themselves and their communities.

Watch the full interview between Miguel Casas and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Taxpayer dollars fund controversial NGO immigration programs amid trafficking allegations.

BOMBSHELL: Government Whistleblower Exposes $347 Million Contract for Trafficking Unaccompanied Minors.

Cartels shift tactics: Kidnappings and organ trafficking surge as border crossings plummet under Trump policies.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TheRealSDI.com
SIDS concerns on the rise; vaccine-death link resurfaces in data analysis

The NIH terminated its 30-year-old Safe to Sleep program in 2025, which promoted back-sleeping to reduce SIDS. Critics argue the campaigns reported success masked a reclassification of infant deaths rather than an actual decline.

Researcher Neil Z. Millers analysis of VAERS data shows 80% of SIDS deaths occur within seven days of vaccination, suggesting a potential correlation. Historical ICD code changes (1979) removed vaccine-related death classifications, possibly obscuring the true cause.

Studies (2021, 2017) reveal that declining SIDS rates after the 1990s Safe to Sleep campaign coincided with rising deaths labeled as suffocation or unknown causes, indicating reclassification  not prevention.

Vaccines may trigger brainstem inflammation or aluminum adjuvant toxicity, disrupting infants respiratory control. VAERS data shows 75% of post-vaccine SIDS cases cluster near immunization dates, though causation isnt proven.

Advocates criticize outdated mortality coding and lack of vaccine injury reporting, arguing parents and policymakers lack data to assess risks. Rising infant deaths (12% increase in SUID, 20202022) fuel demands for reevaluating vaccine safety and public health messaging.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently axed a decades-old initiative to reduce sudden infant deaths, triggering debate over whether vaccines or sleep practices are to blame for a resurgent health crisis. Neil Z. Miller, a vaccine researcher, and others argue that sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)  once labeled an unsolved mystery of pediatric medicine  is being overshadowed by flawed mortality data and policy changes. His analysis of federal vaccine safety reports reveals 80% of SIDS deaths occur within seven days of vaccination, reigniting a decades-old controversy over the safety of childhood immunizations.

The silent cancellation of Safe to Sleep campaign

In late April 2025, the NIH terminated its 30-year-old Safe to Sleep campaign, which had advised parents to place babies on their backs during sleep. The program, credited with a supposed 55% drop in SIDS deaths since its 1990s launch, now faces scrutiny over its reported success. While parents and nonprofits like First Candle decried the cuts amid rising post-2020 infant mortality rates, peer-reviewed studies suggest SIDS deaths were merely rebranded rather than reduced.

A 2021 toxicity study by Miller in Toxicology Reports found that as SIDS diagnoses fell after the campaign began in 1992, fatalities from suffocation, unknown causes and intent undetermined surged. A 2017 Pediatrics analysis concluded 90% of the documented decline in SIDS mortality stemmed from diagnostic reclassification, not a true drop in unexplained infant deaths.

The elimination of this department is devastating as SIDS rates have begun to climb again, said Alison Jacobson, CEO of First Candle, citing a 12% increase in sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) between 2020 and 2022, per a JAMA Pediatrics study. Yet with federal funding withdrawn, advocates now scramble to sustain awareness efforts.

Historical context: vaccines and the birth of SIDS

SIDS was codified as a cause of death in 1971, coinciding with expanding U.S. vaccination mandates. By the 1960s, infants received nine vaccines by age 18 months, including diphtheria, polio and measles. Before 1979, coroners could attribute infant deaths to vaccines via an explicit International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code. Its removal that year forced reclassification of such fatalities into categories like "SIDS" or "asphyxiation," likely obscuring vaccine-related deaths.

Physician Paul Thomas, author of Vax Facts, noted coroners lack ICD codings for vaccine injuries, driving misclassification: Infant deaths after vaccines are generally coded as SIDS, unknown, or suffocation. But the primary cause has been right under our noses. Millers VAERS database analysis supports this: Of 2,605 infant deaths reported since 1990, 58% occurred within three days of vaccination, with 78.3% within seven. The timing strongly suggests a connection, though causation remains unproven.

VAERS data and the pathology of sudden death

Millers work identifies physiological mechanisms that could link vaccines to infant mortality. Vaccines trigger inflammatory cytokines in brainstem tissues, potentially disrupting infants carbon dioxide response systems. Aluminum adjuvants, a common vaccine additive, may cross the blood-brain barrier, inducing respiratory failure. These pathways align with the observation that 75% of VAERS-reported SIDS cases clustered near vaccination dates.

While the CDC maintains vaccines are safe, recent studies challenge this view. A 2023 Cureus analysis found nations mandating more neonatal doses suffer higher childhood mortality rates. Meanwhile, a 2018 Health Affairs study traced the U.S.s rising infant death disparity with other wealthy countries back to the 1980swhen U.S. vaccines doubled.

A call for transparency in an "unofficial" crisis

The NIHs withdrawal from Safe to Sleep reignites urgent questions about infant mortalitys true causes and mortality datas integrity. With vaccine schedules now spanning 76 doses by age 18, critics argue opaque reporting hinders informed decision-making.

There are 130 official ways for an infant to die, Miller wrote, but vaccine reactions remain an unofficial one. Until cause-of-death coding modernizes, parents may remain uninformed of risksand policymakers ill-equipped to address a crisis rooted in both public health messaging and unexamined science.

As research deepens and advocacy groups seek answers, the resurfacing debate underscores a chilling possibility: Some of medicines most trusted interventions might cloak its most tragic outcomes. For parents, the road to prevention now navigates not just sleep positions, but questions about the shots their babies receive.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

StatNews.com

ScienceDirect.com
The imaginary Casey Means

Yes, there is a fight right now among MAHA activists. Yes, it has to do with the announcement on May 7 2025 that wellness influencer and bestselling author Casey Means was replacing Dr Janette Nesheiwat as President Trumps nominee for the office of Surgeon General. Dr Nesheiwat, it emerged, had misrepresented her medical credentials.

(Article by Dr. Naomi Wolf republished from NaomiWolf.Substack.com)

A post by former Vice Presidential Candidate Nicole Shanahan, without whose financial and strategic support for RFK Jrs candidacy, neither he nor President Trump would be in power right now, has been widely circulated. Shanahan found it strange that a direct assurance to her from RFK Jr, in exchange for her support for his confirmation, that neither Casey nor her brother Calley Means would be brought to serve in HHS, was disregarded.

There is a lot of condescension  unfortunately, much of it male  that followed the expressions of outrage from key MAHA voices, many of them female. The @SecKennedy account on X called criticisms of Casey Means by MAHA voices, absurd. This is a terrible tone in which to address the serious concerns of a base that has fought for this leader and supported him.

Calley Means, for his part, Casey Means brother, has been insulting. He used sarcasm to assign to me, as just one example of the regrettable reaction to MAHA outrage, views I do not hold:

I never said, contrary to this unfortunate post, that Casey Means must be part of a CIA plot. I never said that the deep state had anything to do with her meteoric rise to national prominence.

I said  and I stand by every word  that it looks to me as if both Casey Means and Calley Means have been sent to us by scarier interests than the CIA.

Silicon Valley is scarier than any government agency, and far more powerful. The Means siblings, I maintain, are representing Silicon Valleys interests, and not ours.

I said  and again, I stand by every word  that they both appear to be tasked with representing Big Techs interests in the rush to exploit the gold mine that is the pristine, valuable data  especially our private medical data  that is currently held behind secure doors by the United States Government.

I made this point in my February 12 2025 essay about what I saw as Elon Musks targeting of our data at that time. The essay was titled The Sack of Rome. I warned then that Musk and other Silicon Valley oligarchs were after this data, and that President Trumps team did not seem to understand the grave and irrevocable risks this mission represented.

I knew then, from my own experience as a tech CEO, that Musk would certainly use his own AI or code (and not only our sovereign government-owned AI) on our datasets. He did, one month later. I knew then that Musks team would seek to merge the datasets of multiple agencies (as they sought to do, later).

Anyone who works with technologists would know that these dangerous, destructive actions would be inevitable, because of the value to Musks AI that training it on our datasets represents, and because of the value to Musks ability to create an everything app, that merging datasets from multiple agencies, would represent.

I warned in that essay, and also on Bannons War Room podcast, that the Trump administration was facing a catastrophic security risk, via Musk seeking out email communications from national security and intelligence agencies about five things I did this week. I knew that Musks goal was to create a database of those emails. Those communications, I warned, could be machine-read and turned into a non-secure non-internal database containing our nations most important intelligence projects. I may well have been right: Three sources with knowledge of the system reported to NBC that the responses are fed into a Large Language Model to determine whether someones work is mission critical or not.

In at least two cases, DOGE has either rewritten its own code into government AI, or it has hosted sensitive government funding activity on a third party  Microsoft  platform.

I warned on WarRoom about the terrible national security risk represented by the administration using any third party platform. I was worried then about Musks AI, and about Musk having fired those US government technologists whose job would be to warn about the dangers to national, and to information, security, from what Musk was doing.

A month later, the Signal scandal broke  and our vital national security secrets, including details communicated by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the timing of a military strike in Yemen  were all over. a third party digital platform.

How could the administration have been protected from these appalling security breaches? A third of the US Digital Service tech experts, the ones who would have understood cybersecurity breaches, had been fired via an anonymous email; 21 others resigned, in a letter to the White House on February 25 2025, that blisteringly warned that the data of the United States Government could no longer be secured:

DOGEs actions  firing technical experts, mishandling sensitive data, and breaking critical systems  contradict their stated mission of modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity, the letter states. These actions are not compatible with the mission we joined the United States Digital Service to carry out: to deliver better services to the American people through technology and design. []

We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services, the letter stated. We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGEs actions.

The US government technologists who had been let go, or who had resigned, would have been the ones to warn the administration that Signal was not secure. Once the technologists were gone, it was DOGE who should have been the ones to warn Musks non-technical colleagues that Signal was not secure.

But  DOGE didnt.

Hm.

This brings us to Casey Means.

Casey Means is a creation, in effect, of Silicon Valley, for the purposes, too, I argue, of plundering our government data, and of rerouting US health policy, to align with the interests of Big Tech; especially in the booming realm of biometrics.

Let me now re-cite the sections of The Sack of Rome, that explain why data, especially biometric data, is so very valuable to Silicon Valley:

The Value of Government Data

President Trump and the MAGA team, whose leadership is almost all from the pre-internet generation, may not understand the financial value to Silicon Valley of Elon Musk having potentially breached these data already.

But the Broligarchs certainly do understand the value of this, a value so vast it almost cannot be described.

What Musk and his engineers accessed over their weekend alone with our data, is a government, of course, holding the records of the civic business of Americans; but in a digital era, evaluated inside of a digital economy, it is also an unimaginably valuable gold mine.

Imagine a gold mine filled with fully minted, priceless doubloons. It is not a gold mine to citizens, many of whom express their hatred and contempt for the government, including for its bureaucracies. But from the point of view of the Broligarchs it is an immeasurably valuable trove of the purest, most accurate, most pristine, least ambiguous, highest-quality data. Due to privacy restrictions and government firewalls, the Broligarchs have not been able to breach this treasure trove. They want it. They salivate for it.

Why do they want it so much? Why are they likely popping Champagne corks, that one of their own got the keys to this gold mine and sauntered right in, and may have unloaded, in effect, all of these priceless doubloons, intact, while the guards to the gold mine were (by government contract) not present, or overruled?

Here is why.

Silicon Valley has built and monetized almost everything that can live inside your computer or inside your phone. The technologists of Silicon Valley know the existing business models; and there are only so many video games and word processing or bookkeeping software tools, or home shopping networks and weight loss apps, that anyone wants.

The technology for everything that lives inside your computer, and the business models, are now well understood. The limits to growth are visible to the Broligarchs that is, the limits to growth for products that live inside your computer or phone, or that can be compiled from the world of publicly available datasets.

That saturation is why they are lusting after new sites, mediums and matrices for digitization.

That saturation is why they long to build the Internet of Things, and harvest those data; that is why they want to put sensors everywhere in the built or physical environment.

That is why Columbia University has a data journalism scholarship at the School of Journalism, which includes teaching budding reporters about sensors.

Silicon Valley also lusts after creating technology that manifests in the actual environment; that is why projects such as Harvard Universitys Keith Group, which houses Prof David Keiths evil geoengineering experiments in blocking out the sun, are funded by Intellectual Ventures, one of Silicon Valleys key venture capital firms. As a book on the Silicon Valley investment in solar radiation management notes, Intellectual Ventures has developed a large portfolio of patents in this area: A number of other private and public entities have also filed patents in the field of geoengineering.

The financial rewards of digitizing, harvesting data from new untamed fields, and thus of monetizing your sky and weather, your body and its processes, your brain and mood, your built environment, and yes, your protected government data sources, and privatizing its vast technological functionalities, is why there is so much excitement from investors for colonizing these not-fully-digitized and not-fully-monetized spaces.

This Wild West is why the Broligarchs wish to digitize your body; why they push wearables and digital tech inside the human body, so hard. This is why there was more excitement in biotech journals than in medical journals, about the mRNA technology and vaccines, in which Silicon Valley entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg, owned investments, and some VCs even patents. The immense investments already made by Silicon Valley investors, push policy demands for mrna to be bought and put into everything, even as the science around mrna collapses.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which protects your medical data, is an angel with a flaming sword now keeping the Tech Bros from accessing this most valuable and most continually refreshed of datasets, Americans constantly evolving personal medical records.

If implants in the body such as Elon Musks Neuralink, or digital processes in or around your body such as wearables, can be normalized, this  an app or device for which you give consent in the boring, no-one-really-reads-them terms of service for use of your medical data  allows entrepreneurs to bypass current HIPAA privacy protections around your medical data.

That breach then represents yet another new colony in the unvanquished Wild West of data.

Freshly minted national Health Freedom personalities, Calley and Casey Means, both own digital health companies that are based on data accumulation business models; Calley Means company Truemed sells apps for mental health tracking and for sleep tracking, as well as technologies that digitally analyze your gut microbiome (though, since my public criticisms, he seems to have removed from his website the device he had offered that tracks your actual brain activity).

When I sought to point out on X the data management aspect of his and his sisters business models, Calley Means called my cautions unhinged.

Casey Means, the sister in this duo, is cofounder of Levels.com. That companys business model involves securing your glucose levels and food tracking data. Casey Means has had an astonishing ride through the VC funding process, especially for a female founder, indeed for a founder with no track record at all in building and exiting successful digital companies listed in her bio. (Female founders receive less than 3% per cent of VC funding).[]

Because I understood the data-harvesting value proposition of the Means siblings business models, I realized early on that their sudden self-representation as grassroots medical freedom activists was absurd. And when, within weeks, President Trump announced, standing alongside Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a $500 billion joint venture in AI, Stargate, which would combine the forces of usually-competing entities Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia, Oracle and Softbank, I saw another warning sign.

I realized as I watched all this unfold, that while President Trump may believe that he has harnessed Silicon Valley, the real risk is that Silicon Valley has harnessed him.

The goal of the Broligarchs in suddenly out of nowhere embracing MAGA, was very clear. It was not just a predictable kowtowing to the new guy in charge; though that surely was an element. This embrace seemed mostly, to me, even before I learned of Musks time with our most precious data, what they call in VC land, a data play.

The Broligarchs were after the most valuable tranche of un-monetized data in the world -- that of the US Federal Government.

Okay: so now that you have refreshed your understanding of the value of our government-held data, lets look at more deeply at Casey Means.

Casey Means main credentials are that she is an entrepreneur in the health space, with a highly valued startup, and that she wrote, with her brother, a bestselling book, Good Energy.

Let us start with her tech startup, Levels.com. I will argue that her business is an empty storefront, a misleadingly-packaged void into which value has been pumped artificially by some of the most entrenched, corrupt interests in Silicon Valley.

Levels.com, which Casey Means cofounded in 2019, is a company that tracks your glucose levels via a filament continuously inserted under the skin in your arm. Shortly after she cofounded it, Casey Means gave an interview announcing $12M of seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz and angel investors including Marc Randolph (co-founder and first CEO of Netflix), Dick Costolo (former CEO of Twitter), Michael Arrington (founder of TechCrunch), and Matt Dellavedova (NBA player on Cleveland Cavaliers). These big names came in for a founder who had never founded a company before, let alone a tech company.

The funding journey for Levels.com continued to be stunning: The company raised $38 million in a Series A round in April 2022. A $10 million Series A extension was raised, including $3 million in crowdfunding. Another $7 million Series A extension was secured, following the initial $38 million Series A. Levels has successfully utilized crowdfunding to raise a portion of its funding, including $5 million from its original $38 million Series A round. So to date, Levels has raised more than $55 million.

Look at who came in as founders: Josh Clemente (SpaceX, Hyperloop), Sam Corcos (CarDash, YC), David Flinner (Google), and Andrew Conner (Google) founded Levels to solve the metabolic health crisis.

Read more at: NaomiWolf.Substack.com
China-EU economic, trade cooperation brings greater stability to global economy

14:04, May 13, 2025 By Guo Ziyun, Yu Limin, Niu Ruifei ( People's Daily

A pure electric car launched by a Chinese company attracts attention at the international Automobile and Tuning Show held in Hungary at the end of March 2025. (Photo by Liu Zhonghua/People's Daily)

This year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU). As the world's second and third largest economies, China and the EU collectively account for over one third of the global economy and more than a quarter of global trade. Both sides are advocates of economic globalization and trade liberalization, and firm defenders and supporters of the World Trade Organization.

Over the past five decades, the two sides have continued to deepen their economic and trade cooperation, benefiting the two peoples and the world at large. As the global economy faces mounting instability and uncertainty, closer communication and cooperation between China and the EU can contribute to open and free trade and investment, ensure stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and inject greater stability and certainty into the world economy.

In the western Polish city of Slubice, the rhythmic hum of conveyor belts fills a warehouse run by MBB Logistics, where workers methodically sort and dispatch packages destined for consumers across Poland and Germany -- usually within 24 hours.

This warehouse is part of a growing logistics footprint made possible by the China-Europe freight service. Over the past several years, MBB Logistics has expanded into eight warehouses in the region, covering 160,000 square meters and handling a wide range of goods including electronics, mechanical parts, household supplies, and hardware. Sourced from nearly 300 Chinese e-commerce partners, these goods form a bridge between thousands of Chinese manufacturers and the vast European market.

Julio Rios, a Spanish expert on China, observed that the China-Europe freight service addresses the needs of both China and Europe in a complementary and innovative way. He views the freight service as a catalyst for unleashing the economic and trade cooperation potential of countries along the route.

As morning light pierced the mist and spread across the vast Hungarian plains, rows of sand martin nests dotted the rocky embankment near the tracks of the Budapest-Belgrade railway -- home to hundreds of the birds. During the railway's construction, Chinese builders went to great lengths to protect the birds' habitat, which has since become a cherished story in the local community.

A local resident takes pictures of the Chinese-built Peljesac Bridge in Croatia. (Photo by Liu Zhonghua/People's Daily)

The Hungary-Serbia railway is a vivid example of China and the EU jointly building green Belt and Road.

In Greece, Chinese enterprises are actively promoting green and digital transformation at the Piraeus port, striving to transform it into a sustainable, efficient, and intelligent port.

In Malta, the Delimara 3 power station, upgraded by a Chinese company, now emits significantly less pollution and carbon than EU environmental standards require, shifting from a heavy polluter to a model of green innovation.

In Serbia, the Chinese-built Kostolac Power Plant is converting ash and slag into exportable concrete materials, reducing dust emissions while generating revenue.

These green projects and technologies are propelling Europe's green transition and injecting new momentum into regional economic development.

A fully loaded China-Europe freight train leaves Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, for Duisburg, Germany, March 3, 2025. (Photo by Liu Yijiang/People's Daily Online)

Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center, sees vast potential in China-EU trade and investment cooperation, especially in tackling climate change. With shared goals and a growing alignment on green priorities, he noted, both sides recognize the scale of business opportunities ahead.

European companies express growing confidence in the Chinese market through tangible investments. France-based cosmetic giant L'Oreal has launched two new investment funds in China. German industrial giant Siemens opened its first industrial ecosystem hub in western China in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Danfoss, a global refrigeration industry giant headquartered in Danmark, inaugurated its first carbon-neutral factory in China, located in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, actual investment from the EU to China rose by 11.7 percent in the first quarter of this year.

China-EU investment cooperation continues to expand, particularly in areas such as new energy, green technology, and smart manufacturing.

Greece's Piraeus Port Authority S.A., operated by a Chinese company, posted record-high revenues and profits in 2024. In the first quarter, Chinese electric vehicle battery giant CATL saw strong year-on-year growth in power battery sales in the European market, with its factory in Thuringia, Germany achieving profitability. Meanwhile, Chinese automaker Chery Automobile and Spain's Ebro-EV Motors signed a pact to develop new electric vehicles through a joint venture, breathing new life into a cherished local brand.

Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, noted that Chinese and European companies continue to demonstrate innovation and resilience. In an increasingly complex international environment, he said, they are forging win-win partnerships and opening up broad development prospects.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Trump administration considers suspending habeas corpus in immigration crackdown

The Trump administration is considering suspending habeas corpus (the right to challenge detention in court) to address illegal immigration, citing constitutional provisions allowing such action during an "invasion."

Stephen Miller framed the surge in illegal border crossings as an "invasion," arguing that extraordinary measures are needed for national security.

The administrations aggressive immigration policies, including the use of the Alien Enemies Act, have faced pushback from courts, with rulings limiting its application to organized armed threats, not migrant caravans.

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, requiring due process for detainees, while lower courts have challenged the administration's broad interpretation of "invasion."

Despite legal setbacks, the White House has signaled a willingness to pursue drastic measures, including suspending constitutional rights, to curb illegal immigration.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has revealed that the Trump administration is "actively looking at" suspending habeas corpus, a constitutional right allowing individuals to challenge their detention in court, to crack down on illegal immigration.

In an interview on May 9 outside the White House, a reporter asked Miller about the possibility of suspending habeas corpus. "First, you know, President Trump has talked about potentially suspending habeas corpus to take care of the illegal immigration problem. When could we see that happen in the future?" a reporter asked. (Related: Trump administration tackles illegal immigration: Sheriff Richard Mack calls for constitutional enforcement.)

Miller pointed to Article I of the Constitution, which permits the suspension of the writ "when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."

"The Constitution is clear, and that, of course, is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in time of invasion," Miller answered. "So, it's an option we're actively looking at. A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not."

Miller justified the potential suspension by framing the influx of undocumented migrants as an "invasion," arguing that the U.S. faces a national security threat requiring extraordinary measures.

The move, if enacted, would mark a dramatic escalation in the immigration enforcement policies of the current administration, effectively stripping detained migrants of a fundamental legal safeguard enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration has faced judicial resistance

The announcement comes amid escalating legal battles over the administration's immigration enforcement measures, including the use of the Alien Enemies Act  a 1798 law allowing for the swift deportation of noncitizens with minimal due process  to remove alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Trump has repeatedly framed the surge in illegal border crossings as an "invasion," arguing that federal judges blocking his policies are enabling an insurrection against U.S. sovereignty.

The administration's hardline approach has faced fierce resistance from the judiciary. In April, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act against members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan prison gang, ruling that detainees must be allowed to challenge their deportations. The decision overturned an injunction by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who had previously halted deportation flights to El Salvador and later threatened to hold the administration in contempt for noncompliance.

Another setback came on May 1, when U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in Texas ruled that the Alien Enemies Act applies only to "an organized, armed force entering the United States" with hostile intent, not to transnational criminal groups. The Trump administration contends that the current border crisis, fueled by cartel activity and mass illegal crossings, meets the constitutional definition of an invasion.

Visit InvasionUSA.news for more stories like this.

Watch this full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Sheriff Richard Mack as they talk about Trump's declaration of foreign terrorist organizations and law enforcement actions.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

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Illegal immigration is costing American hospitals billions of dollars in unpaid medical bills.

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Sources include:

YourNews.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
Fraud in federal aid programs: USAID official charged in COVID relief scam

Yusuf Akoll, a senior USAID contracting officer, allegedly created a fake company (Naagode Consulting LLC) to fraudulently obtain $16,666 in COVID-19 PPP loans. The scheme involved falsifying business records, including fabricated income claims and an invalid operational timeline.

The case highlights widespread fraud risks in emergency relief programs due to lax oversight and rushed distribution. Critics warn similar abuses may extend to other agencies, including USAIDs foreign aid operations.

The Biden administrations 2023 decision to halt collections on fraudulent loans under $100,000 has drawn criticism for enabling further abuse. Congress nearly let the pandemic fraud watchdog (SIGPR) expire, threatening investigations into hundreds of millions in suspected fraud.

Advocates like Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) stress the need to prosecute fraudsters and recover stolen funds. Recent cases, like Florida businessman Jeanty Cheriluss 18-month sentence for $370,000 in loan fraud, underscore ongoing enforcement efforts.

Experts estimate over $1 trillion in COVID relief funds may have been stolen globally, with much lost to scams. The Akoll case exemplifies how inadequate safeguards turn aid programs into targets for exploitation, demanding stricter oversight.

A senior USAID contracting officer stands accused of defrauding the federal government by creating a fake company to obtain pandemic relief funds, raising fresh concerns about accountability in federal aid programs. Yusuf Akoll, a senior procurement contract specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), allegedly fabricated a business to secure $16,666 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loansfunds meant to help struggling employers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The case, first reported by the Daily Wire, highlights broader issues of fraud and lax oversight in federal relief programs, with critics arguing that similar abuses may extend to other agencies, including USAIDs foreign aid operations. The charges against Akoll follow a pattern of fraudulent activity uncovered in pandemic relief programs, where billions of dollars were lost to scams due to minimal vetting and a "pay and chase" approach by the government.

How the scheme unfolded

According to court documents, Akoll registered a Virginia-based shell company, Naagode Consulting LLC, in November 2020  months after the PPPs eligibility cutoff date of February 15, 2020. Despite this, he falsely claimed the business had been operational since January 2020 and reported $40,000 in 2019 income to qualify for the loans. Investigators found no evidence of legitimate business activity, suggesting the company existed solely to siphon taxpayer funds.

Journalist Luke Rosiak, who broke the story, noted glaring red flags in Akolls application. PPP loans were paid out to Yusuf Akoll despite massive red flags, including the fact that he was a full-time USAID employee and the company he claimed the bailout for wouldnt match up with state corporate records or federal tax records, Rosiak wrote.

Broader implications for federal aid programs

The case underscores systemic vulnerabilities in government aid distribution, particularly in programs rushed out during emergencies. Mike Benz, a national security and transparency advocate, linked the incident to wider concerns about federal contracting abuses. Not content to create fake companies to steer money to friendly political insiders & CIA shell companies, turns out folks at USAID were also creating fake companies to send money to themselves, Benz posted.

The Biden administrations decision in 2023 to halt collections on fraudulent loans under $100,000  citing equity concerns  has drawn sharp criticism. The Small Business Administrations inspector general warned that failing to pursue fraudsters would embolden future abuses. Meanwhile, Congress nearly allowed the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) to expire in March 2025, which would have ended investigations into hundreds of millions in suspected fraud.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), a leading advocate for oversight, fought to preserve SIGPR, stating, I will not allow fraudsters to get away with stealing hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers.

A call for accountability and reform

The Akoll case is not isolated. Another recent prosecution involved Jeanty Cherilus, a Florida businessman sentenced to 18 months for fraudulently obtaining $370,000 in COVID relief loans. Acting Assistant Inspector General Sean Bottary emphasized USAIDs commitment to accountability, stating, USAID OIG will continue its aggressive pursuit of bad actors that exploit federal assistance programs.

As investigations continue, the question remains: How many more cases of fraud lie undiscovered in federal aid programs? With billions already lost, the need for stricter oversight and enforcement has never been clearer.

The high cost of lax oversight

The case against Yusuf Akoll is more than an isolated incident  its a symptom of a system that prioritized speed over security in distributing taxpayer funds. While the government has recovered some fraudulent payments, experts estimate that over $1 trillion in COVID relief may have been stolen, much of it funneled overseas.

For taxpayers, the lesson is clear: Without robust safeguards, well-intentioned aid programs become easy targets for exploitation. As federal agencies grapple with these failures, the demand for accountability  both within USAID and across all relief programs  will only grow louder.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

TheDailyWire.com

oig.usaid.gov
Canadas COVID cover-up: Health officials swore secrecy to protect Trudeau from vaccine scandal

In a stunning betrayal of public trust, Canadas top health officialsled by Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam signed secret oaths vowing to conceal any information that might "embarrass" Justin Trudeaus government during the COVID crisis. This Orwellian pact, buried in bureaucratic fine print, reveals the depths of corruption within a regime that prioritized political image over medical transparency. While Canadians were coerced into taking experimental mRNA injectionslinked to heart inflammation, neurological damage, and even deathfederal bureaucrats were busy shielding their leader from accountability . The Trudeau administration didnt just silence dissent; it weaponized public health policy to enforce compliance, all while granting Big Pharma legal immunity. This is not governanceit is medical tyranny.

Key points:

Secret oaths exposed: Nearly 30 senior health officials, including Dr. Tam, signed confidentiality agreements to suppress COVID vaccine information that could harm Trudeaus reputation.

Nearly 30 senior health officials, including Dr. Tam, signed confidentiality agreements to suppress COVID vaccine information that could harm Trudeaus reputation. Taxpayer-funded propaganda: The CBC and government-backed "experts" from Science Up Firstfunded with $1.75 million from Health Minister Patty Hajdudrowned out legitimate concerns about vaccine risks.

The CBC and government-backed "experts" from Science Up Firstfunded with $1.75 million from Health Minister Patty Hajdudrowned out legitimate concerns about vaccine risks. Dangerous contracts: Canada purchased 293 million vaccine doses for 38 million peopleenough to inject every citizen seven timeswhile shielding Pfizer and Moderna from liability.

Canada purchased 293 million vaccine doses for 38 million peopleenough to inject every citizen seven timeswhile shielding Pfizer and Moderna from liability. Hidden injuries: Reports of severe adverse effects, including myocarditis and blood clots, were downplayed as the government quietly expanded its vaccine injury compensation program.

Reports of severe adverse effects, including myocarditis and blood clots, were downplayed as the government quietly expanded its vaccine injury compensation program. Censorship as policy: Federal agencies systematically silenced critics, turning public health into a tool of political control.

The gag orders and the betrayal of public trust

The newly uncovered documents, obtained through Access to Information requests, confirm what skeptics long suspected: Canadas pandemic response was less about science and more about damage control. The confidentiality pledges, signed by Dr. Tam and other high-ranking officials, explicitly warned that unauthorized disclosures could "result in embarrassment, criticism or claims against Canada." In other words, truth-telling was forbidden if it made the government look bad.

This gag order extended across multiple departments, including Health, Industry, and even National Defence. Vaccine supply manager Alan Thom admitted in internal memos that the secrecy was so pervasive that individual non-disclosure agreements became redundantbecause the entire bureaucracy was already operating under a culture of suppression.

The vaccine gold rush and the death of informed consent

While Canadians were told to "trust the science," the Trudeau government was cutting backroom deals with pharmaceutical giants. Pfizer and Moderna secured approvals in late 2020but not before Trudeau granted them legal immunity. Parliamentarians demanding to review the contracts were stonewalled, leaving the public in the dark about what their leaders had signed away. This is a violation of basic medical ethics, emboldened by corrupt, totalitarian government officials who were acting nefariously and with ill intent. This led to mass harm.

The governments own data reveals a disturbing trend: a spike in deaths from "unspecified causes" post-vaccine rollout. LifeSiteNews has documented thousands of injuries, from heart inflammation in young athletes to menstrual disruptions in women. Yet, instead of pausing the shots, Ottawa doubled downpushing boosters on a public that had already rejected them.

The medias complicity in the cover-up

The CBC, Canadas state-funded broadcaster, played a key role in propping up the official narrative. It routinely platformed government-approved "experts" while sidelining dissenting voices. Science Up First, a pro-vaccine initiative bankrolled by Health Canada, became a propaganda arm, ridiculing legitimate questions as "misinformation." The result? A population misled, bullied, and stripped of informed consent.

The Trudeau regimes COVID response wasnt just flawedit was fraudulent. From secret oaths to reckless vaccine procurement, the government abandoned ethics in favor of control. As injured Canadians struggle for compensation and families mourn unexplained deaths, one truth becomes undeniable: this was never about health. It was about power.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

Yournews.com

Lifefacts.com
Trump declares EU nastier than China as trade war escalates  Is the bloc fighting for survival?

The European Union, once a steadfast ally of the United States, now finds itself in the crosshairs of President Donald Trumps economic offensive . In a fiery press conference, Trump accused the EU of being nastier than China in trade practices, signaling a dramatic shift in global power dynamics. As tariffs fly and negotiations stall, the EUalready weakened by energy crises, internal divisions, and economic instabilityfaces an existential threat. But is this the beginning of the end for Brussels bureaucratic empire, or will the bloc rally against American pressure?

Key Points:

Trump imposes 20% tariffs on EU goods, 25% on cars and metals, citing unfair trade barriers and pharmaceutical price manipulation.

The EU retaliates with a $95 billion countermeasure threat, but economic instability and reliance on U.S. security weaken its position.

Historical tensions resurface: The EUs origins trace back to post-WWII U.S. influence, but Brussels is now seen as a competitornot an ally.

Economic strain deepens as Trumps policies disrupt the EUs subsidized industries, triggering business failures and unrest.

Pharmaceutical pricing wars escalate, with Trump accusing the EU of forcing Americans to subsidize cheap European medications.

Trump is even taking the tariff war to foreign produced films, in an attempt to save the American film industry.

If Trump reaches a peace agreement with Putin, then the EU may loose economic and geopolitical advantage as they try to escalate war against Russia.

The EUs decades-long advantage over the U.S.

For years, the EU has maintained a lopsided trade relationship with the U.S., imposing tariffs four times higher on American goods, contributing to a $150 billion annual trade deficit for the U.S. Despite Trumps past negotiations to reduce these tariffs, criticsincluding CNNframed his efforts as a sign of weakness rather than a strategic correction.

The EU has also manipulated pharmaceutical pricing, forcing U.S. consumers to bear the brunt of research and development costs while European nations benefit from artificially low drug prices. Trump has vowed to equalize these costs, a move that could destabilize EU healthcare systems already struggling with aging populations and budget cuts.

Additionally, the EUs regulatory overreachsuch as banning GMOs, hormone-treated meats, and imposing heavy fines on U.S. tech giants like Apple and Googlehas long frustrated American businesses. These policies have stifled competition while allowing European industries to thrive under protectionist measures.

Trumps latest strike: A 100% tariff on foreign films

In a bold escalation, Trump announced a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, framing it as a defense of American jobs and national security. He argued that Hollywood is dying a very fast death due to foreign incentives luring productions overseas.

Film production in Los Angeles has declined by nearly 40% over the past decade as studios seek cheaper locations abroad.

Countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia have expanded tax incentives, drawing U.S. filmmakers away from domestic production.

China has already retaliated, reducing the number of Hollywood films allowed in its market.

This move underscores Trumps broader strategy: forcing industries back to U.S. soil while dismantling foreign advantages.

The EUs precarious future

The EUs survival hinges on its ability to withstand U.S. economic pressure and maintain internal cohesion. However, with tourism collapsing by over 80% in recent years, businesses failing, and public dissatisfaction growing, the blocs stability is in question.

Military dependence on the U.S. undermines the EUs negotiating power, as it lacks true sovereignty in defense.

A potential U.S.-Russia detente could further isolate the EU, rendering its anti-Russia stance obsolete.

Economic turmoil may fuel radical movements, destabilizing the bloc from within.

As Trumps trade war intensifies, the EU must decide: Will it reform, or will it collapse under the weight of its own unsustainable policies?

Sources include:

RT.com

RT.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Google agrees to $1.375 billion Texas settlement over privacy violations, marking largest state-level data case win

Google agreed to pay $1.375 billionthe largest U.S. state privacy settlementto resolve lawsuits accusing it of deceptive data practices, including tracking geolocation, biometrics and Incognito mode activity without proper consent.

Google allegedly misled users by tracking location data even when settings were disabled; collecting voiceprints and facial geometry (e.g., via Google Photos) without explicit consent; and retaining search/location data in "Incognito mode" despite marketing it as private.

While a financial win for Texas, critics argue the settlement lacks enforceable reforms. Google claims it has already updated policies, but privacy advocates warn fines alone wont stop systemic abuses.

The case reflects conservative-led state efforts (e.g., Texas 2023 Data Privacy Act) to challenge Big Techs power, framing privacy as a bipartisan issue of individual rights vs. corporate overreach.

The settlement signals states growing role in holding tech giants accountable, but without federal legislation, gaps in user protection remain. Critics question whether monetary penalties deter repeat violations.

In a landmark legal victory, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on May 9, that Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to settle multiple lawsuits alleging systematic violations of data privacy rights through deceptive tracking of geolocation, biometric data and incognito searches. The settlementthe largest ever attained by a U.S. state against a tech giant for privacy-related claimsfollows years of litigation targeting Googles practices, which Paxton called a clear abuse of Texans trust.

The lawsuit, first filed in 2022, accuses Google of misleading users about their ability to control their data, including tracking location data even when settings indicated otherwise and harvesting voiceprints and facial geometry through services like Google Photos without proper consent. Paxtons office also alleged that Googles Incognito mode, marketed as a privacy tool, allowed the company to retain search histories and location data. Google denies wrongdoing, stating the settlement addresses outdated policies already revised.

This case underscores a growing wave of state-level legal actions challenging tech giants handling of consumer data, with Texas leading efforts to hold Big Tech accountable.

The allegations: How Googles tactics violated privacy laws

According to the lawsuits, Googles practices violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) by deceiving users about their datas security. Key claims included:

Geolocation tracking: Despite users disabling Location History in Google accounts, the company continued storing and utilizing location data, often routing sensitive information through My Activity without transparency.

Biometric data misuse: Google unlawfully collected voiceprints and facial reconstructions from services like Google Photos and Google Assistant. For instance, the company allegedly used users faces and voices for template creation without explicit consent, violating privacy norms.

Incognito mode misleading label: Google promoted Incognito mode as a private browsing option that blocked search and location tracking, but Paxtons office asserts it still gathered data for targeted advertising and shared it with third parties.

The lawsuits alleged Googles actions were part of a broader strategy to game user decisions, using buried settings or technical jargon to obscure true data practices.

A record settlement, but does it fix the problem?

The $1.375 billion agreement eclipses prior state?level privacy settlements, including a $391 million collective payout from a 40-state coalition and a $93 million California settlement in 2023. Over the past three years, Google has faced similar litigation for antitrust issues and data practices in Italy, India and the U.S., paying over $2 billion total in fines and settlements.

However, critics argue the deal is less about reform and more about economics. Googles spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, emphasized the company has already changed policies and no new product controls will be required. Privacy advocatesincluding many in the conservative think tank communitycontend this leaves unresolved practices open to abuse, as financial penalties alone may not curb systemic deception.

The real issue isnt just punitive damages but ensuring regulators enforce compliance, said tech ethicist Devin Hartman of the Privacy First Initiative. Texas secured money, but if Googles tools still lack transparency, the breach of trust remains.

Googles prior actions support this critique: it has faced repeat litigation despite claims of policy updates, leading some to question whether corporate self-policing suffices.

Geopolitical context: Privacy as a conservative cause

The case aligns with broader conservative critiques of Big Techs unchecked power, framing privacy protection as a defense of individual autonomy against corporate overreach. In recent years, states like Texas, Florida, Arizona and Louisiana have led the charge on data privacy laws, often with bipartisan support.

Texas 2023 passage of the Data Privacy Act (SB 10)allowing residents to sue for data breachesset an aggressive precedent for holding tech firms accountable. Paxton has leaned into this platform, using settlements like the $1.4 billion Meta case (2024) and this Google deal to reinforce his role as a Big Tech watchdog.

The Founders feared concentrations of power, said presidential candidate and privacy advocate Liz Cheney during a 2024 campaign speech. Letting a few firms control our digital lives threatens freedom far worse than taxation without representation.

Is this a watershed moment?

The Google payout marks a significant milestone, signaling to tech giants that states can challenge their practices outside federal channels. Still, the resolution raises tough questions about enforcement.

Paxton called the settlement a major win for Texans, asserting it proves Big Tech isnt above the law. Yet as critics note, the deals lack of operational reforms means Googles users nationwide remain at risk unless other states or Congress enacts binding reforms.

For now, the case will fuel debates over whether financial penalties or legislative action is the best path to ensure privacy. With Googles global revenue nearing $500 billion, $1.375 billion may be little more than a speed bumpbut the message to Big Tech from red states is clear: ignore privacy norms at your peril.

As the settlement pivots to final approval, the Biden administrations FTC sits in silent limbo, still uncommitted to federal data privacy legislation. For now, states such as Texas are wearing the mantle of digital libertys first responders.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov

IDTechWire.com

BitDefender.com
Mexico takes Google to court over Gulf of Mexico naming dispute

The Mexican government filed a lawsuit against Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Google Maps, arguing the U.S. lacks unilateral authority to alter an internationally recognized name.

The U.S. House approved a bill formalizing the renaming on federal documents, following an executive order by President Trump, who claimed the U.S. "does most of the work" in the gulf.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that Trump's order applies only to the U.S. continental shelf, not the entire gulf, and criticized Google for ignoring Mexico's objections.

Google defended its compliance with government-mandated updates, while the Associated Press refused to adopt the new name, leading to temporary White House access restrictions for its reporters.

Similar disputes arose over the Persian Gulf, with Trump reportedly planning to rename it the Arabian Gulf, angering Iran. Analysts see these moves as attempts to strengthen alliances but risk inflaming international relations.

The Mexican government has taken legal action against search engine giant Google over its renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Google Maps.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the lawsuit against the Big Tech company, albeit refusing to disclose where it was filed. She asserted that Washington lacks the authority to unilaterally rename an internationally recognized geographic feature.

The lawsuit came amid the U.S. House of Representatives approving a bill making the name change official on all federal documents. The lower chamber of the U.S. legislature voted to approve the proposal on May 8.

The bill served to formalize an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the name change to the body of water shared by the U.S., Cuba and Mexico. The real estate mogul argued that the change was justified as Americans "do most of the work there, and it's ours."

However, Sheinbaum contended that the order applies only to the U.S. portion of the continental shelf, not the entire body of water shared with Mexico and Cuba. "All we want is for the decree issued by the U.S. government to be complied with," she said. The Mexican leader pointed to the tech giant's refusal to heed requests not to implement the gulf's new name for American users of Google Maps.

Meanwhile, Google defended its stance on the matter, citing a "longstanding practice" of following government-mandated name updates. But the tech giant wasn't the only one that landed in hot water over the naming dispute.

The Associated Press refused to adopt the new terminology, drawing the ire of the second Trump administration. Reporters from the agency found themselves barred from accessing White House events, until a federal judge stepped in.

From Mexico to the Middle East: Another gulf naming dispute

The dispute between Washington and Mexico City over the gulf's name mirrors a similar flashpoint in the Middle East. The Guardian reported on Wednesday, May 7, that Trump reportedly plans to relabel the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

The real estate mogul's plans, which threaten to derail delicate nuclear talks, drew sharp condemnation from Iran. Abbas Araghchi, the Islamic republic's foreign minister, warned that the "absurd" move "bring the wrath of all Iranians." He continued: "Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people."

The term "Persian Gulf" dates back to ancient times, while Arab nations have long advocated for alternative names. Historical tensions over the gulf's name are not new, however. In 2012, Tehran threatened legal action against Google for omitting the Persian Gulf label entirely from its maps.

Analysts suggest Trump's latest move is aimed at currying favor with Arab allies, particularly in negotiations involving Israel. European diplomats meanwhile expressed fear the decision could harden Iranian opposition to nuclear talks, with one warning that Trump would "unite every Iranian, pro- or anti-regime, against him." (Related: Trump readies for high-stakes direct nuclear talks with Iran: "Great danger" looms if negotiations fail.)

Washington's push to rename the two bodies of water has escalated into a legal and diplomatic dispute, with the broader implications of renaming sovereign waters remaining contentious. Whether driven by nationalism, strategic alliances, or corporate compliance, these disputes underscore how deeply geography is intertwined with identity and power  and how easily cartographic changes can inflame international relations.

SearchEngine.news has more stories about Google.

Watch Alex Jones of InfoWars commenting on President Trump's announcement to rename the Gulf of Mexico in this clip.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump's pro-Israel ideologues face reality check in dealing with Gulf states.

Trump administration BANS Associated Press reporters from Oval Office, defying court order.

Trump to issue sweeping executive orders on immigration, energy, and federal reform on Inauguration Day.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

BBC.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
New World Screwworm threat looms at southern border, livestock imports suspended

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has imposed an indefinite ban on live cattle, horse and bison imports via the southern border due to the resurgence of the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite absent for decades but now threatening livestock and food security.

The screwworm lays eggs in open wounds, with larvae consuming living tissue, causing pain, infection and death. Humans are also at risk if infested, with symptoms like foul-smelling wounds, bleeding and visible maggots requiring urgent medical care.

The U.S. previously eliminated screwworms in the 1950s through a costly, decades-long campaign involving sterilization programs, pushing the pest south to Panamas Darien Gap  a barrier now breached by recent outbreaks in Central America.

The USDA links the resurgence to illegal livestock movements across the U.S.-Mexico border, raising concerns about additional diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, measles) and pests (e.g., hoof-and-mouth disease, fever ticks) entering the country.

The screwworms return risks devastating the livestock industry, increasing food prices and causing job losses. Federal agencies are ramping up inspections, but experts warn swift, coordinated action is critical to prevent a full-blown outbreak.

In an unsettling development that has sent ripples through the U.S. agricultural sector, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has issued an immediate and indefinite ban on all live cattle, horse, and bison imports through the southern border. The unprecedented move is a response to the startling reemergence of the New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), a parasitic fly that has been notably absent from the United States for decades. This flesh-eating pest poses a grave threat to the nation's livestock and food security, and its sudden resurgence has raised serious concerns about the potential impacts on American agriculture and public health.

Understanding the New World Screwworm

The New World Screwworm is a nastily efficient parasite, with the female fly laying her eggs on open wounds of warm-blooded hosts. The eggs hatch into larvae, which burrow deeper into the wound, feeding on living tissue and causing excruciating pain. The larvae can be found in skin wounds, the nasal passages, eyes and ears of their unfortunate hosts, producing a distinctive foul odor and a slimy, bloody discharge. The infestations can lead to severe tissue damage, secondary infections and even death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that humans are also at risk, as the larvae can infest open wounds on the body. Symptoms may include persistent, worsening wounds, bleeding, a foul odor emanating from the wound, a sensation of movement in the wound and the visible presence of maggots. The CDC advises anyone suspecting a screwworm infestation to seek immediate medical attention.

A history of devastation

The last time the New World Screwworm was a significant threat in the U.S., in the 1950s, it took a concerted, multi-decade effort involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Pan American Health Organization and counterparts in Central and South American countries to eradicate the pest. The cost of this effort was high, both in terms of human resources and financial investment, but it was ultimately successful. However, the economic losses caused by the pest were staggering, with estimates suggesting that the screwworm cost the U.S. livestock industry upwards of $20 million per year.

The eradication campaign of the mid-20th century pushed the screwworm southward, from Texas and Florida, through Mexico and Central America, all the way down to the Darien Gap in Panama. The gap, a densely forested and largely inaccessible region, was believed to be a natural barrier that would prevent the screwworm's further southern migration  until now.

A spillover from the south

Over the past few years, there has been a surge in screwworm outbreaks in Panama, with the pest seemingly overcoming the formidable natural barrier presented by the Darien Gap. Outbreaks have also been detected in Belize, Costa Rica and El Salvador, raising concerns that the pest may be on the move again.

The USDA has attributed the screwworm's renewed threatening presence to increased cross-border livestock movements. Illegal immigrants have been transporting livestock across the U.S.-Mexico border, thereby unwittingly reintroducing the pest to the United States. This is not the only disease threat new arrivals may be bringing across the border; there are also growing concerns about the reintroduction of diseases such as tuberculosis and measles.

A race against time: Eradication efforts and implications

In response to the threat, the USDA and Customs and Border Protection are stepping up surveillance and inspection protocols at southern border ports of entry. Long lines of cargo and passenger traffic are being held up for hours as inspectors meticulously check livestock and vehicles for signs of infestation. Ranchers, breeders and animal transporters are being urged to keep a close eye on their herds and report any signs of parasitic infection to the USDA.

However, the mere presence of New World Screwworm larvae in the U.S. suggests that the pest may already be widespread, making eradication a daunting task. The federal agency's order remains in effect until further notice as teams work to determine the extent of the threat and implement biosecurity measures to prevent a full-blown outbreak.

Michael Yawn, an experienced journalist who has reported extensively on issues at the Darien Gap, has highlighted other health risks besides tuberculosis and measles that could be spreading northwards. These include hoof and mouth disease and fever ticks, which pose further threats to the U.S. livestock industry.

The human impact

The reemergence of the New World Screwworm is not just an issue for livestock owners and ranchers. The pest has the potential to infest any warm-blooded animal, including domestic pets and humans. The sight of maggots wriggling in one's wound is, at the very least, a horrific experience, but the infestations can also cause serious, lasting health problems or even death.

The economic impact

The resurgence of the New World Screwworm threatens to impact the U.S. economy in significant ways. The livestock industry, already reeling from the effects of drought, extreme weather and volatile markets, now faces an additional burden from this insidious pest. This could result in increased food prices, job losses and a ripple effect on related industries, such as agriculture equipment manufacturing and animal health products.

A call to action

The timely intervention of Secretary Rollins is a crucial first step in protecting America's livestock and food supply. However, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. This is not just a local issue or a problem for the agricultural sector; it's an impending crisis that demands the collective effort of federal agencies, ranchers, veterinarians and the public.

The clock is ticking, and swift, coordinated action is essential to curb the spread of this devastating pest. A failure to act promptly could result in a costly outbreak that pushes the livestock industry to the brink, jeopardizing food security and livelihoods across the country.

The U.S. has faced the New World Screwworm before, and with concerted effort and robust biosecurity measures, it can overcome this threat once again. The coming weeks and months will test the nation's resolve and its ability to rise to the challenge.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

CDC.gov

cidrap.umn.edu
Texas Senate approves pro-life statue honoring unborn children at state capitol

The Texas Senate has taken a bold stand for life, voting to approve a monument at the state capitol that commemorates the sanctity of unborn children and the states unwavering commitment to ending abortion. The proposed Texas Life Monument  a striking bronze statue of a mother cradling her preborn child  serves as both a memorial for the innocent lives lost to abortion and a defiant rejection of the culture of death that has dominated America for decades. This move comes as Texas continues to lead the nation in protecting the unborn, even as pro-abortion forces push back with dangerous interstate pill trafficking and legal loopholes.

Key points:

The Texas Senate passed a resolution approving a pro-life monument at the state capitol, depicting a mother and unborn child.

The statue, already completed through private donations, mirrors a similar monument in Rome and Washington, D.C.

Texas has banned nearly all abortions, but faces challenges from out-of-state abortion pill distributors.

New legislation (SB 2880) seeks to criminalize the manufacturing and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs.

The monument symbolizes Texas commitment to life amid a national battle over abortion access.

A monument to life in a post-Roe America

For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade cast a dark shadow over America, legalizing the mass killing of unborn children under the guise of choice. But in 2022, the Supreme Court finally overturned this judicial atrocity, returning the power to protect life to the states. Texas, long a battleground in the fight for life, wasted no time in enacting some of the strongest pro-life laws in the nation. Now, the Texas Life Monument stands as a permanent reminder of the states moral conviction  a rebuke to the abortion industry that profits from desperation and death.

The statue, designed by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, mirrors the National Life Monument displayed in Rome and Washington, D.C. Its depiction of a mother tenderly holding her unborn child is a powerful visual representation of the bond between mother and baby  one that the abortion industry has spent decades trying to sever.

The fight against abortion pill trafficking

While Texas has effectively banned most abortions, the battle is far from over. Abortion activists, unwilling to accept defeat, have turned to dangerous workaroundsprimarily the interstate distribution of abortion-inducing drugs. Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a New York-based abortionist for illegally mailing abortion pills into the state, securing a $100,000 fine. But this is just one case among many.

To combat this growing threat, Texas lawmakers introduced SB 2880, which would make it a crime to manufacture, possess, or distribute abortion drugs within the state. Another proposed bill, the Woman and Child Protection Act, would impose civil penalties on those who aid in the distribution of these deadly pills. These measures are critical in stopping the underground abortion network that seeks to bypass Texas pro-life laws.

A national battle over life and liberty

Texas is not alone in its fight. Twelve states have banned most or all abortions, but the pro-abortion lobby is fighting back with aggressive tactics  expanding abortion pill access, funding interstate abortion travel, and even declaring sanctuary states for those seeking to evade pro-life laws. Meanwhile, liberal states are embedding so-called abortion rights into their constitutions, ensuring that the killing of the unborn remains legal within their borders.

The Texas Life Monument is more than just a statue  its a declaration. It sends a message that Texas will not back down, that the lives of the unborn matter, and that the era of state-sanctioned infanticide is over. As Republican state Sen. Tan Parker stated, The monument would provide a communal space for honoring the dignity of human life and the role of mothers  values that resonate deeply with many, many Texans.

In a nation still reeling from the moral catastrophe of Roe, Texas is leading the way in restoring a culture of life. And with this monument, the state ensures that future generations will remember not only the victims of abortion but also the courage of those who fought to end it.

Sources include:

Lifesitenews.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai

HoustonChronicle.com
Trump eyes $1 trillion Saudi investments as Gaza war stalls Israel deal

President Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia to secure $1 trillion in investments, focusing on defense, AI, and infrastructure deals amid stalled Saudi-Israel normalization talks due to the Gaza war.

The trip prioritizes economic gains over diplomacy, with Saudi Arabia expected to announce major U.S. investments, reversing prior Biden-era restrictions on arms sales and tech partnerships.

Saudi-Israel relations remain frozen as Riyadh demands a Gaza ceasefire, shifting focus to Palestinian statehood talks with regional leaders during Trumps visit.

Top U.S. CEOs, including Nvidias Jensen Huang and BlackRocks Larry Fink, are attending a U.S.-Saudi investment summit, with AI and tech partnerships as key discussion points.

The visit strengthens U.S.-Gulf economic ties while allowing Saudi Arabia to reaffirm its alliance with Washington despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

President Donald J. Trump is set to embark on a high-stakes diplomatic and economic mission to Saudi Arabia this week, aiming to secure a staggering $1 trillion in investments from the oil-rich kingdom.

The visit, his first overseas trip of his second term, underscores the administrations push to deepen economic ties with Gulf states while navigating the political fallout from Israels ongoing war in Gaza. With Saudi-Israel normalization talks effectively "de-linked" due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus refusal to agree to a ceasefire, Trumps focus will shift to lucrative business deals, including arms sales, AI partnerships, and infrastructure projects.

A pivot from diplomacy to dollars

Trumps four-day tour  spanning Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates  will prioritize economic gains over diplomatic breakthroughs. The White House is reportedly pushing for "splashy deal announcements" in sectors like defense, technology, and energy, with Saudi Arabia positioned as a key investor. "The Trump administration wants this trip to be a big deal," said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute. "Normalizing ties with Israel is a much heavier lift than rolling out the red carpet for President Trump and announcing investment deals."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) had previously pledged $600 billion in U.S. investments over four years, but Trump is now eyeing a more ambitious $1 trillion commitment. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which controls $925 billion in assets, already holds stakes in major U.S. firms like Uber and Lucid Motors. New agreements could include purchases of American missiles, radar systems, and transport aircraft, reversing prior restrictions under the Biden administration.

Gaza war derails Saudi-Israel deal

The prospect of Saudi-Israel normalization  once a centerpiece of Trumps foreign policy  has collapsed under the weight of Israels military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians. Riyadh reportedly views establishing ties with Israel as "especially toxic" amid the conflict, with U.S. officials failing to secure an Israeli ceasefire, a key Saudi precondition.

Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, had recently predicted "important progress" on expanding the Abraham Accords, but Gulf sources confirm talks are now sidelined. Instead, Trumps Riyadh meeting will include Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in a move signaling Saudi Arabias focus on Palestinian statehood as a diplomatic priority.

Silicon Valley and Wall Street descend on Riyadh

The trip has drawn top U.S. CEOs, including Nvidias Jensen Huang, BlackRocks Larry Fink, and Palantirs Alex Karp, for a U.S.-Saudi investment summit. Artificial intelligence is a key agenda item, with Gulf states seeking access to advanced U.S. semiconductors. The UAE, which plans to invest $1.4 trillion in American tech and energy sectors over the next decade, is particularly eager to position itself as an AI hub.

For Trump, the visit is a chance to showcase his "America First" agenda, even as global trade tensions and falling U.S. GDP growth cloud the economic outlook. For Saudi Arabia, its an opportunity to reaffirm its alliance with Washington after years of strain and to keep the door open to future deals, with or without Israel.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

CBSNews.com

BBC.com
Trumps drug pricing reform clashes with failed China trade strategy

"Most Favored Nation" Drug Pricing: Trumps executive order mandates that the U.S. government pay the lowest global price for prescription drugs, ending Big Pharmas ability to charge Americans higher rates than other nations.

Criticism & Enforcement Gaps: While praised as a win for consumers, critics argue the policy lacks strong enforcement and could be reversed, with advocates pushing for broader reforms like banning mRNA vaccines and drug ads.

Trade War Fallout with China: U.S. exporters now face 10% tariffs in China (up from 3%), while American tariffs on Chinese goods drop to 10%, weakening U.S. leverage and hurting farmers reliant on Chinese markets.

Economic Risks & Job Concerns: The trade dispute disrupts supply chains, risking shortages, while automation-focused policies raise fears over long-term job losses in manufacturing and agriculture.

Contrasting Policies: The administrations domestic drug pricing reform contrasts with its risky trade strategy, leaving uncertainty over whether Trumps economic agenda will ultimately benefit or harm Americans.

The Trump administration announced a major policy shift this week aimed at curbing Big Pharmas price gouging by mandating "most favored nation" pricing for government-purchased drugs. However, this win for American consumers is overshadowed by a stalled trade deal with China, where U.S. exporters now face significantly higher tariffs10% compared to the previous 3%. Analysts warn that the tariff standoff could hurt American farmers and manufacturers, undermining Trumps broader economic agenda.

Big Pharma Price Controls: A Step in the Right Direction

In a move hailed as a victory for American patients, President Trump signed an executive order requiring the federal government to pay the lowest price for prescription drugs that pharmaceutical companies charge any other nation. This policy effectively ends a longstanding rulereportedly established under the Obama administrationthat prohibited the U.S. government from negotiating drug prices, allowing pharmaceutical giants to charge exorbitant rates unchecked.

Big Pharma is just here to extract money from the U.S. economy and stuff it into their own pockets, said Mike Adams, founder of Brighteon Broadcast News, who praised the decision while urging Americans to seek natural health alternatives. At least Trump and Secretary Kennedy are ending that price gouging now.

However, critics note that the executive order lacks detailed enforcement mechanisms and could be overturned by a future administration. Meanwhile, Trumps health policy remains under scrutiny, with advocates calling for more aggressive reformssuch as banning mRNA vaccines, ending childhood immunization mandates, and halting direct-to-consumer drug advertising.

Trade War Fallout: A Surrender to China?

While the White House celebrated the drug pricing reform, its trade strategy with China appears to be backfiring. Earlier this year, Trump imposed steep tariffs (up to 145%) on Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to retaliate with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods. After weeks of economic strain, the two nations reached a temporary trucebut the new terms reveal a troubling reality for American exporters.

Under the agreement, Chinas tariffs on U.S. goods have tripled, rising from 3% to 10%. Meanwhile, the U.S. reduced its tariffs to 10% (plus an additional 20% duty on fentanyl-related imports). Analysts argue that this deal weakens Americas negotiating position, as China did not concede any meaningful trade concessions.

This is no victoryits a surrender by Trump, Adams argued. Before April, U.S. exporters faced a 3% tariff in China. Now theyre at 10%. How is that winning?

The tariff hike is particularly damaging for U.S. farmers, who rely heavily on Chinese markets for soybeans, corn, and other agricultural products. With no resolution to the trade imbalance in sight, American businesses face prolonged uncertainty.

Broader Economic Risks

The trade dispute has already disrupted supply chains, with experts predicting shortages in retail and manufacturing sectors over the next two months. Additionally, the administrations focus on automationsuch as AI data centers and roboticsraises concerns about long-term job creation.

If you want America to compete, you need affordable energy, skilled workers, and tax policies that encourage domestic manufacturing, Adams noted. Right now, were doing the opposite.

The Road Ahead

As the 90-day tariff pause unfolds, the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to secure a stronger deal with China. Meanwhile, the drug pricing reform offers a rare bipartisan winbut its long-term impact remains uncertain.

For now, the contrast between these two policies highlights a recurring theme of Trumps presidency: bold domestic reforms paired with risky international gambles. Whether this strategy pays offor leaves American workers and businesses paying the priceremains to be seen.

Watch the May 13 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Trump ending prescription medication price gouging, but tariffs deal with China is going badly.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump takes on ticket scalpers with new executive order targeting bots and price gouging

China prepares to resume trade talks with Trump amid tariff pressures

Trumps latest Executive Order forces healthcare price transparency, shaking up an industry that thrived on secrecy and price gouging

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
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A gilded gift sparks controversy in the skies: Trumps Qatar jet deal upends tradition

The Trump administration plans to accept a $400M luxury Boeing 747-8 from Qatar as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One fleet, sparking constitutional and ethical debates.

Critics argue the arrangement may violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause, as the jet would eventually transfer to Trumps presidential library. The White House insists the deal is legal since the U.S. Air Force would own it first.

The original $6B contract for new Air Force One planes faces years of delays (now 2027-2028) due to Boeings mismanagement. Trump claims he saved $1.6B by threatening to cancel the deal during his first term.

Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Adam Schiff, condemn the Qatar deal as a national security risk and potential "bribery," citing the jets lack of military-grade protections and its luxury features (e.g., gold plating, champagne bar).

The Pentagon must decide whether to modify the Qatari jet (costing an extra $50M), while Boeing faces pressure to deliver its overdue Air Force One replacements. The controversy highlights broader tensions over executive power and foreign influence.

President Donald Trumps administration has ignited a constitutional firestorm after confirming plans to accept a lavishly configured Boeing 747-8 from Qatara gift valued at over 400 million  to temporarily replace the aging Air Force One fleet. The move, announced via President Trumps Truth Social post, under scores the Trump White Houses long ? running frustration with Boeings chronic delays and cost overruns on the 6 billion project to build two new presidential aircraft.

"This is a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year-old Air Force One temporarily, Trump declared, accusing Democrats of World Class Losers for insisting the U.S. pay TOP DOLLAR for an alternative. The delivered jet would be temporarily transferred to the U.S. Air Force for modifications before being gifted to Trumps presidential library after his term.

The original Air Force One contract, signed in 2018 with Boeing, promised delivery of two 747s by 2024. However, technical issues and financial losses at Boeing pushed completion dates to 2027 and 2028. Trump blamed the delays on terrible management and boasts of saving $1.6 billion by threatening to cancel the deal outright during his first term. While SpaceX founder Elon Musk, a Trump ally and head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, has helped pare costs, the current jet in use remains a 1990-vintage 747-200 facing mechanical complaints from aides for its outdated avionics and structural wear.

Qatar gift sparks constitutional questions

The proposed deal with Qatarfirst reported by ABC Newsunveils a legal twilight zone. White House Counsel David Warrington and Department of Justice lawyers opined that accepting the jet from Dohas royal family does not violate the Constitutions Foreign Emoluments Clause, as the plane would first belong to the U.S. Air Force before transitioning to Trumps library foundation.

This is a perfectly legal transaction, stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, emphasizing transparency but failing to address critics ethics concerns. Critics, however, point to the unusual precedent of a foreign power delivering a gift of such magnitude to an individual, particularly while still serving in office.

Qatars Media Attache Ali Al-Ansari cautiously distanced Doha, acknowledging only under consideration talks with the Pentagon for a temporary loan of the aircraftdubbed the Flying Palace for its gold-plated fixtures, marble floors and champagne bar. The jet, parked in West Palm Beach earlier this year for Trumps inspection, was originally purchased by Qatars royal family in 2012 and underwent $200 million in renovations for luxury travel.

Legal experts remain divided. Emory University constitutional scholar Kim Wehle called the deal legally shocking, arguing the library transfer could constitute a pay-to-play scheme for foreign patrons. The White House, however, insists the Emoluments Clause applies only to gifts to federal officials, not entities like presidential libraries.

Democrats sound the alarm: Bribery 101 or national security risk?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dismissed the arrangement as premium foreign influence with extra legroom, while House Democrats pushed for immediate House Oversight Committee hearings. Critics also question the jets safety and intelligence-readiness, noting it was never designed for military contingencies or counter-terrorism protocols.

Its not just unethicalits a security risk, argued California Senator Adam Schiff, citing the ancient Air Force One fleets recent emergency landings and radio system failures. This seems less about national security and more about line-item gifts for a sitting president.

The controversy deepens as Trumps personal entanglements with foreign governments remain under scrutiny. Federal ethics watchdogs note the librarys planned ownership of the aircraft could cement a financial link between a private entity and a foreign state, amplifying emoluments clause concerns.

The lingering shadow over Air Force Ones future

As the political tempest rages, the Air Force awaits final decisions on whether to modify the donated plane. L3Harris has already begun overhauling the aircrafts fuselage, despite Pentagon estimates of an additional $50 million needed for missile defense systems and communications upgrades.

Trumps successor, should he win a third term, could inherit a legacy split between a cost-saving, made-in-foreign deal and an enduring lesson in executive branch overreach. Meanwhile, Boeing faces dual pressure to accelerate its delayed jetsnow tentatively scheduled for 2027and squelch accusations its half-century stranglehold on presidential air travel fuels bureaucratic stagnation.

In the skies above Washington, the debate transcends aircraft: Its a clash over executive privilege, foreign influence and whether the United States will ever countenance a true MAGA solution to its most iconic symbol of power. As one administration official quipped, This isnt about planesits about who gets to steer them. And for now, the course remains unclear.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

ABCNews.com

APNews.com
Kenny Ausubels When Healing Becomes A Crime tackles the controversial legacy of Harry Hoxsey

In Kenny Ausubel's "When Healing Becomes A Crime," Harry Hoxsey developed an herbal formula (internal tonic and external pastes) based on his grandfather's discovery, which reportedly cured thousands of cancer patients  including terminal cases. His clinics became the largest privately owned cancer centers in the United States.

The AMA, FDA and mainstream medicine aggressively suppressed Hoxseys work, labeling him a "quack." Despite patient testimonies (like Margaret Griffin's recovery from lymphosarcoma), the AMA refused to test his remedies.

Hoxsey sued AMA leader Morris Fishbein for libel in 1949 and won, with patients testifying to their recoveries. However, authorities continued raiding his clinics, forcing operations to relocate to Mexico.

After Hoxsey's death, his nurse Mildred Nelson continued treatments in Tijuana, helping thousands  often for free  despite ongoing persecution. His external pastes were later recognized for skin cancers, but the tonic remains unverified.

The book reveals the AMA suppressed multiple alternative cancer cures, raising questions about institutional control vs. patient choice. It calls for unbiased research and healthcare transparency, honoring Hoxsey's resilience and his patients' hope.

Kenny Ausubel's 2000 book, "When Healing Becomes a Crime: The Amazing Story of the Hoxsey Cancer Clinics and the Return of Alternative Therapies," uncovers the remarkable yet contentious history of Harry Hoxsey and his herbal cancer treatment.

The book reveals how Hoxsey's formula, derived from a serendipitous discovery by his grandfather, became a lifeline for thousands of cancer patients. Despite this, it faced suppresion by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the broader medical establishment.

The story begins in 1840 when John Hoxsey, a Quaker farmer, observed his ailing horse recover from a malignant tumor after grazing on specific wild plants. Intrigued, John developed a remedy that was later refined and passed down to his grandson Harry.

By the 1920s, Harry was treating cancer patients with his formula  a combination of an internal tonic and external pastes  claiming astonishing success. His clinics expanded rapidly, becoming the largest privately owned cancer centers in the U.S. with branches in 17 states.

Despite his growing popularity, Hoxsey faced fierce opposition from the medical establishment. The AMA, led by Dr. Morris Fishbein, branded him a "quack" and waged a relentless campaign to discredit him. Hoxsey was arrested repeatedly, yet his clinics thrived, filled with terminal patients who had exhausted conventional treatments.

Among them was Margaret Griffin, a woman diagnosed with lymphosarcoma and given a year to live. After undergoing Hoxsey's treatment, she claimed a full recovery, with X-rays confirming the disappearance of her tumors. Stories like hers fueled public support, but the AMA dismissed them as anecdotal, refusing to test his remedies.

The conflict reached its peak in 1949 when Hoxsey sued Fishbein and the Hearst newspaper chain for libel. In a dramatic trial, patients testified to their recoveries, and the court ruled in Hoxsey's favor, awarding him a symbolic victory.

However, the AMA and FDA intensified their crackdown, raiding clinics and seizing medicines. Undeterred, Hoxsey continued his work until his death, when his chief nurse, Mildred Nelson, took over operations in Tijuana, Mexico. There, she treated thousands of patients, often for free, preserving his legacy despite ongoing legal persecution.

The book highlights a disturbing pattern. According to congressional testimony, the AMA actively suppressed at least a dozen alternative cancer cures, prioritizing institutional control over potential breakthroughs.

While Hoxsey's external pastes were later acknowledged as effective for certain skin cancers, his internal tonic remains unverified by mainstream science. Yet, the testimonies of cured patients and even the presiding judge in Hoxsey's trial  who likened his healing to that of "Jesus Christ"  raise profound questions about medical suppression and patient choice.

Today, the Hoxsey treatment persists in Tijuana, but its future remains uncertain. Ausubel's book serves as a powerful indictment of medical monopolies and a call for transparency in healthcare.

The Hoxsey saga underscores the need for unbiased research into alternative therapies and the fundamental right of patients to pursue treatments they believe in. Above all, it is a story of resilience  of a man who defied the odds, a nurse who carried the torch and the countless patients who found hope when conventional medicine had failed them.

Watch this clip about the book "When Healing Becomes a Crime: The Amazing Story of the Hoxsey Cancer Clinics and the Return of Alternative Therapies" by Kenny Ausubel.

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
SHENYANG, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Shao Long serves as the head nurse of the emergency department at the Shenyang-based First Hospital of China Medical University. With 17 years of experience in emergency nursing, Shao has participated in rescuing over 4,300 critically ill patients and currently leads a nursing team of more than 20 members.

During the fight against COVID-19 in Wuhan, Shao contributed to the preparations of building the makeshift hospitals. He worked 58 consecutive days and nights to fulfill nursing responsibilities.

In daily management, he keeps focusing on standardizing nursing procedures, conducting emergency rescue training, and organizing emergency response drills. To date, Shao has trained over 10 nursing instructors responsible for departmental training and education.

"Emergency workers safeguard patients with expertise and belief," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. A thematic conference titled "National Identity, Resistance, and Sovereignty: Prospects for Corsica" kicked off in Rome, Italy, on May 13, co-hosted by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and Corsicas Nazione Movement, the event brings global attention to the islands fight for their fundamental rights of sovereignty, the BIG told Trend.

The event drew prominent figures from the Corsican independence movement, including representatives from the Nazione Movement and Tural Ganjaliyev, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliaments Support Group for the People of Corsica.

Opening the event, participants commemorated the Kanak people, who were killed in May 2024 by French law enforcement and militia forces in Kanaky (New Caledonia). Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of BIG, reaffirmed the organizations support for the legitimate struggles of colonized peoples, including the Kanak, Corsican, and other nations fighting for self-determination.

The conference focused on the ongoing suppression of Corsican national identity and language by the French government. Nazione Movement leaders sharply criticized France's colonial policies, accusing the state of deliberately eroding Corsican culture through forced assimilation tactics. They also highlighted the economic and social discrimination faced by Corsicans under French rule.

Chilianu Begliomini, head of the Nazione youth section, dedicated his speech to the Corsican language, which he called the temple of the Corsican peoples national identity, citing writer Lisandru Bassani. He pointed out that Frances colonial policies have stifled the Corsican peoples right to speak their native language and called for international action to address the issue.

In a stark warning, Nazione Movement members Thierry Casolasco and Jean-Philippe Antolini discussed the ongoing resistance of the Corsican people. They argued that, if the current trajectory continues, Corsicas unique cultural and historical legacy could be erased. They detailed the efforts by French law enforcement, with the support of unofficial groups, to eliminate those advocating for Corsican independence, noting that some of the perpetrators of these attacks have been honored with medals by the French state.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The Azerbaijani side's future position as the COP29 chair is to try to preserve the successes achieved up to COP29 against the backdrop of threats to multilateralism, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the conference "Agriculture Mobilizing Countries for the Sake of Nature" held within the framework of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition Caspian Agro in Baku.

The official noted that the process can be taken further.

"We can work to make it even more efficient. However, the main goal for us is to realize the results achieved so far, that is, to move from ambition to implementation.

At the same time, Azerbaijan itself is already determined to become an active participant in climate negotiations in the long term.

In order to be more active in this process in the future, we have already carried out some administrative institutional reforms. Thus, the Climate Diplomacy Department has been established under the Foreign Ministry. This department will ensure Azerbaijan's contribution to this process as a permanent participant in the negotiations held within the framework of international climate-related platforms in the future. Of course, following these processes, new political positions can be formed both in our economy and in our approach to climate issues," Rafiyev emphasized.

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"For the last decade, wherever I went in his company, I'd see the folks there spot him coming and their faces brightening into beaming smiles, because they knew they were about to have a Shozo Sato day, and those are packed with adventure and tranquility in equal measure.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. On May 13, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with a delegation led by the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye, Yasar Guler. The Turkish delegation is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Within the visit, the Turkish delegation visited the graves of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva, in the Alley of Honor, as well as the Alley of Martyrs and Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery. The guests laid wreaths and flowers and paid tribute to their bright memory.

Turkish National Defense Minister arrived at Victory Park and laid a wreath in front of the Victory Monument.

During the official welcoming ceremony at the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense, following the ceremonial passage in front of the guard of honor, the National Anthems of both countries were performed, and the Book of Honor was signed following the protocol.

At the meeting held at the Ministry, the Azerbaijan Defense Minister welcomed his counterpart and expressed satisfaction at seeing him in Azerbaijan. Colonel General Z. Hasanov positively assessed the current state and development of cooperation in the field of defense and security within the Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic partnership.

Y.Guler conveyed pleasure with his visit to Azerbaijan and expressed gratitude for the sincerity and hospitality. The guest highlighted the significance of mutual visits and such meetings to enhance Azerbaijani-Turkish military relations.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other issues.
A NOTE FROM JAPAN HOUSE: Japan House hopes to compile and share stories of Sato sensei as a celebration of his life. Please visit go.illinois.edu/sato to share stories online or mail letters to Japan House at 2000 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL 61802. Japan House is the dream come true of Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato and his legacy will continue in the hearts of generations of students, friends, and visitors. If you wish to make a gift in memory of Sato Sensei, contributions to the Ogura-Sato Annex are welcome at go.illinois.edu/give.
Champaign, IL (61820)

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Sunny to partly cloudy. Hot. High 93F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

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A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
A new Salk Institute study suggests estrogen-related receptors could be a key to repairing energy metabolism and muscle fatigue.

Across the body, tiny bean-shaped structures called mitochondria turn the food we eat into usable energy. This cellular-level metabolism is especially important in muscle cells, which require a lot of fuel to power our movement. However, 1 in 5,000 people is born with dysfunctional mitochondria, and many others develop metabolic dysfunction later in life in association with aging or diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), heart disease, and dementia.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is difficult to treat, but recent findings from the Salk Institute show that a group of proteins called estrogen-related receptors could be a new and effective therapeutic target. The scientists discovered that estrogen-related receptors play an important role in muscle cell metabolism, especially during exercise. When our muscles need more energy, estrogen-related receptors can increase the number of mitochondria and enhance their energetic output within muscle cells.

The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 12, 2025, indicate that developing a drug to boost estrogen-related receptors could be a powerful way to restore energy supplies in people with metabolic disorders, such as muscular dystrophy.

Estrogen-related receptors look a lot like classic estrogen receptors, but their function has been much less understood. Our lab discovered estrogen-related receptors in 1988 and was one of the first to recognize their role in energy metabolism. Now we've learned that estrogen-related receptors are indispensable drivers of mitochondrial growth and activity in our muscles. This makes them a really promising target to treat muscle weakness and fatigue in many different diseases that involve metabolic dysfunction." Ronald Evans, senior author, professor and March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology at Salk

In the 1980s, Evans led the landmark discovery of a family of proteins he named "nuclear hormone receptors." These hormone-activated receptors attach themselves to our DNA and control which genes get turned "on" or "off."

Estrogen-related receptors are one branch of this family. They are often found in parts of the body that need a lot of fuel to function, such as the heart and brain. This inspired Evans' team to explore their potential role in regulating metabolism in another high-energy organ: skeletal muscle.

Muscles require a lot of energy, especially when we exercise. In fact, exercise is one of the main signals for muscle to trigger mitochondrial biogenesis, wherein a cell increases the number of its mitochondria to produce more fuel. But exercising is difficult for people with muscular and metabolic disorders, so scientists have been looking for another way to stimulate this process.

"Mitochondria are our cells' energy factories, so the more we exercise, the more mitochondria our muscles need," says first author Weiwei Fan, a staff scientist in Evans' lab. "This got us thinking-if we could understand how exercise induces mitochondrial biogenesis, we might be able to target those same mechanisms pharmacologically to trigger this process in people who are too weak to exercise."

To determine whether estrogen-related receptors played a role in muscle cell metabolism, Fan and his colleagues deleted three different forms of the receptors (alpha, beta, and gamma) in the muscle tissues of mice and examined the resulting effects.

They found that while the most abundant type of receptor was the alpha receptor, loss of just this one receptor had mild impacts on muscle tissue. Additionally, the researchers found that while making up only 4% of total estrogen-related receptors, the gamma receptor was able to compensate for alpha receptor loss under normal conditions. If both alpha and gamma types were deleted, this led to serious impairments in muscle mitochondrial activity, shape, and size.

So why is there such an excess of the alpha-type estrogen-related receptor (ERR)? Hypothesizing that the answer is to help muscles adapt and grow in response to exercise, the team had its mice exercise on mechanical wheels. This exercise triggered mitochondrial biogenesis, allowing the researchers to assess whether ERR was involved in the process. This experiment revealed that losing ERR alone could entirely block exercise-induced mitochondria biogenesis.

Previous studies showed that exercise-induced mitochondrial growth was driven by another protein called PGC1-known as the master regulator of mitochondria throughout the body. The issue is, unlike nuclear hormone receptors such as ERRs, PGC1 cannot bind to genes directly, so it relies on partner proteins to get the job done. This indirect action makes PGC1 a more difficult target for therapeutic drug development.

When Evans' lab looked at the muscle cells after exercise, they found that PGC1 was partnering with ERR to drive mitochondrial biogenesis. But unlike PGC1, ERR can bind directly to mitochondrial energetic genes and turn them "on," making it a promising target for improving muscle's mitochondrial performance.

"Our findings suggest that activating estrogen-related receptors could not only help fuel people's muscles, but it could also have other beneficial effects across the whole body," says Fan. "Improving mitochondrial function and energy metabolism could help strengthen many different organ systems, including the brain and heart."

Understanding how estrogen-related receptors function in muscle cells creates new opportunities to treat all parts of the body affected by mitochondrial dysfunction. Future research will continue to explore the function and regulation of both alpha- and gamma-type receptors, which may lead to other potential therapeutic targets.

Other authors include Hui Wang, Lillian Crossley, Mingxiao He, Hunter Robbins, Chandra Koopari, Yang Dai, Morgan Truitt, Ruth Yu, Annette Atkins, and Michael Downes of Salk; Tae Gyu Oh of Salk and the University of Oklahoma; and Christopher Liddle of the University of Sydney, Australia.

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P01HL147835, DK057978, DK120515, 1R21OD030076, CCSG P30CA23100, CCSG P30 CA014195, CCSG P30 CA014195, P30 AG068635), Department of the Navy (N00014-16-1-3159), Larry L. Hillblom Foundation, Inc. (2021-D-001-NET), Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, Henry L. Guenther Foundation, and Waitt Foundation.
Children who are living with severe obesity are more likely to experience a clinically relevant change in BMI when GLP-1 agonist drugs form part of their treatment, new research being presented at year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) suggests.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists mimic the action of a hormone called GLP-1 to reduce appetite and feelings of hunger, slow the release of food from the stomach and increase feelings of fullness after eating.

GLP-1 drugs are increasingly used to treat obesity in adults. They can also be used in children from the age of 12 and clinical trials have shown children lose 5-16% of their body weight after a year of treatment. However, treating children in real-life situations has challenges that don't come up in research studies. Children have varying degrees of obesity, co-morbidities and complications and may have faced problems in supply of the drug, financing it or taking it. As a consequence, it is difficult to isolate the effect of adding GLP-1 drugs to the plethora of treatments that are already available." Dr. Annika Janson, researcher, National Childhood Obesity Centre, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

To find out more, Dr. Janson and colleagues examined the impact of adding GLP1- receptor agonists to an existing treatment programme for child obesity.

The study involved 1,126 children (51.6% boys) age 0-16 years with severe obesity, as defined by the International Obesity Task Force criteria1, who were receiving intensive health behaviour and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) at the National Childhood Obesity Centre in Stockholm.

IHBLT involves addressing several aspects of life that can improve health and weight in collaboration with the family, school and other stakeholders. Healthy foods and nutrition, meal size, meal order, screen time, physical activity and psychological wellbeing are all addressed, often by a multi-disciplinary treatment team.

From 2023, the GLP-1 drugs, initially liraglutide and later semaglutide, were included in some patients' programmes. Around one in four patients were prescribed GLP-1 drugs.

The reduction in average BMI was similar between the cohorts up until 2022.

In the 2023 group, 30% experienced clinically relevant change in BMI  that is, a reduction that was great enough to improve their health (in technical terms, 0.25 standard deviations of BMI). This compares to around 27% of those who were treated earlier.

The researchers attribute this to the addition of the GLP-1 drugs to the treatment programme, although they explain that even in children they are prescribed for, use is not consistent. The design of the study means that different proportions of children are using drugs at different times. One point prevalence estimate from January 2025 showed one quarter of children in the 2023 cohort were using them at that point.

This is not a huge difference yet  but there is a trend, say the researchers. Dr. Janson explains: "Only a fraction of the children had GLP-1 drugs and most of those who did started on them 6-12 months into the treatment programme. Longer-term treatment may lead to greater improvements in BMI.

"These are just early indications but it does look as if the average effect of being a patient at our clinic has improved after adding GLP-1 drugs to the toolbox."

Dr. Janson concludes: "Many children with severe obesity describe hunger and a strong appetite  both of which GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to help with.

"Results beyond obesity are also important. The families reported reduced conflicts around food and improved capacity for other lifestyle adaptations. It was easier to stick to meals and limit snacks. Portions could be down-sized. For some children, not being hungry all the time is a new feeling.

"GLP-1 receptor agonists are clearly beneficial to many children with severe obesity and while they won't help in all cases, more children should have access to these important medications."
Unprecedented progress in reducing the number of women smoking during pregnancy in England could be put at risk by NHS funding cuts, according to a UEA addiction expert.

A new BMJ article, co-authored by Prof Caitlin Notley from UEA's Norwich Medical School, reveals that the proportion of women smoking during pregnancy in England has almost halved in the last decade.

Most of the decline happened in the last five years thanks to the introduction of dedicated stop smoking advisers in NHS maternity services since 2020.

But the team fear that the reduction could be threatened by cost-cutting exercises.

And they are calling for continued investment to give every child a smokefree start in life.

The article has been written by members of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group - a coalition of organisations committed to reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy.

It shows how the amount of women smoking during pregnancy dropped from 11.7 per cent in 2014/15 to 5.9 per cent as of Q3 2024/25.

The progress on reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy has accelerated in recent years, thanks to the focused efforts of all healthcare professionals involved in the pregnancy care pathway. However, there remain significant inequalities, as rates of smoking remain higher in deprived areas - suggesting that we need innovative targeted approaches for those who really struggle to quit." Prof. Caitlin Notley, Professor of Addiction Sciences at UEA

The authors say that cuts to integrated care boards (ICB) budgets and the loss of ringfenced funding for NHS tobacco treatment services could threaten the success.

Stop smoking support in some hospitals and mental health services has already been cut, according to the group, with further cuts expected.

The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group is a partnership between the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the voluntary sector and academia.

Prof Linda Bauld, director of the SPECTRUM Research Consortium, co-chair of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group and co-author of the BMJ article said: "The evidence is clear that stop smoking support for pregnant women has played a vital role in reducing rates of maternal smoking and saving babies' lives. Without continued investment in these services there is a real risk that this decline could stall, or even start to reverse, with tragic consequences for parents and families."

Dr Clea Harmer, chief executive of Sands and co-chair of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group, said: "As the government sets its sights on a smokefree generation, now is not the time to be cutting investment in these services. Instead, they should be going further and faster to ensure every child has a smokefree start in life."

John Waldron, policy and public affairs manager at Action on Smoking and Health and co-author of the BMJ article said: "The 2024 Labour manifesto committed to ensuring that all hospitals integrate smoking cessation support into routine care. The government must deliver on this commitment by protecting funding for these lifesaving services."

'NHS Cuts Could Spark Surge in Smoking During Pregnancy, Experts Warn' is published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Transmasculine and gender-diverse individuals who use testosterone are not at increased risk of gynecological cancer in the first years of hormone therapy. This is evident from large-scale research by Amsterdam UMC, which was published today in eClinicalMedicine. The results provide important insights for healthcare providers and transmasculine and gender-diverse individuals who are considering starting hormone therapy.

Transmasculine and gender-diverse people are registered as women at birth, but do not feel male, non-binary or otherwise at home within the traditional image of being a woman. Many of them choose to use testosterone: a hormone therapy that induces physical changes that are more in line with their gender identity and/or expression.

Researchers at Amsterdam UMC followed 1955 young transmasculine and gender-diverse individuals, who used testosterone for an average of five years. They specifically investigated the risk of cancer of the uterus, ovaries, vagina and vulva during testosterone use.

Asra Vestering, researcher at Amsterdam UMC, explains: "We found no increased risk of these cancers compared to women from the general population. None of these cancers were diagnosed in the entire participant group. This is valuable information for both healthcare providers and transmasculine and gender-diverse people who are considering starting hormone therapy."

It was also striking that in some of the participants the endometrium was still active, or that signs of ovulation were observed, despite the use of testosterone.

This is not only relevant for long-term health, but also means that despite testosterone use, there is still a chance of pregnancy. That is why good gynaecological care and contraceptive care remains essential for this group, even after the start of hormone therapy." Wouter van Vugt, co-researcher at Amsterdam UMC

In recent years, gender registration legislation in the Netherlands has been relaxed, making surgical gender removal no longer a requirement to legally change gender. As a result, more and more transmasculine and gender-diverse people are choosing to start hormone therapy first, without undergoing sex removal surgery (immediately).

Although no definitive conclusions can yet be drawn about the effects of long-term testosterone use, these findings offer reassurance for individuals who have started or want to start testosterone use. Vestering emphasizes: "This research provides important knowledge for better information and guidance of transmasculine and gender-diverse people. At the same time, follow-up research into the effects of long-term testosterone use remains necessary, so that care can be further tailored to safety and quality of life."
An innovative outbreak detection program that tracks disease-causing viruses in wastewater identified the measles virus in Houston samples collected in early January 2025, before cases were reported. The team that developed the program, which includes researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the School of Public Health at University of Texas Health Science Center  Houston, the Houston Health Department and Rice University, published their findings in the American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers detected the virus in wastewater using a sequencing-based approach, a highly sensitive and specific method that analyzes genetic material. This strategy might have broad implications for public health, particularly as a sentinel surveillance system to detect viruses before widespread outbreaks occur. The findings are relevant and timely as measles cases are increasing in Texas and the rest of the country and the study offers a promising strategy to get ahead of potential outbreaks.

In 2023, we showed that systematically sequencing the genetic material in wastewater reveals dynamic changes in human viruses circulating in a community. Importantly, analyzing these viral changes in wastewater can improve our understanding of outbreaks and transmission and inform public health preparedness, just as one uses meteorological data to better understand and predict weather patterns to anticipate potentially dangerous conditions." Dr. Anthony Maresso, co-corresponding author, Joseph Melnick Endowed Chair and Professor in Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor

In the current study, the researchers reported that their wastewater surveillance program detected the measles virus in samples collected on Jan. 7 in two Houston water treatment facilities serving more than 218,000 residents. A parallel investigation confirmed on Jan. 17 the measles virus in two travelers residing in the same area serviced by the sampled water treatment plants.

"In such cases our next step is always validating the signal with a second method, and we were able to do so through a collaboration with the Houston Health Department and Rice University," said co-first author Dr. Sara Javornik Cregeen, assistant professor in the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research at Baylor. "They tested for the virus presence in samples from the same date and collection site and confirmed the signal using another technique, PCR."

"As a reference, the 821 Houston wastewater samples we sequenced from the same area were negative for measles virus in the previous 31 months," she added.

"Because no other cases have been reported and the detections occurred in the same area where the travelers resided, it is reasonable to assume that the measles signal detected in wastewater is from the two infected cases, which underscores the high sensitivity of the method," Maresso said.

"With lessons learned from the Houston measles detection event, we are now working with our public health partners to gather data on the current measles outbreak in West Texas. Although not reported here, our program has been monitoring measles in wastewater from those sites as well, hoping the information can help officials get ahead of this virus," said co-first author Dr. Michael Tisza, assistant professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor.

Currently, the researchers are not detecting measles viruses in wastewater in Houston but are detecting it in West Texas cities. The team continues to record the weekly activity of possible concerning viruses and report the results in the first of its kind sequencing-based health dashboard that is publicly available at https://tephi.texas.gov/early-detection.

Dr. Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and co-corresponding author, said that "This work underscores the ability of sophisticated wastewater analyses to serve as an early detection system benefitting public health, healthcare and communities in preventing a measles outbreak in Houston."

He goes on to remind us that "The best protection from contracting the measles virus is the MMR vaccine, which has been shown to be safe and effective."
Gov. Gavin Newsom didn't expect to be reckoning with another health care crisis.

In March, as President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans escalated a nationwide debate over whether to slash health care for poor and disabled Americans, the Democratic governor had to tell state lawmakers that California's health care costs had spiraled out of control due to major Medicaid initiatives he backed  including the nation's largest expansion of taxpayer-financed health care for immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission.

His top officials at the state Department of Finance quietly disclosed to California lawmakers in a letter that the state had borrowed $3.4 billion to pay health insurers, doctors, and hospitals caring for patients enrolled in California's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. Facing rising health care costs amid a deepening state budget crisis, Newsom now must contemplate rolling back coverage and benefits.

The second-term governor faces a tough political decision: renege on his promise to achieve universal health care and strip coverage from millions of immigrants who lack legal status or look elsewhere for budget cuts. With nearly 15 million low-income or disabled residents enrolled in Medi-Cal, California has more to lose on health care than any other state. Yet even as Newsom has condemned Trump's approach to tariffs and environmental policies, he has been tight-lipped on health policy.

Complicating his political tightrope: Polling shows that providing health care coverage for immigrants without legal status has tepid support. And any resulting budget trouble could harm his political legacy should he run for president in 2028.

"We all know that the cuts are definitely coming," said Carlos Alarcon, a health and public benefits analyst with the California Immigrant Policy Center, which has helped spearhead a decade-long campaign in California to expand Medicaid to eligible immigrants without legal status. "The governor should keep his commitment  we'll be very disappointed if we see cuts and rollbacks. When times get hard, it's always our marginalized and underserved communities that lose out."

California allows any low-income adults to enroll in Medi-Cal if they earn 138% of the federal poverty level, or $21,597 a year or less, regardless of immigration status. But the costs have been dramatically higher than expected.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown expanded Medi-Cal to people age 19 and younger without legal status, but he expressed reluctance to go further because of potential costs. Newsom signed bills into law adding people age 20 and older. An estimated 1.6 million immigrants without legal status are now covered, and costs have soared to $9.5 billion per year, up from $6.4 billion estimated in November. The federal government chips in roughly $1.1 billion of that total for pregnancy and emergency care.

"We can expand out of the graciousness of our heart to everywhere and anywhere, but the moment these resources run out, now everybody loses. We're hitting that breaking point," said California Assembly member David Tangipa, a Fresno Republican. "Either we get fiscally responsible, or there's not going to be services for anybody  and that includes the Californian and the undocumented immigrant."

Democratic leaders responsible for approving the state budget declined interviews. In a statement, state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, a Los Angeles Democrat, who championed the expansion in the legislature, said, "Rolling back this progress would be a harmful and shortsighted decision."

Lawmakers are considering freezing enrollment for immigrants without legal status, imposing cost-sharing measures such as drug copays or premiums, or restricting benefits, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified to protect relationships at the state Capitol.

However, it's unlikely Newsom will slash funding in his budget revision set for release on May 14. Instead, cuts would follow if congressional Republicans approve a budget deal with major reductions in federal spending on Medicaid.

"This is going to be very problematic for the governor. Budget cuts will disrupt the lives of millions of immigrants who just got health care, but the governor has got to do something, because this is not sustainable," said Mark Peterson, an expert on health care and national politics at UCLA. "The prospect of cutting other places in order to support immigrants living in the country illegally would be a hard political sale; I don't see that happening."

Should Newsom, along with the Democratic-controlled legislature, be forced to make cuts, he could argue he had no choice. Trump and congressional Republicans have threatened states like California with the latest U.S. House proposal cutting Medicaid funding by 10 percentage points for states that provide coverage for immigrants without legal status.For Newsom, political analysts say, Trump could make an easy scapegoat.

"He can blame Trump  there's only so much money to go around," said Mike Madrid, an anti-Trump Republican political analyst in California who specializes in Latino issues. "It's making people look at the health care that they can't afford and ask, Why the hell are we giving it for free to people who are here illegally?'"

The exorbitant cost has come as somewhat of a surprise.

In Newsom's first budget proposal as governor  in which he called for expanding Medi-Cal to young adults without legal status  his administration estimated it would cost roughly $2.4 billion annually to extend benefits to all eligible people regardless of status. But the latest figure reported to legislators was nearly four times as much.

Newsom declined to respond to questions from KFF Health News, instead referencing previous comments that leave the door open to scaling back Medi-Cal. The governor noted "sober" discussions with lawmakers and said cutting Medi-Cal is "an open-ended question" that the president will heavily influence.

"What's the impact of Donald Trump on a lot of these things? What's the impact of federal vandalism to a lot of these programs?" Newsom asked rhetorically in December, suggesting its unclear whether hell be able to sustain the expansion to immigrants without legal status in future years.

Newsom expanded Medi-Cal in three phases, starting with immigrants ages 19 to 25, who became eligible in 2020, resisting pressure from health care advocates for one big, costly expansion. He argued doing it incrementally would ultimately save California money.

"It is the right thing morally and ethically," Newsom said in 2020. "It is also the financially responsible thing to do."

Record budget surpluses in recent years allowed Democrats to continue. Older adults ages 50 to 64 became eligible in 2022, and Newsom closed the gap the following year, approving coverage starting in 2024 for the biggest group, those ages 26 to 49.

But the costs have grown tremendously while the budget picture has soured, according to a KFF analysis of the most recent 2023 records available from the state Department of Health Care Services, which administers Medi-Cal.

Aside from children, it was more expensive to provide Medicaid coverage to immigrants without legal status than to legal residents. For instance, Medi-Cal paid L.A. Care, a major health insurer in Los Angeles, an average of $495.32 monthly to provide care for a childless adult without legal status and $266.77 for a legal resident without kids.

Not only were immigrants without legal status more expensive, California footed most of the cost. The state paid roughly between 60% and 70% of health care costs for a childless adult immigrant covered by L.A. Care, and about 10% for a legal resident without kids. Those costs don't encapsulate the entire cost of providing care, which can vary depending on where Medi-Cal patients live, and grow higher when filling prescriptions, going to the dentist, or seeking mental health care.

These payments also differ by insurer, but the trend holds across the state's Medi-Cal health insurance plans. Patients in most of the state can choose from more than one health plan.

Children without legal status in many cases were cheaper to cover than children who were legal residents. Generally, kids are healthier and require less care.

Mike Genest, who served as finance director under former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, argued that the state should have planned for the immense price tag.

The idea that wed be able to afford in the long run paying for health care for all these undocumented people  its beyond unsustainable, Genest said.

While costs are high now, the expansion of Medi-Cal will result in long-term savings to taxpayers and the health care system, said Anthony Wright, who previously lobbied for the expansion as the head of the nonprofit Health Access and is now fighting Medicaid cuts as the executive director of Families USA, based in Washington, D.C.

"They're going to be showing up in our health care system regardless," Wright said. "Leaving them without health insurance is just going to end in more crowded emergency rooms, and it's going to cost even more. It doesn't make any sense economically for them to be uninsured; that takes critical revenue from clinics and hospitals, just causing more problems."

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. A thematic conference titled "National Identity, Resistance, and Sovereignty: Prospects for Corsica" kicked off in Rome, Italy, on May 13, co-hosted by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and Corsicas Nazione Movement, the event brings global attention to the islands fight for their fundamental rights of sovereignty, the BIG told Trend.

The event drew prominent figures from the Corsican independence movement, including representatives from Nazione Movement and Tural Ganjaliyev, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliaments Support Group for the People of Corsica.

Opening the event, participants commemorated the Kanak people, who were killed in May 2024 by French law enforcement and militia forces in Kanaky (New Caledonia). Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of BIG, reaffirmed the organizations support for the legitimate struggles of colonialized peoples, including the Kanak, Corsican, and other nations fighting for self-determination.

The conference focused on the ongoing suppression of Corsican national identity and language by the French government. Nazione Movement leaders sharply criticized France's colonial policies, accusing the state of deliberately eroding Corsican culture through forced assimilation tactics. They also highlighted the economic and social discrimination faced by Corsicans under French rule.

Chilianu Begliomini, head of the Nazione youth section, dedicated his speech to the Corsican language, which he called the temple of the Corsican peoples national identity, citing writer Lisandru Bassani. He pointed out that Frances colonial policies have stifled the Corsican peoples right to speak their native language and called for international action to address the issue.

In a stark warning, Nazione Movement members Thierry Casolasco and Jean-Philippe Antolini discussed the ongoing resistance of the Corsican people. They argued that, if the current trajectory continues, Corsicas unique cultural and historical legacy could be erased. They detailed the efforts by French law enforcement, with the support of unofficial groups, to eliminate those advocating for Corsican independence, noting that some of the perpetrators of these attacks have been honored with medals by the French state.
Mr Tsang (third left) visits the Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing.

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang (second right) meets Secretary of the CPC Committee of China Foreign Affairs University Wang Shiting (third left) in Beijing.

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang will conclude his Beijing visit tomorrow and depart for Hungary and Egypt from May 15 to 20 to attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Economic & Trade Cooperation Exchange Conferences.

The conferences are jointly organised by the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, to promote the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

While in Beijing, Mr Tsang led the Hong Kong SAR Government delegation to meet Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying and leaders of various bureaus to deepen their understanding of the country's foreign policies and the latest developments of the international situation.

Mr Tsang thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its staunch and continuous support for the Hong Kong SAR Government.

He hoped it would continue to provide support and guidance to the Hong Kong SAR Government in handling the citys external affairs, to support Hong Kong in intensifying international interaction and co-operation, and to showcase the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" to the world.

Mr Tsang also met the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan & Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and toured the China Foreign Affairs University.

Before leaving Beijing tomorrow, he will visit the Museum of Early Revolutionary Activities of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, meet Hong Kong students in Beijing, and call on the Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government in Beijing to receive briefings on its work.

Mr Tsang will leave for Budapest, Hungary, in the early hours of May 15 to attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - Europe (Hungary) Economic & Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference the next day.

The conference aims to promote the enormous business opportunities brought about by the GBA to the Hungarian business community and how Hong Kong can play its important function as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" between the two places.

During his stay in Hungary, Mr Tsang will meet local political and business representatives to learn about the latest developments in the region and explore ways to further strengthen co-operation between Hungary and Hong Kong, with a view to opening up new opportunities for enterprises of both places.

He will depart for Cairo, Egypt, on May 17 for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - Africa (Egypt) Economic & Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference on May 19 to promote the GBAs latest developments and the development potential as well as Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems".

During his stay, he will exchange views with representatives of the local political and business circles to understand the local development trends and promote interface between the industries of Hong Kong and Egypt.

Mr Tsang will leave Egypt on the evening of May 19, returning to Hong Kong on May 20. During his absence, Under Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo will be Acting Secretary.

Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Maisie Chan and Director-General of Investment Promotion Alpha Lau will join the visits.
Chief Executive John Lee met Kuwaits local leaders and business representatives, as well as visited cultural facilities on the first day of his visit to the country.



While leading a business delegation comprising representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises, Mr Lee met the Amir, head of state of Kuwait Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Kuwait Acting Prime Minister Fahad Yousuf Saud Al-Sabah in the morning to exchange views on strengthening co-operation between Hong Kong and Kuwait.



Mr Lee then attended a roundtable meeting chaired by the Acting Prime Minister, engaging in in-depth discussions with senior officials of the Kuwait government on areas such as finance, trade, and innovation and technology (I&T).



Mr Lee and the Acting Prime Minister witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding by Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority respectively. He and the delegation also participated in a luncheon hosted by the Acting Prime Minister.



The Chief Executive noted that Kuwait is the first member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) to sign both an Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement and a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with Hong Kong, establishing a robust framework and foundation for economic and trade co-operation between the two places.



He pointed out that Kuwait has been actively developing a diversified economy in recent years, proposing Kuwait Vision 2035 to promote digital transformation and develop the country into a regional and international financial and trade centre.



He highlighted that Hong Kong, as an international financial, shipping and trade centre with world-class professional services, has vast opportunities for co-operation with Kuwait in areas such as finance, investment, digital economy, and I&T, and can assist Kuwait in advancing its Vision 2035.



Underscoring that Kuwait is the rotating President of the GCC currently, Mr Lee expressed his anticipation to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Kuwait, adding that he looks forward to establishing closer economic, trade and cultural exchanges with more GCC member states.



Additionally, Mr Lee emphasised that Hong Kong enjoys the advantage of connecting the country with the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. Hong Kong will fully leverage its role as a bridge to serve enterprises in going global and attracting external investment, complementing the strengths of Mainland enterprises while deepening international exchanges and co-operation.



He welcomed the Kuwaiti Government and enterprises to utilise Hong Kong's role as a super connector and super value-adder to explore new opportunities under the Belt & Road Initiative for mutual benefit.



Later, Mr Lee and the delegation met representatives of a local corporation, Bukhamseen Group Holding Company, to learn about the latest developments in the company's businesses in construction, real estate, financial services, and culture and tourism.



Apart from introducing Hong Kong's development opportunities and its highly internationalised and market-oriented business environment with its pool of professional services talent, Mr Lee also welcomed the company to use Hong Kong as a springboard to develop diversified businesses and tap into the Mainland market, better grasping the immense opportunities brought by the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.



Afterwards, Mr Lee visited the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre to learn about Kuwait's arts and culture projects and developments.



Mr Lee made it clear that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, with the West Kowloon Cultural District as one of the world's largest arts and culture projects.



He noted that both Hong Kong and Kuwait place importance on arts and culture development, and he looks forward to further deepening connections and co-operation in cultural exchanges between the two places.



The delegation led by Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the State of Kuwait Zhang Jianwei.



Mr Lee thanked the embassy for making meticulous arrangements for the visit and for its continued support to the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Dubai.



The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to promote economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Kuwait.
India Proposes Retaliatory Duties Against US Over Steel, Aluminium Tariffs In WTO

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 08:42 IST

India on Monday proposed to impose retaliatory duties under the WTO norms against the US over American tariffs on steel and aluminium in the name of safeguard measures.

Tariffs

India on Monday proposed to impose retaliatory duties under the WTO (World Trade Organisation) norms against the US over American tariffs on steel and aluminium in the name of safeguard measures.

The safeguard measures would affect USD 7.6 billion imports into the US of the relevant products originating in India, on which the duty collection would be USD 1.91 billion," a WTO communication said.

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Accordingly, it said, Indias proposed suspension of concessions would result in an equivalent amount of duty collected from products originating in America.

Earlier in April, India had sought consultations with the US under the WTOs safeguard agreement, following American authorities decision to impose these tariffs.

On the request for consultation, the US informed the global trade body that its decision to impose the tariffs was based on national security grounds and should not be considered as safeguard measures.

On March 8, 2018, the US promulgated safeguard measures on certain steel and aluminium articles by imposing 25 per cent and 10 per cent ad valorem tariffs, respectively. It came into effect on March 23, 2018. It was extended in January 2020.

On February 10 this year, the US again revised the safeguard measures on imports of steel and aluminium articles, effective from March 12, 2025, and with an unlimited duration. Now, it has imposed 25 per cent tariffs.

India hereby notifies the Council for Trade in Goods of its proposed suspension of concessions and other obligationsThis notification is made in connection with safeguard measures extended by the United States of America on imports of aluminium, steel and derivative articles, vide Presidential Proclamationdated 10 February 2025, with the effective date of 12 March 2025," a WTO communication said.

The communication, dated and received on May 9, 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of India, it said.

It added that the measures have not been notified by the US to the WTO, but are, in essence, safeguard measures.

India maintains that the measures taken by the US are not consistent with the GATT (General Agreement on Trade and Tariff) 1994 and AoS (Agreement on safeguards)," it said, adding that as consultations provided for under a provision of the AoS have not taken place, India reserves the right to suspend concessions or other obligations that are substantially equivalent to the adverse effects of the measure to Indias trade.

The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations takes the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the United States," it added.

Without prejudice to the effective exercise of its right to suspend substantially equivalent obligations, India reserves its right to suspend concessions after the expiration of thirty days from the date of this notification, it said.

To ensure the effective exercise of its right to suspend substantially equivalent concessions, India also reserves its right to adjust the products as well as the tariff rates.

India reserves the right to withdraw, modify, supplement or replace this notification, and/or make a further notification or notifications as and when required," it added.

India will inform both the Council for Trade in Goods and the Committee on Safeguards of its next steps.

India has taken up the tariff issue bilaterally also.

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The first Trump administration, in 2018, imposed a 25 per cent duty on certain steel items and a 10 per cent duty on aluminium products on the grounds of national security. In retaliation, India in June 2019 slapped customs duties on 28 US products, including almonds and walnuts. India had also filed a complaint in the WTO.

The proposal assumes significance as both countries are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). The Indian team is also visiting this week to the US for trade talks.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 08:42 IST
Govt Moves To Shield MTNL From NPA Tag Amid Rs 8,346 Crore Loan Default

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:46 IST

A high-level meeting has been scheduled for May 16 under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan to decide the immediate fate of MTNL's debt-laden balance sheet

MTNL defaulted on Rs 8,346 crore loans from seven state-run banks.

In a renewed bid to stave off the financial collapse of state-owned telecom operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), the Centre has moved to prevent its ballooning defaults from triggering a full-blown banking crisis. A high-level meeting has been scheduled for Friday, May 16, under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan to decide the immediate fate of MTNLs debt-laden balance sheet.

Senior government officials including Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth, Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju, Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam and Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal, will sit down with chiefs of major public sector banks to discuss a path forward. The core agenda of the meeting is to ensure MTNLs defaults, despite being substantial, do not lead to the company being formally classified as a non-performing asset (NPA).

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The meeting comes in the wake of MTNLs regulatory filing on April 19, in which it disclosed a massive loan default of Rs 8,346 crore between August 2024 and February 2025  money borrowed from seven state-run banks. The company, once a flagship in the telecom sector, now finds itself on life support, weighed down by a total debt burden of Rs 33,568 crore as of March 31, 2025.

According to filings, the largest chunk of the default  Rs 3,633.42 crore  is owed to Union Bank of India. Indian Overseas Bank follows with unpaid dues of Rs 2,374.49 crore. Bank of India is short Rs 1,077.34 crore, while Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, and UCO Bank are awaiting payments of Rs 464.26 crore, Rs 350.05 crore, and Rs 180.3 crore respectively. All of these include missed interest and principal payments.

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MTNL also carries sovereign-guaranteed borrowings worth Rs 24,071 crore, and an additional Rs 1,151 crore owed to the Department of Telecommunications. Despite receiving a portion of the Rs 3.23 lakh crore revival package earmarked for both BSNL and MTNL in recent years, the Delhi-based telecom operator continues to see its revenue erode while losses mount.

Government insiders suggest the May 16 meeting is likely to result in instructions to lenders not to classify MTNLs account as an NPA  at least for now  in order to avoid setting off alarm bells across the financial system. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to prevent further exposure risks and delay formal insolvency proceedings, even as the company remains in deep financial distress.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:46 IST
BDL, BEL, HAL, Other Defence Stocks Jump Up To 7% As PM Modi Backs 'Made In India' Defence Equipment

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 13:37 IST

Shares of Indian defence companies surged on May 13 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for greater self-reliance in military capabilities

Representational Image

Shares of Indian defence companies surged on May 13 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for greater self-reliance in military capabilities through indigenous equipment. The Nifty India Defence index jumped nearly 4% to trade around 7,416.

In his first public address on Operation Sindoor on May 12, PM Modi highlighted the success of Indian armed forces and the effectiveness of locally manufactured weaponry. The credibility of our Made in India weapons was proven. The world now sees that 21st-century warfare demands indigenous defence equipment," he said.

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Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) led the gains, surging over 7% to Rs 1,683.90. Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a joint briefing by the DGMOs, praised the performance of Indias indigenous Akash air defence system, calling it a standout in the operation. BDL is among the key manufacturers of the Akash missile system, likely fueling investor enthusiasm.

Other defence majors also saw strong gainsBEML, Bharat Electronics (BEL), and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) rose over 4.3% each. Zen Technologies and Cochin Shipyard gained more than 4%, while Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders climbed 3.6%. GRSE and Paras Defence added over 3% and 2.7%, respectively.

Air Marshal Bharti assured, All military bases and systems are fully operational. We are prepared for future missions."

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Indias defence exports hit a record Rs 23,622 crore in FY25, a 12% year-on-year increase. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has set a target of reaching Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 13:37 IST
CBSE 12th Result 2025: Savi Jain From Uttar Pradesh Secures 499 Marks Out Of 500

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:36 IST

CBSE Class 12 Results 2025: Savi Jain from Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, scored 499/500, making history. She aims to join IAS.

Savi Jain scored 499/500 in CBSE Class 12 exams. (Screengrab: X/@PTI_News)

CBSE 12th Result 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced the Class 12 results on May 13, 2025, followed by the Class 10 results on the same day. As students across the country checked their scores, one name quickly stood out  Savi Jain, a resident of Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, who secured a stunning 499 out of 500 marks in the Class 12 board examinations.

A student of Scottish International School, Savis remarkable performance has created history and filled her family, teachers, and school community with immense pride. With 100 marks in English, Political Science, Geography, Economics, and Painting, and a near-perfect 99 in History, Savis disciplined approach to studies and unwavering dedication helped her clinch this extraordinary feat.

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I used to study for 4 to 5 hours every day. After school, I attended tuitions and then took some time to rest," Savi told PTI. I followed a fixed daily schedule, planning in advance which subject to focus on. My goal was to understand each topic so thoroughly that I could be confident about at least 99% of it."

VIDEO | CBSE Result 2025: Savi Jain of Scottish International School Tops CBSE Class 12 with 499/500 Marks, heres what she said:I used to study for 4 to 5 hours every day. After school, I attended tuitions and then took some time to rest. I followed a fixed daily schedule, pic.twitter.com/itDFIrD2lP  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 13, 2025

Savi attributed her success to the combined efforts of her parents, teachers, and school staff. The credit for my success goes to my parents, teachers, principals, administrators, and the school director. Each of them has played a vital role in helping me reach this milestone and in believing in my potential," she said.

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Coming from a humble background  her father runs a small furniture shop and her mother is a homemaker  Savis journey is a powerful example of what hard work, consistency, and support from family and mentors can achieve. My success is not mine alone; its a result of teamwork," she added.

Looking ahead, Savi aspires to serve the nation. I want to become a civil servant and join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)," she said. Her message to fellow students is clear and inspiring: Work hard, stay consistent, and always learn from your mistakes."

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:36 IST
Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:46 IST

CBSE 10th, 12th Results 2025 Out Live: Students can check their results from the above window. (Screenshot from cbseresults.nic.in)

CBSE 10th 12th Results 2025 Declared Live Updates: The CBSE Class 10 and 12 results for 2025 were announced today, May 13. The Class 12 results show an overall pass rate of 88.39%, with girls achieving a pass rate of 91.25%, while 85.31% of boys passed. In Class 10, the overall pass percentage is 93.66%, with girls outperforming boys by scoring 95.00%, while boys had a pass rate of 92.63%.

CBSE 12th Result 2025 Direct Link

Students can check their results on official websites such as cbseresults.nic.in, cbse.gov.in, results.cbse.nic.in, results.digilocker.gov.in, and through the UMANG app.

This year, more than 42 lakh students appeared for the CBSE board examinations, which were conducted from February 15 to April 4, 2025. The Class 10 exams concluded on March 18, while the Class 12 exams ended on April 4.
Class 12 Done, What Next? CBSE Releases Guidebook For Parents, Teachers To Best Help Students

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:59 IST

CBSE has released a career guidebook to help students and parents navigate post-Class 12 choices with expert advice, resources, and planning tips

The CBSE guidebook offers insights on career options, colleges, and scholarships. (News18)

With the CBSE Class 12 Board examination results announced, students and parents are turning attention to the next steps  which course and college to choose depending on the students career aspirations.

Navigating Life After Class 12

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The period following the completion of Class 12 is often fraught with uncertainty. Students face pressure from multiple directions, whether to pursue their passion, follow their friends, heed parental advice, or take inspiration from elder siblings. Recognising the challenges of this crucial stage, CBSE has introduced a dedicated career guidebook aimed at supporting students and their families in making informed choices.

Support Through Guidance And Expertise

In this fast-evolving world, students have a wealth of career options at their disposal, making it difficult to pinpoint the most suitable path. While many seek guidance from professional career counsellors, this is not a practical solution for all.

To bridge this gap, CBSE has collaborated with career counsellor Mohit Mangal to create a comprehensive guidebook. This resource is intended to empower schools, parents, and communities in preparing students for their next steps.

What The Guidebook Offers

Tailored for parents, the CBSE career guidebook offers a range of valuable insights, including:

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A wide overview of career options across various fields Guidance on aligning career choices with individual strengths and interests Important factors to consider when selecting colleges and courses Information on employment prospects in both public and private sectors Details on scholarships and education loan opportunities

This timely initiative by CBSE aims to ease the pressure on students while ensuring they are well-equipped to make decisions that align with their aspirations and strengths.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:59 IST
How Drones Have Become A Perfect Weapon For War, How Were They Deployed In Indo-Pak Conflict?

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:22 IST

India and Pakistan have advanced their respective drone ecosystems in recent years, utilising both domestic manufacturing and imports from foreign allies

India has several indigenous drones such as the Nagastra-1 suicide drone, Rustom-2 medium altitude long endurance drone, and the Archer-NG armed tactical drone. (Image for representation: Sourced)

The game of drones played by both India and Pakistan in the recent past in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack shows the might of drones in modern warfare. The effectiveness of the missile attack was bolstered by the use of loitering munitions, or kamikaze drones, that have both surveillance and strike capabilities.

Pakistan responded by launching Operation Bunyan al-Marsus, targeting Indian military bases. India accused Pakistan of deploying 300-400 drones at 36 locations while firing heavy-calibre weapons along the LoC between May 8 and 9.

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Types Of Drones Used In The Ukraine War

The word drone" refers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In other words, aircraft that dont require an onboard pilot in order to operate.

The tiny, inexpensive FPV (first-person view) drone has proved to be one of the most potent weapons in this war, where conventional warplanes are relatively rare because of a dense concentration of anti-aircraft systems near front lines.

FPVs  originally designed for civilian racers  are controlled by pilots on the ground and often crashed into targets, laden with explosives.

The total cost of the drones components, including an explosive warhead secured with cable ties, can be as little as $500 or less.

According to Reuters, the FPV drones take off from improvised platforms several kilometres from the front line. Depending on their size, battery and payload, range varies from 5 km to 20 km or more.

How Drone Capabilities Are Developed

Both India and Pakistan had advanced their respective drone ecosystems in recent years, utilising both domestic manufacturing and imports from foreign allies.

India introduced the Drone Rules 2021 to simplify the regulatory landscape and pave the way for rapid innovation and deployment of drones. The Drone Shakti Mission in 2022 further catalysed the domestic ecosystem by encouraging start-ups, incubators, and public-private partnerships to build technologies across sectors, including defence, as per Observer Research Foundation (ORF). By mid-2024, India had inducted between 2,000 and 2,500 drones into its fleet, with the total expenditure ranging from $ 361.45 million to $421.69 million.

Indias drone fleet primarily consists of Israeli-made reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) such as the IAI Searcher and Heron, along with loitering munitions like the Harpy and Harop. A major milestone in Indias strategic embrace of drones was a $4 billion deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the US.

India has several indigenous drones such as the Nagastra-1 suicide drone, Rustom-2 medium altitude long endurance drone, and the Archer-NG armed tactical drone, all of which have demonstrated their technological capabilities.

Indias integrated air defence system consists of L-70 anti-aircraft guns, Zu-23mm cannons, Schilka systems, and specialised counter-unmanned aerial systems (CUAS), which it has been using to intercept Pakistani drones. The S-400 missile defence system, among the most advanced in the world, was activated during the attacks on May 8 and 9.

Meanwhile, Pakistan developed its drone capabilities in 2009 manufacturing the Burraq drone under a licensing agreement with China.

How Drones Were Used Early On In History

Since their first use in the mid-1800s, drones have been used for photography, security, safety, and environmental applications. However, warfare is responsible for paving the way for the drone technologies we have today.

In 1915, Nikola Tesla wrote about unmanned aerial combat vehicles. The first attempt at a self-propelled drone as an aerial target was completed in 1916 by AM Low. It wasnt until World War I that the first pilotless torpedo was invented by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company.

During World War II both Allied and German forces used drones to train aircraft gunners and aid in missions. After the end of World War II, drone developers began using jet engines in technologies like the Australian GAF Jindivik and the Model 10001, built for the US Navy by Beechcraft.

In the early 70s, Israel began using drones as decoys in the Yom Kippur War. It was during this same time that the United States officially confirmed that they had been using drones in Vietnam. According to the Armed Forces Journal International in 1982, the US stated that they had flown more than 3,435 drone missions during the war for both decoy and surveillance applications.

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It was not until the 1980s and 90s, that the US military began heavily investing in the technology. The US Department of Defense awarded the AAI Corp and Israel-based Malat contracts in the 90s to develop more advanced drone technology, which resulted in more cost-efficient technologies.

In the mid-90s, the US government began The Predator programme, which resulted in the MQ-1 Predator, equipped with a Hellfire anti-tank missile on its wings. It paved the way to the MQ-9 Reaper in 2007. The Predator and Reaper drones are what most people today picture when they think of military drones.

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: May 13, 2025, 18:04 IST
What Is China-Made PL-15 Missile That Pakistan Used Against India? Explained

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 09:01 IST

The PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile is developed by the People's Republic of China. The export version, PL-15E, is reported to have a maximum range of 145 km

Debris of the PL-15 long range missile that fell inside Indian territory was recovered from Hoshiarpur, Punjab. (File Photo)

It is learnt that the Pakistani armed forces have used China-made PL-15 missiles beyond visual range air-to-air missiles in the intense combat between New Delhi and Islamabad.

In a media briefing on May 12, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, presented visual evidence of missile remnants. You can see the pieces of it on the screen," he said, showcasing debris of the PL-15 long range missile that fell inside Indian territory, including a relatively intact rear section recovered from Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

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Besides, the use of Turkish drones by the Pakistani military, the name of China has come up for the first time in the India-Pakistani hostilities, with New Delhi keeping a keen watch on growing Pakistan-China relations.

What Is P-15 Missile?

The PL-15 is Chinas standard active-radar-guided AAM, and it was intended to at least match the performance of the US-made AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile is developed by the Peoples Republic of China. It is used by the countrys air force.

Its export version, the PL-15E, is reported to have a maximum range of 145 km and is integrated with Pakistans JF-17 Block III and J-10CE fighters, as per a report by The Indian Express.

The domestic version in use by the Chinese military has a reported range of between 300-500 km.

The missile was developed by the Luoyang-based China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA). It was test-fired in 2011. It entered Chinas military in 2015. It was seen on Chinas Chengdu J-10C, the Shenyang J-16 and the Chengdu J-20 platforms.

On April 26, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) released visuals of JF-17s armed with PL-15E and PL-10 missiles. Pakistans fleet includes an estimated 45-50 JF-17 Block IIIs and 20 J-10CEs  approximately 70 aircraft capable of deploying the PL-15E, according to Pakistans military.

How Does P-15 Compare To MBDA Meteor?

Indias counterpart to the PL-15 in the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range missile (BVRAAM), a ramjet-powered weapon that may well offer advantages over the Chinese missile. While Western analysts determine that the PL-15 has a comparable maximum range to the Meteor, the pan-European missile likely has a much larger no-escape zone and better long-range kill probability thanks to its ramjet motor.

The missile was acquired as part of New Delhis deal to buy Rafale multirole combat aircraft.

Reports suggest that the IAF is in discussions with the Anglo-French missile manufacturer MBDA to expand the integration of Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) into the Indian-made fighter jets.

Meteors all-important no-escape zone makes it unique compared to other weapons. This means the enemys chance of evading the missile at the endgame of the engagement, using high-energy manoeuvring, is considerably reduced. Another advantage of being able to throttle the motor is that the Meteors autopilot can calculate the most efficient route to the target for very long-range shots, as per TWZ.

Besides, known to be carried by the Su-30MKI, the Astra is Indias first homegrown beyond-visual-range AAM. Developed by the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), the missile is a product of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

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According to the DRDO, the Astra is capable of engaging highly manoeuvring and supersonic targets at a range of up to 61 miles and flies at a speed of Mach 4.5. The missile features inertial guidance, midcourse updates via datalink, and an active radar seeker for the terminal phase (the active seeker is activated around eight miles from the target). The missile is claimed to offer a significant degree of electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to avoid hostile jamming.

Another weapon in Indias arsenal to fight Chinas P-15 is the Israeli-made Rafael Derby is used exclusively by the Tejas. The Derby ER (Extended Range) version used by India can hit targets at a claimed maximum range of up to 61 miles, putting it in the same class as the locally developed Astra. The Derby ER also employs inertial guidance, midcourse updates via datalink, and an active radar seeker for the terminal phase.

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: May 13, 2025, 09:01 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The term of benefits for persons who were assigned disability in connection with the defense of territorial integrity, independence, and constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan during military operations conducted in 2020-2023, as well as for families of martyrs, is extended, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in this regard.

According to the decree, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in coordination with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, should approve and implement an action plan on phased provision of housing or private houses to the following categories of persons (families) in 2021-2030:

- Those registered with the local executive authorities between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2023 as persons in need of living space, who have been assigned a disability in connection with the protection of the territorial integrity, independence and constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan, families of martyrs, as well as persons who became disabled in connection with participation in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP accident (including performance of military duties or official duties), regardless of the date of registration;

- persons who received disabilities in connection with the defense of the territorial integrity, independence, constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the course of military operations conducted in 2020-2023, and families of shehidis registered with local executive authorities as in need of housing.

The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan based on proposals of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall ensure inclusion of funds required for implementation of the action plan specified in part 1 of this order in the draft distribution of state capital investments (investment expenditures) of the state budget for 2021, and in 2022-2030 - annually in the process of drawing up the state budget within the framework of state capital investments (investment expenditures).
10 Languages, 10-Day Mass Connect & Modis Message: How BJP Plans To Win Narrative War

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 14:54 IST

BJPs Tiranga Yatra will see the party crediting PM Modi's leadership, while highlighting opposition statements that came across as tacitly supporting Pakistan

On Monday, PM Modi reminded the world that he still believes its not the age of war but neither is it the age of terror.

Operation Sindoor is paused", as Prime Minister Narendra Modi puts it, setting narrative of a new normal" of crushing terror universities" like Bahawalpur and Muridke. In probably one of his most straightforward addresses to the nation, PM Modi refused to take any credit but showered praise on Indias tri-service, paramilitary, and scientific community for Operation Sindoor.

Stressing that it was Pakistan that requested for a ceasefire, the prime minister warned: I am repeating; we have just suspended our retaliatory action against Pakistans terror and military camps. In the coming days, we will measure every step of Pakistan on the criterion of what sort of attitude it adopts ahead."

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But in this age of information warfare, where Pakistan has flooded the internet with doctored video to suggest it demolished Indias prized S400 air defence system, or their prime ministers midnight press conference claiming victory", how does BJP plan to take Modis message of India struck at the heart of Pakistan"?

MODIS MESSAGE IN 10 LANGUAGES

On Monday, PM Modi reminded the world that he still believes its not the age of war but neither is it the age of terror". The prime minister, using the occasion of Buddha Poornima, sent out the message of peace but with a caveat: The path of peace also goes through power".

For those who wondered about US President Donald Trumps offer of mediating in the Kashmir matter, Modi left nothing to confusion for the domestic crowd. Today, I would also like to tell the global community that our stated policy has been: if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism; and if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)."

But the problem lies with the language in which he spokeHindi. According to the 2011 census, only 43.63 per cent of the people in India can speak Hindi. The southern and north-eastern states, apart from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, have a very low percentage of Hindi speakers. For instance, in Tamil Nadu only 2.3 per cent speak Hindi. So how will Modis message reach them?

The government used Artificial Intelligence and dubbed PM Modis speech in 10 regional languages in an hours timeTelegu, Bengali, Gujarati, Assamese, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi, Kannada and Odia. They beamed the regional versions in respective Doordarshan channels and released on YouTube channels, garnering massive eyeballs and taking the message deep.

BJPs TIRANGA YATRA

If the government is taking Modis message of We have defeated Pakistan every time" to the masses with multiple languages, the BJP isnt sitting idle either.

The party now plans to hold a 10-day nationwide mass connect movement through which it plans to not just portray a brave face of the BJP-led Centre but will inevitably do a contrast of response between Congress-led UPA era and BJP-led NDA era. The movement will be called Tiranga Yatra, which is expected to kick off from May 13 and will continue till May 23.

BJP will not just hold press conferences across major capitals, but its member of MPs, general secretaries, and even select Union ministers, will be asked to tour certain states where they will reach out to intellectuals, senior citizens, trader bodies, clubs among others, say sources. BJPs Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha will also be used during this Tiranga Yatra where the goal will be to claim victory and credit PM Modis leadership, while highlighting opposition statements that came across as tacitly supporting Pakistan.

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BJP will mount a social media campaign with regular multiple reels on Instagram targeting the youth, while the cadres will distribute leaflets highlighting, in bullet points, why Operation Sindoor is a gamechanger, a BJP source told News18.

With Bihar election scheduled in the year-end, less than six months from now, one can expect BJP to become more aggressive in its narrative war in the coming days.

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 14:14 IST
14 Dead After Consuming Spurious Liquor In Amritsar Villages, 4 Arrested

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 10:59 IST

Around 10 to 15 people are currently in serious condition and have been admitted to Amritsars government hospital for treatment.

14 dead after consuming spurious liquor in Amritsar villages. (Image: ANI)

At least 14 people have died in five villages in Punjabs Amritsar after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, leading to the arrest of four accused.

The deaths have occurred in five villages  Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Therewal and Talwandi Ghuman.

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According to sources, the toll is expected to rise further, as several others remain in critical condition. The victims reportedly worked as laborers at local brick kilns.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney confirmed the death of 14 people and informed reporters that Senior Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh reached the spot to take stock of the situation.

Speaking to news agency ANI, SSP Amritsar Maninder Singh said, We received information around 9:30 pm last night that people have started dying after consuming spurious liquor. We took action immediately and rounded up four people."

We arrested the main supplier, Parabjeet Singh. We interrogated him and found out about the kingpin supplier, Sahab Singh. We are investigating the case. We have been given strict instructions from the Punjab government that strict action must be taken against suppliers of spurious liquor," he added.

Residents of nearby villages  Bhullar, Tangra, and Sandha  are also said to have consumed the same illicit liquor. Many of them began experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting.

Around 10 to 15 people are currently in serious condition and have been admitted to Amritsars government hospital for treatment.

A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Excise Act. 2 FIRs have been registered under stringent sessions.

The civil administration and police are also going door-to door in villages in Amritsars Majitha, to check on people after 14 people died and six got hospitalised due to consuming spurious liquor.

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The MLA from Majitha and other senior officials have visited the affected areas and met with the families of the victims. The administration has launched a probe to determine the source and distribution route of the toxic alcohol.

This tragic event has once again raised concerns over the unchecked circulation of spurious liquor in rural parts of the state.

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 : Amritsar, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 09:35 IST
Kashmir Issue Should Be Addressed By India, Pakistan; No Change In Stand: MEA On Trump's Offer

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:23 IST

The Ministry of External Affairs said the force of Indian armed forces compelled Pakistan to appeal for a ceasefire and said there was no mention of trade in talks with the US.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (MEA)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said that Indias longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally, remained unchanged.

We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a briefing.

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Jaiswal was referring to US President Donald Trump, who claimed that America had mediated talks between India and Pakistan for a ceasefire, even as India had insisted that Pakistans DGMO had called up his Indian counterpart on May 10 and urged a ceasefire.

The specific date, time and wording of the understanding were worked out between the DGMOs of the two countries at their phone call on May 10, 2025. The request for this call was received by the MEA from the Pakistani High Commission at 1237 hrs. The Pakistani side had initial difficulties connecting the hotline to the Indian side for technical reasons," he added.

You will of course appreciate that early on 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was of force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing."

India-US Trade

Without naming the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, hinted that no third party had influenced Indias decision to pause hostilities with Pakistan since May 10. This came after Trump said he had told India and Pakistan that there would be no trade with them if they didnt stop hostilities.

From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," said Jaiswal.

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He further said that India had conveyed to other countries that it was responding to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22 by targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan. It was conveyed to countries that India would respond in kind if Pakistani forces fired.

The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around the world. There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better."

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:47 IST
BrahMos Popularity Soars After Operation Sindoor, These 17 Countries Are In Buyers' Queue

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:23 IST

The unmanned, supersonic BrahMos missile flies at Mach 3 and has a range of 290 km, extendable to 500 km or 800 km in its advanced variants

The BrahMos missile system is currently Indias fastest cruise missile. (AP File)

The BrahMos cruise missile played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, delivering a clear message to Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Its successful use highlighted Indias precision-strike capabilities and sent a strong signal to both Pakistan and the terror networks involved.

The BrahMos missile is a versatile and formidable weapon, capable of being launched from land, air and sea, enabling strikes from multiple fronts. Jointly developed by India and Russia, it is renowned for its supersonic speed, pinpoint accuracy, and adaptability across a range of military operations.

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The Philippines is currently the only country with a confirmed contract for the BrahMos, having signed a $375 million deal in January 2022 for three coastal defence batteries. The first battery was delivered in April 2024, with the second expected in April 2025.

However, renowned for its speed and precision, the BrahMos missile has attracted interest from over a dozen countries, with several nations currently in talks to acquire the advanced system.

Indonesia: Indonesia is negotiating a $200$350 million deal to procure an advanced version of the BrahMos cruise missile.

Vietnam: Vietnam is planning a $700 million deal that includes supply of missiles for both its Army and Navy.

Malaysia: Malaysia is considering BrahMos missiles for its Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and Kedah-class warships.

Thailand, Singapore, Brunei: These South-East Asian countries have shown interest and are in various stages of negotiations.

Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela: These Latin American countries are eyeing naval and coastal defence variants of the missile.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman: These Middle Eastern countries have also expressed interest, with talks in advanced stages with some of them.

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South Africa, Bulgaria: South Africa and Bulgaria are in different stages of negotiation for possible procurement.

The BrahMos missile system is currently Indias fastest cruise missile. First tested on June 12, 2001, it has undergone several upgrades since to enhance its capabilities. An unmanned, supersonic missile, BrahMos can travel at speeds of up to Mach 3 and has a standard range of 290 km, which extends to 500 km or even 800 km in its advanced variants. It is capable of carrying a warhead weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms and can fly at altitudes up to 15 km. It can strike targets as low as 10 meters above ground level, making it highly effective for precision attacks.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:23 IST
Chinese Soldier Living In MP's Balaghat Since 1963 Faces Deportation

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:25 IST

Treated as a spy instead of a prisoner of war, he spent eight years in an Indian prison. After release, he chose to stay in Tirodi village, Balaghat, adopting the name Raj Bahadur

Wang Chi, known locally as Raj Bahadur, was arrested by the Indian Army on January 3, 1963. (News18 Hindi)

An 85-year-old Chinese soldier, Wang Chi, who has resided in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh for the past 50 years, now faces the threat of deportation. His visa has expired, and he may be ordered to leave India at any moment.

Wang Chi recently received a message from the Indian government to renew his visa, and his son, Vishnu, has stated that his father has been asked to report to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO).

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The family explained that due to historical tensions between India and Pakistan, Wang Chi did not apply for a long-term visa from the Chinese Embassy. Vishnu fears his father might be forced to leave India, where he has spent a considerable part of his life. They are hoping for a long-term visa to avoid deportation, allowing Wang Chi to spend his final years in India with his family or in China, where he hails from.

Vishnu expressed concerns about the financial burden of renewing his fathers visa every four years, which costs Rs 15,000 each time. The familys financial condition is precarious, and they are seeking a long-term visa of five to ten years, but no action has been taken yet. For the first time, they have been asked to report to the FRO. Additionally, local officials in Balaghat have refused to issue caste certificates to Wang Chis grandchildren due to his foreign nationality, hindering their access to government schemes.

How Wang Chi Became Raj Bahadur

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Wang Chi, known locally as Raj Bahadur, was arrested by the Indian Army on January 3, 1963 after inadvertently crossing the border into Arunachal Pradesh while serving as an engineer in the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

Treated as a spy rather than a prisoner of war, he spent eight years imprisoned in India. Upon his release, he chose to stay in India, settling in Tirodi village, Balaghat, where he adopted the name Raj Bahadur, married a local tribal woman, and started a family.

Location : Balaghat, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:25 IST
Danger Drone Alert: How Pakistan's Eyes In India's Skies Pose Threat | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 12:46 IST

There is a possibility of weapons, ammunition, drugs, money or even terrorists being transported. It calls for a rethink, say defence sources

Several Pakistani drones were seen being shot down by Indian air defences in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan as air sirens rang out. (Image: Sourced)

The drones seen in India skies almost every evening since May 7 could pose a security threat, warned defence sources.

Defence sources warned of the potent threats posed by seen in Indian skies almost every evening since May 7.

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Indian armed forces on Monday engaged suspected drones spotted along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said, adding that there is no cause for alarm. The drone activity came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modis first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor and the meeting between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan.

#WATCH | J&K: Red streaks seen and explosions heard as Indias air defence intercepts Pakistani drones amid blackout in Samba.(Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/EyiBfKg6hs  ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2025

A small number of suspected drones have been observed near Samba in J&K. They are being engaged," the Army stated. A video clip of Indian air defence systems intercepting one of the drones was shared by ANI on X.

Drones were seen in Poonch, Udhampur last night. The irritation is going on. This happens every evening. This could be the new normal," said sources.

However, they also warned that this could be dangerous. There is a possibility of weapons, ammunition, drugs, money or even terrorists being transported. It calls for a rethink. Not every drone can be fired because it leads to panic in cities. Drones eliminate the need for physical infiltration through the LoC, making them a real threat," they said.

WHEN DRONES TURNED DANGEROUS

Hamas used small drones, converted to carry munitions, in its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas members also used them to attack IDF observation posts, including one equipped with a remote machine gun.

According to reports, bigger drones also carried terrorists, who were dropped into the territory.

https://www.news18.com/india/a-pak-terrorist-has-fallen-lashkar-e-taiba-dropped-him-off-a-drone-in-punjab-exclusive-8579029.html

In 2023, News18 had exclusively reported how a Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit had dropped a terrorist in Punjab using a drone. CNN-News18 had accessed the video showing the terror group testing the capability of dropping terrorists into the Indian territory via drones that can carry payloads of up to 70kg.

The exclusive video, shot inside an LeT drone training camp in Pakistans Shakargarh, showed terrorists testing the capability of the drones to carry a human and dropping him in water. A few months ago, a terrorist was sent to Punjab using a drone," the source had said.

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He disclosed that he was sent by the LeT top brass and was given money. He was told to go by drone and settle in Punjab where he was to be given a task," the source added.

According to sources, the terrorist was told to collect weapons and other ammunition from his sources in Punjab.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 13, 2025, 12:44 IST
3 Terrorists Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In J&K's Shopian

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Mallika Soni



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 22:26 IST

Joint teams of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces were engaged in the operation to neutralize the terrorists.

The encounter initially began in the neighboring Kulgam district. (Image: Representational)

At least three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian following an encounter with security forces. The encounter initially began in the neighboring Kulgam district before the terrorists moved to Shopian. Joint teams of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces were engaged in the operation to neutralize the terrorists.

Army sources told CNN-News18 that two of the three terrorists were from LeT  Shahid Ahmed Kuttay and Adnan Shafi- while the third one was a Pakistani terrorist.

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Shahid Kuttay was involved in the firing incident at Danish Resort on April 08, 2024 in which two German tourists, and one driver were injured. He was involved in the killing of BJP Sarpanch at Heerpora, Shopian on May 18, 2024 and is suspected involved in the killing of TA Personnel at Behibagh, Kulgam on Feb 03, 2025. Adnan Shafi was involved in the killing of non local labourers at Wachi, Shopian on Oct 18, 2024.

The encounter comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor- Indias retaliatory counterstrike following the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 innocent civilians were brutally murdered by terrorists. In response, India launched airstrikes targeting terror infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

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Furthermore, India issued a strong warning, stating that any future terror attacks would be considered an act of war and would be met with a robust response.

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in Indias fight against terrorism . He said, We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail. Thirdly, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism."

About the Author Ieshan Wani Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been from Kashmir.... Read More Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been from Kashmir.... Read More

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 10:54 IST
'Pakistan's Ceasefire Plea Came Via High Commission In Delhi': MEA Details Sequence Of Events

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 19:45 IST

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the DGMO had issue connecting with the Indian counterpart when he was calling for a ceasefire.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian Armed Forces mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. (IMAGE: YouTube)

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday outlined the sequence of communication that led to the ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan.

Officials said the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) faced technical difficulty in reaching his Indian counterpart directly. The request was instead routed through the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi at around 12:37 PM. The message was conveyed to the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) and subsequently passed on to the nations armed forces.

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The specific date and time of the understanding was worked out between the DGMOs of both countries, commencing at 1535 HRS. The request for this call was received by MEA from the Pakistani High Commission," ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The timing was then decided based on the availability of the Indian DGMO," he highlighted.

A mutually agreed time for the conversation was later fixed at 3:35 PM, following which both sides agreed to halt military actions, the MEA spokesperson said.

This is the first time the MEA gave details of how the ceasefire was reached and the involvement of the ministry in the ceasefire plan.

The MEA spokesperson also said that an extremely effective" action by the Indian armed forces and the Indian Air Force (IAF) put Pakistani air bases out of action and Pakistan urged a ceasefire in the face of the might of the Indian armed forces.

Where India is concerned, our stand was clear and consistent from the start. We would target terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan. If the Pakistani military stayed out, there would be no problem. If they fired on us, we would respond suitably. Till the night of 9th May, Pakistan was threatening India with a massive assault. Once their attempt failed on 10th May morning and received a devastating Indian counter-response, their tune changed and their DGMO eventually reached out to us," Jaiswal said at a press briefing in New Delhi.

Jaiswal pointed out that on early morning of May 10, the Indian armed forces led by the Indian Air Force (IAF) mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases".

That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing," the spokesperson said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the nation from Adampur Air Force Base, which Pakistan claimed to have destroyed,

Pakistan will not get any sleep for a long time just thinking of our drones and missiles. IAF targeted terror bases deep inside Pakistan with speed and precision that left the enemy stunned. Pakistans naapak intentions have been defeated every single time by our armed forces," PM Modi said in his address from Adampur Air Force Base earlier this afternoon.

Godfathers of terrorism have realised that casting an evil eye on India will only mean their destruction," he further added, warning Islamabad over its backing of terrorists.

The Indian Air Force caused extensive damage to Nur Khan Air Base, Chaklala Air Base as it also struck other crucial air bases in Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur and Sialkot.

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Let me be clear. It was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing," Jaiswal said, referring to the Saturday ceasefire.

When Pakistan Army intervened to save terrorists following the successful execution of the ongoing Operation Sindoor, launched to avenge deaths of 26 innocent civilians in Pahalgam, India gave a befitting reply. Pakistan then assumed an aggressive military posture but Indian response, which saw major damage to Pakistani air bases, forced Pakistan to stand down.

About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:47 IST
'Ghar Mein Ghus Ke...: PM Modi Says Pakistan Army Crushed, Warns Against Nuclear Blackmail

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:20 IST

Prime Minister Modi hailed the Indian Armed Forces, saying there was no place in Pakistan where terrorists were safe. He reiterated that no nuclear blackmail will be tolerated.

PM Modi speaking at AFS Adampur. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India made the Pakistan Army bite the dust on their own soil and gave them sleepless nights over the accuracy and efficiency of Indian missiles that struck terror camps during Operation Sindoor.

Praising the Indian Armed Forces during an address at the Adampur Airbase, PM Modi said, When the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters and daughters was snatched, humne aatankiyo ke fun ko unke ghar me ghuske kuchal diya (We crushed terrorists inside their homes). They kept hiding like cowards, but they forgot whom they had challenged it is the Indian Army. You attacked them head-on. You destroyed major terrorist hideouts. Nine terror camps were wiped out. Over a hundred terrorists were killed. Now the masterminds of terror have understood theres only one outcome of looking at India with evil intentions: total destruction."

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There will be only one consequence for spilling the blood of innocent people in India  vinaash aur mahavinaash. Those terrorists who enjoyed the support of Pakistans Army, our Armed Forces also made those forces bite the dust. You (Army) have told the Pakistan Army that there is no place in Pakistan where terrorists are safe. Hum ghar me ghuske maarenge, aur bachne ka ek mauka tak nahi denge (We will enter their homes and strike, without giving them even a single chance to escape)," he added.

Our drones and missiles gave sleepless nights to Pakistan," PM Modi further said. You have raised the countrys morale with Operation Sindoor. You have united the country and protected Indias borders. You have taken Indias self-respect to new heights. What you did today is unprecedented, extraordinary, and incredible."

India Wont Tolerate Nuclear Blackmail

Our Air Force targeted deep-rooted terrorist camps inside Pakistan. Striking precise, pinpointed targets across the border in just 20 to 25 minutes this is something only a professionally trained force equipped with modern technology can achieve. Your speed and precision were such that the enemy was left stunned."

The Prime Minister said Pakistans evil intentions and misadventures were defeated and all their attempts to target the Adampur airbase and other airbases were foiled thanks to Indias robust air defence system. He promised that any terror act in future would invite a strong response from the Indian Armed Forces.

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Our objective was to target terror headquarters inside Pakistan, to strike the terrorists. But Pakistan tried to create a conspiracy by placing civilian aircraft in front. I can imagine how tough that moment would be when a civilian aircraft was seen, and I am proud that you responded without damaging any civilian aircraft."

As I said yesterday, India has now set three clear principles: First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, we will respond on our own terms, in our own way, and at our chosen time. Second, India will not succumb to any kind of nuclear blackmail. Third, we will not differentiate between a government that harbours terrorism and the masterminds of terror themselves," he added, warning that India would respond to any terrorist attack on its own terms and time of choosing.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:45 IST
'Go For The Kill: IAF Chief Amar Preet Singh Led Nur Khan Blitz, Tore Through Pakistans Air Defences

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 21:08 IST

IAF Chief Singhs leadership and strategic brilliance were pivotal in the success of the operation, which crippled several Pakistan Air Force bases.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh before a sortie ahead of the Aero India 2025, at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)

We should go for the kill," Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh told his team as India prepared for its audacious strike on Pakistans Nur Khan Airbase, sources speaking to News18 said. Backed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Singh handpicked elite pilots, shaped the rules of engagement and gave the Indian Air Force its clearest war signal in years.

The result: an admission of damage from the enemy itself. Pakistan Army spokesperson Lt General Ahmed Sharif confirmed on national television that Indian missiles struck key military targets, including Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, Murid base in Chakwal and Rafiqui base in Punjabs Jhang district.

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Satellite imagery released by a Chinese satellite firm (MIZAZVISION) showed the damage at Pakistans Nur Khan Airbase. OSINT expert Damien Symon released the images on his X profile and showed that the Nur Khan air base facility had sustained heavy damages and and missiles demolished military support trucks inside the Rawalpindi-based air base.

Singhs leadership and strategic brilliance were pivotal in the success of the operation, which crippled a critical Pakistan Air Force base and demonstrated Indias air superiority. Sources said the strike forced Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir into hiding in a bunker for two hours.

Known for his tactical acumen, the IAF Chief handpicked the finest pilots, ensuring that each strike was executed with unmatched precision. This was a well-planned maneuver designed to send a clear message of strength and dominance in the skies. The strike, which targeted key Pakistan Air Force (PAF) infrastructure, was carried out after final clearance from NSA Doval, sources said.

The results were immediate and devastating. Pakistans military confirmed the deaths of 11 personnel, including 5 from the PAF. Indian armed forces viewed the Pakistani militarys actions as a misadventure that warranted a strong and calculated response after which the IAF bombed Pakistans crucial airbases in Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, Sialkot and Nur Khan in a coordinated assault.

The attack stunned Pakistan to such an extent that Munir was swiftly moved from his official residence to a secure location, as Pakistan scrambled to respond, the sources said.

The strategic brilliance behind the mission was the psychological impact it had on the enemy. Air Chief Singhs decision to target Nur Khan was not only a tactical victory but a bold statement of the IAFs ability to dominate the skies and disrupt PAFs operations.

Who Is Amar Preet Singh?

Born on October 27, 1964, in Delhi, Amar Preet Singh was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in December 1984. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College, he is a qualified flying instructor and an experimental test pilot with over 5,000 hours of flying experience on various aircraft.

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Throughout his distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, Singh has held several key positions, including commanding an operational fighter squadron and a frontline air base. He played a pivotal role in the MiG-29 upgrade project in Moscow and was instrumental in the flight testing of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, serving as the Project Director at the National Flight Test Centre. His leadership was also evident during his tenure as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command and as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

On September 30, 2024, Singh assumed the position of the 28th Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 21:08 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The opening of a new chapter in AzerbaijanLuxembourg relations serves the interests of both sides, Azerbaijani MP Nigar Mammadova told Trend, following a recent visit to Luxembourg.

Speaking to our agency, Mammadova, who heads the Azerbaijani-Luxembourg Interparliamentary Working Group of the National Assembly, shared details of her delegation's meetings with officials in Luxembourg.

She was joined by Elchin Mirzabayli, a fellow member of the working group, these included talks with Gilles Baum, head of the Democratic Party in Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies; Gusty Graas, chair of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation, Foreign Trade and the Greater Region; Veronique Dockendorf, director of the Political Department at Luxembourgs Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; Paul Galles, chair of the Committee on Environment, Climate and Biodiversity; and Alain de Muyser, Luxembourgs ambassador to Azerbaijan.

The discussions focused on the development of bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on expanding parliamentary diplomacy, Mammadova said.

Reflecting on over three decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Mammadova highlighted the foundations for cooperation that have been laid since the formation of the parliamentary working group in 2005.

She noted that Azerbaijans parliament is built on principles of transparency and inclusiveness, with representation from various political and social groups, which she described as a driver of political dialogue and national cohesion.

"As head of the Azerbaijani-Luxembourg Interparliamentary Working Group, I underscored the importance of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy between our two countries. I highlighted that the Azerbaijani parliament operates on the principles of openness and transparency and is grounded in a longstanding tradition of parliamentarism. I also noted that the legislature includes representatives from a broad spectrum of political parties and social groups, fostering political pluralism and constructive dialogue.

Particular attention was drawn to the active role of women in Azerbaijans political landscape, including in the National Assembly, emphasizing that their engagement in public and political life contributes meaningfully to peacebuilding, dialogue, and cooperative progress.

Our discussions also underscored the importance of initiating a new phase of cooperation at the parliamentary level between Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. The proposal to establish formal interparliamentary ties between the two countries received clear support," Mammadova said.

The MP also emphasized that, during the meetings, she drew attention to the new realities that have emerged in the South Caucasus following Azerbaijans restoration of its territorial integrity.

I explained that after more than three decades, conditions for lasting peace and security have emerged. Azerbaijan, as the victorious party, was also the first to propose peace.

A new phase of development is now underway in Karabakh and East Zangezur, which have been freed from occupation. I invited my Luxembourg colleagues to visit Azerbaijan and witness these new realities firsthand. Luxembourg, too, has expressed interest in supporting peace efforts in the South Caucasusan idea that was underscored throughout the meetings," she said.

Mammadova also noted that Azerbaijan-Luxembourg ties are increasingly viewed through the broader lens of Azerbaijan-EU relations.

As one of the capitals of the European Union, alongside Strasbourg and Brussels, Luxembourg holds strategic importance at the heart of Europe. Strengthening relations between Luxembourg and Azerbaijan would, in turn, contribute meaningfully to Bakus broader engagement with the EU.

Azerbaijan maintains high-level ties with the EU and is regarded as one of its most reliable partners, particularly in the field of energy. Azerbaijan is a key guarantor of the EUs energy security. The recent visit of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President, Kaja Kallas, is a reflection of the growing momentum in bilateral relations," she added.

The MP noted that the Luxembourg delegation, in turn, emphasized the potential for future reciprocal visits. The meeting also underscored the role of COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan last year, in advancing global efforts to combat climate change. Members of the Luxembourg delegation who attended the high-level conference expressed strong interest in Azerbaijans environmental expertise and its approach to ecological challenges.

"Azerbaijan is also a leading transport and transit hub within the Euro-Atlantic region. In this regard, there are significant opportunities to broaden economic ties between Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. It is no coincidence that during the visit to our country earlier this year by the delegation led by Veronique Dockendorf, Head of Department at Luxembourgs Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the importance of strengthening relations with Azerbaijan was underlined. New avenues for cooperation and the potential to implement joint initiatives were actively explored.

In short, I believe that opening a new chapter in Azerbaijan-Luxembourg relations serves the interests of both parties. I am confident that mutual visits and sustained dialogue will lead to meaningful outcomes," Mammadova concluded.

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How PM Modis Visit Debunked Pakistans Claim Of Heavy Damage To Punjabs Adampur Airbase

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 14:33 IST

In another message that Russian equipment served India well in the conflict with Pakistan, Russian S-400 defence system and MIG-29 were seen in PM Modi's background at Adampur

PM Narendra Modi at the Adampur airbase with the S-400 air defence system in the background. (X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a big message by visiting the Adampur Airbase in Punjab  the forward airbase Pakistan attempted to target using a missile on the night of May 9.

The Pakistani missile was shot down in the air itself by Indias air defence system, but this dangerous escalation by Pakistan towards the Adampur airbase was the trigger for India to launch missile attacks at the nearly dozen Pakistani airbases, including the ones in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and caused heavy damage there. Pakistan had claimed it had caused damage to the Adampur airbase of India, but the Prime Ministers visit on Tuesday debunked those claims.

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The Russian S-400 defence system and MIG-29 were seen in the PMs background, in another big messaging that the Russian equipment had served India well in the current conflict with Pakistan. India had got three squadrons of S-400 defence system since 2020 after signing a big deal with Russia in 2018  this was despite great pressure exerted by the US, which had threatened sanctions against India if it went ahead with the purchase. More squadrons of S-400 are to arrive in India by the end of the year.

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation. pic.twitter.com/RYwfBfTrV2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

The Prime Minister met and interacted with the Air Force personnel at the Adampur airbase. He also posted a picture of him from the Adampur airbase with a message on the wall behind him saying: Why Enemy Pilots Dont Sleep Well  underlining his messaging from the visit to the Adampur airbase, which Pakistan had tried to target many times but in vain.

Situated near Jalandhar, the Adampur facility is Indias second biggest airbase and has played a key role in earlier wars with Pakistan too.

Why messaging behind PM Modis visit to Punjabs Adampur airbase is very important?PM Modi spent at least over an hour at the Adampur airbase," News18s @AmanKayamHai_ explains and gives out all the details Troops are looking at PM Modi as their leader": Lt Gen (R.) S pic.twitter.com/I2f7xuuV5g  News18 (@CNNnews18) May 13, 2025

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation," the PM posted on X.

The government also released a video of the PMs visit, where he was seen interacting with the Air Force personnel, patting their shoulders, and chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram with them.

Sharing some more glimpses from my visit to AFS Adampur. pic.twitter.com/G9NmoAZvTR Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

Commending the forces on Monday in his address to the nation, the PM had said that the path of peace also goes through power.

It is very necessary for India to be powerful. And it is also necessary to use this power when required. In the past few days, India has done just that," the PM had said.

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Modi had said that on behalf of the people of India, he saluted the valiant forces of India, the armed forces, our intelligence agencies, and our scientists.

Our brave soldiers displayed immense courage to achieve the objectives of Operation Sindoor. I pay tribute to their bravery, courage and valour. I dedicate this valour to every mother, every sister and every daughter of the country," the PM had said.

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: May 13, 2025, 13:37 IST
'If Theres Another Attack...: PM Modi Vows India Will Treat Terrorists, Their State Sponsors Alike

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:49 IST

PM Modi issued a direct warning to Pakistan to stop sponsoring terrorists from Adampur Air Base in Punjab.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets armed forces personnel at the Adampur air base, in Jalandhar, Punjab. (IMAGE: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warned neighbours Pakistan that it will not spare terrorism and states who sponsor them while addressing Indian Air Forces personnel and the nation from Adampur Air Base, an airbase Pakistan claims to have caused damage to.

The message sent from the air base, with Russian-made S-400 air defence missiles amd a MiG-29 in the background, the Prime Minister warned terrorists that another attack would lead to more destruction, more demolition".

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ALSO READ | Pakistani Drones, UAV, Aircrafts, Missiles Failed In Front Of Our Air Defences: PM Modi Lauds IAF

The message sent from the air base, with Russian-made S-400 air defence missiles in the background, the Indian Prime Minister warned terrorists that another attack would lead to more destruction, more demolition".

We will not differentiate between godfathers and state sponsors of terrorism," PM Modi said, referring to Pakistans policy of backing terrorists. He also highlighted that over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor.

Pakistans Army and its intelligence wing, the ISI, have long been accused of supporting and cultivating terrorist groups as strategic assets, particularly in India and Afghanistan. International and independent investigations have linked them to outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen and the Haqqani Network.

India and other international actors have frequently raised concerns over Pakistans selective counterterrorism" approach, highlighting how groups operating in Kashmir or against Afghan interests often enjoyed safe havens.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks and the presence of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad have further underscored the deep-rooted nexus between Pakistans security establishment and jihadist organisations it finds useful.

Modi also praised the Indian Air Force (IAF) for completing its objectives during the recently-conducted terror operation, Operation Sindoor. During the counter-terror operation, IAF destroyed nine terrorist hideouts deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This led to a retaliation from the Pakistani Army, who intervened on behalf of the terrorists, which brought India and Pakistan close to the brink of war, with Pakistani upping its nuclear sabre-rattling.

Our lakshman rekha for Pakistan is very clear; any terror attack will be met with definitive reply on our own conditions. Pakistans naapak intentions have been defeated every single time by our armed forces. IAF targeted terror bases deep inside Pakistan with speed and precision that left the enemy stunned," PM Modi said.

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IAF struck headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke (Markaz Taiba) and took out another indoctrination centre and base of JeM in Bahawalpur among nine other targets. These camps, some funded by Osama Bin Laden and some where 26/11 perpetrator Ajmal Kasab trained, have been used for carrying out attacks on India and destabilizing the Kashmir region and the broader South Asia region.

PM Modi also highlighted that IAF, the Indian Army and the Indian Navy gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani Army. Pakistan will not get any sleep for a long time just thinking of our drones and missiles. Our Army, Air Force and Navy personnel made the Pakistani army bite the dust and showed them their place. I have come here to pay homage to your bravery," PM Modi said, praising the IAF for efficiently operating complicated and sophisticated machines.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:56 IST
India Expels Pakistan Mission Staffer, Gives 24 Hours Deadline To Leave

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 23:46 IST

The Indian government declared a Pakistani official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata for activities not in line with their status.

Deserted view outside the entrance of the Pakistan High Commission, amid tight security following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and subsequent conflict between both India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. (IMAGE: PTI)

The Indian government on Tuesday declared a Pakistani official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata for activities not in keeping with their official status." The individual, according to sources, has been identified as a staffer from Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and has been directed to leave India within 24 hours. A demarche was issued to the Charge dAffaires of the Pakistan High Commission in this regard, a press release by the External Affairs Ministry said.

Following the expulsion, Pakistan engaged in a tit-for-tat move and declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata, claiming that the member engaged in activities incompatible with his privileged status".

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The concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours," the Pakistani foreign office (FO) said.

Pakistan FO summoned the Indian Charge dAffaires for a demarche and conveyed this decision.

In a related development, Punjab Police on Sunday arrested two individuals allegedly involved in espionage activities linked to the said Pakistani official. Acting on credible intelligence, one suspect was arrested for leaking sensitive information to a Pakistan-based handler regarding Indian Army movements, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.

Preliminary investigations suggest the two had been receiving money through online channels in exchange for classified inputs.

They were in frequent contact with the handler and were involved in channelling funds to other local operatives as per his instructions, he said on Sunday.

Two mobile phones have been recovered, and an FIR has been registered, said the DGP earlier.

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This is the first diplomatic expulsion following the brief but ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. Pakistan Army earlier this month defended and intervened on behalf of terrorists after India launched Operation Sindoor and demolished nine terror hideouts belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

The Pakistani Army then assumed an aggressive military posture and sent drones to border districts and engaged in firing along the LoC. India gave a befitting response by launching an offensive that saw the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) dominated and its crucial air bases damaged in the hands of its counterpart Indian Air Force (IAF).

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 20:31 IST
India To Keep Indus Treaty On Hold Till Pakistan Stops Cross-Border Terrorism, Says MEA

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:19 IST

The Ministry of External Affairs stated on Monday that India will continue to keep the Indus Waters Treaty on hold till Pakistan stops supporting cross-border terrorism.

Indus waters treaty: Representative Image

The Ministry of External Affairs stated on Monday that India will maintain the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty until Pakistan halts its support for cross-border terrorism.

New Delhi made the decisive move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty during a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on April 23, just one day after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

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Now as per the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision of 23 April, India will keep the Treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Please also note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on the ground," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Watch: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, The other day, you saw that following the CCS decision, the Indus Waters Treaty has been put in abeyance. I would also like to take you back a littlethe IWT, the Indus Waters Treaty, was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and pic.twitter.com/hrfxvPxUct IANS (@ians_india) May 13, 2025

He added that the Indus Treaty was signed in 1960 in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, as outlined in its preamble. However, Pakistan has undermined these principles by promoting cross-border terrorism for decades, he said.

The MEA spokesperson also reaffirmed Indias long-standing position that any issues related to Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed bilaterally between India and Pakistan, and that this policy remains unchanged.

We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," Jaiswal said.

Water And Blood Cant Flow Together

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking about the Indus Waters Treaty, which India suspended as part of its diplomatic crackdown on Pakistan, said that water and blood cant flow together".

Terror and trade cannot go together, water and blood cannot flow together," PM Modi said last month during an address to the nation.

India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a historic water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank and signed with Pakistan in 1960.

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This marks the first time since the treatys inception that India has formally halted its implementation, representing a notable shift in its diplomatic stance.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:52 IST
Turkey, Azerbaijan Face Indian Boycott After Backing Pakistan Over Operation Sindoor

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 14, 2025, 08:10 IST

Indians are boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan as they supported Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor. Turkish drones were also used by Pakistan against India.

Indian travel companies are boycotting services for Turkey in the wake of recent tensions. (Reuters/File)

Operation Sindoor has become a defining moment not only for India-Pakistan ties, but also for Indias relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, as a massive Boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan movement has gained momentum in the country, with prominent Indian businesses and even politicians voicing support.

This came after Turkey not only sided with Pakistan, while the rest of the world was condemning the heinous terror attack in J&Ks Pahalgam, but Turkish Songar drones were also used by the Pakistan Army to target Indias military bases and civilian infrastructure.

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Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi posted a video on X, appealing to the citizens to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan, which sided with Pakistan after the terror attack in Kashmir. She also urged them not to visit these two countries, which earn a large chunk of money through tourism, and visit other countries as part of holiday plans that backed India in its fight against terrorism.

Jai Hind. A message for Turkiye and Azerbaijan and our tourists planning to head there. Be aware. Be Indian. pic.twitter.com/xXKIcZVUof Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 13, 2025

All this has led to a widespread call for boycotting Turkish products, and many are discouraging fellow Indians to avoid travelling to Ankara. Several traders say they have now decided to boycott Turkish apples.

#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: Following Turkeys support for Pakistan amid recent tensions with India, Apple traders in Pune say they have decided to boycott Turkish applesSuyog Zende, an apple trader at Punes APMC market, says, We have decided to stop buying apples from pic.twitter.com/tldXdCF4p7  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

We have decided to stop buying apples from Turkey because it supports Pakistan, and instead prefer to buy apples from Himachal and other areas. India was taking action against terrorism, but Turkey supplied drones to Pakistan. Retail customers are also saying that they do not want Turkish apples," said Suyog Zende, an apple trader at Punes APMC market.

Several Indians are boycotting travel to Turkey and have called on airlines to suspend any form of partnership with the country. India must re-define its relations with Turkey. Any agreement on route-sharing between any Indian airlines and Turkish airlines must be terminated," said former UP police chief Prakash Singh.

India must re-define its relations with Turkey. Any agreement on route-sharing between any Indian airlines and Turkish airlines must be terminated. @PMOIndia, @MoCA_GoI Prakash Singh (@singh_prakash) May 12, 2025

Moreover, Goa Villas has decided not to offer any accommodation services to Turkish citizens in Goa in light of Ankaras stance during the India-Pakistan conflict. Some people have even opted for Greece as a suitable travel destination rather than Turkey.

Due to Turkeys non-cooperative stance in the current global scenario involving India and Pakistan, weve decided not to offer any accommodation services to Turkish citizens in Goa. We stand firmly with our nation.Jai Hind   Goa Villas (@Goavilla_) May 8, 2025

Udaipur marble traders said that they have ended their business with Turkey for siding with Pakistan at such a crucial juncture.

Udaipur is Asias biggest exporter of marble. All members of the committee had unanimously agreed to stop trade with Turkiye because of its support to Pakistan 70% of the marble imported to India comes from Turkiye Not just Udaipur, if all marble associations stop their trade with Turkiye, it will give a strong message to the world that the Indian government is not alone, industries and all Indians stand with our government If we stop trade with Turkiye, the demand for Indian marble will grow," Kapil Surana, President of Udaipur Marble Processors Committee, said.

This is Greece. Its beautiful. Its the arch-rival of Turkey. They vocally support us, while Turkey supplies weapons to Pakistan to attack us.Travel to Greece, not Turkey. Give business to our friends, not our enemies. Its the bare minimum you can do for the country. pic.twitter.com/gev9vafmjI  THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) May 13, 2025

No. And thats a promise.I dont care how cheap Turkish Airline tickets are. #NeverForget https://t.co/E0QWrNBPC0  Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) May 12, 2025

Can we please cancel our bookings for Turkey. This is my request to all Indian Celebs/Influencers/Travellers. This is the least we can do as Indians," said TV actress Rupali Ganguly.

Can we please cancel our bookings for Turkey. This is my request to all Indian Celebs/Influencers/Travellers. This is the least we can do as Indians.#BoycottTurkey Rupali Ganguly (@TheRupali) May 13, 2025

Calls For Boycotting Azerbaijan Intensify

Its not only Turkey, even Azerbaijan came to Pakistans support and condemned" Indias Operation Sindoor strikes, which targeted terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It expressed solidarity with Pakistan during the conflict.

As such, people have started avoiding travel to Azerbaijan. Indians gave Rs 4,000+cr to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights. Today, both stand with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world. Please skip these 2 places," said businessman Harsh Goenka.

Indians gave Rs 4,000+cr to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, flights.Today, both stand with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world.Please skip these 2 places.Jai  Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) May 13, 2025

Never ever going to #Turkey and #Azerbaijan ! No leisure no concerts ! Mark My Words ! Never !! Vishal Mishra (@VishalMMishra) May 9, 2025

Entire India is cancelling trips to Turkiye & Azerbaijan.Love you India .  Vikram Pratap Singh (@VIKRAMPRATAPSIN) May 13, 2025

Azerbaijan and Turkey earns lot of money because of Indian tourists. These two countries are blatantly supporting Pakistan and have taken strong anti India stance.It makes sense for tourists from India to boycott these two countries. We should not fly Turkish airlines too.  D.Muthukrishnan (@dmuthuk) May 8, 2025

Azerbaijan and Turkey earns lot of money because of Indian tourists. These two countries are blatantly supporting Pakistan and have taken strong anti-India stance. It makes sense for tourists from India to boycott these two countries," said another individual on X.

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Both Turkey and Azerbaijan emerged as top international getaways for Indian tourists in recent years, thanks to their vibrant culture, striking Islamic and Ottoman-era architecture, friendly locals, and easy visa processes. A total of 5 crore Indian tourists visited these two countries in 2024, thanks to easy visas and direct flights. When Turkey was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2023, India started Operation Dost to help Ankara.

After the Pahalgam attack and Indias anti-terror ops, Indian businesses have also altered their partnerships in light of national sentiment. EaseMyTrip, a popular Indian travel booking platform, released an official advisory discouraging travel to both Turkey and Azerbaijan.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:38 IST
India's 4-Layer Air Defence System That Destroyed Pakistani Missiles And Drones | Explained

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 12:50 IST

Indian air defence units successfully intercepted and destroyed all Pakistani threats, including Chinese PL-15 missiles, long-range rockets, loitering munitions and Turkish drones

Indias multi-layered air defence network is built to detect, track, and neutralise aerial threats at multiple ranges. (Representative/PTI)

Indias robust, multi-layered air defence system successfully intercepted Pakistans attempted drone and missile attacks following Operation Sindoor, before a ceasefire came into effect on May 10. News18 breaks down the countrys formidable four-tier air defence system, one of the most critical pillars of Indias national security.

Indias multi-layered air defence network is built to detect, track, and neutralise aerial threats at multiple ranges, forming a strong shield against enemy attacks. During the recent threat from Pakistan, the Indian Air Forces Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) deployed a potent mix of Russian S-400 Triumph systems, indigenous Akash and Samar missiles, Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles and advanced anti-drone systems.

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Each layer of this defence grid is specifically designed to intercept threats based on their distance and altitude, ensuring a swift and effective response.

Indias Four-Layered Air Defence System

First Layer: The innermost layer is dedicated to neutralising very short-range aerial threats, such as low-flying drones. It includes systems like the L-70 anti-aircraft guns, Igla and Strela MANPADS, ZU-23-2B guns, Shilka and Tunguska. These are effective within a range of up to 10 km.

Second Layer: The second layer, known as the point defence system, is tasked with protecting specific areas or critical assets. This layer consists of short-range surface-to-air missile systems such as Akash, Spyder, Samar, Pechora and Osa-AK with interception capabilities of up to 50 km.

Third Layer: The third tier is equipped with medium-range missiles, including the indigenous Akash system and the Indo-Israeli Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM). These are designed to intercept threats at greater distances. This tier comprises missile systems like Barak and Rakshak, capable of targeting aerial threats at distances of up to 100 km.

Fourth Layer: The outermost and longest-range tier features the Russian-made S-400 Triumph system, which can detect and destroy threats as far as 400 km away. It can intercept enemy aircraft and missiles far before they reach Indian airspace.

In this multi-layered air defence grid, older but reliable systems like the Pechora, Osa-AK and air defence guns played a crucial role.

Air Force officer Awadhesh Kumar Bharti said, This air defence system neutralised every aerial threat from the enemy. The performance of the indigenous Akash missile system, in particular, was highly commendable."

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According to reports, Indian air defence units successfully intercepted and destroyed a range of threats, including Chinese PL-15 missiles, long-range rockets, loitering munitions and Turkish-made drones.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy played a key role in securing the maritime front. Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General Operations, said the deployment of aircraft carriers and MiG-29K fighter jets near the Makran coast in the Arabian Sea effectively curbed Pakistani air activity in the region, ensuring there was no threat from the sea.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 12:50 IST
Indias Strike On 11 Airbases Destroyed 20% Of Pakistan Air Force Infra, Several Fighter Jets: Sources

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:49 IST

The attack targeted major ammunition depots and airbases such as Sargodha and Bholari, where F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets were stationed, sources said

An image released by a Chinese satellite firm shows damage at Pakistans Noor Khan airbase after a precision strike by the Indian Air Force. (Image: @detresfa_/X)

Indias attack on 11 airbases of Pakistan on May 10 destroyed 20 per cent of its air force assets, and over 50 individuals were killed, including a squadron leader, top government sources told News18 on Tuesday.

The attack targeted major ammunition depots and airbases such as Sargodha and Bholari, where F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets were stationed, sources said. As a result, nearly 20% of Pakistans air force infrastructure was destroyed. Over 50 individuals, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf and four airmen, were killed in the bombing of Bholari airbase, they added.

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India says several Pakistani fighter jets were also destroyed. On May 9-10, India became the first country to strike 11 airbases of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation, destroying 20% of Pakistans air force assets. High casualties were inflicted at Bholari airbase, including the death of Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf and destruction of key fighter jets," the sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already said that over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor during the May 7 strike on terrorist headquarters in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On May 10, within just three hours, India targeted 11 military installations, including Noor Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari, and Jacobabad. Satellite images before and after the strike on Shahbaz airbase in Jacobabad and the Bholari airbase clearly show the scale of destruction.

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The government says that on the night of May 9-10, 2025, Indias counteroffensive became a historic milestone when, for the first time, a country successfully attacked the airbases of a nuclear-armed nation. This was also possible as India earlier deployed kamikaze drones with the objective of neutralising Pakistans air defence capabilities, including disabling Lahores air defence system, sources added.

Speaking to the nation on Monday, PM Narendra Modi had said, India struck at the heart of Pakistan. Indias drones and missiles attacked with precision. They damaged those airbases of the Pakistani air force, of which Pakistan was very proud. India caused heavy damage to Pakistan in the first three days itself, which it had never imagined."

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: May 13, 2025, 18:49 IST
IndiGo, Air India Cancel Flights To Several Cities For May 13, Issue Advisory

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 08:01 IST

IndiGo, Air India Flight Cancelled: The airlines cited renewed safety concerns as the primary reason for this abrupt suspension of services.

Passengers scheduled to travel to or from the nine affected cities today are strongly advised to check their flight status. (Image: Representational)

Flights Cancelled: IndiGo and Air India announced the cancellation of all flights to and from nine airports across North and West India for today, May 13, 2025. The affected airports include Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, Jodhpur, Jamnagar, Bhuj, and Rajkot.

The airlines cited renewed safety concerns as the primary reason for this abrupt suspension of services. This development follows a brief resumption of civilian flights on Monday after a temporary shutdown that began on May 7 due to heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.

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In a statement, IndiGo emphasized that passenger safety remains its highest priority" and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to travelers. The airline assured passengers that its teams are closely monitoring the situation."

Air India confirmed the cancellations and echoed IndiGos commitment to passenger safety.

#TravelAdvisoryIn view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May.We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated. For more  Air India (@airindia) May 12, 2025

The nine affected airports were among the 32 airports in North, West, and Central India that had been closed for commercial operations since May 7. These airports had only reopened at 10:30 am on Monday following a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

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The list of 32 airports that were temporarily shut down and subsequently reopened on Monday included Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Bikaner, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Ludhiana, Rajkot (Hirasar), and Shimla, among others.

Passengers scheduled to travel to or from the nine affected cities today are strongly advised to check their flight status via the respective airlines website or mobile application before proceeding to the airport. IndiGo has also urged affected travelers to reach out through call or message for support and assistance regarding their bookings.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

First Published: May 13, 2025, 08:01 IST
Is Kirana Hills Pakistan's 'Area 51'? What Is Hidden Inside? | Explained

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 14:36 IST

Kirana Hills is often dubbed as 'Pakistan's Area 51' and is said to be riddled with underground tunnels and bunkers. What does it hide?

Located in the Sargodha district of Punjab province in Pakistan, Kirana Hills has long been the subject of hushed conversations within military and intelligence communities.

In the turbulent days following Indias massive counter-terror offensive under Operation Sindoor, a name rarely heard beyond classified military circles began trending across global media  Kirana Hills. Tucked deep in Pakistans Punjab province, this obscure location suddenly found itself at the centre of frenzied speculation, conspiracy theories, and strategic denials.

It all began after India launched a blistering aerial strike in retaliation to Pakistans failed missile and drone incursions across the border. Within three hours, the Indian Air Force (IAF) reportedly crippled 11 Pakistani airbases and destroyed nearly 20 percent of the infrastructure supporting the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). As images of wreckage and military briefings flooded news feeds, whispers on social media grew louder  had India struck Kirana Hills, the alleged heart of Pakistans nuclear weapons program?

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What Is Kirana Hills?

Located in the Sargodha district of Punjab province in Pakistan, Kirana Hills has long been the subject of hushed conversations within military and intelligence communities. Often dubbed Pakistans Area 51", the rocky hills are said to be riddled with underground tunnels and fortified bunkers, constructed in the 1980s. These reportedly house key elements of Pakistans nuclear arsenal  warheads, delivery systems, and sensitive missile technologies.

Pakistan has never publically acknowledged the true nature of the site, and references to it in open-source intelligence remain speculative at best. But the very fact that it was drawn into public conversation during a high-stakes military exchange reveals its strategic and psychological value.

Amid mounting speculation, the Indian Air Force broke its silence. We did not hit Kirana Hills," declared Air Marshal AK Bharti during a high-level press briefing on Monday, May 12. Addressing the rumours circulating across global media and defence communities, he said, Thank you for telling us that Pakistan has stored its nuclear weapons at Kirana Hills, whatever is there. We did not hit Kirana Hills. It was not on the list of the targets we told you we hit."

The statement, while dismissive of the conspiracy theories, underscored two things: first, that Kirana Hills is now accepted, at least informally, as a key node in Pakistans nuclear infrastructure, and second, that India deliberately avoided targeting it, despite having the capability to do so.

However, social media platforms lit up with theories claiming that an Indian missile strike had hit the Kirana site, possibly triggering underground tremors  some even linked a series of minor earthquakes in the region to supposed damage at the nuclear facility.

Speculation reached fever pitch when flight-tracking enthusiasts noted the presence of a US aircraft known for nuclear emergency response  the B350 AMS  over Pakistani airspace. Some interpreted this as a sign of a radioactive leak. Others floated theories of Egyptian aircraft arriving to assist in damage assessment or containment.

Neither Pakistan nor the US commented officially on the aircrafts presence. Pakistani defence officials, however, rejected the claims outright, stating that none of its nuclear facilities had been targeted or compromised. But the silence on the nature of Kirana Hills only fuelled further curiousity.

Why Kirana Hills Matters

Beyond the cloak-and-dagger appeal, Kirana Hills represents something more profound for Pakistan  a symbol of deterrence. Since the late 1990s, Pakistans nuclear capability has served as a counterbalance to Indias conventional military superiority. Analysts often refer to the doctrine of nuclear blackmail"  the idea that Pakistan uses its atomic arsenal as a shield behind which it can support asymmetric warfare, including cross-border terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration has repeatedly signalled its unwillingness to play by those rules. Operation Sindoor, in many ways, marked a new threshold in Indias strategic posture  swift, targeted, and unsparing.

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Our fight was with terrorists and their support infrastructure, not with the Pakistan military," Air Marshal Bharti emphasised during the press conference. However, it is a pity that the Pakistan military chose to intervene and bat for the terrorists, which compelled us to respond in kind," he further said.

At the press conference, the IAF displayed the wreckage of Turkish-origin Songar drones and remnants of a PL-15 missile  of Chinese make  that Pakistan used in its attempted strikes on Indian cities and military positions. The message was unmistakable: Indias retaliation was precise, and its restraint was measured.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 14:36 IST
Karnataka Shocker: 12-Year-Old Stabs Friend To Death In Fight Over Scratch Cards

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 09:52 IST

According to initial police reports, the two boys became embroiled in an argument over scratch cards.

The fatal altercation occurred within the jurisdiction of the Kamaripet police station in Hubballi.(Representative Image)

A small dispute over scratch cards tragically escalated into murder in Karnataka when a 12-year-old boy allegedly stabbed his 14-year-old friend to death on Monday evening. The fatal altercation occurred within the jurisdiction of the Kamaripet police station in Hubballi.

According to initial police reports, the two boys became embroiled in an argument around 6:30pm on Monday. The subject of their quarrel was scratch cards. The 12-year-old accused then retrieved a cutter from his residence and allegedly used it to stab his friend in the lower abdomen.

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The gravely injured 14-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared dead.

Authorities have apprehended the accused, who is a sixth-grade student. He is expected to be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : Karnataka, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 09:52 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other serious offenses under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, continued on May 13, Trend reports.

The open court session, held at the Baku Military Court under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (alternate judge Gunel Samedova), ensured that the defendant was provided with an interpreter in his native language (Russian) and with a lawyer of his choice for his defense.

Before the hearing, Judge Zeynal Agayev explained the legal rights and responsibilities of the victims attending the court session for the first time, introducing them to the composition of the court, interpreters, clerks, state prosecutors, and other participants.

Ruben Vardanyan addressed the court, declaring his objection to the panel of judges presiding over the case. Avraam Berman, the defendant's lawyer, supported the objection.

State Prosecutor Tarana Mammadova responded to the objection, stating that the defendant's rights under the criminal procedure legislation were being ensured and that the defense had not presented any specific evidence confirming that the court panel handling the case was interested in the criminal prosecution. She requested the court to dismiss the objection without consideration.

The victims present at the trial requested the court to reject the objection.

The court adjourned to deliberate on the motion. After deliberation, the court's decision on the defense's objection was announced. According to the decision, the objection was dismissed without consideration. Presiding Judge Zeynal Agayev, while substantiating the decision, emphasized that the defense had not presented concrete and reliable evidence that the court panel handling the case was interested in the criminal prosecution, as required by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Subsequently, the victims testified in court.

Victim Emil Mehtiyev testified that he was injured in the Aghdara region when a mortar shell fired by the enemy exploded near him while preventing large-scale subversive actions by remnants of the Armenian army and illegal Armenian armed groups.

In response to questions from State Prosecutor Fuad Musayev, Mehtiyev stated that Ismail Gambarov and Amin Maharramov also sustained various types of bodily injuries as a result of the mortar shell explosion.

Mayis Korogluyev, recognized as a victim, testified that he and Gahraman Ismayilov were injured in the Aghdam region when a "Fagot" missile fired by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups exploded nearby.

Asim Garayev, also recognized as a victim, testified that he was injured by a mortar shell fired by remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups in the Aghdara region.

Answering questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Department for the Protection of State Prosecution of the Prosecutor General's Office, the victim stated that Mehdi Abbasov, David Jalilov, Javad Maharramov, Ali Tagiyev, and Rasul Teymurov, who were with him at the time, were killed.

The court announced the findings of the forensic medical examinations conducted on the victims.

The next court session is scheduled for May 20.

Ruben Vardanyan faces charges under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violations of international humanitarian law during armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).
Kolkata Airport On High Alert After Bomb Threat To Mumbai-Bound IndiGo Flight

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:53 IST

The officials said that 195 passengers were quickly asked to deplane and were safely taken away from the aircraft

IndiGo plane. (Image Credit: PTI/ Representational)

The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata was placed on high alert Tuesday afternoon after an unidentified caller claimed there was a bomb on a KolkataMumbai IndiGo flight, prompting the evacuation of all passengers.

The officials said that 195 passengers were quickly asked to deplane and were safely taken away from the aircraft in line with the airports emergency protocols. The flight, 6E5227, was scheduled to depart at 1:30 PM and land in Mumbai at 4:20 PM.

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The call came after the passengers had checked in. The flight was scheduled to take off at 1.30pm and land in Mumbai at 4.20pm. All 195 passengers were asked to deplane following emergency protocol and the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay," an official said.

The Bomb squad personnel immediately rushed to the plane and conducted searches, said the officials, adding that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have tightened security all over the airport.

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This marks the second bomb scare at an airport since the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-based terror groups earlier this month.

On May 6, Mumbai airport received a call claiming a bomb was on board an IndiGo flight arriving from Chandigarh, which was later confirmed to be a hoax.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 16:53 IST
Major Blow To Lashkar-e-Taiba In Valley: Top TRF Commander, 2 Associates Killed In Shopian Encounter

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:13 IST

Shahid Kuttay was in touch with leadership of Lashkar across border, including Sajid Jatt. His death will disrupt TRF/LeTs operations in J&K, said sources from security forces

A security personnel guards near the site of the encounter in Shopian, J & K, on Tuesday. (PTI)

The killing of the top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)  Shahid Kuttay  and his two associates in an encounter in Shopian on Tuesday will deal a major blow to the terrorist group in Jammu and Kashmir, said sources from security forces.

Kuttay hailed from Shopians Wandhama in south Kashmir and was the chief operational commander of LeT, and its shadow group, The Resistance Front (TRF). Adnan Shafi, also from Wandhama, was a top commander of the TRF and LeT, while the third operative, Haris Nazir, was from Pulwama.

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The TRF had claimed the responsibility for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which led to 26 deaths. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor to carry out airstrikes targeting terror infrastructure within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on May 7. After three days of attacks from Pakistan and Indias strong retaliation, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.

After the Pahalgam terror attack, intelligence agencies intensified their hunt for local terrorists suspected of role in the assault. Kuttay and Nazir featured on the list of 14 active and most wanted terrorists operating in South Kashmirs Anantnag, Shopian, and Pulwama districts.

OPERATION KELLEROn 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce pic.twitter.com/KZwIkEGiLF  ADG PI  INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 13, 2025

Kuttays house in Chotipora was also demolished in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.

KUTTAY WAS KEY TO LeT OPS IN KASHMIR

Shopian is a focal point due to its geography and history of militant presence. The neutralisation of Kuttay marks a tactical victory for the Indian security forces. It will prove to be a major disruption in the activities of TRF and LeT in Kashmir," said sources.

Kuttay was in touch with the top leadership of Lashkar across the border, including Sajid Jatt. His death will disrupt the TRF/LeTs operational planning, recruitment, and attack coordination. His role likely included overseeing infiltration routes and funding channels," they said.

Kuttay was involved in the firing incident at Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists and one driver were injured. He was involved in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch at Heerpora, Shopian on May 18, 2024, and is suspected to be involved in the killing of TA Personnel at Behibagh, Kulgam on February 3, 2025. Shafi was involved in the killing of non-local labourers at Wachi, Shopian on October 18, 2024.

#BreakingNews | House of an active top Lashkar terrorist Commander Shahid Ahmad Kuttay, a resident of Chotipora area of Shopian has also been demolished@Ieshan_W | @ayusureboutdat#PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/1hZb0a2oTy News18 (@CNNnews18) April 26, 2025

IMPROVED INTEL GATHERING

The encounter was carried out on the basis of human intelligence. The operation reflects the improved intelligence gathering and coordination among Indian security forces. It will destabilise militant activities in the region," said sources.

PM Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, had said that Operation Sindoor is the new policy against terrorism.

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Operation Sindoor is Indias policy against terrorism. It is the new normal for Indias fight against terrorism," said the PM.

First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, a befitting reply will be given. We will respond in our own way, on our own terms. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Second, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively on the terrorist bases flourishing under the guise of nuclear blackmail. Third, we will not see the government that patronises terrorism and the masters of terrorism separately," Modi said.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 13, 2025, 16:05 IST
'Trade Issue Didn't Come Up': MEA Rejects Trump's Claims, Warns Against 'Nuclear Blackmail'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:23 IST

The Ministry of External Affairs denied that trade issue came up, days after Trump took credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (PTI)

US President Donald Trump has worked swiftly to take credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor on May 7, saying he had warned that he would stop trade with both countries if they did not agree to stop hostilities.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs had denied that there were any discussions of trade with the United States in the discussions that took place between the two countries since India launched airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," he said.

This came after Donald Trump took credit again for stopping a possible nuclear war between India and Pakistan. Im very proud to let you know that the leadership of Indian and Pakistan was unwavering and powerful, but unwavering in both cases  they really were from the standpoint of having the strength and the wisdom and fortitude to fully know and to understand the gravity of the situation," Trump said in the White House on Monday.

I said, Come on, were going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Lets stop it, lets stop it. If you stop it, were doing trade. If you dont stop it, were not going to do any trade. People have never really used trade the way I used it," he said.

MEA Warns Against Nuclear Blackmail

India has always firmly rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue, stating that the only pending matter is for Pakistan to return territories currently under its illegal occupation. Without naming the US, PM Modi had hinted, during his address to the nation yesterday, that no third party had influenced Indias decision to pause hostilities with Pakistan on May 10.

Reacting to Trumps claims of stopping a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, the MEA spokesperson highlighted that Pakistans Foreign Minister had himself denied the nuclear angle on record.

The military action was entirely in the conventional domain. There were some reports that Pakistans National Command Authority will meet on 10 May. But this was later denied by them. Pakistan FM has himself denied the nuclear angle on record," he said.

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Jaiswal further said that India had a firm stance that it would not give in to nuclear blackmail or allow cross-border terrorism to be conducted invoking it. In conversations with various countries, we also cautioned that their subscribing to such scenarios could hurt them in their own region," he said.

Meanwhile, government sources earlier told CNN-News18 that there was no reference to trade in talks between top leaders of India and the US during the India-Pakistan military conflict. Notably, US Vice President JD Vance spoke to PM Modi on May 9, where trade was not discussed.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:13 IST
MiG-29 Jet, S-400 & A Silent Message For Pakistan: PM Modis Power Play At Adampur Airbase

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:16 IST

PM Modi's photo with S-400 also assumes significance as the air defence system thwarted drone and missile attacks by Pakistan while MiG-29 was also roped in Operation Sindoor

The nation became aware of the S-400's capabilities when the system shot down over 300 drones in a matter of hours on the night of 8 May. (Photos: X)

The century-old idiom a picture is worth a thousand words" was in the spotlight again on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modis photos with the MiG-29 fighter jet and S-400 air defence system at Adampur Airbase in Punjab sent many messages across the border.

A day after his address to the nation on Operation Sindoor, PM Modi Modi travelled to the Adampur air base on Tuesday morning and interacted with air force personnel, who have been in the thick of action during the recent conflict with Pakistan.

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The Prime Minister shared four striking photos from his visit: one with airmen and a MiG-29 fighter jet, another addressing a gathering with the S-400 missile system in the background, a third conversing with smiling airmen, and a fourth speaking at a podium with a MiG-29 behind him.

One of many strategic messages from the PMs visit was to show that Adampur Airbase, the forward airbase that Pakistan attempted to target using a missile on the night of May 9, is fully operational against Islamabads claims that it suffered heavy damage.

How PM Modis Visit Debunked Pakistans Claim Of Heavy Damage To Punjabs Adampur Airbase

PM Modis photo with S-400 also assumes significance as the air defence system thwarted drone and missile attacks launched by Pakistan while MiG-29 was also roped in Operation Sindoor. The nation became aware of the S-400s capabilities when the system shot down over 300 drones in a matter of hours on the night of 8 May.

Sharing some more glimpses from my visit to AFS Adampur. pic.twitter.com/G9NmoAZvTR Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

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Modi said on X, Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation." The prime ministers visit comes after days of intense conflict between India and Pakistan following Indian strikes on terror sites in the neighbouring country on May 7 under Operation Sindoor.

India and Pakistan agreed on May 10 to stop military actions. India has, however, made it clear it has merely paused its operation and its future actions will be guided by Pakistans conduct.

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

Location : Adampur, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:10 IST
Mumbais New Cable-Stayed Reay Road Bridge Inaugurated, Set To Cut Commuters Time By 30 Minutes

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 22:03 IST

The Reay Road bridge, built at a cost of Rs 273 crore, is Mumbais first land-based cable-stayed bridge

The newly-constructed Cable-Stayed Bridge at Reay Road is seen ahead of its opening, in Mumbai. (PTI file photo)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday inaugurated the newly constructed Reay Road Road Over Bridge (ROB), aimed at easing east-west traffic congestion in South Mumbai.

The inauguration took place at 7 pm and was part of a dual launch, which also included the Titwala ROB, Mid-Day reported.

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The Reay Road bridge, built at a cost of Rs 273 crore, is Mumbais first land-based cable-stayed bridge. It stretches 385 metres and connects Mahul Road near the Eastern Freeway to Barrister Nath Pai Marg in Byculla.

With six lanes and two ramps, the bridge is expected to cut travel time by up to 30 minutes for daily commuters. It passes over the Harbour railway line, offering crucial connectivity between Byculla East and Mazgaon.

The bridge, constructed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), was completed in over two years, with work beginning in February 2022. The design, featuring six pairs of supporting cables, draws inspiration from the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Varsha Eknath Gaikwad flagged design flaws, stating that the bridge is not aligned with the iconic station and lacks both footpaths and pedestrian access.

In a post on X, the Congress Mumbai North-Central MP wrote: Another Masterpiece by the Misaligned Mahayuti! The new Reay Road bridge is not aligned with the iconic station. No footpaths, no access to pedestrians. Basically a bridge made for @mybmc and its contractors convenience! Infrastructure in Mumbai is not for the people but for the BMCs contractors!"

Another Masterpiece by the Misaligned Mahayuti!The new Reay Road bridge is not aligned with the iconic station. No footpaths, no access to pedestrians. Basically a bridge made for @mybmc and its contractors convenience! Infrastructure in Mumbai is not for the people but for https://t.co/HUtjmAuxgA  Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) May 13, 2025

As usual no one will be fined or taken to task, instead they will clamour to take credit!," she added.

However, the bridges inauguration has not been without controversy. Congress MP Varsha Eknath Gaikwad criticised the MahaYuti government, led by the BJP, for what she called misaligned planning." Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Gaikwad wrote, Another Masterpiece by the Misaligned Mahayuti! The new Reay Road bridge is not aligned with the iconic station. No footpaths, no access to pedestrians. Basically a bridge made for @mybmc and its contractors convenience!"

A social media user also pointed out the alignment issue, raising concerns over the bridges design.

Well said, @VarshaEGaikwad Tai. Reay Road Bridge seems like a case study in Contractor Convenience Engineering"no alignment with the station, no footpaths, and no concern for commuters. Will this too end up like Gokhale Bridgefull of photo-ops, zero accountability? Public money, private comfort. Infrastructure for whom, exactly?," he wrote.

Well said, @VarshaEGaikwad Tai. Reay Road Bridge seems like a case study in Contractor Convenience Engineering"no alignment with the station, no footpaths, and no concern for commuters.Will this too end up like Gokhale Bridgefull of photo-ops, zero accountability? Public  Bharat Soni (@BharatJSoni) May 13, 2025

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The original Reay Road bridge was demolished by the authorities after an IIT assessment declared it unsafe.

ALSO READ: Mumbais 125-Year-Old Elphinstone ROB To Shut, But 5 Key Bridges Will Open This Year | Details

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: May 13, 2025, 22:00 IST
Nathancode Murder Case: Kerala Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Killing Family In 2017

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 22:36 IST

The prosecution, during arguments on sentence, sought the death penalty for the accused, Cadell Jeanson Raja, but the court did not grant it

Representative Image

A Kerala court on Tuesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for brutally killing four members of his family, including his parents and sister, at Nanthancode near here eight years ago.

The verdict was pronounced by Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions Court-VI judge Vishnu K.

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The prosecution, during arguments on sentence, sought the death penalty for the accused, Cadell Jeanson Raja, but the court did not grant it, a senior police officer associated with the case told reporters.

According to advocate Dileep Sathyan, the prosecutor of the case, the court sentenced Cadell to a life sentence for each of the four murders, but said that the life terms shall run concurrently.

The court also sentenced the accused to seven years of imprisonment under section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and for five years under section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC and directed that the two punishments shall be served consecutively, the prosecutor said.

The court further said that the life terms shall commence after the 12 years are served, the prosecutor added.

It also imposed a total fine of Rs 15 lakh on the accused and directed that the amount be paid to his maternal uncle.

The detailed judgment giving reasons is awaited.

On 9 April 2017, Professor A Raja Thankam, his wife Dr Jean Padma (58), their daughter Caroline (26), and a relative, Lalitha (70), were found murdered at their house in the Baines Compound near the official residence of the Chief Minister of Kerala.

According to the police, Cadell brutally murdered his parents, sister, and a relative.

He has been in police custody since his arrest two days after the murders.

During the investigation, the accused had claimed that he believed in parapsychology and astral projection, and contended that these beliefs led him to carry out the killings.

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However, the prosecution had argued that these claims were a strategy to avoid conviction.

The police had said that the initial plan was to kill his father, who had continuously neglected him, and that he subsequently went on to murder the others as well.

Location : Kerala, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 22:36 IST
No Mention Of Trump In PM Address On Operation Sindoor: India Treads A Fine Line With US

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 13:01 IST

Without naming the US, PM Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, made it clear that no third party had influenced Indias decision to pause hostilities with Pakistan

Donald Trumps offer to mediate on Kashmir was also rebuffed by PM Modi (left) without naming the US. (AP File)

India is treading a fine line with the United States (US) with regard to Operation Sindoor, amid the Opposition picking up Donald Trumps remarks to target the government. Without naming the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, made it clear that no third party had influenced Indias decision to pause hostilities with Pakistan since May 10.

Trump had announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan on May 10, even before India and Pakistan could declare so. Then on Monday, just before Modis address to the nation, Trump said he had told India and Pakistan that there would be no trade with them if they dont stop hostilities.

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If you stop it, were doing trade. If you dont stop it, were not going to do any trade. People have never really used trade the way I used it. By that, I can tell you, and all of a sudden they said. I think were gonna stop, and they have," Trump said on Monday.

The Congress has picked this up to target Modi.

Government sources, however, were quick to counter, pointing out that Trump and the US found no mention in the PMs address. In fact, top sources also rubbished Trumps claims saying trade had found no mention in the three calls that the US had made to India on May 9 and May 10 before the hostilities were paused. US Vice-President J D Vance had spoken to the PM on May 9, while US Secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke to External Affairs Ministers S Jaishankar as well as National Security Adviser on May 10. India has been categorical that in no conversation did the US mention the trade aspect and only asked for de-escalation.

Modi, in fact, was unmoved by the call by Vance on May 9, telling the US V-P that he wont offer any off-ramp to Pakistan, and promised a devastating response to Pakistan if it continues to act against India. India did so on May 10 morning by attacking a dozen air bases of Pakistan with missiles. Jaishankars response to Rubio was similar, after Rubio said that Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir had told him he was ready to stop military action. Rubio was told by Jaishankar as well as Doval to let Pakistan DGMO say so directly to India", and not through the US.

After Indias aggressive action, Pakistan started looking for ways to escape. Pakistan was pleading to the world to ease tensions. After suffering heavy losses, Pakistans army contacted our DGMO on the afternoon of May 10. When Pakistan appealed and said that it will not indulge in any sort of terror activities or military audacity further, India considered it," the PM said in his address, discounting the US role.

Trumps offer to mediate on Kashmir was also rebuffed by Modi without naming the US. The only talk with Pakistan will be on terror and PoK," Modi announced.

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On Tuesday, India also proposed to impose retaliatory duties under the WTO (World Trade Organisation) norms against the US over American tariffs on steel and aluminium in the name of safeguard measures. The safeguard measures would affect $7.6-billion imports into the US of the relevant products originating in India, on which the duty collection would be $1.91 billion," a WTO communication said.

All these developments are coming ahead of the landmark India-US trade deal expected by fall this year. During Vances visit to India, it was declared that both sides had made excellent progress on it.

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: May 13, 2025, 12:57 IST
Once Handpicked By Kalam, Dr Rama Rao Watched His Creation Pummel Pakistan In Operation Sindoor

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 20:50 IST

For Dr Prahlada Rama Rao, the scientist who led the development of Akash, watching the missile in action during Operation Sindoor was deeply emotional.

The Akash missile is priced at just Rs 2 to Rs 5 crore per unit. (PTI Photo)

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated into full-fledged aerial warfare in recent days, a new chapter in the Indian military history was written  not by foreign hardware, but by an innovation that stunned adversaries and reassured allies. In a high-intensity exchange of missiles and drones, India successfully intercepted every single incoming projectile from Pakistan, thanks in large part to its indigenously developed Akash missile system.

While Pakistan launched waves of drones and tactical missiles deep into the border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujrat, India responded with clinical precision  intercepting threats mid-air, neutralising incoming F-16s, and protecting strategic assets. Among the defences deployed, the Akash missile emerged as a star performer, its performance so decisive that even the countrys top military brass acknowledged its pivotal role in neutralising Pakistans offensive.

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For Dr Prahlada Rama Rao, the scientist who led the development of Akash, watching the missile in action during the operation was deeply emotional. It was the happiest day of my life," the 78-year-old told a YouTube news channel in a rare interview. Dr Rama Rao, who once worked closely with former President and missile pioneer Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, was entrusted with leading the Akash project as its youngest project director  a leap of faith by Kalam that has now paid off spectacularly.

When we were first developing Akash, there were doubts from within our own forces. But I believed in our team  and Dr Kalam believed in me," Dr Rama Rao said, adding that now that very belief saved many lives and defended the Indian skies.

Developed over 15 years by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging multiple targets with high precision. Designed to counter aerial threats such as fighter jets, cruise missiles, and drones, it demonstrated unmatched accuracy during the recent conflict, intercepting every drone and missile Pakistan hurled at the Army and civilian targets.

What makes Akash even more remarkable is its cost-effectiveness. While India imported five squadrons of the Russian S-400 air missile system in a Rs 35,000 crore deal, each S-400 battery costs about Rs 10,400 crore, with individual missiles priced between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 8.3 crore.

In stark contrast, the Akash missile is priced at just Rs 2 to Rs 5 crore per unit. We built something at less than half the cost of global systems, and its performing at par, if not better, in our own terrain," Dr Rama Rao said.

During Operation Sindoor, Akash was reportedly used to maximum effect. Sources indicated that multiple Pakistani drones and missiles were downed near the border sectors of Punjab and Rajasthan, with Akash batteries intercepting targets at altitudes and speeds that surprised even seasoned defence observers.

Dr Rama Rao, who has also contributed to the BrahMos, Astra, and K-15 missile systems, emphasised that Akash was never intended as a weapon of aggression. This missile is not built to provoke war. Its very purpose is deterrence; to establish peace through strength," he said.

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He also used the moment to call upon the youth to pursue indigenous defence technologies. Trust in yourself. Trust in your country. We dont need to be dependent when we can build the best ourselves," he said, reflecting the spirit of self-reliance that defined his decades-long career.

Currently involved in pioneering work on clean energy  particularly Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR)  Dr Rama Rao sees a future where India leads not just in defence but in sustainability as well.

Location : all india, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 20:50 IST
Operation Sindoor: He Stayed True To His Childhood Resolve, Says DGAO Bharti's Mother

Curated By :

Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:04 IST

Known for his calm, humble nature, Awadhesh Bharti pursued studies with determination to fulfil his grandfathers dream, eventually rising to the rank of Air Marshal

Awadhesh Bharti's mother shared that he enjoys traditional dishes like stuffed bitter gourd and Nenua vegetable. (Local18)

Amid the India-Pakistan conflict, Director General of Air Operations (DGAO) Awadhesh Kumar Bharti has hit the headlines for overseeing Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Air Force conducted strategic bombings on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The two countries have now reached a ceasefire, ending immediate hostilities.

Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, a native of Jhunni Kala village in Bihars Purnia, has played a key role in these operations. Known for his calm and humble nature since childhood, Bharti pursued his studies with determination to fulfil his grandfathers dreams. His perseverance and commitment eventually led him to rise to the rank of Air Marshal.

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When a team from Local 18 visited Bhartis native village, they met his mother, uncle, and other villagers. Bharti comes from a humble background. His father, Jeevch Lal Yadav, is a retired clerk, and he has three brothers and one sister. His mother, Urmila Devi, expressed her pride, recalling that Awadhesh had aspired to join the Air Force since childhood to fulfil his grandfathers dreams.

Speaking to Local18, Urmila Devi said, To fulfil his grandfathers dream, he was determined to fly an aircraft since childhood. He completed his studies, got a job, and is now serving the nation."

She added, I have three sons, and the eldest, Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, is currently posted as an Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force."

His dedication to his studies and his current role in national service reflect his unwavering determination.

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Air Marshal Awadhesh Bharti was recently honoured by President Droupadi Murmu for his exemplary contributions.

Speaking to Local18, his mother shared that he enjoys traditional dishes like stuffed bitter gourd and Nenua vegetable, which she lovingly prepares whenever he visits the village. She expressed immense pride in her son, who remains deeply committed to protecting the nation and has pledged to serve India for the rest of his life.

Location : Purnia, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:04 IST
'New Normal': Military Briefs Foreign Attaches On Op Sindoor Success; China, Turkey Absent

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:36 IST

India on Monday briefed Foreign Service Attaches from 70 countries on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor

Lt Gen DS Rana, Director General Defence Intelligence Agency briefed the Foreign Service Attaches of 70 nations on the successful conduct of Operation Sindoor | Image.X

India on Monday briefed Foreign Service Attaches from 70 countries on the successful execution of Operation Sindoor, noting how the operation redefined IndiaPakistan ties by showcasing Indias military superiority, strategic resolve, and capabilities in new-age warfare.

The Indian Armed Forces on May 7 launched strikes on nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.

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Lieutenant General DS Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, highlighted the militarys meticulous planning process for selecting targets with verified terror links.

The integrated, precise and prompt response by IndianArmedForces to achieve the stated objectives, executed through intense multi-domain operations was also highlighted," the Integrated Defence Staff said in an X post.

Lt Gen DS Rana, Director General Defence Intelligence Agency #DG_DIA briefed the Foreign Service Attaches of 70 nations on the successful conduct of #OperationSindoor that has set #NewNormals in #India  #Pakistan relations, highlighting Indias demonstrated strength and national pic.twitter.com/3aF7rRpddg HQ IDS (@HQ_IDS_India) May 13, 2025

Sources told CNN-News18 that while China was not invited to the briefing on Operation Sindoor, which was attended by representatives from 70 countries, Turkey remained absent, citing unavailability.

The DIA official presented credible evidence of Pakistans ongoing anti-India misinformation campaign and its impact on regional peace and stability.

He also explained how Indias Whole-of-Nation" approach worked quickly and effectively to counter the false claims.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the Adampur Air Base in Punjab, during which he also met with the pilots and defence personnel who carried out Operation Sindoor, under which India hit nine terror dens deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on May 7.

He praised the Indian Armed Forces for thwarting Pakistani attacks in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, stating that all drones, aircraft, and missiles were rendered ineffective by Indias defence system.

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Pakistans drone, their UAVs, aircraft and missiles  all of those failed before our capable air defence. I extend heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of all air bases of the country and every air warrior of the Indian Air Force. You have done a really fantastic job," PM Modi said.

PM Modi further asserted that India would strike terrorists inside their hideouts and leave them with no chance of escape, warning Pakistan in straight words.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:06 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. On May 13, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with the Secretary General of the National Security Council of the Republic of Turkiye, Okay Memis, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Defense Minister welcomed the guest and conveyed pleasure with seeing him in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the fraternal and friendly relations between the heads of state made a great contribution to the Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation, as a result of which military relations between the two countries are at a high stage of development.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov emphasized that the number of joint exercises involving the servicemen from both brotherly countries increased this year compared to the previous year.

Expressing gratitude for the hospitality, O.Memis conveyed the greetings of the President of the Republic of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to the Minister of Defense. He highlighted the importance of further expanding Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation.

At the meeting, the positive impact of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations on ensuring peace and security in the region was emphasized, as well as other issues of interest were discussed.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Pakistan Army Says 11 Soldiers Killed In India's Operation Sindoor In First Such Admission

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 12:53 IST

India stated that its retaliatory actions against Pakistan resulted in the deaths of approximately 30 to 40 Pakistani personnel.

Pakistan's DG-ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif at a press briefing. (X/@YearOfTheKraken)

The Pakistani army acknowledged that 11 of its military personnel were killed in the recent escalation of conflict with India, triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack. As per a statement released by the Pakistani army, 78 personnel from both the countrys army and the air force sustained injuries during the four-day period of heightened tensions between the two neighbouring nations.

Pakistan said that the strikes resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians. Among the deceased, Islamabad stated there were 7 women and 15 children. Additionally, 121 civilians sustained injuries, including 10 women and 27 children, according to their statement.

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Pakistans armed forces and the people of Pakistan pay solemn tribute to the deceased civilians and military personnel, the statement read, adding, Let there be no ambiguity: any attempt to challenge Pakistans sovereignty or territorial integrity, ever again, shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response."

What India Has Said On Pakistan Personnels Fatalities

This admission comes after Indias armed forces conducted precision strikes on nine terrorist sites within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said that it neutralized over 100 terrorists. India stated that its retaliatory actions against Pakistan resulted in the deaths of approximately 30 to 40 Pakistani personnel. The Indian forces also said that they successfully downed several Pakistani military aircraft during the period of heightened tensions.

Operation Sindoor And Ceasefire

In response to Indias counter-terrorism operation, the Pakistani military launched a significant barrage of drones and other projectiles aimed at Indian military installations and civilian areas. However, Indian forces successfully intercepted and neutralized the majority of these incoming projectiles, thwarting the attacks.

As Pakistans assault on civilian areas persisted, India retaliated by targeting air bases deep within Pakistani territory resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure, including air strips. Subsequently, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan contacted his Indian counterpart, urging a cessation of hostilities.

What PM Modi Said On Operation Sindoor

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Operation Sindoor has set up a new normal" as India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan.

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First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail. Thirdly, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism," he said.

During Operation Sindoor the world has again seen the ugly face of Pakistan, when top Pakistani army officers came to bid farewell to the slain terrorists. This is strong evidence of state-sponsored terrorism. We will continue to take decisive steps to protect India and our citizens from any threat," the Prime Minister stated.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

First Published: May 13, 2025, 12:36 IST
'India Grateful To Armed Forces': PM Modi Visits Adampur Airbase, Meets Air Force Personnel

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 13:20 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the Adampur Air Base, where he interacted with the soldiers.

PM Modi visits Punjab's Adampur airbase, interacts with soldiers.

Days after Operation Sindoor was carried out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited Punjabs Adampur Air Base, where he was briefed on the security situation and also interacted with the jawans. The development came days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire.

Adampur was among the air force stations that were on Pakistans target on the intervening night of May 9 and 10, following Indias Operation Sindoor". PM Modis visit to Adampur Air Base is significant as the Pakistani Army earlier claimed to have damaged the air base following its counter-border strikes overnight.

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However, India rejected claims of damage to the site. Additionally, satellite images confirmed that there has been no substantial damage to any base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in drone and missile attacks by Pakistan.

Fact-check for Pakistan who claims attack on Adampur Air Base.PM @narendramodi Ji interacted with our brave Jawans.Adampur Air Base, Punjab pic.twitter.com/KcsWCPWQYb  Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) May 13, 2025

India Grateful To Armed Forces: PM Modi

Taking to X, PM Modi, Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation."

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation. pic.twitter.com/RYwfBfTrV2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

The Prime Ministers visit comes after days of intense conflict between India and Pakistan following Indian strikes in terror sites in the neighbouring country on May 7 under an operation codenamed as Sindoor".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a post on X, also praised our three armed forces and said that the valor of our three armies and armed forces has become synonymous with zero tolerance against terrorism across the world.

              @narendramodi                                 pic.twitter.com/eUd6F9Lr1O  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 13, 2025

Addressing the nation, PM Modi on Monday said the Indian armed forces displayed unwavering courage in achieving the objectives of Operation Sindoor, during which India attacked nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over 100 terrorists were killed during the Operation.

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Operation Sindoor is now Indias established policy in the fight against terrorism, marking a decisive shift in Indias strategic approach," PM Modi said, adding that the operation has set a new standard, a new normal in counter-terrorism measures.

Following the attack and retaliation, India and Pakistan on May 10 agreed to stop military actions and agreed on a ceasefire. India has, however, made it clear it has merely paused its operation and its actions will be guided by Pakistans conduct.

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : Punjab, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 12:16 IST
'India Will Never Negotiate...': Shashi Tharoor On Why Trump's Kashmir Mediation Claim Is 'Disappointing'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:09 IST

Shashi Tharoor slammed Donald Trumps claim of mediating India-Pakistan talks, calling it misleading, saying it falsely equates India with Pakistan.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the Budget session of Parliament (Photo: PTI)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday expressed disappointment at US President Donald Trumps post on the announcement of halting military hostilities between India and Pakistan, saying, the narrative offers Pakistan a negotiating framework which it certainly has not earned.

Tharoor also opined that Trump making such an announcement is disappointing for India in four important ways", as it internationalises" the Kashmir dispute, which is an obvious objective of the terrorists.

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India has never requested, nor is likely to seek, any foreign countrys mediation over its problems with Pakistan, the Congress leader said.

Mr Trumps post is disappointing for India in four important ways," Tharoor wrote on X.

First, it implies a false equivalence between the victim and the perpetrator, and seemingly overlooks the US own past unwavering stance against Pakistans well-documented links to cross-border terrorism."

Second, it offers Pakistan a negotiating framework which it certainly has not earned. India will never negotiate with a terrorist gun pointed at its head," he wrote.

Third, it internationalises" the Kashmir dispute, an obvious objective of the terrorists. India rejects the idea of a dispute and sees the problem as an internal affair of Indias. India has never requested, not is likely to seek, any foreign countrys mediation over its problems with Pakistan," Tharoor wrote.

And fourth, it re-hyphenates" India and Pakistan in the global imagination," he added.

For decades now, world leaders had been encouraged not to club their visits to India with visits to Pakistan, and starting with President Clinton in 2000, no US President had done so. This is a major backward step," Shashi Tharoor further wrote on X.

ALSO READ | Foolishly Given Pakistan: Trumps Old Post Goes Viral As Islamabad Breaks Ceasefire

The decision by India and Pakistan was first made public by Trump in a social media post, wherein he claimed that the talks between the two sides were mediated by the United States.

Later, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a formal announcement, said the directors general of military operations of the two countries agreed on the understanding during a call on the afternoon of May 10.

Also speaking to news agency PTI on Trump making the announcement, Tharoor on Monday said the announcement was being seen as a politician wanting to take credit for something".

Tharoor also pointed out that the US President tried to make a false equivalence" between India and Pakistan and said it was equating the victim with the perpetrator, which was shocking".

I see it as a particular politician wanting to take credit for something and I can see that the government of India probably said let them take the credit if they want to, but from our point of view we have made it clear that the peace followed a request from the DGMO of Pakistan who called his Indian counterpart at 3.35 pm (Saturday) and we did not take very long to say yes because we had never wanted a long war," Tharoor said.

We had made it very clear on May 7 that what we had done was to strike terrorist targets in reprisal for Pahalgam, and the last thing that we wanted to see was the beginning of a long, protracted conflict," he added.

We had said at every stage, we had done our thing, we have sent a message, if you react, we will react," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

Tharoor also said the tension between India and Pakistan is not new.

If we look back at the developments of the last decade, I think the last straw was the Pathankot attack when the Prime Minister very graciously invited the Pakistanis to participate in the investigation into the attack. And they sent their intelligence people to an Indian airbase  something that had never happened before. They went back and said the Indians did it to themselves, that I think was the last straw."

Thats when the Prime Minister felt, and the Government of India concluded, that you could never really trust the Pakistani military establishment and that entire apparatus there," he said.

So, if you look back at where things stood even before Pahalgam, it was not a very warm relationship. After Pahalgam, its taken a further dive  because, as you know, weve suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, we have reduced the number of personnel in the embassy here, in the High Commission, we have removed defence attaches," he said.

It is a very tense relationship even without a shooting war going on, Tharoor said.

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For three-four days, we were shooting at each other, which was a very serious matter, which seems to have been brought to a halt right now. I hope it stays that way, but even then peace in this case is just the absence of war," Tharoor said.

ALSO READ | No Reference To Trade In Talks Between India, US Leaders During Indo-Pak Conflict: Report

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: May 13, 2025, 11:09 IST
LeT Operatives, Linked To Several Kashmir Attacks: Who Were The 3 Terrorists Killed In Shopian?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:27 IST

The three terrorists killed in the Shopian encounter today were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and were involved in multiple high-profile attacks, including on German tourists.

A security personnel keeps vigil during a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir (Photo: PTI)

Amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian killed three terrorists on Tuesday.

The three were gunned down after a cordon and a search operation was launched in the area after specific input about the presence of terrorists was received.

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The three terrorists killed in the Shopian encounter today were identified as Shahid Kuttay, Adnan Shafi Dar, and Haris Nazir.

SHAHID KUTTAY

Shahid Kuttay was identified as the son of Mohammad Yousuf Kuttay, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in the Shopian district.

According to the details, Kuttay joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba on March 8, 2023, and had been involved in a firing incident at Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists were injured.

Kuttay was involved in the killing of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sarpanch at Heerpora, Shopian on May 18, 2024.

He is suspected of being involved in the killing of TA Personnel at Behibagh, Kulgam on February 3, 2025.

ADNAN SHAFI DAR

Adnan Shafi Dar, was identified as the son of Mohammad Shafi Dar, a resident of Wanduna Melhora, Shopian.

He had joined the LeT on October 18, 2024.

Dar had been involved in the killing of a non-local labourer in Shopians Wachi on October 18, 2024.

HARIS NAZIR

Haris Nazir was identified as one from Pulwama. He was also involved in the attack on German tourists in April 2024.

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The encounter comes days after India struck terror targets in Pakistan under its Operation Sindoor on May 7, and neutralised five most wanted terrorists of these organisations, including the mastermind of IC-814 hijacking in 1999.

The funerals of these terrorists were attended by senior Pakistan Army officers and police personnel, besides wreaths were placed on behalf of the chief minister of Pakistans Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz, providing an open testimony of the Pakistan States collusion with terrorist organisations.

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: May 13, 2025, 15:27 IST
Pakistan-Based Hackers Launched 15 Lakh Cyber Attacks On Indian Websites Amid Tensions

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 10:30 IST

Suspected drones were observed along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu region on Monday, while armed forces downed a "surveillance drone" in Punjab's Jalandhar.

The report has been submitted to all key law enforcement agencies, including the Director General of Police and the State Intelligence Department. (Image.Representative)

Maharashtra Cyber has identified seven Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups responsible for launching over 15 lakh cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure websites across India following the Pahalgam terror strike.

Of these, only 150 attacks were successful, officials said on Monday.

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Even after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop military hostilities, Indian government websites are facing a barrage of cyber attacks from the neighbouring country as well as from Bangladesh and the Middle Eastern region, they said.

Addressing reporters, a senior official of Maharashtra Cyber debunked claims of hackers stealing data from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, hacking aviation and municipal systems, and targeting the Election Commission website.

The probe discovered that cyber attacks on (government websites in) India decreased after India-Pakistan ceased hostilities, but not fully stopped. These attacks continue from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Morocco, and Middle Eastern countries," he said.

In a report titled Road of Sindoor", prepared under the military operation launched by the Indian armed forces under the same name against terrorists, the states nodal cyber agency has detailed the cyber warfare launched by Pakistan-allied hacking groups.

The report has been submitted to all key law enforcement agencies, including the Director General of Police and the State Intelligence Department.

According to the report, these cyber attacks originated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Middle East, and an Indonesian group, said Yashasvi Yadav, Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber.

The methods used included malware campaigns, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, and GPS spoofing. The defacement of Indian websites was also reported.

He said many such attacks were thwarted, and critical infrastructure of India was saved.

Road of Sindoor" is a follow-up to Maharashtra Cybers earlier report, Echoes of Pahalgam", which documented cyber attacks following the Pahalgam terror incident.

The seven hacking groups identified in the report are APT 36 (Pakistan-based), Pakistan Cyber Force, Team Insane PK, Mysterious Bangladesh, Indo Hacks Sec, Cyber Group HOAX 1337, and National Cyber Crew (Pakistan-allied).

These groups collectively launched approximately 1.5 million targeted cyber attacks on Indian infrastructure, Yadav said.

Among the 150 successful attacks, the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Council website was defaced.

The attackers also claimed to have stolen data from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), as well as from telecom companies, with some of the data allegedly appearing on the darknet.

Additionally, the website of the Defence Nursing College in Jalandhar was defaced.

The report also highlights a hybrid warfare strategy by Pakistan-allied groups that includes widespread misinformation campaigns. These groups falsely claimed to have hacked Indias banking system and caused power outages.

Maharashtra Cyber identified and removed over 5,000 instances of misinformation and fake news related to India-Pakistan military conflicts that were circulating on social media.

Of 80 specific misinformation cases flagged for take-down, 35 have been removed, with the remaining 45 pending action.

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These false narratives included claims of cyber attacks on Indias power grid, statewide blackouts, satellite jamming, disruption of the Northern Command, and an alleged attack on a BrahMos missile storage facility, Yadav said.

He said Maharashtra Cyber has urged citizens not to believe in or spread misinformation and to verify news through trusted and official sources.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 08:16 IST
Trump Quickly Wanted To Take Credit: Fareed Zakaria Speaks With CNN-News18 On India-Pakistan Situation

Curated By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 22:59 IST

Pakistans military lives for this kind of tension, as this gives it budget and status, said the Indian-American journalist

Trump treated both India and Pakistan as equals, said Zakaria. Representational image

The latest military conflict with Pakistan triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack displays an evolution of Indian policy, journalist and geostrategist Fareed Zakaria told CNN-News18 on Tuesday.

India is used to doing things close to the LoC, but it has gone beyond," he said. The real challenge is, will it deter Pakistan?"

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Pakistans military lives for this kind of tension, as this gives it budget and status, said the Indian-American journalist. India should make the Pakistan military pay the costs of the conflict, he added.

Speaking about US President Donald Trump inserting himself into the situation, Zakaria said, It is difficult to tell what exactly happenedbut it is clear that Trump quickly wanted to take credit (for the ceasefire) and did what he often doesbefore thinking and consulting his officialsAnd that is why his tweet and language used were taken badly in India."

Trump treated both India and Pakistan as equals, said Zakaria. What India worked hard for 20 years was undone in one tweetUnfortunately, it is how Trump operateshe did the same with tariffs," he added.

The Indian government should convey to Washington the problems it had with Trumps approach, Zakaria said. As PM Modi suggested, the meeting that Trump tweeted about was not true," he added. I dont know why the Indian government is so hesitant."

India was attacked and still had to be restrained, said Zakaria. You can push hard, but these groups want this," he said. India has the most to loseIndia is growing whereas jihadi groups need conflict. It is strategically wise to do what India did. Conflict with India helps General Asim Munir to build public support around him."

Pakistan is a failed state being run by the army, Zakaria said.

These kinds of military ops provide you with a boost of support and unify the country," he said. The challenge for India is to do a careful analysisWas it really successful? Where were the shortcomings, and what can it do better, and then think about what to do with Pakistan."

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Preparedness is important at the border, but there should be a way to reform Pakistan, he argued.

Imran Khan became popular because he was taking on the military," said Zakaria.

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: May 13, 2025, 22:59 IST
UP Man Who Died By Suicide Proven Innocent After 'Kidnap Victim' Found With Her Lover

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 13:34 IST

The case originated in the Aurangabad police station area, where a BA student went missing on May 2 under mysterious circumstances.

The case took a grim turn after Arjuns body was discovered hanging from a tree. (Representational image/File)

What began as a suspected case of abduction in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr has now spiraled into a tale of wrongful blame, a tragic death, and a police investigation under scrutiny. In a disturbing twist, a young man initially named as the prime accused in the disappearance of a college student has been declared innocent  but only after his death.

The case originated in the Aurangabad police station area, where a BA student went missing on May 2 under mysterious circumstances. Her disappearance triggered panic in the village, with the girls family pointing fingers at 22-year-old Arjun, a local youth, accusing him of luring her away. Based on the familys complaint, the police registered a named FIR against him.

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But five days later, on May 7, the case took a grim turn when Arjuns body was discovered hanging from a tree near the village. Police were quick to term it a suicide, but Arjuns father, devastated by the loss, publicly challenged that narrative.

My son was innocent," he said in an emotional plea, adding that he had not run away with the girl. He was falsely accused, humiliated, and now he is dead. This is not suicide; this is murder made to look like suicide," he further said.

Even as the family demanded a probe into Arjuns death, the investigation into the missing student quietly continued. Days later, police traced the girl to Ginaura village  also in the Aurangabad area  where she was found living with another young man, identified as Mohit.

In her statement to the police, the student revealed that she had not been kidnapped. Instead, she claimed she had eloped with Mohit, whom she had married in a temple. She maintained that she had left home of her own free will and had no contact with Arjun at any point during the episode.

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The police, now faced with mounting questions over their initial handling of the case, confirmed that Arjun had no role in the girls disappearance. It has become clear during the investigation that Arjun was wrongly implicated," said an official involved in the case.

The revelation has shaken the local community, and raised serious concerns about the hasty assumptions that may have led to an innocent mans death. Calls for a judicial enquiry into both Arjuns death and the initial police handling of the case are growing louder.

Location : Uttar Pradesh, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 13:34 IST
What If A Supersonic Missile Hits A Nuclear Weapons Storage Facility? | Explained

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:30 IST

Nuclear storage facilities worldwide are constructed deep underground with multiple layers of protection to endure high-impact attacks and ensure the safety of nuclear weapons

News18 explores the hypothetical impact of a supersonic cruise missile striking a nuclear weapon storage facility. (AI Generated)

In a scenario that remains purely hypothetical but has sparked considerable curiosity amid the India-Pakistan conflict, questions arise about the potential impact of a supersonic cruise missile striking a nuclear weapon storage facility. While no such incident has ever occurred, News18 explores whether such an attack could trigger a nuclear explosion, cause the release of radioactive material or lead to other catastrophic consequences.

How Are Nuclear Weapons Stored?

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Nuclear weapons are stored in highly secure, hardened underground bunkers or Special Weapons Storage Areas (SWSA). These facilities feature thick walls, often four to five meters thick, and blast-proof doors. They are built deep underground with multiple layers of security. Key security measures include:

Physical Barriers: High-voltage barbed wire, razor wire, and security rings around the site.

Surveillance And Sensors: Motion sensors, CCTV cameras, and advanced monitoring systems.

Reinforced Storage: Each nuclear weapon is stored in a reinforced, steel-lined vault.

Continuous Power And Access Control: A constant power supply is maintained, and entry is strictly controlled through electronic access systems.

Where Does Pakistan Store Its Nuclear Weapons?

Publicly available information on the location of Pakistans nuclear weapons is largely based on expert analysis and reports published in the media. According to these sources, Pakistan is believed to store its nuclear arsenal at four key locations:

Masroor Airbase (near Karachi): Home to Mirage III and V squadrons, this base is suspected to have underground storage facilities in its vicinity.

Sargodha Garrison: Considered a major site for missile and weapon storage, it is also believed to support F-16 aircraft capable of delivering nuclear payloads.

Bholari Airbase (Sindh): A relatively new airbase where unusually high security measures have been observed, suggesting it may serve as a nuclear storage site.

Underground Facility in Balochistan: An underground complex in this region has been identified as a possible storage site for missiles and nuclear weapons.

Its worth noting that like other nuclear-armed nations, Pakistan is believed to disperse its nuclear assets across multiple locations. This strategy enhances security and enables a rapid response in case of a potential threat.

What Is A Supersonic Cruise Missile?

Indias BrahMos is one of the worlds most effective supersonic cruise missiles, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0, which is nearly three times the speed of sound. (1 Mach equals approximately 1,234.8 km/h.) It can carry a high-explosive warhead weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms and strike targets at ranges between 300 and 800 kilometres. Upon impact, the missile causes massive destruction, due to its explosive payload and the immense kinetic energy generated by its high speed.

What Happens If A Missile Strikes A Nuclear Weapons Storage Facility?

Nuclear weapons are typically stored in highly secure facilities known as Hardened Underground Bunkers or Special Weapons Storage Areas (SWSA). Even if a high-explosive missile were to strike such a site, it would not trigger a nuclear explosion. This is because nuclear bombs cannot be detonated by a conventional explosion alone.

Their activation requires a precise sequence of electronic commands and secure detonation codes. Multiple layers of safety interlocks are in place to prevent accidental or unauthorized detonation. As a result, even in the event of a direct missile hit, the most likely outcomes would be structural damage and a potential radioactive leak, not a nuclear blast.

What If Radioactive Material Is Released?

If a missile strike is forceful enough to breach the protective casing of a nuclear weapon and release its radioactive material, the impact could resemble that of a dirty bomb. In such a scenario, the surrounding area would become contaminated with radioactive particles, posing serious long-term health risks to humans and causing environmental damage. Immediate evacuation of the area would be necessary.

What If The Enemy Uses Bunker Busters Or Thermobaric Weapons?

If a nuclear storage site is targeted with a high-penetration bunker buster or a thermobaric weapondesigned to explode deep underground it could cause significant structural damage and increase the risk of radioactive leakage and contamination.

However, even in such a case, a nuclear explosion would not occur. This is precisely why storage facilities around the world are built at great depths and with multiple layers of protection to withstand such high-impact attacks.

What Does The Nuclear Command Do?

The nuclear command is the institutional framework responsible for overseeing the deployment, control, operation, and use of a countrys nuclear weapons. Its primary function is to manage and ensure the security of nuclear assets, as well as to decide when, where, and how they may be used in times of crisis.

Control Of Nuclear Assets: It manages all nuclear weapons, including their associated delivery systems such as missiles, bombers, and submarines.

Security And Storage: Ensures nuclear weapons are stored in secure locations, maintaining their safety and readiness for deployment during a threat.

Launch Authorisation: The command is responsible for issuing orders to launch or withhold a nuclear strike during wartime or in an emergency situation.

Rapid Response: It maintains a system to quickly respond to an enemy attack or nuclear threat, ensuring swift action when required.

Have There Been Any Accidents Involving Nuclear Weapon Storage?

Yes, there have been two notable incidents:

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Soviet Union (1986): In Severomorsk, a fire broke out in a nuclear missile storage facility, accidentally destroying 16 missiles that were carrying nuclear warheads. While no nuclear explosion occurred, the fire caused significant damage to the facility and resulted in radioactive leakage.

United States (2007): Six nuclear warheads were mistakenly loaded onto a B-52 bomber at Minot Air Force Base without proper clearance. The bomber then flew 1,500 kilometres to another airbase, carrying the warheads without anyone being aware of the mistake for several hours.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 11:30 IST
'Your Valour Ensured Op Sindoors Success': PM Modi Salutes Indian Armed Forces

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:12 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday saluted the Indian Armed Forces and credited them for the success of Operation Sindoor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Adampur air base | Image/X

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the Adampur airbase in Punjab on Tuesday, saluted the Indian Armed Forces and credited them for the success of Operation Sindoor, during which the military targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. The PM lauded the Indian Air Force for pairing technology with tactics, stating they are armed with state-of-the-art technology".

I have come here for the darshan of brave warriors Whenever Indias strength will be discussed, your names will come up. You are the inspiration for the new generation," said the PM.

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Every Indian stood with you, prayed for you. Every Indian is indebted to you. Operation Sindoor is not an ordinary mission. It is a convergence of Indias policy, power and intent."

Modi said, You attacked them from the front. Nine terror hubs were destroyed. More than 100 terrorists were killed. Now they know the only result of looking at India means destruction. Hum ghar mein ghus kar maarenge aur badle ka ek mauka tak nahi denge."

They are terrified thinking of our drones and missiles. They gave sleepless nights to Pakistan. You have given India strength with Operation Sindoor. You have taken Indias respect to new level."

Our air force took just 20-25 minutes to attack deep inside Pakistan with pin-pointed accuracy. Your speed left the enemy stunned. We hit the terror headquarters and terrorists, but Pakistan conspired by using their civilian planes as a shield. You carried out the strikes without harming civilian aircraft, that was commendable. Pakistans evil intentions and misadventures  both saw a defeat."

They tried to target this airbase and other airbases but all attempts were foiled. Pak drones, aircraft, missiles  all failed in front of our defence systems," said PM Modi, adding, The IAF attacked as well as defended."

Sharing some more glimpses from my visit to AFS Adampur. pic.twitter.com/G9NmoAZvTR Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

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PM Modi Modi sent out a big message by visiting the Adampur Airbase in Punjab  the forward airbase Pakistan attempted to target using a missile on the night of May 9. The Pakistani missile was shot down in the air itself by Indias air defence system, but this dangerous escalation by Pakistan towards the Adampur airbase was the trigger for India to launch missile attacks at the nearly dozen Pakistani airbases, including the ones in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and caused heavy damage there. Pakistan had claimed it had caused damage to the Adampur airbase of India, but the Prime Ministers visit on Tuesday debunked those claims.

PM Modi had saluted the forces during his first address after the Operation Sindoor on Monday.

Location : Punjab, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:43 IST
Ahead Of The Opening Ceremony, Payal Kapadia Makes First Appearance In A Handwoven Silk Ensemble

Written By :

News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 19:50 IST

Festival de Cannes jury member Payal Kapadia attends the jury photocall in Payal Khandwalas jewel-toned asymmetrical skirt paired with a relaxed-fit shirt.

Exclusive: Jury member Payal Kapadia at the 78th Festival de Cannes.

Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia, whose film All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix Award at the 77th Festival de Cannes in 2024, is back at the 78th Festival de Cannes as a jury member.

Making a statement in homegrown label Payal Khandwala, Payal Kapadia adorned an ensemble from the Indian designers brand for the Jury photocall on May 13, 2025. Styled by costume designer and fashion stylist Indrakshi Pattanaik, Payals ensemble featured a jewel-toned asymmetrical red skirt crafted from lustrous dupion silk. Crafted from a single, continuous piece of fabric, with only two seams  one at the waistband and one side seam, this draped silhouette was minimal yet comfortable.

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She paired the contemporary silhouette with a minimal, relaxed-fit shirt featuring a subtly exaggerated collar. The radiant sheen of the fabric reflected the colour red exceptionally well. The red and blue colours of her outfit felt like a homage to the colour theory of her film All We Imagine As Light, where the shades dominated the scenes in the feature film in all its glory. Coincidentally, the colours red and blue also feature in Frances national flag. A happy, stylish coincidence indeed!

Payal, further, added some sparkle to her look with a silver statement jewellery piece from Tribe Amrapali.

Payal Kapadia is known for her sustainable fashion choices and prepares reusing outfits that already exist instead of customising looks for public appearances. The filmmaker is a force to reckon with when it comes to celebrating Indian craftsmanship on a global platform.

Payal was joined by French actress Juliette Binoche, American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leila Slimani, as well as Congolese director, documentarist and producer Dieudo Hamadi, Korean director and screenwriter Hong Sangsoo, Mexican director, screenwriter and producer Carlos Reygadas and American actor Jeremy Strong. The Jury will have the honour of awarding the Palme dOr to one of the 21 films in competition, and the winners will be announced on May 24, 2025.

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This year, Indian celebrities including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor, Ishan Khatter, Nitanshi Goel, Shalini Passi, Simi Grewal, Sharmila Tagore, Neeraj Ghaywan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Urvashi Rautela, and Vishal Jethwa are expected to grace the 78th Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

The 78th Festival de Cannes will be held from 13th to 24th May, 2025, in Cannes.

About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... 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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:04 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Azerbaijan is successfully using the opportunities of public diplomacy to further strengthen its image and influence in the international arena, Trend reports.

An important component of this process is the creation of centers that bring together our compatriots living abroad.

On May 8, 2025, the Azerbaijan House opened in Lebanon.

Khaled Ismail, head of the Azerbaijan House in Lebanon, provided detailed information about the activities of the Turkmen community and the reasons that made it necessary to open a house there.

"Opening of the Azerbaijan House is a great opportunity for studying Azerbaijan's history, literature, and heritage. We are grateful to the state of Azerbaijan for providing us with this opportunity," he said.

Vagif Seyidbayov, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, described the Azerbaijan House's opening as an important development in fostering Azerbaijan-Lebanon ties and a meaningful initiative for the Turkmen community residing in Lebanon.

Seyidbayov said that 30 Azerbaijan Houses have been opened across 19 countries worldwide so far.

"Opening of these houses is the clearest example of the care and attention of President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani state toward our compatriots living abroad. I believe that the Turkmens living here will make valuable contributions to strengthening relations between our two nations through the Azerbaijan House in Lebanon," the deputy chairman noted.

Up to 3,000 Turkmen live in the village of Kouachrah in the Akkar region of Lebanon. In 2023, an essay competition dedicated to Azerbaijani-Lebanese relations was held for the first time among students of the Kouachra rural high school. With the support of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora, the three winners of the competition were invited to Azerbaijan on September 18-21, 2023. The students were accompanied by the school principal and teacher on the trip, which was beneficial for the winners in many ways.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, the director of the Kouachrah Lyceum, Khaled Ismayil, who met with the Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, expressed his great interest in opening the Azerbaijan House in the village, studying Azerbaijani history, literature and culture there, as well as teaching the Azerbaijani language. The State Committee on Work with Diaspora has been in constant contact with the Turkmen living in the village of Kouachra since this project.

Two teachers will work at the Azerbaijan House. After that, it is planned to hold Azerbaijani language and history lessons two days a week. These lessons, in addition to developing the speaking skills of the younger generation in the Azerbaijani language, are also of great importance in terms of transmitting national and spiritual values, introducing our history and culture. This will also contribute to strengthening the ties of our compatriots living abroad with their homeland.

The opening of the Azerbaijan House can be considered an important stage in the diaspora policy of our country. This initiative, which is supported and organized by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, not only serves to preserve the cultural identity of the Azerbaijani community, but also is an important step towards further promoting our country in the world.

This initiative is also a clear indicator of the value that the Azerbaijani state places on its compatriots abroad. The creation of the Azerbaijan House in Lebanon and the implementation of educational and cultural activities there are not only a step serving the state interests of Azerbaijan, but also an important social platform that strengthens national solidarity.

The Azerbaijan House is not only a cultural and educational center, but also an important platform that serves to strengthen the public diplomacy strategy of our country. This initiative, as an example of the purposeful activity of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, increases the soft power potential of Azerbaijan abroad and contributes to the wider promotion of our country in the international community. Through Azerbaijani language and history lessons, cultural events, exhibitions, literary and artistic meetings, and various thematic seminars, the local community will increase its interest in Azerbaijan, and an atmosphere of mutual understanding and friendship will be formed. Thus, the Azerbaijan House will become an important communication tool that will both fill information gaps and prevent provocations against Azerbaijan.

The State Committee on Work with Diaspora acts as one of the leading subjects of public diplomacy. It creates new channels to convey the voice of Azerbaijan to the world through Azerbaijani houses abroad, diaspora organizations, and educational projects. The Azerbaijan House in Lebanon is a successful part of this strategy - here, national and cultural values are both protected, and a positive image of Azerbaijan is formed. As a result, this initiative is of great importance not only for Azerbaijanis in Lebanon but also in terms of building social and cultural bridges between Azerbaijan and Lebanon. This is where the power of public diplomacy lies: it creates bridges between people and brings people closer to each other.
Halle Berry To Bella Hadid: Who Did And Who Didnt Follow The Cannes Red Carpet Dresscode?

Written By :

News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya



Last Updated: May 14, 2025, 00:27 IST

From Halle Berry ditching Gaurav Gupta Couture to Bella Hadids side boob dress, heres what went down on the 78th Festival de Cannes red carpet.

The opening ceremony of the 78th Festival de Cannes was held on May 13, 2025.

No Voluminous Outfits, No Nudity and No Big Trains were part of the dress code guidelines but did the celebrities attending the opening ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival follow it?

On May 13, the iconic Cannes 2025 red carpet unfurled, and celebrities, including Halle Berry, who is also a jury member, Bella Hadid, Eva Longoria, Irina Shayk, Heidi Klum, Urvashi Rautela, and Julia Garner, attended the opening ceremony in stylish ensembles.

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Halle Berry, who was supposed to wear a Gaurav Gupta couture ensemble, chose to ditch the outfit because it had an elaborate train, and she instead opted for a black and white striped floor-length dress.

While Halle chose to stick to the dress code rules, some of the celebrities either chose to turn a blind eye or just werent aware of the new red carpet guidelines. Heres a look at who got the memo and who chose to ignore it.

Halle Berry

During the jury press conference, Halle Berry expressed that she chose not to wear her amazing Gaurav Gupta dress. Halle shared that she couldnt wear it because the train was too big and she wanted to follow the new rules. She said that she had to pivot and opt for a simple yet chic black and white vertical striped dress. While we would have loved to see Halle adorn the Gaurav Gupta look on the red carpet, we hope she includes it in one of her looks during the Cannes Film Festival.

Bella Hadid

Looks like no rules can stop supermodel Bella Hadid from wearing what she wants. Bella, who is known for her unconventional and bold red carpet looks, has in the past adorned sheer and risque ensembles. This time too, Bella opted for a sleek YSL black dress with a low back side boob maxi dress. The thigh high slit and bold silhouette was a definite head turner on the Cannes red carpet.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria made a dazzling statement on the red carpet at the 78th Festival de Cannes. Dressed in an exquisite Tamara Ralph Couture gown from the Spring-Summer 2025 collection, the silhouette featured a rose gold bugle beaded gown contrasted with a black velvet corset and exaggerated bow.

Urvashi Rautela

Urvashi knows how to grab attention on the red carpet, and the avant-garde Michael Cinco voluminous gown and the Judith Leiber parrot clutch did just that. While we are not a fan of this look, Urvashi made sure she had everyone talking about this rule-breaking style.

Heidi Klum

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Heidi Klum attended the opening ceremony looking like a bouquet. The supermodel made a stunning appearance in an Elia Saab ruffle gown with a train. The look was dramatic and didnt match the new dress code guidelines. However, Heidi looked stunning in the couture piece, which was from the 1001 seasons of Elie Saabs show in Riyadh.

About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... 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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 14, 2025, 00:27 IST
Hop to It: Beer Cocktails That Deserve a Spot at Your Next House Party

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:05 IST

If you've never had a beer cocktail, you're missing the most refreshing cocktail spin.

From citrus mixes to spicy stouts, these simple beers are house party staples waiting to take center stage.

World Cocktail Day is the ideal reason to shake things upand no, we dont mean the typical mixers. If youve never had a beer cocktail, youre missing the most refreshing cocktail spin. From citrus mixes to spicy stouts, these simple beers are house party staples waiting to take center stage.

Medusa

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Radler is a refreshing, low-alcohol beer cocktail that is great for consuming during warm weather and easy sipping. To enjoy this German drink, combine 150 ml of cold Medusa Air (Medusas mild beer variant with 4.5% ABV brewed using 2-row barley malt) with 150 ml of grapefruit or lemon soda. Add soda into a tall glass, then slowly top it up with Medusa Air to preserve the fizz. Stir gently if necessary and garnish the drink with lemon for a citrusy touch. The smooth, balanced flavor of Medusa Air, along with its slight bitterness, complements the tang of the soda, making it a perfect option for this classic German-style cocktail. The drink is refreshing and crisp, still has the essence of beer and citrusy brightness, making it ideal for afternoons and informal gatherings.

Proost

Its a hot day, the friends are over, and youre in the mood to experiment. You fill a glass with some orange juice, add a splash of lime, a dash of honey for sweetness, and a pinch of black salt for that desi flavor. Stir it well, then slowly add chilled Proost Premium Beer (6.8% ABV). See the golden fizz rise, its like a sunset in a glass. One sip, and its fresh, smooth, and just enough kick. No special tools, no great effort. Just good vibes and a great drink. Cheers to simple evenings!

Lone Wolf

At Lone Wolf, we believe bold beers deserve equally bold companions, and our beer cocktails are anything but average. These inventive brews bring the bite, the buzz, and the unmistakable character of Lone Wolf into every sip. Meet the Lone Michelada, a fearless twist on the classic, crafted with the tropical sweetness of 30 ml mango juice, the sharp zest of 15 ml lime juice, a fiery kick from 3 dashes of Tabasco, and a dusting of crushed pepper, all brought together with a refreshing top-up of Lone Wolf WILD. For those who prefer a fruit-forward adventure, the Alpha Berry Mimosa is your juicy detour from the usual, blending 10 ml strawberry syrup, 30 ml orange juice, and 10 ml lime juice, finished with a lively pour of Lone Wolf ALPHA beer for a bright, effervescent experience. And if you like your sips bold and blazing, the Lone Blaze is here to deliver: a vivid, bittersweet blend of 30 ml Aperol and 30 ml lemon juice, topped generously with MAVRICK beer, served over ice, and garnished with a lemon twist and cherries. Each cocktail is a new way to unleash your wild side  one Lone Wolf brew at a time.

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Simba

A bold, indulgent cocktail blending craft beer and coffee, perfect for evening sipping or dessert pairings. It combines the roasted notes of Simba Stout (chocolate, coffee, caramel) with the smooth bitterness of cold brew coffee. To make it: pour 150 ml Simba Stout into a chilled glass, add 100 ml unsweetened cold brew, a dash of vanilla or coffee liqueur, stir gently, and serve over a large ice cube. Garnish with roasted coffee beans or an orange peel. A velvety, layered drink, creamy, bold, and ideal for post-dinner unwinding.

About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... 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: May 13, 2025, 16:05 IST
How The Portuguese Brought Macaroons To Thoothukudi

Curated By :

Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 09:20 IST

Although this delicacy was introduced to Thoothukudi by Portuguese sailors, there is a special reason why Thoothukudi remains famous for its macaroons

Though the ingredients required for macaroons are minimal, the preparation process is far from simple. (Local18)

Every town has its own unique identity and history. Thoothukudi, a port city in Tamil Nadu, is renowned for its macaroons. Although this delicacy was introduced to Thoothukudi by Portuguese sailors and is now made in many places, there is a special reason why Thoothukudi remains famous for its macaroons.

Traditionally, macaroons are made using eggs, sugar, and almonds. However, at the time, importing almonds and using them in recipes was no easy task. As a result, cashew nuts, grown abundantly in the Therikad area near Thoothukudi, were used as a substitute.

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That is why cashew nuts are still traditionally used in Thoothukudi macaroons today. In the nearby Kayalpattinam area, bakers now prepare macaroons not only with various nuts but also following the traditional almond-based recipes from earlier times. Though the ingredients required for macaroons are minimal, the preparation process is far from simple.

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Regarding the origin of these macaroons, a trader from Kayalpattinam said: Thoothukudi macaroons are originally a Portuguese dessert, typically served after meals. When two traders travelled to India by sea, they introduced macaroons in Thoothukudi for the first time. Their original recipe used almonds, but since almonds had to be imported, macaroons became expensive. To make them more affordable, local bakers began using cashew nuts, which were plentiful in the Therikad region. Thats how Thoothukudi macaroons came into being. Macaroons made in other places today often follow the same recipe used in Thoothukudi."

Speaking about their family-run bakery, he added, We are now running this business as the third generation. During our fathers and grandfathers time, macaroons were sold in larger sizes. Over time, we developed the baby macaroon, so people could enjoy them in just one bite. Today, we also make various types of macaroons using the original recipealmond, pistachio, hazelnut, walnut, and 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!

Location : Thoothukkudi (Thoothukudi), India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 09:20 IST
India-Pak Tensions Are Viral, So Is the Anxiety: How Its Affecting Gen Z, A Generation Thats Never Seen War

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 08:57 IST

War may not be at their doorstep, but for an entire generation raised in peacetime, its psychological shock has arrived uninvited, through screens, headlines, and silence.

Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor. (Image: News18/File)

Over the past week, the airwaves and timelines have been thick with talk of war  not in history books or distant archives, but in real-time, 247 updates. Missiles, borders, strategy, retaliation: vocabulary once confined to geopolitics classes now bleeds into Instagram stories, YouTube breakdowns, and dinner table conversations. For adults, this may feel like deja vu. But for an entire generation born after 2000  many still in their teens or early twenties  this is the first visceral exposure to the possibility of large-scale conflict. And its leaving an invisible imprint.

The last war on Indian soil that played out in real public memory was Kargil in 1999. Todays teenagers were not even born then. For them, the idea of war has largely existed in curated forms  as plotlines in web series or as sanitized chapters in textbooks. The immediacy and emotional weight of national conflict  especially when experienced through a digital deluge  is unprecedented for this demographic. And like all firsts, this too is being absorbed deeply, and often silently.

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The constant exposure to fear-inducing content activates a chronic stress response, especially in children and adolescents whose coping mechanisms are still developing," says Dr. Rachna Sinha, a Mumbai-based child and adolescent therapist. Unlike older generations who grew up with a more analog relationship with the news, this generation is absorbing everything  visuals, reactions, conspiracies  all at once, without filters."

For a teenager scrolling endlessly, the blurred line between content and reality means the war isnt just happening somewhere else  it feels like its happening to them. The algorithm doesnt differentiate between an air raid and a meme. Each notification is a potential new threat. Each doomscroll is a rabbit hole of emotional overload.

This constant state of anticipatory anxiety  a term psychologists use to describe the stress of waiting for something bad to happen  is becoming alarmingly common. Its not just about fear, but also confusion, guilt, and moral helplessness. Many feel theyre supposed to have an opinion, a stance, even though they barely understand the geopolitics of it. And those who dont react or repost are often guilt-tripped by peers into taking sides.

Young minds are at a vulnerable juncture where identity and empathy are still evolving," explains Delhi-based psychotherapist Karan Mehta. They might internalize the narrative of war through an emotional lens  its no longer just news, it becomes part of their lived experience, shaping their worldview and sense of security."

This silent impact is showing up in unexpected ways: disrupted sleep, irritability, withdrawal from conversations, or hyperfixation on online updates. Some schools have reported dips in classroom focus, while counsellors are witnessing an uptick in sessions involving discussions around fear, dread, and confusion.

The psychological toll of war doesnt require proximity to the battlefield. In an age where war is livestreamed, its emotional residue flows across borders  straight into bedrooms, onto phones, into fragile teenage psyches. And while we discuss military responses, territorial strategies, and political implications, we must also start talking about emotional reparations  especially for the young.

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Because this generation, born in an era of globalisation, urban conveniences, and mostly peacetime, is now confronting something elemental: the instability of the world. The grown-up realisation that peace is not a given. And for some, that awareness may come with a quiet scar.

If the world is to teach its youth about conflict, it must also teach them how to process it  with empathy, context, and care. Because every war has a frontline. And every frontline leaves a legacy.

About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... 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: May 13, 2025, 08:58 IST
Nikita Dutta Serves Draped And Pleated Perfection In A Light Gold Maxi Dress

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 12:31 IST

Nikita Dutta took to her social media to share pictures of her OOTD from a fashion gala that she had attended last month. The actor opted for a light gold maxi dress.

Nikita Dutta was styled by Sheefa Gilani.

Nikita Dutta is currently basking in the success of her latest movie, Jewel Thief. She shared the screen with Jaideep Ahlawat and Saif Ali Khan in this action thriller. As she prepares for her upcoming projects, the actor constantly takes to her social media to share images of her trendy looks. She took to her Instagram to share pictures of her look from a fashion event recently.

Taking to her Instagram, Nikita Dutta shared a series of pictures of herself from her appearance at The Word Magazines fashion gala in Mumbai last month. Dressed in a light brown maxi dress, the actors outfit was all about draped elegance and smart cutout details. Her statement look turned heads and also left her fans in awe. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, Mood board on this day, a month ago."

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Take a closer look at Nikitas OOTD here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nikita Dutta (@nikifying)

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For her appearance at the fashion gala, Nikita opted for a draped and pleated cut-out maxi dress by Mannatt Gupta. The light gold dress came with a strapless neckline. The bodice of the dress was pleated to perfection, and it mimicked the folds of a mushroom. From the bodice onwards, the dress graduated into a cutout detail at the waist. The skirt featured a fantastic draped silhouette. The maxi dress came with a statement trail that made it a perfect pick for the red carpet.

For the accessories, Nikita opted for a set of gold rings adorning her fingers and gold bracelets on her wrists. She slipped into a pair of black knee-high boots. For the glam, she went with a flawless base. She added a hint of blush and highlighter to her cheeks for that lovely sheen. She accentuated her eyes with a shimmery gold shade on her eyelids. She further defined her eyes with mascara, eyeliner, and pearl details. She added a bold red shade to her lips. She completed her look by styling her hair in loose waves.

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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 12:31 IST
Why Bahraich's Gandhi Bhawan Is Made Of Urad Dal And Animal Bones, Not Cement

Curated By :

Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:30 IST

Gandhi Bhawan in Bahraich was built in 1948. Instead of cement, it was constructed using a mixture of animal bones, urad dal, and several other materials

This building is not just special because of its architecture; it is also a significant historical site. (Local18)

A building in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, holds many secrets within its walls. Gandhi Bhawan, built in 1948, has long been a significant landmark in the city. Experts claim that beneath the structure lies a secret cellar, once used for unknown purposes, but its entrance has been sealed off for years.

Speculation is growing that preparations are being made to open this cellar in the future, which could potentially unveil many hidden secrets from the past.

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Interestingly, the construction of the Gandhi Bhawan is as unique as its history. Instead of cement, an ancient binding technique was employed using a mixture of urad dal and animal bones. The buildings bricks were sourced from the brick kiln of former Charda MLA Hamidullah Khan, adding another layer of historical intrigue to this iconic structure.

Buildings Without Cement?

In earlier times, various natural materials were used to bind stones in construction, such as lime, animal bones, urad dal paste, gum, clay, and other substances. These materials were mixed together to create a special kind of masala" that grew stronger with time. Many buildings constructed using this masala still stand proudly in various parts of Uttar Pradesh.

A Heritage Of The District

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This building is not just special because of its architecture; it is also a significant historical site. It served as a place where freedom fighters raised their voices for Indias independence. Located in Steel Ganj Talab Mohalla Mewati Pure, the building was once surrounded by open space, with no shops or houses nearby. Today, it is encircled by shops and residential areas. As a Congress Bhawan, it remains a hub for Congress leaders, who hold meetings there regularly.

Currently, the Congress Bhawan is managed under the supervision of Bahraich Congress District President Shivendra Pratap Singh.

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!

Location : Bahraich, India, India

First Published: May 13, 2025, 16:30 IST
Aamir Khan Thanks PM Modi's 'Leadership And Resolve' Amid India-Pakistan Tension

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 08:16 IST

Previously too, Aamir Khan addressed the tragic Pahalgam attack during an event and asked the Indian government to get "justice".

Aamir Khan also salutes heroes of Operation Sindoor and Indian armed forces.

Aamir Khan has appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his address to the nation on Monday, May 12. The official page of the actors production house, Aamir Khan Productions, shared a note on social media with which he not only expressed gratitude to the Indian armed forces but also thanked PM Modi for his leadership.

Saluting the heroes of Operation Sindoor. Heartfelt gratitude to our armed forces for their courage, bravery and unwavering commitment to the security of our nation. Thank you to the Honble Prime Minister for his leadership and resolve. Jai Hind," the note read. The post was captioned with a folded hands emoji. Check it out here:

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aamir Khan Productions (@aamirkhanproductions)

Aamir Khans statement comes at a time when India and Pakistan have agreed to maintain a ceasefire. For the unversed, India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people, including 25 Indians and a Nepali citizen. The operation targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to dismantle terror networks. In response, Pakistan launched a barrage of artillery fire, drone, and missile attacks on multiple locations in India. They even violated the ceasefire.

Previously too, Aamir Khan addressed the tragic Pahalgam attack during an ABP event when he said, We need justice and assurance that it [terrorist attacks] wont happen again. We believe in our government, theyll take action against the anti-social elements who committed this and bring them to justice."

Meanwhile, Aamir Khan had also announced the postponement of the trailer launch for his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par following tensions between India and Pakistan. It was initially scheduled for May 8. New date for the trailer launch event has not been announced 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: May 13, 2025, 08:16 IST
Amitabh Bachchan Lauds Indian Armed Forces After PM Modi's Speech: 'Jai Hind Ki Sena'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 04:38 IST

Bachchans post arrived just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, making his first public statement since the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Amitabh Bachchan salutes the Indian Army with a powerful poem.

Amitabh Bachchan has expressed his admiration for the Indian Armed Forces with a heartfelt post amid the ongoing Operation Sindoor and heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The legendary actor shared a poetic tribute dedicated to the courage and determination of Indian soldiers.

Taking to his official X handle late on May 12, Bachchan posted an image of a poem that salutes the bravery of the Indian Army. Though he didnt pen a personal message beyond the caption, his words spoke volumes. Jai Hind      ," he wrote, accompanying the poetic excerpt that urges the forces to stay resolute and unwavering in their duties.

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T 5377(i)  Jai Hind       pic.twitter.com/eesMWg85KS Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 12, 2025

T 5377(ii)  .. and the words of Poojya Babuji resound .. loud and clear .. and in reverberation .. from every element of the Country .. from every corner .. Oh ! the angered and dedicated Jawans of the Country .. clench your teeth .. stand up and move forward .. upward and  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 12, 2025

Bachchans post arrived just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, making his first public statement since the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7. The military initiative was Indias response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Modis speech came 48 hours after India and Pakistan agreed to a temporary ceasefire across all borders including land, air and sea.

Actor Kangana Ranaut also took to social media shortly after the PMs speech to laud his leadership. She wrote on X, Dear Prime Minister ji, you led us with unmatched courage, wisdom, and unwavering commitment and compassion for the nation. A great leader in every sense #Modi."

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Amitabh Bachchans iconic films Sholay and Piku are set for a theatrical re-release. Sholay, the 1975 blockbuster also starring Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Jaya Bachchan, and Hema Malini, will mark its 50th anniversary. On the other hand, Piku, a 2015 film where he played a quirky father opposite Deepika Padukone and the late Irrfan Khan, returns to cinemas for its 10-year milestone. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, Piku showcased Bachchan as a hypochondriac with chronic constipation who blames everything on his bowel issues.

Additionally, Big B is all set to return to television soon, reprising his role as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 17.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 04:38 IST
Mira Kapoor Reveals Shahids Cute Gesture To Keep The Fun Alive In Their Marriage

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:09 IST

Mira Kapoor opened up about a mischievous gesture of her husband, Shahid Kapoor, that many couples can relate to.

Mira Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor have been married since 2015. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor and his wife, Mira Kapoor, keep painting the town red with their mushy camaraderie. From their travel diaries, dinner dates, and dance performances to lovely moments with the family, the duo have often dished out couple goals. Recently, Mira Kapoor unveiled yet another mischievous side of her darling husband, which can be quite relatable to many lovebirds.

On her Instagram stories, Mira Kapoor posted a snap from last night featuring a sneak peek into Shahid Kapoors playful nature. In the picture, we can spot the actor busy scrolling through his phone while being photographed by his wife. Over the photo, Mira wrote, Hes sending me reels. And laughing. I am right here," a playful gesture that many couples can connect to. Agree?

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A true fashionista and co-founder of skincare brand Akind Beauty, Mira also gives honest updates about her skincare routine. Dropping a photo on her Instagram Stories, she revealed how she dealt with dust and overwork. Over worked, Under slept, Over moisturise. In the last few days Ive been around a lot of dust and swimming in stress, I was almost expecting a stress zit or two.." she wrote. She also revealed what she did to cleanse the dirt.

Shahid Kapoors loving wife further opened up about her bedtime routine to nourish her skin and body, and continued, Another thing thats worked like a dream for my restless thoughts before bed is a shot glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of warm ghee and some jaggery."

And sesame oil on the soles of my feet every night. Usually I put ghee but picked Sesame Oil to calm the Vata," she stated.

Sharing another update about her hair, she pasted a close-up of her face and asked, In other news, my baby hair is curling weirdly now. Has this happened to any of you? Random change of mood & direction? Like two baby twangs on either side."

FYI: Shahid and Mira tied the knot in 2015 in an arranged marriage setup. Since then, the duo has been living a content life alongside their kids  a daughter named Misha, born in 2016, and a son named Zain, who they welcomed in 2018.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:09 IST
Robert De Niro Calls For Protest Against 'Philistine President' Trump In His Cannes Speech

Published By :

Reuters

Last Updated: May 14, 2025, 03:34 IST

The 81-year-old actor shared the stage at the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere with fellow Oscar-winning superstars like Halle Berry, Juliette Binoche and Quentin Tarantino.

Robert De Niro attacks Trump in Cannes speech. [Courtesy: Instagram]

Hollywood icon Robert De Niro lambasted philistine" US President Donald Trump on Tuesday and his proposed film tariff at the Cannes Film Festivals opening ceremony, where he used his lifetime achievement award speech to call for protests.

The 81-year-old actor shared the stage at the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere with fellow Oscar-winning superstars like Halle Berry, Juliette Binoche and Quentin Tarantino to accept the award from longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio.

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In my country, were fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. And that affects all of us here because the arts are democratic," De Niro said. Art is inclusive. It brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth, art embraces diversity and thats why art is a threat  thats why we are a threat  to autocrats and fascists."

Trump has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he has announced the 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S.," said De Niro, known for films like Taxi Driver", Raging Bull" and more recently Killers of the Flower Moon."

You cant put a price on creativity, but apparently, you can put a tariff on it," said De Niro, who called on everyone who cares about liberty" to protest against Trump.

He continued, Of course, this is unacceptable. All these attacks are unacceptable, and this isnt just an American problem. Its a global one. And like a film, we cant just all sit back and watch. We have to act now. Without violence, but with great passion and determination. Its time for everyone who cares about liberty to organise, to protest, and when there are elections, of course to vote. Tonight, and for the next 11 days, we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival."

Organisers stress that they want to avoid politics and focus on the films, but this years inclusion of movies from Gaza, Ukraine and Iran, as well as Trumps tariff announcement shortly before the festival, has put more focus on the world outside Cannes.

Binoche, the head of this years jury, used her speech to pay tribute to Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza and is the subject of a documentary to be shown at Cannes.

OFFICIALLY OPEN

Tarantino, the U.S. director who launched his career at Cannes, officially opened the festival, which now runs until May 24, with a mic drop before audiences settled in for the opening film, French comedy Leave One Day."

American actor Eva Longoria, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and American director Sean Baker, who won the festivals top Palme dOr prize last year for Anora", were seen on the red carpet ahead of the festival.

German model Heidi Klum wore a pink flower petal-esque gown that trailed quite a ways behind her  but apparently not long enough to have her denied entry onto the red carpet after organisers changed the dress code recently to ban nudity and over-the-top trains.

Berry, who is also on this years jury, was wearing a black-and-white gown without a train on the red carpet after she said earlier on Tuesday that she had to switch her outfit choice last minute due to the updated dress code.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

First Published: May 14, 2025, 03:34 IST
Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan records elevation in tax revenues in 4M2025

Revenues collected by the Nakhchivan State Tax Service and deposited into the Azerbaijani budget surpassed 77.3 million manat ($45.47 million) between January and April. The previous year's total was 14.5 million manat ($8.47 million), so this is a 22.8 percent rise. The public sector accounted for 32.3 percent of the total, while the private sector contributed 67.7 percent.

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Samay Raina To Tour Europe, Australia, NZ; Showcases US-Canada Moments After Latent Row | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:32 IST

Samay Raina comeback: His announcement sparked huge excitementso much so that his ticketing website briefly crashed due to the surge in traffic.

Samay Raina was mired in a controversy regarding India's Got Latent episode.

Samay Raina Comaback: Comedian Samay Raina is officially back in the spotlight after a brief hiatus following the buzz around Indias Got Latent. Marking his return with a bang, Samay announced a new international tour that will take him across Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, he shared the tour datesstarting in Cologne on June 5 and ending in Sydney on July 20. The excitement was so high, his website briefly crashed due to heavy traffic. Hinting at a more introspective and personal set, Samay appears ready to address the chaos of recent months head-on, bringing both laughter and reflection to his fans.

Samay also shared a video showing highlights from his recent US and Canada tour, which he continued despite the controversy around Indias Got Latent. In another Instagram Story, Samay hinted that his new set will touch on the Indias Got Latent controversy, suggesting hes ready to turn the tough chapter into comedy. The announcement sparked huge excitementso much so that his ticketing website briefly crashed due to the surge in traffic.

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Taking to Instagram Stories, Samay Raina wrote, The most testing time of my life makes for the best comedy. See you on the tour". In another story, he wrote, We have crashed the ticketing websites, should be fine in a bit guys".

Indias Got Latent Controversy

The popular YouTube show Indias Got Latent, hosted by comedian Samay Raina, landed in hot water after a controversial episode featuring content creators Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija. Guwahati Police registered an FIR against all the judges and host of the show, accusing them of promoting obscenity and sexually explicit content. The controversy erupted after Allahbadia made an inappropriate remark during the episode, drawing widespread criticism from public figures and social media users alike.

About the Author Shreyanka Mazumdar Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 14:24 IST
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Daughter Leaves Court During Graphic Testimony Of Sexual Assault

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 14:04 IST

During the trial, male sex worker Daniel Phillip gave an extremely graphic testimony of Combs' alleged activities.

Diddy has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and other serious offenses.(Photo Credits: X)

Sean Diddy Combs three daughters left the courtroom twice during his trial. The 55-year-old rappers trial began at the US District Court in Manhattan on Monday (12.05,25) as he faces five federal criminal charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking and prostitution.

During the trial, male sex worker Daniel Phillip gave an extremely graphic testimony of Combs alleged activities, claiming he was paid by the musicians ex Casandra Cassie Ventura to have sex with her while Combs was in the corner watching them.

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The male escort also alleged that he witnessed Combs being violent towards his then-partner.

During Phillips testimony, Combs daughters  Chance, who was born in 2006, and 18-year-old twins DLila and Jessie  left the courtroom twice during the graphic accounts.

At another point, prosecutors played 2016 hotel security footage showing Combs assaulting Ventura. His daughters stayed in the courtroom as the video played and, along with his mother Janice Combs, stared straight ahead  although his sons watched the footage.

A jury  made up of eight men and four women  was seated shortly before opening statements on Monday. The case centres around claims Combs operated his Bad Boy Records firm as a criminal enterprise" while using employees and close associates to conceal violent and exploitative behaviour.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson described Combs as a larger-than-life celebrity" who allegedly committed crimes with the help of his inner circle". She told the court that Combs allegedly reacted violently upon learning that Casandra Ventura, 37, had started seeing someone new.

The prosecution also claimed Combs used the videos  which he allegedly referred to as being from freak-offs", or drug-fuelled sex parties  to control Cassie and other women.

Originally charged with three offences, Combs now faces two additional counts added later by prosecutors. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His legal team maintains the relationships were consensual and argue there was nothing illegal" about his swinger lifestyle".

First Published: May 13, 2025, 14:04 IST
Vicky Kaushal Reacts To PM Modi's Address To The Nation, Salutes Indian Armed Forces

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:40 IST

Earlier, Kangana Ranaut has now praised PM Modi for his unmatched courage and wisdom just minutes after his powerful speech.

Vicky Kaushal hails PM Modi's speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the nation post Operation Sindoor and hailed the Indian Armed Forces. His speech came just two days after India and Pakistan agreed to cease all military actions on land, air, and sea with immediate effect. Vicky Kaushal has reacted to his speech and praised him.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Vicky Kaushal shared a photo from his film Uri: The Surgical Strike and wrote,         " Saluting the unmatched bravery and precision of our Indian Armed Forces. No words can ever describe the gratitude and pride we feel in our hearts for our true heroes.      Jai Hind." One of the fans wrote, Captain vihaan forever earning respect in our hearts Bravo Jai hind." Another wrote, PROUD! PROUD! PROUD". The actor also shared a photo of Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

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Take a look here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09)

Earlier, Kangana Ranaut has now praised PM Modi for his unmatched courage and wisdom just minutes after his powerful speech. The Bollywood actress also called him a great leader. Taking to X, (formerly known as Twitter), Kangana wrote, Dear Prime Minister ji, you led us with unmatched courage, wisdom, and unwavering commitment and compassion for the nation. A great leader in every sense #Modi."

The Queen actress, known for speaking her mind, recently used her Instagram Stories to criticize Pakistan. She called it a creepy, nasty nation full of terrorists" and suggested it should be wiped out from the world map." Her outburst came after Pakistans missile and drone strikes on May 8, which targeted several regions in India, including Jammu, Samba, Satwari, Udhampur, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer.

Meanwhile, in his speech, PM Narendra Modi addressed giving full freedom to Indian armed forces on Operation Sindoor. He said, We have given full freedom to the Indian army to wipe out the terrorists and today every terrorist, every terror organisation knows ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai (Today every terrorist and every terror organisation knows what it means to wipe the sindoor off the foreheads of our sisters and daughters)"

On the work front, Vicky Kaushal will be next seen in Love And War with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. The shooting is currently going on.

About the Author Akriti Anand Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More Akriti Anand is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. A news writer with over a decade of experience, Akriti loves to keep a close watch on Bollywood celebrities and their social media. A post-g... Read More

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:40 IST
Finepoint | Indias Ruthless Air Assault Will Leave A Deep Scar On Pakistan

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 09:10 IST

India went from exercising restraint to adopting a gravely hostile, tactical posture, positioning itself to do the unthinkable beyond Pakistans imagination.

The strikes didnt just dismantle Pakistans nuclear bluff, they shattered its strategic depth, showcasing Indias complete air superiority.

On May 10, 2025, India launched its most decisive military operation against Pakistan in decades, delivering a comprehensive blow that exposed the fragility of Pakistans nuclear posturing. What began as a calibrated counter-terror operation swiftly escalated after Pakistan fired a ballistic missile  reportedly capable of carrying a nuclear warhead  towards Sirsa in India, prompting an overwhelming retaliatory response from the Indian Air Force.

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Pakistans Provocation: A Nuclear Gamble

For the third consecutive night, Pakistan had launched waves of drones and fighter jets along the western border. But the situation dramatically escalated when a Fatah-2 ballistic missile, with nuclear potential, penetrated deep into Indian airspace before being intercepted over Sirsa in a massive explosion. This blatant escalation crossed a red line. This was when BrahMos entered the picture.

Indias Response: Unleashing Air Superiority

India responded with ferocity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi authorised a retaliatory campaign bigger in scale than Operation Sindoor," targeting Pakistans military infrastructure and strategic depth. Within hours, the Indian Air Force launched precision strikes on 11 major Pakistani airbases. Armed with BrahMos, HAMMER, and SCALP missiles, India devastated critical military assets in Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and beyond.

One of the most significant targets was the Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi  home to Pakistans military transport and air refueling capabilities and in proximity to the Strategic Plans Division, which oversees Pakistans nuclear command. The message was unmistakably loud: India has the ability to decapitate Pakistans nuclear command structure. Pakistan was officially in panic mode.

Extent of Damage: A Nation Exposed

Indias strikes were not symbolic  they were surgically devastating. The runway at Rahim Yar Khan was reportedly flattened. The radar base in Chunian was knocked out. Pakistans air defence was jammed for over 20 minutes, leaving the nations military assets exposed. Satellite imagery and intercepted defence communications showed panicked responses from Pakistans top brass. Video footage of explosions across the length and breadth of Pakistan, including its suspected nuclear sites near Kirana Hills and Sargodha, further demonstrated the severity of Indias operations.

In fact, a statement from the Indian Air Forces DGMO established an unspoken truth. Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation. We did not know about it. We have not hit the Kirana hills, whatever is there," said Air Marshal AK Bharti with a telling smirk, suggesting that India perhaps got closer than imagined to doing the unthinkable. Thats a good grey area to be in to keep Pakistan on its toes and think twice before wielding its nuclear card.

India went from exercising restraint to adopting a gravely hostile, tactical posture, positioning itself to do the unthinkable beyond Pakistans imagination  all to strike terror in the heart of the terror sponsor, painting an image of what total annihilation could look like for a country with 170 nuclear weapons.

India Came With Receipts

Every Indian missile hit its target. From Nur Khan to Bahawalpur, the strikes proved Indias precision and dominance. Meanwhile, not a single Pakistani missile found success, as Indias multi-layered, air defence shield proved to be impenetrable with God-level efficiency. With this, India not only thwarted Pakistans brazen attacks on its cities but exposed the hollowness of its arsenal of Turkish drones and Chines missiles.

Indian intelligence intercepted panic communications across Pakistani defence networks, highlighting fears that India would next target the heart of Pakistans nuclear infrastructure. With key installations already hit, Islamabad was suddenly staring at total strategic paralysis.

Ceasefire Under Duress

India had Pakistan by the throat. Fearing annihilation, Pakistan rushed to the Americans for mediation. A call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly urged Pakistans Army Chief to get off the accelerator." But India remained resolute  it would not enter any mediation process with Pakistan. The Pakistani DGMO, who had earlier ignored Indias outreach following the strikes on nine terror bases, was now calling India just days later. India made him wait over two hours before finally granting him an audience.

From the outset, Indias objective was clear: to eliminate Pakistans terror hubs and launchpads. Pakistans daily escalations, aimed at provoking a larger conflict and manipulating the narrative, only exposed its desperation. But Indias disproportionate response, striking Pakistani military bases with impunity and intent, forced the DGMO to plead for talks, and thats the big story.

A loose understanding of a possible ceasefire was eventually reached. India made two things clear: there must be no more terror attacks on Indian soil, and the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty is off the table.

In fact, in his address, PM Modi established three red lines that Pakistan and the world will take note of. Any terror attack on India will receive a crushing retaliation. India will never bow to nuclear blackmail. And India will no longer differentiate between the state and non-state actors; a terror-sponsoring state and its terrorist organisations are one and the same. That means Pakistans military installations are permanently fair game.

A Message Delivered

The simple truth is that Indias Operation Sindoor was about striking Pakistans terror hubs, but thanks to Pakistans escalatory miscalculations, Sindoor went on to pummel 11 of its military bases including Rawalpindi, Shahbaz, Rahim Yar, Sargodha, Skardu  all symbols of their military power. We made our point loud and clear. Thats a solid military win.

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Indias operation was more than retaliation. It was a calibrated demonstration of air dominance, strategic depth, and political will. By establishing air superiority over Pakistan and threatening its most guarded assets, India shredded the myth of Pakistans nuclear invincibility. The message was clear: aggression will be met with overwhelming force. This was not war. This was absolute dominance. And Pakistan, for all its posturing, was left exposed  militarily, strategically, and diplomatically.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 09:10 IST
OPINION | Jhang Jihadis Junked: An Endless Saga Of Pakistani 'Maskirovka' Demolished By Operation Sindoor

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 10:53 IST

The path to normalcy is a precursor to peace amidst the "conundrum of deceit & deflection" being created by vested Interests; against the sovereignty & prosperity of our nation!

The Indian armed forces initiated Operation Sindoor, launching missile strikes on nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. (PTI)

Maskirovka musings of Pakistan have been going on for the last six decades, ever since the conceptualisation of the dream of the Islamic Caliphate by the cunning and clever establishment of Pakistan. The enshrinement of Islamic ideology in the mainstream military and awaam of Pakistan; the latter lured by the bogey of Kashmir and nuclear propaganda, was conceived by General Zia-Ul-Haq through his puppet Brigadier SK Malik who was bestowed with the dishonour of linking the Quran to ways to dismember" other religions and cut Bharat too. The anti-humanity blasphemy was printed as The Quranic Concept of War; a book which has become the cornerstone and edifice of the barbaric Pakistan Armed Forces too, which somehow gave them religious immunity to behead people and soldiers, maim innocents while firing at them from gunships and using terror as an instrument of statecraft in Pakistan.

This indoctrination has been so resolute, effective and widespread within and outside of Pakistan that its tenets have been used by their diplomats to sway perceptions, buy journalists and people of eminence and make inroads into governance and military structures in other target countries and eventually degrade their societal strength. To add to the devils powers, the Middle East in large parts and the USA have been aiding Pakistan. Some Middle Eastern countries have given an enormous amount of money to Pakistan; more from the point of creating an Islamic Caliphate and Pakistan being sort of one of the chosen ones as it spun the Kashmir narrative into a religious and ideological motive. The USA, on the other hand, saw Pakistan as a pawn against the Soviet Union in its fight to control Afghanistan and reaches around it and accordingly gave many grants on many pretexts, including from global organisations which it tacitly controlled, while knowing well down the line that Pakistan was misusing it for a sustained ideological war and creating capabilities of terrorism against Bharat. Since Bharat was clearly defined as a friend of the Soviet Union during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the USA never saw Bharat as a probable ally then, while friendly overtures were made in some matters and spheres. The UK too through time, got consumed by Pakistan witchcraft and today stands exposed as it is now turning into an Islamic Hell; gradually and yet seemingly surely, unless they wake up and smell the coffee and stop seeing Pakistani citizens as cheap labour and workforce and understand the intent of the Islamist radicals.

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The art of deception became more obvious and pungent, as they convinced many countries in the West and Europe to showcase themselves as innocent and Bharat as an aggressor; much since perception warfare was unknown to Bharat, and it also wasnt a match to stories and narratives driven by the West and Europe. Pakistan made inroads into think tanks, global organisations, foreign governments and more and that coupled with the perennial support of China and backing of the USA, solidified its venomous narratives against the interests of Bharat.

Advantage Pakistan All Along till Operation Sindoor

Right from the initiation of war with Pre-emptive Strikes against a stronger Country like Bharat and then running to allies, the West and the United Nations to accrue a Ceasefire to boasting with a Notion of Victory even after being vanquished without doubt, Pakistan has effectively used Deception, Propaganda and tenets of the Quranic Concept of War right through each situation and with good effect, with eulogies of their success and wins being printed and spoken by media that they cultivated and bought out and also influenced with help of the West.

The key advantages that Puny Pakistan has been able to gain over the years, against National Interests of India, till recently, have been as follows: 

A. Prepare a base through its operatives and Embassy Staff and buy out journalists, politicians, personalities of eminence and even the security apparatus. Seemingly, right through the early days, they were supported and even compensated with some Jaichands within India and that included some from the political class who enjoyed Cocktail Circuit opulence courtesy of the Wine, Women and Wealth offered by Pakistan and its agents.

B. Plan and execute the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, with local Islamist Radicals and even government machinery which played a tacit role and did not thwart such a nefarious design.

C. Carry out Infiltration and establish the OGWs Network, with the support of Indoctrinated locals and officials.

D. Conduct terror attacks and negate punitive actions through backdoor channels and paid stooges in government offices in India.

E. Openly have channels of illegal trade and in the process benefitting the caretakers in India.

F. Prop up local leaders, some of whom eventually established themselves as elected leaders as well.

G. In cahoots with traitors within India, be able to adversely affect the economy and geopolitical growth of India. In doing so then even got access to wherewithal to print counterfeit which was as good as actuals; till such time Demonetisation was done by Bharat.

H. Through cultivated assets, they have been able to make the cases against themselves seem weak, each time the Government of Bharat tried to seek legal recourse through international bodies and organisations.

J. Return of Prisoners of War (PsOW) and especially post-1971 War, where they duped a willing Indian Leadership to not only give back PsOW while they did not return PsOW taken by themselves, they also were able to take back Key Terrain, captured by India and then enter into the Shimla Agreement which has left many thorns along the Line of Control (LC) to take care of today; where the Pakistan Army has dominating positions; a case in point being Hajipir Pass, near Uri, where we had a terrorist attack in the last decade.

K. Retain Nuclear Bogey over decades and behind that Shield of Blackmail being able to promote Terrorism as Statecraft and attempt to achieve Parity with India.

L. Use the Favours of the USA" to build relations with China and create a wedge between other known powers and India. Pakistan eventually gave away its economy to China in trade for support during the war with India; something which could eventually be futile as well; given the emerging geopolitical scenarios.

M. Nearly with a free-hand, as if the Indian side had allowed such blatant actions, carry out the shelling of civilian areas near Jammu, Akhnoor etc and also target Indian Army posts routinely with cases of beheading of Indian soldiers along the LC being undertaken till before 2014 when a new Government was formed in Bharat.

N. Manage to restrict the punitive actions of the Indian Armed Forces through deceptive diplomacy and putting pressure on their Assets in India.

Some of the above have been also due to weak leadership and lack of vision therein of Political Leadership and Bureaucracy of India, which got sold out to propaganda, lure and mostly due to extraneous considerations as well which lingered due to their vested interests and Pakistan obliged through its Illicit Networks.

Pahalgam and Beyond: Pakistani MASKIROVKA Losing Sheen

The terrorist attack at Pahalgam was duly orchestrated by Pakistan, soon after the rant of General Asim Munir at a gathering in Pakistan where he exhorted Islamic Radicalism. In sync with that Ideological Rant from a Pakistan Military leader, the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack was surgical against non-Muslim tourists, including some foreign nationals. The core of The Quranic Concept of War was executed with a view to imposing terror, hampering global tourism and the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and above all a feeble attempt to question the Abrogation of Article 370.

Post this dastardly attack on unsuspecting innocents at Pahalgam, Pakistan for the first time, did not even shed any crocodile tears. A terrorist group from Pakistan staked claim and later discerning the intent of Bharat, withdrew that claim stating that their account was hacked. If the series of faux pas was not over, a Minister from Pakistan, in an interview with a foreign channel from the West, stated that Pakistan was abetting terrorism and grooming terrorists on its soil and as if with a tone of blackmail mentioned they did so for other Western Powers; implying the USA and UK; with maybe an eye towards China as well and hope that these countries will fall in line with the narrative being planned by Pakistan.

Once the Punitive Strikes were launched by Bharat, in retaliation to strikes by Pakistan on civilians and military bases, the Pakistani Air Force spokesperson bloated about how they had carried out the Pulwama Attack. Also, in another turn of events, Pakistan Army high-ranking officials, civil administration and others attended the funeral of terrorists who were eliminated in strikes by Bharat on their Terror Camps and Headquarters, including in Pakistan for the first time, at Muridke, Sialkot and Bahawalpur. And thus, the infallible Perception Management Network began to crumble rather fast, with Bharat adding to the Dossier of Pakistans involvement in promoting Terrorism.

Pakistan has always remained in denial of the death of its soldiers like one witnessed in the Kargil War, destruction of assets like we observed post-Balakot Strike by the Indian Air Force when Pakistan said some crows were hit or, words to that effect. However, the zeal to claim a Notion of Victory has always remained high and even after strikes by the Indian Armed Forces recently, their Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif actually declared victory in the war; while none was on and also profusely thanked the USA with a hope that Team Trump will accept them again as a vassal state and fund and arm them too. High hopes but Umeed par Duniya Kayam Hai for Pakistan; a country which has fast run itself into an Abyss of Terrorism and Economic Crisis.

Recently when a Pakistan Minister went for an interview with a western channel and bragged about Pakistan destroying aircraft and assets of the Indian Air Force, the Minister fumbled, as he had lied and eventually said he had made claims based on social media posts. While it sounded bizarre, the lies stemmed from the need to appease the naive Awaam of Pakistan but then it totally backfired and today the Awaam of Pakistan is questioning the Leadership, while General Asim Munir hides in a Bunker; fearing Missiles from Bharat and Murderers within Pakistan who might be looking for him.

It will be prudent to summarise that the Pakistan Military and its Polity has lost ground within and outside Pakistan with questions being raised on their intent, actions and propaganda. This truly is the Turning of the Tables in Perception Warfare and an opportune time for Bharat to Step Up and claim the Pole Position for the future, especially when it is superior in all aspects of National Power and certainly doesnt want to be considered at parity with the failed-state Pakistan.

The Divinity and Depth of Operation SINDOOR: Change of Perception Baton

Operation SINDOOR coupled with the accurate Post Strike Damage Assessment (PSDA) and Press Briefings has brought out the Chanakya Alive moment in Bharat and it seems that Bharat is willing to Step Up the Perception Warfare and usher in its own MASKIROVKA Era. The ability of the Government Departments, visibility of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Perception Push by our Military with its sets of Press Briefings scaled up by the DGMO and colleagues from IAF and IN, positive posts and negating fakes by social media influencers as our citizens, diaspora and friends of Bharat etc have all brought together an involuntary bond which could shape the Perception Battles for Bharat hereon with more energy and accuracy.

The maturity of handling the Pahalgam Crisis, taking time to deliver an appropriate response, reacting initially as Pakistan stepped up the Escalation Ladder and then with swiftness seizing an opportunity to strike at Airbases and military installations in Pakistan has made Bharat feel good about its own accomplishment and has made it look Bolder, Bigger and Better to the World, as Pakistan is about to lose its stand for parity with Bharat. Effective handling of media with openness and ability to negate All Propaganda without exception, which was hurled by Pakistan and allped up by its lapdogs across the globe, has made Bharat look very positive to the World at large.

The messaging by our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji in his Address to the Nation on 12 May 2025, laid out some strict guidelines and an echoing warning to Pakistan and this Stern Delivery seems to carry more weight than the Nuclear Arsenal of Pakistan and something which the World will take note of too.

During this Operation SINDOOR Bharat has Seized the Initiative and is now poised to curate the Narratives for and in the Future. The gains accrued to Bharat due to the ongoing Operation SINDOOR can be summarised as follows: 

A. Shedding and reiterating that No First Use in the nuclear domain is not applicable as a self-imposed restraint for Bharat, now compels Pakistan to rethink the Escalation Ladder, especially when Bharat has struck 11 Airbases and Installations in Pakistan with impunity and that too without crossing the IB or, LC.

B. Equating Proxy War and Terror Attack to an Act of War sends a distinct warning to Pakistan and is a veiled caution for any country that abets Pakistan in its endeavour to carry out terror attacks against Bharat. This allows the retention of initiative by Bharat and provides an avenue to build up momentum in actions at will.

C. Bharat will be able to dictate conditions and rules for engagement by setting into motion those actions directly and without referring to the world and certainly with no clue to Pakistan. This would keep Pakistan under a leash till such time it doesnt want to seek destruction itself at the hands of Bharat.

D. The margin for Error; both in Actions and Perception for Pakistan had drastically reduced and its Awaam has become more aware of the post-ongoing Operations being launched and PSDA Briefs being aired across the globe.

E. The actions of the Armed Forces of Bharat, public voicing of facts and opinion by Team Bharat with MEA leading it to differentiate between Partners and Preachers and the stern messaging by the Prime Minister of Bharat; all have collectively put out a caution amidst those who were fence-sitters in matters pertaining to Pakistan and Bharat and some who had the urge to abstain in global forums to promote funding and favours to Pakistan.

F. This Operation which has been carried out professionally and enabled Diplomacy to gain weight, supported the geopolitical narrative of Bharat and infused fear in Pakistan, will also benefit the Armed Forces as public memory gets etched with the positives of their efforts and hopefully, this will bring back focus not only on equipping and paying the Armed Forces better but also bringing in parity between Armed Forces and other Services; especially when the Political Will of Bharat has been reinforced and solidified due to Military actions. The National Outlook towards Armed Forces will gain more positivity and strength.

G. The nomenclature and its defining by the Prime Minister carry a bigger message for the citizens and diaspora themselves in Bharat and the emergence of a tolerant Sanatan Dharma is gaining momentum and acceptance as part of reviving the Civilizational Roots of our Bharat.

Retaining the MASKIROVKA Edge Gained with Operation SINDOOR Momentum

It will take more than raising a few pertinent points that are entwined with the future of Bharat. Lets simply list the action points and ponder later to dissect each one of them over conversations across multiple platforms of new media: 

A. Curate a long-term Succession Plan for Leadership at the Political level, as feasible. The grooming and rise should be commensurate with the Succession Plan for long-lasting effects.

B. Interaction of Political Leadership along with Bureaucracy with the Indian Armed Forces during Corps and Command Wargames so that we together Own Plans and plan better for their execution promptly and with the least back and forth.

C. Better Leadership Selection Process for Armed Forces. The weaknesses need to be identified, and surgical actions must ensue to revive the morale and professional strength.

D. Increasing War Wastage Reserves (WWR) from 15 days to 30 to 60 days; depending on the criticality of military hardware and dependency on global supply chains. The reduction of WWR to 15 days has not been commensurate with our capabilities and far many lacunae need to be ironed out for now. This will bring in more confidence in Bharat, its Polity and Military.

E. Parity of Armed Forces with other Services to bring in better synergy and speed in actions. Hierarchical hindrances in the effective Civil-Military domain must be removed and that takes political will. The benefits of levelling fairly will support Operations and Missions in the future.

F. Effective use of its Diaspora and Business Leaders across the Planet. A Pool of such people with leadership to manage and ensure the propagation of information through Podcasts, social media conversations, Webinars etc is planned for and executed well.

G. Empower our Embassies and Consulates to enhance Awareness and engage in true Perception Management at all levels including society.

H. An effective and empowered Cyber Warrior Team to assist with identifying Fake and Deep Fake and counter-measures.

I. Get Citizens involved in more conversations and actions for improving National Security. The MyGov App should be used for such delicate conversations and seeking ideas.

J. Just like we had experimented with Joint Secretaries from the Private Sector, the same needs to be done for many aspects connected directly and indirectly to Perception Management.

K. Creating a selection of effective, fluent and nationalist Veterans from Armed Forces, amongst Diplomats, Police, Government, Media, Polity and eminent Citizens who could be trusted with information, and they are capable to influence positively even in adverse situations.

L. Enhance the role and scope of engagement for mainstream Media Agencies with some supervision of experts as needed, especially during military operations and critical national security threats. Also, similarly blunt and block anti-national narrative spinners.

M. Focus on education system reforms such that the next generations are more aware of history, aspects of national security and perceptions as they shape economies, militaries, diplomacy and nearly everything where two or more countries interact.

While the name MASKIROVKA suggests deception, Bharat needs to build factual narratives that build trust and loyalty with friendly countries and bring about a larger consortium which pledges to fight terrorism and, in the process, either tames or, punishes Pakistan and as a partner of Bharat. Curating a MASKIROVKA might seem simple, while retaining the edge and retaining the momentum will always be a challenge in the information age, when one wrong move, even by a miscreant or, loose cannon, can bring down the national narrative and stand.

Lets be positive that Bharat will curate and implement such moves that define Operation SINDOOR as not only a win, of our holistic national power, seized by our Armed Forces but also an edifice to build on in future, so that the construct remains beyond comprehension and reach of our adversaries.

JAI HIND!

Read about ceasefire here, as Pakistan is likely to wink this season itself due to internal pressures and its innate desire to hit back for abrogation of Article 370 by Bharat and in consonance with its unfulfilled and lame wish to usurp Kashmir, while it itself stands a chance to loose PoK sooner than later amidst uprisings within Pakistan and with the freedom struggle of Balochistan against its tyranny.

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Pakistanis must look within and discard their polity & military that befools them and feeds them the myth of Kashmir as fodder and sends some of them on infamous Route72, while the rest stay in poverty.

Colonel Rohit Dev, a 2nd Generation Army Officer, is an Adjunct Professor at the Rashtriya Raksha University, a geopolitical analyst and a primetime TV personality. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 10:51 IST
Opinion | Blood, Terror and Nukes: Modis Doctrine Breaks 75 Years of Indian Strategic Ambiguity

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 19:31 IST

PM Modis articulation of Indias doctrine is a watershed moment in South Asian strategic history. It opens a new era of strategic assertiveness

PM Modi speaking at AFS Adampur. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a historic speech on May 12, 2025, in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. In clear, unequivocal language, he articulated what now constitutes Indias first publicly declared and assertively defined national security doctrine. Indias national security doctrine has historically been marked by ambiguity, reactive diplomacy, and strategic restraint. Unlike nations such as the United States or Israel, which have long-standing and codified security strategies, Indias posture had remained largely implicit  an accumulation of responses shaped by war, diplomacy, and internal consensus.

For decades, India pursued peace through dialogue even as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism inflicted repeated injuriesfrom the 1993 Bombay blasts to the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, to Pulwama and the most recent Pahalgam massacre. Yet, the absence of a publicly stated doctrine often left Indias responses open to interpretation or second-guessing by both allies and adversaries. That vacuum has now been filled.

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Policy thinkers like Ram Madhav, a senior BJP leader and former National General Secretary, also presaged this articulation. In an article, Its time India framed a national security doctrine" (The Indian Express, May 10, 2025), Madhav argued for the urgent need to formulate a coherent strategic framework. He stressed that while Indias armed forces are operationally capable, lacking a guiding doctrine results in reactive and fragmented responses to security threats. He critiqued the limitations of Indias 2003 nuclear doctrine, emphasised the continued threat from adversaries like Pakistan and China, and urged the adoption of a doctrine based on core principles, not rigid manuals. Citing Chinas strategy of subduing adversaries without combat, Madhav called for India to proactively shape the regional security environment, rather than just respond to it.

Modis doctrine asserts that terror and diplomacy cannot coexist. India will no longer engage in peace negotiations with Pakistan unless terrorism ceases entirely. This marked the end of the composite dialogue process and redefined the boundaries of bilateral engagement. He added that blood and water cannot flow together", effectively suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. This symbolised the severing of cooperative mechanisms amid continued hostility. Operation Sindoor, Modi declared, is not an isolated reprisal but a template for future engagementsswift, surgical, and deliberate.

Finally, and most crucially, Modi warned that India will not be blackmailed by nuclear threats, directly addressing Pakistans habitual invocation of its nuclear arsenal to constrain Indias military options. In his words, India will take action it deems necessary to defend its sovereignty, irrespective of nuclear posturing."

The United States, by contrast, has institutionalised its national security doctrine through formal publications like the National Security Strategy (NSS), updated regularly by the executive branch. After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush articulated a dramatic shift in the U.S. posture in the 2002 NSS, declaring that we will not hesitate to act alone, if necessary, to exercise our right of self-defense by acting pre-emptively". This doctrine, shaped by National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice  introduced the principles of preemptive self-defence, unilateral action, and a global war on terror. It aimed to disrupt and destroy terror networks before they could act. Democracy promotion became a pillar, with Bush asserting, The United States will use this moment of opportunity to extend the benefits of freedom across the globe."

Subsequent administrations adapted the doctrine: President Obama emphasised intelligence-driven, limited-footprint strategies like drone warfare and special operations; President Trump focused on trade and tariffs as leverage and prioritising national needs over global commitments. Turning every national security question into an economic solution.

The constant threat of non-state actors and hostile neighbours shapes Israels security doctrine. Founded on the belief in immediate retaliation and overwhelming force, it is best described by the doctrine of deterrence through disproportionality. Israel maintains a posture of ambiguity regarding its nuclear capabilities, but takes no such ambiguity when responding to terrorism or rocket attacks.

The Dahiya doctrine, named after Israels 2006 operations in Lebanon, emphasizes the deliberate targeting of infrastructure in hostile territory to deter future aggression. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once remarked, Our enemies must know that we will exact a heavy price for every attack on Israeli citizens." Tools like the Iron Dome air defence system and targeted assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders are integral to this doctrine, which blends tactical immediacy with strategic messaging.

Chinas national security doctrine is encapsulated in the principle of Active Defence," a Maoist concept institutionalized in recent decades. It is both defensive in justification and offensive in execution. The Chinese White Papers on national defence routinely emphasize sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political stability as the core objectives. Chinas doctrine is deeply integrated with internal stability measuresviewing separatism in Tibet, unrest in Xinjiang, and dissent in Hong Kong as national security threats.

Beijing employs asymmetric strategies such as cyber intrusions, maritime militias, and economic coercion, especially against Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asian nations. President Xi Jinping has consistently emphasised that the Chinese military must be able to fight and win wars." Under his leadership, the PLA has undergone rapid modernisation with a focus on integrated command, hypersonic missile systems, and artificial intelligence warfare. The Belt and Road Initiative, while economic on the surface, is a geopolitical instrument embedded in Chinas broader security calculus.

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Modis articulation of Indias doctrine is a watershed moment in South Asian strategic history. It closes the era of ambiguity and opens a new era of strategic assertiveness. Like the Bush Doctrine post-9/11, Israels deterrence model, or Chinas expansive Active Defence, India now possesses a coherent and public doctrine that serves to deter, respond, and signal its global intentions. It is a doctrine forged not just in the halls of diplomacy, but in the crucible of repeated violence, and its clarity will shape Indias future responses  and its role as a security anchor in the Indo-Pacific.

K Yatish Rajawat is a public policy researcher and works at the Gurgaon-based think and do tank Centre for Innovation in Public Policy (CIPP). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 19:31 IST
Opinion | Meeting With Pakistani Diplomats In United Nations

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:18 IST

PM Modi has launched Operation Sindoor, which has strengthened India's resolve against terrorism further

PM Narendra Modi addressing the nation on Monday. (PTI)

Act 1. On March 15, 2011, after a successful Know Your Army show in Ahmedabad, where then Chief Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest, I, as the General Officer Commanding, was on top of the world as I took a flight for Pune for an operational discussion to be chaired by the Army Commander. Little did I know that by the time I land in Pune, I will be on all the headlines of various news channels. I had praised Mr Modi and said that he operates like an Army commander; sets targets and timelines and achieves them in record time. I was widely criticised by one and all, as I had praised a politician of the opposition party in the Centre.

My Corps Commander and the Army Commander took it in their stride and felt that I had extended normal courtesies to a chief guest of a civil-military mega event. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) wanted a report on it and then Chief of the Army Staff General VK Singh told his staff to give a routine reply to say that an inquiry was underway and the outcome would be shared with the MoD.

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Good friends in Delhi later shared with me that some of my batch mates were happy with what had happened and thought that one name could be easily struck out from the list of probables for the next rank. Few months down the line, I was selected to represent the country in the United Nations peacekeeping as the Head of the Mission and Force Commander at Golan Heights between Israel and Syria, which was a shock for some of my contemporaries.

Act 2. During the Force Commanders conclave of one week in New York in 2014, all 16 Force Commanders got an invite for dinner at the Pakistani Embassy. As the Military Advisor in Department of Peacekeeping was from Pakistan, we all understood that the invite came at his behest. The Indian Ambassador to the UN is called the Permanent Mission of India or PMI and Hardeep Puri was the PMI then. Likewise, the Pakistani Ambassador is called the PMP. After receiving the invite from Masood Khan, then PMP, I was in a quandary whether to attend or not. I discussed with my colleague, the Defence Attache in the office of the PMI, and he checked with the ambassador who confirmed to me that it was a done thing and I must attend.

The PMP is located in a massive apartment few blocks away from the UN building. On reaching the place, we were received by the Deputy PMP, an ex-Armoured Corps officer of the Pakistan Army who conducted us around and told us that this haveli was the erstwhile residence of an affluent Pakistani feudal lord who had donated it to the Pakistani embassy. We were impressed with the lavish hospitality of the Pakistanis and the ambassador made a special effort to spend some time with me.

After a couple of drinks when the mood got lighter and I was also visibly relaxed, the Deputy came back to me with a query. I armed myself mentally to frame the answer. The Deputy had done his homework and he knew that I had worked closely with Modi in Ahmedabad. The BJP had recently come to power, and Modi was sworn in as the PM. The deputy cozied up to me to say that both Indian and the Pakistani Armies understood each other on the Line of Control and exactly know the actions and reactions of each other and continue to remain below the threshold of the escalation ladder. He added that, however, the utterances of the new PM and the tough stance taken by him had left them confused and bewildered and they did not know what to make of it. He also emphasised that since I knew the PM well, I could tell him what it means for the situation along the Line of Control in Kashmir. I told him politely that whatever statements the PM has given, he means each and every word and will stand by his commitment. Therefore, the Pakistanis would be advised not to take him lightly and be careful in dealing with issues on Kashmir.

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The Deputy PMP was left speechless and was clearly shocked. Down the line, during surgical strikes and Balakot offensive, he must have realised that I was not bluffing and gave him the true picture and a genuine advice! Now PM Modi has launched Operation Sindoor, which has strengthened Indias resolve against terrorism further!

The author was Head of the Mission and Force Commander of UN Peacekeeping Mission (UNDOF) between Israel and Syria at Golan Heights from 2012 to 2014. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 17:15 IST
Opinion | Muridkes Funeral Lays Bare Pakistans State-Terror Nexus

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:48 IST

The presence of army personnel and police alongside LeTs Hafiz Abdul Rauf confirms what India has alleged for decadesPakistan is intertwined with terrorist outfits like LeT & JeM

Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Masood Azhar, the terrorist who leads Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attends the funeral of terrorists slain during Operation Sindoor, with Pakistani Army officials in attendance. (IMAGE: SOURCED)

The funeral of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Muridke, Pakistan, in May 2025, following Indias Operation Sindoor, has ripped apart the veneer of Pakistans denials about its ties to terrorism.

Visuals of coffins draped in the national flag, senior military officers in attendance, and a US-designated terrorist leading prayers have exposed a chilling reality: the Pakistani states complicity in nurturing terror. This was no ordinary burial; it was a state-sanctioned spectacle glorifying jihadists killed in precise Indian strikes targeting terror infrastructure.

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The presence of army personnel, police, and civil bureaucrats alongside LeTs Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a figure long linked to anti-India operations, confirms what India and the global community have alleged for decadesPakistans government, military, and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are deeply intertwined with terrorist outfits like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, struck nine terror camps, including LeTs Muridke headquarters, a hub for training operatives like Ajmal Kasab of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Pakistans claim that the strikes killed civilians crumbled as evidence of military involvement in the funerals surfaced. The brazen display of state support for terrorists raises questions about Pakistans commitment to counter-terrorism and its role as a supposed ally in global security.

This op-ed argues that the Muridke funeral is a defining moment, exposing Pakistans institutional backing of terrorism through four key revelations: the militarys open endorsement, the ISIs logistical support, the governments duplicity on the global stage, and the societal normalisation of jihadist ideology. These elements demand a re-evaluation of international policies toward Pakistan, a state that continues to destabilise the region while evading accountability.

Militarys Open Endorsement of Terrorists

The presence of uniformed Pakistan Army personnel at the Muridke funeral, carrying coffins and saluting fallen LeT operatives, is a stark admission of the militarys alignment with terrorist groups. Reports indicate senior officers, including those from Punjabs police, attended the funeral of terrorists like Qari Abdul Malik and Abu Jundal, killed in Indias strikes. This was not a covert gesture but a public spectacle, with coffins wrapped in Pakistans flag and state honours bestowed.

Such actions contradict Pakistans official stance of cracking down on terror groups under international pressure, like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mandates. The militarys participation signals institutional approval, emboldening groups like LeT to operate with impunity. Historically, the army has shielded figures like Hafiz Saeed, LeTs founder, who, despite a nominal imprisonment, continues to influence jihadist networks. The Muridke funeral underscores that the army views these terrorists not as threats but as strategic assets against India, particularly in Kashmir.

ISIs Logistical And Operational Support

The ISIs role in sustaining terror groups is well-documented, but the Muridke funeral provides fresh evidence of its logistical backbone. Sources reveal the ISI facilitated training at camps like Muridkes Markaz Taiba, where operatives for attacks like Mumbai 2008 and Pahalgam 2025 were groomed. The funerals high security, attended by ISI-linked officials, suggests the agencys direct oversight of LeTs activities. The ISIs involvement goes beyond passive support; it includes funding, arming, and directing operations, as seen in the Pahalgam attacks planning. The agencys presence at the funeral, alongside LeT commanders, indicates a seamless collaboration, with the ISI acting as the glue between the military and terror outfits. This nexus allows Pakistan to maintain plausible deniability while orchestrating cross-border terrorism, a strategy exposed by the brazen Muridke ceremony.

Governments Duplicity on the Global Stage

Pakistans government has long projected itself as a victim of terrorism, seeking international aid and sympathy while covertly supporting jihadist groups. The Muridke funeral demolishes this facade. While Islamabad denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack and claimed civilian casualties in Indias strikes, the state honours accorded to terrorists reveal a different truth.

The governments failure to condemn the funeral or arrest Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a globally sanctioned terrorist, exposes its complicity. Past leaders, from Nawaz Sharif to Imran Khan, have admitted to the presence of terror groups on Pakistani soil, yet no meaningful action follows. The funeral, attended by civil bureaucrats, shows the states tacit approval of LeTs ideology. This duplicity undermines Pakistans credibility in forums like the UN, where it has resisted designations like that of The Resistance Front (TRF), an LeT front. The international community must recognise this double game and impose stricter sanctions.

Societal Normalisation of Jihadist Ideology

The Muridke funeral, with its hate-filled slogans like Indias destruction is near," reflects a deeper societal issue: the normalisation of jihadist ideology in parts of Pakistan.

LeTs Muridke complex, disguised as a charitable organisation under Jamaat-ud-Dawa, runs schools, clinics, and seminaries that indoctrinate youth with anti-India propaganda. The funerals public nature, with civilians and officials chanting alongside terrorists, indicates how deeply this ideology has penetrated. The states failure to curb such displays, coupled with the militarys endorsement, fosters an environment where terrorism is glorified. This societal acceptance sustains groups like LeT and JeM, ensuring a steady supply of recruits. The Muridke event is a wake-up call for Pakistans civil society and the global community to address this ideological rot, which threatens regional stability.

The Muridke funeral is a damning indictment of Pakistans state-sponsored terrorism. It lays bare the militarys endorsement, the ISIs operational role, the governments hypocrisy, and the societal embrace of jihadist ideology. These revelations demand a robust international responsetighter sanctions, FATF blacklisting, and diplomatic isolation to pressure Pakistan into dismantling its terror infrastructure.

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Indias Operation Sindoor was a precise strike, but it also exposed the need for a broader strategy to counter Pakistans proxy war. The global community, particularly the U.S. and UN, must act decisively, recognising Pakistan not as an ally but as a state that glorifies terrorists with state honours. Failure to do so risks further emboldening a nation that thrives on chaos. The Muridke funeral is not just Pakistans shame; it is a challenge to the worlds resolve against terrorism. Accountability must begin now.

The author teaches journalism at St Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

About the Author Sayantan Ghosh Sayantan Ghosh is an independent journalist based in Kolkata and former policy research fellow at Delhi Assembly Research Center. He tweets as @sayantan_gh Sayantan Ghosh is an independent journalist based in Kolkata and former policy research fellow at Delhi Assembly Research Center. He tweets as @sayantan_gh

First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:48 IST
Opinion | Why Trump May Seek Bigger Stakes In Geo(graphy) Politics

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 10:26 IST

If the US Congress does not pass the Gulf of America Bill, a presidential order to turn the Atlantic into American Ocean may be next

A lot hinges on how much of the world falls in with Trumps attempt to rewrite oceanography. (X)

The widening gulf between Donald Trump and Mexico draws attention to the fact that many water bodies were not always known by the names they are now. Trump is just attempting to do what Western imperial powers did for centuries. They imposed the current names and spellings of areas they captured, which stayed on till recently. No one gave much thought to how names of geographical features were given or even changed because the West controlled the narrative.

Starting with oceans, the biggest marine entities, the five are known as the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and the Southern or Antarctic, the last of which is the most recently named. Seas, gulfs, bays and sounds are smaller saltwater expanses that are too many to name. But suffice it to say Trump has decided on cartographically capturing the worlds largest gulf, that laps the coast of southern US. Name changes, needless to add, are a perennial feature of geo(graphy)-politics.

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The ancient Greek treatise Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, for example, described the lands including India around a vast water body. Erythra means Red in Greek and that originally named super-sea underwent many name changes and in our era has now split into the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and also the Red Sea, that is now only a fraction of what Erythraean Sea originally signified! So Trumps Gulf of Mexico bid actually has many precedents.

Even so, it is unlikely to be plain sailing. The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-led Bill by 211 to 206 votes to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, moving closer to codifying President Trumps push. The Bill now goes to the Republican-majority Senate, but they will still need 7 Democratic Party votes to get it through. If passed, US federal agencies will have to update all maps and documents, even if other nations do not!

Mexico obviously wont part with its marine legacy either. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced last Friday that Mexico will sue Google for changing Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on its maps in accordance with Trumps executive order. She has the backing of Cuba, which forms the eastern boundary of the gulf. They (and all other countries) are, after all, not obliged to abide by what Trump decrees, even if the Bill manages to scrape through the Senate somehow.

In this context, the long dispute over the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan provides a glimpse of a possible outcome of this tussle between US and Mexico! The International Hydrographic Organisations Limits of Oceans and Seas publication has listed only the Sea of Japan but objections have been initiated in 1992 by both Koreas (who call it East Sea or Korean East Sea) at the UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names.

Japan avers that the Sea of Japan has been used for over a century, but the two Koreas use East Sea or Donghae which they say was the seas name for 2,000 years. Most international bodies go with any of the three names (with the Korean versions usually in brackets). Significantly, however, the IHO has maintained it is unable to change or add to the name Sea of Japan in its key publication. How Trump will react if this same answer is given to him is anybodys guess.

Though India has no disputes over marine names around its peninsula, it has for long had an issue with political maps, as the world insists on describing Kashmir as Indian-administered" and Pakistan-administered" though the princely state had legally acceded to India in 1947. There is little India can do to remedy that and therefore international organisations including foreign media consistently refer to Kashmir with a prefix. Trump clearly needs to be told about this.

But the attitudes of Mexico and the US are understandable. Considering the worlds largest gulf has been referred to as Gulf of Mexico since the 16th century named after Mexica, the Nahuatl endonym for Aztecsthere is every reason for Mexico to resist it being hijacked by the US. The world should be thankful, though, that the Aztec name for the gulf did not prevail: Chalchiuhtlicueyecatl. Then Trump may well have found many takers for his alternative earlier!

As the word America is shared by two continents and forms only a part of the name of his own country, Trump has been trying to appropriateor reclaimit in as many ways as possible. Make in America, America First, Make America Great Again have all been drummed into the worlds consciousness. That Trumps push for a Gulf of America is being seen as the move to highlight a country rather than two continents seems to indicate a partial success of this campaign.

Perhaps someone informed Trump that it used to be called Gulf of Florida before being named after Mexico by the Spanish colonists, thus giving him an additional proprietorial interest in that part of the hydrosphere. Not that the states of the US are under-represented aqueously. The US has gulfs named after Maine, California and Alaska, a bay after Delaware and a strait after Florida. But Trump must be miffed that all these are much smaller than the gulf named after Mexico.

A lot hinges on how much of the world falls in with Trumps attempt to rewrite oceanography. If he is successful in selling" Gulf of America, it could trigger a tsu-name of renaming, even if they are co-terminus with his presidency. He has already floated a new name: Persian Gulf to Arabian Gulf, which may be aimed at tickling the ego of his reported buddy Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the other Arab potentates he is slated to meet tomorrow.

That proposal name is odd as a larger expanse of water is already called the Arabian Sea, though the biggest country that abuts it is not Arab at all. It is India. The sea on the other side of the Indian peninsula is called the Bay of Bengal though the state of West Bengal has just 721 km of coastline bordering it while Tamil Nadu has 1,068 km and Andhra Pradesh 1,053km. Bangladesh has a mere 580km coastline, but may well pitch for Bay of Bangladesh one day!

But Indias link with the bay is older than the Bengal name. Ancient Greeks called it Gaggetikos Kolpos and the Romans called it Sinus Gangeticus, both meaning Ganges Bay or Gulf. West Bengals Gangasagar island (Sea of Ganges) may hark back to the waterbodys local name in ancient times. The Burma Sea beside the Bay of Bengal is now called Andaman Sea but Myanmar has not protested. It simply regards it as an extension of its own Gulf of Martaban.

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India does not quibble about smaller waterbodies as it has the unique distinction of having an ocean bearing its name. Even China has only a couple of seas and two marine islets with tags linked to it. Russia has the Siberian Sea but Putin could do a Trump by renaming the Black Sea as Russian Sea. And Trump may well decide that a gulf is too small for a great" America and instead turn to renaming the Atlantic Ocean as the American Ocean. Watch out, world.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 13, 2025, 10:26 IST
Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:51 IST

1 / 8 Property disputes are common within familiesbetween brothers, between fathers and children, and even among daughters, as they too have property rights. The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, has provided equal rights to daughters in their father's property. However, this right is subject to specific conditions. (News18 Kannada)

2 / 8 Self-Acquired Property: If the father has purchased the property with his own earnings, he has full rights over it. Whether he sells the property, gifts it, or bequeaths it to someone in his will, the decision is entirely his. If it is not ancestral property, daughters have no automatic legal right. However, if the father has mentioned the daughter in his will, she will be entitled to the property. (News18 Kannada)

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3 / 8 Partition Before 2005: If the ancestral property was legally divided and registered before 2005, daughters cannot claim rights over it. Courts have upheld such earlier partitions as valid. However, if the partition was unequal, it can be challenged in a court of law. (News18 Kannada)

4 / 8 Gifted Property: If the ancestor gifted the property to someone and the gift deed is legally valid, daughters will have no right to that property. The law does not revoke such legally executed gifts. (News18 Kannada)

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5 / 8 Voluntary Renunciation: If the daughter signs an agreement voluntarily relinquishing her share of the property, for example, in exchange for money or other benefits, she forfeits her right. However, if the agreement was signed under duress or fraud, she can challenge it in court. (News18 Kannada)

6 / 8 Exclusion From Will: If the father has drafted a valid will and has explicitly excluded his daughter from inheriting the property, she will not be entitled to a share. The law gives precedence to the will. However, if the will was created under duress or fraud, she can contest it legally. (News18 Kannada)

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7 / 8 Property Settled In Trust: If the property has been transferred to a trust or legally transferred to someone else, daughters will have no right to inherit it. Properties held in trust are protected under the law. (News18 Kannada)
On the morning of May 13, Anhui province held the policy-interpretation press conference for the Action Plan for Accelerating the Construction of a GovernmentIndustryUniversityResearchFinanceServiceApplication Integrated Development Mechanism in Anhui Province.

Journalists at the conference learned that, drawing on the experiences of Beijings benchmark incubators and Shanghais high-quality incubators, focusing on advanced-technology enterprise incubation and future-industry cultivation, and through measures such as attracting out-of-province resources, Integration and co-construction, and upgrading existing platforms, the province plans to build 10 top-tier incubators by 2029. This will further link the full chain of technological innovation, technology transfer and incubation, enterprise cultivation, and industrial clustering, supporting the high-quality development of Anhuis strategic emerging industries and future industries.

At present, the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology has led a broad solicitation of top-tier incubator construction needs from cities, and specialized teams in various industries. Based on the development needs of Anhuis emerging and future industries, it has compiled a first-round shortlist of projects in five fieldsartificial intelligence, life sciences, robotics, aerospace information, and integrated circuitsand is now organizing the relevant entities to submit applications under the reveal-the-list process.





Source: anhuinews.com
Azerbaijan raises spending on butter imports from Belarus in early 2025

Azerbaijan's butter imports from Belarus saw a marked increase in both volume and value during the first two months of 2025. Azerbaijan imported a total of 2,900 tons of butter, mainly from Iran, New Zealand, and Belarus.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 14:11 IST

1 / 4 PM Modi visited the Adampur airbase. On X, he wrote, "It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness." (Image Credit: X)

2 / 4 At the Adampur airbase, PM Modi interacted with soldiers following Operation Sindoor. (Image Credit: X)

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3 / 4 Pakistan had claimed it had caused damage to the Adampur airbase of India, but the Prime Ministers visit debunked those claims. (Image Credit: X)
Indian Woman Claims UK Masters Degree No Longer Guarantees Jobs

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:45 IST

An Indian marketing professional based in London said UK's job scene is undergoing a dire state for travelling students.

The woman claimed 90% of her batchmates couldn't secure a job in the UK. (Representative Image)

Janhavi Jain, a London-based Indian woman, caught the internets attention after a viral post where she advised international students not to pursue a masters degree in the UK, claiming it would be a serious challenge for them to land a job. A marketing professional herself, Jain went to UK for the masters after finishing her graduation in India and was one of the lucky students who managed to secure a job after completing their studies.

Jain claimed 90% of her batchmates were left frustrated and returned to India in bitter disappointment upon their unsuccessful search for a good job. In her viral post shared over Twitter on Sunday, May 11, the woman revealed that travelling students hoping to secure employment in the United Kingdom will need money to throw" to get a gig.

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I have tons of people text me about coming to the UK for masters, I will tell you to not come, 90% of my batch had to go back because there are no jobs, unless you have money to throw, dont consider it Janhavi Jain (@janwhyy) May 11, 2025

I have tons of people text me about coming to the UK for masters, I will tell you to not come, 90% of my batch had to go back because there are no jobs, unless you have money to throw, dont consider it," Jain wrote in a post that directed attention towards UKs job market scene and the increasingly restrictive immigration policies that the country has adopted.

Jains post attracted a flood of comments, including a users claim that UKs job scene has always been stringent. Even for those who obtain the masters degree. But the woman responded on the contrary lines, saying aspirants never faced as many obstacles in securing employment before. 60-70% of people got jobs within 6-12 months It was never this bad," she replied to a user.

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In a query, a user asked the marketing professional whether the condition is field-dependent since he believes the market is booming for the medical and financial industry. Depends on the field right? Medicine and financial industry is booming," the Twitter user asked, before Jain laid bare the dire situation travelling students are dealing with. Idk people from medicine, finance is not getting jobs either," she wrote.

Jain was appreciated for her honesty and fair take on UKs job scene, helping students better assess before planning to continue their studies in UK. Appreciate the honestysounds like its worth weighing the risks seriously before jumping in," one user said.

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: May 13, 2025, 11:45 IST
Noida Man Suffers 35% Burns After Toilet Seat Explodes

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:53 IST

No electrical problem caused the explosion.

Ashu was not using a cell phone or any other electronic device at the time of incident. (Representative Image)

A Noida mans routine bathroom visit turned into a nightmare after his toilet seat exploded, leaving him with serious burn injuries.

The incident occurred in Sector 36 of Noida. The blast left Ashu with severe burn injuries to his face and body. He was rushed to the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida, where doctors confirmed he had suffered 35 per cent burns," Ashus father, Sunil Pradhan, told The Times of India, describing the horrifying moment.

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He stressed Ashu was not using a cell phone or any other electronic device at the time, dismissing popular notions such as gadget explosions.

Although it may sound like a surreal news column, accidents of this nature may occur anywhere, particularly in houses with outdated or badly maintained plumbing systems.

What led to the explosion

According to preliminary information, no electrical problem caused the explosion. At the time, the air conditioner and every other appliance in the house were operating fine.

But methane gas buildup  the unexpected but potentially hazardous  may have caused the explosion, the family believes. The buildup inside the toilet bowl was probably a result of a clogged drain, the added.

Pipes here are not just old, but they havent been cleaned in years. Choked pipes can lead to the accumulation of gas, which can explode under pressure," a resident, Harinder Bhati, shared his concerns with ToI.

A chemistry professor agreed, stating methane could build up in restricted bathroom spaces and sewage lines, especially when drains are blocked or ventilation is inadequate.

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Even though the occurrence was concerning, AP Verma, a senior manager at the Greater Noida Authority, reportedly said, The system is clean and functioning normally. It appears that the explosion might have resulted from some internal problem within the house." He did not, however, specify what those internal issues may be.

Even though these explosions are uncommon, homeowners are recommended to routinely check and clean their plumbing systems, particularly in older properties, to avoid hazardous gas accumulation.

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: May 13, 2025, 17:53 IST
Fresh Fanboying Over Owaisi's Post On 'Flattened' Pakistani Air Base: 'Ek Dil...Kitni Baar Jeetoge?'

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Sumedha Kirti



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 15:45 IST

Air Marshal AK Bharti a shared footage on Monday from Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan Airbase, showing a massive crater resulting from the IAF's strike.

Internet is flooded with memes of Asaduddin Owaisi since the Pahalgam attack, followed bu India-Pakistan tension. (X/@sai__varma00).

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, desi internets latest favourite, is here again with a savage response to Pakistan. This time he has taken a jibe at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and neighbours army chief Asim Munir.

Will S Sharief & A Munir be able to land their Leased Chinese Aircraft at Rahim Yar khan Airbase ? (sic)," Owaisi wrote on X amid satellite images showing massive damage inflicted at Pakistan air bases during Operation Sindoor on May 10

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Imagery released spotlights damage at Pakistans Rahim Yar Khan airfield  the Indian Air Force strike showcases runway denial capability, an approximate 6-meter wide crater reveals the exposed subgrade layer rendering the strip inoperable pic.twitter.com/9Nu8GlXQcS DEFENCE JOURNALIST SAHIL (@DefenceSahil) May 13, 2025

An Army veteran, Major Adiyagya Singh, replied to Owaisi saying, My intelligence sources told me that they are using Helicopters to land at Rahim Yar Khan Air Base as the roads are also unserviceable at this moment."

A section of netizens, however, ignored the context of India-Pakistan tension linked to Owaisis X post, and began rooting for him: Bengal ka CM banao inko (make him Bengals CM)." Here are other responses:

Air Marshal AK Bharti a shared footage on Monday from Pakistans Rahim Yar Khan Airbase, showing a massive crater resulting from the IAFs strike.

Indias armed forces further inflicted significant damage on Pakistans military infrastructure by destroying the Nur Khan Airbase, a key center of Pakistans air power, through precise strikes under Operation Sindoor.

ALSO READ: After Owaisi, Shashi Tharoor Is Internets New Favourite | Heres Why

Pakistan, meanwhile, in a desperate move, launched drones and missiles at India before a ceasefire was reached. Islamabad officials accepted that they used a Chinese-made J-10C aircraft to launch air-to-air missiles.

Owaisi, in his X post, too accused Sharif and Munir of using aircrafts by China. AIMIM chiefs accusations gains further significance as experts both in Shanghai and New Delhi too are suspicious of Chinas role.

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Lin Minwang, the deputy director of Fudan Universitys Centre for South Asian Studies in Shanghai, noted that India has been wary of Chinas close relationship with Pakistan for a long time.

Chinas role in the India-Pakistan conflict has come under a cloud for its all-weather friendship with Islamabad," Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor in Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, was quoted by South China Morning Post.

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

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First Published: May 13, 2025, 15:42 IST
Ranveer Allahbadia Shows Laden's Photo On Piers Morgan Show To Expose Pakistan On Terrorism | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:21 IST

Allahabadia appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, exposing Pakistan's terrorism links, defending India's actions post-Pahalgam attack

Allahbadia's video clip from the show where he was showing pictures of Laden and Rauf was widely shared on social media. (Photos: X/PiersUncensored)

Indian podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, who stayed away from the limelight after his sex with parents" remark caused nationwide outrage, appeared on the Piers Morgan Uncensored talk show, where two people from Pakistan were also present to discuss the latest conflict between the two neighbouring countries.

Allahabadia exposed Pakistans terrorism links and said the nation has become the terror hub of the world. He defended Indias retaliatory actions in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack as precision-oriented, moderated, and a retaliation".

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India has never been an aggressor in any of these situations", the podcaster pointed out.

On the show, Allahabadia showed photos of Osama bin Laden, founder of terror group al-Qaeda, who was killed in Abbottabad in Pakistan in 2011, and said he was found 800 metres from a military base. The world only knows this person (Osama bin Laden) India has a list of people like him," he added.

Allahabadia also displayed a photograph of US-designated global terrorist and senior LeT commander Hafiz Abdul Rauf who was leading funeral prayers for the terrorists killed in Indias cross-border precision strikes.

A UN-designated terrorist was being celebrated by the Pakistani military. If you check with the US, theyd tell you he is Abdul Rauf Raufs face is the one that India recognises," he said while showing his picture.

THIS is the narrative the world should know."Ranveer Allahbadia holds up a picture of Osama Bin Laden during Piers Morgans debate on the ceasefire with Pakistan. Watch in full   https://t.co/Qdt5aeDU8q@piersmorgan | @BeerBicepsGuy | @BDUTT pic.twitter.com/9l0XVWZkHy  Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) May 12, 2025

Allahbadias video clip from the show where he was showing pictures of Laden and Rauf was widely shared on social media. The panel on Piers Morgans talk show also featured Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Khar, and Shehzad Ghias Shaikh from The Pakistan Experience.

Utterly Ludicrous Statement: Piers Morgan Slams Pakistan Analysts Osama Claim On Live TV

Hitting out further at Pakistan, the podcaster highlighted Indias economy is eleven times that of Pakistans.

Piers, my question is to you. Youve seen the objective facts and figures. What do you feel about this situation?" he asked.

Morgan fired another question at him on his now-deleted post controversial where he addressed Pakistani brothers and sisters whom he said he doesnt hate.

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Allahabad said he deleted the post because the ceasefire was announced.

I deleted it because Pakistan had just broken the ceasefire and gave us another reason to not trust the entire state once again," Allahbadia said. Even if you try to have a conversation with Pakistan, it responds with wheres the proof of the Pahalgam attack? We are combatting terrorism and Pakistan exports terrorism This is not an Indian narrative, this is the narrative that the world should know," he said.

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

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: May 13, 2025, 10:08 IST
Watch: Wedding Reception Ends With Woman Thrashing The Groom

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 16:36 IST

The woman accused the groom of betrayal before proceeding to thrash him.

The incident took place at Bhubaneshwars Kalyan Mandap on Sunday. (Photo Credits: Unsplash)

Weddings are meant for celebration. The smiling bride and groom, the happy guests and some delicious food, whats not to like?

While weddings are always emotional, sometimes the occasion can be the site of some intense drama, making it memorable for everyone involved for some not-so-positive reasons. A wedding reception in Bhubaneshwar turned chaotic after a woman entered the venue with the police.

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She accused the groom of betrayal and claimed he had deceived her with false promises of marriage, shocking everyone at the venue. The reception ended when the woman confronted the groom and thrashed him while the wedding guests tried to intervene.

The incident occurred at Bhubaneshwars Kalyan Mandap on Sunday. A video of the confrontation at the wedding reception has gone viral.

According to reports, the woman claimed she entered into a formal engagement with the groom. She accused him of going on to marry someone else without informing her. She alleged the groom subjected her to mental harassment and called off the relationship without giving her an explanation. She also charged the groom with taking Rs 5 lakh from her during the course of their relationship and not giving it back.

Aggrieved to know about his wedding to another, the woman stormed the venue with police officers and proceeded to publicly confront the man. According to her complaint, the man had refused to communicate with her in the days leading up to his wedding.

Overcome by emotion, the woman started beating the groom, while onlookers tried to separate the two. A video of the fight was shared on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, Woman disrupts wedding reception in Bhubaneswar, accuses groom of betrayal."

Take a look at the clip here:

Woman disrupts wedding reception in Bhubaneswar, accuses groom of betrayal#odisha #Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/93FSXrf1Ch Karthick Chandrasekar (@kart997) May 13, 2025

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The groom was later taken into custody for questioning. A complaint was registered at the Lingaraj as well as the Womens Police Stations. An inquiry has been initiated to verify the womans claim. The police will examine whether the matter falls under cheating and breach of trust.

According to reports, both parties were escorted to the Lingaraj Police for discussions on the matter. The womans father later claimed that a compromise had been reached.

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: May 13, 2025, 16:36 IST
Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:49 IST

Pakistan's Army violated ceasefire with India on Saturday evening, hours after an understanding was reached with Shehbaz Sharif (R) government. (File photo: AFP)

Pakistans crises stem from the personal ego of their Army Chief General Asim Munir, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18. Daily ceasefire violations have contributed to increasing body counts in Pakistan. Pakistans military leadership prioritises proxy warfare and nuclear threats over modernising defences or addressing governance failures.

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Dependence on outdated Chinese exports and harbouring terrorists instigated a conflict they couldnt win, exposing the superficiality of Chinas all-weather ally label. No amount of ISPR propaganda can conceal Pakistan Armys shortcomings.

The crisis was not unprovoked but a result of Pakistans rogue policies. For stability, Pakistan must dismantle terror networks, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, in his first address since Operation Sindoor on Monday, warned that Pakistans continued support for terrorism  both by its government and military  would ultimately lead to the countrys downfall.

Certainly, this is not an era of war. But it is also not an era of terrorism. A zero-tolerance policy against terrorism is the guarantee for a better world. The Pakistani army and government, which are nurturing terrorism, will one day bring an end to Pakistan itself. If Pakistan wants to survive, it must eliminate terrorism. There is no other path to peace," PM Modi said in his address.

Operation Sindoor has set a new standard in the fight against terrorism. It has established a new normal. First, whenever there is a terrorist attack on India, a strong response will be given. We will respond in our own way and take action at every place where the roots of terrorism are found. Second, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail," he added.

List Of Pakistan Military Personnel Killed

Meanwhile, Pakistan has released a list of 11 of their military personnel from Army And Air Force, who were killed during the India-Pakistan artillery exchange after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

Those who were killed from Pakistan Army include

 Naik Abdul Rehman

 Lance Naik Dilawar Khan

 Lance Naik Ikramullah

 Naik Waqar Khalid

 Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar

 Sepoy Nisar

Those killed in Pakistan Air Force include

 Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf

 Chief Technician Aurangzeb

 Senior Technician Najeeb

 Corporal Technician Farooq

 Senior Technician Mubashir

Pakistan also added that 78 other Army and Air Force personnel were injured.

However, Indias Air Marshal AK Bharti said in a press briefing that at least 30-40 Pakistani armed forces personnel were killed in Indias counter strikes at Pakistans airbases and in the firing.

India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10 with drones and missiles. However, Islamabad failed to cause any damage due to Indias advanced air defence systems.

In turn, India launched precision strikes on Pakistan airbases in 11 cities successfully.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

On May 9, several Pakistani systems attacked multiple IAF bases. They came in waves. Our AD guns and other systems were waiting for them. Pechora and SAMAR were also used to neutralise mass raid of drones by the Pakistani side. There was no damage on the ground from these mass raids from the Pakistani side," Air Marshal AK Bharti said during a briefing on Operation Sindoor and the aftermath.

Then decision was taken to strike where it hurts in swift coordinated calibrated attack. We struck air bases and command centres. We struck Chaklala in Islamabad, Rahim Yar KhanRafiki, Sargodha, Bholari, Jacobabad. We struck a UAV complex at Murid, radar at ChunianWe have the capability to target every system. It was a measured response. Our response was directed at military installations avoiding civilian and collateral damage."

Bharti showed the before and after images of Pasrur air defence radar, Chunian air defence radar, Arifwala air defence radar, Sargodha airfield (two impact points), Rahim Yar Khan airfield, Chaklala airfield (Nur Khan), Sukkur airfield, Bholari airfield and Jacobabad airfield.
3. Houthis Ceasefire

Trump has announced a halt to American airstrikes against Yemens Huthi rebels following a ceasefire agreement where the group has pledged to stop disrupting key maritime shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The agreement was announced after Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday disabled Sanaa International Airport.

The Iran-backed Huthis, who have controlled large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa since 2014, launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and international shipping in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza war.

Starting in November 2023, the Huthis expanded their campaign to strike vessels linked to Israel. After U.S. and British forces began retaliatory strikes in January 2024, the rebels also targeted ships connected to those nations. The American-led operation, codenamed Rough Rider," reportedly struck more than 1,000 targets in Yemen, resulting in around 300 deaths according to Huthi-provided figures.

Despite the ceasefire, a Huthi official told AFP that the group would continue targeting Israeli ships, narrowing their previous broader targeting of vessels with even minimal connections to Israel.

4. India-Pakistan Ceasefire

Trump has claimed to have brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the two nuclear-armed nations engaged in the conflict over the Pahalgam terror attack. India launched strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan, infamous for promoting and breeding terrorists, after the attack in Pahalgam where 26 people lost their lives. Islamabad made an unsuccessful retaliation attempt by targeting drone and missile attacks on Indian cities, leading to the escalation of the situation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was involved in backchannel talks with Indian and Pakistan officials over the ceasefire. Trump announced the truce in a social media post on April 10.

We helped a lot, and we also helped with trade. I said. Come on, were going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Lets stop it, lets stop it. If you stop it, were doing trade. If you dont stop it, were not going to do any trade. People have never really used trade the way I used it. By that, I can tell you, and all of a sudden they said. I think were gonna stop, and they have," he said.

5. American Hostage Freed From Gaza

Edan Alexander, a dual US-Israeli national held captive by Hamas for over a year and a half, has been freed. Alexander, a soldier in the Israeli army, was taken hostage during Hamass October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel  an assault that left 1,218 people dead, mostly civilians, according to official figures compiled by AFP. He was released after 584 days in captivity, just before a regional visit by US President Donald Trump.

Hamass armed wing confirmed the handover, which Trump described as monumental news" and a good faith gesture" in a social media post on Sunday.

Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military believes are no longer alive. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 2,749 people have been killed since the latest phase of the Israeli campaign began, bringing the total death toll in Gaza since the start of the war to 52,862.

6. Executive Order To Slash Drug Prices

President Donald Trump signed an extensive executive order on Monday aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in the United States by addressing what he termed unreasonable or discriminatory" practices by foreign countries that result in higher costs for Americans.

Starting today, the United States will no longer subsidize the health care of foreign countries, which is what we were doing," Trump announced before signing the order, suggesting that it could reduce U.S. drug prices by up to 90%.

A key provision of the order requires pharmaceutical companies to offer American patients the lowest price charged for a drug in any comparable country, a concept known as Most Favored Nation" (MFN) pricing. Trump warned that if drugmakers do not comply voluntarily, the federal government would intervene.

He directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose pricing benchmarks within 30 days.
Former Pakistani Minister Hina Khar Storms Out Of Live Debate When Grilled On Terrorism

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:32 IST

Former Pakistan minister Hina Rabbani Khar left a live TV debate when asked about terrorism and the Army's role. Indian journalist Barkha Dutt criticised Pakistan's instability.

Khar was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan in July 2011, the first woman to have held the position. (Photo: X/PiersMorgan)

Former Pakistan minister Hina Rabbani Khar walked out of a live television news debate when she was asked to respond to questions on terrorism and the Armys supremacy in so-called democratic Pakistan.

Indian journalist Barkha Dutt appeared on UK journalist Piers Morgans Uncensored" talk show where Khar was also present to discuss India-Pakistan tensions in the wake of Operation Sindoor. Khar repeatedly dodged the questions on terrorists in Pakistan and even Morgan accused her of being involved in a whataboutery".

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When Dutti pressed her to answer if Lashkar and Jaish were terror groups", the former minister refused to acknowledge them as terrorists and said, This is the narrative you have been putting up for the last 20 years. I will not stop myself to answer this."

When Morgan asked her if these terror groups are operating with impunity in Pakistan, Khar said, I would reject your last comment. Pakistan is the country which is trying to correct the wrongs."

Ranveer Allahbadia Shows Ladens Photo On Piers Morgan Show To Expose Pakistan On Terrorism | Watch

Khars screen on the live-streaming feed turned black later when Dutt was grilling her and Pakistan on terrorism and its Armys interference in governments.

Power cuts are so frequent in pakistan that they happen when you are losing a debate.Catch the disappearing act of @HinaRKhar on @piersmorgan #piersmorgan @BDUTT @BeerBicepsGuy pic.twitter.com/VqmpuoDjgb  satire_sarathy (@SarathySatire) May 13, 2025

In a video shared on X, Dutt was heard saying: Modi is an elected prime minister of India in his third term unlike Prime ministers of Pakistan who are appointed by the Army, jailed or exiled. Your country is in turmoil because Imran Khan has been jailed. Shehbaz Sharif an Army-appointed PM. Did you know what your defence minister Khwaja Asif said in an interview that Pakistan used terrorism? Pakistan is doing a dirty job of other countries by using terrorism"

Utterly Ludicrous Statement: Piers Morgan Slams Pakistan Analysts Osama Claim On Live TV

Khar was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan in July 2011, the first woman to have held the position.

In a post on X, journalist Vir Sanghvi called Khar a fool".

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Gosh! This Hina Rabbani Khar really is a fool! https://t.co/UK7TWlvLwf vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) May 13, 2025

Almost 15 days after the Pahalgam terror attack, India conducted retaliatory strikes on Pakistan, killing around 100 terrorists in terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. The tensions escalated after Pakistan launched attacks on civilians and military infrastructure in India, prompting swift retaliatory strikes from New Delhi again. The tensions ended after a ceasefire was announced on May 10.

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: May 13, 2025, 12:22 IST
2 Indian Students From Cleveland State University Killed In Car Crash In New York

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 07:10 IST

Two Indian students from Cleveland State University died in a road accident in New York. The Indian Consulate expressed condolences and is providing support to their families.

A representative image of the New York Police Department (AP)

Two Indian students from Cleveland State University died in a road accident in New York, the Indian Consulate in New York said, as it expressed condolences over the incident.

The deceased students were identified as Manav Patel and Saurav Prabhakar.

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According to news agency PTI, the accident happened on May 10 in Pennsylvania, after a car carrying both the students crashed into a tree and struck a bridge, killing both of them.

Another passenger in the front seat of the vehicle was injured in the accident and rushed to a local hospital.

The Indian Consulate in New York also said it was in close contact with the families of the students, offering all possible support.

Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate road accident in which two Indian students from Cleveland State University, Manav Patel and Saurav Prabhakar lost their lives," the Indian Consulate in New York wrote in an X post.

Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time. The Consulate is in touch with the families and has assured them of all possible assistance," it added.

Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate road accident in which two Indian students from Cleaveland State University, Manav Patel and Saurav Prabhakar lost their lives;Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time. The Consulate is in touch India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) May 12, 2025

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PTI quoted the Lancaster County coroners office and Pennsylvania state police, and reported that Prabhakar was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Both students died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries, it added.

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: May 13, 2025, 07:06 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Baku hosted the opening ceremony of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition, Caspian Agro, the largest in the Caspian region, Trend reports.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov, Chairman of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan Goshgar Tahmazli, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) Orkhan Mammadov, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations Mammad Musayev, and other officials.

The 2nd Azerbaijan Innovation Forum and panel discussions on various areas of the agricultural sector are planned to be held within the framework of the international exhibition, which will be held on May 13-16.

In total, 450 companies from 31 countries are participating in the exhibition.

President of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev stated that only from January through March 2025 Azerbaijani entrepreneurs exported abroad fruits and vegetables worth $153.3 million.

He noted that the development of the agrarian sphere in Azerbaijan is important both in terms of the employment of the population and food security of our country:

Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, hundreds of modern agricultural parks, processing enterprises, and new productions have been created in the country. The share of domestic products in meeting domestic demand has increased. Azerbaijani entrepreneurs exported fruits and vegetables worth $153.3 million abroad only from January through March 2025. The volume of sales of fruit and vegetable processing products abroad amounted to 8.7 million manat ($5.1 million). Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages worth about 14 million manat ($8.2 million) and cotton fiber worth 40 million manat ($23.5 million) were exported," he noted.

I am confident that Caspian Agro and Interfood Azerbaycan this year will also become a useful platform for food industry specialists, rich in innovations and export opportunities. Introduction of new technologies in this sphere will raise the opportunities for establishing cooperation, exchange of experience with foreign specialists to a higher level, Musayev added.

The Executive Director of AZPROMO, Yusif Abdullayev, said that AZPROMO plans to ensure the participation of entrepreneurs in 2025 with a single country stand at the exhibitions WorldFood Moscow 2025, Anuga in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

He noted that with the support of the Agency, Azerbaijani companies regularly successfully participate in global and local exhibitions, our local products are presented at the stands of a single country under the brand Made in Azerbaijan, export contracts are signed, and products are introduced to new markets:

In 2024, with the support of AZPROMO, our exporters participated in a total of 10 international exhibitions, including the 47th Baghdad International Fair, Greenweek and Prowein in Germany, Prodexpo and Russia Halal Expo 2024 in Russia, Gulfood in the United Arab Emirates, FOODEX in Japan, as well as Macfrut in Rimini, Italy, Saudi Food Show 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

This year, we continue to support our exporters and continue to actively participate in the shows. Currently, with our support, our companies are participating in the Saudi Food Expo 2025 in Riyadh with a unified country stand, and from tomorrow, our exporters will participate in the Russia-Halal Expo 2025 in Kazan. At today's InterFood exhibition at the Made in Azerbaijan AZPROMO stand, 8 companies working in the production of natural honey, fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, alcoholic beverages, wine, and dairy products are presented, Abdullayev said.

In addition, I would like to note that in 2025 we plan to ensure the participation of entrepreneurs with a single domestic stand at international import exhibitions WorldFood Moscow 2025, Anuga " in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai. And at local exhibitions, we plan to participate in the 5th Rebuild Karabah, which will be held in October," Y. Abdullayev said.

Chairman of the Food Security Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Goshgar Tahmazli noted that the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan On Food Security was adopted in order to form the legal basis of the food security system in accordance with international practice, and 15 rules were approved based on the implementation of this law, and 79 normative legal acts were amended within the framework of adaptation.

He noted that 24 technical normative legal acts were adopted by the decision of the Board of the Agency in the past period to harmonize sanitary norms and rules with international standards in the field of food security, veterinary, and phytosanitary:

The Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan On Plant Health has been prepared and sent to the relevant state bodies for comment, and is currently undergoing a broad public discussion with the participation of stakeholders. At the same time, the Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan On Animal Health has been prepared to harmonize the existing legislation in the field of animal health protection with international requirements, taking into account the recommendations of international experts.

Tahmazli emphasized that the Red Bridge food safety control point established in the territory of the Gazakh district near the border checkpoint with the Republic of Georgia is equipped with all necessary equipment and has started working to promptly implement food safety control during import-export operations:

"In recent years, following progressive international practice, serious work has been carried out to confirm the sanitary status of our republic on diseases that pose a threat to human and animal health, as well as causing violations of biological safety in the environment. In this context, Azerbaijan is recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health as a country free from small-horned animal plague and highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2024, and at the same time, the status of freedom from African horse fever and African swine fever achieved in previous years is maintained.

"All these achievements, targeted measures to ensure biological safety in the country, achieving the status of free from several animal diseases existing in the world, development of international cooperation, and establishment of new ties create favorable conditions for the export potential of several food products produced in our country.

Thus, the export of eggs from the Republic of Azerbaijan to a number of countries, including the Russian Federation and the United States of America, has started," Tahmazli said.

"The continuity of authorizations for export of caviar obtained from fish of the sturgeon genus grown in aquaculture to the countries of the European Union has been ensured.

Implementation of measures in the field of food security envisaged in I State Program on Great Return to the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan approved by the relevant Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, continued successfully. Following the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health, epidemiological monitoring and other necessary measures have been carried out in farms belonging to the zone free of animal diseases to be established in the liberated territories, G. Tahmazli added.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Elchin Zeynalov said: "In recent years, large-scale reforms on the development of agriculture have been implemented in our country, state support mechanisms have been strengthened, access of farmers to technologies and financial resources has been facilitated.

The Caspian Agro and InterFood Azerbaijan exhibitions, which celebrate their anniversary this year, have for many years been important platforms for local and foreign companies to present innovative solutions and new technologies in agriculture and the food industry.

This exhibition provides an opportunity for farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals to exchange opinions on topical issues of agriculture and the food industry, establish business contacts, and familiarize themselves with modern innovations.

The opportunities have been created to familiarize our farmers with modern agricultural machinery, precision farming systems, digital management tools, and environmentally friendly production technologies," he said.

"To mitigate climate change, increase the efficient use of land and water resources and make agriculture greener and more efficient, we are adopting innovative approaches.

Introducing more digital solutions, expanding e-agriculture platforms, and increasing the availability of financial and insurance instruments for entrepreneurs working in the agricultural sector are also among the main goals in this area. We believe that the introduction in our country of new plant varieties and productive breeds in animal husbandry, the formation of farm models based on modern technologies, and the automation of production processes will have a positive impact on the development of the agricultural sector.

Important events increasing the importance of the exhibition this year are the presentation of fishery and aquaculture at the exhibition, as well as holding of the II International Forum of Agrarian Innovations. Caspian Agro Fair is an important platform for demonstrating innovative solutions and advanced technologies that will also contribute to the development of fisheries and aquaculture.

At the same time, the Forum will open new opportunities for farmers and agribusiness representatives, and create an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience. I hope that the exhibition will be useful for everyone working in the agricultural sector, expand their experience and business opportunities.
Indias Operation Sindoor Reduces Pakistan To Junkyard Of Chinese Weapons | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 11:32 IST

China's refusal to share cutting-edge technology, such as J-20 stealth fighters, has left Pakistan with outdated systems and pilots struggling with real-world combat scenarios

Operation Sindoor: photos captured by Maxar Technologies showed visuals of destruction of two terror infrastructures in Bahawalpur and Muridke in Punjab province of Pakistan (Photos: Maxar Technologies/Reuters)

Indias Operation Sindoor and Pakistans futile attempts to escalate tensions by using drones and missiles against India have once again exposed the critical vulnerabilities in Pakistans defence infrastructure which has become dependent on Chinese military hardware.

Though cheap, the arms and air-defence systems supplied by China are often downgraded compared to those it uses domestically.

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A glaring issue is the ineffectiveness of Chinese air defence systems against stealth and precision attacks. The HQ-9B, marketed as a Patriot equivalent, and the HQ-16, failed to intercept Indian SCALP stealth cruise missiles and HAMMER glide bombs. These systems struggle with detecting low-altitude, terrain-hugging threats due to limited detection ranges and susceptibility to jamming.

Pakistans air defence also lacks redundancy and layered coordination, which Indian SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) tactics exploited by targeting radar nodes, crippling the entire network. Additionally, Pakistans fighter jets, reliant on pre-programmed flight paths, are outmatched by Indian technology, making them predictable targets.

A significant 81 per cent of Pakistans arms imports come from China, creating a dependency without diversification. Chinas refusal to share cutting-edge technology, such as the J-20 stealth fighters, has left Pakistan with outdated systems, while Indias mix of Russian, Western, and homegrown technology has reduced its dependency risks and enhanced adaptability.

Sources indicate that Chinese systems sold to Pakistan are downgraded. For instance, the HQ-9P has a 125 km range compared to Chinas domestic HQ-9B, which has a range of 250-300 km. A Pakistani LY-80 radar system in Gujranwala was destroyed by Indian Harop loitering munitions due to poor mobility and counter-drone capabilities.

The JF-17s KLJ-7A AESA radar has a smaller aperture than Indias Rafales RBE2-AA radar, reducing detection range and tracking accuracy. Limited fuel capacity restricts operational range, forcing reliance on vulnerable mid-air refueling. Exported PL-15E missiles have a reduced range (145 km) compared to Chinas domestic PL-15 (200-300 km), allowing Indias Rafales with Meteor missiles (200 km) to outrange them.

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Chinese Wing Loong II and CH-4 drones were easily intercepted by Indias Akash SAMs and SMASH-2000 counter-drone systems due to poor maneuverability and lack of stealth features. To add to woes, Pakistans limited defence budget ($10.2 billion vs. Indias $86 billion) has led to maintenance shortfalls. Defective Wing Loong drones reportedly crashed during missions, and the lack of specialised technicians in Pakistan caused downtime during critical operations.

Pakistani pilots, trained on simulators, struggled with real-world combat scenarios, unlike Indias Rafale pilots who trained in France. The operational inflexibility and integration flaws of Chinese arms exports to Pakistan, despite their cost-effectiveness, falter against Indias technologically superior, diversified, and well-integrated defence architecture.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 13, 2025, 11:32 IST
PM Modi's Visit Revealed Adampur Truth, Pak Should Seek Answers From Its Army: Sources | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 18:29 IST

PM Modi's visit to Adampur confirms that Pakistan army fought on fake narrative and fooled the world," say government sources

PM Modi posted a picture of him from the Adampur airbase with a message on the wall behind him saying: Why Enemy Pilots Dont Sleep Well. (X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the Adampur airbase in Punjab, which proved Pakistans claims of destroying the facility were false, is a wake-up call for Islamabad, said government sources.

Modis visit to Adampur confirms that Pakistan army fought on fake narrative and fooled the world. The Pakistan Army, led by General Asim Munir, propagated fabricated videos and images of Adampurs destruction to project a false narrative of military success," said sources.

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PM Modis visit to the Adampur airbase is a strategic rebuttal to Pakistans claims of inflicting heavy damage on the facility. Modis photos and videos at Adampur showcased the intact S-400 air defence system and MiG-29 fighter jets. This directly contradicts Pakistans assertions that these assets were destroyed by hypersonic missiles," said sources.

Satellite imagery from third parties, such as Chinas Mizar Vision, had also confirmed that no structural damage was caused to the airbase.

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation. pic.twitter.com/RYwfBfTrV2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

Modis Adampur visit was not merely a morale booster for Indian forces, but a calculated exposure of Pakistans disinformation tactics. The contrast between Pakistans claims and ground realities validated by Modis visit and international imagery reveals systemic deception. This undermines public trust in military leadership and state institutions," said sources.

For Pakistanis, this episode tells the urgency to critically evaluate their militarys narratives. Pakistanis should push for accountability," said sources.

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The Pakistan Army is dependent on psychological manipulation, rather than credible military outcomes. This could isolate Pakistan both regionally and globally. The locals must question the militarys non-transparent operations and demand transparency," said sources.

Sources said, The Armys repeated failures can now be seen. It is clear the Pakistan failed to inflict meaningful damage on India despite nuclear posturing. The general who was hiding in bunkers fooled his people, government and territorial army who worked for his wrongdoings. The public of Pakistan should demand answers."

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 13, 2025, 18:26 IST
Pakistan Army Chief Munir's 'No Hostile Design' Remark A 'Classic Deflection Tactic': Intel Sources | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 08:49 IST

General Munir made the comments during his visit to Rawalpindi hospita to inquire well-being of soldiers and civilians wounded in the military confrontation with India

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. (File Image)

Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munirs delayed public appearance two days after Indias Operation Sindoor reflects Pakistans attempt to project strength. Munir is showing false strength and masking operational setbacks, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18.

Munirs claim that no hostile design can weaken Pakistans resolve is a classic deflection tactic". It aims to downplay Indias successful strikes on terror infrastructure in Bahawalpur, Muridke and portray Pakistan as unaffected", sources added.

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Indias counterterrorism operation was not hostile design or unprovoked aggression". Munir is trying to humanise his failure and avoid scrutiny of strategic failures of radar gaps.

he is highlighting civilian casualties to reinforce Pakistans victimhood narrative globally, according to sources.

The two-day gap likely allowed Pakistans military to assess operational losses, especially Noor Khan airbase damage. The statement attempts to reassure Pakistans public and military ranks in the middle of economic collapse and Baloch insurgency.

Sources said Munirs statement is a textbook example of propaganda" and masking Pakistans strategic decay".

General Munir made the comments during his visit to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi to inquire well-being of soldiers and civilians wounded in the military confrontation with India.

Munir underscored that no hostile design can erode the determination of the Armed Forces of Pakistan". He also noted that the resolute and unified response exhibited during Marka-e-Haq/Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, in concert with the steadfast support of the Pakistani people, constitutes a defining chapter in the countrys military history.

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India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10 with drones and missiles. However, Islamabad failed to cause any damage due to Indias advanced air defence systems.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Rawalpindi, Pakistan

First Published: May 13, 2025, 08:01 IST
Trump At It Again: After Ceasefire Post, US President Asks India To 'Go Out To Dinner' With Pakistan

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 22:39 IST

Donald Trump falsely claimed that he leveraged trade to broker the ceasefire between India and Pakistan at an investment summit in Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the Saudi-US investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. (IMAGE: AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged India to go out to dinner" with Pakistan and said both nations are getting along well together". India, however, this week put its neighbour on notice that the recently conducted counter-terror operations like Operation Sindoor  where India struck terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in nine locations  is the new normal and Indian forces will strike again if terrorist groups in its soil rear up their heads again.

Let us not trade nuclear missiles, let us trade goods, the good things that you make. Maybe we can even get them together a little bit, Marco, where they go out and have a nice dinner together," Donald Trump said, lauding his Secretary Of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, for their roles.

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 Trump on India-Pakistan: Maybe we could even get them to have a nice dinner together, Marco. Wouldnt that be nice?" He added, We reached a historic ceasefire a few days agomillions could have died in a conflict between India and Pakistan." pic.twitter.com/EWG8tkpGWb BigBreakingWire (@BigBreakingWire) May 13, 2025

We reached a historic ceasefire a few days agomillions could have died in a conflict between India and Pakistan".

Donald Trump claimed that he leveraged trade to broker the ceasefire, a claim that the Indian government has rejected.

US Secretary Rubio spoke to Jaishankar on May 8, 10 and to Doval on May 10; there was no reference to trade in any discussion," the Indian government officials have maintained.

Without naming the US President, the Ministry of External Affairs in a press briefing said that the issue of Kashmir is bilateral in nature.

We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," the ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

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Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the record straight and said that India will speak to Pakistan on terrorism and on the vacation of the PoK by Islamabad and that there is nothing else to talk about.

Talks with Pakistan can only happen on terror and return of PoK, nothing else," PM Modi had said.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

First Published: May 13, 2025, 22:28 IST
Trump Lifts Sanctions On Syria, Says It's To 'Give Them A Chance At Greatness'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 22:44 IST

The surprise announcement came during Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh

US President Donald Trump speaks during the Saudi-US investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. (AFP photo)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, stating that the decision was made to give them a chance at greatness."

The surprise announcement came during his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

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I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump declared, to loud applause from the audience, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

HUGE NEWS.#Trump confirms in #Saudi that he will order" the cessation" of sanctions on #Syria to give them a chance at greatness."He receives a standing ovation from the entire ballroom. pic.twitter.com/UhmRd1foiT  Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) May 13, 2025

The announcement is seen as a major boost for interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has been trying to stabilise the war-ravaged country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.

According to two sources from the Syrian presidency, Sharaa is expected to travel to Riyadh to meet Trump on Wednesday. The White House also confirmed that Trump would say hello" to Sharaa during his Saudi visit, news agency Reuters reported.

Sharaa, once a key figure in Syrias conflict, was previously the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, before distancing himself from the group in 2016. He also spent five years in a US prison in Iraq. Despite the group being designated a terrorist organisation by both the United States and the United Nations, Saudi Arabia has strongly backed lifting sanctions to support Syrias reconstruction and transition.

US Sanctions On Syria

Sanctions were first imposed by the US on Syria in 1979 after the country was designated a state sponsor of terrorism.

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These sanctions were later intensified, especially during Syrias civil war, with multiple executive orders targeting the regimes financial networks, oil trade, and top officials involved in human rights violations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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 : Saudi Arabia

First Published: May 13, 2025, 22:12 IST
US, Saudi Arabia Sign Massive $142 Billion Arms Deal After Trump's Visit To Riyadh

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 21:17 IST

Trump announced Saudi Arabias $600-billion commitment to invest in the United States, covering energy security, defence industry, technology leadership, and critical minerals.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman meets with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh. (Reuters)

The US and Saudi Arabia signed a mammoth arms deal on Tuesday, which the White House called the largest deal in history" amid a raft of agreements inked by Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh.

During his visit to Riyadh, Trump announced Saudi Arabias $600-billion commitment to invest in the United States, aimed at strengthening the US-Saudi partnership in energy security, defence industry, technology leadership, and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals.

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The United States and Saudi Arabia signed the largest defence sales agreement in history  nearly $142 billion, providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment," the White House said in a statement.

These sales would fall into five categories  air force advancement and space capabilities, air and missile defence, maritime and coastal security, border security and land forces modernisation, and information and communication systems upgrades.

The package also includes extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services. This deal represents a significant investment in Saudi Arabias defence and regional security, built on American systems and training," said the White House.

Trumps Visit To Riyadh

Trump, who is accompanied by a host of US business leaders including billionaire Elon Musk, landed in Riyadh on a whirlwind tour to the Middle East, from where he will go on to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warmly greeted Trump as he stepped off Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital in a rare diplomatic honour. The two leaders then retreated to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport, where Trump and his aides were served traditional Arabic coffee by waiting attendants wearing ceremonial gun belts.

I really believe we like each other a lot," he said during a meeting in Riyadh with the Saudi crown prince. Trump has not included Israel on his schedule amid tensions between the latter and the Saudi government.

Riyadhs $600 billion agreement includes Saudi firm DataVolts $20 billion investment in AI-related sites, Shamekh IV Solutions $5.8 million investment in building a plant in Michigan to launch a high-capacity IV fluid facility. Meanwhile, companies like Google, DataVolt, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber are committing to invest $80 billion in cutting-edge transformative technologies in both countries, according to the White House.

Additionally, US companies including Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM are building key infrastructure projects like King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, The Vault, Qiddiya City, and much more, totalling $2 billion in US services exports.

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Saudi Arabia is one of the United States largest trading partners in the Middle East. In 2024, US-Saudi Arabia goods trade totalled $25.9 billion, with US exports at $13.2 billion, imports at $12.7 billion, and a trade surplus in goods of $443 million.

(with inputs from agencies)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

First Published: May 13, 2025, 19:57 IST
'Utterly Ludicrous Statement': Piers Morgan Slams Pakistan Analyst's Osama Claim On Live TV

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 17:31 IST

Piers Morgan swiftly challenged this assertion, responding emphatically, "Sorry, with the best will in the world, what you just said is utterly ludicrous."

Broadcaster Piers Morgan (Image Credit: X)

A heated exchange unfolded on Piers Morgan Uncensored between broadcaster Piers Morgan and Pakistani analyst Shehzad Ghias Shaikh regarding the circumstances surrounding Osama Bin Ladens presence in Pakistan prior to his death. The debate centered on the release and interpretation of documents seized during the US raid on Osama Bin Ladens Abbottabad compound.

During the discussion, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh stated, The Bin Laden papers were not released by Pakistan. They were released by the American intelligence. 470,000 papers clearly state that Osama bin Laden was trying to hide from the Pakistani intelligence."

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Piers Morgan swiftly challenged this assertion, responding emphatically, Sorry, with the best will in the world, what you just said is utterly ludicrous. Osama bin Laden was found literally living in a house, a few hundred yards from Pakistans main military bases. If your intelligence did not know that he was there, it would be the worlds worst intelligence in the world. Thats why this is a ludicrous statement."

Dear Pakistani liberals, you have a better chance of convincing the world that the sky is yellow than convincing them Pakistan wasnt sheltering OBL.Why? Because I used to believe that toountil I realised OBL wasnt the only one we were hiding.pic.twitter.com/ysLMVlByTB  Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) May 13, 2025

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Piers Morgans sharp rebuttal highlights a long-standing point of contention regarding Pakistans knowledge of Osama Bin Ladens whereabouts before the 2011 US Navy SEAL operation. The proximity of Osama Bin Ladens compound to a major Pakistani military installation has led many, including Western intelligence agencies, to question how he could have remained undetected for so long.

The 470,000 documents, seized during the raid, have been a subject of intense scrutiny and analysis since their release. While some excerpts might suggest Osama Bin Ladens efforts to remain hidden, the fact that his compound was located in a seemingly secure area near Pakistani military infrastructure remains a significant point of debate and speculation.

About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: May 13, 2025, 09:35 IST
Violent Fight Erupts In Libyan Capital As Rival Militias Clash, Armed Group Leader Killed

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 13, 2025, 08:03 IST

The interior ministry of the national unity government in Tripoli urged in a statement "all citizens to stay at home for their safety".

Massive clashes erupt in Libyan capital. (Image: X)

Violent clashes between rival armed groups broke out on Monday at the Libyan capital Tripoli. According to reports, the leader of an armed faction has been killed in the clashes.

Heavy arms fire and explosions were heard in several areas of the capital from 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) and the residents were urged to stay indoors by the authorities.

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Libyan television channel Al-Ahrar and news site Al-Wasat reported the death of Abdelghani al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus, an influential armed group based in south Tripoli, reported AFP.

The interior ministry of the national unity government in Tripoli urged in a statement all citizens to stay at home for their safety".

Following the clashes, air traffic at Tripoli airport was suspended as reports of the death of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli started circulating.

Local media said clashes broke out in the southern suburbs between armed groups from Tripoli and rivals from Misrata, a major port city 200 km (125 miles) east of the capital.

HEAVY gunfire rocks Tripoli, Libyas capital  social media footageFighting heats up following killing of powerful West Libyan militia leader pic.twitter.com/HxOZZvtdZ8  RT (@RT_com) May 12, 2025

Libya is struggling to recover from years of unrest following a 2011 revolt that led to the fall of the late dictator Moamer Kadhafi. It is currently divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, controlled by the Haftar family.

Despite relative calm in recent years, clashes periodically break out between armed groups vying for territory. In August 2023, fighting between two powerful armed groups in Tripoli left 55 dead.

Several districts of the capital and its suburbs announced that schools would be closed on Tuesday until further notice.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya called for calm.

UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli, with intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas," it said on X. It urged all parties to immediately cease fighting", warning that attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes."

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UNSMIL fully supports the efforts of elders and community leaders to de-escalate the situation."

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : Libya

First Published: May 13, 2025, 08:03 IST
BAKU. Azerbaijan. May 13. Kazakhstan's Aktobe Refinery (Aktobe Refinery LLP) is considering the possibility of cooperation with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).

General Director of the company Timur Batrymbetov said this in an exclusive interview with Trend on the margins of the Caspian and Central Asian Forum on Oil Trade and Logistics, held in Baku.

According to him, the refinery is already actively supplying fuel oil to the ports of Kulevi and Batumi, where it works with traders using SOCAR infrastructure. At the same time, as the head of the plant noted, the enterprise's products are well known in the regional market.

"Our fuel oil has proved itself as a quality product: metal-free, with sulfur content up to 0.5 percent and solidification temperature up to minus 35 degrees. It is already perceived as a standard in the market. Now we are negotiating with Azerbaijani companies, including SOCAR subdivisions, to expand cooperation," he said.



Batrymbetov also noted that at the forum the first business contacts with representatives of SOCAR's marketing division took place and expressed confidence in the prospects of joint projects.

"Here I got acquainted with representatives of SOCAR. We discussed possible areas of interaction, and I believe that our cooperation can be mutually beneficial," he added.

Aktobe Refinery is one of the leading private refineries in Kazakhstan, playing an important role in oil refining in the region.

It should be noted that the Caspian and Central Asian Forum on Oil Trade and Logistics was held in Baku on April 24-25. The forum became an important platform for discussion of trade, logistics, oil refining, and petrochemicals in the Caspian and Central Asian regions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The opening of the Forum of European and CIS Postal Leaders has concluded in Baku, Trend reports.

The event, which will be held on May 13-15, is hosted by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan and Azerpost, which operates within the Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding (AZCON).

The forum, dedicated to the theme "Next Horizons: Navigating e-commerce, innovation, and supply chain for future excellence", will be attended by more than 150 representatives from more than 30 countries, including heads of national postal services, high-ranking representatives of e-commerce and technology companies, and international experts in the field.

The aim of the forum is to lay the groundwork for a strategic platform where regional discussions can flourish, ideas can be swapped like hotcakes, and innovation can take center stage. The talks will dive into the nuts and bolts of how the postal sector is turning over a new leaf in light of global trends and digital shake-ups.

The agenda includes topical topics such as the growing role of e-commerce in postal networks, digital transformation, the implementation of sustainable logistics practices, and the increasing importance of cybersecurity to maintain trust and security in postal operations.

The forum will facilitate dialogue between industry leaders and stakeholders, thereby fostering the development of forward-looking strategies and innovative solutions that meet the changing needs of customers and businesses. At the same time, the event will reaffirm the UPUs commitment to promoting regional development and strengthening international postal cooperation.

Mutua Muthusi, Director for Development and Cooperation at the Universal Postal Union (UPU), highlighted the organization's commitment to supporting the digital transformation of postal services in developing countries.

Our core mission is to assist countries and postal administrations whose services have yet to meet international standards in reaching that benchmark. In doing so, we contribute to the overall strengthening of the global postal network, he stated.

He noted that UPUs support spans a wide range of areasfrom the provision of technical equipment to the advancement of human capital.

We organize high-level training programs, and this forum is a prime example of such initiatives. These efforts not only enhance the expertise of professionals in the sector but also foster a valuable platform for knowledge and experience sharing among postal leaders, Muthusi added.

Muthusi expressed confidence that international forums like this play a vital role in shaping resilient and technologically advanced postal systems around the world.

Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Samir Mammadov, reaffirmed the countrys commitment to contributing to the development of the global postal sector and underscored its readiness to expand international cooperation in this field.

He announced that Azerbaijan has formally submitted its candidacy for the Board of Governors and the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The elections for these governing bodies are scheduled to take place during the 28th UPU Congress, set to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from September 7 through 19, 2025.

Azerbaijan is interested in contributing to the implementation of key initiatives aimed at ensuring the efficient functioning of the postal sector. We strive for cooperation with international partners to strengthen global postal networks and increase universal service standards, Mammadov stated.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the significance of the issues addressed in the forums agenda:

E-commerce, innovations, logistics, and digital transformation  these are key priorities for the advancement of todays postal sector, he said.

Discussing Azerbaijans strategic outlook, Mammadov underscored the central role of global collaboration:

We attach special importance to international cooperation, both in bilateral and multilateral formats. We would like to particularly highlight the vital role of the Universal Postal Union in promoting effective, inclusive, and sustainable global postal services, he said.

Mammadov also spoke about Azerbaijan's longstanding engagement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU):

"Azerbaijan has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1993. Currently, our national postal operator, Azerpost, collaborates with 173 countries worldwide, conducting joint operations on registered mail with 126 of them, the official added.

Marjan Oswald, Deputy Director General of the International Bureau of the UPU, emphasized that e-commerce represents the infrastructure of the future and plays a critical role in boosting national GDP.

Speaking on the broader outlook for the postal industry, Oswald highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between governments and postal operators.

"There are tremendous opportunities in the field of e-commerce. However, it is not merely a public serviceit is a strategic sector that can significantly enhance a countrys gross domestic product," he stated.

The official added that the development of postal communications should be seen not just as a component of infrastructure, but as a vital economic engineparticularly in the era of digital transformation.
The issuance of title deeds to A1 and A2 farmers, following the launch of the policy by President Mnangagwa last year, is being done within the confines of the Constitution, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka told the National Assembly on last week.

He was speaking during the Houses question and answer session, saying the countrys Constitution adopted in 2013 invalidated old title deeds held by white former farmers before the fast-track land reform programme.

Coming to the issuance of these titles, when the State acquires the land, the land becomes State land. So, in Sections 289, 293 and 295 and I urge the Member to refer to that, the State may alienate for the value of that land.

So, the State has taken the position to alienate that State land for value. The title that is being given is a new title, and there is no reference to the old title which was rendered obsolete which no longer has value. It is this new tenure document, the title deed that is issued.

The Honourable Members may wish to familiarise themselves with the features of the new title deed, which indicates that it is the President, the Government of Zimbabwe that is selling its land to this beneficiary for this precise property. That is where the title is issued. There is no reference at all to the old title which we do not recognise as the State, Dr Masuka said.

The ministers urged A1 and A2 farmers to secure ownership of their land by taking advantage of the Governments policy through applying for title deeds.

President Mnangagwa launched the policy to issue farmers with title deeds to provide them with security of tenure and enable them access finance to fund their operations.

Dr Masuka also said the policy was adopted after financial institutions did not readily accept 99-year leases or offer letters as security of tenure.

The experience that we have had over the years, of course is that these tenure documents, the 99-year lease were not readily accepted by banks as collateral. It is in this context that the President made the revolutionary step to grant the issuance of title deeds. Title deeds are the ultimate tenure documents and hopefully with consultations from banks, they will be able to take these.

Nonetheless as an example, we already have five banks that are operating within the Department of Lands at the one-stop centre which are ready to give mortgages for farmers to purchase their land and also to give support to enable those farmers to be productive on their farms, which is a very good start to this programme, Dr Masuka said.

We hope that other banks will be able to replicate this and we urge all farmers who have received title deeds to use these documents to be able to access much needed financing to ensure that they become more productive on their land, Dr Masuka said.

Over 13 000 farms have been surveyed and are eligible for title deeds while over 2 500 farmers had been issued with the document by end of March. Herald
UPDATE

May 15, 2025 4:42 PM CDT

A suspect has been charged with setting fires that damaged two properties and a car linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Roman Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, was charged Thursday with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life, the AP reports. The charges are in connection with a car fire on May 8, a fire Monday at Starmer's private home that damaged the door, and a blaze Sunday outside a north London house connected to the prime minister that's been converted into apartments. No injuries were reported in any of them. The 21-year-old is to appear in court on Friday. Starmer this week said the arsons represent "an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for." Politicians of all parties also condemned the crimes.

May 12, 2025 6:35 PM CDT

An overnight fire at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's house in north London is being investigated by counterterrorism police, who said they're treating its origin as being suspicious. No one was injured, the BBC reports. Starmer rents out the four-bedroom house, which he and his wife, Victoria, have owned since 2004, while they live in the prime minister's official Downing Street residence. A spokesman said Starmer thanked first responders but would make no other comment because an investigation had begun, per the Guardian.
As a Biden administration ban on so-called "junk fees" took effect Monday, Ticketmaster said it will start displaying the full price of an event ticket as soon as consumers begin shopping. Ticketmaster, long a subject of complaints about its hidden fees, was among the targets of the new rule, which was announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels, vacation rental platforms, and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees, and other charges up front, the AP reports. Ticketmaster said Monday it commends the FTC's action.

"Ticketmaster has long advocated for all-in pricing to become the nationwide standard so fans can easily compare prices across all ticketing sites," said Michael Wichser, chief operating officer, in a statement. Ticketmaster said it will also tell shoppers where they are in line when they log in to buy tickets to an event. It will give real-time updates to customers whose wait times exceed 30 minutes, letting them know ticket price ranges, availability, and whether new event dates have been added. Ticketmaster, which is owned by concert promoter Live Nation, is the world's largest ticket seller. Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the US are sold through Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster said Monday's changes will bring North America in line with the rest of the world; the full ticket price was already displayed everywhere else as soon as customers started shopping. The company has been in the hot seat since 2022, when its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift tour, causing thousands of people to lose tickets after waiting for hours online. Last year, the US Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly that drives up ticket prices and asking a court to break them up. That case is ongoing. (President Trump signed an executive order to combat ticket scalping in March.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Azerbaijan seeks to make an active contribution to the development of the global postal system and is ready to strengthen international cooperation in this area, the country's Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samir Mammadov said at the 1st Forum of Heads of Postal Services of Europe and the CIS in Baku, Trend reports.

He noted that Azerbaijan has officially nominated itself for the Administration Council and the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Elections to these bodies will be held within the framework of the 28th UPU Congress, which will be held in Dubai (UAE) from September 7 to 19, 2025.

"Azerbaijan is interested in contributing to the implementation of key initiatives aimed at the effective functioning of the postal sector. We seek to cooperate with international partners to strengthen global postal networks and improve universal service standards," Mammadov emphasized.

The deputy minister also noted the relevance of the topics included in the forum's agenda.

"E-commerce, innovation, logistics, and digital transformation are issues of critical importance for the development of the modern postal industry," he explained.

Speaking about the priorities of Azerbaijan, Samir Mammadov emphasized the importance of international cooperation.

"We attach great importance to international cooperation - both bilaterally and multilaterally. We would like to especially emphasize the important role of the UPU in promoting efficient, inclusive, and sustainable global postal services," he mentioned.

Mammadov also spoke about Azerbaijan's contribution to the activities of the UPU.

"Azerbaijan became a member of the Universal Postal Union in 1993. Currently, the national postal operator Azerpost cooperates with 173 countries of the world and conducts joint operations on registered correspondence with 126 of them," the official added.

Founded in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, is the second oldest international organization globally. The UPU, with 192 member nations, serves as the principal platform for collaboration among stakeholders in the postal industry. It facilitates the establishment of a genuinely universal network of current products and services. The group performs consultative, mediation, and liaison functions, offering technical support as required. It establishes regulations for international postal exchanges and provides recommendations to enhance the growth of mail, parcel, and financial service volumes while improving customer service quality.

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A dispute that stalled a $1.2 billion plan to keep invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes appears to have ended, with the Trump administration now saying it will fund its share of the project. The initiative, years in planning, involves installing a suite of deterrent technologies including bubble curtains, electric fields, and sound barriersat the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River near Joliet, Illinois, the AP reports. The goal is to prevent invasive carpintroduced from Asia in the mid-20th century and now moving toward Lake Michiganfrom disrupting the ecosystem and the region's $7 billion fishing industry.

A key agreement between the Army Corps of Engineers and state officials from Illinois and Michigan, backed by $226 million in federal infrastructure funds, was disrupted earlier this year. The Trump administration temporarily froze federal grants and loans in January while reviewing spending priorities. The hold was lifted after a couple of days, but Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a prominent Trump critic, delayed the transfer of a critical property, demanding assurances that the federal government would honor its funding commitments. On Friday, the White House issued a memo stating support for stopping invasive carp and called on Illinois to complete its property transaction by July 1, promising to expedite further permitting.

"My Administration fully supports preventing the spread of invasive carp," the memo from President Trump said. "The State of Illinois ... must cease further delay in cooperating with this effort, for the sake of its own citizens and economy and for the sake of all of the Great Lakes States." Pritzker's office said the project could move forward now that the federal government has provided assurances they "would hold up their end of the bargain." Another Democratic governor, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, praised the administration's move, calling it a "huge, huge deal for Michiganders and millions of people in our country who rely on the Great Lakes for their water and their work," Cleveland.com reports.
The Kansas City Chiefs super fan who went by "ChiefsAholic" has been sentenced to 32 years in Oklahoma state prison for robbing the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in December 2022. Xaviar Babudar, 30, appeared in a Tulsa courtroom on Monday, apologized to the court and victims, and admitted to the crime, per his attorney. Babudar's new sentence comes on top of more than 17 years he's already serving in federal prison for a string of 11 bank robberies in seven states, per the AP . He was accused of stealing nearly $850,000 to finance his high-profile fan activities and support a gambling addiction.

The Tulsa County district attorney had sought a life sentence, describing Babudar as a serial robber whose actions affected people nationwide. "It was offensive to me that a serial robber could victimize as many hardworking Americans as this guy did all across the country and only receive 17 1/2 years from the federal government," Steve Kunzweiler said, per ESPN. But Judge Michelle Keely ordered the 32-year sentence to run concurrently with his federal sentence.

"Our entire position from the beginning is that we want to live in a world where everybody's treated equally, not based on notoriety or social media presence," Babudar's legal team said after his sentencing, expressing relief he didn't get life as the prosecution had hoped. After finishing his federal time, Babudar will move to state custody to serve the remaining 14 years and change. The Washington Post notes there's no possibility for parole for the federal sentence. Babudar gained a social media following as @ChiefsAholic, attending Chiefs games dressed as a wolf and becoming a recognizable figure among fans.
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From the moment he resumed office until April 8, President Trump's administration spent at least $21 million transporting migrants to Guantanamo Bay on military aircraft, according to US military figures provided to Congress. Nearly 500 migrants have been cycled through the base since January, though there are fewer than 70 there currently. NBC News reports there are just 32 total, while CBS News puts the number at 69, with 43 of those considered low risk. Many migrants flown to Guantanamo were transferred elsewhere or returned to the US, according to previous reporting .

Amid criticism, the Trump administration suspended the use of military aircraft for deporting migrants to Guantanamo on March 1, per the Independent. But between Jan. 20 and April 8, the US military flew 46 flights carrying migrants on military aircraft, totaling 802.5 hours, according to information provided by the Pentagon. The flights cost $26,277 per hour on average. Between Jan. 20 and March 25, 31 military and contract airlift flights transported 715 passengers and 1,016.9 tons of cargo to Guantanamo, the Pentagon said. The contracted flights, which did not involve migrants, cost an additional $1,671,500, per NBC.

Democrats called it a wasteful "political stunt." Sen. Elizabeth Warren of the Senate Armed Services Committee called it an "abuse of power." "Every American should be outraged by Donald Trump wasting military resources to pay for his political stunts that do not make us safer," she said, per NBC. The White House now uses commercial flights for deporting migrants to Guantanamo and just ordered an additional weekly flight, per the outlet.
UnitedHealth just called in a familiar face after a massive earnings missformer CEO Stephen Hemsley is back at the helm, replacing Andrew Witty, who's out effective immediately, with the company citing "personal reasons" for his departure, per the Wall Street Journal . The company is turning to its longtime leader, who left in 2017, as it faces a fresh set of challenges, including an April earnings miss that shaved roughly $190 billion off its market capitalization. Since April 17, shares have dropped by more than a third, including a 22% plunge after that disappointing earnings report.

Witty's tenure since 2021 saw the company dealing with a major hack that disrupted US health care services, the high-profile shooting of an executive, and federal investigations into business practices. UnitedHealth said Witty will remain as a senior adviser. Hemsley, still serving as chairman, is credited with transforming UnitedHealth from an insurer to a diversified health conglomerate. Investors reportedly hope his operational style will steady the ship, as Hemsley previously delivered continuous profit growth.

The company now says it targets a return to growth by 2026. Given ongoing financial pressure, UnitedHealth has also suspended its previously lowered 2025 earnings guidance, blaming higher medical costs among new Medicare members and increasing care demand. NBC News notes that UnitedHealth shares were down about 10% on Tuesday morning.

story continues below

Both Witty and Hemsley offered statements on the change, per the Minnesota Star Tribune. "Leading the people of UnitedHealth Group has been a tremendous honor as they work every day to improve the health system, and they will continue to inspire me," the former noted. Hemsley said in his own remarks: "We are grateful for Andrew's stewardship of UnitedHealth Group, especially during some of the most challenging times any company has ever faced."
Apple users who had private conversations accidentally picked up by Siri may now claim part of a $95 million settlement. The payout follows a class action lawsuit alleging Apple recorded users without consent and shared those audio clips with outside contractors. The affected period covers Sept. 17, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2024. US residents who owned an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV with Siri during that window can file a claim at the dedicated settlement website , per the Verge . Users can claim up to five devices, but must declare under oath that each experienced unintended Siri activations.

If approved, claimants may receive up to $20 for each device, though actual amounts may be lower depending on the number of qualifying claims submitted. The claims window closes July 2. The case stems from a 2019 lawsuit, which accused Apple of capturing private audio via Siri and supplying it to contractors for "quality control." Apple apologized at the time and promised not to keep user recordings, but denied that it used the data for advertising. Those who already received claim notification codes should expect further instructions, but Apple says any eligible user can apply, regardless of whether they got an official notice. The settlement does not require proof beyond a sworn statement from the applicant, per USA Today.
Weeks from graduation, a Texas teenager is fighting for his life after a lighthearted game of Senior Assassin took a tragic turn. High school seniors commonly take part in a game of chase, where the last one standing wins. In this case, 17-year-old Isaac Leal, a baseball star at South Grand Prairie High School, was taking part in a water gun fight where players try to take out their targets, while also protecting themselves. The game wasn't authorized by the school, per KTVT . Isaac's mother, Raquel Vazquez, says her son had hopped on the back of a Jeep driven by a girl, who reached high speeds before hitting a dip in the road. That's when Isaac fell off and hit his head, Vazquez tells KXAS .

The April 20 incident was partly captured on cellphone and security video, per NBC News. Isaac's parents are calling for a criminal investigation. "I understand accidents happen, but this was not an accident," Vazquez says, per KTVT. All game participants were required to download an app "so, that way, they can tell you what location each person is at," says Isaac's father, Jose Leal, per the outlet. Isaac reportedly jumped on the back of the Jeep as it was pulling out of a driveway in Arlington. Jose Leal says the female driver made six turns over the five minutes during which Isaac was "holding on for his life." He fell from the back bumper and was hospitalized in critical condition. His mom describes him as in a "vegetable state," per KXAS.

Arlington police weren't dispatched to the scene and say it was only on May 3 that officers learned Isaac's injuries stemmed from a traffic incident. Police say an investigation is underway and that the current evidence indicates Isaac "was hanging out the back of the vehicle when the accident occurred." Elsewhere, authorities have advised high schoolers not to play Senior Assassin or similar games due to the risk of tragic outcomes, including in cases where police officers or armed citizens might mistake toy guns for the real thing. South Grand Prairie High's principal had warned any "students who engage in this activity on or around school grounds may face disciplinary action," per KTVT.
President Trump landed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to a very warm welcome, and he brought with him an entire entourage. As the New York Times reports, a who's who of business executives attended a lunch in Riyadh, as well as a significant part of Trump's Cabinet. A look at those in attendance:

From the Cabinet: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. From the American corporate sector: The Times notes that reps from four of the top 10 US firms were there, but there were many more present, ostensibly to build up relations with the nation the Times calls "deep-pocketed." But the list, provided by the White House, goes much deeper than those four. They include:
A mayoral candidate from Mexico's ruling Morena party was fatally shot in Veracruz state on Sunday, becoming the second local candidate killed in the region ahead of the June 1 elections. Yesenia Lara Gutierrez was leading a campaign caravan in Texistepec, southwest of the oil port Coatzacoalcos, when gunmen opened fire, killing her, her daughter, and three others. Three more people were wounded in the attack, reports the AP . The shooting was captured on a Facebook livestream, reports CNN . "We're coordinating, particularly with the Secretary of Security, and with all the support needed during this electoral period from Veracruz and Durango," said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Veracruz Gov. Rocio Nahle, also of Morena, called the violence unacceptable and pledged the state's full resources to safeguard the upcoming vote. "No position is worth dying for," she said at a press conference, promising justice and increased security presence. Family and supporters gathered at a wake, some expressing fears that violence around the elections had left them unable to go about daily life. "We're tired of all of this," said one supporter. Another, Cruz Morales, described an atmosphere where people are afraid to visit relatives at night.

Lara Gutierrez's death follows the April 29 shooting of German Anuar Valencia, another Morena mayoral contender, who was killed at his campaign headquarters in the state's north. So far, 57 local candidates have requested security, but it is unclear if Lara Gutierrez was among them. Election-related violence is a familiar risk in Mexico, especially for local candidates, as organized crime groups seek influence over municipalities. Municipal elections are scheduled in all 212 of Veracruz's municipalities on June 1. On the same day as the candidate attack, local press also reported that two federal agents and another person were killed in a separate incident in Boca del Rio, with security forces responding to the scene.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. IATAs (International Air Transport Associations) Aviation Energy Forum (AEF), with the support of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), operating under Azerbaijan Transport and Communications Holding (AZCON Holding), has officially commenced in Baku, Trend reports.

This major international event, hosted by Azerbaijan, will run from 13-15 May, 2025.

Being held for the first time in the Caucasus and Caspian Sea region, AEF is the premier industry meeting for the world's aviation fuel community. It is a unique platform that allows airline representatives, fuel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) suppliers, and other IATA Strategic Partners to discuss the energy challenges facing modern aviation and strengthen global cooperation in this field, including delivering aviations net zero CO2 emissions goal by 2050.

During the opening ceremony, Samir Rzayev, President of AZAL CJSC, emphasized the importance of hosting AEF as one of the most prestigious events in the international aviation fuel industry:

The hosting of this important Forum in Baku highlights Azerbaijans growing strategic role in the global aviation sector and the energy transition, reaffirming the countrys active engagement in shaping the sustainable aviation agenda. Sustainable Aviation Fuel is acknowledged as the key to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Therefore, we are proud and honored that IATA has chosen Baku as a venue for such vital discussion and collaboration. AZAL, meanwhile, will remain firmly committed to supporting the decarbonization of the aviation industry while continuously advancing its own sustainability agenda.

The forum has brought together representatives from over 60 countries and more than 70 airlines, with around 800 registered participants. From May 13 to 15, numerous panel discussions and sessions focused on both technical and commercial topics will be held in AEF. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet sponsors in the exhibition area, explore innovative approaches, and establish new partnerships.

As the premier industry meeting for the world's aviation fuel community, AEF is an invitation-only event for IATA Members and Strategic Partners in the Fuel Area of Involvement.
President Trump announced surprise big news while addressing a forum in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday: He's lifting US sanctions against Syria, five months after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. "There is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace," Trump told an investment forum in Riyadh, which received the news with "rousing applause," per the New York Times. "Oh, what I do for the crown prince," Trump said, referring to Mohammed bin Salman in the front row, who NBC News reports "crossed his arms over his chest in an expression of gratitude."
A self-declared "king" was arrested Tuesday in Germany, which also banned the associated "Kingdom of Germany." It's a far-right group established by Peter Fitzek in 2012 that the government believes is 1,000-members strong and that it viewed as a threat to the country's democratic order. It's tied to the Reichsburger movement, which maintains the German Reich continues to this day and refuses to recognize the modern German state, its laws, or pay taxes. Fitzekwhom AFP describes as a 59-year-old former chef and karate instructorand three of his deputies were nabbed in in nationwide raids involving about 800 officers. More:
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Investcorp and the American University of Bahrain (AUBH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen educational collaboration and foster innovation across Bahrain.

The agreement was formalised during a ceremony on Sunday at the AUBH campus, attended by senior officials from both organisations. The MOU reflects the shared vision of expanding educational opportunities and supporting advancements in research and community engagement projects.

Leaders emphasise partnership

The signing was led by Yusef Al Yusef, Global Head of Distribution at Investcorp, and William D. Hurt, Chief Operating Officer of AUBH. Also present was Jordana Semaan, Head of HR for the GCC and Asia and Global Head of Culture and Development for Investcorp.

Speaking at the event, Al Yusef highlighted Investcorps commitment to preparing future leaders. By partnering with AUBH, we are investing in the success of students across Bahrain and the region, providing them with tools and resources to navigate a rapidly changing global landscape, he said.

Hurt expressed similar enthusiasm, stating the collaboration would strengthen the universitys educational experience. This partnership will enhance student learning and also contribute to Bahrains economic and social development. Together we aim to build an ecosystem that promotes creativity and lifelong learning, he said.

Supporting education in Bahrain

The partnership will focus on advancing academic programmes, developing research initiatives, and engaging in community-oriented projects. Both institutions view the MOU as a step towards creating a dynamic environment where students are empowered to excel and contribute meaningfully to society.

The agreement marks another step in Bahrains efforts to link educational institutions with private sector expertise to prepare students for the demands of a global economy.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The law of Azerbaijan "On Food Safety" was adopted, and 15 rules were approved as a result of its implementation, and amendments were made to 79 regulatory legal acts within the framework of harmonization to form the legal framework of the food safety system meeting international practice, Chairman of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan Goshgar Tahmazli said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Caspian Agro Exhibition, held today in Baku.

The official mentioned that during the past period, 24 technical regulatory legal acts were adopted by the agency's board to bring sanitary norms and rules in the field of food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary care into line with international standards.

A draft law of Azerbaijan "On Plant Health" was prepared and sent to relevant state bodies for opinion and is currently undergoing a wide public discussion with the participation of interested parties. At the same time, a draft law of Azerbaijan "On Animal Health," was prepared, taking into account the recommendations of international experts, to bring the existing legislation in the field of animal health into line with international requirements.

Tahmazli emphasized that the Red Bridge Food Safety Control Point, established in the nation's Gazakh district near the border checkpoint with Georgia, has been equipped with all necessary equipment and has started operating to promptly implement food safety control during import and export operations.

"In recent years, following progressive international practice, serious work has been carried out to confirm the health status of our republic for diseases that pose a threat to human and animal health, as well as those that cause a violation of biological safety in the environment. In this context, Azerbaijan was recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health as a country free from small-horned animals and highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2024, and at the same time, the status of freedom from African horse sickness and African swine fever achieved in previous years is maintained.

All these achievements, targeted measures taken to ensure biological security in the country, obtaining statuses free from a number of animal diseases existing in the world, developing international cooperation relations, and establishing new relations create fertile conditions for the export potential of a number of food products produced in our country.

For example, the export of edible eggs from Azerbaijan to a number of countries, including Russia and the US, has begun.

The continuity of the permit for the export of caviar products obtained from sturgeon fish grown in aquaculture to the European Union countries has been ensured.

The implementation of the measures set out in the "1st State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of Azerbaijan," approved by the relevant order of the President of Azerbaijan, has been successfully continued in the field of food security. In accordance with the requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health, epidemiological monitoring and other necessary measures have been carried out in farms related to the animal disease-free zone to be created in the liberated territories," Tahmazli added.

The Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan, established by the president's decree on February 10, 2017, oversees food safety throughout the chain and regulates import, export, and transit operations under veterinary and phytosanitary control. Short-term goals include food safety control, strengthened import safety, public awareness, and laboratory optimization. Long-term goals include public health, animal and plant protection, agri-food export potential, productivity, and competitiveness in the agricultural sector.

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TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

New Millennium School Bahrain celebrated a major achievement as a team of its senior students secured first place at the prestigious Build Her City Hack 2025 inter-school hackathon for girl students.

The competition, hosted by the Royal University for Women on 16th and 17th April, attracted over 64 participants from leading schools across Bahrain. The event challenged students to use technology to address real-world problems through innovation, coding, and teamwork.

Award-winning innovation

The New Millennium School team of Grade 12 students - Diya Vivek, Dhyana Jassal, Khushi Rai and Rammona Roy - impressed judges with their project Eco Tech, which proposed the creation of women-friendly smart benches aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The project stood out for its creativity, user-friendly design and potential real-world application.

The two-day event featured brainstorming sessions, intense coding rounds, and project presentations to a jury comprising AI experts and academic leaders. Participants showcased their skills in tackling urban challenges with innovative digital solutions.

School leaders praise success

Principal Dr Arun Kuumar Sharma congratulated the winning team and praised their innovation and problem-solving abilities, calling the achievement a reflection of the schools focus on 21st-century learning and fostering creativity.

Chairman Dr Ravi Pillai and Managing Director Mrs Geetha Pillai also commended the students, their mentors and families, stating that the recognition underscored the schools commitment to helping students discover and develop their talents.

The win marked a proud moment for New Millennium School and reinforced its position as a nurturing ground for young innovators and future leaders in technology and science.
May 13 (News On Japan) - A special trailer has been released for the upcoming film That Summer, To You Whom We Loved, starring Dahyun of TWICE and Jinyoung. The emotional preview is accompanied by nostalgic narration and music, hinting at a coming-of-age story centered around first love and youth.

The trailer begins with a warm exchange:

"Why did I give it to you? Because you're pretty."

"Sunjeon is sexy."

Against a backdrop of gentle music, the narration continues:

"The boy we liked back then...

He was our dream,

And our youth."

The film evokes memories of innocent affection and the fleeting nature of adolescence.

Source: 
TORONTO, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ - In a bold and breathtaking celebration of culinary and vinous excellence, Charlie's Burgers (CB) delivered a six-night, sold-out dinner series that will be remembered as one of the most historic gastronomic events in Canadian fine dining. The exclusive CB dinner experience brought together two chefs with two Michelin stars eachculinary titans Masaki Saito and Jerome Schillingfor an unprecedented 4-star collaboration that captivated guests and ignited buzz across the global food and wine scene.

Presenting a historic culinary collaboration with Chateau Lafite Rothschild; Chef Masaki Saito, Donato Carozza, Franco Stalteri, Chef Jerome Schilling, Chef Naoya Hotta (CNW Group/Grapebrands)

Elevating the evening further, the dinners featured rare and historic wine pairings curated in partnership with the team at Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR). Each course was masterfully matched to wines from Chateau Lafite Rothschildan iconic name in the world of fine wine. Guests were welcomed with a personalized video message from Saskia Rothschild herself, underscoring the exclusivity and importance of the event.

Among the evening's historic moments:

The Canadian unveiling of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Long Dai 2021, a groundbreaking wine from the Qui Shan Valley in China's Shandong Province . Guests were the first in the country to taste this visionary expression of the Rothschild family's winemaking legacy in Asia .

. Guests were the first in the country to taste this visionary expression of the Rothschild family's winemaking legacy in . A rare visit from Adrien David Beaulieu , 15th-generation winemaker of Chateau Coutet in Saint-Emilion, Franceone of the oldest continuously family-run Chateaux in Bordeaux . Practicing organic and biodynamic viticulture for over 400 years, Chateau Coutet's wines brought centuries of heritage to the CB table.

Chef Masaki Saitonever one to rest on laurelsadded two surprise, off-menu courses, including a show-stopping foie gras hand roll marinated overnight in miso. These exclusive additions further cemented the dinners as once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the fortunate guests who secured a seat.

"Our love for Michelin-starred cuisine isn't just about prestigeit's about the pursuit of excellence, creativity, and emotion on the plate," said Donato Carozza, co-founder of Charlie's Burgers. "We've spent years championing the chefs, producers, and artisans who elevate food to an art form, and we were proud to be part of the early conversations that helped bring the Michelin Guide to Canada. This dinner was a reflection of everything we stand forbold ideas, world-class talent, and unforgettable experiences that push the boundaries of what's possible in this country's culinary scene."

"At a time when much of our industry is navigating uncertainty, we chose to bet on excellence," added Franco Stalteri, CB co-founder. "This was a massive riskbut one rooted in our commitment to celebrating les arts de la table and pushing the envelope for what's possible in Canadian hospitality."

After 16 years, Charlie's Burgers continues to lead at the forefront of Canada's culinary evolutioncurating experiences that are not only exquisite, but culturally significant. In turbulent times, CB remains defiantly ambitious, bringing together the world's most talented chefs, storied winemakers, and fearless guests to celebrate what matters: artistry, community, and unforgettable taste.

https://www.cbwineprogram.com/events

https://www.instagram.com/charliesburgers

SOURCE Grapebrands

Media Contacts: Donato Carozza, [email protected], 416-768-9463; Franco Stalteri, [email protected], 416-839-1390
TORONTO, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ - The civil infrastructure construction associations welcomed the Ontario government's announcement that consultations will be launched with municipalities and industry to harmonize road building standards as part of the recently introduced Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025.

Provincial Commitment to Standardize Municipal Construction Practices (CNW Group/Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA))

Ontario's municipalities own and manage more public infrastructure than the federal and provincial governments combined, with, on average, more than 50 per cent of their budgets allocated to construction and infrastructure. While provincial standards exist, Ontario's 444 municipalities have discretion in their implementation and have instead amassed hundreds of varying requirements for how to build and procure similar use projects, like roads, bridges, sewers and watermains. These differences cost taxpayers millions of dollars more, while reducing quality and productivity and increasing waste and carbon emissions.

The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA), Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA), and the Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) have advocated that following provincial standards, jointly administered by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Municipal Engineers Association, will result in reduced building costs and faster construction timelines through efficiencies and economies of scale.

"This announcement builds on the government's ongoing commitment to reduce red tape and build the critical infrastructure our communities need. We look forward to working with the provincial government and the ministry as part of the consultation process," said Raly Chakarova, Executive Director at TARBA. "Breaking down barriers by harmonizing practices across municipal boundaries is a real solution that will bring in faster construction timelines and create significant cost savings for taxpayers, particularly through initiatives such as the standardized and increased use of Recycled Crushed Aggregates ."

"This is a pivotal moment for infrastructure development in Ontario," said Patrick McManus, Executive Director of the GTSWCA. "By standardizing construction specifications and contracts, we can reign in rising construction costs and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and cost-effective infrastructure solutions, without fundamentally altering how we design, build, finance, or maintain our critical core infrastructure in the region."

"This is the time for the provincial and federal governments to step in and ensure that municipalities have predictable and continuous infrastructure funding to get projects out the door, shovels in the ground, and keep everyone employed," said Peter Smith, Executive Director at HCAT. "But municipalities need to drop their own barriers. There is no reason that a different asphalt type or watermain fitting needs to be used simply because a project crosses over Steeles Ave."

About GTSWCA

The Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA) serves as a collective voice for its members who build water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across the Greater Toronto Area. www.oswca.org

About HCAT

The Heavy Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT) represents contractors in the heavy civil engineering construction sector, including bridge construction and rehabilitation, tunnels, marine construction, and structure foundations. HCAT advocates for best practices in infrastructure development while addressing industry challenges, providing educational opportunities, and promoting safety and sustainability. www.hcat.ca

About TARBA

The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA) is the collective bargaining agent on behalf of unionized contractors involved in the new construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in the Greater Toronto and Simcoe Areas. TARBA advocates for policies and practices that promote safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure development. www.tarba.org

SOURCE Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA)

Media Contact: For media inquiries or further information, please contact Patrick McManus, GTSWCA at [email protected] and Raly Chakarova, Executive Director, TARBA at [email protected]
What on Earth? Immortal jellyfish: the secret to cheating death By Emily Osterloff What most of us would recognise as a jellyfish - the otherworldly, gelatinous aquatic animals renowned for their sting-filled tentacles - is actually just the final stage of these animals' life cycle. At least, it usually is.

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Not all jellyfish play by the same rules, and one species may have discovered the secret to immortality. How does the immortal jellyfish live forever? The life cycle of most jellyfish species is similar. Museum curator Miranda Lowe explains, 'They have eggs and sperm and these get released to be fertilised, and then from that you get a free-swimming larval form. 'The larva will move about in the current until it finds a hard surface to establish itself. It will then start to mature and grow. Larvae mature into polyps, which will then bud off and mature into young jellyfish.' An adult jellyfish is known as a medusa. Jellyfish belong to a group called Cnidaria, which also includes sea anemones and corals. As animals, they are subject to the cycle of life and death - though one species is known to bend the rules.

The hydrozoan Turritopsis dohrnii, an animal about 4.5 millimetres wide and tall (likely making it smaller than the nail on your little finger), can actually reverse its life cycle. It has been dubbed the immortal jellyfish. When the medusa of this species is physically damaged or experiences stresses such as starvation, instead of dying it shrinks in on itself, reabsorbing its tentacles and losing the ability to swim. It then settles on the seafloor as a blob-like cyst. Over the next 24-36 hours, this blob develops into a new polyp - the jellyfish's previous life stage - and after maturing, medusae bud off. This phenomenon has been likened to that of a butterfly which, instead of dying, would be able to transform back into a caterpillar and then metamorphose into an adult butterfly once again. The process behind the jellyfish's remarkable transformation is called transdifferentiation and is extremely rare. Medusa cells and polyp cells are different - some cells and organs only occur in the polyp, others only in the adult jellyfish. Transdifferentiation reprogrammes the medusa's specialised cells to become specialised polyp cells, allowing the jellyfish to regrow themselves in an entirely different body plan to the free-swimming jellyfish they had recently been. They can then mature again from there as normal, producing new, genetically identical medusae. This life cycle reversal can be repeated, and in perfect conditions, it may be that these jellyfish would never die of old age. 'We might be distracted watching much larger jellyfish, but the tiny things such as this can inform so much of our science about these animals,' says Miranda.

Who discovered immortal jellyfish? The species T. dohrnii was first described by scientists in 1883. It was 100 years later, in the 1980s, that their immortality was accidentally discovered. Students Christian Sommer and Giorgio Bavestrello collected Turritopsis polyps, which they kept and monitored until medusae were released. It was thought that these jellyfish would have to mature before spawning and producing larvae, but when the jar was next checked, they were surprised to find many newly settled polyps. They continued to observe the jellyfish and found that, when stressed, the medusae would fall to the bottom of the jar and transform into polyps without fertilisation or the typical larval stage occurring. The discovery, aided by the spectacular nickname 'immortal jellyfish', captured the world's attention. Can immortal jellyfish die? T. dohrnii may bend the rules to rejuvenate itself, but it can't always cheat death. For example, jellyfish, including immortal ones, are prey to other animals, such as fish and turtles. Polyps are also practically defenceless to predation by animals such as sea slugs and crustaceans. Understanding how long jellyfish including T. dohrnii, can live for can be tricky. Miranda explains, 'A lot of deep-ocean science takes a long time, and it is very costly to do observations over time to see change. The jellyfish also must have perfect conditions where they aren't going to be harmed by anything external, such as by humans or other predators.'

T. dohrnii is sensitive, making it also difficult to rear in a lab for studies. But despite the challenges, one scientist is known to have had long-term success with captive immortal jellyfish. Japanese scientist Shin Kubota has kept populations of immortal jellyfish looping through their unusual back and forth life cycle since the 1990s. His work with the species is time-consuming, with Kubota needing to monitor and care for the colonies daily, even having to slice up their miniature meals of brine shrimp eggs under a microscope so they're small enough for the tiny jellyfish to eat. But through his endeavours, Kubota has reported that over a two-year period, captive colonies of the jellyfish naturally rejuvenated themselves up to 10 times, sometimes at intervals of just one month. Where are immortal jellyfish found? Immortal jellyfish are thought to have originated in the Mediterranean Sea, however they are now found in oceans all around the world. It is thought this recently noticed invasion may have been predominantly caused by humans. A prevailing theory is that ships are responsible for widely dispersing the creatures through Earth's oceans. The jellyfish's immortality makes it an excellent hitchhiker, after all. Ballast water is pumped in and out of vessels like cargo and cruise ships to maintain stability. It is highly possible that immortal jellyfish get drawn in with this water and are able to survive ocean crossings thanks to their ability to reverse their life cycle when they experience stresses, such as a lack of food.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. In 2025, AZPROMO plans to support the participation of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs under a unified national stand at WorldFood Moscow 2025, Anuga in Cologne, and the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, said AZPROMO Executive Director Yusif Abdullayev, Trend reports.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition Caspian Agro in Baku, Abdullayev highlighted the agencys ongoing efforts to promote local products on the global stage.

With AZPROMOs support, Azerbaijani companies regularly take part in both international and local exhibitions. Our products are presented under the Made in Azerbaijan brand at national pavilions, where businesses sign export agreements and access new markets, he said.

In 2024 alone, our exporters participated in 10 international exhibitions, including the 47th International Baghdad Fair, Greenweek and Prowein in Germany, Prodexpo and Russia Halal Expo 2024 in Russia, Gulfood in the UAE, FOODEX in Japan, Macfrut in Rimini, Italy, the Saudi Food Show 2024 in Riyadh, and the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Abdullayev noted.

He added that support for exporters will continue throughout this year. Right now, Azerbaijani companies are participating in the Saudi Food Expo 2025 in Riyadh under a unified national stand. Starting tomorrow, our exporters will also be represented at the Russia  Halal Expo 2025 in Kazan. Today, eight companies producing natural honey, fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, alcoholic beverages, wine, and dairy products are showcasing their products at the Made in Azerbaijan stand at the InterFood exhibition, he said.

Abdullayev also confirmed plans to participate in the 5th Rebuild Karabakh exhibition, scheduled for October.
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 this weekend. 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: Today to Sunday, coming to an end Sunday night. Additional information: Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category. ### 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Azerbaijan is becoming a key transport hub of Eurasia, AZAL President Samir Rzayev said during the Aviation Energy Forum of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Baku, Trend reports.

Azerbaijan is becoming a key transport and tourism hub for Eurasia, and AZAL is proud to contribute to this transformation by strengthening regional integration and enhancing international mobility, he mentioned.

Rzayev noted that last year, Baku stepped up to host COP29, marking a historic milestone for the country and the region.

As the host, Azerbaijan reaffirmed its strong commitment to global climate action, and it was a great honor for AZAL to play a leading role in advancing the sustainable aviation agenda. At COP29, AZAL, together with IATA, hosted the high-level session 'International Aviation and Climate Change', offering a dedicated platform for dialogue on decarbonizing the air transport sector, he pointed out.

Rzayev also underscored that Baku, where the East shakes hands with the West, is not merely a geographical crossroads but a bustling hub for dialogue, innovation, and growth.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Azerbaijan's aviation market is expected to grow by 40 percent in the next decade, Senior Economist at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Maja Marciniak said during the Aviation Energy Forum of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Baku, Trend reports.

"I would like to emphasize once again how rapidly the Azerbaijani aviation market is developing. It has not only outpaced global rates but also outpaced the growth rates of Eastern European countries over the past decade. Looking ahead, we forecast another 40 percent growth over the next decade. This is about the number of passengers flying out of Azerbaijan. We are seeing high dynamics both in terms of inbound and outbound travelers," she added.

Marciniak pointed out that a hefty slice of this growth is turned into a goldmine for airlines.

"We are, of course, talking about the revenue of the air carriers themselves - from cargo transportation, passenger flights, and tourist services," she added.

Founded in Cuba in 1945, IATA serves as the principal mechanism for inter-airline collaboration in advancing safe, dependable, secure, and cost-effective air services for the benefit of global consumers. Championing the interests of airlines worldwide, it contests unjust regulations and fees, holds regulators and governments accountable, and endeavors for rational regulation. For more than 70 years, IATA has established worldwide commercial standards that underpin the air transport industry. It enables airlines to function safely, securely, efficiently, and affordably under well-defined regulations. Comprehensive assistance is offered to all industry stakeholders through an extensive array of goods and specialized services.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 13. Uzbekneftegaz JSC held a meeting with representatives of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company (CNODC) during their visit to Tashkent for Energy Week, running from May 13 to 15, Trend reports, citing Uzbekneftegaz.

During the talks, the parties discussed potential areas for geological exploration at new, promising sites. Attention was also given to improving the performance and profitability of the joint venture, New Silk Road Oil and Gas LLC.

The parties rolled up their sleeves and took a deep dive into the ongoing joint projects, zeroing in on how cutting-edge software and technologies can be applied in geology, basin modeling, and seismic data processing.



As a result of the meeting, both parties decided to join forces and take their collaboration to the next level, ensuring a win-win situation for everyone involved.

CNODC, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is a leading company in the field of oil and gas exploration, development, and project management, with a focus on international operations.

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A New Jersey man who was driving 107 mph when he slammed into a parked car and killed a sleeping 8-year-old boy in Absecon was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in state prison.

Edward Johnston, 25, of Egg Harbor City, had plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter in March in state Superior Court in Atlantic County. He appeared before Atlantic County state Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin for sentencing.
A 20-year-old Bergen County man was arrested following a joint investigation by the Rutherford Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Nj.com

A 20-year-old Bergen County man was arrested Tuesday after he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor twice, investigators said.

Walfred Santizo-Simon, of East Rutherford, sexually assaulted the minor on Monday in Rutherford, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Rutherford Police Department said in a statement.

Detectives also determined that Santizo-Simon also sexually assaulted the minor on Feb. 1, in Fairview, authorities said.

He was arrested in Rutherford and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, the office said.

No other information about the incidents was released by investigators.

Santizo-Simon was taken to the Bergen County Jail and will be held there until his first court appearance, authorities said.

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JPMorgan Chase has filed notice of 145 potential layoffs effective next month at its Jersey City offices, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor.

This is part of our regular management of business. We regularly review our business needs and adjust our staffing accordingly - creating new roles where we see the need or reducing positions when appropriate, said Michael Fusco, a spokesperson for JPMorgan, in a statement on Tuesday.

The WARN notice filed in April lists June 23 as the effective date of the layoffs.

Our strategy has not changed, and we run the company to invest through the cycle. We continue to hire in many areas and work hard to redeploy impacted employees, Fusco said.

In the last year, he said, JPMorgan added more than 7,000 jobs and currently have more than 14,600 open positions - including 530 open positions in New Jersey.

We are committed to New Jersey and have more than 12,000 employees working in the state, Fusco said.

The layoffs are the second so far this year for JPMorgan, which is considered the nations largest bank by assets, according to the latest release from The Federal Reserve Board.

JPMorgan disclosed in February that it was laying off 121 employees in May at its Jersey City offices, according to a previous public notice.

In January, the banking giant told employees on hybrid work schedules companywide to return to the office five days a week beginning in March.

The move prompted complaints from employees who had been working remotely since COVID-19, according to Reuters.

As of 2024, the bank had 317,233 employees nationwide and 12,000 employees in New Jersey, according to reports.

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Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com.
Kazakhstan Railways reports strong growth in freight transport in early 2025

Photo: Kazakhstan Railways

From January through April 2025, Kazakhstan Railways experienced a significant volume of freight transportation, with a notable increase in exports compared to the previous year. Coal transport saw steady growth, especially in exports, while other cargo categories, such as oil, ferrous metals, chemical fertilizers, and construction materials, also showed positive trends. Grain transportation saw a remarkable rise, with a sharp increase in exports as well.

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At least two people were injured and three juveniles were arrested Saturday night after a crowd of over 400 descended upon the St. Joachim Parish Carnival in Bellmawr, police said.

Officers at the annual event, held outside the Roman Catholic church from Monday through Saturday last week, began to notice an influx of juveniles and young adults arriving at the carnival on Saturday night, according to a statement from the Bellmawr Police Department.

By 8:30 p.m., there were over 200 people in that group and 20 minutes later, police began to close the rides and games down, but more juveniles and young adults continued to show up, the department said.

Officers on scene continued to announce the carnival was closing and they would have to disperse, most would walk away then return shortly after, Bellmawr Police Chief William Perna said in a statement.

At 9:30 p.m., the crowd from earlier had grown to over 400 and many of them ran through the carnival, several nearby residential properties, businesses and in the middle of West Browning Road, authorities said.

Fights continued to break out over the course of the next two hours, mostly outside of the carnival, officials said. Officers had numerous businesses close down in the area for safety reasons.

The crowd knocked a woman over during the incident and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment for a head injury, police said.

A young child was struck by a car leaving the area, and was treated for non-life threatening injuries, the department said.

Several cars, street signs, and windows to a business were damaged before the incident was declared under control at around 11:30 p.m., investigators said.

Three juveniles were carrested on the scene and charged with disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, and simple assault, police said. They were not identified because of their age.

Saturdays nights events are still under investigation by the department, Perna said.

A representative for the church could immediately be reached for comment Monday night.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A Dodge car dealership in Cherry Hill is in dispute with the town over expansion plans.

A dispute between a well-known Cherry Hill car dealer and the township took a major step forward when a federal judge ruled that key parts of the dealers lawsuit can continue.

Cherry Hill Dodge owner Charles Foulke Jr. is taking the township to courttwiceover its decision to revoke zoning permits he needed to expand his dealership.

In a federal court case, Foulke and his companies argue that Cherry Hill officials acted unlawfully when they pulled the permits after initially approving the project.

At the center of the dispute is Foulkes plan to expand Cherry Hill Dodge, which has operated on Route 70 since 1967.

The expansion involved demolishing nearby homes to build an employee parking lot.

Although the township approved the project in 2021, it reversed course in 2023 after noise complaints from the Locustwood Neighborhood Association and Frank Maloneya resident with alleged family ties to township officials, according to court documents.

Maloney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Foulkes lawsuit claims the townships decision to revoke his permits was politically motivated and retaliatory, leaving the property unusable and violating his rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Chief U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb issued a lengthy opinion April 30, partially denying the townships motion to dismiss the suit.

The judge ruled that several of Foulkes constitutional claimsincluding due process, equal protection, and First Amendment retaliationcould move forward.

However, the judge rejected Foulkes takings claim, which is a legal argument that the government took or severely limited the use of someones property without paying for it.

Bumb also dismissed some state law claims and a substantive due process claim for now, but said it could be brought back later if stronger evidence is found.

In a second case, which was filed in October 2023 in Superior Court in Camden County, Foulke challenged the zoning boards decision to uphold the permit rescission.

That case was a type of lawsuit specifically used to challenge decisions made by local boards, like zoning or planning boards.

It focused on New Jersey laws and how the township handled the process.

In a major win for Foulke, the state court ruled in January, 2025, that the townships actions were arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable, and vacated the permit rescission.

However, the court stayed enforcement of its ruling for 60 days, giving the township time to appeal.

The townships motion for reconsideration was denied, and the appeal is still pending.

With the federal case now moving forward and the state court appeal still unresolved, the legal battle over Cherry Hill Dodges expansion continues.

Foulkes attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Eric J. Riso, the attorney representing Cherry Hill Township, declined to comment on the litigation.
Philadelphia rapper LGP Qua, known for pushing positivity in his music, was shot and killed on Mother's Day. Canva

Rapper LGP Qua was shot and killed Sunday at the age of 30.

The Philadelphia musician, born Qidere Johnson, died after being shot during a robbery attempt in the citys Juniata Park neighborhood just before 5 p.m. on Mothers Day, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Police said the situation was a robbery gone wrong, ending in one of the robbers shooting LGP Qua in the chest. Authorities have yet to make any arrests in connection to the shooting. A $20,000 reward has being offered by Philadelphia police for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

LGP Qua was best known for socially conscious lyrics in his music, helping him stand out in a Philadelphia rap scene known for violent rhymes. He often spoke about gun violence and promoted positivity in the city.

The rapper, who was said to be an anti-violence activist, carried the moniker of the Voice of the Youth.

Philadelphia rap legend Meek Mill took to social media Sunday to share a tribute to LGP Qua on a since-expired Instagram story.

Killing ambitious young bulls like this on Mothers Day is a Philly type of thing, Meek Mill wrote. S--- will make you different. Prayers to your family, and lets collect some of them guns. S--- sad out here.

LGP Qua began pushing positivity in his music after serving an 18-month prison sentence, purportedly on a weapons charge, in 2017. He wrote a song in support of Meek Mill who was imprisoned on a parole violation that same year.

His first viral freestyle came in 2017, in which he rapped about issues affecting the City of Brotherly Love like violence among teens, drug use and police brutality.

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Nedra Snipes, Donathan Walters and Naja Selby-Morton in "the ripple the wave that carried me home" at Luna Stage in West Orange Stephanie Gamba

A water fountain. A lunch counter. A seat on a public bus. Access to these things might sound simple, but the Civil Rights Movement thrust them deeply and permanently into our national fabric precisely because they illuminate how thoroughly civil rights are intertwined with everyday dignities.

One core promise of civil rights, after all, is our racial identity should not dictate how and to what extent we engage with public life. Its just a water fountain, but the fight to secure everyones freedom to drink from it remains a defining American struggle.

Christina Andersons play, the ripple, the wave that carried me home, now running at Luna Stage in West Orange, documents how public pools belong in the litany of seemingly insignificant public amenities that became heated battle grounds for racial justice.

Janice (Naja Selby-Morton) lives a comfortable, quiet life in Ohio with her husband and children. She tells the audience early on that she doesnt much like to travel home to visit her family back home in Kansas. But when she does, she grits her teeth and visits alone for as little time as possible.

As the play opens, Janice is ignoring voicemails from a woman named Young Chipper Ambitious Black Woman (Latonia Phipps). Janice knows Young Chipper is calling about something to do with home, which could require engagement with her family, and she would rather not deal with it. If Janice has to see her family, she wants it to be on her own terms.

In her narrative role, Janice gives us context from her childhood for her aggravation. She grew up in the 60s and 70s in a Kansas town with three public pools. There was one for the rich whites, one for the middle-class whites and one for the middle-class Blacks. Poor Blacks had no pool in their neighborhood. Janices parents, Helen (Nedra Snipes) and Edwin (Donathan Walters), are appalled by this segregation  in part because Janices grandfather built a legacy of giving free swim lessons to Black children. It was at one of those sessions that Helen and Edwin first met. So they mount a campaign of resistance on a variety of legal and social fronts.

We come to learn that Edwin and Helens commitment to this fight left young Janice feeling frustrated and occasionally neglected. And it turns out that Young Chippers phone calls have everything to do with the legacy of Janices parents public pool fights.

Over the course of the play, Anderson toggles between Janices present (which is 1992, to coordinate with the trial of Rodney Kings assailants and its aftermath) and her childhood, where she progresses from an 8-year-old eager to be part of whatever her parents are doing to a teenager with ideas of her own.

Throughout, Anderson leans into the imagery of water. It is at once a necessity of life, a potential for danger and a powerful unifier. The play is interested in the particular civil rights fight at its center. At the same time, it uses that story as a foundation for larger investments in themes of racial justice, community responsibility and family.

Andersons writing is lyrical and so too is Lunas production. Directed by Adrienne D. Williams, the play flows freely through time and space in Lunas black box. Selby-Morton anchors the play ably, moving seamlessly between her roles as captivating narrator, aggravated adult and precocious child. Around her, the rest of the cast succeeds in making palpable all the familial and social tension that weighs on Janices journey through the play.

The plays best scene is its last, in which Anderson unifies the themes that might seem disparate over the course of the shows previous 100 minutes or so. It captures poignantly how the battle over something as seemingly mundane as a pool  the simple right to access water  can create a ripple that accumulates into a wave of private and public ramifications.

the ripple, the wave that carried me home

555 Valley Road, West Orange

Tickets available online: https://www.lunastage.org/. Running through May 25.

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A group of "Nice old ladies" protested outside Delaney Hall in Newark on Tuesday, opposed to the recent opening of the immigrant detention center. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

The contrast between ICE officers in camouflage fatigues and the nice old ladies protesting outside the immigrant detention center might have been comic if not for the guns and plastic wrist cuffs the officers carried and the violent confrontation between Newark Police and other demonstrators the night before.

What are we, Nice old ladies? Susan Vercheak, 74, a member of the South Orange-Maplewood Action civic group, asked the half-dozen women with her just off the Delaney Hall detention center property on Tuesday.

Were not nice! Paula Rogovin, 77, who belongs to the group Teaneck Peace & Justice Vigil, said in mock protest.

A few yards away, on a broad driveway leading to the gate of the facility, armed officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, as ICE is officially known, stood guard outside the facility gate along with a black armored vehicle from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICEs parent agency.

Though outside the gate, the officers and vehicle were behind a line of yellow temporary Jersey barriers put in place Monday night near the sidewalk along Doremus Avenue.

A Jeep SUV with flashing lights blocked a single-lane opening in the barriers and backed up occasionally to let cars or trucks in or out.

Regional and national spokespeople for ICE did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday on the bolstered security measures.

ICE officers were joined by a DHS armored vehicle in front of the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark on Tuesday, May 13. Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

Like the larger and more forceful groups of demonstrators who have been at the site all week, the women  and a few men  there on Tuesday were opposing the recent opening of Delaney Hall as a detention center privately owned and operated by the GEO Group under a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE.

The controversy has resulted in the high-profile arrest by ICE officers of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Friday, followed by Newark Police officers arrest of two protestors on Monday evening during a demonstration led by clergy and leaders of faith-based groups.

The mayor was arrested on trespassing charges amid a violent scuffle between ICE officers and Baraka supporters trying to surround him just outside the gate of the facility.

Baraka was back at Delaney Hall on Tuesday to try again to tour the building with the citys fire official to follow up on an initial inspection that city officials said had resulted in several citations intended for the GEO Group to address. They were turned away.

Baraka, a Democrat also running for governor, had gone there Friday afternoon to meet three fellow Democrats from New Jerseys congressional delegation seeking to conduct an oversight tour of the facility.

DHS later said the congresspeople had stormed the gate of the facility, which they rejected as a lie. The mayor was released that night, and has a hearing scheduled for Thursday morning in federal court.

Mondays arrests occurred as police officers tried to physically move protestors who were trying to block the facility gates.

The arrested protestors, New Jersey residents who were not clergy members, were released just after midnight on Tuesday morning, said Ana Paola Pazmino, executive director of Resistencia en Accion, an immigrant rights group of which one of the arrested protestors was a member. Pazmino said the other was a member of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

Newarks public safety director, Emanuel Miranda, said Monday that the two were charged with trespassing on private property and obstructing police officers. Miranda said one officer suffered a cut.

Tuesdays modest protest had a counter demonstrator, Kateri Riley, a 39-year-old single mother who lives in Newark.

Riley, an Army veteran on disability with PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, said she hasnt been able to get additional Social Security benefits she needs to support herself and her son.

She said she was angry that federal elected officials seemed more concerned with helping undocumented immigrants than the countrys military veterans. Likewise, Riley said, the Baraka administration allowed substandard conditions at countless city properties.

The hypocrisy! said Riley, whose husband and fellow veteran died eight years ago. They care more about illegal immigrants than their own constituents.

Confronting a protestor, Riley yelled, Youre a moron, and everybody else here protesting is a moron!

Vercheak viewed ICEs increased show of might at the Delaney Hall gate as an attempt to intimidate protestors, which is ridiculous, because we are not afraid.

The contrast between ICEs imposing forces and the white-haired women holding protest signs, does seem silly, Vercheak said, adding that the persistent protesting appeared to have had an impact on immigration enforcement officials.

We keep showing up, she said. Its obviously getting under their skin.

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A Guatemalan man in the U.S. illegally and living in New Jersey was charged with illegally trying to gain custody of two unaccompanied migrant teenagers, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said. AP Photo/Eric Gay

A Guatemalan man, who is living in the U.S. illegally, was charged with illegally trying to gain custody of two unaccompanied migrant teenagers, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Luciano Tinuar Quino, 57, who is living in New Jersey, was charged with two counts of making false statements.

Quino, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2016 and was known to live in the Oranges, is accused of submitting an application to the Office of Refugee Resettlement in 2022 to obtain custody of two unaccompanied alien teenagers while using aliases and false identities, officials said.

The boys were 15 and 17 years old, according to charging documents.

Quino falsely claimed to be both the boys father in sponsorship applications and he was awarded custody of the 15-year-old in May 2022, officials said.

The boy was transferred to New Jersey into Quinos custody from a federally funded care provider in Los Fresnos, Texas, charging documents show.

The 17-year-old was not released into Quinos custody based on questions by officials about his identity and relationship to the boy, authorities said.

An attorney for Quino could not be reached for comment.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
As few as three air traffic controllers were working at Newark Liberty International Airport Monday evening, according to a published report. Thats 11 fewer than the targeted amount for that time period, The New York Times reported.

On Monday, during the shift that typically runs from 3 to 10 p.m., the group that manages Newark air traffic from Philadelphia was operating with only one or two fully certified controllers, sources told the publication.

Last year, the decision was made to move the air traffic controllers who handle the airspace around Newark Liberty from New York to Philadelphia. That move has been blamed in part for continuing problems at the airport, including several incidents that led to several incidents of radio, radar communications blackouts between controllers and pilots seeking to land.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that fast-track fixes are being implemented to address these issues and he also called for an investigation into the move to Philadelphia.

On Monday, the delays that have been constant at the airport in the past week continued. There were 249 delays at the airport and 87 cancellations, according to FlightAware.

Some of the flights were delayed by as much as seven hours on Monday, according to the New York Times.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Newark Mayor Ray Baraka returned to the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday, May 12, 2025, following his arrest there on trespassing charges on Friday. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka returned to Delaney Hall on Tuesday morning, four days after his arrest outside the gates of the detention center in the city..

Once again, the mayor was turned away, unable to get even within 20 feet or so of the facilitys main gate, where a cordon of eight armed ICE officers in cammoflage fatigues, a pair of SUVs and temporary yellow Jersey barriers prevented him from getting any closer.

Now they wont even let us close to the gate, Baraka said.

Baraka, also a Democratic candidate for governor, left the facility after remaining out front for about half an hour, after City Business Administrator Eric Pennington spoke to the manager of the facility for the GEO Group, the private company that owns and operates the center under a contract with ICE.

Pennington said the manager, Lee Tatum, told him he would have to check with others on whether the mayor could enter, and would call him back.

Baraka, who has a federal court appearance on Thursday for trespassing charges against him, said he did not know whether he would be arrested again on Tuesday and was not concerned about it.

I dont know what they would do. I know they know who I am. They said, There goes the mayor right there, Baraka said before leaving the site. So, I dont know what that was about.

Baraka said he plans to plead not guilty to the charges.

Temporary Jersey barriers were set up in the driveway leading to the gate of the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center on Tuesday, May 12, 2025, when Mayor Ras Baraka returned to the facility following his arrest there on Friday. Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media

Newark Fire Official Gwendolyn Saleem was allowed to approach the gate when she tried to serve summonses on the GEO Group for alleged violations of state fire safety laws, including refusing to permit a follow-up inspection of the site.

But no one accepted the summonses, and Saleem again fixed them to the chain link fence next to the gate, as she had done repeatedly since last week.

Baraka had gone to the facility on Friday to meet Democratic U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who were there for a congressional oversight visit.

He was told he had to step outside the gate or that he would be arrested, and he complied, according to a video of the incident.

A few minutes later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested him outside of the gates of the detention center.

Baraka was charged with criminal trespassing and was released about five hours later. The mayor said he would fight the charges.

The U.S. attorney for New Jersey on Monday said her office would be launching an investigation with other federal agencies into what happened.

Newark officials were back at Delaney Hall Monday morning to serve the GEO Group with violation notices. Baraka did not accompany officials to Delaney Hall on Monday.

Baraka has opposed the opening of Delaney Hall and said at a campaign event Friday night that he would return to the detention facility when its time.

A crowd of more than 100 demonstrators, including clergy and members of Faith in New Jersey, Faith in New York, Pax Christi members, gathered Monday outside Delaney Hall.

Two of the protestors were arrested and charged with obstruction and resisting arrest, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said.

Protestors rally at Delaney hall ICE facility in Newark on Monday, May 12, 2025. Michael Dempsey | For NJ Advance

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
Two protestors were arrested Monday evening during a demonstration at the immigrant detention center in Newark where the citys mayor was arrested last week.

A man and woman were arrested outside Delaney Hall and charged with obstruction and resisting arrest, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said in a statement.

One police officer suffered a minor laceration to the arm and will remain on duty, Miranda said.

Neither person was identified by the department and no other information was released Monday evening.

About two dozen pastors, rabbis and leaders of faith-based organizations gathered Monday at Delaney Hall and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against a barbed wire-topped gate at the center.

One of the people arrested had thrown herself in front of a car that was trying to leave the facility and then went over to another gate and got into a tussle with officers. She was subdued by police and put into handcuffs.

The woman was a member of Resistencia en Accion New Jersey and the groups executive director, Anna Paola Pazmino, told NJ Advance Media that the two people arrested were trying to admonish the police not to be overly aggressive with the clergy members.

They were peacefully here with the clergy and we saw that the police officers were getting very aggressive with the clergy, Pazmino said.

A crowd of more than 100 demonstrators, including clergy members, gathered Monday outside Delaney Hall, the detention center owned and operated by the Florida-based GEO Group under a contract with ICE. That number had dropped to about 50 Monday night.

Individual clergy and members of Faith in New Jersey, Faith in New York, Pax Christi, and other groups staged the demonstration three days after Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested Friday afternoon on trespassing charges while there to meet three New Jersey members of Congress trying to conduct an oversight tour of the facility.

Baraka, whose charges are pending, was held for about five hours on Friday before being released.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The investigation targeted Bliss Spa and the Edison home of its manager, 47-year-old Daniela Diienno. Canva

Authorities in Edison say they executed the townships largest asset seizure to date during a raid Thursday at a massage parlor suspected of prostitution and money laundering, recovering more than $750,000  including $600,000 in cash sewn inside a giant teddy bear.

The yearlong undercover investigation led by the Edison Police Departments Vice Unit targeted Bliss Spa on Woodbridge Avenue and the Edison home of its manager, 47-year-old Daniela Diienno.

Police said they recovered $650,000 in cash  most of it concealed inside the stuffed animal  as well as a 2025 Tesla Model Y, a Rolex and a Cartier watch.

Additional funds were seized from Diiennos bank accounts, bringing the total haul to $754,373, according to Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan.

Diienno was charged with first-degree money laundering, second-degree promoting organized street crime, third-degree promoting prostitution and fourth-degree maintaining a house of prostitution.

She was held at the Middlesex County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Attorney information for Diienno was not listed in court records.

Four other women  ages 26 to 45 from New Jersey and New York  were each charged with engaging in or soliciting prostitution and released on summonses.

Bliss Spa was hit with multiple health code violations and had its business license suspended, officials said.

This operation is a direct result of the commitment and coordination between departments and agencies that have worked tirelessly to dismantle organized criminal enterprises operating under the guise of legitimate business, Bryan said in a statement.

The amount of cash seized and the elaborate concealment methods used show just how sophisticated and profitable these illegal operations can be.

The investigation was supported by the Edison Police SWAT Team, Criminal Investigations Bureau, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office, the township health department, and the state Division of Consumer Affairs.

Mayor Samip Joshi, who in 2022 launched an initiative to shut down illicit massage parlors, said Edisons approach has become a statewide model.

New Jersey officials have recognized Edison as the standard for how to confront this pervasive issue, Joshi said, referring to an October 2024 state report that praised the township for closing 19 spas and enacting strict licensing rules.

When government works together  police, health, zoning, prosecutors  we protect our residents and build a safer community.

The investigation is ongoing. Police ask anyone with information to call the vice unit at 732-248-7529 or email VICE@edisonpd.org.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 13. Akram Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, met with a delegation led by Fuad Mosa, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to discuss key areas of cooperation, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the stakeholders engaged in a comprehensive analysis of multiple domains for synergistic collaboration, encompassing the construction of economically viable housing solutions, the integration of polymer-based innovations in drip irrigation methodologies, optimized water resource management strategies, decentralized energy frameworks, enhancement of energy infrastructure, and sustainable transit solutions, alongside both fiscal and technical partnerships.



Both parties reiterated their dedication to enhancing bilateral relations and concurred on a strategic framework to facilitate the execution of the proposed projects and initiatives.

Earlier in March this year, the two parties also held discussions focused on advancing industrial production, enhancing value chains, expanding industrial cooperation, increasing the share of localized products in investment projects, and modernizing key industrial sectors. Additionally, an agreement was reached to develop a "local content" system in Uzbekistan, leveraging Saudi Arabias successful approach in this area.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Planes at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on May 11, 2025. (Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media)

After two weeks and three air traffic control equipment failures that blacked out radar and communications with aircraft, it is safe to fly to and from Newark Airport?

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Chris Rocheleau reiterated their earlier statements during a Monday press conference  they believe the airport is safe.

Their statements came the same day The New York Times reported that as few as three air traffic controllers were working at Newark Liberty International Airport on a recent Monday evening. Thats 11 fewer than the targeted number for that time period.

I fly out of Newark, my wife flies out of Newark, Duffy, who lives in New Jersey, said during Mondays press conference.

What would be the fallout of shutting down Newark Airport while air traffic control technology is upgraded?

Newark is one of the busier airports in the US. Shutting it down would have enormous economic effects in the Northeast, said professor Sheldon H. Jacobson, founder of the University of Illinois computer science program. The United Airlines network would be crippled. Shutting it down should be a last resort, and we are nowhere near that.

Jacobson helped design the TSAs airport Pre-check system that allows low risk prescreened travelers to use an express lane at security screening.

Newark is the 12th busiest airport in the nation. In March, 4 million passengers used the airport, according to Port Authority figures. The 33 airlines that serve the airport provide an average of 1,037 flights a day.

However that number could get cut nearly in half, under a proposal by the FAA.

Closing the airport would not be good for the financial health of the U.S. airline industry, said Kerry M. Tan, an economics professor at Loyola University. This is especially true for United Airlines which dominates the airport with a 58% market share.

Duffy on Monday spoke about safety work done since the April 28 incident that made a problem on Sunday less severe.

He credited a recently installed software patch at the Philadelphia airport Terminal Radar Approach Control facility that handles Newark Airport for a fast recovery during an interruption on Sunday.

The redundant line worked, meaning our patch worked, he said. It returned almost immediately so pilots could talk to controllers.

Air traffic controllers were without telecommunications or radar data for a shorter time during Sundays incident, compared to the previous two on April 28 and May 9. However, an airport ground stop was initiated in the interest of safety, he said.

Work is being done to install faster fiber optic cable to the Philadelphia TRACON, but technology will have to be installed to dumb down the data feed so as not to overload the vintage equipment at the facility, which dates to 1980 and 1993, Duffy said.

Other equipment that should have been relocated to Philadelphias TRACON when air traffic controllers were moved there last year to handle Newark airspace will be installed, Duffy said.

The FAA, airlines and Port Authority officials are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss reducing the number of flights to and from Newark until the air traffic control system is improved.

Our commitment is safety, Duffy said. If we reduce the number of flights, were doing it to guarantee safety.

On Sunday, while appearing on NBCs Meet The Press, Duffy said flight reductions would fluctuate by time of day with most happening in afternoon hours when international arrivals make the airport busier.

The idea is to have a workload that air traffic controllers and equipment can handle, he said.

It would make more sense for the FAA to reimpose slot restrictions at Newark to better control the number of incoming and outgoing flights in the area and reduce the workload for air traffic controllers, Tan said. Of course, this would be a significant negative shock to Uniteds financial health."

United officials expressed support for temporarily designating Newark a Level 3 airport, meaning it can handle fewer flights. CEO Scott Kirby reiterated this in his May 2 memo announcing United was cutting 35 flights from its daily schedule of flights to and from Newark.

Travelers will feel the impact of reduced flights, but experts said doing necessary work in an operating airport is difficult.

This is why upgrading the equipment used by air traffic controllers is so challenging, Jacobson said. Expect ground stops and further schedule reductions at Newark for some time moving forward.

Duffy said its a priority to fix Newark correctly since we could see others like it across the country.

Jacobson agreed that the two week meltdown at Newark should also be a wake up call for every other airport around the nation to ensure that their equipment is functional and air traffic controllers are ready for the unexpected.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry
Hey there New Jersey! Heres your audio update highlighting the full containment of a massive wildfire three weeks later, and President Donald Trumps endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli in the hotly-contested New Jersey governors race.

Well also tell you about a looming NJ Transit strike affecting public transportation to major concerts and the death of a former mayor of Newark who served five terms.

Listen by clicking the play button above.

This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result.

We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After youve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think.

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A man, who was driving with a suspended license, was involved in an airborne crash in which a passenger died, authorities said.

Martine Taylor, Jr., 56, of Toms River, was served with a warrant at the hospital on Tuesday for causing death with driving with a suspended license, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

Police found Taylors car upside down in a drainage ditch in Lakewood shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. At the time, the officers were near the scene, on Cedar Bridge Avenue, investigating an unrelated incident.

Taylor and his passenger, who was unresponsive, were both extricated from the vehicle. The passenger, a 52-year-old woman, was pronounced dead on the scene, authorities said.

Taylor was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and to submit to an authorized blood draw, officials said.

Investigators believe Taylors car was traveling west on Cedar Bridge Avenue when it veered into the opposing lane, exited the road and became airborne, traveling 189 feet through the air.

When the car was in the air, it struck a utility pole before hitting the ground, authorities said.

The car then became airborne a second time, hitting a tree before it finally landed in the drainage ditch, officials said.

Prosecutors did not release other details. The passengers identity is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Taylor is being treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Following the hospital stay, he will be transferred to police custody.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, as Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., listen. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

By Herb Conaway Jr., MD

Since the Trump administration took control of the White House, weve watched as they cut critical programs that would have been considered political suicide to even suggest a decade ago.

From bungling the layoffs of critical staff at the VA (including 24 veteran suicide hotline employees who were later reinstated), to slashing parts of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that help stop disease outbreaks, these actions have real-world consequences.

While cuts to some programs were ultimately temporary in the face of massive public outrage, when it comes to Social Security and Medicaid, this administration and Congressional Republicans want those cuts to be permanent.

If these cuts are signed into law, they will hurt millions of Americans today, and millions more in the future.

On Tuesday, May 13, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to mark up its portion of the budget reconciliation bill  legislation Republicans intend to advance.

As a doctor, I find the idea of cutting care for the most vulnerable Americans is sickening. And as a Congressman, I believe its downright immoral.

No one should support a plan that forces seniors, children, and disabled Americans into medical debt . If you do, you need to question not just your policy  but your humanity.

Medicaid is cost effective

Despite Republican claims that Medicaid is inefficient and bloated, the program is actually one of the most cost-effective parts of our healthcare system. Numerous studies have shown us that Medicaid improves outcomes, reduces hospitalizations, and lowers mortality rates.

Cutting Medicaid under the false pretense of inefficiency isnt just misleading  it ignores decades of evidence that prove the program works and does so efficiently.

Medicaid has helped hundreds of millions of Americans get the health care they need since it started 60 years ago.

It mostly supports low-income children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors  especially those in nursing homes.

It also keeps millions out of povertyabout 2.6 million people each year.

Critical to the nations healthcare system

However, Medicaid doesnt just support the most vulnerable Americansits a critical part of the broader healthcare ecosystem. Cutting Medicaid would destabilize the financial health of entire local healthcare systems, especially hospitals and community health centers.

This could lead to staff layoffs, service reductions, facility closures, and widespread ripple effects on local economies and jobs.

Even if you dont rely on Medicaid, youll still feel the impact.

So why are Republicans trying to gut it?

Its simple: to pay for massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and billion-dollar corporations.

For weeks, Congressional Republicans have tried to deny these cuts or spin them as something else. But their actions speak louder than words. They already passed a budget that outlines major cuts, and today,

Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee will begin to draft legislation that will cement Medicaid cuts.

No more hiding. No more lies. Theyre about to show the world what they really stand for.

Fighting back

I will be watching the Committee hearing closely and I will do my best to ensure all the vital information about their Medicaid cuts is made known.

However, this is just the beginning.

My Democratic colleagues and I are fighting back. Were calling out these cuts for just how devastating they are, and well keep doing it. Even if this budget fails, Republicans wont stop trying to gut safety-net programs like Medicaid. Ill keep up the pressure in the Housebut I cant do it alone.

Its up to you  the people  to hold them accountable. That means peacefully protesting, calling Republican offices, and showing up at the ballot box next November. When people say, Elections have consequences, believe them  because were living those consequences right now.

This is a long road ahead, but when we stand together united, change is possible.

Calling your elected representative in the U.S. House Of Representatives or U.S. Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your representative and senator to voice your position, go to the House website and the Senate website.

Herb Conaway Jr., MD, a Democrat, represents New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District. He is a veteran, doctor, and lawyer who is the first Black physician with voting privileges to serve in Congress.

Editors note: This opinion was updated to clarify that Veterans Crisis Line support staff were reinstated after they were erroneously told they were being laid off earlier this year.

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President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gesture as they meet delegations at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

A Fox News host appeared to crack a joke about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Trump arrived to Saudi Arabia early on Tuesday morning, where he could be seen shaking hands with Saudi officials and saluting Saudi generals. At one point, Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade appeared to make a veiled jab about assassinations in Saudi Arabia.

During the Fox & Friends show on Tuesday, co-host Lawrence Jones first falsely stated that Prince Mohammed was educated in the U.S. despite him receiving his degree from King Saudi University.

He finished second in his law school class, co-host Ainsley Earhardt added.

I guess we dont know what happened to the first person, Kilmeade said as Earhardt laughed in the clip first highlighted on social media platform X.

The U.S. has had a tense relationship with the Saudis since its intelligence discovered that Prince Mohammed had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khasoggi.

But on Tuesday, Kilmeade noted that Trump seems to have moved past the killing.

The Khashoggi thing was a huge setback, and obviously horrendous  the massacre of an American journalist of Arab descent, but we seem to have moved past it," Kilmeade said.

Trump and Prince Mohammed also took part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides in an ornate room with blue accents and massive crystal chandeliers.

As he greeted business titans with Trump by his side, Prince Mohammed was animated and smiling.

It was a stark contrast to his awkward fist bump with then-President Joe Biden, who looked to avoid being seen on camera shaking hands with the prince during a 2022 visit to the kingdom.

Biden had decided to pay a visit to Saudi Arabia as he looked to alleviate soaring prices at the pump for motorists at home and around the globe. At the time, Prince Mohammeds reputation had been badly damaged by a U.S. intelligence determination that found he had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

But that dark moment appeared to be distant memory for the prince as he rubbed elbows with high-profile business executives  including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk  in front of the cameras and with Trump by his side.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump speaks after David Perdue was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to China during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

Even Republicans are not too happy with President Donald Trump.

Trump confirmed Monday that he was ready to accept a super luxury Boeing jet as a gift from Qatara country who he labeled as a funder of terrorism in 2017. He said that only a stupid person would refuse a free jet as a gift, despite many Republicans and Democrats raising concerns on potential ethical issues over the jet.

A number of Republicans, including some MAGA loyalists, have since urged Trump to not accept a potential jet from Qatar. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on Fox News that it would be a mistake" to accept the jet, while MAGA loyalist Laura Loomer said she was disappointed that Trump was considering accepting the jet.

The criticism continued to mount on Tuesdaytwo days after ABC first reported news of the potential gift.

Ben Shapiro, a far-right podcaster, slammed Trump over the report during his podcast episode this week.

Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, thats not America first, Shapiro said. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop.

Ben Shapiro on Qatar gifting Trump a plane: "Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, that's not America first....If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop." pic.twitter.com/fZGGf6iM8N  The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) May 12, 2025

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on CNBC that he was not a fan of Qatar and raised concerns about potential security issues.

I also think the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems, so well see how this issue plays out. But I certainly have concerns, he said.

GOP Rep. Dusty Johnson also targeted Trump over the report: I dont like it. Theres a reason that people cant even buy me a steak dinner. Its not necessarily that you can prove I have an ethical problem, its that the appearance of it doesnt look great. Id ont know how much I trust the Qatari government.

Nikki Haley, Trumps former ambassador to the United Nations who endorsed him last year, ripped him over the potential gift.

Accepting gifts from foreign nations is never a good practice. It threatens intelligence and national security. Especially when that nation supports a terrorist organization and allows those terrorist regimes to live on its soil. Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and US can be bought. If this were Biden, we would be furious, she wrote on social media platform X.

And U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski simply laughed when asked about turning the potential Qatari jet into Air Force One.

They better sweep that plane from front to back, she told reporters.

Trump defended the prospect of a new plane in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane, Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night. Anybody can do that!

ABC News reported that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.

The gift was expected to be announced when Trump visits Qatar, according to ABCs report, as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term.

Before Trumps post trumpeting the idea, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatars media attache, said in a statement that the possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatars Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense.

But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made, the statement added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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GetCoveredNJ.gov is the website for people shopping for health insurance. Thousands of New Jerseyans, however, would no longer be eligible for coverage under changes proposed by a Congressional panel meeting Tuesday in Washington D.C.

The bitter debate over the future of Medicaid  which serves 80 million citizens in the nation including 1.8 million from New Jersey  finally takes center stage on Tuesday, when a congressional panel will discuss changes that would eliminate at least 8.6 million people from the program.

Congressional Republicans passed a resolution in February that required the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find deep savings from Medicaid to help pay for the income tax cuts President Donald Trump enacted during his first term that largely favor wealthy people.
And we wondered how the guy got a brain worm?

Donald Trumps Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took a Mothers Day swim in a creek that reeks with sewage and high levels of bacteria. The guy in charge of the nations health basically went swimming in a toilet. And he took his grandkids with him.

He either didnt know the waters were fouled or he didnt care. Both are indictments of stupidity, especially for a health officer.

Kennedy is against fluoride in drinking water. But it seems the jury is still out on doo-doo. Dont try this at home, kids.

Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025

Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek, Kennedy posted on social media. He included photos showing him submerging himself, in the tainted creek.

So, is there a vaccine for this?

According to Media-ite, social media users mocked Kennedy while informing him that swimming in the creek was prohibited due to the high levels of bacteria that have been found within the water.

Swimming and wading are not allowed due to high bacteria levels, the National Park Service tells visitors. Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading, and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and pet) health. Please protect yourself and your pooches by staying on trails and out of the creek. All District waterways are subject to a swim ban  this means wading, too!

A 2021 report found high E. coli values, indicating sewage pollution, in the water, according to Vanity Fair.

E. coli can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses, and can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns on its website.

You might recall that in a 2012 deposition, RFK Jr. claimed that a worm ... got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died.

The brain worm that supposedly ate part of RFK Jr.s brain might have eaten the part that tells us not to swim in fecal matter. One of the possible ways he got the worm: contact with contaminated drinking water.

Kennedy  an anti-vaccine extremist who has vowed to make America Healthy Again as measles rage  might start by setting an example not to swim in feces-infected waters. Unless, of course, hes simply owning the libs.

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In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. Senate Television via AP

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) is the latest to compare President Donald Trump to a toddler.

Chinese and U.S. officials announced Monday that they would be pausing most of their tariffs for 90 days to allow more discussions on the recent trade disputes.The Trump administration took a victory lap over the news, despite the president being responsible for igniting the trade war in the first place.
President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gesture as they meet delegations at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

Donald Trump supporter Mike Huckabee  the former Arkansas governor and father of former Trump mouthpiece Sarah Huckabee Sanders  is hawking a sleep aid on TV, because, he says, there are times when his mind is racing and he cant doze off.

(We wonder: Could it be that his conscience is bothering him? But thats a post for another day.)

Trump, it seems, could use some of what Huckabee is selling, because the president  who slapped the label of Sleepy Joe on former president Joe Biden  is becoming Dozing Don.

Or maybe its just (gift) jet lag.

Sleepy Don snoozing during his cabinet meeting. pic.twitter.com/BmzrqpA6fw  Annie (@AnnieForTruth) February 28, 2025

When he fell asleep shortly into the funeral for the former pope, supporters insisted he was simply praying. (With his mouth open?)

1) Sleepy Joe, the MAGA said. Trump falls asleep and snores at the popes funeral. But lets see more evidence of Sleepy Don next pic.twitter.com/aCP8phvGxP  Jacks House Radio Free NAFO (@FluteMagician) April 26, 2025

Trump fell sleep numerous times during his New York trial, where he was convicted last year of 34 counts of fraud.

And now Trump has done it again: He apparently dozed off at a press conference during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Trump is in Riyadh, with Cabinet members, business executives, and Fox News employees as part of the first international visit of his second term. reports say he intends to close $1 trillion in deals designed to benefit the U.S. economy during the trip.

Trump, 78, is the oldest president to take the oath of office in the White Housed. He dozed off during an on-camera ceremony in Riyadh, which is seven hours ahead of Washington, D.C.

BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Donald Trump just fell asleep at his briefing in Saudi Arabia. What a disaster. pic.twitter.com/vqiiGySSsd  Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) May 13, 2025

Trumps doctors recently insisted hes in great health: He exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit, according to White House physician Capt. Sean Barbabella.

The White House released Trumps three-page medical report last month after his annual physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

President Trump remains in excellent health, exhibiting robust cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and general physical function, Barbabella said..

In a report contained in a soon-to-be-published book on Biden, reporters say doctors wanted Biden to build more rest time into the presidents schedule.

Seems that might be a good idea for Trump, too.

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During the Aviation Energy Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), operating under the Azerbaijan Transport and Communications Holding (AZCON Holding), signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to join the CO2 Connect program.

The agreement was signed by Jamil Manizade, Chief Commercial Officer at AZAL, and Funda Calisir, IATAs Area Manager for Turkiye, Central Asia, and Azerbaijan.

By signing the CO2 Connect agreement with IATA, AZAL strengthens its commitment to transparent, data-driven climate action. This collaboration enables us to share accurate CO2 emissions data and support more informed, sustainable travel choices in line with our decarbonization goals, said Jamil Manizade, Chief Commercial Officer at AZAL.

IATAs CO2 Connect calculator addresses inconsistencies in emissions measurement by offering precise, per-passenger CO2 data based on real operational data, such as aircraft type-specific fuel consumption, which is directly provided by participating airlines and calculated according to an industry-agreed methodology. The platform achieves greater data accuracy, strengthening accountability across the sector. AZAL joins more than 60 airlines currently providing data to CO2 Connect.

CO2 Connect is a powerful tool to support aviations decarbonization, driven by global standard methodologies and high-quality data. It also meets the demand from corporations and individual travelers who want to clearly understand how sustainable their flying is. With the contribution of airlines such as AZAL, the platform has been established as the benchmark for measuring aviation emissions globally, said Rafael Schvartzman, IATAs Regional Vice President for Europe.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

Conservative author Ann Coulter tried to justify President Donald Trumps potential gift from Qatar with a ridiculous comparison.

ABC News reported over the weekend that Trump intended to accept a luxury jet from Qatar to serve as a replacement for Air Force One. Many Democrats, as well as some MAGA loyalists, slammed Trump for accepting a bribe from a country he once called afunder of terrorism.

Coulter was one of many Trump supporters who said the jet from Qatar is no different than the U.S. accepting the Statue of Liberty from France.

I cant wait for the press to find out about Frances so-called gift of the Statue of Liberty, accepted in 1886 by then-President Grover Cleveland, Coulter wrote on social media platform X.

Coulter was immediately roasted for her defense of Trump.

Exactly. Its well known that Cleveland used the statue extensively for his own personal comfort and convenience and then took possession of it personally after he left office, Wall Street Journal columnist Gerard Baker wrote on X in response to Coulter.

Exactly. Its well known that Cleveland used the statue extensively for his own personal comfort and convenience and then took possession of it personally after he left office. https://t.co/JvYaiLLeYh  Gerard Baker (@gerardtbaker) May 13, 2025

Her comparison of the jet to the Statue of Liberty does not hold much weight. The Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from France to the United States and was designated as a National Monument, where millions of people go to visit each year.

As many critics pointed out, the Qatari jet is not like the Statue of Liberty since Americans will not be able to pay a visit to it. ABC News reported that after Trumps term is over, the jet will go to Trumps presidential library.

This sparked concerns that Trump was accepting the jet for his own personal use after he leaves office.

Trump said on Monday that he would not be using it for his personal use after his term is up. However, CNNs Anderson Cooper reported on Monday that, according to sources, Trump intends to fly in the plane after he leaves office.

With a source familiar with the situation tells CNN, thats what it will be. He wont park it, the source tells us. Hell fly in it, Cooper said.

Trump tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he wouldnt fly around in the gifted Boeing 747 when his term ends. Instead, he said, the $400 million plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece.

It would go directly to the library after I leave office, Trump said. I wouldnt be using it.

However, that did little to quell the controversy over the plane. Democrats are united in outrage, and even some of the Republican presidents allies are worried. Laura Loomer, an outspoken conspiracy theorist who has tried to purge disloyal officials from the administration, wrote on social media that she would take a bullet for Trump but said shes so disappointed.

Congressional Republicans have also expressed some doubts about the plan.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump answers a reporter's question during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

President Donald Trumps approval rating may be changing direction, according to a Republican-sponsored poll.

Trumps approval rating has been historically low in the first 100 days of his second term, likely due to the unpopular tariff policies and high costs of living. However, a new poll from Quantus Insights showed that his approval rating could be on the mend.

The Quantus Insights poll, sponsored by a conservative media organization, found that Americans are split on their approval of how Trump is handling the job. The poll found there was a tie, with 48.2% of respondents saying they approve of Trump while 48.3% said they disapprove.

While Republicans are continuing to support Trump, with 92% approving of how he is handling his job, he lacks widespread support among independent voters, with just 41% approving of how he is handling the job.

More from Quantus Insights:

This poll doesnt show consensusit shows cold civil war by other means. The numbers scream deadlock. But they also show staying power.

In short: Trump is holding his line. And America, once again, is choosing sides

NEW QUANTUS INSIGHTS POLL  May 9, 2025



Trump Job Approval

 Approve: 48.2%

 Disapprove: 48.3%



 Direction of the Country

 Right Track: 44.4%

 Wrong Track: 50.3%

Major partisan split: 84% of GOP say right track vs. 88% of Dems say wrong track.



 Trumps Second Term pic.twitter.com/skJw3LaRBS  Quantus Insights (@QuantusInsights) May 9, 2025

The Quantus Insights poll was conducted May 5-7 among 1,000 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

While the Quantus Insights poll showed a divided approval rating for Trump, other recent polls show that Trumps approval rating remains underwater as he passed his 100-day mark in office late last month.

A recent Associated Press-NORC poll found that just 41% approved of how Trump was handling his job as president while 57% disapproved. According to The New York Times daily approval rating tracker, Trumps approval rating average is 44% as of Tuesday while his disapproval rating is 52%.

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FILE - Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden arrives at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on March 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File) AP

President Donald Trump has fired the nations first Black Librarian of Congress - via email, according to representatives at the library.

Librarian Carla Hayden received the email from the White House deputy director of presidential personnel on Thursday, NBC News reported.

President Donald J. Trump has decided to end your role as Librarian of Congress, effective right away, the email read, according to NBC News. Thank you for your service.

No reason was provided for her firing.

Hayden was the first African American and the first woman to lead the worlds largest library.

Appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2016, she was the first professional librarian in decades to hold the position, which has traditionally been filled by historians or scholars, according to the Washington Post.

Hayden was serving a renewable 10-year term that was scheduled to end next year.

A spokesperson for the Library of Congress confirmed Haydens firing but did not comment on the matter.

Haydens firing follows Trumps executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and initiatives in federal hiring and contracts and higher education.

Some praised Trumps decision to fire Hayden.

Among them was the conservative nonprofit, American Accountability Foundation, which recently criticized Hayden, accusing her of promoting access to books on radical gender identity and labeling her woke.

Americans want to FIRE the Obama-Biden cronies in charge of the Library of Congress who use the library to promote childrens access to books on radical gender identity, the group posted online.

Others took to social media to express support for Hayden.

Donald Trump just fired my dear friend, Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress via email, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey posted on X. This is disgraceful. The Library of Congress represents some of the best America has to offer. Equal access to learning for all.

Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries shared similar sentiments.

Dr. Carla Hayden is an accomplished, principled and distinguished Librarian of Congress, Jeffries said in a statement. Her historic tenure has taken the institution to new heights, and Im thankful for her incredible service.

Donald Trumps unjust decision to fire Dr. Hayden in an email sent by a random political hack is a disgrace and the latest in his ongoing effort to ban books, whitewash American history and turn back the clock, he added.

Hayden could not be reached for comment.

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
Pennsville Site on Canal Road and Route 130, Pennsville, N.J. on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. It is among the sites at the center of what New Jersey officials  on May 13, 2025 called a historic $450M settlement with the company, 3M. Tim Larsen

New Jersey recently took steps to hold one company accountable for the use of cancer-causing toxins known as PFAS, or forever chemicals.

While the road to have any corporation clean up or compensate communities for polluting tends to be rocky, on Tuesday state officials say theyve made progress.
NBC's "Dateline" has "Exclusive new details about the investigation into the murders of four University of Idaho students are revealed; featuring never-before-reported evidence that investigators say track the accused killer's movements." NBC

Dateline just dropped a new episode in season 33 that has explosive new details about the Idaho murders that took place in November 2022.

You can stream the latest episode of Dateline and all previous episodes, including the Lori Vallow Daybell jailhouse interview, on DirecTV Stream, Fubo TV, or Peacock TV.

Read more: Get Peacock for 68% off, plus 4 more Memorial Day streaming deals you cant miss this weekend

This Dateline special episode takes a look at exclusive new details about the investigation into the murders of four University of Idaho students are revealed; featuring never-before-reported evidence that investigators say track the accused killers movements.

Dateline Idaho Murders episode  Where to watch for free?

The Dateline episode, along with other NBC programming, is available with Peacock, Fubo TV (free trial), or DirecTV Stream (free trial). Peacock is the official streaming home of all NBC content.

This is the 28th episode of season 33 of Dateline.

Peacock is the cheapest streaming service to subscribe to watch new episodes of Dateline weekly, or you can sign up for Fubo TV or DirecTV Stream and use a free trial to watch the Dateline Idaho Murders episode about Bryan Kohberger.

When is NBC Dateline on?

NBC Dateline airs on Fridays on NBC at 9/8c, with episodes available to watch the next day on Peacock. This special episode, titled The Terrible Night on King Road, first aired on Friday, May 9, 2025.

This special 90-minute episode is where Keith Morrison reports on new details and evidence from the investigation into the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022. The episode revealed key investigative details that led authorities to track the movements of suspect Bryan Kohberger and included interviews with students who interacted with Kohberger prior to the murders.

The episode title The Terrible Night on King Road is in reference to the murders of four University of Idaho students in a shared rental home on King Road, near campus. The four students were attacked and brutally killed in the early hours of the morning on November 13, 2022. Over a month later, on December 30, police arrested Bryan Christopher Kohberger.

Kohberger was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The Dateline episode aired this year just a few months before a jury trial is scheduled to take place on August 11, 2025, in Boise, Idaho. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in this case.

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Joseph Rejent covers TV, writing about live television, streaming services and cord-cutting. He can be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com.
The Padres announced on Monday that right-hander Jhony Brito underwent UCL internal brace surgery last month.

The surgery also included a repair of his flexor tendon. Brito will be out for the rest of the year and will likely miss the first couple of months of next season.

In 2024 with San Diego, Brito made 26 appearances, all in relief. He posted a 4.12 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 43 2/3 innings.

Brito, 27, came up in the Yankees organization after signing with New York as an international free agent in 2015. He made his major league debut in 2023 and in 25 appearances (13 starts) he put up a 4.28 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 90 1/3 innings.

Brito was a part of the seven-player blockbuster trade that brought Juan Soto to New York. The Yankees sent the right hander to San Diego along with pitchers Michael King, Randy Vasquez and Drew Thorpe, and catcher Kyle Higashioka in exchange for Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham.

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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.
New Yankees radio announcer Dave Sims is already drawing some criticism.

The Yankees began a West Coast stretch on Friday in Sacramento against the As, but Sims flew straight to Seattle, where the Yankees would later meet him for their series against the Mariners that began Monday.

Sims missed the As series and instead enjoyed time with his family in Seattle, where he spent the last 18 years as the play-by-play voice of the Mariners.

WFANs Boomer Esiason took issue with the fact that Sims was taking off less than 40 games into his new gig.

Im sorry, I love Dave Sims, but unless theres something major going on that I dont know about, then Ill gladly retract the criticism  what are you doing? Esiason said, via Awful Announcing. You just took the Yankee job! Its supposed to be the job of your life.

Sims had posted on social media last week about missing the series.

I may be a New Yorker through and through, but coming back to Seattle also feels like coming home, Sims wrote. Ill be skipping the As series to have a few extra days here to spend with family & friends. Grateful.

We love Dave Sims, Esiason said. But Im gonna call it out as I see it. He just got started as the Yankee announcer. Hes 40 games into his career as the Yankee announcer, and he decided to take offit could be in his contract. I just found it very interesting that 40 games in, were already taking a weekend off.

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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.
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Leelani Brooks, the 9-year-old shot in the head who remained in grave condition Wednesday, will "eventually succumb to injuries," doctors told police, according to an affidavit for arrest warrant for Evans Rogers, 19. One of at least five shooters in an Algiers gun battle that wounded the child, Rogers was picked from a lineup by witnesses and had an alias capias warrant out at the time of his arrest by U.S. Marshals on Tuesday
Azerbaijan's SOCAR declines oil production

Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) produced 2.3 million tons of oil (including condensate) from January to April 2025, marking an 8% decrease compared to the same period last year. Total oil production in Azerbaijan during this period reached 9.1 million tons, with the majority coming from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli and Shah Deniz fields. SOCAR's daily production averaged 75,100 tons, including both crude oil and condensate.

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I've been to Canada. More than once. I wasn't there long whenever I went. Once I left Detroit to cross the border, see what I could see within
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 13. Ismatulla Irgashev, the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan, held a meeting with Eduards Stiprais, the European Union's Special Representative for Central Asia, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

During the talks, key issues concerning regional security, the situation in Afghanistan, and prospects for deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU were discussed.

Both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in continuing a systematic and constructive dialogue on Afghan settlement and agreed to maintain regular consultations to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and EU countries has been growing dynamically. The portfolio of investment projects with leading European companies exceeds 30 billion euros. Uzbekistan is a major beneficiary of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank is opening a regional office in Tashkent.
Bideford-born Valerie Morrish has become the first person since 1973 - and only the fourth woman in the history of the borough - to be granted the Honorary Freedom of the Town.

When Valerie saw an advert for the position of beadle - a ceremonial role which involves assisting the mayor and performing a whole host of civic duties - back in 2009, her interest was immediately piqued.

As a child, she had regularly attended remembrance parades in honour of her grandmothers brothers who were killed during World War I. And years later, she still retained a passion for the proud civic traditions of her hometown.

Three years previously, Valerie had retired from her job as a sales advisor and cashier at Portman Building Society, giving her the time and energy needed to devote to the role. And even though a woman had never held the position before, she was determined. I wouldnt have taken no for an answer, Valerie tells the Gazette.

Luckily for Bideford, Valeries gender didnt prove too much of an obstacle, and she was appointed as the towns beadle later that year. Taking keenly to civic life, she took on the additional role of macebearer the following year, shouldering responsibility for everything from town hall tours to ceremonial processions.

After serving Bideford for 16 years, Valerie has decided to step down from both roles. In gratitude for her long and dedicated service, Town Clerk Paul Swan presented her with the Freedom of the Town, a prestigious honour that hasnt been granted in over 50 years.

For Valerie, it represented one of the proudest moments in her long career.

Looking back on the list of previous recipients, who are known as Freemen, it reads as a roster of Bideford legends, including the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and the near-mythic John Strange, who dodged death three times and guided Bideford through the bubonic plague - eventually losing his own life in the process.

But while all these men - and a small handful of women - certainly accomplished great things, there is a common theme among them: largely, they all came from positions of wealth and privilege within the town.

Proud of her working class roots, Valerie is delighted to have earned her place among the boroughs greats.

When the Gazette met Valerie in the historic Mayors Parlour, her passion for Bidefords heritage shone through. In fact, one of her favourite parts of the job has been showing children around the town hall, helping to inspire the next generation. And the artefacts housed there are genuinely awe-inspiring: the mayor and mayoresss chains, heavy with gold and resplendent

with sapphires, and a silver mace bearing a worn Tudor seal, quite possibly handed over to the town by Queen Elizabeth I herself.

But for Valerie, the real treasure has been the experiences that she has enjoyed along the way.

Highlights have included meeting the king and carrying the Civic Sword at Royal Wootton Bassett, and - in 2022 - becoming only the second ever woman to be appointed Prime Warden of the Guild of Mace Bearers of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Even with these achievements, though, Valerie was still shocked to receive the Freedom of the Town, which had been arranged as a surprise to mark her retirement.

Now, her portrait hangs in the Town Hall alongside those of men such as Carnegie and Strange - having earned her right

to be celebrated alongside them.

Although she has now retired from her civic duties, Valerie will look back on the past 16 years with pride.

In this life, you find your niche, she told the Gazette. And this was mine.
The recently-appointed chief executive of a bereavement charity has pledged to increase the organisations presence in North Devon and Torridge, and expand its pool of volunteers.

Chris Walker took over Families in Grief (FiG) in February, having previously worked for a charity supporting people who have been harmed by the effects of gambling.

He said: Our core message at the moment is very strongly that we want to engage and support young people, families, children who have experienced grief.

One in 29 children and young people across the UK will experience a significant bereavement before the age of 16 - which equates to one child in each average class, and demand for FiGs services is increasing all the time.

Chris added: We're at a point where we know that the work we do holds real strong impact. In the last year we've supported almost 200 families to process and come to terms with their own grief. And going forward, we want to continue that work. Over this year, we also do want to have a larger presence within the local community, using our volunteers and our staff to raise awareness to support our fundraising, but also so that more people know who we are.

Families in Grief was founded in 2000 and currently has a staff of seven, mostly part-time. FiGs aim is to ensure that all bereaved families in North Devon and Torridge receive the support they need, when they need it, free of charge and tailored to meet the developing needs of the young people and adults in their families. The charity delivers a blend of one-to-one support, drop-in sessions, group sessions and outdoor activities facilitated by FiG staff and volunteers.

Receiving support at the right time is, says Chris, extremely important: People experience different emotions at different times, so there is not a one-size-fits-all process to support someone through that journey. People can feel certain things and move on to a different place where they feel far more settled with emotional well-being. Then there can either be a very clear triggering aspect or even sometimes an unclear reason why a lot of those emotions come back to the surface.

For us, we cannot just offer one thing which will be the solution for everybody. What we want to have is a range of resources so that people can learn more about their grief. They can explore and understand their grief or their loved ones' grief.

Then we offer a mixture of one-to-one, group and family days so that we can explore grief through different lenses depending on what people maybe want from us. It's a completely personalised process. People often say that they don't move on from grief, they learn to live with grief.

For now, the message would be that we offer one-to-one support in schools predominantly, then a selection of outdoor, art and family group activities to bring people together.

To achieve this, FiG is keen to attract more volunteers. The charity currently has around 20, but is keen to increase this.

One of the key things that we'll be looking for is people to support us at the groups, the art workshops or the outdoor activities, said Chris. These are often really busy environments. The more volunteers as well as staff that we have there, the more we can interact with everybody there and have those conversations when they emerge around grief.

We typically also want to have a stronger pool of people who will support us with our fundraising and our community engagement. We would like to get to a point where there are effectively fundraising groups that are working fairly independently.

I've referenced them as something like a PTA school, which will have a remit to go and champion the charity on our behalf.

Fundraising and engagement events this year will include Barney to Beach, a fun-run from Barnstaple to Braunton which was held for the first time last year and saw more than 300 people run or walk the eight-mile route.

FiG is also the beneficiary of this years Bideford Bike Night, which is held on at Bideford Quay monthly through to September.

Since joining FiG, Chris has been overwhelmed by the welcome he has received.

He said: Everyone around here is genuinely so friendly, wants the best, and has a real pride for their local area that shines through not only in the work they do, but also how they talk about the region. It's great.

He recognised the challenges which charities in rural areas such as North Devon and Torridge can face: It can be a challenge to connect with people at the right time in the right way, so that they're fully clear about what we can offer and how we can support, while being a small team. Because that takes constant different routes of trying to communicate. So we are looking at how we can do more on our social media.

We're launching more newsletters that we're going to be wanting people to sign up for, so we can share what we're doing. But that's one of the challenges  staying at the forefront of people's minds so that we can be there to offer support but also then engage with people who may want to fundraise for us.

I think another one of the challenges is for us to have a secure income stream so that we can employ staff, put things in place long term and be in a position to be able to guarantee the support that we can offer for communities.

If you are interested in volunteering for FiG, the charity is holding an event at the Castle Centre in Barnstaple on Wednesday, May 28, starting at 2pm. Please contact by email

info@familiesingrief.org
A highly talented young pianist from Barnstaple who learned to play the piano from scratch during lockdown has just won a prestigious youth music award and is about to play a major concert  aged just 11-years-old.

River Peryer will be performing Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 21 on Saturday, June 21 at Torringtons St Michael and All Angels Church alongside North Devon Sinfonia, a full orchestra of experienced adult musicians.

He has also recently been named one of four winners of the prestigious Two Moors Festival Young Musicians Competition and will perform as part of the highly-regarded classical music festival this autumn.

River attends West Buckland School, as does his sister Anais and he has just won a music scholarship to attend the school when he begins in Year 7 this September.

His parents Jake and Laura freely admit they are not musical, but Jakes mum Annie  Granny Annie to River  noticed he enjoyed classical music and was always humming and tapping away, so suggested he give it a go.

Incredibly, he started playing the piano aged six and at the height of the pandemic lockdown  his piano lessons took place on video call and dad Jake said it was initially a challenge, but River persevered with it.

He added: Both of us know nothing about music and were not able to help him much.

Since then, with support from some amazing piano teachers and his school, Rivers come a long way, flown through his grades and theory with Distinctions - he is currently on Grade 7.

Sadly, Annie passed away in May 2022 from pancreatic cancer and River is hoping to play a recital at Barkham on Exmoor later in the summer, which will raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Mum Laura said: She was very close to River and was very supportive of him up until the day she died, always there when he played and listening to classical music with him. She was a big lover of classical music as well and a wonderful lady.

Above: River Peryer has amazed his parents and teachers with his musical ability and is about to play a major summer concert.

River will play a 30-minute concerto at the North Devon Sinfonia performance on June 21, supported by the full orchestra, but he is already used to playing under pressure after performing during auditions for the prestigious Two Moors Festival Young Musicians Competition.

Two Moors has come to be regarded as one of the most distinctive classical music festivals in the UK and the live youth auditions for ages six to 18 held at Taunton School saw 37 competitors take part.

To give an idea of the standard of competition, two of the four category winners were from the Wells Cathedral School, recognised as one of the top music schools in England.

Laura added: There was a panel of four musicians and initially they had to send in a video, then played live at the auditions.

The winners are often from specialist music schools, so for River to be one of those is quite amazing. Theres some amazing young talent out there so its quite a high calibre competition.

A quote from the chair of the judging panel said of the competition: It was a huge pleasure judging the Young Musicians Competition 2025, alongside such an illustrious panel of very experienced musicians. We all thought the standard of the performers this year was outstanding- making it almost impossible to choose the winners.

It is heart-warming knowing that music is still being taught at such high levels, despite the media doom and gloom that tell us classical music is a dying genre.

Although there were many impressive, virtuosic performances, the candidates that stood out were the ones that had deep heart felt musicality and who WANTED to perform.

The North Devon Sinfonia Summer Concert featuring River playing Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 21 takes place at St Michael and All Angels Church, Great Torrington, on Saturday, June 21 at 7.30pm. For tickets, please visit https://www.northdevonsinfonia.org.uk
Natural gas output from Azerbaijan's Absheron field surges in 4M2025

Azerbaijan has cranked out 500 million cubic meters of natural gas from the Absheron field in the first four months of 2025, showing a leap of over 20 percent compared to the same stretch in 2024. Overall national gas production included significant volumes from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) and Shah Deniz fields, while SOCAR contributed around 2.7 billion cubic meters.

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EBRD foresees Tajikistan's strong economic outlook in 2025/2026

Photo: EBRD

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has forecasted robust economic growth for Tajikistan, predicting a 7 percent real GDP increase in 2025, followed by a slight moderation to 5.7 percent in 2026. This growth is driven by strong investments, particularly in infrastructure projects like the Rogun dam, as well as steady remittance inflows and credit expansion. Despite global challenges, Tajikistans economy is expected to maintain a positive trajectory in the coming years.

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Kazakhstan's coal exports boom amid modest logistics growth in early 2025

Photo: Kazakhstan Railways

In early 2025, Kazakhstan Railways demonstrated steady growth in freight transportation, reflecting broader positive trends in the countrys logistics and export sectors. Key commodities such as coal and grain showed strong performance, with increased volumes transported both within the country and to international markets. The rise in export activity points to growing global demand for Kazakhstans natural resources and agricultural products.

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GARY  A new emergency housing initiative has brought local government and nonprofit partners together with the goal of setting up families in need with temporary residences while simultaneously offering them social services to help them achieve stability.

The Indiana Project for Supportive Emergency Housing was started less than one year ago as a partnership between the Department of Child Services, Faith Works Network, the Geminus Corporation and the City of Gary to connect families who come in contact with the child welfare system with much-needed housingwhich might have been the only reason they became involved with DCS in the first place.

"Not having any place to live was the only reason certain people were getting involved with the Department of Child Servicessleeping in cars, having evictions and literally nowhere to go," DCS Regional Director Twan Stokes said. "The Department of Child Services had become their last line of assistance for intervention."

Rental costs have left some families in Lake County struggling to find stable housing, which is not new. In 2023, 24% of Lake County residents were cost-burdened by their rent, which means they spent between 30% to 49% of their household income on rent. More than 27% of residents were severely cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 50% of their income on rent. Back in 2018, these statistics were almost identical, according to data from Indiana's Housing Dashboard.

Under Indiana law, a child can be removed from their home if their physical or mental condition is seriously impaired by a parent's inability, refusal or neglect to meet their basic needs of food, water, shelter, clothing and education. But many of the families they come in contact with do not fall into this category, Stokes saidthey need help finding a job, housing or are dealing with some sort of extenuating circumstance that could be hindering their ability to maintain stability for their family.

"We don't want to have children involved in the child welfare system because their parents have no place to live," Stokes said.

About one year ago, Stokes reached out to Pastor Dennis Walton who oversees the Faith Community Center and asked if he might be interested in partnering with the department to house some of their unhoused families who might need social services to ensure they wouldn't get to the point where they would need to interact with DCS. Walton was on board.

"Many of the people we serve do not have stable jobs because they do not have stable lives," Walton said. "It takes a special kind of support. People grow when they realize that you care enough to help them where they are, not condemn them or beat them down."

The community center's resource hub at 308 E. 21st Ave. is surrounded by four two-story homes that each house two or three families of various sizes. Families have their own bedroom spaces and share a kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Residents are allowed to stay in the residences for as long as they need to achieve stability, which looks different for every family. Walton said he wants families to get to a place where they are ready to take their next step, rather than feel rushed out.

Since the program's inception, they have assisted between 15 and 20 families, Walton said.

The City of Gary is also involved, having awarded $100,000 to the center to be used for the program. They allocated $50,000 each year for two years, Mayor Eddie Melton's Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas III said.

"This is the kind of collaborative effort that reflects the very best of Gary," Dumas said. "Pastor Dennis Walton can attest to the trusted partners weve brought to the tablefrom public agencies to grassroots organizationsto strengthen our network of support."

Walton, who did much of the craftsmanship on the homes himself, said his nonprofit has been providing services through the center prior to COVID-19. He said has known there was a need for more housing among the people whom he serves, but he also wanted to address the reasons that inhibit someone from obtaining housing or stable employment, such as mental health or substance use. Each family that comes into their program is assessed by program minister Alexis Nelson, who does an intake and readiness assessment to understand the family's situation.

"If there is availability and the family is a good fit, they move in," Nelson said.

From there, Nelson puts together a care plan to see how they can help support the family, whether that be through helping them obtain a GED, higher education or trade certification; connecting them with counseling or addiction services; or securing a job. Once those components become more stable, the possibility of finding more stable housing becomes more attainable. Nelson said she hopes their community partnerships can grow with other organizations that might have more resources to connect their residents with permanent housing.

"The homelessness might be what you see on the outside," Nelson said, "but there's often much more below the tip of the iceberg."

Nelson and DCS will also refer families to various services through a partnership with Geminus Corporation, which provides child care resource and referral services, domestic violence intervention, substance use prevention, case management, residential services, truancy prevention services and more. Brandy Ford, case manager and supervisor, said the majority of their referrals come from DCS. Ford said she wants people in the community to know they're here to help, regardless of how a family found themselves in need of services.

"There is support without judgment," Ford said. "This is what we're here for. Oftentimes when we get a referral, we call and people say, 'no, no, I'm good,' out of embarrassment. But it's important members of the community know that we are here to support them."

One connection they can make is with "second chance" landlords who are willing to help people who might have evictions on their record. If the situation warrants it, Geminus caseworkers will use their relationships with those landlords or management companies to advocate, explain the family's situation and encourage the property owners to rent to the family, which Ford said often makes all the difference.

"A lot of times you don't get to do that if you're out on your own," she said. "If someone has three evictions, a landlord isn't going to hear them out. That's why it's important to have those other connections that the landlord trusts."

Earlier this year, Victoria, 38, was living in an apartment complex in Gary with her four daughters when the building was purchased by new owners who didn't honor her lease. Left out in the January cold with no place for her and her children to live, she called shelter after shelter, but no beds were available.

As a result, DCS opened up an investigation and asked Victoria to bring her children in for an interview. After a caseworker spoke with her and her daughters, they realized the case was opened because she and her children were unhoused, not for any reason related to abuse or neglect. The caseworker referred Victoria to the emergency housing program and she moved in immediately. The DCS case was closed.

Victoria said the experience has been an exercise in patience for her, as she shared a home with two other families. It's also helped her grow spirituallyshe has started taking herself and her children back to church since she has been surrounded by many faith leaders.

"At first, it was a little uncomfortable to share a home with strangers," Victoria said. "But over time, I've learned to be more understanding of other people's backgrounds and what they might be going through."

When she moved in, she was between jobs, but was able to secure employment as a certified nursing assistant with Nelson's help. When Victoria was offered her job, she called Nelson, excited to share the news.

"When you get that 'I got the job!' phone call, it's just the best thing," Nelson said. "[Victoria] is balancing a lot and is doing pretty well given all she had to overcome to get here."

Victoria works irregular hours, all while her four daughters maintain a regular school schedule. While she searches for permanent housing, she wants people who might be in a similar situation to hers to know resources like this program exist.

"This is an excellent program," Victoria said. "I am a person who doesn't like to ask for help, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to get to where you need to be."

To get connected with the program or other available resources, call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556 and select option 2.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. We are currently working with our Brazilian colleagues hosting COP30 to develop a strategic roadmap from Baku to Belem to mobilize $1.3 trillion in climate finance, Trend reports.

Speaking as part of the Caspian Agro International Agricultural Exhibition in Baku, Rafiyev participated in a conference titled "Agriculture Mobilizing Countries for Nature", where he emphasized the collaborative efforts to reach this financial target.

To achieve the 1.3 trillion target by COP29, all countries will need to work together over the next decade, mobilizing not only government funds but also resources from the private sector, multilateral development banks, and other sources.

As the host of COP30, we are currently collaborating with our Brazilian counterparts on a comprehensive roadmap from Baku to Belem to secure 1.3 trillion in climate financing. This document will be presented to member states at the COP in Belem. The primary objective is to outline pathways for reaching the target amount while clearly defining the responsibilities and targets for each sector and aligning them with the specific goals of the participating nations," the deputy minister added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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The initial shock is subsiding. The clever jokes made us chuckle. Prayers are being lifted by the faithful. And we now know everything about Pope Leo XIV, from his modest Chicago roots to his beloved diocese in Chiclayo, Peru, to his new papal home.

Now what?

We have an American-born global leader in our lives who isnt belching out divisive rhetoric or random nonsense or political power-grabs. We have a world leader  born and raised near our Region  whose vision pleads for kindness, unity and listening to each other, not yelling at each other.

You dont have to be Catholic to align with his hopeful vision or embrace his humanity. You simply have to believe its a more promising alternative than the existing national paradigm of hate, anger, intolerance or indifference. Consider it the counter version of Project 2025, led by someone who comes in peace, not conflict, and who publicly supports truth-seekers, not fact-suppressors.

We do not need loud forceful communication but rather communication capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice," Pope Leo said Monday during his first public audience with media members.

He called for the precious gift of free speech" to be protected. He rallied against the divisive "war of words" filled with prejudice, discrimination and ideological attacks.

Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world," Pope Leo told some of the 5,000-plus journalists who have converged in Rome this past week. Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others.

This doesnt have to be done only in a church or a place of worship. Nor does it have to be practiced only on Sundays or holy days. It begins in our personal orbits, our wider social circles and our social media interactions. It can be shared through our moral ambition.

This is the title of a new book and ambitious manifesto that dares us to transform our lost idealism into purposeful action, just as the new pontiff has been quietly but effectively doing for decades under the radar of most of us.

Written by the author of Humankind and Utopia for Realists, Dutch historian Rutger Christiaan Bregmans new book, Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference, offers a template for a novel way to change our world.

Moral ambition, he says, is the drive to make a positive impact on the world by dedicating your life and career to solving the biggest problems facing humanity. It's about pursuing a passion that aligns with your values and allows you to contribute to a better future, rather than solely focusing on personal gain.

In a way, this is how Robert Prevost became Pope Leo.

Bregman insists that our conventional definitions of success are harming us, our nation and the planet. Whats needed is to shift the focus from personal gain to societal benefit. This may sound too idealistic in America 2025, where the term moral ambition sounds like an oxymoron.

In this country, its been somewhat outlawed, joked Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, who invited Bregman to explain his books premise.

Its the combination of two things: The idealism of an activist, and the ambition of an entrepreneur, Bregman explained.

The average career consists of roughly 2,000 workweeks, the book says. How we spend that time is one of the most important decisions of our life. Still, millions of people are stuck in mind-numbing, pointless or just plain harmful jobs, Bregman says.

Moral ambition is a desire to stand on the right side of history before it is fashionable. Youre trying to step into the footsteps of the great moral pioneers who came before you  the abolitionists, the suffragettes, the civil rights defenders, he said.

At no other point in my life, and possibly yours, has the overused phrase standing on the right side of history been more clear-cut and less blurry. Of course it all depends on our current viewpoint of a future that aligns with our values, beliefs and biases.

Most of us want to believe we are indeed standing on the right side of history. But, as our own ancestors learned, many of us will eventually realize we were on the wrong side. And all the rationalizations in the world wont conceal our mistake.

Bregmans previous book, Humankind, was an attempt to restore peoples faith in humanity. And I enjoyed its message.

If that book was a warm hug, then my new book is a cold shower, he said. A refreshing cold shower.

Think of it as a plunge into moral ambition, a concept reminding us that the real measure of success lies not in what we accumulate, but in what we contribute. And, more importantly, how we can build a legacy that truly matters. At the end of the day, and the end of a lifetime, isnt this all that matters?

None of us will astoundingly ascend to the papal throne as Robert Prevost did. However, we can follow his desperately needed guidance to not only see the bigger picture, but to see ourselves somewhere within it  motivated by hope, not condemned to hopelessness.

We are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount, Pope Leo said Monday. They present a challenge for all of us but it is one that we should not run away from.
Empire State Building Lighting

The lights of New York City's iconic Empire State Building glowed violet to salute NYU's graduating class on Wednesday, May 14.

The Empire State Building image is a registered trademark of ESRT Empire State Building, L.L.C. and is used with permission.
What does it take to go from manager to leader? Kristelle Siarza Moon, MBA, APR, CEO of Siarza, built a thriving agency but didnt see herself as a leader until she stepped away and it kept running. She shares how accountability, tough decisions, and public vulnerability shaped her leadership on our Taking the Lead podcast.

Here are excerpts from the full video interview:

Who are three executives inside and outside the PR industry executives you admire as truly effective leaders, who have engaged, inspired followers, and whom you would follow?

Ive always looked up to Richard Branson. It might seem like an unexpected choice for a Filipina like me, but I admire his ambition, his branding, and his ability to create meaningful experiences. Hes been both successful and unsuccessful, and he owns it. I love how he lives life to the fullest while building companies that serve others.

I also really admire Mark Cuban. Hes unapologetic, bold, and direct. He may not be perfect, but he stands out as someone who leads with confidence and authenticity.

The third person I admire deeply is my late mentor, Dr. Dely Alcantara. She wasnt a widely known executive, but she was a powerful leader. She founded the New Mexico Asian Family Center in the early 2000s after identifying a gap in the community. She was also a professor at UNM and someone who truly lived her best life. When I was starting Siarza, she and my mom were two of the first people I told. Dr. Alcantara told me, People will leave you alone. Just go and do your thingyoull be great. I carry that with me and try to be that same kind of light and encouragement for others in our industry.

How do you hold yourself accountable to be the best leader you can be, for all your followers, five days a week?

For me, it starts with checking my ego. I constantly ask for honest feedback from people I trust. I never want to lead from a place of self-importance. I want to lead selflessly, not selfishly.

I ask myself often: Was I being fair? Do I owe someone an apology? How did I make that person feel? Even when Im frustrated, I reflect on whether I need to express love and leadership at the same time.

I also rely on close friends to help keep me in check. On a recent trip to San Diego, I asked a longtime friend to tell me if my ego ever gets in the way. He said Ive never had a problem, but I know I can count on him to tell me the truth. Having people like that is how I stay grounded.

Youve been public about the fact that you beat a gambling addiction How did you have the courage to do so? What leadership skills did you tap, or what did you learn about leadership from that experience.

Im open about it because it was humiliating, humbling, and a huge growth moment. It was something I had to own publicly, and it forced me to persevere.

A leader I admired once told me his own story of addiction, and that helped me feel less alone. That honesty gave me the courage to be public with mine. My gambling addiction eventually led to tax issues, and I had no choice but to tell my team what was going on. I stood in front of them, cried, apologized, and told them I was going to fix it. Some walked away, and I understood. But I made a promise to get through it.

My last bet was September 1, 2019. Every day since, Ive reminded myself not to gamble. I talk about it because someone else might be going through addictiongambling, alcohol, drugsand I want them to know its possible to choose differently. Its not easy, but its possible. Vulnerability isnt weakness. Thats leadership.

What was your toughest leadership moment, and how did you get through it?

One of my toughest leadership moments was laying off people, especially the first time I had to terminate someone. They say the hardest person to fire is your first, and its true. It wasnt just about financial pressures; it was realizing that I cant be everyones favorite person. I cant take care of everyone.

That was a rude awakening. Letting someone go for their own good, not just for the companys benefit, is an incredibly difficult call. Its depressing. It sucks. But its part of leadership. You learn to weigh the pros and cons, and you grow from those decisions. That experience taught me that leadership isnt always easy. It can be lonely and heavy, but its necessary.

In 2023 Siarza became one of the newest members of The Change Agencies, the first and only national network of independently-owned public relations firms focused on inclusive and authentic communications to multicultural and LGBTQ communities. Whats your feeling by government, higher education and the private sector to eliminate DE&I programs?

I think its a huge mistake. There is real ROI in investing in communities of color, people from different backgrounds, and people who live and love differently. Equity and inclusion are about creating equal opportunitiesand thats supposed to be a core American value.

If a company is even considering cutting DE&I, they probably never truly had it in the first place. It was likely just a box-checking exercise. True DE&I is culturalits built in. The companies that embrace it from the start are already seeing its value.

At Siarza, diversity has been a core value since our founding in 2014. We didnt need to reinvent or over-engineer anything. We just embraced and appreciated each other. That authenticity is what makes the difference.

When did you know you had truly made the leap from manager or even agency owner, to leader?

I realized I had made the shift after I got married and took a two-week break from the business. I wasnt sure what to expect, and to be honest, I didnt want to come back. But when I did, everything was still standing. The team had executed our plans. Things werent perfect, but they worked.

Thats when I knew I was leading, not just managing. The systems, the trust, the processesthey were in place. Now my role is about building other leaders. I still struggle with where I fit, and I still want to be involved, but watching others take the lead is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

***

Ken Jacobs is the principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, which empowers PR and communications leaders and executives to breakthrough results via executive coaching, and helps communications agencies achieve their business development, profitability, and client service goals, via consulting and training. You can find him at www.jacobscomm.com, [email protected] @KensViews, or on LinkedIn. You can also subscribe to the Jacobs Consulting and Executive Coaching YouTube channel.
Lighthouse Strategies, which was formed this month by Congressional staffer Sam Kuebler, is providing government relations support for the Embassy of Qatar.

He has worked for four Republican members of Congress, most recently serving as legislative director for Maria Elvira Salazar of Miami.

His representation comes as president Trump visits the Gulf State amid reports that he may receive a gift of a $400M luxury jet from the Qataris.

Democrats called for a probe into the so-called gift of a palace-in-the-sky.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) asked the General Accounting Office, acting Pentagon inspector general and the Office of Government Ethics to probe what would be the most expensive gift given to a president by a foreign government.

He also wants reforms to ban conversion of foreign gifts into private property by current or former presidents.

Lighthouse Strategies, which serves as a subcontractor to the Bachner Group on the Qatar effort, receives a $15K monthly retainer.

Its contract went into effect May 1 and runs through December 31.
CRINKILL National School has earned a place on the shortlist for this years European Innovative Teaching Award, thanks to a groundbreaking project that used sport as a powerful tool for inclusive education.

The project, which placed a strong emphasis on diversity, participation, and equal opportunities for all pupils, integrated sport into daily teaching practices to foster teamwork, confidence, and mutual respect among students of all backgrounds and abilities.

As part of their commitment to innovation and professional development, Crinkill NS staff undertook an intensive Erasmus+ training course in Spain and participated in job-shadowing with partner schools in Poland during school holidays. These international experiences helped teachers bring new methodologies back to the classroom, enriching the school's approach to inclusive education.

School Principal, Sandra Nolan, expressed pride in the recognition: This project has been transformative, not just for our pupils, but for the entire school community. Being shortlisted for this award is a testament to the dedication of our staff and the power of collaboration through sport.

The European Innovative Teaching Award celebrates outstanding teaching practices across Europe, and Crinkill NS now stands as a leading example of how education can be both inclusive and inspiring. Winners will be announced later this year.

READ NEXT: Project to convert former convent in Offaly to multipurpose hub moves forward
A man who appeared at last week's district court was told if he fails to pay compensation he will be sentenced to prison.

On October 17, 2022, Armando Vasile, Chapel Lane, Swords, Dublin, entered a phone shop in Birr. He asked to see a specific phone. He then ran from the shop. He had ''no intention of paying'' the court heard.

Barrister David Nugent said his client was apologetic and humbled. He had no money.

Judge Andrew Cody said he will leave here with humility, no money and no liberty either.

Mr Nugent said Mr Vasile had been under the influence of an older person on the day of the offence.

Judge Cody said Mr Vasile had three years to pay compensation. He gave him until May 21 to make a payment of 500 compensation and he remanded him on continuing bail until that date.

If the money is not paid he will serve a four month sentence, if he does, it will be suspended.
LuLu Group targets Kazakhstan for stronger regional distribution and agri-export ties

Photo: Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan

During the official visit of the Crown Prince of the UAE to Kazakhstan, a meeting took place between Kazakhstans trade and agriculture ministers and LuLu Group's Chairman, Yusuf Ali Musalliam Wittil Abdul Kader. LuLu Group, operating over 280 hypermarkets globally, expressed interest in collaborating with Kazakh producers.

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pax et Veritas

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Leo XIII's landmark encyclical defended the dignity of workers amidst industrial upheaval, Leo XIV steps into history with a call to peace in a time of global unrest. We are in an Evolutionary Moment

Prelude: As we welcome Pope Leo XIV, we do so with full awareness of the Church's failures as an institution. Church-sanctioned teachings too often became instruments of empire, rather than channels of Christ's peace. They upheld systems of enslavement, patriarchy, and racial hierarchy, instead of challenging institutions and bidding them to change. --

When Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost was proclaimed as Pope Leo XIV and then stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, for me it was a moment of disbelief and wonderment: The first American-born Pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Then came his Urbi et Orbi (to the City and the World) blessing, in which he repeatedly, and beautifully, invoked peace.

"Peace be with you all"Peace be with you". The peace of the Risen Christ - - an unarmed and disarming peace, "uniting everyone, always in peace. "a Church that always seeks peace, "for peace in the world."

In this moment he was fulfilling both the Prayer of St. Francis, "Make me a channel of your peace," (a prayer that Elizabeth and I spoke and our guests sang at our wedding denoting the purpose of our partnership twenty years ago) and the dream of Pope Francis, for a successor of humility, service, pastoral care and continuity.

As someone who has spent most of my public life standing for peace, speaking for peace, working for peace, legislating for peace, this moment represented a leap from wild surmise to wild faith embracing the possibility that even as the world trembles from powerful forces of fragmentation, (some emanating from America), and while certain elements threaten to fracture the world politically, economically and militarily, the white smoke drifted upwards, cleared, and, enter a new Pope! Yes, an American. His message, peace and unity. A new Vicar of Peace on Earth for the Prince of Peace.

Cardinal Prevost's choice of the name Leo is a signal of union with the striving of the Church to be a voice for the voiceless, to exhort a theological foundation for Catholic action, guided by a moral vision which infuses eternal and temporal spiritual Christian principles into the material world, sanctifying it.

His namesake, Pope Leo XIII, brought to the furnace of the Second Industrial Revolution a desire to penetrate the truth of oneness, to reconcile the unity of opposites, labor and capital, rich and poor.

In his Encyclical, Rerum Novarum, "On Capital and Labor," Leo XIII established the moral case for labor unions and the rights of workers, amidst crushing western societal inequities of wealth and cruel working conditions and slave labor wages for workers. He was on neither the side of socialism nor capitalism. Human dignity transcended ideology.

The social doctrine of Leo XIII became definitive, a bedrock for 20thcentury Catholicism and would be reflected in the moral teachings of his papal successors, inspiring principles of social and economic justice to be integrated into everyday life in secular society.

This is how lay people, such as Dorothy Day, who co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement derived the moral authority to act. Her commitment to social justice came directly from Rerum Novarum. Generations were so inspired, myself included.

In 2004, as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President, in the spirit of and literally with words from Rerum Novarum, I was privileged to speak these same principles of support for workers' rights as a spiritual imperative, to the Iowa AFL-CIO, entitled "The Soul of the Worker."

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

Here's a tough and obscure question that recently proved challenging for President Donald J. Trump: when asked during an NBC News "Meet the Press" interview whether he believed that, as president, he needed to uphold the Constitution (forget the pledge in his oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend" that document), his answer couldn't have been more strikingly clear. "I don't know," he said.

If, of course, he had been asked the more obvious and relevant question -- do you believe that, as president, you need to uphold the rule of Donald J. Trump, even if his wishes play havoc with the Constitution? -- you couldn't for a second doubt that his answer would have been a definitive "Yes!" A "Yes!" that might almost instantly have appeared on a Trump meme coin and made him a fortune.

The real question, of course, is whether, by the time his second term in office is over (if it ever is), there even is a Constitution of the United States of America. After all, despite the fact that it was written in the era of slavery, he might still classify it as a DEI document and disappear it as he and his confederates (oops, excuse the misuse of that historical term!) seem right now to be disappearing so much of the American past, including, for instance, the very fact that Benjamin Franklin had once been a slaveholder.

In fact, as TomDispatch regular and historian Karen Greenberg, author of Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump, makes clear today, President Trump (or do I mean an AI-generated Pope Trump?) is intent on making mincemeat of the American past -- and, undoubtedly, any aspect of the American present -- that doesn't please him. And that (sur)reality, in case you hadn't noticed, leaves us in a distinctly new world. Tom

Poof! It's Gone

Disappearing the America We Once Knew

By Karen J. Greenberg

In these first 100-plus days of the nation's 47th presidency, President Donald Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk have cast a frightful spell over the country. As if brandishing wands from inside their capes -- poof! -- offices and their employees, responsibilities and aims, norms and policies have simply disappeared. The two have decreed a flurry of acts of dismantlement that span the government, threatening to disappear a broad swath of what once existed, much of it foreshadowed by Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's blueprint for drastically reorganizing and even dismantling government as we know it during a second Trump administration.

To my mind, the recent massive removals of people, data, photos, and documents remind me of the words of Czech novelist Milan Kundera in his classic novel The Book of Laughter and Forgetting: "The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting."

Dismantling the Institutions

By the middle of March, the new administration had already eliminated dozens of departments and offices, as well as thousands of staff positions, with the supposed goal of "government efficiency." Buyouts, layoffs, reassignments, and a flurry of resignations by those who preferred not to continue working under the new conditions all meant the elimination of tens of thousands of government workers -- more than 121,000, in fact, across 30 agencies. The affected agencies included the Department of Energy, Veterans Affairs, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service, as well as multiple offices within Health and Human Services, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. The Department of Education lost nearly half its staff. And then there was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). By the end of March, the administration had closed its offices and reduced its staff from approximately 10,000 personnel to 15.

The gutting of such offices and their employees is -- I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn -- expected to cripple significant government services. At the Department of Education, for example, billions of dollars of institutional aid as well as student loans will be affected. Cuts at the Office of Veterans Affairs, which faced one of the largest staff reductions, are predicted to deprive veterans and their families of healthcare services. USAID's end will cut programs that addressed poverty, food insecurity, drug trafficking, and human trafficking globally. At the Department of Health and Human Services, the availability of vaccines, the tracking of infectious diseases, and all too much more are threatened and could, according to the executive director of the American Public Health Association, "totally destroy the infrastructure of the nation's public health system."

But, as novelist Kundera reminds us, the toll won't just be to government officials and the positions they're leaving in the dust of history. The cuts also include a full-scale attack on the past.

Records Gone Missing

As part and parcel of this bureaucratic house-clearing, an unprecedented attack on the records of government agencies has been taking place. Basic facts and figures, until recently found on government websites, are now gone. As I wandered the Internet researching this article, such websites repeatedly sent back this bland but grim message: "The page you're looking for was not found."

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US Senator (D-CT) Chris Murphy explains how Trump is copying the playbook for the modern, time-tested way to destroy a democracy:

Donald Trump's plan to convert our democracy to autocracy is real, and I want to talk through how he's doing this in real time because the crisis is here now.

Trump is enacting an insidious coordinated attack on the institutions that keep our government accountable to the people, designed to crater democracy before next fall. MAGA has given up on democracy. I wish it weren't true, but it is. They would rather rule forever than run a fair election where a Democrat might win.

Ending democracy is required to get away with the thievery and corruption happening before us. A true democracy would hold Trump accountable for the mass-scale corruption -- Trump's crypto coin, the insider trading, Musk's self-dealing, etc.

Some people are looking for some high-stakes confrontation between Trump and the Supreme Court. They think that will be the five-alarm fire moment, and some believe it's here with Trump defying their ruling on the Abrego Garcia case. Don't get me wrong -- I'm furious about the disappearances, which I spoke out against early when the Columbia grad student was taken without due process. It's what happens in tin-pot dictatorships.

But a confrontation with the Supreme Court is not the endgame. The modern, time-tested way to destroy a democracy is NOT a coup or burning down the Parliament or a public confrontation with the judiciary.

It's a slow, methodical campaign to weaken the structures of accountability necessary for the political opposition to win elections. That was the playbook for Putin in Russia, Orba'n in Hungary, and Erdoan in Turkey, and Trump is copying it before our eyes.

Here's how it works:

ELEMENT 1: They legitimize political violence to keep critics silent. That's what the Jan. 6 pardons are about. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski recently spoke publicly about her worries of "retaliation." That is chilling.

ELEMENT 2: They silence the press. Trump does this in two ways. First, he co-opts the owners of the media and information ecosystems (Bezos, Zuckerberg, Musk, etc.). Those who don't fall in line get harassed. That's what's happening with the AP over their refusal to use "Gulf of America" or FCC investigations into broadcasters like CBS.

ELEMENT 3: They silence protectors of the rule of law. In free societies, lawyers guard our rights. Despots can more easily trample our rights if the lawyers are silenced. That's why Trump is forcing the big law firms to sign what amounts to loyalty oaths.

ELEMENT 4: They silence universities. Two things that threaten their power happen on university campuses: youth protest and the guarding of objective truth. Neither is allowed in an autocracy. Thus, Trump's illegal campaign to force campuses to crush dissent or be punished.

ELEMENT 5: They silence the private sector. The tariffs are a means to force every business to get on Trump's good side and stop public dissent in exchange for relief from his regime. Withholding of federal funds from non-profits forces these orgs to stay quiet too.
ime when Americans face each new day with trepidation as the country's laws and freedoms come under attack, the documentary " Water for Life " stands as an example of how values can triumph. The road isn't easy, and there are setbacks along the way, but that's part of the journey.

Director Will Parrinello, who has made Indigenous rights and the environment key subjects in his thirty-five-year career, delivers a film (available to stream on PBS) demonstrating the conflict between power, money, and influence against an ethos that considers people over profits and respect for the earth over exploitative usage. Three individual narratives of Latin American defenders of the environment share the common bond of respect for the spirituality of nature, and what it gives back to those who understand the connection between all living things.

What will people who follow this path do to protect the sanctity of their land and its resources?

Alberto Curamil is the Chief of the Mapuche people, who comprise 84 percent of the indigenous population in Chile. His great-grandfather fought to keep white men from crossing the Malleco River when the Spanish first invaded the territory. The Mapuche have been on the land for thousands of years.

When referencing his ancestors' past and how their land was stolen, Curamil said, "Now it's the corporations." The target is water resources, specifically the Cautin River, which Curamil calls "the lifeblood of our territory. It contains a spiritual force." It's all about building hydroelectric projects, thousands of them. The effort began in 2010 with construction slated for the "heart of ancestral lands".

Ma'ximo Pacheco, the former Chilean energy minister, believed that resources were "abundant" and could facilitate renewable energy. Manuela Royo, Curamil's lawyer, clarified the problem. "Several hydroelectric projects were approved without any consideration of them being in Indigenous territory." The constitution of Chile does not include a recognition of "the existence of Indigenous People".

The (UN) ILO Convention 169 outlines that in advance of any action taking place on indigenous land, the people "must be consulted". As Parrinello clarified when we spoke, "ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples' rights was developed in collaboration with the United Nations, paving the way for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The ILO and UN work together to protect and promote the rights of Indigenous and Tribal peoples, with Convention 169 providing a legally binding framework. The United Nations plays an important role in supporting 169's implementation while promoting broader awareness of Indigenous rights. However, UNDRIP is a declaration, while Convention 169 is a binding international treaty for those countries that signed it."

The government of Chile released a report qualifying the area as being without indigenous people. Journalist Ana Rodriguez is on hand to challenge that determination. Drawing such a conclusion would require extensive fieldwork, costing significant money and time. That in itself would serve as an impediment to moving forward with extraction.

In 1973, Augusto Pinochet took power in an American-supported military coup, ousting the democratically elected President, Salvador Allende. Pinochet's seventeen-year dictatorship escalated problems for the Mapuche. The government privatized the country's natural resources, gave land to the timber industry, and even traded water rights on stock exchanges.

A dilemma arises for the Mapuche as drought sets in, resulting in water shortages. If there is no "legal" right to the water that traverses their lands, usage can result in court cases claiming theft.

When Curamil goes to Santiago to speak about these concerns, he self-identifies not as an environmentalist but as a Mapuche Chief defending his land. Mauela Royo, Curamil's lawyer, asserts that the government's environmental report was deliberately falsified when they claimed that the project would have "no impact".

In July 2014, Curamil and his legal team take on the Chilean government. It is about a larger cause than the concern of the water itself. It is an element of a larger confrontation, which is to reclaim ancestral territories.

Anger and frustration lead to acts of violence. Timber trucks are set on fire, along with other incidents of sabotage against the forestry companies. Like any other movement, the anti-mining ranks aren't monolithic. In response to accusations of terrorism, Curamil responds, "Our life is at stake." His wife delineates, "Neither jail nor death can stop the struggle."

Two years after starting the legal case, Curamil has his day in Chile's Supreme Court (2016). They hand down a 4-to-1 decision in favor of Curamil. The Dona Alicia hydroelectric project is canceled, as are all other plans for the Cauti ? ? n River. The success is overshadowed as the powers that be see Curamil as a threat to future potential proposals. Curamil is ensnared by trumped-up charges of robbery in 2018, along with two other men. Despite no evidence, he is sent to jail. His young daughter, Belen Curamil, steps up to take his place while he serves eighteen months-- waiting for his case to be heard. In 2019, a court of appeals in Temuco acquitted him of all charges. It's clear that his activism was on trial-- and that his time spent incarcerated was as a political prisoner.

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Azerbaijan's gas exports to Turkiye saw a slight decrease in the first four months of 2025, amounting to 3.1 billion cubic meters, down by about 3% compared to the previous year. The country produced a total of 16.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas during this period.

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Plano,Texas, 13th May 2025 - Today, Polestar Analytics, a leader in data analytics and business intelligence solutions, announced the consolidation of its brand identity across all global markets. Previously operating under various names including Polestar Solutions and Polestar Insights in different regions, the company has unified its brand to better reflect its core expertise and market position. The move to a single, unified brand name-Polestar Analytics-represents the company's strategic focus 
A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. AP Photo/Jason Redmond, File

Microsoft began laying off nearly 3% of its entire workforce Tuesday.

The tech giant didnt disclose the total amount of lost jobs but it will amount to about 6,000 people.

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, said the layoffs will be across all levels and geographies but will focus on reducing management levels. Notices to employees began going out on Tuesday.

Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers as of last June, the last time it reported its annual headcount. About 55% of those workers were in the U.S.

A Microsoft executive told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year that the company employed nearly 300 in Oregon, many assigned to a Hillsboro engineering hub. The company closed an office in Portlands Pearl District early last year.

Microsoft announced a smaller round of performance-based layoffs in January. But the 3% cuts will be Microsofts biggest since early 2023, when the company cut 10,000 workers, almost 5% of its workforce, joining other tech companies that were scaling back their pandemic-era expansions.

The latest layoffs come just weeks after Microsoft reported strong sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations for the January-March quarter, which investors took as a dose of relief during a turbulent time for the tech sector and U.S. economy.

Microsofts chief financial officer, Amy Hood, said on an April earnings call that the company was focused on building high-performing teams and increasing our agility by reducing layers with fewer managers. She also said the headcount in March was 2% higher than a year earlier, and down slightly compared to the end of last year.

The layoffs are expected to hit across all parts of Microsofts business, including the career networking site LinkedIn.

-- The Associated Press
Wasco County District Attorney Kara K. Davis said she won't rely on Shawn C. Sorensen's judgments regarding potential penalties for potential violations of people on his probation caseload, if he ever gets his job back.

Even if fired Wasco County probation officer Shawn C. Sorensen, who admitted to using Nazi salutes at work, gets his job back, the district attorney said Monday she wont rely on Sorensens judgment if he reports probation violations for people he supervises.

Sheriff Lane Magill fired Sorensen in January 2024 after Sorensen admitted to frequently greeting or bidding farewell to a colleague of German descent with a Nazi salute and a Mein Fuhrer address. The sheriff found Sorensen and his co-worker violated office policies against national origin harassment and discrimination.

Sorensen challenged his firing and a state arbitrator early this year ordered him returned to work with back pay and benefits and a written reprimand.

But Magill said he wont reinstate Sorensen, touching off an expected unfair labor practice complaint by Sorensen seeking to compel his return before the state employment relations board.

If Sorensen is successful, Wasco County District Attorney Kara K. Davis told The Oregonian/OregonLive that her office will make independent assessments of any allegations Sorensen might bring forward against people he supervises on probation.

She reiterated what she wrote to the sheriff in an April 9 letter after she learned of the arbitrators ruling: Mr. Sorensens judgment is clearly flawed.

The Oregonian/OregonLive obtained the letter through a public records request.

The sheriffs office conducted an internal investigation and hired an outside investigator to do a separate inquiry on Sorensen.

The sheriff, in his termination letter, found Sorensen violated the countys policy against discrimination, calling his salutes inexcusable in the workplace. The sheriff also found Sorensen violated the county policy against sexual harassment, citing numerous witnesses who said he engaged in conduct that was flirtatious and/or sexualized, with coworkers.

Davis said she will share the full investigative report into Sorensen with defense attorneys representing anyone subject to sanctions on Sorensens probation caseload.

Davis said shes required to turn over the reports to defense attorneys under the landmark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brady v. Maryland, which requires prosecutors and police to share any information that might be favorable to defense attorneys in a case involving an officer with potential credibility problems.

Her office would only use him as a fact witness, noting that the defense would likely call into question Sorensens judgment, she said.

It is impossible to think of another physical action that is so symbolic or evocative of racism or hate as the Heil Hitler salute, Davis wrote to the sheriff.

If youre willing to do that at work and not see the problem with it, its hard to believe youll have sound judgment on who on probation can behave appropriately and who cannot, she said.

Sorensen has not returned repeated calls for comment. Seth Davis, his lawyer for the Federation of Oregon Parole and Probation Officers, has declined comment.

The state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is also reviewing Sorensens state certification. His firing from the sheriffs office triggered a review that started in January 2024, according to state records.

If he returns to his old job or actively seeks a job at another law enforcement agency, the state certification agency would prioritize review of the case, said Sam Tenney, a department spokesperson.

-- 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.
Through secret wiretaps, electronic surveillance and arrests of alleged couriers, federal agents traced a man to Oregon and identified him as the leader of a multi-state drug trafficking ring with direct ties to Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, records show.

The monthslong investigation led to the single biggest seizure of fentanyl in the United States, the nations top law enforcement officials said.

But when agents raided Heriberto Salazar Amayas most recent home in Salem and a nearby storage unit he leased, they found no drugs, but $2.8 million in bundles of $100 bills stashed in a black duffel bag and a black backpack in his house, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The top guy -- he insulated himself. He had no drugs on him. He had millions of dollars. He had a Mercedes. He had a truck. Thats what these cartels do. The highest leaders insulate themselves, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a televised news conference last week as she pointed to a photo of Salazar Amaya.

Court records filed in Oregon and New Mexico provide a detailed look at the inner workings of the sprawling network, how it moved drugs and its massive profits.

DEA agents, working with state, local and tribal officers and the Internal Revenue Service, used undercover operations, trackers placed on vehicles, physical surveillance and monitoring of financial accounts to identify Salazar Amaya and his co-defendants, according to court records.

They coordinated raids in five states on April 28 and arrested 16 people, including Salazar Amaya, a Mexican national who had been in Salem for a short time and moved around various states to avoid detection, prosecutors said.

Salazar Amaya, 36, received orders from customers and dispatched couriers to deliver drugs in a broad swath of the West, including Albuquerque, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Layton, Utah and Salem over about nine months that ended with his arrest, prosecutors said.

Investigators identified Phoenix as Salazar Amayas source city for drugs smuggled in from Mexico, which he then arranged to distribute, according to court records.

Bondi and DEA Acting Administrator Director Robert Murphy said the DEA confiscated about 4.2 million fentanyl pills  the most at one time  as well as 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 79 pounds of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin and 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, according to prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison of New Mexico, who is leading the prosecution, said the teams of officers dismantled one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl operations in U.S. history.

In addition to the drugs seized, DEA agents also confiscated a total of $4.4 million in cash, 41 guns and seven vehicles, according to a detention memo. Ellison said among the firearms were ghost guns and guns with switch devices that turn them into automatic fire.

Agents began intercepting Salazar Amayas phone conversations and text messages through wiretaps placed on three phones he used starting in August 2024, according to a search warrant affidavit.

The couriers followed a daily schedule, which involved load vehicles and stash locations, all coordinated by HSA (Salazar Amaya), to conduct bulk deliveries across several metropolitan areas, the detention memo said.

Salazar Amaya would rent Airbnb and Vrbo properties for himself and his couriers and was spotted mostly staying in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Lakewood, Colorado, and Ogden, Utah, according to the affidavit.

Investigators had never seen him travel to Oregon before January and believed he was previously living in Las Vegas, according to the affidavit.

Agents suspected that his transiency is designed to evade law enforcement detection, a DEA agent wrote in the affidavit.

In some intercepted calls, Salazar Amaya was heard telling customers that he operated in multiple cities, such as Denver and Colorado Springs, the affidavit said.

At other times, they tracked him driving from Phoenix to the New Mexico border and then passing the so-called load vehicle off to his couriers, the affidavit said.

Another man arrested in November identified Salazar Amaya as the primary operator for the drug ring with a direct line to the Sinaloa cartel, according to the court documents.

PRIMARY OPERATOR

The investigation into the trafficking ring took hold last August and lasted through April, prosecutors said.

Less than two weeks before Salazar Amayas arrest, agents intercepted an April 16 phone call he placed about 6:30 p.m. to another man, Cesar Acuna Moreno, instructing him to get la gringas order ready, according to the affidavit in support of a search warrant.

Acuna Moreno asked what the order was.

Salazar Amaya then told him, according to the affidavit: diez papas (10 potatoes), treinta tres cajas (33 boxes) and reminded him to put in diez Leones (10 lions).

He told Acuna Moreno the meeting time was set for 7:30 and a customer named Bacardi would give you half and owe half, which agents took to mean money owed for the drugs, the affidavit said.

The agents said the language was code for various drugs: Potatoes referenced pound amounts of methamphetamine; boxes for bundles of 10,000 fentanyl pills; leones meant a higher quality or potency of specific fentanyl pills labeled Leon, a brand unique to Salazar Amaya and confiscated by agents at various couriers homes.

In November, agents said they captured a conversation between Salazar Amaya and another co-defendant, Brian Sedillo.

Investigators suspected the two were arranging a drug sale at Sedillos home in Albuquerque, a DEA agent wrote in the affidavit.

Two days after watching what they believed was the drug delivery to Sedillos home, federal officers raided the house with a search warrant and seized about 150,000 suspected fentanyl pills labeled Leon and GSV, about $72,000 in cash, multiple guns and silencers, the affidavit said.

They found the Leon and GSV pills in the trunk of a vehicle parked in the garage and another 22,000 pills labeled Diablo hidden in a vent of the home, according to a federal complaint filed against Sedillo.

Sedillo then identified Salazar Amaya as the primary operator of the ring for the Sinaloa cartel and identified other couriers involved, according to the DEA.

Sedillo said Salazar Amaya supplied the pills marked Leon and GSV, the affidavit said. He knew Salazar Amaya as Juan and identified him by a photo, though he said he had only seen Salazar Amaya once years earlier.

MOVING AROUND

Salazar Amaya not only repeatedly changed locations in response to police pressure but changed his phone number after the arrests of couriers tied to him, DEA agents said.

Prosecutors in the affidavit set out how investigators tracked Salazar Amaya in Oregon:

After Sedillos arrest, Salazar Amaya got a new phone number.

On Jan. 5, Salazar Amaya appeared to be traveling from Ogden, Utah, to Oregon, based on GPS data that pinged three of his phones along the trip. Six days later, agents tracked two of Salazar Amayas phones leaving the Salem area in Oregon and arriving in Phoenix the next day.

On Feb. 7, an Oregon state trooper pulled over a silver Ford F-150 truck with a New Mexico temporary tag that appeared to be traveling with a gray GMS Yukon bearing a New Mexico plate in La Grande. At the same time, agents received pings from Salazar Amayas three phones in the La Grande area, the affidavit said.

The state trooper stopped the truck due to its temporary tag and saw a lot of cash in plain view. Salazar Amaya was driving, provided a New Mexico drivers license and vehicle registration and told the trooper he was going to be staying with his family in Salem for about two months, prosecutors said. The trucks registration came back to the name of a co-defendant.

On April 1, intercepted phone calls suggested Salazar Amaya and a girlfriend were calling Portland General Electric to set up service for a residence in Salem, which he said he had been living in for a week. He provided his full name to PGE, his date of birth and email address, according to the affidavit.

A Republican state lawmaker in Oregon suggested Salazar Amaya was in Oregon because its a sanctuary state but court records make no mention of the sanctuary status of any of the states cited.

Ten of the 16 charged are U.S. citizens, according to the DEA and the New Mexico U.S. Attorneys Office.

Investigators seized most of the drugs and guns in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the cash and vehicles from Salem, Phoenix and Las Vegas, according to prosecutors.

OREGON ARREST

DEA agents in New Mexico asked their counterparts in Salem to help find Salazar Amayas home.

Federal agents ultimately set up a pole camera allowing electronic surveillance of his newly built home in northeast Salem.

They later reviewed footage and saw Salazar Amaya and a woman walk out of the front door of the home toward an orange F-150 truck parked in the driveway on April 23, according to the search warrant affidavit.

The woman returned to the house, but Salazar Amaya later walked to a gray Ford Bronco Raptor with Colorado plates that backed into his driveway. Salazar Amaya opened the trunk, unloaded items and took them into the home, the affidavit said.

Federal agents placed Salazar Amaya at the home on April 23, 24 and 25, leading up to his arrest April 28. He was found there with his girlfriend, her mother and his infant daughter, tons of cash, seven phones and documents regarding a storage unit he leased from Highway 22 Storage on 50th Avenue Northwest in Salem, investigators said.

Agents obtained another search warrant that day for the unit, J21. They busted in at 12:45 p.m. but found zero items, the search warrant return said.

The unit was completely empty, it said.

Salazar Amaya is being held in Oregon before his return to New Mexico, where he was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, illegal reentry to the United States, unlawfully employing undocumented workers and conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants.

Salazar Amaya is accused of illegally entering the U.S. two times, in 2010 and 2012, and was found both times in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, according to the indictment. He also went by several aliases, including Juan, El Paisa and Viejo, the indictment said.

Ellison, New Mexicos U.S. attorney, called the scale and potency of drugs seized sobering.

The 4.2 million fentanyl pills equates to more than 1.5 million lives potentially saved, which is nearly enough fentanyl to kill the majority of people in the entire state of New Mexico, DEA officials said in a statement.

Before this, the DEA in Phoenix held the record for the largest single fentanyl pill seizure of 1.7 million pills in 2021, according to the DEA.

Agents also seized a fleet of luxury vehicles, including a Ford Raptor, GMC Denali, F-150 pickup, Mercedes AMG and a Dodge TRX Mammoth, as well as more than $50,000 in jewelry in the investigation.

-- 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.
Clark County has released the name of the man stabbed to death by a sheriffs deputy in Ridgefield last week.

Marc Fogle, 54, of Clackamas, died from multiple stab wounds of the torso shortly after midnight on May 8, according to the Clark County Medical Examiners Office. The death was ruled a homicide.

Fogle, who was suspected of driving under the influence and had been taken to a Washington State Patrol weigh station to have a breath-alcohol test administered, allegedly started a scuffle with a deputy at the facility and grabbed for the officers gun.

While in the breath test room at the Scale House facility, at around 11:58 p.m. [on May 7], a [Clark County Sheriffs Office] deputy reported over the radio that he was actively in a physical altercation with the subject, the sheriffs office said in a statement on May 8. The deputy reported that the subject had attempted to take his firearm during the altercation, and the deputy stabbed the suspect several times.

The deputys name hasnt been released.

The homicide is being investigated by the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
Portland police earlier in the day asked for the publics help to find a woman who was last seen entering a white van in Southeast Portland Tuesday morning. David Nunez

Police have identified and spoken with the woman they said was last seen entering a white van in the 800 block of southeast 162nd Avenue around 10 a.m.

Officials wrote in a news release earlier Tuesday the woman, who wasnt named, may have been abducted. Shortly before 3:30 p.m., police said an early investigation suggests no crime was committed.

Its not clear what information led police to come to this conclusion. Officials released limited details and said they are no longer seeking the publics help.

Police said the van approached her as she walked down the street. A person then got out of the van and ushered her into it before driving off.

 Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221- 4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X @zaeemshake
A few years ago, after dinner at a nearby fine-dining restaurant, I wandered into Dimos Apizza in search of carbs.

There was nothing overly fancy about the pasta that day, a plain bowl of what I assumed (incorrectly) to be store-bought bucatini, guanciale and tomato under a shower of grated cheese. But it was tasty, a pasta you could imagine finding at an East Coast pizzeria where the cook had spent a summer or two in Rome.

If you know Dimos Apizza, its probably because of the pizza, with its two-oven baking process  electric and wood-fired jury-rigged to recreate the deeply charred flavor of New Havens famous coal oven pizzerias. Or it might be for the weekly sandwich specials made on house-baked sesame seed baguettes, which have their own following.

[Read more: The 15 best pizzerias in Portland, the greatest pizza city in the world]

Since that day two years ago, Ive enjoyed the restaurants pasta several times. The bouncy rigatoni in a spicy vodka sauce with prim little sprigs of basil poking from the top. Or the specials  spaghetti slicked with zesty lemon cream sauce, lumache (little shells) with cima di rapa, Italian sausage and a scattering of crunchy bread crumbs  that tend to stick around for a while.

Dimo's ... Apasta? Spicy rigatoni alla vodka and a spaghetti al limone "special" that seems to have stuck around for a while. Michael Russell | The Oregonian

I should have known that Miriello, a Connecticut-born chef who came to Portland after working at the breezy Venice Beach, California, bakery-restaurant Gjusta, would treat the pasta with as much care as the pizza. For that eye-opening amatriciana, Dimos made its own bucatini, as it does all the pastas. The guanciale was house-cured. The cheese grated to order, a light dusting compared to the more than 200 pounds of Pecorino and Grana Padano grated fresh here each week.

All that labor adds up to pastas in the $20-$22 range, higher than the fast-casual Grassa, an angel hair above the sitdown restaurant Montelupo, but less than the likes of more upscale Italian restaurants a Cena, Campana, or Nostrana. Price aside, Dimos is an easy pick for any Portland pasta top five, and likely the most underrated part of the restaurant.

Lumache  little shells  with house-made Italian sausage, cima di rapa (aka rapini), and bread crumbs at Dimo's Apizza. Michael Russell | The Oregonian

And starting as soon as next month, pasta will play a more prominent role at Dimos Italian Specialties, a new Italian deli, market, bar and restaurant opening next door. By day, the space  like Dimos Apizza, part of the former Burnside Brewing building  will serve Roman-style pizza bianca slices and sandwiches, pasta kits, olive oil, wine and more from the deli and market. Three nights a week, the back room will operate as a white tablecloth supper club, serving braised veggies, stuffed pastas, whole branzino and good steaks seared in a Spanish coal-fired oven.

Dimos Apizzas pastas are served from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at 701 E. Burnside St., 503-327-8968, dimosapizza.com. Check back later this week for more on Dimos Italian Specialties, chef Doug Miriellos upcoming Italian deli, market, bar and supper club.

 Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com

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The University of Oregon will expand its relatively new global studies program using a $25 million gift from developer Jordan Schnitzer and his late parents, who are among Oregons most prominent philanthropists, the university announced Tuesday.

The university aims to use the donation to position the newly renamed Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages among the nations top locations to study international cultures and connections, officials said. It plans to expand the work of the school, which opened in 2021, to expose students to languages, international internships and classes on a variety of global topics and regions, said Aneesh Aneesh, executive director of the Schnitzer School.

It positions the University of Oregon as a national and international leader of global studies, fostering new research, public engagement and creative work to benefit society, said Karl Scholz, the universitys president.

The donation comes as UO and other higher education institutions are experiencing attacks from President Donald Trumps administration for their global ties, including the brief suspension of four of UOs international students visas two weeks ago.

University leaders and Schnitzer said the donation is reflective of a world in which the global exchange of ideas is necessary.

Ideas ebb and flow in policy and areas of emphasis, but globalism and the international stage are always present, Scholz said. This is a celebration of what is a mainstay here. We are about a collision of ideas and perspectives.

The donation will also allow the school to expand scholarships, awards and financial support for students studying abroad, according to Schnitizer and the university. Schnitzer said the school will remain dynamic, allowing teaching to evolve as policies shift internationally and locally.

Jordan Schnitzer announces the donation of $25 million to the University of Oregon's School of Global Studies. The gift was made public at the Portland campus Tuesday morning. Beth Nakamura

This program is going to be a bit organic, where it will grow so that it can encompass climate change and politics and international relations and all the issues facing us every day, Schnitzer told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Scholarship will also be a focal point of the newly-renamed school. The money will create a new scholars-in-residence and fellows program, bringing thinkers to Oregon from across the globe. Global studies graduate students, particularly doctoral candidates, will also receive increased financial and scholarly support, officials said.

Among the programs funded by the Schnitzer familys $25 million gift will be a new Center for Global Futures to teach students about current and future international issues, like climate change and food insecurity. This center, and the school at large, aims to prepare students for an increasingly globalized world.

We need institutions that prepare students not just to navigate the world, but to shape it, Scholz said. This is exactly what the Schnitzer school will do.

Aneesh said he hopes that the Schnitzer School will look different from other top international studies programs across the country. Not only will it be among the few schools on the West Coast, it will also focus on global issues that transcend borders, as opposed to looking primarily at how countries interact with each other, he said.

We are interested in global dynamics, those issues that do not stop at the borders, that are not merely state-centric, Aneesh told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Whether its global health or nutrition or other issues, they bleed across borders.

As a result of this global focus, students from the Schnitzer School will graduate knowing at least one foreign language, one region and an area of global focus, such as health or media, Aneesh said.

The Schnitzer family has a long history of donating to the university, including funding the Judaic studies program and the Eugene campuss art museum. The latest gift comes from the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, a philanthropy led by Jordan Schnitzer and endowed by his parents.

With this donation, we want to ensure that every young person has an opportunity to get the best education they can get, Schnitzer said. If theres anything that will change inequality, its education.

 Eddy Binford-Ross covers education and local politics. Reach her at ebinford-ross@oregonian.com.

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Turkmenistan hosts strategic dialogue with UN coordinators on Central Asia

Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov recently rubbed elbows with the UN Resident Coordinators for Central Asia to chew the fat on regional cooperation regarding pressing matters like peace, security, climate change, and sustainable development. The meeting shone a spotlight on Central Asia's rising significance as a launching pad for UN initiatives and drove home Turkmenistan's proactive role in pushing the envelope on regional and global priorities.

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From left, chef Arnold Myint and host Brian Malarkey in an episode of "Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out." Food Network

Fans of TV food competition shows are likely familiar with Brian Malarkey, who has competed on Bravos Top Chef and been a regular competitor and host of shows on the Food Network.

Now, Malarkey is adding another credit to his resume as the host of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, taking over for Alton Brown, who hosted the original Cutthroat Kitchen on Food Network from 2013 to 2017.

Malarkey may also be well-known to Oregonians, since the restaurateur, chef and food personality was born in Portland and, as his website says, was raised cowboy-style on a sprawling ranch in Central Oregon, and who discovered a deep affection for the oceans bounty during sun-drenched summers on the Oregon coast.

Malarkey flunked out of the University of Portland, his website says, and then enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland. He currently splits his time between Central Oregon and San Diego, operating restaurants that include Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, in Bend.

According to the Food Network, Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out will require chefs not only to show off their cooking skills, but challenge them to sabotage their opponents to try to win.

The chefs will have a starting bank of $25,000 each, and theyll be able to spend money on gaining advantages for themselves, or on sabotages aimed at the other chefs. The chef who makes it to the end of the nine-episode series will walk away with the money left in their bank.

Malarkey will be dishing out unpredictable and diabolical culinary challenges that will test four chefs on their cooking prowess, strategic thinking, and ability to innovate under pressure, as the Food Network press release says.

From foraging ingredients from a planes bar and snack carts, to cooking a posh meal using only a hot dog roller and popcorn maker, the chefs must be strategic and crafty to navigate obstacles and outdo the competition, the release goes on to say. Each episode will feature one judge who will determine the winner of each round, tasting and evaluating the dishes before they know what challenges and sabotages were endured.

Judges include Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Aarti Sequeira and Jet Tila.

Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 on the Food Network. No cable? You can stream Food Network shows on Philo, which offers a free trial; and on Fubo, which also offers a free trial. Episodes will stream the following day on Max.

 Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com and @Kristiturnquist and https://bsky.app/profile/kristiturnquist.bsky.social

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Senate Bill 992 would protect low-income pregnant renters and renters with babies in the first year of life from being evicted. AP

A bill that would prohibit landlords from evicting many low-income and pregnant Oregonians and offer rental assistance through the first year of their babys life is up for consideration in the Oregon Legislature. The bill also would offer a year of rental assistance to expectant residents or new parents at risk of becoming homeless.

Many of Senate Bill 690s details have yet to be worked out  including the number of people who would benefit and who precisely would be obligated to foot the bill. Democratic Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a pediatrician and chief backer of the bill, asked rental property owners to be patient as she works with government agencies to work out funding streams.

Landlord, you will be made whole with back pay, Reynolds said during a Senate Rules Committee hearing last week. Were going to ask you not to evict the pregnant people and babies that fall into this category.

The bill would move pregnant people and new parents to the front of the line for federal money meant for struggling Oregonians. It would also allocate $20 million of state general fund money over the next two years for rent assistance and supportive services.

In order to qualify, soon-to-be parents or parents of infants would need to be eligible for and receiving services funded by the Oregon Health Plan and Medicaid. Theyd also need to inform the owners of their rental properties of the situation.

Reynolds, who lives in the Oak Hills area, pointed to distressing rates of unsheltered homelessness among families with children. She said money spent on intervening in the lives of low-income children has the biggest impact the younger they are.

Its obviously time to do something very different, Reynolds said. We just think its really important to keep babies housed.

The bill is part of Reynolds Momnibus 2025 package of four bills, which attempt to break down obstacles that mothers, children and families encounter from pregnancy through early childhood.

Zach Lindahl of Multifamily NW, which represents rental property managers and owners, initially submitted testimony saying his group opposes the bill. But in spoken testimony last week, he said his organization has come to better understand the bill and is willing to work with Reynolds on it. He said the focus should be on fixing a broken rental assistance to help all renters.

Let me be clear, we strongly support helping pregnant Oregonians, particularly those needing rent assistance navigating an overly complex rental housing system, said Lindahl, the organizations government affairs director. But this is not an issue that is specific to pregnancy.

The bills provisions offering rental assistance would cover yet-to-be-determined regions and expire after about two years. The Department of Human Services would be required to write a report about the programs effectiveness.

 Aimee Green covers the Oregon Legislature. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky.

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The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted 7-1 Friday to reject a proposed $500 fine of former liquor commission executive director Steve Marks. Marks, the agency concluded, used his position to purchase a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. AP

The state ethics commission rejected a proposed $500 settlement with the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission over his role in diverting sought-after bourbon.

At the same time, an investigation into yet another liquor agency manager revealed new details about the scheme, which included sending extra bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon to a Milwaukie liquor store as a reward of sorts for helping get bottles of scarce bourbon into the hands of OLCC employees.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted 7-1 Friday to reject the fine as inadequate for former OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks.

Marks had agreed to the civil penalty for using his position to obtain a coveted bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. According to liquor commission records, Marks said he had purchased Pappy Van Winkle 23 year sometime between 2019 and 2022 and said he paid $329.99, the list price.

An internet search shows that particular vintage of bourbon selling for thousands of dollars online.

Ethics commissioners pushed back on the proposed fine, with several arguing that it was too low given Marks leadership role.

I think a state agency head, like other high level public officials, has a higher duty to comply with Oregon ethics laws than do those under them, commission Chair David Fiskum said during the meeting.

Member Dan Mason agreed, saying the ethics commission should go back to the drawing board with Marks and his attorney, Robert Steringer.

Reached Monday, Steringer said Marks would continue working in good faith with the ethics commission to resolve this matter.

The ethics commissions vote means its staff will resume negotiations with Marks and his attorney over the amount of the civil penalty.

Meanwhile, the ethics agency completed an investigation into Boba Subasic, the former chief information officer for the liquor commission.

Subasic and Marks were among a half-dozen executives who a state human resources investigation found had arranged to buy hard-to-find bourbons produced by the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky and thus diverting them from the general public.

The ethics commission reached settlements with two commission executives  Bill Schuette, the former business manager, and Kai Nakashima, director of information services. Each agreed to pay $500 fines for using their positions to access sought-after bourbons, records show.

Cases involving the former deputy director, Will Higlin, and Chris Mayton, the director of the distilled spirits program, are pending.

The ethics report on Subasic reveals how the managers used their access to closely guarded information about the states inventory of sought-after liquor.

The report says Rich Evans, senior director of licensing and compliance for the liquor agency, told the ethics commission about the states popular chance-to-purchase program in an interview in July 2024. The drawing gives the public a shot at buying liquor nearly impossible to find in Oregon stores.

The agency set aside reserve stock as part of the program  bottles that were held back as a form of insurance against breakage or loss.

Information about the reserve inventory was not widely known within the agency, Evans told the ethics commission. He said liquor agency employees who were in the know would request specific bottles in the reserve, which meant that the bottle would be taken out of the system and would not be available to anyone else.

The bottles would then go to a liquor store for the OLCC employee to buy, Evans said.

In some cases, the bottles never made it to the store, Evans said. A Milwaukie liquor store would know to charge the employee, and would still get its 7% for the sale, but the employee would just pick up the bottle at the warehouse, he said.

Evans didnt identify which liquor store would handle the employee bottles; the report includes an interview with Patty Bumbarger, the former owner of a store about six minutes from the liquor commission offices on Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard.

Bumbarger told the ethics investigator that the liquor commission staff would send over bottles to be picked up by their employees. Employees paid the states list price for the bottles.

She said the agency would send a few extra bottles of Pappy Van Winkle that she could sell to her customers. She said she had a waiting list of customers eager for a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle.

We never made a request for those bottles, the OLCC just offered them to us, she told the ethics investigator. We felt this was a reward for handling the OLCC employee marked bottles.

The ethics commission references Subasics interview with a liquor commission human resources investigator. In that interview, Subasic said he had acquired four or five bottles of Pappy Van Winkle and Elmer T. Lee.

And as the existence and availability of these bottles was confidential information, there is a preponderance of evidence in this case that Boba Subasic furthered his personal gain through the use of confidential information gained by reason of holding his position at OLCC, the ethics report states.

Subasic denied wrongdoing, according to the report, which includes a response from his lawyers, Janet Hoffman and Rachael Burch.

Mr. Subasics choice to participate in a frequent and widely accepted practice while an employee at the OLCC was not an ethics violation. At no time during his tenure at the OLCC did he use confidential information to his benefit, use his position as a government employee to avoid financial detriment, or maintain and fail to disclose a conflict of interest, they told the ethics commission, according to the report.

Susan Myers, executive director of the ethics commission, said Monday that she expects staff to take up Subasics case at its July meeting. She said the commission at that time will either review the investigation or vote on a proposed settlement.

 Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com
President Donald Trump speaks at an event for Military Mothers, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. AP

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow it to end humanitarian parole for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from four countries, setting them up for potential deportation.

The emergency appeal asks the justices to halt a lower-court order keeping in place temporary legal status for more than 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

The Republican administration argues that the decision wrongly intrudes on the Department of Homeland Securitys authority.

The district court has nullified one of the administrations most consequential immigration policy decisions, Solicitor General John Sauer wrote.

The order from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston blocked the Trump administration from putting an early end to the migrants temporary legal status. Her ruling in mid-April came shortly before their permits were due to be canceled, opening them up to removal from the country.

Talwani, who was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama, said that people in the program faced the option of fleeing the country or staying and risk losing everything. She said the governments explanation for ending the program was based on an incorrect reading of the law.

The Justice Department went to the Supreme Court after an appeals court refused to lift Talwanis order.

Sauer argued that the judge was instead wrong on the law, including her finding that any revocations of parole must be made on a case-by-case basis. He argued that ending the program early allows the federal government to remove people from the country more quickly, in line with the Trump administrations policy goals.

The case is the latest in a string of emergency appeals the administration has made to the Supreme Court, many of them related to immigration. The government asked the court to strip temporary legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans last week, and it remains locked in legal battles over its efforts to swiftly deport people accused of being gang members to a prison in El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law called the Alien Enemies Act.

Trump promised on the campaign trail to deport millions of people who are in the country illegally. His administration has also sought to dismantle policies from President Joe Bidens Democratic administration that created new ways for people to live legally in the U.S., generally for two years with work authorization.

Biden used humanitarian parole more than any other president, employing a special presidential authority in effect since 1952. Beneficiaries included more than 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who flew to the United States with financial sponsors on two-year permits since late 2022, with authorization to work.

Advocates have called the Trump administrations move to end the program unprecedented and argued that it violated federal rule-making.

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press

Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump suggested that he had revived the word "groceries." Now he believes he has invented "equalizing." AP

Remember when Donald Trump discovered the word groceries and then felt he had to teach us what it meant?

Its such an old-fashioned term but a beautiful term: groceries, he said on the campaign trail. It sort of says a bag with different things in it.

Well, the MAGA etymologist is at it again. While explaining his attempt to lower drug costs up to 80% for Americans, Trump sent an alert to Merriam-Webster.

He could have notified the Librarian of Congress and the head of the Copyright Office  you know, to make sure he received proper credit  but hes already fired them.

The rest of the world is going to have to pay a little more and America is going to pay a lot less, Trump said. Again, because its a much smaller population than when you think of the whole world. Basically what were doing is equalizing. Its a new word that I came up, which I think is probably the best word.

Were all going to pay the same. Were going to pay what Europe is going to pay, what were all going to pay. There may be some countries in dire need and I would be willing to sacrifice that, to help them. But its called most favored nation. Were going to pay the lowest price there is in the world.

According to Merriam-Webster, equalize was first used in 1599. The derivation, equalizing, arrived sometime during the early 1800s.

Trump signed a sweeping executive order setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. or face new limits over what the government will pay.

The order calls on the health department to broker new price tags for drugs.

If a deal is not reached, a new rule will kick in, tying the price of what the U.S. pays for medications to lower prices paid by other countries.

Public health agency leaders will start meeting with drug companies to offer new prices over the next month. Drugmakers argue threats to their profits could impact research to develop new drugs.
Rep. Frank Lucas wasnt familiar with proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations budget. But the very idea of it, given Oklahomas heavy reliance on its data because of its location in the heart of Tornado Alley, was already physically hurting him.

The very discussion about reducing our investment in our scientific research and our weather forecasting causes me to have stomach cramps, Lucas, a Republican, said.

Multiple outlets reported that the Office of Management and Budget is considering cuts to NOAA that would effectively eliminate its research arm and slash its budget by $1.3 billion. OMB and NOAA did not respond to a request for comment about the cuts, including questions about how they could affect Oklahoma facilities.

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But Lucas said he hopes future funding of NOAA will be rational and practical and not a step back from progress weve made in weather forecasting.

Well cross that bridge when we get there, but thank goodness I have the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Lucas added, referring to Republican Rep. Tom Cole, also a member of the Oklahoma delegation.

Cole previously stepped in to oppose the termination of several federal facilities in his district, including the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Cole said in March that he successfully negotiated with the Trump administration to keep the center, an atmospheric research and weather forecast center that trains meteorologists on the University of Oklahomas campus, safe from cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency.

As for the proposed budget cuts to NOAA, Cole said he had not talked with OMB about them and that he had only seen what was included in the administrations budget wishlist.

We just cant be more definitive right now, Cole said when asked if Oklahoma could handle cuts to NOAA. His office did not respond to follow-up questions about whether he was planning to negotiate with OMB and advocate for Oklahomas NOAA facilities amid proposed budget cuts.

The second Trump administration has already rattled NOAA as part of its efforts to trim the size of government through DOGE  hundreds of probationary employees were laid off at NOAA in February, including some in Oklahoma, according to KGOU.

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And after the Trump administration let contracts at the Regional Climate Centers, which analyze and share weather and air quality data, expire in April, weather data centers under NOAA were forced to stop operating. They were booted back up again a few days later.

While changes at NOAA would have an outsized effect on Oklahoma, which saw a record-breaking 152 tornadoes in 2024, members of its delegation are not the only Republicans signaling theyd be opposed to certain cuts.

Lawmakers from Louisiana, in the nations most hurricane-prone region, told NOTUS earlier this year that cuts to NOAA and its budget would be a mistake. Republican Rep. Clay Higgins said he was prepared to protect NOAAs core purpose.

Five former leaders of the National Weather Service, a forecasting agency under NOAA that provides weather alerts, are also warning that the proposed cuts could have dire consequences.

Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life, they said in a joint letter on May 2. We know thats a nightmare shared by those on the forecasting front lines  and by the people who depend on their efforts.

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford also said he had not seen the proposed NOAA cuts.

There are going to be very few government agencies, if any, that dont have areas that they could be leaner, Lankford said. To just say that theres cuts, thats not a problem.

Depending on the program or grant, Lankford added, cuts could be actually beneficial, though he said hed have to see what these cuts were before determining that.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot in the head near a school in the Bronx on Monday.

Law enforcement authorities are now searching for a person of interest, who is believed to be only 14 years old. Officials said that the incident occurred in the rear of Bronx Latin I.S. 158, at 800 Home St. in the Morrisania section, at around 5:00 p.m.

Teenage Girl Fatally Shot

They also recovered video footage from the scene that showed children leaving the schoolyard and entering a walkway found alongside the building. Officials noted that it also showed a fight breaking out between a group of people who were in the walkway.

Authorities said a male, seen wearing a white t-shirt and shorts was punched in the face by another male, who was seen wearing a grey hoodie. The latter then punches several other people in the crowd, according to ABC7NY.

Read more: Virginia Teen Fatally Shot by Homeowner Following Alleged TikTok Prank

Later on, an individual hands a pistol to the first male, who uses it to fire three shots into the crowd, with one hitting 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey in the head. Police said that the victim was initially transported to Lincoln Hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

They added that the teenage girl, who just had her birthday last month, was a student at the nearby Morris High School. Authorities are now searching for a 14-year-old boy as a person of interest in connection to the incident.

Another Senseless Tragedy

Police commissioner Jessica Tisch said that Jeffrey's death has caused the city to suffer another "senseless tragedy." New York City Mayor Eric Adams also spoke at a news conference, saying, "We feel the loss," the New York Times reported.

The teenage girl was apparently riding a scooter from the schoolyard down the walkway and then walked over to a boy, who grabbed her and dragged her behind a brick wall for cover. When she was struck by the bullet, other students in the area scattered for safety.

Tisch also lamented the continuing rise of gun violence on children living in New York City. She said that the number of victims in the Bronx has gone up by 200% last year compared to the numbers recorded in 2018.

The incident comes after a teenager was charged with murder following the death of a 12-year-old boy. The victim was fatally shot while shooting a music video in Northwest Philadelphia on Saturday, as per NBC Philadelphia.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Greek company Plastika Kritis highly appreciates cooperation with Azerbaijan, the engineer-agronomist of the export department of Plastika Kritis Dimitris Milios told Trend.

He made the remark during the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition, Caspian Agro.

We have been working in Azerbaijan for more than ten years. Our products are used in modern and high-tech greenhouses in the Baku area. We supply greenhouse film with improved characteristics contributing to higher yields and quality of vegetable products. In Baku, we cooperate with Grow Group, and we appreciate this partnership very much, he said.

Caspian Agro International Exhibition takes place from May 13 through 16. Within its framework II International Forum of Agrarian Innovations is held. The exhibition is attended by 450 companies from 31 countries.
GPUs can handle it, so let em rip

Heres the question you have to ask yourself if youre interested in a desktop PC right now: Do you want to wait an unspecified amount of time for desktop NPUs to be announced and released some time in the future, or do you want to get a desktop PC right now?

As of mid-2025, Copilot+ AI features only run on laptops with qualified NPUs. That means Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite/Plus laptops, Intel Lunar Lake laptops, and AMD Ryzen AI 300 series laptops. Technically, there are also a few lightweight mini PCs with mobile CPUs, like the Asus ROG NUC series, that also fit the bill. No desktop PCs.

For me, I decided that Copilot+ features didnt matter enough to wait. I have a Surface Laptop 7 with Insider builds of Windows 11 and I never use the Copilot+ features on it. I have Recall activated, but I havent touched it in months. (Privacy concerns aside, the worst thing about Recall is that its just not very interesting or useful.) Other AI featureslike generating images directly in the Photos appfeel like tech demos at best.

Windows Studio Effects is just one of the many growing number of Windows AI features that are only for Copilot+ PCs. Chris Hoffman / Foundry

Still, looking at Microsofts feature announcements in the past few days, its clear that Microsoft is going full steam ahead with Copilot+, and some of those newer features are getting more interesting. Why yes, I would like AI to change PC settings more quickly! And guess what? My PCs GeForce 5080 GPU could certainly run features like that if Microsoft would just let it. (My blazing-fast AMD CPU probably could, too.)

When it comes to running AI tasks, NPUs sit somewhere between CPUs and GPUstheyre faster at AI processing than CPUs, but slower than GPUs. NPUs are also way more power efficient than GPUs, and thats a big deal when youre handling AI tasks on a laptop. But with a desktop PC thats always plugged in? Battery life doesnt matter.

And while AI features might hog GPU resources, I dont necessarily care if my GPU takes a hit for a second when I search the Settings app, for example. Theres so much potential to take advantage of in a GPU that isnt doing anything else. Might as well use it for AI, right?
If you havent heard, Microsoft is officially ending support for the still-very-popular Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025. But for some users, that raises another question: what will happen to Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10? Will they keep working or not?

Up until now, Microsoft has said that Microsoft 365 apps will no longer be supported on Windows 10 when that day comes. However, something seems to have changed recently, with Microsoft now promising security updates for Microsoft 365 appsat least in some specific cases.

Microsoft 365 apps will keep working on Windows 10 after end of support

On the recently updated support page, Microsoft explains that apps such as Word will continue to work, but the continued use of a no-longer-supported Windows 10 could lead to performance issues and potential instability when running Microsoft 365 apps:

Although apps such as Word will continue to work after Windows 10 reaches end of support, using an unsupported operating system can cause performance and reliability issues when running Microsoft 365 Apps. If your organization is using Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows 10, those devices should move to Windows 11.

Microsoft therefore advises companies that still rely on Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 to switch to Windows 11.

Microsoft wants to ensure security during the transition phase

To ensure security during the end-of-support transition period, Microsoft wants to continue to provide security updates:

To help maintain security while you transition to Windows 11, Microsoft will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years after Windows 10 reaches end of support. These updates will be delivered through the standard update channels, ending on October 10, 2028.

Despite security updates, you may still run into performance and reliability issuesand as usual, Microsoft will provide limited support. For example, if there are problems with Microsoft 365 apps that only exist on Windows 10, Microsoft will likely ask you to switch to Windows 11.

Pay to keep Windows 10 supported, sort of

If you want to continue using Windows 10 after the end of support, Microsoft will offer security-only updates for the operating system if you pay for an Extended Security Updates (ESU) plan. Thatll be a one-time payment of $30 for one year of extended security support.

If you want to keep using Windows 10 after support ends without paying for the ESU plan, you have a few options. Learn more in our article on how to save your Windows 10 PC after end-of-life.
The United States has reportedly been investigating reports that Nvidia GPUs have landed illegally in China to be used by Chinese LLMs like DeepSeek, and one US lawmaker will be introducing a new bill that aims to track the locations of AI chipslike the ones made by Nvidiaafter theyre sold, reports Reuters and Neowin.

The smuggling of CPUs and GPUs is nothing new. PC components have often been smuggled across the ocean to countries like China and other East Asian countries for years. But with the rising power of AI and the implications of AI on technological prowess, its not unusual that the US government wouldnt want that tech falling into rival hands.

The proposed legislation would oblige US authorities to develop regulations for location verification of AI chips. This would purportedly prevent cutting-edge chips and processors from being smuggled into other countries and being put into operation there without proper export licensesa kind of kill-switch function.

Google as a role model

Former President Bidens administration and the current Trump administration have gradually tightened export controls for technologies such as GPUs from Nvidia. Even so, around $17 billion (or 13 percent of Nvidias total turnover) was generated on the Chinese market.

According to Reuters, Nvidia claims it cant continue to pursue its chips after sales are made, bu the US government disagrees. According to experts, the technology to track these computer chips is readily available, and the necessary functions are already integrated into Nvidia chips.

And with competitors like Google already use such location-tracking technology for their own AI chips in data centers as a security measure, its hard to believe Nvidia cant do the same.

What would the law require?

The proposed bill still needs to be presented and voted on, but what would happen if it were passed? Heres a quick overview.

Within six months of the law coming into force, a mechanism to verify and track the whereabouts of highly developed and export-controlled chips (or products containing them) will become mandatory. When products are diverted from their intended destinations or have been the subject of tampering attempts, every incident must be reported.

In coordination with the Department of Defense, potential security mechanisms for AI chips are to be investigated next year. In the coming years, these are to be defined and then implemented following further evaluation. This should also make export controls more flexible in order to simplify deliveries to other countries.
Bullshit trailers are a blight on YouTube. And they have been for a long time. Just throw together clips of older movies and actors, title it The Dark Knight Rises 2: Robins First Flight, and sit back and watch the clicks (and the ad revenue) roll in. But with generative AI videos now just a few clicks away, theyve become an infestation, clogging up every relevant search. YouTube has finally had enough.

AI-generated trailers have created a huge crop of videos that do nothing but lie to viewers by stealing a movie studios IP and then regurgitating it back at you, all delivered with a tiny concept disclaimer somewhere in the description text (and often not even that). It is genuinely horrible stuff, all the more detestable because it takes about three minutes of human work and hours upon hours of datacenter computation, boiling the planet and benefiting no one and nothing in the process. I have half a mind to

[Editors note: At this point Michael ranted for approximately 1500 words on the evils of the AI industry and those who use its products. Terms like perfidious and blatherskite were used, along with some shorter ones that we wont repeat. Suffice it to say, he is rather upset.]

After letting them run rampant for a couple of years, it looks like YouTube is finally cracking down on these slop factories. Deadline reports that YouTube has suspended a total of four separate channels dedicated to AI-generated trailers for fake movies (or real, upcoming movies that dont have trailers yet). Two were suspended back in March, and their alternate channels have now been smacked with the same banhammer.

The channels, allegedly created by just two individual users, are not actually removed from the platform. But they cannot monetize their videos, and are presumably suffering some pretty big losses in search visibility as well. Combined, the initial two channels had more than two million subscribers.

Deadline doesnt have specific statements from YouTube on what policies the channels violated, but speculates that YouTube finally decided to enforce its misinformation policy, basic original material policies that mirror US copyright and fair use rules, and guidelines that deter uploaders from creating videos with the sole purpose of getting views.

It didnt take long to find an example of this slop. A search for star wars trailer 2026 shows two blatantly fake AI trailers, complete with Disney logos on the thumbnails, popping up in search ahead of the first results from the official Star Wars channel itself. The latest one was generated less than a week ago, splicing in clips from the real movies with AI-generated video clips and narration trained on the actors voices. Awkward and unconvincing shifts between short splices of video show the current limitations of the technology, even after it has progressed rapidly.

A Deadline report in March brought broader attention to the AI trailer problem, highlighting that some Hollywood studios have chosen to use YouTubes content flagging system to simply claim the ad revenue from the fake trailer rather than getting them removed. After all, if someone else is doing all the work and getting paid, why try to protect your intellectual property and artistic integrity, when you can just grab the money instead? Turning off the monetization faucet for these channels might get the studios to finally enforce their own copyright, now that the money well is gone.

YouTube continues to suffer from an absolute flood of AI slop from every direction. AI-generated video, narration, and even scripts are becoming a larger presence on the platform as a whole, particularly in YouTube Shorts, mirroring pretty much every social network on the web. This extremely basic enforcement of YouTubes policies aside, the platform doesnt seem all that interested in stemming the tideand perhaps that has something to do with parent company Google selling its own generative AI products, and integrating them into YouTube itself.
While this may be the last time Rite Aid tries to sell its business, its certainly not the first. In fact, the drugstore chain has been attempting mergers and sales for more than a decade.

This time around the Philadelphia chain, which was based in East Pennsboro Township for decades, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to make the sales process happen. It has told its vendors that it is generally not buying any more goods.
Two Lancaster County residents have been accused of falsely reporting psychotherapy sessions to insurance companies.

Joseph and Kristy Lucas, of Lancaster, made 238 claims to insurance companies by misrepresenting the types of sessions they were conducting, according to a presentment by a statewide grand jury.

The Lucases ran Advanced Counseling and Testing Solutions, LLC  or ACTS  for several years. ACTS received $5,649.58 from Highmark and Capital Blue Cross from the 238 fraudulently billed claims from 2020 to 2025, the presentment said.
Old Main on the Penn State campus in State College, Pa., May. 5, 2021. Penn State administrators are considering a plan to close 7 Commonwealth campuses, sources said. (PennLive.com/file)

By Susan Snyder, of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania State Universitys administration has proposed closing seven of its 20 Commonwealth campuses, according to multiple sources close to the board of trustees.

They are Dubois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York, according to the sources. Collectively, they enrolled nearly 3,200 students as of the fall semester and experienced enrollment declines over the last five years ranging from 15% at York to 32% at DuBois, according to enrollment data on the universitys website.

The seven, which are spread from Western Pennsylvania to Northeastern Pennsylvania, were among 12 campuses that initially were targeted for study for potential closure. The five that also were studied but are not part of the current closure proposal are Hazleton, Schuylkill, Beaver, Greater Allegheny, and Scranton.

The board was presented with the plan this week and discussed it in executive session, but there were more than 75 questions raised by board members, so a vote initially planned for this week has been postponed, the sources said.

Board members plan to discuss the issue again in a private session Thursday.

With a full agenda for this regular May meeting, there was not enough time to fully discuss the recommendation, the university said in a statement. Given the importance of this matter, board members expressed a desire to have more time to examine and discuss the recommendation.

In another statement, the university declined to provide more information about the seven campuses selected.

The Board of Trustees, who must meet and hold a public vote, have not done so and until then there is no more information to share, the university said. It is regrettable that our communities who may be impacted are hearing this information ahead of a formal decision and announcement.

Board Chair David Kleppinger said there is significant information in the full recommendation which will be shared following a board vote, adding that it is deeply frustrating that someone with early access to this recommendation decided to share it.

The university said last month that a plan to announce the campuses to be closed before commencement would be moved back until mid-May.

Opposition to closing campuses

Last month, a Penn State faculty group and several current and former trustees spoke out against closing campuses, saying faculty should have been part of the decision-making and that more time was needed for study. The president of the Penn State chapter of the American Association of University Professors said closing campuses could roll back recent improvements in serving students from underrepresented backgrounds  Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The administration credited such gains in diversity to the accessible flexible Commonwealth Campus model and recruitment in diverse cities such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia ...

Trustees Jay Paterno and Ted Brown, who serve on the more than 30-member board, were among a group that released a letter publicly criticizing potential closures. They said that while Penn State loses $40 million to $50 million a year operating the 20 campuses, that amount represents just 0.4% of the $10 billion annual budget.

That 0.4% is an investment in the soul of Penn State and the heart of our land-grant mission to bring access to the university to people across the commonwealth, they wrote in an op-ed published on StateCollege.com. That 0.4% seems like a small price to pay for our soul.

State Sen. David Argall, (R., Schuylkill) said he received 5,000 emails about Penn States proposal to close campuses, 97% of them against the idea. The Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses, which are not part of the current plan for closure, according to the sources, are part of his district.

It could be devastating for rural Pennsylvania, he said. Some of these campuses have been the heart of the community for almost 100 years.

Penn State, he said, should drop back 10 and punt and just take their time and look and see if there is a way to strengthen each one of these campuses.

Declining enrollment

Enrollment has been declining steadily at the Commonwealth campuses. It stood at roughly 24,000 last June, down about 30% since 2010. This fall, overall enrollment at those campuses fell about 2%, but the decline in first-year enrollment was steeper: 8.4%, or 578 students.

At just the 12 campuses initially under consideration for closing, enrollment has slid 39%, or 3,222 students, from 2014 to 2024, the university said. Penn States overall enrollment fell by only 4% during that time, and University Parks enrollment alone increased by 5%.

It has become clear that we cannot sustain a viable Commonwealth Campus ecosystem without closing some campuses, Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi said in February, announcing the closure plan under which no campuses will shut before the end of the 2026-27 year.

The three Commonwealth campuses in the Philadelphia region  Brandywine, Abington, and the graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley  will not be considered for closure, Bendapudi said in February. They are among the systems largest. The others that also are among the largest and are safe from closure are Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley, Bendapudi said.

The 12 campuses considered for closure were evaluated by a team led by several top administrators appointed by Bendapudi.

Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth campuses and one of three people heading that team, announced earlier this semester that she would be leaving the system this summer to become provost and vice president of academic affairs at the College of New Jersey. The other two are Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff who followed Bendapudi to Penn State when she left the University of Louisville, and Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost.

The team looked at various factors, including enrollment, projected population in the surrounding communities, and student success including graduation rates.

For each of the 12 campuses, residents in the county where the campus resides  along with those in the immediate surrounding counties  are the most significant sources of enrollment, with some home counties contributing up to 70% of the enrolled students at that campus, the evaluation team said in March.

Though the campuses have lost a lot of enrollment, the drop has been flattening, the trustees said in their letter, urging Bendapudi to give them more time.

We are calling for this administration and this board to look a while longer, to look for innovative solutions before making legacy decisions that will have impacts lasting long after we are gone, said the letter, also signed by trustee emeritus Alice Pope, former trustee Randy Houston, and former alumni council member Jeff Ballou.
Paranormal investigator Stan Gordon, posing near his research equipment in 1973. Gordon is the author of the book "Silent Invasion," which among other things, documents a string of paranormal sightings in Pennsylvania over 1973 and 1974. Provided photo

Be it cryptids or unexplained lights in the sky, paranormal sightings in Pennsylvania are nothing new.

But some have reason to believe the two are linked. And for one intense period, sightings of both - large, hairy humanoid creatures and unidentified flying objects - were frequent in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The period was between 1973 and 1974, and paranormal researcher Stan Gordon documented the claims of connection between Bigfoot and UFOs in his book, Secret Invasion: The Pennsylvania UFO-Bigfoot Casebook.

Among other subjects, Secret Invasion details incidents where sightings of both Bigfoot and UFOs were made, and suggests a correlation between the two.

Gordons own interest in the paranormal began in 1959, when as a 10-year-old with interest in science and technology, he overheard a radio program about unusual occurrences.

They were talking about everything from flying saucers, haunted houses, strange creatures, Gordon said. I was a curious kid, but I was still somewhat skeptical even at that age. And so I decided to make some trips to my local Greensburg PA library, sort of reading all the books they had on the subject.

When Gordon was 16, he said, the famed Kecksburg Incident took place, forever solidifying his interest in researching unexplained phenomenon. In 1969, he set up a phone line for people to report UFO sightings, and in 1970 he helped to found an organization of volunteers to investigate and document sightings.

Gordon and his collaborators were very, very busy throughout 1973 and into 1974, he said.

As the Silent Invasion book description reads, it was during the summer of that year however when a mysterious wave of events began to unfold.

Alarmed citizens over a widespread area reported close encounters with huge hairy Bigfoot-like creatures, it says. Frightened residents called local authorities and media outlets reporting enormous footprints and terrified animals.

This started out January 1, here in Westmoreland County, and then it just continued all year long across the state, Gordon said.

Gordon shared details of many sightings that he and his team investigated.

There were all kind of sightings - it was just amazing to detail the reports coming in, he said. And these, again, are coming from all walks of life: men, women and children.

And the summer of 73, Gordon said, Pennsylvania was the largest outbreak of Bigfoot sightings ever documented, Im quite certain, anywhere in the country, around the world.

It began with a sighting in Greensburg at the end of that July, Gordon said, when a man was shaving in his upstairs bathroom and began to smell this funny odor.

He said it was like rotten cucumbers, Gordon said. He turned to look out the window, and heres these two huge glowing red eyes staring at him.

After interviewing the witness, Gordon said, he heard from other locals that a large hairy figure, between 7 and 8 feet tall, had been spotted in the nearby woods.

I got permission to go up and look around on the property, Gordon said. I was about ready to call it a day, when I happened to look down and there was a partial footprint, and there was one complete footprint, of the strangest track I think any of us in that group had ever seen.

Gordon described the footprint as 13 inches long, eight inches wide, and clearly three-toed.

And while the investigation continued, he said, his team got another call, near Pittsburgh, about a similar set of circumstances: the sighting of a nine-foot tall figure and signs of strange footprints in the woods.

It was the start of a wave that ran for weeks and weeks and months, Gordon said.

Many of the sightings coming in were in daylight, where people were getting give us very detailed physical descriptions of the creatures, Gordon said. In some cases, we had more than one creature seen together. So youre getting all these Bigfoot reports and UFO reports, and then we begin to see a pattern.

The pattern, Gordon said, was wed have a UFO sighting in a particular area, and within minutes to hours and days later, wed have a Bigfoot sighting, or vice versa.

They have some incredible incidents with Bigfoot and UFOs seen together at the same time and place, he said.

Another notable occurrence included multiple sightings of UFOs on October 25, 1973, from across Pennsylvania, particularly along the Chestnut Ridge in Fayette County.

In that instance, Gordon said, 15 separate witnesses described a huge red sphere, about as big as a barn, about 100 feet off the ground, that was hovering and slowly beginning to move downward towards the pasture.

Electronics supposedly went haywire during this time. Shortly after witnesses reported seeing two large, hulking figures, over 7 feet tall, covered long, dark, matted hair hanging off the body, with large, luminous, glowing green eyes.

And after one of the witnesses reportedly fired a warning shot at the creatures, both they and the glowing lights in the sky vanished.

Gordon shared several more stories, such as a trail of Bigfoot-like creatures leading to an area of luminescent glowing, about 100 feet in diameter, or reports of lights in the sky followed by tall, hairy creatures with glowing eyes.

But despite his interest and dedication to the research, Gordon said he remains something of a skeptic.

Ive always looked at these cases scientifically, he said. We always try to find explanations for what people report, whether its a UFO or a Bigfoot.

Some sightings can be explained away, he said, as anything ranging from meteorites or astronomical phenomenon for UFOs, and bears or other large animals for Bigfoots.

A lot of the reports may initially sound unusual, but when you take the time to investigate these cases properly, many are determined to be misidentification of either natural or man-made objects, he said.

But ultimately, Gordon said, every year, reports are coming in that you cannot easily dismiss, of all these type of various phenomena.

For more information on Stan Gordon, his research and the Secret Invasion, visit his website here.
Supporters of legalizing cannabis for adult-use rally outside the state Capitol in Harrisburg on June 27, 2023. Ed Mahon / For Spotlight PA

Story by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

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BALTIMORE (AP)  More than 200 firefighters battled a massive blaze that broke out at a west Baltimore warehouse, disrupting Amtrak service in the area and prompting officials to move dozens of area residents.

Commuter rail service was canceled Tuesday amid fears the building could collapse onto railroad tracks.

Firefighters were dispatched to the multistory mattress warehouse at Edmondson Avenue and Bentalou Street around 7 p.m. Monday and found heavy fire, the Baltimore City Fire Department said in a social media post. About 30 residents of nearby homes were temporarily evacuated.

Firefighters continue to work on the scene of an overnight fire at a multi-story mattress warehouse in Baltimore, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via AP) AP

Firefighters continue to work on the scene of an overnight fire at a multi-story mattress warehouse in Baltimore, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via AP) AP

By Tuesday morning, the fire had been contained to the building, but firefighters were chasing hot spots and a deep-seated fire in multiple locations, fire department spokesperson John Marsh said. No injuries had been reported.

The cause has not been determined, and officials were still working to figure out where the fire started, Fire Chief James Wallace said at a news conference Tuesday. City and state officials will investigate, and Wallace said he has asked for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to take the lead, he said.

The ATF brings a ton of resources for us, and given the size and scope of the fire, the fact that we disrupted rail service, its very appropriate that we bring all hands on deck to investigate the cause of this fire, he said.

Officials believe that part of the building may have been in use and part may have been vacant, but they didnt have information about the buildings history, he said.

Its been years since weve had a fire of that magnitude  seven alarms, Wallace said. But it was necessary to bring in additional resources, including aerial ladders and a heavier water flow, he said.

A MARC train sits on the tracks as Baltimore firefighters battle a 4-alarm blaze at a warehouse in West Baltimore Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Banner via AP) AP

The warehouse backs up to railroad tracks. Amtrak service was stopped for a time between Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., Amtrak said in a social media post.

Service was restored by Tuesday morning, but was still restricted to one track, and Amtrak warned that delays were expected for the rest of the day along the Northeast Corridor.
QazaqGaz, Uztransgaz debate long-term gas transit cooperation

Photo: QazaqGaz's official telegram

During a working visit to Tashkent, QazaqGaz Chairman Sanjar Zharkeshev met with Uztransgaz Acting Chairman Askar Isakov to discuss long-term cooperation in the gas sector, including the transit of Kazakhstani gas through Uzbekistan and the readiness of both countries gas transportation systems to enhance Russian gas transit via the Central Asia-Center pipeline. Zharkeshev also addressed the International Energy Forum, highlighting key challenges and opportunities in the global gas industry.

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FILE - White South Africans demonstrate in support of U.S. President Donald Trump in front of the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2025. This week, the Trump administration brought a small number of white South Africans to the United States as refugees. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File) (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

By GERALD IMRAY, The Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  The Trump administration brought a small number of white South Africans to the United States as refugees Monday. It says its the start of a larger relocation effort for members of the minority Afrikaner group who are being persecuted by their Black-led government because of their race.

The 59 South Africans had their applications fast-tracked by the U.S. after President Donald Trump announced the relocation program in February. He said Monday that white Afrikaner farmers are facing a genocide in their homeland, an allegation strongly denied by the South African government.

The Trump administration has taken an anti-migrant stance, suspending refugee programs and halting arrivals from other parts of the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan and most countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Refugee groups have questioned why the white South Africans are being prioritized.

South Africa says theres no persecution

The South African government said the U.S. allegations that Afrikaners are being persecuted are completely false, the result of misinformation and an inaccurate view of its country. It cited the fact that Afrikaners are among the richest and most successful people in the country, and said they are amongst the most economically privileged.

Afrikaners are the descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to South Africa in the 17th century. There are around 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africas population of 62 million, which is more than 80% Black. Many in South Africa are puzzled by claims that they are persecuted.

Afrikaners are South Africas largest white group and part of the countrys everyday multi-racial life. Many are successful business leaders and some serve in government. Their language, Afrikaans, is widely spoken  including by non-Afrikaners  and is recognized as an official language, and churches and other institutions reflecting Afrikaner culture hold prominence in almost every city and town.

Afrikaners were the leaders of the apartheid system of white minority rule that ended in 1994.

What persecution is the U.S. alleging?

Farm attacks

Trump and his South African-born adviser Elon Musk have accused the South African government of having racist anti-white laws and policies, but the claims of persecution and genocide center on a relatively small number of violent farm attacks and robberies on white people in rural communities.

The U.S. alleges those attacks are racially motivated and the South African government is fueling them by allowing anti-white rhetoric in politics and not doing enough to protect Afrikaner communities. The government has condemned the farm attacks, but says their cause is being deliberately mischaracterized.

Violent attacks on farm owners in South Africa have been a problem for years but represent a small percentage of the countrys extremely high violent crime rates, which affect all races. The government says there is no targeting of white people and farm attacks are part of its struggles with crime.

Groups representing farmers have recorded around 50 or less farm homicides a year in the last two years in South Africa. Those figures are set against a total of more than 20,000 homicides a year affecting all races.

There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of white South Africans or white Afrikaners in particular, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said. White farmers get affected by crime just like any other South Africans.

Still, many rural white communities have long expressed fear at the threat of violence and feel attacks against them in home invasions and robberies are especially brutal.

So, weve essentially extended citizenship to those people ... to escape from that violence and come here, Trump said.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greets Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, Monday, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

Affirmative action and reverse racism

The Trump administration has also criticized South Africas affirmative action policies as racist against whites and has falsely claimed white South Africans are having their land taken away by the government under a new expropriation law that promotes racially discriminatory property confiscation.

No land has been expropriated, but Afrikaners who make up many rural communities have raised fears their land might be targeted.

South Africa has laws designed to advance employment opportunities for Blacks, and many white South Africans and white-led political parties have also criticized them and called them racist and counter-productive.

Some Afrikaner groups say the employment, land and other laws are designed to specifically limit their opportunities in South Africa in a kind of reverse racism as punishment for Afrikaners role in apartheid. The government rejects that and says the laws are designed to give Blacks access to jobs and land they were denied under apartheid.

Not the only racial minority in South Africa

Afrikaners are not the only racial minority in South Africa, and not the only white minority. South Africa also has nearly 2 million white people with British or other heritage.

The Trump administrations program initially only referred to Afrikaners. But in new guidelines released by the U.S. Embassy on Monday, applicants for refugee status must be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa. Other racial minorities include a group of around 5 million with biracial heritage, as well as people with Indian and other south Asian heritage.

Its not clear how many South Africans have applied for or been granted refugee status, but U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the administration would welcome more Afrikaners as refugees in the coming months.
Temple University in Philadelphia should be investigated and prosecuted in a case involving a research dog's death and falsified records, says an anti-animal experimentation group. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) AP

Editors note: This article has been updated with comments from Temple University submitted after publication.

An anti-animal experimentation group wants the federal government to prosecute Temple University for a botched procedure that led to a dogs death and other infractions that scream negligence.
A 45-year-old man has died following a police incident Sunday at a South Whitehall supermarket, authorities said.

The Lehigh County coroners office, which is awaiting next of kin before identifying the deceased, said the man was from Emmaus. The man was pronounced dead just before 3 p.m. Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township.

An autopsy is scheduled Tuesday to determine his cause and manner of death, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio said.
Cyber charters and other school choice advocates have pushed back on a flat-rate proposal as a means to curtail public dollars proposal to privately-run schools that they believe serve many students better than traditional districts. FILE Jan Murphy, PennLive

State lawmakers are expected to soon field legislation on the fraught issue of cyber charter funding, which could have a significant impact on how Pennsylvania finances education in the upcoming budget.

As Republicans warn against projected deficit spending in Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros budget framework, one cost-neutral way to get more dollars to public school districts is to reduce the amount of money those districts pay to charter schools.
Story by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

This story first appeared in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. Sign up for free here.
A Lancaster County magistrate has sent harassment charges stemming from an Ephrata woman's invective-filled protest calls into Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf's office to county court for further action. Christine Vendel

EPHRATA - An Ephrata woman will go to criminal court on charges that her one-woman protest of the Lebanon County District Attorneys handling of a rape case crossed the line into harassment.

Kimberly Baylor has built her defense on free speech grounds.
President Donald Trump answers a reporter's question during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

President Donald Trumps agenda is waging an attack against anyone who has ever loved someone with cancer, according to a new Senate HELP committee report.

The report, released Tuesday by Senator Bernie Sanders, accuses Trump of conducting an unprecedented and illegal broadside against science and scientists. And the report says that the presidents war on science will cause preventable suffering and needless loss of life.

Per Common Dreams, the report was compiled by interviewing federal health workers, analyzing National Institutes of Health grant funding data and reviewing self-reported data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report found that Trumps agenda will yield fewer breakthroughs for combating diseases, a less robust public health response to future infectious disease threats, and even less trust in public institutions.

Per the report, Trumps administration has already cut $13.5 billion in health funding while dismissing thousands of employees who support Americas scientific infrastructure. The report noted that Trumps NIH committed $2.7 billion less to research in the first three month of 2025 than was allotted across the same period in 2024.

For those battling cancer, the report found that those cuts resulted in a 31% decline in cancer research grant funding in the first three months of 2025 than was given across the same period in 2024.

Per Common Dreams, the report noted that federal workers have also accused the Trump administration of attempting to control scientific speech.

The report found that the cuts resulted in chaos and disruptions across the Health and Human Services sector.

Trumps war on science is not making America healthy again, Sanders said. It is making Americans and people throughout the world sicker.
Will Larry Krasner, right, win a third term? Or will fellow Democrat Pat Dugan replace him? Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer, left, and AP/Matt Rourke, right, via AP Photo

Philadelphias race for district attorney is one to watch in this odd-year election cycle, when there are neither national nor state elections in Pennsylvania, so turnout will undoubtedly be quite low.

Incumbent Larry Krasner faces a competitive Democratic primary race against Pat Dugan, a retired municipal judge. Voters will decide on May 20, 2025.

Krasner gained national attention when he originally ran as a progressive prosecutor in 2017 and received financial support from liberal financier and philanthropist George Soros.

Once elected, he was, as I wrote in my book Reforming Philadelphia, 1682-2022, arguably the most liberal DA in the citys history, who campaigned on never pursuing the death penalty, ending cash bail, and seeking alternatives to incarceration.

Dugan, meanwhile, previously served not only as a municipal judge but also as president judge. This means that the other municipal court judges elected him to lead both the criminal and civil divisions of the court.

Either Krasner or Dugan will become the citys next district attorney, since theres no Republican or independent candidate running.

So what do district attorneys do anyway?

Chief law enforcement officers

District attorneys are often called the chief law enforcement officer of an area, typically a county. Their office is responsible for charging and prosecuting  or deciding not to prosecute  people arrested for crimes in that county.

Yet the DA does not lead the police.

The police are typically a separate office under the mayor that is responsible for keeping the peace, with the power to arrest people suspected of committing crimes.

Attorneys working for the DAs office decide, based on police reports and potentially other evidence, whether to charge an arrested person for a crime and what crime they should be charged with.

The DAs office then seeks to convince a criminal court judge of the guilt of the person charged with the crime.

Elected and independent

Critically, district attorneys are elected. They are independent of and separate from the mayor, who oversees the police. In fact, the DAs office can disagree with the mayors office on policy issues related to law enforcement  yet they still have to work together.

Its a form of divided government and checks and balances, and some policy differences are evident in the relationship between Krasner and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.

For instance, Krasner has argued for harm-reduction programs such as needle exchanges and supervised injection sites to deal with the citys opioid addiction crisis. Yet the Parker administration eliminated city funding for needle exchange programs in its 2025 budget.

Officials of the state

The fact that DAs typically work for a county is also important. Unlike cities or towns, counties are administrative subunits of states. So DAs are state law enforcement officers.

Philadelphia is the only consolidated city and county in Pennsylvania, meaning the city and the county have the same geographic boundaries and their governments have for the most part been combined.

The powers, duties and responsibilities of the district attorneys office are not specified in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, but rather in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

The purpose of having DAs as state officers responsible for their respective counties is that it provides some uniformity in law enforcement across the state. This is pretty important considering the potential severity of criminal charges, which in Pennsylvania can include the death penalty.

It is important to note, however, that Pennsylvania also divides its counties into nine separate classes based on population. Different conditions apply to each class.

With over 1.5 million residents, Philadelphia is the states only first-class county. It is also unique in terms of the DAs workload, both because of the countys population size and its high arrest rate.

The sheer volume of crimes that can be prosecuted makes the Philadelphia DAs office important from a policymaking perspective.

Discretionary powers

District attorneys do not make criminal laws. But each DA has significant discretion over where they focus the attention of their attorneys.

Approximately 300 assistant DAs and 600 total staff, including other attorneys, work under Krasner.

DAs decide what kind of attorneys they hire to serve as assistant DAs. For example, they decide whether those attorneys have a more progressive or a more traditional law-and-order philosophy. When Krasner became DA, some personnel left and other staff members were terminated. This provided the new DA plenty of opportunities to hire new people.

DAs also have significant discretion when it comes to whether to charge a person with crimes and what crimes to charge them with.

Krasner, for example, decided in 2018 to not charge people for marijuana possession. He also instructed his team to not charge sex workers arrested for prostitution. And, for a time, he reduced the charges against shoplifters if the stolen goods were valued under US$500, making it a less serious offense.

Krasners lenient approach to petty crimes is the basis for one of Dugans chief criticisms: that the DA is responsible for the increase in shoplifting in Philadelphia. Major retailers, most notably the Wawa convenience store chain, have cited theft as the reason they closed stores in the city.

For his part, Krasner notes that he established a retail theft task force in 2024 and now treats thefts under $500 as more serious offenses.

Alternatives to incarceration

In line with these discretionary powers, DAs may also set up special initiatives such as diversionary programs that offer alternatives to both conviction and incarceration.

For instance, a diversionary program that Krasner expanded is one for juvenile offenders who have stolen cars. Instead of being charged with a crime, the young people are put into a five-week program that teaches decision-making and other life skills.

Dugan has also been active in the diversionary space and had a prominent role in establishing a Veterans Court in Philadelphia in 2010. The Veterans Court recognizes the unique problems faced by many veterans, particularly when it comes to substance use and mental health problems, and tries to divert them away from the criminal justice system and toward treatment, while also lessening the burden on the traditional criminal court system.

Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

Richardson Dilworth, Professor of Politics, Drexel University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. A Dutch company specializing in greenhouse heating solutions has expressed strong interest in bringing its innovative technologies to the Azerbaijani market, Ron van Wijk, Executive Director of the Netherlands-based company Advanced Heating Technologies (AHT), told Trend.

Speaking to our agency, van Wijk said that his firm is eager to cooperate with local businesses and introduce new-generation heating systems in Azerbaijan's agriculture sector.

I represent AHT, a Dutch company offering heating solutions for the agriculture sector, such as greenhouses, as well as for outdoor use. Our solutions are based on cutting-edge technology. We have developed a new heating tool using a very thin metal alloyjust 25 microns thickwith a special amorphous molecular structure. This enables highly efficient and effective heating, he added.

The company official noted that AHTs technology offers up to 40 percent energy savings.

Moreover, this technology is resistant to wear and tear, making it a long-lasting and sustainable solutionan excellent alternative to traditional gas-based greenhouse heating.

AHT is ready to introduce the technology in Azerbaijan and is looking forward to building partnerships. We hope many entrepreneurs and company representatives in Azerbaijan will be interested in collaborating with us, van Wijk concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Cooperation on forest restoration in Azerbaijans liberated territories is essential for ensuring long-term environmental sustainability and recovery, Armands Krauze, the Minister of Agriculture of Latvia, told Trend.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agricultural "Caspian Agro" Exhibition in Baku, Minister Krauze began by sharing his impressions of the exhibition.

The exhibition is very interesting, and it is very valuable to gain more information about agriculture, the food industry, and the products, as well as to understand what Azerbaijan can offer to Latvia and what we can sell to Azerbaijan. Additionally, new technologies and opportunities for farmers are presented here, which I believe is important for Azerbaijani farmers. What Ive seen is related to information technologies and new solutions, he added.

Krauze also spoke about the potential for cooperation between Latvia and Azerbaijan.

In Latvia, we are also moving forward in the same direction, and we could exchange information in this area. Despite the differences in climate and the variety of crops, you grow peaches and even kiwis, but in Latvia, it is not possible because the weather is too cold. However, the issues of how to assist farmers, how to advise them, and how to utilize IT solutions are the same. We can cooperate in this area.

The second important issue is that Latvia has a vast amount of forests, and we can engage in information exchange and cooperation with Azerbaijan in the forestry industry. Cooperation in the restoration of forests in Azerbaijans liberated territories is crucial, as I know they were destroyed. In Latvia, 53 percent of the territory is covered by forests, and we have vast experience in this area. We have sufficient expertise in growing new plants in nurseries and advancing in this field. We can collaborate, and Latvia can also invest in forestry in Azerbaijan, the Latvian Minister stated.

He also emphasized that the development of the forestry industry and forestry management is critical in the fight against climate change.

Reducing carbon emissions, minimizing the impact of climate change, and, of course, it is very important for people as well. People can walk in the forests and enjoy them. I believe you have great opportunities to restore your forests, he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter

Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community focused stories, arts, businesses, non-profits, events and any story with a human element. The Roanoke, Virginia native has journalism degrees from James Madison and Syracuse universities. She has written for papers in Georgia, Mississippi, Upstate New York and Virginia. Follow her on X at @biancarmooman.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Tiffany Tan is a senior reporter at The Post and Courier in Columbia. She covers statewide issues, particularly in the criminal justice system. She previously reported on the courts, the opioid epidemic and regional news in Vermont for VTDigger. She has also worked for newspapers and television outlets in Manila, Beijing, Singapore and South Dakota.
Charleston, SC (29403)

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The II International Forum of Agricultural Innovations was held within the framework of the Caspian Agro-2025 exhibition. The forum featured panel discussions on various sectors of agriculture, Trend reports.

The moderator of the first panel session, dedicated to the theme "The World after Baku COP29: Achievements, Prospects and Opportunities in Climate Change Issues", the head of the office of the Ministry of Agriculture Azad Jafarli touched upon the importance of holding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the conference, Georgian Minister of Environment and Agriculture Davit Songulashvili noted that COP29 held in Azerbaijan made an important contribution to the fight against climate change, created new opportunities for sustainable development of the agricultural sector, investment and trade.

Speaking about the negative impact of climate change on agriculture, Somalia's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mohamed Abdi Khayir stressed that global cooperation in this area is extremely important, as the effects of climate change pose threats to food and water security worldwide.

Turkish Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Abdulkadir Polat stressed the importance of efficient use of natural resources in the context of climate change. He noted that Turkiye is sensitive to environmental issues.

In her speech, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Ilhama Gadimova emphasized that leading positions in the initiatives developed within the framework of COP29 create a unique opportunity to transform Azerbaijan into a regional and global center for agro-climate diplomacy.

Speaking about the results of COP29, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalcin Rafiyev noted that this international event became a turning point in the history of climate negotiations against the backdrop of a complex geopolitical situation. The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that important and effective decisions in the context of multilateral diplomacy were made at the event.

The Ambassador of Brazil to Azerbaijan Manuel Montenegro noted that the measures envisaged within the framework of COP29 are comprehensive and form the basis for expanding access to financial resources for the most climate-vulnerable groups of farmers, creating intelligent and climate-resilient agricultural and food systems.

The forum included various panel sessions that discussed the role of agricultural innovation in ensuring food security, the introduction of innovative solutions to increase crop yields, ways to use land and water resources more efficiently, measures to combat climate change and issues of global cooperation in this area.

The sessions included an exchange of views on the topic and answers to participants questions.
Columbia, SC (29201)

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Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 93F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 73F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
Reporter

Conor Hughes covers Greenville County for The Post and Courier. He has been reporting on South Carolina's Upstate for close to a decade, writing about everything from crime, to development, to politics during that time.
Summerville, SC (29483)

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Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

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Kingstree, SC (29556)

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Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 84F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Showers this evening then thundershowers developing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 71F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

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Tropical storm conditions possible. A steady rain early...then remaining cloudy with a few showers. High 83F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 13. On May 13, the Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov met with a delegation from the UAE-based telecommunications giant e& (Etisalat), led by Vice President Jasim Abdulla, Trend reports, citing the ministry.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for launching joint projects to advance Uzbekistans telecommunications and digital infrastructure. Discussions covered potential investments in local telecom companies, as well as collaboration on data center development and broader digital infrastructure initiatives.

The e& delegation commended Uzbekistans ongoing economic reforms, the liberalization of the telecommunications market, and the countrys efforts to create a favorable climate for foreign investment.

The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to take concrete steps toward the joint implementation of the proposed projects.

Founded in 1976, e& operates in 38 countries, with its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The company serves 189.3 million subscribers, employs over 40,000 people, and holds assets worth USD 49.8 billion.
Myrtle Beach, SC (29577)

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Overcast with rain showers at times. High near 80F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain early...then remaining cloudy with thundershowers developing overnight. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Parliament in Iran planning to reconsider rebranding nation's currency

The Iranian parliament is set to chew the fat over changing the name of the rial, a matter that has been on the back burner for more than a decade. The Central Bank of Iran has been digging deep into the matter, which is no walk in the park and comes with a whole bag of logistical challenges. After ironing out the kinks, the proposal is now under the microscope in parliament.

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WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / In a recent video address,American scientist Dr. Egon Cholakianpresented compelling data indicating a significant and accelerating rise in global seismic activity, particularly earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 and above. Highlighting an exponential trend, Dr. Cholakian warned that, according to calculations, within four years, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater could occur globally every two to three days-posing a severe threat to densely populated regions.Dr. Egon Cholakian, a Registered Federal Lobbyist with the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and the White House, and a Registered Foreign Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security DivisionDr. Cholakian attributes this trend to external cosmic factors, which recur as astronomical cycles every 12,000 years, as proposed in research by the ALLATRA scientific community. These external cosmic factors, he asserts, affect the Earth's core and mantle, intensifying geodynamic processes, increasing magma movement, and contributing to heightened volcanic and seismic activity worldwide. A particular focus is the Siberian magma plume, an active geological formation in Siberia, Russia.Rising Seismic Activity: Global Increase in Earthquake Frequency and EnergyCiting ALLATRA's research, Dr. Cholakian emphasized that the plume's activation-specifically, an explosive event-could trigger catastrophic consequences. He recommended immediate attention to planned degassing: a process of controlled venting to reduce internal geodynamic pressure. He further referenced thereport,"On the Threat of a Magma Plume Eruption in Siberia and Strategies for Addressing the Issue", urging global review and response.Total number of large-scale climate disasters in countries during 2013-2023Egon Cholakian explains that from 2013 to 2023, ALLATRA scientists deployed experimental equipment based on a technological concept proposed by Igor Danilov, which, according to recorded data and graphs, contributed to the stabilization of seismic and climatic extremes, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe. Dr. Cholakian reported that following the Russian government's designation of ALLATRA as an "undesirable organization" in 2023 and the dismantling of the equipment, the region experienced a notable increase in natural disasters. Most importantly, Dr. Cholakian emphasized that the equipment played a key role in slowing the activation of the Siberian plume, buying humanity time for implementing the planned degassing solution.In addition to his work in physics and geodynamics, Dr. Cholakian acknowledged that Mr. Danilov had been among the first to highlight the underestimated role of nanoplastics in ocean warming and their impact on human health-issues he began raising as early as 20 years ago. These concerns have since been substantiated by numerous international studies.Dr. Egon Cholakian, Igor Mikhailovich DanilovDr. Cholakian also introduced Danilov's medical innovation-vertebrorevitology-a patented non-invasive spinal treatment method that enables full regeneration of intervertebral discs. He noted that pre- and post-MRI data show the restoration of disc structures once considered irreparable, offering a real breakthrough in medicine.Dr. Cholakian further noted with concern that the ALLATRA movement and Mr. Danilov have faced an orchestrated campaign of discreditation to undermine their credibility-especially in Russia-where public discourse on the Siberian plume and associated geodynamic risks has been deliberately curtailed by certain power circles in Russia prioritizing their personal incomes over scientific transparency and global security.He explained that to execute this smear campaign they have resorted to a familiar tactic of manipulation: the use of pseudo-scientific 'anti-cult' groups, most notably led by Russian anticultist Alexander Dvorkin. His network, which includes figures such as Iryna Kremenovska, an agent of the Russian RACIRS network based in Ukraine, has actively worked to discredit the ALLATRA movement and Igor Danilov. Dr. Cholakian underscored that, if not for the interference of 'anti-cult activists'-Dvorkin's international network-the problem of escalating natural disasters could already have been addressed. Instead, the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly.Dr. Cholakian concludes his address with a scientifically grounded forecast of escalating seismic activity, accompanied by a modeled analysis of the potential consequences-specifically, what major metropolitan areas could face in the event of earthquakes measuring magnitude 7.0 and above. For a detailed overview of these scientific projections and possible future scenarios, watch Egon Cholakian's video message titled " Catastrophic Earthquakes Are Inevitable for Humanity ."About Dr. A. Egon CholakianEgon Cholakian is a National Security Expert, and a Registered Federal Lobbyist with the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and White House, and a Registered Foreign Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division. He currently serves as the Capitol Hill representative of ALLATRA.About the ALLATRA International Public MovementALLATRA International Public Movement is an independent volunteer organization that conducts large-scale geodynamics, and environmental transformation research. The movement is known for its interdisciplinary approach to studying natural disasters and its active role in promoting international scientific cooperation. Additionally, ALLATRA focuses on protecting and preserving human rights and freedoms.For more information, please visit www.EgonReport.org CONTACT:Jane ParkerPublic Relations info@ esscglobal.com SOURCE: Egon LLC
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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Angel Media Co., a leading force in out-of-home advertising, is proud to announce the newest addition to its exclusive portfolio: a high-impact, hand-painted wallscape located in the heart of Manhattan's Meatpacking District. Positioned on the iconic Soho House building on West 13th Street between 9th Avenue and Washington Street, this unit offers an unparalleled branding opportunity in one of New York City's most dynamic and influential neighborhoods.This premium wallscape is more than just advertising - it's cultural placement. The Meatpacking District is a global destination known for its fashion-forward crowd, luxury retail, buzzing nightlife, and creative energy. This location puts brands front and center in a high-foot-traffic corridor surrounded by art galleries, tech headquarters, and trendsetting locals and tourists alike.Visible from multiple angles and immersed in one of the city's most photogenic streetscapes, the unit offers powerful visual storytelling potential. And with hand-painted creative, campaigns can tap into a medium that's both nostalgic and incredibly modern - elevating the message into a work of public art."Securing this location is a milestone for Angel Media and a huge opportunity for our brand partners," said Ralph Tawil, partner at Angel Media. "It's a rare moment when location, audience, and authenticity intersect - and this wallscape offers exactly that." The surrounding area features a curated lineup of some of the world's most recognized and aspirational brands, including Apple, Hermes, Loro Piana, Rolex, Maje, Soho House, Brunello Cucinelli, and Chez Margaux. Whether activating a fashion launch, luxury campaign or cultural moment, this wallscape places your brand in the company of icons.This latest addition reinforces Angel Media's commitment to delivering high-profile, high-impact advertising real estate in the most coveted corners of New York City. With over 350 units across NYC, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia, Angel Media continues to shape the future of out-of-home through elevated design, strategic placements, and meaningful visibility.For media kits, pricing or availability, please contactsayhello@ angelmediaco.comand Contact InformationRalph Tawilralph@ angelgroupny.com 2128429300SOURCE: Angel Media Co.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 /Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:ASM)(NYSE American:ASM)(FSE:GV6) a long-standing silver producer in Mexico, announces its audited consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2025. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise."Avino started off 2025 the same way we ended 2024, achieving another quarter of record financial results and strong operational execution," said David Wolfin, President and CEO. "The Company posted record earnings and continues to demonstrate strength across key financial metrics, as our operating margins further strengthened our debt-free balance sheet with record highs in working capital. Our operating costs decreased for another consecutive quarter and further increased margins, where we delivered record quarterly earnings. Looking forward to growth, I am thrilled with the development progress at La Preciosa, as we continue to work towards being a multi-asset producer. I would like to thank our operations team for continuing to deliver positive cost improvements, your dedication to the entire operation does not go unnoticed. With strong operational performance, a healthy cash position, and record working capital of over $31 million, Avino is well-positioned to capitalize on positive market trends in the precious metals sector. We remain disciplined and committed to our organic growth strategy. Backed by our financial strength, management is actively exploring opportunities to accelerate our expansion plans. We are focused and on track to deliver sustainable growth and long-term value for all stakeholders and shareholders.First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights (compared to Q1 2024)Record Quarterly Net Income: Net income after taxes was $5.6 million, or $0.04 per share, a meaningful increase from $0.6 million, or $0.00 per share. Net income was also 10% higher than the $5.1 million realized in Q4 2024.Robust Revenues: Avino realized revenues of $18.8 revenue, representing a 52% increase from Q1 2024, primarily as a result of increased metal prices and consistent production. At the end of the quarter, there was $5.6 million in concentrate sales receivable, that was settled subsequent to quarter end.Record Quarterly Gross Profit: Gross profit, or mine operating income, was $10.6 million and represented an increase of 352%. The significant improvement was a result of meaningful unit cost reductions and currency movements between the US dollar and Mexican Peso and builds off the $10.5 million generated in Q4 2024.Strong EBITDA and Adjusted Earnings: The Company realized earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $9.7 million, up 466% and 7%, from Q1 2024 and Q4 2024, respectively. Adjusted earnings3 was $9.8 million, or $0.07 per share, an increase of 374% from Q1 2024 and a decrease of 2% from Q4 2024.Improved Costs per Ounce Metrics: Cash costs per silver equivalent payable ounce sold1,2,3 was $12.62, and all-in sustaining cash costs per silver equivalent payable ounce sold1,2,3 was $20.08, a reduction of 15% and 1%, respectively.Increased Working Capital from Cash Flow Prior to Working Capital Movements: The Company's balance sheet continued to strengthen with working capital1 increasing to $31.3 million, up $6.1 million, or 24% from $25.2 million at the end of 2024, as a result of another quarter of cash generation. Cash provided by operating activities of $0.8 million was impacted by working capital movements, with $6.6 million in working capital movements, primarily in increases to amounts receivable from sales, concentrate and stockpile inventory, as well as income tax payments in Mexico during the quarter. Prior to working capital movements, cash generated from operating activities was $7.4 million, or $0.05 per share.Financial HighlightsOperating Highlights and Overview1st Quarter Operating Highlights (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.La Preciosa UpdateSignificant 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 started underground development work at La Preciosa after receiving all required permits for mining operations.2025 Capital ExpendituresCapital expenditures, including lease and loan payments on equipment, in Q1 2025 were $2.3 million, compared to $2.5 million in 2024, on track for our capital expenditure guidance previously disclosed in our 2025 outlook news release.ESG InitiativesAvino follows the ESG Standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were developed as a call to action by all countries developed and developing in a global partnership.We have two dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) teams-one at each of our mine sites-ensuring that community engagement and social initiatives are tailored to the unique needs of each region. This localized approach allows each team to build strong relationships with local stakeholders, r
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Nicholas Sgalitzer: Pioneering the Future of Technology and InnovationBIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / In the fast-paced world of technology, where innovation and progress occur at an astonishing rate, one name continues to rise above the rest: Nicholas Sgalitzer. A visionary and a true expert in his field, Nick has consistently led the charge in creating groundbreaking solutions that have transformed industries and improved the way people interact with technology.As a technology expert, Nicholas has earned a reputation for his deep knowledge, unparalleled skill set, and relentless drive to push the boundaries of what's possible. His career is a testament to the power of innovation, and his recent ventures into new realms of tech have solidified his status as a leading figure in the industry.Early Beginnings: Laying the Foundation for a Bright Future Nicholas Sgalitzer's journey into the tech world began at an early age, where his natural curiosity about how things worked led him to explore programming, coding, and the intricacies of digital systems. As a child growing up in Birmingham, Nick Sgalitzer would often be found disassembling gadgets and toys to understand their inner workings. This early fascination would become the cornerstone of a career that would see him revolutionize technology solutions.After completing his studies in Computer Science at the University of Alabama, where he graduated with honors, Nicholas wasted no time making his mark in the tech industry. His first role as a software engineer at a leading technology firm allowed him to put his knowledge into practice, and it didn't take long for his talents to be recognized. Within just a few years, Nick had risen through the ranks to become one of the company's most sought-after tech consultants.Breakthrough Achievements: Disrupting the Tech Landscape In 2023, Nicholas Sgalitzer took a bold step forward by founding his own tech startup, Sgalitzer Technologies. His vision for the company was clear: to create innovative solutions that would not only meet the needs of businesses but also drive the industry forward. Under Nick's leadership, Sgalitzer Technologies developed a cutting-edge artificial intelligence platform that would go on to become one of the most widely used tools for data analytics and machine learning.The success of Sgalitzer Technologies was immediate. Companies across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and e-commerce, began adopting the platform to streamline their operations, predict market trends, and improve customer engagement. Nick's ability to create intuitive, user-friendly software solutions quickly garnered the attention of investors, and within a year of its launch, Sgalitzer Technologies secured a series of high-profile partnerships with global industry leaders.A Champion of Innovation: Nicholas Sgalitzer's Vision for the Future As a thought leader in the technology space, Nick is often called upon to share his insights at industry conferences, seminars, and workshops. His unique approach to problem-solving, combined with his deep understanding of emerging technologies, has made him a sought-after speaker and advisor. Whether discussing the potential of quantum computing, the rise of blockchain technology, or the future of artificial intelligence, Nicholas Sgalitzer is always at the forefront of innovation."I believe technology is the key to solving many of the world's most pressing challenges," said Nicholas Sgalitzer during a recent keynote address at the Global Tech Summit. "From healthcare to education to climate change, the possibilities are endless. My goal is to ensure that we use these technologies responsibly and creatively to improve lives and make a lasting impact." Nick's commitment to innovation extends beyond just his professional endeavors. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of tech entrepreneurs, providing guidance and support to aspiring engineers and developers. Through various mentorship programs, he has helped countless young professionals navigate the complexities of the tech world, empowering them to succeed in a fast-evolving industry.A Recognized Leader: Awards and Accolades As a result of his outstanding contributions to the technology industry, Nicholas Sgalitzer has received numerous accolades and awards over the years. He was recently named one of the "Top 40 Under 40" in Technology by Tech Innovators Magazine, an honor given to young leaders who have made significant contributions to the advancement of technology. Additionally, Sgalitzer was awarded the "Tech Entrepreneur of the Year" title at the Global Innovation Awards, recognizing his ability to turn visionary ideas into impactful, scalable solutions."I'm honored to receive these accolades, but for me, the real reward comes from knowing that the work we're doing is making a positive difference," Nick said in a statement following his award win. "It's not just about building great products; it's about creating something that adds value to people's lives and helps businesses thrive." Looking Ahead: Nicholas Sgalitzer's Next Big Move With Sgalitzer Technologies continuing to expand globally, Nicholas Sgalitzer shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, his next big move could change the landscape of the tech industry once again. As part of his ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology, Nick is currently leading the development of a next-generation virtual reality platform that promises to revolutionize how businesses interact with customers and clients.The new platform, which is set to launch later this year, will integrate artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and immersive VR technologies to create an entirely new customer experience. Early prototypes have shown promising results, with companies in sectors such as real estate, retail, and education already expressing interest in using the platform to enhance their operations."I'm incredibly excited about the potential of this new platform," Nick explained. "It's all about providing businesses with the tools they need to engage with customers in more meaningful ways. Virtual reality is the future, and I believe this platform will help businesses unlock new opportunities and capabilities." Conclusion: A Tech Visionary Who Continues to Inspire Nicholas Sgalitzer's journey from a curious young tech enthusiast to one of the industry's leading innovators is a remarkable story of vision, dedication, and perseverance. With each new project and venture, Nick continues to prove that he is not just a tech expert but a true visionary whose work will shape the future of technology for years to come.As his company grows%2
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GOTEBORG, SE / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Smart Eye (STO:SEYE)(OTC PINK:SMTEF)(FRA:SE9) - The following resolutions were passed at the Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") of Smart Eye Aktiebolag (publ) ("Smart Eye" or the "Company") held today on 13 May 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden.Adoption of Income Statement and Balance Sheet for the Financial Year 2024 and Discharge from Liability The AGM adopted the income statements and balance sheets for the Company and the Group for 2024. The members of the Board of Directors and the CEO were discharged from liability for the financial year 2024.Allocation of Profits The AGM resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' proposal, that no dividend shall be paid for 2024 and that the Company's available earnings shall be carried forward.Election of Board Members, Auditors, Fees to the Board of Directors and Auditors The AGM resolved, in accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal, that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be seven without deputies and that the number of auditors shall be one registered accounting firm.In accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal, the AGM re-elected the Board members Anders Jofelt, Lars Olofsson, Mats Krantz, Cecilia Wachtmeister and Magnus Jonsson and elected Maria Hedengren and Andreas Anyuru as new members of the Board of Directors. All elections for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. Anders Jofelt was re-elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The registered audit firm Ohrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB was elected as auditor of the Company, and it was noted that Johan Malmqvist will be auditor-in-charge, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting.The AGM further resolved, in accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal and for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, that remuneration to the Board of Directors shall be paid with SEK 700,000 to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, SEK 450,000 to the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors and SEK 310,000 to each of the other members of the Board of Directors. Remuneration is not paid to Board members employed by the group. Further, remuneration shall be paid with SEK 155,000 to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, SEK 65,000 to each of the other members of the Audit Committee, SEK 63,000 to the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and SEK 42,000 to the other member of the Remuneration Committee. The AGM further resolved that the remuneration to the auditor shall be paid in accordance with approved statement of costs.Determination of principles for the appointment of the members of the Nomination Committee The AGM resolved, in accordance with the Nomination Committee's proposal, that the principles for the appointment of the members of the Nomination Committee shall remain unchanged.Adoption of a long-term incentive programme The AGM resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' proposal, to adopt a long-term incentive programme in the form of performance-based share options (Share Option Programme 2025) directed to employees within the Smart Eye group. The rationale behind the incentive programme is, among other things, to contribute to higher motivation and commitment among the employees, as well as strengthening the ties between the employees and the Company.The Share Option Programme 2025 is proposed to comprise of the CEO, senior executives, key individuals and other employees, meaning that not more than approximately 200 employees within the Smart Eye group will be able to participate. Under the Share Option Programme 2025, participants are given the opportunity to receive shares free of charge, so called performance shares, provided that certain conditions are met and that one of the three performance goals specified in the program is achieved in whole or in part. Vesting of rights occurs during the period from July 15, 2025, to July 15, 2028.The maximum number of performance shares will amount to 652,000, whereby 547,000 shares shall be allotted to participants and 105,000 shares shall be used by the Company to cover social security contributions associated with the programme. In order to enable the incentive programme, the AGM also resolved on an issue of not more than 652,000 warrants directed to the Company, as a result of which the Company's share capital may increase by a maximum of SEK 65,200.Resolution to carry out a directed issue of warrants to Smart Eye and approval of subsequent transfer of warrants The AGM resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' proposal, on a directed issue of warrants to the Company totalling 1,770,800 warrants. As a result of the issue, the Company's share capital may increase by a maximum of SEK 177,080. The rationale for the deviation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights is to align the legal and administrative procedure for execution of the Share Option Programmes adopted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively, with the procedure established for the proposed Share Option Programme 2025. The resolution will result in previous issues of warrants resolved to facilitate the Share Option Programs 2022, 2023, and 2024 losing their purpose and shall not be exercised. Thus, the previous aggregated dilution pursuant to the already issued warrants will remain unchanged.Authorisation for the Board of Directors to resolve on new share issues The AGM resolved, in accordance with the Board of Directors' proposal, to authorise the Board of Directors, on one or several occasions and with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, to resolve on new share issues. The authorisation may be utilised for new issues of shares, which may be made with provisions regarding contribution in cash, in kind or through set-off corresponding to not more than 10 per cent of the registered share capital in the Company at the time of the issue resolution. The subscription price shall be determined on market terms and conditions. However, in order to enable delivery of shares in connection with a cash issue as described above, this may, if the Board of Directors deems it appropriate, be made at a subscription price corresponding to the quota value of the shares, whereby the issue is directed to an issuing agent that acts as a settlement bank for investors. Deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights shall be possible in connection with future investments in the form of acquisitions of operations, companies, shares in companies or otherwise for the Company's continued expansion. If the Board of Directors resolves on an issue with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, the rational
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 05:53:07

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Doha, Qatar, May 12, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - A business delegation led by Mr John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) visited Doha and the second largest city in Qatar Lusail on 10-12 May. This visit includes representatives from mainland enterprises for the first time with the aim to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.35 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and announcements were facilitated in trade and investment promotion, finance, transport and logistics, and innovation and technology, further strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and the mainland, and facilitating mainland companies to partner with Hong Kong businesses to "go out" and explore opportunities in the Middle East and beyond. They also paved the way for deeper collaboration between Hong Kong, the mainland, Qatar and the broader Middle Eastern market.The delegation, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), comprises over 50 business leaders from Hong Kong and enterprise representatives from seven mainland provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Hubei, covering a range of sectors including finance, professional services, construction and real estate, transport and logistics, green development, innovation and technology (I&T), energy and manufacturing.The delegation had meetings with business chambers, including Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), and government bodies, including Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB). In these meetings, the delegates explored opportunities to enhance trade and investment and promoted Hong Kong's advantages and opportunities.The delegates also conducted a site visit to Lusail City to observe how I&T integrates with urban planning and infrastructure and to explore collaboration opportunities for Hong Kong's smart city solution providers. As the second largest city in Qatar, Lusail City is becoming one of the country's flagship smart cities due to its ICT-focused infrastructure facilities, which are under construction and nearing completion.During the visit to the Qatar Foundation and its subsidiaries, the delegates discussed potential partnerships, technology transfer opportunities, and programmes for supporting tech start-ups with entities such as the Qatar National Research Fund, Qatar Science & Technology Park, and Education City. The visit provided insights into how Hong Kong's technological advancements might align with Qatar's strategic focus areas.Additionally, the delegation visited the National Museum of Qatar to gain a deeper understanding of Qatar's history and cultural vision.To foster collaboration, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organised a high-level business luncheon, which was attended by some 300 business leaders and key officials.At the luncheon on 12 May, Mr Lee remarked: "As both our economies diversify, co-operation becomes our greatest multiplier. Uniting Qatar's transformative drive, Mainland China's expertise, and Hong Kong's connectivity will help us realise a future of diverse, and boundless, opportunities. Let's work together. Let's partner for success." "To bring Hong Kong and Qatar together, I am pleased to announce that with immediate effect, holders of the Hong Kong SAR passport can enjoy visa-free entry into Qatar, for 30 days at a time. Nationals of Qatar can also visit Hong Kong visa-free. These initiatives will make it that much easier to create partnerships, do business and enjoy life together,"Mr Lee added.Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: "In 2024, Qatar was Hong Kong's 3rd largest trading partner in the Middle East. This accounted for 6.6% of Hong Kong's total trade with the region. There is a lot of room for growth."Hong Kong is the most international city in the ever-growing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We are also the gateway to the vast Mainland China market. Our proximity to Asian economies and half the world's population boosts our role as a superconnector and super value-adder linking China with the world. Hong Kong is your access point to Mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond," he added.Photo download: https://bit.ly/44u5NG1 Read more: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/99654/
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Electric Royalties Ltd. (TSXV:ELEC)(OTCQB:ELECF) ("Electric Royalties" or the "Company") notes that the recent export restrictions imposed by China on critical minerals have sparked the very global concerns regarding supply chain vulnerabilities that the Company anticipated since its founding in 2020, when it first prioritized creation or acquisition of royalties on projects in safer jurisdictions.China is the world's largest producer of germanium, gallium and antimony, which have niche but vital roles in clean energy, chip-making and defense1. Since 2023, Beijing has gradually added the minerals to its export controls list. In December 2024, it banned exports to the U.S. and announced further export controls for graphite2."China's decision to curb exports of these critical minerals underscores the urgency of reducing reliance on a single dominant supplier, no matter which particular mineral," said Brendan Yurik, CEO of Electric Royalties. "Recent measures by the U.S. government, including the White House's executive order to expedite domestic critical mineral projects3, highlight the growing importance of North American mineral development." Mr. Yurik is referring to initiatives outlined in President Trump's Executive Order 14272, titled "Ensuring National Security and Economic Resilience through Section 232 Actions on Processed Critical Minerals and Derivative Products" that not only prioritize domestic mining and processing projects but also reinforce the strategic value of critical minerals essential for transportation, energy, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, and national security4.Mr. Yurik further commented: "We believe our Company's investments are well-positioned to capitalize on this evolving landscape. Our royalty portfolio leverages North America's rich mineral resources that are being developed to contribute to a secure and sustainable supply chain for critical minerals."For example, the presence of germanium and gallium at the Middle Tennessee Zinc Mine in Tennessee, U.S., positions it to be a potential supplier of these minerals when it re-commences production. Additionally, our graphite royalty assets in Canada, Australia, and Madagascar not only mitigate risks associated with geopolitical tensions but also align with global efforts to develop alternative sources of energy that use graphite heavily."As this energy transition continues around the world, we believe the demand for critical minerals will continue to rise. Our strategy of focusing on projects located in North America and other safe jurisdictions has better positioned several of our assets to receive support from both investors and governments as they prioritize development and production." About Electric Royalties Ltd.Electric Royalties is a royalty company established to take advantage of the demand for a wide range of commodities (lithium, vanadium, manganese, tin, graphite, cobalt, nickel, zinc and copper) that will benefit from the drive toward electrification of a variety of consumer products: cars, rechargeable batteries, large scale energy storage, renewable energy generation and other applications.Electric vehicle sales, battery production capacity and renewable energy generation are slated to increase significantly over the next several years and with it, the demand for these targeted commodities. This creates a unique opportunity to invest in and acquire royalties over the mines and projects that will supply the materials needed to fuel the electric revolution.Electric Royalties has a growing portfolio of 43 royalties in lithium, vanadium, manganese, tin, graphite, cobalt, nickel, zinc and copper across the world. The Company is focused predominantly on acquiring royalties on advanced stage and operating projects to build a diversified portfolio located in jurisdictions with low geopolitical risk, which offers investors exposure to the clean energy transition via the underlying commodities required to rebuild the global infrastructure over the next several decades toward a decarbonized global economy.Company ContactBrendan YurikCEO, Electric Royalties Ltd.Phone: (604) 3643540Email: Brendan.yurik@electricroyalties.comhttps://www.electricroyalties.com/ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor any other regulatory body or securities exchange platform, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Company InformationThis news release includes forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") with respect to the Company within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. This news release includes information regarding other companies and projects owned by such other companies in which the Company holds a royalty interest, based on previously disclosed public information disclosed by those companies and the Company is not responsible for the accuracy of that information, and that all information provided herein is subject to this Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Company Information. Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. This information represents predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Forward-looking information may relate to the Company's future outlook and anticipated events and may include statements regarding the financial results, future financial position, expected growth of cash flows, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, projected capital expenditures, taxes, plans, objectives, industry trends and growth opportunities of the Company and the projects in which it holds royalty interests.While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information available, they may prove to b
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Singleton Schreiber's Environmental Litigation Practice Continues to Lead on Climate Accountability NationwideDENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / In a major legal victory for climate accountability, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Boulder County and the City of Boulder can proceed with their climate accountability suit against Exxon Mobil and Colorado Suncor entities. The case, In re County Commissioners of Boulder County and City of Boulder v. Suncor Energy USA, Inc., et al., brings claims under Colorado common law against defendants Exxon Mobil Corporation, Suncor Energy USA, Inc., Suncor Energy Sales, Inc., and Suncor Energy Inc. seeking to recoup economic losses caused by these defendants' knowing contribution to alteration of the climate while concealing the dangers of their fossil fuel products.In a 5-2 decision, the Court rejected the defendants' arguments that federal law preempts these state law claims. The ruling affirms that Colorado courts have jurisdiction to hear cases seeking damages for local impacts caused by fossil fuel companies."Compensating the injured has been the purview of state common law since Colorado's founding," said Kevin Hannon, Partner at Singleton Schreiber. "The Colorado Supreme Court simply acknowledged that Colorado common law can apply to hold Exxon and the Suncor entities accountable." The Court's opinion held that federal common law was displaced by the Clean Air Act and that state law claims are not preempted by it. The Court also ruled that Boulder's lawsuit, which seeks damages rather than emissions limits or an injunction, does not conflict with federal law."The Court properly ruled that Colorado law is fully capable and appropriate to address climate harms occurring in Colorado. After over seven years, Boulder County and the City of Boulder can finally have their day in court," Hannon added.The Supreme Court's decision sends the case back to the trial court for further proceedings. The decision does not weigh the merits of the case but confirms that the state law claims are actionable under Colorado law.In addition to Kevin S. Hannon and Yohania T. Santana of Singleton Schreiber, LLP, the Boulder plaintiffs are represented by EarthRights International, the Law Office of Marco B. Simons, and the Law Offices of David Bookbinder."Our firm is built to take on polluters and fight for the health and safety of communities," said Gerald Singleton, Singleton Schreiber's Managing Partner. "This decision by the Colorado Supreme Court confirms what we've long argued: state courts have a critical role in addressing the damage caused by knowing alteration of the climate and environmental negligence." Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, environmental litigation, insurance bad faith, and sex abuse/trafficking. Over the last decade, the firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients who have been harmed and sought justice. The firm also has the largest fire litigation practice in the country, having represented over 30,000 victims of wildfire, most notably serving plaintiffs in litigation related to the 2025 Eaton and Hurst Fires, 2025 Moss Landing Battery Plant Fire, 2023 Maui wildfires, the Colorado Marshall wildfire, the Washington Gray wildfire, several California wildfires, and others.CONTACT:Firm Inquiries: info@ singletonschreiber.com Press Inquiries: Hannah Gallagher, hannah@ rebuttalpr.com SOURCE: Singleton Schreiber
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The upgrade of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in Iran is among the country's priorities, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said at a press conference held today at the Caspian Port Complex in the Bandar-e Anzali County district of Gilan Province, located in northern Iran, Trend reports.

According to her, the INSTC will contribute to the country's trade and economic development in various fields.

Mohajerani noted that it's important to develop the corridors passing through Iran, especially through the seas in the north and south of the country.

The foundation of the International North-South Transport Corridor was laid on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran, and India on September 12, 2000. In total, 13 countries have ratified the agreement, including Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Russia, Turkiye, etc.

The aim of setting up a corridor is to cut down the delivery time of cargo from India to Russia, along with Northern and Western Europe. The delivery time on the current route is dragging its feet at over six weeks; however, it's anticipated to be trimmed down to three weeks through the International North-South Transport Corridor.

To facilitate the integration of Azerbaijan Railways with the Iranian rail infrastructure within the designated corridor, the Qazvin-Rasht rail link, spanning 175 kilometers, was officially commissioned on March 6, 2019. The Rasht-Astara rail corridor is slated for development within the geopolitical confines of the Iranian territory.

The north-south corridor has 3 directions in the territory of Iran. Eastern direction: Turkmenistan and Central Asian countries; Middle direction: other countries across the Caspian Sea; Western direction: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Eastern European countries.

On May 17, 2023, Russia and Iran signed an agreement to build the Rasht-Astara railroad line in Gilan Province, northern Iran. The 163-kilometer-long Rasht-Astara railway line will house nine stations. The completion of this railroad will enhance the North-South international corridor and connect Iran's railroad network to the Caucasus countries, Russia, and Northern European countries. Under the agreement, the Russian side is to spend 1.6 billion euros on the construction of this railroad. This railroad is planned to be built and completed within 48 months.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 18:00:28

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Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United StatesVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Commerce Resources Corp. ("Commerce" or the "Company") (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated April 9, 2025, the Company has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of secured convertible notes (the "Notes") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$2,150,000 (the "Offering").The Notes accrue interest at a rate of 20.0% per annum, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in an applicable interest period and on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be (the "Interest") and mature on May 12, 2027 (the "Maturity Date"). Unless converted or redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes (the "Principal Amount") will be owing and accrued Interest due and payable at the Maturity Date. As previously disclosed, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering as interim funding to be used for the continuation of studies for the development of the Ashram Project and for working capital while the Company's proposed transaction (the "Transaction")with Mont Royal Resources Limited, as announced in the news release dated April 8, 2025, is completed.If the Transaction occurs within 12 months from the date of issuance of the Notes: (i) the Principal Amount will automatically convert into common shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") at the implied price per Share at which equity securities of the Company or of another issuer are issued under a financing undertaken in connection with the Transaction (the "Automatic Conversion Price"), provided that the Automatic Conversion Price is equal to or greater than C$0.06 (being Commerce's closing share price on April 8, 2025); and (ii) the amount representing the aggregate Interest that would be accrued on the Principal Amount of the Notes for the entire 12-month period beginning on the date of issuance will be accrued but unpaid and shall convert into Shares in accordance with the Interest Rules (as defined below) (the "Additional Interest Payment"). For greater certainty, the Additional Interest Payment will only be applicable in the event of an automatic conversion.In the event the Transaction is not completed within 12 months from the date of issuance, the holders of the Notes may, at its sole discretion, elect to convert all of the Principal Amount on the Maturity Date at the price of C$0.12 per Share (the "Optional Conversion Price") or, at a conversion price lower than the Optional Conversion Price in the event the Company undertakes an equity financing lower than the Optional Conversion Price, subject to a minimum conversion price of C$0.10 (rather than C$0.06 as disclosed in the news release dated April 9, 2025) and the prior approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"). If the Transaction does not proceed within 12 months of the date of issuance of the Notes, the holders of the Notes will also have a pre-emptive right to participate in any equity financing of the Company up to the aggregate amount of the Principal Amount and Interest outstanding.The number and terms of any Shares issued in payment of any accrued Interest on the Principal Amount, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payments will be based upon a price per Share that is not less than the closing price of the Shares listed for trading on the TSX-V at the time such accrued Interest, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payment becomes payable and any such payment of accrued Interest, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payment in Shares shall be subject to prior TSX-V acceptance, with the application for the TSX-V acceptance to be made by the Company at the time such accrued Interest, Additional Interest Payment and/or other type of interest payment becomes payable (the "Interest Rules").The Company may redeem the Notes at any time prior to the Maturity Date at a price equal to the aggregate amount of the Principal Amount owing and accrued Interest outstanding and a cash amount equal to the sum of half of all payments of interest that would be due through the Maturity Date after redemption.The Notes are secured under a general security agreement and rank pari-passu as between themselves and all holders of Notes have entered into an interlender agreement in connection therewith. The Notes and the underlying Shares issuable thereunder, are subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months plus one (1) day following the closing of the Offering.In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to Alpha Node Capital Pty Ltd. (the "Finder") a cash finder's fee in the amount of $66,000, representing 6% of $1.1 million placed by the Finder. The Company also issued 1,100,000 finder's warrants (the "Finder Warrants") attributable to the $1.1 million placed by the Finder. Each Finder Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share of the Company until May 12, 2028, at an exercise price of $0.075 per Share. All Shares and Finder's Warrants issued in relation to these finder's fees are subject to a hold period expiring four (4) months plus one (1) day following the closing of the Offering.Closing of the Offering is subject to final acceptance by the TSX-V.This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or to any "U.S. Person" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")) of any equity or other securities of the Company. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws or an applicable exemption therefrom. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.About Commerce Resources Corp.Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located within their Eldor Property, in northern Quebec, Canada. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (more than 30 - 45% TREO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (more than 60 - 75%) in line with active global produ
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New Leadership Team Signals Next Phase of Growth, Innovation and Customer-Centric EngagementLOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Community , the leading conversational engagement platform that uses text messaging to build deeper, more meaningful relationships between brands, creators, organizations, and their audiences while driving lasting loyalty, today announced the appointment of six key executives to its leadership team. On the heels of announcing Jeremy Schultz as CEO in late 2024, these strategic appointments support Community's continued focus on strengthening product innovation, deepening customer relationships and accelerating the company's growth in its next phase of development.New leadership appointments include:Josh Rosenheck, Chief Strategy Officer. A Community co-founder, Josh will transition to this strategic role where he'll shape long-term product innovation and corporate development while supporting the company's commercial strategy.Tim King, Chief Financial and Operating Officer. A hands-on and collaborative leader, Tim brings deep expertise across finance, B2B revenue operations, strategy, and M&A. He's committed to helping Community drive growth, streamline execution, and scale sustainably.Tim Fimmers, Chief Technology Officer. A proven SaaS leader with experience delivering technical innovation at scale. Tim will guide Community's engineering teams to build and evolve features that help brands personalize engagement effortlessly.Derek Skaletsky, Chief Product Officer. With deep product and data expertise, Derek will lead product strategy and innovation-driving Community's mission to spark meaningful interactions and enable hyper-personalized messaging that drives action.Michelle Genser, Chief Marketing Officer. Most recently the CMO at Evotix, Michelle brings over two decades of experience in scaling SaaS companies. She will lead Community's brand and marketing efforts as the company expands its market leadership.Chad Greeley, Chief Revenue Officer. Chad offers decades of revenue functions and sales experience, and will be focused on driving sustainable growth through innovative go-to-market strategies. He is already hard at work accelerating acquisition, retention, and lifetime customer value, while collaborating across teams to strengthen the customer experience.These leadership appointments come at a time when Community is focused on expanding its capabilities to help brands better understand and engage their audiences. By allowing customers to leverage zero- and first-party data, Community eliminates the need for customers to guess what their audience wants, while ensuring direct access to their fan base. Messages are delivered directly to people's phones, resulting in significantly higher open and engagement rates-up to 500% greater than traditional marketing platforms."Today's consumers are tired of impersonal marketing. They want easy and authentic interactions that feel natural and relevant," said Jeremy Schultz, CEO of Community. "Community stands out against a commoditized text messaging industry with its ability to turn texting into a powerful dialogue engine. The platform makes it simple for brands to communicate with their audience, not just at them, to build stronger, more meaningful connections to drive audience engagement." "Our new leadership team brings the vision and expertise needed to help expand our impact," said Robert Wolf, Chairman of Community's Board. "We're proud to build an innovative platform where creators and brands don't have to choose between scale and personalization-they can have both, with ease. With Community, conversational engagement isn't a chore. It's an opportunity to build lasting connections that inspire action." About CommunityCommunity is the leading two-way customer engagement platform that activates audiences with unmatched conversational engagement delivered via text messages. It connects businesses, brands, public figures, and creators with their audiences at scale - building trust, capturing insights, and increasing lifetime customer value. Transforming SMS from a transactional tool into a relationship-building channel, Community enables high-intent engagement through meaningful conversations that inspire action. The platform offers powerful segmentation capabilities to deliver personalized, meaningful messages to key audiences, giving brands the ability to engage authentically and free from the constraints of algorithms and disinformation.Community is led by Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Schultz, who joined in November 2024. The company was founded in 2019 by Guy Oseary, Ashton Kutcher, Josh Rosenheck, and Matthew Peltier. In 2022, Robert Wolf joined as Community's Chairman.For media inquiries, please contact:Dana TrismenPR Representative, Communitycommunity@ unshakablemarketinggroup.com SOURCE: Community.com
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NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilJuly 8, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE:CODI), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 1, 2024 and May 7, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Compass and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-codi/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJuly 8, 2025 .About the LawsuitCompass and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 7, 2025, the Company issued a press release entitled "Compass Diversified Discloses Non-Reliance on Financial Statements for Fiscal 2024 Amid an Ongoing Internal Investigation into its Subsidiary, Lugano Holding, Inc.," disclosing that "the Audit Committee of CODI's Board has concluded that the previously issued financial statements for 2024 require restatement and should no longer be relied upon" and that "[e]ffective May 7, 2025, Lugano's founder and CEO, Moti Ferder, resigned from all of his positions at Lugano and will not receive any severance compensation." The Company further disclosed that "[t]he Audit Committee of CODI's Board of Directors promptly launched an investigation after CODI's senior leadership was made aware of concerns about how Lugano was potentially financing inventory" and that "[t]he investigation . . . is ongoing but has preliminarily identified irregularities in Lugano's non-CODI financing, accounting, and inventory practices." On this news, the price of Compass' shares plummeted approximately 62%, from $17.25 per share on May 7, 2025, to $6.55 per share on May 8, 2025.The case is Matthews v. Compass Group Diversified Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-981.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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The partnership will lead to enhanced shipping efficiencies and faster order processing.SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / ShipHawk, a leading warehouse and fulfillment management solution, announced that Crumbl, the fan-favorite gourmet cookie and dessert company, has selected ShipHawk WMS and Advanced Shipping to streamline fulfillment operations by making shipping fast, providing accurate shipping quotes, and automating order release management, lot and expiration date management, picking, and packing optimization. ShipHawk logo ShipHawk logoCrumbl, known for its rotating flavors of cookies and iconic pink box, began in 2017 when co-founders and cousins Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley teamed up to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Today, the business has 1,000+ locations, franchisees across the United States, and has expanded internationally. With that growth comes increasing fulfillment demand for ingredient supply chains, franchisee operations, and eCommerce merchandise orders. Powered by ShipHawk WMS and TMS, the company will be able to keep up with order demand, ensuring ingredients and baking tools are received, picked, packed, and shipped correctly, and manual fulfillment processes are a challenge of the past."Partnering with ShipHawk will not only help speed up Crumbl's eCommerce orders from its two warehouses, it will optimize our freight rates, increase warehouse productivity, benchmark freight among other suppliers but most importantly, it will support our franchisee business owners by providing access to accurate shipping rate quotes and faster shipping," said Katie Anthony, Senior Director of Supply Chain. "These solutions offer a great opportunity for us to better equip franchisees with shipping options and ensure every Crumbl location has the ingredients they need to provide our iconic cookies and desserts to our customers." "As businesses grow and experience increased demand, many struggle to scale without the right tools in place," said Jeremy Bodenhamer, CEO and Co-Founder of ShipHawk. "ShipHawk's fulfillment management solutions offer those tools, giving businesses the ability to streamline warehouse and shipping operations by increasing the visibility required to uncover inefficiencies, identify opportunities to reduce fulfillment costs, and increase throughput. We're very excited to work with Crumbl and support their growth." ShipHawk provides an all-in-one fulfillment solution, giving parcel, LTL, and full-truckload shippers access to the same tools and efficiencies used by the largest companies in the world. ShipHawk customers come looking for solutions to automate the entire fulfillment process - from the moment items are received to when they're picked, packed, and shipped - resulting in measurable efficiency gains, improved inventory accuracy, reduced warehouse travel time, and reduced costs while increasing order throughput.About Crumbl:Crumbl is a popular dessert franchise with a mission to bring friends and family together over the best desserts in the world. Crumbl was founded in 2017 in Logan, Utah, by Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley. In just eight years, Crumbl has grown from a humble cookie shop to the fastest-growing dessert chain in the US, with over 1,000 locations across all 50 states, plus Canada and Puerto Rico. The rotating menu offers new flavors every week, while regularly bringing back crowd favorites and unique original recipes, all served in Crumbl's iconic Pink Box. Don't miss the weekly menu drops posted every Sunday at 6 pm MST on Crumbl's social media accounts. Visit Crumbl online at crumblcookies.com , on social media (@crumblcookies and @ crumbl.ca) , or at any of the nationwide locations.About ShipHawkHeadquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif.,ShipHawkis a fulfillment management solution focused on giving businesses access to the same tools and efficiencies used by the largest companies in the world. ShipHawk works with high-volume shippers using an ERP. Our solutions include a warehouse management system (WMS), advanced shipping, in-cart rating, freight and parcel audit, and a handheld dimensioner. In addition to providing fulfillment solutions, we provide skilled industry expertise to dramatically improve your operations and outcomes to save time, decrease costs, and improve labor complexities. To learn more about ShipHawk, please visitwww.shiphawk.com Contact InformationClaire Eastburn Senior Product Marketing Managerpr@ shiphawk.com SOURCE: ShipHawk
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 21:31:34

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Surgeon-Turned-Philanthropist Calls for Action in Supporting Underserved Communities WorldwideORANGE COUNTY, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / In a recent feature interview titled "Dr. Harrell E. Robinson: From Alabama Roots to Global Health Leader", physician, humanitarian, and CEO Dr. Harrell E. Robinson is calling for increased awareness and support for healthcare access in underserved regions around the world. Drawing from his decades of medical practice and international outreach, Dr. Robinson is urging individuals to take initiative in contributing to health equity globally."We can't keep waiting for big systems to fix broken ones," Dr. Robinson said in the interview. "Each of us has the power to start small and help someone who has nothing." Dr. Robinson's passion stems from firsthand experience. During his medical residency, he traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, and the Cambodian refugee camps, where he performed surgeries in field conditions for patients without any access to care. "I saw things I couldn't ignore," he recalled. "That trip changed my life." That experience led to the founding of Global Healing Inc., his nonprofit focused on building hospitals and delivering sustainable healthcare services in communities like Laos, the Philippines, and across parts of Africa, Mexico, and the rural U.S. Through this work, he's supported the Mayne Tribe in the Philippines for over a decade, providing food, clothing, and shelter.According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of the world's population lacks access to essential healthcare services. In low-income countries, the average doctor-to-patient ratio is less than 1 per 1,000 people, compared to more than 2.6 per 1,000 in the United States. "That's not just a gap-it's a crisis," Robinson emphasized.Dr. Robinson says the solution isn't just financial; it's personal."Anyone can help. You don't need to be a doctor. You can organize a clothing drive, donate basic supplies, or even help build a website for a rural clinic. There are a thousand ways to support people who've been left behind." In addition to his medical and humanitarian work, Dr. Robinson also leads ATR Law Group PLLC, a Phoenix-based immigration law firm, alongside his wife. His dual roles reflect a lifetime of blending purpose with strategy, something he believes everyone can emulate."You don't need to save the world in a day. But if we each take one step, the world will shift," he said. Dr.Harrell E. Robinsonencourages individuals, students, professionals, and community groups to learn about underserved areas and explore how their unique skills can support global health and humanitarian needs. Start by visitingwww.globalhealinginc.com , researching rural health disparities, or volunteering locally.About Dr. Harrell E. RobinsonDr. Robinson is a board-certified ENT surgeon, global health advocate, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Global Healing Inc. and CEO/CFO of ATR Law Group PLLC. His work focuses on health equity, hospital infrastructure, and long-term humanitarian strategy.To read the full interview, clickhere .Contact: info@ harrellrobinson.com SOURCE: Harrell E Robinson MD
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-14 00:08:08

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DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Firex21 Capital, a London-based fintech leader in global asset management, proudly announces its official expansion into the United States. The firm aims to transform how Americans invest by offering institutional-grade financial tools to individuals and small institutions-breaking down long-standing barriers in traditional finance.Founded in October 2020, Firex21 Capital has grown to serve over 100,000 investors globally, delivering stable financial growth and long-term wealth accumulation through its proprietary AstraQuant Intelligent Quantitative Trading System."We're entering the U.S. not just to compete-but to redefine what financial freedom can look like for everyone," said Oliver Hawthorne, co-founder of Firex21 Capital.Innovation at the Core: AstraQuant Trading SystemAt the heart of Firex21's approach is AstraQuant-an AI-powered system that integrates big data, machine learning, and high-frequency algorithmic trading to:Detect real-time market movementsExecute trades using predictive analyticsOffer personalized investment plansOptimize asset allocation under changing conditionsBy combining automation and data science, AstraQuant helps investors make faster, more informed, and more profitable decisions.Strategic U.S. Entry and Global CollaborationFirex21 Capital's U.S. market entry in 2025 marks a key step in the firm's global growth strategy. To support this move, the company is partnering with MavinEx Exchange of Australia, combining technical expertise and advisory strength to better serve American investors.The U.S. division will deliver localized services while maintaining the firm's global perspective-tailoring strategies to the unique financial goals and market realities of American clients.Financial Access for All: Breaking BarriersFirex21 Capital is committed to democratizing finance by:Offering ultra-low commission structuresProviding premium-level service regardless of investor asset sizeDelivering institutional-grade tools to retail investors and small-to-mid-size institutions"We're not just creating returns-we're creating access," said Hawthorne. "Fair finance should be a right, not a privilege." Commitment to Social Responsibility and SustainabilityIn addition to delivering market value, Firex21 Capital partners with U.S.-based nonprofits and foundations to support:Financial educationEnvironmental initiativesCommunity developmentThis reflects the firm's belief that finance should be a force for positive, long-term social change.The Firex21 Community: Education Meets EmpowermentFirex21 fosters investor growth through its global Firex21 Community-an education and strategy hub offering:Webinars hosted by co-founders Oliver Hawthorne and Theodore AshcroftReal-time market analysis and quant strategy breakdownsLive trade learning for hands-on investing experienceA collaborative environment to build skills and confidenceThe community ensures that every investor-regardless of experience-can understand and benefit from the AstraQuant system.Looking Ahead: A New Chapter in U.S. Wealth GrowthWith its expansion into the U.S., Firex21 Capital is poised to become a key player in American asset management. The firm is focused on:Delivering quantitative investment solutions to U.S. households and retirement investorsDriving fintech innovation for a rapidly evolving marketEnsuring fair, transparent, and sustainable access to global financial growthWhy Investors Choose Firex21 CapitalBreak Down Barriers - Ultra-low fees + elite service = financial equalityQuantitative Edge - Proprietary AI-driven AstraQuant system for smarter investingGlobal Vision, Local Execution - Customised strategies for U.S. investorsPurpose Beyond Profit - Commitment to sustainability and financial literacyReady to Unlock Your Financial Freedom?Join the thousands of investors already transforming their futures with Firex21 Capital.Media Contact:Firex21@ firex21.com 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202SOURCE: Firex21 Capital
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 17:45:14

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Formation Metals Inc. ("Formation" or the "Company") (CSE:FOMO), a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company, has issued this clarification press release at the request of CIRO.The Company has provided the following summary on the Project:Comprising 87 claims totaling ~4,400 ha within the Abitibi sub province of Northwestern Quebec, Formation's flagship N2 Gold Project ("N2") is an advanced gold project with a global historic resource of 877,000 ounces: 18.2 Mt grading 1.48 g/t Au (~810,000 oz Au) across four zones (A, East, RJ-East, and Central) 2,3and 243 Kt grading 7.82 g/t Au (~67,000 oz Au) across the RJ zone 2,4. There are six primary auriferous mineralized zones in total, each open for expansion along strike and at depth. Compilation and geophysical work by Balmoral Resources Ltd. (now Wallbridge Mining) from 2010 to 2018 generated numerous targets that have not yet been investigated with diamond drilling.Formation's maiden drill program will focus on:the "A" zone, a shallow, highly continuous, low-variability historic gold deposit with numerous intermittent and consecutive auriferous intervals (84% of historical drill holes intercepted Au up to 1.7 g/t over 35 m)2, of which only ~35% of strike has been drilled (>3.1 km open); andthe "RJ" zone, host to high-grade intercepts from historical drill holes as high as 51 g/t Au over 0.8 metres2, which was expanded by Agnico Eagle Mines in 2008 in the most recent drilling at the Property.Figure 1 - Property overview summarizing historical work completed at each of the six mineralized zones and their respective historical resource. Qualified personThe technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Babak Vakili Azar, P.Geo., an independent contractor and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Historical reports provided by the optionor were reviewed by the qualified person. The information provided has not been verified and is being treated as historic non-compliant intercepts.About Formation Metals Inc.Formation Metals Inc. is a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Formation's flagship asset is the N2 Gold Project, an advanced gold project with a global historic resource of 877,000 ounces (18.2 Mt grading 1.48 g/t Au (~810,000 oz Au) across four zones (A, East, RJ-East, and Central) 2,3and 243 Kt grading 7.82 g/t Au (~67,000 oz Au) across the RJ zone 2,4) and six mineralized zones, each open for expansion along strike and at depth including the "A" zone, of which only ~35% of strike has been drilled (>3.1 km open), and the "RJ" zone, host to historical high-grade intercepts as high as 51 gpt Au over 0.8 metres.FORMATION METALS INC.Deepak Varshney, CEO and DirectorFor more information, please call 778-899-1780, email info@ formationmetalsinc.com or visit www.formationmetalsinc.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Notes and References:Readers are cautioned that the geology of nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the geology of the Property.The above referenced resource estimates do not have a category, are considered historical in nature, and are based on prior data prepared by a previous property owner, and do not conform to current CIM categories.While the Company considers the estimates to be reliable, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current resources in accordance with current CIM categories and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as a current resource. A 0.5 g/t Au cut-off was used in the preparation of the historical estimates with a minimum 2.5 metre mining width.Significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the historical estimates can be classified as current resources. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resources, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company is not aware of any more recent estimates prepared for the N2 Property.Needham, B. (1994), 1993 Diamond Drill Report, Northway Joint Venture, Northway Property; Cypress Canada Inc.; 492 pages.Guy K. (1991), Exploration Summary May 1, 1990 to May 1, 1991 Vezza Joint Venture Northway Property; Total Energold; 227 pages.Forward-looking statements:This news release includes "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements respecting: the Company's uplisting to the OTCQB and the expected benefits and timing of same; the Company's plans for the Property and the expected timing and scope of the 2025 drilling program at the Property; the Company's view that timing is perfect for a near-surface multi-million-ounce deposit the Property; the Company's view that the Property has the potential for over three million ounces of gold and the 5,000-metre drilling program marking the beginning of the Company's pursuit of that goal. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on a number of estimates and/or assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain and volatile equity and capital markets, lack of available capital, actual results of exploration activities, environmental risks, future prices of base and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry.The Company is presently an exploration stage company. Exploration is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks, requires substantial expenditures, and may not result in the discovery of mineral deposits that can be mined profitably. Furthermore, the Company currently h
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 08:00:32

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Formation Metals Inc. ("Formation" or the "Company") (CSE:FOMO), a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company, is pleased to announce that its submission of Form 211 to FINRA has been cleared and the Company's shares now qualify for trading in the United States on the OTCQB Venture Market. The Company's shares will commence trading on the OTCQB in the coming days under the symbol "FOMTF".The OTCQB, operated by OTC Markets Group Inc., is recognized as a premier marketplace for emerging and growth-focused companies in the U.S. and globally. Companies listed on the OTCQB meet rigorous financial and reporting standards established by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, providing investors with enhanced transparency and reliable information. This upgrade will not only reinforce Formation's commitment to excellence but also enhances its visibility among a broader investor audience, bringing new confidence to those investing in its future.The uplisting of Formation's shares to the OTCQB is a key piece of Formation's strategy to bring global visibility to the Company as it strives to establish itself as a leader in the precious metals industry."Uplisting to the OTCQB will be a transformative step for Formation Metals" said CEO Deepak Varshney. "We are thrilled to be joining this respected market, which, along with our existing DTC eligibility, may provide new opportunities for visibility, liquidity, and engagement with both institutional and retail investors in the US market." Mr. Varshney continued: "With preparations for our fully funded 5,000 metre maiden drill program at N2 underway, the upcoming quarter will be a very busy one for Formation. Our maiden program will focus on building on the successes of our predecessors. The drilling discoveries made by Agnico-Eagle and Cypress after the initial historic resource estimate show the expansion potential at N2. With gold at nearly $3,300, almost 5 times the price in 2008 when Agnico last drilled the project, we believe that the timing is perfect for a near-surface multi-million-ounce deposit in a safe jurisdiction like Quebec. We see the potential for over three million ounces of gold at N2, and our maiden 5,000-metre drilling program will mark the beginning of Formation's pursuit of that goal." Project SummaryComprising 87 claims totaling ~4,400 ha within the Abitibi sub province of Northwestern Quebec, Formation's flagship N2 Gold Project ("N2") is an advanced gold project with a global historic resource of 877,000 ounces: 18.2 Mt grading 1.48 g/t Au (~810,000 oz Au) across four zones (A, East, RJ-East, and Central) 2,3and 243 Kt grading 7.82 g/t Au (~67,000 oz Au) across the RJ zone 2,4. There are six primary auriferous mineralized zones in total, each open for expansion along strike and at depth. Compilation and geophysical work by Balmoral Resources Ltd. (now Wallbridge Mining) from 2010 to 2018 generated numerous targets that have not yet been investigated with diamond drilling.Formation's maiden drill program will focus on:the "A" zone, a shallow, highly continuous, low-variability historic gold deposit with numerous intermittent and consecutive auriferous intervals (84% of historical drill holes intercepted Au up to 1.7 g/t over 35 m)2, of which only ~35% of strike has been drilled (>3.1 km open); andthe "RJ" zone, host to bonanza intercepts from historical drill holes as high as 51 g/t Au over 0.8 metres2, which was expanded by Agnico Eagle Mines in 2008 in the most recent drilling at the Property.Figure 1 - Property overview summarizing historical work completed at each of the six mineralized zones and their respective historical resource.Qualified personThe technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Babak Vakili Azar, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Historical reports provided by the optionor were reviewed by the qualified person. The information provided has not been verified and is being treated as historic non-compliant intercepts.About Formation Metals Inc.Formation Metals Inc. is a North American mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Formation's flagship asset is the N2 Gold Project, an advanced gold project with a global historic resource of 877,000 ounces and six mineralized zones, each open for expansion along strike and at depth including the "A" zone, of which only ~35% of strike has been drilled (>3.1 km open), and the "RJ" zone, host to historical bonanza intercepts as high as 51 gpt Au over 0.8 metres.FORMATION METALS INC.Deepak Varshney, CEO and DirectorFor more information, please call 778-899-1780, email info@ formationmetalsinc.com or visit www.formationmetalsinc.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Notes and References:Readers are cautioned that the geology of nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the geology of the Property.The above referenced resource estimates are considered historical in nature, and are based on prior data prepared by a previous property owner, and do not conform to current CIM categories. While the Company considers the estimates to be reliable, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current resources in accordance with current CIM categories and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as a current resource. A 0.5 g/t Au cut-off was used in the preparation of the historical estimates with a minimum 2.5 metre mining width. Significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the historical estimates can be classified as current resources. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resources, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company is not aware of any more recent estimates prepared for the N2 Property.Needham, B. (1994), 1993 Diamond Drill Report, Northway Joint Venture, Northway Property; Cypress Canada Inc.; 492 pages.Guy K. (1991), Exploration Summary May 1, 1990 to May 1, 1991 Vezza Joint Venture Northway Property; Total Energold; 227 pages.Forward-looking statements:This news release includes "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, i
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE:IBTA) 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 persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded Ibotta securities pursuant and/or traceable to documents issued in connection with Ibotta's April 18, 2024 initial public offering.CASE DETAILS: According to the filed complaint, defendants made false statements and/or concealed that they did not properly warn investors of the risks concerning Ibotta's contract with The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"). Kroger's contract was at-will, and Ibotta failed to warn investors that a large client could cancel their contract with Ibotta without warning. Despite providing a detailed explanation of the terms of Ibotta's contract with Walmart, there was not a single warning of the at-will nature of Kroger's contract. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Ibotta stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/ibotta-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=148187&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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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Andy Frain Services, 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 and protected health information entrusted to Andy Frain Services.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 23, 2024, Andy Frain Services became aware of a security incident on its internal network. Upon detection, Andy Frain Services 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 internal systems containing sensitive information. It was determined that the breach was caused by a ransomware attack attributed to the BlackBasta group. On November 19, 2024, BlackBasta claimed responsibility via a dark web Tor site, stating they had exfiltrated 750 GB of data including accounting, human resources, legal, contracts, and payroll information. Andy Frain Services conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On May 5, 2025, Andy Frain Services identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.On May 10, 2025, Andy Frain Services filed a notice with the Maine 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 Andy Frain Services 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. 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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Iran keeps development of relations with neighbor countries, especially northern ones, in the spotlight, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said at a press conference held today at the Caspian Port Complex in the Bandar-e Anzali County of Gilan Province, located in northern Iran, Trend reports.

According to her, Iran's geographical location connects the Caspian Sea in the north to international waters in the south.

In this context she also pointed out importance of the corridors passing through the country, with the focus on improving the position of Amirabad port in the north of the country, and Imam Khomeini and Shahid Rajaee ports in the south.

Mohajerani said that Caspian Port Complex is intended as a communication center with neighboring countries, as well as member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

On December 25, 2023, a free trade agreement was signed between Iran and the EAEU in St. Petersburg, Russia. After the newly signed agreement comes into force, trade turnover is projected to reach $18-20 billion within five to seven years.

On March 15, 2025, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the law on a free trade agreement between Iran and the EAEU to various circles in Iran for implementation.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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Introducing a Groundbreaking New Voice in Medical NonfictionNAPERVILLE, IL / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 / The world of medical literature welcomes an inspiring new author with a heartwarming and vital contribution to children's healthcare education. Kate Novinc, a female medical writer and practicing anesthetist (CAA), releases her debut book-an enchanting journey through the surgical experience, told from the perspective of a frightened yet courageous child.This beautifully written story combines emotionally resonant storytelling with medical accuracy, creating a rare and essential tool for families, healthcare providers, and young readers. Novinc transforms what is often a source of fear into an empowering and imaginative adventure, where children experience surgery as a "rocket ship ride" guided by compassionate caregivers-her so-called "anesthesia angels." A New Kind of Healing StoryAt its core, Novinc's book is about demystifying anesthesia and surgery for children. Instead of cold instructions or sterile explanations, young readers are gently ushered into the world of operating rooms with warmth, clarity, and even joy. Lucid dreaming, altered consciousness, and hospital equipment are introduced in child-friendly ways that reduce anxiety and build trust.Children don't just "go under" in this story-they embark on an empowering mission through space. When they awaken, they are no longer just patients-they are astronauts of anesthesia, proud and transformed by the experience.This imaginative yet medically grounded perspective is what makes Novinc's book stand out: it nurtures emotional resilience while remaining faithful to clinical realities.Why This Book MattersSurgical procedures can be emotionally daunting for children and parents alike. Fear of the unknown, separation from loved ones, and intimidating hospital environments often leave lasting impressions. Yet few resources approach these fears with the dual expertise of clinical knowledge and empathetic storytelling.Novinc bridges this gap with elegance. She normalizes surgical procedures, introduces the tools and team members involved, and transforms a moment of anxiety into a profound opportunity for learning, bonding, and bravery. Her storytelling supports not just children, but caregivers too-offering a roadmap for open, reassuring conversations.This book is more than a story-it's a narrative therapy tool, a confidence-builder, and a celebration of the unsung heroes behind the surgical curtain.A Powerful Debut Voice in Pediatric Healthcare LiteratureKate Novinc stands at the intersection of medical professionalism and literary insight. Her experience as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) informs every page, but it's her voice-gentle, whimsical, and wise-that sets this debut apart.In today's publishing world, there is increasing recognition of the need for female medical authors who can connect with audiences through stories that empower rather than intimidate. Novinc joins this vanguard with a work that feels both timely and timeless.The book also enters a unique niche in children's literature: exploring altered states of consciousness with honesty and compassion. For many children, this will be their first exposure to what it means to fall asleep under anesthesia and wake up with new strength and self-assurance.Humanizing Medicine, One Page at a TimeHospitals often feel cold, sterile, and overwhelming-especially to young minds. Novinc's mission is to soften that landscape, turning every beep, mask, and monitor into part of a narrative that empowers rather than alienates. Her book is a tribute to the emotional and psychological needs of pediatric patients-needs too often overlooked in clinical settings.Children who understand what's happening feel less afraid. Novinc hands them the language and the imagery to process those experiences with courage and curiosity. In doing so, she humanizes healthcare and champions a more empathetic standard of care.About the AuthorKate Novinc is a female medical author and practicing anesthetist (CAA) committed to improving the healthcare experience for children. Her storytelling draws from her clinical expertise and her personal dedication to nurturing emotional strength in young patients.When she's not practicing medicine, Novinc explores lucid dreaming, mindfulness, and reads children's books to her son-interests that inform her understanding of consciousness and compassion in patient care.This debut marks the beginning of a promising literary career at the intersection of science, empathy, and imagination.Closing ThoughtsThis is more than a children's book-it's a tool for healing, a bridge to understanding, and a celebration of courage. Kate Novinc invites us to see the hospital not as a place of fear, but as a launchpad for bravery and transformation.With her compelling new voice, she reminds parents, providers, and children alike that there is still magic, wonder, and humanity in the most clinical corners of our world.Customer Disclaimer & CitationsDisclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content reflects the author's personal and professional insights as of 2025. For personalized guidance, please consult a healthcare provider.Sources & Citations:Section / MentionSource / CitationLink / NoteAuthor profession & credentialsNational Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA)Pediatric emotional care & lucid dreamingAmerican Academy of Pediatrics / Lucid Dream ResearchEmotional resilience through storytellingJournal of Pediatric PsychologyHospital preparation in childrenChild Life Council ResourcesFair Use NoticeContent presented under educational fair useAttribution respected where dueFor press inquiries, contact:PR@ EvrimaChicago.comFor editorial corrections, contact:waasay@ EvrimaChicago.com 2025 Evrima Chicago. All rights reserved.SOURCE: Kate's Anesthesia Dreamland
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 18:00:46

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Acquisition Expands Kele's Industrial Automation Portfolio and Geographic ReachMEMPHIS, TN AND YORBA LINDA, CA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Kele, Inc. ("Kele"), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC ("Stephens Group"), is pleased to announce its acquisition of Tom Ponton Industries, Inc. ("Ponton Industries"), an instrumentation sales and consulting firm. The acquisition further expands Kele's footprint within the instrumentation sales market. Ponton Industries will become an integral part of the industrial offerings of the Kele Companies, which include Lesman Instrument Company (Bensenville, IL), A-Tech Inc. (Tulsa, OK), and AC Controls (Concord, NC). Ponton Industries specializes in providing its customers with complete solutions to their flow, level, temperature, pressure, and process control requirements. The company serves customers through engineering consulting and technical support for process instrumentation selection. The transaction marks Kele's seventh acquisition in the last seven years.Kele President and CEO Danny Lyons said, "We are thrilled to welcome Ponton to the Kele Companies. Marty Ponton, President of Ponton Industries, and the Ponton team bring a wealth of experience serving the industrial markets, OEMs, and municipalities across California, and we look forward to leveraging that experience across Kele." Mike DeLacluyse, President of Kele Industrial, said, "We have worked with Marty and his team for many years and have great respect for the organization they have built. We are excited to join forces with them and continue expanding along the West Coast." "After carefully evaluating our options for a strategic partner to propel our company forward, we firmly believe that Kele's robust tools and forward-thinking vision align perfectly with our customers' increasing demands for cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. We are thrilled to unite with Kele Industrial and drive our shared goals to new heights!" said Marty Ponton, President of Ponton Industries.Grant Jones, Managing Director at Stephens Group, added, "The acquisition of Ponton Industries further strengthens Kele's position in the industrial automation space. This is a natural fit with Kele's existing operations and will provide new growth opportunities, particularly in the Western U.S. We are thrilled to support this acquisition as we continue to build a market leader in the industrial automation sector." About Kele, Inc. Kele, Inc. is a leading distributor of Commercial and Industrial Automation products and controls solutions globally. Kele serves the Commercial and Industrial Automation markets with more than 300 brands and 3+ million parts in stock, including actuators, gauges, relays, sensors, switches, transmitters, valves, and more. Value-added services include custom panel assembly, specialized sourcing, and technical support. Kele is a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC of Little Rock, Ark. To learn more about Kele, visit kele.com About Ponton Industries Ponton Industries has been providing automation machinery manufacturing solutions since 1972. It specializes in providing its customers with complete solutions throughout all of California and Western Nevada. Its focus is to support customers from product selection to start-up and commissioning. Ponton Industries is committed to its customers with a goal of making it as easy as possible to do business and providing the latest, most reliable and most cost-effective technologies to solve customers' measurement and control applications. Learn more about Ponton Industries atpontonind.com About The Stephens Group, LLC The Stephens Group, LLC ( https://www.stephensgroup.com ) is a private investment firm that partners with talented management teams to help build valuable businesses. Backed by the resources of the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, the firm combines the operational expertise of a private equity firm with the flexibility provided by long-term capital. With over $2 billion of private equity assets under management, the firm has a long history of providing informed, sophisticated expertise and working with owners and managers to help them successfully achieve their strategic visions and build long-term value. Since 2006, The Stephens Group has invested in over 50 companies, targeting investments in industries across the U.S., including industrial products and services, specialty distribution, and vertical software.Contact InformationTena RutledgeSenior Director, E-Commercetena.rutledge@kele.com 9016055134Kate GriffinMarketing Content Specialistkate.griffin@kele.com 9013561956SOURCE: The Kele Companies
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 02:30:44

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC (NYSE:CODI) 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: A class action securities lawsuit was filed against Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC that seeks to recover losses of shareholders who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 1, 2024 and May 7, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, throughout the class period, defendants failed to disclose to investors that Compass lacked effective internal controls over its financial reporting; that Compass failed to disclose critical information regarding Lugano Holding, Inc. ("Lugano") which kept undisclosed financing arrangements and exhibited irregularities in its sales, cost of sales, inventory and accounts receivable; and that, as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's financial reporting were materially misleading.The truth emerged on May 7, 2025, after the market closed, the Company announced that its financial statements for fiscal 2024 could no longer be relied upon due to an ongoing internal investigation into its subsidiary, Lugano. Specifically, Compass reported that its Audit Committee launched an investigation over "concerns about how Lugano was potentially financing inventory." The Company also announced that it intends to delay the filing of its first quarter 2025 Form 10-Q. Further, effective May 7, 2025, Lugano's founder and CEO, Moti Ferder, resigned from Lugano and will not receive any severance compensation.Following this news, the price of Compass' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $17.25 per share on May 7, 2025 to $6.55 per share on May 8, 2025.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Compass Diversified stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/compass-diversified-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=148191&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
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 21:19:04

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Make Space Storage is excited to announce the upcoming opening of a new storage facility in Beaumont, Alberta. Located at 6305 29th Avenue and set to open in June, this modern, secure storage facility will soon provide residents and businesses in one of Alberta's fastest-growing communities with flexible, reliable storage options.Located just minutes from Edmonton, Beaumont has rapidly grown into the province's third-fastest-growing city. As the community expands, Make Space Storage is ready to meet the demand for secure, accessible storage. The new facility will offer heated drive-up storage units, allowing customers to store their belongings with ease, even during Alberta's coldest months.Make Space Storage in Beaumont will be fully gated and fenced, equipped with 24/7 video surveillance, and feature secure gate access with convenient access hours, ensuring customers can access their belongings when they need them. Make Space Storage offers convenient online reservations and move-ins, allowing customers to easily secure their storage unit and manage their move-in process from the comfort of their home.Spanning over 4 acres with more than 45,000 square feet of rentable storage space, this facility will offer 339 storage units, designed to provide the right amount of space for every need. In keeping with Beaumont's French heritage, the facility's front facade will feature a mansard roof and faux stone accents, blending seamlessly with the community's architectural character."We are excited to bring Make Space Storage to Beaumont," said Terry Thomas, CEO of Make Space Storage. "As this community continues to grow, we look forward to providing a convenient, secure, and customer-focused storage experience." An official grand opening event is planned for late summer, where local residents will have the chance to explore the facility and learn about our storage solutions. Details about the event will be announced soon.In the meantime, those interested can learn more about the facility and join the waitlist to be among the first to secure a storage unit at this new location at makespacestorage.ca About Make Space StorageMake Space Storage is a proudly Canadian-owned and operated company offering storage and moving services, including portable storage container rentals, self-storage units, parking space rentals, and packing supplies. With over 50 storage facilities across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec (as Entreposage Make Space), Make Space Storage is committed to simplifying the storage experience for Canadians while expanding its network to reach more communities across the country.Contact: Andrea Intven Make Space Storageandrea.intven@makespace.ca SOURCE: Make Space Storage
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 12:30:24

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Mawson Finland Limited("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MFL) is pleased to announce an important milestone in the permitting process that relates to the development of its 100%-owned Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in the Lapland region of Finland. The Company has initiated the "second phase" of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) procedure and chosen the consultant Ramboll Finland Oy ("Ramboll") responsible for the preparation work. This is a critical step for the development of the project and will foster further collaboration with both the authorities and stakeholders in the region.Ms. Noora Ahola, Mawson Finland CEO, states: "We are very happy to announce that we have advanced in our Environmental Impact Assessment procedure, and have now selected a suitable consultant after a rigorous selection process. Ramboll is a highly respected and very experienced international consultancy office with a wide global network of experts, including experience in developing EIAs and related studies with Finnish mining operators. We are all very pleased to start working together and further develop the Rajapalot asset on its path to production. We would like to thank our shareholders, local stakeholders and communities for all the support and encouragement to continue developing and de-risking the Rajapalot project." Highlights:Significant milestone of the mine development journey by initiating the "second and final phase" of the EIA procedureDe-risking the project and future mine permittingFurther strengthening the stakeholder engagement and communication within the local communitiesResponsible consultant selected for preparing the EIA Report ("second phase of the EIA procedure); RambollPart of international Ramboll Group A/SWidely experienced global network of expertsDedicated team of Finnish expertsRecent clients from the Nordic mining industry includes for example Agnico Eagle (Kittila Gold Mine), Finnish Minerals Group (Terrafame Mine), Yara Suomi (Siilinjarvi Mine), Boliden (Kylylahti Mine) and Anglo American (Sakatti Mine project)Strong local support for the progress and development of the projectEIA - Environmental Impact Assessment ProcedureIn Finland and the European Union, regulatory environmental planning processes form the foundation for a structured permitting path required for sustainable mine development. The EIA procedure lays the groundwork for moving the Rajapalot project through all future mine permitting requirements (i.e., industrial zoning, extraction and operational permits etc). Throughout this procedure the Rajapalot project and future mine permitting can be further de-risked while the company continues the on-going resource expansion work.This EIA procedure ensures not only the project's environmental responsibility but also facilitates meaningful stakeholder engagement in the development process. The EIA procedure includes two major phases: the Program phase (ie., "first phase") and the Report phase (ie., "second phase"). The "first phase", or the EIA Program, was finalized in late 2024 (see MFL news release dated December 10, 2024). This "second phase" or the EIA Report, will document and address any significant environmental impacts from mine development and continued operations. As such, Mawson has now achieved a significant milestone in this development journey by initiating the final "second phase" of the EIA procedure.It is important to note that while this EIA procedure is not a permit, it provides the vital and underlying foundations on which any further mine permitting processes will require. It provides both the environmental baselines of the area, and any possible effects of the project which will be continuously referred to by the governing authorities during subsequent mine permitting. The EIA Report can be finalized after the Pre-Feasibility has been completed.This same EIA procedure has been or is being presently undertaken by all the other mineral development projects in Finland, including the Ikkari project of Rupert Resources, Suhanko ("Arctic Platinum") project of CD Capital Natural Resources Fund III L.P., the Sokli project of The Finnish Minerals Group, and the Sakatti project of Anglo American.RambollRamboll is a global engineering, architecture, and consultancy company with over 18,000 experts worldwide and 2,500 in Finland. In the mining sector, Ramboll combines international expertise with local insight to deliver responsible, technically sound solutions across the full mine life cycle. Core services include ESIAs, permitting, closure planning, and stakeholder engagement, all aligned with IFC, EBRD, and Equator Principles to ensure compliance and financing readiness. Ramboll's recent assignments include for example acting as GISTM Designer of Record for Boliden Kylylahti mine and leading the EIA for Yara Suomi's Siilinjarvi mine expansion. Ramboll has also delivered zoning and impact assessments for Anglo American Sakatti Mining, an IFC-compliant ESIA for Sydvaranger AS in Norway, and environmental permitting and risk assessments for Terrafame mine. Ramboll have provided land-use and permitting services also for Agnico Eagle's Kittila gold Mine.About Mawson Finland LimitedMawson Finland Limited is an exploration stage mining development company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of precious and base metal properties in Finland. The Company is primarily focused on gold and cobalt. The Corporation currently holds a 100% interest in the Rajapalot Gold-Cobalt Project located in Finland. The Rajapalot Project represents approximately 5% of the 100-square kilometre Rompas-Rajapalot Property, which is wholly owned by Mawson and consists of 12 granted exploration permits and one extension permit application for a total of 11,262 hectares. In Finland, all operations are carried out through the Company's fully owned subsidiary, Mawson Oy. Mawson maintains an active local presence of Finnish staff with close ties to the communities of Rajapalot.Additional disclosure including the Company's financial statements, technical reports, news releases and other information can be obtained atmawsonfinland.comor on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca Media and Investor Relations InquiriesPlease contact: Neil MacRae Executive Chairman at neil@ mawsonfinland.com or +1 (778) 999-4653, or Noora Ahola Chief Executive Officer atnahola@ mawson.fior +358 (505) 213-515.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 news release. No securities regulatory authority has reviewed or appro
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 20:16:01

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / For the tenth straight year, aleading U.S. precious-metals dealerhas teamed up with the nation's preeminent sound money policy groups to help students pay for the ever-increasing costs associated with continuing education.Money Metals Exchange , Sound Money Defense League , and theSound Money Foundationare proud to present the 2025 Sound Money Scholarship -- the first gold-backed scholarship of the modern era.Starting in 2016,these organizationsset aside 100 ounces of physical gold to fund scholarships, at the time valued around $120,000. Today, as a result of excessive money printing and deficit spending, 100 ounces of gold is worth more than $330,000. Using this fund, the groups seek to reward outstanding students who display a thorough understanding of economics, monetary policy, and sound money.TheSound Money Scholarshipis open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students with an interest in economics, specifically the free-market tradition. Applicants do not have to be economics majors to be eligible to receive this scholarship.The coalition of sound money proponents also announced this year's blue-ribbon panel of judges for the 2025 Sound Money Scholarship:Michael Maharreyserves aMarket Analyst for Money Metalsand is the national communications director for the Tenth Amendment Center. He hosts theMoney Metals' Midweek Memo podcast . Michael is the author of four books and several e-books on the US Constitution and nullification.Michael earned a degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Kentucky. He speaks at events across the United States, and frequently appears as a guest on local, national, and international radio shows advancing constitutional history and America's founding principles.Chris Powellis a journalist in Connecticut, where he worked for the Journal Inquirer, a daily newspaper in Manchester, for 56 years, 44 of them as managing editor. He continues to write three political columns each week for newspapers throughout the state and the Patch internet site in his hometown. He frequently appears on talk radio programs on several Connecticut stations.Powell is also secretary/treasurer of the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Inc. (GATA), which he co-founded in 1999 to expose and oppose the rigging of thegold marketby Western central banks and their investment bank agents. He edits the GATA Dispatch, that organization's daily electronic newsletter, and speaks on behalf of the organization at financial conferences in the United States and abroad.He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information and was its state legislative chairman for many years.Tho Bishopis Outreach Director for the Mises Institute. Prior to joining the Mises Institute team in 2015, he served as Deputy Communications Director for the House Financial Services Committee. His work has been featured in a number of publications, including The Federalist,The Washington Times, and Business Insider.Dr. Paul F. Cwikis a Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Mount Olive and a Fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute. For nine years, he taught the BB&T classes on the Foundations of Capitalism at North Carolina State University. He earned a BA from Hillsdale College, an MA from Tulane University, and a PhD from Auburn University, where he was a Mises Research Fellow. He has taught at several colleges and universities, including Auburn University, Campbell University, and Walsh College. Dr. Cwik's book, Austrian Business Cycle Theory: An Introduction, was released in 2024.The Sound Money Scholarship has received entries from students attending hundreds upon hundreds of high schools and higher learning institutions across nearly 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and nearly a dozen countries, and across five continents, and nine exceptional students were awarded $11,500 in scholarship money.Following the intense popularity of the Sound Money Scholarship, the two groups established the Sound Money Fellowship, offering yet another opportunity for students and independent researchers to contribute to our understanding of sound money through written research. Click the link to read more about theSound Money Fellowship .The deadline to submit applications for the Sound Money Scholarship is October 31, 2025. For more information, please visitmoneymetals.com/scholarshipor emailscholarship@ moneymetals.com Contact:Jp CortezE-mail: jp.cortez@soundmoneydefense.org SOURCE: Money Metals Exchange
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 16:02:03

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ToneMeter AI, a brand-new innovation in co-parenting technology exclusive to OurFamilyWizard, helps co-parents communicate with less conflict.MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / OurFamilyWizard, the leading co-parenting application, today announced the launch of ToneMeter AI. This proprietary artificial intelligence feature is designed to help co-parents communicate more effectively-without ever sacrificing their agency or autonomy. ToneMeter AI, which was developed in direct response to the needs of co-parents, identifies potentially negative language in message drafts and offers clear, neutral rewrites to support more productive, less stressful conversations between co-parents. ToneMeter AI from OurFamilyWizard ToneMeter AI, a brand-new innovation in co-parenting technology exclusive to OurFamilyWizard, helps co-parents communicate with less conflict.Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience supporting families, OurFamilyWizard has designed, trained, and tested a purpose-built solution exclusively for co-parenting communication.ToneMeter AI prioritizes privacy and security by leveraging finely tuned large language models that are self-hosted on secure servers, ensuring customer data is never shared with external providers.Through a 6-month beta phase, ToneMeter AI has helped re-write over 10,000 messages for 2,500 co-parents. Significantly, 90% of beta users reported that the AI-suggested rewrites were helpful.ToneMeter AI is now entering an early access phase and will be available to all OurFamilyWizard users for a limited time.OurFamilyWizard customers have found immediate impact from ToneMeter AI. "I was initially skeptical and didn't think it would help but I will say, it has helped a tremendous amount. It pinpoints how to respond in a way that will reduce the invitation for conflict," said one co-parent. Another noted, "I use it every single time I send messages. I often apply the whole suggestion because it makes it SO much better." Importantly, co-parents maintain full control over whether and how they use the feature. Once activated, the tool works behind the scenes to review message drafts and flag content that could be perceived as emotionally charged or conflict-inducing. From there, parents can choose to view a suggested neutral rewrite, which they can accept, edit, or dismiss and send their original message as-is.ToneMeter AI helps co-parents write calmly and concisely; it also continuously models positive communication. As a result, parents can reach mutually agreed upon solutions faster, with less stress."OurFamilyWizard's ToneMeter AI earns my strongest endorsement," notes Divorce and Custody Mediator Josh Kershenbaum, Esq. "I've used it personally and seen firsthand how it transforms potentially tense communication into respectful, productive dialogue. Professionally, I recommend it to nearly every family I work with, and the feedback is consistently positive. ToneMeter AI's ability to flag potentially upsetting language before it is sent, and to suggest constructive alternatives, helps avoid and reduce conflict and promotes healthier co-parenting. It encourages emotional awareness and makes a noticeable, practical difference in day-to-day interactions." This launch marks the latest advancement in OurFamilyWizard's widely trusted co-parenting application. By integrating artificial intelligence in a way that supports, not dictates, parent communication, the platform continues to set the gold standard for technology that strengthens family relationships.About OurFamilyWizardOurFamilyWizard is the world's leading co-parenting communication platform, offering tools for families to support more seamless and successful parenting across separate homes. Since 2001, more than one million parents and family law practitioners have trusted OurFamilyWizard's co-parenting platform to help divorced or separated families effectively manage audio and video calls, shared calendars, expenses, messaging, files and other critical family information. These tools can reduce the risk of parents returning to court.OurFamilyWizard is part of In Tandem, a global technology platform dedicated to developing solutions that enhance connection, organization, and peace of mind across key stages and milestones of family life. Its portfolio includes OurFamilyWizard, Cozi, FamilyWall, and Custody Navigator. Learn more at InTandemFamilies.com Contact InformationSara KlempSr. Manager, Content and Communicationslearn@ ourfamilywizard.com (866) 755-9991SOURCE: OurFamilyWizard
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 16:30:49

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ARCATA, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Responding to overwhelming interest from couples seeking more than just a one-day celebration, Ridgefield Weddings is officially launching its all-inclusive weekend wedding retreats starting in 2026. Located on a private 80-acre estate in Arcata, California, Ridgefield offers a rare combination of refined design, overnight lodging, and towering Redwood forest surroundings-all thoughtfully curated for a full weekend experience.Previously available as a single-day venue, Ridgefield's expanded format now allows couples and their closest guests to stay on-site from Friday through Sunday. With exclusive property access, elevated dining, and seamless coordination, the retreat model transforms weddings into immersive celebrations-without the stress of managing multiple vendors or logistics."Couples kept asking for it-so we listened," says Scott Davies, owner of Ridgefield. "People don't want to rush through one of the most meaningful weekends of their lives. They want time to connect, relax, and actually be present. That's exactly what Ridgefield is built for." This shift aligns with national wedding trends. According to Brides and other industry reports, more couples are opting for multi-day weddings with welcome dinners, farewell brunches, and overnight lodging. Wedding planners nationwide are reporting a steady rise in couples planning multi-day wedding experiences-complete with welcome dinners, overnight lodging, and farewell brunches.The Ridgefield Retreat Experience includes:Full weekend access to a private Redwood forest estateOn-site lodging for up to 14 guestsRehearsal dinner, wedding dinner, and Sunday brunchFloral and dessert creditsDJ and bar serviceSetup, takedown, staff, tenting, lighting, and morePrivate access to forest hiking trails and ceremony sitesWith limited weekend availability and a focus on local food, thoughtful service, and moody Northern California charm, Ridgefield's retreat-style weddings offer an elevated experience for couples who want more than a typical venue can offer.2026 bookings are now open, with fewer than 20 weekend retreats available-and only 14 spots remaining. 2027 will offer up to 30 retreats.About Ridgefield WeddingsRidgefield is one of Northern California's most unique all-inclusive wedding venues, offering overnight accommodations, curated vendor services, and ceremony spaces surrounded by ancient Redwoods. Located in Arcata-just a short flight from San Francisco or Los Angeles-Ridgefield provides a luxurious yet grounded alternative for couples looking to host unforgettable destination weddings without leaving the West Coast.Elizabeth elizabeth@ snowmaddigital.com 7074995410 https://ridgefieldweddings.co/ SOURCE: Ridgefield Weddings
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-14 00:50:10

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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, a trusted law firm with offices in Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Safety Harbor, is proud to announce its new DBA name:Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers . Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers LogoThis name change reflects the firm's ongoing commitment to serving victims of motor vehicle collisions and other personal injury accidents throughout Florida.Built on Results, Backed by ExperienceWith over 60 years of combined experience, the attorneys at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers have earned a reputation for delivering results-driven, compassionate legal representation. They've guided thousands of clients through some of the most difficult times in their lives - securing more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts in the process.The new name highlights their leadership in car accident litigation while reinforcing the firm's mission of providing skilled advocacy across all areas of personal injury law.Skilled Legal Advocates With Top Awards and RecognitionThe team at Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has received numerous accolades from clients, peers, and respected legal organizations, including:AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-HubbellMembership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates ForumNamed among Tampa Bay's Top Trial LawyersOver 1,000 five-star client reviewsFounding attorneyMark Romanis also a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the Florida Bar - an honor held by only about 2% of attorneys in the state. These distinctions reflect not just results, but the firm's experience, ethical standards, and dedication to client advocacy.Contact Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers For Legal HelpRoman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers represents clients in cases involving auto accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, and other incidents arising due to negligence. If you or a loved one were injured in the Tampa Bay area, contact the firm for a free consultation. An experienced Florida personal injury lawyer can help you evaluate your case and pursue the full compensation you deserve for your injuries.As the firm moves forward under its new name, its mission remains the same: to stand up for those hurt by negligence or wrongdoing and help them rebuild their lives.Media Contact:Company Name: Roman Austin Car Accident & Personal Injury LawyersAddress: 1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1City: ClearwaterState: FloridaZip: 33765Country: United StatesPhone: (727) 787-2500Website: https://romanaustin.com/ Contact InformationAshley EloMarketing Managerashley@ romanaustin.com 727-787-2500SOURCE: Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-13 01:52:17

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 12, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., May 12, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of purchasers of securities of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) between December 3, 2024 and April 16, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 7, 2025.SO WHAT: If you purchased UnitedHealth 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 UnitedHealth class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25195 or 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 July 7, 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. 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 made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1)UnitedHealth had, for years, engaged in a corporate strategy of denying health coverage in order to boost its profits, and ultimately, its share price; (2) this anti-consumer (and at times unlawful) strategy resulted in regulatory scrutiny (as well as public angst) against UnitedHealth, which ultimately resulted in the murder of Brian Thompson ("Thompson"); (3) animus towards UnitedHealth was such that, subsequent to the murder of Thompson, many Americans openly celebrated his demise, expressed admiration for his accused killer, and/or otherwise demanded that UnitedHealth change its strategy even if they condemned Thompson's killing; (4) the foregoing regulatory and public outrage caused UnitedHealth to change its corporate practices; (5) notwithstanding the foregoing, UnitedHealth recklessly stuck with the guidance it issued the day before Thompson's murder, which was unrealistic considering UnitedHealth's changing corporate strategies; and (6)as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the UnitedHealth class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25195 , call 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, 40 th 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Iran intends to enhance banking cooperation with its neighboring countries, said Mohammad Reza Farzin, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), Trend reports.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event marking the launch of the second phase of banking cooperation between Iran and Russia in Tehran, Farzin emphasized the importance of expanding monetary and banking relations to support the countrys trade growth.

He noted that Iran has begun talks with Afghanistan on banking cooperation.

Our banking relations with Iraq are at a favorable level, and we have also established good ties with Turkiye in this area," he added.

The second phase of banking cooperation between Iran and Russia was launched today on a trial basis. Under this phase, Russian citizens will be able to use point-of-sale terminals in Iran for purchases.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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GOTEBORG, SE / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Smart Eye (STO:SEYE)(OTC PINK:SMTEF)(FRA:SE9) - Cost savings and license revenues improve profitabilityJanuary - March 2025Net sales amounted to SEK 90.1 (86.1) million, an increase of 5% compared to the corresponding period the previous year.Adjusted organic growth amounts to 7%, driven by Automotive which amounts to +27%.Gross profit amounted to SEK 79.9 (77.3) million and gross margin decreased to 89% (90%) due to a change in sales of the product mix.EBITDA improved to SEK -17.9 (-23.0) million.Adjusted EBITDA, excluding one-off items, amounted to -14.4 (-13.3) MSEK, a deterioration attributed to investment in sales and marketing activities.Operating loss amounted to SEK -61.4 (-61.5) million, whereas the depreciation of the surplus value amounted to SEK- 28.9 (-28.4) million.Earnings after tax per share are -1.47 (-1.53), and after full dilution -1.47 (-1.53).Cash and cash equivalents totaled SEK 9.6 million at the end of March. The cash ending balance, including credit facilities, amounted to SEK 130.9 million.Smart Eye has acquired a license for an Iris recognition technology from Fingerprint Cards AB (publ).Smart Eye has won two more design wins with Interior Sensor with a Korean OEM, with an estimated order value of SEK 100 million.Smart Eye has, after the period ended, announced six new design wins, of which three new with Interior Sensing, with a total estimated order value of SEK 325 million.Comments from the CEOThe first quarter went exactly as planned for Automotive Solutions, while Behavioral Research suffered from uncertainties regarding research funding in the US. Fortunately, at the same time, our cost savings started to bite. When fully implemented, they will lead to 40 MSEK in yearly savings. All in all, we managed to offset the small setback in the research sector so that we follow our plan and stand in a perfect position for improved EBITDA and cash flow for the rest of the year. Our outlook is that we're on the cusp of positive EBITDA in Q2 and solidly positive in Q3 of this year, riding the wave of increased automotive license revenue.Automotive While the beginning of the year for Smart Eye included securing some scattered design wins in Europe and Korea, for DMS as well as CMS, the Big Kahuna was announced just three days after the quarter ended. Two design wins as software Tier-1 with a world leading Japanese OEM, with a high possibility to be expanded far beyond the original scope. It just happened to arrive on the same day as the US tariffs were announced, which somewhat obscured the news value of the largest deal in the history of Interior Sensing. We have been working to secure this deal for several years, and it puts us firmly in the driver seat in the very important and export oriented Japanese auto industry. Smart Eye stands on solid ground, with more car models under contract (design wins) than any other company, and that with the world's biggest car OEMs. The rollout of all our contracts is going to continue for over a decade, with increased license revenues following suite.We have a total of 365 design wins of which 75 entered production last year. Ten more were added in Q1 with two more OEMs, meaning that 12 out of 23 OEMs have started their production. Our automotive growth was 27%, consisting almost entirely of license revenue growing at over 100%, while services revenue was flat. For the rest of the year, we see services starting to increase again, in big part due to the large Japanese deal.We are involved in several big global procurements. Since we have a very strong technology offering as well as a reputation for always delivering high quality on time, we anticipate further successes during the year to come.Behavioral Research We did not plan for or expect an extremely strong opening of the year for Research, but we were at least expecting modest growth. However, the turmoil in the wake of the new US administration raised a lot of questions about both university and government funded research. The uncertainties caused delays that in the end resulted in a pullback of -5%, primarily due to North America. Other regions are doing well. We believe that investments in research equipment will go back to previous levels quite soon so that we can return to our previous growth trajectory. In the first quarter the business unit is both profitable and cash flow positive despite the minor pullback.Final Words The quarter saw some headwinds due to market uncertainties, but in the end, we delivered solidly on what matters the most: extreme cost control in order to ensure maneuvering space, so that license revenues grow until they catch up with ourOpex. One of our credit facilities expired during the quarter, but we did not see the need to renew it. With 131 MSEK in cash and credit facilities, we have sufficient headroom in light of the strong outlook for revenue improvements during Q2 and Q3. We do not anticipate that any further cost saving programs will be needed.Martin Krantz CEO Smart EyeFind the full report and all previous financial reports at https://smarteye.se/investors/financial-reports/ In connection with the publication of the quarterly report, a live presentation followed by a Q&A session will be held. A link to the webcast is available here: https://www.redeye.se/events/1090590/live-q-smart-eye-10 For more information:Martin Krantz, CEO Smart Eye ABPhone: +46 70-329 26 98Email: martin.krantz@smarteye.se About Smart EyeSmart Eye is the leading provider of Human Insight AI, technology that understands, supports and predicts human behavior in complex environments. The company is on a mission to bridge the gap between humans and machines for a safe and sustainable future. Supported by Affectiva and iMotions - companies it acquired in 2021 - Smart Eye's multimodal software and hardware solutions provide unparalleled insight into human behavior.In automotive, Smart Eye's driver monitoring systems and interior sensing solutions improve road safety and the mobility experience. The company's eye tracking technology and iMotions biosensor software platform are also used in behavioral research to enable advanced research in academic and commercial sectors. In media analytics, Affectiva's Emotion AI provides the world's largest brands and market researchers with a deeper understanding of how consumers engage with content, products, and services.Founded in 1999, Smart Eye is a global company headquartered in Sweden, with customers including NASA, Nissan, Boeing, Honeywell, Volvo, GM, BMW, Polestar, Geely, Harvard University, 26 percent of the Fortune Global 500 companies, and over 1,300 research
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CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / May 13, 2025 / Touchstone Exploration Inc. ("Touchstone" or the "Company") (TSX:TXP)(LSE:TXP) announces that its wholly owned Trinidadian subsidiary, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd. ("TETL"), has entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the "Amended Loan Agreement") with its existing Trinidad-based lender.As previously disclosed, on December 12, 2024, TETL entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the "SPA") to acquire 100 percent of the share capital of a Trinidad-based company from a third party (the "Acquisition"). Upon closing, TETL will pay $23 million in cash, in addition to the acquired entity's December 31, 2024 cash and abandonment fund balances, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The total estimated consideration is approximately $28.5 million. Completion of the Acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain outstanding conditions precedent.Touchstone currently has $33.5 million in outstanding debt across its two term loan facilities and revolving loan facility. On May 12, 2025, TETL executed the Amended Loan Agreement, which includes the following key terms:a new $30 million six-year non-revolving term loan facility, with no principal payments due during the first eleven months, followed by twenty-one equal quarterly repayments;revised financial covenants, tested annually; anda two-year extension of the maturity date of the existing revolving loan facility, with optional two-year renewal periods subject to mutual agreement.Touchstone intends to fully draw the $30 million under the new term facility to finance the Acquisition and to meet obligations under the amended lending arrangements.In connection with the revised financing arrangement, the parties to the SPA have agreed to extend the long-stop date for the Acquisition to May 16, 2025. The parties must satisfy or waive all remaining conditions precedent by this date, with closing to occur on a mutually agreed date thereafter.Touchstone Exploration Inc.Touchstone Exploration Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta based company engaged in the business of acquiring interests in petroleum and natural gas rights and the exploration, development, production and sale of petroleum and natural gas. Touchstone is currently active in onshore properties located in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Company's common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "TXP". For further information about Touchstone, please visit our website at www.touchstoneexploration.com or contact:Mr. Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive OfficerMr. Scott Budau, Chief Financial OfficerMr. James Shipka, EVP Asset Development and HSETel: +1 (403) 750-4405Advisory Regarding Forward-looking StatementsThe information provided in this news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expect", "believe", "estimate", "potential", "anticipate", "forecast", "pursue", "aim", "intends", and similar expressions, or are events or conditions that "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.Specifically, this news release includes, but is not limited to, forward-looking statements relating to: the Company's business plans, strategies, priorities and development plans; the Company's Acquisition, including the Company's expectation that the Acquisition will close, the timing thereof, and the benefits to be derived therefrom; and Touchstone's current and future financial position, including the sufficiency of resources to fund future capital expenditures and maintain financial liquidity. The Company's actual decisions, activities, results, performance, or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements and accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do, what benefits that Touchstone will derive from them.For further information regarding the Acquisition and the related advisories thereto (which are incorporated by reference herein), refer to the Company's news release dated May 7, 2025 entitled "Touchstone Exploration Announces Private Placement and an Acquisition Financing Update", which is available online under Touchstone's profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company's website ( www.touchstoneexploration.com) Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Certain of these risks are set out in more detail in the Company's 2024 Annual Information Form dated March 19, 2025 which is available online under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company's website ( www.touchstoneexploration.com) . The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation or intent to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.SOURCE: Touchstone Exploration, Inc.
The federal government has initiated new insurance regulations aimed at enhancing the operations of airlines operating in the country.

In a statement released on Monday by the Head of Press and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Aviation, Odutayo Oluseyi, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, emphasised the governments commitment to addressing the challenges faced by airline operators in Nigeria during the official launch of the New Era of Insurance Regulation for Leased Aircraft in Nigeria in Abuja.

In a quest to ensure ease of doing business and strengthen Airline Operators, Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that President Bola Tinubu led Federal Government is working round the clock to create enabling environment for Airline Operators in Nigeria to thrive thereby empowering Nigeria Aviation sector, the statement noted.

Mr Keyamo explained that the federal government is doing a lot to ensure airline operators enjoy friendly insurance policies that would help the operators do their business with ease.

We are proud of the progress made in enhancing the aviation ecosystem in Nigeria, our focus is on investor-friendliness, empower the local operators, ensure compliance with international standards, and drive growth and development in the aviation industry,  the minister said.

In recent years, Nigerias aviation sector has been grappling with a plethora of challenges that have continued to impact airline operations and travelling passengers negatively.

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Some existing challenges include high operational costs due to FX scarcity, maintenance costs, taxes and levies.

Similarly, infrastructure-related issues such as unstable power supply, airport charges, and limited aircraft availability have continued to impede airline operations in the country amidst inconsistencies in regulatory policies and safety concerns.

New insurance era

On Monday, while flagging off the new era of insurance regulation, Mr Keyamo said the revised insurance regulations are expected to boost the aviation sector, improve Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA).

He noted that this would allow local operators to cede up to 90 per cent of risk to international markets under certain conditions and that it would be in line with the Cape Town Convention, which is geared towards the acquisition and financing of aircraft.

The Minister commended the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for working assiduously to ensure the policy sees the light of day.

On his part, the Director General of Nigerias Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, who was represented by the Director of Air Transport Regulation, Olayinka Babaoye, said the NCAA is passionate about the development and promised that the NCAA will do its best to support the policy.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Insurance and CEO National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Olusegun Omosehin, stated that the commission did not only agree to pilot the process but to take ownership of the process.

He emphasised that the policy will enhance Nigerias Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and promote the stability of the aviation insurance market.

Mr Omosehin said the insurance policy is designed in line with Nigerias local content and the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that aviation is a critical sector that propels the growth that Nigerians desire.

The leasing of aircraft will give the airline operators the needed advantage required in procuring more aircraft, which will ultimately be to the advantage of Nigerians and other stakeholders,  he said.

Mr Omosehin said the agreed insurance regulation will go a long way in reducing the cost of air tickets in Nigeria, providing comfort to Nigerian airline operators, and restoring confidence among foreign investors.

The official called on all stakeholders to ensure proper implementation of the agreed-upon new insurance policy.

In her remarks, Director-General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, assured Nigerians of the governments willingness to formulate friendly policies to enhance business operations in Nigeria.

She admonished airline operators in Nigeria to treat customers amicably and avoid flight delay and cancellation.

In his reaction, Airline Operators of Nigerias Chairman, Obiora Okonkwo, stated that they are excited seeing the new insurance policy coming to bear. He said the policy would strengthen the aviation sector, retain more money among operators, and provide general services to Nigerians.

He said the aviation sector under President Tinubu generates more income for the country than before and urged the stakeholders to continue to support the government to drive all policies that will put to rest the challenges facing Nigerian aviation

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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that Asaba Airport, the location of the collision between an antelope and Air Peace Aircraft, is not under its management.

The FAAN Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, made the clarification on Monday, via FAAN official X Account @FAAN_Official.

We will like to state that this incident did not occur at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which is managed by FAAN.

The incident happened at the privately managed Asaba Airport, which is owned by the Delta State Government, she said.

Mrs Orah frowned at some media reports that erroneously claimed that the incident had occurred at the Abuja airport.

FAAN urged the public and media outlets to verify information through official channels to prevent the spread of misinformation.

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For accurate updates and information, please follow our official communication channels. Twitter: @FAAN_Official, Facebook: FAANOFFICIAL, Instagram: faan_official,  she said.

The director, on behalf of FAAN, sympathised with the parties involved in the collision.

An Air Peace aircraft was grounded on Sunday at the Asaba International Airport in Delta State after it collided with an antelope while taxiing on the runway.

The impact was said to have decimated the animal and rendered the aircraft on the ground, causing flight disruptions.

Michael Achimugu, the director of public affairs & consumer protection, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed the incident via his official X account.

(NAN)

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This is the eleventh in a series of articles aimed at advising the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the necessary actions to increase the non-export volume to levels that match or even exceed those of crude oil and gas exports.

In this edition, the focus will be on the policies relating increasing volume of production of manufactured goods in order to boost the volume of Nigerias finished goods that are exported to different markets around the world

This policy is therefore aimed at growing the non-oil export volume by increasing the production volume of manufactured goods in order to make Nigerias value added products contribute significantly to the Nigerian export basket.

This will therefore require aggregating together different programmes that will support and help the manufacturers increase the output from their manufacturing activities and consequently the export volume.

This involves the provision of different incentives and support to reduce the cost of production through a reduction in the cost of inputs like raw materials, power etc.

The important segments of the recommended policies to boost the production capacity of the Nigeria Manufacturing sector and consequently boost the non-oil export volume should include: enhancing infrastructure, incentives for investment, skill development and vocational training, establishing quality standards, support for research and development, local supply chain development, improving regulatory frameworks, market development and and export promotion.

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One of the major reasons for the high pricing and hence uncompetitive nature of the manufactured goods in Nigeria is high cost of production. One of the factors responsible for this is the high level of infrastructural deficit. This is why a policy on improving infrastructure, such as transportation networks (road, rail, and ports) and utility services (electricity and water supply), is crucial for manufacturing efficiency. Adequate infrastructure reduces production costs, improves supply chain logistics, and facilitates easier access to markets for exporters.

In order to encourage manufacturing for export growth, a government policy that incentivises investment in the manufacturing sector is highly indispensable. This can include the offering of tax breaks, grants, or subsidies to domestic and foreign investors in the manufacturing sector can stimulate growth. Creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with favorable regulatory and tax conditions can attract new businesses and encourage investment in manufacturing facilities.

In order to increase the volume of manufactured goods in the country for the export market, it is highly imperative to grow the number of skilled and competent personnel in the sector.

This is why there must be a policy on continuous capacity building in the sector. Establishing vocational training programmes and partnerships with educational institutions can develop a skilled workforce tailored to the needs of the manufacturing sector. Training programmes should focus on modern manufacturing techniques, quality control, and management skills to enhance productivity.

One of the major problems that have plagued the non-oil export sector of Nigeria, as reported by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is the frequent rejection of the items exported abroad.

This is why it is very important to have a policy that ensures the development and enforcement of quality standards for manufactured goods in order to increase competitiveness in international markets. Certification processes can help build consumer confidence and ensure compliance with global standards, making Nigerian products more appealing to overseas buyers.

According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), manufactured goods constitute more than 60 per cent of the globally traded merchandise goods, the volume of which has been put at about $24.4 trillion . In order to have a good share of this sector of global trade, there must be a policy to support research and development in the manufacturing sector. This is because investing in research and development (R&D) can foster innovation in manufacturing processes and product development. Collaboration between industries and research bodies can lead to the creation of new products, improved processes, and enhanced competitiveness in the global market.

Regulation is important to ensure quality standards but over regulation can stifle the growth and development of the manufacturing sector. Therefore there is a need for policy that streamlines the regulatory processes to reduce bureaucratic hurdles in order to create a more conducive environment for manufacturing.

Ensuring that regulations are transparent, predictable, and supportive of business operations will attract local and foreign investments into the manufacturing sector and consequently contribute to the volume of exported manufactured goods.

In conclusion, since the exporters of manufactured goods are the major beneficiaries of the trillion dollar trade in the export market, it is therefore important to increase Nigerian exports of manufactured goods.

In order to do this, there must be a deliberate policy to encourage private sector investment in the manufacturing sector. This will consequently help the government achieve its goal of increasing the volume of non-oil exports in the country, and thereby positioning this sector as a major source of foreign exchange earnings for the nation.

Bamidele Ayemibo, Ph.D

International Trade Consultant/Member, BoT Network of Practicing Non-oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN)

For questions, send an email to [email protected]

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is intentional about punishing individuals who abuse the naira.

This action has recently secured the conviction of two content creators, Tobilola Olamide, AKA TobiNation, and Babatunde Peter Olaitan, also known as TDollar, for abusing the Naira in Lagos.

The EFCC convicted them on Monday before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, with Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

According to the EFCC, both defendants were arrested after a viral video showed them spraying and stepping on naira notes during a social event. They were arraigned on a one-count charge each  tampering with the naira, a violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

TobiNation and TDollar pleaded guilty to the charges. Justice Aneke convicted and sentenced each of them to six months in prison, with an option of a 200,000 fine.

This development is part of the EFCCs ongoing disciplinary action on naira abuse, which has recently seen a rise in high-profile arrests and prosecutions, especially among public figures like Bobrisky, who was sentenced to prison for naira abuse.

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Plea

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel C.C. Okezie and H.U. Kofarnaisa, respectively, reviewed the facts of the cases through Ibrahim Bukar, an investigative officer with the EFCC.

In his evidence, Mr Bukar specifically told the court that the Commission, on 10 April 2025, generated an intelligence-driven investigation on TikTok, where Olaitan, also known as TDollar, was seen spraying Naira notes.

He also told the court that Upon the approval of the intelligence by the Zonal Director, a letter of investigation was sent to the defendant, requesting him to make a statement regarding the video.

The defendant reported to the Special Operations Team, SOT, on 5 May 2025, and his statement was recorded under caution. He said he went to a nightclub on 8 April 2025 and met some of his fans sharing money.

He also said that a fan, in the process, gifted him a bundle of N200 notes, which he sprayed on some of his other fans. He was shown a video of him spraying the money and made a statement regarding it.

Consequently, the defendants extrajudicial statements and video recordings were rendered and admitted into evidence by the court. Okozie and KofarNaisa, therefore, respectively prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Section 21 of the CBN Act, 2007 states that all acts that constitute Naira abuse are punishable by imprisonment for not less than six months or a fine not less than N50,000 or both.

The act further defines the abuse of the Naira as spraying, dancing or stepping on it, selling or trading Naira notes or coins for a higher value, and mutilation, defacement, and soiling of the Naira.

Close lscal

Recently, actor and producer, Iyabo Ojo was invited by the commission over claims of naira abuse at her daughters wedding ceremony.

She revealed that the EFCC officials clarified that spraying money, including on peoples bodies, is prohibited.

I was surprised to learn that spraying any currency, including Dollars, is also prohibited, she said.

Socialite and philanthropist, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-money, started the month of May with an arrest by the EFCC for abusing the Naira.

In a statement on his Instagram page, the businessman clarified that the EFCC disapproved of money spraying at social functions.

E-Money wrote, Attention! The EFCC reminds us that spraying Naira (or so, any currency) at parties or events is against the law. Lets celebrate responsibly and avoid fines. Respect our currency. If you must give money at a party, make sure you put it in a basket, a bowl or a box in front of the person at the party and dont drop any currency on the floor.

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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at the start of a four-day visit to the wealthy Gulf region, focusing more on economic deals and regional security matters.

These include the war in Gaza and talks on Irans nuclear programme.

With a who is who of powerful American business leaders in tow, Mr Trump is visiting Riyadh, site of a Saudi-US Investment Forum, before going to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

He has not scheduled a stop in Israel, a decision that has raised questions about where the close ally stands in Washingtons priorities.

While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said as he opened the forum.

As a result, when Saudis and Americans join forces, very good things happen, more often than not, great things happen when those joint ventures happen, he said before Mr Trumps arrival.

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Mr Trump is hoping to secure trillions of dollars of investments from the Gulf oil producers.

Saudi Arabia had pledged $600 billion but Mr Trump has said he wants $1 trillion from the kingdom, one of Washingtons most important allies.

The Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum began with a video showing soaring eagles and falcons and celebrating the long history between the United States and the kingdom.

The visit brought together many dignitaries, including Fink, the CEO of Blackrock, Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan.

Speaking at a forum panel as Trump touched down in Riyadh, Mr Fink said he had travelled to Saudi Arabia more than 65 times over 20 years.

While the kingdom had been a follower when he first started visiting, it was now taking control and broadening its economy out of its oil base, he said.

After landing, Mr Trump punched the air when he caught sight of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, before shaking hands with the de facto leader.

MBS has focused on diversifying the kingdoms economy in a major reform programme dubbed Vision 2030 that includes Giga-projects such as NEOM, a futuristic city the size of Belgium.

The kingdom has had to scale back some of its lofty ambitions due to rising costs and falling oil prices.

Joining Mr Trump for lunch with MBS are top US businessmen including billionaire Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

(Reuters/NAN)

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The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has begun processes toward the domestication and implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed this at a three-day workshop on rights-based approach to disability-inclusive development, government and public policy.

The workshop was organised in collaboration with the World Bank for management staff and stakeholders across all sectors and sections of the FCT.

Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi added that the workshop was also organised to develop the needed strategy toward establishment of FCT Disability Commission to ensure full implementation of the Act.

She described the Act as a legislation that aims to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and promote their inclusion in all aspects of society.

According to her, the domestication and implementation of the Act in the FCT are crucial steps towards creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for persons with disabilities.

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This workshop is designed to equip us with the essential technical knowledge, skills, and orientation necessary for the effective domestication and implementation of the Act, she said.

I am confident that the discussions and deliberations over the next three days will provide valuable insights and practical solutions to the challenges we face in promoting disability inclusion.

The mandate secretary said she had always been passionate about promoting the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.

She said that the establishment of Disability Desk served as a testament to her commitment to disability inclusion and support.

This desk is dedicated to ensuring that the needs of women and children with disabilities are addressed and that they have equal access to opportunities and services, she said.

Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi thanked the World Bank for the continued support in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.

She assured of FCT Minister Nyesom Wikes commitment to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, which he described as another capital project deserving due attention.

Let us work together to ensure that the FCT becomes a model for disability inclusion and accessibility, and that persons with disabilities are empowered to reach their full potential.

Nothing about persons with disabilities without them. We cannot make any decision that affects them without them being present, she added.

The Special Assistant to the FCT Minister of State, and Coordinator, Social Investment Programme, Majida Adamu, commended Benjamins-Laniyi for the bold step.

Ms Adamu said that the workshop reflected a critical step towards fostering an inclusive, equitable, and rights-based society where every individual, regardless of physical ability, is given equal opportunity to thrive.

According to her, the step represents FCTs commitment to dismantling barriers and ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into all aspects of our social, economic, and governance structures.

Rex Irame, a legal practitioner and Chairman Albinism Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, stressed the need to pay more attention on implementation of the disability Act.

Mr Irame said, If we dont take the issue of implementation seriously, then it takes away the beauty of the Act.

Responding, Adebukola Adebayo, Disability Inclusion Consultant, World Bank, expressed optimism that the Act would be fully implemented considering the divergent stakeholders and government agencies that were brought onboard.

Mr Adebayo said the FCTA has done the needful by ensuring that every institution of government and critical stakeholders were carried along.

This has broadened the base for the implementation of the disability policy in the FCT, he said.

Everybody is going to work with the commission, with support from the world bank and other stakeholders to ensure that the law is not just on paper but fully implemented.

Mr Adedayo said that the bank would provide technical assistance to the Women Affairs Secretariat to develop the FCT Disability Policy.

He added that the world bank would also support the FCT to establish its disability commission as well as to develop and strengthen inter-agency collaborative mechanisms.

This, he said, would enable the FCT to fully implement the disability policy in line with the national disability Act. (NAN)

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Experts in the health sector have called for greater investment in Nigerias immunisation system to curb disease outbreaks.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, the experts said that despite remarkable progress made over the past two decades, the country remains at high risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.

They said that while cases of diseases such as measles and polio have significantly declined due to sustained vaccination efforts, millions of Nigerian children remain unvaccinated, especially in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.

According to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), an estimated 1.9 million Nigerian children have not received any vaccines, making them highly vulnerable and creating a reservoir for potential outbreaks.

A virologist and public health expert, Solomon Chollom, said that Nigeria requires about $580 million annually to effectively run its national immunisation programme.

Mr Chollom noted that government allocations had consistently fallen short, with less than $200 million dollars contributed domestically in recent years.

This leaves a $200 million funding gap, which is partly filled by international partners like Gavi, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he said.

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We cannot continue to rely heavily on donor funding. Timely release and prioritisation of immunisation funding by the government is critical for long-term sustainability.

Chika Offor, Chief Executive Officer of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), also identified the delayed disbursement of budgeted funds as a major barrier to efficient vaccine delivery.

Mrs Offor said that the situation had caused frequent disruptions in procurement and distribution.

She stressed the importance of community engagement, particularly through initiatives like the Community Health Influencers,

Promoters and Services (CHIPS) programme, which identifies zero-dose children in remote communities.

Engaging traditional and religious leaders and investing in grassroots education are essential to dispel vaccine myths and build trust, she said.

As the country continues to battle emerging outbreaks like diphtheria and meningitis, the time to act is now.

Hannah Musa, a health worker, highlighted ongoing efforts to pilot needle-free immunisation technologies such as the Tropis Intradermal Injection System.

A recent study revealed that this method could save Nigeria over $50 million in five years and boost immunisation coverage by 11 per cent, especially among hard-to-reach populations, she said.

Ms Musa said that while Nigeria had made commendable progress in immunisation, sustained political commitment, innovation, and community-driven solutions are essential to protecting every child and preventing future outbreaks.

(NAN)

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A volunteer medical team from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has launched an ophthalmology programme in northeastern Yobe State as part of an ongoing medical outreach.

The Saudi Noor medical outreach started on Monday, aiming to deliver comprehensive ophthalmologic services to underserved populations in the northeastern state.

According to a statement from the Saudi Embassy in Abuja, the project targets people with visual impairment.

In addition to clinical interventions, the team provided diagnostic eye examinations, cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, treatment of refractive errors, and distribution of corrective eyewear.

The outreach hopes to combat blindness in Yobe and enhance healthy outcomes and reduce disease burdens in vulnerable populations.

Since the inception of its blindness prevention campaign in Nigeria in October 2019, KSrelief has carried out over 218,000 ophthalmic screenings, successfully performed more than 21,000 sight-restoring surgeries, and distributed over 45,000 prescription eyeglasses.

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These efforts have significantly improved visual outcomes and quality of life indicators among thousands of Nigerians, especially in rural communities where access to eye care is critically limited, a statement from the Saudi Embassy said.

KSreliefs work in Nigeria

The interventions focused on assisting displaced persons, improving healthcare, enhancing education, and empowering vulnerable communities.

One of the major initiatives, implemented in partnership with the Abubakr A-Sidiq Philanthropic Home, saw the distribution of food items, school supplies, and digital tools in Kwara State.

Beneficiaries received 10 tons of food, 1,000 textbooks, 5,000 exercise books, and 50 laptops, while 150 youths were enrolled in vocational training programmes.

About KSrelief

KSrelief was inaugurated in May 2015 under the patronage of the Custodian of the two holy mosques, King Salman Abdulaziz.

According to information on its website, the centre was created to play an influential role in alleviating human suffering so that people can live a dignified life.

It is dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and relief to people in need across the world through precise monitoring mechanisms and advanced, rapid transportation methods.

Globally, KSrelief has earned recognition as one of the worlds most active humanitarian institutions. Since its establishment in 2015, the centre has implemented more than 3,400 humanitarian projects across over 107 countries.

Currently, its medical and humanitarian presence spans over 30 nations, with blindness prevention campaigns actively conducted in Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh, and Mauritania, among others.

In Sudan, for example, KSreliefs ophthalmology missions have restored sight to thousands suffering from cataracts. In Bangladesh, KSrelief partners with local clinics to provide free refraction services and spectacles to Rohingya refugees.

These initiatives consistently align with global health priorities and the World Health Organisations goal of universal eye health, the Saudi Embassy said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Iran can establish banking connections with any country using the "SEPAM" messaging system, without the need for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), said Mohammad Reza Farzin, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), Trend reports.

In a statement today to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Tehran marking the second phase of banking relations between Iran and Russia, Farzin explained that the indirect negotiations between Iran and the US over the countrys nuclear program are unrelated to the Central Bank's activities and banking policies.

He further noted that if necessary, Iran can use SWIFT. However, at the moment, there is no necessity or compulsion to do so.

Following the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran in November 2018, the SWIFT network severed its connections with Iranian banks, halting the international financial messaging system for Iran.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is closing in on actualising his rumoured defection plans. He says he does not know his next political platform, but promised to remain a governor connected to the people, regardless of his future political party.

Mr Eno stated this on Sunday at a Thanksgiving Service organised in his honour at The Apostolic Church, Maboju Assembly in Lagos State.

He, however, said his statement does not mean he was going anywhere.

I dont know where Ill be tomorrow, whether PDP, APC, or YPP. These are just for political convenience and enlightened state interest. But it will never define who I am.

I will remain a governor connected to the people, regardless of party. I will continue to unite all our parties, regardless of where God will take me to. That is not to say I am going anywhere, he said.

But Im saying that, he added, before throwing in a chorus of a popular Christian hymn, Oh, the future lies before me, as a complement.

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Flanked by his children and assisted by the congregants, Mr Eno carefully choreographed the lyrics of the hymn, drawn from the Bible in James 4:14.

Oh, the future lies before me,

And I know not where Ill be,

But whereer my path be leading,

Saviour, keep my heart with thee.

Continuing, he told the people not to be afraid, urging them to understand the signs of the time, and cited the sons of Issachar, the Bible figures reputed for being able to read their circumstances and respond wisely.

So, there is no need to be scared. Those of you in politics know that there are no two elections that are the same, that people must always understand. We are the children of Issachar.

The children of Issachar were given to understanding the times and seasons. And we must clearly understand the time and seasons so that we do not swim against the tide.

Id like to stop there, but he that has ears, let him hear what the spirit says to the church, he said, echoing a phrase that signifies the ability to receive and understand spiritual truth.

Why I will never dishonour Udom Emmanuel  Eno

Mr Eno was accompanied to the service dubbed homecoming by dignitaries, including political associates, and entrepreneurs. He previously served in different capacities in the church before relocating to Akwa Ibom in 1995.

The governor likened his visit to the church to that of a Biblical figure, Jacob, who returned to Bethel where he thanked God for visiting him.

He narrated how one little girl in the church in 1980 prophesied, calling his name Umo Eno for your labour of love, for everything you are doing Ill return you to your homeland and youll be a governor of my people, and that he got up and told his mother he wanted to use the convenience and never returned.

I thank God there are witnesses, he said, referring to the people who witnessed the prophecy.

True to the prophecy of that lady, I relocated home, and that was the beginning of that journey. I never look forward to it. I never expected it until Gods appointed time. God touched the heart of my political father, Udom Emmanuel, he said.

Mr Emmanuel, who was the governor of the state from 2015 to 2023, had appointed Mr Eno as commissioner in his cabinet before unveiling him as his preferred successor.

Against all odds, Mr Emmanuel deployed the state apparatus to ensure his preferred successor won the election, a gesture Mr Eno acknowledged in his remarks at the service.

Thats why I will never dishonour Mr Emmanuel. If you expect that Ill do that, take everything you want to give to me. God used him to fulfil that prophecy, which was given in this church.

Mr Eno said, having stayed in office for two years, The Lord laid it strongly in my heart to return to Bethel to renew the covenant on this altar to tell God this is where you first met me.

Akwa Ibom united than I met  Eno

The PDP has governed the oil-rich Akwa Ibom since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

In Akwa Ibom, winning the PDP ticket has always been like winning a general election, prompting its members to label the party a religion in the state.

Unlike his predecessors, Mr Eno has embraced members of the opposition APC in the state, particularly the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

He has also endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Mr Akpabio for a second term in office, a move considered anti-party.

The governor has repeatedly said he was running an all-inclusive unitary government across party lines, emphasising that political parties are vehicles to contest elections but not to govern the state.

Mr Eno reiterated this on Sunday at the service, which was attended by Mr Ekpo, with the Senate president and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented at the ceremony.

But his predecessor, Mr Emmanuel, whom he referred to as his political father, was absent from the event. Mr Eno, in his remark, explained why his deputy, and his first daughter, who is the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, were absent at the event, but made no mention of Mr Emmanuel and his wife, Martha, who were also absent at such an important event amidst speculations that Mr Emmanuel has declined to join his successor to the APC.

A source, who attended the service, confirmed to this newspaper that Mr Emmanuel was absent and not represented. He was in Abuja for an expanded PDP meeting, the source said.

Yes, maybe he (Mr Eno) didnt invite him (Mr Emmanuel) because he said he wanted to do a quiet Thanksgiving, but ended up being a big one, said the source who preferred to be anonymous.

The relationship is frosty, but theyre both trying to manage the situation, the source added, when pressed further on why APC leaders, Messrs Akpabio, Sanwo-Olu, and Mr Ekpo, were invited.

Meanwhile, Mr Eno told the congregants that one of the key takeaways of his administration is that Akwa Ibom is more united than he met it.

That is the legacy I believe we can leave by the grace of God. That, in this hall today, we can find people from different political parties sitting together. Before I came on board, that never happened. And I challenge anybody to tell me where it happened.

READ ALSO: Akwa Ibom governor announces running mate for 2027 election

He said before he became governor, the PDP and APC members were not talking to each other, or patronising each others businesses for fear of being reported to party authorities. He reminded the people that in his inaugural speech, he promised to pursue the ministry of reconciliation, and by the grace of God, we have tried to live up to that bidding.

Today, we can sit in church with a Senate President and a minister who are APC members. We are shaking hands and talking. It is only in the place of unity that God will command his blessings, he said.

As a Thanksgiving for Gods faithfulness to his family, Governor Eno, announced the donation of a Coaster Bus, a 60KVA Generator, and over N200 million to the church where he worshipped as a child before returning to Akwa Ibom to begin a new Church, All Nations Christian Ministry International try and set up a company, Royalty Group.

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The pace of growth in Nigeria needs to accelerate further to meet its $1 trillion economy aspiration and deliver poverty reduction and shared prosperity, the World Bank has said.

The bank said the economy would need to grow at a rate about five times higher than recently to achieve a US$1 trillion economy by 2030, which is the Nigerian governments aspiration.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier announced the countrys target of growing the economy to $1 trillion within the next eight years, a goal likely to depend on how well domestic financial institutions can mobilise and allocate capital.

In line with that mandate, the Central Bank of Nigeria reiterated earlier in the year that the ongoing banking sector recapitalisation was essential for Nigerias ambition to become a $1 trillion economy, describing the programme as a strategic response to evolving economic realities and global financial shifts.

The World Bank in its report said that to move towards meeting this aspiration, the composition of growth needs to be rebalanced to key economic sectors and firms that are most productive, generate positive spillovers, and create jobs and opportunities at scale, especially for the poor and economically insecure.

At present, the best-performing sectors of the economy, like finance and ICT, while important as drivers of growth, are not sources of mass employment, and the vast majority of Nigerians do not have yet the skills and opportunities to participate in them, the bank said.

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At the same time, government spending has until recently also been skewed towards the better off segments of the population, including through the unsustainable, costly, and highly regressive PMS, implicit FX, and electricity subsidies, rather than towards enhancing access to and quality of public infrastructure and essential services.

The bank said as a result, most Nigerians remain underemployed and trapped in low productivity, low earning, subsistence farming or informal sector work.

To boost inclusive growth, the government could consider a private-sector led, public sector-facilitated growth strategy, the report said.

With fiscal space created through recent macro-fiscal reforms, the World Bank said Nigeria now has a historic opportunity to improve the quality of spending and invest in human capital, social protection, and infrastructure.

The allocation of public resources can begin to shift away from the past unsustainable, regressive, and wasteful pattern, and rather towards meeting Nigerias large development needs, including the government playing its essential enabling role of providing basic public services, it said.

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After months of diplomatic impasse and military advances of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a diplomatic breakthrough occurred in April.

First, under the auspices of Qatar, the DRC and AFC/M23 jointly committed to work towards a ceasefire. Second, foreign ministers from Rwanda and DRC signed a declaration of principles in the United States (US), signalling renewed bilateral dialogue.

Caution is necessary given the repeated failure of past commitments. But it is important to note the absence of African actors from these developments. It is mainly US and European sanctions and Washingtons diplomatic engagement that seem to have curbed AFC/M23s advance and dampened Rwandas assertiveness.

For various reasons, the DRC and Rwanda were not convinced that current African initiatives would be effective. In February, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) endorsed coordination between the Luanda and Nairobi processes, leading to a joint East African Community-Southern African Development Community (EAC-SADC) initiative overseen by a panel of five facilitators.

Yet, two months after the fall of Goma and Bukavu, the joint initiative had not achieved a ceasefire. Despite the dire humanitarian and security situation, it appears more focused on managing competition between the two regional blocs than solving the conflict.

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbes appointment in April as AU Mediator has only added to the confusion. The institutional relationship between Gnassingbe and the panel appointed by the EAC-SADC initiative to mediate the conflict remains undefined. The panels facilitators are former presidents from Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa and the Central African Republic.

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It is also unclear what specific issue the EAC-SADC process must resolve, considering that a ceasefire and eventually a peace agreement is expected to emerge from Doha and Washington, DC.

While the AU and regional bodies promote the notion of African solutions to African problems, the lack of tangible results in the Great Lakes casts doubt on the viability of this slogan-made policy. The Great Lakes conflict epitomises the crisis of African solutions, also visible in the Sahel and the management of coups.

The African Peace and Security Architectures failure in the region is multi-dimensional. Diplomatically, the AUs Luanda Process failed to normalise relations between the DRC and Rwanda after more than two years of efforts. This resulted as much from methodological flaws as from political constraints.

The initial focus on heads of state meetings was to the detriment of technical consultations, which kicked off only later. Politically, it is debatable whether presidents and foreign ministers should be managing day-to-day mediation processes.

Militarily, both the SADC Mission in the DRC and the EAC Regional Force have withdrawn from the DRC. While the SADC mission ended in military defeat, the East African force withdrawal stemmed from political disagreements between Kinshasa and troop-contributing countries regarding the missions mandate.

The AU has been unable to aptly coordinate the various regional initiatives despite its primacy, as stated in the Protocol establishing the PSC. The Quadripartite process, initiated by the AU in 2023 to coordinate peace initiatives, has instead revealed the AU Commission and PSCs weaknesses.

The principle of subsidiarity, which implies resorting to AU-level intervention when regional efforts fail, has only exacerbated competition between the AU and regional organisations.

The dysfunction of the EAC-SADC process also reflects deeper political divergences among member states and institutions. Moving from two distinct mediation frameworks (the Nairobi and Luanda processes) with their respective facilitators to an undefined merged or aligned process with a panel of five facilitators and one mediator is challenging.

The initiative appears more like a political compromise between rival organisations than a streamlined framework for brokering a ceasefire and facilitating dialogue.

This dysfunction also questions the AUs relevance in todays evolving security landscape. Historically, the AU and regional bodies were praised for their rapid crisis response  often outperforming the bureaucratic pace of the United Nations (UN). But in the Great Lakes, they have fallen short on conflict prevention and crisis management, casting doubt on their ability to act as first responders.

The AU Commission and its different organs have not developed a creative cooperation strategy with the various UN institutions in the region, particularly the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC and the Office of the Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region. Some in the AU Commission see the UN as a competitor rather than a genuine partner.

In an era of strained multilateralism and geopolitical competition, dwindling donor support, and American disengagement from peace operations, the African Peace and Security Architecture must evolve.

It must shift from input-based legitimacy rooted in intentions and political representation to output-based legitimacy grounded in results and operational effectiveness. Without performance, the slogan African solutions to African problems means nothing.

New AU Commission leaders must undertake a candid and critical review of why recent African-led efforts have fallen short.

The DRCs membership of the EAC, SADC, Economic Community of Central African States, and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region makes it a natural arena for institutional rivalry. This occurs between organisations and among member states, making the AUs primacy not only legitimate but vital.

Recognising this principle isnt enough. An AU Strategy for the Great Lakes is needed to reconfigure the continental bodys presence in the region. This will require a significant investment in the Bujumbura-based AU Liaison Office for the Great Lakes and a coherent AU position on revitalising the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and region.

Strengthening the AU Commissions crisis management capacity is also essential. This includes reinforcing the Mediation Support Unit and redefining the mandate and operational capacities of AU Special Representatives and their offices. In the short term, the current EAC-SADC-AU mediation framework should be simplified.

Without these reforms, the AU risks remaining a bystander in resolving African crises, especially in the Great Lakes.

Paul-Simon Handy, Regional Director East Africa and Representative to the African Union, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Addis Ababa

Research for this article was funded by the European Union.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, says the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved Medipool, a group purchasing organisation, as the supplier of essential healthcare products across Nigeria.

Mr Pate said this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the sixth FEC meeting of the year on Monday.

He said the Medipool project would be executed through the federal governments Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and also eventually through federal tertiary hospitals, to negotiate lower prices.

So, its using the monopsony power of government as a large buyer of those commodities to negotiate lower prices and then channel those commodities to the areas of need.

The scope includes procurement planning, distribution monitoring, supply chain, logistics management, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, as well as ensuring that local manufacturers are supported.

It also covers import substitution, financial management and payment systems, capacity building and training and contingency planning to ensure steady availability of essential drugs through public-private partnership, Mr Pate said.

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He said Medipool had been vetted through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, and benchmarked with other global group purchasing organisations in Kenya, South Africa, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and many other countries.

We believe that this is a major intervention that will shape the domestic market, so that the demand for quality pharmaceuticals can be channelled in a way that lowers cost and also improves quality and stimulates local manufacturing, he said.

Mr Pate stated that for almost a year and a half, the government had been trying different ways to reduce the costs of pharmaceutical products because Nigerians were hurting from rising costs.

Its not limited to Nigeria. As you may be aware, even countries as far as the United States are placing Executive Orders to reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals.

This is in line with the presidential initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain, and the Executive Order, which the president signed in June 2024.

That Executive Order provided incentives for local manufacturing by taking away tariffs for import of raw materials to encourage local manufacturers, he said.

He added that an element of that Executive Order allowed the ministry to shape the market by aggregating the demand in the Nigerian health space, and to encourage local suppliers.

Mr Pate said FEC also approved the award of a contract for the procurement and installation of a cardiac categorisation machine by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, at the cost of N2.3 billion.

He said this would help the university teaching hospital provide diagnosis and treatment services for heart and blood vessel problems, heart attacks, and irregular heart rates.

Those are very complicated, very serious medical issues. The University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto will now have this capability to serve the population in Sokoto State, the North West geopolitical zone of our country, and indeed the country.

It will save lives, but also contribute toward reversing outbound medical tourism, because Nigerians would be able to access services which hitherto they were not able to, the minister said.

(NAN)

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The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not coercing lawmakers into defecting from opposition parties.

He said recent defections to the ruling party, including those of three senators from Kebbi State on Tuesday, were voluntary and reflective of lawmakers recognition of the APCs political agenda and governance direction.

Mr Bamidele said this during Tuesdays plenary in response to the criticism by some Nigerians and opposition parties that President Bola Tinubu and the APC are plotting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

We are not at the polls. No one is being coerced, Mr Bamidele said. If anyone would be coerced, definitely it is not the Senator Adamu Aliero that I know and that all of us know. It is not Professor Yahya Abdullahi that would be coerced by anyone, nor is it Senator Maidoki who had also made a mark in the private sector before he ever ventured into politics.

They are not in politics so that they could feed, and as far as we are concerned, the Professor Yahya Abdullahi that I know would rather stay in opposition and be very loud, and more Nigerians will probably even celebrate him doing that. But they recognise the fact that this is not the time for grandstanding. This is the time for all of us to work together to take Nigeria to the next level, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that during Tuesdays plenary, three senators from Kebbi State defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC. The senators are Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, and Garba Maidoki, representing Kebbi South Senatorial District.

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About a week ago, Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC. He, like the other defectors, said his reason was the unresolved leadership crisis in his party.

Many members of the House of Representatives from opposition parties have also defected to the APC, especially from Delta and Kebbi states.

The defections have further widened the gulf between the number of APC lawmakers and those of the opposition, with the ruling party now having almost two-thirds of Nigerias lawmakers, up from a little more than half after the 2023 general elections.

Critics have argued that the defections were a deliberate strategy by the APC to consolidate power and weaken checks on executive authority.

Some opposition members have also been vocal in their criticism. The embattled PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, recently stated that President Tinubus administration was steadily dismantling opposition space, warning that the country was being steered toward a one-party system.

Similarly, former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar accused President Tinubu of not allowing multi-party democracy to thrive.

This is democracy in action

Mr Bamidele, however, argued that the shifting political alignments are part of democratic freedom, not authoritarian tactics.

This is part of the beauty of democracy. But before anything, let me remind all those who are insinuating on the largely unregulated social media that the President of the country, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is working with his party, the APC, to turn Nigeria to a one-party democracy.

Mr Bamidele added that Nigerias current political space calls for unity and collaboration beyond party lines to address critical developmental challenges.

We were all in this country when the Peoples Democratic Party was a ruling party, and we saw all manner of things that happened at the polls, in an attempt to get more states, more senatorial seats, more House of Reps seats, and so on and so forth.

Rejects Rubber-stamp allegations

The senate leader also addressed accusations that the Senate under Godswill Akpabio has become a rubber-stamp institution, serving only to legitimise executive actions without critical engagement.

And I say it again for the umpteenth time. Those who refer to this parliament as a rubber-stamp parliament should note that we are at a very critical stage of our national life when all hands must be on deck.

And today, it is not about what political party you belong to. We say it every time that once we are in this hallowed chamber, it will not matter what party you belong to. What will matter to you is overriding public interest, and in the course of collectively serving overriding public interest, three of our eminent colleagues also saw the need to cross the aisle and come to the ruling party.

All three of them are from Kebbi State. One of them had been privileged to be governor of Kebbi for eight years. He had been privileged to serve as honoruable minister and is a most ranking member of this Senate. One of them has served as the leader of this Senate in the Ninth Assembly. These are people who know what they are doing. They can never mislead the people of Kebbi State. They can never mislead Nigeria, and I just want to say that for us in the APC, this is a very wonderful development.

Mr Bamidele assured minority lawmakers of cooperation and mutual respect, stressing that the APC remains open to all Nigerians regardless of background.

And for all those who are so keenly watching political developments, be rest assured that at the end of the day, this can only be for the good and greatness of Nigeria. And to the rest of our colleagues on the minority aisle, I just want to say once again, distinguished Senator Abaribe, be rest assured that we will continue to work together. As far as we are concerned, part of the conditions under which our party, the APC, was registered by INEC, like every other political party, is that we will not close our doors to anyone intending to join the party.

And I will not discriminate against anyone, either on the basis of religion or tribe or any other factor. Our doors will continue to be open to more people to join at all levels. And in the meantime, we will continue to also work with the members of the minority party.

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The Nigerian police have announced the arrest and arraignment of two high-profile suspects  Robert Harms, a Canadian man, and Okeke Njaka, a Nigerian woman  involved in transnational financial crimes and cyber-related offences.

They were arrested in separate operations, according to a statement issued by the police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Mr Adejobi said the Police INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja made the arrests.

Mr Harms was apprehended on 7 February at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to flee to Canada.

The police said the Canadian was arrested in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme targeting Tepison Enterprises, a company based in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

According to police investigations, Mr Harms was introduced to the company in June 2023 through a Polaris Bank account officer and convinced the firm to invest $210,000 in a purported Waste-to-Energy project in Canada. He then promised a return of $30,000 within four weeks, which never materialised.

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The investigation revealed that Harms fabricated a fraudulent Project Bridge Loan Agreement and orchestrated the transfer of funds to an account in Dubai via Allah Mai Girma Bureau de Change in Abuja, said the police spokesperson, Mr Adejobi.

It was also confirmed that Mr Harms had no affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, a Canadian company he claimed to represent.

The companys chief executive officer denied any knowledge of Mr Harms when contacted, the police added.

Following his arrest in February, the police said Mr Harms admitted to receiving the funds and breaching the agreement.

Formal criminal charges were filed at the Federal High Court, Uyo, on April 22, 2025. Harms was arraigned on May 9, 2025, and remanded at the Uyo Custodial Centre. The case has been adjourned to May 20, 2025, the police stated.

Re-arresting Njeki after jumping bail

The INTERPOL NCB also announced the re-arrest of Ms Njaka, noting that she had been on the run since jumping administrative bail after her initial arrest in Anambra State on 4 January. She was apprehended again on 8 May in Abuja.

Ms Njaka is wanted for a series of cybercrime-related offences, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, obtaining money under false pretences, and criminal breach of trust, the police spokesperson said, adding investigations link her to the malicious distribution of nude photos and videos of victims via multiple social media platforms.

The case originated from a complaint filed in September 2020 by Maryam Shehu, represented by M.I. Tsav & Co. legal firm.

Ms Njaka had been declared wanted through a Special Police Gazette Bulletin issued in 2021. She is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court on Wednesday, 13th May.

In addition to the cybercrime charges, Ms Njakas NGO, the Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, is facing prosecution in connection with a N452.8 million medical assistance scam, the police announced.

She is being charged alongside Emeka Ezeogbo and Tolotolo Family Foundation at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Reiterating the polices resolve, Mr Adejobi said, The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, once again emphasises its unyielding resolve to combating all forms of transnational financial crimes.

He also advised the public to exercise utmost caution and due diligence before entering into high-value international agreements and to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

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Today, reports that the World Bank queried the remittance of the proceeds of the petrol subsidy removal by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) dominated headlines.

Daily Trust reported the news under the headline, W/Bank queries NNPCLs remittance of subsidy proceeds.

The Point reported that, World Bank demands forensic audit of NNPC.

World Bank: Nigerias economy needs to generate better jobs, reduce poverty, Tribune reported.

Tinubus reforms restoring stability to Nigerias economy  W/ Bank, Blueprint also reported.

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Meanwhile, according to Punch, FG, WBank at odds over funding strategy.

The Guardian reported that,World Bank admits Nigerias economic progress, says prices remain high.

Other headlines are; Rivers Emergency Rule: Legal Fireworks To Begin May 26, by The Matrix.

The Sun reported, 2027: PDP leaders move to save party.

Experts List Obstacles To FG 2.5mbpd Oil Production Target, The Independent reported.

Under Fire: 1.5 Million UTME Candidates Petition JAMB Over Poor Scores, according to First News.

The Nation reported that,FEC okays plans to reduce cost of medicines, create jobs.

PDP not dead, remains Nigerias only credible opposition  Wabara, The Point reported.

We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages.

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The UN aviation agency had ruled that Russia was responsible under international law for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, known by its flight number MH17, was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over Ukraines Donetsk region, killing 298 people.

The council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) ruled that Russia had failed to uphold its obligations under international air law.

The case was brought by Australia and the Netherlands.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement that the ICAO Council had upheld the fundamental principle that weapons should not be used against civil aircraft.

This is a historic moment in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones.

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Australia welcomed the ruling and urged the council to determine remedies.

We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law.

ALSO READ: Russia declares three days unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine

While we cannot take away the grief of those left behind, we will continue to stand with them in that grief and pursue justice for this horrific act, she said.

Russia has repeatedly denied all responsibility.

The ICAO, based in Montreal, and its 193 member states set global aviation standards but lack regulatory powers.

(dpa/NAN)

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A 16-year-old SS2 student at a private secondary school in Abakaliki has faked her own kidnapping, says the police command in Ebonyi State.

The girl allegedly contacted a family member claiming she had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom of 2 million for her release.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi Command, Joshua Ukandu, told reporters on Monday that a family friend helped her plan the hoax.

Mr Ukandu said the girl attends a privately owned school located on Watchman Street in Abakaliki.

She is a native of Izzi Local Government Area and was due to return to school for the third term on Saturday.

The girl told police she had gone to buy second-hand clothes, known locally as Okirika, when someone tapped her from behind.

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She claimed to have lost consciousness and woke up the next day at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area.

She added that she often dreams of being kidnapped, and her mother regularly prays against it.

Upon regaining consciousness, she asked for directions back to Abakaliki town.

Instead of returning home, she went to the house of a family friend who had no idea she was missing.

Using the mans phone, she messaged her brother, claiming she had been kidnapped and demanded 2 million ransom.

Her brother asked to speak with the kidnappers and requested their location, but she refused and blocked his number.

Later, she unblocked his number and sent an account number belonging to the family friend hosting her.

Unluckily for her, the phone was tracked. Police raided the house and arrested everyone involved in the plot.

The police spokesperson confirmed that the command has launched a full investigation into the incident.

The girl has since been reunited with her family, though the matter remains under police investigation due to her age.

(NAN)

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Two students of the University of Ibadan have won the French Embassys Get Creative with Plastic challenge.

This is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan, by the universitys Director of Public Communication, Joke Akinpelu.

Ms Akinpelu explained that the challenge was part of the French Embassys Plastic Free Campus Awareness Initiative.

UI was one of the 10 Nigerian universities selected to participate in this initiative, which was funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF) Project.

The initiative was championed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale and coordinated through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN.

The initiative received support from other management staffers, she explained.

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She disclosed that a professor, Aina Adeogun of the Department of Zoology, served as the focal person for the UI-FEF Campus Wide Initiative.

Working closely with the Students Union Executive Committee, Directorate of Public Communication, and Information Technology and Media Services Unit, the team ensured robust student engagement and wide participation across the university community, she said.

Ms Akinpelu noted that the institutions contribution stood out significantly, with more than 300 students active participation and about 100 creative submissions for the challenge.

UI recorded the highest level of engagement among all participating campuses, a feat that can only be from the institution as the First and the Best.

Due to this extraordinary commitment, the university became the only university among the 10 to have two winners in the challenge, she added.

ALSO READ: UI students publish anthology on Nigerian campus experiences

She disclosed that the first winner was Debbie Paul, a 300 level student of the Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health in the Music Category.

The second winner was Adekunle Akorede, also a 300 level student of the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences in the Writing Category, she said.

She said that the recognition underscored the universitys leadership and sustained excellence in addressing plastic pollution and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.

(NAN)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. The indirect talks between Iran and the US regarding Iran's nuclear program haven't included details yet regarding the level and volume of uranium enrichment, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi told reporters, Trend reports.

According to him, the Iranian side stated as a framework in the discussions that it may accept a number of restrictions on the level and volume of uranium enrichment within a limited time frame as a confidence-building step.

"The announcement of this readiness by the Iranian side is assessed as a step in return for the lifting of sanctions. Iran's steps are not unilaterally lifted steps. On the contrary, they are put forward as confidence-building steps because Iran is trying to prove that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful," he noted.

The deputy minister added that the opposing sides should also take steps towards lifting sanctions in return.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

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The United States has asked the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to assist undocumented migrants who choose to return to their home countries.

In a statement on Monday, the UN agency said it was supporting Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR), not deportation, for those who decide to leave the U.S.

At the request of the US government, IOM is helping people who register to go back to their countries of origin voluntarily.

AVR is a well-established, rights-based approach that helps migrants navigate complex global migration systems, regain control over their lives, and make informed choices, the agency said.

Our role is to ensure that those who lack the means to return on their own can do so in a safe, dignified, and informed way, it added.

The agency made it clear that the U.S. determined its own policies on migration.

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IOM does not facilitate or implement deportations.

Our involvement begins only after an individual gives informed consent to receive assistance, the agency said.

In these instances, IOM ensures that people have access to accurate information and essential services, in line with international standards, it added.

The announcement comes as the US seeks to expand deportation of undocumented migrants in continuation of a policy President Donald Trump began nearly 10 years ago under his first administration.

He returned to office in January for a second term and has been cracking down on illegal immigration through raids, detentions and deportations.

In a video posted on social media on Friday, President Trump said that he had signed an Executive Order to launch the first-ever self-deportation programme for illegal aliens.

It offers free flights from the US and payment of an exit bonus.

IOM was established in 1951 and promotes humane and orderly migration.

For decades, the agency has supported AVR programmes in more than 100 countries.

It helps people without resources, legal options, or support return to their countries of origin safely and with dignity, it said.

IOM noted that in the US, many migrants face a challenging reality, navigating complex systems with limited options and resources.

This initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity, it added.

(NAN)

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Oando Plc, the Indigenous firm that acquired Nigeria Agip Oil Company, has recorded four operational oil spills since October 2024.

The firm disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria by its spokesperson, Alero Balogun, general manager, Human Resources & Business Support, Oando Group, on Tuesday.

The company also confirmed the conclusion of repair works on pipelines that caused the oil spill incidents along the NNPC Exploration and Production Ltd/Oando pipeline in Bayelsa State.

The statement follows a 3 May oil spill incident reported around Oandos Ogboinbiri flow station in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area swamps, which feeds crude to the oil firms export terminal at Brass in Bayelsa.

Mrs Balogun said the company had concluded repairs to the ruptured pipelines and was currently replacing dilapidated sections of the pipeline.

Oando Plc announces the successful completion of repairs to its pipeline following oil spill incidents along the NEPL/Oando pipeline, which affected the Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

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Between October 2024 to date, four operational spills occurred. Upon identification of each incident, we swiftly activated emergency response protocols in line with company policy, including the immediate shut-in of the affected wells and cessation of crude oil delivery through the pipeline.

Simultaneously, we deployed containment materials to prevent further spread of the oil and promptly initiated recovery efforts.

In accordance with regulatory requirements, Joint Investigation Visits were conducted with all relevant stakeholders, including representatives from Government regulatory agencies and the Ogboinbiri community.

We are pleased to report that the repairs of the affected sections of the pipeline have been completed. To further mitigate the risk of future incidents, we are implementing a sectional replacement of the pipeline.

Oando remains fully committed to its host communities and is working diligently to ensure that its operations support the long-term environmental sustainability of the region, Mrs Balogun said.

Environmental pollution has remained one of the dominant issues in Nigerias Niger Delta region.

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Peter Ogban, the disgraced Nigerian professor convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for rigging a 2019 senatorial election for the countrys Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been walking free instead of serving his jail term, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.

Many Nigerians, including journalists, erroneously think Mr Ogban has served or is still serving his jail term.

Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a strong ally of President Bola Tinubu.

The Court of Appeal, Calabar, on 30 April, upheld the lower court conviction and the three-year jail term for Mr Ogban, a professor of soil science at the University of Calabar and a returning officer in the 2019 general elections in Akwa Ibom North-West District.

A State High Court in Uyo, on 25 March 2021, found Mr Ogban guilty of announcing fake election results in two local government areasOruk Anam and Etim Ekpoin Mr Akpabios favour and sentenced him to jail the same day.

Mr Ogban was taken from the courtroom in Uyo to a federal prison in Ikot Ekpene, still in Akwa Ibom, to serve his prison term.

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However, the professor spent only about four months in prison as another judge, Pius Idiong of the State High Court, Ikot Ekpene, granted him bail on 12 July 2021, despite the opposition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which prosecuted the professor.

The professor was freed on bail while pursuing his appeal against his conviction and sentence by the lower court.

The Court of Appeal judgement, which upheld Mr Ogbans conviction and jail term, was delivered virtually.

A lawyer knowledgeable about the case told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the professor was not at the Court of Appeal courtroom when the judgement was delivered.

The officials of the Nigerian prisons ought to have made sure Prof Ogban was present in the courtroom during that judgement, and they should have taken him straight to Ikot Ekpene prisons immediately after the judgement, he said.

A lawyer, identified by Truecaller App as Eddy, a member of the Kanu G. Agabi & Associates, admitted to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the convicted professor ought to be in jail but said she did not know his exact location at the moment.

Richard Metong, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Akwa Ibom, said he did not know if Mr Ogban was in any of the prison facilities in Akwa Ibom. He asked our reporter to give him time to run a check, but did not call back or respond to further calls from our reporter.

How jailed professor got his freedom

Clement Onwuenwunor was the INEC lawyer during the hearing of Mr Ogbans bail application, while Kanu Agabi, SAN, represented the professor.

Mr Agabi claimed Mr Ogban had high blood pressure and tuberculosis.

According to a court document seen by PREMIUM TIMES, he pleaded with the court to grant his client bail because of ill health, while he was about to go to the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction and sentence.

He argued that the professor may suffer injustice if he remained in prison and the Court of Appeal eventually reduced his sentence, gave him an option of a fine, or discharged and acquitted him, an argument Mr Idiong upheld in his ruling on the bail application.

According to the court document, the INEC lawyer, Mr Onwuenwunor, in his argument, said the professors claim that he was ill, neither qualified for an exceptional circumstance nor an unusual reason for him to be granted bail. He said what the Supreme Court has qualified as such exceptional circumstance or unusual reason is where the convicts ailment cannot be treated in the prison and the prison authorities are unable to arrange for such treatment outside the prison facility.

Mr Idiong said in his ruling, The Court agrees with the senior learned counsel (Agabi) that it is a possibility that the appeal may be allowed and the applicant (Ogban) discharged and acquitted.

It is also possible that the sentence imposed on the applicant by the trial court may, at the end of the day, be reduced. At the end, the appellate court may also resolve to give the applicant an option of a fine in count 2 of the charge. And above all, the applicant may be cautioned and discharged by the appellate court.

In addition, the judge ruled that This court holds the view that although the applicants so-called health conditions and medical report cannot constitute such an exceptional circumstance, he has nonetheless made out a case to warrant being granted a temporary reprieve.

According to a court document seen by our reporter, Mr Agabi is going to the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeals judgement affirming Mr Ogbans conviction and sentence for election fraud.

Another professor jailed for election fraud, but also enjoying freedom

Another professor, Ignatius Uduk, was recently jailed by a State High Court in Uyo for election fraud.

Mr Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics in the Department of Physical and Health Education at the University of Uyo, was jailed for three years.

INEC prosecuted him on three charges: announcement of false election results, publication of false results, and perjury during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency, where he served as INECs collation and returning officer.

The professor falsified the election results to the advantage of the APC candidate, Nse Ntuen, who was then an ally of Mr Akpabio.

However, Mr Uduk was recently granted bail by a State High Court in Uyo.

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Nigerians hoping to relocate to the United Kingdom may now face tougher hurdles, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has introduced stricter immigration rules targeting students, care workers, and low-income earners.

These rules are documented in the policy paper on immigration issued on Monday by the UK Home Office.

The policy bans recruitment of care workers from overseas, while tightening access to skilled worker visas and raising the costs to employers in an effort to curb near-record net migration.

According to the UK Prime Minister, the new immigration rules will sharply reduce the number of people moving into the country over the next four years.

Mr Starmers effort is part of a broader push by successive UK governments to tighten immigration controls and reduce overall migration numbers.

Net migration rose to 906,000 in June 2023, and in 2024, it stood at 728,000.

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Nigerians make up a significant proportion of this number. Last year, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) ranked Nigeria as one of the top three countries of origin for immigrants.

Nigerian nationals have also been prominent among international students in the UK, with many of them transitioning from study-related visas to other visa categories.

Nigerians are also a major recipient of work visas, study visas and even asylum claims. The UK is one of the top destinations for Nigerians seeking to relocate.

The new immigration policies

However, with the new immigration policy, access to the country is likely to become more restricted.

The new policy has extended the time required for migrants to become eligible for permanent residency or citizenship from five to ten years.

The UK government has also closed the care sector route, stipulating that overseas recruitment of care workers must end.

However, the policy paper states that there will be a transition period lasting until 2028, during which existing visa holders can extend their stay or switch to jobs in the social care sector.

The UK government is also imposing a 32 per cent increase in the immigration skills charge. This is a fee that will be paid by employers when they hire workers from overseas through skilled visa routes.

Meanwhile, international students will now only be able to work for 18 months, which is about a year and a half after they graduate, rather than two years.

The government also said there would be tougher English language requirements for visa routes.

The Prime Minister in a post on X said, If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English. Thats common sense. So were raising English language requirements across every main immigration route.

However, the British High Commission in Nigeria said the changes will be introduced gradually.

The commission also promised to work with the Nigerian government once more details about how the new rules will be applied are available.

The UK enjoys strong, long-standing people-to-people links with Nigeria. We are proud that the UK is still considered a top destination for Nigerians to work, study, visit and settle  and value the contribution this brings to the UK.

The UK White Paper sets out reforms to legal migration, including restoring order, control and fairness to the system, bringing down net migration and promoting economic growth, the commission said.

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Shehu Buba, the senator representing Bauchi South District, has called on the residents of Mansur in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the North-eastern state to support security agents in the fight against rural banditry.

Mr Buba also donated N10 million to the families of 19 vigilante members killed in an attack on the community.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the slain vigilantes were ambushed during a routine patrol around Mansur, Digare and Yalo farming communities. These communities are near the Dajin Madam forest and some unprotected parts of Yankari Game Reserve, where bandits take cover.

In less than a week, the bandits have killed 21 locals in Alkaleri LGA, forcing hundreds to flee their homes.

Alkaleri is the hometown of the state governor, Bala Mohammed. Many districts in the LGA have witnessed violent attacks, including alleged extrajudicial killings by members of a Taraba State-based mercenary vigilante group led by one Babangida, according to sources who spoke to our reporters during a visit to the area in 2023.

The police had earlier, in a statement, said they had deployed personnel to check the marauding terrorists in the Gwana District. The police spokesperson in the state, Ahmed Wakil, said the police were patrolling Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau states.

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Alkaleri LGA shares boundaries with Gombe, Taraba, and the Plateau states. The boundary areas are rugged terrains with rocky hills that the criminals use as hideouts to carry out attacks.

Senator condemns killings, encourages community support for security agents

During his visit to the terrorised area on 10 May, Mr Buba condemned the killings, describing them as inhuman and repugnant to natural justice, good conscience, and the laws of our maker.

Accompanied by supporters, he met with grieving families and community members to offer his condolences.

Mr Buba, who also chairs the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, pledged to work closely with the security agencies to ensure justice is served and prevent further acts of terror.

The senator, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), also emphasised that addressing insecurity must transcend political affiliations. He stated his readiness to collaborate with the state government, run by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC-led Federal Government, regardless of party differences.

I urge residents to support security agencies with useful information to help bring the perpetrators to justice, Mr Buba said, urging cooperation with the police, army, State Security Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

As part of his support, Mr Buba donated N10 million to the families of the slain vigilante members, and said prayers for the repose of their souls and strength for the community to bear the loss.

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The ECOWAS Court has ordered Senegal to pay six million CFA Francs compensation to former Senegalese Minister of Sports, Lat Diop, for violating his right to freedom of movement.

Delivering judgment, the President of the Court, Ricardo Goncalves, also ordered the Senegalese government to immediately lift all restrictions imposed on Diops movements.

A statement from the court on Monday said the decision delivered on 9 May held that Senegal arbitrarily and unlawfully barred Mr Diop from travelling abroad. The court said the restriction breached both ECOWAS protocols and international human rights obligations.

It declared that Senegal violated Mr Diops right to freedom of movement, in breach of Article 12(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The regional court, in the case marked ECW/CCJ/APP/22/24, declared that the travel restriction placed on the former minister by the government of Senegal was arbitrary and without legal foundation.

Mr Diop had alleged in his submission before the court that he was barred from boarding an international flight on 28 August 2024, in spite of having completed all check-in formalities and receiving a boarding pass.

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He had claimed that Senegalese police officers, acting on political orders, blocked his departure following an earlier public comment by the Prime Minister, which hinted at curbing his movement.

Mr Diop had also supported his claims with evidence of his ECOWAS identity card, stamped passport, boarding pass, and media reports.

READ ALSO: The fracture in ECOWAS and the need for a new security strategy for Nigeria

He had further argued that the travel ban placed on him violated his rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

However, in its defence filed in court, the Senegalese government denied imposing an official travel ban on Mr Diop. It described the former top government officials claims as speculative.

The government had claimed that the former minister was under investigation for financial crimes, including embezzlement and money laundering, as of 26 September 2024, and was still holding a diplomatic passport after leaving office.

The three-member panel also comprised J Gberi-Be Ouattara and Justice Edward Asante.

(NAN)

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Three senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three senators are all from Kebbi State. They are Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, and Garba Maidoki, representing Kebbi South Senatorial District.

The trio announced their defections in separate letters addressed to the Senate and read during Tuesdays plenary by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session.

Each of the lawmakers cited the leadership crisis in the PDP, characterised by unresolved litigations and deep internal divisions, as the main reason for their decision to switch parties.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the three senators met with President Bola Tinubu behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. They were accompanied by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Although the purpose of the meeting was not publicly disclosed at the time, it has now been confirmed that it centred on finalising their plans to join the APC.

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During the formal defection in the Senate chamber, several top APC members, including Messrs Ganduje and Idris, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Tanko Yusuf, were present to welcome the lawmakers.

Mr Aliero served as governor of Kebbi State from 1999 to 2007. He was elected to the Senate in 2007 but was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by late former President Umaru YarAdua in 2008, serving until 2010. Mr Aliero returned to the Senate in 2015 and has remained a central figure since.

Mr Abdullahi has been in the Senate since 2015. He was a former Senate Majority Leader during Ahmad Lawans tenure as Senate President. He left the APC in June 2022 because of the partys internal crisis in his state

Mr Maidoki, the most recent entrant, was elected in 2023. Despite being a first-time senator, he has gained attention for his public criticism of the federal governments policies and his advocacy for northern interests. His public criticism of the Tinubu administrations policies are expected to reduce now that he is a member of the ruling party.

Tuesdays defection by the three senators is the second defection to the APC since the Senate resumed from the Easter and Eid-el-Fitr recess. Just a week earlier, Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC, also claiming an unresolved party leadership crisis, which has led to litigations and internal divisions.

With the latest defections, the APC now holds 68 seats in the 109-member Senate, consolidating its majority. The PDP now has 30 seats.

The Labour Party has five, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has two, and both the NNPP and APGA hold one seat each.

However, the Senate currently has 107 sitting members since the death of former Anambra South Senator Ifeanyi Ubah last July and the departure of Monday Okpebholo, who vacated the Edo Central seat after being elected Governor of Edo State last September.

Reasons for leaving PDP

In his letter, Mr Aliero noted that his major reason for his defection was the internal crisis in the opposition PDP.

He said the PDP had lost direction and could no longer meet the expectations of Nigerians.

This decision was not made lightly. Being a proud member of the PDP, a party under the platform I was elected to serve. However, politics must never be about personal loyalty to a platform. It must always be about service, solutions and results. Today, I made this move in response to a simple question that every responsible leader must ask himself or herself: what is best for the people I serve?

Over the past months, it has become increasingly and manifestly clear to me that the PDP, as it currently stands, has become disconnected from the aspirations of the very Nigerians it seeks to lead. Internal divisions, lack of ideological clarity, and inability to provide a credible, forward-looking agenda have made it difficult for leaders like me to pursue the reform and development agenda that our people desire, he said.

The Kebbi central senator praised the APC for its focus on national development and security.

On the other hand, the APC, under its renewed leadership, has shown encouraging signs of transformation. Admittedly, while no political party is perfect, I have witnessed a growing commitment within the APC to prioritise national interests above political expediency, to drive infrastructure development, ensure security, empower the youth, and reform critical sectors of the economy.

I am defecting not for personal gain, but because I believe that these moments of inner history, the APC offers a more viable platform through which I can effectively serve my constituents and advocate for progressive policies. I have moved Nigeria forward.

Mr Abdullahi, who previously left the APC in 2022 due to political disagreements in his state, said those issues have now been resolved and described his return as a homecoming.

Your Excellency, I recall on 14 June 2022. I withdrew my membership of the APC and resigned my position as the leader of the Senate following political disagreements in my State. I am happy to note that those disagreements have been amicably resolved by the incumbent Governor. I therefore have no reason whatsoever not to go back to the APC, particularly since I am one of the major architects of its formation and sources. For me, my going back to the APC is a homecoming event, he wrote in his letter.

The senator noted that he consulted stakeholders in his constituency before deciding to quit the PDP.

This decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders in my constituency and beyond, as well as careful reflection on the evolving dynamics within the party, both at the national and state levels. I believe it is in the best interest of the constituency that I present to take this step at a time when the state governor is making tremendous efforts to develop the state and bring prosperity to its people.

On his part, Mr Maidoki said his decision was based on the ongoing PDP crisis and his belief that the APCs vision was better aligned with the needs of his people.

My decision is based on the lingering internal crisis of the PDP and my belief that the ideas of the APC are better aligned with my political aspirations, which will enable me to participate fully in the renewed hope for the benefit of my senatorial district and Nigeria at large.

When I was sworn in as a senator in June 2023, more than 100 villages in my senatorial district were occupied by bandits, and in constant fear of kidnappings, rapes, and cattle rustlesting. To the glory of God, the deployment of troops at the area has played significant roles in proactive security of the area. My people have almost all returned back and are farming peacefully, he added.

After reading the letter, the deputy senate president congratulated the senators for joining the ruling party.

Thereafter, Messrs Aliero, Abdullahi and Maidoki exchanged pleasantries with other APC senators before they were led to their new seats at the Majority section of the chamber.

The senators also had a photograph session with the national chairperson of the APC, the Kebbi governor and other dignitaries in their entourage to celebrate the defections.

PDP reconciliation committee

The defections occur despite the PDPs efforts to resolve its internal crises.

On Monday, the PDP Governors Forum appointed former Senate President Bukola Saraki chairman of its seven-member reconciliation committee to address the partys crises.

The committee was set up to reach out to aggrieved members and ensure a peaceful National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and national convention.

Mr Saraki, who led the Senate between 2015 and 2019, promised that the committee would do its best to reconcile party members and ensure smooth preparations for the NEC meeting on 27 May.

Also, the PDP Senate Caucus announced in October 2024 that it would set up a separate panel to engage other arms of the party in finding lasting solutions to the ongoing crisis.

The Caucus Leader, Abba Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District, said the panel would include former governors and senior party leaders who are members of the caucus.

However, it remains unclear whether the caucus eventually inaugurated the committee or if it played any role in mediating the conflict within the party.

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The UN says it is undergoing some dire financial strain amid growing global challenges.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this while briefing Member States in New York on Monday about the state of the multilateral body. He pushed for wide-ranging structural reforms to cut costs and enhance the world bodys effectiveness.

According to information provided by the UN Controller to the General Assemblys Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), only $1.8 billion had been received against the $3.5 billion regular budget assessments for 2025.

This amounted to a shortfall of around 50 per cent.

As of 30 April, unpaid assessments stood at $2.4 billion, with the United States owing about $1.5 billion, China ($597 million), Russia ($72 million), Saudi Arabia ($42 million), Mexico ($38 million), and Venezuela ($38 million).

An additional $137 million was yet to be paid by other Member States.

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For the peacekeeping budget, which runs on a July-June cycle, including prior-period arrears, the unpaid amount totals $2.7 billion.

For the international tribunals, the total contribution outstanding was $79 million as of April 30.

These are times of peril, Mr Guterres lamented, adding, but they are also times of profound opportunity and obligation.

The mission of the United Nations is more urgent than ever.

Mr Guterres outlined wide-ranging efforts to revamp how the UN system operates, which included cutting costs, streamlining operations, and modernizing its approach to peace and security, development and human rights.

He said the conclusions would be reflected in revised estimates for the 2026 budget in September 2025, with additional changes that require more detailed analysis presented in 2027.

He said the changes were expected to yield meaningful reductions in the overall budget, in which the departments for political and peacekeeping affairs could see a 20 per cent reduction in staff by eliminating duplication.

He said this level of reduction could serve as a benchmark across the UN system while also considering unique factors for each department.

Mr Gutterres said, There might be immediate, one-off costs involved in relocating staff and providing potential termination packages.

But by moving posts from high-cost locations, we can reduce our commercial footprint in those cities and reduce our post and non-post costs.

He said departments at the UNs headquarters in New York and Geneva had been asked to review whether some teams could be relocated to lower-cost duty stations, reduced or abolished.

A preliminary review identified more than 3,600 unique mandates for the Secretariat alone. A full and more detailed analysis is now underway.

Mr Guterres emphasised that the sheer number of mandates and the bureaucracy needed to implement them, placed a particular burden on smaller Member States with limited resources.

Based on this work, Member States may wish to consider the opportunity to conduct themselves a review of the mandates, he added.

Nearly 50 initial submissions had already been received from senior UN officials, reflecting what Mr Guterres described as a high level of ambition and creativity.

Key work areas had been identified for review, including peace and security, development, human rights, humanitarian, training and research and specialised agencies.

ALSO READ: UN agency finds Russia responsible for downed MH17 flight

Mr Guterres also touched on the UN dire cashflow situation, stating that the initiative was not an answer to the months-long liquidity crisis, but by being more cost-effective, it should help limit the impact.

The liquidity crisis is caused by one simple fact  the arrears, he said, adding that structural reform was not the answer to a fundamental failure by some member states to pay what they owed on time to meet running costs.

The secretary-general told member states he would be consulting with them closely and regularly on the cash crisis and needed reforms, seeking guidance and presenting concrete proposals for countries to act on.

He said UN staff members and their representatives were being consulted and listened to, adding, Our concern is to be humane and professional in dealing with any aspect of the required restructuring.

He concluded by highlighting that the UN80 Initiative was a significant opportunity to strengthen the UN system and deliver for those who depended on the global multilateral organization.

Launched in March, the UN80 Initiative centred on three priorities: enhancing operational efficiency, assessing how mandates, or key tasks, from Member States are implemented, and exploring structural reforms across the UN system.

He urged,Let us seize this momentum with urgency and determination, and work together to build the strongest and most effective United Nations for today and tomorrow.

(NAN)

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The police command in Akwa Ibom State has said that personnel from its marine division recently repelled sea pirates along the Oron-Calabar Waterway.

Timfon John, the commands Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Tuesday.

Ms John said that the commands marine police personnel received an intelligence report of an ongoing pirate attack while conducting search-and-rescue operations along the waterway.

She said that no fewer than seven pirates were on a speedboat attacking innocent members of the public.

Our marine police division swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene. The hoodlums engaged our personnel in a gun duel but were overpowered.

The marine police gun power forced the pirates, who sustained bullets wounds, to escape into a shallow creek that was inaccessible to police boats.

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Subsequently, we invaded and successfully raided their camp, and recovered some items, she said.

Ms John said that the items recovered during the raid included: one locally made gun, two rounds of K2 live ammunition, and two empty shells of K2 ammunition.

Also recovered were a speedboat fitted with a single 200 hp Yamaha engine gearbox, one 15 hp Yamaha engine, dismantled engine parts, an improvised toolbox, a petrol generator, an OX standing fan, among others.

The police spokesman said that efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.

(NAN)

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The Abia State Government says it will commence building of a biogas plant to improve hygiene and environmental standards in abattoirs across Abia State.

The General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Ogbonnia Okereke, announced this on Monday while briefing reporters on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mr Okereke said the project would begin at the Lokpanta abattoir and focus on generating biogas from animal waste to process meat safely.

The ASEPA general manager said the initiative would end the dangerous practice of burning meat with disused tyres, a common alternative to costly firewood in South-eastern Nigeria.

He explained that meat processed with tyres poses serious health risks due to the release of toxic substances.

The official described the biogas approach as a cultural shift, emphasising its benefits for public health and environmental sustainability.

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Mr Okereke said the state government had reopened the Lokpanta and Uzuakoli abattoirs after comprehensive renovations to meet hygiene and safety standards.

He said these facilities were previously closed due to unsanitary conditions but had been fully retrofitted and ready for public use.

The general manager said the move reflected the governments commitment to health, safety and environmental reform.

He also expressed the commitment of the state government to transitioning from a linear to a circular economy by converting waste into energy and recyclable resources.

The official said, to support this transition, ASEPA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a firm experienced in waste-to-energy technology.

He said that discussions on the waste-to-energy business had reached advanced stages, with implementation expected to begin shortly.

Mr Okereke urged residents to improve compliance with sanitation fee payments to sustain ASEPAs services and innovations.

He described the revised ASEPA rates as affordable and among the lowest in the South-east region, adding that Aba had become cleaner than Umuahia despite its higher population and complexity.

The general manager attributed Abas success to the strong support and cooperation of its residents in maintaining environmental cleanliness.

He said residents of Aba often assisted ASEPA by identifying and apprehending sanitation defaulters thereby showing remarkable civic engagement.

Mr Okereke also said that in contrast, such community-driven enforcement was still lacking in Umuahia, assuring that task force groups would continue to remain active in both cities, combining enforcement with public cooperation.

The official also called on all residents of the state to join efforts towards a cleaner, healthier Abia, given that officials cannot be everywhere.

He reiterated ASEPAs dedication to public health, environmental innovation and effective waste management.

Background

An abattoir located inside Lokpanta Cattle Market recently became a subject of debate following reports of poor hygiene and criminality in the area.

The market is in Umuchieze Community, Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state.

The council area had witnessed increased kidnap attacks by suspected herders in the past.

In October 2023, the state government discovered over 50 decomposing bodies and over 20 headless bodies around the market.

There was a speculation that the bodies discovered by the state government could be those of the kidnap victims around the area.

The government, at the time, said the market had become a den of criminals and that part of the measures to boost security in the area was to demolish the market including residential quarters therein and convert the market into a general-purpose one as well as to fence it around.

Cattle dealers and those residing at a market, in March last year, sued the state government over its decision to demolish the residential quarters which they erected inside the market.

Within the same period last year, the state governor, Alex Otti, paid a unscheduled visit to the market during which he expressed worry over filthy condition of the market and advised traders on the need to clean up their environment.

I stopped around the abattoir and I found that the place is very dirty. So, we have to ensure that it is clean because it is what people eat, the governor had told reporters.

If they get contaminated, people will fall sick and you dont want to sell your cattle, sell your meat and somebody eats it and gets sick. So, you have a responsibility to keep the abattoir and everywhere you are clean, he added, before vowing to revive hygiene at the market.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Iran's nuclear activities will not be halted and will continue along their current course, said Mohammad Eslami, Vice President of Iran and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Trend reports.

Speaking today during an event held at Alborz University of Medical Sciences in Irans Alborz Province, Eslami stated that Irans nuclear knowledge and direction are transparent and intended solely for peaceful purposes.

The whole world knows that Iran is not pursuing any goal beyond peaceful use of this technology, Eslami emphasized.

Despite this, he noted, Iran has been subjected to harsh sanctions related to its nuclear program.

On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018.

By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement.

Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent.

Iran has officially affirmed that its strategy is not to pursue the development of an atomic bomb and that it does not support the production of weapons of mass destruction.

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The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, say they have re-arrested one of the two suspected killers of Justice Azuka, a state lawmaker.

The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, announced this in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

Lawmakers killing, escape of suspects

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that gunmen, on 24 December 2024, abducted Mr Azuka, a member of the Anambra House of Assembly.

A joint security team, on 6 February, found the lawmakers decomposing body at Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police in the state later confirmed that nine suspected killers of the lawmaker had been arrested.

But on 18 February, the police authorities announced that two of the suspected killers of the lawmaker had escaped from custody.

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Two days later, the police admitted that they suffered operational lapses which resulted in the escape of the suspects, vowing to sanction officers involved in the incident.

The suspected killers who escaped from custody were identified as Ikemefuna Ossai from Delta State and Chinedu Okoli from Imo State.

The slain lawmaker was a member of the opposition Labour Party.

How the suspect was rearrested

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, identified the re-arrested suspect as Mr Ossai.

The police spokesperson said the suspect was tracked across multiple states within Nigeria and a neighbouring West African country.

He said police operatives eventually arrested him on 7 May in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect attempted to escape arrest but was swiftly subdued and sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in the process, he said.

This rearrest followed a painstaking and intelligence-led operation.

Mr Ikenga said the police authorities had briefed relevant people about the re-arrest of the suspect, including the family of the late lawmaker and the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly.

During the engagement, the (state) commissioner of police acknowledged and expressed regret over the operational lapses that led to the suspects earlier escape, he said

The spokesperson said actionable intelligence obtained from the suspect was already aiding ongoing operations to track down the remaining suspect.

The (state police) command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitive and dismantle the criminal network responsible for this heinous crime, he said, assuring that all the suspects would be prosecuted.

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Kidnappers have abducted the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ifon Ward 5, Ose Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, Nelson Adepoyigi.

The police confirmed that the gunmen abducted the politician on Monday evening at the entrance of his farm along the Ifon-Owo road.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the kidnappers reached out to his family and demanded a ransom of N100 million..

The Police Public Relations Officer, Olushola Ayanlade, stated on Tuesday that the command received a report of the incident and swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators.

Upon receiving the report, the DPO Ifon, in collaboration with hunters, local vigilante group members, and Nigeria Army personnel, launched a manhunt for the suspects, Mr Ayanlade said.

He urged anyone with information that could assist in the rescue operation to come forward.

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He reminded citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

The police are working to verify the details of the incident and ensure the safe release of the APC chairman, he added.

Ose local government has been a hotbed of kidnapping activities and has also witnessed clashes between herders and farmers.

In February, seven persons were kidnapped in Ifon, headquarters of Ose LGA, along the Benin-Owo-Akure road.

Last July, kidnappers shot two people dead and kidnapped five others as they attempted to stop a moving vehicle at the expressway in Ifon.

In November 2020, the traditional ruler of Ifon, the Olufon of Ifon, Israel Adeusi, was killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along the expressway at Elegbeka, in Ose LGA.

PREMIUM TIMES also reports that the latest incident happened a few weeks after gunmen kidnapped and killed a national APC leader in Abuja.

Kidnapping for ransom has become rampant in many parts of Nigeria. The kidnappings are done by diverse armed groups and continue to occur despite the efforts of security agencies.

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Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan triumphed on Tuesday in a privacy violation suit filed against her last year by Kogi State Governors Chief of Staff Ali Bello, but emerged with scathing remarks from the judge criticising her social media conduct.

The judge, Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, ruled that Mr Bello, who is a nephew to immediate past Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, failed to prove how Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans publication on X (formerly Twitter) last year breached his right to privacy.

But Mr Oriji upbraided the senator for her reprehensible social media post, which he adjudged to be unbefitting of her status.

The post in question, tweeted on 15 March 2024 by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, touched on a house with full address given in a choice area of Abuja that was allegedly listed among 14 houses under forfeiture proceedings instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) possibly over corruption allegations.

Dear @OffiicialEFCC why did you delete this post on Facebook after I commented and requested that you kindly help find my favourite storybook The Defeated White Lion at No.1 Dala Hills Street, off Agulu Lakestreet, Maitama Abuja, she wrote on X. That white house was amongst the 14 properties you approached the court for forfeiture in December 2022.

The contentious post did not identify Mr Bello by name, but obliquely mentioned White Lion, by which his uncle  former Governor Yahaya Bello  is informally known.

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The Bellos are facing several corruption charges before separate judges in Abuja over corruption allegations that stemmed from former Governor Bellos eight-year administration in Kogi.

The legal battle

On 21 May 2024, Mr Bello, the Chief of Staff to incumbent Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, sued Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for N1 billion, alleging that the house at the address published in the senators post was his.

He said contrary to the senators assertion, the referenced house neither belonged to former Governor Bello nor was it under any forfeiture order obtained by the EFCC.

He also said the post was filled with innuendos that pointed to him, adding that White Lion referred to in the post was his uncle, the former governors nickname.

Alongside denying the senators allegations, he accused her of submitting a petition against him to the police and the State Security Service (SSS) to strip him of his security apparatus.

Therefore, he alleged that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan violated his fundamental rights to privacy of his home, family life, dignity of person, personal liberty, and the right to own and acquire property under Sections 34(1), 35(1), 37, 43, and 44(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

But Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is under a six-month suspension from the Senate over an unrelated matter, denied the allegations and urged the court to dismiss the suit.

In her counter-affidavit, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Mr Bello had mounted CCTV cameras to monitor her property for political reasons.

She also said she shared the post to notify the EFCC of the whereabouts of the former Governor Bello, who has a running battle with the agency, adding that the property referenced in her post was among some properties under an interim forfeiture order obtained by the EFCC.

During court proceedings on the matter, Mr Bellos lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, argued that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan acted with malice and bad faith. But the senators defence counsel, O.O Ibrahim, maintained that there was nothing to show ill-will to warrant the filing of the suit.

Courts decision

Delivering judgement on Tuesday, Mr Oriji resolved the case, setting out to answer the key questions raised in the suit.

He adopted the questions of whether the X post and petition to the police violated Mr Bellos privacy and the privacy of his home, and whether the applicant was entitled to the prayers sought against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The judge ruled that Mr Bello failed to establish how the post violated his right to privacy. Applicant failed to prove that the respondents post breached his fundamental right to privacy or privacy of his home or any right, Mr Oriji declared.

He noted that the publication by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan did not refer to Mr Bello but his house address which is in a public space. He said reference to the house in the senators post could not have amounted to an intrusion of privacy.

The judge also ruled that the applicant failed to establish that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans petition to the police caused the exposure of the privacy and security of his home.

The court upheld Mr Bellos right to privacy but refused to grant his N1 billion damages claim.

Court scolds Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan

But the judge scolded the senator for her conduct on social media.

He said, It is improper, reprehensible and unconscionable for a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to post the picture of the applicants house and the house address on her X social media page without justification and on the unfounded belief that the property belonged to Yahaya Bello.

He continued, Such conduct must be and is hereby deprecated by the court.

The judgement comes at a time Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing an allegation of violating a gag order barring her and other parties to her Senate suspension suit from speaking to the press or sharing posts concerning the matter on social media.

The political rivalry

The controversial post leading to Mr Bellos suit and eventually Tuesdays judgement is just an episode in the political rivalry between Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and former Governor Bello.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan ran on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against then-Governor Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

She lost the election to the governor, who was reelected to complete two terms in January 2023.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan later moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for the 2023 Kogi Central senatorial seat in the National Assembly.

She initially lost the National Assembly election to then Governor Bellos favoured APC candidate but regained the seat through court intervention months into her four-year tenure.

The hostility between them has not thawed ever since, as both continue to take every opportunity to prove to be each others unyielding adversaries.

The recent suspension of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate for six months and the subsequent failed moves to outrightly recall her excited her political adversaries, including members of former Governor Bellos camp, in her home state.

Her Senate suspension still in place last month, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan defied the Kogi State Governments ban to hold a well-attended homecoming rally in her hometown of Ihima.

About two weeks later, former Governor Bello petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged defamatory remarks Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan made against him at the rally.

Other legal battles

The Bellos and Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan are separately squared up in other legal battles against other opponents.

Ali Bello (Chief of Staff to Kogi governor) is facing prosecution by the EFCC on 18 counts of money laundering to the tune of N3 billion naira. His uncle, the former governor, is also facing N80 billion money laundering charges at the Federal High Court and another N110 billion fraud case at the FCT High Court in Abuja. EFCC instituted both cases last year.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has also been locked in a legal battle with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following a heated argument over sitting arrangements in February, which led to Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension in March. She faces a contempt charge arising from an allegation by Mr Akpabio that she violated a gag order issued by the court.

She accused the senate president of sexual harassment. She also sued Mr Akpabio and his legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, for defamation.

Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the senate president, filed two separate defamation suits against the suspended Kogi senator, demanding N350 billion in damages for reputational harm allegedly inflicted upon her husband.

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A former Governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, has urged President Bola Tinubu to settle a N45 billion debt allegedly owed to late Moshood Abiola.

He made the appeal during the launch of his autobiography, Being True to Myself, held on Tuesday at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

Mr Lamido said the payment would symbolically and morally close the June 12 struggle and Abiolas unjust treatment following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election.

He stated that the 12 June 1993 election is widely believed to have been won by Mr Abiola.

Mr Lamido said, Before concluding, I appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the June 12 chapter.

In his book, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida acknowledged Abiolas victory in that election.

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When I visited him, he also confirmed Abiola is owed N45 billion. He was doubly punished: denied both the presidency and his due.

Mr Lamido urged the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, who represented President Tinubu, to deliver the message to the president.

Please tell the president to pay the Abiola family the N45 billion. That will finally close the June 12 chapter, Mr Lamido emphasised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Babangida recently confirmed, after 32 years, that Mr Abiola had indeed won the historic June 12 election.

The annulment marked a turning point in Nigerias democratic history, triggering political unrest and accelerating Mr Babangidas resignation.

Earlier, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar described Mr Lamidos autobiography as a candid, insightful reflection on Nigerias political journey.

Mr Abubakar, represented by ex-INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, stressed the value of such books in promoting civic awareness and preserving history.

READ ALSO: No president has invested in agriculture like Tinubu

NAN reports that the book was launched by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with Iyorchia Ayu serving as the reviewer.

Mr Ayu described the work as a personal encounter with power and leadership.

Other guests included Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, and Labour Partys 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

(NAN)

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The Senate has called on the federal government to include local government councils from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), to ensure fair representation in the distribution of funds to the three tiers of government.

This resolution was passed on Tuesday following a motion sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and presented during plenary by Kogi East Senator, Isah Jibirin.

The upper chamber said the inclusion of local government representatives in FAAC would ensure full compliance with the July 2024 Supreme Court judgment that mandated the direct disbursement of federal allocations to local government areas, bypassing the state governments.

The local government is Nigerias third tier of government, and the closest to the grassroots.

Despite being constitutionally recognised, the 774 local councils across the country have been financially crippled by state governments who routinely control their federal allocations through controversial state-local government joint accounts.

For more than two decades, successive governors have exercised significant control over local governments, including the arbitrary dissolution of elected council officials, a practice repeatedly declared illegal by various courts. Many local council chairpersons have complained about the lack of access to their funds, with allocations managed opaquely by state authorities.

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In a ruling delivered in July 2024, the Supreme Court affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigerias local governments. It ordered the direct payment of federal allocations to local councils by the Accountant-General of the Federation, bypassing the state-level joint accounts.

The ruling was hailed by many Nigerians as a step toward deepening democracy and restoring grassroots governance. Although, many of the local governments are still battling with their financial autonomy due to the governors influence and control over them.

The motion

In the motion, the deputy senate president noted that by virtue of the Supreme Courts judgment, funds were supposed to be released directly to local governments.

He argued that it is constitutional for local government representatives to now have a seat at the table where revenue is allocated.

Majority of the senators supported it when the motion was put to debate.

Kebbi Central Senator, Adamu Aliero, noted that the inclusion of local government representatives in FAAC would foster greater transparency and accountability.

I fully support the idea of remitting whatever belongs to the local government to their account. This has been the case when we came in 1999. Governors in 1999 didnt even know what the local government chairmen were getting because they were getting their money directly from the federation account, he said.

Plateau South Senator, Simon Lalong, shared experiences from his constituency, where local government officials reportedly had no knowledge of what funds were allocated to them over the past two years.

A few weeks ago, I was in Jos, my state. I asked the local governments and they said in the last two years and they said in the last two years they dont know what theyre giving them. The only avenue that will make them know what is given to them is this action.

Benue North-west Senator, Titus Zam, described the motion as an important step towards strengthening Nigerias democratic structure, adding that true grassroots development could only occur when local councils are financially empowered.

The deputy senate president put the motion to vote and the majority of the senators supported it through voice vote.

Mr Jibrin thereafter approved it and directed that the resolution be communicated to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who doubles as the Chairman of FAAC.

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To break the cycle of insecurity that plagues our nation, we must depoliticise our security system and appoint people with the requisite expertise and skills, who citizens can trust, into crucial roles in the system. This is not a matter of political preference; it is a matter of national survival. The time has come to prioritise competence over political expediency, to place national security above partisan interests, and to build security institutions that are truly accountable to the Nigerian people.

Trust is a function of two things: character and competence.  Stephen R Covey.

During the recent ministerial briefing, where ministers provide updates on their activities to citizens, the Minister for Environment delivered a notably insightful report. However, the subsequent presentation by the Minister of Defence appeared to be a recitation of a political statement, rather than an exposition on national security. The audience raised questions supported by pertinent data. I believe it was the voice of Dr Kabiru Adamu of Beacon Consulting, who referred to recent security statistics and the measures needed to mitigate some of the issues. The Ministers responses were largely unsatisfactory to those with expertise on security issues. Although important, reeling our data on neutralised persons in no way addresses critical concerns. It is vital that we discuss some policy shift around the appointment of ministers with the necessary expertise on national security.

The state of Nigerias security architecture is, to put it mildly, a festering wound. From the insidious creeping in of banditry in the North-West to the relentless insurgency in the North-East, and the pervasive climate of criminality that grips the South, the nation bleeds. And at the heart of this haemorrhage lies a critical, yet often overlooked, flaw: the persistent politicisation of our defence and police institutions. Despite the potential for political, economic, and, particularly, diplomatic solutions, it is ironic that our resource allocation favours other things. In truth, security is too vital a concern to be left to politicians. Yet, in Nigeria, we consistently disregard this wisdom, placing individuals whose primary allegiance is to political expediency, in charge of national security.

The roles of the Ministers of Defence, Interior and Police Affairs, alongside the National Security Adviser (NSA), demand a profound understanding of complex security dynamics, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to the nations well-being. These are not qualities readily found in professional politicians, to whom short-term gains and partisan interests often overshadow long-term national objectives.

The military, police and other law enforcement institutions thrive on a culture of professionalism, discipline, and impartiality. Political appointees, however, often introduce a culture of patronage, in which so many decisions are influenced by political considerations. This erodes the morale of security personnel, undermines their effectiveness, and fosters a climate of distrust.

one must question the value that figures such as Badaru, Matawalle, or Gaidam can add to the formulation of national security policies and implementation. Is their only credential their histories as the chief security officers of states where they served as governors? The operational realities of security at the state level are fundamentally distinct from the complexities of national defence and security. Its difficult to discern any directly transferable experience they have brought to national security discussions.

Respectfully, one must question the value that figures such as Badaru, Matawalle, or Gaidam can add to the formulation of national security policies and implementation. Is their only credential their histories as the chief security officers of states where they served as governors? The operational realities of security at the state level are fundamentally distinct from the complexities of national defence and security. Its difficult to discern any directly transferable experience they have brought to national security discussions. What embodies their histories or experiences to make meaningful contributions to national security?

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This is not to suggest that past ministers, who possessed military or law enforcement backgrounds, were automatically effective on the job. The cases of the immediate past ministers of defence, who were retired Generals, Mansur dan Ali and Bashir Magashi, demonstrate that such credentials do not automatically translate to significant improvements in national security. But experience or knowledge in the subject area matters does.

The point is that when politicians have some degree of control of the security agencies, their operations can become susceptible to political manipulation. Resources may be diverted to serve partisan interests, and security responses may be influenced by political calculations, rather than objective assessments of threats, as Dr Kabiru and others were trying to highlight during the session, but got responses that dont reflect the reality.

What Nigeria desperately needs are individuals with proven track records in security management; individuals who understand the intricacies of modern warfare, diplomacy and law enforcement; and individuals whose loyalty is solely to the nation. Retired military officers with impeccable credentials, seasoned law enforcement professionals, diplomats and experts in security studies, are the individuals who should be considered for these roles.

The defence and policing sectors are highly complex. They demand specialised knowledge of military strategy, law enforcement tactics and security intelligence. Its not about issuing contracts. Placing political figures, who often lack the requisite expertise, in these roles is akin to performing surgery with a blunt instrument.

What Nigeria desperately needs are individuals with proven track records in security management; individuals who understand the intricacies of modern warfare, diplomacy and law enforcement; and individuals whose loyalty is solely to the nation. Retired military officers with impeccable credentials, seasoned law enforcement professionals, diplomats and experts in security studies, are the individuals who should be considered for these roles.

To break the cycle of insecurity that plagues our nation, we must depoliticise our security system and appoint people with the requisite expertise and skills, who citizens can trust, into crucial roles in the system. This is not a matter of political preference; it is a matter of national survival. The time has come to prioritise competence over political expediency, to place national security above partisan interests, and to build security institutions that are truly accountable to the Nigerian people.

Umar Yakubu writes from Abuja.

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Ultimately, OKOBI is not just a policy  it is a cultural and economic movement. It draws strength from deeply held Igbo values, such as Igwebuike (strength in unity) and Ibuanyidanda (no load is too heavy when carried together). These philosophies have long guided the Igbo peoples success, and OKOBI simply gives them a modern platform.

Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing Imo State, Nigeria, and indeed, much of Africa. Estimates suggest that more than 60 per cent of African youths are currently unemployed, and in places like Imo State, this crisis is particularly stark.

With a population of about five million, Imo State is roughly the size of countries like Ireland or Finland. In fact, it has more residents than Luxembourg and nearly eight times the population of Malta. But despite these impressive numbers, the local economy does not reflect its potential. Out of an estimated working population of three million, over one-and-a-half million people are unemployed. That means half of Imos workforce is currently without a job  a situation that demands urgent, innovative solutions.

To put things further into perspective, it is difficult to identify ten private companies in Imo State that employ more than 250 people each. According to standard classifications, any company with fewer than 250 employees is considered a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). However, in Imos case, most fall into the nano or micro category, with only a handful qualifying as even medium-sized. This is not a critique of the states economy but a candid recognition of its current structure  one that is heavily informal and characterised by very small-scale operations.

So, the pressing question is: How does the government reduce such high unemployment?

One traditional approach is to attract foreign investors. But how many would it take to make a real difference? The numbers are staggering. To provide jobs for the one-and-a-half million unemployed residents, the state would need approximately 1,000 companies, each hiring 1,500 people, or 100 companies hiring 15,000 each. For context, massive corporations like Dangote Group and FirstBank each employ around 18,000 people. So, to meet this job demand, Imo would need 100 companies the size of Dangote or FirstBank to relocate or emerge locally  a noble but clearly long-term vision.

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Recognising that such large-scale solutions may take years, the Imo State Government, under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, is thinking differently. Instead of waiting for massive investors to arrive, the government is taking bold steps to empower its own people, especially its youth, with skills and opportunities to create businesses themselves.

One major step in this direction is the states initiative to equip 300,000 Imo youths with digital skills. These young people will be trained in areas such as software development, digital marketing, content creation, and freelancing  all high-demand sectors in todays digital economy. If each trained youth can support or employ just two additional individuals, this initiative could potentially uplift up to 900,000 people. Over 25,000 young people have already received training, showing real momentum and promise.

OKOBI is even more exciting because it is not a government-dependent programme. While the government strongly encourages and supports it, OKOBI is meant to be market-led and community-driven. The goal is to ensure these businesses are sustainable and independent, growing out of genuine commitment, rather than government handouts.

However, not everyone is suited for or interested in a career in the digital space. To address this and to ensure inclusivity in job creation, the government launched the One Kindred One Business Initiative, popularly known as OKOBI.

OKOBI is a community-focused entrepreneurship model that draws on the Igbo peoples long-standing tradition of collective action and shared prosperity. While the word kindred typically refers to extended family or community, it is used more broadly in this context. It can include friends, alumni associations, professional networks, religious groups, or any collection of individuals united by shared goals and values. The core idea is that people with common bonds can pool resources and energy to start businesses together.

To participate in OKOBI, the state government has set several guiding principles. First, any business under the OKOBI umbrella must be officially registered with the relevant regulatory bodies. This is intended to formalise enterprises and reduce the informal nature of the current economy. Second, each OKOBI business must be collectively owned, with a clear intention to generate profit and create employment, meaning these are not charity ventures or community service projects. They are real businesses, designed to thrive and expand. Lastly, each OKOBI business must be located within Imo State. This helps retain skills, money, and talent locally and discourages the ongoing brain drain trend.

OKOBI is even more exciting because it is not a government-dependent programme. While the government strongly encourages and supports it, OKOBI is meant to be market-led and community-driven. The goal is to ensure these businesses are sustainable and independent, growing out of genuine commitment, rather than government handouts.

A thought-provoking question emerges from this model: if federal and state governments can own major companies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria LNG, Imo Standard Shoe Company, and Avutu Modern Poultry, whats stopping villages, communities, and local groups from owning businesses too?

To further support OKOBI, the government is also exploring investment incentives. These include easier access to credit, technical training, and a more business-friendly environment. However, the government is cautious about managing expectations. Past experiences in Nigeria and Imo have shown that initiatives tend to fail when they are treated as giveaways. Therefore, the government urges people to make the first move

There are approximately 656 autonomous communities in Imo State. Imagine if these communities formed just 20 OKOBI businesses, each employing around 25 people. That would instantly create 330,000 new jobs. If this momentum continued over another year or two, its not unrealistic to envision the creation of over a million jobs. This is the power of the OKOBI model  its scalable, replicable, and rooted in the people it serves.

To further support OKOBI, the government is also exploring investment incentives. These include easier access to credit, technical training, and a more business-friendly environment. However, the government is cautious about managing expectations. Past experiences in Nigeria and Imo have shown that initiatives tend to fail when they are treated as giveaways. Therefore, the government urges people to make the first move  to invest their time, energy, and resources, no matter how modest, into these business ventures. OKOBI is based on realism, not entitlement, and its this grounded approach that could make it truly sustainable.

Ultimately, OKOBI is not just a policy  it is a cultural and economic movement. It draws strength from deeply held Igbo values, such as Igwebuike (strength in unity) and Ibuanyidanda (no load is too heavy when carried together). These philosophies have long guided the Igbo peoples success, and OKOBI simply gives them a modern platform.

Encouragingly, people are responding. To date, about 400 OKOBI businesses have been registered, involving over 10,000 active members. These numbers are not just statistics  they represent a growing wave of entrepreneurship, pride, and community empowerment.

As the OKOBI model continues to spread, it could well become a global example of how community-based enterprises can transform local economies. In the future, the OKOBI movement might be recognised as one of Imo States greatest gifts to the world. And if that happens, Senator Hope Uzodimma will surely be remembered as the visionary leader who helped set it all in motion.

Kenneth Amaeshi is a professor of business and sustainable development at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, a professor of sustainable finance at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy, and the Chair of Africapitalism and Economic Development Programme, The New Institute, Hamburg, Germany.

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The stark reality is that Nigeria now operates as an elective dictatorship because those in positions of intermediate power have permitted this situation to arise. A system where regional executives prioritise their own political survival over the sovereignty of their states has already strayed far from the principles of true democracy. The potential for reversing this decline hinges entirely on whether Nigerias governors can rediscover the courage and conviction that their offices demand.

Nigerias fragile democracy is crumbling alarmingly, and the countrys state governors bear direct responsibility for this dangerous decline. Once considered a crucial counterbalance to federal overreach, todays governors have become either willing accomplices or passive enablers of authoritarian rule. Their cowardice and shortsightedness are eroding the foundations of Nigerias federal structure, effectively paving the way for a de facto one-man rule.

The Rivers State Precedent: A Constitutional Crisis

The recent political crisis in Rivers State starkly illustrates this disturbing trend. Nigerias constitutional framework explicitly protects state governors from arbitrary removal, with clear legal precedents affirming this protection. Yet, when federal power was brazenly deployed to undermine a states leadership through allegedly illegal means, the affected governor and his peers response was telling.

Rather than defending his mandate through all available constitutional means, Fubara has chosen appeasement over principle, reportedly seeking reconciliation, instead of mounting a robust legal challenge. This shameful capitulation sets a dangerous new standard  if state executives wont defend their constitutional authority, state autonomy becomes meaningless.

This contrasts starkly with isolated examples of political courage elsewhere in Nigeria, where some leaders have successfully fought electoral manipulation through the courts. However, such cases grow increasingly rare as most governors prioritise political survival over constitutional duty.

The Collapse of Institutional Checks

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Historically, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) represented a potentially powerful check on presidential power, particularly during periods of federal overreach. As an assembly of all 36 state governors, it possessed the collective mandate and political capital to defend state autonomy and the rule of law.

Today, that institution has been neutered  whether through coercion, co-option, or sheer cowardice. The forums muted response to the Rivers crisis and its failure to robustly challenge other instances of executive overreach demonstrate its alarming decline as a meaningful counterweight.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF)s failure to act effectively signifies the breakdown of the last institutional protection against unchecked presidential power, especially considering the federal legislatures susceptibility to party divisions and the increasing politicisation of the judiciary. This has severe consequences

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF)s failure to act effectively signifies the breakdown of the last institutional protection against unchecked presidential power, especially considering the federal legislatures susceptibility to party divisions and the increasing politicisation of the judiciary. This has severe consequences:

The autonomy of states is being systematically undermined through the manipulation of elections, the open disregard for rulings from the courts, and the removal of state officials without regard for constitutional procedures.

Democratic norms are being eroded as governors fail to present a united front against the executive branchs overreaching influence.

The legitimacy of state administrations is being questioned, as governors increasingly seem to prioritise the central governments directives in Abuja over the needs and wishes of the people who elected them.

The Path to One-Man Rule

Nigeria now finds itself in a perilous position. The steady erosion of its federal structure proceeds without constraint due to several critical factors:

State governors are demonstrating a greater fear of the central government than a commitment to upholding their constitutional duties.

The opposition forces lack the necessary unity or resolve to organise meaningful resistance against these trends.

Civil society and the general public have limited avenues for ensuring that leaders are held accountable for their actions.

The immediate future will be telling. Either Nigerias state executives will recognise and act upon their constitutional duties, or they will be remembered as the generation that oversaw the ultimate demise of Nigerian federalism. The decision rests with them, but every Nigerian citizen will bear the ramifications.

The consequence of this is the emergence of a system where the presidency acts without effective constraint, state governments operate more as administrative branches of the centre rather than independent entities, and the democratic safeguards intended to prevent overreach exist in name only.

A Final Warning

This critical juncture demands immediate and decisive action if Nigeria is to avoid a descent into irreversible authoritarianism:

State governors must urgently reassert their constitutional responsibilities by forming a united front against federal overreach and vigorously defending their states autonomy.

The Nigeria Governors Forum must be revitalised and transformed into a robust platform for principled opposition to the executive branchs excesses.

Civil society organisations and the Nigerian electorate must significantly increase the pressure on their leaders to ensure they uphold their democratic obligations and act in accordance with their mandates.

The stark reality is that Nigeria now operates as an elective dictatorship because those in positions of intermediate power have permitted this situation to arise. A system where regional executives prioritise their own political survival over the sovereignty of their states has already strayed far from the principles of true democracy. The potential for reversing this decline hinges entirely on whether Nigerias governors can rediscover the courage and conviction that their offices demand.

The immediate future will be telling. Either Nigerias state executives will recognise and act upon their constitutional duties, or they will be remembered as the generation that oversaw the ultimate demise of Nigerian federalism. The decision rests with them, but every Nigerian citizen will bear the ramifications.

Cheta Nwanze is a partner at SBM Intelligence.

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Governor Uba Sani has been commended for his commitment and the support of Kaduna State Government towards the reform of the New Nigerian Development Company(NNDC).

Speaking during a courtesy call to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna on Monday, the Chairman of NNDC, Dikko Lamis said that the Governors contributions have been critical, and they have not gone unnoticed.

Mr Lamis also saluted the courageous and visionary decision of the Northern States Governors Forum to embark on a comprehensive reform of NNDC.

 This bold initiative is aimed at restoring the Company to the original vision and mission set by the founding fathers  visionaries such as the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, he added.

The Chairman also said that they are committed to the Northern Governors vision of restoring NNDC as a symbol of the regions economic pride.

He promised that we shall embark on the restructuring of the company, provide competent leadership and the required oversight of Management so that NNDC will be restored as the catalyst of the regions development.

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We will pursue our mandate with vigour and fidelitymindful that NNDC is, first and foremost, a limited liability company governed by the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Nigeria Code of Corporate Governance, the Securities and Exchange Act, and all other applicable laws and regulations of both the Federal and Subnational Governments in our areas of operation, he added.

The Chairman promised that as a Board, we will provide strategic direction, set clear performance indicators, and uphold sound corporate governance.

 We are determined to create an enabling environment for our Management and Staff to deliver measurable results aligned with our key performance targets. Importantly, we will hold ourselves accountable  individually and collectively.

We will reward performance and sanction misconduct at all levels, from the Board Chairman to the most junior employee. Integrity, transparency and service excellence will define the new NNDC, he further promised.

Mr Lamis also congratulated Kaduna State Government on the recent ground breaking ceremony of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project.

He said that the initiative will undoubtedly accelerate rural development, enhance food security, stimulate agribusiness, and create significant employment opportunities.

This is the kind of bold and transformative leadership that our region needs. NNDC is ready to fully participate and collaborate with prospective investors in this noble venture.

 We are confident that with progressive leaderships, Kaduna State  and indeed the entire Northern Region  will rise to new heights of prosperity, inclusion and sustainable growth, he said.

Responding, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, said that the Government will need to tap from NNDCs technical expertise from time to time.

Dr Balarabe recalled that several textile industries used to be localised around the Kakuri area in Kaduna metropolis but they are now moribund.

According to her, Kaduna State Government tried to woo investors to revive some of the textiles but the efforts were unsuccessful, adding that with the rejigging of NNDC, the company may succeed in that regard.

The Deputy Governor who said that the NNDC is like a Think-tank, advised the management and board to focus on what to accomplish for the north by way of viable interventions.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Iran will never back down from its principles in ongoing indirect discussions with the US on its nuclear program, said the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Trend reports.

In a meeting with a group of Iranian parliamentarians on May 12, Pezeshkian stressed that Iran does not support or seek tensions.

He further stated that the discussions between Iran and the US are being held in full coordination with Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Governor Dauda Lawal has flagged off the distribution of debit cards for the beneficiaries of the World Bank-financed Cash Transfer Scheme.

The official launch ceremony was held on Monday at the Tsafe local government secretariat.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the initiative is designed to provide each beneficiary with N75,000.00 in financial support.

In his remarks, Governor Lawal reiterated that the ceremony represents a significant moment in his commitment to empowering the most vulnerable people of Zamfara.

It is therefore with a lot of pleasure that I stand before you as we flag off this all-important programme.

Distinguished personalities, guests, this initiative is designed to provide financial support of N75,000.00 each to 448,141 beneficiaries.

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As stated by Honourable Commissioner Kainuwa earlier, out of that expected number, 279,534 beneficiaries have met the minimum requirement to receive N75,000 each. The remaining beneficiaries will be processed and benefit as soon as they are cleared in sha Allah.

To the beneficiaries of this programme, I would like to remind and caution you not to use this intervention only for the usual domestic needs. This empowerment aims to enable you to invest in your future to support yourselves and your families and contribute to the growth of our local and national economy.

I urge you all to use this opportunity wisely, invest in entrepreneurship, and become self-reliant.

The governor thanked the Federal Government, partners, and stakeholders, especially the National Cash Transfer Office, for their dedication and significant contributions to the programme.

Let me take this opportunity to assure you all that our administration will continue to partner with any individual or organisation for the betterment and development of our dear state.

With these few, it is my honor to flag off hereby the distribution and activation of the debit cards to facilitate the Conditional Cash Transfer payments to the deserving beneficiaries.

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In the ever-evolving landscape of Nigerias pharmaceutical industry, Fidson Healthcare Plc continues to distinguish itself as the industry leader. Despite the shifting global supply chains, currency volatility, and growing public health needs, the company remains driven by innovation, strategic foresight, and an unyielding commitment to quality healthcare delivery. The recently released 2024 audited financial statements present more than just a healthy balance sheet; they offer compelling evidence of a company firmly positioned at the forefront of its sector, shaping the future of healthcare in Nigeria with bold and deliberate strides.

The proudly Nigerian company, which hit the 30-year milestone in 2025, has demonstrated a strong growth trajectory over the years, making it an attractive prospect for investors. Today, it is the largest pharmaceutical company in Nigeria with a market capitalisation of approximately N44.64 billion as of April 2025. According to the 2024 audited financial statements, Fidson recorded a 59 per cent increase in revenue, growing from 53.1 billion in 2023 to 84.2 billion. While profits before tax rose to 7.7 billion, representing a 30 per cent growth, the net profit surged by an impressive 60 per cent to 5.78 billion. In his statement, the Finance Director, Imokha Ayebae, explained that these achievements were not accidental. They were the result of operational efficiency, prudent financial management, and a good relationship with critical stakeholders in the Nigerian market.

Also, earnings per share climbed from 157 kobo to 252 kobo, and net asset per share rose by 23 per cent to 1,034 kobosignaling strong shareholder value creation. In a bold expression of confidence in its future cash flow and profitability, the company proposes an increase in its dividend payout from 0.60 to 1.00 per share, amounting to 2.29 billion in total.

This remarkable financial success rides on Fidsons clinical adherence to global standards in every facet of the organisations processes. At the core of its business is the world-class WHO-complaint manufacturing facility in Ogun State. The Deputy Managing Director, Biola Adebayo, revealed that the company invests heavily in its manufacturing capabilities. Since embarking on local production in 2002, the company has maintained a steady growth trajectory, consistently expanding its production capabilities in line with the current Global Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).

In 2024 alone, Fidson reinforced this edge by investing over 3.7 billion in property, plant, and equipment, signifying not just a commitment to meeting growing demand but also a strategic focus on reducing dependence on imported drugs. The companys ability to produce high-quality pharmaceutical products locallyfrom tablets to infusions and injectables is unrivaled. Today, Fidson is the leading LVP manufacturer in Africa, producing over 120 million bottles annually. The company is also the manufacturer of glass-ampoule injectables in Nigeria. This has played a pivotal role in enhancing national health security while simultaneously fostering affordability and accessibility across the country.

Complementing these manufacturing capabilities is a robust logistics and distribution system. The company has cultivated a vast and reliable network that spans all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, ensuring the seamless movement of products from factory floors to hospital shelves and retail pharmacies. With 11 purpose-built depots operated across Nigerias geopolitical regions already, more depots are in the works to ensure efficient distribution of life-saving medicines to reinforce the brands reputation for reliability in a market where timely access to medicines is critical.

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Yet, Fidsons most valuable asset remains its people. With a workforce of over 1,709 employees, the company has cultivated a culture rooted in professionalism, inclusivity, and continuous learning. It maintains a policy of non-discrimination, offering equal opportunities to all. Beyond statutory obligations, the company goes further to prioritise employee well-being by offering comprehensive health insurance for all staff, performance-based incentives and even free meals for low-income workers. Its approach to talent developmentthrough training, upskilling, and leadership groominghas created a resilient and motivated team capable of navigating the dynamic terrain of pharmaceutical manufacturing, marketing and distribution.

In 2025, Fidson Healthcare strives to expand its leadership. With continued investments in infrastructure and expertise, actively exploring new markets across Africa, and strategic partnerships across the healthcare value chain, the company is poised to deepen its market penetration and broaden its impact on public health outcomes in Africa. Its CSR expenditure (amounting to 248 million in 2024) demonstrates a deep sense of social responsibility, further strengthening its community ties, corporate legacy and environmental sustainability.

Fidson Healthcare is more than a pharmaceutical company; it is a symbol of national pride and resilience. With visionary leadership, a dynamic workforce, and a steadfast commitment to innovation and excellence, Fidson is on course to not only lead the pharmaceutical industry in 2025but to define its future.

For enquiries, contact

Temitope Akindele

Corporate Services Manager

[email protected]

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Nigeria has rapidly emerged as a global hub for peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency trading, driven by the nations youthful population, increasing internet penetration, and the quest for financial independence. As traditional banking systems struggle to meet the needs of the unbanked and underbanked, Nigerians are turning to cryptocurrency as a viable alternative. At the forefront of this revolution is Local Traders, a pioneering P2P crypto exchange that is transforming the trading landscape in Nigeria.

The Rise of P2P Crypto Trading in Nigeria

The appeal of P2P trading lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Unlike conventional exchanges, P2P platforms allow users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly with one another, bypassing intermediaries and reducing transaction fees. This model has gained traction in Nigeria, where financial inclusivity is paramount. With Local Traders, users can conduct transactions using various payment methods, including bank transfers, mobile money, and even gift cards, making it easier than ever to engage in the crypto market.

Empowering Users with Innovative Features

Local Traders stand out from other exchanges by prioritizing user experience and security. The platforms user-friendly interface allows both novices and experienced traders to navigate the crypto landscape with ease.

Here are some of the key features that set Local Traders apart:

Zero Fees for Transactions

Local Traders is committed to providing users with a seamless trading experience, and that starts with zero transaction fees. This means you keep more of your hard-earned crypto, allowing for better trading and investment opportunities.

Wide Cryptocurrency Support

Local Traders facilitate seamless transactions across a diverse range of major cryptocurrencies, including:

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

 Bitcoin (BTC)

 Tether (USDT)

 USD Coin (USDC)

 Binance Coin (BNB)

 Ethereum (ETH)

 Local Traders Coin (LCT)

This extensive selection empowers users to diversify their portfolios and engage with some of the most popular digital assets in the market.

Diverse Payment Methods

With over 750+ payment options, Local Traders offers unparalleled flexibility for users. The platform supports a wide array of internationally recognized payment methods, including:

 Bank Transfers

 Digital Wallets

 Gift Cards

 PayPal

 Payoneer

 Wise

This extensive variety makes it easy for users from around the globe to trade cryptocurrencies effortlessly, catering to different preferences and needs.

150+ Fiat Currencies

Experience seamless trading across a vast array of fiat currenciesover 150 in total! Whether youre in Africa, Asia, or anywhere else in the world, Local Traders empowers you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with ease. Our platform bridges the gap between traditional finance and the crypto market, allowing you to transact in your local currency and enjoy a truly global trading experience.

Robust Security Measures

At Local Traders, your security is our utmost priority. We employ advanced security protocols to safeguard your transactions and account access, including:

 Advanced Escrow Services

 Two-factor authentication (2FA)

 Session IP Logs for enhanced monitoring

 Cold Wallet Storage to keep your funds safe from online threats

Additionally, our dedicated dispute resolution team is available 24/7 to assist users with any issues that may arise, providing peace of mind as you trade.

Multilingual Support

Local Traders is committed to serving a global audience by offering multilingual support in over 40 languages. This ensures that traders from diverse backgrounds can navigate our platform effortlessly and enjoy a seamless trading experience, regardless of their location. We believe that language should never be a barrier to trading, and our extensive language options reflect our dedication to inclusivity and accessibility.

P2P Merchant Program

For merchants, Local Traders offer a dedicated checkmark on their profiles, enhancing credibility and visibility within the platform. This special recognition not only attracts more users but also increases trading opportunities, enabling merchants to connect with a vibrant community of crypto enthusiasts eager to transact.

We are excited to introduce Local Traders to the market, empowering users with a secure and transparent P2P trading environment, said Abdul Rehman, Founder of Local Traders. Our mission is to revolutionize the way people trade cryptocurrencies by providing a reliable platform that prioritizes low fees, extensive payment options, and top-notch security. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in the crypto revolution.

Ready to Trade? Heres How to Get Started

Getting started with trading on Local Traders is easy and straightforward. Just follow these simple steps to embark on your P2P crypto trading journey:

 Sign Up

Visit  Local Traders and create your account in just a few minutes. The registration process is user-friendly and quick, ensuring you can start trading without any delays.

 Complete KYC

Quickly verify your identity through our streamlined KYC process. This ensures both safety and compliance, providing you with peace of mind as you trade.

 Deposit Crypto

Securely deposit your preferred cryptocurrency into your Local Traders wallet. Our platform supports a variety of cryptocurrencies, so you can choose the one that suits you best.

 Start Trading

Choose from a wide range of offers or create your own listing to trade with confidence. Explore the market and connect with other traders who share your interests.

Dont miss out on the opportunity to be part of the next big thing in P2P crypto trading. Join us now and experience the future of crypto trading at Local Traders!

About Local Traders

Local Traders is a cutting-edge P2P crypto marketplace committed to delivering a secure and seamless trading experience. Based in Chile, South America, Local Traders SpA is a registered entity with VAT: 77603426-6. We empower users by providing accessible and efficient cryptocurrency transactions that cater to both newcomers and seasoned traders alike.

Join us Today in redefining the future of crypto trading!

 Website:  Local Traders P2P Crypto Exchange

 X (Formerly Twitter): @LOCALTRADERSCL

 Instagram: @localtraderscl

 LinkedIn: Local Traders

 Telegram Global Community: Join our Telegram

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At least seven soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a military base in the Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

Although the authorities have yet to confirm the attack, sources, including a local media outfit, YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, said it occurred on Monday afternoon, citing Civilian Joint Task Force members as their sources.

The terrorists stormed the base and overpowered the soldiers.

During the attack, the terrorists seized three gun trucks and 70 motorcycles intended for counter-terrorism operations and set the military base ablaze.

A video circulated on social media shows bodies covered with leaves and colleagues trying to identify the dead.

The military has not issued a statement on the attack.

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ISWAP, a splinter group of Boko Haram, has increased attacks on military and civilian targets in recent months.

Local authorities fear the looted motorbikes and trucks could aid ISWAPs mobility.

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Tension is rising in Borno State after Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents attacked four military bases, killing soldiers and stealing military vehicles, between Monday and Tuesday in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported Tuesday morning how suspected members of ISWAP attacked a military base in Marte late Monday night, killing seven soldiers and seizing three gun trucks.

Less than 24 hours after that attack on Marte, the insurgents attacked three more military bases in Dikwa, Rann, and Gajiram..

Update on Marte Attack

Suspected members of ISWAP carried out the first attack on the Forward Operation Base, 153 Battalion, located in Marte Local Government Area, minutes before 3 a.m. on Monday.

Sources who spoke to this reporter said the insurgents infiltrated Marte on foot from different directions, cordoned off the area and forced the soldiers to withdraw to Dikwa, a neighbouring community.

The attack caught the soldiers unaware, a Civilian Joint Task Force member revealed, adding that apart from the seven soldiers killed, the whereabouts of a few others were still unknown.

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However, the source disputed reports that the insurgents stole three gun trucks from the base, stating that the assets were burned down along with the military base and other vehicles, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

A local platform, YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, reported that on Monday morning, the insurgents were seen moving with their stolen motorcycles, weapons, and foodstuffs heading in the direction of Chukungudu, Krenuwa, and Klabariya, all villages within Borno and beyond.

How insurgents attacked Dikwa

In Dikwa, the headquarters of Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno state, the terrorists had a fierce battle with Nigerian Army troops.

They launched the attack about 13 hours after Mondays attack on Marte. A source in Dikwa, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the troops dealt with the insurgents

He explained that the attack, which started around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, was quelled by the army, air force, and the civilian joint task force fighters after an hour.

Rann Attack

The insurgents were also reported to have attacked the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Area of Borno state, almost at the same time as they attacked Dikwa.

Sources, including YERWA EXPRESS NEWS, said the attack began around 12 am on Tuesday. They attacked the military formation with heavy machinery, casting fear among the people of the community.

Five soldiers were confirmed dead, while six soldiers were injured. They also snatched three gun trucks before leaving the base, YERWA EXPRESS NEWS reported, quoting a source.

Gajiram attack

At Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area, sources said the insurgents launched their attack minutes after midnight on Tuesday, but were repelled. The terrorists retreated after an hour of a gun battle with troops.

The Boko Haram came a minute past midnight. The soldiers chased them away. The terrorists only succeeded in burning a stool in Gajiram, nothing more, a source in Gajiram told this reporter, requesting anonymity.

Governor Zulum confirms the attack

In a statement on Tuesday, Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP in various parts of the state.

Mr Zulum also sympathised with the victims of a bomb blast along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which occurred last Monday.

These acts of terror are deeply condemnable. The recent tragic loss of our education staff, gallant troops, and innocent civilians is a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face.

I am more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state, Mr Zulum said through his spokesperson, Dauda Illiya.

The governor recalled his recent visit to Gwoza, where he engaged with military personnel and the Izge community, as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce resilience and protect lives and property.

The recent surge in attacks will not deter our resolve to tackle the scourge of the 16-year-long insurgency. I urge the people of Borno to remain resilient and prayerful. This is a partial eclipse  and we shall overcome it, Insha Allah, the governor assured.

Mr Zulum extended his prayers to the families of the fallen heroes, innocent civilians, and all citizens of Borno State.

The Nigerian military has yet to speak on the attacks.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed 27 June to deliver judgement on Kogi central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghans suit challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate.

The judge, Binta Nyako, on Tuesday, scheduled the case for judgement after all parties, through their respective lawyers, adopted their respective filings and made closing arguments.

Announcing her plan after listening to the lawyers, the judge said her judgement would address other ancillary matters, which arose in the intervening period between the filing and the final hearing of the suit.

She said the judgment would decide on the counter-contempt charges that arose in the case and the preliminary objection filed by all the defendants, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

I want to believe that all processes are in.

What I am going to do is to first look at the issues of contempt and take a decision on it.

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Then I will look at the notices of preliminary objection. If they succeed, that is the end of the case and if they dont, I will look at the originating summons filed by the plaintiff, the judge said, nailing down how she intended to go about the judgement on 27 June.

By the date scheduled for the judgement, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan would have served nearly four months of the six-month suspension from the Senate.

Ms Akpoti-Uduaghan filed the suit in March, initially, to halt an investigation by the Senate and its Committee on Ethics into alleged misconduct stemming from Senate proceedings where she had an altercation with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over her assigned seat.

In the suit, she sued the Clerk of the Senate, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio and Neda Imasuem, who is the chairperson, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct.

Despite the suit and the initial restraining order issued by the former judge Obiora Egwuatu asking the Senate to stay action on its disciplinary proceedings, the Senate proceeded to suspend her on 6 March for six months.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a contempt complaint against Mr Akpabio and other relevant Senate officers for disobeying the order halting the disciplinary action against her.

As the case progressed in court, the matter continued to stir up public commentaries in the media, prompting Mr Akpabio to apply to the court to bar parties to the suit from speaking to the press or sharing social media posts about the matter.

However, late last month, Mrs Akpoti-Natasha mocked Mr Akpabio with a satirical apology social posted on social media platforms.

In the aftermath of the post, Mr Akpabios legal team lodged a contempt complaint against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of violating the courts gag order banning interviews and such a social media post while the case lasted.

However, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan countered the application, urging the court to dismiss it.

The matter has attracted both local and international media attention, further intensified by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Akpabio. The Senate dismissed her sexual harassment petitions on two occasions, while Mr Akpabio vehemently denied the charge.

Hearing

The suspended senator was present in court on Tuesday to observe proceedings.

At the hearing, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans lawyer, Michael Numan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the judge to grant the senators prayers, including declaring that her suspension by the Senate as unlawful.

Mr Numan countered the contempt application filed against her by Mr Akpabio and the Senate, arguing that the post by his client was related to the sexual harassment allegation and not the suspension issue before the court.

On his part, the lawyer to the Clerk of the Senate, Charles Yoila, urged the court to decline jurisdiction on the matter, while adopting his processes.

The counsel for the Senate and Mr Akpabio, Joseph Daudu, a SAN, and Kehinde Ogunwumiju, another SAN, respectively, also took their turns to urge the judge to cite Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt over her satirical apology post allegedly violating the courts gag order.

Mr Ogunwumiju (Mr Akpabios lawyer) urged the court to uphold his clients preliminary objection and dismiss Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans case for being an academic exercise.

A preliminary objection is a legal objection raised by a defendant at the beginning of a case, challenging the legal basis of the claim made by the plaintiff.

READ ALSO: Court jails popular Nigerian content creators for Naira abuse

Background

The Senate cited Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans refusal to adhere to its sitting arrangement, and alleged misconduct during a plenary session on 20 February as the primary reasons for her suspension.

Aside from suspending her, the upper legislative chamber withdrew her security aides, locked her Senate office, suspended her salary and allowances, and banned her from entering the National Assembly premises.

Reacting in a statement, the embattled senator said she would never apologize.

She added she stood firmly in the fight for justice

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arrested Lagos socialite Fred Ajudua over a $1.43 million fraud case that has lasted about two decades.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt from sources without authority to discuss the matter with the media that the anti-graft agencys operatives arrested Mr Ajudua in Abuja on Tuesday.

The development came just days after Fridays judgement of the Supreme Court revoking a 2018 controversial bail granted to him by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal in a case the EFCC has been prosecuting since 2005.

The Supreme Courts ruling upholding the EFCCs appeal against the bail ordered Mr Ajuduas arrest and his detention in a correctional centre.

The EFCC is set to continue proceedings against Mr Ajudua in a fraud trial that has spanned nearly two decades, moving through multiple judges while facing numerous obstacles and systemic challenges in the Nigerian courts.

These setbacks have prolonged the trial, making it one of the longest-running fraud cases in Nigerias trial courts.

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Mr Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly obtaining over $1 million ($1,043,000) from a Palestinian, Zad Abu Zalaf, under false pretences in 1993.

Mr Ajudua faces 12 amended counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, forgery, and uttering forged documents before trial judge Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

The Supreme Courts Fridays decision restored the ruling of Ms Dada, who had previously refused Mr Ajudua bail due to what she described as a history of frustrating judicial proceedings.

Case timeline

The fraud case, which has spanned decades, was first assigned to M.O. Obadina in 2005.

Mr Ajudua failed to appear in court on at least 24 occasions between 2005 and 2009, stalling his arraignment.

The case was eventually struck out in 2009 and only reinstated in 2017 following EFCCs application to re-list the matter.

In June 2018, Mr Ajudua was finally arraigned before Ms Dada after the case had passed through multiple judges.

However, the Court of Appeal later granted him bail and ordered that the case be transferred to a new judge to start afresh.

But the EFCC was dissatisfied with the appellate courts decisions, and approached the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court agreed with the commission and reversed both rulings.

The Supreme Court ordered Mr Ajuduas remand in a correctional facility and directed that the case continue before Ms Dada.

Key witness testimony

At the heart of the allegations is the testimony of German businessman Michael Kreamer, who claimed he was introduced to Mr Ajudua through Mr Zalaf.

Mr Kreamer, a luxury car dealer, testified that he gave Mr Zalaf $550,000 in cash in 1993 to support a purported business deal with Mr Ajudua in Nigeria.

Testifying before Ms Dada, Mr Kreamer recounted how he was convinced of Mr Ajuduas credibility after visiting an office filled with exotic cars and men in uniform.

He said he handed over the money after receiving what he thought was a legitimate receipt signed by Mr Ajudua.

However, upon returning to Germany, he received no communication from Mr Zalaf and eventually discovered he had been defrauded.

According to the EFCC, Mr Ajudua and his alleged accomplice, Joseph Ochunor (still at large), forged documents purportedly issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to give the scam credibility.

The prosecution said they fraudulently obtained $268,000 from Mr Zalaf on 2 April 1993, and an additional $225,000 on 12 May 1993.

Medical bail controversy

Mr Ajudua, who previously claimed to suffer from serious health conditions including a single functional kidney, secured bail on medical grounds in a similar case before another judge, Josephine Oyefeso.

The defences lawyer, Norrison Quakers who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued for similar leniency in the current case.

But the EFCC opposed the application, citing Mr Ajuduas history of absconding and failing to meet court dates.

Mr Dada denied him bail, ruling that the health-related adjournments had already delayed the trial for over 13 years and that further delays were unjustifiable.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court held that the appeal challenging the transfer of the case to another judge for a new trial had become academic, since it had also reversed the bail decision.

It directed the chief judge of Lagos State to ensure the matter resumes promptly before Ms Dada.

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 1Konto, the institutional platform transforming global settlement through stablecoin infrastructure, has won the 2025 Fintech Meetup Pitch Competition. The company was selected as the top innovator among hundreds of fintech startups and growth-stage ventures building the future of financial infrastructure.

1Konto Wins Fintech Meetup Pitch Competition, Advancing Real-Time Cross-Border Settlement for Institutions

Trusted by banks, corporate FX platforms, and payment service providers, 1Konto is enabling real-time cross-border payments and FX settlement for institutions at scale. The company's flagship platform, 1KPrime, replaces outdated SWIFT-based workflows with capital-efficient digital rails that reduce settlement times from days to minutes. The prize included a $50,000 investment from Commerce Ventures. Judges included senior leaders from Commerce Ventures, J.P. Morgan, Mastercard, and Goodwin Law.

"After completing extensive theme work on stablecoin infrastructure for cross-border payments, 1Konto's presentation at Fintech Meetup stood out to us as a real-world solution that institutions are already using at scale," said Dan Rosen, General Partner at Commerce Ventures. "It represents exactly the kind of infrastructure layer we think is critical in this next phase of FinTech innovation."

"Winning this competition reflects the market's demand for faster, smarter infrastructure," said Edwin Handschuh, Cofounder and CEO of 1Konto. "Our real-time settlement platform is solving critical friction for institutions  especially those moving funds across borders with stablecoins."

1Konto's platform enables under-one-hour settlement, deep liquidity access via OTC and API, and integrated compliance controls designed to streamline complex fund flows across fiat and stablecoins. Clients use 1KPrime to move money across USD, EUR, GBP, MXN, AUD, and major stablecoins in a compliant, transparent, and capital-efficient manner.

The company has processed over $3.5 billion in volume and serves over 80 institutional counterparties. Revenue has increased more than 7.4x year-over-year as adoption accelerates across the payments and capital markets sectors.

Following the competition win, 1Konto is focused on expanding its institutional client base, launching additional settlement corridors, and deepening integrations with leading custodians and liquidity providers. Through the rest of the year, the company will continue building out automated, composable fund flows to support scalable global treasury operations.

Where We're Headed

As traditional financial institutions increasingly seek faster, programmable alternatives to legacy rails, 1Konto is positioning itself as the aggregation and orchestration layer connecting global capital flows. In addition to expanding corridor coverage, the company is developing infrastructure to support automated, rules-based treasury workflows. This will enable counterparties to initiate, route, and settle payments programmatically across fiat and stablecoins. With growing demand from regional and global banks, cross-border PSPs, and corporate FX platforms, 1Konto's roadmap includes deeper integrations with banking and custody partners, expanded access via white-label APIs, and real-time audit trails to support compliance in multi-jurisdictional environments. This next phase of infrastructure aims to give institutions more control, speed, and transparency in how they move value globally.

About 1Konto

1Konto is building the neo-industrial bank powering the next generation of financial platforms. Operating at the core of institutional fund flows, 1Konto replaces outdated FX, payments, and settlement systems with real-time, programmable infrastructure built on stablecoins. Trusted by banks, corporate FX platforms, payment service providers, asset managers, and OTC desks, 1Konto enables fast, compliant, and capital-efficient trading, treasury, and cross-border settlement across fiat and digital assets.

Media Contact:

Alexandra Cech

302-291-2479

[email protected]

SOURCE 1Konto Inc.
TruLife Distribution CEO Sees Sustainability as a Major Differentiating Factor in a Crowded Marketplace This Year

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- It's hard to predict the specific value of the health and wellness sector. McKinsey and Company said that the "consumer wellness market" was worth $1.8 trillion in 2024. The Global Wellness Institute estimated that the "Global Wellness Economy" in 2023 stood at $6.3 trillion . Grand View Research specifically put the U.S. nutraceutical market size at $163.7 billion in 2024. Regardless of the specific number, all of these estimates reveal a consistent fact: The health and wellness economy is big.

While this is good news in terms of finding consumers willing to spend money on effective solutions, it also means business owners in this sector are operating in a large, saturated environment. As holistic health has grown in popularity in recent years, it has increased competition and made a brand's unique selling points not just helpful but essential in cutting through the crowds.

Brian Gould, CEO of the health and wellness marketing and distribution agency TruLife Distribution, thinks sustainability will be a key factor in helping brands stand out in 2025.

"Sustainability isn't new," Gould said. "But that doesn't mean it's old news, either. As more reports put an emphasis on the changing climate and natural disasters ramp up attention on weather events, it is making people seriously consider investing in living sustainable lives."

Gould adds that sustainability has a universal appeal. Being a good steward of the earth is attractive to a parent with young children. It is also on the minds of a mission-driven generation of Gen Zers and the Gen Alpha crowd following in tow. Older folks have climate concerns, too, and often in very real ways, like when a hurricane blows through their otherwise idyllic retirement setting in Florida or South Carolina.

"The reality," Gould said, "Is that an eco-friendly message resonates with a lot of people right now, and brands that can weave it into their business model stand to gain a competitive advantage." This doesn't have to mean a green-focused label or a sustainably-obsessed brand philosophy, either. Sometimes it's as simple as sourcing ingredients responsibly or caring about where your plastic packaging comes from.

When brands can send those small signals that they care about the details that resonate with their audience, they can stand out in an industry where every positive factor counts.

For more TruLife Distribution reviews and insights on the 2025 health and wellness market from Brian Gould, read his recent resource on forecasting 2025 health trends .

About TruLife Distribution

TruLife Distribution is the brainchild of Brian Gould, whose extensive industry knowledge comes from both personal experience and familial expertise stemming from three previous generations of manufacturing and retail distribution professionals. His company has a robust brick-and-mortar distribution network, is run by a team of veteran professionals, and offers a full-service experience that includes sales, marketing, and distribution. Learn more about TruLife Distribution at trulifedist.com .

Media Contact:

TruLife Distribution

(954) 414-0380

[email protected]

SOURCE TruLife Distribution
Texas-based students place 2nd in the world and 1st in the U.S., showcasing the power of real-world learning and AI fluency at Alpha School

AUSTIN, Texas, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Two students from GT School, Krish Bhakta and Jaiden Bhakta, have achieved an extraordinary global milestone, placing 2nd in the world and 1st in the U.S. in the prestigious Global AI Debates, a worldwide competition that drew over 1,000 entries and 10,000 student participants. GT School is a private, K-8 institution for gifted and talented learners and serves as a sister school to Alpha School.

Among the standout performers were 10-year-old Everest Nevraumont, and 12-year-old Lucas Sanner, who both placed 5th in the world, competing against peers from around the globe in a tournament designed to test AI fluency, critical thinking, and public speaking skills.

The Global AI Debates challenge students to grapple with some of the most complex ethical and societal questions surrounding artificial intelligence. Participants must not only demonstrate deep knowledge of emerging technologies, but also exhibit real-time reasoning, persuasive communication, and collaborative problem-solving-skills at the heart of Alpha's innovative approach to education.

"This achievement reflects everything we believe in at GT & Alpha Schools-that when students are empowered with real-world tools, rigorous challenge, and meaningful purpose, there's no limit to what they can accomplish," said MacKenzie Price, founder of Alpha School.

Founded by MacKenzie Price, Alpha School has garnered national attention for its groundbreaking model that enables students to master core subjects-reading, math, social studies, and English-in just two hours each morning. Afternoons are dedicated to project-based workshops in topics like financial literacy, teamwork, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and leadership, allowing students to explore their interests while building essential life skills.

Alpha's accelerated learning model helps students advance 2 to 4 times faster than traditional methods, while also guiding them to align their passions with meaningful, purpose-driven pursuits.

With campuses across Texas, Alpha School has recently confirmed new locations in New York and Tampa, and is actively exploring expansion in Aspen, Houston, Ft. Worth, Orlando, Phoenix, Santa Barbara, and West Palm Beach.

At GT & Alpha Schools, students learn at their own pace using adaptive software in core subjects, then apply those skills in real-world simulations-launching businesses such as an Airbnb and food truck, debating ethical dilemmas such as best uses for AI globally, leading team projects, and even using AI as a creative collaborator. Alpha's approach is deeply student-centered, designed to nurture lifelong learners who lead with purpose.

"Krish, Jaiden, Everest and other finalists aren't just learning about AI-they're learning with it and using that knowledge to lead conversations that will shape their generation," added Price.

With these wins, Alpha School continues to prove what's possible when education breaks the mold-and students take the lead.

Learn more at https://alpha.school or follow @AlphaSchools on social media.

SOURCE Alpha School
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Uranium enrichment remains one of Iran's red lines in ongoing indirect talks with the U.S., Irans Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said, Trend reports.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran's Parliament on May 13, Gharibabadi stated that the enrichment process has come at a significant cost to Iran, and the country will not back down on this issue.

He further explained that during the 4th round of talks between Iran and the U.S., American officials were criticized for their contradictory positions and the sanctions imposed on Iran. Gharibabadi added that if the U.S. expects Iran to reduce uranium enrichment to zero, there is no need for further discussions from Iran's side.

The deputy minister emphasized that the indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. have not addressed regional issues, Iran's defense capabilities, or its missile program.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
PHILADELPHIA, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeion Group, a premier provider of innovative legal administration and group litigation support services, is proud to announce the appointment of Jade Weiner as UK Vice President of Business Development. This strategic addition marks a continued investment in international growth and client-focused leadership across the collective redress sector.

Jade will serve as UK Vice President of Business Development at Angeion Group, where she will collaborate with law firms, litigation funders, and other stakeholders to deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions for complex group claims. In her role, she will lead business development initiatives across the United Kingdom and Europe, deepening partnerships and driving innovation in the fast-evolving landscape of collective redress.

A qualified lawyer, notary public, and mediator, Jade brings global experience across the group litigation lifecycleparticularly in large-scale environmental and consumer claims. Prior to joining Angeion, she held senior leadership roles at a major international group litigation firm, where she led landmark NOx emissions cases, developed cross-border strategies, and helped build infrastructure for some of the largest claims in history.

"Joining Angeion represents an exciting next chapter in my career  a transition from the practice of law to the business of law, where I can apply my legal, strategic and commercial experience in a way that drives innovation and global collaboration," said Jade Weiner. "What makes this move especially meaningful is how closely Angeion's mission aligns with my own values and aspirations  a commitment to access to justice, client-centered thinking, and integrity in execution. It's a privilege to be joining a team that approaches group litigation not just as a business, but as a vehicle for impact and accountability. I'm energized by the opportunity to help shape and scale Angeion's success internationally."

"Jade's appointment is a clear reflection of our dedication to expanding Angeion's global footprint with exceptional talent," said Eric Eckhardt, Chief Revenue Officer of Angeion Group. "Her unique blend of legal expertise, strategic insight, and international experience makes her ideally suited to lead our UK business development efforts. We are excited to see the impact Jade will make as we continue to strengthen our presence in key markets and deliver unmatched service to our clients."

Jade's legal journey began in the human rights sector, clerking for the Chief Justice of South Africa and working on constitutional matters including access to education, socio-economic rights, and gender justice. Her experience in NPOs, public interest law, and legal tech startups continues to shape her passion for improving transparency, access, and delivery for claimants.

She holds a BCL as a Weidenfeld-Hoffman and Chevening Scholar from the University of Oxford, a Diploma in Organizational Leadership (with Distinction) from Oxford Said Business School and is currently pursuing her Executive MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School, supported by a Scholarship for Women.

Jade's appointment underscores Angeion Group's unwavering commitment to excellence, transparency, and client success in every jurisdiction it serves.

About Angeion Group

Angeion Group is an industry leader in legal notice and settlement administration, known for its use of technology, analytics, and hands-on client support to execute efficient, compliant, and effective legal administration services. With a proven track record in class action, mass tort, and bankruptcy administration, Angeion continues to redefine industry standards through precision, transparency, and innovation.

Media Contact:

Shiri Lasman

Angeion Group

(215) 563-4116

SOURCE Angeion Group
MUNICH, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- May 7-9, Antaisolar participated in Intersolar Europe 2025, presenting its distinctive brand identity and comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) mounting solutions tailored for the European market. The showcase included smart tracking systems, distributed rooftop solutions, carports, and ground-mounted structures.

As a key global PV market, Europe is projected to see demand reach a hundred-gigawatt scale in 2025. Different regions exhibit diverse requirements shaped by geography, industrial structures, and energy policiesranging from large-scale ground-mounted power plants to commercial/industrial rooftops, and emerging applications in innovative scenarios. Antaisolar has keenly identified these nuances, developing specialized solutions such as the TAI-Space multi-rotation single-axis 1P independent tracking system for utility-scale projects, the MetaRoof series for rooftop installations, four-pillar PV carports, and integrated fence/balcony systems. Antaisolar highlighted its next-generation solar roof designing platform - SolarAid, dedicated to simplifying the design and quoting process of rooftop PV projects for both end-users and distributors.

The company's ability to deliver market-specific solutions stems from its robust localized support framework. Anchored by its R&D center in Spain and subsidiary in the Netherlands, Antaisolar provides localized design services, rapid delivery, and comprehensive operation/maintenance supportensuring products align seamlessly with regional regulatory requirements, climatic conditions, and market expectations across Europe.

During Intersolar Europe 2025, Antaisolar further strengthened its European footprint by signing a 120MW distribution agreement with French distributor Sunliberty, underscoring Antaisolar's growing influence in the region. With Europe's energy transition accelerating, the PV market's potential is set to expand further. Antaisolar is poised to leverage its all scenario mounting solutions and SolarAid intelligent system to offer European customers more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective choices, driving the continent's shift toward sustainable energy.

About Antaisolar:

Antaisolar, expert in digital intelligent PV mounting system solutions, is a pioneer in renewable energy solutions specializing in structure and automation control. It ranks among the top 500 global new energy companies and is one of the top ten tracking system brands worldwide.As of 2024, the company's cumulative global shipment has reached 41.7GW, with leading positions in markets such as Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

Learn More: antaisolar.com
Launching across over 30 countries, "L'unico. Per tutti" is a universal message that reinforces Aperol's place at the heart of social moments and everywhere. Created in partnership with DDB Paris, the hero film captures the journey of an Aperol Spritz being served on a vibrant bar terrace. As the signature orange drink is delivered, its distinctive presence inspires a ripple of recognition, creating what the brand calls the "orange wave"  a playful visual metaphor for the drink's unmistakable character.

With its bittersweet, refreshing taste and instantly recognisable hue, Aperol Spritz is the number one cocktail in Italy*, topping Google's spritz searches with over 20.7 million queries in 2024.** Whether enjoyed as a pre-dinner moment or as a social occasion in its own right, Aperol Spritz is often present in settings where people come together to savour time well spent and shared enjoyment.

The new campaign also signals the start of summer, capturing the golden-hour magic of Aperitivo time in the place where it all began: the Italian piazza. Shot in the sun-drenched Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno, Aperol brings viewers in a moment of coming together, unwinding, and sharing flavour, conversation and connection. Long before it became a global trend, Aperol Spritz was a social tradition rooted in Italian life, where piazzas become open-air living rooms and ordering it marks the start of a moment of joyful conviviality.

Supporting content features a cast of Aperol "Friends of the House," which is a vibrant collective deeply connected to the brand and embodying the distinctive Aperol energy and lifestyle. These include Alessia Lanza (Italy), HandLuggageOnly (UK), and Kamrad (Germany), whose roles help bring the campaign to life in their respective markets.

Andrea Neri  Managing Director House of Aperitifs  Campari Group:



"At the heart of this campaign is a celebration of Aperol's unique place in global culture. Aperol has helped a beloved Italian ritual become a global tradition, and today, when people think of a spritz, Aperol comes to mind. With 'L'unico. Per tutti,' we're celebrating the vibrant orange wave that accompanies the connections of friends and communities everywhere. This campaign highlights what makes Aperol distinctive: our colour, our perfect serve, our sociability, and our Italian flair."

Alexander Kalchev  CEO & CCO  DDB Paris:



"This campaign is all about the vibe of Aperol Spritz. It's about celebrating that perfectly imperfect moment when people come together to share a drink that truly can claim the word iconic. We wanted to keep things simple and transport you to this charming Italian piazza and capture the Aperitivo moment in an authentic and universal way."

The multi-channel campaign will run across TV, VOD, social media, YouTube, OOH, e-commerce and influencer-led content throughout summer 2025.

Notes to editors:

www.aperol.com

@AperolSpritzOfficial

#lUnicoPerTutti #AperolSpritz #EnjoyResponsibly

References:

*BVA Doxa, 2024 online study, sample of 1,800 cocktail drinkers 18-55 y.o. at least once.

**Trajan Search Listening Platform (2024).

About Aperol: Aperol is the perfect aperitif, bright orange in colour, but with a rich, complex taste deriving from the infusion of a blend of high-quality herbs and roots. Aperol was created by the Barbieri brothers and launched in 1919 at the Padua International Fair, soon becoming one of the Italians' favourite aperitif, now taking the world by storm. The original recipe has remained unchanged and a secret to this day. Mixed following the official IBA recipe with Prosecco, a splash of soda water, and Aperol makes the perfect aperitif, Aperol Spritz, the quintessential social signature drink. Aperol is the perfect partner to social connections, a universal language that stays/can be found where people are brought together and multiplies their joyful conviviality.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GtfuzDa-zI

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685546/Aperol_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685544/Aperol_2.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685545/Aperol_3.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685424/Aperol_Logo.jpg

Contact:

Ashley Phillips

[email protected]

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New State Council Will Help Shape Health Policies for Arizonans Living with Rare Diseases

PHOENIX, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) celebrates a significant milestone for the rare disease community as Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed House Bill 2380 into law, establishing the Arizona Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC).

This legislation, introduced by Representative Alma Hernandez, supported by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and patient organizations from Arizona and across the United States, brings new hope to rare disease patients across the state by ensuring a dedicated body to address their unique healthcare needs.

The Council will share guidance to improve access to specialists, affordable coverage, timely diagnosis, and treatments. Post this

"The establishment of Arizona's Rare Disease Advisory Council represents the power of grassroots advocacy and community collaboration," said NORD Chief Executive Officer Pamela K. Gavin. "From passionate patients and dedicated clinicians to committed lawmakers, Arizonans came together with a unified voice to create meaningful change. NORD is immensely proud to have supported this community-driven initiative. This council will ensure that the unique challenges faced by rare disease patients and families in Arizona are not only heard but addressed through informed policy and dedicated action."

"I am proud to have been able to work with the stakeholders and those living with rare diseases for the last two years to make this legislation possible," said Representative Alma Hernandez. "It is time for Arizona to move the needle and find ways to support this community. This committee will allow for new recommendations for lawmakers to better support this community. I look forward to the first convening and the ability to learn from the experts in this field, improve the lives of others, and develop better policies to diagnose and treat Arizonans living with a rare disease."

With the governor's signature on May 12, Arizona becomes the 31st state with an RDAC. The council will include dedicated stakeholders from across the rare disease landscape, including physicians and other health care providers, patients, caregivers, researchers, and members of the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. The membership of the RDAC will reflect the unique geographical and population of Arizona.

"As both a rare disease patient and a provider for children with medically complex and rare conditions, I'm excited to see Arizonans gain a stronger voice in future policy," said Melissa Meyer, DNP, a NORD volunteer. "My rare disease didn't happen to me  it happened for me. It gave me the empathy to better support my patients and the inspiration to teach future nurse practitioners how to advocate. I'm deeply grateful for this journey and hopeful about the impact the RDAC will have."

Of the more than 10,000 known rare diseases, only approximately 5% have a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment. Diagnosis can take years for many rare disease patients, and their direct medical costs are three to five times higher than someone of similar age without a rare disease. This council will serve to educate lawmakers and state agencies about these challenges and provide recommendations for policies that benefit the more than 30 million Americans living with rare diseases, including approximately one in 10 Arizonans.

The Arizona RDAC will work to improve patient access to specialists, affordable healthcare coverage, timely diagnostics, and necessary treatments through policy recommendations and public education initiatives.

Individuals can get involved and support their state's rare disease community by joining NORD's Rare Action Network and learning more about NORD's Project RDAC and Rare Disease Advisory Councils.

About the National Organization for Rare Disorders

With a 42-year history of advancing care, treatments, and policy, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading and longest-standing patient advocacy group for the 30 million Americans living with a rare disease. A nonpartisan, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, NORD is dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them. NORD, along with its more than 350 patient organization members, is committed to improving the health and well-being of people with rare diseases by driving advances in care, research, and policy.

SOURCE National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
Strategic hire underscores Aztec's commitment to delivering customized client solutions and accelerating growth across the U.S. private markets.

NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aztec Group, a leading fund and investor services provider, has announced the appointment of Tamara Sablic as a Client Sales Director within its U.S. Commercial team. Based in New York, Tamara will be pivotal in driving the Group's client engagement and sales strategy across the region.

Tamara joins Aztec with extensive experience in the private markets space, having spent over 15 years driving commercial growth and building trusted relationships across a diverse range of clients and market segments.

Tamara Sablic, Client Sales Director at Aztec Group (PRNewsfoto/Aztec Group)

"I'm delighted to be joining an already successful U.S. team with a singular mindset of solving client challenges with creative and custom solutions," said Tamara Sablic. "Aztec's culture of excellence, innovation, and partnership aligns perfectly with my values. I'm looking forward to working with the team to deepen relationships and help our clients achieve their goals."

Tamara will lead commercial initiatives focused on expanding Aztec's presence in key U.S. markets, bringing a consultative approach and deep understanding of the alternative investment landscape to further enhance the Group's client-tailored service model.

Ore Adegbotolu, Head of U.S. Commercial, said, "Tamara brings a combination of commercial acumen, client-first thinking, and market insight. She's known for building long-standing partnerships that deliver real value, and her appointment marks an important step forward as we continue to scale and evolve our presence in the U.S."

Her appointment reflects Aztec's strategic focus on enhancing its commercial capabilities to meet the growing demand for custom fund and investor services' solutions.

Scott Kraemer, Head of Markets, U.S., added, "Tamara's appointment reflects the momentum we're building, and our clear intent to lead with substance. As client needs become more sophisticated, the ability to engage with depth and agility is key. Tamara strengthens our ability to do just that. I am thrilled to be working alongside her once again."

This appointment reflects Aztec Group's continued investment in its people and platform as it expands its presence in the U.S., following the opening of offices in Philadelphia and New York City over the past few years.

Over the past year, Aztec Group has strengthened its U.S. operations through strategic hires and targeted investments in private credit and real assets - enhancing its position as a full-service provider for the alternative investment community.

Notes to Editor

About the Aztec Group

Established in 2001, the Aztec Group is an award-winning independent provider of fund and corporate services, employing more than 2,200 people across the UK, U.S., Luxembourg, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Owner-managed, the Group specialises in alternative investments, administering more than $600 billion in assets, 450 funds and 4,500 entities for a range of clients, spanning the major asset classes including private equity, venture capital, private debt, real estate and infrastructure.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686405/Tamara_Sablic.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2495209/5316666/Aztec_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Aztec Group
SHANGHAI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bakery China 2025, the world's leading platform for innovation and commerce in the bakery and confectionery industry, will take place May 1922 at the NECC, Shanghai. Co-hosted by the China Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry (CABCI) and Bakery China Exhibitions Co., Ltd., this year's show"Empowering Innovation, Bridging the Globe, Building the Future"covers 320,000 sqm, featuring 2,200+ exhibitors from over 30 countries and expecting 400,000 professional visits. Attendees will explore thousands of products, including over 1,000 new launches, and witness the vast potential in China's fast-growing bakery market.

In 2023, China's retail bakery market reached 561.42 billion RMB, marking a 9.2% year-on-year growth. By 2029, the market is projected to grow to 859.56 billion RMB.

Unrivaled Scale and Full Industry Chain Coverage

As the largest bakery and confectionery trade show globally, Bakery China 2025 will span 12 halls at the NECC. The event covers the entire value chain  from raw materials and equipment to packaging, coffee, snacks, and more.

Dedicated zones will spotlight key themes such as:

Pre-made Bakery

Chinese Bakery Trends

Healthy Baking

Retail

Private Brands

Franchise & Chain Operations

The Belt and Road

Sustainability

This comprehensive layout ensures an all-in-one platform for procurement, business networking, and professional learning.

Innovation at the Core: A Trendsetter in the Industry

Innovation drives Bakery China's influence. The 2025 show will feature cutting-edge product launches in ingredients, equipment, and packaging. Notably, the Bakery China Innovation Talk will unveil key industry insights and trend reports.

Health and tech will take center stage with:

Low-sugar, probiotic, and functional bakery products inspired by the concept of food & medicine homology  featuring ingredients like ginseng and goji berries in sourdough bread, along with "zero-added sugar" enzyme-based solutions.

Smart manufacturing ecosystems debuting for the first time, combining intelligent equipment, digital nutrition management, and net-zero carbon solutions

A Global Hub Connecting Resources Worldwide

Over 20% of exhibitors will come from international markets outside of China. The unique 'Belt and Road Bakery Corridor' will highlight a rich blend of global bakery traditions and cultural fusion.

Enhanced trade services include:

Multilingual business matchmaking

Cross-border logistics & customs consulting

Tailored international buyer programs

A Celebration of Talent and Creativity

Bakery China 2025 will host prestigious competitions, such as Top Patissier of Asia 2025. Over 100 immersive eventsincluding the World Bread Competition China Team Selection and the Healthy bakery Festivalpromise a vibrant, festival-like experience.

Curated tour routes will offer in-depth exploration of:

Smart Manufacturing

Industrialized Chinese Pastry

Healthy Baking Innovation

Precision Match-Making and Digital Empowerment

Top-tier buyers from retail chains, supermarkets, e-commerce platforms will connect with suppliers through precise matchmaking services, supported by multilingual teams.

The iBakeryChina will integrate 4,000+ exhibitors and 500,000+users, offering seamless online-offline experience.

Bakery China aims to be a superhub for global baking industry, promoting new products, technologies, and solutions. It fosters efficient connections across the supply chain, enabling high-quality development through global brainstorming on the future of baking.

SOURCE Bakery China
New research finds dozens of new bad actors and growing unpredictability of attacks

BOSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Kite , the leader in third-party cyber risk intelligence, today announced its newest report, 2025 Ransomware Report: How Ransomware Wars Threaten Third-Party Cyber Ecosystems , which provides a deep analysis into evolving ransomware trends and threats. The report found that threats have escalated with more actors, less predictability, and deeper entanglement in supply chains, underscoring an urgent need for organizations to implement intelligence-driven defenses and proactive vendor monitoring.

"Ransomware has evolved, not in sophistication but in strategy," said Ferhat Dikbiyik, Black Kite. "Since the fall of LockBit and AlphaV ransomware syndicates, the cybercriminal landscape has been defined by chaos and recalibration, with dozens of new actors that are unpredictable in how, where, and why. We are entering a new era of ransomware where the growth in victim count signals more than just an activity surge. There is a deeper shift in how ransomware groups operate and who they target, with small and mid-sized businesses becoming the new frontline. As the barriers are now lowered with less sophisticated but effective actors entering the field, organizations need to understand their cyber ecosystem risk by shifting their cybersecurity posture from visibility to anticipation and response to resilience."

Between April 2024 and March 2025, ransomware attacks escalated with unpredictable campaigns across a wide range of industries. As uncovered by Black Kite's Research & Intelligence Team (BRITE), the number of publicly disclosed victims saw a 25% increase from the previous year. This follows a steep rise in the previous period with an 81% surge, amounting to a 123% increase over two years. The year also saw a noticeable uptick in attacks against small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) due to their less robust cybersecurity defenses and lower risks of retaliation, and a rise in supply chain warfare with attackers focused on third-party vendors where just one compromised provider can disrupt dozens to hundreds of downstream organizations. These incidents, often called silent breaches, can go unnoticed until their ripple effects halt operations across industries.

Leveraging data and machine learning, Black Kite's Ransomware Susceptibility Index (RSI) proved to be a critical signal. A numerical score between 0.0 and 1.0, with a higher score representing greater susceptibility to a ransomware attack, RSI goes beyond cyber risk metrics and provides a composite score that incorporates technical indicators and intrinsic risk factors. In fact, for those with RSI above 0.8, nearly half (46%) were attacked, and most organizations showed rising RSI trends well before a breach.

The report's key findings include:

Publicly disclosed ransomware victims climbed to 6,046, a 24% increase year over year, and more than doubled since 2023

52 entirely new groups emerged in the last year, resulting in 96 active ransomware groups

Under-resourced, understaffed, and underprepared, SMBs ( $4M - $8M ) were the most frequently targeted

- ) were the most frequently targeted Ransomware was responsible for 67% of known third-party breaches

46% of organizations with RSI greater than 0.8 experienced ransomware attacks

With smaller, less sophisticated operators that often lack the infrastructure to run complex extortion operations, ransom payment values declined by 35%, but the overall impact has widened

Ransomware is no longer dominated by large syndicates. Today's organizations must contend against smaller groups that have less experience but the same intent - disrupt, extort, and repeat. While the tactics lack the sophistication of their predecessors and the targets are smaller, the volume and unpredictability of this new era of ransomware presents a new set of challenges. Organizations must also defend against AI-driven ransomware that enables attackers to bypass existing security systems and could evade detection, like analyzing EDR logs or monitoring incident response communications to adjust ransom demands.

Access the full report here.

Methodology

The findings in this report are the result of a comprehensive year-long investigation conducted by the Black Kite Research & Intelligence Team (BRITE), covering the period between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The methodology combines continuous monitoring of ransomware operations with detailed victim analysis and dark web intelligence gathering:

BRITE monitored activity from over 150 ransomware groups, tracking their leak sites, extortion posts, and public disclosures. A group was considered "active" if it published at least one victim within the last 12 months. By March 2025 , 96 groups met this threshold.

, 96 groups met this threshold. A total of 6,046 victims were identified through leak site monitoring, cross-validated with open-source intelligence and internal telemetry. For each victim, BRITE analysts determined industry classification using NAICS codes, headquarters location by country, and estimated company size based on publicly available financials or trusted databases. BRITE also leveraged the Black Kite platform to assess each victim's cybersecurity posture before and after the incident, helping to identify patterns in susceptibility and exposure.

To complement leak site tracking, BRITE actively monitored ransomware blogs, Telegram channels, and dark web forums to identify group narratives, affiliate activity, and coordination patterns. This enabled the team to detect new groups quickly and contextualize victim disclosures beyond surface-level postings.

About Black Kite

Black Kite gives organizations a comprehensive, real-time view into cyber ecosystem risk so they can make informed risk decisions and improve business resilience while continuously monitoring more vendors, partners, and suppliers in an ever-changing digital landscape. Through an automated process, and a combination of threat, business and risk information, Black Kite provides cyber risk intelligence that goes beyond a simple risk score or rating. Black Kite serves more than 3,000 customers in a wide range of industries and has received numerous industry awards and recognition from customers .

Learn more at www.blackkite.com , or on the Black Kite blog .

Media Contact:

Michelle Kearney

Hi-Touch PR

443-857-9468

[email protected]

SOURCE Black Kite
Leading eyewear brand deepens its music roots while celebrating vibrant style and individuality

SAN DIEGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blenders Eyewear, a leading eyewear brand, part of Safilo Group, today announced Country music sensation Alana Springsteen as its newest brand ambassador. A powerhouse performer known for her iconic style and magnetic stage presence, Springsteen joins Blenders' dynamic ambassador roster of visionaries pushing boundaries across music, sports, and fashion.

Through this initiative, fans will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Springsteen's favorite Blenders styles and how they seamlessly fit into her expressive, on-the-go lifestyle. From exclusive campaigns to dynamic social content, the initiative will highlight her go-to Blenders frames, along with an exclusive product collaboration in store for late 2025.

"Partnering with Blenders feels like such a natural fit. Growing up in Virginia Beach, my kind of country came with salt in the air and sand in my boots," said Alana Springsteen. "I've always been drawn to looks that reflect both sides of me  laid-back and bold, grounded and expressive. That's what I love about Blenders. They let me make a statement without having to say anything."

A #1 chart-topper recognized as a rising force in the genre, Springsteen brings a fresh, new energy to Blenders' offerings. Her addition as a brand ambassador marks the next step in Blenders' continued expansion in the music space, reinforcing Blenders' commitment to championing individuality through vibrant, expressive product storytelling.

"Blenders was born on the dance floor, with music in its veinsso teaming up with Alana feels like destiny. She's not just a rising star; she's a force: bold, grounded, and unapologetically herself. That's the DNA this brand was built on. She can command a stage and still feel like your best friendand that's exactly what we look for in a partner," said Chase Fisher, Founder and Brand Evangelist of Blenders Eyewear. "She's got the voice, the heart, and the fire. This isn't just a partnershipit's a celebration of what happens when you stay true to your vision."

Rooted in music and driven by its vibrant designs, Blenders continues to redefine what's possible in the eyewear space. Now teaming up with Springsteen, the brand continues its forward-looking vision to empower a new generation of creators and tastemakers who embody its mission of life in forward motion.

For more information on Blenders Eyewear and to stay updated on the latest collections, please visit BlendersEyewear.com, and follow @Blenders on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

About Blenders Eyewear

Blenders Eyewear was founded in 2012 by Chase Fisher in San Diego, California. Blenders produces a wide range of men's and women's sunglasses and snow goggles. Driven by a company-wide motto of "life in forward motion," its products are predicated upon a bold aesthetic that emphasizes progressive colorways aimed at active and lifestyle enthusiasts.

About Alana Springsteen

Since making her powerhouse debut with TWENTY SOMETHING  a landmark three-part album featuring GOLD "goodbye looks good on you (feat. Mitchell Tenpenny)" (among the RIAA's Class of 2024) and accompanied by an extended DELUXE edition  Columbia Records/Sony Music Nashville artist-songwriter Alana Springsteen has won acclaim from the likes of NPR Music who noted, "Few artists dissect and make sense of life in your 20s quite like Alana Springsteen." Lauded by GRAMMY.com for "Speaking To An Entire Generation," and praised by E! News as "one of Nashville's most buzzworthy emerging artists," she's been crowned "the future of country music" by PEOPLE. With her latest output including crossover collaborations like her first career #1 with Tiesto ("Hot Honey") and William Black ("My Own Advice" feat. ILLENIUM), she's surpassed 340 MILLION career streams globally. The 24-year-old is among the roster for the 2024 CMT LISTEN UP campaign; Class of 2023 for CMT Next Women of Country and MusicRow's Next Big Thing; and a Celebrity Ambassador for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. Along with wrapping up her first U.S. headline run on THE TWENTY SOMETHING TOUR, she's appeared at the Grand Ole Opry, and supported Luke Bryan, Tyler Hubbard, LANY, Mitchell Tenpenny, NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, and more. After firing up her boldest chapter yet with the double-song release of "cowboy / hold my beer," she's released Alana Springsteen: Live from the Ryman and Alana Springsteen: Live from NPR's Tiny Desk. Next up, Springsteen will join Keith Urban on his HIGH AND ALIVE WORLD TOUR.

MEDIA CONTACTS

For Alana Springsteen:

Jensen Sussman and Julianne Cassidy, Sweet Talk Publicity

615.320.9616 / [email protected] and [email protected]

Media Contact

5W Public Relations

[email protected]

(212) 999-5585

SOURCE Blenders Eyewear
"Our continued investment in our financial center network reflects our commitment to meeting our clients where they are and how they want to bank with us," said Holly O'Neill, President, Consumer, Retail and Preferred at Bank of America. "We are focused on creating spaces where financial specialists can meet with clients and help them achieve their financial goals."

New flagship center

Bank of America has just opened a new flagship financial center at 2 Bryant Park in New York City. The center is designed for clients to connect with financial specialists, or have informal meetings, capturing the spirit of Bryant Park's famous tables and chairs which have hosted gatherings for New Yorkers and visitors for decades. The center also features a one-of-a-kind art installation by a NY-based artist portraying the perpetual motion of finance and the city, and how the bank helps bring together all its services for clients.

Idaho Expansion

Bank of America continues to expand into markets where it can extend its reach to clients. The bank currently serves consumer, small business, wealth management and corporate clients throughout Idaho and will soon open four financial centers serving Boise, the first of which will open June 9 in Nampa, Idaho.

"Opening centers in Boise is an exciting milestone and reflects our commitment to bringing first-class financial services to more communities," said Will Smayda, Head of Financial Centers for Bank of America. "We're proud to support local economies by creating jobs and fostering long-term relationships with clients and their communities."Mas de una decada de expansion e inversion

More than a decade of expansion and investment

Since 2014, Bank of America has steadily expanded its financial center network, entering into 11 new markets, the most recent being Louisville in 2024. The company has also opened 471 financial centers in existing markets since 2016 reflecting trends in how and where clients choose to engage with the bank.

Last year, the bank completed renovations to more than 3,000 centers  with over 500 additional renovations planned over the next two years. Through a partnership with ArtLifting, over 1,600 financial centers now feature artwork by artists living with disabilities or impacted by housing insecurity.

New sign language service for clients

Earlier this year, the bank launched a service to provide on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters over video in all financial centers. Clients can connect with an ASL interpreter free of charge by scanning a QR code, allowing them to discuss their financial needs using ASL with a financial specialist.

Serving more clients in more places

Bank of America currently provides banking access to nearly 250 million people across more than 200 markets, or approximately 82% of the U.S. population. Nearly 30% of the bank's financial centers are in low- and moderate-income communities.

With more than 90% of client interactions taking place through the bank's digital channels, the bank's financial centers have adapted to focus on meeting spaces where clients can have in-depth conversations about their finances.

In the past year, clients have made approximately 10 million appointments with financial specialists in financial centers.

Additional media assets, including b-roll video and images are available.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters May Contact:

Andy Aldridge, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.387.0514

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

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National life insurance carrier recognizes corporate citizenship program milestone by acknowledging more than $1.75 million in charitable donations since 2018

CANTON, Mass., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, a national provider of insurance solutions for individuals and at the workplace, recognized the seventh anniversary of its corporate citizenship program, Making An Impact, this month. In total, since its launch seven years ago, the program has contributed almost 1,500 volunteer hours, over 800 donations, and more than $1.75 million to a variety of charitable causes across the country, including in Massachusetts and Nebraska, where it has corporate offices.

Charitable causes across the U.S have been the recipients of almost 1,500 volunteer hours, 800+ donations, and $1.75+ million from Boston Mutual Life since the launch of its corporate citizenship program in 2018.

"As a mutual insurance company, being there for people in their time of need is at the heart of what we do, and the Making An Impact program is an extension of these efforts," said Paul A. Quaranto, Jr., Chair and Chief Executive Officer at Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. "Our employees' dedication to giving back embodies our core value of mutuality, and I am proud of their ongoing commitment to contribute positively to the communities around us through our corporate citizenship opportunities."

Boston Mutual Life launched Making An Impact in 2018 to formalize its longstanding tradition of philanthropy and giving back. The program encompasses a variety of philanthropic activities, including employee volunteerism, public affairs, corporate giving, and employee gift matching.

With a focus on community and family, education, and the environment, the program showcases the talents and resources of employees in a variety of ways, including food and goods donation drives, food bank support, and fundraising walks to benefit communities in need.

In 2024, Boston Mutual Life contributed nearly $250,000 to 160 non-profit organizations nationwide. The company's employees donated $4,500 to 40 non-profits, which was matched by Boston Mutual Life through its matching gift program, and they volunteered almost 500 hours.

The success of the Making An Impact program is underscored in its recognition by the Boston Business Journal as a top charitable contributor for the past six consecutive years. Each year, the program identifies new ways to give back and pave the way for future opportunities so the company can further support those in need.

"We are thrilled that we have been able to support so many people in need and helpful charities through the Making An Impact program over the past seven years," said Grant Ward, President and Chief Operating Officer of Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. "We are looking forward to continuing to be a valuable partner in our communities for many years to come."

To learn more about Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company's Making An Impact program, please go to the program page on the company's website.

To learn more about Boston Mutual Life, or find a sales representative near you, visit the company's website, https://www.bostonmutual.com/

About Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Founded as a progressive life insurance company in 1891, Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company is a national carrier that provides insurance solutions designed for working Americans and their families, as well as enrollment and billing options at the workplace, unions, associations, and municipalities. With offices based in Canton, Massachusetts, and Omaha, Nebraska, as a mutual company, Boston Mutual Life is dedicated to acting in the best interests of its policyholders, producers, employees, and its communities. For more information, please visit www.bostonmutual.com or contact your Boston Mutual Life representative. Follow the company on Facebook (/BostonMutualLifeIns), LinkedIn (/company/boston-mutual-life-insurance), or Instagram (/bostonmutuallifeinsurance).

Media Contact

Boston Mutual Life News Desk

[email protected]

Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

SOURCE Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 13. Iran is working to establish a secure structure for banking relations with BRICS member countries as well as neighboring states, said the Governor of the Iranian Central Bank (CBI) Mohammad Reza Farzin, Trend reports.

Speaking today at an event held in Tehran marking the launch of the second phase of banking cooperation between Iran and Russia, Farzin noted that just as Iran has strengthened banking ties with Russia, it is also taking steps to develop similar relations with other regional countries, with preparatory work already underway.

He emphasized that the launch of this second phase is a result of cooperation between Iran and Russia. The integration of Irans SEPAM and Russias SPFS (Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia) messaging systems, the removal of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) from bilateral banking operations, the establishment of interbank cooperation, and the creation of a payment and credit system are all joint projects between Tehran and Moscow.

Farzin further stated that linking Irans Shetab system with Russias Mir system is another step toward deepening bilateral financial relations. This enables citizens of both countries to access banking services during mutual visits without needing to rely on globally issued payment cards.

The second phase of banking cooperation between Iran and Russia was launched today on a trial basis. Under this phase, Russian citizens will be able to use point-of-sale terminals in Iran for purchases.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SAN ANTONIO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 5, 2025, the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 3199/S. 1594)  legislation that would ban the private ownership of primates in the United States  was reintroduced in Congress. The introduction of this important bill was further heralded by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL)  the House champion of the bill  touring the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary on Friday, May 9. His timely visit allowed the congressman to meet some of the victims of the primate pet trade and learn more about their stories.

Rep. Mike Quigley toured the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary on May 9, just days after the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 3199/S. 1594) - legislation that would ban the private ownership of primates in the United States - was reintroduced in Congress. (Photo courtesy of Office of Rep. Mike Quigley)

"Monkeys and apes belong in the wild  not in living rooms," said Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. "This bill will ban private possession of these animals, ensuring that we are safe and primates are able to live freely. As the lead sponsor of the 2022 Big Cat Protection Law, I'm proud to sponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act to advance the same protections for primates."

Monkeys housed at the sanctuary include Wally, a Rhesus macaque who, despite his small size, caused his former owner serious injury by biting off part of her ear, and Gizmo, an illegally kept vervet monkey, who was surrendered after attacking his owner's son-in-law. These are just two of the sanctuary residents who were surrendered or confiscated after attacking their owners while kept as pets.

In addition to Rep. Quigley, the Captive Primate Safety Act was introduced by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), and Nancy Mace (R-SC). It was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

"Primates are intelligent and social creatures. But when primates are kept as pets  in captivity and restrained  they can become highly unpredictable and dangerous," said Sen. Blumenthal (CT). "Wild animals belong in the wild, and this legislation ends the inhumane exploitation of these animals as pets  protecting both people and primates."

While larger species of primate, such as chimpanzees, are widely recognized as posing significant danger to people, smaller animals, such as the macaques and vervets cared for by Born Free USA, can also cause life-changing injuries. This, says Born Free CEO, Angela Grimes, is one reason why a blanket ban on their keeping as "pets" is necessary.

"Too many times, our team has received frantic phone calls from primate pet owners desperate for us to help them," Grimes said. "They purchase a monkey when they are just a few weeks old and have no idea that this small, vulnerable animal will soon become a dangerous risk to them and their families. When the monkey reaches adolescence, the owners start to see instances of aggression  a natural behavior in monkeys  and these instances often escalate to the point of someone being seriously harmed. It is then that a sanctuary is called in to take on the monkey, as the owner realizes that they have made a mistake."

"Your family shouldn't have to worry about wild monkeys next door. When reckless owners treat primates like pets, it's law enforcement, taxpayers, and innocent families who pay the price," said Congresswoman Mace (SC-01). "The Captive Primate Safety Act is simple: protect the public, protect law enforcement, and stop this dangerous trend before someone else gets hurt."

In addition to calls from primate owners, the sanctuary receives requests for help from law enforcement and animal control departments, neither of which are trained to deal with wild animals such as monkeys.

Willis, a young vervet monkey, was found running loose in Chicago and was captured by local animal control. He escaped his holding cage twice on the first day, and the officers called Born Free USA asking for help. Willis was soon on a plane to south Texas, where he now lives with others of his own kind. Other monkeys at the sanctuary who were confiscated include Rhesus macaques, Pablito and Lyla, and Japanese macaque, Julian.

Born Free USA's Animal Welfare and Advocacy Director, Liz Tyson, said: "Law enforcement is not trained to deal with these animals. This puts their staff in danger when they find illegally kept primates, or it means that confiscation is simply not possible for lack of somewhere for the monkeys to go. Given the dangers posed by primates to humans  including injury and disease transmission  forcing law enforcement agencies to take responsibility for the fallout of the primate pet trade is unacceptable."

"Private ownership of primates is a dangerous and outdated practice that puts both animals and communities at risk," said Congressman Fitzpatrick (PA-01). "As a Co-Chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, I'm taking action to put an end to this cruelty and close the legal gaps that allow it to continue. The Captive Primate Safety Act will ban the unlicensed trade and private possession of primatesreducing the threat of disease, preventing future tragedies, and ensuring these intelligent animals are no longer subjected to neglect and abuse. It's time to get this done."

The Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary cares for more than 200 monkeys rescued from abuse and neglect in the pet trade, zoo, and laboratory industries. As one of the largest accredited sanctuaries of its kind in the country, Born Free prides itself on providing high quality individual care to all its residents.

About Born Free USA

Born Free USA works to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. We oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belongin the wild. Born Free USA's Primate Sanctuary is the largest in the United States and provides a permanent home to primates rehomed from laboratories or rescued from zoos and private ownership.

We're social: www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa, www.instagram.com/bornfreeusaorg.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Orange Orchard

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Born Free USA
DARIEN, Conn., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical device maker CEFALY Technology will be conducting live demonstrations of its clinically proven neuromodulation treatment for migraine at Booth 102 at the ACOG Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting May 16-18, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

With more than 60,000 members, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the nation's premier professional membership organization for OB/GYNs. Its Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting is the country's largest event dedicated to obstetric and gynecological healthcare.

"Migraine is a complex and often disabling neurological disorder that affects one in five women," said Jen Trainor-McDermott, CEO of CEFALY Technology. "We look forward to presenting CEFALY's FDA-cleared migraine treatment device to this esteemed group of clinicians as an effective, safe, and drug-free option for their patients."

Migraine predominantly affects women in their childbearing years, yet finding ways to treat migraine safely during pregnancy has been a persistent challenge. Certain commonly used acute and preventative migraine medications are not advised for use during pregnancy, due to the risk of birth defects or other harm to the developing fetus.

In the American Registry of Migraine Research observational study, approximately 20% of women with migraine chose to avoid pregnancy due to migraine. These women cited many reasons for doing so: They believed that their migraine would be worse during pregnancy, they believed the disability caused by migraine would make pregnancy difficult, and they feared migraine medications would negatively affect their child's development.

Neuromodulation has emerged as a promising non-pharmaceutical treatment option. "While at this time data is limited regarding the true safety of neuromodulation in pregnancy, studies conducted thus far on the available FDA- approved devices for migraine and relevant devices with similar mechanisms of action do not appear to pose a harm to the pregnant patient or the developing fetus," according to a recent review in Current Pain and Headache Reports.

A non-invasive medical device that's worn on the forehead, CEFALY targets the trigeminal nerve to relieve migraine pain and prevent future attacks. Many women have used CEFALY for migraine relief during pregnancy with no known serious adverse effects. However, the safety and efficacy of CEFALY have not been evaluated in pregnant women.

CEFALY is currently conducting an online survey registry to help researchers understand the benefits of non-medication options for migraine relief in pregnant women. Michael A. L. Johnson, MD, Medical Affairs Advisor for CEFALY Technology, will be available to discuss the pregnancy registry with attendees, as well as answering questions about the clinical relevance of the CEFALY device.

CEFALY will offer attendees the chance to try the CEFALY Connected device, so they can experience the sensation of gentle neurostimulation for themselves. CEFALY will also invite clinicians to participate in its online CEFALY Certified education program, which covers the basics of eTNS (external trigeminal nerve stimulation) treatment for migraine.

"CEFALY hopes to build strong relationships with ACOG's members as we work together to offer women a safe, non-pharmacological treatment for migraine," said Trainor-McDermott.

About CEFALY Technology:

CEFALY Technology is the maker of CEFALY, an FDA-cleared, over-the-counter wearable medical device clinically proven to help reduce migraine frequency and relieve migraine pain. CEFALY Technology is a Belgium-based company with its U.S. offices based in Darien, Conn., specializing in electronics for medical applications. CEFALY Technology's mission is to provide innovative, ever-evolving technology that enables people with migraine to take control of their treatment and live happier, healthier lives.

Learn more about CEFALY by visiting CEFALY.com and following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Media Contact:

CEFALY

Jen Trainor-McDermott

CEO

[email protected]

SOURCE CEFALY Technology
PENSACOLA, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Circulogene is excited to announce the exclusive commercial launch of LungLifeAI, a breakthrough AI-driven blood-based test designed to improve clinical decision-making in patients with indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) detected through CT scans.

When a lung nodule is discovered on a CT scan, deciding whether to proceed with a biopsyespecially for nodules smaller than 2 cmcan be difficult. LungLifeAI helps close this gap by delivering high-performance molecular biomarker analysis to support informed biopsy decisions. Clinically validated, LungLifeAI offers an 80% Positive Predictive Value (PPV), 77% sensitivity, and 74% specificity, enabling earlier and more accurate malignancy assessment.

Circulogene Announces Exclusive Commercial Launch of LungLifeAI Post this

Using a simple blood collection kitwith mobile phlebotomy options availableLungLifeAI streamlines the diagnostic process for patients and providers. The test uses advanced AI to analyze chromosomal signal patterns in thousands of cells, offering deep molecular insight into nodule behavior and risk.

"Our physicians need greater clarity when assessing patients with indeterminate pulmonary nodules," said Mike Mullen, CEO of Circulogene. "LungLifeAI complements our OncoGenLDx tumor profiling test by providing actionable insight when CT imaging isn't enough. With a simple blood draw, we help physicians determine which small nodules require biopsy for a timely treatment plan."

For more information, visit www.circulogene.com or explore LungLifeAI at www.lunglifeAI.com .

About Circulogene

Circulogene is a precision diagnostics company delivering rapid, actionable results through advanced liquid biopsy technology. Our CAP and CLIA-certified lab provides molecular testing solutions to help clinicians personalize cancer treatment and track disease progression. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Circulogene supports oncologists and healthcare systems with fast turnaround, broad genomic coverage, and a commitment to improving outcomes through science and service.

Learn more at www.circulogene.com

SOURCE Circuologene
CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Corrugated Boxes Market is projected to be valued at USD 147.6 billion in 2024 and reach USD 212.3 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.7% according to a new report by The Research Insights. The market for corrugated boxes is driven by expansion of e-commerce combined with sustainability issues and the need for durable yet lightweight packaging solutions have significantly boosted the market growth. Food & beverage, sector use corrugated boxes because it delivers enhanced protection along with recyclability and cost-effective solutions. The market experiences major change through demand for durable and adaptable packaging which has positioned corrugated boxes as the top option for shipping and storage needs.

The report runs an in-depth analysis of market trends, key players, and future opportunities. In general, the corrugated boxes market growth of 3.7% comprises a range of material, product type, board type, flute type, printing technology, end use and geography which are expected to register strength during the coming years.

For More Information and To Stay Updated on The Latest Developments in The Corrugated Boxes Market, Download The Sample Pages: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/request_sample?id=2756

Market Overview and Growth Trajectory:

Corrugated Boxes Market Growth: According to an exhaustive report by The Research Insights, the Corrugated Boxes Market is experiencing significant growth owing to sustainable practices, there have been consistent growth for corrugated boxes market size, digital advancements and advanced material efficiency. Industry standards will undergo significant changes due to developments in biodegradable coatings and intelligent packaging systems that harness nano-technology barriers. The growing use of e-commerce platforms along with subscription delivery services and food delivery companies will sustain the need for corrugated solutions that are both customizable and durable while remaining cost-effective.

Inclination Towards Usage of Corrugated Boxes in Foodservice: The growing food and beverage sector stimulates substantial expansion for corrugated boxes market. The global growth of food delivery services together with increased takeout demands pushes businesses to choose corrugated boxes because they offer both food safety and sustainable packaging solutions. Fresh and processed food requirements for protective packaging solutions drive the growth of the packaging market. The structural strength and cushioning properties of corrugated boxes ensure safe delivery of delicate food items such as fruits, vegetables, baked goods and ready-to-eat meals so they reach their destination in perfect condition. Through preserving moisture and temperature levels corrugated boxes extend perishable goods' freshness which helps reduce food waste. Corrugated packaging offers sustainable solutions that satisfy consumer needs and meet environmental regulations for responsible practices. To improve their environmental performance brands, select corrugated materials that offer both biodegradability and recyclability via recycled paper fibers unlike plastic-based alternatives.

Adoption of Digital Printing Technology: Advancements in digital printing technology bring about transformative changes to the corrugated boxes market. Corrugated boxes have historically used lithographic and flexographic printing methods that provided reliable performance yet encountered high expenses and limited scope for customization. Manufacturers now use digital printing to create premium packaging solutions that accommodate small production runs and personalized designs to satisfy evolving consumer needs and brand requirements. Corrugated boxes printed digitally achieve high-resolution vibrant graphics that do not require printing plates. Digital printing technology minimizes setup time while allowing brands to create exclusive packaging designs for seasonal campaigns and market-specific or e-commerce promotional activities. Businesses can combine QR codes with interactive elements and diverse designs to better engage consumers and build stronger brand recognition. Manufacturers in the corrugated boxes market are investing heavily in digital printing technologies to address evolving consumer demands for eco-friendly and visually attractive premium packaging solutions. New technological advancements give brands improved capabilities to meet customized product needs and faster production processes which boosts their rapid response potential to market changes.

Stay Updated on The Latest Corrugated Boxes Market Size: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/request_sample?id=2756

Slotted Boxes Leads the Corrugated Boxes Market: The corrugated boxes market shows a preference for slotted boxes because they are versatile and cost-effective while finding applications across numerous industries. The Regular Slotted Container (RSC) stands as the globally dominant type of slotted box configuration. A single sheet of corrugated board is scored and slotted to manufacture these boxes which fold into a box with flaps of equal length that meet at the centre when closed. The straightforward yet efficient design of these boxes makes them suitable for packaging various products including consumer electronics, food items, apparel, and industrial components. Slotted boxes stand as a comprehensive packaging solution suitable for both small and bulk shipments when contrasted with telescope boxes which require multiple components and rigid boxes which are premium priced and folder boxes which work best for flat products like books or documents. The ability of slotted boxes to serve diverse sectors including e-commerce and retail makes them the preferred option for corrugated boxes as sustainability and efficiency drive market growth.

Geographical Insights: The North America region leads the corrugated boxes market account for a share of 26% due to booming e-commerce sector together with sustainability initiatives and growing demand for customized packaging. The shipping needs of major online retailers for corrugated boxes drive the continued expansion of the market. The corrugated boxes market in the Asia Pacific region shows fast expansion because of urbanization together with industrial growth and a booming e-commerce industry in nations such as China, India and Japan. The European market for corrugated boxes operates under stringent sustainability requirements while fostering advancements in fiber-based packaging solutions. European companies are directing investments toward bio-based coatings and new fiber sources because EU circular economy policies require 100% recyclable packaging.

Corrugated Boxes Market Segmentation and Geographical Insights:

Based on material, the market is divided into virgin and recycled. The recycled segment held the largest share of the corrugated boxes market in 2024.

Based on product type, the market is divided into slotted boxes, telescope boxes, rigid boxes and folder boxes. The slotted boxes segment held the largest share of the corrugated boxes market in 2024.

Based on board type, the market is divided into single face board, single wall board, double wall board and triple wall board. The single wall board segment accounted for a larger share of the corrugated boxes market in 2024.

Based on flute type, the market is divided into A flute, B flute, C flute, E flute, F flute, N flute and Other Customized. The C flute segment accounted for a larger share of the corrugated boxes market in 2024.

Based on printing technology, the market is divided into lithography, rotogravure, flexography, digital printing and screen printing. The lithography segment accounted for a larger share of the corrugated boxes market in 2024.

Based on end-use, the market is divided into food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, electrical & electronics, personal care & cosmetics, home care, e-commerce & logistics, textile, automotive, building & construction and other industrial. The food & beverage segment accounted for a larger share of the corrugated boxes market in 2024.

The corrugated boxes market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa.

Purchase Premium Copy of Global Corrugated Boxes Market Size and Growth Report (2025-2034) at: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/license?id=2756

Key Players and Competitive Landscape:

The Corrugated Boxes Market is characterized by the presence of several major players, including:

Mondi Group Plc

International Paper

Smurfit WestRock

Oji Holdings Corporation

Georgia Pacific Packaging LLC

Pratt Industries, Inc.

Stora Enso Oyj

VPK Group

Nine Dragons Paper Holdings Limited

Menasha Packaging Company

Rengo Co., Ltd.

Cascades Inc.

Packaging Corporation of America

Sappi Limited

Veritiv Corporation

These companies are adopting strategies such as new product launches, joint ventures, and geographical expansion to maintain their competitive edge in the market.

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Corrugated Boxes Market Recent Developments and Innovations:

In January 2025 , International Paper acquired DS Smith Plc which is a paper packaging manufacturer. The merger will combine the strengths and capabilities of the two businesses. The acquisition will focus on expanding the geographical reach in Europe and North America region. It will enhance offerings, better service and more innovation in the recent years.

, International Paper acquired DS Smith Plc which is a paper packaging manufacturer. The merger will combine the strengths and capabilities of the two businesses. The acquisition will focus on expanding the geographical reach in and region. It will enhance offerings, better service and more innovation in the recent years. In December 2024 , Veritiv Corporation acquired Orora Packaging Solutions (OPS) which is a corrugated packaging manufacturer situated in North America region. The acquisition can enhance the company's wide range of packaging products and will able to provide better presence in North America region.

, Veritiv Corporation acquired Orora Packaging Solutions (OPS) which is a corrugated packaging manufacturer situated in region. The acquisition can enhance the company's wide range of packaging products and will able to provide better presence in region. In March 2024 , Oji Holdings Corporation acquired SONG LAM Trading & Packaging Production CO.,Ltd, which is a folding carton packaging manufacturer in Vietnam . The acquisition will help Oji to expand its sustainable packaging business in Southeast Asia where there are expansion opportunities.

Conclusion:

Corrugated boxes serve as a foundational element in the worldwide packaging industry because they demonstrate flexibility alongside sustainable and economical features across multiple application fields. The growing needs of e-commerce, food & beverage, and retail sectors have made slotted corrugated boxes the top packaging option because of their simple structure and flexible design features which work well with automated systems. Corrugated boxes present a distinct benefit for businesses prioritizing environmental responsibility because they are recyclable and biodegradable which supports worldwide sustainability objectives. The market is being transformed by technological progress in digital printing and smart packaging which allows improved product branding capabilities alongside better traceability and customer interaction. The corrugated boxes market will experience durable expansion because of innovative practices and environmental responsibility alongside growing demands for secure and attractive packaging solutions throughout various industries worldwide.

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The report from The Research Insights, therefore, provides several stakeholdersincluding raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and end users with valuable insights into how to successfully navigate this evolving market landscape and unlock new opportunities.

With projected growth to US$ 212.3 billion by 2034, the Corrugated Boxes Market represents a significant opportunity for pulp manufacturers, raw material suppliers, packaging convertors, end-users, paper recyclers, investors, industry stakeholders, and others. By staying abreast of market trends, embracing innovation, and focusing on quality and performance, companies can position themselves for success in this dynamic and evolving market landscape.

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SOURCE The Research Insights
Industry veteran Gary Kozlowski will support expansion of firm's presence among New York-headquartered global financial institutions

CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowe LLP, a leading public accounting and consulting firm, has welcomed Gary Kozlowski, CPA, as a financial services consulting partner. Kozlowski joins the firm with more than 35 years of global experience advising large financial institutions on risk management, regulatory strategies and business process improvements.

Gary Kozlowski, Crowe partner

In his role at Crowe, Kozlowski will lead strategic initiatives for complex, cross-functional organizations. His work will focus on growing relationships with global financial institutions headquartered in New York, building on Crowe's established presence in this key financial center.

"Gary has a proven track record of delivering market solutions and services to the financial sector. His experience aligns seamlessly with our financial services (FS) strategy and vision," said Dawnella Johnson, Crowe's New York market leader and consulting leader for financial services. "His success and deep knowledge of the complex challenges faced by global financial institutions will blend perfectly with our culture of cultivating trust and working in collaboration with our clients. This is a significant addition to our team and for our expansion in the FS sector in New York."

Before joining Crowe, Kozlowski served for over two decades as a senior partner at a Big 4 firm, where he advised organizations on strategy, governance, risk management, regulatory, operational and technology transformations, focused on the banking, payments, capital markets, asset management and private equity sectors. He has significant global leadership experience managing teams across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, bringing a global perspective and deep expertise to his clients. He is a community leader, serving as a non-profit executive board member, supporting organizations with financial planning and executing on strategic and transformation initiatives. He is currently the board chair of Junior Achievement of New York and an executive committee member and finance chair of Japan Society.

"Crowe's entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset were major draws for me," Kozlowski said. "I'm excited to contribute to a collaborative firm that emphasizes long-term trust and confidence with clients, while also leveraging Crowe's excellent reputation already established in the financial services sector. I look forward to building relationships with our FS clients and deepening our presence in the sector. I am excited to work with my new Crowe colleagues as we continue to build on the great success the firm has had and the momentum we have in the market."

Kozlowski received his BS in applied economics at Cornell University and his MBA at the Stern School of Business at New York University.

For more information, visit Crowe Financial Services Consulting.

About Crowe

Crowe LLP is a public accounting and consulting firm that uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit, tax and consulting services to public and private entities. Crowe is recognized by many organizations as one of the best places to work in the U.S. As an independent member of Crowe Global, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world, Crowe serves clients worldwide. The network consists of more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries around the world.

LinkedIn: Crowe

SOURCE Crowe LLP
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise Planners, the nation's largest home-based travel advisor franchise network has been honored with the prestigious Seven Seals Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). This distinguished award recognizes Cruise Planners for its outstanding support of National Guard and Reserve members, their families, and the broader mission of America's Reserve components.

From left to right: Rita M. Broadway, Retired Army Major General and Chair, Florida Committee, ESGR, CIO of Cruise Planners, Brian Shultz, Cruise Planners Franchisee and Coast Guard Reservist, Robert Feus, COO of Cruise Planners, Theresa Scalzitti, and Major General Javier A. Reina.

The Seven Seals Award is the broadest and most inclusive award given by ESGR and the U.S. Department of Defense, acknowledging significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support. Named for the seven reserve components of the U.S. military: the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve; the award represents the shared commitment to America's defense and the employers who support citizen service members.

"ESGR is proud to recognize and work alongside Cruise Planners, whose unwavering support for employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve exemplifies the values we stand for," said Rita M. Broadway, Retired Army Major General and Chair, Florida Committee, ESGR. "We commend Cruise Planners for their continued efforts and thank them for being a true partner in supporting those who serve."

The Seven Seals Award is presented to employers who demonstrate exemplary efforts in creating a supportive environment for service members. The Cruise Planners business model allows for Guard and Reservists, active military and their spouses to maintain their thriving travel business from anywhere in the world.

"At Cruise Planners, we recognize the sacrifices made by our military service members and their families and are proud to stand behind those who serve our country," said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized by ESGR with the Seven Seals Award and reinforces our ongoing commitment to supporting our military heroes both at work and at home."

This recognition follows Cruise Planners' previous honor from ESGR, having received the Department of Defense Patriot Award, which acknowledges supervisors and employers nominated by a Guardsman or Reservist employee for extraordinary support.

"As the organizer of the Fleet Week Military Employer Recognition Breakfast, it was my honor to nominate Cruise Planners for the Seven Seals Award and present it to them during our event," said Peter Caspari, Florida ESGR Volunteer and Employer Outreach Director. "Their steadfast support of the military- particularly their commitment to employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve- sets a powerful example for others."

Cruise Planners formally accepted the Seven Seals award during the 2025 Fleet Week Port Everglades Military Employer Recognition Breakfast and Award Ceremony, part of the annual U.S. Navy Fleet Week celebration in Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades. The traditional event has celebrated the vital role of civilian employers in national defense for over 20 years.

Company Background: Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry's top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as "Best-In-Category" for 2 years.

Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2024. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors . For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/ .

SOURCE Cruise Planners Franchising, LLC
New technology combines Data Axle's proprietary data and AI-driven identity resolution to unlock deeper insights and scalable audience activation

DALLAS, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Data Axle , a leader in data solutions that drive meaningful connections between companies and people, announced the launch of ProfileFuse the next-generation successor to its groundbreaking B2C Link dataset, which connects Data Axle's proprietary business and consumer profiles. ProfileFuse is designed with precision and multiple activation options, enabling brands to extend their reach, more effectively build relationships with customers and prospects, and unlock new opportunities for engagement, retention, and growth.

Over two decades ago, Data Axle pioneered the unification of business and consumer datasets. Today, that legacy continues with ProfileFuse, which is powered by AI-driven identity resolution to seamlessly connect business contacts with their consumer identitiesand consumers with their business profiles. With more than 100 million high-confidence, unique linkages, ProfileFuse delivers precision that helps brands recognize and reach the individual to strategically inform every decision.

As the lines between business and consumer activities continue to bluracross devices, behaviors, and buying journeysunderstanding the full customer means going beyond viewing them solely as a consumer or a business contact. It's about bringing both profiles together.

According to Data Axle's latest survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers and 1,000 industry professionals, 72% of consumers say they would feel more connected to a brand that offers relevant experiences based on their whole identities Despite this trend, fewer than 40% of marketers integrate psychographic data, revealing an opportunity to humanize profiles beyond roles and transactions and deliver truly connected experiences.

Data Axle CEO Andy Frawley explains, "True customer insight comes from connecting the dots between who someone is as a consumer and who they are professionally. ProfileFuse enables that connection, helping brands synchronize their data, messaging, and activation across both identities."

Forrester Research recently reported , "Data Axle maintains an individual identity graph, making it a rare data provider that plays in both B2B and B2C markets." The distinction of being an original compiler of business and consumer data enables Data Axle to leverage historical data and new sources to refresh connections in real time. As new signals are obtained, more precise connections are created.

ProfileFuse is designed for flexibility and efficiency, offering multiple deployment options that help teams move seamlessly from insight to execution. Whether accessed as licensed, pre-linked datasets or embedded as foundational technology to unify zero- to third-party data, ProfileFuse supports a wide range of use cases. It can also be integrated as part of Data Axle's Audience360 solution, which creates a brand-specific data foundation that can be activated directly through leading marketing and cloud ecosystems such as Snowflake, Google Cloud, Salesforce, Adobe, LiveRamp, and The Trade Desk helping brands reach their intended audiences more effectively.

Designed to scale across organizations of all sizesfrom local businesses to global enterprisethe blend of consumers' personal and professional identities, allows brands to:

Expanded audience reach through improved identity linkage

Improved lead conversion

Broader omnichannel retargeting strategies

Stronger account-based marketing efforts through expanded personal touchpoints

Enriched customer relationship management systems with additional identity markers

Privacy-first identity resolution that supports compliance and builds customer trust

To explore how ProfileFuse can support your organization's data-driven strategies and fuel more meaningful engagement, visit our website .

About Data Axle

Data Axle is a leader in data solutions that drive meaningful connections between companies and people. We harness data, AI, and technology to create authentic, personalized experiences to improve our clients' business performance. Recognized for delivering innovative B2B and B2C solutions and exceptional service for more than five decades, our global team is dedicated to helping businesses and nonprofits of all sizes thrive. Visit www.data-axle.com to learn more.

SOURCE Data Axle
TAIPEI, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr.AI (https://www.draiai.com/), an AI medical platform designed for healthcare professionals, has been honored with the 2025 COMPUTEX "Best Choice Award  Digital Healthcare Category" for its groundbreaking applications and outstanding performance in streamlining clinical pathways across both inpatient and outpatient care. Dr.AI integrates AI-driven tools such as Medical Pre-Assessment (MedPA), real-time speech-to-text (STT) transcription, and automated SOAP note generation to address the heavy burden of clinical documentation and resolve key blind spots in care delivery. The platform improves clinical productivity, accelerates smart hospital transformation, and showcases Taiwan's leadership in AI-driven healthcare innovation.

MedPA & SOAP Note: Smart Tools for Clinical Upgrade

A major highlight of Dr.AI's award-winning capabilities is the MedPA (Medical Pre-Assessment) feature, a physician-avatar system co-developed by IntoWell Biomedical Technology and Gemtek Technology. During onsite check-in or online scheduling, patients can interact with the "MoAI Avatar" to describe symptoms, which are automatically recorded and transcribed into a SOAP note. This note is transmitted in real time to the physician's workstation. It empowers clinicians with pre-consult insights that significantly reduce consultation time and improve workflow efficiency.

In the consultation room, physicians no longer need to manually document notes. Dr.AI's built-in SOAP QuickNote feature uses speech-to-text (STT) technology to transcribe real-time conversations and instantly generate structured SOAP medical records. This reduces documentation workload by over 70% and ensures accuracy and consistency in patient records.

Clinical Adoption, System Integration, and Global Expansion

The platform has already been successfully adopted by major hospitals, primary care clinics, and health examination centers across Taiwan. Integration with Taiwan's three leading HIS vendors is now underway, with plans to scale to thousands of clinics nationwide. Internationally, expansion is progressing across Japan, Korea, and Singapore, while a newly signed MOU with a major healthcare park in the Middle East sets the stage for cross-border smart hospital collaborations.

Clarence Liao, M.D., founder of Dr.AI and CEO of IntoWell Biomedical Technology, stated:

"Our mission is to build an AI medical platform that truly aligns with clinical needs. Dr.AI is designed to reduce the burden on healthcare professionals, support cross-border care, and elevate the global standard of medical service delivery. This award marks a pivotal milestone for Taiwan's AI healthcare innovation on the international stage."

Comprehensive, Real-Time Support for Clinical Applications

Dr.AI is deeply embedded in both inpatient and outpatient care. It supports physicians through automated documentation of Admission Notes, Progress Notes, SOAP Notes, Nursing Notes, discharge planning, and pre-consult assessments. For health examination centers, Dr.AI's MedExam Pro generates over 100 comprehensive reports in just 15 minutes.

Expanding AI Care Beyond Clinical Settings

Beyond clinical use, Dr.AI is extending into broader public health. At COMPUTEX, IntoWell and Gemtek jointly unveiled the Dr.AI Smart Ring, a wearable device powered by the Dr.AI medical engine. Users can interact with a virtual AI doctor to receive spoken health insights and video consultations, making it easier to understand physiological conditions without having to interpret complex data.

Additionally, Dr.AI is entering veterinary healthcare with the launch of Vet.AI in May. This 24/7 AI veterinary consultation platform offers voice-interactive care, pet profile memory, and disease prevention guidance, bringing professional-grade care to pet owners at any time. With its expanding ecosystem and AI-driven innovations, Dr.AI is redefining how smart hospitals operate and setting new benchmarks for accessible, efficient, and intelligent global healthcare.

SOURCE Gemtek Technology Co., Ltd.; IntoWell Biomedical Technology
PRINCETON, NJ, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Duchesnay USA, a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to women's health and part of Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG), is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with MyMenopauseRx, a virtual doctor's office dedicated to offering high-quality specialists consultations that expand access to care for women transitioning through menopause.

Duchesnay USA and MyMenopauseRx join in a partnership (CNW Group/Duchesnay USA)

This collaboration aims to bridge the healthcare gap that exists in this often overlooked area. Through this initiative, women will have insurance-covered access to board-certified menopause specialists at any time from the 26 states MyMenopauseRx currently serves, with more states coming soon.

"With women's well-being at the heart of our philosophy, we, at Duchesnay USA, believe that menopausal women deserve the same level of attention, care, and innovation as any other patient population," said Tanya Carro, Executive Vice President, U.S. Entities. "This partnership combines Duchesnay USA's commitment to research and innovation with MyMenopauseRx's deep expertise in the treatment of menopausal symptoms, ensuring that more women can rely on expert care when and where they need it."

Founded by Dr. Barbra Hanna, a board-certified gynecologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, MyMenopauseRx offers FDA-approved therapies and board-certified guidance backed by science through telehealth visits that are covered by most major health insurance plans.

"Navigating menopause can be incredibly challenging because it's often misunderstood and under-discussed. Many women face stigma when speaking openly about their symptoms, struggle to find clinicians with specialized training, and are left without clear guidance on evidence-based treatments," said Dr. Barbra Hanna, founder of MyMenopauseRx. "By partnering with Duchesnay USA, we aim to empower women with the knowledge and expert care to transition this stage of life with confidence."

MyMenopauseRx menopause specialist consultations are available through the Osphena website .

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Indication: What is Osphena (ospemifene)?

Osphena is a prescription oral pill that treats moderate to severe painful intercourse and/or moderate to severe vaginal dryness, both symptoms of changes in your vagina, due to menopause.

BOXED WARNING: ENDOMETRIAL CANCER AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS

Osphena works like estrogen in the lining of the uterus (endometrium), but can work differently in other parts of the body. Taking estrogen alone or Osphena may increase your chance for getting cancer of the lining of the uterus. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the lining of the uterus. Your healthcare provider should check any unusual vaginal bleeding to find out the cause, so tell him or her right away if this happens while you are using Osphena.

Osphena may increase your chances of having a stroke or blood clots.

You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Osphena.

Most Important Information you should know about Osphena

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, changes in vision or speech, sudden new severe headaches, and pains in your chest or legs with or without shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue.

Who should not take OSPHENA?

Osphena should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, have had certain types of cancers, have or have had blood clots, had a stroke or heart attack, have severe liver problems, are allergic to Osphena or any of its ingredients, or think you may be pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider if you are going to have surgery or will be on bed rest.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Serious but less common side effects can include: stroke, blood clots and cancer of the lining of the uterus.

Less serious, but common side effects include: hot flushes or flashes, vaginal discharge, muscle spasms, headache, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), heavy vaginal bleeding (vaginal hemorrhage), night sweats

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines and supplements you take, as some medicines may affect how Osphena works. Osphena may also affect how other medicines work.

Duchesnay USA encourages you to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read accompanying Patient Information for Osphena(ospemifene) tablets , including Boxed Warning in the U.S. Full Prescribing Information .

ABOUT DUCHESNAY USA

Duchesnay USA is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a long-standing commitment to women's health. The company focuses on filling the void in terms of scientific research and education and on developing pharmacological solutions that are safe and effective for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Duchesnay USA also commercializes a broad portfolio of products to offer safe and effective therapeutic options that meet the health and quality of life needs of women and their family members at various stages of their lives.

For more information, please visit: https://duchesnayusa.com/ .

Follow us on LinkedIn .

ABOUT DUCHESNAY PHARMACEUTICAL GROUP

Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG), with its affiliated companies, is headquartered in Blainville, Quebec. The Group consists of six pharmaceutical companies to meet the needs of patients in Canada, the U.S. and abroad. The companies are Duchesnay (Canada) and Duchesnay USA, both dedicated to women's health; Medunik Canada and Medunik USA, which provide treatments for rare and debilitating diseases; and Analog Pharma Canada and Analog Pharma, specializing in orphan generic medications. From its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, DPG exports its innovative treatments to more than 50 countries.

DPG is one of the eight companies across the country chosen to participate in the Government of Canada's Global Hypergrowth Project. This appointment offers exclusive and personalized support for at least two years, in order to accelerate its growth to become an anchor firm in the Canadian economy.

DPG is the winner of the 2024 Life Sciences Innovation Award by ADRIQ, the Association for the Development of Research and Innovation of Quebec, which recognizes DPG's healthy workplace culture and commitment to pharmaceutical innovation, while DPG president Eric Gervais is the recipient of the 2024 Bernard-Landry Award by ADRIQ which acknowledges his impactful leadership on Quebec's research and innovation ecosystem.

DPG, through its proprietary research and development, and through exclusive partnerships, offers innovative treatments for a variety of medical conditions in women's health, urology, oncology and for rare diseases, plus lower-cost generic medications. DPG recognizes the dedication and professionalism of its employees and promotes a positive culture and flexible work environment. It is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and to giving back to the community through the support of various charitable organizations.

For more information, please visit https://duchesnaypharmaceuticalgroup.com/en .

Follow us on LinkedIn .

About MyMenopauseRx

MyMenopauseRx was founded by Dr. Barbra Hanna, DO, FACOG, MSCP, with the mission to empower women with access to high-quality virtual menopause care, covered by health insurance, so they can live their best lives. As a virtual doctor's office and telemedicine platform, MyMenopauseRx specializes in personalized care for women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Virtual appointments with menopause society-certified practitioners are available in an increasing number of states across the U.S., making expert care more accessible than ever. For more information, visit https://mymenopauserx.com/ .

SOURCE Duchesnay USA
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the U.S. senior population projected to double by 2050, the demand for quality in-home care services is stronger than ever. Executive Home Care, a premier provider of in-home care and a member of Evive Brands, is offering entrepreneurs a rewarding opportunity to own a business that makes a difference in their communities.

The home care industry is expected to surpass $225 billion by 2028, driven by a growing preference for aging in place. According to AARP, nearly 90% of seniors prefer to remain in their homes as they age, creating a critical need for professional, compassionate caregivers.

"Executive Home Care is experiencing strong momentum, and we are excited to welcome new franchisees who share our passion for providing exceptional care," said Jeanette Weinz, Brand Leader of Executive Home Care. "Our proven business model allows entrepreneurs to make a meaningful impact while building a scalable, recession-resistant business in one of the fastest-growing sectors."

In the last six months, Executive Home Care has signed 40 new franchise agreements across 10 states, including California, Utah, Nebraska, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. This nationwide expansion demonstrates the strength of the brand and the rising demand for trusted in-home care providers.

Franchisees receive comprehensive training, operational guidance, and marketing support, equipping them with the tools to succeed. Many new owners come from diverse backgrounds, including corporate professionals, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs looking for a purpose-driven career change.

"This expansion highlights the increasing need for reliable in-home care and the value of the Executive Home Care franchise opportunity," said Jason Wiedder, Chief Growth Officer of Evive Brands. "We are committed to supporting our franchisees every step of the way, ensuring they have the resources and expertise needed to thrive."

With prime territories available nationwide, Executive Home Care invites passionate entrepreneurs to explore the opportunity to join a resilient and impactful industry.

For more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.executivehomecare.com .

About Executive Home Care

Executive Home Care is a leading in-home care franchise dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality services that empower seniors to live independently. The company is committed to excellence in client care and franchisee support, ensuring both business owners and their communities benefit from trusted, professional home care solutions.

Media Contact: Rhonda Grundemann at 602-739-8810 or [email protected]

SOURCE Executive Home Care
The most exclusive of complications is breaking conventions and shedding its classical heritage. With bold scenography and contemporary materials, this regulating mechanismdesigned to counteract the effects of gravityenhances its allure.

Originally created to defy the laws of physics and push chronometric precision to its limits, the tourbillon was first conceived for pocket watches. In 1947, Omega introduced one of the first wristwatches with a tourbillon. In 1986, Audemars Piguet launched the first self-winding tourbillon waristwatch. Only a select few manufacturers possess the expertise required to produce such a complex mechanism. The result? Its presence in a timepiece offers the perfect opportunity to showcase the watchmakers skill through a classical construction. Today, however, the arrival of new materials and artisanal techniques is reshaping the landscape. The tourbillon is being reinvented, ushering watchmaking into a new era of modernity.

Hublot  Materials and High Complications , coffret de 5 montres. CHF 1'000000.  Hublot

A whirlwind of anniversaries

At Watches & Wonders 2025, brands unveiled the standout stars of the upcoming year. Some used the occasion to celebrate milestonessuch as Hublot. To mark the 20th anniversary of its Big Bang collection, the brand launched the Materials and High Complications box set, priced at 1 million Swiss francs, which drew all eyes. The five pieces in the set embody the brands motto, the art of fusion. Each tourbillon is paired with one or more prestigious complications, such as the minute repeater in the Big Bang Tourbillon Chronograph Cathedral Minute Repeater. True to Hublots DNA, each watch also features a case made from cutting-edge materials: frosted carbon, colored sapphire, red ceramic, Texalium.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, 42 mm diameter, self-winding movement, 72-hour power reserve.  Vacheron Constantin

The 127 pieces of the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar mark the 270th anniversary of Vacheron Constantin. Its automatic caliber orchestrates a flawless dance between a majestic tourbillon and a perpetual calendar. Platinum was chosen for the casea precious frame that pairs perfectly with the silvery tones of a hand-guilloche dial in 18-carat gold, featuring a motif specially created for the occasion. The harmonious design maximizes light and enhances the legibility of the calendar display. The rotating tourbillon, adorned with the Maltese cross, becomes a kinetic sculpture.

Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Turquoise Enamel, 40 mm, self-winding caliber, 72-hour power reserve. CHF 75,000.  H. Moser & Cie.

Nature as inspiration

Calling on the decorative arts is a sure way to evoke emotion. H. Moser has earned a solid reputation for elevating dials using refined techniques and continues to expand its chromatic language. The Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Turquoise Enamel plunges a flying tourbillon with a double hairspring into an imaginary ocean. The dial, animated by a mesmerizing gradient of grand feu enamel, reveals a breathtaking texturelike a seascape shimmering with sunlight.

In a similar spirit, Chopard dazzles with the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon. Its Rhone Blue shade echoes the river and the Alpine glacier that feeds it. Staying true to the collections aesthetic, the dials embossed pattern evokes the intense gaze of an eagle. The sunburst structure, crafted from solid gold, radiates toward the one-minute rotating mechanism positioned at 6 oclock. The 41 mm Lucent Steel case offers a broad stage where technique and materials harmonize.

Chopard Eagle Flying Tourbillon, 41 mm diameter, Lucent Steel, COSC-certified self-winding movement, 65-hour power reserve.  Chopard

A material for the future

With its 44 mm case made from Cerataniuman exclusive material developed by IWCthe Big Pilots Watch Shock Absorption Tourbillon Skeleton XPL projects a distinctly modern look. Its openworked dial and tensioned caliber architecture assert a bold, almost futuristic style. Beneath the high-tech exterior lies the SPRIN-g PROTECT system: it can absorb shocks up to 10,000g, safeguarding an ultra-light flying tourbilloncomposed of 56 components and weighing just 0.663 grams. This feat was made possible by advanced simulations.

Big Pilots Watch Shock Absorption Tourbillon Skeleton XPL, 44 mm diameter, Ceratanium, self-winding movement, limited edition of 100 pieces. EUR 213,000.  IWC Schaffhausen

All of this proves that the ingenious invention patented in 1801 by Abraham-Louis Breguet has lost none of its relevanceand pairs beautifully with the most cutting-edge aesthetics.
May 21 Event Includes U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Rep. John Moolenaar, Followed by Networking Reception Co-Sponsored by With Honor and May 22 'Wear Blue: Run to Remember' in Honor of Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Exiger , the market-leading supply chain AI company and largest provider of supply chain technology to the U.S. Government, announced " Building the Future: AI, Trade, and the New Rules of Power ," an event co-hosted by Axios. On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC, the invite-only event will bring together senior policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the key drivers of a resilient future. Speakers will discuss the state of global trade, the breakneck pace of innovation, and the central role of AI in securing critical supply chains.

May 21 Event Includes U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Rep. John Moolenaar, Followed by Networking Reception Co-Sponsored by With Honor and May 22 Wear Blue: Run to Remember in Honor of Memorial Day

The event will feature Fortune 500 CXOs, policymakers and thought leaders including:

Hon. Daniel Driscoll , 26 th U.S. Secretary of the Army

, 26 U.S. Secretary of the Army Sen. Jeanne Shaheen , Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Committee and Armed Services Committee Member

, Senate Foreign Relations Ranking Committee and Armed Services Committee Member Rep. John Moolenaar , China Select Committee Chair, House Appropriations Committee Member

, China Select Committee Chair, House Appropriations Committee Member Kirsten Hillman , Ambassador of Canada to the U.S.

, Ambassador of to the U.S. Brandon Daniels, Exiger CEO

The in-person and livestreamed event will feature mainstage remarks, kicking off at 5:00 pm ET, and two breakout panels, "The Future of Global Defense Industry Innovation" and "The Future of a Robust Health Care Supply Chain." An elevated networking reception will follow formal programming, from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET, hosted in partnership with cross-partisan organization With Honor .

Remarks and panels will be facilitated by:

Mike Allen , Axios Co-founder

, Axios Co-founder Courtenay Brown , Axios Senior Economics Reporter

, Axios Senior Economics Reporter Colin Demarest , Axios Defense Reporter

Axios Defense Reporter Hans Nichols , Axios Political Reporter

"Building the Future: AI, Trade, and the New Rules of Power" offers a timely and critical forum to address AI's transformative impact on the economy, defense, and the private sector. Convening experts alongside key decision makers, the event sets the stage for frank conversation and bold action from industry leaders and policymakers to accelerate the future faster. To request an invitation to the event and networking reception, visit https://axiosbuildingthefutureai.splashthat.com . Access to the livestream will be made available closer to the day of the event at https://axiosbuildingthefuture.splashthat.com/ .

Following Wednesday's event, Exiger is co-sponsoring " Wear Blue: Run to Remember " alongside With Honor and bipartisan veteran members of Congress in the For Country Caucus and With Honor Action Senate Alliance. Honoring the service and sacrifice of the American military in advance of Memorial Day, all are welcome and asked to wear blue to show their support during the run/walk on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Participants should meet at the Lincoln Memorial at 6:00 am ET.

About Exiger

Exiger is revolutionizing the way corporations, government agencies and banks navigate risk and compliance in their third-parties, supply chains and customers through its software and tech-enabled solutions. Exiger's mission is to make the world a safer and more transparent place to succeed. Empowering its 550 customers across the globe, including 150 in the Fortune 500 and over 55 organizations across the Defense Industrial Base and government agencies, with award-winning AI technology, Exiger leads the way in ESG, cyber, financial crime, third-party and supply chain management and recently achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. Named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supplier Risk Management, twice selected as one of Fast Company's 'Brands That Matter,' and recipient of the Third Party Risk Association's Innovator Award, Exiger's technology has been recognized by leading analyst evaluations and 50+ awards. Learn more at Exiger.com and follow Exiger on LinkedIn.

Press contacts:

Kody Gurfein

Chief Marketing Officer, Exiger

[email protected]

SOURCE Exiger
Food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNFCCC

Namboozo and Muyita's sachets keep fruit fresh by up to extra 30 days, reducing waste and boosting farmer incomes

The pair are among top ten innovators for the Young Inventors Prize, awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO) on 18 June 2025

MUNICH, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 1 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually, while 783 million people face hunger, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) . Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo (26) and Samuel Muyita (27), founders of Karpolax, have developed a plant-based sachet that extends the shelf life of fresh fruit by up to 30 days. Their sustainable, biodegradable preservation solution has earned them a place in top 10 innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025, known as Tomorrow Shapers, which recognises young inventors tackling global challenges. They were selected from 450 candidates by an independent jury.

Sustainable preservation and fresher produce

Despite the steady increase in the global population, around 40% of all food produced does not reach the market , according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Namboozo and Muyita both grew up in farming families and saw first-hand the challenges of post-harvest losses, which have a devastating impact on the profit of small-scale farmers. Determined to find a natural and more affordable alternative to synthetic preservers, they developed sachets, which release a blend of plant-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to slow ripening and prevent spoilage. The compounds  extracted from cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus and wintergreen  inhibit ethylene production, the natural gas responsible for fruit ripening, and offer protection against mould, fungi and bacteria. Their solution allows for the controlled, sustained release of these compounds, tailored to different fruit types, thereby providing a biodegradable alternative to conventional artificial preservers.

Pilot tests conducted with Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization showed that mangoes stored with the sachets remained fresh for 33 days, while those without them lasted only 11 days. The sachets have since been successfully used on bananas, apples, and oranges. With an affordable price point, Karpolax's sachets are particularly suited to smallholder farmers and local markets, offering a cost-effective and locally accessible way to reduce food waste and increase earnings.

Protecting innovation for lasting impact

"Farmers are one of our biggest customer groups. We wanted to use our knowledge and technical skills to develop something that would not just end on a paper in a lab but really be used by somebody," explains Namboozo.

The duo met while studying at Makerere University in Kampala, where they quickly bonded over a shared ambition to reduce food waste. They launched Karpolax in 2020 and aim to expand its reach across Africa, targeting Kenya, Rwanda and beyond. "Starting from zero, you need to source for that funding yourself. We had some supervisors from the university who supported us and made us feel confident that we could succeed," added Muyita.

By 2023, Karpolax had already worked with over 100 farmers, 20 exporters and 250 market vendors. The company is now expanding its product line to include sachets for pineapples, capsicum and berries.

The Young Inventors Prize celebrates worldwide innovators 30 and under using technology to address global challenges posed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Namboozo and Muyita's work supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by reducing post-harvest losses and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting sustainable food preservation practices.

The prizes of the 2025 edition will be announced during a ceremony livestreamed from Iceland on 18 June 2025.

Find more information about the invention's impact, the technology and the inventor's story here .



About the Young Inventors Prize

Aimed at individuals 30 and under, the Young Inventors Prize showcases the transformative power of youth-driven solutions and recognises the remarkable young people paving the way to a more sustainable future. Established in 2022, trophies were first handed out during the European Inventor Award ceremony. From 2025 onwards, the Prize will move up a gear with its own dedicated event, held separately from the Award. Among the 10 Tomorrow Shapers selected for each edition, three will be awarded a special prize: World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians. In addition, a People's Choice winner, voted by the public online, will be revealed. Each Tomorrow Shaper will receive EUR 5 000, the three special prize winners will each receive an extra EUR 15 000. The People's Choice winner will be awarded an additional EUR 5 000. Read more on the Young Inventors Prize eligibility and selection criteria.

About the EPO

With 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.

SOURCE European Patent Office (EPO)
SUZHOU, China, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fangzhou Inc. ("Fangzhou" or the "Company") (06086.HK), a leader in Internet healthcare solutions, participated in the prestigious 2025 VBEF Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference hosted by VCBeat at the Suzhou International Expo Centre May 9-10th. Fangzhou's founder, chairman, and CEO Dr. Xie Fangmin was named "Most Influential Healthcare Entrepreneur" as part of the 2025 Annual Future Healthcare Awards. The recognition highlights Fangzhou's decade-long evolution as a pioneer in online medical services, including its latest advancements in large language models and safeguards against AI hallucination risks.

Dr. Xie Fangmin commented, "I am privileged to accept this award, and this recognition underscores Fangzhou's commitment to developing innovative healthcare solutions that prioritize both safety and intelligence. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to our mission of leveraging AI technologies to broaden healthcare accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and drive the next generation of intelligent healthcare services."

Policy Alignment

Fangzhou's growth strategy aligns with China's AI regulatory framework for healthcare, including the recent 2025-2030 Pharmaceutical Industry Digital Transformation Implementation Plan which emerged from a collaborative effort among seven regulatory bodies, comprising the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT"), the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, and other key ministries. The integration of generative AI with traditional machine-learning systems creates a foundation for widespread AI deployment, catalyzing tremendous potential opportunities in China's healthcare industry.

AI Innovation

Since launching its H2H (Hospital to Home) Smart Healthcare Ecosystem, Fangzhou has implemented an AI integration roadmap, initially addressing chronic disease management features before progressing to more advanced applications. In 2022, the Company expanded its AI medical application research efforts, followed by the 2023 rollout of an intelligent customer service assistant. In 2024, Fangzhou incorporated DeepSeek-V2 into its platform to optimize its knowledge base and enhance content generation capabilities, and more recently in 2025, the company deployed DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 models through strategic partnerships with Tencent Cloud and Tencent Health. To ensure the highest standards of safety and reliability, Fangzhou's R&D team developed safeguards to address "hallucination" risks in large language models through a multifaceted approach, including knowledge base enhancements, model architecture refinement, and implementation of rigorous supervision protocols.

About Fangzhou Inc.

Fangzhou Inc. (06086.HK) is China's leading online chronic disease management platform, serving 49.2 million registered users and 223,000 physicians (as of December 31, 2024). The Company specializes in delivering tailored medical care and precision medicine solutions. For more information, visit https://investors.jianke.com.

About VBEF Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference

The VBEF Future Healthcare and Medicine Conference convenes industry leaders, academics, and investors to address critical trends in healthcare. The 2025 forum emphasized AI applications and digital transformation.

Media Contact

For further inquiries or interviews, please reach out to:

Xingwei Zhao Associate Director of Public Relations Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements

SOURCE Fangzhou Inc.
CHEVY CHASE, Md., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FCP  announces the following promotions within its leadership team.

FCP announces that Jason Ward and Summer Haltli have been promoted to Partners in the firm.

Jason Ward has been promoted to Partner. Mr. Ward is currently a Principal for multifamily development and is responsible for the oversight of newly constructed multifamily (existing and development) and the firm's structured investment products (preferred equity, debt, and K series). Since joining FCP in 2011, Jason has led the acquisition, development, or debt investing on over 14,000 multifamily units in excess of $3 billion in asset value nationwide. Jason is an active member of ULI and an Advisory Board Member of Georgetown's Steers Center for Global Real Assets.

Summer Haltli has been promoted to Partner and Portfolio Manager of FCP's Housing Preservation Platform. Summer co-founded the Housing Preservation investment strategy, focused on creating and preserving affordability in essential housing. Since joining FCP in 2010, Ms. Haltli has developed and implemented business plans for over 7,000 multifamily units and mixed-use projects totaling over $1.5 billion of value.

In 2023, Summer spoke at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York regarding private sector solutions to the affordable housing crisis and contributed to the Bank's white paper on the topic. Summer serves as Vice Chair for the Multifamily Impact Council and on the Advisory Board for the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate at the University of Virginia.

"We are extremely proud to have this group of longtime leaders within FCP advancing to these highly impactful new roles within the firm," said FCP Founding Managing Partner Esko Korhonen. "Their new positions are part of FCP's ongoing strategy to position itself for growth and to continue building out its senior management team. We believe these appointments affirm our growth strategy and enhance operational decision-making. Their leadership, brilliance in their fields, and accomplishments on behalf of the team and our investors have earned them these promotions and roles."

About FCP

FCP  is a privately held real estate investment company that has invested in or financed more than $13.1 billion in assets since its founding in 1999. FCP invests directly and with operating partners in commercial and residential assets. The firm makes equity and structured investments in income-producing and development properties. Based in Chevy Chase, MD, FCP invests both its commingled, discretionary funds and separate accounts targeted at major real estate markets in the United States. For further information on FCP, please visit fcpdc.com.

Media Contact: Karen Widmayer

KW Communications, LLC

[email protected]

301-661-1448

SOURCE FCP
FEMSelect Announces Close of Oversubscribed Series B Equity Financing to Drive Commercial Growth, Leadership Transformation, and Global Expansion

NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FEMSelect, a privately held women-led company revolutionizing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment with its groundbreaking EnPlace technology, today announced significant advancements as part of its strategic roadmap to become a global leader in women's health. The company's recent oversubscribed equity financing, will accelerate its initiatives, including leadership enhancements, a U.S. headquarters relocation, and expanded commercialization efforts. The round was led by existing investors New Age Ventures and Triventures, had participation from existing investors like Robin Hood Ventures and RAD Biomed and attracted new investors Nordwand Capital, Avea Ventures, and Terra Verde Comp, reflecting strong confidence in FEMSelect's vision and potential.

"With participation from long-time and new investors, this influx of capital marks a major leap forward in our mission to redefine care for millions of underserved women worldwide," said Renee Selman, Executive Chairwoman of the Board. "With a strengthened leadership team, expanded financial firepower, and a powerful product pipeline, FEMSelect is poised to accelerate growth and lead the way in transformative women's health solutions."

Leadership Transformation

FEMSelect is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sasha Schrode as Chief Executive Officer. With her extensive experience in healthcare, Schrode brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of driving innovation and growth. Under her leadership, FEMSelect is poised for significant expansion, with plans to bolster its commercial team and diversify its product portfolio. "FEMSelect has the power to transform women's healthcare, and I'm thrilled to help bring this breakthrough to millions worldwide," said Sasha Schrode. "Unlike traditional surgerywhich often involves extensive dissection, longer recovery, and higher riskthe EnPlace procedure is minimally invasive, requires no dissection, and allows most women to go home the same day and resume their lives quickly." She joins FEMSelect after her successful leadership at Serpex Medical, which culminated in a strategic acquisition.

Debbie Garner has been appointed President of FEMSelect, where she will spearhead the company's expansion efforts in the United States and internationally. This strategic move positions FEMSelect to capitalize on emerging opportunities and strengthen its presence in key regions worldwide.

FEMSelect is also pleased to report that Rakesh Tailor, CEO of Contura International, was appointed to the Board of Directors. Given his experience in women's health and having led the development Bulkamid and its sale to Axonics in 2021, his strategic insight will help propel the company's presence in the U.S. and international markets.

Strategic Relocation to the U.S.

As part of its growth strategy, FEMSelect is relocating its headquarters from Israel to the United States, aligning the company closer to its largest market and expanding opportunities for strategic partnerships.

About FEMSelect

FEMSelect is at the forefront of women's health, delivering innovative solutions for pelvic organ prolapse with its EnPlace technology. The company's minimally invasive approach provides a transformative alternative for women seeking relief from this common condition.

For more information about FEMSelect and EnPlace, visit www.femselect.com.

Media Contact:

FEMSelect

[email protected]

SOURCE FEMSelect
Flex is expanding in Poland as part of its global growth strategy to invest in essential power and data center technologies and sites to meet the growing customer demand. The new Polish site comes after opening a second facility in Dundalk, adding 120,000 square feet3, doubling Anord Mardix's capacity in Ireland. The Dundalk facility, named D2, assembles switchgear products to efficiently meet the rising global demand for reliable data center power, fueled by AI growth.

Additionally, the company recently opened a new U.S. critical power product manufacturing and assembly facility in Dallas, Texas, and made two important acquisitions: Crown Technical Systems, which specializes in power distribution solutions, and JetCool Technologies, which added liquid cooling products to the Flex data center portfolio.

"Our expansion in Europe represents a pivotal moment for Flex as we accelerate our global manufacturing capabilities to address data center power, heat, and scale challenges in the AI era," said Chris Butler, president of Embedded and Critical Power at Flex. "We are committed to delivering next-generation power infrastructure solutions that not only maximize computing performance but also significantly reduce deployment times for our customers. This investment allows us to align closely with the demands of rapid data center expansion worldwide."

New Poland sites: Bielsko-Biaa

Employing 700+ skilled workers, Flex's new Bielsko-Biaa site is fully operational. The teams will produce an extensive portfolio of grid-to-chip products, including Low Voltage/Medium Voltage (LV/MV) Switchgear, Power Pods, and Busway systems. Flex's focus is a direct response to its customers' increasing requirements for next-generation power infrastructure that enables faster data center deployment at scale. Flex is planning to expand the site to support PowerPods production, meeting the changing needs of its customers.

The establishment of this new Polish site is a prime opportunity for the workforce to be a part of Flex's global growth plan, ensuring the company's ability to deliver innovative power solutions from the grid to the chip. The dedication to expanding Flex's manufacturing footprint of more than 30 sites in EMEA reaffirms the company's commitment to providing exceptional service and support in an era of accelerated technological advancement.

Flex global site locations:

See more here: https://flex.com/company/global-locations

About Flex

Flex (Reg. No. 199002645H) is the manufacturing partner of choice that helps a diverse customer base design and build products that improve the world. Through the collective strength of a global workforce across 30 countries and responsible, sustainable operations, Flex delivers technology innovation, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions to diverse industries and end markets.

About Anord Mardix

Anord Mardix, a Flex company, is a global leader in critical power distribution and protection with operations in North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. It produces an end-to-end product range including switchgear, modular power pod solutions, and flexible busway distribution solutions, serving the global data center and cloud computing industriesfrom independent providers to hyper-scale leaders. (www.anordmardix.com)

________________________________

1 56,000 square meters

2 57,000111,000 square meters

3 11,000 square meters

Flex Contacts

Media & Press

Yvette Lorenz

Director, Executive Communications and Corporate PR

(415) 225-7315

[email protected]

Investors & Analysts

David A. Rubin

Vice President, Investor Relations

(408) 577-4632

[email protected]



SOURCE Flex
PORTLAND, Ore., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to Oregon Health Authority's finalized 2023 abortion records which show dramatically increased abortion rates in several categories, the Archdiocese of Portland encourages Oregonians to respond not with despair, but with renewed commitment to prayer, hope and advocacy.

The 2023 records show:

 The highest total number of abortions in Oregon in over a decade

 A 165% increase in late-term abortions

 60% increase in women who traveled to Oregon for an abortion from out of state

Partnering with the Sisters of Life , a religious community whose mission includes serving women who are vulnerable to abortion, the Archdiocese released a video today that offers hope and encouragement for those troubled by Oregon's permissive abortion environment.

"Where it is darkest, where it is most difficult, it is a sign of God's invitation and pursuit of your heart," said Sr. Ann Immaculee, SV of the Sisters of Life. "This culture of death is a spiritual battle and there's really only a spiritual response that will defeat this. The invitation and encouragement is that God is actually inviting us into a more intimate relationship with him than ever before."

The Sisters remind viewers that lasting cultural change begins in the human heart  with each person understanding that their life is sacred, irreplaceable and good.

"The best way to spread this message especially as our culture gets darker, is to allow our own hearts to be more deeply converted," said Sr. Catherine Joy Marie, SV. "Allowing the Lord to convict our hearts first that 'I am good, I am irreplaceable, I am sacred.' That allows me to say, 'Your life is good, your life is sacred, your life is irreplaceable.' And I know it's true because I've been convicted of it first."

The initiative builds on Archbishop of Portland Alexander Sample's teaching on the Sanctity of Life which was published in response to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek's proclamation of "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day" in March.

View the video here .

View more resources here .

CONTACT:

Vanessa Gallant, Director of Communications, Archdiocese of Portland

503-233-8373

[email protected]

SOURCE Archdiocese of Portland In Oregon
ELGIN, Ill., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Footprints to Recovery, a leading provider of addiction and mental health services, is pleased to announce the launch of its new, private inpatient mental health treatment program at its Elgin, Illinois facility. Located just outside Chicago, the new program is designed to provide comprehensive, individualized care for adults struggling with a wide range of mental health conditions. Footprints to Recovery is part of Aliya Health Group, a nationwide network of substance abuse and mental health treatment centers dedicated to exceptional care.

Aliya Health Group

The new inpatient mental health program offers comprehensive support for individuals facing issues such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma-related disorders, dissociative disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychotic disorders. Treatment is tailored to each individual and delivered in a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment that promotes lasting recovery and emotional wellness.

Footprints to Recovery's inpatient program utilizes proven evidence-based psychotherapy, including individual and group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to promote healing and progress. The program also includes psychiatric medication management as needed, ensuring a well-rounded clinical approach to healing.

In addition to clinical care, the program emphasizes holistic mental health services such as yoga, mindfulness and meditation, massage therapy, and expressive arts therapyall designed to support mind-body healing and self-expression.

"Our goal is to provide high-quality, compassionate care to individuals in need of mental health support," said Samantha Johnson, LCPC, CADC, Clinical Director of Footprints to Recovery in Illinois. "We're proud to offer a healing space in the Elgin and greater Chicago area that emphasizes individualized care, clinical expertise, and whole-person approach to wellness. Mental health treatment is essentialnot just for recovery, but for a happy and fulfilling life."

Footprints to Recovery's new private inpatient program is staffed by an experienced team of licensed clinicians, case managers, and mental health professionals dedicated to helping individuals stabilize, heal, and build the skills they need for long-term wellness. Every client receives a personalized treatment plan and the benefit of working with a dedicated case manager throughout their recovery journey.

"We're proud to expand access to high-quality mental health care in the Elgin area," said David Woods, MBA, Executive Director of Footprints to Recovery Illinois. "Our new program is designed to provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment for individuals and families near Chicago who deserve the support and tools to heal and thrive."

For more information, please visit the Aliya Health Group website or contact Frank Severino, Chief Marketing Officer at (888) 352-4445 or email [email protected].

About Aliya Health Group: Aliya Health Group is a nationwide provider of addiction and mental health treatment. Our mission is to empower clients to lead fulfilling lives in recovery. With treatment facilities in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington State, Aliya Health Group delivers personalized clinical care and supports clients and families on their path to healing.

SOURCE Footprints to Recovery
SAN FRANCISCO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global forklift market size is estimated to reach USD 154.99 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 13.7% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The e-commerce industry has experienced significant growth due to factors such as increased disposable income, widespread internet access, and enhanced shopping convenience. This surge in online shopping, coupled with unpredictable shipping and shopping patterns, as well as direct-to-customer shipments, has led to a substantial increase in retail sales. Hence, this growth in retail sales has brought about a noticeable transformation in warehouse operations. Warehouses are tasked with fulfilling substantial orders for individual items. This shift necessitates greater efficiency among warehouse workers and forklifts in the processes of locating, selecting, and transporting goods within the warehouse space.

Manufacturers such as Toyota Material Handling and Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. are focusing on investing heavily in R&D activities to manufacture technologically advanced autonomous forklifts. Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. integrates forklifts with systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management System (WMS), offering employees a complete real-time view of the automated forklift. In addition, manufacturers aim to reduce the dependency of autonomous forklifts on guide wires, magnets, and lasers. Autonomous forklifts provide stable and consistent performance. These machines may reduce the cost of finding as well as onboarding a new workforce. They decrease product damage and reduce the ergonomic impact of physically demanding and monotonous work tasks for warehouse workers.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Forklift Market

Forklift suppliers are constantly upgrading the technologies used in forklifts to provide advanced features, such as operator assist, improved ergonomics, and onboard programming and diagnostics. For instance, in October 2022, Toyota Material Handling (TMH), a forklift manufacturer and warehousing solutions provider, launched an updated version of its 3-Wheel Electric Forklift featuring Toyota Assist's SEnS+ pedestrian detection technology to detect objects and pedestrians within the detection range. Other features included enhanced energy efficiency to allow for a 40% longer run time on a single charge, an auto power mode to detect slopes and automatically switch to a higher power mode to maintain speed, and a lithium-ion battery to minimize maintenance costs and reduce downtime for improved productivity. These enhancements were designed to enable operators to be more productive while incurring a lower cost of ownership over the forklift's lifespan.

Forklift Market Report Highlights:

The class 3 segment accounted for the largest market share of 44.2% in 2024. Due to the growing demand from small and medium-sized warehouses for material loading and unloading, the market is anticipated to gain momentum.

The below 5 segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. The segment growth is owing to their versatility, compactness, and cost-effectiveness, among others making them a valuable asset for end-use industries seeking flexible and efficient material handling solutions.

The lithium-ion segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR over the forecast period. These batteries are broadly used in electric forklifts as they provide longer lifespan, higher energy density, and faster charging capabilities.

Retail & e-commerce is expected to register the highest growth rate over the forecast period. As businesses strive to optimize their supply chain operations and enhance productivity, they invest in advanced warehousing facilities. As a result, the need for efficient forklifts has grown substantially.

The Asia Pacific forklift industry accounted for 48.4% share of the overall market in 2024. Companies in the region are incorporating smart technologies such as IoT sensors, telematics, and AI-driven fleet management systems into forklifts. These innovations enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimized route planning, driving better decision-making and cost savings for end-use industries.

forklift industry accounted for 48.4% share of the overall market in 2024. Companies in the region are incorporating smart technologies such as IoT sensors, telematics, and AI-driven fleet management systems into forklifts. These innovations enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimized route planning, driving better decision-making and cost savings for end-use industries. In August 2024 , Crown Equipment Corporation opened a sales and service facility in New Albany, Ohio . This new facility is expected to offer material handling and warehouse solutions to customers in the area. The facility will also provide regional businesses with the necessary equipment and services to boost productivity and uptime, ensuring their material handling operations and supply chains remain efficient and effective.

Read full market research report on Forklift Market with TOC - Forklift Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Class (Class 1, Class 2), By Power Source, By Load Capacity (Below 5 Ton, 5-15 Ton, Above 16 Ton), By Battery Type, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2025 - 2030

Forklift Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global forklift market based on class, power source, load capacity, electric battery type, end use, and region:

Forklift Market - Class Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4/5

Forklift Market - Power Source Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

ICE

Electric

Forklift Market - Load Capacity Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Below 5 Ton

5-15 Ton

Above 16 Ton

Forklift Market - Electric Battery Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Li-ion

Lead Acid

Forklift Market - End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Industrial

Logistics

Chemical

Food & Beverage

Retail & E-Commerce

Others

Forklift Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

U.K.



Germany



France



Italy



Spain

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia



South Korea

Latin America

Brazil



Argentina

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

& (MEA) UAE



Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

(KSA)

South Africa

List of Key Players in the Forklift Market

Anhui Heli Co., Ltd.

Clark Material Handing Company, (Clark Equipment Company)

Crown Equipment Corporation

Doosan Corporation

Hangcha Forklift

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.)

Jungheinrich AG

KION Group AG

Komatsu Ltd.

Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota Material Handling)

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Electric Forklift Market - The global electric forklift market size is anticipated to reach USD 112.87 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.4% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Developments in the e-commerce industry are fueling the demand for lift trucks across the economies.

The global electric forklift market size is anticipated to reach by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.4% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Developments in the e-commerce industry are fueling the demand for lift trucks across the economies. Australia Forklift Rental Market - The Australia forklift rental market size is expected to reach USD 197.3 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030, according to the recent reports of Grand View Research, Inc. Australia's e-commerce and warehouse sector has experienced significant growth in recent years.

The forklift rental market size is expected to reach by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030, according to the recent reports of Grand View Research, Inc. e-commerce and warehouse sector has experienced significant growth in recent years. Material Handling Equipment Telematics Market - The global material handling equipment telematics market size is estimated to reach USD 15.12 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 14.8% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Technological advancements in the field of telematics and improved connectivity services have resulted in increased integration of telematics solutions in off-highway equipment.

The global material handling equipment telematics market size is estimated to reach by 2030, registering a CAGR of 14.8% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Technological advancements in the field of telematics and improved connectivity services have resulted in increased integration of telematics solutions in off-highway equipment. Australia Forklift Market - The Australia forklift market size is expected to reach USD 2.12 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2023 to 2030, according to the recent reports of Grand View Research, Inc. In Australia , there has been a notable shift toward the adoption of electric forklifts. This transition has gained significant momentum, driven by a heightened focus on sustainability and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.

Browse Horizon Databook on Forklift Market  Global Forklift Market Size & Outlook

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Secretary Del Toro brings decades of leadership in national security, public service, and technological innovation to support Qanapi's expansion in the public sector.

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Qanapi Group Inc., a global cybersecurity company specializing in data protection and security, today announced the recent appointment of the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy, to its Board of Directors.

Former Navy Secretary Del Toro Joins Qanapi Board to Advance Cybersecurity Innovation in Government & Defense Post this National security leader and Navy veteran Secretary Carlos Del Toro joins Qanapis Board of Directors.

Secretary Carlos Del Toro is a seasoned leader with over four decades of experience spanning military service, government leadership, and private sector innovation. He served as the 78th Secretary of the United States Navy (2021 to January 2025), overseeing critical initiatives in technological modernization, including AI and cybersecurity. Prior to this role, Secretary Del Toro founded and led SBG Technology Solutions, Inc., a company specializing in space systems engineering and other high tech IT related enterprises. Previously, he pursued a 26-year career in the U.S. Navy, retiring at the rank of Commander.

A respected leader in national security and technology innovation, Secretary Del Toro's public sector and entrepreneurial experience positions him to counsel Qanapi through its next phase of strategic expansion. His leadership will support the company's efforts to strengthen partnerships with government agencies, address evolving compliance and cybersecurity challenges, and deliver trusted solutions to mission-critical programs.

"We are deeply honored to welcome Secretary Del Toro to our board," said Trent Telford, CEO, Founder and Chairman of Qanapi Group, Inc. "His unmatched leadership in both government and business, combined with his passion for forward-thinking solutions, will be instrumental to our goal of providing mission-enabling technology in national security. The defence sector is rapidly evolving to being hyper-connected through AI and autonomous capabilities; a vastly different challenge to the military landscape and platforms from previous decades. Accordingly, a revolution in data-centric security is upon us and Secretary Del Toro's vast experience is uniquely positioned to guide us. "

"It is an honor to join such a rapidly advancing innovative tech company leading the way in AI and cybersecurity," said Secretary Del Toro. "Qanapi's commitment to integrity and excellence will undoubtedly drive new solutions in the security field for years to come".

Secretary Del Toro joins the Qanapi board alongside distinguished members including Hon. Terry McAuliffe , 72nd Governor of Virginiaunderscoring Qanapi's commitment to combining public sector insight with private sector innovation.

About Qanapi

Qanapi is revolutionizing data security, compliance, and governance with its FIPS-validated, FedRAMP High (Ready) API service, providing state-of-the-art encryption and zero-trust protection at the data level. Designed to safeguard sensitive, industry-regulated, and mission-critical data, Qanapi's API seamlessly integrates into any software, device, or network. A global leader with headquarters in Washington D.C., Qanapi works closely with partners including Google Cloud, Google Public Sector, and Carahsoft to deliver robust data security solutions to organizations of all sizes, in both the public and commercial sectors. Discover more at qanapi.com

Media Contact

Qanapi Public Relations Office

[email protected]

SOURCE Qanapi
Jose Pepe Mujica has died. This time, at 89, he decided it was time to go, as announced on Tuesday by Uruguays president, Yamandu Orsi, on social media. This is as far as I go, Mujica had said back in January. But it wasnt so easy for him to leave us behind. Not 50 years ago either, when he was shot six times. Nor during the 10 years he spent locked up by the military in a pit barely one square meter in size.

The first time, 12 liters of blood saved his life. The second, he tamed frogs and fed mice to avoid going insane. He emerged from that cell wiser, he used to say, and returned to what he knew: politics. In 1994, he was elected deputy for Montevideo; in 1999, senator; and in 2010, president of Uruguay with nearly 55% of the vote.

Mujica captivated the world as a symbol of austerity and simplicity, a rare kind of leader, who, near the end of his life, voiced warnings tinged with pessimism, yet never lost faith in humanity. I dedicated myself to changing the world and I didnt change a damn thing. But I was entertained, he told EL PAIS in November, worn out from the radiotherapy sessions he was undergoing to treat his cancer. And I gave meaning to my life. Im going to die happy. I spent it dreaming, fighting, struggling. They beat me up and all that, but it doesnt matter, I dont have debts to pay.

Uruguayan congressman and former leader of Tupamaro leftist guerrillas Jose Mujica, speaks during an interview Friday, Nov. 26, 1999 at his office in Montevideo's congress. A portrait of Raul Sendic, late founder of the Tupamaro guerrillas movement, is seen in the background. EDUARDO DI BAIA (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A survivor of countless battles, Mujica ultimately lost the war to cancer  first in his esophagus, then in his liver. When the metastasis was confirmed, he was exhausted and decided to throw in the towel.

I was given 31 shots [of radiation] at 7 a.m. every day. They beat down the cancer, but they left me with a hole like this, he told EL PAIS last year, tracing a circle the size of an orange with his fingers.

The side effects of the treatment made it difficult for him to eat, and he felt weak and tired. Three months ago, he made his final public appearance at the campaign closing event for his chosen presidential candidate, Yamandu Orsi, who would go on to defeat the right in a runoff election held on November 24.

In those days, Mujica was elated: he was passing the torch of his political legacy to a younger generation, urging them to live with simplicity, because the more you have, the less happy you are.

Jose Alberto Mujica Cordano  that was his full name  was born in 1935 in Paso de la Arena, a rural neighborhood on the outskirts of Montevideo. His mother was a horticulturist, and his father, a small rancher, died in poverty in 1940, when Mujica was just six years old. By the age of 14, the young Mujica was already taking to the streets, demanding better wages for the workers in his neighborhood.

In 1964, he joined the guerrilla group Movimiento de Liberacion Nacional-Tupamaros. He was imprisoned four times and escaped twice  once in a legendary breakout in September 1971, when 106 guerrilla fighters tunneled out of the Punta Carretas prison in Montevideo after months of digging.

He was eventually recaptured, and in 1972 became one of the military regimes nine hostages: key Tupamaro leaders who were told they would be executed in prison if their organization resumed armed struggle.

Jose Mujica walk on his farm on June 23, 2008, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Dante Fernandez (LatinContent via Getty Images)

The 2018 film A Twelve-Year Night, directed by Alvaro Brechner, depicts Mujicas years in that military prison alongside fellow guerrillas. We had to fight against madness, because in that kind of prison, the goal was to leave us mentally broken. And we won: we didnt go mad, he said at the films premiere.

He often recalled the struggle to stay connected to life in the cell, where he could barely move. I was locked up for seven years in a room smaller than this one. Without a book, without anything to read. They took me out once a month, twice a month, to walk around a courtyard for half-an-hour. Seven years like that, he said in his final interview with this newspaper.

To keep myself sane, I began to remember things I had read, things I had thought about when I was young. When I was young, I read a lot. Later, I dedicated myself to changing the world and I didnt read anything. I couldnt change the world, but what I had read when I was young helped me, he continued. I talk to the person I carry inside me  the one who rescued me when I was imprisoned, when I was alone. I start to remember and remember and remember."

The then presidential candidate for the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) casts his vote in the presidential elections of October 25, 2009, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Matilde Campodonico (AP/ LaPresse)

Mujica did not emerge unscathed from that cell. He became seriously ill with a bladder condition and ultimately lost a kidney. But he survived. In Mujica, a biography written by Miguel Angel Campodonico, the former president recalled his time in the military prisons, but without playing the victim. Im not one to talk about torture and how badly I suffered. In fact, it even annoys me because Ive seen a kind of race measured by a torture meter. People who take pleasure in repeating, Oh, how badly I suffered.

His critics reproached him for not doing enough as president to prosecute the military responsible for the disappearances and torture during the dictatorship. Mujica responded that he had decided not to get even.

In life, there are wounds that have no cure, and you have to learn to go on living. I know that there are people who wont support me, but Ive chosen a more intelligent and less sentimental position. Thats why I didnt use power to go after the military. If Im going to try to get even... God forbid, he told EL PAIS.

Nevertheless, Mujica always saw those years as the ones that most shaped his way of thinking. The need to exist makes one think and rethink and ask questions that are rarely asked in everyday life, he often said.

Jose Mujica at his farm on October 31, 2024. NATALIA ROVIRA

Out of those questions  and the answers he found  was born the Mujica who captivated the world: a leftist politician who made himself heard from a small South American country. He arrived at his first day in the Senate on a motorcycle, dressed in street clothes, coming straight from his small farm in Rincon del Cerro, about a half-hours drive from Montevideo. He lived there  surrounded by vegetable crops, his three-legged dog Manuela, and farm animals  from the time he was pardoned in 1985 until his death.

It was in that rural refuge that he took his commitment to frugality and simple living to the extreme. He never got off his tractor or out of his light blue 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, even when he was president. Anyone who wanted to interview him had to get their feet dirty  whether heads of state like Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva or royalty like Spains King Juan Carlos I, whom he received in 2015 just hours after leaving office. They say Im a poor president. Poor are those who need a lot. I learned to travel light, he told Juan Carlos with a laugh. You cant  because you had the misfortune of being born a king.

Mujica often pushed back against being labeled the worlds poorest president. This is my world  neither better nor worse, just different, he once said, referring to the perspective taken by the documentary El Pepe, A Supreme Life, by Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica.

The key lies in morality, he told EL PAIS in November. The problem is that we live in a consumerist era, where we think that succeeding in life is buying new things and paying the mortgage. Were building self-exploited societies. You have time to work, but not to live.

Thats why he had this message for young people: Youre free to do what you want with your life, which is sometimes just nonsense. Do you understand? Because culture is the daughter of nonsense.

Jose Mujica and his wife Lucia Topolansky during the funeral of Raul Sendic, May 7, 1989. Cortesia de la familia.

From his years as a guerrilla fighter came his relationship with Lucia Topolansky. They met during a clandestine operation when he was 37 and she was 27. During their years of imprisonment, they exchanged only a few letters, and it wasnt until 1985  after the return of democracy  that they were finally reunited. They remember little from those years, she once said, because its a bit like those wartime stories, where human relationships are distorted by the circumstances  youre on the run, you could be arrested, you could be killed. It doesnt follow the parameters of a normal life.

Topolansky entered the Senate in 2005 with the Frente Amplio (Broad Front), and in 2010 she had the honor of placing the presidential sash on her husband, a recognition earned by being the most voted legislator. Seven years later, she became vice president under Tabare Vazquez. Mujica and Topolansky were never apart.

At every age, theres a scale of feelings. When youre young, love is volcanic. When youre old, its a sweet habit. If Im still alive, its because of her, Mujica said shortly before his death.

His first speech as a senator in 2000 was dedicated to cows. In 2005, he became Minister of Livestock under then-president Tabare Vazquez. And once in office as president, he proposed a national debate on the ownership of large estates and suggested solving the rural labor shortage by importing farmworkers from neighboring countries. He also championed a bold progressive agenda that placed Uruguay at the forefront of the region: he legalized abortion and same-sex marriage, and regulated the production and sale of marijuana. Suddenly, the world turned its attention to Uruguay.

Back in November, Mujica recalled his time in office by mentioning his relationship with Barack Obama, an intelligent guy who saw problems as they were. But above all, he spoke most fondly of his deep friendship with Lula da Silva, whom he regarded as a world figure.

Former Uruguayan president Jose Mujica attends a rally in support of former Brazilian President Lula da Silva in Santana do Livramento, Brazil, 19 March 2018. Pablo Albarenga (Picture Alliance/Getty Images)

In 2018, Mujica finally stepped away from active politics. He resigned from his Senate seat with a letter addressed to the president of Congress  his own wife  in which he cited personal reasons and fatigue from a long journey. Even so, he continued to support the Broad Front and to speak out on current events to anyone who wanted to listen. When he learned he had cancer, he vowed to fight, but it was clear he had become weary.

Until the end, Mujica made it clear he did not seek a place in historys bronze statues. Men dont make history  we make comic strips, he said in one of his last interviews. Why? Because in the vastness of the universe and time, we are too full of ourselves. This business of creating a god in human form and everything that goes with it is an old atavism.

Before he died, Mujica asked not to be approached for more interviews. My cycle is over. Honestly, Im dying, and the warrior has earned his rest, he told the weekly Busqueda. He announced his decision to die at home, on his farm, and to be laid to rest under the big redwood where he buried his three-legged dog Manuela in 2018. And thats it, he said  and that was how he chose to leave this world.

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Global life sciences leader to invest $700 million in Holly Springs, North Carolina, creating 400 jobs

RALEIGH, N.C., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Genentech, one of the world's premiere biotechnology companies headquartered in South San Francisco, California, announced it will build a new manufacturing plant in the town of Holly Springs, N.C.

"Our new facility near Raleigh, North Carolina, an established biopharmaceutical talent hub, will serve as an important new setting within our manufacturing network to help deliver on the promise of our company's life-changing science and industry-leading pipeline," said Genentech CEO, Ashley Magargee. "We are thrilled to establish this relationship with the town of Holly Springs, where we expect to have a positive impact on the local economy and community, as we have across the United States since we pioneered the biotech industry nearly 50 years ago."

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, N.C. Commerce's Division of Workforce Solutions, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, N.C. State University, Duke Energy, Enbridge Gas North Carolina, Capital Area Workforce Development, Wake Tech, the Town of Holly Springs, Wake County, and Wake County Economic Development, a program of the Greater Raleigh Chamber.

North Carolina: One of the Fastest-Growing States in Life Sciences

"As you know, Genentech is of course no ordinary life sciences company, having started the entire global biotechnology industrial revolution back in 1976," said William Bullock, senior vice president of economic and statewide development at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. "A mere 8 years later, North Carolina created the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. We are now in our 41st year of working with allies across the state and North Carolina is one of the fastest growing life sciences states, as evidenced by over $20 billion of investment and over 15,000 new jobs, all announced since 2020."

Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average annual salary for the new positions will be $119,833, compared with an average current annual wage in Wake County of $76,643. The new positions will bring an annual payroll impact of more than $50 million.

N.C. Job Development Investment Grant Played Role in Site Selection

Genentech's project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state's Economic Investment Committee. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state's economy by more than $3 billion. The project will add more than 400 high-wage manufacturing jobs when the site is operational and more than 1,500 construction jobs during site development. According to the company, this initial investment could expand in the future based on business needs and the U.S. policy environment.

About Genentech

Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit gene.com.

About Roche

Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit roche.com.

About the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) is a private nonprofit corporation that serves as North Carolina's statewide economic development organization. Governed by an 18-member board of business and industry leaders from across the state, the EDPNC focuses on business and job recruitment, existing industry support, international trade, tourism and film marketing. The EDPNC, which operates under contract with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, works closely with public- and private-sector partners at the state, regional and local levels. For more information, please visit edpnc.com.

SOURCE Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
BEIJING, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese online literature is now being celebrated as a space for shared imagination and collaborative creation. Rather than simply reaching global audiences, it is drawing them in to participate.

The latest "Report on the Development of Chinese Online Literature 2024," released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), shows that by the end of 2024, the market size of China's online literature reading sector had reached 43.06 billion yuan ($5.58 billion). For the first time, the number of online literature authors surpassed 30 million, totaling 31.198 million, The Paper reported on Saturday.

"Online literature, like online games, short videos, livestreaming, and micro-dramas, is part of China's digital cultural industry and also a key component of its popular culture. These sectors are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, serving as a media lever that facilitates the deep integration of culture and tourism," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times on Monday.

The report by CASS pointed out that in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital intelligence, AI is becoming a powerful tool for helping writers improve their creative efficiency, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Meanwhile, the push for collaborative IP creation is emerging as a new trend in the industry.

Among the top 10 domestic animated series of 2024 on Chinese streaming platform Tencent Video, nine were adapted from online literature. Meanwhile, take Shao Song, the popular alternate history novel, for instance. The comic adaptation of the novel drove a 13-fold increase in the original novel's readership, according to the report by CASS.

While integrating online literature IPs across books, film, animation, and games helps advance the cultural industry as a whole, it is also creating new opportunities for the tourism sector.

Sanqing Mountain, a world natural heritage site in East China's Jiangxi Province, launched a nationwide online literature competition themed around the scenic area in March 2024. According to the official WeChat account of the scenic spot, themed "World heritage, Chinese stories," the competition has received more than 17,000 submissions from online literature enthusiasts across the country, all drawing inspiration from Sanqing Mountain.

The grand prize-winning work Xian Guan You Ling has already had its film and television rights sold, meaning people may soon see a new debut of Sanqing Mountain on the big screen, wrote the WeChat post.

Furthermore, the author of Xian Guan You Ling was granted naming rights to Yusonglin, a local scenic spot on Sanqing Mountain. The spot was featured in the story as Xiudao (meaning spiritual cultivation) Forest. Now with the new name, the forest has become a trendy new photo spot for the novel's fans.

With the rapid growth of China's digital cultural industry, the country's popular culture has continued to evolve and improve and is now beginning to show clear spillover effects. Online literature, usually accessible and easy to understand, has further benefited from AI technology, which has significantly lowered the barriers to translation and amplified its influence through a multiplier effect, commented Sun.

Adapted from online literature, the TV series Joy of Life Season 2 (or Qing Yu Nian) achieved a simultaneous global release via Disney+ and has become the most-watched Chinese mainland drama on the platform, noted the report by CASS.

By the end of 2024, Chinese online literature platform Yuewen Group's international platform WebNovel had published around 6,800 translated titles, supported 460,000 overseas writers, and hosted roughly 700,000 original works worldwide. With nearly 300 million users across more than 200 countries and regions, it has become a major player in global digital storytelling, reported Xinhua News Agency on Monday.

WebNovel hosts an annual writing contest to bring together writing talent from around the world and support the growth of online fiction authors. Winners are invited to an award ceremony in China, where they can experience the country firsthand.

Kawin Jack Sherwin, better known by his pen name JKSManga, is an online literature author from the UK. According to a report by People's Daily Overseas, he began writing online literature after becoming a fan of the Chinese online novel The Land of Warriors. He registered an account and eventually won the Gold Award in WebNovel's first annual English writing competition. An audiobook adaptation of his work has since reached 243 million plays. This cycle of "creation, feedback, re-creation" has made Chinese online literature a bridge for cross-cultural dialogue, wrote the report.

Millions of people have turned to online literature platforms to write, share, and explore their creativity. At the same time, web fiction has sparked renewed interest in reading among a wider audience. Today, more writers from around the world are joining this growing community, not just to enjoy its stories, but to help shape them.

SOURCE Global Times
BOSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Granata Bio ("Granata"), a U.S.-based biotechnology company focused on advancing fertility therapeutics, today announced a strategic partnership with Gedeon Richter Plc. ("Richter"), a global leader in women's health. The agreement includes Richter's acquisition of a significant equity stake in Granata and the appointment of a Richter representative to Granata's Board of Directors.

Richter issued a press release today outlining the partnership and highlighting the strategic importance of the collaboration in expanding its presence in the United States and strengthening its Women's Health Care portfolio.

The partnership brings together two highly complementary organizations. Granata contributes deep U.S. market expertise, including strong relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), clinical development and regulatory strategy, and commercial execution. Richter offers global scale, proven manufacturing capabilities, and a long-standing commercial presence in reproductive health markets worldwide.

In addition to the equity investment, the companies have signed a binding term sheet for the co-development of BEMFOLA, Richter's recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for the U.S. market, and a royalty purchase agreement for Granata's proprietary human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) program, aligning long-term commercial interests in the fertility space.

"We're proud to partner with Gedeon Richter, an organization whose global footprint and manufacturing excellence perfectly complement Granata Bio's strengths in the U.S. market. This collaboration brings together the best of both companies: deep therapeutic expertise, operational agility, and a shared commitment to improving access to fertility care," said Evan Sussman, CEO and Co-Founder of Granata Bio.

Stephen Medeiros, Chief Operating Officer of Granata Bio, added, "FSH is the most prescribed gonadotropin by volume and represents a cornerstone of ovarian stimulation treatment. The addition of BEMFOLA to our pipeline significantly strengthens our portfolio, providing coverage across all major IVF product categories. Together, these assets position us to better support the evolving needs of patients and providers in the U.S. fertility landscape."

This partnership, coupled with the recent acquisition of Oviva Therapeutics, further solidifies Granata's leadership position in the fertility sector, as it continues to build a portfolio of innovative assets designed to improve outcomes and access for individuals seeking reproductive care.

About Granata Bio

Granata Bio is a U.S. based biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing innovation in women's health and infertility. Founded in 2018, the company's pipeline includes a range of fertility therapies, with collaborations spanning multiple drug classes to address unmet needs in reproductive medicine. Granata Bio is the parent company of Oviva Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary developing first-in-class therapeutics aimed at preserving ovarian function and extending female health span. For more information, please visit www.granata.bio and LinkedIn.

About Gedeon Richter Plc.

Richter aspires to be a global innovator in some key scientific fields, while dedicated to making medicines more accessible worldwide. Founded in 1901, headquartered in Hungary, with a market capitalization of EUR 4.7bn and sales of EUR 2.2bn in 2024, it operates Central Europe's largest R&D hub. Its research drives breakthroughs in Neuropsychiatry and Women's Healthcare, while Biotechnology and General Medicines strengthen its affordable treatment portfolio. Committed to sustainable growth, Richter invests in R&D, manufacturing excellence, and digitalization to advance medical innovation. Learn more at www.gedeonrichter.com

SOURCE Granata Bio
NVIDIA Founder & CEO Dr. Jensen Huang's Iconic Leather Jackets Among Gala Highlights Fueling University's Vision

HONG KONG, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A constellation of over 200 influential leaders from academia, industry and philanthropy converged last Saturday at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for the spectacular inaugural Gala Dinner celebrating the official launch of the HKUST Foundation. The landmark event, a testament to the community's profound commitment to future innovation and talent, successfully raised over HK$35 million. The remarkable sum, significantly boosted by the iconic leather jackets signed by Dr. Jensen HUANG, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA and a 2024 HKUST Honorary Doctor of Engineering, alongside his generous matching donations, will powerfully advance HKUST's ambitious vision for nurturing world-class talent and pioneering groundbreaking innovation.

Established under the University Council, the HKUST Foundation is envisioned as a vital bridge, uniting a community of supporters who share a common goal: to empower HKUST in its enduring mission to inspire, innovate, and transform. The Gala Dinner marked a pivotal moment, not only celebrating the new chapter but also strengthening existing alliances and forging new partnerships. These collaborations are crucial for enhancing the University's cutting-edge teaching and research capabilities, while enriching our students' educational and career pathways.

A Confluence of Visionaries

The event commenced with a warm welcome from HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM, President Prof. Nancy IP, and HKUST Foundation Chairman Prof. Albert IP, addressing the esteemed Partners and Board Members of the HKUST Foundation and all distinguished guests. The glittering assembly included luminaries such as Dr. LI Ning, Chairman of Viva Group; Dr. the Hon. Vincent LO, Founder and Chairman of Shui On Group and HKUST Honorary Court Chairman; Dr. the Hon. Henry TANG, Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board; Sir Gordon WU, Chairman and Director of Hopewell Holdings Limited; Dr. Adrian CHENG, Non-Executive Vice-Chairman of the New World Development Company Limited; Mr. YEUNG Fan, Vice-Chairman and General Manager of Glorious Sun Group, and renowned artist Mr. Kenny CHUNG Chun-To. Other senior leadership from HKUST, including Council Vice-Chairman Ms. Edith SHIH, University Treasurer Mr. Stephen YIU Kin-Wah, and Vice-President for Administration and Business and Acting Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Prof. TAM Kar-Yan and members of Council, were also present to mark the historic occasion.

Iconic Donation Pledge Ignites Generosity

A thrilling highlight of the evening was the charity auction and exclusive pledge sessions. Expertly helmed by Ms. JIN Ling, Christie's first "Golden Mallet Award" auctioneer in China, the pledge featured three iconic leather jackets emblazoned with "HKUST" and worn by Dr. Jensen Huang and Prof. Harry Shum  two autographed by Dr. Huang (one featuring a personal message), and a third contributed by Prof. Shum. Other prized items included four rare red wines generously donated by Dr. The Hon. Henry Tang, and an exquisite ink wash painting by celebrated painter Ms. Yvonne CHOW Hau-Yee. All items found enthusiastic new owners and contributed to the night's fundraising triumph.

Demonstrating his profound commitment to nurturing future innovators, Dr. Huang, through the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation, magnanimously matched donations generated from his jackets with HK$10 million. This significant contribution will establish the HKUST Top Engineering Scholars Award, which is designed to recognize undergraduate students for exceptional academic performance, leadership, and impactful contributions to the university, as well as PhD students for pioneering research, innovation and academic excellence.

Voices of Vision and Gratitude

HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry Shum expressed profound gratitude to all the participants, "It is a distinct honor to celebrate this monumental milestone with our esteemed donors and partners, who share our vision for the future of education, innovation, and societal impact. From a coastal blueprint to a global innovation beacon, HKUST's journey mirrors the power of partnership. The can-do spirit of our faculty, staff and students, as well as the steadfast support of our donors and alumni, have fueled transformative breakthroughs. Together, we are poised to make an even greater impact across Hong Kong, the Mainland, and the world."

HKUST President Prof. Nancy Ip shared her heartfelt appreciation, "HKUST is where curiosity meets impact, where dreams are forged, boundaries are shattered, and breakthroughs are born. Over the last three decades, we have grown into a world-class institution ranked among the top 50 in the world. With the support from all generous donors here and from afar, we are nurturing pioneers who will lead the next wave of scientific and societal breakthroughs. This is just the beginning."

HKUST Foundation Chairman Prof. Albert Ip remarked, "This event celebrates the Foundation's impact and the enduring spirit of collaboration and philanthropy. My deepest thanks to the Organizing Committee, particularly Co-chairman Jennifer Cheng & Terry Tsang, both Council Members, Foundation Partners and Board members, and all patrons and sponsors for making this possible. As Dr. Jensen Huang commended HKUST as the "MIT of Asia", I look forward to welcoming our 100,000-strong alumni base and all who believe in innovation without borders to join us in writing HKUST's next chapter."

An Evening of Memorable Performances and Unity

The Gala Dinner captivated attendees with an array of memorable performances. The University Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring renowned violinist and HKUST Honorary Fellow Ms. Jue YAO delivered a stunning opening. Later, a mesmerizing guzheng duet by Dr. Raymond CHAN and Prof. XU Lingzi blended traditional and contemporary artistry to thunderous applause. The evening culminated in a deeply moving moment as HKUST senior leadership and Foundation Board members led a rousing group rendition of the University Anthem, uniting all present in a powerful celebration of HKUST's indomitable spirit and legacy.

The proceeds from this historic gala will be strategically channeled to advance HKUST's future development through cultivating exceptional talent, spearheading pioneering research, and driving innovation-led initiatives.

Download photos here: https://bit.ly/43anb0a

SOURCE The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Equity Insider News Commentary

Issued on behalf of RUA GOLD Inc.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Insider News Commentary  It's almost universal now that analysts see the price of gold going higher than its current position. Now analysts at JPMorgan are making even bolder predictions than normal, saying that gold could reach $6,000 per ounce by 2029 , if just 0.5% of US assets held by foreign investors is reallocated to the precious metal. Already, jewelry merchants in the USA are seeing a frenzy for gold buying , meaning Main Street is bullish on gold too. In the market, several gold miners are making strides in developing their assets, with recent news coming from RUA GOLD Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF), Montage Gold Corp. (TSX: MAU) (OTCQX: MAUTF), Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (OTCPK: MWSNF), Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQB: LMGDF), and West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLFG).

Historic Mines in Reefton Goldfield (PRNewsfoto/Equity Insider)

Both industry heavyweight Rob McEwen and billionaire investor John Paulson are expecting gold to nearly hit $5,000 within the next few years, which could set the stage for a major rally in gold mining equities. Deutsche Bank sees $3,700 gold on the horizon, as gold mining stocks are starting to reflect that renewed momentum.

RUA GOLD Inc. (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF) is a gold exploration company working both of New Zealand's main islandsan unusual advantage in one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic mining regions. The company holds the largest position in the Reefton Goldfield on the South Island and is now expanding activity near OceanaGold's high-profile WKP project on the North Island.

RUA has just finished its second round of surface exploration at Glamorgan, moving closer to drilling what may be one of the most promising new gold targets in the Hauraki district. Fieldwork has outlined three priority zones with overlapping gold-arsenic soil anomalies, high-grade rock samples up to 43 g/t gold, and deep resistive features that often point to quartz-rich veins at depth. These are considered classic markers of a large-scale epithermal gold-silver systemidentical to what's been seen at OceanaGold's Wharekirauponga (WKP) project less thank 3km kilometres away.

This is elephant country, with the Waihi Mine in the same goldfield having produced over 10M ounces of gold to date and still operating, and the WKP project already having an indicated resource of 1.4Moz at 17.9g/t of gold, and still open and expanding.

The company's technical team used drone-based magnetics, clay mineral analysis, and ground-based CSAMT geophysics to zero in on where the strongest signals converge. Four gold-arsenic anomalies were mapped, each stretching over four kilometres, but three have now been ranked highest for near-term drilling. An access agreement is being submitted by the end of May, and the full dataset is now being analyzed through VRIFY's DORA platform , an AI-assisted mineral discovery tool that RUA is working with to help rank and refine upcoming drill targets.

Glamorgan is just one part of RUA's larger play to revive New Zealand's historic gold belts using modern exploration methods and technology.

On the South Island, RUA holds roughly 95% of the Reefton Goldfieldan area that has historically produced over 2 million ounces from grades ranging between 9 and 50 g/t.

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Drilling at the company's Auld Creek project continues to turn up high-grade gold-antimony intercepts below the current resource outline, including 9.0 metres at 5.9 g/t AuEq and 1.25 metres at 48.3 g/t AuEq. Mineralization remains open at depth, and only two of four known shoots are currently included in the resource modelsuggesting room for expansion. Integration of traditional mapping with predictive modeling has delivered compelling results , including 12 metres at 12.2 g/t gold equivalent, highlighted by a 2-metre section grading 54.8 g/t gold.

Elsewhere in Reefton, RUA is advancing the Gallant prospect, located just 3 kilometres from the past-producing Globe Progress mine, which had produced over 610,000 ounces between 2007 and 2016, with another 424,000 ounces extracted prior to 1950.

Gallant was initially flagged using AI-aided analysis (from VRIFY) of over 170,000 datapoints, and is now being tested for potential extensions of a 20.7-metre vein that previously returned 62.2 g/t gold including a 1-metre interval grading 1,911 g/t. A few kilometres away, visible gold has been logged in most of the holes drilled at Murray Creek, where VRIFY's AI engine is helping prioritize zones with the strongest geological signals.

Gold is the central focusbut it's not the whole story.

In January 2025, New Zealand officially added antimony to its Critical Minerals List , recognizing the metal's importance to global supply chains. With surface samples at Auld Creek returning antimony grades over 40%, and drilling delivering intercepts above 8%, RUA may be sitting on one of the few Western assets with meaningful exposure to this increasingly strategic element. With antimony prices now above US$50,000 per tonne , and China tightening exports, that critical metals angle could become a compelling layer of upside.

Led by a technical team with a combined track record of more than $11 billion in past mining exits , and backed by $5.75 million in fresh capital, RUA GOLD is executing a focused, data-driven campaign to rediscover high-grade opportunities across both islands. With gold above $3,400 and investor interest returning to miners with real targets and tangible progress, RUA is quietly putting overlooked ground back on the map.

CONTINUED Read this and more news for RUA GOLD at: https://equity-insider.com/2025/04/24/others-found-1911-g-t-here-before-now-a-proven-11b-mining-team-is-back-to-finish-the-job/

In other industry developments and happenings in the market include:

Montage Gold Corp. (TSX: MAU) (OTCQX: MAUTF) is deepening its footprint in Cote d'Ivoire through a strategic partnership with Aurum Resources, gaining a 9.9% stake in the company. This move aligns Montage with heavyweight backers like the Lundin family and Zhaojin, as all eyes turn to the underexplored Boundiali belt. With aggressive drilling underway and feasibility studies expected soon, the region's gold potential is drawing serious institutional attention.

"With our Kone project located immediately south of Aurum's Boundiali gold project, both companies see significant opportunity for collaboration to enhance value creation for all our stakeholders," said Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage. "As construction at Kone continues to rapidly advance on budget with first gold pour well on track for Q2-2027, we remain focused on executing our strategy of creating a leading African gold producer."

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSXV: SXGC) (OTCPK: MWSNF) reported a standout drill intercept of 28.6 metres at 10.3 g/t gold from deep below its Sunday Creek project in Victoria, Australia. This result supports a growing trend: grades at depth are improving across the property, similar to nearby Rising Sun.

The project now boasts over 60 ultra-high-grade intercepts and is notable for its mix of gold and antimonya critical metal facing supply threats from China. As drilling continues, Sunday Creek is shaping up as one of the few Western assets positioned to supply both precious and strategic metals from a single, scalable discovery.

Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQB: LMGDF) is being acquired by CMOC in an all-cash deal worth C$581 million, offering shareholders a 71% premium over the recent trading average. The move underscores the strategic value of Lumina's Cangrejos project in Ecuador, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the region. As major players move in, it's a reminder that quality gold assets are becoming increasingly scarceand valuable.

"After advancing the Cangrejos project for over 10-years and taking it from no defined resources to being poised to be one of the largest gold projects globally, the Lumina Group is excited for the transition of the Cangrejos project to CMOC," said Marshall Koval, CEO of Lumina. "The Lumina team looks forward to working with CMOC and all existing stakeholders to ensure the successful future development of the project."

West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLFG) has wrapped up a bulk sample at its Madsen Mine, delivering 2,498 ounces of gold with grades and tonnage aligning almost perfectly with expectationsa key milestone for mine readiness.

"We acquired Madsen because we believed an accurate geological model, detailed engineering design, and disciplined mining practices would enable exactly this  a mine that delivers to plan," said said Shane Williams, President and CEO of WRLG. "I am extremely pleased to deliver these bulk sample results and I look forward to ramping up operations at the Madsen Mine in the coming months."

The company sold 2,350 of those ounces between late March and early May, generating US$7.7 million at an average gold price of US$3,293 per ounce. With a 95% recovery rate and strong reconciliation from three separate zones, Madsen is proving its ability to deliver on plan. For investors, it's a promising sign that WRLG could soon join the ranks of Red Lake's next generation of gold producers.

Article Source: https://equity-insider.com/2025/04/24/others-found-1911-g-t-here-before-now-a-proven-11b-mining-team-is-back-to-finish-the-job/

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NEW YORK, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE: IBTA) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Ibotta's April 18, 2024 initial public offering (the "IPO"), of the important June 16, 2025 lead plaintiff deadine.

So What: If you purchased Ibotta securities 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 Ibotta class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36526 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] 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 June 16, 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, the Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose the risks concerning Ibotta's contract with The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"). Kroger's contract was at-will, and Ibotta failed to warn investors that a large client could cancel their contract with Ibotta without warning. Despite providing a detailed explanation of the terms of Ibotta's contract with another large customer, there was not a single warning of the at-will nature of Kroger's contract. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Ibotta action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36526 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] 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, 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 Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a systematic approach to ensuring the security, transparency and sustainability of its platform, MEXC , a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, regularly undergoes both technical and financial audits. One of the latest steps in this direction included the successful completion of a security audit by Hacken, a leading Web3 cybersecurity firm. The audit found no critical or high-risk vulnerabilities in the MEXC mobile application and confirmed that previously identified minor issues were fully addressed.

Key Takeaways:



Independent Audit from Hacken Confirms MEXCs Strong Security Standards

No critical or high-risk vulnerabilities were identified.

All minor issues flagged during the audit were promptly resolved.

The platform demonstrates adherence to robust security protocols and architecture.

The audit conducted under the comprehensive Hacken's pentest methodology framework assessed all possible vulnerabilities of the MEXC app to attacks from malicious actors and exploitation. Hacken confirmed that MEXC's existing security measures provide comprehensive protection against known threat vectors.

The audit also reviewed the platform's operational architecture, emphasizing a balance between usability and security. Specifically, Hacken highlighted the MEXC app's user-centric design and simplified navigation, which significantly improve the trading experience for both beginners and experienced traders. Special attention was given to the app's infrastructure around trading execution, data handling, and fund transfer mechanisms.

MEXC has already addressed and resolved all low-risk vulnerabilities and risks that were flagged by the audit to strengthen the app's resilience and improve the overall user security and trading experience. The prompt resolution highlights the exchange's transparency towards its users and commitment to protecting its ecosystem from emerging threats.

Commenting on the audit, MEXC COO Tracy Jin stated:

"External, independent verification is an essential part of maintaining user trust and ensuring accountability. We thank Hacken for their work and continue to prioritize transparency and security, as we scale our services globally."

Security and transparency remain key priorities for MEXC. In addition to successful technical audits, the exchange regularly confirms its financial stability through regular independently verified Proof of Reserves reports. This data is available to users and partners and meets industry standards for openness and control over user assets.

The full security audit report by Hacken is available at LINK .

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto". Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.

For more information, visit: MEXC Website  X  Telegram  How to Sign Up on MEXC

About Hacken

Hacken is a trusted blockchain security auditor on a mission to make Web3 a safer place.

With a team of 60+ certified engineers, it provides solutions covering all aspects of blockchain security, such as smart contract & protocol audits, bug bounties, and security assessments.

Hacken has been raising the bar for blockchain security, working with more than 1,500 Web3 projects since its inception in 2017.

For more information, visit: Hacken Website  X  LinkedIn

SOURCE MEXC
ST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- iotaMotion, Inc., a leader in robotic-assisted systems for cochlear implant surgery, today announced the first use of the iotaSOFT Insertion System outside of the United States. The technology is in use as a pre-market clinical investigation at University Hospital of Zurich, led by Professor Alexander Huber.

The study, titled "Analysis of electrocochleographic signals during speed-controlled cochlear implant electrode array insertion in a non-randomized controlled trial," represents a significant milestone in iotaMotion's history and the broader cochlear implant market. The iotaSOFT Insertion System, which has been used in more than 750 cases in the United States, provides unprecedented control of the electrode array insertion, enabling the optimization of intracochlear recordings using real-time electrocochleography (ECochG).

Professor Huber highlighted the significance of the collaboration: "Bringing this new robotic-assisted technology for cochlear implantation to University of Zurich was extremely important to our team. It will enable us to continue to advance cochlear implant care and explore techniques that have never been used clinically prior to this study."

The study leverages robotic control of the array insertion to analyze the relationship between electrode insertion dynamics and cochlear function, as measured by ECochG signals. This approach may pave the way for future advancements in cochlear implant programming and hearing preservation strategies.

"This represents a major milestone for iotaMotion as we expand outside of the United States with our technology," said Mike Lobinsky, President & CEO of iotaMotion. "The team in Zurich has been an exceptional partner, and we look forward to continuing our relationship."

While currently under pre-market clinical investigation, wider availability of the iotaSOFT Insertion System is planned for 2026.

About iotaMotion

iotaMotion, Inc. is a medical technology company based in St. Paul, MN, dedicated to advancing cochlear implant surgery beyond human capability through robotic-assisted solutions. Its flagship technology, the iotaSOFT Insertion System, is designed to provide a slow and consistent electrode array insertion that is designed to preserve delicate intracochlear structures. The system is commercially available in the United States and under clinical investigation in other global markets.

For more information, visit www.iotamotion.com or contact Wade Colburn, Vice President of Marketing and Clinical, at [email protected].

SOURCE iotaMotion, Inc.
BAODING, China, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IT Tech Packaging Inc. (NYSE American: ITP) ("IT Tech Packaging" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of diversified paper products in North China, today announced the pricing of a public offering of 6,899,500 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $0.20 per share. The gross proceeds from the offering to IT Tech Packaging are expected to be approximately $1.4 million, before deducting offering fees and expenses. The offering is expected to close on May 14, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole placement agent for the offering.

IT Tech Packaging intends to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

A shelf registration statement relating to the shares of common stock offered in the public offering described above was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 3, 2023, and declared effective by the SEC on April 14, 2023. The offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will be filed with the SEC. When available, copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may also be obtained by contacting Maxim Group LLC at 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, New York, telephone (212) 895-3745 or by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities being offered, nor shall there be any sale of the securities being offered in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About IT Tech Packaging, Inc.

Founded in 1996, IT Tech Packaging, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of diversified paper products in North China. Using recycled paper as its primary raw material (with the exception of its tissue paper products), ITP produces and distributes three categories of paper products: corrugating medium paper, offset printing paper and tissue paper products. With production based in Baoding and Xingtai in North China's Hebei Province, ITP is located strategically close the Beijing and Tianjin region, home to a growing base of industrial and manufacturing activities and one of the largest markets for paper products consumption in the country. ITP has been listed on the NYSE American since December 2009. For more information, please visit: www.itpackaging.cn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "plan", "outlook", and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include timing of the proposed transaction; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the parties once the transaction is complete, and ITP's estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, our actual results may differ materially from our expectations or projections. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact our expectations and projections will be found in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. ITP's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . ITP disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

At the Company Email:

[email protected]

Tel: +86 0312 8698215

SOURCE IT Tech Packaging, Inc.
HELSINKI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inkoo Municipal Council has approved the Joddbole V zoning plan, which guides the land use of the Joddbole industrial area. Blastr, the landowners in the Joddbole area, and the Municipality of Inkoo have also signes a land use agreement, which agrees on the allocation of costs for related to the implementation of the zoning plan.

The Joddbole V zoning plan enables the construction of a low-emission steel mill and a hydrogen production plant in Joddbole industrial area in Inkoo, Finland. The plan also allows for other industrial activities alongside the steel mill, with the potential to utilize Blastr's operational side streams. Next, Blastr's Inkoo project will move to the permitting phase, where Blastr will apply for environmental, water, and building permits for the project.

"The development of the Joddbole industrial area is important to us and other actors in the area. We have cooperated in good faith, and I believe that together, we have created a solid foundation for the responsible and sustainable implementation of the project," says Antti Kaikkonen, Blastr's Country Manager for Finland.

In April, the Finnish government decided to allocate 6 million euros to strengthen the growth and investment conditions in the Inkoo area through selected infrastructure investments.

"Blastr's project is significant both regionally and nationally. It is encouraging that the government recognizes the potential of the Joddbole industrial area as an engine for sustainable growth," Kaikkonen states.

Significant land use agreement for Inkoo

The land use agreement between Blastr, the Municipality of Inkoo, and the landowners Fortum, Inkoo Shipping, Rudus, and the National Emergency Supply Agency is an essential part of the zoning of the Joddbole industrial area. In the agreement, the parties agree on the allocation of costs for municipal structures related to the implementation of the Joddbole V zoning plan.

According to the land use agreement, Blastr and the landowners will contribute a total of 10.4 million euros to the Municipality of Inkoo's infrastructure costs. Blastr's share of this is over 6.5 million euros. The funding covers, among other things, the development of municipal engineering, water management, and traffic arrangements in the area.

"The cooperation agreement strengthens Blastr's long-term commitment to Inkoo and its community  both during construction and in the coming years of operation," Kaikkonen concludes.

For further information, contact:

[email protected]

+358 50 465 4767

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/blastr-green-steel/r/joddbole-v-zoning-plan-in-inkoo-approved--landowners-sign-land-use-agreement---significant-progress-,c4149577
Mexicos President, Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed on Monday that the Mexican government has no information from the United States government regarding the alleged crossing of at least 17 relatives of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman into U.S. territory on May 9 through the San Ysidro border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego.

There is nothing more than what has come out in the news [...]. The Attorney Generals Office is already requesting that information, said the president, after recalling the extradition of Ovidio Guzman in 2023 and the obligation of the U.S. Department of Justice to share information in coordination with Mexicos Attorney Generals Office on cases such as that of El Chapos son, who just a few days ago confirmed, through his lawyers, that he reached an agreement to change his guilty plea in negotiations with U.S. authorities.

Exclusive information from journalist Luis Chaparro, published on his site Pie de Nota, revealed that at least 17 of El Chapos relatives crossed on foot, carrying luggage, through the San Ysidro port of entry between Tijuana and San Diego on Friday, May 9. The newspaper El Universal, citing the same source and with confirmation from the U.S. Marshals Service, echoed the case and reported that the agency did not provide details on the reasons why family members of Los Chapitos  the faction of the Sinaloa Cartel controlled by El Chapos children  crossed into the United States.

Among the group of alleged border crossers is Griselda Lopez Perez, who became El Chapos second wife in the 1980s and had four children with him, including Ovidio El Raton Guzman, and Joaquin El Guero Moreno" Guzman Lopez. Both are currently in U.S. custody, with the latter allegedly responsible for the arrest of Ismael El Mayo Zambada on July 25, 2024, in New Mexico  an event that marked the beginning of an open war between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos (two factions within the Sinaloa Cartel), which continues to cast a shadow of violence over that state.

This alleged negotiated surrender with FBI agents follows the confirmation on May 6 that Ovidio Guzman will now plead guilty to drug trafficking in an upcoming hearing  scheduled for June 6  as part of a cooperation agreement with U.S. authorities.

Ovidio Guzman on the plane in which he was extradited to the United States, on September 15, 2023.

This information  along with several photographs of the group and a video of the moment just before they entered U.S. territory  was shared by journalist Luis Chaparro on his YouTube channel on Monday morning. In the video, the presenter also explains that there was at least one sniper overseeing the familys crossing, which had traveled from Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa, to Tijuana. The alleged surrender was meant to facilitate their transfer to the United States, where they were reportedly granted permanent residency by the authorities.

The future of the Guzman family

The news that Ovidio Guzman had reached a plea agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to drug trafficking quashed rumors surrounding the youngest of the Guzman brothers  at least those wanted by U.S. authorities: Ovidio himself, Joaquin, Jesus Alfredo, and Ivan Archivaldo  and raised questions about the future of the family. Ovidio faces a dozen charges in total: five in Chicago, six in New York, and one in the District of Columbia, mostly related to trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Additionally, on the same Monday, The Wall Street Journal, citing a Mexican security source, reported that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, El Chapos eldest son, escaped authorities in February during a raid in Culiacan. The escape was reportedly made possible by a hidden tunnel in the bathroom of the house where he was staying  reminiscent of his fathers escape tactics.

Ivan Archivaldo is considered one of the main exporters of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States, according to U.S. authorities. Among the four Guzman brothers allegedly involved in drug trafficking, he is one of only two  alongside Jesus Alfredo  who are still at large and wanted by the United States.

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BOSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - The John Hancock Closed-End Funds listed in the table below announced earnings1 for the three months ended April 30, 2025. The same data for the comparable three-month period ended April 30, 2024 is also available below.

Three Months Ended 04/30/2025 Ticker Fund Name Current

Fiscal

Year End Net

Investment

Income Per

Common

Share NAV Total Managed

Assets

Total Net Assets HPI Preferred Income Fund 7/31 $ 7,378,468 $ 0.276 $15.42 $ 669,610,890 * $ 412,510,890 HPF Preferred Income Fund II 7/31 $ 5,967,608 $ 0.276 $15.29 $ 537,068,758 * $ 330,368,758 HPS Preferred Income Fund III 7/31 $ 7,969,263 $ 0.248 $13.74 $ 715,117,118 * $ 440,817,118 JHS Income Securities Trust 10/31 $ 1,694,294 $ 0.145 $12.04 $ 231,546,319 * $ 140,246,319 JHI Investors Trust 10/31 $ 2,484,679 $ 0.284 $14.32 $ 212,105,861 * $ 125,205,861 PDT Premium Dividend Fund 10/31 $ 7,929,127 $ 0.161 $13.35 $1,030,410,349 * $ 656,710,349 HTD Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund 10/31 $10,337,554 $ 0.292 $24.63 $ 872,590,350 * $ 872,590,350

Three Months Ended 04/30/2024 Ticker Fund Name Current

Fiscal

Year End Net

Investment

Income Per

Common

Share NAV Total Managed

Assets

Total Net Assets HPI Preferred Income Fund 7/31 $7,056,729 $ 0.265 $15.77 $ 676,879,021 * $419,779,021 HPF Preferred Income Fund II 7/31 $5,717,305 $ 0.265 $15.64 $ 543,541,084 * $336,841,084 HPS Preferred Income Fund III 7/31 $7,666,481 $ 0.240 $14.09 $ 724,580,184 * $450,280,184 JHS Income Securities Trust 10/31 $1,327,843 $ 0.114 $11.69 $ 227,496,045 * $136,196,045 JHI Investors Trust 10/31 $1,855,394 $ 0.212 $14.47 $ 213,410,793 * $126,510,793 PDT Premium Dividend Fund 10/31 $7,066,123 $ 0.144 $12.18 $ 972,612,647 * $598,912,647 HTD Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund 10/31 $8,833,669 $ 0.249 $21.71 $1,188,214,154 * $769,314,154 *Total managed assets include assets attributable to borrowings under the Committed Facility Agreement or Liquidity Agreement, as applicable.

1 Earnings refer to net investment income, which is comprised of the Fund's interest and dividend income, less expenses. Earnings presented represent past earnings and there is no guarantee of future results.

Amounts distributed by the Funds may vary from the earnings shown above and will be announced in separate press releases. Up-to-date distribution rate information is available on John Hancock Investment Management's web site at www.jhinvestments.com by clicking on "Closed-End Funds" under the "Daily Prices" tab.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.

About Manulife John Hancock Investments

We serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

Media Contact: Gordon Haight

(617) 572-0034

Investor Contact: (800) 843-0090

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrepreneurs looking for a profitable and scalable business opportunity can find success with Grasons, the leading estate sale and business liquidation franchise. The U.S. estate sale industry, valued at $2 billion, continues to expand at a 30% year-over-year growth rate, creating a prime opportunity for those seeking a business with high demand, multiple revenue streams, and strong franchise support.

As more families seek professional assistance with estate liquidation, downsizing, and business closures, Grasons' franchisees are positioned to meet this growing need. With a well-established model and hands-on training, franchise owners benefit from exclusive territories, lead-driven marketing support, and access to a trusted national brand.

Grasons' franchisees enjoy a flexible work schedule, and a scalable business model designed to grow with demand. The franchise offers a turnkey system that includes extensive operational support, business planning assistance, and a comprehensive operations manual outlining all processes. Franchisees receive expert-led training, hands-on experience, and continuous guidance from a leadership team committed to their success.

"Grasons is more than just a business opportunity, it's a proven path to financial independence with the flexibility and support today's entrepreneurs need," said Craig Tyler, Brand Leader of Grasons. "Our franchisees benefit from an established system designed to help them scale quickly and profitably, with access to robust marketing, superior training, and ongoing operational support."

In addition to business training, franchisees gain access to Grasons' marketing resources, including collaborative campaigns, digital advertising, and customized marketing collateral. Local advertising strategies and an owned network of industry connections further enhance franchisee success. Each franchisee also receives a curated website, ongoing research and development support, and tools to help them stay ahead in the evolving estate sales industry.

As estate and business liquidation services continue to grow in demand, Grasons provides a proven franchise model that allows entrepreneurs to build a rewarding business while making a meaningful impact in their communities.

For more information on franchise opportunities with Grasons, visit www.grasons.com .

About Grasons

A member of Evive Brands, Grasons is the leading estate sale and business liquidation franchise, helping families and businesses transition with care and professionalism. With locations nationwide, Grasons specializes in estate sales, auctions, and cleanouts, ensuring seamless and respectful handling of cherished possessions.

Media Contact: Rhonda Grundemann, 602-739-8810, [email protected]

SOURCE Grasons
GAINESVILLE, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- King Risk Partners, ranked 56th in the United States as a top 100 Broker by The Insurance Journal, is happy to announce its acquisition of Spencer Financial, a well-regarded independent insurance agency located in Tampa, Florida. This acquisition strengthens King Risk Partners' presence in Northwest Florida and reinforces its commitment to providing exceptional service and personalized insurance solutions locally.

King Risk Partners

Spencer Financial, Inc., a respected independent insurance agency based in Tampa, Florida, has been helping people across the state of Florida find affordable and reliable insurance products from a variety of trusted carriers for over 25 years. Their team of highly experienced professionals with deep expertise in both personal and commercial insurance is committed to delivering the best coverage and most competitive rates, earning them the trust of clients throughout the region.

"We are excited to welcome Spencer Financial to the King Risk Partners family," said Malcolm King, CEO of King Risk Partners. "Their exceptional reputation, industry knowledge, and strong client relationships align perfectly with our vision for strategic growth through partnerships with established, high-performing agencies. This acquisition not only expands our footprint in Florida but also enhances our ability to provide outstanding service and tailored solutions to our clients."

Marc Lovinger, Owner of Spencer Financial, shared his enthusiasm for the new chapter. "We are proud to join forces with King Risk Partners," he said. "Our shared valuesexcellence, integrity, and accountabilitymake this a natural fit. With access to King Risk's expansive resources and forward-thinking strategies, we are confident our clients will enjoy an even greater range of services and innovative insurance solutions. Together, we are committed to maintaining the personalized service our clients know and trust, while embracing new opportunities for growth and improvement."

About King Risk Partners

King Risk Partners is a leader in the insurance industry, offering a wide range of insurance products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of its clientele. Known for its integrity, professionalism, and commitment to customer satisfaction, King Risk Partners continues to be a top choice for clients seeking reliable and comprehensive insurance solutions. Learn more at www.king-insurance.com .

For additional information, please contact:

King Risk Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE King Risk Partners
Funding supports continued expansion and bolsters Room00's leading position in European urban lifestyle hospitality

MADRID, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- King Street Capital Management ("King Street"), a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced a strategic equity investment of up to 400 million in Room00 Group ("Room00"), Southern Europe's leading urban lifestyle hospitality platform.

LETOH LETOH Gran Via TOC Ramblas room Select Via Veneto

King Street's investment will support Room00's pan-European expansion strategy, allowing the company to continue its accelerated development in key markets such as Spain, Portugal and Italy. The funding will primarily be used to acquire hotel properties in prime micro-locations in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto, Milan, Rome and Florence. As such, Room00 will continue to rely on its existing growth model based on leases and hotel management agreements, with the capacity now to acquire properties directly. In Italy, Room00 has selected Kryalos SGR to set up an Italian property investment vehicle.

Room00's ecosystem of more than 2,500 rooms and 50 assets in operation or under development operate under a portfolio of brands designed to appeal to different profiles of the modern traveler: Room00 Hostels, Toc Hostels, room Select Hotels and LETOH LETOH. Each brand responds to a growing demand for authentic experiences, contemporary design and prime urban locations. Room00 intends to grow its portfolio to 200 assets and 15,000 rooms in the next four years across Southern Europe, plus another 20 assets and 1,000 rooms in London, which the company is negotiating to enter with its first asset by the end of 2025.

"We view Room00 as one of the strongest, most innovative and scalable platforms in the European hospitality landscape," said Paul Brennan, Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate at King Street. "Its fully integrated operating model and strategic focus on prime city centre locations position it as a valuable partner for our real estate growth strategy in Europe."

"This investment from King Street validates our business model as the leading vertically integrated hotel operating and investment platform in the Southern European urban lifestyle hospitality industry, and will allow us to accelerate growth via acquisitions of prime real estate, attract the best talent and open new opportunities for collaboration with investors who share our long-term vision," said Ignacio Requena, Founder & CEO of Room00 Group.

Room00 was advised by GRC IM and CBRE Investment Banking. Garrigues, Cuatrecasas and Across Legal served as legal advisors to the company. Uria Menendez and Allen & Overy Shearman served as legal advisors to King Street. EY provided financial due diligence and PwC advised on tax structuring.

About King Street Capital Management

King Street is a global alternative investment firm founded in 1995, managing over $28 billion in assets across public and private markets. The firm combines deep fundamental research with tactical trading expertise and differentiated sourcing capabilities to uncover dislocations and mispriced opportunities across asset classes and throughout the capital structure.

King Street Real Estate focuses on debt and equity investments in special situations and thematic platforms. Our special situations strategy identifies compelling risk-adjusted investment opportunities across the capital structure, in high-quality real estate assets in major markets. Our exclusive, thematic platforms are built around property sectors with compelling secular tailwinds. Since its inception, King Street has completed transactions totaling $20 billion in real estate securities and real estate-related investments.

For more information, please visit www.kingstreet.com . Follow King Street Capital Management and King Street Capital Real Estate on LinkedIn.

About Room00 Group

Room00 is Europe's leading lifestyle urban hospitality platform, with an approach that combines design, local expertise and technology to offer unique accommodation in prime locations. The company operates with its own flexible brands, aimed at the urban traveler seeking authenticity and comfort. Currently present in Spain, Portugal and Italy ROOM00 GROUP is in the process of expanding throughout Europe.

Press contacts:

King Street Capital Management

Prosek Partners

[email protected]

Room00

WH Communications

Shani Halstead

[email protected]

Tel: +447968361479

Kate Woodyatt

[email protected]

Tel: +4407736676136

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685761/LETOH_image.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685762/TOC_image.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2685763/Room_Select_Rome_image.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1834844/King_Street_Logo.jpg
Summary

KuCoin has been awarded the ISO 27001:2022 certification, the Gold Standard of Compliance for Information Security Management System (ISMS), affirming its dedication to safeguarding user assets and data.

The certification reinforces KuCoin's $2 billion Trust Project, a long-term initiative to enhance transparency, security, compliance, and responsible innovation across the Web3 industry.

Trust Project, a long-term initiative to enhance transparency, security, compliance, and responsible innovation across the Web3 industry. KuCoin remains committed to continuous improvement, ensuring a secure and trusted trading environment for its global community of over 40 million users.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, proudly announces that it has been awarded the ISO 27001:2022 certification, an internationally recognized Information Security Management Systems standard. This milestone underscores KuCoin's commitment to the highest information security standards and marks a critical achievement in its $2 billion Trust Project, launched in April 2025 at TOKEN2049 Dubai.

A Benchmark in Information Security

ISO 27001:2022 is a globally recognized information security standard covering organizational management, cybersecurity, application security, endpoint security, encryption, vulnerability management, access control, and other aspects. This certification strengthens our protection of user assets and data, enhancing platform security and reliability. We are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring a secure and trusted trading environment.

A rigorous third-party audit confirmed KuCoin's adherence to the highest global standards, reinforcing user confidence in our robust security practices.

A Core Component of the $2 Billion Trust Project

KuCoin's $2 billion Trust Project aims to enhance transparency, security, and compliance in Web3. The ISO 27001:2022 certification is a key milestone, reflecting KuCoin's focus on user protection and compliance.

"Security and trust are paramount," said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. "This certification, as part of our Trust Project, underscores our commitment to a reliable platform."

The Trust Project also bolsters the KCS (KuCoin Token) ecosystem, enhancing user incentives and utility to align value with KuCoin's 40 million users.

Security and Compliance: Pillars of KuCoin's Vision

KuCoin's security team, led by industry veterans, employs cutting-edge technologies and protocols to safeguard the platform infrastructure. The ISO 27001:2022 framework institutionalizes these efforts, ensuring systematic risk assessments, continuous monitoring, and rapid incident response capabilities.

The exchange's data protection practices exceed regulatory requirements across jurisdictions. By integrating ISO 27001:2022, KuCoin reinforces its commitment to a compliance-first approach, aligning with the Trust Project's focus on legal adherence and cross-border cooperation.

Future Commitment: Continuous Improvement and Expanding Trust

KuCoin will uphold its ISO 27001:2022 certification and pursue additional certifications to strengthen global operations. The $2 billion Trust Project drives investment in advanced security, regulatory collaboration, and user education to set industry benchmarks. Serving over 40 million users in 200+ countries, KuCoin leads the way to a secure, transparent Web3 future.

About KuCoin

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and an exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 40 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots.

KuCoin has garnered accolades such as "Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges" by Forbes and has been recognized among the "Top 50 Global Unicorns" by Hurun in 2024. These recognitions reflect its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Learn more: https://www.kucoin.com/.

SOURCE KuCoin
Delivers Four Consecutive Quarters of Profitability

SINGAPORE, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LITB) ("LightInTheBox" or the "Company"), a global specialty retailer focusing on proprietary apparel brands and design-driven collections tailored to evolving consumer preferences, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The Company's strategic shift toward high-margin proprietary brands delivered sustained profitability despite a challenging e-commerce landscape.

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

Total Revenues were $47 .0 million, a 34% decrease year over year, reflecting a deliberate focus on margin preservation over market share in a competitive market.

were .0 million, a 34% decrease year over year, reflecting a deliberate focus on margin preservation over market share in a competitive market. Gross Profit was $30.6 million , compared with $41.4 million in the same quarter last year .

was , compared with in the same quarter last year Gross Margin improved to 65.2% from 58.2% in the same quarter last year, driven by the Company's higher-margin proprietary product lines.

improved to 65.2% from 58.2% in the same quarter last year, driven by the Company's higher-margin proprietary product lines. Operating Expenses declined by 33% year over year to $30 .5 million, mainly attributable to reduced revenue along with effective cost management and operational efficiency enhancements.

declined by 33% year over year to .5 million, mainly attributable to reduced revenue along with effective cost management and operational efficiency enhancements. Fulfillment Expenses decreased by 33% year over year to $3 .9 million.

decreased by 33% year over year to .9 million.

Selling and Marketing Expenses declined by 33% year over year to $21 .9 million, while conversion rates improved with the Company's efficient marketing of new product lines despite the industry wide increase in traffic costs.

declined by 33% year over year to .9 million, while conversion rates improved with the Company's efficient marketing of new product lines despite the industry wide increase in traffic costs.

General and Administrative Expenses decreased by 32% year over year to $5 .0 million. Of this total, Research and Development expenses were $2 .7 million, underscoring the Company's commitment to innovation and product differentiation.

decreased by 32% year over year to .0 million. Of this total, Research and Development expenses were .7 million, underscoring the Company's commitment to innovation and product differentiation. Net Income reached $0 .1 million, compared with a net loss of $3.8 million in the same quarter last year, marking sustained profitability amidst industry challenges.

reached .1 million, compared with a net loss of in the same quarter last year, marking sustained profitability amidst industry challenges. Adjusted EBITDA was an income of $0 .6 million, compared with a loss of $3.1 million in the same quarter last year.

Jian He, CEO of LightInTheBox, commented, "In 2024, we transformed LightInTheBox into a brand-focused apparel company, prioritizing profitability and launching proprietary brands like Ador and other apparel lines. This strategic pivot has delivered four consecutive quarters of profitability, highlighted by net income of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, a significant improvement from a $3.8 million loss in the same quarter last year. Our gross margin improved to an impressive 65.2%, up from 58.2% last year, driven by a favorable brand mix emphasizing higher-margin proprietary products. By leveraging data-driven design and consumer insights, our brands are resonating with customers, driving higher repurchase rates and margins compared to our legacy e-commerce business. In particular, our apparel new brands have attracted invitations to enter physical retail stores, affirming their appeal in design and pricing."

"Moving forward, we shall remain committed to operational excellence and strategic investments in our brand portfolio. We aim to expand distribution channels, enhance brand awareness, and deepen customer loyalty to support sustainable growth. We are confident that our transformation and brand initiatives position LightInTheBox well to thrive in a dynamic market, creating lasting value for our shareholders," Mr. He concluded.

Share Repurchase Program

On March 31, 2025, the Company's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $0.7 million of its ordinary shares in the form of ADSs no later than June 30, 2025. As of May 12, 2025, the Company has repurchased 111,245 ADSs with a total aggregate value of approximately $0.2 million.

CFO Transition Update

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Suhai Ji as Chief Financial Officer, effective May 12, 2025, succeeding Ms. Yuanjun Ye who resigned for personal reasons.

"On behalf of the Company, I would like to extend our special thanks to Yuanjun for her valuable contribution over the years and wish her all the best in her future endeavors," said Mr. Jian He, CEO of LightInTheBox. "Meanwhile, we are pleased to have Suhai join us. With his extensive experience in finance and capital markets, we are confident that he will be a great addition for LightInTheBox's future development."

Prior to joining LightInTheBox, Mr. Ji served as the Chief Financial Officer at several private and publicly listed companies, including EDDA Healthcare and Technology Holding Limited from April 2021 to March 2024, Zhaogang.com from November 2019 to January 2021, CDP Group from August 2017 to January 2019, Guanghua Education Group from June 2016 to August 2017, and Tarena International from September 2013 to March 2016. Mr. Ji received a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in international economics and finance from Brandeis University in May 1998 and 1999, respectively, as well as an MBA degree in finance from Columbia Business School in May 2003.

About LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd.:

LightInTheBox is a global specialty retail company, providing a diverse range of affordable lifestyle products directly to consumers worldwide since 2007. In 2024, the Company shifted its focus to apparel design and launched its first proprietary brand, Ador.com, to meet the growing global demand for accessible higher-end fashion. Ador.com specializes in designer-quality clothing for women aged 35-55 at competitive prices and operates design studios and sample shops in both the U.S. and China, including a boutique and design studio in Campbell, California. Additionally, LightInTheBox offers a comprehensive suite of services to e-commerce companies, including advertising, supply chain management, payment processing, order fulfillment, and shipping and delivery solutions.

For more information, please visit https://ir.ador.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses a non-GAAP measure, Adjusted EBITDA, as a supplemental measure to review and assess operating performance. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Company's non-GAAP financial measure excludes share-based compensation expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, interest income, interest expenses and income tax expense.

The Company presents this non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by management to evaluate operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measure helps identify underlying trends in its business. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measure could provide further information about the Company's results of operations and enhance the overall understanding of the Company's past performance and future prospects.

The non-GAAP financial measure is not defined under U.S. GAAP and is not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool. The Company's non-GAAP financial measure does not reflect all items of income and expenses that affect the Company's operations and does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Further, the non-GAAP measure may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The Company compensates for the limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. The Company encourages you to review the Company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

For more information on the non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," "targets" and similar statements. Among other things, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about LightInTheBox's beliefs and expectations, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as LightInTheBox's strategic and operational plans, are or contain forward-looking statements.

LightInTheBox may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: LightInTheBox's goals and strategies; LightInTheBox's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the global online retail market; LightInTheBox's ability to attract customers and further enhance customer experience and product offerings; LightInTheBox's ability to strengthen its supply chain efficiency and optimize its logistics network; LightInTheBox's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products; competition; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions; changes in tariffs and trade policies; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in LightInTheBox's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and LightInTheBox does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact

Investor Relations

LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd.

Email: [email protected]

Jenny Cai

Piacente Financial Communications

Email: [email protected]

Brandi Piacente

Piacente Financial Communications

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

Email: [email protected]

LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (U.S. dollars in thousands, or otherwise noted)





As of December 31,



As of March 31,





2024



2025

ASSETS















Current Assets















Cash and cash equivalents



17,945





15,857

Restricted cash



1,800





1,830

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses



976





1,025

Inventories



3,641





4,189

Prepaid expenses and other current assets



2,610





1,599

Total current assets



26,972





24,500

Property and equipment, net



2,185





1,924

Intangible assets, net



2,745





2,597

Goodwill



26,663





26,816

Operating lease right-of-use assets



9,930





8,912

Long-term rental deposits



806





934

Long-term investments



73





74

TOTAL ASSETS



69,374





65,757



















LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT















Current Liabilities















Short-term borrowings



685





690

Accounts payable



10,378





9,076

Advance from customers



8,357





9,809

Operating lease liabilities



4,047





4,183

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities



54,091





51,045

Total current liabilities



77,558





74,803



















Operating lease liabilities



4,780





3,576

Deferred tax liabilities



101





103

Unrecognized tax benefits



107





107

TOTAL LIABILITIES



82,546





78,589



















STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT















Ordinary shares



17





17

Additional paid-in capital



282,766





282,351

Treasury shares



(30,880)





(30,384)

Statutory reserves



390





390

Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(3,265)





(3,120)

Accumulated deficit



(262,200)





(262,086)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT



(13,172)





(12,832)

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT



69,374





65,757



LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data, or otherwise noted)





Three months ended March 31,





2024



2025

Revenues















Product sales



67,831





44,800

Services and others



3,338





2,218

Total revenues



71,169





47,018

Cost of revenues















Product sales



(29,070)





(15,849)

Services and others



(650)





(522)

Total Cost of revenues



(29,720)





(16,371)

Gross profit



41,449





30,647

Operating expenses















Fulfillment



(5,746)





(3,870)

Selling and marketing



(32,741)





(21,896)

General and administrative



(7,259)





(4,962)

Other operating income, net



286





204

Total operating expenses



(45,460)





(30,524)

(Loss) / income from operations



(4,011)





123

Interest income



70





2

Interest expense



-





(4)

Other income / (expense), net



111





(7)

Total other income / (expense)



181





(9)

Loss / (income) before income taxes



(3,830)





114

Income tax expense



-





-

Net (loss) / income



(3,830)





114

Net (loss) / income attributable to LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd.



(3,830)





114



















Weighted average numbers of shares used in calculating (loss) / income

per ordinary share















-Basic



222,776,314





220,681,179

-Diluted



222,776,314





220,831,517



















Net (loss) / income per ordinary share















-Basic



(0.02)





0.00

-Diluted



(0.02)





0.00



















Net (loss) / income per ADS (12 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)















-Basic



(0.21)





0.01

-Diluted



(0.21)





0.01



LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (U.S. dollars in thousands, or otherwise noted)





Three months ended March 31,





2024



2025

Net (loss) / income



(3,830)





114

Less: Interest income



70





2

Interest expense



-





(4)

Income tax expense



-





-

Depreciation and amortization



(626)





(440)

EBITDA



(3,274)





556

Less: Share-based compensation



(224)





(86)

Adjusted EBITDA*



(3,050)





642



* Adjusted EBITDA represents net (loss) / income before share-based compensation expense, interest income, interest

expense, income tax expense and depreciation and amortization expenses.

SOURCE LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd.
From brothers in New York to an antiracist steward in Alabama, winners of the seventh-annual awards share an abundance of book joy

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Free Library (LFL) nonprofit organization is proud to announce the recipients of the seventh annual Todd H. Bol Awards for Outstanding Achievement honoring six exceptional individuals and organizations that exemplify LFL's mission to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access for all. This announcement coincides with Little Free Library Week, a global celebration taking place May 1117.

"Volunteer stewards are the heartbeat of the Little Free Library network," said LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger. Post this Ethan and Jackson Levenstien at their Little Free Library grand opening.

Since its founding, Little Free Library has inspired thousands of volunteers around the world to become stewardsdedicated caretakers of book-sharing boxes who champion literacy and connection in their communities.

"Volunteer stewards are the heartbeat of the Little Free Library network," said LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger. "They are literacy champions, community builders and beacons of generosity who transform simple book-sharing boxes into powerful symbols of hope and connection. The Todd H. Bol Award for Outstanding Achievement honors those whose extraordinary efforts uplift neighborhoods and ignite a lifelong love of reading."

The winners are:

Irene Barton and Cobb Collaborative of Smyrna, Georgia, who partnered with community organizations, faith communities, schools, municipalities, scouts and neighborhoods to install more than 70 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes across Cobb County, Georgia. "We transfer stewardship to a hyper-local representative when we can," said Barton, "but are so pleased to serve as stewards for these libraries. Our community partners know that they can always call upon us if needed to help with a repair, replenish books or answer questions."

Kristen Berthiaume of Homewood, Alabama, who launched the Antiracist Little Free Library to raise racial-violence awareness after the murder of George Floyd. Although Berthiaume is often asked if she receives negative feedback from fellow Alabama residents, the response has been largely positive. "We believe strongly in the power of education and self-reflection to help us develop empathy, grow in understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and provide a pathway towards a more racially just future," Berthiaume said.

Katie Frazier of Warwick, Rhode Island, a former Roger Williams Park Zoo employee who established a Little Free Library as part of the zoo's nature playscape. The zoo is in a low-income area, considered a book desert, so it offers monthly free-admission days for city residents. "I've noticed a record number of books taken on the Free Day, in comparison to any other day of the month," Frazier said. A Little Free Library steward and connoisseur, she has visited more than 3,750 libraries in 48 U.S. states and has shared more than 4,200 books.

Ethan and Jackson Levenstien of Dix Hills, New York, brothers who started the "Little Lev Library" to address the lack of book access for children from financially struggling families in their community. Ethan (13) and Jackson (11) coordinated a book drive that collected more than 2,000 books and won a $500 grant to start the Little Lev Library. "Its name holds a special meaning to us," said Ethan. "'Lev,' in addition to being short for our last name, means 'heart' in Hebrew, and it fills our hearts when we read and share with others. We love books and believe reading should be for everyone."

Reyna Macias of East Los Angeles, California, who launched Casita Tiahui Library with her family during the pandemic to foster community in a time of profound isolation. The library, adorned with hand-painted designs inspired by Mexican tiles and inscribed with bilingual quotes, has become a powerful symbol of connection in East Los Angeles. "I've seen children rush over after school, grandparents bring their grandchildren during quiet afternoon walks, and neighborsboth familiar and newstopping to chat when I'm outside," Macias said. "Casita Tiahui doesn't just offer booksit offers a sense of belonging."

Madison Reading Project of Madison, Wisconsin, an organization that offers free books and literacy resources that ignite a love for reading and reflect the diversity of young readers. The Madison Reading Project works with partner organizations to help install, stock, and steward a network of Little Free Libraries and credits their volunteers with keeping the program running. The org recently installed a Little Free Library of their own at their book center. "It has been such a joy to watch community members spot it from across the parking lot and change their course to select a book."

The Todd H. Bol Awards for Outstanding Achievementpart of the Little Free Library Week celebrationare named for LFL's founder, Todd Bol, who created the first Little Free Library book-sharing box in 2009 in Hudson, Wisconsin, and passed away unexpectedly in 2018. This is the seventh year the awards have been presented, and LFL will continue to honor Bol's memory for years to come.

Before his passing, Bol said: "I really believe in a Little Free Library on every block and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighborhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place on this planet to live."

Read more about this year's Todd H. Bol Award winners and see their photos: LittleFreeLibrary.org/todd-bol-awards

Learn about Little Free Library Week, May 11-17: LittleFreeLibrary.org/lfl-week

ABOUT LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Little Free Library (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. There are more than 200,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states, in 128 countries and on all 7 continents. Through them, over 400 million books have been shared since 2009. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. The organization grants Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved areas through its Impact Library and Indigenous Library programs and champions diverse books through its Read in Color initiative. To learn more, visit LittleFreeLibrary.org .

Media Contact: Margret Aldrich / 715-690-2488 x805 / [email protected]

SOURCE Little Free Library
Acquisition Combines Lower's Mortgage Expertise and Retail Network with Movoto's Digital Reach, Creating Unmatched Value for Consumers and Loan Officers

COLUMBUS, Ohio and AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lower, a leading digital mortgage lender, announced the acquisition of proptech innovator and flagship real estate portal, Movoto. This acquisition combines Movoto's significant reach with Lower's lending platform and retail network, creating an end-to-end homeownership platform while offering an unmatched growth engine for real estate agents and loan officers.

Locally Grounded, Digitally Powered Homeownership Platform

Integrating Movoto.comwhich attracted over 150 million visits in 2024with Lower's lending experience marks a significant step in Lower's mission to be the ultimate destination to buy, refinance, and sell a home. Movoto connects hundreds of thousands of consumers with top local agents and will now pair those realtors and consumers with a Lower loan officer to create a super-team to better serve them right out of the gate.

"The future of our industry lies in blending the best technology with the irreplaceable expertise of local agents and loan officers." said Dan Snyder, CEO and Co-Founder of Lower. "Movoto is the perfect platform to accelerate this vision, allowing us to create a simpler, smarter path to homeownership. Acquiring Movoto strengthens our position as the challenger platform, enhancing our ability to deliver the best localized and personalized service and capture significant market share."

Simplifying the Consumer Journey

Homebuyers on Movoto.com will gain early and on-demand access to Lower's expert, local loan officers, simplifying crucial decisions around affordability. Connecting with trusted professionals, who have a deep knowledge of their local market from the start, makes answering the big questions  "Where should I live?" and "How much can I afford?"  easier than ever. In the future, the seamless connection between consumer, agent, and loan officer will deliver historically-impossible features at scale.

"The bigger portals touch almost everyone online but fail to help those customers through the whole process. By focusing on how technology empowers local connections we can deliver better service to the consumer and build a business that generates far more profit per visitor." said John Berkowitz, CEO of Movoto, who will join Lower as President of Real Estate.

Growth Engine for Real Estate Agents and Loan Officers

Lower's acquisition of Movoto represents a transformative leap in empowering real estate agents and loan officers with a true growth engine. By seamlessly connecting local originators to thousands of motivated homebuyers and top-performing agents in their markets, Lower is eliminating one of the biggest barriers to growth: customer acquisition. This digital-first platform delivers a steady stream of high-intent buyers looking to get pre-approved  right from day one  allowing originators to focus on building relationships and closing deals.

"Modern technology should work for the local loan officer, not replace them," said Craig Montgomery, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Retail at Lower. "Movoto arms originators and agents with real-time opportunities and puts them at the center of the homebuying journey  right where they belong. It's the kind of innovation that puts originators in a position to win consistently."

Leadership and Integration

Adam Wiener, Lower's President, who helped to scale Redfin's traffic from startup to public company with 50 million monthly visitors, brings expertise perfect for further accelerating Movoto's growth.

"Movoto provides a unique opportunity to engage consumers from the start of their home-buying journey, through the purchase process and for the entire time they own that home until it's time to sell and buy the next one," said Adam Wiener, President of Lower. "Integrating Lower's lending strength will lead to an end-to-end ecosystem that creates clients for life."

The combined company will have more than 1,000 employees with offices in Columbus, OH and Austin, TX. Immediately after closing, the teams will integrate Movoto into the Lower brand. The financial details of the transaction are undisclosed. Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to OJO Labs (the prior parent company of Movoto) through the merger.

Combined with the acquisition of Neat Labs and the launch of the LowerOS mortgage platform last fall, this acquisition further positions Lower for rapid growth into a broader fintech organization.

About Lower

Founded in 2014, Lower is one of the fastest-growing mortgage lenders in the country with more than 30,000 5-star online reviews and commitment to world-class customer service. Lower operates a digital platform to meet customers online through its website, and a network of distributed retail branches to meet customers in their local neighborhoods across the country. Lower is one of Accel Partners flagship investments and is also backed by SoFi, and Veritex Bank. The company is committed to being the best lender for consumers and originators and becoming the place to buy, refi, and sell.

About Movoto

Movoto is a real estate technology company that empowers people to make smarter decisions throughout the home journey. Through its proprietary platform and the Movoto portal, OJO connects homebuyers with personalized guidance, trusted agent partnerships, and data-driven insights.

SOURCE Lower, LLC
Revenues increased 13.8%, or $1.5 million , to $12.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024

, to for the three months ended from for the three months ended Net income per diluted share increased $0.03 to $0.56 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $0.53 for the three months ended March 31, 2024

to for the three months ended from for the three months ended Backlog increased $9.4 million , or 20.3%, to $55.5 million as of March 31, 2025 from $46.1 million as of March 31, 2024

ORLANDO, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- M-tron Industries, Inc. (NYSE American: MPTI) ("Mtron" or the "Company"), a designer and manufacturer of highly-engineered electronic components used to control the frequency or timing of signals in electronic circuits, announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

"Mtron delivered another quarter of revenue growth driven by healthy demand across our existing portfolio and the successful introduction of new products," said Cameron Pforr, Mtron Interim Chief Executive Officer. "Our backlog increased significantly during the period and we remain focused on delivering innovative products that strengthen our market position and create sustained value for our stockholders."

"We also successfully completed the distribution of the previously announced dividend of warrants on April 25, 2025, reflecting our ongoing commitment to enhancing stockholder value and providing opportunities for long-term participation in Mtron's future growth," continued Mr. Pforr.

Results from Operations

Revenue was $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared with $11.2 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to strong defense product shipments.

Gross margin was 42.5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with 42.7% in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease is primarily due to higher revenues partially offset by the initial higher manufacturing costs associated with the initial production runs of several new products. In addition, we saw the initial impact this quarter of newly initiated federal tariffs on imports of foreign sourced materials and partially finished goods.

Net income was $1.6 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025 compared with $1.5 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024. The increase in revenues discussed above was partially offset by higher manufacturing cost of sales consistent with the growth in revenues and the introduction of new products as well as higher engineering, selling and administrative expenses related to higher research and development costs, higher sales commissions from an increase in revenues, and an increase in corporate expenses consistent with the overall growth in the business.

Adjusted EBITDA was $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared with $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to higher income before income taxes, depreciation, and stock-based compensation partially offset by higher interest income.

Backlog

Backlog was $55.5 million as of March 31, 2025 compared to $47.2 million as of December 31, 2024 and $46.1 million as of March 31, 2024. The increase in backlog reflects several large orders received during the quarter and the continued broad demand for our products.

Impact of Tariffs

In March 2025, Mtron saw the initial impact of the recently announced federal tariffs on the import of goods and materials from outside the United States. Mtron, while a United States-based manufacturer with a great degree of vertical integration, does import some materials from Japan, China, and South Korea and performs some finishing work at our facility in Noida, India. It is difficult to predict the long-term impact of this trade policy on our financial performance. We are working with many of our defense customers on enacting parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation ("FAR"), which potentially exempt materials received for defense production from entry tariffs. In addition, we continue as always to analyze our supply chain in order to make sure we have redundancy of suppliers and can source from reliable suppliers at the best price possible. To date, we have seen no impact from tariffs on demand for our products.

Warrant Dividend

On April 25, 2025, the Company distributed the dividend of warrants to stockholders of record on March 10, 2025. The warrants are listed on the NYSE American under the ticker "MPTI WS." The warrants may be listed on certain financial websites under the ticker "MPTI WT" or a similar nomenclature.

Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, the warrants contain the following terms:

Five (5) warrants exercisable to purchase one (1) share of common stock;

Exercise price of $47.50 per share;

per share; Exercisable at the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days prior to April 25, 2028 or (ii) the date on which the average volume weighted average price ("VWAP") of Mtron common stock is greater than or equal to $52.00 per share for the prior thirty (30) consecutive trading day period (the "Acceleration Trigger");

or (ii) the date on which the average volume weighted average price ("VWAP") of Mtron common stock is greater than or equal to per share for the prior thirty (30) consecutive trading day period (the "Acceleration Trigger"); Expire at the earlier of (i) April 25, 2028 or (ii) thirty (30) calendar days following Mtron's public announcement of the date of the Acceleration Trigger; and

or (ii) thirty (30) calendar days following Mtron's public announcement of the date of the Acceleration Trigger; and Warrant holders exercising their full allotment of warrants can apply to subscribe for any or all shares of common stock issuable pursuant to any outstanding but unexercised warrants.

For further information, refer to the FAQ on Mtron's Investor Relations website at ir.mtron.com/financials/2025-Warrant-FAQ.

Earnings Call

Management, including Mr. Pforr, will host a conference call with the investment community on Wednesday May 14, 2025, to discuss the Company's first quarter 2025 results and to respond to investor questions.

The call will begin at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday May 14, 2025, and can be accessed using the dial-in details below:

Toll Free Dial-in Number: (888) 672-2415 Toll Dial-in Number: +1 (646) 307-1952 Passcode: 4068751

An archive will be available after the call on the Investor Relations section of Mtron's website at ir.mtron.com, along with Mtron's press release.

About Mtron

M-tron Industries, Inc. (NYSE American: MPTI) was originally founded in 1965 and designs, manufactures and markets highly engineered, high reliability frequency and spectrum control products and solutions. As an engineering-centric company, Mtron provides close support to its customers throughout our products' entire life cycle, including product design, prototyping, production and subsequent product upgrades. Mtron has design and manufacturing facilities in Orlando, Florida and Yankton, South Dakota, a sales office in Hong Kong, and a manufacturing facility in Noida, India. For more information, visit www.mtron.com .

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes 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, such as those pertaining to the uncertain financial impact of COVID-19 and the Company's financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "plan," "will," "may," "could," "intend," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to Mtron, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are largely based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that may affect the financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs of the Company. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described in the filings made by Mtron with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. When you consider these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risk factors and other cautionary statements in this press release.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Mtron undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

M-tron Industries, Inc. Quarterly Summary (Unaudited)





2022

2023

2024

2025 (in thousands)

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1





































































































Revenues

$ 7,691



$ 7,064



$ 8,417



$ 8,673



$ 9,367



$ 10,140



$ 10,888



$ 10,773



$ 11,185



$ 11,808



$ 13,214



$ 12,805



$ 12,732

Y/Y



































21.8 %



43.5 %



29.4 %



24.2 %



19.4 %



16.4 %



21.4 %



18.9 %



13.8 %









































































































Gross margin



37.3 %



37.5 %



32.4 %



35.7 %



34.1 %



41.6 %



42.8 %



43.6 %



42.7 %



46.6 %



47.8 %



47.2 %



42.5 % Y/Y



































-8.6 %



10.9 %



32.1 %



22.1 %



25.2 %



12.0 %



11.7 %



8.3 %



-0.6 %









































































































Net income (b)

$ 619



$ 486



$ 503



$ 190



$ 553



$ 1,277



$ 1,586



$ 73



$ 1,486



$ 1,744



$ 2,267



$ 2,139



$ 1,630

Y/Y



































-10.7 %



162.8 %



215.3 %



-61.6 %



168.7 %



36.6 %



42.9 %



2,830.1 %



9.7 %









































































































Adjusted EBITDA (c)

$ 1,177



$ 841



$ 876



$ 1,114



$ 1,028



$ 1,931



$ 2,336



$ 2,397



$ 2,262



$ 2,523



$ 3,300



$ 3,056



$ 2,502

Y/Y



































-12.7 %



129.6 %



166.7 %



115.2 %



120.0 %



30.7 %



41.3 %



27.5 %



10.6 %





(a) Q1 2022 - Q3 2022 do not include any public company costs as these periods were pre-IPO. (b) A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is provided at the end of this press release.

M-tron Industries, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands, except share data)

2025

2024 Revenues

$ 12,732



$ 11,185

Costs and expenses:















Manufacturing cost of sales



7,326





6,406

Engineering, selling and administrative



3,393





2,990

Total costs and expenses



10,719





9,396

Operating income



2,013





1,789

Other income:















Interest income, net



111





32

Other (expense) income, net



(10)





42

Total other income, net



101





74

Income before income taxes



2,114





1,863

Income tax expense



484





377

Net income

$ 1,630



$ 1,486



















Income per common share:















Basic

$ 0.57



$ 0.55

Diluted

$ 0.56



$ 0.53



















Weighted average shares outstanding:















Basic



2,841,357





2,716,202

Diluted



2,906,144





2,784,960



M-tron Industries, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2024 Assets:















Current assets:















Cash and cash equivalents

$ 13,662



$ 12,641

Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $201 and $182, respectively



6,718





6,842

Inventories, net



9,365





9,509

Prepaid expenses and other current assets



694





760

Total current assets



30,439





29,752

Property, plant and equipment, net



5,397





5,061

Right-of-use lease asset



238





9

Intangible assets, net



40





40

Deferred income tax asset



1,650





1,623

Other assets



1





3

Total assets

$ 37,765



$ 36,488



















Liabilities:















Total current liabilities



4,573





5,216

Non-current liabilities



41







Total liabilities



4,614





5,216



















Total stockholders' equity



33,151





31,272

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 37,765



$ 36,488



Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Throughout this press release, including the results from operations, the Company presents its financial condition and results of operations in the way it believes will be most meaningful and representative of its business results. Some of the measurements the Company uses are "Non-GAAP financial measures" under SEC rules and regulations. The non-GAAP financial measures the Company presents are listed below and may not be comparable to similarly-named measures reported by other companies. the reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP measures in accordance with Regulation G are included within the relevant tables attached to this press release. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net earnings or diluted earnings per share prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The Company uses the following operating performance measure because the Company believes it provides both management and investors with a more complete understanding of the underlying operational results and trends and our marketplace performance:

Adjusted EBITDA is derived by excluding the items set forth below from Income before income taxes. Excluded items include the following:

Interest income

Interest expense

Depreciation

Amortization

Non-cash stock-based compensation

Other discrete items that might have a significant impact on comparable GAAP measures and could distort the evaluation of our normal operating performance

Reconciliation of GAAP Income Before Income Taxes to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA





















Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands, except share data)

2025

2024 Income before income taxes

$ 2,114



$ 1,863

Adjustments:















Interest income



(111)





(32)

Depreciation



250





219

Amortization









5

Total adjustments



139





192

EBITDA



2,253





2,055

Non-cash stock compensation



249





207

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 2,502



$ 2,262



The following table is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Income before income taxes:





2022

2023

2024

2025 (in thousands)

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1





















































Income before income taxes

$ 794



$ 592



$ 614



$ 595



$ 719



$ 1,582



$ 2,046



$ 53



$ 1,863



$ 2,146



$ 3,008



$ 2,758



$ 2,114

Adjustments:







































































































Interest expense (income)



3





2





1





5





2





5





(1)





(13)





(32)





(44)





(63)





(104)





(111)

Depreciation



148





165





173





185





195





190





192





220





219





220





278





251





250

Amortization



13





14





13





14





13





14





13





13





5

























Total adjustments



164





181





187





204





210





209





204





220





192





176





215





147





139

EBITDA



958





773





801





799





929





1,791





2,250





273





2,055





2,322





3,223





2,905





2,253

Non-cash stock compensation



219





68





75





96





71





140





86





2,124





207





201





77





151





249

Excess Spin-off costs





















219





28

















































Adjusted EBITDA

$ 1,177



$ 841



$ 876



$ 1,114



$ 1,028



$ 1,931



$ 2,336



$ 2,397



$ 2,262



$ 2,523



$ 3,300



$ 3,056



$ 2,502











































































































Adjusted EBITDA margin



15.3 %



11.9 %



10.4 %



12.8 %



11.0 %



19.0 %



21.5 %



22.3 %



20.2 %



21.4 %



25.0 %



23.9 %



19.7 %

SOURCE Mtron
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 360Quadrants has released its latest Drone Communication Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025, recognizing key players, including both global giants and emerging innovators, for their excellence in market presence, product innovation, and business strategy. The report highlights Doodle Labs LLC, Elsight, Ultra, and Meteksan Defence Industry Inc. among the top companies actively shaping the future of the Drone Communication Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment.

The evaluation leverages 360Quadrants' proprietary methodology to map competitive positioning across 7,000+ micro markets within 10+ industries, enabling decision-makers to make strategic, data-backed vendor choices.

Company Highlights in the Drone Communication Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment:

Doodle Labs LLC specializes in designing and producing industrial-grade wireless networking solutions, emphasizing mesh networking for robotic and autonomous systems. The company's flagship Mesh Rider Radio platform delivers high-throughput, long-range connectivity, supporting a wide range of applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), mobile robotics, connected teams, and use cases in the government and defense sectors. Doodle Labs develops advanced radio communication technologies through an iterative R&D process, closely collaborating with customers to tailor solutions to their needs. The company serves government agencies and clients across commercial and industrial markets, offering reliable, scalable connectivity for mission-critical operations.

specializes in designing and producing industrial-grade wireless networking solutions, emphasizing mesh networking for robotic and autonomous systems. The company's flagship Mesh Rider Radio platform delivers high-throughput, long-range connectivity, supporting a wide range of applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), mobile robotics, connected teams, and use cases in the government and defense sectors. Doodle Labs develops advanced radio communication technologies through an iterative R&D process, closely collaborating with customers to tailor solutions to their needs. The company serves government agencies and clients across commercial and industrial markets, offering reliable, scalable connectivity for mission-critical operations. Elsight provides advanced connectivity solutions for unmanned systems, primarily focusing on its flagship Halo platform, designed for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) communication. Former members of Israeli intelligence founded the company, which initially specialized in audio and video transmission solutions for Israel's defense and homeland security sectors. Elsight provides BVLOS communication technology to various drones and UAV manufacturers and operators. Its client base includes prominent names such as Lockheed Martin Corporation ( USA ), DroneUp ( USA ), SpeedBird Aero ( Brazil ), and ACSL ( Japan ), among others.

provides advanced connectivity solutions for unmanned systems, primarily focusing on its flagship Halo platform, designed for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) communication. Former members of Israeli intelligence founded the company, which initially specialized in audio and video transmission solutions for defense and homeland security sectors. Elsight provides BVLOS communication technology to various drones and UAV manufacturers and operators. Its client base includes prominent names such as Lockheed Martin Corporation ( ), DroneUp ( ), SpeedBird Aero ( ), and ACSL ( ), among others. Ultra (Ultra Electronics Group) is a defense and aerospace technology company that delivers mission-critical solutions to military, government, and commercial clients. The company operates through four primary business units: Maritime, Intelligence & Communications, Precision Control Systems, and Energy. The Intelligence & Communications unit specializes in advanced communications, cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and command and control solutions for defense applications. This division develops integrated systems that enable secure voice, video, and data exchange via tactical radios, custom waveforms, and satellite communications, supporting situational awareness and coordination in multi-domain operations. Its Command, Control, and Intelligence (C2I) solutions provide the tools for operational planning and execution, enhancing mission effectiveness through real-time data sharing. The electronic warfare simulation technology (EWST) segment offers radar threat simulation, testing, evaluation, and training capabilities. Additionally, the cybersecurity division focuses on encryption and key management systems to ensure secure and reliable information exchange.

Explore the full quadrant report and see how companies are positioned in the Drone Communication Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, market-

https://www.360quadrants.com/aerospace/drone-communication-startups

Evaluation Criteria

The vendor evaluation was conducted on over 100 companies, of which the top 10 were categorized and recognized as quadrant leaders. Factors such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Drone Communication Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment quadrant. The top criteria for product footprint evaluation included Application (Military, Commercial, Government & law enforcement, and consumer sectors). Connectivity (Satellite and cellular connectivity), and Technology (Radio Frequency (RF), cellular, satellite, and meshed network technologies).

360 Quadrants Scoring Methodology

360 Quadrants employs a comprehensive and transparent scoring methodology to evaluate companies. It identifies relevant evaluation criteria, collects and validates data from multiple sources, and employs an algorithm that considers parameter weights to generate scores. Normalization ensures fair comparisons, and the aggregated scores categorize solutions into quadrants such as Progressive companies, Responsive companies, Dynamic companies, and Starting blocks. This unbiased approach equips users with accurate information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions and select solutions that best suit their needs and objectives.

Download Free Sample @ https://www.360quadrants.com/aerospace/drone-communication-startups

About 360Quadrants

360Quadrants, a specialized division of MarketsandMarkets, delivers comprehensive quadrant analyses for various emerging technologies and markets, including start-ups. Our evaluation methodology hinges on two critical parameters: market presence and product footprint. This approach facilitates a graphical representation of competitive positioning across four key categories: leaders, contenders, innovators, and emerging companies. In addition, we meticulously classify start-ups into progressive companies, responsive companies, dynamic companies, and starting blocks. Our expertise equips organizations with insights into market leaders across over 6000 micro markets, enabling a detailed comparison of vendor capabilities and performance. At 360Quadrants, we ensure that each quadrant adheres to the highest standards, empowering our clients to navigate complex market dynamics precisely and confidently.

360Quadrants has also launched quadrants in fields like-

Airport Systems Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025 and

Space Propulsion Startups/SMEs Companies Assessment, 2025.

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.

To learn more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook .

Contact:

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
Mexicos Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar Garcia Harfuch, confirmed Tuesday that 17 relatives of Ovidio Guzman have left for the United States as part of a negotiation process between the alleged drug trafficker and the U.S. government. Photos of Guzmans mother and other family members at U.S. border crossings on Monday had sparked public concern, especially after it was revealed last week that Ovidio has agreed to plead guilty to charges he faces north of the border.

This is an agreement between a defendant and the authorities, Harfuch told journalist Ciro Gomez Leyva during a radio interview. First, it should be noted that Ovidio was detained by Mexican authorities, where fellow Army and Special Forces members were even killed. Then, Mexico extradited him to the U.S. And then, as we saw on the news, negotiations began with the Department of Justice. Its clear that if his family is leaving now, its because of this negotiation.

Its clear that this is whats happening, and U.S. authorities were already waiting for them, Harfuch added.

His remarks contrast with the official silence from Mexicos government. Neither Mexicos Attorney Generals Office, President Claudia Sheinbaum, nor any other federal agency has publicly addressed the situation. While they are not legally obligated to do so, given the Guzman familys prominence in Mexicos criminal landscape and the efforts made to capture Ovidio, public clarification seems warranted.

The family that fled was not a target of the Mexican authorities, Harfuch explained. But of course the Department of Justice must share information with the Attorney Generals Office, for one main reason: Ovidio was arrested by Mexican authorities.

Among those who traveled to the U.S. is Ovidios mother, Griselda Lopez, a former partner of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the historic leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who is now serving a life sentence in the U.S.

Ovidio Guzman is one of two of El Chapos sons in U.S. custody. The other, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, surrendered in July in Texas in what many view as a betrayal. He reportedly lured cartel boss Ismael El Mayo Zambada to a meeting in Sinaloa under false pretenses, only to have him kidnapped and handed over to U.S. authorities. That alleged betrayal sparked an ongoing war between the Guzman brothers and Zambadas sons.

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Awardees receive funding to accelerate research and development of stem cell therapies

COLUMBIA, Md., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission ("Commission") announced awarding over $18 million in grants aimed at accelerating cutting-edge stem cell and regenerative medicine research across Maryland.

Awardees receive $18M in funding to accelerate research and development of stem cell therapies Post this Ruchika Nijhara, PhD Executive Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) MSCRF logo (PRNewsfoto/Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission)

This funding supports 52 investigators from top Maryland based research institutions and companies working on almost 50 different medical conditions and diseases including sickle cell anemia, diabetes, cancers and chronic pain to diseases directed to heart, bone, blood, digestive and neurological conditions. This year's grant recipients feature innovative companies such as Seraxis Inc., Britecyte Inc., SereNeuro Therapeutics Inc. and Diagnostic Biochips, Inc. They are joined by academic researchers from Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences/Henry Jackson Foundation. The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore is newly represented among this year's funded institutions, strengthening statewide support for regenerative medicine research.

"We are especially proud to support the first stem cell research grant application from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. It is exciting to see Maryland's regenerative medicine community continue to expand," stated Ruchika Nijhara, Ph.D. executive director of Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF). "New companies are emerging and our existing portfolio companies with MSCRF-funded projects are advancing to human clinical trials, bringing discoveries closer to patients and fulfilling the mission of MSCRF."

Awardees submitted proposals in response to the Commission's Request for Applications (RFAs) for the second funding round of fiscal year 2025. Earlier in the fiscal year, the Commission also allocated over $4.5 million in additional research grants to public and private entities in Maryland. Since its establishment under the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006, MSCRF has invested over $200 million in 650+ projects, generating $525 million in economic activity and creating over 2,000 jobs statewide.

"We recognize the life-saving potential of the research supported by our grant awardees. Sustained MSCRF funding is essential to advancing these efforts, particularly in today's challenging funding landscape," emphasized Rachel Brewster, Ph.D., chair of the Commission. "We remain committed to helping innovative scientists and companies move cutting-edge stem cell research from the lab to patient care."

The Commission will soon release RFAs for the first round of fiscal year 2026 funding, with applications due in July 2025, to continue fostering innovative research and advancing promising cures through the various programs of MSCRF.

The second round of MSCRF awards for the 2025 fiscal year includes the following:

Launch: These awards are to encourage new and new-to-the-field faculty to bring innovative research and technology to the regenerative medicine field. Totaling $3,440,434 , the Launch Award recipients are Dr. Ryan D Sochol from the University of Maryland, College Park ; Drs. Whitney Parker , Sui Seng Tee , Vivek Garg and Zubair M Ahmed from the University of Maryland, Baltimore ; Dr. Erin Green from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ; and Drs. Qun Li , Mahaa Umapathi, Marjan Gharagozloo and Xiao Yang from Johns Hopkins University .

These awards are to encourage new and new-to-the-field faculty to bring innovative research and technology to the regenerative medicine field. Totaling , the Launch Award recipients are Dr. Ryan D Sochol from the ; Drs. , , and Zubair M Ahmed from the ; Dr. from the ; and Drs. , Mahaa Umapathi, and from . Commercialization: These awards are for companies to develop new human stem cell-based products in Maryland . Totaling $992,710 , the Commercialization Award recipients are Diagnostic Biochips, Inc. (Dr. Brian Jamieson ); and Daniel Saragnese from SereNeuro Therapeutics, Inc.





These awards are for companies to develop new human stem cell-based products in . Totaling , the Commercialization Award recipients are Diagnostic Biochips, Inc. (Dr. ); and from SereNeuro Therapeutics, Inc. Clinical : This award is for public and private entities that wish to conduct human stem cell-based clinical trials in the State of Maryland. Totaling $1,499,145 , the Clinical Award recipients are Dr. Heather Symons from John Hopkins University; and Dr. Alla Danilkovitch from Britecyte, Inc.





: This award is for public and private entities that wish to conduct human stem cell-based clinical trials in the State of Maryland. Totaling , the Clinical Award recipients are Dr. from John Hopkins University; and Dr. Alla Danilkovitch from Britecyte, Inc. Manufacturing Assistance: These awards provide entities with funding to support the manufacturing processes/infrastructure of stem cell therapy products in Maryland . Totaling $918,534 , the Manufacturing Assistance Award recipient is Seraxis, Inc. (Dr. William Rust ).





These awards provide entities with funding to support the manufacturing processes/infrastructure of stem cell therapy products in . Totaling , the Manufacturing Assistance Award recipient is Seraxis, Inc. (Dr. ). Validation : This award supports faculty at Maryland -based Universities/Research institutes with intellectual property for human stem cell-based technologies that require additional validation. Totaling $350,000 , the Validation Award recipient is Dr. Elias T. Zambidis from John Hopkins University.





: This award supports faculty at -based Universities/Research institutes with intellectual property for human stem cell-based technologies that require additional validation. Totaling , the Validation Award recipient is Dr. Elias T. Zambidis from John Hopkins University. Discovery: These awards fund innovative ideas to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures. Totaling $9,948,617 , the Discovery Award recipients include Dr. Younggeon Jin from University of Maryland , College Park; Drs. Seth Ament , Curt Civin and Ricardo Feldman , from the University of Maryland, Baltimore ; Dr. Jiabing Fan from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore ; Daniel Lobo , Ph.D., from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ; Kathleen Pratt , Ph.D., from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences /Henry Jackson Foundation; and Drs. Lena Smirnova , Hee Cheol Cho , William B. Dalton , Linda Resar , Jeff W. Bulte , Xitiz Chamling, Nicholas Maragakis , Alan D. Friedman , Pan Li, Jiou Wang, Hilary Vernon , Alyssa N Coyne, Gabsang Lee, Brian O'Rourke , Rajini Rao , Jill Fahrner , Xizhen Lian , Shaun Kunisaki , Tae-In Kam, Arens Taga , Ludovic Zimmerlin and Farah Mohamed from Johns Hopkins University .





These awards fund innovative ideas to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures. Totaling , the Discovery Award recipients include Dr. Younggeon Jin from , College Park; Drs. , and , from the ; Dr. from the ; , Ph.D., from the ; , Ph.D., from /Henry Jackson Foundation; and Drs. , , , , , Xitiz Chamling, , , Pan Li, Jiou Wang, , Alyssa N Coyne, Gabsang Lee, , , , , , Tae-In Kam, , and from . Post-Doctoral Fellowship: These awards support exceptional post-doctoral fellows conducting research in Maryland . Totaling $910,000 the Postdoctoral Fellowship Award recipients include Drs. Sterling P Arjona and Siddharth Shah from the University of Maryland, Baltimore ; Dr. Luis Carlos Pinzon Herrera from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ; and Drs. Hira Butt , Willem T Buys, Longfei Li and Niannian Xu from John Hopkins University.

More information on current MSCRF awardees and funding opportunities is available on MSCRF website. Visit us at mscrf.org.

About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission and Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission, through Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, focuses on identifying and funding cutting-edge research and innovation in the field of regenerative medicine in Maryland. Our Accelerating Cures initiative comprises programs that help transition human stem cell-based technologies from the bench to the bedside as well as mechanisms to build and grow stem cell companies in Maryland.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Media Contact

Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, [email protected]

Rachael Kalinyak, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO, [email protected]

SOURCE Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission
BOSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Q2i, a leader in digital health innovation, has launched NALCAM, a pioneering technology designed to increase the carriage of Naloxonea life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. This initiative aims to improve access and consistent carrying of Naloxone, helping individuals respond more effectively in critical overdose situations.

NALCAM

Developed by Q2i's contingency management division, NALCAM uses motivational incentives to encourage individuals to carry Naloxone regularly. The program helps bridge the gap between Naloxone distribution and real-world usage, supporting rapid intervention when it matters most.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) was the first institution to participate in the NALCAM pilot, providing an opportunity to explore how higher education settings can support community-focused public health strategies.

Q2i CEO Steve Jenkins stated, "We designed NALCAM to support people in making potentially life-saving choices. By combining behavioral science with public health tools, this technology empowers individuals and organizations to prioritize safety through regular Naloxone carriage."

Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Health and Human Services for Worcester, emphasized the broader significance of the program: "Worcester is home to many colleges and universities, and initiatives like NALCAM show how higher education can proactively address public health challenges. This program encourages immediate responses to overdose emergencies and has the potential to save lives, setting a new standard for public health interventions."

Key Benefits of NALCAM Include:

Harm Reduction: Empowers bystanders to respond effectively to overdoses.

Stigma Reduction: Supports open, informed conversations around addiction and recovery.

Community Impact: Builds awareness and preparedness at the individual and institutional levels.

As the opioid crisis continues to affect communities nationwide, NALCAM represents a forward-thinking approach to harm reduction. Q2i welcomes collaboration with campuses, health systems, and community partners seeking to enhance overdose prevention efforts.

For more information or partnership inquiries, visit Q2i.com.

SOURCE Q2i
Red-carpet event celebrates Walter C. Hall at Hialeah Dealership

MIAMI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a celebration of community and educational excellence, Headquarter Toyota  a family-owned dealership marking 35 years of service to South Florida  rolled out the red carpet to honor Walter C. Hall, the 2025 Miami-Dade County Public Schools Principal of the Year. The lively event at Headquarter's Hialeah showroom featured music, balloons, and a warm gathering of family and school officials, culminating in Principal Hall receiving the keys to a brand-new Toyota Camry SE with a complimentary three-year lease, presented by the dealership's President and CEO, Jeronimo Esteve.

Hall Family, Walter Hall, Jeronimo Esteve, Judy Farcus Serra, Alexandra Esteve.

"Today, we celebrate not only the accomplishments of Walter Hall, but also all educators in Miami-Dade County Public Schools who help shape the future of our community," said Esteve. "Headquarter Toyota is proudly committed to education, and this gesture reflects our deep appreciation for those who inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders."

Hall has served as principal of Leisure City K8 Center since 2019 and has dedicated over two decades to Miami-Dade County Public Schools as both a teacher and administrator. Widely respected for his leadership, Hall led a major curriculum overhaul shortly after taking the helmresulting in the highest assessment scores in the school's history and dramatically improving outcomes for students and staff. He is also a 2025 recipient of the Florida TaxWatch Principal Leadership Award, which honors outstanding leaders at Florida's high-risk K12 schools.

A hands-on administrator who fosters a culture of love, respect, and accountability, Hall describes his mission as personal.

"I believe everyone has a purpose," Hall said. "We're here to make a difference in the lives of others. Leisure City is my purpose. I'm honored and humbled to lead such an incredible student body and faculty. I am also deeply grateful to Headquarter Toyota for this generous gift. This means the world to menot just as an educator, but as someone who believes in the power of community. It's uplifting to know our work is valued and celebrated."

Headquarter Toyota, the largest Hispanic-owned dealership in the United States, has served over three million customers since 1990 and has proudly awarded a new vehicle to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Principal of the Year for the second consecutive year.

For more information, visit https://www.headquartertoyota.com/ .

Contact: Carlos Espinosa, [email protected]

SOURCE Headquarter Toyota
Old Elk Distillery, an award-winning whiskey brand, joins the portfolio of Middle West Spirits, one of North America's largest independently-owned distilleries

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Middle West Spirits, one of North America's largest independently-owned distilleries, today announced the acquisition of Old Elk Distillery and its related assets. Known for its award-winning whiskeys, deep customer loyalty and distinctive Slow Cut proofing process, Old Elk brings nationally recognized craftsmanship to Middle West's expanding branded portfolio.

"This is a meaningful moment for both our teams," said Ryan Lang, Founding Lead Distiller and CEO of Middle West Spirits. "Old Elk has built a respected and beloved brand with staying power, thanks to a distinct blending and innovation philosophy that complements our grain-to-glass production model. Their agility in developing award-winning blends pairs naturally with our technical approach and scale. Together, we're not just expandingwe're joining forces to preserve what makes each brand special while unlocking new potential. We're laying the foundation for long-term growth with a shared focus on quality, transparency and customer relationships."

By combining Old Elk's brand momentum with Middle West's robust infrastructure, this acquisition empowers both companies to reach more consumers, drive innovation and raise the bar for craft spirits at scale.

"Since the day we launched over 8 years ago, we've been laser focused on one thing: listening truly listeningto our team, customers and partners. That focus has brought us to this incredible moment," said Luis Gonzalez, CEO of Old Elk. "Our relationships have always been at the heart of what we do and have been pivotal in shaping our journey. We're wholeheartedly grateful to our extraordinary team, loyal customers and to our national distributor partner, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, for their trust and belief in our vision. I'm extremely appreciative to Greg Metze for his mentorship, craftmanship and dedication to the team and his lasting impact and influence on the spirits industry. We are thankful for our founders Curt and Nancy Richardson for their vision in creating a world-class whiskey. Their legacy has inspired us for many years."

Founded in 2008, Middle West Spirits is deeply rooted in Ohio's grain belt and manages every step of its productionfrom seed selection through distilling, aging, blending and bottling. The company produces a portfolio of award-winning brands including Middle West Bourbon, Rye, Wheat Whiskey, Bourbon Cream, OYO Vodka, Vim & Petal Gin and Lux & Umbra. Having recently increased its distillation capacity, Middle West Spirits is the largest distillery in Ohio and one of the top 10 grain-to-glass whiskey and spirits producers in the U.S., producing spirits not only for its own brands but also numerous partners in the craft and global spirits industries.

"This acquisition isn't just a milestone, it's a launchpad. We're securing the future of the Old Elk legacy with dedicated production and a true home for our brand, one that fans and partners alike can rally around for years to come," adds Gonzalez. "As we grow, Middle West Spirits is doubling down on what matters most: delivering on demand, pushing innovation and building a best-in-class infrastructure that sets a new standard in the spirits industry. Joining the Middle West family is a powerful step forwardand together, we're ready to shake things up and make bold moves. Together, I see an exciting future filled with opportunity and shared success for our customers, consumers and distributor partners."

ABOUT MIDDLE WEST SPIRITS:

Middle West Spirits is an independently-owned distillery rooted in Ohio and recognized nationwide for setting new standards in American craft spirits since 2008. Middle West uses unique Ohio grains and controls every step of the production process - from seed selection to on-site grain processing, distilling, aging, blending and bottling - all in its Columbus, Ohio distilleries. Middle West Spirits has earned more than 200 awards, including top honors from the ASCOT Awards, PR%F Awards, Beverage Tasting Institute, Heartland Whiskey Competition and more. Guests can enjoy the full Middle West experience at the Courtland Avenue Distillery, Service Bar Restaurant and Bottle Shop in Columbus, OH to purchase Middle West's signature products. To learn more about Middle West Spirits, visit middlewestspirits.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

ABOUT OLD ELK DISTILLERY:

Rooted in innovation, quality, craftsmanship and integrity, Old Elk Distillery of Fort Collins, CO, was founded in 2013. Founder Curt Richardson desired to create a distinctive portfolio of whiskeys that embodied his passion for whiskey, and he succeeded. In 2016, Greg Metze joined the team as Master Distiller, bringing his 40 years of experience in the whiskey industry to Old Elk. While the signature Old Elk Slow Cut proofing process takes significantly longer than most, taking the extra time makes all the difference. The proof is in the liquid. Today, the Old Elk portfolio is available in all 50 states, delivering award-winning products that span several whiskey categories. For more information, visit online at Old Elk.

Media Contacts:

Elizabeth Sampson, (614) 266-6506

Middle West Spirits / Belle Communication

[email protected]

Andrew Quinzi, (305) 967 - 3901

Old Elk Distillery / Colangelo & Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE Old Elk Distillery
GUANGZHOU, China, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design, today announced that it plans to release its March quarter 2025 financial results before the U.S. market opens on Friday, May 23, 2025.

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 5:00 A.M. Eastern Time on Friday, May 23, 2025 (5:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. Simultaneous interpretation in English will be provided during the conference call. The conference call can be accessed by the following Zoom link or dialing the following numbers:

Access 1

Join Zoom meeting.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91867561429?pwd=O6gp0PI5MebbwUIlZ9K0Z1obVLjp0U.1

Meeting Number: 918 6756 1429

Meeting Passcode: 9896

Access 2

Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers by using the same meeting number and passcode with access 1.

United States: +1 689 278 1000 (or +1 719 359 4580) Hong Kong, China: +852 5803 3730 (or +852 5803 3731) United Kingdom: +44 203 481 5237 (or +44 131 460 1196) France: +33 1 7037 9729 (or +33 1 7037 2246) Singapore: +65 3158 7288 (or +65 3165 1065) Canada: +1 438 809 7799 (or +1 204 272 7920)

Access 3

Listeners can also access the call through the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/.

The replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event at the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/.

Investor Relations Contact

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Liverpool West Productions proudly announces the official release of Miss O'Dell, a feature-length documentary revealing the extraordinary story of Chris O'Dellthe woman at the heart of rock's most legendary moments. Premiering May 13, 2025, the film will be available on major platforms including Peacock, Tubi, Prime Video, Fandango, Hoopla, and more.

From Backstage to the frontlines of rock history- step into the story of the woman who lived it all! Post this Official poster for Miss ODell, new documentary about the woman who lived rock history from the inside out.

From a fateful meeting in 1968 to life inside the world's biggest bands, Chris O'Dell became a trusted insider to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Linda Ronstadt. She stood on the rooftop for the Beatles' final concert, sang on "Hey Jude," and was even immortalized in the George Harrison song "Miss O'Dell." She went on to break barriers as one of the first female tour managers in rock history.

Directed by filmmaker Simon Weitzman, Miss O'Dell features deeply personal interviews with iconic figures such as Pattie Boyd, Peter Asher CBE, "Whispering" Bob Harris OBE, Beatles roadie Kevin Harrington, and renowned Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn. Their reflections bring to life an era of revolutionary music, cultural upheaval, and deeply human moments of friendship, fame, and fallout.

The film blends rare archival footage, intimate stories, and rich historical contextpainting a vivid picture of a transformative time in music history. Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the rise of counterculture, Chris O'Dell's story is one of resilience, wild adventure, and unapologetic truth.

Watch the official trailer here.

Miss O'Dell is not just a documentaryit's a backstage pass to rock history, told by the woman who lived it all.

For more information, visit Liverpool West Productions or find Miss O'Dell on major streaming, DVD, and Blu-ray platforms worldwide.

Press: [email protected]

SOURCE Liverpool West Productions
STANWOOD, Wash., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Moducore, the leading ERP platform for offsite construction manufacturing, is proud to announce its selection to the NVIDIA Connect Program, a curated ecosystem of innovative companies building next-generation AI solutions. This strategic collaboration marks a major milestone in Moducore's mission to bring intelligence-driven operations to the offsite manufacturing industry.

Through the program, Moducore gains early access to NVIDIA's cutting-edge hardware, software, and AI frameworksaccelerating the development of powerful new technologies purpose-built for modular, panelized, and component-based factories.

"We're thrilled to be part of the NVIDIA Connect Program," said Jordie Puchinger, CTO and co-founder of Moducore. "Our focus has always been on solving complex manufacturing problems through elegant, reliable software. With NVIDIA's AI platform in our corner, we're moving faster than ever toward a smarter, more connected future for offsite manufacturing."

The collaboration is already yielding results. Moducore is actively integrating NVIDIA's AI compute stack into its core ERP platformOffsiteOSto unlock new capabilities in predictive analytics, production intelligence, and real-time optimization.

While Moducore is not ready to unveil the full scope of what's coming next, the company hints at a new generation of factory intelligence tools that blend AI, IoT, and spatial computing in ways the offsite manufacturing sector has never seen before.

"We believe offsite factories deserve better toolsones that don't just track data, but actually learn from it," said Ben Hershey, CEO of 4Ward Solutions Group, which owns Moducore. "This is just the beginning."

About Moducore

Moducore, owned by 4Ward Solutions Group, is the industry-leading ERP solution built specifically for offsite manufacturing. Featuring integrated MES, MRP, Scheduling, Procurement, and real-time production tools, Moducore empowers teams to operate smarter, faster, and with greater precision. Some of the most innovative manufacturers across North America trust Moducore to drive their digital transformation and operational excellence.

Media Contact

Ritika Gudivaka

[email protected]

https://moducore.com

https://4WardSolutionsGroup.com

SOURCE Moducore, LLC
Highlights: Stunning Kellogg & Humbert 48.70oz gold bar, $120K-$160K;1893-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS65, $60K-$90K; 1850 Mormon $5 coin NGC AU55+, $40K-$60K

DENVER, Pa., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Morphy Auctions has had a decades-long involvement in the world of rare and antique coins. On May 19, the Pennsylvania company will mark a milestone with its 187-lot Premier Coins Auction which exclusively features a fresh-to-market single-consignor collection that includes high-grade Morgan Silver Dollars and the largest offering of rare Mormon gold coins ever to be publicly auctioned. All lots in the $3 million collection will be offered with no reserve.

1893-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS-graded MS65. From the legendary frontier mint in Carson City, Nevada, and struck in the mint's final year of operation following the closure of the tapped-out Comstock Lode silver mine. No reserve. Estimate: $60,000-$90,000 Very rare and desirable 1860 Mormon $5 gold coin, PCGS-graded AU53. Image of recumbent lion encircled by an inscription in the Deseret alphabet on obverse. On verso, a spread-winged eagle is perched on a bundle of arrows known as 'fasces' and encircled with the phrase 'DESERET ASSAY OFFICE / PURE GOLD / 5D,' with a superimposed beehive, representing the desired virtue of 'industry.' No reserve. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000

The array of fabulous Morgan Silver Dollars includes many from the legendary frontier mint in Carson City, Nevada, which was located near the rich Comstock Lode.

A top entry within the Morgan lineup is an 1893-CC Silver Dollar struck during the Carson City Mint's final year of operation. The stellar 1893-CC Morgan $1 coin is PCGS-graded MS65. It is expected to sell in the vicinity of $60,000-$90,000. Also from the Carson City Mint, an 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar is PCGS-graded MS64 Gold River and is estimated at $40,000-$60,000.

An 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS-graded MS65+ "Capped Die" is CAC certified. This coveted Carson City coin, described as "Capped Die" because of a die anomaly that required it to be restruck, is exceptionally rare. It is estimated that only one-third of the total mintage of 1879-CC Morgan Dollars are of the Capped Die variety. Of those, only 19 examples have been graded in Mint State 65 condition. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000

The auction also contains several highly collectible Morgan Silver Dollars struck at the San Francisco Mint: an 1893-S Morgan, PCGS-graded AU55, $35,000-$45,000; and an 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS-graded MS60, $30,000-$40,000.

The collection's 1895 Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS-graded PR63+CAM (Proof Cameo) is CAC-certified and estimated at $40,000-$60,000. An 1896 Morgan PCGS-graded PR67+DCAM (Deep Cameo) carries a $30,000-$40,000 estimate. The Cameo effect adds a gorgeous extra quality to gold coins, as well. A 1900 $20 gold coin, PF64 Ultra Cameo, has been assigned a $50,000-$70,000 estimate.

An exciting category that has generated widespread interest since the auction catalog first published online is Mormon gold coinage. Privately issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1848 and 1860, all Mormon coins (approximately 4,000) were minted in Salt Lake City.

Fifteen Mormon gold coins will be auctioned, including an elusive 1850 Mormon $5 gold coin, NGC-graded AU55+ and embossed on its obverse side with the image of clasped hands in a handshake and encircled with G.S.L.C.P.G. (Great Salt Lake City Pure Gold) and the denomination FIVE DOLLARS. On verso, it is decorated with stars and other iconography, and encircled with Holiness To The Lord. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000

An 1860 Mormon $5 gold coin is PCGS-graded AU53. On its obverse side, it bears the date 1860 and a recumbent lion encircled by an inscription in the Deseret alphabet. On verso, it shows a spread-winged eagle, a beehive, and the phrase DESERET ASSAY OFFICE / PURE GOLD / 5D.' Estimate: $40,000-$60,000.

Another auction highlight, a 48.70oz Kellogg & Humbert Assayers gold bar, is embossed with the assayers' name, No. 491, 871 FINE, and the price $876.85. Estimate: $120,000-$160,000

The May 19, 2025 no-reserve Premier Coin Auction will be held at Morphy's Denver, Pennsylvania gallery, starting at 9AM ET. Preview by appointment only during regular business hours. Bid live in-gallery, absentee, by phone, or live online through Morphy Live. Contact: 877-968-8880, [email protected]. Online: www.morphyauctions.com.

Media Contact:

Dan Morphy

877-968-8880

[email protected]

SOURCE Morphy Auctions
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag B'omer, on Friday, May 16, Geulah Generation women's organization will take to the streets  or more specifically to the Brooklyn Bridge  at about 11:15 AM to publicize the prophecy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that we are in the era of the Redemption and that the Rebbe is the King Moshiach, (the Messiah).

This is the same organization that sponsors the national "MOSHIACH IS HERE" billboard campaign.

Geulah Generation "Moshiach Parade" flyer Geulah Generation National Billboard Campaign

A "Moshiach Parade" of ladies, holding banners, signs and flags, will enter the walkway of Brooklyn Bridge at Cadmon Plaza, Brooklyn, and exit at City Hall.

In 1991, at the time of the Gulf War, foretold in ancient writings as a harbinger of the Messiah, the Rebbe announced publicly to the Jewish people, "The time of your Redemption has arrived."

The belief in the Rebbe as the Messiah is not just a result of love and awe for the Rebbe but is based on Jewish Law. In Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, a compendium of all Torah laws, he describes the mission and qualifications of Moshiach.

In sum, these laws state that a king will arise from the House of David, immersed in Torah and the commandments. He will strengthen the breaches in Jewish observance, fight the G-dly wars against assimilation, and ultimately help the whole world to accept the One G-d. There will be peace and abundance and brotherhood among all people.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe traces his lineage to King David. Over 5000 emissaries of the Rebbe throughout the world are awakening Jews to their heritage and spreading the 7 Noahide Laws for the gentiles, universal laws from the Bible for all humanity.

In a 1991 interview with a CNN reporter (YouTube) the Rebbe said Moshiach is ready to come now. "Its only on our part to add something additional in the realm of goodness and kindness."

Lag B'omer, the day of the Moshiach parade, celebrates the life of the great sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (2nd century). He was the first to bring the mystical secrets of the Torah into the world, known today as the book of the Zohar. It is said that with this book the Jews will leave exile forever and reunite in the land of Israel, G-d's gift to the Jewish people.

Geulah Generation is continuing its national "MOSHIACH IS HERE" billboard campaign on major highways. For donations, please visit www.GeulahGeneration.com, or donate via Zelle to [email protected].

*Geulah = Redemption in Hebrew

Contact:

Basha Botnick

347 277-4094

[email protected]

SOURCE The Geulah Generation
The Clergy Accountability Coalition Seeks to Correct the Record Regarding Senate Bill 5375

OLYMPIA, Wash., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Supporters of Washington's new mandated clergy reporting law were still celebrating Governor Ferguson signing it into law when only days later they learned that the DOJ was opening an investigation characterizing the bill as "anti-Catholic." When SB 5375 takes effect on July 27, 2025, all members of the clergy will be required to report credible knowledge of child abuse and neglect  no matter how the information is learned. In the DOJ's Press Release, Asst. A. G. Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division stated, "Worse, the law appears to single out clergy as not entitled to assert applicable privileges, as compared to other reporting professionals." "5375 does not specify other mandatory reporters because state statute already removes privileged communications for them when the knowledge pertains to child abuse or neglect," said Sharon Huling, a representative for the coalition and co-founder of the Catholic Accountability Project (CAP). "Even parents can be compelled to testify against a spouse when it involves the safety and security of their child," she added.

Governor Ferguson Signs SB 5375

Washington law still provides clergy with the privilege to not be required to testify in court, regarding what they have learned and 5375 applies to clergy of all faiths  it does not single out Catholic priests. In passing SB 5375, Washington joins New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Guam, Texas, West Virginia, North Carolina and Oklahoma in eliminating an exemption for what is learned in confession when it involves the crime of child abuse or neglect. The CAC is not aware that this has been found unconstitutional in any of these other states. Both state and the federal constitutions place limitations on religious practices when they are inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state, when the practice runs afoul of 'public morals' or a compelling government interest or when it involves licentiousness.

"The journey to pass a mandated clergy reporting bill began three years ago after Senator Noel Frame, herself a victim of child abuse, read an article in Investigate West that exposed how Jehovah Witnesses use secretive, internal trials to investigate abuse," said Marino Hardin, a whistleblower in the Investigate West article and coalition member. "Providing an exemption for confessions would allow any religious group to mandate secrecy and conceal abuse."

Mary Dispenza, a former nun, co-founder of Survivors Against Abuse by Priests, coalition and CAP member, told her story to lawmakers. "I was raped by the parish priest when I was seven and I buried it. At 18, as a young nun, I finally told my confessor about the rape naming my abuser, whom he knew. He did nothing and the pedophile priest went on to abuse 40 more children in Los Angeles. The Catholic seal of confession did not protect me." Dispenza added, "If a child like me confesses to a priest that they are being abused, that child is not the sinner, they are crying out for help and protection. Child abuse cannot be stopped if it is not known. I just cannot understand why any religious person would not protect an innocent child."

In a heated debate on the floor of the House, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, spoke up on behalf of countless Native American children harmed in religious and government boarding schools across the state. Rep. Lekanoff, a Native American, testified to the bill's importance in protecting children, "...for holding those people who we trusted [accountable] ...who took our children, who stole our children...only to find out that [our children] were abused. Only to find out that the silence was used, this sacred trust, to harm the children...The silence of clergymen has not healed (of bearing those secrets), have not healed the people who look like me...because no one stood up and protected the children who needed it the most." A.J. Dotzauer-Rashid and Charles Adkins from the Tulalip Tribes of WA and a representative from the Puyallup Tribe Children's Advocacy Center also supported the bill.

This is an opportunity for all religious organizations that have used existing loopholes in the law to reexamine the harm caused to children by their policies rather than fight this positive change. The Pew Institute Center has reported that 27% of Christians cited ongoing sex-abuse scandals as the reason they have left the faith. Let's give them a reason to return. For the Catholic Church, Pope Leo can update Canon Law regarding the seal of confession, if he chooses to do so. "Good priests do not need to be excommunicated for reporting child sex abuse to authorities," said Tim Law, a co-founder of Ending Clergy Abuse, member of the coalition and CAP. ECA Global is an international organization advocating for a universal zero-tolerance law in the Church in regards to child sex abuse. "Confession of serious sins was public in in the early Church until the 13th Century when it was made private, in part due to sex scandals involving priests, he adding, "Children as young as seven were only mandated to go to confession as recently as 100 years ago by Pope Pius X." Mitch Melin, an ex-JW and coalition member said that with the passage of 5375, "Jehovah Witness Elders will now report knowledge of child abuse to authorities because Elders are required to comply with the law."

Washington State citizens have made it clear; they will no longer tolerate child sex abuse and its cover-up  the safety of our children is paramount. The CAC is composed of a broad and diverse group of hundreds of individuals and organizations, it includes atheists, agnostics, and people from many faiths. Religious organizations must be held accountable to societal standards. Washington's new mandatory clergy reporting law is a step towards justice. It will be the job of A.G. Brown to defend it to the DOJ. All children, including children in religious households deserve equal protection under the law. We hope the DOJ agrees.

For more information contact:

Sharon Valdes Huling

[email protected]

SOURCE Clergy Accountability Coalition
Between 300 and 400 homeless people sleep each night at Madrids Barajas Airport. The number has reached as many as 500. No one knew who they were until a religious organization  Mesa de la Hospitalidad, which includes Caritas  took the initiative to carry out a census. Nearly three months after the issue emerged, the report was presented this Monday to municipal, regional, and national authorities.

Until now, none of the administrations had shown interest in getting the full picture: although they claimed to be working on the issue, they were doing so completely in the dark.

Two EL PAIS journalists toured all four terminals of Madrids airport on Friday night to try to get to know its overnight residents.

In the absence of that census, interviews with more than 20 people  both Spanish and foreign  reveal the extreme vulnerability of Barajas overnight residents: individuals with serious mental health issues, illnesses, unemployment, no money to pay for a room, and no access to beds in municipal shelters.

Among these individuals and their acquaintances  a total sample of about 100 people  this newspaper did not find any of the many asylum seekers that the Madrid City Council claims are among them.

The number is nonexistent or very, very small, said Maurici Lucena, the president of the Spanish airport authority AENA, on Friday.

The mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, from the conservative Popular Party (PP) has cited the presence of asylum seekers  people requesting protection in Spain after fleeing their countries  as a reason to place responsibility on the central government, since their reception should be guaranteed by the Immigration Ministry.

These are the stories of some of the homeless people who are sleeping in Barajas airport.

Rosa V., without shelter after the winter campaign

The pineapple juice is stolen. Perhaps thats why it needs to be drunk faster than usual. After Josue, Santiago, and Manuel take a drink, the last sip goes to Rosa V., a 67-year-old woman from the Madrid neighborhood of Vallecas who doesnt want to reveal her real name.

Rosa says she ended up on the street after a series of disputes with her ex-husband and that, after the end of the winter shelter campaign, she no longer has a place in the municipal shelters. To show how drastically her life has changed in just eight months, she shows a photo on her cell phone dated October 24, 2024.

Not even the eyes are the same, she says about herself after removing her sunglasses. Now, her face is tired, wrinkled, and poorly nourished. Rosa V. is from Madrid, visits certain soup kitchens during the day, and so far, according to her and most of those interviewed, she has never met any of the City Councils outreach teams that supposedly come to Barajas.

Homeless people sleeping at Barajas airport. David Exposito

None of Rosa V.s companions are asylum seekers. Nor is any of them able to identify anyone among the other homeless individuals around them who is. Rosa V. asks her companions what options she has, who they think she should turn to. Her experience with the social worker hasnt been entirely positive. The timelines they give me are too long. I think a lot of us get lost during that wait, she says.

She mostly seems lost. I would accept any kind of support resource without hesitation, just like I accepted the winter shelter, she adds. None of her companions give her a clear answer  several of them dont even have papers yet. Josue, 36, the most experienced among them, suddenly shifts the tone of the conversation. Rosa, to me it sounds like you have signs of depression, he says.

Rosa, once again hidden behind her sunglasses, falls silent. No. Im not depressed. What I dont have is a roof over my head. You give me a roof, and youll see she finally replies.

Paulina, from exploitation to the floor of Barajas

As midnight approaches, Paulina prepares her bed  a piece of cardboard and some spotless sheets  to go to sleep. This 60-year-old Peruvian woman ended up on a patch of floor in Terminal 1 after standing up to her employers, a Spanish family that had exploited her for nearly a year. She worked as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman for just 800 ($890) a month. She also worked weekends in exchange for being allowed to sleep at the house during those days.

I put up with a lot. The lady treated me very badly. Until they told me they wouldnt pay me for my vacation if I took it. Take it or leave it, the son said to me, she recalls. And she left  knowing full well it meant ending up on the street. Paulina is not an asylum seeker, and she would now be considered a homeless person who should fall under the care of the Madrid City Council. They did assist her for a few days, she says, but eventually forced her to leave.

At the end of March, when I left the house, I went to [Madrids social service emergency agency] Samur Social and they took me in for five days. But the winter shelter campaign ended, and they told me I had to go, she recalls.

Afraid to sleep in the streets, she went to the airport terminal, where she has been living for a month. During the day, she wanders with her carry-on suitcase between soup kitchens and various churches in Madrid, hoping they can help her find a job.

At 60, its harder  they prefer younger women, she says. Paulina would like to live in a municipal shelter until she can get back on her feet, but she says theres no space for her. Going back to her home country is not yet an option. Im going to hang in there, she says.

Teresa, her whole life in a storage room

Teresa Andrade, 54, lost the little she had in just a few days. This Spanish woman of Ecuadorian origin spent almost 25 years cleaning and caring for the elderly, but in January, she lost her job. Andrade recounts an incomprehensible bureaucratic mess that would explain why she has yet to start receiving unemployment benefits, the reason she no longer has the 400 ($445) needed to pay for the room she shared with her partner in Leganes.

People sleeping on the floor of the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport. David Exposito

Without her salary, they both ended up on the street. They put their belongings in a storage unit, and headed to Barajas.

Im sick of sleeping on the floor. There are more crazy people here than in a psychiatric hospital, she exclaims. The woman claims she is in contact with a social worker in Leganes, but no one from the City Council has asked her anything at the airport.

Marcelos six pre-heart attacks at Terminal 2

Marcelo Montoya sticks his head out from under one of the moving ramps in Terminal 2. Montoya weaves together a thousand and one stories that have complicated his life in Spain since he moved here 19 years ago from Chile. He says he has been living at the airport for the past three years.

And he fears he might die. Ive suffered six pre-heart attacks since Ive been on the street. I would go to a shelter, Im sick, but Im tired of trying. Every time I go, they get angry. Why are you here if weve already told you youre on the waiting list? they tell me.

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PORTLAND, Ore., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NWEA , a K-12 assessment and research organization, released a new study examining the impacts of COVID-19 school closures and disruptions on boys and girls in STEM skills. The new report, "Boys regain the advantage in middle school STEM skills: Post-COVID trends in gender achievement gaps," highlights that STEM gaps in achievement between boys and girls that took more than a decade to close were reopened in just four years.

The study used a robust set of data from three national assessments, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS ), the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) , and NWEA's MAP Growth , to examine trends in gender gaps in 8th grade over the course of the pandemic. The study also analyzed MAP Growth data from approximately two million U.S. students to see if the gender gap widened for both low- and high-achieving students. The final part of the analysis looked at 8th-grade Algebra enrollment across 1,300 U.S. public schools to determine if participation rates differed by gender throughout the pandemic. Key findings indicate some concerning trends:

Girls' STEM achievement declined more than boys' between 2021 and 2024, reversing decades of progress in closing gender gaps in these subjects. This decline was not seen in reading scores.

Similar patterns were observed in other English-speaking countries ( Australia , England , New Zealand ) and on state-level assessments in the U.S.

, , ) and on state-level assessments in the U.S. Gender gaps widened after a return to in-person school. The gaps became more pronounced after 2022.

Fewer girls are enrolling in 8th-grade Algebra, a gateway course to more advanced mathematics and STEM fields.

"These trends are concerning, especially since decades of progress in closing those gaps between boys' and girls' achievement in STEM skills were, essentially, wiped out in four years," said Dr. Megan Kuhfeld, Director of Growth Modeling and Data Analytics at NWEA. "Our goal in providing this analysis is to shed light on concerning trends and the potential long-term impact if these gaps are not addressed. The data doesn't tell us why these gaps were widened, and more understanding and research are needed to provide our education community with insights on how best to address this moving forward."

One trend that could have long-term impacts on STEM pathways for girls is the decline in girls enrolling in 8th-grade Algebra. This course is a gateway to higher-level mathematics and is a key step in future college and career opportunities in STEM fields. The study found enrollment rates in 2022 had dropped for both boys and girls, but boys' enrollment rebounded to 2019 levels by the 2024 school year, while girls' enrollment remained two percentage points lower than before COVID-19 hit.

This new research study underscores that the pandemic was not an equal opportunity hitter and disruptions to learning impacted some student groups more than others. Moving ahead, we must look beyond surface-level comparisons and dig into how different groups of students are faring over time to ensure that recovery efforts don't inadvertently reinforce old inequities or allow new ones to take hold. This includes:

Monitoring participation in key STEM milestones by gender, over time, not just within a single year. Providing targeted support for students' academics and well-being. Examining classroom dynamics and instructional practices.

View the full report at https://www.nwea.org/research/publication/boys-regain-the-advantage-in-middle-school-stem-skills-post-covid-trends-in-gender-achievement-gaps/

About NWEA

NWEA  (a division of HMH ) is a mission-driven organization that supports students and educators in more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy, and professional learning that support our diverse educational communities. Visit NWEA.org to learn more about how we're partnering with educators to help all kids learn.

Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, [email protected] or 971.361.9526

SOURCE NWEA
4th-12th Graders Celebrate Love for Math, Dazzle at McCormick Place

CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 650 of the brightest young mathematicians from across the U.S. and Canada gathered at McCormick Place on May 10 for the highly anticipated 2025 MathCON Finalsan annual celebration of mathematics and critical thinking.

Hosted by MathCON, a nationally recognized mathematics enrichment program, the event brought together top finalists from a pool of over 33,000 participants who competed in regional rounds earlier this year. Students qualified by scoring in the top percentile and faced a grueling 100-minute test requiring them to solve 32 complex equations without a calculator.

"This was one of the most special MathCON events I have ever been a part of," said MathCON Program Director Nik Hallberg. "Between the competitions, guest appearances and bonding in between events, the energy here today was incredible. I'm so proud of the kids. They raise the standard for excellence every year."

Among the many standout students was Michael Vanden Berg from Gateway Science Academy  St. Louis, who returned to the finals for a second year. "Last year, Michael told me, 'I found my people here,'" his father said. "This is a place where other kids go who enjoy math for fun the way he does."

This year's national champions by grade level included:

12th Grade: Sanjay Ravishankar, California

11th Grade: Aryan Raj, Virginia

10th Grade: Raghav Arun, North Carolina

9th Grade: Christopher Sakaliyski, Illinois

8th Grade: Kenneth Sun, Massachusetts

7th Grade: Rishabh Rajesh, Illinois

6th Grade: Hudson Jones, North Carolina

5th Grade: Naveen Chenicheri, Washington

4th Grade: Andy Liu, North Carolina

In addition to the final test, MathCON attendees engaged in a variety of interactive and family-friendly activities, including the popular Rubik's Cube Challenge, the parent-student Game 24 competition, and performances by the Jesse White Tumblers and mathemagician Sidney Friedman.

One highlight of the event was a keynote by Po-Shen Loh, Carnegie Mellon University professor and renowned math educator, who emphasized the lifelong value of mathematical thinking. "That's the value of math contests like MathCONbeing able to solve problems we aren't used to being able to solve," Loh said.

The MathCON Finals also served as a reunion for many returning students and families. Holly Speranza, a ninth grader from Rhode Island, attended her fourth MathCON event this year. "It's just fun being around people who have the same interests as me," she said.

As excitement around math grows, so does interest in MathCON's year-round programming. Registration is now open for MathCON Summer Camp , taking place in Chicago this June.

For more information about MathCON and upcoming opportunities, visit www.mathcon.org .

PHOTO FOLDER: Click here .

SOURCE MathCON
FAIRFAX, Va., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) reports that the regional housing market in April 2025 demonstrated a notable shift toward equilibrium, marked by a dramatic increase in active listings and steady home prices, even as closed sales saw a modest year-over-year decline.

A total of 1,584 homes were sold in April, representing a 2.4% decrease from April 2024. Yet, despite fewer transactions, the total dollar volume climbed to more than $1.4 billion, a 2.2% increase from the previous year  driven in part by the continued rise in home values. The median sold price jumped 3.7% to $779,000, underscoring sustained buyer demand in a competitive region.

"Rising prices and steady buyer interest signal that Northern Virginia's housing market remains fundamentally strong, even as overall sales dipped slightly," said NVAR CEO Ryan McLaughlin. "Homeowners continue to benefit from meaningful equity growth, while buyers are acting decisively when the right opportunity arises."

At the same time, market dynamics are evolving. The number of active listings grew 69.0%, reaching 2,508 properties, and months of supply rose to 1.85, a 65.8% increase compared to April 2024. This infusion of inventory signals a step toward a more balanced market. Meanwhile, the average days on market held steady at just 14 days, highlighting continued demand.

"Today's market presents exciting opportunities for home buyers, who now benefit from more choices and a better chance of having their offers accepted," said NVAR Board Member Rob Carney, TTR Sotheby's International Realty. "For home sellers, it's a great time to stand out by pricing strategically and presenting their homes in the best possible light."

The shift benefits not only buyers but also sellers who can now navigate the market with a clearer sense of expectations and timing. And, while inventory has increased significantly, there is still no significant data to indicate that this is being driven by changes in the federal workforce, as some have speculated in recent months.

"With a healthier balance between supply and demand, we're seeing a more stable marketplace emerge," McLaughlin added. "That's good for long-term sustainability and economic vitality in our region."

While the market continues to evolve, Northern Virginia remains one of the most sought-after regions in the country, supported by a resilient local economy, diverse communities, public transportation access, and proximity to the nation's capital. These factors continue to attract buyers and provide a strong foundation for continued growth and housing demand.

NVAR's 2025 Housing Forecast , produced in conjunction with the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, indicates that the Northern Virginia housing market will keep strengthening with moderate price increases and higher levels of market activity. Northern Virginia's outlook is similar to the national 2025 housing forecast that predicts the worst of the housing inventory shortage is ending, mortgage rates are stabilizing, and job additions are continuing.

BACKGROUND

The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors reports on home sales activity for Fairfax and Arlington counties, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church and the towns of Vienna, Herndon, and Clifton. Below is April 2025 regional home sales compared to April 2024 for Northern Virginia, with data derived from Bright MLS as of May 9, 2025 (total sales and listings may not include garage/parking spaces):

The number of closed sales in April 2025 was 1,584 units. This was a 2.4% decrease compared to April 2024 .

was 1,584 units. This was a 2.4% decrease compared to . The volume sold in April 2025 was $1,419,601,631 . This was a 2.2% increase compared to April 2024 .

was . This was a 2.2% increase compared to . The average sold price was $908,086 in April 2025 . This was up 3.3% compared to April 2024 .

in . This was up 3.3% compared to . The number of new pending sales in April 2025 was 1,742 units. This was down 5.5% compared to April 2024 .

was 1,742 units. This was down 5.5% compared to . The number of active listings in April 2025 was 2,508 units. This number was up 69.0% compared to April 2024 .

was 2,508 units. This number was up 69.0% compared to . The number of new listings in April 2025 was 1,984 units. This number was up 8.42% compared to April 2024 .

Read more about the NVAR regional housing market at nvar.com/Marketstats.

NVAR Charts, Graphs, Social Media for April 2025 NVAR Housing Stats

April Housing Data: Click here.

Regional Jurisdiction Infographic: Click here.

NVAR Region Infographic: Click here.

NVAR 2023 Housing Economic Impact Report: Click here.

NVAR 2025 Housing Forecast Update Report: Click here.

These links are accessible from the Market Stats page here: Click here.

About NVAR

The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) serves as the voice of real estate in the Greater Northern Virginia Region. NVAR is dedicated to enhancing Realtor success by delivering exceptional value, driving innovation, and impacting the industry. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, NVAR supports its 12,000 members with essential resources, including industry education, advocacy, networking, and professional development opportunities. The Association is committed to promoting ethical practices and excellence in real estate. It advocates on behalf of homebuyers, sellers, renters, and commercial tenants who are directly affected by local, state, and federal policy decisions impacting affordability, property rights, and quality of life. NVAR strives to elevate the standards of the real estate industry and to contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area and beyond. nvar.com.

Follow us on X: @nvar

Visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/nvar.realestate

Join us on LinkedIn: NVAR

Follow us on Instagram: nvarffx

SOURCE Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR)
Combined organization will bring together over 20 OneStream-certified Architects, proprietary planning and managed service solutions, and expanded client coverage across the U.S., Canada and Latin America.

CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nova Advisory, a leading OneStream Diamond Partner and financial advisory consultancy, announced today that it has acquired TLC Technologies, a highly respected Platinum OneStream implementation partner headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The acquisition strengthens Nova's delivery capacity, brings the combined organization to over 20 OneStream-certified Architects, and extends the firm's geographic footprint and client portfolio to span all of North America. TLC Technologies has been a trusted OneStream partner for over 8 years and is known for its exceptional client delivery, certified consultants, and its proprietary planning solution, NorthStar.

"We are so excited about the powerful combination of two of our premier Partners, Nova Advisory and TLC Technologies," said Stephanie Cramp, SVP of Global Alliances at OneStream, "Both firms have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to strategic partnership and have successfully guided clients across a range of industries. Together, they represent the kind of deliberate, client-focused growth that reinforces the strength of the OneStream partner ecosystem and enhances the capabilities available to our most sophisticated customers."

Nova Advisory is known for functional depth, with leaders who have spent 20+ years in industry. Nova provides OneStream implementation services, Finance Advisory, and also offers SMART, a Premium Managed Services solution that provides clients with a dedicated OneStream administrator and proactive platform support. The pairing of NorthStar and SMART under one organization creates a powerful combination for enterprise finance teams seeking strategic, scalable OneStream solutions. Tom Foley, President & CEO of TLC Technologies, and John Ambrose, EVP of Business Development, will remain with the organization and continue to play active leadership roles.

"This is an exciting moment for both companies," said Nate Coate, CEO of Nova Advisory. "We're combining two culturally aligned, client-first teams with deep OneStream expertise and complementary strengths. Together, we're positioned to lead the market in quality, scale, and innovation."

"Nova is a great match for TLC," said Tom Foley, President & CEO of TLC Technologies. "They bring the functional depth and a highly credentialed team to help us grow furtherwithout compromising our values or culture. This move creates more opportunity for our team and more value for our clients."

The companies will appear jointly at the 2025 OneStream Splash conference in Nashville, TN under the shared branding of Nova Advisory and TLC, a Nova Advisory Company.

Media Contact: Liz Weir <[email protected]>

SOURCE Nova Advisory
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Montana's Gov. Greg Gianforte is giving firearm industry members more reason to consider the Big Sky State as a home from which to do business. Gov. Gianforte just signed legislation revising the state's public nuisance law and adding protections to keep gun control activists from enacting "lawfare" against firearm and ammunition businesses.

Gov. Gianforte signed HB 791 into law on May 8. The law clarifies that the design, manufacturing, selling, labelling or marketing of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition or its components, are not considered a public nuisance. Additionally, state law preempts local municipal laws and ordinances from overriding state law. Gov. Gianforte's signature on this law will prevent the attempts to skirt the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) that has been witnessed in other states.

"Governor Gianforte, and Montana's lawmakers, are sending a clear message that gun control lawfare targeted against our industry, which is critical to Montana's economy and the nation's heritage of Second Amendment freedoms, will not be tolerated," said Nephi Cole, NSSF Director of Government Relations  State Affairs. "The firearm industry is grateful for state Representative Anthony Nicastro for shepherding this bill through the legislature and for Governor Gianforte's leadership in signing this important protection into law."

Gov. Gianforte has a proven track record of protecting Montana's firearm and ammunition industry. He is a regular SHOT Show attendee and participant in NSSF's Governors' Forum. Gov. Gianforte recently posted a call to Colorado firearm and ammunition businesses to consider Montana for a new place to do business following Colorado Gov. Jared. Polis signing SB3, a law the bans the bans the manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling or purchasing of Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), unless a gun purchaser first options a permit-to-purchase the rifle.

Recent years have brought big moves  and big economic returns  to Montana with Gov. Gianforte playing an active role. Ultimate Defense Technologies moved from Arizona to Billings, Montana after meeting Gov. Gianforte at SHOT Show 2023 and opened their new firearm safety systems solutions headquarters in September 2024. Olympus Arms celebrated production expansion in Helena, Montana after the company announced an investment of $50 million with plans to add jobs for 60 employees. Brixtel Defense, an ammunition manufacturer, announced their relocation from Virginia to Dawson County in Montana, adding a $125 million investment in and bringing 125 jobs, with plans for a total of 350 jobs. Alpha Loading Systems, an ammunition loading and primer machinery manufacturer, announced in 2023 it was expanding its footprint in western Montana and tripling its workforce. Shield Arms announced an expansion and move into a new $5 million 36,000 square foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bigfork that will also bring 30 new jobs to its existing 40 employee footprint.

About NSSF

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

SOURCE NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION
BANGALORE, India, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Organoids Market is Segmented by Type (Stem Cell Source, Tumor Cell Source), by Application (Biopharmaceutical Companies, Academics and Research Institutes, Hospital).

Organoids Market revenue was USD 88 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 290.8 Million by 2029 with a CAGR of 18.4% during the review period (2023-2029).

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of Organoids Market:

The organoids market is rapidly expanding as researchers and industries embrace these 3D cell culture systems for their ability to replicate human organ functions with high fidelity. Organoids offer transformative applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, toxicology testing, and regenerative medicine, providing a more accurate alternative to traditional cell cultures and animal models.

Their relevance in personalized medicine is driving collaborations between academic institutions, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies. With increasing investment in stem cell research and advancements in bioengineering, the scalability and clinical applicability of organoids continue to improve. As ethical considerations and regulatory acceptance align, the organoids market is poised for sustained growth across research, clinical, and commercial domains.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE ORGANOIDS MARKET:

The utilization of stem cell sources is a fundamental driver in the growth of the organoids market, as these cells offer the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into diverse cell types. Stem cell-derived organoids provide highly physiologically relevant models that closely mimic human organ structures and functions, which are crucial for drug testing, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine applications. With increasing focus on developing organ-specific models, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and adult stem cells are being widely adopted to create organoids for liver, kidney, brain, and intestinal studies. This has significantly accelerated innovation in personalized healthcare. Additionally, stem cell-derived organoids reduce reliance on animal testing, aligning with ethical research practices and boosting global acceptance. Their scalability and reproducibility further enhance their commercial viability, fostering widespread demand from pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Tumor cell-derived organoids have emerged as a transformative tool in oncology research, driving the organoids market by enabling more accurate and patient-specific cancer models. These organoids preserve the genetic, morphological, and functional properties of the original tumor tissue, making them ideal for studying tumor progression, drug response, and resistance mechanisms. As cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalized, tumor-derived organoids facilitate high-throughput drug screening and biomarker discovery tailored to individual patient profiles. Their ability to simulate the tumor microenvironment allows researchers to test multiple treatment regimens rapidly and predict clinical outcomes more effectively. Moreover, biobanks of tumor organoids are being established globally, enabling collaborative research and consistent clinical validation. This contributes significantly to the adoption of organoids in cancer therapy development, expanding the commercial and academic interest in this field.

Precision medicine is playing a central role in propelling the organoids market, as the demand for personalized disease models intensifies. Organoids derived from patient-specific tissues or stem cells serve as miniature replicas of individual organs, enabling tailored therapeutic approaches. These models help researchers predict how a patient will respond to specific drugs, minimizing trial-and-error in treatment plans. The compatibility of organoids with genomics and transcriptomics further supports targeted drug development and disease stratification. As healthcare systems move toward individualized treatment regimens, organoids offer a platform for evaluating efficacy and toxicity before clinical administration. Precision medicine initiatives across countries are increasingly funding research involving organoid-based diagnostics and therapies, fostering partnerships between academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies. This alignment with healthcare personalization is significantly expanding organoid applications and accelerating market growth.

One of the most prominent drivers of the organoids market is their application in disease modeling. Organoids simulate the 3D architecture and functional aspects of real human organs, offering researchers a more accurate model of disease progression compared to traditional 2D cultures. They are being used to model diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cystic fibrosis, and infectious diseases. With this realistic modeling capability, drug efficacy and safety can be tested in a human-relevant context, reducing the need for animal models. As new diseases and variants continue to emerge globally, the demand for predictive and responsive disease models is increasing, prompting pharmaceutical and biotech companies to invest in organoid technologies. This application is also receiving strong academic support, leading to rising grant funding and collaborative research efforts, all of which are fueling market expansion.

The biopharmaceutical industry's increasing reliance on organoids for drug discovery and validation is another vital factor propelling market growth. These 3D structures enable high-throughput screening of therapeutic compounds under conditions that mimic human physiology. Organoids significantly reduce failure rates in clinical trials by predicting toxicity and efficacy more reliably. Biopharma companies are increasingly using organoid platforms for preclinical studies, especially in oncology and neurology. Collaborations with organoid technology providers are on the rise to co-develop assays and screening kits tailored to specific drug classes. The reproducibility and scalability of organoids are encouraging their integration into standard R&D pipelines. Additionally, regulatory bodies are beginning to recognize organoid models as acceptable testing systems, which supports their further adoption in drug development frameworks.

Growing regulatory acceptance and favorable ethical frameworks are reinforcing the use of organoids in research and drug development. As organoids reduce dependency on animal testing, they align with the principles of the 3Rs, Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement widely endorsed by research institutions. Regulatory agencies in North America and Europe have begun approving organoid-based preclinical testing for certain drug classes. The reduced ethical constraints, compared to animal or human subject testing, are accelerating institutional and industrial adoption. These factors are also facilitating funding opportunities and easing the path for clinical translation. Ethical committees and review boards are increasingly supportive of organoid-based proposals, recognizing their potential in addressing complex health challenges. This favorable regulatory environment is enabling faster innovation cycles and market penetration.

Regenerative medicine is emerging as a key domain where organoids hold transformative potential, further fueling market demand. Organoids derived from patient cells can be used to restore damaged tissues or study regeneration processes in organs like the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Their self-organizing capabilities and compatibility with host tissue make them promising candidates for transplant studies and tissue engineering. With the global burden of organ failure and limited donor availability, organoids offer an innovative alternative to organ transplantation. Research institutions and biotech startups are exploring these possibilities through clinical trials and experimental therapies. Governments and healthcare organizations are allocating grants for organoid-based regenerative therapies, creating a conducive landscape for long-term growth in this segment of the market.

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ORGANOIDS MARKET SHARE:

North America, led by the United States, holds a dominant position due to substantial investments in biomedical research and early adoption by pharmaceutical companies.

Europe is experiencing significant growth owing to regulatory backing and strong academic networks.

Asia-Pacific is rapidly emerging, with countries like China, Japan, and South Korea investing heavily in biotech innovation and establishing organoid research centers.

Key Companies:

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Merck

Corning Inc

StemCell Technologies

Lonza

Prellis Biologics

Amsbio

Tanwang Medical

Ketu Medicine

Chuangxin International

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DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

- Three-dimensional (3-D) Organoids Market

- Human Organoids Market

- Organoid Culture and Differentiation Market was valued at USD 55.1 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 76.9 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.

- Organoid Culture Market was estimated to be worth USD 103 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 352.1 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 19.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Basic Organoid Culture Medium Market was valued at USD 80.8 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 210 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period.

- Cancer Organoid Culture Medium Market was valued at USD 38.6 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 110 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.6% during the forecast period.

- Tissue-Specific Organoid Culture Medium Market was valued at USD 44.6 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 132 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period.

- Microphysiological System and Organoids Market

- Organoids on Chips Model Market

- Organoid Model Construction Service market was valued at USD 330 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 558 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Organoid Cytokines Market

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OSF welcomes former Salesforce Chief Innovation Officer to drive AI-powered innovation and growth

QUEBEC CITY, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - OSF Digital , an AI-powered digital transformation services company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Mulcahy as an Executive Advisor. He will be working closely with OSF Digital's CEO, David Northington. With over 20 years of experience in business growth, marketing, and innovation, Simon will offer invaluable strategic insights to support OSF Digital's mission of accelerating business success for its clients across various industries through AI-powered digital transformation. OSF's long-standing relationship with Salesforce, combined with its agentic architectures and Agentforce capabilities, positions it for a new era of growth.

"Simon's extensive influence and experience in driving innovation with Salesforce will be vital as we grow our leadership position in Agentforce, helping companies optimize their Salesforce investments and accelerate business success. Simon is instrumental in shaping OSF's strategy and guiding us into our next growth phase," said David Northington, CEO of OSF Digital.

Simon Mulcahy is a seasoned executive and board advisor, with an impressive track record of innovation and leadership. Having held key roles at organizations such as Salesforce, TIME, and the World Economic Forum, Simon has been instrumental in creating solutions that have redefined industries. Simon spent over 14 years at Salesforce in roles such as Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and General Manager of the Financial Services Industry Group. He spearheaded many next-generation initiatives, including founding Salesforce's Ignite innovation program, and helped many Fortune 500 companies leverage technology and business transformation for rapid growth. At OSF Digital, Simon's strategic insights will further accelerate the company's commitment to AI-powered innovation and business success-driven digital transformation.

"I am excited about working closely with OSF's leadership team. The company is impressive for its commitment to innovation and its track record of delivering business success for customers," said Simon Mulcahy, Executive Advisor, OSF Digital.

OSF Digital offers AI and multi-cloud expertise and has maintained a strong partnership with Salesforce for 15 years. To learn more about OSF Digital, visit: osf.digital.

About OSF Digital

OSF Digital is a global, AI-powered digital transformation leader with expertise in connecting technology and strategy to drive business success. With several Salesforce awards for multi-cloud innovation, a member of multiple Salesforce Partner Advisory Boards, and a proven playbook for Customer 360 success, OSF Digital seamlessly guides enterprises through their entire digital transformation journey. With a client community spanning multiple industries around the globe, OSF Digital provides personal attention and the highest level of connection with a local presence throughout North America, Latin America, APAC, and EMEA. For more information about OSF Digital, visit osf.digital.

Salesforce, and others are among the trademarks of Salesforce, inc.

All trademarks and trade names mentioned herein are the properties of their respective holders and hereby acknowledged.

SOURCE OSF Digital
LOS ANGELES, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The OCU Chronicle , a new student newspaper created for students by students, officially launches today, May 13, 2025, providing a bold, unapologetic platform for Jewish voices and allies around the world. The OCU Chronicle will be available via Substack and will publish quarterly.

The OCU Chronicle is incubated by business leader and human rights activist Mandana Dayani through her organization, The Calanet Foundation , in partnership with Our Campus United (OCU), a platform for students facing antisemitism on campus. The OCU Chronicle was created in direct response to the increasing exclusion and censorship of Jewish students in mainstream campus media. After meeting with students nationwide, The OCU Chronicle's founders heard one theme repeated time and again: Jewish students are being pushed out of their own campus conversations.

"It is completely unacceptable that Jewish students on campuses are being excluded, censored, and targeted. For thousands of years, as people tried to push Jewish people out, we just created something better and more impactful," said Mandana Dayani. "The OCU Chronicle is more than just a publication  it's a declaration of presence and a celebration of identity. We're building a space that amplifies Jewish joy, honors our culture, and strengthens a global community that refuses to be pushed to the margins."

"I've spoken with so many students who've been silenced, defamed, or misrepresented by university newspapers  platforms that are supposed to be inclusive and reflect all perspectives," said Yasmeen Ohebsion, co-founder of Our Campus United. "It's been incredibly inspiring to build this project alongside dozens of students and give them a safe space to share what's truly on their hearts and minds."

More than just a newspaper, The OCU Chronicle is a new kind of student publication: one that celebrates identity, encourages free expression, and puts joy and resilience front and center. Each quarterly issue will include Jewish-founded shoppable items, curations, gift guides, music and TV lists, in addition to thought leadership, opinion pieces, interviews, and explorations of faith.

What you'll find in The OCU Chronicle:

Bold student opinion pieces and on-the-ground reporting

Jewish cultural commentary, recipes, and lifestyle content

Real stories from students navigating identity, community, and campus issues

Features from Jewish founders, thought leaders, and allies

A vibrant, unfiltered platform that goes far beyond politics and religion

Launching in time for graduation season, the first issue will include content from author Dara Horn, Rabbi Steve Leder, author and Senior Vice President for Research at the Foundation For Defense of Democracies Jonathan Schanzer, Congressman Daniel Goldman, Miami Marlins owner Ari Ackerman, Moshe Oinounou of Mo News, Allison Statter of Blended Strategy Group, CEO of the Nova Festival Exhibit Josh Kadden, brand builder Erin Kleinberg, Excuse My Grandma's Kim Murstein, along with countless student voices including founding members of OCU, Shabbos Kestenbaum, Eden Yadegar, Noa Fey and Ben Sherman. The next issue is slated for fall, just in time for back-to-school  and the next wave of campus discourse.

To subscribe to The OCU Chronicle, visit https://theocuchronicle.substack.com/ .

Media Contact:

Ashley Demoff

[email protected]

SOURCE Calanet Foundation
This strategic acquisition marks a major milestone in PCL's growth, expanding its footprint to the East Coast and broadening its testing capabilities to include product testing and an array of new test methods. By bringing together the strengths of both organizations, PCL is further positioned as a comprehensive resource for medical device packaging and product testing solutions.

"With the addition of Quest, we are growing our geographic reach while also welcoming the talented Quest team to PCL. We look forward to working together to expand the services offered to our clients and improve outcomes for patients nationwide," said Matt Lapham, CEO of PCL. "This move supports our mission to lead the industry in innovation, service, and compliance."

"I am pleased that our talented team will join PCL and become part of a company that shares our deep respect for employees and customers. Our valued clients will continue receiving outstanding service with expanded offerings and additional locations," said Herman Held, President of Quest.

As part of the partnership, PCL is immediately hiring Lab Technician roles at the Billerica location. To learn more about the roles or to apply, please visit their Careers page.

PCL is backed by SV Health Investors, a healthcare-focused private equity firm that has partnered with PCL to support the company's ongoing growth. This acquisition underscores PCL's commitment to continuous growth and delivering high-quality testing solutions to medical device manufacturers and life sciences customers nationwide.

About Packaging Compliance Labs: Packaging Compliance Labs (PCL) is a trusted partner for medical device and life sciences customers, offering services in packaging design, validation testing, and contract packaging. With a focus on innovation and regulatory compliance, PCL helps clients successfully navigate the complexities of product development and launch. Visit their website to learn more about PCL.

About Quest Engineering Solutions: Quest Engineering Solutions is an ISO 17025 accredited test lab that specializes in mechanical testing services such as package testing, medical package integrity testing, product testing, and more. Founded in 1995 and based in Billerica, MA, Quest delivers technical expertise to help their customers achieve world-class levels of product quality and reliability through testing. Visit their website to learn more about Quest.

About SV Health Investors: SV Health Investors is a private investment firm dedicated to investments in the healthcare and life sciences sector. Founded in 1993 with offices in Boston and London, SVHI manages approximately $2.0B across multiple investment strategies. SVHI's dedicated Growth-Buyout strategy partners with experienced management teams to accelerate the success of innovative healthcare companies across healthcare services, healthcare technology, and outsourced services. Visit their website to learn more about SV Health Investors.

Contact:

Cassie Ladd

6162274540

[email protected]

SOURCE Packaging Compliance Labs
Fifth-Generation CEO Micaela Pallini Leads the World's #1 Limoncello into a Bright New Era of Growth, Digital Buzz, and Spritz Culture

NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pallini Limoncello , the world's #1 limoncello, proudly announces the launch of its new global campaign, "Taste of a Kiss." Timed to coincide with the brand's 150th anniversary, this sensory-led campaign invites consumers to rediscover the magic of limoncello - crafted with passion, kissed by the Amalfi sun, created for both timeless enjoyment and modern mixology.

Pallini Limoncello

The campaign's creative centerpiece, "What Does a Kiss Taste Like," will run throughout 2025 and will be brought to life through digital storytelling, influencer collaborations, and curated lifestyle content that celebrates Italian passion and flavor.

Pallini, founded in 1875, remains a proudly family-owned company and is now led by CEO Micaela Pallini, a fifth-generation member of the founding family. With more than 15 years at the company, she previously served as Director and Head of Production. Micaela, who holds a Doctoral Degree in Chemistry, is the first woman to lead the company and is honored to guide Pallini through this historic milestone.

"This campaign is a love letter to our Italian roots," said Micaela Pallini. "It reflects everything Pallini stands for - joy, beauty, togetherness, and timeless taste. Sharing our 150th anniversary as the world's leading limoncello is both humbling and exhilarating." The campaign was developed by Luther DSGN, a rising Rome-based agency known for its creative expertise in lifestyle branding, visual storytelling, and experiential design.

At the heart of the campaign is the Pallini Spritz now among the top three spritz-style cocktails served in the U.S. Elegant, light, and refreshingly simple (3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Pallini, 1 part water, served over ice in a large wine glass), the cocktail is quickly becoming a seasonal favorite across bars, rooftops, and at-home occasions. Pallini is supporting this momentum with retail cross-merchandising initiatives, encouraging consumers to bring the spritz ritual home.

Pallini Limoncello is distributed across the U.S. by Lucas Bols, the Dutch spirits company known for nurturing heritage cocktail brands. "Pallini is a rare brand that blends craftsmanship, legacy, and modern appeal," said Brett Dunne, Managing Director, USA and Canada, The Lucas Bols Company. "We're excited to help expand its reach across the U.S., bringing the spirit of the Amalfi Coast to American consumers and bartenders."

Pallini Limoncello is available nationwide in fine wine and spirits retailers, as well as leading bars and restaurants across the U.S.

About Pallini Limoncello

Pallini Limoncello is a natural liqueur that has been crafted by the Pallini family in Italy since 1875. The Pallini family has been making super premium liqueurs since 1875 when Nicola Pallini founded their first shop and distillery in Antrodoco. The limoncello is made from prized, Sfusato lemons, exclusive to the Amalfi coast. The handpicked lemons are infused immediately, so their freshness and flavor is delivered in every bottle. Its versatility is almost endless  enjoy it neat, on the rocks, straight from the fridge, or mixed into cocktails and food recipes.

About The Lucas Bols Company

Lucas Bols is a global spirits company and one of the oldest active Dutch businesses, with a mission to create exceptional cocktail experiences worldwide. Present in over 110 countries, the company's portfolio includes three global cocktail brands and more than 20 regional and international liqueurs and spirits.

SOURCE Pallini Limoncello
The first clue is in the name. When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the first American pontiff and chose Leo XIV as his papal name, the Chicago native made clear his commitment to social justice. With his choice, he invoked Pope Leo XIII, considered the architect of Catholic social teaching, which affirms the right of people to migrate in search of safety and a dignified life, among other principles. This signaled that, like his predecessor and close friend Francis, Leo XIV will be a pope for migrants, a move that will surely put him at odds with the government of his native country, where Donald Trump is attempting to carry out the largest deportation campaign in history.

Prevost himself confirmed this weekend that he chose to be called Leo XIV as a reference to his predecessor of the same name and his social legacy. I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution, he said in a speech before the College of Cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday.

Leo XIII, leader of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, became known as the working-class pope for his 1891 encyclical, which defended the right to decent work, including for migrants. No one would exchange his country for a foreign land if his own provided the means for a decent and happy life, he wrote at the time. The text became the basis of modern Catholic social teaching. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, it establishes that every person has the right to migrate in order to survive and provide for their families. While the doctrine recognizes that no country is obligated to accept all people who seek to resettle, it notes that governments must regulate their borders with justice and mercy.

These are principles that deeply guided Pope Francis and that, now, are expected to also shape the papacy of Leo XIV. In his first speech as pontiff last Thursday, Prevost spoke of building bridges, as his predecessor often did when speaking about migration, especially in response to policies he considered punishing to immigrants. We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with its open arms, all, all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love, he said from the balcony of St. Peters Basilica.

Those close to the Pope have confirmed that he will continue Francis legacy on many issues, including migration. In an interview with The New York Times on the day of his appointment, his brother, John Prevost, asserted that Leo XIV is not happy with whats going on with immigration in the United States. I know that for a fact. How far hell go with it is only ones guess, but he wont just sit back, he noted. He added that the pontiff has a great desire to help the oppressed and the disenfranchised, the people who are ignored, and that, therefore, he does not believe he will remain silent for long if he has something to say.

Robert Francis Prevost receives his cardinal's hat from Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in September 2023. Riccardo De Luca (AP)

Trump deports while the Church demands immigration reform

Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich went a step further, stating in an interview with ABC News broadcast this weekend that the Pope will influence American politics. I think hes going to help complete and complement our political agenda. Hell talk a lot about the immigrations, as well, because he knows about the sufferings of people and the real needs that they have for a better life, he said. He knows that those people need an option. And hell call for, I think, as the bishops have in the United States, fixing this broken immigration system.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Trump administration have differed on several occasions over how the government should enforce its immigration laws. Although the U.S. Catholic Church recognizes that borders must be defended, the bishops have advocated for years for comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system that would provide pathways to citizenship for thousands of migrants, protect asylum seekers, promote family unity, and respect due process for all people. Overall, this is the opposite of the current presidents policy.

Trump, for his part, has said its an excitement and an honor that the new pope is an American and that he looks forward to meeting him. However, some of his most loyal advisors have lashed out at Prevost. Laura Loomer, the far-right influencer and activist who whispers in the presidents ear, called Leo XIV anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open borders, and a total Marxist.

From left to right, American Cardinals Blase Cupich, Joseph Tobin, and Timothy Dolan at a press conference at the North American College in Rome on May 9. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN)

The Trumpist world has taken issue with the fact that an X profile under the name Robert Prevost criticizes the administration for many of its policies. The account, apparently managed by the now Pope  or someone on his team  and created in 2011, has shared posts against many of Trumps immigration measures during his two presidencies: from the separation of migrant families to the Republicans attempts to strip Dreamers of their protections. The last post on the account, from April 14, is a retweet of a column written by an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, in which he asked if Trump sees the suffering caused by his immigration agenda.

Steve Bannon, the presidents former strategist, has referred to those tweets to rebuke Leo XIV. It is shocking to me that a guy could be selected to be the Pope that had had the Twitter feed and the statements hes had against American senior politicians, he told the BBC a few days ago. He added that there is definitely going to be friction between Prevost and Trump, as there already was between Francis and the Republican. But he issued a warning: Remember, President Trump was not shy about taking a shot at Pope Francis.

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Agentic AI evolves Parasoft's SOAtest API testing with intelligent, outcome-based scenario testing that boosts productivity and reduces technical barriers

Test Impact Analysis accelerates manual regression testing by identifying tests based on application changes, producing faster feedback to development teams

Expanded code coverage offers a complete view of application coverage through the correlation and analysis of results from automated and manual testing practices

MONROVIA, Calif., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Parasoft, a global leader in AI-automated software testing solutions, continues to elevate customer experiences by empowering them to create and execute more intelligent testing strategies. Building upon its legacy of AI advancements, Parasoft has added Agentic AI capabilities to SOAtest, featuring API test planning and creation. Parasoft also has enhanced its Continuous Testing Platform (CTP), extending Test Impact Analysis (TIA) and code coverage collection to manual testers, further reducing technical barriers, accelerating feedback, and improving collaboration between development and quality assurance (QA) teams to fine-tune code quality.

Parasoft Debuts Agentic AI Approach to API Test Generation

"At Parasoft, our innovation has always centered on pragmatic automation that makes it easier for customers to build quality into every release," said Igor Kirilenko, chief product officer, Parasoft. "Our new Agentic AI capability reflects this mindset, helping users achieve faster, smarter outcomes. Likewise, our enhanced test impact analysis and code coverage aggregationspanning automated and manual testinghelps teams meet their coverage goals with greater speed and agility."

Agentic AI Expedites Testing of Complex, Multi-Step Workflows

Parasoft SOAtest's AI Assistant now utilizes agentic AI in API test-scenario generation, making it easier for testing teams with diverse skill sets to adopt API test automation. In previous releases, Parasoft introduced the AI Assistant as an IDE-embedded intelligent chat interface to provide real-time technical guidance on tool usage and test creation. This release now enables a tester to, in natural language, request the AI to generate API test scenarios using service definition files. Going beyond simple test creation, the AI Assistant leverages AI agents to generate test data and parameterize the test scenario for data looping.

Complex, multi-step workflows with dynamic data are handled in collaboration with the user, allowing less technical testers to build complicated tests without requiring scripts, advanced code-level skills, or in-depth domain knowledge. In addition to reducing technical burdens, Parasoft's AI Assistant will help customers scale API testing and automate other in-product actions. As additional agents are introduced over time, it will produce even smarter test scenarios and workflow guidance.

Complete View of Application Coverage

In keeping with Parasoft's goals to elevate software testing value and increase velocity, QA teams can leverage Parasoft CTP to collect and analyze code coverage from manual test runs, then publish that coverage into Parasoft DTP for deeper analysis. In CTP, the tester can easily create a manual test case, and with a few clicks can ensure code coverage is captured during their test runs. With this visibility, teams can fine-tune their manual testing effortseliminating redundancies, filling coverage gaps, and focusing on the highest-risk areas.

Equally important is the opportunity to capture code coverage from both automated testing and the manual testing that many teams still rely on, merging their coverage data in one place to create a holistic view of full application coverage. This lets manual testing teams contribute to the code coverage goals often owned by development teams. Coverage visibility across the application gives managers and team leads the insight needed to assess testing effectiveness, identify high-risk areas, and make informed decisions about resource allocation and quality priorities.

"QA is the last line of defense when it comes to safeguarding software quality," said Daniel Garay, director, Software Quality Assurance, Parasoft. "Efficiency is key. Enhanced code coverage across both automated and remaining manual tests is vital to keeping pace with development and getting quicker feedback, so we can confidently close all gaps and move forward with peace of mind."

AI-Enhanced Test Impact Analysis

In the latest CTP release, Parasoft expands its existing test impact analysis and coverage collection capabilities to manual testing workflows for Java and .NET applications. Teams can now create, import, and manage manual tests directly in CTP, capture code coverage as those tests run, and utilize that data in test impact analysis to pinpoint exactly which manual regression tests need to be rerun to validate application changes. This trims retesting time and effort, reducing testing fatigue while strengthening collaboration between development and QA teams.

This new capability also makes it easier to adapt manual regression testing for agile sprints, as it allows teams to only focus on impacted areas. With faster test cycles, QA teams can quickly validate changes and shorten feedback loops. Additionally, TIA removes the guesswork in identifying which test cases are critical for each application change. This gives manual testers confidence that they are testing the right functionality, so teams catch regressions sooner and keep bugs from reaching production.

Product Innovation Showcase

Available now, the latest Parasoft testing innovations will be on display at API Days New York (May 14 & 15) and featured in the informative panel session, "Uniting Dev and QA for Faster Releases," being held on May 15 at 11:40 a.m. EDT in Morgan Forum 2 and led by Parasoft's Lavanya Esambadu, senior solution engineer, Jamie Motheral, senior functional testing specialist, and J.D. Hicks, strategic account manager. Also, hands-on insight into Parasoft's new Agentic AI capabilities is available in this timely product demonstration: "How to Build API Tests With Just an AI Prompt" and blog: "Scaling API Testing with Agentic AI."

About Parasoft

Parasoft helps organizations continuously deliver high-quality software with its AI-powered software testing platform and automated test solutions. Supporting the embedded, enterprise, and IoT markets, Parasoft's proven technologies reduce the time, effort, and cost of delivering secure, reliable, and compliant software by integrating everything from deep code analysis and unit testing to web UI and API testing, plus service virtualization and complete code coverage, into the delivery pipeline. Bringing all this together, Parasoft's award-winning reporting and analytics dashboard provides a centralized view of quality, enabling organizations to deliver with confidence and succeed in today's most strategic ecosystems and development initiativessecurity, safety-critical, Agile, DevOps, and continuous testing.

SOURCE Parasoft
As the nation celebrates skilled trades workers this month, the Brooklyn-based home service company encourages recent high school graduates to consider trade school

BROOKLYN, N.Y, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, a family-owned home service company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, wants to celebrate National Skilled Trades Day this week by encouraging upcoming high school graduates to consider a career in the trades.

National Skilled Trades Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday of May to honor the importance of these workers.

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning encourages recent graduates to consider trade school when making career decisions.

"As more Baby Boomers retire, there is a shortage of qualified tradesmen and women to fill the positions that retirees are leaving open," said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. "The Class of 2025 will soon be graduating from high school, and many of these graduates don't know what they want to do for the rest of their professional lives. We'd like to see their parents, teachers and other influencers encourage them to consider trade school."

Petri said that there are several other benefits, such as:

Trade schools are less than half the cost of most traditional four-year colleges.

Most programs can be completed in 18-24 months, so graduates can start their careers sooner.

Many entry-level positions in the skilled trades industry pay more than entry-level positions that require a college degree.

Several home service companies offer apprenticeships that allow students to get paid while they learn on the job.

"For many years, young people were encouraged to attend college instead of the skilled trades industry because many wrongly believed that a career in the trades wasn't as fulfilling or paid as well as those jobs that are attained with a college degree," Petri said. "But with the cost of college skyrocketing and student loan debts weighing down college graduates, it may be time for students who like technology and working with their hands to consider trade school."

For more information about Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, visit https://www.petriplumbing.com/, or to schedule service, call (718) 717-1089.

About Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning is a family owned and operated business serving Brooklyn and the New York City area. Founded in 1906, the company offers a 100 percent guarantee on all services, upfront pricing, and friendly and knowledgeable service experts for all kinds of home and business plumbing and heating needs. Services offered include water and gas pipe leak repair and installation, fixture installations, inspections, boiler repair, water heater installation, complete bathroom, kitchen, laundry & utility room remodeling and more. Petri is also licensed and certified by Green Plumbers USA, the first in New York City to receive this designation. For more information, please visit www.petriplumbing.com or call (718) 717-1089.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Petri Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
A Campaign That Champions Smart Words - And Smarter Conversations - About Feminine Health

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- pH-D Feminine Health, the woman-founded, doctor-trusted leader in intimate wellness, today announces its boldest initiative yet: Raise Your Vagina iQ, a nationwide campaign designed to destigmatize clinical terms like "vagina," and empower women to speak confidently and comfortably about their bodies.

We can't treat what we can't talk about, so we're giving women knowledge & confidence to 'speak like a pH-D'. Post this View PDF The Raise Your Vagina iQ Manifesto by pH-D Feminine Health is a bold visual statement calling for stigma-free, smarter conversations about vaginal health. It anchors a national campaign focused on education, clarity, and confidence. pH-D believes smart women deserve to use smart words about their bodiesand is on a mission to raise the collective Vagina iQ, starting with the Vagina iQ Quiz at www.phdfemininehealth.com

Timed to National Women's Health Week (May 1117), the campaign is a celebration of education, transparency, and dignity in feminine care - infused with humor to make body literacy approachable and free of taboo or shame. "We launched Raise Your Vagina iQ to elevate the way we talk about our bodies," said Dee Seymour, CEO and Co-Founder of pH-D Feminine Health. "When women are empowered to use clear, respectful language about their health, they're better equipped to care for themselves and support one another. We can't treat what we can't talk about and we want to provide women with the knowledge and understanding to 'speak like a pH-D."'

The Challenge: Breaking the Silence Through Understanding

Nearly all women experience vaginal health issues at some point in their lives  from infections and discharge to menopause and hormonal changes. Yet many women still feel uncertain or uncomfortable talking about these topics, often lacking the language or confidence to describe their symptoms or ask questions. They resort to using slang or fun terminology which detracts from the message.

"Too often, women wonder if something is 'normal' but aren't sure how to start the conversation," Seymour noted. "We're here to change that - by making these conversations not just possible, but empowering."

The Solution: Smart, Credible, and Witty

Raise Your Vagina iQ is more than a slogan  it's a movement for awareness and self-assurance. The campaign kicks off with a vibrant, scrollable digital manifesto  a bold statement of body literacy and the importance of using accurate, compassionate language in health conversations.

Core to the campaign is the Raise Your Vagina IQ Quiza smart, shareable tool designed to help women (and men) test their knowledge, debunk common myths, and build confidence in their body vocabulary. With clinical accuracy and a touch of wit, the quiz invites users to test their vagina IQ, exploring topics like anatomy, discharge, hormones, and menstrual health in a way that's approachable, empowering, and shareable.

Campaign highlights include a rollout of the following:

National Advertising Campaign - The first flight running through July 7th .

The first flight running through . Times Square NYC Billboards - Two billboards high above NYC's Times Square increasing brand awareness and the importance of feminine health.

- Two billboards high above NYC's Times Square increasing brand awareness and the importance of feminine health. Celebrity/Influencer Collaborations - A network of creators and advocates sharing personal stories (and challenging their girlfriends, partners, mothers, sisters, daughters and husbands to test their vagina iQ) of discovery and empowerment to spark positive conversations across social platforms. Designed to amplify campaign messaging and normalize the conversation through trusted voices including Sonja Morgan , former Real Housewive of New York and entrepreneur.

- A network of creators and advocates sharing personal stories (and challenging their girlfriends, partners, mothers, sisters, daughters and husbands to test their vagina iQ) of discovery and empowerment to spark positive conversations across social platforms. Designed to amplify campaign messaging and normalize the conversation through trusted voices including , former Real Housewive of and entrepreneur. The pH-Dictionary - A curated glossary of essential feminine health terms, developed with medical experts to normalize, define, and demystify common experiences.

- A curated glossary of essential feminine health terms, developed with medical experts to normalize, define, and demystify common experiences. The Raise Your Vagina iQ Reading List - A collection of books, podcasts, and articles, curated by pH-D panel of clinical advisors, to support learning and build community around shared experiences.

Language is Care

When women understand how to describe their health experiences, they gain the power to advocate for themselves in doctor's offices, in relationships, and in daily life. One pH-D consumer put it simply: "I had some symptoms, but I didn't even know what to call them or how to bring them up to my doctor."

This campaign aims to close that gap with compassion, clarity, and trusted guidance. "This is about more than products or symptoms," said Seymour. She continues, "Our consumers' confusion and discomfort are our call to action. Raise Your Vagina iQ is about agency, dignity, and the right to understand and name what's happening in your body to our healthcare providers, family, and friends.

pH-D Feminine Health: A Voice, A Vision, A Vanguard

As the #1 doctor-recommended brand for boric acid suppositories, wipes, and pH-balanced products, pH-D Feminine Health has always been more than a product line. It's a trusted resource for women  now leading the conversation on language that supports well-being.

The manifesto states, 'Women are powerful: we are CEOs, scientists, mothers, daughters, athletes, and activists. We deserve a culture that speaks intelligently about our bodies.' Seymour adds, "We're speaking like a pH-D: loud, proud, and clinically sound - with clinical expertise and care. Because when women raise their collective Vagina iQ, they raise the societal standard for how we talk about and treat feminine health."

About pH-D Feminine Health

pH-D Feminine Health is the #1 Best-Selling and #1 Doctor Recommended boric acid vaginal suppository in the USA. Co-founded in 2014 by Deeannah Seymour who suffered with her own vaginal health issues. pH-D Feminine Health was created to reinvent clean feminine hygiene and wellness solutions and has helped millions of women feel confident and comfortable. As an independently held, certified woman-owned, and women-run business, pH-D Feminine Health continues to remove the stigma associated with vaginal health and dramatically improve the lives of women. Available at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Amazon, on phdfemininehealth.com, and at many other retailers in the US and Canada.

SOURCE pH-D Feminine Health
MUNICH, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 7 to 9, PHONO made a striking appearance at Intersolar Europe 2025, showcasing innovative PV module products and integrated solutions. Led by General Manager Mr. Zhong Zaifeng, the team achieved remarkable success, gaining recognition for its commitment to quality and innovation.

20250513163114

On the opening day, PHONO was honored with the TOP PERFORMER 2025 award from Kiwa PVEL for the eighth time, a testament to its consistent focus on high-quality standards and advanced R&D in PV module manufacturing. Additionally, TUV SUD awarded PHONO the UVID test certification, further proving the safety and reliability of its modules.

PHONO introduced several cutting-edge products at the exhibition. The HJT Helios Series module, with a maximum power output of 730Wp, features 0BB technology, advanced encapsulation materials, and superior performance in efficiency, durability, and weak light conditions. The TOPCon Draco Series, certified by the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt), pairs seamlessly with PHONO's Scutum carport solutions to deliver exceptional energy returns. When combined with the Surge Series energy storage products, these modules meet diverse urban energy demands across Europe, including BIPV applications like rooftops, corridors, and greenhouses.

The BC Quasar Module Series, featuring back-contact technology, ensures 100% light absorption without visible grid lines or busbars, offering high efficiency, safety, and a sleek aesthetic ideal for distributed market demands. Meanwhile, the High-Light-Transmittance Module caters to projects like agricultural greenhouses and building integration that require specific light transmittance. Customizable small modules, shaped modules, and balcony PV systems also address the growing need for tailored solutions in Europe's household markets.

PHONO showcased system-level solutions for various scenarios. These included PV farms, snow-resistant vertical installations, and agricultural greenhouse systems that combine crop-friendly lighting with energy generation. The Scutum carport system offers vehicles protection while generating green energy, and lightweight rooftop modules help commercial users reduce energy costs and emissions.

On May 8th , PHONO signed a 116MW PV carport cooperation agreement with a major European distributor, marking a significant step in expanding its presence in the European market.

By integrating PV and energy storage, PHONO extends its services across the entire product lifecycle, providing intelligent operations and maintenance (O&M) services. With its commitment to innovation, reliability, and sustainability, PHONO continues to deliver high-quality renewable energy solutions, driving global green energy transitions.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686040/20250513163114.jpg
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) is featured in S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition) 2025. The Group has been recognized for its outstanding performance in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and sustainable development initiatives, and it is still the the only insurance company from Mainland China included.

For 2025, S&P Global assessed 1,662 companies across 60 industries before selecting 164 high-performing companies for the yearbook. For the insurance industry, the evaluation criteria and weighting included: Environmental (18%, focusing on climate strategy and decarbonization strategy), Social (33%, emphasizing financial inclusion and human capital management), and Governance & Economic (49%, covering business ethics, corporate governance, risk and crisis management, and sustainable finance). Ping An is the sole representative from Mainland China, and one of only two insurance companies included, underscoring the Group's leadership in sustainable development.

In terms of environmental initiatives, Ping An supports green development and low-carbon transformation by leveraging diverse financial services, such as insurance, credit, and investment. In 2024, Ping An's green insurance premium income reached RMB58.6 billion, representing year-on-year growth of nearly 57%. Green loan balances amounted to RMB157.8 billion, up 13% year-on-year, and green investment of insurance funds reached RMB124.7 billion. Ping An also enhanced its climate actions to adapt to the uncertainty of climate change. It actively identified risks and opportunities related to climate change, conducted climate risk scenario analyses, and developed response and transition plans. The Company reduced its operational greenhouse gas emissions by 8% year-on-year in 2024 and purchased 11,612 MWh of green electricity, which effectively avoided about 6,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions.

Ping An has also made significant social contributions. The year 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of Ping An's commitment to public welfare education. By the end of 2024, Ping An supported the construction of 119 Ping An Hope Primary Schools across the country. It had also recruited 12,708 volunteer teachers, with more than 443,000 volunteer teaching hours, and established various educational scholarships, cumulatively supporting 31,345 students. Leveraging its integrated finance approach, Ping An actively promoted inclusive finance. As of the end of 2024, Ping An P&C provided more than 2.4 million small and micro enterprises with comprehensive risk protection totaling more than RMB220 trillion and processed over 900,000 claims, worth nearly RMB4 billion. Ping An Bank served 782,000 small and micro enterprise through inclusive loans and issued nearly 260,000 debit cards to rural residents. Ping An also invested in employee development: in 2024, the Group invested RMB956 million in training programs, with an average of 49 training hours per employee.

In terms of governance and economic practices, Ping An adheres to global best practices in corporate governance, emphasizing professionalism, independence, and diversity of its Board of Directors. The Company provides ongoing training for board members on topics such as risk management, digital transformation, information security, and climate management, to continue enhancing its risk control systems and platform infrastructure for healthy business development. Ping An also places great importance on business ethics. The Company conducted more than 6,000 integrity culture development and anti-corruption awareness campaigns in 2024. Ping An is also active in sustainable finance: sustainable insurance premium income reached RMB629.3 billion in in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 13%. Its responsible banking business reached RMB1.2 trillion, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% over the past three years. Responsible investments of insurance funds totaled RMB849.9 billion, a 17% increase from the beginning of the year.

Ping An said that its continued inclusion in S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition) is acknowledgement of the Group's long-term commitment to its sustainable development strategy. Looking ahead, Ping An will continue to deepen its technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy, enhance its service and management capabilities, and create long term, sustainable value for customers, employees, shareholders and society.

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEx:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It strives to become a world-leading provider of integrated finance, health and senior care services. Under the technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy, the Group provides professional "financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge" services to its nearly 240 million retail customers. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation and employs technologies to improve financial businesses' quality and efficiency and enhance risk management. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of December 2024, Ping An had more than RMB12 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 29th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2024 and 53rd in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2024.

For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.

SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club on POTUS denying wire service reporters access to Air Force One for an overseas trip.

"Wire service reporters are central to a free and independent pressproviding fast, fact-based reporting that millions of people around the world rely on every day.

Their absence from Air Force One today breaks with decades of precedent and limits access to critical information about the president's actions abroad.

Democracy depends on transparency. The National Press Club joins the White House Correspondents' Association in urging a swift return to full access for wire reporters."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 2,500 members, the Club and Press Freedom Center fight for an independent press in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-725-7787 for Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
National preschool franchise seeks entrepreneurs to pursue business opportunities in Detroit,

Kansas City, Memphis and Phoenix amid rapid growth

ATLANTA, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Primrose Schools, the premier early education and care leader with more than 530 franchised locations, kicked off 2025 with continued growth and aggressive expansion plans in four key markets across the country. The company's development efforts are fueled by the rapid demand for high-quality early education and care alongside its mission to forge a path that leads to a brighter future for all children.

With more than 40 new locations slated to open in 2025, the nationally recognized early education and care provider has signed 19 franchise awards since January. A proven franchise model that remains dedicated to quality and serving more children nationwide, the brand was also named one of the leading franchises by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 awards for the eighteenth consecutive year. Additionally, Primrose Schools received the 2025 FUND TopScore Award in the nonfood category, exemplifying its commitment to supporting franchisees' access to financing by simplifying the process.

"We are proud of our franchise system's national recognition and exceptional growth and excited about our strategic expansion into key areas nationwide," said Nick Koros, chief development officer at Primrose Schools. "We invite entrepreneurs seeking business opportunities that enable them to do well by doing good to join us. Our dedicated franchise owners, committed to service excellence and community impact, are the driving force behind our success."

The company's national expansion continues in urban metros including Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis and Phoenix with rapid development potential. The company is actively seeking real estate and franchise partnerships to secure additional locations in these markets.

Entrepreneurs looking for impactful, innovative business opportunities can visit www.PrimroseSchools.com/Franchising to learn more about franchise opportunities. Real estate professionals seeking partners for available sites can connect with the Primrose real estate team here.

About Primrose Schools

Primrose Schools is the leader in providing premier early education and care to children and families in the United States. Founded in 1982, there are more than 500 Primrose schools in 34 states and Washington, D.C. Ranked by Entrepreneur for 18 consecutive years and named as one of the best franchises to buy in America by Forbes, Primrose offers Franchise Owners the opportunity to invest in a financially rewarding and emotionally satisfying business that delivers an unparalleled early learning experience for children and families in their community. Each school is independently owned and operated by Franchise Owners who are provided a proven and time-tested business model and exclusive approach to early education, called Balanced Learning. Through Primrose on Premise, Primrose Schools and Franchise Owners enable companies to provide employer-sponsored early childhood education and care at or near their worksites. Primrose has franchising opportunities available in markets throughout the U.S. and is seeking qualified potential Franchise Owners to join the brand's rapid expansion and mission to transform the future of early education. For more information, visit Franchise.PrimroseSchools.com, follow us on LinkedIn and X, and explore our news site.

SOURCE Primrose Schools(R)
LOS ANGELES, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A proposed decision recommending approval of State Farm General's request for an interim rate hike was issued by an Administrative Law Judge yesterday and sent to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. If approved by Lara, the settlement would impose a 17% rate increase for homeowners, 15% increase for renters and condo owners, and a 38% increase for rental dwelling policies as soon as June 1.

Read the decision.

"Today's decision that would make consumers pay now but allow State Farm to wait months before having to show its math is a great disappointment for consumers. Voter-approved Proposition 103 says a rate hike shouldn't come before the rate justification, but that's what happened here. We urge the Commissioner to reject the proposed decision so State Farm policyholders, many of whom are struggling to get their claims paid by the company after the Los Angeles fires, aren't overcharged," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog.

Recent serious allegations have emerged regarding State Farm's mishandling of fire claims following the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles. Numerous policyholders have reported delays, denials, rotating adjusters, and inadequate assessments of damage, leading to financial hardship and widespread criticism of the insurer's claim handling practices. "It adds insult to injury for consumers to be forced to pay significantly more for coverage when some of these same consumers may be simultaneously trying to recover from the fires while State Farm is mishandling their existing claims," said Balber.

Under the proposed decision, State Farm's rate hike will be subject to review in a full rate hearing, where the company will be required to fully justify the rate. That hearing is now tentatively scheduled for October.

The agreement also promises refunds if the rate is ultimately proved to be excessive. "Refunds will be too little too late for homeowners who are already struggling to pay their home insurance premiums," said Balber. "Nevertheless, we will fully defend consumers' right to fair rates in the upcoming hearings where State Farm will finally have to justify what they want to charge."

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
Companies Showcase Commitment to Preventative Care Ahead of Men's Health Month in June

EXTON, Pa., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ProRx Pharma, the leading health and wellness 503B outsourcing facility, today announced a strategic partnership with Gatlan, a men's health brand launched by actor and director Josh Duhamel. Gatlan offers testosterone replacement therapy, weight loss, hair regrowth treatments, and other performance health focused products with a mission focused on helping men feel strong, stay sharp, and live with purpose. The agreement makes ProRx the exclusive health and wellness provider for the new men's health venture.

"ProRx is proud to support Gatlan's bold vision for the men's health and wellness space," said Kurt Lunkwitz, chief operating officer of ProRx. "Working together, we'll be delivering products that are innovative, grounded in science, and manufactured with uncompromising quality."

The exclusive partnership combines ProRx's deep expertise in pharmaceutical compounding and formulation development with Gatlan's customer platform. It underscores both companies' dedication to promoting men's health and wellness by providing safe, effective, and accessible productsespecially ahead of Men's Health Month in June.

"As someone who has always pushed myself to be better, I was finding it more and more difficult to keep up with what I expected of myself as I got older," said Josh Duhamel, founder of Gatlan. "This stuff gave me my quality of life back and I want to help other men feel like themselves again."

Men's well-being is undergoing a noteworthy transformation. The Men's Health Supplements Market Report estimates that the global men's health supplements market alone will reach $88.46 billion in 2025. This marketplace trend is being driven by men's increasing awareness of preventive healthcare and their willingness to take a more proactive approach to their own wellness.

"Gatlan is reshaping the way men access health and wellness products by bridging the gap between science and everyday self-care," said Dr. Robert Lufkin, chief medical advisor at Gatlan, New York Times bestselling author and UCLA/ USC Medical School professor. "The partnership with ProRx allows us to expand our product offerings with even greater credibility and clinical integrity."

This announcement follows ProRx's recent launch of its preventative health portfolio, which includes 10 new offerings developed to support whole-body wellness. The facility's FDA-registered 503B designation ensures these products are created with the same rigor and compliance standards trusted by hospitals and clinical researchers nationwide.

About ProRx Pharma

ProRx Pharma is an FDA-registered cGMP facility focused on providing essential compounded medications to meet the need for medicines on the FDA drug shortage and bulks list with an emphasis on preventative health. The company produces products and formulations for medical institutions, physician offices, and 503A pharmacies, with a specialization in producing high-quality products to ensure patients have access to the medications they need during critical shortages. For more information, connect with ProRx on LinkedIn or visit https://prorxpharma.com/.

About Gatlan

Gatlan is a men's health brand launched by actor Josh Duhamel to help men reclaim their strength, confidence, and vitality through science-backed tools and a holistic approach to wellness. By restoring the mind, body, and spirit to peak condition, Gatlan inspires men to live a more purpose-filled life. It provides science-backed treatments needed to help men meet their goals, serve their families, and thrive in every aspect of life. For more information, visit www.gatlan.com.

SOURCE ProRx Pharma
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prudent Growth Partners, LLC, a private equity real estate firm in Chapel Hill and Charlotte, NC, has completed its $4 million purchase of the Shops of Roxboro Square, a 29,900-square-foot shopping center in Roxboro, NC.

Built in 1988, the property's contemporary design and prime location within a thriving retail corridor make it an exceptional addition to the Prudent Growth portfolio. It features 11 tenants offering staggered lease expirations and includes a healthy mix of lifestyle businesses and service providers. The center has been well maintained, and no significant deferred maintenance needs exist.

Shops of Roxboro Square is strategically positioned on US Highway 501, with a traffic count of 22,500 vehicles per day. The property benefits from immediate access to US-158, the east-west highway connecting Winston-Salem, Summerfield, and Reidsville, and is a 45-minute drive from Durham, home to Research Triangle Park, which houses 200+ companies and 55,000 employees. The immediate area is home to significant retail draws, including Food Lion, Walmart, Lowe's, Dollar Tree, Walgreens, Sally Beauty, Jersey Mike's, Advanced Auto Parts, Tractor Supply Co., and Verizon.

"We're thrilled to add Shops of Roxboro Square to our portfolio. It is a well-located retail center with strong local tenants and a vibrant community presence in Roxboro. This acquisition reflects another solid purchase in North Carolina for our investors and represents our ongoing commitment to investing in quality assets," said Tom Hahn, President of Prudent Growth Partners, LLC.

Prudent Growth Partners, LLC is a private equity real estate investment company based in Chapel Hill, NC. The firm focuses on properties that tend to be overlooked by larger institutions and provide exceptional returns on invested capital, along with the possibility of longer-term capital gains achieved by expert management and future price appreciation.

SOURCE Prudent Growth Partners, LLC
That the Donald Trump administration is defying the laws and the Constitution to realize its dream of carrying out the largest deportation in history is nothing new, but the Republicans latest scheme has once again set off alarm bells. The most recent threat to the Constitution that the executive branch is exploring is the elimination of habeas corpus, which guarantees due judicial process to prevent abuses of power.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Friday that the president is looking for ways to expand his legal power to deport migrants. To achieve this, he said the administration is considering suspending habeas corpus, the constitutional right of individuals to go to court to legally challenge their detention by the government. The Constitution is clear, and that of course is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion, Miller said. I would say thats an option were actively looking at.

I know theres a lot going on, and that Miller says lots of incendiary (and blatantly false) stuff. But this strikes me as raising the temperature to a whole new level, warned Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor, on Substack.

The Constitution allows habeas corpus to be suspended only when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it. The last time this occurred was in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.

Stephen Miller during an interview at the White House, May 9 in Washington. Kent Nishimura (REUTERS)

Habeas corpus was included in the Constitution as an import from English common law. In 1679, the law was passed to ensure that King Charles II would release prisoners when their confinement was unjustifiable. On the few occasions it has been suspended in the United States, it has generally been with the authorization of Congress, something that would be nearly impossible today, given the narrow Republican majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Outrage and criticism on political and social media have been swift. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar asserted on the social media platform X that Congress is not going to reverse habeas corpus  and no, the president cant do it himself. Lee Kovarsky, a law professor at the University of Texas and an expert on habeas corpus, warned on CNN that if this guarantee were suspended, it would be a national historical disaster. The executive could just detain you, and there would be no recourse, he said. Obviously they would do it to try to detain certain non citizens, but theres no reason why its limited to them.

The Trump administration has repeatedly used the term invasion to refer to the influx of migrants in recent years. Seizing on this, it has used the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport hundreds of Venezuelan and Salvadoran migrants, whom it has accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 criminal gangs, to the maximum-security Cecot prison in El Salvador without due process. The Supreme Court has blocked the laws application, and courts in New York, Colorado, Texas, and Pennsylvania have also ruled against its use.

Border Patrol agents and military personnel look toward Tijuana, Mexico, March 21, 2025, in San Diego. Gregory Bull (AP)

Lack of necessary resources

Despite numerous raids across the country, which have resulted in the deportation of some 142,000 people according to government data, the administration lacks the resources necessary to achieve the goal of deporting around one million undocumented migrants annually.

Trump wants the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire 20,000 more agents to assist with mass deportations. The recruiting of these agents would be done through local and state agencies, as well as by bringing in former agents and members of other federal agencies. The order is included in Project Homecoming, which includes both rewards and threats to migrants to get them to self-deport, thus making the administrations job easier.

The new hires would join the 6,000 ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents who are making the arrests.

Local and state assistance has been deemed essential since the announcement of the largest deportation in U.S. history, which is why the government has promoted 287g agreements, which oblige local authorities to cooperate with ICE. As of May 9, the immigration agency has signed 531 such agreements in 38 states, according to official data. The most productive collaboration occurred late last month in Florida, where local police helped ICE detain more than 1,100 migrants across the state.

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The Outernet's low-latency, highly secure connectivity network will power and drive regional business growth

High-speed global data constellation using satellite-to-satellite laser links

Ultra-secure and extremely low-latency network

Combining the speed of fiber with the reach of satellite

Gateway-less architecture ensures security by design

DUBAI, UAE, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Q-KON, a leading provider of satellite solutions and services, and Outernet provider Rivada Space Networks have signed an MoU to provide next-generation connectivity to power network expansion and digital transformation across Africa and beyond.

QKON Logo Rivada's Outernet. The first unified global communications network.

Q-KON will leverage Rivada's Outernet to provide resiliency for specialized data networks across Africa and a new level of cybersecurity to enterprises that require secure infrastructure, such as banking and financial services. The Outernet's fast, seamless and secure connectivity will ramp up network performance and enable true digital transformation and new business opportunities through multi-gigabit bi-directional performance, combined with worldwide reach.

Data sovereignty and data resiliency are becoming paramount and whilst the availability of LEO satellite services are now coming of age in the African connectivity landscape in terms of high-speed, low-latency connectivity, the Outernet will now deliver a unique layer of resiliency and security for data communications providing a future-ready infrastructure that adheres to the highest standards of safety and privacy and enhancing trust in these networks and applications.

The Rivada Outernet is a next-generation Low-Earth Orbit satellite constellation designed to provide gigabit-speed connectivity to any point on the globe, without needing to touch the public internet or any third-party infrastructure. Combining inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing and unique routing and switching capabilities, this optical mesh network, in which data stays in space from origin to destination, creates an ultra-secure network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over similar long distances.

Dr Dawie de Wet, Group CEO of Q-KON, said: "We are pleased to start working with Rivada to develop specialized LEO solutions for the advanced enterprise, industry and government markets in Africa and to complement our growing Twoobii LEO Smart Satellite Services portfolio. We view the Outernet as an evolution on the LEO architecture roadmap that will follow-on and advance the industry from the classic broadband LEO services currently being deployed in Africa, to unlock bespoke applications and high security service-specific user applications."

Declan Ganley, CEO of Rivada Space Networks, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Q-KON supporting the development of communications across Africa. Rivada's Outernet is what data communications has been waiting for  a game-changing constellation which re-defines connectivity in terms of security, latency, capacity, efficiency, and coverage. As a completely new type of LEO constellation, the Outernet can provide Africa with a next-generation digital infrastructure for secure, resilient communications and network expansion."

Rivada will be at CabSat from 13-15 May 2025. Meet us at stand S3-C45 and come along to the conference session during SatEXPO on May 14th at 11:00am, where Joe Apa, VP Sales for EMEA will present a keynote on "The Future of LEO Services".

About Rivada Space Networks

Rivada Space Networks GmbH is deploying the first true "Outernet": a global, low-latency, point-to-point connectivity network of LEO satellites. By connecting its satellites with lasers, Rivada will provide resellers and B2B customers with the ability to securely connect any two points on the globe with low latency and high bandwidth. The constellation, comprising 600 low-earth-orbit communications satellites, will represent a fundamental change in the availability of secure, global, end-to-end enterprise-grade connectivity for Telecom, Enterprise, Maritime, Energy and Government Services markets. Rivada Space Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rivada Networks, Inc. www.rivadaspace.com

Follow Rivada Space Networks on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rivada-space/

Twitter: @rivadaspace

Media Contacts

Melanie Dickie, Chief Marketing & Communication Officer

Rivada Space Networks GmbH

Tel: +31 6 14 22 97 62

Email: [email protected]m

Brian Carney, SVP Corporate Communications

Rivada Networks, Inc

Tel: +1 (207) 256-0386

Email: [email protected]

About Q-KON

Q-KON is a leading satellite engineering company with over 30 years of experience, pioneering Smart Satellite Solutions across Africa. We deliver resilient and innovative services by tailoring global satellite technology to the unique needs of the African business landscape. Our flagship service, Twoobii, provides reliable connectivity for remote and underserved regions, supporting businesses, industries, and governments. Learn more at https://www.qkon.com/ and https://twoobii.com/.

For Q-KON media queries please contact:

Adilia Joubert / [email protected] / +27 (0)72 398 2525

SOURCE Rivada Space Networks
Elite PR firm tapped to boost US visibility for the award-winning franchise marketing company

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Reshift Media, the leading digital marketing agency for franchise brands, has named Ripley PR, a global public relations agency specializing in B2B and franchising as its public relations agency of record.

Already a well-known name in Canada, Reshift Media has partnered with Ripley PR to expand brand awareness in the United States  a key market for many of its franchise clients. Reshift selected Ripley PR on the basis of similar business models and shared expertise within the franchising sector.

"Franchising is a highly specialized industry, and to succeed as a franchise partner requires a great depth of knowledge," said Steve Buors, co-founder and CEO of Reshift Media. "Ripley PR has demonstrated true subject-matter expertise in this space. No other franchise PR agency can top their reputation, and that's the kind of partner we need to highlight our own authority in the franchising world."

Reshift Media is a full-service digital marketing company helping franchise systems grow through tailored services, including social media marketing, website development and proprietary software solutions. Routinely heralded as the top name in franchise marketing, Reshift Media has won prestigious awards, such as Best Marketing Franchise Firm in the Global Franchise Awards for the past three years. The company has also placed on Entrepreneur's Top Franchise Suppliers list three times, earning the top spot in 2024. Reshift Media's proprietary software solutions are considered best-in-class, and the company boasts a client list of more than 200 brands in 22 countries.

"Reshift Media has earned the trust of franchisors around the world, and it's due to their unique combination of industry know-how, software innovation and digital marketing acumen," said Heather Ripley, founder and CEO of Ripley PR. "They're also known for their focus on customized solutions for their clients, their unwavering attention to detail and their independent modelvalues our agency shares."

Ripley PR was founded in 2013 with a focus on providing public relations for the franchising, home service, and manufacturing industries. The agency has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Best PR Agencies for 2024 and Entrepreneur as a Top Franchise Supplier. Additionally, Ripley PR was named the Best Communications/PR Agency in the 2025 Merit Awards for Marketing & Communications.

To learn more about Ripley PR, visit https://www.ripleypr.com or call (865) 977-1973.

About Reshift Media

Reshift Media is the leading marketing company within the franchising space, providing comprehensive digital solutions combined with proprietary software innovations. The company has represented top franchise brands in the home service, fast casual dining and pet care industries, among many others. Reshift Media has partnered with more than 200 brands spanning 22 countries and won a number of major awards, including Best Franchise Marketing Firm from the Global Franchise Awards, three years in a row. For more information, visit www.reshiftmedia.com.

About Ripley PR

Ripley PR is an elite, global public relations agency specializing in the skilled trades, manufacturing, B2B tech and franchising. Ripley PR was recently recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Best PR Agencies for 2024 and has consistently ranked within the top five of Entrepreneur magazine's annual list of Best PR Agencies for Franchises. Offering a full range of strategic communication services, including award recognition, crisis management, media relations and social media strategies, Ripley PR uses a blend of strategic business acumen and creative public relations branding to tell compelling stories and deliver measurable results. For more information, visit www.ripleypr.com or call 865-977-1973.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Ripley PR
HOUSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of escalating violence along the India-Pakistan border, Sewa International has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at providing critical relief to the families affected by recent attacks. The Campaign, titled "Rising From Terror," seeks to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to communities affected by terrorism, as well as provide support for disaster preparedness in terror-stricken regions.

People grieving after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. Photo Courtesy: https://organiser.org Pahalgam meadows after the terrorist attack. Photo Courtesy: https://organiser.org

The violence, which began with the loss of innocent lives in a terrorist attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, was followed by a retaliatory military response from Pakistan, escalating tensions. Pakistan's strikes, which targeted civilian areas, resulted in the deaths of at least 16 innocent civilians and left thousands of families displaced, suffering from the destruction of their homes and communities.

"Our mission is clear," said Srikanth Gundavarapu, Sewa's National President. "In the face of terror and violence, we will respond with resilience, compassion, and unwavering support. This Campaign is about healing, not just the physical wounds, but the emotional and psychological scars left by this violence. We stand united with the families affected by this tragedy and will help them rebuild their lives."

What the Campaign Supports:

The Resilience Fund is dedicated to:

Emergency relief: food, shelter, medical supplies, and emergency services for those directly affected.

food, shelter, medical supplies, and emergency services for those directly affected. Trauma recovery: mental health support and counseling for children and families who have experienced profound loss.

mental health support and counseling for children and families who have experienced profound loss. Rebuilding efforts: restoring homes, schools, and infrastructure to help communities return to normalcy

Disaster preparedness: investing in long-term strategies to protect vulnerable communities in terror-stricken areas.

Humanitarian Principles at the Core

In a time when violence often overwhelms the human spirit, the organization is committed to upholding the sanctity of life and providing support based on the universal values of compassion, respect, and unity.

"The targeting of innocent civilians is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the norms that bind us as a global community. When such violations occur, it is not only a matter of national politics - it is a collective responsibility of the international community to stand in solidarity with the victims," said Rakhi Israni, Sewa National Spokesperson and attorney, "We must uphold the principles of justice and humanity, ensuring that those who suffer from such violations receive the support they deserve."

How You Can Help

Supporters are encouraged to visit www.sewausa.org/HopeandHumanity to donate directly to the Resilience Fund. Contributions will provide immediate assistance and long-term solutions for those affected by the violence, ensuring that the communities on the frontlines of this conflict can recover, rebuild, and become more resilient in the face of future challenges.

About Sewa International

Sewa International (www.sewausa.org) is a 501(c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable nonprofit dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and building sustainable solutions for communities in the areas of disaster recovery, education, and development. Sewa has 43 US chapters and serves regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

CONTACT:

Rakhi Israni -- +1 (832) 419-7105

Vidyasagar Tontalapur  +1  949-414-6624

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.sewausa.org

SOURCE Sewa International
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RobotLAB, a leading innovator in robotics integration and automation solutions, is proud to announce the opening of RobotLAB Jacksonville. Spearheaded by Electrical Engineer and entrepreneur Dan Fico, this new location is poised to support one of the nation's fastest-growing cities by delivering cutting-edge robotics technology to local businesses.

RobotLAB comes to Jacksonville RobotLAB comes to Jacksonville

With a background in hardware engineering and leadership roles at local startup companies such as Star Catcher and Made in Space (Redwire), experience working across industries such as Medical Devices and Aerospace, Fico brings deep technical expertise to the role. "I've spent over 15 years in highly regulated industries inventing products," said Fico. "The moment I discovered RobotLAB, it just clicked. It was the only franchise that truly impressed meand given my background, I felt uniquely qualified to take this on." Fico's passion for robotics isn't just technicalit's visionary. "Jacksonville is experiencing a tech wave. We've been on the nation's fastest growing list every year for the past decade, and I see RobotLAB as the perfect opportunity to help build the city of the future. This isn't about doing business the old way. This is about leading with automation, innovation, and smart infrastructure."

RobotLAB Jacksonville offers a full range of services, including product sales, robotics integration, local technical support, programming, and on-site repairs. Through RobotLAB's trial program, businesses can even test-drive robotics solutions in their own environment before scaling up.

As Jacksonville continues to expand, the demand for more efficient and automated operations grows with it. RobotLAB is ready to support sectors ranging from hospitality and healthcare to logistics, education, and retail; streamlining processes and improving quality of life along the way.

"I'm here to help Jacksonville catch up to the presentand bring it into the future," said Fico. "Let's put this city on the map as the nation's innovation leader."

This expansion builds on RobotLAB's growing national presence, with active locations in California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, and more. With almost 20 years of robotics leadership, the company's mission remains rooted in making automation accessible, impactful, and locally driven.

RobotLAB Jacksonville is part of the company's rapidly growing international network, now with over 35 U.S. locations and counting. Each site is equipped to sell, service, support, and demo a wide variety of automation solutions tailored to local market needs. As the demand for robotics accelerates, RobotLAB continues to position itself as the world's most trusted provider of turnkey automation technology, combining global innovation with hyper-local service.

To learn more or follow the company's expansion, visit us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/robotlabinc.

About RobotLAB

Founded in 2007, RobotLAB has led the way in robotics integration across industries such as education, hospitality, healthcare, and retail. Known for its consultative approach, customized solutions, and long-term support, RobotLAB helps businesses harness the power of automation to future-proof their operations and thrive in a tech-driven world.

Media Contact:

Berkan Dincer

[email protected]

Phone: 1-87-RobotLAB

SOURCE RobotLAB
RWA Infra Development L.L.C. ("RIDev") has created $RWAID a Real World Asset ("RWA") cryptocurrency for the purpose of "tokenizing infrastructure for the masses." $RWAID is here to bring capital intensive infrastructure projects such as power generation, electric transmission and energy storage to individuals who desire to participate in the benefits of ownership of these assets but may not have been able to because of financial constraints.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When the new RIDev token $RWAID presale begins it will be priced at 1 cent per token with a required minimum purchase of $500.00 (50,000 tokens). A total of 5 billion $RWAID tokens will be made available during the presale. Only 10 billion $RWAID tokens were minted. No additional $RWAID tokens will ever be minted. The presale is planned within the next 60 days. RIDev will announce the exact date in the near future. The $RWAID token can be found on Etherscan and the Uniswap exchange. We are also pursuing listings on other decentralized and centralized exchanges. Additional $RWAID token information can be found on the RIDev website: www.rwainfra.dev.

RIDev CEO Josh Case said, "We are looking forward to rolling out the $RWAID token to the masses, so anyone who desires to participate in the energy transition and expansion we are witnessing here in the U.S. is able to do so conveniently at an affordable entry point."

The $RWAID token holders will have the opportunity to share in the yield created by the RWA's tokenized. Yield is expected to be realized from operational project earnings, development fees, project sales or a combination of these sources. Yield will be distributed as rewards to $RWAID token holders with additional $RWAID tokens and/or stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, RLUSD or an equivalent.

"The tokenizing of real world assets is providing a more efficient and secure framework for the deployment of capital into capital intensive infrastructure projects. We are looking forward to leveraging those benefits for token holders through rewards such as additional tokens and stablecoins," said Case.

Principles and advisors of RIDev have years of experience ranging from conventional power generation to renewable energy production. The $RWAID token will be allocated to projects in the United States using proven technologies with credit worthy off-take counterparties. The $RWAID token will participate directly and/or indirectly in projects as well as being the sole capital provider or a participant with other capital providers depending on the opportunity. The $RWAID token team will consider "shovel ready" projects, operational projects, projects under development and internal development of projects.

Individuals and entities interested in potential bulk purchases of $RWAID tokens can email us prior to the presale for more information.

RIDev company as well as $RWAID token updates will be posted on X.

Contact:

RWA Infra Development L.L.C.

[email protected]

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13076130

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Sundance View Holding Company LLC
Onsite construction underway at RWE's 98 MWac Union Ridge Solar farm in Licking County, Ohio

RWE and MasTec Renewables partnering with local labor unions to tap into Ohio's strong craft workforce for the project

Union Ridge to contribute more than $35 million to local schools, county programs and continue educational partnership with C-TEC to help build Ohio's future energy workforce

AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RWE, the third largest renewable energy company in America, is building its second solar farm in Ohio and further expanding its portfolio of energy assets in the Buckeye State. Onsite construction is underway at the 98-megawatt (MWac) Union Ridge Solar project in Licking County, Ohio, which RWE acquired from Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) in the fall of 2024.

RWE's investment in Union Ridge during the project's construction phase will produce an estimated $68 million in new local economic activity for Licking County. This includes the direct employment of about 280 workers onsite at peak construction and associated wages and benefits, as well as increased purchases of local goods and services and local sales tax payments.

RWE's Union Ridge project underscores our commitment to fostering economic growth and job creation across America Post this

RWE and construction partner MasTec Renewables aim to leverage Ohio's strong craft union workforce for the construction phase of the project. The companies are collaborating with the Laborers' International Union of North America, International Union of Operating Engineers and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local halls in Licking County and across the state to hire skilled union laborers, operators and electricians to construct this utility-scale solar project.

Kevin Kroll, Chief Operating Officer, RWE Clean Energy: "Our Union Ridge project is an example of how we partner with leading American companies to bring job growth and critical economic activity to communities across America with our homegrown energy. Through our partnership with MasTec, we are helping to create new employment opportunities for Licking County residents and support Ohio's current and future skilled labor workforce."

Mike Flynn, Senior Vice President - Operations, MasTec Renewables: "Our partnership with RWE on the Union Ridge Solar project showcases MasTec's dedication to sparking local economic growth and strengthening workforce development. By harnessing Ohio's talented labor pool, we're doing more than constructing a solar farm; we're investing in the community's future. This collaboration will generate hundreds of jobs for Licking County residents, spanning roles from skilled laborers to utility electricians and solar panel assemblers. We're proud to work alongside RWE in driving the clean energy transition while simultaneously bolstering local economies and providing valuable career opportunities for Ohioans."

John Wieland, Chief Development Officer, LRE (Leeward Renewable Energy): "LRE is proud to have fostered partnerships with C-TEC and local IBEW groups to collaboratively develop and establish the skilled training course in Licking County, through developing curriculum materials, donating First Solar modules, and other sponsorship contributions. We look forward to this Union Ridge Solar program paving the way for future generations all across Ohio to find good-paying careers in renewable energy."

RWE currently owns and operates about 400 MW of wind and solar assets across Ohio. Union Ridge will bring RWE's total operating capacity in the state to nearly 500 MW  capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 118,000 average homes annually.

Investing in Ohio Communities

RWE's Union Ridge project underscores RWE's commitment to fostering economic growth in local communities across Ohio. Once in operation, the project will provide more than $35 million in tax revenue over its 40-year lifespan to support the Southwest Licking Local School District, Harrison Township and other jurisdictions in Licking County.

Notably, RWE is continuing LRE's previously established partnership with the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County (C-TEC) Postsecondary Education Center to help build Ohio's future energy workforce through support for a joint educational and career training program. The Solar Energy Training Course trains students in the assembly, mounting and maintenance of solar arrays used on utility-scale solar facilities in Ohio.

For more information, visit americas.rwe.com.

For further inquiries:

Patricia Kakridas

Sr. Manager, Media & Public Relations

Corporate Communications

RWE Clean Energy

M + 619-753-5206

E [email protected]

RWE in the U.S.

Through its subsidiary RWE Clean Energy, RWE is the third largest renewable energy company in the United States, with a presence in most U.S. states from coast to coast. RWE's team of about 2,000 employees in the U.S. stands ready to help meet the nation's growing energy needs. With its homegrown and fastest-to-market product, RWE supports the goal of American Energy dominance and independence. To that end, RWE Clean Energy is committed to increasing its already strong asset base of over 10 gigawatts of operating wind, solar and battery projects, focusing on providing high-quality jobs. RWE invests in local and rural communities while strengthening domestic manufacturing supporting the renaissance of American industry. This is complemented by RWE's energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG).

As an energy company with a successful history spanning more than 125 years, RWE has an extensive knowledge of the energy markets and an excellent expertise in all major power generation and storage technologies, from nuclear, coal and gas to hydro, batteries, wind and solar.

SOURCE RWE
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins the Salesian Congregation and Catholics around the globe to welcome the election of Pope Leo XIV  His Eminence, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost  as the 267th successor of St. Peter, to lead the Catholic Church and 1.4 billion faithful around the world.

"The election of Pope Leo XIV will bring a great sense of pride to our donors as well as a deeper sense of connection to him and the Church," said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions.

Pope Leo XIV  elected the first ever American Catholic Pope  is lauded as a unifier and is expected to foster a more global church.

"More than ever, we need a strong moral voice to encourage open dialogue and inspire the global community and Christians worldwide to work for peace and justice," said Fr. Conway.

Pope Leo's extensive missionary work closely aligns with Salesian Missions in focusing on social issues like migration and poverty.

"As an Augustinian missionary for many years, Pope Leo XIV encountered people from diverse backgrounds and oftentimes in situations of extreme poverty," said Fr. Conway. "His missionary ministry made him much more aware of the plight of the poor and migrants. His choosing of the name Leo reflects the prior ministry of Pope Leo XIII who was instrumental in establishing the foundation of the Church's social teaching with a special emphasis on the poor and marginalized."

On behalf of the Salesian Congregation and the entire Salesian Family, the Rector Major Father Fabio Attard offered heartfelt greetings to the Holy Father at the start of his pontificate. In his message, the Rector Major assured the new Pope of the Salesian devotion and prayers, invoking the Holy Spirit to guide him with wisdom and strength so that his ministry may be a beacon of hope, unity, and peace for the Church and the world.

Fr. Conway said that he is excited and proud as both an American and as a member of a religious order about the election of Pope Leo XIV.

"He brings a diverse background of experiences that will greatly assist him in his ministry especially as a pastor. His selection reminds us that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church is still active and effective and that, when all is said and done, God is in charge. I take comfort in believing this," he said.

Salesian programs are operated by more than 30,000 Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries around the globe. Salesian programs provide poor youth and their families access to education, workforce development, humanitarian relief, youth clubs, health services, feeding programs and more.

About Salesian Missions USA

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, N.Y., and is part of the Don Bosco Network  a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople  all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

Contact:

Laura Perillo

[email protected]

Twitter: @MissionNewswire

Newswire: MissionNewswire.org

Press room: SalesianMissions.org/press

SOURCE Salesian Missions
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Samarco Mineracao S.A.  Em Recuperacao Judicial (" Samarco ", the " Issuer ", " we ", " us " and " our ") announces that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the " Tender Offer ") for its 9.000% senior notes due 2031 (the " Notes "). The maximum aggregate amount that the Issuer will spend for Notes tendered in the Offer is US$34,081,041.43 (such amount subject to increase by the Issuer, in its sole discretion, the " Maximum Payment Amount ").

The Tender Offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an offer to purchase, dated May 12, 2025 (the " Offer to Purchase "). Any capitalized term used but not defined in this press release has the respective meaning set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

Certain information regarding the Notes and the terms of the "Modified Dutch Auction" pricing mechanism is summarized in the following table:

Title of

Security CUSIP / ISIN Principal Amount

Outstanding(1) Minimum Bid

Price(1)(2) Acceptable Bid

Price Range(1)(2)(3)(4) 9.000% Senior Notes

due 2031 Rule 144A: US$4,486,060,512 US$930 US$930 - 79588YAA7 / US79588YAA73



US$960 Regulation S: P8405QAB5 / USP8405QAB51





























Regulation S: P8405QAA7 / USP8405QAA78







(1) As of May 12, 2025. The Notes were originally issued on December 1, 2023 in an aggregate principal amount of US$3,984,843,960. The current Principal Amount Outstanding reflects increases to the principal amount since issuance as a result of capitalized accrued interest (payment-in-kind or "PIK" interest) paid of 9.049% per annum between December 1, 2023 and March 29, 2024, and 9.000% per annum between March 30, 2024 and March 30, 2025. (2) Per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase. (3) The Bid Price is inclusive of the value of accrued PIK interest due in respect of the Notes (the "Accrued PIK Interest"). (4) Holders who tender the Notes at or prior to the Expiration Date may specify a Bid Price (as defined below), which must be within the Acceptable Bid Price Range (as defined below).

The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 10, 2025, unless extended by us (such time and date, as it may be extended, the " Expiration Date "). Holders who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 23, 2025, unless extended by us (such time and date, as it may be extended, the " Early Tender Date ") or at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 23, 2025, unless extended by us (such time and date, as it may be extended, the " Withdrawal Date ") will be eligible to receive the Consideration, which is inclusive of the value of Accrued PIK Interest due in respect of the Notes, in each case subject to the Maximum Payment Amount. As such there will be no additional cash paid in lieu of accrued interest. There is no letter of transmittal in connection with this Tender Offer.

The Tender Offer is being conducted as a "Modified Dutch Auction". This means that if a Holder elects to participate in the Tender Offer, such Holder must specify the minimum purchase price (the " Bid Price ") it would be willing to receive in exchange for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes it chooses to tender in the Tender Offer. The Bid Price that is specified for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes must be in increments of US$2.50, and must be at least US$930 (the " Minimum Bid Price ") but not greater than US$960 (the " Maximum Bid Price ") (such range, the " Acceptable Bid Price Range "). If any Bid Price is not specified in a whole increment of US$2.50, such Bid Price will be rounded down to the nearest US$2.50 increment.

Each Holder tendering Notes in the Tender Offer is required to specify a Bid Price. Holders who tender Notes without specifying a Bid Price, or at a Bid Price below the Acceptable Bid Price Range, will be deemed to have specified the Minimum Bid Price as their Bid Price. Tenders of Notes at Bid Prices above the Acceptable Bid Price Range will not be accepted and will not be used for purposes of calculating the Clearing Price. Acceptance of tendered Notes may be subject to proration as described in the Offer to Purchase.

Under the "Modified Dutch Auction" procedure, we will accept Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offer (and not validly withdrawn) in the order of the lowest to the highest Bid Prices specified or deemed to have been specified by tendering Holders, and will select the single lowest Bid Price so specified that will result in an aggregate purchase price equal to the Maximum Payment Amount, which we refer to as the " Clearing Price ." The Clearing Price is the same as the Consideration. The Issuer will publish, prior to the first Settlement Date, the Clearing Price calculation and the proration factor on the following website: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/samarco.

Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, we are entitled to reduce the Maximum Payment Amount on a dollar-for-dollar basis for any taxes or additional amounts paid or payable by us in respect of any withholding or deduction for Brazilian taxes. Solely for purposes of this Tender Offer, any such taxes or additional amounts will not be deemed to reduce the Maximum Payment Amount. However, no assurances can be given with respect to such treatment in any future offers to purchase the Notes. The decision of whether to reduce the Maximum Payment Amount for any taxes or additional amounts paid or payable by the Issuer in respect of any withholding or deduction for Brazilian taxes is in our sole discretion.

If the purchase of all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date with a Bid Price equal to or less than the Clearing Price would cause us to accept for purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that exceeds the Maximum Payment Amount (taking into account the Consideration payable for such Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) given such Clearing Price) (the " Early Tender Condition "), then the Tender Offer will be oversubscribed at the Early Tender Date and, assuming satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Tender Offer, we will purchase on, at our option, the Early Settlement Date Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase, as follows:

first , all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date with a Bid Price less than the Clearing Price, (to the extent such acceptance would not result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount, and if such acceptance would result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount, then such acceptance shall be on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that we purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that does not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount); and



, all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date with a Bid Price less than the Clearing Price, (to the extent such acceptance would not result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount, and if such acceptance would result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount, then such acceptance shall be on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that we purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that does not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount); and second, all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date with a Bid Price equal to the Clearing Price, on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that we purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that does not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount.

If the Tender Offer is not oversubscribed at the Early Tender Date, the Modified Dutch Auction procedure will continue to apply and we will compare all the Bid Prices received at or prior to the Expiration Date to calculate a single Clearing Price to determinate the Consideration. If the Tender Offer is not oversubscribed at the Early Tender Date and the purchase of all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date (when combined with all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date) would cause us to accept for purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that exceeds the Maximum Payment Amount, then the Tender Offer will be oversubscribed at the Expiration Date and, assuming satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Tender Offer, we will purchase on the Final Settlement Date Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase, as follows:

first , all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Expiration Date, including all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date, with a Bid Price less than the Clearing Price (to the extent such acceptance would not result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount); and if such acceptance would result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount, then such acceptance shall be on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that we purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that does not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount); and



, all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Expiration Date, including all Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date, with a Bid Price less than the Clearing Price (to the extent such acceptance would not result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount); and if such acceptance would result in an acceptance of Notes in respect of the Tender Offer having an aggregate purchase price in excess of the Maximum Payment Amount, then such acceptance shall be on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that we purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that does not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount); and second, all Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Date, including all Notes validly tendered (and note validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date, with a Bid Price equal to the Clearing Price, on a prorated basis according to the principal amount of such Notes, such that we purchase an amount of Notes with an aggregate purchase price that does not exceed the Maximum Payment Amount.

All tendered Notes not accepted as a result of proration and all tenders with a Bid Price in excess of the Clearing Price will be rejected from the Tender Offer and will be promptly credited to the Holder's account with DTC or otherwise returned to the Holder without cost.

Subject to the terms of the Indenture (as defined below), if the Tender Offer is not oversubscribed at the Expiration Date, we may, in our sole discretion, elect to either withdraw the Tender Offer or purchase on the Final Settlement Date Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase at the highest Bid Price within the Acceptable Bid Price Range specified or deemed to have been specified by tendering holders (such price to then be the Consideration for purposes of this Tender Offer).

In the event that the amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Early Tender Date with a Bid Price equal to or below the Clearing Price would result in an aggregate purchase price that exceeds the Maximum Payment Amount and we elect to have an Early Settlement Date, then, subject to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer, no Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer, unless the Maximum Payment Amount is increased, and the Early Settlement Date shall be deemed to be the "Expiration Date" for all purposes under the indenture, dated as of December 1, 2023, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated December 1, 2023, and a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2023 (collectively, the " Indenture ").

We reserve the right, but are under no obligation, to increase or decrease the Maximum Payment Amount at any time, subject to compliance with applicable law and the terms of the Indenture. Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, we are entitled to reduce the Maximum Payment Amount on a dollar-for-dollar basis for any additional amounts payable in respect of any withholding or deduction for Brazilian taxes. Solely for purposes of this Tender Offer, any such additional amounts will not be deemed to reduce the Maximum Payment Amount.

A Holder cannot change its Bid Price with respect to Notes already tendered, but a Holder may validly withdraw previously tendered Notes and validly re-tender them with a new Bid Price. However, after the Withdrawal Date, a Holder's tendered Notes may not be withdrawn and re-tendered, and therefore such Holder's Bid Price may not be changed after the Withdrawal Date.

Assuming satisfaction of the Early Tender Condition and our acceptance of Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer, holders of Notes (the " Holders ") that have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Notes at or prior to the Early Tender Date and whose Notes are accepted for purchase will, if we so elect, receive the Consideration for each US$1,000 principal amount of such accepted Notes within three business days following the Early Tender Date (the " Early Settlement Date "). If, in our sole discretion, we elect to pay for such tendered Notes on the Early Settlement Date, any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date but on or prior to the Expiration Date (regardless of the tendering holder's Bid Price) will be disregarded and you will not be eligible to receive the Consideration, unless the Maximum Payment Amount is increased. The Early Settlement Date with respect to the Tender Offer will be determined at our option, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer (including the Early Tender Condition) having been either satisfied or waived by us.

We will make payment for Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted by us for purchase in an amount equal to the Consideration for each US$1,000 principal amount of such accepted Notes on the settlement date that is expected to be within three business days following the Expiration Date or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the " Final Settlement Date "), up to the Maximum Payment Amount. Each of the Early Settlement Date and the Final Settlement Date is referred to as a " Settlement Date ."

The Issuer has engaged Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to act as dealer manager (the " Dealer Manager ") in connection with the Tender Offer. In such capacity, the Dealer Manager may contact Holders regarding the Tender Offer and may request brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees to forward the Offer to Purchase and related materials to beneficial owners of Notes. The Dealer Manager can be contacted at the following telephone numbers with questions regarding the Tender Offer: +1 (212) 723-6106 / +44 207 986 8969, and toll-free at +1 (800) 558-3745.

Copies of the Offer to Purchase are available to Holders from Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the tender agent and the information agent for the Tender Offer (the " Tender and Information Agent "). Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase should be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at +1 (855) 654-2014 (toll-free), or [email protected].

Neither the Offer to Purchase nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country.

No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.

Under no circumstances shall this press release constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities of the Issuer, or any of its affiliates in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The Tender Offer is not being made to, nor will the Issuer accept tenders of Notes from, Holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer would not be in compliance with the securities or blue-sky laws of such jurisdiction.

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Issuer also may provide forward looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Issuer expects or anticipates may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or that relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described in this press release will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Issuer does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.

Disclaimer

This press release must be read in conjunction with the Offer to Purchase. This press release and the Offer to Purchase contain important information that must be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Tender Offer. In particular, see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 9 of the Offer to Purchase for a discussion of certain factors you should consider in connection with the Tender Offer. If any Holder is in any doubt as to the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own legal, tax, accounting and financial advice, including as to any tax consequences, from its attorney, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. None of the Issuer, the Dealer Manager, the Tender and Information Agent, the Trustee or any of their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether Holders should or should not tender any Notes in response to the Tender Offer or expressing expresses any opinion as to whether the terms of the Tender Offer are fair to any Holder. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender and the Bid Price at which to tender.

SOURCE Samarco Mineracao S.A. - Em Recuperacao Judicial
Schneider Electric holds groundbreaking for a facility expansion in Columbia, Missouri

Construction will increase manufacturing capacity and create over 200 local jobs

Expansion is part of the company's recently announced planned U.S. investment through 2027

COLUMBIA, Mo., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric , the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, broke ground on a U.S. expansion project in Columbia, Missouri, alongside Governor Mike Kehoe and other local government and business leaders.

Schneider Electric breaks ground in Columbia, Missouri, alongside Governor Mike Kehoe

The ceremony marks the beginning of construction of a 58,000-square-foot addition to the company's existing Columbia manufacturing facility. By deploying next generation manufacturing technologies, expanding capacity, and optimizing the floor plan, this facility will help enable Schneider Electric to streamline its production of molded case circuit breakers and air circuit breakers and order fulfillment processes, stay competitive and agile, and bolster its domestic supply chain resilience.

The expansion comes amid rising demand from data center and energy infrastructure developers. Once completed, this planned expansion will create more than 200 new jobs in Missouri.

"The U.S. is experiencing growing demand needed to power AI and energy infrastructure. With this expansion, we are proving our commitment to help our customers meet this unprecedented growth," said Agustin Lopez Diaz, Senior Vice President Global Supply Chain, North America at Schneider Electric. "Schneider Electric is grateful for our partnership with Missouri Governor Kehoe, and we are proud to be expanding and modernizing facilities like this one in Columbia to streamline operations, create new jobs, support our customers' energy efficiency needs, and create impact."

"We're proud that a global leader in manufacturing like Schneider Electric is so strongly considering Missouri for such a significant investment," said Governor Mike Kehoe. "This company's interest in the Show-Me State is another example of our ability to support quality employers. We appreciate the contributions Schneider Electric has made to Columbia over the years and look forward to its continued growth in the area."

The Columbia expansion project is part of Schneider Electric's recently announced U.S. investment plan to support the nation's energy and AI infrastructure, boost domestic manufacturing, and strengthen national energy security. The investment planned across the U.S. is the largest single capital expenditure commitment by Schneider Electric in its 135+ year history in the U.S. and is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs nationwide.

Schneider Electric employs more than 21,000 U.S. employees and partners with approximately 40% of Fortune 500 companies. Its products and solutions can be found in four of 10 U.S. homes, 40% of the world's hospitals, and 40,000 water and wastewater installations in 150 countries.

As an employer, it's ranked as one of Glassdoor's Best Places to Work 2025, and the company is proud to be recognized as a 2025 Gold Military Friendly employer. In 2024, TIME magazine ranked Schneider Electric as the world's most sustainable company. Schneider Electric was also named the World's Most Sustainable Corporation 2025 by Corporate Knights and it is the only company to rank first in the Global 100 twice.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitalization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders.

www.se.com

Discover Life Is On

Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog



Hashtags: #SchneiderElectric #SchneiderInAmerica #UnitedStates #America #Manufacturing #Investment #R&D #AI #US

SOURCE Schneider Electric
MINNEAPOLIS, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholarship America, the nation's largest administrator of private scholarships, today announced the launch of the National Emergency Aid Scholarship Fund for Parents in College , a first-of-its-kind initiative providing rapid, flexible emergency aid to help student parents overcome unexpected expenses and stay enrolled.

Program Results

The initiative kicks off with a $500,000 national fundraising drive running from Mother's Day, May 11, through Father's Day, June 15. Donors, institutions, and advocates nationwide are invited to participate in this matching campaign, doubling the impact of every contribution and helping support student parents stay on track to graduate.

"At Scholarship America, we know student parents are among the most determined students  and their success lifts entire families," said Mike Nylund, CEO of Scholarship America. "With the National Emergency Aid Scholarship Fund, we're providing the small but significant and timely support that can keep them enrolled. We invite partners and donors to join us in helping student parents thrive."

Why It Matters

More than 3.8 million U.S. college students  one in five undergraduates  are raising children, and nearly 10% are single mothers. These determined students juggle caregiving, classes, and jobs, often earning higher GPAs than their peers. Yet despite their resilience, many face dropping out over sudden financial pressures. Small emergency grants  often under $1,000  can mean the difference between staying enrolled or dropping out.

Scholarship America's new fund is designed to deliver emergency aid swiftly and without red tape, keeping parents enrolled and on track. The payoff is both personal and public. A single mother who earns an associate degree can save the government approximately $25,600 in lifetime public assistance spending  and contributes almost $71,400 more in lifetime taxes than a peer with only a high school diploma.

"The support I received made a huge difference for me and my family. It helped me cover part of my medical bills, pay for daycare for my son, and gave me the opportunity to register for summer classes," said aid recipient Watson Saint-Martin, student at Nashua Community College. "I'm truly grateful for the assistance, it came at a critical time and allowed me to stay focused on my education and goals."

Local Pilots to National Impact

This spring, Scholarship America launched pilot programs offering aid to student parents in Texas and New Hampshire. Providing small but powerful emergency grants just before final exams, the programs are designed to keep vulnerable student parents enrolled through graduation.

"Our student parents carry so much, and this emergency aid lifts just enough financial pressure to help them focus during the most stressful points of the semester," said Kim-Laura Boyle, Professor, Program Director, and Department Chair, Rehabilitation Services at River Valley Community College. "For some, it's the key to staying enrolled and pushing through."

These pilots are the first phase of the broader National Emergency Aid Scholarship Fund for Parents in College, which will expand support to student parents across the country. Scholarship America  which distributed $315 million to 110,000 students last year  operates more than 1,350 programs annually, serving students in all 50 states and 86 countries on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, community foundations, philanthropists, and donors nationwide.

Made Possible Through Partnership

"Student parents are among the most driven and capable learners, but they often face challenges that no one should have to navigate alone," said Amber Angel, Program Officer at the ECMC Foundation. "By partnering on the National Emergency Aid Scholarship Fund, we're investing in solutions that remove barriers and help these students turn their hard work into degrees that transform their families' futures."

"Student parents face unique barriers that too often push them out of college  not because of ability, but because of unexpected financial strain," said Jenny Achilles, Senior Program Officer at Trellis Foundation, who provided the distribution dollars for the emergency aid pilot in Texas. "Fast, flexible help at the right moment can keep student parents on track, strengthening not only their futures, but their families and communities as well."

Join the Challenge

Scholarship America invites individuals, institutions, and advocates to be part of the Mother's Day to Father's Day Challenge  a national effort to raise matching funds that directly support student parents in crisis. Visit Scholarship America to donate.

Media Contact:

Abigail Seldin, Chief Growth Officer, Scholarship America

202-304-7318

[email protected]

SOURCE Scholarship America
The United States and Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the signing of a series of agreements worth $600 billion, according to the White House. The deals span areas ranging from access to critical minerals to energy security, and were unveiled during President Donald Trumps visit to the kingdom  the first stop on his tour of the Gulf states.

Among the signed deals is a $142 billion defense pact under which Washington will supply its ally with advanced weaponry. In a fact sheet, the White House described it as the largest defense sales agreement in history.

The primary objective of Trumps tour  his first overseas trip of this second term  was to secure lucrative trade deals that he could boast about upon his return, showcasing his negotiating skills. The Gulf states were quick to accommodate his desires, presenting the announcements with the utmost grandeur.

The announcement was made during a meeting in Riyadh between President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following a lavish welcome ceremony at the airport and royal pavilion, complete with red carpets. I really believe we like each other a lot, the U.S. president said during his meeting with Bin Salman, the de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom.

Trump also took the opportunity to pressure his host to expand Saudi Arabias investment commitment to $1 trillion  a target he has referenced several times since taking office.

According to the White House, the defense agreement signed Tuesday will provide Saudi Arabia with warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms. It will include air force advancement and space capabilities; air and missile defense; maritime and coastal security; border security; and information and communication systems upgrades. The agreement also provides for extensive training and support to enhance the capabilities of the Saudi Armed Forces, the White House said in a statement.

It is not known whether the agreement includes the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, which Saudi Arabia has long sought. The Arab country is the largest buyer of U.S. weaponry but currently does not have access to those aircraft, which are available to Israel.

During the term of Democrat Joe Biden, which ended this past January, the United States had been working to finalize a defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia as part of negotiations aimed at securing Riyadhs normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel. However, the war in Gaza derailed those plans.

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Court's decision ensures Settlement Trust can continue its essential work of providing financial compensation to survivors.

IRVING, Texas, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scouting America issued the following statement concerning today's decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

"Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed the widest ranging appeals of the Bankruptcy Court's plan confirmation order, which were filed by a small group of dissenting claimants and holdout insurance companies. The Court's decision is a resounding victory for survivors of historical abuse in Scouting, and it is the culmination of more than five years of tireless efforts by survivors, Scouting America, Local Councils, Chartered Organizations, settling insurance companies, and other stakeholders to equitably compensate survivors and preserve the mission of Scouting.

"By dismissing these appeals, the Court has assured survivors that the Settlement Trust established under BSA's plan can continue its essential work of providing financial compensation to survivors. The overall settlement fund for abuse claims is valued at $2.4 billion with the opportunity for additional contributions by numerous other parties, including the BSA's insurers that have not yet settled. Since it was established in April 2023, the Trust has distributed more than $138 million to approximately 20,000 survivors. Today's decision ensures that the Trust's work can continue without interruption.

"The decision also ensures that the organization can continue its mission of preparing young men and women to become responsible, participating citizens and leaders guided by the Scout Oath and Law. On February 8, 2025, on its 115th anniversary, the organization officially became Scouting America, reflecting its ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. More than a million young men and women currently participate in Scouting America's programs, affirming the importance of Scouting and its values-based programs to American life."

About Scouting America

Scouting America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be "Prepared. For Life."

Scouting invites every youth to a safe, fun place to learn, explore, and grow. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding. Currently more than one million youth are served by almost 500,000 adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country.

To learn more about Scouting America's mission, or to sign your child up for Scouting, visit www.BeAScout.org.

SOURCE Scouting America
CALGARY, AB, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scription Maintenance, a pioneering technology startup in the commercial foodservice industry, is transforming equipment maintenance from hourly rates into a subscription model. Their Scription360 program eliminates financial risk for restaurant equipment operators while aligning the incentives of equipment service companies to financially benefit from equipment uptime, rather than equipment breakdowns.

Founded in 2020, Scription launched the program to provide predictable recurring revenues for the service company, while resulting in stable monthly costs, simplified operations, and faster and more efficient repair for the equipment operator. This alignment of incentives is ushering in a new era of technology adoption and reducing the total cost of equipment ownership for top franchise brands in the quick-serve restaurant industry.

"We're excited to leverage this capital towards expanding the Scription360 program throughout North America, and to welcome an incredible industry leader, Gerritt Graham, as our new CEO to do it," said Scription Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Justin Villiers.

"Coming off a decade in the insurance industry, I understand the power of products that offer business owners stability and certainty in running their operations. Scription is uniquely positioned to lower the total cost of risk for our clients. I am honored and excited to be joining this exceptional management team," stated Gerritt Graham, CEO of Scription.

Scription is the only outcome-based service platform for the foodservice industry, and its predictive maintenance technology is the future of the equipment maintenance space. With customized, hassle-free, monthly fixed-price coverage for equipment assets, Scription simplifies foodservice equipment maintenance across the board for restaurant owners and operators. By improving equipment replacement planning, removing cost uncertainty, and increasing visibility into equipment spending, restaurants lower their total cost of risk and gain control of cash flow, saving both time and money.

"Scription is bringing about a paradigm shift in how restaurant owners and operators manage equipment risk to the P&L," said Rick Viton, Partner at IA Capital Group. "The management team's deep understanding of the industry, data analytics capabilities and unparalleled service network uniquely position Scription to deliver on this vision. We're thrilled to be partnering with Justin, Gerritt and the whole Scription team."

To date, Scription has raised $10.35M USD. In 2023, Scription raised $2.5M USD in a pre-seed round, led by investor Markd. A $7.85M USD seed closed in January 2025 led by investors IA Capital and further participation from Markd.

"The overwhelming response from national franchisees and investors since launch has exceeded expectations. With this new round of funding, we're awfully proud of Scription and its expanded reach and remain excited to watch it continue to develop more partnerships with ambitious operators," said Parker Beauchamp, Managing Partner at Markd.

About Scription

Scription is a pioneering technology company that is aligning the incentives of the commercial foodservice maintenance and repair industry through their innovative new program; Scription360. Founded in 2020, Scription is on a mission to use predictive analysis to drive equipment uptime and reduce total cost of ownership. With customized, hassle-free, monthly fixed-price coverage for equipment assets, Scription eliminates financial risk for restaurants and creates incentives for both operators and equipment service technicians to prioritize consistent equipment uptime. For more information, please visit www.scription.ai.

About IA Capital

IA Capital Group is a New York-based venture capital firm and manager of the Inter-Atlantic funds, with a 25-year track record of successfully partnering with founders to shape the future of financial services and insurance. IA Capital manages strategic venture capital programs on behalf of more than 20 insurance companies and is the most experienced venture capital firm focused primarily on insurtech.

About Markd

Markd is a venture capital company focused on funding and partnering with transformative insurtechs. It pays homage to the insurance industry's legacy while helping design its future. Markd's mission is to power substantial work and continually inspire more ideas to prevent hurt and loss.

SOURCE Scription
SHANGHAI, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn

The municipal government of Shanghai released a circular outlining 10 major missions to seek further breakthroughs in improving its business environment on May 8, aiming at further stabilizing employment, companies' operations and market expectations.

Infographic: Shanghai's 10 key missions to further enhance business climate

One of the 10 initiatives is to better align with the evaluation methods and criteria used in the World Bank's Business Ready report. Further reforms will also be advanced.

Meanwhile, favorable policies should be more easily accessible for companies. The city will launch an online platform via which companies can search for the applicable policies and obtain approvals. A "policy calculator" will also be introduced to explicitly explain the application conditions and scope for certain policies.

To further enhance administrative oversight of companies, Shanghai will complete and upgrade the supervision QR code system, which was rolled out citywide earlier this year.

According to the circular, financing costs for small and medium-sized enterprises should be reduced, and innovative financing services should be offered. To this end, Shanghai will promote a fast-track loan initiative across industrial parks, which was first piloted in the Hongkou district in northeast Shanghai.

The circular also highlights the need to improve bankruptcy procedures, as this is one of the key indicators in the World Bank report. Enhancing efficiency in this area will support company restructuring, accelerate market evolution, and improve resource allocation.

For more information: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-BusinessEnvironment/index.html

SOURCE english.shanghai.gov.cn
HOUSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Star, a leading real estate investment firm, today announced the successful sale of its Gulf Plaza property as part of a broader strategic effort to stabilize operations and enhance shareholder value. The company continues to navigate complex financial challenges inherited from prior leadership while advancing its long-term recovery strategy.

For a detailed account of the company's ongoing efforts, shareholders are encouraged to read the full letter from Gerald Haddock, CEO, Chairman of the Board, and Chairman of the Executive Committee, here.

Forward-Looking Statements: This letter contains certain forward-looking statements. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties, and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. Several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this material. Forward-looking statements in this letter speak only as of the date on which such statements were made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any such statements that may become untrue because of subsequent events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor protection for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

SOURCE Silver Star Properties REIT
The new SEO Intelligence Suite is an AI-driven platform that integrates with MarketMuse and unifies SEO, AI content strategy, organic and paid keyword intelligence to help enterprises drive measurable marketing performance

LONDON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gartner Marketing Symposium/Xpo 2025  Siteimprove, the AI-powered SaaS platform for delivering digital content experiences that are compliant and accessible, today announced the launch of its SEO Intelligence Suite, designed to unify the fragmented world of enterprise SEO, content strategy, organic and paid keyword performance.

Purpose-built for today's marketing leaders, it empowers cross-functional teams to streamline workflows, eliminate content inefficiencies, and unleash high-performance ROI to drive digital strategies that are faster and smarter. The suite integrates three flagship modules  SEO Enterprise, Content Blueprint AI, and Keyword Intelligence  to close critical gaps between organic and paid search strategies and predictively prioritize content creation and refresh opportunities.

"AIdriven volatility is rewriting every rule of search," said Nayaki Nayyar, CEO of Siteimprove. "With the SEO Intelligence Suite, marketers don't just keep upthey set the pace. By unifying technical SEO, generative content planning, and keyword intelligence in one AIpowered workflow, we give teams a single source of truth to scale authority, safeguard compliance, and convert attention in the age of AI search."

What's Inside the SEO Intelligence Suite:

The new offering will now include three modules in one platform.

SEO Enterprise : Real-time site auditing, keyword tracking, and performance monitoring for technical SEO maturity



: Real-time site auditing, keyword tracking, and performance monitoring for technical SEO maturity Content Blueprint AI : Generative-AI briefs and topic models to accelerate high-quality content creation that is customizable with human-in-the-loop



: Generative-AI briefs and topic models to accelerate high-quality content creation that is customizable with human-in-the-loop Keyword Intelligence: Market and competitor intelligence that unifies paid and organic keyword insights to reduce spend waste and guide ROI-optimized targeting

The AI-Powered SEO Intelligence Suite delivers users the ability to:

Automate research, content planning, content brief creation, and keyword tracking



Surface high-impact keywords and content opportunities across both paid and organic



Align strategy, execution, and reporting across SEO, paid, and content functions



Quantify the business impact of search performance with CFO-ready metrics

Meeting the Moment for Modern Marketers

With organic visibility under pressure and paid budgets increasingly scrutinized, marketers are constantly asked to do more with less. The new Siteimprove platform addresses common pain points, including fragmented products, misaligned paid and organic strategies, and a lack of content planning intelligence. The SEO Intelligence Suite also seamlessly integrates with MarketMuse, providing strategic content guidance that adapts to shifting search algorithms and competitive dynamics.

To learn more, Siteimprove will host an exclusive live webinar on May 21st to showcase the new SEO Intelligence Suite in action. For more details visit>

About the Gartner Marketing Symposium/Xpo

The Gartner Marketing Symposium/Xpo is taking place May 12-13 in London and June 2-4 in Denver, providing marketing leaders with actionable advice about the trends, tools and emerging technologies they need to deliver business results and exceed expectations. Gartner analysts address the biggest opportunities, challenges and priorities marketers face today including marketing strategy development, marketing analytics and CX strategy. Follow news and updates coming out of the conference on the Gartner Newsroom and on X and LinkedIn using #GartnerMKTG.

About Siteimprove

Founded in 2003, Siteimprove empowers companies to deliver engaging, accessible and compliant digital experiences that not only perform, but matter. Today, clients spanning manufacturing, government, higher education, financial services, and healthcare rely on Siteimprove's AI-powered platform to capture their users' attention, drive engagement, and adhere to the highest accessibility standards. Based in Copenhagen, Bellevue, Minneapolis and London, Siteimprove represents a single, actionable source of truth for marketing teams of every size and scale, from Series A to the largest global enterprises. Siteimprove is majority owned by Nordic Capital.

CONTACT

[email protected]

SOURCE Siteimprove
PHILADELPHIA, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Slotozilla is an industry-leading online casino and slot review platform. Since its inception, the company has published refreshed analyses covering iGaming operators and software  with the intent to provide accurate, informative data for all users.

Throughout 2024, Slotozilla collected relevant data pertaining to player usage of the platform. These insights unveiled clear illustrations of player preferences, gender distribution, age-related data, and other appropriate gaming behaviour. This report outlines significant findings laid bare by Slotozilla's year-long study.

Explosive Global Favorites: The Demo Slots That Dominated 2024

Clear regional preferences were brought to light during Slotozilla's 2024 analysis, as Book of Ra dominated the European industry. Where's the Gold represented Australia's favourite slot, while Plinko, Wolf Run, and Sizzling Hot garnered significant attention from a worldwide player base.

Sizzling Hot Deluxe earned plaudits within the French gaming arena  attaining nearly one-quarter of the nation's demo playtime. Industry developers and operators should expect these slots to influence the iGaming scene in 2025 and beyond.

Beyond the Numbers: Surprising Engagement and Demographic Shifts Revealed

The previous year detailed a clear shift towards all-encompassing domination by particular titles and demographics. For example, Columbus proved a major hit among USA bettors  racking up an average playtime of 194.8 minutes. That figure sits far ahead of the next game in line, King of Atlantis, which garnered 72.5 minutes per average session from French users.

Similar lob-sided statistics exist when comparing gender-based play, as male German players form 73.91% of the nation's userspotentially guiding marketing efforts.

Modern Industry Impact

Data collected by SlotoZilla evidences various marked industry shifts spanning several key demographics. This report's holistic view of the modern iGaming industry highlights the increasing necessity for targeted marketing campaigns, relevant themes, and boundary-pushing features.

Users located in Australia, Poland, and Canada are notable in this regard  as players from all three vital nations tend to access online slots from the age of 25 onward. Strategies around this data are central to maintaining a robust industry.

Slotozilla at a Glance

Slotozilla is a renowned global enterprise that endeavours to deliver unbiased game casino reviews, comprehensive game guides, and impartial industry analysis. We seek to deliver relevant promotions to new users as well as veterans of the scene  with each campaign backed by fact-checked data. An example comes in the form of our most recent evaluation of on-site preferences, which provided many essential conclusions related to 2024 Demo Slot Statistics. Visit Slotozilla.com for more in-depth analyses.

Looking Ahead

During 2024, Slotozilla measured key metrics and gathered important insights based on user preferences. We urge the wider iGaming industry to utilize our findings to strengthen future campaigns throughout the coming year. We appreciate you joining us in analysing the data!

Media Contact:

Slotozilla

[email protected]

+1 267 800 0083

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/13076305

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE www.slotozilla.com
The advertising landscape is shifting toward greater transparency and quality-driven performance metrics, and the industry is pushing for supply-side accountability across the board. With advertisers becoming more selective about where their ads run, and buyers using engagement-based KPIs to assess inventory value, a new tool was needed to give publishers visibility into how their inventory is perceived.

That's where Signal Vitals comes in. With attention proven to be 2.6x more predictive of CTR than viewability, Signal Vitals helps publishers reclaim value by pricing inventory around real user engagement. This tool empowers publishers to compete in a more data-driven programmatic environment by aligning their ad experiences with advertiser requirements. It provides publishers with real-time, benchmarked insights into inventory quality including viewability, attention metrics, ads-to-content ratios and other critical data that impacts overall programmatic performance.

"We have seen immense change in our industry over the last several years and publishers are looking for ways to gain more transparency and improve their inventory," said Peter Cunha, Managing Director for Sovrn's Signal business. "Signal Vitals goes beyond standard metrics that other dashboards might offer and gives publishers a holistic view of ad performance metrics alongside ad environment quality metrics they are providing buyers, while offering actionable recommendations. With our tool, publishers can understand how demand views their inventory. Publishers can uncover the relationship between ad clutter and page performance and how their inventory quality benchmarks against the rest of the market, enabling them to make immediate adjustments in their monetization stack that align with demand preferences. This will ultimately lead to better campaign performance and higher yield for publishers over the long term."

Signal Vitals, which is available to all of Sovrn's Signal customers as well as Sovrn Exchange publishers with direct connections (i.e. Prebid), gives publishers enhanced transparency into how their inventory is valued by demand partners. With the ecosystem increasingly focusing on quality, publishers will be able to competitively differentiate their inventory by aligning with advertisers' expectations. For advertisers, this means higher quality inventory with clearer engagement signals and more effective ad placements based on real user engagement metrics.

In addition, Sovrn is partnering with Jounce Media to make Jounce's data available in Signal Vitals. The data from Jounce Media will be available to all publishers this Summer.

"Publishers deserve better visibility into how their inventory is presented to buyers," said Chris Kane, CEO, Jounce Media. " Signal Vitals is an important step toward arming publishers with the data they need to make informed yield management decisions and demonstrates Sovrn's commitment to building a durable programmatic supply chain."

Signal Vitals is currently tracking more than three billion auctions per month across thousands of domains and hundreds of demand sources. The data shows that the top 25% of publishers generated a eCPM of $1.49 or greater to start Q2. These high yielding publishers have 32% lower ad density compared to those with CPMs lower than $1.49. Additionally, publishers with higher eCPMs garner 5% more attention on average than publishers generating lower eCPMs. With this data, a publisher will be able to optimize ads-to-content ratio for higher yield outcomes.

Signal Vitals is the latest product launch from Sovrn. The company recently announced Commerce Audiences earlier this month. Sovrn continues to focus on tools that help advertisers and publishers alike, increasing revenues without sacrificing user experience.

For more information on Signal Vitals or any other Sovrn offerings, please visit www.sovrn.com .

About Sovrn

Sovrn empowers publishers and content creators with advertising, affiliate marketing, and data products to help them understand, operate, and grow their businesses. Serving thousands of customers across 80,000+ websites, mobile apps, and CTV channels, Sovrn reaches over 500 million active consumers daily. Sovrn is committed to transparency and fighting fraud, as recognized by IAB, JICWEBS, and TAG. Based in Boulder, Colorado, with offices in New York and London, Sovrn is a trusted leader in publisher technology. Visit sovrn.com to learn more.

SOURCE Sovrn Holdings, Inc.
LONG BEACH, Calif., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Galorath, the premier AI-powered estimation platform provider for cost, schedule, and risk analysis, today announced SpaceWorks Enterprises Inc. is leveraging its flagship SEER platform to accelerate aerospace design project planning and business models for a broad range of national defense and commercial spaceflight initiatives. Galorath's SEER for Hardware (SEER-H) predictive datasets combined with the structured operational intelligence of SEERai empower SpaceWorks to generate cost, schedule, and risk estimates and predictive analytics driven by advanced scenario analysis, dynamic market insights, and agentic AI-validated win/loss analysisaugmenting project planning, evaluation, and modeling.

"At SpaceWorks, delivering credible programmatic insights is essential to our support of DoD, NASA, and commercial aerospace customers," said Tyler Kunsa, Vice President of Defense & Space Systems at SpaceWorks. "SEER and SEERai give our team unprecedented speed, transparency, and technical depth, enabling highly efficient cost model development and iteration across the lifecycle of projects ranging from hypersonic systems to space exploration. Galorath's products have enhanced our analytical throughput and confidence while strengthening our overall value proposition."

SpaceWorks uses SEER-H, predictive datasets for evaluating and estimating project potential, optimizing costs, and developing detailed project plans. In concert with SEERaithe operational intelligence layer of Galorath's award-winning platformSEER leverages agentic artificial intelligence to securely ingest historical data and real-world intelligence to provide actionable insights into evolving cost, schedule, risk, and work breakdown structures (WBS). With SEER + SEERai, SpaceWorks can significantly streamline the creation of and visibility into cost, schedule, and risk while quickly incorporating accurate and historical parameters.

"In the complex world of hardware development, delivering projects on time, within budget, and at the highest quality is essential for success," said Charles Orlando, Chief Strategy Officer at Galorath. "Combining the power of SEER with advanced AI technologies enhances accuracy and minimizes manual effort, significantly cutting down planning time a crucial advantage for companies like SpaceWorks who manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects within the government, aerospace, and start-up sectors."

SEER AI-Powered Estimation and Planning

Built on Galorath's trusted SEER modeling framework, the platform combines analytical depth with intuitive access. SEER's core modeling framework is refined over decades of complex program execution that addresses the needs of cost, schedule, labor, risk, should-cost, and price-to-win estimation and analysis for hardware, software, manufacturing, and information technology (IT). The platform's operational intelligence layer, SEERai, is integrated throughout the experience. It enables natural interaction, embedded guidance, and intelligent automation  reducing cycle time, improving alignment, and unlocking knowledge trapped in documents, processes, and expert memory. For more information about the SEER platform, visit www.galorath.com.

About SpaceWorks Enterprises

Based in Atlanta, GA, SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) specializes in advanced concept analysis, systems analysis, rapid prototyping, product development, and economic assessment for a broad and diverse customer base. SpaceWorks is dedicated to advancing the state-of-the-art in the aerospace industry, from the early design phase through flight demonstration and system operation. More about this mission at SpaceWorks.aero.

About Galorath Incorporated

Galorath delivers an AI-powered business operations platform grounded in decades of real-world cost, schedule, and risk validation for operations, supply chains, and manufacturing. The flagship SEER platform is trusted by industry giants in high-stakes environments, like Accenture, NASA, Boeing, the U.S. Department of Defense, and BAE Systems (EU). Built on Galorath's trusted SEER modeling framework, the platform combines analytical depth with intuitive access to accelerate time to market, enhance project predictability and visibility, and ensure project costs are on track. For more information, visit https://galorath.com/.

SEER is a registered trademark of Galorath Incorporated. SEER-H and SEERai are trademarks of Galorath Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the future financial performance, business strategies, market conditions, and product development plans of the companies mentioned. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including those discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The companies mentioned here undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Galorath
One Platform for Marketing and Compliance Teams to Move Faster & Stay Compliant

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- StarCompliance (Star), a global leader in employee compliance technology solutions, today announced the launch of its AI-Assisted Marketing Compliance Review solution, a powerful new capability designed to help marketing and compliance teams proactively manage regulatory risks tied to promotional content.

Star's latest solution marks a key milestone in the company's commitment to innovation. It streamlines marketing and advertising review by using AI to detect unsubstantiated claims and misrepresentations, helping firms reduce bottlenecks and deliver compliant communications at scale.

StarCompliance launches AI-Assisted Marketing Compliance Review to manage regulatory risks tied to promotional content. Post this

"In today's rapidly evolving regulatory environment, marketing and compliance teams need tools that not only reduce review time but ensure materials meet FINRA and SEC guidelines," said Kelvin Dickenson, Chief Product Officer at Star. "This solution streamlines workflows, enhances oversight, and gives firms the confidence to move quickly while staying compliant."

Key benefits include:

AI-Assisted Reviews: Automatically flags risks and where necessary, recommends firm-approved disclosures from a client's curated library.

Automatically flags risks and where necessary, recommends firm-approved disclosures from a client's curated library. Configurable Intake & Assignment: Route review submissions based on fund type or regulatory framework.

Route review submissions based on fund type or regulatory framework. Multi-Format Support: Upload PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDF, and more.

Upload PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDF, and more. In-App Collaboration: Comment, edit, and compare versions side-by-side.

Comment, edit, and compare versions side-by-side. Disclosure Library: Suggest the addition of approved disclosure language during reviews.

Suggest the addition of approved disclosure language during reviews. Centralized Oversight: Maintain one source of truth with full version history and audit trails.

Market Compliance Discussion

As part of Star's leadership on issues facing the compliance community, the company will host a webinar, Marketing Review Made Easy: AI Tools for FINRA & SEC Compliance on June 18, 2025, at 11 AM EST. They'll examine how automated marketing reviews are transforming the way firms are managing and adhering to regulatory guardrails.

Visit www.starcompliance.com to learn more about building a smarter, safer compliance culture.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

+1 917-868-7791

SOURCE StarCompliance
DENVER, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Startek, a digital-first global customer experience (CX) solutions provider, announced that Startek Philippines has been recognized with four prestigious accolades at The Philippines Leadership Awards 2025 presented by the World HRD Congress in Manila on April 28. These awards celebrate organizations that are redefining people strategy through impactful leadership, innovation and a commitment to workplace excellence.

Startek Philippines was honored for its Diversity Impact initiatives, strategic alignment of HR with business goals, focus on promoting health in the workplace and for outstanding individual leadership, with Mridula Paul, Senior Director, HR named as one of the Topmost HR Leaders in the Philippines. These achievements highlight the company's consistent focus on enabling talent-led transformation and embedding people practices that support operational success.

Startek was awarded for its emphasis on employee engagement, inclusion, learning and development, career growth and well-being.

"Creating long-term value for our clients begins with investing in our people," said SM Gupta, Chief People Officer, Startek. "This recognition underscores the impact of aligning our people strategy with business goals. By fostering a culture of inclusion, continuous learning and employee well-being, we are building a resilient and agile workforce that drives both innovation and performance."

These honors reinforce Startek's commitment to building a future-ready talent ecosystemone that enhances employee experience, accelerates organizational effectiveness and delivers measurable business outcomes.

About The Philippines Leadership Awards

Organized by the World HRD Congress, The Philippines Leadership Awards celebrate organizations and individuals that exemplify excellence in HR and business leadership. The awards recognize the transformative role of human capital in driving organizational success and highlight practices that foster innovation, diversity, wellness and strategic alignment. The winners are selected following a rigorous evaluation process by a jury comprising respected professionals across industries.

About Startek

Startek is a global leader in customer experience management, delivering comprehensive digital transformation and CX solutions. With over 35 years of expertise, Startek empowers businesses across diverse industries to create memorable, personalized customer interactions. Operating in 12 countries with a team of 38,000 associates, Startek is committed to connecting brands with their customers through innovation, empathy, and operational excellence.

To learn more, visit www.startek.com and follow us on LinkedIn @Startek.

Website: www.startek.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2222919/4299556/Startek_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Startek
The Trump factor has added to the long and uncertain wait between planting and harvest. The fear is usually that an unexpected storm will wipe out the fields, that an unseasonal frost will kill the plants when they are at their weakest, or that an unsuspected pest will devastate a defenseless crop. But this year, the presidents tariff war has put their futures up in the air. While plantings increase as spring turns to summer and the trade landscape changes week by week, farmers wait nervously, as sowing is often only possible thanks to a loan that will be repaid when the harvest has been sold, many months down the road. Between the hope for new trade agreements that stabilize the situation and the bitter memories of the Republican presidents first administration, which affected the industry at historic levels, American farmers are holding their breath.

The U.S. agricultural and livestock market has for decades been dedicated to the export of commodities such as corn, soybeans, and pork, and to a much lesser extent, specialized products or those for local consumption. Therefore, a shock to international trade has profound repercussions for the domestic agricultural industry, especially considering that 47% of exports go to the three countries the president has targeted most with tariffs in recent months: China, Mexico, and Canada. At the end of April, China canceled an order for 12,000 tons of U.S. pork, the largest cancellation since the start of the Covid pandemic.

While stock markets reacted very well to the announcement of temporary tariff reductions by the United States and China following initial talks last weekend in Switzerland, farmers are more skeptical. Even if some trade deal is announced, you dont really know how long its going to be in place. Whats going to happen tomorrow, says Ben Lilliston, director of rural strategies and climate change at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. And for now, he adds, this is already leading to a reduction in investment by farmers, who are buying less new machinery, for example, to offset the increase in other production costs, such as essential fertilizers, the vast majority of whose precursors come from Canada.

But the effects of the tariff war on both export and import markets, as well as on logistics itself, with container shortages already beginning to be reported, are not the only cause for concern. When you combine that with what theyre doing at USDA, which is drastically cutting the department staffing, closing buildings and cutting programs that support farmers who are growing for local and regional markets, youre sort of hitting them from all sides: were hitting the exports and also shrinking resources to help shift and focus locally or regionally, adds Lilliston, who believes the possibility of trade dumping  the subsidized shipment of products to other countries below market prices to avoid mass producer defaults  is very real.

Memory of bankruptcies looms

During Trumps first term in the White House, the number of farms filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. reached historic levels. Between 2018 and 2019, they rose 24% after the trade war unleashed then  a childrens quarrel compared to the one Trump is waging now  costing American producers $27 billion.

I would expect that when things get tight, well see more bankruptcies like in the first trade fight. The biggest economic asset that farmers have is their land, and farmland is still worth something and you always find either bigger farmers or outside investors that are interested in that. I think we will see that but I wouldnt expect production necessarily to go down, but I would expect a consolidation of ownership, Lilliston predicts.

The forecast is based on previous experience. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of farms in the country declined at the fastest pace in two decades, with small farms being the most affected. In contrast, the number of farms with profits between $2.5 million and $5 million doubled.

This wouldnt have happened without the federal governments $28 billion bailout payments at the time, which particularly benefited large producers. The richest 1% received an average of $183,331, while the poorest 80% received less than $5,000 each, according to a 2019 analysis by the Environmental Working Group, which stated that the public was subsidizing growing inequality in the industry.

The landscape hasnt changed much since then, Lilliston laments. I think the main thing is we need to pass a new farm bill. Right now, it has all the incentives to grow commodity crops for global markets. I think its clear that the Trump administration is going to disrupt those markets over the next four years and make them unpredictable and probably limit them in some way. It would be a major shift, but its going to be necessary. Otherwise, theres just going to have to be a huge bailout. I think they just need to have a clear plan. I dont even know what to say about what they should do, because none of it makes any sense. It might make sense in their world, but not in the world that the rest of us live in.

In the vineyard-filled hills of Sonoma, in northern California, George Davis  although he just spent a couple of days meeting with members of Congress in the capital along with producers from around the country to voice his concerns  believes that the industry cant just wait idly for Washington to act and, instead, tries to see opportunity amid the uncertainty. We need to develop our consumer base, engage more with them. When things get tough, people reach out and form communities. And we need to strengthen our communities, whether through direct relationships with customers or among like-minded producers, or through political action. Its about forming networks and reaching out to like-minded people to develop survival strategies and make changes for the future.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Victory Tire & Auto Service brings its customer-first approach to new communities in the northwest metro

MINNEAPOLIS, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Victory Tire & Auto, a Straightaway Tire & Auto brand, has announced the acquisition of Reliable Auto Care in Buffalo, Minnesota. The strategic move expands Victory's presence into the Northwest suburbs of the greater Minneapolis area, marking the company's first location in Buffalo and strengthening its market position in Minnesota. The acquisition, which was finalized on April 30, 2025, reflects Straightaway's ongoing commitment to partnering with established local automotive repair businesses while maintaining their community connections.

Reliable Auto Care, formerly owned and operated by Jeff and Kris Jackson, is located at a high-traffic intersection in Buffalo that sees more than 25,000 vehicles per day. With seven service bays, the shop offers strong visibility and ample capacity for future growth. This acquisition brings Victory's best-in-class customer service, expert repair capabilities, and industry-leading warranty coverage to the area, while benefiting from the expertise of the experienced team already in place.

"After years of building Reliable Auto Care into a business we are truly proud of, we couldn't be happier to pass the torch to Victory Tire & Auto," said Jeff and Kris Jackson, former owners of Reliable Auto Care. "Their commitment to quality service and community values mirrors everything we've stood for, and I'm confident our customers will be in great hands for years to come."

The addition of Reliable Auto Care aligns with Straightaway's strategy, which emphasizes maintaining strong community connections while providing shops with enterprise-level support. Victory will provide additional resources, including operational expertise, technology solutions, and enhanced training programs, to enhance the team's ability to deliver exceptional service to Buffalo residents.

"Our team at Victory is excited to join this growing and expanding city of Buffalo," said Jeff Matt, Victory Brand President. "We love the history of service that we are inheriting from Jeff and Kris and can't wait to meet their loyal clients and care for the automotive needs of this wonderful community!"

Victory Tire & Auto remains committed to maintaining the high standards of service that customers have come to expect. Straightaway is actively expanding its footprint in new and existing markets and welcomes inquiries from shop owners interested in exploring a sale or partnership. For more information visit www.gostraightaway.com.

About Straightaway Tire & Auto/Victory Tire & Auto

Straightaway Tire & Auto is a leading independent, full-service aftermarket automotive repair and service platform with 65+ locations across Colorado, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. In Minnesota and surrounding areas, Victory Tire & Auto is a part of the Straightaway Tire & Auto family, delivering trusted automotive repair services with a strong local presence. Straightaway focuses on building strong local brands by partnering with established automotive repair businesses to provide resources and operational expertise that drive growth and long-term success. The company is committed to identifying opportunities to strengthen the markets where it operates and, being good stewards of the communities it serves. Straightaway is actively expanding its footprint in new and existing markets through strategic acquisitions and welcomes inquiries from shop owners interested in exploring a sale or partnership. For more information visit www.gostraightaway.com.

SOURCE Straightaway Tire and Auto
SHANGHAI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals") and TransRecoBio (Wenzhou) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("TransRecoBio") officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two companies will integrate their core strengths in antibody drug discovery and innovative formulation manufacturing, with a focus on addressing major unmet clinical needs in ophthalmology, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, anti-aging, and infectious diseases. Together, they will advance the development of cutting-edge formulations such as eye drops, topical gels, and inhalation agents, creating an end-to-end solution covering R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization, thereby accelerating the development of novel drug formulations.

This strategic partnership pioneers a new collaborative model of "Biotech + CDMO + National-Level Platforms." Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals leverages its globally leading AI-STAL platforma trillion-scale intelligent molecular libraryto empower drug discovery. This library encompasses ten major molecule types, including full-length antibodies, single-domain antibodies, bispecifics, trispecifics, peptides, and mini-proteins, with a capacity in the tens of trillions. It can rapidly generate thousands of lead molecules, significantly shortening the drug development timeline. By combining intelligent drug screening and preclinical research, Sanyou is accelerating the translation of laboratory innovations into clinical applications.

TransRecoBio, backed by two national-level platformsthe National Key Laboratory for Large Molecule Drug Manufacturing and the National Engineering Research Center for Growth Factor Drugs and Protein Formulationspossesses leading-edge capabilities in microbial/eukaryotic protein production, BFS ophthalmic formulations, and lyophilized/injectable formulations. With advanced manufacturing facilities and a rigorous quality management system, the company ensures reliable high-quality product supply.

Wang Shumin, General Manager of TransRecoBio, emphasized: "By integrating Sanyou's cutting-edge platforms in antibody discovery and generationbuilt around its trillion-scale, integrated, and intelligent drug development technologieswith TransRecoBio's mature CDMO capabilities and expertise in novel formulations, we will form a complementary technology alliance. Together, we will tackle technical challenges in areas such as ophthalmology and inject fresh momentum into global medical innovation."

Dr. Guojun Lang, CEO of Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals, stated: "This partnership marks a significant milestone in our R&D-manufacturing synergy strategy. By harnessing the four-fold power of 'trillion-scale molecular library + intelligent screening + innovative formulation R&D + flexible manufacturing,' we aim to break down the traditional barriers between research and production, enabling innovative biologics to reach patients faster and benefit patients worldwide."

This strategic partnership marks a step forward for China's biopharmaceutical industry toward a fully integrated, collaborative development model. It is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of innovative therapy R&D and industrialization, offering more therapeutic options to patients worldwide.

About TransRecoBio

Located in the China Gene Therapy Valley within Wenzhou's Ouhai Life and Health Town, TransRecoBio occupies a total floor area of nearly 20,000  . The platform provides comprehensive one-stop CDMO services for the development and manufacturing of recombinant proteins from eukaryotic and microbial sources, nanobodies, monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, small-volume sterile lyophilized powders and liquids, and advanced formulation delivery systems. The company operates two independent microbial fermentation lines (500L and 2000L), equipped with one 15  lyophilizer (with space reserved for two more), and meets national capacity needs for recombinant protein centralized procurement. TransRecoBio is among the leading domestic CDMOs specializing in large-molecule gel and ophthalmic formulations.

Key Capabilities:

Prokaryotic Drug Substance Platform: 50L+500L / 50L+250L+2000L

Eukaryotic Drug Substance Platform: 50L / 250L / 500L (ATF perfusion) / 2000L

Formulations: Sterile vial production line (lyophilized & aqueous injections)

Formulations: BFS sterile eye drops/inhalation formulations

Formulations: Sterile topical gels in aluminum-plastic/aluminum tubes

About Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals

Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. is a world-leading high-tech biotechnology enterprise focusing on R&D and services of innovative biologic drugs. Sanyou has built the 4C business patterns that integrate "differentiated CRO, integrated CDO, innovative CPO and characteristic CRS", to accomplish the mission "to make the R&D easy for innovative biologics".

Sanyou has established an integrated innovative biologic drug R&D laboratory with advanced facilities, and has a professional team with the majority holding a Ph.D. or master degree. Sanyou has built three industry-leading innovative technology platforms featured by "super-trillion, integration, and intelligence" , which are comprised of more than 50 sub-platforms with the core innovative super-trillion phage display platform, and supported by platforms of material preparation, biologics discovery, molecule optimization, in vitro and in vivo efficacy, production cell line construction, upstream and downstream process development, preclinical R&D, industrialization development, etc.

Sanyou's business network has expanded to all parts of the world, including Asia, US and Europe, and established branches in Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego and London. Sanyou has established friendly business relationships with more than 1200 pharmaceutical companies, drug R&D institutions and diagnostics companies worldwide. Sanyou received National-level certification as a high-tech enterprise and a Specialized and Sophisticated enterprise, and passed the ISO9001 quality assurance certification and GB/T intellectual property management system certification.

SOURCE Sanyou Bio
Research uncovered 35 companies based in the People's Republic of China that may be helping generate illicit revenue for the DPRK government

SALT LAKE CITY, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Strider Technologies, Inc. ("Strider"), the leading provider of strategic intelligence, today published a new report describing how North Korean actors, often with the support of entities within the People's Republic of China, work to penetrate digital workforces of Western organizations to access sensitive data, advance geopolitical goals, and generate and launder illicit proceeds.

Strider's reportInside the Shadow Network: North Korean IT Workers and Their PRC Backerslays out the role PRC-based entities play in these DPRK operations, which often involve facilitators and front companies based in China. These intermediaries are crucial in enabling the DPRK's use of digital platforms, payment systems, and employment marketplaces, creating a cross-border infrastructure that helps obscure the origins of the workers and facilitates the laundering of illicit proceeds.

Strider identified a PRC-affiliated front company that has been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for shipping IT equipment to Department 53 of The DPRK's Ministry of The People's Armed Forces. Department 53 is a weapons-trading entity subordinate to North Korea's Ministry of National Defense that is reportedly involved in selling advanced conventional weapons and military-grade communications equipment and generating revenue through front companies in various sectors, including IT and software development.

Further investigation into that OFAC-sanctioned company uncovered a shadow network of 35 other PRC-based companies that are linked to it through organizational and personal connections. These 35 affiliated companies could also be materially supporting Department 53.

"North Korean actors, often posing as freelance developers or engineers, are engaged in a coordinated DPRK campaign to infiltrate Western organizations and generate desperately needed revenue," said Greg Levesque, CEO and Co-Founder of Strider. "Our research at Strider reveals how front companies based in the PRC are enabling these global operations, providing cover and infrastructure for North Korean IT workers to operate undetected. A business that hires any fraudulent worker can face financial losses, IP theft, and data breaches. However, these risks increase exponentially if a company unwittingly hires a DPRK national because their earnings directly fund sanctioned weapons programs and help the regime bypass international restrictions."

The report also details the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by these North Korean operatives, including the use of fake identities, front companies, and the exploitation of global freelancing platforms; outlines the risks North Korean IT workers pose to Western businesses; and maps the spread of these workers across the globe.

The full Inside the Shadow Network: North Korean IT Workers and Their PRC Backers report can be found here.

About Strider

Strider is the leading strategic intelligence company empowering organizations to secure and advance their technology and innovation. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology alongside proprietary methodologies, Strider transforms publicly available data into critical insights. This increased intelligence enables organizations to proactively address and respond to risks associated with state-sponsored intellectual property theft, targeted talent acquisition, and third-party partners. Strider has operations in 15 countries around the globe with offices in Salt Lake City, Washington, DC, London, and Tokyo.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Strider Technologies, Inc.
MARTINSVILLE, Ind., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Camp Association (ACA) is proud to announce a $500,000 grant initiative, made possible by the generous support of the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Global Foundation, part of SMBC Group. The Camp-School Partnership Project will award one-year grants to qualifying nonprofit camps during the summers of 2025 and 2026.

This initiative is designed to help camps expand their capacity to implement and sustain high-quality programming in collaboration with schools, districts, and other community-based partners. The goal: to increase access to meaningful camp experiences for youth, particularly in communities that have historically lacked access to such opportunities.

"ACA's research shows that camp-school partnerships (CSPs) are a proven strategy in getting children to camp who otherwise would not attend," said Henry DeHart, ACA interim president/CEO. "The support of SMBC Global Foundation for this initiative is paramount in helping camps reach more children. Students participating in CSPs often leave camp with lasting memories of their experience which can, in turn, be leveraged to support their classroom learning."

For summer 2025, ACA is awarding $280,000 to eight outstanding organizations. This year's grant cycle saw a highly competitive pool, with nearly 120 applications and 40 finalists. The following recipients were selected:

Fiver Children's Foundation (NY)





Guided Discoveries (CA)





Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco  Camp Mendocino (CA)





 Camp Mendocino (CA) Camp Herrlich (NY)





Camp Abilities Tucson (AZ)





Camp CENergy (TX)





Camp Fire Long Beach (CA)





(CA) Princeton-Blairstown Center (NY)

Grants will directly support programming that reaches an estimated 550 campers each summer, with a focus on youth from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The next application window, for summer 2026, will open in fall 2025. ACA encourages applications from camps nationwide, with priority consideration given to those serving youth in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, and Texas  communities where SMBC employees live and work.

The SMBC Global Foundation, in addition to supporting Camp-School Partnership, is also supporting camperships at camps mentioned in the above regions to increase access to meaningful camp experiences.

For more information about the Camp-School Partnership Project, visit ACAcamps.org.

About the American Camp Association

The American Camp Association (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp's voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

About SMBC Group

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 150 offices and 120,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and ADRs on the New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization's extensive global network. The Group's operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities Canada, Ltd., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit smbcgroup.com.

SOURCE American Camp Association
The First AI-Native Platform to Unite Compliance, Cybersecurity and Data for Financial Services Firms

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Surge Ventures, a FinTech venture studio specializing in risk and regulatory innovation, today announced the launch of SurgeONE.ai, the industry's first integrated platform combining AI, expert services and secure data infrastructure to power modern compliance and cybersecurity for broker-dealers, RIAs and other regulated financial institutions.

The SurgeONE.ai platform unifies the proven capabilities of RegVerse, Kovair and Security Snapshot into a single intelligent system  delivering end-to-end solutions that blend automation with domain expertise. The platform was designed from the ground up to address real-world regulatory complexity, cyber threats and fragmented systems  problems legacy vendors and AI-only startups struggle to solve in isolation.

"This isn't a rebrand or another AI wrapper," said Sid Yenamandra, CEO of SurgeONE.ai. "It's a new architecture, built by practitioners who've lived compliance and cyber from the inside, that will give firms clarity, agility and control in a time of mounting oversight."

One Unified Platform. Three Core Domains.

SurgeONE.ai is modular, scalable and offers capabilities that align with where firms are today and where they need to go tomorrow:

Compliance : AI-guided policy surveillance, WSP gap testing, attestation workflows, trade oversight and marketing review  with embedded expert support for regulatory registration, audit readiness and ongoing program management.

: AI-guided policy surveillance, WSP gap testing, attestation workflows, trade oversight and marketing review  with embedded expert support for regulatory registration, audit readiness and ongoing program management. Cybersecurity : Real-time visibility across rep devices, vendors and networks, with risk scoring and compliance reporting aligned to SEC cybersecurity and ADV Part C requirements.

: Real-time visibility across rep devices, vendors and networks, with risk scoring and compliance reporting aligned to SEC cybersecurity and ADV Part C requirements. Data Infrastructure: Seamless integration across core WealthTech systems, automated data hygiene and a centralized AI-ready lakehouse for reporting, analytics and regulatory response.

The result is a single command center that reduces vendor sprawl, cuts risk and streamlines operations for financial firms facing increasingly complex regulatory demands.

Why It Matters Now

Regulated firms are overwhelmed by disconnected point solutions, outdated legacy platforms and increasing audit and enforcement activity. SurgeONE.ai eliminates the need for juggling multiple vendors by combining expert services with intelligent technology in one scalable system.

"We've spent years working with financial firms through audits, exams and breaches," said Yenamandra. "SurgeONE.ai is the culmination of everything we've learned  a platform that delivers real value, not just automation for automation's sake."

A Platform to Grow With

SurgeONE.ai was designed not only as a solution, but as a foundation that welcomes collaboration with other compliance professionals and service providers who believe in combining human insight with smart technology.

"Our mission is to modernize how the compliance and risk industry operates," added Yenamandra. "We invite other expert-led firms looking to scale their impact to partner with us, because the future belongs to platforms built by practitioners, not just programmers."

About Surge Ventures

Surge Ventures is a venture studio that builds, acquires, and invests in SaaS companies solving mission-critical challenges in compliance, cybersecurity, and data infrastructure for financial services. Through its integrated execution model and shared technology foundation, Surge has unified RegVerse, Kovair, and Security Snapshot to create SurgeONE.ai  a modern risk and compliance platform designed for scale, speed, and trust.

Media Contact:

Mitch Manning

Haven Tower Group LLC

424-317-4858

[email protected]

SOURCE Surge Ventures
TARZANA, Calif., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Survivorship is proud to announce its online conference this weekend on May 16  18, 2025. Survivorship is celebrating its 36th year helping survivors and co-survivors of child abuse. For many years, Survivorship has provided resource information, education and conferences for survivors of extreme abuse.

Our Survivorship Trafficking and Extreme Abuse Online Conference 2025 will have presentations for survivors and clinicians. https://survivorship.org/the-survivorship-trafficking-and-extreme-abuse-online-conference-2025

Survivorship is celebrating its 36th year helping survivors and co-survivors of child abuse. https://survivorship.org Post this

Presentations will include "Progress made against Ritual Abuse in Scotland since 1980" by Laurie Matthew. Dr. Laurie Matthew OBE is the founder and Manager of Eighteen And Under an award-winning charity providing confidential support services to young people who have been abused. She is a founding member of MAIRSINN (formerly the Ritual Abuse Network Forum - RANS). https://www.mairsinn.org.uk/ https://www.18u.org.uk

"Researching, Writing and Publishing about Masonic Ritual Abuse  What are the issues?" by Lynn Brunet. Lynn Brunet (PhD) is an Australian art historian whose research examines the coupling of trauma and ritual in modern and contemporary western art and literature. It traces the connection between Masonic and other fraternal initiation rites and complex trauma in the work of so-called 'tortured' artists and writers. https://independent.academia.edu/LynnBrunet1

"People Who Identify as Plural" by Randy Noblitt PhD. This presentation discusses the variety of circumstances where people may have the experience of multiple identities or selves. Randy Noblitt is a professor of Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles and a licensed psychologist in Texas. He has evaluated and treated extreme abuse survivors clinically since 1979. https://ritualabuse.us/smart/randy-noblitt/

"Successful Investigations of Extreme Abuse Cases  The Role of Mental Health Professionals in Family Courts" by Dr. Rainer Hermann Kurz. Rainer Kurz is a Chartered Psychologist based in London. Since 1990 Rainer has worked in Research & Development roles for leading test publishers. His PhD dissertation was on enhancing the validity and utility of ability testing. https://independent.academia.edu/Rainer_Kurz

"Ritualistic Abuse Survivors Difficulties Obtaining Services" by Neil Brick. Ritualistic abuse survivors have struggled to obtain adequate mental health and social support services for over twenty years. Neil Brick is a survivor of ritualistic abuse. His child abuse and ritualistic abuse newsletter S.M.A.R.T. http://ritualabuse.us has been published for 30 years. http://neilbrick.com

Ritual Abuse Evidence https://survivorship.org/ritual-abuse-evidence/

Child Abuse Wiki - Ritual Abuse http://childabusewiki.org/index.php?title=Ritual_Abuse

Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Child Abuse Conference Online Presentations https://survivorship.org/survivorship-ritual-abuse-and-child-abuse-conference-online-presentations/

Survivorship Online Notes and Journal Publications https://survivorship.org/notes-and-journal/

SOURCE Survivorship Ritual Abuse and Mind Control Conference
The Four-Unit Signed Agreement Brings Two Stores to Arkansas and Two Stores to Missouri

Texas-Born Entrepreneurs and Seasoned QSR Franchisees Michael and Melissa Aaron are Behind the Deal

The First Store is Slated to Open in Fall 2025 at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, Arkansas , With a Missouri Debut Planned for 2027

ROGERS, Ark., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe , the ultra-popular restaurant brand serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and specializing in sweet and savory crepes, hot drinks and more, expands its national presence entering two new states: Arkansas and Missouri. In a four-unit signed agreement, two restaurants will be opening in Arkansas metropolitan cities, and two restaurants will be opening in Kansas City, Missouri. The first restaurant is slated to open in the fall of 2025, at Pinnacle Hills Promenade located at 2203 Promenade Blvd, Space 8105, Rogers, Arkansas.

Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe, the ultra-popular restaurant brand serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner and specializing in sweet and savory crepes, hot drinks and more, expands its national presence entering two new states: Arkansas and Missouri.

Behind the deal is Texas native husband-wife duo Michael and Melissa Aaron. As multi-unit and multi-brand franchise owners, the Aarons were introduced to franchising at an early age. Michael began his career as an assistant manager at Sonic Drive-In, when he was presented with the opportunity to open a new store as a manager. Meeting Melissa at work, the two climbed the ladder to open and operate numerous Sonic Drive-In locations for over 30 years, and recently a Nothing Bundt Cakes location. It wasn't until the couple walked into a Sweet Paris that they immediately knew they wanted to form a partnership with the brand.

"When we were looking to expand our portfolio, we knew we wanted a brand that we were passionate about," said Michael Aaron. "We heard about Sweet Paris and upon visiting immediately took notice of the ambiance. Once we tasted the food, we knew this was a business we wanted to be part of. Seeing how involved Ivan and Allison are, we are confident in our partnership with this brand. We are excited to lead the brand's expansion into two new states and introduce a taste of Paris to new communities."

Pinnacle Hills Promenade is a luxury retail lifestyle center known as a destination shopping and dining experience in Rogers. One of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country, Rogers is a musical hub, home to Walmart's home office and 30 minutes from the University of Arkansas. The vibrant atmosphere of Pinnacle Hills Promenade combined with the growing bustle of the city of Rogers makes the perfect location for Sweet Paris' debut in the state.

As the Aarons continue development in their multi-unit signed agreement, they are looking to expand into Little Rock, Arkansas and Kansas City, Missouri.

"Breaking into Arkansas and Missouri is a key move in our strategic national expansion, and we are thrilled to have the Aarons leading the way," said Allison Chavez, co-founder of Sweet Paris. "As seasoned restaurant franchise owners, we are confident in our partnership with them and their ability to bring communities together through high-quality food. We are eager to continue to grow and strengthen our national presence, introducing more communities to our Parisian-inspired cuisine."

Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe continues to expand nationwide, now boasting 20 stores in operation in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Mexico. Founded in 2012 by Ivan and Allison Chavez, Sweet Paris is on a mission to revive the art of eating crepes. The brand continues to embark towards national expansion, and is looking to partner with qualified and engaged individuals seeking multi-unit opportunities through its strategic partnership model. The brand offers a highly scalable opportunity with strong profit-potential.

For more information on Strategic Partnership opportunities, please visit www.sweetparisfranchise.com.

ABOUT SWEET PARIS:

Sweet Paris Creperie & Cafe is a fast-growing restaurant franchise specializing in sweet and savory crepes, waffles, salads, hot drinks and more. On a mission to "Revive the Art of Eating Crepes" one creperie at a time, Sweet Paris is seeking qualified Strategic Partners, especially those with a background in hospitality, to expand the concept in new markets. For more information about the brand, please visit www.sweetparis.com, and for more information on Strategic Partnership Opportunities, visit www.sweetparisfranchise.com.

SOURCE Sweet Paris
TAIPEI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwantrade.com, Taiwan's leading B2B e-commerce platform, is excited to showcase the best of Taiwan's ICT industry at COMPUTEX 2025, taking place May 2023 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 (TaiNEX 2). You'll find us at booth Q0930, where we'll present 15 cutting-edge products from 10 outstanding Taiwanese suppliers, spanning the AI supply chain, next-gen networking, power solutions, consumer electronics, and more.

A special highlight of this year's showcase is a company showcase event on May 21, right at our booth. Five trailblazing companies from Taiwan's AI supply chain  Solomon Technology, IBASE Technology, AEWIN Technologies, Liteon Technology, and Neousys Technology  will each deliver a concise pitch presentation, offering firsthand insights into their latest innovations. The event is open to all, just great ideas and opportunities to connect.

Among the booth showcase companies:

Solomon Technology will unveil META-aivi , an AI-powered software solution designed to streamline packaging checkout with visual inspection and real-time recognition capabilities.

will unveil , an AI-powered software solution designed to streamline packaging checkout with visual inspection and real-time recognition capabilities. IBASE Technology will feature its sleek digital signage player , a compact yet powerful solution for 4K content delivery in commercial and industrial settings.

will feature its sleek , a compact yet powerful solution for content delivery in commercial and industrial settings. Accordance Systems will showcase its SSD drive arrays and hardware RAID controllers, ideal for demanding applications in sectors such as manufacturing and finance.

Beyond the exhibition hall, Taiwantrade extends the experience through its ICT Online Pavilion:

https://ictpavilion.taiwantrade.com/home.html

This exclusive online showcase features over 37,000 ICT products, including industrial IoT solutions, high-performance components, advanced communication systems, and more. Buyers are warmly invited to explore the platform and discover a broader selection of Taiwan's top-quality tech offerings  with full sourcing support at their fingertips.

Whether you're visiting COMPUTEX in person or browsing online, Taiwantrade invites global buyers to connect, explore, and source smarter. Discover the innovation powering the world  only at Taiwantrade.com.

SOURCE Taiwantrade.com
The steep fall in global manufacturers' purchases signals a likely production slowdown in the near future

North America factories respond to tariffs by buying less inputs and aggressively stockpiling

Purchasing activity by Asian manufacturers at its weakest since Dec. 2023 as demand slumps across the region's key exporting hubs

Bright spot: Europe's industrial recession is finally coming to an end as spare capacity shrinks further

CLARK, N.J., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index  a leading indicator tracking demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories, and backlogs based on a monthly survey of 27,000 businesses  indicated an accelerated reduction in global manufacturers' demand for inputs (raw materials, components and commodities) in April, signaling a broad-based contraction in purchasing activity by region.

GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index: Input Demand Index GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index: Stockpiling Index GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index

April's drop in buying across global manufacturers was the sharpest of 2025 to datespecifically in North America and to a lesser extent Asiaas manufacturers scale back in anticipation of weakening future demand as a direct result of tariffs.

"The first blows of the tariff war have landed on global manufacturers. Stockpiling is accelerating at a concerning rate and the first signs of manufacturers anticipating slower demand and supply shortages have emerged." said John Piatek, vice president, consulting GEP.

REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN VOLATILITY:

NORTH AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS RAISE SAFETY STOCK TO BLUNT TARIFFS NEAR-TERM IMPACT

North American manufacturers sharply increased inventory buffers in April, warehousing front-loaded Q1 purchases in response to rising tariff concerns and a renewed focus on supply chain resilience.

SPARE CAPACITY RISES ACROSS ASIA

Spare capacity across Asian supply chains increased significantly in April as factory slowdowns were evident in many of the region's major markets, led by China, Taiwan and South Korea.

In Europe, there were further signs that the continent's industrial downturn was cooling. Supply chain capacity went underutilized to the smallest degree in ten months, reflecting growth in Germany and France, though risks remain if global trade conditions worsen.

The U.K. once again recorded significant manufacturing weakness, with supplier activity down at a rate which has rarely been surpassed in 20 years of data availability.

Interpreting the data:

Index > 0, supply chain capacity is being stretched. The further above 0, the more stretched supply chains are.

Index < 0, supply chain capacity is being underutilized. The further below 0, the more underutilized supply chains are.

For more information, visit www.gep.com/volatility.

Note: Full historical data dating back to January 2005 is available for subscription. Please contact [email protected].

The next release of the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index will be 8 a.m. ET, Jun. 11, 2025.

About the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is produced by S&P Global and GEP. It is derived from S&P Global's PMI surveys, sent to companies in over 40 countries, totaling around 27,000 companies. The headline figure is a weighted sum of six sub-indices derived from PMI data, PMI Comments Trackers and PMI Commodity Price & Supply Indicators compiled by S&P Global.

A value above 0 indicates that supply chain capacity is being stretched and supply chain volatility is increasing. The further above 0, the greater the extent to which capacity is being stretched.

A value below 0 indicates that supply chain capacity is being underutilized, reducing supply chain volatility. The further below 0, the greater the extent to which capacity is being underutilized.

A Supply Chain Volatility Index is also published at a regional level for Europe, Asia, North America and the U.K. For more information about the methodology, click here.

About GEP

GEP delivers AI-powered procurement and supply chain solutions that help global enterprises become more agile and resilient, operate more efficiently and effectively, gain competitive advantage, boost profitability and increase shareholder value. Headquartered in Clark, New Jersey, GEP has offices and operations centers across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. To learn more, visit www.gep.com.

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) S&P Global provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction.

Media Contacts









Derek Creevey

Email: Director, Public Relations Joe Hayes [email protected] GEP Principal Economist

Phone: +1 646-276-4579 S&P Global Market Intelligence

Email:

[email protected] Phone: +44-1344-328-099



SOURCE GEP
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien and Teamsters Motion Picture Division Director Lindsay Dougherty on the recent proposal to establish federal film tax incentives:

"Shamefully it is the norm today for American film and TV studios to outsource the union jobs that build their industry, gutting crews here at home for the sake of their bottom line. This standard in Hollywood fuels corporate greed, stripping meaningful work out of California and other major production locations nationwide. If these studios are incapable of looking beyond their own balance sheets and bonus schedules, we have no choice but to create new opportunities to incentivize the return of this work to American shores.

"A federal film tax credit is long overdue. We must rebuild good union jobs in America and stop the bleeding of studios sending American labor overseas.

"The Teamsters thank President Trump for putting American workers first, and we call on Congress to act swiftly to pass a budget bill that supports the working families who call this industry home.

"The Teamsters have been leading the fight to restore the dignity of labor to Hollywood. But we need the help of our elected officials to finally make it a reality. It's time to pass a federal film tax credit. And the Teamsters will remember who, and who did not, stand with labor at this critical moment."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
White South Africans demonstrate in support of Donald Trump in front of the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2025.

On May 12, 49 white South Africans arrived in the United States as refugees, personally welcomed by U.S. officials in a move that has sparked both domestic and international controversy. The Trump administration granted asylum to the group for alleged racial discrimination in their home country, an argument rejected by the South African government, human rights organizations and religious groups.

The refugees, reportedly members of the Afrikaner minority  descendants of Dutch settlers  were greeted at Dulles Airport by Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau. Welcome to the United States of America. It is such an honor for us to receive you here today, Landau said. He praised their long tradition and acknowledged the challenges they claimed to have faced in South Africa.

Genocide accusations

The Trump administration explained that the decision was a response to what it called genocide against white South African farmers. White farmers are being brutally killed, the president said in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. He referred to reports of farmer murders and land expropriation policies in South Africa, and claimed that white citizens are victims of state-sanctioned racial persecution.

However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the claim completely false, and his administration emphasized that crime statistics do not support a pattern of racially motivated violence against whites. According to South African police services, farm-related crimes are not disproportionately directed against white landowners. In addition, the group Genocide Watch has stated that although whites represent about 8% of the population, they make up only 2% of murder victims.

Genocide has a very clear definition and what is happening in South Africa with white South Africans does not fit the definition at all, Mandeep Tiwana, director of evidence and engagement at CIVICUS, a South African human rights NGO, told USA Today. In fact, white South Africans are a privileged minority.

A history of territorial inequality

The controversy stems in part from South Africas fraught racial history. Until the end of apartheid in 1994, the country was ruled by its white minority, due to a system that denied Black South Africans basic civil rights. Today, despite major political changes, the white minority still holds a disproportionate share of land and economic power.

Earlier this year, President Ramaphosa signed a law allowing the South African government to seize land for redistribution, a move intended to address historical inequality but seen by some as an attack on white property rights. Trump cited this legislation as another justification for granting asylum.

Refuge for white people only?

Critics argue that the Trump administrations embrace of Afrikaner refugees stands in stark contrast to its broader immigration policies. From his first days in office, Trump slashed refugee admissions from countries such as Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. He suspended the entire refugee resettlement program, slashed funding, and revoked protections for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war, gang violence, and political persecution.

In response, activists, including Laura Thompson Osuri, executive director of Homes Without Borders, a Washington-based refugee advocacy organization  who called the administration hypocritical  protested the arrival of the South Africans at Dulles Airport near Washington, D. C.

Response from the Episcopal Church

Major religious organizations that have historically collaborated with the U.S. government on refugee resettlement are expressing strong opposition to the recent decision. The Episcopal Churchs migration ministry announced that it would rescind all of its grant agreements for refugee resettlement after the administration asked it to help settle Afrikaners.

It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, wrote Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in a public letter. Church World Service (CWS), another key player in refugee resettlement, also condemned the decision.

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Next-generation weed control solution powered by Sesgama Formulation Technology offers farmers better planning, fewer applications, and long-term resistance management

TEL AVIV, Israel and RALEIGH, N.C., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd. (SZSE: 000553), a leading global crop protection company, announced that its new herbicide, Temper More, has received registration in the United States. Temper More delivers excellent burndown and long-lasting residual activity, helping to break the cycle of herbicide-resistant weeds in row crops. Powered by ADAMA's proprietary Sesgama Formulation Technology, the solution offers farmers a more effective tool to manage weed resistance.

Herbicide resistance continues to challenge farmers across the U.S., making it increasingly difficult to control aggressive weeds. Glyphosate alone is no longer effective in many cases, often requiring multiple applications that increase cost, create logistical complexity, and raise the risk of crop damage and yield losses.

Temper More is built with a powerful combination of S-Metolachlor and Glufosinate-ammoniumtwo active ingredients with different modes of actionmaking it a smarter, long-term solution for managing glyphosate-resistant weeds. It targets a broad range of grass and broadleaf weeds that have developed resistance to glyphosate, PPO, and ALS-based herbicides  including pigweed, morningglory, and waterhemp.

With dual modes of action, Temper More delivers broad-spectrum control and extended residual activity, giving crops like soybean, corn, and cotton a clean and competitive start. This early-season suppression supports better planning and fewer applications, helping growers save time and money.

Temper More also helps preserve the long-term effectiveness of herbicide-tolerant systems, such as Dicamba and 2,4-D. Its flexible application window is especially valuable for glufosinate-resistant cropping systems, giving growers greater operational flexibility and reducing in-season stress.

Temper More is powered by ADAMA's proprietary Sesgama Formulation Technology, which enables the stable and easy-to-use combination of S-Metolachlor and Glufosinate-ammonium. This advanced formulation, using a proprietary polymeric surfactant, ensures optimal performance and ease of application.

"Temper More is a leap forward for U.S. farmers in the fight against herbicide-resistant weeds," said Germain Boulay, Head of Global Herbicides and Molluscicides at ADAMA. "It gives growers a smarter, more flexible tool to manage resistance and plan their season with greater confidence. By combining powerful burndown and lasting residual activity, Temper More restores control and predictability to weed managementreducing the need for multiple, last-minute applications and enabling more efficient, long-term planning."

ADAMA U.S. has conducted a large number of trials across key geographies to demonstrate Temper More's performance. The product has consistently outperformed straight glufosinate or glyphosate in early post-emergence applications and has proven especially effective against common waterhemp, one of the most widespread and difficult-to-control resistant weeds in U.S.

About ADAMA

ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing practical solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. Our culture empowers ADAMA's people to actively listen to farmers and ideate from the field. ADAMA's diverse portfolio of existing active ingredients, coupled with its leading formulation capabilities and proprietary formulation technology platforms, uniquely position the company to develop high-quality, innovative and sustainable products, to address the many challenges farmers and customers face today. ADAMA serves customers in dozens of countries globally, with direct presence in all top 20 markets. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

ADAMA Contact:

Tal Moise

Public Relations

Email: [email protected]

ADAMA US Contact:

Michelle Blair

Strategic Marketing Communications Manager

Email: [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/799829/Adama_Agricultural_Solutions_Logo.jpg

SOURCE ADAMA Ltd.
- 1oz bullion coin in popular series available from Solomon Global 

LONDON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greyhound of Richmond, the seventh release in The Royal Mint's acclaimed The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, is now available for pre-order.

The Royal Tudor Beasts Collection, inspired by the ten majestic stone beasts that line the Moat Bridge of Hampton Court Palace, represents the lineage of Henry VIII and his third wife, Jane Seymour. Launched in October 2021 and released over five years, this highly collectable series features real and mythical heraldic creatures and honours the powerful symbols of one of the nation's most influential dynasties.





The Greyhound of Richmond, the latest in The Royal Mint's acclaimed Tudor Beasts Collection, is available to pre-order from Solomon Global. (PRNewsfoto/Solomon Global)

This latest gold bullion coin in the collection depicts, on its reverse, The Greyhound of Richmond  a historic emblem of loyalty, honour, skill, and celerity  beautifully brought to life through the intricate design of collection artist David Lawrence. The obverse features the official coinage portrait of His Majesty King Charles III, designed by Martin Jennings. The PCGS Certified 2025 Tudor Beast Greyhound of Richmond is struck in 1 troy oz of 999.9 fine gold and incorporates advanced surface animation technology for enhanced security and visual appeal. Solomon Global, which specialises in the supply of physical gold and silver for personal ownership, offers this coin alongside the previous six releases, all of which are exempt from CGT and VAT in the UK.

The Ten Tudor Beasts:

The Seymour Panther (2022)  only released as a proof coin

The Lion of England (2022)

(2022) The Yale of Beaufort (2023)

of Beaufort (2023) The Bull of Clarence (2023)

The Tudor Dragon (2024)

The Seymour Unicorn (2024)

The Queen's Panther  (2025)

The Queen's Lion

The Greyhound of Richmond  (2025)

The Royal Dragon

The PCGS Certified 2025 Tudor Beast Greyhound of Richmond 1oz Gold Coin is available for pre-order from Solomon Global here: https://solomon-global.com/product/pcgs-certified-2025-tudor-beast-greyhound-of-richmond-1oz-gold-coin-2/. Delivery is available from Thursday, 15th May.

"Like the Queen's Beasts Series that preceded it, The Royal Tudor Beasts coins are captivating collectors and investors alike with their strong historical significance, artistry, and scarcity," said Paul Williams, Managing Director at Solomon Global. "The Greyhound is one of the most resonant of the heraldic beasts, it offers not only a compelling addition to the collection but also long-term investment potential. We anticipate high demand."

About Solomon Global

Solomon Global specialises in the secure delivery of physical gold bars and coins for private ownership. The company takes a uniquely consultative approach to purchasing and selling physical gold and silver, regardless of the investment amount. Its simple and tailored strategy is designed to work with beginners and experienced investors alike.

Solomon Global's team of experienced professionals is always available to provide practical solutions for clients - including products that are exempt from Capital Gains Tax - and assist with any inquiries.

Solomon Global was awarded 'Most Trusted UK Gold Bullion Supplier 2024' at The London Investor Show Awards 2024 and won 'Best UK Gold Bullion Dealer' at ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025.

For any questions about buying or selling gold and silver, contact the team here: https://solomon-global.com/contact/

For further press information, please contact: Francesca De Franco on 0794 125 3135 or email [email protected]

[i] Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Buying physical gold as an investment involves risk, as the value of precious metal prices can be volatile. Historical financial performance does not necessarily give a guide of future financial performance. We recommend that you conduct your own independent research and seek professional tax, legal and financial advice before making any investment decisions.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686166/Solomon_Global_Greyhound_of_Richmond.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2591619/5316121/Solomon_Global_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Solomon Global
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicolla Hewitt is honored in The Inner Circle as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence contributions in Public Relations and Broadcast Journalism.

Nicolla Hewitt has built an exceptional career at the intersection of public relations and network television journalism, earning widespread respect for her work across three decades. From the frontlines of global news coverage to high-level interviews with world leaders, Ms. Hewitt's work has left a lasting impact on journalism and media.

Nicolla Hewitt

Throughout her career, Ms. Hewitt contributed to major U.S. network news programs such as Today and 60 Minutes, producing pivotal interviews for ABC, CBS, and NBC with Presidents, Kings, and other high-profile figures. Her reporting has captured some of the most defining moments in modern history, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, multiple U.S. presidential inaugurations, the funeral of Princess Diana, the wars in the Middle East, and the September 11 attacks. She also played a key role in launching Newsweek/Daily Beast.

A graduate of Pepperdine University with a degree in broadcast journalism, Ms. Hewitt later received a media fellowship at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. She is affiliated with the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents and is well known for her commitment to social advocacy, especially in championing educational and employment access for women and girls in the Middle East.

In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Hewitt has shared her journey through her impactful TEDx talk, Never Give Up. Motivate!, delivered in 2018.

Looking ahead, Ms. Hewitt plans to gradually transition from full-time work to mentorship, offering guidance to rising professionals in media and communications. She also intends to expand her involvement in volunteer initiatives, continuing her legacy of leadership, empathy, and perseverance.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
EDISON, N.J., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Ravindra Perera is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for his contributions to Pioneering Digital Transformation and Business Architecture with 20 Years of Expertise.

Ravindra Perera

Ravindra Perera, a seasoned leader in business development and digital transformation, has spent over two decades shaping strategy and driving innovation in the information technology consulting industry. With a robust portfolio of expertiseincluding TOGAF Enterprise Architecture, Pega Business Architecture, and Six Sigma Green Belt certificationsMr. Perera is renowned for delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance business and technology capabilities.



Currently serving as a Principal Business Architect, Mr. Perera plays a pivotal role in delivering transformational initiatives and spearheading projects that leverage emerging technologies. His work includes expertise in natural language understanding, omni-channel customer service with Pega, AWS Connect, Google Vision API, Voice AI, DocuSign, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA/RDA). His passion for digital transformation is rooted in enabling organizations to evolve from functional system discussions to broader organizational capabilities that bridge business and technology.

Mr. Perera holds an MBA from Sri Lanka University and has enriched his professional skillset with certifications in TOGAF, SAFE Agility, Design Thinking, and more. His philosophy, inspired by his father's relentless pursuit of excellence, emphasizes continuous learning and professional growth. He has presented at Regional Scrum Gatherings in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, created course materials for the Open University of Sri Lanka, and trained students for prestigious competitions like the Microsoft Imagine Cup.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Perera is a dedicated Toastmaster and the creator of CXO School (cxoschools.com), where he trains corporate leaders and communicators. He aspires to further his impact by becoming a Chief Digital Officer, leveraging his expertise to guide organizations through comprehensive digital transformations. To achieve this, he plans to participate in MIT's Chief Digital Officer program, aligning his skills with the evolving demands of the digital economy.

Ravindra Perera's leadership and vision have left an indelible mark on organizations ranging from Mercer and WellPoint to his current role as Principal Business Architect. His commitment to innovation, combined with his extensive background in CRM, customer service, and call center applications, positions him as a leading figure in the business architecture and technology consulting landscape.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stork Foundation for Infertility, a non-profit offering financial aid to those facing infertility challenges with limited resources, is excited to announce its annual Brunch for Hope, a heartwarming event dedicated to raising funds and spreading awareness about infertility. The event will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the historic Revel Motor Row in Chicago, Illinois.

The Brunch for Hope will feature a VIP sparkling welcome at 10:30 AM, followed by a delicious brunch and an engaging program beginning at 11:00 AM. Attendees will enjoy a day filled with inspiration, hope, and connection, all while supporting a meaningful cause. Funds raised during the event will directly benefit the Stork Foundation's fertility grant program, which helps individuals and families struggling with the financial burden of infertility treatments.

Elizabeth Carr, the first baby born through IVF in the United States, will be a featured guest speaker at the event. "Infertility is a deeply personal and often isolating journey. Events like Brunch for Hope remind us that no one has to face it alone. Together, we can foster understanding, provide support, and create opportunities for families to grow," she said.

Meredith Weber, President of the Stork Foundation said, "The Brunch for Hope is more than just an eventit's a movement. It's about bringing people together to create a community of support and understanding. Every ticket purchased and every donation made helps us change lives and bring hope to those facing infertility."

Tickets for the event are now available for purchase online. General Admission tickets are priced at $75, while VIP tickets, which include exclusive benefits, are available for $125.

To purchase tickets or learn more about the event, visit the official event page at www.storkfoundation.org/brunch-for-hope.html.

Generous sponsors this year include Pinnacle Fertility (Institute for Human Reproduction), The Molo Family, Blue Owl, Morgan Stanley, Advocate, mockingbird, kindbody, Bridge Therapy, Pannos Law and CK Supply.

About The Stork Foundation

The Stork Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to bringing awareness to infertility by providing hope and opportunity to individuals or families struggling with infertility and fighting for their dream of parenthood. The Stork Foundation provides financial assistance to low-resource individuals who require costly medical infertility treatments that would otherwise be out of financial reach.

The Foundation has awarded 36 grants, totaling over $360,000 to individuals seeking financial assistance for infertility treatments. Established in 2020, 16 Stork Babies have been born and more are expected early 2025.

Media Contact:

Julie Ferguson

JFPRMediaGroup

[email protected]

(312) 385-0098

SOURCE The Stork Foundation
HOUSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A Harris County jury has awarded a total verdict of $640 million to the family of Houston man, David Lester Loree, II, who was tragically killed during a crane operation on a San Antonio job site. The verdictsecured by national trial lawyer Tony Buzbee and The Buzbee Law Firmfollows nearly four weeks of trial and holds TNT Crane & Rigging, one of the largest crane companies in the country, fully accountable for Mr. Loree's death.

After awarding $159,805,500 in compensatory damages on Monday, the jury returned today and added $480 million in punitive damages, finding clear and convincing evidence of gross negligence by TNT. With prejudgment interest, the verdict exceeds $640 million.

Before trial, TNT denied responsibility and offered just $6.9 million to settle the casewhile continuing to blame Mr. Loree for his own death. Tony Buzbee rejected that offer and pushed to trial. The jury ultimately assigned 0% fault to Mr. Loree.

David Loree is survived by his wife, two sons, and mother - all of whom testified with great courage. This verdict honors their loss.

The Buzbee Law Firm is proud to have fought for the Loree family and will continue to stand up for justice in all its cases.

For more information or comment: [email protected]; www.txattorneys.com

SOURCE THE BUZBEE LAW FIRM
First-of-Its-Kind Integration Delivers AI-Powered Case Strategy Reports to AttorneysEnhancing Litigation Response for Clients

LOS ANGELES, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trellis, the leading provider of trial court data and insights, has partnered with international labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips to integrate its generative AI built for trial court litigation, Trellis AI, into the firm's daily case alerts. This first-of-its-kind integration ensures attorneys receive instant, AI-driven case insights the moment a client is named in a lawsuit, enabling faster risk assessment, proactive response, and protected client interests with greater precision.

A game-changer for litigation response

Fisher Phillips worked closely with Trellis to develop a custom integration that enhances daily case alerts with real-time litigation intelligence. Unlike other AI solutions that lack access to comprehensive trial court data, Trellis AI is uniquely built for trial court litigation, leveraging the industry's largest trial court dataset - spanning 2.5 billion records across 3,500 courts.

The AI-generated Case Strategy Reports - linked within each alert - offer attorneys an early case assessment informed by Trellis' unmatched depth of trial court data.

With this next-generation approach, Fisher Phillips attorneys can:

Quickly assess new filings with AI-generated risk analysis and case insights

Identify key risks and opportunities the moment a case is filed

Leverage judge intelligence and historical case data for better litigation strategy

"When our clients need us, speed and strategy matter. That's why we partnered with Trellis to enhance our new case alert system with AI-generated Case Strategy Reports," said Evan Shenkman, Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer at Fisher Phillips. "These customized early case assessments - trained on millions of judicial filings - automatically land in our attorneys' inboxes whenever their client is named as a defendant in a state court case. With instant, AI-powered insights, we gain a critical head start in protecting our clients' interests."

What's inside a Case Strategy Report?

Each report delivers:

Case details and filing insights, including key parties, jurisdiction, and procedural posture

Complaint timeline and statute of limitations, mapping out critical deadlines

Risk factors and defense strategy recommendations based on AI-driven case positioning

Judge intelligence and jury pool analysis, leveraging historical data on judicial tendencies

Discovery preparation roadmap, identifying key evidence gaps and next steps

Trellis: The data and technology behind Trellis AI

Trellis AI is built on Trellis' industry-leading trial court data foundation - the largest in the world - including motions, pleadings, and other key filings. Unlike other AI tools, Trellis AI is designed specifically to extract actionable legal insights from real-world litigation data, giving attorneys an unmatched strategic advantage.

"The power of Trellis AI lies in its ability to structure and analyze vast amounts of court data in real-time," said Alon Shwartz, COO and co-founder of Trellis. "This integration ensures Fisher Phillips attorneys have immediate access to relevant case insights, backed by billions of historical filings and judge analytics. Unlike other AI solutions that only scratch the surface of legal data, Trellis AI extracts strategic litigation insights directly from the largest trial court dataset of its kind - delivering the depth and accuracy attorneys need to stay ahead of litigation and make more informed decisions faster."

Elevating client advocacy with AI-powered litigation strategy

"Litigation strategy starts the moment a case is filed, and access to structured, AI-powered insights  built on a foundation of hundreds of millions of trial court cases  immediately upon notification gives attorneys a critical advantage," said Nicole Clark, CEO and co-founder of Trellis. "By embedding Case Strategy Reports directly into daily client alerts, Fisher Phillips is ensuring its attorneys can proactively assess risk, develop defense strategies, and better serve their clients from day one."

Leading the future of AI in litigation

With this integration, Fisher Phillips is leading the charge in client service, ensuring attorneys can act with greater speed, intelligence, and precision. The firm's commitment to leveraging AI for smarter litigation strategy reinforces its position as an innovator in client advocacy.

About Fisher Phillips

With over 675 attorneys across the United States, Mexico and Japan, and a vast network of attorneys in jurisdictions around the globe, Fisher Phillips advises and advocates for employers on an international scale. Through our technology-driven approach, we partner with companies to achieve their business objectives, anticipate potential disruption, and provide the legal guidance to navigate and resolve the workplace matters critical to their success.

To learn more about Fisher Phillips and its commitment to innovation in legal technology, visit FisherPhillips.com.

About Trellis

Trellis is the leading source for state trial court data and insights, offering unmatched access to court records, filings, and judicial insights across the U.S. with coverage spanning 3,500+ courts across 2,500 counties in 46 states. Trellis AI builds on that foundation with powerful tools that help litigators uncover strategy, draft faster, and win more casespowered by the largest trial court dataset in the industry. For more information about Trellis and how it's transforming litigation strategy, visit trellis.law.

Media Contact:

Mikey Mooney

[email protected]

(404) 875-3400

SOURCE Trellis Law
Taxpayers from Both Coasts to Converge in DC

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Where: The National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Zenger Room on the 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045

When: Wednesday, May 14, 2 PM

"We are filing this complaint at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights because the U.S. government has effectively shielded itself from accountability for its international crimes under its own legal system, even for crimes against humanity and genocide." -- Huwaida Arraf, lead attorney and also one of the founders of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition

Taxpayers Against Genocide (TAG) and the National Lawyers Guild International Committee will hold a press conference to announce the filing of their legal complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rigths (IACHR) against the U.S. government for complicity in genocide in Gaza. The lawsuit will include notarized affidavits by Palestinian-American plaintiffs who have lost loved ones to the U.S.-funded genocide. One plaintiff, Monadel Herzallah, who lost 43 family members to the genocide, states: "We as Palestinians in the U.S. have sought accountability in federal court but we also made a pledge to seek justice in any other possible venue available." Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian human rights activist, best selling author, and a petitioner in this complaint, states: "I want to do everything in my power to put a stop to the unfathomable horrors that I witnessed in Gaza."

For the press conference, Huwaida Arraf, will be joined by TAG plaintiffs, Robert S. McCaw, the Government Affairs Department Director of CAIR, and Dr. Nidal Jboor, co-founder of Doctors Against Genocide, along with other leaders.

Immediately after the press conference, participants will file the complaint at the IACHR headquarters and then march to the White House.

The complaint is endorsed by many civil society organizations, including the Arab Resource Organizing Center Action, Palestinian Youth Movement, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Black Alliance for Peace, Doctors Against Genocide, CODEPINK, Friends of Latin America, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and many more.

TAG is a growing grassroots movement, representing more than 3,000 taxpayers across the U.S. backing this complaint.

Contact:

Seth Donnelly, Taxpayers Against Genocide

(650) 814-8495

[email protected]

SOURCE National Lawyers Guild International Committee
There is a critical need for trustworthy, hyper-personalized information earlier in the diagnosis and treatment journey to empower patients to participate in their care

The partnership will initially focus on endometriosis and hematology; high-need therapeutic areas where patients are actively seeking information

Connecting tailored information with relevant, motivated audiences will reinvent the way DTC advertising interacts and engages with consumers

NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubie , an AI-driven and medically vetted healthcare prediction platform that guides patients to the care they need, and CMI Media Group , a WPP (NYSE: WPP), healthcare media agency, announced a partnership aiming to transform direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, beginning with women's health and hematology/oncology. The collaboration integrates Ubie's AI Symptom Checker with CMI's precision media expertise to address the pharmaceutical industry's challenges in reaching patients with personalized, engaging messaging at scale. This combination will help accelerate time to diagnosis and the identification of the best available treatment.

American consumers continue to face challenges in managing their own health, including long waits for doctor appointments and treatment, increasing healthcare costs, and broken patient engagement. At the same time, consumers are more active in seeking information for their health conditions, increasingly relying on online tools and information . But, there is an excessive amount of noise online, including a large amount of conflicting information and misinformation.

To reach consumers, marketers need to meet patients where they are, by using highly-personalized, patient-centric, and brand-safe approaches, rather than the traditional scattergun approach  a concept understood in industries outside of healthcare.

"Today's healthcare consumers are active and want to be engaged with, but with so many websites, ads, and social media posts, it can be a struggle to understand what information to trust to take control of their own care," said Kota Kubo , Co-Founder and CEO of Ubie. "By combining the ability of Ubie's medically trained AI to decode symptom patterns with CMI's strategic expertise in reaching consumers, we're creating tools that can better connect with those looking for answers about their symptoms."

A one size fits all approach doesn't help patients navigate healthcare. Personalization is one key to delivering improved opportunities to engage in health behaviors. The partnership will allow DTC advertisers to engage patients individually, reaching consumers who are searching for more information where they are.

Ubie's online platform is a highly accurate, medically-validated AI symptom checker that is free and easily accessible. Ubie engages patients early in their journey, providing personalized information about potential conditions and guiding them toward appropriate medical care, including appropriate providers and treatment information. This information can empower patients to become knowledgeable, active participants in their own health care and take the steps needed for better outcomes.

"For this specific partnership, women's health was a perfect fit. The need for education in this space is at a critical place right now. By leveraging new technologies that allow women the opportunity to quickly and accurately gain access to data is life changing," adds Julie Hurvitz Aliaga , EVP of Innovation, Content and Partnerships of CMI Media Group.

Viewing people as consumers of healthcare, rather than passive receivers, can enhance the quality of care . New innovations, like AI trained on medical data, can reach consumers with individually tailored information. DTC advertising has the opportunity to meet even the most unique needs with resources that can empower consumers to become partners in their care.

About CMI Media Group

CMI Media Group, a WPP company (NYSE: WPP, http://www.wpp.com ), is a global, full-service media agency focused solely on health, wellness, and pharmaceutical marketing. CMI Media Group's core offerings include Audience Strategy, Planning, Development, and Insights; Data and Analytics; Buying and Investment; and Direct Response and Customer Experience. As the leading media resource for the world's top healthcare companies, CMI Media Group brings together leading technology, data, and talent to deliver seamless capabilities for clients. CMI Media Group has been recognized as a leader in inclusion, talent retention and employee development as well as one of the industry's best places to work. To apply for a position within our teams visit https://www.cmimediagroup.com/careers/ .

About Ubie

Founded in 2017, Ubie empowers individuals and healthcare professionals with the tools they need for better care. Leveraging cutting-edge disease prediction AI, Ubie guides 10+ million patients every month to seek appropriate medical attention through its free online Symptom Checker and equips 1,900+ provider organizations with clinical tools that streamline workflows and support better diagnoses and health outcomes. Trained on medical data, Ubie's marketing solutions power advanced targeting capabilities and high-performing digital campaigns for 70% of the world's top life science companies.

Learn more about our vision and work at https://ubiehealth.com/company or try our free Symptom Checker at https://ubiehealth.com/ .

Contact: Ryosei Hatakeyama

Ubie, Inc.

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ubie, Inc.
CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubiety Technologies, the pioneer in AI-driven presence verification and security intelligence, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Brinks Home, a leader in smart home security solutions known for its innovative use of AI and unwavering focus on customer experience. Together, the companies are rolling out Ubiety's Halo Connect solution, featuring the HomeAware App, with a select group of Brinks Home customers to deliver a smarter, more intuitive, and more connected security experience.

Enhancing Situational Awareness with HomeAware

Ubiety Technologies Partners with Brinks Home to Release AI Powered Home Security Experience Post this Ubiety Technologies Partners with Brinks Home to Release AI Powered Security Experience

The HomeAware App is designed to revolutionize the way homeowners interact with their security systems. By leveraging Ubiety's proprietary AI, HomeAware provides real-time insights into who is present in and around the homewithout relying on cameras.

Know who is home at any given timewhether it's family members, guests, or unexpected visitors.



Receive intelligent notifications about activity patterns, helping homeowners stay ahead of potential security concerns.



Increase engagement with security systems by providing meaningful, actionable insights that go beyond traditional motion sensors and alerts.



Bring intelligence to all existing security systems without requiring security panel integration, no truck roll necessary, and it's completely self installed.

Putting the Customer FirstAlways

"At Brinks Home, we're committed to delivering intelligent solutions that put our customers first," said Veronica Moturi, SVP of Customer Experience at Brinks Home. "This partnership with Ubiety reflects our drive to offer cutting-edge technology that is as smart as it is seamless. By releasing innovations like HomeAware in real-world settings, we're ensuring our customers get security that is not only proactive, but personalized to their lives."

Innovation That Understands Context

Ubiety's core value lies in understanding presence. The company's unique ambient sensing platform uses advanced AI to deliver adaptive, AI-powered security intelligence with minimal operational friction. By integrating Presence Verification and Adaptive Alarm Response, it enhances existing monitoring solutions, helping security companies reduce false alarms, improve response accuracy, and build trust with law enforcement.

"This collaboration with Brinks Home represents a pivotal moment in making home security both intelligent and engaging," said Keith Puckett, Co-Founder & CEO of Ubiety Technologies. "With HomeAware and Halo Connect, we're delivering intelligent protection that enhances safety, respects privacy, and anticipates users' needs in real-time."

About Brinks Home

Brinks Home is one of the largest home security and alarm monitoring companies in North America. Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Brinks Home provides best-in-class protection to over 1 million people through smart home security solutions backed by expertly trained professionals and an award-winning Alarm Response Center. The company has one of North America's largest networks of independent authorized dealers and agentsproviding products and support to customers in the U.S. and Puerto Ricoas well as professionally installed products and 24/7 monitoring. Learn more at www.brinkshome.com .

About Ubiety Technologies

Ubiety Technologies is revolutionizing home security with AI-powered Presence Verification, Adaptive Alarm Response, and real-time security intelligence. Ubiety's Halo Connect platform provides homeowners and security providers with trusted, verified insights, improving safety while reducing false alarms. Learn more at www.ubiety.io .

To learn more about Ubiety's HomeAware product visit www.homeaware.com .

SOURCE Ubiety Technologies Inc.
FM spokesperson refutes DPP authorities' "Taiwan independence" fallacy

Xinhua) 08:10, May 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Taiwan had never been and never would be a country.

"Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future," spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily press briefing in response to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' "Taiwan independence" fallacy.

The remarks made by the DPP authorities once again fully exposed their habitual tactics of distorting history, manipulating facts, and spreading falsehoods in their pursuit of "Taiwan independence," Lin said.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the World Anti-Fascist War, and the restoration of Taiwan, Lin noted, adding that Taiwan's restoration to China in 1945 is a victorious outcome of WWII and an integral part of the postwar international order.

A series of instruments with legal effect under international law, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, have all confirmed China's sovereignty over Taiwan, and the historical and legal facts are beyond doubt, he added.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, Lin stressed.

Although national reunification has yet to be fully realized, the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China have never changed and cannot be changed -- this is the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait, Lin said.

Lin stressed that no matter what the DPP authorities say or do, they cannot change the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, nor can they alter the one-China principle, which is a widely recognized consensus in the international community.

"China will be reunified, and this is unstoppable," said Lin.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Member of Warrior Insurance Network, United Security Insurance Company Launches Its Personal Lines Auto Insurance Product in the state of Arizona.

BEDFORD PARK, Ill., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Developed by United Security Insurance Company (USIC) and marketed by Warrior Insurance Network (WIN), USIC's Personal Lines Auto Insurance product is now available in Arizona, as well as Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

With over 50 years of experience, USIC personal lines auto products are competitively priced and offer insureds a wide range of coverage options designed to help fit their budget, by offering aggressive policy discounts, multiple installment payment options, and other attractive features and coverages.

"WIN and its member insurance companies are a forward-thinking organization who are committed to expanding our corporate footprint. We are constantly seeking opportunities for growth in new markets. Arizona marks the first state in WIN member insurance companies' westward expansion with additional states on the horizon," explained Jim Hallberg, CEO and President, WIN.

USIC personal auto insurance products are marketed through a diverse network of independent insurance agencies. Please contact your local independent insurance agency for complete policy details. USIC is headquartered at 6640 S. Cicero Avenue, Bedford Park, IL, 60638. http://www.UnitedSecurityIns.com 800- 875-4422

About United Security Insurance Company

United Security Insurance Company (USIC), formally known as United Security Health and Casualty, is a member of the Warrior Insurance Network (WIN). USIC celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 and specializes in providing affordable Personal Lines Auto Insurance products with multiple discounts available, responsive claims handling and quality customer service. USIC currently offers insurance via independent agencies throughout Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas. USIC is headquartered at 6640 S. Cicero Avenue, Bedford Park, IL, 60638. http://www.UnitedSecurityIns.com 800- 875-4422

About Warrior Insurance Network

Warrior Insurance Network's (WIN) member companies include First Chicago Insurance Company, United Security Insurance Company, West Virginia National Auto Insurance Company, Texas Ranger MGA and Lonestar MGA. WIN is a marketing organization servicing a select group of insurance carriers and independent insurance agents which offer a diverse array of personal and commercial auto insurance products. WIN member companies are licensed in 23 states which include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. WIN is headquartered at 6640 S. Cicero Avenue, Bedford Park, IL, 60638. http://www.WarriorInsuranceNetwork.com 866-400-8600

SOURCE United Security Insurance Company
BaseCamp Franchising's Brands Surge with Strong Franchisee Profitability and Unit Growth

SALT LAKE CITY, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BaseCamp Franchising, the parent company behind upscale thrift brands Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid, is excited to showcase the continued strong momentum and vast opportunity ahead for its two brands. With over 260 stores across 31 U.S. states and several international markets, Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid are transforming the retail landscape with a unique offering that combines the value and thrill of the hunt from traditional thrift, with a curated, boutique shopping experience.

Thrift Industry on the Rise

"The secondhand clothing industry is exploding right now," said Tyler Gordon, Co-CEO of BaseCamp Franchising. Post this Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid celebrate record growth amid resale boom.

The secondhand apparel industry is both massive and growing rapidly. By 2029, the industry is forecasted to exceed $70 billion in the U.S., propelled by younger customers who value affordability, sustainability, and individuality. As a recession-resilient and tariff-proof sector, resale also outperforms when other sectors struggle, attracting both shoppers and savvy investors alike. Uptown and Kid to Kid are primed to become the category-defining concepts in the space, joining an upscale shopping experience with a tech-forward, systematic, and highly profitable business model.

"The secondhand clothing industry is exploding right now," said Tyler Gordon, Co-CEO of BaseCamp Franchising. "We're seeing a tremendous rise in the popularity of resale shopping, which has translated into strong growth in both customer traffic and profitability for our stores."

Proven Profitability and Scalability

Between Uptown and Kid to Kid, system-wide sales in 2024 exceeded $250 million, with the two brands maintaining double-digit annual growth for over a decade. Notably, the unit economics for the two brands are also among the best in franchising. Take Uptown Cheapskate: as shown in the brand's latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the average Uptown store generated $1.3 million of sales and $188K of net income in 2024, while stores in the top quartile generated $1.9 million of sales and $354K of net income.

Building off the success from last year, Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid are in a great position to continue their rapid expansion in 2025:

Their recession-resilient and tariff-proof model has historically thrived in periods of macroeconomic pressure

After opening 20+ stores in 2024, there are currently >50 new locations under development nationwide

Several recent record-breaking grand openings have underscored the momentum for both brands with new customers

BaseCamp's revamped appraisal software was recently rolled out and will sharpen an already meaningful competitive advantage for stores

Both brands have received numerous industry accolades, including Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 for over 10 consecutive years and Franchise Business Review's list of Top 200 Franchises

Sustainability Meets Community Impact

Uptown and Kid to Kid are not just big business, they also make a positive impact on their local communities and society at large. In 2024 alone, the two brands recycled tens of millions of items, helping support a more sustainable future. What's more, by offering a unique combination of quality and value, Uptown and Kid to Kid also help individuals and families stretch their paychecks further, a benefit that's especially relevant in the current economic climate.

Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid offer entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to join a proven model with standout unit economics, ride the strong wave of resale industry growth, and make a meaningful positive impact in their communities.

To learn more about franchise opportunities with Uptown Cheapskate or Kid to Kid, visit www.uptowncheapskatefranchise.com and www.kidtokidfranchise.com.

About Uptown Cheapskate & Kid to Kid

BaseCamp Franchising is the parent company of two upscale thrift concepts, Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid. At the end of 2024, Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid had 260+ stores operating across 31 U.S. states and several international markets, with an additional 50+ stores under development. Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid are transforming the thrift industry, combining a vast assortment of in-demand items with an upscale, vibrant shopping environment unlike anything else in resale. With a commitment to a franchisee-first approach, industry-leading technology, and dedicated support for every store, Uptown and Kid to Kid also offer franchisees a highly efficient and highly profitable business opportunity. Our mission is to reimagine the thrift experience and deliver a retail experience that's not only unique for its vibrancy and accessibility but also highly impactful  for customers, franchisees, and communities alike. To learn more about franchising with Uptown Cheapskate or Kid to Kid, visit www.uptowncheapskatefranchise.com and www.kidtokidfranchise.com.

Media Contact: Gabe Rosenberg

Fishman Public Relations

[email protected] | 734-277-8332

SOURCE BaseCamp Franchising
WATSONVILLE, Calif., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VuSpex, the leading provider of integrated virtual inspection software, today announced its selection as the virtual inspection solution for Tyler Technologies' Enterprise Permitting & Licensing product. This strategic partnership provides clients with VuSpex's cutting-edge virtual inspection capabilities by streamlining inspection processes, enhancing efficiency, improving communication between agencies and contractors, and decreasing inspection backlog.

This collaboration brings together Tyler's Enterprise Permitting & Licensing solution with VuSpex's specialized virtual inspection technology, offering a valuable enhancement to public sector workflows. The integration will provide a seamless and intuitive experience for inspectors, enabling them to launch a virtual inspection from within Enterprise Permitting & Licensing for an allowed virtual inspection type, and automatically attach high-quality inspection artifacts to an inspection or permit record in real-time  even in very low bandwidth conditions. Further, contractors can use the VuSpex GO App to take photos and videos and submit to an allowed record with attachment as a PDF document, automatic notification to the inspector pool, and real-time notification when the inspection is resulted.

VuSpex chosen as Virtual Inspection Software for Tyler Technologies Enterprise Permitting & Licensing Solution Post this

VuSpex has established itself as the industry leader in integrated virtual inspection software, creating over 11 successful integrations with the leading Permitting and Land Management Systems. This extensive integration capability ensures that VuSpex can seamlessly integrate with existing technology infrastructure, minimizing disruption and maximizing the benefits for clients.

"We are thrilled to partner with Tyler Technologies, a recognized leader in providing software solutions for the public sector," said Dane Demicell, CEO and Founder of VuSpex. "This partnership underscores the growing importance of virtual inspection technology in modernizing permitting and licensing processes. By integrating VuSpex with Tyler's Enterprise Permitting & Licensing, we are providing a powerful solution that will significantly enhance efficiency, transparency, and reduce inspection backlog."

VuSpex has a commitment to innovation which is evident in its proprietary technology, including two key patents in the field of virtual inspections. These patents address critical challenges often encountered in remote inspections, ensuring a reliable and effective experience even in challenging network conditions. The technology allows for efficient transmission of inspection data, including high-resolution photos and videos, even when internet connectivity is limited or unreliable. This is particularly crucial in rural or remote areas where consistent high-speed internet access may not be readily available.

In addition, VuSpex has pioneered the use of automated language translation between the inspector and contractor when there is a language barrier. Furthermore, VuSpex offers an offline capability specifically designed for contractors. This innovative feature allows contractors to capture photos and videos during an inspection even when they are offline. Once they regain connectivity, these captured media can be securely uploaded and submitted directly to the Tyler Technologies Enterprise Permitting & Licensing system. This ensures that inspection data is never lost and that contractors can complete their tasks efficiently, regardless of their immediate network status, and perform a self-guided inspection without requiring an Inspector.

"Tyler Technologies is committed to providing our clients with the most advanced and user-friendly solutions to meet their evolving needs," said Greg Savard, General Manager, Civic Services at Tyler Technologies. "Partnering with VuSpex allows us to offer our Enterprise Permitting & Licensing clients seeking virtual inspection capabilities a best-in-class solution that complements our robust permitting and licensing platform."

The Tyler VuSpex Virtual Inspections API Connector which enables the integration between VuSpex and Tyler Technologies' Enterprise Permitting & Licensing will be available with the 2025.1 release.

About VuSpex:

VuSpex is the industry leader in providing integrated virtual inspection software solutions for government agencies and private sector organizations. With a focus on innovation and user-centric design, VuSpex empowers clients to modernize their inspection processes, improve efficiency, and enhance communication. VuSpex offers seamless integrations with 11 different Permitting and Land Management Systems, as well as popular platforms like Salesforce, Outlook, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Daysmart. The company holds two patents in virtual inspection technology (with 4 more pending), ensuring reliable and effective remote inspection capabilities even in challenging environments.

About Tyler Technologies:

Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is a leading provider of integrated software and technology services for the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate efficiently and transpa

rently with residents and each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions transform how clients turn actionable insights into opportunities and solutions for their communities. Tyler has more than 45,000 successful installations across 13,000 locations, with clients in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations. Tyler has been recognized numerous times for growth and innovation, including on Government Technology's GovTech 100 list. More information about Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, can be found at tylertech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the industry and market in which VuSpex and Tyler Technologies operate. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the successful integration of the VuSpex software with Tyler Technologies' Enterprise Permitting & Licensing product, market acceptance of the integrated solution, and other factors. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Brad Pennington, VuSpex Vice President of Sales and Business Development, [email protected]

SOURCE VuSpex
HSINCHU, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wincomm, a global leader in medical-grade computing solutions, has been awarded the Best Choice Award in the Digital Health Category at COMPUTEX Taipei 2025 for its WMP-27T-PIS, a 27-inch medical panel PC engineered for the demands of modern operating rooms.

Powering the Future of AI Surgery

Meet the Next Generation Surgery OR PC by Wincomm

As European healthcare systems increasingly invest in AI-enabled surgery, the demand for computing platforms that combine clinical performance with safety and integration has grown. Wincomm's WMP-27T-PIS directly addresses this need, offering real-time AI processing, surgical imaging, and EMR support in a single, hygienic platform.

At its core is the Intel 13th Gen Core i7-13800HE processor with Iris Xe Graphics, delivering high-performance computing required for AI-assisted diagnostics, 4K video streaming, and multi-system integration. A key feature is its 4K UHD display, optimized with adjustable color temperature and anti-glare options to support accurate medical imaging in high-brightness environments.

Designed for Medical grade Safety

Built with a fanless, antibacterial aluminum housing, the WMP-27T-PIS offers up to 95% MRSA resistance. Its IP65/IP54 ingress protection and medical safety certification (UL/EN 60601-1) ensure safe operation and full cleanability in surgical suites and ICUs.

Seamless Integration and Expandability

The panel PC features dual LAN (1GbE + 2.5GbE), support for dual displays, and a PCIe x4 expansion slot to connect capture cards, surgical cameras, or custom modules. Designed for long-term interoperability, it also includes USB and serial ports for both legacy and modern peripherals.

Recognition and European Relevance

The Best Choice Award, organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), highlights innovation with commercial impact. Wincomm's win reinforces its commitment to supporting digital health transformation across Europe and beyond.

Meet Wincomm at COMPUTEX 2025

European partners, healthcare providers, and integrators are invited to visit Booth P0719 at COMPUTEX Taipei 2025, from May 2023 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2. Attendees can explore how the WMP-27T-PIS can enhance precision surgery and digital hospital operations.

Learn more at www.wincomm.com.tw .

SOURCE Wincomm Corporation
Launching Inaugural Summit in Singapore to Spearhead Collaborative Efforts in Building the Future of Digital Trust

MIAMI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumsub , a global full-cycle verification platform, today announced the launch of its inaugural flagship event What The Fraud Summit (WTF Summit), the first visionary summit to beat the global fraudemic. The first edition of the event is set to take place at Andaz Singapore from November 19 to 20, 2025. With an assembly of over 500 experts and industry leaders from fraud prevention, compliance, financial crime, regulation, and product innovation, the WTF Summit aims to bridge the gaps between fraud prevention, AI-driven security, regulatory shifts, and digital resilience to formulate actionable anti-fraud strategies to drive the future of digital trust.

Sumsub announced the launch of its inaugural flagship eventWhat The Fraud Summit, the first visionary summit to beat the global fraudemic.

With the democratization of fraud and the continuously evolving fraud tactics, Asia-Pacific (APAC) has witnessed a 121% year-on-year increase in identity fraud in 2024, revealed by Sumsub's 2024 Identity Fraud Report . Another alarming trend observed globally is that nearly half of companies and end users worldwide reported being victims of identity fraud at least once last year, and businesses suffer a loss of approximately $300,000 per fraud event.

"With the rapidly growing fraud risks across the globe, we recognized a critical need for a dedicated platform for industry leaders, regulators and fraud experts to have bold conversations and exchange actionable insights to beat the global fraudemic," said Andrew Sever, Co-founder and CEO of Sumsub. "By launching the WTF Summit in APAC, we aim to fill the gap in discussions surrounding the multifaceted nature of fraud prevention in the region. Our goal is to collaborate with top minds to craft holistic strategies to create a safer digital future for everyone."

Top Industry Voices to Shape the Future of Fraud Prevention

The WTF Summit presents a diverse lineup of speakers, including renowned experts and thought leaders from the space of fintech, crypto, tech, and compliance to connect the dots between fraud prevention, AI security, regulation, and resilience.

Among all, some of the highlighted speakers at WTF Summit include (arranged in no particular order):

Frans Wiwanto, Managing Director, APAC, Flywire

David Song , Head of Digital Business Unit, Green Link Digital Bank

, Head of Digital Business Unit, Green Link Digital Bank Joseph Gan , CEO, V-Key

, CEO, V-Key Anson Zeall , Founder, Azentiq Nexus

, Founder, Azentiq Nexus Desmond Yong , Founder, Meta Alpha , and Legal & Compliance Director

, Founder, , and Legal & Compliance Director Eelee Lua, Co-founder & COO, Defy

Steve Craig , Founder & CEO, PEAK IDV

, Founder & CEO, PEAK IDV Annette Lu , Head of Compliance, APAC, Hex Trust

Speaker nomination is now open and available here .

In-depth Agenda Addressing Modern Fraud Challenges

The WTF Summit is designed to deep dive into modern fraud challenges through a mix of keynote sessions, panel discussions, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities.

At the Main Summit (November 20), attendees can look forward to sessions that provide practical takeaways focused on four key topics:

AI & Fraud : How emerging AI-driven fraud schemes are evolving and what proactive defenses businesses need to stay ahead;

How emerging AI-driven schemes are evolving and what proactive defenses businesses need to stay ahead; Digital Identity: Best practices from various industries in securing digital identity while ensuring accessibility and compliance;

Best practices from various industries in securing digital identity while ensuring accessibility and compliance; Compliance: The shifting regulatory landscape, including fraud and compliance trends, risk intelligence, and fraud detection;

The shifting regulatory landscape, including and compliance trends, risk intelligence, and detection; Crypto : Addressing cross-border challenges, tokenization, and regulatory shifts in the digital asset space.

In addition, Sumsub will offer expert-led workshops with certifications on the day before the Main Summit (November 19). The workshops will be in three specialized modules, which are related to modern scams and deepfakes, smart and compliant onboarding, as well as AML investigations and case management respectively.

The workshop series is proven to equip participants with hands-on experience and practical training, as Sumsub has already successfully conducted similar workshops for INTERPOL and other organizations.

Limited Early Bird Ticket Offer Opens Now

Tickets to WTF Summit can be purchased at the official website: https://sumsub.com/wtf-summit/ . The first 100 tickets can enjoy an early-bird discounted offer.

Follow the official LinkedIn page of WTF Summit for the latest updates.

###

About Sumsub

Sumsub is a full-cycle verification and ongoing monitoring platform that secures the whole user journey. With Sumsub's customizable KYC, KYB, Transaction Monitoring, Fraud Prevention and Travel Rule solutions, you can orchestrate your verification process, welcome more customers worldwide, meet compliance requirements, reduce costs, and protect your business.

Sumsub has over 4,000 clients across the fintech, crypto, transportation, trading, edtech, e-commerce and gaming industries including Duolingo, Bitpanda, Wirex, Avis, Bybit, Vodafone, Kaizen Gaming, and TransferGo.

SOURCE Sumsub
From renewable energy and workforce diversity to local partnerships and sustainable technology, WuXi Biologics' Dundalk site is redefining responsible growth in biomanufacturing.

DUNDALK, Ireland, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In the evolving landscape of global biopharmaceutical manufacturing, companies are increasingly being asked to demonstrate more than scientific excellence. Environmental performance, community impact, and social inclusion are fast becoming measures of long-term resilience. At WuXi Biologics' state-of-the-art facility in Dundalk, Ireland, these priorities are no longer aspirational  they're operational.

"For us, Sustainability isn't an overlay  it's built into how we design, build, and run the site," says Brendan McGrath, Vice President of Manufacturing and Ireland Site Head. "From the construction phase to full-scale operations, we've tried to ensure every decision aligns with our commitment to sustainability and performance."

A Strong Foundation: From Greenfield to Green Factory

The Dundalk site was designed from day one with environmental performance in mind  and 2024 marked a year of meaningful milestones. Operating on 100% certified renewable electricity, the facility consumed more than 20 GWh of green energy. On-site solar panels now power the site's security building, while new rainwater harvesting systems captured over 1,100 cubic meters of water for reuse.

Energy efficiency is a core principle. Motion-controlled LED lighting, building management systems, and passive daylighting reduce consumption. Backup power is supported by HVO-based biofuel generators, which cut potential emissions by 30%, while recent expansions added 31 EV charging points and introduced a car-share scheme to reduce Scope 3 emissions.

"We're acutely aware that biologics manufacturing has a significant resource footprint," notes McGrath. "So we're investing in systems that allow us to grow responsibly and stay ahead of regulatory and environmental expectations."

Enabling Flexibility Through Eco-Friendly Technology

Sustainability at the site goes beyond infrastructure  it extends into core bioprocessing. WuXi Biologics' deployment of single-use bioreactor systems replaces the water- and energy-intensive cleaning processes typical of traditional stainless-steel setups. This reduces water consumption by up to 70%, lowers carbon impact, and offers greater flexibility in meeting diverse client needs.

"We're not just reducing environmental impact  we're improving production agility and scalability," McGrath explains. "It's a win for sustainability, cost-efficiency, and responsiveness to market demand."

A Diverse, Engaged Workforce Anchored in STEM

People are central to WuXi Biologics Ireland's ESG framework. The Dundalk team now includes employees from 27 nationalities, and the site continues to invest in gender equity in STEM, including a bursary program in partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Today, 40% of DkIT's biopharma graduates work at WuXi Biologics  a testament to its role in developing local talent pipelines.

Internal initiatives such as WiSTEM, WeSocial, and WeCare promote diversity, mental health, wellbeing, and team engagement. These programs are designed to reflect a modern, inclusive culture that empowers employees beyond their day-to-day roles.

"It's important that our people feel aligned with the company's values," says McGrath. "We want to attract and retain those who care about purpose as much as performance."

A Consistent Commitment to Community

In 2024, employees at the Dundalk site logged over 1,600 volunteer hours through structured outreach programs. The company continued to support a broad range of Irish charities, including Women's Aid Dundalk, St. Vincent de Paul, Cliona's Foundation, and ALONE, alongside educational partnerships and fundraising drives.

This long-term, integrated approach to corporate citizenship reflects WuXi Biologics' broader Sustainability strategy  one that views community engagement not as a box to check, but as a stakeholder relationship to cultivate.

Recognition and Forward Momentum

In recognition of its growing impact, WuXi Biologics Ireland was awarded Best Overall Business and the Training Award at the 2024 Louth Business Awards, and was shortlisted for national awards including the Pharma Industry Sustainability Initiative of the Year and Environmental Project of the Year.

As part of the company's global Sustainability roadmap  which includes a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 2030 and net-zero operations by 2050  the Dundalk site is well-positioned to lead through execution.

"What we're focused on is real-world progress  the kind that's measurable, repeatable, and genuinely impactful." McGrath emphasises.

Conclusion

With operational maturity, proven environmental performance, and a clear people-first ethos, WuXi Biologics Ireland is building a reputation not just as a manufacturing hub  but as a benchmark for sustainable growth in biopharma.

About WuXi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK) is a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) offering end-to-end solutions that enable partners to discover, develop and manufacture biologics  from concept to commercialization  for the benefit of patients worldwide.

With over 12,000 skilled employees in China, the United States, Ireland, Germany and Singapore, WuXi Biologics leverages its technologies and expertise to provide customers with efficient and cost-effective biologics discovery, development and manufacturing solutions. As of December 31, 2024, WuXi Biologics is supporting 817 integrated client projects, including 21 in commercial manufacturing (excluding COVID CMO projects).

WuXi Biologics regards sustainability as the cornerstone of long-term business growth. The company continuously drives green technology innovations to offer advanced end-to-end Green CRDMO solutions for its global partners while consistently achieving excellence in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Committed to creating shared value, it collaborates with all stakeholders to foster positive social and environmental impacts and promote responsible practices that empower the entire value chain.

For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com.

Contacts

Business

[email protected]

Media

[email protected]
Zeigler Auto Group adds Jeep to its Stadium location after franchise purchase from LaFontaine. Originally located at 3718 Stadium Dr, LaFontaine Jeep Kalamazoo will now be housed down the street at Zeigler's headquarters at 4201 under the new name Zeigler Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Kalamazoo.

KALAMAZOO, Mich., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeigler Auto Group, one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S., has announced the acquisition of the Jeep franchise from LaFontaine Auto Group, expanding its lineup of Stellantis brands in Kalamazoo. The newly acquired franchise, formerly LaFontaine Jeep Kalamazoo located at 3718 Stadium Drive, will be relocated to Zeigler's headquarters at 4201 Stadium Drivejust one minute away.

With this purchase, Zeigler will now offer Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM under one roof. The dealership will be renamed Zeigler Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Kalamazoo, effective immediately.

"This strategic acquisition from LaFontaine, another respected family-owned business, strengthens our commitment to providing a streamlined, one-stop automotive experience for our customers," said Aaron Zeigler, president and CEO of Zeigler Auto Group. "Our goal has always been to deliver the Ultimate Automotive Experienceand bringing Jeep into our Stadium Drive location allows us to do just that, more conveniently than ever."

The move aligns with Zeigler's continued growth strategy, which includes recent expansions throughout the Midwest, with acquisitions in Indiana and Wisconsin further broadening its dealership footprint.

About Zeigler Auto Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2024. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.

SOURCE Zeigler Automotive Group
TOKYO - Japan is seeing a boom in gold investment amid heightening concerns over a global economic slowdown caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's hefty tariffs, as investors seek a safe asset seen as unlikely to plummet in the event of turbulence.

The benchmark price of gold set by Tokyo's Tanaka Precious Metal Technologies Co. hit an all-time high in yen terms on April 22, exceeding 17,000 yen ($115) and surging around 15 percent in the three months since Trump took office on Jan. 20.

Products linked to gold price movements have also become popular among investment trusts covered by Japan's tax exemption program for private investors, known as NISA, while more people have started monthly investments in pure gold.

Among investment trusts, the inflows to the Mitsubishi UFJ fine gold fund that reflects gold prices totaled some 19.2 billion yen in March, up by about 2.6-fold from last December.

The fund ranked fourth last December in investment trusts under the NISA program in terms of value handled by PayPay Securities Corp. but topped the ranking in February and placed second in the following month, it said.

At Tanaka Precious Metal, the number of people who purchased bullion and coins increased, while the number of its members investing in pure gold at fixed monthly values expanded 26 percent in the January-April period from a year earlier, it said.

Used gold accessories are also becoming popular. At major second-hand luxury brand goods seller Komehyo Co., sales of gold products including accessories in March climbed 30 percent from a year earlier.

In Tokyo's Shinjuku district, one of its outlets sells a wide selection of products from gold necklaces and gold pendants, with price ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of yen.

"They are mainly sold to customers in their 30s to 40s," the store's sales manager said.

Gold also has the risk of price declines like other assets but its prices have been solid at a time when the stock market has been volatile, with the Nikkei benchmark suffering its third-largest point drop in history on April 7.

"Considering the volatility in the stock market, gold continues to remain an attractive investment destination," said Atsuko Sato Whitehouse, head of the Japanese market at BullionVault.

Related coverage:

Japan ruling bloc eyes fresh economic steps to counter U.S. tariffs

Trump's 25% auto part tariff takes effect, in latest blow to Japan

BOJ maintains rate hike path despite uncertainty around U.S. tariffs
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MELBOURNE - Walking out of the "Hanoi Hilton" prison a free man after six and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, Douglas "Pete" Peterson never expected he would become a bridge between that country and its enemy, the United States.

But that's exactly what happened when President Bill Clinton appointed Peterson as the first postwar U.S. ambassador to Vietnam in 1997. Peterson had decided to "leave his hate at the gate" and follow a path directed not by vengeance, but by purpose.

As a U.S. Air Force pilot, Peterson was captured in 1966 after his plane was shot down by the North Vietnamese while he was on a nighttime mission near Hanoi.

Locals discovered him badly hurt after he fell into a mango tree, Peterson explained in an early account of his capture. They paraded him through villages in a motorbike sidecar before he was taken to prison and brutally interrogated.

He would be transferred from prison to prison until his release on March 4, 1973. At one point, a captor threatened him with a gun when forcing him to do something.

"I said, 'Shoot. I don't care. Go ahead. You want to kill me? It's all right.' You know, I'd been there six years anyway, so I thought I'd be there the rest of my life. For him to come up and threaten me with a gun, it was laughable."

Fifty years on from the end of the Vietnam War, Peterson, now 89, reflected on his unique journey in an interview with Kyodo News at his home in Melbourne, Australia.

"I had hated the Vietnamese so much for so long that I kind of felt like I'd run out of hate," he said of his state of mind immediately after being released from the infamous Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, known as the "Hanoi Hilton" by American POWs.

"When I ended up going back to the States, I made a conscious decision that I was not going to be a POW the rest of my life," he said. "I really did think that I had something to contribute, and maybe that experience would help me make those changes in the future."

The opportunity came after he was elected to Congress as a representative for Florida in 1991 and made several trips back to Vietnam.

"I couldn't believe how poor the people were and how friendly they were," Peterson said of his first return to Vietnam, also in 1991. "They knew who I was, and they still treated me with great respect and in a very friendly way."

Peterson had gone back to seek accountability for the approximately 2,600 Americans missing in action -- a mission that continued in his work as ambassador, though initially he had strong misgivings about taking on the role. Sending a former POW back as ambassador did not strike him as sensible.

"I felt (the Vietnamese) would be quite unhappy with that idea. And I wanted reconciliation. I didn't want to cause any problems in that regard."

But his role as a former POW and as a congressman turned out to be helpful in breaking the ice to forge a new diplomatic relationship.

Peterson credits his upfront approach, which had helped him during his captivity, with enabling him to speed up progress on gaining trust.

"I was that way with my captors, and I had that similar feeling when I was dealing with their diplomats. Be as open and transparent as possible," Peterson said. "I think by being that way, they understood, and we made faster progress than we would have otherwise."

As ambassador from 1997 to 2001, Peterson oversaw the negotiation of a key trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam, and started the "Safe Vietnam" program, in which he worked with the Vietnamese government to improve safety awareness in the country, including a law to make helmet use mandatory for motorbike riders.

Since his ambassadorship, Peterson has devoted himself to improving safety for children throughout Asia, a cause he became passionate about on his early trips across Vietnam as envoy, where he made a point to visit a school, hospital and business in each new province he traveled to.

It was on these visits to overcrowded hospitals where Peterson noticed most of the patients were children and young people, with doctors telling him most cases were caused by accidents.

"I just couldn't get that out of my mind," he said.

In 2002, he set up a nonprofit with his Vietnamese-Australian wife, Vi Peterson, dubbed The Alliance for Safe Children, dedicated to preventing accidental childhood injuries and death throughout Asia.

Extensive door-knocking surveys conducted by the group in several countries across Asia revealed drowning as the biggest killer of children in the region, spurring the organization to establish programs to teach children to swim in China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

While they have no hard numbers on the lives saved through the program, which was disbanded last year, Peterson and his wife remain proud of the organization's legacy, with swimming lessons continuing in some countries.

"We definitely are very proud that we've been able to save lives, even though we can't count them. I'm sure it's thousands and thousands."

As he approaches his 90th birthday in June, Peterson anticipates he won't be moving on to any new projects, content to finally enjoy his retirement. However, looking at major conflicts in the world today, he worries about the perilous state of international relations.

"The things that we did in the past wouldn't work now because they're too old-fashioned," said Peterson. "They're based on the old school of trust -- diplomacy, mutual respect and transparency -- those things are gone."

The bonds that once united friendly nations in the past have been "severely broken," he said, and reestablishing trust will be a great challenge.

"Diplomacy is not personal, but we have certain individuals, leaders in the world now, who have made diplomacy personal. That then really makes it difficult to find solutions and to find a way to rectify differences."
Damascus, May 13 : Syria's foreign authorities welcomed remarks made by US President Donald Trump regarding the potential lifting of sanctions imposed on Damascus, calling the remarks an encouraging step toward alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.

The foreign authorities said in a statement that these sanctions, originally applied to the former government, still "directly impact the Syrian people and hinder efforts to facilitate the country's post-war recovery and reconstruction."

The statement added that "the Syrian people aspire to a full lifting of these sanctions, as part of broader measures to support peace and prosperity in both Syria and the region and to pave the way for constructive international cooperation that promotes stability and development."

Trump said on Monday that he may ease US sanctions on Syria, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We may take them off of Syria, because we want to give them (Syria) a fresh start," Trump told reporters. His remarks followed a query from his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, about US sanctions on Syria.

Trump's words come at a time when the new leadership in Syria is exerting effort to rally international support as the country is facing extreme challenges after over a decade of conflict and economic hardship.

Earlier in April, 2025, Syria welcomed Britain's decision to lift sanctions on 12 Syrian entities operating in key sectors.

In a statement issued by Syria's foreign affairs authorities, the Syrian government described Britain's move as part of broader efforts to amend its sanctions regime on Syria and viewed it as a positive signal for Syria's reconstruction and recovery.

"This step is considered as a constructive move toward normalising international relations and supporting the urgent needs of the Syrian people following a devastating 14-year war," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Washington, May 13 : The US has imposed sanctions on three Iranian nationals and one Iranian entity with ties to Tehran's Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, which is known by its Persian acronym, SPND.

The SPND is the direct successor organisation to Iran's pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also referred to as the Amad Project.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in a press statement on Monday, stated that "all individuals sanctioned are involved in activities that materially contribute to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

"Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems. Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that is producing uranium enriched to 60 per cent, and it continues to use front companies and procurement agents to obscure its efforts to acquire dual-use items from foreign suppliers," the statement said.

"The United States' actions are intended to delay and degrade the ability of SPND to conduct nuclear weapons research and development. Today's actions demonstrate the United States' commitment to ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon," it further added.

The remarks followed after the US and Iran on Sunday concluded the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman's capital, Muscat.

"The fourth round of indirect Iran-US negotiations is concluded; difficult but useful talks to better understand each other's positions and to find reasonable & realistic ways to address the differences. Next round will be coordinated and announced by Oman," Esmaeil Baqaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, posted on X.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that indirect negotiations with the United States in Oman to revive the 2015 nuclear deal had become "much more serious and frank," while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected US demands for Tehran to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure.

Araghchi, speaking to Iran's state-run IRIB TV after the fourth round of negotiations in Oman's capital, said the discussions had shifted from general topics to more specific proposals.

He characterised the talks as "forward-moving" but acknowledged the growing complexity of the issues.

Both sides agreed to continue the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Pezeshkian firmly rejected US calls to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

"This is unacceptable. Iran will not relinquish its peaceful nuclear rights," he declared, reaffirming Tehran's stance that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.
New Delhi, May 13 : Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is visiting Chhattisgarh on Tuesday as part of a major rural outreach initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G). Chouhan is expected to approve over 3 lakh new houses under the PMAY-G scheme for the state.

The visit is part of the aMor aawas, mor adhikar" campaign, aimed at expanding housing access to rural communities.

The flagship event is being held at the PG College Ground in Ambikapur, Surguja district, where Union Minister Chouhan will formally inaugurate a series of welfare initiatives.

As the chief guest, he will hand over akeys of happinessa to PMAY-G and PM Janman Awas Yojana beneficiaries, symbolising the completion and handover of their newly-constructed homes.

In a major announcement, Chouhan is expected to approve over 3 lakh new houses under the PMAY-G scheme for the state of Chhattisgarh. With this, the total number of sanctioned houses in the state is expected to surpass 11 lakh units, reflecting the central government's commitment to "Housing for All."

During the ceremony, the Union Minister will also conduct aGriha Pravesha (housewarming) for 51,000 beneficiaries who have completed home construction. Additionally, a Bhoomi Pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) will be performed for those who have recently begun construction under the scheme.

Chouhan will also recognise the contributions of Self-Help Group (SHG) women, particularly the Lakhpati Didis, who have demonstrated excellence in rural entrepreneurship and financial self-reliance.

In preparation for the visit, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, and senior BJP leaders held high-level meetings with administrative officials to ensure smooth execution of the event. Collector Vilas Bhonsle confirmed that the PG College Ground has been fully prepared, with arrangements including a helipad, road access, and a main stage.

Since the formation of the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, implementation of the PM Awas Yojana has gained significant momentum, with renewed focus on rural development and housing accessibility.
Rome, May 13 : World No.1 Jannik Sinner continued his return from a doping ban with a comfortable straight-sets victory over Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia (Italian Open) in Rome.

Rome, May 13 (IANS) World No.1 Jannik Sinner continued his return from a doping ban with a comfortable straight-sets victory over Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong in the second round of the Internazionali BNL daItalia (Italian Open) in Rome.

The Italian who defeated Mariano Navone in his first match for more than three months on Saturday, backed that up on Monday with another stable display, beating Jesper de Jong 6-4, 6-2 on Monday night.

Playing in front of a vocal Italian crowd on Campo Centrale, Sinner let slip a break advantage in the first set but responded quickly to move ahead. The World No. 1 then moved through the gears in the second set against De Jong, who injured his right wrist when slipping at 1-3, 40/15 in the second set.

Sinner helped De Jong to his feet before he passed the 24-year-old a towel. The World No. 93 received a medical timeout at 2-3, with his wrist heavily strapped. The Dutchman could continue but was heavily hampered, frequently shaking out his wrist between points.

With his one-hour, 35-minute win, Sinner extended his winning streak to 23 matches and improved to 61-0 against players ranked outside the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings since the start of the 2023 US Open.

Sinner moved fairly freely and struck the ball with clean timing in just his second match since winning his third major at the Australian Open in January. The top seed was aggressive on return, winning 71 percent of points on De Jongas second serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He stood close to the baseline to dictate the key points and sealed victory on his first match point.

Into the fourth round in Rome for the fourth time, Sinner will next meet Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine, a recent semi-finalist in Madrid, defeated Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 6-4. Cerundolo beat Sinner in the pair's previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting in Rome in 2023, with the series tied at 2-2 overall.

In other matches on Monday, sixth seed Casper Ruud of Norway advanced to the Round of 16 when Italian 20th seed Matteo Berrettini retired from their match, trailing 7-5, 2-0. Seventh seed Alex de Minaur of Australia defeated luck-loser Hugo Dellien of Bolivia 6-4, 6-4 while Tommy Paul of the United States beat Tomas Machac of Czechia 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 in a two-and-a-half-hour battle.

Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, Jakub Mensik of Czechia, Jaume Munar of Spain and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland also advanced to the next round, getting past their respective opponents.
Mumbai, May 13 : Veteran actor Anupam Kher has landed in France ahead of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2025, and he's already soaking in the beauty around him.

Taking to social media, Kher shared a video of a breathtaking view of the French landscape, capturing the serene charm of the countryside as he touched down for the grand event. Sharing the beautiful clip, Anupam wrote, "Landed in beautiful #Nice in France. On our way to Cannes now! #WorldPremiere #TanviTheGreat."

Anupam Kher's directorial debut, 'Tanvi The Great,' is set to have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. The film will be showcased at the Marche du Film, the official film market held alongside the prestigious festival. The upcoming emotional drama is set to premiere in the Marche du Film section at the Cannes Film Festival, with the cast and crew attending the exclusive screening. Anupam Kher will take the stage to personally present the film, which is expected to attract prominent names from the global film fraternity.

Sharing the exciting update on Instagram, the actor revealed that this Cannes debut is just the beginning of an international journey. The film will next travel to major cities including London, New York, and Los Angeles, for further special screenings.

Speaking about the film's world premiere at the prestigious film festival, the actor had shared in a statement, "I've always wanted to create a film with a universal theme--one that transcends boundaries and connects with hearts everywhere. Tanvi The Great is a story born from deep passion and purpose. It's a film from our hearts, and I believe it will resonate just as deeply with audiences in Ahmedabad as it will in America."

The 78th Cannes Film Festival is ready to light up the French Riviera from May 13 to May 24, 2025, promising a grand celebration of world cinema, style, and artistic expression. With iconic stars such as Robert De Niro, Nicole Kidman, and Tom Cruise headlining the event, the French Riviera is set to transform once more into the world's cinematic epicentre.
New Delhi, May 13 : As tensions simmer along the India-Pakistan border, Defence Expert Major General (Retired.), P.K. Sehgal has issued a sharp warning to Pakistan, echoing India's firm stance on cross-border aggression and remarked that 'Operation Sindoor' is temporarily paused, not concluded.

He noted that the situation at present remains largely under control, but underlined that the Indian Armed Forces are on full alert and prepared for any provocation.

"Our 'Operation Sindoor' is temporarily paused, not concluded," Maj Gen (Retd) Sehgal stressed. "Should Pakistan make the mistake of targeting our civilians, schools, temples, mosques, churches or gurdwaras, the retaliation will be severe, far beyond their expectations."

Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address to the nation, Maj Gen Sehgal hailed it as "the strongest speech ever given by an Indian Prime Minister since 1947."

He emphasised PM Modi's message about India's military strength and the superiority of indigenous weapons systems.

"The world has now taken note of India's self-developed missile systems, like the Akash missile and air defence systems, which are not only advanced but also easy to maintain, operate, and sustain," he said.

Maj Gen Sehgal contrasted India's weaponry with Pakistan's Chinese imports, asserting, "Indian arms are world-class, and global demand for them is rising."

He also noted PM Modi's stern warning to Pakistan: "Those who tried to wipe the vermillion from our mothers' and daughters' foreheads had no idea of the response they would provoke. This is the new normal, any such act will invite a swift, punitive, and decisive response."

While no direct attacks have occurred recently, Maj Gen Sehgal confirmed drone sightings in areas like Samba and Jammu on Monday night. "There was no drone strike, but as a precaution, flights from seven airfields have been cancelled today," he added.

Finally, he noted the broader message sent to the international community: "India will no longer accept nuclear blackmail of any kind."
Chennai, May 13 : A special court for women in Coimbatore is set to pronounce the verdict on Tuesday in the infamous Pollachi sexual assault case, six years after the incident shook Tamil Nadu.

The case, which came to light in February 2019, involved the sexual assault and blackmail of several women, including college students, by a group of men who secretly recorded videos of the victims and used them to intimidate and extort them.

Public outrage over the scale and nature of the crime led to widespread protests and a demand for swift justice.

Initially investigated by the Pollachi East Police, the probe was handed over to the CB-CID on March 12, 2019, and subsequently transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 25, 2019.

The CBI arrested nine accused: K. Thirunavukkarasu (34), N. Rishwanth alias Sabarirajan (32), M. Sathish (33), T. Vasantha Kumar (30), R. Manivannan (32), Haron Paul (32), P. Babu alias Bike Babu (33), K. Arulanandham (39), and M. Arunkumar.

A chargesheet was filed on May 21, 2019, based on a complaint by a 19-year-old victim. However, procedural delays hampered progress, prompting the Madras High Court to order a transfer of the trial to the newly established Integrated Court Complex in Coimbatore for a more focused and secure hearing.

On February 14, 2023, Justice Nandhini Devi began closed-door proceedings in the Women's Court, with the accused appearing via video conferencing. After the completion of witness examinations and arguments, the court fixed May 13 as the date for the verdict.

Despite a recent judicial reshuffle relocating 77 judges, including Justice Nandhini Devi to the Karur Family Court, the Madras High Court Registrar directed her to continue presiding over the Pollachi case until the judgment is delivered.

Security has been heightened around the court complex, and the accused are expected to be physically produced before the judge by 10 a.m.

Activists and families of the survivors await the outcome with cautious optimism, hoping justice will finally be delivered in this landmark case.
New Delhi, May 13 : India will brief Defence Attaches (DAs) from various countries based in New Delhi on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., providing them with technical details of 'Operation Sindoor', the country's recent anti-terror military offensive.

The Indian armed forces are set to share critical insights and operational data, including the performance of the indigenous air defence systems and outcomes of the strike missions carried out between May 7 and May 10.

Sources confirmed that the session will cover a wide array of developments, including the destruction of Chinese and Turkish-made drones and PL-15 missiles by India's air defence forces, preventing any breach into Indian airspace.

The move comes a day after Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai addressed the media, stating that the budgetary and policy support received by the armed forces over the past decade enabled the creation of a robust multi-layered air defence grid.

He said the system proved to be a decisive shield during Pakistan's retaliatory aerial attacks on May 9 and 10. "Our battle-proven systems performed exceptionally, and the indigenous Akash missile system played a critical role," Lt Gen Ghai noted.

The briefing to the Defence Attaches will also include details of a hotline conversation that took place on Monday evening around 5 p.m. between the Indian and Pakistani DGMOs.

Lt Gen Ghai and his Pakistani counterpart, Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah, reportedly discussed methods to restore calm along the Line of Control and reiterated commitments to the ceasefire understanding reached after the Indian operation halted at Pakistan's request on May 10.

Official sources said that Pakistan conveyed it would not escalate the conflict and expressed willingness to adhere to the ceasefire agreement. The hotline exchange between the two military leaders also included discussions on maintaining restraint and monitoring the situation moving forward.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the nation for the first time following the understanding that ended the intense military exchanges.

He reiterated India's hardline stance against Pakistan, stating unequivocally that New Delhi will not hold any dialogue with Islamabad except on issues related to terrorism and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

"The Kashmir issue cannot be viewed in isolation from Pakistan's continuous export of terrorism," the Prime Minister said.

He strongly criticised Pakistan's military and government for protecting and promoting terror outfits, warning that such support could bring about their eventual downfall.

PM Modi's remarks also come amid reports that Pakistan attached certain conditions to the ceasefire, including a proposal to revive the Indus Waters Treaty, which India had suspended as a non-military strategic pressure tactic.

However, India has maintained that talks, if any, will remain confined strictly to terrorism and PoK.
New Delhi, May 13 : India has informed the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that it proposes to impose retaliatory tariffs on select American goods, to counter the duties on Indian steel and aluminium exports levied by the US as safeguard duties.

According to a WTO communication, these US safeguard measures would impact $7.6 billion worth of imports of Indian products, with an estimated duty collection of $1.91 billion.

In April, India requested consultations with the US under the WTO's safeguard agreement when the decision to levy the tariffs was announced.

The US stance at the WTO was that the tariffs on Indian goods were imposed on national security grounds and should not be regarded as safeguard measures.

India, in its notification to the WTO, announced its intent to suspend concessions and other obligations in response to the US safeguard measures on steel, aluminium, and related products, as outlined in a Presidential Proclamation dated February 10, 2025, with the measures set to take effect on March 12.

The WTO communication, dated May 9, 2025, was circulated at India's request. It noted that although the US has not formally notified these measures to the WTO, they are effectively considered safeguard measures.

"India maintains that the measures taken by the US are not consistent with the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (GATT) 1994 and Agreement on safeguards (AoS)," it said, adding that as consultations provided for under a provision of the AoS have not taken place, India reserves the right to suspend concessions or other obligations that are substantially equivalent to the adverse effects of the measure to India's trade," India's notification said.

Without prejudice to the effective exercise of its right to suspend substantially equivalent obligations, India reserves its right to suspend concessions after the expiration of 30 days from the date of this notification, it further said.

While the proposed duties are still at the WTO notification stage, India is also close to finalising a new bilateral trade agreement with the Trump administration.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 13 : The Indo-Pakistan tensions along the border have cast a cloud of uncertainty over the Nilambur assembly by-election in Kerala.

With by-elections also pending in border states like Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat, the recent tension makes it increasingly unlikely that the Election Commission will go ahead with polling only in Nilambur while holding off in the other states.

One person who might quietly welcome this uncertainty is Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Nilambur seat was held since 2016 by P.V. Anvar, who contested as a CPI(M)-backed independent. However, after a prolonged fallout with Vijayan, Anvar stunned political circles by resigning as MLA in January and pledging support to the Congress-led UDF.

Anvar, who had defeated strong Congress candidates in both 2016 and 2021, further surprised everyone by announcing that he would not contest the by-election himself -- much to the relief of the UDF.

A political observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the delay in the by-election could be politically convenient for the Chief Minister.

"Just the other day, LDF convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan declared they were on track for a third straight Vijayan-led government in 2026. But retaining Nilambur -- a seat they've held for two consecutive terms -- was already looking like a challenge. If they were to lose it, the narrative of a third-term wave would take a significant hit. So, a postponement suits them," the observer said.

Earlier this month, election officials had completed preparatory work, including the revision of the electoral roll and identification of polling stations. But with hostilities flaring at the border soon after, plans have since been left in limbo.

Nilambur, traditionally a Congress stronghold, was won by Anvar in 2016 with a margin of over 10,000 votes. However, his victory margin dropped to less than 3,000 in 2021.

Now aligned against Vijayan, Anvar has vowed to help the Congress win the seat with its largest-ever margin -- though the current geopolitical situation has thrown all calculations off course.
TOKYO - Japanese novel "Butter" by Asako Yuzuki has won the debut fiction section at the 2025 British Book Awards, its Japanese publisher said Tuesday, as translations of the work enjoy a boom in critical and commercial recognition abroad.

Yuzuki's novel, her first to be published in Britain, received the award on Monday local time, Shinchosha said.

Since its release in the country in 2024, the book has won acclaim for exploring themes of misogyny, fatphobia and sexism in modern Japan.

Yuzuki said it was "a great honor" and thanked English translator Polly Barton, her British publisher and booksellers and readers in a statement issued by the publisher.

"Butter" follows journalist Rika Machida as she investigates Manako Kajii, a woman accused of killing men she has seduced with elaborate meals. Through exchanges on food, Machida becomes fascinated by Kajii's tastes and faces some of the same body shaming as her subject.

Overseas sales of "Butter" have overtaken the around 300,000 copies sold in Japan since its 2017 release, with over 400,000 in Britain and more than 100,000 sold in the United States, Shinchosha said.

Last year, "Butter" was named the Waterstones Book Of The Year by the major British bookshop chain.

The win comes amid high interest in translated Japanese fiction in Britain. According to the sponsor of Britain's prestigious International Booker Prize, 14 of the top 30 translated novels sold in Britain in 2022 were Japanese works.

Related coverage:

FEATURE: Yuzuki's "Butter" achieves success abroad as feminist novel

S. Korea's Han Kang receives Nobel literature prize amid turmoil at home

Japan novelist Haruki Murakami to be given honorary doctorate by alma mater
Seoul, May 13 : South Korean Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im will visit the United States later this week to discuss ways to expand cooperation with Nvidia in securing advanced graphic processing units (GPUs), the ministry said on Tuesday.

The announcement came during a meeting of the government-led special committee on artificial intelligence (AI) computing, which Yoo chairs.

At the meeting, the ministry also unveiled an additional budget of 1.46 trillion won ($1.03 billion) aimed at purchasing 10,000 high-performance GPUs, reports Yonhap news agency.

The budget will support a comprehensive plan covering procurement, infrastructure development and GPU utilisation through public-private collaboration.

This follows the South Korean government's earlier pledge to secure 10,000 advanced GPUs within this year to stay competitive in the global AI race.

As part of the first phase, the government will select a cloud service provider to begin GPU acquisition and build related infrastructure at the planned National AI Computing Center.

The program will also support local industry-academia research centres and state-funded project operators by allowing them to utilise the national data centre.

"Securing advanced GPUs is the beginning of innovation in Korea's AI ecosystem," Yoo said. "We will work closely with both the public and private sectors to acquire GPUs within this year, support domestic AI efforts and expand computing infrastructure to enhance Korea's AI competitiveness."

Meanwhile, KG Mobility said on Tuesday it has partnered with Indonesia's state-run defence company PT Pindad to collaborate on a national car and electric bus project for the Southeast Asian country.

The South Korean automaker said it signed a heads of agreement (HOA) with PT Pindad at the latter's headquarters in Bandung, Indonesia, on Thursday. The signing ceremony was attended by KG Mobility Chairman Kwak Jea-sun and PT Pindad's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sigit Santosa.

Under the deal, KG Mobility will support PT Pindad with vehicle product evaluation, technology and engineering.

The two sides will collaborate on expanding the scale of PT Pindad's ongoing national car and electric bus production project in Indonesia to reach a capacity of 200,000 units.

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Taipei, May 13 : Taiwan on Tuesday said that it spotted 31 Chinese aircraft (30 of which crossed the median line of the strait and entered the northern and southwest airspace), 7 Chinese warships, and one official ship, continuing to operate around the Taiwan Strait.

The Taiwanese army used mission aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond.

"31 sorties of Chinese army aircraft, 7 Chinese navy vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 30 out of 31 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone," the Ministry of National Defence posted on X.

The defence ministry also stated that China carried out a satellite launch mission that passed through central Taiwan toward the western Pacific Ocean, and as the altitude is outside the atmosphere, it posed no threat to Taiwan.

These satellites were launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China's southwest Sichuan Province in the early hours on Tuesday.

"At 02:09 (UTC+8) today, China launched satellites from XSLC with the flight path over central Taiwan toward the Western Pacific. The altitude is beyond the atmosphere, posing no threat. Taiwan's Armed Forces monitored the process and remain ready to respond accordingly," the ministry said.

Last month, Taiwan strongly condemned China's joint military drill when it detected 19 Chinese Navy ships around Taipei, and stated that Beijing's provocations threatened regional peace.

The Taiwanese defence ministry called the move a disruption to the status quo and said it had deployed military vessels and aircraft in response to the threats.

Taiwanese President Lai had also labelled China a "foreign hostile force" and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases.

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.
New Delhi, May 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning visited the Adampur Airbase in Punjab to meet Indian Air Force personnel and express the nation's gratitude for their courage and fearlessness in defending the country.

His visit comes just days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following the successful execution of 'Operation Sindoor', a major anti-terror operation conducted by Indian forces targeting high-value terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

At the base, the Prime Minister interacted with the soldiers, praising their bravery and valour.

Soldiers present at the interaction described the visit as a morale booster, noting how the Prime Minister's presence uplifted the spirit of the troops, according to sources.

The soldiers were seen smiling in their combat uniforms, a symbol of their constant readiness.

Sharing his experience on X, PM Modi wrote, "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation."

Adampur Airbase was among the targets of Pakistan's retaliatory attempt during the night of May 9 and 10, following India's strike on terrorist infrastructure across the border.

Pakistani drones and missiles were intercepted and neutralised by India's air defence systems, showcasing the preparedness and effectiveness of the Indian armed forces.

The visit also coincided with PM Modias recent address to the nation where he commended the armed forces for the execution of 'Operation Sindoor', stating that it had achieved its objectives with precision and resolve.

"I salute the armed forces, Intelligence agencies and scientists for their grit that helped 'Operation Sindoor' achieve its objective," the Prime Minister said.

Reaffirming India's new doctrine in its fight against terrorism, PM Modi had said that 'Operation Sindoor' was dedicated to the nation's collective spirit, particularly to the women of India, whose safety and honour were at the heart of the mission.

He underlined that the operation had sent a clear message to terrorist organisations and their backers -- that any attack on India or its citizens would be met with decisive and powerful retribution.

"The world has seen India's capability and it is clear terrorists will no longer be spared," he asserted.

The Prime Minister stressed that 'Operation Sindoor' marked a new and unwavering chapter in India's counter-terrorism strategy -- one that is relentless, precise, and uncompromising.

He emphasised that India's military carried out highly targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, reinforcing the country's resolve to safeguard its citizens and national values.
Amaravati, May 13 : At least four persons were killed and three others injured in a road accident in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district on Tuesday, police said.

Amaravati, May 13 (IANS) At least four persons were killed and three others injured in a road accident in Andhra Pradeshas Palnadu district on Tuesday, police said.

The accident occurred near Shivapuram in Venukonda mandal of Palnadu district when a trolley loaded with papayas was hit by a truck.

While three persons died on the spot, another succumbed while being shifted to the hospital. The deceased and injured were agricultural labourers who were travelling in the trolley. They were all residents of Gaddameedapalli in Yerragundapalem mandal.

The injured, including the trolley driver, have been admitted to a hospital in Venukonda. Their condition is stated to be critical.

Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh has expressed grief over the accident.

He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them of all support from the government.

The Minister directed officials to provide the best treatment to the injured. Minister for Transport Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy has also expressed shock over the death of four agricultural labourers in the accident.

He conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased. The Minister directed the district officials to ensure that the injured get the best treatment.

The Transport Minister said the government would extend all possible assistance to the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the bodies of two boys who drowned in a reservoir in Nellore district on Monday were pulled out on Tuesday.

Two boys, identified as Chandu and Nandu, went missing while taking a bath in the reservoir. Police, with the help of divers, had launched a search operation.

The deceased had come to their relativesa house during the summer holidays and had gone to the reservoir to take a bath.
Seoul, May 13 : South Korea's People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo said on Tuesday that he is not considering expelling impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from the conservative party ahead of the June 3 election.

Kim resisted growing calls from his own party to sever ties with Yoon, who was removed from office last month over his short-lived martial law declaration on December 3 and now faces trials on charges of leading an insurrection.

"Whether former President Yoon decides to leave the party or not is up to him," Kim told reporters during his campaign stop in the southeastern city of Daegu.

"If we judge that former President Yoon did something wrong and demand that he leave, then our party also bears responsibility," he added.

Kim, who apologised on Monday for the public's suffering from Yoon's martial law attempt, described the move as "one of the most extreme measures," emphasising that it is not an appropriate approach to resolve political disputes.

The former labour minister urged the party to overcome controversies related to Yoon's martial law and impeachment and move forward to win the election.

After Kim registered as the PPP's candidate on Sunday following days of an internal feud over a unified candidacy with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Yoon urged conservatives to rally behind Kim for the race, Yonhap news agency reported.

If elected, Kim said he would push for an early summit with US President Donald Trump to negotiate a trade deal that would ease broad tariffs.

He also unveiled support measures for the Artificial Intelligence sector to foster 200,000 young professionals in the field and create a private-public fund worth 100 trillion won ($71.2 billion) by drawing foreign investment.

On security, Kim vowed to develop Nuclear-powered submarines to counter Pyongyang's Nuclear threats and pursue unification with North Korea to save its people suffering from hunger and oppression.

"Progressivism should bring prosperity, not poverty. I want to tear apart fake progressivism," Kim said.
Canberra, May 13 : Sussan Ley has been appointed as the leader of the Liberal Party, becoming the first woman to lead the federal party in its 80-year history.

She defeated her rival Angus Taylor in a tight party room ballot, taking over as Australia's first female opposition leader, according to local media report.

Ley took over the position from former opposition leader Peter Dutton.

The Liberal-National coalition, which is presently Australia's main opposition party, suffered a historic defeat in the elections on May 3.

Dutton, who led the coalition, also became the first federal leader of an opposition to lose his own parliamentary seat, Australian news agency ABC reported.

In an address to the nation as the leader for the first time, Ley said she planned to "do things differently" and would adopt a "fresh approach" after the coalition's massive election loss.

Later speaking to reporters gathered in the Liberal party room, she said she was humbled, honoured and "up for the job."

"I want to harness the talents of every single person in our party room going forward to develop the clear, articulate policy agenda that does meet Australians where they are," she said.

Taylor congratulated Ley, stating that her success was a milestone for the party, which needed to come together.

"The Liberal Party has suffered a historic defeat, and we have lost many good people in this election. This result shows we must do more to convince Australians that the coalition is the best party to support aspiration, economic opportunity, and the Australian dream," he said.

Meanwhile, Ley dismissed the claims that her appointment to the Liberal leadership is an example of the "glass cliff effect."

The glass cliff effect refers to women being more likely to be appointed to leadership positions when an organisation is in a precarious position, ABC reported.

"I don't accept that. I do say it sends a signal to the women of Australia that the Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader, but my agenda is much more than that. It's about connecting with women and listening to where we went wrong," she said.
New Delhi, May 13 : Slamming the Opposition's demand for a special session of Parliament following the success of 'Operation Sindoor', senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain accused the Opposition parties of displaying a lack of trust in the Indian Armed Forces and indulging in "irresponsible behaviour."

Speaking to IANS, Hussain said, "The Congress party is behaving irresponsibly. Whether it's Congress leaders or AAP's Sanjay Singh or others from the Opposition, we ask them just one thing, 'do you trust the Indian Army or not?'"

Hussain emphasised that when the Indian Army and the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) clearly confirmed that India had entered Pakistani territory and inflicted heavy damage, there should be no room for political scepticism.

"The DGMO said Pakistan's own DGMO pleaded for a ceasefire after suffering serious losses. If you can't trust that, what can you trust?" he said.

He strongly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, which he described as decisive and morale-boosting.

"The Prime Minister made it clear that Pakistan was prepared to attack our borders, but we struck straight at their heart. Our Army, Navy, and Air Force have crushed Pakistan's arrogance."

On Pakistan's Nuclear threats, Hussain said, "PM Modi clearly stated that Nuclear blackmail will not be tolerated. For too long, Pakistan used its Nuclear status to intimidate the world, that era is over."

Speaking on the same issue, BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana dismissed the Opposition's call for a special session as unnecessary and politically motivated.

"No, nothing was decided in advance. This isn't some formal requirement. Yes, they were invited earlier, and if needed, they will be invited again."

Khatana added that the government's priorities remain focussed on national security and unresolved matters in Parliament. "The real issues are cross-border terrorism and pending resolutions, that's where our focus lies."
Mumbai, May 13 : India's retail sector is witnessing a major transformation, with over 16.6 million square feet of new Grade A mall space expected to come up across top seven cities in 2025 and 2026, a new report said on Tuesday.

This surge is being driven by rising consumer demand and strong momentum in retail leasing, marking what experts call a golden era for the sector, according to data compiled by Anarock Research.

Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR will lead this supply boom, accounting for nearly 65 per cent of the upcoming mall space.

This indicates a clear shift towards high-growth consumption centres in these cities.

The expansion is part of a broader retail real estate pipeline that could see more than 40 million square feet of new retail space added across India by 2029.

Anuj Kejriwal, CEO and MD of Anarock Retail, said that the push for more mall development is also due to a shortage of quality supply in recent years.

"In 2022, top cities saw only 2.6 million sq. ft. of new supply, while leasing hit 3.2 million sq. ft. Similarly, in 2023, new supply was 5.3 million sq. ft., but leasing was even higher at 6.5 million sq. ft.," he said.

The supply shortfall became more pronounced in 2024, partly due to slower approval processes linked to general and state elections.

"In that year, only 1.1 million sq. ft. of new mall space entered the market, while leasing demand remained steady at 6.5 million sq. ft," Kejriwal mentioned.

Despite the sudden influx of new space expected over the next two years, there are no immediate fears of oversupply.

The report estimates over 12.6 million sq. ft. of mall leasing activity will take place across the top cities in 2025 and 2026.

This reflects strong interest from both developers and retailers, buoyed by positive consumer sentiment and ongoing demand for organised retail space.

One of the driving factors behind this demand is the entry of over 60 international retail brands into India in the last four years.

These brands span fashion, electronics, lifestyle, and food and beverage categories, and they are actively seeking presence in high-footfall malls and high streets.

As a result, mall vacancy rates, which peaked at 15.5 per cent in 2021, are expected to stabilise at around 8.2 per cent in 2025 and 8.5 per cent in 2026, said the report.

The current retail growth wave is also spreading beyond major metro cities. Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are becoming important retail destinations due to rising disposable incomes, better internet access, and growing ecommerce adoption.

In fact, these smaller cities now account for a majority share of online shopping in India.

The number of online shoppers in the country has grown from 140 million in 2020 to nearly 260 million in 2024 and is expected to hit 300 million by 2030 and 700 million by 2035, the report said.
United Nations, May 13 : Amid fighting and disease, deadly floods posed additional dire challenges in South Kivu province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN humanitarians said.

"Local authorities in South Kivu report that overnight flooding in Fizi territory between May 8-9 killed more than 60 people," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday.

"Many people are still missing, and search efforts continue. More than 150 houses were also destroyed, leaving 1,000 people homeless."

The office said the officials warned that continued heavy rainfall threatens further damage and have issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance. The deluge worsens existing vulnerabilities, where ongoing clashes and a recent surge in cholera cases heighten the risk of a major public health crisis.

OCHA said local authorities convened an emergency meeting in Uvira to coordinate response efforts.

In North Kivu province, the humanitarians said hostilities also continue, and officials report that nine civilians were killed and 50 others injured in an overnight attack in a village of Lubero territory on Wednesday and Thursday.

Further north, in Ituri province, OCHA said assessments by its humanitarian partners indicate that more than 40,000 people arrived in the Fataki and Rety areas of Djugu territory between February and April. The new arrivals were mainly fleeing violence in other regions or returning home from previous displacement during a period of calm.

"The crisis is overwhelming already strained services in these areas, affecting 155,000 people," OCHA said.

"Humanitarian partners report acute needs across all sectors, including shelter, food and healthcare."

The office said the world body continues to mobilise assistance despite access constraints and funding gaps, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the World Health Organization, Cholera outbreaks occur regularly in some countries. In others, they are less frequent, and it may be years between outbreaks. Cholera is linked to limited access to safe water, basic sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices.

This may be due to conflict, population displacement, climate events like cyclones, floods or drought, and lack of investment in maintaining and improving WASH services and infrastructure. Preventing and controlling cholera involves a combination of strengthening surveillance, improving water, sanitation and hygiene, increasing risk communication and community engagement, improving access to quality treatment and implementing oral cholera vaccine campaigns.
Bhopal, May 13 : In the wake of a tragic road accident that claimed the life of a young doctor and left six others injured, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and Bhopal police jointly launched an extensive vehicle inspection drive across the city on Tuesday.

The focus of the crackdown is primarily on buses and other forms of public transport.

The checks, being carried out at nearly all major traffic intersections of the city, include scrutiny of vehicle fitness, pollution compliance, and adherence to the Motor Vehicles Act.

The intensified drive follows a horrific incident on Monday morning, when a recklessly driven school bus ran over several commuters at the Banganga Square crossing -- one of the busiest junctions in the capital.

CCTV footage showed the bus ploughing into nearly a dozen vehicles waiting at a red signal.

Prior to hitting the vehicles, the bus struck Dr Ayesha Khan, a 23-year-old doctor on her way to JP Hospital on a scooter. She was dragged for nearly 20 meters before being crushed under the bus, dying on the spot.

According to police, two of the six injured remain in critical condition. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the school bus was operating without a valid fitness certificate and suffered a brake failure.

The Police have filed an FIR against the school bus driver.

Regional Transport Officer Jitendra Sharma confirmed that the bus was registered to a private school and that its fitness certificate had expired in November 2024. Not only this, but its insurance coverage was also found to be invalid.

In response to the tragedy, the Bhopal district administration has ordered an extensive inspection of all buses, including those operated by schools and other institutions.
HIROSHIMA - An object believed to be an unexploded wartime bomb was discovered Tuesday on a Hiroshima University campus in western Japan, police said.

The object around 90 centimeters long and 25 cm in diameter was found at about 10:20 a.m. at a construction site on the university's Kasumi campus in Hiroshima's Minami Ward.

Access to the site has been restricted and all classes in the afternoon canceled, with the Self-Defense Forces called to dispose of the object.

The object was discovered by construction workers while they were excavating the ground for the demolition of a building belonging to the university's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The site is around 1.8 kilometers south of JR Hiroshima Station.

Related coverage:

Miyazaki Airport resumes operations after WWII bomb scare

Explosion reported at Tokyo park, no injuries confirmed
Chennai, May 13 : In a landmark verdict, the Special Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Tuesday sentenced all nine accused in the infamous Pollachi sexual assault case to life imprisonment.

The court ruled that the convicts will serve life terms for the remainder of their natural lives under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to gang-rape.

Judge R. Nandhini Devi delivered the sentence after hearing final arguments from the prosecution and defence.

The court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay a total compensation of Rs 85 lakh to the eight women who came forward to testify as survivors.

The nine convicted men are, N. Sabarirajan alias Rishwanth (32) of Jothi Nagar, K. Thirunavukkarasu (34) of Makkinampatti, M. Sathish (33) and T. Vasanthakumar (30), both from Suleeswaranpatti, R. Mani alias Manivannan (32) and T. Haronimus Paul (32), both from Achipatti, P. Babu (33) of Mahalingapuram, K. Arulanantham (39) of Vadugapalayam and M. Arunkumar (33) of Panikkampatti.

All nine had been charged with serious offences including criminal conspiracy, sexual harassment, rape, gang-rape, and repeated rape on the same victim.

The CBIas Public Prosecutor, Surenda Mohan, had urged the court to impose the maximum punishment, citing the grave nature of the crimes.

The accused were brought to court from Salem Central Prison under heavy security.

The case dates back to 2016a"2018, when the group of men from Pollachi allegedly blackmailed, sexually assaulted, and filmed several women, mainly from middle and lower-income backgrounds.

The abuse came to light after a 19-year-old college student lodged a complaint with the Pollachi East police on February 24, 2019.

She reported being sexually assaulted by four men in a moving car earlier that month.

Though many victims were reportedly targeted, only eight women testified during the trial.

The videos of the assaults were used by the accused to further exploit the survivors, exposing a chilling pattern of organised abuse.

The courtas ruling marks a significant moment in Tamil Naduas fight against sexual violence, bringing justice to survivors after six years of legal proceedings.
Mumbai, May 13 : Comedian Samay Raina is all set to make a grand comeback following the "India's Got Latent" controversy. Returning to Instagram, the YouTuber announced his comeback tour.

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Comedian Samay Raina is all set to make a grand comeback following the "India's Got Latent" controversy. Returning to Instagram, the YouTuber announced his comeback tour.

Taking to his official Instagram handle, Samay dropped a video to announce his tour across Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.

The black-and-white clip started by announcing his new tour, followed by glimpses of his successful shows in the US and Canada. His latest tour will commence in Koln on June 5 and conclude in Sydney on July 20.

During his tour, the stand-up comic will be visiting the cities- Frankfurt, Berlin, Barcelona, Hamburg, Dublin, Zurich, Munich, Antwerp, Paris, Amsterdam, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Auckland, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth.

Samay posted another story on his IG, hinting that his latest set might include references to the "India's Got Latent" controversy. His note read, "The most testing time of my life makes for the best comedy. See you on the tour".

As soon as the post was up, netizens used the comment section to show their excitement.

One of the Insta users wrote, "Waited everyday for THISS".

A cybercitizen shared, "This comeback was personal..So happy for youuu."

The third comment said, "THE GOAT IS BACKKK".

One of he comments read, "Seriously... insane comeback man".

Giving a shoutout, Samay's team member, Shubham Chawla wrote on social media, "We pulled off one of the biggest tour in the US and Canada by an Indian comedian. The grit to be able to get on stage every day when your whole world is upside down. Major shoutout to my brother for creating a laughter riot during the whole tour.... We are so back".

Refreshing your memory, "India's Got Latent" faced major backlash after podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made an insensitive remark regarding a contestant's parents. The video went viral, with netizens condemning Allahbadia's comments.

An FIR was also filed against Apoorva Mukhija, Ashish Chanchlani, Allahbadia, Samay, and others associated with the show.
Mumbai, May 13 : Television star Rupali Ganguly has become the first Indian celebrity to publicly call for a boycott of Turkey, urging fellow celebrities, influencers, and travelers to cancel their bookings to the country.

Taking to social media, the Anupamaa actress made a strong appeal, stating that this is the least that can be done as Indians in response to ongoing rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Rupali wrote on her X handle, "Can we please cancel our bookings for Turkey. This is my request to all Indian Celebs/Influencers/Travellers. This is the least we can do as Indians. #BoycottTurkey."

Her post quickly sparked conversations online, with many applauding her for taking a bold stand. One user commented on Ganguly's post, "Absolutely! If we're serious about standing against terror, Indigo and all Indian airlines must immediately suspend flights to Turkey. We can't let our hard-earned money fund those who support attacks on our soldiers. #BoycottTurkey  let's make it loud and clear."

Another said, "done cancelled my family trip."

On May 9, Television actor Kushal Tandon's parents showed their support for the growing calls to boycott Turkey, following the country's stance in favor of Pakistan after India's Operation Sindoor. His mother, Sandhya Tandon, decided to cancel her planned trip to Turkey with friends, despite the financial loss involved due to non-refundable bookings.

The actor wrote on his Instagram, "My mom and her friends were planning to go next month, and now they have cancelled their whole trip, even with no refunds getting back from the hotels and airlines. Remember, do your bits."

Turkey and Azerbaijan issued statements on May 8 in which both nations expressed support for Pakistan and criticized India's airstrikes targeting terror camps. Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the operation as a "provocative step," while Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry extended sympathies to the families reportedly affected by the strikes. The statements drew sharp criticism across Indian social media platforms, intensifying public anger and fueling a growing call to boycott Turkey.
Islamabad, May 13 : Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan could be under threat if New Delhi continues to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and tries to divert Pakistan's water. Dar's statement comes after the two sides announced a ceasefire and agreed to continue it during the first phase of the direct communication at Director General Military Operations (DGMO) level hotline contact on Monday.

Speaking to CNN, Ishaq Dar said that while he welcomes the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, after major military operations by both sides on each other's respective territories, the water issue needs to be resolved soon.

Dar said the potential of the ceasefire to hold would come under question again if India refuses to reverse its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

"The National Security Committee (NSC) of Pakistan declared that if this treaty (Indus Waters Treaty) is tampered, if the water is diverted, if the water is stopped, it will be treated as an act of war," said Dar.

"We want to take the whole process forward in an honourable way, with dignity for both sides, and resolve through a composite dialogue, the issues which will give on a long-term basis, this region, peace and security", he added.

The treaty was suspended by New Delhi following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists.

India also took several other measures, including closure of trade and borders with Pakistan, expelling diplomats from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, and suspending visas of Pakistani nationals in India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday night, made it clear that his government will, in the coming days, "measure every step of Pakistan" on the criterion that what sort of attitude Pakistan will adopt ahead on curbing cross-border terrorism.

"The way the Pakistani army, Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India's stand is very clear... Terror and talks cannot go together... Terror and trade cannot go together. Water and blood cannot flow together," the Indian Prime Minister said while signalling that there was no plan to reverse the decision on the Indus Waters Treaty suspension.

After the first DGMO level contact between India and Pakistan, it would be interesting to see the agenda of talks during the second phase of direct communication, expected to happen in the coming days.

The Indus Water Treaty, which was signed in 1960, governs the sharing of the waters of six rivers  Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej  between India and Pakistan.
New Delhi, May 13 : Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday voiced the Congress party's concerns over the sudden understanding on ceasefire announced during Operation Sindoor and described US President Donald Trump's suggestion to help on Kashmir as 'dangerous'.

The Congress stalwart questioned the government on why it was allowing Donald Trump to come into the picture.

Addressing the media here, Gehlot said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs should elaborate on the role that Trump claimed he played in achieving an understanding on a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

"I have this complaint against PM Modi that he has not spoken about Trump's tweets," he said, referring to the US President's offer to help on Kashmir.

"The Simla Agreement said that no third nation would come into the picture, but Trump has entered the scene. We don't know if Trump is in the frame with the consent of the Indian government or not," he said.

The Congress leader trained his guns on the government for its silence on the compulsion behind suddenly allowing Trump to play a role and listening to what he is saying on Kashmir.

Calling Trump's offer to help on Kashmir a dangerous development, Gehlot said, "Why aren't we sharing specific details about the reason and compulsion behind allowing Trump to play a role?"

In a veiled attack on the government for allegedly using the Operation Sindoor for political gains, Gehlot said the armed forces have always kept the nation's head high, and this has been happening over the decades, including during the era of the Congress government that saw the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump took to social media to announce a US-brokered "immediate ceasefire" between India and Pakistan after four days of New Delhi's Operation Sindoor.

In another post later, the US President offered to intervene on the Kashmir issue. "I will work with you both to see if, after a thousand years, a solution can be arrived at, concerning Kashmir," he said in a social media message that has now given ammunition to the Opposition parties in India to target the government.

India launched the four-day-long Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target nine terror hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, which left 26 dead on April 22.
Dhaka, May 13 : As the radical Islamist party of Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, struggles to regain its political party status, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that it is the first instance in the country's history where a party's registration was cancelled through a High Court verdict.

The remarks were made by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed during the hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami's petition by the full appellate division bench consisting of seven members.

The Islamist party appealed seeking restoration of its registration as a political party and its electoral symbol, scale, local media reported.

Tawhidul Islam, who represented the Election Commission (EC) in the hearing, said that EC has stepped back ever since the High Court intervened in the matter of Jamaat's registration, and is now waiting for the verdict from the Appellate Division regarding Jamaat's registration.

He further informed the court that following the administrative decision of the Supreme Court, the EC removed Jamaat's symbol, the scales, and if it now wants a new symbol, it can apply afresh.

Meanwhile, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till May 14, Bangladeshi leading daily, The Dhaka Tribune, reported.

In August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat's registration as a political party illegal and void by disposing of a writ petition. Subsequently, in December 2018, the EC formally cancelled the party's registration through a gazette notification.

Jamaat later appealed against the High Court's verdict, but in November 2023, the Appellate Division, led by then Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, dismissed Jamaat's appeal for default as the party's principal lawyer was not present during the appeal hearing.

As a result, the High Court's verdict declaring Jamaat's registration as an illegal political party remained in effect.

After the fall of the Awami League Government, headed by Sheikh Hasina in a violent mass uprising last year, Jamaat-e-Islami submitted a petition to revive the appeal to regain its cancelled registration as a political party.

In October, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court accepted Jamaat-e-Islami's request seeking to regain its registration as a political party.

From then on, Jamaat used the legal means to seek the restoration of the party registration and its electoral symbol, local media reported.

Reports further suggest that on August 1 last year, the previous Awami League-led government banned Jamaat, its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and all of its associated organisations as political entities under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009.

However, the interim government under Muhammad Yunus, after coming to power, lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, issuing a gazette notification.

These radical forces earlier worked hand in glove with the student leaders and Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League.
New Delhi, May 13 : Opposition leaders on Tuesday praised 'Operation Sindoor' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong message to Pakistan on Monday night.

In a show of unity, RJD leader Manoj Jha welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation following the success of 'Operation Sindoor', acknowledging the gravity of the moment and the national sentiment surrounding the cross-border operation against terror.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha stated, "This is important. The Prime Minister is the leader of our nation, and he represents all of us. After the events at Pahalgam, the entire country was thinking in the same direction."

He further noted that the Prime Minister's sentiments were in line with the collective emotions of the people, saying, "When 'Operation Sindoor' was launched, the entire country shared the same thought. The briefings by our forces and the communication were consistent and powerful, a message that resonated globally."

Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi echoed similar sentiments, describing the Prime Minister's remarks as "from the heart and mind", but suggested a more formal approach.

"It would have been better if a special session of Parliament had been convened, allowing the Prime Minister to address all parties directly, facilitating dialogue and consensus," Nadvi said.

The Prime Minister's national address, delivered on Monday evening, came in the wake of India's successful counter-terror operation and a tactical ceasefire understanding with Pakistan. In his speech, PM Modi laid out a three-pronged anti-terror doctrine, marking a shift in India's security posture.

He reiterated that India will no longer tolerate Nuclear blackmail, declaring, "Terrorists and those who shelter them, whether within or outside a country, will be treated the same."

He made it clear that India's fight against terrorism is global, and that Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) remains the only outstanding issue for dialogue with Islamabad.

PM Modi's strong tone and clarity were seen as reflective of India's evolving 'new normal', where decisive retaliation, pre-emptive action, and global pursuit of terror threats are central to national security.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 13 : Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Court VI on Tuesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 15 lakh on him for murdering four members of his family -- his parents, sister and aunt in Nathancode.

On Monday, the court found Cadell J. Raja guilty.

Raja was asked to pay the fine to his uncle, Jose, a piano teacher.

Raja, who lived here with his then 60-year-old father, mother, his sister and his blind aunt, murdered them over two days in April 2017.

After murdering the four, three of the bodies were found burnt, while one was found in a mutilated and decomposed state, when the Police broke open the door of the house after a few days.

Raja had a serious difference of opinion with his father because the latter sent him to study medicine in Ukraine and then for a computer course in Australia against his wishes.

After a while, Raja discontinued both the courses, which led to frequent arguments between him and his father.

Incidentally, after eliminating all four, Raja left for Chennai. A few days later, when Raja returned, he was arrested.

Even though Raja claimed he was away in Chennai when the murder took place, the police cracked his defence by proving his presence in the house through scientific means.

The police were clueless about his explanation, and later their probe revealed that Raja had murdered each of them in a well-planned manner.

Before doing it, he disconnected CCTV cameras in the house and isolated each victim before attacking them.

When the forensic reports surfaced, it revealed that he used dummy figures on how each person should be killed and bought weapons, including knives and axes, online.

He also had sourced chemicals and used them to wash the blood stains after each murder.

Investigations revealed that Raja watched violent video games.

The police dismissed his theory that he committed this crime as part of an experiment in 'astral projection', a pseudoscientific belief in out-of-body experiences.

Initially, the trial got delayed as he was given treatment for the mental ailment, then came the COVID pandemic, and during the trial, the prosecution maintained that the murders were premeditated and deliberate, pointing to the detailed planning and execution, while his counsel on Tuesday pointed out that he was mentally unstable.

While in jail, he surprised many co-prisoners, saying that he often spoke to his parents as he was an expert in astral projection and could speak with spirits.
New Delhi, May 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Adampur Airbase in Punjab was widely praised by leaders of BJP and JD-U on Tuesday. The Prime Minister met Indian Air Force personnel and commended them for their unwavering commitment to national security. His visit follows the recently declared ceasefire between India and Pakistan, coming in the wake of the successful 'Operation Sindoor' - a decisive anti-terror mission targeting high-value terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Adampur Airbase in Punjab was widely praised by leaders of BJP and JD-U on Tuesday. The Prime Minister met Indian Air Force personnel and commended them for their unwavering commitment to national security. His visit follows the recently declared ceasefire between India and Pakistan, coming in the wake of the successful 'Operation Sindoor'  a decisive anti-terror mission targeting high-value terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

Leaders from the BJP and JD-U welcomed the Prime Minister's visit, emphasising that it would significantly raise the spirits of the armed forces.

JD-U senior leader K.C. Tyagi expressed strong faith in the valour of Indian soldiers.

"We have full belief in the bravery and courage of our armed forces. Whether it was the wars of 1965 and 1971, Kargil war, the Pulwama attack, or the recent confrontation in Pahalgam, our soldiers have consistently demonstrated their strength," he stated.

BJP National Spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Prime Minister Modi's longstanding commitment to the morale of armed personnel.

"Whether it's Holi, Diwali, or any festival, the Prime Minister makes it a point to celebrate with the soldiers. His gesture is not just symbolic  it's deeply motivating for the troops. Unfortunately, some people try to politicise these moments, but the Prime Minister's actions are about showing respect and gratitude to our defenders."

Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya shared a personal anecdote.

"This will definitely boost the morale of the armed forces. A friend of mine in the military once said that when the Prime Minister placed a hand on his shoulder, he felt a surge of energy. The PM doesn't just visit  he observes their living conditions, tastes their food, listens to their concerns, and genuinely engages with them. He sees himself as their first servant and takes that responsibility seriously."

Earlier in the day, at the Adampur Airbase, Prime Minister Modi interacted with the soldiers, commending their courage. According to sources, the troops described his presence as deeply encouraging. Images from the visit showed smiling soldiers in combat gear, reflecting high morale and readiness.

Sharing his thoughts on social media platform X, PM Modi wrote, "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation."

The visit came shortly after India's retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure across the border. During the night of May 910, Pakistan attempted a response targeting Indian sites, including the Adampur Airbase. However, India's air defence systems successfully intercepted and neutralised incoming drones and missiles, demonstrating the country's strong Defence preparedness.

PM Modi's visit also coincided with his recent address to the nation, where he praised the armed forces for executing 'Operation Sindoor' with precision, calling it a mission that had met its goals with unmatched resolve.
Kalaburagi : , May 13 (IANS) Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Centre's foreign policy, citing the United States' claim that the India-Pakistan ceasefire was a result of its mediation.

He called the claim a sign of India's diplomatic failure and questioned the government's silence on key national security issues.

Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Kharge said, "US President Donald Trump is claiming credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire and says the US is aiding Pakistan. Why are they comparing the economies of India and Pakistan? Our foreign policy has completely failed."

He further asked, "How did Pakistan secure an IMF loan? Why has the Prime Minister turned a bilateral issue into an international one? He refuses to attend all-party meetings or address Parliament. In 11 years, he hasn't held a single press conference -- only delivers speeches through Mann Ki Baat or from the Red Fort."

Kharge also reiterated his party's support for Operation Sindoor but questioned the government's handling of terror attacks.

"You claimed Akhand Bharat and attacks on Karachi and Islamabad -- where is the result? Four terrorists infiltrated 250 km into Pahalgam, killed 26 people -- and vanished. Where are they? Is our border so porous? Where is James Bond Ajit Doval? Where is Home Minister Amit Shah? Why is no one asking questions?"

"Did those terrorists go to Karnataka, Bangladesh, China -- or back to Pakistan? This reflects the total failure of national security under Prime Minister Modi," he said.

Reacting sharply, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka mocked Kharge's remarks, suggesting he focus on local governance instead of foreign policy.

"Does Priyank Kharge think he's the rightful successor to Indira Gandhi, or has Congress outsourced its national communication to junior Kharge?" he asked, taking a swipe at the minister's lineage -- Kharge is the son of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.

"Kalaburagi, your home district, is at the bottom in SSLC/Class 10 board results. Before preaching on foreign policy, perhaps you could extend your Gyan Darshan to improving human development indicators here," Ashoka said.

Offering "elder brotherly advice", Ashoka added, "Just because your party is disillusioned with Rahul Gandhi and suddenly remembering Indira Gandhi, don't assume you can be her successor. After 50 years of service, even your father couldn't become Karnataka's CM -- how do you expect to inherit Indira Gandhi's legacy?"
TOKYO - Japan's rice prices fell for the first time in 18 weeks to 4,214 yen ($28.50) per 5 kilograms, the government said Monday, with the release of its stockpiles appearing to finally have an effect on stabilizing supply.

During the seven days through May 4, the average price of rice sold at supermarkets across the nation fell by 19 yen per 5 kg from the previous week, when it hit its highest level since data collection began in March 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

But with prices still sitting at around double from a year earlier, it remains to be seen whether the downward trend will continue.

The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, which has received the bulk of the released stockpiles, has been moving to bring them to market.

The supply of rice has recently tightened, partly due to last summer's high temperatures and growing demand from a surge in inbound tourism. The government has decided to release 312,000 tons of stockpiled rice to smooth market distribution.
Mumbai, May 13 : The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday, in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' criticised the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and stated that "no one will give us an Akhand Hindu Rashtra. We will have to fight and win it."

In the scathing editorial in 'Saamana', the Thackeray camp said, "The nation lost the opportunity to fulfil Veer Savarkar's dream of an 'Akhand Hindustan (unified Hindu nation).' The Indian Army sacrificed its heroes in the war, civilians lost their lives, but what did they get?"

"Prime Minister Modi announced that 'If Pakistan fires again, you (the armed forces) should fire a bullet', meaning a bomb. Why were the Pakistanis left alive to fire bullets? The soul of Veer Savarkar must also be asking this question. PM Modi, Eknath Shinde and others have lost the right to do politics in Savarkar's name," the editorial said.

"Now the Bhakts (BJP supporters) have spread such news, citing sources, that Prime Minister Modi has demanded Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir from Pakistan.

"They are stating that PM Modi said, 'Our goal is to get back Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. First give us PoK, only then can we talk to Pakistan.' But there are no details," the editorial stated.

"The Indian Army had started preparations to pay homage to Veer Savarkar by getting back Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. If the war had lasted for four more days, India would have landed on Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, but President Trump destroyed it," claimed the editorial.

"People from the BJP and Mindhe (Eknath Shinde) faction say that the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has abandoned the idea of Veer Savarkar. They should now burn the effigies of President Trump in front of the American Embassy.

"Veer Savarkar had presented the concept of a one and indivisible India from Kashmir to Rameswaram, from Sindh to Assam. Veer Savarkar's dream was clear and pure. Prime Minister Modi and his 'Mindhe' people are using Veer Savarkar's name for politics.

"Fake Savarkar devotees silenced the guns in the hands of the Army fighting for a united India," alleged the Shiv Sena (UBT).

"No one will give us an Akhand Hindu Rashtra. We will have to fight and win it. Hindu Rashtra is a part of Hindutva. Veer Savarkar had said that Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra believe in 'Asindhu Sindhu Paryanta Yasya Bharat Bhumika (From the Indus River to Sindhu ocean, extends the land of Bharat).' Further Savarkar added 'Pitrubhu: Punyabhushchaiva sa vai Hinduriti smrita (He is considered a Hindu who regards the land from the Indus River to the Indian Ocean as his fatherland and holy land)'.

"Savarkar defined that whoever considers this Bharat, which stretches from the Indus to the sea, as his fatherland and holy land, is a Hindu.

"Savarkar is a supporter of Akhand Hindustan and Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, people from Maharashtra and others are supporters of Akhand Hindustan's ideas, but when that idea of Akhand Hindustan is coming into view, why did all these people backtrack? This should be called a jugglery," said the editorial.

"Nathuram Godse supporters say that he killed Mahatma Gandhi out of anger that Pakistan was sitting on our head because Mahatma Gandhi approved the Partition. Later, Godse was hanged, but his ashes were not immersed as per his wishes. Godse's will stated that his ashes should be immersed only when India is united.

"Godse's ideas were accepted during the Modi era and Godse's birth and death anniversary are also being celebrated, but if the war had been continued for four more days without accepting a sudden ceasefire, Kashmir, Lahore, Karachi could have been annexed to India and Godse's ashes could have been immersed. Modi Bhakts have lost that virtue too. Modi and his people could not even fulfil Veer Savarkar's dream and could not even immerse Godse's ashes," remarked the editorial.

"At this moment, we see the image of the deep idealism in Veer Savarkar's heart, which is not to be hidden or drawn in today's political turmoil, election slogans, or business. Before stopping the war, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir should have been taken. Balochistan should have been torn apart and revenge should have been taken," said the editorial.
New Delhi, May 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Indian Air Force's base, Adampur (Punjab) on Tuesday, one of the biggest and most strategic centres in the country.

PM Modi's visit to the air force station and meeting with brave jawans comes close on the heels of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. This serves two purposes - it shows a strong show of support for the Indian armed forces and sends a strong message to the neighbouring nation that its claims and boasts about downing Indian jets are nothing but hollow and full of lies.

It was this airbase that Pakistan claimed to have targeted and destroyed in its missile attack. A couple of Pakistani handles also shared a satellite image of the IAF base to spread ludicrous claims that its missiles destroyed S-400 defence missile systems as well as radar systems, inflicting damages to an extent as to render it 'unusable' for a year.

India has outrightly dismissed these claims as a flustered Pakistan's brazen attempt to create a false perception and also presented facts before the media to expose its claims.

Today, with PM Modi's visit to the airbase, the fake propaganda machinery of Pakistan stands exposed and torn apart. PM Modi met the jawans, saluted their valour and also patted their backs for teaching the enemy a lesson.

A picture of PM Modi, with S-400 systems in the backdrop, speaks a thousand words. The vivid image is enough to send across a strong message to Pakistan and the global fraternity as a whole. Not just Pakistani handles, a couple of global portals also reported on 'heavy damages' on the Indian side at this particular base.

Notably, it was this Russian-made S-400 defence missile system which neutralised a barrage of attacks from the enemy side. It shot down many drones, projectiles and missiles launched from across the border, leaving the Pakistani establishment distraught and nervous.

On May 10 morning, it intercepted and destroyed a Pakistani high-speed missile in the air and also following this escalation by Pakistan, the Indian Air Force launched a deadly counter-attack on multiple Pakistani airbases, including Noor Khan and decimated at least 10 to 11 air bases and other military installations.

PM Modi's visit to the Adampur air base is high on symbolism as it debunks all claims of Pakistan on causing severe damage to the Indian airbase.

Another picture that captured attention of all was where PM Modi was seen standing against the wall with words inscribed on it, "Why Enemy Pilots Don't Sleep Well."
Seoul, May 13 : Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee has told the prosecution she cannot comply with a summon request this week, claiming the investigation into the alleged influence-peddling case could sway public opinion ahead of the upcoming presidential election, judicial sources said on Tuesday.

Kim's legal representatives submitted a letter of excuse for her non-attendance to a planned hearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Wednesday, according to the sources.

Kim faces charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act in connection with allegations that she helped former People Power Party Rep. Kim Young-sun win the party's nomination for the 2022 by-elections via Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, who in return conducted free public opinion polls favourable to Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the 2022 presidential election.

In the letter, Kim cited concerns over the investigation's potential impact on the June 3 presidential election, saying it could spur speculative media reports, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on May 12, prosecutors in South Korea had ordered Kim to appear for questioning this week over allegations of influence-peddling in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections.

Prosecutors are reportedly considering requesting a warrant to detain Kim in the event she defies repeated summonses without legitimate grounds.

Earlier in 2025, Kim Keon-hee, faced mounting public scrutiny over her suspected involvement in the countryas short-lived martial law decree, with allegations of election meddling and text messages sent to an official on the eve of the December debacle.

The opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) claimed that the looming threat of a public revelation over the first coupleas alleged interference in the nomination process for a local parliamentary by-election in 2022 had pressured former president Yoon Suk-yeol into launching the long-planned action.

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.

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.
New Delhi, May 13 : Looking to share the honours for the stellar performance of BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor, the Congress on Tuesday sought to emphasise the role played by the party in the development of the formidable weapon as part of the four-decade-old missile programme.

Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh took to social media to recall the history of BrahMos missiles and targeted the government for its alleged tendency to corner all the credit for the endeavours in the past.

"It is also yet another remarkable proof of continuity in governance which simply cannot be denied or erased - despite it being the regular habit of today's ruling establishment in New Delhi," wrote Ramesh.

He also wrote about the missile's nomenclature and milestones in its development, including Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurating the BrahMos HQ complex in Delhi in 2004, and induction into the Navy in 2005, the Army in 2007 and the IAF in 2012 during the UPA era.

Ramesh wrote, "It is named after the Brahmaputra and the Moskva rivers and is an outstanding example of Indo-Russian collaboration."

The tussle to take credit for BrahMos and its induction into forces appears to have peaked after BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, recently praised the supersonic cruise missile's performance during Operation Sindoor while inaugurating its new production facility in Lucknow.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, talked about the effectiveness of 'Made in India' defence equipment that was decisively proven during Operation Sindoor.

Earlier, Ramesh, in his note on BrahMos, went back to India's Integrated Missile Development Programme, which began in 1983 under the Congress government.

He also highlighted the efforts of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "It was his leadership that led to the historic Indo-US nuclear agreement of 2005, paving the way for India finally joining the Missile Technology Control Regime eleven years later," he said.

"It was also during his tenure that the BrahMos Integration Complex in Hyderabad and the Brahmos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited were established," he said.

Developed by BrahMos Aerospace - a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya - the supersonic cruise missile boasts a range of 290 to 400 kilometres and can reach speeds up to Mach 2.8.

It can be launched from land, sea, or air and follows a "fire and forget" guidance system.
Seoul, May 13 : The South Korean foreign ministry is preparing to resume diplomacy at the leaders' level once the new government is launched after the June 3 presidential election, an official said on Tuesday, amid a prolonged leadership vacuum caused by former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid.

Since Yoon's brief imposition of martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his impeachment and removal from office, South Korea's diplomacy has stalled, especially at the high level, largely due to the leadership vacuum.

A slew of multilateral diplomatic events are scheduled for next month, including the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced countries in Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders' gathering in the Netherlands.

If confirmed, these venues are expected to serve as the first stage for the succeeding president's diplomatic debut where he could possibly meet with key world leaders for bilateral talks, including US President Donald Trump.

"We are making basic preparations to resume summit diplomacy once the new government takes office following the June 3 presidential election," a ministry official told reporters.

"We're preparing, in terms of both content and protocol, to ensure that diplomatic activities proceed without a hitch under any circumstances," he said.

South Korea is not a G7 member state, but was invited to the expanded G7 sessions in 2021 and 2023, when Britain and Japan were the host country, respectively.

South Korea has also been invited to NATO summits in recent years as one of NATO's four Indo-Pacific partners, known as the IP4, along with Japan, New Zealand and Australia, Yonhap news agency reported.

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.

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.
Ranchi, May 13 : Raising slogans of "Result Jari Karo Ya Hang Do" (Declare results or hang us), hundreds of students gathered outside the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) office in Ranchi on Tuesday.

They demanding the long-delayed results of various competitive examinations, including the JPSC Civil Services Main Examination, CDPO, and Food Safety Officer exams.

A group of candidates has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past seven days outside the JPSC office near Old Jail Chowk.

As their health deteriorated, more students and family members from across the state have joined the protest in support.

Satyanarayan Shukla, President of the Jharkhand State Students Union and one of the protestors on hunger strike, said the JPSC Civil Services Main Examination was conducted 10 months ago.

"The then Chairman of the Commission had assured that results would be declared in August 2024. But till now, they remain pending for unknown reasons," he said.

He added that the uncertainty has left thousands of candidates in limbo. "We have made appeals to everyone -- from the Chief Minister to the Governor -- but no one is willing to say when the results will be released. If the Commission cannot declare the results, it might as well hang us," he said.

Responding to media queries, Chief Minister Hemant Soren reiterated on Monday that JPSC is an autonomous body and the state government cannot directly intervene in its functioning. He expressed hope that the commission would announce the results soon.

The advertisement for the 11th to 13th Civil Services Examination was issued in January 2024, with the preliminary exam held in March and results declared on April 22, 2024. Based on those results, 7,011 candidates were shortlisted for the main exam held from June 22 to 24 in 2024. The examination process is meant to fill 342 posts.

According to the JPSC calendar, the results were originally scheduled for release in August last year. However, the then JPSC Chairperson, Dr Mary Neelima Kerketta, retired that same month, and the post remained vacant for over six months.

It was only on February 27, 2025, that retired IAS officer L. Khiangte was appointed as the new Chairman.

Despite the appointment, more than two months have passed without any movement on the results. The delay is also holding up the advertisement for the 14th Civil Services Examination, adding to the frustration of aspirants.
Mumbai, May 13 : Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, on Tuesday, took to social media to share powerful moments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Adampur Air Base in Punjab.

The photos captured PM Modi interacting with air warriors and soldiers, highlighting his continued efforts to connect with the armed forces. In his heartfelt post hailing Operation Sindoor, Varun emphasized the country's unity in the face of terrorism, stating that when it comes to national security, India stands as one and speaks in a single, powerful voice.

He highlighted the secular fabric of the nation and acknowledged the tireless dedication of the armed forcesboth men and womenwho work relentlessly to protect the country. Varun also expressed profound gratitude, saying the nation owes an eternal debt to its soldiers and their families for the sacrifices they make.

Sharing a couple of photos, the 'Student of the Year' actor wrote, "#operationsindoor The entire nation united as one giving one clear message to the world that India will speak one language when it comes to terrorism. We are a secular country where our brave men and women in the armed forces will protect us. In eternal debt to our nations armed forces and their families for their sacrifices. Bharat hum ko jaan se pyaara hain. Jai Hind."

On May 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Adampur Air Base in Punjab, where he interacted with the stationed soldiers. Sharing moments from the visit on his X handle, the Prime Minister highlighted his appreciation for the armed forces and their service to the nation. He wrote, "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation."

Prime Minister Modi's visit to the Adampur Air Base holds added importance, as the site was previously targeted during Pakistani attacks. His visit comes just a day after his national address on Operation Sindoor, where he firmly stated terror and talk cannot take place together. He also strongly asserted that "water and blood cannot flow together," reinforcing India's uncompromising stance on national security.
Srinagar, May 13 : In a major success for the joint forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the operational chief commander of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is among the three terrorists killed in a gunfight on Tuesday in Shopian district.

Police said that the operational Chief Commander of LeT, Shahid Kuttay, is among the three terrorists killed in todayas encounter in Shukroo Keller area of Shopian.

Shahid Kuttay of Chotipora Heerpora village in Shopian was one of the most wanted terrorists who joined terror ranks on March 8, 2023 and was involved in many terror-related cases.

"He was involved in the firing incident of the Danish resort on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists and the driver were injured. He was also involved in killing of a BJP Sarpanch and TA personnel at Beighbagh Kulgam.

"Second terrorist has been identified as Adnan Shafi Dar son of Mohd Shafi Dar resident of Wanduna Melhora. Identity of third one is being ascertained," police said.

Three terrorists were killed in a gunfight with the joint forces in Keller area of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

V. K. Birdi, IGP (Kashmir), told reporters that three terrorists have been killed. Joint forces had launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the Shukroo Keller area of Shopian district after intelligence inputs said that a group of terrorists was hiding there.

When challenged, the terrorists fired, after which an encounter started during which three terrorists were killed.

The operation is continuing in the area, police said. As per sources, two to three terrorists were believed to be trapped in the area.

The Indian Army, in a statement, said that based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in Shoekal Keller, a search and destroy Operation was launched.

During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire, and fierce firefight ensued, which resulted in the elimination of three hardcore terrorists, it added.

"Operation is in progress," the Indian Army said.

This is the second terrorist act in Jammu and Kashmir after the ceasefire understanding between Indian and Pakistan on May 11.

On the same evening, suspected terrorists fired at and injured a guard at the gate of the Army's Nagrota Corps headquarters. One soldier was injured in the terrorist firing, after which the terrorists escaped.

Security forces continue to remain on alert across Jammu and Kashmir as the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire understanding on Saturday, even after the two countries announced cessation of all hostilities on land, air and sea.

Police have advised hundreds of residents of border areas along the LoC and the IB not to hurry back home for now, till the situation is fully calm.
Adampur Airbase : , May 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday issued a sharp warning to Pakistan and its supported terror groups, declaring that India's new doctrine on terrorism involves striking at the source, deep inside enemy territory. "Hum ghar mein ghus kar marenge aur bachane ka ek mauka tak nahi denge," the Prime Minister thundered during his address to air warriors at the Adampur Air Force base in Punjab.

Adampur Airbase (Punjab), May 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday issued a sharp warning to Pakistan and its supported terror groups, declaring that India's new doctrine on terrorism involves striking at the source, deep inside enemy territory. "Hum ghar mein ghus kar marenge aur bachane ka ek mauka tak nahi denge," the Prime Minister thundered during his address to air warriors at the Adampur Air Force base in Punjab.

He praised India's armed forces for their massive response to last week's Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed by terrorists from a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy. 'Operation Sindoor'India's swift, coordinated military response -- targeted nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was followed by hostilities that saw India repelling Pakistani missile and drone retaliation.

"This is our new normal," PM Modi said, referring to Operation Sindoor, which he described as India's first tri-service combat operation since the 1971 war. "India's 'Laxman Rekha' against terrorism is crystal clear now. If another terror attack occurs now, India will give a reply  a solid reply. We saw this during the surgical strike, during the air strike. Now, Operation Sindoor is India's new normal," he asserted.

Taking aim at Pakistan's military support for terror outfits, PM Modi declared: "Jis Pakistani sena ke bharose ye aatanki baithhe the, Bharatiya sena, Bharat ki Air Force aur Bharatiyon ne us Pakistani sena ko bhi dhool chata di hai. (The terrorists who were relying on the Pakistani Army  the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the people of India have made that Pakistani Army bite the dust)."

He added that India's growing military strength should serve as a deterrent. "Our drones, our missiles, just thinking about them will keep Pakistan sleepless for days."

The Prime Minister used the moment to express deep gratitude to the armed forces. "Every Indian is proud of you... you have written history. I have come for your blessings. You are an inspiration for this and the coming generations. I want to salute the Army, Navy and Air Force."

"The terrorists dared us... but you hit them front-on. You wiped out their terror bases and killed 100 terrorists. They have now realised that if they try to attack us, the result will be their destruction... massive destruction," PM Modi said.

The Adampur Air Force base itself was at the centre of the recent military escalation, and also the target of a Pakistani disinformation campaign. Islamabad falsely claimed that its China-made JF-17 jets had destroyed the base and knocked out one of India's Russian-origin S-400 air defence systems.

India responded by releasing a photograph of PM Modi saluting soldiers at Adampur, with a fully operational S-400 system in the background -- silencing claims from across the border and reinforcing India's military credibility.

As the speech ended with chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai", the message was clear: India will no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism and will respond not just in defence, but with pre-emptive precision.
Adampur, May 13 : Pakistan claimed it destroyed India's premier airbase in Adampur. It also claimed that its China-made JF-17 jets wiped out the Russian-origin S-400 missile defence system stationed there. It claimed it took out fighter jets, radar stations, and killed 60 Indian soldiers.

But one image from this morning has silenced all of it. A photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing at Adampur Air Force Station  saluting soldiers with a fully operational S-400 system clearly visible behind him  came as India's most direct rebuttal to Pakistan's disinformation campaign.

"This isn't just a picture. It's a message. A takedown. A fact check Pakistan wasn't prepared for," said sources.

Sources added that Islamabad's claims were based on morphed satellite imagery. The truth is that Adampur played a key role last week in intercepting waves of missiles and drones fired by Pakistan in retaliation for Operation Sindoor  India's tri-service strike against terrorist bases across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"Earlier this morning, I went to Air Force Station Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness," PM Modi posted on X.

Officials said this is likely the first time India has publicly released a photograph showing its S-400 system, widely regarded as one of the most advanced missile defence platforms in the world.

In last week's 100-hour escalation, Pakistan targeted multiple military installations across Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. It also launched attacks on civilian areas in Ferozepur, Punjab. Indian forces, however, reported minimal damage.

Meanwhile, India backed its own precision strikes with evidence  satellite visuals confirming hits on at least 11 Pakistani military installations, including the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, just 10 km from Pakistan's army headquarters.

As for Pakistan's claims? Government sources had one word: "Lies." And the image from Adampur  the Prime Minister saluting the soldiers, the S-400 standing tall in the background  says everything else.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows officers collecting data of victims of ammunition disposal blast at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (West Java Regional Police Station/Handout via Xinhua)

JAKARTA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said.

The incident occurred at 09:30 a.m. Jakarta time in Sagara village, Garut Regency. The victims included four soldiers and nine residents, said Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana, spokesperson for the Indonesian Army.

"Four personnel of the Indonesian Army and nine members of the community were killed," he told a press conference.

"The detonations in two holes were successfully conducted. However, when the team was preparing detonators in the third hole, an unexpected explosion occurred, killing four soldiers and nine residents," he explained.

Yudhayana noted that the army team had previously inspected all equipment and confirmed they were in safe condition. Additionally, the site had been routinely used for disposing of expired ammunition.

All victims were taken to Pameungpeuk General Hospital, the spokesman said.

An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the fatal incident, Yudhayana added. 

Relatives of the victims of ammunition disposal blast wait for information at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (Photo by Claudio/Xinhua)

Relatives of the victims of ammunition disposal blast wait for information at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (Photo by Claudio/Xinhua)

Relatives of the victims of ammunition disposal blast wait for information at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (Photo by Claudio/Xinhua)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows officers collecting data of victims of ammunition disposal blast at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (West Java Regional Police Station/Handout via Xinhua)

A police officer collects data from relatives of the injured and victims of an ammunition disposal blast at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (Photo by Claudio/Xinhua)

Police officers collect data from relatives of the injured and victims of an ammunition disposal blast at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia, May 12, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (Photo by Claudio/Xinhua)

Relatives and staff members carry the coffin of a victim of the ammunition disposal blast at a hospital in Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia, May 13, 2025. At least 13 people were killed when the Indonesian army destroyed expired ammunition in West Java province on Monday, a military officer said. (Photo by Claudio/Xinhua)
New Delhi, May 13 : Technology conglomerate Siemens Ltd on Tuesday reported over 37 per cent decline in its net profit at Rs 408 crore in January-March quarter, from Rs 649 crore in the year-ago period.

Revenue remained flat due to the ongoing normalisation of demand in digital industries and due to normal project delivery schedules in the Mobility business, the company said in its stock exchange filing.

The decline in profit from operations was due to under absorption and higher cost of material in the Digital Industries business.

Additionally, the profit was impacted by an extraordinary gain of Rs 192 crore from the sale of property in Q2 FY 2024 and demerger expenses of Rs 63 crore in the current quarter, informed the company.

The company follows an October-September cycle, which makes the January-March period its second quarter (Q2).

"In spite of the challenging macro environment, our Order Income grew by 44 per cent driven by our mobility and smart infrastructure businesses where we see continued public Capex spending on infrastructure," said Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited.

The company, a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure and mobility, said that the short cycle 'Digital Industries' business, however, continues to be impacted by muted private Capex spending.

"As private Capex picks up locally and globally, the demand for automation and digitalisation solutions will also increase, as technology has proven to be key to sustainable growth for industry and infrastructure," said Mathur.

In the March quarter, new orders rose 44 per cent to Rs 5,305 crore and order backlog grew by 7 per cent.

In its earlier quarter (Q1), Siemens had reported a 21.5 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit at Rs 614.6 crore, compared to Rs 505.7 crore in the same period in FY24.
Riyadh, May 13 : US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as he began a four-day visit to the Middle East which would also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), later this week.

As he reached Riyadh, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, welcomed Trump at the King Khalid International Airport. Trump was greeted with a 21-gun salute and trumpet fanfare upon his arrival. The Crown Prince and US President then engaged in cordial talks over Saudi coffee at the airport's VIP lounge.

Later, the Crown Prince received President Trump at the Royal Court in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

"We are thrilled to welcome President Trump to Riyadh for a visit that marks another milestone in our strategic partnership. Together, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America stand as a force for good, advancing peace, security, and prosperity across the world," Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US posted on X.

The trip comes at a crucial time as USIran concluded the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman on Sunday.

President Trump on Monday said that the Iranians were being "very reasonable" and "talking very intelligently" in negotiations with Washington over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"Soon I'm heading over to the Middle East, and we'll see what we'll do in regards to Iran. I think you have some very good things happening there," Trump said, speaking to reporters before departing for Riyadh.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt touted Trump's trip as a "historic return to the Middle East".

"Eight years later, President Trump will return to re-emphasise his continued vision for a proud, prosperous, and successful Middle East, where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in cooperative relationships, and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges," the Press Secretary said.

Accompanying Trump on the four-day tour is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the United States looks to strengthen ties with the Gulf partners.

"Secretary Rubio's engagements with senior officials will advance solutions to global and regional challenges, expand bilateral trade and investment, and reaffirm our strategic partnerships," said the US Department of State.

The United States has come under widespread regional criticism for backing Israel's military escalation and proposing the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Regional analysts hope that Washington could play a meaningful role during Trump's visit by promoting a ceasefire and easing tensions, Xinhua news agency reported.

With many issues in the Middle East "unsolved," the need for the United States to coordinate with regional countries appears to be "more pressing than ever," said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Centre.

Saudi Arabia marks Trump's first major official overseas visit of his second term. On his inauguration day in January, Trump said that he would choose Saudi Arabia as his first destination "if Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another 450, or 500 billion (dollars' worth of US products)".
Mumbai, May 13 : The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday approved a comprehensive policy for modernisation and transformation of 418 government industrial training institutes (ITIs) in the state through public-private partnership.

The main objective is to transform ITIs into world-class training centres, provide practical and applied learning. This will help increase the employment opportunities through coordination between industry and ITIs.

ITIs will be assigned to the private sector, ranging from 10 to 20 years, but the ownership will remain with the state government. Nearly 2 lakh students will benefit from the public-private partnership.

The Maharashtra Institute for Transformation (MITRA) will associate with this venture as a strategic partner. Also, various NGOs and foundations, including Shri Shri Ravishankar, ICICI Foundation, Naandi Foundation, will also be engaged in this initiative.

The minister of skill development and entrepreneurship Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who was accompanied by the department additional chief secretary Manisha Verma, said: "The transformation of government ITIs through public private partnership policy is a transformative initiative designed to modernise vocational education, bridge the skill gap, and create a workforce that is aligned with industry demands. The industry institute partnership model ensures that ITIs are sector-specific, industry-integrated and technologically advanced, enabling Maharashtra to maintain its leadership in skill development."

He added that the World Bank is already associated with the upgradation of ITIs and in the coming period, the government will explore the option of procuring ADB loans to provide viability funding for the upgradation and modernisation of ITIs, especially from the rural areas.

The private sector can introduce new courses for training in the fields of artificial intelligence, drone technology, industrial upgraded technology, including robotics, 3D printing.

The minister said the private sector will have to invest a minimum of Rs 10 crore for 10 10-year involvement and Rs 20 crore for 20 years. He added that the contribution of private partners will increase in due course of time. Industry partner's contribution shall be considered on the basis of market price or purchase price, whichever is less, said the minister.

The minister said that the centralised admission will continue while the number of faculty members of the ITIs will not be curtailed. However, the private sector will have the liberty to bring in experts.

The department's Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Verma said that funds available under budgetary provisions and schemes shall continue in a regular manner to the ITIs.

The ITIs will general funds by offering paid skill development courses, establishing skill hubs, creating production centres and providing paid services and consultancies.
Chennai, May 13 : YouTuber and activist 'Savukku' Shankar, alias A. Shankar, has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Madras High Court, seeking a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of entrepreneurship schemes meant to support manual scavengers in Tamil Nadu.

The PIL is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday by a vacation bench of Justices G. R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan.

Shankar has requested that the court direct the CBI to register a First Information Report (FIR) based on his complaint filed on March 27.

In his affidavit, the petitioner said the Centre launched the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the Tamil Nadu government rolled out the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme (AABCS) in 2023 to eliminate manual scavenging by supporting mechanised sanitation through subsidised loans.

As per AABCS guidelines, the scheme should have been implemented by the State's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department through the Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce (ICDIC).

However, Shankar alleged that the responsibility was illegally handed over to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), a private entity, resulting in the misuse of public funds.

He further claimed that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai played a key role in the scheme's mismanagement and that many of the beneficiaries were members of the Congress party's SC/ST wing, and did not fall under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, making them ineligible for the scheme.

Shankar said that he had already lodged a complaint with the CBI and urged the court to order an independent probe into the alleged irregularities under NAMASTE and AABCS.

He also alleged that his home was vandalised after he "exposed" the issue on his YouTube channel, with unidentified persons dressed as sanitary workers dumping sewage mixed with human waste at his residence while his elderly mother was alone.
Chandigarh, May 13 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, on Tuesday, raised questions about the Pahalgam attack and the sudden ceasefire announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He demanded clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on doubts and questions arising from the ceasefire decision.

Sisodia told the media here that after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, there was widespread anger among the people of the country.

Subsequently, on May 7, the Indian Army successfully conducted Operation Sindoor, destroying terrorist hideouts in Pakistan. This gave the people of the country hope for justice and a sense of relief.

The senior AAP leader said: "The Armed forces were continuously taking action against Pakistan and were in a strong position in the fight. However, the Indian government suddenly announced a ceasefire, leaving the entire nation surprised and raising several questions and doubts in people's minds."

"Neither the government nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed these questions in his speech on Monday, despite people expecting him to clarify all doubts about the ceasefire," Sisodia added.

Instead, he (Prime Minister Modi) only made lofty statements, the AAP leader said.

In his speech, the Prime Minister said, "After India's aggressive actions, Pakistan started looking for ways to escape and pleaded with the Indian Army to end the tensions. On the afternoon of May 10, after being severely beaten, the Pakistani Army contacted our DGMO and assured us that Pakistan would no longer engage in terrorist activities or military actions. We then suspended our counteroffensive."

However, Sisodia said, the critical question here is: When the entire nation and the Opposition were standing with the government, the Army was in a strong position, and you yourself admit that Pakistan is a terrorist state, why did you suddenly agree to a ceasefire? The second question is, "If Pakistan was unable to counter our airstrikes and was begging to end the tensions, why did you not demand that the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack be handed over to India?"

Sisodia expressed shock, saying, "It is surprising that Pakistan folded its hands, and Modiji agreed. I want to ask, when Pakistani terrorists sent by Pakistan were brutally killing people in Pahalgam and our sisters were begging them with folded hands to spare their husbands, saying, 'Don't take away my sindoor', but the terrorists showed no mercy and brutally murdered their husbands, how could you agree to their request after just one plea?"

The third question posed by Sisodia is, "If the Prime Minister did agree to the ceasefire, why didn't he call Pakistan's Prime Minister and have a written agreement signed, like the 1972 pact?

The fourth question is, "How did US President Donald Trump announce the ceasefire half an hour before Indian officials made the announcement? Trump claimed that he forced both countries into a ceasefire by threatening to halt trade. Why did the Prime Minister not address Trump's statement in his speech?"

"When the culprits of the Pahalgam attack and those four terrorists were not even caught, when and how will justice be served to the victim women?" Sisodia asked and said the citizens have a right to know the truth.

He said that the Prime Minister's silence indicates that something is amiss, and this silence cannot be tolerated in such a matter.
Vijayawada, May 13 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Andhra Pradesh has arrested Bharati Cements Director Balaji Govindappa in the liquor scam case.

Govindappa, one of the key accused in the case, was arrested by the SIT in Mysuru in Karnataka, and he was being brought to Vijayawada, police sources said.

The SIT had last week served notices to Govindappa, K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, a retired IAS officer and ex-secretary of former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and Krishna Mohan Reddy, former Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

They were directed to appear before the SIT office at Vijayawada Commissionerate on May 12 for questioning. However, they skipped the appearance.

Acting on credible information, the SIT officials arrested Govindappa in Mysuru.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 7 had rejected their anticipatory bail pleas, citing the preliminary stage of the investigation into the alleged scam of Rs 3,200 crore.

All three accused were close aides of Jagan Mohan Reddy, and there are allegations that they collected bribes from liquor supplying companies and distilleries and diverted the money to bogus companies.

According to SIT, the trio had held meetings with the owners of liquor supplying companies and distilleries in Hyderabad and Amaravati.

Raj Kasireddy, the prime accused in the case, was allegedly handing over the bribe to the trio after collecting from the owners of the liquor companies.

The SIT on April 21 arrested Kasireddy in the multi-crore liquor scam that occurred during the YSR Congress Party regime.

It served notices to other accused based on the information gathered during the questioning of Kasireddy.

Kasireddy is suspected to have played a key role in the alleged illegal collection of nearly Rs 3,000 crore over a five-year period. He was the IT advisor to the then chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The TDP-led NDA government constituted the SIT in November last year to investigate the allegations of irregularities and corruption in Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) under the YSRCP tenure.

The TDP leaders alleged that some YSRCP leaders had links with the liquor manufacturers, floated many local brands, conducted cash payments and made illegal money.

The SIT reportedly identified the involvement of some political leaders, private persons and others in the scam.

The investigating officers reportedly traced the money trail of kickbacks involving a sitting Lok Sabha member and a former Rajya Sabha member from YSRCP.

Former MP V. Vijayasai Reddy, who resigned from YSRCP and also quit as MP in January, appeared before the SIT as a witness on April 18.

He termed Kasireddy as the mastermind. He also told the investigating officers that he did not know who received the money collected by Kasireddy.
Bhopal, May 13 : As the procurement season of wheat comes to an end, Madhya Pradesh has procured 77.74 lakh tonnes of wheat against the expected 80 lakh tonnes.

The wheat procurement began in the state on March 15 at a minimum support price of Rs 2,600 per quintal across its 3475 designated procurement centres.

"As many as 9 lakh farmers were registered for procurement," Kailash Vijayvargiya, Minister for Urban Development, said on Tuesday, adding, "a total of Rs 18842 crore has been disbursed to farmers against wheat procurement so far.

The remaining amount of Rs 18 crore will also be disbursed soon."

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh expected to surpass its anticipated wheat procurement target, expecting to secure 85 lakh metric tonnes against the initially projected 80 lakh metric tonnes.

As of last Tuesday, the state has already procured 76 lakh metric tonnes from 8.76 lakh registered farmers, said Kailash Vijayvargia.

The state commenced its wheat procurement drive on March 15, 2025. "Last year, we procured 40 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from 5.85 lakh farmers in Madhya Pradesh," the minister had said.

Till last week, it was expected that the wheat procurement would surpass the 85 lakh ton mark.

Additionally, the minister announced that Rs 16,472 crore has been disbursed to farmers so far in payment for their produce till last week.

To streamline operations, the state government registered farmers via SMS notifications and provided the option to enrol from home through a dedicated web or mobile application.

Farmers could also register at facility centres located within Gram Panchayats, Janpad Panchayats, and Tehsil offices.

The Central government has also revised the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat, increasing it by Rs 150 per quintal for the Rabi marketing season of 2025-26, bringing it to Rs 2,425 per quintal. However, Madhya Pradesh will offer an elevated procurement price of Rs 2,600 per quintal, which includes an additional financial assistance of Rs 175 per quintal.

Madhya Pradesh grows some low-irrigated high-yield varieties like Sharbati and Durum in less rain-fed areas of the Malwa plateau in districts of Sehore, Ujjain, Narmadapuram (erstwhile Hoshangabad), Harda, Raisen and Dewas. Among all Sharbati variety is the most preferred variety as it contains high protein and lustre.
New Delhi, May 13 : In its effort to sanitise the electoral rolls and keep them updated, the Election Commission of India has resolved a nearly 20-year-old legacy issue of similar Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers issued to genuine electors in different states, an official source said on Tuesday.

The official source said the issue cropped up because similar series were used by different Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in such cases since 2005.

aTo resolve this long-pending problem, the entire electoral database of over 99 crore electors was searched by CEOs of all the 36 States/UTs and EROs of all the 4,123 Assembly constituencies with 10.50 lakh polling stations.

On average, there are about 1,000 electors per polling station. The figure of similar EPIC numbers found was miniscule, i.e. averaging to around 1 (one) in 4 (four) polling stations, said an official source.

During the field-level verification, it was found that holders of such similar EPIC numbers were genuine electors in different Assembly constituencies and different polling stations. All such electors have since been issued new EPIC cards with new numbers.

The genesis of the issue has been traced to 2005, when various States/ UTs were using Assembly Constituency-wise different alphanumeric series in a decentralised manner, the source said.

These series had to be changed again in 2008, after delimitation of the constituencies. During this period, some Assembly Constituencies erroneously continued to use either the old series or, because of typographic errors, used the series allotted to some other constituencies.

Every voter's name is in the electoral roll of the polling station, where he/she is an ordinary resident. Having an EPIC of a similar number never enabled any such person to vote at any other polling station. Thus, the issue of a similar EPIC could not have impacted the results of any elections, said the source.

In February, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of manipulating the electoral rolls "with the blessings of the ECI" and enrolling people from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat as electors in West Bengal. She had also asked her party leaders to find out the "fake voters".
Chennai, May 13 : Tamil Nadu has registered an impressive 99.86 per cent pass rate in the CBSE Class 10 examinations, the results of which were declared on Tuesday.

This marks a marginal increase from last year's 99.84 per cent, reinforcing the state's continued academic excellence at the secondary school level.

According to data released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), 1,03,259 students from Tamil Nadu appeared for the Class 10 exams this year, comprising 56,008 boys and 47,251 girls.

Among them, girls outshone boys with a near-perfect pass percentage of 99.9 per cent, while boys recorded a commendable 99.8 per cent. Nationwide, the overall pass percentage for Class 10 stood at 93.6 per cent.

However, the Chennai region, which includes Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, recorded a pass rate of 98.71 per cent. This marks a drop from last year's 99.3 per cent, placing the region fourth nationally this year.

The CBSE Class 10 examinations commenced on February 15 and concluded on March 13, 2025. The CBSE has made student results accessible through four official portals  www.cbse.gov.in, www.results.nic.in, www.results.digilocker.gov.in, and www.umang.gov.in.

Students can also access their digital mark sheets and certificates via the DigiLocker mobile application.

The smooth conduct of examinations and the consistency in high performance have drawn appreciation from educationists across Tamil Nadu.

"The marginal rise in pass percentage, especially among girls, reflects both strong school systems and supportive home environments," said a senior education department official.

This year's results follow the Class 12 CBSE results, also announced Tuesday, in which Tamil Nadu recorded a 98.48 per cent pass rate.

With the announcement of both Class 10 and Class 12 results, students are now preparing for the next phase  admissions into higher secondary courses and professional streams, while education boards and school authorities begin reviewing performance trends and strategies for the upcoming academic year.

--IANS

aal/dan
Mumbai, May 13 : Basking in the success of Netflix's "Black Warrant", actor Rahul Bhat is set to make his third appearance at the Cannes Film Festival with his Hollywood debut, "Lost & Found in Kumbh".

Sharing his experience, Bhat said, aFor a change, somebody offered me a dramedy. Iave always been cast in dark, serious, violent roles. So I thought, let me try something different, something in English. We shot at the end of the Kumbh, but it was still intensea"so hot, and so many people. It was tough, but also fascinating. This oneas not meant to be taken too seriously. Itas a cute, engaging film. You could call it a dramedya"or even a childrenas film in some ways."

"As actors, we sometimes forget weare shooting at a real place. Youare so immersed in the role, it starts to feel like just another set. But it wasnat. It was the Kumbh. It was real. Iam finally tasting success after decades. My films have always been critically acclaimed, but this is the first time Iam hearing that worda"ahitaa"and it feels great," he added.

"Lost & Found in Kumbh" is a heartfelt dramedy directed by debutant Mayur Puri and produced by Los Angeles-based Mulberry Films. The story follows a London-based philosophy professor who visits Indiaas Kumbh Mela with his British wife and son, only to find his Indian ex-wife and their son at his family homea" and his father missing. As the family searches for him, the two half-brothers get lost in the massive crowd of the sacred festival.

The drama was shot on location during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Bhatas previous appearances at the festival were for Anurag Kashyapas "Ugly" (Directorsa Fortnight, 2013) and "Kennedy" (Midnight Screening, 2023).

Next up, Bhat will portray politician Sanjay Gandhi in Sudhir Mishraas "Summer of 77".
HOHHOT, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yilin, former chairman of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), was on Tuesday sentenced to 13 years in prison for accepting bribes.

The sentence was handed down by a court in Erdos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Wang was also fined a sum of 3 million yuan (416,719 U.S. dollars), and his illegal gains from bribery will be confiscated and turned over to the state treasury, according to a verdict issued by the court.

From 1996 to 2020, Wang took advantage of his various posts to assist others in matters such as job adjustments, project contracts and business operations. In exchange, he illegally accepted money and valuables worth a total of over 35 million yuan, the court said. 
Patna, May 13 : In the wake of Operation Sindoor and the recent martyrdom of a soldier from Bihar, Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) chief and Member of Parliament Chandrashekhar Azad has demanded a special session of Parliament to clarify the Union government's stance on terrorism and national security.

Speaking to the media in Patna on Tuesday, Azad said, "We are demanding a special session so that the government's stand can be clarified. I salute the courage of those living on the border. The government must take concrete steps to remove them from this atmosphere of fear."

Azad condemned the ongoing atmosphere of terrorism, stressing the loss of soldiers' lives. He extended condolences to the family of the martyred soldier from Bihar.

He also criticised the Bihar government, saying the martyr was not given due honour during his last rites.

On Monday, the mortal remains of BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiaz, who was martyred during a confrontation with the Pakistan Army in Jammu's R.S. Pura sector, were brought to Patna Airport and were given the state honour.

Prominent leaders, including Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Ministers Shravan Kumar and Nitin Naveen, along with top administrative and BSF officers, were present at the airport to pay emotional tribute to the fallen hero.

Azad called for a strong reply to terrorism, emphasising that action should be taken against those who shelter terrorists, not just Pakistan.

He also attacked the NDA and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over the Waqf Board issue, saying: "Nitish Kumar's credibility has also fallen due to the stand of NDA and its allies on the Waqf issue."

He further highlighted youth migration and unemployment in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, questioning the effectiveness of government policies.

"Even today, employment is the biggest issue for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The youth of Bihar still migrate for employment. This shows the government is not concerned about the youth," Azad said.

Azad urged the public to make informed electoral decisions in the upcoming elections, hinting at dissatisfaction with both central and state leadership on key issues like security, dignity of soldiers, and employment.
Srinagar, May 13 : Life in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley returned to normal as schools, colleges, universities, markets, transport, and other businesses started functioning normally on Tuesday with the first flight landing at Srinagar airport after May 7, when the airfield was taken over by the Air Force.

Except for the border areas of Uri, Tangdhar, Karnal and Gurez, schools opened normally throughout the Valley as the hustle and bustle of life returned to markets after six days of uncertainty.

The suspended Haj flights are being resumed, and the pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia have been asked to report at the Haj House in the Bemina area of Srinagar at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

Classwork was started in all colleges and universities as well, with the Kashmir University issuing notices to students to report for routine academic activities at its various campuses on Tuesday.

After six days of suspension, flight operations at the Srinagar International Airport resumed on Monday, bringing much-needed relief to passengers.

The first to land was an Air India flight from New Delhi, marking the official restoration of air connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.

The suspension, which began last week, was attributed to the prevailing situation in the region. While authorities did not publicly elaborate on the specific cause, the decision to halt flights was made as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of travellers and crew members.

Airport officials confirmed that all necessary security protocols had been reviewed and clearance was given for the resumption of regular operations.

"Flight operations have now returned to normal and airlines have been notified to resume their schedules," an airport spokesperson said.

The temporary suspension had caused inconvenience to hundreds of passengers, many of whom were stranded or had to alter their travel plans.

With the reopening of the airport, travellers are expected to see a gradual normalisation of services, including arrivals and departures by various domestic carriers.

Authorities have urged passengers to check with their respective airlines for updated schedules and to arrive at the airport well in advance.

Shoppers thronged markets normally in the morning as housewives visited vegetable markets to buy fresh vegetables for the family.

Thanks to the relentless efforts of Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, divisional commissioner (Kashmir), a regular supply line of essential commodities was maintained during the last difficult six days.

Bidhuri ensured that panic mongers trying to push people into panic buying did not succeed. This down-to-earth hard hard-working IAS officer interacted with people at different places instead of depending on official statements.

His presence among the people to ensure them that there were sufficient stocks of essentials of life in the Valley worked as magic to stop panic buying at petrol/diesel filling stations, ration stores and markets selling other essentials of life.
Rome, May 13 : Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals at the Italian Open for the first time, securing a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory against Karen Khachanov at the Campo Centrale on Tuesday.

With his two-hour, 29-minute win, Alcaraz has now reached the quarterfinal stage at all nine Masters 1000 events. The 22-year-old is the first Spaniard to make the last eight in Rome since record 10-time champion Rafael Nadal in 2021.

Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm in the opening few games but appeared to flick a switch. He reeled off five straight games featuring some classy shot making and seemed to be riding that wave to victory when he pulled off three sublime clean winners to break for 3-2 in the second set.

Khachanov did not let himself be shaken by the prospect of another straight-sets defeat. The 23rd seed continued to keep his errors to a minimum, which allowed him to capitalise on a lapse in Alcarazas level, reel off four straight games and force a deciding set, ATP reports.

In the third set, Alcaraz soon forged a 4-1 lead but Khachanov refused to lay down in his bid for his maiden Top 3 win on clay. Alcaraz rediscovered his touch in time to escape with the win, breaking Khachanovas serve in the 12th game to seal victory.

The Spaniard will take on fifth seed Jack Draper in the semifinals after the Briton rallied past Corentin Moutet 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Alcaraz is eyeing the chance to reclaim the No. 2 ATP Ranking this week and guarantee himself the second seeding at Roland Garros. At the same time, Draper also has a chance to move to a career-high No. 4 and secure the crucial fourth seeding at the year's second major.

Alcaraz can secure a return to World No. 2 and the second seed spot in Paris by reaching the semi-finals in Rome.
Patna, May 13 : Leader of Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, visited the family of Mohammad Imtiaz, the SI of the Border Security Force (BSF) from Bihar's Saran district, who was martyred during a confrontation with Pakistan in the RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking after meeting the grieving family in Saran district, Yadav said, "I met his son in Patna on Monday and other family members today. I have expressed my deepest condolences. Bihar is proud of this brave son who sacrificed his life for the country."

Highlighting Bihar's legacy of patriotism, he added, "When it comes to sacrificing lives for the nation, Biharis are always at the forefront. My party and the entire nation stand with the martyr's family."

On Monday, the mortal remains of BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiaz were brought to Patna Airport via an IndiGo flight.

A solemn wave of grief enveloped the area as his body arrived, and tributes were paid with full state honours. The entire village is in a state of sorrow and grief.

In Patna, when questioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address, Tejashwi Yadav refrained from criticism but suggested a special session of Parliament be convened to honour the armed forces.

"Our soldiers have shown unmatched bravery. Parliament is the highest platform to express national gratitude. Let all political leaders, irrespective of party, come together to thank them," he said.

On the BJP's Tiranga Yatra, Yadav stated: "We are positive people. The army should never be dragged into politics. What the soldiers have done is seen by the entire world. Their bravery speaks for itself. Some people do politics on it, but we cannot do this."

Tejashwi also appealed to the media for sensitivity during such times: "We had urged the media to report responsibly. Even now, we expect the media to be sensitive and focus on truth and national sentiment."
New Delhi, May 13 : Facing criticism and a wave of trip cancellations by Indian travellers, Turkey has launched a damage-control campaign after its open support for Pakistan during the recent conflict with India.

In a bid to stem the fallout, Turkey's Department of Tourism has issued a public appeal to Indian tourists, urging them to continue visiting the country and assuring them of safety and warm hospitality.

A social media post purportedly from Turkey's tourism authority is now widely circulating, emphasising that Indian travellers are "welcomed and treated with the utmost courtesy across Turkey -- in hotels, restaurants, shops, and all tourist attractions -- just as they have always been."

Distancing from the geopolitical tensions, the post says, "The vast majority of the local population is unaware of the conflict taking place between India and Pakistan, and it has no bearing on daily life or the tourism environment here."

It further states that all travel operations remain unaffected and there are "no restrictions or safety issues impacting Indian guests."

"We remain fully committed to ensuring your comfort, safety, and satisfaction throughout your stay in Turkiye," it says, adding that Indian tourists with concerns are welcome to contact the department for clarification.

However, the message appears to have done little to pacify Indian sentiment.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, in a strongly-worded post on X, responded: "No Turkiye, Indians won't come spending money on tourism in a country that uses the same to arm Pakistan. Look for your tourists elsewhere, our money ain't blood money."

BJP Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar, in a terse post, just said, "No, thank you," accompanied by hashtags #BoycottTurkey and #SayNoToTurkey.

Veteran journalist Vir Sanghvi also weighed in, writing on X: "Frankly we don't give a damn whether Turkey is safe or whether you welcome tourists. You must be mad if you think we want to visit a country whose naked military support for Pakistan and drones have spilled the blood of Indians. Invite Pakistani tourists instead."

Industrialist Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, highlighted the economic contribution of Indian tourism to the region. "Indians gave Rs 4,000 crore plus to Turkey & Azerbaijan last year through tourism. Created jobs. Boosted their economy, hotels, weddings, and flights. Today, both stand with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. Plenty of beautiful places in India & the world. Please skip these 2 places. Jai Hind," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Indian travel agencies like EaseMyTrip and Cox & Kings have suspended all travel packages to both Turkey and Azerbaijan, citing these countries' alignment with Pakistan as the reason.
Bengaluru, May 13 : Karnataka's Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and BJP leader, R. Ashoka, said on Tuesday that The Indian armed forces sent a strong message to Pakistan that it will not tolerate terrorism on its soil and the Congress must stop making contradictory statements on Operation Sindoor.

"Our army has shown the world what happens if someone dares to desecrate the 'Sindoor' (vermilion) of India's mothers. They have taught Pakistan a lesson. Over 100 terrorists have been eliminated, and terror camps in Pakistan have been destroyed," he added.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP state office Jagannath Bhavan, LoP Ashoka said, "Pakistani forces have been brought to their knees, forced to seek de-escalation. India has sent a strong message that it will never tolerate terrorism."

He urged that the Congress must stop making contradictory statements on Operation Sindoor.

On the issue of Sindhu River water, LoP Ashoka said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had cancelled a previous agreement where 90 per cent of the river's water was allocated to Pakistan and only 10 per cent to India.

"Our Prime Minister has boldly conveyed to Pakistan that India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats," he added.

Responding to questions about evidence of the airstrike, LoP Ashoka said, "Pakistan itself has admitted that many of its soldiers and terrorists were killed. Our Army officials have given a press briefing with proof of the strike. But those who chant 'Pakistan Zindabad' still refuse to believe it and cannot accept India's bold action."

"Our army has now clearly demonstrated that Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) belong to India," he added.

"Even Prime Minister Modi has declared that we will reclaim PoK and that there will be no agreements on Sindhu water with Pakistan."

He added that the Tiranga Yatra is being organised to honour the bravery of the Indian soldiers and their action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

"At a time when the nation is standing united, Congress should stop making confusing and contradictory statements," LoP Ashoka urged.

"Initially, Congress opposed Operation Sindoor and questioned the need for war. After the operation began, they demanded peace. Once the ceasefire was declared, they questioned why the war was stopped. They must first clarify their stand," he said.

He also urged Congress to refrain from demanding special sessions of Parliament or debates when India is responding firmly to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

He said that a Tiranga Yatra will be taken out in Bengaluru on May 15 at 11 a.m., under the theme "Citizens for National Security," to send a message of solidarity with Operation Sindoor and the Indian armed forces.

LoP Ashoka added that the Tiranga Yatra will begin at Sirur Ground on Sampige Road near Malleswaram's Mantri Mall and proceed up to 18th Cross.

"The rally will be conducted in a non-partisan manner, with no party banners allowed. Doctors, engineers, students, farmers, labourers, and people from all walks of life are expected to participate," he said.

"Tiranga Yatras will also be organised in district headquarters on May 16 and 17, and in taluk headquarters from May 18 to 23. Party workers have been instructed to conduct the yatra without BJP banners even in villages and taluks," LoP Ashoka noted.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan said that at a time when the war between India and Pakistan has ended and a ceasefire has been declared, a Congress youth leader has put up posters on the streets highlighting what Indira Gandhi did in 1971 instead of appreciating the bravery of the Indian armed forces.

He added that he would immediately urge the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao to remove these posters and questioned how permission was granted despite it being known that putting up such hoardings is illegal.

BJP MLC and Opposition Chief Whip N. Ravikumar, BJP Spokespersons -- Ashwath Narayan, Prakash Shesharaghavachar, Bengaluru North District President S. Harish, and others were present at the press conference.
New Delhi, May 13 : India's annual defence budget has increased 2.6 times from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26 which reflects India's steadfast commitment to enhancing national security, modernising its armed forces and bolstering military infrastructure, according to a Ministry of Defence statement.

"Strategic reforms, private sector participation and innovation have boosted indigenous manufacturing, making India self-reliant and a globally trusted defence exporter while strengthening national security and economic growth," the statement added.

The collaboration between the government and private sector entities in India's defence sector has driven advancements in arms and ammunition, aerospace, electronics, and naval technologies. This collaboration has been supported by policies such as 'Make in India' and liberalised FDI norms, which have enhanced domestic manufacturing capabilities, attracted international investments in defence innovation and driven notable growth in exports of military equipment, the report points out.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the effectiveness of Made in India defence equipment was decisively proven during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, in which terrorist hubs were wiped out with precision strikes and heavy damage was also caused to airbases deep inside enemy territory.

"The world is now witnessing the arrival of Made in India defence systems as a formidable force in 21st-century warfare, PM Modi said in his address to the nation.

He highlighted how this aggression exposed Pakistan's vulnerabilities, as its drones and missiles crumbled like straw before India's advanced air defence systems, which neutralised them in the sky.

PM Modi pointed out that Indian drones and missiles executed highly accurate strikes, severely damaging Pakistani airbases that it had long boasted about. Within the first three days of India's response, Pakistan suffered destruction far beyond its expectations. Following India's aggressive countermeasures, Pakistan began seeking ways to de-escalate, appealing to the global community for relief from rising tensions, he added.

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension to the nation's military prowess, highlighting India's remarkable capability in both desert and mountainous warfare while also establishing superiority in New Age Warfare.

The Prime Minister was referring to the India-made Brahmos missiles that were used to destroy airbases and air defence systems in the heart of Pakistan. The strength of India's air defence ecosystem, built over the past 11 years, was effective in neutralising a wave of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan. The operation highlighted the seamless integration of key defence assets such as the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid, S-400 Triumph systems, Barak-8 missiles, Akash Surface-to-Air Missiles, and DRDO's anti-drone technologies.

In a major milestone for India's defence sector, Kamikaze drones co-developed by Adani Group's Alpha Design Technologies and Israel's Elbit Systems were also successfully deployed in Operation Sindoor.

Built in Bengaluru under the 'Make in India' initiative, the SkyStriker drones deliver precision strikes with up to 2-hour loitering capability. This marks a leap forward in India's self-reliance in advanced defence technology.
Chandigarh, May 13 : Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government following the tragic deaths of 17 labourers in Amritsar's Majitha area, allegedly after consuming spurious liquor.

Jakhar questioned the accountability of the Punjab government and termed Chief Minister Mann a 'puppet' of AAP's central leadership.

Jakhar further expressed deep concern over the repeated instances of illicit liquor-related deaths in the state.

"There have been deaths of more than 15 people in Amritsar due to poisonous liquor. Many others are battling for their lives and are at risk of going blind. Similar incidents have occurred before as well," he said.

He criticised the lack of action and governance, alleging that those responsible for the Delhi liquor scam are now exerting control over Punjab.

"The people who were running Delhi are now managing Punjab. They have been jailed for over two years for their involvement in the liquor scam, whether it be Manish Sisodia or Arvind Kejriwal. Punjab is merely a pawn in their hands," Jakhar alleged.

Drawing attention to what he called a deepening crisis in Punjab, Jakhar announced that the BJP would approach the Governor to demand an inquiry into the role and presence of Delhi-based AAP leaders in Punjab's administration.

He also raised questions about how individuals accused in the liquor scam were occupying government residences and holding meetings in Punjab without official capacity.

He further accused the state government of hypocrisy, stating, "On one hand, the government runs campaigns against drugs, and on the other hand, rivers of pink alcohol are flowing in the state."

According to Jakhar, the previous liquor revenue in Punjab stood at Rs 6,500 crore with the sale of 40 lakh boxes per month. The new goal, he alleged, is to generate Rs 11,000 crore by selling 12 crore bottles of foreign liquor, a move he says is influenced by Delhi-based contractors.

He further said that the Punjab Chief Minister will not do anything in this matter.

"The Chief Minister calls it murder, but he won't be able to act. The real power lies with Kejriwal and Sisodia, not with Mann. They've returned from jail and resumed their control," he stated, accusing the state of sheltering a cartel of liquor contractors for profit.

Jakhar also referred to a recent incident in Amritsar where a liquor contractor allegedly created chaos during the wedding of an NRI's daughter and later filed a case against the NRI.

"Such contractors are protected by the very policies and leaders currently governing Punjab," he alleged.

Calling for unity, Jakhar urged the people of Punjab to rise against the current regime.

"BJP will not remain silent. We will expose those responsible and demand that outsiders occupying power in Punjab vacate immediately. It's time for Punjab to wake up and reclaim its governance."

He concluded by assuring that the BJP would continue to raise this issue and fight for justice for the victims of the Amritsar tragedy.
Dhaka, May 13 : Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof's sudden leave and disappearance from the country has set rumour mills abuzz, not only on social media but also in political and diplomatic circles from Dhaka to Islamabad.

Citing sources in the Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local media reported that Maroof has proceeded on an indefinite leave since May 11 and is currently outside the country. It was revealed that Maroof did not get any protocol nor any formalities as he cautiously left Dhaka for Pakistan on May 11 via Dubai on an Emirates flight.

Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka, Muhammad Asif, is serving as the Acting High Commissioner in the absence of Syed Ahmed Maruf. Normally, the Deputy High Commissioner takes over in the absence of an officer in such a position.

Several social media posts indicated that Maroof, who began his diplomatic duties in the country in December 2023, was recalled because of his involvement in a scandal involving a woman at a hotel in Cox's Bazar.

"Ahmed Maroof was involved with one Hafiza Haque Shah, a senior official working with a Bangladeshi bank. Officials at the Pakistan Embassy also knew about this as she used to visit him regularly. But during Maroof's latest visit to Cox's Bazar, the issue of their immoral relationship came to the fore more prominently and the scandal became too conspicuous to suppress. That is why Pakistan has been forced to take back their important asset," an official stated on the condition of anonymity.

Social media is abuzz about Maroof's scandalous activities with Shah. Inputs confirmed that, faced with a potential diplomatic embarrassment, Pakistan had no choice but to withdraw one of its key operatives from the Bangladeshi soil.

According to the available details, Maroof had left Dhaka on May 8 for Cox's Bazar and was scheduled to return on May 10. This was his second visit to Cox's Bazar in three months.

Earlier, Maroof had visited Cox's Bazar on February 6-7 for a vacation with his wife. During this time, he also held a long meeting with a team of Rohingyas - Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the presence of Jamaat Amir Shafiqur Rahman. These two groups are under international scrutiny for their links to extremism.

On February 8, for the first time in 16 years, a party workers' conference was held in Cox's Bazar in the presence of the Jamaat Ameer. The conference was organised by the Cox's Bazar district branch of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Sources further stated that in the last nine months, Maroof had been criss-crossing the nation, convening meetings, engaging with fringe groups in the volatile political environment of Muhammad Yunus's Bangladesh and shaping a network designed to reassert Pakistani influence through soft power and ideological infiltration.

Interestingly, this would be the third recall of Pakistani diplomats from Bangladesh.

It may be mentioned that in January 2015, Mazhar Khan, a Pakistani official working at the Dhaka mission was expelled after Bangladesh intelligence accused him of funding Islamist radicals and peddling fake currency.

In December 2015, Pakistan had recalled Farina Arshad, one of its junior diplomats from Dhaka, after allegations of financing terrorist activities in Bangladesh. According to Bangladeshi media reports, Second Secretary (political) Farina developed alleged links with Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative Idris Sheikh.

The Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka is known for shady dealings, funding Islamist radicals and peddling fake currency.
Adampur, May 13 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the Air Force Station at Adampur on Tuesday, delivered a powerful address to the armed forces, praising their courage and reaffirming India's assertive stance on national security.

In the wake of Operation Sindoor, he said that India's response to terrorism has entered a new era -- precise, resolute, and unforgiving.

Calling the chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" more than just a slogan, the Prime Minister described it as a sacred oath for every soldier and citizen.

"When Indian soldiers chant it on the battlefield, it sends shivers down the enemy's spine," he said, adding that the phrase now echoes through every drone strike and missile launch that crushes enemy fortifications.

PM Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a landmark moment -- a "trinity" of policy, intent, and decisive capability.

He stressed that it was not a routine military action but a bold demonstration of India's strength, precision, and technological edge.

"India is the land of Buddha and Guru Gobind Singh Ji," he said, invoking the legacy of courage and righteousness.

"Those who came in secrecy to harm India's daughters were crushed in their own hideouts," the Prime Minister declared.

The operation, he confirmed, destroyed nine major terror hubs and eliminated more than 100 terrorists, sending a clear signal to the masterminds behind cross-border attacks.

"Provoking India now leads only to one consequence -- total destruction," the Prime Minister said.

He also added that the Pakistani Army, which had long sheltered terror groups, was now left humiliated and exposed.

PM Modi highlighted how Operation Sindoor was not only a tactical success but a symbol of India's military integration.

"The Navy secured maritime dominance, the Army reinforced the borders, and the Air Force delivered precise and powerful strikes," he said.

He praised the Border Security Force (BSF) and other paramilitary units for their outstanding performance, stating that the coordination across all forces was "remarkable" and a new hallmark of India's military readiness.

He specifically noted the role of India's air defence systems -- including the indigenous Akash and the advanced Russian-made S-400 -- which intercepted Pakistani missiles and UAVs.

Pakistan's failed disinformation campaign, claiming to have destroyed the Adampur base and the S-400 system, was thoroughly debunked when a photograph of PM Modi standing beside the intact S-400 system was released.

This, he said, was India's silent but firm response to Pakistan's lies.

PM Modi lauded the armed forces for executing the operation with surgical precision.

Within 25 minutes, Indian jets struck key terrorist bases deep inside Pakistan.

Despite enemy attempts to use civilian aircraft for cover, Indian forces responded with caution, ensuring zero collateral damage.

"That is the power of a professional, technologically advanced force," he said.

The Prime Minister warned that although India had paused further military action at Pakistan's request, this restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.

"If provoked again, India will retaliate with full force -- on its terms, in its time," he said, reiterating that India would not differentiate between terrorist leaders and the governments that protect them.

In concluding remarks, PM Modi said the armed forces have not only protected India's borders but lifted the pride of every Indian.

Their bravery, he noted, would be remembered for generations.

"This is the new India," he declared.

"We seek peace, but if humanity is threatened, we will not hesitate to crush our enemies."
by Julia Pierrepont III, Gao Shan

LOS ANGELES, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Officials at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach expressed their delight on Monday after the United States and China announced a series of tariff modification measures easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

"The 90-day pause and reduction of tariffs between the United States and China is welcome news for consumers, American businesses, workers and the supply chain," Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the largest and busiest port in the country, said in a statement.

"Additionally, it's important for the United States to work with other nations to reduce existing tariffs," Seroka added.

The Port of Los Angeles handled about 17 percent of all containerized international trade moving through U.S. seaports.

At a press conference in Long Beach, local officials also shared sobering data on the negative economic impact the unexpected tariffs have had on the port and local businesses.

Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, echoed support for the tariff pause but warned of continued uncertainty.

"We need clarity and stability. This uncertainty hurts the entire supply chain," he said, noting that everyday products like smartphones and appliances are affected by the tariff swings.

Labor leaders also weighed in. Gary Herrera, president of International Longshore Warehouse Union Local 13, said that cargo slowdowns have led to significant job losses at the ports.

"Hundreds of workers are missing out on jobs every day. We want lasting agreements, not just pauses," said the labor leader representing about 9,000 full-time and 6,000 part-time dockworkers.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson also noted that "what we need is certainty" at the press conference.

He pointed out that "There still will be a great deal of uncertainty for the workforce, buyers and suppliers. So we're not going to celebrate right now that the crisis is over. This is still a crisis of our own making that we need to address through long-term, long-range, strategic and stable policy making."

"The rollback is a step that should be acknowledged, but recovery will not be immediate. It will take weeks, if not months, to untangle the backlog and stabilize the system," Richardson stated.

The adjacent Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in Southern California constitute the largest port complex in the country. Approximately 31 percent of the goods the United States imports or exports in containers by sea come through the twin ports on San Pedro Bay.

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned in an interview released on Saturday that the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have reported a 35 percent drop in cargo traffic. 
Amaravati, May 13 : Andhra Pradesh has set a revenue growth of 29 per cent during the current financial year, with Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directing all the departments to take steps to increase the state's revenues.

Amaravati, May 13 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh has set a revenue growth of 29 per cent during the current financial year, with Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directing all the departments to take steps to increase the stateas revenues.

For 2025-26, an annual target has been set for all the wings, including Commercial Taxes, Excise, Stamps and Registration, Mines and Forests, to earn a revenue of Rs 1,34,208 crore, which is 29 per cent higher than the previous year.

During a review meeting at the State Secretariat with officials of all the revenue-generating departments, the Chief Minister said that from April 1 to May 11 in the current fiscal, there is a decline in the revenue from Commercial Taxes and the Forests, while the revenue from Stamps and Registrations has gone up steeply.

The revenue from the Centre, too, has declined by 26 per cent till May 11 during the current fiscal. During the same period in the previous financial year, the revenue from the Centre was Rs 17,170 crore, while this year it is merely Rs 12,717 crore, the officials informed the Chief Minister.

The State recorded an increase in revenue with the new excise policy. The excise income during 2024-25 was Rs 28,842 crore, which is 14.84 per cent higher than last year. However, compared to the Southern States like Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the excise revenue of the State is still less. The officers are estimating that the excise revenue this year will touch Rs 33,882 crore.

The Chief Minister issued clear directions to the officers to initiate stringent measures to check liquor smuggling into the state from the neighbouring states, besides taking steps to ensure that the liquor sales are conducted in the most transparent way. He said from the liquor supply to the retail sale, everything should be tracked through Real Time.

Hyderabad is generating 75 per cent of the total Telangana State revenue, the Chief Minister pointed out and asked the officers to find ways to increase the state revenue, as the state does not have that kind of a city. See to it that the state revenue goes up by strictly implementing all the policies adopted this year, he said.

The Chief Minister asked officials to conduct an in-depth study on the advantages and opportunities available to increase the state revenue and ultimately see to it that the state revenue grows to the maximum extent possible.

The Chief Minister told the officers to formulate plans after examining the revenues earned by the state in the past 30 years.

He was of the opinion that sectors like Electronics, Information Technology and Services will largely help in the income growth.

Stating that though Andhra Pradesh is much ahead of other states in gold purchase, the Chief Minister asked the officials to focus on why the tax revenue is not in line with the purchase. He was very particular that steps need to be taken to ensure that there is no tax evasion in the state.

He suggested that a data lake should be set up with the information from all the departments, and each department should have an Artificial Intelligence (AI) team. An AI-based tax system should be established in the next two to three months to provide services to taxpayers through AI tools, he added.

He asked the officials why the revenue from the Transport Department is very low in the state, while the receipts are increasing by the day in states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The reasons for this should be explored, and appropriate policies should be adopted immediately to ensure that the income increases.

The officials were advised to form a committee to sell the red sanders in the global market. Since red sanders worth thousands of crores of rupees belongs only to Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister felt that huge income can be generated by selling this. The proposed committee should submit all the details in its report on the current total stock of red sanders in the state and the total cost of these stocks, he said.
Hanoi, May 13 : The sacred relics of Lord Buddha from India were enshrined in the Buddhist temple Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on Tuesday with ceremonial ritual and prayers conducted by monks from India and Vietnam. The relics will be displayed in the Buddhist temple till May 16.

"Holy Buddha Relics from Sarnath, India arrived in Hanoi today and enshrined at Quan Su Pagoda till 16th May 2025 with due ceremonies and prayers by monks from India and Vietnam," Embassy of India in Hanoi posted on X.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Monday extended wishes on the Vesak Day, also known as Buddha Purnima, highlighting shared cultural ties with Vietnam, where over one million people prayed at the sacred Buddha relics sent from India.

"On this Vesak Day, also deeply moved to see over one million people in Vietnam pay respects to and pray at the Buddhist Holy Relics which travelled from India. Indeed a clear reflection of our age old connect, shared culture and special ties," said EAM Jaishankar.

India's sending of the holy relics to Vietnam has been appreciated by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong as a gesture that has further strengthened the strong spiritual and cultural ties between both countries.

The holy relics were brought from India on May 2 by a Union Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju-led Indian delegation, which also included Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh and senior monks and officials.

The holy relics will remain in Vietnam until May 21 as part of the UN Day of Vesak celebrations. The relics were earlier displayed at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Tay Ninh and are currently in Hanoi.

Recently, the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City attended the enshrining ceremony of the Holy Relic of Lord Buddha held at Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh province on May 8. The ceremony was witnessed by most venerable monks from India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and from several other countries as well. Provincial leadership of Tay Ninh also graced the occasion.

"A large number of devotees thronged the venue to welcome the Holy Relic. It is the national heritage of India. Bringing it from India for exposition during UN Vesak Day celebrations in Vietnam is a glaring example of India's deep-rooted friendship and robust bilateral relations with Vietnam," the Consulate General posted on X.
New Delhi, May 13 : India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, as persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge da Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today," read a short statement issued by the MEA.

Earlier in the day, the Punjab Police announced that, in a significant breakthrough, the Malerkotla Police had apprehended two individuals for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

"Acting on credible intelligence, one suspect was arrested for leaking sensitive information regarding Indian Army movements to a Pakistan-based handler. Based on disclosures made during interrogation, a second conduit was also identified and taken into custody," read a statement issued by the Director General of Punjab Police, Gaurav Yadav.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that the accused had been receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for classified information. They were in frequent contact with the handler and were involved in channeling funds to other local operatives as per his instructions. Two mobile phones have been recovered, and an FIR has been registered," it added.

The operation by Punjab Police marked a significant step in dismantling cross-border espionage networks.

"Further investigation will be undertaken as per established protocol, with a focus on tracing the financial trail and identifying additional operatives and linkages within the network," the Punjab DGP stated.

Last month, immediately after the heinous Pahalgam attack which resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had announced several measures to punish Pakistan, including declaring the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as Persona Non Grata. They were given a week to leave India as New Delhi also withdrew its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Five support staff of the Service Advisors were also withdrawn from both High Commissions.

India then launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting at least nine terrorist base camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), to avenge the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

On Monday, for the first time since the understanding of the ceasefire, Indian and Pakistani military operations chiefs spoke to each other on a hotline to discuss ways to restore calm on the border.

According to official information, Pakistan affirmed that it will not take this conflict forward and also indicated its willingness not to violate the ceasefire.

The talks between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) revolved around stopping military actions and firing on the lines of understanding reached after Indiaas anti-terror Operation Sindoor was halted at Pakistanas request on May 10.

The DGMOs' hotline discussion also featured measures for observing restraint and respecting the consensus to stop firing and review the current situation.
New Delhi: The interim government of Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus on Monday issued a gazette notification banning all activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League and its affiliate organisations. The ban is imposed under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the trial of the party and its leaders in the Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is completed.

The ban included all activities, including any kind of publication, campaign in media, online and social media, procession, meeting, gathering, conference, etc.

Sources say that Yunus is targetting the Awami League (AL) to be in the good books of Pakistan and use India's 'Operation Sindoor' to fan anti-India sentiments domestically. In other words, Yunus continues to distance Bangladesh away from India.

In the sit-in demonstrations organised by Hasnat Abdullah of National Citizen Party (NCP) to put pressure on the interim government to ban the Awami League (AL) two radical Islamic leaders marked their presence -- Mufti Jashimuddin Rahmani of Ansarullah Bangla Team, also known as Ansar-al Islam Bangladesh or Ansar Bangla (ABT) and Mufti Harun Izhar, LeT's Bangladesh module chief.

Jasim Uddin Rahmani, chief of the globally banned ABT and longtime Al-Qaeda ally, was seen publicly leading an anti-Awami League rally in Dhaka's Shahbagh on May 11. His reappearance, after spending years in prison for inciting murder, has sparked national outrage and international concern. Alongside him, other radical outfits like Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) are openly calling for the creation of a caliphate and urging action against India. Yet, not a single word of condemnation has come from the Yunus regime.

Instead, the regime has turned its fire on the country's largest secular force. Using the Anti-Terrorism Act, it has banned the Awami League, while globally designated terrorists now occupy centre stage.

Since the Awami League's activities have been banned, there are no more legal complications in arresting the party's leaders and activists. As the ban was not announced for so long, officials often struggled with arrests at the field level. Now that obstacle is no longer there. Since the government order came into effect, the police can immediately arrest Awami League leaders and activists who participate in rallies, processions or secret meetings.

After the Anti-Terrorism Act banned all activities of the Awami League, various questions have arisen. Can the law ban activities without banning the party? What will happen to the registration of the Awami League as a political party if activities are banned? If the law is amended to open the way for the Awami League to be tried as a party for crimes against humanity, what will be the interim government's position on JeI's alleged crimes against humanity in 1971?

Now that they are done with banning and de-registering the Awami League by the Bangladesh Election Commission, suspension of the party, which has ruled in Dhaka for over two decades, is now officially disqualified and ineligible to contest any future elections in the country, until the ban is revoked and the party registration is restored by the Election Commission.

The next target of Yunus will be to remove President Shahabuddin and possibly either elevate himself or appoint someone from the hard-line Islamist camp. This would then ensure that even if Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) comes to power they will have a President who can do the bidding for Yunus and his coterie. The Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman is opposing it, whether he would succeed time will only tell. Bangladesh is at crossroads trying to take a democratic turnaround.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the Yunus-led interim administration is planning to declare the 'July Declaration' by June 10 which would see the closure/demise/end of the Constitution of Bangladesh. After this, the country's President has to resign. The inauguration of a new President as per the 'July Declaration' is likely to see the dismissal of the Chief of Army Staff and he could also be put on trial. Sources confirmed that General Waker-uz-Zaman and his coterie met in Bangabhavan secretly on Monday, to brief the President to make an announcement on the interim administration.

There is a strong rumour that the Army Chief wants to remove Yunus. This act of Zaman could bring him severe punishment and he may even be declared as a traitor. Also, in a sudden development, General Zaman was told by Yunus not to proceed on a five-day visit to the United States that was scheduled to begin on May 11 for participation in the Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium and Exposition-25 in Honolulu.

Surprisingly, Bangladesh's interim government's Legal Advisor, Asif Nazrul had also held a meeting with Harun Izhar. The meeting allegedly took place on April 23 within the Ministry of Law office in Dhaka.

Sources within Bangladeshas military intelligence confirm that Nazrul met with Izhar, a high-profile jihadist with a long track record of plotting terror attacks from Bangladeshi soil.

Alarmingly, this rendezvous occurred less than 24 hours after the massacre of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam by Pakistan-based terrorist outfits backed by the Pakistani army.

Adding fuel to the fire, Nazrul published a verified Facebook post shortly before the meeting, making baseless claims which were devoid of any proof and widely condemned as provocative and deeply insensitive to the victims' families.

His statements, riddled with speculation and politically charged assertions, drew strong criticism for being not only baseless but also insensitive to the victims and their grieving families.

A senior officer from Bangladesh's Army intelligence confirmed the meeting was recorded, though the content remains classified. "The presence of a wanted terrorist inside a government ministry is a grave concern," the officer stated. "It reveals a potentially dangerous alignment between radicals and figures within the interim administration."

Izhar, accompanied by several known LeT operatives, has been a recurring figure in regional jihadist activity. His involvement in an aborted 2009 plot to bomb the Indian High Commission in Dhaka remains a dark blot in Bangladesh's counter-terror records.

Izhar is no stranger to law enforcement. With ties to Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI), a hardline Islamist organization, he's been central to the radicalisation of many under the guise of groups like Manhaz. On March 30, 2024, a video surfaced online depicting him leading students in a pledge of allegiance to Hefazat's cause, calling for jihad against India and Myanmar.

He also spearheaded operations under various bannersa"Towhidi Janata, Anti-Satime Rasul Andolon, and Kara Mukti Andolon a" allegedly aimed at orchestrating jailbreaks for convicted extremists after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Izhar's role escalated during Prime Minister Modi's 2021 visit to Bangladesh on the occasion of the nationas 50th independence year, where he orchestrated mass protests and demonstrations against PM Modi's presence.

Meanwhile the Indian security forces and agencies have been told to be extra-vigilant along the India-Bangladesh border in view of the increasing presence of Pakistan's ISI and Pakistani military officials in Bangladesh. Yunus-led interim government is directly patronizing the jihadi/extremist/terrorist outfits. The Islamic radical elements have infiltrated in key sectors of governance, judiciary, and law enforcement posing a serious security threat to the region and the world.

(The writer is an expert on South Asia and Eurasia. He was formerly with Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views expressed are personal)
Itanagar, May 13 : Taking the 'Cabinet Aapke Dwar' concept a step further, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday made history by holding the cabinet Meeting at Kibithu, the last outpost along the India-China (Tibet) border in the state's Anjaw district.

A senior official of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that several key decisions were taken in the cabinet, chaired by Khandu, to accelerate the development of the state. He said that the Cabinet approved the formation of a Joint Venture Company -- NEEPCO Arunachal Hydro Power Corporation Limited' -- between the state government and NEEPCO for the implementation of five hydro power projects in the state. These projects include Tato-I, Tato-II, Heo, Naying and Hirong in the state of Shi-Yomi district.

According to the official of these five projects, the Tato I and Heo hydroelectric projects (HEPs) have already received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of the Central government, and construction is likely to begin soon. The approval for the formation of this Joint Venture Company marks a significant step forward in the commissioning of 13 large HEPs which were rejuvenated by the state government by signing Memoranda of Agreements (MoA) with Central PSUs in 2023.

North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) is a leading player in power generation in the northeastern region of India and has been working closely with the Ministry of Power and northeastern states since 1976 to harness the abundant power potential available in the region.

Acknowledging the significance of hydropower in economic growth of the state, the Cabinet also approved modifications in the State Hydro Power Policy, 2008 and Local Area Development Fund Guidelines, 2022 allowing contribution of one per cent of free power by power producers, including PSUs, on behalf of the state government to Local Area Development Funds established for the welfare of Project Affected Areas. These modifications will enable higher and timely contributions to the Local Area Development Fund, enhancing the welfare of Project Affected Families with no additional cost to the State exchequer, an official statement said.

The Cabinet also granted approval for the restoration of the Gongri HEP (144 MW) to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) M/s Dirang Energy Private Limited under the Arunachal Pradesh Restoration of Terminated Large Hydropower Policy under Special Circumstances, 2025. With this approval, Gongri HEP became the first project restored under this innovative policy.

The Cabinet also approved the restructuring of the Department of Hydro Power Development, including offices at the Zonal, Circle and Division levels by allocating works to Chief Engineers and their subordinate officers in a basin-wise manner. This restructuring would enable seamless coordination with PSUs and Independent Power Producers and help promote the timely commissioning of all HEPs in the State.

To bolster the Hydro sector, 84 technical and 12 non-technical posts were also given the go-ahead by the cabinet. The statement said: "It is expected that with this decision, Hydropower will be the largest contributor to the economy of the State and Nation- Towards Vikshit Arunachal Pradesh."
Gurugram, May 13 : A man was arrested for allegedly killing his father-in-law after an altercation in the Sohna area of Gurugram, police said on Tuesday.

The accused was identified as Prabhat Kamal, a resident of the village of Lavabar in Jharkhand. The victim was identified as Milan Topo.

According to the police, on Tuesday, the daughter informed the police that her husband had murdered her father and locked the body inside their rented room in Sohna.

On this information, a police team from the Sohna City police station reached the spot and broke open the locked room and recovered the body found lying soaked in blood.

The police team got the spot inspected by the teams of Scene of Crime, FSL, Fingerprint, and Dog Squad.

The deceasedas daughter told the police that she lives in a rented accommodation in Sohna with her husband, father, and two children.

Her husband used to quarrel with her after consuming alcohol.

"On Monday, her husband had quarrelled with her, after which she went to Sirsa in the evening. On Tuesday morning at 9:00 am, she received a call from her husband, who informed her that he had killed her father," the complainant told the police.

Based on her complaint, a case was registered under the relevant sections in Police Station City Sohna, Gurugram.

During the investigation, the police team led by Inspector Praveen Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Sohna City police station, nabbed the accused from the Sohna area on Tuesday.

In April, a man was also arrested for strangling his 10-year-old sister-in-law to take revenge on his in-laws.

During police interrogation, the accused, Mohit, had disclosed that he was married to the elder sister of the deceased six years ago, from whom he also has a child. The accused wife was living in her parental home, and she refused to live with her husband, regarding which he also talked to his in-laws, but his in-laws did not pay any attention.

Feeling insulted, he started planning to take revenge on his in-laws. On April 12, he lured the 10-year-old from her house in the Om Vihar area, Gurugram, and took her to his room in Bajghera on his bike and strangled her to death at night, police said.
Cairo, May 13 : The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Tuesday a 15 per cent discount on transit fees for large container ships beginning Thursday, aiming to encourage major shipping lines to return to the waterway amid improving security conditions in the Red Sea.

SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said the discount applies to container ships with a net tonnage of 130,000 tonnes or more, regardless of whether they are laden or empty, and will be valid for 90 days. He added that the measure is intended to respond to the needs of shipowners and reassert the Suez Canal's role in global supply chains, according to a statement.

The SCA chief highlighted the authority's ongoing efforts "to keep pace with the rapid changes in the maritime transport industry and to respond flexibly to current challenges in the Red Sea region."

The Suez Canal is vital for Egypt's economy and international trade, Xinhua news agency reported. Around 12 per cent of the world trade volume passes through the strategic waterway. However, due to regional tensions, particularly Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the canal's revenues have dropped significantly. In mid-April, Rabie reported that Suez Canal revenues fell by 61 per cent in 2024 -- down to 3.991 billion US dollars from 10.250 billion dollars in 2023.

Last month, US President Donald Trump's recent call for free passage of American ships through the Suez Canal had triggered widespread condemnation in Egypt, where legal experts, political leaders, and citizens denounced his remarks as legally groundless and a serious threat to the international order.

Trump posted on Truth Social, a social media platform he majority-owns, that US military and commercial vessels should be allowed to travel through both the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal free of charge.

He claimed both routes would "not exist" without the United States and said he had asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately "take care of, and memorialize, this situation."

"Trump's proposals about international waterways constitute a serious threat to international peace, security, and public order," Ayman Salama, professor of international law at Cairo University, told Xinhua.

Salama highlighted the 1888 Constantinople Convention, which established the fundamental principles governing international dealings with the Suez Canal, preserving the right of all countries to benefit from this global waterway.

He said Trump's "legally baseless" claims, which ignore the sovereignty of coastal states over their territorial waters and straits, could lead to interference in countries' internal affairs, a clear violation of the general principle of non-interference of contemporary international law.

Warning against disruption to international trade and harm to the global economy by US interference, the Egyptian legal expert urged the international community to stand firm in defending international laws and conventions and take serious steps to safeguard the legal bases for navigation.
New Delhi, May 13 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday held a comprehensive review of Invest India at a meeting held at Bharat Mandapam here.

The minister emphasised on enhancing the performance, effectiveness and efficiency of Invest India to facilitate greater investments into India.

He also discussed avenues for further strengthening investor engagement, empowering MSMEs and boosting manufacturing in the country.

Invest India is the national investment promotion and facilitation agency of the Government of India and helps to expedite approvals for the setting up of manufacturing enterprises by speeding up clearances that are required, such as those for the allotment of land.

Invest India serves as the first point of contact for global and domestic investors. It provides comprehensive, end-to-end support across all stages of the investment lifecycle -- ranging from pre-investment advisory and facilitation to aftercare and expansion support -- with a strong emphasis on enabling manufacturing through the Make in India initiative.

India's manufacturing sector is a significant part of the country's economy, contributing about 17 per cent to the GDP and employing over 27.3 million workers. The government aims to increase its share to 25 per cent by 2025, driven by initiatives like the aMake in Indiaa policy and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.

The Commerce and Industry Minister is keen to streamline Invest India processes further to attract more investments. His emphasis on MSMEs is part of the Governmentas strategy to boost these labour-intensive enterprises as they have the highest potential for creating employment in the country.

To revitalise the manufacturing sector, the Make in India initiative was launched in September 2014 to foster innovation, and position India as a global manufacturing hub by attracting domestic and foreign investment, building best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure, enhancing skill development, protecting intellectual property, and streamlining regulatory processes to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

Due to the sustained efforts of the government, during 2014-2023, Foreign Direct Investment equity inflow in the manufacturing sector increased by 55 per cent to reach $148.97 billion compared to $96 billion in the previous nine years (2005-2014).

This achievement is due to the various policy initiatives taken by the government over the years. Under the existing FDI policy, nearly all sectors allow for 100 per cent FDI, except for certain prohibited sectors. The defence industry allows 74 per cent FDI under the automatic route and 100 per cent under the government route.

For the broadcasting sector, FDI limits vary, differing between print and digital media. While the automatic route requires no approval from the Government of India for either non-resident or Indian companies, the government route necessitates prior approval from the Government of India before investment can proceed.
Kolkata, May 13 : The body of Pritam Majumdar, the son of Rinku Majumdar, who is the newly-married wife of Dilip Ghosh, BJP's former National Vice-President and ex-West Bengal party President, was discovered under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday at his residence at New Town in Kolkata.

Pritam Majumdar is the son of Rinku Majumdar from her first husband.

After his body was identified, it was taken first to a private hospital in New Town and later referred to Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Hospital, where he was declared dead.

The body was then taken to state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata for post-mortem, and the process is expected to be completed by Tuesday only, following which his body will be cremated at Nimtala crematorium in Kolkata in the evening on the same day.

Sources from the state police said that although the exact reason behind his death will be known only after the detailed post-mortem report is available, there are possibilities that the death might have been caused by an overdose of medicines.

The policemen have already learnt that the deceased was under multiple medications because of health-related complications.

At the time the report was filed, there was no reaction either from Dilip Ghosh or Rinku Majumdar in the matter.

Last month, when they got married, the deceased gave a brief reaction to the media that he was quite happy with her mother's decision to start a new life.

However, he did not attend the marriage event as he was on leave outside Kolkata.

He was an employee of an Information Technology Enabled Service (ITeS) and was operating from the company office at IT hub Sector-5 of Salt Lake, which is nearby his residence.
Agartala, May 13 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday asserted that development and transparency were at the heart of his administration, even as he accused the Opposition of misleading the public with "false narratives" and politically motivated criticism.

Agartala, May 13 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday asserted that development and transparency were at the heart of his administration, even as he accused the Opposition of misleading the public with "false narratives" and politically motivated criticism.

Speaking at a ceremonial appointment event at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala, where 975 new police constables formally received their appointment letters, Saha said his government was committed to delivering good governance, free of nepotism or political interference.

"This mass recruitment of 643 male and 332 female police constables is a milestone in strengthening our law enforcement. Every appointment is being made through a clean, transparent process based on merit, and not on political slogans," said the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Saha announced that the government is set to launch another round of recruitments, including 916 constables, 218 Sub-Inspectors, and 6,067 Special Executives, stressing that all selections will be conducted fairly and impartially.

"Gone are the days when jobs were handed out based on protests or political identity," Saha declared.

"We have dismantled that system. Today, your merit and hard work speak louder than anything else," he said.

At the event, families of newly recruited constables expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government for maintaining fairness in the hiring process.

Anjuli Shil, mother of a newly appointed constable, said, "My son has worked very hard for this opportunity. We thank the Chief Minister for ensuring that recruitment was fair and transparent. This gives us hope."

Sima Datta echoed the sentiment: "I had heard of appointments going to the well-connected in the past. But this government has proven that anyone with merit can get a job. I'm truly grateful."

Biprojit Paul, one of the newly appointed constables, said, "Getting this job means everything to me. I am proud to serve the people of Tripura and thankful that I was chosen through a fair process."

Sabana Begam, also among the fresh recruits, added, "It feels amazing. My whole family is happy today. I thank the government for giving us this opportunity."

CM Saha highlighted several improvements in law and order under his leadership: Tripura now ranks third-lowest in crime rate nationally, traffic accidents fell 13 per cent in 2024, and by 40 per cent in the first four months of 2025, drug seizures increased by 106 per cent and destruction of narcotics by 132 per cent in 2024, coordinated efforts by Tripura Police, TSR, and BSF led to an 18 per cent rise in FIRs and a 36 per cent increase in arrests for illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. Overall, he said, Tripura has seen a 30 per cent drop in crime over the past decade.

The Chief Minister also took a hard line against those spreading fake news or provocative content online. "We are closely monitoring digital spaces. Anyone trying to incite unrest or circulate falsehoods will face strict action," Saha warned.

Highlighting the government's employment initiatives, Saha said that 4,499 appointment letters were issued across departments between February 2 and May 13, 2025. Since March, 17,554 government jobsincluding die-in-harness caseshave been filled through what he described as a "transparent and rule-based system."

CM Saha also expressed strong backing for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stand post-Operation Sindoor. "The PM's message reflects the ideologies of Syama Prasad Mukherjee nationalist, strong-willed, and clear in his priorities," Saha said.

On relations with Pakistan, he repeated PM's stand that India wants peace, but "trade and terrorism cannot go hand in hand." The future of bilateral ties, he said, depends on Pakistan's conduct.
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Writing a New Chapter in Building

A China-LAC Community with a Shared Future

Keynote Address by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

At the Opening Ceremony

Of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum

Beijing, May 13, 2025

Your Excellency President Gustavo Petro,

Your Excellency President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,

Your Excellency President Gabriel Boric,

Your Excellency President Dilma Rousseff,

Delegates of CELAC Member States,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to meet so many old and new friends from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries in Beijing. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I extend a warm welcome to you all.

In 2015, LAC delegates and I attended the opening ceremony of the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, which marked the launch of the China-CELAC Forum. Ten years on, with dedicated nurturing of both sides, the Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree. This fills me with deep pride and satisfaction.

Although China and the LAC region are geographically distant, the bonds of our friendship stretch back through centuries. As early as in the 16th century, Nao de China, or "Ships of China," laden with friendship, shuttled across the Pacific, marking the dawn of interactions and exchanges between China and the LAC region. From the 1960s onward, as New China established diplomatic ties with some LAC countries, exchanges and cooperation between the two sides became closer and closer. Since the turn of the century and in particular in recent years, China and LAC countries have ushered in a historic era of building a shared future.

We stand shoulder to shoulder and support each other. China appreciates the long-standing commitment of LAC countries that have diplomatic ties with China to the one-China principle. China firmly supports LAC countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions, safeguarding sovereignty and independence, and opposing external interference. In the 1960s, mass rallies and demonstrations took place across China in support of the Panamanian people's rightful claim to sovereignty over the Panama Canal. In the 1970s, during the Latin American campaign for 200-nautical-mile maritime rights, China voiced its resolute and unequivocal support for the legitimate demands of developing countries. For 32 consecutive times since 1992, China has consistently voted for the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly resolutions calling for an end to the U.S. embargo against Cuba.

We ride the tide of progress together to pursue win-win cooperation. Embracing the trend of economic globalization, China and LAC countries have deepened cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, infrastructure, and many other fields. Under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the two sides have implemented more than 200 infrastructure projects, creating over a million jobs. The China-LAC satellite cooperation program has set a model for high-tech South-South cooperation. The inauguration of Chancay Port in Peru has established a new land-and-sea connectivity link between Asia and Latin America. China has signed free trade agreements with Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. Last year, trade between China and LAC countries exceeded US$500 billion for the first time, an increase of over 40 times from the beginning of this century.

We unite in tough times to conquer challenges through mutual support. China and LAC countries have collaborated on disaster prevention, mitigation and relief and on joint response to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Since 1993, China has dispatched 38 medical teams to the Caribbean. When the pandemic of the century struck, China was among the first to offer assistance to LAC countries, providing over 300 million doses of vaccines and nearly 40 million units of medical supplies and equipment, and sending multiple teams of medical experts. All this helped protect the lives of hundreds of millions across the region.

We uphold solidarity and coordination and rise to global challenges with resolve. Together, China and LAC countries champion true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, advance global governance reform, and promote multipolarization of the world and greater democracy in international relations. We have worked together to address global challenges like climate change, and advance progress in global biodiversity governance. China and Brazil jointly issued a six-point common understanding on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which has been endorsed by more than 110 countries, contributing our wisdom and strength to resolving international hotspot issues.

Facts have shown that China and LAC countries are advancing hand in hand as a community with a shared future. This community of ours is founded upon equality, powered by mutual benefit and win-win, invigorated by openness and inclusiveness, and dedicated to the people's well-being. It exhibits enduring vitality and holds immense promise.

Distinguished Delegates,

Friends,

The century-defining transformation is accelerating across the globe, with multiple risks compounding one another. Such developments make unity and cooperation among nations indispensable for safeguarding global peace and stability and for promoting global development and prosperity. There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars. Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation. China and LAC countries are important members of the Global South. Independence and autonomy are our glorious tradition. Development and revitalization are our inherent right. And fairness and justice are our common pursuit. In the face of seething undercurrents of geopolitical and bloc confrontation and the surging tide of unilateralism and protectionism, China stands ready to join hands with our LAC partners to launch five programs that advance our shared development and revitalization, and contribute to a China-LAC community with a shared future.

The first is Solidarity Program. China will work with LAC countries to support each other on issues bearing on our respective core interests and major concerns. We must enhance exchanges in all fields, and strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues. In the next three years, to facilitate our exchanges on national governance best practices, China will invite 300 members from political parties of CELAC member states every year to visit China. China supports the efforts by LAC countries in increasing their influence on the multilateral stage. We will work with LAC countries to firmly safeguard the international system with the U.N. at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and to speak with one voice in international and regional affairs.

The second is Development Program. China will work with LAC countries to implement the Global Development Initiative. We will resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure stable, unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and promote an international environment of openness and cooperation. We should foster greater synergy between our development strategies, expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and bolster cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure, agriculture and food, and energy and minerals. We should expand cooperation in emerging areas such as clean energy, 5G telecommunications, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and carry out the China-LAC Science and Technology Partnership. China will increase imports of quality products from LAC countries, and encourage its enterprises to expand investment in the LAC region. We will provide a RMB66 billion yuan credit line to support LAC countries' development.

The third is Civilization Program. China will work with LAC countries to implement the Global Civilization Initiative. We should uphold the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, and champion humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. We should enhance China-LAC civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, including through a conference on China-LAC inter-civilizational dialogue. We should deepen cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation, and hold the Latin American and Caribbean Arts Season. We should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in cultural heritage fields such as joint archaeological projects, conservation and restoration of ancient and historic sites, and museum exhibitions. We should also carry out collaborative studies of ancient civilizations and enhance cooperation to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property.

The fourth is Peace Program. China will work with LAC countries to implement the Global Security Initiative. China supports the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and the Declaration of Member States of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. The two sides should cooperate more closely in disaster governance, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, narcotics control and combating transnational organized crime so as to safeguard security and stability in the region. China will organize law enforcement training programs tailored to the needs of CELAC member states, and do our best to provide equipment assistance.

The fifth is People-to-People Connectivity Program. In the next three years, China will provide CELAC member states with 3,500 government scholarships, 10,000 training opportunities in China, 500 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, 300 training opportunities for poverty reduction professionals, and 1,000 funded placements through the Chinese Bridge program. We will initiate 300 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects, actively promote vocational education cooperation programs such as Luban Workshop, and support CELAC member states in developing Chinese language education. We will also launch an exhibition of Chinese films and TV programs under The Bond, and work with LAC countries to translate and introduce 10 premium TV dramas and audiovisual programs annually to each other. China will host the China-LAC tourism dialogue with LAC countries. To facilitate friendly exchanges, China has decided to implement a visa exemption for five LAC countries as the first step, and will expand this policy coverage at proper times.

Distinguished Delegates,

Friends,

As an 11th-century Chinese poet wrote, "Life's greatest joy comes from finding kindred spirits." Latin America has a similar proverb which goes, "The one who has a friend has a treasure." No matter how the world changes, China will always stand by LAC countries as a good friend and a good partner. Let us march forward together on our paths toward modernization, working together to write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future. 
Chennai, May 13 : A Japanese fan of actor Adivi Sesh, best known for his superhit films like 'Major' and 'Hit 2', is on cloud nine after having receiving a positive response from the actor to her wish of having a photo clicked with him when he visits Japan.

On Tuesday, the Japanese fan, on X, quoted a tweet which had a cute and fun video clip of actor Nani turning peace maker and getting actor Adivi Sesh to shake hands with actress Srinidhi Shetty after the latter played a prank on her by first holding out his hand for a handshake and then withdrawing it when she attempted to shake his hand.

The Japanese fan went on to say "Awwww" and posted a heart with an arrow symbol and a smiley which had its hand over its mouth.

The fan also went on to say, "I absolutely love Adivi @AdiviSesh! I wish he'd visit Tokyo someday. Would love to take a photo with him! #adivisesh"

Adivi responded to the message and said, "Soon," much to the fan's delight.

The lady, who responded to this reply from Adivi, went on to say, "I'm so happy my mind is blank. Iam definitely the happiest woman in the universe right now."

She also went on to add, "OMG, Adivi!!! Thank you so much for the quote RT! Iam super thrilled!I canat wait for you to come to Tokyo! Please letas take a photo together! #adivisesh You made my night! OMG OMG OMG."

Only a day before, the fan had gone on to put out another tweet on X in which she had said, "Even from Japan, I absolutely love Adivi because Iam drawn to people whose good nature shines through their expression."
Washington, May 13 : US President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, reiterated the US' role in brokering peace between India and Pakistan, saying he told the two sides to "not trade nuclear missiles (and) trade the things that you make so beautifully".

President Trump is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the first for a three-leg tour of West Asia, on a first major foreign policy visit abroad after returning to the White House for a non-consecutive second term.

"Fellas, come on," Trump said as he told India and Pakistan, "Let's make a deal. Let's do some trading. Let's not trade nuclear missiles. Let's trade the things that you make so beautifully."

"Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan, and I used trade to a large extent to do it," he said in a major foreign policy speech with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the audience.

He added: "And they both have very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, good leaders, smart leaders. And it all stopped."

The American President singled out the Secretary of State Marco Rubio for leading US efforts in the India-Pakistan situation, saying "millions of people could have died from that conflict that started off small and was getting bigger and bigger and bigger by the day".

Trump referred to the India-Pakistan conflict essaying his role as a peacemaker who is committed to resolving conflicts in the world.

He next spoke of his efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

President Trump has trumpeted the US role in ending the India-Pakistan conflict almost every day since the Truth Social post that was the first announcement of the cessation of hostilities triggered by the terrorist attack by a Pakistan-backed terror group in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22.

He used the word "ceasefire" and claimed it was the result of US mediation.

India has said the conflict was resolved as a result of an "understanding" reached between India and Pakistan.
Mumbai, May 13 : Union Power Minister Manohar Lal on Tuesday said that the pre-paid smart metering is being prioritised in all government establishments, including government colonies, adding that there is a need to create special zones for green energy to achieve Net Zero emissions.

The minister was speaking at the Regional Conference for the Western Region States and it was attended by Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Goa power minister Ramkrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar, Gujarat power minister Kanubhai Mohanlal Desai, Maharashtra minister of state for power Meghana Sakore Borikar while Madhya Pradesh power minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar joined through video conference.

The minister said that pre-paid smart meters should be prioritised for installation in government establishments, including government colonies and should be completed by August 2025. The smart meter has huge potential to transform the way consumers interact with utilities using data analytics based on AI/ML tools.

He also highlighted that distribution utilities should further strive to improve efficiency through the implementation of infrastructure and smart metering works under RDSS. In this direction, the Ministry has also facilitated ease for fund flows for smart metering works.

Minister Manohar Lal underlined the importance of a future-ready, modern, and financially viable power sector to fuel the country's growth. He outlined the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Central and state governments in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

He further remarked that such regional conferences would help in identifying specific challenges and possible solutions. He laid emphasis on ensuring resource adequacy and necessary power purchase tie-ups.

Further, the States should also work on developing necessary storage capacities through Pumped Storage Projects and Battery Energy Storage Systems. He emphasised the need to enhance the Nuclear Generation Capacity in the country with the target of 100 GW by 2047. He mentioned the need to create special zones for green energy to achieve Net Zero emissions.

He mentioned that the distribution sector is the most critical link in the power sector value chain. However, it faces challenges due to poor tariff structures, sub-optimal billing and collection, and delayed payments of government department dues and subsidies.

It is essential to reduce the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses and the gap between Average Cost of Supply and Average Revenue Realised, to ensure that the distribution sector becomes viable. To achieve that, it is essential that the tariffs are cost-reflective and Government dues and subsidies are paid on time to the distribution companies (DISCOMs).

In his address, Chief Minister Fadnavis highlighted the key steps taken by Maharashtra towards improving the quality and reliability of power supply across the State. He also mentioned the proposed plan of the state for reducing the AT&C losses and thus reducing the cost of supply. He also requested support of the Central government on various issues concerning the state, especially in restructuring the existing debts of the DISCOM, which would help in making them viable.

The Union Power Secretary, Pankaj Agarwal, highlighted that it is crucial to ensure necessary capacity tie-ups as per the resource adequacy plan for up to FY2035 so as to meet future power demand. It is also imperative to make necessary arrangements for the development of inter-state and intra-state transmission capacities through various financing models available, including Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB), Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM), budgetary support or monetisation of existing assets.

Further, in the wake of the recent geopolitical situation, securing the power sector infrastructure, including the transmission grid and distribution systems, is very critical, and the states should implement necessary cybersecurity protocols for the same. In addition, states to also prepare and implement a power islanding scheme, he said.
Mumbai, May 13 : Former professional bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a rare remark about his ex-wife Maria Shriver while addressing Amazon's Upfront 2025 Presentation in the New York City.

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Former professional bodybuilder and actor Arnold SchwarzeneggerA made a rare remark about his ex-wifeA Maria Shriver while addressing Amazon's Upfront 2025 Presentation in the New York City.

Talking about his forthcoming holiday movie, "The Man With the Bag", Schwarzenegger brought up another one of his seasonal classics, "Jingle All the Way".

aJingle All the Way was the greatest Christmas movie of all time. They play it the whole month of December," he said.

"I know because my ex-wife calls me about the residual," he added jockishly.

Previously, Schwarzenegger shed light on his dynamic with Shriver during a conversation with PEOPLE, saying, aWe never left the [first] chapter. Because remember, itas not like we had a feud. We didnat have a fight. Itas just my f--- up, right? She said, 'Okay, this is what it is,' and then she decided to make a split, so it was her decision."

"But the fact is, we always made it very clear that the kids should not suffer because of that," Schwarzenegger added.

"My chapter with Maria will continue on forever. Even though itas a different relationship, thereas no reason for me to feel anything other than love for her," he shared.

The 'Terminator' actor got divorced from Shriver in December 2021. The couple has four kids together- Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher.

Months before Shiver had filed for divorce, Schwarzenegger admitted in public that he had a son named Joseph Baena with the family's longtime housekeeper, Mildred Baena.

Coming to "The Man With the Bag", the film has been directed by Adam Shankman. Penned by Allan Rice, the project stars Alan Ritchson, Awkwafina, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Adrian Martinez, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong in prominent roles, along with others.

The drama talks about what happens when Santa Claus enlists the help of a petty criminal after his sack of presents is stolen.
Kolkata, May 13 : The preliminary post-mortem report of Pritam Majumdar, the son of Rinku Majumdar, who is the newly married wife of BJP's former National Vice-President and the ex-West Bengal party President, Dilip Ghosh, suggests that acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis could be the reason for his sudden death on Tuesday.

The body of Pritam Majumdar, the son of Rinku Majumdar from her first husband, was recovered under mysterious circumstances from his residence at New Town in Kolkata earlier in the day.

The post-mortem of his body was conducted earlier in the afternoon only at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

As rumours started surfacing over a possible suicide angle behind the death, the initial post-mortem report has suggested acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis as the most probable reason behind the tragic death.

In medical terms, acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is a severe form of pancreatitis characterised by inflammation, tissue damage and haemorrhage (bleeding) within and around the pancreas.

This occurs due to the inappropriate activation of pancreatic enzymes inside the ducts, leading to inflammation and tissue destruction, including blood vessels.

However, a more detailed analysis of the reason behind the death will be available only after the detailed post-mortem report surfaces.

Already, information has surfaced about the deceased being on multiple medications because of health-related complications.

Dilip Ghosh got married to Rinku Majumdar last month.

At the time of the marriage, the deceased gave a brief reaction to the media that he was happy with her mother's decision to start a new life.

However, he did not attend the marriage event as he was on leave outside Kolkata.

Pritam Majumdar was an employee of an Information Technology Enabled Service (ITeS) and was operating from the company office at IT hub Sector-5 of Salt Lake, which is nearby his residence.
Jaipur, May 13 : In the wake of rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border and the launch of Operation Sindoor, the Rajasthan administration has imposed a complete ban on the use of Pakistani local SIM cards in Jaisalmer district, following a similar decision in Sriganganagar.

The step has been taken to curb potential security threats and prevent misuse by terrorist organisations. Jaisalmer district collector Pratap Singh stated that Pakistani SIM cards pose a significant risk, as they can be exploited by terror groups for communication and coordination.

"In the interest of national security, the use of Pakistani SIM cards is now completely banned in Jaisalmer with immediate effect," he said.

Telecom service providers have been instructed to block Pakistani network signals in the border areas. The district administration has appealed to local residents, especially those living in border villages, to comply strictly with the order and to report any suspicious activity immediately.

Authorities have assured that Indian telecom services will continue uninterrupted in the region. Security arrangements in the district remain robust. Border security forces are on high alert and fully prepared to handle any threat.

Officials emphasised that this move is crucial for maintaining peace and ensuring public safety in sensitive border zones. India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, resulting in the destruction of nine Pakistani terrorist camps.

In response, Pakistan attempted drone and missile attacks across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, all of which were successfully thwarted by the Indian military.

Notably, several drone attacks in Jaisalmer were intercepted by India's air defence systems, including the S-400 missile system. These incidents highlighted the urgency of tightening surveillance and communication controls in the border areas to preempt any further escalation.

This ban on Pakistani SIM cards is a vital step in enhancing national security and securing India's western frontier, said officials.
Kolkata, May 13 : The West Bengal Police, on Tuesday, told that they have arrested one individual suspected to be linked to the fundamentalist group Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind from Bishnipur in Bankura district, police said.

The arrested person has been identified as Mostaq Mondal, a resident of remote Bogdohra village in Bankura district.

He was presented at a district court in Bankura on Tuesday afternoon, and the court remanded him to three days of police custody.

An official of the Bankura district police said that the arrested person is being questioned now by the investigating officials, who are trying to extract information from him about his other local associates.

Recently, the Bankura district police were told that Mondal had been spreading communally sensitive and anti-India messages through social media.

The Bankura district policemen started an investigation into the matter and suspected his links with the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

Thereafter, the police registered a suo motu FIR against him and finally arrested him from his residence early Tuesday morning.

During the last three days, the police officers of West Bengal Police have arrested three members of the sleeper cells of the Bangladesh-based fundamentalist outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) activists in the state.

While two of them, namely Aazmal Hossain and Saheb Ali Khan, were arrested from Nalhati in Birbhum district, the third associate, Abasuddin Molla, was arrested from Paturi village under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha in South 24 Parganas district.

Meanwhile, the police officers of Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, on Tuesday, have arrested one person from Barabani in West Burdwan district on charges of spreading anti-India slogans through social media.

The arrested youth, Sharif Meer, has been accused of making anti-national slogans over Operation Sindoor launched by India last week, destroying several terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The police officers have also seized his mobile phone, which he mainly used to spread these anti-India slogans.
New Delhi, May 13 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has criticised Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for making a "highly objectionable" comment about India's senior and decorated Army officer, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, addressed the matter on his X handle, stating that the minister had made "deeply offensive" and "inappropriate" comments about Colonel Qureshi.

He wrote that a minister from the BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh had made deeply offensive and inappropriate remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a courageous officer who has served the nation with honour. While the terrorists in Pahalgam sought to sow division, the country stood united during 'Operation Sindoor,' responding firmly and decisively to their threats.

"The BJP-RSS leadership has consistently demonstrated a disregard for women," Kharge wrote.

"From social media attacks on the wife of a naval officer martyred in Pahalgam to the harassment of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's daughter, the pattern is troubling. Now, a minister has added to this distressing trend by making disrespectful remarks about Colonel Qureshi," he further stated.

He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take immediate action and remove the minister from office.

During an event in Raikunda village, Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow), Indore, on Monday, Madhya Pradesh's Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah courted controversy after making an offensive remark, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a "sister" of those who had widowed Indian women in the Pahalgam terror attack.

His remark, which referenced the recent Indian military mission Operation Sindoor, drew applause from the audience.

Following the viral spread of a video capturing his speech, Congress demanded action and his resignation from the BJP. His remarks attracted wide criticism from various sections of society.

Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jitu Patwari condemned Shah's remarks and urged the BJP to clarify its position regarding the controversy. Patwari also shared a video of the minister's speech on social media, calling for accountability.

Patwari argued that Shah's statement, which framed military decisions in a communal and gender-based narrative, could exacerbate tensions.

His remarks have sparked concerns about the use of political rhetoric to justify acts of retaliation under the guise of governance, he stated.

Commissioned in 1994 into the Army Signal Corps, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has served in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India.
Hyderabad, May 13 : Miss World contestants from 109 countries were mesmerised by Hyderabad's iconic monument, Charminar, as they participated in a Heritage Walk and went shopping for bangles and other ornaments in the famous Laad Bazaar.

Hyderabad, May 13 (IANS) Miss World contestants from 109 countries were mesmerised by Hyderabadas iconic monument, Charminar, as they participated in a Heritage Walk and went shopping for bangles and other ornaments in the famous Laad Bazaar.

The participants in the ongoing 72nd Miss World pageant were welcomed with traditional Marfa music. Some contestants danced to the rhythm of Arabic Marfa instruments.

All the contestants took part in a special photo shoot at the Charminar. The beauty queens greeted the public with warm gestures. They captured the splendour of Charminar on their mobile phones while participating in the grand Heritage Walk.

The glamorous women went shopping for bangles, pearl necklaces, and other ornaments in the famous Laad Bazaar near Charminar. Some contestants personally observed the bangle-making process and appreciated the craftsmanship of the artisans.

Traders in Laad Bazaar refused to take money from contestants for items purchased by them. Playing good hosts, the traders welcomed the guests with rose flowers and declined to accept payment for their shopping. The traders urged Miss World contestants to showcase the uniqueness of Hyderabad and the specialities of Charminar and Laad Bazaar in their respective countries.

The contestants arrived at Charminar in special tourist buses and were given a red-carpet welcome by officials. A few contestants joined in the rhythmic beats with graceful dance moves, showcasing their appreciation for the local culture.

Officials said that through this event, Hyderabadas cultural heritage and elegance were showcased to the world.

The contestants later attended the banquet hosted by the Telangana government at Chowmahalla Palace, which was once the seat of governance of the Nizams.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, along with his family, ministers, public representatives, embassy officials from various countries, city dignitaries, and senior government officials, participated in the banquet.

A short film titled aChowmahalla Palace a" Hyderabad Heritagea was screened for the contestants. They went around the palace and also viewed a photo exhibition highlighting the rich history and culture of Hyderabad.

They explored artefacts and military equipment from the Nizam era and learned about their unique features. Miss World Organisation Chairperson and CEO Julia Morley CBE, along with several contestants, shared their impressions during the banquet, expressing deep appreciation for the culture and traditions of Telangana, particularly those of Hyderabad.
Bhopal, May 14 : Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, whose remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi sparked a nationwide controversy, was summoned by state BJP chief V. D Sharma late evening on Tuesday.

After a closed-door meeting with Sharma, the minister issued a clarification saying that his remarks had been taken out of context and misunderstood.

He also apologised, saying that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has made the nation proud and he has great respect for her.

"We respect the actions taken by the Indian forces in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. I have nothing to say on the wisdom of those who are twisting my remarks. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has made the nation proud. We respect both the sisters," he said after meeting with state BJP chief V. D Sharma.

Addressing a public gathering during a government function in Mhow (Indore district) on Monday, Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modias leadership in responding to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

However, while doing so, he made a comment that has drawn sharp criticism.

Talking about Operation Sindoor, Shah said that PM Modi had sent a "sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror strike in Kashmiras Pahalgam.

He further stated that, "PM Modi is striving for the society. Those who widowed our daughters (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson."

Notably, the Indian Army officer had along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, briefed the media throughout Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

The Opposition Congress reacted strongly. Sharing the video clip on the social media platform aXa, it accused Shah of calling Indian Army officers "sisters of terrorists," a statement it said insults not just women in uniform but the entire armed forces.

"The brave daughters of our army are sisters of terrorists. This disgusting utterance has been made by MP Minister Vijay Shah. This is an insult to our mighty army," Patwari said while addressing a press conference at party headquarters in Bhopal.

Patwari also demanded that Shah be sacked from the minister's post.

"If the Chief Minister fails to sack Shah, it will be seen as the state cabinet endorsing his indecent and communal remarks," Patwari stated.

Patwari also pointed out that this is the same Vijay Shah, who was removed from the Cabinet earlier for making lewd remarks on former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's wife, Sadhna Singh, in 2013.
ANKARA/BAGHDAD, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called the self-dissolution announcement made by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) a key milestone in Turkiye's decades-long conflict against terror.

"We have crossed another critical threshold in the process of making Turkiye a terror-free country," Erdogan said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting.

Erdogan emphasized that Turkish intelligence and other state institutions would "closely monitor the disbandment process of the group to prevent any security lapses."

The PKK's decision is also "an important step for ensuring the security of our nation," he said, noting that the PKK's step is expected to "cover all the extensions of the group, particularly in northern Iraq, Syria, and Europe."

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry welcomed the PKK's decision, hailing it as an important step toward enhancing security and stability in Iraq and the region, and a real opportunity to advance peace efforts and end the decades-long regional conflicts.

Iraq reaffirmed its support for all peace efforts, underscoring the importance of addressing security challenges through dialogue to achieve common aspirations held dear by the regional peoples for security and development, said the statement.

The PKK announced its decision to disband and end its armed insurgency on Monday. The decision followed a call made in late February by the group's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, urging the PKK to lay down arms.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for four decades with an original aim of creating an independent Kurdish state.

Turkiye regularly conducts cross-border military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq, where the group has its headquarters and hideouts, as well as raids on its affiliates in Syria. 
Mangaluru, May 14 : A Karnataka court has granted divorce to a man on grounds of cruelty and bigamy by his wife.

The order in this regard has been passed by Lakshminarayana Bhat K., Principal judge at a Mangaluru family court.

The court while giving the order noted that, "As per the forgoing findings, the petitioner (husband) has proved he has been subjected to cruelty and harassment by the respondent on account of her second marriage during the subsistence of valid first marriage."

"The respondent (wife) is not entitled for permanent alimony or maintenance. The petitioner is entitled for decree of divorce," the court said.

Uday Nayak, a resident of Mundabi house in Mangaluru district, has submitted the petition in this regard seeking divorce from his wife under the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act.

Uday Nayak, the petitioner in the case turned a detective to expose his wife.

Not only did he find about illegal marriage of his wife while she was still married to him, he also stage managed a job interview to take out all details of her remarriage.

The wife demanded Rs 3 crore from the petitioner.

The court did not grant her any alimony but instead asked both the parties to return each other's gold and also asked the wife to pay Rs 30,000 to the husband as his expenses.

Relieved after the order, Uday Nayak, the husband, said: "I and family have suffered immensely in the last few years. Though my ex-wife earned well, she asked hefty maintenance from me and a huge alimony. I didn't lose hope and fought back and presented proofs of all her lies in the court. I am thankful to the judge for passing this judgment. Bigamy is a crime. She should be arrested for it."

The couple had married on December 31, 2018, as per customs. After marriage the couple started residing in Bengaluru in a rented house.

The wife worked with a reputed IT company in Mumbai and after marriage she took transfer to Bengaluru.

The petitioner has alleged that his wife had relationship with a man prior to marriage and continued her relationship after marriage.

It is also alleged that the wife suffered from severe depression.

She maintained that her career was important for abortion causing mental agony to the petitioner and his parents.

As the relationship grew bitter, the wife lodged a police complaint alleging domestic violence, a week prior to his sister's wedding.

The petitioner obtained bail.

The petitioner further charged that his wife has remarried on March 13, 2023, at Maharashtra and after marriage she has applied for change of name and it was published in Maharashtra Shasan Rajpatra.

The petitioner told the court that he has stage managed a zoom meeting interview of the respondent and during conference the respondent has admitted her second marriage.

The wife filed a counter statement denying all other allegations made by the husband against her in the petition.

She charged that the petitioner has forced her judgement to abort the child by putting pressure and said that he is not settled in life.

She further claimed that the petitioner has necked out her from the matrimonial house.

The wife told court that her husband forced her to engage in unnatural physical activities also insisting her to have physical relationship with his friends.

However, the court noted that the wife was not discharging her marital obligations and against his wish she has undergone abortion.

She was always busy in social media platforms.

She has lodged a false police report against the petitioner and his family members.

The court in its judgment said, "In the case on hand during cross-examination the respondent has failed to make out the petitioner was insisting her to have unnatural physical activities or insisted her to maintain physical relationship with his friends. Therefore, the facts and other circumstances of the case shows the respondent has made false allegations against the petitioner."

The respondent has entered second marriage during the subsistence of the valid marriage with the petitioner, she is not entitled for permanent alimony.

The court noted that the respondent (wife) from the oral evidence and documentary has failed to prove after solemnisation of the marriage that the petitioner has subjected her to undergo physical and mental cruelty and harassment.

The judgement of the case was made on April 23 and the certified copies of the judgement have been obtained on Tuesday.

Senior counsel Vishal Shetty represented the petitioner.
Bengaluru, May 14 : In a significant breakthrough, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bangalore Zonal Unit, successfully secured the deportation of a key accused, a resident of Kerala.

The matter pertains to the seizure of LSD in commercial quantity from an accused who was found involved in multiple drug trafficking cases, the official statement from the NCB stated on Tuesday.

In July 2023, officers of the NCB, Bangalore Zonal Unit, had seized 6.624 grams of LSD from a parcel originating from Mexico. The delivery operation that followed led to the interception of two recipients. One other accused, an associate of both receivers, was, however, absconding.

"Investigation revealed that LSD was being trafficked from a foreign country by concealing it in books and magazines. Following a detailed investigation, which included technical and financial analysis, a complaint was filed against the accused under Sections 8(c), 22(c), 23(c), 27A, 28, and 29 of the NDPS Act," the NCB stated.

The investigation revealed that the above-mentioned accused was also involved in an NDPS case registered at Madukkarai Police Station, Coimbatore, and was absconding in that case too. To locate and apprehend him, a Red Corner Notice (RCN) was published against him on January 24, 2025.

Following close coordination with other Indian and international agencies, the accused was located and detained by the law enforcement authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in pursuance of the Red Corner Notice, and after completion of the requisite legal formalities, he was deported to India and is currently in NCB custody.

"This operation exemplifies India's relentless approach to nab members of transnational drug syndicates involved in drug trafficking in India, the statement said.

"To fight against drug trafficking, NCB seeks the support of the citizens. Any person can share information related to the sale of narcotics by calling on MANAS- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number-1933," it said.
When Torben Kuhlmann set off for university, it wasn't to become an author. He studied illustration and communications design at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and wrote his final thesis, Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse, as a solid way to cap off his educational career. He never intended to publish it. This "personal project," though, has gone on to become a bestselling series now celebrating 10 years with the fifth book out today and hopefully many more to come.

Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the series! Im sure you couldnt have imagined what was to come when you first started the series with Lindbergh while at university. What has the journey been like, and what has been most surprising or gratifying for you?

It is indeed an unbelievable milestone. That's something that still baffles me from time to time. It's been a very fulfilling journey. The most gratifying aspect would be that I can almost exclusively focus on children's books and my own stories now. Most surprisingly, I discovered I really enjoy doing book readings and story-time events with children. That was one aspect I could not see me doing well when I started. But each reading is a huge opportunity to sharpen my storytelling skillsespecially because of the very direct and unfiltered feedback I get from the young readers.

You wrote the first book as your final thesis. At that time, did you have plans to publish it?

No, I had no real plans or even substantial hopes to get my first picture book published. The book seemed a bit too unconventional with its reduced color scheme and challenging length. But it wasn't meant to persuade a publisher; it was only meant as a very personal experiment and as a good send-off to my time at the university. My goal was to satisfy my current self with a book that would also excite my five-year-old former self. Luckily, that seemed to be something that resonated with a lot of people.

Was it always your hope to become a childrens book author and illustrator?

I was always aiming to become a storyteller of some kind, but for a long time I wasn't sure in which area. I hoped for a career in animation or film, something where I could also use my skills as a craftsman. And, obviously, I was hoping for a job that would pay the bills. I wouldn't dare to dream that I could one day do that as a children's book author and illustrator. I prematurely tempered my expectations only to be surprised. Becoming an author and illustrator was the best imaginable outcome for me.

What was the germ for the original story? And what was your initial idea for writing a childrens book? Did you set out to write a fictional narrative about cute rodents, or did you always plan to incorporate science, engineering, and history?

The original idea was a rather small one: a mouse discovering bats and being inspired to learn to fly. That initial idea predetermined many of the characteristics of the later book and the book series as a whole. Obviously, a scientific approach is necessary for a mouse to achieve the ability to fly. And having a mouse as the protagonist makes the story a good candidate for a picture book. That way, I can use the cuteness of a mouse as another visual advantage. One major decision was to keep my naturalistic and realistic style even for a story like that. So there are no cartoony characters or bright colors. That decision grounded a fantastical story in a realistic setting: the period in time in which the first humans, also inspired by animals, took to the skies. That approach also meant that the science behind the inventions of a mouse should be at least believable. I wanted no magic but believable engineering.

When you wrote Lindbergh, did you envision a series? Or did that evolve after the book went on to become an international bestseller?

There were no real thoughts on a possible series, but built into the first book was the potential for a sequel. The human endeavors into aviation did not end with Charles Lindbergh's solo flight in 1927. Only a few decades later, the first human walked on the moon. To follow that template was at least a thought while applying the finishing touches to Lindbergh. In my thesis, I finished with the cocky remark that Lindbergh might not be the last time we see a mouse in a tiny cockpit. After Lindbergh became a bestseller, these words turned out to be prophetic. The door for another mouse adventure was suddenly wide open.

Given youre both an author and an illustrator, what comes first for you? The images or the words? How does the creative process play out?

The concept of a story comes first. My process starts with an idea, which quickly develops into the outline of a plot. There can be early ideas for illustrations as well as text fragments. I collect a lot of these ideas in my sketch book until I am ready to organize everything into a streamlined storyboard. Again, text and illustrations develop simultaneously. That is the moment I can confidently present the story to my publisher andafter I get a green light from themI start working on the first illustrations, followed by a first draft of the story. The draft is continuously refined over the following months while more and more illustrations join the book.

The illustrations in the book are so detailed and vivid, its easy to envision them up on a big screen. How did you develop this style of illustration, and how long does a typical illustration take to complete? How long does it take to finish the illustrations for an entire book?

I would describe my style as cinematic. Because I try to use the narrative potential of an image as much as possiblesometimes without adding describing wordsthe resulting illustrations use some of the same tricks that a movie's director or cinematographer would use: lighting a scene, setting the camera, choosing a perspective, and positioning characters. Its visual storytelling, following the credo show, dont tell! Sometimes I build up tension with words, only to have a wordless double-paged illustration as the culmination of that buildup. The creation of such a detailed illustration can take some time. Usually, I expect to finish at least one full-spread double-page illustration and a smaller one each week. For a whole book like Earhart, I work for up to nine months on the illustrations exclusively.

The books, while humorous and adventurous, convey complex concepts. Do you enjoy researching the ideas? How much research is involved with each book? Do you research the subject matter first and then write, or research as youre writing?

Each book so far has dealt with a topic that interested me personally. So, I was always able to build on some prior knowledge. However, each new story requires a great deal of research beforehand. Only then can I confidently begin with the illustrations and write the text. For the small nonfiction sections that conclude each mouse adventure especially, a considerable amount of historical research is required. In the case of Einstein, for example, it was truly a challenge to put the broad outlines of the theory of relativity into reasonably understandable words and simple illustrations. For the illustrations within the story, it was important to at least make some reference to the space-time model and to hint at how I might imagine the possibility of time travel. For the eagle-eyed observers, there are hints to wormholes in space-time, so-called Einstein-Rosen bridges, between different moments in time.

Earhart stands out in the series as the first book to focus on a pioneering woman. Do you have any plans to write about other female historical figures?

I hope the Mouse Adventures series will showcase the achievements of many more female pioneers and historical figures. Which real-live person ends up providing the name for a mouse adventure is, contrary to popular belief, not something I decide or figure out at the beginning. An idea of a possible storyline comes first. That storyline after a while starts to point in a certain direction and to a possible candidate from human history who could lend their name. In my latest book, Earhart, the idea of a mouse circling the world came first. That fact pointed to the endeavors of the similar-minded Amelia Earhart.

The Mouse Adventures series isnt your only work. Youve also written and illustrated Moletown, The Clown Said No, and The Gray City. These books share a similar illustrative style, but the storylines are very different from those of the Mouse Adventures series. Was this a fun departure for you? Do you have a preference for series or for stand-alone books, or does each have its own advantages and disadvantages?

It is always fun to have something different on your desk once in a while. Otherwise, there is the risk of becoming stale or repeating yourself too much. Additionally, it is very inspiring to challenge yourself and leave the comfort zone, at least a bit. The Gray City was one such experiment. I tried to use only a very minimal palette with many shades of gray. Also, for a change, there are human charactersbut not as realistic as the ones depicted in my Mouse Adventure series. Right now, I am thinking of doing yet another experimentmaybe even in a different illustrative style and techniquebefore returning to a possible sixth Mouse Adventure book later next year.

Given how cinematic the books are, has there been any talk of turning them into a film or television series?

There have been a few discussions about possible adaptations, actually. The film rights for some of the books have been requested. Unfortunately, nothing has come of it... yet. However, with a bit of luck, we're closer than ever to a possible film adaptation of one of my mouse adventures. Keep your fingers crossed!
Does the future of the free world come down to who oversees the Library of Congress? Events of the past five days suggest as much, with a pitched battle over who may serve as interim Librarian and strong words from the House of Representatives.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was summarily fired, via email, late in the day on May 8. At the time of her removal, Hayden was serving a 10-year appointment that would have concluded in 2026, and her sudden ousterwithout clear grounds for dismissalwas met with nationwide rage and disappointment from librarians, members of Congress, and the general public. Robert R. Newlen was named acting Librarian to replace Hayden, according to LoC seniority regulations and rules for succession.

Newlen has substantial experience in the agency, having worked at the Library of Congress from 19752017, and having been appointed (by Hayden) interim director of the Congressional Research Service in 2023. Newlen is a past member of the American Library Association executive board, a senior trustee of the ALA endowment, and 2016 recipient of the ALA Medal of Excellence.

One of Newlens first official acts as Librarian was to inform staff that the register of copyrights and director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter, had been fired Saturday, May 10. Perlmutter, also appointed by Hayden, had served in the role since 2020. The Copyright Office is housed in the Library of Congress and likewise belongs to the U.S. legislative branch, and the director is appointed to the post by the Librarian. As of May 12, no new acting director had been identified.

Newlen served for all of one weekend before the Trump administration attempted to remove him too. The New York Times reported that deputy attorney general Todd Blanchealready in a prominent Department of Justice rolehad been named acting Librarian on May 12, and immediately thereafter was embroiled in a standoff with Newlen. Politico broke the news that Newlen disputed a change that had been made in an email to library staff Monday morning and did not cede the role to Blanche, calling for Congress and not the executive branch to direct the process.

In two May 12 emails to LoC staff, one before noon and the other just after 5 p.m., Newlen said that he would share information as it became available. Congress continues to engage with the White House, and we have not yet received direction from Congress about how to move forward, Newlen wrote in the afternoon email. Please know how much we value your work and appreciate all that you continue to do for the Congress, the American people, and the institution.

A library employee confirmed to PW that staff are in a state of uncertainty, and programs on the LoC calendar are in danger of cancellation. We had a Broadway cast from the show Dead Outlaw that was supposed to come today and donate some materials, and they canceled that visit, the person said. People are trying to figure out whos in charge, whats proper and appropriate and legal, and how do we proceed.

Making incursions

Wired also reported that two men claiming to be newly appointed Trump administration officials, self-identified as Brian Nieves and Paul Perkins, tried to enter the U.S. Copyright Office. According to a person familiar with the Library, the individuals "showed printed pieces of paper saying they'd been appointed to take over. There was no prior notification, no heads up, no official verification of any of this," and because the office entryways require badge access, the men were unable to enter the building. Someone at the Library summoned Capitol Police officers, and the two walked out voluntarily.

"U.S. Capitol Police provide security at every entrance, and thats normal for us," added the staffer. "We have lots of treasures inside, including a lot of valuable historical materials.

One person who did not show up at the Library on Monday was Blanche. Before his confirmation as deputy attorney general, Blanche was Donald Trumps lead defense lawyer in the 2024 New York State trial that resulted in Trumps 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records. Blanches current position gives him oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, among other agencies.

The power plays of the day prompted Rolling Stone to assert that Trump Is Trying to Take Control of Congress Through Its Library, and John Thune (RS.D.), Republican majority leader in the Senate, called for more information about precedents in firing and appointing Library of Congress personnel.

Control of Congress does appear to be at stake in this situation, not least becauseas a Library staffer pointed outthe LoC provides an important research function for Congress. LoC specialists annually fulfill some 75,000 information requests for the legislative branch, answering questions on law and legal matters. Under present federal regulations, the staff member said, it would be an incursion to give the executive branch or Department of Justice all that access to what members of Congress are researching or investigating.

In an urgent letter posted on the Committee on House Appropriation site and addressed to Inspector General Kimberly Benoit of the Library of Congress, six Democratic members of the House of Representatives requested an investigation into, and continued monitoring of, potential improper communications between the LoC and the executive branch, including the possible unauthorized transfer of congressional or Library data to executive branch agencies and personnel. They asked Benoit to prioritize the investigation, given the time-sensitive nature of this matter and the potential for irreparable harm to one of our most important and inimitable institutions.

Joseph D. Morelle (N.Y.), ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, was lead author on the letter, which also was signed by Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations and a vocal defender of Hayden; Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Appropriations; and Congresswomen Terri Sewell (Ala.), Norma Torres (Calif.), and Julie Johnson (Tex.).

The situation remains in flux.
Michael McEwen has been tapped to lead the Academic division of B&H Books, an arm of Lifeway, one of the nations largest evangelical publishers. McEwen will take over for Madison Trammel, who left B&H in February to head up Penguin Random Houses new Christian Publishing Group.

McEwen will leave his former role at acquisitions and project editor at B&H Academic, where his most recent moves include the acquisition of New Studies in Biblical Theology, an influential evangelical series, for North American copublishing alongside British imprint Apollos. Prior to Lifeway, McEwen wrote for Southern Baptist outlets and taught at several colleges, including the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received a PhD in 2018.

Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church, B&H Academic publishes titles on scripture and the modern world that are marketed toward theology students and church leaders. B&H Publisher Devin Maddox lauded McEwens commitment to Lifeways Baptist alignment, as well as its mission to [steward] an important role in broader evangelicalism.
Paramount+ announced the action-comedy film Novocaine, starring Jack Quaid, will land on the streaming service Tuesday in the United States and Canada.

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The film, which released in theaters March 14, stars Quaid as Nathan Caine, a man born with a rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling pain.

Caine sets out on an action-packed adventure when "the girl of his dreams," played by Amber Midthunder, is kidnapped, and he "turns his inability to feel physical pain into an unexpected strength in the fight to get her back," Paramount+ said in a press release.

Novocaine was "Certified Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, with a critics' score of 81%.

The film was directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen from a script by Lars Jacobson. The cast also includes Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Evan Hengst and Matt Walsh.
I love nearly everything about the MP5. The soft recoil impulse, the die-hard reliability (geddit?), and, of course, the superb aesthetics. But there are two things about the gun that count against dedicating it to the role of bugout gun  terminal ballistics and effective range. For all its greatness, the MP5 is still just a 9mm firearm. If it lacks a selector switch, its just an overly glorified handgun.

Ten years ago, I started looking at all the roller-delayed carbines on the market. I considered the mid-sized .308 G3K with its 12.4-inch barrel and even the super short HK51, but the combination of excessive weight and restrictive capacity made the guns impractical. It wasnt until I learned of the 5.56 HK53 that I knew the perfect gun existed. But there was just one problem: Heckler & Koch didnt make a civilian HK53, and custom builders wanted several thousand dollars to make one.

About to give up the search for the ultimate roller-delayed bugout gun, I saw news from SHOT Show that Turkish manufacturer MKE would be exporting a true HK53 clone to the United States: the AP53. But can the imitation hold a candle to a custom-built gun or an actual HK? Lets take a closer look and find out.

Apart from the fixed recoils spring, the AP53 field strips just like its smaller sibling.

SPECS: Century Arms AP53

Caliber: 556x45mm NATO

Capacity: 30+1 rounds

Barrel Length: 8.3 inches

Overall Length: 22.3 inches

Weight (As Shown): 7.2 pounds

MSRP: $1,800

AP53 FEATURES

For the uninitiated, the AP53 is a roller-delayed, semi-automatic pistol chambered in 5.56mm. Its essentially a slightly scaled-up MP5-style pistol in a more potent caliber. Its so similar to an MP5 that it actually accepts many of the same accessories, including grip frames and handguards  more on that in a moment. The AP53s 8.3-inch barrel ships with a four-prong flash hider that covers standard 1/228 threads.

So, shooters can install whatever muzzle device they want, but if they intend to run a suppressor, they need to take two additional steps. First, theyll need a shoulder adapter, since the AP53s muzzle has a conical shoulder like the SIG MCX. (SIGs shoulder nut fits, by the way.) Secondly, theyll need to verify that their suppressor can handle 5.56mm out of such a short barrel.

Translucent 30-round mags can be clipped together like the StGw90, but youll probably want to add a couple of wraps of electrical tape to keep them secure.

If you have a steel or Inconel can, youre probably good to go, whereas titanium suppressors may be unsafe to use due to the massive pressure spike. Check your manual; if it doesnt seem clear, call your suppressor manufacturer and ask.

Back to the guns features  behind the muzzle, the AP53 utilizes a folding charging handle thats pretty tough to utilize when the gun is in standard pistol configuration, due to the combination of a stiff recoil spring and strong spring that keeps it folded forward when not in use. More than once Ive tried to charge the action on the AP53 and fumbled it because I lost my grip on the charger. This is greatly alleviated by having something to brace your shoulder on, like an SB tactical brace or, if you SBR the gun, a stock.

Beneath the charging handle and cocking tube, the AP53 includes a wide tropical polymer MP5 handguard that does a mostly good job of keeping your hands away from the hot barrel. I say mostly, because the AP ships with the incorrect handguard for the platform; it shouldnt use MP5 handguards, even though MP5 handguards fit. This matters because the included handguard doesnt cover the portion of the receiver over the trunnion  a spot that gets very hot after two magazines.

The good news is that shooters can buy a real one online for around 50 bucks. Alternatively, shooters can opt for railed handguards to mitigate this issue by giving themselves an indexing point for their support hand away from the trunnion. If youre keeping the AP53 as a handgun, angled foregrips are good, but if you SBR the gun, you can use whatever you like.

Speaking of which, after confirming the gun ran fine through 250 rounds, I immediately filed for an ATF Form 1 to SBR the AP53.

Why not run a brace and save myself $200? Because of an odd decision from MKE that limits what a shooter can and cant install on the gun without replacing parts. On a standard 5.56mm caliber roller-delayed gun, the recoil spring is held in place solely by tension between the end cap and the back of the bolt carrier (just like an MP5). On the AP53, they designed it more like a G3 rifle and welded the recoil spring assembly to the endcap.

This means if a shooter wants to install a stock to the AP53, they have two choices. They can go the inexpensive route and buy a replacement polymer or wooden G3 stock (not stock assembly, just the polymer or wooden part) and replace the polymer nub at the back of the AP53. This can be easily done with just a flat-head screwdriver. The more expensive route requires buying an HK53 recoil assembly and a dedicated HK33/HK93/MP5 endcap/stock assembly.

This is also the easiest way to install a collapsible stock on the gun. Keep in mind that just because an MP5 collapsible stock will fit the gun doesnt mean its a good idea to install it. Dedicated 5.56mm collapsible stocks feature a special buffer that prevents the bolt carrier from damaging itself during operation.

Between all this, the AP53 features a four-position selector with painted pictograms that look nearly indistinguishable from genuine HK lowers. Best of all, unlike older Century-imported Indonesian HK93/HK53 builds, the gun includes a paddle release for the magazine in addition to a push-button one. This fact alone greatly improves the guns ergonomics since the push-button release is so far forward from the pistol grip that only orangutans can reach it without shifting their firing grip.

On top of the receiver, the gun features correct recoil lugs for claw mounts, so be sure you order an optic mount designed for an HK53 and not an MP5, or youll be unable to mount it properly. Why include that statement if the gun includes an optic mount? Because the included one doesnt hold zero. At all. As to why, the jury is still out. Even after over-torquing them and adding thread locker, the mount would wobble, even though the screws were tight. I had a chance back in 2014 to review the HK33k clone from MKE, then imported by Zenith (Z43P), and the included mount had the same issue, so maybe its just a Turkish feature.

Were big fans of the Primary Arms 1x prism sights on SBRs, which go together like PB&J.

Personally, the only optic mounts I 100-percent trust for my HK-styled guns are a factory-welded rail or those from MFI. The MFI mount uses captured mounting screws that self-align, and Ive never had one walk loose. For the review, I used the 5.5-inch universal HK mount since it fits MP5s and the AP53.

MP5 ERGONOMICS

If youve ever run an MP5, then you know exactly what to expect from the AP53  solid sights, soft recoil, and a trigger that doubles as a grip-strength-trainer. A digital trigger scale read it at 8 pounds, but given that the original military model of this gun was full-auto, that makes sense. If it bothers you, there are companies that make absurdly expensive replacement triggers that are a vast improvement. A better solution would be to shoot the gun a lot and get better. The sights are also classic MP5 and consist of a four-position rotating drum diopter and a hooded front sight post. The rear sight is adjustable but requires a special tool. Thankfully, the review sample was dead on at 50 yards with 55-grain ammo, and only an inch low with 62-grain at the same distance.

The AP53 is just a hair bigger than the MP5, but it sends a rifle bullet downrange. And a big fireball.

Reloads are also classic MP5. In the immortal words of Teufelshunde Tactical trainer and MP5 Master James Williamson, Back, off, on, forward. These words will burn themselves into your brain if you want to get handy with the steel and are the manual of arms for reloading a roller-delayed HK. Back: Pull the charging handle to the rear and locked position. Off: Remove the old magazine and discard or retain. On: Insert the fresh magazine into the magazine well until it locks. Forward: Slap the charging handle to drop the bolt on the fresh magazine and chamber a round.

AP53 PERFORMANCE

The APs features and price point are great, but how did the gun actually perform? Prior to the full testing cycle, I fired 250 rounds of mixed ammo from an old dump pouch of random 5.56mm rounds to confirm reliability before filing for a Form 1 to SBR the gun. This mixture included Tula, Wolf, Winchester, Federal, and Hornady, and the gun never had a single issue during this period. Three days later, the ATF graciously returned the Form 1, and I replaced the polymer nub with a surplus polymer G3 stock and grabbed every HK93 magazine available to test.

These mags include the two amber polymer magazines that ship with the gun, a pair of Turkish 30-round steel mags, a 40-round Indonesian contract aluminum magazine, a German factory 25-round steel mag, a polymer 40-round Promag, and a 100-round BETA Drum from the now defunct company. Across 1,500 rounds, there were no mechanical issues with the AP53 whatsoever.

That said, I did have one specific issue with German-made HK magazines  presumably, because the AP53 is built to its own specs and not HK specifications, these magazines would sit a little too high. This caused the bolt carrier to stick on the back of the magazine and prevent chambering the first round. If the AP53 had a round in the chamber and one of these mags was inserted, it would feed fine afterward.

HK-style diopter sights are still a great option after almost 60 years.

You may wish to stick to polymer magazines and 40-round Indonesian mags, unless you replace the magazine catch with a genuine HK component. One added bonus of the included polymer magazines is that they feature guidelines for shooting at enemy aircraft and helicopters  seriously. The efficacy of shooting a semi-automatic short-barreled 5.56mm firearm at an aircraft strafing your position is questionable at best, but it makes a cool conversation piece. Maybe they should put a new line for drones?

One final consideration for the AP53 is how it runs suppressed. Both a SilencerCo Hybrid 46M and Saker ASR worked well on the AP53. They did increase the ejection velocity, but after checking the endplate for damage after a few hundred rounds and finding none, theres probably no need to tinker with the locking pieces. Other than that, the gun was flawlessly reliable, and on checking bolt gap before and after, there was no major shift, cementing the guns longevity and proper construction.

SHORT-BARRELED ACCURACY

Accuracy with the Century AP53 was a mixed bag  certain ammo types performed well, while others were disappointing. In particular, the AP53 preferred any ammo with a projectile weighing 62-grain or more. Standard Mil-spec 55-grain M193 just barely outperformed Wolf steel-cased 55-grain at roughly 2.1 inches at 50 yards.

Triple tree doesnt contact the cocking tube, making the AP53s barrel free-floating.

Meaning, with 55-grain ammo, the AP53 is a 4-MOA gun. But dont dismiss it quite yet. After running three different brands of 55-grain Mil-spec ammo with crappy results, it was time for some 62-grain Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection ammo, and the 10-round group shrank to an incredible 0.74 inch. Hornady 75-grain Match ammo and 77-grain Federal Sierra MatchKing, both grouped around 1 inch at 50 yards.

Definitely not a match-rifle but given the role of a PDW like the AP53, this is excellent performance.

CENTURY ARMS AP53 VERDICT

If youve always wanted an HK53 clone but dont have several thousand bucks to spend on one, the Century Arms AP53 is a must. Many people look back on the early 2000s as the golden age of affordable Soviet guns, but 2022 to 2025 has thus far been the golden age of affordable HK clones.

If youre on the fence about buying one, you may want to jump on it now  especially with potential tariffs coming down the pipe; better to buy now and later sell if you dont love it than spend double on one in the future due to FOMO. Regardless of the reason you buy one, the AP53 is a solid piece of equipment at a price point that was unheard of until very recently.

It might not be as affordable or modular as an AR-15 pistol, but it scratches a totally different itch.

Special thanks to HKParts.net for providing their recoil assembly and a collapsible stock for the review.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Magistrate Court of Brunei sentenced a 45-year-old unemployed man to 16 months in jail on Monday after he was found guilty of stealing an iPhone 11 from a shop near the capital, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin, the court handed down the sentence to Mohd Noramir Jamil, who had pleaded guilty to theft, which carries a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment and a fine.

The theft incident occurred on May 3, when Mohd Noramir entered a shop and noticed an unattended iPhone 11 on a table near a desktop computer. After ensuring the shop was quiet and no one was around, he took the device and left the premises.

The phone belonged to a shop employee who discovered the theft shortly after and alerted her employer. Mohd Noramir went to a bus stop in the capital and approached a mobile phone shop where he sold the stolen device for 50 Brunei dollars (about 38.33 U.S. dollars). 
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a team of senior Indian officials to Washington starting May 16 for discussions with their US counterparts on the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), an official said on Tuesday.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Goyal is expected to hold meetings with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during his visit.

The four-day talks come against the backdrop of both countries exploring the possibility of an interim trade arrangement in goods to secure "early mutual wins" ahead of finalising the first phase of the trade agreement by fall (September-October) this year.

Through these discussions, officials from New Delhi and Washington aim to take advantage of the 90-day tariff pause window to advance the talks.

The US has suspended the additional 26 per cent tariffs on India till July 9. It was announced on April 2 to bridge the widening trade deficit.

However, the 10 per cent baseline tariff imposed on the countries will continue to remain in place.

To give impetus to the talks, India's Chief Negotiator for BTA Rajesh Agrawal, special secretary in the Department of Commerce, and Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch had last month held three-day talks in Washington.

Before that in March, Goyal held bilateral meetings with Greer and Lutnick.

India and the US have already initiated sectoral-level talks for the pact.

The two sides are deliberating both on tariffs (related to goods) and non-tariff matters.

To boost bilateral trade, India is seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, chemicals, grapes, and bananas in the proposed pact with America.

On the other hand, the US wants duty concessions in sectors like certain industrial goods, automobiles (electric vehicles in particular), wines, petrochemical products, dairy, agriculture items such as apples, and tree nuts.

The terms of reference (ToRs) for the BTA have been finalised by India and the US, which include around 19 chapters covering issues like tariffs, goods, services, rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, and customs facilitation.

The US has on multiple occasions raised concerns over certain non-tariff barriers being faced by American goods in the Indian markets.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion.

The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.

With America, India had a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of $41.18 billion in goods in 2024-25.

It was $35.32 billion in 2023-24, $27.7 billion in 2022-23, $32.85 billion in 2021-22 and $22.73 billion in 2020-21.

The US has raised concerns over this widening trade deficit.
'India has gone some way to meeting its objectives because it has established a deterrent value that Pakistan will have to take into account when it plans future terrorist attacks.'

Air Marshal A K Bharti, director general air operations, centre, flanked by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, director general military operations, left, and Vice Admiral A N Pramod, director general naval operations, second from right, and Major General S S Sharda, additional director general, strategic communications, right, brief the nation on Operation Sindoor, May 12, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a candid interview with Rediff's Prasanna D Zore, Colonel Ajai Shukla (retd) -- the well-known commentator on defence matters -- dismisses claims of Indian military setbacks -- particularly reports that Chinese-supplied J-10C fighters outperformed India's Rafales.

To what extent has the US-brokered ceasefire altered the strategic calculus of Operation Sindoor -- has India achieved its core military objectives, or were key goals sacrificed for the sake of the truce?

India didn't have any goals up to the point where the terror attack took place (in Pahalgam on the afternoon of April 22, 2025). India was quite happy (till that time) -- just sort of living in peace and not having to deal with these regular terrorist attacks.

To that extent, India's objective was to be left alone, rather than be subjected to a barrage of terrorists and militants and gunmen, whatever you choose to call them.

I would say India has gone some way to meeting its objectives because it has (the airstrikes launched by India since the intervening night of May 6 and May 7) established a deterrent value that Pakistan will have to take into account when it plans future (terrorist attacks with help of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists) attacks.

How should India rebalance its forces along the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control?

Well, if India's current deployment pattern is fine, it doesn't need to be re-established or re-looked at. It's got a direct value: Two strike corps that are ready at all times to strike into Pakistan if the need arises. And that's something that nobody really believes needs to change.

So, as long as there is no major terrorist attack or anything that requires India to attack Pakistan or carry out operations to re-establish its deterrent, I think India is doing perfectly fine.

By welcoming US mediation in a conflict traditionally governed by the Simla Agreement's principle of bilateralism, has India undermined its long-held stance against third-party intervention?

But India has not yet got any third party to intervene. There is speculation that President Trump could be the third partner in the equation, but that is just speculation -- no formal offer has been made at all.

As of now, India is talking to Pakistan through the DGMO channels, and that is all that's needed according to India's top leadership.

When India feels the need for a third party, then we can have this conversation -- but right now, India hasn't asked any third party (intervention) at all.

But President Trump has gone on social media and trumpeted that he has brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

I don't think Donald Trump will be invited by India to provide third-party mediation. And what is there to mediate? In any case, there's a claim by Pakistan over the province of Kashmir, but other than that, there's nothing. India does not acknowledge the need for third-party mediation.

Do you regard this ceasefire -- or whatever the situation is between India and Pakistan right now -- as a lasting de-escalation or a fragile pause?

Anybody who sees anything lasting in the India-Pakistan context is a bigger optimist than I am (laughs). As of now, it's a strategic pause. It's an interval in which all kinds of questions will be discussed. Then comes the question of whether the strategic pause translates into a dialogue process.

Pakistan's air force claims -- flying Chinese J-10C fighters -- to have downed an Indian Rafale which has been widely circulated in the Western media.

How credible are these reports, and might the prospect of air losses have driven New Delhi towards a ceasefire?

India is perfectly within its rights to decline to answer that question (about how many Indian aircraft have gone down). As of now, we are just speculating (about Indian aircraft being downed by Pakistan fighter planes).

We don't know whether a Rafale has been downed at all. We don't know that as a consequence of losing a Rafale, India is going to start accepting third-party mediation.

There's talk about how China J-10C fighters outperformed the Rafale...

No, I don't yet buy into the argument that the Rafale was outperformed by the J-10. There is little to support such an argument.

As soon as there becomes a certainty that some (Indian) planes have been downed and if so, which planes, one can then talk about what happened exactly.

But the Indian Air Force is carrying out its briefings regularly and so far they are absolutely steadfast in saying that there is no evidence yet of the air force losing any aircraft.
'Unfortunately, India and Pakistan could learn a 'lesson' from this conflict that will make them more likely to use these weapons against each other in the future.'

'Rounds of missile and drone attacks could be more routine features of their hostility, just like artillery fire has become a familiar fact of life along the Line of Control.'

IMAGE Indian Army bomb squad personnel at a site in Rajouri, May 12, 2025, prepare to destroy an active Pakistan mortar shell that was discovered after the recent ceasefire violation. Photograph: ANI Photo

"I was somewhat surprised by how quickly a cease-fire was reached, and I will be curious to learn more about precisely how that diplomacy unfolded as the story leaks out. I was concerned that once the escalation began, it might ratchet upward more rapidly and uncontrollably. I'm glad that was not the case," Daniel S Markey, senior advisor on South Asia at the United States Institute of Peace, the Washington, DC-based think-tank, tells Nikhil Lakshman/Rediff.

Dr Markey is also a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies Foreign Policy Institute.

From 2007 to 2015, Dr Markey was a senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2003 to 2007, Dr Markey was a member of the US State Department's Policy Planning Staff, focusing on US strategy in South Asia, especially Pakistan and India.

The first of a two-part interview.

By those two statements issued on Saturday -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertion that India and Pakistan would discuss all issues at a neutral venue; then President Trump's offer of mediating in disputes -- has America undermined years of carefully building a relationship with India?

Has the Trump administration restored the hyphen with Pakistan that vexed India's leaders and diplomats for years?

I don't think this episode alone will undermine the US-India strategic partnership. But in combination with other aspects of President Trump's India policy, especially new tariffs and the televised deportation of illegal Indian migrants from the United States, it constitutes a serious political blow.

I have to imagine that some Indian analysts who anticipated that the Trump administration would be a welcome change after Biden are now questioning their assumptions.

Were these remarks born out of ignorance? Or spawned by an administration, unable to make headway in Ukraine or Gaza, keen to find success somewhere?

Or provoked by concern that the 72-hour war could have spun into a nuclear confrontation?

Does Trump's Washington suddenly find renewed value in a relationship with Pakistan that its predecessors had long given up on after Rawalpindi/Islamabad's many betrayals?

I do not believe that the Trump administration has made a considered strategic shift on Pakistan, and I don't even think the White House fully appreciates how these remarks would be interpreted in India.

They are, however, consistent with President Trump's longstanding offer to mediate between India and Pakistan, something he voiced during his first administration. They likely reflect his confidence that US involvement in any global matter, no matter how complicated, can quickly bring a positive resolution.

Do you think Rubio and Trump's remarks are a setback for India-US relations, given India's stern response already, or will Delhi dismiss it as typical Trumpspeak -- spoken today, forgotten tomorrow and continue what earlier Indian and US governments have carefully built since the dawn of this century, especially they need to keep dealing with this transactional president for four more years?

Notably, in the official statements -- including Prime Minster Modi's address to the nation on Monday night -- coming out of Delhi after the ceasefire, America is not mentioned at all.

It is as if the ceasefire came about via a conversation between the two DGMOs and the US had nothing to do with it.

I believe that India's diplomats have learned a lesson that if they stick to their position on issues of top national interest, the Trump administration may accept their intransigence and move on to other matters.

Washington's bandwidth for global policy is being tested; as long as there is not a major crisis, the normal interagency process has been weakened and disrupted by massive turnover and overall downsizing in personnel.

IMAGE: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi at a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, May 11, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

CNN reported that US Vice President J D Vance, Secretary Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles were alerted by intelligence that compelled the US to get quickly involved in resolving the India-Pakistan crisis after initially shrugging off any involvement.

In your assessment, what could that intelligence have been? That an Indian airstrike had come perilously close to breaching one of Pakistan's nuclear storage sites?

My assessment is that VP Vance and Secretary of State Rubio were increasingly well informed about the prospects of a very serious war. Although I do not have access to classified information, I am not entirely sure that these news stories correctly describe the internal decision making processes of the US government.

In any case, I would like to believe that the general prospect of military escalation between India and Pakistan should capture the full attention of senior US officials well before there would need to be any credible threat of an actual nuclear accident or similar event.

If this information to the White House came from the Pakistanis, could it have been truthful?

Could it have been classic ISI deception designed to alarm the Americans and get them to persuade the Indians to call a cessation of hostilities especially when Pakistan is in no economic condition to continue a long war?

I can imagine that Pakistan would have reasons to deceive the United States in the midst of a crisis with India. However, under normal circumstances the US intelligence community would also be well aware of that possibility, would not base its assessments on Pakistani-sourced intelligence, and would be very sensitive to the potential for manipulation.

Disinformation and misinformation are familiar tools, not new to the India-Pakistan context.

IMAGE: Air Marshal A K Bharti, director general air operations, centre, flanked by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, director general military operations, left, and Vice Admiral A N Pramod, director general naval operations, second from right, and Major General S S Sharda, additional director general, strategic communications, right, brief the nation on Operation Sindoor, May 12, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

What are the five or maybe seven things about this 72-hour war that surprised you most?

I was not especially surprised by the way that the conflict unfolded, at least in its most general outlines. Analysts of India-Pakistan crises had for years anticipated that the 'next' conflict would look a lot like 2019, but worse. That is basically what we witnessed.

The inciting terrorist outrage was worse, India's response was more spectacular, and Pakistan's counter was also intended to be significantly broader.

To the extent there were surprises within that story, they included the widespread use of drones by both sides, extended dogfights featuring new, high-end aircraft, and the involvement of new missile and air defense systems.

On a positive note, I was somewhat surprised by how quickly a cease-fire was reached, and I will be curious to learn more about precisely how that diplomacy unfolded as the story leaks out.

I was concerned that once the escalation began, it might ratchet upward more rapidly and uncontrollably. I'm glad that was not the case.

IMAGE: India's air defence system intercepts Pakistani drones amidst a blackout in Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, May 12, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a sense, does this conflict redefine war, when adversaries don't cross their territory, but hurl swarms of drones and missiles at each other? Can such a stratagem be limited in its duration and geographical spread?

In some ways, these new technologies are changing warfare mainly by reducing the costs -- in both human and financial terms -- to limited offensive operations that might otherwise be far slower or vastly more expensive. However, there are still important limitations to drone and missile campaigns.

Above all, they cannot take or hold territory and as a consequence are unlikely to deliver a decisive military victory.

Unfortunately, India and Pakistan could learn a 'lesson' from this conflict that will make them more likely to use these weapons against each other in the future.

Rounds of missile and drone attacks could be more routine features of their hostility, just like artillery fire has become a familiar fact of life along the Line of Control.
'Had Haji Pir and/or Skardu been taken, the message would have gone out not just to General Asim Munir and his cohort in the Pakistan army but to the Pakistani people that every terrorist incident in India would lead to substantial loss of territory in PoK.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian Air Force's Adampur air base. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Sindoor served as a symbolic gesture more than it achieved a substantive aim. What, after all, was the purpose of the minimal military actions we saw unfolding in realtime? It is not at all clear. Will it prove a deterrent for the ISI from mounting terrorist actions in the future in J&K and elsewhere? Of course not," asserts Dr Bharat Karnad, a well-known contrarian voice on national security.

Dr Karnad, emeritus professor in national security studies at the Centre for Policy Research, the New Delhi-based think-tank, is the author of India's Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Weapons and Indian Security: The Realist Foundations of Strategy.

The first of a two-part interview.

President Trump claimed on Monday evening that 'We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions of people could have been killed.'

Were India and Pakistan, in your assessment, truly on the verge of atomic Armageddon last week?

Or is it typical Trumpian overstatement?

It is the usual Trumpian hyperbole. The nuclear swords were nowhere near being unsheathed as the US president makes out.

It is in his interest, however, to vastly exaggerate his role as 'peacemaker', considering he has been frustrated in Ukraine and Gaza, so Op Sindoor was a godsent for him.

CNN reported that the Trump administration was alerted by intelligence on Friday that compelled the US to get quickly involved in resolving the India-Pakistan crisis after initially shrugging off any involvement.

Apparently, the 'intelligence' was about an Indian airstrike coming perilously close to breaching one of Pakistan's nuclear storage sites.

Could we have done so considering both India and Pakistan have a list of each other's nuclear sites, precisely to avert that dire possibility?

The Indian missile attack on Chaklala -- HQ Strategic Plans Division, Pakistan's nuclear secretariat -- may have been a wakeup call.

But the ops cell of the SPD is situated underground which the Indian missile could not have, and was not, designed to penetrate.

The message sought to be conveyed to Pakistan was the seriousness of India's intent.

Whether it was so accepted is questionable.

But there is no doubt, however, that India's agreeing abruptly to end Sindoor has propped up Pakistan's belief that its threat of nuclear first use worked, that its nuclear deterrence is intact.

IMAGE: From Left: Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Air Marshal A K Bharti, Vice Admiral A N Pramod and Major General S S Sharda at a media briefing on Operation Sindoor, May 12, 2025. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

If this information to the White House came from the Pakistanis, could it have been classic ISI deception designed to alarm the Americans, get them involved in finding a resolution and get them to persuade the Indians to call a cessation of hostilities especially when Pakistan is in no economic condition to continue a long war?

Sure, it is quite possible the Indian attack on Chaklala (and also allegedly on targets in the Kirana Hills where there might be some nuclear testing facilities) was exploited by Islamabad to get the Americans to step in to stop the proceedings.

But that is not the reason for the American intercession. The fact is the US cannot afford to let Pakistan go under, or to suffer grievous harm because it is at once the most pliable and the most critical ally in Southwestern Asia which it simply cannot do strategically without.

It is this fact of international life Messrs Modi, Jaishankar and the MEA seem not to appreciate with their futile attempts to try and replace Pakistan with India in America's strategic calculus.

Islamabad knows its value, its indispensability, to the US and the West generally and, therefore, keeps pushing the envelope.

In the event, if India ever girds up its loins to militarily wrench important areas of PoK from Pakistan, it will have to do so in the face of active American opposition. Understand that!

Should India have accepted the offer of a ceasefire when its military objectives were incomplete?

No. But then it does not seem the Indian government and the military had any LOC-changing, PoK territory-grabbing, objective in mind for Op Sindoor.

And a golden opportunity to exercise the option of making a lasting impression on the Pakistan army was lost.

More so because Pakistan had opened the doors for Indian actions to grab vital pieces of PoK when Islamabad announced it had 'suspended' the 1972 Simla Accord, which legitimised that ceasefire line -- the LOC as virtual boundary.

The chance was thus missed to rationalise, to straighten, the LoC as I had advocated in my 'Security Wise' Blog of April 30, by capturing the Haji Pir Bulge at one end, and even Skardu at the other end to link up with the Indian control of the Saltoro Muztagh to the Siachin Glacier.

The short point is, a military operation has to impact an adversary's thinking and mindset in the manner desired.

Had Haji Pir and/or Skardu been taken, the message would have gone out not just to General Asim Munir and his cohort in the Pakistan army but to the Pakistani people that every terrorist incident in India would lead to substantial loss of territory in PoK.

This would have proved a powerful motivation for GHQ, Rawalpindi, to give up its use of terrorism as a successful tool of asymmetric warfare against India.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, General Upendra Dwivedi and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, May 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Do you think India had no option but to accept the ceasefire because the government would not want to displease Mr Trump?

Have never understood the tendency of the Indian government, whether under Manmohan Singh and now Narendra Modi, to bend its knees to Washington.

It is, by now, a reflex Indian policy. Think of the leverages India has that the government does not use. Its geostrategic location and resources.

Without India's help and assistance the US policy of containing China in the Indian Ocean with India's position astride it, and in Central Asia with its geographic reach to the north, is null and voided.

And what about the 'access to the Indian market' economic leverage? No economy -- not the Americans, not the Chinese -- can do without selling to India, peddling their wares to Indians.

The government scrupulously avoids using it against the US and China, or in the context of the free trade agreements being negotiated left and right, anyone else.

It is hardly a surprise that India, far from getting respect, has a burgeoning reputation for its timidity.

IMAGE: Army personnel stand guard in Srinagar, May 11, 2025, following the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

Or was a ceasefire okay with the government and military because 1. We had achieved militarily more than what we set out to especially during days two and three of the conflict, and 2. Because the nightly drone attacks from Pakistan had scared and unnerved the unprepared-for this population in north Indian cities?

Of course, the Indian people have no experience of war, are easily rattled, and are jingoistic only up to the point nothing happens in a crisis!

If this is a given, surely, the government would have factored this aspect into its calculations before embarking on the punitive drone and missile strike mission.

And what great results have been achieved with these hits on Pakistani targets, pray?

Indeed, if anything, the damage is so easily repairable, the Pakistani government, army and people are already celebrating the ending of the 3-day 'war' as a great win for Pakistan!

If anything, Sindoor has led to elation in Pakistan as to how well its military handled India.

As one of India's premier national security experts, what is your assessment of Operation Sindoor?

Sindoor served as a symbolic gesture more than it achieved a substantive aim.

What, after all, was the purpose of the minimal military actions we saw unfolding in realtime? It is not at all clear.

Will it prove a deterrent for the ISI (Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence) from mounting terrorist actions in the future in J&K and elsewhere? Of course not, especially with the restoration, for all intents and purposes, of the status quo ante.

So, what was it all about? Sure, as I suggested in my blog post of May 7, a psychological barrier has been breached with the strikes on the campuses of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba in Muridke and of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur.

But the effect should not be overstated. Because the Pakistani authorities had vacated both areas of people the day before the Indian missiles struck, suggesting the Pakistan army had intelligence on the incoming Indian attacks.

Still, strikes on Pakistan's Punjabi heartland is a threshold crossed.

IMAGE: A view from the Indian Navy's Carrier Battle Group deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea with full combat readiness, May 11, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

By striking a wide number of terrorist targets in the first round on Tuesday night and military airfields in consecutive rounds on Wednesday night/Thursday night, did we inflict enough punishment on the ISI and the Pakistan army for the horrific Pahalgam attack?

No. Sindoor has caused some deaths and material losses, true.

But the destroyed physical facilities can be quickly rebuilt, And youth schooled in extremist-run madrassas provide a steady and unending supply of jihadis and mujahideen.

So net result: Sindoor will make no difference whatsoever to Pakistan's attitude to Kashmir or to use of Islamist terrorism.

What surprised you most about Operation Sindoor?

I was surprised by just how restrained the Indian military effort actually was in contrast to the rhetoric following the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, when Modi talked of 'unimaginable consequences'.

So were any of the Indian strikes during Sindoor unimaginable?

I was astonished, as well, that the government and the military did not prepare for swift and telling actions to oust the Pakistanis, at least, from the Haji Pir Salient that offers the ISI with the main infiltration routes into the Srinagar Valley from south of the Pir Panjal Range.

One would have thought the time lag between Pahalgam and Sindoor would be used to get the forces ready for capturing Haji Pir.

It was captured by 1 Para in the 1965 War only to be returned at the Tashkent talks in exchange for Chhamb that the Indian Army lost. (Except, Chhamb was lost again to the Pakistan army in 1971, this time for good.)

Did any aspect of Operation Sindoor disappoint you?

Absolutely everything except the symbolic hits on Muridke and Bahawalpur, for the reasons detailed above.

IMAGE: Commuters navigate their way home during a complete blackout in Amritsar, May 12, 2025. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo

Do you believe Marc Rubio's assertion that India agreed to discuss all issues with Pakistan at a neutral venue?

Would External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who Rubio interacted with, given the Americans such an assurance?

Has the Trump administration restored the hyphen with Pakistan that vexed India's leaders and diplomats for years?

There's some confusion about what it is the Jaishankar-Ajit Doval duo agreed with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on.

Retired diplomats, who may or may not be plugged into the official loop, say that 'neutral site' was accepted on ambiguous terms.

That does not detract from the fact that New Delhi wilted under American pressure.

Whatever the truth, the fact that the Modi regime accepted the US as an intermediary establishes a bad precedent that Pakistan will capitalise on in the future both because it formally defines America as an enforcer against India, and because it re-hyphenates India and Pakistan -- a giveaway which is a manifest diplomatic disaster.

One had hoped that South Asia had left behind the hyphenation phase for good.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'The Pakistanis called the US state department and said we agree with India on peace.'

'It was then that US President Donald Trump jumped in and took credit for the ceasefire.'

IMAGE: India's Akash air defence system displayed on screen during a media briefing on Operation Sindoor conducted by the directors general of air, military and naval operations, May 12, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

While a number of Indians expected Operation Sindoor to continue till India took back Pakistan occupied Kashmir, the military operation was called off suddenly on the evening of May 10, 2025.

So how did the ceasefire between the Indian and Pakistan armies get activated? Did the Americans have a hand in the cessation of hostilities?

"India has much to lose had we gone to war with Pakistan," Nitin A Gokhale, the well-known national security expert, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.

What were the compulsions for India to agree to a ceasefire?

Whenever Pakistan attacks India, it makes Indians angry and they want full justice. But you have got to look at this from the government's point of view. Why did they authorise Operation Sindoor and what were the objectives?

There were three objectives: 1. Political; 2. Military; 3 Psychological.

The political objective was to go with the military objective. The military's aim was cutting off the head of the serpent so that the body capitulates.

So far we have only been treating the symptoms and not the cause. Brazenly, these terrorist organisations were being flaunted in the civilian areas of Pakistan protected by the Pakistani army.

This was happening in places like Muridke, Bahawalpur and others. These places were a no-no (for attacks from India) as there would be provocation from Pakistan and they would behave irrationally.

All these were red lines but this time we crossed that red line with Operation Sindoor.

Muridke and Bahawalpur are crown jewels for the Pakistan army and we hit them at those places. This was the military objective and that was to hit the terrorists at the heart of their military infrastructure.

We also hit Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir from where they have been pushing terrorists into J&K for the last 30 years.

IMAGE: Pakistan's damaged Rahimyar Khan air base displayed on screen during Monday's media briefing. Photograph: ANI Photo

Is it true that we targeted only nine terrorist targets in Pakistan out of 21? So is Operation Sindoor mission incomplete?

This is speculation. These nine targets were carefully selected to have the maximum impact. And that impact was to flatten them, to strike terror in the hearts of the terror leadership, the Pakistani army and their intelligence agency, the ISI. Wherever you hide we can hit you.

On the political front we have kept the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance which will have a larger long-term impact and will be evident in the coming years.

The psychological objective was that you told the terrorist supporters that we can get you anywhere in Pakistan. This was the objective, and not to decimate the Pakistan army or break Pakistan in two.

For that you need much more preparation, a stronger economy and you got to prepare the people of India for all-out war.

If you go with the press release on the first day you will find that it was a targeted operation against terrorists, destroying the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.

Now people do not understand these nuances. They expect to break Pakistan into two or India to go and occupy Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Therefore, there is disappointment in (certain section of) the public.

India has much to lose had we gone to war with Pakistan. There would be inevitable losses and people will start crying. Why are people getting killed? Why are prices of essential commodities going up? Why are we facing losses?

It is easy to be emotional, but very hard to be rational.

And within 25 minutes of Operation Sindoor India achieved its objectives. Almost simultaneously India's director general military operations called Pakistan's DGMO on the night of May 7 and said India has hit terrorist targets in Pakistan and it is now up to you how to react. And if you hit us, we will hit you harder. This was the message given to Pakistan.

And Pakistan retaliated the very next day?

Yes, the attack came from Pakistan on the morning of May 8, which India neutralised without much damage except some drones got through.

They tried on May 9 (morning) too which too didn't go through.

The most successful military achievement this time was India's air defence.

Pakistan then brought in heavy artillery and missiles and at this point US Vice President J D Vance got into the act.

It was around 10.30 pm when Vance called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the US had intelligence where they were sure Pakistan was going to do a massive strike on India.

He told PM Modi we would not like that to happen and if he would want to talk to Pakistan before the strike happens. The New York Times reported this.

PM Modi heard him and told Vance that if Pakistan hits India hard, India will hit them back doubly hard. In PM's words, 'Wahaan se goli aayegi, yahaan se gola jaayega.'.

Rediff too reported this news.

So, on May 10 morning, Pakistan launched its heaviest attack on India. They attacked the Adampur air base, the Halwara air base (in Punjab). One (Pakistani) missile was intercepted in Sirsa, Haryana.

IMAGE: Loitering munitions and unmanned aerial systems displayed on screen during Monday's media briefing. Photograph: ANI Photo

The political leadership had given permission to the Indian Army that if Pakistan attacks, you attack harder immediately. Don't wait for any permission.

That is how India hit eight major air bases in Pakistan like Nur Khan, Rafiqi, Rahimyaar Khan etc. Their several runways were damaged.

Nur Khan is next to Pakistan's army command headquarters (in Rawalpindi). There is a nuclear command and control operations room at this place and not weapons.

That's when Pakistan army chief Asim Munir called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Pakistanis called the Americans in panic. The Americans then told the Indians that Pakistan wants to de-escalate.

India responded stating the channel through which they (Pakistan should talk is India's DGMO.

At 12 noon on May 10, Pakistan's DGMO called India's DGMO who could not take the call. He (Pakistan's DGMO) was told to call back at 1530 hours.

He called at 1535 hours and said that he wants a ceasefire to which the Indian DGMO said there will be no ceasefire because the word 'ceasefire' has legal implications. You have got to fight a war to have a ceasefire. This was an operation and not a war.

They were told if you stop we will stop. The Pakistani DGMO said by 5 pm IST Pakistan will stop all firing, to which India said we will also stop firing.

At 6 pm, India was to address a press conference and announce this through Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

The Pakistanis called the US state department and said we have agreed with India on peace.

It was then that US President Donald Trump jumped in and took credit. Trump being Trump, he was half an hour away from the Indian press conference.
Pakistan on Tuesday said that 11 military personnel were killed and 78 others injured during the recent military confrontation with India.

IMAGE: A damaged portion of Bilal mosque is seen after it was hit by an Indian strike in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, May 7, 2025. Photograph: Akhtar Somroo/Reuters

In a statement, the military also claimed that 40 civilians died and 121 others were injured in the "unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks" by India on the night of May 6-7.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

While defending the motherland, 11 personnel of Pakistan's armed forces were killed and 78 others were wounded, the Pakistan military said.

The victims from the Pakistan Air Force include Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf, Chief Technician Aurangzeb, Senior Technician Najeeb, Corporal Technician Farooq and Senior Technician Mubashir, it said.

Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Dilawar Khan, Lance Naik Ikramullah, Naik Waqar Khalid, Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar and Sepoy Nisar were among the army personnel killed in the strikes, it added.

The Pakistan Armed Forces "mounted a resolute response under the banner of 'Marka-e-Haq', delivering precise and notch-up retributive strikes through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos," the statement said.

The military also claimed that 40 civilians, including seven women and 15 children, were killed and 121 others injured in strikes by India on the night of 6-7 May.

In response, the Pakistan Armed Forces "mounted a resolute response under the banner of 'Marka-e-Haq', delivering precise and notch-up retributive strikes through Operation Bunyanum Marsoos," the statement said.

Pakistan's armed forces, together with the people of Pakistan, pay solemn tribute to the deceased civilians and military personnel, it said.

Let there be no ambiguity: any attempt to challenge Pakistan's sovereignty or territorial integrity, ever again, shall be met with a swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response, it said.
The bomb disposal squads of Army and the police are undertaking a major exercise in Jammu and Kashmir's border villages to defuse the unexploded artillery and mortar shells fired by Pakistan.

IMAGE: Army's bomb disposal squad personnel at the site to destroy an active mortar shell fired by Pakistan during the ceasefire violation, in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, May 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chief secretary Atal Dulloo said they are monitoring the situation and will facilitate the return of the displaced border residents after getting clearance from the security agencies and will also ensure early compensation to those whose houses were damaged in the indiscriminate shelling on civilian areas.

The officials said dozens of unexploded explosives were destroyed by the experts along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts and along the International Border in Jammu and Samba which witnessed intense cross-border shelling and drone attacks from May 7 to May 10.

The intensity in the shelling from Pakistan intensified on May 7 after the India armed forces carried out missile strikes at nine terror targets across the border under Operation Sindoor in retaliation to Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that had left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead.

The ceasefire violations from Pakistan had started from north Kashmir immediately after the Pahalgam terror attack and extended to the areas along the LoC and IB in Jammu division, prompting effective retaliation by Indian troops before the deadly four-day-long clashes.

As many as 28 persons were killed and over 50 others injured in the cross-border shelling which also forced over 2 lakh border residents to move out and take refuge at safer places.

A good number of them have already returned to their villages over the past three days.

However, many more are still waiting at relief camps set up by the government for the green signal from the authorities.

The chief secretary visited shelling-hit areas to assess the situation besides inquiring about the health of the victims undergoing treatment at Government Medical College hospital, Rajouri.

"I am here to assess the ground situation after Pakistan indiscriminately targeted civilian areas. Three persons, including a senior government officer, were killed in Rajouri, dozens of houses were damaged and livestock perished," Dulloo told reporters after visiting the hospital.

He said the government wants to rehabilitate the displaced people as soon as possible and also ensure that they are adequately compensated to rebuild their homes.

"We express sympathies with the families who lost their members and also assure that the injured will be provided best healthcare for their complete recovery," the chief secretary said.

He said the displaced people will be taken back to their villages after getting a green signal from army and police authorities that the border areas were cleared of the littered explosives.

On the need to provide underground bunkers to the people in Rajouri town, he said this was for the first time that many towns like Rajouri and Poonch were hit by Pakistani shelling and "we have to think how the people would be safeguarded."

The officials said the army along with police teams are moving from village to village to track and destroy the live Pakistani shells.

The operation was launched on Monday afternoon and is continuing with experts destroying the unexploded shells in controlled explosions, the officials said.

The police have already issued advisories requesting people not to touch any suspicious object and report it to the nearest police station or security establishment for their own safety.

Many border residents, who have returned to their villages, said they are still spending their nights in underground bunkers fearing Pakistan shelling.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday afternoon to halt military actions with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

"Even after the announcement we are taking no chances as Pakistan is habitual of doing mischief. We are waiting for things to settle down," Mohd Firdous, a resident of Manjakote sector, said.

He asked the government to sanction more underground bunkers for the border residents.

There are less number of bunkers available in the forward villages and the recent military conflict demands that more bunkers should be provided so that the people can save their lives in case there is shelling, Firdour said.

Chuni Lal, a resident of Nowshera said, they have not witnessed such a heavy shelling since February 2021 when India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire agreement.

"We want peace on the borders so that we can do our routine without the tension of cross-border firing," he said, requesting for a special financial package for the border residents whose houses were damaged in the shelling.
A top officer of the Indian military on Tuesday briefed defence attaches or their representatives from a large number of countries on the "successful conduct" of Operation Sindoor which it said has set "new normals in India-Pakistan relations".

IMAGE: Director general of Defence Intelligence Agency Lt Gen DS Rana briefing the foreign service attaches of 70 nations on the successful conduct of Operation Sindoor, in New Delhi, May 13, 2025. Photograph: Courtesy IDS India on X

The closed-door briefing held in the afternoon at Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment, was done by Lt Gen D S Rana, director general, Defence Intelligence Agency, and lasted about 30 minutes.

Defence attaches of several major countries who are part of many international groupings, as also of several Islamic countries attended the briefing, sources said.

Defence attaches from Russia, Sweden, Nepal, the Philippines, Egypt, among other countries, posted at respective embassies in India, also attended it.

The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in a post on X, said, "Lt Gen DS Rana, Director General Defence Intelligence Agency #DG_DIA briefed the Foreign Service Attaches of 70 nations on the successful conduct of #OperationSindoor that has set #NewNormals in India-Pakistan relations, highlighting India's demonstrated strength and national resolve through military superiority in the new-age warfare."

Lt Gen Rana elaborated on "deliberate planning process" for selection of targets with "confirmed terror linkages", officials said.

The integrated, precise and prompt response by the Indian armed forces to achieve the stated objectives, executed through intense multi-domain operations was also highlighted during the briefing, they said.

"Synergised Force application through jointness and integration achieved in #OpSindoor with demonstrated battle effectiveness of indigenous kinetic force multipliers was showcased to the #FSAs, while highlighting Technological Superiority of the Indian armed forces in niche non-kinetic domains of space, cyber and electronic warfare," the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said in its post.

The DG, DIA also placed "credible record of the relentless anti-India misinformation campaign conducted by the adversary and its ramifications on regional peace and stability," it said, using hashtags -- "#OpSindoor #JusticeIsServed #ZeroToleranceForTerror".

Modalities of "our whole-of-nation approach which effectively and swiftly countered the false narrative", was also highlighted, the officials said.

Mexico, Peru, Australia, among other countries were also represented at the meeting.

A foreign defence attache posted in Delhi, who attended the briefing, said, "It was good to get information on what has transpired in the last several days, directly from the Indian military side, as there is a lot of unverified information on the internet."

Many other foreign defence attaches PTI spoke to after the briefing, echoed similar views.

"We have seen online the media briefings done by the Indian military and other officials in the past few days, and today, in person we were told about India's Operation Sindoor," another defence attache said.

India launched Operation Sindoor on early May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.

All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under 'Operation Sindoor'.

India and Pakistan on Saturday last announced reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with effect from 5 pm that day.

A defence attache of a Nordic country recalled the April 22 Pahalgam attack and called it "horrific" and said, its prime minister had strongly condemned the terrorist attack that killed many innocent civilians.

Twenty-six tourists -- 25 Indians and one Nepalese -- were brutally killed in the attack that has drawn condemnation from several countries and multiple heads of state since the incident.

A day earlier, in his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism, and has set up a new parameter and a new normal."

"Indian armed forces executed precise strikes on terrorist hideouts and training centres in Pakistan, delivering a decisive blow," he had said.
India on Tuesday expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan high commission for allegedly indulging in espionage.

IMAGE: People stage a protest in front of Pakistan high commission against the Pahalgam terror attack, in New Delhi, April 24, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The ministry of external affairs said the official was indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India and that he had been given 24 hours to leave the country.

Hours after India's action, Pakistan's foreign office said it declared an Indian staffer at India's mission in Islamabad as a "persona non grata" on charges of espionage.

It said the official and his family members had been asked to leave Pakistan in 24 hours.

The actions came amid heightened tensions between the two countries following their four-day military confrontation.

India also issued a demarche to the Pakistani Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi on the activities of the official.

Though the MEA did not divulge the specific charges against the Pakistani national, it is learnt that they are related to a case of espionage being probed by the Punjab Police.

"The government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India," the MEA said.

"The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d'Affaires, Pakistan high commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today," it said.

The Punjab police on Sunday said it arrested two persons, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

Based on credible intelligence, a suspect was arrested for leaking sensitive information to a Pakistan-based handler regarding Indian Army movements, director general of police Gaurav Yadav had said.

The development came days after the Amritsar Rural police arrested two persons -- Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih -- for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of army cantonment areas and air bases to Pakistan's intelligence agency, according local officials.

Yadav had said the accused were receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for sharing classified information.
by Xinhua writers Zhao Kai, Meng Yifei

MEXICO CITY, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Amid the accelerating changes in the global landscape, the 4th ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum opened Tuesday in Beijing.

The return to Beijing 10 years after the forum's debut ministerial meeting marks a significant milestone. It is expected to further advance the vision of a China-Latin America community with a shared future and enhance cooperation among the developing countries of the Global South.

United by a commitment to multilateralism and self-improvement as Global South nations, China and Latin America have achieved plenty over the past decade. Against this backdrop, the forum has grown into a vital platform that enhances mutual political trust, aligns development strategies, and strengthens people-to-people bonds.

Over the past years, close high-level contacts and strategic communication have guided China-LAC relations through a shifting international landscape, paving the way for a new stage of equality, mutual benefit, innovation, and openness, with tangible benefits for both peoples.

Deepened political trust was evident when Panama, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras established or restored diplomatic ties with China, and when Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia, and Nicaragua upgraded or established a strategic partnership with China.

Notably, relations between Brazil and China have been elevated to foster a community with a shared future for a more just world and a sustainable planet. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is contributing to development in more than 20 economies in the LAC region, highlighted by multiple landmark cooperation projects currently underway.

China is now Latin America's second-largest trading partner, and the region has become the second-largest destination for overseas Chinese investment, with 600.8 billion U.S. dollars in stock by the end of 2023. Currently, China has five free trade partners in the region. The country has been the largest market for Chilean cherries for years, and Chinese companies account for 37 percent of automobiles sold in Ecuador.

The China-LAC cooperation is also expanding into new sectors, such as renewable energy, digital technology, and transnational e-commerce, with dynamics driven by successful bilateral forums on science and technology innovation, digital technology cooperation, and space cooperation, all under the framework of the China-CELAC Forum. China's cloud computing, big data and AI technologies have widely empowered local industries to facilitate digital transformation.

High-level BRI construction is also helping advance the region's industrial upgrade, such as fully equipping Trinidad and Tobago's Phoenix Park Industrial Estate with a state-of-the-art 5G network.

The deepening of China-LAC relations has boosted employment, including the creation of higher-income jobs through BRI projects. Among recent examples is the April reopening of the Mexico City Metro's key Line 1, a project assisted by Chinese expertise aimed at improving residents' transit experience.

Meanwhile, a wide range of programs have strengthened cultural exchanges and the people-to-people bonds. These include Chinese government scholarships and vocational training programs for CELAC member countries, the China-LAC Youth Development Forum, the China-LAC Cultural Exchange Year, and China's foreign aid projects aimed at improving livelihoods.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China-LAC relations and cooperation are expected to build on the previous accomplishments and enter a new era replete with opportunities and broader prospects.

The China-CELAC Forum meeting in Beijing is sending a strong message of unity from the Global South, particularly in response to the increasing uncertainty and unpredictability stemming from rising unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying actions.

Undoubtedly, enhancing China-LAC relations and collaboration will contribute to stability and foster positive momentum in a tumultuous world. 
Pakistan's armed forces were determined and "no hostile design" can weaken their resolve, Army chief General Asim Munir said on Monday.

IMAGE: Pakistani Army chief General Asim Munir. Photograph: X

General Munir made the comments during his visit to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi to inquire well-being of soldiers and civilians wounded in the military confrontation with India, according to a statement by the army.

India carried out precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

During the visit, he individually met the injured personnel, lauded their "bravery and steadfast devotion to duty, and reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Pakistan Armed Forces to their continued care, rehabilitation, and welfare," the statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the entire nation stands in resolute solidarity with every member of its Armed Forces.

He underscored that "no hostile design can erode the determination of the Armed Forces of Pakistan".

He also noted that the resolute and unified response exhibited during Marka-e-Haq/Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, in concert with the steadfast support of the Pakistani people, constitutes a defining chapter in the country's military history.
Schools in five border districts of Punjab remained closed on Tuesday while a blackout was enforced in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur's Dasuya and Mukerian areas last night as a precautionary measure, officials said.

IMAGE: Commuters navigate during a complete blackout in Amritsar on May 12, 2025. Photograph: Raminder Pal Singh/ANI Photo

Colleges and universities also remained shut in Pathankot and Amritsar. However, authorities in Amritsar said universities and colleges can take classes online.

They said schools remained closed in Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran. However, schools in Gurdaspur, Punjab's sixth border district, as well as those in Sangrur and Barnala reopened on Tuesday.

The Amritsar district administration on Tuesday morning said people can resume their normal activities.

Blackouts were enforced in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur's Dasuya and Mukerian areas as a precautionary measure. Electricity supply in Amritsar was restored at 11:42 pm on Monday.

An Amritsar-bound IndiGo flight returned to Delhi on Monday evening after blackout measures were enforced and the airport in the Punjab district closed.

Drone activity was observed in the Jalandhar area on Monday evening, following which electricity supply was shut in certain areas. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal on Monday evening said armed forces neutralised a suspected "surveillance drone" near Mand village in Jalandhar.

In a message at 10:45 pm, the officer advised people to inform police if they notice any debris of flying objects and not veture too close.

Punjab shares a 553-kilometre border with Pakistan.

A semblance of normalcy was observed in the border areas of Punjab on Monday with markets teeming with people even though schools in some districts remained shut as a precautionary measure following the suspension of hostilities between India and Pakistan.

New Delhi and Islamabad reached an understanding on Saturday afternoon to halt military actions with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to the Adampur air base in Punjab on Tuesday morning and interacted with air force personnel, who have been in the thick of action during the recent conflict with Pakistan.

IMAGES: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the Adampur air base in Punjab. Photographs: @narendramodi/X, ANI

India is eternally grateful to its armed forces for everything they do for our nation, he said on X following the visit.

Modi said, "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation."

The prime minister's visit comes after days of intense conflict between India and Pakistan following Indian strikes on terror sites in the neighbouring country on May 7 under Operation Sindoor.

The Adampur base is the second largest air base in the country.

Modi's choice of visiting the Adampur base of the India Air Force also sends out a message following Pakistani claim of destroying the prized S-400 air defence system in the station, which is home to India's key military platforms.

The defence forces, in a briefing during the conflict, had unequivocally rejected Pakistan's "false narratives".

India and Pakistan agreed on May 10 to stop military actions. India has, however, made it clear it has merely paused its operation and its future actions will be guided by Pakistan's conduct.

In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Modi had on Monday sternly warned Pakistan that India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail and sent a clear message to the world: terror and trade, terror and talks cannot go together.

"Operation Sindoor is India's new policy against terrorism and our unwavering pledge for justice. It is the new normal. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan and the future will depend on their behaviour," Modi said in a 22-minute address.

The Indian Air Force on Monday said all its military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions if the need arises.

Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti said the Indian military's fight was with terrorists and their support infrastructure, but it was a "pity" that the Pakistani military chose to bat for the terrorists.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear a plea seeking a probe by a retired judge-led special investigation team into the Murshidabad violence in West Bengal following protests over the newly-amended Waqf law.

IMAGE: People displaced by the violence eat food at Beldona area in West Bengal's Murshidabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, however, granted liberty to petitioner Satish Kumar Aggarwal to approach the high court for the relief and said he can file his petition online.

Justice Kant told advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, appearing for the petitioner, unless two or more states were involved, the apex court was not keen to examine the plea filed under Article 32 of the Constitution.

The bench questioned the petitioner for not moving the high court and directly coming to the apex court.

"This practice of filing the petitions directly in the Supreme Court cannot be allowed. It is like demeaning the high courts. Unless two or more states are involved, we will not entertain the petitions under Article 32," the judge said.

Sinha claimed a threat to the petitioner's life if he approached the high court in light of the violence in the state.

He submitted lawyers filing cases in other incidents of violence in the state were booked under false cases by the police, which was allegedly colluding with the perpetrators of violence.

The bench said if the petitioner feared for his life then he could file petition virtually in the high court and directed the registrar general of the high court to facilitate the process.

Aggarwal in his plea claimed being aggrieved by the "biased approach" of the police and administration, the local authorities who were accused of "shielding the real culprits of the ghastly incidents".

"To enforce rule of law in the state of West Bengal and to create confidence among the members of Hindu community towards rule of law, the identification of perpetrators is the need of the hour," the PIL said.

The plea said violence erupted in the aftermath of the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 and alleged a complete breakdown of law and order in West Bengal, citing multiple incidents of assault, arson, and communal targeting, particularly against members of the Hindu community.

The petitioner urged the bench to constitute a special investigating team headed by a retired judge of the top court or to direct a CBI probe to investigate the violence which occurred between April 8 and April 12 in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
Bangladesh on Monday officially disbanded deposed premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League under an overnight revised anti-terrorism law, two days after Muhammad Yunus's interim government slapped a ban on its activities under the previous version of the law.

IMAGE: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photograph: ANI Photo

A gazette notification has been issued in this regard today, home adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam told a media briefing on Monday.

A home ministry official said as per the notification, the Awami League and its affiliated organisations were banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2025 until Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) completed the trial of its leaders and activists.

He said Section 18 of the revised law empowered the government to declare any entity or organisation alongside an individual if they were found involved in terrorism based on reasonable grounds.

The original Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 did not have the provision of banning the entity.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, said it scrapped the Awami League's registration as well, disqualifying the party from contesting polls.

Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs banned the activities of Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations. In continuation of this, the Election Commission decided to suspend the registration of Awami League," EC secretary Akhtar Ahmed said hours after the government notification.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin two days back told reporters, "We will have to decide to go with the spirit of the present Bangladesh."

The Awami League leaders were charged with committing crimes against humanity over the deaths of hundreds of people during last year's anti-government protests by a student platform. The protests resulted in the ouster of Hasina's 16-year-long regime on August 5.

On Saturday, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government's Council of Advisers or the cabinet slapped a ban on all activities of Awami League, including in cyberspace, under an anti-terrorism law.

It said the ban would stay in place until the special tribunal completes a trial of the party and its leaders.

The next day, the Awami League rejected the interim government's decision and vowed to carry on its activities in an appropriate manner.

Monday's development came as Bangladesh overnight promulgated an ordinance banning the publication or dissemination of statements of individuals or organisations charged under a revised terrorism law.

On Sunday night, President Mohammed Shahabuddin promulgated an ordinance amending the Anti-Terrorism Act, prohibiting any form of publicity, including press statements, social media content, or public gatherings in support of any individuals or entities tried in the act.

The president signed the draft hours after the Council of Advisers, effectively the cabinet with Chief Adviser Yunus in the chair approved the ordinance to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 to ban all activities of a particular entity.

The interim administration late Saturday slapped the ban on Awami League saying it would stay in place until a special tribunal completes a trial of the party and its leaders.

The revised law prohibits any form of publicity, including press statements, social media content, or public gatherings in support of such individuals or entities.

It also broadened the scope of restrictions by replacing the previous reference to "listed individuals or banned entities" with a more general phrase: "any individual or entity against whom action has been taken under sub-section (1) of Section 18" of the anti-terrorism law.

The Awami League government was toppled on August 5, 2024 as around 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 -- with many of them victims of retaliatory actions on Awami League supporters or policemen -- according to a UN rights office report.

Hasina and most of her senior colleagues in the party and past regime were accused of committing crimes against humanity to gouge protestors during last year's student-led movement through mass killing or previous crimes like enforced disappearances.

Formed in 1949, the Awami League led the movement for the autonomy of Bengalis in the then East Pakistan for decades and eventually led the Liberation War in 1971.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday concluded a brief yet eventful six-month-long tenure, leaving an indelible mark on the judicial landscape with decisions that upheld secularism and battled corruption in public employment.

IMAGE: Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna and his wife during their visit to the Amrit Udyan of Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, May 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Some say he lived up to the expectations and the legacy of his illustrious uncle Justice HR Khanna, who had penned his lone dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency.

Justice Khanna, also as a maverick, took some unprecedented decisions.

Some of his directives had the Supreme Court judges disclose their assets whereas the row over the discovery of cash from a sitting judge's official residence paved way for inquiry.

His other unheard of decision to open to public collegium records on judge's appointments took everyone by surprise.

A few days before he demitted office, Justice Khanna brought to an end the political debates that ensued after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey held the CJI responsible for "civil wars" in the country.

In a befitting reply, the CJI said the Constitution was most supreme.

While the BJP lawmaker was spared contempt action, CJI Khanna schooled the lawmaker, who was accused of scandalising and lowering the SC's authority.

"It is the Constitution that is higher than all of us. It is the Constitution which imposes limits and restrictions on the powers vested in the three organs. The power of judicial review is conferred by the Constitution on the judiciary," he said.

CJI Khanna, who took oath as the 51st CJI on November 11, 2024, when faced with legal challenges and political headwinds rose to defend constitutional values.

He delivered a landmark verdict just after becoming the CJI and trashed the pleas challenging the 1976 amendment to the Constitution adding terms "socialist", "secular" and "integrity" to the preamble, observing Parliament's amending power extended to Preamble too.

He said terms like "socialist" and "secular" were "integral to the Preamble making the "prayers particularly questionable".

Upholding the policy of zero tolerance towards corruption in public employment, a bench he led annulled appointments of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in West Bengal schools over irregularities in the selection process.

In a humane approach to the legal quagmire, he took note of the state's plea of an adverse impact on schools due to the mass annulment and permitted untainted teachers to continue work till December 31, 2025 with a caveat to complete fresh recruitment in the meantime.

Some decisions brought much-needed calm in otherwise charged situations, particularly when several subordinate courts directed surveys of religious places in disregard of the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

In December 2024, a bench he led barred new cases and halted coercive actions related to religious sites, effectively containing situations before they spiralled.

The CJI heard the challenge to Waqf Amendment Act with his bench's observations and questions underlining the key legal shifts from the erstwhile law.

The case saw Centre filing of a over 1,000-page counter affidavit to the pleas.

Following extensive hearings, CJI Khanna later marked the matter to his successor Justice B R Gavai's bench.

Heading a five-judge Constitution bench, CJI Khanna's bench in a majority verdict held courts can modify arbitral awards under the 1996 law on arbitration and conciliation under certain circumstances.

The cash discovery row involving Justice Varma grabbed headlines and brickbats in equal measure. The issue brought into focus the topic of judicial corruption, often talked in hushed tones in legal circles.

With judiciary coming under immense scrutiny, the CJI maintained composure and dealt with the situation in a systematic way.

He first ordered a preliminary probe by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya.

Later, judicial work was withdrawn from Justice Yashwant Varma in the Delhi High Court, followed by his transfer to the Allahabad High Court sans judicial work.

After an in-house inquiry panel indicted the judge, the CJI nudged him to resign and later wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Justice Varma refused to resign.

The decision to put all the details relating to the initial inquiry in the public domain was unprecedented.

Administratively, the CJI, after assuming the office, said no to oral submissions for urgent listing and hearing of cases and asked lawyers to either send emails or written letters.

Not once did he breach the practice by allowing senior lawyers to mention urgent matters and get them listed.

Another step towards judicial transparency came when the CJI mandated public disclosure of assets of Supreme Court judges and opened the collegium's records for public scrutiny.

Under his leadership, 21 of 33 judges declared their assets publicly, and the collegium processed over 100 proposals, including two Supreme Court appointments.

The communal utterances of sitting Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Yadav didn't go down well with the judiciary. The CJI-led collegium summoned the judge to Delhi and reprimanded him.

The CJI also authored judgments strengthening protection against arbitrary arrests, particularly under economic laws like the GST Act and Customs Act.

His ruling in the Radhika Aggarwal case underscored coercion cannot be a basis for tax recovery, offering a critical check on abuse of executive power.

He also chastised the UP Police for weaponising FIRs in civil disputes, calling it a "complete breakdown of the rule of law".

Before becoming the CJI, Justice Khanna was part of key decisions such as sanctity of EVMs, abrogation of Article 370 and scrapping of the electoral bonds scheme.

A third-generation lawyer before being elevated to the Delhi High Court, Justice Khanna focused on reducing pendency and speeding up justice delivery.

Justice Khanna was born on May 14, 1960, and studied law at the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, before enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983.

As a lawyer, he practised in the district courts at the Tis Hazari complex and subsequently moved his practice to the Delhi High Court.

He had a long tenure as the senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department and was appointed the standing counsel (civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi in 2004.

Justice Khanna also appeared and argued several criminal cases at the Delhi High Court as an additional public prosecutor and as an amicus curiae.

Justice Khanna was also the executive chairman of the National Legal Service Authority.

His uncle, Justice H R Khanna, during his judgeship, made waves when he resigned in 1976. He had penned a dissenting verdict in the infamous ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency.

The majority judgment of a Constitution bench verdict upholding the abrogation of fundamental rights during the Emergency was considered a dark day in the history of the judiciary.

The senior Khanna declared the move unconstitutional and against the rule of law. He paid the price when the erstwhile government at the Centre superseded him with Justice M H Beg, the next CJI.

Justice H R Khanna was also part of the landmark verdict propounding the basic structure doctrine in the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973.
The Congress on Tuesday asked whether the Modi government will undertake an exercise on the Pahalgam terror attack that is similar to the one the Vajpayee Government undertook by setting up a review committee immediately after the Kargil war.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on Operation Sindoor via video conferencing on May 12, 2025. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the party's repeated demands for a Prime Minister Narendra Modi-chaired all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament assume even greater urgency and importance in light of the statements from Washington DC.

"Three days after the Kargil War ended, the Vajpayee Government set up the Kargil Review Committee on July 29 1999. Its report was tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2000 although sections of it have remained classified -- as indeed they must," Ramesh said in a post on X.

The Committee was chaired by India's strategic affairs guru K. Subrahmanyam, whose son is now India's External Affairs Minister, he said.

"Will the Modi government now conduct a similar exercise on Pahalgam, notwithstanding the NIA probe?" Ramesh said.

"Given the statements from Washington DC, the INC's repeated demands for an all-party meeting TO BE CHAIRED BY THE PM himself and for a special session of Parliament - which is now scheduled to meet at least two and a half months from now - assume even greater urgency and importance," he said on X.

Ramesh's remarks come a day after President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that his administration stopped a "nuclear conflict" between India and Pakistan, telling the South Asian neighbours that America will do a "lot of trade" with them if they end hostilities.

"On Saturday, my administration helped broker a full and immediate ceasefire, I think, a permanent one between India and Pakistan, ending a dangerous conflict of two nations with lots of nuclear weapons," Trump said at the start of a press conference in the White House.

He started the briefing by describing the events that took place over the last few days in the Indian subcontinent.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

Indian government sources in New Delhi have been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. They said no third party was involved.

Trump said that India and Pakistan were going at it hot and heavy, and it was seemingly not going to stop.

"I'm very proud to let you know that the leadership of India and Pakistan was unwavering, powerful, but unwavering in both cases, having these they really were from the standpoint of having the strength and the wisdom and fortitude to fully know and to understand the gravity of the situation," Trump has said.

The US President said he told India and Pakistan that America will do "a lot of trade" with them if they stop the conflict.

"And we helped a lot, and we helped also with trade. I said, 'Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let's stop it. Let's stop it. If you stop it, we're doing trade. If you don't stop it, we're not going to do any trade'".

Trump added that "People have never really used trade the way I used it, that I can tell you. And all of a sudden they (India and Pakistan) said, "I think we're going to stop".

"And they have, and they did it for a lot of reasons, but trade is a big one. We're going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan. We're going to do a lot of trade with India. We're negotiating with India right now. We're going to be soon negotiating with Pakistan, and we stopped a nuclear conflict," Trump said.

The decision by India and Pakistan to halt military hostilities was first made public by Trump in a social media post while claiming that the talks between the two sides were mediated by the US.
A 50-year-old woman, who was grievously injured during a Pakistani aerial intrusion in Punjab's Feorzepur last week died at a private hospital in Ludhiana on Tuesday while two of her family were still undergoing treatment, officials said.

IMAGE: Residents show the damage to a house from shelling by Pakistan, at Bhalwal in Jammu. Photograph: ANI Photo

The woman, Sukhwinder Kaur, and her family members received serious burn injuries last Friday when some debris fell on their house in the Khai Pheme Ke village, setting the structure and a car on fire during the Pakistani aerial intrusion.

Lakhwinder Singh (55), his wife Sukhwinder Kaur and their son Monu Singh (24) had sustained injuries. Earlier, officials said that Monu Singh was the brother of Lakhwinder.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a Rs 5 lakh ex gratia from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the family of Sukhwinder Kaur. He expressed deep sorrow over Kaur's death.

"Our government stands firmly with her family during this time of immense pain, and we are committed to providing all possible support to help them cope with this devastating loss," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora also extended financial assistance, announcing Rs 2 lakh for Kaur's family.

Multiple aerial attacks were carried out by Pakistan at many places along western India's borders, including in Punjab, that were effectively thwarted by the Indian security forces.

New Delhi and Islamabad reached an understanding on Saturday afternoon to halt military actions with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said though he wasn't going to accept any post-retirement official assignments, he would continue his innings in law.

IMAGE: Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna (left), along with his wife, Asha Khanna (right) call on President Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, May 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Justice Khanna, who was elevated to the top court in January 18, 2029, was appointed as the CJI on November 11, 2024 and would be demitting office on Tuesday.

After the conclusion of the ceremonial bench proceedings, the CJI met journalists in the apex court premises and said,

"I will not accept any post-retirement post ... .perhaps will do something with law. Many former apex court judges begin their innings in arbitration post judgeship. I will have a third innings and will do something related to law," the CJI said.

Responding to a query related to the cash discovery controversy involving high court judge Justice Yashwant Vermam, he said, "Judicial thinking has to be decisive and adjudicatory."

He added, "We see plus and minus points and decide the issue, then rationally we weigh various factors that help us to make the right decision."

The CJI dealt with the cash row controversy following a news report, prompting him to take several steps, including a preliminary inquiry by Delhi High court chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, judicial work being taken away from Justice Varma in the Delhi high court, and later his transfer to the Allahabad high court sans judicial work.

After the in-house inquiry panel indicted the judge, the CJI nudged him to resign and later wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Justice Varma refused to tender resignation.

On May 10, CJI-designate Justice B R Gavai also said no to any post-retirement assignments.
CANBERRA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 marine species have been killed by a toxic algal bloom event off the coast of South Australia, according to a new analysis.

OzFish, a fishing conservation NGO, analyzed more than 1,400 citizen science reports of marine creatures that have washed up on the South Australian coast since the bloom event started in March and found that over 200 species have been affected.

It said that around 100 different types of fish and sharks have been killed by the algae.

The large outbreak of the toxic micro-algae Karenia mikimotoi was reported off the South Australian coast in March after dead marine animals and thick foam washed up on beaches.

According to the OzFish analysis, ray-finned fish accounted for 47 percent of the species that were reported washed up between mid-March and mid-May, with sharks and rays accounting for 26 percent.

Soft-bodied cephalopods, including squid, octopus and cuttlefish, accounted for 7 percent of the reported species, and decapods, including crabs, lobsters and prawns, accounted for 6 percent.

OzFish South Australia Project Manager Brad Martin said that most of the dead marine life are species that live on the sea floor on reefs.

"Many of the impacted creatures reside on reefs or hide in sand, and unfortunately, the sheer size of the algae bloom means that they can't escape it," he said in a statement on Monday.

OzFish said that there is believed to be a combination of algae creating the mass kill event and warned that it could take years for populations to recover.

Martin described the bloom as a "toxic blanket" that suffocates marine life, causing hemorrhaging and attacking the nervous system.

Susan Close, the state's environment minister, said earlier in May that the bloom was about the same size as the nearby Kangaroo Island, which has an area of over 4,000 square km.

She said the event was being driven by a marine heatwave coupled with still ocean conditions, and the only thing that could break it up is a change in the weather. 
'I remember our priests saying that he liked sea food. So, they cooked sea food for him without masala and spice.'

'It seems he enjoyed Kerala food very much.'

IMAGE: Pope Leo XIV leads the Regina Caeli prayer from the central balcony (Loggia delle Benedizioni) of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, May 11, 2025. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters

It was Aluva in Kerala that celebrated the most when Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen as the new Pope, Pope Leo XIV, on May 8, 2025.

As the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, Father Prevost had visited Aluva in 2004 and 2006.

He is the first Augustinian to be elected Pope.

Father Wilson Injarapu, Vicar Superior of the Vicariate of India and president of the Order of St Augustine in the Asia Pacific region, was a student at the seminary in Aluva then.

"'I still remember the two visits I had to Kerala,' he told us when we met him in February. 'I really loved the Aluva house. Wayanad also was very beautiful'," Father Injarapu tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier.

IMAGE: Father Robert Prevost in Kerala. All photographs: Kind courtesy Father Wilson Injarapu

I had joined the seminary in Aluva early 2006 and in October 2006, we had a visit from the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine along with Augustinians from the Asia-Pacific region.

The representatives of the Order of Saint Augustine from all over the world assemble in Rome every six years and elect our leader, the Prior General.

Father Robert Prevost was elected Prior General in 2001 and again in 2007. So, from 2001 to 2013, he was the Prior General of our Order.

We have Augustinians in 58 countries; we run communities, schools, churches, and universities in all 58 countries.

And as the head of the Augustinians, he has to visit all the countries to see our work.

As per our constitution, every Prior General has to visit all the countries at least once in his term. If he can't visit, he can send a delegate.

Father Prevost visited all the places where Augustinians were doing work.

Everybody says that is one of his qualities; that he saw to it that he personally visited all the Augustinian communities during his 12-year tenure. He also makes sure that he spoke to everybody.

As the Prior General, he twice visited India, in 2004 and then in 2006.

As I had joined the seminary in 2006, I met him then.

IMAGE: Father Robert Prevost, second from right, in Aluva.

He was in Aluva for one week, and his stay was in our house on the banks of the Periyar river. This house is the head office of the Augustinians in India.

During his one week stay, he also traveled to Pollachi in Tamil Nadu to visit the school we run there, and also our church in Wayanad.

We were around 38 students in the seminary, and he came to the seminary to interact with us.

We had just joined the seminary and were not very fluent in English. I still remember he spoke to us very slowly so that we understood his questions. He asked us, 'How are you? Are you happy? Why do you want to be an Augustinian?'

I remember the excitement we had when he spoke to us. We also asked him how many countries he had visited, his impressions of those countries, how many languages he knows, etc. He was very enthusiastic in answering all our questions.

He told us what it was to be an Augustinian, and the work Augustinians do all over the world.

He also gave us an idea of what was expected from us as an Augustinian.

Whenever I got a chance, I used to ask him some question or the other, just to listen to him speak. I remember asking him whether he liked India.

'I came here in 2004 and this is my second visit. I love this place. It is so beautiful. I love watching the sun rise over the river. It is an unforgettable sight. I enjoy being in Kerala. I don't think I will ever forget my visits to Kerala,' he said.

When I met him in 2025, he fondly recalled his visit to Kerala, his stay on the banks of the Periyar, and watching the sun rise!

IMAGE: Father Robert Prevost, right, at the St Francis Xavier Church, Kathrikadavu, Kochi.

I remember our priests saying that he liked sea food. So, they cooked sea food for him without masala and spice.

It seems he enjoyed Kerala food very much.

I also remember them going from Aluva to Pollachi to visit the school. There was no good highway in those days. So, they had to travel 6-7 hours by road to reach Pollachi.

I was surprised to see him at the chapel the next morning to pray and conduct mass. He didn't look tired at all. In fact, he was full of energy.

About the trip to Wayanad, he said he felt so energetic once they reached the top of the hill as the scenery was so captivating.

IMAGE: Father Robert Prevost, right, conducts Mass in Aluva.

Father Justin and I had gone to Rome in February to meet our present Prior General.

We had no idea whether we would meet Father Prevost there.

We were having lunch with our Prior General, and in walked in Cardinal Robert Prevost!

He came straight to our table. When we got up, he asked us to sit down and then asked me, 'Are you not the superior in India?'

He had seen my photos and the reports I had sent. I was surprised and touched that he recognised me.

He then sat at our table to have lunch with us. When the food came, he served us.

The practice is that the one who finishes first will take the plates of everybody and drop them at the work area.

When he finished lunch, Father Justin also had finished. Despite Father Justin's protests, he took Father Justin's plate along with his and walked to the work area.

Then he brought some fruits to the table.

Imagine he was a cardinal, but he was as simple as he was when I met him in Aluva in 2006. He had not changed a bit after all these years.

When he was amongst us, he was an Augustinian and what was important to him was the Augustinian brotherhood and not his position as cardinal.

While we were having lunch, he recalled his India visits. "I still remember the two visits I had to Kerala. I really loved the Aluva house. Wayanad also was very beautiful," he said.

He even remembered the long road trips to Pollachi and Wayanad!

Then he asked me whether I was in Aluva when he came. I told him that I was a student in 2006 and I had interacted with him.

He then enquired after India, the Fathers, the Augustinian communities, etc.

IMAGE: Father Robert Prevost blesses the laity.

It was a blessing for all of us students to participate in the mass he conducted when he was in Kerala.

We could feel the deep Augustinian spirituality at all his masses. He spoke about Saint Augustine and how beautiful it is to live for the people as an Augustinian.

Living as an Augustinian is being one with every human being.

The spirituality of Augustinian is the spirituality of unity.

He always speaks about this oneness. This spirituality is reflected in all his words and actions.

IMAGE: Father Robert Prevost at the church in Aluva.

He visited us as the global head of our congregation. But when we interacted with him as students, he never gave that vibe.

He was very simple, humble, friendly and loving to everybody.

Anyone could go and speak with him at any time. He was very approachable.

I would say he was an inspiration to every one of us.

As a student, I was so inspired by him that I wanted to be like him once I start working.

Right now, I am the head of the Augustinians in India and president of the Augustinians in the Asia Pacific region comprising Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea and Indonesia.

What he has been doing all over the world as the Prior General, I am doing in India and the Asia-Pacific region. I visit these countries and see the kind of work Augustinians are doing there.

I have just returned from South Korea where they celebrated 40 years of the founding of the Augustinians there.

He and the current Prior General are great role models for us as both of them are very simple and humble human beings. They make it a point to speak to everybody with compassion.

IMAGE: Father Wilson, then cardinal Robert Prevost and Father Justin.

We were all very surprised when the conclave elected him Pope.

After all, he became a cardinal only one-and-a-half years ago. And it was his first conclave. So, we didn't expect him to get elected Pope at all.

In his first address as Pope, he said, I am a son of Saint Augustine, and I am a proud Augustinian.

He became very emotional when he said those words and was almost in tears. All of us who heard him had tears in our eyes.

It was a very big moment for all of us Augustinians as it was for the first time that an Augustinian had become Pope.

The election of the new Prior General will happen in September. Augustinians from all over the world will assemble in Rome for 25 days.

As the representative from India and the Asia Pacific region, I will be attending the meeting.

Every time, we have this conclave, the Pope visits and meet us. Pope Leo XIV will surely meet us, not as an Augustinian but as the Pope. He will conduct a mass for us and meet every one of us.

I am sure since he is an Augustinian, he will spend more time with us.

I plan to tell him that you are famous in India because you visited us in Kerala.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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A New Zealand developed operating system is the centre of an initiative to extend the life of millions of PCs and laptops as Windows 10 end-of-life approaches in October.

The operating system, named InterfaceOS and developed by Auckland based firm Kauricone, is lightweight, affordable, secure and efficient, requiring a fraction of the compute and memory demanded by bloated modern operating systems, founder Mike Milne says.

Consumers, councils and governments are really concerned about the tonnes of e-waste going into landfills, Milne said. We shouldnt be binning PCs and laptops just because the operating system isnt supported.

There was a lot the IT industry could do to get real about saving the planet, he said.

Too much hardware is given short shrift thanks to ever-expanding software requirements. With InterfaceOS, were saying enough is enough  lets put perfectly good computers back into classrooms and offices, rather than poisoning the environment with yet more waste.

InterfaceOS strips the PC down to its essentials, Milne said. Where a Microsoft Windows 11 install consumes 24GB of hard drive, Interface OS requires just 4GB, and includes productivity applications.

It is estimated Windows 10 end of support will make around a million computers redundant in New Zealand and 250 million globally.

Thats incredibly bad for the environment, made worse when considering there is nothing wrong with the devices beyond software incompatibility Milne said.
"I'm your neighbor, Volodya. Your apartments have been sold. Call me -- it's urgent."

When that message reached Svitlana Kolisnichenko and her family in May 2024, it confirmed their worst fears about the property they left behind in Crimea after moving to Kyiv.

Since the initial illegal Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014 -- and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 -- hundreds of buildings, homes, and other properties in Crimea have been seized by Russian authorities, according to international rights observers.

In Kolisnichenko's case, they learned that a former Ukrainian soldier who was now a Russian citizen was living in their three-room apartment without their consent. He was also registering his children and wife as residents there.

The new tenant was certainly not paying the Kolisnichenkos' rent.

"I think our neighbor, Lyudmila, and her husband, Vitaliy, gave him the keys," Kolisnichenko said. "She must have started renting out our apartment or something."

She says she only found out about this when Volodya called her to tell her that Lyudmila "was letting strangers into the apartment, including military men."

"In my building, where we used to live, there are already seven such apartments. It turns out this is something of a mass phenomenon," Kolisnichenko said.

According to rights organizations, the seizure of properties belonging to Ukrainians who oppose Russian occupation has been systematic and on a mass scale.

Those like Kolisnichenko who refused the offer of Russian passports have been a frequent target, it seems.

"We were against Russia's policies -- that's why we didn't take a passport, that's the only reason," Kolisnihenko said. "I had the full right to get a passport and my mother is in Russia, but I didn't want to. I didn't like this aggression."

The policy has cost hundreds of Ukrainians their homes and buildings, say observers.

"If [countries] treat Russian aggression unfavorably and impose sanctions, then [its] citizens will be considered unfriendly," said Mykyta Petrovets of the nonprofit Regional Center for Human Rights. In cases like this, under Russian law, "the corresponding confiscation of property can take place."

Many Ukrainian property owners were given about a year either to transfer or sell their properties, Petrovets said, after which "forced sales through court orders began. Now such plots are being sold at auctions. From this perspective, their property is effectively being expropriated as well."

Yulia Stezhko, whose family invested in a plot of land in Crimea and planned a house there, discovered it had been seized by a court decree after they left the peninsula.

The land, which she described as being "with a view of the sea, generally a nice property," is a significant loss.

"We bought it with the savings of the whole family," she says, adding they had hoped their children's vacations would be spent there in accordance with family tradition.

"Besides, my maternal grandfather is buried there," she says.

When she inquired with the authorities in Crimea, Stezhko was told "that a decree had come into effect, according to which I had no rights to the property, and that's it."

In 2023, the Russian-installed authorities in Crimea announced their intention to sell around 1,000 properties, including the apartment in Yalta belonging to Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was sold for 44 million rubles ($530,000).

By the end of 2023, more than 2,600 assets belonging to Ukrainians had been illegally appropriated, an investigation by RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities has shown.

Russia Sued By The ECHR

In March 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree pronouncing nearly all of Crimea a so-called border territory of Russia. That act prohibited "foreign citizens," including Ukrainians, from owning land in occupied Crimea.

Under Ukrainian law, nothing has changed; the property ownership of Ukrainians is still fully recognized. But Russian-installed officials in Crimea have published long lists of addresses and titles of plots of land they plan to seize.

The Regional Center for Human Rights has documented that, in just three years, the number of plots owned by so-called foreign citizens in Crimea has decreased by 50 percent -- from over 11,000 to 5,000.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has sued over the land seizures and declared the Russian policy illegal. But in March 2022, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe and six months later no longer a party to the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR, however, says that Russia is still legally bound to implement judgments from the European Court related to its actions prior to leaving.

Russian authorities have since declared that decisions by the ECHR will not be enforced.

Some 1,101 lawsuits filed by Ukrainians with the ECHR over human rights violations in occupied Crimea remain on record, more than half over the expropriation of property.
CAIRO, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan had held a phone conversation to discuss efforts to resume a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and coordinate plans for post-war reconstruction, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

During the call on Monday, Abdelatty outlined Egypt's ongoing mediation efforts, undertaken in coordination with Qatar and the United States, "to resume the ceasefire, facilitate the release of hostages and detainees, and ensure uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian, medical, and shelter aid into the war-torn enclave," according to the ministry's statement.

The Egyptian top diplomat also briefed Fidan on preparations for the Cairo international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza, which is set to be convened immediately after a ceasefire is reached.

The two ministers exchanged views on ways to further engage with international stakeholders to rally global support for the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and the reconstruction of Gaza in the coming period. They also reaffirmed their strong opposition to any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land.

Both sides emphasized the urgency of pursuing a just and durable political solution to the Palestinian issue through the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The conversation came on the same day that Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, an act welcomed by Egypt and Qatar as a positive sign for the resumption of negotiations and a boost to ongoing mediation efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said an Israeli delegation will travel to Qatar's Doha on Tuesday for talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which, although, will take place "only under fire."

Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first phase of a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas. It resumed attacks on Gaza on March 18, which have so far killed at least 2,780 Palestinians. 
This could have been a momentous week in Ukraines long-term wish of joining the European Union and NATO. In the end, it wasn't.

As leaders of the two institutions met for key summits in Brussels and The Hague respectively, Kyivs eventual membership of both should have been a centerpiece.

Instead, Ukraine is no closer to joining either  and the many obstacles in the war-torn country's path to the Euro-Atlantic community were on full display.

Rewind one year to NATOs Washington summit.

Just like in Vilnius a year ago, Ukraine was frustrated that it didnt get an invitation, but the final declaration gushed about the country.

We fully support Ukraines right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference. Ukraines future is in NATO, the text reaffirmed before adding as Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.

Joe Biden, the US president at the time, was reluctant to go further, with Kyiv engaged in direct conflict with Russia.

Germany was quietly backing Washingtons stance but the warm language and the guest of honor treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the summit was indicative of an aspirant country that soon would transform to a full-fledged ally.

At this years NATO summit in The Hague, the scenes could not have been much starker.

Biden is no longer president. In his place is Donald Trump, who has openly dismissed Ukraines chances of joining for years.

And the new reality was on display everywhere.

There was no NATO-Ukraine Council on leaders level. No one talked openly about Ukraines eventual membership and there were no words about it in the final declaration.

Instead, there was just a line that allies can count financial support to Kyiv as part of the military alliances new defense spending target.

Granted, Zelenskyy was present at the summit dinner. He met all relevant leaders, including a bilateral with Donald Trump that according to all read-outs went well. Trump even said he was nice, opened up for potential Patriot deliveries to Ukraine, and seemed to show willingness to press the Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the table.

But in reality, Ukraine got nothing concrete, niceties aside.

Washington is still reluctant to sanction Russia, the Europeans are shying away from their signature proposal to lower the Russian oil price cap, and when it comes to NATO membership, Kyiv is further away now than it was a year ago.

The fact that officials said it was a success that Trump didnt treat Zelenskyy badly and that the Ukrainian didnt complain about the lack of outcomes shows how low expectations were.

"I don't consider the summit a failure for Ukraine. On the contrary, we got the maximum of what is realistically possible for today," Volodymyr Fesenko, a Ukrainian political scientist told Current Time.

"The fact is, even in the highly condensed NATO communique, theres a dedicated point about continued support for Ukraine under current conditions -- and thats exactly what we need. Not some abstract statement or vague promise that well join NATO at some undefined point in the future."

At an EU summit in Brussels a day later, the story of dashed hopes was eerily similar.

At the same June summit in 2022, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status and exactly a year ago the same gathering decided to formally start accession talks.

This year, the stated goal from both Kyiv and Brussels was to officially open several of the six negotiation clusters needed to become a member.

Both the European Commission and 26 of the 27 EU member states believe that Ukraine is ready for this, but there is a need for unanimity to make it happen.

And so far, Hungary has not played ball. Quite the opposite.

In the run-up to the summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban presented the results of a consultative referendum in the Central European country in which over 2 million people, or 95 percent of those who cast ballots, had voted against Ukrainian EU membership.

Going into the meeting he said that the problem is the war, if we integrate Ukraine, we integrate the war. When pressed by RFE/RL if he would change his mind if there is a cease-fire, he simply retorted that there isnt one.

The fact that draft summit conclusions of just EU-26 had been drawn up in advance shows that the Budapest blockage is taken for granted.

The text notes member states invite "the Council to take the next steps in the accession process in line with the merit-based approach, with clusters being opened when the conditions are met. It takes good note of the assessment of the Commission that the fundamentals cluster is ready to be opened. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting.

It's symbolic support of Kyivs EU integration, but practically it means nothing.

It was also indicative that Zelenskyy didnt show up in person in Brussels, addressing the leaders via videolink instead.

EU officials cited logistical reasons for his absence, which is curious considering that he managed to be in both The Hague and that he addressed the Council of Europe in Strasbourg the day before.

While there are hopes that Hungary might give in soon, perhaps even later this summer, most European officials concede that the veto might last all the way up to the Hungarian parliamentary election slated for April 2026 as the issue of Ukrainian EU integration now has crept into the national debate.

It is also telling that no more EU countries have put bigger pressure on Hungary to give the green light.

But there are other things that are more important right now.

Take the need to get the country onboard when it comes to agreeing on new Russia sanctions and to roll over those imposed in the last three years, something that happened at the summit.

But then there is a sense in European capitals that some countries secretly are quite comfortable with slowing down Ukraines EU accession.

And this goes beyond Hungary and Slovakia, which has expressed reservations on moving forward too quickly.

Poland recently elected a new president, Karol Nawrocki, who didnt shy away from criticizing Ukrainian agricultural imports to the EU or raise thorny historical issues between Warsaw and Kyiv. Czechia might elect a government in the autumn that would be decidedly less enthusiastic about Ukraine in general.

Ukraines most immediate neighbors clearly see that Ukraine will fight for the same EU funds that they are counting on in the coming years. And even further West, there are reservations about being too quick in taking in a big and poor country locked in a bloody conflict with a nuclear superpower.

The club itself must undergo reforms for such an addition to the family and those reforms are both politically and financially painful.

Unlike its NATO bid, Ukraines EU membership is not off the table.

But this week has shown that the ambitious goal of getting Kyiv in by 2030 might have to be revised. Lets just say that the 2030s sounds more feasible now, as one diplomat put it.
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman signed a strategic economic partnership agreement hours after the US leader arrived in the kingdom to kick off a four-day Middle East tour.

The White House claimed the deal, which includes agreements for energy, mining, and defense, was the largest in "history."

"The United States and Saudi Arabia signed the largest defense sales agreement in history -- nearly $142 billion, providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment," the White House said in a statement.

Trump touched down in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on May 13, marking the start of a trip across the Persian Gulf region that will also see him visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

This is the second time Trump has chosen the kingdom as the first foreign destination of his presidency, having made the same choice at the start of his first term in 2017.

Upon arrival, Trump was greeted by bin Salman at the airport, where an official welcome ceremony took place, including a royal purple carpet and a coffee ceremony.

The streets of Riyadh were decorated with Saudi and US flags, and Air Force One received a military escort from Saudi F-15 fighter jets as it landed.

Trump's agenda in Saudi Arabia centers on securing significant business agreements, with a focus on investments in artificial intelligence, energy, and substantial arms deals. He aims to finalize agreements exceeding $1 trillion during this trip, although experts note such a figure would be unprecedented.

Prior to signing the agreement, Trump welcomed a pledge from the Saudi crown prince -- widely known by his initials MBS -- for $600 billion in investment, joking that the figure should be $1 trillion.

"We have the biggest business leaders in the world here today and they're going to walk away with a lot of checks," Trump told MBS.

"For the United States, it's probably 2 million jobs that we're talking about," the US president said.

The visit also includes participation in an investment forum, bilateral talks, and a dinner with the crown prince.

One of the key deals on the table during Trump's visit is a US-Saudi civil nuclear agreement, which would support the kingdom's ambitions to develop its own nuclear energy sector.

Notably, the Trump administration is no longer requiring Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as a precondition for advancing these nuclear talks -- a significant shift from previous US policy under President Joe Biden, when nuclear cooperation was tied to progress on Israeli normalization.

This delinking of the nuclear deal from Israeli normalization reflects both the stalled peace process due to the Gaza conflict and a major concession by Washington to Riyadh.

White House officials and Trump himself have confirmed that a visit to Israel will not occur on this trip, despite speculation and some Israeli hopes that he might add a stop in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.

"We will be doing it at some point. But not for this trip," Trump said last week.

The decision has caused unease among Israeli officials, who see it as a signal of shifting US priorities in the region and growing friction between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly over the Gaza war, the president's Iran policy, and his broader regional strategy.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will be waiting in the Turkish capital, Ankara, to hold a meeting on May 15 with President Vladimir Putin, and will only meet face-to-face with his Russian counterpart, whose participation is still up in the air, and not other Russian officials.

Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on May 13 that he has invited US President Donald Trump, currently on a trip to the Middle East, to the talks, as the White House and Ukraine's European allies push for an end to the war, the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Trump, speaking in Riyadh after signing "historic" agreements with the Saudi government, said that potential talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey this week "could produce some pretty good results."

He said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be among the top US officials traveling to Turkey for the talks on ending Russias war against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy, however, has made it clear that Putin must be at the meetings for any progress to be made.

"It is with [Putin] that I must negotiate a cease-fire, as only he can decide on it," Zelenskyy said, adding that if the Russian leader decides to travel to Istanbul -- where the meeting was initially expected to take place -- then he would meet him there.

"If he [Putin] takes the step to say he is ready for a cease-fire then it opens the way to discussing all the elements to end the war," he added.

Over the weekend, Putin proposed talks in Istanbul on May 15, to which Zelenskyy agreed. However, the Kremlin has not yet confirmed the Russian leader's participation.

As soon as the president considers it necessary, we will make an announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow, adding Russia continues to "move forward with preparations for the talks."

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on May 13 that Putin wouldn't "dare" to show up at the meeting as "Russia is clearly playing games, trying to buy time."

"I don't think they (Russia) are interested in peace. They are still bombing Ukraine. If they were interested in peace, they could stop right now," Kallas told reporters at a democracy summit in Copenhagen.

Sources told US media outlets that senior Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will travel to Istanbul for the talks, while Rubio is scheduled to be in Turkey for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in addition to the talks.

In the past, Putin has questioned Zelenskyy's legitimacy.

"If Putin shows up in Istanbul, it would already be a defeat. Simply entering negotiations with Zelenskyy would signal a loss for him -- especially if he arrives under pressure, to a summit he clearly never planned to attend," Alexander Friedman, a Russian political observer and historian, told Current Time on May 13.

"Most likely, Russia won't be able to offer anything that would satisfy the Americans, the Ukrainians, or the Europeans. That could mark the end of the negotiations altogether."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks on May 12 with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss Moscow's direct talks with Kyiv, a proposal that came from Putin at the weekend, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The planned direct talks would be the first between the two sides since March 2022, in the early days of the full-scale war launched by Russia the previous month.

Oleh Saakyan, a political commentator who spoke with Current Time, said both Ukraine and Europe know they cannot trust Putin and that he likely has begun preparing a new stage of the war and strengthened his positions through talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Moscow last week.

"The whole cease-fire and talks spectacle has been staged for one spectator -- Trump -- in order to expose Putin as someone you can't do business with," said Saakyan, who also cast doubt on the prospect of the Russian president traveling to Istanbul or any agreements coming from there.

"The focus is likely now to shift toward the trans-Atlantic axis and the readiness of the West to actually and jointly impose sanctions on Russia," he said. "This is key now, and it will greatly shape the future of talks."

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, told the Izvestia media outlet that the talks between Moscow and Kyiv can move further than they did in the 2022 discussions.

"If the Ukrainian delegation shows up at these talks with a mandate to abandon any ultimatums and look for common ground, I am sure that we could move forward even further than we did," Izvestia quoted Kosachev as saying.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
The UN aviation council on May 12 found that Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian commercial jet over Ukraine that killed all 298 passengers and crew, a ruling Moscow criticized as being "biased."

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said in a statement that Russia failed to uphold its obligations under international air law in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on July 17, 2014.

The council agreed that claims brought to the ICAO by Australia and the Netherlands as a result of the shooting down of the airliner were well founded in fact and in law.

The ICAO added it was the first time in its history that the council had made a determination on the merits of a dispute between member states.

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur and was hit by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Among the people killed were 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents.

Dutch judges in November 2022 convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absentia of murder for their role in the downing of the aircraft. Moscow called the ruling "scandalous" and said it would not extradite its citizens.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the vote of the ICAO Council is an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones."

The decision also sends a clear message to the international community that states cannot violate international law with impunity, Veldkamp said in a Dutch government statement.

Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government welcomed the decision, calling it a "historic moment in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the victims" and urged ICAO to move swiftly to determine remedies.

"In reaching its decision, the ICAO Council has upheld the fundamental principle that weapons should not be used against civil aircraft," she said in a statement.

"We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law," Wong said.

That call was rejected by the Kremlin, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov that since Russia was not a member of the team that investigated the incident, "we do not accept any biased conclusions."

Moscow has called the conviction of the two Russians and the Ukrainian "scandalous" and has refused to extradite them.

The Montreal-based ICAO will consider what form of reparation is in order in the coming weeks, the Dutch government statement said.

The Netherlands and Australia want the ICAO Council to order Russia to enter into negotiations over reparations, Veldkamp said.

ICAO is a UN body with 193 member states that decides whether countries have violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which requires that member states "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight."

A large majority of the council voted in favor of the Netherlands and Australias position in the decision reached on May 12, the Dutch government statement said, but it did not provide a breakdown of the vote.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's new newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I am drilling down on two issues: The EU's latest raft of sanctions against Russia and the EPC summit in Tirana.

Briefing #1: The EU's New Sanctions On Russia

What You Need To Know: The European Union's latest proposal for the next round of sanctions on Russia -- the 17th package since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago -- might just be its weakest yet.

Presented by the European Commission earlier this week to the 27 EU member and seen by RFE/RL, the proposal contains no hard-hitting economic measures against the Kremlin. Instead, it features more asset freezes and visa bans on various individuals and entities, mostly Russian citizens and companies involved in the arms industry.

It also includes banning 98 more ships from Moscow's so-called shadow fleet from being serviced at EU ports, bringing the total of ships on the list to 250. And lastly, it imposes export restrictions on 35 companies, most of which are Russian but others are Kazakh, Serbian, Turkish, and Uzbek.

Deep Background: The goal, according to EU officials RFE/RL has spoken to, is to adopt the proposal when the bloc's foreign ministers meet on May 20.

The club wants to show that Russia's numerous attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in recent weeks shouldn't go unpunished, and approval is also likely to be swift -- the new measures are so uncontroversial that even a sanctions skeptic like Hungary would be ready to give a ready thumbs-up.

According to diplomats familiar with the sanctions negotiations, Budapest will, however, request a certain proposed entity be scrubbed off the list. It's the Dubai-based Litasco, a subsidiary of the Russian energy giant Lukoil. Hungary is one of the very few EU countries still importing Russian oil.

Brussels wants to target the company as it has "enabled the procurement of numerous vessels forming part of the so-called shadow fleet," according to the proposal. "These vessels have transported oil from Russia while turning off or manipulating their AIS transponders, not maintaining adequate liability insurance or other financial security, as well as carrying out unsafe maritime operations."

There are also questions about whether blacklisting six proposed Chinese companies will fly given that some European capitals are wary of upsetting Beijing too much given the extensive trade links between Brussels and China. The most interesting of these are Poly Technologies, which has provided components for Russian military helicopters, and Skywalker Technology, a producer of the Gerbera drone that Brussels says "has been used by the Russian military in Ukraine, in particular as a decoy drone to overwhelm Ukrainian defense systems."

Drilling Down

 While this package seems insignificant, the EU has been working on separate sanctions measures targeting Russia in parallel to the 17th package. These are more thematic sanctions consisting of asset freezes and visa bans, and are set to be adopted later in May. These include blacklistings for human rights abuses, the use of chemical weapons, and "destabilizing activities" carried out around the world.

 The human rights violation package targets 28 people, all Russian judges and prosecutors, who are responsible for either targeting the deceased Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and his associates or for sentencing Russians for spreading anti-war messages online.

 The chemical weapons proliferation listings target three entities, including the Radiological Chemical and Biological Defense Troops of the Russian Defense Ministry. In its reasoning, the EU is for the first time formally accusing the Kremlin of using chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine.

 The proposal also targets 21 individuals and companies for destabilizing activities around the world. These include two people accused of being behind attacks on vehicles of the Estonian interior minister and the editor of a Russian-language newspaper in Tallinn.

 Others include Elena Kolbasnikova, a Russian national accused of creating "political structures with the German anti-democratic extreme political right in support of Russia's destabilization of Ukraine," Alina Lipp, a war correspondent with the Russian armed forces in eastern Ukraine, and German blogger Thomas Roper, who "disseminates misinformation about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and delegitimizes the Ukrainian government."

 Two targeted Moldovan nationals, Ivan and Iurie Neculiti, run a Web hosting service registered in the United Kingdom called Stark, which reportedly enables "various Russian state-sponsored and affiliated actors to conduct destabilizing activities including coordinated information manipulation and interference and cyber-attacks against EU and third countries."

 There are also a handful of people who allegedly spread Russian propaganda in various African countries and a Russian fishing company, Murman SeaFood. This company is the owner of a vessel that according to the EU "has repeatedly shown untypical behavior and navigation practices inconsistent with their normal fishing activities, including presence in close vicinity to an ongoing NATO military exercise and regular presence close to Norwegian critical infrastructure and military sites."

Briefing #2: Why Europe's Leaders Are Gathering In Tirana This Week

What You Need To Know: On May 16, leaders from all over Europe are gathering on Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana for the European Political Community (EPC) summit. The EPC, an idea conceived by the French President Emmanuel Macron as a direct response to the war in Ukraine, meets at the highest level twice a year with the host rotating between the 27 EU member states and the 20 non-EU countries.

Now it's Albania's turn, and the event will be something of a crowning achievement for Prime Minister Edi Rama. In power since 2013, he is already one of the most experienced operators in the room, and the meeting comes just five days after a general election in the Western Balkan republic in which his socialist party will finish on top yet again.

Brussels holds Rama in high esteem, with EU officials praising him for his diplomatic skills and sharp wit. A reflection of this is the fact that Albania, within a year, has opened a majority of the EU accession chapters and is set to open some more by the end of this month.

Deep Background: The EPC is not an EU vehicle, nor is it a substitute for EU membership as some EU hopefuls fear. Essentially it's a forum for talking shop that doesn't officially produce any concrete deliverables or final communique; it has no permanent seat or secretariat.

While media representatives are struggling to explain what sort of animal it is and what purpose it serves given there are so many other European institutions (such as the Council of Europe and OSCE, to name a few) leaders appear to love attending its summits.

This is largely because there is minimal official choreography compared to, for example, NATO and EU summits, which follow strict protocols. Sure, there's an opening ceremony, a plenary session. and a family photo. Leaders are then divided into three thematic roundtables focusing on security, competitiveness, and migration.

Most of the one-day gathering, however, will be devoted to various planned and spontaneous bilateral meetings that can quickly turn into larger meetings if needed. It happens without too many accredited aides and advisers, meaning a lot of diplomatic speed-dating and huddles in a nice setting with plenty to eat and drink. It offers "a little bit of freedom and creativity in their otherwise structured lives" as one diplomat put it to me.

Drilling Down

 At previous EPC summits, there were a political push to have Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders meet, often together with the French and German leaders, but it is my understanding that no such attempts will be made this time around even though it can never be ruled out.

 Who's coming? So far, I've been told no one has declined the invitation that went out to all European nations bar Belarus, Russia, and the Vatican. The three presidents of the European Council, Commission, and Parliament will attend, as will NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

 This will be German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first multilateral meeting, as well. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to show up even if it's not confirmed till the last minute, and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to come after having skipped some of the previous EPC summits.

 Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is invited, as he was to the last one in Budapest in November. EU diplomats are keen to point out that the Tirana meeting is EPC and not the EU, consider the latter has a policy not to engage with high-level Georgian officials after the contested Georgian parliamentary elections last October. If Kobakhidze shows up, it will be interesting to see how EU leaders react.

 In a similar vein, it will be worth watching how leaders interact with Serbian President Alexander Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico as both attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, rubbing shoulders with Vladimir Putin.

 Fico is largely isolated on the EU level even though no types of sanctions or punishment are in the making after his Moscow trip. Brussels warned Vucic not to make the journey to Russia, noting that as an official candidate country Serbia should align with the bloc's foreign policies.

 Vucic looks set to get away with it though. A senior EU official confirmed at a background briefing ahead of the Tirana summit that Serbia will remain a candidate country and there's no consensus among member states to impose sanctions on the country.

 The only consequence will be that Serbia won't advance on its EU accession path -- something that is rather moot anyway as the Balkan republic hasn't opened a single negotiating chapter in the past four years.

Looking Ahead

It is a big week for NATO. On May 14, the chiefs of defense of the military alliance's 32 members meet in Brussels for their last session before the NATO summit at The Hague next month.

Support for Ukraine and NATO missions, operations, and defense plans will all be top of the agenda. On the same day but in the Turkish seaside resort of Antalya, Rutte will gather NATO foreign ministers for an informal two-day meeting. The gathering is controversial given Turkey's repressive policies against the opposition, notably the recent jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

That's all for this week!

Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on X @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak
China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday unveiled an emblem commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. #XinhuaNews
The issue of fire service cover for the Castlerea area was again raised in the Seanad this afternoon.

Senator Gareth Scahill called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to conduct an independent review of the fire brigade Service areas nationally. This review would take account of demographics, response time analysis, and the impact of climate related events.

Speaking in the Seanad this afternoon, the Castlerea man said that the review should be done to align with the most recent census data And more importantly with the real need of our people on the ground, he said. This is not just a call for policy, its a call for protection, preparedness and for the lives that depend on a timely emergency response.

He said that recent events in Counties Roscommon and Longford have laid bare the pressures on fire services, particularly in rural areas and in areas with older populations.

Senator Scahill highlighted the massive gorse fire that affected the west of the county on April 9th, that required five fire services to attend.

Three weeks later there was a similar incident between Trien and Williamstown, he said. These are not isolated incidents, they are warnings. He asked what happens when multiple brigades respond to major events, who covers the towns and communities left behind?.

He also asked is the state satisfied that enough was being done to ensure older people or people with mobility issues were protected.

Are we satisfied that our fire services are distributed fairly and efficiently? he asked, stressing the fire services were doing a brilliant job, saying it was a service everyone was proud of.

But they are doing so under significant strain, he said. Take Castlerea, my own hometown, a town with a population of 3,000-3,500 people where the fire station has been closed since 2017. Senator Scahill told the Seanad that last Wednesday evening, a housefire broke out in the town.

A retired fire officer was on the radio the following morning saying that if the station had existed in Castlerea the response time would have been seven to nine minutes, he said, adding that now the nearest units were 16 miles or 20-30 minutes away.

In an emergency that is not just the difference between a scorched field or lost home, it is the difference between life and death.

He asked the minister to conduct the review to ensure that towns like Castlerea had the safety they deserved.

In rural areas, like Castlerea, delayed emergency services can have life threatening consequences. He added that according to performance indicators nationally the average per capita cost for a fire service was between 61.5 and 63.5.

Yet in Roscommon the cost is 36.86 to 38.50, so I do believe there is an imbalance in certain areas.

Minister of State John Cummins thanked the senator for again raising the issue. He said that a review has been commissioned by the National Directorate for the Fire and Emergency Management which is due to begin in quarter 3 of this year.
Temperatures reached up to 17.9 degrees yesterday in the county as the fine weather is set to continue today.

The Mount Dillon Weather Station recorded the high for Met Eireann yesterday.

The weather today in Connacht will be sunny and warm. However, there is the chance of a few showers in County Galway this evening, which may turn heavy or thundery. Highest temperatures will be between 21 to 24 degrees in a light to moderate easterly breeze.

Any isolated showers in County Galway will ease early tonight to leave dry and largely clear conditions, with lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees.

Most places in the province will be sunny once again tomorrow but scattered showers will develop later in the afternoon. Some of these will turn heavy with thunderstorms possible. Highest temperatures will be between 20 to 23 degrees in moderate easterly winds.
J-K Security Forces Release Posters of Pahalgam Attack Terrorists, Announce Rs 20 Lakh Bounty

Among the dead were two foreign nationals and two local residents.

Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Latest News Today: Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified the manhunt for the perpetrators of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by releasing posters with images of three wanted terrorists. These posters have been displayed across South Kashmir, particularly in the Shopian district, calling for public assistance in tracking the attackers.

The posters offer a Rs 20 lakh reward for information leading to the neutralisation of the terrorists, whose names have been identified as Asif Fauji, Suleman Shah, and Abu Talha, all believed to be Pakistani nationals. Their code names, used in previous operations in Poonch, are Moosa, Yunus, and Asif, respectively.

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The April 22 attack in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, including 24 tourists, in what has become the worst terror attack in the region since Pulwama in 2019. Among the dead were two foreign nationals and two local residents.

The posters, which also carry the message Kashmir is united in the war against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, urge locals to share any information, assuring that the identity of informants will remain confidential.

The banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) proxy outfit, the Resistance Front (TRF), had claimed responsibility for the massacre, sparking nationwide outrage.

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The government responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, a large-scale military offensive targeting terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, including major terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke.

(For more news apart from Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Big Breaking: 3 Lashkar Terrorists Neutralized in Shopian Encounter

The operation began early in the day after intelligence inputs suggested the presence of active terrorists in the region.

Jammu and Kashmir, Shopian Encounter Latest News Today: Security forces gunned down three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in a fierce encounter in the Zinpather Keller area of Shopian on Tuesday.

The operation began early in the day after intelligence inputs suggested the presence of active terrorists in the region. Quick-response teams of the Army and local police cordoned off the area, triggering a heavy exchange of fire.

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This operation unfolds just hours after authorities unveiled posters of three Pakistan-backed terrorists  Adil Hussain Thoker, Ali Bhai, and Hashim Musa  across southern Kashmir, including Shopian. The trio is believed to be directly involved in orchestrating the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, most of them tourists.

A cash reward of Rs 20 lakh has been announced for any actionable information on the whereabouts of the trio, who are said to have infiltrated the region with direct backing from Pakistan-based terror outfits.

(For more news apart from Jammu and Kashmir, Shopian Encounter Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Drone attack victim from Ferozepur succumbs to injuries at DMCH on Tuesday morning

CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for kin of Pakistani drone attack victim; Rs 2 lakh by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora

Drone attack victim from Ferozepur succumbs to injuries at DMCH on Tuesday morning latest news: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday morning announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund for the family of Sukhwinder Kaur, a resident of Khai Ke village, Ferozepur, who died from injuries sustained in a Pakistani drone attack.

The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the tragic demise of Sukhwinder Kaur. Our government stands firmly with her family during this time of immense pain, and we are committed to providing all possible support to help them cope with this devastating loss, he affirmed.

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Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora also extended financial assistance, announcing Rs 2 lakh for Kaurs family to aid them in this difficult period.

Sukhwinder Kaur, along with her husband Lakhwinder Singh, are undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) following the attack. Kaur sustained burn injuries and remained in critical condition since the incident. Despite medical efforts, she passed away early Tuesday. Lakhwinder Singh, who has also suffered burns, continues to receive treatment.

(For More News Apart Drone attack victim from Ferozepur succumbs to injuries at DMCH on Tuesday morning stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Amritsar Hooch Tragedy: 14 Dead After Drinking Spurious Liquor, 5 Held

According to police sources, the victims hailed from Bhangali Kalan, Thariewal, Sangha, and Marari Kalan villages.

Punjab Amritsar Majitha Hooch Tragedy Death Toll Latest News Today: A major tragedy unfolded in Punjabs Amritsar district after 14 people lost their lives and nearly 10 others were hospitalized in critical condition due to the consumption of spurious liquor in the Majitha block. The incident has sparked shockwaves across the region, prompting swift action from police and state authorities.

According to police sources, the victims hailed from Bhangali Kalan, Thariewal, Sangha, and Marari Kalan villages. The toxic alcohol was allegedly consumed on Sunday evening, and by Monday morning, multiple fatalities were reported. However, some families reportedly cremated the bodies without informing the authorities, citing natural causes.

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Majitha SHO Aabtaab Singh stated, We discovered that many had bought the liquor from a single source. Locals attempted to cover up some deaths, claiming heart attacks. The real picture emerged only late Monday.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney visited the Civil Hospital to assess the situation and confirmed the death toll. She cautioned that the number of casualties may rise as more victims are being treated.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated "Sad news has been received that many people have died due to drinking poisonous liquor in some villages around Majitha. These murderers of innocent people will not be spared at any cost. These are not deaths, these are murders. These culprits who have spread chaos in people's homes with poisonous liquor will be given the strictest punishment according to the law. I pray to God for the spiritual peace of the departed souls. The government stands with the families and every possible help will be provided.

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The Punjab Government confirmed the arrest of two primary suppliers, Prabhjit Singh and Sahib Singh, from the Rajasansi area. Additionally, four others involved in distributing the liquor across the villages were taken into custody. Two FIRs have been registered.

A government spokesperson added that investigative teams have widened the probe to trace the origins of the illicit liquor, possibly from outside Punjab.

This tragedy bears painful echoes of the 2020 Majha region hooch disaster, where over 130 people died in Tarn Taran, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur.

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(For more news apart from Punjab Amritsar Majitha Hooch Tragedy Death Toll Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Punjab DGP Vows Justice After Amritsar Hooch Tragedy, 9 Arrested on Illicit Liquor Network

An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Excise Act

Punjab DGP Vows Justice After Amritsar Hooch Tragedy, 9 Arrested on Illicit Liquor Network latest news: Amritsar Hooch Tragedy: In the wake of the Amritsar hooch tragedy that claimed multiple lives in the Majitha block, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) issued a firm statement on Tuesday, assuring the public of swift and uncompromising action against those behind the spurious liquor racket.

According to the DGP, nine individuals have been arrested so far, including the alleged kingpin and several local distributors involved in the illegal liquor trade. Investigations have revealed that methanol, a toxic chemical used in industrial applications, was procured online and used to manufacture the lethal concoction. Authorities have launched a full-scale probe into the supply chain and method of distribution.

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An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Excise Act, while Departmental inquiries have been initiated against negligent police officials.

In a major disciplinary action, the DSP of Majitha Subdivision and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Majitha Police Station have been suspended for gross negligence. Their failure to prevent or detect the illegal activity in time has come under intense scrutiny.

This tragedy is a painful reminder of the cost of complacency. We stand united in grief with the families of the victimsand in our commitment to ensure this never happens again, the DGP said in an official statement. Punjab Police will leave no stone unturned in dismantling illegal liquor networks and bringing all guilty to justice.

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The DGP also reiterated the department's resolve to enforce accountability at every levelwhether it involves racketeers, suppliers, or erring government officials.

The tragic incident has once again raised alarm over the illicit liquor trade in Punjab, evoking memories of the 2020 Majha hooch disaster that killed over 100 people. Authorities have now expanded the scope of the investigation, including leads that may link this case to cross-border or interstate supply chains.

As the victims families mourn their loss, the public and administration demand long-term reforms in monitoring and enforcement to ensure such preventable tragedies never occur again.

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(For More News Apart Punjab DGP Vows Justice After Amritsar Hooch Tragedy, 9 Arrested on Illicit Liquor Network stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
The international community welcomes the trade agreement reached between China and the U.S. on Monday, and is optimistic that it will be positive for the global economy.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service 
May 13, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

May 13, 2025 UPDATE

Daniel Bilt, 13.05.2025, 20:08

PNRR On June 10th Romania will be getting the third installment of the National Programme of Recovery and Resilience PNRR worth 1.3 billion Euros. The announcement was made in Brussels by the Finance Minister, who says the money will contribute to offsetting the returns at the state budget. Tanczos Barna has underlined that Romania needs a fiscal reform, but an interim government has neither the prerogatives nor a mandate to tackle such aspects. The Executive intends to negotiate certain amendments to the process of unfolding the PNRR so as to reduce the risk for Romania to lose part of the allotted funds. Romania has so far received 9.2 billion Euros out of the 28.5 billion available for the implementation of the PNRR. Out of the sum, 13.6 billion Euros represents grants and 14.9 billion loans. Well have more on this after the news.

FAIR Over May 15 and 19, Romania is attending the International Book Fair in Turin, northern Italy. According to a communique by the Romanian Cultural Institute quoted by the Bucharest media, the Romanian stand comes with a varied editorial offer and an attractive event schedule involving celebrities from Romania and the neighboring Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova. Under the motto, La leggerezza del leggere  the Easiness of Reading the Romanian stand will be promoting contemporary literature as well as works by Romanian authors from fields such as philosophy, history, and literary criticism published in Italian in the past two years.

NEPTUN The Bucharest Court did justice and the Neptun Deep project moves on says the Romanian Energy Minister, Sebastian Burduja. In a social network post he says the justice defended Romanias interests against the repeated attempts by the non-governmental organization Greenpeace to block the Neptun Deep project on natural gas exploitation at the Black Sea. The aforementioned NGO now has to pay the equivalent of 16 thousand Euros to gas developers Romgaz and OMV Petrom  the minister went on to say. In his opinion, the ruling has again confirmed that such actions against Romanias strategic projects are either ungrounded or inadmissible. Burduja also says that such trials are wasting time, money and major opportunities for developments and national security. Greenpeace has tried to legally block the Neptun Deep project as it causes serious issues related to the environment, climate change and the field legislation.

VOTE Romanias Permanent Election Authority on Tuesday announced the situation in terms of the number of eligible voters for the presidential runoff due on Sunday. The total number of voters in constituencies stands at 17,988,218. At the same time, the number of eligible voters abroad is around 1,016327. 6085 Romanian citizens with residence abroad have opted for postal voting and registered with the webpage www.votstrainatate.ro. We recall that the presidential runoff will be opposing the ultranationalist populist candidate George Simion, who represents the AUR party and the pro-western independent mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan. On May 4, in the first round, Simion got around 41% of the votes whereas Dan 21%. The Romanians abroad have three days to cast their ballots, May 16, 17 and 18, while in Romania, voters will go to the polls on Sunday, May 18.

(bill)
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world's leading electric vehicle battery manufacturer, is set to limit U.S. participation in its upcoming Hong Kong initial public offering, underscoring growing friction between Washington and Beijing.

The Chinese firm has opted to structure its listing solely under Regulation S, which bars sales to onshore U.S. investors and reduces U.S. regulatory obligations, according to sources familiar with the matter.

While major U.S. institutional investors with offshore accounts can still take part, domestic mutual funds and retail-focused entities will be excluded an unusual step for a deal of this scale. CATL reportedly made the change to reduce legal exposure in the United States, and sources say investor demand remains strong despite the narrower pool of buyers.

The IPO, expected to raise at least $4 billion and possibly up to $5.3 billion if oversubscribedwould mark the largest global listing of the year. It could more than double total proceeds raised through Hong Kong IPOs in 2025, which Bloomberg Intelligence projects will reach $22 billion, driven largely by Chinese companies turning to Asian amid Western volatility.

CATL has already been caught in the crosshairs of geopolitical tension. In January, the Pentagon added the company to a blacklist over alleged military ties claims CATL denies, insisting it has no involvement in defense-related activities. A U.S. congressional committee recently urged Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, the lead U.S. banks on the deal, to step back. Both continue to advise on the listing.

CATL may begin taking investor orders as soon as Monday, signaling its confidence in the deal despite regulatory headwinds and diplomatic strain.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Indian shares tumbled on Tuesday, a day after benchmark indexes Sensex and Nifty recorded their sharpest rally in over four years, following a tentative ceasefire between India and Pakistan over the weekend.

Markets paused for breath after Prime Minister said the operation is the new normal and that India had only kept its actions against Pakistan in abeyance, with future steps depending on Pakistan's behavior.

Modi described Operation Sindoor as India's new policy against terrorism and warned Pakistan that India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail.

Meanwhile, it is feared that a temporary tariff de-escalation between the U.S. and China could narrow India's export edge.

The benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex slumped 1,281.68 points, or 1.55 percent, to 81,148.22 while the broader NSE Nifty index plummeted 34.35 points, or 1.39 percent, to 24,578.35.

Second-line stocks bucked the weak trend, with the BSE mid-cap and small-cap indexes rising 0.2 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

The market breadth was strong on the BSE, with 2,562 shares rising while 1,400 shares declined and 139 shares closed unchanged.

Among the prominent decliners, Tata Motors, ITC, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, TCS, HCL Technologies, Power Grid Corp, Eternal and Infosys lost 2-4 percent.

Defense stocks attracted broad-based buying after Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for greater military self-reliance in his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor.

Hindustan Aeronautics jumped 3.8 percent, Bharat Dynamics soared 11.2 percent, Bharat Electronics surged 4 percent, Zen Technologies added 5 percent and Data Patterns (India) climbed a little over 4 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
German stocks are moving in a tight range on Tuesday with investors largely making cautious moves, after a solid session on Monday thanks to news about U.S. and China striking a trade deal. Investors are digesting the data on German investor sentiment, and the latest batch of corporate earnings updates.

The benchmark DAX was up 35.29 points or 0.15% at 23,586.84 a little while ago.

A survey published by the think tank ZEW showed German investor confidence rebounded in May as the formation of new government as well as the progress in the tariff disputes strengthened expectations.

The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment climbed sharply by 39.2 points to 25.2 in May. The reading was well above economists' forecast of 9.8.

However, the assessment about the current economic situation remained deep in the negative territory. The current situation index dropped unexpectedly by 0.8 points to -82.0. The score was forecast to improve to -77.0.

Bayer AG shares are up nearly 9% after the company reported a smaller than expected drop in quarterly adjusted profit and confirmed 2025 targets. Bayer's net income declined to 1.299 billion euros or 1.32 euros per share in the latest quarter, from 2 billion euros or 2.04 euros per share last year.

Zalaondo, Volkswagen, Qiagen, Porsche Automobil Holding, Daimler Truck Holding, BMW, BASF, Continental, Siemens Healthineers and Porsche are gaining 1 to 2.5%.

Shares of Munich Re are down nearly 4% after the company reported lower earnings. Munich Re reported that, in first quarter, it generated a net profit of 1.09 billion euros compared to 2.11 billion euros, previous year.

Munich Re said it is aiming to generate a net result of 6.0 billion euros for fiscal 2025. The company said the targets communicated for 2025 remain unchanged.

Shares of reinsurance company Hannover Re AG are down nearly 3% on lower earnings. The company said its earnings were hit considerable natural catastrophe losses mainly California wildfires. Reinsurance revenue, however, increased from last year, and the company maintained fiscal 2025 outlook with healthy underlying .

In the first quarter, Group net income fell 13.9% to 480 million euros from last year's 558 million euros. Earnings per share came in at 3.98 euros, down from 4.63 euros a year earlier.

Vonovia is down 3.5%. Siemens Energy, Heidelberg Materials and SAP are down 0.4 to 1%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Mogo Inc. (MOGO, MOGO.TO) Tuesday said that its portfolio company, WonderFi Technologies Inc. (WNDR.TO), has entered into a deal with Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Robinhood, to be acquired for C$0.36 per share.

The all-cash purchase price represents a total equity value of around C$250 million, a premium of around 41% to the closing price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on May 12, 2025.

"This is a defining moment for WonderFi, and we acknowledge the team's remarkable progress," said Greg Feller, Mogo's President & Chief Financial Officer. "We stand behind this transaction, as it delivers immediate liquidity and solidifies value at a compelling premium for shareholders. Mogo was instrumental in shaping the present-day WonderFi. In July 2023, we orchestrated the merger of Coinsquare, in which we held a 34% stake, with WonderFibringing together two of Canada's most influential crypto trading platforms. That strategic move set the stage for the milestone we see today."

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to approvals from WonderFi's shareholders, certain regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor Peter Clayton

By Siya Hlebani



Amid increasing pressure on universities to focus on global rankings, research output, and graduate employability, a recent dialogue hosted at Rhodes University made a powerful case for re-centering community engagement and the public good. The event, Higher Education Community Engagement: The Cultivation of Humanity, positioned these values as essential to university success.

On 8 and 9 May 2025, Rhodes University hosted the dialogue, where Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor Peter Clayton delivered compelling addresses.

Opening the dialogue, Professor Mabizela challenged the current orientation of universities, asking a question that has echoed across disciplines yet often goes unanswered: What are universities really good for?

Quoting from South African mathematician and academic leader Chris Brinks thought-provoking work The Soul of a University, the Vice-Chancellor reminded us that a universitys worth cannot be determined solely by what it excels at, but by its contribution to the common good.

He spoke of the deep moral responsibility that institutions have to society, asserting that education must not be reduced to a transactional process of preparing students for the job market. Rather, he called for a reimagining of higher education as a platform for building ethical, empathetic, and socially conscious citizens. Drawing on the African philosophy of Ubuntu, he emphasised that "I am because we are" is not just a cultural saying but a guiding educational principle. A truly transformative university, he argued, should nurture individuals who recognise their interconnectedness with others and act in service of the collective well-being.

One of the key messages from the Vice-Chancellors address was the need to humanise universities. He urged institutions to be places of belonging, compassion, and justice  environments where dignity is upheld and where knowledge is not only accumulated but also used to improve peoples lives. He challenged the room to consider who is included in the production of knowledge and who benefits from it. Emphasising the need for inclusive scholarship, he stated, We must do research with communities, not just in or on them.

Professor Mabizelas vision extended beyond theoretical ideals; it was a call for structural change. He argued that universities must embed community engagement at the core of their operations, not as an add-on or outreach effort, but as a central pillar of their institutional identity. This, he said, requires humility, authenticity, and a willingness to dismantle hierarchies that have historically excluded community voices from academic discourse.

Closing the dialogue on 9 May, Professor Clayton picked up the baton and reiterated the urgency of Professor Mabizelas message. He reflected on the rich discussions held during the two-day event and affirmed that the future of higher education must be deeply rooted in human values. He praised Professor Mabizelas opening remarks as a timely and bold intervention, one that challenges universities to align their goals not just with academic success, but with human flourishing.

Professor Clayton emphasised that cultivating humanity is not an abstract or lofty goalit is a practical, everyday commitment that must inform everything from curriculum design to institutional culture. He urged university leaders and academics to adopt a posture of reflection, action, and accountability, reminding them that values like empathy, justice, and solidarity should not be optional extras but core outcomes of a university education.

He echoed the Vice-Chancellors call to co-create knowledge with communities, emphasising that this model of engaged scholarship can transform not only the university but also society at large. Such engagement, he said, fosters mutual learning, respect, and shared purpose. It breaks down barriers between the ivory tower and the lived realities of people beyond the campus gates.

Both spoke to the idea of restoring the soul of the university. In a world marked by division, inequality, and disconnection, the university must serve as a moral compass, guiding students toward not only professional competence but also social consciousness. In doing so, institutions would move from being simply knowledge factories to becoming hubs of hope, justice, and shared humanity.

As Professor Clayton closed the dialogue, he invited everyone to carry forward the insights and ideals articulated by Professor Mabizela  not just as intellectual inspiration, but as practical imperatives. He encouraged universities to build cultures that enable staff, students, and surrounding communities to thrive together and to never lose sight of their deeper purpose.

The dialogue concluded with a powerful message: that true university excellence is measured not only by achievement, but by its contribution to humanity.
This photo taken on May 11, 2025 shows the unveiling ceremony of the China Book Corner in Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh. China Book Corner in Bangladesh was unveiled, and "Reading China" China-Bangladesh Youth Exchange event was held here Sunday. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)

DHAKA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China Book Corner in Bangladesh was unveiled, and "Reading China" China-Bangladesh Youth Exchange event was held here Sunday.

The event was hosted by China International Communications Group, the Ministry of Culture of Bangladesh, and the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh.

At the ceremony, Chinese representatives conveyed their aspiration to utilize the China Book Corner in Bangladesh as a platform for collaboration with friendly Bangladeshi organizations and youth to cultivate friendships through cultural exchange, encourage knowledge-based initiatives, enhance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen mutual understanding and affection between the two nations, collectively crafting a new and dynamic chapter in the China-Bangladesh friendship.

Bangladeshi student Mahzabin Islam Samia told Xinhua that she mainly learned about Chinese culture through watching Chinese TV dramas. With the establishment of the China Book Corner at the National Library of Bangladesh, readers can explore Chinese politics, economy, and social culture, which is beneficial for cross-cultural exchange.

The China Book Corner in Bangladesh is the 18th center established by the China International Communications Group worldwide. 

A Bangladeshi youth representative speaks at the "Reading China" China-Bangladesh Youth Exchange event, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 11, 2025. China Book Corner in Bangladesh was unveiled, and "Reading China" China-Bangladesh Youth Exchange event was held here Sunday. (Photo by Habibur Rahman/Xinhua)
From exotic fruit to unique cuisine, discover the vibrant goods on display at a RCEP economic and trade expo in Hunan, central China.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
The universe is decaying much faster than thought. This is shown by calculations of three scientists at Radboud University on the so-called Hawking radiation. They calculate that the last stellar remnants take about 10^78 years (a 1 with 78 zeros) to perish. That is much shorter than the previously postulated 10^1100 years (a 1 with 1100 zeros). The researchers publish their findings, with a wink and dead-seriously, in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.

The research by black hole expert Heino Falcke, quantum physicist Michael Wondrak, and mathematician Walter van Suijlekom (all from Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands) is a follow-up to a 2023 paper by the same trio. In that paper, they showed that not only black holes, but also other objects such as neutron stars can 'evaporate' via a process akin to Hawking radiation. After that publication, the researchers received many questions from inside and outside the scientific community about how long the process would take. They have now answered this question in the new article.

Ultimate end

The researchers calculated that the end of the universe is about 10^78 years away (a 1 with 78 zeros), if only Hawking-like radiation is taken into account. This is the time it takes for white dwarf stars, the most persistent celestial bodies, to decay via Hawking-like radiation. Previous studies, which did not take this effect into account, put the lifetime of white dwarfs at 10^1100 years (a 1 with 1100 zeros). Lead author Heino Falcke: "So the ultimate end of the universe comes much sooner than expected, but fortunately it still takes a very long time."

The researchers did the calculations dead-seriously and with a wink. The basis is a reinterpretation of Hawking radiation. In 1975, physicist Stephen Hawking postulated that, contrary to the theory of relativity, particles and radiation could escape from a black hole. At the edge of a black hole, two temporary particles can form, and before they merge, one particle is sucked into the black hole and the other particle escapes. One of the consequences of this so-called Hawking radiation is that a black hole very slowly decays into particles and radiation. This contradicts Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, which says that black holes can only grow.

Neutron star as slow as black hole

The researchers calculated that the process of Hawking radiation theoretically also applies to other objects with a gravitational field. The calculations further showed that the 'evaporation time' of an object depends only on its density.

To the researchers' surprise, neutron stars and stellar black holes take the same amount of time to decay: 10^67 years. This was unexpected because black holes have a stronger gravitational field, which should cause them to 'evaporate' faster. "But black holes have no surface," says co-author and postdoctoral researcher Michael Wondrak, "They reabsorb some of their own radiation which inhibits the process."

Man and Moon: 10^90 years

Because the researchers were at it anyway, they also calculated how long it takes for the Moon and a human to evaporate via Hawking-like radiation. That's 10^90 years (a 1 with 90 zeros). Of course, the researchers subtly note, there are other processes that may cause humans and moon to disappear faster than calculated.

Co-author Walter van Suijlekom, professor of mathematics at Radboud University, adds that the research is an exciting collaboration of different disciplines and that combining astrophysics, quantum physics and mathematics leads to new insights. "By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation."
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is known to have a significant impact on climate across the Pacific, including Hawai'i, and adjacent continents. However, new research led by University of Hawai'i at Manoa atmospheric scientists revealed that the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM), another climate pattern that operates in the eastern Pacific Ocean, plays a major role in the variability of rainfall in Hawai'i. Their study was published recently in the Journal of Climate.

"Our study suggests that although El Nino emerges as the primary driver of winter rainfall variability in Hawai'i, the Pacific Meridional Mode has a pivotal role in spring rainfall, particularly for Maui and the Island of Hawai'i," said Pao-Shin Chu, study co-author, professor of atmospheric sciences in the UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and Hawai'i State Climatologist.

"Importantly, our analysis disentangles the respective roles of ENSO and the PMM in driving rainfall variability across seasons and types of weather disturbance in Hawai'i," said lead author Bo-Yi Lu, who was an atmospheric sciences doctoral student in SOEST at the time of this research. "These findings not only deepen our understanding of regional climate dynamics but also offer valuable insights for water resource management and disaster preparedness in Hawai'i and beyond."

During what is termed the "positive state" of the PMM, weaker trade winds in the northeast Pacific Ocean between Hawai'i and Baja California occur along with increased sea surface temperatures. During the "negative state," stronger trade winds and cooler surface temperatures prevail.

Chu and Lu performed diagnostic analyses using a combination of actual weather and sea surface observations, and weather model-generated data to determine how these patterns affect rainfall variation.

They determined that in spring, a positive PMM state precipitates extensive rainfall across the state, specifically, greater rainfall throughout the islands occurs as cold fronts move through. Additionally, whether the positive state occurs in winter or spring, the result is that the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands experience an increase in extreme rainfall events, suggesting a heightened risk of floods. Their analysis also showed that a negative state of the PMM corresponded with reduced daily rainfall over windward sides of the islands, potentially exacerbating drought occurrences.

As the state of Hawai'i experiences population growth, the demand increases for water for drinking, food production, agriculture, recreation, construction, medical uses and more.

"This uncertainty in interannual rainfall, together with the increasing demand for water, requires us to better understand the relationship between rainfall and climate variability," said Chu. "We aim for our research to empower our communities with climate and weather information."
KABUL, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 330 Afghan inmates imprisoned in Pakistan have been released and returned to their homeland, official data from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation showed Tuesday.

The detainees returned to Afghanistan over the past week through the Spin Boldak border crossing point in southern Kandahar province, the ministry said.

Pakistan has set free thousands of jailed Afghans and sent them back to Afghanistan over the past year.

Nearly 7 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented migrants, are currently living abroad, with most living in Afghanistan's neighboring Iran and Pakistan.

The Pakistani government is set to expel Afghans to their home country in 2025.

The Afghan interim government has been repeatedly calling upon Afghan refugees to end living abroad as refugees and return home to contribute to the rebuilding of their war-torn homeland. 
Pink salmon, Purple Asian clams, marine invertebrates that form spaghetti-like colonies and a nematode worm that causes extensive deaths of trees are among the new entries in experts' watchlist of invasive non-native species that could threaten Great Britain in the next 10 years.

The latest version of the watchlist, which again includes known problem species such as the yellow-legged (Asian) hornet, raccoon and twoleaf watermilfoil, has been produced by experts led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and commissioned by Defra.

The experts identified 145 non-native animals and plants that have the potential to become invasive in the near future, impacting biodiversity and ecosystems and also, in some cases, human health and/or the economy. Some of these species, from a diverse range of taxonomic groups and habitats, have already been recorded in Britain but are not established, meaning they have not managed to sustain populations so far. Others have yet to arrive.

Non-native species arrive in Britain through global transport and trade, either intentionally or are hidden in plants, other imported goods or ship ballast water. Climate change is enabling many species from warmer climates to survive and spread in Europe.

Top 20 threats

From the 145 species of concern, the experts compiled a 'top 20' that pose the greatest risk (see table with impacts in Notes), in order to inform monitoring efforts, policies and communications to the public, businesses and local authorities. The new entries include:

Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is already recorded in some rivers in Scotland and northern England but it is not known if these populations are self-sustaining. It outcompetes already vulnerable native salmonoids, such as Atlantic salmon.

(Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is already recorded in some rivers in Scotland and northern England but it is not known if these populations are self-sustaining. It outcompetes already vulnerable native salmonoids, such as Atlantic salmon. Pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), a threadworm that causes pine wilt disease, which has resulted in extensive deaths of trees in all regions where it already occurs. Also Pine sawyer beetle (Monochamus galloprovincialis), a carrier of the nematode.

(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), a threadworm that causes pine wilt disease, which has resulted in extensive deaths of trees in all regions where it already occurs. Also (Monochamus galloprovincialis), a carrier of the nematode. Spaghetti bryozoan (Amathia verticillata), a colonial filter-feeding invertebrate that forms large, bushy colonies, outcompeting native species and disrupting food chains by consuming large quantities of phytoplankton. It can grow on and smother seagrasses and foul boats and fishing equipment. When detached, it forms large drifting rafts that can clog intake pipes and aid dispersal of small motile non-natives that live on it.

(Amathia verticillata), a colonial filter-feeding invertebrate that forms large, bushy colonies, outcompeting native species and disrupting food chains by consuming large quantities of phytoplankton. It can grow on and smother seagrasses and foul boats and fishing equipment. When detached, it forms large drifting rafts that can clog intake pipes and aid dispersal of small motile non-natives that live on it. Purple Asian clam (Corbicula largillierti), a species that can reproduce rapidly, outcompetes native molluscs and clogs pipes, obstructing infrastructures such as drinking water facilities, resulting in expensive repairs. It is closely related to the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminalis), which is also in the top 20, and the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), which is already invasive in Britain.

(Corbicula largillierti), a species that can reproduce rapidly, outcompetes native molluscs and clogs pipes, obstructing infrastructures such as drinking water facilities, resulting in expensive repairs. It is closely related to the (Corbicula fluminalis), which is also in the top 20, and the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), which is already invasive in Britain. Veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) is a voracious predator that feeds on native oysters, scallops and mussels, outcompeting other predators and potentially resulting in economic impacts for fishing communities.

(Rapana venosa) is a voracious predator that feeds on native oysters, scallops and mussels, outcompeting other predators and potentially resulting in economic impacts for fishing communities. Asian fan weed (Rugulopteryx okamurae) is an invasive seaweed that displaces native species. When detached it can be deposited as decomposing masses on shores, smothering small invertebrates and affecting tourism and, potentially, human health.

This is the third 'horizon-scanning' exercise to predict invasive non-native species that could be a threat to Britain, following lists in 2013 and 2019. It involves assessing many hundreds of species from around the world that have the potential to impact biodiversity and ecosystems in Britain. Compiling the best available evidence and combining this with scientists' expertise to fill in gaps enabled the team to produce a list of priority invasive non-native species.

Informing action

Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist at UKCEH, who led the report, said: "Prevention is the most effective approach to mitigating the threat of invasive non-native species. Eradicating them once they have arrived in a country and become established is very difficult and costly.

"Horizon-scanning is therefore essential to identify species of particular concern, which can then inform monitoring and surveillance activities, and action plans, as well as raising awareness through communication. The commitment from the experts, who mostly contributed on a voluntary basis, was inspiring.

"The public also play a vital role by recording and reporting sightings of invasive non-native species, helping to inform action."

For example, the scientists predicted in their first watchlist in 2013 that the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), also known as the Asian hornet, would arrive in Britain and pose a threat to pollinating insects. It was added to the list of alert species for Britain, monitoring and surveillance systems were implemented and communication campaigns raised awareness and encouraged people to submit potential sightings.

The yellow-legged hornet was first recorded in Britain in 2016 and there have been subsequent sightings every year but sustained early detection and then rapid response from the Animal and Plant Health Agency's National Bee Unit in eradicating insects and nests found has so far prevented it establishing here. It is critical that everyone remains alert to the threat of yellow-legged hornets and continues to report sightings of concern because the threat of this species to remains high.

Top 20 threats

The list again includes beetle species that pose a significant risk to trees through their feeding and tunnelling habitats -- Emerald ash borer, Asian longhorn and Citrus longhorn. It also again includes raccoons which may threaten bird species and fruit crops, displace native carnivores and carry rabies and a roundworm parasite that is potentially fatal to humans.

Olaf Booy, Deputy Chief Non-Native Species Officer at the GB Non-native Species Secretariat, part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency, said: "There are over 2,000 non-native species already established in Britain and new species are introduced each year. While only 10-15% become invasive non-native species, those that do have serious impacts on the environment, cost the economy nearly 2 billion a year, and even harm our health. Horizon scanning is a crucial part of preventing new arrivals by helping us to predict in advance which species are likely to be introduced, establish, spread and have a harmful impact in future."
The Food and Drug Administration's approval in 2023 of lecanemab -- a novel Alzheimer's therapy shown in clinical trials to modestly slow disease progression -- was met with enthusiasm by many in the field as it represented the first medication of its kind able to influence the disease. But side effects -- brain swelling and bleeding -- emerged during clinical trials that have left some patients and physicians hesitant about the treatment.

Medications can have somewhat different effects once they are released into the real world with broader demographics. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis set out to study the adverse events associated with lecanemab treatment in their clinic patients and found that significant adverse events were rare and manageable.

Consistent with the results from carefully controlled clinical trials, researchers found that only 1% of patients experienced severe side effects that required hospitalization. Patients in the earliest stage of Alzheimer's with very mild symptoms experienced the lowest risk of complications, the researchers found, helping to inform patients and clinicians as they navigate discussions about the treatment's risks.

The retrospective study, published May 12 in JAMA Neurology, focused on 234 patients with very mild or mild Alzheimer's disease who received lecanemab infusions in the Memory Diagnostic Center at WashU Medicine, a clinic that specializes in treating patients with dementia.

"This new class of medications for early symptomatic Alzheimer's is the only approved treatment that influences disease progression," said Barbara Joy Snider, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology and co-senior author on the study. "But fear surrounding the drug's potential side effects can lead to treatment delays. Our study shows that WashU Medicine's outpatient clinic has the infrastructure and expertise to safely administer and care for patients on lecanemab, including the few who may experience severe side effects, leading the way for more clinics to safely administer the drug to patients."

Lecanemab is an antibody therapy that clears amyloid plaque proteins, extending independent living by 10 months, according to a recent study led by WashU Medicine researchers. Because amyloid accumulation is the first step in the disease, doctors recommend the drug for people in the early stage of Alzheimer's, with very mild or mild symptoms. The researchers found that only 1.8% of patients with very mild Alzheimer's symptoms developed any adverse symptoms from treatment compared with 27% of patients with mild Alzheimer's.

"Patients with the very mildest symptoms of Alzheimer's will likely have the greatest benefit and the least risk of adverse events from treatment," said Snider, who led clinical trials for lecanemab at WashU Medicine. "Hesitation and avoidance can lead patients to delay treatment, which in turn increase the risk of side effects. We hope the results help reframe the conversations between physicians and patients about the medication's risks."

Hesitation around lecanemab stems from a side effect known as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, or ARIA. The abnormalities, which typically only affect a very small area of the brain, appear on brain scans and indicate swelling or bleeding. In clinical trials of lecanemab, 12.6% of participants experienced ARIA and most cases were asymptomatic and resolved without intervention. A small percentage -- approximately 2.8% of participants treated -- experienced symptoms such as headaches, confusion, nausea and dizziness. Occasional deaths have been linked to lecanemab in an estimated 0.2% of patients treated.

The Memory Diagnostic Center began treating patients with lecanemab in 2023 after the drug received full FDA approval. Patients receive the medication via infusions every two weeks in infusion centers. As part of each patient's care, WashU Medicine doctors regularly gather sophisticated imaging to monitor the brain, which can detect bleeding and swelling with great sensitivity. Lecanemab is discontinued in patients with symptoms from ARIA or significant ARIA without symptoms, and the rare patients with severe ARIA are treated with steroids in the hospital.

In looking back on their patients' outcomes, the authors found the extent of side effects aligned with those of the trials -- most of the clinic's cases of ARIA were asymptomatic and only discovered on sensitive brain scans used to monitor brain changes. Of the 11 patients who experienced symptoms from ARIA, the effects largely resolved within a few months and no patients died.

"Most patients on lecanemab tolerate the drug well," said Suzanne Schindler, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology and a co-senior author of the study. "This report may help patients and providers better understand the risks of treatment, which are lower in patients with very mild symptoms of Alzheimer's."
After treatment with CAR-T cells -- immune cells engineered to attack cancer -- patients sometimes tell their doctors they feel like they have "brain fog," or forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

A new Stanford Medicine-led study shows that CAR-T cell therapy causes mild cognitive impairments, independent of other cancer treatments, and that this happens via the same cellular mechanism as cognitive impairment from two other causes: chemotherapy and respiratory infections such as flu and COVID-19. The study, conducted mostly in mice, which will publish online May 12 in Cell, also identifies strategies for reversing the problem.

Medications that ameliorate brain fog will enable better recovery from cancer immunotherapies, the researchers said.

"CAR-T cell therapy is enormously promising: We are seeing long-term survivors after CAR-T cell therapy for aggressive cancers, saving patients who would otherwise have died," said the study's senior author, Michelle Monje, MD, PhD, the Milan Gambhir Professor in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology. "We need to understand all its possible long-term effects, including this newly recognized syndrome of immunotherapy-related cognitive impairment, so we can develop therapeutic approaches to fix it."

The study's lead authors are Anna Geraghty, PhD, senior staff scientist in the Monje lab, and MD/PhD student Lehi Acosta-Alvarez.

Cognitive impairment after CAR-T cell therapy is typically mild; patients are not developing dementia, for instance. But it is frustrating and may not resolve on its own, Monje said. In mice, her team reversed the impairment using compounds similar to existing medications or medications in clinical development -- meaning a treatment could be available relatively quickly, she said.

"We're deeply interested in how cancer therapies affect cognition because it affects patients' quality of life," Monje said. "And this is especially important for kids because their brains are still developing."

Investigating brain fog

CAR-T cell therapy was approved for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2017. The treatment involves removing some of the patient's own immune cells, known as T cells, and engineering them to attack targets on cancer cells. The modified T cells are returned to the patient's body, where they recognize and destroy cancer.

In addition to leukemia, CAR-T cells are now used to treat other blood cancers, including multiple myeloma and some kinds of lymphoma, and they are being tested in clinical trials for various solid tumors. Monje and her colleagues have an ongoing trial of CAR-T cells for deadly brain stem and spinal cord tumors in children, which is beginning to show success.

Although patients report brain fog after CAR-T cell therapy, studies to measure how much cognitive impairment the therapy causes are only just emerging.

The research team wanted to get a comprehensive understanding of the situations in which CAR-T cell therapy might cause cognitive impairment. They studied mice that had tumors induced in the brain, blood, skin and bone. The researchers wanted to understand the influence on cognition of CAR-T cell treatment in combination with the tumors' location (originating in, spreading to or staying outside the brain), as well as the degree to which the engineered cells evoked additional, accompanying immune responses. Before and after CAR-T cell treatment, the researchers used standard cognitive tests on the mice, measuring how mice responded to a novel object and navigated a simple maze.

CAR-T therapy caused mild cognitive impairment in mice with cancers originating in, metastasizing to and located completely outside the brain. The only mice tested that did not develop cognitive impairment after CAR-T treatment were those that had bone cancer that causes minimal additional inflammation beyond the cancer-fighting activity of the CAR-T cells.

"This is the first study to demonstrate that immunotherapy on its own is sufficient to cause lasting cognitive symptoms," Monje said. "It's also the first paper to uncover the mechanisms. We found the exact same pathophysiology we've seen in brain fog syndromes that occur after chemotherapy, radiation, and mild respiratory COVID-19 or influenza."

The researchers demonstrated that the brain's immune cells, called microglia, are key players in the problem. First, the microglia become activated by the body's immune response. The activated, "annoyed" microglia produce inflammatory immune molecules known as cytokines and chemokines, which in turn have widespread effects throughout the brain. They are particularly harmful for oligodendrocytes, the brain cells responsible for making myelin, the fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers and helps nerves transmit signals more efficiently. Reduction in the nerves' insulation translates into cognitive impairment.

The scientists also analyzed samples of brain tissue from human subjects who participated in the team's ongoing clinical trial of CAR-T cells for spinal cord and brain stem tumors. Using postmortem tissue samples, the researchers confirmed that microglia and oligodendrocytes appear dysregulated in the same way the team had observed in mice after CAR-T therapy.

In mice, the research team tested strategies to resolve the cognitive problems. They gave a compound that depleted microglia in the brains of the mice for a two-week period. After that transient depletion, the microglia returned in the brain in a normal, non-reactive state. The mice were no longer cognitively impaired.

The researchers also gave the mice a medication that enters the brain and interferes with signals from damaging chemokines, blocking a specific receptor for these molecules.

"That alone rescued cognition," Monje said, adding that the researchers are now exploring how to safely translate the two strategies -- transiently depleting microglia or interrupting chemokine signals -- in people who have had CAR-T cell therapy.

"This research further illustrates that there is a unifying principle underpinning brain fog syndromes," Monje said. "And this particular study is so exciting because not only have we identified the cells central to this pathophysiology, we've found a molecular target we can investigate to treat it."

Researchers from New York University's Grossman School of Medicine and from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, also contributed to the research.

The research was supported by grants from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Emerging Pathogens Initiative, a National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award (DP1NS111132), the National Cancer Institute (P50CA165962, R01CA258384, R01CA263500 and U19CA264504), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (F31NS135948), the National Eye Institute (R01EY033353), the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CLIN2-12595), the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, CureSearch, the McKenna Claire Foundation, the Unravel Pediatric Cancer Foundation, ChadTough Defeat DIPG, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Yuvaan Tiwari Foundation, the Chambers-Okamura Endowed Directorship for Pediatric Neuro-Immuno-Oncology, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research, the Waxman Family Research Fund, the Parekh Center for Interdisciplinary Neurology, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center Neurodegeneration Consortium
Originally from South America, the charismatic tegu made its way to the United States via the pet trade of the 1990s. After wreaking havoc in Florida's ecosystems, the exotic lizard was classified as an invasive species. But a recent discovery from the Florida Museum of Natural History reveals the reptiles are no strangers to the region -- tegus were here millions of years before their modern relatives arrived in pet carriers.

Described in a new study in the Journal of Paleontology, this breakthrough came from a single, half-inch-wide vertebra fossil that was unearthed in the early 2000s and puzzled scientists for the next 20 years. Jason Bourque, now a fossil preparator in the museum's vertebrate paleontology division, came across the peculiar fossil in the museum's collection freshly out of graduate school.

"We have all these mystery boxes of fossil bones, so I was digging through, and I kept coming across this one vertebra," Bourque said. "I could not figure out what it was. I put it away for a while. Then I'd come back and say: Is it a lizard? Is it a snake? In the back of my mind for years and years, it just sat there."

The vertebra had been found in a fuller's earth clay mine just north of the Florida border, after a tipoff from the local work crew prompted a visit from the museum's paleontologists. There was just one catch: The mine was slated to close, and its quarry, along with any exposed fossils, would soon be filled in. Working against a deadline, the scientists excavated as many fossils as they could and brought them back to the museum, where the vertebra sat in storage, its identity unresolved.

Years later, Bourque stumbled across an image of tegu vertebrae while looking through studies for a new research paper. "I saw the tegu, and I just knew right away that's what this fossil was," Bourque said.

Today, tegus are of particular interest to Florida's wildlife biologists and conservationists. Their bold patterns and docile attitudes make them attractive pets, but that often changes once they reach nearly 5 feet in length and weigh 10 pounds. Exotic pets have a knack for slipping free -- or being released -- into the wild, where they can take a heavy toll on native ecosystems. This is the case with modern tegus in Florida.

But until this point, there was no record of prehistoric tegus in North America. Bourque needed evidence to back up his revelation. Paleontologists typically work with multiple bones to identify an animal, but Bourque just had a single vertebra. He recruited his colleague, Edward Stanley, director of the museum's digital imaging laboratory, who saw an opportunity to try out a new, machine learning technique -- one that doesn't rely on a paleontologist's decades of specialized knowledge.

With a CT scan of the unidentified fossil, Stanley carefully measured and landmarked each bump, hole and furrow of the fossil. Next, he needed vertebrae from other tegus and related lizards for comparison. Fortunately, the team had access to an abundance of specimens thanks to the museum's openVertebrate (oVert) project, a free, online collection of thousands of 3D images of vertebrates. Instead of measuring these images by hand, Stanley used a technique developed by Arthur Porto, the museum's curator of artificial intelligence for natural history and biodiversity, to automatically recognize and fit the corresponding landmarks onto more than 100 vertebrae images from the database. By comparing the data of all their shapes, he determined the fossil matched the other tegus and pinpointed its original position to the middle of the lizard's spinal column.

While the fossil was unmistakably a tegu vertebra, it wasn't an exact match with any of the specimens in the database. This meant the team had uncovered a news species, which they named Wautaugategu formidus. Wautauga is the name of a forest near the mine where the fossil was discovered. Although the word's origin is unclear, it is thought to mean "land of the beyond," which Bourque and Stanley found fitting for the long-extinct species, that, despite having ancestral ties to South America, ended up in present-day Georgia.

"Formidus," a Latin word meaning "warm," alludes to the reason these lizards likely wound up in the southeastern United States in the first place. The fossil is from the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, a particularly warm period in Earth's geologic history. At the time, sea levels were significantly higher than today, and with most of Florida underwater, the historic coastline would have been near the site of the fossil bed. Tegus are terrestrial lizards, but they are strong swimmers. The warm climate may have tempted them to travel from South America into present-day Georgia, but the region did not remain hospitable for long.

"We don't have any record of these lizards before that event, and we don't have any records of them after that event. It seems they were here just for a blip, during that really warm period," Bourque said.

The tegus would likely have struggled and ultimately disappeared as global temperatures cooled. Like other egg-laying animals, their reproduction is highly dependent on temperature, and the cold may have limited their ability to produce or hatch eggs.

Finding more tegu fossils may help demystify the prehistoric lizard's brief stint in North America. "I'm ready to go up to the Panhandle and try to find more fossil sites along the ancient coastal ridge near the Florida-Georgia border," Bourque said.

Stanley, meanwhile, hopes the next find won't languish in storage. The combination of 3D modeling and artificial intelligence to identify fossils without relying on decades of specialized knowledge could dramatically speed up the process. With open access to data worldwide, it could even lead to a global database for fossil identification.

"There are boxes full, shelves full, of fossils that are unsorted because it requires a huge amount of expertise to identify these things, and nobody has time to look through them comprehensively," Stanley said. "This is a first step towards some of that automation, and it's very exciting see where it goes from here."
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday congratulated Anthony Albanese on his reelection as Australian prime minister.

Xi said that over the past three years, he had met with Prime Minister Albanese, and engaged with him in in-depth discussions on strategic, comprehensive and directional issues concerning the development of China-Australia relations.

These discussions led to important consensuses that have provided strategic guidance to improve and grow bilateral ties, he added.

Strengthening cooperation between China and Australia, Xi said, is of great significance for achieving shared development and promoting world peace and stability.

The Chinese president also expressed his readiness to work with Albanese to advance the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership in a steady fashion, delivering greater benefits to the people of both countries.

On the same day, Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Albanese, saying that China is willing to work with the new Australian government to promote a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. 
CAIRO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five historically and artistically significant artifacts, spanning multiple periods of ancient Egyptian civilization, have been repatriated from the United States to Egypt, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

The Egyptian Consulate General in New York oversaw the return of the artifacts, which the ministry described as the largest batch of illegally smuggled antiquities recovered in recent times.

The collection includes stone and wooden sarcophagus lids, ceramic and gilded wooden funerary masks, a large alabaster vase, and a portrait of a woman dating back to the Greco-Roman period (around 332 BC-640 AD).

Among the recovered items are also a wide range of jewelry crafted from various metals, a rare gold coin from the reign of Ptolemy I, and small bronze and stone statues depicting aspects of ancient Egyptian beliefs and artistic traditions.

The recovery was the result of a joint effort between the Egyptian Consulate General in New York, the related district attorney's office in New York City, and U.S. security agencies. The operation also involved prolonged negotiations with several private collectors in possession of the artifacts.

Additional support was provided by the relevant Egyptian authorities, including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Cultural Sector of the Foreign Ministry, and the Public Prosecution Service.

Egypt has intensified its global campaign in recent years to recover stolen antiquities, stepping up efforts to preserve and reclaim its ancient treasures. 
The first lunar samples returned to Earth in nearly half a century, collected by China's Chang'e-5 mission, have arrived in Britain on loan. #GLOBALink
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Brazil on Tuesday issued a joint statement on strengthening the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet and jointly upholding multilateralism, and a joint statement on the Ukraine crisis. 
SYDNEY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian growers are to trial an environmentally friendly method of weed control, which could potentially transform the way growers manage pests in crops, Melbourne-based La Trobe University said on Tuesday.

The five-year research project, with the cost of 4.74 million Australian dollar (3.02 million-U.S. dollar), will explore the use of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD), a chemical-free technique already proving effective in the United States and Europe, and could reshape the Australian horticulture, according to a press release from the university.

ASD works by applying organic carbon sources, moisture, and plastic mulch to create oxygen-deprived conditions in the soil.

This environment suppresses weeds and soil-borne diseases without relying on harmful fumigants. Once treated, the soil returns to a healthy aerobic state, enhancing harvest quantity and quality, the release said.

Project lead Ali Bajwa, senior lecturer in Weed Science and Agronomy at La Trobe, said ASD presents a sustainable, low-cost alternative as more chemical herbicides are phased out due to environmental concerns.

The new method allows growers to control pests without damaging the environment, while also making use of agricultural byproducts like chicken manure, rice bran and sugarcane molasses, Bajwa said, adding field trials will focus on crops grown under plastic mulch, such as strawberries, capsicums and melons, in Australia's Victoria and the Northern Territory.

The project includes collaboration with Clemson University in the U.S. state of South Carolina where ASD has significantly reduced weed and disease pressure in crops.

Araz Solomon, research and development manager at Australia's Hort Innovation, one of the funders, said the project is part of a broader initiative to provide science-driven, sustainable weed management solutions. 
The work of Michigan's community mental health (CMH) agencies like Sanilac County CMH, LifeWays, Washtenaw County CMH, and Summit Pointe would be severely impacted by Medicaid cuts. Leslie Cieplechowicz, Victoria Reackhof, Doug Coombe, and John Grap
SYDNEY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A woman has been charged with murder over a house fire in northern Australia that killed three children, police said on Tuesday.

The three children and the 36-year-old woman were among seven occupants of a house in Harristown, over 100 km west of Brisbane, that became engulfed in flames in the early hours of May 7.

The body of a nine-year-old boy was discovered inside the house and two girls, aged four and seven, later died in the hospital after suffering critical injuries. The 36-year-old woman was also hospitalized in a critical condition, while three males aged 34, 18 and 11 managed to escape the fire.

The police service in the state of Queensland said on Tuesday that the 36-year-old woman has been charged with three counts of murder as a domestic violence offense, three counts of attempted murder as a domestic violence offense and one count of arson following an extensive investigation.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation identified the woman who has been charged as Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, the mother of the three children who were killed and partner of the 34-year-old male.

The Queensland Police Service said that she remains in hospital in a critical condition. 
London stocks were still in the black by midday on Tuesday but gains were muted as investors continued to mull the US-China tariff pause and digested the latest UK jobs data.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.1% at 8,615.33.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "Having seen a strong start to the week on global markets following trade talks between the US and China, the rally has petered out. European markets were generally flat on Tuesday, big chunks of Asia pulled back, while futures prices imply a soggy start to trading on Wall Street later on.

"Markets had risen on the prospect of tariffs not being as harsh as previously indicated. Now comes the reality that tariffs will still exist in some form, which means its not completely back to life before Trump for many businesses around the world."

On home shores, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that wage growth slowed in January to March, while the unemployment rate ticked higher.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.5% - the highest level since June to August 2021.

Meanwhile, growth in average regular earnings excluding bonuses was 5.6%, down from 5.9%. Including bonuses, earnings growth was 5.5%, down from 5.7%.

Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: "Wage growth slowed slightly in the latest period but remains relatively strong, with public and private sectors now showing little difference.

"The broader picture continues to be of the labour market cooling, with the number of employees on payroll falling in the first quarter of the year. The number of job vacancies has also fallen again, with the rate of decline increasing in the last few months."

Elsewhere, data from the British Retail Consortium showed that a later Easter and the sunniest April on record helped UK retail sales surge last month, with growth picking up strongly after a weak showing in March.

Total retail sales rose at a year-on-year rate of 7% in April, following a 1.1% increase in March, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.

The Easter holidays, which typically result in increased spending by consumers, fell in March in 2024 but April in 2025. However, combining both months together, compared with the same two-month period the year before, sales were still up 4.3%.

In equity markets, Ladbrokes owner Entain shot to the top of the FTSE 100 after an upgrade to buy at UBS, while RS Group surged to the top of the FTSE 250 after an upgrade to buy at Bank of America.

Wickes racked up healthy gains as it hailed a strong start to the year, reporting a 6.9% jump in revenue for the 17 weeks to 26 April.

DCC tumbled after the sales, marketing and support services groups full-year revenues missed expectations.

Bytes Technology was also sharply lower even as it announced a special dividend and hiked its full-year payout to shareholders after a solid full-year performance, with profits rising by a double-digit percentage.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,615.33 0.12%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,734.03 0.52%

techMARK (TASX) 4,700.28 0.00%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Entain (ENT) 754.80p 4.75%

Kingfisher (KGF) 312.00p 3.11%

Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,763.50p 2.18%

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 318.10p 2.05%

Anglo American (AAL) 2,206.00p 2.04%

Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 274.80p 1.85%

Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 3,433.00p 1.84%

Persimmon (PSN) 1,368.00p 1.79%

Ashtead Group (AHT) 4,386.00p 1.74%

Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 118.95p 1.54%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

DCC (CDI) (DCC) 4,828.00p -4.77%

SEGRO (SGRO) 656.00p -1.41%

Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,928.00p -1.38%

Haleon (HLN) 398.50p -1.36%

Diageo (DGE) 2,152.00p -1.15%

Unilever (ULVR) 4,596.00p -1.03%

Imperial Brands (IMB) 2,913.00p -0.92%

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) 11,195.00p -0.89%

Compass Group (CPG) 2,593.00p -0.84%

British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,063.00p -0.75%

FTSE 250 - Risers

RS Group (RS1) 597.00p 5.57%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 83.05p 4.99%

Ocado Group (OCDO) 271.70p 2.99%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 820.80p 2.99%

Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 598.00p 2.75%

THG (THG) 27.24p 2.71%

WH Smith (SMWH) 1,017.00p 2.42%

Pagegroup (PAGE) 288.40p 2.41%

Bodycote (BOY) 554.00p 2.31%

Vistry Group (VTY) 638.80p 2.24%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Bytes Technology Group (BYIT) 526.50p -4.45%

Auction Technology Group (ATG) 544.00p -2.68%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,709.00p -2.12%

Derwent London (DLN) 1,958.00p -1.76%

Raspberry PI Holdings (RPI) 504.25p -1.71%

Mobico Group (MCG) 28.90p -1.63%

Just Group (JUST) 145.20p -1.63%

Great Portland Estates (GPE) 321.50p -1.53%

CMC Markets (CMCX) 252.50p -1.37%

Pennon Group (PNN) 482.80p -1.35%
On the Beach said on Tuesday that it was expecting another record year as it reported a jump in interim profit and revenue and said customer demand for its holidays "continues to buck wider UK consumer trends".

In the six months to the end of March, adjusted pre-tax profit rose 23% to 7.6m on revenue of 64.2m, up 7% on the same period a year earlier.

Booked total transactional value picked up 13% to 640.7m, driven by an 11% jump in booking volumes, which grew significantly ahead of the package holiday market.

OTB said trading momentum has continued since the half year, with third-quarter to date total transactional value growth currently up 18%.

The company said it expects deliver another record year and the board is confident in delivering FY25 profit in line with current consensus expectations.

Chief executive Shaun Morton said: "This record interim performance was driven by increased passenger bookings and reflects the strength of the On the Beach holiday proposition.

"Ongoing investment in our proprietary technology platform has supported our ambition to improve our customers' booking experience, enhance operational efficiency and to build scale. Embedding perks into our app has resonated well with customers, while transformational development to our platform have facilitated our successful expansion into Ireland and City break packages, offers which are scaling rapidly and being enjoyed by both new and existing customers.

"Demand for holidays remains strong as our customers continue to prioritise travel, and we are proud to have increased the breadth and quality of our offer so that they can holiday better and more often. This trend is reflected in our Summer '25 forward order TTV which is currently 14% ahead of last year."

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: "The news might be awash with worries about the economy, tariffs, geopolitical tensions and concerns about the jobs market, yet it seems nothing is going to get in the way of a summer holiday.

"On The Beachs trading update shows a business riding high thanks to strong demand to get away from the daily grind.

"People might be under financial pressure, but theyre happy to cut back on everyday treats if it means squirreling enough away for a week in a foreign land."
Honda Cars India has appointed Burson as its strategic communications partner

Burson will provide integrated communications support to strengthen Honda's image

Deepshikha Dharmaraj, CEO of Burson Group India, expressed excitement about the collaboration

Burson has been hired as the strategic communications partner for Honda Cars India to offer integrated communications support to build the brand's positioning and leadership in the Indian automotive market. The partnership is intended to reinforce Honda's reputation, enhance its brand narrative, and foster significant engagement with consumers and stakeholders.

Deepshikha Dharmaraj, Burson Group India Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the tie-up, citing Honda's rich heritage in the auto space. Having handled the reputations of top auto clients for more than three decades, Burson has intimate knowledge of the sector and its workings. Dharmaraj averred, "We are looking forward to associating ourselves with Honda Cars India, a brand that has surely established a legacy. Our in-depth experience will allow Honda to focus on its leadership in India's automotive scene."

The collaboration will concentrate on building strategic communication campaigns that speak to Honda's target market, highlighting the brand's dedication to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. With Burson's expertise, Honda intends to increase its presence and participation in an aggressive market, ultimately cementing its place as a reliable leader in the automotive industry.

By way of this collaboration, Burson and Honda Cars India are expected to craft impactful stories that uphold the brand vision and values and build a greater connect with customers and cement Honda's position as an industry leader in the Indian automobile sector.
Declared Indias decisive military response proved the effectiveness of Made in India defence systems.

Terrorist hubs and deep enemy airbases in Pakistan were destroyed with pinpoint accuracy.

Indian air defence systems neutralised Pakistani drones and missiles mid-air.

In a powerful address to the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the effectiveness of Indias indigenous defence systems had been decisively demonstrated during Operation Sindoor a strategic military response against Pakistan. The operation saw Indian forces execute precision strikes that not only obliterated terrorist hubs but also inflicted substantial damage on Pakistani airbases deep inside enemy territory.

"The world is now witnessing the arrival of the Made in India defence system as a formidable force in 21st-century warfare", PM Modi stated, emphasizing the strategic and technological prowess India has attained under the Make in India initiative. He noted that Pakistan, rattled by Indias swift and precise action, resorted to attacking civilian areas, including schools, colleges, religious sites, and military installations acts that highlighted its growing desperation and international isolation.

The Prime Minister detailed how Pakistans drones and missiles faltered in the face of Indias cutting-edge air defence systems, which successfully intercepted and neutralized incoming threats. He stressed that while Pakistan had prepared to target Indias borders, India had struck at the very core of Pakistans military infrastructure, achieving a significant tactical upper hand.

Indias growing self-reliance in advanced defence technologies, with their loitering capabilities of up to two hours proving instrumental in precision targeting. Central to this operation was the deployment of indigenous defence technologies. The BrahMos missile system, jointly developed by India and Russia, played a pivotal role in demolishing critical enemy airbases. Additionally, the successful deployment of Kamikaze drones, co-developed by Indias Adani Groups Alpha Design Technologies and Israels Elbit Systems, marked a historic leap in Indias drone warfare capabilities. These SkyStriker drones, manufactured in Bengaluru, showcasedin advanced defence technologies, with their loitering capabilities of up to two hours proving instrumental in precision targeting.

Within the first three days of Indias offensive, Pakistan reportedly faced devastation far beyond its expectations. As the strikes continued, Pakistan sought to de-escalate tensions, reaching out to the global community in a bid to halt the conflict.

PM Modi asserted that Operation Sindoor not only reinforces Indias dominance on the battlefield but also introduces a new chapter in modern warfare where India leads with innovation, strategy, and indigenous strength. Whether in deserts, mountains, or new age warfare domains, India has demonstrated unmatched superiority, he concluded.
Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu praised PM Narendra Modi for shaping India's new doctrine.

"As Indians, we shall stay united and always put the nation first", Naidu said.

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also praised Modis address.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for framing India's new strategic doctrine and sending a stern message to Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.

In a post on 'X', Naidu asserted, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not just talk, he defined India's new doctrine. His speech was a strong warning to Pakistan-supported terrorists and a categorical message of power to the world". He pointed out that India now receives international respect for its ancient spiritual traditions as well as cutting-edge technological strength.

India's defence technology, stating, "Our made-in-India defence technology has demonstrated our preparedness for modern warfare to defend our country, and every Indian is proud of it". Referring to 'Operation Sindoor', Naidu stated, "During Operation Sindoor, we were able to successfully deploy indigenously manufactured drones and weapons to target strategic infrastructure that fed state-sponsored terrorism across the border". He praised, stating, "Our made-in-India defence technology has demonstrated our preparedness for modern warfare to defend our country, and every Indian is proud of it".

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader, a significant supporter of the NDA government, went on to say that with PM Modi at the helm, the country is "standing tall, peaceful in intention, strong in might and unwavering in purpose".

"As Indians, we shall remain united and always keep the nation first", he further said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan hailed Modis address, stating, Wow! What a powerful message by PM Narendra Modi to the entire Bharat and the international community on Operation Sindoor.
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross for an afternoon tea on Monday, May 19, at the Island Chateau in Grasmere. (Staten Island Advance/Jessica J

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is seeking questions from small business owners about New York Citys free entrepreneurial resources. The organization is hosting NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross for an afternoon tea on Monday, May 19, and all local business owners are encouraged to attend.

Gross will speak to small businesses, provide information on SBS services and upcoming events, and answer questions, the Chamber noted in a press release. Upon registering, small businesses can provide a question they would like answered during the event.

The free event will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Island Chateau in Grasmere. All small businesses are eligible to attend. Chamber membership is not required, but participants should register for the event.

Interested parties can visit www.sichamber.com/events to register or direct any questions to Michael Anderson, the Chambers small business resource supervisor at manderson@sichamber.com.
Wendy's welcomes riffs on its iconic Frosty with new Frosty Fusions, starting this week nationwide. (Courtesy of Geneva Adams) Silvestri

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Talk about a frosty reception at Wendys. The Frosty Fusion debuted this week throughout the U.S., a combo blends Oreo Brownie, Pop Tarts Strawberry and Caramel Crunch flavors.

The new concoction is available now in all stores across the country. So called Fusions come on the heels of another fresh item, the Frosty Swirl. Both inventions have landed on menus just in time for the chain restaurants 50th anniversary. To further commemorate the moment, The Frosty original, is now available for a limited time at just 50 cents.

Born in 1969, The Frosty was the brainchild of Fred Kappus, He was the CEO of Kappus Company, an Ohio-based foodservice equipment distributor. According to Wendys, Kappus remembers the day Dave Thomas called him looking for a frozen dairy treat to complement the menu at his new Columbus restaurant. It was a call that changed both their lives.

Dave was in search of a frozen dairy treat to put on the menu at his new hamburger restaurant on Broad Street in Columbus, Kappus says, as per Wendys. His family business, founded by his father John in 1948, distributed ice cream machines, making Kappus the perfect person to help develop what would become the Frosty.

Eventually, he inspiration came from an unlikely source  a race track in Cleveland. The track advertised their Secret Formula, Frosted Malted, which involved mixing vanilla into chocolate to create a smoother, maltier flavor.

Kappus and his team brought samples to Dave, nervous about impressing the restaurateur. But ultimately Dave loved the product.

It was a hit indeed. Kappus and Dave became friends. And the company remains loyal to the Kappus apparatus to this day.

There are seven Wendys on Staten Island, the latest one to open at 2790 Hylan Blvd. It features a covered outdoor patio with anchored seats and table structures. The Frosty character appeared at the new restaurants grand opening in January, much to the delight of store staff and management.
John Cena is back in the headlines as he discusses the recent revelation that he has previously battled skin cancer.

He made the revelation as part of a recent interview with PEOPLE, and it came up as part of the discussion about why he is partnering with Neutrogena for a new sunscreen release.

The 47-year-old, 17-time World Champion said he grew up near Newburyport and Salisbury Beach and spent plenty of summers walking beachside without sunscreen. Then, he said, in his 20s he moved to Florida and fell in love with the sun, but again wasnt big on sunscreen. Years later, though, a trip to the dermatologist changed how he viewed things.

I went to a dermatologist and got a skin checkup and had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec, he said.

Cena said after he had the spot removed his dermatologist called him and told him to come back in.

The stats one this are overwhelming, but as much as I learn about them, those numbers dont mean anything, he said. I think the best way to hammer home a point is human-to-human connection. And I as a human can tell you: Man, that phone calls not what you want to get because it is unpredictable, and you dont know how bad its going to be.

A year later I went back and had another spot removed closed to my right shoulder, he said. It shows up like a white polka dot on the side of my chest and on my shoulder. If you watch WWE, youll be able to see them.

He said its tough to deal with because my mind always goes to the worst-case scenario.

The good news is Cena is, for now, healthy and fine.

Im at a great space in my life where thats now important to me, he said. And Im so grateful to be able to dodge those two bullets, but I wear them as a reminder of Hey man, you need to take the extra few seconds to protect yourself every day.
Pope Leo XIV embraces former Staten Island priest Rev. Joseph Mostardi in Vatican City, Rome, after being elevated to cardinal in September 2023. (Courtesy of Father Joseph Mostardi)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Rev. Joseph Mostardi was watching TV in Ocean City, New Jersey, when he saw Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV  a man hes known as a friend for over 30 years.

I was stunned. I couldnt believe I heard his name read out loud in Latin, Father Mostardi told the Advance/SILive.com. We knew it was a possibility, but those of us who have known him never really thought it was going to happen  it was almost like a fairy tale when he walked out on the balcony.

My phone blew up and I must have had a hundred text messages from all over the United States and Italy, he said.

Rev. Joseph Mostardi, at right, shown outside Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Tompkinsville, and Pope Leo XIV have a friendship that dates back to Villanova University. (Associated Press, Advance/SILive.com)

Father Mostardi, 75, the former pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Tompkinsville, now serves at Our Mother of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He described how the two crossed paths many times as both students at Villanova University and priests within the St. Augustine order.

They would later reunite during missionary work with poor families in Chulucanas, Peru, and at various meetings, prayer sessions and social events.

I would travel to Rome, bringing groups on pilgrimage, Father Mostardi recalled. And when available, he would be very hospitable to meet with these groups and talk to us about who the Augustinians are and the various saints of the order. He was always very friendly.

Returning to Vatican City when the future pope was elevated to cardinal in 2023, Father Mostardi found it heartwarming to hear family and former classmates tell stories of the man theyd formerly known as Robert.

On his most recent visit this past January, Father Mostardi spent a week in the city alongside his old friend as they celebrated mass and shared several meals.

One of the enjoyable parts of our life is the community we create with each other, Father Mostardi said. Whether we work or live together, we find a space in our minds and hearts for each other. Even after not seeing him for years, when he was with his brothers in Augustine, he was just one of us.

Pope Leo XIV, center, visited with fellow Villanova University alumni, including longtime friend Rev. Joseph Mostardi, fourth from right, on May 17, 2024. (Courtesy of Father Joseph Mostardi)

The former Staten Islander also describes the new pontiff as an extremely humble and highly educated man who is not only a seasoned speaker due to his various leadership roles, but a very good listener.

Based on these skills, Father Mostardi expects that Pope Leo XIV will proceed cautiously as he relies on his cardinals to be his eyes and ears throughout the world to help move the church forward.

Father Mostardi believes that Pope Leos vision for the Catholic church is going to be a very positive one. While the pope has commented that his papacy will incorporate documents of the Vatican Council  which Father Mostardi knows may disappoint those who believe the church should return to more traditional rituals  he sees the pope as having a progressive imagination, but one that has a sense of tradition to it.

He is a great advocate of the poor and the immigrant communities, Father Mostardi said. Given the political issues in the United States related to immigration, I would love to see him address some of that. His plates going to be pretty full.
Heads of State and officials pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

ABIDJAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?"

Nearly 2,500 business leaders and public officials from more than 75 countries are participating in this annual gathering, which aims to establish a new pact between African states and businesses to accelerate the continent's economic transformation.

The two-day event is focused on efforts to improve governance, optimize public policies, and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

At the opening ceremony, President of Cote d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara called on African decision-makers to rethink the frameworks of collaboration between the private and public sectors.

He said that the transformation of African economies must, among other priorities, be based on mastering digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. He called for a committed effort to develop concrete, ambitious, and contextually appropriate solutions to help foster the next generation of African champions. 

Rwandan President Paul Kagame (L), Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (C) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (L) meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara speaks during a presidential panel at the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) meets with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, May 12, 2025. The 12th edition of the Africa CEO Forum opened on Monday in Abidjan, under the theme "Can a New Deal Between the State and Private Sector Deliver the Continent a Winning Hand?" (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Mayor Eric Adams launched a new City Hall office Tuesday aimed at combatting antisemitism in the five boroughs.

Moshe Davis, a longtime fixture in the Adams administration, will lead the new Mayors Office to Combat Antisemitism created to fight what Adams described as a rising tide of hatred against Jewish people in the five boroughs.
An update on the condition for former Rep. Michael Grimm has been given as supporters will hold a Staten Island fundraiser for the injured ex-lawmaker on Wednesday.

Michael keeps making steady progress albeit with a long road ahead of him, longtime friend Vincent Ignizio told the Advance/SILive.com. Hes just appreciative of the outpouring of support from the Staten Island community and those who are assisting with his recovery efforts.

Ignizio is the former South Shore lawmaker and current deputy executive director of the New York City Board of Elections.

Grimm was paralyzed from the chest down in a fall from a horse while playing polo in September 2024. The former GOP congressman was working for the Newsmax cable channel at the time.

A fundraiser for Grimms continuing recovery will be held this Wednesday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the Blue Pearl Restaurant, 37 Navy Pier Court, on Staten Island.

The event is being hosted by Phil Farinacci, Bob Kelly and Scott LoBaido.

Its Michael Grimm, said Island artist LoBaido. He was a congressman. A Marine. He always had a smile. Its the least we can do. He needs help, he needs funds, he needs love.

LoBaido will auction off one of his signature American flag paintings at the event, with the proceeds going to Grimm.

This is the beauty of Staten Island, LoBaido said. Community. We always gather around those in our family who need help.

He said, I hope people join in and gather around this guy.

For more information about the fundraiser, call 917-922-4684 or email maybelleviola@gmail.com.

Grimm in January gave supporters a video update on his condition, saying in part that little by little, Im getting better. As you can see, Im now in a wheelchair. Im working on my fingers, getting more dexterity in my fingers, and then getting my legs to move. But everything is moving in the right direction, and I cant thank you enough.

Grimm thanked supporters for their well wishes and prayers.
President Donald Trump is taking flak from MAGA supporters after being gifted a $400 million luxury jet by the Qatar royal family.

Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, all the restthat is not America first, conservative pundit Ben Shapiro said during the most recent episode of his show. It just isnt America first in any conceivable way.

The Boeing 747 aircraft, described as a palace in the sky, would be used as Air Force One for the remainder of Trumps term in office, the Daily Beast reported, before being transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation.

The U.S. Constitution forbids presidents from taking such gifts absent congressional approval.

Shapiro said that accepting the gift jet isnt good for the Trump, his agenda, draining the swamp, or getting things done.

If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop, he added.

Conservative activist Laura Loomer called the gift concerning, according to Politico.

We cannot accept a $400 million gift from jihadists in suits, she wrote on social media.

Loomer wrote, This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true. And I say that as someone who take a bullet for Trump. Im so disappointed.

Fox News host Mark Levin concurred.

Ditto, he wrote in reply to Loomers comments.

Trump on Truth Social appeared to confirm the gift.

So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA, the president wrote.
Pope Leo XIV had an initial one-word response when asked by a reporter on Monday if he had a message for his native United States.

It left observers wondering if the pontiff would soon have more to say about President Donald Trumps policies.

Reporter Robert Sherman from NewsNation shook Pope Leos hand as the pontiff walked passed a cordoned-off press area in the Vatican.

Sherman said, Holy Father, Father  any message for the United States?

Newsweek reported that the pope appeared to laugh and nod as he turned back and said, Many, before adding, May God bless you all.

Pope Leos cryptic comment could mean that the pontiff will have more to say in the future about some of Trumps policies.

Pope Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American-born pontiff in church history.

Since his election last week, there has been speculation about what type of relationship Leo will have with Trump.

Before his election, the pope had reposted items critical of Trump and Vice President JD Vance on his social media accounts.

The Trump White House last week had perhaps a surprising reaction to past criticism of the president by Pope Leo.

Replying to a reporters question, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, The president made his reaction to Pope Leos announcement yesterday very clear: he is very proud to have an American pope. I think it was a surprise to everyone, I saw the news media was surprised to report on that yesterday but its a great thing for the United States of America and the world and we are praying for him.
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GAZA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Gaza's health authorities on Tuesday condemned an Israeli strike on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis that killed at least three people, including a Palestinian journalist, and wounded dozens, as the enclave's healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse.

In a statement, officials described the attack as "a violation of medical neutrality" and warned that continued Israeli operations, combined with restrictions on the entry of medical supplies, had pushed Gaza's health infrastructure to the point of total breakdown.

The strike caused extensive damage to hospital units and injured several medical staff, the statement said.

Among the dead was Hassan Eslieh, a Palestinian journalist who was being treated at the facility for injuries sustained in an earlier Israeli airstrike on April 7. Eslieh, who worked as a field correspondent and director for the Alam 24 news agency, was remembered by colleagues and local media for his reporting on the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

The Hamas-run government media office condemned what it described as the "systematic targeting" of journalists and urged the international community to hold Israel accountable. Eslieh's death brought the number of journalists killed in the conflict since Oct. 7, 2023, to 215, according to the office.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine also mourned Eslieh's death, praising his efforts to document the situation on the ground.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in a statement released earlier Tuesday, said the Nasser hospital compound had been used by Hamas operatives to plan and launch attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. The statement alleged that senior Hamas official Ismail Barhoum, believed killed in a previous Israeli strike in March, had operated from the hospital. Barhoum was described as Hamas' top leader in Gaza and head of its financial and institutional networks.

"Senior Hamas officials continue to use the hospital for terrorist activity, through cynical and brutal use of the civilian population in the hospital and its surroundings," the IDF said, adding that it had used precision munitions, aerial surveillance and other intelligence to minimize civilian casualties.

The latest strike comes amid continued Israeli air raids across the Gaza Strip and a worsening humanitarian crisis. On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes reportedly targeted several locations, including a residential building sheltering displaced people in the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City. One woman was killed and several others wounded, according to local reports.

Gaza health authorities said the death toll from the Israeli offensive, which began in October 2023, has risen to 52,908. 
When Marcus Zusak came to Margaret River in 2000 to do a library reading from his first novel, nobody turned up. The librarian made him do the reading anyway.

Twenty-five years later, when The Book Thief author returned, he was in a big theatre full of readers. Its amazing to us that youre still out there, he said to his audience. It gives me hope. I feel like Im looking at the last bastion of civilisation.

Hannah Kent, pictured at her childhood home, appeared at the Margaret River Writers Festival. Credit: Ben Searcy Photography

These last bastions crop up everywhere. In May alone weve seen events such as the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, the Melbourne Writers Festival, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival, with the Sydney Writers Festival due to start on Monday.

I attended the 17th Margaret River festival, in the southwestern corner of Australia, possibly the most isolated literary gathering in the world. That isolation, plus a federal election and wild weather, failed to stop a record crowd of more than 7000 watching more than 50 writers, including Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey, Booker finalist Charlotte Wood, feminist icon turned crime writer Jane Caro and bestselling Irish novelist Marian Keyes.
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Review Eating outMelbourne Tough day at the office? Take out your frustrations at this smashing city lunch spot Chinese restaurant Pounding Rice Bowl provides the mortar, pestle, rice and pork and asks diners to smash away. Dani Valent May 14, 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

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The signature pounding rice bowl with pork and eggplant. Wayne Taylor Chinese$$$$ Youve ordered food, the kitchen has prepared it, and its arrived at your table looking lovely. Theres only one thing to do: wreck it. Pick up the provided pestle and pound your meal into a mash. Thats the concept at Pounding Rice Bowl, a new city restaurant that explains its key activity in its name. Smashing a bowl of rice, minced pork, and soft braised eggplant is a great idea. The broken rice absorbs the juice from the pork, the eggplant becomes almost creamy and the amalgam makes for comforting chopsticked mouthfuls. Macerated screw peppers, a type of twisty green chilli, are served alongside. Other rice bowl toppings include braised pork belly and meatballs, but no matter the garnish, the rice is the star. Premium wuchang rice is imported from Heilongjiang province in north-east China: medium grain and slightly sticky, its a perfect carrier for bold, savoury flavours.

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Pounding Rice Bowl on Russell Street. Wayne Taylor Chinas south-central province of Hunan is the main inspiration behind these dishes but dont go there and expect to be given a pounding stick whenever you eat out. There is a Hunanese dish of preserved century egg, chilli and eggplant that its traditional to bash  either in the kitchen, or at the dining table  but Pounding Rice Bowl owner Ben Wen expanded the concept for his Melbourne restaurant, building a whole brand around the idea of self-smashed food. Originally from the famous beer town of Qingdao (home to Tsingtao) in eastern China, Wen is an ever-creative entrepreneur whos opened 70 venues since 2008, including pizza parlours, dumpling houses, barbecue chicken joints and a Peking duck restaurant. His fast-casual smarts and an expansive vision for modern Australian-Chinese food combine in this restaurant, which he plans to expand to Asian hubs Box Hill and Glen Waverley. The scallion oil noodles are one of the best sub-$10 lunches in town. Open from lunch to late (and soon for breakfast), Pounding Rice Bowl is just out of the Chinatown fray. Theres cosy seating downstairs near the kitchen, while the first floor is spacious, decorated with custom illustrative artwork by an employee with a background designing Chinese film paraphernalia.

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Ordering is via QR code, but theres no problem engaging with a waiter if you prefer. Limitless pickles and sweet plum juice are available at help-yourself stations, just one more sign of the hospitality here. Pounding Rice Bowls fried chicken. Wayne Taylor The menu is broad and savvy, reflecting a kitchen that employs chefs from all over China, and allows them to showcase their specialties. A range of classic Aussie-Chinese dishes, such as sweet-and-sour pork and honey chicken, keeps nervous guests on-side. The more adventurous  or simply acculturated  go hard on offal and odd-bits such as fried duck head and spicy pork ears. I love the fried chicken bone, a whole carcass that is marinated, braised, fried and served with a zingy Sichuan spice salt featuring 21 ingredients. Gloves are provided so you can eat with gusto: crack some bones, nibble their edges, get messy and give yourself extra points for eating the last (delicious) scraps from a product that often hits the bin. Scallion oil noodles made with 00 pizza flour. Wayne Taylor

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Youll also want to try the springy, fresh house-made noodles. To make them, Wen uses the 00 flour he fell in love with during his pizza shop days. Hes also a fan of Melbourne water, saying its not even necessary to add salt to make a wonderful dough. The scallion oil noodles here are one of the best sub-$10 lunches in town, using three different types of onion to create a piquant but sweet dressing for the long noodles. Pan-fried pork dumplings. Wayne Taylor Meanwhile, the dumplings are better than decent. Pork parcels everywhere often include cabbage; these ones smuggle in water chestnut for a more sophisticated crunch, just one more way Pounding Rice Bowl shows a level of detail and care at a keen price point. Smashing may be the activity; smash hit is the result.

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Congratulations to Sussan Ley (Ley beats Taylor to become first woman to lead the liberals: Price withdraws candidacy May 13). The expression poisoned chalice springs to mind, especially considering the likely prospect of leading a divided team including the defeated Angus Taylor. The notion of pursuing a nuclear agenda while dismissing, even denying climate change, contrary to voters emphatic election results, blasts a big hole in the Coalition boat. Once the crew of all-white Anglo males get restless, as they do, commanding a sinking ship might lose its appeal. As for Jacinta Price jumping ship after Taylors leadership defeat, was anyone really surprised? Her lifebuoy was no doubt conveniently close at hand. Coalition-style politics, it would appear, attracts team members whose loyalty is wedded firmly to self-interest. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why Credit: Cathy Wilcox At last, the Liberal Party has acknowledged that women do have a significant role to play in Australian politics, but watch your back very carefully, Sussan Ley. Those stale, pale males will already be stalking you. Richard Watson, Pyrmont Sussan Leys election will bring the Liberal Party home. Bells will ring over Albury and the great organ at St Matthews Church play in celebration of her election as head of the Liberal Party, which is more than a personal win but a great thing for her hometown. Sir Robert Menzies, who founded the Liberal Party in Albury just around the corner from Sussan Leys office, would be heartened that the ideals upon which he built the party will have a new lease of life under its first female leader. Sussan is a patron of the St Matthews Albury Bell Tower in a church rebuilt after being destroyed by fire. One of the legacies is the mighty pipe organ. Renowned American concert organist Colin Andrews will open his concert with a celebratory fanfare that will blow the cobwebs from the Liberal Party defeat and show the parishs support for Sussan Ley. Rector Peter MacLeod-Miller, Albury Sussan Ley would do well to reflect on her time as Abbotts deputy when in opposition. Ley sat quietly while her cohorts, egged on by the very vocal media led by the now disgraced Alan Jones, treated Julia Gillard, the prime minister of Australia, in the most disgraceful and appalling manner. I doubt Ley will be subject to the same vitriol. Pradip Devalia, Castle Hill Ley wouldnt have been my choice as a strong, principled and resilient leader, but then neither would Taylor. There are talented people within the Liberal Party, but they chose not to put themselves forward right now. Sometimes, when you wait for a more propitious moment, its gone with the wind, never to blow your way again. Rosemary OBrien, Ashfield Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley and her deputy, Ted OBrien. Credit: James Brickwood.

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After 50 years looking at elections, I cant remember a time when the coals have been so thoroughly raked over and the defeated side given such a relentless pasting. I reckon everything that could be said has been said. Please, can we draw a line under all this and move onto some more interesting topics, such as the fate of Katoomba, bike paths and noisy morning birds? Ross MacPherson, Seaforth Kapterian captive The very narrow win for Liberal Gisele Kapterian in Bradfield is sad news for many in the electorate (Libs Kapterian seizes seat on a razor-thin margin, May 13). Nowhere in Kapterians campaign material was the word environment mentioned. She failed to turn up for a meet-the-candidates meeting organised by environment and climate groups across the electorate. At the end of the day, she is just another member of the Liberal Party who will be even more indebted to the nuclear, anti-renewable energy Nationals. Back on track? Back to the past. Carolyn Pettigrew, Turramurra Congratulations to Gisele Kapterian. No doubt some voters may lament that the seat did not fall to the teals as in the neighbouring seats of Warringah and McKellar (and Wentworth across the harbour). In the words from the epic poem by Thomas McCauley Horatius at the Bridge, about the Etruscans attacking Rome: With weeping and laughter, still was the story told, how well Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old. Kapterian has kept the bridge. I hope she will prove to be an outstanding MP and help rehabilitate the opposition to become a credible alternative government, which is so necessary in a democracy. Dennis Bluth, Cammeray Gisele Kapterian (right) narrowly won Bradfield for the Liberals, defeating teal Nicolette Boele (left). Fact from faction Your correspondent concludes with politics is a brutal business that (hopefully) extracts the best talent available (Letters, May 13). I am concerned that the people who come out on top may be those whose best talent is factional warfare. Im not sure I want such people to be guiding the country and making decisions about peoples lives. Bill Irvine, Goulburn

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Am I alone in experiencing a sinking feeling, as in Canberra factions, ministries and policies form and reform, completely in isolation to the voting we did last week? Is it only me who watches ideas such as tax and gambling and renewable energy reforms softly and silently vanish as voters are told to go into the next room to play while the adults discuss important things without us. Why do I suspect we will see no action until asked to vote again in three years time? Will this again be the triumph of hope over experience as the politicians ignore the people who elected them? Allan Kreuiter, Roseville E-scooters a menace to pedestrians As a walker, I spend a lot of time on shared paths. I walk in fear of cyclists approaching from behind me with an alarming swoosh as they pass close by. I now learn that e-scooters are to be added to the shared path traffic (Clear and legal path ahead for e-scooters, May 13). With the questionable balance of those of senior years, much as I try, I cannot be sure to walk in a straight line. It seems only a matter of time before Im bowled over by a set of wheels. Walking used to be such a peaceful form of exercise. Bridget Oquist, Redfern On Monday evening as I was walking in the dark along the Darling Street footpath in Balmain, an e-scooter travelling at over 30km/h with no lights or warning bell passed me from behind. It scared the hell out of me. The driver was a young man with no helmet and was gone before I could offer him my suggestions. Its fine to say this behaviour is against the law, but who will enforce it? When was the last time you saw a police officer walking the beat? The first person injured should sue the premier. I just hope its not a small child. Ross Elliott, Balmain Unlike every other road user, there is no suggestion regarding the licensing, registration, insurance or road tax for e-scooters. If someone is knocked over by one, how do they identify it? The less-polluting aspect is a positive, but there are obvious problems that need resolving. Maybe thats why Melbourne has banned them in the CBD. Greg Thomas, Annandale An e-scooter rider alongside a concrete mixer. Credit: Scott McNaughton Youve got to be kidding me. The state government is making e-scooters legal on shared pathways, streets, roads. Who is going to supervise and enforce what appear to be open-ended and unenforceable rules and regulations? Will the operators of these potentially lethal vehicles be licensed and have compulsory third-party insurance, like motorcycles? Having already experienced close encounters, I can only envisage the outcome of legalising their use as a catastrophe for elderly pedestrians with mobility issues. Surely its a very, very dumb decision. Graham Tooth, Kings Point

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Here in the Bankstown area, where many of the footpaths are too narrow for two pedestrians to pass each other comfortably, how will this great plan work? I have nearly been knocked down on numerous occasions, so how will a 10-15km/h limit stop us from being injured? Part of the recommendations must be licences, driving tests, registration and insurance. Footpaths were originally intended to take pedestrians out of the way of horse-drawn vehicles. Now we will have motorised scooters/bikes competing with pedestrians. Again we see Premier Chris Minns caving in to another lobby group  this time the bike lobby  to the detriment of pedestrians. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl Spare a thought for overworked police dealing with drug crime, home invasions, violence and traffic accidents. As it is, they dont have time to worry about cyclists with no helmets, riding on footpaths and going through red lights. How are they meant to police e-scooters speeding on footpaths? I was nearly bowled over by a trio of early teens who appeared round a corner doing at least 40km/h on the footpath. In the US parents can be held responsible for gun crime committed by their children. What about parents here who buy e-bikes and scooters for their kids and must be aware of illegal modifications to allow excessive speed? Eric Scott, Bondi Junction Compass check The question that must now be asked is why Richard Flanagan chose to batter Labor with his curmudgeonly assault after its great victory (The lefts on the brink of irrelevence, May 13)? The Albanese government has already begun to implement policies in areas like health, aged and disabled care, schooling, housing, the environment and public service provision, which benefit the whole nation, especially our least well-off. It has made clear more of the same must come  that better needs to be done on issues of equity like tax reform and First Nations assistance. If that is centre-right what, pray, is centre-left? The governments agenda differs markedly from the Coalitions retrogressive mindset and the unaffordable offerings of the Greens. As the government struggles to maintain a promising progressiveness in times of global turmoil, it could do without the unflattering fallacies of friends like Flanagan. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne Richard Flanagans article would have had more impact if he could have given some examples of what Labor could do to make it more relevant to its roots  such as courage to tackle the inequities in the taxation system. Gillian Baldwint, Windradyne Jumbo perks So inured have we become to the ethical and moral wasteland of the Trump administration that the gifting of a Boeing 747-8 jumbo valued at $620 million from the Qatari royal family, and outfitted to serve as Air Force One, is just another day. (Trump jet gift sparks concerns, May 13 ). When he leaves office, this flying palace will become Trumps very own. There is no point in saying that this violates the US Constitution since Trump rules by executive decree and the Constitution is a dead letter. Democracy is dying the death of a thousand cuts. Bernard Moylan, Bronte

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The Qatari royal family has gifted a Boeing 747-8 jumbo valued at $620 million to the Trump administration. Credit: BOEING Things must be pretty crook in South Canada if they cannot afford their own presidential jet. John Hyde, Ashfield I would get my rosary beads now. When Trump finds out about this there will be a 150 per cent tariff on the Vatican (Thanks to the Pope, Trump no longer the most important American in the world, May 13). Neville Turbit, Russell Lea GPs bear the brunt Discussion of doctors fees and the demand that GP visits should be free brings to mind the adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch (Letters, May 13). Recent correspondents, and the public in general are perhaps unaware that the Medicare legislation forbids private health funds from refunding more than the difference between the Medicare rebate and the schedule fee for specialist visits. The specialist colleges have routinely raised their fees annually in line with the consumer price index, hence the increasingly large specialist gap fees. Health funds are also forbidden from paying anything at all for GP visits. Medicare rebates generally, but more pertinently for general practice, have risen since the inception of Medicare at a fraction of the annual CPI. This, coupled with the incessant pressure for GPs to bulk-bill, has led to an inexorable decline in GP incomes, to the point of unsustainability. Small wonder that GPs are quitting practice, and that fewer and fewer doctors are entering GP training. Neither circumstance would have come to be had Medicare rebates been linked from the start to the CPI. Peter Craig, Dulwich Hill

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Police say a proposal to put a 24-hour McDonalds in the heart of Redfern will lead to a spike in violent crime and e-bike theft, as the plans ignite indignation among residents.

In a submission to the councils independent planning panel, Senior Constable Peter Langbein said a McDonalds outlet could introduce more e-bike thefts, robberies and violent crime after dark.

An artists impression of a proposed 24-hour McDonalds restaurant in Redfern. Credit: Webber Architects

The site is on the corner of Redfern and Regent streets and is occupied by a tobacconist and a linen shop. Angry residents have labelled the proposal a poison and blemish on the map of Redfern and a fluorescent blight.

Langbein wrote in his submission that an increase in people coming to Redfern for the restaurant could contribute to antisocial behaviour in neighbouring streets.
Well, not today. Dont forget your brolly on the commute home, as heavy falls are expected in Brisbane this afternoon and into the night.

Later today and tonight will see showers develop and become widespread in Brisbane, with the potential to see 15 to 30 millimetres in many parts of the city over the coming 24 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement.

Amounts will tail off further inland, with less expected in the western suburbs out to Ipswich.

Dont forget your umbrella. Credit: William Davis

Brisbane has experienced a rather soggy autumn thanks to a persistent blocking high-pressure system over southern Australian and warmer than average sea surface temperatures.

This kind of synoptic setup brings isolated showers, climatologist Felicity Gamble from the bureau said.

It doesnt mean consistent rain. It means clouds come over and it can get quite cool and rainy for a moment and then it moves on and it becomes sunny, she says.

This mixed bag of weather is expected to continue until the end of the month.

Were expecting a dry change in June, Gamble said.
A toll or levy for motorists using Story Bridge has been threatened as Brisbane City Council prepares to make another bid for state and federal funding to complete significant restoration work.

An independent report commissioned by the council found the 85-year-old structure required a 15-year period of continued work.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told 4BCs Peter Fegan a toll or levy was a 100 per cent no from council, but repair costs exceeded the budget.

Workers maintain the Story Bridge in Brisbane. Credit: Brisbane City Council

He said that without government help, the council could be forced to consider options, including an annual rates levy, a toll, or private sponsorship to fund the restoration.
A devastated mother says she was so traumatised by her daughters body being found in a tool box she had to learn to walk again.

Yang Zhao, 30, has been found guilty of murdering flatmate Qiong Yan, 29, in September 2020 at their apartment at Hamilton, in inner-city Brisbane.

The victims mother Rongmei Yan wept on Tuesday as the Supreme Court jury delivered its guilty verdict after just two hours of deliberating.

Rongmei Yan said she had been living in an abyss-like state since her daughters body was discovered. Credit: Nine News

Zhao, 30, received a life sentence and will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years.
David Opat knows its tough for parents to prise children away from smartphones and other devices, but the King David School vice principal says families do not have to struggle alone.

The Armadale school will launch its Ctrl Alt Del program on Wednesday, aimed at giving parents a strength-in-numbers approach to taking back control of their kids childhoods.

David Opat, vice principal of the King David School in Armadale, with year 9 students Minnie Rosa and Noah Wise. Credit: Paul Jeffers

Opat, a former child psychologist and the schools wellbeing leader, has little doubt that a global crisis in child and adolescent mental health is linked to the rise of social media use and addiction among young people.

The school was moved to take action after parents who responded to a survey reported that their secondary-school-aged children were spending more than three hours a day on platforms like Snapchat and TikTok and Opat noticed a strong correlation between students struggling with their mental health and time spent online.
SYDNEY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A man has been hospitalized after being shot while driving a truck through western Sydney.

Emergency services were called to reports of a shooting on a street in the suburb of Yennora, 22 km west of central Sydney, about 11:20 p.m. local time on Monday.

On arrival, police officers were told that a 29-year-old man was driving a truck through the area when a vehicle stopped in front of him.

A man allegedly exited the vehicle and fired several gunshots at the truck before fleeing the scene.

The 29-year-old was treated at the scene for gunshot wounds to his wrist and abdomen before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.

A short time later, two vehicles were found on fire in nearby suburbs.

Police established a crime scene at the site of the shooting as well as the locations where the cars were found and have commenced an investigation into whether the incidents are linked.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the shooting victim is known to police and that detectives are looking into whether his links to organized crime played a role in the shooting. 
A suspended science teacher from a public secondary school in Melbournes south-east has been charged with serious sexual offences, after child safety reports were made to school authorities last year.

McClelland College parents were told in a letter from the principal on Monday that Orhan Sahin had been charged with child sex offences.

McClelland College in Frankston.

Sahin had taught year 7 to 10 science students at the Frankston school from 2023 until May 2024 when he was removed following child safety allegations. He had also worked as a relief teacher at the school in 2022.

Principal Laura Dowdell Spence said she made sure parents were notified as soon as possible given the serious nature of these charges.
Can I talk to you about maternal guilt for a minute? Can I tell you that the minute your baby slithers out, you feel this torrent of love and responsibility for this tiny squish? You get knocked sideways by all those feelings. Then you do your absolute best to protect and defend.

Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek during a group photo after a swearing-in ceremony of the new ministry at Government House. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Doesnt work out too often. Thats when the guilt kicks in.

And so it is with Tanya Plibersek, mother of three, Labor member for the seat of Sydney for 27 years, and our newest minister for social services  which some commentators have described as a sideways move. Yes, its true that Australian politicians, in general, are not that great at pushing family violence to the top of the national agenda. Sure, everyone gets all appalled and outraged when another photogenic white woman gets murdered but, in general, its all chat, notes to grieving families and little if no action.

So this move might be sideways for some, maybe. Sure, this is a blessed escape from the toxic environment portfolio. Thats among the toughest portfolios for Labor ministers to navigate  progressive voters, regressive miners  a constant struggle between dollars and minds. A surefire way to burn up any liberal credibility you might have.
On the face of it, it seems mean-spirited to critique that superfluous third s in the name of the newly elected Liberal Party leader, Sussan Ley. That is, until you discover she inserted it herself  because of a mystical, pseudoscientific theory. She did so knowing itd probably cause confusion in pronunciation and spelling, making it more complex than the dour, straightforward spelling she was born with: Susan (its pronounced exactly the same).

Sussan Ley: I worked out that if you added an s I would have an incredibly exciting, interesting life and nothing would ever be boring. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

This, though, mayve been the point. In 2015 she told The Australian: I read about this numerology theory that if you add the numbers that match the letters in your name you can change your personality. I worked out that if you added an s I would have an incredibly exciting, interesting life and nothing would ever be boring.

Numerology is what most people would consider woo-woo: a junk-science supernatural belief, alien to science and facts. The theory posits that numbers and corresponding letters have energy vibrations that influence your personality, fortune and destiny.

That unnecessary third s may come back to haunt Ley now the spotlight is on her, in what it might reveal about her character, credibility and clear-headed decision-making capabilities. From such woo-woo its no big leap to climate denial and anti-vaxxer sentiment. Which is ironic, given Ley was the sensible centrist candidate in the various leadership elections happening in Australia right now. Its her Coalition partner party, the Nationals, that has a leader campaigning on a ditch net zero platform, in Matt Canavan.
The election of moderate Sussan Ley as Liberal leader may be the vital circuit breaker allowing her shattered party to recapture the heartland after years of being yanked toward unpopular conservative populism by out-of-touch powerbrokers.

Her election sends an important message to women  who deserted in droves as the Liberal Party tied itself up in irrelevancy, pushing nuclear power, insubstantial and uncosted policies, and attacked First Nations people  that those days could be over.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley and her deputy, Ted OBrien. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Leys rise is not only groundbreaking but may modernise her party. Unlike many MPs, she was not a political staffer but had a life outside parliament house: inspired by Australias first female commercial pilot, Deborah Lawrie, in 1980, aged 19, she tried for a pilots licence, went to university at 30, and studied part-time for a decade while raising three children, before cutting her political teeth in Tony Abbotts blokey cabinet. She is now one of our longest-serving MPs.

The Coalition junior partners, the Nationals, are still barking about nuclear power, although we would have thought Peter Duttons power station policy was so comprehensively rejected by voters that the Liberals will have the sense to sweep it off the table permanently. But Tuesdays leadership vote curiously also contained some solace for supporters clinging to outmoded policies: Ted OBrien, an architect of the nuclear policy and a supporter of net zero, was voted Leys deputy leader.
London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed the brakes on immigration. Once a staunch defender of free movement, the Labour leader is now delivering the toughest migration crackdown in a generation, promising to slash numbers and reshape Britains borders.

His plan is simple: fewer arrivals, tougher conditions and a new vision of contribution over entitlement.

Its a sharp political pivot aimed at quieting a populist wave and winning back working-class voters, but the question remains: Will it work, or is Starmer simply playing catch-up to the far-rights anti-immigration agenda?

Keir Starmers gambit is as much about appeasing the electorate as reshaping Britains post-Brexit identity. Credit: Bloomberg

This new migration policy is more than a mere adjustment; its a statement of intent. Under Starmers proposals, foreign workers will face stricter English-language tests, dependents will be required to speak English, and there will be a decade-long wait for permanent residency.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: President Donald Trump has announced that the US will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and secured a $US600 billion ($926 billion) commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the US on a trip to the Gulf.

The US agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $US142 billion ($220 billion), according to the White House, which called it the largest defence co-operation agreement Washington has ever made.

The surprise announcement on Syrias sanctions would be a huge boost for a country that has been shattered by more than a decade of civil war. Rebels led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled president Bashar al-Assad last December.

Trump also expressed in his strongest terms yet a willingness to negotiate with Iran, signalling a reordering of US foreign policy in which there are no permanent enemies, The Washington Post reported.
Israel Florez, now a Los Angeles police officer, was stationed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City, near Beverly Hills, on the morning of March 5, 2016, when the incident took place. He told the court he went to the sixth floor after being alerted to a woman in distress.

The assault, in which Combs hits, kicks and begins to drag Cassandra Ventura, the R&B singer known as Cassie, down a hotel hallway, was caught on surveillance footage and was published by CNN last year. It was also shown to the jury in Combs racketeering and sex-trafficking trial , which began in New York on Monday (Tuesday AEST).

New York: A former security guard has told a court Sean Diddy Combs offered him a stack of cash following a violent altercation between the rapper and his then-girlfriend in the aftermath of a freak-off sexual encounter in a Los Angeles hotel.

When he got there, he found Ventura bundled up in the corner of the hallway with a hoodie on, looking scared and with a purple eye. In the lobby, a vase had been destroyed. Combs, Florez said, was wearing a towel and coloured socks, and sat slouched in a chair with a blank stare or a devilish stare.

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Florez said he told Combs and Ventura that if they were going to argue they would have to take it back to their room. He said Cassie wanted to leave but Combs told her not to. When they went to the room, Florez said he stood in the doorway and watched her gather her belongings, while Combs reappeared with a stack of cash, which he understood to be a bribe.

I dont want your money, Florez recalled telling the music producer. He says he then went downstairs to find Cassie outside the hotel at the valet, where he suggested she might wish to call the police. But she got into a black SUV and left the premises.

The prosecution alleges Combs and his team paid another security guard $US100,000 to make the video footage disappear, although it did not. This was part of a wider conspiracy to use the rappers music business to support and advance his abusive sexual predilections, prosecutors say, and cover up his behaviour.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM);--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), would like to acknowledge the nurses of the department on International Nurses Day 2025, Monday, May 12.

Nurses play a key role in all health-related institutions and are the backbone of the health system.

Nurses work hard, and have determination, diligence, and willingness to contribute to the community, and therefore improving the way of life is commendable.

These are some of the traits that lay the groundwork for their success and to keep the flame alive for those who choose this path to walk in their footsteps.

Their responsibility is towards the welfare, safety, and recovery of patients.

CPS would like to say thank you to its nurses and nurses overall North and South on Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin for all that they do in safeguarding our communities.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the region of the Americas has approximately 7.4 million nursing professionals, representing 63 percent of the health workforce.

Eighty-seven per cent of nurses are women. The number of nursing graduates has declined dramatically in the Region, from 81 to 24 per 10,000 population between 2018 and 2023.

The global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023.

IND was created to honor and pay tribute to all nurses. Monday, May 12 marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the date that the nursing profession was born. To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.  Rawsi Williams

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) theme for IND-2025 is, Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies.

The ICN is a federation that represents the interests of the nursing profession of millions of nurses worldwide.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, and Celso Amorim, special advisor to the president of Brazil, in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, and Celso Amorim, special advisor to the president of Brazil, in Beijing on Monday.

Both sides reviewed the frequent exchanges between the two heads of state in recent years, and made preparations for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to China, especially the important talks about to be held between the two heads of state.

They unanimously agreed to promote the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future in accordance with the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, adhere to multilateralism, safeguard common international rules and the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South, and make contributions to promoting world peace, stability and development.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues, expressing support for direct dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and pledged to play their role in the Group of Friends for Peace to gather more international consensus for promoting the political settlement of the crisis. 
PHILIPSBURG:--- Various citizens and heritage supporters came out on Saturday, May 10, from 7 a.m. until midday to help with the second clean-up of the FOGA Salt Factory, which was built in 1862. The ruins of the old salt factory are a protected heritage site and fall under the protection of the Government of Sint Maarten, namely the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS).

The historical monument was rendered inaccessible due to overgrown trees, old vehicles, and pollution, which kept it from remaining visible to the public. Due to the difficulty posed by several abandoned cars and large debris, a third cleanup will be hosted in June 2025, with a pending date. The initiative was led by Paul Ellinger, an environmental advocate, in collaboration with Ralph Cantave, an author, community advocate, and pastor. A heavily shared Facebook post by concerned citizens recently shed light on the unsightly nature of the monument.

Ellinger, a nature and landscape photographer, frequently visited the site and was disturbed by the lack of upkeep. He also had to step in to warn of squatters at the site. Ellinger emphasized the need for greater care and appreciation for this pivotal piece of St. Maarten's history. He added that it has significant potential to contribute to the islands tourism product. Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Gumbs, along with Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs Jr., pledged their support to preserve and maintain the site. Both Ministers visited the cleanup on Saturday and coordinated with their ministries to support the initiative.

Dozens of volunteers, including students and seniors, came to assist. The initiative brought together generations of residents who share a love and concern for the islands heritage. Many people expressed a lack of awareness of the salt factory or not being taught about its role in exploiting salt. They also mentioned being unaware of its existence until the clean-up was announced.

Cantave stressed the need for education about our tangible heritage, which serves as a reminder of the legacy our ancestors left in overcoming the tragic and cruel period of slavery. He affirmed his support of public awareness campaigns and tours to increase local knowledge of the ruins and their role in our history.

Most of the debris besides grass and the pruned mangroves was styrofoam, plastic, glass bottles, and household goods, similar to the first clean-up in 2023. Ellinger and Cantave would like to thank the public for their participation, donations, and contributions of tools and refreshments to make the clean-up a success. Theyd also like to thank Trash Willy Enterprise and Nahiem & Kenzo General Services for their trucking services in safely dumping the garbage and debris.
Inner workings of AI an enigma - even to its creators



New York, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Even the greatest human minds building generative artificial intelligence that is poised to change the world admit they do not comprehend how digital minds think.

"People outside the field are often surprised and alarmed to learn that we do not understand how our own AI creations work," Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei wrote in an essay posted online in April.

"This lack of understanding is essentially unprecedented in the history of technology."

Unlike traditional software programs that follow pre-ordained paths of logic dictated by programmers, generative AI (gen AI) models are trained to find their own way to success once prompted.

In a recent podcast Chris Olah, who was part of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI before joining Anthropic, described gen AI as "scaffolding" on which circuits grow.

Olah is considered an authority in so-called mechanistic interpretability, a method of reverse engineering AI models to figure out how they work.

This science, born about a decade ago, seeks to determine exactly how AI gets from a query to an answer.

"Grasping the entirety of a large language model is an incredibly ambitious task," said Neel Nanda, a senior research scientist at the Google DeepMind AI lab.

It was "somewhat analogous to trying to fully understand the human brain," Nanda added to AFP, noting neuroscientists have yet to succeed on that front.

Delving into digital minds to understand their inner workings has gone from a little-known field just a few years ago to being a hot area of academic study.

"Students are very much attracted to it because they perceive the impact that it can have," said Boston University computer science professor Mark Crovella.

The area of study is also gaining traction due to its potential to make gen AI even more powerful, and because peering into digital brains can be intellectually exciting, the professor added.



- Keeping AI honest -



Mechanistic interpretability involves studying not just results served up by gen AI but scrutinizing calculations performed while the technology mulls queries, according to Crovella.

"You could look into the model...observe the computations that are being performed and try to understand those," the professor explained.

Startup Goodfire uses AI software capable of representing data in the form of reasoning steps to better understand gen AI processing and correct errors.

The tool is also intended to prevent gen AI models from being used maliciously or from deciding on their own to deceive humans about what they are up to.

"It does feel like a race against time to get there before we implement extremely intelligent AI models into the world with no understanding of how they work," said Goodfire chief executive Eric Ho.

In his essay, Amodei said recent progress has made him optimistic that the key to fully deciphering AI will be found within two years.

"I agree that by 2027, we could have interpretability that reliably detects model biases and harmful intentions," said Auburn University associate professor Anh Nguyen.

According to Boston University's Crovella, researchers can already access representations of every digital neuron in AI brains.

"Unlike the human brain, we actually have the equivalent of every neuron instrumented inside these models", the academic said. "Everything that happens inside the model is fully known to us. It's a question of discovering the right way to interrogate that."

Harnessing the inner workings of gen AI minds could clear the way for its adoption in areas where tiny errors can have dramatic consequences, like national security, Amodei said.

For Nanda, better understanding what gen AI is doing could also catapult human discoveries, much like DeepMind's chess-playing AI, AlphaZero, revealed entirely new chess moves that none of the grand masters had ever thought about.

Properly understood, a gen AI model with a stamp of reliability would grab competitive advantage in the market.

Such a breakthrough by a US company would also be a win for the nation in its technology rivalry with China.

"Powerful AI will shape humanity's destiny," Amodei wrote.

"We deserve to understand our own creations before they radically transform our economy, our lives, and our future."
Japan's SoftBank posts $7.8 bn annual net profit



Tokyo, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Japanese tech investor SoftBank Group, a major player in the US Stargate artificial intelligence drive, on Tuesday posted a $7.8 billion annual net profit, its first in the black for four years.

Global market rallies were a boon to SoftBank, which reaped gains from its investments in the likes of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and US telecom firm T-Mobile.

Its 1.15 trillion yen ($7.8 billion) net profit for the 12 months to March 2025 was up from a net loss of 227 billion yen in the previous financial year.

The company's earnings often swing dramatically because it invests heavily in tech start-ups and semiconductor firms, whose share prices are volatile.

Tuesday's result marked its first full-year net profit since the 2020-21 financial year.

The group's Vision Fund investment vehicle also saw the values of its stakes in Tiktok operator ByteDance and South Korean e-commerce service Coupang jump.

SoftBank has been betting big on AI under its flamboyant founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, who has repeatedly said "artificial superintelligence" will arrive in a decade -- bringing new inventions, medicine and ways to invest.

The company is leading the $500 billion Stargate project to build AI infrastructure in the United States along with cloud giant Oracle and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.

But Bloomberg News reported this week that uncertainty fuelled by US trade tariffs has delayed financing talks for the project, citing people familiar with the matter.



- AI push -



SoftBank and OpenAI also announced in February that the Japanese giant would spend $3 billion annually to deploy OpenAI's technologies across its group companies.

SoftBank's Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto told reporters that it enjoys strong ties with OpenAI and said trade tariffs should not hinder the group's operations.

In March, SoftBank said it had reached a deal to buy US semiconductor firm Ampere for $6.5 billion, reinforcing its aggressive push into AI. The purchase is expected to close in the second half of the year.

The Japanese company is a majority shareholder in Arm Holdings, whose technology is used in 99 percent of smartphones.

Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at brokerage Toyo Securities, told AFP ahead of Tuesday's announcement that he expected the firm to reveal strong figures.

"The market was not bad from January to March, so I think (the results) will land relatively well," he said.

"The market environment only worsened from the end of March to the beginning of April when the tariffs were announced," he said, referring to US President Donald Trump's multi-pronged free trade war.

Son, 67, made his name with successful early investments in Chinese ecommerce titan Alibaba and internet pioneer Yahoo.

But he has also bet on catastrophic failures such as office-sharing firm WeWork.

"For the last 20 years, the US market has been outstanding, so I don't think there was an option to not invest in the United States" for SoftBank, Yasuda said.

During that time the Chinese market was also growing, "so they invested in China -- but China has tightened up a lot of controls, so not much has been invested in China since then", he added.

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ORACLE

SOFTBANK GROUP
EU faces heat over millions paid to Musk firms



Brussels, Belgium, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



The EU handed over hundreds of millions of euros to companies belonging to the world's richest man, Elon Musk, a key ally of US President Donald Trump and frequent critic of the bloc, a document seen by AFP showed Tuesday.

German Green EU lawmaker Daniel Freund sent a letter in March to the European Commission, asking for information about EU funding to Musk-linked businesses.

In a response to Freund, the European Commission said it paid around 159 million euros ($176 million) to automaker Tesla to build charging stations for electric cars in 2023.

It also said in 2024, the EU commissioned Musk's SpaceX to launch satellites for the European Galileo satellite system, in a contract worth around $197 million.

The commission said it used SpaceX "due to delays in the commissioning of Ariane 6, the standard launch vehicle for Galileo".

The EU also paid Musk's X 630,000 euros for paid advertising on the social media platform until it suspending use of such services in October 2023.

Transatlantic relations have hit historic lows since Trump returned to the White House in January and Musk has attacked the EU's digital laws as censorship.

Critics including Freund cite that as good reason for the EU to pull the plug on payments to the tech billionaire.

"This man is an outspoken enemy of the EU and our core values. It is unacceptable that we continue to pay the richest man in the world hundreds of millions," Freund said on X.

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EU seeks to better protect children from online dangers



Brussels, Belgium, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Pushing to better protect children online, the EU on Tuesday invited the public including parents and minors to help prepare recommendations for digital platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

The European Union has increasingly expressed concerns about online dangers for children, with the latest alarm raised by Belgium and France over the trend of #SkinnyTok videos promoting extreme thinness.

The commission has prepared a list of draft measures that platforms could take to protect minors as part of a public consultation that will run until June 10.

It will then publish the final list of recommendations in the summer.

Suggestions include verifying a user's age, setting children's accounts to private by default, and modifying how content is recommended to reduce the risk of children being exposed to harmful material.

The commission also suggested making it easier for children to block and mute users, as well as making sure users can be added only with a minor's explicit agreement, "which may contribute to reducing the risk of cyberbullying".

"The wide range of measures will aid the different online platforms in protecting minors' safety, security, privacy and well-being," the EU's digital chief, Henna Virkkunen, said in a statement.

The guidelines are part of the EU's landmark Digital Services Act (DSA), which covers all digital platforms.

The DSA requires companies to police content online, or face hefty fines.

The EU has already opened investigations under the DSA into Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, over fears they are not doing enough to combat an addictive nature of their platforms for children.

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MEXICO CITY, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday criticized the U.S. decision to suspend the import of live Mexican cattle for 15 days, calling the measure unjustified and demanding mutual respect in bilateral relations.

"We do not agree with this measure," Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing. "There is no reason to close the border to Mexican cattle."

The U.S. side cited the need to reassess joint efforts to control the screwworm fly, a livestock parasite, but Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico has worked closely with U.S. authorities from the outset. Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegue has been in regular contact with his U.S. counterpart, Brooke Rollins, she added.

Sheinbaum expressed hope that the ban will be lifted soon and said she does not expect major losses, given the temporary nature of the measure. 
US announces new sanctions against Iran as talks proceed



Washington, May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025



The United States announced new sanctions Monday against Iran over its nuclear program, despite ongoing negotiations between the two countries over the sensitive issue.

The latest sanctions target three Iranian citizens and an Iranian entity with links to Tehran's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, also known by its Persian acronym SPND.

"Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

He said Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that enriches uranium to 60 percent purity.

That level far exceeds the 3.67 percent maximum set under the 2015 nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump exited during his first term. Building a nuclear weapon requires 90 percent enrichment.

The United States announced the new sanctions a day after a fourth round of talks with Iran concluded. No major breakthrough was announced after the talks, but both sides voiced cautious optimism.

The discussions began last month and aim to seal a new accord that would prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Tehran denies seeking to build one.

The sanctions freeze any assets that the targeted people and entity may have in America and bans business dealings with them.

They are aimed at three senior officials of the nuclear program and a company called Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists.

"Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, also known as Ideal Vacuum, is an SPND-affiliated company that has attempted to procure from foreign suppliers, as well as indigenously fabricate, equipment that could be applicable in nuclear weapons research and development," the State Department said.
Ecuador says 1,500 troops deployed to Amazon after deadly guerrilla clash



Quito, May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025



Ecuador's Ministry of Defence on Monday said it had deployed 1,500 troops to an Amazon region to "find and eliminate" leftist guerrillas blamed for a recent ambush that killed 11 soldiers.

"We're going all out! This war against the bad guys will intensify," the ministry said in a social media post, announcing the deployment of special forces, intelligence and counterterrorism forces.

Ecuador on Friday revealed that at least 11 troops were killed in an operation to combat illegal mining in the jungle near Ecuador's border with Peru.

Quito blamed the attack on dissident factions of Colombia's FARC, once the largest guerrilla group in Latin America, that operate across the area.

The guerrillas allegedly attacked with explosives, grenades and firearms, causing one of the worst tolls in recent years.

The attack has shocked Ecuador and prompted three days of national mourning.

Ecuador had averaged a killing every hour at the start of this year, as cartels battled for control over cocaine routes that pass from Peru and Colombia through the nation's ports.

Ecuador's prosecutor's office blamed the guerrilla attack on the FARC offshoot Comandos de la Frontera.

After Colombia's peace process led to the demobilization of FARC in 2017, the Comandos de la Frontera rearmed.
Guinea doing 'everything' to hold elections in December: PM



Conakry, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Junta-ruled Guinea is doing "everything" to ensure presidential and parliamentary elections are held in December, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah told AFP on Tuesday.

The west African country's junta leader General Mamady Doumbouya has promised that 2025 would be "a crucial electoral year" and has announced a constitutional referendum in September.

But no date had yet been given for parliamentary or presidential elections, while his government is regularly accused of cracking down on freedom of expression and silencing critics.

"We haven't set a date, but everything is being done to make sure it happens at the end of the year, in December," Bah said.

"The referendum on September 21 and the two major elections, coupled, at the end of the year, in December," he told AFP by telephone.

"Everyone is mobilised for (electoral) registration everywhere, both in the interior of the country and in the capital, because that is what will be decisive. It is through this means that the electoral register will be compiled," Bah added.

Under international pressure, the military leaders who took control in 2021 initially pledged to hold a constitutional referendum and hand power to elected civilians by the end of 2024 but neither happened.

Guinea's opposition, which has seen key figures taken from their homes, has previously lambasted the constitutional referendum's announcement as a diversion.



- Protest bans, abductions -



After ousting civilian president Alpha Conde in 2021, General Doumbouya promised he would not stand in any future election.

But in recent months, several leading figures from Guinea's ruling party have publicly backed a potential run for president by the junta chief.

As the charter drawn up by the military shortly after the coup blocks members of the junta from standing for office, a new constitution's adoption could pave the way for a Doumbouya candidacy.

Guinea's opposition has accused Doumbouya's government of ramping up repression to silence dissident voices.

Many critics of the junta have been either arrested, dragged before the courts or forced into exile.

At the end of February, a leading junta critic, Abdoul Sacko, was hospitalised after masked gunmen broke into his home through the ceiling and abducted him, before abandoning him around 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the capital Conakry.

Sacko, whose lawyers say was tortured, had to seek medical care abroad.

The junta has banned demonstrations, dissolved a movement calling for a return of a civilian government and withdrawn broadcasting licences from independent media organisations.

Since gaining independence from France in 1958, Guinea has seen a succession of dictatorial governments, which have failed to lift many inhabitants out of poverty.
Iran says it's open to temporary uranium enrichment limits



Tehran, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Iran is open to accepting temporary limits on its uranium enrichment, its deputy foreign minister said Tuesday, while adding that talks with the United States have yet to address such specifics.

Tehran and Washington on Sunday held their fourth round of nuclear talks, which kicked off last month, marking their highest-level contact since the United States in 2018 pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal.

"For a limited period of time, we can accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment," said Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

"We have not yet gone into details about the level and volume of enrichment," he said, quoted by Tasnim news agency.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent purity -- far above the 3.67 percent limit set in the 2015 deal but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Iran was the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that enriches uranium to that level.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at the latest talks that the right to enrich uranium was "non-negotiable", while US chief negotiator Steve Witkoff called it a "red line".

The Islamic republic began rolling back its commitments to the deal a year after the US withdrawal.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" approach against Tehran. While backing nuclear diplomacy, he also warned of potential military action if it fails.

Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, while Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Iran described Sunday's talks as "difficult but useful" while a senior US official said Washington was "encouraged" and both sides confirmed plans for future negotiations.

The talks are being held in "full coordination" with the supreme leader, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, according to a presidency statement on Tuesday.

"In the negotiations, we will not retreat from our principles in any way, but at the same time, we do not want tensions," he added.

Also on Tuesday, Iran's atomic energy agency chief, Mohammad Eslami, described the country's nuclear industry as its "wealth and strength", according to ISNA news agency.

Despite the talks, Washington has continued to impose sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear programme and oil industry, with the latest announced on Monday.

"There is no doubt that there is a lot of pressure on us," said Ali Larijani, a close adviser to Iran's supreme leader, while noting that not all of Iran's problems were due to the sanctions.
Israel and Trump at odds over Iran nuclear strategy



Jerusalem, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Israel is threatening military action against Iran while US President Donald Trump pursues diplomacy, exposing a growing rift between the long-time allies over how to confront the Islamic republic's advancing nuclear programme.

As a fourth round of indirect talks between Iran and the US kicked off in Muscat on Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasised that his country would not allow Tehran, under any circumstances, to develop its nuclear programme.

"The most dangerous regime must not be allowed to obtain the world's most dangerous weapon," said Saar.

Like Western countries, Israel suspects its arch foe Iran of wanting to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran denies these allegations, defending its right to civilian nuclear energy.

"If military operations are necessary... so be it," said Israeli President Isaac Herzog in an interview published this week by the German newspaper Die Welt, while also stating that he wanted to give "dialogue a chance".

In 2015, Iran and several major powers signed an agreement regulating Tehran's nuclear development, including uranium enrichment, in exchange for the gradual lifting of sanctions that had been imposed on the country since the mid-2000s.



- Military Option -



However, in 2018, the United States, during Trump's first term, withdrew from the agreement, rendering the deal largely ineffective.

Since then, Iran has resumed much of its nuclear activities.

The country is now enriching uranium up to 60 percent, well above the 3.67 percent limit set by the agreement, but still below the 90 percent threshold required for making nuclear weapons, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Since his return to the White House, Trump has initiated new negotiations, which Israel opposes.

Israeli officials have also expressed irritation at another agreement made behind their back between Washington and Huthi rebels in Yemen.

"Israel insists that the (nuclear) agreement be much more comprehensive (than the one in 2015) and that Iran not be allowed to domestically enrich uranium," geopolitical analyst Michael Horowitz told AFP.

According to him, Israeli authorities now believe that "Tehran can quickly develop a weapon if it chooses to."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who applauded Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, has emphasised that Israel is prepared to use all means necessary to stop the Islamic republic from developing its nuclear capacity.

"The deal that truly works is the one that eliminates Iran's ability to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons," he said in late April, urging for the complete "dismantling" of the nuclear programme.



- 'Awkward position' -



"There are currently many voices in Israel suggesting that there is a window of opportunity to use military force if necessary," said Raz Zimmt, director of Iran studies at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv.

According to him, the idea of strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure is motivated by two factors.

The first being the perception that Iran has been weakened after Israel targeted its defence systems in October 2024.

Secondly, the fact that Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based militant group, is also diminished after its war with Israel in 2024, and thus "incapable of retaliating" to defend Tehran, its major ally.

Experts interviewed by AFP say that if Israel were to strike Iranian nuclear sites, the United States would likely be expected -- at the very least -- to be ready to defend Israel in the event of Iranian retaliation.

"A strike with the support or even participation of Washington can be much more effective," said Horowitz.

"Trump's positions are putting Israel in an awkward position: he (Netanyahu) doesn't want to be at odds with the new administration, but he is beginning to understand that Trump wants a deal at all costs."

Zimmt says, however, that "it is highly unlikely that Netanyahu would oppose Trump" if the latter signed an agreement with Iran.

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WASHINGTON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order aimed at lowering drug prices, demanding that drug companies offer prices for prescription drugs comparable to those in other developed nations.

"The Order instructs the Administration to communicate price targets to pharmaceutical manufacturers to establish that America, the largest purchaser and funder of prescription drugs in the world, gets the best deal," the order said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will establish a mechanism through which American patients can buy their drugs directly from manufacturers who sell to Americans at a "Most-Favored-Nation" price, bypassing middlemen, it continued.

"We are going to pay the lowest price there is in the world. Whoever is paying the lowest price, that's the price that we're going to get," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday, before departing for the Middle East.

Trump said drugmakers would have to lower their U.S. prices to the level paid by other developed countries, or could face investigation.

According to recent data, the prices Americans pay for brand-name drugs are more than three times the price other OECD nations pay, even after accounting for discounts manufacturers provide in the United States, the order noted.

OECD stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with the majority of its members being developed nations.

The United States has less than five percent of the world's population, yet funds roughly 75 percent of global pharmaceutical profits, according to the order. 
US says new NATO spending target won't just be 'missiles and tanks'



Brussels, Belgium, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



The United States on Tuesday said NATO's new spending commitment at a summit next month should cover broader "defence-related" areas, endorsing a proposal from alliance chief Mark Rutte.

President Donald Trump is pressuring allies to agree to a new spending target of five percent of GDP when leaders meet in June in The Hague -- a level none of NATO's 32 members currently reaches.

Rutte has floated a compromise deal to commit to 3.5 percent of direct military spending by 2032, as well as another 1.5 percent of broader security-related expenditure.

US NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker threw Washington's weight behind the proposal to allow a wider scope of spending to make up the five percent.

"This new Hague investment pledge or plan is going to include all of the capability targets necessary for NATO allies to deter and defend, but it also includes things like mobility, infrastructure, necessary infrastructure, cyber security," he told journalists.

"It is definitely more than just missiles, tanks and howitzers, but at the same time, it's got to be defense related. It is not a grab bag for everything that you could possibly imagine," Whitaker added.

NATO foreign ministers are set to meet Wednesday in the Turkish resort of Antalya for two days of talks aimed at thrashing out details for the June summit in The Hague.

The flexible approach from Washington should help Rutte forge a deal as it grants more leeway to allies still scrambling to hit NATO's current spending threshold of two percent.

Europe has ramped up its defence spending since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

But a number of countries including Canada, Italy and Spain are only due to hit two percent this year.

Diplomats say that allowing countries to count broader security-linked spending should help those grappling with constrained budgets agree to further hikes.
US announces new sanctions on Iran oil sales to China



Washington, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



The United States on Tuesday announced fresh sanctions on Iranian oil sales to China, as President Donald Trump's administration continues its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran while backing ongoing nuclear talks.

"The United States is today sanctioning an international network facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth billions of dollars to China," US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

The sales, she added, were being conducted "on behalf of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its front company, Sepehr Energy."

The sanctions follow similar designations in recent weeks, at the same time as Washington and Tehran have stepped up nuclear talks.

The two sides held their fourth round of indirect talks over the weekend, which mark their highest-level contact since the United States in 2018 pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Following the talks, Iran said it is open to accepting temporary limits on its uranium enrichment.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent purity -- far above the 3.67 percent limit set in the 2015 deal but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material.
Rights groups urge court to halt UK fighter jet supplies to Israel



London, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Rights groups on Tuesday urged judges to halt Britain's supply of fighter jet parts to Israel amid the war in Gaza, as they took the government to court and accused it of breaking international law.

Supported by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others, the Palestinian rights association Al-Haq is seeking a court order to stop the government's export of UK-made components for Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets.

Israel has used the US warplanes to devastating effect in Gaza and the West Bank.

Outside the High Court in London, around 50 protesters waved Palestinian flags and placards with the words "Stop Arming Israel: Stop the genocide".

Inside the packed courtroom, Al-Haq lawyer Raza Husain said the case was "being heard against the backdrop of human calamity unfolding in Gaza, the extremity of which is difficult to convey in words."

He argued the government's trade department had unlawfully allowed exports of F-35 parts knowing there was a "clear risk" Israel would use them to commit violations of international law in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide.

The plane's refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres, rear fuselage, fan propulsion system and ejector seat are all made in Britain, according to Oxfam, and lawyers for Al-Haq have said the aircraft "could not keep flying without continuous supply of UK-made components."

Britain's defence ministry has previously said suspending F-35 licences would "undermine US confidence in the UK and NATO," while in a written submission a lawyer for the government said its actions were "consistent with the rules of international law."

It is not certain when a decision could be made following the four-day hearing, which marks the latest stage in a long-running legal battle.



- 'Loophole' -



Lawyers for the Global Action Legal Network (GLAN) have said they launched the case soon after Israel's assault on Gaza began, following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel led by Palestinian militants from Hamas.

The lawyers said the UK government had decided in December 2023 and again in April and May 2024 to continue arms sales to Israel, before suspending licences in September 2024 for weapons assessed as being for military use by the Israeli army in Gaza.

The new Labour government suspended around 30 of 350 export licences following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.

But the partial ban did not cover British-made parts for the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets.

A UK government spokesperson told AFP it was "not currently possible to suspend licensing of F-35 components for use by Israel without prejudicing the entire global F-35 programme, due to its strategic role in NATO and wider implications for international peace and security".

"Within a couple of months of coming to office, we suspended relevant licences for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza," they said.

But GLAN described the F-35 exemption as a "loophole" which allowed the components to reach Israel through a global pooling system.

Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, a lawyer for GLAN, told a briefing last week the UK government had "expressly departed from its own domestic law in order to keep arming Israel", with F-35s being used to drop "multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza".

The 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable.

"Under the Genocide Convention, the UK has a clear legal obligation to do everything within its power to prevent genocide," said Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's chief executive.

"Yet the UK government continues to authorise the export of military equipment to Israel.

"This is a fundamental failure by the UK to fulfil its obligations."

lcm/jkb/yad
France 'ready' to discuss deploying nuclear-armed planes in Europe: Macron



Paris, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



France is prepared to open discussions with other European countries on deploying French warplanes armed with nuclear weapons on their territory, as the United States does in certain nations, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

"The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey," Macron told TF1 television.

"We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come."

Macron also listed three conditions for such a move, namely that "France will not pay for the security of others" and it "will not come at the expense of what we need."

"The final decision will always rest with the president of the republic, as the head of the armed forces," he added.

The United States is believed to have around 50 nuclear bombs stored at the Incirlik air base in the south of NATO member Turkey.

France is the EU's only nuclear armed nation and discussion is growing after the Russian invasion of Ukraine over extending the French nuclear deterrent to its partners.

Poland, like France a key ally of Ukraine and an increasingly significant force in the EU, has already made clear it would be eager to benefit from France's nuclear deterrent.

Macron added: "There has always been a European dimension in the consideration of what we call vital interests. We do not elaborate on this because ambiguity goes hand in hand with the deterrent."
Jihadists kill four Nigerian troops in new base attack: sources



Maiduguri, Nigeria, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



A jihadist raid Tuesday on an army base in northeast Nigeria left at least four troops dead and others taken hostage, a military source and a resident one day after four soldiers were killed in a similar attack.

Militants from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed the base just before dawn in the Borno state town of Rann, near the border with Cameroon, a military officer told AFP.

"Four soldiers were killed and five others injured in the attack by ISWAP terrorists on the military base," the officer said.

The officer, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on the raid, said the attackers seized weapons and military vehicles and took "several" soldiers hostage.

Ari Kime, a Rann resident, put the toll at five soldiers killed and six wounded.

The jihadists "snatched three gun trucks before leaving the base," Kime said.

ISWAP and the rival Boko Haram have intensified attacks on military bases in recent weeks.

Rann is the tenth base to be attacked by jihadists in the last two months, according to an AFP tally.

On Monday ISWAP militants raided a base in Marte, killing four troops and taking many others hostage before stealing weapons, according to military sources.

Since 2019, soldiers fighting the jihadists have shut down some smaller army bases and moved into larger garrisons in an attempt to better resist militant attacks.

However the attacks have intensified.

Raids on military bases provide jihadists in the Sahel countries with at least 20 percent of their weapons, according to the UK-based Conflict Armament Research (CAR) which has studied jihadist weapons sources for a decade.
Macron warns of new Russia sanctions, ready for Europe nuclear talks



Paris, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Europeans would slap Russia with more sanctions if it did not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, and said that Paris was ready to discuss deploying its nuclear-armed warplanes in other European countries.

Appearing on the TF1 channel, Macron stressed that France stood by Ukraine amid a new push to force Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, but added that the West did not want a "Third World War".

"Our intention is to impose sanctions" if Russia fails to comply with a ceasefire in Ukraine proposed by Kyiv's European allies, Macron said.

In recent months France has taken a leading role seeking a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine, with Macron using his cordial relationship with US President Donald Trump in talks over ending the three-year war.

On Saturday, the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland called on Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Putin to personally attend Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey on Thursday, but Moscow has so far not said who will go.

The European Union has already imposed 16 rounds of sanctions on Russia since Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

A 17th round is to be adopted next Tuesday. The financial sector and hydrocarbons have been largely spared by the sanctions.

Macron also stressed that "no legal framework" existed to seize frozen Russian assets, and it was "not a good solution".

The French president said that Ukraine acknowledged it could not retake all the territory seized by Russia since 2014.

"We must help Ukraine defend itself but we do not want to unleash a Third World War," Macron said. "The war must cease and Ukraine must be in the best possible situation to go into negotiations," he added.

"Even the Ukrainians have the clear-sightedness to say they do not have the capacity to retake everything that has been taken since 2014," he added.

Ahead of the 2022 full-scale invasion, Russia in 2014 annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and backed forces which seized parts of two eastern Ukrainian regions.

- 'Ready to open discussion' -



Macron also said that France was ready to start discussing with other European countries on deploying French warplanes armed with nuclear weapons on their territory, as the United States does in certain nations.

"The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey," Macron said.

"We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come."

Macron also listed three conditions for such a move, namely that "France will not pay for the security of others" and it "will not come at the expense of what we need."

"The final decision will always rest with the president of the republic, as the head of the armed forces," he added.

The United States is believed to have around 50 nuclear bombs stored at the Incirlik air base in the south of NATO member Turkey.

France is the EU's only nuclear armed nation and discussion is growing after the Russian invasion of Ukraine over extending the French nuclear deterrent to its partners.

Poland, like France a key ally of Ukraine and an increasingly significant force in the EU, has already made clear it would be eager to benefit from France's nuclear deterrent.

Macron added: "There has always been a European dimension in the consideration of what we call vital interests. We do not elaborate on this because ambiguity goes hand in hand with the deterrent."

vl-pab-as-sjw/yad
KABUL, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Afghan counter-narcotic police have thwarted cross-border drug smuggling attempts, seizing 17 kg of methamphetamine in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province, the provincial police office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Smugglers were attempting to pass on the illegal drugs hidden in a vehicle from southern Kandahar province to Uzbekistan, but police foiled their activities and arrested three of them in the province's Kaldar district, adjacent to Uzbekistan, the statement added.

The dossiers of the suspects were referred to the judiciary for further investigation and possible legal process, said the statement, adding that a pistol was found in the possession of the smugglers.

The Afghan interim government has stepped up its crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business, vowing to fight the menace until the country is free from poppy cultivation. 
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Brazil issued a joint statement on the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday, welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to open peace talks and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's positive response.

The statement said that China and Brazil hope that Russia and Ukraine will begin a direct dialogue as soon as possible, which is the only way to end the conflict.

It said that China and Brazil commend recent signals of willingness to engage in dialogue on the Ukraine crisis, and expect relevant parties to initiate fruitful negotiations, build a greater consensus to achieve a political settlement, and address the legitimate concerns of all parties. China and Brazil believe it is necessary to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis by examining its root cause, with the aim of reaching a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement.

The statement said that to achieve that goal, China and Brazil in May 2024 called on all relevant parties to create the conditions for the resumption of dialogue, and launched the Group of Friends for Peace at the United Nations in September of the same year, with the aim of uniting the countries of the Global South.

China and Brazil are willing to work with the rest of the Global South to continue making active efforts to resolve the crisis, the statement said. 
Where to live

Golden Visas: the four European countries where you can still get citizenship by buying property

Four European countries still offering golden visas to property buyers
Peter Sullivan, who was 30 when he was sentenced and is now 68, is believed to be the UKs longest-serving victim of a miscarriage of justice after three senior judges quashed his conviction for the killing, 17 years after his first attempt to have it overturned.
She said: I cant begin to imagine what it must have been like for my mother, knowing that my father had passed away and nobody was there with her to comfort her.
Whilst disruption to our flights is often outside of our control, our focus has been on improving the factors we can directly influence and putting in place the best possible solutions for our customers when it does happen.
Just 4% of people who voted Labour last July believe the deal currently being talked about goes too far. A clear majority of voters who put my party in power are ready for a closer relationship with the European Union.
The King, who is still being treated for cancer, has a busy run of engagements in the coming weeks, including an overseas visit to Canada to open the countrys parliament at the end of May.
He welcomed Mr Pritchards strong view on the issue, adding: There is no-one on this side of the House who does not understand the gravity of the situation. That is why we invited the Palestinian prime minister, that is why we signed the MOU (memorandum of understanding), that is why were calling an urgent session of the security council.
SOFIA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of Bulgarian parliament Nataliya Kiselova on Tuesday rejected the proposal by President Rumen Radev to hold a referendum on the country's adoption of the euro, the parliament said in a press release.

On Monday, Radev submitted to the parliament a proposal to hold a national referendum on whether Bulgarians support adopting the single European currency in 2026.

As grounds for her order, Kiselova said the proposal was inconsistent with specific provisions of the Bulgarian constitution, as well as with relevant treaties and legal acts.

Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007.

In mid-April this year, the country's Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova said that Bulgaria had met all the criteria for euro area membership and was awaiting the drafting of reports by the European Commission and the European Central Bank. 
We want our creative industries and AI companies to flourish, which is why we have been separately consulting on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors. We have always been clear that we will not rush into any decisions or bring forward any legislation until we are confident that we have a practical plan which delivers on each of our objectives.
Before the judgment was handed down, Ahmed was already suffering with back and thyroid issues and was becoming increasingly mentally distressed. I can only imagine what he is going through now, knowing he wont see his family again for years.
She added: I think that when they try to amend the legislation to get what they think are the safeguards, they will realise that there is no amendment that can provide the level of safeguard that they want, or indeed that we need as a nation in this legislation.
I really want to get much more behind the scenes, try to pull back the curtain, do the back story of how various crises emerge, or how diplomacy works to get out of various crises, what different leadership means in these very fraught times, and we live in very fraught times right now.
He wrote in secret from a prison cell under the most brutal conditions with no access to books, to the internet, to anything but his own memory and will. And yet he created a manuscript that speaks with clarity and conviction not only about Russia, but about freedom, justice and what it means to remain human.
SHANGHAI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai's tax authority has revealed a shopping rush for foreigners during the May Day holiday, with vintage brands showing renewed charm.

Official data showed the eastern Chinese city's sales under the departure tax refund policy soared by 150 percent year-on-year, and refund amounts jumped 170 percent from May 1 to 5.

The surge follows China's latest revisions to its management measures for tax refunds on shopping by overseas tourists. Notably, the refund eligibility threshold has been more than halved from 500 yuan (about 69 U.S. dollars) to 200 yuan, a move that has galvanized participation from traditional food and retail sectors.

Century-old Shanghai food brands such as Taikang Foods and Shao Wan Sheng have already registered as refund stores, while time-honored heavyweights like Cantonese cuisine shop Xinghualou, tea house Huang Long Tai, and First Foodhall, a one-stop shop for those looking for Chinese snacks and bites, are fast-tracking their entry into the program.

"Tax refunds not only offer price advantages to global customers but also bridge our heritage brands with the inbound tourism market. We aim to convert 'refund opportunities' into 'brand loyalty,' revitalizing these century-old names," said Lu Yanqing, an executive at Shao Wan Sheng.

The policy's impact is palpable in commercial hubs like Nanjing Road, a magnet for international tourists, where Jingdezhen porcelain shops saw holiday sales climb 38.7 percent. Cultural icons such as jade, silk and inkstones are also drawing foreign shoppers, with the Shanghai Silk Department Store Co., Ltd. generating 120,000 yuan in tax-refund sales via 30 transactions since the beginning of the year.

By blending convenience with cultural appeal, the policy is redefining "Chinese aesthetics" as a portable global commodity.

Efforts to expand refund-enabled outlets have transformed Nanjing Road into a tax-free shopping corridor, now home to 45 refund stores spanning food, apparel, healthcare, eyewear, jewelry and art. Among them are landmarks like Caitongdetang Pharmacy, Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry, and Duoyunxuan auction house, alongside vintage retailers such as New World City and Shanghai No.1 Department Store.

In Hongkou District, high-end qipao brand Manloulan has joined the initiative, leveraging the policy to fuse Shanghai's cultural heritage with global tastes.

"Our Shanghai-style qipao collections integrate intangible cultural craftsmanship with international aesthetics, resonating strongly with overseas clients. Since becoming a refund store, foreign customers now account for 40 percent of our traffic, partially driving a 35-percent sales growth in first quarter," shared Qiu Liming, president of the brand.

Digital upgrades further enhance the experience: shoppers can pre-fill refund forms by scanning QR codes, while electronic invoices can be integrated into the departure tax refund system automatically, slashing the processing time.

"This efficiency boosts Shanghai's position as a leader in tourist-friendly tax refund services," noted Zhang Xiaochun, Manloulan's financial manager.

"We'll continue refining services to ensure overseas travelers benefit from tax refunds and feel the vibrancy of China's consumer market," a Shanghai tax bureau official said. 
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producing country after Indonesia, saw its palm oil stocks rise in April amid increased production, official data showed Tuesday.

According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysia's palm oil stocks increased 19.37 percent from March to 1.87 million tons in April, the highest since October 2024.

The country's crude palm oil production also grew 21.52 percent month-on-month to 1.69 million tons in April.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's palm oil exports went up 9.62 percent month-on-month to 1.1 million tons.

Its imports, however, plunged 52.17 percent month-on-month to 58,292 tons. 
More than 20 international journalists traveled through Chongqing, Shanxi, and Beijing to explore China's path to modernization from the ground up. From those who were born in the 1960s to the voices of Gen Z, what moments stood out, and what left a lasting impression?

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
On the slopes in the area of Siriu, along DN 10 Buzau-Brasov, the Regional Directorate of Roads and Bridges (DRDP) announces the installation of impact sensors that allow authorities to be alerted in the event of rockfalls, facilitating rapid intervention and making road traffic safe.

Specialists from DRDP Buzau visited DN10 Buzau-Brasov, in the Siriu Dam area, where works are underway to consolidate and secure the slope, following recent rockfalls.

"During this stage of the works, slope stabilization measures are being implemented by installing flexible retention systems, consisting of high-strength wire meshes. This active protection solution has the role of preventing material detachments, contributing to increasing the safety of the road infrastructure," DRDP Buzau reported.

Among the new elements that the workers have used is the use of a monitoring system that can alert authorities when rocks on the slopes break away and come into contact with the protective barriers, equipped with impact sensors.

"An innovative element of the project is the implementation of an advanced monitoring system, one of the first of its kind installed in Romania. It includes anchored nets, rockfall protection barriers and impact sensors, capable of detecting and signaling geodynamic events in real time. In the event of an impact of the detached material with the retention barriers, the sensors transmit data to a central collector, which, through a GPS system, automatically distributes the information to the DRDP, SDN and the responsible authorities. Notifications are generated instantly and are accessible on mobile devices, facilitating rapid intervention and preventing overloading of the protective structures. The implementation of this system eliminates the risk of uncontrolled collapse of the barriers, an essential aspect for traffic safety on this road sector," said the director of the DRDP Buzau, Eng. Sorin Robu.

Thus, by using modern technologies and by continuously monitoring structural parameters, compliance of the execution with the project requirements is ensured and road infrastructure protection measures are optimized.
The Council of the European Union appointed on Tuesday Lucian Romascanu as the member for Romania of the European Court of Auditors, the institution said in a release.

"Mr. Romascanu has served in several public offices in Romania: Minister of Culture, Senator, and most recently, president of the Buzau County Council. Previously he held various management positions in Romania's private sector. He was appointed to the European Court of Auditors for the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2031, replacing Mr. Viorel Stefan. The Council takes these decisions based on the member states' proposals and after consulting the European Parliament," the statement said, Agerpres.

It goes on to note that in accordance with the Treaty, the members of the European Court of Auditors are required to perform their duties in complete independence and in the general interest of the European Union.

The European Court of Auditors is the EU's independent audit institution. Its reports and opinions are a key link in the EU's accountability chain and are meant to ensure that those responsible for managing the budget and implementing the EU policies are held accountable.
The Madrigal - Marin Constantin National Chamber Choir led by Anna Ungureanu wrapped up its successful international tour in Kazakhstan titled 'The Silk Road', a strategic cultural diplomacy initiative aimed at promoting the Romanian artistic heritage and strengthening intercultural relations with the Central Asian region.





Organized at the invitation and with the support of ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan Madalina Lupu, the performances took place in venues iconic for the Kazakh history and culture: the Astana Opera House, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Astana Pyramid) and the UNESCO site of Otrar, gathering a total audience of over 4,000.The tour's debut - the absolute premiere of The Silk Road show conducted by Anna Ungureanu on the stage of the prestigious Astana Opera House - carried a deep symbolic significance. Specially conceived for this occasion, the show combined the Romanian and universal choral repertoire with an original set and visual direction designed to reflect the idea of journey, exchange and cultural convergence. The program included works from the Romanian repertoire, adapted choral hymns from Central Asian countries and symbolic pieces from the Kazakh folklore, such as Yapuray and Agugay, which were met with open-stage applause.Official recognition did not take long to come, as Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko sent a message of support: "We are grateful for the opportunity to experience Romania's rich cultural heritage through the performances of the Madrigal Choir. This cultural event is a first in Kazakhstan and undoubtedly carries a historical significance."In the centennial anniversary year 'Marin Constantin 100', the Madrigal Choir continues its journey of excellence with further high-magnitude cultural initiatives aimed at promoting the Romanian musical heritage on the world's great stages.'Madrigal: The Silk Road' tour was organized by the Madrigal - Marin Constantin National Chamber Choir and the Romanian Ministry of Culture, with the support of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Romanian Cultural Institute and the Ministry of Communication and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Over 180 companies from 20 countries are participating in Metal Show & TIB 2025, the most important fair dedicated to the metal processing industry, technologies and industrial equipment in Romania, which is taking place between May 13 and 16 in Bucharest.

The participants in the exhibition, organized by Euroexpo Fairs and Romexpo, are from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic (group presence, with 6 companies), Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and Hungary, Agerpres.

During the four days, visitors will be able to explore over 13,000 square meters of technological innovation, with live demonstrations of the latest equipment, smart solutions and state-of-the-art technologies for: sheet metal and pipe processing; machining; laser, plasma or water jet cutting; industrial machine tools; welding, surface treatments; automation, industrial robots and specialized software; additive manufacturing; measurement and control, tools; raw materials, lubricants and environmental protection solutions; Smart Factory solutions.

"Metal Show & TIB 2025 is the ideal place for specialists and decision-makers from the most important industrial sectors: automotive, aeronautics, naval, energy, IT and research and development, offering valuable networking opportunities and strategic business partnerships. At this year's edition, 36% of the exhibitors are new companies, participating for the first time," a press release from the organizers informs.

The visiting schedule is Tuesday to Thursday between 9:00 and 17:00 and Friday between 9:00 and 16:00.

Entry to the fair is free, based on the Access Code downloaded from the official website (www.metalshow-tib.ro).
The President of the Romanian Court of Accounts, Mihai Busuioc, participated in the 8th edition of the Competition in Public Procurement Conference, organized in partnership with the Competition Council, at the invitation of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania), informs a press release from the institution.

In his speech, Mihai Busuioc emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent competitive environment, in a European context of redefinition of rules and practices in the field of public procurement.

"The European Union is currently working on a new package of directives aimed at strengthening control mechanisms, reinforcing effective competition in procedures and discouraging unfair, restrictive or non-transparent practices. It is clear that, throughout the Union, public procurement is recognized not only as an administrative mechanism for spending public money, but also as a strategic tool to support the economy, develop infrastructure, promote innovation and ensure fair access to the public procurement market," said Mihai Busuioc.

In this regard, in parallel with the rapid adaptation to the new European requirements, Mihai Busuioc conveyed that one of the biggest challenges remains to ensure genuine and fair competition, the role of the Court of Accounts being essential in the process of monitoring, auditing and prevention.

Among the priorities of the Court of Accounts in the field of public procurement are: strengthening public procurement auditing, including the identification of possible restrictive practices or unjustified exclusions from tender procedures, as well as auditing significant contracts in key areas (infrastructure, health, energy, digitalization);

Other priorities of the institution are: to assess the degree of digitization of public procurement procedures, as lack of digitization, poor use or limited access to information are factors that discourage competition; to strengthen preventive activities and the publication of relevant reports, with recommendations applied and made in a timely manner to contracting authorities so that they correct malfunctions before damage or administrative bottlenecks occur.

"The Court of Accounts is committed to supporting any initiative that contributes to improving competition in public procurement and promoting the efficient use of public funds. Only an efficient public procurement system can ensure the best results for citizens, for the Romanian economy and for the rule of law," the press release further specifies.
Romania will receive on June 10 1.3 billion euros of the third installment of the National Recovery and Resilience Program, Finance Minister Tanczos Barna announced on Tuesday on Facebook, stressing that "this is important financing for balancing state budget revenues."

Minister Tanczos Barna participated in the meeting of EU Finance Ministers in Brussels, where they discussed, among others, aspects related to the collection of VAT for online transactions in the EU and the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan instrument.

On the other hand, Tanczos emphasized that Romania needs a fiscal overhaul, but a caretaker government has neither the prerogatives nor the mandate to discuss such issues with the European Commission or with the Romanian society.

"The new government that will take over after this caretaker government has as a first and most important task discussing the fiscal reform and presenting it to the Romanian society and the European Commission. This reform must strengthen the fiscal-budgetary system for the next seven years. This is why it is such an important aspect which cannot be tackled by a caretaker government. We return home with this good news: the 1.3 billion euros will flow in on June 10," the finance minister said.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Royal Brunei Customs and Excise department has confiscated 1,050 cartons of cigarettes, 10 cans of alcohol and found 1,752 Brunei dollars (1,343.46 U.S. dollars) in cash during an operation at national housing scheme area in Lambak Kanan near the capital.

Three people aged between 21-42 years old were arrested, and two vehicles believed to be involved in suspicious activities were also seized, the Customs said on Tuesday in a statement.

The operation was conducted jointly with the Royal Brunei Police Force and Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Brunei is a Sultanate located in Southeast Asia. The laws in Brunei impose strict regulations on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. 
When rising rock band the Pernikoff Brothers traveled to France on a whim in 2024, they had no idea London would be the backdrop for their next musical masterpiece.

There was a creative hum under the streets of London that led the trio  which includes vocalist and guitarist Tom Pernikoff, bassist Rick Pernikoff and drummer Kevin Bowers  to Studio Two in Abbey Road Studios. The same place where the Beatles recorded iconic songs like Come Together and Here Comes the Sun; the same band that inspired Tom and Rick to start writing songs as young St. Louisians living in California in the early 2000s.

Id take the John part, Tom says. Rick took the Paul part, and that was it. Thats honestly how Pernikoff Brothers started.

Brought together by what Bowers describes as the magic of music, the Pernikoff Brothers are gearing up to release Ah Londres on June 20. Its the St. Louis-based bands first release in a decade featuring 10 tracks recorded live at Abbey Road Studios last spring. Tom says the recording opportunity was surreal, with the trio recording the entire album in one day.

With its title inspired by the recording location and Toms obsession with the French language, Ah Londres showcases the bands dedication to creating music that resonates and is not confined by genre limitations. There are hints of funk and jazz, coupled with the folk sound music journalists cant help but point out. But the band transcends folk music, giving wings to a fresh sound where genre doesnt exist and music is made for the love of it.

This is a really good representation of how we sound playing as a trio live any day you see us now, Rick says.

When Rick and Tom visited France in 2024, they had no intention of recording a new album. Instead, they were focused on working on their startup company TuneSpeak, a fan-loyalty platform that has worked with artists like Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and Maroon 5. In between making international business connections, the brothers dabbled in the French open mic scene. Bowers joined them abroad for a few weeks, and the 8-hour recoring session at Abbey Road Studios was booked on a whim.

The new album is the perfect snapshot of where we are, Bowers says.

Ah Londres includes Eleanor Rigby, a cover of the Beatles record that sprinkles some St. Louis and Pernikoff-style funk on a classic British track as Rick slaps his bass and executes a majestic solo.

Shine swelters with lyrical depth, giving listeners a defining look at who the Pernikoff Brothers are musically. Their single Tired, written by Rick, details the end of a long-term relationship. Its lyrics are vulnerable, with hints of alt rock and emo vibes, as Bowers takes the song to new heights with his percussion rhythms.

Rick describes the themes in the song Tired as you love someone, and you dont want to grow tired of the monotony or the issues you have.

Following the album release, the Pernikoff Brothers are hitting the road, beginning with a few support slots for actor Kevin Bacons band, the Bacon Brothers. Tom says theyre looking forward to expanding their reach by supporting other performers on stage, both in St. Louis and worldwide. So far, theyve landed on stages with acts like Toots and the Maytals, Tim Reynolds of the Dave Matthews Band and the legendary Willie Nelson.

I never thought Id be on stage with those artists singing together, Tom says.

For the Pernikoff Brothers, perfecting their live performances started long before they ever wrote a song.

Growing up in Wildwood, Missouri, Rick and Tom fell in love with Motown artists under the watchful eye of their mother. She would play Motown music on car rides, and they remembered watching the Motown 25 performances on VHS as children. Rick says he wanted to be Michael Jackson up until he was 12 years old when rock n roll entered his purview.

Both brothers gravitated toward the iconic guitar solos on Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix records. Rick started off playing the cello in elementary school. But when Tom started playing the guitar and suggested Rick take up the bass so they could start a band, Rick was happy to oblige his older brother.

It just seemed cooler than playing the cello for the rest of my life, Rick says.

Across town in Webster Groves, Bowers was finding his stride as a music lover. He was around 5 years old when he first heard Message in a Bottle by the Police. Stewart Copelands drumbeats set ablaze a passion for percussion instruments that Bowers has carried with him throughout his life.

Music has always been number one in my life, Bowers says.

As they enter into a new space with a new album to share with the world, the Pernikoff Brothers are certain about the feeling that creating music gives them. They know that songs contain magic that can change moods, inspire greatness and teleport listeners to new places.

Knowing that keeps them creating.

I dont think were looking to be famous, Rick says. I think were looking to just know that there are people out there that enjoy listening to our music so that we have a reason to keep doing it.

If you go What: The Pernikoff Brothers When: May 17 Where: Sasha's Wine Bar, 706 De Mun Ave. #2238 How much: Free More info: bandsintown.com
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No stranger to appearing on Fox News shows, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt can always be counted on to deliver conservative sound bites that leave teeth marks on liberals.

Last weekend was no exception, as Missouris junior GOP senator took his shots on not one, but two shows on the conservative news network.

In one segment, Schmitt discussed his puzzlement about Democrats being opposed to President Donald Trumps idea to reopen the notorious Alcatraz prison to detain violent immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.

They lose their minds because of Trump Derangement Syndrome, Schmitt told host Harris Faulkner. I think (Trump) is very smart to put this out there and actually have a plan where the worst of the worst go in our country.

Its only recently that the Left has just sort of decided that theres not going to be punishment for crime, he said.

On another show, Schmitt questioned the wisdom of some Democratic legislators, spurred by discussion of U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollens defense of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was detained and improperly returned to El Salvador after he was accused of being a criminal gang member, an allegation Abrego Garcias family and supporters deny.

Van Hollen has stated that he is not fighting specifically for Abrego Garcia, but for the government respecting peoples constitutional right to due process.

But Schmitt had a decidedly different take on the matter.

I actually think that they have not come to grips with what happened in November, Schmitt told host Laura Ingraham. They are totally out of touch with the American people.

Schmitt said he welcomes the Democrats efforts along these lines.

Its really quite amazing, he said. Its going to push them further to the left  and we ought to let them do it.
ST. LOUIS  Christopher Kit Bond, whose career at the top of Missouri politics saw him rise from state auditor to governor to four-term U.S. senator, died Tuesday. He was 86.

Bonds political career spanned four decades, during which he went from relatively liberal whiz kid who reformed and modernized state government to born-again conservative and at times a fierce partisan.

Bonds election in 1972 as Missouris first Republican governor in almost three decades was a key step in the gradual rebuilding of the state GOP from a party on life support into the dominant political force it is today.

Later, in the Senate, Bond left no doubt that he saw himself as Missouris unofficial King of Pork, collecting federal largesse for constituents back home.

He defended pork even as others in the Senate moved to prohibit earmarks  pet projects  on spending bills. To critics, he bragged: In the next batch, Ill bring my own barbecue sauce.

Charles Valier, a longtime friend of Bond, said he died of pneumonia at an area hospital. Bond had lived in Ladue in recent years.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, in a statement announcing Bonds death, said, Kit, always with his trademark smile and sense of humor, was a fierce advocate for Missouri throughout his accomplished 40-year career of public service.

Kehoe said Bond kept Missouris interests at heart, both in office and out. Whenever he was thanked for his service, Kits response was always, Serving the people of Missouri was the honor of my life.

Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at government buildings and grounds statewide until sunset on May 22.

Services announced

A state memorial service will be held in the Missouri Capitol rotunda on Tuesday at noon. Bond will lie in state in the rotunda for 24 hours after that service.

In addition, a celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, 9450 Clayton Road, Ladue.

Bond was born in St. Louis on March 6, 1939, and grew up in Mexico, Missouri, where his maternal grandfather, A.P. Green, created the family fortune making fireproof bricks from the high-silicon clay that underlies the area.

Bond went to prep school at Massachusetts elite Deerfield Academy, college at Princeton University and law school at the University of Virginia, where he was first in his class.

He came home to run for the U.S. House in 1968 and lost that race. Another young Republican, John C. Danforth, won his campaign that year for state attorney general and gave Bond a job running his consumer protection division.

In 1970, Bond ran again, and this time he won, becoming the state auditor, unseating the Democratic incumbent. In 1972, he was elected governor, defeating Democrat Edward L. Dowd, a prominent St. Louis lawyer. Bond campaigned on a reform platform to throw the rascals out.

At 33, Bond became the states youngest governor, and the GOP was back in business.

He along with Danforth rebuilt the Republican Party in Missouri, said former St. Louis Aldermanic President James Shrewsbury, a Democrat.

They gave us a clear two-party system for the first time in generations. He will be remembered as an icon in Missouri politics for years.

In Jefferson City, legislative veterans mocked him, calling him Kid Bond. But Bond called a special legislative session to reorganize state government. He expanded ambulance service to most of the state and increased education for children with disabilities.

He got legislators to pass a Sunshine Law to open up meetings and public records. He brought in a corrections director from New York to overhaul the state prison system and pushed for campaign finance disclosure.

In 1976, state Republicans split between Bond and other supporters of President Gerald Ford and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. The Reagan faction won in Missouri and social conservatives still dominate the state GOP.

Political setback, revival

In a major upset, Bond lost his reelection bid that same year to Joseph Teasdale, a Democrat who ran a populist campaign accusing the millionaire Bond of being too cozy with corporations.

It would be the last time he would lose an election.

Bond then became president of the Great Plains Legal Foundation in Kansas City, which opposed what it considered to be excessive government regulation.

In 1980, he ran a year-long campaign to salvage his political career and defeated Teasdale in a rematch. In 1986, Bond defeated Lt. Gov. Harriett Woods to win the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Democrat Thomas F. Eagleton.

Six years later, he won another victory, and found himself Missouris sole Republican statewide victor.

After the partys 1992 fallback at the polls, it fell to Bond to pick up the pieces. He overhauled the state party organization and persuaded donors to contribute $750,000 over the next two years to finance party operations.

Bond won reelection to the Senate three times, his easiest victory coming in 2004 against State Treasurer Nancy Farmer.

Bond also helped build the modern-day Missouri Republican Party into a formidable political operation.

The public got a rare, televised glimpse of Bonds anger on election night in November 2000: He bloodied his fist and pounded the lectern in rage over the defeat of a fellow Republican, Sen. John Ashcroft.

Bond accused Democrats of trying to steal the election after they had won a court order keeping the polls open an extra 45 minutes in St. Louis.

I smelled a big fat rat, Bond later explained.

Congressional efforts

Bond had a generally conservative voting record, opposing most abortion-rights legislation, supporting the nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court of Robert Bork (unsuccessful) and Clarence Thomas (successful) and supporting the Iraq war.

Bonds influence in Congress was evident in Missouris urban areas, which benefitted from the federal monies he got for public housing, lead paint abatement, university research and Boeings military facilities.

In rural areas, he got funds for bridges, agriculture and other projects.

Good local earmarks do not squander taxpayer dollars, Bond wrote in a March 2009 op-ed piece in the Post-Dispatch.

The many projects he proudly took credit for funding included: Revitalization of Washington Avenue and redevelopment of the Old Post Office in downtown St. Louis, replacement of uninhabitable housing, funds for transportation and expansion of Community Health Center services in Missouri.

In 2008, a U.S. Justice Department investigation concluded that Bonds office had pushed the White House to dismiss then-U.S. Attorney Todd Graves of Kansas City for political reasons. The report said Bond declined to be interviewed.

In a federal corruption investigation that year into lobbyist Jack Abramoffs activities, a former aide to Bond pleaded guilty to concealing gifts from lobbyists. Bond called it an unfortunate incident.

With Democrats firmly in control of the Senate in 2008, the subcommittee chairmanships that had given Bond his clout over housing, environmental and other key spending were out of his reach.

With the times changing, he decided the time was right to end his political career. In a speech on the floor of the Missouri House in January 2009, he declared that he had run his last race.

In 1973, I became Missouris youngest governor, he said. I do not intend to be Missouris oldest senator.

After he left public office, he became a lobbyist for a bipartisan Clayton-based firm called Kit Bond Strategies; he retired several years ago. He also was a lawyer with the Thompson Coburn firm here.

Bond and his first wife, Carolyn Bond, separated and quietly divorced.

In 2002, he married Linda Pell, a Republican consultant in Washington and a native of Kansas City. Among other survivors are his son, Sam Bond of Atlanta, and two grandchildren.

Bipartisan reaction

Bond was applauded Tuesday by Missouri politicians in both major parties in news releases and on social media.

Danforth called Bond one of the most consequential people in the history of our state.

As a U.S. senator, he focused on results for Missouri, Danforth said. From highways and bridges to Parents as Teachers (a program Bond championed), his contributions are tangible.

Even more important, Danforth said, was his high standard of diligent service is a permanent model for public officials to follow.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said Bond served his state and his nation with the utmost distinction for decades  and he was above all a fine man.

Hawley's GOP colleague, Sen. Eric Schmitt, said Bond proudly served Missouri "with his trademark sense of humor" and dedication to making Missouri "the best state in our union."

Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, said Bond devoted his life to public service and was a true statesman seemingly from a bygone era in todays divisive world.

She also commended Bond for promoting and advancing the careers of many women in public service.

Former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said, I am proud that Kit and I were friends. He cared deeply and always about Missouri.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, a Democrat, commended Bond for supporting the expansion of federally qualified health centers in Missouri. Today thousands of people get affordable health care because of his legacy, Page said.

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, another Democrat, said Kit Bonds career in public service is a tribute to his commitment as a favored son of Missouri and statesman.

Rep. Wesley Bell, D-St. Louis County, said Bonds commitment to our state was unwavering.

Also weighing in was former U.S. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who served with Bond for years.

He called Bond one of the Senates most relentless and effective legislators and said he built coalitions to make a difference from agricultural innovation to intelligence oversight.

Updated at 7:10 p.m. with cause of death, other information

In photos: Missouri Senator Christopher Kit Bond through the years
JEFFERSON CITY  Politics can be cruel.

Last month, at an event celebrating a new medical research reactor at the University of Missouri, state House Budget Chair Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca, was honored for his work in helping fund the project.

Then, unexpectedly, Deaton killed the budget bill with the states construction projects, thus pulling the $50 million appropriated for MUs new research reactor.

Other projects also left out to dry: $9 million to address floodplain issues in Maryland Heights and $16 million to renovate National Guard facilities at Jefferson Barracks in south St. Louis County.

For Deaton, the $500 million in construction projects across the state was just too costly to approve given limited time to consider the bill. Deaton told reporters he hadnt received a final version of the bill until 3:30 a.m. Friday, a little more than 12 hours before the deadline to pass it.

MU plans to build a billion-dollar 20-megawatt nuclear research reactor over the next eight to 10 years. The university already has a 10-megawatt reactor that creates nuclear isotopes for cancer research.

According to MU, 450,000 people were treated with isotopes created at the reactor last year, and 95% of thyroid cancer patients who used radioisotopes were cured. Its the most powerful university research reactor in the country.

When you throw an investment in research that changes peoples lives, I think you ought to be held accountable for it, Missouri Senate Budget Chairman Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said Monday.

That additional capacity (from a new cancer research reactor) is the difference between cancer medicine being available in that short window that a cancer patient has to receive treatment and that person dying, Sen. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, said.

MU spokesperson Christopher Ave said that despite the unexpected blow, the project is still moving forward. While Ave thanked the General Assembly for their support for projects at MU in the past, he added, The importance of NextGen MURR in producing life-saving radioisotopes cannot be overstated.

A lot of people were disappointed in that, Gov. Mike Kehoe said of the Houses decision not to take up the bill.

But, Kehoe had no harsh words for the outcome, The House has been great to work with through the budget process as well the Senate has.

The governor signaled he is unlikely to force a decision by calling lawmakers into a special session later this month.

Kurt Erickson of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
JEFFERSON CITY  Republicans in charge of the Missouri Senate pushed forward Monday evening with a response to last years Amendment 3, opening debate on a new ballot question to repeal it.

But the Senate paused debate in a little over two hours and adjourned for the night after Democrats began holding the floor and blocking a vote on the bill.

The legislative session is scheduled to end Friday, so time is running short for Republicans to bring the measure up later this week and send it to voters.

The Senate sponsor of the measure, Sen. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Charles, expressed confidence Tuesday morning that Senate leadership is on board with pushing the measure again before the end of session.

Leadership themselves feel strongly about this issue, but so does the caucus so yes, its a priority for them, Schnelting said.

Nearly 52% of voters supported Amendment 3 last fall, which protects the right to abortion up to fetal viability. But Republicans argued Amendment 3 goes too far and said Missourians were deceived through a misleading campaign funded by out-of-state interests.

Most Missourians do not want abortion on demand, Schnelting said.

But Democrats accused Republicans of deceiving voters.

The new Republican resolution to overturn Amendment 3 lies to people about the current law and includes enticing language on unrelated issues to trick voters into giving up our rights, said Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City.

The Republican-backed constitutional amendment would allow abortion access in rape and incest cases up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, as well as in medical emergencies and in cases of fetal anomalies.

It also would place a ban on hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgeries for gender transition for minors in the state constitution, which Democrats have blasted as ballot candy meant to increase voter support.

The measure has already passed the Missouri House. Lawmakers have until 6 p.m. Friday to pass legislation.

Schnelting said Tuesday his door is always open for negotiations, there havent been significant conversations with Democrats yet.

The current Republican plan makes exceptions for rape and incest cases, something Missouris previous abortion ban didnt allow. That ban went into effect on June 24, 2022, the same day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Missourians overturned the ban last November by approving Amendment 3.
JEFFERSON CITY  Students in Missouri classrooms would be barred from using their cellphones during the entire length of the school day under legislation heading to Gov. Mike Kehoes desk.

As part of a wide-ranging package of public school policy changes, the phone ban would allow school districts to craft their own cellphone policies.

But, those policies must prohibit usage from the opening to closing bell.

Supporters said studies show the daylong prohibition works the best for improving student learning.

All of those things improve quickly  when we do bell to bell, said Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, a former schoolteacher. I think were on the right side of the issue.

In filing legislation targeting phones in classes, Steinhoff said classroom engagement became a real challenge in the years before she left teaching in 2022. Allowing cellphone use was probably the biggest factor in that.

The ban would include no phones during mealtimes, time between classes or study halls.

School policies also would have to outline disciplinary procedures for violations and include exceptions for students who need devices due to specific educational or health needs.

The changes, which were approved on a 132-20 vote, would go into effect beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Several St. Louis-area school districts already have adopted cellphone policies, often at the request of parents.

Beginning in January, Normandy Schools Collaborative barred students from bringing cellphones onto school grounds, with punishments as high as placement in alternative school.

Parkway School Districts board voted last month to ban cellphone usage by elementary and middle school students from using any personal devices from arrival to dismissal. Parkway high school students could still use their phones during passing periods and lunch, but teachers will require students to place them in designated storage areas at the beginning of class.

Clayton and Kirkwood parents last year launched petition drives to urge school boards there to ban smartphones district-wide.

The Pew Research Center last year reported that seven in 10 high school teachers it surveyed consider cellphone distraction a major classroom problem.

The Pew also found that nearly seven in 10 adults support banning cellphones during class, but only about one-third support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during the entire school day, including at lunch as well as during and between classes.

If Kehoe signs the measure, Missouri will join several other states with prohibitions, including Florida, Louisiana and Utah.

In addition to the phone ban, the legislation also requires schools to have response plans for certain medical emergencies, natural disasters and armed intruders.

It also would require anti-intruder locks and bullet-resistant window film.

It will save lives, said Rep. Shari Gallick, R-Belton.

The measure previously won approval in the Senate.

The legislation is Senate Bill 68.
ST. LOUIS  A billboard featuring the Gateway Arch is part of an advocacy groups campaign protesting the Trump administrations cuts to the National Park Service.

But its not in St. Louis.

The pro-labor advocacy group More Perfect Union put up 300 billboards in 40 cities across the country in attempts to highlight cuts to parks by Elon Musk and the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency.

The billboard featuring the Arch reads Greetings from Gateway Arch National Park. Now with reduced staff. Made possible by $ D.O.G.E. Its displayed in Des Moines, Iowa.

Michael Redmond, a spokesman for More Perfect Union, said Des Moines was chosen for the Arch billboard because the Arch draws from all around, and its the nearest park to the Iowa capital city.

People in Des Moines, like most Americans, love our national parks, Redmond wrote in an email. Gateway Arch is the closest national park to Des Moines, we wanted to represent a range of parks that people enjoy and Gateway Arch draws millions of visitors every year, including many from other parts of the Midwest.

Interior Department spokeswoman Katie Martin pushed back on the billboard campaign, calling the messages "misinformation."

Martin pointed to the organizations support of the Green New Deal, which she called the Green New Scam and its ties to liberal megadonor George Soros.

The Trump administration fired about 1,000 newly hired national park workers in February, and it has more cuts planned: In its proposed budget, the Trump administration is targeting $1.2 billion in spending cuts to the National Park Services operations, construction, its Historic Preservation Fund, and National Recreation and Preservation grants. The budget said the reason for the cuts is because parks get duplicative state, local and private sector support.

The effort could impact park hours, safety and upkeep, advocates have said. Millions of tourists are expected to visit national parks this summer.

Numerous national parks are featured in the billboard series.

One for Death Valley National Park reads: Heat deaths rise, safety staff cut.

An Indiana Dunes advertisement says: Reduced staff, increased danger.

National Parks are some of our nations most cherished resources, Faiz Shakir, executive director of More Perfect Union said in a statement. They provide a space that all people  old, young, rich, poor  can enjoy equally and find their lives are enriched by amazing experiences. But thats not something oligarchs care much about. Some elected officials and unelected billionaires would rather privatize or eliminate our public services, we believe strongly in the need for great public parks and outdoor spaces that all Americans can enjoy.

Earlier this month at a reopening ceremony for the Old Courthouse, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell said hes not aware of any substantial impacts to the National Park Service that staffs Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse.

But, the St. Louis Democrat said, as weve all seen, that could change tomorrow.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether cities and counties are allowed to stack marijuana sales taxes, in a legal battle that began in 2023.

The courts answer will affect more than 70 local jurisdictions statewide, where both city and county governments have been imposing a 3% tax at dispensaries, according to Missouri Department of Revenue data.

The court case focuses on Florissant-based dispensary Robust Missouri 3 LLC, where customers are paying a total sales tax of 20.988%, which includes a 3% sales tax from both the city of Florissant and St. Louis County.

Robust argues its unconstitutional to have two local governments taxing marijuana customers.

Theres only supposed to be one local government, one boss, one master dictating outcomes and imposing the 3% tax, said Eric Walter, Robusts attorney, at the Tuesday hearing.

St. Louis County and St. Charles County have the authority to pass a 3% tax on unincorporated areas, he said, but not on their entire geographic footprint.

A panel of Missouri appellate judges agreed with Robust in November, ruling that the constitutions plain, unambiguous language means cities and counties cannot stack marijuana sales taxes.

Only one local government is authorized to impose an additional three percent sales tax, Judge John Torbitzky of the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District wrote in the unanimous opinion.

That decision reversed a lower courts ruling last year that allowed both Florissant and St. Louis County to both impose a 3% sales tax on marijuana products.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May wrote that if Robusts interpretation of the law were accepted, it would lead to absurd outcomes, because a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue.

May was largely talking about public health regulations  particularly those that apply to marijuana dispensaries  because public health in Florissant is regulated by St. Louis County.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell asked Walter to respond to Mays ruling that Robusts interpretation effectively nullifies other county ordinances regarding health and welfare.

This is not a county health code case, Walter said, an argument with which the appellate court agreed.

However, St. Louis Countys attorney, Laura Robb said, Tuesday that public health is in the purpose of the constitutional amendment voters approved in 2022 legalizing recreational marijuana. Florissant relies on St. Louis County to impose public health ordinances on all its businesses, she said, because it doesnt have its own department of public health.

So its only logical that portions of the revenue should be captured by the institution with the public health duties, Robb told judges Tuesday.

Robb agreed with May that it would have an absurd result to have dispensaries that are essentially not governed by any of the applicable public health ordinances that apply to every other building thats in Florissant.

The constitutional amendment states that local government means, in the case of an incorporated area, a village, town, or city; and, in the case of an unincorporated area, a county.

At a hearing last year, attorneys for St. Louis and St. Charles counties argued the word and is key in the definition.

Supreme Court Judge Kelly Broniec asked Robb to review the section of the constitutional amendment titled local control. There, it outlines how residents can vote to ban dispensaries in their towns and cities.

Broniec read the question the law states should be submitted to voters: Shall (insert name of local government) ban all non-medical microbusiness dispensary facilities and comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities from being located within (insert name of local government and, where applicable, its unincorporated areas) and forgo any additional related local tax revenue?

Broniec asked if this provision supports the counties definition of local government or Robusts?

If one of the local governments disallowed it and one allowed it  if it was on the same ballot, lets say  whose would control, if both the city and the county are a local government, Broniec asked.

I dont know the answer to that question, Robb said.

Walter later told Broniec that he loved her question.

It was very insightful because when you talk about the constitutional authority allowing the local government to outright ban dispensaries, theres a particular procedure, Walter said, and  even dictates what the language needs to be when presented to the voters on the question.

Walter pointed out that the constitution requires that each one of Missouris eight congressional districts have no less than 24 dispensaries. The 2nd Congressional District is comprised almost entirely of St. Louis County, and if the county were able to impose a ban, thered be a few parts of St. Charles and Jefferson counties remaining to cram 24 dispensaries into.

That would invade the prerogative of all the 90 maybe unique municipalities within the county of St Louis, Walter said. And they should be allowed to decide whether or not they want these businesses for their citizens.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X.
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China has made it clear more than once that fentanyl is the U.S.'s problem, not China's, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Tuesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks when asked about details on the next stages of the trade talks with the United States and what talks are planned on the fentanyl issue given that the 20 percent tariffs linked to that remain in place.

Lin said that China's competent authorities have released information on the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs.

"As for the fentanyl issue, China has made it clear more than once that fentanyl is the U.S.'s problem, not China's. It's the U.S.'s responsibility to solve the issue," Lin said.

He added that despite the goodwill China has shown, the United States wrongly slapped tariffs on Chinese imports by citing the issue of fentanyl. The move has dealt a heavy blow to China-U.S. dialogue and cooperation on counternarcotics, and gravely hurt China's interests.

"If the U.S. truly wants to cooperate with China, it should stop vilifying and shifting the blame on China, and seek dialogue with China based on equality, respect and mutual benefit," Lin said. 
TEL AVIV, Israel  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would normally celebrate a hostage release such as that taking place on Monday, though in this case the deal with Hamas is another sign U.S. President Donald Trump is starting to make decisions without him.

The freeing of Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held captive by Hamas in Gaza, was presented by the Palestinian militant group as a gesture to Trump on the eve of his trip to the Middle East, where he will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates but not Jerusalem.

The isolated release  which Israel objected to when it was first proposed two months ago  follows the start of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran about a new nuclear deal, a ceasefire with Yemens Houthis and Washingtons imposition of tariffs on Israel  all at odds with Netanyahus wishes.

When the Israeli right was jubilant over Trumps election, I warned not so fast, said Michael Oren, a former Netanyahu ambassador to Washington. But what is going on is even beyond what I feared. Donald Trump is a crisis for the world. We thought wed be treated differently. We were wrong.

Netanyahu on Sunday sought to reassure his country that his relationship is excellent with Trump.

We are currently blessed with a president and an administration that is very, very friendly, he said in a video clip. Were trying to coordinate both the big things as well as the small things.

During his first term through 2021, Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights captured from Syria and helped Israel establish relations with four Arab states including the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. leader also withdrew from an Iranian nuclear deal that Israel disliked.

Far-right Israeli politicians were therefore jubilant when he won a return in last years election, saying Trump was so favorable to their agenda that the country would soon declare sovereignty over the West Bank, where 3 million Palestinians live under occupation.

Trump initially appeared to prove them right, reinstating arms deliveries withheld by predecessor Joe Bidens administration out of concern over civilian casualties in Gaza.

Netanyahu was then the first foreign leader hosted by Trump in the Oval Office in February, and even he seemed stunned by the new presidents suggestion that Gazas 2 million-strong population be moved abroad to make way for postwar reconstruction.

You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House, Netanyahu said to the president at the time.

The first inkling of discord came in April when Trump announced a 17% tariff on Israeli goods, granting the country no exemption from the penalties imposed on scores of other countries. Netanyahu was quick to raise the issue, pledging to end Israeli duties on U.S. goods in return for the same deal from the US.

Netanyahu was granted another Oval Office meeting, but this one was less of a love-in. Trump said the U.S. was generous with Israel, providing it with billions of dollars a year in aid, and a tariff break would be a step too far. That day, he announced talks with Iran over its atomic activities.

This U.S. administration, without a doubt, is one of the most favorable to Israel ever, said opposition legislator Matan Kahana. But predictably, the Americans first and foremost look after the Americans.

The U.S. went on to agree to stop bombing the Yemen-based Houthis in exchange for their agreement not to fire on American ships. The Houthis started firing on vessels in the Red Sea  upending global trade  in solidarity with Hamas after the start of the war in Gaza in 2023, and havent agreed to stop attacking Israel despite the deal with Washington.

The Houthis  which like Hamas is backed by Iran and designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.  landed a missile close to Israels biggest airport earlier this month, prompting many foreign airlines to cancel flights.

Mr. America

Netanyahu presents himself as Mr. America  he and his aides thought they spoke Trumpism, said Eytan Gilboa, a scholar of US-Israeli relations at Israels Bar Ilan and Reichmann Universities. But the vocabulary in the White House has changed.

That may in part be due to the ascendancy of U.S. isolationists like Vice President JD Vance.

Israelis on the right are watching with unease, while those on the center and left are feeling uncharacteristically hopeful. They oppose Netanyahus plan to extend the war in Gaza without first freeing hostages and are increasingly in favor of a diplomatic solution to the Palestinian dispute through an alliance with Saudi Arabia.

This means, Israeli analysts say, that if Trump does push Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza, a domestic political crisis will erupt. The PM needs his far-right allies to keep his coalition afloat.

There will be demonstrations in the street whether Netanyahu accepts what Trump wants or rejects it, said Oren, the former ambassador. If he accepts, his government will likely fall apart. If he rejects, the opposition will rise up.

With assistance from Marissa Newman.
LONDON  Human rights groups launched a court fight Tuesday challenging the U.K. governments decision to supply parts for F-35 fighter jets, saying they are being used by Israel in Gaza in violation of international law.

The legal challenge in the High Court alleges that the government is breaking domestic and international law and is complicit in atrocities against Palestinians by allowing essential components for the warplanes to be supplied to Israel.

Theres such clear evidence of the use of weapons parts from the U.K. being used in war crimes, including in genocide, Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said at a rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Until this case reaches its judgment, right now as we speak, there are significant human rights violations being delivered by British-made weapons and bombs.

The government said in September that it was suspending about 30 of 350 existing export licenses for equipment deemed to be for use in the conflict in Gaza because of a clear risk that the items could be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Equipment included parts for helicopters and drones.

But an exemption was made for some licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets, which have been linked to Israels bombardment campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Rights groups argue that the United Kingdom shouldnt continue to export parts through what they call a deliberate loophole given the governments own assessment of Israels compliance with international humanitarian law.

Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the U.K.-based Global Legal Action Network, which brought the legal challenge, say the components are indirectly supplied to Israel through the global spare parts supply chain.

U.K. officials have argued that stopping the export of F-35 fighter jet components would endanger international peace and security.

Compared to major arms suppliers such as the U.S. and Germany, British firms sell a relatively small amount of weapons and components to Israel.

The Campaign Against Arms Trade nonprofit group estimates that the U.K. supplies about 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, including its laser targeting system.

British-made F-35s are dropping multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza, which the U.N. secretary-general has described as a killing field, said Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, a lawyer for the Global Legal Action Network.

The U.K. government has expressly departed from its own domestic law in order to keep arming Israel. This decision is of continuing and catastrophic effect, she added.

The hearing is expected to last four days and a decision is expected at a later date.

Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza in March, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. More than 52,800 people, more than half of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza, according to the territorys health ministry. The ministrys count doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed thousands of militants, without giving evidence.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.

Brian Melley contributed to this report.
TEL AVIV, Israel  The Gaza Strip will likely fall into famine if Israel doesnt lift its blockade and stop its military campaign, food security experts said in a stark warning on Monday.

Nearly half a million Palestinians are facing possible starvation, living in catastrophic levels of hunger, and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises.

The group said there is a high risk of outright famine if circumstances dont change.

Israel has banned all food, shelter, medicine and any other goods from entering the Palestinian territory for the past 10 weeks, even as it carries out waves of airstrikes and ground operations. Gazas population of around 2.3 million people relies almost entirely on outside aid to survive, because Israels 19-month-old military campaign has wiped away most capacity to produce food inside the territory.

Israels Foreign Ministry rejected the findings, saying the IPCs previous forecasts had proven unfounded and that the group undercounted the amount of aid that entered Gaza during a ceasefire earlier this year.

Desperate scenes as food is running out

Food supplies are emptying out dramatically. Communal kitchens handing out cooked meals are virtually the only remaining source of food for most people in Gaza now, but they too are rapidly shutting down for lack of stocks.

Thousands of Palestinians crowd daily outside the public kitchens, pushing and jostling with their pots to receive lentils or pasta.

We end up waiting in line for four, five hours, in the sun. It is exhausting, said Riham Sheikh el-Eid, waiting at a kitchen in the southern city of Khan Younis on Sunday. At the end, we walk away with nothing. It is not enough for everybody.

The lack of a famine declaration doesnt mean people arent already starving, and a declaration shouldnt be a precondition for ending the suffering, said Chris Newton, an analyst for the International Crisis Group focusing on starvation as a weapon of war.

The Israeli government is starving Gaza as part of its attempt to destroy Hamas and transform the strip, he said.

Israel demands a new aid system

The Israeli military says enough aid entered Gaza during a two-month ceasefire that Israel shattered in mid-March when it relaunched its military campaign.

Israel says the blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it still holds. It says it wont let aid back in until a new system giving it control over distribution is in place, accusing Hamas of siphoning off supplies. The United States says it is working up a new mechanism that will start deliveries soon, but it has given no timeframe.

The United Nations has so far refused to participate. It denies substantial diversion of aid is taking place and says the new system is unnecessary, will not meet the massive needs of Palestinians and will allow aid to be used as a weapon for political and military goals.

Mondays report said that any slight gains made during the ceasefire have been reversed. Nearly the entire population of Gaza now faces high levels of hunger, it said, driven by conflict, the collapse of infrastructure, destruction of agriculture, and blockades of aid.

Mahmoud Alsaqqa, food security and livelihoods coordinator for Oxfam, called on governments to press Israel to allow unimpeded humanitarian access.

Silence in the face of this man-made starvation is complicity, he said.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the groups Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostage, most of whom have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israels offensive has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians or combatants.

Three criteria for declaring famine

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia, groups more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies.

It has only declared famine a few times  in Somalia in 2011, and South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and last year in parts of Sudans western Darfur region. Tens of thousands are believed to have died in Somalia and South Sudan.

It rates an area as in famine when at least two of three things occur: 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving; at least 30% of children six months to five years suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning theyre too thin for their height; and at least two people or four children under five per every 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.

The assessment on Monday found that the first threshold was met in Gaza, saying 477,000 people  or 22% of the population  are classified as in catastrophic hunger, the highest level, for the period from May 11 to the end of September.

It said more than 1 million people are at emergency levels of hunger, the second highest level, meaning they have very high gaps" in food and high acute malnutrition.

The other thresholds were not met. The data was gathered in April and up to May 6. Food security experts say it takes time for people to start dying from starvation.

The report said if the blockade and military campaign continues, the vast majority in Gaza will not have access to food or water, civil unrest will worsen, health services will fully collapse, disease will spread, and levels of malnutrition and death will cross the thresholds into famine.

It had also warned of imminent famine in northern Gaza in March 2024, but the following month, Israel allowed an influx of aid under U.S. pressure after an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers.

Aid groups now say the situation is the most dire of the entire war. The U.N. humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said Friday that the number of children seeking treatment at clinics for malnutrition has doubled since February, even as supplies to treat them are quickly running out.

Aid groups have shut down food distribution for lack of stocks. Many foods have disappeared from the markets and whats left has spiraled in price and is unaffordable to most. Farmland is mostly destroyed or inaccessible. Water distribution is grinding to a halt, largely because of lack of fuel.

Beth Bechdol, deputy director of the U.N.s Food and Agriculture Organization, said more than 75% of Gazas farmland had been damaged or destroyed, and two-thirds of the wells used for irrigation were no longer operating.

The destruction, she said, is driving these large numbers of people closer towards the famine numbers that we think are possible.

AP correspondents Wafaa Shurafa in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
GENEVA  The United States and China agreed Monday to slash their massive recent tariffs, restarting stalled trade between the world's two biggest economies and setting off a rally in global financial markets.

But the de-escalation in President Donald Trump's trade wars did nothing to resolve underlying differences between Beijing and Washington.

The deal lasts 90 days, creating time for U.S. and Chinese negotiators to reach a more substantive agreement, but the pause also leaves tariffs higher than before Trump started ramping them up last month. Businesses and investors must contend with uncertainty about whether the truce will last.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff rate on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%.

Deal averts blockade

Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the tariff reductions at a news conference in Geneva.

The officials said the two sides set up consultations to continue discussing their trade issues. Bessent said the triple-digit tariffs the two countries imposed on each other last month  in an escalation of tensions Trump started  amounted to "the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade."

The delegations met for at least a dozen hours on both days of the weekend at a sun-baked 18th-century villa that serves as the official residence of the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

Finally, a deal

The 30% levy that America is now imposing on Chinese goods includes an existing 20% tariff intended to pressure China into doing more to prevent the the synthetic opioid fentanyl from entering the United States.

It also includes the same 10% "baseline" tariff Trump slapped on imports from most of the world's countries. The 30% tax comes on top of other levies on China, including some left over from Trump's first term and kept by former President Joe Biden.

Trump ratcheted the combined tariff to 145% last month, furious that China retaliated, before backing down Monday.

China's Commerce Ministry called the agreement an important step for the resolution of the two countries' differences and said it lays the foundation for further cooperation.

"This initiative aligns with the expectations of producers and consumers in both countries and serves the interests of both nations as well as the common interests of the world," a ministry statement said.

China hopes the U.S. will stop "the erroneous practice of unilateral tariff hikes" and work with China to safeguard the development of economic and trade relations, injecting more certainty and stability into the global economy, the ministry said.

The joint statement by the two countries said China also agreed to suspend or remove other measures it took since April 2 in response to the U.S. tariffs.

China increased export controls on rare earths, including some critical to the defense industry, and added more American companies to its export control and unreliable entity lists, restricting their business with and in China.

US, China reach tariffs deal; Pope Leo XIV lays out his vision On today's episode: U.S. and Chinese officials say they have called a 90-day truce in their trade war; Hamas will release the final US hostage Monday; the latest on the war between Russia and Ukraine; PKK Kurdish militant group reaches peace deal with Turkey; President Donald Trump is visiting the Middle East.

Iran and US conclude a fourth round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program in Oman.

Trump is bringing white South Africans to the US as refugees, but what persecution are they facing.

Trump reportedly is set to accept a jet from Qatar's royal family for possible use as Air Force One.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to reduce flight capacity at Newark airport.

Transgender issues are a strength for Trump, AP-NORC poll finds.

Trump administration says it's actively looking at suspending habeas corpus.

At least 10 people sickened in US listeria outbreak linked to prepared foods.

New acting head of federal disaster agency warns in call with staff.

Opening statements expected in Diddy sex trafficking trial.

Judge sets dates for Menendez brothers' resentencing hearings.

1 killed, 32 injured in collision of bus and SUV on Los Angeles freeway.

Dog rescued from river by NYPD gets forever home with officer.

Newark mayor denies trespassing at immigration detention center following arrest.

Catholic Chicagoans celebrate as native son Pope Leo XIV becomes first American pope.

A record half helps the Pacers take control and a gutsy Thunder win in the NBA Playoffs, Mikko Rantanen stays hot to lift the Stars and the defending champs even things up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, another managerial change in baseball and Sepp Straka earns his second win of the season in golf.

UNC Belichick's girlfriend 'welcome' at football facilities after report she had been banned.

FIFA confirms Women's World Cup will increase to 48 teams in 2031 when US is expected to host.

Timberwolves say fan ejected for conduct toward Draymond Green at Thursday's playoff game.

Wall Street and other markets hold steady ahead of a highly anticipated US-China meeting on trade.

Expedia cites lower demand for US travel for weaker-than-expected revenue.

India and Pakistan ceasefire shaken by overnight clashes in Kashmir.

Soviet-era spacecraft plunges to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit.

Pope Leo XIV lays out his vision and identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity.

2 men convicted in chainsaw massacre of UK's beloved Sycamore Gap tree. The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

More to do

The full impact on the complicated tariffs and other trade penalties enacted by Washington and Beijing remains unclear. Much depends on whether they will find ways to bridge longstanding differences during the 90-day suspension.

Bessent said in an interview with CNBC that U.S. and Chinese officials will meet again in a few weeks.

"This is a substantial de-escalation," said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics. But he warned "there is no guarantee that the 90-day truce will give way to a lasting ceasefire."

Dani Rodrik, an economist at Harvard University, said the two countries stepped back "from a needless trade war" but that U.S. tariffs on China remain high at 30% "and will mainly hurt U.S. consumers."

"Trump has obtained absolutely nothing from China for all the chaos he generated. Zilch," Rodrik wrote, posting on Bluesky.

Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the speed at which the agreement came about suggested that "both sides were more economically boxed in than they let on."

"For China, the economic pain was real: Rising unemployment, capital flight, and export orders falling at their fastest rate in nearly two years," Singleton said. "For Trump, markets mattered, and this deal gives him a win without abandoning leverage."

The announcement by the U.S. and China sent shares surging, with U.S. futures jumping more than 2%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index surged nearly 3%, and benchmarks in Germany and France were both up 0.7%

"The drop from sky-high to merely high tariffs, along with the uncertainty about the path of future tariffs, will still serve as a constraint on trade and investment flows between the two economies," said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University.

"Nevertheless, it is a positive omen for the world economy that U.S. tariffs might eventually end up as significant trade barriers but not unsurmountable walls," he said.
As congressional Republicans eye Medicaid cuts that would eviscerate health care for working people and endanger rural hospitals, a call for compassion and political sanity is coming from a source that hasnt historically been a bastion of either: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley.

President Donald Trump has promised working-class tax cuts and protection for working-class social insurance, such as Medicaid, Missouris senior senator wrote in an op-ed published Monday in, of all forums, The New York Times.

But now a noisy contingent of corporatist Republicans  call it the partys Wall Street wing  is urging Congress to ignore all that and get back to the old-time religion: corporate giveaways, preferences for capital and deep cuts to social insurance, wrote Hawley. He warned that slashing health insurance for the working poor is both morally wrong and politically suicidal.

As an editorial board that has long called out extremism from the Missouri Republican on various issues  including calling for his resignation after his shameful key role in the outrage of Jan. 6, 2021  let us say this plainly: Hawley is right (about this, at least), and his party should listen to him.

Medicaid is the federal-state health care program for the poor that covers about 70 million Americans nationwide, including more than 1 million Missourians and more than 3 million Illinoisans. U.S. House Republicans are currently patching together a budget deal that would trim some $880 billion in future spending  largely from Medicaid  in order to help fund the extension of Trumps 2017 tax-cut package, which is currently set to expire in 2028.

Despite Republican assurances that those original 2017 tax cuts would pay for themselves by spurring economic activity and that they would primarily aid regular Americans, the opposite has, predictably enough, turned out to be true. The cuts mostly benefited high-end taxpayers and corporations, which made a mockery of the premise that they would reinvest those savings to create jobs instead using them largely for stock buybacks that only helped their investors.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the original 2017 tax cuts will add upwards of $2 trillion to the federal deficit in all  and that extending those cuts, as Republicans now want to do, would ultimately push that cost to about $4.6 trillion.

Extending the tax cuts for (primarily) the rich will require either adding significantly to the deficit or making major spending cuts. Contrary to the fiction peddled by Elon Musk, gutting foreign aid, medical research grants and other relatively modest expenses wont get anywhere near covering it. Only defense spending and entitlements  Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security  contain enough money to do that.

Hawleys political history is as problematic as any in his party when it comes to health care. As Missouri attorney general, he signed on to a multistate lawsuit seeking to effectively end the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with no realistic replacement for the millions of Americans who rely on it. And he didnt buck his party as Missouri Republicans stubbornly fought Medicaid expansion for a decade until the states voters finally forced the issue via referendum.

That said, Hawleys more recent project to remake himself and his party as a populist friend of working people appears to have some meat to it. That includes his calls to focus tax cuts on areas like payroll taxes  which, unlike the trickle-down nonsense his party still preaches with its supply-side religion, would actually put money in the pockets of working people who would spend it and thus spur the economy.

Hawleys piece in the Times contains his obligatory genuflection to Trump, crediting the presidents stated opposition to Medicaid cuts without noting Trumps alarming habit of suddenly reversing major policy stances based on (it often seems) little more than his shifting moods. And nowhere in Hawleys op-ed does it express the logical conclusion that in order to preserve Medicaid and other programs important to working people, Republicans should ditch their quest to extend the 2017 tax cuts for the rich.

Still, Hawley is right, especially on this point: If Congress cuts funding for Medicaid benefits, Missouri workers and their children will lose their health care. And hospitals will close. Its that simple. And that pattern will replicate in states across the country.

It is, in fact, that simple. And if congressional Republicans proceed with their plan to throw their own struggling constituents to the economic wolves for the sake of again coddling the rich, we and many others will be there to remind them that they were warned by one of their own partys more prominent voices.
As one of Americas worst-run states, Missouris legislative dysfunction has multiple sources. The ideological extremism of its Republican supermajority is often one. The bipartisan tendency toward corruption is another.

Then theres plain old bickering. Thats what apparently was at work in the infuriating decision by a few Missouri House leaders on Friday to unilaterally scuttle more than a half-billion dollars worth of construction projects around the state without so much as a peep to Democrats or even to Senate Republicans.

Gov. Mike Kehoe doesnt have to just accept this legislative malpractice. He has the option to call lawmakers back into special session after their regular session adjourns this week and keep them there until they pass the construction package. He should  and the more inconvenient that is for legislators, the better.

The $513 million package of brick-and-mortar projects wasnt in itself controversial. The Legislature passes budgetary measures like it every year. But as a 6 p.m. parliamentary deadline approached and then passed on Friday, House leaders hadnt called it for a vote. Under the state Constitution, its now dead for the current session. And for the year, unless Kehoe calls a special session.

As the Post-Dispatchs Kurt Erickson reports, it means the likely postponement for a year of state funding for projects including a $50 million nuclear research reactor for Mizzou, $20 million for part of a new convention center in Jefferson City, almost $16 million for renovations at the Jefferson Barracks in south St. Louis County and much more.

The package also included some $40 million for health care projects in St. Louis and around the state.

House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca, afterward effectively blamed his fellow Republicans on the other side of the Capitol, telling reporters that the Senate didnt get its version of the spending package to the House until early on Friday, leaving insufficient time for House members to review it by the Friday deadline.

That doesnt explain why House leaders didnt even bother telling anyone else that it wouldnt be called for a vote until it was too late to do anything about it, which infuriated Senate leaders. As reported by the Missouri Independent, Senate Appropriations Chairman Lincoln Hough, a Republican, responded this week by vowing not to let any House bills pass his committee. He then spent two hours reviewing for Senate members which projects from their districts would be denied funding due to just the inaction of the House last week.

This is your tax dollars are work, Missouri. And this from a legislative body that has churned through much of this sessions timetable arrogantly trying to undo what the states voters very recently did in restoring reproductive rights and shoring up labor rights. Perhaps their time should have been better spent.

This session they also managed to pass a huge tax cut for the rich, exempting capital gains from the state income tax. It will mean more than $300 million a year in lost state revenue. Thank goodness lawmakers found the time for that little giveaway.

Kehoe has long championed such a tax cut, meaning he is, unfortunately, virtually certain to sign it into law.

If and when he does, he should think hard about the optics here: He and his fellow Republicans can manage to deliver that expensive largess to the wealthiest constituents in the state  but they cant get their act together enough to deliver the economic boost to working people and local communities that would benefit from all those suspended brick-and-mortar projects?

When the Legislature failed to pass an annual construction bill in 1997, then-Gov. Mel Carnahan responded by calling them back into special session. They managed to pass the measure within a week.

Kehoe should follow suit and he should do it immediately. Much of what happens in Jefferson City is political nonsense; helping fund construction projects is one of the more valuable exceptions. The governor should drag this bunch of bickering pols back to the Capitol and make them do their jobs.

The Editorial Board
An Osan Elementary School student poses in fighter pilot gear on Career Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)



OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  Curious, career-minded fourth- and fifth graders spent a recent afternoon collecting information from aviation professionals at the annual Career Day on this U.S. installation south of Seoul.

The May 8 event connected students from Osan Elementary School on the flightline with representatives from four career fields: firefighting, aviation equipment maintenance, air traffic control and specialists in survival, evasion, resistance and escape, or SERE.

Career Day is one of our favorite events because it brings real-world professions directly to our students, said school principal Allysse Struhs. Were providing the outside world experience that they would get in the states.

Usually a two-day event, this years Career Day was trimmed to one because of a scheduling conflict with Osan Air Power Days, the first event of its kind at the base in six years.

In a few hours, students gained a hands-on introduction to Air Force careers. Each stop afforded opportunities to try the gear, ask questions and get a real-world glimpse into military jobs.

Firefighters from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron suited up students in helmets and gloves, and demonstrated how they use water hoses and breathing equipment to navigate dangerous environments.

Nearby, air traffic controllers explained how they manage the skies above Osan, walking students through radar screens and headset communications. Flight equipment maintainers displayed helmets, vests and emergency gear used by fighter pilots, sparking conversations about safety and precision.

A lot of them had no idea what my job was until I explained how we prepare the gear that keeps pilots alive, said Senior Airman Bryan Truong, a flight equipment specialist with the 25th Fighter Squadron.

Senior Airman Mauriuce Chambers of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron shows an Osan Elementary School student how to operate a fire hose on Career Day a Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Senior Airman Dylan Favorite discusses the essentials of a tactical deployment kit on Career Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

An air traffic controller guides Career Day students through the basics of flight coordination during a tour of the control tower simulator at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)

Senior Airman Bryan Truong helps an Osan Elementary School student try on a pilot helmet and oxygen mask at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)



Students who are exposed to career-related experiences in elementary and middle school show increased motivation and improved academic performance, particularly in STEM subjects, according to a 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Education.

Struhs said students early exposure to careers pays off in the long run.

For many of these students, today might be the first time they consider a future in aviation, emergency response or military service, she said. It also gives them a sense of connecting with their families, and the great things their parents are doing to serve our country.
A soldier supporting the 839th Transportation Battalion directs a U.S. Army vehicle as it is offloaded from the cargo vessel ARC Endurance at the port of Kavala, Greece, April 29, 2025, for the exercise Defender 25. (Davide Dalla Massara/U.S. Army)



U.S. soldiers in Greece have gained new access to an eastern Mediterranean port, giving commanders another hub for projecting power on NATOs southern flank, military officials say.

Units involved in the U.S. Armys ongoing Defender 25 drills in Europe last week pushed vehicle convoys through a Greek commercial port at the Aegean Sea city of Kavala  marking the first time Army equipment was offloaded there.

This port addition enables us to have many more options and opportunities should we need them for future missions here, Brig. Gen. Karen Monday-Gresham, deputy commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, said in a recent statement.

The Kavala port joins a growing network of sites used by U.S. forces across Europe. Greek authorities are expected to upgrade the port in the coming years with a rail terminal that could allow for larger force movements.

The U.S. Army and Air Force also have expanded missions in other parts of Greece in recent years, with a rotating presence at military sites in Stefanovikeio, the port of Alexandroupoli and Larissa Air Base.

Brig. Gen. Karen Monday-Gresham, the 21st Theater Sustainment Commands deputy commander, receives a brief on operations at the port of Kavala, Greece, on May 7, 2025. (Brian Lamar/U.S. Army)

A soldier assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion directs a U.S. Army M1157 truck as it is offloaded from the cargo vessel ARC Endurance at the port of Kavala, Greece, Apr. 28, 2025, for exercise Defender 25. (Davide Dalla Massara/U.S. Army)

U.S. Army vehicles offloaded from the cargo vessel ARC Endurance at the port of Kavala, Greece, Apr. 28, 2025, are lined up before leaving for the Defender 25 exercise. (Davide Dalla Massara/U.S. Army)



Expanding port access has been a priority for U.S. European Command, particularly since Russias 2014 intervention in Ukraine.

Once reliant on northern hubs such as Bremerhaven, the Army has increasingly turned to southern Europe. Greece has become a particularly important logistics node, aided by recent security cooperation agreements.

The Kavala operation translates directly to a more robust power projection platform for the Mediterranean region, Andre Cameron, director of Surface Deployment and Distribution Commands eastern Mediterranean transportation detachment in Greece, said in a statement.

The mission, months in the making, brought U.S. Army and Coast Guard personnel together with their Greek counterparts. Port authorities also built structures, such as barrier walls, to separate military and commercial operations, the Army said.

Nikos Paschalis, Kavala port terminal manager, said the port is prepared to assist the Army with any future needs in the same manner.
Georgia Tech linguist Lelia Glass points to a diagram showing how the pronunciation of certain words by metro-Atlanta residents has changed over several generations, at her home in Atlanta on April 30. A series of research papers published in December documented the diminishment of the regional accent among Black residents of the Atlanta area, white working-class people in the New Orleans area and people who grew up in Raleigh, N.C. (Sharon Johnson/AP)



Growing up in Atlanta in the 1940s and 1950s, Susan Levines visits to New York City relatives included being the star of an impromptu novelty show: Her cousin invited over friends and charged 25 cents a pop for them to listen to Levines Southern accent.

Even though they too grew up in Atlanta, Levines two sons, born more than a quarter century after her, never spoke with the accent that is perhaps the most famous regional dialect in the United States, with its elongated vowels and soft r sounds.

My accent is nonexistent, said Ira Levine, her oldest son. People I work with, and even in school, people didnt believe I was from Atlanta.

The Southern accent, which has many variations, is fading in some areas of the South as people migrate to the region from other parts of the U.S. and around the world. A series of research papers published in December documented the diminishment of the regional accent among Black residents of the Atlanta area, white working-class people in the New Orleans area and people who grew up in Raleigh, N.C.

More than 5.8 million people have moved into the U.S. South so far in the 2020s, more than four times the combined total of the nations three other regions. Linguists dont believe mass media has played a significant role in the language change, which tends to start in urban areas and radiate out to more rural places.

Late 20th century migration surge affects accents

The classical white Southern accent in the Atlanta area and other parts of the urban South peaked with baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 and then dropped off with Generation Xers born between 1965 and 1980 and subsequent generations, in large part because of the tremendous in-migration of people in the second half of the 20th century.

It has been replaced among the youngest speakers in the 21st century with a dialect that was first noticed in California in the late 1980s, according to recent research from linguists at the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Brigham Young University. That dialect, which also was detected in Canada, has become a pan-regional accent as it has spread to other parts of the U.S., including Boston, New York and Michigan, contributing to the diminishment of their regional accents.

In Raleigh, N.C., the trigger point in the decline of the Southern accent was the opening in 1959 of the Research Triangle Park, a sprawling complex of research and technology firms that attracted tens of thousands of highly educated workers from outside the South. White residents born after 1979, a generation after the Research Triangles establishment, typically dont talk with a Southern accent, linguist Sean Lundergan wrote in a paper published in December.

Often, outsiders wrongly associate a Southern accent with a lack of education, and some younger people may be trying to distance themselves from that stereotype.

Young people today, especially the educated young people, they dont want to sound too much like they are from a specific hometown, said Georgia Tech linguist Lelia Glass, who co-wrote the Atlanta study. They want to sound more kind of, nonlocal and geographically mobile.

Accents change for younger people

The Southern dialect among Black people in Atlanta has dropped off in recent decades mainly because of an influx of African Americans from northern U.S. cities in what has been described as the Reverse Great Migration.

During the Great Migration, from roughly 1910 to 1970, African Americans from the South moved to cities in the North like New York, Detroit and Chicago. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren have moved back South in large numbers to places like Atlanta during the late 20th and early 21st centuries and are more likely to be college-educated.

Researchers found Southern accents among African Americans dropped off with Gen Z, or those born between 1997 and 2012, according to a study published in December. The same researchers previously studied Southern accents among white people in Atlanta.

Michelle and Richard Beck, Gen Xers living in the Atlanta area, have Southern accents, but its missing in their two sons born in 1998 and 2001.

I think they speak clearer than I do, Richard Beck, a law enforcement officer, said of his sons. They dont sound as country as I do when it comes to the Southern drawl.

Michelle and Richard Beck, right, stand outside their Atlanta-area home, May 1. They are Generation Xers who speak with southern accents while their Gen Z sons, Dylan and Richard, left, do not. (Sharon Johnson/AP)



New Orleans yat accent diminished

Unlike other accents that have changed because of an influx of new residents, the distinctive, white working-class yat accent of New Orleans has declined as many locals left following the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The accent is distinct from other regional accents in the South and often described as sounding as much like Brooklynese as Southern.

The hurricane was a catastrophic language change event for New Orleans since it displaced around a quarter million residents in the first year after the storm and brought in tens of thousands of outsiders in the following decade.

The diminishment of the yat accent is most noticeable in millennials, who were adolescents when Katrina hit, since they were exposed to other ways of speaking during a key time for linguistic development, Virginia Tech sociolinguist Katie Carmichael said in a paper published in December.

Cheryl Wilson Lanier, a 64-year-old who grew up in Chalmette, La., one of the New Orleans suburbs where the accent was most prevalent, worries that part of the regions uniqueness will be lost if the accent disappears.

Its kind of like were losing our distinct personality, she said.

Southern identity changing

While it is diminishing in many urban areas, the Southern accent is unlikely to disappear completely because accents are an incredibly straightforward way of showing other people something about ourselves, said University of Georgia linguist Margaret Renwick, one of the authors of the Atlanta studies.

It may instead reflect a change in how younger speakers view Southern identity, with a regional accent not as closely associated with what is considered Southern as in previous generations, and linguistic boundaries less important than other factors, she said.

So young people in the Atlanta area or Raleigh area have a different vision of what life is in the South, Renwick said. And its not the same as the one that their parents or grandparents grew up with.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the U.S. State Department in Washington on Feb. 10, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images/TNS)



(Tribune News Service)  Secretary of State Marco Rubio blacklisted Cuba on Tuesday as a country that did not fully cooperate with U.S. counterterrorism efforts in 2024 and blasted the government in Havana for its refusal to discuss the return of people residing on the island who are charged in the U.S. for various crimes.

The State Department said in a statement there are 11 wanted fugitives harbored in Cuba, some facing terrorism-related charges, and the Cuban government made clear it was not willing to discuss their return to face justice in the United States.

Among those are William Morales, a bomb maker for a militant Puerto Rican group that bombed a New York tavern in 1975, killing four, and Joanne Chesimard, known in Cuba as Assata Shakur, convicted for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. They both escaped from prison in the U.S., eventually fleeing to Cuba, where Fidel Castro gave them refuge.

The State Department said that Cubas refusal to engage on the issue and unspecified other recent circumstances indicating non-cooperation on law enforcement matters related to terrorism made efforts to cooperate with Cuba on counterterrorism issues futile in 2024.

As Secretary Rubio stated, the regime in Cuba is an enemy of humanity, a senior State Department official said. Todays certification that Cuba is not fully cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism efforts is further proof that the Trump Administration will not turn a blind eye on countries that provide safe haven to U.S. fugitives of law.

The secretary of states annual certification to Congress of a list of not fully cooperating countries on counterterrorism efforts prohibits the sale or license to export defense articles and services to such nations.

Even if they are two separate designations, the certification of Cuba as not fully cooperating signals the country is also likely to remain designated as a state sponsoring terrorism in the foreseeable future.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump rescinded his predecessors last-minute decision to remove Cuba from the State Departments list of states that sponsor terrorism. President Joe Biden delisted Cuba as part of a deal brokered by the Vatican in exchange for Havana freeing dozens of political prisoners. That deal has since falled apart after Trump took office and Cuba stopped releasing political prisoners. Cuba also recently sent back to prison two prominent dissidents.

Cubas brief removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism was preceded by a May decision last year to no longer blacklist Cuba as not cooperating fully with anti-terrorist efforts.

In taking such a step, Biden administration officials said Cubas refusal to engage with Colombia on extradition requests for National Liberation Army, or ELN, guerrilla members who were in Havana for peace talks had supported Cubas certification in 2022. But in August 2022, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered his countrys attorney general to suspend the arrest warrants against 17 ELN commanders, including those in Cuba. Moreover, the United States and Cuba resumed law enforcement cooperation in 2023, including on counterterrorism, a State Department spokesperson said at the time.

Rubio, then a U.S. senator, criticized the administration, declaring at the time, President Biden is making it abundantly clear he wants to remove the Cuban dictatorship from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. As secretary of state he has vowed to implement a tough Cuba policy.

In addition to Cuba, Rubio has also determined that North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela do not fully cooperate with the United States on counterterrorism measures.

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Visit at miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ULAN BATOR, May 13 (Xinhua)-- A forest fire has devastated at least 7,300 hectares of land in the eastern Mongolian province of Khentii, according to the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday.

The forest fire, which erupted in Norovlin Soum (administrative subdivision), was fully extinguished by Tuesday afternoon, the NEMA reported.

According to experts, most of the forest and steppe fires are caused by human negligence, careless handling of fire and burning of grass in the spring.

In view of this, the NEMA has warned residents of Ulan Bator and 21 Mongolian provinces not to make bonfires or throw cigarette butts on the ground in dry weather

Since the beginning of spring in Mongolia, a total of 87 forest and steppe fires were reported across Mongolia, devastating 748,082 hectares of forest and grassland. 
A soldier with the 2nd Light Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, prepares an Anduril Ghost X drone for takeoff during the Balikatan Exercise at Itbayat Airport, Itbayat, Philippines, April 22, 2025. (Brandon Roland/U.S. Army)



FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division will join Philippine army forces this summer for an exercise involving a massive movement of troops and equipment over 250 miles by air, sea and land, according to the division commander.

The defensive drill is an expansion of combat training by the U.S. Army Pacifics mobile Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, or JPMRC, which begins later this month in the Philippines for the second year in a row.

Soldiers with the 25th will train with troops of the 5th and 7th Philippine infantry divisions, Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans said by phone Friday.

The movement will take place on Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, and employ Army watercraft along its east coast to transport troops and equipment north, Evans said.

At the same time, Army aircraft will transport assets from locations such as Fort Magsaysay in central Luzon to a location of positional advantage in the islands north, he said.

JPMRC held a territorial defense drill last summer, but not to the scale that were doing it this year, where were using air, land and sea to reposition forces, Evans said.

The two allies are keeping a sustained pace of what they describe as defensive exercises in the Philippines. U.S. Marines and soldiers most recently teamed with Philippine troops for territorial defense drills during the 19-day annual Balikatan exercise that concluded Friday.

During the upcoming JPMRC, the 25th will further expand and tweak the Armys Transforming in Contact initiative, which aims to rapidly put the newest technology into the hands of soldiers to make them more lethal, survivable and adaptable in any environment.

The initiative passes sequentially through three divisions  the 25th, 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain  which hand off lessons learned to the division next up for training.

Last fall, the 25th field-tested the Armys new Infantry Squad Vehicle during JPMRC combat training in Hawaii that focused on the divisions 2nd Light Brigade Combat Team.

The 25th also employed about 100 small drones to create smaller, more mobile reconnaissance strike teams.

The Philippines JPMRC may fly more than twice that number of small drones thanks to 3D printing capability employed by the 2nd Light Brigade Combat Team during Balikatan, Evans said.

The range of those drones is also increasing. During JPMRC in Hawaii last fall drones had a range of roughly 3 miles, useful at platoon and squad levels, he said.

This summer unmanned aerial systems at the brigade level will have a range of almost 20 miles, he said.

The Transforming in Contact initiative is also working to streamline troop sustainment.

For the last six weeks, we have been producing and purifying all of our own water, and were going to sustain that throughout the duration of this training, Evans said.
This image from the state-run Central News Agency shows Taiwan's military firing a U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, for the first time on May 12, 2025. (CNA)



Taiwanese troops fired U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, for the first time this week, sending test rockets into the Pacific Ocean from coastal firing positions.

Eleven launchers under 58th Artillery Command fired 33 rockets on Monday from Jiupeng Base in the southern part of the island, Taiwans state-run Central News Agency reported that day.

The self-governing, democratic island is strengthening its defenses to deter China from attempting an invasion or blockade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated his intent to reunite Taiwan with mainland China, by force if necessary. Beijing is building amphibious forces and has sent increasing numbers of military aircraft toward Taiwan and staged naval drills around the island in recent years.

Officially, the United States has not diplomatically recognized Taiwan since normalizing relations with the Peoples Republic of China in 1979. But the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 maintains de facto ties and requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with weapons of a defensive nature and resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.

HIMARS is designed to strike targets on land and is credited with evening the odds for Ukraine in its three-year war against invading Russian forces.

This image from the state-run Central News Agency shows Taiwan's military preparing to fire a U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, for the first time on May 12, 2025. (CNA)



The U.S. Army is also employing HIMARS in coastal defense drills in the Philippines.

The system can be adapted for anti-ship missions, Maj. Gen. Thomas Savage, commander of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, told reporters observing live-fire training on the countrys western island of Palawan on April 28.

The Taiwanese artillery units deputy commander, Col. Ho Chih-chung, said technicians from HIMARS manufacturer Lockheed Martin attended Mondays drill, according to CNA.

HIMARS carries a six-pack of rockets, two precision strike missiles or one Army tactical missile. The system has a proven range of up to 186 miles with munitions in development to reach beyond 310 miles, according to the defense contractors website.

HIMARS employs a shot and scoot capability which enhances crew and platform survivability in a high threat environment, the website states. HIMARS can emplace, fire, relocate and conduct reload in a matter of minutes dramatically reducing an adversarys ability to locate and target HIMARS.

Taiwans military didnt provide details about how the live-fire drill went.

The island purchased 29 HIMARS from the U.S. with the first shipment of 11 delivered in 2024, the agency reported.

A second batch of 18 HIMARS is scheduled for delivery next year, a year earlier than originally planned, the agency reported.
John Lee (5th L), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), attends a roundtable meeting with Qatari Businessmen Association in Doha, Qatar, May 12, 2025. Political and business leaders in Qatar on Monday expressed their keen interest in strengthening exchanges and enhancing trade and investment cooperation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China. (Information Services Department of the Government of the HKSAR/Handout via Xinhua)

DOHA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Political and business leaders in Qatar on Monday expressed their keen interest in strengthening exchanges and enhancing trade and investment cooperation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China.

A delegation led by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee concluded a two-day visit to Qatar on Monday, promoting Hong Kong and exploring opportunities for cooperation.

During an event themed "Partnering for Success -- Hong Kong as a 'super Connector' and 'Super Value-Adder'," Qatari Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said that Hong Kong serves as a gateway to Asia, while Doha acts as a gateway to the Middle East.

"At a time when many traditional relationships and international norms are in flux, our economies must remain open to each other," Al Kuwari said. He expressed hope that the visit would further boost trade and investment between the two sides.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Qatar looks forward to deepening cooperation across various sectors, especially in the private sector, including trade, finance, and investment. He encouraged Qatari entrepreneurs and investors to explore opportunities in Hong Kong.

Speaking to Xinhua, Lee said the Hong Kong delegation comprises over 50 professionals and leaders of enterprises from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

"The composition of the delegation demonstrates Hong Kong's unique role as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' under the principle of 'one country, two systems'," Lee said.

Qatar is currently Hong Kong's third-largest trading partner in the Middle East, he said.

"During this visit, we have achieved 35 MoUs (the memorandums of understanding) and agreements spanning trade, investment, technology, legal co-operation, financial markets and so on," he added. 

John Lee (3rd L), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), attends a roundtable meeting with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Doha, Qatar, May 12, 2025. Political and business leaders in Qatar on Monday expressed their keen interest in strengthening exchanges and enhancing trade and investment cooperation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China. (Information Services Department of the Government of the HKSAR/Handout via Xinhua)
KIGALI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Delegates attending the 13th Aviation Stakeholders Convention and the 2nd African Aviation Safety and Operations Summit, which opened on Monday in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, have called for reforms, regional collaboration and the adoption of innovative technologies to unlock Africa's aviation potential and strengthen safety across the continent.

The three-day event, held under the theme "Sustainability, Collaborate, Innovate and Strengthening Safety Culture in Africa," is organized by the government of Rwanda in partnership with the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

"Alongside the challenges of regulatory policies, airlines must improve cooperation through interline agreements, code sharing and partnerships, while also lowering their operating costs to make air travel more affordable for a greater number of Africans," Secretary General of AFRAA Abderahmane Berthe said at the event.

Berthe said that only 10 percent of African citizens can currently afford air transport, highlighting the significant potential for growth.

Yvonne Makolo, chief executive officer of Rwanda's national carrier, RwandAir, noted that Africa is home to 17 percent of the world's population, but in 2025, the continent only accounts for 2.2 percent of global traffic.

"Many people in our respective countries take 13- or 14-hour bus rides to travel between countries instead of a two-hour flight, primarily because of the costs. We need to close these gaps," Makolo added.

Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente said the aviation sector holds immense potential to drive economic transformation on the continent.

"Aviation plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth, job creation, and regional integration. It connects people, cultures, and markets, serving as a catalyst for tourism, trade, and investment," said Ngirente.

"Rwanda has adopted policies to foster a conducive environment for aviation growth, including visa-on-arrival for all African citizens, which has boosted tourism and trade," he said.

The event brought together over 400 aviation stakeholders from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.

Meanwhile, according to a statement from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released in December last year, the global airline industry is expected to see a slight increase in profitability in 2025, despite ongoing cost and supply chain challenges.

Net profits are projected to reach 36.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, with a 3.6 percent net profit margin-up from an expected 31.5 billion dollars net profit and 3.3 percent margin in 2024, IATA reported. 
Imposing the fine for the trespass offence in March, Judge Alec Gabbett said that words used by Mr Dwyer to others on the grounds at Magowna House were unkind and "quite unseemly

Anti-immigrant activist, Philip Dwyer, is appealing a conviction for trespass at a direct provision centre for International Protection (IP) applicants at Magowna House in 2023.

The self-declared citizen journalist is appealing the conviction and 500 fine for the trespass offence imposed on him at Ennis District Court in March.

Clare FM reports that State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey said that the appeal will require a full hearing and would take two hours. Counsel for Mr Dwyer said that it would take significantly less than two hours.

Judge Francis Comerford fixed July 7 for hearing at Ennis Circuit Court.

Imposing the fine for the trespass offence in March, Judge Alec Gabbett said that words used by Mr Dwyer to others on the grounds at Magowna House were unkind and "quite unseemly".

After viewing Mr Dwyers video footage in court of what occurred at Magowna House on May 18, 2023 Judge Gabbett said: There was a certain undertone to the speech used.

Philip Dwyer

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Judge Gabbett said that Mr Dwyer had told a Ukrainian man at the Magowna House site "you are Ukrainian - you are in my country or words to that effect and you can't tell me what to do in my country' isn't particularly pleasant to watch.

Mr Dwyer (56) of Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24 had denied the trespass charge and presented video footage of his interactions at Magowna House as part of his case and Judge Gabbett said that the footage was instead helpful to the States prosecution against Mr Dwyer.

The court was told at the time, there were protests at Magowna House where 29 International Protection applicants were being accommodated and there were blockades on local roads which were attracting media attention.

In evidence heard previously, Manager of Magowna House, Ahlam Salman told the court that Mr Dwyer was on the property on May 18 recording making me and my staff feel afraid and unsafe.

Judge Gabbett said that Mr Dwyers footage corroborated the States evidence of Ms Salmans fear on the day.

Judge Gabbett said that Magowna House was no longer operating as a hotel and was private property.

In the footage shown in court, Mr Dwyer can be heard saying These are all foreign people telling me what I cant do in my own country.

Mr Dwyer can be seen addressing a Ukrainian man wearing a fluorescent jacket asking Do you think Irish people are stupid? Do you think we are all idiots? I wouldn't blame you to be honest with you.

He asks later: What is your problem? You are not in Ukraine, this is my countryWhat are you hiding? I am just asking questions on behalf of the people of Ireland. The people in this country are very concerned about this.

After seeing some men believed to be IP applicants staying at the centre, Mr Dwyer asks: Why are these people covering their faces.This is Ireland. This is my country."

He says later: The people of Ireland you can see what is happening in their country - stopping Irish men going they lawful business to do journalism.

The footage later shows Mr Dwyer saying: Philip Dwyer is my name. I am a citizen journalist. You are in Ireland now.

Of the Ukrainian man, Mr Dwyer said: He should be over in Ukraine fighting the war - he is here illegally.

After seeing an Irish Times reporter located outside the Magowna House perimeter, Mr Dwyer commented "look at the face of treason here lads".

Prior to Judge Gabbett imposing sentence, counsel for Mr Dwyer, Ann Doyle BL said her client does not accept the verdict of the court and had instructions not to give a very detailed plea in mitigation.

Ms Doyle said: "Mr Dwyer is someone who I believe is a person of integrity. He is a citizen journalist and he had no intention of creating a breach of the peace or invoking fear in anyone."

Ms Doyle confirmed that the conviction would be appealed to the circuit court.
Aaron Dempsey (30) is accused of brandishing the hammer as a weapon in a row at an Aldi

A supermarket worker produced a hammer and threatened a customer with it during a dispute in the store, it has been alleged.

Aaron Dempsey (30) is accused of brandishing the hammer as a weapon in a row at an Aldi in north Dublin.

He is facing trial after a judge ruled the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at Dublin District Court.

Judge Michele Finan adjourned the case for further DPP directions.

Aaron Dempsey. Photo: Paddy Cummins

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Mr Dempsey, of Elm Mount Road, Beaumont, is charged with producing an implement capable of causing serious injury in a manner likely to intimidate.

The incident is alleged to have happened at Aldi, Santry Avenue, on June 26 last year.

The DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court subject to the issue of jurisdiction being considered.

Judge Finan asked for an outline of the prosecutions case so she could decide on the court venue.

A garda sergeant said Mr Dempsey had been a member of staff when there was a dispute with the alleged victim during which the accused produced a hammer and threatened the customer with the hammer.

Judge Finan said she was refusing jurisdiction on the basis of the alleged facts of the case.

Remanding the accused on continuing bail, she put the case back to July for the DPP to give consent for a return for trial to the circuit court.

A book of evidence will be required before the accused can be sent forward to that court.
Karl Adams (53) of Portland Street, North Circular Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court

A man who sexually assaulted a woman in her own home has been jailed for five years.

Karl Adams (53) of Portland Street, North Circular Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual assault in June 2019 in Co. Dublin.

Anne Rowland SC, prosecuting, told the court that while the woman does not want to be identified in reporting the case, she has no issue with Adams being named in court reports.

Imposing sentence yesterday, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the case had been delayed because Adams failed to show up for his trial in June 2019.

The Criminal Courts of Justice.

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

He was ultimately arrested after a bench warrant was issued and that was executed in December 2024. He pleaded guilty to the offence in January of this year.

She said the woman had woken up to find Adams tugging at her leggings. She told him to stop and fell back asleep but she woke a second time to find him sexually assaulting her.

Ms Justice Greally noted from a victim impact statement before the court that the sexual assault had a profoundly damaging impact on her life. She noted the victim said she lost her trust in people in general, struggled to sleep and suffered constant flashbacks of the assault.

The victim also said in her statement that she used to be carefree and free-spirited but she is now socially isolated and depressed, the judge noted.

A probation report before the court put Adams at a moderate risk of re-offending in general.

Ms Justice Greally acknowledged that Adams now accepts the harm he has caused the victim but the probation report concluded that he lacks insight and to some extent minimises his actions.

She accepted evidence that Adams has struggled with alcohol addiction most of his life and abused drugs.

Ms Justice Greally set a headline sentence of 80 months. She reduced the sentence to 70 months having taken into account his plea of guilty. She acknowledged that he is now a registered sex offender, which she said carries with it limitations and stigma that will remain with him for the rest of his life.

Ms Justice Greally suspended the final 12 months of the 70-month term on condition that he engage with the Probation Service upon his release from prison.

Ms Justice Greally wished the woman well into the future.

"I know this process has taken much longer than it should have  very much down to his own actions  but I hope the conclusion has brought you some comfort and you can move on with your life," Ms Justice Greally said, addressing the woman in court.

The court heard that the evening before this incident occurred, the woman and other family members had been for dinner and drinks.

They later went to the house where the man was living at the time for some more drinks.

While in his home, the man told the victim that he loved her and her family, pulling her in for a hug.

The man became argumentative with his partner during the night and this woman told him to leave around 4am.

The victim returned to her home around 5am and was preparing to go to bed when the man arrived, asking to stay.

She reluctantly let him stay in her son's bedroom, while she went to sleep in a room shared by her daughter and grandchild.

The woman woke up to the man pulling down her leggings. Her daughter asked him what he was doing and the woman told him to leave the room.

She fell asleep and later woke up due to pain in her anal region. She realised the man was rubbing his penis against her anus but the court heard there is no allegation of anal rape.

She pushed him away, then shouted for her daughter who was downstairs.

The man was sitting at the end of the bed and apologised, telling her daughter he thought it was his then-partner. Her daughter ordered him from the room and he later left the house.

She fell asleep, waking up later in the day. She was still in pain several days later and told her daughter what had happened.

A complaint was made to gardai and she was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit.

When interviewed, Adams admitted going to the victim's house. He said they had some drinks and she called him into her room to check on him, before he went to sleep in another room.

Adams had been due to stand trial in late 2023, but a bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court on his trial date.

The bench warrant was executed in late December 2024 and he has been in custody since then. He has 24 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic offences - all at the District Court.

The investigating garda agreed with John Fitzgerald SC, defending, that none of his client's previous convictions are for sexual offending.

It was further accepted that all parties had been drinking on the night of this incident and the plea was of value.

In a victim impact statement read by Jane McCudden BL, prosecuting, the woman said she is now a victim of his inhumane crime.

She said she suffers with flashbacks, night terrors, trust issues and feelings of fear.

She said her home is a constant reminder of what had happened and she is looking to move.

The woman said she had questioned why he did it, and what I did do to deserve it? She said she had questioned how he could do such inhumane things that ruin the life of so many people and worried it could have been her daughter.

She said she was once a free spirit but has withdrawn from life. She said she didn't want to be a victim, but a survivor.

A letter of apology, medical report and governor's report were handed to the court.

Mr Fitzgerald said his clients relationship broke down and he moved out, experiencing a short period of homelessness.

He has a good work history, most recently as a painter and decorator.

His client developed an alcohol addiction as a teenager and while drink was not an excuse, it was part of the background of the offence, counsel said, suggesting this was a one-off, fuelled by alcohol.

His client has started to address his addiction while in custody.
Police said the 58-year-old man was initially arrested on December 8, 2021 and was sought to stand trial for a number of terror-related offences.

A man has been extradited to Northern Ireland from the Republic and will appear in court later as part of a terror investigation into the New IRA.

Police said the 58-year-old man was initially arrested in the Republic on December 8, 2021, with the man successfully returned to Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Police said the man was subject to an investigation by PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit as part of their investigation into the New IRA under Operation Arbacia and was sought to stand trial for a number of terror-related offences.

The PSNI said these include belonging to a prescribed organisation, directing terrorism, conspiracy to direct terrorism and preparation of acts of terrorism.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stock image. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph.

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

The alleged offences are thought to have occurred in the Omagh area in July 2020, with the man appearing before Omagh Magistrates' Court later today.

PSNI Sergeant Davey from the International Policing Unit said that the recent extradition demonstrates our continued and effective collaboration with Gardai.

He added: Todays extradition demonstrates our continued and effective working with partners to track down wanted persons and bring offenders to justice."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland continues to work closely with authorities in the Republic of Ireland to locate and return those wanted to stand trial in Northern Ireland.

In this particular case, we worked closely with the PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit and An Garda Siochana to locate this man and bring him before the courts.

PSNI will relentlessly pursue those sought to stand trial in this jurisdiction.
The English truck driver appeared for the tenth day of his murder trial

THE body of missing woman Tina Satchwell was discovered lying face down in a clandestine grave underneath the stairwell of the Cork home she shared with her husband.

Forensic anthropologist Dr Laureen Buckley told the Central Criminal Court trial murder trial of Ms Satchwell's husband, Richard (58), that the position the body was found in helped prevent full decomposition to the front part of her body.

"The body was face down and the legs were folded over to the side," she said.

Dr Buckley had assisted forensic archaeologists Dr Niamh McCullagh and Dr Aidan Harte with the excavation of the remains after they were found by gardai on October 12, 2023.

Together, all three carefully placed the body - still wrapped in a blanket and black plastic - in a black body bag for transfer to the morgue at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

Richard Satchwell. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

The English truck driver appeared for the tenth day of his murder trial before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin wearing navy slacks, a white T-shirt and a cream check shirt.

The trial - before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven women and five men - is expected to run until early June.

Mr Satchwell has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife at a time unknown on March 19/20, 2017 at his home at No 3 Grattan Street in Youghal, Co Cork contrary to Common Law.

Her partially skeletonised body was discovered following an invasive four day Garda search of the Satchwell family home from October 10-13, 2023.

The State said her body was temporarily stored in a chest freezer before being buried in a shallow grave underneath the stairs and topped with a concrete slab.

Mr Satchwell had notified officers at Fermoy Garda Station on March 24, 2017 that his Fermoy-born wife was missing from their Youghal home when he returned from an errand in Waterford four days earlier.

The Leicester native claimed his wife had left her beloved dogs, Heidi and Ruby, behind but had taken two suitcases and 26,000 in their life savings which had been stored in a tin in the attic.

At the urging of gardai, he made a formal missing person statement on May 11, 2017.

Richard Satchwell holding a photo of Tina and standing in one of her walk-in wardrobes. Photo: Kyran O'Brien .

Mr Satchwell's home was subjected to a 12 hour search by a team of ten gardai on June 7, 2017 but nothing was found.

That search included conducting a 'Blue Star' test for traces of blood but none were detected.

However, a new brick wall underneath the house stairwell was noted and photographed.

Ms Satchwell was the focus of a six and a half year missing person investigation.

Her body was found buried underneath the stairwell during a second more invasive Garda search of the Grattan Street property from October 10, 2023.

A cadaver dog called 'Fern', used by the UK Home Office, was deployed from Northern Ireland at the request of the Gardai.

Gardai had targeted an area underneath the stairs for excavation after realising that there were two different colours of cement located there - one newer poured cement and the other much older.

Fern had also shown great interest in the area by the stairs.

Dr Buckley said she was asked to attend No 3 Grattan Street in Youghal on October 12 by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.

When she arrived, Dr McCullagh and Dr Harte were still attempting to excavate the body from the grave.

She assisted, with the team taking turns to expose and excavate the remains.

Dr Buckley said the body was lying face down in the grave - and was carefully removed and placed inside a black plastic body bag.

The body was left within the wrappings in which it was found.

"The body was turned and it was seen that the right arm was tightly flexed over the thorax. The left arm was loose and flexed. The forearm was over the lower thorax.

"Because the body was lying face down it was more preserved in the front.

"The back of the body was more skeletonised.

"The lower legs, which were bent, were skeletonised. The head was also skeletonised. The muscles and ligaments that attach bones together had decomposed so the vertebrae had become loose. The cranium was detached (from the spinal column.)"

The legs had been partly bent towards the thigh.

"Both tibia and fibula (leg bones) were visible."

"There was enough soft tissue present to identify the body as female."

Most of the remaining soft tissue was by the lower abdomen and pelvic area.

Dr Buckley said she roughly estimated that the body was found at a depth of 80cm in the grave.

"There were no fractures upon any of the bones.

"The remains were those of a 45 year old female and there were no fractures to any of the bones including the hyoid bone."

Richard Satchwell and his wife Tina Satchwell

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Ms Satchwell was later identified from dental records though hair and a toe bone particle were taken for DNA analysis.

She was found fully clothed in Tartan-style pyjamas and lilac robe with her purse in the pocket, wrapped in a blanket and black plastic sheeting, with small shards of glass in her head and arm.

The "clandestine grave" was up to 84cm (two and a half feet) deep - and was much larger than the "body bundle" buried there.

Detectives and forensic archaeologists realised they had discovered human remains when, as they excavated the area a human hand became visible within the heavy plastic sheeting.

Builder Pat O'Connor, who supervised the construction team contracted to help Gardai for the October 2023 search, said an area under the stairwell was inspected on October 11 at the direction of forensic officers.

He said a piece of old linoleum was pulled back.

"You could clearly see a kind of...new concrete had been poured in a rectangular shape. It was roughly six foot by three feet wide - you could see the shape of the new concrete."

Mr O'Connor said the building team withdrew from the property when part of the concrete was excavated and grey-black plastic was found underneath the concrete.

The following day the building team were asked to demolish and remove the small red brick wall under the stairs.

The trial already heard that Mr Satchwell claimed to Gardai in October 2023, just hours after human remains were found in his home, that his wife attacked him with a chisel on March 20 2017 before she "went limp" after he tried to protect himself by holding her away from him with a belt, with her weight on the belt by her neck.

He placed her body in a chest freezer and then buried it in a one metre grave he excavated under the stairwell of their Cork home.

Mr Satchwell, having placed his wife's body in black sheeting and then into the shallow grave, covered it over with cement before notifying Gardai four days later she was missing.

Her remains were only found six and a half years later.

The prosecution is led by Gerardine Small SC with Imelda Kelly BL.

Mr Satchwell's defence team is led by Brendan Grehan SC with Paula McCarthy BL, instructed by Cork solicitor Eddie Burke.
It brings everything back again, but it's a positive thing.

Influencer Chloe Koyce has said that the arrest of her alleged stalker is good news.

The man was arrested and questioned by Gardai following an incident at a hotel on Harcourt St. in Dublin on March 21st.

Days later Chloe shared a video to TikTok explaining that a man followed her off the street and into her hotel lift where he proceeded to remove his belt.

Koyce said she pressed record on her phone while she was in the lift in the hopes of gathering evidence just in case something did happen to her.

In the clip, the man, whose face is blurred out, can be seen holding his belt in his hands in what Chloe believed was an effort to intimidate her.

The man, who was in his twenties then followed her to her hotel room but fled after Chloes mother opened the door.

Thanking her followers for their support following news of the arrest, she shared a video to her Instagram stories.

Obviously, the news is out, and they released a statement, and it's good news, she said.

It brings everything back again but it's a positive thing.

This is almost like reassurance first of all, but also just proof to anyone that doubted the situation that thought I was looking for attention.

Its taken really, really seriously because it's a really, really bad thing that has happened and also just to prove that you can report any minor or, major incident and something will be done, she added.

Chloe Koyce

In a statement this weekend, gardai confirmed: Gardai attached to Kevin Street garda station investigating an alleged incident of stalking/harassment that occurred at a premises on Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 in the early hours of Friday, 21st March 2025 arrested one male (20s) in recent weeks.

The male was detained for questioning at a garda station in Dublin following a search at a residential address.

He has since been released from custody and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

This investigation is ongoing.

In her original video, Chloe revealed she was out with her two close friends at a bar, which was just metres away from her hotel, earlier in the night.

She said shed said the name of her hotel out loud while putting her friend in a taxi home  before walking the 50 metres from the taxi rank to the hotel reception.

She said she believed the man had overheard her conversation.

After walking the short distance to the hotel at 2am, Chloe noticed a man behind her and, to her horror, she recognised him as the same man that had stood near her when she said goodbye to her friends on the street.

She explained: I ran to the lift. My shoes were falling off me. There was nobody on the reception, there was no security.

My mam was upstairs and all I was thinking was I want to get to my mam. So I pressed close door.

The door was closing and he slid in the gap. It jammed on him. I didnt really know what to do next. Straight away, I thought I need to record this. I was going to ring my mam, but I didnt want to scare her either.

Between the time he came in the hotel and got in the lift, he took his belt off his pants.

When he got into the lift, he had a belt in his hand.

I was like, okay, is this guy going to strangle me or take his pants off? He didnt actually touch me. When he got into the lift, I didnt press my floor number. I should have probably got out.

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

In the video, Chloe can be seen entering the hotel room shortly after asking the man, who had begun to walk in front of her at that point, if he was OK.

Thank God my mam was in that room because if I used my keycard to get into my room, he would have 100 per cent pushed in behind me. Hes way stronger than me.

She said: Im hoping after this story that they have extra security. This world is absolutely crazy. They looked on the security footage and they couldnt find him.

This happened at one minute past two in the morning, we didnt get to sleep until half five. We were so thoroughly careful and still something has happened.

In a follow-up statement, she said that the incident was reported to Gardai.

Everything has been reported to the guards with the video of his face. This is why I havent showed it on socials.

The more I sit and think about what happened the worse Im feeling. I just cant believe young boys think this behaviour is ok.

The make-up artist also described the man further, saying he was an 18-22-year-old Irish man.
The suspect remains in police custody and is being quizzed by detectives about the murders of Jim Donegan and Danny McClean

The arrest was made in North Belfast this morning. (Inset left) Danny McClean (and right) Jim JD Donegan

A 50-year-old man has been arrested in Belfast on suspicion of two murders and attempting to kill dissident Sean OReilly.

The suspect remains in police custody and is being quizzed by detectives about the murders of Jim Donegan in 2018 and Danny McClean three years later.

The arrest was made in North Belfast this morning. (Inset left) Danny McClean (and right) Jim JD Donegan

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

The arrest was made following a search by the PSNIs Major Investigation Team in north Belfast on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said: In respect of the attempted murder in west Belfast, here, a 49-year-old man was shot as he sat inside a taxi in the Bell Steel Manor area on the morning of Sunday 23 February.

"We believe two gunmen approached the vehicle on foot, and a number of shots were fired in a cold-blooded attack intended to kill.

Sean O'Reilly

Danny McClean, aged 54, was murdered on the evening of 2 February 2021. He was shot a number of times by a gunman as he sat in a car parked in the driveway of a property on the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast.

Jim Donegan, aged 43, was murdered as he waited, in his car, to collect his son from school. This was in the Glen Road area of west Belfast on the afternoon of 4 December 2018. Mr Donegan was shot several times by a gunman.

Jim JD Donegan

Detective Inspector Quinn continued: All three attacks, one in north Belfast and two in west Belfast, were cold, calculated and ruthless.

"All three were carried out in busy, residential areas when any members of the public, including children, could easily have been passing by.

"Two of the attacks left families bereft, and all three have left loved ones and communities shaken.

Danny McClean

Please be assured that our determination to bring those responsible to justice remains as steadfast as ever.

I am taking this opportunity to reiterate my appeal to anyone with information, or footage, to contact detectives on 101.

The charity Crimestoppers is offering a 20,000 reward for information received directly that leads to an arrest or conviction in relation to the attempted murder of Mr OReilly.
James Laen Jensen (68) and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen were taken into custody following a multi-state raid on their $9.1 million mansion in Utah last month

US Marshals were forced to use a battering ram to break down the door of a mansion when they went to arrest an American oil magnate accused of working with Mexican cartels to smuggle over $300 million worth of crude oil into the United States.

James Laen Jensen (68) and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen were taken into custody following a multi-state raid on their $9.1 million mansion in Utah last month.

Their two sons, Maxwell and Zachary, have also been arrested in Texas, according to My San Antonio.

They have been accused of smuggling in 2,881 shipments of oil from Mexico - worth at least $300 million  in violation of the US Tariff Act

The family was allegedly able to smuggle the crude oil into the country by falsely claiming they were waste of lube oils and petroleum distillates' ABC 4 reports.

They used barges docked outside their Arroyo Terminals Texas facility located near the Mexican border to bring the crude oil that was reportedly stolen by drug cartels from PEMEX - Mexico's nationalised oil company.

Federal prosecutors allege in court documents obtained by KSL that: The payments for this crude oil were directed to businesses in Mexico that operate only through the permission of a Mexican criminal organization.

Prosecutors allege that James Jensen, was aware that the payments he made were going to these Mexican criminal organizations.

James Laen Jensen

A warrant for his arrest even claims he paid over $47 million to the criminals

He and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen, were arrested at their Utah mansion on April 23 following an investigation by the US Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI, the Criminal Investigations division of the IRS and Homeland Security Investigations

However, when US Marshals arrived at his mansion in Sandy, Utah, prosecutors say the couple was unwilling to follow law enforcements' demands to come out.

Sources said the US Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Team showed up, with a battering ram in tow  a tool used by SWAT teams to breach doors, concrete and brick walls.

Meanwhile, agents raided Arroyo Terminal in Texas, where they reportedly placed employees in handcuffs to questioned them.

One unidentified employee told Valley Central that the FBI agents then asked them whether the crude oil had been stolen.

We don't know anything about that, the employee said. We're just in charge of unloading the trucks and loading the barges.

The raid on the couple's mansion

Another employee added that regarding where the oil was coming from or what company or what part of Mexico, we were always out of the loop.

When I went into the office to use the restroom, I did hear the FBI high-five and say: We got 'em, another employee claimed as agents reportedly took documents from the building and demanded passwords for the computers.

James is now facing charges of money laundering conspiracy, aiding and abetting smuggling of goods into the United States, aiding and abetting the entry of goods by means of false statements, money laundering spending conspiracy and money laundering spending.

James Laen Jensen (68) and his wife, Kelly Anne Jensen

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

The other members of his family are each facing one to three of the counts.

They have each pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Assistant US Attorney Laura Garcia has asked US Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III in court, to hold Maxwell - who co-owns Arroyo Terminals with his father - without bond.

The attorney has claimed he worked closely with cartel-affiliated businesses and frequently travels to the Bahamas, where the family has a property.

Torteya agreed with Maxwell without bond, as he set bond for his brother - who handled the company's marketing and business development - at $100,000 with a $10,000 cash deposit.

He now must remain at home and submit to GPS monitoring.

In Utah, Dustin B Pead, the chief magistrate judge for the United States District of Utah, has allowed James and Kelly to remain at home and submit to GPS monitoring.

Their lawyers had successfully argued the couple were upstanding citizens, saying they were active in their church, they're active in their community, they come from a stalwart Utah family.

Attorney John Huber, pointing out that Kelly's parents have served in public service for decades, added: And they don't want to throw all that all out of the window

Pead then released the couple without setting bond while warning them: Im counting on what your attorneys have said here today, that you are the upstanding people that your attorneys state you are.

He ordered them to turn over their passports and regularly report to their pretrial officer.

They were also forced to forfeit any money gained from the smuggled oil - including their company, an additional home listed for the family in Draper, Utah as well as bank accounts and new cars totalling $300 million.

If any of the family members are now found guilty of the charges against them, they could face a maximum of 20 years in federal lockup and fines of up to $500,000.

According to reports, this is not the first time James has been accused of buying stolen petroleum products as PEMEX Exploration and Production filed a suit against him in 2011, claiming he and two businesses he owned - Big Star Gathering and St. James Oil - had purchased stolen natural gas condensate.

At times, Jensen would travel to Mexico to arrange purchases from the cartels who had stolen the condensate, the lawsuit alleged, according to Valley Central.

Although James denied any wrongdoing, he admitted Big Star had business dealings with an oil company executive who had stolen natural gas condensate.

PEMEX ultimately dropped the suit in 2013, after two years of litigation.
Garda Kevin Flatley, a 49-year-old father of two, was hit by a motorcycle as he recorded vehicles' speeds on the side of the road on the R132 at Lanestown in north Dublin.

Books of condolences for the late Garda Kevin Flatley pictured. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

A book of condolence has been opened at local Garda stations in Sligo and Leitrim following the tragic death of Garda Kevin Flatley.

Garda Kevin Flatley, a 49-year-old father of two, was hit by a motorcycle as he recorded vehicles' speeds on the side of the road on the R132 at Lanestown in north Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Gda Flatley was discovered with fatal injuries.

Books of condolences for the late Garda Kevin Flatley pictured. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

He was pronounced dead a short time later.

The driver of the Yamaha motorbike, aged in his 30s, was also seriously injured in the collision, and remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital.

Kevin Flatley. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Gda Flatley, from Balbriggan in Dublin, had served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018.

Following his death, tributes have flooded in from all over the country.

People in Leitrim and Sligo are invited to express their sympathies to Gda Flatleys family, friends and colleagues as a book of condolence has been opened at local Garda Stations.

A spokesperson for gardai in Sligo and Leitrim said, A Book of Condolence has been opened in Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Stations in loving memory of Garda Kevin Flatley, 27260D, who died in the line of duty on 11th May 2025.
Enniskillen schoolteacher Sally Rees says it is really important that people start to understand the impact of the invasive and sinister crime

It was an ordinary Wednesday when drama and performing arts teacher, Sally Rees, was called to the principals office at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in Co Fermanagh.

The police were there to inform Ms Rees and a female colleague that a USB stick had been found.

On it were images and videos of both women. The videos were filmed up their skirts, without their knowledge or consent.

They had been taken by someone Ms Rees knew well. It was one of her own pupils  a teenager by the name of Timothy Boomer.

Hearing that Boomer had surreptitiously filmed this footage floored Ms Rees. It felt like a gross invasion of trust.

It was distressing and humiliating for me because I had this relationship with him in terms of nurturing his talent and ensuring he had opportunities to thrive, she said. I was totally shocked.

After a 17-day suspension, while the police initially looked into the case, Boomer returned to school.

Mother-of-two Ms Rees (51) had presumed he would be expelled and was understandably distressed by Boomers presence in school but she was also determined to continue doing her job.

After intervention from the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) in Northern Ireland, Ms Rees no longer taught Boomer.

I felt so much pressure to be in school for two reasons. One, because I felt those other students, they havent done anything wrong. Why should their education suffer because of what somebody else had done to me?

Teacher Sally Rees says the focus needs to shift to the impact of upskirting on victims

And the second thing was that I just needed to protect my children, and my reputation professionally.

Ms Rees says the way the case was handled by various institutions compounded the trauma she was going through.

The road to justice for Ms Rees was to take time.

Initially, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) made a decision not to prosecute Boomer.

With the support of NASUWT, Ms Rees and her colleague took the PPS to judicial review to overturn the decision.

During the judicial review, and 18 months after she was first told about the videos on the USB, Ms Rees and her colleague were shown the footage that had been filmed.

They were horrified, and felt as if they were going to get violently sick.

On a very personal female level, my body confidence and sense of body autonomy was something that was very hard-won for me as a young woman

You think its going to be bad, but nothing prepares you, she said.

The first video of me is me standing at my desk, and Im writing, and he stands behind me with the camera up my skirt for 47 seconds. And you can hear my class going on in the background.

Boomer had filmed five videos of Ms Rees and her colleague over the course of 14 months between 2015 and 2016, when he was 14 to 15 years of age.

The offences came to light when he was 16 and he turned 18 during the legal proceedings.

Im talking to him in one of them, she said. Im so oblivious to what is going on, and there are people around all of the time. So my trust was completely shattered if somebody can do that, and you are not aware, you just have no sense of safety in the world.

Over time, from when the USB was discovered until the trial, Ms Reess self-confidence started to erode.

Sally Rees said the incident was "distressing and humiliating'. Photo: John McVitty

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

On a very personal female level, my body confidence and sense of body autonomy was something that was very hard-won for me as a young woman it took a long time for me to love the body I was in and to embrace itto just have that taken away from me, or used against me, was really difficult.

In February 2019, Boomer was found guilty of five counts of committing an act of outraging public decency.

At a later date in court, Boomer was sentenced to a 20-hour restorative order.

The court heard he had accepted his wrongdoing, his identity had been publicly outed and it had an impact on his mental health.

The court heard he had moved country to continue his studies and the case was affecting not just this young man but his family.

Boomer said he was deeply sorry for the distress, worry and pain I have brought about by my actions.

Timothy Boomer filmed two of his teachers without their knowing. Photo: PA

He stated: I want to express my regret and remorse for the hurt I have caused to my teachers. It was a wrong, horrible thing to do and at that age I stupidly and wrongly thought it was a daredevil prank, which I genuinely meant no harm by.

I recognise how wrong I was and that my actions have had a devastating impact on my teachers and also my parents, and family. My regrets will be with me for the rest of my life.

A defending lawyer described the activity as a childish prank and teenage bravado. For Ms Rees, the verdict did validate the fact that we were right.

That this was not fair, that you cant just go around filming up peoples skirts and expect nothing to happen to you, she said. And we are educators. What does it mean in the business of education if youre saying that its OK to do that?

Lobbying for upskirting, downblousing and cyber-flashing to be considered a criminal offence in Northern Ireland began after Boomers guilty conviction.

In England, gender equality activist Gina Martin had successfully campaigned for a change in legislation after a man had filmed up her skirt at a music festival.

One change to the legislation that Ms Rees fought for in Northern Ireland was a clause relating to recklessness.

This means that the onus is not on the victim to prove that the pictures are being used for sexual gratification.

I think if he stuck his hand up my skirt, then there would have been a very different reaction to that

In 2022, the Northern Ireland Assembly included upskirting and downblousing in its Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act.

Ms Rees has continued to teach at Enniskillen Grammar School and is now the president of NASUWT.

Upskirting is a concern for some female teachers. A spokesperson for the Republic of Irelands teaching union the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) recently said there had been an increase in the number of teachers reporting upskirting incidents.

Ms Rees wants more people to understand the long-term impact upskirting can have on victims, and how best to respond if you discover someone doing it.

She cites the work of University College Cork professor, Louise Crowley, who developed the Bystander Intervention Programme which teaches people how to step in, speak up and support others in situations of sexual misconduct.

Ms Rees believes we need to understand how much of a real threat technology-assisted abuse is.

I think if he stuck his hand up my skirt, then there would have been a very different reaction to that, she said. [But] the fact is the phone was an extension of his hand.

She added one of the worst aspects of upskirting is that those images exist and the person who filmed them can do whatever he wants with them, he can use and abuse them in whatever way.

Any woman or girl whos been upskirted or downblousedthey have no control. Its really important that people start to understand the impact, because too much is focused on the punishment, too much is focused on the perpetrator[the focus] needs to be on the impact it has on the victim.

In a statement, Enniskillen Grammar School acknowledged that Sally Rees 'suffered a deeply distressing incident in the course of her teaching duties.'

"The incident was dealt with in line with the Schools safeguarding policies and procedures: it was reported to the PSNI, Social Services and the Education Authority Child Protection Team," the school said in a statement.

"We value the right of our staff to work in an environment in which they feel safe and secure, and we continually work with the entire School community to deliver a culture premised on respect, inclusion and personal values. The School does not consider it appropriate to comment further on the specifics of this matter."

This article was edited at 6.50am on Monday, May 12th to include the statement from Enniskillen Grammar School
YANGON, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized over 13 kg of heroin in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, the state-owned daily Myanma Alinn reported on Tuesday, citing the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC).

Acting on a tipoff, anti-narcotics police searched a vehicle in Mohnyin township of Kachin on May 9 and confiscated 13.563 kg of heroin and 1.24 kg of "happy water," a synthetic drug, the report said.

Four suspects connected to the case have been arrested, the CCDAC said.

They have been charged under the Southeast Asian country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, and further investigations are underway, it added. 
The judge in the city of Zaragoza indicated in her ruling that no extraordinary circumstances occurred on the flight, as the airline had claimed

Ryanair has been ordered by a judge in Spain to pay 250 to a passenger whose flight was delayed by more than three hours.

The judge in the city of Zaragoza also indicated in her ruling that no extraordinary circumstances occurred on the flight, as the airline had claimed.

The judge also suggested that some low-cost airlines attempt to save costs by not having enough aircraft, and attributing delays to extraordinary circumstances.

The Irish airline was criticised by the judge for attempting to save costs and not doing everything possible to ensure that a flight left on time.

The woman had filed a claim through reclamador.es, an online legal services platform in Spain that specialises in helping individuals with various types of claims, including in airline, banking, and municipal tax disputes.

According to the site, it is common practice for airlines to indicate to those affected by flight delays and cancellations that they are not entitled to compensation by claiming the incident had occurred due to force majeure.

This is a catch-all term meaning an event (such as war, labour strike, or extreme weather) or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled and was unforeseeable by the airline.

However, reclamador.es claims that on many occasions the purpose of this argument is to avoid financially compensating passengers because in reality such an extraordinary circumstance has not occurred.

Stock image

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

"The Irish company always replied to the passenger that she was not entitled to compensation because the delay had occurred, according to her version, due to an unforeseeable and unavoidable extraordinary circumstance, said Jorge Ramos, reclamador.es's lawyer who took the case.

However, our client did not sit idly by and, wanting to see her rights compensated, she decided to go to court through the legal team of reclamador.es to defend herself and obtain her financial compensation.

According to local media site El Periodico, Ryanair had defended the case in court where it was argued, the passenger was not entitled to any compensation because the real reason for the delay was that there were no plans available due to force majeure.

However, reclamador.es's legal team insisted that this circumstance was "totally avoidable", if all reasonable measures had been taken.

The judge ruled that it is true that a company cannot have an aircraft at each airport ready to depart when unforeseen circumstances arise.

However, the fact that an aircraft is assigned to several flights over a short period of time is due to a business decision, that considers cost reduction.

However, that gives rise to a clear risk that an incident or delay on one flight will affect all the remaining flights assigned to the aircraft.

The judge decided that the lack of foresight on the part of the company in the rotation from London to Zaragoza, in which it was already aware of a serious delay caused in the London-Oporto rotation, caused further delay by not having adopted the necessary measures to avoid it.

Ryanair was eventually ordered to pay the passenger an amount of 250 as a result of the delay that could have been avoided if the airline had not dedicated itself to saving so many costs and offered its customers better resources.

According to reclamador.es, the amount of 250 refers to the financial compensation that a passenger can claim for a flight delayed by more than three hours, if the flight distance is 1,500 km or less.

Ramos pointed out a previous, similar ruling of May 16, 2024 where the European Court indicated that airlines must compensate cases of extraordinary circumstances if they do not demonstrate that they took all reasonable measures within their power to avoid it.
The 12-year-old died from cancer last year

Ryan Tubridy has revealed the touching letter that the late Saoirse Ruane sent him after he left RTE.

Saoirse died from cancer last year at 12 years old.

She appeared on the Toy Show in 2020 and inspired the creation of the annual Toy Show Appeal, which has raised millions of euros for charity in the years since.

Speaking to her mother Roseanna on the latest episode of his podcast The Bookshelf, the presenter shared the words Saoirse wrote to him before her death in 2024.

To Ryan, youre going to be really missed but we will keep up our friendship and our door will always be open to you, the letter reads.

Ryan Tubridy with Saoirse Ruane

News in 90 Seconds - May 13th

Thank you for everything Toy Show related, and the unconditional love you have always shown me and my family.

We would love you to pop in for some Black Forest Gateau on route home from your holidays in the West of Ireland.

Lots of Love and Hugs, Saoirse Ruane.

Tubridy left the national broadcaster in July 2023 when he stepped down from his role presenting The Late Late Show.

His departure came in the wake of a payments scandal, which saw RTE face huge public scrutiny after it was revealed that they had underdeclared payments to him.

The presenter, his agent Noel Kelly and several senior RTE executives and board members were called before an Oireachtas committee.

Following his departure from the broadcaster, Tubridy joined Virgin Radio UK, where he hosts The Ryan Tubridy Show from London on weekdays and Sundays.

The show is also syndicated, broadcasting on Dublins Q102 at the same time.

He also hosts his podcast, The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy.

He recently threw his support behind fellow veteran broadcaster Joe Duffy who revealed he is set to leave RTE at the end of June.

Working at the broadcaster for 37 years, Duffy presented the flagship lunchtime show Liveline for 27.

Tubridy reacted to the news on Instagram, sharing a black and white photo of them posing together with the caption: "I love to talk to Joe.

Good man! One of our greatest broadcasters and thoughtful with it, he continued.

Theres a whole other world waiting for Joe Duffy, heres to the next chapter.

Duffy announced the news on his show last week.

Joe Duffy

"After 37 wonderful years here in RTE, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners, he said.

"People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories.

"I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTE has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart, he continued.

"And now, after many happy years, Ive decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.
A woman in agony during extraction of a wisdom tooth was ignored by the dentist as she thrashed about in pain.

The procedure left her with nerve damage that took months to heal, with the dentist agreeing she had had a terrible experience.

The dentist also described the procedure as a highly difficult extraction on a nervous patient which was a struggle for both him and her.

Now, the Health and Disability Commissioner has found the dentist breached the womans health consumer rights because he did not discuss the force required in the procedure or explain the potential risks, including nerve damage.

The dentist believed he did explain the procedure but did not record this in his notes.

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Vanessa Caldwell said in her decision released today that a further breach had occurred in that the dental surgeons skill was below the standard expected.

The dentist was a subcontractor at the dental practice, but has since retired and asked to be removed from the Dental Council register.

In her complaint to the HDC, the patient said usually she had treatment at a university dental practice, where she had been seen earlier about an infected impacted wisdom tooth.

She was prescribed antibiotics and told that the tooth needed to come out.

She then sought an emergency appointment at a different practice to have her lower right wisdom tooth removed because of the pain and distress she was in.

The woman said she emailed her dental X-rays from the university dental practice, but before the extraction, she was not provided with any information on the procedure and was not asked to sign any consent forms.

There was no discussion about side effects or potential risks, Caldwell said.

The dental surgeon said he would normally assess a patient for extraction, but he felt under pressure to relieve the womans pain and distress.

Trashed out in pain

In her complaint, the woman described the procedure as very painful despite receiving three numbing injections.

She stated that she thrashed out in pain many times, but the dentist ignored her and continued with the procedure.

He later said he needed to remove more bone than expected and that removal of the tooth required a greater level of force on the tooth and the jaw than he had expected.

Afterwards, she was given no aftercare or safety-netting advice, but soon experienced ongoing pain, numbness of her tongue, and inflammation of the extraction site.

When she first raised her concerns with the practice, she was given pain medication, and then antibiotics when the pain continued, but was not told what they were for.

She was also provided with dry socket treatment but was not told how to use it and what to expect.

Dry socket was described by the HDC as a painful condition that could occur after tooth extraction, when the blood clot that covered the wound became dislodged or did not form fully.

She then asked for a copy of her dental records, and was told by the practice owner that she had suffered nerve damage and that it would take months to heal.

After further investigation by her usual dental practice, she was diagnosed with possible lingual nerve damage, and the dental wound was debrided (removal of bone debris).

The woman was then referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for further analysis and treatment.

The dentist who extracted the tooth completed an ACC claim for nerve injury, refunded the womans fees and sent her a written apology.

Caldwell was pleased to note that the dental practice accepted the findings of an independent advisers report and acknowledged the recommendations made, which included continued education for all staff at the dental practice about the importance of full consultation, informed consent, and thorough note-taking.

Caldwell also recommended that if the dentist returned to practice, he was to familiarise himself with the clinical technique for wisdom teeth removal, the complication of altered nerve sensation following removal, and the appropriate postoperative care.
Eight keen young game bird hunters from around the country will enjoy two days hunting in outstanding wetlands, as winners of a competition run by Fish & Game New Zealand.

The youngsters, aged between 14 and 17 years old, will come from locations ranging from Auckland to Canterbury for the experience on farms near Waipukurau in central Hawkes Bay on the weekend of May 24-25.

Events will include early morning and afternoon hunting adventures. Former New Zealand clay bird shooting champion Dave Hearn will also be taking the winners through gun safety and a simulated game bird clay shoot.

All accommodation and meals, including a duck dinner, will be provided and participants will take home their game.

To enter, young hunters had to outline why they would love to win and why they would not normally have the opportunity for this experience.

Fish & Game chief executive Corina Jordan, who will be one of the supervisors for the event, said there had been some exceptional entries.

It was great to read all the different accounts from young people who are absolutely passionate about the whole experience of game bird hunting.

"Its about more than just the hunt -- its about connecting with the outdoors, building skills, and spending time with friends and whanau, supporting conservation and enjoying the rewards of wild, sustainable kai at the end of the day," Jordan said.

Many hunters have lasting memories of those early starts -- rising before dawn buzzing with excitement and a sense of adventure and heading out to the maimai with their crew. It gives a sense of purpose and excitement and a connection with the natural environment thats stayed with them for life.

Thats the experience we will be sharing with our winners in some of the most spectacular game bird hunting locations in New Zealand, in established wetlands created by farmers Gerald Wilson and Ben Wilson.

We are planning to provide an exceptional weekend that we hope these young people will carry with them through lifelong hunting careers.

The competition was open to young people from 14-17 with some gamebird hunting experience, from beginner through novice and intermediate to advanced level.

Gerald Wilson, himself a keen gamebird hunter, began creating the 20 hectares of wetlands on his Kanui Station near Tikokino and satellite farm at Waipukurau in the 1990s. The largest has 10.2Ha of water.

Fed by underground and spring water, these are now home to dozens of different kinds of gamebirds and other species. These include Grey Ducks, Mallards, Brown Teal, Shovelers and Paradise Ducks as well as Royal Spoonbills, Pied Stilts, Bittern, cranes and herons including the critically endangered Kotuku White Heron.

Ben and Beth Wilson have been developing wetlands on their farm for the past 25 years, all adjacent to the Makaretu River and fed by underground streams. These are now populated by an extensive array of ducks, swans and other waterfowl and much other bird life.

Both farmers wetland programmes have included extensive riparian planting, with many native plants, and Gerald and Ben have worked with Fish & Game on several of their larger wetland projects.

The winners are aged 14-15 and are from Ashburton, Hawkes Bay, mid Canterbury, Waiouru, and Auckland.

About Fish & Game New Zealand

Fish & Game manages trout, salmon, and game birds and helps New Zealanders to connect with nature and experience the many benefits fishing and hunting offers.

"We work to protect the environment that anglers and hunters have enjoyed as a tradition for over 150 years," a Fish & Game New Zealand spokesperson said.
A key piece of Eastern Bay of Plenty flood protection infrastructure has been officially opened, showing how innovation, collaboration and technology can come together for the benefit of the community.

On Saturday, May 10, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Ngati Awa representatives and Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson gathered with local community members to officially open the Rangitaiki Floodway and Spillway.

The event marked the completion of the $50 million project, which has been engineered to take pressure off the flood-prone Rangitaiki River by diverting some of its flow into the floodway during significant weather events.

Over the lifecycle of construction, central government funded nearly $14m through the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Regional Council chair Doug Leeder acknowledged the collaborative effort to reach this milestone.

This project would not have happened without the combined effort of the community, Ngati Awa, the Regional Council, Whakatane and Kawerau District Councils and central government.

These contributions are tangible recognition of the importance of regional New Zealand and, more specifically, the role the Eastern Bay of Plenty plays in the social and economic fabric of the wider region and the country.

It also demonstrates the importance of listening to and working with ratepayers to develop and fund key infrastructure, particularly in an environment where the impact of climate change is increasingly front and centre in decisions underpinning long-term community resilience.



Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson and Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Doug Leeder unveil a plaque on the new Rangitaiki Spillway. Photo / BOPRC

Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson said the project significantly strengthened the regions infrastructure.

This is one of the biggest flood resilience efforts completed in New Zealand in recent years. It will deliver vital protection for local communities and unlock economic potential across the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Regional Council engineering manager Mark Townsend said hes proud to see this project completed and thanks the teams involved for their mahi.

Flood protection, such as the Spillway, is the first line of defence in a flood event. This is why the Regional Council continually invests in the management and maintenance of flood protection assets around the rohe.

Townsend said the key to doing this was an integrated approach by Regional Councils engineering, assets and operations teams, as well as implementing best practise approaches and exploring innovation when it comes to engineering designs.

The Spillway upgrade is a great example of what happens when you mix robust data and modelling with innovative engineering and community input. The design choices we have made will help ensure longevity of these assets.



View of the Spillway at Hydro Rd, Edgecumbe. Photo / BOPRC

Now complete, the Rangitaiki Floodway and Spillway assets form part of a network of flood defences along the Rangitaiki River.

This includes the recent upgrades to Rangitaiki River Floodwalls and Lower Rangitaiki Stopbanks at the river mouth near Thornton.

History of the Rangitaiki River scheme

In the late 1800s and early 1900s European settlers sought to drain the Rangitaiki swamp and create farmland. Initial efforts began with the establishment of the Rangitaiki Drainage Board in early 1900s.

The Board directed numerous land drainage works and interventions to create the conditions for agricultural productivity to grow and thrive. These included diverting the river through a new channel near Thornton. This provided a direct outlet to the sea. A growing a network of drains and canals followed.

These early works allowed for new roads, bridges and rail infrastructure to be constructed, all fundamental to supporting the expanding eastern Bay of Plenty community and economy.

As agricultural benefits were realised other industries established, such as the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, and the Edgecumbe township grew.

Due to the frequency and impact of river flooding events during the 1940s and 50s a system of stopbanks, canals and floodgates for flood protection were constructed, under the control of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Catchment Commission.

The initial scheme works between 1960s-1980s focused on stopbanking the Rangitaiki River between Te Teko and Thornton, and flood pump infrastructure. These works also included the very beginning of the floodway creation, via Reids Central Canal.

The next major development came with the construction of the Matahina Dam in the early 1960s, which provided the opportunity to regulate river flows from the upper Rangitaiki. The dam continues to play a significant role in managing river flows and reducing flood peaks downstream during high rainfall events.

The impact of the magnitude 6.5 Edgecumbe earthquake on 2 March 1987 had a major effect on flood protection infrastructure.

The earthquake caused extensive damage to stopbanks, drainage canals, and pumping systems across the plains. Stopbanks cracked and slumped, compromising their integrity. Drainage channels were disrupted by lateral spreading, ground deformation and changes in elevation.

The scheme faced another pivotal moment following flooding in 2004. This resulted in a decision and commitment to significantly modernise the floodway and spillway scheme. That work began in 2011, and the spillway marks the completion of the major capital works programme on the Rangitaiki River.
Suz Guet looks down at her scarred arms and legs - a daily visible reminder of the afternoon eight months ago she was mauled by three unregistered roaming dogs.

The Rotorua woman hasnt been able to walk alone in public since.

When she does go for walks, its always with others and she carries ground pepper in her hands, pockets and bag - just in case the unthinkable happens again.

Suz Guet's arm was mauled by a pack of dogs in September. Photo / Supplied

About 3pm on September 3, Guet was thrown to the ground and attacked by three dogs - one ripped flesh from her arm.

The dogs were owned by Rotorua man Joshua Dylan Fankhauser.

He pleaded guilty to nine charges laid under the Dog Control Act including three each of owning dogs causing serious injury, failing to register dogs and failing to keep a dog under control.

The first charge carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment or a $20,000 fine.

Suz Guet after the dog attack. Photo / Laura Smith

Judge John McDonald sentenced Fankhauser in the Rotorua District Court on April 8 to three months community detention and 100 hours of community work. Fankhauser was also ordered to pay Guet $226.

It is Guets opinion, the punishment was a bit of a nothing.

Now she fears that despite coming within inches of her life, nothing much has changed - she still sees dogs roaming in Rotorua on a regular basis.

The dog attack

Court documents recently released to the Rotorua Daily Post detail what happened on the day Guet was attacked.

The three dogs were Boss - a male tan and white bull terrier cross, Smoke - a male black and white lockley cross, and Quartz - a female tan whippet cattle cross dog.

A summary of facts said Guet exited an alleyway on to Sunset Rd just before 3pm.

She saw a dog - Quartz - running in and out of traffic and yelled out to it to go home.

Suz Guet, who was attacked by three dogs in Rotorua. Photo / Laura Smith

Quartz ran behind Guet and latched on to her left arm just above her elbow, tearing a large amount of flesh from her arm.

Quartz continued lunging at Guet, biting her arms and legs several times.

The dog dragged Guet to the ground and tore her puffer jacket as Guet fought back with her bag.

Suz Guet's scars on her arms eight months after being attacked by three roaming dogs on Sunset Rd. Photo / Kelly Makiha

As she was lying on the footpath screaming for help, Boss and Smoke joined the attack.

Members of the public intervened and managed to scare the three dogs away.

Guet needed surgery for her wounds. She received 40 sutures, had 50cm of scarring and lost a litre of blood.

Fankhauser told police Quartz was a family dog and Boss and Smoke were hunting dogs. He was at work when the attack happened, and was called home by his partner.

The three dogs were destroyed following the attack.

Suz Guet still has significant scars on her arms and legs eight months after being attacked by three roaming dogs on Sunset Rd. Photo / Kelly Makiha

The impacts

Guet said she felt like prey being hunted and that the dogs would not have stopped if someone had not arrived.

She said a woman and two men helped her, and, to this day, she did not know who the two men were.

She said, in hindsight, she should have asked the court for more reparation money as she only asked enough to cover her medical bills and clothing.

Its not like I could put a money value on the emotional and physical trauma I endured, nor the seven weeks of recovery before being able to go back to work, nor the ongoing fear of walking in my neighbourhood.

Guet said her independence had been stripped as she would now only walk with her husband and took her car to work, instead of walking.

On walks she carried a bag of ground pepper open and ready to throw at an attacking dog.

She also carried pepper in her handbag and jacket pockets.

She and Fankhauser met through the court restorative justice process.

While she felt he was sincere in his apology, she thought the process dampened down the severity of the offending.

Guet said she had to see a doctor in the following months regularly for one thing or another.

My theory is my mind and body was focused solely on healing my arms and legs, and then when I finally got to a stage where I wanted to put it all behind me and give as little attention to my scars as possible, then bang! My nervous system hits me with shingles, telling me hey, the rest of my body suffered too, and needed an outlet for the trauma.

She said she tried to remain positive and, despite her scars, she was happy she survived and, in some ways, that it happened to her and not someone else.

If it was a child, I dont think they would have survived.
Irene Quirante Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 08:49 Compartir

The latest report from the High Court of Justice of Andalucia (TSJA) provides some data that help to grasp the true scale of the chronic backlog of cases that is being experienced in Malaga province's courts, a situation that more than justifies the request to create 82 new posts for judges across most areas of the judicial system. At the end of last year, according to the report, some 140,233 cases remained unresolved and almost 100,000 sentences had not been enforced. This is despite the fact that judges in most areas of law were able to settle more cases than they received.

The TSJA report does highlight that the workload of these courts has been excessive in practically all the judicial districts of the Andalucia region, but "especially so in the case of Malaga", which last year logged a total of 93,655 cases. This figure was in addition to the 52,062 pending from the previous year. Hence, as far as the TSJA is concerned, it is deemed necessary to boost the number of judges by creating at least 25 new posts.

The courts with the biggest number by far of pending cases are the first instance courts with over 65,102 cases still awaiting their preliminary hearing

The courts that hear cases on work-related matters also ended the year with a significant number of unresolved cases (23,430). Some 17,815 new cases were admitted in 2024 and were added to the 17,815 already carried over from the previous year. The judges for such cases were able to resolve 14,268 of them. It should be noted that these courts deal with particularly sensitive matters for the individuals concerned, cases such as dismissals, accidents at work or claims for sums of money. The TSJA considers that eight more judges are required in this area of law to "alleviate the overload they are suffering."

The number of pending cases (11,520) is reduced to just under half in the criminal courts, for which an increase in staffing with four new judges is requested. As for the Court of Instruction in Malaga city (these courts hear cases for referral to other courts), four additional judicial posts are also requested as there were 8,828 pending cases at year end. This figure excludes other pending cases at the same type of courts in Fuengirola (1,608), Marbella (4,034) and Torremolinos (2,477). There were also 5,005 unresolved administrative litigation cases, 3,953 commercial cases (such as insolvency, intellectual property, trade disputes), 2,985 gender violence cases and 2,265 family court cases.

The courts that closed the year with the fewest cases pending were those for minors (643) and prison supervision (404 - for instance, parole hearings, prisoner rights). The TSJA considers that it would be necessary to create six new posts to hear civil cases at Malaga's provincial court and another four for the criminal side. There were 6,493 civil and 1,486 criminal cases pending resolution.

While the situation for Malaga's courts is somewhat exceptional due to its high litigation rate and the presence of organised crime on the Costa del Sol, the TSJA's analysis extends to the difficulties faced by the entire region. The report highlights the "inability" of the courts to reduce the backlog and regrets that, for yet another year, "the response time exceeds reasonable limits."

The tone of the report stresses once again that "it is impossible to put an end to the existing backlog in Andalucia's judicial bodies with the current staffing levels and a defective organisational system." It argues that this panorama of staff shortages cannot be left to the "goodwill" of the judges themselves to take on more work.

Sentencing delays

Apart from pending cases, the TSJA has once again turned its attention to the high volume of sentences that, despite having already been pronounced, had not been carried out (for instance, going to prison, paying a fine) by the end of the year. This is a problem that, years ago, the TSJA described as "one of the black holes" in the court system and that, at the close of 2024, again presented "data far from what is desirable." In Malaga province alone there were 99,693 proceedings pending this final step.

Looking specifically at Malaga, the finger of blame points directly to civil cases, of which 81,804 have yet to be enforced. A large number of these were carry-overs from previous years, as last year 21,335 sentences were received for enforcement and the judges were able to dispose of a total of 19,034.

Malaga was also one of the Andalusian provinces in which the number of criminal enforcement cases increased, rising by six percent. Even so, the judges in this area of law were able to dispense with more cases than they received. According to the report, 16,296 cases were registered and they were able to resolve 21,626. Despite this, 17,889 sentences were still pending implementation at the end of the year.

As the report pointed out, the enforcement of judgements is part of right to effective protection enshrined in article 24 of the Spanish Constitution, which guarantees the right to obtain a judicial decision in the exercise of one's rights and legitimate interests, without any loss of defence. In this regard, the TSJA states that the slowness in the enforcement of court decisions is withholding the collection of huge sums of money, "such that the enforcement delay goes beyond the individual level to impact the economy directly due to the obvious paralysis of millions of euros."

31% of cases are adjourned

The suspensions of trials and hearings, as mentioned in one of the sections of the TSJA report, constitute a "serious dysfunction" that is repeated year after year. This means that the gap that was scheduled for this procedure cannot be filled by the inclusion of another trial or hearing. Moreover, staff are forced to search for a new slot in the judicial calendar so the case can proceed.

In Malaga, despite the decrease in suspensions of hearings in all areas of law, 31% of hearings had to be postponed (7% less than in the previous year). Suspensions are at 25% for civil, the same for criminal and 27% for litigation cases, but the percentage soars for employment cases: 55%.

According to the report, a total of 79,006 trials and hearings were scheduled last year, of which 24,167 had to be adjourned.
Nuria Triguero Malaga Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 00:48 Compartir

At Vodafone's innovation centre in Malaga, the communication technologies of the future are heading for the cooking-pot. Each of these technologies is at different stages of development, but some are nearly ready to serve up to the market and others are even already being consumed, with more features being added to them. Others are being tested in pilot projects. Lastly, some are still in their infancy, more like the stuff of science fiction right now, but all are set to transform telecommunications in five to ten years' time.

One such breakthrough technology is integrated mobile and satellite connectivity, which promises to achieve the desired milestone of universal coverage regardless of location. This is the notion that anyone can connect to broadband internet from any corner of the globe, no matter how isolated, and do so with just a conventional mobile phone, no additional router or device.

Malaga has taken up a key role in the development of this technology. This is thanks to Vodafone's commitment to establish Europe's first research centre dedicated to the development of integrated terrestrial mobile broadband services based on low orbit satellites. It will open in July and will form part of its innovation hub already operating in Malaga, but it will be located at the University of Malaga's (UMA) school of telecommunications engineering. As with many other projects, Vodafone is working hand in hand with the UMA, with which it has a strategic agreement that the innovation centre's director, Jesus Amores, regards as "unique in Spain". "We do not subsidise innovation, but rather we work side by side with the University's research teams to develop our next generation of products," he said.

To develop this project, Vodafone has received a grant of 2.6 million euros from the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) under the Space Technology Programme. It is working with AST, the company that is building the first global satellite network to deliver broadband from space. A small team (about ten people) is currently dedicated to this initiative, which will grow as the development of this technology and the project itself progresses.

A gateway

This laboratory will be "only the first step", Amores advises. "Once we have the technology fully tried out - that is the objective of the laboratory - we will install in Malaga one of the space-to-earth gateways that will be necessary to connect with the 106 satellites that will be deployed by 2027. In Europe there will be five, and worldwide there may be ten or fifteen. And one of those gateways is going to be here in Malaga." In the long term, as the technology matures, the lab will evolve into an operations and service management centre for the whole of Europe. "This means that Malaga will be a communications hub to generate wealth, equality, justice and growth opportunities around the world," he states.

The UK company aims to lead the introduction of direct satellite connectivity to smartphones in Europe from late 2025 into 2026. To do so, it will have to redouble its R&D investment to date. The project for which it has received the grant amounts to 5.5 million euros and Amores believes this figure will easily quadruple.

Vodafone is not the only company pursuing the goal of universal satellite coverage. Let's not forget Elon Musk's Starlink project. Vodafone and AST's approach to the problem has one advantage: it does not require any additional devices to the ones users already possess. "It has its risks, of course: we are talking about developing something totally new that is not 100% proven. And from Malaga we are going to help make this technology a reality," said this Vodafone executive.

The European Union is subsidising the development of these satellite networks because they are a shortcut to achieve one of its own tech objectives: to accelerate the deployment of the 5G network. "Pressure is being put on operators to push deployment, but with terrestrial networks it is unfeasible to get 5G to places where there is no population," said Amores. He continued: "In practical terms, what will we achieve? That a person who is in a small village in the Alpujarra has the same capabilities to develop their daily and professional life as a person who lives in Madrid. For me this is real equality and democracy."
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) complicates necessary and desirable use of data and AI. We have already experienced how AI technology can be used to solve major societal challenges. Therefore, companies involved in the development and use of new AI solutions need a more reasonable regulatory framework to relate to so that we in a safe and efficient way can leverage the potential of AI even further.

Photo : Ulf Borjesson/Ernst Henry Photo Stefan Tell

Goran Gren, head of department corporate law and Carolina Branby, lawyer and head of digital policy, both at Swedish Enterprise. Photo : Ulf Borjesson/Ernst Henry Photo Stefan Tell

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) complicates necessary and desirable use of data and AI. We have already experienced how AI technology can be used to solve major societal challenges. Therefore, companies involved in the development and use of new AI solutions need a more reasonable regulatory framework to relate to so that we in a safe and efficient way can leverage the potential of AI even further.

For many years, it has been considered a sign of political success within the EU to adopt massive regulatory packages related to new digital phenomena (the AI Act, the Data Act, the Digital Services Act, among others). These regulatory initiatives are often based on a correct problem analysis, but their practical design creates difficulties for legitimate companies to comply with all the rules. Added to this is a reluctance to revisit and refine existing legal reforms, such as the GDPR, even when needed to avoid unjustified obstacles to, for instance, AI use. The result is that Europe falls behind in global technological developmentwhile the U.S. and China race ahead.

It is no exaggeration to say that Swedish competitiveness depends on companies being able to develop and utilize AI, for product development and analysis, enhanced security, and increased efficiency, to mention a few. For companies that are not at the forefront of technological development themselves, the ability to use AI solutions developed by others is a crucial success factor.

But as the Swedish governments AI Commission, among others, has noted, there are several challenges for companies that want to take advantage of these new opportunities. This is especially true for the challenges associated with regulations of data and AI use. For Europe to be competitive in AI, several measures are needed, some of which are particularly urgent:

Simplify the possibilities of using personal data to train and adapt AI systems and models, provided that risk-mitigating measures are taken simultaneously. Access to (large volumes of) high-quality data is essential for creating accurate AI models and systems. There is often a need to use personal data, even if the purpose of the training process is not to obtain information about individuals, but to use this data to train models and systems. Guidance issued by data protection authorities illustrates that the GDPR often prevents or significantly complicates the development of AI solutions, even though the risks to individuals are limited if appropriate measures are taken during the training process.

Do not close the door to automated decision-making. The GDPR rules on automated decision-making significantly limit companies ability to use AI in decisions involving customers. Of course, there are risks associated with allowing AI systems to make automated decisions, and such decision-making is not suitable in all contexts, but the current regulation is unjustifiably restrictive and does not fully consider the benefits and risks in each individual case.

Remove overlapping regulations and make the regulation more risk-based. Laws concerning new digital phenomena are often layered over time, creating a complex regulatory framework that in practice hinders innovation and business. One solution to the problem described in the previous point would be to remove the GDPR regulation of automated decisions and instead have it fully governed based on risk level under the AI Act.

A general review of the AI Act is needed with the aim of simplifying the regulation. The ambition to create a risk-based regulation was entirely correct, but the final regulation has, in many respects, become an unmanageable and bureaucratic framework.

AI should not be, and has never been, unregulated. Its development and use is already governed by several areas of law, such as product safety, liability, and discrimination. Particularly important are the strict rules on the processing of personal data found in the GDPR. Last year, a new comprehensive AI Act was also adopted. The regulation places far-reaching requirements both for companies that develop new AI systems and models, as well as for those that use AI systems in their operations.

It is of course entirely appropriate that legal requirements, for example regarding the handling of personal data, also apply in the development and use of AI. Since the use of AI involves risks, some specific AI regulation may be justified. However, the overall regulatory burden, along with the lack of clarity and unjustified restrictiveness of certain rules, creates major challenges for serious and responsible Swedish companies investing in AI.

Following Mario Draghis report on the EUs competitiveness challenges last year, the winds are shifting, and the need for a more reasonable regulatory burden is now being seriously discussed. This discussion is long-awaited, but to truly benefit the business sector, it must be followed by concrete actions, especially when it comes to the conditions for AI use.

Implementing the new ambitions to ease the regulatory burden on companies is necessary for a successful and well-equipped tech capacity in Sweden and Europe.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (R) meets with Winnie Byanyima, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 13, 2025. (Photo by Nitola/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that the government gave high priority to people's health and HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Winnie Byanyima, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), at the Peace Palace in the capital Phnom Penh, said a news release from the prime minister's spokesperson unit.

"Samdech Thipadei highlighted the attention of the Royal Government of Cambodia in the fight against HIV/AIDS through the launches of many policies and strategic action plans," the news release said.

Samdech Thipadei is the honorific title of Hun Manet.

"He said the Royal Government of Cambodia has given high priority to strengthening the health sector, especially improving people's well-being," the news release added.

"When we talk about building human capital, we must pay attention to our people's health," the prime minister said.

Hun Manet thanked the UN for its contribution to Cambodia's socio-economic development and highly appreciated UNAIDS for its active participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Southeast Asian country.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

For her part, Byanyima commended Cambodia's remarkable progress in all sectors and outstanding achievements in responding to HIV/AIDS.

"Cambodia's successful response to HIV/AIDS has not only reduced the rate of new HIV infections, but has also contributed to regional and global efforts in combating HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases," she said.

She reaffirmed UNAIDS' continued support to Cambodia to achieve the 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets.

The targets mean 95 percent of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95 percent of the people who know that they are living with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of people under treatment are virally suppressed.

According to the news release, the kingdom has so far achieved a response rate of 92-100-98.

The National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (NCHADS) said Cambodia has roughly 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, of which 69,413 have received antiretroviral drugs.

Some 7,000 people were still unaware that they were infected with HIV, and had not yet received antiretroviral drugs, the NCHADS said. 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (R) shakes hands with Winnie Byanyima, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 13, 2025. (Photo by Nitola/Xinhua)
FILE - Actor Gerard Depardieu arrives to face trial for the alleged sexual assaults of two women on a film set in 2021, on March 24, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File) AP

PARIS (AP)  French movie star Gerard Depardieus fall from grace is now complete.

Depardieu was found guilty Tuesday of sexually assaulting two women on the set of a movie in which he starred in 2021 and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence. He was also fined a total of 29,040 euros (around $32,350), and the court requested that he be registered in the national sex offender database.

The actor, 76, has been convicted of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). The case was widely seen as a key post-#MeToo test of how French society and its film industry address allegations of sexual misconduct involving prominent figures.

Depardieu, who has denied the accusations, didnt attend the hearing in Paris. Depardieus lawyer said that his client would appeal the decision.

It is the victory of two women, but it is the victory of all the women beyond this trial, said Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, the set dressers lawyer. Today we hope to see the end of impunity for an artist in the world of cinema. I think that with this decision we can no longer say that he is not a sexual abuser. And today, as the Cannes Film Festival opens, Id like the film world to spare a thought for Gerard Depardieus victims.

Depardieus long and storied career  he told the court that hes made more than 250 films  has turned him into a French movie giant. He was Oscar-nominated in 1991 for his performance as the swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac.

During the four-day trial in March, Depardieu rejected the accusations, saying hes not like that. He acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualized language on the film set and that he grabbed the set dressers hips during an argument, but denied that his behavior was sexual.

The two accusers testified in court

The set dresser described the alleged assault, saying the actor pincered her between his legs as she squeezed past him in a narrow corridor.

She said he grabbed her hips then started palpating her behind and in front, around. She ran her hands near her buttocks, hips and pubic area to show what she allegedly experienced. She said he then grabbed her chest.

The woman also testified that Depardieu used an obscene expression to ask her to touch his penis and suggested he wanted to rape her. She told the court that the actors calm and cooperative attitude during the trial bore no resemblance to his behavior at work.

The other plaintiff, an assistant, said that Depardieu groped her buttocks and her breasts during three separate incidents on the film set.

The Associated Press doesnt identify by name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they consent to be named. Neither women has done so in this case.

Prosecutor requested suspended prison sentence

Paris public prosecutor had requested that Depardieu be found guilty and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 20,000 euros ($22,200). The prosecutor denounced the actors total denial and failure to question himself.

Some figures in the French cinema world have expressed their support for Depardieu. Actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant were among those who took seats on his side of the courtroom.

Depardieu has been accused publicly or in formal complaints of misconduct by more than 20 women, but so far only the sexual assault case has proceeded to court. Some other cases were dropped because of a lack of evidence or the statute of limitations.

The actor may have to face other legal proceedings soon.

In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home. That case is still active, and in August 2024 prosecutors requested that it go to trial.

For more than a half-century, Depardieu stood as a towering figure in French cinema, a titan known for his commanding physical presence, instinct, sensibility and remarkable versatility.

A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of Frances most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures.
Tory Lanez attends the 2022 Parlor Games Celebrity Basketball Classic at the Cox Pavilion on April 30, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Greg Doherty/Getty Images/TNS) TNS

Jami Ganz l New York Daily News (TNS)

Rapper Tory Lanezs lungs collapsed when a fellow inmate stabbed him over a dozen times as more details emerge about Monday mornings attack at a California prison where hes serving a decade-long sentence.

Reps for the 32-year-old Color Violet musician  who is serving time for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in 2020  revealed the gravity of the incident at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi in a statement on his Instagram Monday evening.

Tory was stabbed 14 times  including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face, the statement begins.

Though the Canadian artist, born Daystar Peterson, is now breathing on his own, reps said Lanez was placed on a breathing apparatus.

Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through, the statement continued. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.

Lanezs attorney Jose Baez told TMZ that his client is expected to make a recovery.

The stabbing occurred at around 7:20 a.m. local time Monday and Lanez was transported by ambulance to an outside hospital before he was ultimately airlifted to Kern Medical Hospital in critical condition.

Officials have not made public the identity of Lanezs attacker nor what the inmate is serving time for. Its unclear whether Lanez and the inmate had any prior association.

The Daily News has reached out to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation seeking additional information about the incident and attacker.

In 2023, Lanez was sentenced to 10 years for firing five shots at Megan Thee Stallion, born Megan Pete, after a 2020 bash at Kylie Jenners home.

Earlier this year, Megan, 30, secured a five-year restraining order against Lanez, who she said was using third parties to harass her while he serves time.

Im scared that when he gets out of jail, hes going to still be upset with me, the Grammy-winning rapper said in an emotional video testimonial in January.

Megan shared her fear that Lanez would maybe shoot me again once free and that then, she might not make it.

I havent been at peace since I was shot, she said. Im just tired of being harassed.

2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Syracuse, N.Y.  An 82-year-old Central New York man could face up to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to distributing child pornography, prosecutors said.

John Kelly, of Rome, admitted to exchanging child pornography with a man in Plattsburgh, federal prosecutors said in a news release Tuesday.

Kelly admitted that he and Richard Hockersmith, 65, of Plattsburgh, would mail each other a SD card containing explicit videos and pictures of children, prosecutors said.
Wayne F. Schutt, a current Cortland common councilor and his girlfriend were both arrested for a DWI after a crash in Cortland on Friday May 9. City of Cortland

Cortland, N.Y.  A Cortland common councilor has resigned following a car crash Friday that resulted in a DWI arrest.

Wayne F. Schutt, 50, was involved in a crash around 9:36 p.m. in the city of Cortland, police said. Schutt was arrested and charged with DWI following the crash.
Lt. Michael Hoosock (left), of the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office, and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen (right) were fatally shot on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Salina. Provided photos

Washington, D.C.  The names of two Central New York police officers killed in an April 2024 ambush in Salina have been added to a national memorial honoring fallen officers.

Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga County Sheriffs Office Lt. Michael Hoosock are among the 345 officers whose names were engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.

Oswego County Sheriffs Deputy Cailee Campbell, who was killed in September in a car crash, was also added to the wall.

The names will be read out at the 37th annual candlelight vigil Tuesday night, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Three Syracuse police officers - John Canestrare, Benedict Rath and James Zollo - who also responded with Jensen and Hoosock that day were honored Monday at the TOP COPS dinner held by the National Association of Police Organizations.

This week marks National Police Week. Its history goes back to 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Campbell, 33, died after a car T-boned her patrol vehicle at about 6:40 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2024, in the town of Volney. She had been responding to a reported car crash.

Friends and co-workers remember Campbell for her bubbly, outgoing personality and how she cared for others around her.

Cailee Campbell Oswego County Sheriff's Office

Hoosock and Jensen were shot and killed during an ambush just before 9 p.m. on April 14, 2024, on Darien Drive in Salina. They had responded to a home on that street to follow up on a vehicle that was speeding earlier that day through Syracuses Tipp Hill neighborhood.

A gunman, Christopher R. Murphy, armed with an AR-15 first shot Hoosock, who was behind the home at 4945 Darien Drive.

Murphy then went to the front of the house, where several officers had taken cover. There, he shot Jensen. The gunman was killed by Jensen and another officer.

Hoosock, 37, was a decorated 16-year veteran of the sheriffs office and a volunteer firefighter who served as a battalion chief at the Moyers Corners Fire Department. He was known as a jokester and a dedicated family man to his wife and three children.

Jensen, 29, had been on the force for about two years. He was known for his outgoing personality and work ethic.

In addition to their inclusion on the national wall of fallen officers, Jensen and Hooscok have also been included in a state memorial in Albany. Their names are also inscribed on two memorials in downtown Syracuse and a brick at the State Fair.

***

A free livestream for the candlelight vigil will start at 8 p.m. and can be found here.

***
Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro performs during the Coca-Cola Flow Fest music festival in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. AP Photo/Felix Marquez

Rauw Alejandro is bringing his Cosa Nuestra World Tour to New York Citys Barclays Center for three nights on May 19, 20, and 21. The concerts start at 8 p.m.

These will be Alejandros sole New York tour stop.

Although the highly sought-after concerts are nearly sold out, fans can find last-minute tickets on verified secondary platforms like Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub.

Discount: First-time Vivid Seats customers can use code SYRACUSE20 for $20 off a $200+ ticket order.

Heres a look at the best prices available (including fees):

Monday, May 19

Tuesday, May 20

Wednesday, May 21

Prices and availability are noted at the time of publishing and are subject to change and additional fees.

The tour is in support of Alejandros fifth studio album, Cosa Nuestra, released on November 15, 2024. It debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, marking his first top-10 album, and reached No. 1 on the Latin Albums chart. Stream it now on Apple Music (free trial).

Alejandro is a Latin Grammy Award-winner and best known for hits like Todo De Ti, Desesperados, and Lokera.
Syracuse, N.Y.  The long reach of Van Robinsons life as a Syracuse community leader was manifested at his funeral Monday, where tributes poured in from across New York state and beyond.

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, sent a letter to Robinsons widow, Linda Brown-Robinson, that was read to mourners at Bethany Baptist Church.

The Clintons recalled how they enjoyed spending time with Robinson and said they were grateful for his support and friendship over the years.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer sent a video message paying respects to his dear, dear friend, a man who I loved.

Gov. Kathy Hochul praised Robinsons vision and persistence in advocating for the removal of the Interstate 81 viaduct that cuts through Syracuse. She promised  to a loud standing ovation -- that when the highway comes down, the surface level boulevard that replaces it will be named Van Robinson Way.

On and on it went. Attorney General Letitia James shared memories. U.S. Rep. John Mannion recalled Robinsons mantra-like advice, Dont stop working.

State legislators  not just from Syracuse but from Downstate, too  spoke of how Robinson mentored and supported them. Mayor Ben Walsh and former County Executive Joanie Mahoney spoke of Robinsons impact on his adopted hometown.

On it went. The funeral lasted 3  hours. By the time it was over, the initial crowd of at least 300 people had thinned by half. (Many others attended calling hours beforehand.)

Thank you so much for enduring, the Rev. Phil Turner, pastor of Bethany Baptist, said near the end of the service. But we can tell you, in the Black tradition if you get ready to go to the funeral of somebody whos been something, you better be prepared for the long haul.

Robinson had been something to all of them.

His influence extended far beyond the eight years he spent as the first Black president of the Syracuse Common Council. It reached as far back as the late 1970s, when Robinson joined the local NAACP chapter and became active in Democratic politics.

We can truly say that we have experienced the Van Robinson era, Turner said. It was an era of significance.

Michael Monds, chief of the Syracuse Fire Department, choked up when he recalled Robinsons support for his career.

Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds prays at Van Robinson's casket. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

He believed in people, often before they believed in themselves. He believed in me, Monds said.

Monds grew up on the South Side to become the citys first Black fire chief. Robinson not only encouraged him personally but paved the way for all African Americans 45 years ago by fighting for increased minority hiring in the police and fire departments.

Robinson and the NAACP joined a federal lawsuit that resulted in a 1980 consent decree to step up hiring of minorities and females. Today, dozens of women and minorities have joined the fire department, and roughly 50 have been promoted to leadership positions, he said.

Robinson pushed for diversity, equity and inclusion long before that was a buzzword, Monds said.

The diversity in our public safety departments, they werent an accident. They were results of persistent, purposeful work that Van helped lead, Monds said. Thats how change really happens. Van was DEI before it became popular.

On it went. For every elected official who walked to the podium, five others sat in the pews nodding their heads.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says a few words to honor Van Robinson. The former Syracuse Common Council president was laid to rest on Monday. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

The speakers celebrated not just what Robinson accomplished, like the successful fight to remove the 81 viaduct. They also cheered the way he did it, with quiet dignity and respect.

What a wonderful place this world would be if all of our leaders conducted themselves the way Van Robinson did, said Mahoney, who is now the president of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Kyla Clark, president of the city council in Laurel, Md., returned to her native Syracuse for the funeral. Clark provided powerful solo vocals on songs including Going up Yonder and Goodness of God.

She said Van and Linda Robinson raised money for her to go to a national NAACP high-school arts and academics competition nearly three decades ago. Her success in the competition led to a college scholarship and, from there, a career.

As many speakers recalled, Robinson remained a good friend and committed volunteer to causes long after his failing health forced him to tote around an oxygen tank.

Robinsons legacy of civil rights activism and public service will endure, said L. Joy Williams, New York state president of the NAACP.

Generations will know your name, Williams said.

Staff writer Tim Knauss can be reached at: email | Twitter | 315-470-3023.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Some key facts remain disputed nine years after a Syracuse police officer shot and killed a man at a Fathers Day barbecue that had devolved into chaos.

Was the man, Gary Porter, one of several people at the barbecue who were firing guns? Or was he an innocent bystander who happened to be nearby?

Did the officer who responded, Kelsey Francemone, properly identify herself and order the shooters to drop their weapons?

When Porter later ran away, did he turn toward Francemone with a gun in his hand? Or was he unarmed, with his back toward her, when she fatally shot him?

No gun was found at the scene, but does gunshot residue on Porters hand prove he fired a gun?

Eight jurors began hearing arguments late Monday afternoon in the federal building in downtown Syracuse. They will have to decide who they believe.

The trial in the civil lawsuit filed by Porters daughter, Tanajee Maddox, almost didnt happen.

Syracuse city lawyers had reached an agreement to pay $825,000 to settle the lawsuit. But a vote by city lawmakers was one short of the two-thirds majority needed to borrow to pay for the settlement. Some common councilors said Francemone acted correctly and they werent convinced a settlement was warranted.

A grand jury convened by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick cleared Francemone in August 2016 of criminal wrongdoing.

The shooting on June 19, 2016, provoked a strong community response and led to protests in front of police headquarters. Tensions were further elevated when police ransacked a womans house during a raid, but turned up no illegal drugs or weapons.

The events of that night are in some ways from a different era of policing and police accountability.

Video footage capturing some of what happened is from grainy surveillance cameras and the phones of some people who happened to be nearby. Syracuse police officers would not begin to get body cameras until the following year.

The state Attorney Generals Office quickly closed its investigation, saying at the time that it didnt have the authority to continue looking into what happened. The state Legislature would later pass a law requiring the office to investigate any death that may have been caused by an action, or lack of an action, by law enforcement officers.

It is not in dispute how the events of that June night started.

A large Fathers Day celebration was happening at the James Geddes public housing complex on the citys Near West Side. Hundreds of people were there, and music blared from a DJ booth.

About an hour into her shift, and less than two years into her career on the force, Francemone responded at around 11:10 p.m. to a call for a person down. That call was determined to be unfounded.

Soon after arriving, however, Francemone heard gunfire. Officials would later say at least 37 shots were fired that day.

People at the barbecue began stampeding away from the shots, creating a chaotic scene. Francemone, who was by herself, ran toward the gunfire.

She would find three people shooting from near a car in a small parking lot off Tully Street on the southern side of the housing complex.

Jurors will hear competing testimony for the next few weeks about what happened next.

The forensic evidence in the case leaves room for interpretation. So, the lawyers for both sides moved quickly on Monday to discredit each others eyewitnesses.

Fred Lichtmacher, a New York City lawyer representing the Porter family, chided Francemone for turning up two witnesses who are now doing time in state prison for felonies.

One of the lawyers representing Francemone, John Powers, noted that the Porter familys witnesses are all friends or relatives who might be biased toward Porter.

Both sides also started painting two vastly different portraits of Francemone.

Lichtmacher cast Francemone as a deer in the headlights who didnt appropriately handle an emergency and has since crafted a fiction about what happened.

Lichtmacher said his witnesses will show that, among other things, Francemone had not properly identified herself as an officer and never saw Porter shooting a gun nor turn toward her with it.

Lichtmacher said it was unreasonable for her to fatally shoot Porter since he was unarmed. He noted again and again during opening arguments Monday that a gun was never recovered.

Lichtmacher also repeatedly said the lawsuit against Francemone is not a criticism of all police officers. Instead, he said, it is an attempt to single out an officer who acted horribly.

Powers, the lawyer hired by the city to represent the officer, talked her up, saying she was brave for running toward a hail of gunfire without any backup.

After firing off an initial few shots at the three shooters, Francemones gun jammed and she needed to swap out her magazine. Powers crouched down on the courtroom floor before the jurors, emulating how he said she quickly went to the ground to fix her service weapon.

Powers noted that Porter, who was right-handed, was found with so-called gunshot residue on his right hand.

The tiny particles are left behind after a person fires a gun. But Lichtmacher argued the residue could have been transferred from Francemones hand to Porters when she later attempted to handcuff him.

Powers said it wasnt for lack of trying that police would never find a gun. People attending the Fathers Day event twice pounced on Francemone after she shot Porter, stealing items from her uniform and striking her with a glass bottle.

Powers said it took an hour for the police department to secure the scene and begin collecting evidence.

If there was a gun on the ground, he said, it was long gone.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
In this June 20, 2018 file photo, assembly members vote on Bills in the Assembly chamber at the state Capitol during the last scheduled day of the legislative session in Albany, N.Y. (Hans Pennink | AP) AP

Elena Kuran is a legal intern at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) and third-year student at Northeastern University School of Law, in Boston.

Want to know how and where your public university is investing its money? Or whether NYPD used surveillance technologies at a protest you attended? Or whether an elected official is using outside consultants to manage political scandals? Submit a FOIL request.

For over 50 years, the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) has been the most important transparency tool New Yorkers have for holding the government accountable. FOIL requests by the public and journalists have revealed critical information regarding government surveillance, police misconduct, harassment scandals and disaster preparedness. Much of the investigative journalism on government operations is based on public records released in response to FOIL requests from reporters. Whether related to public safety, housing, education or health care, FOIL allows people timely access to information to make informed decisions for themselves and their families.

And yet, accessing information that rightfully belongs to the public can come at a high cost. It is common for New York state and municipal agencies and governments to ignore, delay or flat-out deny FOIL requests. This unfortunate reality leaves requestors between a rock and a hard place: Accept an agencys unlawful deterrent tactics and miss out on vital information to which theyre entitled, or shoulder legal fees to take the agency to court. The cost of a FOIL lawsuit can be prohibitive, particularly for individuals and organizations without a lawyer on staff. Even when a requestor prevails in court, reimbursement of their attorneys fees is not guaranteed. Presently, FOIL requires the requestor to substantially prevail in order to be eligible for attorneys fees, and even then, the decision of whether to award the fees is at the judges discretion. This substantially prevail requirement is burdensome and overly broad, as it empowers a judge with a high level of discretion to determine whether to award a successful requestor attorneys fees. This incentivizes agencies to engage in unlawful stalling tactics, refusing to hand over public records and gambling on a wait em out approach to FOIL requests, counting on the fact that, even on the slim chance that the requestor risks a lawsuit and wins, the agency is unlikely to suffer any consequences.

Take, for example, a drawn-out fight over attorneys fees between the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) and the Executive Chamber. In March 2021, S.T.O.P. filed a FOIL request seeking records regarding Covid-19 vaccine passports. The Executive Chamber withheld records without providing statutorily required explanations for why the records were being withheld. After unsuccessfully appealing the Executive Chambers denial, S.T.O.P. sued for access to the records. In August 2022, the Supreme Court agreed that the denial was inadequately explained and required the records be submitted for review by the court to determine if they should be released.

Ultimately, the court ordered some records released but determined that most were properly withheld. Because the court did not believe S.T.O.P. substantially prevailed, they denied reimbursement of attorneys fees, despite that S.T.O.P. prevailed not only to the extent that they received documents, but also to the extent that the Executive Chambers denial of the request illegally failed to explain the basis of withholding records. As a result, S.T.O.P. did not have a basis to determine its likelihood of receiving documents in a lawsuit. Agencies are therefore incentivized, under current law, to violate the FOIL statute and provide insufficient explanations for withholding documents, knowing that requestors will have to file their appeal blind as to their likelihood of achieving substantial success, and failure to guess properly will result in the requestor facing extensive unreimbursed fees.

The lingering possibility of bearing high legal costs, as well as the protracted timeline of lawsuits  which can stretch years if parties pursue appeals  continue to deter individuals, journalists, academics and nonprofits from accessing records that rightfully belong to the public, which leads one to worry: How many stories are going untold?

Luckily, New York has the opportunity to remove financial barriers to public records once and for all. A950-A (Steck) / S1418-A (Liu) would amend the FOIL attorneys fee law to require agencies to reimburse attorneys fees when a FOIL requestor has successfully sued for access to records. This bill simplifies the law and makes it so that requestors only have to prevail, not substantially prevail, in order to be reimbursed. In doing so, New York would join over 10 other states, including California, Illinois and New Jersey, in requiring that requestors simply prevail in FOIL cases.

As the news media and principles of open government come under increasing assault, New York must reaffirm its commitment to transparency and accountability by eliminating financial barriers to accessing records that rightfully belong to the public.
Wegmans and Tops both added signage referencing President Donald Trump's tariffs in recent weeks. A Wegmans location in North Carolina is seen in a file photo. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Two of Central New Yorks biggest grocery chains added signs in stores in recent weeks to explain the effects of President Donald Trumps tariffs on the price of bananas.

The new signs went up in both Tops and Wegmans stores near banana displays.
JINAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- In an exhibition hall in east China's Shandong Province, Italian fashion blogger Camilla Pedersini explored with rapt attention, carefully learning the intricate process of Hanfu making before slipping into her first Hanfu outfit.

"This kind of clothing is gorgeous," she marveled. "It brings you back to ancient times. Chinese culture is fascinating."

Hanfu, the traditional attire of China, has evolved over the centuries and in recent years has enjoyed a revival, driven by a renewed interest in traditional culture among young people and its growing visibility on social media platforms. Yet, few people know that the country's largest Hanfu production hub is Caoxian County in Shandong.

Caoxian's connection with Hanfu started about 17 years ago, when a few villagers began experimenting with making Hanfu costumes for photo studios and performances. With the rise of e-commerce in China, local Hanfu makers opened online stores and were pleasantly surprised by the strong demand for their dresses.

With a population of over 1.3 million, Caoxian is now home to 2,753 Hanfu businesses. Last year, the county's combined online and offline Hanfu sales surpassed 12 billion yuan (about 1.67 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for nearly half of the national market share. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Hanfu sales exceeded 3.14 billion yuan, marking an increase of 15.8 percent from last year.

In Caoxian's Ancailou township, workers at Huaqianyuexia Textile Co., Ltd. are bustling to fulfill a flood of orders. Six jacquard machines run around the clock, producing 600 meters of fabric daily for the horse-faced skirt, a distinctive Hanfu style known for its high, flat front and pleated sides.

There has been particularly strong demand for the horse-faced skirt. "We have orders for around 10,000 meters of fabric to be delivered by the end of June," said An Peng, general manager of the company. "While we're working flat out to complete these orders, new ones keep coming in."

In the face of a booming Hanfu market, innovation has become key. Luoruyan, a designer brand where a single dress can sell for thousands of yuan, has embraced this trend. Last year, it launched its "fragrant Hanfu" line, incorporating fibers from flowers such as peony, rose and lotus blossom into the fabric.

"We would like to find a way to inject modern fashion into traditional Hanfu," said Yao Chixing, founder of the brand.

He added that the brand has also collaborated with universities to develop an antique-style brocade weaving technique in an attempt to successfully restore traditional patterns with over 90 percent accuracy. They have also introduced an "AI+ Hanfu" intelligent design system, which has already generated more than a thousand innovative patterns using algorithms.

"The Hanfu industry is a vivid manifestation of the vitality of Chinese culture," said Pan Lusheng, chairman of the China Folk Literature and Art Association.

The Hanfu dresses made in Caoxian have been exported to more than 20 countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Italy.

At the beginning of this year, when Luoruyan launched its clothing line-up themed on Chinese New Year celebrations, the company quickly received orders for over 100 pieces from Britain.

"To meet the demand of the international market, the company has not only created customized designs but also modified patterns and expanded the range of sizes to ensure that overseas consumers can find dresses that fit," Yao said.

Seeing the business opportunity, Hu Chunqing, who holds a doctorate in material processing engineering, moved to Caoxian in 2018 with his wife to launch their own brand. Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, he managed to expand his overseas market.

"We used to sell our dresses mainly to Southeast Asia," said Hu. "Now, with a significant increase in inquiries from clients in Europe, Japan, ROK, America, South Africa, and the Middle East, we are working hard to expand the export channels for our Hanfu."

At the third Caoxian Hanfu cultural festival in April, five individuals from Egypt, Russia, Brazil and Italy, including Camilla Pedersini, were appointed as ambassadors to promote Hanfu overseas.

"This is not only fashion, but also a vivid expression of Chinese traditional culture," she said. "In China I see that creativity is deeply rooted in its culture, which is inspiring."

"In an era when China-chic is on the rise, Hanfu is not only a carrier of traditional Chinese culture, but also a name card of the country on the international fashion stage," said Cao Jiachang, president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles. 
Rep. John Mannion speaks at a town hall meeting at Chestnut Hill Middle School in Salina, Monday, May 12, 2025. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

Salina, N.Y.  Rep. John Mannion told a crowd at his first town hall meeting Monday that he believes the United States is in a constitutional crisis precipitated by President Donald Trump.

Mannion, D-Geddes, said Trump crossed that line about three months ago by defying court orders and over-asserting his authority through executive orders at a speed that surprised the first-term congressman.
Karar Abed is one of three Onondaga Community College students to receive a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence this spring. Provided photo

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Karar Abed moved from Iraq to the U.S. about nine years ago. He graduated from East Syracuse Minoa in 2023 and earned a degree in math and science from Onondaga Community College in December. Currently, hes a junior at SUNY ESF, studying biochemistry with plans to become a doctor.

Abed, 19, didnt get the hang of English until 11th grade, he says. Still, he managed to take college classes before leaving high school. And in April, he went to Albany to be honored with a Chancellors Award for Student Excellence, the highest academic honor for state college students.

Syracuse.com spoke with Abed about his education, his cancer research and why hes recently taken up fencing.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

I graduated from East Syracuse Minoa High School with the highest regents diploma. And for the first couple of years in high school, like 9th grade, 10th grade, I couldnt really speak English. It was real difficult for me. I really got the hang of English by, like,11th grade, which is when I started taking college courses in high school that allowed me to graduate early from OCC. So, right now Im attending SUNY ESF and I have till next semester to fully complete all the courses that I need to get my bachelors in biochem.

You came to the U.S. from Iraq when you were in the seventh grade. By the time you were a junior at East Syracuse Minoa High School, you were taking college courses, which really sounds amazing. So, how did you do that?

So there was a program called OCC Advantage that I was a part of and the student success program at OCC. My high school...had a contract where they offered OCC courses.

Why did you arrive at going to OCC in the first place?

Well, I wanted to go on a premed track, but I wasnt sure if I was going to make it because of my English deficiency and all the other skills that I was lacking. So, I wanted to make sure that Im able to do it before chaining myself in thousands of dollars of debt. So, OCC was great because it basically showed me that I could do it and Im able to pass those scary courses before heading into the actual harder colleges and med school.

So tuition was definitely a part of that decision, right?

100%.

Tell me a little bit more about your cancer research that youre doing at SUNY Upstate. Is it like a specific cancer that youre researching? Is it a treatment?

So, right now were working on seeing disordered proteins and if those disordered proteins have a way of being reversed. Were messing with genes and growing those genes in bacteria and using genetic techniques like phosphorylation and using chemicals to try to basically make two genes that can insert something in between.

Can you explain it in a term that a non-scientist will understand like me?

Yep, definitely.

What exactly do you mean by two genes?

Its more like a long vehicle that you want to insert something into. So were trying to make the front door and the back door of the bus. So that way when we put (in) the treatment or the chemical that we want, it can go through the front door or the back door and land in the middle.

I think Ill take your word for it. So, youre at ESF, youre studying biochemistry and you want to become a heart surgeon. Hows that going?

Classes have been great. I feel like OCC overprepared me for ESF, which is very fantastic in my opinion because of the basic layout and the courses that they gave me.

All right. So you graduated OCC in three semesters.

Yep.

And youre planning on finishing your undergraduate degree in pretty much another three semesters, including this one.

Yep. Pretty much.

I just I got no words. I mean that thats great.

Thank you.

If youre looking back to that kid who just moved from Iraq, what would you say to him?

Just dont worry, enjoy the ride. Because I spent a lot of hours, lots of nights worried and anxious whether I can even graduate high school. It all plays out. Work hard, play hard. I was able to study countless nights and all that. If I was to tell myself something, itll be like, Keep doing what youre doing.

Whats going to be on your mind when you go up on that stage and you accept that award?

So a lot is going through my mind even right now. Its really amazing. Ive never imagined myself five years ago that Id be doing what Im doing today.

Is there anything else that youd like to add?

Well, Ive always had this saying: Dont ever climb the mountains so the world can see you. Do it so you can see the world. I live by this every day because the more you try to understand the world, the easier your life becomes. Dont just do it because others want to see you climb those mountains.

So, whats your fun fact?

Im doing fencing right now.

Youre doing what?

Im doing fencing right now.

So, is there actual fencing place in ESF?

Uh, yes, there is. Its a club. Its a gym over at the SU campus.

Are you trying to win some competitions?

Well, Im in the process of learning it right now.

Ankit Bandyopadhyay is a graduate student at Syracuse University and a 2025 Newhouse Fellow.
A woman was killed and a man was critically injured after a home exploded Monday night, May 12, 2025, on West Lane in the hamlet of Lake View in Hamburg, New York. The home was completely leveled. Photo: Screenshot from WKBW TV's YouTube page Photo: Screenshot from WKBW TV's YouTube page

Hamburg, N.Y.  First came the explosion. Then came the screams.

A house exploded Monday night in the Hamburg hamlet of Lake View in Western New York, killing one person and critically injuring at least one other, Hamburg police told the Buffalo News. The explosion completely leveled the Lake View home and severely damaged a neighboring house.

The incident on West Lane was reported at 8:49 p.m. Monday.

One neighbor told WGRZ the explosion sounded like fireworks times 30 and shook dishes from his cupboard. Another told WKBW TV it felt like his house had gotten hit by a plane or truck.

Neighbors ran outside after the explosion and toward the flames consuming the houses remains. The screams of a woman who had blown off her deck and burned by the explosion could be heard from streets away, one neighbor told WKBW TV.

I could hear her screaming from my house, the whole way down, he said. Were just trying to help, and there wasnt much to help. The house was just gone.

A woman was killed and a man was critically injured after a home exploded Monday night, May 12, 2025, on West Lane in the hamlet of Lake View in Hamburg, New York. The home was completely leveled. Photo: Screenshot from WKBW TV's YouTube page Photo: Screenshot from WKBW TV's YouTube page

Firefighters found Joene Pease, one of the residents of the razed home, dead in the debris, according to the Buffalo News. She was 78 years old.

John Pease was found near the basement, the Buffalo News reported. Hamburg police said the 78-year-old man was listed in critical condition at a Buffalo hospital on Tuesday morning.

Investigators with the Hamburg Police Department, the New York State Police and Erie County are working to determine what sparked the explosion.

One firefighter and one officer suffered minor injuries, police told the Buffalo News. Theres a chance there are more victims who have not yet been identified in the chaotic scene, the newspaper reported.
Dairying at Dusk  An Evening Walk through an Award-Winning Farm

Come along for an evening of learning, nature, and fun on the family farm that won the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Award. Meet John, Maria and Brendan Walsh, the family who are leading the way in running a sustainable dairy farm.

Dairying at Dusk  An Evening Walk through an Award-Winning Farm takes place on the farm of John and Brendan Walsh, winners of the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Award on Tuesday, 10 June at 6:30pm. Pictured at the launch of the event on the farm in Ballylooby, Cahir, Co. Tipperary are Dr Tom ODwyer, Head of Teagasc Signpost Programme; Nora ODonovan, Teagasc/Dairygold Joint Programme Coordinator; hosts Brendan and John Walsh; Maureen OMeara, FBD; and Donal Mullane, Teagasc Tipperary Regional Manager. Photo OGorman Photography

A National Farm Walk on the farm of John and Brendan Walsh, has been organised by Teagasc, FBD and Dairygold, and all are welcome to attend. Dairying at Dusk, will take place on Tuesday, 10 June at 6:30pm at their family farm at Ballylooby, County Tipperary. This event will be of interest to the general public, non-farming families as well as farming families.

The Walshs win in the competition was based on four key sustainability pillars. The Walshs are running a highly efficient and profitable dairy operation. They have adopted smarter ways to grow grass without compromising on grass yield to feed the cows.

Biodiversity is a long-standing priority on the Walsh farm, dating back generations. Hedges are managed to promote growth and diversity, with whitethorns allowed to flourish every 50 metres.

The risk to water quality has been significantly reduced by reducing the surplus nitrogen on the farm with their surplus nitrogen being almost half the national average.

Speaking in advance of the walk, Brendan and John Walsh said; We are looking forward to welcoming the general public to their farm and showing what we and other farmers across the country are doing to improve environmental sustainability. Our message to other farmers is: start small, seek good advice, and dont fear failure.

Dr Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc Signpost programme and chair of the judging panel highlighted that the Walshs success story is not just about awards, but about building a resilient and environmentally responsible future for Irish farming. John and Brendan are passionate about making a good living from farming but also looking after the environment. Their story shows that you can farm profitable while also looking after nature.

Join us for an evening of learning, nature, and fun on the farm that won the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Award.

What to Expect:

Hear the inspiring stories of how the Walshs are looking after nature on their farm while continuing to produce high quality food profitably. There will be fun games and activities for kids  sustainability corner, Agrikids farm safety workshops

Dairying at Dusk promises to be a family-friendly evening in the great outdoors! Everyone is welcome  bring the whole family! Complimentary refreshments available.

For more details and to register to attend, click here
SYDNEY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- An Australian study outlines a pathway to net-zero emissions for the country's livestock sector, showing that farmers can cut emissions while boosting both productivity and profits, the University of Tasmania has revealed.

The five-year research, which reveals the true cost of achieving net-zero emissions on Australian livestock farms, shows that emission reductions don't have to come at the expense of profitability, especially when multiple mitigation strategies are used together, a press release from the university said on Monday.

"You don't get major reductions in on-farm emissions from a single practice change. But stacking interventions offers the most cost-effective route to net-zero emissions," said the study's lead author Matthew Harrison from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian government.

The stacking interventions cited by Harrison include improving animal breeding to enhance the efficiency of conversion of feed into meat and milk, feeding cattle and sheep in ways that produce less greenhouse gasses, and taking more carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in soils and trees.

The study, published in Nature Communications, modeled various emission-reduction strategies in collaboration with local farmers and found the cost of achieving net-zero could range from basically no cost to more than half a farm's income, depending on the approach, the release said.

The most effective and profitable strategies included combining anti-methanogenic feed additives with tree planting and diversifying income through renewable energy, such as wind turbines, Harrison said, adding that relying solely on purchasing carbon credits to offset emissions, a less publicly supported option, proved to be the most expensive pathway.

While absolute net-zero may be out of reach for many, meaningful year-on-year emissions reductions are achievable, he said, adding farmers should compare their emissions to their own past performance rather than to others. 
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Come 30th Sep 2009, I had study holidays given that exams were looming ahead. I tried to contain my excitement and was eagerly looking forward to taking delivery of our stead. I still remember that evening, my father dropped me off for Math tuition and I had sneaked out my mother's cellphone for reasons unknown (it was mostly my stupidity in trying to be cool in front of my friends). An hour into the class, I was caught doing something stupid, and the teacher confiscated my mobile and would not let me go until I called my parents. On the contrary, I could not let my parents know of this because of the occasion at home, and I eventually never went to the delivery event, and my parents went to pick up the car. I spent 3 hours trying to beg the teacher to hand my phone back, and she finally gave in at 9 pm, and I walked back home. Once they returned with our new car, I then spoke to my Mum about what happened, and she had an insensitive reaction because when my Dad dropped me off for tuition, he specifically asked me if I had Mum's mobile, and I flatly refused. Of course, the aftermath was not very pleasant, and after some heated arguments, my father decided to forgive me for what had happened.



On the next day, we took the first long drive (sort of) in the car to the airport to pick up my aunt who was arriving from the U.S. Believe me, the car was barebones, the variant was a 2.4 GX 8 seater, and it had practically nothing. At the end of that week, my father decided to send the car to Coimbatore, where his friend had an accessory store, and he'd promised he'd install the best stuff on the car. My mom's brother came down and offered to drive the car to Coimbatore to get alloys, body graphics, wooden panels for the interiors, side step, seat covers, mats, a carrier (which eventually got stolen) and a Pioneer music system, which my father's friend got from Muscat. That weekend, all of it got installed, and the car was back home.



Between 2009 and 2015, the car was doing what it was expected to do and was doing it well. I was not very involved in its functioning because I was not yet legal/ not allowed to drive. In 2014, I wanted to install a DVD player instead of the old single-DIN CD player that we had installed. My father's friend got it in Muscat again, and I took the initiative of visiting a nearby workshop to get it fitted.



Come 2016, I'd gotten a job through campus placements and was earning money, although it was paltry. It was at this time, I got an itch to modify the car (thanks to TeamBHP). Given that it was a GX variant, I wanted to add everything that was in the VX variant. The first step was to add the chrome package (door handles, front grill, rear view mirror, and the rear trunk opening, number plate housing). Visited Nandi Toyota and they quoted around Rs 21000, and I got it done.



Shortly after, my career took the front seat, and I began to focus more on it. Come 2018, I was contemplating doing my Master's abroad, and the car was performing flawlessly during this time. I eventually left in 2019 and returned in early 2021 due to something that shut the entire world down, yes, I am talking about COVID. It was hard to find a job, and I eventually came back to India for hopefully greener pastures.



Well, I came back to the Innova and arguably so, it wasn't used as much given the circumstances, but the car was clean. Quickly getting back to what we do best, I wanted to replace the steering wheel of the GX version with that of the VX version. I started hunting down stores and dealers that would assist with this, and I finally found a guy in Koramangala who had a refurbished steering wheel from a 2013 Innova and was in mint condition. Spoke to him and we agreed on a price and I got it fitted. Here is a picture from then.



Between 2021 to 2023, the car was again performing flawlessly. Of course, the itch to make it better would never go and I was no exception. In 2022, I wanted to get the interior door openers finished in chrome, so I reached out to a dealer in Kerala, and he helped me source them, and I subsequently got them fitted. Simultaneously, I also got sun shades installed in the car. There was a dealer named Yash Jatwani that I came across on Facebook Marketplace, who helped me source it. Alas, folks at home were having a comfortable journey in the car despite the horrid heat.



In 2023, my brother's wedding was confirmed, and I decided to give our stead a much-needed makeover. So in February 2024, I decided to change the seat covers/ doorpads that were installed when we bought the car. It was all worn out, so I thought it was the perfect time for a change. At this time, I decided to go with our very trusted man, Mr. Devaraj. Thanks to TeamBHP's directory, I found his number, spoke to him, and explained my requirement. Shortly after, I went to his store, finalised a colour and paid the advance. I went the subsequent weekend, got the seat covers fit, and the car was throwing 2009 vibes all over again. Here are a few pictures from then.



Come August 2024, the wooden panelling that we got stuck on the original panel had started to show signs of age and was looking bad. Again, I put on my research hat and found a person who did the 3D painting of these parts to emulate a wooden panel. I quickly reached out to Dawn Customs, who immediately agreed and pulled out the old parts from my car and got them painted in a record 48 hours that too very flawlessly. Here are some pictures from that event!



At this time, I believed I had tried my best to keep the car in its best shape with timely services at Toyota and ensuring the car is presentable. We're now in 2025, and I realised the alloys were in a bad condition. Given that it had faithfully served us for 15 years, I decided to get them switched. I visited our good old Hot Tracks, which I believe is one of the best in the industry. I reached out and explained my requirement, where I did not want to sacrifice on ride quality and wanted to retain the same 15-inch rim size. Given that this size is sparsely available, he did have a few options, and I was smitten with one., I immediately decided to get them installed. Given how well-rounded they are, they asked me if I wanted to get my wheel callipers/ drums painted, and I did not refuse. I told them I wanted it in Jet Black, which I thought would give it a good look.



While we're at it, I explained to Ramesh (the manager) that I wanted a new spoiler since the old one had cracked and stopped working. He immediately arranged a gloss back piece from one of his vendors, and I immediately agreed to get it installed. Since I was running late for the day due to other commitments, I told Ramesh that I would get the spoiler installed the next day, and he agreed.



The next day, I reached the outlet by 11 am, and they immediately got to work. As I was looking at other cars coming in/going out, I saw a Vellfire coming in for new 3D mats, and I wanted to get that for my car too. He gave me a good price, and I ended up picking that up too.



I am now 31, and the car entered my life when I was 15. I used to sit in the same car when my father used to drive. Now I mostly drive the Innova, and my father now drives a BMW, but some stuff never changes, and this is one of them. The car has seen me/ us evolve in so many ways and has been part of so many. great memories, so I would never want to let it go. Given the impact that it had on me throughout my life, I've looked after/ babied the car to the extent possible, and the car is in top-notch condition *touchwood*.



I have attached a few pictures for viewing pleasure. Happy to hear thoughts and feedback, if any. Thank you all for reading thus far. I will keep the thread updated about any escapades that I plan henceforth.







































It all started in April 2009 when I was an obese child in 9th grade and I needed a seat of my own when we went on trips, et. al. My father was exploring options for picking up an Innova. At that point, this only probably the only reliable people mover apart from the Xylo, IMO. He spent months contemplating whether he should break into his savings and invest in a modern metal tin can with fairly advanced features for its time, for the benefit of our family. After some bit of haggling, he finally gave in in September 2009 and decided to visit the bank to speak about the possibility of a loan to purchase the vehicle. Given his professional standing, the bank agreed to finance the car along with his savings. My father decided to pay for 50% of the cost through his savings (trust me, that's when I realised he had so much in savingsCome 30th Sep 2009, I had study holidays given that exams were looming ahead. I tried to contain my excitement and was eagerly looking forward to taking delivery of our stead. I still remember that evening, my father dropped me off for Math tuition and I had sneaked out my mother's cellphone for reasons unknown (it was mostly my stupidity in trying to be cool in front of my friends). An hour into the class, I was caught doing something stupid, and the teacher confiscated my mobile and would not let me go until I called my parents. On the contrary, I could not let my parents know of this because of the occasion at home, and I eventually never went to the delivery event, and my parents went to pick up the car. I spent 3 hours trying to beg the teacher to hand my phone back, and she finally gave in at 9 pm, and I walked back home. Once they returned with our new car, I then spoke to my Mum about what happened, and she had an insensitive reaction because when my Dad dropped me off for tuition, he specifically asked me if I had Mum's mobile, and I flatly refused. Of course, the aftermath was not very pleasant, and after some heated arguments, my father decided to forgive me for what had happened.On the next day, we took the first long drive (sort of) in the car to the airport to pick up my aunt who was arriving from the U.S. Believe me, the car was barebones, the variant was a 2.4 GX 8 seater, and it had practically nothing. At the end of that week, my father decided to send the car to Coimbatore, where his friend had an accessory store, and he'd promised he'd install the best stuff on the car. My mom's brother came down and offered to drive the car to Coimbatore to get alloys, body graphics, wooden panels for the interiors, side step, seat covers, mats, a carrier (which eventually got stolen) and a Pioneer music system, which my father's friend got from Muscat. That weekend, all of it got installed, and the car was back home.Between 2009 and 2015, the car was doing what it was expected to do and was doing it well. I was not very involved in its functioning because I was not yet legal/ not allowed to drive. In 2014, I wanted to install a DVD player instead of the old single-DIN CD player that we had installed. My father's friend got it in Muscat again, and I took the initiative of visiting a nearby workshop to get it fitted.Come 2016, I'd gotten a job through campus placements and was earning money, although it was paltry. It was at this time, I got an itch to modify the car (thanks to TeamBHP). Given that it was a GX variant, I wanted to add everything that was in the VX variant. The first step was to add the chrome package (door handles, front grill, rear view mirror, and the rear trunk opening, number plate housing). Visited Nandi Toyota and they quoted around Rs 21000, and I got it done.Shortly after, my career took the front seat, and I began to focus more on it. Come 2018, I was contemplating doing my Master's abroad, and the car was performing flawlessly during this time. I eventually left in 2019 and returned in early 2021 due to something that shut the entire world down, yes, I am talking about COVID. It was hard to find a job, and I eventually came back to India for hopefully greener pastures.Well, I came back to the Innova and arguably so, it wasn't used as much given the circumstances, but the car was clean. Quickly getting back to what we do best, I wanted to replace the steering wheel of the GX version with that of the VX version. I started hunting down stores and dealers that would assist with this, and I finally found a guy in Koramangala who had a refurbished steering wheel from a 2013 Innova and was in mint condition. Spoke to him and we agreed on a price and I got it fitted. Here is a picture from then.Between 2021 to 2023, the car was again performing flawlessly. Of course, the itch to make it better would never go and I was no exception. In 2022, I wanted to get the interior door openers finished in chrome, so I reached out to a dealer in Kerala, and he helped me source them, and I subsequently got them fitted. Simultaneously, I also got sun shades installed in the car. There was a dealer named Yash Jatwani that I came across on Facebook Marketplace, who helped me source it. Alas, folks at home were having a comfortable journey in the car despite the horrid heat.In 2023, my brother's wedding was confirmed, and I decided to give our stead a much-needed makeover. So in February 2024, I decided to change the seat covers/ doorpads that were installed when we bought the car. It was all worn out, so I thought it was the perfect time for a change. At this time, I decided to go with our very trusted man, Mr. Devaraj. Thanks to TeamBHP's directory, I found his number, spoke to him, and explained my requirement. Shortly after, I went to his store, finalised a colour and paid the advance. I went the subsequent weekend, got the seat covers fit, and the car was throwing 2009 vibes all over again. Here are a few pictures from then.Come August 2024, the wooden panelling that we got stuck on the original panel had started to show signs of age and was looking bad. Again, I put on my research hat and found a person who did the 3D painting of these parts to emulate a wooden panel. I quickly reached out to Dawn Customs, who immediately agreed and pulled out the old parts from my car and got them painted in a record 48 hours that too very flawlessly. Here are some pictures from that event!At this time, I believed I had tried my best to keep the car in its best shape with timely services at Toyota and ensuring the car is presentable. We're now in 2025, and I realised the alloys were in a bad condition. Given that it had faithfully served us for 15 years, I decided to get them switched. I visited our good old Hot Tracks, which I believe is one of the best in the industry. I reached out and explained my requirement, where I did not want to sacrifice on ride quality and wanted to retain the same 15-inch rim size. Given that this size is sparsely available, he did have a few options, and I was smitten with one., I immediately decided to get them installed. Given how well-rounded they are, they asked me if I wanted to get my wheel callipers/ drums painted, and I did not refuse. I told them I wanted it in Jet Black, which I thought would give it a good look.While we're at it, I explained to Ramesh (the manager) that I wanted a new spoiler since the old one had cracked and stopped working. He immediately arranged a gloss back piece from one of his vendors, and I immediately agreed to get it installed. Since I was running late for the day due to other commitments, I told Ramesh that I would get the spoiler installed the next day, and he agreed.The next day, I reached the outlet by 11 am, and they immediately got to work. As I was looking at other cars coming in/going out, I saw a Vellfire coming in for new 3D mats, and I wanted to get that for my car too. He gave me a good price, and I ended up picking that up too.I am now 31, and the car entered my life when I was 15. I used to sit in the same car when my father used to drive. Now I mostly drive the Innova, and my father now drives a BMW, but some stuff never changes, and this is one of them. The car has seen me/ us evolve in so many ways and has been part of so many. great memories, so I would never want to let it go. Given the impact that it had on me throughout my life, I've looked after/ babied the car to the extent possible, and the car is in top-notch condition *touchwood*.I have attached a few pictures for viewing pleasure. Happy to hear thoughts and feedback, if any. Thank you all for reading thus far. I will keep the thread updated about any escapades that I plan henceforth. Last edited by Omkar : 13th May 2025 at 08:25 . Reason: Attaching images :)
Forward-looking: Gaming monitors have been locked in a high refresh rate arms race for many years. First with IPS, TN, and VA panel tech, and now that race has shifted to OLED. Samsung is the first to reach a new milestone with the Odyssey OLED G6. This cutting-edge QHD display features a unique cooling system and other features to prevent overheating and burn-in.

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 is the world's first 500Hz OLED gaming monitor, now available in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia with rollouts in other countries expected later this year.

The 27-inch Odyssey G6 is also among the first monitors to hit 500Hz at 1440p resolution. Reports about this monitor emerged late last year, shortly after Asus launched its 480Hz OLED ROG Swift PG27AQDP, which is one of TechSpot's top picks for 1440p QHD monitors. While both Samsung and ViewSonic teased 500Hz QHD OLED displays earlier this year, Samsung has been the first to bring one to market.

Also check out: Why Refresh Rates Matter: From 30Hz to 540Hz

Supporting both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, the Odyssey G6 features an ultra-fast 0.03ms gray-to-gray (GTG) response time. It's certified with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 and boasts a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. With Pantone Validation, the monitor accurately displays over 2,100 colors and 110 skin tone shades.

Samsung's OLED Safeguard+ cooling system combines thermal modulation and heat pipes, which the company claims evaporate and dissipate heat five times faster than conventional graphite sheets. The monitor also detects static elements like logos or taskbars and selectively dims those pixels to help prevent burn-in.

Shipments for the Odyssey OLED G6 will begin as soon as next week on May 18, with pre-orders starting at $1,488.

As 240Hz remains the standard for 4K gaming monitors and manufacturers begin hitting 500Hz at 1440p, 1080p screens are pushing the boundaries even further. Acer and MSI have recently unveiled 600Hz models, while the Koorui G7 reaches an astonishing 750Hz.

Meanwhile, TCL previewed what may be the next leap forward nearly a year ago: a 1,000Hz 4K LCD panel. The project is likely still in the prototype stage, as cables capable of transmitting 4K at 1,000Hz are not yet commercially available. However, 1080p and 1440p displays might realistically achieve that refresh rate by 2027.

While many users already find 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rates impressive, reaching 360Hz or 540Hz can substantially improve motion clarity. Depending on the type of game, fast-moving objects become much clearer as motion blur drops significantly. As the standard refresh rates in affordable monitors continues to rise, most gamers might eventually return to the smoothness they experienced decades ago on high-refresh CRTs.
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

TL;DR: After nearly a decade, Google is giving its iconic "G" logo a fresh new look. The company has quietly rolled out an updated version of the logo, replacing the four solid color sections with a smooth, continuous gradient that flows from red to yellow to green to blue.

The last time we wrote about a Google logo update was back in September 1, 2015. That change was more radical, shifting from serif lettering to the current logo, which feels a bit more modern and informal. That's when Google last revamped its branding, introducing the Product Sans typeface and debuting the four-color circular "G" we've all come to recognize.

At the time, Google was also undergoing broader changes  its parent company, Alphabet, had just turned a month old.

The logo change appears to be limited to the 'G' icon used on mobile devices and the Google app. The update is already visible in the Google Search app for iOS and in beta on Android.

This new iteration maintains the same familiar shape but shifts from clearly divided color segments to a more fluid gradient, creating a livelier look. The update aligns closely with the design language of Google's Gemini branding and the AI Mode shortcut seen in Search, signaling a broader visual trend within the company's ecosystem.

While the tweak might go unnoticed by casual users, especially in smaller applications like favicons, it reflects a subtle effort to modernize its identity. So far, there's no indication that Google is updating its main six-letter wordmark or other product logos like Chrome or Maps, but the gradient approach could set the tone for future changes across the brand.

Google has not officially commented on the redesign, and it's unclear when the updated icon will roll out more widely across other platforms and services. Who knows, maybe this isn't just a design refresh, but an early test run for the logo of one of the future spin-off companies, should those antitrust lawsuits gain traction.
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

The big picture: United is rolling out fast, free in-flight Wi-Fi through Starlink's satellite network, offering passengers seamless connectivity across its domestic fleet. This shift marks a significant upgrade in air travel, making uninterrupted internet access a new standard at 30,000 feet.

United Airlines has started rolling out SpaceX's Starlink internet on its planes, marking a shift for in-flight Wi-Fi. Last week, the airline hosted a demo aboard an Embraer E-175 regional jet, offering a glimpse at a future without spotty signals or sky-high fees.

The abbreviated test flight departed from and returned to the same gate at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, offering fast, gate-to-gate connectivity with speeds rivaling in-home broadband. Speedtest data showed Starlink averaged 128 Mbps downloads, peaking above 230 Mbps during taxi and takeoff, with uploads averaging around 24 Mbps.

United will launch Starlink service on commercial routes starting May 15, initially covering short-haul flights between Chicago and Detroit. This rollout happens ahead of schedule, surpassing the airline's original target of late 2025. The airline plans to equip its fleet of 1,026 aircraft, beginning with two-cabin regional jets and eventually expanding to mainline aircraft.

United customers can access wireless Starlink internet at no cost by signing up for the airline's free MileagePlus program. The connection supports seamless browsing, streaming, gaming, and even limited video conferencing. However, United is implementing common-sense usage guidelines. The rules prohibit voice and video calls  distinguishing them from video conferencing  while requiring passengers to wear headphones for audio. "Offensive content" is also banned, keeping the environment respectful.

"We're bringing Wi-Fi from just like your living room to the skies," United Chief Customer Officer David Kinzelman told The Verge.

During the trial, passengers streamed video, played games, and used multiple devices without noticeable slowdowns, thanks to Starlink's low Earth orbit satellite network, which has grown to over 7,000 satellites. Unlike traditional satellite internet systems that rely on geostationary satellites, Starlink's low-latency network reduces the signal's travel time, dramatically improving performance.

This architecture has also paved the way for faster advertising technologies. United plans to implement real-time ad targeting, leveraging sub-100 millisecond latency  suggesting how the free service could eventually generate revenue.

"What the Starlink connectivity allows us to do in real time, because of the latency and the low earth orbit satellite technology means that we can make some real-time, less than 100 millisecond ad decisions to serve up in a hyper-personalized world," said United MileagePlus CEO Richard Nunn.

United isn't the first airline to adopt Starlink. Although the airline announced its plans last year, Hawaiian Airlines and JSX had already integrated the service. However, United is now the largest airline to offer Starlink. As the technology rolls out across its domestic fleet, the airline has not yet confirmed when it will expand to international routes or how it will integrate into the Star Alliance network.
The massive reshoring for different US companies is something that may be coming soon, and President Donald Trump seems to know a thing or two about these plans, especially those of Apple's. In fact, Trump has revealed that Apple has a $500 billion pledge to build many plants in the United States.

Apple is one of the many US companies that have outsourced their manufacturing and assembly to other countries, primarily in China, Taiwan, and most recently, India. However, Trump's tariffs have greatly affected how these companies are operating at present.

Trump: Apple Will Build Many Plants in the US with $500B

CNBC's latest report talked about a recent statement shared by President Trump from the Oval Office regarding the recent developments in Apple's plans to bring their manufacturing to the country.

According to President Trump, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently had a conversation with him regarding the massive $500 billion pledge from the company, all towards making this reshoring possible.

Trump said that with Apple's $500 billion, the company would be able to create many plants all over the United States to manufacture iPhones, and POTUS has already declared that he is looking forward to that.

This $500 billion pledge was revealed last February, and it was intended to help expand its many operations in the US, including the assembly of artificial intelligence servers in Houston.

Is This the End for Apple's Plants in India, China?

That being said, there is still no word if this reshoring to the United States would affect the company's operations in manufacturing iPhones, other devices, and their components in their present locations in China and India.

Apple may still keep them active and utilize their outsourced production to supply the rest of the world with their devices, while America would receive the technology straight from home. This allows the company to avoid Trump's tariffs altogether.

Apple and Its Operations Amidst the Tariffs Era

Apple has been busy trying to figure out how to deal with Trump's tariffs. In fact, it was reported that the company flew planes full of iPhones to the United States to curb the import taxes from the Trump administration.

Since then, it was also floated by President Trump's cabinet members and spokesperson that Apple has been in close talks with the country's leader about the plans to reshore Apple's manufacturing and bring it to the US. The US President also believes that Apple has the capabilities and means to reshore the iPhone's manufacturing to the US and avoid the tariffs altogether.

There is still no official word from Apple regarding their move back to the US, and it is only President Trump and his administration who have something to say behind it.
DAMASCUS, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Syria's foreign authorities on Monday welcomed remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential lifting of sanctions imposed on Damascus, calling the remarks an encouraging step toward alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.

The foreign authorities said in a statement that these sanctions, originally applied to the former government, still "directly impact the Syrian people and hinder efforts to facilitate the country's post-war recovery and reconstruction."

The statement added that "the Syrian people aspire to a full lifting of these sanctions, as part of broader measures to support peace and prosperity in both Syria and the region and to pave the way for constructive international cooperation that promotes stability and development."

Trump said on Monday that he may ease U.S. sanctions on Syria. "We may take them off of Syria, because we want to give them (Syria) a fresh start," Trump told reporters. His remarks followed a query from his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, about U.S. sanctions on Syria.

Trump's words come at a time when the new leadership in Syria is exerting effort to rally international support as the country is facing extreme challenges after over a decade of conflict and economic hardship. 
Scientists in Mexico develop tortilla for people with no fridge



Mexico City, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



Peering through a microscope, food scientist Raquel Gomez studies microorganisms that add nutrients and preserve tortillas for several weeks without refrigerators -- a luxury in impoverished Mexican communities.

The humble tortilla is a Mexican staple, consumed in tacos and other dishes by millions every day, from the Latin American nation's arid northern deserts to its tropical southern jungle.

Most Mexicans buy fresh corn tortillas from small neighborhood shops.

The wheat flour version developed by Gomez and her team contains probiotics -- live microorganisms found in yogurt and other fermented foods.

As well as the nutritional benefits, the fermented ingredients mean the tortilla can be kept for up to a month without refrigeration, much longer than a homemade one, according to its creators.

It was developed "with the most vulnerable people in mind," Gomez, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), told AFP in her laboratory.

Nearly 14 percent of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition in Mexico, according to official figures.

In Indigenous communities, the figure is around 27 percent.



- Fridges unaffordable -



The tortilla developed by Gomez is not yet commercially available, but it could benefit people like Teresa Sanchez.

The 46-year-old housewife smokes meat using a wood-burning stove in her house with wooden walls and a metal roof.

Like most of her neighbors in the town of Oxchuc, in the southern state of Chiapas, Sanchez has no refrigerator, so she uses the methods handed down by her Indigenous Tzeltal ancestors.

"My mother taught me and grandparents always do it this way," she told AFP.

"Where are you going to get a refrigerator if there's no money?"

Less than two-thirds of people in Chiapas, a poverty-plagued region with a large Indigenous population, have a refrigerator -- the lowest among Mexico's 32 states.

The average maximum temperature in Chiapas rose from 30.1 to 32 degrees Celsius between 2014 and 2024, according to official estimates.

Half of its territory is considered vulnerable to climate change.

While Oxchuc is located in a mountainous, temperate area, the lack of refrigerators forces its inhabitants to rely on traditional food preservation methods.

"We think about what we're going to eat and how many of us there are. We boil it, and if there's some left over, we boil it again," Sanchez said.

Sometimes meat is salted and left to dry under the sun.

Tortillas are stored in containers made from tree bark.

For that reason, Sanchez only shops for the bare necessities, although her budget is limited anyway.

"I don't have that much money to buy things," she said.



- No preservatives -



Gomez and her team use prebiotics -- which are mainly found in high-fiber foods -- to feed probiotic cultures and produce compounds beneficial to health, she said.

Thanks to the fermented ingredients, no artificial preservatives are needed in the laboratory developed tortilla, Gomez said.

That is another benefit because such additives have potentially toxic effects, said Guillermo Arteaga, a researcher at the University of Sonora.

One of the most commonly used additives in processed wheat flour tortillas is calcium propionate, which is considered harmful to the colon's microbiota, Arteaga said.

Although her tortilla is made from wheat flour -- a type eaten mainly in northern Mexico -- Gomez does not rule out using the same method for corn tortillas, which are preferred by many Mexicans but can go bad quickly in high temperatures.

The researchers patented their tortilla in 2023. UNAM signed a contract with a company to market the food, but the agreement fell through.

Gomez, who won an award in December from the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, still hopes to find partners to distribute her tortillas.

She is confident that even though they were developed in a laboratory, consumers will still want to eat them.
EU list of high deforestation risk nations raises eyebrows



Brussels, Belgium, May 13 (AFP) May 13, 2025



A deforestation benchmarking system approved by EU member states lists only four countries as at high-risk for tree-felling, sources confirmed Tuesday, sparking criticism from environmentalists.

The list, yet to be officially published, is a key component of a sweeping anti-deforestation law approved late last year which has faced opposition from businesses and some of the EU's trading partners.

Approved on Monday by the bloc's 27 members, the list rates all EU countries as well as China and the United States as low-risk nations -- subjecting them to less stringent export checks, according to several sources.

Brazil and Indonesia, feature among standard-risk countries while only Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and Myanmar are in the high-risk category.

Marie Toussaint, a European lawmaker with the Greens said she was "surprised" by the ranking of some countries.

And environmental group Global Witness complained that the benchmarking system "fell short", with "countries like Brazil and Paraguay not categorised as 'high risk', despite the deforestation crisis consuming climate-critical forests" there.

Yet, "flawed as it may be" the law was still a step in the right direction, it added.

The rules that come into force at the end of the year prohibit a vast range of goods -- from coffee to cocoa, soy, timber, palm oil, cattle, printing paper and rubber -- if produced using land that was deforested after December 2020.

Firms importing the merchandise in question to the 27-nation EU will be responsible for tracking their supply chains to prove goods did not originate from deforested zones, relying on geolocation and satellite data.
NEW DELHI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Indian army on Tuesday said it killed three militants in a gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The gunfight, according to the army, broke out inside the forest area of Shopian district, about 75 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The army has not revealed the identities of the slain militants. 
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents after holding talks in Beijing on Tuesday.

Lula is on a state visit to China.

At the Great Hall of the People, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents covering the fields of development strategy alignment, science and technology, agriculture, digital economy, finance, inspection and quarantine, and media. 
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Kazuo Ishiguro, the celebrated author who wrote The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017, has revealed he prefers unfaithful adaptations of his novels.

The 70-year-old writers Booker Prize-winning drama The Remains of the Day, published in 1989, was adapted by James Ivory in 1993. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins and Best Actress for Emma Thompson.

Mark Romanek translated Ishiguros 2005 science fiction work Never Let Me Go to screen in 2010, with Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley among the lead cast of the film, which was met with positive reviews.

Speaking to The Guardian, Ishiguro said: I lean toward the film version moving the story on  not being a faithful translation the way a foreign language edition of a book might be.

I know many novelists whod be annoyed to hear me say this, he acknowledged. The thing is, I watch many, many films and when an adaptation of a well-known book doesnt work, 95 per cent of the time its because the film-makers have been too reverential to the source.

Ishiguro continued: It might sound like modesty when I encourage film adaptations to move on the story. But actually its a form of egomania. I have aspirations for my stories to be like those of, say, Homer. Or to become like certain fairytales and myths, moving through the centuries and varying cultures, adapting and growing to speak to different audiences.

My novels are themselves made up of materials Ive inherited, imbibed and remoulded. When something goes from book to film its a campfire opportunity: its when the story should grow and evolve.

open image in gallery Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro has revealed her prefers unfaithful film adaptations of his books ( PA Archive )

Kei Ishikawas adaptation of Ishiguros debut novel A Pale View of Hills (1982) will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival this Thursday, 15 May.

The film follows Etsuko (Suzu Hirose), a middle-aged woman who has settled in the UK but is haunted by the fate of her displaced eldest child.

Her younger daughter Niki (Camilla Aiko) is a budding writer. However, Ishiguro has specified the character and her experience is not based on him, but did acknowledge that he can relate to her.

open image in gallery Suzu Hirose and Fumi Nikaido in 'A Pale View of Hills' ( A Pale View of Hills Film Partners )

Where I see myself in Niki  and I was reminded of this watching Camilla Aikos fine performance  is in her sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes coy and cunning curiosity when coaxing memories from her mother of another, more troubled time, he reflected.

Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan in 1954 and moved with his family to Guildford, Surrey, when he was six. He didnt return to Japan until almost 30 years later.

His mother, Shizuko, was a teenager in Nagasaki when the atomic bomb dropped in 1945. She survived the attack and died, aged 92, in 2019.
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A further 10 countries have gone through to the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, including Israels contestant Yuval Raphael, Austrias JJ and Maltas Miriana Conte.

The second semi-final of this years competition saw 16 acts perform at the 12,000-capacity St Jakobshalle arena on Thursday 15 May.

Raphael made it through to the final amid significant controversy surrounding Israels participation in Eurovision due to its war on Gaza.

Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Irelands entry Emmy, who failed to qualify for the final. Austrias JJ, a strong favourite in this years competition, did make it through, along with Greeces Klavdia and Armenias PARG.

Twenty-six acts will now compete in the Eurovision 2025 grand final on Saturday 17 May.

Here are the finalists, including the big five.

open image in gallery Israel's Yuval Raphael performing at Eurovision ( BBC )

UK: Remember Monday  What the Hell Just Happened?

France: Louane  maman

Spain: Melody  ESA DIVA

Italy: Lucio Corsi  Volevo Essere Un Duro

Germany: Abor & Tynna  Baller

Switzerland: Zoe Me  Voyage

Armenia: PARG  SURVIVOR

Austria: JJ  Wasted Love

Denmark: Sissal  Hallucination

Finland: Erika Vikman  ICH KOMME

Greece: Klavdia  Asteromata

Israel: Yuval Raphael  New Day Will Rise

Latvia: Tautumeitas  Bur Man Laimi

Lithuania: Katarsis  Tavo Akys

Luxembourg: Laura Thorn  La Poupee Monte Le Son

Malta: Miriana Conte  SERVING

Norway: Kyle Alessandro  Lighter

Albania: Shkodra Elektronike  Zjerm

Sweden: KAJ  Bara Bada Bastu

Iceland: VB  ROA

Netherlands: Claude  Cest La Vie

Poland: Justyna Steczkowska  GAJA

San Marino: Gabry Ponte  Tutta LItalia

Estonia: Tommy Cash  Espresso Macchiato

Portugal: NAPA  Deslocado

Ukraine: Ziferblat  Bird of Pray

Swedens entry KAJ are the first ever Finnish act to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest, while Bara Bada Bastu is the first Swedish-language song the country has submitted since 1998.

The Vora-formed trio comprises comedians and musicians Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, who have released seven albums and also written and performed two musicals at the Wasa Theatre in their native Finland.

Should they win, the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest contest would return to the country just two years after it was held in Malmo, following Loreens triumph.

open image in gallery Remember Monday are the first girl group to represent the UK at Eurovision since 1999 ( Press )

Earlier this week, an open letter signed by former Eurovision contestants called on the European Broadcasting Union, which organises Eurovision, to ban Israel and its national broadcaster KAN from the contest.

About 1,300 Swiss police officers will be on duty in Basel while the contest is taking place, with more forces drafted in from the Swiss Armed Forces, federal police and neighbouring countries Germany and France ahead of the two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and the Grand Final on Saturday.

Basel polices head of communications Adrian Plachesi told the Press Association that no permission has been granted for protests, but officers would be stationed for expected pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

He added officers might have to intervene if demonstrations interfere with public safety.

The Eurovision 2025 grand final takes place on Saturday 17 May and will be broadcast on BBC One from 8pm.
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Israel's Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael says she had been frightened by pro-Palestinian protests and security concerns surrounding Israel's participation in the competition.

However, the artist said she was "focusing on the love" shown by global fans as the competition kicks off in Switzerland.

"I've been mentally preparing for this," Raphael told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

It came after her appearance at the contests "turquoise carpet" opening ceremony on Sunday, which was disrupted by protesters.

open image in gallery Yuval Raphael at the 2025 Eurovision opening ceremony ( Keystone )

"Yesterday was frightening, even at times uncomfortable, she said. "But Im focusing on the good and the love" shown by global fans, she added.

Raphael, 24, was at the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

She was selected in January to represent Israel in the 2025 contest.

Basel police said on Monday they were investigating an incident of a person apparently making a threatening gesture towards the Israeli delegation during Sunday's ceremony.

A young man wearing a keffiyeh head scarf - that has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian cause - and holding a Palestinian flag allegedly made a throat-slitting gesture toward Raphael, according to a delegation from Israel's public broadcaster KAN.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza in response to the October attack has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the territory.

The conflict has prompted officials in countries including Spain, Slovenia and Iceland to question whether Israel should take part in the competition.

Raphael's entry, New Day Will Rise, is a pop song with verses in English, French, and Hebrew. She is scheduled to perform in the semi-finals on Thursday, May 15, with the final due on May 17 at Basel's St. Jakobshalle arena.

Despite the controversy, Raphael said her goal remains unchanged.

"The agenda that I came here with from the beginning is spreading love and hope as much as I can, she said. Its just helping me rebalance," she said.
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In true form, Jennifer Coolidge delivered a commencement speech to Emerson Colleges graduating class of 2025 that was equal parts comedic and heartfelt.

The American Pie star, 63, who studied performing arts at the Boston institution in 1985 before dropping out, per Boston.com, returned to her alma mater Sunday to speak to the eager new graduates.

Im excited that Im speaking with some very excited gay students [and] some less exciting hetero students, Coolidge began, prompting widespread cheers and laughter from the audience.

Reflecting on her long-winding journey from growing up 40 miles down the road to the current day, the Emmy-winning White Lotus actor declared: If you had told the kids that I grew up with that ... one day I would have this opportunity like this, they wouldve laughed in your face.

She noted that she was a very strange kid.

Going on to address the families in attendance, Coolidge said: To all the parents and caregivers in the audience that are worried about their kids succeeding, I just want to say: Dont.

Emerson College alum Jennifer Coolidge returned to her alma mater to speak to the 2025 graduating class ( Emerson Coolidge/YouTube )

She went on to recall a traumatizing childhood memory from elementary school, when she was disqualified from her first-grade classs field day.

Although Coolidge finished the competition first, she said she forgot to complete the events obstacle course.

And then the teacher came up to me and told me that I didnt win the blue ribbon because I was disqualified, she remembered. And it turns out, I had skipped all of the obstacles. I just ran along the outside.

She said that the moment led to years of relentless teasing from fellow classmates, who had pretty thick Boston accents, which she quipped made everything sound so much meaner.

Finally making her way to the moral of the story, Coolidge said: Dont listen to the people who mess up the real story that youve got going.

It really doesnt matter what anyone thinks or says. I mean, when it comes to the obstacle course of your life, you have to find your own path. And you cant perfectly plan it out from the beginning. And part of directing your life is just letting it unfold.

In conclusion, the Legally Blonde star congratulated the graduates, saying: As Elle Woods, my co-partner in crime, would say, We did it!

At the ceremony, Coolidge additionally received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
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Justin Baldoni has put an end to his five-month social media break by sharing a message about his family.

The 41-year-old actor took to Instagram on Sunday to post a picture of himself and his wife, Emily Baldoni, hugging their two children, Maiya, nine, and Maxwell, seven. The picture, which was shared in honor of Mothers Day in the U.S., also included the Jane the Virgin stars mother, Sharon, hugging her grandson.

My mom gave us faith. My wife is the definition of it. Our children are growing up in the fortress of that love, he wrote in the caption. Happy Mothers Day to all.

The photo marked Baldonis first post on Instagram in five months, amid his ongoing lawsuit with Blake Lively. The post has nearly 500,000 likes at the time of writing, with fans in the comments showing their support for Baldoni throughout the messy legal battle.

Team BaldoniHappy Mothers Day to your amazing wife and momma, one wrote, while another added: Good men are raised by good women.

Before posting the photo with his family, Baldoni last shared a post on Instagram in December 2024 when It Ends With Us was being added to Netflix in the U.S.

open image in gallery Justin Baldoni praises his wife for being the definition of faith in first Instagram post in five months ( @justinbaldoni / Instagram )

Lively, 37, filed her lawsuit against Baldoni in December, accusing him of alleged sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us, which was released in August 2024. She also accused him of orchestrating a smear campaign intended to destroy her reputation in the months following the films release.

Baldoni, who denies the allegations, has filed a $400 million countersuit against the Gossip Girl alum and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. He also filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over its reporting of Livelys lawsuit against him.

In February, Lively asked a judge for a stronger protective order than the courts model one, after receiving violent messages amid the legal battle. Her team also asked for certain material to be categorized as an Attorneys Eyes Only. Baldonis team responded to Livelys request by accusing her of trying to shield, from public view, documents and information exchanged herein.

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However, in March, a New York Judge ruled in favor of Livelys request, agreeing that highly personal and intimate information about third parties will only be seen by lawyers. Neither Lively nor Baldoni will have access to the information, which includes details about the actors, such as medical records, trade secrets, and security measures taken by each.

open image in gallery Baldoni has been locked in a legal stand-off with his former co-stare Blake Lively since February ( Getty Images )

On Monday, Livelys team hit out at Baldonis lawyers after they subpoenaed the actors close friend, Taylor Swift, as a witness in the legal battle. Livelys representatives have accused Baldonis team of turning the serious legal matter into a circus by subpoenaing Swift, a woman who has given a voice to millions all over the world.

This is a very serious legal matter, not Barnum & Baileys Circus. The defendants continue to publicly intimidate, bully, shame and attack women's rights and reputations, Livelys team said in a statement. The disturbing actions by a billionaire, men who made their careers as 'female allies' and their team continue to show their true colours.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Swift said the Grammy-winners only connection to the film was her song My Tears Ricochet being used on the soundtrack.

Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, the spokesperson continued. She never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history.
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The first reactions to the eighth and possibly final Mission: Impossible film, The Final Reckoning, have been shared online.

Many have praised the action sequences, describing them as jaw-dropping, but others have criticised the film, deeming it incredibly bloated.

The new film, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, sees Tom Cruise reprise his much-loved role as special agent Ethan Hunt, in a direct sequel to 2023s Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning.

Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, Shea Whigham, Vanessa Kirby and Pom Klementieff all return to the cast, with Ted Lassos Hannah Waddingham and Severances Tramell Tillman also joining the ensemble.

Numerous press screenings of the blockbuster have now taken place following its world premiere in Tokyo, Japan on 5 May. It is set to debut at the Cannes Film Festival on 14 May.

Posting on social media, critics have shared their thoughts on the film  and it is fair to say that it has generated mixed feelings.

Erik Davis of Fandango said that the movie was astonishing, adding: Two of my favourite all-time Mission action scenes are in this film - one plays like a horror movie and one took my breath away. Lots of classic spy movie bits in here, too. Also maybe the most Cruise running in an M:I movie to date? It really does go all in and it's a good time for sure.

open image in gallery Tom Cruise hangs from a plane in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (  2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. )

Critic Dave Baldwin said: Best to take blood pressure meds before watching Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning because once the insanity starts, it doesn't stop. It's exceptionally entertaining with pulse-pounding stunts that will leave you gasping. Tom Cruise has done it again.

Jake Hamilton of the ReelBlend podcast was also highly complimentary in his thoughts. The Final Reckoning is a love letter to fans who just rewatched the entire series. It ties the entire series together as one story rather than 8 entries. First time Ive cried in the series. The plane sequence is one of cinemas greatest stunts. I loved it.

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While the action sequences have been showered with praise, some critics highlighted the inconsistencies with the story and the script overall.

Andrew J Salazar of Discussing Film said that he didnt really enjoy the film, explaining: It's got McQuarries's best and worst tendencies, i.e. stunning visuals bogged down by an overtly complex script that introduces so much that goes nowhere. Obviously feels like they were filming this without a script.

David Ehrlich of Indie Wire echoed the sentiment, writing: The Final Reckoning is dull and dysfunctional in a way I didn't think this franchise was capable of. Set pieces are obviously incredible, but as someone so supportive of Cruise's crusade to save the movies and whatnot this was a massive heartbreaker.

Meanwhile, Eric Hardman said: The Final Reckoning is very complicated. Less action-heavy than you may expect and in many ways feels incredibly bloated. Exposition is handled better, and when the action is happening, its jaw-dropping. Some really high highs, but some really low lows.

open image in gallery Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning ( Paramount Pictures )

Mission: Impossible  The Final Reckoning will be released in cinemas worldwide on 21 May.
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Samuel French, best known for playing undercover FBI agent CJ Robinson in the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, has died aged 45.

His death was confirmed by friend and collaborator Paul Sinacore, who directed his final performance in the upcoming film Towpath.

French died on 9 May in his birthplace of Waco, Texas. He had been battling cancer for the last few years, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Samuel was a dear friend and an incredible actor, Sinacore said on Instagram. Towpath wouldn't exist without him, and the incredible intensity he brought to the role of Detective Bernard Crooke set the tone for the entire film. Together we were on an extraordinary journey, giving everything we had to realise a shared creative vision. Samuel carried a fire for acting that burned in every frame  unfiltered, fearless, and alive. He gave himself completely to the work, and it showed.

I am deeply saddened by his loss and only wish he could have seen the final cut. He was one of a kind, and he will remain in our hearts forever. My heart goes out to his family, and especially to his daughter  he loved her deeply and spoke of her often with pride and tenderness. His friendship had an unexpectedly profound impact on my life.

French was born on 26 January 1980 in Waco. He debuted on the History Channel limited TV series Texas Rising in 2015, playing Gavin McDonough alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Bill Paxton, Kris Kristofferson, and Brendan Fraser.

He went on to play Ben in The Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead in a 2020 episode and the titular Joe Haladin in Joe Haladin: The Case of the Missing Sister in 2023.

He was cast in Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon after reportedly attending a casting call in Waco. His first day on set had him share a scene with Robert De Niro, after which Scorsese, according to Sinacore, said: No one could have played Robinson as well as you did.

Actor-director Devin Montgomery posted a tribute to French on Instagram, writing: One of the last things he told me was just how special he felt about our working together and to keep making noise and kicking doors down in this industry cause as he said youre a major talent, bro.

I think as artists we can be really hard on ourselves a lot of the time, and its special when someone you look up to with the experiences like he has says something like that. He was going through some very scary health issues, but he still took the time to tell me that. Ill remember that forever. It was an honor working with you Sam, and that keep pushing/continuing on this journey mentality will continue, brother.

French is survived by daughter Madison, his partner Melinda, his parents, and brothers Andy and Danny.
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Sean Penn has leapt to the defence of Woody Allen, claiming that he would work with the director again in a heartbeat despite the historic sexual abuse allegations from Allens adopted daughter.

Allen, 89, known for directing and starring in films such as Annie Hall (1977) and Manhattan (1979), was accused by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow of molesting her when she was a child; he has categorically denied the allegations, which Farrow first made in 1992 when she was seven years old.

Appearing on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Penn  who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in Allens 1999 film Sweet and Lowdown  was asked if he would work with the director again and whether he believed that Allen had received a bad rap.

I'd work with him in a heartbeat if it was the right thing, replied Penn, 64. Speaking about the allegations, he added: I don't know anyone well enough to say 100 per cent this didn't happen, that didn't happen.

Continuing, Penn claimed: I am not aware of any clinical psychologist or psychiatrist or anyone Ive ever heard talk or spoken to around the subject of paedophilia that, in 80 years of life, theres accusations of it happening only once. Im not aware of that. And when people try to associate what were his, lets say, much younger girlfriends, right or wrong is not the conversation here.

So I just think that whatever is the worst of people's suspicions about him, you know, just check them with the facts separate from the moment in the movement and all who benefited from that. I see hes not proven guilty, so I take him as innocent, and I would work with him in a heartbeat, concluded the Mystic River star.

open image in gallery Sean Penn ( Getty )

Farrow shared her allegations as an adult in an open letter published in 2014 on The New York Timess website, a 2016 opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, and a 2018 interview with CBS. The claims have been supported by her brother, journalist Ronan Farrow.

Allen denied the accusations, and a 1993 investigation by the child sexual abuse clinic of Yale-New Haven Hospital and the New York Department of Social Services cleared him of charges.

Since Farrow published her 2014 essay, several actors who have worked with Allen before, including Kate Winslet, Rebecca Hall, Rachel Brosnahan, Mira Sorvino, Colin Firth, and Greta Gerwig, have publicly expressed regret about working with him.

open image in gallery Woody Allen on the red carpet at the Venice premiere of his film Coup de Chance' ( Getty )

Although Allen has continued to make films since the accusations resurfaced, including 2023s French-language melodrama Coup de Chance, his popularity has significantly declined. In 2024 he hinted that he was considering retirement because the romance of filmmaking is gone.
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Tom Hardy has opened up about the damage his body sustained due to the actor performing his own stunts in several films.

Hardy, 45, said he has incurred injuries that wont heal due to physical roles in films including MMA film Warrior, The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road and the Venom trilogy.

The actor, who currently stars in Netflix thriller Havoc and gangster show MobLand, revealed the extent of these injuries in a new interview, stating: Ive had two knee surgeries now. My discs herniated in my back. Ive got sciatica as well.

He told Esquire that he also pulled a tendon in his hip and has plantar fasciitis. Where did that come from  and why? he asked.

Plantar fasciitis is heel pain caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot.

The Oscar-nominated star of The Revenant said his body is all falling to bits now, adding: Its not going to get better.

Hardy, who is also a jiu-jitsu enthusiast, trained extensively for the role of mixed martial arts fighter Tommy Conlon in the 2011 film Warrior.

Ahead of filming, the actor took a real smashing, breaking his ribs and foot and tearing ligaments in his right hand.

He also performed numerous fight scenes in the concluding chapter of Christopher Nolans Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises (2012)  in which he played the villainous Bane  Legend (2015), in which he played the Kray twins, and 2023 drama The Bikeriders.

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He also played the titular character in George Millers Oscar-winning Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), during which he clashed with his co-star Charlize Theron.

open image in gallery Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton in Warrior ( Lionsgate )

Theron, who played Imperator Furiosa in George Millers 2015 sequel, opened up about her struggles working with the actor in the book Blood, Sweat, and Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road.

The actor recalled a heated encounter between the pair after Hardy showed up to set three hours late. Hardy, who played the lead role, acknowledged the incident, which Theron said left her feeling unsafe.

In hindsight, I was in over my head in many ways, Hardy said. The pressure on both of us was overwhelming at times.

He added: What she needed was a better, perhaps more experienced partner in me. Id like to think that now that Im older and uglier, I could rise to that occasion.

open image in gallery Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road ( Warner Bros Pictures )

According to the films camera operator Mark Goellnicht, Hardy displayed aggressive behaviour after Theron repeatedly swore at him in a full rant.

He says that Theron shouted: Fine the f***ing c*** a hundred thousand dollars for every minute that hes held up this crew.

He mightve heard some of it, but he charged up to her and went, What did you say to me? Goellnicht said. He was quite aggressive. She really felt threatened, and that was the turning point.

Reflecting on the incident, Theron said: It got to a place where it was kind of out of hand. I didnt feel safe.

Theron requested a female producer named Denise Di Novi be sent to the films set in Namibia. She told Buchanan: I dont want to rehash things, but it came out of a really bad moment where things kind of came to blows between me and Tom.
Fame came early for Moon Unit Zappa, eldest daughter of legendary musician Frank and his wife Gail, though not by choice. Her unusual name, dreamt up by her dad  Unit supposedly signified their familial bond  meant everyone knew who she was from infancy. Her teens brought a fresh wave of celebrity which, she notes, I also didnt ask for. A rare and spontaneous moment with her father in his home studio, during which he recorded her delivering a stream of exaggerated California teen-speak  Its, like, grody to the max!  became the centrepiece of the novelty single Valley Girl. Released in 1982, it was Franks biggest hit and propelled a reluctant Moon, then an acne-ridden, desperately awkward 14-year-old, into the spotlight.

In her memoir, Earth to Moon, she recalls appearing alongside Frank on TV talk shows, including Late Night with David Letterman, where she quickly learnt that certain stories would get a big reaction. Like the one about the Kiwi groupie moving in [to the family home] or the unconventional parenting story about the time Gail handcuffed me and [younger brother] Dweezil together by the ankles, recorded our fight and played it back for us. It was, she says now, a confusing time.

Moon, 57, is talking over Zoom from her living room in Los Angeles. She is terrific company: open, articulate and quick to laugh. During our hour-long conversation, she moves between dryly sanguine and palpably livid about her treatment by her narcissistic parents (along with Dweezil, she has two more siblings: Ahmet and Diva). Her book, out in paperback this month, is a wild read, both shocking and improbably funny as it catalogues life in their rambling home in Laurel Canyon, a place that was permanently under construction, rarely cleaned and had a painting of an orgy in the living room.

Childhood, we learn, was a time of deep anxiety and turmoil for Moon, whose name turned out to be the least of her woes. (Though she will say that Elon Musks outre names for children, which include X  A-Xii, prompted a definite eye roll.). As the eldest child, she was simultaneously devastated by her fathers lack of interest in his children and a hostage to her mothers erratic moods. She recalls Frank waking her up one night and telling her: Gail is on a rampage. I need you to hide the gun.

And so while the writing process was occasionally cathartic, it was also painful as old wounds were reopened. I had to remember that I was hatching a new me as I was going through this reliving of truly the worst experiences of my life, Moon reflects. At times, it really felt like I was falling through space. Even the promotional process brings up complicated feelings. Ive been doing events, and people have this righteous anger on my behalf, and its like a wave of emotion hits me again. You go through life and put one foot in front of the other and then somebody says, Im so angry for you. And then you think, Oh my God, it was worse than I even thought.

open image in gallery A family unit: The unusual name was dreamt up by her dad, and supposedly signified their familial bond ( Randall Slavin )

A celebrated musical maverick, Frank Zappa found fame in the early 1960s following an appearance on The Steve Allen Show during which he played a bicycle as a musical instrument. Later, he blended complex jazz and classical stylings with surreal storytelling on cult hits such as Dont Eat the Yellow Snow and Bobby Brown, about a proud misogynist who contemplates raping a cheerleader. Frank was a self-confessed workaholic who released 62 albums in his lifetime  he died from pancreatic cancer in 1993 aged 52  and inspired zealous devotion from his fans who hailed him as a creative genius. When he wasnt away touring with his band The Mothers of Invention, he was ensconced in his home studio and determinedly keeping his family at arms length.

Mention of the G-word prompts a snort of derision from Moon. Theres this strange dichotomy of my father being called a genius and the fact that he didnt even make sure [his children] knew how day-to-day [life] worked. He didnt invest in our educations or our futures. He didnt even say, How are you doing? to his kids. This is outrageous to me. If thats what genius is about then, pah! No thank you! Yet Moon acknowledges her fathers charisma and can see his appeal to those fortunate enough not to be his dependants. To them he represented freedom, integrity, being civic-minded and speaking out against injustice. He spoke to the marginalised and the weirdos. I did observe it, and him, as being very meaningful to people. And theyre still rabid, the people that love him love him forever.

Dad didnt even say, How are you doing? to his kids. This is outrageous to me. If thats what genius is about then, pah! No thank you!

Among those devotees was Gail, a former model who made a brief foray into music with a Sonny and Cher spoof called Bunny and Bear, and who met Zappa while working as a secretary at LAs famous Whiskey a Go Go nightclub. Gail declined to leave her husband despite her fury at his copious and flagrant philandering. Along with bringing lovers into the family home, Frank once took Moon and Dweezil on a trip to New York in their early teens to see the musical Cats. After the show, he installed the children in a hotel room with room service and disappeared. Later that night, Moon was woken up by a thumping sound in the room next door: it was her dad having sex with one of the shows dancers. The thing is, Moon says, he would cheat and say to Gail, I always come back to you [all]. They dont matter to me. But as a kid, the way I interpreted that was: I would rather spend time with people I dont care about than you, my own child. My brain was saying I was worth less than the thing that doesnt matter.

Little wonder that, by the time Moon reached her mid-teens, she was determined to leave home. At 17, using money she had earned from Valley Girl, and the sporadic acting jobs that followed (her credits include the crime series CHiPs and the sitcom The Facts of Life), she bought her first home. Once there, she recalls, I literally just lay on the floor and stared at the ceiling because I had gotten out, but I didnt know what to do with myself. It was like I had been serving jail time for something I didnt commit, and then, on being released, not knowing how to be in the world. She sought guidance from a spiritual guru, since I was primed for subservience. I had been trained to want nothing and be nothing. Thank God that guru did not let me cut my hair off, become a renunciate and move to India. She told me: You belong in the world.

open image in gallery Top down: Frank Zappa and daughter Moon Unit outside Warner Bros. Records in Burbank, California ( Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty )

In any case, Moons independence was to be short-lived. Not long after Frank was diagnosed with cancer in 1990, Gail paid her a visit and announced: You cost us $200,000 to raise, so we need to sell your house to pay for your fathers cancer treatments because he has no health insurance. Ever the pliant daughter, Moon sold up and moved back home.

After Franks death, she slowly found her way in the working world, making art, continuing to act and writing a semi-autobiographical novel, America the Beautiful, in 2001. The following year, Moon married Paul Doucette, from the band Matchbox Twenty, and they had a daughter, Mathilda (Moon and her husband divorced in 2014). Becoming a mother brought home just how little she had been mothered herself. It was, like, Wow, Im giving from a place where theres no map. I wasnt taught how to do this. And so the wound got pricked again, because I couldnt help thinking: Nobody did this for me.

Asked why she waited so long to write about her parents, she replies: Because I always thought it was Gails story to tell. Gail loved the music. Gail picked my dad as [a partner] and had a life with him. But then she changed her mind. This was partly because it became clear people had an interest in wanting to hear what it was like as his daughter, but mostly because of her mothers infamous will.

open image in gallery Picture perfect: Zappa poses for a portrait with daughter Moon Unit in Lauren Canyon, February 1968 ( Getty )

In 2015, Gail died from lung cancer, leaving behind massive debt just as her husband had. She also left the lions share of the Zappa estate to her younger children, giving Diva and Ahmet 30 per cent each and Dweezil and Moon 20 per cent. This put the younger siblings firmly in charge of all matters Frank, meaning they make the decisions about his legacy and trust, and are also set to receive a bigger share of any future profits (this despite Moon having cared for her mother in her final year). A decade of battles ensued between the Zappa children, often involving lawyers. Moon has since decided her mother did her a favour though I dont thank her for it. Rather than managing the family business, she has spent recent years nurturing her own talents and career. Thats literally what it took for my stubborn brain to understand You have to invest in your own life. It was either become a casualty of this circumstance or take a chance on myself.

And how is her relationship with her siblings now? Well, Ahmet read the book and said he enjoyed it, so that was pretty wonderful. Dweezil is not talking to any of us at the moment, but Diva and I are making some good progress. I think part of that is because I have stopped hoping for the relationships to be Hallmark card-style relationships. Im just letting them be what they are. Moon now runs yoga and meditation classes and has her own brand of tea. She is also writing another book. Im giving fiction a try because for the first time in my life Im able to leave the past in the past, she says, smiling. And you know what? It feels good.

'Earth to Moon' by Moon Unit Zappa (White Rabbit) is released on paperback on 15 May
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The "Newsom for president" bandwagon hit another rut this week.

A new poll by the L.A. Times and UC Berkeley found California's registered voters believe  by a margin of more than 2 to 1  the state's gallivanting governor is more focused on boosting his chances of winning the White House than fixing the multitude of problems facing him here at home.

Which is not great news if you believe the best credential when seeking a new job is high praise for the one you're doing.

Those surveyed were decidedly mixed on Newsom, with a tepid 46% approving of his performance in his second and final term. (Presumably few, if any of them, have listened to Newsom's unctuous political podcast.) The same percentage of registered voters said they disapprove of his job performance.

That's not a great look compared with other Democratic governors swirling about the 2028 gossip mill.

Pennsylvania voters give their chief executive, Josh Shapiro, a healthy 59% approval rating and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer gets favorable marks from 54% of her constituents. Kentucky's Andy Beshear boasts a positively gaudy 68% approval rating in his deep-red state, the highest of any Democratic governor in the country, according to Morning Consult's nationwide survey.

Of course, Newsom insists he's not even thinking about running for president, though a simple application of the duck test  if it waddles and quacks like a duck, you can be reasonably certain of its waterfowl status  suggests otherwise.

In a recent interview with video podcaster Mark Halperin, the governor insisted he's more undecided about a 2028 run than people think.

"I have to have a burning why, and I have to have a compelling vision that distinguishes myself from anybody else. Without that, without both ... I don't deserve to even be in the conversation," Newsom said.

All the while very purposefully thrusting himself into the conversation  which is sort of like someone stripping naked, standing in a department store window, then asking why everyone is staring.

But whatever.

The good news for Newsom is that California voters probably won't have an opportunity to weigh in on his presidential candidacy, should he run, until well into the nominating contest. Come March 7, 2028  the date currently set for the state's presidential primary  California will almost certainly continue its 50-plus years of having very little bearing on the outcome.

Maybe next century.

The full 2028 political calendar has yet to be determined. In 2024, Democrats shook things up at the behest of President Joe Biden, eliminating their kickoff caucuses in Iowa and pushing South Carolina and Nevada to the fore. More changes may be coming, though New Hampshire, which has held the first presidential primary for more than a century, may very well hang on to its lead-off spot, which might not be a bad thing for Newsom.

Jim Demers, a lobbyist in Concord  the state capital  and a longtime Democratic activist, said California's governor stands as decent a shot as any Democrat thinking of running.

"Whether it's Gavin Newsom, or (Illinois Gov.) JB Pritzker, or Shapiro or Whitmer or (New Jersey Sen. Cory) Booker  whoever  people are ready to hear them out and want to see who's going to really be willing to take Trump on and stand up," said Demers, who's so far neutral in the contest.

Newsom, he said, is "pretty much a blank slate" in New Hampshire. "The average person really doesn't know that much about him, other than they know of him."

What's more, Demers doesn't see Newsom's California return address as necessarily a detriment.

"You probably will have Republicans who'll paint a California candidate as being a lefty liberal," Demer said. "But I think you have a lot of Democrats ... who look at many of the policies that have occurred in California and see them as maybe progressive, but forward thinking."

Dick Harpootlian is certainly no Republican. He's a former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman, state senator and veteran of decades of presidential politics.

His tongue is sharp and pungent, like the vinegar-pepper barbecue sauce favored in parts of his state and  though, he too, has no early favorite  Harpootlian had little good to say about California's governor, or his 2028 prospects.

"I think Gavin Newsom is what all of us think of when we think of a slick, wealthy California playboy kind of guy," Harpootlian said from his law office in Columbia. "I mean, his hair is perfectly coiffed. His shoes are shiny, and probably Italian.

"Many of us," he went on, "remember during COVID when he was telling everybody not to go out and he was having a fabulous dinner at the French Laundry in Napa. I just think he's out of touch with the blue-collar folks we need to get back in the (Democratic) Party.

Nor, Harpootlian suggested, is California a particularly good place to hail from politically. He cited the state's "huge homeless population," its tent cities, looming budget deficit and taxes that "are so freaking high."

"It's not," he said dryly, "a model the rest of the country wants to follow."

Iowa has probably lost forevermore its privileged place on the political calendar after the disastrous 2020 caucuses, which took days to yield a winner.

Still, Democratic strategist Jeff Link has a practiced eye from observing scores of presidential candidates pass through over the years. He worked for half a dozen of them.

"I don't think 2024 helped the California cause," Link said of the chances Democrats would turn, after Kamala Harris, to another San Francisco-bred Democrat, as their nominee. "But I don't think it's a death sentence."

Newsom might arrive in Iowa toting some baggage. (Assuming he shows up as a presidential hopeful.) But "there is real credibility in governing a state of that magnitude, even if it's seen as too liberal and too quirky at times," Link said from Des Moines. "I think people would be open to learning more."

Which suggests a Newsom tilt at the White House is not entirely far-fetched.

Assuming he first gets his own house in order.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Mark Z. Barabak

Los Angeles Times/(TNS)

Mark Z. Barabak is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, focusing on politics in California and the West.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has recorded a 10.5 percent decline in drug abuse and addiction cases nationwide during the first quarter of this year, reversing a three-year upward trend, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Tuesday.

A total of 108,409 individuals were recorded for drug abuse as of March, compared to 121,170 cases during the same period last year, with 60 percent of these being new cases and 40 percent involving repeat offenders, he told a press briefing.

"One of key factors contributing to this decline is the successful crackdown and closure of smuggling trails in Kelantan state, a major entry point for drug supplies," he said.

Beyond tighter border controls, he noted that continuous enforcement operations and intensified public awareness campaigns since early this year have also contributed to the downward trend.

Saifuddin added that amphetamine-type stimulants, including methamphetamine, ecstasy, and amphetamine, remained the most commonly abused narcotics followed by cannabis. 
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Rapper Tory Lanez is pulling through after being stabbed 14 times in a California prison on Monday.

A post on his social media said Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, had been stabbed 14 times, including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face.

Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus. He is now breathing on his own, the post added.

Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.

The Canadian artist is serving 10 years in the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020.

open image in gallery Tory Lanez is serving 10 years in jail for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020 ( Invision/AP )

Lanez was attacked inside a prison housing unit at around 7.20am, Pedro Calderon Michel, spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, confirmed to the Associated Press. Staff at the prison gave Lanez immediate medical aid and called 911, following which he was rushed to an outside hospital.

Michel added that the prisons investigative unit and the Kern County District Attorneys Office were investigating what happened.

Lanez was convicted of assault with three felonies in late 2022 for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot. She had said Lanez shot her after a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood Hills home on 12 July 2020 because they had got into an argument.

Megan, whose real name is Megan Pete, testified that Lanez had fired a gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding.

Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023 but is eligible for parole in 2029.

open image in gallery Megan Thee Stallion recently had her order of protection against Lanez extended to 2030 after she alleged the rapper was harassing her from prison through his associates ( Invision/AP )

Megan recently had her order of protection against Lanez extended to 2030 after she alleged that Lanez was harassing her from prison through his associates.

Lanez has maintained his innocence, writing in an Instagram post following his conviction that in no way shape or form was I apologising for the charges I'm being wrongfully convicted of.

I remain on the stance that I refuse to apologise for something that I did not do.

In May 2023, a judge denied a motion for him to be given a new trial. Lanezs lawyers had argued that some of the evidence against him was incorrectly admitted.

The Independent has reached out to Lanezs representatives for comment.
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Following on from her blockbuster performance as the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked, Cynthia Erivo is set to play another legendary villain.

Erivo will star as Dracula, and more, in a one-actor adaptation of Bram Stokers classic gothic novel.

The play was dreamt up by the same creators behind the West End hit The Picture of Dorian Gray, which featured Succession star Sarah Snook. The play has since transferred to Broadway where it was nominated for six Tony awards.

Dracula originally premiered in Australia back in 2024, having been adapted by Kip Williams for the Sydney Theatre Company and co-produced by Australias Michael Cassel Group.

Erivos take on the bloodsucking count will debut on Londons West End in February 2026.

Much like Snooks Dorian Gray, Erivo will be playing all 22 supporting characters, a feat made possible by the productions melding of theatre with live and prerecorded video. The style of the recordings is said to be inspired by early horror films.

open image in gallery Cynthia Erivo in Wicked ( Universal Studios )

This will not be Erivos first stint on the West End, having made her debut in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg back in 2011.

However, it was her Broadway debut as Celie in The Colour Purple (2015-2017) that won her her first Tony.

Erivo was reportedly approached about the role during the promotional tour for Wicked nine months ago.

In March, Erivo attended the Broadway premiere of The Picture of Dorian Gray and is understood to have spoken with Sarah Snook about the mechanics and craft of her performance.

Michael Cassel told Deadline that the original Sydney production will not be a blueprint for the West End version. I think whats so exciting, I think for her, and for us, while we know what the story is, they get to go and create this role in the rehearsal room in London together, and that was very appealing to Cynthia to put her own interpretation on the role and explore that with Kip.

While the play is not a musical, audiences will get to experience Erivos stunning vocals with the inclusion of one original song near the shows end.

open image in gallery Sarah Snook in The Picture of Dorian Gray' ( Marc Brenner )

Cassel added: When you look at Sarah as well, these actors have these amazing experiences on film or television, but the draw to the theatre, and indeed to do something that is so challenging, I think its testament to the calibre as actors that these individuals are.
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Things move differently in space. Absent the earthly nuisance of air resistance, objects are free to travel through the vacuum with inertial motion: never stopping until something stops them. So if you ever find yourself floating up there, holding on to precious cargo  a gold watch, say, or a smiling baby  youd better not fumble it. Once it starts floating away, there may be no getting it back.

This is the image that sprang to mind while I was watching the Star Wars spin-off series Andor, which concludes its brilliant two-season run on Wednesday. An expansive, adult-oriented prequel to 2016s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the Disney+ series focuses on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a rebel spy during the pomp of the fascist Empire. Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Identity) serves as showrunner; Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgard, Genevieve OReilly and Denise Gough rank among the superb supporting cast.

Its no exaggeration to say that Andor is the best Star Wars property in years  since 2017s The Last Jedi, at least, and arguably since 1980s The Empire Strikes Back. Its all thrilling set pieces, distinctive and memorable characters, dextrous plotting and taut dialogue.

Theres a structural ingenuity to it: each 12-episode season is subdivided into four distinct arcs, each one culminating in a spectacular finale. Season one reached its apex with a triumphant four-episode arc set largely within a prison labour camp, which led to a stunning escape sequence. Season two has gone on to hit even greater heights: last weeks arc, which followed a massacre on the Imperial-occupied planet Ghorman, produced two coruscating episodes of television, full of twists, pathos and complexity.

And yet, the better Andor gets, the more vexing it becomes that the series has not been a big hit, by Star Wars standards or by those of television in general. It has all the ingredients to become a phenomenon of Game of Thrones proportions  an accessible genre series with enough meat and sophistication to ensnare a supposedly more discerning prestige-oriented audience.

That the reviews for Andor have been overwhelmingly positive  and the enthusiasm from the shows fanbase charged with a sort of quasi-religious zealotry  seems to have made little difference. Star Wars has, it seems, lost its magnetism. Disney has fumbled its multibillion-dollar baby; now all it can do is watch as it drifts off into space.

Think back not to such a long time ago, or indeed a galaxy far, far away, but to Los Angeles in the autumn of 2018. It was in November that year that Disney first announced Andor. At the time, it seemed like the folly of a studio drunk on its own hype, the worst sort of franchise bloat: a superfluous prequel to an already-rather-superfluous prequel, spinning off a character that didnt really pop in the first place.

At the time, Disney was going all in on Star Wars, trying to expand it into a Marvel-style cross-medium universe. Over the course of a few years, a slew of films were announced, many of which never came to fruition, alongside a run of TV series.

The quality of the Star Wars streaming slate varies wildly, from the genuinely fun (The Mandalorian seasons one and two) to the middling but turgid (Obi-Wan Kenobi; The Acolyte) to the downright abominable (The Mandalorian season three; The Book of Boba Fett). Andor is so far ahead of these series  on pretty much every level of craft  that theres little point in comparing them. But the sheer glut of unremarkable Star Wars content has done Andor no favours whatsoever: it has been dismissed by association. Disney had, in other words, bitten off more than it could chew(bacca).

Galactic acid: Diego Luna in Andor season two ( Disney )

The hope is that Disney will take Andors viewership ratings with the requisite pinch of salt, and regard it as the resounding success story it should have been. If Star Wars is to have a future, then Andor ought to set the blueprint. Give it enough time, and people will start to get the message.

Andor is available to stream now on Disney+
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Jon Stewart, the host of satirical comedy series The Daily Show, has dubbed Donald Trump the reverse Oprah, as the US president is poised to accept a $400m (302.8m) luxury jet from the Qatari royal family.

The palace in the sky, which is expected to be used as the new Air Force One for much of the rest of Trumps term, will be donated to the Trump presidential library near the end of his time in office.

Oprah Winfrey, 71, who had an eponymous talk show from 1986 to 2011, went down in TV history in 2004 when she gifted every live audience member a Pontiac G6, uttering the now-famous phrase: You get a car!

Stewart, 62, contrasted Trump and Winfreys generosity levels on Mondays episode (12 May) of his Comedy Central show, joking: What? Qatar is giving us a plane that Trump gets to keep? Hes like the reverse Oprah. I get a jet!  and thats it. I get a jet, for my library.

The presenter continued: Why does his library need a jet? Yeah, Im calling from Europe, and I need a book about Trump by morning. And the book must travel in the comfort and style one can only get from Qatar.

Nodding towards concerns that Qatars proposed gift could run afoul of the emoluments clause, Stewart added, Its not a free jet. Thats the point. You know the expression, theres no such thing as a free lunch?

Thats about being skeptical of the motives of somebody who gives you a sandwich a sandwich, a BLT. Now, imagine that BLT has an engine, nine bathrooms and funds proxy wars.

open image in gallery Daily Show host Jon Stewart has dubbed Donald Trump the reverse Oprah as hes poised to accept a $400m (302.8m) jet from Qatar ( YouTube / Getty Images )

The emoluments clause bars anyone holding government office from accepting gifts or profit from any King, Prince or foreign State without congressional consent. This delineation in the US constitution is designed to preserve the independence of the president from influence of outside entities.

When asked how the American people could be sure that Qatar wont ask for something in return for the jet at a press conference this week, Trump said: I think that was a very nice gesture. I could be a stupid person and say we dont want a free plane. We give free things out. Well take one too. It helps us out.

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Asked whether the plane was a personal gift, rather than a gift for the American people by ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott , Trump responded: Its not a gift to me, but a gift to the Department of Defense. You should know better. You have been embarrassed enough. ABC is a disaster.

open image in gallery Oprah Winfrey went down in chat show history in 2004 after gifting every member of her live audience a car ( YouTube/Harpo )

Meanwhile, the Justice Department and Trump's top White House lawyer David Warrington reportedly deemed the luxury jet legally permissible, as long as the donation of the aircraft is conditioned on ownership being transferred to the presidential library by the end of the term, per ABC.

Of course, it wasnt lost on critics that Attorney General Pam Bondi was once a foreign lobbyist for Qatar, earning $115,000 (87,057) a month in the role that she held off-and-on starting in 2019.
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Veteran broadcaster James Whale has given a frank health update on his 74th birthday following treatment for stage four kidney cancer.

The broadcaster and talk show host has been a popular voice on radio and TV for five decades and currently presents a weekly nighttime talk show on talkRADIO. He was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and to charity in the 2024 New Year Honours List.

Whale revealed in February 2020 that his kidney cancer had since spread to his spine, brain and lungs. In 2024 he expressed doubt as to whether he would still be alive by the end of the year.

Speaking recently to Lizzie Cundy, per the Daily Mail, Whale offered a candid update on his health. Asked how he was doing, he replied: I'm feeling ok. As people know I'm not about to die, but well, you never know do you. I have had all my treatment so I'm giving you the lowdown on it.

If I make it to Christmas I will be exceptionally lucky. Sometimes I think it will be easier just to have a heart attack and go.

Speaking earlier this month on 2 May, Whale, along with his Talk co-host Ash Gould, updated listeners on his situation, indicating that he hoped to continue working for a few months more.

He said: I'm at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore. I'm hoping to go on for another few months, but as soon as I can't do the show anymore, I won't.

Whale added: I can't tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I've been doing it for 25 years!

Whale was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and had to have one of his kidneys removed.

In 2018, his first wife, Melinda Maxted, died after being diagnosed with lung cancer; in August 2020, Whale revealed cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain and lungs.

The radio DJs past experience with cancer led him to form the James Whale Kidney Fund in 2006, which merged with Kidney Cancer UK in 2015.

open image in gallery James Whale celebrates MBE after 50-year career in broadcasting (Ian West/PA) ( PA Archive )

Whale then spent 13 years at TalkSport before hosting the drive-time show on LBC and the breakfast show on BBC Essex.

During his career, he also hosted Whale On, Dial Midnight and Central Weekend Live for ITV, and Talk About for BBC One.

Whales autobiography Almost A Celebrity: A Lifetime Of Night-Time was published in 2008 and he later launched a new version of The James Whale Radio Show.

In 2023, he was awarded the first-ever Tric Recognition Award for his 50 years in broadcasting.
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Real Housewives of Atlanta newcomer Angela Oakley has revealed shes $2 million in debt after purchasing and flipping five investment properties shes now having difficulty selling.

Oakley, 44, who joined Bravos hit reality series this season, spoke about her financial predicament on the shows latest episode, which aired May 11.

So I own five investment properties, she said. Most of them are ready for the market. Its just that the price that we are positioning them at hasnt been the most welcoming to the market, because I havent sold any of them yet.

She then added: Im in debt $2 million, so I am in some deep s*** with these houses.

Fellow Housewife Kelli Ferrell later stopped by to see the home, asking Oakley when she thought it would be ready.

Its about to hit the market in the next 10 days, Oakley responded, leaving Ferrell surprised. In a behind-the-scenes confessional, Ferrell shared her true opinions about the property, saying: I mean, the ceilings are a little low. The kitchen is nice. I mean, its cute, dont get me wrong.

'RHOA' star Angela Oakley said she hasn't sold any of her five investment properties ( Getty Images for Lionsgate )

Ferrell walked outside to see the houses unfinished backyard, noting: Angela, the pool dont even have no water in it. Making her way upstairs, she let out an audible gasp as she took a peek and noticed the houses lack of closet space.

Dont beat me up too bad! Ferrell quipped.

I am desperate to unload these houses, Oakley told the cameras, going on to reveal that she had listed the home for a jaw-dropping $3 million.

I dont know, girl. I dont know if youre gonna get $3 million for this, Ferrell laughed.

Both Oakley and Ferrell made their RHOA debut in the shows season 16 premiere in March, alongside Brit Eady.

Oakley was raised in Harvey, Illinois and later attended Chicagos DePaul University, graduating with a finance degree. She currently works in real estate investing and tax preparation, according to her BravoTV bio.

Shes been married to retired New York Knicks star Charles Oakley since 2016. Together, the two have a blended family of four children. The couple is approaching their eighth anniversary, which they have planned to celebrate with a show-stopping vow renewal, per the RHOA Season 16 announcement.

During an earlier episode of RHOA, however, Oakley gave an update on their planned vow renewal, saying: Charles is holding our vow renewal over my head because he feels like we spent all this money on these houses. [He thinks], Let's handle this first, and then we can jump into something else.
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Shogun co-creator Justin Marks has revealed there will be a great love story at the centre of the series forthcoming season two.

The samurai shows first season, which scooped 18 Emmy awards, was one of 2024s most-watched programmes. Adapted from a 1975 novel by James Clavell, the series tells the story of Japanese feudal lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), who encounters English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis).

It was confirmed this month that Shoguns second instalment will be set 10 years on from season one and will be a wholly original new chapter, departing from the source material.

Speaking to Metro after Shogun scooped the Best International Series prize at the Bafta TV Awards on Sunday (May 11), Marks said he and showrunner Rachel Kondo are really excited for the time jump.

Given the history that were working off of, I think it gives us a lot of ground to grow the show in a lot of exciting new directions, he said.

Whats most important is to honour the legacy of James Clavells book when it comes to the characterisations and the brilliant plotting and world-building that went on and the great love stories.

Marks continued: All of these things you can expect in the next season. Especially the love story part, theres still a good one out there.

open image in gallery Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga in Shogun ( FX )

Upon the release of the first season, Kondo and Marks suggested that Shogun was designed as a limited series, meaning it would not be continuing beyond its 10 episodes.

This decision was reversed in the wake of the shows success, with production for season two set to start in Vancouver in January 2026.

FX previously revealed that the second season of Shogun continues the historically-inspired saga of Lord Toranaga and John Blackthorne, whose fates are inextricably entwined.

When asked at the TV Baftas whether fans would be shocked by the Shogun storylines to come, Marks said he expected viewers to be surprised.

open image in gallery Justin Marks and Rachel Kondon at the TV BAFTA Awards ( Getty Images for BAFTA )

Last September, FX chairman John Landgraf told Deadline that  regardless of audience appetite  there are no plans to film seasons two and three back to back in January.

I dont know that were certain there will [be] three seasons, he said. But in really looking at the characters in the history thats being depicted here, albeit in a fictionalised manner, it still feels to us like three is the right number of seasons to really do it justice.
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Chick-fil-A is making major updates to the interiors of its restaurants, and one Texas location already received its upgrade.

The fast-food chain remodeled its Valley Ranch spot in Irving, Texas, debuting a refreshed dining room with new seating, decor, and a childrens play place.

A company spokesperson confirmed the renovations were completed in a May 12 email to Community Impact, noting they had to close the eating area for only two days to finish. Photos of the new-and-improved location werent immediately available.

Chick-fil-As restaurant remodels are part of the food conglomerates wider plan to expand its list of locations in multiple states.

Earlier in April, the company announced its mission to open 12 to 15 new restaurants across Massachusetts by the end of 2027 to create at least 1,600 additional jobs.

They started with the addition of one in Patriot Place, a shopping center in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Chick-fil-A plans to remodel its restaurant interiors, and a Valley Ranch location is the first to get the updates ( Getty )

The opening was celebrated with a massive ceremony and a $20,000 donation to FamilyAid Boston and Spoonfuls, two organizations focused on food insecurity in the state.

Chick-fil-A is currently operating with its spring menu, inviting customers to enjoy their seasonal delights, including a Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich and a collection of new Pineapple Dragonfruit drinks.

The summer additions to their menu have not yet been announced.

In January, the company made a shocking change to a staple menu item, and many fans were not pleased.

Chick-fil-A updated its website to inform customers about a slight adjustment to the fries, to make them stay crispier, longer. The new recipe included a pea starch coating, which the company clarified doesnt contain any of the nine major allergens.

And while the food giant intended to improve the beloved fries, the new recipe backfired, prompting a customer outcry.

Founder and CEO of clothing brand Nuuds, Daryl-Ann Denner, who admittedly frequents Chick-fil-A multiple times a week, criticized the update on her Instagram, saying, One of my New Years resolutions is to somehow convince @chickfila to return their fries back to normal.

Denner said the new fries are dry, grainy and have no flavor anymore. She then wrote: You know I love you, Chick-fil-A. You can do no wrong, except this lol.

She later explained to Southern Living that she first noticed something was off with the fries in November.

I eat Chick-fil-A at least a few times a week, and I would say by the middle of November I caught on to something being different with the fries, Denner told the outlet. At first, I just thought I kept getting a bad batch. Then, I blamed it on the location being off, but when I visited another location with my mom, I asked her if she noticed that the fries were grainier than usual.
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Chris Pratt has divided fans with an Instagram post dedicated to his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger.

On Sunday (11 May), as the US celebrated Mothers Day, the Guardians of the Galaxy star paid tribute to Schwarzenegger, who he has been married to since 2019 and with whom he shares three children: Kyla, four, Eloise, two, and Ford, who was born five months ago.

Praising Schwarzeneggers parenting skills, the Marvel actor wrote: How do moms do it? Seriously. Its like running a circus, a hospital, and a five-star kitchen all at once.

Our kids hit the jackpot with you, and so did I. We love you. Happy Mothers Day, Chief!

The post left many fans wondering why he hadnt posted about his ex-wife Anna Faris, 48, who is the mother of his 12-year-old son, Jack.

Jack was born prematurely, with Faris previously saying he weighed just three pounds and 12 ounces at birth and spent his first month in the NICU. According to People, Jack was born with severe brain bleeding.

In her memoir, Unqualified, Faris recalled the emotionally exhausting time that followed Jacks birth, as well as the moment she and Pratt were informed by the paediatric surgeon that Jack had some severe brain bleeding and there was a chance that he could be developmentally disabled.

open image in gallery Chris Pratt has divided fans with latest Instagram post ( X/Twitter )

Some fans believe Pratt should have also acknowledged Faris, with one asking: Wheres the tribute to mother of your first child???? and another stating: You should praise Anna too.

However, while a contingent of Pratts Instagram followers complained about the lack of tribute to Faris, many others jumped to his defence.

I dont get these comments asking where his ex-wifes post is, one follower wrote, adding: I dont know anyone that posts Mothers Day tributes about their exes?

Another chimed in: Hes married. If he praised his EX that would be weird.

Elsewhere, one of Pratts followers posted: Most of you commenting about him not acknowledging his ex-wife can barely acknowledge let alone speak to your ex.

open image in gallery Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt married in 2019 ( Getty Images )

Pratt was previously criticised for thanking Schwarzenegger for giving me a gorgeous healthy daughter.

Many took issue with Pratts sentiment about the couples daughter, accusing the actor of being passive aggressive towards Scary Movie star Faris, who has been open about their sons health issues in the past.

Faris was married to Pratt from 2009 to 2018, and the pair announced they had split in a joint statement released in August 2017.

Faris has been candid about her relationship breakdown in the past, and once suggested that she went through with the marriage because everyone [was] expecting it. She added that she ignored the warning signs ahead of their wedding.

In 2022, Faris, who is now married to cinematographer Michael Barratt, revealed that she is getting closer to Pratt and is happy with the way things have turned out.

open image in gallery Anna Faris and Chris Pratts son Jack was born wit severe brain bleeding ( Getty Images for Disney )

Were all getting much closer, and I so appreciate that, Faris told People. Theyre very protective of me, and I want to be very protective of them. I so appreciate their support.

She continued: It feels just much easier now that time has passed. It feels really good to not live with that internal churning of unpleasantness.

Faris called Schwarzenegger, who is the daughter of film star Arnold, awesome, adding: Shes just on top of it. I love how she is with Jack.
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EastEnders actor Heather Peace has revealed that she has privately been battling breast cancer, telling fans that she feels very lucky after completing months of chemotherapy.

The 49-year-old, best known for playing Eve Sopal-Unwin on the long-running soap, shared the news in an Instagram video documenting a wig fitting.

Peace wrote in the capation: This video is an important part of my recent journey, which I wanted to share with you. Its been about the #TeamEffort here @bbceastenders.

I needed a wig fitting. Ive been on quite a road for many months now. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of October. Since then Ive undergone surgery and recovery over the Christmas period and today my chemotherapy journey ended. To conclude  Ive just picked up my medal.

Peace continued to work on EastEnders in the wake of her diagnosis and paid special tribute to the shows production crew for helping her through her treatment.

Thank you to the whole EE team for going above and beyond. Particularly our amazing makeup team, Peace wrote. And to Alex Rouss for the original wig and (stylist) Linda for the spot-on cut. Ive felt totally supported by you all.

The actor said that shes been forever changed by this period and that she has narrowed her world as a result. She added: Ive had the most precious time with my wife Ellie and our 3 girls; Annie, Jessie & Lola. Just trying to appreciate every moment of them.

She also extended a special thanks to the NHS for the care that she was given. Thank you to the NHS. You are wonderful, skilled people, she said. You treated me efficiently. You gave me dignity and showed me kindness. Its so appreciated.

Peace concluded the post by writing: Life feels very different now and its wonderful. I will continue to cherish and be grateful for all I am blessed with. I feel very lucky. With love, Heather.

Peaces post has since been flooded with comments from many of her co-stars. Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater on EastEnders, wrote: My superhero !! Love you always mate.

Navin Chowdhry, who plays Nish Panesar, said: All the love in the world Heather. You are Glowing!! And what a magical team to have by your side.

Linda Carter actor Kellie Bright added: Ive said it before and Ill say it again. WARRIOR WOMAN!!!! Love the bones of you.

Heather Peace ( Getty )

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with around one in eight women being diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime.

While it is often detected after the emergence of a noticeable lump, breast cancer can have a number of different symptoms.

The NHS suggests seeing your GP if you notice any of the following changes:
PHNOM PENH, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that no investment in e-cigarette production would be licensed in the Southeast Asian country.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Barros Figueira Miguel, president of the Association of Tobacco Industry in Cambodia, at the Peace Palace in the capital Phnom Penh, said a news release from the prime minister's spokesperson unit.

"Samdech Thipadei reiterated that the Royal Government of Cambodia will not allow any investment in the production of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in Cambodia," the news release said.

Samdech Thipadei is the honorific title of Hun Manet.

The prime minister said the government has currently paid attention to preventing the imports of illegal tobacco products and cigarettes, while raising awareness among people about the effects of tobacco products and cigarettes on people's health.

Cambodia has prohibited the import, trade, and use of e-cigarettes and shisha since 2014, but there were still reported cases of illegal import and sale of these products.

The Ministry of Health has warned several times of health hazards from smoking e-cigarettes, saying that they contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, that could cause serious effects on users' health.

An e-cigarette or vape is a battery-operated device that heats up a special liquid into an aerosol that users inhale, the ministry said, adding that e-cigarette smokers could face a high risk of lung disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and damage to brain development. 
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Few red carpets rival that of Cannes. For decades, the French film festival has been renowned for its sartorial significance, drawing celebrities from far beyond the world of cinema to show up and make a statement. Actors, models, musicians and  more recently  influencers and nepo babies have all made headlines for their bold Cannes looks. Does it matter that the guests often have no connection whatsoever to the film premiere theyre attending? No. A lot of the time, they dont even bother with the screening  they just leave right after striking their pose, and strut off into the French Riviera sunshine for their next photo op.

The festival of film has become a festival of fashion, and that might have something to do with the fact that, in recent years, the outfits have been a little less substantial, to say (and wear) the least. Im talking about naked dresses  sheer, often flimsy gowns that flash the flesh. Everyone from Bella Hadid and Elle Fanning to Natasha Poly and Kendall Jenner has worn see-through attire on the Cannes red carpet. Last year, Hadid, who frequently turns heads in her Cannes looks, wore a sheer, nude Saint Laurent dress from the labels most recent collection. The choice prompted worldwide coverage, with everyone focusing on the same thing: that the models outfit exposed her breasts. Mentions of the film Hadid was attending the premiere for (The Apprentice) paled in comparison.

All this might be about to change  because Cannes has changed its dress code. For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival, the website now states under guidelines for its evening gala screenings at the Grand Theatre Lumiere. Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre are not permitted. The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.

This rather stern statement marks a major shift, one that will undoubtedly elicit a degree of panic among celebrity stylists who will have spent the past few months planning melodramatic looks for their clients. Choosing an outfit for the red carpet is not as simple as plucking something from your wardrobe, says stylist Emma Lightbown. Many celebrities have specific brand partnerships, so the logistics of getting another outfit, having it tailored to fit perfectly and sourcing all the matching jewellery, shoes and accessories is going to be a challenge.

To be clear, naked dressing is nothing new. In fact, wearing sheer clothing that exposes ones body is a trend that harks back to the 1920s, when It-girls such as Clara Bow wore semi-transparent clothing. Meanwhile, fashion designers have been sending models down the runway in see-through garments from time immemorial, but it was in the Nineties, when the look was popularised by Kate Moss, that it started to garner more mainstream appeal.

In recent years, its the rise of Y2K fashion  as well as a perennial obsession with all things Nineties  thats prompted the resurgence of naked dressing. For a while, it felt disruptive. Flashing a nipple or a bum cheek in broad daylight was like putting the finger up to the patriarchy. If someone had the confidence to do it, good for them. And anyone who felt shocked or horrified by it, well, that was their problem. It was a way of reclaiming a womans body through her own gaze instead of a mans. It was fresh, fun, and revolutionary. Now, though, that excitement has abated.

open image in gallery Kendall Jenner pictured at Cannes in 2018 in a sheer gown ( Getty )

Rules are meant to be broken in fashion, says writer and internet personality Camille Charriere. Im all for that kind of thing. But I dont think anybody could argue that wearing a naked dress has the same subversive power it did a few years ago. Its been so done. Maybe it can be OK if its in line with the theme of the film, but doing it again and again from people who are not part of those stories... I dont know if it serves the purpose.

If anything, given how popularised naked dressing has become, it would be revolutionary to arrive on the red carpet completely covered up. Im quite into the idea of bringing back some proper dress-code rules, adds Charriere, who is half French. Everything has got so muddled, and I think its quite nice to abide by a certain etiquette when youre attending something very specific that serves to promote something other than yourself. I always criticise the French for being too traditional, but theres something to be said for reminding people why theyre at a certain event. I know a lot of people who walk up that carpet and come straight off the other end without watching the film.

open image in gallery Bella Hadid at Cannes last year ( Getty )

The new dress code might serve the film industry better, too, shifting the focus back from fashion to the world of cinema. After all, going to see a film is a community experience that is becoming increasingly fraught, thanks to a spate of closures of independent cinemas and the perpetual shift to a streaming-only business model. These factors, combined with the fallout from the recent writers and actors strikes, mean the film industry arguably needs our attention now more than ever before.

Cannes has been hijacked by fashion, adds Charriere. Its not for brands to promote their designs: its to ensure the film industry receives the eyeballs it needs. For too long, fashion has been drawing attention away from everything Cannes is supposed to be about: film, art, and collective experiences. Its about celebrating the ability to immerse yourself in other peoples stories, to temporarily step outside of your own world. The performances, then, should be reserved for those on screen. Not those on the red carpet.
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A woman who received a terminal cancer diagnosis over two decades ago after a seemingly innocuous nosebleed has finally entered remission.

Kathryn Oddie, 63, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was told she had just five years to live after being diagnosed with the blood cancer myeloma in 2000.

For the next 20 years, Ms Oddie endured countless therapies and trials, battling frequent infections that repeatedly landed her in hospital.

These health struggles forced her to miss significant life events, including her daughter's first baby shower.

By 2020, doctors informed her that all treatment options had been exhausted. However, a glimmer of hope appeared in 2021 with the arrival of teclistamab, a drug Ms Oddie describes as "life-changing".

Within six months of starting the treatment, she achieved remission for the first time in 21 years.

open image in gallery Kathryn Oddie with her grandchildren George and Hattie ( Family Handout/PA Real Life )

Ms Oddie is determined to cherish the time she has with her two grandchildren, seven-year-old George and four-year-old Hattie. She now looks forward to creating new memories with her family, a prospect that once seemed impossible.

I remember a consultant once told me, My main goal is to get you to 40, she said.

Never in a million years did I think I would be standing at the school gate taking my grandchildren to school.

Prior to her diagnosis, Ms Oddie explained that, other than having her appendix removed, she had never experienced any major health issues.

However, in 2000, aged 38, everything changed when she had a sudden nosebleed at work  something she had never experienced before.

She had a blood test, which revealed she was anaemic, and she was prescribed iron tablets that same day.

open image in gallery Kathryn Oddie with her husband Andrew ( Family Handout/PA Real Life )

However, the next week, she got a knock on the door from the GP who she worked for.

He said, Im terribly sorry, its something really serious, you need to go to hospital tomorrow.

Ms Oddie underwent further tests at the hospital, including a bone marrow biopsy, and was informed she had myeloma.

She described the diagnosis as devastating.

Within a week, I had a nosebleed and I was on chemotherapy, she said.

I went from being the nurse, being in charge, to being the patient  it was absolutely mind-blowing.

Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is especially difficult to diagnose as symptoms, such as pain, easily broken bones and fatigue, are often linked to general ageing or minor conditions, Myeloma UK says.

Treatment can lead to periods of remission, but the cancer will inevitably come back.

open image in gallery Kathryn Oddie (second from left) with (left to right) her son-in-law Dom, granddaughter Hattie, grandson George, husband Andrew and daughter Gemma ( Family Handout/PA Real Life )

Ms Oddies consultant told her the cancer was treatable but not curable, but there were limited treatment options available at the time.

She underwent chemotherapy and put her name forward for every clinical trial and treatment available to her over the following years, including two stem cell transplants.

By 2020, Ms Oddie said she had undergone 11 lines of therapy but none had put her in remission, and she was told she had exhausted all treatment options.

However, when her consultant reached out to a former colleague at UCL in London to ask about new clinical trials, it was discovered a new experimental drug called teclistamab was under way.

Ms Oddie enrolled in January 2021 and, within around six months of taking the drug, she was told she was in remission for the very first time since her diagnosis.

She believes she was one of the first people to take the miracle drug in the UK.

open image in gallery Kathryn Oddie with grandson George ( Family Handout/PA Real Life )

It was relief, but not elation, she said.

For all these years, Ive gone from trial to trial but without these trials, I wouldnt be here today.

She said the wonderful support of her husband Andrew and family has kept her going over the past two decades.

Ive missed a lot of things, but Ive seen a lot, she said.

My GP calls me Wonder Woman.

Ms Oddie said the care she has received has been second to none and she hopes she can be an inspiration for others diagnosed with incurable cancers.

Having joined forces with the charity Myeloma UK, she wants to help raise more awareness of myeloma and the importance of research into new drugs.
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A mother who endured a decade of undiagnosed back pain before a spinal tumour was discovered is determined to walk down the aisle at her wedding this July.

Julie Coleman, 33, first experienced pain in her back and legs during her pregnancy in 2014. Initially told it was sciatica, and that symptoms would likely disappear after giving birth, Julies pain persisted. For almost 10 years, she visited her GP, reporting shooting pains in her legs, only to be prescribed painkillers and physiotherapy.

The ongoing struggle led Julie, who previously worked for Alzheimers Scotland and is now starting a remote customer service role, to feel she would be in pain for the rest of her life. She said she lost trust in her GP surgery. Finally, in November 2024, an MRI scan revealed a large benign tumour growing inside her spinal cord.

Facing the risk of paralysis, Julie underwent surgery to remove the tumour in January 2025. However, the tumour had already caused nerve damage, resulting in a spinal cord injury that leaves her with no feeling below her right knee.

open image in gallery ( Collect/PA Real Life )

Despite this, Julie is determined to walk down the aisle on crutches at her wedding this July. She and her fiance, Stephen, 35, will be seated during the ceremony.

The couple, who live with their 10-year-old son, Connor, have launched a GoFundMe page to help cover unexpected costs related to Julies condition.

Of course, I hadnt imagined this would be how I would walk down the aisle and no-one grows up thinking one day they wont be able to walk down the aisle unassisted, Julie told PA Real Life.

I was determined to walk down the aisle if it was a possibility and Im very grateful Im able to walk down  even if I do need a walking aid.

I think we take our bodies for granted and if you feel something isnt right, keep pushing for answers.

Julie first experienced back pain and shooting pains down her right leg when she was pregnant with her son in 2014.

After visiting her GP surgery, which she did not wish to name, it was thought Julie was experiencing sciatica  nerve pain caused by irritation to the sciatic nerve  which would subside after she gave birth.

I spent the last six months of my pregnancy sitting up in bed, I couldnt lie down because it was too painful, she said.

Julie said the pain did not go away after giving birth and she spent the next 10 years seeing numerous doctors at her GP surgery, having physiotherapy sessions and being prescribed painkillers.

open image in gallery The scar on Julie's back after her operation ( Collect/PA Real Life )

I was told it was sciatica caused by a slipped disc in my back, she said.

They said theres no point sending you for any scans because the back surgery is too dangerous.

It was extremely frustrating and it got to the point where I probably lost trust in my GP because I knew they werent going to do anything.

I was going to several different GPs within the same practice and they were all saying the same thing.

I just thought this is me for the rest of my life.

She also started experiencing numbness in her right foot in 2022, which started in her toes and began creeping into her foot.

In November 2024, Julie had another appointment with a new physiotherapist, where she was finally referred for an MRI scan on her lower back, which took place on December 24 at the Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow.

Julie said her physiotherapist called her on New Years Eve to say the scan had revealed changes in my spinal cord.

On January 9, Julie had an appointment with a neurosurgeon at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where she had a full MRI scan on her spine and head.

Later that day, she was told a large tumour was growing inside her spinal cord  the suspected cause for the symptoms she had been experiencing for the last 10 years.

I was really shocked as I had been trying to say something was wrong the whole time, she said.

Julie was told there was a risk she could become paralysed in future with nerve damage caused by the tumour, and an operation to remove it would be the best course of action.

Even with the surgery, she was told there could be risks and some of her symptoms may not be reversed.

Julie had the operation to remove the tumour on January 28 at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and she said she was very grateful to the doctors who treated and supported her.

open image in gallery ( Collect/PA Real Life )

She said the surgery was successful and most of the tumour was removed, but as some fragments could remain, she will have an MRI scan in August to get a clearer picture.

Tests were also conducted on the tumour where it was found to be a schwannoma, an uncommon, non-cancerous tumour that covers the nerves, according to Cancer Research UK.

Despite the success of the operation, the damage to Julies nerves may have been done  as she was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury while in hospital and she cannot feel anything below her right knee.

Since returning home on February 18, Julie uses a Zimmer frame to move around her home and needs a wheelchair for longer distances.

I have random patches on my legs and stomach that are completely numb, she said.

Most of my pain was down my right leg so that has obviously had the most damage to the nerves.

Julie added it could take up to two years to determine whether her symptoms will be permanent as there is a chance her feeling could return.

She and her fiance, Stephen, are due to tie the knot in July  and Julie said her son will be walking her down the aisle where she will use crutches.

Julie has also launched a GoFundMe page to help her and her family with any unexpected costs due to her condition, raising 225 so far.

To find out more, visit Julies fundraiser here: gofundme.com/f/help-julie-cover-unexpected-costs-after-spinal-cord-tumour
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Meghan Markle has spoken about how her years of training as an actor prepared her for running As Ever.

On Tuesday, during the latest episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, the Duchess of Sussex spoke to Heather Hasson, who is the founder of FIGS medical scrubs, about how their more unconventional experiences were able to help them run their businesses.

Meghan graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in 2003 with a double major in theater and international relations.

I was a theater major, and part of the program was that you couldnt just do the acting, she said.

You had to do soup-to-nuts, every part of what a production would entail, which I actually think is incredible training for when youre running a team because you appreciate what the sound person does and what the lighting person does.

Wardrobe department and sewing were part of it too, so I am comfortable with a sewing machine, she added.

You had to do soup-to-nuts, every part of what a production would entail, which I actually think is incredible training for when youre running a team, Meghan said ( AFP via Getty Images )

Meghan has previously spoken about her time in college during an episode of her podcast last month, when her guest was hair colorist Kadi Lee. During the April 22 episode, she mentioned how she would style her hair at the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house.

I dont even think they made plug-in flat irons at the time, she said. They couldnt! If they did, I didnt know where they were, because I had the little stove, with the flat iron that would go in, have a paper towel on the side. I mean, probably half the people listening to this are going, What is she talking about?

Or youd pull it out, it would have the little scorch marks. And I remember most of the girls in the sorority who were not Black say, Whats that smell? Is hair burning? And it was just what you would do to figure out how to grapple with this texture of hair, Meghan recalled.

Last week, a lawyer for the production company behind Meghans Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, responded to a woman claiming her homemade bath salt recipe left her with catastrophic burns.

The Maryland-based woman, Robin Patrick, spoke out about her alleged injuries and sent pictures of her burns to RadarOnline.

She claimed to have followed the bath salt recipe Meghan shared on her Netflix show, which first aired on March 4. The recipe included Epsom salt, arnica oil, lavender oil, pink Himalayan salt, and dried flowers.

Intellectual Property Corporations (IPC) lawyer, Cameron Stracher, responded to the claims, saying, IPC regrets to hear about any injuries you may have suffered, under the law, neither IPC, Netflix, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, nor Archewell are liable to you for your claims.

None of the parties responsible for the Series, including the entities you list in your letter, owe you a particular duty of care because you do not have a special relationship with any of them as a matter of law, he added.
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While royal-themed baby names like King, Prince, and Princess are gaining popularity in the United States, New Zealand is maintaining its strict stance against such monikers.

According to a recent Official Information Act inquiry, the New Zealand government rejected 11 requests to name a child King. Other royal-inspired names like Prince (10 requests), Princess (4 requests), and even the creative variation Pryncess (2 requests) were also denied.

New Zealands naming rules, enforced by the New Zealand Law Society, require names to be under 70 characters, free of non-standard symbols, and not resemble official titles.

This contrasts sharply with the more lenient approach in the United States, where royal-themed names have surged in recent years. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, King ranked 266th among the most popular baby names in 2023, followed by Royal at 402, Prince at 364, and Princess at 919.

However, even in the U.S., some states impose restrictions. For instance, names like Adolf Hitler, Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the symbol @ are banned.

open image in gallery New Zealand has continued the ban while the names continue to rise in popularity in the U.S. ( Getty/iStock )

Few specific names are explicitly prohibited as U.S. courts generally interpret the Constitution as protecting parents' rights to choose their children's names.

Despite this, many states restrict numerals, pictograms, foreign characters, emojis, and offensive language. Notably, California bans accents but allows hyphens and apostrophes, permitting names like X AE A-XII, chosen by Elon Musk and Grimes.

While states like Kentucky have no specific naming laws, others still restrict titles like King and Queen. For example, Sean Diddy Combs son, known as King Combs, has the legal name Christian Casey Combs.

open image in gallery Trump 100 Days ( California state law allows hyphens in names, such as Grimes and Elon Musk's son X AE A-XII. )

Surprisingly, the top baby names of 2024 in the U.S. and New Zealand are quite similar.

For males in the U.S., Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theadore, and James take the top spots, compared to New Zealands top five: Oliver, Noah, Henry, Leo, and Theodore.

Top female names in the U.S. include Olivia, Emma, Amelia, Charlotte, and Mia compared to Isla, Amelia, Charlotte, Olivia, and Mia in New Zealand.
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Starbucks has launched its latest line of merchandise in collaboration with a beloved summer fashion brand known for its vibrant prints.

Brazilian fashion and lifestyle brand FARM Rio is the latest company to partner with the world-famous chain to offer fans a chance to sip their coffee in style.

Starting May 13, fans can score a Starbucks mug, tumbler, cold cup, or mini keychain featuring one of five FARM Rio prints: Banana Mix, Borogodo, Board Banana, Lenco Azulejo, and Banana Leaves. While not every item is sold in each print, the products will be available in stores across the United States and Canada.

The summer-inspired patterns feature bright colors that celebrate the joys of nature, according to the two companies.

We hope these unique prints will brighten our customers day, adding a burst of color and happiness to their mornings, says Mariana Flores Rios, brand & product marketing lead for Latin America & the Caribbean at Starbucks.

The collection celebrates the rich coffee culture that Starbucks is known for, while incorporating FARM Rios artistic flair, making each coffee experience more memorable.

open image in gallery Starbucks launched a new collaboration with FARM Rio ( Starbucks )

Mariana Leal, Head of Collaborations and Partnerships at FARM Rio, added: We believe summer isnt just a season, its a state of mind. This collab with Starbucks is our way of celebrating that vibrant, colorful energy thats so true to FARM Rios spirit.

The two companies first collaborated in 2022 with a limited-edition line of products available only in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Singapore. That merchandise line was popular enough among consumers to warrant another partnership between the two brands, but this time with a release in the United States and Canada.

open image in gallery Starbucks-Restrooms ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Fans were seemingly thrilled by the new collaboration.

The Farm Rio Starbucks cups are so cute, one person wrote on X.

OBSESSED with the Farm Rio x Starbucks collab, another shared.

But some were frustrated that they couldnt easily find the new merchandise.

Tried to find the Farm Rio drop, idk why your app has a find store option on the advert. No one around me has anything. I called customer service and they told me to check AMAZON. WTF, one angry customer wrote on X.

The Starbucks Care team quickly responded: Hello, I'm sorry for the confusion about the Farm Rio cups. We regretfully don't have visibility as to which stores have received them so far or when other stores will get their shipment. The best place to check will be the stores periodically to see if they have received them.
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From a long table banquet to Michelin-starred chefs: Wilderness Festival knows food, and it knows how to do food well!

Over the past decade, festival organisers have realised that guests now expect way more than your average (always dependable) greasy burger from a van. Which is why at certain festivals, youll find that theyve gone above and beyond to ensure that their event caters for everyone.

At Wilderness, theres a wealth of delicious dishes on offer, including the returning Soul Food Cafe, which in its second year will bring its tasty selection of smoothies, salads and fresh poke bowls, as well as fresh-brewed coffee, New York-style bagels and homemade ice cream. Located in the middle of The Sanctuary, the Soul Food Cafe is the perfect place to start your day or recharge for the afternoon.

Organisers take festival food to a whole new level by inviting some of the UK and Europes most respected chefs to serve up delicious feasts, keeping you satiated enough to keep dancing all weekend.

This year, that includes Irish chef and presenter Anna Haugh, chef patron of Myrtle Restaurant and Little Sister Wine Bar in Chelsea, London.

Haugh began her career in Dublin with Derry Clarke of LEcrivain before moving to London where she worked with Philip Howard and Gordon Ramsay. She founded the Myrtle Restaurant in 2019, determined to introduce Londoners to a heightened taste of Ireland  with Irish produce at the heart of the menu.

Joining Haugh is Andy Beynon, chef proprietor of the renowned Behind restaurant in London Fields, which recently celebrated its fifth year with a Michelin star. Beynons 10-course blind tasting menu at the intimate 18-covery eatery has sustainability at its core, focusing entirely on day-boat fish and shellfish sourced predominantly from British shores.

Johnnie Crowe has a long-standing relationship with small-scale farmers, growers and conservation-led producers around the UK, which lends itself to his work as chef at Restaurant St Barts, where he and his team work exclusively with British produce. Often, dishes are composed around just two key ingredients; his menu at Wilderness will reinterpret British cuisine using ingredients that, to some, might seem exotic but are in fact British staples. Think Cornish limes and lemons with squids, English Cantaloupe melons and a British Soy Sauce alternative made in-house with heritage grains.

Wildernesss 2025 quartet of chefs is completed by Joshua Overington, chef owner of the Michelin-starred Myse in north Yorkshire. Overingtons early career saw him working in some of the best kitchens in the country, from the three Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray and The Pipe and Glass in Yorkshire. He then trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, inspiring him to open Le Cochon Aveugle in York in 2014, offering his modern take on bistro dining. He closed the restaurant in 2022 to start a fresh adventure with Myse.

This fantastic group will convene at The Chefs Table, located on a hillside overlooking the beautiful Lake Wilderness, where they will prepare a seven-course tasting menu for small groups of diners sitting around the counter, where youll be able to sample delicious wines and speak to the brilliant minds behind each dish.

The banquets are presented by figures including Angela Hartnett, Prue Leith, Tom Sellers and Stephen Manderson (AKA Professor Green) and Imad Alamab (Imads Syrian Kitchen).

Elsewhere, Ben Quinn is the co-founder of Woodfired Canteen, known for hosting dinners in special locations. Hell be bringing his lovely team to Wilderness for some live-fire cooking in an equally lively atmosphere, as he brings his unique combinations of flavours and skilled cooking to the table. For his long table banquet there will be five courses of respectfully sourced, local and season ingredients all cooked right in front of you.
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For nearly eight years, the identity of a woman whose remains were found beneath the bleachers at a Houston park has been a mystery  until now.

Harris County Jane Doe, as she was known, has been identified, KPRC reported, citing local authorities. Her name, however, has not yet been released.

On the morning of June 17, 2017, a groundskeeper at Bayland Park in Houston, Texas, discovered the womans body under the bleachers.

She was in a seated position and was not dressed for typical outdoor activity, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department said in a news release at the time.

She was not dressed appropriately for outdoor conditions and it is believed she likely died somewhere else and was then taken to ... the location, police said.

open image in gallery The woman was found in a seated position and was not dressed for typical outdoor activity, police said ( Houston Police Department )

According to previous police reports, the woman was wearing a blue t-shirt, black fleece shorts with pink skull-and-crossbones designs, and an adult diaper. She was partially covered by a blue and green blanket.

open image in gallery The woman was also found with a white metal ring featuring dolphin or porpoise designs ( Houston Police Department )

She was also found with a white metal ring featuring dolphin or porpoise designs and a white metal watch with a pink plastic band.

The Harris County Medical Examiner determined the womans death to be accidental, but how she died is unclear and very few details surrounding the case have been released.
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A former New Jersey fire chief was arrested last week and charged with possession of child sexual abuse materials after police say they found a collection of childrens underwear in his basement.

Martin Matson, 70, previously worked as chief of the now-defunct Greenfields Volunteer Fire Company.

Police began their investigation into Matson in December 2024 after receiving a cyber tip about troubling computer uploads at his West Deptford residence.

Officials searched Matsons home last month, and allegedly found over 125,000 files of child pornography on digital devices, binders containing printed child porn images, and several pairs of children's underwear, some soiled, in the basement.

Matson reportedly admitted to police that he had collected the materials over the past 30 years.

open image in gallery Police in New Jersey say Martin Matson, 70, admitted to collecting the child sexual abuse materials over the past three decades. ( Salem County Department of Corrections )

West Deptford area residents told 6ABC that they knew Matson for his years-long position as fire chief, and that he supervised the junior firefighters program.

"We are absolutely shocked. You think you know your neighbors, and I guess you don't," one resident told the news outlet.

Others are now questioning Matsons motives and actions over the years, noting that there is a playground located behind his house.

"That's creepy. What happened? What was he doing in that house? Was he watching the kids? Was he taking pictures of all the kids that are at the playground? That's a big one," another neighbor said.

Matson is scheduled to appear in court on May 22.

For those affected by sexual assault, resources are available through the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
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A house fire and explosion in New Jersey that appears to have killed two people is being treated as suspicious, according to police.

Police are still investigating the home that exploded in Washington Township, and said in a statement that the Gloucester County prosecutor's office is considering the incident "not accidental."

The bodies of a man and a woman were removed from the debris of the home, according to ABC News.

The prosecutor's office told local broadcaster WPVI that their deaths are "suspicious" but did not provide further details.

According to Fox 29 Philadelphia, autopsies have been ordered for the man and woman found in the debris of the home, and the case is being treated as a criminal investigation.

The house was destroyed at 2:02 am, prompting numerous emergency calls from neighbors who heard the explosion. A fire broke out in the immediate area as a result of the explosion, but Washington Township firefighters extinguished the flames shortly after they arrived on the scene.

"Responding officers arrived at Tranquility Court and observed that the residence was fully engulfed in flames and appeared to have been heavily damaged by an apparent explosion," Washington Township police said in a statement.

A resident who lives near the house, Jimmy Gibson, told WPVI that he heard a "real loud boom" the night of the incident.

"The whole house was in flames... as soon as the explosion happened," he said.

WPVI's reporting revealed that at least one other house nearby and a car in the area were damaged by the explosion.

Another neighbor, Jill Rauf, told WPVI that she and her husband fled their home with their dog after they heard the explosion. She said she saw the house engulfed in flames when she ran outside.
DHAKA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to disburse the next two tranches of its 4.7 billion U.S. dollars loan package for Bangladesh, amounting to 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, in June.

The decision follows a series of meetings held in Washington between Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur and senior IMF officials, the central bank spokesperson was quoted by United News of Bangladesh (UNB) as saying on Tuesday.

The funds had previously been withheld due to unresolved issues concerning the implementation of a more flexible exchange rate regime, particularly the adoption of a crawling peg mechanism, and concerns over the country's tax-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio.

An IMF staff mission, led by Chris Papageorgiou, visited Dhaka from April 6 to 17 to carry out a combined third and fourth review of Bangladesh's economic reform progress under the Extended Fund Facility, the Extended Credit Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility.

Mansur is expected to elaborate on the outcome of the negotiations during a press conference scheduled for May 14 at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters. 
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A man in Oregon has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for trying to kill a man who asked him to stop harassing peacocks.

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office announced that Dylan Levi Rhoads has been sentenced to 90 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Christopher Marshall handed down the sentencing on May 8.

In addition to pleading guilty, Rhoads resolved eight other cases against him while he was in court.

Deputy District Attorney Eric Palmer pointed to Rhoads stack of charges and determined that the legal system had failed to appropriately punish him.

This defendant had a clear pattern of escalating, dangerous, criminal behavior, Palmer said. And yet he was repeatedly released after being arrested for his earlier crimes. I believe the system failed here  failed both the victims and the defendant.

The incident that landed him in prison occurred on September 29, 2023. A man preparing to drive to work stepped outside of his home and noticed Rhoads and another individual harassing peacocks on the street. He decided to intervene and request that they leave the birds alone.

The birds are well known in the community and are treated as a collective group of pets by the locals.

Neighborhood lore is some years ago someone had some peacocks, said they kept hassling him, he said fine and let them all loose, a neighbor told local broadcaster KGW. No one actually takes care of them, we all sort of look after them a bit.

That shared sense of responsibility for the birds well-being is likely what motivated the victim to approach Rhoads and the other individual.

The DA's office said that Rhoads and the other individual had a "violent" response after the victim asked them to stop giving the birds grief.

"Bock, bock, bock, you next," the men told the victim, according to the DA's office.

The victim returned to his home and let Rhoads and the other man drive off. He then got into his own car to drive to work, but was ambushed and shot at by Rhoads at a nearby intersection. A few of the bullets grazed the victim, and a recently-installed heavy duty driver's seat stopped another from causing him significant injury.

Police managed to track down Rhoads using footage captured from neighbors' Ring cameras.
TEHRAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday welcomed the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) announcement of its self-dissolution, calling it a significant move toward ending violence and fostering regional security.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement that the decision marked "an important step" away from armed conflict, expressing hope that the process would help advance peace and stability in Turkiye and the broader region.

The statement came a day after the PKK declared it would disband and cease its decades-long armed insurgency. The move follows a February call from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urging the group to lay down its arms.

Designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, the PKK has waged a four-decade insurgency against the Turkish state, initially seeking an independent Kurdish state.

Ankara frequently carries out cross-border military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq, where the group maintains its headquarters and hideouts, and targets its affiliates in Syria. 
Last year, the GOP-controlled Louisiana Legislature passed and Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law the "Truth and Transparency in the Louisiana Criminal Justice System" during a special session focused on crime. After years of protecting youth offenders with confidentiality governed by the Louisiana Youth Criminal Code, Republicans decided that moving four years of juvenile court data into a single online system and requiring the online publication of court minute entries for children charged with violent crimes on or after Jan. 1, 2024, was the way to go.
Stock options, which for years made up the bulk of Tesla directors compensation, are only valuable if the companys share price rises, as Teslas did. Those who exercise their options to buy company stock can sell or hold on to their new shares. Denholm has sold more than 1.4 million Tesla shares and continues to hold 85,000 of them and roughly 49,000 stock options, according to the Times analysis. Equilar, a compensation consulting firm, reviewed the methodology. Her latest wave of stock sales were carried out under the plan she set into motion in July, soon after Musk endorsed Donald Trump for president. Under securities regulations, executives and other insiders can use such plans to trade shares in their companies. They are not required to disclose many details of their plans, including the reason for them or the conditions under which shares will be sold. They also have a lot of leeway to cancel the plans. Elon Musks alliance with Donald Trump and his MAGA movement has hurt Teslas profits. Credit: AP A native of Australia and veteran technology executive, Denholm has maintained a low profile and rarely speaks publicly about Tesla or Musk. She was recruited to the Tesla board in 2014 and appointed chair in 2018 after Musk agreed to step down from the position under a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

She and other board members have been criticised by some investors, activists and a Delaware judge for not serving as counterweights to Musk, who is widely seen as brash and impulsive. Tesla directors have also been faulted for failing to ensure that he remains focused on Tesla. Loading Musk operates as if free of board oversight, Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery wrote last year when she ruled in favour of a shareholder who had challenged Musks 2018 pay package, valued at around $US56 billion. McCormick, in that ruling, described Denholms style of overseeing Musk as lackadaisical. Tesla has appealed the decision, which voided Musks pay package, and Denholm has pushed back on McCormicks critique. Anybody who knows me, knows that I am not lackadaisical, now that I know what that word means, Denholm told the Financial Times last year. It is probably the furthest from the truth. I am really intense and very diligent in what I do.

During the trial over Musks pay, Denholm described the money she had made from her Tesla board service as life-changing. Director pay at Tesla was subject to a separate lawsuit that Denholm and other board members settled in 2023. Musk, who has long been a part-time CEO of Tesla, has taken on even more responsibilities over the years. He has become a regular presence in Washington, leading Trumps efforts to slash government spending and dismiss federal government employees. Musk advised workers in March to not sell their stock, saying that Tesla would become the most valuable company in the world as it perfects self-driving taxis and robots that resemble and move like humans. Credit: Bloomberg Musk said recently that he would cut back his time in Washington to one or two days a week. His attention will likely remain divided, however, because he also leads several other businesses, including SpaceX and X, the social platform he owns. Denholms first sales under her recent trading plan took place in November, the week after the presidential election, as Teslas share price was climbing. The stock reached a new high a few weeks later, in December. She continued to sell through early May, as the company faced consumer backlash over Musks political activities and the stock price fell.

The stock is now down around 34 per cent from its peak after recovering some of its losses over the last few weeks. Musk acknowledged Teslas difficulties during a meeting with company employees in March. If you read the news it feels like, you know, Armageddon, he said half-jokingly. The share sales raise questions about Denholms confidence in Teslas prospects. He went on to advise workers not to sell their stock, saying that Tesla would become the most valuable company in the world as it perfects self-driving taxis and robots that resemble and move like humans. The future is incredibly bright, he said. Denholms sales have far outstripped those by other Tesla directors, with the exception of Musk, who remained on the board after stepping down as chair.

She and other current and former Tesla board members agreed to settle a shareholder lawsuit over their pay in 2023, collectively agreeing to return compensation valued at $US735 million. They denied wrongdoing. Stock options valued at more than $US130 million were cancelled on May 1 to satisfy Denholms obligations under that settlement, securities filings show. Board members agreed in June 2021, after that lawsuit was filed, to forgo new equity grants. Denholm also made more money selling her companys stock than the leaders of other corporate boards during the same period. The Times reviewed stock sales by board chairs at the most valuable US companies who, like Denholm, are not executives at those companies. The non-executive chair with the next-highest profit from selling shares in the company he oversees was Stephen Hemsley of UnitedHealth Group. Hemsley has earned more than $US100 million from the sale of UnitedHealth shares since November 2018, though he received all of that stock while he was CEO of the health care company. UnitedHealth Group confirmed the findings, but declined to comment. On Tuesday, the company announced Hemsley would retake the CEO job in addition to serving as chair.

Share sales by executives and directors often predict poor performance by the companies they lead, some academic research has found. Loading Leaders like Denholm have access to nonpublic information and a deep understanding of how broader economic forces may affect company performance. That can make their trades especially profitable, according to Nejat Seyhun, a professor of finance at the University of Michigan. Insiders set up plans when they have information, Seyhun said. If conditions change, they can cancel those plans. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Apartment blocks up to 11 storeys will be allowed around train stations in Sydneys inner west after the local council objected to a state-imposed rezoning and drew up its own plans to deliver more than 30,000 new homes.

The Inner West Council on Tuesday revealed its long-awaited proposal to boost housing supply after it objected to the governments transport-oriented development (TOD) scheme to rezone land within 400 metres of dozens of train stations across Sydney to allow six- or seven-storey unit blocks.

The Inner West Council wants to significantly boost housing density along busy Parramatta Road. Credit: Rhett Wyman

Under the councils proposed changes to planning rules, buildings of mostly six to 11 storeys will be clustered around Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Croydon and Ashfield stations, as well as light rail stops and main streets in a bid to more evenly distribute higher density housing across the municipality.

Mayor Darcy Byrne said council staff and consultants had pieced together the proposal block-by-block as a nuanced alternative to the governments blanket rezoning that came into effect last year.
Erin Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty over a fatal mushroom lunch that killed Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson.

A Melbourne fungi expert posted a photo of poisonous death cap mushrooms on a publicly accessible website with their precise location two months before a fatal beef Wellington lunch.

Mycologist Tom May, the principal research scientist at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, told a Supreme Court jury in Morwell that there were more than 100 species of death caps across Australia, and photos of the poisonous mushrooms were posted on the iNaturalist website by members of the public.

Erin Patterson. Credit: Jason South

May said that on May 21, 2023, he was walking in the Gippsland town of Outtrim when he saw death cap mushrooms, and later posted his images on the iNaturalist website under the username Funkeytom. May said he had been giving a presentation about fungi to a local group at the time, and he had posted the photos of the death caps with a precise geocode location.

I went for a walk and saw these, as I do from time to time, May said in court on Tuesday. I put the iNaturalist record in.
The government says that on average buyers have saved $24,517 using the concession since it was made more widely available. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said the government had listened to the property industry. This isnt just great news for home buyers trying to get into the market. Its also a huge win for home builders, she said. The state budget also includes $24 million for the government to deliver its plan of developing 50 activity centres, which will encourage density around train stations and tram stops. Another $12.1 million will fund planning for two new precinct structure plans in Clyde South and Derrimut Fields, targeted for 13,200 homes and 8600 jobs.

On Tuesday, a parliamentary inquiry established by the state opposition and crossbenchers concluded that Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny had inappropriately exempted herself from a consultation process. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. Credit: Jason South The committee, which looked into three major planning amendments brought in by Labor, was dubbed a sham inquiry by the government, which claimed the Liberals were trying to block building more homes. The majority of the inquirys committee did not support the Liberals plan to revoke or substantially change the three planning amendments but did call for them to be revised. The planning changes under scrutiny are designed to support the governments plans to build more apartments and townhouses in 60 activity centres and smooth the way for high-density housing around proposed Suburban Rail Loop stations.

They also fast-track approval of three-storey developments and shield them from objections from neighbours under a new townhouse and low-rise code. The changes have been welcomed by the property industry, housing groups and some economists, who say they will lead to more homes and tackle housing pressures. But they have been controversial among some prominent urban planners, councils and community groups who believe they will radically alter Melbournes cultural heritage. Loading The inquirys majority report, supported by Liberal, Greens and Legalise Cannabis Victoria members of the committee, said the government had not provided any modelling about the expected effect of the amendments on housing supply, and the effect of increased supply on house prices. The Victorian government did not properly consult on these three amendments and the committee is of the view that the minister has inappropriately exempted herself from expected consultation, the report said. At a minimum, modification of planning scheme amendments should be undertaken after a round of genuine consultation with councils and communities.

The report said concerns raised in many submissions that heritage values were at serious risk from the planning amendments were valid and protections should be available to protect our city and its magnificent heritage buildings and zones. It said Kilkenny did not appear before the inquiry despite a request for her to do so, nor did she explain why she would not attend. Kilkenny told The Age it had not been a genuine inquiry by the Liberals and simply a bit of a sham. For them to put through a revocation motion will mean blocking more homes. It means denying opportunity to Victorians, particularly young Victorians, who are turning to us leaders in this place to deliver for them. A key barrier to building more homes is our planning rules ... Theyre bold reforms, but they have to be bold reforms, because the planning system is actually failing generations of Victorians. Kilkenny said trying to change the reforms sent a pretty awful message to the construction and property sector, whose investment was needed to deliver new homes.

In its minority report, the Liberals said all three of the amendments should be revoked or amended substantially. There are other options and ways forward to ensure a greater supply of housing in our city, including affordable housing. None of these have been adequately explored by government, it read. Loading Among the other options discussed by the Liberals were redeveloping the former defence site at Maribyrnong and building up to 80,000 homes at Fishermans Bend. The Liberals claimed Allans office was involved in the co-ordination of lobbying of business and building groups, including the Property Council and the Urban Development Institute of Australia.
The Liberal Partys worst electoral wipeout has led to it choosing its first female leader.

Sussan Leys ascension to head of the federal Liberal Party will be celebrated as a milestone that has eluded the party for years. But its not a simple story of broken glass ceilings: Leys leadership success will depend on how she fixes a wounded brand that must claw its way back to relevance.

So Ley was asked on Tuesday, in her first press conference as leader, whether her election was an example of the glass-cliff phenomenon  where women are most likely to take up leadership positions when their organisation is on the precipice of disaster.

I dont accept that in my appointment, Ley said. I do say it sends a signal to the women of Australia that the Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader.
Singapore: Was it all worth it? As the clock starts on the 90-day armistice for the United States and China to clinch a longer-lasting trade deal of sorts  though it remains unclear what form this will take  lets be clear on one thing. This is a US backdown.

Both sides blinked. But the capitulation is US President Donald Trumps to own. Not that he will, of course. The Trump team procured a truce in the trade war it started, but with no spoils to show for it.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, pictured in 2017, will have 90 days to broker a trade deal, after the two sides agreed to a tariff truce. Credit: AP

Washington extracted no major concessions from Beijing other than an agreement to match its 115 percentage point rollback of tariffs and suspend other non-tariff barriers imposed since Trumps April 2 Liberation Day, and a commitment to continue trade talks over the next three months.

Trump has hailed the outcome as a total reset in US-China relations. But on the trade front at least, it largely rewinds to pre-April 2 settings, before the head-spinning week that saw Washington and Beijing go tit-for-tat in hiking tariffs three times in quick succession, obliterating two-way trade between the worlds two biggest economies. On the political front, Americas standing as a stable international actor has been ravaged.
Paris: A court in Paris has found French actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021.

He was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence and fined a total of 29,040 ($50,500). The court requested that he be registered in the national sex offender database.

Actor Gerard Depardieu leaves the courtroom for a break during the trial. Credit: AP

The actor  a giant of French cinema  was convicted of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters). Neither woman has consented to being named publicly.

In one of the highest-profile #MeToo cases to come before judges in France, Depardieu had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, but judge Thierry Donard said the actors explanation of events had been unconvincing.
VIENTIANE, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Laos is conducting a feasibility study on developing Lao national blockchain and digital assets to support the national digital economy vision, generate new government revenue, and cultivate expertise in connected data technology and digital assets.

According to a report of the Ministry of Technology and Communications on Tuesday, the ministry and its partner will jointly assess the feasibility of developing national blockchain infrastructure to support digital transformation across sectors, including a digital identity system, digital asset verification, and the establishment of a blockchain research and development center.

The study will also focus on creating blockchain technology legislation, strategies, and policies, while strengthening human resources in the blockchain field.

The Lao government continues its efforts to integrate technology into public administration and services, backed by a national digital transformation strategy focused on digital government, economy, and society, as the private sector increasingly shifts online. 
Gazas population of some 2.3 million people relies almost entirely on outside aid because Israels 19-month-old military campaign has destroyed most of the capacity to produce food itself. Israels Foreign Ministry rejected the IPC findings, saying previous forecasts had proved unfounded and that the group undercounted the amount of aid that entered Gaza during a ceasefire earlier this year. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was no way Israel would halt the war, which would soon resume with full force to complete the operation. Completing the operation means defeating Hamas. It means destroying Hamas. Desperate scenes

Aid groups say the situation is now the most dire of the entire war, with humanitarian support to Gaza on the brink of collapse. Many foods have disappeared from the markets, and whats left has spiralled in price and is unaffordable to most. Farmland is mostly destroyed or inaccessible, and water distribution is grinding to a halt, largely because of a lack of fuel. Communal kitchens handing out cooked meals are virtually the only remaining source of sustenance for most people. Credit: AP A child rests as crowds jostle for food. Credit: AP Communal kitchens handing out cooked meals are virtually the only remaining source of sustenance for most people, but they too are rapidly shutting down for lack of stocks.

Thousands of Palestinians crowd daily outside the public kitchens, pushing and jostling with their pots to receive lentils or pasta. We eat once a day, at noon, and thats it. I feel like I cant breathe when I see my brothers and sisters are still hungry. Ahmed al-Nems We end up waiting in line for four or five hours, in the sun. It is exhausting, said Riham Sheikh el-Eid, waiting at a kitchen in the southern city of Khan Younis on Sunday. At the end, we walk away with nothing. It is not enough for everybody. Construction worker Ahmed Mohsen, 30, told The New York Times he had spent about two hours standing in line to fill a pot with plain rice. Imagine you havent tasted meat, a boiled egg or even an apple in months, Mohsen said.

Grocer Ahmed al-Nems, 32, told the Times he lives on the occasional can of food and a stockpile of flour, lentils and kidney beans that his family hopes can last for several weeks. His mother cooks on a fire made with torn-up shoes because there is no fuel. Loading We eat once a day, at noon, and thats it, he said. I feel like I cant breathe when I see my brothers and sisters are still hungry, he told the paper. The UN humanitarian office last week said the number of children seeking treatment at clinics for malnutrition had doubled since February, even as supplies to treat them are quickly running out.

To the Israeli authorities, and those who can still reason with them, we say again: Lift this brutal blockade, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told The New York Times. To the civilians left unprotected, no apology can suffice. But I am truly sorry that we are unable to move the international community to prevent this injustice, he said. Palestinians struggle for portions of lentils, pasta or rice. Credit: AP The lack of a famine declaration didnt mean people werent already starving, and a declaration shouldnt be a precondition for ending the suffering, said Chris Newton, an analyst for the International Crisis Group focusing on starvation as a weapon of war. The Israeli government is starving Gaza as part of its attempt to destroy Hamas and transform the strip, he said.

Israel demands a new aid system Israel says its blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it still holds. It says it wont let aid back in until a new system giving it control over distribution is in place, accusing Hamas of siphoning off supplies. Food and water are running desperately short across Gaza. Credit: AP The United States says it is working up a new mechanism that will start deliveries soon, but it has given no time frame. The UN has so far refused to participate. It denies that substantial diversion of aid is taking place, saying the new system is unnecessary, will not meet the massive needs of Palestinians and will allow aid to be used as a weapon for political and military goals.

Silence in the face of this man-made starvation is complicity. Mahmoud Alsaqqa, Oxfam Mondays IPC report said any slight gains made during the ceasefire had been reversed. Oxfams food security and livelihoods co-ordinator, Mahmoud Alsaqqa, called on governments to press Israel to allow unimpeded humanitarian access. Silence in the face of this man-made starvation is complicity, he said. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the groups October 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel, in which militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages, most of whom have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Loading Israels offensive has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Three criteria for declaring famine The IPC, first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia, groups more than a dozen UN agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies. It has only declared famine a few times  in Somalia in 2011, and South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and last year in parts of Sudans western Darfur region.

Tens of thousands are believed to have died in Somalia and South Sudan. Loading It rates an area as in famine when at least two of three things occur: 20 per cent of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving; at least 30 per cent of children six months to five years suffer from acute malnutrition; and at least two people or four children under five per every 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or disease. The assessment on Monday found that the first threshold was met in Gaza, saying 477,000 people  or 22 per cent of the population  are classified as in catastrophic hunger, the highest level, for the period from May 11 to the end of September. It said more than 1 million people were at emergency levels of hunger, the second-highest level, meaning they have very high gaps in food and high acute malnutrition.
Washington: US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr posted photos on the weekend of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a contaminated Washington creek where swimming is not allowed because it is used for sewer run-off.

Rock Creek, which flows through much of north-west Washington, DC, is used to drain excess sewage and stormwater during rainfall. The creek has widespread fecal contamination and high levels of bacteria, including E. coli. The city has banned swimming in all of its waterways for more than 50 years because of the widespread contamination of Rock Creek and other nearby rivers.

Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and pet) health, the National Park Service wrote in an advisory on its website, adding All district waterways are subject to a swim ban  this means wading, too!

But Kennedy over the weekend shared photos of himself swimming in Rock Creek, with one image showing him completely submerged in the water. Kennedy said in the social media post that he had gone for the swim during a Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with his family  including his grandchildren, who are also seen in the photos swimming in the contaminated water.
BERLIN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of National Defense Dong Jun on Tuesday highlighted the importance of the United Nations peacekeeping efforts, reaffirming China's support for the UN's central role and its core position in global security governance.

During his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Berlin while attending the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025, Dong noted that over the past 80 years since its founding, the UN has played an important role in upholding international fairness and justice. Amid complex and profound changes in the current international landscape, the UN's role must be strengthened rather than weakened, he said.

The UN's peacekeeping operations were born for peace and have played a significant role in maintaining world peace, Dong stressed.

The minister added that China will announce new peacekeeping commitments, support the reform and transformation of UN peacekeeping efforts, and remain a steadfast supporter and constructive force in UN peacekeeping operations.

Guterres expressed appreciation for China's long-standing support for the United Nations, describing the country as an important pillar of multilateralism both now and in the future.

He said the United Nations highly values the three major global initiatives proposed by China and is committed to close cooperation with China across a wide range of areas, firmly opposing unilateralism based on power politics.

Guterres also noted China's increasingly important role in UN peacekeeping and said he looks forward to closer cooperation with China in this field. 
PARIS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized on Tuesday that the Europeans would be "irresponsible" if they failed to prepare for strategic independence from the United States within the next five to ten years.

In an interview with the French public channel TF1, Macron said that due to the persistent "America First" policy, "the interests of the U.S. will be less and less (focused) on Europe."

He pointed to a clear pattern of American disengagement from European allies over the past 15 years. It started "when the United States decided not to join us in Syria, when it unilaterally withdrew from Afghanistan, and can be seen in recent months," Macron said, referring to the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Calling the current global climate "a moment of geopolitical awakening," Macron emphasized that the European Union, originally built as a project for peace, must now face the challenge of remaining "free."

When asked about how Europe should respond to the U.S. tariffs, Macron firmly opposed the trade war but underlined Europe's resolve. "We are here, and we will fight to the end," he said. 
New normal





THE new normal India is working at currently is a condition that every Indian had always wanted. And to everybodys delight, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi is leading this new normal initiative against terrorism. The current period, thus, may be described as the most awaited phase in Indias counter-terrorism measures -- that the Prime Minister wants to be bigger and stronger. The purpose of this initiative is clear: India must communicate to terrorists that no place in Pakistan is ever safe for them, no matter where they hide, no matter how well-protected they keep themselves. So, whatever the terrorists -- or their political master Pakistan -- do in India, the response will be bigger and stronger: Wahan Se Goli Chalegi, Toh Yahan Se Gola Chalega(If you fire a bullet, we will hurl a bomb -- in loose translation in Hindi). This is the new normal ! In the past some years, India has amply demonstrated to the world its ability to raise the bar and set new normals. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, it was India that remained the least affected. In addition to remaining safer than most other places in the world, India also assumed global leadership in medical measures to counter the scourge.

The Government led by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi adopted new standards -- new normal -- for itself and the people to be followed in a no-nonsense manner. So, setting newer and higher standards is something India achieves habitually. As regards fighting terrorism, now India has set a new normal for itself. No matter what the terrorists do, Indias response will be bigger, stronger -- specific, responsible and non-escalatory. And that this new normal is not poetry, but a practical doctrine was proved with the manner and method of Indias response to act of terror at Pahalgam (and also other places previously). As per that doctrinal framework, Operation Sindoor will go on -- at least for some time until India achieves its chosen goals (for whatever length of time). New normal also has many facets. One of those is how India made debilitating strikes on Pakistans critical installations (when provoked severely by Pakistan) and ensured that Islamabads nuclear bluff was exposed. Some of the precision-strikes by India deep into the Pakistani territory -- close to its military head-quarter at Rawalpindi -- hit nuclear-critical installations and facilities that Pakistan could not protect.

The haste with which Pakistan sought a ceasefire was due to those debilitating strikes, as some experts assess. In the altered Indian parlance, thus, new normal constitutes all such endeavours. True, India promised the world that it would not hit civilian people and Pakistans military targets -- since its fight is against terrorism. The world believed India fully -- which is also a mark of the global acceptance of the new normal set in practice by Pakistan. The world believes that if India promises to achieve certain goal, then it will go full distance to fulfill its own promise -- as part of the new normal. Let alone what happened during Operation Sindoor as a consequence of the Pahalgam terror attack, but it is important to know Indian response to it will become a landmark for all of its future counter-terrorism actions. India has seen a full scale military mobilisation in the past as well. Some of those phases were as long as 21-plus months. Yet, at the end, there was no action. But this time, the Indian response was comprehensive but paradoxically sharper. That is the new normal the Modi Government is talking about, and the nation is gloating about. If this new normal remains operational all along, Pakistan will think many times before it indulges in sponsoring more acts of terror.
The Pakistani Mirage... Shattered Indian Army video shows crushed enemy jet





NEW DELHI :

THE Indian Army on Monday shared a powerful compilation video titled Destroy the Enemy in the Sky during a high-level briefing of top defence officials. The video showcased coordinated operations by the Army, Navy, and Air Force as part of the recently concluded Operation Sindoor. A striking segment of the footage included a still collage showing wreckage believed to be of enemy military equipment. One image was boldly captioned: The Pakistani Mirage... Shattered, underscoring the confirmed downing of a Pakistani fighter jet during the operation.

The session was led by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations , Air Vice Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, and Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General of Naval Operations. Our battle-proven systems stood the test of time and took them head-on. Stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system is another highlight. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the Government, Air Vice Marshal Bharti said. Operation Sindoor, which lasted approximately 25 minutes, targeted nine terror-related locations  four inside mainland Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier confirmed that the strikes eliminated over 100 terrorists and severely damaged infrastructure belonging to Pakistan-based terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

In retaliation, Pakistan launched a barrage of drone and missile strikes across Indian territory, targeting military outposts and civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Cities such as Chandigarh, Jaisalmer, and Pathankot experienced blackouts and air raid sirens. India sustained limited damage in Udhampur, Adampur, Pathankot, and Bhuj. Civilian casualties included injuries in Punjabs Ferozepur district and the death of a Government employee in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. Air Vice Marshal Bharti underlined the role of domestic counter-drone technologies in neutralising the threat. Numerous waves of drones and unmanned combat aerial vehicles employed by Pakistan were also thwarted by the indigenously developed soft and hard kill counter-UAS systems and the well-trained Indian Air Defence personnel, he said.
17 newborn girls named Sindoor, parents call it an honour





KUSHINAGAR :

INSPIRED by Operation Sindoor, Indias military action against Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack last month, 17 newborn girls here have been named Sindoor by their families. As many as 17 newborn girls born in a span of two days -- on May 10 and 11 -- in Kushinagar Medical College have been named Sindoor by their family members, Principal Dr RK Shahi told PTI on Monday. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several injured when terrorists opened fire at Baisaran meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on April 22. Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under the moniker Operation Sindoor.

Hailing Indian armed forces for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, Kushinagar resident Archana Shahi who recently gave birth to a baby girl, said she named her daughter after the military operation. Madan Gupta from Padrauna said ever since India avenged the killing of the 26 innocent people, his daughter-in-law Kajal Gupta wanted to name her newborn Sindoor. Vyasmuni from Bhathahi Babu village has taken a similar decision, saying that it would instil courage in his daughter.
Baloch Army hits 51 locations in Pakistan, declares new order in South Asia





BALOCHISTAN :

THE Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a major offensive involving 71 coordinated attacks at more than 51 locations across what it referred to as occupied Balochistan. In a separate statement, the group has issued a stark warning of a looming regional transformation, declaring that a new order has become inevitable in South Asia. Rejecting all allegations of acting as a foreign proxy, the BLA described itself as a dynamic and decisive party in the emerging strategic landscape of the region. Meanwhile, the attacks reportedly targeted Pakistani military convoys, intelligence centres, and mineral transport operations, as part of a wider campaign to challenge Islamabads grip over the resource-rich province. We strongly reject the idea that Baloch national resistance is a proxy of any state or power, the BLA stated. The BLA is neither a pawn nor a silent spectator.

We have our rightful place in the current and future military, political and strategic formation of this region and are fully aware of our role, it added. Accusing Pakistan of hypocrisy and duplicity, the group charged Islamabad of masking its war agenda with diplomatic overtures. Every talk of peace, ceasefire and brotherhood from Pakistan is merely a deception, a war tactic and a temporary ruse, the BLA said, warning India and the international community against falling for Islamabads deceptive peace rhetoric. The group described Pakistan as a state whose hands are stained with blood and whose every promise is soaked in it. BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said that the groups recent offensive was not merely aimed at causing destruction but was intended to test battlefield readiness. During the height of India-Pakistan military escalation earlier this week, BLA opened another front for the Pakistani military as it carried out 71 coordinated attacks, he said. which went on for many hours, at more than 51 locations across the occupied Balochistan, he said.

The aim of these attacks was not simply to destroy the enemy but to test military coordination, ground control, and defensive positions, in order to strengthen readiness for future organised warfare. The BLAs statement also launched a sharp attack on Pakistans intelligence agency, the ISI, accusing it of fostering international terrorism. Pakistan has not only been a breeding ground for global terrorists but also a centre for the state-sponsored development of deadly terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and ISIS, the statement read. The ISI is the network behind this terrorism... Pakistan has become a nuclear state of violent ideology, it added. Calling on the global community, particularly India, for support, the BLA appealed for political, diplomatic and defence assistance. If we receive political, diplomatic and defence support from the world, especially from India, Baloch nation can eliminate this terrorist state, the statement said. The group argued that such support could pave the way for a peaceful, prosperous and independent Balochistan.

In a grave warning, the BLA said Pakistans continued trajectory poses a global risk. If Pakistan continues to be tolerated, then in the coming years very existence of this state may lead to the ruin of the entire world, it said. The control of nuclear weapons by a fanatical military establishment is a ticking time bomb -- not only for the region but for global security. Meanwhile, Pakistans Army Chief, General Asim Munir, downplayed the unrest, claiming it stemmed from no more than 1,500 individuals.  Balochistan, though rich in natural resources, has long suffered from economic neglect. The central government, guided by the Islamabad-Rawalpindi axis, has been accused of extracting the provinces wealth without investing in its people. The current wave of violence is part of one of the longest-running liberation movements in the region, reflecting decades of unrest, marginalisation, and demands for autonomy.
Family outing turns into tragedy Water-filled quarry swallows five, including two children, near Kuhi





The Kuhi Police Station officials inspecting the crime scene on Monday evening. (Pic blurred)

Staff Reporter :

A joyful outing turned into a heartbreaking tragedy as five persons including two children drowned in a water-filled quarry near Kuhi turning on Umred Road in Nagpur District. The bodies of the deceased were fished out by the police, on Monday evening. The deceased have been identified as Aihtesham Muktar Ansari (20), a resident of Takia, Diwanshah; Rajju alias Ranjana Suryakant Raut (22) from Gujarwadi; Roshni Chandrakant Chaudhary (32); and her children, Mohit (10) and Laxmi (8), who lived in Dhule. Rajju and Roshni were relatives and Aihtesham was a friend of Rajju. Kuhi Police Station officials said that Roshni had come to visit Rajju along with her two children, recently. On Sunday afternoon, all the five went for an outing on Aihteshams motorcycle and reached the quarry.

The quarry was filled with water. The five failed to gauge the depth of the water while bathing in the quarry. Sadly, one by one, all the five drowned. As none of them returned home in the evening, families got panicky. Worried relatives began searching for them and filed missing person reports at Ganeshpeth and Tehsil Police stations. Meanwhile, Aihteshams maternal uncle, Mohammad Rafiq Ansari, who lives near Kuhi turning, traced Aihteshams mobile phone location. The location led him to the quarry. He then alerted the Kuhi Police Station officials. Police Inspector Bhanudas Pidurkar and his team rushed to the scene around 4 pm on Monday. They found a motorcycle, clothes and other belongings near the edge of the quarry.

With the help of local swimmers and divers, a search was carried out in the water. Eventually, the bodies of all five victims were recovered from the quarry. The bodies were identified by the grieving family members. Police completed a panchnama and sent the bodies to the Government Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. Kuhi Police have registered a case of accidental death and are continuing their investigation to understand the full circumstances of the incident. A police official said that they are not suspecting anything other than a terrible accident.
Joint team conducts search at Kerala house of student activist held in city





Staff Reporter :

Sydeek, identified as an freelance journalist and is the President of the Democratic Students Union, Kerala Chapter, was picked up from a hotel in central Nagpur after being tracked for his online activities

A joint team of Nagpur Police and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Kerala conducted a search operation at the residence of Kerala-based student activist and journalist Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek in Kochi in Kerala. He was arrested by Lakadganj Police on May 7. During the search, the team seized some literature which would help the investigators to initiate further action against Sydeek. Rejaz Sydeek (26), was arrested on serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 149 (preparing to wage war against the Government of India), Section 192 (provocation with intent to cause riots), Section 351 (criminal intimidation) and Section 353 (statements conducive to public mischief).

The search at his Edappally residence, under the jurisdiction of Edappally Police Station, began around 9.30 pm. Officials from Nagpur Police and Kerala Police examined Sydeeks personal belongings, documents, digital devices, and books. While the police have not officially disclosed the findings, sources suggest that the focus was on uncovering material that may link him to alleged Maoist propaganda and anti-government campaigns. Sydeek, who identifies as an independent journalist and is the President of the Democratic Students Union (DSU), Kerala Chapter, was picked up from a hotel in central Nagpur after being tracked for his online activities. Intelligence reports indicated that Sydeek had posted provocative material on social media, including a photograph showing him holding two guns and referencing Operation Sindoor  a counter-insurgency campaign against terrorists. A senior police official claim that Sydeek was not just a vocal critic but an active urban operative of the banned CPI (Maoist).

Police sources allege that he was mobilising funds, preparing to publish a journal titled Nazariya, and working to build covert student groups in support of Maoist ideology. During the house search, investigators were reportedly looking for further evidence of printed and digital Maoist literature, including items linked to Operation Kagar, a large-scale anti-Maoist security operation in central India. A few publications allegedly supporting peace talks from Delhi to Bastar and criticising military actions were found in his possession at the time of arrest. While Sydeeks girlfriend, Isha Kumari, a student in Nagpur, also was questioned, the focus remains on Sydeeks wider connections.
No chance of Pak breaking our multi-layered defence system: DGMO





Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal A K Bharti, Vice Admiral A N Pramod during a press conference on Operation Sindoor, in New Delhi, on Monday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI :

DIRECTOR General Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai on Monday lauded Indias multi-layered air defence system, saying that there was no chance Pakistan couldve broken it and targeted our airfield and logistic installation. Addressing a press briefing, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai hailed the unique mixture of Counter-Unmanned Aerial System, Air Defence Weapons and mediums of electronic warfare in Indias inventory to stop the Pakistan attacks.

In our inventory, we have a unique mixture of Counter- Unmanned Aerial System, Air Defence Weapons and mediums of electronic warfare, and that is why you saw when Pakistan air force attacked our airfield and logistic installation on May 9 and 10, they failed to breach this strong air defence grid. Lieutenant General Ghai said. You can see how many layers, counters, unmanned aerial systems, behind that shoulder-fired weapons and our vintage air defence weapons and in the last our modern air defence weapons system. There was no chance that Pakistan couldve broken our multi-layered defence system and target our airfield and logistic installation, he added Our fight is against terrorists, not with Pakistan Military: Air Marshal Bharti: AIR MARSHAL AK Bharti stated on Monday that the purpose of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorists, and not to engage with the Pakistan Military or Pakistani civilians. Addressing a press briefing, Air Marshal Bharti said, Our fight is with the terrorists, our fight is not with the Pakistan Military or Pakistan civilians, so that is very clear. We are very clear in our targeting.

Air Marshal emphasised that the Indian Armed Forces showcased their effectiveness through precise strikes during Operation Sindoor. Our counter systems and trained air defence operators are fully capable, and our nations indigenous capability has proven its effectiveness. It has been demonstrated that no matter what kind of technology emerges, we are prepared to counter it. There is no need for excessive words, you have seen with your own eyes the consequences we have delivered, he stated. We are maintaining continuous surveillance: Vice Admiral AN Pramod: WITH THE air defence systems deployed by India standing the test of time in the face of aggression launched by Pakistan, Director General Naval Operations, Vice Admiral AN Pramod, said that Indian Navy is maintaining continuous surveillance to degrade or neutralise threats as they emerge.
Road Carnage 13 killed, over a dozen injured in collision





Scene at the fierce collision that claimed so many precious lives.

Our Correspondent

KHARORA

Swaraj Mazda collides with a trailer truck n Casualties may increase as the condition of some of the injured are stated to be critical

IN a major road accident reported on the Raipur-Balodabazar main road, near the capital at least thirteen people including three children lost their lives when a passenger-laden Swaraj Mazda collided with a trailer truck near Saragaon highway late Sunday night. As per reports the number of casualties may increase as the condition of some of the injured are stated to be critical. The victims, all members of Sahu family from Chataud village, were returning from a chhathi ceremony held in village Bana Banarsi under Kharora police station limits, when tragedy struck around 11.30 pm. The vehicle, reportedly overcrowded with 40 to 50 passengers, first hit another vehicle before crashing head on into a trailer bearing registration number JH-05 DP-7584. According to police, the trailer was transporting machinery parts and was trying to avoid a toll plaza by taking an alternate route.

A portion of the machinery -iron parts protruding nearly three feet on both sides-struck the mini truck (Swaraj Mazda), causing the deadly collision. The mini truck subsequently lost control and collided with another truck coming from behind the trailer, killing 10 women, two girls and a boy on the spot and leaving 14 others critically injured. The deceased include Eklavya Sahu (6) of Mohandi village; Bhoomi Sahu of Anandgaon; Umang Sahu (4 months) and Rajbati Sahu (60) of Nagpura, Mandir Hasoud; Varsha Sahu (27) of Berla; Mahima Sahu (18) of Gondwara, Khamtarai; Kunti Sahu, Kriti Sahu, and Tikeshwari Sahu, all from Chataud village; Nandani Sahu, Prabha Sahu and Geeta Sahu, all from Mohandi. The impact of the collision was so devastating that bodies were mangled beyond recognition and human remains were scattered across the road, leaving bystanders shocked. Rescue operations had to be conducted under extreme caution as several bodies were trapped between the wreckage of the two vehicles. Following the accident, ambulances were rushed from Kharora to Raipur. Passersby stopped to help, assisting in placing the injured into ambulances. Initially taken to a private hospital, the critically injured were later referred to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur,

PM Modi expresses grief, announces ex-gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his profound grief over the road accident. Taking to PMOs X account, he conveyed his condolences and announced ex-gratia compensation for the victims families. Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon, Prime Minister Modi wrote. The PM announced that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased. Furthermore, the injured individuals would receive Rs 50,000.

President expresses condolences

President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her heartfelt sorrow on demise of women and children. The news of the death of many people, including children and women, in a road accident in Raipur, Chhattisgarh is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured, wrote President Droupadi Murmu on her official X handle.

Dy CM Sao expresses condolences

Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

May 12

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao has expressed deep sorrow and condolences following the tragic road accident that claimed 13 lives on the Raipur-Balodabazar road. A heart-wrenching road accident has occurred, 13 people have died, and it is heartbreaking. I pay my tribute to the deceased people and express condolence to their relatives, Sao stated. He assured that a thorough investigation into the incident will be conducted, and strict action will be taken against those found responsible, he affirmed. Deputy Chief Minister Sao also mentioned that Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is actively monitoring the situation and is in constant communication with officials. Most of the accidents happen due to violations of laws, and some cases of toll evasions, as appeared to be in this case, are also being reported, Sao noted. He reiterated the governments commitment to ensuring accountability and assured that decisive action would be taken after investigation.

Cong for increased compensation

A tragic road accident near Kharora in Raipur district on Sunday night resulted in the death of at least 13 people, prompting strong reactions from the State Congress. State Congress President Deepak Baij expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a statement released earlier today, Baij paid tribute to the deceased and wished a swift recovery to those injured in the accident. Baij criticized the compensation amount announced for the victims as insufficient and demanded that the State government immediately provide Rs 50 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 10 lakh to each of the injured. He also urged the government to ensure that there is no negligence in the medical treatment being provided to the injured. Expressing serious concern over the recurring road accidents in Chhattisgarh, Baij called upon the State government to formulate a concrete action plan to prevent such incidents in the future.

He specifically emphasized the need to strictly enforce regulations prohibiting the transportation of passengers in goods vehicles. Recalling a similar tragedy in Pandariya of Kabirdham district a year ago, where 19 lives were lost when a pickup vehicle overturned, Baij pointed out that despite demands for stricter enforcement, the government failed to take adequate precautions. He lamented that the continued practice of carrying passengers and wedding processions in goods carriers has now led to another devastating accident.
WASHINGTON, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday announced an arms deal worth nearly 142 billion U.S. dollars with Saudi Arabia, calling it "the largest defense sales agreement in history."

The White House said in a press release that U.S. will provide the Middle East country "with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms."

The arms sales cover five categories, including air force advancement and space capabilities, air and missile defense, maritime and coastal security, border security and land forces modernization, and information and communication systems upgrades, said the press release.

The package also includes extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services.

The package is part of Saudi Arabia's 600-billion dollars commitment to invest in the United States, according to the White House. 
SHANTI COMES THROUGH SHAKTI :PM





New Delhi :

India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail, thunders PM Modi in address to the nation

Asserting that India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said operations against Pakistan have only been kept in abeyance and the future will depend on their behaviour. The PM stated that the path to Shanti goes through Shakti as he announced the new normal against terrorism. In his first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor, Modi said that while Pakistan pleaded with India to stop the military offensive, New Delhi considered it only after they promised to stop their misadventure. The Prime Minister termed the Pahalgam attack as the most barbaric face of terrorism, saying it was personal pain for him, but the enemy has now realised the consequences of removing sindoor from the forehead of our women. Addressing the nation, Modi said Operation Sindoor was not just a name but, through it, the whole world saw Indias resolve turn into action and more than 100 dreaded terrorists were slaughtered.

India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan, the future will depend on their behaviour. Operation Sindoor is now Indias new policy against terrorism, a new line has been drawn, he said. PM Modi said India will not see terrorists and their state sponsors separately. This is not an era of war but it is also not an era of terrorism, he said. Pakistan has to dismantle its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace, the Prime Minister said. Pahalgam attack was the most barbaric face of terrorism, it was a personal pain for me. We gave the armed forces full liberty to raze terrorists to dust.

The enemy has now realised the consequences of removing sindoor from the forehead of our women. Operation Sindoor was not just a name... On May 7, the whole world saw our resolve turn into action, he said. When our missiles and drones destroyed terror sites in Pakistan, not only their buildings but their spirit was also demolished. When Nation First is our resolve, steely decisions are taken, he said. Saluting the security forces, PM Modi dedicated their bravery to mothers, sisters and daughters of this country. Pakistan slumped into gloom after the Indian attack on terror camps, but they dared to attack us rather than helping fight terrorism. More than 100 dreaded terrorists were slaughtered in the Indian attack, Modi said.

The entire world saw how Pakistani drones were downed by our military might. India has struck at the heart of Pakistan, our missiles attacked with precision to damage their air bases, he said. In a special video address to the nation, PM Modi sent a strong warning to Pakistan, saying: Terror and talk, terror and trade and water and blood cannot flow together. Talks with Pakistan will only be held on terror. Referring to Buddha Pournima being observed on Monday, he said the day signifies peace, but India will not hesitate from using its strength to establish peace. He saluted the Armed Forces and said the Government could take strong decisions because of its policy of Nation First.

Warning that Pakistan will be destroyed by its own terror infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that we struck terror hubs in the heart of that country and also destroyed its defence facilities when it attacked us instead of joining our war against terror that eliminated 100 terrorists. Earlier in the day, PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting with top government functionaries, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and NSA Ajit Doval to assess the gains from Operation Sindoor. The meeting took place at the Prime Ministers residence in the national capital. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and all three service chiefs - General Upendra Dwivedi, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh - attended the meeting. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Deka, and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Ravi Sinha were also present in the meeting.

The high-level meeting came two days after India and Pakistan arrived at an understanding for a ceasefire with a decision that the DGMOs of both sides would talk to each other on May 12. The ceasefire was sought by Pakistan after facing massive airstrikes by the Indian Air Force that destroyed 11 of its airbases. The meeting also came ahead of DGMOs of India and Pakistan talking to each other on hotlines around 5 p.m. on Monday to discuss the continuation of the ceasefire and the steps to further de-escalate tensions.
Traffic-jams, a new normal PROGRESS REPORT - AJNI RLY OVERBRIDGE





By Sagar Mohod :

MSRDC said, the first phase of the proposed six-lane cable-stayed bridge to be ready by December 2025

Even as work on new 6-lane twin cable stayed bridge at Ajni is going on at a steady pace, for commuters the ride on the railway overbridge (RoB) is fraught with risk daily. The over 100-year-old RoB is now a major choking point in smooth movement of traffic, connecting South Nagpur with different parts of city. During the peak hours, the scene on either end of the RoB, the Medical end as well as Congress Nagar end is simply choatic, and the citizens are struggling with the situation for last many years. To make matter worse post opening of middle road after bisecting Central Jail land, the jam on either end of Ajni RoB has worsened.

The opening from Congress Nagar side is like a funnel and hence entry onto the bridge slows down causing commotion. Sometime back, the city police made slight change to avoid jams on Congress Nagar end by preventing direct entry from Medical side to exit on Congress Nagar end. Now traffic gets diverted and citizens are required to take a U-turn opp Irrigation office. The RoB was due for replacement long back and Railways had even communicated to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) seeking it role in construction of new bridge. Since NMC did not had sufficient funds, it sought to rope in Public Works Department (PWD) of Maharashtra Government. This was about a decade back and that time there was no inkling of Cable Stayed Bridge, though one such already came in place of old Santra Market RoB, adjacent to Nagpur Railway Station. In between National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) proposed Inter Modal Station (IMS) project near Ajni Railway Station they came-up with idea of Cable Stayed Bridge. However as the IMS project faced opposition from green activist, NHAI exited the project and State Government the handed over the bridge constructon to MRIDC. Now as per Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), the first of the two cable stayed bridge is scheduled for opening by end of December 2025.

At present, under testing condition the construction of central pylon is on Southern side of the existing RoB that is two laned. The construction challenge is mainly busy railway tracks adjacent to pylon and hence construction process gets carried out quite cautiously. Once the pylon is constructed, the deck slabs would be fitted with the ropes. MRIDC spokesperson Vinit Toke said, the slabs are almost ready in the casting yard and when the railway blocks are taken they would be transported to the Ajni RoB site. The bridge's construction was commenced in April 2023 and original target was to complete the work by the end of 2024. But due to some delay, the deadline has been advanced to end of 2025. The existing Ajni Bridge located between Ajni and Khapri Railway Station on Nagpur - Wardha section in Nagpur division of Central Railway.

The new Cable Stayed Bridge will significantly reduce the traffic congestions in this area and will also add to the beauty of the Nagpur city. MRIDC said the construction of bridge is very challenging and difficult to construct the foundation within running Railway Lines. Nevertheless, MRIDC has made remarkable progress, the work of Connecting beam has been completed and pylon on 52 metre heigh is being constructed above the connecting beam. The fabrication work of steel girders is also in progress at casting yard, once completed the girder will be transported to ajni from the casting yard. After completion of first phase, the traffic will be rerouted from the existing (old) bridge to the newly constructed bridge once the proposed bridge is constructed. In the second phase, after redirecting traffic to the new bridge, the existing RoB will be demolished to construct remaining 3 lanes of RoB, said Toke. Ajni RoB will provide direct connectivity to South and Central Nagpur and new Cable Stayed Bridge will provide smooth traffic movement.

This Cable Stayed Over Bridge will add architectural landmarks to the city. The proposed LED theme lighting during the night will enhance the beauty and will give aesthetic appeal to the neighbourhood. provision of footpath on both sides of the Cable Stayed Bridge will be provided along with selfie points. The connecting path to Cable Stayed Bridge will be from Kamble turning of Ajni railway colony and all the encroachments on the route, the shops on lease on railway land, have been demolished. Only one shop that sells flowers remains at corner of the Ajni Railway Colony, thanks to patronage of railway officials, it is learnt.
Tragic mishap in Bhopal: Speeding school bus kills one, injures six





Staff Reporter :

Deceased, Ayesha Khans father is a manager at Indian Bank in Jabalpur

A devastating accident at Banganga Square around 11 am Monday claimed the life of Ayesha Khan, a 26-year-old BAMS doctor and medical intern at JP Hospital, while leaving six others injured, two critically, according to TT Nagar police. The incident, triggered by a speeding school bus with suspected brake failure, caused chaos as it collided with multiple vehicles at a traffic signal. Police Station In-Charge Sudhir Arajaria reported that the bus, traveling from Roshanpura Square toward Banganga Square, lost control and rammed into at least eight vehicles waiting at a red light. CCTV footage captured the horrific moment when Ayasha, riding a scooty, was struck by the bus. The impact threw her into the air, dragging her nearly 50 feet as she became entangled in the bus front portion before tragically falling under its front wheel. She succumbed to her injuries on the spot.

Eyewitnesses recounted that 10-12 vehicles were stationary at the signal when the bus approached at high speed from Roshanpur Chauraha toward Polytechnic. The driver was heard shouting, Move apart, move apart, but failed to stop the vehicle. After the collision, he abandoned the bus and fled. Police are actively searching for the driver and investigating potential mechanical faults in the vehicle. Ayesha, a resident of Mulla Colony, was returning home from her internship when the tragedy occurred. Her father, Zahid Khan, a manager at Indian Bank in Jabalpur, and her family were devastated. Ayesha was set to get marries on June 14, and her mother was distributing wedding invitations when the news of her death arrived. She is survived by her parents and a younger brother.

Among the injured, laborers Rais and Firoz, who were on a single bike, sustained severe injuries. Initially taken to Hamidia Hospital, they were later shifted to a private facility by their families. The collision caused a chain reaction, with the bus striking a car that lurched forward, hitting another car, which then struck a bike ahead. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, and police are examining CCTV footage to reconstruct the incident. The tragedy has sparked concerns about road safety and vehicle maintenance, with authorities vowing to take strict action against those responsible.
A craftsperson displays a porcelain product in Iznik, Turkiye, on May 9, 2025. A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said. Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

IZNIK, Turkiye, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange.

The bond between Iznik and Jingdezhen has improved due to increased exchanges of official delegations, said Ahmet Kaya, deputy mayor of Iznik, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"Our most important joint project right now is the ceramic and porcelain production facility that will be established in Iznik," Kaya added.

"This isn't just about production," he added. "It's about cultural synergy -- bringing Turkish and Chinese artisans together, side by side. We see great value in blending traditions and craftsmanship."

Once operational, the facility is expected to serve as both a cultural landmark and an economic catalyst -- strengthening Iznik's identity while reinforcing ties with one of the world's most influential porcelain centers, Kaya noted.

The collaboration also includes commercial and educational elements. Kaya said the two cities have worked together to open a retail outlet in Istanbul, showcasing both Iznik tiles and Jingdezhen porcelain. "It's a small but important first step in joint marketing efforts," he said.

Artisan exchanges are also a central part of the initiative. Several Turkish ceramicists, including Adil Can Guven -- a master recognized as a "Living Human Treasure" by Turkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism -- have visited Jingdezhen to study its intricate production methods. Guven operates a family workshop in Iznik and aspires to teach a younger generation of artisans in the city.

Iznik's trademark tilework, known for its deep blue, turquoise, green, and red motifs -- often floral, with tulips and carnations -- once adorned imperial palaces and mosques but suffered a decline in later centuries. Efforts to revive the art form have gained momentum in recent years.

"We're eager to send more of our young artisans and masters to Jingdezhen, and to learn firsthand from their techniques and processes," Kaya said.

Kaya himself traveled to Jingdezhen in 2024 to attend an international ceramic exposition. "Artists and enthusiasts from all over the world were there. It was incredibly exciting for me," he said. "It inspired us to start planning an Iznik tiles and ceramics symposium. It may not be on the same scale initially, but we have started."

Preparations for the symposium are already under way. Iznik officials are working with universities and academics from Turkiye, China, and other countries who specialize in ceramic heritage to ensure the event has a strong impact, the official added. 

This photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows semi-processed and finished porcelain products in Iznik, Turkiye.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

Craftspeople work on porcelain products in Iznik, Turkiye, on May 9, 2025.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

A craftsperson paints on a porcelain blank in Iznik, Turkiye, on May 9, 2025.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

A craftsperson makes a porcelain blank in Iznik, Turkiye, on May 9, 2025.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

A craftsperson arranges porcelain products in Iznik, Turkiye, on May 9, 2025.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

This photo taken on May 9, 2025 shows porcelain products in Iznik, Turkiye.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

A craftsperson paints on a porcelain blank in Iznik, Turkiye, on May 9, 2025.

A growing partnership between Turkiye's historic ceramics hub Iznik and China's Jingdezhen, often dubbed the "Porcelain Capital," is aiming to breathe new life into centuries-old artisanal traditions by fusing cultural heritage with modern collaboration, a local official said.

Iznik, renowned for its vibrant quartz-frit tiles that flourished during the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th to the 17th century, and Jingdezhen, with a porcelain-making legacy spanning about 1,700 years, became sister cities in 2021. Since then, the partnership has matured into a wider cooperation built on shared craftsmanship and cultural exchange. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Mark Carney on his assuming office as Canadian prime minister.

Noting that China attaches high importance to the relationship with Canada, Li said that he is willing to work with Carney to take the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 20th anniversary of the China-Canada strategic partnership as an opportunity to promote China-Canada relations in the right direction of improvement and development, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, so as to better benefit both countries and the two peoples. 
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One of the central weaknesses of the Biden administration's national security policies was its reliance on the concept of "integrated deterrence" to prevent aggressive actions by the People's Republic of China.

The strategy entailed building robust alliances in the Indo-Pacific, forward-deploying greater numbers of U.S. military assets to the region, and a tighter integration of military capabilities across the full spectrum of warfare.

But this approach only works if the United States can also credibly wage and win a war against China and prevent its regional and global military ambitions. In this respect, the Biden administration was far less successful.

There are four major areas the Trump administration should focus on to make deterrence as well as U.S. war-fighting strategies more successful.

The military challenge of China is an order of magnitude greater than any military threat the United States has ever faced. Over the last decade, it has consistently increased its military budget by 7% every year far more than the United States and has dramatically grown its military forces in every respect.

It now fields the largest navy in the world and the largest missile force on the planet. Similarly, the PRC is the world's fastest growing nuclear power, and today fields more tactical weapons in Asia than does the United States. All of this is part of China's strategy to deter and, if necessary, deny any potential U.S. military actions within the region.

Due to these developments, the United States must grow the size of its military overall to include conventional forces relevant to deterring Chinese aggression, such as ships, combat aircraft, and logistical support systems and aggressively address retention and recruiting problems across the force.

The second area requiring attention is the "missile gap" between the munitions available in U.S. inventories and those required to successfully prosecute U.S. war plans against China. While many of these munitions have been used in the war in Ukraine and in operations in the Middle East, the paucity of industrial capacity to build required munitions on a scale necessary for a future possible conflict is alarming.

While some production lines have been opened in response to war-fighting requirements in Ukraine and some procurement orders have been given multi-year contracts, more must be done. Similarly, the ability to build additional conventional capabilities while also refitting and refurbishing existing platforms is also disturbingly low. Reindustrializing U.S. military infrastructure should be a priority for the Trump administration.

The third area requiring greater attention is preparing for the mass mobilization of reservists if war with China were to break out. A significant portion of existing active-duty weapons platforms require reserve help in order for them to work and deploy.

Existing reserve centers lack sufficient personnel to process such a large mobilization and the services vary in their ability to track former reserve members, who may also need to be called up, in the event of large-scale conflict. Further, many reservists also work in industries necessary for war so a focused look at the implications of full-scale mobilization also needs to be undertaken.

The final area requiring greater attention is closely examining how a full decoupling of the U.S. and Chinese markets would look like in a war time environment. Far too many components, parts, and even rare earth elements are controlled or influenced by the PRC and its government-controlled companies. In a war-time scenario, the absence of these crucial items could prove disastrous to the war-fighting ability of the United States.

A credible policy of deterrence can only exist if the ability to wage and win a war against an opponent is also viable. This can only be done through the growth of U.S. military forces, addressing significant munition shortfalls, making sure reservists can be mobilized at scale and quickly, and that U.S. military capabilities can continue to fight if access to the Chinese market is curtailed.

The Trump administration needs to focus on rebuilding the war-fighting abilities of the United States to make America safe again. If not, catastrophe could await our armed forces.

Daniel R. Green, PhD., is a national security and international affairs expert. His experience spans military service, diplomacy, policy development, and strategic advisory roles. He has served in key positions that shape U.S. defense and foreign policy, including as a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, a Political Advisor with the U.S. Department of State, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development.
by Ada Zhang

UNITED NATIONS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly convened an informal plenary meeting on Monday to hear a briefing from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the UN80 Initiative, a wide-ranging reform effort launched as the UN approaches its 80th anniversary of founding.

The UN80 Initiative, introduced in March, aims to modernize the operations of the 193-member body. The reform focuses on identifying efficiencies and improvements within existing frameworks, reviewing how member states' requests are carried out, and exploring changes to the agency's structure, said Guterres.

The changes are expected to yield "meaningful reductions" in the overall budget, said Guterres. The departments for political and peacekeeping affairs could see a 20 percent reduction in staff by eliminating duplication, according to UN.

The financial strain on the organization is already apparent. As of May, just 1.8 billion U.S. dollars of the 3.5 billion dollars in regular budget assessments for 2025 has been received, which represents a shortfall of roughly 50 percent, according to data from the Fifth Committee of the UNGA.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said his expectation of this reform initiative is to advance institutional renewal and efficiency enhancement. "This is a task of great importance, and the Secretary-General must exercise strict oversight. China hopes the reform will deliver concrete results."

"As the world enters a new period of turbulent transformation marked by rising unilateralism and multiplying global challenges, the role of the United Nations must be reinforced, not diminished," Fu said.

It is essential to uphold the authority and status of the United Nations, he said. He added that reform must strengthen rather than weaken the organization.

"The more complex and volatile the international situation becomes, the more important it is to support the UN in playing its central role and to safeguard the international system with the UN at its core. This must remain the fundamental direction and ultimate goal of the reform, and should be firmly upheld," the Chinese envoy said.

"A more streamlined, efficient, responsive, financially accountable, and influential United Nations is in the interest of all parties," he said.

As reform concerns the interests of all member states, "it is imperative to enhance transparency, strengthen consultation with member states, build the broadest possible consensus, conduct comprehensive and prudent evaluations, and make responsible decisions," he added.

"Reform must not be used as an excuse for the UN to do less or even nothing, nor should it become a justification for certain countries to shirk their financial obligations," Fu emphasized.

He stressed that the legitimate interests of developing countries must be fully safeguarded. Their representation and voice must be effectively enhanced. "This is key to the success of the reform," he said.

"It is unacceptable for the interests of a few countries to override those of other member states, or for the legitimate rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries to be sacrificed to meet the demands of a minority," he said.

Guterres and his predecessors have faced challenges in trying to reform the organization over the past decades. The UN has been criticized for heavy bureaucracy, slow decision-making, and fragmented coordination among agencies. The UN is also heavily dependent on voluntary contributions from member states, which leads to unpredictable funding.

Abbas Kadhom Obaid, permanent representative of Iraq to the UN, speaking at Monday's meeting on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, expressed "deep concern" over the dire liquidity situation of the UN.

He noted that "one single member state, which is also the only beneficiary of the maximum ceiling on the scale of assessments, continues to be responsible for more than 90 percent of arrears to the regular budget."

Obaid pointed out that any proposal aimed at achieving efficiencies by reducing duplications and redundancies across the UN system "should not aim at dismantling UN agencies and funds, to the detriment of due support to member states."

"We emphasize that any reforms foreseen under this initiative must preserve, first and foremost, the multilateral and inclusive nature of the United Nations, while also avoiding strategy-driven models that may ultimately compromise the effectiveness of our organization, particularly with regard to the implementation of its multiple mandates approved by member states," he said.

He added that for small states, a strong and effective multilateral system, underpinned by respect for the UN Charter and international law, is not an option but an existential necessity.

Burhan Gafoor, permanent representative of Singapore to the UN, speaking on behalf of the Small States Group (SSG), said the world is witnessing a period of geopolitical tension, economic fragmentation and rising nationalism. "We are deeply concerned by the erosion of respect for international law and by efforts to reverse economic integration and globalization," he said.

The UN is facing a significant budget shortfall as the United States and other donors scale back humanitarian aid and multilateral funding. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes deep cuts to foreign aid, with signals that U.S. contributions to the UN system could be nearly eliminated.

Richard Gowan, UN Director at the International Crisis Group, warned in April that the UN may face a 20 percent budget reduction in 2026 due to donor cuts and unpaid member contributions, The New York Times reported.

In February, Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of U.S. engagement with the UN and withdrew from agencies focused on human rights, reproductive health, climate change, and global health. Other UN donors, including the United Kingdom, are also reducing humanitarian spending. 
Yes  Significant efforts are being made

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Some progress  But there are still critical gaps

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GAZA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- At least six Palestinians were killed and 40 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the European Hospital in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported that 16 people had died in the strike, while other media outlets cited rescuers who put the death toll at 28.

Palestinian security sources said the hospital was hit by at least six missiles. Videos circulating on social media showed significant damage to the facility.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it had carried out a "precise strike" in coordination with the Israel Security Agency, targeting Hamas operatives located beneath the hospital.

According to the IDF, the strike was aimed at an underground Hamas command and control centre. The military accused Hamas of continuing to use hospitals in Gaza to conceal militant infrastructure.

Israeli state broadcaster Kan and other media outlets reported that the strike targeted Hamas figure Mohammed Sinwar. It remained unclear whether he was among the casualties. Sinwar is the younger brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza in October last year.

Hamas, in a statement issued Tuesday, rejected the Israeli claims, calling them "lies and attempts to mislead international public opinion." The group accused Israel of exploiting such allegations to justify attacks on Gaza's healthcare system and to "terrorise civilians." The statement did not address whether Mohammed Sinwar was present at the site. 
JERUSALEM, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday that together with the Israel Security Agency, it carried out a precise strike against Hamas militants beneath the European Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News and other media outlets reported that the target of the attack was Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli army in southern Gaza in mid-October last year. Mohammed Sinwar has become Hamas' de facto head in Gaza following his brother's death.

The reports did not indicate whether Mohammed Sinwar was harmed in the attack.

The IDF stated that the attack was aimed at an underground Hamas command and control center, accusing the Hamas movement of continuing to use hospitals in Gaza for terrorist activity.

It added that before and during the strike, several steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, including "the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence." 
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Nine police personnel belonging to the Federal Reserve Unit, which specializes in riot control, were killed in an accident on Tuesday, authorities said.

The nine police officers were killed on the spot and two others injured when the truck transporting them collided with a lorry in the state of Perak, Hilir Perak police chief Bakri Zainal Abidin said in a statement following the early morning crash.

The accident sparked a wave of condolences from the public, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim joining other Malaysians in expressing his sympathy to the families of the diseased.

Anwar also called on the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the fatal accident and ensure that compensation is provided to the families of the victims. 
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Speaker of Zimbabwe's Parliament Jacob Mudenda at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, held talks with Speaker of Zimbabwe's Parliament Jacob Mudenda in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhao, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe 45 years ago, the two countries have always trusted and supported each other, and bilateral relations have withstood the test of time and changes in the international situation.

Zhao said that the two heads of state conducted in-depth, friendly exchanges in Beijing last year and reached an important consensus, drawing a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations and mutually beneficial cooperation. He said that China is willing to work with Zimbabwe to implement the consensus reached between their two presidents and build a high-level China-Zimbabwe community with a shared future.

Zhao said that China is willing to make joint efforts with Zimbabwe to maintain and develop the high-level political mutual trust between the two countries. It also stands ready to continue their firm mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and enhance international coordination.

Zhao said that the NPC of China is willing to enhance friendly exchange at all levels with the Parliament of Zimbabwe, and to undertake exchange and mutual learning related to such issues as legislation, supervision, the improvement of people's livelihoods, social governance and combating cross-border crime, with the aim of creating a favorable legal environment for practical cooperation between the two countries.

China welcomes Zimbabwean parliamentarians to come to China for further exchanges and visits, Zhao added.

He outlined the relevant situation of special-economic-zone construction in China in combination with the legislative work of the NPC. He added that the NPC of China is willing to exchange experience with Zimbabwe on strengthening the rule of law in such areas as the construction of special economic zones and the expansion of opening-up, and welcomes Zimbabwe to participate in the process of modernization with Chinese characteristics and share in its development opportunities.

Mudenda said that under the guidance of the two presidents, the Zimbabwe-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has been deepened continuously, and that Zimbabwe adheres firmly to the one-China principle and appreciates the Chinese government and people for their long-term and valuable support. Zimbabwe is willing to enhance practical cooperation with China in areas such as trade, energy, agriculture, artificial intelligence and culture.

Zimbabwe's Parliament is willing to enhance friendly exchange with the NPC of China, exchange views on areas such as the promotion of economic and social development through legislation, and make legislative contributions to building a high-level Zimbabwe-China community with a shared future, Mudenda said. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Speaker of Zimbabwe's Parliament Jacob Mudenda at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
In a major crackdown against illegal infiltration, police from Hanskhali police station, under Ranaghat police district in Nadia apprehended four Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian tout early this morning from Panditpur Bazar under Ramnagar-II gram panchayat.

According to police sources, the operation was conducted based on a tip-off, leading to the arrest of the infiltrators who were allegedly attempting to return to Bangladesh after staying illegally in India for about a year. The group had reportedly entered the country through the Indo-Bangladesh border in North 24-Parganas and had lived in cities like Chennai and Bengaluru before reaching Hanshkhali.

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The arrested Indian tout has been identified as Subhankar Dalapati, son of Ranjit Dalapati, a resident of Jayantipur under Petrapole police station, North 24-Parganas district. He is believed to have facilitated the illegal movement of the foreign nationals across the border.

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The four Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as: Md Shakil Sheikh (34), son of Md Murad Sheikh from Kartickkul village, Khulna district, Bangladesh; Tuli Begum (28), wife of Md Shakil Sheikh, from the same address, along with her infant child; Sheuli Begum (30), wife of Md Hamid Sardar of Goaberia, Barisal district; Suman Mia, son of Ramjan Mia from Uttar Dharmapur, Feni district.

During interrogation, the Bangladeshi nationals reportedly confessed to having crossed the border illegally a year ago and residing in different parts of South India. They had returned to Hanskhali with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh with the help of Subhankar Dalapati.

A case has been registered at Hanskhali police station under relevant sections of the law, and all accused have been arrested. While the Bangladeshi nationals are being produced before the court today, the Indian tout is likely to be taken into police remand for further investigation into the human trafficking network.
Buddhist monks across West Bengal have welcomed the Indian governments recent decision to pursue ceasefire and have called for a permanent end to hostilities with neighbouring Pakistan.

Marking the 2569th International Vesak Day on Sunday, dozens of monks gathered at a peace rally organised by the Siddhartha United Social Welfare Mission at Mayo Road in Kolkata. The event featured interfaith prayers and a seminar on global peace, drawing Buddhist monks from various countries.

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War or violence is never a solution to any problem, said Dr Buddhapriya Mahathero, president of the West Bengal Buddha Jayanti Celebration Committee. Gautama Buddha preached peace and dialogue, and we urge all governments, including Indias, to resolve conflicts through discussion and mutual understanding.

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The monks prayed for an end to global conflicts and urged political leaders to embrace Buddhas message of non-violence. They also praised New Delhis efforts in tackling terrorism, calling them highly commendable. Peace is the only path forward for humanity, said another monk attending the event. In a world torn by war and suffering, only compassion and dialogue can heal divisions. The appeal comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, though both New Delhi and Islamabad have recently taken tentative steps toward de-escalation. The Buddhist community hopes that the spirit of Buddha Jayanti will inspire lasting peace in South Asia and beyond.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the effectiveness of Made in India defence equipment was decisively proven during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, in which terrorist hubs were wiped out with precision strikes and heavy damage was also caused to airbases deep inside enemy territory.

The world is now witnessing the arrival of Made in India defence system as a formidable force in 21st-century warfare, PM Modi said in his address to the nation.

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PM Modi highlighted that Indias precise and forceful strikes had left Pakistan in deep frustration, pushing it into desperation.

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In its agitation, Pakistan resorted to a reckless act instead of joining the global fight against terrorismit launched attacks on Indian schools, colleges, gurudwaras, temples, and civilian homes, also targeting military bases, he added.

He highlighted how this aggression exposed Pakistans vulnerabilities, as its drones and missiles crumbled like straw before Indias advanced air defence systems, which neutralised them in the sky.

He remarked that while Pakistan had prepared to strike Indias borders, India delivered a decisive blow to Pakistans core. Indian drones and missiles executed highly accurate strikes, severely damaging Pakistani airbases that it had long boasted about. Within the first three days of Indias response, Pakistan suffered destruction far beyond its expectations.

Following Indias aggressive countermeasures, Pakistan began seeking ways to de-escalate, appealing to the global community for relief from rising tensions, the Prime Minister added.

Asserting that India has consistently defeated Pakistan on the battlefield, and Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension to the nations military prowess, the Prime Minister highlighted Indias remarkable capability in both desert and mountainous warfare while also establishing superiority in New Age Warfare.

The Prime Minister was referring to the India-made Brahmos missiles that were used to destroy airbases and air defence systems in the heart of Pakistan. In a major milestone for Indias defence sector, Kamikaze drones co-developed by Adani Groups Alpha Design Technologies and Israels Elbit Systems were also successfully deployed in Operation Sindoor.

Built in Bengaluru under the Make in India initiative, the SkyStriker drones deliver precision strikes with up to two hours of loitering capability. This marks a leap forward in Indias self-reliance in advanced defence technology.
In the board results announced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi West registered a pass percentage of 95.24 percent while Delhi East stood at 95.07 percent. The information was shared by the CBSE in a circular announcing the declaration of results.

The Board saw a pass percentage of 88.39 percent, which is 0.41 percent higher than last year. A statement issued by the Board stated that 91 percent of girls have passed the CBSE class 12th examinations which is 5.94 percent higher than the boys.

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The CBSE Class 10 board exams were conducted from February 15 to March 18, 2025 in which 24.12 lakh students appeared for the exams in 84 subjects. Meanwhile, a total of 16,92,794 students appeared for class 12 board exams out of which 14,96,307 students passed.

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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday congratulated and extended her wishes to all the students who performed well in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations, while she also encouraged students who did not have a desired outcome, urging them to not lose heart, stating that this is just a milestone, and not the limit of their capabilities.

CM said that the success in the exam is a testament to the hard work put in by the students, their discipline and also determination.

Gupta also mentioned that the path towards dreams sometimes takes time, while sincere efforts and having faith in ones own self is a great strength which helps.

May you remain dedicated to your goals and touch new heights in life, Gupta added, further asking students to turn their defeat into energy, and try again with full dedication.

Delhi education minister Ashish Sood also greeted students who have cleared the CBSE exams, while he also expressed gratitude and best wishes to the parents, guardians and the teachers whose support and guidance played a vital role in the students journey.

Minister Parvesh Verma in his words of encouragement for the students said that they must keep believing in themselves, aim high, and continue chasing their dreams.

Wishing you all the success and happiness in the world, Verma wrote on platform X, extending his wishes to the students.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday announced that the Archives Department of the national capital will organize a public exhibition showcasing rare historical documents, including government records and materials related to Sikh religious institutions and literature.

The Minister stated that the exhibition aims to increase public awareness about Delhis rich history and to highlight key aspects of Sikh cultural heritage, given the departments extensive collection of records related to Sikh religious institutions and literature from the pre-Independence era.

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The announcement came following Sirsas visit to the Delhi Archives Department at Qutub Institutional Area, where he reviewed a wide range of preserved materials, including government files, historical correspondences, manuscripts, old maps, and other records of historical significance.

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During the visit, he was briefed on the departments advanced preservation processes, which include both preventive and restorative techniques. These efforts feature the use of a microfilm reader based on German technology to ensure the long-term conservation of over five crore pages of archival content.

Among the noteworthy items, the Minister examined documents related to the historical development of religious institutions in Delhi, including archival correspondences involving Sikh heritage.

The Delhi Archives plays a vital role in safeguarding the documentary history of our capital. I have taken note of the issues raised and will work with the concerned authorities to provide the necessary assistance to enhance the departments capabilities, Sirsa stated.

Notably, the archival department, established in 1972, serves as the official archival agency of the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. It is responsible for the scientific preservation, management, and public access to non-current government records.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on Tuesday attributed Congress leader Devender Yadavs objection to Delhi governments Holi Milan expenditure to an alleged anti-Hindu agenda of his party.

Kapoor stated that such Holi Milan events have been organised since the 1950s in Delhi, adding that Yadav seems to have forgotten this.

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Taking a dig at the Delhi Congress chief, he alleged that he has a penchant to be in the news on a daily basis, and for this, on Tuesday, Yadav has objected to the newly formed Delhi governments expense on Holi Milan.

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The Delhi BJP spokesperson urged the grand old partys Delhi unit chief to reflect and change the mindset and respect the culture. He said such events are aimed at promoting unity and also uphold a sense of togetherness in society.

He urged the Delhi Congress chief to respect such festivals and cultural traditions.

Meanwhile, Yadav alleged that the BJP government lavishly spent on Holi Milan celebration, which was not in line with CM Guptas promise of not squandering the taxpayers money for unnecessary expenses, while he also suspects corruption in this regard.
In a major drug bust, a team of Delhi Polices North West District Narcotics Squad has seized 27.754 kg of narcotic substance (ganja), following the arrest of two accused allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking, the police said on Tuesday.

The arrested individuals were identified as Shiv Nath Sahni (25) and Pankaj Kumar (48), both residents of Delhis Jahangirpuri.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police Bhisham Singh said the police team was tracking the movements of the suspected individuals allegedly linked to a drug distribution network. On Sunday, they received intelligence input on the whereabouts of two accused individuals from Jahangirpuri.

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Acting upon the information, the team conducted a raid at the tipped location and got their hands on the two accused and seized nearly 27.754 kilogram of high-quality ganja from their possession, the senior officer said.

During preliminary interrogation, the accused disclosed that they had recently started operating in the narcotics trade and were building their supply network by connecting with clients across the city, supplying contraband to smaller dealers and individual buyers on demand.

Based on their statement, an FIR was registered against the accused at the Jahangirpuri police station under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act, the senior officer mentioned.

The investigation into this case will continue to trace the supply chain and pinpoint the involvement of other individuals associated with this racket. As per a police statement, they have found other leads in this matter, which indicates possible interstate connections, which are being thoroughly pursued, Singh stated.
Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has written to Union Minister of Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, seeking collaboration and support for a landmark initiative aimed at transforming the historic Vidhan Sabha complex into a vibrant heritage and cultural hub.

In his letter to the Union Minister, Gupta proposed converting the Assembly campusconstructed in 1912 and steeped in Indias legislative and political historyinto a dynamic space that celebrates the capitals rich democratic legacy.

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In a bid to take this vision forward, the Speaker also sought a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism to discuss the feasibility, scope, and cultural implications of the project.

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The key components outlined in the Speakers proposal include heritage conservation through the restoration and preservation of the original architectural features; the establishment of a legislative museum and interactive exhibitions to chronicle the legislative history of Delhi and the broader democratic framework of India; the development of tourism infrastructure such as visitor facilities, guided tours, informative signage, and audio-visual aids to enhance the overall visitor experience; and community engagement by involving local artisans, performers, and cultural practitioners to enliven the space through curated programmes and cultural events.

According to Gupta, the proposed collaboration aims to ensure that the initiative is implemented efficiently, with expert guidance and alignment with national heritage and tourism objectives.

This initiative is a step towards preserving and celebrating the democratic heritage of Delhi. The transformation of the assembly campus into a heritage hub will not only honour the past but also serve as a source of inspiration and education for future generations, Guptas letter read.

According to the Speaker, the Delhi assembly building, originally established as the seat of the Imperial Legislative Council, stands as a significant symbol of Indias political evolution.

Gupta mentioned that having witnessed numerous milestones in the countrys democratic journey, the assembly complex and the main building are not just an architectural landmark, but also a repository of the nations institutional memory.

Recognising the historical and cultural value of this iconic structure, Gupta requested the Union Ministrys support in preparing a comprehensive project report to guide the proposed transformation.

As per the Speaker, the initiative aims to conserve the architectural integrity of the Vidhan Sabha complex while enhancing its accessibility and relevance as a public heritage space.
NAIROBI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global trade association representing airlines, said on Tuesday that Chinese-made aircraft are expected to boost the aviation sector.

Willie Walsh, director general of the IATA, told Xinhua in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. is producing efficient and modern airplanes that are a viable alternative to those currently in operation worldwide.

"Chinese-made aircraft are expected to introduce competition in the airplane market and hence offer the airline industry more affordable acquisition costs," Walsh said on the sidelines of the IATA Ground Handling Conference.

"The Chinese-made planes are principally flying in China and in neighboring Asian nations that accept Chinese certification," he said.

The three-day meeting brought together airlines and policymakers from around the world to discuss solutions to strengthen the global aviation ecosystem. 
Pankaj Tripathi with journey in Hindi cinema has come full circle, and hes ready to bring his roots to the big screen in a way thats truly special, and for the first time in over two decades, the celebrated actor is shooting a film in his home state of Bihar.

In a heartfelt statement, Pankaj shared his excitement about this personal milestone. Its hard to put into words what this moment means to me, he said. I started my journey as a performer on the dusty streets of a small village in Bihar, doing theatre and nukkad nataks (street plays), never imagining that one day, Id return to these very lanes with a film crew.

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For those who follow Pankaj Tripathi, its clear that his connection to Bihar runs deep. Yet, in over 20 years in the industry, this is his first time shooting a film in the state. The fact that Hindi cinema rarely ventures to Bihar only adds to the emotional weight of the experience.

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The last Hindi film I remember shooting in Bihar was Manoj Bajpayees Shool in 2003. Its been a long time, and it feels like this moment is long overdue, Pankaj added.

The film, which remains untitled, is directed by Amit Rai, known for his work on OMG 2. The project brings together two storytellers with shared roots in Bihar, and its supported by Bihar Film Niga.

With an ensemble cast that includes Pawan Malhotra, Rajesh Kumar, and other talented local actors, the film promises a deep connection to the land and its culture.

Over the course of a 35-day shooting schedule, the team will capture scenes in real locations throughout Bihar, giving the story an authentic, grounded feel.

What makes this film even more significant for Pankaj is the connection to his past and the emotional resonance of working in his homeland.

Theres a different kind of magic in working on a story thats rooted in your soil, Pankaj reflected. I feel a deeper responsibility and an emotional connection to every scene, every location, every face I see here.

The collaboration with director Amit Rai, a fellow Bihari, adds another layer of personal significance. Amit and I understand the nuances, the language, and the spirit of the land. We both know what it means to be from Bihar, and that will definitely reflect on screen, Pankaj said, emphasizing the authenticity that will shine through in the film.

Beyond the professional excitement, Pankaj sees this film as a tribute to the place that shaped him into the actor and person he is today. This film is more than just another project; its a heartfelt tribute to the place that made me who I am, he shared.
Fashion at the Cannes Film Festival has always been headline materialsometimes for the glamour, sometimes for the drama but for 2025, the organizers are drawing a firm line in the sand or rather, on the red carpet.

In a new and clearly stated rulebook released ahead of the 78th edition of the prestigious film festival (running May 1324, 2025), Cannes red carpet has officially banned outfits that reveal too much skin or take up too much space.

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Yes, you read that rightnudity and voluminous dresses are out.

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For those prepping their designer wardrobes for the Grand Theatre Lumieres high-profile gala screenings (which typically roll out around 7 and 10 p.m.), the dress code has been made crystal clear: think classic, elegant, and contained.

That means long dresses, tuxedos, or a little black dress. Women can also opt for a cocktail dress, a dark-colored pantsuit, or a dressy top paired with black trousers.

Footwear? Classy onlyno sneakers allowed.

For men, its a black or navy suit with a tie or bowtie. Basically, youll need to dress to impress without hogging space or flashing too much skin.

One of the major style casualties of this updated rulebook? Those dramatic, sweeping gowns with massive trains that usually turn heads and dominate photo ops.

According to the official guidelines, such oversized outfits disrupt the flow of guests and make seating inside the theatre a logistical headache. And Cannes has no time for traffic jamson or off the red carpet.

Its not just about avoiding chaos, though. The rules also emphasize decency. The charter explicitly bans nudity on the red carpet and in all festival areas.

While that doesnt mean Cannes is asking for modesty in the Victorian sense, it does put the brakes on the sheer, see-through, and skin-baring trends that have become a regular fixture in recent years.

Oh, and dont even think about showing up with a tote bag or backpack. These, too, are banned at gala screenings. If youre carrying more than a clutch, youll have to stow it in lockers provided nearbywhich will be open until 12:30 a.m., according to the organisers.

Importantly, the festival isnt bluffing. The document makes it clear that staff will be obligated to prohibit anyone not adhering to the dress code from walking the red carpet. For non-gala screenings, though, theres a bit more leewayproper attire will do.
A day after the director generals of military operations of India and Pakistan held talks on the ceasefire, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the Tri services chiefs to review the ongoing security situation at South Block here on Tuesday.

The discussion at the high-level meeting reportedly centred on continuing with the high watch even as Pakistan has agreed to ceasefire. On Monday night, a streak of drones was spotted in Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, clearly indicating Pakistans failure to hold on to their end of agreement.

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The closed-door meeting saw Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Vice-Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, in attendance.

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Earlier, in a message posted on X, Singh spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to the nation carried out late on Monday evening. In his address to the nation today, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi has put Indias policy against terrorism before the whole world with great clarity and firmness. His address is not only an expression of Indias sentiment, but it is also a presentation of our countrys military, diplomatic and moral strength, he wrote.

The Prime Minister has also made it clear that if there will be any talks with Pakistan in the future, then the talks will be only on terrorism and POK. He has also openly praised the valour and courage of the Indian forces during #OperationSindoor. The whole country is proud of the Indian forces. I thank the Prime Minister for his strong leadership, he went on to add.
Despite topping the list of states in purchasing gold, Andhra Pradesh has not registered any significant growth when it came to tax revenues, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Tuesday.

He pointed out that central assistance and loans were only for initial support to the state and AP needs to be self-reliant to allocate sufficient resources for welfare and development. Even the central governments fund transfers to the state dropped by 26 per cent during this period compared to last year.

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The chief minister directed officials to use the latest technology, such as AI, to plug the loopholes that allowed tax evasion.

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Naidu today held a review with revenue-generating departments and pointed out that despite the grants and loans from the Centre, Andhra Pradesh needs to increase its revenue sources.

Andhra Pradesh, after bifurcation, turned into a revenue-deficient state since it lost revenue-generating Hyderabad city to Telangana. Naidu said they need to look for new sources of revenue to offset the loss of Hyderabad. AP had received Rs17,170 crore from the Centre during this period in 2024-25 but this year received only Rs12,717 crore when the state is being ruled by the coalition government.

The chief minister, during the meeting where each department was analysed one at a time, stressed detailed planning, based on revenue trends of the past 30 years. He pointed out that the Electronics, IT, Services sector would play a crucial role in boosting the states revenue. The revenue target for this year was set at Rs 1,34,208 crore with a 29 per cent jump from the previous year.

The chief minister sternly directed departments to make efforts to exceed their monthly targets.

Naidu expressed concern that although Andhra Pradesh ranks among the top states in gold consumption, the corresponding tax revenues were not proportionate. He also directed officials to create a central Data Lake, a repository of data stored in its original format, after integrating information from all departments.

He said each department should have its own AI team, and the AI-driven tax system should be operational within the next two to three months for better services to taxpayers. While revenue from commercial taxes and forests dipped between 1 April and 11 May, that of the stamps and registration department surged in this period. He inquired why the states transport revenue remained lower than neighbouring states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

He also instructed the excise department to take stringent measures to curb illegal liquor sales from neighbouring states.
The Centre on Tuesday asserted that all issues between India and Pakistan will be addressed bilaterally, virtually rejecting US President Donald Trumps offer to mediate between the two countries on the Kashmir issue.

Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.

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In the latest statement made by the Pakistan Foreign Office, Jaiswal said, We have seen the statement made by the Pakistani side. That a nation which has nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale should think that it can escape the consequences, is fooling itself.

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The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around the world. There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets it, the better it is, he said.

Jaiswal further said, We have had several rounds of briefings and in these briefings we have also shared with you the kind of linkage we see between the perpetrators of the attack of Pahalgam in particular, The Resistance Front (TRF). Foreign Secretary, in his statement, also made very clear the kind of evidence that we see, and an investigation is going on in this particular matter.

You would have seen that TRF had taken responsibility, and on the second day, twice they had taken responsibility. Thereafter, possibly at the behest of their handlers, they rolled it back. But TRF is one organisation which is a front of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. We have been pursuing the listing of TRF by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee, he said.

On Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dars interview to foreign media, Jaiswal said, In the last week, as a result of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has seen its terrorism centres in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and other places destroyed. Thereafter, its military capabilities were significantly degraded by us and key airbases effectively put out of action. If the Pakistani FM wishes to project these as achievements, he is welcome to do so. Where India is concerned, our stand was clear and consistent from the start. We would target terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan.

If the Pakistani military stayed out, there would be no problem. If they fired on us, we would respond suitably. Till the night of 9th May, Pakistan was threatening India with a massive assault. Once their attempt failed on 10th May morning and they received a devastating Indian counter-response, their tune changed and their DGMO eventually reached out to us, the MEA spokesperson said.
Sending a strong message that the country would not bow down to threats of terrorism and nuclear attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed Operation Sindoor as the new normal for India. Giving a powerful statement during his visit to the Adampur-based Indian Air Force base, the PM said that the operation has not ended, and it will be a continuing and decisive action will be taken against state-sponsored terror attacks on Indian citizens.

In his maiden visit to a military base post the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Modi visited the AF station located near Jalandhar, Punjab, in a highly secret visit today. As per the reports, Modi landed at the base at 0615 hrs and spent precisely 50 minutes interacting with the troops and senior officials based there. The visit is being perceived as a message to snub the rumours being circulated as part of Pakistans information warfare, about the damage to the base in the aerial strikes, and boosting the morale of the troops in the station.

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In his address, Modi said that Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, to avenge the killings of 26 tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, wasnt just any ordinary move by the Indian defence forces and showed Indias resolve to turn into action, for the whole world to witness.

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Operation Sindoors echo is everywhere. It is not any ordinary act. Operation Sindoor shows our decisive and resolute policy. We will not see terrorists and the government separately. The world has seen how Pakistans army officers attended the funeral of terrorists. This is big evidence of state-sponsored terrorism, Modi said.

We will take strong steps to protect India. Operation Sindoor has written history. We displayed our strength in the desert, mountains, and showed our potential in new-age warfare, he added.

Highlighting that Pakistan used its civil and commercial airlines as a shield while launching air strikes against India, the Prime Minister said, Our aim was to hit terror headquarters in Pakistan. But Pakistan used its civilian aircraft as shields. I am proud of our forces for you responded to Pakistan without any harm to these aircraft.

Asserting that India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail and will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail, Modi said that the ones who dared to challenge us, faced the might of our soldiers.

Nine terror hideouts were destroyed. Over 100 terrorists were eliminated. Their leaders now understandraising eyes towards India only invites ruin, he added.

Evoking lines dedicated to Maharana Prataps horse Chetak, Kaushal dikhlaya chaalo mai, udd gaya bhayanak bhalo mai, nirbheek gaya vo dhalo mai, sarpat dauda karwalo mai (Its a metaphor for fearless, swift, and skilled action to compare modern Indian weapons to the legendary valor of Chetak), Modi said, These words were written for Chetak, but they resonate just as powerfully with the precision and bravery embodied in our modern weapons today.

When our drones destroy the walls of the enemys fort, when our missiles reach the target with a whizzing sound, the enemy hears Bharat Mata Ki Jai. When we light up the sun even at night, the enemy sees Bharat Mata Ki Jai. When our armies blow away the threat of nuclear blackmail, then only one thing resonates from the sky- Bharat Mata Ki Jai. All of you have made millions of Indians proud, have made every Indians mother proud, you have created history, and I have come among you this morning to see you, he said.

Speaking about the air strikes carried out targeting the Indian air base, the Prime Minister said, Rattled with Operation Sindoor, the enemy tried to attack this air base and several of our other air bases multiple times. They targeted us again and again, but the nefarious designs of Pakistan failed each time.

I can proudly say that all of you reached your target with perfection. In Pakistan, it was not just the terrorist camps and their air bases that were destroyed, but their nefarious designs and audacity were also defeated, he added.

Later, Modi took to X, stating, It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination, and fearlessness.

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, he went on to add. The PM also shared some pictures from the Adampur AF base.

Meanwhile Jalandhar deputy commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said that the PMs visit was highly confidential and district civil and police administration were not aware about it.
In a major cybersecurity breach, the official website of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL)a key subsidiary of Coal India Limited and a strategic branch of Indias coal production networkwas hacked early Tuesday morning. Visitors to www.centralcoalfields.in were greeted with a disturbing message attributed to Mr. Habib404, which read: You thought you were safe, but we are everywhere Pakistans cyber forces have awakened.

The breach triggered immediate alarm at CCLs headquarters in Darbhanga House, Ranchi. System engineers were deployed to contain the incident and restore functionality, although company officials stated it was still uncertain how long a full recovery would take.

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While the website defacement is alarming in itself, it has raised wider concerns over Indias cyber preparednessespecially within public sector undertakings. With over 87 million tonnes of coal produced in the previous financial year, CCL is not just a mining company; it is a crucial component of the nations energy security framework. The hacking of its official portal poses a major question: Are Indias public sector institutions equipped with adequate cybersecurity measures?

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The reference to Pakistans cyber presence adds a geopolitical dimension to the incident. Although attribution in cyberspace is complex and often inconclusive, the message suggests an attempt to portray the breach as part of a larger campaign by hostile cyber groups. In the current climate of strained India-Pakistan relations, the possibility of state-sponsored or ideologically motivated cyber provocations cannot be ruled out.

The responsibility for securing such strategic digital assets also falls on the Ministry of Coal and Coal India Limited. The breach points toward potential lapses in digital oversight and raises questions about the seriousness with which cybersecurity is treated across PSUs. Even though these entities operate under government ministries, are they being monitored and protected in alignment with evolving cyber threats?

Beyond the embarrassment of public defacement lies the urgent question: What else may have been accessed? Was the attack limited to the homepage, or did it serve as an entry point for more harmful intrusionspossibly involving sensitive internal data, operational reports, or employee records?

The incident highlights the larger danger of cyberwarfare that goes beyond symbolic acts of disruption. In an era where power grids, financial systems, and resource pipelines are increasingly digitized, even a brief breach in cybersecurity can have far-reaching consequences. Indias critical infrastructure requires protection that is not merely procedural, but strategicon par with physical national security.

This is not an isolated incident either. In recent years, several government websites have been targeted by cyberattacksranging from defacements to more sophisticated data thefts. Experts have repeatedly called for a centralized audit of digital vulnerabilities across government bodies and PSUs. Cyber drills, penetration testing, real-time monitoring, and disaster recovery frameworks can no longer be optionalthey are foundational to governance in the 21st century.

The CCL hack is not just a breach of a websiteit is a breach of trust in our systems, in our preparedness, and in our assumptions about digital security in a high-stakes economy.
The Congress on Tuesday came out strongly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving a clarification on the role of the US in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

The party said Modi deeply disappointed the nation.

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Claiming that the Prime Minister in his speech Monday evening did not clarify so many things for which the country was waiting to know, senior party leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, said, The government has lost both, the moral courage and moral authority. there was shock and surprise across the country over the sudden ceasefire which too was announced by the US President.

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Taking strong objection to the US Presidents offer of mediation in solving the Kashmir issue, Mr Gehlot said that the US Presidents statements were disturbing and dangerous.

Mr Gehlot, who was addressing a press conference, wondered whether Trump was making those remarks on his own or he had the consent of the government of India. He lamented that Donald Trump had started equating India with Pakistan.

Asserting that the US has always tried to pressurize India, Mr Gehlot recalled how the US had threatened India during the 1971 War by deploying the Seventh Naval Fleet in the Bay of Bengal. Despite that the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi went ahead and broke Pakistan into two parts, besides forcing 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender, the Congress leader claimed.

Reiterating that the Prime Minister needs to explain and clarify before the nation that when everything was going so well and Indias defense forces had the upper hand, making the Pakistani forces bite the dust, Mr Gehlot questioned: What happened all of a sudden that ceasefire was announced so spontaneously?

Observing that a golden opportunity to settle the issue of terrorism was lost, Mr Gehlot said he strongly disapprove of Donald Trump speaking just ahead of Prime Ministers address to the nation disclosing that the US had told both countries that in case they do not agree for ceasefire, trade will be stopped.

Claiming that our governments silence had further emboldened Trump and he was making statements one after another to the extent of involving himself in the Kashmir issue, which is very dangerous, Mr Gehlot said that no third-party mediation, not even of the United Nations, is acceptable.

Also observing that a golden opportunity to completely dismantle the terror infrastructure in Pakistan was lost, Mr Gehlot expressed concern that there was no guarantee that Pakistan will not resort to acts of terror like those in Pahalgam and Pulwama again.

He maintained that if the ceasefire had to be reached, it should have been initiated at the level of the Prime Minister or the External Affairs Minister, not by a third party.

He said, there should have been concrete guarantees ensuring that in future, Pakistan and its army will not allow terrorist incidents against India.

Referring to Prime Ministers remarks that terror and talks and blood and water cant flow together, Gehlot said, Prime Minister is known for such statements, but what actually matters is whether the big things he said last night will be implemented in future.

Mr Gehlot also reiterated his partys demand for an all-party meeting and a special session of the Parliament to address various concerns of the citizens.
AICC general secretary and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel raised serious concerns over the Union governments handling of national security, demanding greater transparency regarding the recent ceasefire agreement. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Baghel questioned the timing, terms, and implications of the agreement, suggesting it may have compromised Indias long-standing strategic principles.

Invoking former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis resolute leadership during the 1971 war, Baghel stated, Indira ji demonstrated that India must always engage with adversaries from a position of strength. The Congress party continues to uphold this principlewhen it comes to national security, there can be no compromise or political opportunism.

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Reaffirming the Congress partys unwavering support for the armed forces and its stand against terrorism, Baghel cited the ongoing Jai Hind Yatras being held across the country as a tribute to the armed forces and the victims of terror. While some choose to politicize national security, we have always placed the nations interests above all, he said, on Monday.

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The Congress leader also posed a series of sharp questions to the Centre. Was the timing and manner of the ceasefire announcement a diplomatic setback for India? Does this development indicate a shift toward accepting external mediation on Kashmir, in violation of the Shimla Agreement? What commitments, if any, were made to Pakistan during this process? he asked.

On the issue of the Pulwama attack, Baghel demanded transparency and accountability. If certain leaders claim justice has been delivered for Pulwama, where is the evidence? Have the perpetrators truly been brought to justice? Who is accountable for the grave security lapses that allowed the attack to occur? he questioned.

The Congress party has formally called for a special session of Parliament and an all-party meeting to deliberate the ceasefires terms and national security ramifications. The nation deserves complete clarity on matters of such critical importance. We urge the prime minister to address these concerns directly and honestly, Baghel said.
A major social outreach and development initiative took place in Ramgarh on Tuesday, showcasing growing synergy between industry associations, local trade bodies, and civil society. The days events included the distribution of 125 wheelchairs and 51 hearing aids to differently-abled individuals, followed by the foundation laying of 3.5 crore worth of development works funded by the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT).

The event was organised by Laghu Udyog Bharatis Ramgarh unit, with significant support from the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) and other trade associations. Held at Hotel Shivam Inn, the programme brought together a wide range of stakeholders, reinforcing the increasing role of non-governmental actors in bridging social and developmental gaps.

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FJCCIs active participation, led by members such as Paresh Gattani, added weight to the proceedings. Gattani highlighted the need for sustained cooperation between business communities and civil society to ensure inclusive growth. Welfare is not the exclusive domain of the state. We, too, have a responsibility to stand by those often overlooked, he stated.

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Other notable attendees included former IPS officer Nirmala Kaur, Laghu Udyog Bharati national secretary Indra Agrawal, and representatives from several district-level chambers and trade federations.

While Hazaribagh MP Manish Jaiswal was present and shared thoughts on changing mindsets towards disability, the emphasis remained on collaborative social action. He mentioned upcoming provisions for motorised wheelchairs and referenced recent health equipment distribution facilitated through central support. However, the spirit of the event leaned more towards grassroots and institutional partnership than individual political presence.

In the afternoon session, development focus took centre stage as foundation stones were laid for key infrastructure projects under the DMFT fund. These included a PCC road in Upper Pochra worth 98 lakh and the construction of a double-storey Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) building at the Ramgarh Sadar Hospital premises, with a sanctioned cost of 2.5 crore.

Ramgarh MLA Mamta Devi joined MP Jaiswal in the foundation ceremonies, sending a message of cooperative governance across party lines. Local residents, particularly in areas like Pochra, welcomed the long-pending projects with cautious optimism.

An FJCCI representative remarked, When trade bodies, civil society, and public representatives come together, development isnt just announcedit becomes real.

Tuesdays event marked a rare moment of convergence in Ramgarh, where public policy met civic participation, and development work moved forward with both administrative support and moral commitment. In a state like Jharkhand, often marked by fragmented initiatives, the Ramgarh model may well offer a replicable template for integrated local development.
THE HAGUE, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Dutch politician Pieter Omtzigt, founder of the New Social Contract (NSC) party and a key figure in the ruling coalition, announced his departure from national politics on Tuesday, citing a "toxic" political climate in the Netherlands.

In an emotional farewell speech to the Dutch House of Representatives, Omtzigt criticized the legislature for its limited visibility in addressing national problems and pointed to the role of the media in fostering a toxic political environment.

Omtzigt, 51, steps down after more than two decades as a parliamentarian. Formerly a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), he left the party in 2021 to serve as an independent before founding NSC in August 2023. Under his leadership, NSC secured 20 seats in the November 2023 general elections, becoming the fourth-largest party.

In July 2024, after prolonged coalition talks, NSC joined a new government with the Party for Freedom (PVV), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB).

Addressing concerns that his resignation might betray voters, Omtzigt said, "I would have liked to finish it, because it is not finished. That is exactly that toxic climate."

Though his announcement came as a surprise, it followed months of scaled-back duties due to health issues. Since November, he had shared NSC leadership with Nicolien van Vroonhoven, who will continue as the party's sole leader. 
To sanitize and update electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India has resolved a nearly 20-year-old legacy issue of similar Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) numbers erroneously issued to genuine electors due to similar series used by different EROs in such cases since 2005, sources said.

According to the sources, to resolve this long-pending issue, the entire electoral database of over 99-crore electors was searched by CEOs of all the 36 states/Union Territories and the EROs of all the 4123 Assembly constituencies across the country in all the 10.50 lakh polling stations.

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On an average, there are about 1,000 electors per polling station, and the number of similar EPIC numbers found were miniscule, that is, averaging to around 1(one) in 4 (four) polling stations.

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The sources further said that during the field level verification, it was found that holders of such similar EPIC numbers were genuine electors in different assembly constituencies and polling stations.

Accordingly, all such electors have since been issued new EPIC cards with new numbers.

The origin of the issue has been traced from the year 2005, when various states and union territories were using assembly constituency-wise different alphanumeric series in a decentralised manner.

The sources said that these series had to be changed again in 2008, after delimitation of the constituencies.

However, during this period, some ACs erroneously continued to use either the old series or because of typographic errors they used the series allotted to some other constituencies.

Every voters name is in the electoral roll of the Polling station where she or he is an ordinary resident.

Having had an EPIC of similar number never enabled any such person to vote at any other polling station, and the issue of having similar EPIC could not have impacted the results of any elections, sources added.
Three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire with security forces in the Shukroo forest area of Keller in South Kashmirs Shopian district.

A police officer said that a massive cordon and search operation was launched in the forests of Kellar after specific inputs about the presence of some terrorists.

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As the team of the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police started a combing operation, the hiding terrorists fired upon the security force, triggering a gunfight.

During the exchange of fire, three LeT terrorists were killed, however identity of the terrorists is being ascertained.

Further details are awaited.

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A delegation of agricultural machinery manufacturers, progressive farmers and entrepreneurs from the food processing sector in Haryana called on Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at his residence Sant Kabir Kutir here.

During the meeting, delegation members discussed with the Chief Minister about investment and business opportunities in Tanzania. They also expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the guidance being provided by the Haryana Government and the global business opportunities it has facilitated.

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Addressing the delegation in the meeting, which took place late last evening, Chief Minister Saini said that the state government aims to ensure a strong presence of Haryana entrepreneurs not just within India, but also on the global stage. He said that now is the time to move beyond limiting business to just the state or country. There is a need to go global, seize international opportunities and expand businesses so that Haryanas industrialists can establish a strong presence in foreign markets as well.

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Officials from the Department of Foreign Cooperation informed that on the initiative of the Haryana Government, a business cooperation visit to Tanzania has been confirmed. Due to the Haryana Governments persistent efforts, business relations between Tanzania and Haryana have been strengthening, with positive results already visible.

A business delegation of Haryana entrepreneurs from various sectors will visit Tanzania in July. Earlier, with the assistance of the Haryana Government, two business delegations have already visited Tanzania, with several businesses successfully starting operations there. For instance, plywood manufacturers in Haryana are sourcing raw materials from Tanzania, resulting in cost reductions for traders.

In the meeting, representatives of the delegation expressed their appreciation, stating that this is the first time since Haryanas formation that a state government has taken such proactive steps to support traders in entering the global market. They expressed great enthusiasm and confidence in the efforts being made by the state government under the leadership of Saini, adding that the Chief Minister is fully supporting Haryanas traders and entrepreneurs on every front.

Commending the role of entrepreneurs in the economic progress of both the state and the country, the Chief Minister reassured the delegation that they would receive complete support from the Department of Foreign Cooperation and the Chief Ministers Office during their visit to Tanzania, ensuring that business activities proceed smoothly.
At least 15 people lost their lives, and many others were hospitalised after they consumed spurious liquor in Amritsar. According to police, the majority of the victims were from villages such as Bhangali Kalan, Thariewal, Sangha, and Marari Kalan under Majitha block in Amritsar district of Punjab.

As per the District Administration, those critically ill have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Amritsar.

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Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney took stock of the situation by visiting the hospital. Police said, as reported in a section of media, they procured the spurious liquor from a single source on Sunday evening.

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A spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that two FIRs have been registered and the main suppliers identified as Prabhjit Singh and Sahib Singh, were arrested from Rajasansi. Four other accused have also been nabbed, while investigating teams are probing other states to apprehend firms supplying the illicit liquor.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar Rural, Maninder Singh, said that four local suppliers arrested yesterday revealed the name of a liquor supplier as Prabhjit.

We received information around 9:30 pm last night that people here have started dying after consuming spurious liquor. We took action immediately and rounded up four people. We arrested the main supplier, Prabhjit Singh. We interrogated him and found out about the kingpin supplier, Sahab Singh, he said.

Police said that Sahib Singh obtained 50 litres of methanol, which was diluted to make 120 litres. This was sold to the four local suppliers. We have invoked stringent sections of the law against the six arrested persons. FIRs have been registered under 105 BNS, Singh told a news agency.

he SSP said, We aim to bust the entire distribution network. The Civil Administration and we are going door to door to find out more people who have consumed this, to avoid further casualties and save people.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state, accusing its MLAs of being involved in the illicit trade.

Badal wrote on X: Deeply pained by the loss of precious lives (14 reported so far) in the tragic hooch incident that took place across five villages in Majitha, Amritsar. This is a man-made tragedy and a state-sponsored disaster. The @AamAadmiParty govt has blood on its hands, as ruling party MLAs and leaders are directly involved in this illicit trade.

He added: This is Punjabs fourth hooch tragedy in three years, with similar tragedies occurring under the previous Congress government as well. Illegal distilleries are flourishing, and innocent lives are being snuffed out. Where are your task forces, @BhagwantMann? This exposes the hollowness of your Yudh Nashian Virudh slogan. Your inaction is criminal. You have no right to remain in office if you cannot curb this menace.

Badal further wrote: While expressing condolences to the victims families, I demand substantial compensation for each family without delay. I also pray for the speedy recovery of all those hospitalised. The government must ensure they receive the best treatment and bear the cost of the same.

Five years ago, Punjab was hit by a major hooch tragedy in Tarn Taran, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur districts, in which about 130 people died and around 12 lost their vision after consuming spurious liquor. As many as 80 deaths were reported in the Tarn Taran district alone.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited north Kashmirs Tangdhar, one of the worst hit towns in the Union territory, due to cross-border shelling by Pakistan.

He walked through the town in Kupwara district and assessed the on-ground situation and interacted with the affected families.

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The Chief Minister was accompanied by Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Trehgam Mir Saifullah, MLA Sogam Qaiser Jamshed Lone, MLA Karnah Javaid Mirchal, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ayushi Sudan, Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara Ghulam Jeelani Wani, and other senior officials.

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During the visit, he toured various villages in the Karnah border sub-division, including Tangdhar, Hajinard, Nachiyan, Shamspora, Baghbela, Batpora, and Tarboni.

He took stock of the damage to residential structures and listened to the grievances of the affected residents.

Assuring support from the administration, he said, The affected families have shown remarkable courage in the face of adversity. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope.

He further emphasized that ensuring the safety, support, and swift rehabilitation of affected families remains the governments top priority.

The Chief Minister also visited Sub-District Hospital, Tangdhar, to review the availability and quality of healthcare services in the border area. He inspected key departments including Outpatient and Inpatient Units, Gynaecology, Operation Theatre, Ultrasonography, and X-Ray facilities.

Interacting with the Chief Medical Officer, doctors, and staff, he directed them to work with utmost dedication and compassion to serve the people in this far-flung area.

He also spoke to patients and attendants to understand their concerns and degree of satisfaction with medical services.

Speaking to the media, Omar Abdullah said he had come personally to assess the damages caused by shelling and reiterated that adequate help would be provided to the victims as part of relief and rehabilitation measures.

While inspecting community bunkers in Tangdhar, the Chief Minister acknowledged their critical role during crises.

These structures are a lifeline during times of escalation. We will ensure the construction of additional bunkers to safeguard our people living in vulnerable areas, he said.

He further added that the construction of individual bunkers will be taken up with the Union Government to enhance the safety of border residents during periods of heightened tension.

During the visit, the Chief Minister also inspected the Hydel Power Project at Gundi Shart, the progress of which had been affected due to recent hostilities. He assured that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeline.
The Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association in Kerala has suspended the membership of advocate Beyline Das following allegations that he physically assaulted a young woman lawyer working at his office.

Beyline Das, a lawyer practising at Vanchiyoor court in Thiruvananthapuram, was suspended by the Bar Association on Tuesday after being informed about the incident. The Bar Association has stated that it stands with the victim and will ensure justice for her. Further action will be taken after the investigation, the association said.

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The assault took place at the advocates office in the Maharani Building in Vanchiyoor at around 12.30 pm on Tuesday. The attack left the young advocate, Shyamili, with serious injuries to her cheeks and eyes.

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Shyamili, who was assaulted by advocate Beyline Das, was working with him in his office. During a discussion on an office-related issue, advocate Das lost his temper and struck Shyamili on her face. The junior lawyer is currently undergoing treatment at the General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. It is learnt that she will soon be shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital.

The police have registered a case against advocate Das for assaulting the young lawyer.
In a first visit to a military base post the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the India Air Force base in Adampur, near Jalandhar, Punjab, today. The visit is being perceived as a message to snub the rumors about the damage to the base in the aerial strikes and boost the morale of the troops in the station.

Post his visit, Modi took to X, stating It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness.

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Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, he went on to add. The PM also shared some pictures from the Adampur IAF base.

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As per the reports, the PMs visit was kept confidential. After he landed at base at 6.15 am, Modi interacted with the air force personnel and senior officers. He stayed at the base for around 50 minutes. The sole purpose was to boost the morale of the armed forces who are giving a befitting reply to the drone and missiles shot by Pakistan. The PM was briefed by the commanders of the IAF about the ongoing operation and its logistics, and preparations, the senior official said.

Meanwhile, Jalandhar deputy commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said that the PMs visit was highly confidential and district civil and police administration were not aware about it.

Earlier, during one of the media briefings, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had stated that to counter Operation Sindoor, Pakistan attempted multiple air intrusions aimed at more than 26 locations from Srinagar to Naliya in Gujarat.

Indian armed forces successfully neutralized these threats and the majority of the vectors. However, limited damage was sustained to equipment and personnel at IAF stations in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj, Singh had said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for emphatically declaring Indias unwavering policy against terrorism. This policy has not only instilled confidence among citizens but also energised and uplifted the morale of the countrys armed forces.

In his reaction on Monday night, to the PMs address to the nation, Dr Yadav remarked that the PMs sentence, This is not the era of war, but neither is it the era of terrorism, is powerful enough to convey Indias message to the world.

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The CM also noted that Operation Sindoor has merely been paused, not concluded. Referring to the tragic Pahalgam incident, he asserted that India has avenged the loss of those women whose marital sindoor (vermilion) was wiped away.

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He added that the blow India has dealt to Pakistan through missiles is significant, but even more impactful is the blow delivered through PM Modis words, which have shaken the very ground under the feet of Pakistans leadership  its President, Prime Minister, and military chiefs.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the world is now witnessing a transforming India. Dr Yadav praised the Indian militarys swift and powerful response, saying that within just five days, they broke Pakistans backbone through decisive retaliation.

Dr Yadav reiterated that India will no longer tolerate terrorism. He lauded the Prime Minister for exposing Pakistans long-standing role in fostering terrorism, including the disgraceful sight of terrorists being buried under Pakistans national flag.

He also commended the Prime Ministers call for self-reliance in defence through Made in India security systems, and his clear stance that any future talks with Pakistan would only be in the context of PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).

Dr Yadav concluded that Prime Minister Modi has decisively crushed Pakistans strategy of nuclear blackmail, and that every word of the Prime Ministers address has filled every Indian with pride and strength, giving the nation a 56-inch chest.
Contrary to the Congress questioning the timing of ceasefire with Pakistan, its allies in Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) have welcomed the ceasefire, terming the development necessary for the people living on the borders in Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Minister Abdullah on Tuesday said the ceasefire between India and Pakistan must remain intact as people on the borders want to live in peace.

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Mehbooba went a step further by stating that The Modi government should not be politically penalized for exploring peaceful means. This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship not division. The opposition must rise above politics and support genuine efforts for peace and stability.

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The support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the unexpected quarters has come as a surprise among the political circles here.

We all want the ceasefire to remain intact. Only the anchors of a few TV channels, who sit far away from here in Noida and Bombay, do not like the ceasefire, Omar told reporters during his visit to Tangdhar along the Line of Control (LoC) that was badly hit during the cross-border shelling by Pakistan.

The people living near the borders or the LoC, and those who saw the situation in Jammu and Srinagar, they want a ceasefire. It is a good thing. This ceasefire should remain intact, Omar said.

In a post on X, Mehbooba Mufti, who was earlier CM with the support of BJP but later turned a fierce critic after the saffron party withdrew support to her, said this was a time for bipartisan statesmanship and not division.

She wrote; I appeal to all the opposition parties to resist the urge for knee-jerk criticism or political point-scoring. Just as the Pahalgam incident united voices from Kashmir to Kanyakumari there is a need to build a national consensus around a peace process that safeguards national interests. Leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh proved that cross-border engagement is possible even in tense times without compromising security or sovereignty. The Modi government should not be politically penalized for exploring peaceful means. This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship not division. The opposition must rise above politics and support genuine efforts for peace and stability.

Those who criticise the ceasefire from the comfort of air-conditioned studios and drawing rooms should spend time with their families on the borders to truly understand the daily reality of death and destruction, Mehbooba added.

The Chief minister told reporters that the district administration will complete the damage assessment and then whatever compensation is needed to be paid to them, we will give that to them.

He said the government will formulate a policy to build individual bunkers for the people. Community bunkers had been built but they were not used for so long. No new bunker has come up in many years. Wherever I went, people said we should build individual bunkers.

During a visit to the border areas of Poonch and Rajouri, J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra said that the Prime Minister should announce a special comprehensive package for the relief and rehabilitation of the affected population.

Strongly condemning Pakistan for targeting the civilian population in Poonch, Rajouri and elsewhere, Karra shared the grief and sorrow with families of those martyred or injured besides suffering great loss to livestock and properties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the Adampur Air Base early today, where he was briefed by Air Force personnel. PM Modi interacted with the brave jawans and said it was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination, and fearlessness.

In his post on X, the PM said, Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination, and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation.

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Pakistan had falsely claimed Adampur was among the key Indian Air Force bases it had significantly destroyed. The Indian government has called it a blatant lie.

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Adampur air base is one of the four key Indian Air Force (IAF) stations  Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj  that have suffered limited damage from Pakistani attacks amid the India-Pak tensions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi said that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil last year, the two sides jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.

He called on the two sides to vigorously advance the construction of a China-Brazil community with a shared future, continuously deepen the alignment of development strategies, and jointly promote strengthened solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries.

Xi stressed that China and Brazil should maintain strategic mutual trust, provide mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and strengthen exchange at all levels and in all respects.

He called on the two countries to expand cooperation, deepen the effective alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil's development strategy, give full play to the role of the various cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, strengthen cooperation in traditional fields such as infrastructure, agriculture and energy, and expand new areas of cooperation in energy transition, aerospace, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

He said that China and Brazil should enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, provide more convenience for personnel exchanges between the two sides, and strengthen cooperation on culture, education, tourism, and media, and at the sub-national level.

He emphasized that the two sides should adhere to multilateral coordination. As the biggest developing country in the Eastern and Western hemispheres respectively, they should enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms, uphold multilateralism, improve global governance, maintain the international economic and trade order, and resolutely oppose unilateralism, protectionism and bullying, Xi added.

Brazil is willing to deepen strategic cooperation with China and promote the construction of a Brazil-China community with a shared future, Lula said.

Brazil stands ready to align its development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, infrastructure, aerospace and finance, Lula added. He also called on the two countries to expand exchange in areas of the youth and culture, and to enhance exchange and friendship between the two peoples.

Protectionism and tariff abuse cannot promote development and prosperity. Instead, they will lead to chaos. China's resolute stance in addressing global challenges gives strength and confidence to all countries, Lula noted, adding that Brazil is willing to strengthen strategic coordination with China in international affairs, work with China to safeguard the common interests of the Global South, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

At the Great Hall of the People, the two heads of state witnessed the signature of 20 cooperation documents covering the fields of development-strategy alignment, science and technology, agriculture, the digital economy, finance, inspection and quarantine, and media.

The two heads of state also met with the press together.

China and Brazil issued a joint statement on strengthening the construction of a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet, and on jointly upholding multilateralism, as well as a joint statement on the Ukraine crisis.

Prior to the talks, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcome ceremony for Lula and his wife, Rosangela Lula da Silva, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People.

Xi and Peng also hosted a welcome banquet for Lula and his wife on Tuesday evening. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife Rosangela da Silva in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. Xi held talks with Lula, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. Xi held talks with Lula, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. Xi held talks with Lula, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025. Xi held talks with Lula, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
13: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Uttarakhand government on a contempt plea alleging the demolition of a Dargah registered as a Waqf property in Dehradun despite the Centres express assurance that no action would be taken under the amended Waqf Act, 2025.

A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih issued notice to the Uttarakhand government on a contempt application filed in a batch of already pending petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

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The contempt application has alleged that the Hazrat Kamal Shah Dargah, located in Dehradun, was razed to the ground in the early hours of April 25 by local administration officials  without any notice, legal proceedings, or hearing  in flagrant violation of the top courts interim protection.

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It is submitted that the Dargah Hazrat Kamal Shah was registered as Waqf Property bearing number 55, Dehradun, with the Sunni Central Board of Waqfs, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in the year 1982, and was also notified in the Gazette dated 29.03.1986. It is further mapped in the Waqf Asset Management System of India (WAMSI) under ID No. UKDD0055, the plea stated.

The petitioners argued that the demolition constitutes a clear breach of the solemn undertaking given by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before the top court that no waqf properties would be de-notified, nor will any appointments be made to waqf boards till the petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act are heard and decided.

The bench took note of the allegation and said the action, if true, would be in direct contravention of the assurance recorded in the court order, warranting a full explanation from the State.

The court had earlier recorded the Union governments statement that, till further orders, it will not give effect to the contentious provisions of the amended Waqf Act, including those enabling the de-notification of waqf properties and inclusion of non-Muslim members in waqf boards.

The contempt plea will now be heard along with the main petitions challenging the 2025 amendments, which are listed for a detailed hearing before a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai on May 15.

Justice Gavai will be sworn in as Chief Justice of India on Wednesday.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar has criticised the central government for allowing the United States to interfere in India-Pakistan bilateral matters and demanded an explanation for involving a third party when all such issues are meant to be governed strictly by the Simla Agreement signed in 1972 by India and Pakistan.

Sharad

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I remember the Simla Agreement was signed so that no third country would interfere in bilateral issues between the two countries. So far, we have not allowed anyone to interfere in the internal issues of the two countries. But for the first time, US President Donald Trump is discussing our internal issues. Under such circumstances, if someone asks what was the need to seek help from the US, the central government is answerable, Pawar told media persons.

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When Pawar was asked about the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) oppositions demand to hold a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Pawar disagreed and said that confidentiality of defence matters has to be maintained.

In such cases, armed forces personnel are often called to brief the opposition, but some matters need to remain highly confidential, Pawar said.

I am not against a special session, but there is no need for it, since this subject is very sensitive. It cannot be discussed openly. During my tenure as Defence Minister, when such incidents occurred, only a few people were informed. Everyone would expect the government to tell what exactly happened in a special session, Pawar said.

He suggested that instead of a special session of Parliament, the opposition and the government should discuss the issue together in a joint all-party meeting.

While I am not opposed to the idea of a special session, it would be better if everyone is called together and briefed properly on what happened, Pawar said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting on the potential threat of H5 Avian Influenza (bird flu), and directed officials to enforce maximum vigilance across all zoos in the state.

He said the safety of protected animals and birds in zoos, bird sanctuaries, national parks, wetland areas, and cow shelters must be treated as the topmost priority. He instructed officials to take all necessary preventive measures promptly and strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by both the central and state governments to curb the possible spread of the infection.

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As part of the preventive strategy, the Chief Minister ordered regular sanitization of zoo premises and the use of blow torching where needed. He also emphasized mandatory health screenings for all wild animals and birds, along with strict inspection of their food to prevent any contamination.

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The Chief Minister also directed that all zoo staff be fully informed about avian influenza and equipped with PPE kits and other essential safety gear. He further instructed that staff duties within enclosures be assigned according to the level of associated risk.

The Chief Minister further instructed strict monitoring of all poultry farms in line with safety protocols and tight control over the movement of poultry products. He also directed the Health Department to assess the potential impact of H5 Avian Influenza on humans to prevent any risk of transmission to the public.

The Chief Minister mentioned that authorities should stay in regular contact with institutions like the Central Zoo Authority (New Delhi), National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Department of Fisheries and Dairy, and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (Bareilly) to seek advice and implement necessary actions accordingly.

He also instructed officials to strengthen coordination between District Administration, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Chief Veterinary Officer to ensure 100% compliance with all instructions.
Observing that freebies and doles do not empower citizens in the long run, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday emphasized that true empowerment can only be achieved through consistent hand-holding.

He noted that such support enables individuals to empower themselves.

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Addressing members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from Meghalayarepresenting the Garo Hills, Khasi Hills, and Jaintia Hills regionsin New Delhi, the Vice President said, The North-East region of our country is a jewel.

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In the 1990sabout three decades agothe Government of India introduced a policy known as Look East. Prime Minister Narendra Modi added a new dimension to it, transforming it from Look East to Act East, which has since been implemented effectively. Meghalaya, let me tell you, is a heaven for touristsa bountiful gift of nature.

He highlighted the progress made under the Look East, Act East policy, emphasizing Meghalayas immense potential in tourism, mining, information technology, and the services sector.

He also lauded the states achievements in economic growth and womens empowerment, attributing these advancements to visionary leadership at both the central and state levels.

Praising the governance reforms and development over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, the Vice-President said, It is visionary leadership that inspires officials to act in the right direction. Fortunately, this has been happening in our country for the past decadeand in your state as well. Under Prime Minister Modi, the country has achieved milestones that are the envy of the world in areas such as the economy, infrastructure, technology, and womens development and empowerment. Our tribal culture is resplendentit is our wealth.

Commending Meghalayas economic performance, he added, The economy of a state is gauged by its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), and Meghalaya has seen a commendable year-on-year rise of 13%. Congratulations to the Chief Minister for his deep commitment to strengthening the states economy. The current GSDP is projected to exceed 66,000 crore.

Meghalaya is large at heart, even if it is not geographically vast. Yet, your economic size is impressive. Youve set a bold targetaiming to become a $10 billion economy by 2028.

Reflecting on the importance of inclusive growth, the Vice-President said, The state has enormous talent and potential in tourism, mining, IT, and the service sector. But more importantly, human resources must be nurtured and made independent. Balanced societal and economic development is possible when women actively participate. I am truly happy and delighted to see a tenfold increaseboth in terms of revolving funds and participation.
Russian President Vladimir Putins proposal for direct talks with Ukraine, without agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, is not a surprising move ~ it is classic geopolitical posturing. This latest offer appears less about sincere peace-building and more about strategic image management, designed to serve Russias broader interests both on the battlefield and the diplomatic stage. Lets strip it to the essentials: a true desire for peace begins with halting hostilities. If theres no ceasefire, what are the talks actually about? Mr Putins refusal to endorse a 30-day unconditional truce, even as he expresses willingness to engage in discussions, speaks volumes. It allows Russia to keep military momentum while cloaking its intentions in the rhetoric of diplomacy. This dual-track approach is aimed not at ending the war, but at manipulating perceptions.

The proposed talks in Istanbul serve several overlapping objectives. Domestically, they signal control and openness. Internationally, they allow the Kremlin to portray itself as reasonable, especially to audiences that are growing war-weary. But perhaps more crucially, the offer is a wedge aimed at the Western alliance. By appearing conciliatory ~ while resisting a ceasefire ~ Moscow is perhaps hoping to exploit any fissures between the United States and Europe, especially in an environment where political leadership in the West is fluid and electoral uncertainties abound. The timing also reveals motive. Western leaders, after coordinating in Kyiv to demand a ceasefire, presented a united front. By undermining that unity with a proposal that sounds peace oriented but lacks substance, Mr Putin seeks to splinter consensus and test the resolve of individual actors. The underlying calculation is clear: create enough ambiguity to slow new sanctions, delay military aid to Ukraine, and sow strategic doubt. Another key element to consider is the psychological warfare embedded in this strategy.

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By offering talks while continuing hostilities, the Kremlin aims to demoralise Ukraine and confuse its allies. This kind of manoeuvre sends a message that Russia controls not only the battlefield but also the diplomatic tempo. It puts pressure on Ukraine to appear inflexible if it rejects the offer, while simultaneously buying Russia time to regroup militarily under the guise of engaging in peace efforts. Furthermore, Mr Putins overture to resume talks ~ framed as a revival of previously interrupted dialogue ~ is a narrative inversion. It casts Russia not as an aggressor but as a misunderstood partner, aggrieved yet open to reason. That framing is designed not for Kyiv or Brussels, but for Washington. With the possibility of a friendlier US administration on the horizon, this could be the start of a charm offensive aimed at reshaping future bilateral dynamics. In the end, what matters is not the choreography of peace, but its content. Until Russia commits to stopping the violence it initiated, any diplomatic overture rings hollow. The world must remain vigilant to the theatre behind the negotiation table, and not mistake performance for progress.

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India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire. There will be fits and starts, but ultimately it will hold. The agreement came after the Pakistan DGMO spoke to his Indian counterpart. The Pakistani DGMO, Major General Kashif Abdullah, called his Indian counterpart, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, initially at about 9 am, but was ignored. He made another call at 3.35 pm reiterating his request for a ceasefire, which was accepted. The Pakistani side conveyed that this offer came from their army chief. Two calls from Pakistan on the same day, both with a similar request, is not normal.

It was not international pressure which pushed the calls but Indias retaliation. India refused to respond to the first request as it had already planned to target Pakistans air bases, which it did, damaging them and making them non-operational, while destroying or damaging many of their aircraft. A second reason was Indias direct missile hit on Kirna Hills, a hardened military storage site for nuclear weapons, near Sargodha airbase. This rattled Pakistan. It went crying to the US as it was now at the end of its tether. Finally, with troops withdrawn from Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, freedom fighters had gained the upper hand. If conflict endured, Pakistan could face significant losses in the west. Donald Trump tweeted that the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire. This was based on Pakistans panic call seeking peace, a repeat of Kargil. India rejected Trumps comment, insisting the ceasefire was agreed to on Pakistans request, which came on American prompting after Pakistan begged for their interference.

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Pakistans Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharief, thanked Donald Trump for his intervention, implying that it was desperately seeking a way out. Pakistan has always sought third party mediation, which India has rejected. What did India achieve in Operation Sindoor? Indias aim was to hit Pakistans terror factories, expose it as a supporter of terrorism and send a message on its new red lines which, if crossed, would lead to military retaliation. Reports of actual casualty figures in strikes on terrorist hideouts may never be known but are most likely way beyond a hundred, including many known terrorists  an apt response to the Pahalgam attack. The picture of Pakistan army officers standing alongside globally designated terrorists at the funeral of those eliminated in Indian strikes speaks a thousand words and can never be denied by Islamabad.

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To make matters worse, terrorist coffins were draped in the national flag. Pakistans role and involvement in global and regional terrorism are now established. The DGMO in his talks mentioned that any terrorist strike in the future would be considered an act of war and draw retaliation. The question is what next? Only military aspects of the ceasefire would have been discussed by the two DGMOs. Once again, a stark warning on terrorist strikes and Indias red lines would have been conveyed. The ceasefire should largely hold. Any further talks would be at the political level and only bilateral, which is unlikely for some time. India will refuse to discuss any aspect, including the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), trade or reinstating diplomatic staff until Pakistan dismantles its terrorist network, which it may not do currently. Hence, India will keep the IWT in suspension, block movement of APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) and medicine exports. India anyway had no plans to continue with the IWT in the current form and now has a justification. The World Bank has already wiped its hands of the subject by mentioning that it is only a facilitator. The IWT will remain a strong card in Indias arsenal.

The fact remains that any discussion on it will be based on Pakistan accepting Indias terms. The disinformation game from Pakistan is rising as it is desperate to save face amongst its populace. Pakistani leaders have been crediting the US for the ceasefire, avoiding mentioning that the call for a ceasefire came from their end, while projecting victory and praising their armed forces. They make no mention of destruction of terrorist HQs and numbers of those killed, trying to hide them as civilians, damage to their air bases and targeting of their nuclear facility. Pakistan marked the ceasefire as Youm-e-Tashakur meaning day of thanks. This is akin to Hamas claiming victory over Israel despite destruction of its infrastructure and high losses of terrorists. Most videos displaying Indias successful strikes and destruction of their strategic assets have flowed from Pakistani nationals.

What is the difference between Balakote and now? In Balakote, India conveyed its intent, which Pakistan understood, but hid, as there was no visual evidence. Some Indian politicians too sought the same. This time, everything was recorded employing UAVs and satellites. Added were videos and images from common Pakistani citizens. India hit what it planned to, caused requisite damage and conveyed its intent. Pakistan could not get away. What did India prove? India proved that it can achieve what it intends to, hitting Pakistan where it hurts and blocking Pakistans counters.

It also conveyed that it is now a global military power which can merge technology with raw military power. Finally, its domestic defence industry is now of age. Indias entire air defence was centred around its indigenous Akash system which had been integrated with the Russian S400, Indo-Israeli Barack missile system, amongst other manually controlled weapon systems. It proved to be extremely effective, blocking almost all Pakistans drones and missiles. India also employed its Brahmos missiles for specific targeting, each of which was a resounding success. On the contrary, Pakistan relied on Chinese-manufactured radars and missiles. These radars failed to destroy a single Indian missile nor were Chinese missiles accurate and effective. All were destroyed in flight.

To hide their failure, Chinese handles flooded social media, backing Pakistan in its claims against India. The fallout is that Indias Akash system and Brahmos missiles would be in global demand, while Chinese equipment would be considered junk. Will Pakistan learn? This is unlikely. The Pakistani army controls the nation through brute power while claiming that it exists only to prevent India from balkanizing their country as also regaining Kashmir. It is this army which backs terrorist networks. Expecting it to stop this immediately is foolish. However, suspension of the IWT and blocking medical supplies would impact their masses, not immediately, but soon. This would add to pressures within. In such a scenario there would be limited choice but dialogue, which would have to flow on Indian terms. For this to happen India must commence investing in harnessing desired quantities of water from rivers earmarked for Pakistan.

The reality is that a long-drawn war is not an option nor would it be of advantage to India, as Pakistan would be armed and funded by China to keep India engaged. Pakistan is to China what the Hezbollah was to Iran, and keeps India engaged. Apart from slowing down the Indian economy, it would benefit China, which would prefer India being involved in a conflict with its vassal state, Pakistan. With India seeking to attract Western industry leaving China, instability and conflict would be a deterrent. India is aware that its major threat is from the north, from which it cannot divert attention. Peace along the LAC is fragile and can be exploited anytime by the Chinese. Indian force levels and reserves for the Chinese front have greater priority than the Pakistani front. The best solution is to let Pakistan fight its internal turmoil, which apart from rising discontent in its western provinces, will spread when water flows impact agriculture in Sindh and Punjab.

Agriculture forms 20 per cent of Pakistans GDP and employs over 40 per cent of the population. India has conveyed its message and should now sit tight waiting for Pakistan to request talks, for which Indian conditions should be clear. The Balakote strike kept Pakistan at bay for six years (2019-2025). Operation Sindoor should have a longer impact. Indian concentration must remain on its economy, improving the well-being of its population and keeping the Chinese at bay. Pakistan is a has-been threat, can be tackled anytime and this was proved.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
The interim government of Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus on Monday issued a gazette notification banning all activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas party, Awami League and its affiliate organisations. The ban is imposed under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the trial of the party and its leaders in the Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is completed.

The Public Security Division under the countrys Home Ministry issued the gazette notification with Joint Secretary Ziauddin Ahmed confirming the development.

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The ban included all activities, including any kind of publication, campaign in media, online and social media, procession, meeting, gathering, conference, etc.

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The government has sufficient evidence that the Bangladesh Awami League and all its subsidiary, associate and fraternal organisations are involved in various criminal activities with the aim of destabilising and rendering the state ineffective, and are engaged in various illegal activities and conspiracies similar to terrorist organisations with the aim of spreading fear in the public mind, the notification stated.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, was banned in October 2024 and declared a terrorist organisation. The other associate organisations include Bangladesh Mahila League, Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, Awami Swecchashebok League, Awami Ainjibee Parishad, Bangladesh Tanti League and the Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad.

On Sunday, the interim government promulgated an ordinance amending the Anti-terrorism Act, including a new provision imposing ban on persons or any entities involved in violence and terrorism.

As per the previous provision of the act, to meet the purpose of the act, the government may, on the basis of reasonable grounds that any person or entity is involved in terrorist acts, list such a person in the Schedule or declare the entity prohibited and list it in the Schedule by issuing official gazette notifications.

However, earlier there was no provision in the law regarding the prohibition of the activities of any entity. The new amendment allowed the government to impose a ban on activities of any entity, Bangladeshi leading daily, Prothom Alo reported.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin had said earlier in the day that the Election Commission will decide on Awami Leagues registration once it receives the official gazette notification.

You cant make decisions based on media reports. Once the gazette is issued, we will sit and decide. Let the notification come, CEC said in response to a question on whether Awami Leagues registration will be cancelled once the gazette is issued.

Reports suggest that last week, several student groups, radical Islamist parties, and leaders of the newly formed National Citizen Party came to the streets, first staging a sit-in in front of the Chief Advisors residence and later gathering at Shahbag, Dhaka, demanding an immediate ban on the Awami League.

Analysts reckon the latest developments as an extension of the political vendetta pursued by the interim government led by Yunus against former PM Hasina and her supporters with a larger plan of keeping Awami League away from taking part in the national elections.

The unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic set-up in the country. The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits.
Russia on Monday called out Poland for its decision to shut down the Russian Consulate General in the Polish city of Krakow, stating that it will adequately respond to the situation.

Warsaw deliberately seeks to ruin the relations by acting against its citizens. An appropriate response to these inadequate steps will follow soon, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by state-run news agency TASS.

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Earlier in the day, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski decided to shut down the Russian Consulate General in Krakow. The decision followed after Poland alleged that Russian special services were involved in a fire that destroyed a large retail centre in Warsaw in 2024.

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Due to evidence that the Russian special services committed a reprehensible act of sabotage against the shopping center on Marywilska Street, I have decided to withdraw my consent to the operation of the Consulate of the Russian Federation in Krakow, the Polish Foreign Minister posted on X.

Meanwhile, Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, called Warsaws latest move to close the Russian Consulate General in Krakow unfriendly, albeit not unexpected.

The move is certainly unfriendly, just like any other step by the Polish government on the Russian track in recent years, the senior Russian senator said while speaking to news channel Rossiya-24.

He rejected Polands allegations that Russian secret services directed an arson attack on the Marywilska 44 shopping center in Warsaw as absurd. I simply cannot imagine why we would have needed to do so, given we do not practice such terrorist campaigns in general, Kosachev added.

The senator further stated that Poland seeks to pitch its citizens against Russia as much as possible in order to untie its hands in its policy course on Ukraine and other anti-Russian policies.

If there are Polish consulates somewhere in Russia, they should be closed accordingly, he argued.

In October 2024, Polands top diplomat Sikorski decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Poznan, citing an alleged attempt by Russia to set fire to a plant factory in Wroclaw. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry shut down the Polish Consulate in St. Petersburg.
In a display of patriotism, Arunachal Pradesh has hosted Northeast Indias first Tiranga Yatra in the border town of Walong to celebrate the success of the Indian Armed Forces in Operation Sindoor.

The yatra, led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, was joined by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, cabinet ministers, local leaders, Army personnel, and hundreds of enthusiastic residents.

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Walong, located near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, holds a special place in Indias military history as one of the sites of the 1962 India-China war.

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The yatra culminated at the Walong War Memorial, where floral tributes were offered to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the war.

Chief Minister Khandu said that India is in a strong position under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised the readiness and bravery of the Indian Armed Forces.

We have seen how our soldiers have stood firm during crises. Recently, under Operation Sindoor, they gave a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said.

Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, in which several security personnel were killed.

As part of the operation, the Indian armed forces reportedly struck terror bases across the border.

The BJP has since launched an 11-day nationwide Tiranga Yatra campaign to honour the armed forces and take the message of national unity and strength to the people.

Khandu added that Indias armed forces, deployed across the northern, western, and eastern borders, continue to defend the country with unmatched courage and sacrifice.
ALGIERS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Tuesday voiced deep concern over violent overnight clashes in the Libyan capital Tripoli, urging rival armed factions to resolve their disputes through dialogue.

In a statement, Algeria's Foreign Ministry said the latest fighting had resulted in casualties and squandered Libya's "precious resources for nothing." It called on all Libyan parties to put national interests first, commit to dialogue, and support the UN-led political process aimed at reaching a lasting solution.

"Libya today needs unity and reconciliation, away from the logic of division and discord," the statement said.

Heavy clashes broke out late Monday between rival militias in Tripoli, amid reports of the death of Abdul Ghani al-Kikli, known as "Ghaniwa," who was the head of the Stability Support Apparatus, a powerful militant group affiliated with the Presidency Council.

At least six people were killed in the fighting, according to Libya's Emergency Medicine and Support Center. The Interior Ministry, based in Tripoli, said on Tuesday that order had been restored in the capital.

Libya has been mired in political turmoil and insecurity since the 2011 overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country remains split between rival administrations: an eastern-based government in Tobruk backed by the House of Representatives, and a western-based government in Tripoli aligned with the UN-recognized Presidency Council. 


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Maybach automobiles has fallen in love with India after the German luxury carmaker sold more than 500 units in the country in 2024. The company has shown a 145 per cent growth annually, making India among its top 10 markets worldwide. The luxury car  its prices start at Rs 3 crore  is unusually a favourite with younger Indians, a growing tribe of the new rich with expensive taste and a passion for fancy cars.

Maybach is over 100 years old; when Wilhelm Maybach created the luxury car brand that soon began to symbolise quality and luxury, using fine materials to make a high-end product. Maybach is now owned by Mercedes as Mercedes-Maybach. Maybach Icons of Luxury is a family-owned company, also German, that has extended the Maybach brand into more accessible but high-quality and handcrafted lifestyle goods.

Indians have long been shopping from our stores in Dubai or Portugal especially, says Wolfgang Thelen, founder of Maybach Icons of Luxury, at the opening of his familys first boutique in India, in Bengaluru. Its a coincidence that we are coming at a time when Maybach is selling so well. The luxury market is growing in India and I felt we needed to be here, he says.

Thelen says his company has 11 boutiques and 650 points of sale all over the world; with 20 percent each in the USA, Europe, Asia, and India-UAE together. The cars do very well in India and fabulously in China. Our artisanal excellence finds many takers, he adds.

The boutique is at the centre of the upscale Mall of Asia, and Thelen says more boutiques are coming up in Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. Bengaluru has a young tech community that we like. It is an evolving market. Indias growth rate is immense, just after Chinas. These are exciting things. Besides, Indians are warm and welcoming so we are glad to be here.

Does he believe the automobile industry and the retail business are two different entities or do they feed off each other? There is a connection for sure. Maybach is a heritage brand, but specialise in luxury especially for men, he explains. We have limited products that are inspired by the car. For sure, our success is connected to the cars success. But in 2012, the cars production was stopped but we continued. The car came back only three years later, after Mercedes took it over, he adds. Icons of Luxury showcases its line of signature eyewear, many pieces made of real gold and real teak, as well as writing instruments and leather goods.

India is renowned for handcrafted products too. But Indias craftsmanship is missing technology and we have that, he avers. We use the leftover horns from water buffaloes from India, we have been buying them for 40 years. We take it to Germany and produce high quality items with it.

Thelen says he has also collaborated with Sabyasachi for his eyewear for the US market in the past.
The sweltering heat these days makes outdoor leisure activities less appealing. However, theres one cool escape that still promises inspiration: visiting art galleries.

You learn something new and beat the heatwhat could be better? And the good news is, there's a vibrant lineup of exhibitions this May, so you'll be spoilt for choice and not left wanting.

Here are THE WEEKs top art picks for the month:

Purusha Prakriti

Bespoke Art Gallery, Ahmedabad

Until June 10

In India, 'Purusha' and 'Prakriti'meaning Man and Naturesymbolise the dual principles of nature and consciousness. While 'Prakriti' represents the material universe, 'Purusha' denotes spirituality. Capturing this essence is the ongoing exhibition Purusha Prakriti at the Bespoke Art Gallery, Ahmedabad.

Curated by renowned historian Uma Nair, the show brings together works by 40 distinguished artists. Highlights include a tribute to the iconic Himmat Shah, alongside works by K.G. Subramanyan, Jyoti Bhatt, and Muzaffar Ali, among others.

Bachpan

Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi

Until May 30

This solo photography exhibition by Vicky Roy is a poignant reflection on bachpan (childhood) and brings together black-and-white photographs on the subject. The work draws deeply from Roys own early experiences and his time with the Salaam Baalak Trust, a New Delhi-based NGO that supports street children.

It showcases the playfulness, resilience, and inventiveness of underprivileged children across rural and urban India, placing an emphasis on survival, community, and joy.

Nabha Sparsh - Indian Women Printmakers

National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai

Until May 25

While printmaking might not get as much emphasis as traditional art, the effort undertaken is just as laborious. Nabha Sparsh, an ongoing exhibition at NGMA Mumbai, celebrates the medium, while highlighting the contributions of Indias leading women printmakers. A collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, this project brings together the works of 150 female artists of India.

The Geometry of Ordinary Lives by Prasanta Sahu

Emami Art, Kolkata

Until June 21

In 'The Geometry of Ordinary Lives', artist Prasanta Sahu explores the intersection of art, research, and lived experience. Currently a teacher at Santiniketan, he views the workshops of blacksmiths, carpenters, potters, and craftsmen as dynamic repositories where stories, techniques, and philosophies are safeguarded through oral traditions. His project also examines how these knowledge systems endure amid the forces of economic and socio-political homogenisation.

Aksharscape

Bikaner House, New Delhi

May 28 to June 1

A one-of-a-kind display, 'Aksharscape' is a solo exhibition of contemporary calligraphy by Nikheel Aphale, presented by Artisera. Here, Aphale explores the themes of spiritual songs, mythological tales, and divinity, as well as elements of humanity, such as inclusivity, equality, and coexistence.
One month after the Lodha brothers Abhishek and Abhinandan settled their dispute over the use of the "Lodha" brand name, Abhinandan Lodha has renamed his key company Lodha Ventures to Abhinandan Ventures.

Founded in 2015, Lodha Ventures began as a platform to incubate and accelerate high-growth, consumer-centric businesses. Over the years, it has expanded into multiple areas, including real estate, private equity, education, and emerging consumer opportunities.

Abhinandan Lodha is the younger brother of Abhishek Lodha. Abhishek, the MD and CEO of India's leading real estate developer Macrotech, had filed a case against Abhinandan in January 2025 in a bid to restrict him from using the "Lodha" brand name in his ventures.

The two brothers in April agreed to amicably resolve all their outstanding disputes.

Under the terms of the settlement, Macrotech Developers would retain the exclusive right to use the brand names "Lodha" and "Lodha Group." Abhinandan would have the exclusive right to use the brand name "House of Abhinandan Lodha" (HoABL).

HoABL has plotted real estate developments in many cities from Konkan, Maharashtra to Goa and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

The new identity, Abhinandan Ventures, represents a step forward in distinguishing the groups independent vision, the company said.

"This shift is intended to further reflect the strength and depth of our presence across sectorsfrom private equity to branded land and differentiated real estate development among others," said Abhinandan Lodha.

The new branding would allow them to clearly communicate their philosophy and "ambitious" plans for the future, he said.

Apart from HoABL, Abhinandan Lodha's business has included Tomorrow Capital, BeyondSkool, and Sheetal Lodha Foundation, and all the businesses will continue to operate under their respective brand identities, the company added.

Lodha Group was founded by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, now a BJP legislator from Mumbai, back in 1980. His two sons decided to part ways back in 2015, when the elder Abhishek got control of the flagship real estate businessMacrotech Developers. Younger brother Abhinandan got Lodha Ventures.
The Chinese military refuted reports that its largest military cargo plane Xi'an Y-20 military transport aircraftcarried arms supplies to Pakistan and warned of legal action against those spreading such rumours.

China is the largest weapons supplier to Pakistan, accounting for 81 per cent of the arms procurement of Islamabad.

Seeking to counter reports of Chinese aid to Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan military engagement, PLAF said in a statement that such claims were untrue.

The PLAF also posted several screenshots of photos and words that shared the incorrect information, with each stamped with the red word "rumour".

ALSO READ: Indian Navy bottled up Pakistan air force to Makran coast during Operation Sindoor

"The internet is not beyond the law! Those who produce and spread military-related rumours will be held legally responsible!" a report on the official website of the Chinese defence ministry said.

The clarification comes two days after India and Pakistan agreed to cease all military actions after four days of hostilities.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing that the "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan is in the fundamental and long-term interest of both nations and is conducive to regional peace and stability.

Pakistan is largely dependent on China for its arms supplies, including fighter jets, radars, naval ships, submarines and missiles. Both countries jointly manufacture J-17 aircraft, the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force.
A day after issuing a strong message to Pakistan saying any discussions with the country will focus solely on terrorism and any negotiations with Islamabad will centre around Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur Air Base in in Punjab and interacted with Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel.

According to media reports, the prime minister was briefed about the operations of the IAF. The base is strategically important because of its proximity to the India-Pakistan border.

For the past few days, PM Modi has been holding regular meetings with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the three service chiefs, and top government functionaries involved in the country's military and diplomatic response to the terror attack of April 22 in Pahalgam.

ALSO READ: Indian Navy bottled up Pakistan air force to Makran coast during Operation Sindoor

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the country's top military leadership carried out a comprehensive review of the national security situation along the frontier with Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. According to officials, the defence leadership reviewed the security situation along the Western frontier and related issues.

After four days of hostilities, India and Pakistan, on Saturday, agreed to a ceasefire. Following the ceasefire agreement, despite a few stray incidents, a semblance of normalcy returned to border areas.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 13, 2025. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his support for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara on Tuesday, according to the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan said that Turkiye is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, noting that he has spoken with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said a statement issued by the presidency.

Erdogan emphasized that Turkiye maintains its neutral stance in the conflict and urged that the opportunity for peace should not be missed.

On Turkiye-NATO relations, Erdogan said that Turkiye places great importance on NATO and will once again assume command of the NATO Kosovo Force. He also called for greater cooperation among NATO allies in the fight against terrorism.

Rutte, for his part, noted that his meeting with Erdogan comes as preparations are underway for next month's NATO summit.

"Turkiye is a staunch and capable ally. We also discussed Ukraine, where there is a real window of opportunity for progress towards peace," he wrote in a post on social media platform X. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 13, 2025. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
With one day left for the commencement of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the authorities have laid down some major updates to the dress code. Voluminous outfits, in particular, those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre are not permitted, said the official statement.

What might get charted as voluminous? While not explicitly mentioned, anything that goes beyond a traditional spectrum with grand length, width and pomp could get flagged as such.

Citing decency reasons, the ban also extends to nudity on the red carpet. Nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival, said the official statement. Variety reported that the goal of this reform is to adhere to the aim is not to regulate attire per se, but to prohibit full nudity on the red carpet, in accordance with the institutional framework of the event and French law.

Over the years some trends have gained momentum on the Cannes red carpet. Be it Bella Hadids Schiaparelli moment in 2021, Aishwarya Rais ever-rolling set of voluminous outfits or Kani Kusrutis watermelon clutch supporting Palestine last year, they were all statements that were synonymous and tailored to each person and what they wanted to stand for.

The festival in its glorious history of 78 years has borne witness to many political statements and grand sentiments, an apt example being the topless pro-Ukraine protestor who had to be escorted out of the Cannes red carpet back in 2022. So as not to offend the participants various sensitivities, political, militant or electoral events or demonstrations are not permitted at the Festival, said the report.

The Cannes carpet has always been plagued by controversy. A notable event pertained to the unspoken rule of expecting women to wear high heels to the premieres. If youre not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, then you cant ask me either, said Hollywood actress Kristen Stuart to the Hollywood Reporter after she defied traditions by removing her heels in 2016.

Will we see such rebellion unfold this year? Most probably not, as the festival has also stated that the Festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit Red Carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.
Stand-up comedian and YouTuber Samay Rana has announced his return to the stage with an international comeback tour following the controversy surrounding his YouTube show 'Indias Got Latent'.

The tour, titled 'Still Alive and Unfiltered', will stretch across Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Kicking off at Cologne, Germany, on June 5, Samay's tour will come to an end on July 20 at Sydney, Australia.

The announcement comes after a slew of legal challenges and public resentment that followed allegations of promoting obscenity and making disrespectful comments about individuals with disabilities in the 'India's Got Latent' case.

As a result, Samay Raina, along with Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps), had been summoned by the Supreme Court in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), stressing the importance of upholding the dignity and respect of all citizens.

In a recent Instagram post, Raina shared a video montage of his earlier performances, expressing his appreciation for his fans. He even posted an Instagram Story, where he wrote that the most testing time of my life makes for the best comedy.

The announcement sparked enthusiasm from his fans, with ticketing sites for the show experiencing heavy net traffic following the news. Samay addressed this issue on Instagram, promising eager fans that the issue would be resolved quickly.

Fan reactions ranged from excitement to questions about new episodes of 'India's Got Latent'. One fan commented, FINALLYYY COMEBACKKK, whereas some others asked, When is the next episode of Latent going to come?, and Ab Latent ka bhi comeback kar lo (Let 'India's Got Latent' also make a comeback).

Samay Rainas return to the stage marks a fresh new chapter in his career and life.
Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio on Tuesday will present veteran actor Robert De Niro with an honorary Palme D'Or for lifetime achievement at the opening ceremony of the 78th Cannes Awards.

Known for an exhaustive list of fine films like 'Goodfellas', 'The Godfather Part II', 'Cape Fear', 'Taxi Driver' and 'Raging Bull', De Niro is a two-time Oscar winner for 'The Godfather Part II' (Best Supporting Actor) and 'Raging Bull' (Best Actor).

The prolific actor duo first met and collaborated with each other on the sets of 'This Boy's Life' (1993). Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' (2023), a thriller that chronicled the systemic explotation and murders of natives from the Osage Nation, indigenous to various parts of America (especially Oklahoma), was the duo's most recent collaboration.

De Niro will also participate in a masterclass on Wednesday at the Theatre Debussy in the Palais des Festivals et des Congres. It comes as no surprise that the legendary actor is also a Cannes veteran, presiding over the Cannes jury in 2011, the year the Palme dOr had been awarded to Terrence Malick for 'The Tree of Life'.

I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes ... Especially now when theres so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us togetherstorytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. Its like coming home, he declared, back when his honorary Palme dor had been announced.

There are faces that stand in for the seventh Art, and lines of dialogue that leave an indelible mark on cinephilia. With his interiorized style, which surfaces in a gentle smile or a harsh gaze, Robert De Niro has become a cinematic legend, a Cannes statement announced at the time.

DiCaprio will next hit screens with Paul Thomas Andersons 'One Battle After Another', set to release on September 16.
After a brief gap, Australian actor Eric Bana (Munich, Troy) is returning to the web series space with Untamed, a limited series that will have its Netflix premiere on July 17, 2025. Bana plays an Investigative Services Branch agent of the National Parks Service looking for a murderer who has a connection with the Yosemite National Park.

Untamed comes from showrunner Mark L. Smith, known for writing American Primeval and The Revenant, and Elle Smith (The Marsh Kings Daughter). On setting the show's story in Yosemite National Park, Mark L Smith told Netflix that he is trying to dig into the unpleasant side of something that looks beautiful on the outside. Everyone thinks of Yosemite as this beautiful place with all the vistas and all the scenery, but we were trying to touch on the dangers that are just beyond that. I love stripping all the cheats away, stripping all the more modern tools that people can use. It really gets down to the character and what they can find within themselves.

Bana's co-stars include Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez, a rookie park ranger who brings an additional perspective, with Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Rosemarie DeWitt (La La Land), and Wilson Bethel (Daredevil).

The six-episode drama has Bana involved as executive producer, along with Mark L Smith and Elle Smith who also handle writing duties.

Meanwhile, Bana is shooting for Baltasar Kormakur's action-thriller Apex, which has Charlize Theron playing the protagonist, and Taron Edgerton as one of the supporting actors.
On Monday, during a presentation held by NBC Universal for advertisers, The Office actor Oscar Nunez, known for his role as an accountant at Dunder Mifflin, and other actors like Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore revealed the title of the follow-up series, The Paper, expected to premiere on streaming platform Peacock in September 2025.

The Scranton documentary crew is heading to Toledo. #ThePaper arrives this September on Peacock, an official Instagram post from Peacock stated.

As the title suggests, the show takes place in a newspaper company, The Truth Teller, situated in the city of Toledo, Ohio. The first-look image reveals Domhnall Gleeson as a publisher at The Truth Teller, standing atop a desk and addressing his employees. Gleeson is known for the films About Time and Ex Machina.

The new series also comes from Greg Daniels and Michael Komanhe, the creators of the award-winning original sitcom. Set in the same universe as its predecessor, The Paper follows the hustle and bustle of a newspaper company trying to stay afloat during the emergence of the Internet era. It also highlights the comedic working relationships between the employees.

Its about this struggling Midwestern newspaper thats much reduced from its glory days. A lot of the storylines are about how this guy, Domhnall Gleesons character, is trying to restore this paper. The villain here is the internet and the ability to look at everybodys news for free, and all the ad revenue going to Google, said Daniels in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Pilonidal sinus, a condition that is now relatively common, has caught the attention of many, especially among working professionals who sit for longer hours.

What is a pilonidal sinus?

A pilonidal sinus is a small hole or tunnel at the top of your bottom, between your buttocks. In scenarios where it gets affected, it must be treated surgically or through antibiotics. Statistically, according to Navigate Health (UK), around 4 in 10 people have been a victim of this recurrent sinus. The infection causes pain and affects the top of the buttocks where a cyst would be formed.

Cause of the infection

According to the National Health Services (NHS), one of the main reasons for the abscess is active friction of the back through continuous sitting or lying on your back. Thus, the most commonly affected are those in the age group from 15 to 30.

A growing or loose hair shed would gather around the aperture and naturally create an infection. After the pus is formed, it creates a lump that can make it difficult to sit or in worst-case scenarios, even walking.

Treatment options

This can be treated surgically with a complete procedure (provided by the NHS) by creating a minor incision and draining out the pus. A course of antibiotics would help heal, along with a few dressings done regularly. However, the mistake is not taking a second action so that it does not recur again.

A pilonidal cyst has a great chance for it to occur repeatedly if the pus alone is drained. Hence, it is necessary to figure out the intensity of the infection along with the root of the hair that caused it. If the hair is not removed, the infection could be frequent from two weeks to 3 months.

Once the hair along with the puss drained, the next action must be to close the hole that is prone to infection. Surgeries, in the form of flaps, are done where the hole is sealed through stitches. According to the Cleveland Clinic, doctors also suggest the necessity to remove the hair around that area to avoid any slight chance of infection, just in case. Ultimately, the root cause that initiates the forming of a cyst is removed.

The advent of laser treatment

However, the infection can be treated without surgical draining if detected early. A slight discomfort or a small boil-like formation that contains discharge is one of the primary symptoms.

A non-invasive surgery like laser treatment is considered an active yet quick remedy. Laser, in todays time, is the best option available for treating pilonidal sinus. So much so that we may not even call it a surgery., Dr. Nitish Jhawar, Laparoscopy and robotics surgeon, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. There are neither big wounds involved nor the requirement of bed rest.

It is advisable to keep the area clean and wearing loose-fitted clothing would ease friction. Continuous sitting is to be avoided. Sleeping on sides rather than flat is also preferred for those with a history of infection.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued an advisory last week urging the American travellers to avoid taking chikungunya vaccine, Valneva's 'Ixchiq'. In the wake of the chikungunya outbreaks in several regions including the islands of the Indian Ocean, health officials had urged the elderly to take the vaccine shots against the disease.

France's Departments of La Reunion and Mayotte have reported chikungunya outbreaks. La Reunion has reported over 47,000 cases and 12 associated deaths as on May 4 this year.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cases are expected to further rise in the islands of the Indian Ocean.

With the chikungunya cases rising, CDC issued a travel advisory saying pregnant women to reconsider their travel plans to the affected areas. "Mothers infected around the time of delivery can pass the virus to their baby before or during delivery," it said.

The Chikungunya vaccine was recommended by the government especially for those frequently travelling.

However, after adverse events were reported following the vaccine administration globally, the CDC has issued another advisory, advising the elderly to refrain from taking the vaccine.

Those who received the vaccination, especially the elderly with comorbidities, were affected with heart or brain-related issues within a week of vaccination.

What is chikungunya?

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus. Symptoms of the disease include fever and joint pain. The risk of a person spreading the virus is highest during the first week of illness.

The European Union's health regulator is currently reviewing Valneva's chikungunya vaccine after reports of serious adverse events, including two deaths globally.

The European Medicines Agency's safety committee has temporarily suspended the use of the vaccine- Ixchiq, in adults aged 65 years and above.

Ixchiq is the first preventive vaccine against the chikungunya virus authorised in Europe and the US.

Among the adverse events included the death of adults aged 62 and 89 years. However, the exact link between the vaccine and the death is being determined by the health officials.

The French government had suspended the use of the vaccine pending investigation after adverse events were reported as well.

Meanwhile, the US advisors have recommended the second chikungunya vaccine, Bavarian Nordic's Vimkunya to those above 12 years of age.
A month after getting married, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh lost his stepson who reportedly died under mysterious circumstances. On Tuesday, the body of Srinjoy, Rinku Majumdars son with her first husband, was recovered from a residential complex in Kolkatas New Town.

The exact cause of death is still unclear. Police have not made any official statement and are currently investigating the matter from all possible angles. Investigators are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the cause of death.

The 25-year-old, who used to live alone, was found unconscious on Tuesday morning and was rushed to Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital, where he was declared dead. His body was then taken to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the autopsy will be conducted.

Initial findings showed no external injuries or signs of struggle on Srinjoys body, though a bruise near his neck has raised suspicions of suicide. A conclusive cause of death will be determined after the autopsy report is released.

If it was suicide, they aim to understand whether emotional or psychological stress played a role and whether it was linked to his personal or professional life.

Rinku Majumdar visited the hospital following the incident but did not speak publicly. Former MP and Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has also not commented. Police plan to question them both and those close to Srinjoy, to uncover any possible reasons behind the death.

Srinjoy, also known as Pritam, worked at an IT firm. On April 18, the day his mother married Ghosh, the former Bengal BJP president, he was not in the Kolkata. Reportedly, he had gone on a trip with friends.

However, he had told them he planned to return to Kolkata, meet his mother, and give the newlyweds a gift. He had also expressed his good wishes for her new life.
Raising concerns of another night of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, suspicious drone activity was observed along the International Border for a few hours on Monday night. However, the vigil Indian Army later said the projectiles are being "engaged" and situation was calm in border areas.

Suspicious drone activity was observed for a few hours on Monday night along the International Border in Jammu's Samba district as well as Punjab's Jalandhar district. The drone activity was spotted hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation in the wake of 'Operation Sindoor', and a hotline conversation between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the ceasefire.

The Army said, " A small number of suspected drones being observed near Samba in Jammu and Kashmir. Being engaged. There is no need to be alarmed." The Army later said the situation was calm and under control in border areas.

Several border areas, including Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Jammu witnessed blackouts following suspicious activity along the border.

Lights were also turned off at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and along its track as a precautionary measure, sources told PTI.

Meanwhile, in Jalandhar, a senior district administration official said armed forces neutralised a suspected "surveillance drone". Deputy Commissioner (Jalandhar) Himanshu Aggarwal said, "I have been informed that one surveillance drone was brought down by the armed forces around 9.20pm near Mand village. An expert team is looking for the debris," PTI reported. He later added no drone activity was spotted after 10pm.

The DGMOs of India and Pakistan had their first conversation since the ceasefire on Monday evening. "Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed," it said in a statement. The DGMOs also discussed immediate measures to reduce troop strength in the border and forward areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis forceful address and body language during his address to the nation on Monday night said it allthe Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs)-level talks were yet to pacify India.

Put off by about five hours behind its scheduled time, the hotline conversation between the DGMOs on Monday evening was an impolite chat that continued for only a short time.

It was a very impolite conversation before the Indian DGMO issued a stern warning to his Pakistani counterpart that whatever needs to be done will be done if Pakistan doesnt abide by the agreed terms of stoppage of firing, a senior official source familiar with the developments told THE WEEK.

While both sides agreed to consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas, a few hours after the DGMO level talks, the Indian Army engaged a small number  of drones; "a small number of suspected drones being observed near Samba in Jammu and also in Punjabs Jalandhar.

The DGMO-level talks were initially scheduled for 12 noon on Monday, but were put off as the Pakistani side insisted on the inclusion of several other items on the agenda that were not agreeable to the Indians.

The items sought by the Pakistani side to be discussed included the resumption of the Indus Waters Treaty that was held in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. But the Indian side pointed out that these items went beyond the military mandate.

DGMOs have the mandate to talk only about operational details, the source pointed out. The effort to expand the ambit of the talks may have been due to US President Donald Trumps social media post that claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between the warring India and Pakistan militaries. It is a strong possibility that Islamabad got more than encouraged by Trumps statement.

The talks included issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other, but Monday nights drone intrusion in Samba and Jalandhar can be construed as a flagrant violation, yet again of the agreed terms.

On Saturday, it was the Pakistan DGMO who had called up the Indian counterpart first, seeking talks to stop all military actions, on land, at sea, in the air.

Hostilities had broken out between the two South Asian neighbours after Pakistan-backed terrorists gunned down 26 civilians in Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22. India hit back with strikes against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and also deep inside Pakistan under a military operation codenamed Sindoor.

Counter-strikes by the Pakistan military had spiked tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, raising global concerns.
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Though I've been eligible for years  being over 35 and a natural-born citizen  no one has ever asked me to run for president. With all the radio and Television I've done, with all the things I've written and the speeches I've given, you'd expect someone somewhere to have thought, "Okay, this guy's got a decent business background. And though he's obviously not as clever as he thinks he is, he's mildly entertaining and mostly coherent. Maybe he should be president."

No one, however, seems to have ever thought that. Admittedly, I am brain-damaged, with the dents in my skull to prove it. But clearly a president's cognitive condition only matters to about half of the electorate. If that. I've also been incarcerated twice. Once for  I swear  aiding and abetting a loiterer. And once for not making a left-hand turn out of a left-hand turn lane. Obviously, these aren't infractions that get solid citizens jailed. But I've rehabilitated myself, and you can be sure any crimes I commit in the future will be worthy of at least a mayor or a member of Congress.

Unfortunately, I look more like someone who'd aid and abet a loiterer than someone who should be president. Though I do resemble one particular president  think Franklin Pierce on a bad day. If you can picture that, you probably know more about our presidents than most of our recent presidents. If you even knew that Franklin Pierce was president, you know more than a couple of them.

Personally, I don't believe a candidate's appearance should affect their electability. In any case, I'd be happy to promise that, if elected, I'd keep out of sight. I think voters would go for that. It would give me an air of mystery. And it'd be safer. I'd use focus groups to select the most appropriate-looking spokesperson, unless Oprah would do it.

As for my policies, I'd probably have some. How about:

 With any idiot being allowed to have kids, too many idiots do. This is child abuse. Couples expecting babies will be required to pass a rigorous parenting course. If they fail three times, their children, as teenagers, can choose other parents. This should delight both the teenagers and the original parents.

 To limit campaign contributions, politicians who accept donations in excess of $50 will be required to wear large, brightly colored patches on their clothing  like race car drivers  revealing the donor and the amount.

 Since few nominees tell the truth, Supreme Court confirmation hearings will be abolished. Instead, we'll have a month in which anyone may offer complaints about the nominee, followed by a month of investigation. Then, a top prosecutor and a top defense attorney will each have two evenings to present their case on prime-time TV. Judge Judy will preside, and the country will vote.

 The next time a Texas governor threatens to secede from the United States, it will not only be permitted, but mandatory. Austin can stay.

 No one will be allowed to wear plaid, except for card-carrying lumberjacks.

Obviously, these commonsense policies would be a big hit with the electorate. I could develop the rest of my WTHIW (Whatever The Hell I Want) agenda as a post-election surprise.

Running for president would be fun, and it would really boost my book sales. It's a great career move. I just don't think I could ever bring myself to do it. Groucho Marx said he wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have him as a member. Me, I wouldn't want to live in any country that could elect me as president. In America, we brag that anybody can be president. Maybe we need a higher standard.

Barry's been incarcerated twice. Once for not making a lefthand turn out of a lefthand turn lane, and once for aiding and abetting a loiterer. He's deeply repentant.

Previously:
Finnish Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie (L) hands over the Katakle to Beninese Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Jean-Michel Abimbola during a restitution ceremony in Cotonou, Benin, on May 13, 2025. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

COTONOU, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Finnish Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie officially handed over the Katakle -- a ceremonial royal stool from the Kingdom of Dahomey -- to Beninese Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Jean-Michel Abimbola on Tuesday.

The restitution ceremony took place at the presidential palace in Cotonou, the country's economic capital, where the unveiling of the Katakle was met with applause and admiration from representatives of both countries.

"It (Katakle) may seem small, but it carries a powerful symbolic weight," said Abimbola, adding that Benin is now looking ahead to other restitution initiatives, as well as strengthened cultural, economic, and scientific cooperation with Finland.

For her part, Talvitie emphasized that the return of the Katakle represents a recognition of its historical value for Benin. "This piece takes the relationship between our two countries to a new level," she said.

The Katakle is a three-legged royal stool traditionally used during coronation ceremonies to symbolize power, unity, and stability. It was first looted by French colonizers in 1892 and later collected by the National Museum of Finland in 1939.

In November 2021, at the request of the Beninese government, France returned 26 of the 27 looted artifacts taken during the colonization period. 

Photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows the Katakle returned from Finland during a restitution ceremony in Cotonou, Benin. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

A restitution ceremony for the return of the Katakle from Finland to Benin is held in Cotonou, Benin, on May 13, 2025. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
A Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was expelled by India on Tuesday for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status.

The official has been given 24 hours to leave India, said the External Affairs Ministry without elaborating on the matter.

A formal demarche conveying the decision was issued to the Charge dAffaires of the Pakistan High Commission.

The decision comes amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Cross-border tensions escalated with retaliatory strikes from both sides. Operation Sindoor was launched by India in retaliation to the terror attack.

Indian armed forces gave a firm and befitting reply by engaging in the cross-border regions to Pakistan's drone and missile attack.

A ceasefire was agreed upon by both nations after Pakistan's DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart. However, ceasefire violations were reported in some regions on Monday evening after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation.

Indian Army later said that the projectiles were being "engaged" and the situation was calm in border regions.

"Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed," the DGMOs of India and Pakistan said in a statement after their first conversation since the ceasefire deal on Monday.
After a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, schools and colleges across most parts of Kashmir reopened on Tuesday.

However, educational institutions in areas like Kupwara, Baramulla, and the sub-district of Gurez remain closed, as these regions are still being monitored.

The ceasefire followed a sharp rise in tensions at the border after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists and one local horse ride operator.

The decision to reopen schools was taken after authorities reviewed the security situation, particularly in areas near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).

Minister of Education, Sakeena Itoo, confirmed the development on X, stating: All schools and colleges to reopen from tomorrow in non-border districts of Jammu as well as Kashmir. Authorities said that schools and colleges in border areas will remain closed for now as a safety measure to protect students and staff. The reopening of these institutions will be considered after a further assessment of the situation.

Several border areas in both Jammu and Kashmir were hit hard by heavy shelling from the Pakistan Army, which killed 25 people. Among the dead were Raj Kumar Thappa, Additional Deputy Development Commissioner of Rajouri, and Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector Muhammad Imtiaz. Dozens more were injured, and many homes, businesses, and vehicles were damaged.

Poonch district in Jammu was the worst-affected. Thirteen people, including a brother and sister, died when shells struck their home.

The government is expected to allow schools in border areas to reopen only after evaluating the damage to school buildings, homes, and infrastructure.

Many students will be able to return to school only after they and their families return home, as hundreds of residents were displaced by the shelling. There is also concern about unexploded shells left behind in border villages. The government and security agencies have asked the public to report any suspicious objects to the authorities. People are being strongly warned to stay away from such devices, as they pose a serious threat to life and property.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sent out a strong message to Pakistan, saying Operation Sindoor is Indias new normal in fight against terrorism. Modi visited the Adampur Air Base in Punjab, days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following days of military escalation.

"Aatank ke viruddh Bharat ki Lakshman Rekha ekdam spasht hai. Ab phir koi terror attack hua to Bharat jawab dega, pakka jawab dega. (India's Lakshman Rekha against terrorism is now crystal clear. India will respond and definitely respond if hit by a terror attack), the prime minister said, addressing the armed forces.

#WATCH | At the Adampur Air Base, PM Narendra Modi says "When our drones destroy the walls of the enemy's fort, when our missiles reach the target with a whizzing sound, the enemy hears 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. When we light up the sun even at night, the enemy sees 'Bharat Mata Ki pic.twitter.com/U2gBePecem  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

His visit to Adampur assumes significance since Pakistan had claimed to have destroyed this air base along with the S-400 missile defence system during their counter-strike. The base is merely 100 km from the Pakistan border.

Aiming to debunk the Pakistani fake news propaganda, Modi delivered the speech with an S-400 system in the backdrop, wearing a Western Air Command cap with its trademark trishul embroidered on it.

This is the new India, this India seeks peace. But if humanity is attacked, it also knows how to crush the enemy on the battlefield, the prime minister said.

Modi praised the soldiers, saying what they have achieved is unprecedented, unimaginable and amazing, making every Indian proud and indebted.

Modis visit to the air base comes a day after he addressed the nation, saying India would no longer tolerate Pakistans nuclear blackmail.

"Operation Sindoor is not just a name. It is a reflection of the feelings of millions of people in the country. Operation Sindoor is an unbroken pledge of justice. Late night of 6 May and morning of 7 May, the whole world has seen this pledge turning into results, Modi said in his address.

India conducted airstrikes at nine terrorist hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the wee hours of Wednesday, killing more than a hundred terrorists and causing considerable damage to the terror infrastructure.
The brief tenure of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as Chief Justice of India stands as a testament to quiet determination and subtle yet meaningful transformation. On Wednesday, Justice B.R. Gavai will step in as the next Chief Justice of India as Justice Khanna retires on Tuesday.



Though Justice Khanna served for only six months and had never held the position of a High Court Chief Justice before, he brought a thoughtful, introspective approach to the Supreme Court's leadership. Reserved by nature and rarely in the spotlight, he defied expectations, leaving behind a legacy marked not by grand gestures, but by measured decisions and an unwavering commitment to judicial integrity.



Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna rarely courted attention through speeches or public statements as he kept a deliberate distance from the spotlight. His focus remained firmly on the courtroom, where his judgments did the talking.



His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, a respected judge of the Delhi High Court, and his uncle, the legendary Justice Hans Raj Khanna, a Supreme Court judge, famed for his dissent in the 1976 Habeas Corpus case, shaped young Sanjivs world. Law wasnt just a profession in the Khanna household, it was a calling, a pursuit of justice that pulsed through their conversations and values.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna with his father Justice D.R. Khanna and Brother Mahin Khanna





Justice Khannas early years were marked by discipline and curiosity. At Modern School, Barakhamba Road, he honed his intellect, graduating in 1977 before earning a Bachelor of Arts from St. Stephens College in 1980. Then, he enrolled at the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi.



Khannas legal career began humbly in the crowded corridors of Tis Hazaris district courts, where he tackled diverse cases, from civil disputes to criminal matters. His sharp mind and meticulous approach soon led him to the Delhi High Court, where he specialised in constitutional law, taxation, arbitration, and environmental law.



As a Supreme Court judge, he authored 173 judgments, tackling issues from electoral bonds to Article 370s abrogation. His 2024 ruling rejecting 100 per cent VVPAT verification underscored his trust in institutional safeguards, while his grant of interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal emphasised liberty over prolonged detention. He was on the five-judge bench that declared the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional, reaffirming voters' right to information.



Justice Khanna prioritised accessible justice, streamlined criminal case management, and tackled pendency with strategic case allocation. His vision for comprehensible judgments and mediation aimed to demystify the law for ordinary citizens. As Chief Justice, Khanna faced monumental cases, from the Places of Worship Act to the Bihar caste census.



Amid the controversy surrounding the proposed transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, following the discovery of unaccounted cash at his residence, CJI Sanjiv Khanna made a decisive move by making the relevant Collegium details public. It was a clear message as and when questions of public trust arise, transparency will have to rule.



Justice Sanjiv Khanna played a crucial role in shaping the judiciarys future through key Collegium decisions during his tenure. Under his leadership, 51 out of 103 proposed candidates were recommended for appointment as High Court judges. The selections reflected a conscious effort toward inclusivity comprising 11 from the OBC community, one from the Scheduled Castes, two from the Scheduled Tribes, eight from minority communities, and two individuals related to sitting or retired judges.



Twelve recommendations are still awaiting the government's approval. Notably, three judges were also elevated to the Supreme Court during his time as Chief Justice.



A landmark moment of CJI Khannas tenure came with the full court resolution passed on April 1, 2025, making it mandatory for all judges to declare their assets upon assuming office, a significant shift from the previous voluntary practice. Just days later, by April 5, 2025, the asset declarations were made publicly available on the Supreme Courts official website, marking a strong push for greater transparency within the judiciary.



On the day of his retirement, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna made a quiet yet powerful statement that he would not be accepting any post-retirement position. Speaking from the ceremonial bench, he said, Public trust isnt something you can demand. It has to be earned and the Supreme Court has done that.



Visibly moved, he added, I am speechless. I carry with me a lifetime of memories. Once you are a lawyer, you remain a lawyer. The judiciary is not just the Bench, its the Bar too. The Bar is the conscience keeper.
Karnataka BJP on Tuesday slammed Congress leaders for their remarks on the ceasefire and questioned their track record while in power.

Indian missiles seem to have hurt the Congress leaders more than the Pakistanis! alleged BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra, as he exposed what he felt was the irony behind Congress' statements being used in the official briefings of the Pakistani military.

Indian Missiles Seem to Have Hurt Congress Leaders More Than the Pakistanis!



Its deeply ironic  statements made by some Congress leaders have found their way into official briefings of the Pakistan military, used to validate & push its narrative.



Even Wazir-e-Ala pic.twitter.com/aSAiaC6Qs5  Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) May 13, 2025

The BJP leader stated that the Congress leaders, in their relentless campaign against the Prime Minister, were disregarding the unparalleled bravery and strategic brilliance displayed by the Indian armed forces.

Given the Congress partys historically soft stance on Pakistan, what exactly do they want to achieve by undermining our armed forces unequivocal victory? Do they even realize the magnitude of our achievements? asked the Shikaripura MLA.

Stating that Operation Sindoor was a resounding success, Vijayendra went on list 8 high-value terrorist targets that had been eliminated as a result, adding that all of them were designated terrorists that were blacklisted by India, the US, and the UN.

The BJP leader also asserted that the Indian forces had disabled 11 Pakistan Air Force bases, rendering them inoperable, which was what forced Pakistan to desperately seek a ceasefire.

ALSO READ | Where are the Pahalgam terrorists? asks Priyank Kharge demanding all-party meet on India-Pakistan ceasefire

Modi jis leadership was clear and resolute when he said blood and water cannot flow together. His firm stance led to the continued suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a move that finally put Indias interests first, he explained.

'Tiranga Yatra' in Karnataka from May 15-18

Karnataka BJP will conduct a Tiranga Yatra (flag march) in Bengaluru and other major cities in the state on May 15. The yatra in Bengaluru will begin from Shirur Park in Hubli till 18th Cross on Sampige Road in Malleswaram. The yatra will be held across BJP's district centres on May 16 and 17, and at taluk centres from May 18 to 23.

There will be no party symbols, only the national flag. It is every Indians duty to say we stand with our soldiers. Over 100 terrorists have been killed, training camps destroyed, and Pakistan has been brought to the point of pleading to stop the war. The Indian Army has shown what happens when the enemy lays his hand on the Sindoor of Indian women, said Ashoka, urging citizens to join the yatra in large numbers.
India on Tuesday asserted that there is no change in its long-standing position on Kashmir, saying its a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The assertion came days after US President Donald Trump offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

The Indian stand, in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972, has been that no external or third-party intervention would be allowed on Kashmir.

"We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing.

"That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding pic.twitter.com/gsbwsFF36l  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

Jaiswal, however, admitted that there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation after India launched Operation Sindoor against the terror hubs in Pakistan.

"From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation, he said.

Trumps mediation offer has posed a diplomatic challenge for India as Pakistan has been demanding a change in the provisions of Simla Agreement so that a third party can be brought in to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

Earlier too, Trump had offered mediation during his first tenure as the US president, only to be turned down by New Delhi.
An anti-war march by the Left Front in Kolkata on Tuesday, which saw the CPI(M) walking along with the SUCI and CPIM(ML) Liberation and other left parties, urged for peace between India and Pakistan on the backdrop of the recent military tension between the two neighbours.

Mohammed Salim and Biman Bose were among the senior leaders who took to the streets and led the march from Esplanade to Sealdah in central Kolkata under the banner of march for peace and harmony.

Since India launched the Operation Sindoor, both the leaders have been advocating for deescalation. On the occasion of Rabindranath Tagores birth anniversary last week, Salim, the state secretary of CPI(M), said that ordinary people living along the border were hit the most by the military tension.

While Bose had said that a solution must be found on the negotiation table. The Indian Armys initial response to the militant attack in Kashmir was appropriate. However, instead of escalating to war, it is now time for negotiation and diplomacy, the former Left Front chairman said.

An anti-war rally organised by the Left Front in Kolkata on Tuesday | Salil Bera

Acknowledging Pakistan's support for terrorism, the Left stresses that military conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbours should be avoided. It believes diplomatic pressure should be applied on Pakistan, but not at the cost of escalating war, which could have grave consequences.

The left parties claimed that previous military actions have failed to eliminate terrorism, and therefore, political solutions are necessary. They had earlier urged for action against terrorism in all-party meetings but had consistently opposed war.

They also welcomed the decision of ceasefire between India and Pakistan but strongly criticised US President Donald Trumps involvement. The Left reiterated that India's long-standing position has been to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally with Pakistan, without third-party mediation.

The Left asserted that the principle was affirmed in the Simla Agreement and questioned why the Indian government appears to be deviating from this stance, demanding an explanation from the Narendra Modi government.

This was the second such anti-war rally after intellectuals, civil society members and some left student organisations hit the streets in Kolkata on Monday. The demonstrators were allegedly attacked by the BJP workers who accused them of anti-national behaviour and sympathising with Pakistan-backed terrorists.
Flight operations at Srinagar International Airport resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for several days due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, officials confirmed.

The first commercial flight to land at the airport was an Air India service from Delhi on Tuesday morning, marking the formal restart of civilian air traffic.

The temporary suspension of services had been imposed at 32 airports, including Srinagar, after the launch of Operation Sindoor by India targeting terror camps in Pakistan.

The action came in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, including several tourists and a local horse ride operator.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) last week to halt flights at key airports across northern and western India amid the military standoff. On Monday, officials announced that the aerodrome closure NOTAM for Srinagar had been revoked, allowing the airport to resume flight operations.

The suspension had also disrupted Hajj operations from Srinagar, delaying outbound flights for pilgrims. However, with services now resuming, airlines are gradually restarting their scheduled flights.

SpiceJet on Tuesday announced that it would resume its Hajj 2025 operations from Srinagar on May 14, operating two wide-body Airbus A340 flights to Medina, each capable of carrying 324 passengers. The airline said it would facilitate the travel of around 15,500 Hajj pilgrims this year, with 45 flights scheduled in the first phase connecting Srinagar, Gaya, Guwahati, and Kolkata to Medina and Jeddah.

The reopening of Srinagar airport is a crucial development for the Kashmir Valley, where air travel remains a key link to the rest of the country. Located approximately 10 kilometres from Lal Chowk, the citys commercial centre, the airport also plays a vital role in boosting tourism, a major component of the regions economy.

While flight operations have resumed, services will scale up gradually based on airline approvals and ongoing security assessments.
In Operation Keller, security forces reportedly gunned down three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian during the early hours of Tuesday. The terrorists opened fire at security forces while they were conducting a combing operation in the area, officials said.

One of the three has been identified as Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohammad Yousuf Kuttay, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian. Official sources said Shahid joined the LeT on March 8, 2023, and was categorised as an A category terrorist. He was allegedly involved in multiple attacks, including the April 8 firing at Danish Resort that injured two German tourists and a local driver, the May 18 killing of a BJP Sarpanch in Heerpora last year, and is a suspect in the murder of a Territorial Army personnel in Kulgam on February 3 this year, the reports said.

The second was identified as Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohammad Shafi Dar, a resident of Wanduna Melhora, Shopian. He had reportedly joined LeT on October 18, 2024, and was allegedly involved in the same-day killing of a non-local labourer at Wachi in Shopian, sources added.

The identity of the third slain militant is still being ascertained, reports said.

In a post on X, the Indian Army said a search and destroy operation was launched in the Keller area of Shopian, based on specific intelligence provided by a Rashtriya Rifles unit regarding the presence of terrorists in the Shoekal Keller region. According to security personnel, the gunfight began when terrorists opened fire upon them. The encounter is underway.

A senior police official said that a massive cordon and search operation was launched in the forests of Kellar after having specific input about the presence of some terrorists, ANI reported. "As the team of police and Army started a combing operation, the hiding terrorists fired upon the party, triggering off gunfight. During the exchange of fire, three LeT terrorists were killed, however identity of the terrorists is being ascertained," ANI reported quoting the official.

However, it is yet to be ascertained whether the terrorists are linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. Security forces have heightened vigil in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. India, on May 7, launched 'Operation Sindoor' to avenge the Pahalgam attack.
Gadchiroli police busted a Maoist camp and a hideout, following a credible intelligence input that Bhamragad Dalam had set up a camp on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border near the newly opened foot overbridge in Kawande.

The operation was carried out by a team of 200 C-60 commandos (a specialised police unit tasked with combating Naxal violence) led by Additional SP (Admin) M. Ramesh. While conducting an area search, they were fired upon indiscriminately by Maoists, which led to a strong retaliation. The exchange of fire took place intermittently at three different locations over a period of two hours.

After the shootout, the police recovered one automatic INSAS rifle and one single-shot rifle, one magazine, several live rounds, detonators, one radio, 3 'pitthus' (sacks used by Maoists), WT charger and a large amount of Naxal literature and belongings.

The camp was destroyed completely by the C-60 commandos.

The release by the Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) office said that chances of some Maoists getting injured or killed and being dragged away by others cannot be ruled out.
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, May 13 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah member riding a motorcycle in the southern Lebanese village of Houla on Tuesday, according to Lebanese security and official sources, as tensions persist along the Israel-Lebanon border despite a ceasefire.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the strike, carried out by a "hostile drone," targeted a motorcycle near a care center in Houla. The Health Ministry later confirmed one person was killed in the attack.

A Lebanese security source, who requested anonymity, told Xinhua that the victim was Moussa Aboud, a Hezbollah member from Houla in the Marjayoun district.

Also on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had carried out two additional airstrikes on Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. One target was in Houla, while the second was near Beaufort Ridge, where the IDF said it struck a "Hezbollah military site used for both firing and defensive operations."

The IDF said the site near Beaufort Ridge had previously been hit last week, adding that its reconstruction constituted "a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

The cross-border strikes come despite a ceasefire agreement reached on Nov. 27, 2024, intended to halt more than a year of hostilities tied to the war in Gaza. The truce, mediated by the U.S. and France, had largely held, though sporadic flare-ups have continued.

Israel has said its strikes are intended to neutralize Hezbollah threats. However, the Lebanese government and several Arab states have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement. Despite the truce's provision requiring a full Israeli withdrawal, Israeli forces continue to hold several strategically important positions in southern Lebanon. 
The Mahila Court in Coimbatore, on Tuesday, found all the nine accused in the sensational Pollachi sexual assault case guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The case involved sexual harassment of young girls by politically influential men in 2019.



Judge R. Nandhini Devi pronounced the quantum of sentence at the special court set up for trial, after hearing the arguments put forth by the prosecution and the defence. The court also ordered a compensation of Rs 85 lakh to the eight survivors of the sexual assault.



The nine accused in the case are: N. Sabarirajan aka Rishwanth (32), K. Thirunavukkarasu (34), M. Sathish (33), T. Vasanthakumar (30), R. Mani aka Manivannan (32), P. Babu (33), T. Haronimus Paul (32), K. Arulanantham (39), M. Arunkumar (33) of Panikkampatti.



The accused have been charged under sections 376 D and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 376 D is a non-bailable section which attracts rigorous imprisonment for gang rape. Under this section, life imprisonment is for a term which shall not be less than 20 years and can extend to the persons natural life apart from the fine which is paid to the victim. Section 376 (2)(n) attracts maximum punishment for repeated rape of the same woman. The prosecution prayed for maximum punishment for the accused, considering the gravity of the charges against them, CBIs public prosecutor Surendra Mohan informed the media after the judgment was pronounced.



Mohan said all the nine convicts will now have to undergo life imprisonment for the remaining period of their lives for offences committed under section 376 D.



What is the Pollachi sexual assault case all about?



A horrifying video, in which a girl is heard pleading Anna vitturunga anna. (Brother please let me go), went viral on social media in 2019. The blurred visuals of abuse, which showed a girl being beaten by some men, shook the state. As Pollachi police began the probe, details of systematic sexual abuse and blackmailing of several young girls by perpetrators with political backing emerged.



The chilling incident came to light when a college girl lodged a police complaint on February 24, 2019, with the Pollachi East police, alleging sexual abuse by four men in a moving car near Pollachi. The 19-year-old survivor was the first complainant in the case. She was allegedly lured and sexually assaulted by the nine men since 2016. In her complaint, she said the perpetrators filmed the abuse. The video was later used to exploit her sexually and monetarily.



It all began when the girl was picked up by her boyfriend Sabarirajan in a car on Dharapuram road in Pollachi. On the way, the two were joined by his friend Thirunavukkarasu. While Thirunavukkarasu was driving the car, Sabarirajan sat in the back with the girl. Later, Sathish and Vasanthkumar also joined them. The four men then forcefully assaulted her and recorded a video. They also snatched the gold chain she was wearing. The video was used to exploit her sexually and monetarily for the next few years. Later, the girl informed her brother who went and attacked one of the accused.



The girl then filed a police complaint. Upon investigation, the mobile phones and the laptops of the nine men showed that they had blackmailed several young girls and harassed them. While there were videos of more than 150 young girls in the devices seized from the nine men, the CBI identified 12 women and convinced them to come forward and testify against the accused. However, only eight of them deposed before the court including the girl who filed the complaint.



The case took a political turn as one of the accused belonged to the ruling AIADMK. Arulalnadham was the AIADMK Pollachi town students wing secretary. He was expelled by the party after the news came out. Meanwhile, another person, identified as Bar Nagaraj, who was the local secretary of the Amma Peravai of the AIADMK got involved in the case when he attacked the brother of the survivor who filed the complaint. Although the case was initially transferred to the Crime Branch CID, it was handed over to the CBI when it took a political turn.



The CBI ensured that none of the victims were identified in the case. The CBI and the Mahila court recorded all the statements in a closed room.

All the eight women testified against the nine men. Though there was a glitch in the investigation when Coimbatore Superintendent of Police R. Pandiarajan revealed the name of the complainant during a press conference, the CBI took it forward with much confidentiality, doing everything possible to protect the identity of the survivors.



Following the directives of the Madras High Court, a special courtroom facility was set up at the Combined Court Complex in Coimbatore for the trial to ensure that the identities of the survivors were protected. A special chamber was set up at the court with a one-way glass to prevent others from seeing the survivors during the hearing and the trial of the case, which began on February 14, 2023. A total of 40 witnesses were examined and three chargesheets were filed by the CBI, apart from other incriminating documents including the video and audio footage recovered from the devices of the nine men.
At least 14 persons died consuming spurious liquor in five villages in Punjab's capital, Amritsar, on Tuesday. Authorities are conducting door-to-door checks in the villages to find whether more people have consumed the spurious liquor and to provide timely treatment.

According to Punjab police, five persons have been arrested in connection with the deaths and a probe is underway. The casualties were reported in five villages in Amritsar - Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Therewal and Talwandi Ghuman.

#WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: 14 people dead and 6 hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Amritsar's Majitha



Amritsar MP and Congress leader Gurjeet Singh Aujla says, "This is a failure of the police and administration. It (liquor) is being sold openly. The CM, pic.twitter.com/oarf29AzXD  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the five arrested in connection with the case have been identified as Prabhjit Singh, Kulbir Singh, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh and Ninder Kaur. According to police, Prabhjit Sinh is the main accused in the case. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Excise Act. Sawhney said medical teams are going door-to-door and conducting necessary checks.

SSP Amritsar Rural Maninder Singh told ANI," Four local suppliers arrested on Monday revealed the name of a liquor supplier named Prabhjeet. They told about the kingpin, Sahib Singh, who supplies methanol. He obtained 50-litre of methanol, which was diluted to make 120 litres. This was sold to the four local suppliers. We have invoked stringent sections of the law against the six arrested persons. FIR registered under 105 BNS."

The Congress blamed the Aam Aadmi Party for their calamity. Amritsar MP and Congress leader Gurjeet Singh Aujla said, "This is a failure of the police and administration. It (liquor) is being sold openly. The chief minister, home minister, excise minister and officials do not know what is happening on the ground? Is it not their responsibility? The liquor mafia must be punished," ANI reported.
Key domestic flight operators are yet to resume operations from main airports in the border states that were reopened on Monday following truce between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

Airlines are "cautiously" monitoring the situation before resuming operations.

On Monday, major domestic airline operator Indigo said flights to key airports in the north and western areas have been cancelled in the wake of prevailing tensions in the border areas. "In light of the latest developments and with your safety as our utmost priority, flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Leh and Rajkot are cancelled for 13th May, 2025," IndiGo said in a statement on Monday. "Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will promptly keep you informed of further updates," it added.

Air India, though it announced the resumption of flight operations and opened ticket bookings for flights to key cities in the region, the flights were cancelled later. "In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May. We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated," the airline said.

On Monday evening, an IndiGo flight en route to Amritsar returned to Delhi after precautionary blackout measures were enforced in Amritsar, sources told PTI.

The civil aviation ministry on Monday suspended temporary closure of 32 airports in north and western areas and reopened them for civil flight operations. The airports were closed on May 10 following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7 and attacked terror bases in Pakistan to avenge the killings of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. The situation escalated after Pakistani troops retaliated for the attacks targeting border areas. Pakistan launched drones and projectiles targeting border areas, forcing civil aviation authorities to suspend all civil flight operations in Mumbai and Delhi segments.
India on Tuesday said the punitive diplomatic and economic measures it announced against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), will remain in place.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India will keep the IWT in abeyance until Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably" abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.

He said the treaty was concluded in a spirit of goodwill and friendship but Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by promoting cross-border terrorism.

A day after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, India announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the IWT and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the attack.

Jaiswal also responded to Pakistan foreign office calling India's new approach to counter cross-border terrorism as an attempt to fabricate "narratives to justify aggression".

In his reaction, he said Pakistan is only "fooling itself" if it thinks it can escape the consequences of nurturing "terrorism on an industrial scale".

"The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but of many other innocents around the world," he said.

"There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better," he added.

Jaiswal also responded to claims by Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar in an interview to CNN in which he claimed that the Pakistani military beat Indian armed forces.

"In the last week, as a result of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has seen its terrorism centres in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and other places destroyed," the MEA spokesperson said.

"Thereafter, its military capabilities were significantly degraded by us and key airbases effectively put out of action. If the Pakistani foreign minister wishes to project these as achievements, he is welcome to do so," he said.

He added: "Till the night of May 9, Pakistan was threatening India with a massive assault. Once their attempt failed (on the morning of May 10) and they received a devastating Indian counter-response, their tune changed and their DGMO eventually reached out to us."

India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure early on May 7 following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.

The Pakistani actions were strongly responded to by the Indian side by inflicting heavy damages to a number of key Pakistani military installations including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday evening announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect.
Tenant farmers in Telangana allege neglect at the hands of subsequent state governments. Scores of tenant farmers from across the state gathered in Hyderabad to urge the Congress government to fulfil its promises and extend support to cultivators farming on leased land. The consultation meeting, organised by the Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission, saw farmers narrating their struggles. They also put across their demands that include the implementation of the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011, before the upcoming Kharif season.

We have been cultivating on lease for long. My husband died by suicide because he could not bear the burden of debt. We have not received any help or scheme from the government, said Kuruva Manjula from Vikarabad district. When Bharat Jodo Yatra took place in 2022, I met Rahul Gandhi. He assured help to tenant farmers. But even after the Congress government came, we have not received any farmers insurance, crop loans or any scheme.

To highlight the issues being faced by the farmers, Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV), an NGO, organised a press meet post the consultation. The members of RSV pointed out that the Congress party in its 2023 Warangal Declaration and in the open letter by then TPCC president, Revanth Reddy, promised support to tenant farmers wile they were in opposition. They demanded that the government begin identifying tenant farmers under the 2011 Act and issue them loan eligibility cards (LECs) which would help them access credit and compensation in the past.

Ramakanth, a tenant farmer from Adilabad, said that under the earlier implementation of the 2011 Act, they were able to get loans and sell their produce at procurement centres. They rue that now money goes to landowners accounts as they are excluded from the entire process.

The farmers and the activists demanded three urgent steps. The first being revival and implementation of the 2011 Act, second is provision of crop insurance and loans to those with LEC cards, and finally extension of the Rythu Bharosa scheme to tenant farmers. The farmers allege that the flagship schemes of the government meant for farmers welfare doesnt cover them.

RSV leaders pointed out that 75 per cent of farmer suicides in Telangana are by tenant farmers and the crisis cannot be tackled without recognising them. They also raised concerns about the Rs 500 paddy bonus being given by the government, which is not reaching most of the tenant farmers.
Karnataka rural development and panchayat minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday demanded to know where the four terrorists who killed 26 people disappeared.

Where did the four terrorists who sneaked into our territory and killed 26 people go? How did they enter our country? Are our borders so porous? Does Ajit Doval or Amit Shah have any idea where and how the terrorists escaped? If terrorists are freely walking in and walking out of India, it speaks volumes on the governance of the Modi government, slammed Kharge, while speaking to reporters in Kalaburgi.

Kharge also demanded to know why US President Donald Trump was taking credit for the ceasefire and Modi not refuting his claims.

Trump is taking credit for the ceasefire and also saying it came through because of him offering good trade with the two countries. Was it an inducement to agree to a ceasefire? Why is he comparing India with Pakistan? Who is Donald Trump to announce the ceasefire? mocked Kharge, demanding an all-party meeting to clear the air about the ceasefire and the circumstances that led to it.

Alleging that the Indian foreign policy had miserably failed, Kharge said, America did not condemn the terrorists act. Both China and Turkey supported Pakistan. How did Pakistan manage to get one billion US dollars from the IMF? India failed to convince the IMF that Pakistan supported terrorism and hence it should not be given the loan. Also, today, the bilateral issue (of Kashmir) has become an international issue.

Daring Modi to hold a press meet, Kharge said, Modi so far has not faced a single press meet in the last 11 years and I dont expect he would answer in the parliament either. He will only speak in Mann ki Baat, the monologues and give speeches from the Red Fort. The Congress party had extended full support to Operation Sindoor. Then, what happened? Why didnt the BJP government make their dream of Akhand Bharat come true? Modi is only chest thumping instead of having a serious press meet.

Earlier, the RDPR minister had remarked that the Indian soldiers had destroyed the terrorist hideouts. However, the Centre disappointed both the Army and the citizens with its decision on ceasefire.

The PM, EAM and NSA should tell the truth about the ceasefire to the people of India. The PM should call a special Parliament session immediately, he added.
Hamas has released Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, following a deal mediated directly with the United States. The agreement, reached without the full involvement of the Israeli government, was described by American officials as a goodwill gesture aimed at building momentum for a broader ceasefire.

The 21-year-old dual Israeli-American citizen was handed over to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on May 12 evening and then transferred to Israeli military authorities.

Alexanders release came just one day before President Donald Trumps scheduled arrival in the Middle East. Hamas leaders framed the timing as a calculated attempt to garner US support for a wider agreement to end the war. American officials confirmed that negotiations had taken place directly with Hamas in recent days, after earlier contacts were suspended amid Israeli objections.

Originally from Tenafly, New Jersey, Alexander moved to Israel after joining Garin Tzabar in 2022, a programme that supports young Jewish volunteers from around the world in joining the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). He was serving in the IDFs infantry division near the Gaza border when he was captured during Hamass October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war. He was among approximately 250 people taken hostage during the attack.

Amazing. The last known living hostage held by Hamas, Edan Alexander, reunites with his family after the Trump administration secured his release. pic.twitter.com/BfG6NDYUcq  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 12, 2025

Alexander's parents, Adi and YaelIsraeli-born and now residing in the United Stateshave campaigned tirelessly for his release, speaking at rallies and meeting officials. Following his release, the family expressed overwhelming relief, calling it "the greatest gift imaginable". However, they also urged the Israeli government to intensify efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages, asserting that "no hostage should be left behind".

Israel temporarily paused military operations in Gaza on May 12 to facilitate the handover. Images broadcast on Israeli television showed Alexander, pale but smiling, embracing his parents and siblings at a military base in southern Israel. In a phone call captured on video, his mother, Yael, told him: You are strong. You are protected. You are home.

FREED HAMAS HOSTAGE, AMERICAN EDAN ALEXANDER, REPPIN THE RED, WHITE & BLUE  pic.twitter.com/inzhQOH3rI  The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 12, 2025

Despite the joyous reunion, Alexanders condition bears witness to the trauma he endured. According to Israeli media reports, he had been held in a Hamas tunnel for 583 days, largely confined to a cage, with his hands and feet shackled. He suffered severe food deprivation and was interrogated over several weeks. Medical experts are now conducting thorough tests to assess his health, checking for blood clots, organ failure, and other complications before he can be cleared to travel, potentially to Qatar for a meeting with President Trump.

Alexander is the first hostage to be freed since Israel resumed its military offensive on March 18, following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire. His release occurred without the announcement of a new truce, underscoring the broader diplomatic deadlock between Israel and Hamas. It holds at least 20 living hostages and the bodies of 40 others, including four American citizens. At the moment, more captives are unlikely to be set free without an agreement to end the war. Israel, on the other hand, insists on retaining the right to continue military operations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Alexanders release vindicated his strategy of intensifying military pressure on Hamas. In March, Netanyahu ordered the resumption of hostilities, arguing it would compel Hamas to free more hostages. However, critics say Alexanders release demonstrates the opposite: that international diplomacy, especially pressure from Washington, was the decisive factor. Some Israeli officials privately acknowledge that the American intervention overshadowed Israeli efforts.

This divergence in approach has fuelled a political debate within Israel. While Netanyahu prepares to dispatch a delegation to Qatar on May 15 to resume talks, many citizens and relatives of other hostages demand a permanent ceasefire. On May 12, demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv, expressing frustration that more has not been done. Some noted that Alexander was released only because hes an American citizen, reinforcing perceptions of inequality in efforts to recover the hostages.

President Trump, for his part, took to social media to frame Alexanders release as potentially the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict.

Israel, meanwhile, has warned that its Gaza campaign will expand further unless a deal is reached before Trump concludes his trip to the Middle East. Plans under consideration include the indefinite occupation of Gaza, large-scale displacement of Palestinians to the south, and the privatisation of aid deliverya move condemned by the United Nations and other humanitarian groups for effectively weaponising aid.

With US envoys and Israeli officials due to meet in Qatar, the coming days may prove critical in determining whether Alexanders release marks a singular diplomatic gesture or the beginning of a larger, negotiated resolution to a war now nearing its second year.
The relations between India and Pakistan may have frayed, but the people's connection between the countries remains strong as ever. In an interesting development, over 30 Pakistani students were among those who cleared Keralas Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) class 10 exams in the United Arab Emirates.

About 60 UAE-based non-Indian students  nearly half of them Pakistanis  have excelled in Keralas Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Class 10 exams, the results of which were announced recently. Of the 685 students, including Indians and non-Indians, who appeared for the exams, 677 cleared it, said reports.

Seven UAE schools follow the Kerala State Board in the UAE, including Model Private School, Abu Dhabi; New Indian Model School, Sharjah; and Indian School, Fujairah, which achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

Of the 66 non-Indians who took the SSLC exams, 30 were Pakistanis while 20 were from Bangladesh. There were also five Afghans, three Sri Lankans. The remaining eight were from the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Mali, Sudan, Senegal, Yemen, and Iran. Of these, 61 students qualified for higher studies, according to The Gulf News.

The highest number of non-Indian students following the Kerala Board, 24, are in the New Indian School at Ras Al Khaimah. The Kerala Board schools are quite popular in the UAE due to the huge Malayali diaspora. As per the 2020 figures, there are over 773,000 Malayalis in the UAE.

School principal Beena Rani told Gulf News that non-Indian students, particularly Pakistanis, have been following the Kerala State Board curriculum for many years. "Initially, we had Pakistani students, and later, other nationalities started enrolling," she said.

While Kerala Board stresses learning Malayalam as a mandatory subject in Kerala, it is not so in the UAE. Malayalam is not mandatory, the principal said. "Students can choose alternative subjects. For instance, they can opt for General Knowledge instead of Hindi. Theres also an elective English paper, which makes it easier for non-Indian students to score well," Rani added.

However, there is a huge hurdle as the Kerala SSLC results are not officially recognised in Pakistan. Rajesh Janardanan, head of the Secondary Section at Indian School, Fujairah, noted that Kerala SSLC results are not officially recognised in Pakistan and Bangladesh. "Some families may not be returning to Pakistan or Bangladesh, so they opt for the Kerala Board," he told Gulf News.
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has announced golden visas for nursing staff who have been employed with Dubai Health for more than 15 years.

Marking the International Nurses Day on May 12, Sheikh Hamdan pointed out that nurses are essential partners in realising the vision of a healthier society. He also lauded their dedication to patient care and invaluable contributions to the community.

Private teachers who have demonstrated academic excellence in Dubai can also get a 10-year golden visa. They are also eligible for family sponsorship. Teachers, principals and senior staff at private schools in Ras Al Khaimah are also eligible for a similar visa.

Content creators, filmmakers and online influencers in UAE can also get long-term residency. A sponsor is not required for this category.

Under Abu Dhabi Golden Quay initiative, luxury yacht owners with at least 40-metre-long yachts can get a golden visa. Family sponsorship is allowed for this group.

Blue residency visa

The UAE government has decided to let people staying outside the emirates to apply for 180-day multiple-entry visa. This is expected to help people complete the procedures to obtain the long-term blue residency visa.

Those who have contributed exceptionally in various fields are eligible for a blue visa, which is valid for 10 years, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

These include distinguished influencers, scientists and researchers, and investors and entrepreneurs in environment protection, sustainability, clean and renewable energy in and outside the UAE. Professionals working in governmental and private environmental institutions within the UAE are also eligible for a blue visa.
A former al-Qaeda member, Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is seeking to rework his approach to the West after embarking on a mission to actively woo the US, in a bid to rebuild the country, which has been under sanctions for over a decade.

The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is still designated a terrorist group by the EU, the United States and the UN, is reportedly trying to get face time with US President Donald Trump during his trip to the Middle East, according to reports.

Sharaa had met Jonathan Bass, an American pro-Trump activist, on April 30 for four hours in Damascus, along with Syrian activists and Gulf Arab states. Bass is now reportedly trying to arrange a meeting between Sharaa and Trump, according to Reuters.

The Syrian leader, who is still a designated terrorist, believes this could help soften the US's sanctions. Bass too, hopes Trump's history of breaking longstanding US foreign policy taboos - meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea in 2019 - could work in Sharaa's favour.

Sharaa wants a business deal for the future of his country, Bass was quoted by Reuters. He added that Syria's offers could cover energy exploitation, cooperation against Iran and engagement with Israel.

He told me he wants a Trump Tower in Damascus. He wants peace with his neighbours. What he told me is good for the region, good for Israel, said Bass. "Sharaa also shared what he saw as a personal connection with Trump: both have been shot at, narrowly surviving attempts on their lives."

If it ever takes place, the meeting could be held in Saudi Arabia, as reports have emerged that Sharaa spoke with Saudi Arabias de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Sunday. But a confirmation in this regard is not yet out. "Whether or not the meeting takes place wont be known until the last moment," a person close to Sharaa told the news agency.

However, experts say such a meeting is unlikely due to two factors: Trump has a packed schedule, and there is no consensus within Trump's team on how to tackle Syria.

Iran slams Syria

The move has angered Iran, and its state-backed media has minced no words, calling Sharaa's decision to meet Trump as "his leadership's weakness" and a "humiliating capitulation".

After Sharaa came to power, Syria severed its ties with Iran and sought to build closer relationships with Iran's rivals like Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

He also closed the Iranian embassy and banned Iranian nationals from entering the country. "The idea of a lavish Trump-branded building in the war-torn Damascus, where millions of people live in poverty and basic infrastructure is in disarray, highlights the gap between Sharaa's goals and Syrians' needs," Tehran Times wrote in an opinion piece.

It added that Sharaa has degraded Syria by putting external approval ahead of internal unity.
NAIROBI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Aviation industry leaders from around the world on Tuesday met in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, to discuss ways to improve collaboration, safety, and operational efficiency in the air transport sector.

The three-day International Air Transport Association (IATA) Ground Handling Conference brought together airlines and policymakers to discuss solutions for strengthening the global air transport ecosystem.

Willie Walsh, IATA director general, said that Africa's aviation market is projected to grow at 3.7 percent over the next 20 years, bringing substantial economic and social benefits such as employment creation and technology transfer.

"This will require efficient, cost-competitive infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050," Walsh said.

Walsh also observed that Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorization system has the potential to significantly enhance the country's appeal as a destination for both leisure and business travel.

Allan Kilavuka, chief executive officer of Kenya Airways, noted that the country's aviation sector, including supply chain, employee spending, and tourism activities, contributed 425 billion Kenyan shillings (about 3.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.

Kilavuka noted that upgraded airport infrastructure is vital to strengthening Kenya's position as a leading East African hub for trade and tourism.

Kevin Larson, manager of central baggage services at U.S.-based Alaska Airlines, emphasized the need for baggage automation and digital tracking to improve air cargo operations.

Timos Korosis, ground operations product manager of Greek flag carrier Aegean Airlines, said that by adopting real-time tracking and smarter baggage systems, airlines can reduce mishandled luggage and improve turnaround times.

Korosis noted that airlines can strengthen their financial resilience through diversification into cargo services as well as other travel-related services beyond passenger revenue. 
Amid the ongoing US-Iran talks over Tehran's nuclear programme, President Donald Trump on Tuesday called Iran the "most destructive" force in the Middle East.

Threatening Iran with major consequences, Trump said if Tehran rejects the olive branch, the US will have no choice but to "inflict maximum pressure".

"Choice is Iran's to make...Iran offer will not last forever...Would drive Iranian oil exports to zero," said Trump in Riyadh.

Iran was the "biggest and most destructive force in the Middle East" and it caused "unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond," Trump said.

A fourth round of talks between the US and Iran took place in Oman in order to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. The US has insisted that Iran must scrap its uranium enrichment to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. Iran on several occasions stressed that it did not intend to give up the programme.

Trump warned of military action against Irans nuclear facilities if Tehran did not agree to drop its uranium enrichment programme. Also, the US has been imposing sanctions on Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran on Tuesday said that the recent round of talks with the US were "useful". Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told local media, "In recent days they (the US) issued sanctions on Iran, this is completely incompatible with the process of negotiations... This will definitely affect our positions."

Baghaei's statement coincided with Trump's Middle East visit. After Saudi Arabia, he will be visiting Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh on Tuesday, kicking start his Mideast tour. The US President got a warm welcome at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself arriving at the tarmac of the airport to welcome Trump.

Trump was also seen walking down a purple carpet in the presence of dignitaries and security officials. He was accompanied by the who's who of American business leaders. The four-day tour of the US President will also see him visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Good morning from Air Force One, Saudi Arabia! Thank you for the escort, and having President Trumps backWe all appreciate it. See you on the ground shortly, THANK YOU!!! pic.twitter.com/iGuqfCvnwt  Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) May 13, 2025 US President Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia https://t.co/kyMFAfUM3I  Reuters (@Reuters) May 13, 2025

King-size welcome

Trump's first foreign trip since he returned to the White House was marked by pomp, as Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it neared Jeddah. The Crown Prince, who waited for Trump and his aides at the tarmac, later led him to a grand hall at the Riyadh airport where they were served traditional Arabic coffee.

The presence of MBS at the airport proves how much Saudi values its relationship with Trump, as it is typically a provincial governor or another official who greets a foreign leader on arrival. Though King Salman once greeted US President Barack Obama at the airport on a trip to the kingdom, they later downgraded it to lower-ranking officials after his stance on the 2011 Arab Spring and the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. '

During his 2017 visit, Trump was greeted by King Salman at the airport.

US President Joe Biden was greeted by a provincial governor on his 2022 trip to the kingdom.

Trump will then head to the Saudi Royal Court for an official welcome ceremony and a coffee reception, which will be followed by a lunch with business leaders. Several major business executives will also attend the event, including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

The president is also to take part in a U.S.-Saudi investment conference thats underway in Riyadh. "While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over," Saudi Investment

Minister Khalid al-Falih said as he opened the forum. "As a result ... when Saudis and Americans join forces very good things happen, more often than not great things happen when those joint ventures happen," he said before Trump's arrival.

Though Trump's aim of the tour is to channel investments from these wealthy nations into the US, he will also face a slew of geopolitical issues. Though he appeared confident, stating that "this world is a lot safer today than it was a week ago", Trump will also have to deal with concerns over resolving the Gaza situation and Irans rapidly progressing nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a move to lift sanctions on Syrias new government to give the country a chance at peace, and to try improving America's relations with Syria.

This move comes in the wake of his planned visit with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The strategic reconcilliations come at the behest of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as per an Associated Press report.

There is a new government that will hopefully succeed, Trump said of Syria, wishing them good luck. Show us something special.

ALSO READ | US President Trump clinches historic $600 billion deal with Saudi Arabia in first day of Gulf tour

Syria's interim president al-Sharaa, known primarily for a major role in the war-torn nation's insurgent movement that followed a US invasion in 2003, had once been imprisoned in Iraq for it. Al-Sharaa was named the president of Syria in January this year, a month after insurgent groups led by his rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), stormed Damascus, ending the 54-year-rule of the Assad family.

Numerous Gulf leaders have shown support for al-Sharaa in a bid to prevent Iranian influence on Syria, which had once helped prop up former leader Bashar al-Assads government during a decade-long civil war. Israel, however, cautioned against America's recognition of al-Sharaa's government, on grounds of the interim president's extremist past.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined hands with Al-Qaeda insurgents who took on US forces in Iraq in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq, the Associated Press report said.

The report added that al-Sharaa later cut off ties with Al-Qaeda, and is now set to become the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since the late Hafez al-Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.
Former Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid took the country's interim government by surprise after he fled to Thailand overnight. He embarked on a Thai Airways flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 3 am on Thursday.

This has shocked and embarrassed the Muhammad Yunus government as Hamid was under investigation for actions taken against protesters during the student-led agitation in 2024. The former Awami League parliamentarian is also named a co-accused in a murder case wherein protesters were shot dead.

Mohammad Abdul Hamid, 81, was the Bangladesh president from 2013 to 2023.

The government suspended and transferred officials in connection with Hamid's escape. These include including the Superintendent of Kishoreganj Police and an Additional Superintendent of Police of the Immigration Police, both of whom were withdrawn. Two other police officers, including a sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector were also suspended.

A high-level committee headed by Education Adviser Prof C R Abrar was formed to investigate the case and submit a report within 15 days. Other members in the panel include Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Labour and Employment Adviser and retired Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain.

Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the home affairs adviser, said he would step down if he cannot hunt down those who collaborated and helped Hamid leave the country.

The latest development comes after Awami League was banned by the interim government under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Responding to the ban on Awami League, the party said "all decisions of the illegal government are illegal."

In October 2024, Awami League's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League was banned as the government called it a terrorist outfit for attacking protesters.
Hyderabad has strong historical ties with Turkey. The titular 8th Nizam, Mukkaram Jah, died in Turkey after spending the last stage of his life in the coastal city of Antalya. He had multiple wives of Turkish origin. His brother, Muffakkam Jah was also married to a native of Turkey. Their mother was Durrusehvar Sultan, the daughter of the last Caliph of the Ottoman dynasty who was married to Azam Jah, the son of the seventh and last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan.

Apart from that, there is a Turkey Consulate in Hyderabad. The legacy of Turkish food and culture lives on through eateries and events here. Turkey has also been keen on improving trade with India. Of late, Turkey has evolved as one of the favourite tourist destinations of Hyderabadis.

Tours and travel operators across the city offer various attractive packages for those interested in travelling to Turkey.

Youngsters, especially those who are going on an all-friends trips or honeymoon, are preferring Turkey, informed a travel operator.

However, an intense campaign has begun online against Turkey and also Azerbaijan as a fallout of Operation Sindoor. Both the countries seem to have rallied behind Pakistan and with news that Pakistani Defence used Turkish drones, there is a call to specifically boycott Turkey.

Some Indian users have appealed to the people of the country to not travel to both countries. However, there is a mixed reaction to it.

There is not much impact in the category of vacationers who have already made advance bookings.

Turkey is an expensive destination. The visa itself costs around 22,000 and the entire trip would be a minimum of around 1.2 lakhs and upwards. We havent seen any cancellations as travellers could face losses, said M.A. Moiz, Treasurer and Director, Tour Operators Association of Telangana.

According to a few tour operators, there has been a dip in enquiries related to Turkey and Azerbaijan. Columbus Vacations, a Hyderabad-based travel company has observed this trend. Compared to previous months, we can say that the enquiries have come down by 70 per cent to Turkey. This is because of the boycott calls. Enquiries to Azerbaijan have also come down by 50 per cent though Azerbaijan has become popular of late due to viral Instagram posts. Alternate destinations like Egypt and those in Asia may benefit from this issue, said a travel executive of the company.
The Pakistani military on Tuesday acknowledged the casualties across the border, revealing that 11 soldiers were killed in India's fierce Operation Sindoor. Of these six were army personnel and five were from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

The admission about deaths of five PAF personnel gives strength to India's claims about "a few planes" being downed. There were reports that India shot down one F-16 and two JF-17 fighter jets on May 8-9 night.

Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation. pic.twitter.com/RYwfBfTrV2  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf, Chief Technician Aurangzeb, Senior Technician Najeeb, Corporal Technician Farooq and Senior Technician Mubashir were among PAF personnel killed. The slain army personnel were Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Dilawar Khan, Lance Naik Ikramullah, Naik Waqar Khalid, Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar and Sepoy Nisar.

Besides the deaths of 11 soldiers, Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said 78 personnel from the army and air force were also injured.

ISPR put the number of civilian deaths at 40, including seven women and 15 children. Among the 121 injured civilians, ISPR said there were 10 women and 27 children. However, it is not clear if Pakistan has included terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor in the civilian list. Pakistan has continuously denied presence of terrorists in the training and recruitment centres targeted by India.

India had earlier clarified that the aim of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. However, Pakistan tried to attack Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, following which India responded in equal measure.

Indian armed ofrces said more than 100 terrorists were killed in Pakistan and PoK during Operation Sindoor. Besides, the Indian side also estimated that around 30 to 40 Pakistani security personnel were killed between May 7 and 10.
US President Donald Trump managed to secure a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, amid his tour of three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations till May 16, the first visit of his second term at Washington.

Striking a victory pose as he emerged from Air Force One, Trump's second visit to the largest GCC nation began with a red carpet welcome that saw Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, warmly greeting his American guest.

He was accompanied by Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, as well as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who joined him as he lunched with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, often called MbS, for short.

The two leaders later signed historic agreementsworth a whopping $600 billionspanning energy, defence, mining and other areas, out of which $142 billion went into a defence agreement that the US remarked was the largest defence sales agreement between the two nations.

"I really believe we like each other a lot," Trump had said, early into the meeting.

ALSO READ | Did Trump's 'no trade' threat stop India and Pakistan from a 'nuclear conflict'?

The defence discussions included the Kingdom's potential purchase of Lockheed F-35 jets, a model of military aircraft that Saudi Arabia is long thought to have been interested in, according to a Reuters report, which cited two unnamed sources. However, the report added that it was not immediately clear if the aircraft were a part of the $142 billion defence deal.

"While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih told a US-Saudi investment forum, just before Trump's arrival.

"When Saudis and Americans join forces, very good things happenmore often than not great things happen when those joint ventures happen," he added.

The two nations have maintained strong, fulfilling ties for decades, based on an ironclad arrangement in which Saudi Arabia contributes oil and America provides security.

Trump called MbS a friend and said that they shared a good relationship, adding that Saudi investments would help create jobs in the US, as per a report from the Wall Street Journal.

The remainder of the tour involves scheduled visits to Qatar on Wednesday, followed by the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with Washington controversially deciding to omit a visit to Israel.
Egged on by its leaders who were quick to claim 'victory' against India in the recent conflict, Pakistanis, suffering under a severe economic crisis, have been celebrating for the last two days. Across the country, 'jubiliant' Pakistanis poured onto streets to hail their Army, which told them about their "success in war".

However, a few of the country's analysts are speaking up against the premature and ignorant celebrations as the events of the past two weeks weigh heavily on their minds.

Najam Sethi, a prominent Pakistani journalist, told the Washington Post how he believes their triumphalism is premature and potentially dangerous. "The Pakistanis are rejoicing in their success and are not getting ready to face the next onslaught.  Im scared, to be honest," he added.

His statement comes as Pakistan tries to sweep under the carpet how serious the attack at several military bases in Pakistan, including one at Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi, was. It was this strike that alarmed the US into expediting a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

"We conveyed to the U.S. that this is now very serious," Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, told the Washington Post. "The U.S. itself saw that the attack on the air base in Rawalpindi was just too close for comfort.  It was edging towards an all-out war," Lodhi added.

While social media was full of images from Nur Khan and how the strikes ravaged the Pakistan Air Force's key station, both the government and the army tried to hush it up. The media coverage was restricted, too, as reports in Western media said journalists were banned from coming near the premises.

This is in the wake of how India has reiterated that it wouldn't be deterred by Pakistan's military response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the country would no longer tolerate Islamabads nuclear blackmail. "I am repeating again, we have just suspended our retaliatory action against Pakistan's terror and military camps. In the coming days, we will measure every step of Pakistan on the criterion of what sort of attitude Pakistan will adopt ahead," Modi said.

Here is additional satellite imagery showing damage to Pakistan's Nur Khan air base following Indian strikes this past weekend.



The base is located in Rawalpindi, just outside Pakistans capital of Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/Ra4hAC220t  Brady Africk (@bradyafr) May 12, 2025 A thread on High value air bases of PAF bombed by IAF with impunity and recorded by pakis themselves.



1. Their most protected air base of Nur khan in Rawalpindi was bombed like it was freaking Gaza  pic.twitter.com/oePpNzpoDr  Dehati Armageddon Neutraliser (@ImperiumHindu) May 11, 2025

"India has made clear that major militant acts will now prompt increasingly forceful military responses," said Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi. "I think the nature of the operations and the depth of the strikes is going to result in significant adaptations by terrorist groups and their sponsors in Pakistan in the sense that it will no longer be possible for them to operate with impunity," he told the Washington Post.

Michael Kugelman, a foreign policy analyst, too thinks that India wasn't excited about the ceasefire. "This ceasefire is bound to be a fragile one. It came about very quickly, amid sky-high tensions. India appears to have interpreted it differently than did the US and Pakistan," Michael Kugelman, a foreign policy analyst, told the BBC. "Also, since it was put together so hastily, the accord may lack the proper guarantees and assurances one would need at such a tense moment."

Christopher Clary, an associate professor of political science at the University at Albany and a former South Asia expert for the Defence Department, agrees. "There is this very real danger that another attack will come, and we will be back into a near war," Clary said. "We just dont have that many wars between nuclear-armed powers to know how dangerous this deadly game can be."
Notable films of Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson has come a long way from his 'Twilight' days. The actor has lately been slowly demonstrating his range in anything from big-budget entertainers to avant-garde titles. On the occasion of his birthday, here are seven notable films of the actor. (Compiled by Nandana S Nair)
TRIPOLI, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Violent clashes erupted on Monday in the Libyan capital Tripoli between rival armed factions, amid reports of the death of Abdul-Ghani al-Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, who headed the Stability Support Department affiliated with the Presidency Council.

Local media reported that al-Kikli was killed inside the headquarters of the 444 Brigade, which is affiliated with the Tripoli Military Zone. At the same time, they noted, citing an unnamed security source, that "the reason for al-Kikli's presence inside the headquarters of the 444 Brigade is unknown."

The reports about al-Kikli's death coincided with residents of parts of southern Tripoli confirming hearing sounds of intense gunfire involving heavy weapons, as other areas of Tripoli are experiencing serious security tensions.

Over the past few hours, local media have circulated video footage of military mobilizations in and around Tripoli, noting that armed groups from the cities of Zawiya, Zintan, and Misurata were heading toward the capital.

The Medical Emergency Department of the Ministry of Health announced full alert following the clashes, while the Interior Ministry advised the residents of Tripoli to remain at home for their safety.

The Tripoli Mitiga International Airport announced suspending all flights and redirecting them toward the Misurata International Airport, which is located some 250 km east of Tripoli, while schools were suspended in some parts of Tripoli due to the clashes.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for de-escalation in Tripoli.

"UNSMIL is closely monitoring reports of the military build-up and escalating tensions in Tripoli and the broader western region. We urgently call on all parties to immediately deescalate the situation, refrain from any provocative actions, and resolve disputes through dialogue," UNSMIL said in a statement.

"The Mission strongly supports Libyan efforts, including those led by elders and community leaders, to achieve a peaceful resolution and emphasizes the critical responsibility of all parties to protect civilians," the statement said.

Ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has been plagued by insecurity and political instability. 
The Kurdish militant group PKK announced Monday that it is disbanding and renouncing armed conflict as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey, ending four decades of hostilities.

The decision by the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, promises to end one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East and could have significant impact in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It was announced by the Firat News Agency, a media outlet close to the group, days after the PKK convened a party congress in northern Iraq.

In February, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group to convene a congress and formally decide to disband and disarm.

The call by Ocalan, 76, who continues to wields significant influence in the Kurdish movement despite his 25-year imprisonment, marked a pivotal step toward ending the decades-long conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.

Building on the momentum, the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire on March 1 but attached conditions, including the creation of a legal framework for peace negotiations.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has spilled over into northern Iraq and northern Syria, with Turkey carrying out numerous incursions into the neighboring regions. The PKK is listed as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the PKKs latest announcement, saying it would lead to stronger security and regional peace.

We have crossed another critical threshold in the process toward a terror-free Turkey, he said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the PKK announcement, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. This decision, if implemented, represents another important step towards the peaceful resolution of a long-standing conflict.

PKK says group has completed its historical mission

In a statement carried by Firat, the PKK announced its decision to end its organizational structure and suggested that its armed struggle has successfully challenged policies that sought to suppress Kurdish rights.

The congress assessed that the PKKs struggle had brought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing its historical mission, according to the statement.

As a result, activities carried out under the name PKK were formally terminated, the statement said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the decision as historic, but said the government would closely monitor the steps the group takes.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said the peace agreement will also contribute to the stability of the region.

Turkey says decision should apply to all PKK affiliates

Erdogan said the declaration should apply to all PKK-affiliated groups: We consider this announcement to encompass all of the organizations branches, including those in northern Iraq, Syria and Europe.

Kurdish fighters in Syria have ties to the PKK and have been involved in intense fighting with Turkish-backed forces there. The leader of the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces previously said Ocalans call for a dissolution does not apply to his group in Syria. The group then reached an agreement with the central government in Damascus for a nationwide ceasefire and its merger into the Syrian army.

Details of the PKKs peace initiative have not been made public. The future of its fighters remains uncertain, including whether they may be relocated to third countries.

Some analysts have suggested the Kurdish movement could potentially receive concessions including improvement in Ocalans prison conditions, release or amnesty for jailed Kurdish politicians  including Selahattin Demirtas, the former leader of the countrys pro-Kurdish party  and guarantees against the removal from office of Kurdish mayors.

Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the group  most recently in 2015  ended in failure.

Dozens of people gathered Monday outside a mosque in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, celebrating the announcement with a traditional dance.

The people of this region are tired of this war, said resident Tekin Ergin. The PKKs decision to disband is the right decision and a timely decision.

Why is the peace initiative happening now?

In recent years, the PKK has been limited to isolated attacks inside Turkey as the Turkish military, backed by armed drones, has pushed its insurgents increasingly across the mountainous border into Iraq.

The latest peace initiative was launched in October by Erdogans coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, a far-right politician who suggested that Ocalan could be granted parole if his group renounces violence and disbands.

Some believe the main aim of the reconciliation effort is for Erdogans government to garner Kurdish support for a new constitution that would allow him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his term ends.

Bahceli has called for a new constitution, saying it is essential for Turkeys future that Erdogan remain in power. Erdogan and Bahceli are reportedly seeking parliamentary support from the pro-Kurdish Peoples Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM.

The PKKs declaration could mark a major gain for Erdogan, whose government is grappling with political tensions following the arrest of Istanbuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges. Many see the imprisonment of the mayor, who is the oppositions strongest challenger to Erdogans more than two-decade rule, as politically motivated. The government insists Turkeys judiciary operates independently.

Sinan Ulgen, director of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank, cited both domestic and international drivers for the new peace initiative.

The domestic driver can be explained by Erdogans aspiration to secure additional support in parliament in order to pave the path to his potential candidacy for the next round of presidential elections, Ulgen said.

Internationally, Ulgen said, factors such as the change of administration in Syria and Irans weakening after being targeted by Israel, had left the PKK more vulnerable than in the past.

Could the PKK splinter?

This does not mean that the road is clear of all hurdles, Ulgen added, warning of possible splits within the PKK.

Weve seen this sort of dynamics around the world, Ulgen said. Whether it is IRA or other entities that have decided to lay down arms, there is the prospect of a split, with one wing being in compliance with the objective, but the more radical wing continuing with the fight.

Bahceli said he hoped the bloody chapter will be closed forever, never to be reopened.

The politician called for careful consideration of the steps to follow, including the timing and method of arms collection, monitoring the possible transitions of PKK members into groups in Syria, distinguishing members involved in criminal activities from those who were not, and deciding the appropriate course action concerning the groups leadership.

(AP)
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who represented Donald Trump during his 2024 criminal trial, has been appointed acting librarian of Congress, the Justice Department said Monday. Blanche replaces longtime librarian Carla Hayden, whom the White House fired last week amid criticism from conservatives that she was advancing a woke agenda.

Also Monday, two other Trump appointments to the library attempted unsuccessfully to enter the Copyright Office, according to a source with knowledge of the incident. Brian Nieves, a deputy chief of staff and senior counsel in Blanches office, was named acting assistant librarian, Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin confirmed. And Paul Perkins, an associate deputy attorney general and veteran Justice Department attorney, is now the acting register of copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, replacing Shira Perlmutter, whom the Trump administration pushed out last weekend.

Nieves and Perkins were in the hallway outside the copyright office, which is part of the Library of Congress, but could not get in without access to badges, according to the source. After a brief discussion with library officials and U.S. Capitol Police, whom the library had contacted, the appointees left voluntarily. The source was not authorized to comment publicly, and asked not to be identified.

Capitol Police said that no one was barred from, or escorted out of the building, and otherwise referred questions back to the Library of Congress.

The Associated Press obtained an internal memo from Robert Randolph Newlen, who had been serving as acting librarian, saying that Congress was engaged with the White House about Blanches appointment and that the library had not yet received direction from Congress about how to move forward.

The implications of Trumps installing a close ally as librarian of Congress could be far-reaching.

For instance, the librarian could see requests made by lawmakers to the Congressional Research Service, which are usually seen only by the requesting office and the CRS itself, according to a congressional aide who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The nonpartisan agency is largely known as the think tank of Capitol Hill and provides analyses meant to help lawmakers in the legislative process. But Democrats are already concerned about what kind of information Trump-appointed officials could access in a process that is typically confidential between CRS and lawmakers.

Senior House Democrats on Monday also raised the prospect that data held by the Library of Congress, which holds a vast archive of books and historical documents, could have been improperly transferred to the executive branch, including officials at Trump adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency.

Unauthorized information sharing could compromise legislative branch independence and the ability of Members of Congress to carry out their constitutional duties, according to the letter, which was signed by lawmakers including New York Rep. Joe Morelle and Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrats on the House Administration and Appropriations committees, respectively. They are asking for an inspector general investigation.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has purged officials he regards as opposed to him and to his Republican agenda. Hayden, nominated by President Barack Obama in 2015 and confirmed on a 74-18 Senate vote the following year, named Perlmutter as head of the Copyright Office in 2020.

Shortly before her firing, Perlmutters office released a highly anticipated report that questioned the legality of the tech industrys use of copyrighted works to train their artificial intelligence systems and compete with the human-made works they were trained on.

Tech companies have argued their AI training practices are protected by the fair use doctrine, which allows for limited uses of copyrighted materials such as for teaching, research or transforming the copyrighted work into something different. Perlmutters report questioned those assumptions, arguing that making commercial use of vast troves of copyrighted works to produce expressive content that competes with them in existing markets, especially where this is accomplished through illegal access, goes beyond established fair use boundaries.

The report  despite being marked as pre-publication  quickly made waves in legal circles after it was posted online late last week, winning praise from creators who have challenged the tech industry in court, and criticism from a tech industry trade group.

It was the third and final part of a years-long study that Perlmutter began in 2023, with the intent to advise Congress and others on whether reforms are needed. The report didnt call for government intervention and its nuanced findings hold no official weight in the numerous copyright infringement lawsuits now pending against tech companies.

But attention around the report grew after Perlmutters firing Saturday, including from Trumps supporters.

Mike Davis, a lawyer who regularly defends Trump, posted an alarm emoji on social media and warned: Now tech bros are going to attempt to steal creators copyrights for AI profits. This is 100% unacceptable.

Blanche was named the No. 2 Justice Department official after serving as Trumps criminal defense attorney in two cases brought by the department during President Joe Bidens administration. He is a former federal prosecutor who was a key figure on Trumps defense team in his New York hush money trial, which ended in a conviction on 34 felony counts.

Haydens dismissal was widely condemned by Democrats and by many who worked with Hayden, the first Black person and the first woman to be named librarian of Congress. Ada Limon, who served three years as U.S. poet laureate after Hayden chose her in 2022, said last week that Dr. Carla Hayden is the kindest, brightest, most generous Librarian of Congress we could have hoped for as a nation.

The creators and cast of the Tony-nominated musical Dead Outlaw canceled a planned visit to the library and issued a statement praising Hayden as a fierce advocate for preserving Americas cultural memory and a great champion of the Broadway community.

(AP)
Polands foreign minister said Monday that he was ordering the closure of the Russian Consulate in the southern city of Krakow, after authorities blamed Moscow for a fire that destroyed a shopping center in Warsaw last year.

The national prosecutors office also said Monday that it had pressed charges against two Ukrainian citizens who cooperated with the people who carried out the arson, identifying them only as Daniil B. and Oleksander V.

The fire broke out May 12, 2024, in the Marywilska 44 shopping center that housed around 1,400 shops and service points, a budget marketplace in a warehouse-like structure in a northern district of Warsaw. Many of the vendors were from Vietnam, and it inflicted tragedy on many in Warsaws Vietnamese community.

This was a huge fire of a shopping mall in Warsaw in which, just by sheer luck, nobody was hurt. This is completely unacceptable, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said. So the Russian Consulate will have to leave. And if these attacks continue, well take further action.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the accusations as being groundless and rooted in anti-Russia sentiment. He also said that Warsaws decision to close the consulate would damage bilateral relations between Russia and Poland, which Peskov described as already being in a deplorable state.

Poland is choosing hostility against us, he told journalists on Monday.

Last year, Sikorski already ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate in Poznan, one of three at the time in Poland, in response to acts of sabotage, including arson attacks that he said were sponsored by Moscow.

This leaves only one Russian Consulate in Poland, in the city of Gdansk.

There are rising concerns in Europe over Russian attempts to destabilize the region through covert operations.

Countries along NATOs eastern flank, like Poland and the Baltic states, feel especially vulnerable. In March, Lithuania accused Russia of carrying out an arson attack at an IKEA store in the capital, Vilnius, last year.

(AP)
Police arrested a 21-year-old man Tuesday on suspicion of starting fires at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmers private house, another property linked to Starmer and a car.

The Metropolitan Police force said the suspect was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life a day after an early-morning fire on Monday damaged the door of the house where Starmer and his family lived before he was elected to lead the country.

Police said that the arrest also concerns two other fires that may be linked  a vehicle fire near Starmers house on Sunday and a May 8 door fire at a property in another part of north London. The second property is a house converted into apartments and also is linked to Starmer.

No injuries were reported from any of the fires.

Starmer doesnt currently live in his private house. Since taking office in July, Starmer has lived with his family in the prime ministers official Downing Street residence.

The Metropolitan Police force said that counterterrorism detectives were leading the investigation because of the houses previous connections with a high-profile public figure.

Neighbor Charles Grant said that police searched his yard on Monday and said they were looking for a projectile.

From what other people have told me today, I gather someone threw a firebomb at Keir Starmers house, he said.

Starmers house has attracted protesters in the past. Last year, three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged with public order offenses after unfurling a banner covered in red handprints outside the building.

The main opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch of the Conservative Party, called it a shocking incident.

No one should face these sorts of threats, let alone people in public service, she posted on X. Its an attack on our democracy and must never be tolerated.

(AP)
The German government has banned the largest Reich citizen group, an extremist far-right organization that calls itself the Kingdom of Germany and seeks to undermine the countrys democratic order, and arrested four of its leaders.

Since early Tuesday, 800 police officers in several states have been searching the associations properties and the homes of leading members.

The members of this association have created a counter-state in our country and built up economic criminal structures, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said, adding that the members of the group underpinned their supposed claim to power with antisemitic conspiracy narratives  a behavior that the country cant tolerate.

We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order, Dobrindt added.

The so-called Reich citizen, or Reichsburger, movement doesnt recognize Germany as a state. Many of them claim that the historical German Reich still exists and ignore the countrys democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts. They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines.

The Kingdom of Germany was proclaimed by its leader Peter Fitzek  who was among those arrested on Tuesday  in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, though the interior ministry said that the group has about 1,000 members. It claims to be a counter-state that seceded from the German federal government.

This is not about harmless nostalgics, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks, the minister told reporters later in Berlin. Thats why its being banned today.

The groups online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes.

Its not the first time that Germany has acted against the Reichsburger movement.

In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States.

Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germanys government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.

(AP)
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on Tuesday found Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives more than a decade ago, in a ruling that raises the prospect of victims families being paid compensation.

A Dutch-led international investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur airliner was shot down on July 17, 2014, from Ukrainian territory held by separatist rebels using a Buk missile system delivered from Russia. Moscow denies any involvement in the MH17 tragedy.

The Netherlands and Australian governments brought the case against Moscow before the Montreal-based global aviation agency in 2022, and on Tuesday welcomed the verdict.

The International Court of Justice wasnt an option, because Russia doesnt recognize The Hague, Netherlands-based courts jurisdiction.

Council finds that Russia violated the Chicago Convention

The council found that Russia had violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, which requires that states refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.

Its the first time that the council, which represents 193 member states, has decided a dispute between governments.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the council would consider the question of reparations within weeks.

In that context, the Netherlands and Australia are requesting that the ICAO Council order the Russian Federation to enter into negotiations with the Netherlands and Australia, and that the Council facilitate this process, Veldkamp said in a statement.

The latter is important in order to ensure that the negotiations are conducted in good faith and according to specific timelines, and that they will yield actual results, he added.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged the council to move swiftly to determine remedies.

We call on Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for its horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law, Wong said in a statement.

Russian Embassy doesnt respond

The Russian Embassy in Australia didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Australian National University international law expert Don Rothwell said that the council had yet to publish the reasons for its decisions.

One of the consequences for this process will be that the council will probably make some recommendations that Russia pay what are called reparations, which is an international term for damages, as a result of its violation of international law, Rothwell said.

So we have to wait and see exactly what the council finds on that particular point, Rothwell added.

(AP)
By all moral accounts, this should be simple. The Orthodox Jewish community stands at a critical juncture as New York Citys mayoral race heats up. On one side: Mayor Eric Adamsa proven friend whos stood up for us when it mattered most. On the other: disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomoa man whose policies killed thousands and whose lockdown-era rhetoric fueled antisemitism well before it became hip for college kids to run around in keffiyehs. Yet somehow, instead of locking arms with the mayor who had our back, some in our community are cozying up to Cuomo. Its an outrage, a betrayal, and a chillul Hashem.

Lets not dance around the truth. Andrew Cuomos COVID-era nursing home policies led to the deaths of 15,000 elderly New Yorkers. Thats not political spinits blood on his hands. And for our community specifically, his policies were laced with hostility. While Cuomos allies gathered freely, Orthodox neighborhoods were painted red, vilified, and turned into national scapegoats.

He singled us out with falsehoodson national TV. He made us a target of hateon national TV. He fed and fanned the flames of antisemitismspecifically against Chareidim and Chassidimagain, on national TV. Our community still bears the scars.

Now hes back, muttering half-scripted apologies to Orthodox leaders in closed-door meetings. And instead of throwing him out, some are taking selfies. Smiling. Nodding. Entertaining him. Why? For a promise of access? For jobs? For crumbs? Where is our self-respect?

Of course, those cozying up to Cuomo will say, What choice do we have? Hes the frontrunner. Adams is unlikely to win another term. We dont like Cuomo, but we have to be pragmatic. Were just holding our noses. But thats not pragmatism. Thats cowardice. Thats the most short-sighted thinking imaginable.

Think about it: If we toss Eric Adams under the bus the moment political winds shift, what message does that send? Why would any future mayor, governor, or city council member ever want to align themselves with a community that abandons its allies the moment its inconvenient? You think youre being strategic by cozying up to Cuomo. That might help you win a seat at the table today. But tomorrow? It torpedoes our credibility. It paints us as fair-weather friends. And it will haunt our political standing for years to come.

This is not just bad politics. Its a moral failure. Its a slap in the face to every Jew who was smeared during Cuomos reign. Its a desecration of our values to shake hands with a man whose actions brought pain and death to thousandsand then try to sell him to our community as a legitimate option.

And then theres Zohran Mamdani. A man who calls Israels right to self-defense genocide. A radical who wants to criminalize Jewish charities that support our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel. A man who proudly declared he would arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu if he visited New York. Thats not progressivism. Thats dangerous extremism. Thats a direct threat to our safety, our values, and our future.

Cuomo. Mamdani. One with a trail of bodies. The other with a mind warped by anti-Israel venom. There is no lesser evil here. Both are threats.

And in the middle of this moral swamp stands Mayor Eric Adamsthe only man in the race who has consistently stood up for our community. Adams has spoken out boldly against antisemitism, supported our religious rights, and championed public safety when others pandered to radicals. He didnt just show up when it was convenienthe was with us in the trenches. When Jews were being attacked on the streets, Adams spoke. When hostage families cried out for help, Adams amplified their voices. And when criminals threatened the peace of our neighborhoods, Adams made it clear: Not on his watch.

Legal hurdles tried to sideline himbut he emerged stronger, now running as an independent. His campaign isnt powered by backroom deals or radical ideology. Its powered by a vision of unity, safety, and strength for all New Yorkers.

Yet our so-called leaders are busy taking meetings with Cuomo?

Lets be clear: these leaders dont speak for the community. The Orthodox Jewish community is not forgetful. We remember Cuomos betrayals. We see through Mamdanis radicalism. And we will not be manipulated by photo-ops, hollow apologies, or campaign flyers stuffed with promises.

What we owe now is simple: hakaras hatov. Gratitude to Mayor Eric Adams for being the ally we desperately needed, and the leader we still need. Our votes must reflect our valuesand our memory.

So to the leaders entertaining Cuomo: shame on you. To the activists defending Mamdani: look around. Your community is under attack, and youre breaking bread with those who lit the match.

Lets stand tall. Lets vote smart. Lets back the mayor who backed us.

Eric Adams is our mayor. Lets keep it that way.

A community leader who was disgusted by these meetings.

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to normalize relations with its new government to give the country a chance at peace.

Trump made the announcement shortly before he was set to meet Wednesday in Saudi Arabia with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime insurgent who last year led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar Assad. Trump said the effort at rapprochement came at the urging of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto ruler, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

There is a new government that will hopefully succeed, Trump said of Syria, adding, I say, good luck, Syria. Show us something special.

The developments were a major boost for the Syrian president, who had been imprisoned in Iraq for his role in the insurgency following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of the Arab country. Al-Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by insurgent groups led by al-Sharaas Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, that stormed Damascus, ending the 54-year rule of the Assad family.

The U.S. has been weighing how to handle al-Sharaa since he took power in December. Gulf leaders have rallied behind the new government in Damascus and want Trump to follow, believing it is a bulwark against Irans return to influence in Syria, where it had helped prop up Assads government during a decadelong civil war.

Then-President Joe Biden left the decision to Trump, whose administration has yet to formally recognize the new Syrian government. Sanctions imposed on Damascus under Assad also remain in place.

Before Trump spoke, the White House said he had agreed to say hello to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia.

The comments marked a striking change in tone from Trump and put him at odds with longtime U.S. ally Israel, which has been deeply skeptical of al-Sharaas extremist past and cautioned against swift recognition of the new government.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. The U.S. once offered $10 million for information about his whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaida.

Al-Sharaa came back to his home country after the conflict began in 2011 and led al-Qaidas branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and cut links with al-Qaida.

He is set to become the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since Hafez Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.

Syria has historically had fraught relations with Washington since the days of the Cold War, when Damascus had close links with the Soviet Union and later when Syria became Irans closest ally in the Arab world. The removal of the Assad family could change the track.

Ibrahim Hamidi, a London-based Syrian analyst, said Trumps planned meeting with al-Sharaa marks a strategic shift for the country.

The Syrian-American meetings in Riyadh open the gate for the two sides to start discussing issues of disagreement between them in a positive atmosphere, said Hamidi, editor-in-chief of the Arab magazine Al Majalla. This is important.

(AP)
A reservist who refused a summons to serve in Yehudah and Shomron was sentenced to five days in military prison, Kan News reported on Monday.

Reserve soldier Daniel Yahalom, 32, from Haifa, currently a masters student at Hebrew University, announced to his commanders that he refuses to serve the occupation in the occupied West Bank and the ongoing war in Gaza.

During his trial, Yahalom said: I refuse because I am no longer willing to take part in the IDFs activity in Yehuda and Shomron, and because I see the current campaign in Gaza as clearly illegal. Therefore, I have a moral obligation to refuse.

About six months ago, a reservist was sentenced to two weeks suspended imprisonment for refusing to serve for similar reasons but Yahalom is the first reservist to sit in prison for refusal since the war in Gaza began.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Israel sent a request to the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw the arrest warrants against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after examining the investigations and detailed testimony regarding allegations of rape against ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Khan issued the warrants to deflect attention from the allegations against him.

Israeli officials believe that this information is explosive material that can affect the case.

According to the report, Israel also asked the court to order the suspension of its investigations into alleged Israeli atrocities in Palestinian areas. The court is currently reviewing Israels challenges to its jurisdiction to try Israeli citizens after its Appeals Chamber unanimously ruled last month to reconsider an Israeli challenge against the courts jurisdiction to try Israeli citizens for war crimes.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
MEXICO CITY, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican cattle industry is losing about 11.4 million U.S. dollars each day due to the U.S. government's suspension of live cattle imports from the country, authorities said Monday.

The temporary ban, which Washington said was because of a review of joint efforts to control the screwworm fly, is disrupting supply chains and threatening food availability in both countries, the National Agricultural Council said in a statement.

"The suspension impacts Mexican agriculture and puts food security at risk on both sides of the border," the council said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the ban as unjustified, calling for mutual coordination rather than unilateral decisions.

"We disagree with this measure. There is no reason to close the border to Mexican cattle," she said Monday during a press briefing.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Sunday she was suspending imports of livestock through the Mexican border on a "month-by-month basis" to protect U.S. cattle from the threat of a dangerous, flesh-eating parasite infestation. 
Israel is moving ahead with a landmark proposal to build its first-ever nuclear power plant, with a site near Shivta in the Negev Desert selected by the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry as the preferred location. The plan, which marks a major shift in the countrys long-term energy strategy, is set for initial review next week by the Southern Regional Planning and Building Committee.

If approved, the facility would position Israel among a small group of nations operating civilian nuclear energy programs. However, the project faces steep logistical, diplomatic, and environmental hurdlesstarting with the fact that Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), complicating efforts to procure nuclear technology and fuel.

The ministrys recommendation to site the reactor near Shivta followed a review of alternative locations, including Nitzanim, Beit Guvrin, and the Besor region, which were ruled out due to environmental, strategic, and security concerns. Officials said Shivta was chosen due to its distance from seismic fault lines and sparse population density.

But that selection has triggered backlash from the Ramat Negev Regional Council and nearby communities, who say they were excluded from the decision-making process and fear the plant could endanger thousands of residents. This decision is based on outdated data from 40 years ago, said Oren Peretz, the councils chief engineer. There has been no updated feasibility study or public consultation.

Community leaders argue that placing a nuclear facility in a region already designated as a wartime evacuation zone is reckless. Mayors and council heads from Ofakim, Eshkol, and Merhavim jointly warned that the region, still recovering from the trauma of October 7, should not be subjected to additional threats.

Critics also question the need for a nuclear plant in a country that has rapidly expanded solar energy production. At a time when renewable energy is advancing and dual-use infrastructure is thriving, why introduce a high-risk facility that brings more questions than answers? Peretz said.

Among the unresolved challenges: which country would build the reactor, where its fuel would come from, and how it would be cooled in the desert environment. While France remains one of the few countries still exporting nuclear technology, Israels non-NPT status may deter cooperation from many others.

Despite those obstacles, the Energy Ministry insists that modern nuclear technology offers robust safety protections. A ministry document says that new-generation reactors are designed with extremely high safety standards for populations living near nuclear power stations.

Still, with no formal agreements in place and growing opposition from southern municipalities, the fate of Israels first nuclear power plant remains uncertainat least for now.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Syrias newly installed ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa is pushing for a one-on-one meeting with President Donald Trump during his upcoming Middle East visitdangling a dizzying package of incentives that includes oil deals, normalization with Israel, and even a Trump Tower in Damascus.

According to multiple sources familiar with the effort, Sharaa is attempting to bypass traditional diplomatic channels by appealing directly to Trumps knee-jerk instinct for big deals. The initiative is being spearheaded by Jonathan Bass, a pro-Trump American activist who met with Sharaa for four hours in Damascus on April 30. Also involved are Syrian activists and regional power brokers from the Gulf who are lobbying to get Sharaa face time with Trump during his visit this week to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

The meetingif it happenswould be one of the most explosive moments of Trumps second term to date. Sharaa remains a U.S.-designated terrorist with ties to al-Qaeda. Yet his team believes that Trump, known for ripping up diplomatic rulebooks, may be open to a deal that reboots Syrias global standing while delivering regional peace and business opportunities.

Sharaa wants a business deal for the future of his country, Bass told reporters. He wants peace with his neighbors. He wants energy cooperation. He told me he wants a Trump Tower in Damascus. What he told me is good for the region, good for Israel.

The proposition comes as Syria remains under crippling U.S. sanctions that have effectively locked it out of the global financial system after 14 years of civil war. A meeting with Trumpeven unofficialcould mark the first break in years of Western isolation.

While the prospect of such a high-profile summit is widely considered unlikely, especially given Trumps packed schedule and the unresolved divisions within his advisory circle on Syria policy, sources confirm a flurry of backchannel activity.

A senior U.S. official confirmed that high-level talks between U.S. and Syrian representatives are scheduled to take place in the region this weekbut ruled out a Trump-Sharaa summit.

Still, Sharaas charm offensive appears calculated. He recently reached out to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, raising speculation that the Saudis may be mediating. His aides say a Trump meeting remains a possibility until the last moment.

Behind the scenes, Sharaa is also working to lower tensions with Israel. He has confirmed indirect negotiations via the UAE and conveyed through Bass what he says are peace overtures. Sharaa sent the Israelis an olive branch. Israel sent missiles, Bass said, referencing a retaliatory strike near the presidential palace after reports of secret talks.

Meanwhile, Washington remains wary. Last month, U.S. officials met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in New York. A senior State Department counterterrorism official attended the meeting, highlighting the administrations continued view of Syria through a national security lens. According to sources, the U.S. made clear that Damascuss efforts remain insufficient, especially regarding the removal of foreign fighters from top military roles.

The Treasury Department has reportedly added more than a dozen conditions for even partial sanctions relief. Yet Trumps known fondness for dramatic, optics-heavy diplomacy has given Damascus a sliver of hope.

This is a long shotbut not impossible, one Gulf-based diplomat noted. Sharaa is betting on Trump being Trump.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
MK Tally Gotliv claimed on Monday that the foreign actor named in the classified document that the suspect in the PMOs leak case, reservist Ari Rosenfeld, transferred to the second suspect, Eli Feldstein, was the head of Egyptian intelligence.

There was a glaring military coup here, Gotliv said. Its all in the indictment against Rosenfeld and Feldstein, which says that Rosenfeld wanted to pass on additional information related to the involvement of factor X.'

They tried to claim that its this individual, but it turned out to be the head of Egyptian intelligence. It must be assumed there is no way that 5,000 terrorists can infiltrate into Israel, she added.

Ynet reported in January that the real issue in the leaked documents case, leading to the arrests of Eli Feldstein and Ari Rosenfeld, was vital intelligence information about a foreign actor involved in the October 7 massacre, who, according to Gotliv, was the head of the Egyptian intelligence.

Senior officials from the Military Intelligence Directorate were aware of the role of the foreign actor in the massacre and became concerned when it became apparent that senior IDF officials were still stuck in the conceptzia and were hiding the information from the political leadership.

The intelligence officers turned to reserve soldier Ari Rosenfeld and emphasized to him that it was urgent to pass the information on to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Rosenfeld and Feldstein were later arrested, and in November 2024, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara approved severe indictments against them, including in Feldsteins case, harming state security, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

And for what? For trying to bypass left-wing IDF officials and transfer vital information about state security to the Prime Minister!

Even the left has slammed the case as completely exaggerated.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Disturbing details about the conditions that released hostage Edan Alexander endured in captivity in Gaza were revealed only hours after his release, Kan News reported.

According to his initial testimony, Alexander endured severe torture in Gaza, mainly during lengthy interrogations, as well as physical violence and psychological terror.

He was confined to a metal cage for an extended period of time, shackled by his hands and feet. When he was released, he required assistance to walk due to the long period he was shackled.

He was deliberately starved while in captivity and endured extreme hunger. Iin recent months, as the Trump administration engaged in efforts for his release, he was provided with more food.

Throughout his captivity, he was held alongside other hostages in a dark tunnel in southern Gaza, without any access to sunlight. His Hamas captors referred to him as the American.

Alexander was the last living hostage in Gaza with US citizenship.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Israel was shocked when the US suddenly announced the halt of the military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, saying that a ceasefire had been reached and the Houthis agreed not to attack US ships.

According to a New York Times report on Monday, President Donald Trump decided to halt the offensive against the Houthis in Yemen after realizing it was an expensive campaign that was not yielding significant results.

The initial military plan against the Houthis was a months-long military campaign of powerful airstrikes to destroy Houthi air defenses, followed by targeted assassinations, largely modeled on Israels war agaist Hezbollah.

Wary of becoming embroiled in another expensive US military engagement in the Middle East, Trump wanted to see results within 30 days of the opening strikes two months ago. He requested a progress report on Day 31.

According to the report he received, the US had not even established air superiority over the Houthis. The Houthis had intercepted several American MQ-9 Reaper drones and were continuing to fire at ships in the Red Sea, including an American aircraft carrier.

The dismal results came at a high price, with the first month alone costing about $1 billion in weapons and munitions. Additionally, some Pentagon officials were horrified by the large number of precise munitions used in that one month, fearing that the US would drain its supply of munitions and be unable to intervene in the case of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Trump wanted out. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who was already involved in Omani-mediated nuclear talks with Iran, brought him an Omani proposal that the US halt the bombing campaign in exchange for a Houthi commitment to refrain from targeting US ships in the Red Sea.

Attacks on other ships, especially those the Houthis deemed as linked to Israel, or attacks on Israel itself, were not part of the agreement.

On May 5, U.S. Central Command officials received a sudden order from the White House to pause attacks.

The report added that the decision to halt the offensive in Yemen was contrary to the opinion of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and the commander of the U.S. Central Command, Michael Kurilla. Those who convinced Trump to stop the operation were Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Edan Alexander, who was released from captivity on Monday evening, has decided not to fly to Qatar for a meeting with US President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar.

Edans family stated on Tuesday: Edan has decided not to fly to Qatar. His medical condition requires him to rest and receive treatment at the hospital. Edan will speak with President Trump on the phone today and will meet with the President later this month at the White House.

It was reported on Monday that Trump was interested in meeting Alexander during his visit to the Middle East, if his health condition allows it.

Edan, who was flown to Ichilov Hospital following his release, will remain at the hospital in the coming days to receive medical treatment.

Later on Tuesday, Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff came to the hospital to meet with Edan and his family, and the two spoke to Trump by phone during the visit.

I was honored to meet Edan Alexander today and welcome him home, Witkoff wrote on X following the visit. After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience. His return gives hope to so many. We also had the opportunity to speak with President Donald Trump, whose leadership made this possible. We remain committed to bringing every last hostage home.

Edan also spoke to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday morning.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, hoped that issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant would cause the West to turn against Israel, a senior Western diplomat with firsthand knowledge of the ICC case told the Jerusalem Post.

The diplomat said that in a conversation he had with Khan last year, he said: You just wait and see. If I apply for warrants against Netanyahu, this would give countries like Germany and Canada the excuse they need to turn against the Israeli government.

I remember thinking to myself first: How naive can you be?

But secondly, I thought: Thats not the job. You should be driven by the law and by facts and evidence, not by the thought that Germany might turn on an elected official, the diplomat said.

The diplomat added that Khan issued a statement saying that he visited Washington at the end of March 2024, at which time he informed senior administration officials that he would be applying for warrants against those persons named in the warrants by the end of April 2024.

If indeed Khan had made up his mind to apply for warrants in late March, then all of his interactions with both senior Israeli, US, and other officials regarding his visit to Gaza on May 27 would have been under false pretenses, the diplomat said.

Thats because the ICC Prosecutors Office sent an official letter to Israel on March 20, requesting information relevant to the investigation on Israels alleged war crimes. This information was supposed to be evaluated by Khan for the investigation.

In April, an Israeli delegation traveled to the ICC to discuss the investigation with Khans team.

On May 1, Khan told numerous US senators that he was still investigating the alleged war crimes and that no decision has been made yet.

I felt like we had a good conversation, that he was going to go to Israel and hear their side of the story, as I thought the law required. I think every senator on that phone call would be surprised to hear him claiming that he had already made up his mind, US Sen. Lindsey Graham said.

The way he conducted this was really outrageous. He decided to announce the arrest warrants before he heard Israels side of the story, Graham continued. The only thing that makes sense to me is that he wanted to change the subject, because if he says that he had already made up his mind [by then], then the entire conversation he had with all of us was a fraud.

Following a damning Wall Street Journal report on Sunday revealing that Khan issued the arrest warrants against the Israeli leaders in order to deflect attention from rape charges brought against him by his female aide, Israel has requested that the ICC withdraw the arrest warrants.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Imad Hirbawi, who risked his life to save dozens of students at the Ohr Chaya seminary when a fire broke out in their Jerusalem dorm in December 2024, received Israeli citizenship earlier this week at the Interior Ministry.

Hirwabi, a 35-year-old Arab from East Jerusalem, had just arrived at the building that morning for his construction job on the upper floors, which were being renovated, when the fire broke out.

I heard an explosion, Hirbawi told Yisrael Hayom. I understood something happened. I went down to the lower floors and saw the building on fire. I ran down to help in any way I could. The fire was in the hallway and not in the rooms themselves. I opened the doors, I shouted Get out, theres a fire.'

I think I saw about 40 girls go down, he added. At first I was able to see them and enter the rooms, but minutes later, I couldnt see anything because of the smoke, which I also inhaled and made me feel sick.

Meanwhile, police officers and a volunteer policeman arrived at the scene and also acted with great resourcefulness, sawing through bars, opening escape routes, and using a ladder to lower the trapped girls out through the windows. Four YASAM police officers required medical treatment for smoke inhalation.

Hirwabi, who was in the burning building for half an hour, also required emergency medical treatment for smoke inhalation. And his need for medical treatment continued afterward as he developed pneumonia from the smoke inhalation and severe pain in his back and shoulders from lifting the girls. But to his dismay, he was refused continued medical treatment because of a large debt he had accumulated at Meuchedet because he lacked health insurance due to his complex legal status of living in east Jerusalem under the family reunification law and lacking Israeli citizenship.

Now, he is an Israeli citizen, and he will receive all the rights he is entitled to.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara escalated her war against Torah on Tuesday, ordering the IDF to send draft notices to all Chareidim of draft age in the upcoming draft year [which begins in June], without any distinction in their status as Lomdei Torah.

There are approximately 80,000 bnei yeshivos who are eligible for the draft and about 18,000 have received draft orders. The implication is that in the upcoming draft year, in addition to the new draft cohort, the IDF will have to send conscription notices to approximately 60,000 bnei yeshivos.

Baharav-Miara, whose real goal is to topple the government, is escalating the crisis caused by reports of an arrest operation of Chareidi draft dodgers on Monday evening. The IDF later clarified that the arrests are part of a routine operation that takes place every year.

Senior UTJ officials said: Even if they arrest 20 non-Chareidi draft dodgers and only one ben yeshivah, we will bring down the government.

A senior figure in a Chareidi party told Maariv: We are examining the meaning of the decision to carry out the arrest of draft dodgers. If Lomdei Torah are arrested, we will not be able to continue in the government. A point worth remembering is that we turned a blind eye to the arrest of bochurim at Ben Gurion Airport, but we will not be able to ignore the arrest of Lomdei Torah.

Another senior source said: We dont yet know if this is a real or declarative move, but if there is a surge in arrests  and especially if it is directed at the Chareidi public and not the general public  the government will be in trouble.

In contrast, another senior source said: If the arrest of bnei yeshivos is carried out, there is no coalition. Immediately. It wont take days or weeks, the event will be very quick.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Am I allowed to make egg and onion on Shabbos?

How to choose a shirt from a pile of clothing and not transgress borer on Shabbos?

Can you put food in the oven on Shabbos?

Numerous Shabbos questions are impossible to answer without thorough knowledge of its laws. Shabbos comes once a week, so if a person is not well-versed in its intricacies, then it is inevitable that transgressions will take place.

The many books of basic laws are wonderful, but to really understand the halachos and to apply them, it is essential to learn and remember hilchos Shabbos with the background discussion. What is the challenge we face? It takes several years for a full-time advanced Torah learner to cover the laws of Shabbos in depth. Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos for men offered a solution. World famous Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel, HaRav Hagaon Yitzchak Berkovits shlita used his vast knowledge to arrange all the Gemaras with the commentators on each area of hilchos Shabbos and presented it in the form of source sheets that cover material from the Gemara until practical halacha. This enables one to cover the main opinions in each topic and gain a deep understanding of the halacha without being overwhelmed with a lot of information.

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, a close talmid of Rav Berkovits who spent eight years as a Rosh Chaburah in Rav Berkovitss famous Jerusalem Kollel, with the Ravs endorsement, took on the monumental task of adaptng the Hebrew sheets into English to make the program available for busy professionals.

After successfully running the Hilchos Shabbos program for several years, Rabbi Gefen joined forces with Rabbi Dr. Yakov Pesah, also a musmach of Rabbi Berkovits, and together they co-founded Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos program for men and launched it online. It became an instant success worldwide.

During the launches of the Hilchos Shabbos course for men, it became crystal clear that a course especially tailored for Jewish women was necessary. The program received many emails asking for a womens cohort of this important and highly relevant series. Women, just as much as men, require practical knowledge on how to keep the myriad halachos of Shabbos. Indeed, they may even be faced with more scenarios than men. Therefore, Rabbi Gefen, in consultation with Rabbi Berkovits has adapted the original curriculum to be uniquely tailored to Torah observant women, as an online program in Hilchos Shabbos (www.HilchosShabbosforWomen.com), accessible to motvated women worldwide. It empowers women to know the laws of Shabbos that are so relevant to their lives.

Participants in each online chabura receive source sheets with explanations in English. In addition to the weekly online Zoom shiur with Rabbi Gefen, he is available for questions. There are tests in each section, and the option of a signed certificate of completion from Rav Berkovits.

While this course for women is in Hilchos Shabbos, several months ago, Rabbi Gefen has also launched another online program for women in Hilchos Bein Adam LChaveiro. This program is based on a curriculum of Kollel Linas Hatzedek / Center for Jewish Values, a premier international Bein Adam LChaveiro resource, whom we thank for their permission. The Bein Adam LChaveiro online program for women taught by Rabbi Gefen became very successful already in its first launch.

As women, we are required to learn halacha in order to fulfill it properly. Says Dr. Shoshana Snyder from Los Angeles. Rabbi Gefens course  provides women with a level of knowledge and understanding of the halacha from the primary sources to the halacha lmaasei. The depth of the learning is gratifying. Participating in this program has raised my awareness of the need to apply the halacha in situations that would have escaped my notice in the past. The shiurim are clear and there is plenty of opportunity for questions. Rabbi Gefen is available for questions via email in between shiurim as well. I am not aware of any other opportunity available for women to learn halacha at this level. I look forward to receiving the sources and hearing the shiur every week!

Its been a real pleasure to be part of the  program. I look forward to the source sheets and shiur every week. I have an increased appreciation of the halachos and how to apply them in daily life. The material has abundant sources with varying opinions and a halacha lmaaseh sectionI highly recommend the program!  says Basya Gutmann from Clifton, New Jersey.

Over 1000 of our past and present participants in our programs come from six continents and range in skill level from beginner to advanced, adds Rabbi Dr. Pesah. Our vision is to enable everyone to learn halacha in a structured way and make it doable for every motivated person.

Mrs. Batya Eshel from Safed in Israel shares her experience: The shiur is well focused in general, and of course the more prepared I am the more I get out of it. Questions from the participants are handled well, and we all get a lot out of the shiur. Using Zoom allows us access to a shiur that we wouldnt be able to access in person.

Says Rabbi Berkovits: Imagine never getting stuck again on Shabbos not knowing what to do!

The program begins on May 28th.

For more information, tuition, and to apply go to: www.HilchosShabbosforWomen.com
We came across a bullish thesis on Aflac Incorporated (AFL) on Substack by David. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on AFL. Aflac Incorporated (AFL)'s share was trading at $105.57 as of May 12th. AFLs trailing and forward P/E were 16.42 and 15.62 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

A smiling customer with a health insurance plan, a customer that was successfully acquired thanks to the company's efforts.

Aflacs first quarter of 2025 was marked by headline volatility driven by non-cash investment losses and currency fluctuations, but the underlying fundamentals tell a more stable and promising story. Adjusted earnings declined 5.7% year-over-year, after the removal of a large investment loss from the calculation, while net earnings plummeted 98.5% because of a $924 million non-cash investment loss. This outsized drop in reported profit creates a misleading picture of the companys performance. Aflac has significant exposure to Japan, and while it hedges against major currency swings, it does not hedge against smaller or moderate fluctuations. During the quarter, the Japanese Yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar, which is a net positive for long-term fundamentals, as it boosts dollar-reported revenue when Yen earnings are translated. However, in the short term, this creates accounting issues and increases the cost of Aflacs liabilities in Japan, leading to earnings distortions. Cash from operations fell 30% year-over-yearmuch less severe than the 98.5% drop in earningshighlighting how much of the decline was tied to temporary, non-cash factors rather than deteriorating business performance.

Sales growth was healthy, with U.S. operations up 3.5% year-over-year and Japan sales increasing 12.6%, reflecting resilience in core markets despite currency headwinds. While some investors might focus on quarterly results, Aflacs long-term trajectory remains tied to macroeconomic factorsmost importantly, the Yen/USD exchange rate. Historically, trends in cash flow and revenue have followed this currency relationship closely. A sustained strengthening of the Yen would not only improve the companys earnings power in dollar terms but also enhance reported cash generation. Though this quarter wasnt spectacular, the strategic picture remains intact, and currency headwinds are more of a timing issue than a structural concern.

Importantly, Aflacs strong capital allocation remains a point of confidence. In Q1 2025, the company repurchased $895 million of its own stock, reflecting managements conviction in the long-term value of the business and continuing its shareholder-friendly approach. For investors willing to look past short-term accounting noise, Aflac represents a stable, cash-generative business with upside potential tied to currency normalization. While near-term results may remain volatile, especially due to non-cash charges, the core business is performing, and patient investors could be rewarded as conditions normalize.
Motorists need to be on the lookout for deer at this time of year with a 45 per cent rise in accidents involving the animals between April and May causing thousands of pounds in car damage.

In late spring deer move around with new fawns seeking fresh locations to forage for food  leading to an increased number near roads.

About 74,000 car accidents involving deer happen each year in Britain costing an average of 4,317, says insurer Zurich.

Comprehensive insurance typically covers damage caused by accidents involving animals, but third party only or third party, fire and theft insurance generally do not, according to the AA.

Mat Barker, 50, of Welney, Norfolk, has hit deer twice over the past four years driving in lanes near his home  causing total damage of more than 15,000 to his 40,000 hybrid Volkswagen Passat.

Electric cars and hybrids can be more prone to accidents because the vehicles are quieter than petrol or diesel-driven motors, so animals are less likely to hear them coming.

On the move: In late spring deer move around with new fawns seeking fresh locations to forage for food  leading to an increased number near roads

Account manager Mat says: The first accident happened soon after 10pm when it was dark.

There was a huge thump and I pulled over to discover a dead muntjac and my car radiator had caved in.

'It was quite a traumatic experience.

Mat Barker has hit deer twice over the past four years driving in lanes near his home

He adds: The claim for the second incident was 9,100 because not only was the car wrecked but it had to cover the cost of three weeks of car hire while the vehicle was repaired.

Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, says: Look out for deer warning signs and speed limit signs that could be obscured by foliage that rapidly grows in the spring.

Dim your headlights if you see a deer by a road to avoid startling them.

If you spot an injured deer in the road pull over to a safe place and call the police on 101.

You can also call the RSPCA 24-hour emergency phone line on 0300 1234 999.
In March I went to my branch of Nationwide to transfer 100,000 from a stocks and shares Individual Savings Account (Isa) into my existing Nationwide cash Isa.

They told me I could not add more to that account.

I therefore arranged to split the sum equally between two different Nationwide Isas  a two-year fixed rate and a one-year account. I signed the forms and received copies.

The first transfer was successful but despite me chasing for several weeks, the second has not happened.

I am having sleepless nights as the money has left my stocks and shares Isa provider. Please help.

J.R., Crawley.

Missing: A Nationwide customer has been left waiting for weeks after 50,000 disappeared when they attempted to transfer it from a stocks and shares Isa to a cash Isa

Sally Hamilton replies: You would expect a huge savings organisation like Nationwide to have well-oiled systems for receiving funds via an Isa transfer from another organisation without them going missing.

Transferring tax efficient Isas is meant to be straightforward, even if it involves moving from a stocks and shares plan to a cash account.

Transfers do not count towards a savers annual 20,000 allowance. To ensure the tax-free protection is not lost, the switch needs to be set in motion by the new provider with special transfer forms.

Its vital customers do not cash in the old plan first. The new provider contacts the incumbent to request the funds be moved over.

You had taken all the right steps but were left in serious limbo regarding your missing savings.

Scam Watch Shoppers should stay vigilant for scam emails, texts and phone calls following a cyber incident on Marks and Spencer. M&S says that personal customer data was stolen during the attack but it says no card details were accessed and no passwords were compromised. Theres no evidence the information has been shared. Nonetheless, you must stay alert for unsolicited calls, texts or emails from M&S or other well known retailers, consumer website Which? warns. Do not click on links in unsolicited or suspicious emails. Instead forward the emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

You were let down not only by below-par administration at the start but also by poor communication not just with you but between the societys departments as well.

I was unimpressed when you mentioned customer services warned you that it can take

them up to a week to get a reply from the transfer team and that internal contact was only possible by email. What an archaic way to run things, especially in an emergency.

Anyway, when you mentioned you had received and returned duplicates of the transfer forms you had already signed in branch, I was suspicious that things had gone wrong early on.

I asked Nationwide to investigate why it was taking so long to trace your missing 50,000.

My intervention prompted a rapid response, and your funds were soon found and directed to the new account within 24 hours.

It turned out your original forms had gone astray which was why you were asked to complete a second batch.

Separately, staff had been confused by your two transfer requests for the same sum, believing they were simply duplicates of a single transaction.

You thanked me enthusiastically for the Sally magic in finally getting matters resolved.

A spokesman for Nationwide says: This was an isolated processing error which we have explained and apologised for directly to the customer.

Nationwide paid you 200 in compensation, plus 163 in interest lost by the delay.

Replacement Apple Watch won't hold its charge

I bought an Apple Watch from O2 last year. The watch appealed because it has an in-built fall detector which is useful as I have Parkinsons disease and Im deaf which makes me unsteady on my feet.

The contract was for 48 months at a monthly cost of 5.99 for the device, 4.75 for the airtime and 10 for the insurance.

About 11 months later, on January 3 this year, while waiting to board a cruise liner in Southampton, I realised my watch was no longer on my wrist.

After passing through cruise security, I used my iPhone to track it. It said it was somewhere in Southampton.

I phoned the hotel I had stayed in, but they could not find it. I reported it lost to the insurer, which agreed to replace it.

This they did but the replacement was a reconditioned model that would not hold its charge for more than four hours.

I persevered but after several weeks I complained. The insurer refused to help but O2 said it would take the watch back and cancel my contract. They said they would send me a prepaid jiffy bag but several weeks later, it has not arrived. Please help.

F.N., Worcester.

Sally Hamilton replies: You told me that due to your hearing impairment you struggled to get your message across in phone calls to O2.

Despite requests they offer another means of communicating with you this didnt happen.

On my intervention, however, you started to receive emails, including one which confirmed it would cancel your contract and waive any associated fees, once it had received the watch. A jiffy bag was finally sent out for you to return the watch.

When we caught up recently, you confirmed that the watch had been returned and your contract had been cancelled.

You were mightily relieved and are now deciding what to do about replacing the device. O2 customers who have hearing difficulties, like yours, have other options for getting in touch with customer services, including its online chat via the O2 website.

They can also register for its access for you service through which they can elect a preferred method of contact.

It also offers access through the SignVideo Service, which they can use on their computer or smartphone. There is also Relay UK, where messages can be read out to the person being called, with the reply typed out.

Straight to the point In January I flew from Bristol to Rome. My baggage allowance was 20kg, which was the weight of my suitcase, but at the airport I was told it needed to be split with 5kg in my cabin luggage and 15kg in the hold. I never take cabin luggage and havent had issues before. I had to pay 60 for excess luggage. T.E., via email. Easyjet says you only had a 15 kg hold luggage allowance but it has refunded the excess luggage fee and the original amount you paid for baggage as a goodwill gesture. *** In April I ordered a meal from KFC via Uber Eats. I was given an estimated delivery time but no food arrived. I called KFC and it said it couldnt deliver this any more. A refund was agreed but the payment has been taken from my account. It has referred me to Uber Eats, which is apparently responsible for what happened. M.R., via email. Uber Eats apologises for the inconvenience and has refunded the amount to you. *** I booked a hire car on a visit to the UK from Australia and asked for a Mercedes GLA, which would be either petrol, diesel or hybrid. But I was given a Polestar electric vehicle. On our journeys we had to stop four times for 40 minutes each and had to veer off course to find a charger. We were four hours late to see my uncle for dinner and had to pay 112 for charging, more than double what I would have paid for petrol. N.L., Brisbane. You have been refunded the hire fee and charging costs  totalling 252  as a gesture of goodwill.
Fears for Britain's car industry deepened yesterday as bosses called for clarity over when tariffs on exports to the US will be reduced.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Bentley said that despite a trade deal with President Donald Trump announced last week, they were still operating under the previous 25 per cent tariff regime.

Meanwhile, workers at Britain's biggest car plant in Sunderland were left in the dark after its Japanese owner Nissan said it was shutting seven factories worldwide.

A Downing Street spokesman said it was a 'concerning' time for employees at the site.

Carmakers have been grappling with a 25 per cent tariff on all car imports into the US imposed by Trump at the start of April.

The tariff will be reduced to 10 per cent under the UK-US trade deal but manufacturers still do not know when that will take effect.

In the driving seat: Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves visited the JLR factory last month

JLR's boss Adrian Mardell commented on the tariffs as it reported a 14 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to 2.47billion for the year to the end of March  even as sales were flat at 29billion.

JLR was thought to have been preparing to announce future job cuts until the deal was announced, but Mardell insisted yesterday that it had not been about to take immediate action.

While he welcomed the agreement he said that the company was 'awaiting confirmation of the effective date'.

And he added that even after the deal takes effect 'it's worth remembering that the tariffs remain at four times the level they were prior to April 3'.

Mardell also refused to rule out that JLR  which has already moved some production to Slovakia  might one day build factories in the US.

JLR's boss Adrian Mardell (centre) on Tuesday refused to rule out setting up a US production hub to avoid the President's tariffs

Other global firms are already doing this in order to avoid Trump's tariffs. But he added that 'there are no plans to do that at this point in time'.

JLR had already responded to the tariffs by temporarily pausing exports to the US. They have since resumed. Mardell said that the 'steep and sudden' tariffs 'had an immediate and significant financial impact on auto manufacturers worldwide'.

Frank-Steffen Walliser, chief executive of Bentley, raised questions about how the 100,000 tariff-free quota of UK car exports to the US would work.

Some 101,000 cars were shipped to the US last year.

Walliser told a Financial Times event yesterday: 'Is the 100,000 for Bentley? I can live with that but I assume our colleagues from JLR would also like to have a chunk.'

He added Bentley was 'having conversations' with the Government to find out how the deal would be operating.

'Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining [about the deal being struck], but it is not operational,' Walliser said.

Nissan on Monday said it was cutting 11,000 jobs, in addition to previously announced cuts of 9,000, and closing seven of its 17 plants.

The carmaker did not say whether Sunderland would be affected.
Alfa has introduced a new preconfigured software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, Alfa Start for European Asset Finance, designed specifically for European asset finance companies.

According to the company, the system enables auto and equipment finance operators to implement Alfa Systems, a core platform for services such as originations, contract servicing, and collections management, in a quick and cost-effective way.

Built on predefined best-practice configurations and processes, refined through Alfas extensive support for major European brands, the offering streamlines implementation.

Alfa director of product Emily Hammond said: Alfa Start is for banks, captives and independents who want to be lean and invest pragmatically in a system that comes preloaded with a distilled best-practice setup, rather than recreating their existing processes and configuration from scratch.

As weve done successfully in the UK and US, this new flavour of Alfa Start brings the power of Alfa Systems to a wider range of providers, offering an essential project accelerator that reduces cost and helps you gain a competitive edge.

Since its launch in 2020, Alfa Starts rapid methodology has been adopted in the UK by finance providers and challenger banks such as United Trust Bank, Arkle Finance, Bibby Financial Services, and recently Paragon Bank.

It has also accelerated projects for notable auto and equipment lenders in the US.

The new offering includes support for local languages, currencies, accounting standards, and bank reports, alongside integrations for e-signature, single sign-on, SEPA payments, and other features.

Delivered via proactively managed, single-tenant SaaS, it eliminates infrastructure overheads for users.

Bibby Financial Services COO Richard Olver said: A lot of providers have a need to modernise their tech stack, and look at improving their businesses, and Alfa Systems is the industry gold standard.

With Alfa Start, we've been able to implement Alfa Systems rapidly and cost-effectively. Thanks to the automation now available, our teams spend more time delivering value for our clients and business partners.

"Alfa unveils preconfigured SaaS solution for European asset finance sector" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand.




Algerias National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT) is launching a program to revitalize its upstream hydrocarbon sector.

Last year, the agency unveiled six new onshore licensing opportunities for conventional oil and gas exploration. Its part of a five-year licensing plan designed to attract global investors, according to a note from the Holland & Knight law firm, which has assisted several companies in previous calls for tenders.

ALNAFT has extended bid submissions to July.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that Algeria, an OPEC member country, has about 100 undeveloped discoveries, and two-thirds of the nations territory remains underexplored or underdeveloped. Recent licensing rounds are expected to unlock about 20 Bcm of gas production each year during the next five- to 10 years. And, Algeria may have much as 121 Bbbl of shale oil, the firm said.

The country holds about 12.2 Bbbl of proven crude oil reserves and an estimated 159 Tcf of proven natural gas reserves.

Sonatrach is currently the largest oil and gas producer in the African nation.

Algerian leadership recognized that global demand for energy is rising and that technological advances will make it easier to tap into reserves once thought inaccessible. Moreover, the government is committed to attracting foreign investment, according to Holland & Knight.
By Pete Schroeder, Saeed Azhar, Davide Barbuscia

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) -The banking industry is optimistic that U.S. regulators will soon move to change how much capital they set aside against typically safe investments, particularly after the turmoil in Treasury markets last month.

Such a move to revamp the "supplementary leverage ratio" could reduce the amount of cash banks must reserve, freeing them up for more lending or other activities, and could incentivize banks to play a larger role in intermediating Treasury markets.

"Current leverage-based capital requirements are outdated and at odds with financial stability and economic growth. Reform is needed quickly to better serve U.S. taxpayers, capital markets, consumers, businesses, and the economy," said Kevin Fromer, the president and CEO of the Financial Services Forum, which represents the nation's largest banks.

Regulators have flagged the SLR as meriting reconsideration and are mulling whether to tweak the rule's formula to reduce big banks' burdens or provide relief for extremely safe investments, like Treasury bonds. The debate is driving industry hopes that agencies could as soon as this summer propose an overhaul, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Bank lobby groups, including the Forum and the Bank Policy Institute, which also represents larger banks, have been pushing for the change.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers last week that a revamp was a "high priority" for the three regulatory bodies charged with the rule: the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Banks have argued for years that the SLR, established after the 2007-2009 financial crisis, should be reformed. They contend it was meant to serve as a baseline, requiring banks to hold capital against even very safe assets, but has grown over time to become a binding constraint on bank lending.

BPI President and CEO Greg Baer called reform "overdue and welcome" in a statement to Reuters.

When asked by Congress in February if the leverage requirements discouraged banks from helping intermediate the Treasury market, Fed Chair Jerome Powell agreed, and said it was time to revisit the issue.

Such reforms are on a long wishlist the banking industry hopes to advance with the Trump administration, which has made deregulation to spur economic growth a top priority.

Spokespeople for the Fed, FDIC and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which shares responsibility for the SLR, declined to comment.
As our blog community debated over the weekend . . .

KANSAS CITY ROYALS WILL EITHER MOVE NORTH OR OUT OF THIS COWTOWN ALTOGETHER!!!

Sorry, the K isn't a permanent option and we don't exactly have high hopes for this conversation given that so many Missouri politicos can barely understand the state's walnut bowl economy . . . Check-it . . .



Missouri Sen. Maggie Nurrrenbern (D-Clay County) said that she believes if the Royals are going to stay in Missouri, it will be at a site in North Kansas City in Clay County.



I think the team, quite frankly, has made it very clear that it is the Clay County site or they will leave the state of Missouri, Nurrenbern said Monday.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Missouri state senator: Clay County is only Missouri option for Kansas City Royals As the 2025 Missouri legislative session enters its final week, a state senator believes it's either Clay County or bust for the Kansas City Royals to remain in Missouri.

Missouri lawmakers near deadline on Kansas City Royals ballpark plan Missouri lawmakers face a Friday deadline to approve funding to keep the Kansas City Royals' new ballpark in Missouri, with two locations in play.

Stadium fatigue felt as State House begins voting on Royals new home field Decision time is approaching to decide if the Kansas City Royals will call Clay County home. Missouri lawmakers have until the end of the week to consider a last-minute proposal for a $300-million incentive package to move the Royals to Clay County.

Kansas City mayor discusses city funding potential for the Royals Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says $400 million in local incentives are available for the Royals.
Anheuser-Busch InBev has unveiled plans to invest $300m in its manufacturing operations across the US this year.

In a statement, AB InBev, which owns brands including Michelob Ultra, Busch Light, and Bud Light brands, told Just Drinks that investment will be distributed across its facilities in the US.

Without disclosing the amount of investment each facility would see, it said the new capital will be used to continue to enhance operations, advance technology, and meet evolving consumer demand.

AB InBev said it has allocated nearly $2bn to its 100 facilities across the US in the last five years.

When asked why the company is investing this sum across its facilities now, the brewing major said: Investing in our US facilities is crucial to our long-term strategy and commitment to American manufacturing.

By modernising operations and enhancing technical training, we future-proof our business, ensure the sustainability of American jobs, and position ourselves to meet future market demands while maintaining leadership in the brewing industry.

AB InBevs investment in local operations also coincides with the new tariffs imposed by the US government on the goods entering the country.

US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said: Anheuser-Busch has been a shining example of what 'Made in America' means, and their latest investment of $300m builds on their longtime commitment to grow our workforce and expand US manufacturing.

They are demonstrating exactly what it means to put American workers first, setting a standard for other companies to follow."

In the first quarter of 2025, AB InBev reported group revenue of $13.62bn, a 6.3% decrease compared to last year.

The company's normalised EBIT declined 1.5% to $3.58bn but profit for the period surged 71.31% $2.54bn.

In the three months, AB InBev's US revenue dropped 5.1%, though its revenue per hectolitre rose 1.7% due to revenue management and premiumisation, the group said.

Sales-to-retailers decreased by 5.4%. AB InBev said those sales were "estimated to have outperformed the industry" but were "negatively impacted by adverse weather and Easter shipment phasing".

Sales-to-wholesalers declined by 6.7%, impacted by one less selling day versus the first quarter of 2024. EBITDA declined by 1.7%

"Our beer portfolio was led by Michelob Ultra and Busch Light, which were the number one 1 and number two 2 volume share gainers in the industry respectively, while our RTD portfolio delivered strong double-digit volume growth, led by Cutwater and Nutrl," it added.
QE2 Unveils Midweek Staycation for UAE Residents



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - May 13th, 2025 - This summer, rediscover Dubai from a truly remarkable perspective  aboard the storied decks of the Queen Elizabeth 2. Moored in the historic harbour of Mina Rashid, the iconic ocean liner turned floating hotel has unveiled an exclusive UAE Residents Offer, inviting locals to swap the everyday for a midweek escape steeped in heritage, elegance, and tranquillity.

Designed for those seeking quieter moments, cooler days, and a nostalgic connection to maritime history, this unique staycation blends timeless charm with outstanding value.

Ferghal Purcell, General Manager of the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, commented: The Queen Elizabeth 2 is not just a hotel  its a living museum of maritime legacy, reimagined for the discerning traveller of today. This summer, we invite UAE residents to relive the golden age of ocean travel. From our generous in-room amenities to the rich heritage experience onboard, every detail of this midweek offer is designed to deliver timeless memories.

Available exclusively for stays from Sunday to Thursday, the offer is perfect for residents looking to unwind during the workweek  whether working remotely, enjoying family time, or indulging in a midweek retreat with a difference.

The UAE Residents Offer includes:

10% off the Best Available Rate

Complimentary breakfast for two

Early check-in from 11:00 AM and late check-out until 4:00 PM

20% off food and beverage at all dining outlets

Kids stay and dine free

Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi

With sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline, the Queen Elizabeth 2 offers far more than a place to stay  its a voyage through time. Guests can explore the ships storied past with guided Heritage Tours and relax in spaces once graced by royalty, dignitaries, and legendary personalities.

Whether its your first visit or a nostalgic return, this midweek staycation promises an experience as unforgettable as the vessel itself.

For reservations & Inquiries

Call +971 4 526 8888 or email Reservations.qe2@accor.com

Or visit https://www.qe2.com

###
UAF to host free Arctic Research Open House

UAF photo by Marina Barbosa Santos

Children learn about insects collected from rivers and ponds during the 2024 UAF Arctic Research Open House.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host its annual Arctic Research Open House Thursday, May 15 from 4  7 p.m. on the West Ridge of the Troth Yeddha Campus in Fairbanks.

Activities will include:

Birch syrup and barley tastings

A drone petting zoo

Virtual reality games and tours

Greenhouse tours

A survival suit race

Lava demonstrations

Film screenings

An electricity generation station

Science-themed arts and crafts

Attendees can enter to win door prizes by visiting a series of stations to complete their Explorer Badge. The open house will also include free ice cream for attendees.

The event is free and open to all ages. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Free public parking is available in lots along Koyukuk Drive. Visit the event website or Facebook page for more information.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Alanna Greenwell, agreenwell1@alaska.edu, 907-474-6867.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Email questions or requests for accommodations to UAF-Research@alaska.edu.

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UMB Strengthens Global Partnerships During Governor Moores Asia Trip

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) played a pivotal role during Gov. Wes Moore's economic development mission to South Korea from April 13-19, 2025, establishing five memoranda of understanding (MOU) with Chosun University.

UMB Provost Roger Ward, right, signs a memorandum of understanding with Kim Chun-sung, the president of Chosun University.

University officials joined the governor as the Maryland delegation witnessed the signing of the MOUs between UMB and Chosun University in Gwangju, South Korea. The agreements, designed to promote academic exchange between the two universities, aim to foster international education opportunities, research collaborations, and economic growth in Maryland's life sciences sector.

Roger J. Ward, EdD, JD, MSL, MPA, UMB provost and executive vice president, signed the Universitywide agreement on April 16 that will facilitate exchange programs for faculty, researchers, and students for an initial three-year period.

"These partnerships represent UMB's commitment to global engagement in health care education and research," said Ward. "Working with Chosun University gives our students and faculty valuable international perspectives while advancing our shared academic missions."

The collaborations involve the University of Maryland Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. Each school signed specialized agreements though all share key elements including faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives, and academic resource sharing.

The UMB delegation featured leaders from each participating school, including Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, dean of the School of Dentistry; Jessica A. Mong, PhD, assistant dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies at the School of Medicine; Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the School of Nursing; and Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy.

UMB's participation underscores Moore's strategy to position Maryland as a global leader in key industries including life sciences, biotechnology, and research.

Our mission marks the next chapter in our work to grow our economy and build new pathways to prosperity for Marylanders, Moore said in a news release. We look forward to working with our partners and friends in the Republic of Korea toward achieving our shared vision.

Virginia Rowthorn, JD, LLM, UMB assistant vice president for global engagement, will coordinate ongoing collaboration as the universities implement exchange programs and joint academic initiatives in the coming years. Rowthorn shared that plans are underway to host a leadership delegation from Chosun University at UMB in fall 2025.
05/13/2025

Media contacts: Brooke Coupal, communications, economic impact and research development specialist, Brooke_Coupal@uml.edu, and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass.  When Lowell High School senior Robina Nyangai walks into the UMass Lowell New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center, she feels a sense of belonging.

Since January, Nyangai has spent her Saturdays at the universitys interdisciplinary robotics testing, research and training facility as a member of the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program, which provides opportunities for high school girls in Massachusetts to learn about careers in robotics. The program, which originated in Boston in 2021, expanded to UMass Lowell in 2024 with support from the Massachusetts Tech Collaborative.

Ive learned so much about robotics and engineering through this program. Its empowered me to pursue a career path in engineering, said Nyangai, who will be majoring in computer engineering at UMass Lowell in the fall.

For Joyce Sidopoulos, MassRobotics co-founder and chief of operations, thats what the Jumpstart Fellowship Program is all about  encouraging girls of all backgrounds to enter robotics careers. According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women make up just 16% of the robotics and engineering workforce in the United States.

As weve entered the fifth year of the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program, were proud to see its continued growth and success, especially in our second year here at UMass Lowell, Sidopolous said. The NERVE Center provides an ideal environment for our students, offering hands-on experience with advanced robotics, all while immersing them in a college atmosphere. This exposure not only helps students build confidence in their abilities but also strengthens the connection between education and industry.

Students in the program, which requires no prior knowledge to join, learn computer-aided design, coding, fabrication, 3D printing, laser cutting, soldering, circuitry, computer numerical control (CNC) machine operation and ethical ways to use artificial intelligence.

Beacon Interactive Systems purchased new laptops for the Lowell cohort, equipping them with the necessary tools to further advance their developing skills.

Image by Brooke Coupal

We are proud to support UMass Lowell and their participation in the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program, said ML Mackey, CEO of Beacon Interactive Systems. Its important to empower curious minds to be creative in solving problems and making an impact on the world around them. When we can assist in getting them there, its a win-win.

The students gain networking skills through meeting female mentors, including Holly Yanco, director of the NERVE Center and chair of UMass Lowells Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences.

The students curiosity and drive are exactly what the field of robotics needs, Yanco said. Im proud that the NERVE Center can serve as a space where young women can explore, experiment and see themselves as future innovators.

The female mentors have inspired Burlington High School junior Aadya Gurjar.

Its important to get insights from females because we need more females in the robotics industry, she said. Theyve gone through the same experiences that Im going through now and are able to provide me with guidance.

The students spent their February vacation meeting professionals at local companies, including New Balance, ASMPT, Desktop Metal, MITRE, Teledyne FLIR, Analog Devices and Shell TechWorks. MassRobotics will also pair the students with technology companies for summer internships. Companies interested in hosting an intern from the Jumpstart Fellowship Program are encouraged to email info@massrobotics.org.

Briana Ssozi, a first-year computer science student at UMass Lowell, participated in the Jumpstart Fellowship Program in Lowell in 2024. The Chelmsford, Massachusetts, resident said the hands-on experience she gained set her up for success going into college.

When I saw college students doing cool robotics research while I was at the NERVE Center, it made me want to apply to UMass Lowell even more, Ssozi said. I knew this school was meant for me.

Alethea Campbell, program manager for the Jumpstart Fellowship, is excited about what lies ahead for the program and its students.

UMass Lowell, with its cutting-edge facilities and strong ties to the robotics industry, is the perfect place for our program to thrive and grow, she said.
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93.66% Pass CBSE 10th 2025 Exam, Complete Result Details Here

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the result of Class Xth board exams held in February/March 2025 on its official website cbseresults.nic.in

Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:18 PM , ummid.com News Network

CBSE 10th Result 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the result of Class Xth board exams held in February/March 2025 on its official website cbseresults.nic.in.

The CBSE said its has registered an overall pass percentage of 93.66% in Class 10 exam 2025.

The CBSE has not released the Merit List and Class 10 Toppers names. It however said a total of 45,516 students, representing 1.92% of all candidates, scored above 95% in the CBSE Class 10 exams 2025.

Moreover, 199,944 students (8.43%) scored over 90% in the 2025 Class 10 exam.

CBSE 10th Result 2025 - Highlights

A total of 23,71,939 students from India and abroad appeared in the CBSE Class 10 exams 2025. Out of them, 22,21,636 passed with a national pass percentage of 93.66%, slightly higher than 93.60% recorded in 2024.

A total of 29,847 students from CBSE affiliated foreign schools appeared in the Class 10 exams. Out of them 98.57% passed.

Pass percentage of girl students is 95% whereas that of boys is 92.63% in the CBSE 2025 Class 10 exams.

CBSE 10th Regionwise Result

Bengaluru: 98.90%

Chennai: 98.71%

Pune: 96.54%

Ajmer: 95.44%

Delhi (overall): 95.14%

Delhi West: 95.24%

Delhi East: 95.07%

Dehradun: 91.60%

Prayagraj: 91.01%

Panchkula: 92.77%

The CBSE Class 10th exam 2025 began on February 15 and ended on March 18, 2025.

Links to Check CBSE 10th Results

Once declared the CBSE 10th results 2025 will be available on the official websites:

cbseresults.nic.in

results.cbse.nic.in

cbse.gov.in

Results are also available via DigiLocker, UMANG app, SMS, and IVRS for convenience.

Steps to Check Xth CBSE 2025 Results

Go to the official website: "cbseresults.nic.in"

Click on the link marked as "CBSE Xth Result 2025"

Enter your roll number, school number, admit card ID, and date of birth

Click on "Submit" button to check the result

Download and take printout

The CBSE Class 10th Results 2025 can also be accessed through Google search engine www.google.co.in and Microsoft search engine www.bing.com and SMS Organizer App on mobile which can be installed from playstore aka.ms/sms.

Candidates should note that like previous years, the CBSE will release the 10th result without Merit List and Toppers details.

The CBSE has also announced today Class 12th result. The board has registered a pass percentage of 88.39 in Class XIIth board exam 2025.

CBSE 10th, 12th Results of Previous Years

The CBSE Class 12 exams in 2024 were conducted from February 15 to April 02, 2024. The CBSE Class 12 result last year was declared on May 13, 2024 when the pass percentage was 87.98%.

On the other hand, the CBSE Class 10 exams in 2024 were conducted from February 15 to March 13, 2024. CBSE Class 10 result last year was declared on May 13, 2024 when the pass percentage was 93.60%.

The CBSE Class 12 exams in 2023 were conducted from February 15 to April 05, 2023. The CBSE Class 12 result was also declared on May 12, 2023 .

On the other hand, the CBSE Class 10 exams in 2023 were conducted from February 15 to March 21, 2023. CBSE Class 10 result was declared on May 04, 2023 .

The CBSE 10th result in 2022 was announaced on July 22 and the pass percentage was 94.40%. The CBSE 12th result in 2022 was announaced on July 22 and the pass percentage was 92.17%.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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Saudi Aramco has projected that oil demand will remain robust throughout the year, with potential for additional growth if the ongoing US-China trade disputes are resolved.

This forecast comes amid a temporary reduction in tariffs by both countries, aiming to mitigate a trade war that has sparked global economic concerns, according to a report by Reuters.

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, during a post-earnings conference call, shared insights on the market's trajectory.

We expect demand will continue to be steady and growing compared to 2024, and if the whole issue around tariffs is resolved... that also will add to additional demand that will be seen from the market, Nasser was quoted as saying.

Despite a 4.6% decline in first-quarter (Q1) profits, attributed to lower sales and increased operating costs, Aramco remains optimistic about the future.

The dip in profits reflects broader economic uncertainties that have affected crude markets.

Saudi Arabia, in line with its Vision 2030 agenda, has been diversifying its economy to reduce reliance on oil revenues, even as some ambitious projects have been downsized to prioritise infrastructure for global sporting events, the report said.

The OPEC+ group is expected to ramp up oil production, potentially returning up to 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to the market by November.

Aramco has calculated that the increased production could boost its annual operating cash flow by approximately $1.9bn, the report said.

Despite the challenges posed by tariffs and market volatility, the company has reported resilient growth in Q2 2025.

Currently, it is premature to assess the full impact of trade negotiations, as there are many moving parts, Nasser added.

However, he emphasised Aramco's strong financial standing and adaptable capital strategy.

Aramco has also recently entered into a venture framework agreement with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) to enhance the Yanbu Refinery in Saudi Arabia.

This expansion will include a new mixed-feed steam cracker and aromatics plant, aimed at improving the refinery's integration and supporting the country's industrial diversification efforts.

The project will utilise existing facilities to construct new units, including a 1.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) ethylene plant and a 1.5mtpa aromatics plant, with accompanying downstream polyolefin units.

"Aramco anticipates steady demand and possible growth in 2025" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




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CBSE 12th Result 2025 Out, 88.39% Pass - Read Full Details

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the result of Class XIIth board exams held in February/March/April 2025 on its official website cbseresults.nic.in

Tuesday May 13, 2025 3:36 PM , ummid.com News Network

CBSE 12th Result 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the result of Class XIIth board exams held in February/March/April 2025 on its official website cbseresults.nic.in.

The CBSE said its has registered an overall pass percentage of 88.39% in Class 12 exam 2025.

The CBSE has not released the Merit List and Class 12 Toppers names.

CBSE 12th Result 2025 - Key Highlights

A total of 16,92,794 students had appeared in the 2025 Class 12 exams. Of them, 14,96,307 successfully cleared the exam with a pass percentage of 88.39%.

Overall Pass Percentage of girls in the CBSE 12th 2025 board exam is 91.64% and that of boys is 85.70%.

A total of 1,11,544 students scored above 90% marks in the 2025 CBSE Class 12 exams, while 24,867 students surpassed the 95% mark.

The pass percentage of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) stood at 99.29%, followed closely by Kendriya Vidyalayas (99.05%) and Central Tibetan Schools (98.96%).



The CBSE Class 12th exam started on February 15 and continued till April 04, 2025.

CBSE 12th Regionwise Result 2025

Vijaywada: 99.60%

Chennai: 97.39%

Bengaluru: 95.95%

Delhi (overall): 95.18%

Delhi West: 95.37%

Delhi East: 95.06%

Prayagraj: 79.53%

Patna: 82.86%

Panchkula:91.17%

Chandigarh: 91.61%

The CBSE will conduct Class 10 and 12 supplementary examinations in the first or second week of July, 2025. The improvement exam will be held on the same syllabus on which the main examinations 2025 were conducted.

Links to Check CBSE 12th Results

Once declared the CBSE 12th results 2025 will be available on the official websites:

cbseresults.nic.in

results.cbse.nic.in

cbse.gov.in

Results are also available via DigiLocker, UMANG app, SMS, and IVRS for convenience.

Steps to Check XIIth CBSE 2025 Results

Go to the official website: "cbseresults.nic.in"

Click on the link marked as "CBSE XIIth Result 2025"

Enter your roll number, school number, admit card ID, and date of birth

Click on "Submit" button to check the result

Download and take printout

The CBSE Class 12th Results 2025 can also be accessed through Google search engine www.google.co.in and Microsoft search engine www.bing.com and SMS Organizer App on mobile which can be installed from playstore aka.ms/sms.

Candidates should note that like previous years, the CBSE will release the 10th result without Merit List and Toppers details.

The CBSE has also announced today Class 10th result . The board has registered a pass percentage of 93.66% in Class Xth board exam 2025.

CBSE 10th, 12th Results of Previous Years

The CBSE Class 12 exams in 2024 were conducted from February 15 to April 02, 2024. The CBSE Class 12 result last year was declared on May 13, 2024 when the pass percentage was 87.98%.

On the other hand, the CBSE Class 10 exams in 2024 were conducted from February 15 to March 13, 2024. CBSE Class 10 result last year was declared on May 13, 2024 when the pass percentage was 93.60%.

The CBSE Class 12 exams in 2023 were conducted from February 15 to April 05, 2023. The CBSE Class 12 result was also declared on May 12, 2023 .

On the other hand, the CBSE Class 10 exams in 2023 were conducted from February 15 to March 21, 2023. CBSE Class 10 result was declared on May 04, 2023 .

The CBSE 10th result in 2022 was announaced on July 22 and the pass percentage was 94.40%. The CBSE 12th result in 2022 was announaced on July 22 and the pass percentage was 92.17%.

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Maharashtra SSC Result 2025 Out, Konkan State Topper

The MSBSHSE announced Tuesday May 13, 2025 SSC result 2025 (Class 10 Result 2025) of all the nine dvisional boards of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, Kolhapur, Latur, Nagpur and others

Tuesday May 13, 2025 12:51 PM , ummid.com News Network

Maharashtra SSC Class 10 Result 2025: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has declared on its official website mahresult.nic.in the result of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Class 10th board exams 2025 held in the month of Feb/March today i.e. Tuesday May 13, 2025.

Konkan Region has once again emerged as state topper in the Maharashtra Class 10 board exam declared today.

Overall Pass Percentage

The Maharashtra state recorded an overall pass percentage of 94.10% - down by over 1.70% as compared to 2024 when the pass percentage was 95.81%.

"A total of 15,46,579 students had appeared in the 2025 board exams. Out of them, a total of 14,55,433 passed with an overall passing percentage of 94.10%", the board said.

Pass percentage of girl students is 96.14% and that of boys is 92.31%, according to the SSC 2025 result data released today.

A total of 2,46,602 students have received special marks for their participation in extracurricular activities such as National Cadet Corps (NCC), scout and guides, sports, arts and culture.

211 students Maharashtra SSC toppers

The state board did not release the 10th Merit List and toppers name. But, according to the Maharashtra Class 10 result data 2025 released by the state board, a total of 211 students from different districts of the state score a perfect 100% score in the state board 10th exams.

Of the total 211 students who scored 100% marks in the 2025 SSC exam in Maharashtra, the maximum 113 are from Latur, 40 are from Aurangabad, 13 are from Pune, 12 are from Kolhapur, 11 are from Amravti, 9 are from Konkan, 8 are from Mumbai, 3 are from Nagpur and 2 are from Nashik.

The board has not revealed the names and identities of the SSC toppers.

The board also said, a total of 285 students have passed with 35% marks in the 2025 Class 10 exam.

Out of more than 23,000 schools in the state, a total of 9,382 have registered 100 percent result.

A total of 4,88,745 students have passed with Distinction, 4,97,277 students have passed with first class, 3,60,630 students have passed with second class, and 1,08,781 students have passed with pass category.

Maharashtra SSC Division wise Result 2025

Among the nine divisions, Konkan again topped the list with 99.82 per cent result while Nagpur division was at the bottom with 90.78 per cent.

The Mumbai division recorded the pass percentage of 95.84, Pune 94.81, Latur 92.77, Amravati 92.95, Nashik 93.04, Kolhapur 96.78 and Aurangabad (C Sambhajinagar) 92.82.

The Class 10 board exam in Maharashtra was held for 62 subjects. Out of these, the results of 24 subjects have been 100%.

As many as 37 exam centres were found to be invloved in illegal activities. The recognition of these centres have been camcelled.

The board further said that Class 10 Supplementary examination will be held from June 24 to July 16, 2025. Students can apply for Maharashtra SSC supplementary exams from May 15.

Maharashtra 10th Result 2025 Date and Time

The Maharashtra SSC result has been declared in a press conference at 11:30 AM today.

However, students will be able to check their resul at 01:00 pm Tuesday May 13 on the official as well as affiliate websites.

"The Maharashtra SSC 2025 result will be announced at 01:00 PM Tuesday May 13, 2025", the board said in a notification issued today.

The Maharshtra board announces SSC board exam result of all nine divisions on its official website "mahresult.nic.in".

List of websites to check Maharashtra 10th result

mahresult.nic.in

sscresult.mahahsscboard.in

sscresult.mkcl.org

www.mahahsscboard.in

results.digilocker.gov.in

Candidates can also check their 10th result via Digilocker app.

Steps to check Maha 10th Result 2025

Students can follow the steps given below to check Maharashtra 10th Result 2025.

Click here to go to result website: " sscresult.mahahsscboard.in ".

". Click on SSC Examination March 2025 Result

Enter Exam Seat Number, Date of Birth and Mother's name.

Click on Get Result button to check your score.

Along with the 10th result, Maharashtra board will also release overall pass percentage and other result related data. Students should note that the Maharashtra board does not release Merit and Toppers list.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) had conducted the 10th SSC theory exams this year from February 21 to March 17, 2025.

Class Improvement Scheme

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) will conduct three more exams under the Class Improvement Scheme.

The first Improvement or Supplementary exam will be held in June-July 2025, second in February-March 2026 and June-July 2026.

Online registration for June-July 2025 Improvement Exam will start from May 15, 2025.

The supplementary or improvement exams are held for students who fail in few subject, or pass in all subjects but want to improve their marks and score.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is divided in nine Divisional Boards located in Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Latur, Nagpu, Amravati and Ratnagiri.

The Maharashtra board declares the 10th results of all the nine dvisional boards on the same day and at the same time.

The Maharashtra board had earlier announnced the Class XIIth board exam 2025 .

In a related development, the Maharashtra Education Department has launched a special website for admission in FYJC or Class 11 . Students passing the Class 10 exam should note that the FYJC admission process has been made online across Maharashtra.

Maharashtra 10th Result of Past Few Years

The Maharashtra board had recorded a pass percentage of 95.81% in the 2024 10th board exam 2024 result of which was declared on May 27, 2024 .

In 2023 , the Maharashtra state recorded an overall pass percentage of 93.83% - a decline by over 3.11 as compared to 2022 when the pass percentage was 96.94%. in SSC Class 10 exams.

The Maharashtra state board had announced Class 10 result in 2021 on July 16 .In 2021, the SSC result was prepared based on internal assessment because of Covid-19 and most of the students were declared passed.

In 2020, the state board declared the result on July 29 when it recorded an overall pass percentage of 95.30 - an improvement by over 18.20 as compared to 2019 when the pass percentage 77.10.

In 2019, SSC result was announced on June 08 whereas in 2020 and 2021 they were delayed because of the Pandemic.

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Watch: Hamas sets free American captive in goodwill gesture

The Palestinian Resistance Fighters late in the evening Monday May 12, 2025 released American-Israeli soldier, Edan Alexander, in a goodwill gesture to U.S. President Donald Trump

Tuesday May 13, 2025 10:58 AM , ummid.com News Network

[Edan Alexander after he was handed over to Red Cross officials as part of a deal between the United States and Hamas Monday May 12, 2025]

Gaza Strip: The Palestinian Resistance Fighters late in the evening Monday May 12, 2025 released American-Israeli soldier, Edan Alexander, in a goodwill gesture to U.S. President Donald Trump.

The 20-yr-old American Israeli soldier was taken captive on October 07, 2023 during the Operation Al Aqsa Storm.

US, Hamas Deal bypassing Israel

He was released after 551 days in captivity as part of a deal between Hamas and the United States to allow aid in the besieged enclave.

In a significant development, the Trump administration negotiated with Hamas bypassing the Netanyau led Zionist government in Israel for Edan Alexanders release.

Edan is the last known American captive in the Hamas custody. He blasted and slammed Netanyahu and his Zionist regime after his release in Gaza.

I am collapsing because of this disgusting world and disgusting Israeli government. Everyday, I see that he - Netanyahu - controls the country like a dictator", he said.

We truly believe we will return home dead. There is nothing to say. There is no hope", he said.

Criticizing the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Alexander accused the Israeli leader of abandoning the Israeli prisoners and urged Trump to secure his release.

You neglected us, Alexander said in the footage. We die a thousand times every day, and no one feels our pain.

Watch Video

BREAKING: Al-Qassam Brigades relay a message from Israeli-American captive Edan Alexander:



I am collapsing because of this disgusting world and disgusting Israeli government. Everyday, I see that he - Netanyahu - controls the country like a dictator.



We truly believe we pic.twitter.com/UXT394j777  Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) April 12, 2025

Video footages and images online showed celebrations in New Jersey, United States after Edan's release. New Jersey is Edan's home town.

Israeli negotiators in Qatar

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, the family members of other captives urged Netanayhu to negotiate with Hamas for the release of hostages.

"The U.S. did it. Now, its our turn", they said.

Under intense pressure, Netanyahu then rushed the Israeli negotiatores to Doha, Qatar where they are expected to hold talks with the Hamas officials later today.

Edan was released by Hamas hours before Donald Trump landed in Saudi Capital Riyadh where sources said the Israeli genocide in Gaza and Palestine are one of the key issues.

Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on a 3-day visit to Middle East . From Saudi Arabia, Trump will visit Qatar and the UAE.

Edans family Tuesday said he will soon travel to Doha to meet President Trump and Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

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Auric Mining has commenced mining operations at the Munda gold mine starter pit near Widgiemooltha in Western Australia.

The company forecasts that approximately 125,000 tonnes (t) of ore will be extracted from the starter pit over the next five months, with an estimated grade of 1.8 grams per tonne gold and an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,635 ($1,685) per ounce.

The company has secured full funding for the starter pit operations through the proceeds from mining at the Jeffreys Find Gold Mine near Norseman.

The ground-breaking event took place on 10 May 2025. The company has completed site preparation including the construction of a new haul road, run-of-mine pads and a waste dump.

Additionally, all necessary infrastructure, such as a mine site office and camp, is now in place.

Mining at the starter pit is currently under way, with the initial phase involving free-digging in the weathered upper portion of the pit.

Auric Mining anticipates that the first blasting operations will be required within the next two weeks as the team reaches the fresher rock layers.

The Munda gold mine has an estimated resource of 145,000oz of gold. Following the completion of the starter pit, Auric Mining plans to undertake detailed planning for the development of the Munda main pit, which is expected to commence in 2026.

Auric Mining managing director Mark English said: We can currently dig without blasting and anticipate the first blast will be sometime in the next two weeks as we get down into fresher material. It wont be long before ore stockpiles build at Munda. This is an exciting time for Auric. When we bought the tenements in September 2020 it was always our intention to get into production as quickly as possible.

Munda is our major asset. We have a target to mine 125,000t of ore from the starter pit and produce around 6,100oz of gold at a projected AISC of A$2,635/oz.

In April 2025, Auric Mining initiated the development of the Munda gold mine with the mobilisation of plant and equipment for the mines starter pit.

"Auric begins mining at Munda gold mine starter pit in Australia" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Australian pension fund HESTA has divested its remaining shareholding in mining services provider Mineral Resources (MinRes), citing unresolved governance concerns and a lack of confidence in the company's ability to implement necessary changes.

HESTA's stake in MinRes is valued at approximately A$14m, reported Reuters.

The decision follows the abrupt resignations of three directors in April, who were part of the ethics and governance committee established in November 2024.

These departures have intensified scrutiny over MinRes, particularly regarding allegations against the company's founder and managing director, Chris Ellison. Accusations include tax evasion and the misuse of company resources for personal endeavours.

HESTA stated that a potential future reinclusion of MinRes shares in the fund's portfolio would require a clear plan to address governance issues.

The company added that the establishment of effective safeguards to prevent future incidents and a well-managed succession for the managing director are prerequisites for any reconsideration of investment.

HESTA initially placed MinRes on its watch-list in October 2024, reflecting concerns over inadequate measures to tackle governance problems.

This divestment follows a prior reduction in the fund's holdings of MinRes last year. Despite the sale, HESTA will maintain a watching brief on the company.

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said: Last year we outlined our concerns that the managing directors succession time frame did not reflect the seriousness of the issues, and the issues indicated a systemic failure of governance. We have since regularly engaged with senior leaders and directors at the business to encourage action we believe necessary to restore investor confidence.

The departures of the directors on the ethics and governance committee last month in our view represented a significant step backwards in seeking to address the serious governance concerns. Given these departures and the forthcoming succession of the Chair, we dont currently see a path to our concerns being addressed.

We are focused on the delivery of strong long-term returns to our members, and believe selling our remaining holdings was in their best interests at this time. We may reconsider our position if circumstances change.

In November 2024, MinRes cut 570 jobs and slowed down the underground construction at its Mt Marion lithium project in Western Australia, amid Chris Ellisons tax evasion probe.

"Australian pension fund HESTA sells stake in MinRes amid governance concerns" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.  The U.S. Department of Education's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced the withdrawal of an additional $450 million in federal grants to Harvard University, citing the institution's ongoing failure to address antisemitism on campus. The decision, detailed in a May 13, 2025, press release, escalates tensions between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school, which is already embroiled in a legal battle over $2.2 billion in previously frozen federal funding.

The task force's statement criticized Harvard for its inability to confront "pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus." This marks the latest action in a broader federal crackdown on universities accused of neglecting Jewish students' safety and rights. The task force, established to enforce civil rights laws, has targeted several institutions but singled out Harvard for its "repeated" shortcomings.

"Harvard University has repeatedly failed to confront the pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus," the task force stated. The statement emphasized that federal funding recipients must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.

Harvard's troubles intensified following campus protests after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked widespread allegations of antisemitism. The university's Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias, released in April 2025, acknowledged that Jewish and Israeli students faced "shunning" and hostility, with some pressured to denounce Israel to gain acceptance. Despite reforms, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and partnering with an Israeli university, critics argue Harvard's efforts fall short.

The task force's actions follow a pattern of federal intervention. In April, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in Harvard's research grants, prompting the university to file a lawsuit claiming the freeze violated its academic freedom. The latest $450 million cut, affecting grants for critical research, has raised concerns among faculty about the impact on scientific progress.

Harvard President Alan Garber, in a statement accompanying the task force reports, apologized for the campus climate and vowed to implement changes, including revising admissions policies to prioritize civil discourse and empathy. However, the Joint Task Force remains unconvinced, pointing to "systemic" issues in Harvard's governance and disciplinary systems.

The funding cuts have sparked debate over academic autonomy versus federal oversight. Harvard's lawsuit argues that the administration's demands, including defunding certain student groups and altering faculty hiring, infringe on its First Amendment rights. Meanwhile, supporters of the task force, including Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, accuse Harvard of tolerating bigotry. "Harvard's president said the school will not abide bigotry, yet that's exactly what the school's feckless leadership did," Walberg said.

Other universities, such as Columbia and Yale, have faced similar scrutiny, with Columbia losing $400 million in grants and Yale earning cautious praise for recent actions. The task force has urged all institutions to enforce anti-discrimination policies rigorously or risk further penalties.

Harvard's next steps remain uncertain as it navigates legal challenges and internal reforms. The university has pledged to strengthen its disciplinary systems and promote viewpoint diversity, but the task force's ongoing investigations signal that federal pressure will persist. For now, the loss of $450 million in grants underscores the high stakes of the clash between Harvard and the Trump administration.
May 13 2025

The retrofit of a prominent office building in Glasgow city centre as student housing is taking a more streamlined approach to the street corner with a planning revision.

3DReid Architects returned to the drawing board at 33 Bothwell Street following feedback for their January submission, with moves to rationalise the rooftop extension by removing a 'lantern' corner feature to simplify the facade.

In a statement, 3DReid told Urban Realm: "Following discussions with Glasgow City Council's planning department, we have re-visited the design to establish a simpler and more coherent appearance to the main building frontages.

"The set-back rooftop additions now continue the horizontal composition of the existing building with repetitive, vertical, bronze anodised aluminium framing to prevent solar gain and control visual clutter. The removal of the corner element significantly reduces the visual dominance of the rooftop additions.

"The existing regular rhythm of fenestration is re-instated generally to ribbon openings and at 5th floor, intermittent bays are re-instated to relate to the classical frieze and dentils of the neighbouring building on Wellington Street. In addition, a lighter bronze tone to the cladding is more discrete affording the existing stone banding more visual prominence."

The revised proposals have been filed for detailed planning consent.
Scott Shaw shows a sample of insects during a class expedition to the cloud forest of Ecuador. He is the 2025 recipient of UWs John P. Ellbogen Lifetime Teaching Award. (Nina Zitani Photo)

Longtime University of Wyoming faculty member Scott Shaw has achieved international distinction in the field of entomology, including seeing 16 insect species named for him and writing an acclaimed book, Planet of the Bugs: Evolution and the Rise of Insects, which tells how insects shaped life on Earth.

But it is Shaws work with students in classrooms, laboratories and the field that has earned him his latest honor from the university.

Shaw is the 2025 recipient of the John P. Ellbogen Lifetime Teaching Award, an accolade that recognizes the long, distinguished and exemplary career of one senior faculty member who has excelled as a teacher at UW.

Many people are good at teaching science; many scientists excel at doing research. The scientist that is a gifted researcher, an extraordinary teacher and frequently takes time out of his busy day to engage the public is rare. That defines Dr. Scott R. Shaw, wrote Western (Ontario) University faculty member Nina Zitani, one of his former students. Whether he is teaching in the classroom, the UW Insect Gallery or an outdoor classroom in the tropical rainforest, Dr. Shaw bridges the gap between science and the student.

Shaw, a professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, began teaching at UW in 1989 after helping manage Harvard Universitys Museum of Comparative Zoology insect collections for five years. His career in entomology has included more than 200 scientific publications; discovering and naming more than 200 insect species from 29 different countries; and creating and curating UWs Insect Gallery, which draws about 3,000 visitors annually.

His passion and enthusiasm for working with students, from third graders to graduate students, in Wyoming K-12 schools to the UW campus to the Andes of Ecuador, is truly extraordinary and distinguishes him as a professor who impacts Wyoming students and Wyomings university immensely, wrote Anne Alexander, assistant dean of UWs College of Business.

Shaw has taught a variety of courses during his 36 years at UW, ranging from Insect Biology to The Biodiversity Crisis to Cosmology of Life. He consistently receives positive evaluations from students.

While lecturing, Dr. Shaw found creative ways to make the subject of entomology fun, either through passing around items made from insect byproducts or by doing things like lecturing for an entire period with an insect puppet on his hand, wrote former student Judith Herreid, now a postdoctoral researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dr. Shaws dynamic teaching style, profound command of the subject matter and infectious sense of humor transformed each class session into an engaging and enriching experience that ensured student attendance, wrote another former student, Samin Dadelahi, president and CEO of the Wyoming Community Foundation.

Timothy Collier, head of UWs Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, says Shaw also emphasizes hands-on learning.

In the laboratory, he is known for patient guidance and a sense of humor, often testing students for extra credit and fun with insect chimeras consisting of the body parts of different insects, Collier wrote. Moreover, his long career of scholarship in entomology has produced an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge that Scott draws upon in all of his classes, laboratories and in mentorship of his students.

Shaw has mentored 21 graduate students and established an undergraduate honors course in tropical ecology that included opportunities to conduct research in the high-altitude cloud forest surrounding the Yanayacu Biological Station in Ecuador, where he has surveyed caterpillars and their associated parasitoid wasps and flies.

Shaw received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and his masters and doctorate at the University of Maryland-College Park.
Despite the challenges posed by ongoing global tariff and trade disputes, the panellists at the Bangladesh Denim Expo expressed confidence in Bangladesh's ongoing role as a key player in the global sourcing landscape.

The two-day event, which began on 12 May, has drawn 57 exhibitors from 13 different nations, including the host country, India, China, Germany, Turkiye, Pakistan, Spain, Italy, Vietnam, the UAE, Switzerland, and the US.

The expo featured panel sessions on topics such as "the growth of the Bangladesh denim industry through the perspective of denim washing" and "stretchability of Bangladesh denim traceability."

Industry experts, including Well of Washing director Abdus Samad, Ruhrose RBT co-founder and creative director Arief Labu and the Woolmark Company's processing innovation and education extension GM Julie Davies were among those sharing their insights at the event.

Bangladesh Denim Expo founder and CEO Mostafiz Uddin said the countrys apparel exports to the US increased by 26.64% in the first quarter of 2025, placing the nation at the forefront of apparel exporters to the US, surpassing India's 24.04% increase and outpacing Pakistan, Vietnam, and China which saw rises of 17.49%, 13.96%, and 4.18% respectively.

This growth comes at a time when the US market faces volatility due to recent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, he noted.

Uddin added: I think even on the negotiation table of the trade issues our card should be the industrys steady progress towards skill development, sustainability and innovation. As we need our trade partners as much as their consumers need us.

Bangladesh is also the largest denim exporter to both the US and Europe, with the country enjoying duty-free market access to the EU under the Everything But Arms (EBA) and Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) as a least developed country (LDC).

Under the GSP, vulnerable developing countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar, can import into the EU market without any taxes.

Bangladesh is set to transition to a developing nation next year and without attaining GSP Plus status by 2029, it could lose its duty-free export privileges to the EU, where it exported 50.15% of its apparel.

The expo featured a fashion trend-zone showcasing innovative denim fabrics and designs from Bangladesh's burgeoning industry.

Additionally, Square Denims garment unit operation head Mohammad Jahangir Alam held a special session on 'The denim business beside sewing and wash production.'
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China took thinly-veiled swipes at the United States and cast itself as the defender of the multilateral order on Tuesday, as it sought to deepen ties with Latin American and Caribbean leaders at a summit in Beijing.

Promising billions in development credit and increased cooperation, President Xi Jinping told the China-CELAC Forum -- without naming the United States -- that "bullying and hegemony will only lead to self-isolation".

Latin America has emerged as a key battleground in US President Donald Trump's confrontation with China, and the region is coming under pressure from Washington to choose a side.

Two-thirds of countries there have signed up to Beijing's Belt and Road (BRI) infrastructure drive, and China has surpassed the US as the biggest trading partner of Brazil, Peru, Chile and others.

A day after Washington and Beijing dialled down the trade war raging since Trump took office by drastically reducing mutual tariffs for 90 days, Xi cast Beijing as a defender of peace and stability.

"There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars," Xi said.

"Only through unity and cooperation can countries safeguard global peace and stability and promote worldwide development and prosperity," he said.

The Chinese leader pledged $9.2 billion in loans towards "development", part of a broad set of initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation, including on infrastructure and clean energy.

Beijing will also cooperate in counterterrorism and fighting transnational organised crime, Xi said, as well as enhancing exchanges such as scholarships and training programmes.

Under Monday's agreement announced in Geneva, the United States agreed to lower its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent while China will reduce its own to 10 percent.

The deal marked a major de-escalation between the world's two largest economies which threw global markets into turmoil.

But tensions remain; a 20-percent levy over Trump's complaints about Chinese exports of chemicals used to make fentanyl -- an opioid drug that has killed thousands of Americans -- remains in force.

Beijing's foreign ministry demanded on Tuesday that the US "stop smearing and shifting blame" for the opioids crisis.

- 'Might makes right' -

Also without naming the United States, Xi's top diplomat made clear Beijing's displeasure with Washington as well.

Speaking alongside Latin American counterparts, Wang Yi condemned a "major power" being "obsessed with the idea that might makes right".

He urged Latin American nations to "join hands" with China to defend their rights against a country that is "using tariffs as a weapon to bully other countries".

Wang later called the meeting a "great success" in a press conference and added that the combined "super-large market of two billion people" between China and Latin America would provide new engines for growth for both sides.

Among notable attendees at the forum was Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a five-day state visit.

Addressing the delegates, Lula said his region did not "want to repeat history and start a new Cold War".

"Our goal is to be an asset to the multilateral order for a global good, and to be duly represented," he explained.

In talks with his Brazilian counterpart later Tuesday, Xi said the two countries should "strengthen cooperation" and together "oppose unilateralism", according to a Chinese state media readout.

The two countries issued a joint statement saying they "welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to start peace talks" with Ukraine, calling direct dialogue "the only way to end the conflict", Chinese state news agency Xinhua said.

Also present at the forum was Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who called for "dialogue between civilisations" that took into account the interests of the region.

Petro has said he intends to sign an accord to join Beijing's trillion-dollar BRI during his visit.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric also told the forum that his country would take a "leap forward in economic relations with China".

bur-mya/tc
A high-profile left-wing influencer and political commentator said Monday he was detained for hours by US border officials and interrogated about his political views.

US citizen Hasan Piker -- who has millions of followers on YouTube, Twitch and X, and been outspoken in his criticism of Israel -- says he was held at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for over two hours on Sunday.

He spoke out as the administration of President Donald Trump is facing growing criticism over claims of punitive action taken by federal agents against US citizens and legal residents for merely voicing progressive opinions.

Pike said his exchanges with officials were largely cordial but an officer asked his views on Trump and whether he has been in contact with militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

"He's like, 'Do you talk about Trump?' And that was the first time where I was like, 'What is this question?'" Piker said on a video posted to his YouTube account.

"I literally straight up told him. I was like, 'Why are you asking me this... what does this have to do with anything?'"

Piker says he told the official: "I don't like Trump. Like, what are you going to do? It's protected by the First Amendment."

The Turkish-American 33-year-old was born in New Jersey, and has hosted US Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on his platform in the past.

Department of Homeland Security official Tricia McLaughlin responded Monday denying that Piker's political beliefs triggered the secondary screening, according to media reports.

"Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection -- a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released," McLaughlin told US media.

Piker maintains that his online content has never broken the law and only engaged in speech protected by the US Constitution.

"The reason for why they're doing that is, I think, to try to create an environment of fear, to try to get people like myself -- or at least like others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security -- to shut... up," he added.

Advocacy group Defending Rights & Dissent said it was "deeply disturbed" by the notion of border officials stopping political commentators to interrogate them about constitutionally-protected speech.

"Such an abuse of power is an affront to press freedom," it said.

ft/sla/mlm
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Image source: Getty Images.

Joby Aviation can put a charge in your portfolio

Scott Levine (Joby Aviation): It's not often that the opportunity to invest in a nascent industry arises, but this is exactly the case with Joby Aviation. Reimagining how people travel in urban areas, Joby is developing innovative electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that the company will use to provide air taxi service.



Bringing a new type of aircraft to market is a heavy lift, but the company continues to make steady progress toward achieving the requisite Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications. And last month, the company conducted its first piloted flight that included a transition from vertical takeoff to cruise flight and back to vertical.

Lauding its accomplishment, Joby characterized itself as "the first company to routinely perform inhabited testing of an electric air taxi from hover to wingborne flight."

While it works toward FAA certification, Joby is making progress in other areas as well. For one, the company is expanding its factory in California to provide pilot training and better aircraft maintenance, which will serve it well when commercial operations begin.

And it is inking agreements with partners. Last quarter, management announced a partnership with Virgin Atlantic to provide air taxi service at the company's British hubs at London Heathrow and Manchester airports.

Sure, there's a fair degree of risk with Joby since it's in the pre-revenue phase of its development, but investors who are not risk-averse have a great opportunity now with the stock down about 18% since the start of the year.

Southwest has a clearer path to success

Lou Whiteman (Southwest Airlines): First, full disclosure: I currently own shares of Joby, and not Southwest. But those Joby shares were bought at a lower price than where they trade today. I'm optimistic about the long-term potential for eVTOLs, but for most investors, Southwest is the better buy today.
The main obstacle Donald Trump faces in his peace negotiations, both with Iran and Ukraine, is the role of the "revisionist Zionists" now in power in Israel. [1] Two weeks ago, I presented in detail and with supporting evidence the pressure they are exerting on Washington to derail the talks with Tehran [2]. I did not address in my column on Voltairenet.org their pressure on behalf of the Ukrainian "integral nationalists" [3], which only became public on May 3, with Natan Sharanskys emphatic statements in support of Volodymyr Zelensky [4]. I have already explained why and how these two groups formed an alliance in 1921 against the Bolsheviks and many Ukrainian Jews, which led to an investigation by the World Zionist Organization and the resignation of Vladimir Jabotinsky from its board of directors. This affair is today underestimated by Jewish historians who are reluctant to study the massacre of Jews by other Jews. There are, however, exceptions such as the work of Grzegorz Rossolinski-Liebe [5]. Sharansky himself prevents historians from studying the subject by presiding over the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Center (the shooting of 33,771 Jews on September 29 and 30, 1941) by the Einsatzgruppen and the "integral nationalists" two weeks after Stepan Banderas transfer from Kyiv to Berlin.

And lets not forget the contacts of the "revisionist Zionists" with Adolf Eichmann until the fall of Berlin by the Red Army on May 2, 1945 [6].

While the then Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, had, at the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, called on Volodymyr Zelensky to recognize Moscows just demands to "denazify Ukraine," and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz had declared that, while he was alive, Israel would never give weapons to the "massacres of Ukrainian Jews," the current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, authorized the Israeli arms industry to export its production to Ukraine.

In 2022, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared: "What if Zelensky was Jewish? This fact does not negate the Nazi elements in Ukraine. I believe Hitler also had Jewish blood. That means absolutely nothing." The Jewish people, in their wisdom, have said that the most ardent anti-Semites are generally Jews. Every family has its black sheep, as they say." Yair Lapid then replied: "These remarks are both unforgivable and scandalous, but also a terrible historical error. Jews did not kill each other during the Holocaust. The lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse Jews themselves of anti-Semitism." Lets make no mistake: History is not made up of good or evil communities, but of individuals who, each of them, can behave in different ways. Lets open our eyes!

Lets get back to our topic. Donald Trump is president of the United States; a country whose founding myth claims that it was founded by the "Pilgrim Fathers," who fled the "pharaoh" of England, crossed the Atlantic as the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea, and established a colony in Plymouth, just as the Hebrews founded the "Promised Land." All Americans celebrate this myth on Thanksgiving Day. Every president of the United States, without exception, from George Washington to Donald Trump himself, has referred to it in their official speeches. The alliance between Washington and Tel Aviv is therefore not debatable. It turns out that the United States, this country where sects proliferate, which celebrates freedom of religion but not freedom of conscience and denounces, without understanding it, French secularism, has a "Christian Zionist" movement. These are Christians who equate biblical Israel with the modern State of Israel. However, this movement voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, and he is indebted. Once he became president, he appointed Pastor Paula Blanche (also linked to the "Japanese imperialists") as director of the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative.

In any case, if no one in the United States can question the alliance with Israel, this in no way implies support for the "revisionist Zionists" now in power in Tel Aviv.

Slowly, President Donald Trump is disassociating Israel from Benjamin Netanyahu. Receiving him at the White House while he was the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, he had his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, proclaim that his administration was the most pro-Israeli in history. In doing so, he firmly opposed Netanyahus plan to disrupt the peace agreement signed with Hamas and, instead, to military occupy of the Gaza Strip. He went so far as to claim that the US (not Israeli) armies would take "control" of this territory. Noting that his provocations are having no effect on Tel Aviv, President Donald Trump has just taken a decisive step: without warning his Israeli ally, he negotiated a separate peace with Ansar Allah at the very moment that Yemeni movement was bombing Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport.

Reestablishing the division between North and South Yemen, Ansar Allah, led by the Houthi family (hence its pejorative Western nickname, "Houthi gang" or "Houthis"), managed to end the war with the help of Iran, then to rescue Palestinian civilians by bombing Israeli or Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea. The United Nations Security Council never condemned these attacks, only the disruption of the freedom of navigation of ships unrelated to the Gaza conflict. Contemptuous of the United Nations, the United States and the United Kingdom first created a military coalition to respond to Ansar Allah and rescue the Israelis during the massacre of Gazan civilians. They targeted military targets without significant results (all Yemeni military targets being buried underground), then they targeted political figures, collaterally killing many civilians.

The Anglo-Saxons continued to accuse Iran of militarily supporting Ansar Allah, portraying Tehran as a player in the current war. However, General Qassem Soleimani (assassinated on Donald Trumps orders on January 3, 2020) had helped Ansar Allah reorganize so that it could manufacture its own weapons and continue its war without Iranian help. Although Iran has repeatedly stated that it is no longer involved in Yemen, the Anglo-Saxons still consider Ansar Allah to be a "proxy" for Iran, which is now completely false.

It is now important to understand how Donald Trump views conflicts in the "Broader Middle East." He intends to forcefully compel the groups waging wars, whether they are right or wrong in these conflicts, to cease their military operations. But he does not want to go to war against either group. Then, he hopes to negotiate compromises to establish just and lasting peace. He therefore had General Qassem Soleimani assassinated in 2020, just after having the caliph of Daesh, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, assassinated. He authorized operations against Ansar Allah and has just ended them when he realized that it was not a terrorist group, but a legitimate political power administering a yet-to-be-recognized state. He authorized arms deliveries to Israel during the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, but began supporting the peace movement within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), so that today the "revisionist Zionists" no longer have the means to massacre Gazans and are retreating from their siege aimed at starving them.

The separate agreement reached with Ansar Allah must therefore be assessed as a break from Washingtons alignment with Tel Aviv and a step toward the agreement with Tehran. When, in mid-March, Tel Aviv perceived the possible US withdrawalit had not envisaged a separate peaceit once again escalated its stance and attacked Yemen 131 times.

The US-Israeli Ron Dermer, a close friend of Natan Sharansky with whom he wrote a book, became Israels ambassador to Washington and is now Minister of Strategic Affairs. As such, he is primarily responsible for the plans to annex Gaza and massacre the civilian population. Reacting to the separate US-Yemen peace agreement, this revisionist Zionist visited the White House on May 8, where he was received "in a private capacity" by Donald Trump [7]. The encounter went very badly: he tried to tell President Trump what to do. The latter immediately put him in his place.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote the following day, on May 9: "I have no doubt that, generally speaking, the Israeli people continue to regard themselves as an unwavering ally of the American peopleand vice versa. But this ultranationalist, messianic Israeli government is not an ally of the United States [] We can continue to ignore the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Stripmore than 52,000, including approximately 18,000 childrenquestion the credibility of the figures, and resort to every mechanism of repression, denial, apathy, distancing, normalization, and justification. None of this will change the bitter fact: they killed them. Our hands did it. We must not close our eyes. We must wake up and shout loud and clear: stop the war. [8]

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar this week, but will not meet with Benjamin Netanyahu. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also canceled a planned trip to Israel at the same time, reinforcing the presidents message. Reuters revealed on May 8 that Washington, in negotiating with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was no longer making recognition of Israel a precondition for any deal. [9] If confirmed, this would mean that to recognize that the Jewish state has become a racist Jewish state would no longer be a crime in the West.

In early March, it was announced that President Donald Trump had authorized Adam Boehler, his negotiator for the release of the American hostages, to establish direct contact with Hamas, which is still officially considered a "terrorist organization". On May 12, this change of attitude was rewarded with the announcement of the release of the American-Israeli, Edan Alexander, kidnapped while carrying weapons, on October 7, 2023. Moreover, in early May, rumors of a possible recognition by the United States of the State of Palestine during Donald Trumps trip to Riyadh spread like wildfire.
Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

Do we need another streaming service? The Murdoch clan seem to think so. This fall, the Fox Corporation is launching its own version of Max in a new streamer its calling Fox One  a roll-up of programming from all the Foxes: the broadcast network, News, Business, Weather, Sports, FS1, FS2, BTN, Deportes, and its various local stations. Existing subscribers to this new service will also have the option to bundle the Fox Nation with it in the name of good old Murican synergy.

Fox is timing its launch ahead of football season to capture the eyeballs of NFL and college sports fans. Its been in the works for some time now; Fox teased plans in February to debut its own service after the planned sports streaming bundle Venu officially collapsed in January.

So now we know the timing and this new streamers name. (Plus signs crushed! Thank you Google One and Apple One for your leadership.) We also know itll have some mix of live and video on-demand content in a cohesive experience, per Fox. Its even got a logo: the word Fox and the word One stamped next to each other in sequence. But the announcement left us with a few more unanswered questions for the Fox Corporation. The company is mostly keeping quiet on the details but has offered some hints as to their answers.

How much will Fox One cost?

Its still TBD, but CEO Lachlan Murdoch explained on Foxs quarterly earnings call today that Pricing will be healthy and not a discounted price. He said on the call that he doesnt want it to undercut cable deals or lose existing pay-TV customers to the streaming service. If you get Fox through cable, however, youll be able to access Fox One for free, Murdoch said: We do not want to lose a traditional cable subscriber to Fox One. So for now, dont think of this as a streaming platform so much as a way Fox will offer Fox stuff to noncable subscribers a la carte. By comparison, CNBC+ does the same thing for CNBC, and goes for $15 a month as a standalone. Wed be shocked if Fox One is priced anywhere in the single digits.

The logo. Photo: Fox

Which Fox stuff will actually be on the service?

The company said the full portfolio of FOX brands, the channels we mentioned in the first paragraph. But specifics are up in the air right now, and the full mix of programming has yet to be announced. Variety reported earlier this year that Murdochs expectations for the streamer were modest and that it would package existing content and existing brands, so given that this is intended as a post-cable funnel, theres no reason to expect splashy originals like you might see on Hulu or Netflix.

What about the stuff we think of as Fox shows but actually  arent?

Shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bobs Burgers all fall into this category. So do older shows like Arrested Development and Bones and House and Glee and The O.C. and  damn, Fox has had some great TV over the years. While some of them may show up in live feeds or on-demand on Fox One, licensing them at scale would be expensive. The overwhelming majority of primetime or otherwise iconic shows arent actually owned by Fox but by Disney, Sony, or other producers. And again, since Fox isnt looking to build its own Hulu or Netflix, it doesnt sound like that stuff will be a priority based on what Murdoch has indicated.

What will the live feeds look like?

Will Fox One carry the live Fox broadcast-network feed, or will it carry all the local channels  Fox 5 New York, Fox 11 Los Angeles, Fox 32 Chicago, and so forth? Though Fox has indicated that programming from those local stations will appear on Fox One, presumably a string of local affiliate deals have to be negotiated as part of that effort. And if you can livestream programming on, say, Fox 5, can you also stream those same shows on demand? Well have to wait for the answers to all of these questions, and to decide whether or not this service will be worth paying for in the end.
According to Wedbush Securities global head of technology research Dan Ives, Innovations around AI are growing at 100 miles per hour while regulatory pressure is only growing at 35 miles an hour.

Continued investments in AI should be expected as companies look to strengthen their product and services portfolio while also strengthening their competitive edge. There have been concerns that heightened regulations and authorities placing guardrails could derail innovations around artificial intelligence. However, that appears not to be the case.

According to AMD CEO Lisa Su, ordering patterns around everything AI remains strong, signaling people and companies are not making short-term decisions. Initially, there were concerns that companies pursuing opportunities around AI had spent far too much and too quickly to build out infrastructure and would need to go slow. Consequently, tech giants whose valuations had skyrocketed to record highs pulled back significantly as investors remained wary of their long-term outlook amid an uncertain macroeconomic environment that is crumbling amid a ferocious trade war and export controls.

Fast forward, tech giants signaling they will continue to invest in AI and cloud infrastructure is a tailwind that continues to reiterate sentiments around AI stocks. Companies ramping up investments to address capacity constraints in their cloud unit, as others ramp investments in AI-powered servers and data center assets, are a positive for the overall sector.

At the beginning of the year, investors became worried that the AI surge might collapse in the aftermath of the Chinese company DeepSeek creating a sophisticated large language model that needed less energy and funding. The news from DeepSeek caused a significant change in market sentiment and led to a decline in AI stocks that had experienced substantial increases for most of the year.

Fears of an artificial intelligence bubble bursting appear overblown. Thats the sentiment echoed on Wall Street in the aftermath of tech giants delivering better-than-expected quarterly results and reiterating investments in AI infrastructure. Increased investments in AI Infrastructure and other solutions have once again affirmed sentiments in the burgeoning segment that was the catalyst behind US markets powering to record levels last year.

We recently published a list of 13 Best AI Stocks to Buy Under $10 . In this article, we are going to take a look at where BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) stands against other best AI stocks to buy under $10.

Story Continues

According to Ives no amount of regulation is going to change the heightened amount of spending around AI. The use cases are exploding and no amount of regulation is going to change it said Ives in an interview with CNBC. Ives added:

In terms of use cases, US commercial businesses are exploding. Right now we have 85 use cases, a year ago we had 10. I think what we are starting to see is more and more that it is across verticals healthcare financials government and retail among others.

The fact that executives from some of the biggest tech giants have denied they are cutting back spending on servers and data makes the case for why investors should pay attention to some of the AI stocks trading at highly discounted valuations.

Our Methodology

We sifted through Finviz and financial media reports to compile a list of top AI stocks trading below $10. We then selected the 13 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q4 2024. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkeys database, which tracks the moves of over 900 elite money managers.

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 BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) the Best AI Stock to Buy Under $10?

A closeup of a computer server rack surrounded by a CAT5 network of cables.

Stock Price as of May 12: $3.16

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) is a technology company that offers artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It also helps organizations operationalize AI by analyzing complex data and providing actionable insights in national security, supply chain management, and digital identity. Likewise, it is one of the best AI stocks to buy, with solid financial results that underscore underlying growth.

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) delivered solid first-quarter results with a 5% revenue growth of $34.8 million. In addition, its net loss shrank by more than half to $62 million compared to a net loss of $127.8 million delivered the same quarter last year. The better-than-expected results come from BigBear.ai Holdings solutions, resonating well with the sectors for which they were built.

For starters, BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) has inked a strategic partnership with Hardy Dynamics to integrate AI and machine learning into a drone swarm for the US Army. The army-funded project signals strong interest in the companys ConductorOS platform, which enables secure AI-powered coordination among unmanned aerial systems. Therefore, it places the company at the forefront of AI integrations in military operations, which is expected to unlock new growth opportunities. However, on May 2, Cantor Fitzgerald cut BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.s (NYSE:BBAI) price target from $6.00 to $5.00 but kept an Overweight rating, citing macroeconomic concerns.

Overall, BBAI ranks 10th on our list of best AI stocks to buy under $10. While we acknowledge the potential of BBAI as an investment, 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 BBAI 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.
Michael Bolton

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported that 10 enforcement orders were issued to food businesses across the country in April, with eight closure orders issued.

The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Two closure orders under the Fsai Act 1998 were issued to Greenville Deli in Monkstown, Co Dublin, and  Sirmone Limited T/A Soul Bakery in Ballymount industrial estate in Dublin.

Six Closure Orders were served under the European Union Regulations to The City Arms Gastro Bar/ Bistro bar in 50 High Street in Co Waterford, the Tasty takeaway in Charleville, Co Limerick, and the Namaste Indian Cuisine in Smithfield, Co Dublin.

Closure orders were also issued to Bojon Spices in Dunboyne, Co Meath, the Barne Lodge in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and the Rio Latte Bar in Prussia Street, Dublin 7.

Two improvement orders were issued to the Sancta Maria Nursing Home in Kinnegad, Co Meath, and Sligo Spice.

Some of the reasons for the Enforcement Orders included multiple mouse droppings in the premises, including in a cupboard, under a sink and wash hand basin used for storing cleaning equipment.

Lack of evidence to support use-by dates on defrosted food, no hot water or designated hand wash basin in the food preparation area, visible dirt and grease on cooking equipment, and customer toilets not been cleaned were also among the reasons.

Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, warned that there is an obligation for food businesses to act responsibly and ensure the food they provide to their customers is safe to eat.

Food businesses owe it to their customers that the food they are selling is safe to eat. Not only is it the right thing to do, its also a legal requirement under food law. Consumers have a right to trust that the food they buy is safe to eat and that it complies with all relevant food safety legislation.

"The findings that led to these Enforcement Orders highlight an unacceptable disregard for basic food safety and hygiene practices. These are preventable issues, and there are simply no excuses for failing to comply with the law.

"Food businesses must remain vigilant, ensuring regular checks, effective pest control, and thoroughly cleaned well-maintained premises to protect their customers health and uphold consumer trust in the food chain.
Waterford Gardai have opened a book of condolence in honour of Garda Kevin Flatley who died while on duty on Sunday, May 11.

In an online post Waterford Gardai stated "In honour of our friend and colleague Garda Kevin Flatley, who tragically died in the line of duty yesterday, we have opened a book of condolences in the Public Office of Garda Stations across the country."

"Members of the public are invited to sign the book of condolences at Waterford Garda Station," they added.

The local Gardai also thanked everyone for their messages of condolence both in person to the station and also to their social media Facebook page in the immediate aftermath of the incident that claimed the life of the popular Garda, stating: "We would also like to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of condolences in person, and to this page in the last 24 hours. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam."
Charging homeless people for Out-of-Hours beds would be a catastrophe, says Waterford Helping the Homeless.

The group was responding to a report by the Waterford News & Star last week that Waterford City and County Council were reviewing their policy on free access to out-of-hours beds at McGwire House.

Following the publication of the report, the News & Star spoke to Waterford Helping the Homeless co-founder Susie Moran, who said being homeless is expensive enough.

We are here seven days a week, 365 days a year. We have never charged for anything. We dont expect them to, and they have the best of stuff here.

"But we certainly dont charge them because we are trying to help them, said Susie.

We asked a service user at the unit what they thought of the idea, and they said that they would not mind paying a small fee, like 10 a night, if it guaranteed them a bed for the night.

But, they said, beds are not guaranteed at the hostel, leaving homeless people in a constant state of uncertainty throughout the day.

Volunteers and service users at Waterford Helping the Homeless stress that nothing they say is about criticising other services or public representatives. But, homeless people in Waterford are in crisis and need everyone to work together.

IMPROVEMENTS BUT ISSUES REMAIN

Last week's report was a follow-up to a piece published by the paper in February titled 'Real People: This is what it looks like to be homeless in Waterford City'.

In that piece, volunteers and service users expressed concerns about conditions at McGwire House.

Since the original report's publication, service users have reported some improvements at the hostel.

Susie said that those staying at the hostel report that they can now use the showers, and general hygiene issues around bedding and facilities have improved.

Now, the hygiene seems to have improved. Yeah, thank God because the lads had fresh linen on their beds and there was someone cleaning the showers, which is brilliant. I havent heard any complaints since, which is a good sign. So that in and of itself was worth more than anything, said Susie.

One service user we spoke to confirmed this but said access to cooking facilities has been restricted.

The Waterford News & Star asked Depaul if this was the case.

In response, Depaul confirmed that kitchen service is restricted for those accessing Out-of-Hours beds.

A spokesperson for Depaul said:

"We provide a bed, some basic keyworking, and a small breakfast (there is no charge for this service) as agreed with the Local Authority."

Susie also told us that access to beds has not improved.

Even up to yesterday, lads were refused access due to some of the rooms closed off or downsizing or whatever they are doing, I dont know. The lads are not sure either. Only that there was no access."

The Waterford News & Star understands that the cold-weather room is currently closed.

This room has two beds and is currently vacant.

This paper reached out to Waterford City and County Council and in response they said they provide 39 beds at the hostel and eight out-of-hours beds.

Depaul provides eight '9 to 9' beds.

A further three beds are provided by the council under the Severe Weather Protocol, which is in operation from November 1 to April 30.

The council said: "Throughout this period, the Outreach Team from Waterford Integrated Homeless Services is in regular contact with any known rough sleepers to advise them of impending weather alerts/freezing temperatures and remind them of the shelter arrangements, which they can avail of."

The News & Star was told that to access out-of-hours and 9 to 9 services, homeless people must put their names down at the hostel at 8pm.

If they are not there, they will not get a bed for the night.

They must then wait until 9pm, outside, on the street, to hear if they have somewhere to sleep for the night.

This uncertainty was one of the biggest issues for the homeless people we spoke to.

In our last report, the Waterford News & Star revealed that the council reviews health, safety and compliance issues annually at McGwire House.

Susie also welcomed this.

Running a place like that with these men and women, they have to be on the ball 100%. They cant leave anything slide. These are peoples lives they are dealing with. And vulnerable people, so yeah, Im glad they are now reviewing it. Maybe they are doing more now than they ever did, which to me is a win-win, said Susie.

One of the main issues that remains is a lack of visits by elected representatives.

Be it councillors, TDs, or the Mayor himself, Susie said the group would like a visit from the people elected to represent them.

She told us that the Mayor was due to visit in late January, but did not, and no official cancellation was received.

Attempts to contact him have since failed, leaving Waterford Helping the Homeless and their service users feeling forgotten and let down.

So I have no faith in our Mayor. Im just an ordinary Joe Soap, a normal person, and Im trying to do my best for the homeless in Waterford, as are the team here. And if the Mayor cannot even acknowledge a phone call, then that is a big red flag to me regarding homeless people and issues that they have and want to address with him, said Susie.

The Waterford News & Star reached out to Mayor of Waterford Jason Murphy, but no response was received at the time of publication.

A CHALLENGE FOR EVERY SEASON

When last we spoke, Susie, volunteers and service users told the News & Star that some of the challenges of sleeping on the street included waking up frozen over and trench foot.

But, as the weather improves, new challenges emerge for those walking the streets every day.

The unit has seen a rise in sunburn, and service users struggle to afford water and soft drinks to stay hydrated.

A person walking the streets all day still must carry all their belongings, and this is not sustainable in warm weather. A service user at the unit told us that while toast, snacks and tea are provided to those using the out-of-hours service, meals are not provided.

Homeless people must provide their own meals even if they do not have access to proper cooking facilities, which only adds to the expense.

At the bottom of the Depaul website, there is a notice that a donation of 50 will provide a bed and a bowl of soup for a homeless person for two nights.

Waterford Helping the Homeless is asking the public for donations of sun cream, socks and soft drinks.

Alternatively, you can make a donation on their GoFundMe page.

Susie, the volunteers and the service users thank the public for their continued support.

And, just to thank the public. They are the ones doing this. We are just the volunteers. Thats the biggest thing for us to thank them, said Susie.

WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS?

Out-of-Hours and 9 to 9 are not the only services at McGwire House.

Some residents can stay for an extended period of time.

For this, the Waterford News & Star understands residents pay 80 a week.

But, volunteers and service users at Waterford Helping the Homeless say they dont know who makes the decision for someone to stay.

Volunteer Alan says there are times when someone in the 9 to 9 service must stay for the good of their health.

People have to leave the pods at 9am and then are not left in until 9pm, so if you get somebody who is sick, has the flu or something like that, and the weather, they have to find some way to get through them hours until they are let in again and if they dont get in then they are left out another night, said Alan.

In response to our query, Depaul says access to both residential and the Out-of-Hours service is by referral from the council.

Vacant beds, they said, are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

LIFE IN LIMBO

Homelessness comes with a huge amount of stigma.

People who find themselves queuing for a bed outside McGwire House have families and friends and lives before their current circumstances.

Susie points out that those with children may be unable to see them because they have nowhere to take them.

Alan said there is no provision in the homeless services for mental health, and while mental health is a crisis nationwide, being homeless is associated with many conditions, such as depression and addiction.

For them, its just a system in and out. There should be a better foundation for mental health in this country. Especially for people in a homeless situation," said Alan.

Waterford Helping the Homeless feel that, with the help of the council, they could establish a small facility where homeless people could sleep.

Given the premises, they would man the new unit as they do their current base, and this would take the pressure off the existing services.

We would have pull-out beds, stretcher beds and do fundraising to make sure we had what we needed and then the lads would never be on the street, said Susie.

Waterford City and County Council say they are not in a position to support Waterford Helping the Homeless as they are not registered as a charity with the national Charities Register of Ireland.
President Trump is touting new Saudi Arabia investments as part of his Middle East trip, but one top Wall Street CEO who followed him to the Gulf Tuesday said the uncertainty surrounding trade still has Western investors sitting on trillions in cash.

"There is 12 trillion euros sitting in bank accounts in Europe. In the United States, there's $11 trillion sitting in money market funds," BlackRock (BLK) CEO Larry Fink told delegates at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday.

"When there is uncertainty, you are going to keep more and more money in cash, and that is what we witnessed," Fink added.

His comments came after the US and China announced a 90-day trade truce that includes significantly lower tariffs from both countries, a development that cheered markets and eased some anxiety about the path ahead.

U.S. President Donald Trump talks with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in Washington, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque  REUTERS / Reuters

Fink said the clarity investors need is coming probably sooner than we thought, maybe two, three weeks ago," but how global trade is now going to work is still far from decided and many investors will wait for this equilibrium before reallocating from cash.

His hope is that once investors are ready to hop back into the markets, they will chose to allocate more of their funds into private markets, a deepening business for his firm, BlackRock.

"Yes, we're going to have volatility in the next 90 days, but the big thing that I'll be watching: Are we going to be able to see in every economy the opportunity for more active private investments," Fink said.

The car carrying U.S. President Donald Trump is pictured between Saudi honor guards on horses carrying U.S. and Saudi flags, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Photo: Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS  via REUTERS / Reuters

Other CEOs who were present acknowledged Finks point on uncertainty.

Citigroup (C) CEO Jane Fraser expressed some optimism about those unknowns, saying, Volatility is the opportunity for those who get on the front foot and seize the moment.

The trading operations at Wall Street banks are expected to benefit throughout the turmoil as clients seek to adjust to the latest shifts in US tariffs.

On Tuesday in Riyadh, Fink, Fraser, and Blackstone (BX) CEO Stephen Schwarzman are joining Trump for a lunch along with Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, other US and Saudi officials, and a host of other big US executives, according to a list provided by the White House to the New York Times.

The White House on Tuesday said that Donald Trump secured $600 billion in investment commitments during the summit in Saudi Arabia. US chip giant Nvidia (NVDA) also announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance.

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The Presentation Secondary School in Waterford has a very special visitor recently when the Irish Ambassador to the Philippines, Emma Hickey, stopped by.

The visit was part of the Department of Foreign Affairs Global Schools Project 2025.

The visit occurred on Friday, May 9, and a spokesperson for the school told waterford-news.ie and Waterford News & Star that the through the programme heads of Ireland's diplomatic missions visited 33 schools across the country to give an insight into the work undertaken by Ireland's embassies and consulates worldwide.

It was also a homecoming visit for Ms Hartley who is a native of Waterford.

Ambassador Hickey is pictured with 5th-year students following the talk.

She outlined to the 5th Year students her journey to the position of ambassador.

With a background in law, she joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and has worked in Egypt, Afghanistan, and Palestine.

Ms Hartley is also the first woman to be appointed as Ambassador to the Philippines.

Students also learned about the important work carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and how Ireland has a respected global presence in trade, aid, and diplomacy.

They were also given the opportunity to ask the Ambassador questions about her life, work as a diplomat and work at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Hickey speaking to 5th-year students.

"As the first school in Waterford to introduce Politics and Society for the Leaving Certificate, the opportunity to discuss global issues with those working directly in government agencies is wholly beneficial to the student's learning and understanding of the real-life application of their learning in the subject," said the school spokesperson.

"This experience has left a lasting impression on the students, with many now considering a career in diplomacy," she added.
A minute silence was observed at a court sitting in Waterford as a mark of respect to the late Garda Kevin Hartley who was killed while on active duty.

Judge Eugene O'Kelly, while presiding over a sitting of Waterford Circuit Criminal Court, asked that a minute silence be observed in honour of Garda Hartley who was killed after being struck by a motorcycle while carrying out a routine speed check on Sunday, May 11.

When Judge O'Kelly made the request everyone in the court room stood up to observe the minute silence.

Tributes have been paid to Garda Hartley in the wake of his untimely death of the popular 49-year-old father-of-two.

The late Garda Kevin Flatley who was killed while on duty on Sunday. Pic: An Garda Siochana Waterford Facebook.

A book of condolence has also been opened in Waterford Garda Station for members of the public to pay their respects.
A father and his sons have been found not guilty of committing a violent public order offence after a trial in Waterford.

Patrick Duggan, and his sons Sean and Matthew Whiteley, were found not guilty after a two-day trial at Waterford Circuit Court.

They were originally charged with committing an offence contrary to Section 15 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. The incident occurred at Dungarvan Shopping Centre on the morning of November 15, 2023. Defence barrister Mark O'Hagan BL represented Matthew Whiteley, Paul W. Hutchinson BL represented Mr Duggan and Gareth Hayden BL represented Sean Whiteley.

CCTV footage from the shopping centre showed the three men walking into the building. Two figures, later revealed to be a mother and her adult son, followed the men into the centre. The son was carrying a whip meant for horses.

Footage showed the woman and man appearing to make comments from behind the defendants. At one point, Mr Duggan is seen moving towards the pair and saying something back, but then continuing to walk onwards.

CCTV captured another man rushing in to confront Mr Duggan. The man, later identified as John Harty (53), of Shandon Halting Site, Dungarvan, headbutted and punched Mr Duggan in the head. The assault prompted Sean and Matthew Whitely to intervene physically. (Harty previously pleaded guilty to a similar charge of public order.)

The men can be seen engaged in a physical altercation next to the large decorative Christmas tree in the centre foyer. The skirmish lasted under a few minutes.

On the footage, Mr Duggan could be seen with blood on his face. Gardai were alerted and quickly attended the scene but the involved parties had already left the premises.

The defendants were detained by Gardai a few days after the incident, and declined to make voluntary statements.

Gardai were able to identify the defendants through security footage. A Garda witness told the Court that the parties were engaged in a 'family feud'.

Legitimate force

State Prosecutor Conor ODoherty asked the jury to consider whether the three defendants applied a legitimate use of force.

"Its the prosecutions case when you look at Patrick, Sean and Matthew, they are engaging at various stages in unlawful violence, he said to the panel.

Defence Counsel for Patrick Duggan, Paul W Hutchinson BL, said that Duggans body language was not offensive or aggressive during the ordeal, and that he attempted to de-escalate rather than escalate.

"Its my submission that Mr. Duggan wasnt going out looking for a fight, he told the court.

Defence counsel for Matthew Whitely and Sean Whiteley, Mark D OHagan BL and Gareth Hayden BL, both said that their clients were protecting their father from a violent assault.

Mr. OHagan asked the jury what they would have done "if it was your father on that November morning?" He also said that the two sons reacted as humans.

Mr. Hayden said it was a case that was "crying out" for common sense to be applied from the jury.

"This isnt somebody out for a row, Mr. Hayden said of Shaun Whiteley.

Verdict

After several hours of deliberation, the jury of six men and six women returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty for each defendant. John Harty will be sentenced later this month.
Pat Flynn

A search and rescue operation was mounted off the west Clare coast this afternoon after a young female paddleboarder got into difficulty.

Emergency services were alerted at around 4:30pm when it was reported that a young female paddleboarder was unable to return to shore at White Strand, Miltown Malbay because of strong winds which were dragging her out to sea.

Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guards marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry promptly mounted a multi-agency search and rescue operation.

The Doolin unit of the Coast Guard was alerted while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also dispatched to the scene. Rescue 115 had been training on the Aran Islands when the crew was alerted and tasked. The helicopter reached the scene at White Strand in less than 10 minutes.

It is understood that the young girls father had tried to swim out to help her but was unable to reach her. He is believed to have gotten 'a good distance out' but according to one emergency services worker, 'she kept getting pulled out by the wind.' It's believe she was caught by an offshore breeze.

Two members of the public then entered the water and helped bring the father and daughter ashore.

Rescue 115 arrived at the scene at around the same time and landed nearby. The helicopter's paramedic assessed the girl and who was later handed into the care of the HSEs National Ambulance Service.

Just as Doolin Coast Guard team was about to launch its rescue boat, they were notified that the paddleboarder had been located and were stood down.

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service swift water rescue technicians (SRTs) were mobilised from Ennis station.

It is understood that crews attached to the nearest station at Ennistymon were attending another incident at the time and were unable to respond to the White Strand.

Clare Civil Defence also mobilised volunteers to the incident to assist in the operation but were also stood down when it was confirmed the casualty had been located.
Buyers of US President Donald Trumps $USTRUMP meme coin spent an estimated $US148 million ($232 million) in the contest to win the opportunity to dine with the president at his private golf club outside Washington on May 22, according to crypto intelligence firm Inca Digital.

The event, which the president promoted on social media as the most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the world, promised the top 220 holders of the $USTRUMP meme coin an invite to a gala dinner with him, while the top 25 would also enjoy an ultra-exclusive private VIP reception with the president as well as a Special VIP Tour.

The $USTRUMP meme coin is part of the Trump familys growing array of crypto ventures. Credit: AP

The GetTrumpMemes.com website posted on Monday: Congratulations, if youre in the top 220 on the leaderboard... President Trump will see YOU on May 22 at the Gala Dinner in Washington DC.

The contests winners were ranked by their time-weighted $USTRUMP holdings, which were calculated from the time the contest was announced on April 23 to the cut-off on May 12. The top 220 time-weighted holdings amounted to $US147,586,796.41 million worth of $USTRUMP coin once the contest ended, according to crypto intelligence firm Inca Digital.
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 When Jeanette Winterson was 23, she had an interview at the new feminist publisher, Pandora Press, hoping to be their publicist. She didnt get the job. But the way she talked about her extremely strange childhood impressed the publisher, Philippa Brewster, who told Winterson, If you can write it the way you tell it, Ill buy it. Winterson had always written: sermons, stories to herself to try to make sense of the world. She hadnt tried to write a novel. I thought, Ill sit down and see what happens, she says. I had no idea about gender, sexism, all of that. But although she came from a family where non-religious books were banned, her mother had read to her daily from the King James Bible, which gave her a love of language, story and structure. Jeanette Wintersons Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit was published in 1985. Credit: John Davis What emerged was the fictionalised story of growing up in working-class Accrington, Lancashire, as the adopted child of an eccentric and fiercely Pentecostal evangelist mother. I thought I could write my way out, she says. Language is something I can trust, so I can see the inside of my head. You need to be able to write yourself as a fiction, to understand youre a story in progress. I didnt need to be trapped in a narrative that belonged to somebody else. The story was funny, awfully bizarre and bizarrely awful  what other child would have her deafness ignored because it was thought she was in a state of rapture?  but to the child Jeanette, it was just life, getting on with things while waiting for Jesus to come and roll up heaven like a scroll. Until at 16 she fell in love with a girl, and everything came apart. When youre a young person and you dont have anything, you believe it can only get better. After a few months of writing, she cycled back to Pandora with the only copy of her manuscript in her saddlebag (she couldnt afford to photocopy it). This time Pandoras other boss, Australian feminist Dale Spender, was in the office with Brewster. Dale snatched the manuscript and read the beginning. Like most people, I lived for a long time with my mother and father. My father liked to watch the wrestling, my mother liked to wrestle. She turned to Philippa and said, This is good. I thought, Oh, theres a way in for me.

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That manuscript became the hugely successful novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, published in 1985. The current publishers, Vintage Classics, are sending their star author around the world to celebrate the books 40th anniversary. I read it in one breathless swoop, and like many fans, I cant believe its been 40 years since. Nor can Winterson. She is talking to me from her home in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Behind her are windows with a view of the woods and the sun is casting a halo over her curly head. An eager and fervent speaker, she still has her Northern accent. I was brought up in a gospel tent, Im never nervous public speaking, she says. They book me in for a lot of big events. The more people the better. Im trying to present to people what I believe, thats part of my job. Jeanette Winterson in Sydney in 2016. Credit: Prudence Upton Shes keen to find the positives in even the worst things that have happened to her, and shes hopeful for the future where other writers are gloomy, particularly over her pet subject, the challenges we face with AI. In the early days, Oranges was sometimes slotted into the cookery bookshelves with the marmalade recipes. Later, it made its way onto the LGBTQ shelves. Now its in with the literary classics and has found new generations of readers around the world. Winterson has since written 10 novels, as well as childrens books, nonfiction and screenplays, including one for the prizewinning BBC TV adaptation of Oranges. She has won many awards, including a CBE and an OBE for services to literature, and her work is published in 28 countries. Young people respond to Oranges queer coming of age story in China and Hungary. Its a classic, Im not the kind of person they would want to ban. At this point in my life I have some useful status, I can get to places other people cant. Im hoping because its so well known and well-loved, it will be a kind of raft you can cling onto.

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There wasnt much for young Jeanette to cling to when she fell in love. Mrs Winterson and her fellow church members held an exorcism, chanting continuous prayers, speaking in tongues and laying their hands on Jeanette. It had a hypnotic effect, she says. They do believe people are inhabited by devils and they can be expelled. But obviously to a young girl it was frightening. Inevitably, teenage Jeanette had to leave home. She moved around for a couple of years, studying and working, living in a tent and sleeping on other peoples floors. I thought, I cant pretend to be the person they want me to be. By then, things had broken down and were so full of distress and sadness that to stay would have been far worse. One of her best times was living in a Mini, with its boot full of her favourite books. It wasnt as dramatic as it would be now. I felt free, I wasnt afraid. When youre a young person and you dont have anything, you believe it can only get better. She eventually made her way to Oxford University to study English literature. It was wonderful, I was free to study. It was also a huge cultural shock because people like me were not there in any numbers. I didnt fit. But it changed my life completely; I was able to move into a different world. Loading Winterson returned to her early years in 2012, this time in a memoir with the title from one of her mothers inspired sayings, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? She had come through a painful period after an attempted suicide and felt she needed to go back. With more distance between her and her childhood, she felt free to mention darker things. Theres a lot more pain and hurt in that book. I could go back to some of the material and not have to disguise it. One of Mrs Wintersons sayings was The devil had led me to the wrong crib. Still, Winterson can see the bright side: Its absolutely appalling, but full of metaphor and colour. Suddenly were not in a crummy two-up and two-down. Were in a fairy tale, an opera, a grand landscape where the devil will bother to come and deceive Mrs Winterson.

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The Australian sharemarket swung into the green in afternoon trading, sent higher by energy and tech stocks, which more than made up for losses from big names such as Macquarie Group and Aristocrat that had kept the market in negative territory for most of the session.

The S&P/ASX 200 finished up 10.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 8279.6, rising for its sixth session in a row. Six of its 11 industry sectors advanced, with tech and energy stocks the big winners. Their gains were countered by falls in consumer stocks and utilities. The Australian dollar was flat at US64.71.

The ASX was down for most of the day, but ended up in the green. Credit: Louie Douvis

Tech stocks yet again followed their peers in the US, where chipmakers were leading a rally after AI giants Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices said they would supply semiconductors for a massive data-centre project in Saudi Arabia. The ASX tech sector rose 1 per cent, led by family member tracking app Life360, which soared a further 9.5 per cent after reporting huge sales growth this week.

The iron ore heavyweights also extended their recent gains amid hopes for easing global trade tensions since the US and China on Monday announced a 90-day truce in their trade war and agreed to temporarily reduce tariffs on each others goods.

BHP, the worlds largest miner, rose 0.6 per cent. Its CEO Mike Henry told a global mining conference overnight that the mining titan was well-positioned to navigate its way through the uncertainty created by Trumps trade wars. Rio Tinto added 0.5 per cent and Fortescue climbed 2.2 per cent.

Read the full market wrap from today here.
Tom and Emma Lane, of the Oroton fashion family empire, have sold their luxury equine estate in Bangalow for about $30 million, say local sources, smashing the suburb record.

The developer couple spared no expense on their latest lavish retreat, Copperstone, which was built from scratch and three years in the making after the purchase of farmland for $3 million in 2021.

The stunning luxury equine estate Copperstone. Credit:

Set on 19 hectares, nestled in a picturesque country landscape, the property is a sight to behold and the latest addition to the Lanes portfolio of luxury accommodation known as The Range Estates.

Their meticulous attention to detail, impeccable taste and love of horses combined to create an estate with a suite of amenities, including a wellness centre with sauna, steam room and ice bath, a tennis court and a pool house for the 25-metre mineral pool. It also features an impressive dressage arena with a cross-country course and stables for horse enthusiasts.
Her testimony marked the emotional climax of a trial that has gripped France and reignited debates about the cost of fame and what it means to live in public. Following digital breadcrumbs At the time of the robbery, Kardashian was one of the most recognised women on the planet. A fashion icon. A reality star. A billionaire business mogul. She had mastered a new kind of celebrity  one broadcast in real time, post by post, to millions of followers. But in the early hours of October 3, 2016, that visibility became a weapon against her. The robbery marked a turning point for Kardashian, and for how the world understood vulnerability in the digital age. Investigators believe the attackers followed Kardashians digital breadcrumbs  images, timestamps, geotags  and exploited them with old-school criminal methods.

Dressed in black with defiant sparkling diamonds, Kardashian on Tuesday stood across from her mother, Kris Jenner, in the heavily secured courtroom. Her voice trembled as she thanked French authorities for allowing me to share my truth. She described how the attackers arrived at her hotel disguised as police officers, dragging the concierge upstairs in handcuffs. I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack, she said. Kris Jenner, the mother of Kim Kardashian, speaks with lawyer as she arrives for the trial in Paris. Credit: AP One attacker demanded she turn over the diamond ring valued at $US4 million on the bedside table. He said, Ring! Ring! and he pointed to his hand, she recalled. French prosecutors say the assailants  most in their 60s and 70s  were part of a seasoned criminal ring. Two defendants have admitted being at the scene. One claims he didnt know who she was.

Twelve suspects were originally charged. One has since died. Another was excused due to illness. The French press dubbed them les papys braqueurs  the grandpa robbers  but prosecutors insist they were no harmless retirees. They face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and membership in a criminal gang, offences that carry the potential for life imprisonment. Take everything. I need to live After the men fled, Kardashian rubbed the tape against the bathroom sink to free her hands. She hopped downstairs, still bound, to find her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche. Fearing the robbers might return, they went onto the balcony and hid in bushes. While lying there, Kardashian called her mother. Earlier in the trial, Harouche recalled hearing Kardashian scream from upstairs: I need to live. That is what she kept on saying, Take everything. I need to live.

Harouche locked herself in a bathroom and texted Kardashians sister and bodyguard: Something is very wrong. Later, when she saw her friend she described how (Kim) was beside herself, Harouche said. She just was screaming. Judge David de Pas asked whether Kardashian had made herself a target by posting images of herself with jewels of great value. Harouche rejected the premise. Just because a woman wears jewellery, that doesnt make her a target, she said. Thats like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped. Kim Kardashian, accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner, leaves the justice palace after testifying. Credit: AP After the robbery, critics like designer Karl Lagerfeld slammed Kardashian for flaunting her wealth, with Lagerfeld telling the Associated Press she was too public with her jewellery. But as details of the heist emerged, public opinion grew sympathetic. The heist triggered a cultural shift, prompting publicists and managers to urge clients to delay social media posts, remove location tags and think twice before flashing luxury online.

Yet, Kardashians own image, some say, continues to complicate that narrative. Even as she testified about her trauma, journalists received a press release touting her Paris courthouse appearance: Kim Kardashian stuns wearing a show-stopping $US1.5 million diamond necklace by Samer Halimeh New York, featuring 80 flawless diamonds. Visibility, it seemed, remains currency. Loading She told the court her house in Los Angeles was robbed shortly afterward in what appeared to be a copycat attack. Without security guards, she said, I cant even sleep at night. She now keeps between four and six guards at home. I started to get this phobia of going out, Kardashian said. This experience really changed everything for us. At the time of the 2016 robbery, she said, her bodyguard was staying in a separate hotel: We assumed that if we were in a hotel it was safe, it was secure.
BP plc BP, the UK-based energy major, has awarded a multi-year subsea contract to Texas-based Oceaneering International, Inc. OII for work at its flagship Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas field offshore Mauritania and Senegal. This marks a milestone in the UK energy giant's largest project.

BP Enlists Oceaneering for IMR and ROV Services

The contract, granted through BP Mauritania Investments, involves subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services. Oceaneerings Offshore Projects Group will handle the assignment, deploying one of its multi-purpose vessels equipped with two work-class ROVs. In addition to offshore operations, Oceaneering will provide project management, engineering, and integration support through its global and local teams.

Ben Laura, Oceaneerings chief operating officer, emphasized that the companys proven ability to deliver high-quality subsea solutions in challenging environments, supported by advanced technologies and services, played a key role in securing the contract.

GTA Field: A Key Asset in BPs Global LNG Portfolio

The GTA development, operated by BP with a 56% stake, achieved first LNG production earlier in 2025. Other stakeholders are Kosmos Energy (27%), Petrosen (10%) and Societe Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures (SMH) (7%). The project's Phase 1 floating LNG unit, Gimi, received feed gas from the GTA FPSO, located approximately 40 kilometers offshore, setting the stage for commercial exports.

The initial term of Oceaneerings contract is three years, with options to extend for two additional years. Field operations are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2025, following the ongoing engineering and mobilization work.

Oceaneering Sees Revenue Surge With Rising Offshore Activity

Oceaneering enters the contract on strong footing, having posted $674.5 million in revenue for first-quarter 2025  an almost 13% increase year over year  fueled by high ROV utilization and robust vessel activity. The GTA contract adds to its growing backlog and underpins its strategic expansion in high-potential offshore regions.

With this high-profile contract, both BP and Oceaneering are doubling down on their presence in West Africas increasingly important offshore gas sector.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Both BP and OII currently carry a Zack Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the energy sector may look at some better-ranked stocks like Diversified Energy Company plc DEC and RPC Inc. RES, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The United Nations top aviation authority has formally found Russia responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, marking a landmark ruling in a case brought by Australia and the Netherlands in 2022.

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Tuesday (AEST) ruled that Russia violated international aviation law under the Chicago Convention, the foundational treaty governing international civil aviation.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over separatist-held territory in eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014, killing all 298 people on board. Credit: AP

MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, when it was shot down over separatist-held territory in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, including 38 Australian citizens and residents. Investigations have since concluded the aircraft was brought down by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed the finding, describing it as a historic moment in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones.
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip: An Israeli-American soldier held hostage for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip has been released by Hamas in what the Trump administration called a goodwill gesture that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed that Edan Alexander was turned over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces.

Supporters in Tel Aviv await the release of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza. Credit: Getty Images

Wearing shirts emblazoned with his name, Alexanders extended family gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the release. They cheered and chanted his name when the military said he was free. His grandmother, Varda Ben Baruch, beamed. In Tel Avivs Hostage Square, hundreds of people broke into cheers.

Alexander was 19 when he was taken from his military base in southern Israel during Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which set off the war in Gaza. His release was the first since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March, unleashing fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds.
In March, in a drab hearing room of the Administrative Review Tribunal in Melbourne, lawyers spent five days going back and forth about a post on social media platform X from a Canadian anti-trans activist and whether it should have been removed from the internet.

Now, a year after that post was published, the case has caught the attention of the Trump administration, which is accusing Australia  among other countries  of coercing American technology companies into egregious censorship.

Chris Elston, known online as Billboard Chris, and aide Lois McLatchie Miller (left) in Sydney this year.

With the White House warning that it is out to enforce free speech around the world, the matter has the potential to creep into high-stakes trade talks between the United States and the re-elected Albanese government.

The administration has been really straightforward, David Inserra, a fellow at the Cato Institute, a free market Washington think tank, says. They view these types of actions as assaults on American competitiveness.
(This May 12 story has been corrected to say Anheuser-Busch plans to start a new facility, not a plant, in Columbus, Ohio, in paragraph 2)

(Reuters) - Anheuser-Busch InBev said on Monday it would invest $300 million in its manufacturing operations in the United States this year amid a push for local production under President Donald Trump.

The St. Louis, Missouri-based Anheuser-Busch, which said it invested nearly $2 billion over the last five years in 100 facilities across the country, also announced plans to start a new facility in Columbus, Ohio.

The brewer reported a rise in first-quarter profit last week, more than double the increase expected by analysts and boosting its profit margins despite a fall in sales volumes. It said it makes nearly all its domestic sales locally,

AB InBev had previously said it was boosting investments in key brands such as Budweiser and ramping up efforts to grow at-home consumption, as spending elsewhere - including in bars - remains pressured.

(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
Over the four days of the Permanent Technical Committee (PTC), delegates came together to shape how Customs will respond to the defining challenges of our time: climate disruption, digital transformation, and the ever-growing volume of international trade including e-commerce. From advancing Green Customs to tackling e-commerce related concerns and enabling micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the PTC delivered tangible steps toward the WCOs 2025 commitment to efficiency, security, and prosperity.

Holding its 247th/248th Sessions from 5 to 8 May 2025, at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, the PTC brought together close to 300 delegates from WCO Members, international organizations, the private sector, and academia. Following the highly interactive and intense discussions, guidance was provided on a wide range of topics that were put forward while several tools were endorsed, paving the way for their progression to the next stage. The diverse perspectives enriched the discussions, reinforcing the PTCs pivotal role in shaping the future of Customs since its inception in April 1953.

On the first day, a dynamic roundtable discussion on the WCO theme for the year 2025 brought together high-level panelists from Kenya Revenue Authority, Thai Customs, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The session was moderated by the United States Customs and Border Protection. The discussion focused on how Customs can leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency, respond rapidly to crises, and foster economic growth. Panelists also shared strategies on how to better engage the media and the public to elevate Customs visibility and set a forward-looking tone for innovative partnerships.

Building on this momentum, delegates endorsed the 2025 edition of the SAFE Framework of Standards and the WCO-WTO-ICC Joint Draft Study Report on integrating MSMEs into AEO Programmes, further strengthening Customs-to-business collaboration. The Free Zones session featured an update on the progress with updating the Practical Guidance on Free Zones, and experience-sharing from India and South Africa on Customs controls and procedures in free zones.

On the second day, e-commerce took center stage, with break-out discussions reintroduced to address Members requests for deeper analysis of e-commerce related issues. These sessions enabled focused dialogue on the fast-evolving e-commerce landscape and the role of technology in managing e-commerce transactions. They not only enhanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges but also showcased the PTCs capacity to handle in-depth and effective deliberation of matters. Among the key outcomes, the 6th edition of the Compendium of Case Studies on Cross-Border E-Commerce, featuring new Member case studies, was endorsed. As part of the WCOs renewed approach to e-commerce matters, it was agreed to have a dedicated e-commerce day(s) in future meetings of the PTC.

On the final day, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) discussions focused on the Mercator Programmes progress in supporting global implementation of the TFA. The WCO Fragile Borders Action Plan was reviewed for activity allocations, integrating updates from the March 2025 Enforcement Committee. Finally, the PTC tentatively endorsed the draft Work Programme for 2025-2028 that will shape the work of the Committee for the next three years.

The meeting concluded with the re-election of Hoai Nguyen as Chairperson and Abraham F. Siafa as Vice-Chairperson for the financial year 2025/2026.
By Sophie Yu, David Kirton and Ellen Zhang

BEIJING/SHENZHEN (Reuters) -When she heard the news that Washington had slashed punitive tariffs on China for at least 90 days, Deng Jinling, manager of a Chinese company that exports thermos flasks to the U.S., popped open a bottle of champagne with her husband.

While Deng celebrated the reprieve with bubbles, she worries about what might happen after 90 days, and has sent her 20-year-old daughter to the U.S. to help scout for a warehouse there to mitigate risks and guard against any further fallout from tariffs.

"My biggest worry is Trump will forget tomorrow what he said today," said Deng, manager of Lucky Bird Trade, based in the export manufacturing hub of Yiwu, the world's largest wholesale hub for small manufactured items, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chinese factories are heavily dependent on the U.S. market, but manufacturers in China have buckled up, uncertain on how to navigate an increasingly unpredictable trade war that has threatened to upend global supply chains - and the uncertainty prevails despite the temporary truce.

After talks with Chinese officials, the U.S. said on Monday the two sides had agreed to a 90-day pause under which Washington will cut tariffs on Chinese imports to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on U.S. imports will drop to 10% from 125%.

While the news lifted global markets, the cheer has been tempered by caution among some manufacturers in China, given the uncertainty over what could happen after 90 days, with some still intent on scouring for opportunities overseas to hedge their bets.

Christian Gassner, General Manager of Limoss, a German manufacturer of control panels and remote devices based in the Chinese manufacturing hub of Dongguan, is in Malaysia seeking to expand operations for the U.S. market with a partner there, and says he will continue to do so despite the tariff pause.

"Even with the 90-day pause, it feels more like someone just hit the snooze button on a fire alarm. Tariffs, politics, and policy mood swings dont exactly scream 'stable business environment'," he said.

"Sticking to one region these days is like building your house on a trampoline. For Limoss, the U.S. is a top-three market, so crossing our fingers isnt a strategy - we need real options, real fast, before the next plot twist drops."

Candice Li, marketing manager of a medical devices maker based in China's southern province of Guangdong, said her first reaction was suspicion and she wondered if the 30% tariff would soon translate to 60%.
 Some people go to extremes to get a great deal, but one disgruntled customer at a Burger King drive-thru in Willowick, Ohio, pulled a firearm on an employee who was trying to give him a discount on his breakfast items.

The employee, Howard Vernon, 38, told WOIO-19 News that when he gave the customer his total, the man argued that it should cost more.

"I'm, like, trying to explain to him that we had a promotion going on ... and he started cussing and getting all loud," Vernon said. The enraged man drove his gray Honda sedan out of the drive-thru but quickly returned, then stepped out of his car and pointed a gun at Vernon.

After threatening him and calling him racial slurs, the man returned to his car and sped away.

"It was about some bread and sausage sandwiches at 9 o'clock in the morning on Easter," Vernon said, "and you're that mad that you'd put a gun in somebody's face?"

Authorities are still searching for the customer. [WOIO-19, 4/1/24]
"This certainly raises serious concerns about the appearance of corruption, because Trump's family is benefiting," says Laura Dickinson, a law professor at George Washington University who has served as special counsel for the Defense Department. "And when you look at this in the context of arbitrary cuts to other programs, it raises questions about whether preferential treatment is being given to family and others who curry favor with Trump."

There's nothing wrong with an investment company making bets based on its connections  that's an integral part of the VC game. And there's no evidence that any of 1789's deals break laws prohibiting favoritism to individual contractors. But given their potential for creating a conflict of interest, the firm's investments have alarmed Washington insiders familiar with the process. What's more, the Trump administration's lack of transparency  particularly around moves being made by Musk and DOGE  makes it impossible to tell if the president's family is improperly making money by funneling government business to the companies it invests in.

Ever since Trump joined 1789, its portfolio has begun to blossom. Despite its tiny size, the firm has been granted shares in several coveted offerings, including Elon Musk's SpaceX . The shares, which are widely viewed as an almost certain home run, are essentially an insider deal: To participate in the offering, you typically have to receive an invitation from someone already in the club. In addition, 1789 has invested in Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI , as well as a handful of startups that have received or are vying for contracts from the Defense Department. Almost overnight, a VC firm involving the president's son has become a significant beneficiary of the federal bureaucracy long derided by President Trump as "the swamp."

Last November, only six days after his father was elected president, Donald Trump Jr. made a career move that, on the surface at least, seemed a bit odd. He became a partner in a small investment startup called 1789 Capital , which is based in Palm Beach, Florida, 2 miles from Mar-a-Lago . At that point, 1789 was a microscopic player in the world of venture capital . It had raised less than $200 million, and it hadn't made many investments beyond leading a group that put $15 million into Tucker Carlson's new media company. Its goal, according to its founders, is to create a "parallel economy," investing in "anti-woke" businesses that align with MAGA values.

Story Continues

It's not just legal experts who have concerns about the money flowing to Don Jr. One veteran Wall Street investor, who has personally reviewed 1789's deals, says they enable the president's son to profit from the administration's actions, even if no contractors are given preferential treatment. "It's a way for Mar-A-Lago to get paid," says the investor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the Trump administration. (Both the Trump Organization and 1789 declined requests for comment.)

Since Donald Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital (founded by Omeed Malik, left), he has been cut in on deals that will enable him to profit from his father's administration. Ryan Emberley/amfAR/ Getty Images

One of 1789's biggest bets in its push to monetize MAGA has come courtesy of Musk. According to Bloomberg, the firm has invested more than $50 million in SpaceX and xAI  the kind of opportunity usually reserved for deep-pocketed insiders, not tiny funds with no track record. The move comes at a time when the Trump administration  which has empowered Musk and DOGE to redirect vast swaths of federal spending  has reportedly been moving to channel billions in taxpayer dollars to SpaceX for the use of its Starlink satellite system. In addition, the company has been awarded a $5.9 billion contract from the US Space Force to launch critical national security payloads. The deal, announced April 4, makes SpaceX the Pentagon's leading launch provider, surpassing an industry rival owned by Boeing and Lockheed. That means as SpaceX benefits from government contracts, 1789  and the president's son  stand to share the wealth.

1789 is also investing in other companies being awarded lucrative defense contracts. Anduril, a highly regarded defense technology firm, is now raising up to $2.5 billion. The backers of the new fundraising round have not been revealed  but I was able to confirm from multiple sources that 1789 is among the investors. Anduril has thrived under the Trump administration: In February the company won a $22 billion defense contract to provide soldiers with augmented reality goggles. A few weeks later, it beat out nine competitors to win a $642 million contract to build a network of anti-drone defenses for military bases. Given the company's prospects, investors have been fighting to get shares in the company.

Axiom Space  a Houston company that is seeking a contract with NASA to build a successor to the International Space Station  has been in discussions with 1789 to raise at least $100 million in fresh equity. And in January, 1789 led a $60 million fundraising round for Firehawk Aerospace, a Dallas tech company focused on supplying the military with 3D printed rocket fuel. In April, Firehawk landed a $1.25 million defense contract to conduct a study of its manufacturing systems. That month, the company posted a photo on LinkedIn of its founder posing with Gen. James Rainey, the leader of Army Futures Command. With them was the founder of Aeon Industrial  another defense contractor in 1789's portfolio  who had just received a weapons contract from Rainey's command.

"It creates a very complex ethics situation," says Scott Amey, the general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, a leading watchdog group. "If the son of the president is benefiting from these deals, even if there's a few degrees of separation, is there a level playing field? We just don't know."

Don Jr.'s investments are a long way from the days when Washington got worked up over Jimmy Carter's brother marketing his own beer brand. "I'm old enough to remember when it was completely shocking that the president's brother was selling Billy Beer," says Nell Minow, the vice chair of ValueEdge Advisors, who has served as a government attorney at the EPA, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Justice Department. "Back then, there was no suggestion of a connection to access or policy or contracts  it was just considered unseemly." With 1789, she adds, "We've gone to a whole new level: This is a flashing red light of a conflict."

Don Jr. is far from a passive bystander in 1789. According to Politico, he and his fellow partners at the investment firm have launched an invite-only club called the Executive Branch that will cost more than half a million dollars to join. Located in Georgetown, the high-end club will enable business and tech moguls to schmooze with administration insiders behind closed doors  and simultaneously creating a source of potential deals for 1789.

Even some insiders who have worked closely with Trump and his family see such efforts as improper. "What they're doing is selling access to the president via the back door," says someone who knows the Trumps well. "Imagine for one second if Hunter Biden had opened this club while Joe Biden was president. The Republicans would be screaming not just for his head, but for a complete and total dismemberment of his body. It's beyond hypocritical."

Don Jr.'s involvement in 1789 bears an eerie resemblance to what Trump blasted Hunter Biden for doing: trading on his father's name to win lucrative business deals with countries like Ukraine and China. During the 2020 campaign, Don Jr. offered to debate Biden, insisting that Hunter's nepotism far outstripped his own. "I'm not going to say I haven't benefited from my father's last name, just like Hunter Biden did," Don Jr. told Axios. "That'd be foolish to say that. But I haven't benefited from my father's taxpayer-funded office."

Now, as a freshly minted venture capitalist, Don Jr. is explicitly gearing up to cash in on the next four years of his father's presidency. In the three months since Trump was inaugurated, 1789 has raised some $500 million. According to Bloomberg, the firm is aiming to collect $1 billion for its first fund by the middle of this year, and another $3 billion to $5 billion for a second fund next year. Whatever the legality of 1789's investments, it appears the president's eldest son stands to profit handsomely from the federal contracts his father's administration is handing out. Even if there's no pro quo involved, there's still plenty of quid.

Bethany McLean is a special correspondent at Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Key Points

GXO Logistics has fallen sharply since its peak in 2021.

The company is more resilient to economic volatility.

The stock is well priced at a forward P/E of less than 16.

10 stocks we like better than GXO Logistics 

GXO Logistics (NYSE: GXO) hit the public markets with much fanfare. The world's largest pure-play contract logistics company was spun off from XPO in August 2021, when the pandemic stock market was booming. Investors had high hopes that GXO would be able to disrupt the logistics industry with bold initiatives.

The stock initially surged in 2021, but then fell sharply in 2022 and has stayed down since. Shares popped briefly last fall on news it was seeing takeover interest, but it gave up those gains once management said it was no longer in play.

Amid worries over the trade war and signs of a weakening economy, the stock hit an all-time low recently, though GXO had some good news to share with investors when it reported first-quarter earnings last Wednesday.

In a difficult macro environment, the company posted better-than-expected results. Organic revenue increased 3%, and overall revenue rose 21% to $2.98 billion, which edged out estimates at $2.93 billion. The reported revenue figure includes its acquisition of Wincanton, a British logistics company whose results are included in GXO's quarter, though it has not yet been allowed to integrate Wincanton because it's still awaiting final approval from U.K. regulators.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) improved from $154 million to $163 million, while adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell from $0.45 to $0.29, though that was still ahead of the consensus at $0.25.

In spite of the uncertain macro environment, GXO signed $228 million in new business and scored its largest contract ever, a landmark 10-year deal with England's National Health Service (NHS), that was enabled by GXO's earlier acquisition of Clipper Logistics, helping to validate its mergers and acquisitions strategy.

GXO stock gained 4.3% on the news on Thursday, May 8, due to the solid results and its pushback on the trade war narrative. Let's look at its prospects in the current economy and whether the stock is a buy.

Image source: GXO Logistics.

GXO's plan to beat tariffs

As a contract logistics provider with roughly 1,000 warehouses around the world, GXO looks like the kind of company that would be at risk from a global trade war or a recession.

However, thus far the company is seeing little sign of headwinds. CFO Baris Oran said during an interview with The Motley Fool that customer inventory remains healthy and elevated in some regions and categories.
High Court reporters

The High Court has quashed planning permission for a 10-storey build-to-rent apartment development in Donnybrook, Dublin.

Red Rock Donnybrook Ltd had received permission from An Bord Pleanala to redevelop the Circle K-occupied site at the junction of Donnybrook Road and Brookvale Road, opposite Donnybrook stadium, for 67 apartments.

Dublin City Council had refused permission for Red Rock's original application, envisaging a 12-storey 84-apartment development, for reasons including that it would result in excessive height and mass, provided for insufficient car parking, and may prejudice the future provision of public transport infrastructure.

Red Rock appealed to the board and, in doing s,o revised the original application to reduce the height by two storeys and the number of apartments to 67.

The board inspector recommended refusal for failure to comply with urban building height guidelines, that it constituted overdevelopment and would have an unacceptable negative visual impact on a prominent site within Donnybrook Village.

The proposed development is on the Circle K-occupied site at the junction of Donnybrook Road and Brookvale Road

However, the board in August 2022 granted permission for the revised development.

The Eglington Residents Association and Ramleh Villas resident David Clarke then brought a High Court challenge against the board to that decision. Red Rock was a notice party.

The residents argued, among other things, that the permission was invalid because of the failure of the board to attach a condition requiring a financial contribution in lieu of the 10 per cent open space requirement for new developments. It was also invalid for failure to consider whether or not the development, without such a condition, materially contravened the City Development Plan, they said.

Ms Justice Emily Farrell, in a judgment published this week, quashed the decision.

She said that, in this case, the provision of public open space was a significant and relevant policy within the plan, and no rationale for contravening this policy was readily apparent or had been suggested.

There was no provision in the policy for the option suggested by the board that permission may be granted for a development that does not satisfy the 10 per cent open space requirement and which does not require a financial contribution in lieu, she said.

It was necessary either to comply with the public open space policy or consciously depart from it if that was what it did, she said.
Councillors believe religious discrimination is at play in the treatment of a Church of Ireland national school in Westport.

Holy Trinity NS has been blocked from progressing its plans for a new school. Parents, teachers and pupils from the school previously held a protest on a site they say was promised to them for a new building, but it is instead being allocated to another school in the town.

The former Scoil Padraig site is being allocated to the Sacred Heart Secondary School, which the department says is in urgent need of temporary accommodation.

Planning concerns have recently been raised around development at the Altamont Street site.

Complaints have been made about alleged unauthorised development at the site by the Department of Education. However, Mayo County Council has said the complaint has no basis and has closed an enforcement file on the matter.

Cllr Peter Flynn hit out at the council's Director of Services with responsibility for planning Catherine McConnell for not attending last Friday's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, either in person or remotely.

Honestly, it is simply not acceptable," he remarked.

Municipal district manager Seamus O'Mongain explained that Ms McConnell was not available that day but had furnished councillors with a report on the issue.

I am certainly not in any way satisfied with the report," replied Cllr Flynn. "Here you have a situation where you have a complaint made to planning enforcement in January. You could issue a report in four weeks saying there was no issue there. In normal circumstances, if you get a response in four years you are doing well.

You actually have a building on Altamont Street, which is an architectural area of conservation and nobody seems to care. You also have a situation where new vehicular access has been created out onto a regional road, and nobody seems to care. You have a situation where windows and doors were pulled out of a building which is an architectural area of conservation and nobody seems to care within Mayo Co Council, he added.

Cllr Flynn asked if the Department of Education is exempt from planning regulations and requested that the council write to the Department.

Is it a religious situation that we have here? Are you treated differently if you are not a Catholic? Because thats what it seems like in this particular scenario, he said.

Cllr John OMalley said Holy Trinity NS is being blaggarded.
Mayo councillors are to invite new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to visit the county, writes Keith Bourke.

The new prime ministers grandparents hail from Mayo.

We have an amazing situation where Mark Carneys grandfather Robert Carney left Ireland from Ayle in Aghagower along with his wife Nora Moran from Mace, Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn told a meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, which was held at the Solas Centre in Aughleam.

Cllr Flynn said more efforts should be made to reinforce Mayos connection with Canada.

Canada has a population of over 40 million with a huge connection to Mayo. We often concentrate on the United States side of things and Lord knows how thats going to go in the months and years ahead, said the Westport councillor.

He proposed sending a formal letter of invitation to Prime Minister Carney.

I think we should be forging links with Canada. The fact that we have a prime minister who has grandparents that are linked into this municipal district, I would like to propose that a formal letter of invitation go out to him. I would suggest that the likes of the Solas Centre and other locations around the county would try and identify links with Mark Carney and we really try and make it a special occasion, he added.

Cllr John OMalley seconded the proposal.

They are excited in Aghagower about it and I think we should go ahead and invite him. It will be as big as Biden coming to Ballina, said Cllr OMalley.

Mr Carney, a former Bank of England governor, won Canadas election after a campaign dominated by the countrys relationship with the US under President Donald Trump.

He ran Canadas central bank during the 2008 financial crisis and the Bank of England during Brexit and cited his experience as crucial for handling the economic turmoil caused by the US president.
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection has announced two new appointments for the Ashford Castle hotel and estate  Irelands first and only Forbes Five-Star Hotel and Spa.

The announcement includes the appointment of Gregory Brossard, who will join the team as Hotel Manager at Ashford Castle, while Lisa Toomey will assume a new leadership position on the estate as Director of Quality.

Gregory joins the Ashford Castle team after almost two years working at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin as Director of Operations. Hailing from France and boasting a globe-trotting CV, Gregory started his hospitality career as a senior waiter at the Michelin-starred Le Cinq restaurant, located in the George V, Four Seasons Hotel in France. Over his 23-year career, he has also worked at some of the top luxury hotels in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton in Osaka, Japan, and Conrad Bora Bora Nui, on the French Polynesia islands.

Speaking about joining the Ashford Castle team, Gregory Brossard said: It is an honour to join the team at Ashford Castle, a property with such an extraordinary heritage and commitment to excellence. I look forward to working alongside a world-class team to continue delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests.

Meanwhile, Lisa Toomey, who precedes Gregory as Hotel Manager, will assume a brand-new senior role as Director of Quality for the wider Ashford Castle Estate.

Hailing from Bunratty in Co. Clare, Lisa started her career at Ashford Castle in 2017. Her new responsibilities will see her ensure all aspects of operations at Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford Castle meet and exceed guest expectations. Working closely with the operations team, Lisa will guarantee that the quality standards set out by Red Carnation Hotel and the Forbes Travel Guide are continually met across all departments while driving innovation in service delivery and guest experience.

Speaking about her new role, Lisa Toomey said: Ashford Castle holds a very special place in my heart, and I am thrilled to continue my journey here in a role dedicated to maintaining the highest standards across the estate. I am passionate about delivering excellence and look forward to helping lead our incredible team in crafting extraordinary experiences for our guests.

Commenting on the appointments, Niall Rochford, Managing Director of the Ashford Estate, said: These appointments underscore our ongoing commitment to excellence and to maintaining Ashford Castles reputation as one of the worlds top hotels. Gregory brings an outstanding track record in luxury hospitality, with a clear passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences. Lisa, a long-serving and highly respected member of our team, has consistently demonstrated exemplary standards of service and leadership. Both Gregory and Lisa will play a pivotal role in shaping the continued success of Ashford Castle and the wider estate.
Bonniconlon has lost a woman who was the beating heart of the community.

There was tremendous shock and sadness across the county following the sudden and unexpected passing of Bridie Greavy (nee Bourke).

A former member of Mayo County Council in the mid-1980s, Bridie was a powerhouse who was known as the matriarch of Bonniconlon. She will be sadly missed by her sons Damien, Thomas and Fintan, daughter Siobhan, extended family and wide circle of friends.

Mrs Greavy was also mother-in-law to Minister Dara Calleary.

An intelligent woman with a quick wit, Bridie was a hugely respected genealogist at Enniscoe House.

Elected to Mayo County Council in 1985, having polled more than 1,000 first preferences in what was then known as the Ballina area, Bridie was a diligent and hard-working councillor who left her mark before deciding to step away from politics.

Family friend and Fianna Fail councillor Annie May Reape said Bridie was a pillar of the community who never wanted any plaudits.

She always saw what was needed in Bonni and was at the heart of everything, said Cllr Reape. Bridie was unassuming but highly intelligent and articulate. She never wanted any praise or aggrandisement despite all she did for her community, she added.

Cllr Reape said Bridie was both effective and popular as a councillor and wowed the audience when she spoke at a function attended by Fianna Fail leader Charlie Haughey in Ballina.

Online tributes poured in following Bridies passing.

Bridie was a wonderful lady who had such immense pride and love for her family and her community. The impact she had on the village of Bonniconlon is clearly visible to all who pass through it. She was the beating heart of the village and her legacy will live on in all of the projects with which she was so generous with her time and knowledge, stated one.

Another described Bridie as a woman of immense strength, faith, and love whose presence has left an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Huge crowds attended the removal and funeral mass which took place on Tuesday at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon. Bridie was laid to rest in Bonniconlon Cemetery.

She is mourned by her loving and heartbroken sons Damien, Thomas and Fintan, daughter Siobhan, grandchildren Daniel and Annabel, daughter-in-law Eleanor, son-in-law Dara, sisters Maura (Ennis), Ann (London), Stasia (Corrimbla), Doris (Devon), Clare (Galway), Ita (Dublin), nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends, to whom deepest sympathy is tendered.

She was predeceased by her husband John James, brothers Mike and Padraig and her sisters Joan, Peggy and Loretta, brother-in-law Paddy, and sister-in-law Phyllis.
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Under Florida law, employers are not necessarily liable for incidents of domestic violence at work, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held on May 5.

The appeals court reached this conclusion in response to a lawsuit, Gimenez v. McLane Co., Inc., et. al.; after a workers ex slipped through security measures to gain access to McLanes facility and set the plaintiff on fire, she alleged negligence on behalf of McLane.

Facts of the case

The plaintiff worked at McLanes facility in Orlando, Florida. The assailant had previously worked for McLane and had been terminated for reckless driving in 2019. The two workers had a brief relationship in 2018 and had been on amicable terms until late 2020.

In early 2021, the plaintiff cut off contact due to her ex-partners increasing anger over the breakup.

One year later, when the incident occurred, McLane had a written policy that prohibited unauthorized entry to the facility, badge-access entry and a closed-circuit camera system. Employees had also allegedly been trained on security measures.

The assailant gained access to McLanes facility by wearing his old uniform sweatshirt, a freezer suit, gloves and sunglasses to blend in with employees, the court said.

When he couldnt get in through the locked doors, he waited until an authorized employee badged in and followed them inside.

Once inside, the workers ex-partner located her, doused her in gasoline and set her on fire.

The assailant, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, told investigators that he targeted the plaintiff at work specifically because her family would not be present to protect her.

Shortly after, the plaintiff sued McLane, alleging negligence. When both sides moved for summary judgment, the district court said that the record didnt demonstrate that the defendant could or should have known that a former employee would do what the assailant did.

Appeals court weighs in

Then the plaintiff appealed. To prevail on her claim, she needed to prove that McLane owed her a legal duty, that it breached that duty, and that the breach actually and proximately caused the plaintiffs injuries.

The court highlighted that under Florida law, harm is proximate if foresight would lead someone to expect that similar harm is likely to be substantially caused by the specific act or omission in question  and that the facts presented in court did not prove that McLane caused the plaintiff harm.
This story was originally published on CIO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CIO Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Enterprises are turning to generative AI tools to drive modernization and cut through technical debt, according to Publicis Sapient. The digital consulting firm commissioned HFS Research to survey more than 600 IT and business leaders for a report published Thursday.

Four in 5 respondents expect generative AI coding assistants to help them break free from managing outdated systems by documenting legacy applications, rewriting old code and automating software testing, the report found.

Technical debt is an expensive headache, accounting for $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion in spending among Global 2000 companies, according to HFS Research. Tech debt isn't just a weight  it's a ticking time bomb thats threatening the future of global enterprises, the firms Chief Analyst and CEO Phil Fersht said in the report.

Dive Insight:

As coding assistants rose to the top of a heap of generative AI use cases with ROI potential, vendors mobilized to deploy tools trained to decipher and refactor decades-old applications.

IBM taught watsonx more than 100 programming languages and trained its open model to translate COBOL applications into Java. AWS trained its AI assistant, Amazon Q Developer, to build applications and set the tool loose on mainframe modernization last year.

As cloud and enterprise software vendors rolled out similar capabilities, banking became a proving ground for the technology, according to Accenture.

Goldman Sachs saw its army of 12,000 developers achieve efficiency gains of roughly 20% with GitHub Copilot, the companys CIO Marco Argenti told CIO Dive last month. Bank of America and Citigroup saw similar returns on AI investments.

Enterprises across industries can cut years off of modernization initiatives by harnessing the technology, according to Sheldon Monteiro, Publicis Sapient EVP and chief product officer.

AI really is a jackhammer, Monteiro said in an interview. CIOs need to be thinking about this in terms of some pretty major concrete breaking.

Publicis Sapient inked a five-year partnership with AWS to build AI-powered modernization tools in March. In addition to leveraging the hyperscalers cloud-based services, the alliance aims to expand the reach of the Sapient Slingshot software development platform.

The modernization opportunities are vast, according to HFS Research. A $1.5 trillion IT industry has grown up around servicing rather than eliminating technical debt, the firm estimates.
People walk through the jewelry district in Manhattan, New York City, last month. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New Yorks famous Diamond District was teeming last week. But the subject on many minds in the citys jewelry district was not diamonds but gold.

Covid, Ukraine and now Donald Trumps trade wars have all sparked new interest in gold  which can trace its history as a currency back to 600BC.

On West 47th Street, gold trader Becky Algozhoeva at GT Findings was showing coins and ingots stamped with the Roman goddess Fortuna, also known as Lady Fortuna, to customers.

Regular people are thinking gold is the key. They dont even believe in banks any more because the economics are shaky, and they dont even want to invest in institutions. They want to have it under their pillow. And gold doesnt go bad. Its not milk, right?

The price of gold is up more than 20% since Trumps election in November, and 95% over the past five years. Gold prices have declined from the record of $3,500 an ounce set last month, partly on expectations that Trump will further dial down trade tensions. But gold bugs love uncertainty and it seems likely there is more of that to come.

Every mention of gold by government officials, in the media, on Instagram and TikTok, was contributing to it coming back as the only currency that is recognized universally, said Algozhoeva.

Over the first few months of the year, US demand has grown so great that traders started sending 400-ounce gold bars from London vaults to Switzerland, where they were converted into kilo bars and sent to the US in the hold of commercial airliners, four tons at a time.

Its been unprecedented, says Philip Newman, managing director of the precious metals consultancy Metals Focus. We saw some rise during Covid but this has been more structural and long-lasting.

As a result, US gold inventories have doubled, with more than 20m ounces, or roughly 600 tons, being transported into vaults in New York City. In February, JPMorgan alone said it planned to deliver $4bn of gold to the US, according to filings on the US Comex exchange.

After last months disappointing US economic growth numbers, some economists said that an unusually large amount of non-monetary gold  bullion, gold coins, unwrought gold, semi-manufactured gold and gold scrap  had accounted for some of the jump in imports.

Since the beginning of April, when it became clear that the US would not tariff gold and silver, the market has quieted down. But theres no sense that it will remain so. Theres uncertainty over what Trump will do tomorrow, and that uncertainty is ongoing, Newman says.

The gold rush of 2024 may be more deep-seated than an attempt to offset Trumps US-led trade war and concerns about the global economy and rising debt levels. Central banks have been buying gold to diversify assets since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 at double the annual rate  1,000 tons a year  over the previous decade.
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Bitcoin has surged nearly 40% in just five weeks, bouncing from its April lows and reclaiming critical technical levels. But this weekend, a fresh political catalyst added fuel to the move  even if only temporarily.

Late Saturday evening, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about a pivotal meeting with China that took place in Switzerland. His post read: "Very good meeting today with China... A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner... GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!"

Don't Miss:

That single post stirred global sentiment  and Bitcoin didn't ignore it. Within the hour of Trump's announcement, Bitcoin jumped 1.40%, rallying from $103,500 to a high of $105,000. However, the momentum was short-lived. The rally stalled almost exactly at a key weekly resistance level of $104,460, where price was quickly rejected.

Weekly Chart Resistance is Holding

Bitcoin's reaction to the Trump announcement shows the importance of technical levels. Despite the burst of optimism, price couldn't break above resistance on the weekly chart, which has been a ceiling in recent sessions.

Weekly Resistance: $104,460





Current Range: $102,240  $105,000





Trump Announcement Spike High: $105,000





While broader sentiment remains bullish, traders are watching closely to see if Bitcoin can finally punch through this resistance or if this was simply another failed breakout attempt.

Hourly Chart Showing Signs of Exhaustion

On the hourly timeframe, Bitcoin is still holding higher lows, but there are early signals of weakening momentum. Price has failed to extend past the recent highs, and it's currently hovering right back around the $104,460 resistance  where the initial Trump rally was rejected.

If bulls can't defend current levels, a breakdown below short-term support could be next.

Trending: New to crypto? Get up to $400 in rewards for successfully completing short educational courses and making your first qualifying trade on Coinbase.

Key Levels to Watch:
The industrial sector is also experiencing a significant revival, with a 26% increase in 2024 driven by demand for reshored manufacturing, clean energy buildout, and infrastructure construction. With only a quarter of the $1.9 trillion in planned North American infrastructure projects underway, there is still enormous growth potential. At the same time, reduced interest rates are expected to boost housing activity, and aerospace demand is expected to rise as airlines revamp their aged fleets. These macroeconomic drivers continue to provide appealing entry points for cyclical names with long-term upside.

The background for these investments is especially attractive. Financial markets rebounded strongly in 2024, with financial equities up more than 30% by the end of the year, owing to lower inflation, lower interest rates, and strong investor sentiment. Even if the United States GDP growth is expected to fall from 2.7% in 2024 to 1.5% in 2025, hopes of Fed rate cuts and a more stable regulatory environment are keeping financial industry momentum alive. Meanwhile, growing corporate refinancing needs and record-high consumer debt are steering capital into private credit and asset-backed lendingareas where Highbridge has traditionally excelled.

Dubin has long been involved in basic research and multi-asset investing through Highbridge and his private investment firm, Dubin & Company. His portfolio demonstrates a high-conviction strategy, with the top ten holdings accounting for more than 40% of reported 13F equities. Dubins top stock picks frequently coincide with broader macroeconomic themes, such as monetary easing, capital market expansion, and industrial revival, making them excellent bets for long-term investors looking for asymmetric risk-reward ratios.

Glenn Russell Dubin is one of the industrys most experienced hedge fund managers, best known as the co-founder of Highbridge Capital Management , a multi-strategy investment business he founded with Henry Swieca in 1992. Before being bought by JPMorgan Chase in 2004, the firm quickly rose to prominence as one of Wall Streets most sophisticated hedge funds. As of March 2024, Highbridge Capital manages more than $7.1 billion in discretionary assets and has a focused exposure to growth industries.

We recently published a list of Billionaire Glenn Russell Dubins 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES) stands against other billionaire Glenn Russell Dubins stock picks with huge upside potential.

Story Continues

Tariff concerns have increased volatility in the equity markets, particularly in light of proposed higher tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. However, other investors see this as a temporary disruption that could eventually benefit domestic manufacturers and capital goods industries. In reality, leading market commentators argue that predictions of a fresh wave of trade protectionism are exaggerated, with underlying fundamentals remaining strong across major value industries.

In that scenario, this may be a good time to follow experienced managers such as Glenn Dubin. As markets reset and valuations in banking and industrial stocks decline from their 2024 highs, the opportunity to purchase into structurally good companies at a discount is wide open. Highbridge Capitals recent bets indicate trust in sectors that are not only rebounding but evolving, and these top stock picks might provide considerable upside as the market rebalances in 2025.

Methodology

To compile a list of Billionaire Glenn Russell Dubins 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential, we studied Greenlight Capitals Q4 2024 13F filings to identify billionaire Glenn Russell Dubins stock picks with the most upside potential. We evaluated the firms in ascending order of upside potential. These stocks are also popular with elite 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).

Hess Corporation (HES): Among Billionaire Glenn Russell Dubins Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential

An oil tanker sailing across the horizon, conveying the importance of crude oil transportation for the company.

Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 92

Upside Potential: 27.40%

Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES) is an exploration and production company that develops, produces, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. The company is principally active in the United States, Guyana, and Malaysia, with significant offshore exploration activity in the Gulf of Mexico and Guyana. Its two main business sectors are exploration and production (E&P) and midstream.

For the first quarter of 2025, which ended March 31, Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES) reported net income of $430 million, or $1.39 per share, a considerable decrease from $972 million, or $3.16 per share, in Q1 2024. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $559 million in net income, or $1.81 per share. The reduction in earnings was mostly caused by lower realized oil prices, which averaged $71.22 per barrel in Q1 2025, compared to $80.06 in Q1 2024. Despite this, Hess net output remained stable at 476,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in Q1 2025 and Q1 2024.

Hess Corporations (NYSE:HES) Bakken assets experienced higher production of 195,000 boepd in Q1 2025, up from 190,000 boepd in the previous years quarter. Offshore production in the Gulf of Mexico and Guyana also demonstrated resiliency, with the Stabroek Block delivering 183,000 bopd in Q1 2025, a modest decrease from 190,000 bopd in Q1 2024. The company expects production to range between 480,000 and 490,000 boepd in Q2 2025.

The Midstream segments net income increased to $70 million in Q1 2025 from $67 million the previous year. Hess Yellowtail project in Guyana is set to begin operations in Q3 2025, with a production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). Given these encouraging developments, including increased production capacity and continuing projects such as Yellowtail, Hess is poised for significant future growth, ranking among the top stocks with excellent upside potential. Glen Russells stake in Hess Corporations (NYSE:HES) was worth $77 million, which accounted for 2.88% of his portfolio at the end of Q4 2024

Overall, HES ranks 10th on our list of billionaire Glenn Russell Dubins stock picks with huge upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of HES, our conviction lies in the belief that certain 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 HES 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.
Police investigate the scene of a shooting near the student union at Florida State University on April 17 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Following $2.1B in recovered reimbursement in 2024, Iodine strengthens its leadership to meet growing demand for AI solutions that drive proven financial impact.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Iodine Software, the leading AI-powered revenue cycle company, today announced the appointment of Valerie Mondelli, RPh, MBA, as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Mondelli joins the companys executive leadership team at a pivotal time, as Iodine prepares to scale its impact following a landmark year in which it helped health systems recover more than $2.1 billion in reimbursement in 2024.

With more health systems under increasing financial strain and AI adoption on the rise, Iodine is one of the few healthcare AI companies delivering clear, quantifiable results. A recent McKinsey report noted that only 23% of healthcare executives said their AI vendors demonstrated positive ROI. In contrast, Iodine partners routinely recover millions in right-sized reimbursement, reduce denials, and streamline revenue cycle operations.

"As the healthcare market becomes more crowded with AI vendors, health systems need partners who dont just promise impactbut prove it," said William Chan, CEO and Co-Founder of Iodine Software. "Valerie brings decades of commercial leadership and a deep understanding of healthcares financial pressures. Her experience and customer-first mindset will help us align our teams and scale our growth strategy for even greater impact."

Mondelli brings more than 25 years of commercial leadership experience across healthcare, retail pharmacy, payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health IT. Most recently, she served as Chief Commercial Officer at RevSpring, where she led its transformation into a digital engagement and payments platform. Her experience spans companies like Eli Lilly, RelayHealth (McKesson), and FiServ, and in 2023, she was named one of Drug Store News' Top Women in Business.

"Hospitals are under immense pressuregrappling with rising denials, financial strain, and mounting complexity," said Valerie Mondelli, Chief Commercial Officer of Iodine Software. "What sets Iodine apart is its ability to turn deep clinical intelligence into financial impact. By helping health systems recover earned revenue and prevent denials, were not just improving marginswere reinforcing their ability to deliver on their care mission. Im proud to join a team so committed to solving healthcares hardest problems."

Hundreds of hospitals and health systems trust CognitiveMLIodines proprietary Clinical Intelligence AI enginepurpose-built for healthcares complexity. By mirroring clinical judgment and leveraging one of the nations largest inpatient datasets, CognitiveML delivers the most complete picture of patient care. It uncovers hidden revenue by ensuring accurate documentation and codingdriving measurable financial and improved quality outcomes:
Senators in the Berlin House of Representatives [Photo by Sandro Halank / CC BY-SA 4.0

Following the resignation of Culture Senator Joe Chialo (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) and the swift nomination of former State Secretary for Culture Sarah Wedl-Wilson to replace him, the Berlin Senate, a coalition of the CDU and Social Democratic Party (SPD), is preparing to intensify the brutal cuts already imposed on the citys cultural sector.

Chialo justified his resignation last Friday with the far-reaching austerity measures decided by the Senate last year. In a written statement he said that he had supported the required cuts in the culture budget with a heavy heart, conscious of our shared responsibility for the city. However, the further cuts now planned would cut too deeply into existing plans and objectives. They could lead to the imminent closure of cultural institutions known throughout Germany, which was something he said, he could not support.

This statement is, of course, absurd. Chialo, who previously worked as a music manager, has always supported the cuts. According to various press reports, he even submitted proposals last year that were almost twice as extensive as the measures ultimately adopted.

In addition, Chialo was responsible for the attempt to introduce a so-called democracy clause to check the understanding of democracy of recipients of public funding. Particularly important to him was an anti-Semitism clause, which would have effectively banned any criticism of the state of Israel and its genocide in Gaza. Anyone who expressed criticism of Israel would be excluded from funding. The clause met with fierce protest in the cultural scene and was ultimately withdrawn due to legal concerns.

Most recently, Chialo was being discussed as a possible Culture Minister at a federal level. Instead, however, the CDU nominated the far-right media entrepreneur Wolfram Weimer for the post.

In fact, Chialos resignation preempted his dismissal. There was growing criticism within the Senate that he was not defending and enforcing the austerity measures aggressively enough. For example, he did not attend the Culture Dialogue he had initiated with selected representatives of Berlins art and culture scene, even though it was intended to curb protests against the cuts.

Instead, the measures were defended by the Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and State Secretary Wedl-Wilson. Berlin city hall had apparently come to the conclusion that Chialo was not in a position to push through the massive cuts in the citys cultural landscape against growing opposition.

The cuts decided so far are huge: 130 million euros [US$144 million] will be cut this year alone, 149 million in 2026, and another 164 million in 2027. The impact on the independent arts scene and smaller institutions will be particularly dramatic. It is already clear that many will not survive in the coming years. Even renowned institutions such as the Deutsches Theater and the Schaubuhne could find themselves in existential trouble. The Deutsches Theater has already cut 1.6 million euros from its budget.

It is evident this is an unprecedented cutback that will result in massive job losses and wage cuts. Wedl-Wilson is now supposed to push this program through for the state government.

The 56-year-old independent cultural manager was previously rector of the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin. Her statement that no further cuts in the cultural sector can be decided upon is empty rhetoric. Immediately after her appointment, she identified new potential savings in cultural institutions. The latter will be compelled to work more closely together to reduce costsa well-known means of rationalization. Berlins three opera houses, the Deutsche Oper, the Komische Oper and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, together with the Staatsballett Berlin and Stage Services, were merged back in 2004 to form the Berlin Opera Foundation and since then budgets have been repeatedly cut and jobs eliminated.

The funds currently approved are insufficient to pay the contractually agreed wages at the citys state-subsidized theaters over the next three years. The Senate is therefore planning a legal change: The theatres affected  including the Volksbuhne, the Gorki Theater, the Deutsches Theater, the Theater an der Parkaue and the Konzerthaus are to be converted into public foundations. Around 1,100 employees would be affected. With the spin-off, they would no longer be covered by the contract agreement for the federal states (TV-L), which would automatically result in a reduction in wages.

At the same time, the new legal form represents the first step toward complete privatization. As state secretary, Wedl-Wilson has already commissioned a review of this issue. Remarkably, the proportion of theatres organized privately in Germany has risen from 20 percent in 1990 to 45 percent in 2022a clear trend toward commercialisation and the dismantling of public funding for culture.

The democracy clause is also to be reintroduced in a new, supposedly legally secure form. It is intended not only to safeguard process of implementing cuts, but also to be used against non-conformist and/ or politically unpopular institutions and artists. Berlins Justice Senator, Felor Badenberg (CDU), is even planning a regulation that extends beyond the cultural sector. She stated that subsidies should not be paid to enemies of the constitution. Whoever or whatever falls under this catch-all term would ultimately be a matter of interpretationin effect, giving the German secret services influence over cultural funding, with all the ominous implications of that!

Like Wegner, Wedl-Wilson also called for more revenue from cultural institutions when she took office. Mayor Wegner had previously criticized the subsidy practice: I think we need to get away from the mentality that we need more money from the state. Theatres accordingly should raise ticket prices to compensate for missing subsidieswith the effect that access to culture will increasingly become a privilege for the wealthy.

The CDU and SPD are thereby implementing the anti-culture agenda of the extreme right. The culture spokesman for the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) Robert Eschricht welcomed Chialos resignation, saying that it had not yet been possible to push through the democracy clause against left-wing resistance and cut the Gordian knot of the over-subsidized and aloof culture bubble.

Wegner and Wedl-Wilson can also count on the support of the opposition parties in the Berlin House of Representatives. The Green Party faction leaders, Bettina Jarasch and Werner Graf, called for a swift continuation of the austerity policy following Chialos resignation, demanding that: Kai Wegner, take over. Anne Helm and Tobias Schulze of the Left Party, which itself provided the culture senator in the last two legislative periods, also welcomed the quick succession and wished Wedl-Wilson much success.
Louis Theroux: The Settlers, a Mindhouse Productions for the BBC, is available on iPlayer in the UK for the next 11 months here.

Louis Therouxs documentary on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, made amid the Gaza genocide, paints a devastating picture of the ultra-nationalist religious fundamentalist movement. It brings out its role as the Israeli states advanced guard in the ethnic cleansing and mass murder of the Palestinians.

There has been predictable outrage from Zionist apologists precisely because the documentary speaks to a wider sense of anger internationally at the escalating genocide in Gaza.

Louis Theroux  The Settlers [Photo: IMDB]

This is Therouxs second documentary on the ultra-nationalist settlers. In 2011, making The Ultra Zionists, he described them as being on the fringe of a fringe in terms of their outlook and beliefs, while enjoying a degree of support from the Israeli state.

That year, the Netanyahu government faced mounting protests across the whole of Israeli society against economic conditions. Conscious of the Arab Spring, the government approved thousands of settlements on occupied Palestinian land to offset this protest movement.

Today, fascist settler parties are in government and are playing a determining role in Benjamin Netanyahus murderous regime. The settlers provide an essential social base for militarism and social reaction.

Therouxs documentary, though focused on the West Bank, also showed the ethnic cleansing colonialist programme for Gaza. Daniella Weiss, the far-right godmother of the settler movement, boasted of having 800 families ready to move into Gaza, saying, Our mission is to settle Israel.

She shows Theroux a map of the Greater Israel she means, encompassing Lebanon, Jordan, and parts of Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Palestinians in this region should leave and go to other countries, she declares. When Theroux says that not thinking about other people at all seems sociopathic, she laughs. This is normal, she insists.

This is the real policy of Zionism. In Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, Theroux is asked by an Israeli soldier, How long are you going to be in Israel?

Texas-born settler Ari Abramowitz carries his gun at all times, including in the synagogue. He calls the Bible a land deed to the West Bank. Showing Theroux around, he insisted that the Palestinian people dont exist.

At one point we see Weisss car break from an escorted convoy of settlers and rabbis and head towards Gaza. Her gesture, she said, was to show the accompanying rabbis that Gaza is not beyond reach. One rabbi, Dov Lior, is shown calling for Palestinian savages and camel-riders to be cleansed.

Zionist apologists have tried to protest that focusing on extremists manipulates the narrative, with financier and self-proclaimed ardent Zionist Ben Goldsmith describing them as about as accurate a representation of the whole as Tommy Robinson is of UK society.

Theroux replied that Weiss has enormous clout within the Israeli cabinet and the protection of the army.

And as Haaretz journalist Etan Nechin told Goldsmith, settlers representatives are literally sitting in the government and control everything from the police to treasury.

Netanyahus Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pledged that Gaza will be entirely destroyed. Netanyahu himself, echoing the Nazi final solution, has said the concluding moves of this programme were underway.

Weiss boasts, We do for governments what they cant do for themselves. Abramowitz places this in a wider geopolitical context, calling the settlers the tip of the spear of America.

Theroux summarises the settler movement as Advanced by ideologues, backed up by those in power, and accountable only to god. He has written that the settlers are a bellwether for where society may be going in countries across the west.

Louis Theroux: The Settlers (2025) [Photo: IMDB]

As the documentary was airing, he noted in a Guardian opinion column, the settler National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was being hosted at Mar-a-Lago. Drawing the connection between these fascist governments, he writes that a film about extreme West Bank settlers isnt simply about a region of the Middle East.

The settlers are the stormtroopers implementing government policy. We see the fascist Ben-Gvir addressing a triumphalist jamboree promoting settlement in Gaza and forcing Palestinian emigration. A protester asks, Do we want to be a colonising country? Therouxs film answers this question in the affirmative.

Under Israeli law, initial settler incursions, outposts, are nominally illegal, only becoming settlements when granted state recognition. (They remain illegal under international law). Settlements like Evyatar, shown shortly after it received legal recognition, are then provided with a military base, extending the colonialist military occupation.

Hebron, in the West Bank, has around 700 settlers under military protection, and Palestinians are excluded by checkpoints from ever more areas. Theroux notes that these mean his guide, local peace activist Issa Amro, cannot go to the visitor centre of his own town.

When Theroux suggests that under international law her actions might be considered a war crime, Weiss dismisses it as a light felony. Abramowitz insists some things transcend the whims of legislation.

In Tuwuni, Theroux and his guides shelter in a shot-up house when an Israel Defense Forces patrol from the neighbouring military post drives past. The green lights of rifle laser sights play over the windows. Theroux suggests calling the police. His guides reply, What police? They are one regime.

Haaretz reported that Issa Amro has been subject to settler and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intimidation since the film. His house was raided by masked assailants.

Louis Theroux: The Settlers (2025) [Photo: IMDB]

Theroux is repeatedly asked for his passport for checking. In Hebron, a masked soldier attempts to manhandle Theroux away from a checkpoint, saying the IDF are above the police. The usually calm Theroux says sharply, Dont touch me.

At one point, Weiss denies there is any such thing as settler violence. Any violence by settlers was purely defensive against Palestinian attack, she claims, before physically pushing Theroux to provoke a reaction to legitimise physical escalation. Do something! she insists. Later she says, I hoped you push me back.

Former Jewish Chronicle editor Jake Wallis Simons is another who suggested the filming was manipulative in presenting settler joviality with a backdrop of smoking Gaza. But that is the backdrop, and Theroux films Zionist tourists going to a viewpoint just to watch Gaza burn.

Simons also accused Theroux of peddling stereotypes by showing the worst Jews he can find. Hardly. If the opportunity existed to show the worst people to be found in Israel, then Theroux would have shot his documentary in the Knesset.

The efforts to present The Settlers as an example of BBC and media bias against Israel is, of course, ludicrous. Millions know this and millions more are beginning to draw the same conclusion.

Month after month, opponents of the Gaza genocide have been denounced as antisemites by the media, the Starmer Labour government and the Tories before them, subjected to police attacks, arrests and other forms of victimisation. In February, following a protest campaign by Zionists, the BBC dutifully pulled from its iPlayer platform a documentary showing conditions in Gaza.

This is why Theroux felt obliged to tread carefully, admitting that the ongoing displacement and intimidation of Palestinians is more severe than we could capture.

Anyone shocked by his film just hadnt been paying attention, he wrote. Im glad we were able to show as much as we did. I also wish we could have shown much more.

Theroux deserves credit for getting as much past the censors as he hashe noted how the theme of many messages he has received has been, At last, mainstream British TV is saying something about what is happening. And also for his concluding appeal in the Guardian, I encourage people to read and consume more on the subject.
By Karen Roman

IPO Edge Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone joined an interview with Schwab Networks Diane King Hall on May 12 to discuss Archer Aviation Inc.s (NYSE: ACHR) quarterly report. Mr. Jannarone said he sees the shares as speculative due to the current long path to profitability. In the meantime, the company is making strides overseas and in the defense space to begin earning revenue before securing FAA clearance for domestic commercial operations.

FAA certification in the U.S. may yet be further delayed, with JP Morgan estimating the clearance will likely happen on 2026 or 2027.

Mr. Jannarone said it is important to consider the companys cash burn and balance sheet; Archer has liquidity of $1 billion but incurred operating costs of $500 million last year, indicating the company may need to raise more capital in the future.

He also mentioned Archer Aviations future performance will also rely on the aircrafts it delivers and sets into operation in places like Ethiopia, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Watch the full Schwab interview below, or click here:

Contact:

IPO-Edge.com

Editor@IPO-Edge.com

Twitter: @IPOEdge

Instagram: @IPOEdge
Dr. Rasha Alawieh [Photo: From handout]

Lawyers for a Rhode Island hospital kidney doctor (nephrologist) filed an amended lawsuit last week challenging her illegal deportation to Lebanon by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Boston Logan International Airport.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, who is also a professor at Brown Universitys medical school, was detained for 36 hours at Boston Logan International Airport and deported on March 14. According to the lawsuit, she was returning from a visit to her family in Lebanon and held a valid visa at the time.

Despite holding a valid H1-B visa to work at the hospitaland a court order expressly prohibiting her removalDr. Alawieh was deported without any due process. The lawsuit was initially filed in response to her unlawful detention.

The amended lawsuit states that the CBP officers involved were never appointed by the president or the head of any federal department to make the type of determinations they did. They exercised unilateral and administratively unreviewable authority to refuse to let Dr. Alawieh enter the country, the filing asserts. As a result, her visa was canceled and she was issued a five-year ban from re-entering the United States. The lawsuit contends that these assertions of sovereign authority violate the Appointments Clause and further challenges the legality of her expedited deportation.

Dr. Alawieh is one of only three nephrologists specializing in kidney transplants in the entire state of Rhode Island. Her removal, as her colleagues and legal team have argued, will significantly harm public health by depriving patients of lifesaving care and reducing the number of specialists available to provide critical medical training.

Dr. Paul Morrissey, director of Brown Universitys transplant program, told local news, We never had an issue with her in any way. Shes an outstanding physician, outstanding person. Shes a pleasure to work with, and were horrified by this entire event.

Dr. Alawieh has lived in the United States since 2018, when she arrived on a J-1 visa to pursue medical training, completing her program at Yale in June 2024. The CBPs claim that she presents a threat is an absurd and baseless lie.

The judge issued a second order following Alawiehs deportation, stating there was reason to believe CPB had willfully disobeyed the courts directive. This blatant defiance echoes similar violations under the Trump administration, such as the deportation of immigrants to El Salvador in open contempt of judicial orders. Such actions directly contravene the Constitution, which guarantees rights to all individuals within the United States, not just citizens.

The implication of disregarding these protections is chilling: anyone could be declared a non-citizen and stripped of their rights. Without due process, there is no mechanism to challenge or stop such abuses.

The independent judiciary, enshrined in the Constitution to prevent the return of arbitrary rule by monarchs, is increasingly being supplanted by executive fiatthat is, by dictatorship.

The Trump administration claims it deported Dr. Alawieh for allegedly attending the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, where she grew up. The Department of Homeland Security asserts that she admitted to attending the funeral, though it has provided no evidence to substantiate this claim. The funeral itself drew between 500,000 and 1.4 million attendees. DHS further alleges that photos of Nasrallah were found on her phone.

Even if it were true, there isnt anything illegal about having pictures of someone on your phone or attending a funeral.

The hypocrisy of the Trump administrations actions is staggering. It barred Dr. Alawieh from the United States on the unproven claim that she attended the funeral of a figure linked to a group it deems terrorist. Yet Washington has repeatedly welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwanted by the International Court of Justice for war crimes in Gazato both the White House and Congress.

Netanyahu presides over a genocide that has already claimed the lives of at least 70,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, and is likely far higher. Israel, with full support from the United States, is deliberately starving the population of Gaza. Meanwhile, Washington has bombed Lebanon, terrorized the Middle East for over three decades, and supported countless authoritarian regimes. The deportation of Dr. Alawieh has nothing to do with moral or legal principleit is a calculated act of political repression.

In a statement celebrating Dr. Alawiehs deportation, the Trump administration declared, A visa is a privilege, not a right. What this really means is that democratic rightsincluding the right to a fair trialare to be treated as privileges, granted or revoked at the whim of Trump and his would-be dictatorship. This will be used not just against immigrants, but against all those who oppose the Trump regime and especially workers, citizens included.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a raft of anti-immigration measures Monday, confirming that his Labour government is a far-right monstrosity.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gives a press conference on migration in 9 Downing Street, May 12, 2025 [Photo by Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Starmers moveegged on by a xenophobic mediawas on one level an inevitable response to the success of anti-immigrant Reform UK in the May 1 local elections. But his speech was pitched so far to the right that he even aped the infamous, racist 1968 rivers of blood speech of Conservative MP Enoch Powell, dredging up his hysterical scaremongering about Britain being overrun by foreigners.

Powell had said that white Britons found themselves made strangers in their own country. Starmer declared,  Without them [strict immigration rules], we risk becoming an island of strangers

The white paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, maps out anti-immigration measures including restricting international law, but which Starmer made clear are only a downpayment on the brutality to come.

His speech was timed to coincide with the third reading of the Labour governments Trump-style Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which, with Labours substantial majority, will pass its final stage in the House of Commons this evening before being reviewed by the House of Lords.

The Bill deepens the criminalisation of any immigration not carried out through strict official channels, seeking to jail, deport, and tag as many migrants as possible. It is expected to be law within weeks.

Close your eyes and Starmers speech could have been delivered almost in its entirety by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Since 2016, every right-wing scoundrel in Britain has embraced leading Brexiteer Dominic Cummings anti-immigrant Brexit slogan Take Back Control. Starmers narrative was that the Brexit pledge had been betrayed by the previous Conservative government, which had lost control of the UKs borders.

The white paper, he announced, will finally take back control of our borders and close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy, and our country.

Everyone knows that slogan [Take Back Control] and what it meant for immigration, or at least thats what people thought. Because what followed from the previous government, starting with the people who used that slogan, was the complete opposite.

He complained Between 2019 and 2023, even as they [the Tories] were going around our country telling people, with a straight face, they would get immigration down, net migration quadrupled. Until in 2023, it reached nearly 1 million, which is about the population of Birmingham, our second largest city. Thats not controlits chaos.

The British people had essentially been stabbed in the back by a liberal elite. Starmer declared of the Tories 14-year record on immigration: They must answer for themselves, but I dont think you can do something like that by accident. It was a choice. A choice made even as they told you, told the country, they were doing the opposite. A one-nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control. Well, no more. Today, this Labour government is shutting down the lab. The experiment is over.

In opposition to an immigration system that seems almost designed to permit abuse, Starmer declared, I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly. Thats why some of the policies in this white paper go back nearly three years. Repeating words he first made at Labours annual conference last autumn he declared, Taking back control is a Labour argument.

Under Labour, every area of the immigration systemwork, family, and studywill be tightened up

This includes a proposal to curb the powers of judges to block deportations. At present, courts can grant asylum to foreign criminals and asylum seekers under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in exceptional circumstances.

The former human rights lawyer Starmer proposed to close what he described as a loophole earlier this year, not against criminals, but after a Palestinian family of six from Gaza were granted the right to live in the UK on the basis that there was a compelling case under the right to a family lifewith a relative living in the UK.

The new policies also include:

Scrapping visas for social care workers. This will intensify the overall decline in foreign-born workers being employed in the National Health Service post-Brexit, threatening its collapse.

Overseas workers seeking to work in Britain will require degree-level qualification to apply for the main skilled worker visa, as opposed to the equivalent of an A-level. The government estimates this will prevent new visa applications for around 180 jobs, reducing immigration by around 39,000 per year by 2029.

At present, immigrants need to live in the UK for five-years before applying for the right to stay indefinitely. This will be doubled to 10 years

Overseas graduates will only be allowed to remain in Britain for 18 months after completing their studies, instead of two years currently.

Digital identity will be compulsory for all overseas citizens.

Starmer again directly appealed to Farages constituency, stating there would be English language requirements across all routes [to enter and live in the UK]including for dependents. The white paper outlines a policy that a basic understanding of English will be extended to people applying to come to the UK as adult dependents of visa-holders.

Concluding his rant, Starmer declared that some people think controlling immigration is reining in a sort of natural freedom rather than a basic and reasonable responsibility of government to make choices that work for a nations economy. For years, this seems to have muddled our thinking but let me be clearit ends now.

Any immigrant allowed in by Labours border Gestapo would now have to first demonstrate their commitment to help rebuild our country, as Settlement becomes a privilege that is earned, not a right

While not setting a number capping migration, saying that every previous target set by the Tories had failed, Starmer pledged that by the end of the parliament net migration would be cut significantly.

Every attempt was made to whip up divisions between workers in Britain and migrants. Downing Streets press release announcing the white paper was headlined, Migration system will back British workers, boost economic growth and control our borders under the Plan for Change.

Its main theme was British jobs for British workers, another slogan beloved of the far-right. Labours was a new common-sense approach, one that backs British workers over cheap overseas labour... Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers was the aim.

Downing Street boasted that More than 24,000 people with no right to be here have been returned since the electionthe highest rate in 8 yearsincluding a 16 percent increase in foreign national offender removals.

Migration was blamed for all social ills. Record immigration meant Public services were stretched, housing costs soared, and employers swapped skills investment for cheap overseas labour.

The answer was tougher rules on who can come to work, study or bring family. Every part of the system is being tightened. Backdoor routes to settlement will be closed, enforcement will be stepped up as we end abuse of the system.

Even more brutal attacks on immigration are being prepared beyond those measures in a white paper concerning legal migration. Starmer declared in his speech, linking the lack of vital resources to too many immigrants, If we do need to take further steps, if we do need to do more to release pressure on housing and our public services, then mark my wordswe will.

This was the thrust of the foreword to the paper by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who presented it to Parliament later on Monday. She wrote, Later this Summer, we will set out further reforms to the asylum system and to border security in response to irregular and illegal migration, including plans for new legislation building on the new measures already set out in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that is currently passing through Parliament.
Striking Jeep workers with Will Lehman (third from right) on the picket line in Toledo, Ohio in 2023.

The following statement originally appeared in the online edition of Newsweek on May 12. Will Lehman is a Mack Trucks worker and was a candidate for United Auto Workers president in the unions 2022 elections. He is a leading member of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is promoting President Donald Trumps economic nationalism, claiming tariffs will defend our jobs and livelihoods. But this is a fraud and a deadly danger to the entire working class.

The alternative to global capitalist exploitation is not protectionism in the service of our own ruling class, but the international unity of workers against a common enemy: the transnational corporations that exploit our labor. Economic nationalism divides us and weakens our fight.

Trumps trade war policies are not about protecting workers. They are preparations for warspecifically, a potential war with China. His sweeping tariffs are designed to enrich the ruling elite and military-industrial complex while whipping up hatred against Chinese workers, who are not our enemies but our class brothers and sisters.

Within hours of Trumps so-called Liberation Day tariff announcement, Stellantis idled its Windsor and Toluca plants in Canada and Mexico, impacting more than 7,000 workers. In the United States, 900 layoffs followed at facilities in Michigan and Indiana. Since then, layoffs have hit Stellantis workers at Warren Truck and other metro Detroit plants; GM workers at Factory Zero in Detroit and Oshawa, Canada; and Volvo-Mack Trucks workers in Virginia, Maryland and my own plant in Pennsylvania.

These layoffs are a direct result of Trumps nationalist policiesand Fains support for them.

In an April 11 livestream, Fain tried to dodge responsibility. While continuing to support trade war, he claimed, We are not aligning everything we do with the Trump administration ... We are negotiating with the Trump administration. He added, It is a mistake to defend the status quo when it comes to free trade.

This reeks of hypocrisy. The UAW bureaucracy has collaborated in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs since the 1970s, long before NAFTA. Throughout the 1980s, the UAW promoted nationalism as it collaborated in plant closures and wage cuts. Not a single job was saved on this basis.

The 2023 stand-up strikes at the Big Three auto companies were theatrical stunts that forced most workers to remain on the job. The final contracts failed to meet our core demands and opened the door to job cuts. For his role in selling out the strike, Fain took home more than $274,000 last year.

The UAW bureaucracy is not merely promoting nationalism. It is embracing the logic of world war and the repression that comes with it. Trumps trade war is part of the escalating global war, which is at the same time a war on democratic rights at home. Students and others are being seized for deportation for opposing Israels actions in Gazaincluding former UAW member Mahmoud Khalil.

There is no section of the working class that benefits from economic nationalism. The auto industry is globally integrated. Parts and vehicles are produced across a vast interconnected supply chain by workers in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, China, South Korea, Japan, and elsewhere.

Nationalism subordinates the working class to the profit interests of the capitalist class. This is the same poison used by Trump to attack immigrants, and its logic is war and the sacrifice of workers and their children for the interests of the rich.

Workers in the U.S. must reject the lie that we can only save our jobs at the expense of workers in other countries. We can only defend our interests by uniting with our class brothers and sisters throughout the world.

Thats why I urge autoworkers to form rank-and-file committees in every plant and to join the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). The corporations are globally coordinated. We must be too.

We dont need a trade war. We dont need nationalism. We need a new strategy: internationalism and socialism. Not backing the nationalist competition between different corporations, but creating a society based on genuine equality, in which the global economy is controlled by the workers and for the workers.
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Newly-elected Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd in St. Peter's Square in his first public appearance. [Photo by Edgar Beltran / The Pillar / CC BY 4.0

The selection of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV is a calculated political decision by the Catholic Church, not a theological one. He has been chosen as the figure deemed most capable of giving capitalism a facelift amid an unprecedented global crisis.

As Trumps second term is defined by threats of neo-colonial conquest and global war abroad, and mass deportations and fascist reaction at home, the Catholic Church is positioning itself as a moral counterweight to the naked oligarchic rule now dominating the center of global capitalism.

With 1.4 billion adherents worldwidenearly half concentrated in the Americas and 20 percent in rapidly growing African nationsthe Catholic Church remains a critical bulwark of the capitalist status quo, playing a central role in containing class struggle and suppressing working-class radicalization in much of the world.

Despite deep divisions within the Church, Prevost reportedly won broad support from cardinals across Latin America, the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. His multilingual fluencySpanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and Englishalong with dual US-Peruvian citizenship and leadership roles in both countries, were seen as ideal qualities to aid the Churchs efforts to intervene in global politics by channeling popular grievances in both advanced and oppressed countries.

Trumps social media praise for Prevosta great honor for our countrymasks underlying tensions. Prevost has publicly criticized Trumps mass deportations, climate change denial and Vice President JD Vances perversion of medieval Catholic doctrine to justify the persecution of immigrants. He previously denounced Trumps bad hombres rhetoric as racist. Prevosts defense of immigrant rightswhich resonates with most workers internationallyrisks upstaging Washingtons would-be Fuhrer.

Prevosts election also reflects the Churchs concern over rising nationalist divisions and conflicts within the US-led imperialist bloc. As theologian Miguel Perez told the Huffington Post, he has always talked about bridges and dialogue, about overcoming confrontations, in a context in which multilateralism is damaged, especially by leaders like Trump.

Among the leaders of European powers, who would have been consulted in the process of selecting Prevost, there is no doubt a hope that the pope will be an ally in its conflict with the Trump administration.

Expressing the generally favorable view of the new pope prevailing within sections of the American ruling class, CNN Vatican analyst Elise Ellen described him as a calm and balanced centrist, who is even-handed and an exceptional leader. On the other hand, Trumps former chief advisor, the fascist Steven Bannon, called his selection jaw-dropping due to his previous statements criticizing Trump officials.

Another political consideration behind Prevosts selection is an effort somehow to contain growing social anger among broad masses of the population throughout the world.

In his inaugural prayer, speaking in Spanish and Italian, Prevost warned of a third world war in pieces, citing Ukraine and India-Pakistan tensions, and called for a ceasefire in Gaza and authentic peace. He directly addressed AI-driven inequality and climate disasters in an appeal to workers and the poor facing job losses from automation and ecological collapse.

Prevosts chosen name invokes the legacy of Pope Leo XIII. The latters 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum sought to counter the influence of Marxism during industrialization at the turn of the last century. The document endorsed unions and fair wages while condemning socialism and revolution, declaring: Capital cannot do without labor, nor labor without capital. Mutual agreement results in the beauty of good order, while perpetual conflict necessarily produces confusion and savage barbarity.

By framing class conflict as a moral issue resolvable through Church-mediated dialogue, the Rerum Novarum sought to divert workers from the class struggle and Marxism, which identifies scientifically the intrinsic contradictions of world capitalism that lead to extreme inequality and other social ills. Accumulation of wealth at one pole is, therefore, at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the opposite pole, Marx explained in Capital.

Prevosts papacy is a conscious revival of his namesakes strategy. He has praised Rerum Novarums commitment to social justice, while upholding the sanctity of private property, a stance engraved in the explicit rejection of socialism by the Cathechism, or the official doctrine of the Church.

While posturing as a reformer, Prevost was selected to better maintain and nurture the Churchs alliance with capital and to protect its own major landowning and financial interests. Consequently, so-called progressive elements such as Prevost are always reduced to empty platitudes and impotent moral appeals to an insatiable capitalist class, such as his longwinded calls for AI ethics to focus on human dignity and for inclusion and listening to youth and marginalized groups.

The elevation of figures such as Prevost and his late mentor Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) are only the latest examples of the Churchs historic role of loyal opposition: criticizing war and social degradation, while upholding the capitalist order from which they inevitably flow.

For instance, in 19th-century Europe, the Church promoted Christian labor associations to rival socialist unions, emphasizing the supposed harmony between workers and bosses. Germanys Kolping Society and Italys ACLI used this model to fragment working-class unity.

While 1960s Latin American liberation theologians like Gustavo Gutierrez advocated class struggle, the Vatican suppressed radical elements. The Dirty War Pope, Bergoglio himself denounced the ideological colonization of the Church and collaborated with the Argentine dictatorships disappearance of radical elements within the Church.

Post-Rerum Novarum encyclicals, including Quadragesimo Anno (1931) and Centesimus Annus (1991), refined the Churchs third way or reformist rhetoric denouncing both socialism and unfettered capitalism while upholding private property.

Despite his extensive curriculum vitae, which includes criticizing the injustices under the late Peruvian dictator Alberto Fujimori, Prevosts image as a progressive quickly came under fire after reports emerged that he refused to address clerical sexual abuse cover-ups in Peru and Chicago.

Most recently, in Peru, in 2022, three women reported to Prevost that two priests from his diocese had sexually abused them as minors in 2004. The women claimed Prevost failed to conduct a thorough investigation, did not inform civil authorities adequately and did not impose restrictions on the accused priests.

AI-driven job losses, climate disasters, genocide and imperialist war are inherent to a system prioritizing profit over human need. Prevosts pacifist appeals and moral denunciations of inequality and fascist reaction are aimed at covering up the deep roots of these social issues in capitalism.

However, even the meager reforms mediated through religious or bourgeois institutions in an earlier epoch to counter revolutionary consciousness are today rejected outright by ruling elites confronting a much more advanced stage of the crisis of global capitalism.

The Church itself, an institution steeped in medieval obscurantism, can only respond to the wildfire of AI technology reaching the palms of workers in every corner of the globe by clinging desperately to the tailcoats of the capitalist oligarchy and offering all its reactionary services.

Todays emerging upsurge of strikes and protestsfrom Peruvian miners to US autoworkerssignals the emergence of an explosive wave of global class struggle that no papal encyclical can contain. Authentic peace and protecting the livelihoods and lives of workers anywhere require the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist profit system under the leadership of the world Trotskyist movementthe International Committee of the Fourth International.
About 200 students and staff members joined a protest at Sydneys Macquarie University last Wednesday to oppose deep cuts to courses and degrees that will have severe impacts on students and educators jobs.

Rally against cuts at Macquarie University, May 7, 2025

The Macquarie management is cutting courses, and whole degree programs, claiming it needs to save between $40 million and $60 million per year. Majors are being cut to the bone, and students will have no electives in their first-year courses.

In total, 13 of the 24 majors in Arts will be cancelled, along with degrees in Music, History and Planning. The cutting of majors and degrees was discovered by staff on the Universities Admissions Centre website, without any discussion with those responsible for teaching these programs.

Inevitably, this will lead to the sacking of staff, which has not yet been formally announced.

However, the stopmqcuts rally organisers, from the pseudo-left Macquarie Socialists, presented the cuts as an issue isolated to the university, divorcing them from the wave of course and job cuts taking place nationally as a direct result of the policies of the just re-elected Albanese Labor government.

Across the country, more than 3,000 job cuts are underway due to Labors reactionary reductions to international student enrolments and its continued under-funding of universities.

Despite intense opposition by staff and students, Western Sydney University is eliminating up to 400 jobs, the University of Technology Sydney is cutting 400, the Australian National University 600 and the University of Wollongong at least 150. Other universities announcing cuts include Canberra, Federation, James Cook, Southern Queensland, Griffith, La Trobe, Tasmania and Swinburne.

As a member of the Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committee, I asked to speak at the protest and was refused with the pretext that we have a full speakers list. The real reason for the refusal was political, not organisational, as revealed by the line of the protest.

In my remarks to the rally, I planned to call for a broader unified fight across all the universities against the Labor governments cuts and restructuring, and against similar attacks taking place internationally, spearheaded by the fascistic Trump administration in the United States.

Speakers at the rally, by contrast, presented the restructuring as a Macquarie problem, that could be resolved by putting pressure on the management. A student speaker claimed the budget cuts were stupid, by stupid idiots who dont want to engage with the university. We have rich men in board rooms who make decisions who affect all of us We need to kick up a stink. We need management scared of us.

The perspective put forward was that the alleged financial crisis at Macquarie was the result of poor decisions by management, by spending money on infrastructure and outside consultants. The million-dollar salary of the vice chancellor was raised, together with the house provided to him by the university.

That covers up the role of the Albanese government, which has drastically capped international student enrolments, joining the Liberal-National Coalition in making them scapegoats for the cost-of-living and housing crisis affecting millions of working-class households.

Labor has intensified the chronic under-resourcing of universities by successive Labor and Liberal-National governments over the past decade and a half since the billions of dollars cut by the last Greens-backed Labor government, that of Gillard and Rudd.

The Albanese governments financial squeeze is aimed at forcing the universities to integrate themselves more fully into the demands of big business and the military, as set out in Labors Universities Accord, which ties funding to national priorities, including the AUKUS military preparations for war against China.

Wednesdays rally was endorsed by the universitys National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch committee. The NTEU, the countrys main campus trade union, has opposed any unified struggle against the Labor governments cuts.

For decades, the NTEU has signed off on enterprise agreements with university managements that have enabled pro-business restructuring.

Steven Hansen, an NTEU member, spoke in support of the rallys perspective, urging participants to force the hand of the Macquarie management by saying, we will not accept cuts to our program.

Hansen sought to divert the anger into seeking a new NTEU enterprise bargaining deal with the management, 18 months away, at the end of 2026.

We have an important opportunity at the end of next year where we go into an enterprise bargaining period, he said. Then we can finally legally go on strike. Strikes have been made illegal in this country. During COVID, when they fired 600 staff at this university, we could do very little legally in the union because of the laws, in part passed by the Labor Party themselves. We need to take the opportunity in enterprise bargaining and actually bring the university to a halt.

That is a cover for the NTEU apparatus, and the union bureaucracy as a whole, as well as the Labor government. In fact, when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in 2020, the NTEU leadership volunteered to accept the destruction of thousands of jobs. Even after a rank-and-file revolt against that betrayal, the union pushed through deals at individual universities to implement the job cuts.

Moreover, the anti-strike laws, restricting industrial action to union-controlled enterprise bargaining periods, were drawn up by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) itself in partnership with the Keating Labor government of 1991 to 1996, and reinforced, via the Fair Work laws by the ACTU in collaboration with the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments of 2007 to 2013.

At the rally, I intended to warn that the perspective of the NTEU was to work with managements to help them implement the cuts, as it did in 2020, including through so-called voluntary redundancies, all within the framework of enterprise agreements that facilitate such change proposals in consultation with the unions.

That is why we are calling for the formation of rank-and-file committees at every university. Our task is not to provide advice to management. University staff, along with students, need to form their own organisations of struggle to develop and fight for demands based on the educational and financial needs of students and staff, not the dictates of the corporate elite enforced by the Labor government.

The Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committee is also fighting for the defence of Randa Abdel-Fattah, a research scholar at Macquarie, and against the suspension of her research grant at the behest of the Albanese government and Zionist groups because of her criticism of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The attack on her is part of a wider attempt to silence any criticism of the Gaza atrocity, which has been backed by all the capitalist governments, including Albaneses, and the underlying plunge into war led by the Trump administration.

Protesters in Australia are not yet being taken off the street and deported as in the US, but all governments are silencing dissent, initially on the false claim that opposition to the genocide is antisemitic.

The Labor government has also helped police the Trump administrations assault on free speech and public education by advising researchers in Australia to comply with the White Houses 36-page questionnaire to researchers, threatening to cut off US funding unless they attest that their research aligns with US strategic and military interests.

At the rally, I planned to call for a national online mass meeting of staff and students to develop unified industrial and political action to halt all the cuts and the witch hunting of anti-genocide academics and students.

This is part of a broader necessary struggle against capitalism itself and its program of ever-greater corporate wealth and turn to war and authoritarianism. It means a fight to reorganise society along genuinely democratic and egalitarian, that is socialist, lines in the interests of humanity, not the corporate ruling class.

To discuss these issues and how to form rank-and-file committees, please contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the rank-and-file educators network.

Contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: CFPE_Australia

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout
The New York City skyline is seen behind Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. [AP Photo/Seth Wenig]

Two more equipment failures plagued Newark Liberty International airport over the weekend, triggering a series of disruptions and delays starting at the airport and extending over many US and international routes.

On April 28, a 90 second radio and radar failure at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) where air traffic controllers control Newark airspace. This caused confusion, prompting hundreds of delayed, diverted and canceled flights.

A repeat failure occurred Friday when a telecommunications outage once again brought down the radar and communications for Newark controllers. The outage occurred around 3:55 a.m. and lasted approximately 90 seconds, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson said.

Another equipment failure occurred Sunday morning. A ground stop was issued by the FAA, stopping all aircraft destined for Newark from departing their origin airports. Aircraft in and out of Newark were slowed to a level that could be then handled by the on-site control tower and controllers from New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) which overlies the TRACON airspace but normally does not have to work that airspace. The ground stop lasted for about 45 minutes.

The FAA briefly slowed aircraft in and out of the airport while we ensured redundancies were working as designed, the FAA said in a statement. Operations have returned to normal.

A recording from LiveATC.net showed the moment the radar went down on Friday. Radio communications also went down but quickly returned, allowing controllers to issue quick instructions to pilots under their control.

FedEx 1989, I'm going to hand you off here. Our scopes just went black again, one controller radioed to a pilot. If you care about this, contact your airline and try to get some pressure for them to fix this stuff.

Sorry to hear about that, the FedEx pilot responded.

In another controller/pilot exchange, the controller told the pilot about the outage and instructed the pilot to maintain distance from the airspace if the pilot could not reach the controller.

One controller said that the outage began when all of the virtual buttons lit up on the Enhanced Terminal Voice Switch (ETVS), which allows controllers to quickly dial other controllers or switch frequencies.

I would say the scopes that went black were gone between one and two minutes. They returned at different times. The frequency cut out for only a few seconds, the controller reported.

Technical Operations, or Tech Ops, checked the radar scopes later in the morning and certified that everything was A-OK, said the controller.

FAA officials blamed the Friday incident on the loss of a vulnerable data line that connects a radar facility in New York to Philadelphia TRACON. Controllers responsible for Newark airspace used to work from that New York facility, but were transferred to Philadelphia last year in an unpopular attempt by the FAA to ease staffing concerns.

In the style of military personnel, controllers and their families were uprooted from their New York homes and moved to a place they did not want to be, with little to no input. Presumably, the radar and communications data also had to be routed to the new facility.

Reports of equipment failures had occurred even before the April 28 blackout and were attributed to the ill-advised move, but clearly were not taken seriously by the FAA.

The FAA announced last week before the two outages that it will install backup data lines connecting the New York facility with Philadelphia TRACON and add three new high-bandwidth fiber optic telecommunications lines between the two facilities, but such work could take months, if not years.

In an interview aired on CBS Face the Nation over the weekend, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby claimed it is still safe to fly in and out of Newark, which is one of Uniteds major hubs.

It absolutely is safe at Newark and in the entire country. And the reason is when these kind of outages happen, we train for them. We have backup procedures, we have backups to backups to backups to keep the skies safe, which is always the number one priority in situations like this, Kirby said.

When the radar outage happened at Newark, what happens is the pilots look for alternative frequencies. They go to alternative centers with alternative radars and they also have a system in the airplane where, where they can see its equivalent of radar. They can see their position in the sky and all the other aircraft around them. But what we do is slow the whole system down, which is disruptive to customers, but it's entirely safe.

While what Kirby said is technically true, what we are witnessing in real time is the removal of these layers of backups to backups in the US National Airspace System (NAS). Air traffic controllers are routinely briefed on the swiss cheese model of error reduction, which states that the more layers of imperfect safety and redundancy there are, the less chance a fatal mistake or failure can make it through the holes in the safety system.

Airliners do indeed have their own radar and safety equipment, but they are not perfect and pilots do not see the big picture of the air traffic environment. This equipment has had its own fatal failures in the past and should never be relied upon by itself unless an emergency situation like that at Newark presents itself.

In the aftermath of events like these, the FAA consistently claims that safety was never compromised. This is double-speak for nothing happened this time. The level of safety confidence was definitely eroded during these incidents.

On Thursday, Duffy announced a plan to modernize and overhaul the NAS. This proposal will require congressional approval and cost billions of dollars, and it will take years if not decades to implement. It is impossible to quickly and entirely replace the complicated safety system protecting some of the world's most complex airspace.

The FAA is trying to use the stick for controller retention instead of the carrot, as they are attempting to increase the mandatory retirement age, in place for safety reasons, in order to force controllers to stay well beyond the years in which their abilities remain sharp. Bonuses were offered to controllers about to retire as well as new hires, leaving out the bulk of controllers in the middle of their careers to languish in terrible conditions with poor pay.

The only way to fix these issues is for controllers to wage a struggle for better pay and benefits, to reverse the FAAs decision to move Newark controllers, and for a massive wave of hiring and training.
Take up the fight for rank-and-file control! Join the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee by sending an email to railwrfc@gmail.com or filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

Derailed Norfolk Southern locomotives on the bank of the Lehigh River [Photo: Nancy Run Fire Company]

Class I rail companies are requesting that the Trump administration end federal regulations requiring the use of two-person train crews, according to a report by Freight Waves. The request comes after a call from the Department of Transportation on April 3 for businesses to provide comments on deregulation, a central issue for the Trump administration which is dismantling whole departments and cutting hundreds of thousands of federal jobs.

A move to one-man crews would not only cost thousands of conductors their jobs, it would also create even more unsafe conditions than already exist on the railroads. On average, three trains derail in the US every day, as the railroads cut safety to the bone to maximize profit.

One of the most infamous disasters, the 2023 derailment and toxic chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio, was made possible by a combination of defective railcars, whose axles overheated and caught fire, and inadequately spaced wayside detectors which did not detect the problem in time. When the train derailed, Norfolk Southern conducted a controlled release and burn, which poisoned the entire town with carcinogens, in order to reopen the track as soon as possible.

From the beginning, the federal government ran interference for the railroad, systematically under-reporting the true scale of chemical exposure in the town, while eventually levying only a $310 million fine.

The disaster took place only months after Congress and the Biden White House banned a national strike by more than 100,000 Class I railroaders, in which safety was a central issue. After the disaster, even piecemeal reform legislation stalled in Congress while NS CEO Alan Shaw was allowed to dig in his heels in several congressional hearings.

This is the context in which the American Association of Railroads claims that the two-person crew requirement is an unsubstantiated mandate that conflicts with the Trump administrations policy goals of regulatory reform, technological advancement, and data-driven rule-making.

The AAR further claimed that the regulation was stifling innovation and disrupting investment in the rail industry. In reality, Class I railroads have allowed the countrys decrepit rail infrastructure to fall apart in order to save money.

AAR President and Chief Executive Ian Jefferies said that For too long, outdated, arbitrary regulations have stood in the way of implementing data-backed solutions that can further strengthen railroads already remarkable safety record. As technology advances, railroads must be empowered to innovatenot be hamstrung by prescriptive rules, including some written more than 50 years ago. As a critical economic enabler, domestic growth and prosperity are contingent upon maintaining freight railroads ability to safely, reliably and affordably deliver for American businesses and communities.

Rail companies have claimed for years that two-person crews are unnecessary and no safer than single-person crews. The AAR has even claimed that one-person crews can be safer than two-person crews. Some Class II and III rail lines and commuter Amtrak lines use one-person crews, which the AAR points to as proof of their safety.

However, these are much smaller trains that pale in comparison to the miles-long commercial freight trains used by the Class I railroads on often poorly maintained tracks, like the one that derailed in East Palestine.

Moreover, the AAR claim is not true. In 2013, 47 people were killed after dozens of oil tankers derailed and exploded in the middle of Lac-Megantic, Quebec. The train had only one crewman, the engineer, who had parked the train on the main line per company policy before leaving for his hotel overnight.

As the WSWS reported on the two-person mandate last year, the regulation is full of loopholes and exemptions designed to allow Class I railroads to impose one-person crews under the right circumstances. Rail companies must simply file for an exemption with the federal government if they wish to proceed with one-person crews.

In reality, this system was designed by the Biden administration to lay the groundwork for one-person crews while presenting the facade of defending rail safety. Biden and his Department of Transportation considered this essential to avoiding another confrontation with rail workers after they nearly faced a nationwide rail strike in 2022. Minor regulatory speed bumps to one-person crews were deemed worthwhile to avoid provoking anger from rail workers and to ease in their implementation.

Even these moderate impediments to the corporate steamrolling of regulations on business are deemed too extreme by the Class I railroads. The AAR is even reportedly filing requests for the relaxation of other critical safety regulations, including a reduction in the frequency of inspections of train brakes.

Project 2025, the blueprint for Trumps policies, also outlines two-person crews, as well as mandatory brake, mechanical and track inspections, as key regulations to roll back.

For the ruling class, faced with a spiraling debt crisis, every cent of additional profit must be extracted from the working class. If this cannot be done immediately through the suppression of wages and increased prices, then big business must turn deeper into the dismantling of regulatory frameworks designed to ensure the safety of workers and the public.

Rail companies have for decades skirted essential maintenance of critical infrastructure and have pushed for the reduction of their workforce, but this trend has accelerated since 2020 when the initial shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains. Now under the naked rule by the oligarchy under the fascist Trump, the rail companies see an opportunity to fully secure their uninterrupted right to impose one-person crews and destroy jobs and working conditions.

Estimates of savings from switching to one-person crews are as high as $2 billion for the rail industry. The same parasitic financial interests that led to the development of three-mile-long freight trains to reduce costs are now gunning for the complete dismantling of safety regulations, beginning with train crews and running headfirst into the most basic safety regulations, in a country where train derailments are already a daily occurrence.

The response of the union bureaucracy has been collaboration. While publicly denouncing one-person crews as unsafe, they allowed the rail companies to implement draconian attendance policies, began test trials of one-person crews and promoted contracts that allow the company to take the conductor off the train, an essential step in the move to one-person crews.

Significantly, it was the rail unions that initially called off strike action at the last minute in 2022, giving the Biden administration and Congress time to prepare an injunction to block the strike, which they promptly submitted to.

The conductors union SMART-TD (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division) has spent the last several months attempting to ram through contracts setting the stage for one-man crews. Having learned their lesson from 2022, the bureaucrats in the 12 rail unions divided workers up union by union, railroad by railroad, by pushing separate agreements even before the official start of national bargaining.

Meanwhile, the union bureaucracy is moving to the right and falling in line behind the Trump administration, especially endorsing his tariff trade war policies which are already triggering mass layoffs in logistics and transportation.

Even before the election, SMART-TD endorsed fascist Republican Senator Josh Hawley for reelection, citing his support for legislation backing two-person crews. Sean OBrien, General President of the Teamsters, which also includes the engineers and maintenance of way unions, spoke at the Republican National Convention and is a major Trump ally.

Now in power, the Republican Party will soon dispense with any pretense of maintaining two-person crews to further the profit interests of their oligarchic constituents, either through the direct dismantling of federal regulations or by using the trade unions to help impose pro-corporate policies.

To mobilize resistance requires the building of the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee, founded in 2022 to fight the unions betrayals and push for national strike action, as a new alternative leadership. The bureaucracy, which is joined at the hip with management and the government, must be thrown out and power returned to the rank-and-file through new leadership structures which they control.
University of Rochester in November 2015 [Photo by Steve Williams (InBibliotecaSum) via Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Graduate workers at the University of Rochester launched an indefinite strike on April 21 following the refusal of the universitys administration to permit a private election agreement, independent of the Trump-controlled National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Also in April, the Trump regime revoked 11 international student visas on campus, sparking mass opposition which has created stronger support for organization by graduate workers.

Graduate students at the University of Rochester (UR) are exploited by a system that pays them in stipends and earn as little as $15,000 a year, in a city that regularly ranks as one of the poorest in the country.

In comparison, with an endowment of $3.6 billion, UR is listed regularly among the top 100 richest universities in the US.

With a student population of 6,764 undergraduates and 5,396 postgraduates and a yearly tuition well above $60,000 a year, the university and its associated medical center are also the largest employers in the entire Rochester region.

The graduate workers are seeking to affiliate with the Graduate Labor Union (GLU), part of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 200United. They are demanding better conditions and pay and would potentially be represented by SEIU Local 200United.

The Trump administration has effectively disabled the operations of the NLRB, which had previously been tasked with monitoring and certifying union elections by secret ballot.

In January, Trump fired NLRB member and former Chair Gwynne Wilcox and NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, leaving the agency with just two members, one below the required minimum to function.

The university administration, well aware of this development, has used Trumps policies to its advantage by backing out of a previous agreement to recognize the union it had reached in December of last year. It is refusing to move forward with a private vote apart from the NLRB.

A UR statement reads:

Typically, seeking to unionize is done by filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a federal agency that would conduct a secret ballot election to determine if a majority of graduate students wish to be represented by a union. ... This is the same process that each of the several groups of unionized employees on our campus used to be recognized. While the University would prefer that the students decide against participating in the strike, there will be no reprisals or retaliation against those who lawfully participate in the strike.

Earlier in April, the university administration repeatedly did agree to meet with the New York states Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and the SEIU local president. However, at the meeting between the university and PERB in nearby Syracuse, New York, graduate workers were refused entry, unless they agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding the meetings contents.

UR is closing ranks with Trump against grad students even as it has joined a lawsuit with 12 other universities over the White Houses cuts to NIH (National Institutes of Health) funding. The cuts have cost the UR $40 million annually in research funding.

Graduate workers spoke at a May Day rally in downtown Rochester, where thousands gathered to demonstrate against the Trump regime. Keelin Quirk, a fourth-year mechanical engineering Ph.D. student, told WXXI radio:

Anytime you hear about the exciting discoveries being made at the University of Rochester, some medical breakthrough, it was graduate students doing most of the work behind that. Were the people doing the lab work, the reading, the writing, the data analysis.

This week, the administration once again refused to meet with the members of the Graduate Labor Union Organizing Committee, once again citing the legal Catch-22 the Trump administration has placed workers in. UR spokesperson Sara Miller wrote in a statement:

There is no legally recognized union that represents our graduate students. Because the Graduate Labor Union Organizing Committee is not a recognized student group ... it would be inappropriate, and potentially unlawful under the (National Labor Relations Act), for University leaders to meet with any purported representative of this group under the circumstances.

Graduate students have every right to have their democratic decision to join a union be recognized. But to safeguard their struggle against the administration, they must also ensure real rank-and-file control. The exclusion of graduate students from the Syracuse meeting between the administration and SEIU officials shows there is every possibility that the SEIU bureaucrats will reach a corrupt deal behind their backs, trading concessions to the university on wages and other key demands in exchange for union recognition.

Graduate students should form a rank-and-file strike committee to give themselves real control, including the ability to countermand any decision made by the SEIU which violates their democratic will and to appeal for the widest possibility solidarity and support from UR students and workers across the world.

Nationwide, graduate students have been thrust into struggle not only against university administrations but pro-corporate union officials. Graduate students at the University of California forced the United Auto Workers to call a system-wide strike last year in defense of their own members protesting against the Gaza genocide only through a near-rebellion.

Meanwhile, the UAW and its reform President Shawn Fain have openly supported Trumps trade war policies and have refused to defend former UAW member and graduate student Mahmoud Khalil after he was disappeared by ICE to a prison in Louisiana.

Students must turn out to the working class as the basic progressive and revolutionary force in society. As the WSWS wrote recently:

There is no way to defeat the menace of dictatorship without getting to the core of the problem, the capitalist system, with its vast social inequality and oligarchic rule. The fight to defend democratic rights is a struggle that vastly transcends the boundaries of Harvard Yard and other universities and colleges. The defense of Harvard and other universities against the fascists requires the building of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), a revolutionary movement among young people based on a socialist program and perspective, to spearhead this movement and provide it conscious direction.
At its 12th Congress, convened between May 5 and 7, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced its decision to dissolve and end its armed struggle.

Founded in 1978, the PKK launched an armed struggle in 1984 with the aim of establishing an independent Kurdish state, but long ago abandoned this demand. Since 1984, the conflict with the Turkish state has left tens of thousands of people, mostly Kurds, dead and millions displaced.

PKK supporters in London, 2003. [Photo by Juan Pablo Arancibia Medina / CC BY-SA 3.0

The decision follows a process that began with a call on October 22 by Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Bahceli said that Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, could be released and permitted to address parliament if he announced that the PKK had been dismantled.

Following negotiations with a delegation from the Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Ocalan called on the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself on February 27. Proposing integration with the state, he effectively declared his partys historical and political bankruptcy.

In the congresss final declaration, the PKK Congress Board stated:

The Extraordinary 12th Congress evaluated that the PKKs struggle has dismantled the policies of denial and annihilation imposed on our people, bringing the Kurdish issue to a point where it can be resolved through democratic politics. It concluded that the PKK has fulfilled its historical mission. Based on this, the 12th Congress resolved to dissolve the PKKs organizational structure and end the armed struggle, with the implementation process to be managed and led by Leader Apo [Abdullah Ocalan]. All activities conducted under the PKK name have therefore been concluded.

The final declaration also stated:

Leader Apo, by referring to the period before the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution, where Kurdish-Turkish relations became problematic, proposed a framework for resolving the Kurdish issue based on the Democratic Republic of Turkey and the concept of a Democratic Nation, founded on the idea of a Common Homeland and co-founding peoples. The Kurdish uprisings throughout the history of the Republic, the 1000-year Kurdish-Turkish dialectic, and 52 years of leadership struggle have shown that the Kurdish issue can only be resolved based on a Common Homeland and Equal Citizenship.

This nationalist perspective neither explains anything, nor offers a way forward. The so-called Common Homeland and Equal Citizenship are merely reiterations of the failed notion of reforming or democratising the existing bourgeois nation-state. In reality, the Turkish bourgeoisie is no less incapable of and opposed to the establishing of a genuinely democratic regime than it was in 1923, when the Turkish Republic was founded. The same structural impotence and counter-revolutionary class position applies to the Kurdish bourgeoisie.

As Leon Trotsky, who led the 1917 October Revolution together with Vladimir Lenin, explained in his Theory of Permanent Revolution, the bourgeoisie in the backward capitalist countries is incapable of solving the fundamental tasks of the bourgeois democratic revolution, such as securing independence from imperialism and establishing a democratic regime, in the face of the growing threat from the working class. These tasks fall to the international working class, which is the only social force capable of abolishing the national borders and capitalist system that reproduce all relations of oppression and persecution in the direction of the bourgeoisies domination.

Today the Turkish and Kurdish bourgeoisies are tied to imperialism by a thousand threads and its hostility to the threat of socialist revolution by the working class eclipses that of a century ago. Moreover, the Turkish bourgeoisie, which a century ago was incapable of a democratic solution to the Kurdish question, will always tend to see the large Kurdish population inside the country as a separatist threat under conditions of an imperialist war of redistribution aimed at redrawing the maps in the Middle East, no matter what kind of agreement is reached with the Kurdish bourgeoisie.

Workers and youth will welcome the end of a bloody war that has cost thousands of lives, served to divide the working class on ethnic grounds and been used by the state as a pretext to suppress democratic rights. However, it is essential to expose the underlying process that led the PKK to dissolve itself and the falsity of its claims of democracy and peace.

Ankaras and the PKKs claims of democracy and peace come against the backdrop of the consolidation of a presidential dictatorship in Turkey that has eliminated basic democratic rights and the escalation of the Gaza genocide in the Middle East. Accelerated by Trumps return to power in the US, these trends are global phenomena stemming from the growing crisis of the capitalist system. Thousands of political prisoners are currently in jail; in recent months elected mayors of the DEM Party and the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) have been dismissed and arrested, and millions of people denied the right to vote and be elected.

Ekrem Imamoglu, the Istanbul mayor and presidential candidate for the CHP, is the most significant example of a political arrest in the midst of peace and democracy negotiations between Ankara and the PKK. Erdogan himself had hinted that Imamoglu would be targeted, despite the allegations of corruption levelled against him not requiring arrest. The main reason for his arrest was that Imamoglu was ahead of Erdogan in the latest presidential polls.

Claiming that a regime which violates basic democratic rights, such as fair trials, the right to vote and be elected, freedom of expression and the press, and freedom of assembly, can lead a great democratisation is a deception.

Moreover, the same regime, in line with the reactionary interests of the Turkish bourgeoisie, is deeply involved in the US-led imperialist wars in the Middle East. And therein lies the key to the attempt to reach an agreement between the Erdogan government and the Ocalan-led PKK. As stated in the final declaration of the PKK congress: Current developments in the Middle East within the scope of World War III also make the restructuring of Kurdish-Turkish relations inevitable.

PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan (middle) and DEM Party delegation on Imral Island, Thursday, February 27, 2025. [Photo: DEMGenelMerkezi on X/Twitter]

The PKKs decision to dissolve itself came at a time when all imperialist powers and capitalist states are waging wars for the redivision of the world that could surpass the two world wars of the twentieth century.

The US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine has brought the whole world to the brink of nuclear conflict. The Trump administration has declared a program of global conquest and hegemony targeting both China and its own allies. The US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza is deepening with the implementation of Trumps ethnic cleansing plan to expel more than two million Palestinians. Regime change in Syria has the potential for a new conflict pitting the occupying allies, Turkey and Israel, against each other and various other forces in the country.

A comment in the Middle East Eye on Ocalans call in February stated, Many insiders in Ankara believe the governments motivation for engaging in talks with Ocalan is linked to escalating regional tensions between Israel and Iran.

The US is using Israel as a spearhead in its imperialist plans for domination in the Middle East, particularly targeting Iran and its allies. As Israel has expanded its occupation of Syria and launched air strikes on the military infrastructure of the new Damascus regime, its rivalry with its ally Turkey, which occupies northwest Syria and has close ties with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime, has sharpened.

The declaration by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that the Kurds in Syria are natural allies has raised concerns in Ankara. The Peoples Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish nationalist group allied with US forces in Syria, is affiliated with the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a sister organisation of the PKK. Ankara is trying to bring the YPG forces, which lead a de facto autonomous administration in Syria, to an agreement with HTS, thus making them part of the Syrian army and putting an end to their autonomous structure.

This geopolitical situation is the main shaper of the agreement between Ankara and the PKK. At the beginning of the process, last October, Erdogan said: While the maps are being redrawn in blood, while the war that Israel has waged from Gaza to Lebanon is approaching our borders, we are trying to strengthen our internal front.

An agreement between the Turkish and Kurdish elites, both US allies, facilitates Washingtons imperialist domination plans. The Trump administrations main focus now will be on aligning Israel and Turkey in the Middle East under the leadership of US imperialism, especially against Iran and its allies.

Turkish and Kurdish workers and young people must develop their own independent, united strategy against the imperialist powers and their capitalist proxies, who exploit peoples aspirations for democracy and peace for their own reactionary ends.

The only way to end the oppression of the Kurdish people and secure their democratic rights is to end the genocide in Palestine and the imperialist wars in the Middle East. The allies of the workers of the region in this struggle for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East against imperialism and capitalist nation states are the American, European, and international working classes.
On May 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the seemingly benign title, Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research. A more accurate title would have been, Blindfolding science and encouraging anti-China hysteria, but Trump and his fascist aides traffic in lies and conspiracy theories, not the truth.

The order bans federal funding of what it describes as dangerous gain-of-function research carried out overseas in countries of concern, singling out China by name. It also places such research under strict federal control within the United States itself, whether funded by the government or conducted privately.

While there is no mention of Wuhan and only one reference to COVID-19, the executive order amounts to weaponizing the fascist conspiracy theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was created in the Wuhan Institute for Virology and inadvertently or deliberately leaked to infect the worlds population.

The new White House presentation of the origins of COVID-19, with Trump depicted as the strongman who will fight back against the Chinese attack.

The order comes just two weeks after the White House entirely revised its web presentation of the COVID-19 pandemic, embracing the lab leak theory and presenting Trump as the strongman who would beat back the supposed Chinese threat. This of course conveniently ignored, as the executive order does, the fact that Trump was in the White House when the pandemic began, and did nothing to stop it, while promoting groundless quack theories about curing the deadly disease with hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and even bleach.

An additional feature of this conspiracy theory, developed most extensively by the bipartisan Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, is that longtime public health official Dr. Anthony Fauci oversaw the funding of dangerous research at WIV through EcoHealth Alliance, the non-profit research organization led by Dr. Peter Daszak. The fact sheet that accompanies Trumps executive order regurgitates these slanders.

The WSWS has analyzed and rebutted these conspiracies extensively, and presented comprehensive evidence amassed over five years that points compellingly to a natural, zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2, likely stemming from wildlife trade at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. This record can be accessed here.

Four photos taken surreptitiously at the Huanan market in Wuhan, in the section where live animals were available for sale. This is the likely starting point of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo by Michael Worobey, Edward Holmes, et al.]

Most recently, a study published in Cell in May 7, 2025, just two days after Trumps executive order, drawing on phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, provided significant evidence reinforcing the role of the animal trade in the emergence of both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.

The study found that the closest bat virus ancestors of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 existed less than a decade before their human emergence, but their natural dispersal in horseshoe bats was not sufficient to carry them the large distances to the sites where they first emerged in humans. This pattern strongly suggests that the viruses hitched a ride there with other animals via the wildlife trade, mirroring what happened during the 2002 SARS outbreak where related viruses were found in civets and raccoon dogs hundreds of miles from bat populations. This new research underscores how interactions with intermediate hosts through the wildlife trade were critical to the zoonotic spillover events for both pandemics. It also provides objective scientific refutation of the entire Wuhan Lab conspiracy theory that has been promoted globally.

This lab leak falsification served to deflect from the devastating failures of the domestic pandemic response in numerous capitalist countries by scapegoating China and attacking scientists and institutions that contradicted the preferred political line. Trumps executive order, therefore, represents the codification of this politically motivated agenda, leveraging the power of the state to restrict crucial scientific research under the pretext of a theory overwhelmingly contradicted by available evidence, turning the pursuit of origins tracing into a political witch-hunt against science and public health.

Gain-of-function research: myth versus reality

During the signing of the executive order, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.notorious for purveying virtually every anti-science conspiracy known to manopined, referring to gain-of-function research, Cant point to a single good thing that comes from it. Perhaps he was thinking about his decades of anti-scientific campaigning against vaccination. In any case, he knows little about such research and understands nothing.

At its core, gain-of-function (GOF) research involves genetically altering an organism, particularly pathogens, to study how enhanced virulence, pathogenicity, or transmissibility could develop, in order to deepen the understanding of the pathogen and assist in developing countermeasures.

This is distinct from loss-of-function (LOF) research, which investigates weakened pathogens, though the two methods are interconnected and often used in the same study.

A view of the P4 lab inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology is seen after a visit by the World Health Organization team in Wuhan in China's Hubei province on February 3, 2021. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan]

Gain-of-function research has demonstrably provided significant benefits to humanity, contrary to claims that it has yielded nothing good:

It is a foundational technique in modern biology, underlying much biomedical progress.

GOF and LOF experiments allow investigators to understand the complex nature of host-pathogen interactions, including transmission, infection, and pathogenesis. This fundamental knowledge is crucial for fighting and preventing diseases.

The methodology has been integral to landmark scientific breakthroughs, particularly in vaccine development. Louis Pasteurs early work, while largely LOF, set precedents for manipulating pathogens to obtain health benefits.

It helps scientists identify which mutations make viruses more transmissible or virulent, allowing researchers to anticipate public health threats. By simulating how viruses might evolve in naturewhich is in effect a giant laboratory conducting nonstop GOF experiments through mutation and natural selectionresearchers can preemptively build defenses.

Specific examples of benefits include:

Development of a weakened African swine fever virus (LOF, but related methodology) used as a vaccine that fully protected pigs.

Investigating how bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa interact with a host in animal systems to understand how they fundamentally function, such as invading cells or avoiding the immune system.

Understanding how and why bacterial pathogens develop antibiotic resistance, informing the development of treatments for superbugs.

Gaining insight into how viruses evolve to evade the immune system.

Identifying mutations that make a gene work better, mapping and studying critical control sites.

Discovering natural animal reservoirs for viruses and providing early warnings about potential outbreaks.

Aiding in the development and testing of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Contributing to the development of CAR-T cancer therapies.

Applications beyond pathogens, such as engineering drought- or pest-resistant crops or developing oncolytic viruses used to treat cancer. At least two FDA-approved products resulted from providing viruses with new functions.

GOF research has established that avian influenza viruses can acquire mammalian transmissibility and that bat-associated coronaviruses posed a danger to human populations years before COVID-19, advancing pandemic preparedness.

The attack on scientifically vital research

The history of controversy surrounding GOF research is marked by specific incidents. Significant debate arose in 2011 following studies by Ron Fouchier and Yoshihiro Kawaoka that set up experiments designed to generate strains of H5N1 avian influenza transmissible between mammals. These experiments, while seen by some as crucial for understanding potential pandemic threats (which have been vindicated by the current H5N1 bird flu panzootic), triggered concerns about the safety and security risks of creating potentially more dangerous pathogens. In the end, their work resulted in a pathogen that was able to transmit via aerosol among ferrets (increased transmissibility) but had reduced impact (decreased virulence).

This led to a temporary pause in federal funding for new GOF studies on specific viruses in October 2014. During this pause, the National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity (NSABB) conducted a deliberative process to inform new policies. The moratorium was lifted in December 2017, based on the view that GOF research is important for identifying, understanding, and developing countermeasures against rapidly evolving pathogens.

The debate intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, fueled by allegations regarding the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and research conducted at the WIV. Despite official statements that included documentary evidence that was made public by the National Institutes of Health and EcoHealth Alliance that their work with the WIV under a specific grant was not classified as gain-of-function under the operative definition at the time, the controversy persisted, highlighting definitional ambiguity and political polarization.

In response to concerns, the US government has established multiple regulatory measures to oversee potentially risky research. These include policies on Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC) and the Framework for Guiding Funding Decisions about Proposed Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens (P3CO).

The P3CO framework, for instance, guides HHS funding decisions for research reasonably anticipated to create, transfer, or use enhanced potential pandemic pathogens. These frameworks are intended to ensure a multidisciplinary review and evaluation process to inform funding decisions and balance the benefits of life sciences research with biosafety and biosecurity risks. Oversight is meant to be incorporated into existing frameworks and enhanced when necessary. There is no debate that adequate enforcement and transparency are necessary, and strengthening these aspects are critical for the conduct of such important research and use of the tools that provide insight into life and social processes that can provide the world with the ability to address these questions. However, the executive actions and cuts to public health stand in sharp contrast to these aims.

As noted in its report critiquing Trumps executive order on GOF, Global Biodefense correctly states that these policies threaten all US virology. The report underscores several key concerns regarding the current state of GOF research and oversight. A primary consideration is the potential for overly broad restrictions that, in the name of enhanced safety and security, could impede beneficial scientific progress necessary for pandemic preparedness, drug development, and understanding infectious diseases. This is exacerbated by a persistent lack of uniformity and clarity in definitions for terms like GOF or enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPP), making it difficult to target regulation effectively and potentially leading to subjective interpretations which suit the Trump administrations agenda.

The crackdown on GOF will create a chilling effect in laboraties across the US, since researchers cannot predict experimental outcomes with complete accuracy. A genetic modification could increase or weaken a particular function, and the result cannot be known precisely in advance. Even worse is the effective ban on international collaboration in research. Pandemics are of intrinsically of international concern because viruses, bacteria and other pathogens do not respect borders.

The work done by EcoHealth Alliance and the WIV

Trumps executive order on gain-of-function research specifically links the COVID-19 pandemics origin to laboratory incidents stemming from this type of research, an indirect reference to the work conducted on bat coronaviruses in China by EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, multiple sources dispute this claim, characterizing it as a politically motivated justification that lacks credible scientific evidence and is used to restrict research.

In the important rebuttal to the false accusations of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (SSCP), EcoHealth Alliance and Dr. Peter Daszak strongly assert that the experiment conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) under NIH grant R01 AI110964 was not considered gain-of-function research according to the definitions and decisions in place at the time.

Peter Daszak and Shi Zhengli, the leading expert on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology [Photo by EcoHealth Alliance]

The experiment in question, proposed by WIV scientists as part of the grant, involved in vivo mouse experiments using recombinant bat coronaviruses, specifically to generate SARS-like coronaviruses and assess the risk of their emergence from wildlife. The goal was to determine if potentially pathogenic bat SARS-related coronaviruses posed a risk to humans. The experiment involved infecting mice, measuring viral genome copies per gram over time, and collecting survival data and tissues for pathological analysis. Results showed that in some mice infected with recombinant bat coronaviruses, viral genome copies per gram reached higher levels at days 2 and 4 post infection compared to the parental backbone strain (WIV1), but these levels dropped to resemble other strains by the end of the experiment. In short, they were not more pathogenic.

According to the EcoHealth Alliance and supporting testimony, this experiment was not GOF research for several key reasons:

NIHs Official Determination in 2016 was that the proposed WIV experiments were not covered by the definition of gain-of-function and were therefore not subject to the GOF research pause in place at the time. This determination was repeatedly confirmed by various NIH officials in public and on-the-record testimony. Notably, even the SSCP Majority (Republican) lead counsel stated during testimony that what EcoHealth did, did not fall under the P3CO definition. EcoHealth argues that the determination of whether an experiment constitutes GOF is made prior to the experiment being conducted, not retroactively based on the outcome. The experiment did not involve human pathogens or study transmissibility in humans. Bat coronaviruses are not the same as human coronaviruses because they are not expected to infect or cause harm to humans and therefore are considered exempt from being deemed enhanced pathogens. Leading virologists support the view that research involving non-human species cannot predict pathogenicity in people and that the lack of transmissibility study is significant. EcoHealths position is supported by statements from leading virologists who publicly stated that the WIV experiment did not meet the definition of GOF research, did not break rules, and was monitored according to scientific norms. Dr. Ralph Baric, a leading corona-virologist who collaborated with EHA and WIV on related work, stated in his testimony that any enhanced viral growth in an experiment is not gain-of-function if the experiment does not use human pathogens. He also confirmed that based on the regulations, the WIV experiments proposed would be exempt. EcoHealth asserts that the results of the experiment were reported in their Year 4 report submitted in April 2018, ahead of the deadline, and included again in the renewal proposal in November 2018. Despite multiple exchanges with NIH staff, NIH did not request further information, raw data, or lab notebooks, or express any concerns about the experiment results until over three years later in 2021. EcoHealth interpreted this lack of follow-up from NIH in 2018 as confirmation that the experiment did not present concerns at the time.

EcoHealth Alliance correctly viewed the allegations that they conducted dangerous GOF research as politically motivated and unsupported by the evidence and regulations in place. They contend that their detailed reports and testimony refute these claims and demonstrate the concocted character of reports alleging wrongdoing. However, they were never allowed to challenge these claims and the entire political establishment, including mainstream media, have repeatedly asserted that this small study was a GOF study overlooking the regulatory definitions and oversight on the project.

Conclusion

Trumps executive order on gain-of-function research is predicated on the assertion that the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from laboratory incidents. However, this claim is a politically motivated lie, lacking credible scientific evidence and serving as a political cudgel rather than a scientifically supported conclusion. This unsubstantiated lab leak theory, promoted initially by figures like Steve Bannon and amplified through media aligned with the right-wing anti-China agenda, functions as American capitalisms big lie, as the WSWS has previously noted.

It serves the dual purpose of deflecting blame from the disastrous response of the ruling class to the pandemic and fomenting nationalist hatred to support the strategic aim of economic and potentially military conflict with China. This lie is actively shaping both foreign and domestic policy: internationally, by ending federal funding for potentially critical research in countries like China, thereby severing vital lines of surveillance and cooperation and undermining global health security; and domestically, by imposing sweeping restrictions on research and contributing to a broader war on science, attacking and seeking to criminalize scientists whose findings support a natural origin, and dismantling public health institutions.

The implication is that this politically motivated framework, rather than enhancing safety or preparedness, hobbles essential scientific inquiry needed to understand and mitigate future biological threats, while simultaneously serving the interests of the ruling class in shifting accountability and advancing imperialist aims.
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Lee Enterprises said it incurred $2 million in restoration costs due to a major cybersecurity attack in February that also impacted second-quarter advertising revenue.

The Davenport, Iowa-based newspaper chain suffered major disruptions during the February attack, when hackers encrypted critical applications and stole data.

The company operates in 72 markets in 25 U.S. states, publishing major regional papers, including the Omaha World-Herald, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Buffalo News.

The attack also affected the companys finances by freezing its ability to bill and collect money from customers and limiting its ability to pay vendors, VP, CFO and treasurer Tim Millage told analysts during a quarterly earnings call last week.

While technical recovery is complete, there are some lingering impacts on our balance sheet, as we aim to improve working capital by reducing both accounts receivable and outstanding accounts payable throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, Millage said during the call.

The companys sole lender, BH Finance, agreed to waive interest and basic rent payments in March, April and May, according to Millage. The company has $453 million in debt outstanding under its agreement with BH Finance, according to the earnings report.

The company said many of the costs are subject to insurance reimbursement and the claims process is ongoing, according to Millage.

Lee Enterprises reported $137 million in total operating revenue for the quarter and said digital revenue rose 3% year-over-year, to $73 million, or 4% on a same-store basis.

The company reported a net loss of $12 million for the quarter.

The company previously warned in a regulatory filing that the attack would likely have a material impact on operations.

The Qilin ransomware group previously claimed credit for the attack. The ransomware-as-a-service team claimed to have access to 350 gigabytes of data and threatened to release some of the information, but it is unclear if it did so.

A spokesperson for Lee Enterprises previously confirmed they were aware of the claim and were investigating.

Qilin has been active in the ransomware space in recent months. Qilin affiliates engaged in phishing attacks targeting an administrator at a managed service provider, Sophos said in an April report.

Lee Enterprises has not explained how the hackers gained access to the companys IT network.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte arrives to cast her vote at a polling center in Davao City, southern Philippines, Monday, May 12, 2025. [AP Photo/Manman Dejeto]

On Monday, Filipinos voted in record high numbers in the countrys midterm election. Lines began forming outside of precincts at five in the morning and voters endured hours of sweltering heat to cast their ballots. It was universally understood that the stakes in this election were extraordinarily high, as the outcome could prove the tipping point in the fierce political standoff between the camps of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and former President Rodrigo Duterte.

At the time of writing this article, 80 percent of precincts had finished tallying their results. While many races remain uncertain, a majority are now clearly decided. The results leave the bitter political war unresolved, which in itself is a striking setback for Marcos.

The election was, for the ruling elite, a referendum on Philippine ties with its former colonial ruler, the United States. Marcos, son of the former dictator, took office in 2022 in an alliance with the powerful Duterte faction; his vice president and running mate was Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president. Rodrigo Duterte, president from 2016 to 2022, had during his term in office sought to stabilize economic relations with China by distancing Manila from Washington. He rescinded US military basing deals and downplayed Philippine claims to the South China Sea. Shortly after taking office, under intense pressure from the Biden administration, Marcos Jr reversed course, placing the Philippines at the forefront of Washingtons war drive against China and in the process breaking with Duterte.

The rival factions of Marcos and Duterte represent different layers of the Philippine ruling class. Marcos is shored up by older political clans with historic, colonial ties to the United States. They are the Manila elite. Duterte expresses the growing power of the elites of the provincial hinterlands, long resentful of the inadequate and Manila-centric infrastructure of the country. The forces behind Duterte see in Chinese infrastructure investment an opportunity to shore up their economic interests and political power. Securing such investment requires a break with the aggressive anti-China policies of US imperialism.

These tensions have deep roots. They were expressed to an extent in the presidency and ouster of Joseph Estrada around 2000. The possibility of Chinese investment as a solution to the problem of the hinterland elite, and an orientation to China as the economic future of the country, found initial expression in the second term of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 20042010.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr [AP Photo/Aaron Favila]

But while these tensions have been long boiling, it is the deeply destabilizing second term of Trump that has brought them to a fever pitch. How to deal with Washington has become the one great unavoidable question for the political establishment in capitals around the world.

An entirely different set of concerns brought the majority of the record number voters to the ballot box.

Rice prices, long the most fundamental bellwether of social anger, remain at more than double the price, 20 pesos a kilo, that the Marcos government pledged to achieve in 2022. Over a quarter of all Filipino families reported experiencing involuntary hunger in the past three months according a survey published in December 2024. More than 10 percent of the countrys population is compelled to seek employment as an overseas migrant worker in order to provide for their families. There is an immense popular resentment and hostility that found confused and distorted expression in the midterm vote.

Rodrigo Duterte, heading up the opposition slate to Marcos, repeatedly attacked the president for his inability to control rice prices. More than any other factor, this plank won votes.

However, the rival factions of the ruling elite agree on one thing: they are prepared to use any means to suppress this growing social opposition. While they are torn apart by geopolitics, both factionsthe far-right populism of Duterte and the dictatorial pedigree of Marcosrepresent the imminent danger of authoritarian rule.

Marcos aggressively prosecuted the midterm election as political warfare. He arranged the arrest and extradition of Rodrigo Duterte to stand trial before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He pushed through the last-minute impeachment of his Vice President Sara Duterte. He whipped up a war-fever against China, denouncing his rivals as stooges of China and made baseless claims of Chinese meddling and espionage in the election.

While half of Philippine governance, town councils, mayors, governors, congressional representatives are all up for grabs in the election, it is on the Senate race that all eyes are fixed. Senators are elected by the entire nation, the top 12 vote-winners take office. The composition of the incoming Senate will determine the political fate of Sara Duterte. Marcos needs a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, where Dutertes trial will be held, to secure a conviction, removing Duterte from office and banning her from running in the future.

The preliminary results show that Marcos has not secured sufficient votes to confidently carry out the removal of the vice president from office.

From his prison cell in The Hague, Rodrigo Duterte ran to be mayor of Davao, the southern city that has for decades been his base of power. He was elected in a landslide. His son, Sebastian, won the vice mayoral race and will likely rule in his fathers stead.

Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa, the foremost allies of Duterte, currently stand at first and third in the Senate race. Go has received nearly five million votes more than the second candidate. Go is a political cipher, a man with no particular personality or platform. His entire identity is as the right-hand man of Rodrigo Duterte. Dela Rosa was the head of the police under Duterte and more than any other figure was directly responsible for the conduct of the murderous war on drugs that landed the former president in The Hague.

The overseas absentee ballots, overwhelmingly the vote of migrant workers, showed an even stronger backing for the Duterte slate. Not a single Marcos candidate made it into the top twelve of the overseas vote.

The intimate allies of MarcosBenhur Abalos and Francis Tolentinohave not placed. It is plausible, although unlikely, that Abalos will still make it into the top 12, but the current Senate majority leader Tolentino, who made his political career out of attacking China, fell millions of votes short.

Beyond Abalos and Tolentino, the rest of the Marcos slate was a conjunctural and opportunist alliance. This alliance will hold if Marcos holds power. But the majority of the Marcos slate will defect to the Duterte camp if they sense a change in the winds of power. This process was already underway during the election. Camille Villar, daughter of real estate billionaires, part of the Marcos slate, shifted into the camp of Duterte during the election and campaigned with Sara Duterte.

The Liberal Party, which has been in decline for nearly a decade, experienced something of a resurrection. Its candidates, Bam Aquino and Francisco Pangilinan, both secured seats in the Senate. Its pseudo-left political ally, Akbayan, received a record number of votes, 2.2 million at current count, placing higher than any other party-list organization. In the 2022, Akbayan received a mere 236,000 votes.

The unexpected victory of the Liberal Party-Akbayan tandem expressed a broad sentiment among voters to break free of the Marcos-Duterte rivalry. Throughout the election these two dominant factions were popularly referred to as Team Kadiliman (Darkness) and Team Kasamaan (Evil). The Liberal Party ran a campaign focused on food prices and promised good governance to remedy the countrys economic woes. Pangilinan had been food security secretary under the Benigno Aquino III administration.

While the vote for the Liberal Party is, in terms of mass sentiment, a sharp repudiation of both the Marcos and Duterte camps, its gains will likely be a consolidation in the Marcos wing. The allegiance of the Liberal Party has always been with Washington. The Liberal Party administration of Benigno Aquino III (201016), of which Akbayan was an integral component, aggressively prosecuted US interests against China.

Support for the Makabayan organizations, the various party-list groups that follow the political line of the Stalinist National Democratic Front, collapsed. Bayan Muna is poised to win less than 200,000 votes. It is likely to the first election in which these organizations fail to win a single seat.

The political crisis in Manila will only deepen in the wake of the election. The Trump administration poses major threats to the Philippine economy with the possible mass deportation of Filipinos, resulting in a huge decline in remittances, and the unresolved issue of US tariffs on imports from the Philippines. An economic slowdown will only fuel infighting in ruling circles as well as political unrest as the social crisis facing millions of working people worsens.
Palestinians crowded together as they wait for food distribution in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. Since the start of the its attack on Gaza, Israel has limited the amount of food and water allowed to enter the territory, causing widespread hunger across the strip (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) [AP Photo/Hatem Ali]

The entire population of Gaza is at critical risk of famine, according to a report published Monday by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

The report documents the effects of a policy of deliberate starvation as part of the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza. Since March 2, no food, water or electricity has entered the Gaza Strip after Israel unilaterally abrogated a ceasefire agreement.

The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million peopleone in fivefacing starvation, the report warned.

It found that 244,000 people in Gaza are already facing a food catastrophe, the worst classification for mass starvation. This is an 85 percent increase over the IPCs earlier report in October 2024.

But this figure is expected to nearly double to 470,000, or one-quarter of the population, by the end of September.

The IPC report comes just one day before US President Donald Trump will visit the Middle East, overseeing the US-Israeli policy of ethnically cleansing Gaza in preparation for what he said would be its annexation by the United States. Trump will arrive Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, a dictatorial theocratic monarchy, before traveling to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In the process, Trump and his family members are expected to engage in personal real estate business in the region.

During the trip, Trump is rumored to announce the renaming of the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Arabia, while Saudi Arabia is expected to announce over $100 billion in US arms purchases, including aircraft, missiles and radar systems.

While the White House has in recent days attempted to put some distance between itself and the Netanyahu government, negotiating the release of a US-Israeli hostage using its own diplomatic channels, the Trump administration continues to fund, arm and defend the Gaza genocide and the ongoing deliberate mass starvation. While US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that he hopes for the beginning of the end to this terrible war, he added that Hamas alone is responsible for the continued death and suffering.

Trumps trip comes one week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the concluding moves in Israels onslaught on Gaza, which would entail the military occupation of the entire area and the forcible relocation of the population to the south, in preparation for the expulsion of the Palestinian population from Gaza.

In a statement on Trumps visit, Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pointed to Trumps blessing for the Gaza genocide. We must not stop. President Trump has already given you backing to open the gates of hell, he said. He called for the continued blockade of food and water into Gaza until it is brought to its knees in order to encourage voluntary emigration, Israels Srugim news site reported.

The US gives Israel $3.8 billion in weapons each year. It has provided billions more since October 2023, including thousands of 2,000-pound bombs that have been used to level most of Gaza.

The IPC report found that over 70,000 children and 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women will require treatment for acute malnutrition in the next 11 months.

The IPC report condemned Israels plan to take over all food distribution in the Gaza Strip within the framework of a military occupation. The report said the plan was estimated to be highly insufficient to meet the populations essential needs for food, water, shelter, and medicine.

It added:

Moreover, the proposed distribution mechanisms are likely to create significant access barriers for large segments of the population. ... Immediate action is essential to prevent further deaths, starvation, and acute malnutrition, and a descent into famine.

Jonathan Crickx, a spokesperson for UNICEF (United Nations Childrens Fund), said in a video statement:

We have treated more than 11,000 children since the beginning of the year.  In the coming weeks, we fear we will see more children dying.

UNICEF shared a video of a five-month-old Palestinian girl named Sewar, who is severely, acutely malnourished, Crickx said. He continued:

If you look at her little legs, she just has the skin on her bones. When she cries, you can barely hear the sound because shes so exhausted.

Reacting to the IPC report, the Oxfam charity wrote that

Gazas starvation is not incidentalit is deliberate, entirely engineeredand has now created the largest population facing starvation anywhere in the worlda preventable famine unfolding in real-time.

Last month, the World Food Program was forced to shut down all of its bakeries in Gaza after running out of food and fuel, and dozens of community kitchens have been forced to close. Food prices have surged, with a bag of flour previously costing $5 now hitting $500.

Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, the director of childrens health at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, said that the hospital is getting between 5 and 10 new malnutrition cases every day. He said:

Were seeing severe cases. ... Malnutrition appears in children in a horrifying and extremely visible way.  We have nothing to offer them. They need proteins, but there are none.

Beth Bechdol, deputy director-general at the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization, told the Financial Times that over 95 percent of Gazas animals have already been slaughtered, and 80 percent of its agricultural land is inaccessible. The destruction of Gazas food systems is unprecedented in recent memory on a global scale, she said, adding, It is the collapse of local food production.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 52,862 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 119,648, according to figures published by Gazas Ministry of Health Monday.
Hasan Piker in 2018 [Photo by mo1567 / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

On Sunday, May 11, prominent left-wing political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Chicagos OHare Airport after returning to the US following a trip to France. Piker was traveling to the University of Chicago for a speaking event where he was featured.

The incident, which Piker recounted in detail during a live broadcast, is part of the Trump administrations escalating efforts to intimidate critics of US foreign policy and suppress opposition to imperialist wars, particularly Israels genocide in Gaza.

Piker described being pulled aside during a routine Global Entry screening and subjected to a two-hour interrogation in a detention facility at OHare airport. CBP agents questioned him extensively about his political views, his journalism and his criticism of the US government. The interrogation focused on his coverage of Israels war on Gaza, his interviews with Yemeni civilians and his opposition to the Trump administrations policies.

Piker has committed no crime and has every right to speak out against the government, express his views and travel freely. Additionally, Piker is a native born US citizen. The government has no legal right to deny or delay his entry to the country, and especially not for exercising his constitutionally protected rights under the first amendment.

The detention of Piker is an escalation of Trumps attacks on the democratic rights of the population. It is meant both to intimidate workers and youth from speaking out and is a testing of the waters for the administration to begin the criminalization of political speech of citizens and non-citizens alike.

In a Twitch stream following the incident, Piker reported that agents repeatedly asked him about his stance on Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah, demanding to know whether he supported these groups. They kept saying stuff like, Do you like Hamas? Do you think Hamas is a resistance group or a terrorist group? Piker stated. I kept repeating that the US State Department designates Hamas as a terrorist organization, but they kept pressing.

The agents also grilled him about his Twitch content, specifically his critiques of US imperialism and President Donald Trump. They asked, Do you talk about Trump? Do you support him? Piker told his viewers that in the interests of testing how far the agents would go, he answered some of their questions. I told them, I dont like Trump. He hasnt ended the wars. Civilians are dying.

Notably, agents referenced Pikers past interview with a Yemeni civilian, falsely insinuating ties to the Houthis. They asked if Id ever interviewed a Houthi member or provided support to Hamas, Piker explained. I told them Im a journalistI talk to people affected by US-backed wars. Thats not a crime.

After Piker aired his May 2024 interview with Rashad al-Had, a Yemeni citizen whose family was killed in a US-backed Saudi airstrike, right-wing groups began spreading lies about the discussion claiming that al-Had was a member of the Houthis. The right-wing commentators have been attempting to create a false association of Piker with the Houthis, Hamas and other groups that the government has designated as terrorist organizations in order to prompt law enforcement to arrest the Twitch streamer.

All stories that Piker has any contact with any of the mentioned groups are total fabrications. But that Piker was detained and questioned on these grounds demonstrates that the Trump administration is using the lies of fascist groups to justify the persecution of political opponents.

Piker condemned the detention as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent. The reason theyre doing this is to create an environment of fear, he said. They want people like meor others without my platform or resourcesto shut the f**k up. Theyre testing how far they can go to criminalize speech.

He stated his worry that what follows could be laws banning oppositional political views outright. I just need you to understand nothing I have done thus far is illegal. Piker said on Twitch, now laws may change in the future, and they might actually start prosecuting speech which I do fear is the goal of this administration. But so far, everything Ive done is fully protected under the First Amendment.

In an NBC report on Pikers detention, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused Piker of lying for likes. She told NBC, Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless. Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for a further inspectiona routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.

In other words, any traveler crossing the US border can be stopped and interrogated about their political views before being admitted into the country.

Piker responded to the DHS statement by asking, What part of a lawful routine inspection requires DHS to question me about my political views, my opinions on Donald Trump, or my stance on Israel and Palestine? He continued, The agent was cordial, but the experience, along with reports of other Americans facing similar questioning, seems intended to create a chilling effect on speech.

Pikers detention follows a wave of recent crackdowns on opponents of the genocide in Gaza including:

The violent suppression of pro-Palestinian protests at UCLA, Columbia, and the University of Washington.

NYUs blackmailing of law students to abandon activism under threat of expulsion.

The Trump administrations illegal arrests of immigrant students like Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil.

All these attacks, including Pikers detention and questioning, are part of a coordinated assault on democratic rights, spearheaded by the ruling class and enforced by both Democrats and Republicans.



Piker has a following of over 3 million people on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. His denunciations of imperialism and capitalism have made him one of the most viewed political commentators among socialist minded youth. His detention and harassment was not just an attack on Piker as an individual, but an attack on the millions of young people who are furious at endless war, social inequality and the descent into fascism.

The incident confirms the warnings by the WSWS that the fascist methods of Trump will not be limited to immigrants but will be used against all those opposed to war and the capitalist system that produces it. The attack on Pikers speech must be opposed and all attempts to prevent freedom of expression fought by building a movement for socialism in the working class.
The Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA), which includes 25 unions covering private sector workers, and various pseudo-left groups held a May Day rally this month at the Sirisena playground in central Colombo.

Workers on May Day march in Colombo, 2025

The union alliance includes the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZGSEU), Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (CIWU), Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) and the All-Telecom Employees Trade Unions (ATETU).

Although the JUTA represents well over 100,000 workers and May Day is a national public holiday in Sri Lanka only about 1,500 people joined the rally.

The low attendance indicates growing working-class distrust of the union apparatuses, which have blocked any struggle against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity measures being imposed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) government.

The May Day rally occurred amid growing working-class opposition to the IMF agenda and rising concerns that hundreds of thousands of jobs would be destroyed by US President Trumps imposition of a 44 percent tariff on Sri Lankan exports to the US.

Addressing the rally, FTZGSEU leader Anton Marcus, reminded those in attendance that 150,000 jobs had been eliminated in factory closures during COVID-19, and declared that similar job losses should not be allowed to happen again.

The US-initiated tariff war has created a crisis across the world, he said, warning that there is no escape for Sri Lanka, and that apparel owners were using the situation to force workers to do more work.

Marcus told the rally that the government could not resolve this crisis on its own and that in order to find solutions [it] has to involve the relevant stakeholders. In other words, enlist the support of the trade union bureaucracies!

Union official Anton Marcus adressing the May Day rally, 2025

When Trump announced his tariff hikes in early April, Marcuss FTZGSEU called for discussions with the US president. The basis of that discussion, the union said, must be for a consensus to revise the tariff for American goods to our country, compared to the concessions given to our exports to that country.



The union also called for the establishment of a parliamentary committee, including the unions, to discuss the issue. Marcus criticised President Dissanayake for appointing a tariff crisis committee that included company bosses but not the trade unions.

The FTZGSEU leaderships principal concern is not the jobs and working conditions of its members but the collapse of Sri Lankas apparel industry, whose single largest market is the US. These comments make crystal clear that it is ready to collaborate with Colombo and its appeals for concessions from the US and other imperialist powers.

Marcuss references to the 150,000 apparel job losses when COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka in 2020 is a sharp warning of how his union will respond to Trumps tariff war.

When COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka in 2020 the then Rajapakse government convened the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC)consisting of government officials, company CEOs and trade union leaders, including the FTZGSEUto negotiate and impose mass retrenchments and wage cuts. Then, when the government adopted let it rip COVID-19 policies being embraced globally, the unions forced employees to return to work in unsafe conditions.

Addressing the May Day rally, CEBU president Channa Dissanayake told the crowd that the mass uprising in 2022 that brought down the Rajapakse regime had changed Sri Lankas political leadership. In a vague reference to the JVP/NPP government, he said: People have a lot of expectations. It has already passed six months, but there is no clear change.

In fact, last years election of Dissanayake and his JVP/NPP government, are a direct result of the unions betrayal of 2022 mass struggle. The trade union bureaucracies derailed the mass movement into a parliamentary blind-alley by supporting calls by the JVP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for an interim capitalist regime. This paved the way for the ruling elite to elevate the pro-US Ranil Wickremesinghe into the presidency.



Confronted with mounting popular opposition to Wickremesinghes implementation of the IMF austerity demands, the dominant sections of ruling elite last year swung their support behind Dissanayake and his JVP/NPP, regarding it as the only viable political tool to impose the IMFs dictates.

Echoing the CBEU president, ATETU leader Jagath Gurusinghe told the rally: We need to appeal to the comrades of this reformist government because the working class gave them power to have a system change.

The dominate theme of all the May Day speeches was for a broader alliance of all trade unions which, they claimed, would increase political pressure on the Dissanayake government.

The rally passed a resolution calling for a national minimum monthly wage of 65,000 rupees ($US217) for all state, private and plantation sector employees; formulation of a national labour policy; the immediate withdrawal of all privatisations of state-owned enterprises; and the abolition of all repressive laws, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Online Safety Act.

Behind the feigned concern about the wages, jobs and democratic rights, the unions have no intention of organizing a unified independent struggle of the working class to fight the governments attacks. Rather they aim to prevent such a movement emerging by promoting illusions in Dissanayakes pro-capitalist big business regime.

The rally also passed a resolution calling on Israel to halt its genocide of the Palestinian masses. In essence, the resolution constituted an appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu who has repeatedly emphasised, with US backing, that he would stop at nothing less than the ethnic cleansing of all Gaza.

JTUAs May Day rally once again showed the trade union bureaucracies support for the government, big business and the imperialist powers and its nationalist opposition to the original spirit of May Daythe fight for the unity of the international working class.

The Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka) calls on the workers to take the fight to defend their jobs, and for decent wages and working conditions and democratic rights, into their own hands. This requires a break from the union bureaucracy and the establishment of independent action committees at every workplace and neighbourhood. The source of assault on the living conditions and democratic rights of workers in every country is the capitalist system which is in deep crisis globally.

This fight can only be taken forward in a united struggle of the international working class on a socialist program. That is why it is crucial for workers in Sri Lanka to join and to build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees to discuss and coordinate action committees formed in every workplace.
A glimpse of 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week in E China's Zhejiang

Xinhua) 08:16, May 13, 2025

Models present creations during the 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Foreign visitors experience fabric collage at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A model presents creations during the 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A model presents a creation during the 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A trade fair is held during the 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A trade fair is held during the 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Foreign visitors experience fabric collage at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City of Jiaxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 12, 2025. The 2025 Puyuan Fashion Week has launched recently at Puyuan Fashion Resort in Jiaxing, embracing the theme "Knitting Beyond Boundaries."

The event features fashion shows, forums, carnivals, fashion lifestyle exhibitions and trade fairs, showcasing the distinctive charm of the water-town culture while establishing a benchmark for knitwear fashion. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CCTV: It was reported that in response to the content in the China-Russia joint statement that urges the Japanese government to draw lessons from history, stay prudent on historical issues, and make a clean break with militarism, Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference the other day that Japan has upheld freedom, democracy and rule of law and contributed to the prosperity of Asia and the world since World War II, and it will not stop pursuing peaceful development in the future. The allegation made by China and Russia that Japan didnt break away from militarism is not true. Hayashi said that Chinas military activities are a concern of the international community, and Russias invasion into Ukraine is outrageous and can undermine international order. Japan strongly hopes that China and Russia will stop criticizing other countries. What is Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: China noted the reports. During World War II, Japanese militarists war of aggression and innumerable crimes inflicted immense suffering on the people of China and elsewhere across Asia. To view and treat history correctly is an important prerequisite for Japans post-war return to the international community, the political foundation for Japans ties with neighboring countries, and more importantly, a key measure for Japans commitment to peaceful development. Yet even till this day, there are still things being done in Japan aimed at whitewashing its war of aggression and colonial rule. Japan remains evasive on the humanitarian atrocity of comfort women that it committed during the war. Some Japanese politicians have kept visiting and paying respect to Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are honored. These moves have caused strong condemnation and grave concern from neighboring countries. Instead of deeply reflecting on its crime of aggression and responsibilities, Japan accuses China and Russia for justly defending history and striving for peace. This once again reveals Japans problematic stance on historical issues. China firmly opposes this.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We urge Japan to take a hard look at its responsibility for the war crimes, draw lessons from history, make a clean break with any move that seeks to whitewash the history of aggression, which is the responsible thing to do for history, people and the future, follow the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the rest of the world through Japans actions.

AFP: Can you give us any details on the next stages of the trade talks with the U.S.? What would they involve and discuss? Specifically, can you tell us what talks are planned on the fentanyl issue given that the 20 percent tariffs linked to that remain in place?

Lin Jian: Chinas competent authorities have released information on the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs.

As for the fentanyl issue, China has made it clear more than once that fentanyl is the U.S.s problem, not Chinas. Its the U.S.s responsibility to solve the issue. Despite the goodwill China has shown, the U.S. wrongly slapped tariffs on Chinese imports by citing the issue of fentanyl. The move has dealt a heavy blow to China-U.S. dialogue and cooperation on counternarcotics, and gravely hurt Chinas interests. If the U.S. truly wants to cooperate with China, it should stop vilifying and shifting the blame on China, and seek dialogue with China based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Reuters: About the China-CELAC summit which opened this morning. Our question is, why are the Haiti and Saint Lucia flags at the summit, given both countries have ties with Taiwan?

Lin Jian: The China-CELAC Forum is an important platform for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean States. China always welcomes and supports CELAC member states in participating in activities within the framework of the Forum.

Beijing Youth Daily: We noted that the second Workshop on AI Capacity Building opened in Beijing. Could you share more information on that?

Lin Jian: On May 12, the second Workshop on AI Capacity Building opened in Beijing, with participants from nearly 40 countries and international organizations. This Workshop is a concrete action to implement the Global AI Governance Initiative, the UN Resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation in Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence, and the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that AI can serve as a global public good to benefit humanity. China advocates fair and inclusive development of AI, and acts as an active champion, practitioner and pioneer of international cooperation in AI capacity-building. China believes that digital dividends should not become digital hegemony, and intelligent revolution should not expand digital divide. We will continue to uphold the philosophy of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, enhance communication and cooperation with all parties, stay committed to providing public goods for the international community, share AI dividends with fellow developing countries, and promote AI to better serve global development.




By Aditya Soni

(Reuters) - Microsoft said on Tuesday it was laying off less than 3% of its workforce, or around 6,000 employees, as the technology giant looks to rein in costs while funneling billions of dollars into its ambitious bet on artificial intelligence.

The cuts will be across all levels and geographies and are likely the largest since Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees in 2023. The company let a small number of staff go in January over performance-related issues, but the new cuts are not related to that, according to CNBC, which first reported the news.

Big Tech has been spending heavily on AI as they see the new technology as a major growth engine, while slashing costs elsewhere to safeguard profit margins. Google has also laid off hundreds of employees in the past year, as it looks to control costs and prioritize AI, media reports have said.

"We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace," a Microsoft spokesperson said on mail.

The company, which had 228,000 workers as of June last year, regularly uses layoffs to prioritize staffing in its main focus areas.

Tuesday's move comes weeks after Microsoft posted stronger-than-expected growth in its cloud-computing business Azure and blowout results in the latest quarter, calming investor worries in an uncertain economy.

But the cost of scaling its AI infrastructure has weighed on profitability, with Microsoft Cloud margins narrowing to 69% in the March quarter from 72% a year ago.

Microsoft has earmarked $80 billion in capital spending this fiscal year, with most of it aimed at expanding data centers to ease capacity bottlenecks for artificial intelligence services.

D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria said the layoffs showed Microsoft was "very closely" managing the margin pressure created by its heightened AI investments.

"We believe that every year Microsoft invests at the current levels, it would need to reduce headcount by at least 10,000 in order to make up for the higher depreciation levels due to their capital expenditures," he said.

(Reporting by Aditya Soni and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli, Anil D'Silva and Devika Syamnath)
The thought of packing up and moving to another country is tempting for many, but not all countries are the same in terms of welcoming expats. Some countries have very stringent requirements about who can move there, while others just require that you are able to support yourself and, if applicable, your family.

In some cases, youll need to show that you have enough money or income to do so without working, as many countries have strict requirements about hiring expats over citizens.

Read Next: Salary Needed To Achieve the American Dream in the 50 Largest Cities

Explore More: The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing

So how much does it cost to relocate to another country? Heres what you need to know about relocating to these five countries.

Spain

Moving to Spain interviewed Americans who are living in Spain, and many of them reported Spain to be welcoming to U.S. expats.

To live in Spain without working, youll need a non-lucrative visa. A spouse, children and other related household members can also apply on the same visa application.

To apply, you need to show that you have enough money or income to reside for at least the first year. You will need to show that you have 400% of Spains Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator, or IPREM, for a single person, and an additional 100% for each additional person on the application.

In 2025, the IPREM is about $32,000 for a single person. An additional $8,000 per year would be required for a spouse and for each dependent.

Find Out: 5 International Destinations You Can Fly To for Cheap in 2025

Portugal

According to Forbes, Portugal has seen an influx of American expats, increasing 239% from 2017 to 2022. The country is safe and inexpensive, and the locals are friendly, Forbes reported.

One popular way to live in Portugal as an expat is on a D7 visa. This visa allows those with stable non-work income, such as pensions or investments in real estate, intellectual property or trusts, to live in Portugal.

To qualify, you must be able to show that you make at least Portugals minimum wage of 870 euros in passive income per month, according to Global Citizens Solutions. That comes out to nearly $1,000 in U.S. dollars. You must also provide Portuguese bank statements with a minimum balance equal to one years minimum wage, per Global Citizens Solutions.

Costa Rica

According to International Living, Costa Rica is a top destination for expats, as it provides a nice climate, a welcoming culture and an affordable cost of living.

As Forbes reported, there are multiple avenues you can take to get a visa in Costa Rica  all of which have different income or financial requirements. Retirees can get a Pensionado residency visa if they can show at least $1,000 per month in retirement income, such as a pension or an annuity.
By Daniel Leussink

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Nissan Motor unveiled sweeping new cost cuts on Tuesday, saying it would eliminate 11,000 more jobs and close 7 plants, capping a tumultuous year that has left the Japanese automaker fighting to turn itself around.

Nissan, which held off on releasing estimates for the financial year just starting, saw its profit almost wiped out in the one just ended. Operating profit totalled 69.8 billion yen ($472 million) in the 12 months to March, a decline of 88% from the previous year.

The automaker has been badly damaged by weakening sales in the U.S. and China, and then saw merger talks with Honda collapse and was recently forced to replace its chief executive. Like rivals, it is also being squeezed by U.S. tariffs and threatened by fast-rising Chinese EV makers in markets in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

New CEO Ivan Espinosa is aiming for total cost savings of some 500 billion yen. But he faces the difficult job of turning around an automaker that has seen its once-mighty brand value eroded.

"Our full-year financial results are a wake-up call. The reality is very clear. Our variable costs are rising. Our fixed costs are higher than our current revenue can support," Espinosa told a press conference.

The new job cuts will bring Nissan's total workforce reduction to around 20,000 jobs, after it previously announced plans to cut 9,000 positions. It will cut the number of its production plants to 10 from 17 and reduce the complexity of parts by 70%. It did not give specifics on which plants it expects to close.

Analysts have said Nissan, among its many missteps, is also paying the price for years under former Chairman Carlos Ghosn where it focused too heavily on sales volume, and used heavy discounts to keep cars moving off lots. That has left it with an ageing line-up that it is now scrambling to update.

Still, it seems unlikely to expect a sudden turnaround - the automaker sees a 200 billion yen operating loss in the first quarter, CFO Jeremie Papin said.

($1 = 147.8400 yen)

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, David Dolan and Louise Heavens)
May 12The course to Kalispell author Steve Brady's debut novel was first charted in a class at Flathead Valley Community College.

Brady, 74, who always enjoyed writing, took a continuing education course for budding novelists with the encouragement of his wife Trish. After a few lessons under the tutelage of instructor Dennis Foley, he found out the class was geared more toward practical application than the study of the theoretical.

"I hadn't intended to write a novel, but [Foley] said you might as well start one if you want to take this class," Brady recalled.

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Five years  and a lot of writing and revising  later, Brady released "Downwind to Baja" as an e-book and paperback in March. Available through Amazon, the book is part adventure, part thriller set on the high seas between Seattle and Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California peninsula.

The tale follows Ben Reilly, a hastily hired skipper tasked with getting the luxury sailboat Calisto  unbeknownst to him outfitted with groundbreaking technology worth killing over  to the Mexican resort city in time for an international sailing race.

But all of that came to Brady much later. Back in Foley's class, he remembered deciding to write what he knew and loved.

"I said, 'Shoot  I like sailing,'" Brady recalled. "And I like adventure."

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THOUGH BRADY grew up in Deadwood, South Dakota  not exactly known for its sailing  he held a steady interest in all things nautical. As a boy, he built model boats and learned about famous sailing vessels.

But it wasn't until his career in the U.S. Forest Service brought him to Washington in his 20s that he had an opportunity to learn how to sail himself. He joined the Seattle Sailing Club and fell in love with the water, departing from Anacortes, Washington, for weekend trips around the San Juan Islands.

"Once you've motored out of the harbor and the wind's taken over your sails, you heel a little bit and it's quiet and you can feel the boat move through the water," he said, trying to describe what it was about sailing that hooked him.

"It's mostly just the feeling of moving under natural power," he finished.

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His real-life maritime adventures included chartering trips with his wife and later taking the family, which by then had grown to include two boys, on camping trips aboard a cabin cruiser he owned while working in Alaska. A more recent trip saw him tour the Turkish coast by boat, pulling into the occasional cove to explore ruins dating back to antiquity.

"It's peaceful," Brady said of sailing.

Then he chuckled and added an afterthought.

"Except when it's stormy."

PENNING A novel for the first time wasn't without its share of rough water.

The writing part was smooth sailing, Brady recalled. He found himself up late into the night or even early into the morning working on the novel. Breaking away to focus on real-world tasks, like getting an oil change, proved challenging.

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"Your imagination takes hold and that side of your brain kicks over," he said before giving pause.

"I have to say the editing part was less addictive."

Thankfully, Brady had a crew to help with the work. After finishing Foley's class, Brady enrolled in a series of creative writing courses taught by Kathy Dunnehoff. The topics of the classes might not have addressed a particular problem he faced, but they kept him motivated.

Dunnehoff, in turn, connected him with a writers' critique group and Authors of the Flathead, a nonprofit organization that aids nonfiction writers, screenwriters, poets, and burgeoning and experienced authors. Members of the writers' critique group, Brady included, took turns swapping chapters and reviewing them for one another.

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One of the best lessons Brady learned came from Foley. He encouraged Brady to write his rough draft without spending too much time looking back. Foley, he recalled, likened it to listening to a child tell a story. If you want to get to the end, don't interrupt.

"Just write your first draft because you'll get stuck in loops trying to fix it," Brady said. "It's a different side of your brain that [edits]."

When that time to revise finally came, he received support from his writers' critique group and had at least six people review his earlier versions of the story. Their help, plus the tools he learned from Authors of the Flathead, proved instrumental in getting the tale into print, he said.

His advice for aspiring writers? Get connected to the resources offered in the Flathead Valley.

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"If you're in this community, I'd get in touch with Authors of the Flathead," he said. "I'd look at the slate of classes at Flathead Valley Community College. They can show you a path."

THOUGH HE learned plenty about the business side of publishing a book, Brady opted to self-publish "Downwind to Baja."

He can understand why some authors would want to connect with an agent who could then pitch their work to publishing houses. The process, though, can take years, he said.

"Being 74, I didn't want to wait for an agent to find my book," he said. "I admire people who go through that process, but I wanted to get it out."

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He remains busy learning the marketing side of being a published author these days. Part of that includes learning to navigate social media as a way to promote the novel, which Brady admits is uncharted territory for him.

But he's not done writing. He has a couple of ideas for a second work, including a sequel to "Downwind to Baja."

There's also an idea for a book focused on women firefighters. Having fought plenty of fires during his decades with the Forest Service, Brady admired his female colleagues, who soldiered on despite facing chauvinism.

"I've got time to kick it around," he said.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.
The 78th annual Cannes Film Festival is underway and the stars walked down the red carpet on Tuesday in Cannes, France, in a variety of showstopping looks.

Stars like Eva Longoria, Bella Hadid, Heidi Klum, Irina Shayk and more flew in to attend the opening ceremony and the Leave One Day screening at the Palais des Festivals. Robert De Niro was the guest of honor as the recipient of this years honorary Palme dOr, which was presented to him by Leonardo DiCaprio. De Niro attended with his partner Tiffany Chen and his daughter Helen Grace De Niro.

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The gowns this year were from designers like Elie Saab, Saint Laurent, Tamara Ralph, Armani Prive and more.

Here, see the red carpet looks from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony.

Eva Longoria attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and Partir Un Jour (Leave One Day) screening at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13.

Eva Longoria was styled by Maeve Reilly. She wore a strapless rose gold beaded Tamara Ralph gown from the brands spring 2025 couture collection featuring a black velvet corset and exaggerated bow. She paired the gown with an 18-karat rose gold Aleluia Collier and matching earrings with diamonds by Pasquale Bruni.

Irina Shayk

Irina Shayk at the opening ceremony and Leave One Day premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival held at Palais des Festivals on May 13, 2025 in Cannes, France.

Irina Shayk opted for a surprising polka-dot gown from Armani Prive fall 2019. The off-the-shoulder dotted gown featured layers of sheer and black fabric. It included an oversize, detachable bow in the back that served as sleeves. She wore the dress with dainty gold and black sling-back kitten heels.

Heidi Klum attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and Partir Un Jour screening at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 13 in Cannes, France.

Heidi Klum blended into the pink carpet with a flowing Elie Saab gown from the designers 1001 Seasons collection. The strapless dress featured a large pink flower at the chest and the ruffled, petal-like fabric flowed into a long train. She paired the look with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and a pair of rose gold pointed-toe satin mules.

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid at the opening ceremony and Leave One Day premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival held at Palais des Festivals on May 13 in Cannes, France.

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Bella Hadid wore Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello to the opening ceremony. She opted for a cross-back dress with thigh slit in silk satin and Georgia sandals in satin crepe with rhinestones covering the toe strap.

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival concludes on May 24. Films premiering at this years festival include Wes Andersons The Phoenician Scheme, Julia Ducournaus Alpha and Lynne Ramsays Die, My Love.

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Launch Gallery: Cannes Film Festival 2025 Red Carpet: Bella Hadid Goes Blonde, Halle Berry Sees Stripes and More Photos, Live Updates

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Dwell 24 alum Manny Rionda fled from the city to his familys finca during Covid lockdowns and devised a home for himself there where he could live among the trees.

In the spring of 2020, when Covid lockdowns began, Manny Rionda retreated from his home in Guatemala City to his familys finca, or ranch, in the highlands 35 miles to the west. At first he lived with his parents in their two-bedroom 1960s house on the mountainous estate, but he fell in love with country living and decided to stay. His parents granted him some space on the working farm to build his own home, and Manny, a fashion photographer and furniture designer, got to work on his first architectural project.

Dwell 24 alum Manny Rionda escaped to his familys finca in Guatemala during Covid lockdowns and decided to stay, but he soon realized he couldnt live with his parents forever. "I love my mom and dad," Manny says, "but were not sharing a bathroom." So the designer built a home of his own on the property, where he could live among the leaves. The living/dining room features heirlooms and a coffee table made of conacaste wood and unpolished granite. The print above the fireplace is by Guillermo Maldonado. Photo: Carolina Isabel Salazar

Casa Zanate, as Manny named it, doesnt immediately reveal itself. Manny minimized its footprint to avoid damaging the coffee, macadamia, and guava trees on the site, and the homea 1,480-square-foot, single-story boxis shrouded in greenery. "The trees here are sacred, since it takes almost a decade for them to flower," Manny says. Cantilevered concrete steps draw visitors in and lead to a floating deck that wraps around the homes flat front facade, connecting to a spacious side terrace hovering among the leaves.

Manny finished the house with architect Esteban Paredes. For the kitchen they created custom cabinets using lacquered MDF, and topped them with San Lorenzo marble. Photo: Carolina Isabel Salazar

To meet the $80,000 to $100,000 U.S. dollars budget, Manny had the walls built with cinder block and coated in chukum, a low-cost material made of tree resin mixed with limestone. "It was used by the Maya, and it can be easily colored, though we left it in its natural shade," he says. "Its waterproof, heavy duty, and I dont have to paint the exterior." After the homes first rainy season, the walls began to stain naturally, blending with the landscape.

For the floors, the two picked a durable porcelain tile with a wood finish. "I wanted to use engineered hardwood flooring," Paredes says, "but it was not realistic and would need a lot of maintenance." The rug was woven in the western highlands town of Momostenango. Photo: Carolina Isabel Salazar

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See the full story on Dwell.com: A Designer Builds a Home With a Rooftop Hot Tub on His Parents Ranch in Guatemala

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High winds on Everest's upper slopes make it too early to go for the summit, but it's not too early for climbers to position themselves for when the winds die down around May 17. Hundreds of tents in Base Camp are disgorging their climbers, who are heading up to the lower camps, where conditions are still fine.

Everest teams are on the go. Photo: Climbing The Seven Summits/Instagram

Lukas Furtenbach's teams on both sides of Everest will go up in the next few days. "They might meet on the summit," he said.

Speed climbers and no-oxygen

"About 700-1000 people are expected to summit in the next few days," Karl Egloff of Ecuador posted on social media. Like Tyler Andrews of the U.S., he intends to attempt an FKT (Fastest Known Time) on Everest without supplemental oxygen.

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He and Andrews are not in direct competition, since Andrews is attempting a one-way; he stops timing at the summit. Egloff will speed both up and down and measure his total time back at Base Camp.

On Instagram today, Andrews says that he will make his second attempt "after May 18." Egloff will also wait until the main wave of climbers passes.

"[I hope] to climb at the end of the month, without masses, traffic, and with higher temperatures," says Egloff.

Valeri Babanov, also climbing without oxygen but keeping a normal pace and with Sherpa support, is not so patient. He is back at Base Camp and about to head up after recovering downvalley from a respiratory illness for four days. Marcelo Segovia of Ecuador will also climb without bottled gas as soon as the weather allows.

Wingsuit fly ready

Tim Howell of the UK is also ready to climb to 8,300m on the Lhotse summit ridge in order to do his record wingsuit jump down the South Face toward Chukhung. Last year, Howell reached 8,200m, supported by UK guide Jon Gupta and two Sherpa climbers, but poor conditions prevented the flight.

The summit ridge of Lhotse. Photo: Brodie Hood

Howell's team has everything prepared: camps, oxygen, supplies, and ropes up to around 8,000m. At some point, the team will have to find a passage to the exit point.

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"All that remains is 200 meters of unknown, technical climbing, and finding a suitable exit for Tim to jump," Gupta said. "Then the weather has to play ball. We need low winds, no cloud, stability, and a narrow window to pull off something thats never been done. If we can do it, it will be extraordinary."
Editors Note: The video above is part of WRBLs initial coverage of the announcement of Operation Sweet Silence.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Nine people arrested as part of the Muscogee County Sheriffs Offices massive Operation Sweet Silence drug bust have plead guilty to drug trafficking charges.

According to the United States Attorneys Office Middle District of Georgia, defendant Tommie Mullins, Jr. aka TJ aka Bo aka Mini, 31, of Columbus, came before U.S. District Judge Clay Land and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. Mullins will serve 20 years as part of the plea agreement.

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Nine co-defendant also pleaded guilty in the case.

Trenton Thomas aka Bubbles, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 9 and faces a maximum of life imprisonment



Trenton Clemons, 48, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 9 and faces a maximum of life imprisonment



Adrian Palmer aka AP, 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 6 and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment



Darius Jenkins, 23, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 25 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment



Christopher Hill, 36, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of use of a communication facility to facilitate drug felony on April 25 and faces a maximum of four years imprisonment



Corey Turner aka Lito aka Lito Red, 33, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute on April 22 and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life imprisonment



Anthony Champion, 45, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on April 22 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment



Javonta Paden, 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana on April 22 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment



Adrian Pleasants, 29, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana on April 22 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.

Mullins and the co-defendants still have to face federal sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 7. There is no parole in the federal system.

These arrest represent a small portion of the total number of people taken into custody as part of Operation Sweet Silence. According to the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office the multi-agency operation resulted in the arrest of more than 100 people.

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According to the United States Attorneys Office Middle District of Georgia, Operation: Sweet Silence is part of the larger Operation Take Back America.

The United States Attorneys Office Middle District of Georgia calls Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that, marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

WRBLs previous coverage of Operation Sweet Silence 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 WRBL.
A Massachusetts lottery player claimed a $100,000 prize on Monday from a scratch ticket game thats less than a month old.

The winning ticket was sold in New Bedford at a convenience store called Costas Mini Mart.

The $100,000 prize was from $15,000,000 Colossal Millions, a $30 scratch ticket game released on April 15. All three $15 million grand prizes and seven $1 million prizes remain to be claimed as of May 13.

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Overall, at least 791 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Monday, including 20 in Springfield, 20 in Worcester and 68 in Boston.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

The two largest lottery prizes won so far in 2025 were each worth $15 million. One of the prizes was from a winning Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke, and the other was from a 300X scratch ticket sold on Cape Cod.

Massachusetts State Lottery

Read the original article on MassLive.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Tennessee Highway Safety Office and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) are cracking down on dangerous driving in Northeast Tennessee as the summer arrives.

The THP and highway safety office gathered for a press conference in Johnson City on Tuesday to announce the start of the 100 Days of Summer Heat Campaign.

Nolichucky raft guides likely to lose 2025 season in Gorge

THP Fall Branch District Captain Kevin Kimbrough told News Channel 11 that the initiative will target dangerous driving to reduce the number of fatal crashes in the region.

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Focus on hazardous moving, distracted driving, impaired drivers, restraint use and hazardous moving and speeding, and so, so on and so forth, Kimbrough said.

Authorities conducted the same operation in Hamblen County and saw a drop in fatal crashes, with nine fewer when compared to the same time the year before.

Law enforcement agencies that participate in 100 Days of Summer Heat will increase their enforcement on drunk and distracted driving through the use of sobriety checkpoints and other methods.

Youre going to see an increased presence from THP on the interstate systems and state routes, Kimbrough said. Youre going to see, first and foremost, the coveted THP motor unit, the Falcons. Youre going to see your motorcycle units in every county in all 14 counties in East Tennessee, and [they] are going to be working on problem areas that have the highest number of crashes related to distracted driving, motor vehicle fatalities, impaired drivers, you name it.

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Kimbrough advised anyone hoping to be safer on roadways this summer to start their days earlier to avoid heavy traffic, avoid driving distractions and obey speed limits.

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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Residents who live in the Lincoln-Lemington section of the City of Pittsburgh are demanding action after a leaning retaining wall started collapsing and crumbling onto their street.

But city officials told 11 Investigates its not their property.

They said its private property and the neighbors are responsible for the wall.

The neighbors told city officials several years ago that they were going to reach out to Channel 11 Chief Investigator Rick Earle for help, but decided to hold off after it appeared that the city was going to help them.

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That never happened, so they recently reached out to Earle, who began looking into their situation.

Earle discovered its been the source of frustration for years for the handful of neighbors who live on the dead-end street known as Dunmore.

Earle examined maps and deeds of the entire area from the past 75 years, and he discovered the documents raise even more questions about whos actually responsible for that wall.

Earle spoke with Kim Patterson, who recently retired from her job with Allegheny County, and another neighbor, 93-year-old Joyce Davis.

Both have lived on the street for years.

Patterson: Were going to be corralled in.

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Earle: Youre worried about it being a safety issue?

Patterson: We cannot get in.

Patterson and Davis are worried and concerned about their safety.

Earle: Did it collapse here?

Davis: All the way down.

Earle: It looks like its getting ready to fall in other places as well.

Davis: It will. It will. It has.

A retaining wall that separates the upper portion of Dunmore Street from the lower portion began falling onto their road.

Neighbors have patched it and attempted to repair certain sections but the rest of the three-foot-high wall is leaning in certain areas.

It appears that the concrete block wall could fall down at any time.

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Its falling. The whole thing is leaning. Its just a matter of time before it gets crazy and someone ends up dead. Wed like to get some help, said Patterson, whos worried that emergency crews may not be able to get into their street if more of the wall comes down and blocks the road.

Patterson showed us where she believes her property lines end and the city begins.

She claims its right at the edge of the retaining wall.

Patterson: My property stops right here.

Earle: Youre saying this is city property?

Patterson: Thats city. Yes, its city.

But the Mayors office says its not city property.

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They told Earle that the lower side of Dunmore Street, including the retaining wall, is a private road, while Upper Dunmore is public and maintained by the city.

We pay city taxes, all of us have worked all of our lives, and we get no city services, said Patterson.

About six years ago, Patterson went to city leaders and asked them to take over the road that she and her neighbors had maintained for years.

Earle: Do they plow these roads?

Patterson: No.

Earle: Do they salt them?

Patterson: No.

Earle: How do you get out of here?

Patterson: We have to shovel ourselves out. We pay a guy to come up here.

Email exchanges between Patterson and city officials several years ago looked promising.

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In one email, a city official acknowledged the need for a policy to deal with hundreds of undedicated streets.

The city recognizes the need for a policy that applies not just to residents of Dunmore, but all streets in the city, considering that we have over 700 undedicated streets throughout Pittsburgh. After the policy is created, eligible residents of undedicated streets like yours will be able to enter a legal agreement with the citys law department so that DPW and other agencies can provide the necessary services, a city official wrote.

At one point, Earle discovered that the Pittsburgh city council even had an ordinance drafted, and ready to go, declaring Dunmore opened for public highway purposes.

But nothing ever happened.

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Were getting empty promises and were being sent on wild goose chases, said Patterson.

In one email to the city several years ago, Patterson wrote, Maybe rick earl (sic) of wpxi will produce some much-needed attention.

After waiting for the city and getting nowhere, Patterson finally reached out to 11 Investigates a couple of months ago.

Earle went through deeds and maps and found one from 1950 that indicates a section of the road was dedicated for public use, but another map from 1969 shows its a private road.

Allegheny Countys real estate website indicated the city has owned the first part of that island that divides upper and lower Dunmore since June 7, 1966.

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But heres the problem: the citys property line and homeowners property lines appear to meet at the retaining wall.

Earle went to City Councilman Khari Mosley, who represents the neighborhood.

Mosley was unaware of the issues surrounding the street and the retaining wall because he took office after Patterson had been dealing with the previous council member.

Patterson said she was so frustrated with the process that she did not reach out to Mosley after he took office.

Earle: It looks like the first several hundred feet of that island is owned by the city of Pittsburgh.

Mosley: Absolutely. absolutely. Yes, yes, and thats what confused the Department of Public Works when they went there. I think they thought the whole street was private.

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After we showed Mosley the maps and deeds, he promised to look into the neighbors concerns.

Mosley: We definitely do not want to leave those residents hanging.

Earle: Because they do pay city taxes.

Mosley: Without question, without question. They are city residents and we value all city residents.

Patterson said the city actually paved the road about 30 years ago, and agreed to pick up their garbage at central location on the street.

While neighbors ultimately want the city to take over the entire road, at the very least, theyre hoping the city will fix the crumbling retaining wall.

11 Investigates will update this story when new information becomes available.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
The job cuts represent around 15pc of the companys entire workforce - Richard A Brooks/AFP via Getty Images

Nissan is preparing to axe nearly 20,000 jobs globally as it battles to turn around its ailing fortunes.

The Japanese car giant is planning to cut a further 11,000 roles on top of 9,000 already announced, it was reported on Monday.

The stark figures underline the scale of the crisis facing Nissan, which is nursing huge losses and facing intense competition in the previously lucrative Chinese market.

It is also still searching for a new industrial partner following the scaling back of an alliance with Frances Renault and a merger attempt with domestic rival Honda that was aborted in February.

Still, the prospect of yet more job cuts will unsettle tens of thousands of workers at the business, including some 6,000 working at Nissans plant in Sunderland, and signals that bosses are preparing for an even bigger shake-up than previously thought.

The fresh redundancies, which were reported by Japanese national broadcaster NHK, together with the previously announced job cuts, represent around 15pc of the companys entire workforce.

A spokesman for Nissans UK business was not immediately able to confirm the claims. The Japanese parent company has refused to comment on the report so far.

The carmaker has been in crisis mode since November, when it revealed a 70pc fall in profits and warned jobs and production rates would have to be reduced.

Nissans woes have been blamed on a collapsing market share in China, where its sales have more than halved in the past four years.

The company and its Japanese rivals have been slow to develop their own electric models, leaving them flat-footed as Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Chery and Geely produce hugely popular electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.

Stephen Ma, Nissans new boss in China, said last month that his company had been too slow adapting to the changed market.

The Chinese brands were too fast, to be honest, he told journalists. They were exceptional in how fast they moved. It took everybody by surprise. Now I think we have reset.

Felipe Munoz, an automotive analyst at Jato Dynamics, said Nissan was under assault in almost every major market it operated in, with Chinese competitors beginning to encroach on its sales in regions such as South East Asia as well.

Coupled with stagnant demand in Japan and Europe, as well as uncertainty around tariffs in the US, he warned that the company was running out of ways to grow sales.

Mr Munoz said: Partly this is a result of external factors that are affecting other carmakers as well, but its partly due to their own product line-ups as well.
ST. LOUIS  A 16-year-old boy was sentenced in court today for a deadly carjacking that happened in 2023.

Deshaun Harris pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including second-degree murder, for the death of Kay Johnson, which occurred on Jan. 24, 2023.

Prosecutors said that Harris and other teens conducted multiple carjackings and ATM robberies leading up to the shooting.

Happening in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, court documents say Harris admitted to shooting Johnson, 38, in her garage. Johnsons 14-year-old daughter was in the car at the time of the shooting

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Loved ones of Kay Johnson showed up to court in regard to Harris sentencing, calling the act of violence callous and cruel.

A precious life has not only been taken from us but from the world, Mark Johnson, the victims father, said.

Others who knew Kay shared memories of her, remembering her as a sweet neighbor who was hard-working.

Last month, another accomplice to this incident, 15-year-old Brian Wellington, sought after a plea agreement with prosecutors and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Harris was found guilty of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and attempted murder.

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He was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

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The invasion is already underway: 17-year cicadas have been spotted in a few Southern states in the midst of warm spring weather.

Known as Brood XIV, this particular population of loud, buzzing insects hasn't been around since 2008. Brood XIV is the second largest periodical cicada brood behind the Great Southern Brood that took over much of the South in 2024.

This year's cicadas are expected to emerge in 13 states, according to a report in USA Today. In the South, most of Kentucky will be inundated, as well as the eastern half of Tennessee, southwest West Virginia, and western North Carolina. The northeast tip of Georgia should also be prepared, and a few counties in Virginia and the DC area will likely see (or hear) Brood XIV as well.

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So far, the largest number of sightings (more than 1,300) have occurred in the mountains of western North Carolina. Tennessee and Kentucky have each had hundreds of reports, which are posted on a map generated from the Cicada Safari mobile app.

Scientists project the noisy insects will be mostly gone by July.

It takes about two full weeks for the great bulk of the cicadas to come out, Gene Kritsky, a professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, told USA Today. Once they start coming out at a specific location, that starts the clock. Youll have cicadas at that location for the next six weeks.

They'll leave behind eggs in the trees that hatch later in the summer. The new nymphs will drop to the ground, bury themselves, and disappear until 2042.

Read the original article on Southern Living
AMERICAN FORK, Utah (ABC4)  A 17-year-old boy was killed in a motorcycle crash in American Fork Canyon on Monday, according to Utah Highway Patrol.

Shortly before 2:10 p.m. on May 12, a motorcyclist riding a Honda was heading westbound on SR-92. While rounding a corner, he lost control and left the lane to the right.

The bike crashed, the front wheel breaking off entirely, and the rider sustained serious injuries. Medical personnel arrived and began life-saving measures. The boy was then flown to a local hospital in critical condition but died from his injuries.

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SR-92 has been closed for the crash investigation.

The identity of the deceased has not been released at this time.

No further information is currently available.

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KEARNS, Utah (ABC4)  Officials have released more information about a shooting in Kearns that left one person critically injured over the weekend, confirming that a suspect is in custody.

According to the Unified Police Department, the shooting victim was identified as a 17-year-old male, who was taken to a local hospital in critical condition after being found lying in a roadway. As of Monday, the victim was still in the hospital receiving critical care.

A suspect  also 17 years old  has been identified and taken into custody, but authorities have not released their name. UPD said both the suspect and the victim are known to have possible gang affiliations, and investigators determined the shooting was gang-related.

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PREVIOUSLY: One person critically injured in Kearns shooting

Preliminary investigations believe the victim was driving in the area of Cougar Lane when they stopped in front of a residence, Unified Police said Monday. A verbal confrontation occurred between the victim and individuals at the residence. During the confrontation, the 17 year old suspect fired rounds at the victim.

Officials responded to the scene just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, after receiving reports of a person lying in the roadway. Later on May 10, officials searched a residence that was said to be connected to the incident and recovered two handguns.

Detectives with UPDs Violent Crimes unit worked with the Salt Lake County Metro Gang Unit and determined that the shooting was gang-related. The suspect was expected to be booked into a juvenile detention center on several charges, but the investigation is still active.

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Anyone with details about the case has been asked to come forward. Those with information can submit anonymous tips to the Unified Police Department by calling 801-840-4000.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  An 18-year-old man is dead after an officer-involved shooting last Thursday, May 8, across from Lynn Middle School in Las Cruces, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

Police say Josiah Perrault, 18, died as a result of his injuries after the shooting, and another man who is believed to be involved in the incident was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Perrault died the day of the shooting.

Man dead after officer-involved shooting near Lynn Middle School in Las Cruces

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The shooting happened at around 6:30 a.m. that Thursday on the 900 block of Walnut Street, which is across from Lynn Middle School.

Police say the shooting did not happen at the school campus, and a portion of Walnut Street was closed for several hours.

The Police Department will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20 to provide more information on the shooting.

Aside from the police department, the Officer-involved Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting. The task force consists of New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office, and New Mexico State University Police.

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Two Arizona Historic places are among the most endangered in America, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The organization placed Phoenixs whimsical Mystery Castle and Flagstaffs charming May Hicks Curtis House on its 2025 list of Americas 11 most endangered historic places  a national call to action aimed at saving irreplaceable pieces of U.S. history.

Every year, the nonprofit highlights sites across the country that face urgent threats, from natural disasters to development pressures. This years list, released May 7, also includes communities still reeling from 2024's Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, a Catskills resort in New York, and the Pamunkey Indian Reservation in Virginia.

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Preservation has such a powerful impact on the communities where it happens through telling the stories of our community, Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, told USA TODAY. It inspires community pride and creates economic opportunities.

Heres why these two Arizona sites made the list  and what is being done to save them.

Mystery Castle in Phoenix

Mystery Castle is a beloved Phoenix landmark that sits near where Seventh Street ends at South Mountain. The castle has been closed to the public for more than a year as it faces an uncertain future that threatens to end in demolition.

Boyce Luther Gulley built this 18-room, three-story "castle" for his daughter Mary Lou from found or inexpensive objects, including old automobiles, telephone poles, street signs, glass bottles, plow discs, railroad tracks and scrap metal. It's reportedly held together by a combination of mortar, cement, calcium and goat milk. Yes  goat milk.

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Gulley, who battled tuberculosis, moved to Arizona and left his family behind. Around 1934, he began building the Mystery Castle for his daughter without plans, permits or formal architectural or engineering training  though he was a talented craftsman and artist. It wasnt until Gulley died in 1945, however, that his wife, Frances Bradford Gulley, and Mary Lou found out about the castle. They eventually moved in and called it home.

They later would transform the castle into a nationally known tourist attraction from the 1950s-2000s, but it is now in a state of disrepair.

Since Mary Lou Gulleys passing, the castle has been looked after and managed by the Mystery Castle Foundation. She formed the foundation with the goal of preserving the castle, a Phoenix Point of Pride.

Phoenix officials confirmed that a demolition permit request for the Mystery Castle was denied on Nov. 22, 2023, and the property was given a one-year stay of demolition.

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A representative of the Mystery Castle Foundation, Linda Spears, told The Arizona Republic in August 2024 that requesting the demolition permit last year was "the first step in working with the city of Phoenix to preserve it."

Monsoon damage and vandalism have taken a toll on the structure, Spears said. Phoenix officials estimated the castle would need more than $3 million in preservation and rehabilitation work.

May Hicks Curtis House in Flagstaff

May Hicks Curtis House in Flagstaff is in the process of being relocated to preserve it.

This site commemorates May Hicks Curtis, who sewed the first Arizona state flag in 1911. Located just off the original 1920s alignment of Route 66 in Flagstaff, Hicks built the house in 1913 adjacent to two boarding houses operated by her and her mother, which likely served early Route 66 travelers.

With new development moving forward on the lot where the house has stood, the house is under imminent threat of demolition, but the city of Flagstaff is working to relocate and rehabilitate the house for community use while commemorating the important historical significance of the site.

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Curtis lived in the house for decades, and as the property most closely associated with her legacy, the house represents her active community involvement and contributions to Arizonas history. Curtis participated in Flagstaffs Womens Club and the Arizona Historical Society, among numerous other organizations, and devoted her life to improving her city and her state. She also carved out her role in Arizona's history by co-creating the largest existing collection of pre-WWII photographs of Flagstaff with her first husband, Frank Curtis.

City officials said relocation is the only way to prevent demolition of the historic house, so the city took ownership of the building and is moving it to a temporary location. More funding would be necessary to move the house to a permanent location and start the rehabilitation process. Additional grant funding for initial stabilization and condition assessment was provided by the Arizona Community Foundation and the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.

Flagstaff officials said the city hopes to raise public awareness and seek new partnerships for rehabilitating, interpreting, and activating the house. Future uses could include serving as municipal offices or providing publicly accessible community space, along with public interpretation of the importance of May Hicks Curtis' contributions to Flagstaffs history.

The May Hicks Curtis House stands as a testament to the rich history and heritage that have shaped Flagstaff, and its preservation ensures that future generations will continue to draw inspiration from the stories it holds," said Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett. "Thank you to Secretary Fontes for helping promote the history of May Hicks Curtis and her connection to the Arizona flag, as well as to our partners for helping to make this relocation and rehabilitation a reality.

Historic sites tell stories

The National Trust, chartered by Congress in 1949, spends about a year selecting sites to include on its endangered list, considering factors such as its importance to the community, whether there's a strong partnership to support preservation and what impact the site might have once it's protected.

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They're compelling because of the stories they hold and because of what will happen there after they're preserved," said Quillen.

The listings began in 1988. The recognition doesnt come with funding, but often garners attention and support for the sites.

The organization's website, savingplaces.org, also has resources for community leaders seeking to engage in preservation projects in their neighborhoods and cities.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 historic AZ buildings are among most at risk in US
Lenora Kenner, center, of Bismarck, talks with attendees of an anti-CO2 pipeline protest at the Capitol in Bismarck on July 27, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Two North Dakota judges have ruled that lawsuits filed by landowners against carbon pipeline company Summit Carbon Solutions can proceed over objections about court procedures.

Several landowners are suing Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions, which is attempting to build a network of pipelines across five states. The pipelines would take carbon dioxide emissions captured at ethanol plants to sites in western North Dakota for permanent underground storage.

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Attorneys for Summit had filed motions to dismiss the lawsuits, arguing that not all parties involved were properly notified and that the cases were not filed in the proper court.

South Central Judicial District Court Judge Pam Nesvig issued her ruling Friday rejecting Summits arguments in one case in which landowners are suing Summit and the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

South Central Judicial District Court Judge Jackson Lofgren filed a similar ruling Tuesday in another case in which landowners are suing Summit entities and the North Dakota Industrial Commission.

The Public Service Commission in November granted Summit a permit for its pipeline route, about 333 miles through southeast and south-central North Dakota.

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The Industrial Commission in December granted permits for underground permanent storage of carbon dioxide in Oliver, Mercer and Morton counties.

South Central Judicial District Court Judge David Reich has yet to rule on a motion to dismiss in another case where Burleigh County is suing the North Dakota Public Service Commission and Summit Carbon Solutions.

Among the issues raised in the PSC cases is that the agency did not give enough consideration to the safety of residents along the pipeline route. The lawsuit also challenges the PSCs ruling that state zoning rules trump county zoning ordinances on pipelines.

The PSC ruled last year that a 2019 state law gives the state the upper hand on pipeline setbacks  such as how far away the pipeline must be from a residence  after Summit said Emmons and Burleigh had passed unreasonable set ordinances.

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In the Industrial Commission case, landowners contend the state Department of Mineral Resources withheld information about Summits models that would predict where the carbon dioxide would move when the gas is pumped underground. The Industrial Commission oversees the Department of Mineral Resources, which recommended approving the storage permits. About 92% of landowners have voluntarily agreed to participate in the storage facility.

In yet another case, the North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments last month in a challenge to a state law related to underground storage of CO2.

The Northwest Landowners Association and other landowners contend a state law that can force landowners to take part in an underground CO2 storage project through a process called amalgamation is unconstitutional. Summit Carbon Solutions is taking part in the defense of that law along with the state of North Dakota and the Industrial Commission. An attorney for Minnkota Power, who joined the Industrial Commission in arguing to the Supreme Court, said a small percentage of property owners should not be able to deny a majority the right to develop their property.

Summits pipelines are planned to connect 57 ethanol plants, including Tharaldson Ethanol at Casselton, to the underground carbon storage sites.

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Summit so far has been denied a permit in South Dakota. It has obtained permits in Iowa and for part of its Minnesota route. Nebraska has no state permitting for carbon pipelines.

Supporters of the Summit project say it would support the ethanol industry by lowering the carbon intensity score of the ethanol plants, opening up potential sales in low-carbon fuel markets.

The project would take advantage of federal tax credits promoting carbon sequestration to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

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2 men arrested in confrontation that left 1 dead, 2 hurt

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Two men are facing charges after a confrontation over loud music at a neighborhood party escalated, leaving one person dead and two others injured this past weekend, El Paso Police said.

2 people hurt in stabbing in Northeast El Paso after altercation escalates

Ransford Julian Myers, 24, and Michael Gary Myers, 56, were both arrested, police said. The younger Myers is facing a charge of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The older Myers is facing two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police did not say how they may be related.

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Hugo Benitez, 35, died from injuries sustained in the incident, police said. Two other men, age 31 and 36, were injured.

At about 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, police responded to the 5300 block of Dalton about a reported shooting and stabbing.

When police arrived, they found three male subjects who had been stabbed.

The initial investigation showed that a party was happening at a home with a live band.

During the party, the two suspects entered the property to confront the homeowners about the loud noise, police said.

During the altercation, Benitez and two others were stabbed, police said.

Two of the three victims were transported to a local hospital. The third victim refused transport.

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Benitez, who was transported, died at the hospital, police said.

Ransford and Michael Myers were arrested. Ransford Myers was booked under a $2.5 million bond. Michael Myers was booked under a $1 million bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
STARKE, Fla. (AP)  Florida is continuing its rapid pace of executions this year, with one convicted killer set to die this week and another on June 10 who would be the sixth person put to death by the state in 2025.

Glen Rogers, 62, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Thursday for the 1995 stabbing death near Tampa of Tina Marie Cribbs. Rogers, who has claimed he killed many people around the country, was also sentenced to death in California for another woman's murder.

Rogers was arrested in Kentucky driving Cribbs' car, which he claimed she had lent to him.

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There were also claims by Rogers and others that he was involved in the O.J. Simpson murder case and was responsible for the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. This came up in a 2012 documentary and in correspondence between Rogers and a criminal profiler, but Los Angeles police and prosecutors said he was not the killer.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed a death warrant for Anthony Wainwright, 54, who was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering Carmen Gayheart in 1994. Gayheart was abducted from a grocery store parking lot in Lake City, Florida.

Wainwright and another man had escaped earlier from prison in North Carolina and were captured in Mississippi after a shootout with police, according to court records.

Both Rogers and Wainwright have appeals pending that could delay their executions. There were also six Florida executions in 2023 but only one in 2024.
DENVER (KDVR)  A home was destroyed and two family pets died after a house fire in Coal Creek Canyon.

On Tuesday at 4:20 p.m., the Boulder County Sheriffs Office said multiple agencies responded to a structure fire in the 500 block of Crescent Lake Road in unincorporated Boulder County.

Deputies said the homeowners were away at the time of the fire, but discovered the flames after they returned home.

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The sheriffs office said the main part of the house was a total loss. Only the garage remained unburned. Coal Creek Canyon Fire Rescue remained at the home throughout the night to monitor the structure.

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Two family pets died in the fire  a dog and a cat.

The American Red Cross and Boulder County victim advocates are assisting the family.

The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation.

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Nissan on May 13 announced sweeping cuts across the company with plans to lay off another 11,000 employees and close more than a half-dozen plants across the globe.

The latest cuts bring the carmaker's total workforce reduction to roughly 20,000 jobs, which accounts for 15% of the Japan-based automakers workforce, according to Reuters and The Associated Press.

Following a whirlwind year, the company announced it would also close seven plants, Reuters reported. The move will cut the number of its production plants from 17 to 10.

It was not immediately clear which positions were being slashed and which plants were shuttering.

USA TODAY has reached out to Nissan.

Financial results a 'wake-up call,' CEO says

Nissan employs more than 133,000 people worldwide, according to Nissan's Global website, with about 21,000 people, including manufacturing employees, in the United States.

The new layoffs will bring Nissan's total workforce cuts to about 20,000 jobs. Last year, the automaker announced plans to cut 9,000 workers and previously announced nixing plans to build a plant in Japan.

Newly named Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa has rekindled optimism at the automaker.

"As you can see, our full-year financial results are a wake-up call," newly named CEO Ivan Espinosa said during a press conference, according to Reuters and The Japan Times. The reality is very clear. Our variable costs are rising. Our fixed costs are higher than our current revenue can support."

Espinosa, who replaced former CEO Makoto Uchida (2019-2025) recently revealed a handful of upcoming vehicles to the public recently including the new Leaf EV and the Kicks.

The hidden costs of owning a car: How fuel, maintenance and depreciation add up

Nissan layoffs come after retreating on merger

The move comes on the heels of Nissan facing a plethora of challenges including new management, falling sales, and potential merger or acquisition. But analysts dont see the company failing anytime soon, the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported last month.

Employees inspect the vehicles through an assembly line at Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant in Smryna, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

In December 2024, Nissan and Honda announced a plan to merge, but Nissan retreated from the negotiations in February.

This is a developing story.

Contributing: Reuters; Mark Phelan with The Detroit Free Press

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nissan layoffs, plant closures: Carmaker announces more cost cuts
Two New York City men have been sentenced to at least 40 years in prison for opening fire outside a party venue on Long Island, killing one victim and wounding three others, in what officials described as a calculated murder that shattered the Valley Stream community.

Kyle Matthews and Isaiah Gonzalez, both 23, were convicted last month of murder, conspiracy and weapon offenses in the deadly shooting of 20-year-old Deandre Carter on the evening of Aug. 21, 2023.

The two Far Rockaway, Queens, residents went to a venue on Ocean Avenue in Valley Stream, where a group of individuals associated with the Crips street gang was having a party.

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According to investigators, the two men walked toward a group of partygoers standing outside the entrance and fired at least eight shots from two different .380-caliber pistols, in what Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly described as a meticulous plot to murder a member of a rival group in their community.

Carter, of Brooklyn, was shot in the chest; the bullet shattered his rib cage and pierced his heart and left lung.

Three other individuals  including a 12-year-old victim  were also shot and had to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to prosecutors.

NYPD officers arrested Matthews in Far Rockaway on Sept. 6, 2023, while Gonzalez was arrested two days later in Manhattan.

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In April, after a nearly four-week trial  and one day of deliberation  a Nassau County jury found both men guilty.

On Monday, Judge Helene Gugerty sentenced them to up to 40 years to life in prison, Newsday reported.

The duos calculated murder of Carter took a beloved son, nephew, and friend from his family, and shattered the Valley Stream community, according to the district attorney.

The victim had dreams of pursuing a career in criminal justice and becoming a police officer, Donnelly said in a statement. Dreams that were stolen from him that August night.
Sister Pamela Smith of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston was among about 25 protesters outside the gates of Broad River Correctional Center in Columbia Friday, April 11, 2025, ahead of the execution of Mikal Mahdi. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  Two South Carolina legislators are calling for an investigation into last months execution by firing squad, according to a letter sent to legislative leaders and the governor.

Rep. Neal Collins, a Pickens County Republican, and Rep. Justin Bamberg, a Bamberg County Democrat, are trying to increase awareness of questions raised in a notice attorneys filed last week claiming bullets largely missed inmate Mikal Mahdis heart during his April 11 execution. The second execution by firing squad in state history came one month after the first.

A letter sent Monday by the two representatives, who are also attorneys but unaffiliated with the specific case, called for a clear, transparent, and accountable protocol before any future execution by firing squad.

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This request is not rooted in sympathy for Mikal Mahdi, nor is it made to undermine the horrible acts for which he was charged and convicted of and the impacts his crimes had on his victims, their letter reads.

This independent investigation is to preserve the integrity of South Carolinas justice system and public confidence in our states administration of executions under the rule of law.

What, exactly, an investigation might look like would depend on the response the legislators get. That could include involving the state inspector general, the attorney general, the State Law Enforcement Division or a panel of legislators, the representatives said.

Im open to how its handled, as long as it is done, because I do think its important, Collins, of Easley, told the Daily Gazette.

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If none of the letters recipients  Gov. Henry McMaster, House Speaker Murrell Smith, Senate President Thomas Alexander and Joel Anderson, the acting corrections director,  spur an investigation, Bamberg said he would consider trying to address the issue through legislation.

McMaster does not see the need for a state investigation, said spokesman Brandon Charochak.

The governor has high confidence in the leadership of the Department of Corrections, Charochak said in a statement. He believes the sentence of death for Mr. Mahdi was properly and lawfully carried out.

A spokesperson for Smith, R-Sumter, declined to comment. Alexander, R-Walhalla, didnt respond to a request for comment. Chrysti Shain, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, reiterated the departments position that nothing went wrong during the execution or autopsy.

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Bamberg suggested writing into state law an independent review board responsible for investigating every execution and making suggestions for how the next could go better. He and Collins also proposed adding legislators as witnesses to executions.

Trying to remove the firing squad, which Bamberg and Collins voted against adding in 2021, would likely prove too controversial for any real traction, Bamberg told the Daily Gazette.

The above shows the execution chamber in the Department of Corrections Columbia prisons complex, as seen from the witness room. The firing squad chair (left) was added following a 2021 state law that made death by firing squad an option. The electric chair is under the cover. (Provided by the S.C. Department of Corrections)

Instead, Bamberg and Collins would rather focus on ensuring the execution process happens without any issues, Bamberg told the Gazette.

How can we breed trust and a degree of accountability and transparency for something as final as taking a life? he said.

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Legislators added the rarely used method as an option in 2021 in order to restart the execution process, which had been on hold as state officials struggled to get the drugs needed for lethal injections.

That problem was resolved in September of 2023, thanks to another law legislators expanded to protect the source of the drugs.

Two condemned inmates have chosen to die by firing squad since executions resumed last September. Another three opted to die by lethal injection.

Court filing

Bamberg had questions before attorneys for Mahdi submitted an analysis of his autopsy report to the state Supreme Court, but the filing submitted last Thursday solidified his concerns, he said.

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According to protocol for South Carolinas firing squad executions, three volunteer marksmen fire at a target placed over the inmates heart from 15 feet away. The gunmen use .308 Winchester bullets, meant to expand and fragment on impact in order to kill the inmate as quickly as possible, prison officials have said previously.

Bullet fragments partially hit Mahdis heart, but they didnt destroy it completely as was the case in Brad Sigmons March 7 execution by firing squad, according to a pathologist hired by death row lawyers to analyze the autopsy report. Instead, the bullets struck below Mahdis heart, causing more damage to his liver and pancreas than the heart itself, the pathologist wrote.

Members of the media who witnessed the execution reported that Mahdi let out low, loud moans for about a minute after the guns fired.

If Mahdi remained alive and suffering, that could mean the state violated the U.S. Constitutions ban on cruel and usual punishment, Bamberg and Collins wrote.

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Regardless of the crime committed, the state bears a moral and constitutional obligation to ensure that executions are carried out humanely and in strict adherence to protocol, their letter reads.

The attorneys filing raises questions Bamberg and Collins want answered, they wrote. Among them: Why did Mahdis chest show only two bullet holes? Was the target on Mahdis chest placed in a spot other than right over his heart? Why was Mahdis clothing not analyzed or documented in the autopsy?

Collins said he and Bamberg want to ensure that, in the future, all evidence is preserved so that if valid questions arise  as in Mahdis case  we can settle this.

Mahdis body was cremated at his request, said a spokesperson for his attorneys. That means officials cant exhume his body and conduct another autopsy.

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All three guns fired, and no bullet fragments were found in the death chamber following the execution, Shain said in an email. Two of the three bullets struck in the same spot and followed the same pathway through the body, explaining the two bullet wounds, Shain said.

A medical professional used a stethoscope and a chest X-ray to place the target over Mahdis heart. The autopsy was done by the same private firm that has done all execution autopsies for the agency, Shain said.

The department did not provide any instructions or restrictions on the pathologist regarding photographs or X-rays in the same way SCDC provided no such instructions regarding the autopsies of the previous executions, Shain said in a statement.

Regardless of what happened, an independent review would be able to give impartial answers, Bamberg said.

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The fact that there are differing explanations is part of the problem, and thats what were trying to address, he said. There should not be a question as to what happened, because were talking about the government taking a life.

Until an independent review is conducted, Bamberg and Collins told the Gazette theyre calling for the firing squad to be taken off the table as an option for any upcoming execution. The state Supreme Court is expected to issue a death warrant this Friday.

If execution by firing squad is no longer an option, inmates would have to choose between lethal injection, which attorneys have also questioned, and electric chair, which attorneys have said their clients want to avoid.

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GENEVA, Ill. (WGN)  Two women were rescued Sunday night in Geneva after they fell out of their kayaks and into the Fox River.

The Geneva Fire Department said just before 10:45 p.m., rescue crews and police officers were sent to the area of the Fox River near the 800 block of North Bennett Street for a river rescue. When crews were on their way to the scene, dispatchers told them a bystander had heard screaming coming from the river.

Unresponsive swimmer pulled from Lake Michigan: CFD

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When authorities arrived, two officers went into the water and were able to get one of the women to shore. A Geneva Fire Department rescue boat was then launched and rescued the second woman, with help from a police officer, according to investigators.

Officials said one woman was taken to an area hospital while the other refused medical treatment. The condition of the woman taken to the hospital is unknown at this time.

No other information was released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general filed two federal lawsuits on Tuesday, claiming that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in transportation and disaster-relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions.

According to the complaints, both Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have threatened to cut off funding to states that refuse to comply with President Donald Trump's immigration agenda.

While no federal funding is currently being withheld, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a news conference on Tuesday that the threat was imminent.

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President Donald Trump can't use these funds as a bargaining chip as his way of ensuring states abide by his preferred policies, Bonta added.

Department of Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that the lawsuit will not stop the Trump Administration from restoring the rule of law.

Cities and states who break the law and prevent us from arresting criminal illegal aliens should not receive federal funding. The President has been clear on that, she said.

Duffy said in a statement that the 20 states have filed the lawsuit because their officials want to continue breaking federal law and putting the needs of illegal aliens above their own citizens.

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Both lawsuits say that the Trump administration is violating the U.S. Constitution by trying to dictate federal spending when Congress has that power  not the executive branch.

On April 24, states received letters from the Department of Transportation stating that they must cooperate on immigration efforts and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs or risk losing funds.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin criticized the timing of Duffy's letter when Newark's airport struggles with radar outages and other issues.

I wish the administration would stop playing politics with peoples lives, Platkin said. I wish Secretary Duffy would do his damn job, which is to make sure planes land on time, not to direct immigration enforcement.

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Meanwhile, on Feb. 24, states received letters from the Department of Homeland Security declaring that states that refuse to cooperate with, refuse to share information with, or even actively obstruct federal immigration enforcement reject these ideals and the history we share in common as Americans.

If any government entity chooses to thumb its nose at the Department of Homeland Securitys national security and public safety mission, it should not receive a single dollar of the Departments money unless Congress has specifically required it, Noem wrote in her letter.

Attorneys general behind the lawsuits include the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont.

The cases are being spearheaded by California and Illinois, but they were filed in federal court in Rhode Island, a detail that the attorneys general defended by saying they filed in any court that is going to be fair and objective and consider our factual presentation and legal analysis.

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The lawsuits are the latest legal actions that Democratic-led states have taken against Trump since he took office earlier this year. Bonta noted that California has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the administration, while Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said his state has launched more than a dozen.

While the lawsuits have challenged policies on tariffs, federal employee firings and health care research, Trump's focus on immigration enforcement and the mass deportation of immigrants in the United States illegally have received the most attention.

This has included the president's promise to mass deport people and the start of a registry required for all those who are in the country illegally.

What were seeing is a creeping authoritarianism, Neronha said.
Federal funding for the Washington Bridge demolition and rebuild project faces new uncertainty under new executive directives tying infrastructure grants to states' cooperation with federal immigration policies. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

Theres no reason why money for road repairs and flood protections should hinge upon states cooperation with federal immigration policies, contend 20 Democratic states attorneys general.

Thats why the AGs, including Rhode Islands Peter Neronha, are asking a federal judge to stop federal agencies from a grant funding hostage scheme that requires detaining undocumented immigrants who dont commit crimes in order to receive key federal grants and aid.

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Two new federal lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) aim to protect and preserve billions of federal dollars already awarded to states for emergency preparedness, disaster relief and infrastructure projects.

Directives issued in April by DHS and DOT secretaries informed states that their federal funding required compliance with federal immigration policies. The AGs  representing Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont  allege this violated constitutional protections for separation of powers.

By hanging a halt in this critical funding over States like a sword of Damocles, Defendants impose immense harm on States, forcing them to choose between readiness for disasters and emergencies, on the one hand, and their judgment about how best to investigate and prosecute crimes, on the other, the lawsuit against DHS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and their leaders, states.

Defendants grant funding hostage scheme violates two key principles that underlie the American system of checks and balances: agencies in the Executive Branch cannot act contrary to the authority conferred on them by Congress, and the federal government cannot use the spending power to coerce States into adopting its preferred policies. Defendants have ignored both principles, claiming undelegated power to place their own conditions on dozens of grant programs that Congress created and bulldozing through the Constitutions boundary between state and federal authority.

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The AGs say state and local public safety officials have more important work to do than cater to the whims of a new administration, which stand in contradiction to state-level directives like, for example, authorizing licenses for undocumented immigrants. Rhode Island lawmakers granted driving privileges for undocumented residents in 2022, with a July, 1 2023 effective date, joining 19 other states and D.C.

Federal protocols followed by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies could force state and local police to use state license laws as a way to find and detain undocumented immigrants.

As a former U.S. Attorney and former federal prosecutor, I know how many ICE agents are in Rhode Island and its under 10, Neronha said during a virtual press conference Tuesday. What they need in order to carry out their agenda is for us to do the work for them, pulling us away from important law enforcement work in Rhode Island.

Clockwise from upper left: Democratic Attorneys General Matthew Platkin of New Jersey; Rob Bonta of California; Peter Neronha of Rhode Island; and Kwame Raoul of Illinois take questions from reporters during a virtual press conference Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Screenshot)

More uncertainty for Washington Bridge

No state has seen federal funding cut off since directives were issued by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Not yet.

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States abilities to respond to natural disasters and security threats, and complete key infrastructure projects, including the much-anticipated rebuild of the westbound Washington Bridge in Rhode Island, hinge upon a continued flow of congressionally authorized federal grants and aid.

The $221 million Biden-era infrastructure grant awarded to Rhode Island for the Washington Bridge project only became accessible in late March, after weeks of uncertainty in the wake of the administration change. Gov. Dan McKees office and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment Tuesday regarding continued access to the funds in the wake of Duffys April 24 directive tying federal infrastructure grants to compliance with federal diversity and immigration policies.

The Duffy directive fails to provide any statutory or legal explanation for why transportation funding relates to immigration enforcement. The new requirements jeopardize more than $628 million in federal funding in Rhode Island, and billions of dollars more across the country, the AGs argue in their lawsuit against Duffy and DOT.

If Plaintiff States reject Defendants unlawful Immigration Enforcement Condition, they will collectively lose billions in federal funding that is essential to sustain critical public safety and transportation programs, including highway development, airport safety projects, protections against train collisions, and programs to prevent injuries and deaths from traffic accidents. The loss of this funding will cause state and local providers to scale back or even terminate many of these programs and projects, the complaint states. More cars, planes, and trains will crash, and more people will die as a result, if Defendants cut off federal funding to Plaintiff States.

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More cars, planes, and trains will crash, and more people will die as a result, if Defendants cut off federal funding to Plaintiff States.

 Twenty state Democratic AGs in lawsuit against U.S. Department of Transportation and Secretary Sean Duffy

Similarly dire predictions accompany the loss of security and disaster funds, which includes $3 billion in FEMA money to states each year, according to the lawsuit against DHS. Rhode Island received more than $45 million in FEMA grants in 2024 alone, according to the lawsuit.

The new complaints reprise language of the 20 state AG lawsuits against the Trump administration that preceded them, calling the executive agencies actions arbitrary and capricious and in clear violation of constitutional separation of powers and spending clauses.

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Neronha during the press conference pointed to the success that AGs have had in other lawsuits, temporarily preserving funding and policy protections for education, immigration, research funding, public health, and grants and aid to state governments, among others.

Not that he expects the frenzy of legal activity will abate anytime soon.

As we stack wins against the Trump administration for violation of the Constitution and other federal laws, what we are seeing is a creeping authoritarianism in this country, Neronha said. The president is trying to take power for himself. Hes trying to sideline Congress, and now, hes attempting to undermine the judiciary.

Neronha likened the latest federal directives attempting to force states to redirect their own law enforcement to serve federal civil immigration policies to holding a gun to states heads.

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Rhode Island, home to four of the 20 federal lawsuits against the Trump administration already, was again picked as the setting for the latest complaints due to the strong team within Neronhas office, he said.

Neronha and other AGs bringing the two cases against the administration also stressed the sum of their collaborative parts.

Weve built the best and biggest law firm in the country, and were fighting for all Americans, Neronha said.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

The lawsuit against DOT was assigned to U.S. District Chief Judge John Jr. McConnell Jr., while the case against DHS was assigned to Senior District Judge William E. Smith, according to the public court docket.

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TEXISTEPEC, Mexico (AP)  Gunmen killed a mayoral candidate from Mexicos governing party in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz and four others who accompanied her, the second such local candidate killing in the state ahead of the June 1 election, authorities confirmed Monday.

There were reports later Monday that two federal agents were killed in another part of the state.

The attack on candidate Yesenia Lara Gutierrez of the Morena party occurred Sunday when she was leading a caravan of supporters through Texistepec. Three more people were wounded.

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Veracruz Gov. Rocio Nahle, also of the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said Monday that Lara Gutierrezs daughter was among those killed.

Texistepec is a town of 20,000 southwest of the important petroleum industry port of Coatzacoalcos.

No (elected) position is worth dying for, Nahle said in a press conference Monday, where she promised justice.

All of the states power will be present in coming days so that the elections are free and democratic, she said.

At a wake Monday in Texistepec, family and friends mourned Lara Gutierrez and spoke about the fear the violence stirred around the election.

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We cant continue with the insecurity, were tired of all of this, this is terrorism, said supporter Joaquin Fonseca. There are five people dead, not one. Were living the worst of the terrorism.

Family friend Cruz Morales said the violence is so bad that were afraid to go into the fields, to go see our family in the evening, because we dont know whats going to happen to us on the way.

Lara Gutierrez was the second mayoral candidate killed in Veracruz during the campaign. On April 29, the first official day of campaigning, gunmen killed German Anuar Valencia, also from the governing party at his campaign headquarters in Coxquihui in the northern part of Veracruz.

Nahle said that 57 local candidates had requested security offered by the state and federal government. It was not immediately clear if Lara Gutierrez had.

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Municipal elections are scheduled in Veracruzs 212 municipalities for June 1.

Local candidates are historically the most vulnerable to election violence as organized criminal groups seek to gain control of local governments.

Later Monday, local press reported that two federal agents and a third person were killed in an attack in the coastal city of Boca del Rio, Veracruz. An Associated Press photojournalist saw federal agents and soldiers maintaining a perimeter around the scene of the shooting.

Neither state nor federal authorities immediately responded to requests to confirm the toll.

___

Aleman reported from Xalapa, Mexico.






Emergency services were alerted to a "suspicious" house fire in Toowoomba, Australia, on Wednesday, May 7

A nine-year-old boy died at the scene, while a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl died at hospital due to their injuries

Queensland Police Service announced that a 36-year-old woman has been charged with three counts of murder







A mother in Australia has been charged with the deaths of her three children following a "suspicious" house fire.

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At around 12:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 7, emergency services were called to a home that had been "engulfed by flames" on Merritt Street in the city of Toowoomba. Ellouisa Patricia Brighton's nine-year-old son was found dead in the debris, while her two daughters later died in the hospital after sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Brighton, 36,  who remains in critical condition in the hospital  has since been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson, the Queensland Police Service said in a press release on Tuesday, May 13.

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.

Following a search of the property, a body believed to be of a 9-year-boy, was discovered inside," police said in the press release. "Later the same day, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl passed away at Queensland Childrens Hospital from their injuries.

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Authorities confirmed two men, ages 34 and 18, as well as an 11-year-old boy, were able to escape the blaze.

The 34-year-old man underwent surgery for serious injuries to his arm, while the 18-year-old man and 11-year-old boy were treated for minor injuries, police said in the press release.

Getty Police car in Australia (stock image) Police car in Australia (stock image)

"Following an extensive investigation involving detectives from the Toowoomba Child Protection Investigation Unit with the assistance of the Homicide Investigation Unit, Child Trauma Unit and Specialist Forensic Units, police have charged a 36-year-old woman with three counts of murder (Domestic Violence offence), three counts of attempted murder (Domestic Violence offence) and one count of arson," police confirmed.

The case was mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today, with plans to resume on Friday, May 16, per ABC.

gpontour/Getty Two fire trucks in a fire station in Queensland, Australia (stock image) Two fire trucks in a fire station in Queensland, Australia (stock image)

Records from interstate child safety authorities are being requested by the police, according to the outlet.

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Insiders allegedly told ABC that the fire was "out of the blue" and the family had no prior reports to police or child protection services.

Officials are also reportedly investigating whether child services in other states had reports of the family.



PEOPLE has contacted Queensland Police Service for further comment.

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Three people are dead, and another is injured after falling off of a mountain in a climbing accident involving a suspected failed anchor while they were rappelling, police said.

The Okanogan County Sheriffs Office, along with Okanogan County Search and Rescue volunteers, received a call at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Sunday about a climbing accident in the area of North Early Winters Spire off of State Route 20 -- approximately 16 miles west of Mazama, Washington, according to a statement from the Okanogan County Sheriffs Office.

MORE: Woman arrested after raccoon named Chewy found with meth pipe in driver's seat during police stop

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A party of four climbers from Renton, WA, were involved in a fall while descending a steep gully, police said. Three individuals were confirmed deceased at the accident site. The fourth member of the party self-extricated and contacted law enforcement.

Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team assisted in extricating the deceased members of the party from the technical, mountainous terrain, according to authorities.

MORE: Parents arrested after their 1-year-old tests positive for fentanyl and THC

PHOTO: Three people are dead, and another is injured after falling off of a mountain in a climbing accident involving a suspected failed anchor while they were rappelling, police said. (Facebook / Okanogan County Sheriffs Office)

MORE: Sheila the runaway kangaroo causes car crash, shuts down Alabama highway

The presumed cause of the accident is an anchor failure while rappelling, with more investigation still ongoing, officials said. The Okanogan County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the SAR volunteers and Snohomish County for assisting in this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with the family members and friends of those involved.

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The climbers involved in the incident have not yet been publicly identified but they were confirmed to be 36, 47 and 63 years old. The investigation into their deaths are currently ongoing.

3 climbers dead after falling off mountain while rappelling originally appeared on abcnews.go.com






Three climbers died in a fall while descending a steep gully in North Cascades National Park in Washington on Sunday, May 11

The fall was reportedly caused due to "an anchor failure" as a group of four were rock climbing in the area, according to authorities

The three climbers were pronounced dead at the scene; a fourth survived the accident and alerted authorities to get help







Three climbers died and a fourth was left with a "traumatic" injury in a fall while rock climbing in Washington.

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A group of four climbers was involved in a fall believed to be caused by an anchor failure while descending a steep gully in the North Early Winters Spire area of North Cascades National Park. The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, the Okanogan County Sheriffs Office stated in a news release on Facebook.

The OCSO and Okanogan County Search and Rescue volunteers responded to the scene.

Three of the party members were pronounced dead at the accident site. The victims were aged 36, 47 and 63, according to the release. Their identities have not been released at this time.

The fourth member of the party self-extricated and contacted law enforcement, the sheriffs office said. Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team assisted in extricating the deceased members of the party from the technical, mountainous terrain.

Okanogan County Sheriff Office/Fcebook Image of the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office responding to the tragedy Image of the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office responding to the tragedy

The group fell around 400 feet in the accident, The Seattle Times reported. Okanogan County Undersheriff David Yarnell told the outlet that the surviving climber "sustained internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury" in the accident.

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He walked back to the trailhead just east of Washington Pass and drove to Newhalem, where he used a pay phone to call 911, Yarnell said. He didnt realize he had as significant of internal injuries as he did. The climber was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to receive treatment.

The group was rock climbing in the Early Winter Couloir and began descending after noticing a storm coming in, Yarnell told The Seattle Times. He reported that all four climbers were tied to the same anchor point, something that he said was not the best method.

Cristina Woodworth, head of the sheriffs search and rescue team, said following an investigation of the climbers equipment on Monday, May 12, that it appeared the anchor point ripped out of the rock, per The Seattle Times.

Okanogan County Sheriff Office/Fcebook Stock image of a Okanogan County Sheriff's Office car Stock image of a Okanogan County Sheriff's Office car

It seems like they fell through pretty steep vertical terrain for about 200 feet and then about 200 more feet of kind of tumbling, moderate terrain, Woodworth told the publication.

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She added that it took the surviving climber a number of hours to self-extricate from the accident site and make it back to his vehicle.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The OCSO would like to thank the SAR volunteers and Snohomish County for assisting in this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with the family members and friends of those involved, the sheriffs office concluded in their release.

The investigation is ongoing.

PEOPLE has reached out to the OCSO for further comment.



Read the original article on People
Nvidia (NVDA) stock surged 5.6% on Tuesday, pushing the company's market capitalization to close above $3 trillion for the first time since February as a wave of trade news bolstered prospects for the AI chip giant.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Tuesday during an investment forum in Saudi Arabia  which was attended by President Trump and other Big Tech CEOs  that the AI chipmaker will ship its chips to Saudi Arabian AI company Humain for its massive data center plans.

Also on Tuesday, a report from Bloomberg also indicated the Trump administration may cut a deal that would allow the United Arab Emirates to purchase "more than a million" of Nvidia's AI chips.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told Yahoo Finance Tuesday these deals show the AI chip demand story is "not just about China."

Nvidia is set to report its first quarter earnings for its fiscal year 2026 on May 28.

Read more about Nvidia's stock moves and today's market action

Nvidia's rally Tuesday follows Monday's gain that was part of a larger surge in the "Magnificent Seven" Big Tech stocks after the Trump administration temporarily slashed tariffs on Chinese imports to 30% from as high as 145% for 90 days, signaling a deescalation in the mounting US-China trade war.

Nvidia, Apple (AAPL), and Microsoft (MSFT) have taken turns as the world's most valuable company over the past year. But Nvidia has fallen behind, failing to notch the No. 1 spot since January.

The AI chipmaker has also underperformed the S&P 500 (^GSPC) so far in 2025 for the first time in years as macroeconomic uncertainty due to Trump's trade war and growing scrutiny of Big Tech's AI investments put shares under pressure.

Trump's trade policies have both helped and hurt Nvidia.

The administration has implemented an effective ban on sales of Nvidia's chips for China, a version of its prior-generation Hopper AI GPUs called H20 tailored to comply with US trade restrictions. JPMorgan (JPM) analyst Harlan Sur projected that, overall, Nvidia will lose as much as $16 billion in the current fiscal year from the H20 ban.

The ban comes just as competition ramps up from Chinese tech firm Huawei, which is reportedly poised to begin shipping chips competitive with Nvidia's older Hopper chips.

At the same time, the Trump administration has said it's scrapping a more sweeping Biden-era policy, the so-called AI diffusion rule, that was set to limit exports of Nvidia AI chips to most countries beginning in May.

The consequent push-and-pull effect on Nvidia shares from the trade rule changes in April came after the AI chip stock suffered a massive blow to start 2025 when a cheap AI model from Chinese startup DeepSeek prompted questions in January over whether US tech firms really need to spend hundreds of billions on AI infrastructure (including Nvidia's chips).
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?
CALHOUN, Ga. (AP)  Three people were killed and two others injured in a fiery wreck involving multiple vehicles and semi-trailers on the interstate that connects Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee, authorities said. The crash closed all of the southbound lanes Tuesday morning.

The crash happened on Interstate 75 near Calhoun, Georgia, the Gordon County Sheriff's Office said.

A semi-trailer headed north on the freeway collided with a car, and the truck then crossed the median into the southbound lanes, the Georgia State Patrol said. That caused collisions with two other semi-trailers, a car and a pickup truck, the agency said. The pickup caught fire.

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All told, six vehicles were involved and three people were killed, the state patrol said. The two injured people were taken to hospitals. Their conditions weren't immediately released.

Video from local news outlets showed one of the semis crumpled in a ditch, and another partially off the highway.

The names of those killed and injured were not released.

The crash happened two days after two people were killed near Chattanooga on Mother's Day Sunday on I-75, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Tuesday's wreck.
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  A 37-year-old man was shot by police early Tuesday morning in Ogden after they said he threatened the officer with a pair of knives.

According to the Ogden Police Department, the man was walking on a road near the 2200 block of Wall Avenue just after 2 a.m. when he had an encounter with police. Police say he threatened the officer with knives that had been hidden in his pockets.

Man hospitalized in overnight shooting involving Salt Lake City Police Department

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The suspect advanced towards the officer despite orders not to do so. The officer fired his handgun, striking the suspect, the press release reads.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds and is currently in stable condition. The officer was not injured in the incident.

An investigation into the incident is underway and will be conducted by the Weber County Attorneys Office. The officer involved is on administrative leave, according to protocol.

Police officers operate in rapidly evolving and often dangerous situations on a daily basis,

consistently placing themselves in harms way. We are proud of the professionalism and

composure they demonstrate in the face of such complex and challenging circumstances, the department said.

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The identity of the man shot has not been released. There is no further information available at this time as the investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Authorities in Ventura County have arrested four people in connection with an alleged cargo theft ring responsible for stealing more than $1.5 million in goods.

Detectives served search warrants at locations across the region  homes, storage facilities, and businesses. They found stolen cargo at every site, and the big-ticket items were guns, drugs, and cash, the Ventura County Sheriffs Office said in a news release on Monday.

Victor Alvarez, 40, of Camarillo, Brenda Alvarez, 41, and Otto Javier Rivas, 38, of South Gate, and Mauricio Heriberto Gochicoa, 43, of Tijuana, were taken into custody and booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of auto theft, cargo theft, and conspiracy.

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Arrest warrants were issued for two more men who were allegedly involved.

The arrests followed a months-long investigation into thefts that targeted industrial areas in Camarillo between December 16, 2024, and January 5, 2025. The suspects stole passenger vehicles to travel into Ventura County, then used stolen semi-trucks to haul trailers loaded with retail goods, authorities said.

On December 16, thieves stole a U-Haul from Postal Magic, according to the sheriffs office. The next day, they were caught on surveillance casing the Harbor Freight Distribution Center.

On New Years Eve, they stole four semi-trucks from Custom Packaging Supply and returned to Harbor Freight, where, according to investigators, they hitched trailers filled with cargo. They also stole two pickup trucks from nearby neighborhoods. The emptied trailers were later found in the City of Commerce and near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

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Authorities said the suspects returned on January 5 to break into a Plush Beds trailer before transferring its contents to a box truck and fleeing.

Investigators linked the stolen goods to fencing operations in South Gate and San Diego, with the final destination believed to be Tijuana, Mexico, authorities said.

With assistance from the CHP Border Division, investigators were able to identify additional victims of cargo theft from California and throughout the country, including major corporations such as Amazon, Craftsman, Samsung, TJ Maxx, and Converse. Investigators also located stolen cargo from an East Coast-based company, E-Lo Sportswear, the news release stated.

The suspects were each being held on $250,000 bail.

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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 KTLA.
CROCKETT, Texas (KETK)  The Houston County Sheriffs Office has arrested two adults and two juveniles in connection with the case of Michael Ortiz, who was found dead near Crockett.

Houston County Sheriffs Office arrest suspects in connection to death of 16-year-old teen

Ortizs body was found on County Road 4020 outside of Crockett on May 2. Thats when the Houston County Sheriffs Office, the Crockett Police Department and the Texas Rangers started investigating his death.

Michael Martin Ortiz, courtesy of Crockett Police Department

They gathered evidence and conducted interviews until nearly 4 a.m. after finding Ortizs body. According to the sheriffs office, investigators worked on May 3 and May 4 to interview potential persons of interest before they seized a vehicle of interest on May 5.

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On May 6, investigators seized two more vehicles they believe are connected to Ortizs death. According to a post from Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge, the two adults and the two juveniles connected to the case were also arrested on that same day.

We are actively working to finish up this case and bring those who are responsible to justice, Benge said. We would like to thank the other agencies that have helped us tremendously.

Benge thanked the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice  Office of Inspector General and the Crockett Police Department for their assistance in the case. He added that theyre searching for more people suspected of being involved in Ortizs death.

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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Four men from Ivory Coast, a West African country, have been arrested some three years after a 17-year-old boy caught in a sextortion scam took his own life, federal officials announced.

A high school senior in San Jose, Ryan Last, took his own life in Feb. 2022 just hours after corresponding with a person on Facebook he believed was a woman who, according to CNN, sent him a nude photo and asked for one from him.

The extortionists immediately demanded $5,000 from the teen, threatening to send his nude photo to friends and family. The price was eventually lowered to $150 when Last told them he couldnt pay all of it.

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His mother, Pauline Stuart, who described her son as a very trusting person, said the thieves continued to hound him, even after he paid, the L.A. Times reported.

In a suicide note, the teen reportedly apologized for the ordeal, his mother telling The Times that her son was terrified of what the explicit photo would do to his family.

Pauline Stuart and her son Ryan Last seen this undated photo. (Pauline Stuart via L.A. Times)

Officials said his blackmailer, Alfred Kassi, was arrested in Ivory Coast in April, adding that the man reportedly still had the Feb. 2022 extortion messages sent to the teen victim on his phone, the Department of Justice said.

Man, 28, arrested in alleged monthlong armed robbery spree in Los Angeles

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Three additional men were arrested on charges of money laundering. Federal officials said the foursome had targeted thousands of victims across the U.S., Canada and Europe.

A fifth member of the sextortion crew, Jonathan Kassi, was arrested in L.A. in Dec. 2022, was convicted of extortion in state court and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Because Ivory Coast does not extradite its citizens, the four arrested will face cybercrime-related charges in their own country, the Associated Press reported.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to get free help from a trained mental health professional. Text Home to 741741 in the U.S. or Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.

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Every two minutes, a woman loses her life to preventable pregnancy-related causes.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an agency within the wider UN that is funded by donor governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, foundations and individuals. Contributions provide support to women and children in over 150 countries to help end preventable maternal deaths worldwide.

Heres how your donations to UNFPA help create a world where every pregnancy is wanted and every childbirth is safe.

1. Operate and supply maternity clinics in crisis zones.

A mother, Yulia, with her newborn in the Kherson City Perinatal Center in Ukraine  UNFPA Ukraine/Olha Lavryk

Women do not stop getting pregnant or giving birth in conflict zones and crisis settings. In locations where health care systems may be disrupted or too remote, UNFPA provides supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics  or helps set up mobile maternity clinics  to ensure that women can access lifesaving maternal health services.

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In Ukraine, the Kherson City Perinatal Center was struck by shelling three times. UNPFA is now rebuilding the center underground in an effort to protect women who are in labor from shelling.

A newborn in an incubator at Nasser Hospital, Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Nov. 17, 2023  UNFPA/Bisan Owda

UNFPA has provided long-standing support to maternity hospitals in Gaza and is focused on delivering reproductive health (RH) kits to hospitals across Gaza. These kits contain individual clean-delivery supplies, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and equipment for both basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care. Unfortunately, the current crisis has jeopardized the delivery of necessary support and equipment.

2. Provide safe and reliable medical resources to midwives and women before and after birth.

The contents of a clean delivery kit UNFPA/Tadej Znidarcic

Sterile equipment and materials for a safe and healthy birth are not always readily available in emergency situations or crisis zones.

In Sudan, a midwife named Awatef told UNFPA about how she assisted four women fleeing violence and delivered four babies with limited resources. I delivered them in the bush, with only very basic sterilization  I had nothing but water and soap.

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Donations to UNFPA fund two types of kits used before and after birth: The Emergency Birth Kits contain basic sterilized equipment, reducing infection risks during childbirth, while the Mama Kits provide new moms with supplies like postpartum pads, baby diapers, baby clothes and blankets to care for themselves and their newborns after birth.

3. Train midwives.

At the Buhimba Health Center in Gomo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rehema receives prenatal care from a midwife supported by UNFPA with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. These free services are essential to ensure a pregnancy without complications, particularly for displaced women living in highly precarious situations. UNFPA DRC/Jonas Yunus

UNFPA invests heavily in training midwives in remote or conflict-affected regions. High-quality midwifery services can decrease mortality rates by more than two-thirds.

By deploying trained midwives and increasing educational opportunities for local health care workers, UNFPA can create lasting change in remote or emergency settings. The cost-effective, community-focused strategy also helps ensure that every woman and child has access to quality care regardless of their location.

By building a robust midwifery workforce, UNFPA not only addresses immediate health needs but also strengthens health systems and chips away at the worldwide deficit of nearly 900,000 midwives.

4. Deploy mobile clinics to assist regions that need help most.

The Keke ambulance in the Bakasi camp in Maiduguri, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, on Sept. 26, 2024. The Keke ambulance, originally a mobile clinic used to refer patients from the camp's Primary Health Center to secondary or tertiary health facilities, took on an expanded role in response to flooding. In addition to its regular duties, it helped transport individuals, such as pregnant women, from flooded homes to the safety of the camps or higher-level medical facilities. UNFPA Nigeria/Seyi Fashina

In 2023, 62% of preventable maternal deaths happened in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Frontline health workers have cited the dangers and risks of giving birth in these types of settings for mother and child. UNFPA tackles this issue by deploying mobile clinics in more than 59 crisis-hit countries to offer essential prenatal and postnatal care.

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In the West Banks Area C across Hebron, Bethlehem, Qalqilya and Tulkarem, UNFPA supports four mobile clinics. These teams visit vulnerable and isolated villages of 2,000 to 3,000 residents weekly to deliver a range of primary health services  including essential prenatal and postnatal care to pregnant women and their children.

The clinic is a comfort, Naheel Zeer, a member of one of these communities, said. But we need more. We are so far from any doctors or hospitals.

Imagine giving birth without medicine, a midwife or a clinic. Donate to UNFPA today to ensure that mothers and newborns get care, no matter where they are.
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Pressed into a piece of rock is the flattened, 47 million-year-old body of a cicada. Measuring about 1 inch (26.5 millimeters) long with a wingspan of 2.7 inches (68.2 millimeters), its fossilized form is nearly intact, with its veined wings spread wide.

Scientists recently described the insect as a new genus and species, using this fossil and one other that was nearly as well preserved, from the same site. Even though the specimens are female, their location on the cicada family tree suggests that males of this species could sing as modern cicadas do. Found in Germany decades ago, their presence there reveals that singing cicadas dispersed in Europe millions of years earlier than once thought.

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The fossils are also the oldest examples of true singing cicadas in the family Cicadidae, researchers reported April 29 in the journal Scientific Reports. Most modern cicadas belong to this family, including annual cicadas that appear every summer worldwide, as well as broods of black-bodied and red-eyed periodical cicadas, which emerge from May to June in eastern North America in cycles of 13 or 17 years. Brood XIV, one of the biggest broods, emerges across a dozen US states this year. Cicadas are found on every continent except Antarctica, and there are more than 3,000 species.

The fossil record for insects in general is abundant in just a few dozen locations, and while modern cicada species are numerous today, paleontologists have documented only 44 Cicadidae fossils. The earliest definitive fossil of a singing cicada was discovered in Montana and dates from 59 million to 56 million years ago, said lead study author Dr. Hui Jiang, a paleontologist and researcher with the Bonn Institute of Organismic Biology at the University of Bonn in Germany. Its newly described relative is the earliest singing cicada from Europe, Jiang told CNN in an email.

Because the body structures of the European fossils were so well preserved, scientists were able to assign the ancient insect to a modern tribe of cicadas called Platypleurini, which is today primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, but is absent from Europe, Jiang said.

Prior research suggested that this lineage evolved in Africa about 30 million to 25 million years ago and dispersed from there, according to Jiang. This fossil pushes back the known fossil record of sound-producing cicadas in the tribe Platypleurini by approximately 20 million years, indicating that the diversification of this group occurred much earlier than previously recognized, the researcher added.

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The discovery hints that this group of cicadas evolved more slowly than prior estimates from molecular data proposed, said Dr. Conrad Labandeira, a senior research geologist and curator of fossil arthropods at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

This suggests that older fossils of the Platypleurini are yet to be discovered, said Labandeira, who was not involved in the research. Such discoveries would assist in providing better calibrations for determining a more realistic evolutionary rate.

Lake burial

This reconstruction shows the newly described cicada species Eoplatypleura messelensis. - Dinghua Yang

Researchers named the cicada Eoplatypleura messelensis. Its name refers to where the specimens were discovered: the Messel Pit in Germany, a rich fossil site dating to the Eocene epoch (57 million to 36 million years ago). Excavated in the 1980s, the fossils have since been in the collection of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt in Germany, said senior study author Dr. Sonja Wedmann, head of Senckenbergs paleoentomology department.

A very deep volcanic lake, with a bottom where no oxygen penetrated, once filled the Messel Pit. That environment created ideal conditions for fossilization, and fine-grain sediments from this former lake bed hold a variety of Eocene life, Wedmann told CNN in an email.

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The excellent preservation not only of insects, but of all groups of organisms, is the reason why Messel is an UNESCO world heritage site, a designation it earned in 1995, Wedmann said.

The more complete of the two cicada fossils is one of the best preserved insects from the Messel pit fossil site, Wedmann added. Senckenberg has a collection of over 20,000 fossil insects from Messel, and among these it stands out because of its really beautiful and complete preservation.

In its overall head and body shape, E. messelensis strongly resembles modern cicadas. Its rostrum  a snoutlike mouth  is intact, but closer analysis is needed to tell whether it used the rostrum for feeding on plant tissues called xylem, as most modern cicadas do, Labandeira said.

E. messelensis also shows hints of colors and patterns in its wings. This feature camouflages modern cicadas as they cling to tree trunks, and it may have served a similar purpose for E. messelensis, according to Jiang.

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However, E. messelensis differs from modern cicadas in subtle ways. For example, its forewings are broader and less elongated than those of species alive today, which may have affected how it flew.

Would the ancient cicadas call have sounded like those of its modern relatives? We cant know the exact song, Jiang said. However, based on the cicadas body shape and placement in the singing cicada group, it likely produced sounds similar in function to modern cicadas.

When Brood XIV emerges in the billions in the late spring and early summer of 2025, their calls will measure from 90 to 100 decibels  as loud as a subway train. Other types of cicadas produce an even bigger ruckus: Songs of the African cicada Brevisana brevis peak at nearly 107 decibels, about as loud as a jet taking off.

The volume of the ancient species songs may have been even louder than that, Jiang said. The abdomen of E. messelensis is broader and larger than those of its modern relatives, suggesting that males could have had a larger resonating cavity. This cavity may have amplified sound from the vibrating structures in their abdomens, called tymbals, to produce a louder buzz.

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Of course, this is only a hypothesis, Jiang added. Future studies on how morphology relates to sound production in modern cicadas will help to test it.

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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DENVER (KDVR)  A jury determined that a woman who filed a civil lawsuit against a Longmont Econo Lodge should receive $4.5 million for the injuries she received at the hotel.

A four-day trial wrapped up in the civil case of two women, a daughter and her mother, who were violently assaulted at an Econo Lodge. The hotel will have to pay over $4 million in damages thanks to a jurys verdict.

Investigation underway after caller reports shooting at aircraft near Longmont

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On Jan. 4, 2023, the victim was supposed to go to the Denver International Airport to leave behind her toxic relationship. But on Jan. 3, 2023, Cody Czichos nearly killed his former girlfriend at a hotel in Longmont. FOX31 has chosen not to identify the victim in this case for her own safety.

The victim and her mother had initially agreed to allow Czichos into the room to say goodbye, but kicked him out after he became irrational. He left the room, but went to the hotels front desk.

Employees there can be heard on 911 recordings telling police that Czichos appeared to be high off of pills and smells like hes been drinking as well. Still, the staff gave Czichos a key to the victims room and only called 911 after giving him the key.

You guys like basically opened the door and let him come after me, the victim said in a 2023 interview with FOX31s Problem Solvers. He kicked me on the floor, and thats when he knocked my tooth out, and he was like, I like the smell of your blood.'

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Czichos also stabbed the victim and assaulted her mother, leading the pair to file the civil suit against the Econo Lodge in Longmont, hoping to hold the business accountable.

I think the jury saw very clearly that this company engaged in some serious negligence with some really bad facts with how they handle the security and safety at their hotel, Attorney Matthew Haltzman, who represents the victims, told FOX31s Talya Cunningham. This is a huge win; theres no other way to put it.

The jury deliberated for two hours before determining the hotel needs to pay the victims $4.5 million for pain, suffering and permanent disability.

Aurora man sentenced to 14 years for deadly hit-and-run while fleeing shoplifting

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If you could name the name on the reservation and provide a room number, they would give anyone who walked off the street a key, and thats exactly what happened in this case, Haltzman told Cunningham.

He said that the victim is traumatized by the negligence of Econo Lodge, but also feels vindicated. Originally, the hotel offered $20,000 in a settlement, which the victims rejected. Cunningham reached out to the attorney and law firm representing the hotel, but has not received a reply.

In terms of the criminal charges, Czichos pleaded guilty and is serving a 15-year sentence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A suspected norovirus outbreak infected several dozen students at Discovery Elementary School in Gig Harbor last week, according to the Peninsula School District.

The school first identified multiple students showing symptoms of gastroenteritis Thursday, the district said in a news release Monday. School staff sent affected students home and alerted the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department when the numbers of students absent reached the reporting threshold. District spokesperson Jake Voss told The News Tribune via email that the district reports greater than 10% absent on any given day to the health department.

Gastroenteritis is often called the stomach flu and refers to inflammation of the stomach and intestines that can lead to diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common causes include viruses or contaminated food or water, the clinics website says.

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The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department determined that norovirus was the suspected cause of the outbreak at Discovery Elementary, the district media release said.

Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines in the U.S. population and the countrys leading cause of food-borne illness in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its the same virus often associated with cruise-ship outbreaks, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department website says.

Our school team promptly communicated with all Discovery Elementary families Friday morning, sharing TPCHDs guidance that children and staff showing symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea should remain home until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours, the release said.

Absences due to illness peaked at 54 students on Friday, May 9, according to an update from Discovery Elementary that district spokesperson Jake Voss shared via email Tuesday. That number went down in the days following, reaching 15 confirmed absences due to illness Tuesday. Staff are working to verify another 14 absences Tuesday for as yet unknown reasons. Discovery Elementary has over 400 students, according to the school update.

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Asked about any staff infected, Voss wrote in an email that three staff members caught the illness, and one went home early from work on Friday. One staff member is absent today with symptoms, he wrote.

The health department investigation determined that the school kitchen was not the source of the outbreak, but the district took the following precautionary measures, as quoted from the district media release:

Temporarily closed the Discovery Elementary kitchen for thorough sanitization

Arranged for meal preparation at an alternate location, with packaged breakfast and lunch options provided to students

Enhanced cleaning protocols throughout the building

Scheduled periodic restroom closures during school hours for additional disinfection

As of Tuesday, the Discovery Elementary kitchen had returned to normal operations, preparing and serving food on-site, according to the schools update. Health department staff visited the school Friday and Monday but dont have known plans for another visit. A district health contact remains in communication with the health department as needed, the schools update said.

Norovirus outbreaks in schools are fairly common, and we are aware of a few each year, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department spokesperson Brett Cihon wrote in an email Tuesday. He wrote that the health department will continue to work with Discovery Elementary to clean and monitor for any illnesses.

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The health department website says that norovirus is very contagious and that an average person will get infected five times in their life. It spreads through food, surfaces and contact with other people, as well as through vomit and feces from infected people. Symptoms last from one to three days, but people can still spread the illness after symptoms disappear.

People who are sick should stay home and avoid preparing food for others, the health department website recommends. Washing your hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces with bleach and washing clothes in hot water help prevent spread, according to the health department website.
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Panasonic Holdings plans to lay off 10,000 workers around the globe as part of a corporate restructuring, the electronics maker announced on Friday.

The company aims to cut 5,000 workers in its home country of Japan, as well as 5,000 workers at other locations around the world. Panasonic will also shutter some loss-making businesses and sites as part of the cuts.

The company currently operates one lithium battery production site in Sparks, Nevada, where it supplies Tesla. Panasonic also has an office in Reno, Nevada and is readying to open a new $4 billion battery factory in De Soto, Kansas this spring.

Panasonic will incur roughly $879 million (130 billion yen) in structural reform costs from the job cuts. Layoffs will largely impact sales and "indirect departments," according to the company's announcement.

The company is focused on streamlining operations at its headquarters and in its global IT operations, as well as in its consumer electronics segment.

The electronics manufacturer is aiming to raise profits by 150 billion compared to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.

The moves are part of Panasonic's plan to mitigate slowing demand across multiple markets. The company's sales for fiscal year 2025, which ended in March, were down 0.5% year over year to 8.5 trillion yen, with particular slowdowns in its auto segment.

For the current fiscal year, Panasonic forecasts a roughly 13% drop in operating profit down to 370 billion yen. The forecast does not take into account any impact from the Trump administration's tariff policies.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  After five decades of leadership, a beloved figure in the Fort Benning community is retiring.

87-year-old, Olga Kelly, a founding member and longtime leader of the International Wives Club is being honored for her lifetime of service to military families. Kelly helped launch the International Wives in 1975. The group was created to offer support and community to foreign-born military spouses adjusting to life in the U.S.

Kelly said, There was four of us. There was two from Australia, one from France. After five months, the other three got transferred out because their husbands were military, and I got stuck with this stuff and Ive been there ever since. Nobodys ever wanted my job, so I had to stay with it. And its been 50-some years.

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The International Wives of Fort Benning helped sponsor citizenship classes, English classes, and united women from around the world for decades.

Olga Kelly with Kelly Lesperance, wife of Fort Bennings Chief of Armor, starting in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Donahoe)

The celebration also marked the end of International Wives as an independent club. The 50th anniversary celebration provided a history of the club, honored Kelly, and reunited many whose lives were changed by the organization.

Friends say Olga Kelly has built lifelong friendships with women from around the world. They admire her gift for bringing people together and creating a space where rank, background, and nationality never mattered, only support and shared understanding.

In addition to the celebration, Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson declared Friday, May 9, 2025 Olga Kelly Day.

The Julia C. Moore Award presented to Olga Kelly. (Photo courtesy of Theresa Donahoe)

Major General Colin Tuley awarded Kelly with the Julia C. Moore award, and The Fort Benning Spouses Club presented a $500 donation in her name to Wreaths Across America.

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Kelly has touched countless lives and done immeasurable good for the International Wives of Fort Benning and the community.

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Could officers be returning to Seattle Public Schools five years after the district ended its program that allowed law enforcement in schools?

This actually should have been in place this school year, parent Appollonia Washington said. Her son is a sophomore at Garfield High School.

Late last year, Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr told KIRO 7 that she had been under the impression that a school resource officer (SRO) pilot program was going to begin in the fall of 2024.

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But in August, she said, something changed.

Now, the citys new police chief, Shon Barnes, said he is focused on making it happen.

Certainly, a school engagement officer [whos] going [to] be there to make sure people feel safer, he said.

In an interview with KIRO 7, Barnes said he wants officers back on some campuses by this fall.

But it may not be easy.

Well take a look at these efforts and SPSs $14.5 million plan for safety on KIRO 7 News in the morning at 6:45 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m.
Six undocumented immigrants from Honduras are charged with murder in the shooting death of a South Carolina woman May 2 in a random attack as she drove down a rural road, Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile said Monday.

Larisha Sharell Thompson was gunned down in her car on Riverside Road between Lancaster and Rock Hill at night in a random robbery attempt, Faile said at a news conference at the sheriffs office.

The suspects range in age from 13 to 21.

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We have six individuals who werent supposed to be here, Faile said of the suspects immigration status. They took the life of an innocent lady.

The same group of people burglarized a nearby Van Wyck Mart store days earlier on April 30, according to Faile.

Lancaster deputies have alerted federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement about the six suspects, who are believed to be in the country illegally, said Faile and 6th Circuit Solicitor Randy Newman at the news conference.

An ICE hold is in place on all six. All six face deportation under federal law, Faile said.

Newman, Lancaster Countys top prosecutor, said he hopes to take all six to trial on charges of murder, attempted armed robbery and burglary before immigration officials take custody of them.

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Faile said the motive in both crimes was money. The group was out here trying to get something for nothing during the crimes, Faile said.

All six defendants are entitled to have a lawyer appointed to each of them, according to federal and South Carolina laws. However, it is unclear who has been appointed for each suspect, according to officials and court records.

The Lancaster County Public Defender office has been advised of the arrests and will likely represent one of them, said William Frick, 6th Circuit Public Defender. The other five will likely be appointed attorneys from private practice who handle cases where there are multiple defendants, Frick said.

As for the accusations in the case, Frick said his office is investigating but declined comment.

The six accused

Each of the six people arrested face charges of murder, attempted armed robbery and burglary.

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Asael Aminadas Torres-Chirinos, 21, of Lancaster, is believed to be the shooter who killed Thompson, Faile said. A gun that matches ballistic evidence from both the killing and the burglary days earlier was found at his home Thursday during a search, according to deputies.

He also faces weapons charges that include possession of a firearm by an unlawful alien.

Asked by The Herald if Torres-Chirinos could potentially face the death penalty, Newman said his office is looking at the case to see if it fits required factors that must be present for a case to be eligible for capital punishment.

Jarby Ardon Ramos-Odari, 18, and Jeyson Sobied Pineda-Salgado, 17, are the two other people charged as adults, officials said.

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The three juveniles charged are ages 15, 14, and 13, according to Faile and court records. Their names were not released because of their ages.

In response to a question from The Herald, Faile said it remains under investigation if any of the suspects have gang ties.

The crimes

Thompson, of Lancaster, was found dead in her car that was stopped in the road.

Faile said she was on her way to meet friends in Rock Hill when the group of six in a Honda Civic accosted her and opened fire as she drove. The group tried to get into her car but the doors were locked, according to Faile.

The suspects then fled the scene.

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Thompsons family was not at the news conference Monday. Her sister said she was angry and sad at the attack that left Thompsons two children without a mother, according to the Heralds news partner, WSOC-TV.

Deputies used surveillance video and other digital evidence to identify the suspects, but did not say what specifically led to the six people.

What happens next?

All six suspects are jailed without bail. The three adults are in adult jail in Lancaster, while the three juveniles are in custody of the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice.

The juveniles are expected to appear in Family Court this week for required detention hearings that are held for children kept in custody.

The adults who are jailed without bail will remain in custody but have the opportunity to ask for a bail hearing later on.
(KRON)  An elderly man from Hawaii was sentenced on Monday for a brutal and long-unsolved murder more than 40 years ago. Gary Ramirez, a 78-year-old Maui resident, was sentenced to life in prison for the 1982 murder of Karen Stitt, a 15-year-old Palo Alto girl.

Ramirez had previously pleaded no contest to Stitts killing.

Mondays hearing was attended by family members and friends of Stitts who, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office, expressed their continued grief and anger over the crime.

Karen Stitt (County of Santa Clara DA)

Todays outcome was the result of a continuous line of detectives at Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety putting their hearts and souls into investigating this infamous crime, the DAs office said.

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Over 40 years ago, Karen Stitt lost her life, but she was not forgotten, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Today, thanks to a dedicated detective, a persistent prosecutor, and our Crime Lab, the person responsible is behind bars.

Karen Stitt (County of Santa Clara DA)

It was Thursday, Sept. 2, 1982 when Stitt took a bus from her home in Palo Alto to visit her boyfriend in Sunnyvale. Around midnight, she was headed back toward El Camino Real and Wolfe Road to catch the bus home.

She never made it.

The next morning, her body was found 100 yards from the bus stop next to a blood-stained cinderblock wall. She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed over 50 times.

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According to the DA, the killers blood and bodily fluid were on her body.

In early 2019, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety detective Matt Hutchison got a tip that Stitts killer was likely one of four brothers from Fresno. In April 2022, investigators identified Ramirez as the source of the blood and bodily fluid found on the body. The Santa Clara County DA crime lab confirmed the identification.

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 KRON4.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A 78-year-old woman was found dead inside her home after a Monday evening fire in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office received a call around 8 p.m. about Gallatin Volunteer Fire Department responding to a fire in the 5000 block of FM 347 near Dialville with an elderly woman possibly still inside.

Longview house fire leaves pets dead, resident injured

Officials said after the fire was extinguished, the 78-year-old woman was found dead inside her home along with some animals around 12:30 a.m. The state fire marshals office will be assisting in the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Massachusetts has awarded $839,288 in grants to support priority restoration projects for rivers and coastal wetlands in eight communities, state officials said this week.

The projects will strengthen resilience to climate change, improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and restore wildlife habitat, Tepper said, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement on Monday.

The projects, funded by the Department of Fish and Games Division of Ecological Restoration, focus on removing barriers in rivers and restoring coastal wetlands.

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Ecological restoration projects like these are important for preparing our communities for extreme weather, protecting our neighborhoods, and ensuring that wildlife has the habitats they need to survive, Tepper said. Investing in these projects benefits us now and helps create a healthier environment for the future.

With every river, wetland, and stream restored, we have profound benefits for nature and people in Massachusetts, said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom OShea. Now is the time for actionwe are proud to support tangible solutions to protect our states irreplaceable biodiversity and help communities prepare for climate change. These critical projects will restore critical habitat for fish and wildlife and make our communities safer, healthier, and more beautiful."

All eight projects are being awarded grants from the DERs Priority Projects Program, which supports wetland and river restoration projects that benefit the states environment and economy.

This work involves removing aging and unsafe dams, restoring freshwater wetlands that used to be cranberry farmlands, replacing and removing undersized and degrading culverts, and restoring coastal habitats, officials said.

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The state is awarding funding to the following eight priority projects:

Abbey Brook Restoration & Revitalization, City of Chicopee, $45,000: This award will provide additional support for the second phase of the Abbey Brook Restoration and Revitalization Project in Chicopee, which will ultimately remove two dams, replace an undersized culvert, and daylight a 250-foot stretch of river that currently runs underground. This work will restore natural river processes, enhance water quality and stormwater management, and improve stream connectivity.

Becker Pond Dam Removal, Town of Mount Washington, $86,000: This award will support construction for the Becker Pond Dam Removal Project in Mount Washington, which will remove an obsolete dam on an important cold water tributary of Schenob Brook.

Frost Fish Creek Restoration, Town of Chatham, $5,288: This award will support planning and development for the Frost Fish Creek Restoration Project in Chatham, which will restore natural tidal exchange and stream flow to upstream salt marsh and an impounded former cranberry bog. This work will improve water quality and restore the health of the wetland within Frost Fish Creek, which is a part of the Pleasant Bay Area of Critical Concern.

Kinne Brook Restoration, Town of Chester, $240,000: This award supports construction for the Kinne Brook Restoration Project in Chester, which will replace an undersized culvert on Kinne Brook Road and remove a collapsed culvert in the Hiram H. Fox Wildlife Management Area, ultimately eliminating two barriers to fish and wildlife passage on a Coldwater Fishery Resource.

Old Swamp River Dam Removal, Town of Weymouth, $180,000: This award will support construction for the Old Swamp River Dam Removal Project in Weymouth, which will restore fish passage on a Coldwater Fishery Resource that historically supported a wild population of brook trout and currently provides critical spawning habitat for river herring.

Sesuit Creek Restoration, Town of Dennis, $210,000: This award will support design and permitting, implementation, and post-planting assessment for the Sesuit Creek Restoration Project in Dennis. This project is restoring natural salt marsh vegetation and monitoring the restoration process of 57 acres of salt marsh after two severely undersized culverts were replaced in 2008 to restore tidal flow.

Upper Bass River Restoration, Town of Yarmouth, $62,000: This award will support survey and design work for the Upper Bass River Restoration Project in Yarmouth as well as final design for a portion of the site. This project will restore 57 acres of former cranberry bogs and replace two undersized road-stream crossings to improve water quality, restore wetland and stream processes, improve fish passage, and increase coastal resilience.

Windswept Cranberry Bog Wetland Restoration, Town of Nantucket, $11,000: This award will support post-construction monitoring for the Windswept Cranberry Bog Wetland Restoration Project in Nantucket, which is currently finishing construction and will restore 40 acres of wetlands on retired cranberry farmland and reconnect the wetland and trail system to a larger assemblage of 231 acres of open space.

Once designated as a DER Priority Project, projects are eligible to apply for funding opportunities and receive technical support and services from DER.

The projects awarded funding on Monday were chosen through a competitive process and include important restoration work, officials said.

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These awards are in addition to over $2 million granted to 17 projects in March, bringing the total of DER awarded funds for restoration Priority Projects in 2025 to over $2.8 million.

DER is proud to support river and wetland restoration throughout the Commonwealth and work closely with our partners on these efforts, said Division of Ecological Restoration Director Beth Lambert. Together, we increase climate resilience, reconnect important wildlife passage corridors, enhance critical habitat, and improve water quality and public safety.

State Senator Julian Cyr, D-Truro, said the funding is another strong investment in the environmental and economic future of the Cape and Islands.

Just take one look at the before-and-after pics from recent restoration projects and you see why this is so important, Cyr said. In total, were talking about hundreds of acres of revitalization between Nantucket, Yarmouth, Dennis, and Chatham.

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State Senator Patrick M. OConnor, R-Weymouth, said the grant will be crucial in the continuance of the Old Swamp River dam removal.

OConnor noted the cultural significance that the herring run has within the Town of Weymouth.

For years, many have gathered from across the South Shore to watch the herring run and keep the area well preserved for the enjoyment of all, OConnor said. With the removal of the dam that obstructs the river herring from spawning, among other things, this is an investment not just into wildlife conservation, but community preservation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  A 9-year-old boy who was reported missing from Maple Heights has been found alive, according to the police department..

According to police, the child left a residence on Fernway Avenue around 5:24 p.m. on Monday evening. The following day, police reported he was located alive in Cleveland at about 10 a.m.

Specific details on his condition or whereabouts were not provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Gov. Greg Abbott continues to seek stricter bail laws after authorities lost track of a murder suspect in Van Zandt County last week.

On May 5, Trevor McEuen was due in court after he was charged with murder in connection with the 2023 fatal shooting of Aaron Martinez in Kaufman County. At around 5:33 a.m. that day, McEuen, who had been released from jail after posting a $2,000,000 bond, removed his ankle monitor and left his familys Van Zandt County home where he was confined to house arrest.

$10K reward issued for 2023 fatal shooting suspect after running from Van Zandt County authorities

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McEuens disappearance triggered a search of Van Zandt County and the issuing of a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest after officials concluded that he had left the county.

On Wednesday, FOX4 in Dallas reported that Abbott had a roundtable discussion centered around his desire for the Texas Legislature to pass new laws that will deny bail to those charged with certain violent offences.

Everyone involved in the bail system has a responsibility to put the safety of Texans firstfrom the activist judges who set weak bail to the legislators who have the opportunity to keep repeat offenders off our streets, Abbotts press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said to KETK on Monday. Texas must keep dangerous criminals like McEuen behind bars. This session, Gov. Abbott will work with the legislature to require judges deny bail to criminals charged with capital murder and other heinous, violent crimes. Democrats must choose  support the safety of the citizens they represent, or the criminals who kill them.

The main bill proposed this session to change Texass bail laws is Senate Joint Resolution 5, which would present voters with a constitutional amendment that authorizes the denial of bail under limited circumstances to a person accused of certain violent or sexual offenses or of continuous trafficking of persons.

The current makeup of the Texas Senate. Image courtesy of the Texas Senate.

SJR 5 passed the Texas Senate in a 28 to 2 vote on Feb. 20. According to the Texas Tribune, similar bills have passed the Senate in recent years but have died in the House since they need a two-thirds majority vote to pass amendments to the Texas Constitution.

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The Senate has passed bail reform legislation in every session for the past six years, but, unfortunately, every single bail reform bill has died in the Texas House. The Texas Senate will continue to pass this bail reform package until the Texas House takes action, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick said on Feb. 20. Repeat offenders should not be allowed to roam freely, continuing their crime sprees and causing chaos across our state. The Texas Senate has listened to the concerns of Texans statewide whose lives have been destroyed by criminals released on low bonds or no bonds at all set by irresponsible judges or magistrates.

Other senate bills like Senate Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Bill 9 also passed in February and are waiting to pass through the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, along with SJR 5.

SJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment denying bail to undocumented immigrants charged with felonies and SB 9 denies personal bond for anyone charged with murder by manufacturing or delivering fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm, violating certain court orders like family violence protective orders and making terroristic threats.

Trinity County Jail overcrowding burdens local taxpayers, sheriff says

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas updated its Bail In Texas: A Brief for State and Local Policymakers in January. The brief discusses the costs of unwarranted pretrial detention for local jails, those unable to afford bail and the Constitution.

Unwarranted pretrial incarceration is costly and increases crime. It also breaks important promises in our Constitution and our laws about what justice is supposed to look like. The U.S. Constitution requires that in each case, before locking someone up before trial, the government must prove that pretrial detention is necessary at a fair hearing, ACLU of Texas, senior manager of policy, Nick Hudson wrote in the brief. Furthermore, pretrial detention should only be allowed in extremely limited circumstances. State and local policymakers must take steps to eliminate wealth-based detention while respecting the presumption of innocence and the fundamental right to pretrial freedom.

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MIAMI BEACH, Florida (AP)  Activist and philanthropist Abigail Disney urged donors and the leaders of major foundations and nonprofits to be braver with their giving, especially at a time when more are fearful about speaking their minds.

The people who speak up against their own self-interest are becoming very, very important, Disney said Tuesday at the opening panel of The Elevate Prize Foundations Make Good Famous Summit in Miami Beach, Florida. The people in philanthropy are the people who need to be speaking up  What we are experiencing is nothing compared to the risk that people of color, Indigenous people, immigrants are experiencing every single day in this country.

Disney told The Associated Press in an interview before the panel that she planned to be more outspoken because everyone has been so quiet since the election. Many question why major donors and foundations have not reacted faster to the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid and federal funding to nonprofits, though some organizations, like the Marguerite Casey Foundation, have opted to scale up donations dramatically.

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When people see each other act, it becomes easier for them to act, said Disney, who joked that she inspired Bill Gates to spend all of the Gates Foundations assets and shut down the nonprofit by 2045. Disney, whose grandfather Roy Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Co., announced in December that her Daphne Foundation would spend its assets and soon shut down.

Disney represented only one segment of philanthropists convened by The Elevate Prize Foundation to pledge action. We are gathering at a time of real consequence, said Joe Deitch, the foundation's founder and chairman. "The challenges we face on the planet and as a people are daunting. Were witnessing a level of political and social division that often feels insurmountable.

The foundation took its own action by awarding international human rights organization Equality Now $1 million in unrestricted funds for its work, which will help the group expand its work.

Tommy Marcus, also known as Quentin Quarantino on Instagram where his 1.1 million followers have donated more than $30 million to charities he supports, said action makes him feel optimistic.

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I get hope from knowing  for the wonderful things that I really care about and I just feel obligated to do something about  that theres just so many good people who will say, You know, Tommy, I wasnt thinking about this, but heres $30," he said. I think the future of fundraising, the future of charity, is in community.

Marcus said in an interview that he found such support flattering and a little scary, and that he takes the responsibility of that support very seriously. And he plans to continue to use his platform to draw attention to causes his followers can support.

Unfortunately, theres plenty of reasons to be a bit demotivated and deflated," he said. At the same time, I take inspiration from my community and the unique things that we band together for or the way we just help an individual do something.

Tynesha McHarris, co-founder of the Black Feminist Fund, said that this is a frightening time and there will be setbacks as they fight Trump administration policies that she says target Black women, but there will also be opportunities.

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We are in this moment in time where we have to respond against one of the most lethal threats globally, that is trying to come for everything that is possible, she said. "I get to be alongside a cadre of people that stand in their way. That is a gift. Take it. Even if it makes your hands sweat or your stomach hurt. It is a gift to be amongst a community and a country and a coalition who would rather choose freedom over fascism, freedom over fear.

Disney told the panel she would like to eliminate the words tireless and fearless from the English language,

No one is tireless or fearless, she said. "Courage is working through fear, in spite of fear. Ive never had a moment in my life when I wasnt fearful. The trick is to hold on to your values through fear.

_____

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and non-profits 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.
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Sunday afternoon brought a sharp rejection in the crypto market, as Bitcoin touched a key resistance at 104,460 before sliding lower  just hours before a major White House announcement regarding U.S.China trade relations.

Despite the gravity of the news, crypto traders seemed unimpressed, with the market pulling back into the evening. Bitcoin was down 0.60%, Ethereum fell 2.91%, and altcoins saw steeper declines between 3%7%.

So why the selloff, even after the headlines?

Don't Miss:

Technical Rejection Meets Geopolitical Noise

The crypto market's intraday rejection at 104,460, a well-watched weekly resistance, set the tone for the evening  just before Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced progress in long-awaited trade talks with China.

In the Geneva press briefing, Secretary Bessent stated:

We made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks... We will be giving details tomorrow (May 12).

The surprise came not just from the progress, but from the tone and urgency of the messaging. Greer followed up with:

"Just remember why were here in the first place  the United States has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs..."

Markets were poised for fireworks  but instead, crypto remained cool.

Why Didnt Crypto Rally?

While the announcement was politically significant, it lacked the details traders needed to reprice risk.

Most believe the market is in a wait and see mode:

No full deal has been confirmed.





No tariff rollbacks or enforcement terms were disclosed.





Key market participants expect clarity Monday morning, during U.S. trading hours.





Until then, the market remains hesitant, especially after Bitcoin's rejection at the top of its recent range.

Trending: New to crypto? Get up to $400 in rewards for successfully completing short educational courses and making your first qualifying trade on Coinbase.

Key Levels to Watch

Bitcoin continues to hold the one-hour bullish trend, but that could change quickly depending on how Monday's session unfolds.
JEFFERSON COUNTY (KSNT)  A local animal shelter is asking for help after seven puppies were found abandoned along a busy road last weekend.

The Jefferson County Humane Society (JCHS) took to social media on May 11 after seven small puppies were dropped off at the shelter. Staff at the humane society are asking that anyone with information on the abandoned puppies reach out to help workers care for the animals.

Jennifer Cubbison, a JCHS board member, told 27 News on May 12 the puppies were found by a family in stretched throughout a ditch off of K-4 Highway near the town of Meriden. She said staff believe the puppies are a pointer Labrador mix with three boys and four girls in the batch. Abandoning any animal in Kansas without making proper arrangements for its care violates the states animal cruelty law.

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Its absolutely heartbreaking to know that people can be so cruel to animals that cannot help it, Cubbison said.

Kansas gov. calls measles outbreak serious, urges parents to vaccinate children

A group of seven puppies were found abandoned along a busy road in Jefferson County, Kansas recently. They are currently in the care of the Jefferson County Humane Society. A group of seven puppies were found abandoned along a busy road in Jefferson County, Kansas recently. They are currently in the care of the Jefferson County Humane Society.

The JCHS veterinarians will asses the puppies which are currently in isolation. Cubbison said the puppies will receive vaccinations, microchips and be spayed/neutered before they are given the green light for adoptions.

Jefferson County Humane Society is a No-Kill shelter and will care for them as long as it takes to adopt out each one of them to the loving forever families they deserve, Cubbison said.

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Cubbison said incidents like this are, unfortunately, not uncommon. She said the JCHS sees animal abandonment situations like this at least around four to five times a year.

Topeka bank robbed twice in one year

People who stumble across abandoned pets should keep them safe and make contact with the local animal shelter. Cubbison said if the JCHS is unavailable, people with abandoned pets in Jefferson County should try reaching out to the local sheriffs office instead.

Regardless of an animal situation please be kind to them and keep them safe until you can find a solution. Dont just dump them and walk away, Cubbison said.

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You can find the JCHS at 15295 on K-4 Highway in Valley Falls. You can get in touch with the JCHS at jfcountypets@gmail.com or by calling 785-945-6600.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 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.
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  The Gettysburg Borough Manager said he will be going through the countys ARD program following his recent DUI charges.

Charles Gable addressed the recent charges during Tuesday nights Gettysburg Borough Council meeting, apologizing to his colleagues on the boroughs council, staff, and residents.

Penn State York, Mont Alto campuses recommended for closure; report

I accept full responsibility for my actions and I will cooperate fully with the court system and the District Attorneys Office, Gable said in his statement. I have already waived my preliminary hearing, and I have applied to the Adams County ARD DUI program. I will comply with all terms and conditions of ARD if I am accepted into the program. To that end I will move to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

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Gable, 55, of Gettysburg, said he was out and about and that he had a couple to the Trooper who pulled him over on S. Franklin Street around 1 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, the criminal complaint filed by State Police out of Gettysburg shows.

The complaint shows Gables blood alcohol content was .092% during the traffic stop. The legal limit for DUI in Pennsylvania is .08%.

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Part of Gables license plate was peeling off, Troopers said, so he was pulled over. When he lowered his window, Troopers said they immediately smelled an odor of intoxicants. Gable also had bloodshot eyes and the air conditioner was blowing to try and get rid of the odor, according to State Police.

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After Gable allegedly admitted he had a couple, State Police said they had him get out of the vehicle so he could do sobriety tests. Even outside the vehicle, the alcohol odor was prominent.

The complaint shows he displayed signs of impairment and was arrested. He was then taken to Gettysburg Hospital for a blood draw, which he refused.

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 ABC27.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Some much-needed help has been announced for Oklahoma child care providers trying to meet a big deadline.

Earlier this year, Governor Kevin Stitt signed new regulations on Oklahomas five-star rating system. The more stars a center has, the more state funding it receives.

Under the new rules, centers have to be nationally accredited to maintain a five-star rating. The original deadline was September 1, leaving many concerned.

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The timeline was tough, reaching national accreditation within six months is unattainable for most programs, said Carrie Williams, executive director of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness.

On Monday, Oklahoma Human Services, in partnership with the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR), announced some changes.

In response to stakeholder feedback, Oklahoma Human Services will reopen the submission portal and extend the deadline for licensed providers to submit proof of either application for accreditation or achieved accreditation. The new deadline is June 20, extending beyond the original deadline of April 10.

For providers who cant meet the September 1 deadline for full national accreditation may also now request an extension in writing. Requests must be submitted to Oklahoma Human Services by September 12, 2025.

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Those who demonstrate substantial and verifiable progress toward accreditation will be granted an extension through December 31.

Some providers also expressed concern about the expenses of becoming nationally accredited.

Childcare centers begin to close as state changes funding formula

Accreditation is an expensive process, it can cost up to $5,000, sometimes even more for child care programs, depending on the size, said Williams.

OPSR announced that $500,000 of federal Preschool Development Grant funds will be used to assist programs working toward accreditation.

We believe at OPSR that national accreditation is the gold star, its the gold standard for quality, and we want as many providers to achieve that as possible, said Williams.

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Funding will help cover self-study kits and accreditation-related materials. It will also provide access to hands-on support through regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) offices.

It really will be based on what childcare providers actually need individually. Its not a one size fits all approach and we want to meet childcare providers where they are, said Williams.

Some providers asked why these funds werent available sooner.

OPSRS grant required federal approval, so we really quite literally could not have released the funds earlier than we have today, said Williams.

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While providers are thankful for the extra funding and the deadline extension, some say its not enough.

Its too late for a lot of people and this is just one piece of the turmoil thats happening, said Janell Wheat, board member for the Licensed Childcare Association of Oklahoma.

Wheat says some businesses have already closed their doors.

Bill aimed at tackling Oklahomas childcare crisis moves forward

I know that since September of last year, weve had about 4,500 slots be reduced because of closures across the state. That means 4,500 kids dont have access to childcare in their communities, said Wheat.

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Oklahoma is already considered a child care desert and believes this isnt helping.

I was contacted by a foster care agency because they are having foster care parents decline to take kids simply because they dont have child care resources in their area, so its not just what we think of the classic person going to work, said Wheat.

OPSR says Oklahoma still has a long way to go but this is a step in the right direction.

There are tangible supports that were working on even right now with the legislature talking about making childcare free for anyone whos willing to work in a childcare program. Thats a huge priority of ours at OPSR because we know that these programs cant stay open or they cant operate at full capacity if they dont have enough teachers in their classrooms, said Williams.

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We reached out to Oklahoma Human Services, but they were unavailable for comment.

Those interested in applying for OPSRs accreditation support can click here.

For more information about the updated emergency rules, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has filed a petition to challenge the states laws about driver licenses and other state identification for transgender Tennesseans.

In 2023, Tennessee passed a bill defining sex as anatomy at birth. Additionally, last year a federal appeals court ruled that there is no fundamental right to change sex on a birth certificate. In Tennessee, all identifying documentationincluding driver licensesmust match; all transgender Tennesseans change the marker on their identifying documents if it does not match their birth certificate.

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The ACLU-TN originally filed a petition to challenge the states driver license rule in April 2024 on behalf of Jane Doe, whose identity has been withheld due to safety concerns. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Securityone of the defendants in the casedid not issue accurate identification documents, according to the ACLU, and caused her significant harm.

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Chrissy Miller later joined the case as a plaintiff. ACLU-TN said that while Miller was successfully able to change the sex designation on her drivers license, the state department told her that she has to surrender it or face losing driving privileges. Last September, the court ordered the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to evaluate its actions and determine whether the agency stood by them.

A hearing was held in January, and the Department affirmed its actions; the plaintiffs then asked the Department to stop enforcing the rule while the court heard arguments in the case. The department reportedly refused, resulting in a new court filing Monday.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

All people deserve the freedom to live their lives safely and with dignity, ACLU-TN Senior Attorney Lucas Cameron-Vaughn said in a press release. Our clients need accurate identification documents in order to travel for work and family, to vote, and to engage in everyday life like everyone else. Forcing them to carry identification that contradicts who they areor else withholding that identification altogetheris cruel, unfair and unlawful.

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A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

If you have been prevented from getting a driver license with an accurate gender marker, you can contact the ACLU-TN 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 WKRN News 2.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Its been nearly 24 years since the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Each year, we lose more and more of the heroes who responded that day to bring people to safety.

Advocates gathered in Charlotte Tuesday for a luncheon for survivors.

The luncheon centered around efforts to help fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program. That program pays for the medical treatment for nearly 160,000 first responders.

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Advocates are urging that action be taken now before funding runs out in two years, and we lose even more heroes.

They have linked 69 cancers to the World Trade Center toxins. I lose two clients a day to 9/11 illnesses, said Michael Barasch. Its heartbreaking.

The Department of Government Efficiency recently laid off 16 workers from the World Trade Center Health Program.

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.
Freedom of information advocates are scrambling at the state Capitol to remove a provision of a bill that they say could block cases of alleged police misconduct from public disclosure.

Advocates are working to remove a section of a broader bill on police data reporting that they say could prevent the public from ever learning about various police controversies. The bill states that formal complaints against police officers could be blocked from disclosure until the case is adjudicated.

But the problem, advocates say, is that internal investigations could be repeatedly delayed so long that they would not be finalized until after an officer had retired or been promoted to a high-level position, such as chief.

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The bill was prompted by the state police ticket scandal that generated numerous headlines in 2023 and 2024. State police said the issue was overblown as an independent report for Gov. Ned Lamonts administration stated that the controversy was largely a problem of sloppy record-keeping, mistakes, and lack of training  and not intentional misconduct.

The legislature failed to pass a bill last year, and the measure is now back again this year.

Advocates are concerned that the controversial FOI section might have been overlooked as the overall bill was recently passed 41-0 by the Judiciary Committee and then 36-0 by the state Senate. It is now pending in the state House of Representatives as the legislative session enters its final three weeks before adjourning on June 4.

Colleen Murphy, the general counsel for the states Freedom of Information Commission, says the FOIA section seems at odds with the rest of the legislation.

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Section 4, which stands in stark contrast to the remainder of a bill that seeks to strengthen

police data reporting, would open the door for law enforcement agencies to indefinitely withhold all records pertaining to complaints of police misconduct, Murphy said in written testimony. If an officer retires or resigns before a complaint is investigated and adjudicated by a proper legal authority, the public may never know what circumstances led to that decision.

The problem, Murphy said, is the bill leaves important questions unanswered.

It is unclear from the proposed legislation what constitutes an adjudication, or who the proper legal authority is, Murphy said. It is also unclear whether this exemption would apply to complaints of criminal conduct, which involve records that must be disclosed pursuant to other statutes.

She cited examples of recent cases that might never have come to public light if the measure had been enacted.

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For example, a Philadelphia police captain was named in January as Hartfords next police chief, but he suddenly withdrew his name from the running without a detailed explanation. WFSB-TV, Channel 3, reported that Capt. Tyrell McCoy had at least two sexual harassment allegations filed against him by fellow officers in the last year.

Those cases, along with five civilian complaints, remained under investigation and could have been blocked from disclosure under the bill, Murphy said.

In addition to the Freedom of Information Commission, the provision is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, and others.

The broader bill has the support of state public safety Commissioner Ronnell Higgins and Kenneth Barone, a longtime researcher whose initial inquiries led to the state police ticket scandal.

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The Police Officers Association of Connecticut agrees with keeping the FOI provision, saying it establishes a necessary balance between transparency and due process by creating an exception for the disclosure of a formal complaint against a police officer that has not yet been adjudicated. This provision helps protect officers from unwarranted character harm before the validity of allegations is determined.

But Murphy also cited the case of Michael Finkelstein, the police chief in East Lyme who was arrested last year by state police in connection with alleged domestic violence. The towns first selectman, Dan Cunningham, was quoted as saying that public disclosure is important.

Attempting to hide the names of the two senior officers being investigated is not in the public interest, Cunningham told the CT Examiner.

CT police chief retires after domestic arrests, alleged affair with subordinate, blames PTSD

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Finkelstein recently retired, stating in a letter that he currently suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder that developed in 35 years in law enforcement and led to his horrible decision to conduct an affair with a married police lieutenant in 2023 that damaged his marriage, family and career.

Based on the scrutiny of the ticket scandal, state police complained that morale plummeted among troopers as they came under scrutiny. No motorists received any phony tickets, but troopers were scrutinized for inflating the number of tickets to show supervisors of their productivity in an attempt to receive promotions, overtime, and an unmarked Dodge Charger  a better police car with a powerful engine that can reach high speeds.

Todd Fedigan, president of the troopers union, said at the time that troopers had been operating under a cloud with as many as 130 troopers implicated in an initial audit that he said was rushed. That total included 68 who were still active and 62 who had since retired.

Some lawmakers have questioned the discipline delivered in a separate matter in 2018 to four troopers who falsified records in an inquiry that did not become public until 2022. Two troopers retired, and two others were transferred against their will and suspended, state police said. One of the troopers who was suspended for two days retired in 2021, and the only member who was still on the force last year received a 10-day suspension.

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Some lawmakers said flatly that, in the future, any troopers who deliberately falsified records should be dismissed from the force and even decertified  a relatively rare occurrence that means they could not be hired by any other police department in Connecticut.

The issue of public disclosure has been debated for years.

In 2020, the controversial police accountability bill contained a provision that prevents the state police from having union contracts that prevent the disclosure of various personnel and disciplinary files under the state Freedom of Information Act.

After being signed into law, the information is now subject to FOI, thus reversing the provision in the state police contract that had been approved by the General Assembly, lawmakers said. Republicans, though, were concerned that the FOI provision would not be extended to apply to local police or corrections officers.

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When asked by Sen. Cathy Osten of Sprague if he would favor changing the FOI provisions in all union contracts in the same way so that personnel records of teachers and other employees would not be kept secret, Sen. Gary Winfield of New Haven said, I think thats a very large conversation.  I dont know the circumstances there.

Osten responded, What is good for one is good for all.  All records like this should be available for public viewing.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
Florida Department of Law Enforcement photo taken during "Operation Tidal Wave." (Photo from FDLE X account)

As the Florida House and Senate resume discussions on a budget agreement, they remain divided over competing sales tax proposals proposed by their respective chambers, which has resulted in a more than $4 billion discrepancy.

According to a group consisting of state Democrats, immigration advocates, and think-tank members who held a Zoom conference call on Tuesday, one place where the state should cut funding involves immigration policies enacted at the beginning of this year, which overall total up to $298 million.

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Were investing massive resources into fear-based policies at a time when the states long-term budget outlook shows growing deficits, said North Miami-Dade County Democratic Rep. Dotie Joseph. Thats not fiscal responsibility, thats political theater with real life consequences, not just for the immigrants who are targeted by racial profiling and a lot of xenophobia, but also the communities they serve and are a part of.

Joseph referred to the projections by the state Joint Legislative Budget Commission last fall, which said the states $2 billion surplus this fiscal year could turn into a potential deficit of more than $2 billion in the 2026-2027 fiscal year and $6.9 billion in the 2027-2028 fiscal year.

One of the immigration bills signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year (SM-4C) urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training opportunities for 287 (g) agreements with local law enforcement agencies regarding immigration enforcement.

Joseph said she wanted to encourage people to reach out to their local law enforcement agencies and state universities to tell them not to sign such agreements. These 287 (g) agreements bringing in state and local enforcements into this whole equation has done nothing but terrorize our immigrant communities, she said.

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However, that advice may be too late. In a press conference in Tampa on Monday, DeSantis and other state officials said that all 67 county sheriffs in the state have signed 287 (g) agreements.

In addition, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida State Guard, the Florida Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have also signed contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) according to an announcement by DeSantis in February.

Other urgent needs

Screenshot of Alexis Tsoukalas of the Florida Policy Institute taken from Zoom call on May 13, 2025.

Alexis Tsoukalas, an analyst with the Florida Policy Institute, said that those funds allocated to immigration enforcement this year could be reallocated to instead pay for 3,800 Floridians energy bills as we enter into another hot summer. Or childcare for almost 900 kids. Or health insurance for 1,100 people.

She added that the state has failed to address urgent repair needs for the Department of Corrections, noting that approximately 75% of all state prisons lack air conditioning.

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In addition to her critique of spending on immigration enforcement, Tsoukalas criticized the competing sales tax proposals offered by House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton.

While they may be well meaning, these cuts would actually benefit all consumers, including tourists and wealthy residents, she said, so theyre inherently inequitable.  Its accounting 101, right? If expenses exceed earnings, were in the red. And, unlike the federal government, Florida is required to pass a balanced budget each year.

An official with the Florida Highway Patrol on Monday in Tampa recounted an operation that his unit staged last week without any help from federal immigration authorities that resulted in the arrests of 30 undocumented people. Officials also discussed Operation Tidal Wave, an operation led by ICE in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies last month that resulted in the arrests of more than 1,100 undocumented immigrants.

Unhealthy need

Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said lawmakers should put more emphasis on affordable housing, property insurance, and natural disaster preparedness, and not this unhealthy need to harass immigrants which she said makes immigrants unwelcome and reminding us that we are not part of this state and this country.

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We strongly urge our elected officials to keep in mind what their priorities are, she said. They were not hired to turn FHP officers or law enforcement into Public Enemy Number One for a large majority of this community. This sense of funding mass deportation is doing nothing other than pushing people into the shadows.

However, according to state officials, deportations of the undocumented in Florida are just beginning. Larry Keefe, executive director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, said Monday that we can do more. We have more capacity, more capability.

This story was adjusted on May 14 to clarify the number of children who Alexis Tsoukalas said could get childcare if the state reallocated its funding that is now going to immigration enforcement.

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Attorney General Alan Wilson speaks at a news conference on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C., about an effort to hold WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, accountable for its role in the fentanyl trade. He's accompanied by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Lt. Robert Sprague. (Photo courtesy of Attorney General Alan Wilson's Office)

Attorneys general from six states, including both Carolinas, say theyre demanding accountability from WeChat, a Chinese messaging and payment platform being used by fentanyl traffickers.

The bipartisan group is giving WeChat, whats become known as a super app, a month to detail what steps its taking, if any, to combat its use as a money launderer for the international drug trade.

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We need answers; we need them now, Republican Alan Wilson, South Carolinas attorney general since 2011, said at a news conference Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Standing beside him was North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat.

A letter dated Monday instructs WeChat to send answers by June 11 to the attorneys general in North Carolina and New Jersey, two states where knowingly facilitating, or aiding and abetting, money laundering is a crime.

WeChats contribution to the devastating fentanyl crisis endangers the life and health of our people, they wrote in the letter, also signed by attorneys general from Colorado, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

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If WeChat fails to respond, lawsuits from the states chief prosecutors could follow, as well as advocacy for laws and regulations, Wilson and Jakson said.

WeChat is one of the worlds most popular messaging apps with more than a billion users globally, including a million-plus in the United States. The app created by the company Tencent allows encrypted messaging and payments to be made within it  two features that have made it incredibly popular for criminal activity, according to prosecutors.

The app has been linked to major drug operations.

In October 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency announced indictments against eight Chinese companies and 12 people in a bust dubbed Operation Chem Capture. They were accused of importing the chemicals used to make fentanyl  called fentanyl precursors  as well as other drugs such as xylazine that are mixed with fentanyl to increase cartels profits.

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The multi-agency operation seized enough synthetic chemicals to make more than 48 million potentially lethal doses, the agencys administrator, Anne Milgram, said in a statement submitted to the U.S. House last May.

Operation Chem Capture once again showed that these synthetic chemicals are cheap  a deadly dose costs mere cents  and sold online on public websites and through encrypted applications like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Wickr, the statement read.

Jackson illustrated a three-step process for how Chinese brokers and drug cartels use WeChat to partner for fentanyl dealing.

Chinese companies sell the chemical ingredients to the cartels, who make the fentanyl. The drug is then smuggled into the country and sold for cash. In the final step, the cash is given to Chinese brokers who use WeChat to give the money back to the cartel, he said.

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We estimate that we are talking about billions of dollars per year, Jackson said.

The joint letter, which uses Jacksons letterhead, is addressed to whom it may concern at WeChats registered agent in Delaware.

People are using the internet to evolve how they launder money, to evolve how they evade detection by law enforcement, to evolve how they promote this type of illicit activity, Wilson said. So, we have to evolve with them.

Wilson told reporters the fentanyl epidemic is the top issue that keeps him up at night.

In South Carolina, overdose deaths have soared from 613 in 2013 to 2,296 in 2022, according to the most recent statistics from the state Department of Public Health. That represents a near-quadrupling over that decade.

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Fentanyl accounted for more than 70% of those 2022 deaths, or 1,660 overdoses, representing a near-quadrupling over just five years, according to the 2024 report.

Everybody knows someone, either personally or within one or two degrees of separation, where a family has lost a young person or someone has died as an overdose as a result of the illicit fentanyl trafficking going on in our respective states, Wilson said.

Last month, three men  two from Sumter and one from Georgia  were indicted in South Carolina in what federal prosecutors called one of the largest international, drug-related money laundering operations the Palmetto States ever seen.

Theyre accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of laundering more than $30 million in the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs, as well as taking cash from two Mexican cartels and using it to purchase and ship electronics to Hong Kong, China and the United Arab Emirates to be sold for profit.

WeChat played a crucial role in the alleged criminal dealings, Wilsons office noted in a news release Monday.

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WeChat has become a digital safe haven for fentanyl traffickers and money launderers, and they know it, said Wilson.

Last week, the Legislature passed a law creating the charge of fentanyl induced homicide. Following Gov. Henry McMasters expected signature, anyone who provides the fentanyl that causes a fatal overdose can be charged with homicide and sent to prison for up to 30 years.

That came two years after a law threatened fentanyl trackers with up to 40 years in prison.

Wilson said hes working on getting the most stringent and aggressive laws passed that we possibly can go after fentanyl trafficking and illicit money laundering that supports it.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson speaks at a news conference on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C., about an effort to hold WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, accountable for its role in the fentanyl trade. Hes accompanied by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Lt. Robert Sprague. (Photo courtesy of Attorney General Alan Wilsons Office)

Attorneys general from six states, including New Hampshire, say theyre demanding accountability from WeChat, a Chinese messaging and payment platform being used by fentanyl traffickers.

The bipartisan group is giving WeChat, whats become known as a super app, a month to detail what steps its taking, if any, to combat its use as a money launderer for the international drug trade.

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Colorado, New Jersey, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina attorneys general also signed the letter.

We need answers; we need them now, Republican Alan Wilson, South Carolinas attorney general since 2011, said at a news conference Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Standing beside him was North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat.

A letter dated Monday instructs WeChat to send answers by June 11 to the attorneys general in North Carolina and New Jersey, two states where knowingly facilitating, or aiding and abetting, money laundering is a crime.

WeChats contribution to the devastating fentanyl crisis endangers the life and health of our people, they wrote in the letter.

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If WeChat fails to respond, lawsuits from the states chief prosecutors could follow, as well as advocacy for laws and regulations, Wilson and Jackson said.

WeChat is one of the worlds most popular messaging apps with more than a billion users globally, including a million-plus in the United States. The app created by the company Tencent allows encrypted messaging and payments to be made within it  two features that have made it incredibly popular for criminal activity, according to prosecutors.

The app has been linked to major drug operations.

In October 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency announced indictments against eight Chinese companies and 12 people in a bust dubbed Operation Chem Capture. They were accused of importing the chemicals used to make fentanyl  called fentanyl precursors  as well as other drugs such as xylazine that are mixed with fentanyl to increase cartels profits.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The multi-agency operation seized enough synthetic chemicals to make more than 48 million potentially lethal doses, the agencys administrator, Anne Milgram, said in a statement submitted to the U.S. House last May.

Operation Chem Capture once again showed that these synthetic chemicals are cheap  a deadly dose costs mere cents  and sold online on public websites and through encrypted applications like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Wickr, the statement read.

Jackson illustrated a three-step process for how Chinese brokers and drug cartels use WeChat to partner for fentanyl dealing.

Chinese companies sell the chemical ingredients to the cartels, who make the fentanyl. The drug is then smuggled into the country and sold for cash. In the final step, the cash is given to Chinese brokers who use WeChat to give the money back to the cartel, he said.

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We estimate that we are talking about billions of dollars per year, Jackson said.

The joint letter, which uses Jacksons letterhead, is addressed to whom it may concern at WeChats registered agent in Delaware.

People are using the internet to evolve how they launder money, to evolve how they evade detection by law enforcement, to evolve how they promote this type of illicit activity, Wilson said. So, we have to evolve with them.

Wilson told reporters the fentanyl epidemic is the top issue that keeps him up at night.

WeChat has become a digital safe haven for fentanyl traffickers and money launderers, and they know it, said Wilson.

This story was originally published by SC Daily Gazette, 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.
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter.

Polestar named Rick Bryant as its new head of North America, effective May 12, the EV maker announced.

Bryant was most recently Polestars head of operations, per his LinkedIn profile. He also has more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry, holding several executive roles at Volvo Car USA.

Kristian Elvefors, chief commercial officer at Polestar, said in a statement that Bryant has advanced the companys transformation into a sales-driven organization in North America.

His leadership and deep industry expertise make him ideally suited to guide the next phase of our growth, Elvefors said.

Bryant will succeed Anders Gustafsson who departed the company May 11, per the release.

Gustafsson has served as president of Polestar North America since July 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to joining Polestar, he was SVP Americas and president and CEO of Volvo Car USA.

Volvo once held a majority interest in Polestar, but has been gradually reducing its stake. Volvos parent China-based Zhejiang Geely Holding, also a Polestar investor, has since increased its ownership position in the EV maker. In Q1, Polestar saw a 76% year-over-year increase in global sales of more than 12,300 vehicles.

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Republicans included a major victory for AI companies in Trump's sweeping "Big Beautiful Bill."

One provision would prohibit states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade.

OpenAI and other companies have opposed state-level regulations.

Major tech companies could receive an unexpected victory in President Donald Trump's signature "Big Beautiful Bill" but they shouldn't start celebrating just yet.

House Republicans squeezed a provision into part of the sweeping tax, immigration, and defense legislation, which would prohibit states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade.

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"Except as provided in paragraph (2), no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment this Act," the bill reads.

The text, first noticed by 404 Media, would be a godsend to major tech companies that have pushed the White House to oppose state-level AI regulations. Meta previously told the White House that such regulations "could impede innovation and investment."

OpenAI, Meta, and Alphabet have all opposed state-led efforts to regulate the rapidly growing industry. Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed what would have been one of the nation's furthest-reaching AI laws after it overwhelmingly passed the state legislature. OpenAI was among the leading tech companies to oppose that bill.

Congress has considered federal AI policies but those efforts have yet to go anywhere.

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Big Tech CEOs have made substantial efforts to curry favor with the White House. Trump has welcomed their overtures and named venture capitalist David Sacks as artificial intelligence and crypto czar.

Republicans have mixed views on the proposal

There's no unanimity about the provision among congressional Republicans, even among those who are Big Tech critics.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri told BI that he opposed the proposed moratorium, saying he didn't "want to tamp down on people's efforts to address" issues posed by AI.

"I would think that, just as a matter of federalism, we'd want states to be able to try out different regimes that they think will work for their state," Hawley said. "And I think in general, on AI, I do think we need some sensible oversight that will protect people's liberties."

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Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, meanwhile, told BI he was "very supportive of the principle," saying that AI should be regulated via national standards.

He also said he wanted to take an approach to AI similar to the one President Bill Clinton took on the internet in the 1990s  applying a "light touch regulatory approach" in order to win the AI race.

Silicon Valley shouldn't be celebrating yet.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will debate the provision and the rest of its section of the sweeping proposal on Tuesday. Other top House committees will need to approve their own language before a final bill can be brought to the floor. House Republicans are still divided on other matters, including to what extent to cut Medicaid, a federal program that covers 72 million Americans, predominantly with low incomes or disabilities.

Even if the AI provision passes the House, it still needs to pass a special parliamentary review in the Senate. To ram Trump's bill through expected Democratic opposition, Republicans must use a special procedure known as reconciliation. The trade-off is that all provisions of reconciliation bills must be primarily fiscal in nature.

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It's unlikely, as Bloomberg News reported, that the AI provision would meet that high bar. If it fails to, Republicans would be forced to strip it out of the bill or risk losing the special power that allows them to doge a likely Democratic-led filibuster that would effectively kill the entire bill.

"I don't know whether that provision will survive on reconciliation, but as a substantive matter, it's a policy I support," Cruz said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. Air Force is looking into the idea of air-launching Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones from other airplanes in addition to other ways of reducing dependence on traditional runways. Air-launched CCAs also fit in with the services larger vision of CCAs having a disruptive impact on future aerial combat and presenting enemies with new challenges to address. At the same time, launching CCAs from mothership aircraft would present other operational challenges and limitations that would have to be overcome.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel raised the possibility of procuring air-launched CCAs on May 8 during a virtual talk hosted by the Air & Space Forces Associations Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Kunkel is currently Director of Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming and Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures at the Air Forces headquarters at the Pentagon.

The Air Forces CCA program is being run in iterative development cycles. General Atomics and Anduril are currently developing what have now been designated as the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A as part of the programs first phase, Increment 1. Requirements for the follow-on Increment 2 are now in the latter stages of being finalized, and Kunkel has previously said his service may be leaning toward lower-cost and less complex designs for the second tranche. The Air Force has said it is looking to acquire between 100 and 150 Increment 1 CCAs, and around 1,000 of the drones, at least, across all the future increments.

A composite rendering of General Atomics YF-42A and Andurils YFQ-44A. General Atomics/Anduril

As you look at how we generate combat power and the number of sites we can use, theres something to a shorter takeoff length, and theres something to vertical takeoff, Kunkel said. We [have] got to figure out what that takes, because generally, when you do a vertical takeoff aircraft, you decrease the payload, you decrease the range. And so theres a balance that we need to strike here as were thinking about how we generate combat power, how survivable it is, but then what the requirements are on the aircraft in terms of payload and range? But were absolutely looking at that and what it takes.

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Were also looking at, maybe we dont generate them [CCAs] from the ground at all, he continued. Maybe we generate them by dropping them out of the aircraft. And so those are, those are all concepts were looking at. But youre absolutely right. We dont necessarily want to be tied to air bases for our CCAs.

YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A are both designed to take off and land from traditional runways, but are already being engineered from the ground up to align with the Air Forces Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts of operations. ACE focuses heavily on the ability to deploy in irregular ways to a disaggregated array of operating locations, which include remote sites with limited infrastructure. This, in turn, helps upend enemy targeting cycles and reduces vulnerability. General Atomics has previously said the YFQ-42A incorporates specific design features that could help with operations from shorter and less well-maintained runways. The Fury design that serves as a base for Andurils CCA, originally developed by Blue Force Technologies, also has features that allow for shorter field performance.

TWZ regularly highlights how CCAs with complete runway independence, or at least independence from traditional airstrips, could be especially attractive additions in the context of the ACE construct. Beyond being less vulnerable to attacks that will stop their operations, runway-independent CCAs would be able to launch and/or recover from a much larger pool of potential operating locations, which could create even more uncertainty for opponents.

Air Force officials have made clear that they expect to have to be able to fight while under attack during any future high-end fight, such as one against China in the Pacific. Based on prior discussions about expected range capabilities, at least for CCA Increment 1, airfields that would put the drones within direct reach of likely operating areas in the Indo-Pacific region would be especially vulnerable to enemy bombardment.

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We know that the adversary is going to try and target our bases, Kunkel said last week in an obvious reference to China. For the last 30 years, theyve developed a rocket force. Theyve developed cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, and all these things are meant to counter our bases, meant to keep us from reliably generating combat power from bases. One of the ways to thin out the adversarys mass is to put yourself in multiple locations.

So, the ability to achieve air superiority in the future is going to be more complex, and theres a couple things that were going to need. Were going to need mass, and were going to need some type of affordable mass that can counter our adversaries where they are. And so CCAs help us out with achieving affordable mass, he continued. The other thing that CCAs do that some people often overlook is they increase complexity for the adversary.

A look at a production representative YFQ-44A drone. Courtesy photo via USAF

As an air-to-air guy, you know that the easiest threat picture to counter is the Hey, diddle, diddle up the middle,' Kunkel continued. With the ability to position CCAs and posture them in different places in a theater, you can increase the complexity of the picture that our adversaries see dramatically. And so thats another point that weve found, is increasing dilemmas for the adversary, increasing the complexity of the picture that theyre going to see, increasing the complexity of what it takes for them to counter us.

Being able to air-launch at least some types of CCAs would only add to the complexities for a defender, who might suddenly find themselves facing a force that has multiplied substantially from what was originally seen on their sensors. Drones launched in mid-air could also approach a target area from multiple vectors at once or break off from the main group to head to a different adjacent operating area.

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Less survivable aircraft could also air-launch CCAs from rear areas and send them into higher-risk zones where more survivable aircraft like crewed stealth fighters could then take control. Air-launched CCAs could also offer valuable added on-station time for more localized missions like defending high-value, but more vulnerable assets, such as airborne early warning and control, tanker aircraft. These aircraft could even be launched on warning only when needed after a threat is detected.

A very long-range and stealthy platform with a high payload capacity, like the forthcoming B-21 Raider bomber, might also be able to extend its reach even further by launching CCAs inside highly contested airspace. This could be for defense or offensive mission needs. The Air Force has separately been exploring how CCAs might pair with the B-21, in general. The Air Force also has a formal agreement with the Navy and the Marine Corps regarding the development of CCAs that includes a requirement for a common architecture that allows for seamless exchange of control during operations.

The first pre-production B-21 Raider. USAF

So as were charting our path, theyre charting their path, and youll see that were going down the same road, Kunkel said. What we really want to get ourselves to is this interconnectedness, and this being able to pull up to a CCA, whether its an Air Force CCA or a Navy CCA, and being able to operate it.

As you look at CCAs, theyre going to be up in the sky, and theres going to be opportunities to be controlled by multiple different aircraft, he added.

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All of this still leaves open key questions about where and how air-launched CCAs might be recovered after missions, especially if bases closer to operating areas are deemed too high risk or if missions take the drones deep inside contested airspace. Any need to save range capacity to be able to recover at a location further away from hostile threats would trim back a drones useful combat radius and limit on-station time after it arrives at its designated objective area. How those drones would be regenerated for other air-launched missions once recovered at remote locales is also another question that needs to be answered.

Mid-air refueling capability is something thats been on the table for future CCAs, wherever they are launched and/or recovered from, and that could help extend the time on station and overall reach of CCAs. It could also open up better recovery options for air-launched and ground-launched variants alike. At the same time, this would add complexity to the drones design and impact its cost. The U.S. military has also been struggling for years already to meet existing demands for tanker support, which would only grow in scale and complexity in any future high-end conflict. Finding aerial refueling options that can survive in more contested airspace presents its own challenges.

A rendering of a notional stealth tanker, one option for providing more survivable aerial refueling support. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Air-launched CCAs designed to be outright expendable or at least optionally recoverable might be another option, but one that would demand a very low-cost to have any chance of being operationally relevant. It is worth remembering here that the Navy has previously presented a vision for lower-cost CCAs that are consumable, and that would be expended as one-way-attack munitions or training targets at the end of very short service lives that can include as few as a handful of missions.

Its important to note that the idea of air-launching loyal wingman type drones is not new, and is something the Air Force in particular has been experimenting with for years now. The Air Force has also been cooperating with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the LongShot air-launched drone program, the stated goal of which is to disrupt the paradigm of air combat operations by demonstrating an unmanned air-launched vehicle capable of employing current air-to-air weapons, significantly increasing engagement range and mission effectiveness of fighters or bombers. In other words, this is an air-to-air missile carrier of sorts.

A picture that emerged in 2020 of an Oregon Air National Guard F-15C Eagle fighter with a Kratos UTAP-22 loyal wingman drone under its left wing. @tucson.plane.spotter

In 2023, DARPA chose General Atomics to continue developing its LongShot design  renderings of which are seen at the top of this story and below  with an eye toward a first flight before the end of that year. As of March 2024, the expected timetable for the drones maiden flight had slipped to Fiscal Year 2025, which began last October, per Pentagon budget documents. Whether or not LongShot has flown now is unclear. How LongShot may now tie in to the Air Forces CCA program is unknown.

General Atomics

The possibility of air-launched CCAs might also align with what Kunkel said last month about how the programs focus could be leaning toward lower-cost and less complex drones for Increment 2. As he mentioned last week, there are still questions about capability tradeoffs that could come with various kinds of runway-independent designs.

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Regardless, we want to provide dilemmas for the adversary that they werent even thinking of. Everything needs to be a threat.

The future CCA force, which might include air-launched types, is a central part of that vision.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs during the night, continuing to launch weapons at various regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.

Ukraine and European allies on May 10 demanded that Russia accept a full, unconditional ceasefire for 30 days or face new sanctions. Germany warned that the Kremlin had until the end of May 12 to implement the truce.

Russia proceeded to target Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, and Odesa oblasts with drones after midnight, the Air Force reported. Moscow also launched KAB guided bombs at Sumy Oblast in the northeast.

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The overnight threats followed a day of ongoing Russian attacks on the date the ceasefire was supposed to begin. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha informed European allies at a London summit that Russian forces continued attacking Ukrainian positions across the front and injured seven people in an overnight drone strike.

The Kremlin has rejected the call for an unconditional ceasefire as an "ultimatum" and instead invited Ukraine to participate in direct talks in Istanbul later this week. President Volodymyr Zelensky accepted the invitation, saying he was ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on May 15.

Putin has not said whether or not he will attend.

European countries have promised to enact sanctions against Russia's banking and energy sectors if ceasefire demands are not met. The proposed deadline for implementing the truce has now passed.

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"We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy," the foreign ministers of several European countries, including Germany, France, and the U.K., wrote following the London summit.

"We will keep Russian sovereign assets in our jurisdictions immobilized until Russia ceases its aggression and pays for the damage caused."

The EU also plans to unveil a new round of sanctions against Russia on May 14, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been more evasive about sanctions against Moscow. While he originally backed the Ukraine-Europe ceasefire demand, he soon changed tack, urging Ukraine to accept Putin's invitation to peace talks and attempt to negotiate a ceasefire there.

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Trump said on May 12 that he might even consider joining Zelensky and Putin in Istanbul himself.

"I even thought about flying over  I'm not sure where I'll be on Thursday, I have so many meetings," he said.

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
At least 20 children and two teachers were killed in an air strike on a school in Myanmar.

The strike, on Monday, hit the village of Oe Htein Kwin  some 65 miles north-west of the epicentre of a devastating earthquake six weeks ago. The attack came despite a ceasefire being in effect to help the country, which is ravaged by a civil war, recover from the natural disaster.

So far 22 people have died, according to a list of fatalities shared with The Telegraph by doctors at the scene. Among the youngest killed was a seven-year-old girl, while two female teachers died and at least 102 people were injured.

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Photos of the aftermath seen by The Telegraph, many too graphic to publish, show a gaping hole in the green buildings ceiling, while debris is strewn across the classrooms.

One image shows the childrens lifeless bodies wrapped in blankets, surrounded by their distraught families. In another, dismembered body parts are strewn across the floor. Outside, abandoned book bags were piled beside a Myanmar flag in a makeshift memorial for the dead.

We tried to spread out the children, but the fighter was too fast and dropped its bombs, a 34-year-old school teacher said.

Targeting civilians

The state-run MRTV television station denied the reports of the airstrike in Monday evenings news broadcast  claiming there was no air strike on non-military targets and that subversive media outlets were spreading fake news.

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But Sai Arkar, a human rights associate at Fortify Rights, said the junta had consistently hit civilian infrastructure  including hospitals, religious sites, refugee camps and schools  with no legitimate military targets nearby, in an attempt to squash opposition since a coup took place in February 2021.

The level of the juntas brutality is almost incomparable, said Mr Arkar. While this latest attack on schools might be larger than previous or recent ones, the juntas cruel nature and their objective to instill fear in the people remain unchanged.

According to a resistance fighter, there had been no recent fighting in the region  although Sagaing, a northern region bordering India, is a stronghold for opposition to the military regime.

Immense suffering

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, said on Monday that he was concerned that the strikes took place in a region hit hard by the earthquake six weeks ago. The UN said last week more than 200 civilians had been killed in at least 243 military attacks since the earthquake, 171 of which were air strikes.

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Reports of attacks, including in Sagaing and other areas impacted by the March 28 earthquakes, add further to the already immense suffering of people in Myanmar, where over one third of the country requires humanitarian aid, said Stephane Dujarric, Mr Guterress spokesman.

According to a situation report from Unicef, as of May 7 the death toll from the earthquake stands at 3,792.

With more than 55,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, families have been forced to sleep in makeshift shelters on the streets, where theyve faced an early rain season and sweltering temperatures as high as 40C.

Catherine West, the Indo-Pacific minister, said: We are horrified by reports of a Myanmar regime airstrike on a school in an earthquake-affected area at a time when a ceasefire has been announced. Schools are meant to be a place of safety and opportunity, not collateral in a conflict.



We repeat our call to all parties, particularly the Myanmar military, to refrain from airstrikes, safeguard civilians, and protect civilian infrastructure.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation Tuesday to allow visiting judges to be brought in to handle violent criminal cases to get them to trial more quickly.

The law known as the Speedy Trial Act allows the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court to appoint a sitting or retired judge to preside over a specific case or cases involving a violent offense. Under the act, the attorney general or a district attorney must request the appointments.

On the same day the bill was signed, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall asked Chief Justice Sarah Stewart to appoint a visiting judge to handle the case of the man accused of the 2019 kidnapping and killing of college student Aniah Blanchard, 19. Her disappearance from an Auburn gas station drew national attention.

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Marshall wrote in the letter to Stewart that our entire state has watched the repeated delays in this case with angst and frustration.

Blanchard, a Southern Union student and stepdaughter of prominent UFC fighter Walt Harris, was last seen on Oct. 23, 2019. Her remains were discovered about a month later in a wooded area of Macon County. A trial date has not been set for Ibraheem Yazeed, the man accused of killing Blanchard. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges.

Recently, Marshall's office had urged lawmakers to pass the legislation.

There are significant bottlenecks in certain circuits in our state where violent crime cases are not moving quickly and victims are getting frustrated, Katherine Robertson, who serves as chief counsel for Marshall, said last week after lawmakers approved the bill.

Ivey also referred to the Blanchard case while signing the legislation into law.
Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, speaks with Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, in the Alabama Senate, Feb. 25, 2005. The General Fund budget includes an admentment he proposed to require the Parole Board to complete an update on the parole guidelines. (Photo/Stew Milne for the Alabama Reflector)

If next years budget is any indication, Alabama lawmakers have lost patience with the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The 2026 General Fund Gov. Kay Ivey signed last week makes funding for the board dependent on drafting new parole guidelines that determine the likelihood that an applicant can be safely released on parole. The budget goes into effect on Oct. 1.

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Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, the chair of the Joint Legislative Prison Committee, introduced the amendment shortly before the Senate approved the budget on April 29.

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When a state entity does not follow state law, I think it is incumbent upon us in our oversight role to do whatever we need to do, or can do, to help them follow state law, he said in an interview last week. And the power of the purse is really about the only tool that we have to do that.

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles did not return messages sent last week seeking comment.

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Lawmakers also cut the General Fund allocation to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, the agency that oversees reentry and rehabilitation for people in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections, by 4.1%, bringing it from $94.5 million to $90.6 million.

Missed deadline

Leigh Gwathney, Chair of the Board of Pardons and Paroles speaks during a hearing in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

Lawmakers enacted legislation in 2019 that updated rules on parole, part of a broader overhaul of the parole system after Jimmy ONeal Spencer, who had been serving two life sentences, was mistakenly released on parole in late 2017. The following year, Spencer killed three people, including a seven-year-old child, during a robbery in Guntersville. Spencer was later convicted of the murders and sentenced to death.

The 2019 law required the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to update the parole guidelines within three years, based on evidence and data for those who were released.

The Parole Board missed the 2022 deadline and has yet to release an updated version required by state law.

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Several lawmakers expressed frustration with the Parole Board, particularly chair Leigh Gwathney, after they did not receive any response from a set of questions concerning the low parole rate and their process for deciding who should be granted parole and who should be denied that were submitted in the spring of 2024.

At a meeting of the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee meeting in October, Gwathney gave meandering replies to lawmakers questions. Chambliss demanded that Gwathney provide her responses by the end of November.

They never received any response.

We didnt get a response, Chambliss said. When the Attorney Generals Office got involved and asked questions, apparently a response was prepared in November, but we never got it.

Defying the Legislature openly

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, speaks during a debate in the Alabama House of Representatives on April 25, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Chambliss said that he only made his final decision to introduce the amendment shortly before he took the floor on April 29. But Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, one of the most vocal critics of the Parole Board, said he understood it could be a possibility when he learned that lawmakers were discussing the proposal among themselves toward the start of the current legislative session.

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England said the amendment is the result of actions of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, particularly Gwathney.

The money being taken away isnt to suggest that the Bureau is doing a good job with reentry and rehabilitation, but it is to focus on the fact that the chair, who has been there since 2019, is not following the law and defying the Legislature openly.

The amendment was one of several actions taken by Democrats and Republicans in an attempt to create additional oversight for the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles that they believe has flouted their oversight authority.

SB 324, also sponsored by Chambliss, would increase the number of Parole Board members from three to five and allow members of the Board to appoint their own chair instead of the governor making the appointment.

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HB 40, sponsored by England, would create a commission that would create a validated risk and needs assessment, as well as parole release and classification guidelines for people in custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections. It would also requires the Parole Board to adhere to the parole guidelines when making decisions and disclose reasons for not adhering to them in any parole decision.

But with just one day left in the 2025 session, neither bill seems likely to get to Gov. Kay Iveys desk. Englands legislation remains stalled in the House chamber. Chambliss bill has passed the Senate and squeaked though the House Judiciary Committee in April, but will compete with many other bills seeking approval on the final day of the session Wednesday.

That leaves the amendment, which says that the boards funding for personnel and employee benefit costs will be released after the board revises and adopts guidelines concerning the granting or denial of paroles, and make available on the Boards website.

My guess and my hope are that they will update the guidelines, Chambliss said. If they do that, then it is a moot point. I am pretty confident, I heard they are working on it.

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His amendment received unanimous support from the Senate when it was introduced.

We do that all the time with money, that is a stick that legislators have that if someone is not following the law, whatever that may be, to use money to say, Hey, if you are not going to do this, then we are going to withhold funds, said Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Parole decline

Parole rates declined dramatically, falling to the single digit percentages at times during 2023 before increasing slightly to roughly 25%. The parole rates were low even though the conformance rates, the percentage that the decisions of the Parole Board aligned with the recommendations based on the parole guidelines, was about 20%.

During the meeting in October, Gwathney said she altered the score sheets to favor parole applicants, and even then, the parole rate remained low.

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What we wanted was several years of data to figure out if the guidelines worked or not, but since they were not being followed, and the conformance rate was so low, and the chair admitted to changing them to fit whatever goals she had, not only do we not have the data, but the data is corrupted, England said. We wasted a bunch of time, and we wasted a bunch of money.

Controversy regarding the parole rate has become so problematic that civil rights groups have weighed in on the issue.

It is good to see a little added accountability with some financial strings attached to it to ensure compliance with, honestly, what the Parole Board is supposed to have been doing for years, said Jerome Dees, policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights group.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A nonprofit group dedicated to offering a space for autistic people to make and display their art is looking to the community for help after losing thousands of dollars in funding due to significant cuts the Trump administration has made to the National Endowment for the Arts.

Studio by the Tracks, located in Irondale, has operated as a free studio and gallery for both children and adult on the autism spectrum, offering classes and giving artists a chance to display their work. In fact, the studio even sells different pieces done by these artists, giving 60% of the sales back to them.

On Tuesday, the studio announced that with through cuts at the NEA, the ArtsHERE grant program had been eliminated, resulting in over $50,000 that had previously been awarded to them being gone. In his new fiscal budget, the Trump administration is seeking to do away with the NEA entirely, which would cause many arts groups across the country to losing significant chunks of their funding.

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The termination of the grant is a blow to our organization, our staff, our artists and caregivers, the group wrote in a social media post Tuesday.

ArtsHERE was first established last fall as a way to increase artistic and creative projects in underserved communities.

Merrilee Challis, executive director of Studio by the Tracks, said that with the loss in funding, she and her staff will have to make difficult choices, including the possibility of cutting back on summer art programs they had been planning.

I dont know whats going to happen with the youth program, Challis said. It remains to be seen if the community will step up and shore up these losses.

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Challis said that the studio, which was started in 1989, typically operates on a tight budget on a cycle-by-cycle basis, a third of their funding being from federal grants while the rest comes from philanthropic support and community donations. While the ArtsHERE grant is not the only grant the studio receives, it was the biggest one that was cancelled.

Challis said that with cuts to NEA, Studio by the Tracks has had trouble seeking funding other places. Two other grants that they were planning on applying for one through the Challenge America program and the other Alabama Humanities Alliance were cancelled before they could apply for them.

Challis said having a program that serves the autism community should be one that people can get behind, one that allows autistic individuals, both verbal and nonverbal, the opportunity to speak through their art with every color, brush stroke and line they use.

Its the power of art that is communicating what is inside these people and its beautiful, she said. It should not be political. Its about expression.

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Currently, Studio by the Tracks is hosting a membership drive for $15 a month. Challis also encourages the community to buy some of their art for sale online, the majority of the proceeds going to the artists.

For more information, click here.

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Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley, speaks on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on May 9, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Legislation that would have required Alabama health care providers to screen for postpartum depression failed to pass this year.

But the sponsors of the bills  one a Democrat; one a Republican  feel they managed to move the issue forward.

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We may not have won the war on postpartum depression, but we certainly got a victory in the battle, said Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley.

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As originally filed, HB 322, sponsored by Holk-Jones, and SB 191, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, would have required the Alabama Medicaid Agency to provide and cover postpartum depression screenings and to cover specific prescription drugs used to treat depression. The bills would also have removed a requirement that those suffering from postpartum depression go through separate 30-day treatment trials with at least two generic antidepressants before covering an FDA-approved therapy for postpartum depression like Zurzuvae.

Melanie Cleveland, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Medicaid Agency, said in an email Friday that the agency no longer requires patients with postpartum depression to try less expensive generic medicine before getting approved for pricier treatments. Cleveland said that FDA-approved medication for postpartum depression will no longer depend on two prior failed therapies.

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Thats a step in the right direction, Holk-Jones said.

Medicaid covers mental health treatment for low-income mothers up to a year after childbirth. But significant obstacles prevent many from receiving adequate care, forcing some women to go without treatment until they are in crisis. These barriers include Medicaids underfunding, which leads to low reimbursement rates for therapists and limits the number who accept Medicaid, and issues with administrative requirements, lack of transportation and childcare, and limited telehealth accessibility.

The initial version of the bill would have mandated universal postpartum depression screenings for new mothers as part of the postnatal care model. The bill would also have required the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to develop educational materials on postpartum depression for health care professionals and parents of newborns.

Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile (center) speaks with Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma on the floor of the Alabama Senate on April 24, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Holk-Jones bill was amended in the House Health Committee to focus only on educational material that would have been developed by ADPH, which the House passed unanimously. Figures Senate bill was also amended in committee to reflect the changes in the House, but the Senate never voted on it.

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Figures said that although the remaining educational provisions of the bill did not become law, it is something that the department could do without statute.

They can do that on their website. If the bill does not pass, the health department can still do that, too, Figures said, but she said that the major thing that needed to be done was done without a statute, referring to the requirement that people not fail two prior medications.

Jennifer Harris, a health policy advocate at Alabama Arise, a nonprofit organization focusing on poverty issues, said that while some providers already provide screenings, the new policy allows providers to assess patient needs without being subject to cost-saving controls.

One of the administrative changes they made was that the provider should be able to assess the needs for the patient, and if not, if it doesnt meet the criteria of being the least costly, less evasive, medication first, then theyre able to prescribe that medication that the mother would need, Harris said.

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Despite changes in Medicaids policy, Holk-Jones said there was still a critical need for the legislation, pointing to the prevalence of postpartum depression in Alabama.

I do think this bill is absolutely needed, especially for all of the mothers with newborns who are dealing with the difficult mental health issue of postpartum depression, Holk-Jones said.

Nearly 19% of mothers had frequent postpartum depressive symptoms in Alabama in 2021, compared to 12.7% of mothers nationwide, according to latest March of Dimes data.

Holk-Jones also said that untreated postpartum depression is not only damaging to the mothers health, but can also have more significant economic costs, including long-term health care costs from emergency intervention and long-term mental health issues that have damaging effects on both the mother and their child.

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She said this was a genuine attempt to address an issue that affects more people in Alabama than in other states. She will pre-file the bill for the next legislative session, saying it is time we address this issue.

This bill  is about making sure every woman, no matter where she lives, gets screened and supported. Thats the standard we should all be working toward and that is why I will be refiling this legislation again next session, Holk-Jones said.

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NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ -- Officials from the Indianapolis Zoo announce Dr. Lily-Arison Rene de Roland, renowned scientist and biodiversity conservationist in Madagascar, as the 2025 Winner of the Indianapolis Prize .

The Indianapolis Prize recognizes and rewards conservationists who have achieved major victories in advancing the sustainability of an animal species or group of species. Since 2006, the Indianapolis Prize has awarded more than $7 million in unrestricted cash awards, advancing the work of conservation scientists through financial support and public awareness. The Indianapolis Prize is a signature conservation initiative of the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. (PRNewsfoto/Indianapolis Zoo)

Throughout his years of research and expeditions, Rene de Roland has discovered several new species, led the establishment of four national protected areas and developed community-focused conservation programs. Since 2004, he has been the National Director of The Peregrine Fund's Madagascar Program, where he oversees a team of 48 Malagasy conservationists working to conserve wildlife and landscapes in his homeland.

Rene de Roland is the tenth Winner of the Indianapolis Prize.

"Dr. Rene de Roland's community-based models and decades of research have not only alleviated human-wildlife conflictsthey have also helped to conserve Madagascar's unique and wonderful animals and ecosystems. He is dedicated, resourceful and a fierce advocate for Madagascar wildlife, and I'm proud to announce him as this year's Indianapolis Prize Winner," said Dr. Rob Shumaker, President and CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo.

Rene de Roland's contribution to the discovery of a variety of species is substantial, including the rediscovery of the Madagascar pochard, a rare duck thought to be extinct since the 1990s. He and his team rediscovered the species during a challenging expedition to a remote area of northern Madagascar in 2006. Rene de Roland has also contributed to the discovery of two previously undescribed lemur species in northern Madagascar. Due to his extensive impact on biodiversity conservation, scientists named a newly described wolf spider, Katableps lilyarisoni, after Rene de Roland in 2021. Most recently, during a 2022 expedition, Rene de Roland led a team to the rediscovery of the Dusky tetraka, a small songbird that had eluded ornithologists for 20 years.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Indianapolis Zoo," said Rene de Roland. "My work is inspired by my pride for my country's biodiversity and my love for its wonderful people."

Rene de Roland has led the creation of four national protected areas in Madagascar totaling over 1,500 square miles, including rainforests, dry forests, wetlands, mangroves and savannahs. These efforts not only preserve endemic Madagascar species under threat but also improve the lives of local people, with whom Rene de Roland works to manage these areas and sustainably leverage their resources.

Through his work, Rene de Roland has also helped to shape the next generation of Malagasy conservationists. His legacy extends to more than 100 students at local Madagascar universities, with his mentees earning 90 master's degrees and 16 doctoral degrees.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  According to the Alabama governors office, a cybersecurity event was discovered Friday night.

It stated the passwords and usernames of some state employees were compromised. The state of Alabamas Office of Information Technology stated Monday it is working to minimize any potential impacts to state operations.

A release from the governors office reminded state employees to look out for malicious emails. Amanda Senn, director of the Alabama Securities Commission, could not speak directly about what happened but offered insight on cybersecurity and data breaches. Senn said theres a difference between a cyber event and a cyber breach.

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Maybe a username had accidentally been provided to someone who didnt have authorized access to that information, or a password may have been shared , Senn said. There could be an incident, but not yet a breach where information has been stolen and been provided.

In this event, no information is believed to have been stolen or retrieved from any Alabamian, according to the governors office. It said it is still working to find out who is responsible for the compromise, and some state websites could be disrupted in that process.

New features added for EBT cards in Alabama

Senn said theres risk to the public with any compromise.

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Theres always a risk, though, to every organization, Senn said. Even individuals at home put themselves at risk for compromising their own personal information just sitting on their computers and cell phones.

The Alabama Securities Commission is not investigating the event. When investigating other cybercrimes around the state, however, Senn said it encourages people to check their credit scores and bank accounts.

Change your passwords, Senn said. Thats the first thing that we advise any organization to do, large or small, within the organization. So that likewise applies to members of the public as well. Change the passwords you have to access those services within the organization.

As the investigation continues, updates will be posted here.

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CLANTON, Ala. (WIAT)  An Alabaster man has been sentenced to over 100 years in prison after being found guilty of rape, sodomy and incest in a case involving several victims who were children.

On Monday, Kenneth Stevenson was sentenced to a total of 130 years in prison on Monday, U.S. District Attorney CJ Robinson confirmed.

A Chilton County jury found Stevenson, 36, guilty of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, two counts of incest, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes in February.

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Stevenson was sentenced to 35 years in prison each for rape and sodomy. He received 10 years in jail for each count of incest. Stevenson was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the less serious convictions, which will run concurrent with each other and consecutive to the class A felonies. Therefore, Stevenson is set to serve 100 years in prison.

Robinson said the victims in the case were 13 and 8 years old when the abuse occurred. Prosecutors argued Stevenson sexually abused the victims on different occasions. Stevenson also sexually abused the victims simultaneously and forced them to perform sexual acts on each another.

Alabama man charged in fire that destroyed restaurant in Maine last summer

It is never easy to take on a case of this type and spend hours reviewing evidence and witness testimony of such sickening criminal acts, Robinson said in a statement. The strength it took for the victims to stand up to this monster is unimaginable, and they are heroes. The facts of this case should disgust us all and if the death penalty were available as a punishment for his crimes, he 100 % deserves it but Judge Booth has sent a strong message and 100 years behind bars will definitely keep him from hurting another child.

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I am grateful to the Jemison Police Department for their investigation and the work of the

professionals at Butterfly Bridge, alongside the efforts of the prosecutors, victim service

officers, and investigators in our office who tirelessly worked to ensure justice was served.

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Hilcorp's Alaska headquarters in Midtown Anchorage is seen on Feb. 7, 2024. The independent company has become of the main oil producers in Alaska. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska regulators have assessed a $49,000 fine against Hilcorp for lapses in Cook Inlet offshore well management.

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said on Monday that Hilcorp, the dominant operator in the Cook Inlet basin, failed to meet an annual deadline to discuss its well plugging and abandonment activities. That annual meeting was to have taken place on Dec. 1, the AOGCC said in its order. The earliest date that Hilcorp offered for the meeting was Feb. 17, according to the order.

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Hilcorp acknowledged missing the deadline but submitted some written information to address the commissions concerns and to ensure all conditions of approval are complied with in the future, the order said.

The company has 20 days to contest the assessed penalty, the order said.

It was the first enforcement action taken by the AOGCC against Hilcorp this year, according to the commissions records.

In 2024, however, Hilcorp was the subject of five separate AOGCC orders concerning violations on both the North Slope and in the Cook Inlet basin. The three North Slope cases resulted in penalties of $452,100, $260,477 and $55,000, while the two Cook Inlet cases resulted in fines of $86,000 and $50,000.

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Hilcorp, a privately held independent based in Texas, has become one of the two biggest oil producers in Alaska. The company gained that position after taking over fields and assets previously held by BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. BP left Alaska in 2020.

In comparison, ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc., the other major Alaska oil producer, has been the subject of far fewer AOGCC enforcement actions. There were none taken against ConocoPhillips in 2024.

In 2023, however, ConocoPhillips received one of the biggest fines ever assessed by the AOGCC. The commission ordered the company to pay $913,796.80 for numerous violations that led to a 2022 well blowout and release of natural gas in the Alpine oil field.

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Members of the Alaska Senate watch the votes for and against Senate Bill 26 on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska would be on the same time zone as Seattle for four months of the year, if a bill passed Monday by the Alaska Senate becomes law.

The Senate voted 18-2 to pass Senate Bill 26, which would eliminate daylight saving time in Alaska and ask the federal government to put Alaska on Pacific Standard Time.

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Senate Bill 26 is a compromise that addresses long-standing frustrations with Alaskas timekeeping system, said Sen. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River and the bills sponsor. This bill would permanently exempt Alaska from daylight saving time, keeping us on standard time year-round.

Sen. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks in favor of a bill that would eliminate daylight saving time, on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

If fully implemented, the bill would leave Alaska in the same time zone as Seattle from November through early March.

The rest of the year, it would be one hour behind that city, as Washington state observes daylight saving time. If Congress passes a bill allowing permanent daylight saving time, Alaska would return to being one hour behind Seattle permanently.

Merrick said her bill is supported by the states tourism trade association, as well as financial institutions, because it keeps us within three or four hours of the stock market and financial center in New York.

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Daylight saving time has been a regular topic of conversation in the Alaska Legislature.

The Alaska Senate voted to request the elimination of daylight saving time in 2015, but the House failed to pass the bill.

No DST bill was introduced in 2017 or 2018, but since then, a daylight saving time bill has been introduced in either the House or Senate every year since 2019.

The bill goes in a different direction from Alaskas neighbor, Yukon, which moved to permanent daylight time in 2020, leaving the territory geographically adjacent but two hours away, chronologically, from November through early March.

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For a century, Alaska stretched over four time zones. That changed in 1983, when the states time zones were consolidated to two, with Yakutat being the only community that kept its previous time zone. The result means that in most parts of Alaska, the clock has little to do with the position of the sun in the sky.

Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, proposed a competing bill that would move Alaska to permanent Alaska Standard Time, but that idea stalled out in committee.

I do believe that permanent standard time makes more sense for daylight. Its more in sync for where were at. However, because were at such a high latitude, it matters a lot less, he said, explaining that the amount of daylight changes rapidly throughout the year.

Kawasaki ended up voting for the bill.

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My main issue with time is that you have to reset your clocks twice, and thats a big pain in the ass, he said.

Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, and Robert Myers, R-North Pole, shared his concerns about solar time but voted against the bill.

Ive opposed changing it numerous times over the years, Stedman said.

It just doesnt work relative to sun time, he said.

Myers said the bill has the potential to aggravate that problem.

I am not a fan of the time zone change portion of that bill, he said. Most of Alaska  is already an hour off of where we should be solar time, and there are some studies out there dealing with both health and energy use that say we should stay close to solar time.

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I really would love to see the federal government repeal daylight saving time across the board, he said.

In April, President Donald Trump said he was open to the idea and urged Congress to pass a bill making daylight saving time permanent, thus eliminating the annual clock change.

That makes this the right time to pass SB 26, Merrick said.

Having the federal administration on board greatly increases our chances of successfully eliminating daylight saving time, she said. I know sometimes change is hard, but SB 26 will keep us from having to change our clocks, at least.

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TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Preliminary results in Albanias parliamentary election on Tuesday gave a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party, which attracted voters supporting the countrys uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Ramas bid for a fourth term.

With about 97% of the votes counted, Ramas left-wing Socialists got 52.09% of the votes, or 82 seats in the 140-seat Assembly, or parliament, followed by the opposition center-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 34.43%, or 52 seats. Three other small parties will take the rest.

With that number, the left-wing Socialists should be able to govern alone.

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Preliminary turnout Sunday was 42% of the 3.7 million eligible voters, or 4 percentage points lower than four years ago.

Berishas Democrats claimed irregularities during the vote and also with ballots mailed from the diaspora, accusing the ruling Socialists of involving criminal gangs to favor their candidates, buying ballots and using other illegal methods.

No way to reconcile with such elections. No, forget it, said Berisha, suggesting that the Democrats will not recognize the results.

The European Union hailed Albania's vote as calm and well organized, despite some shortcomings, calling on all political forces to ... ensure the continued functioning of the countrys institutions.

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Albanias EU integration process is a strategic national objective, and a whole-of-society project, which is strongly supported by Albanias citizens, said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, also calling "for a constructive and inclusive political dialogue as all of Albanias political parties and all sectors of society ... have a role to play in further advancing the countrys EU accession process."

The Central Election Commission, the electoral executive, has said that by law the final results come out 48 hours after voting ends  in other words, later Tuesday. The results may be delayed following a request of the opposition not to consider some 53,000 ballots mailed from the diaspora in neighboring Greece, claiming they were manipulated.

For the first time, those in the diaspora could cast postal votes. About 195,000 mailed in their votes.

Eligible voters in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year mandate in the Balkan nation. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.4 million people has a total of nearly 3.7 million eligible voters.

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Diaspora votes from Greece may have moved seats in three or four areas in favor of the left-wing Socialists. The opposition claims they were manipulated by Socialist supporters. The postal company said it has confirmation signatures of all the voters in Greece.

It is expected that Rama will give a speech to his supporters, likely on Wednesday.

Ramas Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years, which is an ambitious pledge, while battling the Democrats, who argue that Albania isnt ready for EU membership.

On Friday, the opposition will hold a protest against the alleged election manipulation. The protest will coincide with a European Political Community summit being held in Tirana.

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The friends who will come should listen to the people's voice asking for a free vote and also that a tyrant, a narco-dictator, is not allowing them but using all violent tools to grab the vote, said Berisha.

A joint international observation mission noted that despite being competitive and professionally managed, the election process so far was marked by the ruling partys misuse of public resources, a confrontational and polarizing tone, the two main political parties using divisive language, untransparent financing and unbalanced media coverage of smaller parties.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office said that, based on information from the feds, they placed former Albuquerque Police Department officer Steve Hindi on the Giglio list of officers whose credibility is compromised. He joins 13 other officers from APD, Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, and New Mexico State police, whose credibility issues are tied to the long-running criminal scheme, in which officers took bribes to sabotage DWI cases. At this point, he has not been charged. Hindi worked on and off for APD starting in 1980.

Related Coverage:

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The department fired him in December 2015 after he tried to intimidate an investigator with the Civilian Police Oversight Agency over a complaint against him.

Court records show that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hindi had more than 50 cases with defense attorney Thomas Clear III, who admitted to being the ringleader of the criminal scheme. Two-thirds of those cases were dismissed.

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.
Discount grocery store chain Aldi may have sold most of the unconverted Winn-Dixie and Harvey's locations the company bought last year, but they're still moving forward with the locations that were in progress. The company has 10 more coming to Florida, according to their grand openings page, including a new listing for one in Deerfield Beach.

About 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores will be converted to the smaller, simpler Aldi format by 2027, Aldi said. The company plans to open 225 new store locations in the United States in 2025, the most they've ever opened in a single year.

The no-frills German grocery chain acquired Southeastern Grocers Inc (SEG), the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, and announced an ambitious five-year, $9 billion plan to add 800 stores nationwide through new stores and store conversions. In less than a year, it turned around and sold most of them to a consortium of private investors led by SEG president Anthony Hucker, but kept the ones where conversion plans were underway.

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In Volusia County, an Aldi opened in Deltona on May 1 at a previous Winn-Dixie location, but plans for a converted Winn-Dixie in Port Orange hit a snag when, on May 9, the city's building and fire departments marked the application as "deficient."

What Aldi stores have opened in Florida in 2025?

Several Aldi Florida locations, most of them former Winn-Dixies, have opened this year, including:

What Aldi stores are opening in Florida?

On Aldi's grand opening page, the chain lists 10 new locations, most of them former Winn-Dixie sites:

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Arcadia, 1737 East Oak St. (former Winn-Dixie)

Boynton Beach, Cobblestone Commons, 8855 Boynton Beach Blvd., Suite 310 (former Winn-Dixie)

Deerfield Beach, Crossroads Shopping Center, 301 W Sample Road, Building #2

Jensen Beach, Palm Breeze Plaza, 1105 Northeast Jensen Beach Blvd. (former Winn-Dixie)

Lake Wales, Lake Wales Shopping Center, 1860 State Road 60 East (former Winn-Dixie)

Lutz, Sunset Plaza, 18407 US Highway 41 (former Winn-Dixie)

Melbourne, The Ocean Springs Shopping Village, 961 E. Eau Gallie Blvd. (former Winn-Dixie)

Ocala, Marion Oaks Shopping Center, 184 Marion Oaks Blvd. (former Winn-Dixie)

Orlando, Metro West Marketplace, 1403 South Hiawassee Road (former Winn-Dixie)

Tampa, 15692 North Dale Mabry Highway

Several more Winn-Dixie conversions are still ongoing, including locations in Leesburg, Ormond Beach, Port St. John, and Sebastian. The company also continues to open brand new Aldi stores, such as another being built in Port Orange.

What is Aldi?

Aldi is an international chain of no-frills grocery stores with no coupons and few, if any, big-name brand products.

Unlike Winn-Dixie, Aldi does not offer a meat counter, a deli, a pharmacy, a bakery, or a liquor store. There are no elaborate displays, no overhead music, a much smaller selection with few duplicates of item brands, lots of house brands, and fewer open hours. The goal of all of these is to keep prices low, the company says.

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You pay a quarter to get a shopping cart (you get it back when you return the cart), and you bag your own groceries with empty boxes from the store, bags you bought there or containers from home.

There is a double-your-money-back "Twice is Nice" guarantee on its store brand products, and the chain regularly offers "FINDS," limited-time offers that change weekly or seasonally, and other discounted deals. The company does not offer a membership program.

The "Aisle of Shame" is Aldi fans' nickname for the aisles of limited-supply deals in each location.

The Aldi chain was founded by Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 (Aldi is an abbreviated form of "Albrecht Diskont"). After the brothers got into an argument over whether the stores should sell cigarettes, in 1960, they split the company into Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud, which both operate stores internationally in different regions. U.S. stores, including the new Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, are operated by Aldi Sud. Aldi Nord also owns Trader Joe's.

Aldi U.S. is based in Batavia, Illinois.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Aldi converting more Winn-Dixie stores in Florida, here's the list
Sign up for Trumps Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency.

Updated at 6:35 p.m. ET on May 13, 2025.

When the welcome ceremony was over, and the Trump officials drove off in their black SUVs, a dozen or so newly arrived South African refugees stepped out into the parking lot of a private terminal at Washington Dulles International Airport yesterday afternoon, still carrying little paper flags theyd been handed. Now it was time for a smoke.

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Will Hartzenberg, a tall, sunworn 44-year-old farmer from the Limpopo region in the countrys north, was on his way to Idaho with his family to start a new life. Relief, he told me, when asked what he felt. We are really relieved.

Hartzenberg said his wife, Carmen, had teased him for worrying whether it was safe to leave their young children inside the building while they stepped out for a cigarette. He needed to learn to let down his guard, he figured. This is not South Africa, where you have to take your children with you wherever you go, he said.

A U.S. official came over to hurry the group back into the terminal. They smoked faster. Hartzenbergs parents and sister had been shot during an attack on the family farm in 1993, he told me as he walked. They survived, but he said he didnt see a future for his children in South Africa, or at least not a prosperous one.

[Adam Serwer: Afrikaner refugees only]

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The countrys white minoritydescendants of British colonists, and Afrikaners from the Netherlands and other European countriesonce dominated South Africa through the apartheid system of legalized discrimination, confining the countrys majority-Black population in slums. Three decades after that systems defeat, the plight of white South Africans has become a cause celebre among white-nationalist groups. American President Donald Trump says they are victims of racial discrimination and genocideclaims that South Africas government calls completely false.

Hartzenberg and his family will be resettled in a state that is 92.5 percent white. When he researched Idahos landscapes online, he liked what he saw: We come from a farm that is surrounded by mountains. So I was quite excited when I Googled to see where we are going.

Hartzenbergs mix of bewilderment, relief, and optimism has been shared by generations of refugees as they set foot in the United States for the first time. Few have enjoyed the kind of support the South Africans are receiving from the Trump administration, which has all but frozen refugee admissions from other nations and cut off resettlement funding. That has stranded at least 12,000 refugees, many from conflict zones, who had flights to the United States booked after they were extensively vetted and approved for resettlementonly to learn that they were no longer welcome in the United States, according to aid groups suing the Trump administration.

One resettlement agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church said yesterday that it will not help resettle the Afrikaners as required under its federal grant. The churchs presiding bishop, Sean W. Rowe, sent a letter to members of the Church saying it was terminating its four-decade-old partnership with the government. The bishop said Trumps resettlement plan crossed a moral line for the Church, which is part of the global Anglican Communion and whose leaders have included the late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

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It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, Rowe wrote. They include brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country, he added.

The Trump administration said yesterday that it will end temporary immigration protections for some Afghans who are already in the United States on July 12, leaving about 9,000 immigrants at risk of being deported back to the Taliban-controlled nation.

The White Houses grand welcome for the white refugees came as the Trump administration is waging a deportation campaign, aimed at removing millions of immigrants from the United States. Trump has depicted recent waves of immigrants, particularly from Latin America, as an existential threat to the United States that is poisoning the blood of the country.

Hartzenberg and his family and the other refugees were warmly welcomed after their chartered flight landed in Northern Virginia around midday. They were greeted by Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who connected their own lives to those of the new arrivals. Landau said his father fled the Nazi takeover in Europe and found safety and freedom in the United States. Edgar told the group his wife is an Iranian Christian who fled persecution in her homeland.

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A lot of you, I think, are farmers, right? Landau said. When you have quality seeds, you can put them in foreign soil and they will blossom. They will bloom. We are excited to welcome you here to our country, where we think you will bloom.

Edgar told the South Africans they would receive the officials personal contact infoa gesture that seemed to underscore the newcomers special status.

Refugees are in a distinct category among U.S. immigrant groups and are selected because they face persecution or harm in their home countries resulting from their race, religion, nationality, political views, or membership in a particular social group. In years past, the United States has welcomed Vietnamese fleeing a Communist takeover, Soviet emigres, and Christians from across Africa and the Middle East. Refugees submit to a U.S. vetting and screening process, then endure waits that may stretch for years. They arrive with full legal protection and a path to citizenship, and they receive assistance from resettlement organizations, which are generally affiliated with faith groups and have long enjoyed bipartisan political support.

The South Africans were processed by the Trump administration in a matter of weeks. Asked by a BBC reporter why they were fast-tracked into the United States at a time when other admissions from applicants in Afghanistan or war zones are frozen, Landau said Trump had made an exception based on the dire situation in South Africa. He and Edgar took only two questions in the tightly controlled press event (I was not allowed in) and left without speaking to reporters outside.

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South Africa has one of the worlds highest crime rates, and land conflicts have fueled violence in rural areas. Crime data show that a few dozen white farmers are killed each year, but their deaths account for fewer than 1 percent of the countrys homicides. Farmers are being killed, Trump told reporters at the White House yesterday. They happen to be white. But whether theyre white or Black makes no difference to me; but white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.

During his first term Trump slashed the number of refugees admitted to the lowest levels since the 1980 Refugee Act went into place. He went even further after he retook office this year, issuing an executive order that suspended refugee admissions. But within weeks he made an exception. White South African farmers have protested vigorously against a law adopted in January that allows courts to take land without compensation in some cases. Officials in South Africa say its purpose is to address inequalities that were lethally enforced during decades of apartheid rule. Although white people make up about 7 percent of South Africas population, they own about 75 percent of the farmland, according to a South African government land audit.

[George Packer: What about six years of friendship and fighting together?]

The South African government has treated these people terriblythreatening to steal their private land and subjected them to vile racial discrimination, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on social media yesterday.

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The Biden administration resettled about 100,000 people last year. None were from South Africa. Now about 8,000 South Africans have expressed interest in applying for U.S. resettlement, according to U.S. officials.

U.S. visa statistics show that South Africans have been coming to the United States in greater numbers to work as temporary farm laborersoften to operate machinery or perform other skilled tasks. More than 15,000 South Africans came on temporary visas to perform farm labor last year, U.S. data show.

Hartzenberg told me his family grew vegetables on their farm in South Africa. He hoped to return to farming in Idaho, he said, but he wasnt sure what work might be available. The caseworker assigned to his family hadnt told him yet. With one last draw on his cigarette, he hustled back into the hangar to gather his children and board a bus to a hotel with the others.

This article originally misstated the first name of the Episcopal Churchs presiding bishop.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 13 (UPI) -- The oil-rich Gulf countries, once Lebanon's main supporters, now are making a cautious comeback after years of disengagement. This shift comes as Hezbollah has been significantly weakened, Iran's regional influence has declined and a new Lebanese leadership has emerged, promising long-overdue reforms.

Lebanon has long depended on the financial support and investments of Gulf countries, particularly during times of economic hardship and political instability.

For decades, Gulf states -- especially Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait -- provided crucial aid and direct investments that helped Lebanon reconstruct after the 1975-90 civil war and the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, sustain its economy and support its banking sector.

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However, in recent years, Hezbollah's dominance, Iran's expanding influence, and the Lebanese government's failure to implement reforms prompted Gulf countries to withdraw their support.

The suspension of political and financial backing exacerbated Lebanon's severe economic crisis, which began in 2019. Strained diplomatic ties further discouraged private investors, and tourism suffered a major blow.

The country was left increasingly isolated at a time when it most needed external assistance.

Change begins

That began to change last September, when Hezbollah suffered significant setbacks during a destructive war with Israel that broke out in support of Gaza in October 2023, and Iran started to lose its "Axis of Resistance."

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With Hezbollah's influence substantially reduced, a breakthrough in Lebanon's political deadlock followed. Former army commander Joseph Aoun was elected president and a new government was swiftly formed under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a respected jurist.

Aoun and Salam have pledged to disarm all militias, reassert the state's monopoly on arms and implement long-requested reforms -- signals that the Gulf states welcome.

UAE's decision last week to lift the travel ban and allow its citizens to visit Lebanon was a sign of warming relations and renewed willingness to engage.

On Monday, Kuwait announced that it will facilitate the return of its citizens to Lebanon, although they kept on visiting the country discretely during the past years. Saudi Arabia, which has snubbed Lebanon, may follow suit soon.

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Qataris had no issue, as they did not join the Gulf countries in isolating Lebanon in 2021 and have kept on coming, according to an official Lebanese source.

The move to alleviate Gulf travel restrictions came after successive visits by President Aoun to urge Saudi, UAE and Kuwait leaders to help revive tourism in his country for such a move would generate immediate revenues.

A new reality

Aoun was keen to demonstrate that "there is a new reality" in Lebanon, and that there was "no need any more to continue isolating Lebanon and keeping the travel bans," according to the official source.

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The source said the security situation has improved a lot, despite Israel continuing airstrikes on alleged Hezbollah targets mainly in southern Lebanon beyond the Feb. 18 cease-fire deadline.

"These attacks do not threaten the whole country as was the case during the war," he told UPI.

Lebanon has been experiencing a significant decline in tourist numbers, which dropped to 1.13 million people in December 2024 from 2.1 million in 2018 to due to political instability, security tensions, the ongoing economic crisis and the recent Israel-Hezbollah war.

Tourism revenues, which have been estimated at $5 billion annually in recent years, peaked at $8.6 billion in 2019.

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To the Gulf countries, security was the main concern.

At Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, strict security measures are now in place. New security chiefs have been appointed, advanced tools -- including AI-powered systems -- have been introduced, several airport staff linked to Hezbollah have been removed and smuggling attempts tied to the group, including a recent effort to move 22 kilograms of gold, have been foiled.

Restoring the image

The road leading to the airport has received a makeover. Hezbollah flags, banners and images of its leaders and Iranian figures were removed as part of a broader campaign targeting all political groups and aimed at restoring the capital's image and promoting tourism.

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Now, large posters welcoming visitors with messages of a "New Era" for Lebanon line the route from the airport.

Even though such steps -- unthinkable just months ago -- were significant, Saudi Arabia chose to assess the new security measures independently.

"We want things to be back to normal. We are waiting for the Saudis, who want to evaluate the security and political situation before taking a decision," the official source said.

A Saudi delegation is expected to visit Beirut soon, potentially paving the way for the return of Saudi tourists to Lebanon before the Muslim Al Adha Eid in early June.

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The source, however, discounted that the return of the Gulf tourists also was linked to disarming Hezbollah, saying that "the issue of Hezbollah weapons is moving slowly."

According to Mohanad Hage Ali, an analyst and fellow at the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center, if the Gulf countries' re-engagement is "truly linked" to disarming Hezbollah, "it might be a long wait."

Hage Ali told UPI that the increase in Gulf travel will positively impact Lebanon's tourism this summer. However, any financial support or investments from the oil-rich countries would require Lebanon to implement necessary reforms, which "are currently stuck in [the Lebanese] parliament, awaiting U.S. pressure."

Reform is slow

He added that "the reform process is slow and depends on international pressure," expressing hope that reform laws would pass before summer and allowing for some support, particularly in the energy sector.

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That's why attracting back Arab, especially Gulf, tourists and "gaining their trust again," became Lebanon's "high priority," according to Tourism Minister Laura El-Khazen Lahoud.

"We are working to address all the issues. ... We are doing everything we can to ensure that the reforms are adopted," Lahoud told UPI. "We want to put Lebanon back on track ... to make sure that it regains the place it deserves on the international touristic map, but things don't happen overnight."

She expressed hope that Saudi Arabia will be encouraged and that other countries will lift their ban one after the other.

"Unfortunately, they have forgotten how beautiful Lebanon is with its rich history, diverse culture and fascinating nature," she added.
There was a time long ago when the Atlantic Ocean didnt exist. The general understanding among geologists is that the body of water originated between 83 to 113 million years ago, when South America and Africa split into their two respective continents to form the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway. However, Earths marine history appears to require a multimillion-year revision thanks to a recent discovery roughly half a mile beneath the ocean floor. The evidence is explored in a study published in the June edition of the journal Global and Planetary Change.

According to geologists at the UKs Heriot Watt University, gigantic waves of mud and sand sediment about 250 miles off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa indicate the Atlantic Ocean actually formed around four million years earlier than previous estimates. To understand just how intense all of this movement was, imagine waves that are about half a mile long and over 300 feet high.

A whole field formed in one particular location to the west of the Guinea Plateau, just at the final pinch-point of the separating continents of South America and Africa, study co-author Uisdean Nicholson explained in a statement.

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Nicholson and their colleagues initially came across these layers of mud waves after comparing seismic data with core samples collected from wells during the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) of 1975. Five layers in particular were utilized to recreate the tectonic processes that broke apart the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana during the Mesozoic Era.

One layer was particularly striking: it included vast fields of sediment waves and contourite driftsmud mounds that form under strong bottom currents, said Nicholson.

These waves initially formed as dense, salty water poured out from the newly created Equatorial Atlantic Gateway, like a giant waterfall that formed below the ocean surface, he added.

Just before the geologic event, huge salt deposits formed at the bottom of what is now the South Atlantic. After the gateway opened, the underground mudfall occurred when dense, relatively fresh Central Atlantic water in the north combined with very salty waters in the south. The resulting sedimentary evidence examined by the studys authors now indicates this opening seems to have started closer to 117 million years ago.

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This was a really important time in Earths history when the climate went through some major changes, explained study co-author Debora Duarte. Up until 117 million years ago, the Earth had been cooling for some time, with huge amounts of carbon being stored in the emerging basins, likely lakes, of the Equatorial Atlantic. But then the climate warmed significantly from 117 to 110 million years ago.

Duarte and Nicholson believe part of that major climatic change helped from the Atlantic Ocean, as seawater inundated the newly formed basins.

As the gateway gradually opened, this initially reduced the efficiency of carbon burial, which would have had an important warming effect, said Duarte. And eventually, a full Atlantic circulation system emerged as the gateway grew deeper and wider, and the climate began a period of long-term cooling during the Late Cretaceous period.

The ramifications go beyond revising Earths geological timeline or the gateways role in Mesozoic climate change. Better understanding the influence of oceanic evolutionary journeys on ancient climate patterns can help to predict what the future holds for the planet.

Todays ocean currents play a key role in regulating global temperatures, explained Nicholson. Disruptions, such as those caused by melting ice caps, could have profound consequences.
By Alimat Aliyeva

Samsung Electronics has officially launched its slimmest flagship smartphone to date  the Galaxy S25 Edge  in a bold move to outpace Apple in the competitive high-end smartphone market, Azernews reports.

Designed with younger, style-conscious users in mind, the new device combines cutting-edge AI features with an ultra-thin, elegant form factor. Measuring just 5.8mm thick, the S25 Edge boasts a vivid 6.7-inch AMOLED display, making it both compact and immersive.

The smartphone will debut in South Korea on May 23, followed by a U.S. release on May 30. Global availability will expand to over 30 countries, including China and key European markets. Prices will start at $1,099.

"The message from users was clear  they wanted a slimmer device thats still powerful and practical," said a Samsung spokesperson. "We listened and delivered."

To achieve the razor-thin profile, Samsung redesigned several core components, including a miniaturized printed circuit board and a next-gen thermal system. According to Samsung Executive Vice President Moon Sung-hoon, a newly engineered ultra-thin vapor chamber ensures efficient heat dissipation, addressing concerns over performance throttling or overheating.

But its not just about looks  the S25 Edge also features Samsungs most advanced AI system to date. Highlights include:

Multimodal AI interaction  allowing users to engage with the device using a combination of voice, text, and visual input in real time

On-device AI processing, enhancing privacy and reducing latency

Live translation, AI-enhanced photography, and adaptive UI features

Industry analysts believe the timing is no accident. With Apple expected to release a significantly slimmer iPhone later this year, Samsung may have stolen the spotlight.

"By launching early, Samsung positions itself as a trendsetter in the ultra-thin category," said Ryu Young-ho, senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities. "This could attract users who prioritize design without compromising on functionality."

In Q1 2025, Samsung led the global smartphone market with a 20% share, narrowly edging out Apples 19%, according to Counterpoint Research. However, the company noted potential challenges ahead due to global tariff uncertainties, which could affect shipments in the second quarter.
Banco Santander has reportedly turned down a bid from NatWest for its UK retail banking operations, saying it considered the offer too low.

The proposal, which was advised by Morgan Stanley and UBS, is no longer active, according to sources privy to the development, reported Financial Times.

The offer made by NatWest was reported to be above 10bn ($13.2bn) but below 12bn ($15.9bn).

Santander's UK subsidiary, which encompasses both retail and commercial banking, reported total equity of 10.4bn ($13.8bn) at the end of the previous year.

In contrast, the valuation for the Polish unit sale was approximately 2.2 times its tangible book value, indicating a higher valuation than that of the overall group.

Santander has also previously rejected a lower offer for its UK ringfenced unit from Barclays.

The bid from NatWest, which would have marked the largest banking transaction in the UK since the financial crisis, comes as the state-backed lender prepares to enhance its domestic market presence.

This expansion is anticipated to occur once the UK government finalises the sale of its remaining 46bn ($61.1bn) stake in NatWest, expected in the near future.

Jose Garcia Cantera, Santanders chief financial officer, stated last month, We want to be a relevant bank in the US.

Recently, Santander agreed to divest approximately 49% of its shares in Santander Polska, its Polish banking unit, to Austrian bank Erste Group for 6.8bn ($7.7bn).

Additionally, Erste will purchase the remaining 50% of Santander Polska's asset management business (TFI) for 0.2bn, resulting in a total all-cash transaction value of 7bn ($7.9bn).

"Santander turns down NatWests offer for UK retail banking arm" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Angela Rayner has overruled local officials to approve a monstrous 1bn data centre on the home counties green belt.

The Housing Secretary has backed plans for a sprawling 84,000 sq metre development in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, arguing there was a clear and pressing need for data centres, which the Government in September last year designated as critical national infrastructure.

Scores of residents had fiercely opposed the plans, with one blasting the project as a monstrous development that would constitute an environmental and social crime, citing gross misuse of prime green belt land.

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Concerns were also raised that the centre would produce a monotonous hum heard 24 hours a day, pose a risk to water and energy supply, and have negative impacts on wildlife and property values.

Angela Rayner has overruled local objections to approve a 1bn data centre in Hertfordshire - Cameron Smith/PA

Officials in Ms Rayners department admitted that the project would harm views from heritage thatched cottages at the historic Ovaltine dairy farm nearby, but justified this by saying the properties were not listed.

A listed 15th-century tithe barn and 17th-century farmhouse nearby will also be affected, although civil servants deemed the damage less than substantial.

No green belt is safe

It is the second major data centre on Hertfordshires green belt to gain approval in recent months. Developers gained consent to build Europes biggest data centre on nearby Potters Bar in January.

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Chris Berry, of CPRE Hertfordshire, the countryside charity, said the Abbots Langley data centre was part of the onslaught on the countryside at the moment.

Mr Berry said: Its unrelenting. The green belt in south Hertfordshire is really in trouble. We support the right development in the right place, but there is a balance issue here. Every planning application weve received since Christmas refers to sites as grey belt and thats just nuts.

No green belt is safe any more. The pendulum has swung too far the other way, it has completely swung  from any sort of reasonable consideration of quality of landscape and countryside.

Three Rivers district council had unanimously voted to refuse consent for the Abbots Langley last year, but the Housing Secretary overturned that decision on Monday after its developers lodged an appeal.

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Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the Lib Dem county councillor for Abbots Langley, said he was extremely disappointed by the decision, which he called upsetting.

As part of its proposals, the developer has promised to create a landscaped country park.

However, Mr Giles-Medhurst said: There is little gain for the village apart from an extra country park and some low-level employment, but it means putting up with mega warehouse-type buildings across our countryside green belt.

[The] concern is whether this development will be used as a precedent for other developments to come forward and effectively merge the village [with neighbouring villages]. That fundamentally undermines the purpose of the green belt. We will resist any such further development.

Abbots Langley, where the Government is planning to build a supersize data centre - Jeff Gilbert

Ian Campbell, Conservative district councillor for Abbots Langley & Bedmond, said: This is disastrous news for the whole green belt, and no village is safe.

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Oliver Cooper, leader of Three Rivers district council Conservatives, said: To explicitly say that villages dont get green belt protections  and that motorways offer the same breathing space between communities that fields do  makes no sense. Parliament must urgently debate and reverse this madcap rule.

A spokesman for Greystoke Land, the sites developer, said: Abbots Langley Data Centre will attract more than 1bn of investment and help to secure thousands of digital jobs across the country.

The Governments positive approach to building data centres is a significant step forward for the UKs economic growth and digital leadership.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  From baby huskies to hounds, it was cuteness overload at the State Capitol Tuesday, with the Connecticut Humane Society bringing puppies to persuade lawmakers to pass a number of animal welfare bills.

We are here with 11 puppies this morning, the organizations marketing and communications manager, Kathryn Schubert, said. We are raising awareness for all the bills that are passing through the legislative circuit right now.

VIDEO: Dog saves another dog who was having seizure, Milford couple says

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It includes Senate Bill 1282, which would reduce the time shelters would have to quarantine an animal with suspected rabies from six months to four months.

The resources it takes to engage those animals, when theyre on their six-month quarantine, is immense because theyre in a confined area. We have to create enrichment, and we dont want them to get depressed, said Director of Operations Theresa Geary.

Another piece of legislation the Connecticut Humane Society is advocating for is House Bill 6832, relating to the ban on dogs, cats, and rabbits at pet stores in the state.

Theres a lot of concerns with it because of the lack of regulations there, Schubert said. It could be related to the treatment of the mom dogs, the overbreeding.

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We need to support our animals. They are our human companions. They are indeed our best friends, said State Republican Senator Tony Hwang.

Bill 1282 has passed in the state senate and could be passed by the House sometime this 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 WTNH.com.
CANTON, Miss. (WJTV)  One person was killed at an apartment complex in the City of Canton, according to the mayor.

Canton Mayor William Truly said the incident occurred at Canton Estates Apartments on Monday, May 12.

According to the Madison County Coroners Office, the victim was identified as Quincy Pate, 32. He received fatal gunshot wounds.

Man sentenced for ransacking Rankin County home, stealing piggy bank

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This comes nearly a month after a separate fatal shooting occurred at Canton Estates on Tuesday, April 22. Police said Megeil Tyrone Walsh, 22, was found unresponsive in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

Sgt. Jeremy Gooden, with the Canton Police Department, said Renardo Elmore was arrested in connection to the April 22 shooting.

In response to the shootings, the mayor plans to make a request before the Canton Board of Aldermen.

To invest $1 million into safety and security of the City of Canton. That includes increasing our police officers, Truly said.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called out President Donald Trump and his administration for being anti-American and putting America last in a fiery rebuke on social media over the weekend.

The representative made her comments during a livestream on Instagram Saturday night, addressing a confrontation involving Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Democratic lawmakers that took place at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday.

Baraka was accused of trespassing at the facility and arrested, then released after spending several hours in custody.

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Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, also accused New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver and Robert Menendez of trespassing, along with assaulting and body slamming ICE agents. She suggested that the Trump administration was considering arresting them as well.

The New Jersey representatives have vehemently denied the claims from DHS. They accused ICE agents of showing aggression toward them and escalating the situation by arresting Baraka. They also accused ICE agents of attempting to impede their ability as members of Congress to conduct oversight at the detention facility.

You lay a finger on ... Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman or any of the representatives that were there were going to have a problem, Ocasio-Cortez warned in the livestream. She then accused Trump and members of his administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, of being anti-American.

Trump has used the slogan America First in both of his presidential campaigns. The catchphrase, which has a complicated backstory that includes links to racist and xenophobic movements, may mean different things to different people today.

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Ocasio-Cortez suggested that Trumps America First is hypocritical, since his administration has been espousing anti-American attitudes by attacking the U.S. constitution, free speech and the powers of Congress. She also charged that its un-American to block Congress members from their ability to investigate and conduct oversight.

This administration and Kristi Noem spits on the American flag every time she does that nonsense, she said. So, I dont want to hear anything about America First. These people and this administration is putting America last by acting like a mana man is who they are pledging allegiance to. That is not what this country is about.

Read on to hear from experts on their thoughts about the importance of free speech, Ocasio-Cortezs remarks and some key takeaways from the incident at the ICE detention facility in Newark.

The First Amendments protection for free speech is a basic precondition for democracy, an expert says.

Reps. LaMonica McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robert Menendez photographed outside an ICE detention facility on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. via Associated Press

Speaking about Ocasio-Cortezs criticisms of the Trump administrations attacks on free speech, Paul A. Gowder, professor of law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, said that Trump has been egregiously violating a crucial element of the First Amendment.

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Gowder, whose research includes the rule of law, democratic theory and social and racial equality, said that theres a lot of complicated constitutional law surrounding the First Amendments protections for free speech.

But, he added, one of the most basic and fundamental principles is that the government cannot engage in what is called viewpoint discrimination  either making laws or deciding how to enforce those laws based on peoples particular views.

This principle, he said, is obviously a basic precondition for democracy: if the government can punish particular political views, people who hold those views arent represented!

The most notorious example of how the Trump administration has engaged in viewpoint discrimination is its efforts to revoke student visas, and in some cases green cards, for people who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests and spoken out against Israels bombardment of Gaza, Gowder said.

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Regardless of where you think the right lies in the terrible conflict in Gaza, the simple fact of the matter is that the Constitution does not permit the federal government to punish people for their beliefs on that subject, he said, adding that the government cant deport someone who is already legally here, and especially not a permanent resident (green card holder) for their beliefs.

Alison Gash, professor and head of the department of political science at the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences, told HuffPost that the most prominent way in which the Trump administration is violating free speech protections is by linking funding for vital programs to limitations on what schools teach, what scholars research, and how students organize.

Trump is going so far as creating a list of words that schools and scholars cannot reference and implying loyalty tests, she said. He is forcing schools in particular to engage in undemocratic trade offs: comply with our limitations on speech, or risk losing millions in aid.

Gash emphasized that free speech is at the center of American democracy.

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As the Court has frequently argued the Founders understood that free speech  even (or especially) speech that criticizes government  is required for democracy to function, she said. For people to actively choose, through the free exchange of ideas and information, which candidate will best represent their interests. Democracy doesnt work without free speech.

More importantly the Founders feared that intrusions on speech would come from government, she added.

Members of Congress are emphasizing their right to conduct oversight after the incident in Newark.

On Monday, Reps. Jason Crow, Veronica Escobar and Maxwell Frost issued a letter, addressed to Noem and acting ICE director Todd Lyons, to condemn the events that took place at the Newark ICE detention facility last week.

The representatives said that the members of Congress involved in the incident had explicit legal right to access the detention center  and without prior notice  as outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 and later reaffirmed with the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.

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Members of Congress have a statutory right to visit ICE facilities, as per their website and by federal law, said Shawn Donahue, assistant professor of political science at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences. Members of Congress have an oversight function as an implied power under the Constitution, but Congress seems to have added this statutorily.

He told HuffPost that members of Congress likely find it important to highlight this right due to what they see are abuses of power by the executive branch.

Donahue said he believes its important to keep in mind that when it comes to matters of congressional oversight, the party that is in power seeks to protect their power in the White House, while in opposition, they seek strong investigations.

Gowder, the law professor, noted that theres a longstanding constitutional understanding that Congress and its members have broad authority to inquire into the operations of the federal government for the purposes of doing their jobs.

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He said its extremely alarming that a DHS spokesperson would appear to suggest that the New Jersey representatives could be arrested over the incident at the detention facility in Newark.

Lets be clear: nobody is above the law, and while members of Congress have certain immunities from prosecution ... its not unlimited, he said. Members of Congress, just like the rest of us, cant commit physical violence against people without consequences.

But, as we know, when people and police of any kind come into conflict the facts get murky quick, he said. If the body of a civilian and the body of a cop come into contact with one another, theres a very thin line between who slammed into whom.

He continued, Its all too easy for any armed agent of the state to claim that anyone who doesnt do what they want was resisting or fighting or, in this case, body-slamming them.

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Gowder said that since the representatives were in a place they had a right to be, doing a thing that they had the right to do, and upholding their Constitutional responsibility to make sure that the government is following the laws they passed, they should be receive a strong benefit of the doubt to the members accounts unless unequivocal evidence proves otherwise.

As for Ocasio-Cortezs remarks about Trumps America First slogan, Gowder pointed out that theres a lot of different ways to interpret what America means.

Is America our history of terrible behavior ... or is America our ideals, the standards we hold ourselves to and claim that we value? he said. In reality, I think its both: our national identity encompasses both our sins and our aspirations.

He believes that when Ocasio-Cortez says Trump is putting America last, shes talking about the ideals America seeks to represent to the world  ideals such as free speech and democracy.

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Mr. Trumps behavior is clearly a betrayal of those ideals, and accordingly, a betrayal of America as we all hope to understand it, he said.

Related...
An Orlando restaurant won a significant court victory against Gov. Ron DeSantis Tuesday with a federal appeals panel rejecting a Florida law aimed at keeping children out of drag shows, saying it was overly broad and likely unconstitutional.

Judges sided with Hamburger Marys, a drag-themed eatery, in a 2-1 decision and upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law. The restaurant sued DeSantis and Floridas Department of Business and Professional Regulation in 2023, arguing the new restrictions passed that year bar children from even the most innocent drag performances.

Writing for the majority, Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum said the laws language wasnt specific enough to meet First Amendment standards.

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By providing only vague guidance as to which performances it prohibits, the Act wields a shotgun when the First Amendment allows a scalpel at most, said Rosenbaums 81-page majority opinion joined by Judge Nancy Abudu. And Floridas history of arbitrarily enforcing other, similar laws against performances that are far from obscene only deepens our concerns.

The state appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a lower court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law. The case now returns to the district federal court, where a bench trial can be scheduled.

In a statement, DeSantis spokesman Brian Wright blasted the appeals courts decision as an egregious overreach by a federal court that prohibits the state from enforcing a common sense law.

No one has a constitutional right to perform sexual routines in front of little kids, he said. We will do everything possible to have this lawless decision overturned.

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But John Paonessa, co-owner of Orlandos Hamburger Marys restaurant, said laws were already on the books to protect children from sexually explicit content. He said he thinks the intention of the 2023 law was to intimidate venues from letting children into any event featuring performers in drag.

For them, lewd and inappropriate is just a drag queen dressed in clothes not exposing anything, he said. That to them is too much.

Though supporters argued the law, dubbed the Protection of Children Act, was needed to shield children from sexually explicit performances, critics blasted it as targeting the LGBTQ+ community with unclear language that could endanger drag brunches and even the Mrs. Doubtfire musical. Hundreds of drag performers marched in Tallahassee in protest of the legislation.

The statute doesnt explicitly mention drag shows. Instead, it prohibits minors from attending an adult live performance that depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities, including the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.

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The law came after a DeSantis administration crackdown on venues where children attended drag shows.

Hamburger Marys was forced to ban children from what the restaurant called its family-friendly shows, resulting in a 20% drop in Sunday bookings, according to the restaurants suit.

In the opinion, judges referenced Miamis iconic Coppertone sunscreen billboard to bolster their argument. The ad shows a girl, perhaps age seven, or so, with a dog pulling at her swimsuit, revealing her pale posterior and its contrast with her tanned skin, Rosenbaum wrote.

Would a depiction like the Coppertone logo be patently offensive for a five-year-old? An eight-year-old? How about a seventeen-year-old? We dont know, and we dont think the burden should be on speakers to find out, she wrote.

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Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat dissented, writing he thought the majority went too far and reads the statute in the broadest possible way, maximizes constitutional conflict, and strikes the law down wholesale.

Tjoflat wrote the court should engage the laws text in good faith and with the presumption that the Legislature did not intend to infringe on constitutional rights.

Last year, Hamburger Marys shuttered its location on Church Street in downtown Orlando. Owners said in January they are hoping to reopen in Kissimmee.
May 13The Austin School Board on Monday night held a discussion regarding a possible referendum in November that if passed would put money toward building improvements across the district.

While no definite decision was made Monday night, the board did unanimously agree to continue the process forward through the summer, approving next steps that includes a review and comment submission to the Minnesota Department of Education by June 17 that essentially pleads the case for the district regarding the need for the referendum.

"Our teams will work together on this significant document, building our case to the state that this is in the best interest of the taxpayers to move this forward to the voters," said ISG Education Strategy Specialist Sue Peterson during a presentation to the board Monday night.

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Details of any proposed referendum are a ways out from being finalized, but it could be presented to voters in the form of two questions, the first being for the issue of general obligation school building bonds not to exceed $54.7 million for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities. As part of that improvements would consist of safety, security and accessibility improvements along with building capital maintenance and infrastructure along with classroom improvements and renovations.

The second question is reliant on the first question passing and could consist of the issuing of general obligation school building bonds not to exceed $12 million for building improvements but would largely focus on renovation of Bud Higgins Pool at Ellis Middle School.

According to a presentation Monday night during the board's meeting, the proposed questions are the result of facility assessments, enrollment and demographic analysis, community input and ongoing planning discussion of a multi-year span that began on January 23, 2023, although conversations actually began prior to that in 2022.

In 2023, engineers walked the buildings within the district to assess needs. At one point, the total cost of these projects reached $84 million, however, some things were taken out when it was realized that it likely exceeded the threshold of what voters could accept in terms of increased tax impacts.

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It was also determined that some of these things could be tackled with budgeted funds from elsewhere.

As it stands now, a combined tax impact for both questions for a house with a market value of $200,000 would result in a monthly increase of $16.

The term of the bonds would be 20 years.

According to a bench mark survey conducted by The Morris Leatherman Company in March and April of this year, of the 400 households surveyed, 43% said they were open to a referendum with another 29% being agreeable to all.

Just under that, 28% were against any kind of referendum with 1% registering as unsure.

In the same survey, 33% were against a tax increase because of a proposed referendum while 26% said they would be okay with $16, echoing the increase of the home valued at $200,000.

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When asked by Board Chair Carolyn Dube how projects get tackled without a passed resolution, Director of Facilities Services Joe Adamson said they will concentrate on what they can when they can with a reminder, however, that the unexpected does happen..

"We'll continue what we've been doing. Tackling the stuff we can with the budgets we have," he said. "Stuff comes in between sometimes and we have to shift and do something else."

Pending approval by the state, next steps for the district involve discussion at the July 14 meeting about the direction of the possible referendum, which would in turn be followed by an important Aug. 12 date. That's when the state requires an adopted resolution in order to be on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The stepmother of a 12-year-old boy will spend at least 20 years and up to life in prison after pleading guilty to his murder.

Nichole Scotts actions were similar to what happened in concentration camps during World War II, a judge said, noting the isolation, dehumanization and deprivation of basic human needs. She said that is the only thing she could think of that comes close to describing what she saw in the case of Gavin Petersons death.

I dont know that you will get out, and frankly, I hope that you dont get out, 2nd District Court Judge Camille Neider said. I think its entirely fair for you at this point to serve the rest of your life in prison.

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Gavin died of sepsis on July 9, 2024. Responding officers found a room with no bed or carpet, and an investigation shows food and water were withheld from him. Although others were involved in the abuse, the judge called Scott the architect of Gavins destruction. She told Scott that she had the opportunity, each day, to put an end to it.

Dont think for a minute that I believe that you were unaware of what was going on with that little boy.  You did everything you could to strip Gavin of his humanity, of his ability to receive and accept validation and love, Neider said.

Scott, 51, was in tears as she said she wished she could go back and change things and apologized to Gavins mother and siblings.

I want to say how truly sorry I am. Gavin did pass away in my care; I should have done better by him. He deserved better, she said.

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The woman interrupted the judge as she talked about Gavin being forced to eat his own vomit and feces, claiming, It wasnt like that. Neider, however, said she doubted much of what the woman self-reported, saying she created her own story about what happened.

Scott was ordered to serve a term of 15 years to life in prison for murder, a first-degree felony; five terms of one to 15 years in prison  three for aggravated child abuse and two for obstruction of justice, second-degree felonies. She was also sentenced to a term of zero to five years for endangerment of a child, a third-degree felony; and one year in jail for possession or use of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. She was given credit for the almost 10 months she had already spent in jail.

The judge ordered that the sentences run consecutive, meaning at least 20 years.

Gavin Peterson pictured wearing a Marvel shirt, ahead of his death when he was just 12. | Melanie Peterson

An attorney representing Gavin, Brandon Merrill, said the stepmother in Cinderella would have been a better parent for Gavin, saying the boy suffered not just neglect, but prolonged torture from someone who was supposed to be a parent.

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Gavins life mattered, he said, saying his stepmother failed him and her punishment should reflect that.

Scotts husband, Shane Jesse Peterson, 47, will spend at least eight years and up to life in prison after pleading guilty to causing his sons death. Neider ordered Peterson on May 6 to serve a term of five years to life in prison for child abuse homicide, a first-degree felony; three terms of one to 15 years for aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony; and one term of zero to five years for endangerment of a child, a third-degree felony.

This story will be updated.

Child abuse resources:
ALEXANDRIA  The Alexandria Community School Corp. is a step closer to developing a master facilities and operations plan.

During the school boards regular meeting Monday, representatives from Gibraltar Design, an Indianapolis-based architectural firm, outlined potential facility and operations upgrades at each school building, based on feedback from each buildings staff members.

Staff members chose from a list of needed upgrades outlined in a recently completed study.

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Several of the upgrades highlighted were at the high school. They include improving the arrival and dismissal process, modifying the band/choir rooms, upgrading the original HVAC system and improving water distribution, according to Kris Kingery, chief education officer for Gibraltar.

Estimates will be presented during the July board meeting.

School board members were given fact sheets detailing each of the needed improvements and asked to rate them according to importance.

We like to quantify, Kingery explained. Its not individually, what do you think is important? Its collectively as a board, and were also going to get some administrative input as well.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An alcohol manufacturer is producing something a bit different at its Butler County plant.

At the Molson Coors facility in Trenton, the company has transitioned one of its canning lines to producing canned water. Molson Coors plans to make over 830,000 cans of water to have in case of a potential disaster.

Photo/Molson Coors

Michael Nordman, senior manager of community affairs for Molson Coors, said the company will have the ability to give back to individuals in need if a disaster would occur.

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By doubling our canned water production, we will be able to respond to the increasing number of disasters to ensure that more communities have the resources they need to recover, said Nordman.

Once the cans have been produced, they will be shipped and stored to its facilities in the following cities:

Golden, Colorado

Albany, Georgia

Fort Worth, Texas

Shenandoah, Virginia

In 2024, the company donated 500,000 cans of clean drinking water. Last year, the company assisted with relief from floods, hurricanes and wildfires across the country.

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.
More than 80 boxes filled with documents from Nazi Germany have been discovered in the basement of Argentinas Supreme Court, decades after the crates were stashed in 1941.

The discovery of global significance came as workers were clearing out the area in preparation for transferring the archives to a newly-established museum, the court said in a statement on Monday.

The 83 boxes were sent by the German embassy in Japans capital Tokyo to Argentina in June 1941 on board the Japanese steamship Nan-a-Maru, the court statement said.

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At the time, German diplomats in Argentina claimed they contained personal effects, but the shipment was held up by customs and became the subject of a probe by a special commission on anti-Argentine activities. A judge later ordered the seizure of the materials, and the matter ended up before the Supreme Court, which took possession of the crates.

About 84 years later, upon opening one of the boxes, the court identified material intended to consolidate and propagate Adolf Hitlers ideology in Argentina during the Second World War.

The rest of the boxes were opened last Friday in the presence of the chief rabbi of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) and officials of the Buenos Aires Holocaust Museum.

Given the historical relevance of the find and the potential crucial information it could contain to clarify events related to the Holocaust, the president of the Supreme Court, Horacio Rosatti, ordered an exhaustive survey of all the material found, the court said.

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The main objective is to  determine if the material contains crucial information about the Holocaust and if any clues found can shed light on aspects still unknown, such as the route of Nazi money at a global level, it added.

Documents associated with the Nazi regime sit in boxes [Argentina Supreme Court via AP]

Holocaust Museum in Argentina joins the investigation

The court has transferred the boxes to a room equipped with extra security measures and invited the Holocaust Museum in Buenos Aires to participate in their preservation and inventory.

Experts will examine them for any clues about still-unknown aspects of the Holocaust, such as international financing networks used by the Nazis.

Argentina remained neutral in World War II until 1944. The South American country declared war on Germany and Japan the following year. From 1933 to 1954, according to the Holocaust Museum, 40,000 Jews entered Argentina as they fled Nazi persecution in Europe.

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But after World War II, Argentina, led by President Juan Peron, became a haven for several high-ranking Nazi officials.

They included Adolf Eichmann, who was considered a key architect of Hitlers plan to exterminate Europes Jews. He was captured in Buenos Aires in 1960 and taken to Israel, where he was tried and executed.

Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, too, hid away in Argentina before fleeing to Paraguay and later Brazil, where he died.
This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

The U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing funding opportunities to help small- and mid-sized manufacturers build, expand or enhance their operations.

As part of its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, the agency said it will provide three eligible applicants with up to $1.1 million total to deliver training and assistance to support small businesses in its Empower to Grow Program.

Building on the initiative, legislation was recently introduced in both the House and Senate that would double the limits of 7(a) small business loans from $5 million to $10 million if approved by Congress.

Dive Insight:

President Donald Trump has made manufacturing a key pillar of his second term, with the SBA pledging to cut $100 billion in regulatory burdens and costs for small manufacturers as part of its Made in America initiative launched in March.

The agency also said it would look to expand financing options and make it easier for people to qualify for small business loans.

As part of its effort, the SBA announced a funding opportunity for organizations looking to help small manufacturers by offering free business courses, hands-on training and consulting to support growth in their operations and hiring.

The SBA is looking to award up to $1.1 million to three applicants. Participants must be a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, including trade or professional associations and educational institutions. The deadline to submit proposals is May 12.

With this new grant, the agency will accelerate the return of American supply chains, production power, and economic independence, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said in a statement.

SBA 7(a) loan approvals skyrocketed 74% in the first 100 days of Trumps second term compared to the same period during former president Joe Bidens administration. The 7(a) program is a public-private partnership that offers guaranteed loans to help small businesses finance equipment purchases, acquisitions and working capital.

In an effort to open up more funding to small businesses, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst and Texas Congressman Roger Williams introduced federal legislation that would increase the individual loan limits for 7(a) and 504 programs to $10 million. Similar proposals advocating for increased loan limits have failed over the years. So far this latest piece of legislation has received bipartisan support, including praise from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
For Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, the border crisis hits close to home  which is why hes will to break from his party with his newly released immigration plan.

Gallego, the son of Mexican and Colombian immigrants, wants to see the overhaul of the immigration system alongside tackling border security.

We dont have to choose between border security and immigration reform, Gallego said. We can and should do both.

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Americans deserve the right to feel safe (and) know their border is secure, but for decades, Congress has tried and failed to take action because politics got in the way. Its time to push forward and enact a plan that works, he continued.

Whats Sen. Ruben Gallegos immigration plan

According to the 22-page plan, his five-pillar framework includes:

Investing in more border patrol agents and drug detection technology to secure the border.

Reforming the asylum process. The existing system allows an asylum-seeker to remain in the country for years.

Expanding legal pathways for immigration that not only grow the economy but also protect American workers. Increasing the annual green card quota is a part of this pillar.

Providing Dreamers and other long-term undocumented residents a pathway to citizenship.

And addressing the root causes of the migrant crisis, like drug cartels and authoritarian governments.

The White House criticized Gallegos efforts, saying hes working on a problem that has already been solved.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., speaks at the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Homeland Security, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 17, 2025. | Ben Curtis

We dont need a new bill to secure our southern border, end the illegal abuse of parole, and get other countries to crack down on illegal migration into the United States. We just needed President Trump back in office, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Fox News.

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While President Joe Biden was in office, the southern border recorded an average of 155,000 crossings a month by undocumented migrants. Under President Donald Trump, the number was a little over 7,100 in March, 1,146 less than in February, as the Deseret News reported.

Is Ruben Gallego setting up a run for the White House?

Gallego, a progressive who was elected to the Senate in January after serving in the U.S. House since 2015, has differed with Democrats on border-related policy before. In January, he not only voted in favor of but also co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act, named after a Georgia nursing student killed by a migrant who was in the country illegally.

This bill, which is now law, requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take a migrant in the U.S. illegally into custody if charged with theft or other crimes.

Gallegos controversial move thrust him into the national spotlight. Over the weekend, he traveled to Pennsylvania for a town hall.

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There, the Arizona lawmaker pitched the Democrats return to becoming the big tent party, and touted the success he found in his state by reaching across the aisle.

I represent a state that has 330,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, Gallego said, as CBS News reported. You have to get a lot of votes, and that means were going to have alliances with people that we may not agree with 100% of the time, right?

The Democratic senator told The Washington Post he is focused on his first term in the Senate and his growing family, as his wife is expected to give birth next month.

But he did not rule out running for president, and told the news outlet he has taken calls from influential Democrats.

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Gallego is pitching himself as a Democrat who can appeal to a broader swath of American voters.

People dont vote for a party, right? Its us that run as Democrats. We need to be the face of the party, and we need to be out there, Gallego said at the town hall.
BERRYVILLE, Ark.  A shooting incident at a Berryville hospital ended with a Little Rock man in the Carroll County Detention Center on Saturday.

Arkansas State Police officials said the departments investigators have been requested by the Carroll County Sheriffs office to investigate the incident.

Federal escapee from Missouri captured in Conway

Investigators said 25-year-old William Kevin Rose of Little Rock was taken to Berryvilles Mercy Hospital for medical treatment after being arrested. Rose had been taken into custody by the Eureka Springs Police and was facing charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

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Investigators continued that while Rose was being treated, he managed to take a gun from a Carroll County deputy and fired two rounds in the hospital. Medical staff subdued and disarmed him, after which Rose ran into some nearby woods.

Officials said no one was injured in the incident.

Benton police locate Rivendell Behavioral Health facility escapee

Berryville Police and Carroll County deputies found Rose and took him into custody, then to the Carroll County Detention Center. Officials said he is facing charges of aggravated assault on an employee of a correctional facility, theft, resisting arrest, fleeing, battery, making terroristic threats and breaking or entering.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A man accused of abducting a pregnant teen who is already facing charges in Wisconsin has been indicted in Arkansas on federal charges.

Gary Day, 40

(Courtesy: Sarpy County Sheriffs Office)

Gary Day, 40, of Cabot, was arrested in Nebraska in April for allegedly abducting a 16-year-old pregnant Wisconsin teen in February. He was later extradited to Wisconsin. Day is reportedly the father of the teens unborn child.

He made his initial court appearance in Wisconsin on April 17, where the judge set a $2 million bond. Day is facing charges of transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, use of a computer to engage in criminal sexual activity, and production and possession of child pornography in Wisconsin.

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According to Wisconsin court records, a judge during a hearing ordered Day to have no contact with the teen, her family, or any minors.

I missed two days of my medication: Senator releases statement on Fayetteville traffic stop

Day is now facing federal charges in Arkansas. He was indicted on May 6 in the Eastern District of Arkansas on six federal counts, including transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, use of a computer to engage in criminal sexual activity, and production and possession of child pornography.

He is accused of abducting the teen twice, once in August 2024 and again in January 2025. After the first alleged abduction, the two were found in Arkansas, and the teen was returned to her family in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

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In the second alleged abduction, Day and the teen were missing for more than two months and were found in Sarpy County, Nebraska, according to the Beaver Dam Police Department in Wisconsin. Amber Alerts were issued in Arkansas, Wisconsin and Missouri in connection with the second abduction.

Day is set to appear in court in Wisconsin on June 3. He has a hearing in Little Rock set for May 27, despite still being held in the Dodge County Detention Center.

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BERRYVILLE, Ark.  A man from Little Rock, Arkansas, has been arrested after firing a gun inside a hospital on Saturday, May 10.

The Arkansas State Police say William Kevin Rose was taken to Mercy Hospital in Berryville, Arkansas after a incident for aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

During the medical care, Rose stole a weapon from a Carol County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) deputy and fired two rounds inside the hospital.

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Man dies in Springfield crash involving bicycle and vehicle

Medical staff disarmed Rose of the weapon, and he later escaped into a nearby wooded area.

Rose was later found and taken into custody after a search by the Berryville Police Department and CCSO deputies.

Arkansas State Police said in a press release that Rose was charged with aggravated assault on an employee of a correctional facility, theft, resisting arrest, fleeing, battery, making terroristic threats and breaking or entering.

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Video: Arkansas MLK Jr. Commission holds several events on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is launching a program to fight statewide food insecurity during the summer months.

The commission announced the launch of its Operation Appreciation Food Giveaway at 11 a.m. on May 27 at the commissions offices at 906 Broadway in Little Rock.

Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission executive director honored with key to the city of Las Vegas

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Community members are encouraged to arrive early, as supplies are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers will be on hand to assist with loading food items.

Summer should be a time of joy and growth for our children, not a time of hunger, Commission Executive Director DuShun Scarbrough said. Through Operation Appreciation, were not only providing food, were showing families that their community sees them, values them, and is committed to supporting them.

Officials said the kickoff food giveaway is one of several being organized in communities statewide, with partners including local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, schools, and volunteers working together to identify needs and ensure distribution.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders launches summer program to provide groceries for families

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For more information, contact director Scarbrough at 888-290-KING or by email.

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TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Armed clashes erupted on Monday evening and gunfire has echoed in the city center and other parts of the Libyan capital Tripoli following reports that an armed group leader was killed, three residents told Reuters by phone.

The leader, Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, is the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of Tripoli's powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighbourhood.

SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid Dbeibah through a United Nations-backed process.

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GNU's interior ministry called on citizens in a short statement to stay at home "for their own safety."

Following the ministry's call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets.

GNU media platform said early on Tuesday that the defense ministry had fully taken control of Abu Salim neighbourhood.

"I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky," a resident said on condition of anonymity.

The other two residents said the gunfire was echoing all over their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.

The University of Tripoli Presidency announced on Facebook the suspension of studies, exams, and administrative work at all faculties, departments and offices until further notice.

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The U.N. Mission in Libya urged all parties to "immediately cease fighting and restore calm," reminding them of their obligation to protect civilians.

"Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes," it said.

Libya, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 uprising backed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The country split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions.

Major fighting paused with a ceasefire in 2020 but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libya's substantial economic resources.

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Tripoli and the northwest, where the internationally recognised GNU and most major state institutions are based, are home to rival armed factions that have repeatedly fought.

(Reporting by Libya newsroom; Editing by Richard Chang)
GYLNN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  An officer involved shooting occurred Monday after an armed robbery suspect reportedly drove directly toward a detectives vehicle during an investigation.

The suspect, identified as Shannon Tanner, 51, allegedly handed a note to a T.J. Maxx cashier that demanded money while brandishing a gun on Sunday, a police spokesperson said. Tanner reportedly left the store with approximately $980.

Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) detectives located Tanners vehicle on Monday before noon. When a detective approached Tanners vehicle, the driver appeared to accelerate directly toward the detectives vehicle, a GCPD spokesperson said.

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This prompted the detective to reportedly fire a single shot at Tanners vehicle. Officials said that no one was injured in the encounter, and the police vehicle was not hit.

Tanner then allegedly fled but was apprehended after losing control of the vehicle and crashing on I-95 southbound. Tanner was taken to a local hospital for injuries sustained in the crash, officials said.

Chief Scott Ebner contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for assistance in investigating the officer-involved shooting.

The Georgia State Patrol investigated the traffic crash involving Tanner.

Additionally, a spokesperson said the GCPD Office of Professional Standards and Accountability will conduct an administrative investigation into the officer-involved shooting to determine whether the officers actions were in line with department policy.

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This investigation is ongoing. Any person with information on this case is encouraged to contact the Glynn County Police Department Non-Emergency at (912) 554-3645 or anonymously via Silent Witness at (912) 264-1333.

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The Army plans to shutter two of its Security Force Assistance Brigades, formations stood up nearly eight years ago to train and advise the militaries of American partners and allies, according to officials.

Army officials confirmed to Task & Purpose that the 4th and 54th Security Force Assistance Brigades, or SFABs, will be closed, though no timetable for the move has been announced, leaving the Army with four remaining brigades. The 4th SFAB, based at Fort Carson, Colorado, concentrates its missions in Europe, while the 54th is an Indiana-based National Guard unit that augments active duty SFAB units across the world.

A senior Army official told Task & Purpose that the move will free up seasoned soldiers from SFAB duty to be reassigned to traditional line units like infantry and armor. SFAB units are, by design, heavy on soldiers who are already several years into their Army careers.

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The reason that were cutting those is to make room for or get more noncommissioned officers into the force. Thats where were hurting the most, said Col. Dave Butler, spokesperson for the Army Chief of Staff. Were trying to fill the ranks up of the operational force and we have a lot of NCOs and junior officers in the SFAB formations.

When Army officials looked at the mission of the two units, they decided there were redundancies in their missions, particularly in 4th SFABs focus on Europe, according to Butler.

We need more soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and officers in squads, platoons and companies, he said.

Since their inception in 2017, soldiers assigned to SFABs have worn distinctive brown berets and specialized in training conventional forces of U.S. allies and partner nations, like how to operate together in different environments, use certain types of military equipment, or employ certain tactics for their own forces. The units are mostly concentrated on working with partners from geographical regions in the Middle East, South America and Asia, where many U.S. allies train smaller and sometimes less professional militaries.

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The move to shutter the units was laid out in an Army executive order issued last week. The order did not include a timeline or specifics on the changes, but Butler said the Army is going to establish operational planning teams to work out details of the unit closures.

Butler said the mission of the 4th SFAB is not needed for the relationship the Army has with partners in Europe. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the 4th SFAB has supported training for Ukrainian armed forces outside of the country and worked on improving cooperation among European and NATO allies.

These are long-term existing relationships. Weve been training together, building together for decades without the SFAB, Butler said. Where we envision SFABs to be is in a place where those relationships and that training didnt exist or needed to be bolstered  but Europe is not a place like that.

The Army stood up the first of the six SFAB units in 2017 to advise Afghan, Iraqi, and Peshmerga forces. The concept of a brigade dedicated to military training was later expanded to support other U.S. partner forces. In the units early days, officials acknowledged that the Army had trouble recruiting soldiers for the SFAB because of a negative association with similar efforts like the transition teams that trained Iraqi security forces and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands program.

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There are no plans to stand down the other SFAB units, Butler said, adding that the Army is focusing on prioritizing the traditional operational force.

Soldiers with 1st SFAB at Fort Benning, Georgia work with partners in South America; 2nd SFAB at Fort Bragg, North Carolina train with African nations; 3rd SFAB, based at Fort Cavazos, Texas, work with Middle Eastern partners; 5th SFAB at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington work with countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

An Army advisor with the 5th Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB) and a member of the Maldives National Defense Forces. Army photo by Maj. Sara Ingrao.

The 4th SFAB consists of fewer than 1,000 soldiers, according to an Army official familiar with the plan.

That official told Task & Purpose that shutting down the 4th SFAB could impact the 10th Special Forces Group, which is also based out of Fort Carson and focused on Europe. Similar to the SFABs mission to train and advise U.S. allies, Special Forces soldiers are also tasked with training American allies.

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Im pretty sure [10 SFG] in some respect, maybe appreciated the SFAB being there because some of that stuff, thats the low-hanging fruit of partner-partner and ally work that SFAB is doing, the official said.

How do you replicate that anywhere else?

The 54th SFAB is authorized at a strength of roughly 800 soldiers who provide teams of roughly four to 12 National Guardsmen to augment active duty SFAB missions. They have also deployed as advisors to response teams for hurricanes, power outages and floods. They are headquartered in Indiana with battalions in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Ohio and Illinois.

No plans have been announced on where the 54ths Guardsmen might be reassigned or offered other positions.

The 54th SFAB was stood up as a National Guard unit specifically designed to pull uniquely qualified soldiers from across the country. In fact, it was designated as the 54th to match the 50 states and four U.S. territories, 75% of which are represented in our brigade right now, the units Command Sgt. Maj. John Hoffman told Task & Purpose. In their civilian roles, he said, his soldiers are doctors, lawyers, and federal agents with the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Agency. They even include a municipal judge.

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Its a wide swath of America inside of that brigade and the reason its that way is because people come from all over the United States to join the brigade, he said, adding that as National Guard members they skew older, meaning they understand risk better and have unique civilian experiences that pay off when advising partner nations. For instance, soldiers from his unit with experience working for Amazon and Walmart joined a mission in Moldova to help teach their forces about logistics.

Theres nobody on any component of the Army that can tell you more about getting material in someones hand than Amazon or Walmart, he said. How do you replicate that anywhere else?

Hoffman said SFABs are soldiers from conventional forces that teach skills unconventionally to foreign militaries.

We teach it in an unconventional way because we dont put an entire battalion on the ground to do it, Hoffman said. We put 12 bubbas and bubba-ettes on the ground to do it, and they come up with some innovative ways in order to teach these skills to our partners all around the world, bridging language and cultural gaps.

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SFABs were an initiative created under Gen. Mark Milley, the former Army Chief of Staff, who became embroiled in politics during President Donald Trumps first term in office when he served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The latest on Task & Purpose
HONOLULU  Hawaiis land board rejected the Armys environmental impact statement to retain land on the Big Island used for live-fire training, a vote some Native Hawaiian leaders say reflects a growing distrust of the U.S. military in the islands.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday after members considered voluminous written testimony and listened to hours of oral comments, including from many in the Native Hawaiian community citing environmental destruction and cultural desecration.

The Army calls the Pohakuloa Training Area the premier combat training grounds in the Pacific theater for all U.S. ground forces, including the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.

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Space Force telescope proposal on Hawaii volcano meets Maui opposition

Board Chair Dawn Chang later called the vote one of the hardest decisions that I have had to make.

Chang said the decision was based on the adequacy of the environmental review, and not about the merits of whether the Army should not conduct training in Hawaii. No decision has been made on the Armys longterm lease request. The Armys lease for 23,000 acres is set to expire in 2029.

What happens next is up to the Army, Chang said.

The Army, noting that the environmental impact statement was created with community input, said in a statement it was observing a 30-day waiting period. After that, the Army will determine how much land it will seek to retain.

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The vote was a pleasant surprise to activists who are concerned that military training in Hawaii harms island aquifers, sensitive wildlife and ancient Hawaiian burials, said Healani Sonoda-Pale, a Native Hawaiian activist. It was unexpected because of the militarys economic stronghold on Hawaii, she said.

Fridays vote is a real shift, Sonoda-Pale told The Associated Press Monday. I think the shift here happened because of the Red Hill spill. The military lost a lot of trust and respect.

In 2021, jet fuel leaked into the Navy water system serving 93,000 people on and around the Pearl Harbor base. It sickened thousands in military housing and heightened concerns about leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

The military eventually agreed to drain the tanks, amid state orders and protests from Native Hawaiians and other Hawaii residents worried about the threat posed to Honolulus water supply. The tanks sit above an aquifer supplying water to 400,000 people in urban Honolulu.

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U.S. Army Hawaii understands and deeply respects the concerns expressed by community members, cultural practitioners, and environmental advocates regarding the Armys presence and activities at Pohakuloa Training Area, Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado, U.S. Army Garrison Pohakuloa commander, said in a statement. We recognize that past actions have caused harm and eroded trust, and we continue to seek a balance with consideration for the cultural and environmental significance of this land.

The U.S. Army is seeking to return nearly 3,300 acres of leased lands back to the state and retain 19,700 acres to sustain training, the Army statement said.

Hawaiis congressional delegation issued a joint statement saying they believe there can be a path forward that accounts for the critical importance of Hawaiis role in our countrys national security strategy and fundamentally respects and responds to the needs of the people of Hawaii.

In a statement, Gov. Josh Green acknowledged the rejected environmental impact statement presents challenges but doesnt end the conversation: This is a time for collaboration, not division, as we seek balanced solutions that honor both our heritage and our future.
Cheng Xin / Getty Images On Holding reported first-quarter results on Tuesday, May 13

Shares of On Holding (ONON) surged Tuesday after the Swiss sneaker maker reported better first-quarter revenue than analysts had expected and lifted its full-year sales outlook.

The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 0.21 Swiss francs ($0.25) on revenue of CHF726.6 million ($863.5 million). Analysts had expected CHF0.21 and CHF684 million ($812.9 million), respectively.

On co-CEO and CFO Martin Hoffmann, who will become sole CEO on July 1, said the company's "commitment to bold innovation, operational excellence, and elevated consumer experiences" would help it gain market share amid "the higher levels of planning uncertainty in todays market environment."

On Lifts Full-Year Sales Outlook Amid Tariffs Uncertainty

The shoe manufacturer said it now expects full-year sales to grow by at least 28% on a constant-currency basis rather than 27% previously, although it trimmed the low end of its adjusted EBITDA margin outlook to 16.5% from 17.0%.

"On acknowledges that recent global trade policy shifts have introduced higher levels of planning uncertainty, including the potential for increased customs and freight expenses, general volatility within the global supply chain, as well as the material depreciation of all key operating currencies against the Swiss Franc," the company said.

On Holding shares were up 9% soon after markets opened, putting shares back into positive territory for the year.

UPDATEThis article has been updated with the latest share price information.

Read the original article on Investopedia
By Jihoon Lee

SEOUL (Reuters) -Asia-Pacific trade envoys will gather this week in South Korea for discussions on multilateral cooperation, with talks taking place at a time when countries are scrambling to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.

Trade representatives of 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation grouping will attend two days of meetings starting Thursday in South Korea's resort island of Jeju, as part of a second round of senior officials' meetings ahead of an annual APEC leaders summit later this year.

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The APEC trade envoys gathering comes amid growing protectionism triggered by Trump's tariffs, which have targeted more than half of the bloc. APEC accounts for about half of global trade and 60% of global GDP.

Participants will attend closed-door sessions on broad topics ranging from multilateral trade to revitalisation and sustainability, with the official agenda expected to include the role and reform priorities of the World Trade Organization amid current global challenges.

The officials are also expected to discuss other topics such as advancing the free trade area of the Asia-Pacific region, boosting digital trade, ramping up artificial intelligence readiness, and driving sustainable, inclusive growth.

The Trump administration views the WTO as a body that has enabled China to gain an unfair export advantage and has recently moved to pause U.S. funding to the body.

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Last month, the WTO sharply cut its forecast for global merchandise trade from solid growth to a decline, saying U.S. tariffs and the spillover impact could lead to the heaviest trade slump since the height of the COVID pandemic.

Trump has introduced high tariffs against rival China, neighbours Canada and Mexico, Asian allies Japan and South Korea, and several Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, among other trading partners.

BILATERAL TALKS

On the sidelines of the gathering, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to hold at least one bilateral trade talk with his South Korean counterpart on Friday.

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The gathering comes after the Trump administration signed its first bilateral trade agreement with Britain last week and agreed with China to lower tariffs significantly at their first face-to-face talks in Geneva on May 10-11.

It was not clear who would represent Beijing at the gathering and whether there might be more bilateral meeting with the United States. Reuters has confirmed at least a third of the countries are sending their trade chiefs.

In late April, when South Korea agreed with Washington to craft a trade package by July after an opening round of negotiations, Seoul said the meeting in Jeju would be an "interim assessment".

"There is scepticism we will see significant progress at the meeting, as there have not been substantive negotiations at the working level," said Heo Yoon, a professor of international trade at Sogang University in Seoul.

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In the latest chapter of South Korea's ongoing political turmoil, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had led negotiations as acting president, resigned earlier this month, followed swiftly by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who took part in the opening round of talks as the country heads for a snap election.

"What South Korea will do at this stage is to make efforts to set an atmosphere where it can steer future negotiations to its advantage," said Heo, who advises on trade talks.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview with Bloomberg News last week that trade deals with South Korea and Japan "are not going to be fast deals", as they were expected to take significantly more time to complete than the deal with Britain.

To speed up negotiations, Washington and Seoul have agreed to bring all the proposed agendas to one table and discuss them altogether, rather than setting up separate working groups for each, one South Korean official told Reuters.

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"It is likely the United States will also meet other countries at the gathering, so we will monitor those as we proceed with our own negotiations," another South Korean official said.

The Trump administration has initiated trade talks with many other APEC members, including Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while other countries, such as Canada, Thailand and Malaysia, are also seeking negotiations.

APEC is a regional non-binding economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific region, with its member "economies" also including Hong Kong and Taiwan.

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Ed Davies and Michael Perry)
A Japanese American professor and Vietnam veteran was struck by a vehicle and called a racial slur while riding his bike last month in Montebello in an incident that police are investigating as a possible hate crime.

Aki Maehara, a 71-year-old Asian American history professor, suffered serious injuries to his elbow, neck, cheekbones, jaw, hips and lower back, he told The Times in an interview on Monday.

Maehara was riding his electric bicycle on Merle Drive in Montebello, not far from his home, around 10 p.m. April 29 when headlights from a car approaching him from behind illuminated his path. He turned to check his surroundings and saw a sedan speeding toward him, he said.

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"I tried to turn toward the curb to see if there was a driveway when I got hit," he said.

Before he was struck, he heard someone yell an expletive followed by a racial slur targeting people of Chinese descent, he said. He skidded across a yard and was stopped by a brick wall. Maehara said he heard a man's voice: "Go back to..." using an expletive and a racial slur, before the car drove off.

"It sounded suspicious to me because I wear a full-face helmet ... a helmet with a visor," Maehara said. "No one can see my face. So how the hell did he know I'm Asian?"

Maehara said he couldn't afford to incur the cost of an ambulance ride, so he called friends who took him to the VA hospital in Long Beach.

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Montebello police said they have contacted residents in the neighborhood for security camera footage, but have been unable to find video that captured the incident.

Although no arrests have been made, Maehara said he has a suspect in mind and shared their name with police. He said he's been targeted for harassment before because of his job at East Los Angeles Community College teaching the history of racism and racist beliefs in U.S. history.

"There's a long history," he said. "They've picketed my classroom at East L.A. College. Chicano Republicans came after me and picketed me at Cal State Long Beach. The KKK came to my classroom at Cal State Long Beach when I was teaching a course on the U.S. Vietnam War. This is not the first time I've been targeted."

One of his friends, Glorya Cabrera, created a GoFundMe page to raise money for his recovery, writing that Maehara urgently needs in-home care for his injuries. The VA hospital has provided him with in-home care for a few hours two days a week, but Maehara is hoping the donations will help him get additional care as he heals.

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"Hate crimes are on the rise due to the vile rhetoric being used by those in Washington and in the so-called MAGA Extreme Christian Right who feel justified in their violence directed towards non-white citizens," Cabrera wrote.

Police are continuing to search for the driver.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  An Assumption Parish corrections officer was arrested and fired after allegedly bringing synthetic marijuana to inmates.

Assumption Parish Sheriffs Office investigators learned on Thursday, May 8, that inmates were possibly in possession of contraband.

Ali Gant, 27, of Napoleonville, was booked into the parish detention center on Monday on charges of taking contraband to/from a penal institution and malfeasance in office.

Ali Gant (Assumption Parish Sheriffs Office)

The sheriffs office said Gant was fired on May 12 and had been employed since Nov. 27, 2024.

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An investigation is ongoing.

Former Louisiana OJJ employee charged with sexual misconduct, malfeasance

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  With another semester coming to a close at Angelo State University, a new wave of graduates will soon walk the stage to commemorate their academic achievements. Heres when ASUs spring 2025 commencement ceremonies will take place.

According to ASU, over 1,100 students are scheduled to graduate during five commencement ceremonies held on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17. The university said that, during the ceremonies, 26 doctoral degrees, 378 masters degrees and 700 bachelors degrees will be presented to graduates.

The ceremonies will be held in the Junell Center, located at 2235 S. Jackson St. The facilitys doors will be opened one hour before each ceremony.

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The ceremonies may also be watched live at angelo.edu/commencement.

Below is a schedule of the commencement ceremonies, as provided by ASU:

May 16 Commencement Ceremonies

5 p.m.  Graduates of the College of Education and of the College of Graduate Studies and Research in education fields

7:30 p.m.  Graduates of the Archer College of Health and Human Services and of the College of Graduate Studies and Research in health and human services fields

May 17 Commencement Ceremonies

10 a.m.  Graduates of the College of Science and Engineering and of the College of Graduate Studies and Research in science and engineering fields

1 p.m.  Graduates of the Norris-Vincent College of Business and of the College of Graduate Studies and Research in business fields

4 p.m.  Graduates of the College of Arts and Humanities and of the College of Graduate Studies and Research in arts and humanities fields

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Weather and agriculture data hub launched in San Angelo

Prior to the commencement ceremonies, several graduation-related events will be held on the ASU campus.

On Thursday, May 15, ASUs Nursing Department will conduct its annual Pinning Ceremony for its graduates in the Houston Harte University Center at 6:30 p.m.

Nursing pinning ceremonies became a U.S. tradition in the early 1800s to mark students completion of their education and entry into the profession, ASU said.

On Friday, May 16, cadets of ASUs Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 will be given their appointments as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force during the detachments Spring Commissioning Ceremony. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. in the downtown Cactus Hotel.

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Many other departments and offices will also be conducting special graduation events and activities for their students across the campus throughout the week, ASU said.

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The family of a teen who said she was sexually assaulted by a former officer has filed a federal lawsuit against the Atlanta Police Department.

The lawsuit alleges that the department has a history of ignoring sexual predators and the city has not established or followed nationwide standards in screening recruits for employment.

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The former officer, Anthony Anderson, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to charges of improper sexual contact, false statements and violation of oath by a public officer. He was sentenced to 25 years with six to serve.

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It happened in August 2023 after the teen got into a car crash in Atlanta.

Arrest warrants accused Anderson of forcing the girl to perform a sex act on him and assaulting her. The warrant also stated that he didnt allow medical personnel to check the victim for injuries.

In the lawsuit filed on May 8, the family claims that Anderson had a documented history of misconduct before he was hired in 2015.

Andersons supervisors knew of and/or were deliberately indifferent towards Andersons history of misconduct and deployed him in the field anyway, putting the citizens of Georgia  adults and children  at risk," attorneys wrote.

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The family said the teen has suffered severe trauma and has received voluntary treatment at a mental health facility. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Channel 2 Action News reached out Tuesday morning to Atlanta police for a statement, but was told they do not comment on pending litigation.

At the time of Andersons arrest, APDs Chief Darin Schierbaum released the following statement:

Not only am I disturbed and disappointed by these allegations, but it also angers me. We ask the public to trust us to do the right thing, to keep them safe. So, when one of our own is accused of despicable acts with a minor, it erodes that trust that sometimes takes years to build. You can be assured, I will act swiftly to investigate anytime allegations of misconduct are brought to my attention. I want to thank the Atlanta Police Departments criminal investigation division for their prompt action in dealing with this matter.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  An attempted robbery suspect is in the hospital after being shot by the man he was intending to rob.

The attempted robbery happened Monday night in the 7700 block of 1st Avenue North. Birmingham police said two suspects tried to rob a man in the parking lot of a restaurant around 9:30 p.m. when the would be victim opened fire. One of the suspects was shot and taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Dogs rescued from Fairfield house fire in recovery

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The man who shot the suspect left the scene, called police to report the shooting, and is cooperating fully with officers.

It is unknown if the second suspect is in custody at this time.

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Auburn-Washburn approves restricted student busing policy

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Auburn-Washburn USD 437 has approved policy recommendations that will require some families to pay an annual fee for school bus transportation.

The Auburn-Washburn Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday, May 12 to adopt an opt-in round trip bus service requiring parents to pay an annual fee for students who live within two miles of the school.

Under the change, families of elementary students, Kindergarten to fifth grade, will be required to pay an annual fee of $250 and families of secondary students, sixth grade to twelfth grade, will have to pay a $125 fee. Parents with a secondary student and an elementary student will pay a family fee of $250.

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Its absolutely heartbreaking: Seven puppies found abandoned in Jefferson County

The bus service will continue at no cost for students who are:

Eligible for reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act.

Students whose current Individualized Education Plan requires special transportation as a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Students who attend a licensed day care facility in the district with students from the same elementary school. (Elementary students only)

Families residing within two miles of their school will receive notification by both email and mail. They must sign up for the service by July 15, 2025.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A 46-year-old man will serve over a decade in prison after he was convicted in February for his actions in August 2023 that left a man dead.

Tory Conyers, 46, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with 600 days credit for time already served. He was convicted of vehicular homicide, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, theft and eluding.

Deputies searching for missing Vail person near gulch off I-70 after vehicle found

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Police say that Conyers was seen on surveillance stealing a cart full of merchandise from a Parker Walmart, and Parker police attempted to stop Conyers vehicle. However, Conyer fled and police discontinued the chase after encountering safety concerns.

Moments after the chase was discontinued, police say that Conyers ran a red light at the corner of Parker Road and Lincoln, where he hit and killed 51-year-old pedestrian Jossy Fernando Pinto.

Tory Conyers chose to spend his day stealing from local businesses, then fled law enforcement before tragically striking and killing an innocent man. His reckless actions ended with him fleeing the scene, but justice was served in his conviction, said Deputy District Attorney Jon Steinberg with the 23rd Judicial District Attorneys Office, in a release.

Tips led to Conyers arrest.

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This conviction was secured thanks to the critical information provided by our community. Without their support and collaboration with the Parker Police Department, this defendant would not have been identified, apprehended, and held accountable, said Deputy District Attorney Chandler Neumann in a release.

District Attorney George Brauchler praised the dedication of the prosecution team and Parker Police, but said justice was not served.

Colorados weak laws are incompatible with these aggravated facts. Folks should know this killer is likely to leave prison in less than three years, Brauchler said in a release. That is a direct and appalling result of a legislature that favors criminals over innocent victims. Until they change, we will continue to see less than justice on these horrific crimes.

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.
Texas is bracing for a relentless and potentially historic heat wave this week, with dangerously high temperatures expected statewide, especially in Central and South Texas, where highs will surpass 100 degrees.

The National Weather Service warns that the early-season heat wave, fueled by a strong high-pressure system, will bring hazardous conditions from Tuesday through the weekend, with temperatures climbing up to 20 degrees above normal. Cities like Encinal and Cotulla are forecast to see extreme highs reaching 113 degrees.

Maps from the weather service also show the heat moving eastward, and by Friday, May 16, highs in the 80s and 90s could reach New York.

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This sudden spike in heat follows weeks of stormy and cooler-than-average weather in late April and early May  conditions that align with the Farmers Almanacs seasonal outlook.

In anticipation of the sweltering temperatures hitting Central Texas, Austin's Homeless Strategy Office alerted over 3,500 people via its text messaging system Monday morning. The alerts warned residents to take precautions and provided information about the city's cooling centers.

"These facilities are meant to serve as a temporary reprieve from the heat during normal operating hours," the news release from the City of Austin states. "Service animals, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, are allowed in City facilities."

Here's where you can find cooling centers throughout Austin.

MAP: Austin cooling center locations

LIST: Austin cooling centers addresses, hours

Austin's cooling centers include Austin Public Library branches and recreation centers. Check the above map for information regarding extended hours and temporary closures. You can also visit https://www.austintexas.gov/alerts.

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The Dougherty Arts Center, which typically operates as a cooling center, is unavailable all summer for construction and repairs.

Parks' cooling center facilities

Asian American Resource Center: 8401 Cameron RdMonday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Austin Nature & Science Center: 2389 Stratford DrMonday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Austin Recreation Center: 1301 Shoal Creek BlvdMonday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sunday 12-4 p.m.

Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center: 808 Nile StMonday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Delores Duffie Recreation Center: 1182 N Pleasant Valley RdMonday-Thursday 1-9 p.m., Friday 1-6 p.m.

Dittmar Recreation Center: 1009 W Dittmar RdMain Rec Center: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.Gymnasium: Monday-Friday 12-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.- 4p.m.

Dottie Jordan Recreation Center: 2803 Loyola LnMonday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center: 5801 Ainez DrMonday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 12-4 p.m.

George Washington Carver Museum: 1165 Angelina StMonday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Givens Recreation Center: 3811 E 12th St #1936Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 12-4 p.m.

Gustavo "Gus" L. Garcia Recreation Center: 1201 E Rundberg LnMonday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Hancock Recreation Center: 811 E 41st StMonday-Friday 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Lamar Senior Activity Center: 2874 Shoal Crest AveMonday/Wednesday: 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Tuesday/Thursday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center: 35 Robert T Martinez Jr StMonday-Friday 1-6 p.m.

McBeth Recreation Center: 2401 Columbus DrMonday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: 1200 Montopolis DrMonday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Northwest Recreation Center: 2913 Northland DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Pan Am Recreation Center: 2100 E 43rd StMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center: 2608 Gonzales StMonday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Pickfair Community Center: 10904 Pickfair DrMonday-Friday 2-6 p.m.

Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center: 2407 Canterbury StMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

South Austin Recreation Center: 1100 Cumberland RdMonday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.

South Austin Senior Activity Center: 3911 Menchaca RdMonday, Thursday, Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wednesday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Turner Roberts Recreation Center: 7201 Colony Loop DrMonday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Library cooling center facilities

Austin Central Library, Austin Public Library: 710 W Cesar Chavez StMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Carver Branch, Austin Public Library: 1161 Angelina StMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cepeda Branch, Austin Public Library: 651 N Pleasant Valley RdMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, Austin Public Library: 5125 Convict Hill RdMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Howson Branch, Austin Public Library: 2500 Exposition BlvdMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

John Gillum Branch, Austin Public Library: 2505 Steck AveMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Milwood Branch, Austin Public Library: 12500 Amherst DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Old Quarry Branch, Austin Public Library: 7051 Village Center DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pleasant Hill Branch, Austin Public Library: 211 E William Cannon DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ruiz Branch, Austin Public Library: 1600 Grove BlvdMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Southeast Branch, Austin Public Library: 5804 Nuckols Crossing RdMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Spicewood Springs Branch, Austin Public Library: 8637 Spicewood Springs RdMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m.

St. John Branch, Austin Public Library: 7500 Blessing AveMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Terrazas Branch, Austin Public Library: 1105 E Cesar Chavez StMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Twin Oaks Branch, Austin Public Library: 1800 S 5th StMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

University Hills Branch, Austin Public Library: 4721 Loyola LnMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Willie Mae Kirk Branch, Austin Public Library: 3101 Oak Springs DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Windsor Park Branch, Austin Public Library: 5833 Westminster DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Yarborough Branch, Austin Public Library: 2200 Hancock DrMonday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin opens cooling centers amid Texas heat wave: See map, hours
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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Recreation centers and libraries around Austin are being used as cooling centers as triple-digit temperatures reach across Texas.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the city was planning its yearly press conference to remind residents about the dangers posed by high temperatures, but Mother Nature had other plans. Instead, the city held its heat awareness press conference Tuesday, May 15  two weeks ahead of schedule.

We went from cool evenings to record-breaking heat, literally overnight, Mayor Watson said. It is unwelcomed, unwanted, but it is here.

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As Central Texans brace for potentially record-breaking temperatures, Austin and Travis County officials issued reminders for how to stay safe. Mayor Watson gave the following advice:

Pre-hydrate  Drink plenty of water before outdoor activities.

Continue to hydrate while youre outside.

Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and a hat, when possible.

Wear sunscreen.

Take frequent breaks during outdoor activities.

Limit midday outdoor activities. Conduct outdoor work in the morning or at night.

Check vehicle backseats before leaving your vehicle.

Heat stroke is the leading cause of non-collision death of children, Mayor Watson said. Put something you need in your backseat, like a purse or a cell phone, so you remember to look and check in your backseat.

Mayor Watson said the number of cooling centers and their open hours are being expanded in the coming days. Updates regarding the cooling centers can be found at austintexas.gov/alerts.

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The National Weather Service on Monday issued a Heat Advisory for most of Central Texas. Following this alert, the city of Austins Homeless Strategy Office notified unsheltered people in the community where they can go to stay cool in the upcoming days.

MORE: Shock to the system: Central Texans brace for intense heat this week

In a press release, the city of Austin said it is maintaining cooling centers, which are available during the summer months for people to beat the heat. City facilities, including branches of the Austin Public Library and Parks and Recreation Department recreation centers, can be used as cooling centers.

These facilities are meant to serve as a temporary relief from the heat during normal operating hours, said the release. Service animals, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, are allowed in city facilities.

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KXANs Grace Reader spoke with the city of Austin Homeland Strategy Officer, David Gray, on how HSO prepares to help those experiencing homelessness during the heat.

Gray said city facilities will open their cooling centers for anyone who needs them during the day. He added their offices purchased water for outreach teams to distribute to people experiencing homelessness throughout the city.

To ensure the message reached unsheltered people, Gray said a text alert was sent in both English and Spanish to more than 3,500 people.

Gray said his staff at HSO stays ready for situations like this.

Just last week we had a briefing with our staff about hot, warm weather so we stay pretty ready, Gray said. Were ready for folks who are living unsheltered in our community to have what they need to stay hydrated and stay safe.

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Gray also said unsheltered folks who own dogs are allowed at cooling centers. We do ask [them to] keep their pets leashed and safe for the safety of our other guests and users of city facilities.

Those in need of escaping the heat can go to any city cooling facility. Gray stressed the importance of staying safe and hydrated from the heat.

To see the current list of cooling centers, locations and hours of operation, visit austintexas.gov/alerts.

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.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australias Cabinet was sworn into office Tuesday after the center-left Labor Party was reelected in a landslide May 3.

With vote counting continuing, Labor expects to hold between 92 and 95 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives. The party held 78 seats in the previous Parliament.

The conservative opposition alliance of parties is on track to win 41 seats in one of its worst election results.

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The Cabinet held its first meeting after the swearing-in ceremony.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to fly to Jakarta on Wednesday to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. He then intends to fly from Indonesia to Rome to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.

While in Rome, he plans to meet for the first time a range of world leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The conservative opposition Liberal Party on Tuesday elected former minister Sussan Ley as their new leader. She is the first woman to lead the party that was founded in 1944. Her predecessor Peter Dutton is the only Australian opposition leader to lose his parliamentary seat in an election.
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's conservative Liberal Party elected Sussan Ley, a former outback pilot with three finance degrees, as its first woman leader on Tuesday, after an election loss partly due to comparisons with U.S. President Donald Trump's policies.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday after his Labor Party rode a voter backlash against global instability caused by Trump's policies to a come-from-behind victory in the May 3 national election.

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The opposition conservative Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton, who had been labelled "DOGEy Dutton" by Labor after echoing Trump policies to cut thousands of public service jobs including diversity and inclusion roles, lost his seat.

Ley said her appointment as the first female leader of the Liberal Party "sent a signal" to Australian women, although her agenda would be "much more than that", flagging the need for new policies on economic and tax reform.

"We did let women down, there is no doubt about that, and it is true that the number of women supporting us is declining and I want to rule a line under that," she told a press conference in Canberra, reflecting on the conservative party's loss.

The Liberal Party has lost city seats in Sydney and Melbourne to women who ran as independent candidates with policies supporting climate change and gender equality in the last two elections.

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Ley said the Liberal Party needs to "meet modern Australia where they are".

"Government is always formed in the sensible centre," she added.

A former pilot who mustered livestock in Australia's vast outback and raised three children on a farm before graduating from university, Ley entered parliament in 2001.

She acknowledged her mother, who she said was in end of life care, as instilling in her the value of resilience.

She also paid tribute to the "wisdom of shearers" she had listened to as a cook in the hut at the end of a hard day's work in the hot sun.

She had become a strong person as a farmer's wife raising a family through years of drought, she said, and later gaining three finance degrees at university.

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The caravan Ley had lived in as a shearers' cook was later painted to become her Liberal Party campaign vehicle, she recalled.

The Australian Electoral Commission is yet to finalise vote counting in several seats, although Labor said it is ahead in at least 94 seats out of the 150-seat House of Representatives.

It was the largest Labor caucus since Australia was formed by the federation of six former British colonies in 1901, Albanese said.

Albanese and his ministers were sworn in at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra, conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

The key roles of treasurer, foreign affairs, defence and trade are unchanged. In new roles, Michelle Rowland was sworn in as attorney-general, Murray Watt as environment minister, and Tanya Plibersek as social services minister.

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Albanese will travel to Indonesia on Wednesday, and will attend the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday in Rome, where he said he would also hold meetings with other leaders including European Union president Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Los Angeles County prosecutors filed criminal charges Tuesday against Jillian Lauren Shriner, a bestselling author who is married to Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, after an incident last month in which she was wounded by police after allegedly shooting at them from her backyard.

The author, who publishes under the last name Lauren, appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courthouse, pleading not guilty to felony charges for willful discharge of a firearm in a gross negligent manner and assault of a person with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors are also seeking a firearms sentencing enhancement. She faces up to 19 years in state prison if convicted on all counts.

Read more: LAPD video shows shooting of author Jillian Lauren in Eagle Rock backyard

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Lauren, 51, wore an all-white suit as she stood before the judge to enter her plea. She and her lawyers, Hilary Potashner and Kim Wilkinson, declined to comment after the hearing.

Lauren was booked April 9 on suspicion of attempted murder after a bewildering encounter with Los Angeles Police Department officers. That afternoon, officers were searching for three hit-and-run suspects after a crash on the 134 Freeway. According to 911 calls from the area, the suspects were attempting to hide in neighborhood backyards around Eagle Rock.

The pursuit led officers to Lauren's property, where a confrontation ensued as she stood in her backyard armed with a handgun.

Police body cameras and home surveillance videos appeared to show Lauren raising her gun and pointing it at a fence where officers had taken cover. Officers said she refused their commands to drop the weapon and fired at them. The officers said they shot back, hitting Lauren in the arm.

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She fled back into her home, where she remained for about an hour before she was hospitalized and later taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol.

There are some indications that Lauren may have been unable to hear the officers due to a police helicopter hovering above the scene, possibly mistaking them for the hit-and-run suspects. In a video released by the LAPD, a neighbor could be heard telling a 911 dispatcher that Lauren was confused about what happened: There were three men, and one of them shot her, and the cops are looking for him right now  They have their guns out.

Read more: Judge denies Lil Durk bail in murder-for-hire case, citing rapper's calls from jail

The New Jersey native has been named a New York Times bestselling author for her books, Everything You Ever Wanted and Some Girls: My Life in a Harem in which she recounts her encounters with Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei. Most recently, she published Behold the Monster: Facing Americas Most Prolific Serial Killer, a look inside the mind of serial killer Samuel Little. She and Shriner have been married since 2005 and they have two sons together.

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Lauren's preliminary hearing to determine whether the case against her will move forward is scheduled for June 18.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Authorities have confirmed two people are dead following a murder investigation that began in Princeton on Tuesday.

Authorities say a woman was found dead in the passenger seat of a vehicle in front of an apartment complex in the 200 block of Garfield Avenue. Officials were later able to identify the woman as Larissa Davis.

Following the discovery of Davis, authorities issued a be on the lookout order for Richard Ingle Jr. for his connection to the incident. However, the order was canceled after Ingle was found dead inside of a vehicle in Sullivan County.

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Officials say incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

The Indiana State Police are assisting with the investigation. Eyewitness News will continue to update this story as new information is made available.

This is a developing story.

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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
SALINE COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  A man suspected in a recent bank robbery in Topeka died Tuesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading authorities on a multi-county pursuit that ended in southern Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said troopers joined the chase shortly after 10 a.m. to assist Marion County deputies pursuing 47-year-old Anthony Marshall, Jr., who had been charged in a federal complaint for allegedly robbing the Equity Bank at 3825 SW 29th Street in Topeka the day before.

Troopers deployed stop sticks on northbound Interstate 135 in McPherson County, successfully deflating both drivers side tires of Marshalls vehicle. He exited onto Kansas Highway 4, lost control, and drove into a ditch. Emergency medical services were requested after Marshall was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Law enforcement officers investigate a crime scene east of I-135 and west of Bridgeport on May 13, 2025. (Courtesy Todd Pittenger) Law enforcement officers investigate a crime scene east of I-135 and west of Bridgeport on May 13, 2025. (Courtesy Todd Pittenger) Law enforcement officers investigate a crime scene east of I-135 and west of Bridgeport on May 13, 2025. (Courtesy Todd Pittenger) Law enforcement officers investigate a crime scene east of I-135 and west of Bridgeport on May 13, 2025. (Courtesy Todd Pittenger)

Police investigating two separate attacks in Old Town

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He was taken into custody and transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where he later died from his injuries.

The Saline County, Marion County, and McPherson County sheriffs offices, along with police from Hillsboro, Lindsborg, Salina, and McPherson, assisted in the pursuit.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Topeka Police Department.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, 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 KSN-TV.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Deputies are seeking information after multiple cars and houses were burglarized in Houston County and Anderson County.

78-year-old woman, animals found dead after Cherokee County house fire

According to officials, on Monday the Houston County Sheriffs Office received multiple calls about burglaries that had happened in the area of FM 1272 and CR 2290. Deputies believe the suspects entered two different homes and attempted to enter two cars.

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The sheriffs office said that they believe the suspects are entering houses that appear to not be occupied full-time and cars that appear to be vacant outside residential neighborhoods to look for firearms, cash and jewelry.

The Anderson and Houston County Sheriffs Office are currently working together to seek information and are asking individuals with security systems in the area to check their footage between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Monday.

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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
HARRISON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Authorities are seeking information regarding a Thursday morning shooting in Harrison County.

Abbott seeks stricter bail laws after East Texas murder suspect escapes while under house arrest

Photo of the suspected vehicle, courtesy of Harrison County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division

According to a release from the Harrison County Sheriffs Office, the shooting occurred at the intersection of FM 9 and FM 1999 around 10:30 a.m. A witness described the vehicle as a black or blue 2013-2018 Kia.

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The person officials are searching for is described as being a Black man, 5 feet 6 inches tall to 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a slender build and short hair. At the time, he was wearing a pattern shirt with blue jeans.

1 arrested after investigators bust major fentanyl, meth operation in Polk County

The public is asked not to approach the suspect as they are considered armed and dangerous. The sheriffs office said those with information about the suspect or the case can contact Investigator Rocco Bruno at 903-923-4000 or remain anonymous by calling crime stoppers at 903-935-9969.

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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Kevin Kenney, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, spoke at a Capitol press conference on May 12, 2025, joined by other Minnesota Catholics. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

Kevin Kenney, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, joined Minnesota Catholics Monday at the Capitol, urging state lawmakers to keep a program that allows undocumented people to receive free or discounted health insurance.

Im here because of my love for the immigrant brothers and sisters and (because) we need to continue to reach out and walk with them and help them, Kenney said at a Capitol press conference. We need to be able to offer health care to anyone who is here, no matter how they got here, who let them in. Are we going to let them die on the streets? Are we gonna let them suffer? Or are we going to allow them  all of us  the basic health care that we need?

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The bishops decision to use his moral megaphone  on the heels of the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, who is set to become a leading American advocate for the worlds poor and dispossessed  arrives at an auspicious time: Legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz are making final decisions on a state budget that could fray Minnesotas relatively robust safety net.

Republicans, who share control of the 67-67 Minnesota House, are against allowing undocumented people to access MinnesotaCare.

The leaders have been meeting daily for over a week behind closed doors to come to a deal on a two-year budget expected to exceed $60 billion. The session ends on May 19, after which Walz would have to call a special legislative session so lawmakers can agree on a budget by June 30. Otherwise the government shuts down on July 1.

MinnesotaCare was created in 1992 to help close the gap in coverage for low-income working families who make more than the income threshold for Medicaid, which is called Medical Assistance in Minnesota.

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In 2023, the DFL trifecta expanded the social safety net to include undocumented immigrants, which began on Jan. 1 this year.

Enrollment has surpassed estimates, and Republicans argue undocumented people should be taken off the rolls to save money and discourage people from moving here for coverage.

The Department of Human Services says that its most recent data show that as of April 24, 20,187 undocumented people had enrolled in MinnesotaCare. The program is fee-for-service, meaning the state only pays claims after services are administered.

DHS says it has received 4,306 claims for service, costing Minnesota $3.9 million. This is nearly $1 million over what the state had projected by this date, according to DHS. Some of the undocumented immigrants on MinnesotaCare pay a monthly premium, like other residents who are on the program.

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The Minnesota Catholic Conference  the public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Minnesota  lobbied for the creation of MinnesotaCare in the 1990s.

How do you steward the gift of life if you dont have access to basic health care? MinnesotaCare is a really comprehensive set of programs and health care benefits, and its just really important that low-income people have access to good preventative  not just acute  care, said Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

Adkins said the MCC has met with Republican leaders on the issue, but they havent seen a lot of policy movement.

U.S. House Republicans released a proposal this week that would cut Medicaid coverage for millions of low-income Americans. The bill would also target states that allow Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants by reducing federal funding for all childless adults without disabilities to 80% from 90%. Its unclear if this would impact MinnesotaCare, which is not part of Medicaid.

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Kenney said that the immigration system needs to be fixed at the federal level, but until then, Minnesotans can take steps to ensure all people, regardless of their immigration status, can have access to health care. He encouraged legislative leaders to think of creative solutions to continue to fund MinnesotaCare for undocumented people.

You know, I dont know what we do, but  we shouldnt let fear take over when we put our priority in the love of (our) neighbor, Kenney said.

Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Kenneys last name.
A sign protesting Enbridge Line 5 in Michigan. (Laina G. Stebbins | Michigan Advance)

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is preparing to argue against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issuing a permit to reroute Enbridges Line 5 oil pipeline in northern Wisconsin.

For years, the tribe has fought against Line 5, which runs from far Northwest Wisconsin 645 miles into Michigans Upper Peninsula, under the Straits of Mackinac and across the U.S. border into Canada near Detroit. It transports about 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily.

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An underground section of the pipeline currently passes near a bend in the Bad River on the tribes reservation. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that the company was trespassing on tribal land and gave Enbridge three years to shut down the pipeline.

Since 2020, Enbridge has been working on rerouting the pipeline about 41 miles away from tribal land. That proposal requires permits to be issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The tribe is also currently challenging the states permitting process. Hearings will be held in August, September and October in Madison and Ashland in which an administrative law judge will hear arguments against the DNRs decision to issue permits for the project.

Army Corps approval of Enbridges plan to replace a separate section of the pipeline on the floor of the Straits of Mackinac has been fast tracked under President Donald Trumps executive order declaring a national energy emergency, but the Bad River section of the pipeline is still moving forward under the normal approval process.

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On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Bad River Band and its attorneys will present to the Corps their finding that the proposed rerouted pipeline, which would pass the Bad River upstream of the reservation, threatens the tribes water quality and therefore violates the Clean Water Act.

The tribes presentation is scheduled to take all day Tuesday and some of Wednesday. Members of the public will then be able to provide public comment during a virtual hearing and send written comments for 30 days after the hearing.

Robert Blanchard, the tribes chairman, says hes working to protect the tribes resources and way of life by bringing the challenge.

Ultimately, we are protecting our resources. Were downstream from this project. If it were to go in, were to happen, theres a lot at stake just with how this will affect our waters, he says. We have one of the biggest wild rice areas on the Great Lakes. We have a lot of medicines that I and members of my community collect that have been around for hundreds of years, and we have hunting and fishing rights that will be affected. You know, if we cant use those because of whats happening upstream, then that will affect our way of life.

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Juli Kellner, a spokesperson for Enbridge, says the hearings this week are an important step for completing the project, which she adds wont affect water quality.

Extensive and thorough analysis by leading, third-party experts has confirmed that construction impacts will be temporary and isolated, have no measurable impact on water quality, and will not violate the Bad River Bands water quality standards, Kellner says. The project will have environmental protections and restoration plans in place, as approved by state regulators. State permits were issued last fall. Were confident the Corps is close to completing its process which has included more than five years of public input, expert studies, and rigorous review. In fact, this is one of the most studied projects in Wisconsins history.

Under the Clean Water Act, if the Corps finds that the project will adversely affect a downstream jurisdictions water quality and there are no conditions that can be put on the permit to ensure water quality standards arent violated, the permit cannot be granted, according to the tribes attorney, Stefanie Tsosie.

We are presenting evidence to the Army Corps that the bands water quality standards will be affected, and there are no conditions that they can put on the project permit such that they can issue it, she says. So, I think our hope here is one, to show how much the project is going to impact the advanced water quality, but then two, urge the Corps to not issue the section 404 permit eventually.

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But the hearing is taking place as the Trump administration has worked to encourage more extraction of natural resources, boost the oil industry and go easier on polluters. Last week, the climate-focused news outlet Grist reported that under Trump, the EPA has practically stopped enforcing the countrys environmental laws.

Tsosie says all the tribe can work with is what the law says.

Well, the standard in the Clean Water Act is pretty clear, she says. And thats statute, so thats what were going with.

Blanchard says he cant forecast what the Corps is going to do, but he can just make his best case that granting the permit will be harmful to everyone who lives downstream.

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I wish I had that crystal ball to be able to forecast that, but I dont, so what were going to do tomorrow is do our very best to convince them that this is the way it should be, he says. We need to look after our Mother Earth, to pay attention to what were doing, whats happening to it, and like I said before, its going to affect not just our way of life and not just those that live in the region, not just us as Anishinaabe people, but everybody.

If the Corps grants the permit, that decision could still be challenged in court.

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LAWRENCE Co., Mo.  A Lawrence County judge sets a high bail for the man charged with killing an Amazon driver.

Thomas Coy has been held without bond since his arrest in early February. Today, Judge Alan Blankenship set Coys bond at one million dollars, cash or surety.

Thomas Coy

PREVIOUS: Online misinformation causing problems for investigators in Amazon driver shooting

Hes charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the shooting death of Jasmine Taylor, 23.

Jasmine Taylor  Courtesy: Lakin Funeral Home

PREVIOUS: Amazon driver succumbs to wounds in southwest Missouri shooting, police confirm

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Authorities say Taylor was shot in the head on February 5 while delivering packages for Amazon in rural Lawrence County. Taylor died four days later.

Coy applied for a public defender, but was denied because they say hes not indigent. He appealed that finding but was denied assistance again today during his arraignment in circuit court.

Coy pleaded not guilty and is still without representation. His next court date is June 9.

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A Bakersfield man pleaded guilty Monday to aiming the beam of a laser pointer at Kern County Sheriff's Office helicopter Air 1 in September, impeding the vision of the pilot and tactical flight officer, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

Court documents state that at about 12:17 a.m. Sept. 11, Brett Curtis Hair, 23, struck the cockpit of Air 1 with a bright green laser beam while it was on a routine patrol.

The tactical flight officer found that the laser was coming from a residence in the FAA's Critical Flight Zone of Meadows Field Airport.

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"At least 15 additional laser strikes appeared to be intentional as the light tracked and struck the helicopter," a U.S. Attorney's Office news release said.

"Once Air 1 arrived above the residence, Hair exited the garage and immediately began striking the helicopter's cockpit again with the high-powered laser," it went on to say. That made it difficult for the pilot to see the helicopter's instruments.

Hair faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Aug. 4, the news release said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that the "ball is exclusively in Russia's court" when it comes to the next steps in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

Speaking during a press conference alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Berlin, Merz said it was up to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "accept the offer to negotiate and agree to a ceasefire."

Merz, who took office last week, travelled to Kiev last weekend together with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, where they called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday.

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But with that deadline now passed, it was initially unclear how the European leaders would proceed, having flouted the possibility of imposing further sanctions on Russia to force progress in the three-year-old conflict.

Merz said Germany would push for "the significant tightening of sanctions" in cooperation with European partners if no real progress was made this week.

The Kremlin responded to the ceasefire ultimatum by offering to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey instead, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to say he would await Putin in Ankara on Thursday.

"To be honest with you, I admire Volodymyr Zelensky's courage to do this now despite these most difficult circumstances," said Merz.

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"But this also shows the seriousness and at the same time the willingness to compromise with which he is prepared to do everything in order to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire and subsequent peace talks in Ukraine."

Forcing Ukraine into further compromise and more concessions was "no longer reasonable," according to the new chancellor.

AfD calls for sympathy with Russia

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, meanwhile, urged sympathy for Moscow's position as European leaders try to increase pressure on the Kremlin to agree to an end to the war in Ukraine.

No sensible peace negotiations can take place "if Russia's security interests are not finally taken into account," AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said ahead of a parliamentary group meeting in Berlin.

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Weidel claimed that Russian security interests were what had been at stake for years in the region and they were all that was at stake for Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump now.

She went on to say that the AfD had been stressing since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine "that Russia's security interests should finally be taken into account," echoing one of Russia's arguments used to justify the war.

The anti-immigrant AfD emerged as the biggest opposition party from Germany's February elections. The party has repeatedly called for the resumption of Russian gas imports, which were halted in the wake of the war.

SPD continues to reject Taurus delivery

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats (SPD), the junior partner in Merz's newly minted coalition, continue to reject Kiev's request for German-made long-range Taurus missiles, a stance held by Merz's predecessor Olaf Scholz.

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"We do not want to become a party of war and that is how we have always understood the rejection of the Taurus delivery and that is how it remains," SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch said in Berlin on Tuesday.

Kiev has long been pressing Germany to provide the cruise missiles which would allow it to strike targets on Russian soil far beyond the front line.

The previous SPD-led administration always rejected the request over concerns of being drawn into the war, but with the new conservative-led government having since taken office in Berlin, hope has been fuelled in Kiev of a possible change of course.

In the run-up to February's elections, Merz repeatedly signalled openness to providing the missiles to ramp up pressure on Moscow, but has said he would only do so in coordination with European partners.
Moving can be a hassle and picking the wrong mover can leave customers feeling boxed in.

I was mortified. I felt stupid. I felt like I had gotten bamboozled, said Victoria Henry after her most recent move.

Complaints have been mounting against a man who appears to own and operate a number of moving companies across the state including some in central Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is investigating Shawn Thompson and his company Thompson Nation Holdings LLC. Thompson is connected to several moving companies. Some of them are registered businesses in Florida. The state alleges some of the others are fake entities that use fake addresses.

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Do you have a consumer complaint or need help from Jeff Deal and Action 9? Click the banner below to submit a tip.

Right there you can see it was more damage. This actually like crushed a little bit, Mackenzie Wiebe said as he showed the Action 9 team around his home. Wiebe was describing damage to his television that he claims was done by a company called Stellar Relocation.

But Wiebe would feel lucky if that was the worst part of his experience with Stellar Relocation.

Wiebe told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal, Its not really a company. It was like a racket.

His original quote from Stellar was $850 after he and his dad detailed what he had to move to his parents house in Deland. The contract listed other possible costs, but it was only after all his belongings were on the moving truck did he find out the move would be nearly $3400, four times the original estimate.

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They said, okay, now it was like under their possession. They were going to go put it in a warehouse, said Wiebe. To keep from that happening, he allowed the movers to follow him to his bank to withdrawal cash. He said the workers for Steller Relocation let him know he could pay in cash or money order only, but they wouldnt accept a money order from his bank. His mom said they demanded even more money on the other end when they arrived at her home, but would only take cash.

Mackenzie Wiebes mom, Raffaella Fenili Wiebe said, Youre alone against the three of them, and these people are clearly trained not to be movers, but to be bullies.

When she couldnt provide enough cash, she claims they just dumped everything into a pile on the driveway. Stellar Relocation is a listed as a fictitious business name in state records thats owned by a company named One Man One Van LLC. The man behind that company is Shawn Thompson.

Action 9 saw Thompson on an Instagram video talking about business. On the video hes heard saying, Lets get that energy going. Lets get that business going. Lets get that money flowing.

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The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched its investigation after getting a number of complaints. It issued an administrative complaint against Thompson Nation Holdings LLC and found the companies it operated held goods hostage despite customers paying or offering to pay the original amount on the invoice. The state also alleges their moving trucks didnt have proper insurance.

The business names listed in the state complaint are All Stars Moving and Storage LLC, Next Door Relocation LLC, One Man One Van Moving, Todays Move Movers LLC and Two Man One Truck Movers.

Action 9s Jeff Deal tried to ask the companies about the consumer complaints and state allegations at addresses for two businesses in Orlando, but no one answered. The Action 9 team also travelled to south Florida and stopped at a couple of business addresses and a home owned by Shawn Thompson to give them a chance to address the complaints.

At one business, a man in a green Mercedes said he didnt know Thompson and rolled up his window when Jeff Deal approached. There appeared to be a One Man One Van moving truck parked in the back. Even though someone peeked over the fence, no one answered the shop door. A short time later, the Action 9 team saw the same green car parked at the home owned by Thompson. An electronic voice from the doorbell camera said, Sorry, were not interested. Have a great day.

Florida law requires moving companies to accept at least two forms of payment. Cash or cash equivalents like money orders are considered one form. Credit card is another option, and a personal check is a third option. The state alleges Thompson Nation Holdings LLC only gave the cash/cash equivalent option in many cases. The state also denied the companys attempt to renew its license to do moves within Florida.

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Raffaella Fenili Wiebe said, It was like the truck is locked, and were not unlocking it, and youre not getting your stuff unless you give us more money.

Victoria Henry used a company called Green Go Movers to mover her belongings.

I literally broke down in tears. I was devastated, she told Action 9. The single mom thought her move would be around $600. Instead, it ballooned to nearly $2500 including a $444 transportation surcharge. The move was within her own apartment complex.

Jeff Deal asked, When did they tell you it was going to cost more money?

Victoria Henry answered, Oh, when it was on the truck.

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She claims the company also threatened to hold her belongings hostage if she didnt pay.

Shawn Thompson is not listed as the owner of Green Go Movers, but that company is registered at the same Orlando address on Silver Star Road as Thompson Nation Holdings LLC. The invoices for Stellar Relocation and Green Go Movers also list the same person as the customer representative.

Holly Salmons, the CEO of The Better Business Bureau said, Once your belongings are loaded up and the price tag changes, or the story changes that can be a very costly mistake. Salmons told Action 9 there are eight companies connected to Shawn Thompson by business name or address that are F Rated by the BBB primarily for unanswered complaints.

During a civil lawsuit by a customer in Miami, a judge who ruled against Thompson wrote, Mr. Thompson admitted that he was a direct participant in this unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent scheme. In that case, a college student claimed his company threatened to break her (expletive) if she didnt pay a higher amount.

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In an Orange County lawsuit, a judge hit Thompson with a $60,000 judgment after the customer saw his moving bill nearly triple the original estimate.

Holly Salmons said, If the price doubles or triples then if you dont have that money, you may not get your stuff back.

Thats why Salmons recommends thoroughly researching companies, getting more than one bid, and reading contracts carefully before trusting anyone with your belongings. Getting more than one bid is important because it can tell you if something is way off about one of the bids.

All of your worldly possessions are in their hands. So, you dont want to find out when its too late that theyre running this way, Salmons said.

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When Action 9s Jeff Deal called the number listed for Thompson Nation Holdings in state records, he was told he had the wrong number and the company hasnt responded to his email. Deal also reached out to the person listed as the owner of Green Go Movers, but has not received a response from him either.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services says its investigation is ongoing. If anyone has reason to believe Thompson Nation Holdings LLC is doing business or attempting to do business, they are encouraged to report them to the state here:www.fdacs.gov/Contact-Us/File-a-Complaint
BANGKOK (AP)  Thai authorities on Tuesday officially ended the search operation at the building under construction in the capital, Bangkok, that collapsed following an earthquake that killed dozens over a month ago.

The 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 centered in Myanmar, more than 800 miles (1,200 kilometers) away, killed at least 96 people in Bangkok, mostly at the collapsed site. More than 3,000 were killed in Myanmar.

Eighty-nine bodies have been retrieved from the rubble while seven people remain unaccounted for at the site, officials said. They said they would continue to test hundreds of pieces of human remains to identify those still missing.

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The collapse sparked questions about the enforcement of construction safety and corruption. The high-rise building, meant to be the new office of the State Audit Office, was the only building that suffered a total collapse that day.

The police on Tuesday said they are still investigating and will continue to collect evidence from the collapse site until the end of this month.

Authorities are probing several companies and individuals for any wrongdoing in relation to the collapse, including the state-run Chinese contractor, China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group. The investigation has led to the arrest of its Chinese executive in Thailand, identified as Zhang, and three Thai shareholders on suspicion of operating the business through the use of nominees.

Foreigners can operate a business in Thailand, but it must be a joint venture with a Thai partner, and they cannot own more than 49% to protect local competitiveness.

Another Thai-Chinese company, Xin Ke Yuan Steel, also came under scrutiny over the quality of the steel rods provided for the building. Industry Minister Akanat Promphan said two types of steel rods found at the collapse site did not pass safety standards and that Xin Ke Yuan supplied both. The company has denied any wrongdoing.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Bangladeshs Election Commission has cancelled the registration of the former ruling party of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, preventing it from participating in the next national election, which is expected to be held by June next year.

The decision on Monday came hours after the countrys interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus issued an official notification banning the Awami League party and its affiliated bodies from conducting activities online and elsewhere.

Mondays formal notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs was issued two days after the interim Cabinet decided to ban all activities of the party under the countrys Anti-Terrorism Act until a special tribunal concludes a trial for the party and its leaders.

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In the notification, the government said it outlawed all activities including any kind of publication, media, online and social media" as well as "any kind of campaign, procession, meeting, gathering (or) conference until the trial of the leaders and activists  is completed.

It said the decision was effective immediately.

Separately, the Election Commission said Monday it would not allow the Hasina-led party to contest the next election. Political parties must be registered with the Election Commission to take part in elections.

A government adviser said Monday that anyone who posts comments online in support of the Awami League party would face arrest.

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On Sunday, the Awami League accused the interim government of stoking division and trampling on democratic norms by banning its activities. It said in a statement that the ban stoked division within society, strangled democratic norms, fueled ongoing pogrom against dissenters and strangled inclusivity, all undemocratic steps."

The Awami League is one of two major parties in Bangladesh, which has a fractious parliamentary democracy with a violent history of coups and political assassination.

Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh's independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, fled the country on Aug. 5 last year and has been in exile in India since then along with many senior party colleagues and former Cabinet minsters and lawmakers. They have been accused of killing protesters during an uprising against Hasina's 15-year rule in July-August last year.

The United Nations human rights office said in a report in February that up to 1,400 people may have been killed during three weeks of anti-Hasina protests. But the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights recommended in a report to refrain from political party bans that would undermine a return to a genuine multi-party democracy and effectively disenfranchise a large part of the Bangladeshi electorate.

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The Awami League, which led a nine-month war against Pakistan for independence in 1971, has been under severe pressure since Hasina's ouster. Protesters have attacked and torched many of its offices including its headquarters in Dhaka. It accuses the interim government of sponsoring mobs to attack the homes and businesses of their activists and leaders. It said thousands of its supporters have been arrested across the country and that many have been killed.

Yunus has said the next election will likely be held either in December or in June next year.
CORBIN  Big changes are coming to Baptist Health Corbin.

Following the grand opening of their new urgent care facility earlier this month, the hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony this past Friday for their new 80,000 square-foot patient care wing on campus.

This new project will include an expanded Emergency Department, ICU (intensive care unit), NICU (neonatal ICU) and additional private patient rooms for families.

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This expansion is more than a construction project, said Mark Steely, Vice President of Planning & Operations at Baptist Health Corbin. It is a bold investment in the future of care for Southeastern Kentucky.

This $100 million project will allow Baptist Health to triple the physical space of their emergency rooms in order to meet the communitys needs, provide adequate private rooms for patients, and much more.

Some key features included the expansion of the ICU from 10 private rooms to 24, enhanced technology, modern trauma and triage areas to improve flow and reduce wait times, and strengthen emergency response capacity for the region.

While the new wing will provide community members with efficient healthcare, it also gives the area an opportunity for more economic growth. The expansion is expected to create around 150 new job openings.

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Today, we care for 44,000 patients a year in a space designed to only manage 24,000 a year, Angelia Foster, President of Baptist Health Corbin said.

With this expansion, the hospital will be able to now care for at least 60,000 patients in the ER every single year.

Foster also praised the medical staff for passionately supporting their desire to achieve clinical excellence in all they do, and the tremendous work that is done in order to help patients.

Mayor Suzie Razmus was among those in attendance, and also joined in on the praises for the anticipated project.

This is a momentous occasion  one that we have waited a long time for, Razmus said.

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Mayor Razmus also stated that the city of Corbin had raised over $15 million for the expansion, adding how thankful she was for the foundation team and grant writers who were able to make that happen.

Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman expounded on the goal for the expansion, and the wonderful benefits the state-of-the-art facility will have for those in the area.

Across our system, we are focusing on strengthening care delivery in the communities that we serve, said Colman.

Baptist Health serves nine unique and diverse communities in Kentucky including the cities of Corbin, Elizabethtown, La Grange, Lexington, Louisville, Paducah, Richmond, Madisonville, and New Albany (Indiana).

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More than just the buildings, the aligning of people with resources to improve the outcomes and accesses to healthcare is the vision that Colman explained for Baptist Health.

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers also elaborated on this vision, and praised the opportunity for the community to be able to receive quality healthcare in the comfort of their region.

They dont have to go to Lexington; they dont have to go to Knoxville; this expansion means people can stay in the comfort of their area and be able to go home in a much better way, Sen. Stivers said.

As the keynote speaker of the event, Congressman Hal Rogers talked about his own connection to the hospital, and the part he played in with grants obtained to expand the facility.

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I am proud to support this new tower with a $2.4 million grant from the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, said Rogers.

When Rogers chaired the House Appropriations Committee, he and his fellow representatives created the grant program in 2016 to help revitalize coal-producing communities, such as Corbin.

Since then, the committee has secured $225 million exclusively for Kentucky.

Construction on the new patient care wing will take place in multiple phases, with the full expansion to be completed by June 2027.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Former President Barack Obama is coming to Connecticut this spring to speak at The Connecticut Forum.

The event, called An Evening with President Barack Obama, is part of a partnership with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Trace DNA helps investigators solve 20-year cold case in Windsor Locks

Obama is anticipated to speak at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center on June 17 at 7:30 p.m.

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We are honored to host President Barack Obama at The Connecticut Forum, Mana Zarinejad, executive director of The Connecticut Forum, said in a written statement. For more than three decades, The Forum has served a critical role in Connecticut  bringing people together to consider the great challenges and opportunities of our time through thoughtful discussions. In so doing, we hope to bridge the divides that exist between individuals and communities. We cannot think of a better bridgebuilder and leading global statesman to join the Forum stage than President Obama.

During the event, the former president will touch upon his former presidency and work with the Obama Foundation. He will also discuss his future outlook and current challenges.

For ticket information and to learn more, click here.

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BATESVILLE, Ark.  Prosecutors said a Batesville man will serve a life sentence after being convicted of murdering his former roommate.

Court records show 41-year-old Israel Estrada Cannalte was found guilty of first-degree murder last week in the death of 43-year-old Maximo Hernandez.

Attorneys for Amber Waterman file two motions in Benton County murder case

Prosecutors said Hernandezs body was found in the living room of his Batesville home by friends visiting on Dec. 26, 2023.

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Reports from the Arkansas State Crime Lab state Hernandez had been stabbed more than 50 times with a knife and a screwdriver.

Man arrested after Searcy teen shot in neck during Mothers Day weekend

Officials said the Batesville Police Department arrested Cannalte on the day Hernandezs body was discovered after a Newport hospital reported that a man, identified as Cannalte, came to the emergency room with suspicious cuts on his hands.

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(Reuters) -UnitedHealth Group is under federal investigation for possible criminal fraud involving its Medicare program, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, the latest in a series of setbacks for the insurer.

The company has grappled with several challenges over the past year, including a surge in medical costs, a cyber attack at its tech unit, the killing of its insurance unit head and subsequent public backlash against the industry.

The following is a timeline of key events for the company since 2024:

January 12, 2024

UnitedHealth shares fall after medical services costs at the healthcare conglomerate surpass Wall Street expectations for the first time in two years, even as it beats fourth-quarter profit and revenue estimates.

February 21, 2024

UnitedHealth Group's tech unit, Change Healthcare, is hit by a cybersecurity attack on its systems.

February 28, 2024

In a message posted to, and then quickly deleted from their darknet site, the hackers blamed for the strike say they stole millions of sensitive records, including medical insurance and health data, from the company.

February 29, 2024

UnitedHealth Group says the cyber attack was perpetrated by hackers who identified themselves as the "Blackcat" ransomware group.

March 13, 2024

The U.S. government says it has opened an investigation into the cyber attack to find out whether there was a breach of protected health data and if the company followed U.S. health privacy law.

March 13, 2024

UnitedHealth Group says its unit Change Healthcare's pharmacy network is back online, weeks after the fallout from the cyber attack swept across the country's healthcare system that depends heavily on insurance.

April 16, 2024

UnitedHealth Group says it expects the hack of its Change Healthcare unit to cost the company up to $1.6 billion in 2024, but maintained its annual earnings forecast, suggesting the cyber attack's impact was less severe than many on Wall Street had feared.

May 1, 2024

Hackers who breached UnitedHealth's tech unit in February potentially stole a third of Americans' data, the largest U.S. health insurer's CEO tells a Congressional committee.

July 16, 2024

UnitedHealth forecasts a bigger hit to annual earnings from the February hack at its tech unit, but maintains its full-year profit forecast.

September 20, 2024

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sues the country's three largest pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of steering diabetes patients towards higher-priced insulin to reap millions of dollars in rebates from pharmaceutical companies.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baton Rouge teen was arrested after the Baton Rouge Police Department responded to a reported vehicle burglary in the 1500 block of Gayosa Street Friday, May 9.

An investigation led to Alijah Dyson, 17, being charged and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and illegal use of weapons and dangerous instrumentalities.

BRPD found Dyson sitting outside on a couch on N. 16th Street with a gunshot wound in the leg. He was taken to the hospital.

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Multiple shell casings for two different guns were reportedly located in the yard and street, along with Dysons blood on the victims vehicle. According to arrest documents, the owner of the vehicle said he was awakened by his wife, who said two people were by their truck and one person was breaking into it.

Shots were reportedly fired at the vehicle owner after he went outside and yelled at the two individuals. No injuries were reported. After seeking cover, the suspects fled.

An affidavit stated Dyson told investigators he and the second suspect he identified as Youngin were involved in the burglary before Youngin fired shots.

Live .223 rifle rounds were found on Dyson, and this, combined with the spent shell casings and confession from him, led BRPD to believe that Dyson was the shooter.

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Louisiana First News has contacted the Baton Rouge Police Department for further information about the other suspect. We will share any details as they become available.

Dyson was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Monday, May 12.

Man arrested in connection to 2014 Baton Rouge shooting, killing 7-year-old boy

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Voices in mental health, public safety, and public policy are coming together on Capitol Hill Thursday. A Baton Rouge native will speak about the fentanyl crisis and mental health.

Tonja Myles, a nationally recognized mental health advocate and CEO of Set Free Indeed Ministry, will discuss her journey battling drug addiction and using her influence to impact the lives of others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 107,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2023, with nearly 70% of those deaths linked to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. In addition, Myles said suicide continues to have a devastating impact across the U.S., with rising concerns particularly among youth and veterans.

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The Public Safety, Public Health, Public Hope event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 15, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyls Grip

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In the vast world of building block toys and military collectibles, few brands focus with as much intent and care as Battle Brick Customs.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the company produces custom-built, LEGO-compatible military sets that blend playability with precision. While the mainstream toy industry has long favored fantasy and fictional combat, Battle Brick Customs has carved out a niche by delivering realism grounded in historical and modern military design.

The company began in 2009 by assembling and customizing tank kits, drawing the attention of hobbyists and collectors. By 2011, the brand became a full-fledged business focused exclusively on military-themed figures and vehicles.

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Each set is hand-packaged in the United States, using genuine LEGO bricks combined with custom parts that replicate the details of real-world military equipment.

What distinguishes Battle Brick from other custom LEGO creators is an emphasis on authenticity. The company produces kits based on real military vehicles, ranging from World War II tanks to modern U.S. Army Humvees and Special Forces boats. Kits feature rotating turrets, openable hatches and modular parts that reflect the complexity of the original hardware.

Each model is supplemented by specialized accessories sourced from U.S. and Taiwanese manufacturers. Add-ons include custom-molded helmets, tactical gear, rifles and camouflage prints, offering builders an extra level of immersion beyond the standard LEGO library.

The sets, meanwhile, are not mass-produced or cloned; Battle Brick explicitly avoids counterfeit parts and positions itself as a high-quality alternative to official LEGO products and other third-party military-themed kits.

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Battle Bricks product line rotates frequently, but its core offerings include main battle tanks like the M1A2 Abrams, armored vehicles like the MRAP and Stryker and aircraft like the AH-6 Little Bird.

World War II sets also remain popular, featuring American and German vehicles built to resemble iconic combat equipment from the European and Pacific theaters.

The company recently expanded its online presence, operating through its website and on Amazon, Etsy and eBay, where it consistently receives praise  much of it from military families and veterans  for build quality and service.

Beyond the hardware, the brand centers its design philosophy on real-world military service in a space dominated by commercial franchises and fictional conflict. For many families with active-duty service members or veterans, the realism serves as a way to connect across generations, opening up conversations about equipment, history and duty.

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The brands website describes its mission as one of respect for the military, craftsmanship and the history behind the equipment the company recreates. There are no flashy gimmicks or cartoon branding; the companys aesthetic is restrained, clean and intentionally mature.

As the toy industry increasingly emphasizes digital interaction, Battle Brick Customs has succeeded by leaning into tangible, detailed, analog design. Kits are not just toys, but tools for storytelling, education and remembrance.

Battle Brick prices many sets between $25 and $150, making them viable as gifts, display pieces or additions to larger collections.
On Friday, the Bay Areas largest commuter-rail network suffered an hours-long outage that left its trains stalled on the tracks as commuters across the region waited for a ride that would never come.

It was, as state senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin said in a statement, a peek into what life in the Bay Area will be like without robust BART service. Next year, voters across the region will decide whether theyre ready to see their transit systems go dark for good.

In 2026, a set of unrelated taxes are likely to appear on local ballots across Californias second-largest metropolitan area. Each would fund a different transit network whose leadership says a yes vote is necessary to keep the trains running. Together they add up to a real-time service update for one of the countrys most transit-reliant regions: how much do Bay Area voters believe in their public-transport systems after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted commuting patterns?

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Letting transit deteriorate is really not an option, said Laura Tolkoff, the transportation policy director of SPUR, a Bay Area non-profit public policy organization. The Bay Area runs on transit.

In San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties, voters will likely be asked to approve a regional transit tax to fund the operation of BART, which will soon run out of money to operate at its current service level. In San Francisco, residents are likely to see yet another measure, its details still unclear, to address the MUNI systems structural deficit. In the North Bay, the board of Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is discussing when to put up the renewal of a quarter-cent sales tax in the two counties in 2026 after the same measure failed in 2020.

Our fiscal cliff is very real, said Eddy Cummins, the general manager of SMART, which connects Santa Rosa to Larkspur and San Rafael via rail. If the sales tax is not passed by the end of 2028, were out of business.

Transit operators say each of the measures is necessary to preserve existing services in the Bay Area region. But it will take a high-wire act to get them all over the two-thirds supermajority hurdle required for local governments to increase taxes at the ballot.

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Recent surveys conducted by East Bay-based pollster FM3 measured voter support for a renewal of the SMART sales tax at upwards of 70 percent. But backing for the three-county regional measure is struggling to reach 60 percent, even as BART enjoys some of its highest customer satisfaction while improving safety and cleanliness and cracking down on fare evasion.

But the transit agencies also face different consumer realities. The BART measure would raise taxes, whereas SMART would extend one. The SMART system actually has 30 percent higher ridership than it did pre-pandemic, whereas BART and MUNI are trying to establish a new funding mechanism for systems that long relied on fare revenue to fund its services.

Compounding problems for BART is the reality that funds from a 2026 sales tax measure wont start flowing into the systems coffers until early 2027. That means BART and MUNI, which would also see some share of the funding, would need to cut services next summer, just as voters are being asked to fund them. To stabilize the situation, Arreguin and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez are currently pushing for $2 billion in new transit funding across the state to address that shortfall until regional funding comes online.

The challenge of convincing voters will likely fall to the Bay Area Council, which has played a lead role in previous transit tax campaigns. The group has already committed to helping pass the regional measure on the condition that a financial efficiency review was added to the state legislation. It is unclear if the well-funded business group will step in to aid the individual SMART and MUNI measures, although a representative acknowledged the political fates of all the systems could be dangerously intertwined.

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What we're really concerned about is if that funding doesn't come through and BART and MUNI have to scale back service, said Emily Loper, the councils vice president of public policy. We don't want to see service reductions while we're trying to run a campaign to pass a measure talking about how important transit is.

Wiener and Arreguins SB 63, the state legislation that serves as the primary vehicle for building consensus around the BART-funding measure, recognizes the precarious politics. The bill raises the possibility that the tax might fare better if it reaches the ballot via citizen signatures, rather than sent there by the regional transit commission, thereby requiring only a simple majority to pass.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  As technology continues to evolve, online safety for children is a bigger issue now than ever before.

Bay district schools and Panama City Beach Police are teaming up to teach parents how to better protect their kids.

Police Chief J.R. Talamantez is hosting the last Parents Against Predators workshop of the school year on Tuesday night.

BBIA scholarship presentation strengthens workforce

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The free program will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Mosley High School.

Parents will learn how to ensure their children stay safe online, recognize potential risks, and make responsible choices.

Parents of all students, no matter their age or where they attend school, are encouraged to participate.

And free dinner will be provided while supplies last. For more information, click here.

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BEACHWOOD, Ohio (WJW)  A local library is speaking out for the first time after a disturbing incident that police are investigating as a potential hate crime.

Officials said a man checked out dozens of books centered on Jewish history, Black experiences and LGBTQ topicsthen allegedly burned them.

3 vehicles involved in fatal Wadsworth crash

According to Beachwood police, the man first visited the Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on April 2, when he checked out 50 books.

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The next day, investigators said a photo appeared online showing a car trunk filled with those books and a caption referencing cleansing the libraries.

The titles of the books matched those recently checked out, prompting police to begin an investigation. One week later, officials said the same man returned to check out 50 more books.

Staff members grew suspicious of his behavior and reported the incident to authorities.

Police later discovered a video online that allegedly shows the man burning the books.

Local parents surrender after death of 3-year-old

In a statement to FOX 8, library officials said, We are not commenting on this ongoing investigation. We have taken steps to protect our staff, customers, and property. At this time, the customer has been restricted from all Cuyahoga County Public Library properties and their borrowing privileges have been revoked.

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Elizabeth Oestreicher, a Cleveland Heights resident who is both Jewish and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, spoke with Fox 8 about the emotional impact of the act.

I think its a move towards censorship and a move towards erasing history, she said.

Oestreicher added that the act immediately reminded her of darker moments in world history.

I think my first thought was just the 1930s in Germany and the book burnings that happened then, she said.

Walgreens closing dozens of stores across country: Heres where in NE Ohio

Investigators said the total value of the books exceeds $1,700. The case was first flagged by a national group that monitors online extremism, and Beachwood police are still actively investigating.

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Once their investigation is complete, the matter will be referred to a city prosecutor to determine whether charges will be filed. No arrests have been made at this time.

Fox 8 reached out to both Beachwood police and city officials for further comment, but they declined to speak while the case remains open.

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WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT)  The Beaufort County Community College celebrated the graduation of its second Patrol K-9 class on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

K-9s in order from left to right: Corporal Scott Gashi and K9 Shadow, Officer Christopher Fortune and K9 Atlas, Deputy Joshua Jones and K9 Rocky, Deputy Hayden Green and K9 Bruer, and Officer Franklin Blanton and K9 Kapi.

Officers in order from left to right: Officer Christopher Fortune, Deputy Joshua Jones, Corporal Scott Gashi, instructor Ken Mathias, Deputy Hayden Green, and Officer Franklin Blanton.

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The officers graduating represents the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office, Haywood County Sheriffs Department, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, and Savannah Police Department. They completed a 14-week program, accumulating 540 hours of specialized training, which included obedience training, drug detection, suspect apprehension, and both daytime and nighttime search and rescue techniques.

Beaufort CCC is only one of a few colleges in Eastern N.C. to offer this program.

The Patrol K-9 program aids law enforcement agencies in finding missing persons or suspects using highly trained canine units. The Director of law enforcement programs at Beaufort CCC, Cliff Hales, said that the college developed the program to help trainees earn college credit for the extensive hours they invest in training.

Deputy Joshua Jones gave remarks on behalf of the graduating class, and Mathias, along with last years Gold Collar Award recipient, Greg Van Essendelft, presented Officer Christopher Fortune with this years Gold Collar Award for his hard work and positive attitude.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Beavercreek Police are asking for the publics help in identifying two people who allegedly stole nearly $975 by altering barcodes at an area store.

Officials allege a man and woman selected multiple items at the Walmart on Pentagon Boulevard, and altered the price barcodes when checking out on Friday, May 2.

Beavercreek Police ask for help identifying alleged Walmart thief

This alteration caused the items to ring up as less than their actual price. The store said the amount paid was $972.42 less than the actual value of the merchandise.

Photo via Beavercreek Police Department. Photo via Beavercreek Police Department. Photo via Beavercreek Police Department. Photo via Beavercreek Police Department.

Officials said the pair left in a gray Chevrolet Malibu. BPD asks anyone who can identify them to contact Officer Worley at 937-426-1225, ext. 154, or email worleyc@beavercreekohio.gov . Anonymous tips are accepted.

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Three Belgian soldiers have been injured in a shooting incident during a training exercise in Scotland, Belgiums defence ministry has said.

The casualties were taken to hospital after being seriously injured in Mondays gunfire.

Two were said to be stable. Of those, one was expected to undergo surgery before being able to return home.

The third soldier was discharged after only suffering minor injuries.

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Around another 12 soldiers suffered hearing damage as a result of the incident. It is believed there was a misfire during a live ammunition exercise.

Tain air weapons range in Moray. Police Scotland said the incident happened at RAF Tain - Peter Jolly/Northpix

The incident was reported to have happened during a joint drill at a training centre but the Belgian defence ministry declined to reveal where in Scotland it took place.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: Around 1.25pm on Monday 12 May, we were made aware of a report of military personnel being injured during a training exercise at RAF Tain.

Emergency services attended and two men were taken by air ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment.

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A third man was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and released following treatment for minor injuries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

Operation Red Condor

Last week, it was reported that around 600 Belgian armed forces personnel were in Moray for a large-scale operation, Red Condor.

A spokesman for the Belgian defence ministry said: On May 12, during Exercise Red Condor currently taking place in Scotland, three Belgian soldiers were injured.

They received first aid on site and were then transferred to a regional hospital. In addition, around a dozen soldiers suffered hearing damage.

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Defence authorities have confirmed that the two soldiers who were seriously injured are now in stable condition.

They have already been able to speak with their families. One of them will undergo surgery in Scotland before being repatriated to Belgium.

Belgian military vehicles travelling to RAF Kinloss in Moray - David Hendry

The families of those injured had been informed, the ministry added.

An MoD spokesman said: We are aware of an incident during an exercise in Scotland involving foreign national military personnel. Our thoughts are with all those affected.

Bart De Wever, the Belgian prime minister, offered his condolences to the injured soldiers and their families on X.

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I have received the sad news that three soldiers from the Third Parachute Battalion were injured during an exercise in Scotland, he wrote.

I wish the injured a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with their loved ones.

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By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A surprising tariff pause between Beijing and Washington will not help U.S. farmers revive soy sales in China without additional concessions, producers said, because top-supplier Brazil still has a competitive price advantage.

Under the truce announced on Monday, the United States will cut extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports to 30% from 145% for the next three months, while Chinese duties on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125%.

Soybean export premiums fell in Brazil while U.S. futures prices hit a three-month high on the de-escalation, reflecting expectations that China could buy more from the U.S.

But American farmers said the tariff pause isn't enough. Brazil, the biggest soy supplier to China, has ample supplies from a record harvest, lower prices, and its farmers do not face the Chinese tariff that U.S. competitors do. China, the world's largest crop importer, already sources roughly 70% of its soybean imports from Brazil.

"The tariff that remains in place for U.S. soy is far from inconsequential," said Caleb Ragland, a farmer in Magnolia, Kentucky, and president of the American Soybean Association.

"Products purchased from our competitors in Brazil and Argentina are not burdened with this extra cost."

While the United States in 2022/23 accounted for about 28% of China's soybean imports, it has been a critical market for U.S. farmers, representing more than half of U.S. soybean exports in the most recent marketing year.

President Donald Trump's trade war has hurt sales of American soybeans, sorghum and pork products to China and created a new opportunity for Brazil.

Brazil aims to export even more agricultural goods to China, including sorghum, pork and chicken, and seize market share, said Luis Rua, who oversees foreign trade for Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture.

"What they (China) will buy is what they barely need to get by," Dan Henebry, a corn and soy grower in Buffalo, Illinois, said. "If South America is short... they'll buy from us."

Chinese buyers have also avoided U.S. wheat and bought 400,000 to 500,000 metric tons from Australia and Canada in recent weeks, traders said.

U.S. farmers hope China may buy American farm goods as part of trade negotiations. However, Chinese importers will be reluctant to book large purchases because of remaining trade barriers and uncertainty over what will happen when the pause expires, said Even Rogers Pay, agriculture analyst at Trivium China.

"There are a few things stacked up against this trade war ceasefire being a boon for farmers," Pay said.
May 12BEMIDJI  The class of 2024 has earned bragging rights for having the highest graduation rate in recorded Minnesota history.

Based on results released by the Minnesota Department of Education on May 7, a total of 59,720 students  84.2% of the 2024 graduating class overall  earned their diplomas across the state and marked a nearly 1% increase from the 2023 class rate of 83.3%.

Increases were reported across nearly every ethnic category, including students identifying as American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic or Latino, as well as white students. Rates also increased for English learners, students from low-income families and those receiving special education services.

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"The students of the class of 2024 worked hard and overcame challenges to achieve this milestone," Commissioner Willie Jett said in a release. "I am thrilled to see the success of many of our student groups  especially those most at risk  and a closing of the achievement gap as we work to make sure every student, of every background, zip code, and ability has access to a world-class education."

Amidst these improvements, the release also noted mounting threats from the federal government to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, uproot federal education investments and roll back essential support for vulnerable students.

The department's investments provide support, including:

* $256 million for students with disabilities

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* $192 million for students from low-income backgrounds

* $27 million for academic enrichment

* $6 million for students in rural schools

* $38 million to support children living on military bases or tribal lands

* $100 million for Career and Technical Education workforce development programs

"In the face of instability from the federal government, the MDE remains committed to supporting students and schools," the release said.

While the state trended upward,

Beltrami County

saw a slight decline from 65.8% in 2023 to 64.4% in 2024. Graduating 407 out of 632 students, 2024's graduating class still saw a higher graduation rate compared to the 61.7% of students for 2022.

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The county's drop-out rate increased from 10.7% in 2023 to 16.1% in 2024, remaining higher than 2022's drop-out rate of 11.4%.

Often used as an indicator for low-income students, those eligible for free or reduced lunches saw a very slight decrease in graduation from 51.2% in 2023 to 50.7%.

American Indian students improved upon 2023's graduation rate, clocking in at 40.2% compared to the 2023 class' 38.8%.

Similar to last year, female graduates ranked above their male counterparts at 67.1% and 61.9%, respectively. Both groups trended downward from 2023, with respective graduation rates of 67.5% and 64.2%.

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After a 7.3% increase between 2022 and 2023,

Bemidji Area Schools

experienced a decline from 2023's 77.6% graduation rate to 2024's rate of 74.8%. A total of 288 students out of 385 graduated within four years, while 53 dropped out and 23 continued to earn their diplomas beyond a four-year timeline.

Students receiving free and reduced lunches came in below the district average and also experienced a decrease from 2023's graduation rate of 61.2% to 60.6%.

Male students experienced a sharper decline from 2023 compared to their female counterparts. Males in 2024 graduated at 71.4% compared to 75.6% in 2023, and 2024 females graduated at 78.3% compared to 79.4% in 2023.

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American Indian graduates experienced a rate increase from 2023, clocking in at 53.1% from 52% respectively.

For charter schools,

TrekNorth Junior and Senior High School

saw noticeable improvement with 94.6% of all students graduating in 2024, up from 83.9% in 2023.

While

Voyageurs Expeditionary School

did not show four-year graduation rates for 2023, it reported a 31.3% graduation rate for 2024. A total of five students graduated, while four dropped out, five continued their education and two were reported under the "unknown" category, which tracks students who were either incorrectly reported or not reported as enrolled in another district.

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After experiencing a considerable decline from 2022,

Cass Lake-Bena

Public Schools saw a slight improvement, graduating 56.3% in 2024 and 50.6% in 2023. Their rate in 2023 marked a decline from 83.1% in 2022.

Red Lake

Public Schools showed a 22.2% four-year graduation rate, down from 29.9% in 2023.

After a roughly 8% decline from 2022,

Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig

School essentially broke even with its 2023 rate of 57.1%.

A complete list of graduation rates for schools, districts and counties across the state can be found on the

Minnesota Department of Education's website.
BERLIN, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Police are searching for a person who was allegedly involved in suspicious activity.

Officers first heard about this activity at the Berlin Walmart Monday, May 12

An image of the individual was captured, but no additional information on them or their suspicious activity is available.

Those with information can call the Berlin Police Department at 802-223-4401.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
(NewsNation)  Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has endorsed President Donald Trumps executive order directing drugmakers to lower prescription drug costs in the United States but has called for stronger action.

Under the order issued Monday, drugmakers have 30 days to reduce prices or face new restrictions on how much the government will pay for medications.

Sanders, a long-time advocate for lower drug prices, welcomed the move but called on Trump to support legislation he plans to introduce that would keep U.S. drug prices in line with those of other major countries.

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Trumps drug EO is a lot of bark, no bite: Former pharma exec

In a statement, Sanders agreed that Americans pay more for prescription drugs than people in Europe and Canada. However, he said the problem isnt low prices in other countries but that the pharmaceutical industry is ripping off the American people and making billions in profit off of those in need.

Sanders also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Trumps order, suggesting the president likely knows it would not hold up in court. He challenged Trump to support reform through congressional action.

If Republicans and Democrats come together on this legislation, we can get it passed in a few weeks, Sanders said.

Critics: Trump attempting government price controls

Trumps order has been met with resistance from pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers. Critics argue the plan amounts to government price controls and could hinder medical innovation.

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The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America called the executive order a bad deal for American patients and workers. It warned the plan would make the U.S. more reliant on China for innovative medicines.

Biotech industry advocates also warned shifting to Trumps most favored nation pricing could prove to be devastating for medical innovation firms.

House GOP unveils plan to raise debt limit by $4T

Legal challenges to Trumps executive order likely

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is currently leading negotiations to bring U.S. prices more in line with countries like Canada, Germany and the U.K.

While the White House estimates the plan could cut drug costs by 30 to 80%, any meaningful savings will likely take time.

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Legal challenges to the order are expected. Portions of the plan may require congressional approval, and drugmakers could sue.

A similar effort during Trumps first term was struck down. Under former President Joe Biden, Medicare began negotiating drug prices last year, but the changes wont take effect until next year.

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Ukraine has, apparently for the first time, released a video showing its use of the Soviet-era S-200 (SA-5 Gammon) long-range surface-to-air missile, a weapon that was reinstated to service only after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, the S-200 has not been seen in official imagery but has been credited by Kviv with the high-profile destruction of an A-50 radar plane and a Tu-22M3 bomber.

Ukraine's GUR just revealed the first footage of its S-200 Gammon SAM unit, restoring and using the massive Cold War-era missiles to hit Russian targets.



Ukrainian S-200s have reportedly been used to down multiple high-value Russian aircraft, and hit Russian ground targets. pic.twitter.com/LQb8UbRam6  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 13, 2025

The footage in question was published by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defenses Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). Filmed at an undisclosed location, the video shows the missiles being raised into position before blasting off from their fixed launchers somewhere on the Black Sea coast. Its not clear when the footage dates from, but the foliage suggests it was taken at some point in the fall, winter, or early spring.

An S-200 launcher with the missile in the lowered position. GUR photo

GUR photo

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An S-200 launcher with the missile in the raised position, ready to fire. GUR photo

Very much a product of the Cold War, the S-200 was first introduced to service by the Soviet Union in the late 1960s. At that time, its main mission was to bring down high-flying U.S. bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Typically, each S-200 system was deployed in static batteries that typically comprised six single-rail launchers, supported by a long-range surveillance radar, a target search and acquisition radar, a missile guidance radar, and multiple other support elements. In the GUR video, only the missiles and their launchers are visible.

As for those missiles, they are from the 5V28 series and each measures around 35 feet in length, with a diameter of almost 34 inches. The missiles are first powered off their launcher using a cluster of four jettisonable solid-propellant boosters around the body, before a single-stage liquid-fuel motor kicks in.

A rear view of the missile during the fueling process shows the four jettisonable solid-propellant boosters around the body. GUR photo

GUR photo

The launch of a missile from an S-200 system. GUR photo

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These missiles were refined during their initial service, with later models able to engage targets at a maximum range of around 186 miles. In Soviet service, the 5V28 could be armed with a command-detonated nuclear warhead, although those that remained in Ukrainian stocks were all fitted with a conventional 480-pound warhead, armed with a proximity fuze.

Prior to the current conflict with Russia, the S-200 was best known in Ukrainian service for the infamous incident in October 2001, when an errant missile from one of the batteries shot down a Russian airliner over the Black Sea, during a live-fire exercise.

GUR photo

By this point, the system was already showing its age, and by 2010, it was reported that Ukraine only had four S-200 batteries still active, with another 12 sites inactive. Further reports suggest the S-200 was removed from service entirely in 2013.

Nonetheless, it appears that the demands of Russias full-scale invasion led to at least some of these sites being reactivated or possibly reinstated at different locations. Its likely that much of the required infrastructure was still in place, or could be quickly returned to operational status, with the launchers fed by stocks of the missile that had been held in reserve.

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Somewhat surprisingly, the first evidence of Ukraine using the S-200s after February 2022 came from Russian accounts of the missiles being deployed in a surface-to-surface role. Russian reports from the summer of 2023 suggested the missiles were being used to attack land targets in Russian rear areas within Ukraine and in Russia itself.

One video from this period appears to show a missile that looks very similar to one fired by an S-200 system diving almost vertically onto a target, supposedly in the Bryansk region of western Russia, which borders Ukraine.

Another video, from local surveillance cameras, in the same period, shows what looks to be a 5V28 series missile from an S-200 diving vertically onto a target  reportedly a sawmill  in the settlement of Bytosh, also in the Bryansk region.

A video of what appears to be a missile of the Soviet-made S-200 air defense system impacting a sawmill in the settlement of Bytosh in Bryansk Oblast of Russia earlier on Sunday.



Presumably, the Ukrainians started to covert these missiles for the use against ground targets. pic.twitter.com/yPSJPO5el2  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) July 9, 2023

Debate unfolding regarding the type of the missile that was used on #Russian territory. Other possibilities include S-200 anti-aircraft missile, redesigned for strikes against ground targets, on a sawmill in the Bryansk region.

British #StormShadow has a very different shape pic.twitter.com/c5Cj196N0b  Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) July 9, 2023

There were also Russian reports in 2023 of the Ukrainian S-200 being used to attack Morozovsk Air Base in the Rostov region.

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Some accounts suggest the S-200 was also tasked with attacks on the vital Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to Russian-occupied Crimea. Also in the summer of 2023, Ukrainian media reported an attempted strike on the bridge using the system, while Russian sources claimed that their air defense operators shot down at least one missile just north of the Taman Peninsula, which borders the Azov Sea to the north, the Kerch Strait to the west, and the Black Sea to the south. Wreckage of the intercepted missile is said to have come down in the Azov Sea.

Some sources pointed out that today's attack on the Kerch bridge ,Ukraine used modernized missile from the S-200 ADS complex, which was redesigned for strikes along a ballistic trajectory. This range is about 400 km.

Some are suggesting this was ATACMS. The range for a Storm pic.twitter.com/o9idUkOYSt  Koba (@Roberto05246129) July 9, 2023

Despite claims from the Russian Ministry of Defense that a total of three missiles from the S-200 were successfully intercepted, the incident reportedly led to the temporary closure of the Kerch Bridge by Russian authorities.

Claims of the S-200 being used to strike such pinpoint targets should be treated with caution, since it would require extreme accuracy, unless the missile was retrofitted with a GPS guidance system, for example.

Still, as we noted at the time, the S-200 gives Ukraine a useful, if extemporized, quasi-short-range ballistic missile-like capability. There is also the possibility that the missiles were more extensively modified for the land-attack role, which could provide them with improved accuracy, although theres no evidence of this so far. Either way, there is no doubt that Ukraine desperately needed a ballistic missile at this time  and still does.

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In its original form, the 5V28 series missile uses an inertial guidance system with updates provided by radio link before switching to semi-active radar homing for the terminal phase. For ground targets, the missile would have to be modified to hit within a certain circular error probable (CEP), or otherwise use GPS to hit a target more precisely.

So regarding S-200's apparent land attack capability. S-200 employs semi-active radar guidance so there is at least an onboard guidance computer that an IMU could theoretically be integrated with. https://t.co/jFpB3xBu14 pic.twitter.com/yHBeC88ZUo  John Ridge    (@John_A_Ridge) July 10, 2023

While its never been clear how many S-200 systems are available to Ukraine, it has reportedly also been used in its original air defense role, with some impressive results, according to Ukrainian authorities.

In April of 2024, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the GUR, exclusively disclosed to TWZ that an S-200 had been used to bring down a Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber that crashed in the Stavropol territory of southern Russia. The U.K. Ministry of Defense subsequently said it was almost certain that an S-200 was used to bring down the Tu-22M3.

One down, the rest to go.

The first downed Russian strategic bomber Tu-22m3.@KpsZSU@DI_Ukraine pic.twitter.com/6keqNZeyAt  Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces (@TDF_UA) April 19, 2024

One of the Russian Tu-22 strategic bombers that took part in todays attack on Ukrainian cities wont be flying again. Ukraine says it shot down the plane, Russians say it was a malfunction. One of the four crew members is dead. https://t.co/DlA0wCze8a pic.twitter.com/L9h7ulm1UW  Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) April 19, 2024

Budanov told TWZ that the Tu-22M3 was engaged at a distance of 308 kilometers  or around 191 miles  from the S-200 battery.

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At the same time as the Tu-22M3 claim, the GUR said that Ukraine had used the same means to shoot down a Russian A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft earlier in the same year. Ukrainian officials had previously claimed the destruction of two A-50s while airborne, but hadnt previously specified what weapons were used to do this.

Wreckage of the Tu-22M3. via X

via X

On other occasions, Ukraine has used the Patriot air defense system to down fixed-wing tactical aircraft and helicopters at long range, including when they are flying within Russian airspace. Using the Patriot, Ukraine has reportedly successfully targeted aircraft at a range of around 100 miles, very much at the limits of its engagement envelope.

Despite its age, the S-200 can, in theory, engage targets at much greater ranges, although the claimed 191-mile shootdown of the Tu-22M3 would put it just outside the systems known performance parameters.

However, a Ukrainian defense official confirmed to TWZ that Ukraine had received help from partners to produce an updated guidance system for the S-200. The missile itself has a good maneuvering system, so if provided with proper guidance is quite a modern weapon, the official added. This may help explain not only how the target acquisition and missile guidance were achieved, but also how it was able to bring down a target at such a great range. Since then, other air defense solutions involving Western sensors or effectors have become more prevalent in Ukrainian service. With that in mind, combining the S-200 into more advanced sensors for initial targeting, for example could be an option.

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With Ukraines insatiable demand for air defense systems, it makes sense to reactivate some of its S-200 systems to bolster its legacy surface-to-air missile systems, as well as those provided by Western allies. Clearly, the S-200 is several generations behind modern ground-based air defense systems, but its very long reach ensures that it has utility in particular scenarios, a fact that its apparent combat successes would seem to attest to.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Bettendorf Police will assist the Bettendorf Community School District in conducting an evacuation drill at Bettendorf Middle School, 2030 Middle Road, according to a news release.

This event will consist of about 1,000 students and school staff evacuating Bettendorf Middle School and walking across 18th Street to Fayes Field near the Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive and the Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive.

This will have an impact on traffic at the intersection of Spruce Hills Drive and 18th Street for

about an hour. The traveling public is encouraged to avoid this area. Bettendorf Police will be in the area assisting with road closures and making sure everyone crosses the street safely. Access to all businesses and city facilities will remain open.

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Former President Bidens aides considered the possibility of putting him in a wheelchair if he was reelected to a second term, an unreleased book authored by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axioss Alex Thompson reveals.

Bidens physical deterioration  most apparent in his halting walk  had become so severe that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldnt do so until after the election, the authors wrote in Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, according to a Tuesday report from Axios. His stride was heavily impacted by a deteriorating spine.

The book, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, was informed by interviews after the 2024 election with over 200 people, many of them Democratic Party insiders.

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Biden had several falls throughout his tenure in office. One of the most notable was during the Air Force Academy commencement ceremony in June 2023, where he fellon stage after tripping over a sandbag.

Given Bidens age, [his physician Kevin OConnor] also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery, Tapper and Thompson wrote.

In 2024, months before Bidens debate with President Trump, OConnor released a physical exam and wrote in a public memo that the president continues to be fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations, the Associated Press reported.

But according to the Axios report, OConnor lobbied for Biden to have more downtime in his schedule.

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In his last couple of medical reports, OConnor indicated that Bidens gait was impacted by significant spinal arthritis, noted by Axios and reported by both Time and the New York Times.

Tapper and Thompson reported that Bidens family and White House aides saw signs of decline that were not only physical but also mental, a claim that Biden has repeatedly refuted.

They are wrong, there is nothing to sustain that, Biden said during an appearance on ABCs The View on May 8.

I only dropped out because I didnt want to have a divided Democratic Party, he later added.

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Aides to then-President Joe Biden discussed the use of a wheelchair if he was re-elected, a new book on his doomed re-election bid claims.

The private discussions took place amid Bidens physical deterioration in 2023 and 2024, Jake Tapper of CNN and Alex Thompson of Axios write in Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

The conversations addressed the degeneration of his spine amid his declining health as he worked to get a second term at the age of 81.

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The discussions also suggest that the Biden White House was determined to hide the extent of his condition during the re-election fight against President Donald Trump before Biden dropped out of the race following his disastrous debate performance in late June.

The book by Tapper and Thompson is based on more than 200 interviews, primarily with Democratic insiders, almost all of which occurred after the 2024 election.

Biden's physical deterioration  most apparent in his halting walk  had become so severe that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldn't do so until after the election, Tapper and Thompson write.

Aides to the then-president thought it wasnt politically viable to have Biden in a wheelchair during the campaign.

It has been reported that Joe Bidens aides considered using a wheelchair for the then-president if he had been re-elected in November 2024 (Reuters)

Because of Bidens age, his doctor, Kevin OConnor, privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery.

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Aides to the president grew increasingly concerned about Biden having another fall after he tripped over a sandbag in June 2023 during an event at the Air Force Academy. More precautions were taken to avoid another fall before the 2024 election in November.

They worked to organise shorter walking paths and demanded the use of handrails as he got up on stages during appearances. Biden aides also made sure he wore sneakers more often, changed his briefings ahead of events to make sure he was aware of every step he was to take, and put in place more extensive guidance for his movements.

OConnor had expressed concerns for quite some time about the effects of the presidency on Bidens health, arguing with his political officials that he needed more rest time. The doctor, at times, joked that his staff was trying to kill Biden, while the physician was trying to keep the president alive.

Bidens aides told reporters through 2024 that the presidents halting walk was partly due to a foot fracture from November 2020 and then refusing to wear his walking boot consistently, however, that went against what OConnor had said publicly. Biden wore a walking boot for 10 weeks in late 2020 and early 2021, after which OConnor noted that both minor fractures in his foot had completely healed.

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This injury has healed as expected, OConnor said at the time.

In public health summaries, OConnor said Biden experienced mild post-fracture foot arthritis. However, he put more emphasis on Bidens "significant spinal arthritis" to explain why Bidens gait had changed.

Tapper and Thompson write that Biden, his family, and top administration officials went ahead with the re-election campaign in the face of signs of physical and mental decline during his time in office.

But following Bidens debate performance against Trump in June last year, Democratic leaders started pushing for his removal from the top of the ticket. It took three weeks, but Biden eventually dropped out of the race and endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris, effectively ending the prospect of an open primary.

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A spokesperson for Biden told Axios that the former presidents medical exam made clear that he had a stiffened gait caused, in part, by wear and tear to his spine  but that no special treatment was necessary and that it had not worsened.

He was transparent about this, and it was far from 'severe, the spokesperson added. Yes, there were physical changes as he got older, but evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity."

And so far, we are still waiting for someone, anyone, to point out where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or make a presidential address where he was unable to do his job because of mental decline, the spokesperson argued. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite  he was a very effective president."

This comes as a small nodule was located in Biden's prostate during a regular medical exam. Biden spent last Friday at a Philadelphia hospital after the nodule was found and needed further evaluation, a spokesperson told The New York Times. Its common for men in their 80s to experience issues with their prostate.

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Biden, 82, left office as the oldest president to ever serve in the role; however, Trump is the oldest person ever elected to the office.

Concerns about his health and age followed Biden through his presidency, eventually prompting his departure from his re-election campaign.

Biden was declared fit to serve by his doctor in February last year following a physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The former president appeared on The View last week, rejecting reports that he declined during his last year as president.

They are wrong, said Biden. Theres nothing to sustain that.
(NewsNation)  Aides to President Joe Biden privately discussed whether he would need a wheelchair if he won reelection, according to a new book.

The book, written by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson, comes out later this month and Axios first reported the story about the concerns over Bidens physical deterioration.

The former presidents declining health and spinal degeneration in 2023 and 2024 were so severe that aides feared he might need a wheelchair, even as they attempted to conceal the reality of his condition during the election.

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Trump, Saudi crown prince sign cooperation, investment deals

While using a wheelchair or any other mobility aid doesnt mean a person is suffering from mental deterioration, aides believed that Biden using a wheelchair during the campaign would harm him politically.

Bidens walk had become halting, and his doctor, Kevin OConnor, warned that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair could be necessary for his recovery.

After Biden tripped over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy in the summer of 2023, aides reportedly began taking steps to avoid another incident.

Those included figuring out shorter walking paths, using handrails for steps to the stage at appearances, increased briefings so he knew exactly what steps he was expected to take and having him wear sneakers more often.

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Bernie Sanders backs effort to cut drug costs, urges stronger action

According to the authors, Bidens doctor had expressed concerns over the effect the presidency was having on Bidens health, arguing with political officials to allow more time for Biden to rest and saying the presidents staff were trying to kill him.

When questioned by reporters, Biden aides repeatedly said his walk was the result of a fractured foot in 2020 and his refusal to consistently use a walking boot while he healed.

But OConnor had previously said that Bidens ankle had healed completely as expected. In his public statements on the presidents health, he attributed the change in Bidens gait to mild post-fracture arthritis and significant spinal arthritis.

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Bidens age became a front-and-center issue after his performance at a presidential debate, which led to pressure for him to resign from the race.

Mexico says migrant deaths have doubled since Trump took office

After three weeks of public and private pressure, Biden eventually did bow out, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee.

When asked about the book, Axios reported that a Biden spokesperson emphasized that any physical health changes the president experienced were not evidence of mental incapacity and said the president had been transparent about his issues

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Former President Joe Biden did not recognize George Clooney when he arrived for a record-breaking June 2024 fundraiser the movie star was co-hosting, according to a forthcoming book from CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson.

Backstage before the fundraiser, Clooney greeted the president when he arrived after a three-day trip to Italy for the G7 conference. The president appeared severely diminished, as if hed aged a decade since Clooney last saw him in December 2022, the authors write in an excerpt of the book published in the New Yorker on Tuesday:

You know George, the assisting aide told the president, gently reminding him who was in front of him.

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Yeah, yeah, the president said to one of the most recognizable men in the world, the host of this lucrative fundraiser. Thank you for being here.

It seemed clear that the President had not recognized Clooney, Tapper and Thompson write.

The excerpt was published from Tapper and Thompsons new book, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, which will be released on May 20. The book is based on more than 200 interviews, mostly with Democratic insiders, almost all of which occurred after the 2024 election.

Bidens apparent inability to recognize Clooney was one of the starkest signs of his physical and mental decline in the final year of his presidency, which led to his decision to drop his reelection bid after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in June.

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It wasnt a straight line of decline; he had good days and bad. But until the last day of his presidency, Biden and those in his innermost circle refused to admit the reality that his energy, cognitive skills, and communication capacity had faltered significantly. Even worse, through various means, they tried to hide it, the authors write.

The Clooney fundraiser took place on June 15, less than two weeks before the debate. Clooney was shaken to his core by the interaction with a man hed known for years, Tapper and Thompson report.

In this photo posted to X.com, George Clooney, President Joe Biden, Julia Roberts, and former President Barack Obama pose for a photo following a fundraiser in Los Angeles. - From Chris D. Jackson/X

It was not okay, recalled a Hollywood VIP who witnessed the interaction, according to the excerpt. That thing, the moment where you recognize someone you knowespecially a famous person whos doing a f**king fundraiser for youit was delayed. It was uncomfortable.

The interaction helps explain the motivation for Clooney to release an op-ed less than a month later calling on Biden to drop out of the race.

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The actor had been shocked by a letter Biden released on July 8 insisting he was staying in the race. He reached out to former President Barack Obama to tell him he was considering writing the op-ed, the authors write.

Obama advised that doing so would only make Biden dig in his heels deeper, according to the excerpt.

After Clooney wrote a draft, he shared it with Jeffrey Katzenberg, a major Democratic donor who organized the June fundraiser, and told Katzenberg to share it with Bidens longtime aide, Steve Ricchetti, the authors write.

Ricchetti read it and was furious, Tapper and Thompson report. Internally, he threatened to shut Clooney down  some of his colleagues thought he sounded like a Mob boss.

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According to the excerpt, Katzenberg told Clooney he did not agree with his assessment of Biden, because the president had been jet-lagged the night of the event. He told Clooney he was skeptical the op-ed would have its desired effect. Katzenberg wanted Clooney to cut the line about the befogged Biden at the fundraiser being the same man we all witnessed at the debate. He argued that what Clooney was saying was not fair.

Youre right, its not fair, Clooney agreed. Aging was awful. It really wasnt fair, the authors write. But, Clooney said, what he had written was accurate.

Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, defended his performance as president in a joint interview on ABCs The View earlier this month, pushing back on suggestions he experienced cognitive decline in his final year in office.

The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us, and they didnt see how hard Joe worked every single day, Jill Biden said. I mean, hed get up, he put in a full day, and then at night he would, Id be in bed, you know, reading my book, and he was still on the phone, reading his briefings, working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop.

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The book excerpt includes details of other Democratic concerns raised about Bidens health ahead of the June debate. The same night of the Clooney fundraiser, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was discussing his concerns about the debate at a wedding.

Another wedding guest, who sat at Schumers table, recalled him saying, If things go south at the debate, me, Barack, Nancy, and Hakeem have a Plan B, though Schumer later would deny it, the authors write.

We got so screwed by Biden as a party, David Plouffe, a former top Obama campaign aide who helped run Kamala Harris campaign after Biden dropped out, told Tapper and Thompson.

And its all Biden, Plouffe said. By deciding to run for reelection and then waiting more than three weeks after the debate to bow out, Plouffe added: He totally f**ked us.

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Former President Joe Biden reportedly didnt recognize George Clooney upon arriving at a June 2024 fundraiser that the actor was co-hosting for the then-presidential candidate, ultimately leading to Clooneys decision to speak out against Bidens ability to lead.

Biden, then 81, repeatedly had to be introduced to Clooney by an aide, but he still didnt seem to register who Clooney was, according to a summary of the upcoming book, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, that was published Tuesday in The New Yorker.

It was not O.K., a source described as a Hollywood VIP who witnessed the jarring moment told the books authors, CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson. That thing, the moment where you recognize someone you know  especially a famous person whos doing a fucking fund-raiser for you  it was delayed. It was uncomfortable.

Clooney, who has known Biden for years, was shaken to his core, Tapper and Thompson wrote.

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The Oscar-winning actor reportedly went on to try to brush off what happened and blame it on extreme fatigue, with Biden having arrived at the Los Angeles event from Italy earlier that day. But then he saw Bidens worrisome debate against then-candidate and former President Donald Trump and heard directly from numerous political leaders who expressed their own concerns.

Despite extreme pushback from Bidens campaign, Clooney in July went ahead and published his controversial op-ed in The New York Times: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.

Then-President Joe Biden is seen arriving onstage with former President Barack Obama during a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles on June 15, 2024. MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images

We are not going to win in November with this president, Clooney wrote. This isnt only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor who Ive spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.

Clooney, in an interview with Tapper last month, said he stands by his decision to write what he did. He said he doesnt see it as courageous, as Tapper suggested.

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I dont know if it was brave. It was a civic duty, Clooney responded.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden meets with George Clooney at the White House in 2009. White House/Sharon Farmer

When I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth, I thought that was time to, he said, while acknowledging that some people remain mad at him for doing what he did.

Biden was the oldest-serving U.S. president when he left office in January. His age was a point of concern and contention throughout his administration, with it constantly being questioned and challenged by the public.

The Biden administration is accused of concealing his declining health from the public in Tapper and Thompsons book.

Related...
The US Department of Labor has concluded its investigation into Scale AI, a startup backed by Nvidia and Amazon, regarding its compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), reported Reuters citing a source familiar with the situation.

The FLSA sets the framework for minimum wage, overtime pay, and other employment standards within the country.

The inquiry, which commenced nearly one year ago, during the tenure of former President Joe Biden, scrutinised the startup's fair pay practices and working conditions, Scale AI said in March 2025.

In response to the closure, Scale AI said it was "pleased with the update from DOL, reported TechCrunch.

Scale AI, established in 2016, specialises in providing accurately labelled data crucial for training advanced AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

The startup also offers a platform for AI research exchange, boasting contributions from more than 9,000 cities and towns globally.

In the previous year, Scale AI secured $1bn in a late-stage funding round led by Accel, with NVIDIA, Amazon, and Meta also participating.

The funding, which elevated the company's valuation to approximately $14bn, is aimed at enhancing data capabilities for enterprise clients, the US Department of Defense, and supporting the DEFCON 31 red-teaming event announced by the White House.

The funding round also saw investments from prominent entities including Coatue, Tiger Global Management, Intel Capital, and AMD Ventures.

This followed a $325m series E funding round in 2021, which at the time reportedly valued Scale AI at around $7.3bn.

"US Labor Department ends fair pay probe into Scale AI" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.




Washington State Ferries said it would deploy its new electric ferries first on the Mukilteo-Clinton run. The short route is currently served by diesel ferries like the Tokitae, seen here approaching Whidbey Island. (Photo by Tom Banse)

Ferry system managers and state budget writers in Washington took a cold wave over the bow Monday upon opening the bids to construct up to five new hybrid electric ferries.

I dont see how you get to five. Theres money for three on a good day, said state House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey, D-Tacoma.

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The Washington Legislature previously set aside about $1.3 billion to build new ferries and charging infrastructure over the next six to eight years. New vessels are overdue to stabilize the states aging and sometimes unreliable ferry fleet. Simultaneously, the ferry system and the states Democratic leadership want to reduce the ferries air pollution footprint by switching to battery propulsion as much as possible.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Florida, submitted the low bid for the states desired plug-in hybrid, 160-car vessels, according to a summary of the bids posted by WSF late on Monday. The $251 million price tag for the first ferry in the series was roughly in line with the state engineers in-house estimate.

Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island submitted a competing bid that was considerably higher, even after including a 13% bid credit authorized by the Legislature to incentivize home state construction. Neither bid includes the expensive hybrid electric powertrains for the new ferries, which the state plans to acquire separately.

A third shipbuilder, Philly Shipyard, was expected to submit a bid, but didnt in the end.

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The Nichols Brothers and Eastern Shipbuilding Group bids both include escalator clauses that Fey predicted will invariably make it (the price) go up. The escalators allow the shipyards to charge more in case of unpredictable cost increases, such as on steel or from tariffs.

Washington State Ferries said in a mass email to interested parties that it will evaluate the bid documents in greater detail for the next few weeks before awarding a contract. The agency will undoubtedly also consult further with the governors office and key legislators about what is affordable.

The most recent date given for delivery of the first new ferry was 2029.

First things first, I need to understand exactly what weve got with the bids, Gov. Bob Ferguson said Monday after an initial, high-level briefing. Ferguson declined to speculate more before getting additional information.

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Fey said he expects to discuss where more money could potentially be found. The veteran legislator said multiple currents in the bid environment drove up costs, including rising raw material prices, tariffs and limited shipyard competition  even though the ferry systems request for bids was opened to shipyards nationwide.

A Democratic legislator from ferry-served Bainbridge Island, Rep. Greg Nance, said he was struck by how Washingtons procurement was affected by the hollowing out of the nations shipbuilding industry. He was pleased there was more than one bidder.

Given the state of shipbuilding writ large, we knew that we were swimming upstream, Nance said in an interview Monday. We need to do more to support shipbuilding. Weve lost our shipbuilding edge over the past 50 years.

Cost roughly doubled over past seven years

The 144-car Suquamish was the most recent of the workhorse Olympic-class ferries upon which the new plug-in ferry design is based. The diesel-powered Suquamish was delivered to WSF in 2018 at a cost of about $122 million. Debate about how to proceed with further vessel acquisitions in that size class has stretched from then until now.

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During this dickering, the state pivoted to electrification, costs shot up and the reliability of the existing aging fleet went down.

The bid request published by WSF included the high-level design for a plug-in ferry capable of carrying up to 160 cars and 1,500 passengers. Drawings show boats that resemble a slightly elongated version of the diesel-powered Olympic class ferries delivered between 2014 and 2018. However, the new design has just one passenger deck stacked on top of the two auto decks.

The center of the ships hold will be packed with racks of water-cooled rechargeable batteries so the ferry can sail fully on electric power most of the time. The engine room will also feature twin diesel generators as a backup source of propulsion power.

Assuming they use green electricity to charge, the new ferries should achieve a large reduction in fuel consumption and an associated reduction in global warming emissions.

A rendering of the new hybrid-electric ferry design that went out to bid last year. (Photo courtesy of WSDOT)

WSF tentatively plans to deploy the new ferries to the Mukilteo-Clinton run first, probably followed by the Seattle-Bremerton route.

What about cheaper options?

Republicans, who are in the minority in the Legislature, have pushed for a cheaper diesel ferry option to be put back on the table. WSF leaders have been consistent in warning against reverting to conventional diesel power because that would necessitate a lengthy redesign and re-bid.

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If we were to switch now to go to diesel, we would have to stop what were doing with the hybrid, design a new diesel boat and lose the funding from the Climate Commitment Act, deputy WSF boss John Vezina said under questioning from state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Pierce County, at a Senate hearing in March. It would probably add two years to the acquisition of those new vessels.

BC Ferries has also been in the market for new car ferries and has been able to acquire new vessels at far lower cost than its Seattle-based neighbors. Unlike Washington State Ferries, BC Ferries can solicit bids from shipyards worldwide. The newest additions to the provinces fleet were built in Romania.

Building ferries to serve domestic U.S. routes at a foreign shipyard is prohibited under a century-old federal law known as the Jones Act.

Of late, the Trump administration and a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers in Congress have highlighted the need to make the American shipbuilding industry more competitive. But President Donald Trumps recent statements on the matter make no mention of jettisoning the longstanding made-in-America requirements.

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Washington State Ferries currently has 21 vessels of various sizes and ages in its fleet, making it the largest public ferry system in the nation. The WSF long-range plan contains a goal to grow to 26 ferries to provide reliable service on every route, with allowances for maintenance tie-ups and a vessel in reserve.

The hefty bids come just as it seemed the agency was sailing into smoother waters.

This summer, the ferry system will get nearly back to operating its full pre-pandemic schedule, missing only a second boat on the Port Townsend-Coupeville run during midweeks and the long-suspended international crossing to Sidney, B.C.

Last weeks generally celebratory blog post about the summer schedule cautioned that peak-season crewing will be stretched close to the limit. Blog author Bryn Hunter said it will be challenging to find a short-term replacement whenever an aging vessel breaks down.

I wouldnt let this be a Debbie Downer, Rep. Fey concluded at the end of his initial construction bid analysis. Theres been great progress made by the ferry system over the past four years.
Fans of Big Bear's bald eagle family  stars of their own webcam reality show  watched over the winter as parents Jackie and Shadow finally welcomed offspring to the nest after several previous attempts led to heartbreak. Now, in just 2 months, their eaglets have sprouted up.

Time flies  and, any day now, so will Sunny and Gizmo.

The birds are expected to fledge, or fly for the first time, between 10 and 14 weeks of age. Sunny turned 10 weeks old on Tuesday, and Gizmo hits that mark on Saturday.

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The pair are now around 3 feet tall, about the same size as dad Shadow, says Sandy Steers. The biologist is executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that operates the 24-hour nest cam monitoring the feathered family in a towering Jeffrey pine that overlooks Big Bear Lake. Thousands  sometimes tens of thousands  tune in to the cam, which has been in place since 2015.

She says the eaglets' wingspan now stretches to more than 5 feet. The nest the foursome shares is big at 6 feet across, but it's getting crowded, and the eaglets are rambunctious.

They have been "wing-ercizing" for weeks now, according to Steers.

Stretching and flapping their wings in the nest builds up muscle and hones balance, she said. At first, the hatchlings were "flapping their little wings and tipping over," Steers noted, but now they hop and jump across the nest as they're flapping.

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Fledging can't happen until the eaglet is fully grown physically, she says, and that occurs somewhere between 10 and 14 weeks. Anytime over the next month, Sunny and Gizmo will leap from the nest and fly away. It's possible they won't return, Steers said, "but they usually do."

The parenting doesn't stop at that point, however. Once their offspring fledges, Jackie and Shadow will follow them around the area, showing them how to get food . and taking good care of them because they dont know how to take care of themselves yet.

That will go on for two or three months as the eaglets learn how to feed themselves. Then, Sunny and Gizmo will likely take off for parts unknown, "traveling around meeting other juveniles," Steers said.

Ah, kids. They grow up fast.

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It seems like just a few months ago (and it was) that eagle-eyed devotees were following the Jackie and Shadow saga with both excitement and trepidation as the couple watched over a trio of eggs. It was the second year in a row they'd had a rare three-egg clutch. But the previous winter  one that saw Jackie at one point on her nest for hours, covered in snow, trying to keep her eggs warm  all three failed to hatch.

This year, there were triplets. The "fluff balls of adorability," as they were described on Facebook, had viewers riveted. But after a snowstorm brought more than 2 feet of snow to the area, one of the chicks died in the nest.

Read more: Dismay for Big Bear bald eagle family as eaglet dies in winter storm

A juvenile bald eagle has less than a 50% chance of surviving its first year of life, according to the American Eagle Foundation.

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Since the webcam was installed, only three chicks have fledged, which is normal, Steers told The Times in a previous interview: Its hard work being an eagle.

The perilous first year aside, bald eagles generally live 15 to 30 years in the wild, experts say, although Steers noted one banded eagle who clocked in at 38 years.

With Sunny and Gizmo getting ready to strike out on their own, Jackie and Shadow will soon be empty-nesters. But in no time at all, Big Bear's only year-round eagle pair will be family planning again.

"They usually start rebuilding the nest in early to mid-October," Steers said.

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New eggs could be in the nest as soon as late December.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ATLANTA (WSAV)  A bill making it illegal to sell dogs, cats and rabbits on roadsides, parks and parking lots was signed into law on Friday.

Governor Brian Kemp has officially signed House Bill 331 into law. Advocates have called the bill a victory for efforts to combat backyard breeding, puppy mills and illicit pet sales.

Dogs, cats and domestic rabbits cant be sold, exchanged or advertised for commercial purposes on any roadside, public right of way, parkway, median, public or commercial parking lot or sidewalk, park, recreation area, fair, transient or seasonal flea market or similar transient market or outdoor location, the bill said.

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Puppy mills frequently sell on roadsides and parking lots to prevent the public from seeing the oftentimes cruel and dire conditions these pets are bred in, said Senior Director of Advocacy and Network Partners, Best Friends Animal Society Laura Donahue. Im extremely grateful to Governor Kemp for taking a stand for Georgias pets.

Individuals who violate the law could face fines up to $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $500 for the third and subsequent offenses. Corporations would face a fine up to $1,000, between 200-500 hours of community service or both.

Additionally, each animal sold would represent a separate offense.

I backed the roadside sales element because every Georgians pet deserves a safe and loving home, a sponsor of the bill, Rep. Beth Camp (R) said. By ending roadside and parking lot sales, were protecting our neighbors, our families, and our communitys most vulnerable animals.

Read the full bill here:

Georgia-2025-HB331-EnrolledDownload

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The Iowa House passed legislation restricting local governments from implementing more stringent fireworks regulations than in state law on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A bill passed by the House Monday limiting local governments ability to restrict fireworks use will help the state participate in President Donald Trumps plans for major celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.s founding in 2026, Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, said.

The House passed Senate File 303 with a vote of 51-39, sending it to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The bill prohibits county boards of supervisors and city councils from prohibiting or limiting the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31, outside of existing regulations in Iowa Code.

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State law sets certain constraints on fireworks  which are legal to use from June 1 through July 8 and Dec. 10 through Jan. 3 of each year  that outlaws the sale of fireworks to minors and the use of display fireworks by people or organizations outside of local approval, as well as sets certain time restrictions on fireworks.

If signed into law, it would remove ordinances or other regulations set by several Iowa localities that ban or restrict the use of fireworks, including Des Moines, Ames and Iowa City.

Gustoff, the bills floor manager, said lifting these local restrictions for three days a year will allow the unwary, patriotic American in Iowa to celebrate the nations founding without running the risk of breaking local law. He said this will be especially important as the country prepares to celebrate the countrys 250th anniversary. Trump has floated bringing these celebrations to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Trump has proposed a yearlong celebration that he said would begin at the Iowa State Fair for the Great American State Fair scheduled from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026.

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Mr. President, we welcome that idea in Iowa, and were ready, willing and able to host the party, Gustoff said. Iowans would want to join their fellow citizens from around the nation to celebrate the semi-quincentennial birthday of the greatest nation in history, in the world.  We need to enable Iowans to be part of that celebration.

That includes being allowed to set off fireworks without violating local regulations, Gustoff said. However, Democrats have repeatedly expressed concerns about limiting local governments ability to set rules on fireworks use, particularly when different communities may set these regulations to address public safety hazards.

When I look at the list of who signed on as lobbyists, its striking to me that anyone concerned with public safety  firefighters, the fire marshals, the fire chiefs  are all against it, because they know what the challenges are in an urban environment, Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner said in March. And it should be  in my view, it also should also be a local government issue.

Rep. Eric Gjerde, D-Cedar Rapids, introduced an amendment Monday that would prohibit consumer fireworks for personal use. He said that in Cedar Rapids, which has a ban on fireworks within city limits, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department received 636 calls for service for fireworks between June 1 and July 8, 2024. These included some dumpster, grass and debris fires caused by fireworks, in addition to calls from people who think the sounds of fireworks are gunshots  calls that require multiple law enforcement officers to respond and investigate.

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He also brought up issues people in Iowa communities have with fireworks, like veterans who suffer from PTSD having adverse responses to fireworks going off nearby.

When we take away the local control of cities and counties to determine what works best for them and what works best for their individuals  to me, its just easier to say, lets just get rid of consumer fireworks altogether and stick with the display fireworks by our cities and our counties, Gjerde said.  So I think that even though we all enjoy  I enjoy a good firework display  but I also think we need to be certain thats whats in the best interest for everybody.

The amendment failed.

Gustoff said fireworks have been around for thousands of years, saying theres no denying that they have broad-based appeal, and theyre here to stay. The measure goes to Reynolds for final approval.
New York Republican Rep. Nick LaLota said the GOPs tax legislation as currently written is dead on arrival  and accused his partys chief tax writer of acting in "bad faith" by proceeding with a proposal for a key tax deduction that didn't have sufficient buy-in.

The bill is dead effectively on the floor, said LaLota in an interview Monday evening of a sweeping tax package released just hours earlier by leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee, in anticipation of a markup Tuesday afternoon.

LaLota and four other blue state Republicans hailing from New York, California and New Jersey have been pushing hard for a big boost to the $10,000 state and local tax deduction as part of the Republican megabill to enact broad swaths of President Donald Trump's domestic agenda.

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But of policies currently included in the Ways and Means draft bill that would increase the SALT deduction, LaLota accused committee chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) of acting in bad faith in presenting a bill that  doesnt even come close to earning our vote.

A Republican spokesperson for the Ways and Means Committee declined to comment.

The open criticism of the chair of a powerful committee from a member of the same party spells big trouble for Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders as they race to put President Donald Trumps big beautiful bill on the House floor next week. Johnson can only lose three Republicans on a party-line vote and still pass the sweeping tax, border and energy legislation.

The tax component of that bill released Monday included a tripling of the SALT cap to $30,000 and new income limits for the increased deduction. LaLota and his fellow so-called SALT Republicans think that the proposal is wildly insufficient.

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LaLota pointed to a joint statement issued by him and three other Republican lawmakers rejecting a $30,000 cap last week, saying he was surprised that the committee chair revealed that the draft bill included that same figure, with a $400,000 income limit.

The SALT Caucus summarily rejected 30k a few days ago, and yet the chairman presented 30k in the meeting, said LaLota, adding that the SALT Republicans on the call rebutted the proposal. I was disappointed that the committee chairman insulted us with fake numbers and fault conclusions.

For their part, many members of the Ways and Means committee, including Smith, believe that the SALT deduction unfairly subsidizes high-tax states. Smith has also indicated in recent days that he believes it isn't up to him to negotiate with the SALT Republicans but rather House GOP leadership. Johnson did take a more active role following the Monday morning call, according to Republicans granted anonymity to share details of private conversations.

At the same time, SALT Republicans are also experiencing fissures among themselves, which have exacerbated in the last 24 hours, mainly between the lawmakers who say they will accept an agreement closer to $30,000 and those who are digging in for a much larger increase. The SALT Republicans have also been split on whether they can tolerate an income cap on which taxpayers can claim the increased deduction.

The House Ways and Means Committee plans to open debate on the tax portion of the Trump agenda bill Tuesday afternoon. House GOP leadership hopes to resolve the differences over the SALT deduction after the markup and before the legislation heads to the chamber floor.
A sign warns of radioactive material at the West Lake Landfill. Thousands of tons of nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project were dumped there in the 1970s (Theo Welling/Riverfront Times).

A bill expanding the states ability to find radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region that dates to World War II development of the atomic bomb is on its way to the governor after unanimously clearing the Missouri House Monday.

The measure, which passed unanimously out of the Senate last week, would authorize the Department of Natural Resources to seek a search warrant to conduct investigations on otherwise off-limits government land. The bill also removes a $150,000 annual cap on how much the state can spend on an investigation and changes the rules governing the fund so that unspent money is not moved to another fund.

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Money transferred to the fund could not be used for clean-up of any contamination found in the investigation. The waste was spread by federal contractors and should be cleaned up by federal authorities, state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Defiance Republican, said during last weeks debate.

Lets give them the data. Lets see where that goes, Schroer said. And if theyre not willing to clean the mess up, I think were going to have a lot of lawsuits on our hands. But I think were gonna be back in this building, talking about it and if theyre not going to do it, we need to step up and protect our people.

St. Louis has struggled for decades with remnant radioactive waste from the World War II-era effort to build the worlds first atomic bomb.

While the presence of radioactive contamination in suburban St. Louis was known for years, an investigation by The Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press revealed in 2023 that the federal government and companies handling the waste were aware of the threat to the public long before informing residents.

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Uranium was refined in downtown St. Louis for use in the development of the bomb. After the war, it was trucked to St. Louis County, often falling off of trucks along the way. It was dumped at the airport, susceptible to the wind and rain, and contaminated the adjacent Coldwater Creek.

As suburban neighborhoods sprung up along Coldwater Creek, generations of children and families were exposed to the radioactive waste, elevating residents risk of certain cancers.

The waste was sold and moved to a site in Hazelwood, also along Coldwater Creek, so that a company could extract valuable metals. Eventually, the remnant radioactive material was dumped in the West Lake Landfill where it remains today.

This has been a long time coming, state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Ferguson Democrat, said of the radioactive waste investigative fund legislation passed Monday.

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Coldwater Creek is being cleaned up by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers while the Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing the cleanup of the West Lake Landfill.

The EPA announced earlier this year that it expanded the area of the West Lake Landfill that requires remediation by 40 acres after discovering contamination was more widespread than the agency previously thought. The cost of the project is now nearly $400 million, up from $229 million.

State Rep. Doug Clemens, a Democrat from St. Ann, said Monday that his community is ravaged by rare cancers that he attributes to the radioactive contamination left behind by development of the atomic bomb.

We played our part in World War II, he said. This weapons project left waste behind. That waste is incredibly harmful.

The Independents Rudi Keller contributed to this story.
Bill McKibben, a noted environmentalist known for penning a pioneering book on climate change in the 1980s, has weighed in on the white-hot debate over Rancho Viejo Solar, the large renewable energy and battery storage development proposed south of Santa Fe.

McKibben, who lives in Vermont but visited the City Different in the fall, had an opinion piece published Sunday in The Santa Fe New Mexican outlining his support for the project and sounding off on its vocal opponents who cite concerns about fire risks and the potential effects on property values.

Imagine my surprise to hear that an outspoken minority has emerged in Santa Fe opposing plans for a large-scale solar array, one capable of supplying a large part of the towns energy needs, he wrote. In the rest of the country, opposition to renewable energy has come largely from the fossil fuel industry. But in Santa Fe, its actually liberals spreading misinformation and working against the interests of their neighbors.

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The project proposed by energy giant AES Corp. has drawn concerns about the risks of runaway fires from lithium battery storage, particularly from residents of the Eldorado area who maintain the facility would affect their property values. Some of them decried McKibbens piece and doubled down on their concerns.

Camilla Brom, a Rancho San Marcos resident who started a grassroots group called New Mexicans for Responsible Renewable Energy in opposition to AES plans, called McKibbens opinion piece offensive.

It seems like its turning into a smear campaign, Brom said, adding,I am not a liberal, and I am only working in the best interest of the community.

She added, Were in a fire-risk zone, so why put anything in this zone that would increase the chance of a fire even more  and so close to thousands of people? In my opinion, its very irresponsible.

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RanchoViejoSolar.png

The proposed Ranch Viejo Solar project.

AES is seeking a conditional use permit from Santa Fe County to build its solar array and battery facility on 680 acres of an 800-acre parcel about three miles south of Santa Fe. Once completed, Rancho Viejo Solar could generate 96 megawatts of power and roughly 45 megawatts of battery storage  enough electricity to carry the citys residential load, AES officials have said.

Proponents have said it could play a major role in the states efforts to curb climate change and argue the project is a safe one. Supporters and representatives of AES also argue new technology dramatically reduces risks posed by such facilities.

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Deep need

McKibben said in an interview locally and regionally organized opposition to renewable energy projects is not unique to Santa Fe County  he has encountered the dynamic elsewhere, including in Vermont.

The comparative weight of risk here is enormously on the side of acting, of building out renewable energy fast, McKibben said. I think that the risk to the entire world, but also in particular the risk to the Southwest United States, by far the deepest risk comes in rapid alterations in the planets climate. Those are the fires that yall are dealing with already and will get steadily worse.

McKibben was the special guest at a Santa Fe Conservation Trust fundraiser in September. He also spoke to students at some local high schools, he said.

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He believes threats posed by climate change present an urgent call to action and stresses a deep need to say yes in my backyard  which also is the title of an article he published in the magazine Mother Jones in 2023.

I think thats particularly true for people like me: affluent, older, white Americans, the kind of people who are really good at stopping projects with lawsuits and whatever else, McKibben said. I think its really time for us to step back a little bit and say, Theres got to be some change made here on this planet for those who come after us.

He has written 20 books, according to his website, and his work appears regularly in periodicals from The New Yorker to Rolling Stone.

020325_GC_RanchoViejoSolar01rgb.jpg (copy) (copy)

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Joshua Mayer, senior development manager for AES, speaks before the Santa Fe County Planning Commission during a presentation in February about the proposed Rancho Viejo Solar project. The commission voted in favor of AES permit request for the project.

Dangerous facility

The Clean Energy Coalition of Santa Fe County, a group with more than 1,000 members who oppose the project, recently noted in an email to members and the community it has raised about $24,500 to fight the solar and battery storage project. Voicing staunch and spirited opposition, coalition members have packed meeting rooms for county land use hearings on the matter.

The county Planning Commission signed off on the project Feb. 4. Recently, the organization said it filed an official appeal of the Planning Commissions decision, meaning the County Commission will hear the matter sometime this summer.

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You dont put a potentially dangerous facility ... here in the middle of three communities three miles south of a major population center in the state of New Mexico, Lee Zlotoff, president of the Clean Energy Coalition, said in a previous interview.

The projects most outspoken detractors, in deep blue Santa Fe County, maintain they support the transition to clean energy but have concerns about AES and the project, in large part due to past fires at AES facilities. One ignited at a facility in Chandler, Ariz., in spring 2022.

Earlier this year, a blaze that sparked at a solar battery storage plant in Northern California ignited fresh debate in Santa Fe County over Rancho Viejo Solar.

Project supporters maintain battery storage has undergone an evolution in recent years, becoming safer through intensified testing standards and technological advancements. They also argue the project proposed by AES differs in its design from the facility that burned Jan. 16 in California.

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McKibbens article pointed out the local project would have fire suppression technology.

Brom, however, drew a distinction between fire suppression and fire extinguishing technology.

This suppression system, if they dont suppress the overheating in the first cell that overheats, it overheats the other cells and then propagates a thermal runaway fire, she said.

Randy Coleman, the vice president of the Clean Energy Coalition, said he feels there are alternatives to a large-scale projects like Rancho Viejo Solar. Whats more, he believes Santa Fe County does not have the planning in place to deal with such a facility.

The county is just not doing its duty to look at the risks and plan, Coleman said. If the county had a plan for renewable energy, then they would see that, from a holistic perspective, there are far better things that they could be doing.
May 12A bill introduced by Maine Rep. Poppy Arford, D-Brunswick, last week would require the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to adopt the most stringent standards available on PFAS contamination.

The bill, LD 1786, is among several "forever chemicals" bills that lawmakers will consider this session following a catastrophic firefighting foam spill at the Brunswick Executive Airport in August 2024. The spill released 1,450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, containing a toxic PFAS chemical known as PFOS, mixed with 50,000 gallons of water.

According to a news release from Arford, when the spill occurred, the DEP distributed materials that cited the PFOS standard in drinking water as 20 parts per trillion, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard was stricter, at 4 parts per trillion at the time.

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The proposed bill would require the DEP to post the most stringent standards on its website and share that information directly by email, mail or telephone with well owners who may be affected by PFAS contamination. It would also require the department to communicate up-to-date and clear test results and a list of resources available for remediation, testing and financial assistance.

Even trace amounts of the forever chemicals that make up the bulk of the foam are considered a public health risk, according to federal regulators. High exposure over a long time can cause cancer. Exposure during critical life stages, such as in early childhood, can also cause life-altering harm.

Several Brunswick residents and advocates submitted testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources supporting the bill.

Amy Self, a Brunswick resident who discovered her well was contaminated with PFAS following the spill, told the committee she initially thought her water was safe to drink based on information from the DEP, only to find out that testing showed PFAS levels more than 2.5 times the EPA standard.

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"Imagine waking up each morning, only to be greeted by the unsettling truth that the water flowing from your tap  water you rely on for drinking, cooking and bathing  is contaminated. Each sip is accompanied by an agonizing fear that it might be harming you or your loved ones," Self said. "This fear is not without merit. PFAS, commonly known as 'forever chemicals,' are associated with numerous health issues, including cancer, hormone disruption and immune system damage."

The bill is co-sponsored by state Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, in addition to legislators from Cumberland, Yarmouth, Harpswell and other surrounding towns.

Brunswick lawmakers have backed three bills intended to prevent another accidental release of AFFF. The bills call for a statewide foam inventory (LD 400); a state-run voluntary foam collection, storage and disposal program (LD 222); and removal of foam concentrate that remains at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station (LD 407).

Another bill, LD 1637, would reshape the leadership of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, the organization in charge of Brunswick Landing, to add more oversight by members of the Brunswick community.

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AUSTIN, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) announced today that the Texas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 4, a significant reform to eliminate the STAAR exam and overhaul the states public school accountability system. As a co-author, Landgraf has been a key advocate for these changes.

Today marks a monumental step forward for Texas students, parents, and educators, said Landgraf. The STAAR exam has long been a source of stress, taking time away from meaningful learning. House Bill 4 replaces this outdated system with an assessment program focused on student growth, not just a single, high-stakes test.

House Bill 4 replaces the STAAR exam with shorter nationally norm-referenced tests administered three times each year to track student progress. This new approach provides timely, actionable feedback for educators, students, and parents, reducing classroom disruptions and allowing for more effective instruction.



This bill is a win for teachers, who will now have the tools to support their students without the burden of a high-stakes test, and for students, who can now focus on learning instead of test preparation, Landgraf added.



In addition to testing reform, the bill introduces clearer performance metrics and enhances transparency, giving parents greater visibility into their schools performance. It also grants school districts more flexibility by adding new indicators for student engagement and workforce development to ensure a fairer and more transparent accountability system.



Landgraf co-authored the bill with State Representative Brad Buckley (R-Salado). House Bill 4 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  Indigenous residents and advocates came to the Boston State House on Monday to fight for bills that preserve and honor their culture.

The advocacy groups priority legislation includes prohibiting the use of Native American mascots, establishing Indigenous Peoples Day, teaching their culture and history in K-12 curriculum, creating a permanent education commission for American Indian and Alaska Natives, and ensuring that sacred or historical objects in non-profit or government collections are not sold for profit.

Healey administration awards grant funds to train thousands of workers across Mass.

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A Springfield professor explained that her research shows that Native people are still treated as second-class citizens.

Native Americans are generally invisible in the dominant US culture, and are often visible in the form of misleading stereotypes about Native Americans in the past, said Springfield College Sociology Professor Laurel Davis-Delano.

One event speaker grew up in western Massachusetts and was often the only native student in their classes. They spoke about their negative experiences with non-Native peers and how better education can help.

Too often we hear stories of the racial slurs, the backhanded comments, but we still live here in Massachusetts, a first-contact state, said Reggi Alkiewicz, the Civic Engagement Coordinator of the Black & Indigenous Resistance Fund at the North American Indian Center of Boston.

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Education initiatives would include teaching contemporary native history and efforts to regain tribal sovereignty.

The Indigenous Agenda Coalition was also behind the push to redesign the state flag and seal, and the Bay State is currently accepting suggestions for updated designs.

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Dive Brief:

XPO reported it is not seeing a lot of direct conversion from LTL to truckload, CEO Mario Harik said in an April 30 earnings call.

Still, with truckload rates being lower there might be more combinations into truckload happening, Harik said. But he noted that when truckload rates rise, the freight might come back to LTL.

In the soft freight market, the logistics companys shipments per day were down 5.8% during Q1 compared with a year ago, but it generated volume growth in the mid to high single digits in its local channel, which executives named as a key focus for XPO.

Dive Insight:

A softer economic environment and lower freight demand has led some freight to shift from LTL to truckload as shippers capitalize on historically low rates, but XPO executives said theyre seeing less of the direct conversion trend, according to the companys earnings call.

XPO is, however, seeing consolidation of shipments into truckload, which the carrier said has always happened.

Companies have used [Transportation Management Systems] for decades now. And what TMSs do is that they look at if you don't have a service requirement and you can combine things into a truckload, you will combine it, Harik said.

LTL makes up a big portion of XPO's business, with North American LTL contributing $1.17 billion of its overall $1.95 billion in revenue in Q1. The carrier said it is the fourth largest LTL carrier by 2024 revenue metrics of $4.9 billion, according to an earnings presentation. Shippers turning away from LTL could hurt its business.

But when asked about share loss to other modes, such as TL, Harik said he doesnt see any structural changes in how LTL freight is being moved across the country.

There has, however, been a decline in freight volumes and industrial demand over the past two to three years. "This is an opportunity potentially for the industry to see that volume come back when things turn the corner from an industrial production perspective," Harik told analysts.

On the other hand, carriers such as ArcBest reported freight migrating over to truckload due to the excess capacity in the truckload space, according to the company's April 30 earnings call.

From what we saw in 2024, we think that freight is going to eventually flow back to the LTL space when the market flips. But we've been encouraged by ultimately what our customers are looking for, and that's efficiency in supply chain, ArcBest President Seth Runser said.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A Birmingham man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for gun and drug crimes, according to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona on Tuesday.

Jarrell Russell, 26, pled guilty in February to possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

An Adamsville Police Department sergeant tried to stop a gray sedan on October 10, 2023, for speeding, according to court documents. Russell, who was driving the vehicle, went into a parking lot and fled the area on foot. He was carrying a pink backpack and held a pin object in his hand.

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Alabama governor signs speedy trial bill into law, seeking to speed prosecution of violent crimes

Police officers then arrested Russell and found the pink backpack by him. Court documents showed a search of the backpack found methamphetamine, two digital scales, a pistol with an extended magazine as well as other drug paraphernalia. A small bag containing a blue substance in the drivers side door was discovered in Russells vehicle.

It was determined the methamphetamine recovered weighed over 74 grams, and the blue substance found was 1.22 grams of fentanyl. Before the arrest. Russell was convicted of first-degree robbery in Jefferson County and a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, investigated the case.

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By Andrew Chung

(Reuters) -One of President Donald Trump's most contentious policies - his attempt to restrict automatic birthright citizenship - arrives at the U.S. Supreme Court this week with an unusual twist: The justices may focus on something else entirely.

Federal judges in Washington state, Massachusetts and Maryland issued orders blocking Trump's January executive order nationwide, finding the directive likely violated language in the U.S. Constitution concerning citizenship for babies born in the United States.

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But through an emergency filing, Trump's administration has focused the Supreme Court's attention not on the legality of the action by the Republican president but rather on the permissibility of the actions by the three judges - whether federal judges should have the power to issue broad orders that block challenged polices on a nationwide, or "universal," basis.

The administration asked the court to narrow the injunctions to let the government enforce Trump's directive - part of his hardline approach to immigration - to the greatest extent possible while the legal fight over the policy plays out.

The court may do so "without considering the underlying merits" of Trump's action, the administration asserted.

That approach would set up the possibility of the court, which has as a 6-3 conservative majority, allowing broad enforcement of the policy without assessing whether or not it is legal.

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The matter came to the court on a compressed timeline and with minimal written briefing.

The way the court is considering the case "seems quite strange," said Alan Trammell, a professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, because "even though the substantive question of birthright citizenship technically isn't before the court, it still looms large."

"It concerns one of the most important provisions of the Constitution and implicates a raging political debate," Trammell said.

Trump's order, signed on his first day back in office, directed federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident.

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Trump's order was challenged by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states as well as individual pregnant immigrants and advocacy groups. The plaintiffs have said the directive violates a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 and long has been understood to confer citizenship to virtually anyone born in the United States.

Trammell noted that the administration has not contested whether the injunctions should have been issued, asking the justices only to scale back their nationwide effect to protect just the plaintiffs in the cases.

"The situation would be very odd indeed if the court concluded that the plaintiffs' view of the merits is correct, yet gave only the individual plaintiffs the benefit of that ruling," Trammell said.

'BIRTH TOURISM'

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The 14th Amendment states that all "persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."

The administration contends that the 14th Amendment does not extend to immigrants who are in the country illegally or even to immigrants whose presence is lawful but temporary, such as university students or those on work visas.

Automatic birthright citizenship does not reflect the best reading of the 14th Amendment and it encourages "birth tourism" by expectant mothers traveling the United States to give birth and secure citizenship for their children, the administration argued in court filings.

At the Supreme Court, the administration has targeted only the universal scope of the injunctions, content to leave them in place to protect only the people who sued as well as the residents of the 22 states, assuming the Supreme Court finds that these states have the necessary legal standing to bring their cases. That outcome would let Trump's order go into effect in the 28 states that did not sue, aside from any plaintiffs from those states.

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The Justice Department said the issuance of broad judicial injunctions has bedeviled administrations of both parties, Republican and Democratic, and must be urgently rectified by the Supreme Court. Trump himself on March 20 called the situation "toxic" and urged the Supreme Court to act.

Since Trump returned to office, many of his numerous executive orders and other initiatives have been impeded by judges, including through universal injunctions.

"The need for this court's intervention has become urgent as universal injunctions have reached tsunami levels," the Justice Department said in a written filing.

If the justices agree to scale back the judicial blocks, it could lead to a nation geographically fractured between places where babies are born with automatic citizenship and places where they are not, the plaintiffs said.

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"An infant would be a United States citizen and full member of society if born in New Jersey, but a deportable noncitizen if born in Tennessee," the plaintiffs in the Maryland case told the justices.

IDAHO TRANSGENDER CASE

The Justice Department has cited the Supreme Court's action in a case last year to back up its request to narrow the injunctions. In that case, called Labrador v. Poe, Idaho asked the justices to let the state enforce a Republican-backed ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors after a federal judge blocked it as unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court, over the dissent of its three liberal members, granted Idaho's request that the statewide injunction be pared back to cover only the transgender plaintiffs who actually sued.

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The scope of an injunction is significant, the Justice Department told the Supreme Court, and ensuring that lower courts do not act beyond their limited judicial power "is just as critical as merits review," meaning an assessment of an action's legality.

A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Some legal experts said the cases differ for numerous reasons. For instance, they said, the Idaho case involved one state, not a presidential executive order applying nationally.

Even though the administration has made the dispute primarily about universal injunctions, some court observers have said the justices could decide to rule on the legality of Trump's order anyway.

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It is unusual for the court "to be considering an emergency application in this context," University of Chicago law professor William Baude said.

"Because of that, we won't know what the court is going to focus on until the oral arguments start," Baude added.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
This week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Trump v. Casa. Though the case is premised on Donald Trumps attempt to end birthright citizenship, whats really at stake, for right now, is how the administration is pushing federal judges to end nationwide injunctions  and with it, judges ability to put a check on the executive branch.

Over a century ago, the Supreme Court declared that under the Constitutions 14th Amendment, being born within the nations borders conferred the ancient and fundamental rule of citizenship in that territory. But in January, Trump issued an executive order purporting to protect the meaning and value of American citizenship by ending citizenship for certain people born on U.S. soil.

Under the 14th Amendment, all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the States wherein they reside. For over a century, that has been understood simply, that barring some extremely limited exceptions  like children born to diplomats while they are in the U.S. representing their own country  any person born on U.S. soil is entitled to U.S. citizenship.

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But Trumps interpretation of the amendment is that it was never meant to grant automatic citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. His administration has reached this conclusion by focusing on a few key words in the amendment: subject to the jurisdiction of.

The same day he was inaugurated for his second term, Trump issued an executive orderclaiming children of undocumented immigrants are not citizens who are subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. laws. Specifically, the administration says the order covers children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants 30 days from Jan. 20, 2025, and this includes children of women who are in the U.S. unlawfully; children whose mothers are in the U.S. on a temporary but legal basis, like with a visa; and children whose fathers were not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident when the child was born.

Judges presiding over legal challenges to Trumps executive order have mostly eviscerated the presidents interpretation of the law. Three separate federal courts have so far put a hold on the order, preventing it from going into effect nationwide. (One federal judge in Maryland was painstakingly clear when issuing an injunction, writing that Trumps executive order ran against the plain language of the 14th Amendment, contradicts 125-year-old binding Supreme Court precedent and runs counter to our nations 250-year history of citizenship by birth.)

The United States Supreme Court has resoundingly rejected the presidents interpretation of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. In fact, no court in the country has ever endorsed the presidents interpretation. This court will not be the first, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman wrote.

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Unable to convince the courts to shatter birthright citizenship, in March, the Trump administration rushed to the Supreme Court with a different approach: whether the judges even have the right to block it.

Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris urged the Supreme Court not to tangle itself in the merits or constitutionality of Trumps take on birthright citizenship but rather, she asked the justices to 1) stop the courts injunctions from going into effect so they could apply Trumps executive order only to the individuals or states who had sued over it, and 2) for the justices to declare that enough is enough, and block the issuance of nationwide injunctions that the government claims harm the Executive Branch and how it functions.

Rejecting limitations put on the government, and of nationwide injunctions, or an order from a district court that can bind the federal government broadly, is currently in fashion for the Republican Party.

In April, Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing on nationwide injunctions after a series of bills were introduced by Republicans in the House seeking to restrict how the injunctions can be applied. Debate ensued over whether nationwide injunctions were attempts by the judiciary to usurp the executive branchs power. But in the not-too-distant past, Republicans in Congress were enamored with nationwide injunctions, particularly when federal judges issued them in line with whatever their preferred political issue of the day might be.

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But now, as the Trump administration struggles to secure clean victories from the courts on birthright, immigration, or how its dismantling the federal government, the tune from Republicans has changed.

They are finding that the sauce for the gander is not their favorite sauce for the goose, Michigan Law Professor Margo Schlanger said in an interview with HuffPost this week.

Nationwide injunctions can be seen as something that helps put checks on an unruly government, but they can also be seen as the end game for a plaintiff who is forum-shopping, or choosing a specific venue to sue in because that venue is likely to offer the most favorable ruling. And increasingly, they can be seen as necessary for people affected by laws, but who would otherwise be disenfranchised or unable to bring a lawsuit.

Gregory Chen, the senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told HuffPost in a recent interview that nationwide injunctions are necessary to give people full relief.

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If the court overrides or undoes the current nationwide injunctions against the Trump administrations unconstitutional order [on birthright citizenship], it will bring chaos and disorder in the law on this core constitutional right on who is a citizen, he added.

Scores of children across the country could be denied citizenship even if they are born here, losing access to the rights assured to citizens born on U.S. soil, which could create a vast disparity of the rights children may have in one state versus another.

Different standards could apply state by state. We could have an injunction that could apply only within a limited narrow region but then its not applied to the rest of the country people in some states could be protected, while others could be harmed immediately if the injunction is not allowed to stand, Chen said.

Trumps executive order on birthright citizenship is a legal long shot, and the sheer volume of rulings around birthright laws for over a century have decided that, both Schlanger and Chen agreed.

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But by turning an unwinnable argument over birthright citizenship into a potentially winnable argument over nationwide injunctions, the administration can kill two birds with one stone: They can perpetuate doubt about constitutional principles and leave open the possibility for more damage later.

If theres no such thing as a national injunction, then a lot of people are going to have their rights stomped on, because theres not going to be a procedural vehicle that allows the courts to address their rights in a common way, Schlanger said. We can see it in the Alien Enemies Act cases.

Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Actin March and declared that individuals associated with the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua were considered an invading force and could be removed by his decree. The order spurred a series of lawsuits from people who were detained, labeled gang members with scant to no evidence, and then were flown to CECOT, a notorious prison in El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg put an injunction on deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, and in short order, the Supreme Court lifted it, saying that challenges to removal must be heard in the specific district that the person was detained in.

That case also showed the impact of requiring plaintiffs to litigate individual cases. Instead of being able to bring one legal challenge and have it applied to everyone it affects, civil rights organizations, like the American Civil Liberties Union who have been fighting against the deportations, are required to bring an individual habeas petition for each individual threatened with removal  which works out to hundreds and hundreds of petitions.

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Maybe with enough lawyers, labor and attention, Schlanger said, its possible to litigate hard enough to surmount a procedural obstacle. But that labor and attention, not to mention legal expertise, is simply not available to everyone.

Its like a tax on the assertion of rights. Like a really, really heavy tax, she added. The question of due process is what process is due.

If the Trump administration were not so gung-ho on moving fast and breaking stuff, if they were moving more deliberately, if they were taking more care, then the situation wouldnt be as difficult, but because that is how theyre moving, that means the need for national injunctions to safeguard peoples rights is really very high, she said.

When it comes to Trumps birthright citizenship order, Schlanger said she thinks the Trump administration is interested in creating a permanent underclass.

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Thats what doing away with birthright citizenship would do. It creates a permanent set of people who  not just for their lifetimes, but for their children and presumably their childrens children and on and on  those folks dont get full American status. I think the Trump administration is very interested in doing that and they think that is a good state of affairs, she said.

Chen believes the administrations aim is to infuse the social media sphere and the court of public opinion with doubt. Look at how Trump tried to convince people that former President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., he said, simply by repeating the baseless claim over and over.

Even though that was totally specious, just by putting out claims that are not based on legal fact is how they undermine public confidence in a concept, he said.

If the administration was genuinely interested in fixing the nations immigration system in a way that would reflect not just the founders goals but the values and needs of businesses, families, then they would be focused on improving or expanding access to legal pathways to citizenship, not shrinking them, Chen said.

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Right now, immigration courts are severely backlogged by about 4 million cases, and cases can take years to resolve. Visa application processes through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service arent much better, and that means those systems need attention, rules and efficient adjudication in the courts, Chen said.

But the aim for the administration seems only to be to block, exclude, intimidate, frighten or scare immigrants into leaving this country, Chen said.

And unless the Supreme Court upholds the nationwide injunctions, he fears the next step for those immigrants is inevitable: their continued targeted harassment.

Related...
European leaders are ready to wait until a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkiye before pressuring the United States to impose new sanctions against Moscow.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Bloomberg

Details: According to informed sources, US and European officials held talks on 12 May, which made it clear that the US wanted to give Russia and Ukraine a chance to hold talks on 15 May before stepping up pressure on Putin.

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The agency sources said that if Putin refused to meet with Zelenskyy or Russia did not agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on 15 May, European leaders would call on US President Donald Trump to carry out his threat and impose new sanctions against Moscow.

Nevertheless, it is noted that during the negotiations on 12 May, the Americans did not give a clear answer as to whether they were ready to impose sanctions against Russia if it attacked Ukraine this week. They also did not say what they would do if Putin refused to meet with Zelensky and continued to attack Ukraine.

Background:

In a nighttime statement on 11 May, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not mention a 30-day ceasefire but said he was ready for "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday 15 May.

On 11 May, US President Donald Trump publicly called on Ukraine to accept Russia's proposal for direct negotiations in Istanbul on 15 May, despite the Kremlin's refusal to agree to the 30-day ceasefire demanded by Kyiv and its Western allies.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed on the evening of 11 May that Ukraine expects a full and lasting ceasefire from Russia starting on 12 May and declared that he will personally be waiting for Putin in Turkiye on 15 May for potential peace talks.

The European Union may impose sanctions on the consortium operating the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if Russia fails to start a ceasefire as planned.

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JEFFERSON  The Ashtabula County Board of Elections approved 26 provisional ballots at a meeting Monday.

Board of elections Director John Mead said the counted provisional votes will not affect the results of anything on the ballot.

The board also accepted a provisional ballot, pending review by the Ohio Secretary of States Office.

Board of elections Deputy Director Charlie Frye said the voter had a religious objection to using a photo ID.

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Typically Amish voters object to the use of a photo ID for religious reasons, he said.

Frye said the Secretary of States Office is checking if the voter has a photo ID.

We anticipate that this is going to be a good voter, however, the secretary of states office said the earliest theyre going to get back with [us] is tomorrow, he said.

The vote will not be counted if the secretary of states office determines the person has a photo ID, Frye said.

Frye said there were 10 absentee ballots from the election that arrived by the Saturday deadline.

The board of elections will vote on certifying official election results at its next meeting 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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The board voted to reject six provisional ballots.

Three were rejected because voters failed to provide a photo ID.

Two provisional ballots were rejected because the voters already voted.

There were two voters that came into our office to vote, and decided to go vote on election day as well, Frye said.

Frye said the two voters were older and likely misremembered voting.

Thats why we train for it, he said. Obviously, if was something nefarious, we would suggest an alternate route.

One was rejected because the voter was not registered in the state.

This was a voter that came in to vote, who had lived in [Pennsylvania], Frye said. They had moved here, but they didnt have an ID. They just werent registered here.

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Frye said the overall election went well and the poll workers did a good job.

We had an electric blurb in the southwestern part of the county for about seven [to] eight minutes, he said. The way they explained to me, a transformer breaker that went out had to be reset, and basically it knocked the power out for about 10 minutes.

The board of elections is preparing to host a mock election for county high schoolers at the end of August.

Frye said the event will work on recruiting future poll workers and engage students with voting.

Those arent long-term solutions, but its a start, he said.

Five schools are participating in the mock election.

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The five schools are: Grand Valley, Geneva, Edgewood and Saint John high schools and A-Tech.

Mead said GV was a recent addition.

Were happy to have the one down south, because the rest of them are way up north, he said.

Conneaut, Jefferson and Pymatuning Valley high schools could not participate, Mead said.

The board did not hear back from Lakeside High School.
ANDERSON  The trial of the man charged with the 2022 shooting death of Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz will be moved to Anderson City Court.

Carl Roy Webb Boards II is scheduled to go on trial in January on charges including murder. He faces a possible death sentence.

After initially denying a request from the Madison County Prosecutors Office, Madison Circuit Court Division 3 Judge Andrew Hopper decided Friday to move the trial to city court.

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In the motion, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hanna noted the trial could take from three to six weeks.

The motion states that Anderson City Court seats about 120, compared to 38 in the circuit courtroom, and notes that city court has three secure holding cells, compared to none in the courthouse.

Hanna said city court could accommodate the legals staffs involved in the case and provide additional room for court proceedings.

He believes that more than two alternates will be selected for the trial. The jury box of Circuit Court can seat only 14, while the city court jury box could be arranged for more than 14 people, he said.

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Boards was moved in April from the Miami County Correctional Facility to the more secure Westville Correctional Facility after, reportedly, stabbing a prison guard. No charges had been filed in Miami County as of Monday.

Anderson City Court Judge Jason Jamerson said Monday that discussions about moving the trial from the Madison County Government Center had been ongoing.

Im willing to do what I can to help, Jamerson said. For security purposes, the city court is a better place to have the trial.

Jamerson said details on how city court will operate during the Boards trial remain to be finalized.

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We will still have the essential services. I will work with county officials. There are hearing rooms available at the courthouse. There are a lot of reasons it makes sense, Jamerson said of moving the Boards trial.

Jury selection from Delaware County is scheduled to start Jan. 12, 2026, and the trial is set to continue Jan. 26, 2026.

Boards is charged with murder in the July 31, 2022, fatal shooting of Shahnavaz.

According to police, just after 2 oclock that morning, Shahnavaz stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near Indiana 37 and County Road 1100 North, and Boards, who had been driving the car, shot the officer.

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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 found 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.

Boards then surrendered without further incident.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  An investigation is underway after the body of a Brigham City man was discovered at Stinking Springs on Friday morning.

The body of Eusevio Leyva, 69, was discovered on May 9, according to the Box Elder County Sheriffs Office. Crews were originally dispatched around 8:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a deceased male located in the water, the sheriffs office said.

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Leyvas body was discovered at Stinking Springs, around 9200 W Hwy 83 in Corinne, the sheriffs office said. The Corinne Fire Department, Brigham City EMS, the Box Elder County Sheriffs Office, and the Medical Examiner all responded to the scene.

Officials said the investigation into Leyvas death is ongoing.

There is no further information at this time.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A body has been found in the lake at A.J. Jolly Park and Campground, according to Campbell County Chief of Police Craig Patrick Sorrell.

Campbell County police responded Monday morning after park staff reported a capsized fishing boat.

Around 4 p.m., Sorrell says Boone County Water Rescue recovered a body around 4 p.m. believed to be the owner of the boat.

Sorrell says that foul play is not suspected at this time.

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Law enforcement will not identify the person pending notification of the family.

Sorrell says parts of the park have been temporarily closed to the public due to the incident.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A.J. Jolly Park: Body found in lake after fishing boat capsizes
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Monongalia County Sheriffs Department is investigating after a man was found dead near Interstate 68 on Monday.

At 12:18 p.m. on Monday, May 12, deputies were called to investigate a report of a body being on in the shoulder area of I-68 westbound near exit 1, according to a press release. Deputies said that the body has been identified as Aaron S. Monette, 56 of New York, and has been transported to the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy and further examination.

At this time, all possibilities are being thoroughly investigated as part of standard procedure.

Additional details will be released as they become available and as the investigation progresses, the release said.

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I-79 northbound still closed from early morning crash in Mon County

The Monongalia County Sheriffs Department is actively conducting a death investigation and asks that anyone with information related to the case contact its detectives division at (304) 288-5083.

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 WBOY.com.
MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) issued a boil water notice for subdivisions on the Main Harbor water system.

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), the notice was issued for 574 water connections on May 12.

Asbestos concerns halt demolition of old Coca-Cola plant

Officials said the boil water notice was issued due to a burst in a water main. Customers will be notified by the system when the notice has been lifted.

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Health officials strongly recommend that all water be boiled vigorously for one minute before it is consumed.

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All flights have been suspended at Brussels South Charleroi Airport following a bomb hoax.

On Tuesday, May 11, the airport wrote on their Facebook page that operations had been stopped following a bomb alert that occurred just before 11 a.m. local time.

"Bomb alert on board a plane: Temporary closure of the runway," the statement read.

"This morning, shortly before 11 a.m., a bomb alert was triggered aboard a plane that landed at Charleroi Airport. A safety perimeter has been established around the aircraft, which requires the runway to be closed and therefore the operations to be stopped. The competent authorities have taken over. We will keep you informed as the situation develops."

OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Charleroi Airport in Gosselies, Belgium Charleroi Airport in Gosselies, Belgium

Local outlet RTL Today reported a spokesperson as saying that the flight had departed from Portugal, just over 1,000 miles to the south.

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"This Tuesday morning, shortly before 11 a.m., a bomb threat was reported on a flight coming from Porto," the statement read. "The plane landed as scheduled at Charleroi Airport, where it was parked away from operational areas."

Spokesperson, Nathalie Pierard, told The Brussels Times "The plane has been moved to a separate area of the airport. The runway and the main road behind it are closed, and a security perimeter of 500 metres has been set up."

*This is a breaking news story

Read the original article on People
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Bond was set today at $75,000 for an East Side man charged with having thousands of images of sexual abuse of minors in his home.

Rolando Guzman-Sosa, 28, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on 20 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, all fourth-degree felonies.

Magistrate Scott Fowler set a July 17 trial date before Judge Anthony Donofrio.

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Guzman-Sosa was indicted Thursday by a grand jury via direct presentment following an investigation by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

The indictment in the case said Guzman-Sosa had the images when a search warrant was served in April 2024 at his Himrod Avenue home.

The warrant was served after a tip was received by investigators. They said thousands of images of child pornography were found in the home.

Assistant Prosecutor Katherine Jones asked for a bond of $75,000, saying that prosecutors have a concern that Guzman-Sosa may go to Puerto Rico, where he was born, and the fact that he faces 20 counts.

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Defense attorney Walter Ritchie asked for a bond of $10,000, saying Guzman-Sosa has no criminal record, is autistic and can not do anything without his mother.

Magistrate Fowler said he was concerned with the number of counts Guzman-Sosa is facing, so he agreed with Jones request for 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 WKBN.com.
Internal discussions took place about putting Joe Biden in a wheelchair during the 2024 campaign, but advisers squelched the idea because the move would be politically untenable  at least until after the election. So says a new book, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

According to an Axios summary Tuesday adapted from the book, Bidens inner circle was alarmed at the incumbents physical decline, which had become apparent in falls like the one he experienced at the Air Force Academy graduation in 2023.

His own doctor, Kevin OConnor, had warned that if Biden fell again, a wheelchair could become necessary, Original Sin noted, per Axios. The book, co-authored by Axios Alex Thompson and CNNs Jake Tapper, comes out May 20.

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The doctor clashed with Bidens handlers over the amount of rest time allotted in his schedule, and he joked with them that they were trying to kill him, while he was trying to keep him alive, Axios wrote from an excerpt.

Worries about a foot injury slowing his gait in 2020 had turned to more serious concerns about his spinal degeneration as the 2024 campaign wore on. According to the book report, the presidents camp arranged for handrails up steps during appearances, encouraged him to wear sneakers more often, and choreographed his movements to mitigate mishaps.

Bidens orthopedic woes had been public knowledge for some time. A 2021 write-up from the presidents doctor, released by the Biden administration, discussed Bidens stiffened gait, which resulted partly from the foot injury as well as spinal arthritis.

Another book about the campaign, Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, revealed earlier that fluorescent tape laid out on a carpet served as bread crumbs for Biden to follow at a reception hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy last summer.

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An unnamed Biden rep acknowledged Bidens physical changes as he aged but told Axios, We are still waiting for someone, anyone, to point out where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or make a presidential address where he was unable to do his job because of mental decline. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite  he was a very effective president.

But tension over the presidents vigor extended beyond his mobility and mental acuity. His longevity came into question as well. Aides for Harris constructed a death-pool roster of judges who could swear her in if he died, according to Fight.

Bidens doddering debate against Donald Trump eventually led to his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsement of Harris, who lost to Trump in the 2024 election.

The former president shocked observers recently when he said his late exit from the race wouldnt have mattered, suggesting Trumps victory was a fait accompli.

Bidens fall at the Air Force Academy graduation in 2023 elevated concerns about his mobility, according to a new book. via Associated Press

Related...
Editors Note: The video in this story has been updated to more accurately reflect the nature of actions taken by Customs and Border Patrol.

(NewsNation)  Border agents trying to stop smugglers from reaching the U.S. are now facing high-stakes situations at sea as the southern border tightens.

The number of smugglers attempting to reach the U.S. by sea has been picking up, nearly doubling on the eastern side of the country.

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DHS crackdown on gang members in nationwide sweep

With the southern border essentially locked down, smugglers are retaking old routes, and Customs and Border Protections air and marine operations interdiction agents are working together to force smugglers to stop.

Boat blows past Mexican Navy, US Coast Guard

In a recent incident, marine interdiction agents were forced to disable a vessel after it blew past the Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, refusing to stop. One of the agents shot out the engines of the boat, which were actually very small and located below the water.

Suspected drug smugglers standing on top of a sinking vessel approximately 90 miles south of Haiti on July 24, 2024. The USS St. Louis launched a small boat crew to rescue the suspected smugglers after their vessel capsized. (Courtesy photo)

The agent who carried out the seemingly impossible task was on board during a NewsNation ride-along and said it was actually his first time shooting out an engine.

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We have basically the same authorities as Border Patrol, said Brandon Tucker, who is with the Air and Marine branch of Customs and Border Protection. We just kind of translate them to the maritime environment. But were locked arms. Youre not getting by us, and we leverage our partnerships for when we want to do a significant prosecution of a smuggler with enhancements.

Boats, jet ski operators will dump people and drugs into water to avoid charges

In the past several years, 350 vessels have been stopped by force, the engines shot out by law enforcement after boat operators refused to stop.

The unit NewsNation was riding with has already had 17 engine shootouts this year, the deputy director saying they are on pace to break a record.

Police arrest more people outside New Jersey ICE facility

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Often, boat or jet ski operators will dump people or drugs into the water when spotted to avoid smuggling charges. Theyll even blend in with the migrants when agents approach, but reconnaissance tools like cameras help identify the smugglers.

Theres about a 25% chance that agents are going to have to shoot out an engine during the day if a vessel shows up, and at night, that probability doubles to about 50%, as smugglers think they have a better shot at getting away under the cover of darkness.

But agents dont just start shooting. There is a process to ensure everyone is safe.

No injuries reported in all 350 engine shootouts

Its called the small boat interception protocol, and agents will first approach the vessel and order it to stop. If they dont, warning shots will be fired. If the operator still wont stop, the engines are shot out and the vessel is disabled.

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US cattle ban to last 15 days, president of Mexico says

These guys dont know what theyre running into until theyre alongside, and they have to put on the law enforcement hat when its drug smugglers, where youve got M4s trained on them, ready to take care of business, said Tucker. Then in a moment, youre like, okay, its migrants. Lets put that down and lets make sure that situation is safe.

In all 350 engine shootouts they have had, zero injuries have been reported, something the deputy director is attributing to the training and professionalism of the agents.

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Boston police are actively investigating a shooting in Roxbury that left one person hospitalized.

At around 2:54 p.m., officers assigned in Roxbury were notified of a person who was shot in the area of 107 Munroe St., police said in a statement. The area where the shooting happened extends to Horatio Harris Park, Boston 25 News reported.

The person had life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said.

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Police called for homicide detectives as part of the investigation into the shooting.

There have been no arrests while the shooting continues to be under investigation, police concluded.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A lawsuit that accuses Exxon Mobil and Suncor of contributing to climate change through fossil fuel activities was allowed to continue under a Colorado Supreme Court ruling made Monday.

Boulder County, alongside San Miguel County and the city of Boulder, originally brought the lawsuit in April 2018 for the costs that they face due to climate harms, and for decades of misinformation.

Suncor accused of violating Clean Air Act by EPA, Colorado health department

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The Colorado Supreme Courts decision validates what we have long known: our communities are already bearing the devastating impacts and mounting costs of the climate crisis, said Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann in an announcement of the case ruling. This ruling brings us one step closer to holding accountable those who are the most responsible for altering our climateand ensuring they contribute their fair share toward addressing the damage theyve caused.

The city and county of Boulder said Monday that the governments are facing significant rising costs to address the impacts of climate change  costs that would otherwise fall entirely on local taxpayers.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruling ensures that the case will continue despite the fossil fuel companies request to dismiss it. The Boulder County Commissioners wrote in an update on the case that the case has a global impact, but issued a narrow opinion focused on whether federal law blocks Colorado law.

Exxon Mobil and Suncor argued that Boulders claims are governed by federal common law of interstate pollution. However, the court disagreed and denied the oil and gas companies motion to dismiss.

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The court also noted that Boulder is seeking monetary compensation and not an injunction, and does not pose an obstacle to air pollution emissions.

Jury finds man guilty of 19 counts, acquits him on 1 in kidnapping, wiretap case

The Court properly ruled that Colorado law is fully capable and appropriate to address climate harms occurring in Colorado. After over seven years, Boulder County and the City of Boulder can finally have their day in court, said Kevin Hannon, Partner, Singleton Schreiber, LLP, in the Boulder County release.

Mondays ruling will keep the case in district court, instead of moving it into federal court.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazilian military police on Tuesday killed the main leader of a drug trafficking group in a Rio de Janeiro favela as well as two other suspected criminals, authorities said.

A fierce shootout broke out after Rio's military police found Thiago da Silva Folly in a bunker in the Mare complex of low-income neighborhoods, police said. Folly was killed, while another two were wounded and taken to a hospital, but later died from their injuries.

Folly was the main leader of the Pure Third Command faction in Mare, police said.

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The objective was to arrest the leader of the faction, but he chose to engage in confrontation," Gov. Claudio Castro was quoted as saying in the statement. Once again, we demonstrate that there will be no truce for these extremely violent criminals.

Police said Folly had 227 criminal charges against him and 17 outstanding arrest warrants. One of the warrants was related to the killing of two military police officers during an operation in Mare in June.

Folly was also under investigation for his involvement in the death of a soldier in 2014 and for attacks on members of the National Public Security Force in 2016, police added. The organ also said he also coordinated paramilitary training within the community.

The operation, launched early Tuesday, shut down main roads and rerouted bus lines. Local news outlet G1 reported that at least two schools were closed.

____

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By Alimat Aliyeva

Vietnamese authorities have intensified efforts to combat counterfeit goods and digital piracy as part of a broader strategy to ease trade tensions with the United States and avoid potential tariffs, Azernews reports.

According to informed sources, Vietnams customs service will enhance oversight of imported luxury goods, including products from the Italian fashion house Prada and the French Kering Group, which owns brands such as Gucci and Balenciaga. The increased scrutiny also extends to electronics from Google and Samsung, Lego toys, Mattels Barbie dolls, and personal care products from U.S. giants Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson.

In addition, Vietnamese authorities have reportedly sent formal warnings to dozens of domestic companies against the use of unlicensed or pirated software.

A draft bill currently under review, and expected to be approved by the Vietnamese National Assembly in June, proposes the establishment of specialized intellectual property courts. These courts will be tasked with ensuring compliance with Vietnams international obligations to uphold intellectual property rights (IPR).

One source familiar with the matter noted that the strengthening of IPR enforcement has been a key element in recent negotiations between the U.S. and Vietnam. The talks also covered broader issues such as the fight against illegal transshipment of goodswhere third countries are used to bypass trade restrictionsand the reduction of both tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting American businesses operating in Vietnam.

Vietnams proactive stance on intellectual property comes as it seeks to position itself as a credible alternative to China in global supply chains, especially for Western companies seeking diversification. By demonstrating serious commitment to IP protection, Hanoi aims not only to avoid punitive U.S. trade actions but also to attract more high-tech and brand-sensitive foreign investment. The proposed IP courts, if effectively implemented, could mark a turning point for Vietnams legal infrastructure, bringing it closer to the standards required by agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
A Brazilian man in Woburn pleaded guilty to selling fake Social Security cards and Legal Permanent Resident cards, or green cards, as well as unlawfully re-entering the United States after deportation, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said.

On May 8, Liene Tavares DeBarros Jr., 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, Foleys office said in a statement on Tuesday.

He was arrested and charged in March and his sentencing is scheduled for June 26.

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Tavares DeBarros was deported in July 2010 and at some point between then and 2024, returned to the United States, Foleys office said.

In mid-2024, investigators found that Tavares DeBarros was selling counterfeit identity documents and sent an undercover agent to request his services, the statement read.

Later that year, he sold a fake Social Security card and a green card to an undercover officer for $250 in October, then in December sold two Social Security cards and two green cards to a different undercover officer for $500, Foleys office said.

The charge of unlawful transfer of document or authentication feature and unlawful production of document or authentication feature provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful reentry provides for a sentence of up to two years, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.

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By Marcelo Teixeira

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria, whose research has helped farmers in the country sharply boost grain production, has been named the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate, the Iowa-based foundation organizing the prize said on Tuesday.

Hungria has been a researcher for more than 40 years at Brazil's state-run agricultural center Embrapa, where she works on seeds and soil treatments that enable plants to source nutrients through soil bacteria, a particularly important development for soybean crops.

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Her work helped Brazil increase soybean production from around 15 million metric tons in the 1980s to more than 170 million tons today, making the country the world's largest producer and exporter of the commodity.

"I was always interested in making viable the use of biological materials in commercial agriculture," Hungria told Reuters.

Good soybean growth requires a lot of nitrogen for the plant, but relying on nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers was expensive for Brazilian farmers and meant the country was heavily dependent on imported fertilizers, she said.

Hungria isolated strains of a soil bacteria named rhizobia and developed a way to inoculate it in the soybean seeds used in Brazil. The strains helped the soy plants extract more nitrogen from the soil, boosting their growth.

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The solution has since become widespread and is used in more than 40 million hectares of Brazil's roughly 48 million hectares of soy plantations.

Hungria also developed other biological solutions, including using strains of Azospirillum brasilense bacteria to boost the size of roots on crops such as corn, allowing the plants to reach deeper for humidity or nutrients.

The use of biological products in agriculture has grown quickly in recent years, as consumers increasingly demand food produced with fewer chemicals.

The researcher will receive $500,000 for being named a Laureate. The World Food Prize was created by Norman E. Borlaug, an American agronomist who developed solutions to increase agricultural production.

(Reporting by Marcelo Teixeira in New York; Editing by Nia Williams)
The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, have been in prison for over 35 years. Credit - Ted SoquiSygma/Getty Image

Nearly three decades after Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion, the brotherswhose case was thrust back into the spotlight by Ryan Murphys 2023 docuseriesmay be edging closer to freedom.

This week, they are appearing virtually in a Los Angeles courtroom as their lawyers argue for a resentencing that could open the door to parole, marking a pivotal moment in one of Americas most notorious criminal cases.

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The prospect of resentencing emerged last October, when then-L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon announced he was keeping an open mind about the case.

In the months that followed, the brothers family launched a campaign, "Justice for Erik and Lyle," urging officials to reconsider the life-without-parole sentences handed down in the 1990s. Gascon subsequently recommended their terms be reduced to 50 years to life, which would make them eligible for parole under California law.

The resentencing effort is just one of several legal avenues now being pursued in an effort to secure the brothers release.

Here are the paths available to Eric and Kyle, now aged 54 and 57 respectively.

Resentencing Track

This Tuesday and Wednesday are crucial for this path to release, in which the Menendez brothers will look towards Los Angeles County Superior Judge Michael Jesic to decide whether to proceed with former D.A. Gascons recommendation.

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The hearings had been delayed for months, complicated by the arrival of District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who has taken a markedly different view of the case than his predecessor.

In April, Hochman moved to withdraw Gascons recommendation, arguing that he did not believe the brothers had taken full responsibility for their crimes. This move was then rejected by Judge Jesic, paving the way for this weeks hearings to take place.

The brothers longtime defense attorney, Mark Geragos, said he will call on at least seven family members to testify. It remains unclear whether the brothers will speak.

Since the brothers were both under 26 years old at the time of their crimes, if they are resentenced, they will be eligible for parole immediately under California law.

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One witness on Tuesday was Anamaria Baralt, the brothers cousin, who pleaded to the judge to end the decades-long saga she says has affected her life deeply. She says that the brothers have taken ownership of their actions and have grown during their years in prison.

It's been a nightmare, she said. I am desperate for this process to be over.

Another family member who testified professed similar sentiments, saying that the brothers have grown, and that their release would bring "closure."

Clemency

Alongside the court proceedings, a separate clemency request sits with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

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Newsom has scheduled a parole board hearing date of June 13, to assess whether the two brothers pose a threat to the public.

Under state law, parole can be granted if an inmate is no longer considered an unreasonable risk of danger to society.

On his podcast This is Gavin Newsom in February, Newsom explained that the hearing would include the opinions of various public safety experts and forensic psychologists.

There's no guarantee of outcome here, Newsom said. "My office conducts dozens and dozens of these clemency reviews on a consistent basis but this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, and more due diligence before I make any determination for clemency.

Habeas Corpus

The final, and least likely path, lies in the habeas corpus petition filed by the brothers attorneys in 2023, seeking a new trial based on what they describe as newly discovered evidence.

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Central to the new evidence is a letter from Erik Menendez when he was 17 to a cousin, describing alleged sexual abuse by his father, Jose Menendez  claims that formed the crux of the brothers defense during their 1996 trial.

Their legal team also cite allegations made in 2023 by Roy Rossello, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claims he was raped by Jose Menendez.

To succeed, the petition must meet a high legal bar: the evidence must be new, credible, admissible, and could not be discovered at the time of the trial.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Why is there not a rating on this post? There's not enough verified evidence for us to definitively confirm or debunk this rumor. Contact us if you have credible information to share. We'll update this post as necessary.

Shortly after Pope Leo XIV's leadership of the Catholic Church began on May 8, 2025, a rumor circulated online that the first American-born pontiff once said the "promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist."

The claim spread on X, Instagram and Facebook; NPR and the The New York Times also attributed the quote to Leo.

The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that dont exist. -Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com/6q5ENvmZlr  Billboard Chris  (@BillboardChris) May 8, 2025

The quote appeared to originate from 2016 reporting by Peruvian newspaper Diario Correo, which did, in fact, attribute this quote  albeit in Spanish  to Robert Prevost, bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, now Leo, in a story about his reaction to a national education curriculum proposal in Peru. As of this writing, it was not possible to independently verify that the pope legitimately told a reporter at Diario Correo that gender ideology "seeks to create genders that don't exist." We reached out to the Vatican to verify the paper's reporting and await a response.

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In a post published by New Ways Ministry, an American LGBTQ+ Catholic organization, author and academic Adam Beyt defines gender ideology as "a catch-all term for many social conservatives, including Pope Francis and other Catholic leaders, who interpret discourse involving 'gender' to deviate from what they believe to be the revealed laws of nature."

The Vatican itself helped coin the term "gender ideology" sometime in the 1980s or 1990s, according to academic research; one study from the University of Chicago said the Roman Catholic Church's efforts to condemn a "complex of issues it has for a quarter century lumped together as 'gender ideology' was already fully developed in the early 1980s."

Context of Pope Leo XIV's reported comments

Diario Correo's story came amid an effort by Peru's Ministry of Education in 2016 to update the country's national education curriculum to promote gender equality and sexual and reproductive health education. Conservative groups reportedly said the curriculum attempted to educate children on gender identity, not gender equality, despite assurances otherwise from ministry officials.

The Peruvian bishops conference took part in the campaign against the curriculum, reported Catholic News Agency; presumably, that would have included Leo, who Pope Francis appointed as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015.

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Here are the comments Diario Correo attributed to Leo, then known as Prevost, about the curriculum, translated into English from Spanish with the help of Google Translate and Snopes reporters who speak Spanish (emphasis ours):

The topic of promoting gender ideology is already a source of confusion because it seeks to create genders that don't exist  God created men and women, and the attempt to confuse the ideas of nature will only harm families and individuals. [] There are men and women; we must respect the dignity of every person, including the options that adults may have. Introducing [ideas of gender ideology] to a child who hasn't yet reached the developmental stage to make choices regarding their sexual identity and orientation will create a lot of confusion. [] This campaign, apparently, is going to create a lot of confusion and do a lot of harm. We mustn't confuse the importance of family and marriage with what others want to create, as if it were a right to do something that isn't.

It is worth noting scientists increasingly believe that both sex and gender exist along a spectrum, rather than the traditional male-female binary. (The terms "gender" and "sex" are intertwined but by no means the same; per Merriam-Webster, among those who study sex and gender, "sex" is usually the preferred term for biological forms  such as male and female biological traits  whereas "gender" refers to "behavioral, cultural and psychological traits.")

Snopes previously explained more about the scientific understanding of sexual differentiation in a story about Trump's executive order on the matter. We also debunked a claim that Leo once urged people to be "woke."

Aleksandra Wrona and Jack Izzo contributed to this report.

Sources:

Ainsworth, Claire. "Sex Redefined." Nature, vol. 518, no. 7539, Feb. 2015, pp. 28891, https://doi.org/10.1038/518288a.

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Beyt, Adam. "Judith Butler's 'Who's Afraid of Gender?' an Insightful Read for LGBTQ+ Catholics - New Ways Ministry." New Ways Ministry, 5 Apr. 2024, www.newwaysministry.org/2024/04/05/judith-butlers-whos-afraid-of-gender-an-insightful-read-for-lgbtq-catholics/. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Bracke, Sarah, and David Patternote. "Unpacking the Sin of Gender." Religion and Gender , vol. 6, no. 2, Dec. 2016, www.researchgate.net/publication/312517868_Unpacking_the_Sin_of_Gender. ResearchGate. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Butler, Judith. "WHAT THREAT? THE CAMPAIGN against 'GENDER IDEOLOGY.'" JOURNAL of CULTURE, vol. 3, 2019, https://doi.org/10.12893/gjcpi.2019.3.1. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Case, Mary Anne. "Trans Formations in the Vatican's War on 'Gender Ideology' ." Https://Chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/, University of Chicago , 2019, chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=13570&context=journal_articles. Accessed 12 May 2025.

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Catholic News Agency. "Peru to Withdraw Controversial 'Gender Ideology' Curriculum." Catholic News Agency, 1 Dec. 2017, www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/37296/peru-to-withdraw-controversial-gender-ideology-curriculum. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Corredor, Elizabeth S. "Unpacking 'Gender Ideology' and the Global Right's Antigender Countermovement." Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, vol. 44, no. 3, Mar. 2019, pp. 61338, https://doi.org/10.1086/701171.

"Curriculo Nacional de La Educacion Basica ." Minedu.gob.pe, Peru Ministry of Education, 2023, www.minedu.gob.pe/curriculo/pdf/curriculo-nacional-2016-2.pdf. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Fernandez, Fernando. "Chiclayo: Obispo Prevost En Contra de Ideologia de Genero." Correo, 4 Dec. 2016, diariocorreo.pe/edicion/lambayeque/chiclayo-obispo-prevost-en-contra-de-ideologia-de-genero-715608/?ref=dcr. Accessed 12 May 2025.

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Merriam-Webster. "Definition of Gender." Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gender. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Stewart, Kary. "School Books with Section on Gender Equality Cause Uproar in Peru." VICE, 21 Mar. 2017, www.vice.com/en/article/school-books-with-section-on-gender-equality-cause-uproar-in-peru/. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Vatican News. "Biography of Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV." Vaticannews.va, Vatican News, 8 May 2025, www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html. Accessed 12 May 2025.
BREAKING: The Trump administration pulls an additional $450 million in funding to Harvard University citing the universitys failings to confront pervasive race discrimination and antisemitic harassment. This is an addition to the $2 billion in grant that the administration has already frozen and the push to strip the school of its tax-exempt status. Last week, the Education Department under the Trump administration announced that Harvard will receive no new federal grants until it meets a se
May 13A Brewer pediatrician has been cleared of allegations he ignored a woman's concerns that her child was shaken by the baby's father.

The Maine Board of Medical Licensure agreed after hearing from several witnesses Tuesday that Dr. Albert Adams had not violated any professional or ethical standards earlier this year.

The board's deliberation was brief, and members didn't say much after a 5-hour hearing where they heard from Adams and several others. Before the vote, the doctor's attorney said the decision came down to who the board found more credible  Adams or the mother.

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In an order filed April 14, the board said Adams had met with the mother, her infant and the baby's father on Jan. 7.

The order stated Adams had a "long-standing relationship" with the father and his family. Adams clarified Tuesday the man had been his patient many years ago, nothing more.

The mother told a detective for the board earlier this year that the baby's father shook the child violently on Jan. 6, and that she had called Adams' office that night to schedule an emergency appointment.

Adams and his staff said Tuesday this was a regularly scheduled appointment. They said they had no records of the mother's call.

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The mother told the detective that Adams didn't respond to concerns she raised during that appointment and that he would keep the conversation "off the books."

Adams denied this conversation ever having taken place. He said he has received allegations of child abuse and neglect before and always reports it to the state.

"I'm 100% certain that she did not tell me that," said Adams.

The mother was not named Tuesday, and she didn't show up to testify.

"Unfortunately, we were not able to receive testimony from infant's mother," Assistant Attorney General Philip Mantis told board members before their decision. "I do believe there's enough documentation in the record ... supporting the allegations."

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A public health nurse who works for the state called a hotline for suspected abuse or neglect after meeting with the mother in March. That's when the mother told her about the Jan. 7 visit.

Child protective services later called Adams' office. That was the first time Adams said he had heard of the shaken baby concern.

The nurse said the mother had described other instances of domestic violence with the father and that she had filed for a protection from abuse order around the same time they met.

"There's just so many reasons here to question and believe the mother's story," Adams' attorney Christopher Taintor told the board. "We know the police didn't believe it, we know DHHS didn't believe it  you shouldn't believe it either."

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Julian Foulkes, a 71-year-old retired special constable in the U.K., says he is suing the Kent Police Department for wrongful arrest. Foulkes was arrested and handcuffed at his home by six police officers after he tweeted a warning about the rise of antisemitism in a reply to a pro-Palestinian activist. The tweet was flagged by the Metropolitan Police Intelligence Command despite only having 26 views at the time. He was detained for eight hours, booked, fingerprinted, photographed, and swabbed for DNA on suspicion of malicious communication. He accepted a warning out of fear it might affect visits to his daughter in Australia, though Kent Police later admitted it was a mistake and removed the warning from his record.

The post Brickbat: Reading Problem appeared first on Reason.com.
BOSTON (SHNS)  To address homelessness among senior citizens, housing and senior advocates are pushing to expand a Somerville pilot program that provides temporary rental assistance to help older adults stay housed while they wait for long-term affordable options.

Massachusetts launched the pilot program last year in Somerville, where housing costs are skyrocketing, to provide rental assistance to low-income adults over 60 years old to remain in their homes while waiting for long-term subsidized housing.

The pilot was funded at $113,000 through the state budget. Advocates are now returning to the Legislature saying it was a success, and that the pilot should be used as a model for other programs around the state.

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Julia Garvey of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless told the Joint Committee Aging and Independence on Monday that 41% of extremely low-income renter households in the state are older adults, testifying in favor of a Sen. Pat Jehlen and Rep. Shirley Arriaga bill (S 475 / H 4015) that would expand the senior bridge housing program.

The bill does not have funding attached to it, but Jehlen filed an amendment to the Senate Ways and Means budget (#153) that would fund the expanded statewide program at $7.5 million.

Older adults have turned to long-term subsidized housing for relief through programs such as state-funded public housing, the Massachusetts rental voucher program and the housing choice voucher program. But waitlists can be years or even a decade long. We do not have the time to wait and must implement a solution that will help older adults who often have complex health needs and are moments away from living in a shelter, in a car, or on the streets, to remain stably housed, Garvey said.

In Somerville, the bridge funding became available earlier this year.

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Our office in the last two months has gotten requests from 55 older adults, almost all of whom were facing imminent displacement and long waiting lists for public housing, said Ellen Schachter, director of Somervilles Office of Housing Stability.

Schachter said some of the seniors have lost spouses, and therefore lost half their household income, or have health issues that make it difficult to work. Some individuals have come to their office with stories of landlords who had allowed them to live in the same unit for decades at below-market rent, but when the elderly landlord dies, their rent suddenly skyrockets.

In 2024, Somerville had 247 seniors waiting to get into elderly disabled housing. Four of them got a spot that year, she said.

Of the $113,000 allocated in the budget last year, $100,000 went to the Community Action Agency of Somerville to administer the program.

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With those funds, the agency provided rental assistance for nine households that likely otherwise would have been evicted to the street while they wait for an offer of affordable housing, said Director of Housing Advocacy Ashley Tienken. Of those nine, two recently moved into permanent affordable housing, she said.

One story that illustrates the importance of this program is about a gentleman that we recently worked with. He was about to be evicted after losing his wife to illness. When she became sick, he had no choice but to enter early retirement to become her caregiver, and by time she died, he had debt, no savings and only his Social Security income, which was not enough to cover his monthly expenses. With this program, he will be able to properly grieve his wife in the home that they shared until he is able to move into permanent affordable housing, Tienken said.

Under the expanded program that Jehlen and Arriaga propose, adults over 60 years old facing housing instability would not pay more than 30% of their income towards rent, mortgage and other housing costs, with the bridge subsidy making up the difference.

Individuals would be eligible if they had incomes below 80% of the area median income and are at risk of eviction due to not being able to consistently pay rent, according to the bill text.

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The bill also creates a steering committee led by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to guide the expansion of the bridge subsidy program, with annual reports due every year.

Lawmakers on the committee had many questions about the bill, including about its cost and how many people it could serve.

The cost of keeping people in their homes is so much less than hospitalizations when someone has no place to discharge to, or paying for shelters. So this is cost effective, its humane, and its really the only thing that we can think of, Schacter said. My job is to be creative, to think about programs to meet urgent needs, and I think that this program is a creative response to dealing with the crisis we see in elder homelessness in the commonwealth.

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May 12MORGANTOWN  A representative of the West Virginia Division of Highways said the state's current expectation is the Morgantown Industrial Park access road and bridge project will be completed in the winter of 2026.

The Dominion Post reached out to the DOH for a project update and to ask when it's expected the project may force the temporary closure of the Mon River Rail-Trail.

According to information provided by DOH engineers Jason Foster and Mike Witherow, details about exactly when the trail will be closed will be worked out by the contractor, Triton Construction, and the Mon River Trails Conservancy, the nonprofit that manages and maintains the trail network.

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However, Foster previously explained that both the project's contract documents and the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, are very clear that the trail will only be closed during times of significant overhead work, or when the safety of trail users is a concern.

According to the DOH, steel isn't expected to start going up until early 2026.

"The contractor is currently installing erosion control. Tree removal and installation of a sediment pond are expected to start soon, " the DOH explained on April 29.

The DOH said the $59.7 million cost estimate remains in effect with no changes expected.

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The project will improve the industrial park's existing Rail Street, cross the river on a multi-span bridge, and join U.S. 119 (Grafton Road) near Scott Avenue. A connection to Smithtown Road will also be built and a portion of Master Graphics Road  connecting to River Road  will be improved and paved.

Around this time last year, representatives of the DOH said the entire process had been "extremely accelerated " out of a concern for public safety due to the increasing number of large trucks accessing the industrial park.

Beyond public safety, the state also has a promise to keep.

For the last four-plus years, the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Enrout Properties and the Monongalia County Commission have been working toward the construction of a new Harmony Grove interchange to provide direct interstate access to the upper portion of the Morgantown Industrial Park.

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The Harmony Grove interchange was promised by the state to help land the massive Mountaintop Beverage facility in West Virginia.

Trucks started rolling in and out of the 330, 000 square feet that comprise Phase I of the bottling plant in May 2023, but due to the complexities of the federal regulatory process involving interstate projects, the DOH couldn't make good on the interchange in a timely manner.

So, in July 2023 the state announced that it was not only going to push forward with the Harmony Grove interchange, but build a bridge across the Monongahela River to the MIP in the meantime.

The DOH says details of the Harmony Grove project remain under review by the Federal Highway Administration.

"We continue to work with both the West Virginia Department of Highways and the Federal Highway Administration on, we think, the final set of comments as it relates to the Harmony Grove interchange project, " Enrout Properties co-owner Glenn Adrian said during his most recent update to the Monongalia County Commission. "We remain very optimistic that project is continuing to move forward. It is a very complicated process to get approved, but we think we are close to getting that approval."
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  With community concerns growing over a potential south Johnson City site for a Bitcoin mine or data center, BrightRidge announced a halt to entertaining proposals for new data center projects in our service area

Nolichucky raft guides likely to lose 2025 season in Gorge

The moratorium includes the one being considered in south Johnson City, which neighboring residents have spoken out against. That opposition has come during Johnson City Commission meetings as the city considers implementing new zoning regulations that would put some guardrails around data centers.

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Opponents have primarily decried the noise many data centers make as massive fans cool the computers that perform complex computations for everything from artificial intelligence to cryptocurrency.

BrightRidges statement Tuesday says the power provider values the perspectives of the regions leadership and the long-term economic health of the communities we serve when considering the feasibility of any new development in our region.

The power distributor acknowledged publicly for the first time that it was considering a data center or cryptocurrency mine for property it bought in an I-2 (light industrial) zone last year near one of its substations. A Bitcoin mine in Limestone that buys power from BrightRidge must close by next March as part of a lawsuit settlement, and the south Johnson City site could have been a replacement location.

BrightRidge now writes that in the case of the south Johnson City project and other similar projects in the near term, the costs currently outweigh the benefits for the communities we serve.

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Sylvain Bruni lives near the south Johnson City site and has been among those questioning both the City of Johnson City and BrightRidge about the prospect of a data center there. The Washington County Democratic Party adopted a resolution opposing Under-regulation of Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities in Johnson City Monday night.

Bruni welcomed the news of BrightRidges moratorium but said the general concerns remain.

He said citizens need to know the moratoriums timeline and whether any other projects currently in the pipeline could still move forward. Bruni also said the announcement doesnt address the specific concerns that neighbors have provided, that is, x, y and z safeguards need to be in place to address the concerns of residents.

Bruni said BrightRidge may have addressed all those concerns, but he believes the lack of clarity on that points to another major concern he has, regarding transparency.

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Knowing where we are in terms of citizens trust in their government, and the City of Johnson City and BrightRidge, why approach it with less than adequate transparency? Bruni asked.

We need to make sure we hold them accountable, so we will continue to have public meetings about it.

The entire BrightRidge statement is below. The utility said it will have no further comment beyond the statement.

BrightRidge values the perspectives of the regions leadership and the long-term economic health of the communities we serve when considering the feasibility of any new development in our region. For this reason, BrightRidge is putting a moratorium on entertaining proposals for new data center projects in our service area, including the one being considered in south Johnson City.

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BrightRidge is a proud regional leader in the adoption and deployment of innovative technology, and we are fully aware of the many benefits a next-generation data center could bring to the communities we serve. However, in the case of the south Johnson City project and other similar projects in the near term, the costs currently outweigh the benefits for the communities we serve.

The site in south Johnson City is zoned for industrial use and retains great value to BrightRidge and our customers as a potential power substation and/or a wholesale electricity delivery point for a future industrial user. For this site and others, BrightRidge remains committed to working collaboratively with community leaders to identify future industrial projects that will deliver economic development, create great jobs, and maintain low power bills to the residents we serve.

The data center facility located in Limestone, which is currently operating under a settlement agreement with Washington County, remains on track for closure in March 2026.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A Bristol man was found guilty of sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, and violation of a protective order offenses by a federal jury Monday.

According to evidence and testimony, 40-year-old David Marshall, also known as Saint, compelled a victim into performing commercial sex acts for his financial benefit and repeatedly raped her if she did not obey his orders, between January-April 2022.

Meriden man arrested after allegedly giving juvenile firearm

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Marshall also used other means to control the victim, including threats against her family and getting her addicted to fentanyl.

In March 2022, the victim tried to escape from Marshall and obtained an order of protection against him following his arrest by Cromwell Police for threatening to kill her.

On April 27, 2022, Marshall was arrested by police in Freeport, Maine after he severely beat the victim. While in jail, Marshall contacted the victim, violating the protection order, and tried to talk her out of cooperating with authorities and convince her to continue to prostitute herself in order to earn money to bail him out of jail.

Marshall also contacted another person while in jail, attempting to remotely erase evidence on his cell phone, but could not do so because the phone had already been seized by the FBI.

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On May 10, 2023, while detained in federal custody, Marshall wrote a letter to a family member and instructed them to harass the victim to prevent her from testifying.

Marshall also forcibly sex trafficked at least one other woman from 2017-2022. He similarly used beatings, rapes, and other means to coerce her into engaging in commercial sex acts for his financial benefit.

Marshall was convicted of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; two counts of attempted obstruction of sex trafficking enforcement; and one count of interstate violation of a protection order, causing serious bodily injury to the victim. The jury found Marshall not guilty of one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion.

Marshall faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Sentencing has not been scheduled.

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Marshall has been detained since April 27, 2022.

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Britains only water desalination plant is to spend another summer out of action despite a warm and dry spring stoking fears of drought.

The Thames Water plant in Beckton, east London, is supposed to turn salty seawater into fresh drinking water for hundreds of thousands of households during a supply crisis.

But the 250m facility has rarely been switched on since opening 15 years ago and there are questions about whether it has ever been fully operational. The Telegraph can reveal the plant will be unusable again this summer.

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The decision to keep the plant offline has emerged just days after the Environment Agency ordered water companies to step up conservation measures following the driest start to spring since 1956.

Thames, which serves 15m people, also recently warned households that saving water is now more crucial than ever and that water scarcity can be a real problem during heat waves  especially in the South East.

Yet its decision to keep the Beckton plant mothballed shuts off one way to ease the pressure on supplies. It was also sidelined during a drought in 2022, even as a hosepipe ban was imposed in the South East.

On Monday, Thames insisted the risk of drought in London was low and that the closure would allow engineers to focus on essential operational upgrades elsewhere.

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But the decision will prompt fresh questions for the embattled company just as bosses, including chief executive Chris Weston, appear before the Commons environment select committee on Tuesday morning.

Thames itself has been gripped by financial turmoil lately and only narrowly avoided nationalisation in March by securing a 3bn rescue loan.

Alistair Carmichael, a Liberal Democrat MP and chairman of the environment committee, said: The need for desalination plants in the UK tells you a lot about the water industry in this country and where it has got to.

The fact that Thames Water has built one at great expense which is then not available when their customers might need it may be shocking, but it is not particularly surprising.

250m white elephant

The Beckton facility, which was funded by household bills, has previously been described as a white elephant by furious MPs.

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It can theoretically provide fresh drinking water for up to 400,000 households every day but this is seen as a more costly way of bolstering water supplies than simply asking customers to cut consumption.

On top of this, The Telegraph previously revealed how the facility, which Thames calls Gateway, has been dogged by technical problems that have led to extended periods of downtime.

The company built the facility on an estuary in the hope it would cut costs, with the mix of seawater and freshwater potentially making it less difficult to process.

However, that plan is thought to have been complicated by changing salinity levels throughout the day  making it harder to sustain stable drinking water production.

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In 2023, the company also revealed the facility was being kept offline, despite maintenance work, because of problems obtaining the carbon dioxide needed for its chemical processes.

On Monday, Thames sought to reassure customers that Londons water resources were still in a good place ahead of this summer. The company pointed to above-average rainfall in the winter months, and said its reservoirs were 95pc full.

However, it also conceded that levels in March were just one fifth of the historical average and encouraged customers to use water wisely through the spring and summer months.

A spokesman added: We took the decision earlier this year to not operate the Gateway Water Treatment works in order to focus on essential operational upgrades that are required in the area, and we have kept our regulator updated on this.

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At present, the risk of drought for London is low due to healthy ground water levels which remain above average for this time of year.

We continue to closely monitor the regions demand levels and are focused on completing the essential operational works.

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When students of the Revolutionary War hear the words Valley Forge, they probably think of an iconic image: Gen. George Washington kneeling in the snow, surrounded by log cabins, praying for aid.

The Continental Army endured the winter of 177778 at Valley Forge, while the British hibernated in nearby Philadelphia. It was that winter, so the semimythologized story goes, that the Americans were sharpened from a ragtag militia that had done little more than strategically retreat during the war's first two years into a force capable of challenging the redcoats.

But before Valley Forge became the "Valley Forge" of American military history, it had already played a smaller, unofficial role in the fight for independence.

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This "forge" in its name was a small ironmaking operation established on the banks of the Valley Creek in 1742 as the Mount Joy Forge. It was just one of dozens of small ironworks that popped up across the hills of eastern Pennsylvania in the decades before the revolution. The densely wooded region provided ample fuel for furnaces that smelted iron ore into pig iron and other forms of workable metal, which could subsequently be forged into tools and household goods. The supply chains ran down the river to Philadelphia and from there to the rest of the colonies and the world.

In 1750, however, the British government tried to intervene in that burgeoning market. With the passage of the Iron Act, the American colonies were allowed to produce only unfinished iron and were allowed to export it only to Britain. Finished products would have to be reimported from Britainwith a high tax applied, naturally.

Existing forges, like the one where the Continental Army would later encamp, were allowed to continue operating but could not expand production without permission from the crown.

The law was not always obeyed, as a small exhibit in the stables at Valley Forge National Historical Park explains. In some cases, it may have been openly flaunted. John Potts, who bought the Mount Joy Forge in 1757, founded another forge in the area in 1752, seemingly in defiance of the Iron Act (though historians at the site are unsure of its exact legality).

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In the long run, the Iron Act was an utter failure. The mercantilist law incentivized both American producers and colonial officials to ignore it and helped galvanize support for independence among Pennsylvania's commercial classes.

The British army destroyed the Mount Joy Forge on its way to occupying Philadelphia in the fall of 1777. But neither brute military force nor protectionist trade policy could stamp out the market for Pennsylvania ironwithout which there would never have been a Valley Forge to serve as the turning point for Washington's army.

The post How Britain's Protectionist Trade Policies Created Valley Forge appeared first on Reason.com.
A British teenager who went missing while travelling in Thailand has been arrested in Georgia.

Bella May Culley, 18, was last seen in Pattaya, a city in the east of the south-east Asian country.

But on Tuesday, it was revealed she had been arrested thousands of miles away in the country of Georgia, in the Caucasus region.

Cleveland Police said they had been informed by the Georgian authorities that Ms Culley had been arrested on suspicion of drug offences and was in custody.

Bella May Culley had posted her trip online

Footage shared by broadcasters in Georgia appeared to show the 18 year-old walking into court in handcuffs.

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Customs officers at Georgias Tbilisi International Airport discovered her bag to be full of drugs, according to local media reports.

A video showed a suitcase apparently full of drugs, including around a dozen sachets labelled hash.

Credit: imedinews

The teenager appeared in court and was remanded in custody.

Her lawyer requested bail, but the judge denied this after the prosecutor raised concerns about her absconding.

Ms Culley could face up to 20 years or even life imprisonment if found guilty.

Credit: imedinews

The family of the teenager, who is from Billingham, Co Durham, had earlier appealed to the public for any information about her whereabouts.

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Lyanne Kennedy, Ms Culleys mother, said her daughter had travelled around the Philippines in April before flying to Thailand on May 3.

She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks, Mrs Kennedy told Teesside Live.

Bella first travelled around the Philippines before going to Thailand, but has now been arrested in Georgia - Facebook

Mrs Kennedy added: She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3.

The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to FaceTime me later. That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now.

An image from Georgia shows what are alleged to be drugs

Ms Culleys father and aunt, Neil and Kerrie Culley, flew to Thailand to try to find her after her family alerted police in Thailand and Britain about her disappearance.

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A spokesman for Cleveland Police said on Tuesday: We have had confirmation from the authorities in Georgia that an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested there on suspicion of drugs offences and that she remains in their custody.

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Nearly a quarter (22%) of top execs in the UK TV industry went to private school, according to research sparked by Sherwood creator James Grahams MacTaggart lecture.

The figure is triple that of the roughly 7.5% of people in the country who went to a fee-paying school and is a stark reminder of the inequalities in British TV, a traditionally middle-class field.

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The report titled Lets Talk About Class: Appealing to the UKs largest TV audience was commissioned after Grahams Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart lecture during which he argued passionately for greater working-class representation in the British TV industry. At the time, research had found just 8% of people working in television were from a working-class background, which was a 12-year low despite multiple recent interventions to try and improve the situation. The Lets Talk About Class report was less damning with its overall numbers, finding that 29% of those in TV come from a working-class background compared to the 39% across the UK. A persons class background was defined by the occupation of their main household earner when they were a teenager.

Todays report from a class and social equality working group including Apple TV+ UK production chief Jackie Myburgh, Banijay UK boss Patrick Holland and BBC Studios exec Karl Warner, analyzed people in leadership roles across 21 of the UKs major broadcasters, streamers and large production companies. The reports compilers asked for data about the education background of senior level staff while speaking with experts and academics for anecdotal and evidence-based insight.

The report argues that working class audiences are TVs largest potential audience, yet they feel underserved and their lives either represented by outdated tropes or are barely represented at all. However, with the current crisis facing the TV industry as commissioning slows down, broader diversity commitments are being thrown into chaos, it says, adding that there is a growing concern that the current crisis will make the industry less diverse and only accessible to a small group with economic and cultural advantage.

The report gave best in class examples of recent shows such as ITVs Coronation Street and new BBC comedy-drama Just Act Normal. It said the next step is to provide guidance on what being a Class Confident organisation in the TV industry looks like.

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Gemma Bradshaw, Impact Director of the Edinburgh Festival TV Foundation, said: Since starting the class and social equality working group, we have heard many difficult and painful stories about the hurdles in peoples TV careers that were all the bigger because of their class background. The aim of the report is to move the conversation about class up the agenda, making it business critical and provide companies with the inspiration to move away from talking about people in terms of their cultural fit or risk and start talking about what they bring.

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He couldnt get back the time he spent in prison, but Eduardo Caba thought he could at least get back his good name.

That was until a Bronx judge refused to vacate an armed robbery conviction that even prosecutors now admit was fatally flawed.

Caba, his wife, his attorneys and a group of law students went into a Bronx Court Monday fully expecting the case that has haunted him for 30 years would finally go away.

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But even though Cabas lawyers and prosecutors from the office that put him in prison agreed jailing him was a mistake, the judge said nothing had changed.

It is like a life sentence, Caba said while fighting back tears in Bronx Criminal Court. But I know Im innocent. Its like the whole world has crashed on my back.

Caba spent 13 years in prison before his 2010 release.

Prosecutors said at the time Caba was part of an armed robbery crew in 1995, he grabbed a woman and her 5-year-old outside their home, pushed her inside, tied her up and forced her to hand over a key to a safe where she kept jewelry and cash.

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The victim identified Caba after poring over nearly 1,500 mugshots in nine different photo books, where she chose a snapshot of Caba, who did not match the original description of the perpetrator, except for a tan jacket.

The mugshot had been taken years earlier.

At a subsequent lineup several weeks later, Caba wore what looked like a tan jacket while all the other men in the lineup wore dark jackets.

Aside from the identification from the one witness, there was no other evidence tying Eduardo Caba to the crime.

Caba, 63, was the only suspect ever arrested. He was convicted of robbery, burglary and unlawful imprisonment, after which a judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

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But Judge Alvin Yearwood said he was not convinced the conviction was a mistake.

I am not inclined to sign the order, Yearwood told a stunned courtroom. In this case, I just dont think its appropriate

An audible gasp rose from the crowd, and visitors whispered outrageous when Yearwood dashed Cabas hopes.

Both sides said they thought the vacate order was a mere formality, including Bronx DA Darcel Clark, who had issued a statement supporting the order before it was denied.

At the time the crime was committed, we believed the witness who viewed many photos before picking out Mr. Cabas photo, Clark said. We now know, based on social science advances, that the greater number of photos viewed, the less reliable the identification.

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But Yearwood said overruling the jurys decision would open the floodgates for other felons and threaten the integrity of other lawful convictions.

This is selling the people of Bronx County short, Yearwood said. That is what youre doing. And that does not work in this courtroom. I respect people who take time off for this court. They sit and listen to the evidence and make decisions based on that evidence.

But Cabas attorney, Adele Bernhard, of New York Law Schools Post Conviction Innocence Clinic, said Cabas conviction was an isolated case.

Youre not making a decision that rules on all the other cases, Bernhard said. What Im saying is they have new evidence now, which if they had then, they would make different decisions.

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Caba was arrested in 1992 for possession of a gun, which he said he carried to protect the cash from his familys supermarket. Caba received probation for the charge, but his mugshot remained on file.

Caba said he pleaded guilty to the earlier gun charge, but still maintains his innocence about the armed robbery.

I am very unhappy, he said.
DENVER (KDVR)  A traffic stop near Summit Boulevard and West Flatiron Crossing Drive over the weekend led to the arrest of a 44-year-old man accused of being in possession of meth.

The Broomfield Police Department, in a post on X Monday, said the unnamed driver was pulled over Saturday for expired license plates and ultimately arrested and booked into the Broomfield Detention Center after the police say they found him in possession of meth.

Four men arrested in Colorado during recent drug bust

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The man was booked on several charges, including possession of a controlled substance and driving while revoked, according to police, who said the man also did not have a valid drivers license and was unable to provide proof of insurance.

Meth in Colorado

The weekend arrest comes nearly two months after officers with the Eagle County Sheriffs Office said a member of its narcotic task force recovered more than 43 pounds of methamphetamine after pulling over a man for speeding near the western edge of Eagle County.

A jury also found a 37-year-old man guilty on 19 charges  including two counts of distribution of meth  this month following an eight-day jury trial. The man, who was arrested in Boulder County in May 2023, was also acquitted of one charge.

Trump announces plan to cut prescription drug costs

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BPD noted in its post on X that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Avelo Airlines, a budget carrier, began deportation flights from Arizona on Monday under contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Flights departed from the Mesa Gateway Airport outside Phoenix, according to The Associated Press, which added that the company will use three Boeing 737-800s for the removals.

Having a portion of our company dedicated to charter flying, without exposure to fluctuating fuel prices or risk from macroeconomic factors, provides us with the stability to grow our core business, which is scheduled passenger travel, Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement to the Arizona News.

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He added that the partnership with Homeland Security would help Avelo retain approximately 1,100 crew members and expand passenger service.

But several groups have criticized the deportation flights.

We urge Avelo to reconsider this decision that will be bad for the airline and our country. Flight Attendants are charged with the safety and health of the passengers on our flights and to evacuate an airplane in 90 seconds or less in the event of an emergency, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in an April statement after an agreement between the carrier and Homeland Security was signed.

Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation and risk injury or death. It also impedes our ability to respond to a medical emergency, fire on board, decompression, etc. We cannot do our jobs in these conditions, it added.

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The New Haven Immigrants Coalition, an immigrant rights group, created a petition that now has more than 30,000 signatures condemning the airlines deportation flights.

The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, has slammed reporting on privatized deportation efforts.

This is nothing more than a tired tactic to abolish ICE by proxy. Avelo Airlines is a sub-carrier on a government contract to assist with deportation flights. Attacks and demonization of ICE and our partners is wrong. ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults, the agency wrote in a Tuesday post on the social platform X.

Illegal aliens that ICE is deporting broke our nations laws. DHS is a law enforcement agency, and it will continue to carry out immigration enforcement for the safety of Americans who have been victimized by rapists, murderers, drug traffickers, and gang members, it added.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after he started a fire on train tracks in his backyard in Farnham almost two years ago, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Michael Benitez, 34, was convicted of attempt to wreck, derail, set fire to, or disable railroad on-track equipment.

On the morning of June 14, 2023, Benitez poured gasoline on several tires, lit them on fire, and then left them on railroad tracks behind his then-Railroad Avenue residence in Farnham. Norfolk Southern equipment was destroyed.

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Along with the 27 months in prison, Benitez was ordered to pay $1,382 in restitution to Norfolk Southern.

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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CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB)  Shuttle bus drivers and cashiers at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga reached a tentative agreement Wednesday after they went on strike Monday.

Im hoping to see a lot of improvements, in terms of the safety of everyone and on top of that, I hope to see better wages for everyone, said Casey Voit, a cashier on the picket line.

Everybody just wants a fair deal, said Travis Humphrey, who has been a bus driver at the airport for over 30 years. Higher wages, better benefits, like everybody. Every year it goes up, so you got to catch up with the times.

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Their union, Teamster Local 264, said they were striking for better wages, but also for the safety of the workers and the public.

When you have holes in the floor of your bus, when you have exposed electrical compartments, when you have bald tires, expired inspected vehicles, tires falling off during operations with passengers on the bus, you cant have it, said Darrin Ziemba, an officer and agent of Teamsters Local 264. Look how busy this facility is, there is no reason for this, theres enough to go around. These folks should have the pinnacle vehicles to use when they come to work, they should have enough in their paycheck when the average worker here makes less than $17 an hour. An extra few pennies makes a difference in the world to those folks.

Teamsters Local 264 said Wednesday that they reached a tentative agreement that includes language that provides better safety conditions for the members of the public. The workers also plan to go back to work on Thursday.

WIVB News 4 reached out to the NFTA about the strike, who said that airport operations were not impacted by the strike, as substitute drivers are working. NFTA said that it was not part of the negotiations since these jobs are with subcontractors to the airport.

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SP Plus said in a statement that it was deeply disappointed by the strike, which it said was happening during active negotiations.

For more than 17 years, SP Plus has been integral to the daily operations at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, delivering safe, reliable parking and shuttle services that travelers and the airport community depend on, SP Plus said. That commitment is unwavering. Despite the unions strike, our teams remain fully mobilized and operations remain uninterrupted. Were doing whatever it takes to ensure the airport runs smoothly and passengers move safely, without delay or disruption.

News 4 also reached out to Jacobsen Daniels for comment and is waiting to hear back.

Latest Local News

Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

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Volusia County Fire Rescue has lifted the burn ban for the countys unincorporated areas, Oak Hill, Lake Helen and Pierson.

The burn ban had been in effect since April 16, but recent rainfall has changed that.

The rains we have received over the past week have reduced the fire danger, but we ask residents to continue practicing fire safety because there is still a significant amount of dry vegetation throughout the county, said Fire Chief Joe King. The recent rains have helped, but we are still experiencing a long-term drought.

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The fire department says property owners must have a permit from the Florida Forest Service to burn yard waste piles larger than 8 feet in diameter. Piles that are in a noncombustible container or are 8 feet in diameter or smaller do not require burn permits.

The department said property owners must follow these rules for outdoor burning:

 50 feet from a public roadway

 25 feet from brush and wildlands

 50 feet from your home

 150 feet from other occupied buildings

You may burn yard trash (but not garbage or household paper products) if:

 No local ordinance prohibits such burning

 You meet the required setbacks listed above

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 The fire is started after 9 a.m. and is out one hour before sunset

 The pile is less than 8 feet in diameter

 The fire is attended at all times

 The fire does not cause a nuisance

Also in Volusia County, Orange City has repealed its own burn ban from April.

While the Orange City Fire Department is pleased with the rainfall weve seen in recent days, we ask all residents to remain responsible when utilizing outdoor cooking and open fire methods, the fire department said in a news release.

Volusia County joins other counties that have lifted their burn bans, like Osceola and Brevard.

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May 13---- A $2.4 million project to develop a child care facility for the employees of CCM Health in Montevideo is a great idea, but it falls short of what the community needs to accomplish, according to a Montevideo business owner and critic of the health care system.

Kevin Wald told the

on May 6 that he thinks it may be illegal for the publicly owned health care system to restrict use of the child care facility to its employees. He raised his concerns to the Montevideo City Council members one night earlier as well. Brian Lovdahl, CEO of CCM Health, refutes that.

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Wald is urging the city and county to expand the scope of the child care project to address a community-wide need for the services. As the CEO of Ritalka Inc., Wald is one of the community's leading private sector employers.

The need for child care is one of the four top concerns facing the community and could be addressed with a larger-scale project, Wald told the commissioners. The city of Montevideo has identified a shortage of 75 child care spots in the community, and the shortage is much larger when considering

as a whole, he said.

The CCM Health project should be expanded to accommodate 110 children, as compared to 70 as is now planned, he told the commissioners. He said he believes that the project could be expanded for up to 110 children if the city and county each invested $800,000 toward it.

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Wald said one half of the total openings could be made available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and the public facility would be in compliance with the laws.

The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners and Montevideo City Council members approved bids for the child care project in early March. CCM Health is jointly owned by the two local governmental units. The project is aiming for an October completion.

CCM Health's Lovdahl told the West Central Tribune, in response to Wald's statements, that construction is already underway on the facility. To expand its size now would require a major redesign and relicensing.

It would also adversely affect the operational finances. A revised proposal would eliminate the ability to treat the center as an allowable department for required Medicare cost reporting and create a financial burden on CCM Health, Lovdahl told the Tribune in an email on Monday.

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Wald said one of his main concerns is the use of Medicaid or Medicare funds towards offsetting costs associated with the child care operations. He does not believe those funds can be used in any way toward child care services, even if indirectly.

Lovdahl responded that

is a designated Critical Access Hospital and reimbursed under Medicare cost reporting rules that state: "Costs of services such as employee cafeterias and day-care centers for the children of employees, which are maintained for the convenience of the provider, are includable as allowable costs to the extent they are reasonable."

Lovdahl continued, in response to Wald's concerns: "This federal guidance has long supported the inclusion of child care centers as allowable operational costs. We work closely with our auditing firm, which regularly evaluates compliance in this area."

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Lovdahl also pointed out that the project was developed over the course of a year and vetted through appropriate public channels in the community beginning in January.

When bids for the project were awarded in March, Lovdahl told the commissioners that the center will replace an existing child care center that the hospital operates for employees in the ambulance building. He emphasized that the child care service is very important to the health care system's ability to recruit and retain employees.

And as a point of fact, the commissioners learned just prior to Wald's arrival at their meeting that the availability of child care was an important factor in the recent recruitment of a new health care provider by CCM Health.

Wald told the commissioners that restricting the child care center for employee use is discrimination.

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"Discrimination in the use of a public-owned facility for any reason is not legal," he said.

He cited a number of specific federal laws dating from the 1964 Civil Rights Act to more recent acts specific to child care.

"Is it fair and right to exclude people who are paying for the facility?" asked Wald. "We are creating a tiered economy where public-owned jobs have first-rate facilities, but private sector jobs (who pay all the bills) are second-class citizens."

No discrimination laws are being violated, Lovdahl reported to the West Central Tribune. Anti-discrimination laws apply to protected classes, such as race, religion, sex, disability, age and other categories, he said.

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"Restricting access to an internal benefit  like child care  based on employment status does not violate these laws," he stated.

The child care facility is licensed by the state Department of Human Services and operates as a staff-only benefit, similar to an employee gym or cafeteria. Families pay for the service directly. The facility is not publicly funded nor open to the general public.

There is no prohibition under Minnesota law  including

of Minnesota Statutes, which governs municipal hospitals  against offering staff-only benefits, Lovdahl added.

Wald also charged that CCM Health cannot allow doctors to use the child care facility if its use is restricted to employees, since they work under contract.

CCM Health is served by physicians who are employees and others who are independent contractors, according to Lovdahl. The state Department of Human Services allows contracted staff to be included in employer-sponsored child care programs if they work under the direction of the license holder, he explained.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is heading to Iowa Tuesday, fueling speculation that he is mounting a bid for the White House in 2028.

On Tuesday evening, Buttigieg -- who served in President Joe Biden's Cabinet as secretary of the Department of Transportation -- will make his in-person, public post-administration debut by headlining a town hall with progressive veterans' group VoteVets Action Fund in Cedar Rapids.

His visit comes after he didn't rule out a presidential bid during an interview on Tuesday.

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MORE: Small nodule found in Joe Biden's prostate during recent physical

PHOTO: In this Feb. 3, 2020, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg arrives at a watch party at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. (Win McNamee/Getty Images, FILE)

In a Substack Live interview with independent journalist Anand Giridharadas on Tuesday, Buttigieg discussed his thought process regarding running for office broadly, and the potential of running for president in 2028 more specifically.

Before making such a decision Buttigieg says he has to "assess the office and what it calls for" as well as "assess what I bring to the table." He said he's employed that process to decide to run for other positions.

"... There are times I follow that process and decided to run. And there are times I followed that process and decided not to run. And the process can lead you to surprising places," he said.

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Still, he said he is a "long way off" from a decision.

Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, first rose to national prominence when he ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. During Biden's 2024 presidential campaign -- and later, Vice President Kamala Harris' own campaign after Biden left the race -- Buttigieg served as a key campaign surrogate and was floated as a potential running mate for Harris, who ultimately chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Now Buttigieg is set to speak in Iowa -- a state where its caucus often serves as the earliest indication of how America's voters will choose their primary candidates.

Major General Paul Eaton, chairman of VoteVets Action Fund, is expected to introduce Buttigieg as "a fellow veteran and someone who understands what is at stake for all Americans," according to remarks first shared with ABC News.

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Eaton is expected to say that the reason the group has chosen to hold its town hall in Iowa is to reach those "on the ground, in the heartland, in a so-called red state, talking not just about what has happened but what we can do in response and how we can continue to put pressure on Trump but also the members of Congress who refuse to do their jobs."

MORE: Pete Buttigieg won't seek Senate, Michigan governor jobs amid presidential bid speculation

In March, Buttigieg ruled out running for a Senate seat or governor in Michigan, and a source familiar with his thinking told ABC News at the time that Buttigieg was strongly positioned to launch another White House bid.

And in the first 100 days or so of President Donald Trump's administration, Buttigieg has taken his message far and wide. He has launched his own Substack, appeared on numerous podcasts and been a regular voice on cable news.

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"Pete has always had a 'go everywhere and talk to everyone' mindset. This is an opportunity to hear from the men and women who served our country about challenges they're facing in the chaos of the current administration and what's needed for a more secure future, outside of the Washington media bubble and podcast studios," a Buttigieg spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News.

But now Buttigieg is taking his vision out on the open road. And according to a spokesperson, isn't stopping with Iowa.

"You can expect to see him continuing this conversation with Americans across the country," the spokesperson said.

And he subtly hinted at this expanded tour during the conclusion of his appearance on Sirius XM's Smartless podcast, hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, remarking: "I'll be around. I'll be out there."

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This trip comes as other Democrats whose names have circulated as potential presidential material are making public appearances in important voting states. Both Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Walz will be featured guests at the South Carolina's Democratic Party's statewide conference at the end of the month. Walz will also appear at the California Democrats' convention that same weekend.

Moore and Walz have publicly denied plans for a 2028 presidential run.

ABC New's Justin Gomez contributed to this report.

Buttigieg to headline Iowa town hall amid 2028 speculation originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
After weeks of controversy, Cabarrus County has a new commissioner.

Cabarrus County Clerk of Court Bill Baggs appointed attorney Jeff Jones to the vacant seat.

This comes after Superior Court Judge Steve Warren sided with a group of Cabarrus residents challenging the appointment of Lamarie Austin-Stripling.

ALSO READ: Cabarrus County commissioners vote on Measmers replacement amid uncertainty

Following his appointment to the state senate, outgoing Chairman Chris Measmer called a meeting to appoint his replacement and participated in it despite not yet resigning from the Board. Commissioners Laura Blackwell Lindsey and Larry Pittman voted to appoint Stripling. Measmer voted present, but Cabarrus Commission rules mark all present votes as votes in the affirmative.

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The meeting was scheduled at a time when one of the commissioners, Lynn Shue, was receiving dialysis treatments. Stripling was endorsed for the seat by the Cabarrus GOP.

In late April, Judge Warren granted a preliminary injunction blocking Stripling from being sworn in as the lawsuit by more than a dozen Cabarrus County residents was considered.

Judge Warren ruled Wednesday that Striplings appointment was invalid and void as a matter of law as the vacancy did not yet exist. Judge Warren also ordered Cabarrus County to pay nearly $13,000 in attorney fees to the plaintiffs.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs and Cabarrus County consented to the judgment.

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According to Cabarrus County, Jones has been an attorney for 34 years. He has mainly practiced financial law. In a news release, Jones said he will work for transparency and integrity.

This county has been really good to me and my family, and I want to do whats right for the county as a whole, Jones said. I want to bring unity. I want to bring a fresh new direction where everybody is working for whats best for the county.

According to Cabarrus County, Jones and his wife, Nita, live in Concord. The couple has three adult children, Myers, Helen, and Sam, and one grandchild, Brox. The family owns the Far-Fetched Farm off Old Concord Road where they keep horses, alpacas, and other animals.

VIDEO: Cabarrus County commissioners vote on Measmers replacement amid uncertainty
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- When the fire broke out Friday, May 9, at a home in the 10000 block of Ellerbe Road, Fire District Five responded.

Caddo Fire District 5 Chief Darrell Braniff said, The first arriving companies, the house was heavily involved when they arrived, it was a rather large house, and they had a quick spread of the fire when it got in the attic.

That home, as well as others, is outside the Shreveport city limits and does not have fire hydrants. However, there is a fire hydrant across the street, so tanker units rotated to fill with water to fight the fire. A total of 25 fire units were fighting the fire.

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Braniff said, We were limited on water resources in that particular area, but we have mutual aid agreements with the surrounding fire districts, so we had districts one, three, four, and six. We also had South Bossier, East 80, and DeSoto Parish District 9.

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A neighbor near the burned home told us he and others do not want to be connected to city services. He went on to say they are aware of the hydrant situation and have weighed the risks.

Braniff echoed that by saying, They are aware of the risks that are involved in living outside the city limits, we have a good department here and were able to get to them within a reasonable amount of time, but they are certainly aware of the risks.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
A 6-year-old boy died after being left inside a vehicle amid record-breaking temperatures over the weekend in Paso Robles, California, authorities have confirmed. The city is 200 miles up the Pacific Coast from Los Angeles.

Police said they were notified of the child's death shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday evening. Detectives believe the boy's father, 27-year-old Briant ReyesEstrada, had parked his vehicle in the lot at the Paso Robles Inn for several hours before he brought the child to Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton, where the boy was pronounced dead. The temperature reached a high of 99 degrees Fahrenheit in Paso Robles on Saturday.

ReyesEstrada was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and willful harm or injury to a child likely to produce great bodily injury, according to local media reports. Hotel employees told KSBY that ReyesEstrada had been working at the Paso Robles Inn that day.

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The incident marks at least the third child to die in a hot car in the United States so far this year, according to Kids and Car Safety. On May 7, a father dropped one child off at school but told police he forgot to drop his 2-year-old off at a babysitter, according to media reports. The child wasn't found until hours later.

On March 18, a 4-month-old baby died in Lakewood, New Jersey, after accidentally being left in a car for a few hours when the father of the child forgot to drop the baby off at his babysitter's and instead went to work.

All three incidents highlight the persistent and deadly danger of heat inside vehicles, even in spring when outside temperatures may not seem extreme.

Since 1990, at least 1,127 children have died in hot cars nationwide, and more than 7,500 others have survived with injuries ranging from mild to severe, according to data from Kids and Car Safety.

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The vast majority of victims-nearly 9 in 10-are under the age of 3. In over half of all fatal cases, children were unknowingly left behind by a parent or caregiver. Experts stress that it can happen to anyone, regardless of routine, background or intentions.

AccuWeather.com

The inside of a car can heat up much faster than most people realize, even if the windows are cracked. In just 10 minutes, the temperature inside can soar to dangerous levels, with about 80% of that heat buildup happening in those first few minutes, according to Kids and Car Safety.

Cracking the windows doesn't make a meaningful difference; it doesn't slow the heating process or lower the final temperature. In fact, children have died from heatstroke in cars when it was only 60 degrees outside. That's because a child's body overheats three to five times faster than an adult's, making them especially vulnerable, even on mild days.

You can find more information on the danger of hot cars for children here.
By Daniel Trotta

(Reuters) - California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday urged localities to "take back the streets" from homeless encampments, proposing language for every city and county to use in a local ban on camping in public.

Newsom, a Democrat often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate for 2028, has taken a harder line on homelessness as California's unhoused population has grown to 180,000. His stance has alienated some liberal allies who advocate affordable housing over crackdowns.

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Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a year ago it was legal to ban camping in public even when there is no shelter space available, 42 of California's 482 cities and two of its 58 counties have passed some form of a camping ban, according to the National Homelessness Law Center.

Nationwide, some 160 cities and counties have passed similar bans in response to increasingly visible homelessness, with people pitching tents on sidewalks and public spaces.

"It is time to take back the streets. It's time to take back the sidewalks. It's time to take these encampments and provide alternatives," Newsom, who filed a brief before the Supreme Court last year supporting camping bans, told a press conference.

While urging compassion and dignity, Newsom's model ordinance would ban camping or semi-permanent structures on public land and allow city officials to remove them provided they notify the unhoused at least 48 hours in advance.

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The proposal requires city officials to "make every reasonable effort" to provide shelter for those affected. An introduction to the proposal states, "No person should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go."

The announcement drew criticism from homeless advocates who said it fails to address the root cause of housing shortages and soaring housing costs.

"This is a problem that built up through years and years of under investment, and it's going to take some level of consistency and commitment to the problem to actually make headway," said Alex Visotzky, a fellow at the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

The Cicero Institute, a conservative think tank, urged California to follow the example of Republican-led states that have passed laws allowing them to sue cities that fail to clear encampments.

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"This approach is far more effective in ensuring that cities are not derelict in their duties to protect the homeless and the public alike," said Devon Kurtz, public safety policy director for the Cicero Institute.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carslbad, California; Editing by David Gregorio)
In the largest gathering of 2026 gubernatorial candidates to date, seven Democrats vying to lead California courted labor leaders on Monday, vowing to support pro-union agreements on housing and infrastructure projects, regulation of artificial intelligence, and government funding for university research.

Throughout most of the hourlong event, the hundreds of union members inside the Sacramento hotel ballroom embraced the pro-labor pledges and speeches that dominated the candidates' remarks, though some boos rose from the crowd when former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa strayed from the other Democrats on stage.

Villaraigosa was the only candidate to raise objections when asked if he would support providing state unemployment benefits to striking workers, saying it would depend on the nature and length of the labor action. Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 vetoed a bill that would have provided that coverage, saying it would make the states unemployment trust fund vulnerable to insolvency.

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The Monday night event was part of a legislative conference held by the California Federation of Labor Unions and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, two of the most influential labor organizations in the state capital.

Villaraigosa was joined on stage by former state Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former state Controller Betty Yee. All are running to replace Newsom, who is serving his second and final term as governor.

Throughout most of the event, the candidates were peppered with yes-or-no questions, answering with the wave of a red flag for "no" or green flag for "yes."

Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates

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The event was not without its frosty moments, including when the candidates were asked whether, as governor, they would be "pragmatic and stop targeting California's oil and gas industry in ways that jeopardize union jobs and force us to rely on dirtier imported energy."

Some of the candidates raised their green flags timidly. California's Democratic leaders, including Newsom and top state lawmakers, have been major proponents of transitioning to renewable energy and imposing more restrictions on the state's oil and gas industry.

"We all want a clean environment going forward," Yee said, "but it cannot be on the backs of workers."

Villaraigosa, in remarks after the event, said he challenged the idea of jumping into electrification too quickly, which would affect union jobs and increase the cost of utilities and energy across the state.

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"Closing down refineries, telling people to get rid of their gas stove and gas water heater is just poppycock," he said.

Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation, praised the Democratic candidates for showing strong support for unionized workers. She's hopeful that each would be more receptive to some pivotal union concerns than Newsom, such as the regulation of artificial intelligence, a major threat to union jobs, she said.

"When we're talking about things like regulating AI  we can't even get a conversation out of Gavin Newsom about any regulation  I think that was, that was a key thing. They all threw up their green flag," Gonzalez said.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is weighing a run for governor, declined an invitation to address the conference.

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Read more: How Antonio Villaraigosa went from a union organizer to a union target

The State Building and Construction Trades Council represents hundreds of thousands of workers in the state, including bricklayers, ironworkers and painters, among many others.

The Labor Federation is a formidable power in California politics and policy, expected to help coordinate the spending of as much as $40 million by unions in next years election. The federation is an umbrella group for about 1,300 unions that represent around 2.3 million workers in the public and private sectors.

The organization has backed all of the gubernatorial candidates in various prior races, although it opposed Villaraigosa in the 2005 mayor's race and supported Newsom over Villaraigosa in the 2018 gubernatorial race.

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The latter decision was driven by the arc Villaraigosa has taken from his roots as a union leader to a critic of Los Angeles teachers union and supporter of charter schools and reform of teacher-tenure rules.

Times staff writer Phil Willon contributed to this report.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
This week, the Senate wrapped up its work on a measure backers hope will revitalize the construction of for-sale condos and other multifamily housing in Colorado.

Wednesday, the Senate briefly discussed House Bill 1272, noting the most recent amendments the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee added last week.

The changes didn't end there. The Senate also clarified the questions about inspections under the optional multifamily construction incentive program established under the bill.

That program for homebuilders provides a warranty covering any defect at no cost to the homeowner for a minimum of a year for workmanship and materials, two years for plumbing and electrical work, and six years for major structural components. It requires a third-party inspection during construction that results in a certificate of occupancy. It also provides for various remedies in case a defect is discovered.

Homeowners' groups and homebuilders have raised concerns about who would hire the inspectors. The amendment made it clear that the inspectors would be under the direction of the insurer providing liability insurance.

The bill now must go back to the House for its review of the amendments. Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, a prime co-sponsor, told reporters Wednesday the changes have the support of the bill's House sponsors.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, said the measure is a good first step but does not go far enough. He plans to continue working on the issue, he said.

HB 1272 passed the Senate on a 31-4 vote, with all the "no" votes coming from progressive Democrats.

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The construction defects issue has stymied condo construction in Colorado for at least the past 15 years.

Affordable condos, currently priced at around $400,000, are considered the entry point for young professionals, families, and seniors looking to downsize.

However, the affordable condo construction market in Colorado has all but vanished.

The Common Sense Institute reported in 2023 that since 2018, 14 new apartments have been built for every new condo. Prior to 2009, one new condo was built for every 1.25 apartments constructed.

The report also said the number of condo developers has dropped from 146 to 23 over the last 15 years. Homebuilders have cited the cost of defect litigation and the high cost of liability insurance, which can add up to $40,000 per unit.

The less expensive liability insurance provided by regulated property and casualty insurers, a market that vanished after changes in state law in 2010, is not guaranteed to return anytime soon.

Gov. Jared Polis, who expressed support for HB 1272 when it was introduced, is expected to sign it.
Police in one Southern California city are laying down the lawliterallywhen it comes to retail theft.

In a social media post showing a woman being arrested for allegedly stealing flowers from a Target store on Mothers Day, the Seal Beach Police Department outlined its zero-tolerance stance on theft affecting businesses both large and small.

Post-COVID, retail theft surged across California. In some jurisdictions, its become so normalized that its barely reported, let alone prosecuted, the department said. But in Seal Beach, we made a conscious choice to take a different path.

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The department explained that shoplifters in Seal Beach are not released with a ticket or warningthey are taken to jail.

We decided that allowing criminals to steal without consequence wasnt just bad policyit was a betrayal of the residents and businesses we swore to protect, police said. This isnt about being harsh. Its about protecting a community that still believes in accountability.

A woman is arrested for stealing flowers from a Target store in Seal Beach, California on Mothers Day, May 11, 2025. (Seal Beach PD)

Retail theft has surged across California in recent years, leading to a statewide, multi-agency crackdown and changes to the law as communities grew weary of viral videos showing smash-and-grab and flash-mob-style burglaries.

In 2024, California voters essentially repealed 2014s Proposition 47, which had reclassified nonviolent offenses, such as shoplifting goods valued under $950, as misdemeanors. The overwhelming passage of Proposition 36 reinstated stiffer penalties for theft and drug crimes, and lowered the felony threshold for shoplifting back to $450.

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In Los Angeles County, District Attorney Nathan Hochman campaigned on a promise to work with law enforcement to curb retail theft. He soundly defeated incumbent George Gascon, whom he painted as being soft on crime.

In its social media post, Seal Beach police also addressed those who defend shoplifters as victims of Southern Californias high cost of living.

Every time we make an arrest for theft, theres a corner of social media that rushes in to justify it, the department wrote. They say its just a big corporation, or that the thief probably needed it. But no one ever considers the cashier who had to confront the thief, or the family who pays more for groceries next month because of what walked out the door unpaid.

Seal Beach is not a place where crime gets a pass, they continued, And thats exactly how our community wants it. Dont Steal in Seal. Sincerely -Management.

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(FOX40.COM)  The California State Railroad Museum announced, in partnership with Friends of No. 9, that it will display the restored No. 9 steam locomotive in July.

Video Above: Native American event at Sacramento Museum in Old Sacramento

The locomotive, which is the only surviving one of the Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway, was a tourist railroad in the late 19th and 20th centuries that allowed tourists to leave the city and visit Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods, according to officials.

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The restoration of the No. 9 represents the very best impulses of the preservation community, said Dr. Ty Smith, Director of the California State Railroad Museum. Although the locomotive wont steam passengers up Mt. Tamalpais, it serves as a window into a remarkable episode in California History. Were grateful to be able to share in telling this important story.

Rio Vista Bridge in Sacramento County undergoes extended closure

Officials said the locomotive traveled on the rails of the Crookedest Railroad in the World. The railway was known for its steep and winding route between Mill Valley and the east peak of Mount Tamalpais.

The locomotive was sold in 1924 and spent over two decades in Siskiyou and Humboldt counties working for lumber companies.

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The Pacific Lumber Company bought the locomotive in 1953 for display in Scotia next to its museum.

In 2018, the locomotive was put up for auction when dedicated rail fans raised funds for its restoration, officials said.

(IMAGE: California State Railroad Museum)

The restoration began in 2019 and will be completed this year.

According to officials, the No. 9 steam locomotive will be on display until January 2026.

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 FOX40 News.
Levar Stoney is a candidate for Virginia Lieutenant Governor and is running as a Democrat. His name will appear on the June 17, 2025 ballot. Stoney, a former Richmond City mayor, is running against five other candidates in the primary for Lieutenant Governor.

If you are voting in this election, from May 2 through June 14 you can vote early at your local voter registration office. On Election Day, polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Dont forget to bring your ID. Click here to see who is on your ballot.

10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.

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WAVY.com Candidate Profiles

Candidate Name: Levar Marcus Stoney

Age: 44

Candidate Website: levarstoney.com

Biography

I was raised in York County by my father and grandmother, Marvin and Mary, and was the first in my family to graduate high school, and then first to graduate college. As the first Black Secretary of the Commonwealth, I helped restore voting rights for almost 200,000 people.

As the youngest elected Mayor in Richmond, I oversaw the transformation of a city that had neglected schools, a broken budget, and crumbling infrastructure and turned it around, from building up schools, to reducing the poverty rate by 33%, to making headway on infrastructure projects, and creating a budget surplus. Richmond is now rated the best place to live in Virginia. I am proud to call Richmond my home, and I live here with my wife Brandy, and my 15-month-old daughter Sunday.

Why are you running for this office?

Im running for Lieutenant Governor because I see the challenges facing Virginians. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are threatening our ability to function effectively as a country with their indiscriminate cuts to our federal workforce. They are only adding to the challenges with their tariff regime that is simultaneously increasing costs for consumers. In this moment, we need leaders who can stand up for working Virginians and fight back against Donald Trump and his MAGA regime. I am no stranger to tough fights. I stood up to Donald Trump as Mayor during his first administration, and have the scars to prove it from the fight to finally remove every last confederate monument from the Capital of the Confederacy. I wont back down from standing up for Virginians. And I promise to always fight for you, your family, your livelihood, and your fair shot at success.

Why are you qualified to hold this office?

Mayors are expected to say what they mean and mean what they say. As chief executives, we are not just responsible for today, but for shaping the future. During my eight years as Mayor of Richmond, we reduced poverty by 33%, cut violent crime by 25%, increased school funding by nearly 60%, built three new schools, and removed Richmonds Confederate monuments  a powerful step toward Richmond becoming a more inclusive and welcoming city. Under my leadership, Richmond was rated the #1 place to live in Virginia by Travel + Leisure Magazine and the best place to visit in the United States by CNN.

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Beyond my local executive experience, I served in the Virginia Executive Branch as Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Terry McAuliffe, where I helped restore voting rights to over 200,000 disenfranchised Virginians, giving them a voice in their democracy once again.

With this track record, Im the most experienced candidate in the race for Lieutenant Governor, ready to work alongside Governor Spanberger and the legislature to boldly lead Virginia forward, ensuring every Virginian has a fair shot at success.

What do you believe you can accomplish given you are only given a vote in the result of a tie?

I view the role of Lieutenant Governor as an advocacy role  a voice for all Virginians. I will use this platform to stand up to leaders like Donald Trump, whose efforts to dismantle our government pose a direct threat to Virginias economy and way of life. Sadly, the current GOP leadership in our state is complicit in these plans, choosing silence over action while the stakes for Virginias working families have never been higher.

As an experienced local executive, I understand the policy and fiscal gaps between state and local government, and I will be a strong voice for local governments, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to deliver for their communities. I will continue to be a strong and loud advocate for children and families, just as I was as Mayor  pushing for better schools, safer communities, and economic policies that make it easier for families to thrive.

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And when there are ties in the Senate, I will make voting decisions with those goals in mind, always putting the interests of Virginias children, families, and working people first.

How would you vote on a proposal to repeal Virginias Right to Work law?

My record is clear when it comes to standing with working people. I believe that everyone deserves a fair shot at success, and the ability to bargain collectively is a critical part of that. Right to Work  or more accurately, Right to Work for Less  is a vestige of the Jim Crow era, designed to weaken the bargaining power of working people and limit their access to the wages and benefits they deserve. Its been on the books in Virginia since 1947, and its time to replace it with something that reflects the needs of a more dynamic, modern economy.

However, I also believe we can be both pro-worker and pro-business. As Mayor of Richmond, I worked closely with businesses and workers to design opportunities that benefited everyone, resulting in rising wages and continued job growth in the city. Thats the kind of balanced, forward-looking leadership we need in our Commonwealth, and thats what Ill bring as Lieutenant Governor.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  National Police Week continues with an emotional tribute in Cleveland.

On Monday, the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society hosted a solemn ceremony at Huntington Park near the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial on Lakeside Ave.

I-Team: Teen girl flies to Cleveland, finds police waiting

The tradition included a candlelight vigil and End of Watch Roll Call.

One by one, the names of the 197 fallen officers from Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, and northern Summit Counties who were killed or died in the line of duty were read aloud by FOX 8s Todd Meany.

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Some of the names go back more than a century, but all were remembered for their sacrifice.

Joe Mannion, President of the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society, said the event, which includes more than thirty people, honors a promise to never forget.

Erie County man accused of using hammer to kill puppy: Sheriff

Mannion said, Our promise is our logo, keeping the promise to never forget.

Dozens of people gathered near the memorial and lit candles for the fallen officers, who they say were just doing their jobs when they were killed in the line of duty.

Jackie Ketterer, mother of fallen Cleveland Officer David Fahey, said that each year, seeing more names added to the memorial is difficult.

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Sometimes its the next year, sometimes its five years, but it just opens the wound again,n and you know these families are suffering, she said.

She and Mannion hope people who drive or walk past the Memorial will take a moment to honor the fallen and their sacrifice.

PETA calls for change after animals escape at Cedar Point again

I hope that they do remember, I hope that they look at it and take a minute and thank these officers for the sacrifice that theyve given because these young men and women are just here to try to make this world a better place for you to live in, said Ketterer, who is also a retired police officer.

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I just want them to remember these were people that went to their job, thought they were going home at night, and unfortunately and unbeknownst to them, they were never going to make it home, Mannion said.

Different events are being held each day this week, including a parade on Friday, May 16, which will step off at 10:30 a.m. from Lakeside Avenue and East 12th Street.

Participants include officers from local, county, state and federal agencies, as well as family members of fallen officers.

The week concludes with Clevelands Most Patriotic Event on Sunday.

The Cleveland International Tattoo will include a special tribute performance by Gates Keystone Club Pipes & Drums from Rochester, NY, honoring their hometown hero, Cleveland Patrolman Jamieson Ritter (Killed 7/4/24), along with Euclid Patrolman Jacob Derbin (Killed 5/11/24).

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Click here for details on events and plans for the entire week.

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CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN)  First News has learned more details about a crash last week that knocked out power to a wide area of town.

Read next: Police identify 2 men killed in separate Warren shootings

The crash happened just after 11:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, near N. Broad and Brookpark Drive, in front of the Park Royal Apartments.

Witnesses told police that they saw a few teenagers or young adults running from the area.

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Police did not find anyone at the scene but said the car, a silver Mazda CX-9 registered out of Illinois, had not been reported stolen.

Inside the vehicle, police reported finding a Mexico ID, an Amazon package, a Cricket receipt, six cell phones, cash and a wallet.

While looking for the suspects, police found two women who were injured and pregnant, but they did not speak English, according to a police report. They told another officer who was able to translate that they were with two men who ran from the area, the report stated.

One of the women later told police that she had entered the U.S. illegally but that she was currently living in Columbus. The other woman said the same and that she had been living in the United States for about two years. They were vague about any details about their addresses or the two men who were with them, the report stated.

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The investigation is continuing.

Courtesy: Canfield Police Department

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Despite best efforts to talk about movies at Cannes, with the sprawling official selection yet to be screened, at early press conferences festival director Thierry Fremaux and his Competition jury batted back questions about the state of the world today. Queries swung from Gerard Depardieus #MeToo conviction, to showing three films from Ukraine and banning Russia from the festival, which from its founding in 1939 was predicated on liberty, said Fremaux.

People take risks to make films, he said. The most important thing is not someones safety, but making a film. The festival is political when the artists are political. Jafar Panahi [Iranian Competition entry A Simple Accident] is prepared to risk going to prison.

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As to the current political winds prevailing in America and elsewhere, Fremaux said, The cinema requires a lot of funding. It is often the first target. Around the world we need to defend cinema. As for President Donald Trumps threatened tariffs on films produced overseas, Fremaux feels it is too early to know what will actually happen. Maybe we should talk in a year, he said. The cinema always finds a way of existing and reinventing itself. Here in Cannes we wouldnt like the American cinema to cease to be strong.

While Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche deflected a question about Gaza, she took on President Trumps threatened tariffs on films, and she eventually revealed her true feelings. We understood that from the beginning that President Trump was trying to protect his country but for us, we have a very strong community of filming on our continent, she said. We can see that hes fighting, and hes trying in many, many different ways to save America and save his ass.

She continued, The world is going into places that are very dangerous. And so the more were going close to those spaces of danger, we need art in order to survive and have a view that gives us gives us hope and connection between each other.

Juror Jeremy Strong addressed playing his Oscar-nominated role in The Apprentice, which played Cannes last year without him, as he was on Broadway. Roy Cohn, I see essentially as the progenitor of fake communities and alternative facts, and were living in the aftermath of what he created, he said. This time where truth is under assault, where truth is becoming an increasingly endangered thing. The role of stories, of cinema art, but here specifically at this temple of film, the role of film is increasingly critical, because it can combat those forces and the entropy of truth, and can communicate truths, individual truths, human truths, societal truths, and affirm and celebrate our shared humanity. What Im here doing this year is in a way, a counterbalance to what Roy Cohn was doing last year.

Sean Baker with the Palme dOr for Anora in 2024 Getty Images

Fremauxs main message is how Cannes has the power to propel even small indies like The Apprentice and Sean Bakers Anora (Neon) into the world  and eventually even win Oscars. Things got going, the adventure begins in Cannes, he said. Its a special festival. A film can show in Cannes in May and still be alive in March the following year. American distributors and producers who like Cannes, like Neon, know how to make the best of it.

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Last year, Oscar winners Emilia Perez and Flow also launched at Cannes. And the increasingly international cast of the Academy voters has elevated foreign-language films that gain a profile at Cannes.

Much of that buzz is generated for the prize-winners like Palme dOr-winning Parasite, Anatomy of a Fall, and Anora, all from Neon. And that comes down to the Competition jury.

Jury duty began Tuesday, May 13 for this years Cannes Film Festival competition panelists, led by Binoche, who first came to the festival 14 years ago. She presides over a nine-member jury composed of actors Halle Berry, Alba Rohrwacher, and Jeremy Strong, directors Hong Sang Soo, Dieudo Hamadi, Payal Kapadia, and Carlos Reygadas, and French-Moroccan diplomat/journalist Leila Slimani. The winners tend to be films that move the jurors emotionally, which is why the Dardennes have won twice.

This year, Fremaux is proud to host the Dardennes for the ninth time in Competition, Julia Ducourneaus second (Alpha), as well as American auteurs Wes Andersons fourth Cannes entry (The Phoenician Scheme) and Richard Linklaters second (Nouvelle Vague). What will the prize contenders be? Sentimental Value from Norway third-timer Joachim Trier could fly, along with Oliver Hermanuss gay romance The History of Sound (MUBI).

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Well watch the films together, said Binoche. And after that, its this connection that is beyond thinking that will make a special result.

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Freelance workers at the Cannes Film Festival, supported by the French labor org Sous les ecrans la deche (Broke Behind the Screens), staged a protest for the second consecutive year at Tuesday nights glamorous opening ceremony.

Last year, a small group of workers protested against their working conditions, including a rooftop demonstration during the opening night gala. Tonight another smattering of protestors assembled in front of the Palais.

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Sous les ecrans la deche, which brings together hundreds of workers at festivals, from projectionists to drivers and caterers, issued a statement saying that those actions yielded negotiations to come up with a new collective agreement that would protect the livelihood of freelance workers at the film and TV festival, but talks froze after six months of discussions, said the org, which was hoping to see an addendum to the unemployment insurance regulations.

France has a unique system that allows freelance workers within the film and TV industries to receive benefits during their unemployment periods. These benefits are only accessible to those who have worked a certain number of hours in the year. But that system has been threatened in recent years after the French government cut the amount paid to workers by half.

The aim was to define a list of roles eligible for the intermittent worker scheme that could be included in the unemployment insurance scheme in order to enable our professions to escape the precarious situation created by the 2021 unemployment insurance reforms, the org wrote in its statement. We are therefore calling on all workers to mobilise once again because, if we cannot make a living from our professions, what future is there for festivals?

Celine Petit, a high-ranking CGT official based in Nice, told Variety that the national trade union center was supporting Sous les ecrans la deche and called for as many workers as possible to participate in a watershed moment on opening night. While protests around the Palais have been banned by the mayor of Cannes, a demonstration is being organized at approximately 6:30 p.m., starting near Cannes city hall and planning to end on the red carpet. Petit suggested that aside from the protests, more actions could pop up.

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Ahead of the festival, organizers sent a memo to all staffers, which detailed guidelines on social media use and dealing with the press, and urged them to maintain a certain political neutrality in your exchanges with festival-goers. Despite reports suggesting otherwise, organizers tell Variety that this particular language was not related to Sous les ecrans la deche or other labor-related matters.

Among the movements high-profile supporters are French filmmaker Justine Triet and Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia, both of whom wore the groups red pin on the red carpet at their Cannes premieres in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Notably, Kapadia serves on the Cannes competition jury this year.

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Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed the first major bill of his administration that sponsors hope would unclog the state's longstanding logjam regarding the construction of affordable, middle-market multi-family housing, specifically condos and townhomes, and, thereby directly promote home ownership.

Past efforts by the governor had mostly focused on rental housing and zoning.

This year, House Bill 1272 aims to jumpstart the affordable condo market, which backers say has died off in Colorado due to "construction defects" litigation.

This bill puts Colorado more in line with other states that see condo construction and protects homeowners from legitimate defects, Polis said.

"There's no silver bullet" for dealing with Colorado's housing crisis, but, the governor added, the new law puts a critical piece in place.

"I'm very hopeful" that five years from now, Polis said, there will be condos in the $250,000 to $300,000 range that people can afford to buy, which puts them on the path to start building build wealth.

The 2001 Construction Defect Action Reform Act had set up a process for homeowners to sue builders when they find defects, which can range from serious issues, such as cracks in the foundation or HVAC problems, to smaller problems, such as defective cabinetry and leaks.

A report last September from the free-market think tank Common Sense Institute said that "insurance costs for condominiums surged to 5.5% of a projects hard costs, more than 233% higher than multifamily rental home projects, which had insurance costs as low as 1.1% to 1.65% of project hard costs." Insurance costs are tied to lawsuits over construction defects, supporters of changing the law have argued.

HB 1272 was the years-long work of Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, who, in the past year alone, held more than 90 meetings to try and bring together homebuilders and contractors, realtors, insurance companies, business groups, numerous city and county governments, as well as trial lawyers who represents clients dealing with construction issues.

Bird was joined on the bill by Speaker Pro Tem Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, and Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. The lawmakers also acknowledged the rigorous work of the Colorado Association of Realtors and its lobbyists, Jason Hopfer and Karen Wick.

During Monday's signing ceremony, Polis noted that previous housing legislation from 2024 on "transit-oriented" communities could include condos and townhomes, although acknowledging there was no path forward to building them until HB 1272.

'A chance for families to cultivate roots'

Bird said previous efforts focused on those who had to deal with construction defects or with homebuilders, but this law is for prospective homebuyers. The bill, she said, is for the new professional recruited to come to Colorado who now wants to put down roots in a community  and for the long-time resident who has never been able to think about buying a first home.

Yes, apartments are being built, but that doesn't help people invest in a community, Bird said.

"Homes build community, homes build people's participation in civics, and it makes people committed to our state," she said.

Roberts noted the need for affordable housing for the mountain communities, whether for ski resort towns or remote areas. The one issue that unites every community is housing, he said, adding that applies to teachers, police officers and others who want to put down roots. With more affordable, middle market homes, more families will be able to stay in the communities in which they work and live, he said.

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Tyrone Adams of the Colorado Association of Realtors said this is not just a legislative victory  it also embraces a vision of hope for many Coloradans.

"This is a chance for families to cultivate roots," Adams said.

Among HB 1272's most significant changes is the creation of a "Multifamily Construction Incentive Program" to limit the grounds for which a construction defect can be claimed against participating builders.

The program provides a warranty against defects or damage. That warranty is one year for workmanship and materials, two years for plumbing, electrical, and materials, and six years for significant structural changes inspected by a third-party inspector. The Department of Local Affairs will manage the program.

The law requires a third-party inspection during construction that results in a certificate of occupancy. It also provides for various remedies in case a defect is discovered.

In addition, the law requires 65% of homeowners in a homeowners' association to agree to construction defects legislation, up from 50%, and to ensure monies paid for a defect claim go toward repairing the defect.

HB 1272 won a 31-4 vote in the Senate and a 61-3 vote in the House. All the "no" votes in both chambers came from progressive Democrats.

The construction defects issue has stymied condo construction in Colorado for at least the past 15 years.

Affordable condos, currently priced at around $400,000, are considered the entry point for young professionals, families and seniors looking to downsize.

However, the affordable condo construction market in Colorado has all but vanished.

The Common Sense Institute reported in 2023 that since 2018, 14 new apartments were built for every new condo. Before 2009, one new condo was built for every 1.25 apartments constructed.

The report also said the number of condo developers has dropped from 146 to 23 over the last 15 years. Homebuilders have cited the cost of defect litigation and the high cost of liability insurance, which can add up to $40,000 per unit.

The less expensive liability insurance provided by regulated property and casualty insurers, a market that vanished after changes in state law in 2010, is not guaranteed to return anytime soon. However, Commissioner of Insurance Michael Conway believes the market is ready for change.

In March, he told a House committee that there was little competition among insurance companies for construction defects liability insurance. That meant fewer multifamily homes were being built, Conway said.

"I firmly believe that House Bill 25-1272 will lead to increased competition in the construction defects liability insurance market," Conway said.

He said the market will be more attractive to insurance companies and will increase competition among insurers in the Colorado market, which could put "downward pressure" on insurance premiums.
CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  Parents wanted for the death of a 3-year-old child in Canton have turned themselves in at the Stark County Jail, according to officials with the Canton Police Department.

Credit: Stark County Jail

According to an earlier press release, Demetres Givens, 42, and Jamie Thompson, 37, were wanted by the Canton Police Department for involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.

Teen girl flies to Cleveland, finds police waiting

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Officials said, on May 5, Canton Police responded to a home in the 3100 block of Gilbert Circle Northeast for a report of a child that was found in bed not breathing. The child was later pronounced at the hospital. A cause of death was not released.

What is it??: Colorful cloud spotted over NE Ohio

As FOX 8 previously reported, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Givens and Thompson on May 9.

Credit: US Marshals Service of Northern Ohio

As of early May 13, the two had not been located, and the U.S. Marshals announced reward money for information that helped police track down and arrest the two. Later that day, officials said, Givens and Thompson turned themselves into police.

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Police arrested more than two dozen people after activists protesting cuts to Medicaid interrupted the House Energy and Commerce Committee as it began consideration of legislation to change the program.

Minutes into the markup, activists  including several in wheelchairs  chanted no cuts to Medicaid, persisting despite a warning from Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) that those making outbursts could be arrested.

Capitol Police escorted the demonstrators out, telling The Hill that 26 people were arrested.

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Around 2 p.m., 25 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Rayburn House Office Building. They were arrested for 22-1307 Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding. It is against the law to protest inside the Congressional Buildings, Capitol Police told The Hill. Police later upped that number to 26.

Ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) had asked Capitol Police not to arrest the protestors because many of them are disabled and in wheelchairs.

I think hopefully everyone understands that these demonstrations, these people feel very strongly because they know theyre losing their health care and the cruelty that comes from the Republican proposal, Pallone said.

The Energy and Commerce Committee is debating its portion of the one big beautiful bill that will encompass President Trumps ambitious legislative agenda, including extension of tax cuts and reforms to Medicaid.

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The committee was tasked with finding at least $880 billion in deficit reductions to offset the cost of extending tax cuts  a figure that would be impossible to reach without changes to Medicaid. The bill includes new work requirements on able bodied adults and imposes limits on a state tax mechanism that enables them to get more federal Medicaid matching funds, but does not include some of the most significant cuts that Republicans were considering.

Still, a Congressional Budget Office analysis requested by Democrats found that the bill would lead to about 8.6 million people losing insurance.

Activists for people with disabilities, health care workers, and Planned Parenthood flooded the Energy and Commerce to show opposition to the bill, lining up outside the hearing room when space inside was full.

Nathaniel Weixel contributed.

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY)  Currently, Virginia law requires drivers and front seat passengers to wear a seatbelt. There was no requirement for adult passengers in the back to wear a seatbelt.

Christy King got that changed. She advocated for the new law in honor of her son.

I will not stop: Williamsburg mother is on a mission to change Virginias seatbelt law after losing son

Kings son Christopher was killed in a car crash in 2020. He was riding in the back seat without a seatbelt.

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The other three kids walked away because they had their seatbelts on, King said. He always wore a seatbelt in the front seat. He would get after my husband if he didnt wear a seatbelt. It was just that one time he jumped in the back seat. A lot of people dont think its as important in the back seat to buckle up.

After Chriss death, Christy started the Christopher King Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to prevent any more deaths from not wearing a seatbelt. One item on the foundations to-do list was to get the law changed.

I met the governor, King said. His office drafted the first copy of our bill, HB2475, which is actually now a law.

The Christopher King Seatbelt Law will go into effect on July 1. It will require adults riding in the back seat to wear a seatbelt.

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The foundation also works with local teenagers spreading awareness of seatbelt safety.

We go to the high schools and speak to the kids, King said. Recently, Christophers friend Fred, who was in the car that night in the passenger seat, goes with me to speak.

The foundation raises money through their annual car show, Cars for Chris.

The fifth annual Cars for Chris will be Saturday, May 17 at 9 a.m. at the Williamsburg Community Chapel.

We really hope everyone comes out and sees all the show cars, which are always amazing, King said. There will be safe driving resources and food trucks, something for everybody. Im just so thankful for all of the what weve been able to accomplish as a foundation in his name.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  The Iowa Senate advanced a bill that could further complicate a massive carbon-capture pipeline project routed across several Midwestern states after a long-winded and testy debate that exposed a clear rift among Republicans over property rights and the future of the state's agricultural dominance.

The legislation that narrowly passed late Monday would prohibit the renewal of permits for a carbon dioxide pipeline, limit the use of such a pipeline to 25 years and significantly increase the insurance coverage requirements for the pipeline company. Those provisions would likely make it less financially feasible for a company to build the pipeline.

Already passed by the House, the measure now goes to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk. A spokesperson for the governor said Tuesday that the governor's office is reviewing the bill.

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The legislation could force adjustments to Summit Carbon Solutions plans for the estimated $8.9 billion, 2,500-mile (4,023-kilometer) project, which are already strained after South Dakotas governor signed a ban on the use of eminent domain  the government seizure of private property with compensation  to acquire land for carbon dioxide pipelines.

The project received permit approvals in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota, but it does face various court challenges, and its application was rejected in South Dakota.

The Iowa Senate, already operating in overtime as legislative session drags on, came to a halt after a dozen Republican state senators insisted that their leaders bring a pipeline bill to the floor.

In response, Summit spokesperson Sabrina Zenor this month outlined the company's investment to date, saying that the company remained committed to building the project and to Iowa.

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Summit Carbon Solutions has invested four years and nearly $175 million on voluntary agreements in Iowa, signing agreements with more than 1,300 landowners and securing 75% of the Phase One route, Zenor said in a May 1 statement.

Zenor declined to comment Tuesday.

Dozens of Summit employees and leaders and members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and labor unions made a big showing as debate in the state Senate seemed inevitable. They told lawmakers that the project is essential for the future of Iowas ethanol industry, for farmers and for construction jobs.

The pipeline would carry carbon emissions from ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to be stored underground permanently in North Dakota. By lowering carbon emissions from the plants, the pipeline would lower their carbon intensity scores and make them more competitive in the renewable fuels market.

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The project would also allow ethanol producers and Summit to tap into federal tax credits.

A majority of the Iowa Senate turned their back on Iowa agriculture tonight, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said in a statement.

For 25 years, Iowa has benefited greatly from being the most profitable place in the world to convert corn kernels into ethanol, said Shaw, who predicts that there will be severe economic consequences if the legislation is signed into law. Iowa is poised to be left behind.

The pipeline's critics accuse Summit of stepping on their property rights and downplaying the safety risks of building the pipeline alongside family homes, near schools and across ranches.

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Lee Enterprises and The Associated Press reviewed hundreds of cases that reveal the great legal lengths the company went to to get the project built. In South Dakota, in particular, a slew of eminent domain legal actions to obtain land sparked a groundswell of opposition that was closely watched by lawmakers in Iowa as well.

Tensions flared among the Iowa Senate's Republican supermajority, with senators openly criticizing one another and exposing the closed-door discussions that got them there. Thirteen Republican senators joined with 14 Democrats in voting in favor of the bill. Twenty-one Republicans and one Democrat voted against it.

The Republicans who opposed it stressed that they, too, respect private property rights. But they said the bill has holes that will threaten any infrastructure development in Iowa, not just carbon-capture pipelines.

They criticized the bill for drawing out the permitting process by muddying up the standards of public use, allowing anyone, anywhere to intervene, and creating unnecessary insurance disputes between the company and landowners that may be miles away.

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The bill's backers said those criticisms are overblown interpretations of the legislation and distractions from the issue at hand.

Republican state Sen. Jeff Taylor, who supports the bill, said it would fundamentally ensure that companies respect the constitutional requirement for eminent domain.

Both the Iowa Constitution and the federal Constitution specify what the requirement is for eminent domain: Its public use, Taylor said. Its not anything else. Its not a positive business climate, its not helping the agribusiness in the state, its not the price of corn or helping the ethanol plants. Its public use.
OTTAWA  Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a crisis-era Cabinet on Tuesday to confront Donald Trumps trade war, steady a weakening economy and reset the high-stakes Canada-U.S. relationship.

Carney said last months federal election delivered his Liberal Party a mandate to redefine Canadas economic and security relationship with the U.S. We have to address this crisis with the Americans, and we have to address the very real challenges in our economy, the rookie politician said outside Rideau Hall after the swearing-in ceremony.

Carney told reporters he will take the lead on Canada-U.S. relations but will lean on Cabinet members who have experience dealing with Trump and his allies.

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Dominic LeBlanc will be his go-to minister on all things Trump. The Canada-U.S. trade minister accompanied former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Mar-a-Lago last year and most recently showed up on the Oval Office couch during Carney's White House visit.

LeBlanc and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are texting buddies. They've shared frequent phone calls around tariff deadlines and often speak more than once a day. LeBlanc has also been dealing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informally. It's a key role at a critical time in the Canada-U.S. relationship.

Carney won last month's federal election in Canada by making the case that he is a crisis manager who can guide Canada's economy back to stability.

We will reinforce bridges across labor, business and civil society, and together, we will advance the nation-building investments that will support the core mission of this government, which is to create the strongest economy in the G7, Carney said Tuesday. An economy that works for everyone.

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Carney is set to reveal his Liberal governments specific priorities May 27, in a throne speech delivered by King Charles III.

On the day Trump announced auto tariffs, Carney declared Canadas relationship with the U.S. over. Hes said he is seeking a new economic and security deal with the U.S., while exploring trade and defense deals with Europe.

Domestically, he wants Canadas economy to rely less on the United States. The prime minister said he plans to champion pipeline and mining projects, break down internal trade barriers and provide tax cuts to Canadians to offset the impacts of a possible recession.

Carneys choices for Cabinet reflect those priorities, and his pledge to lead Canada in the biggest transformation of our economy since the end of the Second War. To that end, Francois-Philippe Champagne will stick around as Carneys finance minister and will come face to face with Bessent next week at the G7 finance ministers meeting in Banff, Alberta.

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But several top portfolios are shifting. Anita Anand takes over foreign affairs from Melanie Joly, who moves to the industry portfolio. One of her key responsibilities will be protecting Canadas auto sector from Trumps tariffs and ambitions to reshore all manufacturing to U.S. soil.

Canadians received a bitter reminder of the effects of Trumps auto tariffs when Honda Canada announced Tuesday that it was postponing a C$15 billion investment in an electric vehicle project because of a slowdown in EV sales. We're going to make sure that they're held accountable, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.



Carney said Canada is at the start of an industrial transformation, which Joly will help lead, drawing on her experiences dealing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. officials.

He said newly installed defense and public safety ministers  David McGuinty and Gary Anandasangaree, respectively  will also play key roles in engaging Trump in what he called a return to more traditional Cabinet government.

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McGuinty will be off to The Hague next month, where hell meet his opposite number, Pete Hegseth, at the NATO Summit. The minister will also face heightened pressure to boost Canadas defense budget.

Carney has promised his Liberal government would spend C$30.9 billion on defense over the next four years and meet Canadas NATO defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP by 2030  two years ahead of its current pledge.

But Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said Tuesday that the new benchmark is 5 percent. We're asking our allies to invest in their defense like they mean it, Whitaker said.

Carney also tapped veteran business executive Tim Hodgson as his energy and natural resources minister after recruiting him to run in the April election. Aside from working with Carney at Goldman Sachs and the Bank of Canada, Hodgson chaired Hydro One.

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Hodgson will have to find a way to build the ports and supply lines Canada will need to increase energy exports outside the U.S., while pushing the Americans to cooperate on critical minerals development  including uranium production and processing.

Carney was in Washington last week to kick-start trade negotiations with the United States. He was joined in the Oval Office alongside Joly, LeBlanc and McGuinty.

In the broader discussions outside the Oval Office, in the Roosevelt Room, we touched on all those issues: public safety, defense. As well as all aspects of economics and trade, Carney said.

Going forward, Canada has big decisions to make when it comes to managing its borders and military, he said.

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As he attempts to maintain a respectful relationship with Trump, Carney is keeping Chrystia Freeland out of the presidents sights  and far from the U.S. The former deputy prime minister will remain in Cabinet as interprovincial trade minister, focusing on breaking down trade barriers between Canadas provinces to dull the pain of Trumps tariffs.

Trump has repeatedly hurled insults at Freeland. His team found her abrasive when she took the political lead in the renegotiation of NAFTA during his first presidency. Last week, the president referred to Freeland as a terrible person during Carneys visit to the White House.

She tried to take advantage of that deal, and she didnt get away with it. We had a bad relationship, Trump told Carney in the Oval Office.

In March, the U.S. imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods and a 10 percent tariff on energy and potash exports from Canada. The Trump administration later limited these tariffs to non-USMCA-compliant goods. The Americans also imposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products.

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In April, a 25 percent tariff on most Canadian autos and their parts came into effect, targeting the auto industry and its 500,000 workers.

Canada has retaliated by slapping tariffs on nearly $43 billion worth of U.S. goods, specifically targeting Republican states and Trump allies.

Ford expressed hope Tuesday that Carney can get a good deal for Canadians.

Seems like President Trump's making deals with everyone. I'm very confident Prime Minister Carney is going to be there and working alongside President Trump to come up with a mutually rewarding relationship when it comes to tariffs, he told reporters just east of Toronto. That's what we look forward to.
Investing.com -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney formally introduced his new cabinet on Tuesday, swearing in 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state in a ceremony at Rideau Hall. The reshaped team includes 24 new ministers, 13 of whom are first-time members of Parliament, marking a significant generational and strategic shift for the new government.

Carney used the opportunity to signal policy priorities by renaming several key positions. Notably, Dominic LeBlanc will serve as President of the Kings Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and One Canadian Economy, effectively making him a lead figure in negotiations with the United States and in advancing the governments domestic economic strategy.

The Prime Minister also created new roles to reflect pressing national challenges. Alberta MP Eleanor Olszewski becomes the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, while Toronto MP Evan Solomon has been appointed Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. Both portfolios are new and reflect the governments priorities in climate adaptation and digital transformation.

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Several appointments further highlight evolving policy directions. Rebecca Chartrand will lead the Northern and Arctic Affairs file in response to economic and sovereignty pressures in the Far North. Julie Dabrusin becomes Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Tim Hodgson, a former Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) banker and senior advisor to the Bank of Canada, steps into a decisive role as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Hodgson is expected to play a key role in aligning Canadas natural resources policy with its energy transition agenda.

The reshuffle also brought significant turnover, as 11 members from Carneys transitional cabinet have been dropped. These include former Defence Minister Bill Blair, Treasury Board President Ginette Petitpas Taylor, and Environment Minister Terry Duguid. Others leaving cabinet include former housing minister Nate Erskine-Smith, agriculture minister Kody Blois, and natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

Carneys team blends experienced hands with new voices in a cabinet that highlights priorities including housing, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and economic unity... a combination that reflects what the Prime Minister has framed as a transformative agenda for Canada.

The government is expected to lay out its full legislative and policy plan in a Speech from the Throne on May 27, to be delivered by King Charles III. Parliament will resume the day prior, on May 26.

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It's now up to 12 women and men to decide whether former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his top aide Cade Cothren were businessmen  or criminals.

Government prosecutors and defense attorneys made their final arguments inside Nashville's federal courthouse May 12, and the jury will begin deliberating after U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson gives them instructions the morning of May 13.

Casada, who resigned as speaker in 2019, and Cothren, his former chief of staff who resigned following a racist and sexist texting scandal the same year, each face 19 different corruption charges related to an alleged kickback scheme. Indicted on 20 charges, one count of money laundering was dropped during the trial.

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They face 20 years in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say Casada and Cothren, along with former Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, took advantage of a state allowance given to lawmakers for sending mailers to their constituents.

Smith, who pleaded guilty shortly after her arrest, was the government's lead witness and testified against her alleged co-conspirators for several days.

Notably missing from the witness stand throughout the three-week trial was current House Speaker Cameron Sexton, whom defense attorneys characterized as a political rival of Casada. The three lawmakers who testified were Reps. Patsy Hazelwood, R-Signal Mountain; Esther Helton, R-East Ridge; and Jay Reedy, R-Erin.

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According to prosecutors, Cothren ran a shady political consulting firm called Phoenix Solutions and took on the fictitious persona of an experienced but disillusioned Washington insider named Matthew Phoenix. In exchange for referring legislators to use Phoenix Solutions for their mailer business, Casada and Smith got kickbacks from Cothren, prosecutors allege.

Defense lawyers argued Phoenix Solutions was a legitimate business that performed what it was hired to do and that no crime occurred.

Here's what happened during closing arguments May 12.

Government makes meticulous case

Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Ellison broke down the case by the four different types of crimes Casada and Cothren are charged with: conspiracy, bribery, fraud and money laundering. For each one, he identified what the elements of the crime are and argued how the government proved all of those elements.

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Ellison said Cothren set up Phoenix Solutions under a fake name because of Cothren's unsavory reputation. Smith testified that in Tennessee politics at this time, Cothren was "radioactive."

Casada, who remained in the House after resigning from the speakership, and Smith then got other state representatives to use the business for their mailers. In return for bringing in customers, Cothren gave Smith and Casada a cut of the profit, Ellison said.

But Smith and Casada exercised their authority as high-ranking state officials other ways  most notably, according to Ellison, through a "pressure campaign" on the person responsible for processing invoices to postage and printing vendors, Office of Legislative Administration Director Connie Ridley.

Smith and Casada also made some invoices out to their consulting companies. That way, it did not seem like Phoenix Solutions was making a lot of money in its first year, Ellison said. He called this a "shell game."

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He emphasized to jurors that just because a bribe-payer completes the work, that does not mean bribery has not been committed.

In this case, Ellison argued that Cothren was bribing Casada and Smith to bring him more customers by offering them portions of Phoenix Solutions' profits. The work Cothren did for the 16 legislators who contracted with Phoenix Solutions was "obtained through bribery, and Casada and Smith abused their power," Ellison said.

Sexton 'the elephant not in the room' and hole in case, says Casada's lawyer

Ed Yarbrough, a former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee and one of Casada's defense attorneys, tried to convince the jury that common sense will lead them to the "inescapable conclusion" that no crime occurred.

"It's not a crime to make money," Yarbrough argued. "It's only a crime to make money dishonestly."

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He argued the government could not prove Casada and Cothren's actions were criminal without hearing the testimony of Cameron Sexton, House speaker at the time of the supposed crime. Why? Sexton's office approved Phoenix Solutions as a vendor for the postage and printing allowance.

Prosecutors indicated Sexton would not have approved Phoenix Solutions had he known Cothren was behind the company. But Sexton never testified. Yarbrough called Sexton the "elephant that is not in this room and has not been here for the last three weeks."

"How can you possibly convict anybody when you don't know what Cameron Sexton would have said?" Yarbrough asked the jury.

He said that Casada was trying to make money through his consulting firm, and that he used Phoenix Solutions as a subcontractor for mailers.

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"Bribery? What bribery?" Yarbrough said. "These are amateur business people."

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Taddei in rebuttal called this an "absurd claim."

"They're trying to get you to believe the unbelievable," Taddei said.

Cothren's attorney notes using a pseudonym not a crime

Cothren's lead defense attorney, Cynthia Sherwood, said, "At its core, this case is about one thing: Did the state of Tennessee get exactly what it paid for?" Sherwood said witnesses repeatedly testified that it did.

Sherwood argued that Smith and Casada were not acting as representatives while doing work in connection with the state mailer business.

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"They were acting as private business owners operating their own private consulting firms," she said.

She also argued that while lawmakers did not know that Cothren was actually Matthew Phoenix, they were not harmed because of that fact considering they still got what they paid for and there was no financial loss.

"Using a pseudonym is not a crime," she said.

Taddei pointed out in rebuttal that some lawmakers testified their reputations and credibility were harmed when it was revealed they were actually dealing with Cothren.

Sherwood and Yarbrough also took aim at Smith, who testified against Casada and Cothren. At one point during her testimony, Smith admitted she will lie when it comes to money.

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"How can you trust her on anything?" Yarbrough asked.

This story has been updated to correct Ed Yarbrough's previous employment.

Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Casada jury to decide: Is former TN lawmaker criminal or businessman?
Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, while testifying at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial, said that the music mogul once asked her to get in an inflatable pool filled with baby oil.

Ventura is a key witness in the prosecution's case against Combs, who is charged in federal court with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Ventura, who was in a relationship with Combs for 11 years, claimed she was made to participate in several "Freak Offs" with male escorts over that span.

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During her testimony on Tuesday, May 13, Ventura described an alleged incident when she said Combs asked her to get into a baby oil-filled pool inside a hotel room.

Related: Diddy Looked at Cassie When She Came into the Courtroom to Testify: Here's What She Did in Response

Though Ventura said she didn't want to get in the pool  she was fully clothed at the time  she feared what would happen if she refused.

Something that Sean wanted to happen, thats what was going to happen, Ventura said on the stand.

BACKGRID Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Casandra "Cassie" Ventura

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In the indictment against Combs, prosecutors alleged that federal authorities found 1,000 bottles of baby oil after raiding his homes, though his attorney disputed that number.

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Teny Geragos, a member of Combs' legal team, told the jury during opening statements "You may know of his love of baby oil. Is that a federal crime? No.

Prior to Combs indictment in September 2024, Ventura filed a civil suit against Combs the previous November, claiming he raped and assaulted her. The suit was settled the following day, but it led to a spate of civil suits accusing Combs of similar sexual misconduct.

Ventura, who began testifying on Tuesday, has detailed alleged physical and emotional abuse she said she endured for years at the hands of Combs.

Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied all the charges against him.

Read the original article on People
Catawba County has proposed a $345 million budget for a new fiscal year.

According to the Hickory Daily Record, the property tax rate would stay the same.

ALSO READ: Catawba County proposes $345M budget

It is among the lowest in North Carolina.

There are also plans to invest over $30 million in school facilities and construction.

Commissioners are expected to approve the budget on June 2.

VIDEO: Proposed $3.6 billion budget presented to Charlotte City Council
CHICAGO (WGN)  Tuesday Mass at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago has an air of excitement this week.

The graduate school for students from around the globe is beaming with pride that its alumnus Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV.

We always pray for our alums who are doing such phenomenal ministries in 60 countries all over the world, Sister Barbara Reid said. We werent quite prepared to have one of our alums take on the role of pope.

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Theyre writing down well wishes and prayers for the new pope.

Reid and the Popes Augustinian brothers will hand-deliver the messages when they go to the Vatican for Pope Leos official inauguration Sunday.

Ahead of the big weekend, Pope Leo visited the Augustinian Orders headquarters in Rome.

Father John Lydon is part of the delegation heading to Rome. He attended Villanova with Pope Leo and worked with him in Peru for a decade, at a time when its people faced terrorism and dictatorship.

Father Bob in those days we were the two priests there, Lydon said. We had soup kitchens open to people who were leaving the mountains due to terrorism and had nothing. And those two soup kitchens still function.

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He says his friend is a defender of human rights.

A very level-headed person, very friendly. A bridge builder, very open to hear different points of view, Lydon said. Its just a great joy to be able to be part of it simply because I know him so well and worked together for so many years.

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.
Dan Rayfield, Oregons rookie attorney general, says he didnt want to spend his first months in office fighting presidential edicts in court. But along with the consumer protection and law-and-order duties that more typically define his role, the Democrat is now a key combatant in Donald Trumps trade war, leading a 12-state lawsuit challenging the presidents sweeping tariff regime.

Rayfield, 46, is among the newest in a band of Democratic state attorneys general thats been strikingly coordinated in challenging and stalling Trumps avalanche of executive orders slashing federal spending, restricting birthright citizenship, gutting diversity and inclusion programs and much more since Jan. 20.

The looming impact of the tariffs in his trade-dependent Pacific Northwest state made taking the lead on the lawsuit an easy call, says Rayfield, who served as speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives before winning the AG post in November.

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Right now, in Canada, they are literally pulling [Oregon] products off of shelves, he told POLITICO Magazine last week as he attended meetings in New York.

Rayfield has worked closely with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in leading the suit, which challenges Trumps invocation of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, enacted in 1977 and now used for the first time to impose tariffs.

Its an unprecedented misuse of emergency powers, said Rayfield.

California was the first state to file suit over the tariffs last month (perhaps unsurprisingly, given its economic heft and Gov. Gavin Newsons political profile). But Rayfields suit  State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump  is expected to be taken up first, and will likely be cited in the U.S. Court of International Trade this week, where judges will consider a private companys challenge to the tariffs.

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Rayfield talked about his confidence in the merits of his case, how labor unions are supporting his push against the Trump tariffs and his disappointment that big companies arent speaking out more publicly about the tariffs  even if theyre opposed to them behind closed doors.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Youre leading a 12-state lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations tariffs, and youre involved in a number of other lawsuits on Trump executive orders as well. Why did you and Oregon choose to lead on the tariff lawsuit?

The sweeping nature and impact of those tariffs to every aspect of our daily lives  whether youre a small business operating in the state of Oregon, whether you are an individual just going to the grocery store  the impact to all of us was immense. And so for me, it was a real easy decision.

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When you see the president overstepping his authority in a way that effectively is a $3,800 tax on all Americans  that is something that was very easy to sit there and say, Okay, working families are struggling, and we need to be there to [hold] the line. And if you want to pass taxes in that way, you just need to do it the right way. You need to do it in Congress.

Youre coordinating closely with a lot of Democratic attorneys general on a number of fronts. How do you decide who takes the lead?

Its one of those things where each case is a little bit different. It might be that one state notices the impact first and really starts moving on it, and then we start spreading feelers out. There are other cases  before Trump took office, we knew the hot topics  and the states kind of raised their hands, and we shared resources, knowing that each state cant do all of the cases. Theres a partnership that we have.

This case specifically was something that our office and myself started researching a couple of months ago to really start looking at the basis for him applying all these sweeping tariffs. Our state was a little bit further ahead along in the research with Arizona, and so we were the two states that ended up taking the lead in this case. And it just made sense, right? We had done a lot of the homework. We were ready. It was something we were passionate about, and we moved forward with it.

It does feel like Democratic AGs are having an interesting moment here, particularly as Democratic governors take varied approaches to dealing with President Trump. Some are a bit more accommodating, some a bit more in resistance, some a bit of both. How do you view your role in this moment as each state tries to figure out how to navigate Trump?

Well, each elected office has this unique role, and its unique set of tools. So attorneys general right now are really enforcing the rule of law and making sure that when the president takes actions, that hes following the Constitution, following the law, and that is our defined role. Its a very reactive role. Obviously, I would rather have had my first four months be incredibly boring  this is not what you want to be doing with your time. [But] its incredibly meaningful.

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I have found the cooperation and coordination among all the Democratic attorneys general incredibly helpful, where we are really partnering together to find the right moments, working together to find the right impacts in each of our communities to be able to challenge these unconstitutional actions. In Congress, they have a different set of tools, right? And early on, attorneys are generally going to be very active, and that will probably shift toward Congress, because a lot of these spending things that were fighting in court right now, the president could do if he just passed them in Congress. Hes choosing not to do that. And one can wonder, is he choosing not to do that because he doesnt think that public support for what he's doing is there?

Polling does seem to show right now that the publics appetite for the presidents trade agenda, for some of the elements of his economic agenda, seems to be weakening. Does that affect conversations that you have with fellow AGs about either the approach or the timing on some of these issues?

Not really. What I wanted to do was get in now, before prices start going up in the grocery stores, before it really starts to take hold. The economists show its like a $3,800 increase for everyday normal households, for everyday goods, in a year. Thats a lot of money that most people cannot afford, at least in a lot of communities where I live. So for me, it was the pocketbook.

At the same time, were doing these hearings across the country  each Democratic attorney general is learning about the impacts that people are seeing on the front lines. In Oregon, I mean, things that you would never expect. A small business that makes bras, that can only get certain products from China  that will 100 percent be passed down to consumers across the United States. We have the nursery industry in Oregon, which is one of the largest this side of the Mississippi. Right now, in Canada, they are literally pulling products off of shelves, and these are 40-year relationships that are being destroyed as a result of this. Thats another unique dynamic. That's why it really wasnt polling numbers, it was talking to real people, and it was like, Youve got to move on this.

Whats been the reaction, in terms of either support or pushback, within the business community in Oregon? In California, its been mixed. What are you hearing from the business community, and from the labor community?

Starting from the business community, Ive heard absolutely nothing but positive comments. Most businesses will tell you, behind the scenes, that this is an absolutely horrible economic policy. There is no rational basis behind what the president is trying to accomplish. Now, in a public space, a lot of these businesses are trying to negotiate  larger businesses are, that is  private deals with the president. So why would they be out publicly trying to effectively harm their negotiations on a national level? So theres a conflict of interest. And right now, I think its a unique moment in our nation where people are scared to speak up about impacts, and that is not a democracy. That, fundamentally, is a problem.

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On the labor side  and this is how I feel about tariffs  I believe tariffs are a valid economic tool. In the 90s, when you had the dumping of steel in the United States, manipulating the market, tariffs were an appropriate response to balance the playing field when it comes to trade. Congress thought about all of these things, and they passed certain laws with certain safeguards and sideboards for when the president should implement tariffs. And its these safeguards and sideboards that were really meant to protect the economy and only put tariffs in when it was appropriate under those set of circumstances. So when we did our rollout, we had the president of Oregon AFL-CIO at our press conference, sitting there [saying], You can do tariffs and you should, under some circumstances. But when you do tariffs like this, it actually harms frontline workers.

Back to the coordination among AGs for a second. California went first in terms of filing a challenge on the tariffs. Was that a surprise? Was there any discussion of combining efforts with California, which is obviously kind of a behemoth in this regard?

You know, internally, I dont know exactly what the California conversation was. When we were researching tariffs within the state of Oregon, I think, and among many of the states, we were further along in our research and preparation and drafting of a complaint.

It sounds to me, and again, I would talk to AG Rob Bonta, who has been nothing but wonderful and transparent about where his state is  it really felt to me that AG Bonta was working on behalf of Gov. [Gavin] Newsom, and so I dont know if that was an AG Bonta case or whether it was a Gov. Newsom case. We didnt have conversations about necessarily joining each other. We were roughly on the same timeline, is what it feels like. We wanted to file in the U.S. Court of International Trade, and so thats where we filed. They filed in California for various reasons.

How do you view the Trump administrations legal arguments, its invoking of emergency power? And how confident are you that the Supreme Court, if it gets to that point, would see it your way?

I think facts are the strongest thing that support us in this case. I think one of the facts that stands out to me is that no president in the history of IEEPA has ever used it to put in tariffs. That's pretty impressive. And even President Trump, during his first four years when he wanted to do tariffs, he did it the right way under Title 19. So this is unprecedented. Its an unprecedented misuse of emergency powers.

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The emergency that the president says that he wants to right in some circumstances, was this imbalance of trade. Now Congress contemplated that  in fact, they created a specific law under Title 19 for an imbalance of trade. So the question that I think all Americans and all the judges should be looking at is, why, if Congress contemplated it and created a law for that, and there has been an imbalance of trade for decades, A, how is that an emergency? And B, why arent you using the statute that Congress intended you to use when they delegated the power to the president?

The Trump administration is clearly pushing the envelope. Should Democrats actually be learning a lesson from this, and be taking a page out of this playbook, when theres a Democratic president again?

Over the history of the United States, depending on which party is in office, the other side, has always claimed that that president is over-using their executive powers. I mean, we all know that. Weve all read the articles throughout the years. Whats going on right now is obviously unprecedented in context of the prior presidents, and I think that that is incredibly dangerous. It's dangerous for a Democratic president to do the same things that are being done right now. It's dangerous for a Republican president, and thats why you have attorneys general to be that backstop to say, Hey, hold on. You cant do that.

I also think that is incredibly important to just recognize that its not just attorneys general fighting back right now. While we have filed, you know, 20-plus lawsuits, you have more than 200 lawsuits that have been filed by organizations, individuals, law firms across this country saying no, and some of those cases are coming from incredibly conservative organizations, just like on the tariffs case, and that should cause people to pause: Why are Democratic attorneys general fighting tariffs, as well as some also incredibly conservative organizations that have filed similar lawsuits in our courts?

Just months ago you were speaker of the House in Oregon. How was that transition to the role of AG?

In some ways, theyre very similar, and then in other ways, you have entirely different sets of tools to really effectuate change in your community. As speaker of the House, you have a broad set of responsibilities looking at education, health care, and in a lot of ways right now with my colleagues back in the legislature, they are watching this national context and saying, What are we going to do with our budget? Were waiting for the next revenue forecast. If that crashes, which a lot of people expect it will, that is going to change. As a legislature, you have to adapt and react to a lot of these things going on at the federal end. Im now in this very different role, more on the front end, trying to protect and partnering with them so that they can do their job.

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I would be remiss to not say theres also other incredibly important responsibilities that you have at the Oregon Department of Justice, keeping communities and children safe. There is protecting consumers, seniors and working families. Those are things that still have to go on while were doing this important work, too. For me, it has felt pretty seamless. And we have amazing people at the Oregon Department of Justice. I wouldnt be able to do any of this stuff without all the folks on the front lines.

As former legislator, how do you view the way that Democrats in Congress are approaching the Trump presidency thus far?

Thats a tough question, because I never served in Congress, and that is a very different game than, say, being a speaker and a state legislator. So its tough for me to sit there and judge under those circumstances. The way my brain has thought about it is right now a lot of the action is in the courts, in this space. It is going to shift to Congress as the president is unsuccessful in the courts, and I think that is where the pressure is really going to be on. I think theres some things that theyve done really well under certain circumstances. As an outsider, theres probably some things that I might have done differently, but its really tough to gauge, as Ive not served in Congress.

What might you have approached differently?

Good follow up. As a politician, you dont want to be critical of people, especially when youve never walked a mile in their shoes  thats what I always try to be cautious about. And thats why I put the big caveat as an outsider.

You know, I think that there has been some pressure that could have happened in the Senate on some of these earlier decisions, that I have wondered why certain outcomes happened the way they did. And theres been some disappointments. I know my senator, [Democratic] Sen. Ron Wyden, did a wonderful job on a bill to kind of pull back on tariffs and there wasnt support for that. Theres a little bit of disappointment, and thats probably more toward the Republican senators in that space.


Cities across Syria were filled with celebrations late Tuesday following US President Donald Trumps announcement that American sanctions on Syria will be lifted.

Spontaneous street celebrations and car parades filled major cities, with Syrians waving flags and chanting in public squares.

The lifting of sanctions comes after mediation efforts led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Messages of gratitude and congratulations quickly spread across social media, reflecting a nationwide sense of relief.

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Writer and political analyst Qusai Al-Abd told dpa, "The lifting of sanctions marks a second victory over the previous regime that destroyed Syria and led to the imposition of those sanctions."

He added these sanctions have crippled Syrias leadership and its people, preventing any meaningful progress in recent months.

In Damascus historic al-Midan neighbourhood, hundreds took to the streets chanting in support of the new Syrian government.

Local shopkeeper Mohammad Yassin told dpa: "Everyone in the market is celebrating. These sanctions punished the Syrian people, not the regime. The former leadership even used them as a pretext to impose new taxes and fees."

In Homs, central Syria, hundreds gathered in the historic Clock Square chanting, Hold your head high, you are a free Syrian! Thank you.

Syrians celebrate in Clock Square in the center of Idlib city, after US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria. Moawia Atrash/dpa
Homeowners in the northwestern section of Somers are planning a large turnout at a hearing Tuesday night on whether an Ellington dairy should be allowed to dump large quantities of cow manure into a holding area near their houses.

Oakridge Dairy contends it is putting in an irrigation pond, but neighbors say it amounts to a manure lagoon  and will be every bit as unappealing as that name sounds.

Ellington-based Oakridge, which state agriculture officials describe as Connecticuts largest dairy, wants to truck cow waste to a field along Watchaug Road in Somers where its proposing to dig a 2.9-acre holding pit.

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Watchaug Road homeowner Kevin Phillips this weekend was putting out lawn signs showing opposition and advising neighbors that a hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at town hall. He said people in the area dont want the smell or risk of water pollution from a massive pit of animal waste.

The company argues that the pit would qualify as a farm irrigation pond under zoning and agricultural regulations, which give wide latitude to farming operations. Somers still has active farms, and its zoning code lists numerous agricultural activities as ZPNR: Zoning permit not required.

In October, Oakridge proposed a 5-acre holding pit on the Watchaug Road property for manure from its Ellington dairy. It was required to seek a sepcial use zoning permit, which was denied because town officials concluded it would be too close to the high-water table. At the time, there was significant opposition to the request.

The proximity of such a development to residential areas would lower home values, diminishing the investments homeowners have made and affecting the towns economic stability through decreased property taxes, Scott Robert wrote on Facebook at the time.

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This winter, the companys engineer, J.R. Russo & Associates of East Windsor, notified the town that Oakridge wants to put an irrigation pond at the same site. It would be more than 2 acres smaller and also shallower, and would be farther from the high water table, according to Oakridge.

It is Oakridge Dairys position that construction of the irrigation pond is part of the farms normal agricultural operations, Russo said in a letter. Thus, the proposed activity does not require zoning approval.

Jennifer Roy, the zoning enforcement officer, consulted with the town attorney and concluded that Oakridge could build without going through the permitting process. Owen Jarmoc, who owns farmland and an airstrip alongside the site of the proposed pit, filed an appeal, which will be the subject of the zoning board of appeals hearing on Tuesday night.

A phone message Monday for Oakridge owner Seth Bahler was not returned.

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Neighbors say theyre concerned about quality-of-life issues like odors, increased truck traffic and the possibility of insect swarms. But they also want studies of the potential impact on groundwater if the animal waste leaches through clay-lined pit.

Russo said there will be a 2-foot clay liner designed to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards.

If the zoning appeals board were to uphold Roys decision, Oakridge would be able to go ahead with its plan. If the board sustains Jarmocs appeal, the company would be required to apply for a zoning permit.
A central Minnesota man was airlifted to the hospital after suffering a fall from a tractor Friday, according to authorities.

The Morrison County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened shortly before 6:30 p.m. outside a home off 105th Avenue in Darling Township, about two miles east of Randall.

According to the agency, a 60-year-old man was attempting to put the tractor in gear when he fell off. He was subsequently run over and became trapped between the rear tire and a chisel plow.

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Family members pulled him out from under the equipment before emergency responders arrived.

In a news release Monday, the sheriff's office said the man was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with "unknown injuries."

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
(FOX40.COM)  The Ceres Police Department is asking for the communitys help in finding a missing at-risk 14-year-old girl.

Video Above: How to report a missing person

Police said Jocelyn Vargas was last seen on Saturday and is considered at-risk due to her age. She is described to be 5 feet 1, 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

(IMAGE: Ceres Police Department)

Anyone with information can contact the Ceres Police Department at (209) 538-5712.

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The city of Manitou Springs has banned all water use except for essential drinking purposes due to a critical shortage, according to a news release issued Monday.

The temporary ban includes showering, dishwashing, laundry, car washing and outdoor water use.

Because of the shortage, Manitou Springs School District 14 announced Monday night that classes would be canceled Tuesday.

The critical water shortage is the result of a "double whammy," Manitou Springs Mayor John Graham said during a news conference Monday. The citys primary water source has high turbidity, which prevents the water being collected in the reservoir from being treated; additionally, the backup supply is also temporarily unavailable.

"Whenever there's a lot of rain, or runoff or rapid snow melt, that mixes up all the turbidity, all the wonderful things you find on the floor of the forest. Pine needles, dirt, bits of wildflowers, that all gets washed into the water. That creates the turbidity problem," Graham said.

"We'd simply clog the filters," Graham said.

The several feet of snow that fell on Pikes Peak last week is melting, resulting in "increased runoff into our watershed," according to Facebook update shared by the city. "This runoff carries with it higher levels of organic matter and suspended solids, which in turn raise the turbidity of the raw water entering the Manitou Springs Water Treatment Plant."

Manitou's primary water source is French Creek on Pikes Peak; in the event the flows are insufficient to meet water demands, Manitou can access water via the Fryingpan-Arkansas Projecta federal transmountain diversion project. The agreement allows for direct delivery of water through Colorado Springs Utilities' Old Northslope Pipeline, officials said.

"We simply turn a valve, and the water comes into the Manitou Springs system. Well, that's plan B. Turns out, plan B failed yesterday," Graham said during the Monday news conference, explaining that there there were leaks in the pipeline.

Aside from the leaking pipeline, Manitou residents also used more water than expected on Mother's Day, he said.

Colorado Springs Utilities anticipates completing emergency repairs to the pipeline by the end of the week.

"Once repairs are finished and the system is recharged (which takes approximately 24 to 48 hours), the City of Manitou will switch to using the Old North Slope Pipeline until turbidity levels in French Creek subside and normal reservoir treatment operations can resume," the release said.

As of Monday evening, there were 1.75 million gallons of water available for the citys roughly 5,000 residents, Mayor Graham said.

"It's good to remind us that we need to be protective of our resources and be careful."

Graham expected that restaurants could be hit hard, but acknowledged things could be worse.

"We're not at the height of the tourist season. If this had happened in July we'd be in real world of hurt. This is pretty tolerable, we can get by," he said.

"Manitou people are fairly creative and pretty resilient."

The mandatory water restrictions began Sunday and were expected to continue through at least this week.

The Manitou Springs Pool and Fitness Center is closed as of Monday until further notice. All programs, including fitness classes, swim lessons, and team practices are canceled.

The city emphasizes that cooperation from all residents and businesses is essential to help manage current water quality concerns, the release stated.

City officials say strict participation and adherence to the emergency water restrictions is required.

The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

Any water-related concerns are to be reported to the following contacts:

 Public Works emergency line: 719-685-2557

 Urgent Public Works issues: 719-492-0058

 Water sewer emergencies: 719-492-1970

 General inquiries: 719-685-2573
CHIPPEWA FALLS  A Chippewa Falls man accused of sexually touching a 10-year-old girl in 2017 has now been charged.

Benjamin B. Bejin, 45, 126 W. Cedar St., was charged in Chippewa County Court with first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. Bejin was released on a signature bond, and will return to court today before Judge Steve Gibbs.

According to the criminal complaint, a Chippewa Falls police investigator interviewed the girl on March 21 about a reported sexual assault.

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(She) disclosed that when she was 10 years old, she was sexually assaulted by Benjamin Bejin at a residence in the city of Chippewa Falls on June 11, 2017, the complaint states.

The girl said Bejin was rubbing and scratching her back but then placed his hand under her clothing and sexually touched her.

The girl disclosed that she reported it to her mother the next day on June 12, 2017, by email, the complaint reads.

However, the investigator noted that the matter was not reported to law enforcement at the time.

As terms of his release, Bejin cannot have any unsupervised contact with juvenile females.

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Bejin was ordered to report to pretrial monitoring immediately after court and must comply with pretrial monitoring conditions.

Online court records show Bejin has no prior criminal record in Wisconsin.
Homeless encampments are dirty. And ugly. And seem, to those who venture near them and even to some who live there, unsafe.

They are also  sadly, wrongly  places of last resort for those whose second, third and even fourth chances haven't panned out, sometimes through their own mistakes, sometimes because they're so far down just staying alive is a battle. Though we tend to toss homelessness in the soup pot along with mental illness and drug use, the terrifying fact is that nearly half of the folks living on our streets are over the age of 50 and wound up there because a bit of bad luck left them unable to pay the rent.

"At the end of the day, we have a homelessness crisis because we don't have enough housing," Margot Kushel said. She's a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco and director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. There's really no one in the state who understands encampments and their residents better.

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Which is why I am deeply disheartened by Gov. Gavin Newsom's push Monday to encourage cities and counties to outlaw encampments  even providing a handy-dandy boilerplate ordinance for local governments to pass. It moves California one step closer to criminalizing homelessness, no matter how softly or deftly he packages that truth.

Or how politically expedient it may be.

"It is time to take back the streets. It's time to take back the sidewalks. It's time to take these encampments and provide alternatives," Newsom said. "It simply cannot continue. It cannot be a way of life living out on the streets, in sidewalks, in what almost become permanent structures, impeding foot traffic, impeding our ability for our kids to walk the streets and strollers, or seniors with disabilities and wheelchairs, even navigating their sidewalks. We cannot allow that to continue."

From a political perspective, that tirade is spot on. The clock is already ticking on the 2026 midterms, which coincide with the end of his tenure as California's leader. Not only is Newsom eyeing the horizon for his next move, presidential or not, but Democrats are eyeing the condition of California and whether Trump and his supporters will be able to once again use it as the example of everything that's wrong with America, as they did in both 2020 and 2024.

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Read more: Newsom again urges cities to ban homeless camps

Even Kushel, who near daily hears the heartbreaking reasons people are homeless, knows encampments aren't the answer.

"I do think the encampments are a disaster," she said. "I want them gone too."

But, not at the cost of making things worse, which is what breaking them down without a place to put people does. Newsom's draft ordinance makes nice talk about not criminalizing folks, but also doesn't require more than "every reasonable effort" to provide shelter to those being displaced  knowing full well that we don't have enough shelter beds.

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It also talks nice about not throwing out people's belongings, unless maybe they have bugs or feces on them  which, let's be real, they might  in which case, the dumpster it is, even if that bundle may contain your identification or medications.

That constant loss, constant movement, not only sets people back even more, it also breaks trust and pushes people further out of sight and out of society. So by the time there are shelter beds or treatment centers, you've lost cooperation from the people you want to help. Homelessness becomes even more dystopian, if more invisible.

"I actually worry that making people move every day, threatening them with arrest, all of those things make the problem worse and not better," Kushel said.

Some might recall that this new age of compassionate crackdowns began last year after the Supreme Court ruled in Grants Pass vs. Johnson that it wasn't cruel or unusual punishment to outlaw camping in public spaces  allowing municipalities to cite or arrest those who did. Newsom's office took the side of the city of Grants Pass, Ore., filing a brief in support of more enforcement powers. Since then, Newsom  sometimes personally with camera crews in tow  has cleared more than 16,000 encampments on state lands.

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Some cities have followed suit with tough laws of their own, including San Jose. But other cities have resisted, much to Newsom's dismay.

In Grants Pass, things didn't go exactly as planned. There's currently an injunction against its enforcement on camping laws after Disability Rights Oregon sued the city. Tom Stenson, the group's deputy legal director, told me that the organization has seen how the anti-camping laws have been hard on folks with physical or mental impairments, many of whom are older.

As the housing crunch hit that state, the low-rent places where his plaintiffs lived "disappeared, and then there is just nowhere for them to go, and it just forces them right into homelessness," he said.

California's struggle around homelessness has been a black eye and a contentious soft spot for years, and even the most sympathetic of Californians are tired of the squalor and pain. A recent poll by Politico and the Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research at UC Berkeley found that about 37% of voters support arresting folks if they refuse to accept shelter, and that number jumped for male voters and Republicans.

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Homelessness is, without a doubt, "the issue that defines more anger and frustration of Californians than any other," as Newsom put it.

On the same day Newsom put out his legal template for clearing encampments, he also announced $3.3 billion in funding for 124 mental health facilities around the state. It's money from last year's Proposition 1, passed by voters, that will add 5,000 residential treatment beds and more than 21,000 outpatient slots to our struggling system of mental health and substance abuse treatment.

The grants include $65 million for Los Angeles to refurbish the Metropolitan State Hospital campus in Norwalk into a psychiatric subacute facility for transitional-age youths, a big and glaring need for the region.

To steal from the history lesson Newsom gave, in 1959 this state had 37,000 mental health beds in locked facilities, the kind that inspired "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Not ideal.

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Read more: Should California expand what it means to be 'gravely disabled'?

So the state did away with them, through a series of necessary reforms. But it never built the community-based system that was promised. California is now down to 5,500 locked beds and a bunch of overcrowded, understaffed, outdated jails and prisons that have become our de facto mental health treatment centers, along with the streets. Not ideal.

This investment in a robust community care system that provides both substance abuse and mental health treatment in one place is a huge win for all Californians, and will be a game changer  in about 10 years. Newsom optimistically showed pretty renderings of facilities that will be built with the funds, one even expected to open next year. But folks, building takes time.

Still, Newsom should receive all credit due for taking on a problem ignored for decades and doing something meaningful around it. I've seen him act thoughtfully, carefully and forcefully on the issue of homelessness.

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Which makes this encampment right-wing swing all the more obviously political, and unworthy of our policy.

Despite those encampments, homelessness in California is actually getting better, though you have to wade through the numbers to see it. There were 187,000 people living without homes in the state last year, according to federal data, a record. About 70% of those people were living unsheltered, more than 45,000 in the city of Los Angeles.

Although the sheer number of people living without homes is overwhelming, it represented an increase of about 3%  compared with an increase of about 18% nationally. Across the country, but not in California, families were the group with the largest single-year increase.

So what we are doing, with policies that prioritize housing and meeting people where they are, is working. What Newsom has done to build a community care system is overdue and revolutionary.

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But the fact remains that California does not have enough housing. Clearing encampments may be a political solution to an ugly problem.

But without a place to move people, it's just optics.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Individuals headed to their local Dayton Metro Library branch starting in June could notice some big changes.

From June 1 to Aug. 2, all DML branches will have the same hours.

Day of Week Operating Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Closed

The chaperone requirement for those under age 18 will be lifted at the Main Library branch during the same time period. Additionally, restrictions and mandatory appointments will be lifted for Southeast Library branch visitors.

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The organization claims the change is to correlate with the summer usage by guests to the library for books and services.

These changes allow for maximum access to Library staff and services while maintaining responsible stewardship over public funding, said DML.

After Aug. 2, the library will revert to prior hours and regulations. The Main Library branch will operate Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., starting Sept. 7.

For further details, call 937-463-2665.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
A former residential school employee accused of showing naked and sexually explicit photos to minors in her care was set to face a judge Monday for the first time since charges were filed.

However, that hearing was postponed.

Channel 11s Andrew Havranek was the only reporter at the district courthouse where Samantha Jamison, a former employee of the Outside In school in Bolivar was scheduled to have her hearing.

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He asked her about the accusations as she was leaving court.

Samantha, do you have any comment? Havranek asked as Jamison left the courthouse.

She doesnt have any, her attorney, Gregory Swank.

We have one. Bye, interjected a man who was with Jamison.

In March, troopers said Jamison took a student resident to the emergency room after a fight at the school in October. In a room there, police said she showed the boy a nude photo of her while she was scrolling her phone, slowing down on the picture, and fishing for compliments.

Another incident happened at a Med Express with another student resident.

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Police said they found nude photos on her phone in the recently deleted folder, despite them saying Jamison denied having any on her phone.

Troopers said when they searched Jamisons phone, they also found an inappropriate photo taken at the school.

Did you show those photos to those kids who were in your care? Havranek asked Jamison.

Dont say anything, Swank interjected.

Jamison remained quiet at the request of her lawyer, despite Havranek asking several questions. But then, the unidentified man who was with Jamison swatted his hat at Havraneks face, hitting him on the right cheek.

Dont touch him, Swank told the man.

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Did you just hit me with your hat?! Havranek asked after being hit.

Just fly away, the man said.

Samantha, do you have any comment? Can you explain what happened?

Jamisons lawyer then asked that man who Havranek was.

Hes a newscaster, Channel 11, the man said, before saying something inaudible to Havranek and the camera.

Jamison is still awaiting her arraignment and preliminary hearing, shes now scheduled to face a judge on June 23 at 1 p.m.

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Two men claiming to be Trump appointees were denied entry to the U.S. Copyright Office Monday.

The men arrived at the internal Library of Congress agency with a document claiming to be agency officials as appointed by the White House, reported Wired. They claimed to be Brian Nieves, a new deputy librarian, and Paul Perkins, a new acting director of the office as well as acting registrar, a source told the publication. It is unclear whether the men accurately identified themselves, Wired noted.

The document the two men referred to also specified that deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former defense attorney for Donald Trump, was the acting librarian of Congress.

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The men were not allowed in by Capitol Police, a source told the publication, though the law enforcement agency rejected that anyone had been denied entry or escorted out.

Individuals with those names currently work in the federal government. Nieves serves as the deputy chief of staff at the office of the deputy attorney general, while Perkins is an associate deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice, their LinkedIn profiles reveal.

The attempted entry came two days after Trump fired Shira Perlmutter, the director of the Copyright Office. Perlmutter had served in the role since October 2020, but her exit came one day after the agency published a 108-page pre-publication report questioning the legality of utilizing copyrighted materials to train artificial intelligence.

Copyright lawyers who spoke with Wired described the reportand its premature releaseas outside the norm for the agency. But the reports determination was highly anticipated, as growth in Silicon Valley currently rests on the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its ability to steal information from publishers, news outlets, artists, musicians, and countless other professions.

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The nations Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden also received the boot earlier last week. She was the first woman and the first Black person to serve in the role. Speaking with reporters Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Haydens removal on the librarians pursuit of DEI and for putting inappropriate books in the library for children, claiming that Haydens appointment did not fit the needs of the American people.

Both Hayden and Perlmutter had faced scrutiny by conservatives, including the nonprofit government oversight group American Accountability Foundation, which had called for their dismissal.

The President and his team have done an admirable and long-needed job cleaning out deep state liberals from the federal government. It is time they show Carla Hayden and Shira Perlmutter the door and return an America First agenda to the nations intellectual property regulation, AAFs president Tom Jones told the Daily Mail last month.
GURNEE, Ill.  Charges have been brought against a 36-year-old man in connection with a road rage shooting that killed a Southern Illinois Student in 2021.

22-year-old Daniel Lobo was home for Thanksgiving break when he was shot and killed just after 12 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2021.

A road rage incident near the intersection of Waveland Avenue and Grandview Avenue escalated when an occupant of one vehicle opened fire.

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Lobo, who was a passenger in the second vehicle, was struck in the back. He was transported to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, where he later died.

Daniel Lobo was preparing to graduate later that spring. His life was senselessly cut short in a moment of violence that shocked the community, the Gurnee Police Department said.

The Gurnee Police Department, along with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, launched an investigation into the incident. Criminal charges against Llovani Gomez in connection to the shooting were approved.

Gomez, a 36-year-old from Chicago, is currently in custody for an unrelated offense. He has been charged with the following:

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First Degree Murder

Attempt First Degree Murder

Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm

This marks an important step in pursuing justice for Daniel and his family, Gurnee Police Chief Brian Smith said. From the moment this tragedy occurred, our department has been committed to uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Pennsylvania business owner is in hot water after being charged for having more than 400 illegal gambling devices in dozens of Pennsylvania establishments, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.

Felony charges were filed against two companies  Buffalo Skills Games and J.J. Amusement  both owned and operated by John F. Conley. Sunday noted that Conley has prior federal convictions for illegal gambling.

Pennsylvania State Police assisted the Office of Attorney General in a series of seizures in the following counties:

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Allegheny

Armstrong

Beaver

Butler

Cambria

Crawford

Erie

Indiana

Somerset

Venango

Washington

Westmoreland

The alleged illegal devices were found in bars, gas stations and convenience stores, Sunday noted.

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These devices were essentially slot machines dressed up as skill games, Attorney General Sunday said. I commend our partners at the Pennsylvania State Police for helping disband a large-scale operation that netted a tremendous amount of illegal gambling profits.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office of Attorney Generals Gaming Enforcement Section.

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Charlamagne Tha God tore apart Donald Trumps blatant corruption on Monday after the administration announced plans to accept a $400 million luxury plane from the Qatari royal family to serve as the presidents new Air Force One.

The U.S. Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts from any king, prince or foreign state, the radio host stressed on The Breakfast Club.

But were in a post-constitutional country, so I guess that document means nothing to this administration, so who cares.

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The plane  a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet  would mark one of the biggest gifts ever received by the U.S. government and, after its use as his Air Force One, the president claims itll be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

The move has since sparked backlash from Democrats and some of Trumps fiercest allies alike.

The president  who is set to visit Qatar next week  defended the move on his Truth Social platform and, in remarks at a press conference on Monday, claimed that the plane wouldnt be a gift to him but rather to the Department of Defense.

On Monday, Charlamagne characterized such a move as widely illegal before emphasizing that Qatar funds terrorist organizations, referring to its backing of Hamas.

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How do we know they cant just make this plane fall out the sky? he questioned.

And I know the Secret Service is going to do a sweep of the plane, but its probably loaded with listening devices and tracking devices. Theyre going to have so much intel on our country. Why? Beware the noble gesture.

Related...
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Charlotte residents got their chance to weigh in as city leaders are working to put together a budget for the next fiscal year. Proposed additions to the $3.6 billion spending plan made Monday night included more money for police, fire, and an air conditioning pilot program.

The council received the original proposed budget from the city manager last week. It included small increases to the cost of city services but kept property taxes flat. The proposal also included a 3 percent raise for city employees.

During a press conference before Mondays meeting, Union leaders told reporters they want that raise to be 6 percent.

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We are living in such a time that it is difficult to dedicate ourselves to city work and then and come home and afford all the other things that everyone else is afforded, said Robert Davis who represents employees with Charlotte Water.

One worker told the council that when it comes to living in the city where they work, many still cant make that dream a reality.

A lot of them have tried to apply for the home down payment assistance program, and they dont make enough money to be able to qualify, and thats heartbreaking because they want to be able to have homes in the city, they want to be able to live here, they want to be able to thrive here, the worker said. Were right there on the cusp but unable to make it over the hump; we need something aggressive.

A group of nonprofits are also asking the city to spend $2 million on a program that would buy 400 air conditioners for apartments in the city that currently dont have AC. Charlotte landlords are only required to provide heat.

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Any agreed changes will be made Monday, May 19. The council hopes to adopt a final budget by June 9.

READ NEXT | Candidate forum scheduled for vacant Charlotte City Council seat

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CHEROKEE, Iowa (KCAU)  A man from Cherokee, Iowa, has pleaded not guilty in a murder case.

Court documents stated Richard Hammond, 66, has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder. Authorities claimed Hammond ran over Christopher Wheeler on April 21 at a farm east of Cherokee, leaving the scene afterward.

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Officials alleged Hammond intentionally ran over the man while driving at a high speed. Wheeler reportedly tried to run away, but he couldnt escape and was killed.

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The Cherokee Nation is committed to continued investment in Rogers County, said the nation's deputy chief during an address last Wednesday in Claremore.

Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner and Kevin Easley Jr., who represents Claremore on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, delivered remarks at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs for the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce's first State of the Cherokee Nation event.

Warner and Easley discussed topics ranging from the Cherokee Nation's fiscal impact to the changes it hopes to bring to Claremore Indian Hospital.

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As Rogers County's representative on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, Easley said he's sought to bring resources to the community since he was elected in 2023. He said Warner has used his sway as deputy chief to do just that.

Warner drove the Cherokee Nation to donate $4 million to Rogers State University's STEM building project, Easley said, and he assembled an emergency meeting just after the May 2024 tornado to coordinate assistance for Claremore.

"He never fails to take me aside and ask that question of what's important for this community," Easley said. "He understands that we know what we need best here. ... He listens with his ears and his heart."

Easley said that in the wake of the tornado, the Cherokee Nation assembled a task force to study how to improve the nation's disaster response. That culminated in Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.'s signing into law the Cherokee Nation Emergency Management Act, which establishes a fund of up to $5 million reserved for helping communities after disasters.

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The Cherokee Nation gives more than a third of the revenue it generates from car tag sales to public schools to use for specific purposes, such as teacher salaries or facility upgrades. Rogers County schools received a combined $743,893 this year at a ceremony in March.

Warner said nothing is more important to him than public education  he attended Sallisaw Public Schools and taught chemistry before entering tribal government  and he wants the tribe to ensure kids get the education they deserve.

"What if you need a new teacher?" Warner said. "What if you are needing to pay for a new cook to come into school and you don't have that opportunity  it's not in the budget, it's not going to be there. That's why the Cherokee Nation does what it does."

The Cherokee Nation is in talks with the federal Indian Health Service to purchase Claremore Indian Hospital. Hoskin has said IHS has never adequately delivered health care, and the tribe aims to fully assume the hospital's operations by the end of 2025.

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The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians passed a resolution in April in opposition to the Cherokee Nation's takeover of the hospital.

Warner said the tribe plans to update Claremore Indian Hospital in the image of its sprawling health care campus in Tahlequah.

"You see that state-of-the-art building, you go inside, it's like a museum when you walk in there," Warner said. "That's our dream, that's our vision of what we want to do here."

The Cherokee Nation recently released its Fiscal Year 2023 Economic Impact Report. Warner said it showed the nation's economic impact  wages, purchases of goods and services, etc.  totals $3.14 billion annually. In Rogers County, the tribe employs 903 people and provided more than $50 million in household income in 2023.

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Warner said though he is proud of the numbers, he cares more about the heartbeats behind them.

"It does not happen alone, folks," Warner said. "I can tell you that happened because of the diligence of the feet and the work of the individuals that came before I, that came before Kevin [Easley], that came before [former Tribal Councilor] Keith [Austin]. We're talking hundreds of years ago. We're talking about our ancestors that made it along the forced removal called the Trail of Tears."
Cheshire caregiver honored by Elizabeth Dole Foundation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTNH)  Liz Wright of Cheshire was named as one of 20 military and veteran caregivers from across the country to be named as the Class of 2025 Dole Caregiver Fellows, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced Tuesday.

According to the Dole Foundation press release, Wright serves as a caregiver for her husband who suffers from PTSD, a TBI, tinnitus and burn pit exposure complications.

West Rock Nature Center gets $250k worth of renovations

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My role as a caregiver has paralleled my journey as a mother, Wright said in the release. Raising a family while supporting my husband has often left me exhausted and overextended. Navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs system alone could be a full-time job. Ive had to scale back professionally and delay my plans for doctoral studies due to the demands at home. This phase of my life has allowed me to embrace flexibility and discover unexpected benefits in slowing down.

Wright, a mother of three, runs leadership development consulting firm who has been a lecturer for eight years. She hopes to return to school to pursue her doctorate researching trauma in the workplace.

Wright said her role as a caregiver revealed her capacity for patience and empathy.

But it has also taught me the importance of setting boundaries and practicing self-care so I can be my best for both of us, Wright said. Most surprisingly, Ive discovered that even in the most difficult moments, I can find moments of joy and meaning that I might have missed in an easier life path.

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The Fellowship program empowers those caring for a service member or veteran to serve as leaders in their local communities while also representing their peers in national advocacy initiatives, according to the release. There are currently 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers according a study by the Foundation.

Wright will begin her two-year Fellowship this month by traveling to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Foundations 10th Annual National Convening on Military Caregiving on May 20.

Wright will also receive training from the Foundation to serve as a community builder in her home state and share her experiences with elected officials.

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CHICAGO  Early childhood professionals will see a pay hike thanks to a multi-million dollar investment.

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Tuesday that the city will budget an additional $7 million to support childcare centers and their workers.

This comes at a time where many people are leaving the field because of low wages.

We are putting a down payment, an investment of $7 million into our citys budget. A $7 miilion for the first time to go towards the down payment and true compensation increase for early care and education professionals, Mayor Brandon said.

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Roseland now home to first-of-its-kind community law office

Dozens of childcare workers with SEIU, a healthcare union, joined the mayor as he made the announcement at the North Lawndale YMCA.

The union says this funding comes after years of advocacy to ensure every family has access to affordable childcare. It also ensures that childcare workers across Chicago are paid enough to stay in the field.

According to the union, many families are being turned away from childcare centers because of a lack of qualified educators.

The shortage has left over 78,000 children in Chicago without access to licensed professionals.

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The wage increases will begin on July 1.

Mayor Johnson says over 3,000 childcare workers will benefit from the funding.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
CHICAGO  Aline Lauture with the Haitian Congress Center was thrilled to learn Pope Leo XIV not only has ties to Chicago but to her ethnic background.

This news, we just embrace the news, Lauture said. The pope has Haitian roots, were like, Yay!

The City of Chicago was founded by a Haitian; Jean Baptiste Point du Sable.

Now, the fact we share a cultural link, if not a kinship, with the pope is very important, Jari Honora said.

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Pope Leo XIV: WGNs full coverage

Honora, a New Orleans based genealogist, did some digging and found it was Pope Leos maternal grandparents who are described as black of mulatto in several census documents.

Their names were Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquie, Honora said.

Honora found on their 1887 marriage license, Martinez listed his birthplace as Haiti.

It was common for people of mixed French and Black Caribbean roots to settle in New Orleans, then many moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, including the popes grandparents in 1911.

Census documents in Chicago show his grandparents identified as white. Genealogists theorize they may have shifted their racial identity to assimilate.

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The fact they migrated from New Orleans to Chicago, and I migrated from Haiti to Chicago, its a beautiful story, Lauture said.

More: Pope Leo XIV delivers first Sunday noon blessing, patrons at Chicago church embrace message of Chicago-born pontiff

It was in the Windy City where the couple had Pope Leos mother, Mildred Martinez. The family kept close to the Catholic Church.

There was always an openness to accepting a call to religious vocation as a child. In and out of his home were a lot of their neighborhood priests because they liked his moms cooking, Honora said. Once I discovered they had ties to New Orleans, I said, No wonder they liked her cooking.

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Related: This is nuts: How Louis Prevost learned his brother had become pope

Adding a rich cultural layer to the papacy, showcasing the melting pot of ethnic backgrounds in the United States.

Haitians take pride in their religion. A lot of Haitians are Catholics, Lauture said. I think hell be a great pope for the world, for people who want someone to speak to them about being kind, being a good person, a good Catholic.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
A police officer assigned to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons security detail was suspended from work earlier this year after reporting for duty still drunk, having attended an event celebrating President Donald Trumps inauguration, according to a report.

Officer Josue Najera, 44, had been scheduled to work the 9 pm to 6 am shift guarding Johnsons home on West Superior Street on January 20 but was suspected of being intoxicated upon arrival, according to Chicago Police Department (CPD) internal affairs records cited by The Chicago Tribune.

According to the report, the officer is believed to have attended a celebratory inauguration viewing event at Trump Tower on the Chicago River just prior to reporting for duty, a site that also attracted anti-Trump protesters that day, with activists braving sub-zero temperatures to make their opposition to the new president known.

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The CBD records show that around 7 p.m. on the evening in question, Najera asked a uniformed CPD officer to let him sit in a squad car. The officer refused, prompting Najera to call the departments 18th District station to ask that a complaint be filed against his colleague.

A supervisor there subsequently contacted Najeras sergeant overseeing the mayors security arrangement to notify them of the incident, leading to the confrontation at Johnsons residence when the officer arrived for his shift.

Chicago Police Department officers outside of Trump Tower in the Windy City (Getty)

PO Najera was agitated, speaking loudly and avoiding eye contact while explaining the event, an internal affairs report states.

His behavior was very uncharacteristic and erratic from the normal behavior [the sergeant] knows PO Najera to display.

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[The sergeant] asked PO Najera if he had been drinking while at the Trump Tower [party] and he said he was having fun with his family [The sergeant] again asked if PO Najera had anything to drink and PO Najera answered in the affirmative  Yes.

The officers gun was duly confiscated, and he was subsequently taken to the 15th District for questioning and given the breathalyzer test, the records state, the outcome of which led to Najera turning in his ID, badge, and hat shield the following day.

When a breathalyzer test returned a result of 0.134 blood alcohol content later that evening, he was handed a 25-day suspension, which the newspaper reports he has yet to serve.

Najera, who joined the CPD in 2017, is understood to have been first assigned to Mayor Johnsons detail in August 2023.

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He has no prior sustained misconduct complaints on his record and has never been the subject of a Summary Punishment Action Request, an internal procedure for handling minor infractions.

A CPD spokesperson said Najera has since been reassigned to the departments Alternate Response Section.

Online records show that Najera is paid $97,974 per year.

The Independent has contacted the Chicago Mayors Office for comment.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (Getty)

President Trump and his administration have been highly critical of Illinois in recent months over Chicagos crime rate and the states handling of immigration policy, with Mayor Johnson summoned to address Congress on the latter subject in March and state governor JB Pritzker expected to follow suit next month.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drew criticism after staging a speech attacking migrant crime outside the Springfield home of murder victim Emma Shafer after her original plan to speak at Pritzkers mansion had to be abandoned due to expected protests.
BELCHERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP)  A Chicopee man was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with a 2023 deadly crash on Route 9 in Belchertown.

On December 1, 2023, officers were called to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Federal Street and Allen Street. The Northwestern District Attorneys office told 22News, 54-year-old Christopher Euvrard of Belchertown was ejected from his vehicle and taken to Baystate Medical Center for serious injuries.

Child struck, killed by car on Newland Street in Springfield

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The other driver, 31-year-old Cody Reynolds of Chicopee, stayed at the incident and cooperated with police. Euvrard died two weeks later as a result of the crash.

The investigation revealed Reynolds failed to yield the right of way to a car being driven by Euvrard. In a news release sent to 22News on Tuesday, Reynolds pleaded guilty to negligent operation of a motor vehicle and was placed on probation for three years.

The conditions of probation include attending a safe driving class, not obtaining a new drivers license for at least another 60 days, and, in the event he obtains a license, he must only operate a motor vehicle as required for his employment with the U.S. Marines.

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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.

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While Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts characterized the rule of law as endangered on Monday evening, he avoided any mention of President Donald Trumps relentless public attacks on the nations justice system, pointing instead to the trend of young people growing up without proper civics lessons.

Answering a question on strengthening the rule of law, Roberts said at a Georgetown University law school event that one area where its most endangered is with young people.

Young people, theyre focused on high school and eighth grade and stuff like that. And how many people have really no understanding of what the role of courts are, what the different branches have to do, really even the notion of law is and what a Constitution is, Roberts said.

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He went on: I do think you have to start as early as you possibly can, because otherwise it doesnt become part of their understanding of government. When theyre cutting classes because they want to add all sorts of other stuff, I mean, certainly, civics is the first thing that goes, you know. And I think thats really too bad, and were developing a situation where a whole group of young people is growing up having no real sense of how our system of justice works.

Trump has routinely attacked individual judges who rule against parts of his agenda, apparently prompting his supporters to send anonymous pizzas to some of the judges homes. The move is interpreted as an intimidation tactic, as it shows how people know where the judge lives.

Over the first few months of his second term, the president has suggested he may openly flout court rulings, such as in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the wrongly deported Maryland man currently sitting in an El Salvadoran prison. His shaky familiarity with the Constitution was brought to the fore in an interview earlier this month where he suggested he did not know if he had to uphold due process rights.

Speaking onstage, the chief justice later addressed criticisms of his court, which controversially overturned the watershed 1973 abortion ruling Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending the nationwide right to abortion.

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The public has a misunderstanding of how often the current court overturns precedent, Roberts said. Past iterations of the Supreme Court overturned precedent multiple times per year, he said.

You need to have appropriate standards. If you do it willy-nilly, theres no real sense of which law is established, Roberts said, adding that a rulings impact on the stability of law was among the considerations taken into account.

Roberts said criticism of his court is welcome so long as its not trashing the justices.

The court has obviously made mistakes throughout its history, and those should be criticized, so long as it is in terms of the decision, really, and not ad hominem against the justices. I just think that doesnt do any good, he said.

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Threats against individual justices in the wake of the abortion ruling prompted increased federal funding for their personal security.

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Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar has been sentenced to 32 years in prison in connection with a December 2022 bank robbery in Bixby, Okla., according to reports

Babudar, 30, is currently serving 17 years in federal prison for multiple bank robberies across the country; he will serve the sentences concurrently, meaning he will spend more than 14 years in an Oklahoma prison after finishing his federal sentence

Babudar earned notoriety as a Chiefs superfan after he dressed up as a wolf at the teams games







Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for a 2022 bank robbery that he committed in Bixby, Okla.

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Babudar, 30, was sentenced in an Oklahoma courtroom on Monday, May 12 after carrying out a robbery at a Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, 2 News Oklahoma, ESPN and KSL News reported.

The notorious Chief superfan will serve the sentence concurrently with a 17-year federal prison sentence that he is currently serving for multiple bank robberies, per the outlets. This means hell serve more than 14 years in an Oklahoma prison after completing his federal sentence.

Babudar pleaded guilty to one count of robbery with a firearm, one count of assault while masked or disguised, and one count of removing an electronic monitoring device, per ESPN.

Babudar, also known as Chiefsaholic, earned notoriety on social media as a Chiefs superfan who dressed up as a wolf at the teams games. He was arrested in December 2022 and again in July 2023, before confessing to carrying out a series of robberies in February 2024, per AP.

Sam Greenwood/Getty Kansas City Chiefs superfan Babudar dressed as K. C. Wolf at a game in 2019 Kansas City Chiefs superfan Babudar dressed as K. C. Wolf at a game in 2019

Babudar admitted to robbing 11 banks in total across eight states, according to reports.

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In December 2022, Babudar stopped at the bank in Bixby while heading to a Chiefs game and pointed a gun at a bank teller before fleeing with $150,000. He was captured by police shortly and released on bond in February 2023, per ESPN and 2 News Oklahoma.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said after the sentencing on Monday, per KSL News, The violence that Babudar exhibited to the employees of the Tulsa Teacher Credit Union was abhorrent. He is a serial robber who traumatized these victims.

Kunzweiler wanted him to receive a life sentence. The judge noted that Babudar did not use a real gun to carry out the robbery, which helped to lessen his sentence, per 2 News Oklahoma.

Babudar's attorneys, Brett and Jay-Michael Swab, said his robbery attempts were fueled by a gambling addiction and a troubled childhood that left him homeless. They added that their client is remorseful and has found Jesus during his incarceration, per ESPN.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty A fan in a werewolf costume poses before Super Bowl LV in 2021 A fan in a werewolf costume poses before Super Bowl LV in 2021

In April 2024, Babudar was ordered by an Oklahoma judge to pay $10.8 million to the teller he assaulted with a gun, per the AP.

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He was later sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison in September 2024 and was also ordered to pay $532,675 in restitution to the "victim financial institutions, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Missouri said in a press release.

Prosecutors said a majority of the stolen money was laundered through casinos and online gambling. Babudar also robbed banks or attempted to rob banks in Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, Minnesota, Nevada and California in 2022 and 2023.

PEOPLE has contacted the Tulsa County District's Office for comment.

Read the original article on People
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  On Monday morning, a Tulsa County judge in Oklahoma sentenced Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xavier Babudar, widely known as ChiefsAholic, for a 2022 armed bank robbery in Bixby, Oklahoma.

According to the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office, Babudar pleaded guilty to one count of robbery with a firearm, one count of assault while masked or disguised and one count of removing an electronic monitoring device.

KCPD investigating after woman dies in shooting near Topping

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As a result of these charges, Babudar will serve 32 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Additionally, this sentence is expected to run concurrently with his 17.5-year federal prison sentence ordered in 2024 after he also pleaded guilty to money laundering, bank robbery and transporting stolen property across state lines.

The district attorney said, on December 16, 2022, Babudar walked into the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby holding a gun and wearing a mask with the intent to rob the bank.

After walking in, he then held the gun to the bank tellers chest and demanded that she take him to the vault and give him the money inside.

Once he was given the money, the district attorneys office said Babudar left the bank and was arrested by Bixby police shortly after. Investigations later discovered the gun Babudar used to threaten the workers was a BB gun.

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Less than two months after his arrest, the district attorneys office said Babudars bond was lowered, allowing him to be released in February 2023. While out on bond, he was ordered to wear an ankle monitor, but court records said he cut it off and went on the run.

He was eventually arrested by federal authorities in northern California in July 2023, about four months after he fled.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

Since then, he has been in federal custody after pleading guilty to multiple criminal charges.

As part of his plea deal, more than a dozen of these charges were dismissed. Babudar was also ordered to pay at least $532,675 in restitution to the victims financial institutions and forfeit any property involved  including an autographed painting of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes  to the government.

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The violence that Babudar exhibited to the employees of the Tulsa Teacher Credit Union was

abhorrent, said Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler. He is a serial robber who traumatized these victims and numerous other victims across this country.

Now, Babudar will serve 17.5 years in a federal prison before being transferred to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to serve his remaining 14.5 years.

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A child and an adult were hospitalized Tuesday after a tree branch fell on them while at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, Massachusetts State Police said.

At around 12:45 p.m., State Police troopers arrived at the zoo in response to the incident, State Police spokesperson Tim McGurk said in a short statement.

The child, described as school-aged, was seriously hurt and taken to Boston Childrens Hospital, the statement read. The adult who was with the child was also hurt and taken to a local hospital.

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State Police did not say if the child was with a parent, and added that no information is available regarding their identities.

The investigation continues to be under investigation.

More Boston stories

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Children play at The Growing Tree child care center in New Glarus. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

For more than two years Wisconsin child care providers have been warning that failing to provide ongoing support will mean their fees will go up and their numbers shrink drastically.

Starting Tuesday, some providers will try to give lawmakers and the public a taste of what that could look like  by staging a strike.

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Their goal is to persuade Republican leaders on the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee to commit to including in the state budget a significant child care support program.

Gov. Tony Evers proposed $480 million child care measure was among more than 600 items the committee removed on Thursday, May 8, from the draft budget Evers proposed for 2025-27. The motion to remove the items passed 12-3 with only Republican votes.

We are demanding that the Joint Finance Committee guarantees they will put $480 million of state dollars back into the budget for child care support, Corrine Hendrickson, a New Glarus child care provider and advocate, told the Wisconsin Examiner Monday.

Until they get such a guarantee, some providers have decided to close their doors, Hendrickson said.

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Providers who intend to shut down their operations on Tuesday will go to the state Capitol for a press conference organized by Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (WECAN), which Hendrickson cofounded. They plan to remain at the Capitol at least through the rest of this week, she said.

The goal is that Republicans and Democrats will stop by and talk to us about our concerns, Hendrickson said. She added she was hoping for a real conversation about measures that child care providers favor as well as proffered solutions that they oppose  since they keep leaving us out of these conversations.

Hendrickson said Monday afternoon that about 100 participants  providers, child care workers and parents in support of their actions  were expected at the Capitol Tuesday. She said there was not a count yet of how many child care centers might close.

Organizers have established a donation portal with Community Change Action to raise funds that will be used to offset lost wages for child care workers and providers who take part in the walkout, Hendrickson said.

Day Without Child Care events

The action planned to start Tuesday follows events across Wisconsin Monday for A Day Without Child Care a national campaign to draw attention to the need for child care programs and their need for stronger financial resources.

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At a rally Monday morning in New Glarus, parents, state officials both elected and appointed, education leaders, local economic boosters and child care providers took turns championing the need for a state investment that would strengthen child care providers.

Whether youre a parent, an employer, an educator or a policy advisor, child care affects each and every one of us and it touches our future as well, Cortney Barry, director of the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce, said at the rally. The current system is not working, especially in small communities like ours. Its just stretched too thin. Its fragile, and its scary to think just how close we are to a true crisis.

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski said business leaders she met with in central Wisconsin last week told her that child care was a pressing need for them to be able to hire locally rather than going out of state, and that they could not find workers not because people dont want to work for [them]  they cant find a place to send their kids.

Democratic lawmakers and parents have since 2023 pushed to continue the monthly Child Care Counts support program that Wisconsin began with the help of federal money during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds bolstered child care providers revenues so they could raise wages without charging parents more for care.

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We lost 6,000 [child care] programs between 2010 and 2019, Hendrickson said at the New Glarus rally. You know what stopped [the decline]? COVID  when we started getting money. All of the sudden we had more programs open at the end of the year than we had at the beginning of the year. It worked.

A proposal to continue Child Care Counts with state funds was stripped from Evers 2023-25 budget, and the Legislatures Republican majority repeatedly rejected attempts to restore the funding. The Evers administration was able to continue a reduced support program, but that will end with the final payment to child care centers early this summer.

That has escalated a campaign to keep the program going with state funds. In a state survey released in April 25% or more providers said they might close without continued support at the level Child Care Counts provided.

Hendrickson said at the New Glarus rally 54% of providers in Green County in the survey expected to close after the state funding program ends. Half of providers will have to raise tuition, she said  including her family child care business, which cares for eight children.

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Even with fee increases totaling $50 a week phased in over the months of August and September to replace lost Child Care Counts revenue and higher expenses, I will still be taking a pay cut, she added.

Brooke Legler, the other WECAN cofounder and operator of The Growing Tree child care center in New Glarus, said shutting down to protest starting Tuesday is our last effort  its the only thing we have as a community, as a profession, that we can say, like, No, Im not going to subsidize the economy off of my pay, off of the teachers that work there.

Providers who cant shut down

Other child care providers who took part in Mondays Day Without Child Care campaign across the state said they cannot shut down in protest this week, but they support providers who choose to do so.

In Waupaca, Tracy Jensen, director of Sunny Day Child Care, used the day as a teach-in for parents. We were raising awareness about the true cost of child care and how important it is to have child care in our community, Jensen told the Wisconsin Examiner.

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About 75 parents came through the center Monday, and Jensen said she plans to continue the opportunities for more such parent education through the week.

Sunny Day is the largest center in Waupaca County, Jensen said, with a license for 292 children at one time. There are 350 families with children enrolled currently, and a waiting list of 70 families, she said.

Jensen said that given the centers size it wont take part in the organized shut down. She said she told employees that if they want to go to Madison Tuesday to voice their concerns they can do so, and she has tried to organize staffing to make that possible.

Tricia Peterson directs Future All Stars Academy in Juneau. On Monday she closed the center for a day and took 11 employees to an event in Waunakee, where providers, staff and parents rallied.

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Peterson wont close Future All Stars for the walkout starting Tuesday, however.

Im not in a position right now to do that, she said, But I will say I will do everything I can in support of that.

The centers long-term future will depend on the state budget, however.

Im one of those centers that if funding doesnt come forward in June, well have to close, Peterson said. Shes already notified parents about that possibility.

They understood where we were coming from, Peterson said. We didnt have one parent complain.

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Victoria Mendoza stands behind a podium alongside child care providers and advocates during an event to call attention to the need to fund child care. The event was held in front of the Oregon State Capitol on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Mia Maldonado / Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Federal fallout

As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and

whether to make up the difference.

Read the latest >



Para leer esta historia en espanol, haga clic aqui.

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Victoria Mendoza opened up a child care business in Salem 16 years ago  a decision inspired by her own need to find child care for her sons while maintaining a job.

With child care providers located too far from where she lived, the former farmworker and immigrant from Mexico obtained a license so she could care for her own children and others. Since then, shes successfully managed her small business and watched hundreds of children in Salem.

My plan was to stop once my kids were grown, but I love kids. My house feels empty without children, she told the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

But Mendoza, alongside many other Oregon child care providers, is bracing for the possibility of shutting down her business. With federal programs like Head Start facing potential cuts, child care providers like herself and low-income families are increasingly dependent on state support  particularly the Employment Related Day Care program.

Child care advocates push for child care legislation package

The state of Oregon subsidizes child care costs through the Employment Related Day Care program, which is open to low-income households.

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As of May, 16,300 Oregon families are enrolled, but another 11,300 remain on a waitlist, according to data from the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care. Another 4,200 families have been approved for financial support, but cannot find an eligible child care provider.

This is largely because there are not enough child care providers in Oregon. A 2023 report from the states Early Learning Division program found that nearly all of Oregons counties are child care deserts, with one slot for every three children who need care. Without access to child care, parents like Mendoza are faced with limited options to give up their jobs or find other ways to manage child care.

Mendoza, alongside advocates with Family Forward Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for child care support, called on the Oregon Legislature on Monday in front of the state capitol to pass four bills to support child care providers and low-income families.

These bills include:

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Senate Bill 5514: $225 million to the Employee Related Day Care program,

House Bill 2452: $9 million to strengthen Oregons child care referral system,

House Bill 3008: $15.4 million for child care workers to stay in and enter the profession

House Bill 2593: Creates a workgroup to develop recommendations to improve Oregons day care program and eventually end the waitlist for the program.

Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, spoke in favor of the legislation. The educator and mother said she understands the struggles her constituents face trying to find child care.

The Trump administration is proposing devastating cuts to Head Start, SNAP and Medicaid funding, she said. We must be ready. Oregon must act now to protect child care investments and ensure a stronger economy and a more resilient economy. Our states role in improving access to high quality and affordable care is more important than ever.

Candice Vickers, executive director of Family Forward Oregon, said 20% of Oregons child care workforce is run by immigrant women, and up to half of Oregons child care workers are on Medicaid.

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We need that $225 million, she told the Capital Chronicle. We know that its a lot, and people see it as a competing interest, but  again you can see like Medicaid and the immigrant workforce  all of these issues are interconnected.

For Mendoza, state investment wont just save her business, but it will allow her to keep supporting local families in her community.

When we support child care providers, we are also supporting families, Mendoza said.

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BOSTON (WPRI)  A school-aged child visiting Franklin Park Zoo Tuesday afternoon was seriously injured by a falling tree branch, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The child was rushed to Boston Childrens Hospital for treatment.

Police said an adult accompanying the child was also brought to the hospital with unspecified injuries.

The incident remains under investigation at this time and their current conditions are unknown.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A child has died as a result of a crash on Newland Street in Springfield Monday evening.

Fall River woman sentenced to prison for stealing childs Social Security benefits

Springfield Police Department Spokesperson Ryan Walsh said that at approximately 5:00 p.m., an officer working at Baystate Medical Center shared that a juvenile was privately brought to the hospital after being involved in a crash.

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The accident took place on the 0-100 block of Newland Street, where a vehicle reportedly struck the juvenile. She died from her injuries at the hospital. Springfield Police said that all parties involved in the crash have been accounted for.

This comes as a safety reminder for pedestrians and drivers, especially as the weather gets warmer and more people are outside. Drive especially slowly near crosswalks and residential areas, and as for pedestrians, always stay aware and look both ways before crossing the street.

The Springfield Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident in conjunction with the Hampden DA Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit. 22News will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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.
Children walk through Carter Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Ky. School-based health services nationwide are partially funded through Medicaid, and some advocates worry about potential cuts. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Even as Republicans in Congress walk back their most aggressive proposal to slash federal Medicaid spending, they are weighing other options that could force states to cut services for children and other vulnerable populations.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters last week that his caucus wont reduce the 90% federal funding match that states get to cover working-age adults who became eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. However, the GOP is still considering capping federal spending by setting a fixed amount for how much states receive for every Medicaid enrollee.

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That move would fundamentally change the nature of the program, which has been an open-ended entitlement since its passage 60 years ago.

Another Republican congressional proposal would limit states ability to increase Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals by using tax revenue they collect from health care providers. States draw down additional federal dollars by utilizing the strategy, and the extra money helps many hospitals stay afloat.

Any federal cuts to Medicaid  large or small  would strain state budgets and likely lead to service cuts and coverage for fewer people, according to a new analysis released last week by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The agency predicted that to make up for lost federal dollars, states would have to reduce payments to health care providers, curb benefits or reduce enrollment. Some advocates also suggest that states might seek savings in other areas of their budgets, such as K-12 education.

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Child health advocates say any of those actions would have a significant trickle-down effect on children and their caregivers. Theyre concerned states would have to reduce or even eliminate services that help tens of millions of children access routine care thats critical from birth, such as vaccinations and physical exams.

Half of U.S. kids

About half of the nations 72.8 million children are covered by Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, another joint federal-state program that covers children from families who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid.

I think what is missing from some of these debates is [Medicaid] is not only the primary payer for childrens health, its also supporting the safety net for childrens health, by paying for hospitals, clinics, physicians and offices, said Heather Howard, a former New Jersey health commissioner who is now a faculty affiliate with the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University.

Itll mean that hospitals will close in rural areas, but even in urban areas, were going to see, as hospitals see their funding cut, theyre going to have to pull back on services, Howard added. And that clearly is going to impact kids.

Mississippi pediatrician Dr. John Gaudet said the importance of Medicaid for children begins at birth; Medicaid covered 41% of all U.S. births in 2021. The program also covers a benefit package called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment, which covers an array of critical services meant to take care of childhood mental and physical health, such as dental and vision care, vaccinations, lab tests and physical exams.

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The program serves children struggling with severe emotional distress, as well as physical disabilities. Medicaid pays for long-term and home-based care services.

Gaudet says hes afraid that a variety of child-related services could be affected by federal Medicaid cuts.

As a pediatrician, Im very concerned about prevention and wellness, because thats going to give you more return on your investment in the long run, if you can prevent an illness rather than wait until it gets more severe and then youre having to treat it, Gaudet said in an interview.

School health services

Medicaid cuts also could affect the health services offered in schools.

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Between $4 billion and $6 billion in annual Medicaid spending helps pay for school-based health services, including routine health screenings, preventive care, mental health care and physical, speech and occupational therapies.

Children from underserved communities disproportionately rely on school-based health services, according to Abuko Estrada, vice president of Medicaid and child health policy at First Focus on Children, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group.

Were not only talking about things like higher emergency room utilization for kids or increased hospitalizations for preventable conditions, Estrada said in an interview. Were also talking about lost educational opportunities, potentially reduced future earnings in adulthood, and perpetuating cycles of poor health that ultimately cost the nation far more than it would potentially save.

As hospitals see their funding cut, they're going to have to pull back on services. And that clearly is going to impact kids.

 Heather Howard, former New Jersey commissioner of health and senior services

But Brian Blase, president of the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative policy group that is working with Republicans to imagine Medicaid cuts, wrote in an email to Stateline that the ideas circulating on Capitol Hill wouldnt harm children at all. Rather, he said, the proposed cuts would shift the funding focus away from working-age adults toward children and more vulnerable populations.

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In my view, it is a moral imperative for Congress to protect the program for the truly vulnerable and end Washingtons discrimination in favor of non-disabled, working-age, childless adults, wrote Blase, who was a health care adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term.

Chris Pope, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning policy group the Manhattan Institute, said he doesnt think Republicans in Congress will be able to cut much from Medicaid.

Republicans couldnt get the votes to make major changes when they tried in 2017, Pope noted, and they have even fewer votes this year. Unless they can get every Republican to sign off on cuts, he said, its just not going to happen.

Republicans in Congress are trying to find roughly $2 trillion in savings to offset the cost of extending tax cuts enacted during the first Trump administration and to make additional tax cuts. The U.S. House committee that oversees Medicaid is supposed to come up with $880 billion of that total.

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Despite Johnsons assertion that reducing the federal Medicaid match for working-age adults is off the table, some fiscal hawks in his own party arent ready to give up the idea, which would save more money than any other proposal.

Its necessary to stop robbing from the vulnerable to fund the able-bodied, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas wrote on X shortly after Johnsons comments were reported.

In a May 7 letter to House Republican leaders, 32 GOP representatives vowed to find $2 trillion in cuts, calling the House budget framework a floor for savings, not a ceiling. We must hold that line on fiscal discipline to put the country back on a sustainable path, the letter said.

Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani is looking into critical Medicaid services for children, including vital EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment). Do you have children who rely on this program, either through traditional Medicaid or a waiver? And do your children have trouble getting access to care? Share your story with Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani at schatlani@stateline.org.

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School-based health services nationwide are partially funded through Medicaid, and some advocates worry about potential cuts. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Even as Republicans in Congress walk back their most aggressive proposal to slash federal Medicaid spending, they are weighing other options that could force states to cut services for children and other vulnerable populations.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters last week that his caucus wont reduce the 90% federal funding match that states get to cover working-age adults who became eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. However, the GOP is still considering capping federal spending by setting a fixed amount for how much states receive for every Medicaid enrollee.

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That move would fundamentally change the nature of the program, which has been an open-ended entitlement since its passage 60 years ago.

Another Republican congressional proposal would limit states ability to increase Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals by using tax revenue they collect from health care providers. States draw down additional federal dollars by utilizing the strategy, and the extra money helps many hospitals stay afloat.

Any federal cuts to Medicaid  large or small  would strain state budgets and likely lead to service cuts and coverage for fewer people, according to a new analysis released last week by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The agency predicted that to make up for lost federal dollars, states would have to reduce payments to health care providers, curb benefits or reduce enrollment. Some advocates also suggest that states might seek savings in other areas of their budgets, such as K-12 education.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Child health advocates say any of those actions would have a significant trickle-down effect on children and their caregivers. Theyre concerned states would have to reduce or even eliminate services that help tens of millions of children access routine care thats critical from birth, such as vaccinations and physical exams.

Half of U.S. kids

About half of the nations 72.8 million children are covered by Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, another joint federal-state program that covers children from families who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid.

I think what is missing from some of these debates is [Medicaid] is not only the primary payer for childrens health, its also supporting the safety net for childrens health, by paying for hospitals, clinics, physicians and offices, said Heather Howard, a former New Jersey health commissioner who is now a faculty affiliate with the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton University.

Itll mean that hospitals will close in rural areas, but even in urban areas, were going to see, as hospitals see their funding cut, theyre going to have to pull back on services, Howard added. And that clearly is going to impact kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Mississippi pediatrician Dr. John Gaudet said the importance of Medicaid for children begins at birth; Medicaid covered 41% of all U.S. births in 2021. The program also covers a benefit package called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment, which covers an array of critical services meant to take care of childhood mental and physical health, such as dental and vision care, vaccinations, lab tests and physical exams.

The program serves children struggling with severe emotional distress, as well as physical disabilities. Medicaid pays for long-term and home-based care services.

Gaudet says hes afraid that a variety of child-related services could be affected by federal Medicaid cuts.

As a pediatrician, Im very concerned about prevention and wellness, because thats going to give you more return on your investment in the long run, if you can prevent an illness rather than wait until it gets more severe and then youre having to treat it, Gaudet said in an interview.

School health services

Medicaid cuts also could affect the health services offered in schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Between $4 billion and $6 billion in annual Medicaid spending helps pay for school-based health services, including routine health screenings, preventive care, mental health care and physical, speech and occupational therapies.

Children from underserved communities disproportionately rely on school-based health services, according to Abuko Estrada, vice president of Medicaid and child health policy at First Focus on Children, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group.

Were not only talking about things like higher emergency room utilization for kids or increased hospitalizations for preventable conditions, Estrada said in an interview. Were also talking about lost educational opportunities, potentially reduced future earnings in adulthood, and perpetuating cycles of poor health that ultimately cost the nation far more than it would potentially save.

As hospitals see their funding cut, theyre going to have to pull back on services. And that clearly is going to impact kids.

 Heather Howard, former New Jersey commissioner of health and senior services

But Brian Blase, president of the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative policy group that is working with Republicans to imagine Medicaid cuts, wrote in an email to Stateline that the ideas circulating on Capitol Hill wouldnt harm children at all. Rather, he said, the proposed cuts would shift the funding focus away from working-age adults toward children and more vulnerable populations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In my view, it is a moral imperative for Congress to protect the program for the truly vulnerable and end Washingtons discrimination in favor of non-disabled, working-age, childless adults, wrote Blase, who was a health care adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term.

Chris Pope, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning policy group the Manhattan Institute, said he doesnt think Republicans in Congress will be able to cut much from Medicaid.

Republicans couldnt get the votes to make major changes when they tried in 2017, Pope noted, and they have even fewer votes this year. Unless they can get every Republican to sign off on cuts, he said, its just not going to happen.

Republicans in Congress are trying to find roughly $2 trillion in savings to offset the cost of extending tax cuts enacted during the first Trump administration and to make additional tax cuts. The U.S. House committee that oversees Medicaid is supposed to come up with $880 billion of that total.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Despite Johnsons assertion that reducing the federal Medicaid match for working-age adults is off the table, some fiscal hawks in his own party arent ready to give up the idea, which would save more money than any other proposal.

Its necessary to stop robbing from the vulnerable to fund the able-bodied, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas wrote on X shortly after Johnsons comments were reported.

In a May 7 letter to House Republican leaders, 32 GOP representatives vowed to find $2 trillion in cuts, calling the House budget framework a floor for savings, not a ceiling. We must hold that line on fiscal discipline to put the country back on a sustainable path, the letter said.

Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani is looking into critical Medicaid services for children, including vital EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment). Do you have children who rely on this program, either through traditional Medicaid or a waiver? And do your children have trouble getting access to care? Share your story with Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani at schatlani@stateline.org.

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.
BEIJING/BRASILIA (Reuters) - China and Brazil pledged on Tuesday to defend free trade and multilateralism as the two countries signed 20 agreements in Beijing to strengthen their ties amid global trade uncertainties.

The two countries should firmly oppose unilateralism, protectionism and "acts of bullying", Chinese President Xi Jinping told Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Lula said the two countries' relations had "never been more necessary", according to footage shown on Brazilian state television.

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The presidents witnessed the signing of the agreements, including highly-anticipated deals for more Brazilian agricultural exports to China.

Lula is in Beijing for a four-day official state visit and to attend a high-profile forum in Beijing along with other Latin American and Caribbean officials, including Chile's President Gabriel Boric and Colombia's Gustavo Petro.

Tuesday's meeting was Lula's third with Xi since taking office in 2023, underscoring Brazil's warming relations with China, its largest trading partner.

At a business forum attended by Lula in Beijing on Monday, Brazil's trade and investment promotion agency said it helped attract around 27 billion reais ($4.8 billion) of Chinese investment to Brazil.

($1 = 5.6740 reais)

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia. Editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Potter)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  China is moving to strengthen its alliances with other countries as a counterweight to President Donald Trumps trade war, presenting a united front with Latin American leaders a day after China and the U.S. agreed to a 90-day truce in their tariffs stalemate.

China's leaders have positioned the world's second-largest economy as a reliable trade and development partner, in contrast to the uncertainty and instability from Trumps tariff hikes and other policies.

On Monday, Beijing and Washington announced their breakthrough on tariffs after weekend talks in Geneva, Switzerland, where they agreed to cut sky-high import duties on both sides for 90 days to allow for negotiations.

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Still, Beijings ire over the trade war remains apparent. Speaking to officials from China and Latin America on Tuesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated Beijings stance that nobody wins a trade war and that bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation.

Having moved to defuse antagonisms with the U.S., Xi said China stands ready to join hands with Latin countries in the face of seething undercurrents of pure political and bloc confrontation and the surging tide of unilateralism and protectionism.

There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars, Xi said, reiterating a phrase China has used repeatedly when referring to Trump's policies.

When Trump began raising tariffs on Chinese products during his first term in office, China retaliated by diversifying its purchases of key farm products, such as soybeans and beef, away from U.S. suppliers. Brazil and other Latin American countries have benefited from that strategy.

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Also Tuesday, the head of the World Trade Organization appealed to Japan to fight disruptions to world commerce from Trump's fast-changing tariffs and other policies.

Trade is facing very challenging times right now and it is quite difficult, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the Geneva-based WTO, told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba while on a visit to Tokyo.

Japan, as a champion of the multilateral trading system must help maintain, strengthen and reform the WTO, the Japanese Foreign Ministry cited her as saying.

Japan is among many countries yet to reach a deal with the Trump administration on hikes to U.S. tariffs, including those on autos, steel and aluminum.

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The WTO played a pivotal role in past decades as the U.S. and other major economies crusaded for the more open markets that facilitated the growth of global supply chains, many of which are anchored in China.

By dismantling many protectionist barriers to trade, it has aided the ascent of Japan and China, and many other countries, as export manufacturing hubs.

Since taking office for a second time, Trump has prioritized higher tariffs to try to reduce U.S. imports and compel companies to locate factories in the United States, doubling down on a trade war that he launched during his first term.

The realities of Trumps global trade offensive overshadowed an initial burst of optimism over the China-U.S. deal among investors, as rallies in stocks and oil prices faded on Tuesday.

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Speaking to the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Forum, Xi, the Chinese leader, announced plans to build closer ties with Latin America through political, economic, academic and security exchanges.

He promised to boost imports from the region, to encourage Chinese companies to increase their investments, and said Beijing plans to expand cooperation in clean energy, 5G telecommunications and artificial intelligence. He also announced a new 66 billion yuan ($9.2 billion) credit line to support Latin American and Caribbean financing.

Chinas trade with the region has been growing rapidly, exceeding $500 billion for the first time last year, as it imported more farm products such as soybeans and beef, energy resources such as crude oil, iron ore, and critical minerals.

Beijings investments in the region through Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, have included installing 5G networks and building ports and hydropower plants.

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Monday that his country would formally join the BRI  in a vote of confidence after several Chinese projects in Latin America hit snags in recent months.

In other pledges, Beijing plans to invite 300 members from Latin American political parties to China annually for the next three years and facilitate 3,500 government scholarships and various other types of exchanges.

Five Latin American countries will receive visa exemptions for travel to China, with more to follow, Xi said. It was not immediately clear which countries would become visa exempt.

___

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed from Tokyo.
BEIJING (Reuters) -The responsibility of tackling the fentanyl issue in the United States lies within the U.S. itself, China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, rejecting the punitive tariffs Washington imposed on Beijing for not stemming the inflow.

China has repeatedly said fentanyl is a U.S. issue and the tariffs imposed on China because of that are unreasonable, said Lin Jian, a ministry spokesperson, when asked at a regular news conference if fentanyl would be discussed in future trade talks.

Trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies have eased as both sides pledged to sharply lower tariffs on each other's goods following talks in Switzerland over the weekend.

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But Washington did not remove the 20% tariffs it imposed on Chinese goods as it said that Beijing had not done enough to stop the fentanyl epidemic in the U.S.

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
BEIJING (AP)  After the lunchtime rush, it's time for China's food delivery drivers to eat.

Liu Lijie, halfway through a 13-hour workday, parked his electric scooter in front of a restaurant in Beijing for his go-to choice, lamb noodle soup with a side of pickles, for 12 yuan ($1.65), a discount of 6 yuan off the regular price.

The reduced-price meal is part of a movement that offers free or discounted meals to people in need, no questions asked.

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Known as aixincan (eye-sheen-zan), or loving meals, they are available at some restaurants in major Chinese cities, home to large populations of migrant workers who come looking for jobs.

There is a lot of pressure in life since I came to Beijing to work, so eating aixincan is both economical and practical, said the 40-year-old Liu, who arrived two years ago from nearby Shanxi province.

Eager to get back to earning money, he digs into his meal at a branch of the Yushiji restaurant chain without even stopping to remove his helmet, branded with the name of the popular Ele.me food delivery app.

The movement, also known as suixincan or follow-the-heart meals, can be traced back to the early 2000s. It has been featured in China's government-run media and on social media, including posts in which influencers pose as hungry customers in need to highlight the generosity of the restaurants.

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Luo Shuai, a driver for Meituan, China's largest food delivery service, learned of Yushijis discounted meal initiative through colleagues and has since become a daily customer at the Beijing chain, which serves food from his native Henan province.

It reminded me of my hometown, said the 27-year-old Luo, who moved to Beijing at the end of last year.

Among China's nearly 300 million migrant workers, an increasing preference for gig-based work such as delivery driving over factory work has emerged in recent years. There are now more than 200 million gig-economy workers, according to government data.

For a full-time driver, the average monthly pay at Meituan can reach more than $1,500. But only 11% of the app's drivers work full-time. Part-timers in the biggest cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, averaged closer to $1,000 a month in 2024.

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The existence of discounted meals reflects a shift in China's urban landscape, according to Xiang Biao, head of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany.

Previously, migrant workers could carve out their own spaces by helping each other, he said, but those networks have disappeared with the erosion of informal restaurants in cities for hygiene and safety reasons.

They will have to seek help from strangers, Xiang said.

The state-implemented cleanup since the late 2000s of urban villages  spaces where migrant workers would live that grew alongside urban development  has increased those pressures.

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The stigma of asking for free food exists in all societies, Xiang said, though it may not be an issue for delivery drivers in China, as they are already socially marginalized.

Feng Yong, the 43-year-old manager of Doornail Meat Pie"  so named because its food resembles the round wooden nail covers on classical Chinese doors  spends much of his day kneading, filling and wrapping the pies at the Muslim Chinese restaurant in Beijing.

He said the restaurant began serving aixincan to help people in need and inspire others to do the same. A Shandong province native who moved to the Chinese capital more than 20 years ago, Feng said he has a deep understanding of being an outsider struggling in a new city.

The key, he said, is to avoid any embarrassment for customers who are in need. Some hesitate at the entrance. The staff do what they can to help and don't inquire about a potential customer's circumstances.

We dont refuse them anything, just as long as theyre full, Feng said.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Not unlike the large swaths of cicadas that emerged in 2021, a different brood will be emerging this summer across southwest Ohio.

Brood XIV will be emerging in the coming weeks in southwest Ohio, coming out in the billions.

The last time this group saw the light of day was in 2008. Shortly after emerging when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, these cicadas molt into their adult body, then fly to the treetops where males will sing, looking for females to mate with. But not all will make it.

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Part of their survival strategy is to overwhelm the predators, satiate their predators, come out with such numbers that the predators can eat all the cicadas they want, and there are still millions left, said Dr. Gene Kritsky, Mt. St. Joseph Univeristy professor of emeritus of biology.



This brood lives in the ground for 17 years, but they can tell when the right time to emerge is by tallying the years.

We know they can detect changes, year to year changes by monitoring the fluid flow in the roots of the trees, said Kritsky. So as the trees are entering spring, theyre leafing out more fluids coming from the roots up to the trees. The cicadas can detect that.

Kritsky says these bugs are harmless, with their only purpose to reproduce to continue their existence. After the mating is over, males will die immediately, while the females will lay eggs then die, ensuring the population succeeds 17 years later.



Those eggs will develop in the tree branch for a while and eventually nymphs will hatch after about six weeks. So later in July or maybe even into August, those will drop out of the tree and hit the ground and burrow into the ground and start the life cycle all over again, said Dr. Don Cipollini, Wright State University biology professor.



Populations in Montgomery County will be low, but the closer you get to Cincinnati the denser the cicada populations will be. The cicadas will be around for about six weeks after emerging.

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.
On Thursday, May 15, the City of Muscatine and the Muscatine Police Department will join communities across the nation in observing Peace Officers Memorial Day, a solemn day of remembrance to honor the law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty, according to a news release.

(muscatineiowa.gov)

Peace Officers Memorial Day reminds us of the tremendous sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers, Matt Mardesen, Muscatine city administrator, said. We are deeply grateful for their bravery and service, and we hold in our hearts the memory of those who gave everything to keep Muscatine safe.

Established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, Peace Officers Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who have devoted their lives to protecting and serving their communities.

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Peace Officers Memorial Day is not only a time of reflection, but a call to honor the legacy of our fallen officers by living up to their example of courage and service, said Anthony Kies, Muscatine Chief of Police. We remember them not just today, but every day we put on the badge.

As part of this national observance, we pay special tribute to the four Muscatine police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice:

Patrolman Thomas D. Moore , 31, End of Watch: July 12, 1869 . Patrolman Moore was struck by lightning and killed while walking his beat on Ogilvie Hill during a thunderstorm. His death is a stark reminder of the unpredictability and risks faced by officers, even from the forces of nature.

Police Officer Jacob Neibert , 55, End of Watch: June 13, 1896 . Officer Neibert, a Civil War veteran of the 35th Iowa Infantry, was shot and killed after arresting two men for vagrancy. Though mortally wounded, he was able to describe the suspects before passing. The perpetrators were never identified.

Patrolman Theodore E. Gerischer , 32, End of Watch: November 26, 1911 . Killed by gunfire while attempting to arrest a suspect during labor unrest, Patrolman Gerischer died in service to public safety. His killer was later apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison.

Assistant Chief of Police Menzo C. Grady, 58, End of Watch: July 4, 1947. Assistant Chief Grady died of a heart attack shortly after responding to a car accident near a soap box derby event. In extreme heat, he ran uphill to aid crash victims, then collapsed upon returning to the event. He had served in law enforcement for over 30 years.

These officers represent the enduring spirit of service and sacrifice that defines our law enforcement community.

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The legacy of our fallen officers lives on through the commitment of every man and woman who continues to wear the badge, Kies said. On this day, we remember their stories, honor their sacrifice, and renew our dedication to serving this community with integrity and courage.

Muscatine does not have a ceremony to honor the fallen officers, but the department does gather to recognize the legacy of the officers and honor the commitment of the present officers to the safety of the Muscatine community.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  City officials agreed on the final location for a new South Side fire station at 303 East Hyde Park Ave. in St. Joseph.

The department recently partnered with the architectural firm SEH to begin conceptual planning for the new Fire Station 10, evaluating three proposed locations in the south side, with this one identified as the most efficient.

This took a lot of planning and it was a tough decision before we reached one, said Jamey McVicker, St. Joseph Fire Department interim fire chief. Our driving force has always been response times. We want to reach the community within four minutes of receiving a call.

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Other potential locations for the fire station included 5008 King Hill Ave. and 212 Alabama St. The challenge with the King Hill Avenue site was its location being too far north, which would hinder a timely response to the south end of the city.

While the 212 Alabama Street site fell within an acceptable response time range, the financial drawback was significant, as the city does not own that property like it does the one at East Hyde Park Avenue.

The budget for this project was $4.29 million, and I estimate the savings from choosing this location to be between $200,000 and $400,000, McVicker said.

Placing the fire station at 303 East Hyde Park Ave. also allows for future expansion, should the city continue to grow.

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More importantly, this is about the citys anticipated future growth, City Manager Mike Schumacher said. Fire stations last a long time  50 years or more. So, its not just about what we need today but what we expect to need 25 or 30 years from now. Thats a key part of how this was planned.

Although discussions are still in the early stages, SJFD is exploring a collaboration with Buchanan County EMS to co-locate the new station under one roof, enhancing team-based response efforts.
The City of Winder has something new to boast about. Theyve won a drinking water taste test competition and officially have the best-tasting tap water in the state of Georgia.

City staff provided a water sample from the Highway 53 water treatment plant, which won at the district level.

Winder then advanced to the state finals and beat 16 other utilities to win best-tasting tap water in Georgia.

They will now compete in the American Water Works Associations national competition this June in Denver, Colorado.

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Being named the best-tasting water in Georgia is something every resident of Winder can be proud of, said Mayor Jimmy Terrell. Our water doesnt just meet the highest standardsit stands out across the entire state. The award reflects the expertise, hard work, and pride our team puts into delivering safe, high-quality water to our community every single day.

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Operations are now on pause after a ceasefire brought escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan to a standstill over the weekend, although the situation remains tense. There have been claims and counterclaims, especially around the air war and possible shootdowns, as well as speculation about the targets of the many airstrikes by both sides. Overall, the information space has been extremely murky, with contradictory reports from official channels and rampant speculation across social media. One of the most alarming claims is that India targeted a nuclear facility in Pakistan, claims that New Delhi has refuted.

Unconfirmed reports had suggested that Indias targets included the nuclear facility at Kirana Hills, in the mountainous Sargodha district of Punjab, Pakistan. The site has been used in the past for nuclear testing and, according to Indian accounts, today serves as a nuclear weapons storage site connected to the adjacent Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Mushaf. Allegedly, a combination of loitering munitions and penetrating weapons was used to target the hardened facility.

Kirana Hills, Pakistan underground facilities, storage for nuclear warheads



The site was used to conduct nuclear tests in 1983 (Kirana-I) https://t.co/1N6BKCuEfl pic.twitter.com/nK6UwfUy0C  Shiro (@ShiroBarks) May 10, 2025

In a press conference today, the Director General of Air Operations for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, denied any Indian attack on Kirana Hills.

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Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation, Bharti said, in response to a question on the topic. We did not know about it. And we have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there.

#OperationSindoor | Delhi: When asked if India hit Kirana Hills, Air Marshal AK Bharti says, "Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation, we did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there." pic.twitter.com/wcBBVIhif1  ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2025

At a press briefing on Sunday, Bharti had presented a list of targets that he said Indian forces did hit, including Pakistani air defense radars, airfields, and other military installations, providing visual evidence to back up his claims.

All lessons in target imagery have been learned from 2019 Balakot. Armed forces have ensured clear imagery of Pak jihadi targets being struck on May 7. pic.twitter.com/LocY8RnQvX  Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) May 11, 2025

Visible damage at Pakistans Jacobabad Air Base, with an Indian Air Force strike reportedly hitting a hangar on the main apron.



Minor, possible secondary damage to the ATC building is also suspected.



Source: detresfa_ pic.twitter.com/q1roS6KUnW  Clash Report (@clashreport) May 11, 2025

A great infographic by @Lone_wolf110 of Indias coordinated strikes on Pakistani airbases, radar sites, and cantonments on 910 May before the ceasefire was announced.



Cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and ALMs were used to hit high-value targets across the depth of pic.twitter.com/m5mp8uwfX5  Indo-Pacific News  Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) May 10, 2025

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There have been unverified claims that airstrikes destroyed a PAF Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft on the ground at PAF Base Bholari, although there is no evidence to support this. The claims may have originated in reports that a high-ranking member of the squadron operating that aircraft was killed during an air raid on the base. Pakistani media reported the death of Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, together with four other people, said to be the result of an Indian missile attack a few hours before the ceasefire was agreed.

Video of Pakistan's Bholari Airbase in Sindh province after Indian missile strikes



The base houses squadrons of F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets & AWACS SAAB 2000 Early Warning aircraft.



Bholari Airbase is a strategic base that is part of Pakistan's nuclear forces.



Its an pic.twitter.com/Wt0yu7lEfr  Indo-Pacific News  Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) May 10, 2025

Imagery released by an Indian firm (KAWASPACE) spotlights damage at Pakistans Bholari Airbase  the Indian Air Force strike appears to have severely damaged a hangar, debris visible along with structural damage, runway proximity = possible quick reaction role for the hangar (?) pic.twitter.com/YC0Dg61d8e  Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 11, 2025

The Indian attacks were in response to what New Delhi says were attempts by Pakistan to target no fewer than 26 Indian locations, including air bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, and Adampur, on the night of May 9-10.

Prior to that, on the night of May 7-8, the IAF had launched Operation Sindoor, with attacks it says hit nine targets that it described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and on Pakistans side of the disputed Kashmir region.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully executed its assigned tasks in Operation Sindoor, with precision and professionalism. Operations were conducted in a deliberate and discreet manner, aligned with National Objectives.



Since the Operations are still ongoing, a detailed  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 11, 2025

Indian military spokespersons said that the targets belonged to two Islamist militant groups: Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). New Delhi said it launched this operation as retaliation for the deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. That attack, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

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Pakistan acknowledged that six locations on its territory were targeted in Operation Sindoor but claimed that none of them were militant camps. A Pakistan military spokesperson said that at least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured in the strikes. In a statement, JeM said that 10 relatives of its leader, Masood Azhar, were killed in an Indian strike.

India releases names of Pakistani officials present at the funeral of LeT terrorist Abdul Rauf, killed in Ops Sindoor



From Military

-Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain

-Maj Gen Rao Imran

-Brig Mohd Furqan

From Administration

-Dr Usman Anwar

Pakistan Punjab Legislator

-Malik Sohaib Ahmed pic.twitter.com/4hiyw8vquF  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 11, 2025

After trading these various blows, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two countries on Saturday, pulling the two nuclear-armed nations back from the brink of possible full-scale war. The ceasefire includes a bilateral agreement to stop military operations across land, air, and sea domains. With the situation rapidly escalating, it is very likely that both sides were looking for an off-ramp.

In comments today, Trump said that the United States has stopped a nuclear conflict by intervening with India and Pakistan. He said, I think it could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions of people could have been killed. So Im very proud of that.

"We're going to do alot of trade with Pakistan, we're going to do a lot of trade with India. We are negotiating with India right now, We'll soon be negotiating with Pakistan. We stopped a nuclear conflict", says US President @realDonaldTrump.  Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) May 12, 2025

In contrast to Pakistani officials, who heralded the U.S. role in brokering the ceasefire, Modi said that the cessation of hostilities came after Pakistan reached out to Indias head of military operations. The Indian prime minister also accused Pakistan of nuclear blackmailing, saying that this would not be tolerated in any future conflict between the two countries.

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Both countries have suggested that they could be open to further negotiations, although they also have their own conditions.

Modi said today that if we talk to Pakistan, it will be about terrorism only  it will be about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Also today, Pakistani security officials said that the terms of the ceasefire included an agreement that future talks would be held in a third country, with one suggestion being the United Arab Emirates.

So far, it seems, the ceasefire has continued to hold.

There have been no confirmed reports of renewed shelling or other exchanges of fire across the disputed border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

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The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir, and other areas along the international border, the Indian Army said in a statement on Sunday night.

After a phone call between military officials from India and Pakistan, both sides have also agreed to reduce their troop presence at the border. Meanwhile, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams are working to defuse unexploded munitions in Indian-administered Kashmir, while tens of thousands of people who had been evacuated from their villages in border areas are returning home.

The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered the reopening of 32 airports in the west of the country that were effected by the recent conflict with Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/979NvShIyZ  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 12, 2025

With the pause in hostilities, the two sides have been making claims about their alleged military successes.

All our military bases and systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any mission, the IAFs Air Marshal Bharti said today.

BIG BREAKING 



ALL Indian air and military bases are intact, operational and ready to continue operations at short notice if deemed necessary, says DG Air Ops  Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) May 12, 2025

Another highlight was the stellar performance of indigenous air defense weapons like the Akash system, Bharti added, in reference to the domestically produced surface-to-air missile system.

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With one senior Pakistani security source having described to CNN a huge air battle involving 125 jets, fighting for over an hour, its not surprising that there have been flurries of claims and counterclaims about what exactly happened and who came out on top.

There has also been a steady flow of new imagery posted to social media, together with claims, frequently unsubstantiated, about the respective nations losses, especially in the air war. With so much propaganda circulating and information operations ongoing, all open-source imagery has to be taken as unconfirmed.

One video appears to provide a better view of the engine from one of the IAFs French-made combat jets, now widely interpreted to be one of the two M88 turbofans from a Rafale. Previous imagery, likely from the same crash site, purports to show parts of a Rafales tailfin and rudder lying in a field, said to be in Bathinda, Punjab. The wreckage bears the serial number BS-001, which would identify it as the first single-seat Rafale EH to be delivered to the IAF. Additional unverified imagery purports to show the remains of the downed Rafale being recovered by the Indian military.

Much clearer footage of Rafale-M88 engine debris spotted again in Bathinda, India.#RafaleDown pic.twitter.com/iVwfepXMQQ  International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) May 11, 2025

May 7, Indian military recovers rafale fighter wreckage in Aklia village near Goniana Mandi in Bathinda. https://t.co/ztZ8U9PjeK https://t.co/WiA0ACEcak pic.twitter.com/otEi3Gcc2Z   (@lfx160219) May 11, 2025

Pakistani security sources have posted claims of five IAF fighters shot down, including three Rafales. So far, there are reports of one Rafale shootdown confirmed by a high-ranking French intelligence official, speaking to CNN, with French authorities meanwhile looking into possible further Rafale losses.

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Another video, which began to circulate widely over the weekend, shows the remains of another engine, apparently from a Russian-made IAF fighter. The engine in the video appears to be an RD-33 series turbofan as used in the MiG-29 Fulcrum. Notably, a single MiG-29 is among the claims of IAF jets downed by the PAF, as well as one Russian-made Su-30MKI Flanker. However, the PAFs JF-17 uses a derivative of the same engine, the RD-93, so that possibility cannot be ruled out.

  | The remains of a Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force that was shot down by Pakistan a few days ago were found in the Jammu & Kashmir region.



Parts of the MiG-29's RD-33 turbofan engine can be seen among the debris. pic.twitter.com/tjOsr5Ae9S  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) May 11, 2025

Looks like an RD-33.



These are used on MiG-29s and JF-17s. https://t.co/O2NSadXQ2S pic.twitter.com/bQf0ODPJtk  Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) May 11, 2025

With aircraft remaining in their respective airspaces and lobbing air-to-air missiles at each other from long distances, at least according to official accounts, its also not surprising that more examples of these weapons have been located as well.

Indian Army:



Their planes were prevented from coming inside our border. So, we don't have wreckage with us, but definitely, we have downed a few Pakistani planes; numbers, we would not like to hazard a guess out here I would not like to put a figure at this time. https://t.co/z0vMK48VMD pic.twitter.com/6KHJqlrgDD  Clash Report (@clashreport) May 11, 2025

Further examples of the Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missile, which arms the PAFs JF-17 and J-10, and which you can read about in more detail here, have appeared.

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On the Indian side, imagery shows evidence of Israeli-made Derby ER and Python 5 missiles, although it should be noted that these could be air-to-air missiles from an IAF Tejas fighter, or they could originate from an Indian SPYDER surface-to-air missiles system, which uses the same types of effector. You can read more about these and other air-to-air missiles used by both India and Pakistan in our previous review of the topic, here.

Wreckage of Python V and Derby missiles have been found in Jalandhar, Punjab.



We have used the SpyDer SHORADs quite extensively in the last few days to shoot down incoming Paki kamikaze drones and A2G missiles. pic.twitter.com/mrwkLJYKRq  Arihant_Ray (@Ray70409890) May 10, 2025

India also made extensive use of other Israeli-supplied equipment, in the form of significant numbers of drones launched toward Pakistan.

The wreckage of another IAF munition, the SCALP EG air-launched cruise missile, which arms the Rafale, has also appeared in recent imagery. Its not clear if the weapon was successfully intercepted by Pakistani air defenses or if it suffered some kind of malfunction, but the warhead appears to be still intact.

As per PAF multiple IAF SCALP-EG ALCMs (launched by IAF Rafales) were intercepted by Pakistani air defense systems.

So far I have been able to find wreckage of 1 x SCALP-EG with a fully intact unexploded warhead. Looking for more. pic.twitter.com/2HZa6DEkvA  Farooq Bhai (@FarooqB90714421) May 11, 2025

Further evidence of Indias use of its BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles has also emerged. Also known by the designation PJ-10, this ramjet-powered weapon was developed and manufactured as a collaborative effort between India and Russia. The BrahMos is available in ground-launched, air-launched, sub-launched, and ship-launched versions, and the missile has a reported range of between 300-500 kilometers (186-311 miles).

CONFIRMED: At least one Indian BrahMos cruise missile, developed by Russia and produced in India, was intercepted over Jacobabad during the May 10th attack on PAF Airbase Shahbaz.



The wreckage was found scattered across different locations in Jacobabad, including components that pic.twitter.com/YJY2Wqr3op  Clash Report (@clashreport) May 12, 2025

Ominously, Modi has said that his countrys military has only paused its actions against Pakistan and would retaliate on its own terms to any further attacks. The Indian leader added that he was monitoring every step of Pakistan.

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While a ceasefire might be holding for now, the stakes are as high as ever. But at least both sides chose to take the off-ramp before things escalated further.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Clean, renewable energy or electricity production tax credits and incentives, financial concept : Green energy symbols atop coin stack e.g solar panel, wind turbine, fuel cell battery and the word TAX

The benefits of federal clean energy tax credits are clear. Adding diverse energy resources to Indianas grid increases reliability, decreases consumer costs, creates jobs, and has the potential to foster massive economic growth  to the tune of $565.7 million annually.

That is why, in 2022, the federal government created this set of tax credits to incentivize the development of clean energy infrastructure and technologies. In the first two years, $9 billion has been invested in projects across Indiana. An added $20 billion in outstanding investment for projects has been announced but not implemented. Through these tax credits, Indiana has expanded the sector and fostered economic growth to the benefit of all Hoosiers, and there should be more to come.

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A new study commissioned by The Nature Conservancy shows that between now and 2032, these credits will annually generate $300.8 million through household income, $59.3 million in local, state, and federal tax revenue, and support 6,300 jobs. Further, these benefits are not isolated to only one industry but span construction, manufacturing, professional services, and the supply chain.

Despite the incredible results and the promise for future growth, these tax credits are at risk of being eliminated. The current budget talks make tax credits an easy target for federal cuts looking to reduce the debt fast. In response, 21 Republican members of the House of Representatives signed a letter showing their support for these credits. But this may not be enough to save them from being cut. That is why we urge the entire Indiana Congressional delegation to use their influence while serving on key committees to protect this potential growth engine for our state.

We can keep Indiana competitive in the national market and support local businesses. However, we must take full advantage of all the available tools, including clean energy tax credits. As the new administration works to encourage industries to return to the U.S., it is imperative to keep Indiana a desirable environment to retain and attract strong economic potential. Indiana, with its clear advantage due to a diverse energy portfolioboth in infrastructure and landis set to benefit.

Hoosier businesses make decisions based on economic potential. The clean energy tax credits offer a proven way to foster economic growth, bolster manufacturing, lower energy costs, and attract more companies to Indianaall while diversifying energy sources and promoting clean energy. More clean energy also means cleaner air and wateroutcomes that improve Hoosiers quality of life, the local environment, and peoples health.

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Our elected officials should work to foster economic growth, provide jobs, and lower energy costs, thats arguably why the people chose them to stand for Hoosiers in Washington.

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department returned to a west Charlotte street for a shooting call Tuesday morning just a day after another shooting on the same street.

Officers responded to Columbus Circle just after midnight, and Channel 9 saw investigators blocking the area with crime scene tape.

MEDIC said one person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, just like the previous shooting. The victim hasnt been identified yet.

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We reported on the first shooting early Monday morning, but CMPD hasnt given any additional details in that case yet.

PREVIOUS: Police investigating shooting in west Charlotte neighborhood

Were asking CMPD if the shootings are connected and for any information they might have about a potential suspect.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

(VIDEO >> CMPD: Homicide under investigation in northwest Charlotte)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Central New York voters will head to the polls on May 20 to vote on their school districts budget, and some people could be paying much more in school taxes.

Voters in the Central Square School District are being asked to approve a nearly 7 percent tax levy increase. The money would go to everything from salaries to program costs. Voters will also be asked to vote on propositions for bus purchases and a library tax.

Voters in Madison and Oneida counties are also facing a tax increase.

Vernon Verona Sherill is asking voters to approve almost a 6% increase. The only proposition on the budget is bonding for a bus purchase.

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Other districts like Chittenango and West Genesee have nearly a 4 percent increase. For Chittenango, propositions include funding for the Free Library and a bus purchase.

At West Genesee, voters will notice a number of propositions, including, purchase of school transportation vehicles, and a tax levy for Fairmont Community Library, Maxwell Memorial Library, and Onondaga Free Library.

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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 20-foot pleasure craft carrying three undocumented migrants was seized Saturday off the San Diego coast.

Around 2:40 p.m., Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne conducted a routine security boarding of the vessel about two miles south of Point Loma, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release Monday.

During the search, Coast Guard officials found the vessel displayed no registration or documentation and none of the occupants had authorization to the U.S.

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The suspected smuggling vessel and people on board were taken to Ballast Point and transferred to the Department of Homeland Security partners.

Also on Saturday, a Coast Guard ship fired at and disabled a boat carrying suspected undocumented migrants during a high-speed chase in San Diego Bay. All eight people and the boat were taken to Ballast Point and were transferred to awaiting Department of Homeland Security partners.

Early Sunday morning, Border Patrol agents apprehended nine people suspected of being in the U.S. without documents after a boat washed ashore in La Jolla and people were seen running from it.

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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A San Diego-based Coast Guard ship fired at and disabled a boat carrying suspected undocumented migrants during a high-speed chase in San Diego Bay Saturday evening.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diegos Joint Harbor Operations Center observed an 18-foot cuddy cabin-style boat that was speeding north, about two miles south of Point Loma, at 5:50 p.m. Saturday.

Undocumented migrants detained after fleeing from boat that landed in La Jolla

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The Coast Guard watchstanders were able to maintain visual contact of the boat using surveillance cameras as it entered San Diego Bay.

According to the Coast Guard, a San Diego station crew that was already out on routine patrol was diverted to intercept the boat, however when they tried to communicate with the operator they reportedly took off.

This was a mass casualty incident: Boat washes up at Torrey Pines State Beach

The Coast Guard crew gave multiple verbal commands and fired warning shots, but the boat did not stop. Thats when the Coast Guard ship fired four rounds into the boats engine, disabling it.

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The Coast Guard crew boarded and took control of the boat, which had a total of 8 suspected undocumented migrants aboard  five adult men, one adult woman, and two boys, ages 16 and 17.

All 8 people and the boat were taken to Ballast Point and were transferred to awaiting Department of Homeland Security partners.

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.
Inside a Kanawha County elementary classroom in West Virginia. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch)

A West Virginia school district is hiring an attorney to sort out who has the authority to set school vaccination polices  is it the governor, the Legislature or the state health department?

Its the tip of the iceberg for legal questions and likely court challenges as county school boards and the state board of education are grappling with how to handle Gov. Patrick Morriseys executive order mandating that public schools permit religious and philosophical exemptions to the states strict school immunization rules.

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The states vaccine laws remain unchanged after the GOP-led House of Delegates voted down a broad vaccine exemption bill, and other attempts to revive the legislation failed, as well. Lawmakers who voted down the measure cited constituents pleas for upholding vaccine laws during a wave of measles cases.

I think were collateral damage, said Ohio County School Board President David Croft, adding that the school district will have outside counsel determine before the end of the month if the states immunization laws or the executive order should take precedence.

Our goal, and I hope the rest of the state follows, is to understand that the issue is not if a single board member is or is not in favor of vaccinations. But it is trying to [do] their duties as a county board of education member appropriately by following West Virginia laws, he said.

Morrisey says that, regardless that the state immunization laws remain unchanged, public schools must comply with his executive order, citing a 2023 religious freedom law as its legal justification.

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While some private schools say they wont comply, parents have already begun requesting a religious exemption to vaccine rules from the state health department.

Its a complex legal analysis that has to be done here, said Croft, who is an attorney.

He said the analysis will have to look at kids constitutional rights to a safe education versus religious freedom, along with a disagreement between the executive and legislative branches of government.

Our goal at the end of the day is to put our kids in the best position we can  and our teachers, Croft added.

The issue is likely to end up before a judge ahead of next school year.

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Croft noted that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which could preside over a possible challenge, already ruled in a 2011 lawsuit involving a Mingo County student that the states vaccines laws were constitutional and did not overly burden a parents right to free exercise of religion.

Divided opinions on lawfulness of executive order

Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio

The push to edit the states vaccine laws has been spearheaded by Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio. She was the lead sponsor of a bill earlier this year that would have allowed religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements and revised the existing medical exemption process.

Chapman, a mother and attorney, said she wholeheartedly supports Morriseys executive order regarding religious exemptions.

Gov. Morriseys executive action is well-grounded in law based on the Equal Protection for Religion Act, which protects against government discrimination against a sincerely held religious belief, she said.

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Prior to the executive order, West Virginia was among five states that didnt allow exemptions to school vaccine requirements based on religious or philosophical beliefs. State laws only allowed medical exemptions.

We are one of the most religious states in the nation and we unfortunately are lumped in with liberal states like California and New York, Chapman said. Each of our surrounding states offer a religious exemption and the [Centers for Disease Control] numbers are sub-herd immunity levels. There is no reason to believe West Virginia will be any different. Ultimately, a family should not be required to give up their religious beliefs in order to go to our fantastic public and private schools.

Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio

Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, was among the Houses no votes on changing the states vaccine laws. The bill was voted down 42-56 in March.

We elect public officials to pass public policy, we dont elect kings and queens, Fluharty said. This session, public officials listened to their constituents, medical professionals and experts by rightfully voting down this bad public policy. Its a shame the governor and his handlers want to circumvent this process.

Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha

On Wednesday, the West Virginia school board will discuss religion exemptions from school vaccinations, according to their agenda.

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State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt earlier this month issued guidance to school superintendents recommending that students not be allowed to attend schools next year without the required vaccinations. She rescinded the memo at the request of Morrisey and is now working with the governors office to issue clear guidance to schools about how to comply with the executive order, according to her statement.

Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha, has called on the state school board to maintain its current immunization requirements. He wrote a letter to the board on Tuesday, saying that Morriseys executive order conflicts with existing statutory law and oversteps constitutional authority.

Hollis wrote that the current vaccine law protects the health and safety of West Virginias children, families and communities.

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A college student fell from a balcony and died during a senior trip to the Bahamas less than a week before graduation

Gaurav Jaisingh was pursuing a bachelors degree in finance and a minor in computer information systems, according to his LinkedIn page

His school, Bentley University, called his death a "tragic accident"











A college student has died after he fell from a balcony during a senior trip to the Bahamas less than a week before graduation.

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The student, later identified by his school, Bentley University, as Gaurav Jaisingh, was in a hotel room with other roommates when it was reported that he accidentally fell from an upper-level balcony at around 10 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 11, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement.

He was later found unresponsive on a lower floor, authorities said. Jaisingh, who is not named in the report, died while being transported to a hospital. An investigation is ongoing.

Bentley University said they were "profoundly sad" to confirm Jaisingh's death.

One of our students, Gaurav Jaisingh, passed away last night in a tragic accident during the annual senior class trip in the Bahamas," the school said in a statement to ABC affiliate WCVB and NBC affiliate WCAU.

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The school and authorities did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment.

Bentley University is a private institution with about 4,500 undergraduate students located in Waltham, Mass. The university said its offering resources to community members impacted by the tragedy.

Jaisingh was pursuing a bachelors degree in finance and a minor in computer information systems, he wrote on his LinkedIn page.

This summer, I completed the Summer 2024 Client Solutions Internship Program at FactSet, he wrote. My strengths include time management, problem-solving, and collaboration with others.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jaisingh said he was part of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, was active in various student-centered programs and was a member of the South Asian Students Association.

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The universitys undergraduate commencement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 17.

"This is an enormous tragedy for our community," Bentley University said, according to WCVB.

Read the original article on People
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser speaks in January 2024 at the Colorado Bar Association office in Denver. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline)

A version of this story originally appeared in the South Carolina Daily Gazette.

Attorneys general from six states, including Colorado, say theyre demanding accountability from WeChat, a Chinese messaging and payment platform being used by fentanyl traffickers.

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The bipartisan group is giving WeChat, whats become known as a super app, a month to detail what steps its taking, if any, to combat its use as a money launderer for the international drug trade.

I have worked tirelessly to address the opioid crisis by using every tool we can to save lives, including cracking down on the distribution of fentanyl, Phil Weiser, the Democratic attorney general of Colorado, said in a statement. Thats why I fought for legislation in Colorado, based on a report from our office, to ensure that online platforms have a greater responsibility to police their platforms and cooperate with law enforcement.

We need answers; we need them now, Republican Alan Wilson, South Carolinas attorney general since 2011, said at a news conference Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Standing beside him was North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat.

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A letter dated Monday instructs WeChat to send answers by June 11 to the attorneys general in North Carolina and New Jersey, two states where knowingly facilitating, or aiding and abetting, money laundering is a crime.

WeChats contribution to the devastating fentanyl crisis endangers the life and health of our people, they wrote in the letter, also signed by attorneys general from Mississippi and New Hampshire.

If WeChat fails to respond, lawsuits from the states chief prosecutors could follow, as well as advocacy for laws and regulations, Wilson and Jakson said.

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WeChat is one of the worlds most popular messaging apps with more than a billion users globally, including a million-plus in the United States. The app created by the company Tencent allows encrypted messaging and payments to be made within it  two features that have made it incredibly popular for criminal activity, according to prosecutors.

The app has been linked to major drug operations.

In October 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency announced indictments against eight Chinese companies and 12 people in a bust dubbed Operation Chem Capture. They were accused of importing the chemicals used to make fentanyl  called fentanyl precursors  as well as other drugs such as xylazine that are mixed with fentanyl to increase cartels profits.

The multi-agency operation seized enough synthetic chemicals to make more than 48 million potentially lethal doses, the agencys administrator, Anne Milgram, said in a statement submitted to the U.S. House last May.

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Operation Chem Capture once again showed that these synthetic chemicals are cheap  a deadly dose costs mere cents  and sold online on public websites and through encrypted applications like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Wickr, the statement read.

Jackson illustrated a three-step process for how Chinese brokers and drug cartels use WeChat to partner for fentanyl dealing.

Chinese companies sell the chemical ingredients to the cartels, who make the fentanyl. The drug is then smuggled into the country and sold for cash. In the final step, the cash is given to Chinese brokers who use WeChat to give the money back to the cartel, he said.

We estimate that we are talking about billions of dollars per year, Jackson said.

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The joint letter, which uses Jacksons letterhead, is addressed to whom it may concern at WeChats registered agent in Delaware.

People are using the internet to evolve how they launder money, to evolve how they evade detection by law enforcement, to evolve how they promote this type of illicit activity, Wilson said. So, we have to evolve with them.

Wilson told reporters the fentanyl epidemic is the top issue that keeps him up at night.

WeChats alleged role in crimes

In 2023, Weisers office issued a report on social media and the sale of illegal drugs, including fentanyl. The report included several recommendations. For example, it called for new state legislation that would require social media companies to disclose their policies on drug activity and to be more transparent about their enforcement activities, more law enforcement resources, and a new federal agency to oversee social media platforms.

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In South Carolina, overdose deaths have soared from 613 in 2013 to 2,296 in 2022, according to the most recent statistics from the state Department of Public Health. That represents a near-quadrupling over that decade.

Fentanyl accounted for more than 70% of those 2022 deaths, or 1,660 overdoses, representing a near-quadrupling over just five years, according to the 2024 report.

Everybody knows someone, either personally or within one or two degrees of separation, where a family has lost a young person or someone has died as an overdose as a result of the illicit fentanyl trafficking going on in our respective states, Wilson said.

Last month, three men  two from Sumter and one from Georgia  were indicted in South Carolina in what federal prosecutors called one of the largest international, drug-related money laundering operations the Palmetto States ever seen.

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Theyre accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of laundering more than $30 million in the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs, as well as taking cash from two Mexican cartels and using it to purchase and ship electronics to Hong Kong, China and the United Arab Emirates to be sold for profit.

WeChat played a crucial role in the alleged criminal dealings, Wilsons office noted in a news release Monday.

WeChat has become a digital safe haven for fentanyl traffickers and money launderers, and they know it, said Wilson.

SC Daily Gazette is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. SC Daily Gazette maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seanna Adcox for questions: info@scdailygazette.com.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Nearly 2,000 people have received an eviction filing in Columbus over the last month, according to the Eviction Lab, an organization that published the first nationwide database of evictions.

Now, federal funding that helps provide legal aid to people facing eviction is set to end, leaving Columbus to have to get creative to address the crisis without federal support.

On Monday, Columbus City Council approved nearly $1.5 million to continue support for those facing eviction. That funding will help hundreds of people, just like the ones who shared their story with NBC4.

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Program give Columbus police recruits exposure to community

It was really stressful. Its like I was really worried about me and my kids being homeless, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) Client Meegan ONeal said.

ONeal received an eviction notice in December.

They were saying that I owed money for not paying rent. Ive been here four and a half, almost five years, and never, ever missed paying my rent, ONeal said.

Her landlord claimed their ledgers showed she was behind on rent, but she had the receipts to prove otherwise: five years worth of payments.

She brought those to LASCO.

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OSU looking for those with early Alzheimers to participate in study

With rising eviction rates, its really critical to make sure that tenants have a continued voice at eviction court, LASCO Tenant Advocacy Project Managing Attorney Jyoshu Tsushima said.

They fought her case and won, as a part of the Tenant Advocacy project, which provides free legal advice and representation to qualifying tenants being evicted.

It was relief. It was a relief. It was, I was relieved with joy, ONeal said.

Others in eviction court are hoping for that same feeling. One family is getting help right now.

The company terminated [our] lease because they didnt keep up the proper repairs, one LASCO client, who asked not to be identified, said. Never late, never missed rent, did everything that shes supposed to do and still end up being a victim.

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Columbus Anheuser-Busch brewery receives $300 million investment

The program is funded, in part, by pandemic relief-era funding, which is running out, so Columbus City Council is helping to fill some of the gaps.

Having access to counsel, having that legal representation can be the world of difference, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said.

Part of this money is coming from the citys general fund, while the other part is the rest of the pandemic relief funding that must be spent by September.

Having a trained attorney that has the ability to say, Wait a minute, this person has done, this renter has done their part, and to stop that eviction means the whole world, Hardin said.

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The money approved by council will support tenants facing eviction who have children and who are below the poverty line.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker recently gave a speech in New Hampshire that lit up partisan circles thrilled with his fiery and combative tone.

The reckoning is here, Pritzker said while issuing a thunderous call for mass mobilization and disruption to counter President Donald Trumps agenda. He said the American house is on fire, a raging five-alarmer.

If it sounds like Im becoming contemptuous of Donald Trump and the people that he has elevated, its because I am, he said. You should be, too.

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Its easy to understand the impulse to accept the governors invitation, and the notion that the only way to fight contempt is with more contempt. After all, Trump seems to revel in the art of escalation: On his social media platform Truth Social, he referred to Democrats as Radical Left Lunatics and said, They have lost everything, especially their minds!

In his speech, Pritzker went on to say that theres a way out of this mess, and I wholeheartedly agree. But its not through contempt. Contempt is a bad strategy because it doesnt solve problems. It stokes a desire for revenge. It backfires. It all but guarantees that your opponent will dig deeper into the animosity between you. Contempt could never get us out of this mess because its what got us into this mess.

Id like to stress an alternative: Rather than make our arguments with contempt for the other side, make the arguments with dignity. Treat the other side like they matter. In contrast to contemptuous speech, treating people with dignity recognizes the inherent worth of every person and leaves space for holding people accountable by focusing on facts, actions, decisions and outcomes.

The warmup to the Democratic nomination has begun, evidenced by the fact that high-profile politicians are showing up in New Hampshire  an early presidential primary state  hoping to set a course to Election 2028. Democrats and Republicans alike would do well to recognize that increasing polarization is the most likely result of aggressive posturing, spinning us into doom loops of despair.

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Politicians have a special obligation, by virtue of their outsize public platforms, to remove contempt from political discourse. As the Harvard University professor, behavioral science expert and bestselling author Arthur C. Brooks has stated, If you listen to how people talk to each other in political life today, you notice it is with pure contempt. He continued: If we want to solve the problem of polarization today, we have to solve the contempt problem.

Treating people with contempt may sound tough, but it doesnt hold people accountable. Demonizing, name-calling and belittling stir up anger that distracts from the problems we need to fix, locking us in opposition and divorcing us from one another as Americans.

At its worst, contempt leads to violence.

Contempt will start a fight that distracts us from the facts, and that serves the cause of people who dont want to be held accountable. And before one says, But wait! The other side doesnt deserve our niceties and politeness, let me remind readers that treating people with dignity doesnt mean admiring them. Its not saying that every viewpoint is valid. Its simply saying that treating people with dignity encourages their best and discourages their worst.

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And its not only true in politics. Research shows that contempt ruins marriages and relationships. It can turn toxic otherwise-healthy workplace cultures. Indignities cut to our core and, some research suggests, can sometimes feel as painful as actual physical harm.

If people demand it, dignity could play a winning role in politics and policymaking. Imagine a world where treating each other with dignity is a mark of patriotism, a measure of our national well-being and an indicator of future potential.

Contempt might be able to score points in the short term, but it ensures that we all lose eventually. To avoid that end, Im challenging myself to engage in a new kind of patriotism, one that seeks above all to ease divisions and solve problems. I heard this more hopeful kind of rhetoric in Pritzkers speech, too. He called for an end to the climate of retribution. And its that part of his argument that Id like to hold up as the best example of how we can all move forward together.

There are plenty of people in this country who hold opinions that I find abhorrent, Pritzker said. But my faith, and our Constitution, dictate that I fight for their freedoms just as loudly as I defend my own.

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Agreed, Gov. Pritzker. Thats how to save a house on fire.

_____

Timothy Shriver is a co-creator of the Dignity Index, a tool designed to ease divisions, prevent violence and solve problems. He is also chairman of the Special Olympics.

_____
BIG STONE GAP, Va. (WJHL)  Wise Countys Commonwealths Attorney Brett Hall has released a statement more than a week after corrections officers were stabbed by inmates at Wallens Ridge State Prison.

On May 2, five VADOC officers were taken to a hospital after an alleged premeditated stabbing by six inmates at the Big Stone Gap prison. Three officers were released from the hospital later that day, and two others were discharged from inpatient care on May 8.

TBI investigating Unicoi Co. inmate death

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Five of the six inmates who allegedly participated in the attack were confirmed MS-13 gang members from El Salvador, who were in the country illegally, each convicted of various crimes including murder and rape, according to the news release. The other inmate involved is a reported member of the Sureno 13 gang from the United States and is serving a sentence for second-degree murder.

The Tuesday statement from Hall said that while additional charges havent been filed against the inmates due to ongoing federal and state investigations, those appropriate charges will be placed against the suspects accused in the stabbing.

Hall provided the following statement:

My office is dedicated to supporting our men and women in uniform. Our corrections

officers have an incredibly difficult job. They serve our community by protecting us from

those who have often been deemed too dangerous for society. Virginia Department of

Corrections Director Chad Dotson continues to do a great job leading the Department

statewide. It is my hope the Virginia Department of Corrections will soon receive the

support they have long-needed from the General Assembly and others in leadership roles

throughout the Commonwealth. Appropriate charges will be filed against those offenders

who attacked our officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison on May 2, 2025. There is no

definitive timeline to those charges at this time, pending finalization of investigations by

both state and federal governments. As such, per statutory and ethical limitations

imposed on prosecutors to make pre-trial statements, I am not able to further comment

on this specific investigation. I do, however, offer my prayers to the injured officers, their

family members, and the Virginia Department of Corrections employees and supporting

staff. Brett Hall; Commonwealths Attorney for Wise County and the City of Norton

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Those who do good deeds dont always get the recognition they deserve. When it comes to donating blood, a local blood bank wants to make sure that they do.

The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York is hosting the 7th Annual Donor Appreciation Day on Friday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at their donor center at 2646 Peach St.

UPMC Hamot honored with Beacon Awards for Excellence

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The theme for this years celebration is Support Local. There will be food trucks and live music throughout the day to emphasize the theme and enhance the celebration. There will also be games and giveaways. All are welcome to partake in this celebration.

Donors in attendance, whether or not they are donating that day, will receive a CBB tote bag, popcorn from PopLuck, five raffle tickets, a food truck voucher, and Smileys Ice Cream.

Over 60K pounds of food donated during 2025 Stamp Out Hunger food drive

One donor will receive the 2025 Ed Althof Commitment to Community Award, named for a man who has donated over 60 gallons of blood in the Erie area during his lifetime. The award will be given at 6:30 p.m.

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People who donate blood to the CBB are helping the Erie area directly. According to the CBB website, The Community Blood Bank of NWPA & WNY supplies blood and blood products to 19 hospitals and 7 Stat MedEvac bases throughout Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York.

For more information on the CBB, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks celebrated on Monday the grand opening of its new Joplin location at 2318 E. 32nd St., Suite D. The new location gives the center more space to collect a vital, lifesaving resource for the community.

This is the centers fifth location in Joplin over the last 30 years. It previously operated out of a storefront at the Northpark Mall.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is the sole supplier of blood for 45 area hospitals. It averaged 10 to 12 donors a day at its previous location at the mall. Anthony Roberts, executive director of the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, said staff members are now hoping to double donors at the new location.

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A lot of chambers of commerce like to say, Shop local, Roberts said. We always say, Local donors, local patients. Our mission has always been centered on saving lives through the generosity of local blood donors. This beautiful new facility gives us even more opportunity to fulfill that mission in the Joplin area.

In its last location, the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks had 1,250 square feet and were basically running out of space, Roberts said. The organization has been looking for a new Joplin location for a couple of years.

Roberts said the center found the perfect space on 32nd Street. Its highly visible with lots of traffic. Its also closer to Freeman Health System and Mercy Joplin Hospital, which presents a better opportunity for hospital employees and patient families to donate.

If people have family members in the hospital and feel the need to come donate, were very close, only five to seven minutes away, Roberts said. This is a great opportunity here to donate.

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The center has worked to make the new location donor-friendly, Roberts said. Donors can pull right up to the front door, unlike the mall. The extra space allows the center to expand from four beds to eight beds, and donors have generous space around them as they donate.

Michael Rahn, senior director of building operations, helped design the new Joplin location. As donors walk in the new 3,700 square-foot center, theyre greeted by a front desk. Medical history rooms line one wall, donor beds are in the center. There is an open floor plan in the main room. It makes it easy for donors to look around and for staff to see all of their donors at all times.

Its important to have a welcoming, open space, Rahn said. You dont want your donors to feel like this is a sterile, medical facility. Our donors are caring enough to come in and volunteer to do this on their own. Thats an important part of wanting to make them comfortable.

People can make an appointment online to donate blood at the new Joplin center at cbco.org. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.

Roberts said with the new location, the center is looking to expand into weekend morning hours this fall.
This weekend, the Savannah Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority will host one of its signature events with the goal of elevating authors, southern style!

Elaine Shavers Campbell is the president of the sororitys Savannah Alumnae Chapter.

Wanda Lloyd is a Savannah Alumnae Chapter member and co-chair of the Savannah Event.

They sat down with WSAVs Kim Gusby on todays Community Corner to talk about the free literary extravaganza.

Click the arrow in the video box above to watch the interview.

Delta Authors on Tour

Elevating Authors, Southern Style

Saturday, May 17

11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Savannah Technical College, 5717 White Bluff Road

Free Admission

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Every year, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT releases a factbook, which paints a statistical portrait of the status of the states children and youth.

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Executive Director Paige Clausius-Parks joined 12 News at 4 Monday to discuss this years factbook and what trends the state is seeing.

SEE ALSO: 10 takeaways from this years RI Kids Count factbook

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Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.

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(WKBN)  Today is 20 years since the high-profile death of Dr. Gulam Moonda.

Read next: Coroner investigating after discovery of unidentified remains

He was a prominent Shenango Valley physician, killed on the Ohio Turnpike in 2005 while in a car with his wife, Donna.

The investigation took a dramatic turn when it was revealed she was having an affair with Damian Bradford, and the two plotted the murder.

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Bradford said Donna promised him half of the couples $6 million estate. Instead, he got 17 years behind bars. He was released in 2022, but sent right back after he was convicted of attempted homicide for shooting a state police trooper in the leg; he was sentenced to 36.5 to 73 years in prison. Bradford, now 43, is in a state correctional institution in Albion, Erie County.

Donna Moonda, now 66, is serving a life sentence at a federal institution in Tallahassee, Florida.

Gulam Moonda, originally from Gujarat, India, had a well-respected urology office in Hermitage and worked for the Sharon Regional Health System. He was 69 when he was killed.

The sudden loss shook the community and dominated the Cleveland and Pittsburgh media scene for years, and the story has been documented in several television shows.

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General surgeon Ravi Sachdeva worked alongside the urologist for several years and described him as the brother he never had.

He really cared for the community, Sachdeva said. He used to when a patient came in and hed write some medication for them, and when they were going into the pharmacy, they didnt have any money and couldnt afford it. Hed tell them to send the bill to him.

Sachdeva described Dr. Moonda as outgoing and excelling in his profession.

When patients used to come to see him, hed take their coat and hang it on the coat rack, and they thought, Oh, thats the doctor,' Sachdeva said. Some of these little kids, when they used to come to see him, he had a bunch of silver dollars, and hed take them out and give it to them.

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Sachdeva said Dr. Moonda was a big fan of movies and television and enjoyed going out to dinner with his family.

We used to have a call at the hospital every day at 11, and if Id call him earlier than that, he would say no, its time for the movie. He was funny like that, Sachdeva said.

As a close friend of the family, Sachdeva was shocked when he heard the news 20 years ago.

[Donna and her mother] got home around 3 in the morning, and me and my wife Margie went over to visit for comfort, Sachdeva said. No one knew what happened at the time; it feels like yesterdayno one deserves a death like that. He was friendly to everyone.

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Sachdeva established a scholarship in memory of Dr. Moonda for Sharon Regional nursing students, which will now transfer over to Meadville Medical nursing school. He hopes the scholarship will live on for many years to come.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ)  Residents across Cambria and Somerset counties interested in understanding Pennsylvanias concealed carry laws will have an opportunity to learn directly from local law enforcement later this month.

State Rep. Jim Rigby is hosting a concealed carry seminar on Thursday, May 29, at the Solomon Run Fire Hall in Johnstown. The event is scheduled to run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and is open to residents of the 71st Legislative District.

Cambria County Sheriff Don Robertson and District Attorney Greg Neugebauer will serve as guest speakers, offering legal insights and safety guidance to both new and experienced permit holders. A question-and-answer session will follow their presentations, giving attendees a chance to discuss specific concerns or scenarios.

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Rigby said the seminar is designed for those considering applying for a concealed carry permit as well as current holders looking for a refresher on the states firearm laws.

Participants are encouraged to register in advance by clicking here.

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The 71st District includes a wide area across Cambria and Somerset counties, encompassing townships and boroughs such as Richland, Cresson, Portage, Windber and Paint.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
ATHENS, WV (WVNS)  The 150th Spring Commencement ceremony at Concord University celebrated graduates, as well as two special designations for Concord University President Dr. Kendra Boggess.

BSU receives funding to develop online, job-embedded education degree

According to a press release from Concord University, at the 150th Spring Commencement ceremony at Concord University, two special designations occurred to acknowledge President Boggess final ceremony as the president of Concord University and her involvement through the years.

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The designations included renaming the business department to The Dr. Kendra S. Boggess Department of Business to honor Dr. Boggess, as well as a University Foundation fund in her name.

The press release stated that Dr. Boggess will designate the fund, and that the renaming of the Department of Business was done with the support and approval of the Concord University Administration and the Board of Governors.

Those who want to contribute to the fund can do so here.

WVSOM graduates awarded an estimated $87,400 at ceremony acknowledging achievements

According to the Concord University (CU) press release, the 347 people who met graduation requirements include 126 candidates for a masters degree and 221 candidates for undergraduate degrees.

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The press release stated that the graduates represent 22 states, 11 countries, five of the graduates were CU employees, and four were military veterans.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Youngstown Area Community Concert Band has been performing around the Valley since 1984. Its the final season for the conductor, who has been around for all but six of them.

Joe Pelligrini remembers taking the baton in 1990 and giving his first signal for the band to start playing.



And when I gave that down beat, the sound was just incredibly good, and I knew I was going to enjoy conducting this group of people, he said.

Pelligrini has hung around, and this will be his 35th and final season. He enjoys piecing together the summer season schedule. This is his last chance to visit the big venues, Austintown and Boardman parks, YSU and Stambaugh Auditorium  and conduct while being out in front of the band.



As a musician and as a conductor, you just get so much enjoyment from the performance, from the audience. And its, its just a wonderful thing, Pelligrini said.

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He is excited that Broadway Classics is the theme for his final round of performances.

There are around 65 band members, including some who have been playing since the bands first show in 1984.

You know the old saying, practice makes perfect. Its practice makes better, and you continually get better, Pelligrini said.

All of the bands concerts are free. Pelligrini is proud of its annual Holiday Concert of Giving, which raised $4,000 in December, bringing its total over $60,000 donated to Second Harvest. The bands biggest strength lies right in the name.

Its a community band. Its made up of members of the community all over several counties, and they perform for the community, Pelligrini said.

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The bands summer schedule will be an emotional run. Pelligrini knows his final concert will be December 21.

Im looking forward to this year, but I dont want it to go by too quickly, he said.

The Younstown Area Community Concert Band has already started interviews to find Pelligrinis replacement.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CONECUH COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  A Conecuh County convicted killer has been sentenced to life in prison.

Mobile County homicide suspect arrested after being on the run for months

According to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Jadarrin Watkins, 23, was sentenced by Conecuh County Circuit Court Judge Jack Weaver.

Watkins was convicted March 5, 2025, of the 2018 murder of Greg Davison, a news release from Marshall said.

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Evidence presented at trial showed Watkins and a co-defendant broke into Davisons house to steal money, the release said. Davison was asleep, but woke up and confronted the men, who then shot and killed him.

Mobile police identify victim in deadly Driftwood Drive shooting

This was a senseless and violent crime that took the life of a man in the one place he should have been safest  his own home, Marshall said. This life sentence reflects the gravity of that crime, and I am proud of the work our team and our law enforcement partners did to ensure justice was served.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith is set to receive $141 million in new investments after receiving Congressional approval on Monday, officials announced.

The funding was secured through the efforts of Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, according to a news release from Boozmans office.

This funding represents another critical step forward for Ebbing and the foreign pilot training center in the River Valley, Boozman and Cotton said in the release. The FMS mission is not only tremendously beneficial for Fort Smith, the region and our state  it is also a vital component of our national security strategy. The Arkansas congressional delegation will continue ensuring it has the resources necessary to successfully host our allies and partners to help defend our nation and interests.

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188th Security Forces Squadron, Fort Smith PD announce enhanced partnership

In March 2023, it was announced that Ebbing was selected by the United States Air Force to be a long-term training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Im proud to have worked alongside my friends and colleagues, Sens. Boozman and Cotton, to secure funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base in this challenging year, Womack said in a statement. The F-35 FMS mission enhances our national security by improving the capabilities of our allies and partners while also delivering meaningful benefits to the surrounding Fort Smith community. I look forward to seeing this mission continue to grow.

The release said the funding will support the construction of an Academic Training Center, F-35 bay aircraft maintenance hangar and F-35 squad operations mission planning facility, along with the design of future projects on base.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  As Coast Guard interdictions off the coast of San Diego continue, a local lawmaker is asking Congress for federal funds to build autonomous surveillance towers in an effort to curb future boat smuggling incidents.

Rep. Mike Levin held a news conference on Monday where he announced he is asking Congress for $60 million in federal funding to purchase autonomous surveillance towers (ASTs) for the maritime borders along the San Diego County coastline that would be equipped with cameras, radar and infrared technology to identify and help intercept maritime threats, like migrant smuggling.

Trump administration has deported 38,000 Mexicans

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Rep. Levin also called for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in consultation with the Coast Guard, to better detail to Congress their personnel and equipment needs.

Just in the past few weeks in San Diego County, three separate boats were intercepted carrying suspected undocumented migrants in the same weekend off the coast of San Diego, as well as an incident at Torrey Pines State Beach where three people died, several were injured and a child remains missing at sea. Five people were charged in San Diego federal court in connection with that smuggling attempt.

Coast Guard ship fires at suspected migrant boat during high-speed chase in San Diego Bay

In early February, a 57-year-old woman died after a suspected smuggling boat capsized off the coast of Ocean Beach.

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Im grateful to the brave first responders and law enforcement who responded swiftly to last weeks incident, said Rep. Mike Levin. This incident makes it abundantly clear we need bipartisan reform to fix our broken immigration system. Thats why Im doing everything I can to obtain funding, resources, and technology to secure our maritime borders, which is critically important in reducing drug and human trafficking. Im working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do everything I can to advance common sense reforms and ensure our coastal borders are protected.

US Coast Guard tripled personnel to prevent maritime human smuggling

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Despite having more years in public office than other candidates in the Democratic primary race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly on Monday embraced her underdog status in the nascent campaign against a pair of opponents expected to be flush with campaign cash.

To take on Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom will still be in office when Durbins successor is seated after next years election, you need a fighter, someone thats not afraid, the seven-term congresswoman from south suburban Matteson said during an hourlong appearance before the City Club of Chicago. It was Kellys first major public event in Illinois since joining the race last week.

Ive been in tough fights my whole political life. Ive been given nothing, said Kelly, recounting a resume that includes defeating a longtime incumbent to win a seat in the Illinois House in 2002 and emerging victorious from a Democratic free-for-all in a 2013 special primary for her current seat representing the states 2nd Congressional District.

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While the field for the Senate seat is still taking shape for the March 17 primary, declared Democratic candidates Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi are not expected to be wanting for campaign resources. Stratton is being backed by billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker and is also endorsed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Krishnamoorthi is a five-term congressman from Schaumburg sitting on more than $19 million in campaign cash. Kelly had more than $2 million in her campaign war chest at the start of April, campaign records show.

I just hope that voters can look past the money, they can look past some endorsements  and see the policies of my work and what I have done and what I will do, Kelly said. Ive always been the underdog and underestimated, but most of the time, I come out OK.

Underscoring the potential challenge Kelly faces in the money race, Stratton supporters on Monday announced a newly formed political action committee, Illinois Blue, a super PAC that under federal election law is prohibited from coordinating with her campaign but can receive and spend unlimited sums backing her.

Along with Strattons previously formed Level Up PAC and the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, which has promised to spend seven figures supporting her candidacy, the new committee gives Pritzker, a Hyatt Hotels heir, another avenue to put some of his vast wealth behind his two-time running mate.

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Kelly has faced off against Pritzker before, defeating his chosen candidate to become chair of the state Democratic Party in 2021 only to abandon a reelection bid a year later when she couldnt round up the votes from party leaders needed to beat the governors new choice.

The congresswoman downplayed the importance of big-name endorsements in the race, even as her campaign announced the backing of 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Chicago, who represents the neighboring 1st Congressional District.

If I can get to enough voters and if theyre making the decision based on effective leadership experience, getting stuff done  then Im their person, Kelly said in a brief interview after the City Club event.

During her time on stage, Kelly emphasized both her advocacy against gun violence, including a sit-in on the U.S. House floor with civil rights icon U.S. Rep. John Lewis and other Democrats after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, and her record of bipartisan legislative accomplishments, such as a 2018 measure Trump signed into law that expanded access to dental health grants.

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Although Kelly said she hate(s) to look at his signature, a copy of the legislation signed by the president during his first term hangs in her office.

That experience working across the aisle is important because when an Illinois Democrat comes to Congress, unlike in Springfield where the party holds all statewide offices and has supermajorities in the legislature, in Washington, its not any veto-proof nothing, Kelly said.

But at a time of deep partisanship and with congressional Republicans looking at cuts to safety-net programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, its also important for Democrats to fight for their constituents, Kelly said.

Im going to fight like hell to make sure they arent successful, and I know Im not alone, she said of Republicans, noting that more than one-third of residents in her district could lose access to health care under GOP proposals.

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The nature of that district, which runs south along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border from 43rd Street on Chicagos South Side to Danville in central Illinois, could be a factor in the race to succeed Durbin as each candidate vies for downstate credibility.

The retirement of the longtime senator from Springfield risks ending a decadeslong tradition of the states two Senate seats being split by someone from the Chicago area and someone from downstate. All of the candidates for the seat so far are from the Chicago area and Duckworth is from suburban Hoffman Estates.

Pitching her statewide appeal, Kelly emphasized the blend of urban, suburban and rural communities  including 4,500 farms  in her district and the relationships shes forged with leaders in redder areas, including some she said told her they werent sure at first if they were going to like her.

Its very important to me that people feel included and seen and heard, said Kelly, who moved to Illinois to attend Bradley University in Peoria and lived in the central Illinois city on and off for two decades.

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Krishnamoorthi was raised in Peoria and attended public school there, while much of Strattons downstate experience stems from her time in the lieutenant governors office, including leading the governors Rural Affairs Council.

Kelly said shes all in for the Senate race and doesnt plan to circulate nominating petitions later this year for the 2nd District seat. While shes giving up seniority and a chance to rise in the ranks of leadership, Kelly said if she didnt run now for the Senate, I think I would always question myself.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTNH)  Connecticut police officers, state troopers, and their loved ones peddled 300 miles to arrive in Washington, D.C. Monday, as part of the Police Unity Tour.

They left from Hartford last week.

Connecticut officers begin bike ride from Hartford to DC for Police Unity Tour

Among the participants riding this year was Dominique Pelletier, the wife of Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, who was killed during a traffic stop last May.

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As soon as she arrived, Dominque and her son Troy first went to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and placed a picture of trooper Pelletier and a state police patch in his memory.

Connecticut officers, loved ones bike 300 miles to D.C. for National Police Week. Connecticut officers, loved ones bike 300 miles to D.C. for National Police Week.

Will Garten, brother of fallen Hartford police officer Bobby Garten, also joined the bike tour.

The Unity Tour is part of National Police Week in the nations capitol.

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.
Beneath and beyond the Trumpian populist surge that captured the White House and Congress in 2024, American conservative thinking is taking some confusing turns. Some conservatives are sidelining their familiar dogmas about free trade, small government and the free market and moving instead to use the formerly dreaded "administrative state" to impose "order" and virtue on Silicon Valley technocratic elites, "radical lunatics" and other enemies within.

Even Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency aren't really destroying the administrative state but rather reconfiguring it as a leaner, meaner tool for a dictator. This can only be confounding to old-line anti-government crusaders such as Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, who said years ago, to widespread conservative acclaim, "I don't want to abolish government. I want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."

Such libertarian-sounding pronouncements may seem bizarre to non-Americans who've lived with authoritarian state capitalism for decades, as in Singapore and China. But now Trumpian populism seems to be edging closer to a statist (and Catholic-tinged, for some of its champions) common good constitutionalism, as favored by Harvard Law professor Adrian Vermeule, or to an old-school Ivy League "good shepherd" administration of the republic.

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But the Roman Catholic church itself is changing, and new Pope Leo XIV may seek to push American followers away from the ethno-nationalist welfare-state politics pioneered by Otto von Bismarck in the late 19th century, and then adapted by a well-known German political party under the label of "national socialism."

Americas conservative sea change is complicated, but let me try to make it comprehensible. I explained some of this for the History News Network in 2022, when a Republican "red wave" seemed poised to win that year's midterm elections. It didnt quite happen that way, but, since Trumps return to power in 2024, that wave has been coming down hard upon all of us. People everywhere who need to deal with America as trading partners, visitors, immigrants or refugees need to know what they're getting into.

We Need to Stop Calling Ourselves Conservatives, warns John Daniel Davidson, an editor of the Federalist, a conservative publication (not affiliated with the right-wing Federalist Society). Davidson praises an argument by Jon Askonas, a professor of politics at the Catholic University of America, who writes at Compact, another rightward site, that the conservative project failed because it didnt take into account the revolutionary principle of technology, and its intrinsic connection to the telos [or over-determined trajectory], of sheer profit.

Davidson and Askonas want a conservative counterrevolution against a corporate technocracy whose fixation on maximizing profit has trapped Americans in a spiderweb of come-ons that grope, goose, track and indebt us, bypassing our brains and hearts on the way to our lower viscera and wallets. But are they truly rejecting free market conservatism, or is this just a tactical shift in their strategy to support the scramble for sheer profit and accumulated wealth, glossed over with religious rhetoric?

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Davidson, Askonas and their ilk have been warning that conservatives undermine their own republican virtues and freedoms by conceding too much to woke liberal efforts to redress income inequality, sexual and racial grievances, and markets amoral reshaping of society. They warn that not only liberals but also libertarians and free-market conservatives have disfigured civic and institutional order.

Once upon a time, Davidson explains, "conservatism was about maintaining traditions and preserving Western civilization as a living and vibrant thing. Well, too late. Western civilization is dying. The traditions and practices that conservatives champion do not form the basis of our common culture or civic life, as they did for most of our nations history.

In this reading, conservatives must seize power to restore moral and social order, even if that requires using big government to break monopolies and redistribute income a bit to some of the Americans theyve claimed to champion while feeding the plutocracies that leave them behind. Davidson and Askonas blame fellow conservatives for buying into woke corporate capitals intrusive, subversive technologies, which treat citizens as impulse-buyers whose consumer sovereignty suffocates deliberative, political sovereignty.

Yet profit-crazed conservative media, like Fox News and the rest of Rupert Murdochs empire, assemble audiences on any pretext  sensationalistic, erotic, bigoted, nihilistic  in order to keep us watching the ads and buying whatever theyre pitching. Even worse, conservative jurisprudence has declared that corporations that accelerate such manipulative marketing are merely exercising the First Amendment-protected speech of self-governing citizens. That hands the loudest and largest megaphones to CEOs and their PR flacks and leaves actual citizens with laryngitis from straining to be heard above the profit-making din.

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Conservatives can't reconcile their claim to cherish traditional communal and family values with their knee-jerk obeisance to conglomerate marketing and private-equity financing. They've forgotten former Communist-turned-conservative prophet Whittaker Chambers' warning that "You can't build a clear conservatism out of capitalism, because capitalism disrupts culture," as Sam Tanenhaus, a biographer of Chambers, put it in a lecture to the American Enterprise Institute in 2007.

Neoliberal Democrats often serve such conservatives as convenient scapegoats because they, too, stop short of challenging capitalisms relentless dissolution of civic-republican virtue. They celebrate breaking corporations and public agencies glass ceilings to install the first Black, female or gay chairman, but do nothing to reconfigure those institutions' foundations and walls. Former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg urged women to lean in against sexism in workplaces, but Donald Trump mocks such appeals by installing dubious leaners-in such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

Neoliberal Dems whove broken glass ceilings have also repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, a key New Deal law of the 1930s that blocked socially and economically destructive rampages by predatory investment banks, private equity barons and hedge fund operators against millions of Americans equity and opportunities.

And conservatives, instead of offering viable alternatives to liberals' failures, have devoted themselves almost exclusively to assailing wokeness and diversity protocols, offering no constructive agendas beyond Trumps whims.

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Some conservatives who've embraced Trumps demagoguery, only to find themselves soulless, have turned to religion for cover and perhaps succor, if not salvation. But the religious faithful should scourge them, as Jesus did when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple.

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, along with others who embrace religious doctrines to curb the telos of sheer profit in a fallen world, may well discover that if religion tries to seize political power, as some of Trumps crusaders long to do, it becomes intolerant and intolerable. Genuine religious faith is often indispensable to resisting concentrations of unjust power in a republic, as it was in America's civil rights movement. But when it overreaches, it undercuts what it claims to encourage. Striking that balance requires a different kind of faith and sound judgment that Bible-thumping Trump loyalists lack.

Today's conservative convolutions are sometimes pathetic enough to make me almost sympathize with religious escapism. But none of that justifies Davidsons claim that "if conservatives want to save the country, they are going to have to rebuild and in a sense re-found it, and that means getting used to the idea of wielding power, not despising it." He continues, "The left will only stop when conservatives stop them," so "conservatives will have to discard outdated and irrelevant notions about 'small government.'"

Davidson concedes that those who worry that power corrupts and that once the right seizes power it too will be corrupted  have a point. But when in history have conservatives shied away from wielding power, except when embarrassed or forced into relinquishing it by the civil disobedience of a Rosa Parks or by well-grounded progressive strikes, activist movements and electoral organizing?

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If conservatives really wanted to use power virtuously, theyd do more to enable American working people to resist the telos of sheer profit thats stressing them out and displacing their anger and humiliation onto scapegoats thanks to the ministrations of Trump and Fox News. How about adopting Davidsons proposal that government offer generous subsidies to families of young children  a heresy to small-government conservatives? How about banishing vicious demagoguery from their midst, as they pretend to do by opposing antisemitism? How about disassociating themselves from The Claremont Institute, the hard-right think tank devoted to creating intellectual rationalizations for Trumps 2021 coup attempt and the imperial presidency?

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Davidson even proposes that to stop Big Tech will require using antitrust powers to break up the largest Silicon Valley firms and that to stop universities from spreading poisonous ideologies will require legislatures to starve them of public funds. (That part certainly sounds familiar right now.) Conservatives, he argues, need not shy away from [big-government policies] because they betray some cherished libertarian fantasy about free markets and small government. It is time to clear our minds of cant.

Conservatives need to look more carefully into the Pandoras box that theyre opening. Those who crave a more-godly relation to power should ponder a warning from John Winthrop, first governor of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, in "A Modell of Christian Charity": "It is a true rule, that particular estates cannot subsist in the ruin of the public. They certainly cant subsist defensibly in a society thats being disintegrated by capitalism. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates, and men decay, warned the Anglo-Irish poet and novelist Oliver Goldsmith in 1777. Admonitions like his and Winthrops made sense to conservatives such as Whittaker Chambers in the 1950s. Conservatives are now flouting them at their, and our, peril.
Where an empty sidewalk once was, a barbershop has emerged. The line grows four deep, the patrons whiling away the time with a dice game on the pavement. Not far away, a woman sells plastic cups of cut mango with lime and Tajin, and around the corner a 2Pac-serenaded barbecue is getting underway. A block over, in Little Havana, a bata drums performance draws a crowd.

This is Skid Row, Los Angeles, one of the largest and most maligned unhoused communities in a nation full of them.

If you rely on the many dark documentaries or the majority of published photos and articles covering Skid Row, you could be forgiven for seeing it exclusively as a place of desperate poverty, untreated mental health conditions, drug use and perpetual crisis. That picture is an inseparable aspect of Skid Row, to be sure, but its not the only way to understand where I live.

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What news watchers might find hard to believe is impossible to ignore if you spend time here: Skid Row is a genuine community. The 50-some blocks east and south of the city center make up one of the most vibrant, social, diverse, interesting and preserved neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles.

Read more: Can L.A. stop homelessness before it starts? An experimental program wants to find out

In recent decades gentrification has overwhelmingly changed the look and the demographics of swaths of Los Angeles, but Skid Row is still dominated by the low-income and working-class populations that have inhabited it for more than a century.

This long, relatively uninterrupted history has bred creativity, ingenuity and local problem-solving. Art flourishes in Skid Row, manifested in painted murals, drawn portraits and sculptures made from found items. Apart from the factories that call Skid Row home, most of the shops and services target unhoused and marginally housed folks, while informal, street-level businesses  cutting and braiding hair; selling prepared foods, clothing, cigarettes, beer and other everyday items; repairing bikes and vehicles  are run by the unhoused and marginally housed themselves.

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The congregation of social service agencies and single-room occupancy housing in Skid Row is here by design  part of a containment policy instituted by Los Angeles in the 1970s. The wisdom and motives of that policy can be endlessly debated and critiqued; nevertheless, it undoubtedly contributed to the continuity of Skid Row as a neighborhood.

Its a patchwork scene  Black, Mexican, Cuban, artist and hustle cultures are deeply established, with large numbers of migrant families from Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador adding a new dynamic. In the last year or so, Skid Rows Towne Avenue on a Saturday might as well be Bogota or Caracas, filled with the smell of frying arepas and the bouncy, gleeful sounds of cumbia music.

Read more: Measure A oversight panels set five-year goals with metrics to evaluate their success

On the street, where people shelter without walls, community is built. My neighbors, who come from vastly different personal and experiential backgrounds, dont just coexist, they rely on each other for logistical and emotional support, and  in a city with a dearth of public spaces, where isolation is an increasing problem  actually socialize.

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Skid Row, unlike a lot of L.A., is a place where people convene organically. Sometimes that happens in planned get-togethers or meetings but more often casually and spontaneously, amid daily tasks and errands, in the kind of happenstance interactions that have formed the fabric of human societies for thousands of years.

In our community, people spend less time in cars and on screens, which means more time on foot, face-to-face, fully present in their surroundings. Neighbors prepare hot Cup O Noodles soup for each other when they are sick, and in the case of the families on Towne Avenue, watch each others kids. During sanitation sweeps, younger, able-bodied community members help the elderly and mobility-challenged move their tents and belongings. Ive seen folks give the literal shirt off their back to someone in need.

Read more: New taxes will soon dwarf the billions spent on homelessness in last decade. Who's watching over it?

When I first arrived in Skid Row five years ago, my neighbor "RePete, now passed, would of his own volition watch my van at night to ensure I was safe while I slept. Ive stepped between friends and conflict, and had others do the same with me. Indeed, the experiences you have with people here are often searing. Death happens too often. Everyone knows that at some point, theyll need someone to have their back. And in a community undergirded by trauma and hard times, we may be better at seeing others humanity, beyond their character flaws and past mistakes.

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Perhaps that explains why many long-time Skid Row residents who obtain interim housing also maintain a tent on the street. Its where they hang out. Its where their friends are, where they feel genuinely welcome, cared for.

Its also not uncommon for folks to leave their interim housing placements and return to the streets full time. They find that a hotel or transitional facility bed is too lonely, too disconnected. The network theyve leaned on for navigating difficulties and celebrating successes is suddenly too far away, practically inaccessible.

Read more: Hundreds of children live on Skid Row. Can L.A. do more for them?

This concept of Skid Row  as an active community and network of care  is largely absent from policy-making discussions about resolving homelessness in Los Angeles. In fact, for those who want to eradicate Skid Row and sweep the city clean of tents, its an altogether inconvenient idea.

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Of course, Skid Row is a complex place. It would be unwise to romanticize it or disregard its dangers. Nonetheless, if we are to meaningfully and effectively address the unhoused population of Los Angeles, the authenticity and staying power of the neighborhood should not be ignored but rather protected.

For all that it lacks, Skid Row is heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. It gets some things right that other neighborhoods seem to have forgotten. We would be smart to try to learn from those facets rather than stifle them.

Amelia Rayno is co-executive director of Blue Hollywood Street Sanctuary , an outdoor, sidewalk-based community resource center. She lives in her van in Skid Row.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Converting a luxury jet gifted by Qatar to President Donald Trump into a replacement for Air Force One could potentially cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and it could take up two years to install the necessary security equipment, communications and defensive capabilities for it to be safely used by the commander in chief, current and former officials told CNN.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said Tuesday that the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems. Across the aisle, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said accepting it would pose immense counterintelligence risks by granting a foreign nation potential access to sensitive systems and communications.

Trump exclaimed in a social media post on Sunday that the Defense Department would be receiving a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily. The move would raise numerous ethics questions given the value of the jet, but it also raises serious questions about the security of an aircraft that could be used by the president to ensure continuity of government in an emergency situation.

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It has been estimated the jet is worth $400 million, but a person a person familiar with the details of the potential plan said the value of the Qatari aircraft is closer to $250 million. Overhauling it, according to administration estimates the person has been briefed on, could cost as much as three times that, or more.

Even if used temporarily as Trump has said he would, US agencies would need to ensure there were no security vulnerabilities by essentially stripping the aircraft down to its frame and rebuilding it with the necessary communications and security equipment.

You would want to check the airplane out completely  strip it down, check for bugs, things like that, harden it to make sure nobody could hijack the electronics on the airplane  The ability for the president to command and control his military in the worst days, that takes a lot, a retired senior military official familiar with Air Force One told CNN.

That process could take anywhere from several months to two years, the retired senior military official told CNN. Another official familiar with the situation voiced concerns that the White House is not entirely aware of how much work would have to be done on the jet, which will involve multiple intelligence agencies.

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Upgrading the Qatari jet would likely not exceed what has already been spent on the long-delayed Air Force One upgrade program, but Trump has made clear accepting the Qatari jet would only be a temporary solution.

Boeing has a $3.9 billion contract to replace the two Air Force One jets, but it already reported losses totaling $2.5 billion since it agreed to be responsible for what has become soaring cost overruns.

Last week, CNN reported that Boeings jets might be delivered by 2027 in time for Trump to use them, according to a top Air Force official.

A Secret Service official familiar with the situation told CNN that the two 747-800s ordered from Boeing were already built when they were ordered.

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While the Air Force would largely oversee the stripping of the Qatari aircraft and rebuilding it to meet security requirements the project would also involve a slew of government agencies, including the Secret Service, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency , and White House Communications Agency.

I dont see how you do this with an acceptable level of risk in a reasonable amount of time, if you can do it at all, a former senior counterintelligence official said.

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One upon departure at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on April 27, 2025. Trump is returning to Washington, DC, from his residence in Bedminster, New Jersey, after traveling to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. - Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

The work required to get the luxury jet up to snuff is largely dependent on what requirements Trump would approve. But if the intention is to have the jet function as Air Force One does now, it would need to be retrofitted with a number of capabilities, including highly secure communication systems allowing the president to access intelligence and communicate with the military, necessary defensive systems, and the ability to shield against an electromagnetic pulse.

A conventional 747 aircraft does not have the ability to refuel mid-air, which would be necessary if Trump wants to be able to remain airborne for a substantial amount of time  a crucial capability in the event of a nuclear attack, for example.

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This is the central point of the US nuclear command and control network to ensure that we have second strike capability  If there were nuclear strikes and you cant land, or if you land you might be vulnerable because youll be seen by satellites, staying up in the air could be the safer option, said Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).

The potential transfer from Qatars Ministry of Defense to the US Defense Department has also resulted in an active legal back and forth including the Department of Justice and Qatari lawyers working through the thorny legal questions.

Concerns about the security of the aircraft aside, it remains unclear when the jet would be handed over to the US or to what extent it will be used. The Secret Service official told CNN they highly doubt the administration takes the jet. Qatars media attache to the US, Ali Al-Ansari said Sunday that the possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is under consideration.

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The "Love at First Click" episode of ABC News' "20/20" limited true crime series "Bad Romance," airing May 13 at 10 p.m. and streaming the next day on Hulu, features a case previously covered in a 2022 episode of "20/20."

When Bruce Miller was found fatally shot at his Michigan salvage yard in November 1999, it was Jerry Cassaday who pulled the trigger.

But the one pulling the strings on Cassaday was his online girlfriend and the self-professed woman of his dreams, the woman who had convinced him to travel 800 miles to kill a man he thought was an abusive husband: Sharee Miller.

PHOTO: Bruce and Sharee Miller pictured in Las Vegas. (Genesee County Sheriff's Office)

A few months later, Cassaday would die by suicide, an event that would unravel the web of lies Miller created online. Miller said her relationships with men on the internet were like a "game" to her.

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"It was like a video game and each man and each relationship was another level to me and each level was harder," Miller told "20/20" in November 2021. "It was seeing how much I could get away with, how much I could make somebody believe."

MORE: How a Texas woman was slain a week before her wedding

Sharee Miller was convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection to her husband's death in 2000. In her first television interview from prison, Miller told ABCs Juju Chang that she's ready to explain why she did it.

"If I could just say it was so I could get money it wouldn't sound as bad as it really was," said Miller. "Bruce was so close to knowing who I really was, what was really inside of me."

PHOTO: Jerry Cassaday pictured at an unknown date. (Charlene Cassaday)

Miller, who was then a mother of three in her 20s, met Bruce Miller while working at his scrapyard in Flint, Michigan. Four months later, on April 23, 1999, they eloped to a Las Vegas wedding chapel.

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During her marriage to Bruce Miller, Sharee Miller said she regularly talked to men on AOL chat rooms.

"I didn't get up from in front of that computer," Sharee Miller said. "Bruce worked at the shop and he had his business. So he was gone a lot."

In these chat rooms, she met Cassaday, a former homicide detective, who then worked at a casino in Reno, Nevada.

"I spent hours upon hours online. It's sex. I wanted to be in control of everything, obsessively in control of that man," said Miller.

MORE: How a postmark, a phone call and some receipts brought down a murderer

PHOTO: Evidence photo of Sharee Miller's computer set-up in Flint, Michigan. (Genesee County Sheriff's Office)

At the time, Cassaday was in the midst of a divorce and was having deep financial problems, according to Detective Kevin Shanlian, who investigated the case at the time.

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Miller and Cassaday's online relationship soon turned physical and she traveled multiple times to meet him. Cassaday began to fall for Sharee Miller and he reportedly told his mother that she was the "woman of [his] dreams."

However, Miller began to fabricate stories, and told Cassaday that her husband was involved in the mafia and was abusive. She also claimed that she was pregnant with Cassaday's child and sent him pictures, including positive pregnancy tests and photos of her stomach.

"I just pushed my belly out. Jerry wanted to believe so bad that I believed that he'd see the pregnancy even though it wasn't there," said Miller.

Later, she would tell Cassaday that her husband, Bruce Miller, had found out about her pregnancy and beat her, causing her to lose the baby.

PHOTO: A photo of Sharee Miller pushing out her stomach that was sent to Jerry Cassaday. (Genesee County Sheriff's Department )

"I think I wrote him in a chat. I didn't tell him on the phone. He was devastated," said Miller, who said she used makeup to send Cassaday a photo of her "bruised" stomach.

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Not even a few months later, Miller told Cassaday that she was pregnant again, but this time with twins. Soon after the news, Cassaday received an email, purportedly from Bruce Miller, saying that he forced his wife to abort the twins.

That drove Cassaday to a breaking point.

"His babies, not only one but then two twins, had been killed by Bruce Miller. And that just enraged him -- as it would any man," said Shanlian.

PHOTO: Jerry Cassaday pictured at an unknown date. (Charlene Cassaday)

Sharee Miller and Cassaday hatched a plan to kill her husband, she said. Cassaday would travel to Michigan and shoot Bruce Miller while he was at work at the salvage yard he owned.

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"It was almost like a movie, that we were just playing a game," said Miller. "But after I met [Jerry] at the truck stop ... I knew this was going to happen."

At that rest area, Sharee Miller handed Cassaday her cellphone and gave him final instructions for the murder.

On Nov. 8, 1999, Bruce Miller was shot in the neck and upper back in the office of his scrapyard.

"Afterwards ... he called my landline and let it ring once and hung up. ... That was his signal to tell me he was on his way back to Kansas City," Sharee Miller said.

PHOTO: John Hutchinson interviewed by '20/20' in 2021. (ABC)

At the time, police believed John Hutchinson, who had worked for Bruce Miller and had recently borrowed $2,000, to be the main suspect in the case.

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"I remember, like, me saying that John owed Bruce money, which he did, and that they had been arguing about it," Sharee Miller said.

Police interrogated Hutchinson and also confronted him with their suspicion that he might be involved in a scheme to overcharge customers at Bruce Millers lot. Authorities suspected that this was a substantial enough motive for murder.

Hutchinson adamantly denied killing Bruce Miller and being involved in a scheme.

MORE: Beloved teacher's murder uncovers lies, an illicit affair and a secret pregnancy

After the murder, Sharee Miller began to give Cassaday the cold shoulder and started to date other men. Cassaday began to question their relationship and Sharee Miller's intentions.

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Eight hundred miles away, in Odessa, Missouri, Cassaday died by suicide on Feb. 11, 2000.

Under his bed, family members discovered a black briefcase that contained a letter that explained that he had finally realized that Sharee Miller had been lying to him about Bruce Miller's alleged behavior.

The briefcase also contained records of airline flights, hotel rooms, emails and chat messages between Cassaday and Sharee Miller that seemed to implicate her in the murder of Bruce Miller. The evidence was then turned over to the Genesee County Sheriff's Department. There was enough evidence to implicate Sharee Miller and she was arrested.

PHOTO: Sharee Miller pictured at an unknown date. (Genesee County Sheriff's Office)

"I felt like I could talk my way out of anything," Sharee Miller said. "I still in my head felt like there's no way they're not going to believe me."

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Miller claimed that the emails found in Cassaday's briefcase were forged, but the circumstantial evidence mounted against her. She was charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

MORE: Bride murdered 2 days before wedding reveals groom's secret double life

Miller went on trial In 2000. Her defense used an expert witness to testify that it was possible to fake an email, but later the testimony crumbled under cross-examination because the expert could not explain how exactly Cassaday forged Sharee Miller's emails.

"She used manipulation to get everything from a free lunch to someone to commit murder for her," said Shanlian.

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The jury deliberated for two days and delivered a guilty verdict on all charges. Miller was sentenced to life in prison. Miller said the weight of the situation hit her after the jury's verdict.

"It's over. People really know what I am, what I did, I'm going to prison," said Miller.

PHOTO: Sharee Miller pictured when she was younger. (Genesee County Sheriff's Office)

Miller was granted an automatic appeal and nine years after her sentence an appellate judge determined that Cassaday's suicide note shouldn't have been used as evidence during the trial.

The judge ruled that Miller should be retried. Miller was free to post bond and leave prison.

"It was so much easier lying about it to myself," said Miller. "It's so much easier to look at yourself when you don't have to look at yourself with the truth."Prosecutors fought for three years to get Miller's conviction reinstated. The hard work paid off when a court ruled that Cassaday's suicide note was, in fact, admissible in court and that Miller would not be retried.

Miller was ordered back to prison.

MORE: Lottery winner's convicted killer speaks out from behind bars

Instead of filing another appeal, Miller said she was done lying. She sent a letter to the prosecutors confessing her guilt. She said in the letter that she didn't want the Miller family and the Cassaday family to suffer anymore.

"There's no way for me to change or undo what I did. It's forever, and I can't take it back," said Miller. "I don't feel that I deserve to live life and be happy when [Bruce and Jerry] don't get that chance."

Miller said she has chosen to publicly come forward with her story in an effort to find peace with herself.

"I still have a really hard time looking in the mirror knowing what I did," said Miller. "I waited to tell the truth until I get nothing from it, but, hopefully, a sense of peace."

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 [TALK] for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Convicted killer Sharee Miller admits to planning husband's murder with online lover originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  17 News has confirmed the identities of the two victims killed in a Saturday shootout in Arvin.

Jesus Amezcua Martinez, 19, and Alexander Gonsalez, 18, died as a result of gunshot wounds, the Kern County Coroners Office told 17 News Monday afternoon.

Gonsalez was set to graduate from Nueva High School in just two weeks. Martinez graduated from Arvin High School last year.

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Now, all that remains of the scene are memorials for the victims.

2 dead, at least 2 hurt in Arvin shooting Saturday morning

17 News also sat down with Arvin Police Chief Alex Ghazalpour to discuss new details of that early morning gun battle.

He said one juvenile was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are determining if another injured person was involved in the deadly exchange.

Theres still no suspect in the case.

Ghazalpour noted there were well over 15 shots fired and that investigators are still assessing how many homes were hit.

He said around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, there were several 911 calls for shots fired in the 100 block of Bautista Street.

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He said the shootout potentially involved handguns and/or rifles. From the number of beer cans in the area, there was likely a party or parties going on, according to Ghazalpour.

Immediate family members of the victims were on scene in their respective homes, the chief added.

This, this crime here? Absolutely preventable, absolutely heinous in nature. One of the worst things that could occur to a person and to a human being, Ghazalpour told 17 News Monday morning.

Who was shooting at each other, if they were shooting at each other, if there was another source that was shooting at them, that I cant comment on because that is a part of the investigation, Ghazalpour said.

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For the time being, there will be extra security in the impacted neighborhood, according to Ghazalpour.

He also said hell hold a press conference with full transparency once more details are confirmed.

A GoFundMe has been set up by a relative of one of the victims.

The Arvin Police Department is asking for any and all information on this case. You can call 661-606-6064 or visit their 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 KGET 17 News.
SOUTHINGTON, Ohio (WKBN)  The Trumbull County Coroners office has confirmed unidentified remains were discovered in Southington Tuesday.

Read next: Police arrest local restaurant owner again

According to information from the Trumbull County Sheriff and the Coroners office, both agencies are investigating the discovery of a deceased person in a garage located in the 4400 block of Herner County Line Road NW in Southington.

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The body was discovered about 10 a.m., and preliminary assessments suggest that the person may have been in the garage for an extended period.

Identification and the cause of death are pending autopsy results from the Trumbull County Coroners Office.

WKBN 27 First News obtained a copy of the 911 call where a man told dispatchers he thought he had found a relative whod been missing since earlier this year.

Trumbull County Coroner Lawrence DAmico said an autopsy has been scheduled for Friday.

Patty Coller 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.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, will host an open house Tuesday, May 20, to provide an update on the ecosystem restoration project planned for the Sabula Lakes area of the Mississippi River, according to a news release.

The event will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League, 60190 US-52 in Sabula, Iowa.

The Sabula Lakes, nestled in Pool 13 of the Mississippi River, have seen significant habitat degradation over time, resulting in diminished aquatic diversity and shallow depths. The project, which is part of the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program, aims to revitalize these lakes, enhancing water quality and fostering more diverse habitats that are critical to river-dependent species.

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During the open house, a team of subject matter experts will provide an overview of potential project features. After the presentation, representatives will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback from the community.

For more information, visit here, contact the USACE Rock Island District at 309-794-4200 or email cemvr-cc@usace.army.mil.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
MPs have backed legalising assisted dying in England and Wales, by a margin of 23 votes.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill now needs to be considered by the House of Lords before it can become law.

In Scotland, a separate assisted dying bill has received the initial backing of MSPs and is being considered in more detail.

What is the proposed law on assisted dying in England and Wales?

The bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would allow terminally ill people to end their life if they:

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are over 18, live in England or Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months

have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure

are expected to die within six months

make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die

satisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible - with at least seven days between each assessment

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater says too many people "have a horrible, harrowing death" under the current system [PA Media]

Once an application has been approved, the patient would have to wait 14 days before proceeding.

A doctor would prepare the substance being used to end the patient's life, but the person would take it themselves.

The bill defines the co-ordinating doctor as a registered medical practitioner with "training, qualifications and experience" at a level to be specified by the health secretary. It does not say which drug would be used.

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It would be illegal to coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, with a possible 14-year prison sentence.

How have the proposals changed?

The proposed legislation was first backed by MPs in a vote in November 2024, clearing the way for months of debate and scrutiny.

A committee of 23 MPs - 14 supporters and nine opponents - has examined the proposed legislation. It held public hearings and took evidence from experts.

Under the original proposals, a High Court judge would have had to approve each request to end a life.

However, the committee accepted Leadbeater's suggestion that a three-person panel including a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist and a social worker should oversee applications instead.

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Other changes include:

doubling the maximum time between the bill being passed and the law coming into effect from two years to four

clarifying that doctors must set out palliative care options during initial discussions

confirming that all health workers will be able to opt out of the assisted dying process

establishing that health professionals will not be able to initiate conversations with under-18s about assisted dying

making clear that nobody would count as terminally ill if they have voluntarily stopped eating or drinking

introducing a ban on advertising assisted dying services

ensuring assisted deaths will not be automatically referred to a coroner

the government must publish a review of palliative care services within a year of the law's start

MPs have had free votes on the proposals, which meant they could decide whether or not to support the bill and did not have to follow a party line.

On Friday 20 June, 314 MPs voted in favour and 291 against - a majority of 23.

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How might the law change in Scotland?

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur with campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament [PA Media]

The assisted dying bill being considered in the Scottish Parliament says applicants would have to:

be resident in Scotland for at least 12 months

be registered with a GP in Scotland

be terminally ill

have the mental capacity to make the request

Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who drafted the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, said he will raise the proposed minimum age from 16 to 18.

On 13 May, MSPs backed the "stage one vote" on the bill's general principles by 70 votes to 56, with one abstention.

MSPs can now propose major amendments, ahead of a vote on the final draft.

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That process is expected to take several months.

Who opposes assisted dying?

Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson is a vocal critic.

She is worried that disabled and other vulnerable people could be put under pressure to end their lives - and that doctors may struggle to make accurate six-month diagnoses.

Baroness Grey-Thompson (C) is a long-standing critic of legalising assisted dying [EPA]

Actor and disability-rights activist Liz Carr, who made the BBC One documentary Better Off Dead?, also opposes the legislation.

"Some of us have very real fears based on our lived experience and based on what has happened in other countries where it's legal," she wrote on X.

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Dr Gordon Macdonald, from campaign group Care Not Killing, said the bill ignores the wider "deep-seated problems in the UK's broken and patchy palliative care system".

Talking about the Scottish bill, Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy - the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood - said it could become "easier to access help to die than help to live".

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, and the Royal College of Nursing are neutral on the issue.

Why do supporters want assisted dying legalised?

Leadbeater argues that some people "have a horrible, harrowing death", however good their end-of-life care is.

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The Dignity in Dying campaign group said her bill provides the "most detailed, robust proposals" on the issue that "Westminster has ever considered".

Chief executive Sarah Wootton said that the fact that every year "up to 650 terminally ill people end their own lives, often in lonely and traumatic ways," proves the need for reform.

Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung cancer, has joined Dignitas in Switzerland [PA Media]

Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage-four lung cancer, is another long-standing campaigner for change. "All I'm asking for is that we be given the dignity of choice," she said.

How might the law change in the Isle of Man and Jersey?

The Isle of Man and Jersey are both part of the British Isles but set their own laws.

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The Isle of Man passed its Assisted Dying Bill in March 2025, and the new system could be in place by 2027.

Jersey's politicians approved plans to allow assisted dying for those facing "unbearable suffering" in May 2024.

The final legislation is being written. If approved, new rules could take effect from summer 2027.

What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?

There is some debate over exactly what the terms mean.

However, assisted dying generally refers to a person who is terminally ill receiving lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves.

Assisted suicide is intentionally helping another person to end their life, including someone who is not terminally ill. That could involve providing lethal medication or helping them travel to another jurisdiction to die.

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Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering in which a lethal drug is administered by a physician. Patients may not be terminally ill.

There are two types: voluntary euthanasia, where a patient consents; and non-voluntary, where they cannot because, for example, they are in a coma.

Where is euthanasia or assisted dying legal around the world?

Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since 1942. Its Dignitas facility accepts foreign patients and between 1998 and 2023 it helped 571 Britons to die.

Assisted suicide is also legal in Austria.

In the US, 10 states allow "physician-assisted dying" where doctors can prescribe lethal drugs for self-administration.

In Canada, voluntary euthanasia or "medical assistance in dying" can be provided by a doctor or nurse practitioner, either in person or through the prescription of drugs for self-administration.

Voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide are also legal in Spain and Colombia.

Assisted dying is legal in some parts of Australia - though the law differs across states - and in New Zealand.

The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg let people who are not terminally ill receive assistance to die.

In May 2025, MPs in France backed a bill which would give some people in the last stages of a terminal illness the right to assisted dying. Supporters hope it will become law by 2027.

Update 3 January 2025: This piece has been updated to give further detail on the definition of a co-ordinating doctor.
May 12Maine lawmakers are considering whether to pay for a statewide system to track sexual assault kits after a previous effort came close but failed last year.

Proponents fear hundreds of kits throughout Maine are being overlooked and that a majority have never been tested and will never lead to arrests or convictions. But it will cost millions of dollars to identify and test all of them  and the proposal has returned to lawmakers during an even more competitive year for the state budget.

Ever since a bill to pay for a statewide system died at adjournment in the last session, momentum has only grown. Both Kennebec and Penobscot counties have launched their own tracking systems using federal funds. Cumberland County received a $2.5 million grant in December to send an estimated 500 untested kits to an out-of-state lab.

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But the grant that helped Kennebec and Penobscot counties is about to dry up. If the state doesn't step in now, that work "might not move forward to anything," said Melissa Martin, policy director for the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

"This is really the point where I think the state needs to step in," Martin said at a hearing for the bill Monday.

The Legislature's Judiciary Committee is considering two bills this year, both of which call on the Maine Department of Public Safety to create a statewide tracking system for all of the state's sexual assault kits that would allow victims to receive updates on the status of their kits.

Both bills would also require the department to compile an inventory of all its backlogged and shelved cases, and to share a report on its progress with lawmakers by January 2027.

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"We have no idea  we truly just don't know  how many kits are in storage," said Keri Kapoldo, who coordinates the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program for St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor.

"We just can't fix something we can't see," Kapoldo said.

In March, the committee voted "ought to pass" on LD 549, a proposal introduced by Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford. The bill would cost about $1.1 million over the next two years, about one-third of which would be covered by the state Highway Fund.

Bennett said in February that Maine is drastically behind other states when it comes to tracking and testing its rape kits. A majority of kits collected from hospitals never get tested, he said.

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"But victims don't know this," Bennett said. "They expect that after they go through the traumatic experience of reliving an event, it will help lead to justice. ... It should be a dark mark of shame that this is so far from the truth."

LD 1816, which had its public hearing Monday, is slightly different because it wouldn't mandate that kits be sent to law enforcement agencies, according to its sponsor, Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland. Whether kits are tested would be up to the person who has been sexually assaulted. Not everyone wants to move forward with an investigation or seek prosecution.

"We want to leave room for the victim, whose trauma created the kit," said Duson during the hearing.

Both proposals are bipartisan; Bennett is also a co-sponsor on Duson's bill. He said Monday afternoon that his biggest priority is establishing a statewide tracking system.

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"These other questions are moot if we don't get the tracking and inventory part going," he said in a phone interview.

Advocates for sexual assault victims said Monday said that they support this too, although some said during Monday's hearing they preferred legislation that would allow victims the choice to opt out from sharing their kits' results.

Kapoldo said that in 2024, roughly two-thirds of the 70 people who completed exams agreed to share their results with law enforcement.

About half of those people were ready to share evidence at the time of their exams. Others wanted to wait.

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"These numbers tell a powerful story," Kapoldo said. "Survivors are seeking the care but they're not always ready to engage in the judicial system or the criminal justice system."

A similar bill last year, LD 2129, would have cost roughly $350,000 in its first year, a little less than a third of which would have come from the state's Highway Fund.

Maine State Police Crime Lab Director Mike Zabarsky said in February that he was concerned by provisions in LD 549 that would require his staff to test all completed kits starting in 2027. (The same provisions are included in LD 1816.) He questioned whether the lab would have the capacity to take on this extra work, given its limited resources.

"Without more data from the pilot project, I cannot tell you whether the lab will be swamped with untested kits," Zabarsky testified. "What I can tell you is that the lab has a backlog of kits today and any additional kits submitted to us will have a chilling effect on our ability to prioritize violent crimes against people and process kits in a timely manner without detrimentally impacting our goal to maximize throughput and achieve reasonable turnaround times."

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Supporters on Monday said the proposal under LD 1816 could cost less, because it only seeks to scale existing pilot programs in Kennebec and Penobscot counties to cover the whole state.

------

IF YOU or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, you can call 1-800-871-7741 for free and confidential help 24 hours a day.

TO LEARN more about sexual violence prevention and response in Maine, visit the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault website.

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May 13The Albert Lea City Council on Monday voted to support a grant application for funding for a new 60-unit apartment complex on the Blazing Star Landing.

City Manager Ian Rigg said the grant, for $180,000, would be through the Housing Infrastructure Program of Minnesota Housing and would go toward capital costs associated with eligible workforce housing development projects.

The city intends to apply for the funding on behalf of Tapestry Companies, which has proposed constructing the complex.

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Rigg said the grant program requires a commitment of 50% of the capital costs be covered by

sources other than grant proceeds and that the matching funds include non-state resources.

Eligible projects include construction of public roadways, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails, construction of publicly owned utilities and geotechnical and environmental testing and site preparation.

Background information provided by the city states qualified housing developments may be in any state of planning, pre-development or development.

Minnesota Housing in December announced $191 million for housing projects across the state, including the one in Albert Lea, which would build 60 new low- to moderate-income workforce housing apartments on the Blazing Star Landing, the former site of Farmland Foods that has sat unused for over 20 years since the plant burned down in 2001.

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The apartments are slated to be built south of the Kwik Trip that has been approved for the northeast corner of the property. In December, Minnesota Housing stated the total cost of the project was estimated at $24 million.

Rigg said the developer was still interested in moving forward with the project regardless of the outcome of the grant. Construction would start in 2026, and he said the city would find out about the grant in late fall or as late as December.

The grant application is due June 12.

In other action, the council:

Approved support for the Shell Rock River Watershed District's application for funding from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for the restoration of the channel between Fountain and Albert Lea lakes. The project would help reduce erosion, improve accessibility and build upon past funding.

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Authorized the Bayside Ski Club to rework the existing concrete pillows on the ski show site on Edgewater Bay and replace with sand to extend the landing area.

The site has been the club's show site for 54 years. The club practices at the site multiple days a week and also regularly hosts the Midwest Regional Ski Show Tournament as well as an Ironwood Springs national wheelchair camp on the lake.

The project as approved by the Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and now the council.

The ski club is funding the project, and Dulas Excavating is doing the work.

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Accepted bids and awarded the contract for paving the gravel parking lot behind the Freeborn National Bank building. It would also include a landscaped space along the north and west sides of the parking lot, which could potentially be used for electric vehicle chargers in the future.

The city received two bids for the project, with the low bid coming from Ulland Brothers for about $152,000.

The number of projected parking stalls is slated to increase with the project to 32 stalls.

Accepted bids and awarded the contract for the cured in place pipe rehabilitation project. It involves installing a cured in place pipe liner inside the existing sanitary sewer mains on St. Peter from Sheridan Street to Johnson Street, Pillsbury Avenue from Main Street to Johnson Street, Garfield Avenue from Main Street to Johnson Street and Garfield Avenue from Johnson Street to Sheridan Street.

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The contract was awarded to Municipal Pipe Tools Company LLC of Hudson, Iowa, for about $144,000.

The engineer's estimate was about $235,000.

Revised the city's municipal state aid street system to include Blake Avenue from East Main Street to Southeast Marshall Street. This will allow the city to use federal funding awarded through the 2029 State Transportation Improvement Program for a mill and overlay and construction of a shared user trail on the street.

The vote also approved adding Southeast Marshall Street, from Prospect Avenue to Blake Avenue, to the system. The council approved removing Madison Avenue from Commercial Street to Third Street, Pearl Street from Front Street to Broadway, Third Street from Broadway to Newton Avenue and College Street from Washington Avenue to Broadway.

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Accepted donations from the Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library for about $1,754 to go toward the library and Arcadian Bank $200 to go toward teen programming through the Recreation Department.

Approved a resolution to not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability as established in state statute.

Approved the first reading of a series of amendments to zoning ordinances.
A Scottish council could be forced into reversing its second home tax raid after a revolt from residents.

North Ayrshire Council is reviewing the impact of the policy on the island of Great Cumbrae after residents complained it would harm their economy, which is reliant on tourism.

The SNP-led authority imposed a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners last month, sparking an opposition movement among its 1,400 residents.

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The majority of Scottish authorities introduced similar charges after being given the power to do so in 2024.

More than 200 authorities in England also launched a second homes raid this year  something The Telegraph is campaigning against.

There are 450 second homes on Cumbrae, a small island situated one mile  or a 10-minute ferry  from the Scottish mainland. Its close proximity to the mainland makes it an attractive destination.

One in three properties on Cumbrae are a second home while around a quarter of residents work in tourism-related jobs.

An impact assessment found the council tax raid would strip 500,000 off the islands annual GDP of 12.9m.

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Cameron Inglis, the Conservative leader on North Ayrshire Council, said the reaction from residents had been fiery.

He told The Telegraph: We are asking second home owners to pay double, get nothing in return, so that we can balance our budget gap.

The whole thing has been pushed through so that supposedly rich people can plug a budget gap. The whole thing is a sham. Its smoke and mirrors.

Mr Inglis added that ringfencing 10pc of the additional revenue for affordable housing was the equivalent to 110,000, which would pay for the construction of approximately 20 houses a year, built using council money and government grants.

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He said: Thats not 20 houses for the island. Thats 20 houses across the whole county. Its a drop in the water when it comes to the number of houses we need.

Alex Harvie, chairman of the Cumbrae Community Council, said the premium would force second home owners to sell up, reduce income for the island and could start a spiral of decline as facilities fall into disrepair.

In an appeal to North Ayrshire Council to re-examine the impact on the island, he accused the authority of rushing through the policy before the completion of a three-month review period to allow it to respond to the initial impact assessment.

The councils initial impact assessment found concerns with the economic impact on Great Cumbrae and cast doubt as to whether it would benefit housing availability. It conceded the island may not lend itself or be suitable for permanent island living.

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A consultation, of which around 60pc of the respondents were not second home owners, also found widespread opposition to the policy. Only 38pc were in favour of the premium while 59pc were against.

North Ayrshire has now been forced to review its original impact assessment following the pressure applied by the community council.

A public consultation has been opened with the council accepting representations from residents, visitors and businesses until May 20.

A spokesman for North Ayrshire Council said: Like other councils across Scotland who have already adopted this measure, we hope to see real long-term benefits to the availability of housing for people in communities across North Ayrshire, and for homes to be occupied for longer periods of time throughout the year.

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The trial of Sean Diddy Combs is just getting started, but there is not going to be any redemption for the rapper, record producer, and record executive, even if he isnt convicted.

Diddy has pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment that could land him in prison for at least fifteen years if he is convicted of crimes that include sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

Diddys Own Defense Team Admits That He Had Violent Outbursts

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

On Monday, May 12, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson told a Manhattan jury that they were going to hear about 20 years of his crimes, in comments transcribed by The Hollywood Reporter. Some of those crimes included kidnapping, arson, drugs, bribery, obstruction, and sex crimes.

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Diddys own defense team, led by lawyer Teny Geragos, called Diddy a complicated man, and admitted that the case is about love, jealousy, infidelity, and money. He admitted that Diddys violent outbursts were often fueled by alcohol, jealousy, and drug use, and that may warrant domestic violence charges, but insisted that he did not engage in sex trafficking.

His Freak Offs Have Become The Face Of The Trial

Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

It is widely expected that a large portion of the trial will consist of his freak off parties, which involved drug-fueled sexual encounters. While Diddy claims that these sexual encounters were all consensual, the burden of the prosecution is to prove otherwise. Johnson alleged that Diddy often used violence to keep women in line by choking them, hitting them, kicking them, or dragging them by the hair.

The leaked footage of Diddy kicking his ex-girlfriend Cassie is largely expected to take center stage at the trial. Johnson told the jury on Monday that Diddy once kidnapped an employee at gunpoint to find her, and once he did, he beat her brutally, kicking her in the back and flinging her around like a rag doll.

A Sex Worker Allegedly Urinated In Cassies Mouth During A Freak Off

MEGA

During the opening statements, Johnson alleged that Combs told an escort to urinate in Cassies mouth, which made her feel like she was choking, according to People magazine. Cassie is going to testify under her own name, but Johnson warned jurors that her story was just the tip of the iceberg.

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A woman known only as Jane claims that she was beaten by Diddy last year after she confronted him about the freak offs. However, Geragos argued that it was a toxic and dysfunctional relationship and that Jane only consensually participated in the freak offs because she wanted to spend time with the music mogul.

Diddy Apologized For Assaulting Cassie

MEGA

In May 2024, Diddy posted an apology video two days after CNN published the executive hotel surveillance video, which took place in 2016.

My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, he said in a statement posted on Instagram. I was disgusted then when I did it. Im disgusted now.

I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. Im so sorry, he concluded. But Im committed to being a better man each and every day. Im not asking for forgiveness. Im truly sorry.

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He had previously denied Cassies assault allegations, but quickly settled a lawsuit she brought against him. The terms of that settlement have not been disclosed.

Who Will The Jury Believe?

P Diddy has put on a good 15 years in the last 15 weeks. How long do you think hell be locked up? pic.twitter.com/iWo2uhKhwJ  American Citizen  (@realtalkstruth) May 12, 2025

Although Diddy's attorney can claim that the violence towards Cassie was "mutual," nothing is going to bring back Diddy's reputation. During the trial, potential jurors were asked about celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Kanye West, and Kid Cudi. Although these celebrities may not be called to testify, it's hard to imagine that any celebrity is going to want to associate with him going forward.

Diddy also previously denied that he had assaulted Cassie until CNN published the footage from the hotel surveillance cameras. While the authenticity of that footage is something that is going to be debated during the trial - and almost wasn't included - he later fessed up to it, calling his actions "inexcusable" and admitting that he was "disgusted" with himself.

But that's the point of this trial. Were Diddy's "freak offs" and sexual encounters consensual? He says they were, but he already lied once. After listening to the graphic stories from the victims, it seems pretty clear who the jury is going to believe.
The State Attorneys Office criminal investigation into an allegedly illegal gun registry kept by the City of Jacksonville might end up being the first time the states 21-year-old ban on gun registries is leveraged against a local government and or government officials.

At least nine current and former city officials have been subpoenaed as part of the investigation so far.

Action News Jax investigates was first to uncover how the city began logging the names of people who entered city buildings while carrying concealed firearms.

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The practice started on July 24, 2023, according to public records.

It was 23 days after Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan took office and the states permitless carry law took effect.

The mayors office has claimed the policy predates her administration, pointing to a draft of the policy dated June 30, 2023.

This directive was written before Mayor Deegan was sworn into office. It was sent from a city employee to a private security firm, and she was never aware of it. As soon as we found out about it, the practice was stopped, a spokesperson for the mayors office told Action News Jax in an emailed statement. Proactive measures are currently being taken to review all city policies, the bulk of which were inherited from past administrations, to ensure compliance with state law, and we are reviewing the approval process to ensure there are proper checks and balances moving forward.

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On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for anyone responsible for the creation of the citys gun-owner logs to be held responsible.

Doing these secret gun registries is completely unacceptable, DeSantis said.

Based on records obtained through the Florida court system, Action News Jax has discovered this appears to be the first case of its kind.

In our review of the 42 cases dating back to 2004 that cited the section containing the prohibition on gun registries, none of those cases involved local governments or government officials.

Now, Jacksonvilles apparently unprecedented case is also becoming an issue in the upcoming gubernatorial race.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Nothing just happens because some low-level staffer did it. So thats why I feel this need to be looked into, Trump-backed Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL 19th District) said.

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Congressman Donalds spoke explosively with Action News Jax on Monday.

He argued that this issue needs to be front and center for the legislature, Governor, and Attorney General.

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Whoever is responsible for this, in my view, needs to be removed from office because thats a violation of the 2nd Amendment. Youre not allowed to do that, Donalds said.

While declining to comment specifically on the Governor and Congressmans statements, the Mayors Office did comment on the investigation.

We have full faith and confidence in the State Attorneys investigation, and we continue to fully cooperate, said a spokesperson with the mayors office in an emailed statement.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  The man accused of shooting and killing a Mattoon man last week is out of custody as the investigation continues.

The Shelby County Sheriffs Office said last week that there was a disturbance in Cowden involving a gun being fired, and responding authorities found 54-year-old Chad Petty dead. 56-year-old Trent Buchanan was arrested and booked for involuntary manslaughter.

Decatur police seeking tips after 21-year-old shot Monday night

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Speaking with WCIA, Sheriff Brian McReynolds said Buchanan was booked under the direction of the States Attorneys Office, but the state did not seek pretrial detention and Buchanan was released as the investigation is still ongoing.

McReynolds said that States Attorney Ruth Woolery is still waiting for the investigation to be complete before deciding on formal charges.

She does not have a complete picture, McReynolds said.

McReynolds added that his office will complete its investigation this week, but Woolery still has to review the case, and formal charges could happen even later into the future.

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There were several deputies there, several witness interviews, body cameras, McReynolds said. It could take a while to digest it all.

Mattoon Police Dept. asks for help finding missing man

McReynolds added that there is a claim of self-defense in the case, which will factor into Woolerys decision-making as well.

If she does proceed with charges, especially if they are upgraded from involuntary manslaughter to murder, McReynolds said Buchanan will be brought back into custody and the state would seek pretrial detention.

WCIA also contacted the Shelby County States Attorneys Office for comment. We did not hear back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Marilyn Musgrave is SBA Pro-Life Americas Vice President of Government Affairs and former representative for Colorado's 4th Congressional district.
Texas is bracing for a relentless and potentially historic heat wave this week, with dangerously high temperatures expected statewide, especially in Central and South Texas, where highs will surpass 100 degrees.

The National Weather Service warns that the early-season heat wave, fueled by a strong high-pressure system, will bring hazardous conditions from Tuesday through the weekend, with temperatures climbing up to 20 degrees above normal. Cities like Encinal and Cotulla are forecast to see extreme highs reaching 113 degrees.

Maps from the weather service also show the heat moving eastward, and by Friday, May 16, highs in the 80s and 90s could reach New York.

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This sudden spike in heat follows weeks of stormy and cooler-than-average weather in late April and early May  conditions that align with the Farmers Almanacs seasonal outlook.

As the year's first major heat wave rolls in, Texans may be wondering how to avoid turning on the A/C  or breaking the bank on a hefty electricity bill by turning it up.

Desperate times call for creative measures, and one such measure some have come up with is leaving the garage door slightly cracked open. The idea is that the few inches of space allow their garages to vent, in turn helping lower the temperature in the rest of the house.

But does it actually work? Here's what to know about the cooling trick.

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People are also reading: Austin opens cooling centers ahead of Texas heat wave this week. See map, hours

Does cracking the garage door help with heat?

Garages can be much warmer than the rest of homes due to poor insulation. But improving the insulation of an existing building might be impossible, especially for those renting homes.

So, people have instead resorted to improving the circulation of air in the garage space.

D Bar Garage Doors, a garage door company, affirmed some people's theories on the benefits of venting the garage space.

"Cracking the door will indeed benefit and alleviate the heat that builds up. But having a well-maintained, properly insulated garage should be your top priority," D Bar Garage Doors experts said.

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Air circulation is not a replacement for properly insulating spaces to combat the extreme heat in the summer. Ventilating your garage this way can have other unintended safety consequences, like break-ins and critters.

LIST: 6 tips to keep your AC blowing cool air

If you're looking to keep your home cooler, it's essential to keep your air conditioner in its best shape. Here are six easy tips to make sure it's running its coolest:

Change the air filter Clean your vents Keep the area around the outside unit clean and unblocked Clean out the drain Clean off the coils Get your air conditioner checked out by a professional

What's the best temperature to set your thermostat during a heat wave in Texas?

At what temperature do most Texans set their thermostat?

Over 5,000 Lone Star residents responded to a 2024 American-Statesman poll regarding what temperature they typically set their air conditioner to.

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A plurality of Texan readers who voted say they prefer to keep their AC at 78 degrees. According to poll results, this is almost 20% of the voters, or 972 people.

This is also lauded by the U.S. Energy Department as the ideal temperature for summer, generally providing the most savings while limiting discomfort.

 USA TODAY's Raphael Romero Ruiz contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Does cracking the garage door actually keep your home cool?
May 13AUSTIN  State Rep. Tom Craddick May 12 applauded the final passage of legislation to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), a monumental step in addressing one of the state's most urgent healthcare challenges. With the Texas Senate's concurrence with House amendments to Senate Bill 5 and Senate Joint Resolution 3, the legislation now heads to Governor Abbott for signature.

"I am proud to author House Bill 5 to establish DPRIT and send it to Governor Abbott's desk to be signed," Craddick said in a news release. "Thanks to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's leadership and vision, this transformative institute will place Texas at the forefront of dementia and Parkinson's research and care."
After I wrote about the VE Day celebrations last week, rather a lot of people said how glad they were that their fathers, their mothers, their wonderful Uncle Joseph who fought so bravely and died aged 22, did not live to see what Britain has become. A prime example of that dear country changed beyond recognition popped up just a few days later in the story of Julian Foulkes. As you may have read, wiping the disbelief from your eyes, 71-year-old Mr Foulkes was arrested and handcuffed at his home in 2023 by six officers from Kent Police  the same force Julian served for 10 years as a volunteer. His crime, ahem, was to post a lightly satirical response to a pro-Palestine protestor on Twitter who was complaining about Suella Bravermans characterisation of hate marches. Mr Foulkes had, quite rightly, become concerned that his Jewish friends no longer felt safe since the October 7 Hamas massacres and he was simply drawing attention to the danger of rising anti-Semitism in the UK.

You would have to be very stupid or politically motivated to see Julian Foulkess tweet as in any way threatening, I think. It most certainly did not approach the threshold for a criminal investigation, as far as I can see, let alone justify half a dozen officers barging into his pleasant Gillingham home. (Ironically, Kent Police thought Mr Foulkess tweet was attacking the Jews, when it was doing the exact opposite.)



It felt to me like probably how I would feel if my house was burgled. That my home and my castle had been violated, said Mr Foulkes, who started to cry at the memory of an officer rifling through treasured mementoes of his daughter who was tragically killed 15 years ago by a hit-and-run driver.

After being taken to the police station and held for eight hours, Mr Foulkes accepted an unconditional caution. Although he knew he hadnt done anything wrong, he was terrified that, if he refused, he would end up with a criminal record which might prevent him travelling to visit his other daughter in Australia. Losing access to his surviving child would have been too devastating, he said. Im afraid this is part of a sickening pattern whereby, after a total absence of common sense in decision-making, the police nudge an accused person to accept a caution so they can log a result without the effort of a court case.

Here we go again, folks. Yet another in the long-running series of thought crime farragos. Readers will know about my own visit from two Essex Police officers on Remembrance Sunday in connection with a tweet deleted a year earlier. My tweet, not by coincidence I think, had also drawn attention to anti-Semitism and what I perceived to be the two-tier sympathies of police. Compared to Julian Foulkes I got away very lightly. Officers did not enter my home or arrest me, although the experience was still humiliating and deeply upsetting. You feel like your character is being assassinated while you are trapped in a sticky web of police investigation that manages to be both bonkers and sinister. In response to my article about what had taken place, Essex Police doubled down, triggering something called Gold Command, which is normally used for terrorist incidents and other national emergencies which dont generally include national newspaper columnists, although we can be annoying.

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In Mr Foulkess case, we have the bodycam footage which police recorded as they searched his home, including his wifes underwear drawer. (Solicitors for Essex Police have demanded I agree not to tell anyone if I see the video of my visit. I cannot accept that block on my freedom to speak so I have refused to look at it. My solicitor will challenge this.) Most revealing is seeing the Kent officerss arrogant conviction that there is nothing remotely over the top about them all being there in force (as if it was some kind of drugs bust), even when the accused (accused of what exactly?) has rightly pointed out it is ridiculous.

Disgracefully, a female officer mutters darkly about the contents of Julians bookshelves, which feature a hardback by the international bestselling author Douglas Murray (highly recommended!), some copies of The Spectator (ditto) and what she calls very Brexity things.

Now, that I find deeply suspicious. How did the youngish police officer know who or what Douglas Murray and The Spectator are? Most people her age wouldnt have a clue. Had she perhaps received training about far-Right material in which mainstream Conservative reading habits are considered evidence of extremism? Either way, that WPC had no business making an impertinent and judgmental remark about the largest democratic vote in British history. Such bias is profoundly worrying in a police force which only retains public confidence because it is sworn to conduct itself without fear or favour.

At the very least, this search which caused such distress to Mr Foulkes appears to me to have broken the polices own rules. PACE Code B outlines the restrictions on premises searches. Searches must be proportionate and only conducted to the extent necessary to achieve the purpose of the search, and the search must not continue once the object of the search has been achieved or the officer in charge is satisfied that what is beng sought is not on the premises... the number of officers involved should be reasonable and necessary.

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Is there anyone outside the numbskull precincts of Kent constabulary who believes that sending six  count them!  officers to arrest a mild-mannered pensioner was in any way proportionate, reasonable or necessary? Given the non-offence nature of the offence, a letter through the door might have been a bit much.

After The Sunday Telegraph made the Orwellian treatment of Julian Foulkes front-page news, Kent Police issued an apology saying that a subsequent review of his case had concluded that the caution was not appropriate in the circumstances and should not have been issued. Kent Police apologises to Mr Foulkes for the distress caused and how the report was investigated. We have expunged the caution from his record and are pleased to facilitate this correction... a further review of the matter will now be carried out to identify any learning opportunities.

This may come as a shock to Tim Smith, Chief Constable of Kent, but blameless members of the general public are not there to provide learning opportunities for his unthinking subordinates. No apology could begin to atone for the frankly sinister, state-sponsored assault on Mr Foulkess right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act. Yes, even we 17.4 million Brexity people are legally entitled to hold our own opinions and to express them without government interference!

Free speech is clearly under attack

One of the biggest shocks since my encounter with Essex Police has been finding out how officers are often entirely ignorant of Britonss crucial rights in this area. They are unfamiliar with the case law which, again and again, sees the higher courts find in favour, not only of free expression, but of the right to cause offence without which free speech is not worth having, as one wise judge remarked.

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Free speech is clearly under attack, Julian Foulkes told The Telegraph. Nobody is really safe the public needs to see whats happening and be shocked. Hes right. It is deeply shocking that the free country that hundreds of thousands of mainly young men gave their lives to preserve 80 years ago has fallen under this dark shadow of authoritarianism. (As I told the two police officers at my door back in November.) But we need to do more than be scandalised. This latest victim of outrageous police over-reach is showing the way. With the invaluable help of the Free Speech Union (currently performing a vital role protecting the public from the police), Julian Foulkes will now sue Kent Police for wrongful arrest and can expect a substantial payout. In the course of that legal action, we hope to learn more about the chain of command that led to his cruel and unfair arrest while unmasking the warped ideology, sanctioned at the highest level, that lay behind it.

I hope that Mr Foulkes will also make formal complaints about the chief constable, his officers, and anyone else involved in his case. A custody sergeant will have been presented with the grounds for arrest and made the decision to authorise detention. A custody sergeant can legitimately say No if the grounds are flimsy  so he or she will have some explaining to do.

The case of Pal v the United Kingdom (concerning an unnecessary police action against a freelance journalist) highlighted the need for an investigating officer to record the grounds and justification for interfering with a persons human rights under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act and the privacy intrusion under Article 8. Were such decisions documented in the shameful harassment of Julian Foulkes? Over to you, Chief Constable Smith.

Kent Police may have to hand the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct where, I am told, they could be investigated for possible misconduct. Only when chief constables and those under them start being punished and sacked will they think twice about behaviour which is abhorrent to most of the decent people who pay their salaries.

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In general terms, policing the law, as one senior officer told me, is increasingly secondary to a form of progressive social engineering which prioritises protected characteristics at the expense of the majority British population. By virtue of religion and race, the Jews whom Julian Foulkes championed but was so wrongly accused of attacking, should be a protected characteristic. Unfortunately, my source tells me theyre widely regarded among too many police forces as white supremacists.

Well, at least that explains why a Jewish reader who complained to Essex Police about a virulently anti-Semitic tweet was told to go away because feelings were running high at the time of his tweet, while mine, also posted at a time when feelings were running high but in support of Jewish people, was afforded no context and police came to my door.

If this induces feelings of helplessness, there is cautious cause for optimism, I think. Recently, we saw how trans activists, who demanded free speech be cancelled and society re-arranged in their image, were stopped in their tracks by a court judgment. If it is true that police have become a law unto themselves, and a threat to good men like Julian Foulkes, then the law itself must be used against them. Let justice prevail.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Crews are battling a fire at a Clackamas County warehouse early Tuesday morning, authorities said.

According to Clackamas Fire, crews responded to the fire at a warehouse on Southeast Johnson Creek Boulevard and Southeast 74th Avenue.

As of 3:00 a.m., the fire was reported under control, but Johnson Creek Boulevard was closed due to the fire.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

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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 KOIN.com.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  One person was killed in a catastrophic home explosion on West Lane in Hamburg on Monday night, police said.

A 78-year-old woman, identified as Joene Pease, was pronounced dead at the scene following the explosion. A 78-year-old man, identified as John Pease, was pulled from the rubble, taken to ECMC and is listed in critical condition. The two were the only people in the house. A dog survived the explosion.

Police would not comment if the explosion is considered suspicious or any other investigation-related details.

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Police received multiple calls about a house explosion around 8:49 p.m. There were no other injuries in surrounding homes.

When I say the call came in as a house explosion, it was exactly that  exactly what you would imagine hearing that, Hamburg police captain John Baker said. The damage to the house was catastrophic; there is no house left.

WIVB News 4 received multiple reports from nearby viewers who said their houses shook  even miles away from the scene. An unoccupied house next door suffered severe fire damage and was demolished Tuesday afternoon by an excavator.

The whole house shook like we got struck by lightning, said George Fischer, a neighbor. Thats what it felt like.  The next-door neighbor, it blew out all of his windows in the front of his house, his front door, it blew part of the garage door out.

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Multiple departments and units are on the scene, and Baker expects a very lengthy investigation in order to determine the cause of the explosion.

National Fuel said in a statement Wednesday that it completed a thorough investigation of its facilities serving the house, located at 5834 West Lane, and found no leaks or operational issues. Gas service was restored to residents in the neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.

One firefighter and one police officer suffered minor injuries. Both have been released.

(Photos 1-3 courtesy of Curran McNamara, Photo 4 courtesy of Christina Gilcrist)

You can watch a news conference with Hamburg police in the video player below.

Latest Local News

***

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Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. 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 News 4 Buffalo.
Prisoners will be released from jail as little as a third of the way through their sentences if they behave well, under government plans to tackle the overcrowding crisis.

Offenders will be able to earn their freedom after serving a third of their sentences if they complete work, training or education assignments and demonstrate good behaviour before being freed.

If they fail to behave, they will have to spend longer in jail under the shake-up that will see the current automatic early release of offenders 40 per cent of the way through their sentences scrapped.

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Instead, convicted criminals will be given minimum and maximum sentences. Prisoners who fail to behave and engage with their training, education or work will face upper jail time limits that are significantly longer than the current 40 per cent automatic release date.

The changes  designed to incentivise rehabilitation  are part of a package of measures to combat prison overcrowding which will be recommended to the Government next week by its independent sentencing review led by David Gauke, the former Tory justice secretary.

It will be the biggest shake-up in sentencing for more than 30 years, ending a blanket approach to automatic early release introduced in the 1991 Criminal Justice Act. Most prisoners are currently guaranteed release after serving 40 per cent, 50 per cent or, since 2003, two-thirds of their sentences.

The Tories will claim the plans amount to soft justice, while Labour will argue that the scale of the prisons crisis it inherited from the Conservatives requires radical solutions. The number of spare spaces in mens jails has again dropped below 1,000, with prisons at 99 per cent of their 89,300-inmate operational capacity.

Number of inmates in prisons is predicted to rocket

Internal Ministry of Justice (MoJ) forecasts predict jails will run out of space again by early 2026, despite Labour introducing an early release scheme last September, whereby prisoners are freed 40 per cent of the way through their sentences rather than halfway through.

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The proposed changes are modelled on schemes introduced in Texas in 2011 to tackle its overcrowding crisis. These enable prisoners to earn earlier parole hearings by accruing good behaviour credits through working from 9am to 5pm every weekday and maintaining a clean disciplinary record.

The most motivated inmates in Texas can get parole up to a quarter of the way through their sentence by earning 30 days off their prison term for every 30 days they have served in jail. The reforms have been credited with cutting prisoner reoffending rates and reducing crime to levels last seen in the late 1960s.

The UK model would see some well-behaved offenders serve a third of their sentence in jail. This would be followed by a third on enhanced licence where they would be subject to electronic tags, curfews and have their passports confiscated. A final third would be on normal licence where breaches result in recalls to jail.

This third, third, third model will not be a blanket approach for all prisoners but is expected to be targeted at categories of offenders serving standard determinate or fixed-term sentences, which could include burglars, thieves, fraudsters and those convicted of assault.

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It is thought that prisoners on extended determinate or on indeterminate sentences for more serious crimes where a parole board decides if they are safe to release will probably be excluded. Sex offenders, terrorists and domestic abusers on determinate sentences may also be excluded from the third, third, third model.

Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, and Mr Gauke visited Texas in February to investigate what lessons the UK could learn.

Shabana Mahmood, centre, and David Gauke, left, speak with an inmate during a tour of the Estelle Supermax Penitentiary in Texas earlier this year - Ethan Swope for The Telegraph

The MoJ said: This Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with prisons days from collapse. David Gauke is conducting a sentencing review to ensure that we never run out of prison places again, and we are committed to reforming sentencing to ensure our prisons cut crime and keep the public safe.

The review is also expected to recommend a major expansion of community punishments as an alternative to jail, where judges use electronic tags and other technology to enforce house arrest.

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It is expected to include proposals for a presumption against short sentences of six months or potentially a year. These are said to offer little scope for the rehabilitation of offenders, who would stand a better chance of turning their back on crime if treated for their addictions, mental health and chaotic lives in the community.

Lord Cameron was the most recent politician to try to replace automatic release in his 2010 manifesto. He proposed that courts set minimum and maximum sentences for certain offenders but they could only leave jail after their minimum term by earning their release, not simply by right. The plan was thwarted by the Liberal Democrats during the Coalition.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, accused Labour of siding with criminals.

He said: To govern is to choose. There are 10,350 foreign criminals in our jails. 17,000 people are in prison awaiting trial. But instead of reducing those numbers, Labour have decided to let out criminals who reoffend early. Theyre siding with criminals over the public.

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Their announcement today risks public safety and is a recipe for further breakdown of law and order.

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One morning last May, a small band of activists descended on Germanys largest Apple store in the heart of downtown Berlin. Placards in hand, they conducted a noisy but peaceful demonstration to denounce labor rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo related to the mining of cobalt required for manufacturing iPhones. This protest and others like it underline how the race to secure the raw materials for the tech and renewable energy revolutionsknown as critical mineralsis fueling human rights abuses, regional conflict and environmental degradation around the world.

In recent years both the U.S. and the European Union have attempted to add an ethical dimension to their mineral acquisition policy. As part of Dodd Frank act, the U.S. legislated on the issue in 2010, requiring publicly listed U.S. companies to conduct due diligence in sourcing materials to avoid complicity in funding conflict or human rights abuses. In 2017, the EU introduced the Conflict Minerals Regulation, which requires EU companies to ensure they import these minerals and metals from responsible sources only. Both moves came in response to growing evidence of a soaring global trade in so-called conflict minerals, a trend which is only being further fueled by the race to secure critical minerals.

The cobalt targeted by the protesters in Berlin last year is among the minerals that, along with rare earth elements, are essential components of renewable energy technologies, including everything from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles, or EVs. These materials are also essential to the tech industry, with more than 30 elements required to build just one smartphone. The International Energy Agency, or IEA, estimates that the critical minerals market is now worth more than $320 billion and is set to grow exponentially in the coming years, moving it increasingly to centre stage for the global mining industry.

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As a result, an increasingly cutthroat race to secure supplies of these materials has developed among major economies as they vie to dominate energy and technology sectors over the next decade. The most high-profile example of the geopoliticization of critical mineral acquisition is in Ukraine, home to a third of all European lithium deposits as well significant deposits of copper, lead, zinc, silver, nickel and cobalt. The countrys mineral reserves have now become tied up in the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war. After months of often fraught negotiations, Washington and Kyiv finally reached an agreement on April 30 that will give the U.S. preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals. With no explicit mention of security guarantees in the agreement, however, the level of military, economic and diplomatic support Ukraine can expect to receive in return remains unclear.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

As the rapidly growing renewable energy and tech sectors fuel the global minerals boom, the industry is fast becoming a Wild West, with either ineffective regulation or none at all.

The U.S. is not alone in seeking to secure access to resources in the geopolitical battle for critical minerals. China has also gone to great lengths to lock up supplies of mineral resources in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia through strategic investment strategies like the Belt and Road Initiative, which has been repurposed with the aim of tightening Chinas financial grip on critical minerals essential for the global energy transition and net-zero goals. Research from Goldman Sachs estimates that 65 percent of battery components, 71 percent of battery cells and 57 percent of the worlds electric vehicles are now manufactured in China.

But such aggressive moves by the major global powers are exacerbating regional tensions, with many resource-rich countries caught between competing economic powers, while insatiable demand for rare earths and critical minerals fuels conflicts around the world.

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A particularly egregious example is Congo, which is immensely rich in natural resources, including coltan, gold, diamonds and cobalt. In its 2024 report on the violence that continues to plague the countrys eastern region, Amnesty International cites the exploitation of minerals as a significant driver of prolonged conflicts there, with some armed factions financing their operations through control of these resources.

Recent military advances by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels along Congos mineral rich eastern border are also fueling a surge in illicit trade in minerals largely funneled through neighboring Rwanda. Earlier this year it emerged that the U.S. was negotiating a deal to provide the Congolese government with military assistance in its battle with insurgents in return for access to its critical minerals, while offering incentives to both Congo and Rwanda to get them to sign a peace deal. However, given the violent history of U.S. interventions driven by natural resource extraction in places like Latin America as well as Trumps rejection of international laws and norms on the use of force, any U.S. involvement in the region could very well exacerbate rather than ameliorate the ongoing conflict.

Though less bellicose in its approach to mineral acquisition, the EU has also been working to increase supplies, amid fears that it is falling behind its major economic rivals. The bloc has ramped up domestic mineral production and displayed greater urgency in securing external supplies. But mindful of the growing global trade in conflict minerals, the bloc sought to ensure that supply chains remained free of them by bringing the 2017 Conflict Minerals Regulation into force across the bloc in under two years, a rapid timetable by EU standards. As with so many of the blocs well-intentioned initiatives, however, there is a yawning gap between the official policy and its effective enforcement.

A recent review by Antwerp-based International Peace Information Service and PAX, a Dutch NGO dedicated to peacebuilding, concluded that in the six years since the regulation was signed into law, it has not achieved any notable impact along supply chains, let alone in producing countries and warned of the need to put in place adequate and complete supply chain traceability systems. In a similar vein, the European Commissions own 2024 progress report acknowledged that the regulation had limited impact among stakeholders. The commission document also identified several implementation challenges, which might be less generously described as a lack of political will to properly enforce the regulation in line with the exhaustive guidance set out in the 2016 OECD due diligence guide for EU companies.

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A major barrier to effective enforcement is the fact that the regulation does not allow for punitive sanctions but only corrective measures and leaves the consequences of infringement to individual member states, which have a vested interest in ignoring violations. As a result, companies have not been properly held to account despite a wealth of evidence to suggest that the rules are being flouted on a regular basis, including recent revelations by Global Witness that a significant proportion of the 230 tons of coltan that Traxysa Luxembourg-based international commodities traderbought from Rwanda in 2024 is connected to the ongoing war in the east of DRC.

Tech giants such as Apple have also been credibly accused of purchasing critical minerals originating from Congo and laundered through Rwanda, explaining why the German activists targeted the Berlin Apple store. As Emily Stewart, head of policy at Global Witness, succinctly put it, the fundamental problem is that the regulation is allowing companies not to bother with due diligence because it appears that there are no proper checks on what they are doing, nor consequences for their activities. This extremely lax approach is presumably the result of EU leaders desperation to shore up critical mineral supplies for the energy transition.

As the rapidly growing renewable energy and tech sectors fuel the global minerals boom, the industry is fast becoming a Wild West, with either ineffective regulation or none at all. Urgent action is thus required by a range of actors, from governments and business leaders to multilateral institutions and civil society groups, to ensure that critical minerals and rare earths do not become the fossil fuels of the 21st century in terms of environmental destruction, exploitation and human rights abuses.

The EUs Conflict Minerals Regulation provides the necessary codification to do so, but only if Brussels can ensure full and effective compliance from all member states.

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John Boyce is an Irish freelance journalist with a background in international relations and Hispanic affairs. He writes for a variety of publications on Anglo-Irish, Spanish and European politics.

The post The Critical Minerals Fueling Green Tech Are Also Fueling Conflict appeared first on World Politics Review.
Dr. Katherine Ramsland, forensic psychologist and author of The Serial Killers Apprentice, joins NewsNation to discuss the last-minute appeal by convicted serial killer Glen Rogers, who is set to be executed this week in Florida. Rogers attorneys claim he suffers from porphyria  a rare disease linked to vampire legends  and argue that lethal injection could cause him extreme suffering due to the condition. Convicted of two murders and linked to several more, Rogers once claimed to have killed over 70 people. Now, he hopes a medical condition might spare his life.

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.
President Trump was treated to an elaborate royal welcoming to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, early Tuesday, when he was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and hundreds of military, government and business officials.

Trump walked off of Air Force One and onto a lavender carpet rolled out at King Khalid International Airport and entered the royal terminal with the crown prince, who also greeted Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

While Air Force One was approaching Saudi Arabia, about a half-hour from landing, Saudi F-15 fighter jets appeared on both sides of the presidents plane and escorted it at proximity, according to a reporter traveling on the plane with the president.

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The crown prince greeted Trump again when he arrived at the Royal Court, where another lavender carpet was rolled out. Trumps motorcade was escorted by riders on Arabian horses and horns were playing as he got out of his car.

The The Star-Spangled Banner played, as did the Saudi national anthem before Trump and the crown prince went inside the palace for the coffee ceremony along with hundreds of attendees.

They included FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

A delegation of U.S. and Saudi journalists also were in attendance.

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The president greeted all the Saudi Arabian guests and other attendees spotted at the coffee including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Chief of staff Susie Wiles also joined Trump on the trip.

Later in the day, Trump is expected to attend a Saudi-U.S. investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center and attend a state dinner at At-Turaif, a world heritage site.

Saudi Arabia is the first stop on Trumps Middle East trip. Later this week, he will travel to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which both border Saudi Arabia.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
The Cumru Township Zoning Hearing Board has chosen new leadership and legal representation following the resignation and replacement of five of its six members.

At a meeting May 8, board members voted to nominate Jason Ulrich of Gross McGinley LLP, Allentown, as the boards new solicitor, at a rate of $165 per hour.

Other options included representatives from Masano Bradley and Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys, both of Wyomissing, as well as Alex Elliker, Kutztown.

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Ben Fisher, the only member left over from the original zoning hearing board, was named chairman, also by unanimous vote.

Hes had the longest tenure on the board, said board member Todd Woodworth, who nominated Fisher.

Scott Horner, the third regular member, was selected as vice chairman.

Old members resign

In a letter to the township dated April 22, zoning hearing board members Matt Keperling, Branden Strickland, alternate member Ken Remp and board Chairman Gene Waltz announced their resignations.

Fisher served on the old board as an alternate but was made a regular member by commissioners at a meeting in April.

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Also at that meeting, Todd Woodworth and Scott Horner were selected as regular members, with Don Lebo, Mike Nowotarski and Betty Volk picked as alternates.

Alternates act as stand-ins for regular members and cannot vote unless a regular member is unable to serve.

Another member, Patrick Marz, also resigned in April for health reasons.

In the letter, the four resigning members said they left because of retaliation from some Cumru commissioners following legal battles waged by residents and Penske against a zoning hearing board decision.

The old zoning board stood by their decision to uphold a zoning change allowing warehouses on a plot bordering Route 10 and the Flying Hills residential development and claimed that commissioners had acted against them as a result.

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Commissioner Greg Miller said the actions of some commissioners, including two public calls for Waltzs resignation, were in the name of accountability, not retaliation, since the zoning hearing boards ruling on the Route 10 plot was found to be flawed in Berks County Court, and the issue is set to be relitigated.

Miller also noted that the zoning hearing boards failure to convene a meeting led to the automatic approval of zoning relief for a light industrial facility proposed by OHB Properties LLC, at Morgantown Road and Kachel Boulevard.

That automatic, or deemed approval was also overturned in county court, and the developers have since pulled plans for the part of the facility that would have been in Cumru Township, township officials said.

Another part of the facility is still under development in neighboring Robeson Township.

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Solicitor chosen

At their meeting in May, Fisher said it was important that the new zoning hearing board avoid any perception of bias or conflict of interest.

He noted that one of the candidates for solicitor, Christopher Muvdi, had represented a group of Cumru residents against the zoning hearing board.

Woodworth noted that attorneys are allowed to represent private clients, as well as municipalities, and have said they would recuse themselves in cases of conflict of interest.

Fisher also read a letter from resident and planning commission member Beverly Leonti, who said she was concerned about Chris Muvdi and Masano Bradley.

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He and his firm have cost the township money, Leonti said. Not only were there legal fees involved (during the litigation of the zoning hearing board Route 10 ruling), but the soft costs of no additional earned income tax and property tax (from a new warehouse) hurt the township.

Township manager Jeanne Johnston said defending the rezoning cost the township $25,000 in legal fees.

Muvdi did not return a request for comment.

Nowotarski said he didnt believe Muvdis past representation was a conflict of interest.

Hes from our township, hes trying to protect our open spaces, Nowotarski said of Muvdi. We need the right kind of economic growth here. We need homes, we need residents, not necessarily tractor trailers in a residential area.

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Horner said the board would ideally choose a candidate from outside of Berks County to prevent any conflict of interest.

If I stay with the idea of getting (a solicitor) from outside of Berks, I would go with Ulrich, Horner said.

Fisher said he had gotten in touch with officials from Mohnton, where Ulrich also serves.

They said hes good, that hell give it to you straight, Fisher said.

Ulrich was also the least expensive per hour among the firms who offered their services, with Kozloff Stoudt costing $250 per hour, and Masano Bradley costing $185.

I recommend we consider Mr. Ulrich due to the tax savings, and also it seems like he might have less appearance of a conflict of interest, Fisher said.

The board then voted 3-0 in favor of Ulrich as solicitor.
May 12LIMA  A bicyclist was transported to a nearby medical facility after failing to yield into oncoming traffic at approximately 10:15 a.m. Thursday on Harding Highway in Lima, according to a Lima Police Department crash report.

Patrick A. Graham, 48, from Van Wert, was operating a homemade motorized bicycle on the southmost sidewalk on Harding Highway near the ramp to access Interstate 75 southbound when a tractor-trailer driven by Craig E. Carman, 76, struck Graham's bicycle attempting to turn onto the ramp, according to the report.

Graham was transported to Lima Memorial Health System and charged with failing to yield a bicycle to pedestrians, according to the report.

The tractor-trailer driven by Carman did not sustain damage.

Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351

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PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czechs will hold parliamentary elections on October 3-4, President Petr Pavel said on Tuesday, setting the stage for a contest between the unpopular, centre-right governing coalition and a populist opposition allied with Europe's far right.

The opposition ANO party led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis leads opinion polls by a wide margin ahead of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's Spolu (Together) coalition, which has been strongly supportive of Ukraine.

Forming a majority to back a new government will depend on the performance of smaller parties including both government and opposition groups that are uncertain to win any seats in parliament.

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Under Fiala, the Czech Republic shipped heavy weapons to help Kyiv soon after the Russian invasion in February 2022 and has led an initiative to find and fund artillery ammunition for Ukraine's defence. ANO has been critical of the efforts.

Babis has rallied supporters by promising harsher limits on migration to Europe, and is a self-proclaimed supporter of Donald Trump, although he has criticised tariff increases.

ANO is part of the far-right Patriots for Europe group in European Parliament alongside the Fidesz party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and France's National Rally of Marine Le Pen.

The elections are to parliament's lower house which has a four-year term and approves a new prime minister along with the cabinet.

In an opinion poll by the Kantar agency for Czech Television released on Sunday, ANO led with 35% backing ahead of 19.5% for Spolu.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Ros Russell)
The Czech Republic is to hold parliamentary elections in October.

A spokesman for President Petr Pavel said the vote will be held on October 3-4, with elections in the country usually being held over two days.

More than 8 million people are eligible to participate in the election of the 200-seat lower house, the Chamber of Deputies.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala's conservative coalition faces a battle for re-election, with the populist ANO opposition party, led by former prime minister Andrej Babis, currently top of the polls.

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Fiala's government took office in 2021 and has strongly supported Ukraine in its war against Russia, including with an initiative to supply ammunition.

In contrast, Babis has repeatedly opposed weapons deliveries for Kiev.

Accoring to the latest survey for broadcaster CNN Prima News, ANO leads the way on 30.77% of the vote, ahead of Fiala's Spolu alliance on 20.2% and the STAN bloc - which is also part of the government - on 10%.

The extreme-right SPD is on 12.6%, while the leftist Stacilo alliance is on 6.5%.






Rock frontman Casey McPherson walked away from music professionally so he could find a cure for his daughter Rose

The 9-year-old girl was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic disorder that caused her to flatline once and has taken away her ability to speak

I'm devoting the rest of my life to this, the devoted dad, who launched a company that has created a treatment for his daughter, tells PEOPLE







Casey McPherson, the frontman of the progressive rock band Flying Colors, used to love singing with his 9-year-old daughter Rose. But his daughter, who was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic disorder in 2019, has lost the ability to speak.

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She screams and giggles and cries and makes noises and sounds, but she doesn't have any friends, says McPherson, 46, of his daughters HNRNPH2-related neurodevelopmental disorder. She doesn't know how to play with anyone.

After McPherson learned about his daughter's diagnosis, he turned down a record deal from Sony, determined to find a cure for his little girl. In 2023, he launched a biotech company, AlphaRose Therapeutics, and has raised more than $1 million since January  and he plans to raise $5 million by June to ensure his daughter gets the precision medicine she needs.

That treatment has been developed by experts in the field and in addition to raising money to fund it, the company is currently working towards getting approval to use it in a clinical trial. If everything works out, Rose is hopefully just six months away from getting her first treatment.

This is just the beginning for me. I'm devoting the rest of my life to this, says McPherson, who appears in Rare, a documentary about five families on a years-long search for cures for their kids with rare and ultra-rare disorders.

Carl-Ulrich Bonnekamp McPherson remembers singing melodies with his youngest daughter McPherson remembers singing melodies with his youngest daughter

McPherson, who is also the frontman of the band Alpha Rev, hopes the documentary, which was recently presented in Washington, D.C., will raise awareness as he and others push for a regulatory path to invest in treatment for the 30 million people in the United States with rare disorders.

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Many of the more than 7,000 rare diseases (i.e., conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people) are life-threatening and do not have treatment options, according to the FDA.

For McPherson, its a race against time as he and his family continue to monitor Roses health and ability to engage with the outside world. Shes currently testing at the developmental level of an 18-month-old child, but her dad is remaining hopeful.

Rose is working really hard. She's giving everything she's got to stay alive and to exist, says McPherson. So, I should be doing everything I can to give her every possibility of unlocking her freedom.

Carl-Ulrich Bonnekamp It took Rose a long time to learn how to climb the stairs, her dad says It took Rose a long time to learn how to climb the stairs, her dad says

After Rose was born in 2016, she appeared to be relatively healthy. She was missing some developmental milestones, but the doctors weren't that concerned, says McPherson. That changed when Rose began choking on her food. As Rose got older, she never learned to crawl, instead shed fall flat on her face while learning to walk, which took years. But Rose did learn sign language and could say the words mom, dad and outside.

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McPherson and Roses mom had been taking Rose to doctors appointments to get a better understanding of her struggles, but they knew something had to change when Rose could no longer speak. She would start screaming and she looked like she was in pain, remembers her dad.

McPherson then embarked on a diagnostic odyssey, which many parents with children with rare and ultra-rare genetic conditions embark on as they seek a diagnosis and treatment. Rose was three years old when her parents learned the name of her disorder, which is a result of a mutation of the gene HNRNPH2. Rose also has autism, which her dad describes as stemming from the genetic disorder.

Dr. Jennifer Bain, child neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been studying HNRNPH2-related neurodevelopmental disorder for eight years. She tells PEOPLE that individuals with mutations in that gene often have developmental delays that inhibit their ability to walk and talk, most of whom need full support into adulthood.

Many of them have autism spectrum disorder or autistic features, she adds. Based on her research, Bain says people with the disorder can be at increased risk of early death, premature death, regression, seizures, and epilepsy.

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She notes, So, it certainly can be a very devastating diagnosis.

Carl-Ulrich Bonnekamp The father and daughter playing outside The father and daughter playing outside

Rose has intermittent seizures and McPherson says his family is bracing for the next one. Her last seizure, which happened last year, caused her to flatline for about a minute before her grandmother brought her back with CPR and she was rushed to the hospital.

Rose also struggles with depth perception, so walking can be difficult, shes not potty trained and her oxygen levels and heartbeat need to be monitored at night. The daily challenges make it incredibly difficult for her parents, who are now divorced, to leave the house or go on vacation. You are more isolated, McPherson says.

Roses sister, 11-year-old Weston, has also been affected. She's had to take the back seat a lot of times, says her dad.

Carl-Ulrich Bonnekamp Rose (left) with her sister Weston (right) Rose (left) with her sister Weston (right)

Despite Roses struggles, she is actively trying to engage with her world and is currently attending a private school. Her dad says shes much smarter than tests suggest, shes just lost certain functions.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In honor of his daughters strength, McPherson started a nonprofit, To Cure A Rose Foundation, in 2021. The next natural step was to launch AlphaRose Therapeutics, a public-benefit corporation, in October 2023. McPherson plans for the company to develop treatments for rare genetic diseases at scale, filling a void left by the pharmaceutical industry.

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Bain says shes thrilled to learn when any rare disorder has a treatment. Right now, there's no FDA-approved medications," says the pediatric neurologist, who is currently working on a separate clinical trial for three people with the disorder, "and so it definitely needs to be pushed forward."

The end goal is simple: McPherson hopes that Rose and other children like her will be able to walk, swim and learn in ways they havent been able to before. Maybe she'll make friends. Maybe she'll sing a song, maybe she'll say Daddy again one day, McPherson says. Those are my goals. Those are the things that matter to parents.



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As Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show this week, he has some questions about the Trump administrations latest shady dealings with country that has ties to terrorist organizations.

On Mondays episode of the Comedy Central show, the comedian called President Donald Trump a reverse Oprah for accepting a $400 million jumbo luxury jet as a gift from the Qatar royal family, which he will use as his Air Force One and then donate to his Trump presidential library foundation.

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What? Qatar is giving us a plane that Trump gets to keep? he said. Hes like the reverse Oprah. I get a jet!  and thats it. I get a jet, for my library. Why does his library need a jet? Yeah, Im calling from Europe, and I need a book about Trump by morning. And the book must travel in the comfort and style one can only get from Qatar.'

Stewart added, Its not a free jet. Thats the point. You know the expression, theres no such thing as a free lunch? Thats about being skeptical of the motives of somebody who gives you a sandwich a sandwich, a BLT. Now, imagine that that BLT has an engine, nine bathrooms and funds proxy wars.

Trump previously called the deal for the super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet a very public and transparent transaction with the Defense Department. But the nature of what may be the most valuable gift ever bestowed upon the United States by a foreign government, has raised some questions.

Theyre giving us a free jet. I could say, No, no, no. Dont give us I wanna pay you a billion, or 400 million, or whatever it is. Or I could say, Thank you very much,' Trump said in a clip.

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The news of the gift comes ahead of Trumps trip to Qatar, the first foreign trip of his second term.

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  A groundbreaking ceremony took place Monday outside of Daily's Premium Meats to officially start an expansion that will double the size of the plant.

Many political figures were in attendance, including Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe.

We're going to continue as governor to make sure Missouri is a place businesses can grow," Gov. Kehoe said. "Where innovation is welcome and where our workforce remains one of the strongest in the country."

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The $95 million expansion will bring in about 115 new jobs and now St. Joseph, Missouri, will produce 5% of the bacon in the United States.

Buchanan County Western District Commissioner Ron Hook said the new jobs and more bacon were some of the main positives from the expansion.

"We got a of workforce people really wanting to work, get to work and have good jobs," Hook said. "Buchanan County and the City of St. Joseph are here to help any business around to create more jobs for the people that need the work."

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Natalie Hawn said one of the successes St. Joseph has had is "growing its own."

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"When we have a company here, really working with them to expand here versus other parts of the country and that is exactly what happened here with Daily's," Hawn said. "They are a great partner and they're looking to expand here in St. Joseph, where they already had a plant, literally doubling the size of what they have today."

The expansion will take five years to complete. Gov. Kehoe complimented the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce during his speech and said they have an understanding of "what the end game is," which is to create more opportunities for Missourians.

"Whenever you have a chamber that is that involved, that integrated into the community, you see good success like we have here at Daily's," Gov. Kehoe said. "We couldn't be happier with the (near) $100 million expansion and the over 100 jobs we are adding to the area.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A now former Horry County Schools employee was arrested on Monday after an April incident at Daisy Elementary in which he allegedly sprained the wrists of a 6-year-old child with autism, Horry County police records show.

Richard Lowman, 53, was charged with one count of cruelty to children. He was released from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on a $500 bond.

An incident report said a witness passed by the special education classroom at Daisy Elementary on April 10 and saw Lowman holding a child by the wrists and shaking them, yelling, You will listen to me. The report also stated that the child is autistic and nonverbal.

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According to an arrest warrant, the child was diagnosed with two sprained wrists. Lowman told police he has been trained to deal with autistic children in accordance with state standards.

Lisa Bourcier, spokeswoman for Horry County Schools, said that Lowman was employed as a special education aide at Daisy Elementary on Nov. 15, 2024. He was placed on administrative leave on April 10 due to allegations of unprofessional conduct. He resigned on April 28 and is no longer employed by Horry County Schools.

* * *

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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A Riceville woman is facing hate crime charges after she allegedly harassed a group of LBGTQ guests at an Osage hotel.

Ashley Bartels, 35, of Riceville was charged with four counts of assault - violation of individual rights under Iowa's hate crime statute and possession of a controlled substance-marijuana following an incident April 4 at the AmericInn by Wyndham Osage hotel.

Mitchell County Sheriff deputies who responded to the incident stated in the criminal complaint: "During my conversation, Ms. Bartels did admit to intentionally contacting the reporting party and (her) friends while calling them derogatory names and directing abusive epithets toward their sexuality and gender."

The four victims in this case are gay, and two are transgender men. The police reports refer to them by their legal names and genders, although the Globe Gazette will use their preferred names and genders.

John Young and Dexter Thomas had traveled to Iowa from Michigan to visit friends Luca and Adam Mills, whom the police report identifies as Danielle and McKenzie Mills. The four were staying at the AmericInn, and Young and Thomas were resting after the long drive.

According to Luca Mills, around 9:30 p.m. the group planned to soak in the hot tub, but when they arrived at the pool room, a raucous birthday party was going on and the hot tub and pool were occupied.

"There were just a bunch of kids running around. People were clearly partying," Luca Mills said, "so we decided to go into the attached workout room and make use of that while we waited. We thought they'd be wrapping up soon."

Almost immediately, Bartels began to harass the group, Luca Mills said. As the four were in the room with a glass wall facing the pool room, Bartels began by dragging her body, wet from swimming, across the glass while facing into the room.

Luca Mills said about 10 minutes later, she opened the door and said to the four, "You guys smell precious."

"At that point we just told her she was being weird and she needed to leave us alone," Luca said. "She got angry and said, 'Oh, you're gay? That's gonna be a f****** problem. Wait till morning.'"

The group felt threatened, and made their way to the front desk for assistance. They asked for a manager so they could complain, but the front desk attendant told them the birthday party was for an AmericInn employee, Ashley Bartels. Bartels was employed as front office manager at the time.

Reached by telephone, an employee at the AmericInn in Osage told the Globe Gazette hotel management would not comment on the incident. It's unclear if Bartels is still employed there.

Front desk staff initially assigned the group a new room so Bartels would not know where they were staying in the hotel. In the hallway, Luca Mills said, Bartels shouted, "Those queers need to die." Her husband voiced agreement with her as he tried to remove her from the situation.

Luca Mills said at this point, believing Bartels was drunk, the group decided to leave. Young and Thomas would get back in the car and drive the 10 hours back to Michigan and The Mills' would return to their home.

Bartels and her husband, Dale White, met the group in the parking lot, Luca Mills said. The couple continued to swear, call them names and encroach on the space of the group. One was pushed. According to the Mitchell County Sheriff report, White is 6 feet tall and 280 pounds.

At 10:38, over one hour after the harassment began, Luca Mills called police.

The investigation was brief. Mitchell County deputies reported Bartels admitted to the harassment and the marijuana possession. She also resisted arrest. White was charged with interference with official acts for impeding deputies' access to Bartels during the struggle.

The Millses and Young and Thomas are grateful for the seriousness with which deputies took the allegations. The group said they felt respected by deputies and that they handled the situation well.

"The cops told us we didn't deserve this," said Luca Mills. "I talked to Mitchell County Attorney William Baresel and he said there is enough evidence to charge a hate crime."

Luca Mills attended a rally in Mason City's Central Park April 19 and took to the podium to tell his story. Through a shaking voice he reminded those assembled that protecting each other takes awareness and compassion.

"Speak up about things," Luca Mills said. "Not just a hate crime, but when friends and family make comments. Protect yourself by speaking up. If there's anything to be learned from this, it's 'remember what your mom told you. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.'"

Ashley Bartels could not be reached for this report.
By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) - The Trump administration told the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday that "dangerous behavior" from a group of Venezuelan migrants detained by the federal government in Texas justified lifting a court order blocking their immediate deportation.

The administration said in a court filing that 23 migrants at a Texas detention facility had "recently barricaded themselves in a housing unit for several hours and threatened to take hostages and harm ICE officers."

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The Supreme Court last month temporarily blocked the government from deporting dozens of migrants after lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union asked it to intervene on an emergency basis.

The administration's Monday filing said the 23 detainees behind the alleged disruption at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, were moved to the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on May 4.

Lee Gelernt, the ACLU's lead attorney in the case, declined to comment on the government's new filing. White House spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spokespeople for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Donald Trump has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport accused members of Tren de Aragua, a criminal gang originating from Venezuelan prisons that his administration labels a terrorist group. The administration already has deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador more than 200 Venezuelan and Salvadoran men it claims are gang members.

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The ACLU said the Alien Enemies Act historically has been employed only in wartime, and that the administration had not given the men a realistic opportunity to contest their removal.

The Supreme Court blocked the administration on April 19 from removing the detainees from the U.S. until further notice from the court. Trump's administration asked the high court to lift its order later that day.

U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer told the justices in the administration's Monday filing that the government should be allowed to deport at least some of the migrants immediately under other federal immigration laws. The government also said that moving the detainees to other U.S. facilities "creates ongoing risks of prison recruitment and expansion of Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang activities within the United States."

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Leigh Jones and Leslie Adler)
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA)  A Danville man has been sentenced to nine years in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing from a Danville storage facility earlier this year.

Court records show that Cory Day, 45, was charged in January with seven counts that included armed violence, possession of a stolen gun, methamphetamine and a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a gun, and burglary. He pleaded not guilty and has been in custody since his arrest.

UPDATE: Bicyclist killed in Danville semi-truck crash

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In addition, Day was facing two other cases for misdemeanor retail theft and a traffic violation for driving with a suspended license.

On Friday, Day reached a plea deal with prosecutors that saw him plead guilty to a Class 2 felony charge of burglary. All other counts in this case, along with all counts in the other two cases, were dismissed.

In a news release, the Vermilion County States Attorneys Office explained that on Jan. 15, Day broke into multiple storage sheds at a facility on Voorhees Street and stole property from those sheds. The property manager reported the theft in progress after seeing it on the remote feed of security cameras.

When officers arrived, they found a hole cut in the surrounding fence and Day still inside the fence. He was found with a bag, a large lamp and a bubblegum dispenser.

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The States Attorneys Office said that after he was arrested, Day admitted to being on the property earlier and stealing from the storage sheds.

Danville man sentenced to prison for aggravated domestic battery, battery while detained

After accepting Days guilty plea, Judge Mark Goodwin sentenced him to nine years in prison, followed by one year of parole. The sentence is to be served at 50% with 114 days of credit for time already served.

I commend the Danville Police Department for their fast response in apprehending this burglar, States Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said in the news release. Thanks to their quick action, a threat to our community has been removed. My office will continue to work with the police to ensure criminals are held accountable.

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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 WCIA.com.
May 13The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), one of the state's oldest heritage organizations, will host its 134th Annual Convention from May 15 to 17 at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Members from across Texas, and across the entire nation will gather to conduct official business, celebrate ongoing preservation efforts, and inspire future generations through education.

This annual convention reflects DRT's mission to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved and maintained Texas independence. Attendees will engage in strategic discussions on historical preservation, hear from esteemed speakers, and explore new initiatives to engage young Texans in the state's rich past.

Founded in 1891, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have been at the forefront of preserving Texas heritage for over a century  maintaining historic sites, protecting important archives, and promoting public education about the state's formative years.

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"This annual gathering is more than just a business meeting  it's a celebration of our shared history and a recommitment to our purpose," Carol Mayo Steakley, the 50th President General of the DRT, said in a news release. "Our members are passionate about ensuring the story of Texas is remembered, honored, and passed down with pride."

This year's convention theme, "A River Runs Through It: The Power of the Pecos in Texas," highlights the cultural and historical significance of the Pecos River. In addition to organizational business sessions, attendees will enjoy presentations and educational programs that explore the river's impact on Texas history.

The public and members of the media are welcome to learn more about the DRT's mission and how to support its work in preserving Texas heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.drtinfo.org.

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas

 Email: [email protected]

 810 San Marcos Street

 Austin, Texas 78702

 512-339-1997

 [email protected]
LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  Officials from Lower Paxton Township are looking to hire 10 full-time firefighters.

The Township said that volunteer forces are the backbone of the Townships fire protection, but they are struggling to attract enough volunteers to cover all the shifts. The 10 full-time employees would help ensure a quick response day and night.

The Township says leaders and members of its three volunteer departments are invited to a meeting at 7 p.m. on May 13 to discuss intentionally hiring full-time firefighters.

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Public safety is our number one priority, and we are looking at whether having a pool of full-time firefighters will help guarantee quick response times, said Supervisors Chairman Allen McCormack Jr. Our goal is to make sure that no matter when a fire or other emergency occurs, we have the staffing to respond.

Lower Paxton currently has 75 active volunteer firefighters in its three companies, according to the Township.

Interested parties can visit the Lower Paxton Township website to learn more about applying to become a full-time firefighter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
(WHTM)  Democratic Senators and former aides of Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) have raised questions over Fettermans health and well-being in recent weeks.

A report from the Associated Press citing sources says Fetterman was repeating himself and pounding on a table. This came following a report from New York Magazine that he is behaving erratically and not staying on top of his health.

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick is a strong advocate for President Donald Trump, which is not a surprise since theyre both Republicans. McCormick is also a staunch defender of Fetterman amid the unflattering reports regarding his health.

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I thought the attacks on him were so vicious, so unfounded, and sort of came out of nowhere, McCormick told Dennis Owens. I think largely because he hasnt been voting in lockstep with his party.

McCormick suspects politics is behind stories from former Fetterman staffers alleging erratic behavior and questioning his fitness to serve. McCormick doesnt see it.

[He is] completely coherent, and on top of the issues, said McCormick. Hes a good partner, and were trying to find ways to work together in Pennsylvania.

Not a good partner, McCormick says, is China. As an undersecretary for George W. Bush, McCormick praised the Chinese. He now supports President Trumps tariffs, hoping they bring about fairer trade. An about-face?

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The other thing thats changed is that in the last 20 years, China has shown itself to be a bad actor, said McCormick. Theyve stolen our intellectual property, theyve had unfair trading agreements, so I think our notion of treating China as the adversary is the right strategy.

Debts and deficits in this country are also adversaries, $36 trillion in debt and counting.

You know, both parties are guilty, said McCormick.

Brett Loper of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation says the real fix will involve tax cuts smaller than Republicans want, and benefit cuts larger than Democrats prefer.

Its going to take both parties deciding theyre willing to take a little bit of political risk on things that they find perhaps sacrosanct, said Loper.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

Like many Republicans, McCormick says he wont support cuts to Medicaid with a caveat.

If those benefits are going to vulnerable single mothers or children, you will see me being a strong advocate for not cutting those, but if those benefits are going to working-age men who choose not to take jobs, then those are where we shouldnt have the benefits, and thats the challenge, said McCormick.

A challenge that, for decades, Congress has failed to solve.

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 ABC27.
A Davenport man has been sentenced to prison after Davenport Police say he eluded them and tried to ram a police cruiser with an officer inside last year.

Charles Wilson III (Scott County Jail)

Charles Wilson III, now 21, pled guilty to a count of eluding  25 mph over the limit, second or subsequent offense on February 12 in Scott County Court in Davenport. Counts of first-degree criminal mischief, assault on persons in certain occupations and driving while barred were dismissed. He was sentenced on May 7 to a term not to exceed 10 years in the Iowa Department of Corrections, with credit for time served in the Scott County Jail. Wilson was on parole when the incident occurred, violating the terms of his release. The 10-year sentence is to be served consecutively, or after the remainder of the sentence in the earlier case. The sentencing order said consecutive sentences were warranted due to the nature of the offense and the fact that he was on parole at the time. He must also pay $7,139.77 in restitution to the Davenport Police Department.

Wilson was arrested last June after the SUV he was driving failed to stop at two stop signs and eluded police at speeds over the posted limit. The pursuit ended on Grand Avenue, when Wilsons SUV tried to ram through a Davenport Police cruiser with lights and sirens activated and an officer inside.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A local non-profit has received a donation of nearly $25,000 from the Dayton chapter of 100+ Women Who Care.

Access to Excess fights food insecurity by rescuing surplus items from the food industry and then redistributing this food to those who need it.

Founded by Jen Burns in 2019, ATE has rescued over 1,150,000 pounds of food, including its one-millionth pound rescued in January 2025. The organization is on track to rescue over 500,000 pounds of food through the end of this year.

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Urgent help needed to fight food insecurity in Bellbrook-Sugarcreek

100+ Women Who Care in Dayton has donated over $1.5 million to local nonprofits since 2007. ATE will use the funds to build a pole barn at their property on Olive Road.

This is such an incredible opportunity for us and we could not be more excited, said ATE Assistant Director Kelly Burns. This award will help us to expand our outreach and rescue even more food.

To learn more about ATE, 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 WDTN.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said they are looking for a person of interest in a shooting that left two women hurt in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Just minutes before 3:30 a.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 600 block of H Street NW. There, they found evidence of a shooting, but no victims.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DC police investigating after 2 women shot on H Street in Northwest

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A short time later, MPD said two women arrived at a nearby hospital suffering from gunshot wounds sustained in the incident on H Street. They were both treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

On Monday, MPD released surveillance images of a person of interest.

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Anyone who has information related to the incident is encouraged to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or to text the departments tip line at 50411.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police are searching for a man who was accused of trying to assault people with a broken glass bottle.

Around 9:45 p.m. on May 6, officers responded to the 1600 block of 7th Street, Northwest. Upon arrival, police learned that the man had attempted to stab the victim with the broken bottle before leaving the establishment.

Amtrak trains canceled, delayed after fire raged through warehouse in Baltimore

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Once outside, the man then approached another person sitting in their vehicle.

A struggle ensued, and the man allegedly threatened the person before fleeing the area.

(Photo Courtesy: MPD)

No injuries were reported.

D.C. police encourage anyone who may know the person, shown in the pictures above, to call 202-727-9099.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
Authorities are investigating after a body was recovered from the Merrimack River on Monday night.

According to the New Hampshire State Police, troopers from the Troop D barracks responded to Hooksett around 6:14 p.m. for a report of a person found deceased in the river.

The identity of the deceased party is being held pending an autopsy and next of kin notification.

Police say there is no known threats to the public at this time.

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Troopers were assisted by members of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the Hooksett Police Department, and the Hooksett Fire Rescue Department.

No further information was immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Twenty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that youth under the age of 18 should not be executed due to their diminished culpability compared to adults. Since then, further scientific discovery in the field of adolescent brain science demonstrates that the brain is not fully developed until the mid-20s, suggesting that further protections are warranted for those facing execution at a young age.

One such individual is Benjamin Ritchie, whom the state of Indiana plans to execute May 20.

Ritchie was 20 when he killed Beech Grove police officer William Toney during an auto theft gone wrong. Growing up, Ritchie suffered extensive brain damage due to partial fetal alcohol syndrome and childhood exposure to neurotoxins. His functional age at the time of his crime was closer to that of a teenager. Such childhood abuses were cited as the likely cause of his cognitive impairment, diagnosed at age 10.

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Ritchies case exemplifies why additional protections against execution are needed for adolescents, particularly those with impairments that delay brain development. His jury never heard evidence about his brain damage or expert testimony explaining why, at age 20, his brain was still developing. If sentenced today, it is very unlikely that he would receive a death sentence.

Writing for the majority in Roper v. Simmons two decades ago, Justice Anthony Kennedy noted, The differences between juvenile and adult offenders are too marked and well understood to risk allowing a youthful person to receive the death penalty despite insufficient culpability. He continued, Drawing the line at 18 years of age is subject, of course, to the objections always raised against categorical rules. The qualities that distinguish juveniles from adults do not disappear when an individual turns 18.

Indeed, recent decisions reflect the evolving scientific understanding of youth. This year, the Michigan Supreme Court extended its ruling in People v. Parks  which deemed mandatory life without parole unconstitutional for 18-year-olds  to include 19- and 20-year-olds. A recent report from the Death Penalty Information Center notes that courts and legislatures are increasingly recognizing evidence supporting extending protections to 18-to-20-year-olds. The American Bar Association also favors extending Roper protections to those 21 and younger.

Opinion: Indiana's ultrasound video requirement defies parents' rights on sex ed

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Over recent years, death sentences for 18- to 20-year-olds have declined, suggesting shifting public opinion and growing discomfort with executing young people, who are more likely to make impulsive decisions of poor judgment but also possess greater capacity for growth and positive change.

I know this capacity for change firsthand. As a child welfare runaway who came from a deeply traumatic and non-nurturing environment, I was also guilty and became deeply remorseful for my involvement in the loss of another childs life in my community. Because I had already accumulated over 19 arrests and seven convictions, the judge said I was incorrigible, that I would never change.

But I did. I earned my degrees, created a family, dedicated my life to reform and now support other formerly extreme-sentenced youth as the executive director of a nonprofit organization. Over my decades of experience working with individuals who committed serious crimes as young people, Ive witnessed not only their capacity for change but also their unique capabilities to heal others.

During his first clemency hearing, a demonstrably remorseful Ritchie explained that he tries to honor Toneys legacy by helping other young men who enter prison reject a life of crime and never reoffend. The pain and suffering he has caused Toneys family will never be excused nor subside, and as Ive seen possible in my own life and the lives of countless others, Ritchie can live out his eternal apology to help other youth avoid the choices he made, doing more good with his life.

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It is a horrific reality that children who experience serious harm and significant neglect are more likely to get caught up in cycles of violence. Putting a stop to the execution of Ritchie is a decision not to further contribute to the cycle of violence that has defined his life and so many other children and youth in our legal system.

Xavier McElrath-Bey is the executive director of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. The nonprofit has advanced scientifically sound legal protections for youth nationwide since 2009.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana will execute Benjamin Ritchie. Braun should halt it. | Opinion
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  A Decatur man is facing 15 felony counts alleging that he traded child pornography last year, while, according to him, he was high on drugs.

Court records show that Tyler Pulliam, 34, was arrested earlier this year following a month-long investigation into his activity over the messaging app Kik. Hes been charged with the following counts involving child pornography:

9 counts of reproducing or selling child pornography

4 counts of possessing film or photos of child pornography

2 counts of reproducing a moving depiction of child pornography

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On top of that, Pulliam is also facing a misdemeanor count of possessing a firearm without a FOID card.

Machete-, shotgun-wielding man shot by officers in Macon arraigned

In a sworn statement filed in the case, Decatur Police Detective Timothy Wisniewski said the investigation started in February when the Illinois Attorney Generals Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip was eventually passed to Decatur Police because the IP address was registered to a Decatur address.

The tip came from Kik, whose administrators observed on Aug. 14 a late-night uploading of 11 files that contained apparent child pornography. The account that made that upload  brattybratty7  also logged into Kik several times on July 30 and July 31 and uploaded two composite images consisting of smaller images, each depicting children under the age of 13 engaged in sex.

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I also observed Kik account brattybratty7 sent a selfie-style photograph of a white male to another Kik user on 7-31-2025which was sent during the timeframe this account was disseminating files containing child pornography to other Kik users, Wisniewski said. The white male appeared to be Tyler based on my review of the body-worn camera video from the theft report he made in January 2025.

Wisniewski said all of the files uploaded to Kik were sent using the same IP address, which was registered to the Comcast account of a home on Division Street near Main and Water Streets.

Taylorville Police arrest dangerous felon after tracking him to their city

Detectives served a search warrant for this home on March 28. They seized multiple computers and cell phones, one of which was found in Pulliams bedroom. The computers data showed that the email associated with the Kik account uploading child pornography was stored in the Google Chrome browser.

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Wisniewski said that during a mirandized interview, Pulliam admitted to previously using Kik but couldnt remember his username. Pulliam added that he has multiple email accounts that only he has access to  Wisniewski said one of those email accounts is associated with the Kik account uploading child pornography.

Tyler discussed having prior strange late-night conversations of sexual nature with other people on Kik, Wisniewski said. Tyler claimed he did not know when these conversations occurred but said they typically occurred when he was using ecstasy or hallucinogenic drugs.

Pulliam added that he is the only user of the computer found in his bedroom.

The search of the home also revealed that Pulliam had a silver .25 caliber pistol and ammunition. His mother and aunt, who live in the home with him, denied ownership of the gun and said they rarely go upstairs, which is primarily Pulliams area of the house.

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Pulliam does not possess a valid FOID card or a concealed carry license, Wisniewski said.

UPDATE: Driver in deadly Mattoon nursing home crash pleads not guilty

Pulliam was arrested after the search of his home and was booked into the Macon County Jail. Except for his court hearings, hes been there ever since; he was denied pretrial release by Judge Lindsey Shelton.

Waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, Pulliam pleaded not guilty to all 16 of the counts against him. He is due back in court on June 6 for a pretrial hearing.

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 WCIA.com.
Simply not the case: Decatur Mayor defends officer following claim they posed as HR employee to get info on new chief

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  According to Mayor Tab Bowling, Councilman Billy Jackson created another false narrative by saying that a Decatur police officer posed as a human resources employee to get information about incoming police chief Torry Mack.

Bowling said during a news conference on Tuesday that he had spoken to the officer involved, who said he did not do what Jackson claimed he had.

He said he didnt do it, and I believe him. He is one of the most respected officers that wears the uniform, the mayor said.

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When asked if Bowling had spoken to Jackson, he said he had not and he would not.

This news conference was prompted by comments made during Mondays City Council Work Session, where Jackson said that an administrative officer at the Decatur Police Department had contacted the Fultondale Police Chief Marcel Walker last Thursday, claiming to work in the human resources department.

This followed a vote on May 5 by the Decatur City Council to move past the final hiring steps and appoint Torry Mack as the next Decatur Police Chief.

Former Decatur Police Officer Mac Marquette appeals denial of immunity claim, trial moved to September

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Councilman Jackson said the officer then proceeded to ask questions about the soon-to-be-chief. The councilman added that Walker and Mack had worked together for a long time, and he had nothing bad to say about the new chief.

Jackson said that Walker also allowed the officer to speak with his wife, who had worked with Mack at the police academy in Birmingham.

He went on and he asked for information about Captain Mack and he wanted the bad and the good, the councilman said. Apparently, it wasnt what the administrative officer was looking for So it was a short conversation, according to Chief Walker.

News 19 spoke with Jackson about the conference

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Bowling was asked if Jackson would face any sort of punishment or ramifications for these claims. He replied, It comes at the ballot box, but that wont happen.

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 WHNT.com.
Paul Avery, 54 (photo courtesy of the village of Enon).

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The village of Enon is mourning the death of a council member.

The village announced Monday that Paul Avery, 54, died on Sunday, May 11.

The village offered a tribute to the councilman saying he was a dedicated public servant who will be greatly missed.

The council is made up of 6 members who are each elected on overlapping 4-year terms.

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.
May 13A Deering High School student was mistakenly apprehended by South Portland police during their lunch period Wednesday afternoon.

The student was one block away from the school when he was detained and later released, according to a letter sent to the school by the principal, Jake Giessman.

"The student was released shortly after police realized he wasn't the person they were looking for, but the incident was upsetting to the student involved and to other Deering students who witnessed it," the letter read.

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Portland Public Schools confirmed that South Portland police "mistakenly" detained the student during lunch hour, when the high school allows students to leave campus for lunch. The "intended subject" of the police apprehension is not a student at Portland Public Schools, and there is no risk to the Deering High School community, Giessman wrote in the letter.

A spokesperson for the South Portland Police Department did not immediately respond to questions about the incident, including why the student was mistaken as a suspect, what he was accused of and how he was apprehended.

This story will be updated.

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Glen Casada's defense team, including attorneys Ed Yarbrough, front center, and Johnathan Farmer, front right, walk out of the Fred D. Thompson Federal Courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Photograph by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout 2025

Defense attorneys tried to poke holes Monday in the corruption case against a former Tennessee House speaker and his ex-top aide, saying they were starting a small political consulting company and simply made mistakes.

During closing arguments, Nashville defense attorney Ed Yarbrough said federal prosecutors twisted the law to create a litany of charges against his client, Glen Casada.

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Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, are charged with 19 counts of bribery, kickbacks, fraud and money laundering connected to a secretive political vendor named Phoenix Solutions that operated from late 2019 to mid-2020.

Casada and Cothren are accused of hiding Cothrens role in Phoenix Solutions after he resigned from his state job in early 2019 in the midst of a racist and sexist texting scandal. Former Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson pleaded guilty to one charge three years ago and testified against the pair in hopes of getting a lesser sentence.

Yarbrough cast doubt on whether the federal charges filed against his client and Cothren even amounted to criminal activity, instead saying they were amateur business people who made rookie errors.

Cothren and Casada declined to testify in the trial, and the defense called no witnesses as it entered the fourth week.

Yarbrough argued that the missing elephant in the room was House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who didnt testify either. Testimony showed he had authority to approve vendors for the states postage and printing program in which House members receive $3,000 annually for constituent mailers but allowed Phoenix Solutions to do work even though the state slow-walked payments to the company and consulting businesses owned by Casada and Smith. The defense also said a state handbook on the program didnt have an official vendor approval process, only the payment protocol handled by former Legislative Administration Director Connie Ridley and ultimate approval by the Speakers office.

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How can you possibly convict anybody when you dont know what Cameron Sexton would have said? Yarbrough asked the jury.

Sexton was expected to be one of the prosecutions star witnesses, along with Smith, and the defense subpoenaed him to testify, but neither side called him to the stand.

Cothren had said previously that he helped Sexton win the Speakers election after Casada stepped down in 2019, citing a list of text messages and phone calls. But those werent among the main pieces of evidence in the trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Ellison made a portion of the prosecutions closing argument, saying Cothren came up with a private business and used two state legislators to tap into state funds, which were described as low-hanging fruit.

Cade Cothren, who served as chief of staff to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, walks to the Fred D. Thompson Federal Courthouse in Nashville on April 22, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

All of them lied, Ellison said, and covered up Cothrens role to receive kickbacks.

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In audio of Casadas interview with FBI agents the morning they raided his Franklin condo five years ago, Casada told agents that Cothren couldnt deal because Speaker Sexton didnt like him. The inadvertent playing of that unreacted recording nearly led to a mistrial last week.

Testimony from former Rep. Patsy Hazlewood and Reps. Jay Reedy and Esther Helton-Haynes showed they wouldnt have allowed Phoenix Solutions to handle their mailers if they had known Cothren was involved because of his role in the scandal.

Ellison told jurors the defendants forged an agreement with Smith to start Phoenix Solutions, which was set up through New Mexicos secretary of state, and to keep Cothrens part in the company secret because he was politically radioactive.

They were eager to make an extra buck, Ellison said, adding Smith and Casada were to use their positions as lawmakers to drum up business and then pressure Ridley to make payments.

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Amid questions about Phoenix Solutions, the Legislative Administration office and Speakers office started requiring vendors to sign a federal W-9 tax form. Cothren signed the document as Matthew Phoenix, the owner of Phoenix Solutions. Cothren also signed a state form for direct bank deposit as Matthew Phoenix.

Ellison said the trio came up with the story that Phoenix Solutions principals had been doing consulting work in Washington but were tired of the Trump/DC atmosphere.

Emails also showed Chip Saltsman, an advisor for Sexton, received information showing the company was run by Matt Cyrus, another bogus character.

If the FBI hadnt shut down the scheme in 2021, it would have made the conspirators an easy stream of money, he said.

Both sides wrapped up arguments Monday and jury deliberation will begin on Tuesday.

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Move over, ladybugs. Delaware now has a state dragonfly: the blue dasher.

The state Dragonfly Project, launched by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, in March, asked students and teachers to learn about and vote for one of six dragonfly species: common green darner, dragonhunter, tiger spiketail, calico pennant, blue-faced meadow hawk and blue dasher.

They chose the blue dasher, Hansen announced May 12, one of the most widespread dragonflies in the country. Blue dashers are more tolerant of disturbed habitats and water pollution than other dragonflies, according to the project website, and can be found along the edge of most bodies of water. They eat small flying insects, including mosquitoes.

A blue dasher.

Hansen will introduce legislation to make the blue dasher Delaware's official state dragonfly in the coming weeks.

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Warding off West Nile: Worried about West Nile virus, other mosquito-borne illnesses? How to protect yourself

Tick bite prevention: Tick season is upon us. Here's what to look out for in Delaware and how to prevent bites

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: This species is Delaware's new state dragonfly
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  A top priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), will now head to the governors desk after the Texas Senate approved minor changes to the legislation on Monday.

Texas voters will have to approve the creation of DPRIT on the Texas ballot in November. If approved by Texans, the institute would receive $3 billion from the general revenue fund over the next 10 years to help accelerate research into Dementia and finding cures.

Texas will become the premier destination for Dementia prevention and research and Texans will have access to the best Dementia care in the world, right here at home. I am proud of the legislatures investment into this endeavor, and I know Texas families will benefit for generations to come, Patrick said in a statement.

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DPRIT is modeled after the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas approved by voters in 2007 with $3 billion in funding. Voters approved another $3 billion in funding for CPRIT in 2019.

The National Institutes of Health reported in 2024 that Alzheimers and related dementia research has advanced in recent years but stressed more needs to be funded to keep finding new answers to a cure and prevention.

This progress helps move us closer to developing effective prevention and treatment options that benefit all Americans, the NIH report reads.

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.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The next time the U.S. House of Representatives District 5 seat appears on the ballot is still more than a year away, however, candidates are already tossing their hats in the ring.

On Monday, Democrat Jeremy Devito held a campaign kickoff breakfast in Huntsville. He met with potential supporters and answered questions on a wide range of issues.

Rep. Dale Strong provides Washington Update at Athens State University

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The next election is going to determine a lot of things for generations to come, Devito told News 19. He said he believes hes the best person to make the decisions for the people of Alabamas 5th District.

In addition to answering questions about abortion and DEI, Devito shared his thoughts on the current Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices. He told News 19 that this is a top issue for him.

Right now, people are being kidnapped, snatched up off the street and not afforded due process, Devito said.

He also said restoring womens rights is a top issue for him.

According to the platform listed on his website, every woman deserves full control over her body, her choices, and her future. That includes access to abortion, birth control, maternal care, and the full range of reproductive healthcare.

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He told News 19, This is a war on women and health care.

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This is Devitos first attempt at any political aspirations. He told News 19 that he has worked behind the scenes as a member of the Limestone County Democratic Executive Committee, but that he was inspired to run and make a change.

While the November 3, 2026, election is still more than 500 days away, he said it was important to get his name out there early and start building a base.

He said it will be challenging to run in a predominantly red district, but that he believes voters need another option. Especially after U.S. Congressman Dale Strong won re-election in 2024 after running unopposed.

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He won the election by default, Devito told News 19.

At a speaking engagement in Athens on Monday, U.S. Representative Dale Strong told a News 19 reporter that he does plan to run in 2026.

Ill be on the ballot in the next election, and I believe our republic is alive and well, Rep. Strong said.

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 WHNT.com.
John Vincent, of Myrtle Beach, launched his campaign for South Carolinas 7th Congressional District on Thursday April 17, 2025, at Victors restaurant in Florence. (Photo courtesy of John Vincent's campaign)

The first Democratic challenger for any of South Carolinas 2026 U.S. House races suspended his campaign Tuesday, less than a month after publicly launching his bid.

John Vincent, who announced his candidacy April 17 in Florence, announced in a Facebook post Tuesday he was suspending his campaign to challenge 7th District Congressman Russell Fry for the seat that spans the Grand Strand and much of the Pee Dee.

John Vincent, a 64-year-old Myrtle Beach resident, has suspended his campaign. (Provided by John Vincent)

The decision comes exactly two months after Vincent filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission establishing his campaign.

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When we decided to enter the congressional race 60 days ago, the country was on fire, rule of law threatened and the needs of this district greater than ever. That has not changed, Vincent wrote on Facebook. What is different for us, after an intense two months, is that the mood in this district, maybe the state, is apathetic.

Neither Vincent nor the state Democratic party responded Tuesday to requests for comment.

When Vincent, a Myrtle Beach resident, officially kicked off his campaign at a restaurant in Florence, he told the SC Daily Gazette he felt certain he could pull off an upset.

His tone changed in Tuesdays post.

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We cant win without people who believe, and this district is not close today, he said.

The closest a Democrat has gotten to winning the 7th District since South Carolina gained it back following the 2010 census was in 2012, the first election with the recrafted voting map. That year, Democrat Gloria Bromell Tinubu received 44% of the vote, losing to Tom Rice, then-chairman of Horry County Council.

Rice, who angered Republicans in the ruby red district for voting to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021, was ousted by Fry.

The 40-year-old won re-election in November with 65% of the vote, the most decisive win for the seat this century.

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Vincent, a Navy veteran who retired in 2003 as command master chief petty officer  one of the branchs highest ranks for enlisted sailors  was hoping to become the first Democrat to represent the Grand Strand since it was part of the states 6th District. Jim Clyburn, the states lone Democrat in Congress, has represented the reconfigured 6th District since 1992.

In Tuesdays post, Vincent said hes received positive feedback, but his crowds are small, and contributions are coming in small batches  probably from people who can barely afford it.

Vincent had $7,500 in his campaign account as of March 31, according to the latest FEC filings. When he spoke with the Daily Gazette last month, he said his account had grown to $30,000.

That compares to more than $625,000 Fry had on hand at the end of March, according to his FEC filing.

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Those who can afford it, have a wait-and-see attitude, steeped in apathy that might not change until its too late to win, Vincent wrote.

Albeit brief, Vincents experience as a candidate doesnt bode well for the party in a state where the GOP is becoming more dominant with every election cycle.

While hes not completely closing the book on his campaign, Vincent said he will focus on political activism so future Democrats eyeing a congressional bid dont have the same experience he did.

We need to wake up this district, the state, and the country, to what is happening and what we could lose, he said. We will aim to create better conditions for candidates.

Other potential challengers

Since Vincent announced his bid last month, two other Democrats have submitted paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the U.S. House in next years elections.

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Alex Harper, an assistant solicitor in York and Union counties, filed his statement of candidacy form on April 25 for the 5th District, represented by Ralph Norman since 2017. The Rock Hill developer is mulling a run for governor.

Harper is participating in a meet-and-greet event Tuesday evening in Tega Cay.

David Robinson II of Columbia filed with the FEC on Saturday to again challenge 2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson. The Lexington County Republican won re-election last November with 60% of the vote.

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Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., discusses President Trump's Middle East trip and reports that Trump will accept a $400 million luxury plane from the Qatari government to replace the current Air Force One. Sen. Gallego also discusses his immigration overhaul proposal.
The shadow Democratic presidential primary is kicking off, with potential contenders ramping up their appearances in key battleground states.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is slated to take part in a VoteVets town hall in the early-contest state of Iowa on Tuesday, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is set to headline the South Carolina Democratic Partys Blue Palmetto Dinner later this month. And Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) attended a town hall in the critical swing county of Bucks County, Pa., on Saturday.

The visits come as Democrats struggle to form a cohesive message in the second Trump era following a slew of losses in 2024. But the partys strategists argue the emerging shadow primary is not as much about ideology but rather about who can land the most effective punch against Republicans.

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Thats where youre seeing some of the cream rise to the top, said Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and former senior adviser to former Vice President Kamala Harris. Who understands this moment, can command attention and can move the ball forward?

Democrats have grappled with how to respond to President Trump and Republicans control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, but some of the potential 2028 hopefuls have already begun showcasing their responses.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) called for mass protests, mobilization, and disruption against the Trump administration, saying last month that Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has taken a different approach. While Whitmer has been critical of Trump, she notably worked closely with him and Michigan Republicans to secure funding for Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Last month, Whitmer greeted Trump with a hug on the tarmac when he traveled to the state to announce the funding.

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The energy that people are feeling now and the demand that Democrats are trying to meet for voters may not be the same demand in four years, said Dan Kannien, a Democratic strategist and former battleground states director for Harris. Theres this real imperative at the moment to fight, and you see JB Pritzker doing this and really taking on Trump directly and assertively on a host of issues.

And then you see Gretchen Whitmer taking a slightly different tack, where shes fighting in some areas but shes also fighting for her constituents with respect to the military base, for example. And being willing stand with Trump and Republicans to get things done.

Former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz is another governor who has emerged as a leading Democratic voice in the second Trump era. The Minnesota leader is slated to headline state Democratic Party conventions in South Carolina and California.

Asked by The New Yorkers David Remnick in an interview earlier this year if he would run for president in 2028, Walz quoted a friend of his by replying, Never turn down a job you havent been offered.

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If I think I could offer something  I would certainly consider that, Walz said in the interview. Im also, though, not arrogant enough to believe theres a lot of people that can do this.

Meanwhile other Democratic governors, including Californias Gavin Newsom and Kentuckys Andy Beshear, have sought to raise their national profiles ahead of potential 2028 runs by launching podcasts.

Newsom has used his show to find common ground with conservatives, interviewing MAGA influencers such as Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon. Beshears podcast has been billed as a forum to have honest conversations with guests from diverse backgrounds  leaders, educators, innovators, creators, and everyday people with extraordinary stories.

Some Democrats are skeptical the medium is the best use of a platform.

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I dont think politicians should have podcasts like that, Nellis said. If youre Gavin Newsom, youre leading the fourth largest economy on the planet. Why are you doing a podcast?

Youre the governor of a state. You can command the attention that you want, he said.

Some Senate Democrats also appear to be testing out the idea of a 2028 run through raising their own public profiles. Gallego acknowledged last week that he has thought about a potential White House bid down the line.

Has it ever crossed my mind? Fing of course; Im an elected official, it crosses my mind, Gallego said, calling the question a land mine. Am I thinking about it right now? Absolutely not.

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However, the junior senator raised eyebrows by participating in the Pennsylvania town hall over the weekend. During the forum, Gallego argued Democrats are in the position the party is in today because we started kicking people out of our tent.

I represent a state that has 330,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, Gallego said. You have to get a lot of votes, and that means were going to have to have alliances with people that we may not agree with 100 percent of the time, right?

Gallego rolled out his own immigration plan Monday, seeking to present a solution to a policy area various Democrats arguably lost out on last November. Gallego is one of the few notable exceptions, having defeated Republican Kari Lake last year.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) has also stirred questions about a potential Senate leadership role or a White House bid in the future, particularly following his 25-hour speech on the Senate floor at the start of last month.

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You have Booker doing the filibuster, which I thought was incredible and came at a moment when people were desperate for a Democratic leader to step forward and take action. Cory was willing to literally stand up for 25 hours and say, This is messed up, Nellis said.

Democrats argue the partys strategy for taking on Republicans in 2028 will likely change from where it is now.

Fighting Trump in this moment, which is a bare minimum, is completely different from what it will take to inspire the nation in a presidential race, said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

For that we need a forward-looking vision and someone who drips and oozes authenticity when they promise to shake up a broken economic and political system.

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The News

House Democrats top tax writer has a plan for pushing back on the GOPs big, beautiful bill  and it mostly involves calling out Republicans inconsistency.

Theyre wobbly on this stuff, House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard Neal, D-Mass., told Semafor at his Washington office Monday. Theyre very uncertain of where theyre headed. And they know the political consequences, because I talked to a couple of them already.

House Republicans are hoping to get the tax portion of the bill out of committee on Tuesday. Neal plans to make that task as hard as he can by leading panel Democrats in calling out the bills omission of proposals like higher tax rates for upper-income Americans and venture capitalists  both ideas that President Donald Trump has said hed support  and its impact on the federal deficit.

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The central messaging goal for Democrats: convincing voters that the tax bill aids the wealthy, not the middle class.

We could reach a deal with them on probably 98% of all this, Neal said. We just object to the idea that the rich arent paying more.

The View From Richard Neal

Eleanor Mueller: Whats the best way for Democrats to push back on Republicans tax plans from the minority?

Richard Neal: Theyre on the back foot right now. Clearly, the numbers dont add up. And theyre avoiding any specificity, because they know what the reaction is going to be from the American people to cutting Medicaid.

Its part of a longer saga here, and that is the pathology now of tax with the Republican Party. Ive heard every variation, as you might expect: There are arguments that tax cuts pay for themselves. No, they dont. Then I remember the Republican whip, during the Iraq War, saying that it was patriotic to cut taxes in a time of war. I mean, thank God Lincoln didnt subscribe to that.

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And then the latest: its going to give us extraordinary economic growth. Well, wheres the truthfulness of that? So Ive heard all their arguments flat and round  and it still strikes me that theyre pretty unsure of where theyre heading.

They complain about the debt on Monday  and then they add $4 trillion to it on Tuesday. Im astounded how theyve rejected general Republican orthodoxy about balanced budgets and all of those things, and embraced this populist fervor that just doesnt square with mathematics.

Do you think Americans believe that this bill benefits the wealthy, given how much Republicans are messaging around benefitting working people?

Yeah. I mean, theyre also figuring out what theyre paying right now. Again, I noticed just in buying some cereal over the weekend  pretty good jack-up in price.

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The other part of it is, I understand where the [no taxes on tips] argument might be, but do you really want to move down the road with encouraging employers to eventually just to pay people the tips?

The danger there is, that will discourage employers from giving pay raises. And on the Social Security side, I also think that if its not paid for, then you are harming the Social Security Trust.

Did you ever think that you and Chip Roy would be on the same side of things?

Im generally more consistent. Hes on the same side until the two-minute warning of the big game. Its part of a pattern now that Ive seen since the advent of televising floor proceedings and all of that: If you can rail at the microphone, maybe people will forget how you really voted.

Do you think Republicans fail to advance the bill?

They all say theyre against it, and then they all fold. I always say, its in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, and Trump gets on the phone, and the arithmetic doesnt have to work  he just says, Do it. And they jump in line.

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So I dont get excited when I hear them say, Were not going to do this.

How can Democrats run on this next year?

It ought to be an easy opportunity to message. Just whats happened in the last couple of weeks with this, trying to explain it  theyre not putting it out. Theyre putting it out in parts. And perhaps one of the biggest issues that confronts the Republican Party is the issue of [the state and local tax deduction]  and theyre neither here nor there on that.

When people see the distribution tables of who gets what  that drives people to the polls.

They are at it with each other, let alone everyone else, over health care. Theres a downside to withdrawing a benefit thats perceived as an expansion of an opportunity.

Whats missing from the tax conversation at this point?

Bipartisanship. We could reach a deal with them on probably 98 percent of all this. We just object to the idea that the rich arent paying more. Theyre at 37 [% in taxes for the highest-earning Americans]; jack that back to 39.6, we could have a smaller deal.

Are there any backup plans being made behind the scenes if this falls apart?

No. I think the Senate is going to crush what they want to do. You cant even tell them to show up for press conferences.






More than a hundred House Democrats issued a letter Tuesday urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reject the shortsighted and dangerous plan to eliminate suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration released its budget for the agency, seeking to slash health care cuts and gut an array of mental health programs, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifelines specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth.

Democrats, including Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) signed on to the letter underscoring the importance of protecting this funding.

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Surely you can agree that every American deserves the resources necessary to prevent suicide and self-injury, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the letter states.

Consideration of cutting off this life-saving resource to vulnerable youth and young adults goes against best practices in suicide prevention, the letter continues. We urge that you scrap this ill-advised plan. Our nations children deserve nothing less.

HHS did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), joined by six Senate Democrats, sent a similar letter on May 7 calling the proposed funding cuts reckless.

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The 988 lifeline, funded by the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration, is a nationwide suicide and crisis hotline. In 2023, 988 began offering services tailored to LGBTQ+ youth to address rising mental health disparities and saw an average of 2,100 contacts per day.

LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely than their peers to attempt suicide, and they experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, bullying and harassment. Trans youth in particular experience high rates of suicidality alongside other factors like lack of familial and school support compared to their peers.

Research has overwhelmingly shown that the rise of anti-trans legislation over the last five years has had a negative impacton the mental health of trans youth. In particular, The Trevor Project, a non-profit LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization, reported a 700% increase in contacts to their services in the days after the 2024 presidential election.

The Trevor Project is just one of several mental health providers that make up the LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork, which partners with the 988 Lifeline. In the past, the network has received around $50 million in federal funds annually via SAMSHA to run its services.

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Funding is now in jeopardy as the Trump administration has laid out plans to gut a wide array of social safety nets for vulnerable communities, urging states not to use Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care, and threatening to withhold funding from hospitals and clinics that do provide such care to trans youth.

Earlier this month, RFK Jr. released a 409-page review of gender-affirming care for youth that contradicts decades of research on trans health care. The authors of the review, who remain unnamed, promote psychotherapy as a noninvasive alternative to treatments like hormone therapy and puberty blockers. LGBTQ+ advocates have denounced the review for recommending conversion therapy  a long discredited and dangerous practice built on the belief that being trans or gay is a mental illness that needs to be cured.

The draft budget also includes plans to cut mental health services geared toward children, incarcerated youth, indigenous communities, unhoused people and people living with HIV.

The elimination of these services would go into effect in October, but the changes to HHS would first need to be approved by Congress.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
The top Democrat on the congressional committee that oversees the Library of Congress, Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), is calling for an investigation into the White Houses recent actions involving the library and the U.S. Copyright Office.

In a letter sent to the Library of Congress Inspector General, a group of Democrats led by Morelle asked Kimberly Benoit to look into whether the White House had, yet again, infringed on the legislative branch with its recent firing of the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden and appointment of an acting director. They also questioned whether the executive branch had improperly orchestrated the transfer of congressional files. An excerpt of the letter:

The abrupt firing of Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden raises serious concerns that the executive branch is improperly targeting the Library and its employees with adverse employment actions and inappropriate requests for information including, but not limited to, confidential communications between congressional offices and the Librarys various service units. The Library is part of the legislative branchan independent and coequal branch of government. The executive branch has no authority to demand or receive confidential legislative branch data, and the Library has no legal basis to supply such information without authorization from Congress.

The Trump administrations recent actions involving the Library of Congress, a legislative branch agency, and the U.S. Copyright Office, a government agency within the Library of Congress, has set off alarms. On Thursday, Trump fired Hayden, the first woman and the first Black person to serve as the Librarian of Congress. The Justice Department announced on Monday that deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, who previously represented Trump in court, would replace Hayden. On Saturday, the White House fired the director of the copyright office, Shira Perlmutter. She was fired one day after her agency put out a report that raised concerns about feeding copyrighted material into AI training software.

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The separation-of-powers concerns tied to Trumps firing of one person and appointing of another in an interim capacity to a legislative branch agency remain thorny, alarming and unclear. Even Republican leadership in Congress made a rare acknowledgment that something improper may have taken place. Per Politico:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a brief interview that congressional leaders want to make sure were following precedent and procedure in naming a replacement for Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress whom Trump dismissed Thursday.

Theres More

To add to the confusion and disconcert about whether we have another separation-of-powers overreach on our hands, it appears that two men who claimed to be new officials appointed by  or at least given new authorities by  the Trump administration tried to enter the U.S. Copyright Office on Monday, but were not able to gain access to the building and left. Wired broke the story. A spokesperson for the Capitol Police said that officers did not deny anyone entry to the building.

Two key excerpts from their reporting:

A source familiar with the matter tells WIRED that the two men who tried to enter the Copyright Office showed security at the building a document stating that they had been appointed by the White House to new roles within the office. The source identified the men as Brian Nieves, who claimed he was the new deputy librarian, and Paul Perkins, who said he was the new acting director of the Copyright Office, as well as acting register. It is unclear whether the men accurately identified themselves.

The document the two men cited also stated that deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, who previously served as a personal defense lawyer for Trump, was now the acting Librarian of Congress. The Department of Justice announced Monday that Blanche would be replacing Hayden, who had been in the job for nearly a decade.

House Republicans Release Legislative Text On Medicaid Cuts

It appears that some of the most unpopular (among House Republicans) potential cuts to Medicaid  per-capita limits on Medicaid spending and sweeping cuts to the federal governments spending on the Medicaid expansion population under Obamacare  will not be considered as part of Trumps big, beautiful budget bill. But Republicans are still pushing to make sweeping cuts to the social safety net program in other ways, primarily making it more difficult to qualify for coverage through things like work requirements, citizenship checks, more intense screenings and taxes on providers, and more.

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One key element of the text that falls in line with the Trump administrations broader attack on blue states and sanctuary cities: Republicans propose cutting a chunk of federal funding for Medicaid in states that allow undocumented residents to use Medicaid services.

The legislative text could still change during tomorrows committee markup meetings. The House Energy and Commerce Committees meeting begins at 2:00 p.m. ET.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A Denver woman is warning people of a scam that she recently fell victim to on a popular dog walking app.

Mia Rickman joined Wag in 2018.

Its been a significant part of my income, she said.

The app is similar to Uber for dog walkers. Anyone needing their dogs walked can put out a job listing and hire people like Rickman to make it happen. She said a seemingly normal account booked her over the weekend.

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Lawmakers send rideshare safety measure to governors desk on last day of session

Messaged me and asked me to talk before accepting the booking, said Rickman.

She sent her phone number and shortly after, her phone started to light up.

I got these text messages stating that it was Wag! support and I needed to verify my account, said Rickman.

She called the number, which she thought looked official, and said the person on the phone spoke aggressively and threatened to ban her account.

The first five seconds were terrorizing and traumatic, I didnt even know what was going on, she said. He literally froze me.

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Rickman said they then started asking for account info like her email and password, which she reluctantly gave them. The person then logged into the apps money transfer service, Stripe, which holds the users money until paying out on Fridays or releasing it instantly for a fee.

To update my payout method from my debit card to his debit card and once I did that, he was able to transfer my funds, said Rickman.

Just over $100 was in the account at the time, all gone in an instant. Once that happened, the person ended communication.

Denver sheriff warns residents to avoid jury duty text message scam

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I felt violated. I feel like somebody went to my house and went through my things, says Rickman.

Fox 31 reached out to Wag about the incident. A spokesperson says the apps community guidelines prohibit sharing personal contact information. The company said, in part:

We frequently remind our users not to share such information, as its a common tactic used by scammers. Additionally, we regularly provide in-app warnings and email reminders that Wag! will never ask for passwords or login codes over the phone or text.

Rickman said she chose to share her story in hopes that others wont fall victim to similar scams and has decided she wont be using the service anymore.

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Im going to continue to grow my business off the app, she said.

Not long after speaking with FOX31, Rickman said she received an email from Wag saying that they would not be able to refund her money. She reported the incident to the Colorado Attorney Generals office Monday morning and hopes the scammer is found.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  Denver police are investigating a reported stabbing east of the University of Denver Tuesday afternoon, and a DU alert asked people to avoid the area before police cleared the area.

The stabbing reportedly happened near Evans Avenue and Josephine Street, according to a Denver police X post from 12:33 p.m., and a DU Campus Safety alert a few minutes later reports heavy police activity a block away near Asbury Avenue and Josephine Street.

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Police said they have located one victim in unknown condition. Police later said they believe the stabbing was self-inflicted.

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A second DU Campus Safety alert sent at 12:52 p.m. says there is no threat to the campus community, and a third one sent at 1:11 p.m. said police and Campus Safety have cleared the area.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Sheriffs Department is warning about a new text message scam that targets victims by saying they are being summoned to jury duty.

Major Michelle Kim told FOX31 that the scammers pose as officers of the court.

Current events scams surge after death of Pope Francis

Its a trust factor and for some can also be intimidating, she said.

The text tells victims they are required to make an appearance at Denver District Court, and even lists an address and phone number. The message warns that missing a court date may lead to a warrant for your arrest, but it offers a link for opting out.

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It can give them access to your information as well as your device, said Kim.

The scammers typically send three texts to the same person. The first says, Have you made plans so you can attend your court date tomorrow? The second offers a friendly reminder, and the third, a final reminder.

Kim reminds anyone receiving one of these texts that the Department would not use text messages for this type of notification.

We at the Denver Sheriffs Department will never send a text message, we wont ever make any kind of phone calls requesting any kind of payment, and that is through the Colorado court system as well, she said.

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Vision Zero plan sets 2030 goal to address driver and pedestrian safety

FOX31 spoke to residents who say they are tired of being bombarded with all sorts of text message scams.

I dont want to hear from them, its terrible, said one man who receives seven scam texts per day.

Kim says that regardless of the type of scam text, never click on links from unknown or suspicious senders. If you receive any text or email saying you have an issue with police or the courts, contact the courts directly.



To find out if you have actually received a real jury summons, contact the Colorado Jury Commissioners Office for Denver, denverjury@judicial.state.co.us, or call 303-606-2305.

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Report scams to the Colorado State Attorney Generals office here. You may also call the Denver District Attorneys Office Fraud Hotline at 720-913-9179.



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.
Brian knew when he graduated from high school in 2013 that he couldnt afford a bachelors on his own. Undocumented and unable to qualify for federal financial aid, he decided to enroll at community college and chip away at his associate degree a couple of classes at a time, using the money he earned as a deejay.

Brian came to the United States from Mexico when he was just 2 years old. He had no idea how he would pay for a four-year degree until he won a scholarship designed for students like him. A business management major, he graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2020 and now lives in Virginia, where he works in education policy and also owns several rental properties.

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I always pushed myself, but the biggest push of all came from my parents, said Brian, a lawful permanent resident who asked to be identified by his first name only for fear he could be targeted for removal by the Trump administration. They would ask us to pursue our education because thats why they came here. They wanted us to make a better life than what they were able to.

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College graduates like Brian with temporary immigration statuses might not be the primary focus of President Donald Trumps aggressive deportation effort, but they are no less alarmed by the forced removal of those with similar vulnerability.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (left) arrives as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during the National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral on January 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Much of the nations attention has fallen on undocumented laborers  an Episcopal bishop pleaded with Trump at the National Prayer Service in January to show mercy to the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals but the administrations deportation scope is widening and has grown to ensnare those on college campuses.

More than 1.7 million of the nations 11 million undocumented immigrants have earned at least a bachelors degree, according to a 2022 report from the Center for Migration Studies of New York. Ernesto Castaneda, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies and the Immigration Lab at American University, said many people underestimate this groups educational attainment.

Ernesto Castaneda (American University)

Most dont know some immigrants are more credentialed than Americans upon arrival, he said. For example, 48% of Venezuelan newcomers ages 25 or older reported having a bachelors degree or higher in 2023 compared to 36% of U.S.-born Americans, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Deporting this population would mean an enormous drain of brain and brawn, Castaneda said.

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If we expel those people, there would be a big economic loss  and a loss of decades of innovation and scientific discovery, as well as in arts and culture, he said.

While Trumps immigrant policies have been cited for making it more difficult to fill agricultural, construction and hospitality jobs, it will also shrink the nations pool of highly skilled workers, said Prerna Arora, associate professor of psychology and education at Columbia Universitys Teachers College.

Related

Hundreds of High Schools Wrongfully Refused Entry to Older, Immigrant Student

Do we have the necessary workforce to complete the things that we need done, especially in a modernizing society? she asked. So many of these [college-educated, undocumented] people  and this is what happens across fields  want to go back and help communities from which they are a part.

Higher education in the crosshairs

More than 408,000 undocumented students were enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities in 2023, representing 1.9% of all college students. The figure was higher pre-pandemic when it stood at 427,000 in 2019. The American Immigration Council attributes some of the decline to COVID and ongoing legal challenges to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era program that gave temporary deportation relief to hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, allowing them to study and work.

A pro-DACA demonstration in New York City in 2017 during President Trumps first term. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

One Florida lawmaker now seeks to bar the undocumented from state colleges and universities entirely: theyve already lost access to in-state tuition there. Texas is considering a similar measure.

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Trump has made higher education a key focus of his immigration enforcement actions, targeting international students  many because of their political speech or protest actions around the war in Gaza. Thousands have lost their F-1 or J-1 student status as part of his crackdown, though the administration recently reversed those revocations in the face of court challenges.

Still, these international students future remains unclear. They are increasingly looking toward other countries as Trump continues to raid dorms, pull students off the street and place them in detention centers far from home.

Another academic, a 32-year-old woman from Senegal, who has lawful permanent resident status but asked that her name be withheld because she fears the current administration, called these removals heartbreaking and unjust.

We should be investing and supporting young people, not criminalizing them, said the woman, who came to the United States with her family at age 7.

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She grew up in Harlem and scored high enough on the selective admissions exam to be accepted to Brooklyn Technical, one of New York Citys premier public high schools. A law and society major, she graduated from Brooklyn Tech in 2011.

It was an enormous accomplishment. Her father had no formal schooling in his home country and her mother attended only through the ninth grade. Their daughter has a masters degree.

My life and achievements are proof of what results when we make these investments, she said. So apart from the devastating impact these actions have on these young peoples lives, these actions harm communities  and all of us as a country.

Higher Ed Immigration Portal

Roughly 88% of undocumented higher ed students are enrolled as undergraduates and 12% are in graduate or professional schools. Forty-five percent are Hispanic, 24.9% are Asian, 15.2% are Black and 10.8% are white, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, which based its findings on data from a one-year sample of the 2022 American Community Survey.

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California, Texas, Florida, New York and New Jersey make up the top five states with the most undocumented higher education students. More than 27% of undocumented graduate students nationally earned their undergraduate degree in a STEM field.

David Blancas, 37, got his bachelors degree in secondary education and mathematics at Illinois Aurora University in 2009  he was a stellar student and won a scholarship that covered most of the cost  and worked as a math teacher in Chicago public schools for five years.

He got his masters in urban education from National Louis University in Chicago in 2013  also funded by grants and scholarships  and currently works in a leadership role at an organization that helps renters become homeowners through counseling and financial assistance.

Like Brian, Blancas, born in Mexico, came to the United States as a toddler. His father arrived in Chicago first to secure a job  as a busboy and then a cook  and an apartment before his wife and children joined him.

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Blancas is the first in his family to graduate from college: His mother dropped out of school before eighth grade and his father stopped attending by ninth grade.

But they always prized education.

They loved school, Blancas said. They constantly talked about how they were good at it and how they were very sad that they couldnt continue because of financial reasons. To them, education was like the biggest thing.

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The Senegalese-born scholar said the same, despite the obstacles she faced: She wasnt aware of her citizenship status until she was told that she needed a Social Security number to fill out the federal financial aid form for college and found out she didnt have one. Thankfully, she said, she was accepted by DACA and went on to earn her bachelors degree in political science and economics from Hunter College in 2015.

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She worked 35 hours a week in a retail store to cover her tuition and soon joined Teach for America, which recruits college graduates to serve in high-need schools. She paid for her masters at the Relay Graduate School of Education out-of-pocket with her teaching salary. She eventually became an assistant principal and now works in policy and advocacy for a national nonprofit aimed at helping schools better serve all students  including immigrants.

Living that suburban American life

Local and state police around the country are assisting the Trump administration in its immigration enforcement and deportation push. Chicago, where Brian grew up, is a sanctuary city, one that has pledged by law not to cooperate in these efforts. The president has taken aim at these locations with Chicago its most prominent target: The Justice Department is suing the city and the state of Illinois for allegedly impeding its enforcement campaign.

Related

From Defiant to Compliant, Schools Take Varying Tacks to Possible ICE Raids

As a boy and a young man, Brian wanted to be a part of the Chicago Police Department and spent hours watching Law & Order SVU to get a sense of that life. He applied for a job there as soon as he earned his associate degree.

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Thats when they told me they didnt accept DACA recipients, he said. I was heartbroken. I did the physical, I did the mental exam and everything, and they did the vetting  they interviewed my neighbors and other people. It was a hard reality check. It was difficult for me to accept that.

After the setback, he pushed on.

David Blancas

Its not just about me or my family, said Brian, who also works in education policy with an eye toward immigrant students. Its for my entire community  to break that stigma that undocumented immigrants are uneducated or that were lazy or that were just mooching off of the system. People dont know that for DACA, you have to go through a background check. You have to pay a fee, show that youre working, youre paying taxes, that youre going to school.

Its frustrating to see people fighting to end the program, he said. Blancas, also allowed to work under DACA, agrees. He has a wife and two children and lives what he described as a typical middle-class life.

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He said he understands Americas desire to protect its border, to ensure entry to only those who will add to the economy. But thats exactly what they are getting from the very people they are trying to chase out, he argued.

We have our own house, Blancas said. We both have really great jobs that give back to the community. Were able to provide a great life for our children. Were living that suburban American life, which is amazing.
Disgraced congressman turned MAGA cable host Matt Gaetz led a delegation of Republican lawmakers - and one Democratic congressman - on a visit to El Salvadors notorious mega-prison, where prisoners deported from America heckled and taunted the group as they toured the facility.

Claiming that he is the first American journalist inside the ward that holds inmates who are accused of being in the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Gaetz aired a segment on his One America News show Monday night of his visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.

Throughout Gaetzs report, which included the Trump loyalist walking through the halls of the maximum-security facility with several members of Congress, much of the footage focused on the difference in behavior between accused MS-13 members and those incarcerated in the TdA ward.

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What no other news organization has shown you until now is the specific ward at CECOT that holds the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua members President Trump deported. See if you can notice them reacting differently, Gaetz noted on Monday night.

OAN host Matt Gaetz and a delegation of lawmakers tour the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, where deported inmates heckle and taunt them. (One America News)

He then aired a lengthy clip of the delegation walking through the section housing accused TdA members who had recently been deported from America through the Alien Enemies Act, a little-used wartime powers law. After the president announced the proclamation, a federal judge paused the deportations, but planeloads of Venezuelan migrants had already been shipped to El Salvador and have been imprisoned since. Additional deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants have remained on hold amid court battles.

According to the footage Gaetz aired, the inmates in the MS-13 ward were generally polite and calm when the delegation passed by, while the TdA ward featured the prisoners loudly heckling, taunting and shouting at the OAN host and lawmakers. The members of Congress who accompanied Gaetz were Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), whom Gaetz described as the usually reasonable Texas Democrat.

Noting the harsh conditions that the majority of inmates suffer while housed in the prison, Gaetz then asserted that the prisoners deported from America are provided better accommodations and food. Pointing out that the rest of the prisoners are only served rice and beans for meals, Gaetz aired footage of a CECOT guard displaying a box containing a burger and fries, insisting that this is the typical meal in the TdA ward.

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Thats a good meal. Can I try it? Can I take a bite? Luna declared before nabbing a fry.

Americans are paying for the Tren de Aragua incarceration. Its a bargain at $6 million, Gaetz stated in his report. For that, El Salvador is actually treating the Venezuelan new arrivals better than their murderous countrymen.

Gaetz led a Congressional delegation for a made-for-TV tour through the mega-prison, which has been decried by human rights groups as a tropical gulag (AFP via Getty Images)

Gaetz leading a Congressional delegation for a made-for-TV tour through the mega-prison, which has been decried by human rights groups as a tropical gulag, should hardly come as a surprise.

Following the former Florida lawmakers failed bid to become Trumps attorney general, it was reported that Gaetz actually pitched Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on the idea of sending migrants to CECOT after he visited El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele last year.

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During the visit, Bukele told Gaetz that hed be willing to imprison migrants at the prison that Trump wanted removed from the United States if Trump won the election. The following day, Gaetz was given a tour of CECOT, prompting him to float the idea to Miller when he returned from the trip.

The conditions had zapped the inhabitants of any will to fight, Gaetz said of the visit. Its tough to see the state of the human condition drained of hope.
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations has information that over 100 Venezuelans deported from the United States are being held at a high-security centre in El Salvador, where they face potential human rights violations, the U.N. human rights chief said on Tuesday.

The fate and whereabouts of at least another 245 Venezuelans and some 30 Salvadorans sent to El Salvador during U.S. President Donald Trump's deportation drive remain unclear, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) added.

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"This situation raises serious concerns regarding a wide array of rights that are fundamental to both U.S. and international law," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.

He added that those deported to El Salvador had not yet been able to effectively challenge their detention.

The governments of the United States and El Salvador did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Venezuela's government criticised Turk and the U.N. for not doing enough and having a "cowardly" attitude in the face of what it considers a violation of its citizens' human rights.

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Trump has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport suspected members of criminal gangs, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, which his administration labels a terrorist group.

At least 142,000 people were deported from the U.S. between January 20 and April 29, according to OHCHR, citing official U.S. data.

OHCHR said information from family members and lawyers for deported Venezuelans indicated many are now detained at El Salvador's Centre for Terrorism Confinement.

President Nayib Bukele offered to incarcerate criminals deported from the U.S. at the centre, a mega-prison intentionally isolated from urban areas that can accommodate up to 40,000 inmates.

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Turk said detainees at the facility were being treated harshly and many had not been informed of U.S. authorities' intention to deport them for detention in a third country.

The OHCHR said it is urging El Salvador's government to grant it access to the centre.

Turk also urged the release of people arbitrarily detained in Venezuela in the wake of a crackdown that followed the country's contested presidential election last July.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Joe Bavier, Alexandra Hudson)
SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56)  The Pulaski County Sheriffs Office said Kamora Parks has been found safe.

The Pulaski County Sheriffs Office announced just after 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, that Kamora Parks had been reported missing.

 MISSING IN KENTUCKY

She is described as standing around 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing around 107 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a tie-dye hoodie and either pink or orange pants.

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Deputies said her hair is now shorter than seen in the picture above, estimated to be around shoulder-length.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

PCSO confirmed she was last seen near Hope Way in Somerset.

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A dog is dead after it attacked a sheriffs deputy in Ohio on Tuesday, according to our media partners WBNS-10 TV.

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A Franklin County Sheriffs deputy shot and killed a pit bull after it attacked his partner during a chase.

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The incident started around 2 p.m. when a deputy tried to stop a car. The driver didnt stop, and a chase began, according to WBNS-10 TV.

A spokesperson from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office said the driver bailed out of the car in northeast Columbus near Century Drive and Mock Road.

The suspect allegedly left the drivers side door open after he got out and ran away, WBNS-10 reported.

At that time, the pit bull got out of the car and bit a deputy in the face.

The deputys partner then shot and killed the dog, according to the spokesperson.

WBNS-10 reported that the deputy will go to the hospital for treatment and is expected to be okay.

The spokesperson said the suspect was taken into custody and will face felony charges.

The incident remains under investigation.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  The March non-fatal shooting of a Des Moines man by a police officer has been determined to be legally justified by the Polk County Attorneys Office, following a review of the evidence by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Jose Rodriguez-Sanchez

Jose Daniel Rodriguez-Sanchez, 19, was shot by Senior Police Officer Chad Ruroden of the Des Moines Police Department on March 20th, as police investigated the alleged assault of a woman in the Watrous South neighborhood.

Des Moines Police said Rodriguez-Sanchez fled the original scene of the assault, and SPO Ruroden located him at the intersection of SW 11th Street and Wade Street. With his gun drawn, SPO Ruroden ordered Rodriguez-Sanchez to surrender, but instead, he charged the officer and began assaulting him.

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Iowa House sends PBM reform bill to governors desk

During the assault, SPO Ruroden fired his gun, striking Rodriguez-Sanchez in the upper torso. SPO Ruroden retreated, but Rodriguez-Sanchez continued to attack until other officers arrived on the scene. They used pepper spray and a taser to take Rodriguez-Sanchez into custody.

Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham said, Given all the circumstances, it was reasonable for Officer Ruroden to conclude that he was in imminent danger of great bodily injury or death at the time the force was used. Officer Ruroden reasonably believed his actions were necessary to prevent great bodily injury or death.

Rodriguez-Sanchez remains in the Polk County Jail on charges of assault on a person in a certain occupation-intent of injury, disarming a peace officer, interference with official acts-bodily injury, and domestic abuse assault.

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The DMPD plans to release body-worn and dash-cam recordings from the incident at a later date since the criminal case against Rodriguez-Sanchez remains ongoing.

The Iowa Attorney Generals Office was not required to investigate SPO Rurodens use of force as it did not result in death.

Metro news

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According to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the administration at Penn State University proposed closing seven of its 20 branch campuses to the board of trustees.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Penn State evaluating the future of 12 branch campuses, including 5 in Western Pennsylvania

In our area, those campuses are Fayette, New Kensington, and Shenango.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Penn State New Kensington campus holds rally to fight to stay open

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Penn State has pushed back against the report, saying in part, It is regrettable that our communities who may be impacted by campus closures are hearing information before a final decision.

They didnt deny that these campuses are up for the conversation to be proposed to be closing, what theyre upset about is it being leaked out, so I want to make that clear. Theres no denial here from what Ive seen, said Jonathan Light, President of Teamsters Local 8. Thats the union that represents technical support employees at Penn States Main Campus and all of its branch campuses.

Light said these closures are going to impact a lot of employees that his union represents. They do things like landscaping, cooking, maintenance, and more.

The work that we do is the backbone that people dont get to see, the things that make this university run, Light said.

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Light said that at the three branch campuses that report claims Penn State is closing, 30 union members could lose their jobs. There are 12 at Fayette, eight at New Kensington, and 10 at Shenango.

I would be lying if I didnt say I would love for the campus to continue being there, said Robert Eberly, III.

Eberly, III, the president of the Eberly Foundation, is a member of the family the campus is named after. He said hes unhappy that the proposal was made public before any official word came from the university.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Fayette County leaders organizing community to fight to save Penn State branch campus

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He said losing any branch campus of Penn State would be a huge hit in the communities they serve, from weakening access to education, to hurting community development.

We have always been of the opinion that access to education is something that really will drive personal and communal economic growth, he said.

The Philadelphia Inquirer said the board of trustees is expected to discuss the plan again on Thursday. Its unclear if a vote will also happen.

The fights not over, Light said.

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Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

OREM, Utah (ABC4)  A week after a man was arrested and another man was shot and killed during an officer-involved shooting in Orem, officials have provided new details about the situation.

The Utah County Sheriffs Office identified the suspect who was the subject of the initial investigation and search warrant as Alejandro Demery, 33. According to arrest documents, Demery was being investigated over several weeks for allegedly distributing controlled substances throughout Utah County.

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Officials executed a search warrant on May 5 and detained Demery and two others as a vehicle left Demerys Orem home. When officers later served a search warrant and entered Demerys Orem residence, they announced that they were executing the warrant as law enforcement officers.

PREVIOUSLY: Suspect killed in Utah County officer-involved shooting

The members of the Utah County Major Crimes task force encountered a male that was not complying with the orders of the Law Enforcement officials, the sheriffs office said. During this confrontation, shots were fired by Law Enforcement and a loaded handgun was recovered from [the] floor next to the male who had been shot.

Officials administered life-saving efforts, but the man died at the scene. Officials have not identified the man who was killed during the incident, and have not yet disclosed how he may have been connected to Demery.

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Demery was arrested on two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, second-degree felonies; one count of possession or use of controlled substance marijuana/spice, a class B misdemeanor; possession or use of a controlled substance, a class B misdemeanor; and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.

Demery was found in possession of approximately 150 fentanyl pills, 11.8 grams (118 doses) of Methamphetamine and a THC cartridge, the Utah County Sheriffs Office said on May 12.

Demery was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

The Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol Team is investigating the shooting. After the investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the Utah County Attorneys Office.

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Aubree Jennings contributed to this report.

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MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was elected as mayor in his home city by a landslide, official results showed Tuesday, despite his detention by the International Criminal Court.

The Davao election board proclaimed Duterte won the race for Davao mayor, with the official tally showing that he garnered over 660,000 votes, or eight times as many as his closest rival. Elated supporters chanted Duterte, Duterte when the result was announced.

His youngest son, Sebastian, the incumbent mayor of Davao, was declared Davao vice mayor. His eldest son, Paolo, was reelected as a member of the House of Representatives, and two grandsons won in local races, an indication of the familys continued influence.

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Duterte landslide in Davao! his youngest daughter Veronica posted on Facebook

Partial unofficial results showed at least five candidates backed by the Duterte family were also among those leading the race for 12 Senate positions, in a stronger-than-expected showing in Monday's midterm elections. Pre-election surveys had indicated only two of them would emerge victorious.

The results come as a boost for Dutertes daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, ahead of an impeachment trial in the Senate in July over a raft of charges including alleged misuse of public funds and plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and the House speaker.

Sara Duterte is considered a strong contender for the 2028 presidential race. But if convicted by the Senate, she will lose her job and will be disqualified from holding public office forever. To be acquitted, she needs at least nine of the 24 senators to vote in her favor.

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Results of the Senate race will be known in a week. Apart from the five Duterte-backed candidates, the others leading in the top 12 included five others endorsed by Marcos and two opposition candidates.

While the senate race outcome was encouraging for Sara Duterte, the jury is still out on how the impeachment trial will go for her, said Jean Franco, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines. If damning evidence were raised against her, Franco indicated it could hurt her chances of an acquittal.

The Senate race unofficial results also showed that support for Marcos, whose approval rating fell in April, is dwindling and could turn up surprises in the 2028 elections, Franco added.

In a statement, Marcos thanked Filipinos who voted, saying our democracy has renewed itself  peacefully, orderly and with dignity.

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We may not have won every seat, but our work and mission continue, he added.

The impeachment and Rodrigo Dutertes arrest and transfer to the tribunal in The Hague came after Marcos and Sara Dutertes ties unraveled over political differences and their competing ambitions. Duterte supporters slammed Marcoss government for arresting and surrendering the former leader to a court whose jurisdiction his supporters dispute.

Nicknamed the Punisher and Dirty Harry, Duterte served as Davao's mayor for two decades before becoming president. He has been in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, since March, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity over a brutal war on illegal drugs that left thousands of suspects dead during his 2016-2022 presidency.

Under Philippine law, candidates facing criminal charges, including those in detention, can run for office unless they have been convicted and have exhausted all appeals.

Sara Duterte had told reporters after voting Monday that she was in talks with her father's lawyers on how he could take his oath as mayor despite being behind bars. She had said the vice mayor would likely be the acting mayor.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  At least 95 of nearly 200 individuals that were recently arrested during Nashville ICE operations have previous criminals convictions and pending charges, the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday.

Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers recently teamed up with ICE to carry out a public safety operation. Since the operation began, DHS said 196 people have been arrested.

We are powerless: Nashville officials respond to recent ICE activity

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Among the 196 arrested, officials reported 95 have prior criminal convictions and pending charges and 31 were previously removed individuals who reentered the U.S. illegally.

On Tuesday, DHS provided the names and criminal history of five men who were arrested during the ICE operations in Nashville. Their names and prior charges are list below:

Jassim Jafaf Al-Raash, a 60-year-old man from Iraq, has a criminal history that includes convictions for rape to which he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, and convictions of larceny and false imprisonment to which he was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment. DHS said the 60-year-old also has an arrest for failure to register as a sex offender.

Franklin Oswaldo Velasquez: DHS officials reported that the 33-year-old from El Salvador is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, adding that he is also the subject of an active Red Notice in El Salvador for aggravated murder. His criminal history includes a conviction for possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear and criminal impersonation.

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SEE ALSO: Tennessee advocates demand ICE release the names of those detained

Inmar Antonio Penado-Membreno: The 34-year-old from El Salvador criminal history includes conviction for possession with intent to manufacture/deliver/sell cocaine to which he was sentenced 8 years imprisonment, per DHS. He was also reportedly convicted of aggravated assault to which he was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment.

Richard St. Baptiste, a 36-year-old from Haiti, has a criminal history includes convictions for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute to which he was sentenced to 8 years probation, and a conviction for marijuana possession to which he was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment.

Carlos Reinaldo Alvarado-Rodriguez: The 39-year-old from Guatemala has been convicted for aggravated assault to which he was sentenced four years imprisonment, said DHS.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

DHS is law enforcement agency, and it will continue to enforce the law and work with all state and local partners so that Americans do not continue to be victimized by criminal aliens, said the agency in Tuesdays announcement.

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Although five names were released, the identities and charges of more than 100 people, or 98%, of those arrested during the ICE operations remain unknown.

No other details were immediately provided.

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The Department of Homeland Security terminated humanitarian relief Monday that allowed individuals from Afghanistan to remain in the United States as long as the country was deemed unsafe.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the end of temporary protected status, or TPS, for Afghanistan, stating that the return of individuals to the region no longer posed a threat to their personal safety.

Weve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation, Noem said in a DHS release. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country.

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However, U.S. service members and Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war in Afghanistan and whose family members still live in the country told Military Times in February that the region was patently unsafe.

They said they constantly feared for their loved ones lives and said the Taliban were actively hunting anyone affiliated with the United States government.

The termination of TPS will go into effect on July 12, the DHS release said.

Temporary protected status  a protection from deportation awarded by the U.S. to individuals who would otherwise face danger if they return to their country  was offered during the Biden administration to Afghan nationals fleeing Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrew from the country.

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Noem cited the shift in policy as part of an overarching effort to restore integrity in the American immigration system. DHS consulted with the State Department and analyzed a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services review of Afghanistans conditions as part of its decision, according to the DHS release.

The policy shift is unconscionable, said Shawn VanDiver, CEO of AfghanEvac, an organization that assists Afghan allies and refugees with relocation efforts.

Afghanistan remains under the control of the Taliban, VanDiver said in a statement. There is no functioning asylum system. There are still assassinations, arbitrary arrests, and ongoing human rights abuses, especially against women and ethnic minorities.

Trump order blocks families of US troops from leaving Afghanistan

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VanDiver, speaking to Military Times, described the terminations ripple effects.

A lot of these people are students or people who were brought here by the United States government during the withdrawal, he said. By nature of them having been in the United States of America for the last three and a half years, theyre now in danger.

He also said it would affect individuals livelihoods, since losing TPS for many would mean they could no longer work.

Were going to create this epidemic of homelessness, he said.

VanDiver estimated that more than 11,000 individuals from Afghanistan living in America would be affected by the termination of TPS.

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DHS move to end TPS for Afghans comes on the heels of the departments separate decision to resettle white South African refugees in America, a decision that AfghanEvac labeled a hypocrisy in the face of the governments dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, or USRAP, for Afghan refugees earlier this year.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also expressed dismay at the administrations focus on South African refugees.

It is baffling as to why the Trump Administration is admitting Afrikaners for resettlement while continuing an indefinite suspension for thousands of legitimate asylum seekers who have fled persecution, often because their lives were at risk, Shaheen said.

President Donald Trump, shortly after suspending USRAP on Jan. 27, signed an executive order on Feb. 7 promising to assist with relocation efforts for white ethnic minority Afrikaners who the order said were being discriminated against.

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Trump claimed at a White House news conference Monday that white South African farmers were facing genocide in their home country, a catalyst for their swift relocation to the United States.

Farmers are being killed, he told journalists at the conference. They happen to be white. Whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me. But White farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.

Police data shows that the majority of murders on farms that took place between 2020 and 2024 however, involved Black South Afrikaners, according to The New York Times.

Upwards of 40 white South Africans granted refugee status by the Trump administration arrived Monday at Washington Dulles airport in Virginia, according to multiple reports.
May 12 (UPI) -- Homeland Security is ending the Temporary Protected Status program for Afghanistan with more than 9,000 nationals residing in the United States facing deportation, Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday.

TPS for them will expire May 20 and the program's elimination is set for July 12, the federal agency said.

Noem determined that permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States "is contrary to the national interest of the United States," according to a news release.

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"This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent," Noem said. "We've reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country."

Noem also claimed that the termination aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to root out fraud in the immigration system.

"The termination furthers the national interest as DHS records indicate that there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security," Noem said.

The TPS program provides temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

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President Joe Biden initially designated Afghanistan for TPS for 1 1/2 years on May 20, 2022. It was extended another 18 months on Nov. 21, 2023.

The United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, 2021, ending its 20-year military presence in the country. There was a peace agreement with the Taliban.

At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the agency's secretary is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met. One month ago, DHS said Afganistan "no longer continues to meet the statutory requirements of its TPS designation."

Politico reported that the Trump administration considered exempting Christians from the TPS renovation because they face persecution if sent back to the Taliban-controlled country.

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Nationals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions. are given legal status and work authorization.

Refugee rights groups blasted the decision.

"It's rooted in politics," Afghan Evac posted on X. "Afghanistan remains under the control of the Taliban. There is no functioning asylum system. There are still assassinations, arbitrary arrests, and ongoing human rights abuses, especially against women and ethnic minorities.

"What the administration has done today is betray people who risked their lives for America, built lives here, and believed in our promises. This policy change won't make us safer -- it will tear families apart, destabilize them, and shred what's left of our moral credibility."

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The group said it "will fight this with everything we've got: in the courts, in Congress, and in the public square. The United States cannot abandon its allies and call that immigration policy."

Earlier, Trump terminated TPS protections for about 532,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela in the United States.

Massachusetts-based U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, appointed by President Barack Obama, ruled on April 15 against the Trump administration. It was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court last week.

Separately, District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco, appointed by President Barack Obama, on March 31 blocked the plan to end the status for 350,000 from Venezuela, and the Justice Department filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. Their status was to end April 7.

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Another 250,000 immigrants from the Central American country who arrived before 2023 will lose their status in September.

In 2018, the same judge temporarily blocked the first Trump administration's decision to end TPS for immigrants from four countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Sudan and Nicaragua.
Four years have passed since the sudden death of Freddie McKee. Since then, his mother has worked restlessly, conducting her own investigation to find out what happened after two conflicting toxicology reports contradict everything she knows about her son.



As The Root previously reported, around 2:45 a.m. on July 8, 2020, a neighbor called authorities to report a shirtless man in her trash who said he was looking for his phone. Around 6 a.m, police received another call but from Freddie Gardner, McKees father, reporting that his son was dead on his front porch.

Now, Freddies mother, Doressia McKee, is suing the Columbia Police Department for racial discrimination after she says they didnt fully investigate her sons manner of death. Instead, she says they wrote him off as just another statistic: a drug addict.

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Heres what we know.

What the Autopsy Found...

University of Missouri Medical Examiner Dr. Carl Stacys handwritten autopsy notes cite several abrasions (a superficial rub or wearing off of the skin), contusions (ruptured bruises), and scars on Freddies back and the back of his legs.

McKee believes, based on the reports, that there was a struggle preceding her sons death and that McKees body was moved or in motion before the police arrived. The Root reviewed both an EMS and police report that confirms his arm was raised off the ground when authorities arrived on the scene. A paramedic wrote they attempted to move the arm but confirmed Freddies body was in rigor mortis.

The Original Toxicology Report

A July 26, 2020, toxicology report shows Freddies blood tested positive for caffeine, olanzapine (used to treat psychotic disorders) and Celexa/Lexapro (used to treat depression). His mother tells The Root she received a call from Detective Steve Wilmoth in August 2020 claiming he was given the name of another drug found in her sons system and alleged Freddie, a business owner and Black history buff, died of an overdose.

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My son aint never been no addict. Please, if I knew about any of that, I would be sitting at the rehabilitation [center] with my son making sure he would overcome whatever kind of issue, Ms. McKee told The Root. Freddies medical records show no evidence of drug abuse.

McKee described Freddie as kind and non-confrontational. She admits he may have mixed with a bad crowd when he was younger, but did not fit the profile of what the cops were trying to push. She insisted Freddie did smoke marijuana, but never raised his voice, never cursed, never talked back  hes always been a good kid.

The Contradicting Second Toxicology Report...

Per McKee, not only did Wilmoth not specify how he identified the cause of death prematurely, but a letter Dr. Stacy filed to a judge that August claimed the cause of death was still pending.

McKee said a second toxicology report was mysteriously issued despite never being contacted by the medical examiner about the retesting of her sons blood. The second corrected report, obtained by The Root, detailed extensively the evidence of injury from the original autopsy.

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Dr. Stacy concluded Freddies official cause of death was an accident caused by eutylone toxicity. Another toxicology report, nearly identical to the first, included a new compound listed as a special request finding which Freddie tested positive for: eutylone, a stimulant similar to Bath Salts. Who exactly requested the new test is unclear.

She called out the police who deemed her a liar who knew about my sons drug abuse. She added: How do you come to a death scene and you know already, on that day, that my son is an addict? Where did you get that information from?

Overdose? Or Exaggeration?

According to the report, Freddie tested positive for 5500 ng/ml of eutylone. However, his autopsy noted all of his internal organs were unremarkable or absent of any damage. His heart, specifically, had no flaws.

I didnt read anything about anything about his nose, like if he was snorting. They took his brain out and everything. So, for them to come back and for everything to be unremarkable then how the hell are the police going to say that he had a history [of drug abuse]? said McKee.

What Does the Death Investigator Have to Say?

The Root asked Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiners Office death investigator Stacey Huck about an expanded panel in cases like Freddies. He revealed that the test may run if the first test includes an out of scope finding. Expanded panels are where synthetic substances specifically are tested.

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When asked to detail the amount of eutylone found, Huck couldnt explain exactly what the results meant but said it implies a really high number. Despite the scientific findings, McKee wasnt convinced and pushed to find her own answers.

And Outside Experts?...

The Root reached out to an expert to review the two autopsies. They also compared the findings to a globally known police brutality case that brought forth the same concerns.

What they had to say in Part 2 may surprise you...

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On the morning after Mothers Day, Sean Diddy Combs mom made her way in a black suit through the crowd that had begun lining up outside Manhattan federal court the previous afternoon for a chance to attend the opening day of her sons trial.

To see the 82-year-old matriarchs measured steps into the courthouse and up to the metal detector was to marvel at her resilience. She did not hesitate in the face of the possibility that despite all her best efforts, her son might end up in a federal prisonthe same fate that likely awaited his heroin-dealing father, if a bullet had not claimed him first.

Janice Combs son had been just 3 years old, and her daughter just 1 when 31-year-old Melvin Combs was found shot to death in a car parked just off Central Park West in Manhattan. Sean was about the age when early trauma can trigger narcissism and short-circuit empathy, turning intimacy to danger.

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But the mother had done all any mother could. She settled in suburban Mount Vernon and worked as many as three jobs, including driving a school bus. She sent Sean to Mount Saint Michaels Academy, an all-boys Catholic high school. He went on to Howard University, but detoured into the world of hip-hop.

Janice Combs and Diddy attend the MTV Music Video Awards 2023. / John Nacion / WireImage via Getty Images

With his mothers determination and his fathers street cred, Sean Combs became a rap mogul, calling himself alternately Puff Daddy and Puffy and P Diddy and Love. But along with his fame and riches there was trouble involving guns and drugs, and a mean temper. He also had a troubled personal life, fathering seven children with four different women.

In 2023, a longtime girlfriend named Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit charging him with decades of sexual and physical abuse, including drug-fueled freak offs in which she claimed to have been pressured into prolonged sex sessions with male escorts. He settled the suit the day after it was filed.

But federal prosecutors in Manhattan used the civil suit as a blueprint to charge him with an ongoing criminal enterprise whose alleged objective was not selling heroinhis fathers endeavorbut the decades-long sexual exploitation of women.

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He was arrested last September for alleged sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. His mother responded with a statement befitting a music moguls mother.

Sometimes, the truth and a lie become so closely intertwined that it becomes terrifying to admit one part of the story, especially when that truth is outside the norm or is too complicated to be believed, she said. It is truly agonizing to watch the world turn against my son so quickly and easily over lies and misconceptions, without ever hearing his side or affording him the opportunity to present his side.

That opportunity was about to commence when the mother stepped up to the first security booth inside the courthouse on Monday morning. She received the standard instructions to place any electronics, along with her jewelry, purse, and jacket, in a plastic bin that went through an X-ray machine. She was then motioned through the metal detector, but it emitted an alert. She discovered she had forgotten to remove a bracelet. She passed through without event on the second try and a court officer presented her with a poker chip that she then exchanged for a metal disk when she checked in her cell phone.

Up in Courtroom 26a, Janice Combs sat in the first spectators bench beside her 18-year-old twin granddaughters, and directly behind where her son was seated at the defense table. Her other grandchildren were also there, and her son tapped his heart when he turned to look at those for whom family is family, whatever you are accused of doing.

Producer Sean Combs speaks onstage during VH1s third annual Dear Mama: A Love Letter To Moms show. / Leon Bennett / Getty Images

In its opening statement the prosecution described the type of crimes routinely heard in domestic violence cases a block away in state court. But these were allegedly facilitated by power and wealth, and by a cadre of protectors and enablers dedicated to providing him with whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

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To the public, he was Puff Daddy or Diddy, Asst. U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said. A cultural icon, a businessman, larger than life. But there was another side to him, a side that ran a criminal enterprise.

Defense attorney Teny Gargos then had a turn. She admitted that Combs was guilty of domestic violence, but insisted it did not constitute the federal crimes with which he had been charged.

These women were strong, capable, and they were in love with him, Geragos said. The evidence is going to show you a very flawed individual, but it will not show you a racketeer, a sex trafficker or somebody transporting for prostitution.

She continued, This case is about Sean Combss private, personal sex life, says Geragos, Combss lawyer, which has nothing to do with his lawful businesses.

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The first witness for the prosecution was Israel Florez, now an LAPD officer, head of security for the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City, California. He testified about the widely seen surveillance video of Sean Combs assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway.

Janice Combs watched with her grandchildren and the rest of the courtroom as the monitors showed her son dragging and kicking Ventura.

Sean Diddy Combs' mother, Janice Combs, arrives for his pre-trial hearing in New York City earlier this year. / LEONARDO MUNOZ / AFP via Getty Images

Janice Combs stayed put, but the granddaughters stepped out of the courtroom as the next prosecution witness recalled in some detail how he took part in sexual encounters with Ventura while Sean Combs looked on, masturbating. There was at one point talk of the hired male escort being encouraged to urinate on Ventura.

The male escort was being cross examined when the day ended. Janice Combs only then departed, having sat through it all directly behind her son, listening to what is very far beyond the norm.

Ventura is due to take the stand on Tuesday as the prosecutions main witness. And Janice Combs is expected again to sit directly behind her son, no matter what Ventura says or how outside the norm it gets.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's willingness to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Istanbul sparked a question over whether such a move contradicts his earlier decree.

In the fall of 2022, Zelensky signed a decree that "stated the impossibility of holding negotiations with Russian President Putin," as a response to Russia's illegal annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, parts of which Moscow didn't even control.

"He (Putin) does not know what dignity and honesty are. We are ready for a dialogue with Russia, but with a different president of Russia," Zelensky said at the time.

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Moscow has cited Zelensky's decree as a ban on talks with Putin and used it as an excuse for avoiding direct talks with Kyiv. Putin has also falsely claimed that Zelensky lacks legitimacy and can't represent Ukraine.

Putin said that such talks would be considered "illegitimate" and therefore "their outcomes could also be declared illegitimate." Now, Putin himself said that he's open to direct talks with Ukraine.

According to a source in Ukraine's president's office, the decree was a "signal to those in Ukraine who wanted to speak (to Russians) bypassing the central government."

"Back then we stated the impossibility, now we can state the possibility, the president as the head of state determines this," the source added.

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"There is no ban as such, the Russians twisted it."

Read also: Like a game of tennis  Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure

What is the decree about?

The decree concerning negotiations with Putin was a response to the five decisions approved by the National Security and Defense Council adopted on Sept. 30, 2022. Days later, the document was signed by Zelensky.

Although the decree does not explicitly mention a ban on holding talks, many have seen it as a de facto ban on direct talks with Putin.

"The constitution clearly says that he (the president) negotiates. That is, he decides with whom to negotiate, when to negotiate, and in what format."

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Ukrainian lawmaker and chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, Oleksandr Merezhko, told the Kyiv Independent that the problem lies in the interpretation of the decree.

"This has given rise to false interpretations. The fact that the president allegedly forbade himself from communicating with Putin. No, that's illogical," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, on May 11, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

According to Ukraine's constitution, the president represents the state in international relations, manages foreign policy, and negotiates and concludes international treaties on behalf of Ukraine.

"The constitution is always above a presidential decree," Merezhko said. "The constitution clearly says that he (the president) negotiates. That is, he decides with whom to negotiate, when to negotiate, and in what format," he added.

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"The decree was aimed at preventing attempts and prohibiting others from conducting any negotiations with Putin."

Tetiana Shevchuk, a lawyer with the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Kyiv, said that Ukrainian law does not require such a decree.

Why did Zelensky sign the decree?

Zelensky himself has committed extensively on his 2022 decree.

In January, Zelensky said that such a move was made to prevent any unauthorized talks with Russia that might involve Ukrainian politicians.

According to the president, Putin rapidly began establishing "a large number of different channels" aimed at influencing Ukraine, together with "separatists" and "representatives of other countries."

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"There were many negotiation processes, many shadow dealings. I stopped it quickly. I just stopped separatism in our country," Zelensky added.

At the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia also sought to pressure Ukrainian lawmakers, European officials, and the U.S., he said.

Former Ukrainian lawmaker Viktor Medvedchuk, who later left for Russia as part of a prisoner swap, is seen in Kyivs Appeal Court during a hearing on May 21, 2021. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Without specifying names, the president said that those involved in the behind-the-scenes efforts were later arrested and exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). Presumably, Zelensky referred to Viktor Medvedchuk, the pro-Kremlin politician who was arrested and sent to Russia amid a prisoner swap in September 2022.

People who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said there are no legal barriers and that Zelensky doesn't have to revoke the decree or make amendments to it.

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"This ban applies to others. Therefore, I see no need to cancel this decree," Merezhko said.

Asked whether there should be a new decree lifting the ban on talks with Putin, the source close to the president replied that there's no need for this.

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
It took 14 men to restrain Jose Arcadio Buendia at the height of his delirium, and 20 more to drag and tie him to a chestnut tree. The patriarch of Gabriel Garcia Marquezs One Hundred Years of Solitude would remain tethered there until his death, discolored by sun and rain as he sank into an abyss of unawareness.

Decades after the publication of the classic Colombian novel, Francisco Piedrahita came across similar scenes while growing up in the countrys mountainous Antioquia region. Walking through his native hamlet of Canoas, he glimpsed neighbors who seemed disoriented or couldnt leave their beds. Once, he saw a man tied to furniture with a rope around his waist. Its an illness that people get, Piedrahitas mother explained, and youll come to understand it one day.

She was right. Piedrahita watched his grandmother die of it. Other grandparents, aunts, and uncles followed. Piedrahita eventually became a neurology nurse, caring for families, including his own, who were marked by a rare genetic mutation linked to early-onset Alzheimers disease.

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His storypart clinical, part familialforms the core of Valley of Forgetting, Jennie Erin Smiths book on memory, medicine, and hereditary fate in rural Colombia. She follows researchers who, over four decades, have studied the paisa mutationa gene passed down from a single common ancestorwhich causes the illness in nearly everyone who inherits it. In Antioquia, scientists have identified between 1,000 and 1,800 carriers of this particular gene, constituting one of the largest known clusters of familial cases on Earth. Smith, a science journalist, also tells the stories of some members of the 6,000-person clan who participate in research trials, donate loved ones brains, and care for one another while bracing for their turn.

[Read: The Texas county where everybody has someone in their family with dementia]

Dementia is one of the modern worlds most dreaded maladiesonly in part because we see it more as people live longer. In an era when individual identity and self-expression are often held paramount, the condition threatens to erase the self entirely. Smiths book is a detailed chronicle of the families and scientists who are drawn together by one mutation, but it isnt just a grim catalogue of familial illness. Through the characters she speaks with over six years, Smith suggests that forgetting might be more than just an existential loss; it might also be a chance to explore other forms of humanity that are grounded in feeling, presence, or touch.

Garcia Marquezs 1967 novel follows seven generations of the Buendia family in the fictional Colombian town of Macondo, a place haunted by war and magic. Early in the story, a mysterious plague descends on the town, causing insomnia and erasing memories. Garcia Marquezs fictional world hovers over Valley of Forgetting, resonating uncannily with Antioquias real experience of widespread, precipitous memory loss. A copy of the novel accompanies one woman whom Smith gets to know on a 10-hour bus ride. When clinical trials of an Alzheimers treatment called crenezumab launched in Antioquia in 2013, scientists compared it to the magical elixir that ends the amnesiac plague in Macondo. (The crenezumab study was halted in 2022 after disappointing results.)

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One Hundred Years of Solitude is a famous work of magical realism. Its timelines collapse and blur, and its characters are bound by ruinous, inescapable fates; the reader cannot avoid disorientation. (Garcia Marquez, who died in 2014 with dementia, once described memory as the material and method of his lifes work: At bottom, I have written only one book, the same one that circles round and round, and continues on.)

In Antioquia, many of those connected by the paisa mutation live with a similar sense of distortion. Here, Alzheimers is a disease not only of the elderly, but one that can strike adults as early as their 30s. Relatives care for family members while anticipating the day they might need the same help from their younger kin. Each death caused them to relive the trauma of a previous death, and raised the specter of future ones, Smith writes. Diagnosis is not an individual experience, but a collective tether. Looking at the genealogies of these Alzheimers clans, the stories ceased to be personal. That level of resolution was lost. The family was the unit, Smith writes, its branches growing and shrinking endlessly like fractals.

Both Garcia Marquezs and Smiths stories invite readers to reconsider memory as something relational, inherited, and timeless, rather than strictly personal and chronological. In Antioquia, Smith notes, families carrying the paisa mutation offer scientists a rare opportunity: a known genetic cause of early-onset Alzheimers for which they might develop targeted treatments. But thats not all. The people Smith observed harbored other types of knowledge about the disease, she writes, which they carried, with no formal way to catalogue or transmit it, along with their coveted genes and biomarkers.

This understanding isnt clinical, but embodiedwhat people feel, witness, share, and pass down. When one researcher asked why so many in Antioquia were willing to give their blood, brains, and time to the trials, the answers came fast: For the kids, they said. To break the chain. Memory is not just what they recall. Its also how, over generations, people learn to care for one another.

Among ancient European philosophers, cognitive decline in late life was typically seen not as a medical condition but as either an inevitable consequence of aging or punishment for personal faults. (There are communities today where some see dementia more as a symptom of old age rather than a disease, as in Starr Country, Texas.) In some Asian and Middle Eastern traditions, dementia was historically associated with madness or idiocy. Among many First Nations communities, by contrast, memory loss in old age is sometimes embraced as a final flourish of the life cycle: a spiritual stage in which a person draws closer to the Creator.

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It wasnt until the turn of the 20th century that scientistsarmed with microscopes and techniques that made brain tissue visible at the cellular levelcould discern the structure of Alzheimers disease: tangled bundles and clumps of misfolded proteins inside and between neurons. But observing the disease under a microscope doesnt necessarily translate to a full understanding of it.

Antioquias families had long viewed dementia not clinically but supernaturally. The conventional wisdom in Canoas held that it was witchcraft, Smith writes, which could mean a lot of things. A curse from a scorned lover. A punishment cast by a cruel priest. An encounter with the arbolocothe crazy tree. It wasnt such a stretch to think that someone in a disoriented, nonsensical state was enyerbado, or under a spell, she writes; they might be bobo (stupid) or necio (hard-headed), but they did not call the person sick.

Many popular metaphors for dementia suggest erosion: a candle burning down or the body as a shell of the former self it housed. Others conjure a sudden disappearance: fogs, voids, and black holes. Dementia is depicted as an invading enemy, waging war on the mind, a holocaust of my brain, as described by the author and activist Thomas DeBaggio in his 2002 memoir, Losing My Mind. These metaphors ultimately revealbeyond a struggle to confront dementia outrighta terror at the prospect of cognitive dissolution.

The brain is often seen as the engine and archive of a persons identity. In this light, losing ones memory is tantamount to losing ones sense of self. Life is not what one lived, Garcia Marquez wrote in the epigraph of his 2002 memoir, but what one remembers and how one remembers it in order to recount it. In other words: The survival of ones selfhood depends on a continued ability to narrate itto orient yourself in time, space, and plot.

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Dementia resists both emotional comprehension and rational explanation; it remains one of medicines most stubborn enigmas. Despite billions of dollars in investment and a century-plus of research, scientists dont yet fully understand what causes it or how to cure it, and it can be challenging to diagnose. Paradoxically, for those who are experiencing dementia, there is only grim certainty: They will die with it. This tension makes the illness ripe for figurative language. Any important disease whose causality is murky, and for which treatment is ineffectual, wrote Susan Sontag in her 1978 essay Illness as Metaphor, tends to be awash in significance.

In Valley of Forgetting, Smith describes a 25-year-old woman named Daniela who cares for her mother and extended family as early-onset Alzheimers moves through their generationseven of her mothers 10 siblings were already sick or had died from the disease at the time of Smiths reporting.

Daniela showered her aunt Mabilia with affectionkisses, ice pops, compliments on her appearance. When her uncle Fredy had only one word leftsiDaniela recited familiar names for him, his face lighting up with each. As her mother, Doralba, declined, Daniela changed her diapers, rubbed her skin with lotion, and refused to cut her long haira concession, Smith writes, to a womanhood shed worn proudly and which no one wanted to rob her of.

In Doralbas final hours, as her breath began to rattle, Daniela massaged her limbs. After her mother died, Daniela cleaned her one last time, smoothing lotion over her skin, as always. Because to me, she told Smith, at that moment, it was as though she was still alive. She then gave her mothers body to Neurociencias, the University of Antioquia research lab that had discovered the paisa mutation and has studied those with it for decades.

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[Read: Americans with dementia are grieving social media]

The relationship between Daniela and Doralba extends beyond cognition. People with dementia may lose names, dates, recognition of their own face. But as the disease strips one kind of memory, it can deepen others: emotional, sensory. When my grandmother's dementia progressed, she once told me I was her little sister; it wasnt literally true, of course, but her affection was emotionally honest. As Smith notes in the final pages of her book, each generation of potential paisa mutation carriers has to face the future holding multiple, sometimes opposing, truths: This was what the families had learned over forty years of taking part in science: to resist undue hope and to resist despair.

What if people considered a new metaphor for dementia? In neuroscience, the brain is sometimes described as a forestneurons represent the trees; dendrites (from the ancient Greek for tree, dendron) represent the branches. Some writers, like Claude Couturier in her 1999 memoir, Puzzle, Journale dune Alzheimer, have described living with dementia as being like a tree in autumn that tries desperately to hold on to its dead leaves, ripped off by a violent wind.

But fallen leaves dont have to be a symbol of death. Leaf litter hosts life for hundreds of species: bacteria, ants, mushrooms, shrews. Even bare trees are alive in unseen wayscommunicating and sharing nutrients through underground networks of roots and fungi sometimes called the wood wide web.

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To consider dementia as a tree is to embrace a kind of magical realism: to understand that fresh buds of connection sprout even as older ones fall away, that roots persist, that decay and renewal coexist. As Ursula, the matriarch of Garcia Marquezs novel, witnessing her familys fate repeat itself, exclaims: I know all of this by heart. Its as if time had turned around and we were back at the beginning.

At one point, Daniela reminds Smith that her half-sister and cousin are already in their 30sthe age when Alzheimers tends to appear in their family. She, herself, is also approaching 30. Yet Daniela sees not annihilation in her mothers last days but something profoundly humanbeyond memory as people typically understand it.

She didnt remember me anymore in her mind. Even as she tried to do it, she couldnt locate me. But she had me in her soul and in her heart because she could feel me, Daniela concludes. Although she couldnt say it, her eyes could.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Lawmakers are taking aim at a common problem for Illinois residents who seek mental health care  many therapists dont take private insurance.

In Illinois and across the country, a number of therapists have stopped accepting private insurance, saying health insurers dont reimburse them enough money for their services and force them to jump through too many hoops to give patients the care they need. That can leave patients in a bind, forcing them to choose between paying out-of-pocket for care, waiting for care from a therapist who will take their insurance, or sometimes forgoing help altogether.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, seeks to address some of the barriers that therapists say keep them from taking private insurance. The bill would require private insurers to pay in-network therapists at least 141% of the rate Medicare pays for the same behavioral health or substance use disorder service.

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It also aims to cut red tape for therapists. The bill would prohibit insurers from requiring therapists to submit more documentation to get reimbursed for 60-minute sessions as compared with shorter sessions, and prohibit insurers from denying coverage for multiple behavioral health services or substance use disorder services for the same patient in one day.

It would also require insurers to cover services provided by therapists in training who are being supervised by licensed professionals, and, when a therapist applies to be in-network with an insurer, the insurer would have no more than 60 days to complete the contracting process with the therapist.

The bill would only apply to health insurance plans regulated by the state. Insurance plans offered by many large employers are regulated by the federal government, not the state.

The ultimate goal is for people to be able to use the insurance they already pay for to access regular behavioral health like therapy and psychiatric appointments, LaPointe said. Theyre not able to do that now because providers wont join networks because theyre not getting reimbursed enough.

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The bill passed out of the House with a vote of 72-33 and is now in the Senate. The legislative session ends May 31.

The bill, however, faces opposition from insurance industry representatives. The costs of larger reimbursements to therapists could potentially be passed along to consumers, in the form of higher monthly premiums or higher out-of-pocket costs as patients work to meet their deductibles, said Laura Minzer, president of the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council, which represents health and life insurers.

Minzer also worries about the potential precedent of lawmakers setting reimbursement rates from private insurers for health care.

It does create sort of a Pandoras box where we could see other types of providers coming for the same types of considerations in statute, Minzer said.

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She said protections are already in place to make sure therapists are reimbursed fairly, including state and federal parity laws that require insurance companies to cover behavioral health and physical health care equitably. Each year, insurers have to submit to the Illinois Department of Insurance documentation showing that the processes they use to set reimbursement rates for mental health care arent any more stringent than those used for other medical care.

Its also possible that higher reimbursement rates wouldnt make much of a difference when it comes to persuading more therapists to accept insurance, Minzer said. Some therapists dont accept insurance because theyre part of small or solo practices that dont have the bandwidth for the paperwork, she said.

Im not sure that increasing rates and requiring reimbursement to be higher is necessarily going to change the dynamic for some sole practitioners who just dont want to deal with insurance, Minzer said.

The Council, however, supports many other parts of the bill, outside of the reimbursement provisions, Minzer said.

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It will go a long way to improving the consumer experience as well as addressing some concerns the behavioral health providers have noted, she said of other parts of the bill.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, which is the largest health insurer in the state, has also said it opposes the bill, though a spokesperson for Blue Cross declined to comment on the issue for this article.

Those behind the bill, however, say the reimbursement provisions are key.

If you want behavioral health access you have to increase reimbursement rates  and you have to decrease the administrative burdens or the red tape, LaPointe said.

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Some therapists have not seen an increase in insurance reimbursement rates for more than a decade, said Heather ODonnell, senior vice president of public policy at Thresholds, which serves people with mental health and substance use disorders in Illinois.

Thresholds has been a driving force behind the bill even though most of its patients are on Medicaid, meaning Thresholds might not benefit much from the measure. Increasing access to mental health care in general is important to the organization, ODonnell said.

Its just time private insurance steps to the plate, ODonnell said. In the end, its the people seeking care that get the short end of the stick. Theyre paying for insurance, but when it comes to needing to see a therapist, its incredibly difficult, so oftentimes they have to go out of network and pay out-of-pocket.

Jennifer Froemel, who owns private practice Innovative Counseling Partners, is concerned about the insurance industrys opposition to the bill. Though her practice accepts private insurance, she said her reimbursements have changed little in the last 26 years  in at least one case rising by only about $10 per session in that time frame.

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I really feel like right now we are in such a mental health crisis still that we really need to push for equitable pay, said Froemel, who also serves on an Illinois Counseling Association task force that examines insurance trends in mental health. Higher reimbursement rates would mean more access for patients, she said.

Lawmakers considered a similar bill last year, but that bill failed to pass by the end of the legislature. LaPointe said the bill simply ran out of time last year, but this year, Our colleagues in the House and Senate are much more aware of the bill this year and truly understand it.
A law signed Monday, May 12, 2025, by Gov. Henry McMaster bans distributing intimate photos of someone without permission. (Stock photo/Getty Images)

For the last year, South Carolina has stood alone as the only state without laws protecting victims of nonconsensual distribution of intimate images, or NDII. Thats finally changing.

HB3058 unanimously passed the state Legislature and became law Monday with Gov. Henry McMasters signature, marking a crucial step forward in protecting South Carolinians from image-based sexual abuse and aligning our laws with the rest of the country.

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This legislation has been years in the making. Previous bills failed to gain traction. But now, we have a law that not only protects survivors, but it also defends our democracy by addressing a new barrier to public participation: the fear of digital exposure.

Distributing intimate images without consent, sometimes called revenge porn, is a growing form of digital-age sexual violence.

Today, millions of people store private moments on phones or in the cloud.

In 2000, just 2.7% of adults reported sending sexually explicit images. By 2023, that number had soared to nearly 77%. This shift reflects the reality of modern relationships  but it also reveals how vulnerable weve become in a world where your digital history can be weaponized.

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For those seeking to serve their communities  especially young people and women  this vulnerability carries a heavy cost.

In an age where sharing intimate images is common, the fear that a private moment from the past could resurface can be enough to deter someone from running for office or stepping into public life.

And its not just fear  its a rational calculation. Women, in particular, face harsher scrutiny and stigma when private images are leaked or misused.

This isnt just about individual harm. Its about who gets to participate in democracy.

If personal privacy can be used to shame people out of the public arena, we risk creating a political culture that only welcomes those with the least to lose. That often means excluding young people, women, people of color, and anyone whose digital history doesnt fit a narrow standard of respectability.

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Thats not democracy. Thats silence.

Weve seen this before in different forms: gatekeeping disguised as moral judgment.

From criticizing womens clothing to shaming single mothers or discrediting candidates based on their identities, the underlying message has often been that only certain people are deemed worthy of leadership.

The distribution of intimate images is a modern extension of that same exclusion, now supercharged by technology.

The consequences are especially dire for young leaders. Digital life begins early now. Teens and college students grow up with smartphones and social media. Decisions made in adolescence can follow them forever.

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When these decisions are turned into ammunition for harassment, it sends the message that leadership is only for the flawless. That excludes most of us.

This new law helps turn the tide. It establishes penalties based on the harm caused. When intimate images are shared with intent to cause emotional, reputational, or financial harm  or for financial gain  the act is a felony. When theres no intent to harm, its classified as a misdemeanor.

This ensures the punishment fits the offense while sending a clear message: image-based abuse is a serious crime.

More importantly, this bill affirms that no one should be disqualified from public life because of their digital life or a violation of privacy. We must build a society where people are safe not just from violence, but from being silenced or shamed into invisibility.

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Protecting privacy is essential to protecting participation.

By passing this bill, South Carolina is standing up for survivors  and for a future where every person can engage in public life without fear.

But the work doesnt end here. We must ensure the law is implemented effectively, educate the public about it, and continue advocating for policies that reflect the realities of the digital age.

HB3058 is more than a legal win. Its a democratic one.

South Carolina is saying that dignity, privacy, and the right to serve belong to everyone  not just those whose pasts remain unseen.

Let us know what you think...
Members of the DMACC board of directors attend a meeting on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Des Moines Area Community College is gearing up for its national presidential search with garnering perspectives on what they want the new college leader to do and believe in.

Search consultant Larry Ebbers provided an update to the community college board of directors Monday on search preparations ahead of its official launch in July. The college hosted separate forums for the campus community and faculty and staff in early May, which Ebbers said were well-attended.

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Lots of enthusiasm, lots of good participation by faculty (and) staff, Ebbers said. We got over 100 to participate, so thats very good.

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Further feedback on what people want to see in their future feedback is being sought through an online survey, found on the presidential search website.

The board is set to receive further updates on the meetings and online survey at its June 16 meeting. According to the online timeline of proceedings, after the July launch of the search, applications for the role will be due Sept. 1.

A three-person screening committee made up of Kirkwood Community College President Kristie Fisher, North Iowa Area Community College President Steve Schulz and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Interim Chancellor Liang Chee Wee will review the applications. A search committee will also be selected in September, and after internal interviews with candidates, they will come to campus for interviews in October.

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Rob Denson, DMACCs current and longest-serving president, announced in January he will retire at the end of the calendar year after more than 20 years with the college and more than 40 years in higher education.

While the official search has yet to be launched, Ebbers said he is already receiving news of interested parties.

Ive already received nominations, and Im also in the process of calling people around the country that I know who might be interested, Ebbers said.

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A Democratic National Committee panel on Monday recommended a new election for the post held by Vice Chair David Hogg, whose effort to challenge "asleep at the wheel" Democrats sparked a firestorm in the national party.

While the panels move was based on a procedural complaint unrelated to the broader controversy surrounding Hogg, the committee is giving DNC members another option to squeeze the vice chair after he promised to spend $20 million in Democratic primaries against incumbent House members in safe blue districts.

Hogg and DNC chair Ken Martin have been dueling over Hoggs plans. Most recently, Martin said Hogg should either sign a neutrality pledge or step down from his post.

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On Monday, the DNC Credentials Committee committee heard a complaint that alleged the body bungled its own rules when Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta were elected as vice chairs in February. To move forward, the full national body would have to sign off on the resolution the committee approved. If it does, it would call for a new election for the two vice chair posts in question and therefore would remove Hogg and Kenyatta from their posts.

In a statement, Hogg said its impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote.

The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort, Hogg said.

In a thread on X, Kenyatta said he is "pissed that this challenge was successful," while also swiping at the media and Hogg for misrepresenting the DNC panel's decision.

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"The credentials committee believed, as they stated, that they are remedying a procedural flaw. But doing so the way they did, is a slap in my face. Im frustrated, but Ill be ok," Kenyatta wrote, adding in another post that "this story is complex and Im frustrated  but its not about (Hogg)."



The challenge was brought by Oklahoma DNC member Kalyn Free, who argued that the party violated its own rules and made it harder for a woman to be elected vice chair.

Her complaint was filed well before Hogg promised to challenge fellow Democrats.

The committee voted 13-2 on Monday evening after about more than three hours of discussion.

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The partys rules state that the DNC's governing body should achieve gender parity or get as close to it as is possible. Free argued, according to her initial complaint, which was shared with POLITICO, that Kenyatta and Hogg had access to more votes than Free and two other women running for the slot because the DNCs rules were not properly followed and made it impossible for any woman to win the race.

"I have always known that the Democratic Party is the party of free and fair elections. Today, the credentials committee of the DNC confirmed that correcting mistakes in process, and protecting democracy is more important than saving face," Free said in a statement after the vote.

Earlier this month, Free told POLITICO her challenge was "about fairness," and added that her challenge had nothing to do with Hoggs group funding primary challenges.

"This other thing  $20 million  that's David's issue," she said.

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In a statement, Martin said he was disappointed to learn that before I became Chair, there was a procedural error in the February Vice Chair elections.

The Credentials Committee has issued their recommendation, and I trust that the DNC Members will carefully review the Committees resolution and resolve this matter fairly, he said.

In the hearing on Monday, Frees lawyers called in Hofstra professor Daniel Seabold, an expert in parliamentary procedure, to give testimony on Free's behalf, and his expertise seemed to sway some members of the committee.

Im gonna take the guy who wrote the book, said former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters, a committee member.

The full DNC could opt to hold a virtual vote ahead of the meeting later this summer. Otherwise it will take the issue up during its August meeting.

Elena Schneider contributed to this report.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) raised concerns about Donald Trumps reported plans to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar to serve as Air Force One, suggesting he pay for it instead.

I dont think it looks good or smells good, Paul said of the offer on Monday, laying out the potential conflicts of interest involved with the president of the United States accepting such a lavish gift from a foreign nation known for seeking to influence policy in the Middle East.

It just doesnt seem right, the Kentucky Republican told HuffPost. We make decisions on troops there. I mean, theres just a lot of foreign policy decisions. And I think people will think that it could possibly sway your decision-making process when youve gotten a ride on it every day, and its a really nice plane or something.

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ABC News reported over the weekend that Trump planned to retrofit the Boeing 747-8 airplane, referred to as a palace in the sky, from the government of Qatar and use it as his presidential plane until near the end of his term, upon which it would then be turned over to Trumps future presidential library. According to the outlet, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi cleared the legality of the deal despite previously working as a high-paid lobbyist for Qatar.

Trump defended his decision to accept the jet earlier on Monday, maintaining it would be stupid for him to turn it down despite blistering criticism from ethics experts, congressional Democrats, and even some allies of the president.

I could be a stupid person and say, Oh no, we dont want a free plane. We give free things out, well take one too. And, it helps us out because  we have 40-year-old aircraft, Trump said Monday morning, referring to Air Force One.

So, I think its a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much, he added. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, No we dont want a free, very expensive airplane, but I thought it was a great gesture.

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Not everyone is convinced, however. Republicans who have questioned the relationship between Qatar and Hamas, particularly since Hamas attack on Israel, warned the deal would stain Trumps presidency if he accepted.

I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him, Laura Loomer, one of Trumps closest allies, said in a post on social media. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million gift from jihadists in suits.

Conservative radio host Ben Shapiro noted that Trump and Republicans would be going ballistic if former President Joe Biden or his son Hunter had agreed to a similar proposition.

Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jazeera, all the rest  thats not America First!... I think inherently it is bad, Shapiro said Monday. I do not think this is good. I think if we switched the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, wed all be freaking out on the right.

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Democrats, meanwhile, are planning to try and force a vote in the Senate later this week on a measure condemning the reported gift due to questions about foreign influence, national security and its legality. The U.S. Constitution, they note, specifically forbids anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any King, Prince, or foreign State, without congressional consent.

Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced they would seek a vote on a measure condemning the gift over questions about foreign influence and national security.

The Constitution is clear: elected officials, like the president, cannot accept large gifts from foreign governments without consent from Congress. Air Force One is more than just a plane  its a symbol of the presidency and of the United States itself, the senators said in a joint statement on Monday.

Schatz told HuffPost it defied common sense for a president to accept such a gift and expect not to be influenced in some way.

You do not want the American president to have divided loyalties, and its impossible to imagine that a president who received a $400 million consideration wouldnt be inclined to be thankful, he said.
Five months ago, the congressional DOGE caucuses were the hottest tickets in town, with many lawmakers in both parties eager to prove they believed the federal government should be reformed.

The Senate and House established the caucuses before Inauguration Day. And soon after, Elon Musk and his former DOGE partner, Vivek Ramaswamy were on Capitol Hill, introducing themselves to lawmakers.

The first DOGE caucus meetings in the House were packed.

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But the group has not been involved with Musks decision-making, according to the House DOGE caucus first Democratic member, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).

In fact, the caucus has fizzled out, he said in a Q&A with POLITICO.

Democrats, for their part, have largely withdrawn their support for the idea of DOGE in the wake of the dismissal of thousands of federal employees and the elimination of entire agencies.

Musk has completed much of his government trimming effort while leaving Congress panicked, and in the dark.



One of the DOGE Caucus co-chairs says the caucus is just getting started.

Congress can enact long-term change, and our 100 committed members and eight specialized working groups are working to codify critical reforms and preparing legislation that will unlock savings for the American people, Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.) said in a statement.

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Our chat with Moskowitz has been edited for length and clarity.

You were the first Democrat to join the bipartisan DOGE caucus in Congress. Whats the status of that group?

The DOGE caucus is dead. It's defunct. We haven't met in months. We only had two total meetings in five months. And we weren't involved at all in anything [happening at DOGE], which Elon was in charge of. Zero. Zilch. Nada. [Musk] did it all on his own.

DOGE was a complete failure. Complete failure. Nothing has been made more efficient. Ask the people in Newark [Liberty International Airport, which has suffered delays and cancellations] how efficiency is going.

Was there an expectation that the DOGE caucus would be involved in DOGEs decisions?

Yes, thats what the three congressional chairs of the DOGE caucus [Bean and Reps. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Blake Moore (R-Utah)] told us. They told us that they were going to work with us. They told us these things would come through Congress.

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None of it happened.

Do you expect DOGE cuts to be approved by Congress?

Thats a good question. If [Speaker] Mike Johnson decides he actually wants to be the speaker of the House, he can assert some authority to get this stuff moving.

But he hasnt shown any willingness to do that. Hes just been a pawn of the executive branch.

Youre the former head of Floridas emergency management department. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly said she wants FEMA dismantled. What could that mean?

[Johnson] represents Louisiana. If a Category 4 storm comes into Louisiana this summer, God forbid, with the way FEMA is operating, his state will go bankrupt.

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Im concerned FEMA wont be able to function this summer. The president is right that FEMA needs reform. But the elimination of FEMA is absolutely wrong and will devastate red states more than blue states.

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Your pet pug is without a doubt a domestic dog. A cow on a farm seems domestic, too. But what about an indoor/outdoor cat, that brings home unwelcome gifts? What about animals that live in our homes to our chagrin, like a rat or a bedbug?

Even among scientists, there is no universally agreed upon definition of what domestication looks like or what makes an animal domestic. Elinor Karlsson and Kathryn Lord faced this problem head on when they were publishing a paper on the genetics of farmed foxesa famous experiment where Russian scientists selected foxes for tameness. The animals were tame, but were they domestic? By what definition?

We do not have one that is agreed upon, says Lord, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worchester, MA. So when we say we're studying domestication, we don't have anything that we're actually all talking about.

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Now, Lord, Karlsson, and their colleagues have attempted to define domestication anew in a way they hope the scientific world can get behind. In their definition, domestic would apply to a population of non-human organisms that have evolved in response to a niche or role associated with humans, and that population cant thrive outside of that human context.

By this logic, populations of dogs, corn, sewer rats, and bedbugs are all in; while others that people commonly consider domesticsuch as horses or honeybeesare out.

Lord and Karlsson hope this new definition will allow scientists to study domestication more systematicallyall starting from the same, agreed-upon definition. But while other researchers see some benefits, they also see drawbacks. And some question whether a new definition is really needed at all.

Ask three scientists, get three answers

Domestic comes from the Latin for of the house or the home. But what counts as domestic and what doesnt has always been a bit up for debate. Where the organism lives matters, and how much control humans have seems to matter too. But humans can control one crop of blackberries, only to find other populations running rampant without any human effort.

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What is domestic ends up a bit like artor porn. We know it when we see it.

I see domestication as human directed, says Chris Schell, an urban ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley. In his definition, humans select populations of a species with traits that make them desirable.

But some scientists want to emphasize that the domestic population is truly, genetically different. In my definition, its a population that has come under some form of human influencethat has become genetically differentiated, says Carlos Driscoll, a biologist at Hood College in Frederick, MD. Theres a genetic change, thats the key for me.

Others want to take the human control part out of the equation, giving more power to the other species involved. I would talk about domestication as a relationship between species, and that it was a term coined specifically to situate relationships involving people, says Amy Bogaard, an archaeobotanist at the University of Oxford in England. Animals can adapt to bring them closer to humans, but humans can also change their ways to better live with animals.

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(Maybe dogs didn't need us at all to domesticate themselves.)

Youre either with us, or youre wild

In Lord and Karlssons definition, human control over the domestication process has little place. Lots of domestic populations of animals, after all, arent always under human controllike rampant blackberries or feral hogs or dogs. (Thats why they exclusively use the term domestic rather than domesticated, which implies humans did something on purpose.)

In most cases, the domestication process happens in a population or a group of animals of the same species that inhabit the same area, not in an entire speciesthough Lord, Karlsson and their colleagues carve out exceptions. Cats and dogs, they argue, are unable to truly thrive without humanswhether thats though pet food or trash. And bedbugs require a human hostor a bat living near a human.

(Ancient DNA shows cats domesticated themselves.)

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The researchers settled on a spectrum of ways that organisms can tolerate humans. A domestic population is adapted to a human-associated niche. And it could be any organismfrom microbe to animal. The lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis, is adapted to produce cheesea thoroughly human invention. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) actually do so well with humans that they no longer have any populations that are outside of the human niche, Lord explains.

But to be domestic, the population must not be able to thrive away from those human niches. Without cheese-making, that particular lactic acid bacteria is toast, and big bulky ears of corn wouldnt have a chance. But horses and cows do all right away from people, as do carp, blackberries, or yeast. Instead, the scientists place these species as human exploiters, using our worldbut not needing it. Lord, Karlsson and their colleagues published their new definition May 12 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It's useful in one regard, because domestication is not one simple thing, Driscoll says.

You know, it's like cancer. Cancer is not all one thing. It's just that all cancers end up looking kind of the same, right? So they have different pathways to becoming cancerous. Similarly, there are different pathways to associating with peopleand the result, domestic organisms, have a lot in common.

The emphasis on populationsallowing some groups of animals to be domesticate while others are notis useful, says Eben Gering, an evolutionary biologist at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. I think thinking about things at a population level is important, he says. Trying to put a species in one column or another actually throws a wrench in.

Hold your horses

Just as Lord and Karlsson found other definitions unsatisfying, other scientists arent content with the new definition either. Obviously people get upset when we reclassify things differently than what they believe them to be, says Karlsson, a computational geneticist at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.

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But this new definition of domestic, Gering notes, is basically the same as obligate synanthropethe scientific term for an animal that depends fully on humans and their environments. They're defining domestic as obligately synanthropic, which is already a definition that exists, he says. Im not sure what utility it adds.

Making domestic the same as obligate synanthrope, is, to Lord, the point. We argue that the fundamental process of domestication is the evolution of a nonhuman population to the point where it requires an anthropogenic niche to sustain itself. This, she says, takes out the human-centered role of other definitions, and takes it down to the bare-bones evolution of it all.

I think you do need a definition, Driscoll says. An agreed-on definition is important for conversation efforts. But this one doesnt it seem like an improvement to me on whats out there to begin with.

A new definition could just muddy things, Gering notes. If we suddenly reclassify domestic such that bed bugs are considered domestic, then all of this existing literature becomes very confusing.

A domestic world

It is possible that no definition will satisfy everyone. Nature is wet, and squiggly, and doesnt easily fit into boxes, Driscoll says. But the debate highlights just how much of a role humans play in the lives of other organisms on this planet.

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As a simple definition, I think that's fine, Bogaard says. But it begs an important question, she notes: What is a human-associated niche? A house, yes. A farmers field, yes. But if animals that thrive on our trash are domestic because they are in a human-altered niche, she notes, what about ecosystems altered by human-caused climate change? If we continue as we have, after all, soon all animals that thrive will be doing so under human effects.

Schell also has questions about how far a human niche can go. He notes that many organisms are doing well in Chernobyl, where humans no longer set foot, but which is, without question, very human-affected. The wolves are adapting in that environment, he says. Would we call them domesticated? Theyre alive. Theyre thriving.

Under this definition, that is something scientists would have to face, Lord agrees. Continued human encroachment on less disturbed environments could lead to a future dominated by domestic species, she explains. Not only that, as we tear down natural environments, species currently capable of surviving outside human-dominated areas might lose their natural habitats. Consequently, they would become reliant on human-created environments. They would dieor they would evolve and become domestic.

We don't think domestication is really special at all, Lord says. It is just plain old evolution. And the only reason it is of any interest is because we're interested in us, and we are actually having an outside impact right now on our environments. What every definition of domestication can agree on is that something is evolving. Its evolving near us. Everything else, it seems, is up for debate.
[See violent crime statistics in the player above.]

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  A man paroled from prison barricaded himself in a Parker Drive home following a Monday domestic violence incident, then surrendered to authorities hours later, according to police.

Duane Roe, 33, of Mayfield Heights, is now charged with felony counts of domestic violence and strangulation and a misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, Lyndhurst Municipal Court records show.

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Arrested: Man gets 20th OVI while allededly driving drunk in Ohio

Police received a domestic violence call just before 7 p.m. on Monday, May 12, to a home in the 1500 block of Parker Drive, according to Police Chief Anthony Mele.

When police arrived on scene, Roe allegedly barricaded himself in the home. SWAT officers and negotiators were called to the scene, according to Mele.

He surrendered without incident about four hours later. He was on parole and had several warrants for his arrest, Mele said.

Roe was jailed on a $50,000 bond and was set to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon, court records show.

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Cleveland Clinic to soon require copays up front

He may face additional charges after his case is presented to a Cuyahoga County grand jury, Mele said.

A temporary protection order was issued in the case. A judge ordered Roe not to have contact with the victim or be within 1,000 feet of the victim or the victims home.

A preliminary hearing is set for May 23, court records show.

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.
By Natalia Siniawski

The top diplomats from Kenya and the Dominican Republic met in Santo Domingo on Monday and called on the international community to fulfill and expand its promised funding for the UN-backed security mission in neighboring Haiti.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez and his Kenyan counterpart Musalia Mudavadi warned that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti is struggling to fight the country's worsening gang violence effectively due to a lack of funding and logistical support.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Kenya deployed officers to the MSS in June 2024. The mission includes around 1,000 personnel, with approximately 75% from Kenya.

In the first three months of 2025 alone, over 1,600 people were killed in Haiti, and more than 1 million displaced, according to UN estimates.

KEY QUOTES

Both ministers "acknowledged that the Mission has been unable to be more effective due to the lack of financial and material resources necessary for the full and complete deployment of the troops stationed there," according to an official statement.

They urged the international community to "fulfill the contributions offered, and even increase them, so that the mission can fully operate."

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CONTEXT

Heavily armed gangs have expanded their control in Haiti this year as the MSS and local police struggle to contain escalating violence.

The mission, led by Kenya and authorized by the UN Security Council in 2023, remains only partially deployed due to unmet funding pledges.

(Reporting by Natalia Siniawski; Additional reporting by Harold Isaac; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Bill OReilly joins On Balance to discuss the possibility of President Trump accepting a Qatar-donated Boeing 747 as a new Air Force One aircraft and his trip to the Middle East.

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.
President Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia on May 13 to kick off his first major international trip of his second term in office, and he isn't there alone.

Along with key administration officials, tech leaders like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, and Reid Hoffman have accompanied the president on his trip.

Saudi Arabia is the president's first stop on a tour of the Middle East, which is also scheduled to include the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

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Though the trip has its own business and political implications for Trump, the internet seems to be captivated by his height compared to Musk's.

Here is what we know:

More: Trump could get Qatar plane as new Air Force One. He toured the 'flying palace' in Florida

.@elonmusk greets @POTUS and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the Saudi Royal Court   pic.twitter.com/793zuBcocJ  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

How tall is President Donald Trump?

President Donald Trump is 6-feet-3-inches according to his annual physical exam in April.

The first family is also tall. First lady Melania Trump is 5-foot-11 inches, and their son Barron Trump, towers above them, though there is some debate over his actual height.

How tall is Elon Musk?

Elon Musk is 6-foot-2-inches, according to a USA TODAY report back when Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were talking about fighting one another.

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In a video posted by Trump's communication team on X, Musk appears taller than Trump as he greets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the Saudi Royal Court.

Why is Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia?

As president, Trump is expected to make several international trips, but he is bucking tradition by choosing to make the Middle East the destination for his first foreign trip rather than Canada or Mexico.

The countries he is scheduled to visit are some of the richest in the world, and they invest heavily in military and security technologies. Saudi Arabia committed $600 billion in investments in American companies, and Trump has said he is aiming for $1 trillion in investments from the region.

Ahead of his visit, Trump also said he is considering renaming how the U.S. refers to the body of water that connects those countries from the Persian Gulf to "Arabian Gulf." He is also poised to accept a luxury $400 million Boeing 747-8 plane from Qatar to use as his Air Force One.

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Political relations in the region are also impactful in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Who else is in Saudi Arabia with Donald Trump?

White House pool reports show a long list of U.S. government officials and business leaders are attending a lunch with Trump and Musk at the Royal Court on May 13.

Here are a few of the biggest names:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller

Elon Musk's brother Kimbal Musk

CEO of BlackRock Larry Fink

CEO of Citigroup Jane Fraser

CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman

Co-Founder of LinkedIn Reid Hoffman

Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez

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Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Kim Hjelmgaard, Francesca Chambers, Isabelle Butera, USA TODAY Network

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump in Saudi Arabia: Visit with Elon Musk stirs height scrutiny
Donald Trumps political instincts have led him to the brink of a transformative tax plan. He has made the elimination of taxes on overtime pay, tips, and Social Security benefitsthree of his signature campaign promisesa top priority in the reconciliation bill that Congress is now moving to pass, though the Social Security reform has taken the form of a deduction. The president intuitively understands that Americans deserve to keep a bigger share of their income. But instead of pursuing one-off exemptions, he should fundamentally rethink how our country taxes peopleand what our tax system is designed to achieve.

Trump knows that the less the government takes from your income, the better. His proposals on overtime, tips, and Social Security would give people more of the last share of their moneyi.e., the extra hours they work, the extra income they make, or the extra money they make in benefits after they retire. But the better idea is to let people keep the first share of what they earn.

I call this proposal the right to earn. The basic concept is that Americans shouldnt pay federal taxes on the income they make earlier in life. Thats when people are beginning their careers, starting families, saving to buy homes, and building the foundation for a good life. They have a natural desire to provide for themselves and their familiesbefore providing support to the community. Yet income taxes stifle their personal growth and future success by taking money from Americans when they need it most, making it harder for them to put their life on the best financial track.

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A right to earn tax system would flip the script. Practically, it would let any American who puts a set amount of moneysay, a minimum of 15%in a savings or investment account pay zero federal income taxes. This tax-free income would last for the first 25 years theyre in the workforceroughly from ages 20 to 45 for most people. At that point, they would start paying federal income taxes, under whatever brackets exist at that point. Americans who dont save or invest 15% a year would still pay normal income taxes.

This is similar to how America waives taxes on retirement contributions. Today, if you put 10% of your income into a 401k or IRA, that money isnt taxed. The right to earn operates on the same principle, but on a much larger scale, giving you compounding returns that pay off as you age.

This proposal would be a powerful spur to get far more young people working, and working hard, because theyd know that every penny they earn would be federally tax free. Thats also a recipe for a new era of entrepreneurship, since risk-takers would have more money to start and grow small businesses. Nothing would supercharge economic growth like letting younger Americans invest all their money in building for the future.

While some may worry that 25 years of tax-free income would hurt programs like Social Security, that program is already on the brink of bankruptcy. Besides, with right to earn, Americans could protect themselves by saving for retirement from the moment they begin working. And the 15% savings threshold actually exceeds how much workers and self-employed people currently pay in Social Security taxes. Under this new system, Americans could have more long-term financial security, not less.

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These facts make the right to earn a much more attractive idea than the universal basic income that much of the right (and nearly all the left) is flirting with. That policy is premised on the belief that government should provide everyone with a set amount of money, but that would inevitably undermine work and entrepreneurial initiative. A universal basic income is ultimately grounded in the idea that someone isnt capable of much and needs to be taken care of by government. By contrast, the right to earn reflects a deep belief that people can earn more through their own efforts than government could possibly provide, once theyre given the encouragement.

A right to earn tax system is a heavy political lift. Its also a heavy practical lift, requiring significant legwork to implement a new taxation system in the least disruptive way. Thats why it has no chance of happening in Congresss upcoming reconciliation bill. But Donald Trump gets at least one more such bill in the next year and a half. As soon as the first bill passes, he and his entire administration should begin laying the groundwork for this bigger, bolder, better idea. It would dramatically expandand improveon the tax-free ideas that Congress is already set to pass at the presidents behest.

Donald Trump is onto something: Americans should get more of their income tax free. Now he needs to make that vision a reality in ways that empower the next generation to transform their livesand our country.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
DENVER (KDVR)  A Douglas County School District teacher was arrested on charges of sexual assault on a child.

On Tuesday, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said detectives with the Special Victims Unit arrested 49-year-old David Feil, of Littleton, on two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

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He is being held on a no-bond hold at the Douglas County Detention Facility.

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The sheriffs office said Feil was hired by the Douglas County School District in 2014 and taught at Roxborough Intermediate School, located at 7370 Village Circle E.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who believes they or someone they know might have been a victim. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Clay at sclay@dcsheriff.net.

The investigation is ongoing.

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The first 100 days of Donald Trumps second term have come and gone, and one thing is clear: The administration is engaged in a three-dimensional assault on the principles of American government that have served as the foundation of executive policymaking for the past 80 years.

It is clarifying to consider Americas current crisis in a tripartite fashion: First, looking at Trumps attack on the system of executive branch policymaking established by the Administrative Procedure Act. Then considering his related, but analytically different, campaign to destroy the autonomy of independent agencies like USAID. Finally, emphasizing the way in which his creation of a Department of Government Efficiency goes even further to repudiate the system of checks and balances established by the Framers in 1787.

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Begin with the APA, which was passed in 1946 to provide the basic framework for the legitimate exercise of administrative power in the post-war world. At that moment, the nation was mourning the deaths of 450,000 Americans on the battlefieldwith many more soldiers returning home grievously injured. Within this setting, the bloody victory over Adolf Hitler carried a mixed message. On the one hand, it heralded an era of American leadership of the free world. On the other, it dramatized the grave danger involved in authorizing presidents to deploy sweeping powers that could transform them into American versions of Hitler.

With President Franklin Roosevelt dying shortly before the war ended, it was left to Harry Truman to take decisive steps to reduce the risk of charismatic dictatorship. President Truman proved equal to the challenge. He endorsed the APA even though it dramatically reduced his presidential power. No less remarkably, so did Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, his leading Republican rival for the presidency in the 1948 election. Given the bipartisan support, both House and Senate enacted the APA by overwhelming majorities. The act specifies administrative procedures for both individual adjudications and rules with the force of law. Now being targeted by Trump are the statutes rulemaking provisions, which require executive agencies to engage in a note and comment procedure before they issue new rules or replace legally binding rules put in place by a previous administration. To initiate this process, agencies must first post a draft proposal in the Federal Register and invite all interested members of the public to submit written comments on the proposals merits. Once the open-ended comment period has passed, it is not enough for decisionmakers to consider these comments in their policymaking discussion. Instead, the APA requires the agency to provide a public explanation of the rules basis and purpose that takes account of these critiques in framing its final regulations.

Yet even this effort at public justification may not suffice to sweep away a prior regulatory regime. Instead, the APA authorizes disappointed critics to challenge the proposed rule in federal courtand to argue that the agency action violates the substance of the underlying statute and/or failed to conform with required APA procedures. It is only if the judiciary rejects these complaints that the new rules go into effect.

To be sure, the APA exempts rules dealing with military or foreign affairs from the acts rulemaking procedures as well as many spending programs. During President Trumps first 100 days, his government has advanced problematic interpretations of these exemptions to repudiate a wide range of established practicesmost notably by radically transforming immigration and border policy.

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These initiatives have predictably provoked challenges to their legality in the courts as well as widespread public protestgenerating political and judicial dynamics that will take at least a year or two to resolve. In the meantime, however, they should not divert attention from blatant violations of the APA on the domestic front. First, a presidential memorandum tells agencies that they can repeal existing regulations without following APA requirements. Second, President Trump has directed agencies to eliminate 10 existing regulations for every new regulation they promulgatea transparently irrational way to set priorities, even for advocates of a radical reduction in the scope of government intervention. Third, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Executive Office of the President is asserting the authority to review the rules of 40 independent agencies to see if they satisfy cost-benefit criteria, even though Congress explicitly insulated these agencies from direct control by the White House to prevent the abuse of power. The statutory techniques deployed to promote agency independence are different in different cases: compare the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Communications Commission with the Central Intelligence Agency. But these important differences should not obscure Congress larger ambitionwhich is to protect all independent agencies from presidents seeking to use them as weapons against their political opponents.

Since Trumps arrival in the White House, the blizzard of unilateral executive actions may seem like a mass of technicalities irrelevant to most citizens. Yet, to dismiss these actions as trivial obscures his sweeping assault on the public accountability of regulatory procedures established by Congress in the APA and statutes that insulate independent agencies from presidential power-plays. To his great credit, professor Phillip Cooper has set up a website that collects all these problematic initiatives, which is getting longer as the days pass. This site permits readers to appreciate the different ways that Trump is assaulting the APA and undermining agency independenceproviding a basis for realistic responses to different presidential acts of self-aggrandizement.

We turn, finally, to a third dimension of the presidents assault on the system of checks and balances. Since the founding, it has been up to Congress, not the president, to decide whether a new government department should be created in the executive branch and to define its mandate by an appropriate statute. Yet, on his very first day in office, Trump purported to create the Department of Government Efficiency by executive order. He then appointed Elon Musk as the head of DOGE without seeking the Advice and Consent of the Senate, even though this is explicitly required by Article 2 of the Constitution for all officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for. Nevertheless, Musk and his subordinates have been firing experienced civil servants in a host of executive departments established by congressional statutes over the course of generations.

Worse yet, Trump is following DOGE recommendations to cut the agency budgets for the current fiscal year even though these funds have already been appropriated by Congress and were approved by President Trump himself when he signed a continuing resolution funding the government through September 2025. These cutbacks are a straightforward violation of Article 1s express grant of exclusive budgetary authority to Congress. Moreover, in 1974, Congress and the president passed a statute that addressed the very issue raised by DOGEs unilateral cutbacks. The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act gives presidents 30 days to persuade Congress that recent events make it unwise to spend money that has already been appropriated. During this time period, the White House is expressly authorized to delay these expendituresbut if both houses of Congress refuse to approve the presidents recommendation within this brief period, the president is explicitly required to spend the money. Yet the administration has now moved beyond its first 100 days in officeand continues to defy the command of the statute to obey the Constitution.

Taken together, Trumps budget-slashing DOGE combined with his totalizing assault on independent agencies only serve to reinforce the clear and present danger posed by his repudiation of the Administrative Procedure Act. These dictatorial dynamics threaten to destroy the democratic foundations of the American republic. This is not a time for serious defenders of Enlightenment democracy to stand on the sidelines. We must set aside our differences and organize a campaign that will inspire voters to confront this threat in the coming congressional elections.
TENAFLY, N.J. (PIX11)  Israeli-American Edan Alexander was united with his family in Israel on Monday afternoon after theyd traveled there from this North Jersey town immediately after his release from Hamas was announced.

Watching it all unfold were hundreds of friends, neighbors, and supporters who filled the entire main square of Alexanders hometown, starting before sunrise on Monday.

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Among the celebratory crowd was Michael Leschner, Alexanders best friend since the now-21-year-olds began high school here in this North Jersey town of 15,000 residents.

This is someone I love with all my heart, said Leschner, in an interview with PIX11 News, as the crowd watched images on a giant, portable video screen. A split second after declaring his deep friendship, Leschner broke out into screams and yells.

It was because the first images published of his best friend, having been turned over to the Red Cross by Hamas, had just appeared on the video screen.

That says it all, Leschner said. If that doesnt, I dont know what does.

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It marked the end of 584 days in captivity for the Tenafly resident whod moved to Israel after graduating from high school here. Months later, Alexander joined the Israeli Defense Forces. He was among a variety of Israeli military personnel kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Now, hes been freed. His mother, a Tenafly resident, shrieked when she saw him in the emotional reunion her family had with Alexander on Monday.

Weve been talking with them, said Orly Amos, a close friend of the Alexander Family, at the outdoor rally. We took them to the airport, she said, about what led to the emotional reunion in Israel of the Israeli-American soldier and his parents and siblings from New Jersey.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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Amos said that this town, where Alexander spent almost his entire life through high school, has been praying for him constantly. Then, on Sunday, Alexanders mother, Yael, got word that the release was happening and let her best friend, Amos, know.

Since then, said Amos, we dont sleep, we literally dont sleep. So its a dream come true. Weve been waiting for this since October 7, so for us, its a miracle.

Local residents have held a vigil every Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. since October 7, 2023, for Edan Alexander and all of the other hostages. Even though Alexander is the last living American hostage, 58 hostages remain in Hamas custody. Various Tenafly residents said that theyll keep holding the weekly vigils until all of the hostages are home.

They also said that plans are underway to welcome Edan Alexander back soon, although no official date has yet been set.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The driver accused of intentionally ramming a motorcyclist and causing him injuries from sliding across a highway is now facing attempted murder and other charges.

The new charge comes after a Washington County grand jury indicted Samir Helio Pazzoto-Filho after the alleged hit-and-run incident off Highway 26 on the morning of May 5.

St. Helens coaches target Astoria softball player

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Video of the incident shows a blue Kia driver sideswiping a motorcyclist, with the rider becoming dislodged from his vehicle and sliding across the concrete ground.

The motorcyclist, a young man in his 20s, reportedly slid 250 feet on his stomach, shredding his clothes, cracking his helmet and disintegrating the steel toe of his shoe along the way. After a stay at a hospital for serious injuries, the motorcyclist was released and is currently recovering at home, the Beaverton Police Department said on Tuesday.

The fact that somebody deliberately turned into my son and rammed him off the road is what makes me sick to my stomach, said the victims mother, Patsy, in an interview with KOIN 6 News last week. His actions couldve killed my son.

Kotek: Budget cuts to Medicaid are morally indefensible

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On May 6, Beaverton police came to Pazzoto-Filhos home near Highway 26 and Southwest 185th Avenue, based on a community tip. When officers arrived, they saw a blue Kia Carnival with signs of crash damage matching the description of the suspect vehicle. He was arrested without incident, officials said.

Pazzoto-Filho appeared in court on Tuesday after a grand jury added the more severe attempted murder charge to his original list of charges. The jury also charged him with first- and second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, felony hit and run and reckless driving.

NBAs Portland Trail Blazers are going up for sale

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case or Pazzoto-Filhos driving behavior before or during the incident to contact Beaverton police

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  A 39-year-old woman was arrested Monday after fleeing the scene of a serious head-on crash in Waikiki, according to Honolulu police.

Shark sighting prompts warning at Pokai Bay

The collision happened around 1:20 p.m. on May 12 along Paki Avenue.

Police said the woman was driving westbound with a male passenger when she veered into oncoming traffic and struck another car head-on.

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The other vehicle was driven by a 33-year-old woman who had a younger passenger with her.

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After the crash, the driver allegedly ran from the scene without offering help or giving her information. Her passenger stayed behind and refused medical attention.

Emergency Medical Services transported the 33-year-old woman to a nearby hospital in serious condition. Her passenger was not hurt.

Police later located and arrested the fleeing driver.

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The case remains under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A Rochester man is in the hospital after a car crash on Brown Street early Tuesday morning.

Rochester police arrived at Brown Street around 12:22 a.m. Officers said the 66-year-old driver was heading east in a Honda SUV before veering onto the shoulder and striking two parked, unoccupied cars. They believe the driver suffered a medical emergency before the crash.

The driver of the SUV had to be extricated from the car and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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No arrests or citations were made as a result of the crash.

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On May 4, Sudans paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a barrage of suicide drones at Port Sudan, the armys de facto wartime capital on the Red Sea.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) accused foreign actors of supporting the RSFs attacks and even threatened to sever ties with one of its biggest trading partners.

The RSF surprised many with the strikes. It had used drones before, but never hit targets as far away as Port Sudan, which used to be a haven, until last week.

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The strikes  led to a huge displacement from the city. Many people left Port Sudan, Aza Aera, a local relief worker, told Al Jazeera. If the aggression continues  I think Ill leave like everyone else.

A drone war

When a civil war erupted between the SAF and RSF in April 2023, the army had aerial supremacy due to its fleet of warplanes and drones.

Yet the RSF is closing the gap with an arsenal of suicide drones, which it used on Port Sudan for six consecutive days, hitting an army base, a civilian airport, several hotels, and a fuel depot, which caused a massive blast.

Sudan had already entered the phase of drone warfare over the last  few months at least, said Suliman Baldo, the founder of the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker think tank.





The army largely relies on the relatively affordable Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones, reportedly receiving $120m worth of them since late 2023.

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Bayraktars can travel long distances with a large payload, and the army says they helped it regain swaths of territory from the RSF in eastern and central Sudan between September 2024 and March 2025, including the capital Khartoum.

Despite losing significant ground, the RSF then stepped up its aggression against the SAF with Chinese-made drones, according to a recent report by Amnesty International.

The human rights group, Sudans de facto military government and other monitors all accuse the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of purchasing these drones  and other weapons  and supplying them to the RSF.

The UAE has denied the accusations as baseless.

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The UAE strongly rejects the suggestion that it is supplying weapons to any party involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, said Salem Aljaberi, a spokesperson for the UAEs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on X.

Regardless, the increasing use of drones by both sides marks an escalation and risks exacerbating an already catastrophic situation for civilians, according to experts and human rights monitors.

Bold announcement

On May 6, the army-backed authorities in Port Sudan announced the severing of all ties with the UAE after accusing it of being behind the attacks.

The army relies on relatively affordable Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones [Courtesy: Creative Commons]

That announcement was not well thought-out, according to Baldo.

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Sudans army could lose tens of millions of dollars in gold revenue, as well as access to vital banking operations, he told Al Jazeera.

A UAE-backed company, Emiral Resources, owns a majority of shares in Sudans largest gold mine, the Kush mine.

Kush is administered by Sudans army, which likely sells tens of millions of dollars worth of gold to the UAE.

According to the Central Bank of Sudan, about 97 percent of gold exports from army-controlled areas went to the UAE in 2023.

Kush exported at least one tonne of gold in 2024, although it is unclear how much higher the number is for production.

Furthermore, UAE banks own a majority share in the Bank of Khartoum, whose digital platform, Bankak, facilitates money transfers for millions of displaced Sudanese and public institutions.

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Sudans state-owned El Nilein Bank also has a branch in the UAE that plays a critical role in approving international transfers on behalf of the army-backed authorities in Port Sudan, according to a report that Baldo co-authored in March for the Chatham House think tank.

This was a rushed decision [to cut ties with the UAE] that will have serious consequences  due to the UAEs control over [Sudans] national economy, Baldo told Al Jazeera.

Major escalation?

Sudans army has not clarified how and when it will sever ties with the UAE.





On May 6, SAF chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed in a video to defeat the militia (RSF) and those who help them.

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Al Jazeera sent written questions to army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah, asking if Port Sudan will implement the announced suspension.

No reply was received by time of publication.

For its part, the UAEs Foreign Ministry told Al Jazeera in an email that it will not retaliate against Port Sudan.

The statement issued by the so-called Security and Defence Council will not affect the deep-rooted and enduring ties between the UAE and the Republic of the Sudan, and their peoples, the emailed statement said.

Meanwhile, experts and observers believe the war in Sudan is trending towards a major escalation.

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The armys regional backers could respond to the RSFs increased use of drones by doubling down on their support for the army, warned Alan Boswell, a Sudan expert for the International Crisis Group.

The obvious risk [from the attacks on Port Sudan] is that it brings other [regional powers] into deeper involvement on the armys side, he told Al Jazeera.

We could see an escalating war with greater and greater firepower, and nothing would be left of Sudans infrastructure by the end of it.
Two Democrats who have represented Naperville on the DuPage County Board for the past seven years will be vying to keep their seats in next years midterm elections.

Sadia Covert and Dawn DeSart have confirmed that they will be running for reelection in District 5. Covert will be seeking a four-year term while DeSart will be running for a two-year term.

District 5 comprises most of Naperville and sections of Aurora in DuPage.

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Coverts and DeSarts intentions to run come in the wake of Naperville City Councilman Ian Holzhauer announcing last week that he will be challenging Covert for the four-year District 5 seat as a Democrat.

Holzhauer was just elected to a second term on Naperville City Council. He announced his bid for county board hours after being inaugurated.

We work hard for our seats, Covert said in a call last week. We paved the way and we have to fight. We always have to fight to retain our seats. This is my first primary on the county board, so its very different for me.  All I do know is that women have to stand tall and strong.

Covert was first elected to the board in 2018. A Naperville resident for more than a decade and a half, Covert is a licensed attorney and one of the founding partners of Covert Marrero Covert LLP. She initially ran for county board to expand the bodys representation, she said.

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Before Covert was elected, there were absolutely zero South Asian and Muslim Americans on the board, she said.

Asked what she would do with a third term, Covert listed off several priorities. She wants to focus on continuing to ensure community members have access to housing and basic necessities, she said. Shed also said shed like to see through ongoing work to preserve cultural diversity and cultural heritage in the DuPage County Historical Museum in Wheaton.

As chair of the Technology Committee, Covert is also interested in exploring how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the boards work, a project that has already started, she said.

Being in the midst of things, its important to have the same people working on these initiatives and just seeing them through, Covert said.

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Covert also said she was surprised to hear about Holzhauers bid for board.

He didnt even have the courtesy to give me a call to let me know, she said.

The countys 18-person board is divided into six districts, with three seats apiece. Alongside Covert and DeSart, District 5 is also represented by Saba Haider, of Aurora, who was elected to the board last fall after unseating former Naperville City Council member Patty Gustin. Her term continues through 2028.

Seats are elected separately. When more than one candidate from a party vies for a seat, theres a primary election to decide who gets the nomination.

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Covert emphasized that she wants to focus on her own race.

We work very well together as a board, she said. Im just happy to serve. Its been an honor to serve all my constituents.

DeSart, who has likewise sat on the board since 2018, said in an email Monday that she never considered not running for my seat.

Ive accomplished so much through my work on the board that I feel compelled to continue the work, she said.

A graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, DeSart is former reporter for NBC-TV Channel 5 in Chicago. She continues to work as a journalist in the radio broadcast industry, she said. DeSart first moved to Naperville in 1980 with her family. She later moved to Aurora in 2016.

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Prior to serving on the board, DeSart was a member of the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board from 2009 to 2013.

To her, the biggest issue facing the county right is all of the federal governments cuts to the food insecure, to heating grants, to homelessness, DeSart said.

Its going to be up to the county to help those most in need, she said.

Asked if there are any initiatives or issues she hopes to focus on should she be reelected, DeSart said, Food insecurity is number one, and the need will only get greater.

Its a subject thats addressed at almost every meeting of the boards Human Services Committee, of which shes a member, she said.

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She added that working with our state legislators has never been more important.

DeSart serves as chair of the boards Legislative Committee, which advises and provides recommendations to the board relating to state and federal legislation, according to the countys website.

There are many initiatives Id still like to accomplish, she said.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
A Duval County School Police officer was arrested Sunday in connection to a dating violence incident, Duval County Public Schools announced Tuesday.

Kevens Louis, 30, is facing charges of battery causing bodily harm (dating violence), false imprisonment, and felony domestic battery by strangulation, according to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office online inmate information search.

DCPS said in a news release that Louis began working with the district in September 2021 and has worked as a school police officer not assigned to a particular school.

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Louis has been stripped of all law enforcement authority, and DCPS said his employment status will be addressed upon his release from jail.

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While the presumption of innocence applies, I am incredibly disappointed by these allegations as they fall short of the high standards required of our school police officers, Duval School Police Chief Jackson Short said in the news release.

Louis was released from the Duval County Jail on Monday, according to JSOs online inmate information search.

His next court date is June 3 at 9 a.m. Action News Jax is requesting his arrest report for further details.

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A feud between two powerful Philippines dynasties dominated midterm elections this week, with results suggesting a weakening of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jrs grip on power.

Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte both won in 2022 but have since fallen out spectacularly: Duterte faces impeachment over an alleged assassination attempt, while Marcos had Dutertes father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, imprisoned for alleged human rights abuses.

The results so far favor the Dutertes, with Rodrigo winning a mayoral race from jail and Marcos Jrs supporters underperforming in their own elections  though they appear to have won enough seats to proceed with impeachment efforts against Sara Duterte.

She is the frontrunner for 2028 presidential elections, but would be ineligible to run if impeached.
The secret life of pulls back the curtain on professions youve always wanted to know more about. If you want to anonymously reveal all about your job, email money@telegraph.co.uk

Working at an elite boarding school can be a dream: the beautiful grounds, the excellent students, the traditions.

But for the eight months that youre in term time, its boom or bust. There is no life; no time for personal development. Its a Monday-to-Saturday role, and occasionally Sundays too. You start lessons around 8.30am, and then the days can go on until 11pm if youre on evening duties at the boarding houses.

Yes, you get four months off across the year. But by the time summer holidays come around, you need it  youre so mentally gaunt. Then, as the end of the holidays approaches, you think: I dont want to go back into captivity!

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That said, were definitely better off than teachers in state schools. They can easily put in 60 to 70 hours a week, including marking and lesson prep. To think they start on around 30,000  its horrendous. Its no surprise many teachers end up thinking the juice isnt worth the squeeze.

Relative to that, its definitely more comfortable at a private school; its just intense in a different way. My salary is now around 70,000, and then on top of that theres cheaper (or, for some, free) accommodation, plus meals. You can work your way up the pay scale fairly quickly with extracurricular duties, or heading up a department.

The pension traditionally has also been very generous. With the Teachers Pension Scheme, the employer contribution is more than 20pc, which is unheard of. Thats gold plated, so its no surprise why private schools are withdrawing  they simply cant afford it.

I dont have a lot of sympathy for (private school) peers who are complaining that their pensions will be reduced. I think: Take a hike, I know you work hard, but you have no idea whats going on in the working world if you think youre hard done by.

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I knew pretty early on that I wanted to be in education. I had an exceptional teacher who Id see reading on breaks, and that had a big influence on me.

I got a job at my current school straight out of university, so its the only place Ive ever taught full time. But I did have a brief placement at a failing state school as part of my training. That was horrific. They talk about classroom control, but all you do there is riot control. I got spat on. A Year 7 once squared up to me and said come and fight me. I was tempted to throw in the towel right then.

I dont think I could teach in the state sector. Im just not cut out for what I saw. Some teachers are  and they probably have far more impact than I do, teaching spoon-fed kids.

That experience did give me confidence around controlling the classroom. While private schools tend to have less acute behavioural issues, students can misbehave in other ways. Theyre very smart, and they can immediately sense weakness if youre junior. Its a form of bullying. Especially with young female teachers, an all-boys class can be cruel.

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You have to avoid getting pulled in. I once got in an open confrontation with a slightly difficult character, and it was a public showdown, which is never a good idea. He took me on, and I lost all authority. It can take a few years to really get that institutional knowledge and show them you know what youre doing.

Generally, the students at schools like mine have a lot of natural talent. When theyre good, theyre stratospheric. But truthfully, youd expect to see more, given the access they have to this insane level of education. Basic smarts will normally only get you so far. We really have to push students to do the legwork.

They often fall down when they go to Oxbridge interviews. State school students will have put 10 times more work in, and theyll shine. Whereas some of our boys have this air of entitlement that can be hard to shake.

As for the parents, overall theyre very respectful. I only had one parent who blamed me after her son did poorly on his GCSE mocks. I tried to explain his track record across the board, and she pushed back by referring to herself as a customer, and told me I should do more.

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Thats rare in my experience, although perhaps Id be the same if I were paying what they are. The fees are north of 10,000, and thats gone up since the VAT rule changes by the Government.

Labours VAT raid

The changes to the VAT rules on private schools have been challenging for many institutions, particularly because it was introduced mid-year. That was a disaster for financial planning, and many schools had to absorb the cost rather than pass it on to parents.

Its a difficult political debate; should you charge tax on private schools? Personally, I think the answer is probably yes. That said, I think the Government has gone about it the wrong way and with the wrong motivation.

The Chancellor shackled herself by saying she would not increase working peoples taxes, so then they had to target employers National Insurance and VAT instead. That meant private schools got a double hit, which was pretty steep.

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Im not worried about my school because it has a very good reputation. But theres been a climate of fear around what the VAT changes will mean for private boarding schools which rely on domestic appetite. Youre hitting the middle to high-income earners. It might hurt some schools, which dont have much of an international reputation.

Its also why there are reports of bursaries at lots of schools getting cut. My school currently has a pretty generous charitable arm, and Im sure that will be affected in the future.

I just hope this isnt in vain and they actually invest in the state schools with the extra money theyre generating. Id like to see them pay the teachers more and reduce class sizes. Youd see immediate benefits from that.

Over the years, I have seriously considered changing careers. The hardest thing is that teaching is widely undervalued, especially given its potential to change lives.

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But schools like mine are a hard place to leave, and we do get a lot of lifers. Its also not easy to pivot out of the sector. Youd need to retrain, because your main skill is  well, teaching. Its quite scary. So many end up staying in education in one form or another  even if its just tutoring.

Ultimately, though, this job is hugely fulfilling. It never repeats; it just rhymes. Its a very sociable job and it keeps you in touch with the young generation.

When you have a really good lesson, youll just walk away with this strange glow. Thats what you hold on to  and if you get that once a month, youre doing well.

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Alex McCrickard, aquatic education coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, shows the right way to hold a striped bass for a brief photo out of the water, by supporting the fish with two, wet hands and avoiding contact with hard surfaces. (Photo by Evan Visconti for the Virginia Mercury)

Fishery managers from Maine to North Carolina, and members of the public, met last week to decide next steps to protect the Atlantic striped bass, a valued fish facing consecutive years of low spawning success and overfishing.

Atlantic striped bass, or rockfish, have been referred to as everymans fish because they are caught by such a wide population of anglers up and down the coast, said Alex McCrickard, the aquatic education coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

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Anglers can utilize a wide range of gear types and techniques to catch striped bass. Some target the fish for the excitement of catch and release, while others seek them out to harvest as a culinary staple.

As a resource, striped bass are one of the most valuable recreati0nal fisheries on the Atlantic Coast, said Emilie Franke, a fishery management plan coordinator for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which manages interstate fishery regulations. I think one of the really unique things about it is that the fisheries really vary from state to state.

The Chesapeake Bay is as important to the striped bass and its successful life history as the fish are to the coastal communities and economies of the region, said Allison Colden, the Chesapeake Bay Foundations executive director for Maryland.

Striped bass rely on the tributaries and tidal estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay as a foundational nursery ground for the first few years of their lives, said Tom Dunlap, the riverkeeper for the James River Association. As a top predator in the Bay ecosystem, (striped bass) are important for their relationships with all of our other species as well.

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An estimated 70% to 90% of all of the striped bass that make it into that coastal migratory stock start their lives in the Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries.

An unpredictable future

Climate change is a major factor contributing to the decline of striped bass, and it is one that is much harder to control than the overfishing that was uncovered by researchers in 2019.

Striped bass are available to a wide range of anglers, from surf casters to shoreline anglers and charter boat captains operating out of urban areas like Richmond. (Photo by Evan Visconti for the Virginia Mercury)

Striped bass prefer cool, wet winters and springs, and as those conditions become less common as a result of climate change, the probability that we are going to hit the lotto with the right combination of environmental conditions is becoming lower and more rare, said Colden.

Wet springs produce high discharge volumes throughout the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, which expands the habitat available for striped bass to spawn in, said Martin Gary, director of the Division of Marine Resources at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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At the same time, those rains flush nutrients into the rivers that are necessary for zooplankton to successfully bloom, a critical food source for striped bass after hatching, Gary said.

If zooplankton are not successful, or if the timing is off between their bloom and the striped bass spawning runs, fewer fish will survive to bolster the future spawning population. Gary said the concern is that if we continue seeing consecutive, poor young-of-year classes, what will the stock look like over the next decade?

Weve got a double-edged sword where were not getting very good recruitment because of environmental factors, and the spawning stock biomass is low, too, said Pat Geer, chief of fisheries management for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Virginia has seen two consecutive years of historically low numbers of juvenile striped bass surveys, while Maryland has witnessed six consecutive years of low numbers. The data is compiled in a yearly stock assessment to give managers a sense of the reproductive success and early survival rate of the fish.

Below-average juvenile stocks mean that once the adults that are currently in the population start to either be harvested or die out, there are very few young fish growing up to replace them, said Colden.

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Its going to take a long time to rebuild a population like striped bass that doesnt mature until 5 to 7 years of age, said Geer. But building up the spawning stock is something we can control overtime.

Gary said in the past, striped bass proved to be resilient, and bounced back after a moratorium was placed on the fishery in the 1980s due to fears of fishing the species to extinction. Within 10 years, striped bass were declared recovered up and down the coast.

Although Gary said the adult striped bass stocks are in much better shape today now than they were in the 1980s, managers cannot depend on the recovery witnessed in the early 1990s now that a new set of challenges exists, especially in the face of climate change and the impacts of rapidly warming waters and changing marine and estuarine ecosystems.

Changes to fishery regulations

New regulations were put in place last year by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board, which oversees interstate striped bass management for ASMFC, to establish a consistent size and bag limit throughout the Chesapeake Bay portion of the fishery.

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Fishing seasons, on the other hand, are not consistent throughout the Bay, with management divided between multiple jurisdictions including Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission.

Outside of shortening the fishing seasons, managers are really running out of options, Geer said. Virginia already has a pretty conservative recreational harvest season of only about 100 days, one of the shortest on the East Coast, he said.

Alex McCrickard with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources measures a striped bass before releasing it, in an April photo. (Photo by Evan Visconti for the Virginia Mercury)

Currently, no-target closures for striped bass dont exist in Virginia, meaning it is legal all year for recreational anglers to target the fish for catch and release. Virginia fishery managers are not proposing to add any additional regulations outside of what could be agreed upon this year by ASMFC, Geer said.

Marylands Department of Natural Resources, meanwhile, proposed a new layout to the board Tuesday for its 2026 fishing seasons that includes a no-target closure for striped bass fishing during the entire month of August, to limit the recreational fisherys impact while water temperatures are high.

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But DNR also proposed eliminating the no-target closure that is currently in place in Maryland waters during part of the spring spawning period, thus opening the entire spring season to catch-and-release fishing.

Maryland fishery managers said in their presentation to the board that the proposal is an effort to refocus our conservation effort on the protection of the resident population in the Chesapeake Bay and realign with our neighboring jurisdictions.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has for a long time advocated for seasonal, summer closures as a way to protect striped bass during the time of year when they are most vulnerable to catch-and-release mortality.

There are other fish species in the Bay at that time that are available to fish on, and we know that striped bass are typically pretty stressed during that time of year, Colden said.

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Studies have shown that when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees in freshwater spawning grounds, the catch-and-release mortality for striped bass increases significantly, above the usual average of 9%, McCrickard said.

The boards technical committee will begin reviewing Marylands proposal before meeting again in August to consider what regulatory options for 2026, if any, it wants to approve for public comment.

A pair of anglers look toward the Richmond skyline as they fish for striped bass in a portion of their native freshwater spawning grounds near the James River fall line. (Photo by Evan Visconti/For the Virginia Mercury)

Members of the board and the public raised concerns at the meeting over the possible negative impacts that could result from lifting no-target protections currently in place in Maryland during the spring spawning period.

Public comments on the boards options, which last year exceeded 4,000 submissions but ultimately didnt spur any additional protections to the 2025 season, would take place between late August through September, according to Franke, before the board makes its final decision on the 2026 regulations in October.

The eyes and ears on the water

Fishery managers are hesitant to continue piling regulations on a fishing community that they say as a whole provides many inherent benefits to striped bass recovery efforts.

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Anglers are the eyes and ears on the water, monitoring the species on a regular basis, explained Gary. The information they provide is vitally important to fishery managers.

When people are fishing, they care about the resource, and theyre going to be the best ones to spread the word to make sure people understand why we need good regulations that secure a promising future for the species, Gary said.

Striped bass as a species are currently declared overfished, however there is no active overfishing occurring anymore, as a result of numerous regulatory actions taken by fishery managers after 2019.

Outside of regulating the fishery, angler education is another key to recovering striped bass stocks since usually about 90% of striped bass removals come from the recreational fishery.

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McCrickard works to teach anglers about the best catch-and-release practices to give striped bass the best chance of survival after being released. Anglers should always wet their hands before handling striped bass to protect the fishs protective slime coating, he said.

Removing the fish from the water for an extended period is known to have negative impacts, so ideally a soft rubber net can be used to keep the fish in the water when preparing to remove the hook or take a photo, McCrickard said.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources aquatic education coordinator Alex McCrickard recommends a soft rubber net to keep the fish in the water when preparing to remove the hook or take photos. (Photo by Evan Visconti for the Virginia Mercury)

When releasing the fish, McCrickard advises facing them upright against the current and allowing them to swim out of your hands freely when they are ready.

Lactic acid builds up in the muscles during the fight, and its essential for anglers to let the fish recover on their own terms when they are ready, he said.

Swimming upstream

There are currently moratoriums effective in Virginia banning the catch and possession of river herring, American shad and Atlantic sturgeon, which are threatened, anadromous species similar to striped bass in that they spend their adult lives in saltwater but migrate to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn.

The common theme here is that our native migratory fishes are all struggling; theyre all suffering; theyre all frankly imperiled, Dunlap said.

Unfortunately there is not a single smoking gun that experts can blame for the declines. If there were, wed stand a lot better chance of having greater success for now by bolstering these species, said Dunlap. Theyre definitely suffering a death by a thousand cuts here.

Outside of climate change and overfishing, striped bass and migratory fishes in general are known to face losses as a result of unprotected water withdrawals.

These industrial uses of the river could have the unfortunate capacity to suck in a tremendous amount of larval fish and fish eggs, removing them from that year class, Dunlap said. That can unfortunately be just a wrong place, right time issue on the river system.

There is also increased sediment flowing into the Chesapeake Bay tributaries as a result of more violent and frequent precipitation events and an increase in impermeable land surfaces throughout the watershed.

The sediment itself will have knock-on effects for the environment, Dunlap explained, by burying aquatic vegetation, reducing the sunlight available for photosynthesis and changing the habitat for species that depend on it.

There are also habitat access issues as a result of the construction of dams and road culverts that block fish passage, as well as the understudied threat of a large invasive blue catfish population that feeds on and competes with native fish.

 Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Developers broke ground at the site of a planned concert venue on the East Providence waterfront in November 2022, but not much construction has taken place there since.

Vacant since 1984, the bowtie parcel next to Bold Point Park is still empty to this day, and it looks nothing like the proposed amphitheater featured in renderings released more than two years ago.

Despite how it looks, East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva told 12 News there has been some progress.

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A lot of work has been happening leading us up to where we are today, he said. A lot of planning, a lot of development work, a lot of behind the scenes engineering that all needs to happen.

Dead whale washes ashore in East Providence

The Live Nation venue was supposed to have been built by 2024, but that deadline came and went. DaSilva then told us the goal was to have it ready by summer 2026, but now thats when he expects construction to begin, citing environmental concerns at the former industrial site.

You have to make sure you check all the boxes that are required from the environmental standpoint, the engineering standpoint, and from the investor from this standpoint, DaSilva explained.

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In the meantime, the city has enlarged the parking lot and added new lights and trees. The mayor said the plan is to add a walking path to the venue once construction gets underway.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A group of sociology students from Elizabethton High School are taking learning outside of the classroom and helping the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation solve a 40-year-old cold case.

Their goal is to raise awareness about the murder of a girl not much younger than they are now, and hopefully bring closure to a family who have spent years questioning what happened.

$10,000 reward offered in 40-year-old Campbell County cold case

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In 1985, the skeletal remains of a young girl were found in a remote part of the Elk Valley community. At the time, the TBI only knew her as Baby Girl but in 2022 they learned her name was Tracy Sue Walker, 15, and alerted her family.

For them, I think, they would describe it just like I would, that its very bittersweet. You know, Im able to provide answers, but not closure or peace you really hope to see in a situation like that, said TBI special agent Brandon Elkins

Since discovering her identity, the TBI learned she was abducted from her home-town mall in Lafayette, Indiana in 1978. She was last seen getting into a vehicle with a group of older men who were believed to be working in the area at the time.

TBI said after the men abducted her, they left the state, and she later ended up in Elk Valley where she was murdered. She may not be their only victim.

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East Tennessee pastor recounts miracle rescue after kidnapping in South Africa

While it has been 40 years since Walker was found in the woods of Elk Valley, a new class at Elizabethton High School is hoping to help TBI close her case.

Theyre not using textbooks and just doing busywork, but theyre actually trying to essentially solve a murder, said Elkins.

As students seek to find justice for Walker, they said the process has brought them a new perspective.

She was a teenager my age when all of this was happening to her, said Elizabethton sophomore, Shelby Edmonds. Its going through the case thats made me feel more empathetic towards other people because she probably had best friends who never would have expected this sort of thing happening to her. It kind of makes you think, well, it could happen to anyone else in my life.

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As someone who grew up not knowing Walkers story, students like Edmonds hope to change that in their community.

Just like any other large homicide or serial killer activity, that sort of thing, it deserves as much publicity as all of those do, and its definitely not getting that, said Edmonds. But thats our goal right now is to make as many people aware of it because there is somebody out there who knows something who eventually will help us solve the case.

A sign posted seeking information about Tracy Sue Walker (Photo via TBI) Car wrapped with Tracy Sue Walkers photo (Photo via TBI) Flying sign seeking information about Tracy Sue Walker (Photo via TBI) Car wrapped with Tracy Sue Walkers photo (Photo via TBI) A sign posted seeking information about Tracy Sue Walker (Photo via TBI) Car wrapped with Tracy Sue Walkers photo (Photo via TBI) A sign posted seeking information about Tracy Sue Walker (Photo via TBI)

While students work to get the word out by flying banners, posting signs, mailing flyers, and wrapping a car with Walkers photo, Elkins said he hopes it will jogs someones memory who may know more.

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Were really hopeful that that push and all of those options, these really out of the box options, well bring that information in that we need to solve this case, he said.

Lonely Bones: Stories of the Forgotten Dead

Elkins said they are asking anyone who may have information about Walkers case, or the group of men to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. For more information about her case, you can visit Justice4TracySue.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
May 13The ECISD police received information May 12 from the Odessa Police Department about a suspect in an aggravated assault case. While patrolling the campus, our officers spotted the vehicle in the OPD case parked in front of the OHS fieldhouse. While removing the people in the vehicle, police saw, in plain sight, open packages of alcoholic beverages.

Upon further search, officers found a gun in the vehicle. One boy, a junior, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon and Minor In Possession-Alcohol. A news release said there was no threat made at OHS or toward OHS and, this was not an emergency situation.

"We are very appreciative of the way our local law enforcement agencies share information and work together to keep our community, and schools, safe," the release said.
EDGEWOOD, N.M. (KRQE)  The Town of Edgewood has changed course and will no longer create a place where parents who cant care for their newborns can surrender them.

Bike to Work Week kicks off in Albuquerque on Monday

The town was exploring options to install a Safe Haven Baby Box, however, it realized it did not have an area suitable for installation.

We have found that local healthcare facilities are not open and staffed 24 hours per day. Local fire and law enforcement agencies have limited staffing, leading them to have concerns about the availability of first responders to be on-site 24/7, Edgewood Community Liaison Linda Burke wrote in an email to KRQE.

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Burke explained fire stations and police stations are available for in-person infant surrender, if needed. Under New Mexicos Safe Haven law, infants 90 days of age or less can be handed to an authorized provider, such as hospitals, fire stations, or law enforcement agencies.

The Town of Edgewood will be researching other resources and services that may be in our area and making that information available on our town website in the near future, Burke stated.

The town also informed the $10,000 grant issuer that it is unable to use the funds for a baby box at this time.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes have been installed in several New Mexico communities and in places across the country. When a newborn is placed inside the box, silent alarms alert first responders. The child is then attended to in under five minutes and taken to a hospital for medical evaluation.

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At the time of this publication, New Mexico is home to nine baby boxes. A list of them can be found below:

Hobbs Fire Station #1 , 301 E White St, Hobbs, NM 88240

Carlsbad Fire Department Station #1 , 401 S Halagueno St., Carlsbad, NM, 88220.

Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center , 669 N Scenic Dr., Alamogordo, NM, 88310

Roswell Fire Station , 200 S Richardson Ave., Roswell, NM, 88203

Belen Fire Department , 121 South 5th St., Belen, NM 87002

Grants Fire & Rescue , 620 W High St., Grants, NM 87020

Espanola Fire Department , 806 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park Rd., Espanola, NM 87532

Farmington Fire Department , 3800 English Rd., Farmington, NM 87402

Bloomfield Fire Department, 911 N 1st St., Bloomfield, NM 87413

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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.
In a little over a month, Gov. JB Pritzker will be one of three governors of so-called sanctuary states testifying before the U.S. House Oversight Committee.

Republicans who run that panel held a similar session in early March in which Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was one of four mayors put on the spot about laws that forbid local police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement except under very limited conditions, such as when theres a criminal arrest warrant pending against someone not authorized to be in the country.

The GOP struggled in that session to shake the resolve of big-city mayors, including Johnson, to defend and uphold their laws. We have little reason to believe the result will be different when Pritzker travels to Washington, D.C., for the June 12 hearing along with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

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Indeed, Republicans might well be doing Pritzker a favor here, given that our governor appears to have his sights set on a White House run in 2028 and is building a national political brand centered on confrontation with the Trump administration.

What better exposure could he ask for than to be able to confront his political adversaries face to face? Polling consistently shows Americans dont approve of deporting and imprisoning people without providing due process.

Illinoisans got a preview of the spectacle to come when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem came to Springfield last week and criticized Pritzker, citing cases in which undocumented immigrants committed crimes. Her decision to stage the press conference near the house where Springfield activist Emma Shafer was killed nearly two years ago, allegedly by an ex-boyfriend without authorization to remain in the U.S., created a firestorm.

Shafers mother protested Noems use of her daughters story, and Noems claims that Illinois policies bar state or local police from cooperating with the feds in capturing and prosecuting the accused, Gabriel P. Calixto, werent true. In a case such as Calixtos, where a criminal warrant is pending, local authorities absolutely can work with federal authorities  and in this situation in fact are doing so, with the U.S. Marshals Service.

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No doubt Shafers tragic story will resurface in Washington when Pritzker is called to testify. And the governor will be able to reiterate all of the above.

Which makes us wonder what sort of political strategizing House Republicans are doing in giving Pritzker such a platform and making them foils as he continues to raise his profile in the presidential competition to come.

_____
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is trying to reintroduce a sacred fish that hasnt been seen in Michigan waters for 90 years.

The experts involved in the Arctic grayling initiative say its been a long journey its taken to get to this point, but so far the project is going swimmingly.

(WLNS)





It all started in Alaska, where 10,000 Arctic grayling eggs were collected from the wild. Then, they were hatched at a special laboratory at Michigan State University, and then moved to northern Michigan, where they have spent years maturing at a hatchery.

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Experts say this generation wont end up in a river, but their eggs will hopefully bring the species back to Michigan.

The results from this years egg take so far have been fantastic. I mean, we expect to hand over right around 400,000 eggs to our tribal partners today, says Ed Eisch from the MDNR. Thats from our first egg take, and theres two other egg takes coming.

Those tribal partners include the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, who will be handling the incubation in the Manistee River. Arctic grayling are sacred to the tribe, and they often show up in their art and religion.

Arctic grayling are absolutely culturally significant to the Native American populations in northern Michigan, says Eisch. They were a readily available food source, you know, for millennia.

(WLNS)

Graylings were also important to early Michigan settlers, who named a town after the fish and built an industry around harvesting them for markets in Chicago and Detroit.

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But by the 1930s, a combination of overfishing and river pollution made them extinct in Michigan. Before that, they were one of the most important fish in our state ecosystem.

Arctic grayling were really king as far as trout species go in the northern lower peninsula, says Eish. They dominated for sure.



Since then, the state has made great efforts to clean up its waterways, and experts are hopeful that new techniques will help repair a historic mistake.

(WLNS)

Theres been a lot of changes in the state of Michigan, a lot of changes to the environment over the last many decades, and we think the time is right now, says Eisch.

Experts tell 6 News that the way the fish are being introduced is what sets this project apart.



Normally, you would stock a river with live fish, but this time, the team designed a special incubator for the eggs that will sit on the river bottom. Its worked before in Montana, but its the first time this strategy has been tested in Michigan.

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Experts think it will be the key that makes the project work.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has allocated funding to remove or repair 19 high-risk dams across the state, including five in West Michigan.

Dredging to start today on St. Joseph Harbor

EGLEs Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program will spend $14.9 million for this round of work. The largest project will cost $2.5 million to remove the Tyler Dam and Beyer Dam in Ypsilanti. All five West Michigan projects cost less than $1 million.

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The department will provide $900,000 to the Kalamazoo County Drain Commission to replace the Sunset Lake Dam. Much of the concrete along the dam is considered deteriorated.

The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly will receive $250,000 to daylight Penoyer Creek, which was negatively impacted by the former Rowe Manufacturing Plant in Newaygo.

This project would return the stream above ground and restore natural stream function, EGLE said in a statement. The impoundment dam would be removed, and relocation of the stream would greatly slow the deterioration of the foundation as well as improve habitat and passage opportunities for migratory species.

Bills would bridge legal gap for deadly crashes, cyclists say

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The city of Three Rivers will receive $90,000 to cover a feasibility study on whether the Portage Plant Dam on the Portage River could be removed. EGLE says the dam is deteriorating, no longer serves a purpose and poses significant risk to the downstream community.

The Cass County Drain Commission will receive $65,800 to remove the McMillan Dam and restore the natural stream flow.

The Branch County Drain Commission will receive $58,200 for a feasibility study on the Blackhawk Dam on the Coldwater River.

Michigan DNR halts program to euthanize Canada geese

The Blackhawk Dam experienced a breach in 2018, and the dam operator made emergency repairs, EGLE stated. Subsequent inspections indicate seepage of the dam embankment and potential piping underneath the dam. A feasibility study will provide cost opinions for reasonable alternatives to remove, repair or replace the dam.

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EGLEs Dam Risk Reduction Grant Program was launched in 2022 in the wake of the massive Edenville Dam failure of 2020.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso County Sheriffs Office is hosting its eighth annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.

The ceremony will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Sheriffs Office Headquarters, 3850 Justice Road.

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This annual ceremony pays tribute to local law enforcement officers who made the

ultimate sacrifice in service to their community, the Sheriffs Office said.



This ceremony is a solemn reminder of the courage and selflessness our fallen law

enforcement officers demonstrated in service to others, Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said. We

owe it to them  and their families  to ensure their legacy is never forgotten.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Johns Creek police are warning the public about a scheme that ended with an elderly woman losing nearly $50,000.

They say she was doing a crossword puzzle online when a pop-up ad told her there was a problem and she needed to call a number.

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The person on the other end of the call pretended to be with Bank of America and told her she had too much money in her account and she needed to transfer $47,800 to a Bitcoin machine.

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After she made the transfer, she was asked to send a photo of the receipt.

When she started to get suspicious and said she was going to call police, she got a call from someone pretending to be Captain Deb Coble with the Johns Creek Police Department.

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She was asked to withdraw another $10,000, but when know one showed up to collect it, she went to the police station and reported it as a scam.

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Police are reminding everyone that banks and law enforcement agencies will never ask you to withdraw or transfer money into Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency machines.

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EBENSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  Central Cambria Elementary students performed a special concert on Monday to say thank you to first responders and veterans in the community.

The school invited local fire, police, EMS, military and nurses to attend the concert.

3rd, 4th and 5th graders sang songs and read poems and short stories. The performance started at 10 a.m.

We wanted to put on a show for our veterans, our first responders, those that help us in our community, in our country, to, you know, show them that we care about them. And, it was just a really awesome thing to do, Tyler Engel, Cambria Elementary Music Teacher, said.

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Engel said that although it was somewhat challenging to keep the students energized throughout the concert, it was good to find repertoire for them to sing.

VA to host Armed Forces Day ceremony in Blair County

Several parents also attended the concert, including Brandon Franklin, whos a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps and a local recruiter.

It hit home quite hard because I have lost some friends and service members. But to me, it also means a lot to see the youth picking back up and, you know, kind of honoring the veterans of the community, Franklin said.

May 11-17 is also recognized as National Police Week.

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Obviously, were not in the job for a thank you, but to get a thanks sometimes it feels wonderful. You know, it goes a long way, and it carries with you, especially when either a young child or even adult. They come up and thank you. It means a lot to us, Corporal Daniel Sweeney with the Pennsylvania State Police.

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Central Cambria also has a bulletin board that honors alumni who have served in the armed forces.

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Elon Musk announced Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has approved the use of Starlink, thanking the kingdom for allowing him to operate his satellite internet company in the country.

Musk made the announcement while speaking at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum being held during President Donald Trumps visit to Kingdom. He said Starlink would be used for maritime aviation.

Musk also suggested he would bring Teslas (TSLA) robotaxis to Saudi Arabia. I think it would be very exciting to have autonomous vehicles here in the kingdom if youre amenable, he told the crowd. Tesla is testing robotaxis in Austin and San Francisco, but the company has not yet launched them commercially.

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The Starlink news comes after a Washington Post report said the U.S. government was pushing countries facing heavy tariffs to approve the use of Musks satellite service. While the government cables cited in the story didnt show a quid pro quo, they did include U.S. officials encouraging countries to approve Starlinks use amid trade talks.

Elon Musk say he will roll Robotaxis, robots, starlink and tunnel technologies in #SaudiArabia during #Trump visit to #Riyadh pic.twitter.com/68nOFBt2HF  Adel ELMahrouky (@AdelMahrouky) May 13, 2025

Starlink, which is owned by Musks SpaceX, recently started offering its services for free outside the U.S. to increase use.

Musks role at the Department of Government Efficiency has raised questions about conflicts of interest, many of which involve Starlink. In March, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly ordered employees to find tens of millions of dollars for a deal with Starlink.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Salvation Army announced on Monday that emergency shelter will be available until the end of the month for former residents of Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner, Kansas.

Residents were given a 48-hour notice to vacate the complex last week after the City of Gardner condemned Aspen Place due to serious health and safety hazards.

Neighbors in Gardner come together to help displaced apartment residents

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The complex, located at 101 Aspen St., was described as having a severely deteriorated and outdated water system, which was installed in the 1950s, resulting in multiple pipe ruptures over the years.

Additionally, the city said that these problems have resulted in the complex no longer having sufficient water flow to aid in emergency response services, like putting out fires.

The complex was also described as having deteriorating roadways, impacting emergency response teams and hindering fire trucks and ambulances from accessing the complex safely.

The Salvation Army say now through May 31, emergency shelter remains available 24/7 at the location at 420 E. Santa Fe Street in Olathe for both families and single adults.

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Check-in and registration is 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily with a short screening process and background check required.

The Salvation Army says a pet shelter is also located directly across the street.

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Temporary housing options are also available through Project 1020.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  News 2 has learned more about a man shot multiple times at the end of his shift at the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Cedrick Wilson is recovering in a hospital after police said 29-year-old Tadarius Milan Hunt shot him multiple times just after 2:30 p.m. Sunday. CEO and President of the Nashville Rescue Mission, Glenn Cranfield, described Wilson as a wonderful employee.

Cedrick is a wonderful, wonderful employee and he has a job here and were just looking forward to the day when he returns, Cranfield said.

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RELATED: Man wanted for Nashville Rescue Mission shooting dead after shootout with police

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Wilson reportedly told Hunt he had to leave or Wilson would call law enforcement. Even after Hunt left, he was spotted hiding in the bushes outside.

Ive not ever seen him, and I believe his first day with us was April the 28th, and Ive never seen him here, Cranfield said. There are so many people here that come and go  I dont have any recollection of him.

At the end of Wilsons shift, the suspect reportedly came out of the main door and shot Wilson multiple times in the chest and legs. Hunt was wanted for attempted murder.

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On Monday, Hunt died after exchanging gunfire with MNPD officers near The Gulch. Officers tried to render aid and Hunt was taken to an area hospital with critical injuries, but he was later pronounced dead. Cranfield said that he feels for Hunts family as well

He is somebodys son, so we are praying for the family to be comforted during this time, Cranfield said.

Cranfield added that he visited Wilson in the hospital and he was in good spirits.

I went to encourage him [and] to bless him, and he was encouraging me  smiling, laughing, Cranfield said. It was so good to see his spirits renewed and rejuvenated and doing so well.

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VIDEO: Man dead following shootout with officers on Nashville bridge

Even though Wilson is still on the mend, Cranfield said he was eager to get back to work.

He just went on and on, Glenn, please convey to the staff  my friends, my colleagues  that Im so grateful for their prayers,' Cranfield said.

Cranfield said that Wilson has been a valued employee at the mission for three years.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Did you enjoy the recent rainfall in Florida?

Good, because now hold onto those umbrellas for a different reason: It's going to get hot. Really hot.

Temperatures are expected to climb the rest of this week, into the weekend, and then into early next week.

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville is warning that, based on current forecasts, records could be set or tied not only for record highs but even the low temperatures could set a record for high minimums.

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But before you complain, expected high temperatures in Florida don't compare to the triple digits forecast for parts of Texas, where some cities could see high temperatures of 113.

Above-normal temps expected across southeastern US

Temperatures are expected to be above normal across almost all of Florida, along with south Texas and southeastern Georgia May 18-22, 2025.

Temperatures above normal are expected from May 18 through May 22, especially for Florida, south Texas and stretching into southern Georgia, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

The six- to 10-day forecast aligns with earlier predictions from the Old Farmer's Almanac, which forecast summer 2025 "is shaping up to be a doozy!" It's prediction said Florida is expected to be hot and dry this summer, although South Florida could see cooler, rainy conditions.

 Check your AC. Forecast calls for 'doozy' of a summer. See what Florida can expect

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June through August could "feature sweltering heat, severe weather, intense wildfires and the start of a dynamic hurricane season," AccuWeather said in its summer forecast.

And rounding out the trifecta of unwelcome news, NOAA's summer forecast predicted temperatures across the Sunshine State will likely be above-average for all of Florida.

How hot will it get in Florida this week?

Get ready for some heat, with the possibility of near record highs in North Florida May 17, 2025.

Expect temperatures to climb steadily across much of Florida.

"Records could be tied or broken based on current forecasts. Lows appear to be above normal, and potentially close to record high minimum. Heat indices look to be peak to near 100," the National Weather Service Jacksonville warned in its forecast for May 16-May 19.

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"Hot," the National Weather Service Melbourne said, saying residents across the East Coast and Central Florida can expect "well above normal temperatures," although records are a little more uncertain at this time. A moderate heat risk is expected across most of the area through the weekend.

High temperatures expected Saturday, May 17, across Florida:

Pensacola : 84

Tallahassee : 95

Jacksonville: 96

Daytona Beach: 92

Melbourne: 91

Port St. Lucie: 93

West Palm Beach: 85

Naples: 90

Fort Myers: 92

Sarasota: 84

Planning to check out the theme parks in Central Florida over the weekend? Be prepared for sunny skies with a high near 95.

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 8 tips on how to enjoy Florida theme parks during hot, humid weather

Heat is No. 1 weather-related killer in US. How to protect yourself

Extreme heat causes more deaths each year than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods combined.

As of 8 a.m., May 13, more than 6 million people across the U.S. are under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings, according to the National Integrated Heat Health Information System.

 NOAA heat risk map

The most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses are children, babies and older adults, especially those with pre-existing conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Here's how to protect yourself and family from heat:

Drink plenty of water.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and drinks high in sugar and sodium.

Apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every two hours. Minimize direct exposure to the sun.

Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing.

Take regular breaks in the shade or air-conditioned areas. Take a cool bath or shower. Don't turn a fan toward you if the room temperature is warmer than 90 degrees. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster.

Try to avoid strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day.

Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads.

Check on others and never leave someone or a pet in a parked car.

See latest weather watches, warnings in Florida

Too hot? Symptoms your body is getting overheated

The Centers for Disease Control said these are the symptoms of your body overheating:

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Muscle cramping

Unusually heavy sweating

Shortness of breath

Dizziness

Headaches

Weakness

 CDC Heat Risk website by ZIP code

When is summer?

When summer arrives depends on which summer you mean.

Meteorological summer is June, July and August.

Astronomical summer arrives on the summer solstice and ends with the autumn equinox. So astronomical summer this year will run from June 20, the date of the summer solstice for 2025, to Sept. 22, the arrival of the autumn equinox.

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.

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 Florida Times-Union: Florida heat wave: Near record temps expected. See forecast by city
Federal customs agents allegedly subjected Hasan Piker, one of the countrys most popular progressive online streamers, to lengthy questioning at a Chicago airport over the weekend about his views on Trump and the war in Gaza, prompting concern from civil liberties advocates.

The reason for why theyre doing that is I think to try to create an environment of fear, to try to get people like myself, or at least others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security, to shut the f*** up, Piker, a U.S. citizen, later said on a stream, suggesting the administration wanted to get something out of me that I think they could use to basically detain me permanently.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told The Independent that Piker was stopped for routine additional inspection, a process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler.

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Claims that his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless, a CBP official said. Our officers are following the law, not agendas.

The commentator, who has nearly 3 million followers on Twitch, said agents seemed aware of his past videos and asked him about his opinions on President Trump, if hed interviewed members of militant groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah, and whether he considered Hamas a terror organization or a resistance group.

I kept repeating the same statement over and over again, Piker said of his responses to the questioning. I kept saying ... I'm on the side of civilians. I want the endless bloodshed to end. I am a pacifist. I want wars to end.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

Piker said he was asked if he had interviewed militant groups and what he thought about President Trump (screengrab)

Civil liberties experts condemned Pikers alleged questioning.

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No U.S. citizen should be detained by law enforcement, at the border or anywhere, because of their protected speech, Ari Cohn, of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression free speech watchdog group, wrote on X.

If Piker was in fact singled out because of his views, it would mark an escalation of the Trump administrations continued campaign to prosecute activists and academics it deems as holding unacceptable views, which has so far concentrated on non-citizens.

Tufts University scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student, was held in immigration detention for six weeks and continues facing potential deportation after co-writing an op-ed with Tufts students in a student newspaper that criticized Israels war in Gaza.

Simply and purely, she was detained for the expression she made or shared in the op-ed critical of Israel, Louisiana federal Judge William K. Sessions III said in a ruling this week granting the Ozturk bail.

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I put the government on notice they should introduce any such evidence ... That was three weeks ago, and there has been no evidence, Sessions said. That literally is the case. There is no evidence here as to the motivation, absent consideration of the op-ed.

The Trump administration is also reportedly using artificial intelligence to "catch and revoke" the visas of foreign students who officials perceive as supporting Hamas and other designated terror groups.

Trump signed an executive order in January calling on agencies to review migrants for their views, ensuring immigrants both seeking to enter and already inside the U.S. do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.

As The Independent has reported, pro-Palestine activists, or those accused of aligning with them, have fled the country for fear of unjust prosecution by the administration.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency did not publish a mandatory annual report detailing the pollution produced in the United States that contributes to climate change.

As a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the U.S. is required to submit a national greenhouse gas emissions inventory report by April 15 each year. The U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sink Inventory report is critical for the government and the public to understand where the majority of the country's greenhouse gas pollution comes from, so policies can be crafted to reduce it and help reach reduction goals.

When the deadline passed for the publication's 2025 report, and it was still not available to the public, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an environmental nonprofit, filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the report and published it publicly last week.

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The report, which examines greenhouse gas data from 1990-2023, found that while the U.S. is making progress to reduce its most potent greenhouse gas emissions, it's not doing it fast enough to reach certain climate goals, and environmental groups worry that new policies passed by the Trump administration might make carbon pollution worse in the future.

CBS News reached out to the EPA for comment about it not releasing the data.

"The U.S. greenhouse gas inventory is one of the most detailed and transparent in the world," David Lyons, a senior methane scientist at EDF, told CBS News. "This is a scientific document that should help inform society."

According to an EDF analysis of current climate and air quality standards, the U.S. would avoid 28 billion metric tons of additional climate pollution through 2055 if said policies remain in place. That's the equivalent of taking more than 250 million cars off the road for 20 years, the analysis found. But keeping those standards in place is unlikely to happen, as the Trump administration and the EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, have promised to roll back dozens of policies that would increase emissions, claiming environmental protections are too costly for many businesses.

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How much has the U.S. reduced its greenhouse gas pollution?

In 2024, the U.S. published an updated goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 61-66% from 2005 levels by 2035. But according to the 2025 inventory, the U.S. appears to be far off from that goal. In 2015, Congress said one of the United States' targets was to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

The report found that in 2023, gross greenhouse gas emissions dropped about 17% since 2005. Historically, the U.S. has only reduced emissions by about 5% since 1990 and 2% since 2022.

Although the U.S. still has a decade to meet that minimum goal of a 61% reduction, the current 17% reduction indicates a lot needs to change, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

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"We have to further accelerate the pace of those reductions to meet our science-based climate commitments," Peter Zalzal, associate vice president of clean air strategies for the EDF, told CBS News. "The replacement of coal power with natural gas and renewables has been driving a lot of the drop in emissions over time."

Which greenhouse gas does the U.S. produce the most?

Carbon dioxide made up most of the greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, at nearly 80%, according to the report. This is consistent with data dating back to 1990. The U.S. does not set individual reduction targets for each gas.

Zooming in on carbon dioxide, about 93% of all carbon dioxide emissions come from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The rest comes from sources such as iron, steel, cement and petrochemical production. The more the U.S. can reduce the use of fossil fuels, the faster it will cut carbon pollution.

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Which sector produces the most greenhouse gases?

The transportation sector is responsible for the most carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, producing 39%, and the electric power sector was second with 31%, according to the report.

With transportation and electricity generation, Zalzal said he is concerned that the Trump administration's policies to disincentivize electric vehicles and prioritize fossil fuels over renewable energy will undo progress the U.S. has made to cut emissions in those two areas.

Although transportation was the top-emitting sector in 2023, it hasn't always been. In 1990 and 2005, respectively, the electric power sector emitted the most greenhouse gases, accounting for about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. By 2023, emissions from electric power had dropped to about a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 1990, the greenhouse gas emissions in the electric power sector have dropped nearly 23% due to a larger share of renewable energy.

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How does the U.S. generate its electricity?

The U.S. needs electricity, and over the years, the country's energy generation has begun to shift to incorporate more clean sources versus traditional fossil fuels.

In the 1990s, more than half of electric power generation came from coal. But by 2023, coal had dropped to just 17% and natural gas jumped to 42%. Meanwhile, wind and solar power generated 14% of electricity in 2023. In 1990, wind and solar only made up 0.1% of all electricity generation.

"We've seen efforts to try to weaken important investments that the nation made in accelerating clean energy," Zalzal said. "Rescinding them is going to take us in the wrong direction."

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The Episcopal Church has halted a refugee resettlement program with the federal government over the prioritization of white South Africans while other populations see their immigration protections removed.

Just over two weeks ago, the federal government informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees, Presiding Bishop Sean W. Rowe said in a Monday letter.

In light of our churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government, Rowe added.

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The State Department announced that the first group of white South Africans entered the U.S. on Monday.

Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce asserted in a statement that the group was at risk and faced unjust racial discrimination in South Africa, saying taking them in was a move to safeguard victims of racial discrimination.

No one should have to fear having their property seized without compensation or becoming the victim of violent attacks because of their ethnicity. In the coming months, we will continue to welcome more Afrikaner refugees and help them rebuild their lives in our great country, Bruce said in her prior statement.

A South Africa foreign ministry spokesperson has ripped the Trump administrations prioritization of Afrikaners as politically motivated.

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In February, President Trump signed an executive order in which he pushed his Cabinet to devise a resettlement program for Afrikaners who he said are victims of unjust racial discrimination, referencing a South African land law with an aim to fight against the countrys racist apartheid era.

I want to be very clear about why we made this decision  and what we believe lies ahead for Episcopal Migration Ministries vital work. It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, Rowe said in his Monday letter.

I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country, he added.

On Monday, the administration officially lifted temporary protected status for Afghans, removing a shield from deportation for those in the country even as advocates say the refugees could face violence and persecution under the Taliban.

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The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Episcopal Church said Monday it would not help resettle white South African refugees in the U.S. because of its commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.

The denomination cited its moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa classified as refugees by President Donald Trumps administration as the reason behind the decision to withdraw from the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe  the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church  told church membership the administration had made it known they would be expected to resettle white Afrikaners as part of previously agreed-to deal.

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The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an opponent of apartheid is South Africa, was one of the leaders of the global Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part. The church completely divested from companies that do business in the county in the 1980s.

In light of our churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step, Rowe wrote in a letter. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.

It has been painful to watch one group of refugees (the Afrikaners), selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, Rowe wrote.

Shortly after the letter was published a charter plane with 59 Afrikaners landed at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C.

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Rowe said it would use its resources to help immigrants and refugees in other ways. Shortly after his inauguration, Trump froze most refugee programs and stopped payments to organizations.

A number of faith-based refugee resettlement groups are suing the administration.

However, the administration also fast-tracked refugee status to white South Africans, who jumped ahead of other would-be refugees who had been undergoing years of vetting and processing.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who was part of the delegation that received the new refugees at Dulles, said they were accepted because they would be assimilated easily.

The South Africas Black-led government and many white religious leaders in the country have denied the Trump administrations claims of white Afrikaners facing discrimination in the country.

_____
A friend of Jeffrey Epstein's accuser, Virginia Giuffre, has shed new light on the circumstances that may have led to her tragic death.

The 41-year-old sex trafficking victim was reportedly "extremely distressed" over fears that the payout she received from her lawsuit against Prince Andrew could be lost due to a separate legal battle she was facing from a woman she had claimed was Epstein's former girlfriend.

Virginia Giuffre's motion to dismiss one of the lawsuits filed against her by this individual was also denied just three weeks before she died by suicide.

The Late Sex Trafficking Victim Felt Like She Lost All She 'Fought So Hard For'

MEGA

Last month, Virginia Giuffre, who became widely known for advocating criminal charges against the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his enablers, died by suicide at her home in Neergabby, Australia.

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Her death came as a shock to many of her supporters, especially since she had not spoken publicly about feeling suicidal, despite having made headlines just weeks earlier for other personal matters.

Now, a close friend of the 41-year-old has revealed that she was "extremely distressed" in the weeks leading up to her decision to take her life.

"She felt like everything she had fought so hard for was going or gone. Couple this with the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of Epstein," said the source, per The Mirror.

The insider linked Giuffre's distress to her alleged belief that she was going to lose the massive, alleged 12 million [$16 million] payout she received from Prince Andrew in a defamation case she was embroiled in.

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Giuffre had received the payout from her settled lawsuit against the disgraced royal, where she claimed she was groomed by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew in 2001, when she was 17 years old.

Virginia Giuffre Was Embroiled In A Defamation Suit Prior To Her Suicide

Instagram | Virginia Giuffre

Prior to Giuffre's death, she was facing a defamation lawsuit from artist Rina Oh, who claimed that she had been falsely accused by the mother of three of being Epstein's girlfriend and one of his recruiters.

Oh also claimed that Giuffre had falsely accused her of physically assaulting her, an allegation she vehemently denied.

According to Oh's lawyer, Giuffre intended to use the accusation to inflict maximum damage and "maliciously reiterated" the claims on her social media page and during interviews.

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"Considering the high profile nature of the Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew story, [Giuffre] knew that accusing [Oh], a fellow victim, of such horrible things, would maximise the spread and harm and damage to [Oh]," Oh's lawyer wrote in the filing.

"These defamations and slanders by Defendant are causing [Oh] great harm," the attorney added.

Virginia Giuffre's Alleged Defamatory Tweet Against Fellow Epstein Survivor

Instagram | Virginia Giuffre

One of the reported defamatory posts made by Giuffre was posted on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2020.

"Rina - if you read this, I hope you live in shame for the rest of your life," read the tweet as seen in the suit filed by Oh, per the Daily Mail.

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"You don't intimidate me any longer & the physical & mental scars you left me with should be enough to put your a-s in jail," it read further.

Another tweet suggested that Oh should be imprisoned alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, the woman now infamous for being Epstein's co-conspirator and right-hand woman.

Despite Giuffre's death, she remains accountable in the ongoing lawsuit between her and Oh. Under New York law, the 7.5 million suit will transfer to Giuffre's estate, and if the estate loses, it will be required to pay Oh.

Additionally, Giuffre's estate could face further financial strain in the long run, as Prince Andrew's legal team intends to use Oh's lawsuit to target the late sex trafficking survivor's advocate.

Virginia Giuffre Was Allegedly 'Under Pressure' Prior to Her Death

Instagram | Virginia Giuffre

Weeks before, another fellow sex trafficking survivor, Annie Farmer, claimed that Giuffre was dealing with "enormous pressure."

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"I just know that being involved in this case has been an enormous amount of pressure for her, generally, in all the cases she was involved in," Farmer told The Telegraph, referencing Guiffre's settled suit against Prince Andrew.

Farmer also claimed that Giuffre had endured intense criticism from people ever since she brought forward the sexual abuse allegations against the disgraced royal.

She added that, despite the support Giuffre received from others, it ultimately wasn't enough to make her life any less difficult.

"I think for her, it was next level because of that, because of the Prince part in particular," Farmer added. "I think that was tremendously hard. These kinds of battles, it feels like it's just always ongoing."

The Epstein Victim's Lawyer Says There Are 'Big Question Marks' About Her Death

Instagram | Virginia Giuffre

Giuffre's lawyer, Karrie Louden, expressed disbelief over the preliminary reports of her client's suicide.

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"We've got big question marks over it," the attorney told The Sun about Giuffre's demise.

Louden went on to say that his client never showed any suicidal tendencies throughout their past conversations.

"When I got the phone call, I was like, 'Are you joking?' Because there was no sign that that was something she was considering," she added.

Louden further noted that Giuffre's suicide was unlikely because she had spoken with her about her plans for the future.

"She was in a lot of pain, but she was looking forward to things in the future," the attorney said. "She wanted to renovate this house and all sorts of things like that."
Former U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron was honored in the House of Delegates and Senate in February, a week after he resigned. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Erek L. Barron, a former state delegate and the first Black U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, has a new gig at a law firm in Washington, D.C.

Barron will work for the white-collar defense and government investigations practice at Mintz, where he will lead the firms crisis management and strategic response team that will include civil, criminal, and regulatory matters.

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Erek is a highly respected lawyer with an impressive background both in public service and private practice, Bob Bodian, Mintzs managing member, said in a statement Monday. His extensive experience in high-stakes litigation, investigations, and corporate matters  combined with his various high-level positions in government  will bring immediate value to our clients across a broad range of industries.

Besides being recognized for its work on technology, biotech and life sciences, the firms website said it was one of 765 U.S. businesses get to a perfect score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on its Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

The firm has a commitment to core values which includes diversity, and absolutely something that is important to me, Barron said in a brief interview Monday. Im glad to be at a place that sticks by its principles.

Erek L. Barron. Photo courtesy of Mintz.

Barron said he began working last week at the firm, where he expects some of the work to mirror work he did as U.S. attorney from October 2021 until he resigned February.

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Barron was nominated by President Joe Biden (D) and made history as the first Black U.S. attorney for Maryland when he was confirmed.

We tackled a lot of big, complex problems across the board in the legal space, civil and criminal, touching nearly every substantive area of the law, Barron said of his time as U.S. attorney.

In one of the biggest cases of his tenure, the office charged three people in January 2024 for a nearly $2 billion cryptocurrency fraud scheme. Brenda Chunga of Severna Park pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud in connection with scheme, in which she allegedly received at least $3 million in proceeds.

Prosecutors charge that Sam Lee, living in the United Arab Emirates, cofounded Hyperfund with Rodney Burton of Miami. The two, with Chunga, promoted the company and sold investment contracts through HyperFunds online investment platform between June 2020 and November 2022, but began to block investor withdrawals as early as July 2021.

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In December 2024, Barrons office announced the convictions of two people who lied to investors on the development of drugs to treat COVID-19 and HIV, by a publicly traded biotechnology company called CytoDyn Inc. A release from the office said Nader Pourhassan of Lake Oswego, Oregon, received more than $4.4 million from sales of CytoDyn stock and Kazem Kazempour of Potomac received $340,000 personally and his company received more than $22 million.

Prior to his work as U.S. attorney, Barron worked with then-Sen. Joe Biden from 2007 to 2009 as counsel and policy adviser on the Senate Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs.

Barron, who also worked as a partner at the D.C. firm of Whiteford Taylor & Preston, represented Prince Georges Countys 24th District in the House of Delegates from January 2015 to October 2021.

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He co-chaired a work group to assess budget and safety problems with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and served on the states Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council. Its work to assess and improve the states sentencing and corrections practices led to the Justice Reinvestment Act in 2016.

Less than a week after Barron resigned from the U.S. attorneys office, he was honored by his former colleagues in the General Assembly in both chambers.

Having known Erek for over two decades, I am confident that his leadership, collaborative approach, and successful track record in both the public and private sectors will be a tremendous asset to our D.C. office and to Mintz overall, said Michelle Lipkowitz, managing member of the firms D.C. office.
Erie County man accused of using hammer to kill puppy: Sheriff

ERIE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  Erie County sheriff deputies said a 46-year-old man remains in custody after he was accused of killing a puppy with a hammer.

Jimmy Wiggins is facing several charges including endangering children and cruelty to animals.

Sheriff Paul Sigsworth said Wiggins used a hammer to kill the puppy named Hank.

Very disturbing: Local man facing felony after caught on video abusing his pet dog

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Jimmy claimed he was going to choke the canine, the report stated. Witnesses told deputies they heard the dog crying and then heard an impact. Witnesses also said this was not the first time Wiggins was abusive toward the dogs.

Sigsworth said shortly after police arrived Wiggins tried to run away. Deputies used a drone to find him hiding in the river behind his home on Alpine Trail in Milan Township.

Jimmy Wiggins. Photo courtesy Erie County sheriff

It is terrible, its sickening, Sigsworth said. This behavior is sickening. We have not located the body of the puppy, it could have been thrown in the river.

Another puppy in the home, named Mud, was rescued and is OK.

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PETA calls for change after animals escape at Cedar Point again

Police say the house was in deplorable conditions. An adult female was also arrested.

Family services took custody of two teenagers, the sheriff added.

Wiggins is due back in court soon.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Government watchdogs are debating the appropriate penalty for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commissions previous leaders role in a rare alcohol scandal.

With a 7-1 vote on Friday, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission rejected the $500 penalty proposed for former OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks.

Portland Trail Blazers franchise being sold, Paul Allen estate announces

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In 2023, an investigation revealed that Marks and five other agency leaders diverted bottles of exclusive bourbon  like the highly-sought after Pappy Van Winkle 23. While records show the leaders paid for the liquor, OGEC Executive Director Susan Myer noted that the act violates Oregon laws prohibiting public officials from using confidential information for personal gain and requiring them to report potential conflicts of interest.

According to the records, Marks purchased one bottle for its listed price of $329.99. Myer noted that the proposed $500 fine stems from the ethics commissions penalty matrix, which suggests a fine between 1% and 20% of the maximum penalty for such a violation.

OGECs executive director noted that she also considered the similar fines imposed for other agency officials. But other members argued that the penalty should be increased for higher-ranking leaders.

Adam Sandler gives shoutout to Portland park celebration he inspired

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I think another issue is if youre a top official, you should probably pay a top penalty Commissioner Daniel Mason said. When you refer to the public interest, if its known that the head of an agency is getting a financial benefit that potential is greater than the value, then I think it hurts the ethics commission by going with a stipulated agreement that is less.

The agencys records show Pappy Van Winkle bottles cost up to $6,500 on online marketplaces from other states, although Marks paid OLCCs listed price which was just a fraction of that.

His attorney, Bob Steringer, asked commissioners to consider the same fine that was enforced for other public officials. He also noted that diversion of rare liquor began before Marks tenure, and claimed the executive director was the first to change that practice when he realized it could spur ethics concerns.

Kotek signs bill for anonymous Oregon lottery winners, bans discounting

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Our mission is primarily to educate, not to punish, Commissioner Richard Burke later added. There needs to be a penalty in a case like this. I think the $500 penalty is reasonable. I also think that part of the penalty is the fact that Mr. Marks  you know hes had his name in the press regarding this and its a political embarrassment. I think hes been duly educated..

OGEC will continue to negotiate the fine.

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The European Union expects that the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will be ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday 15 May, and is also prepared to impose additional sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire is not achieved.

Source: Paula Pinho, chief spokesperson of the European Commission, at a briefing in Brussels on 13 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Pinho said that the EU has not abandoned the idea of imposing further sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree to a ceasefire, and also confirmed that the EU expects Putin to be ready to meet Zelenskyy this week.

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"We look forward to seeing President Putin's readiness to meet President Zelensky on Thursday," the spokesperson said. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president  ed.]

Pinho added that Putin had "probably been surprised by the readiness of President Zelensky to meet in person".

She also stressed that the EU has not given up plans to impose additional sanctions against Russia if it does not decide to implement a ceasefire.

Quote: "We can confirm that in the absence of a ceasefire, as has been indicated by several leaders, by [European Commissions] Vice President Kallas and President von der Leyen herself, we are indeed looking into further sanctions."

Background:

In a nighttime statement on 11 May, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not mention the 30-day ceasefire but said he was ready for "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday 15 May.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that he was ready to host negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy stated that he was ready to speak personally with Putin in Istanbul on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump said he did not rule out a visit to Turkiye on 15 May.

Bloomberg reported that European leaders are prepared to wait for a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin in Turkiye before putting pressure on the United States to announce new sanctions.

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Italy and Denmark have urged other EU countries to join their calls to rein in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on asylum and immigration.

Rome and Copenhagen are pressing other member states to sign a letter criticising the Strasbourg court for overreaching its original remit and tying national lawmakers hands.

The court is making it difficult to make political decisions in our own democracies, according to the letter, which was first obtained by the EurActiv website.

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What was once right might not be the answer of tomorrow, it reads in a demand for reform of the court.

On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to limit judges powers to block migrant deportations using the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Prime Minister has ruled out leaving the European Court of Human Rights but could be tempted to join international efforts to reform it.

Since his election last year, Sir Keir has held talks on illegal migration with Giorgia Meloni, Italys hard-Right prime minister, and Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks prime minister.

Sir Keir Starmer and Giorgia Meloni at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace last summer - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

Italian sources said they wanted a debate to ensure the Conventions interpretation better reflected the challenges of modern irregular migration.

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The Czech Republic, Poland, Finland and the Netherlands could reportedly sign the letter. Hungary has also repeatedly clashed with the court.

The court is not an EU body, but part of the larger and older Council of Europe, of which the UK is also a member.

All 27 EU member states belong to the 46-state human rights watchdog and are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ms Meloni led a successful push in Brussels to reform migration laws to make it easier to deport failed asylum seekers and house them in camps outside the EU.

But her deal with Albania to process migrants rescued at sea has faced legal challenges in the Italian courts.

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Ms Frederiksen is one of Europes shrinking band of Left-wing leaders but has made cracking down hard on immigration the cornerstone of her electoral success.

Denmark has its own Rwanda plan for migrant deportations but has not yet sent any illegal immigrants to the African country.

A migrant deportation flight to Rwanda from Britain was stopped by the court, which used emergency powers to ground it in 2022. The plan was later ditched by Labour.

The Government was asked for comment.

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The European Commission plans to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia, preparing an 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia after the approval of the 17th package.

Source: Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, announced this at a press conference following the EU Council on Economics and Finance meeting in Brussels, in response to a question from a European Pravda correspondent

Details: Dombrovskis emphasised that the European Commission is committed to imposing new sanctions on Russia, confirming that work on the 18th package will begin once the 17th is adopted.

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He affirmed the EUs readiness to continue pressuring Russia through additional sanctions to weaken its economy.

Discussing potential areas for increased sanctions, Dombrovskis noted that Russias primary revenue source is fossil fuel exports.

He highlighted that the EU has already banned Russian coal imports and, in collaboration with G7 partners, has imposed a price cap on Russian oil. Dombrovskis added that the EU is addressing Russias use of its shadow fleet to bypass this cap and is implementing a strategy to phase out Russian natural gas imports, further reducing Russias income.

However, he acknowledged that as the EU reduces its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, the country is securing other markets.

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Despite this, he pointed out that these new buyers pay significantly less than European markets did, underscoring the importance of sustained sanctions pressure.

Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, also emphasised that Russias economic prospects are closely tied to hydrocarbon exports.

He expressed Polands commitment to intensifying pressure on Russia, both by introducing new sanctions and by strengthening enforcement to prevent circumvention of existing measures.

Background:

The European Commission finalised its proposal for the 17th package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday 6 May, proposing to expand the list of sanctioned individuals and stepping up efforts to counter Moscow's shadow fleet used to bypass Western sanctions.

European Pravda reports that the 17th package of sanctions may be adopted at the EU Council on Foreign Affairs on 20 May.

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The European Union may impose capital controls and tariffs on Russia if Hungary blocks the extension of economic sanctions against Moscow, the Financial Times (FT) reported on May 13, citing its undisclosed sources.

The news comes as Ukraine's European allies have signaled their commitment to increase sanctions pressure on Russia if it does not agree to a ceasefire soon.

The European Commission has informed member states that a large part of the sanctions, including the frozen 200 billion euro ($222 billion) in Russian state assets, could be moved to a different legal basis to circumvent Budapest's veto, five officials told the FT.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of the most Russia-friendly European leaders, has repeatedly obstructed sanctions on Moscow and threatened to veto the extension of economic restrictions, including import bans and price caps in sectors such as energy.

Some of the sanctions will expire at the end of July unless all 27 EU member states agree on an extension.

Brussels is reportedly considering methods for bypassing Budapest's veto that would require only a majority of EU countries to extend sanctions. Capital controls that would stop cash flows to Russia and trade measures such as tariffs are two options that the European Commission has mentioned in recent weeks, officials said.

The EU has been discussing ways of preventing Hungary from derailing the extension of sanctions for months. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), other options on the table include leaving the sanctions in effect without the formal extension through a legal loophole.

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Brussels may also consider not actually adopting the upcoming 17th package of sanctions but instead "horse-trading" with Hungary for its extension, RFE/RL reported.

Germany previously threatened to introduce new sanctions on Moscow in coordination with European partners if it did not implement a ceasefire by the end of May 12. The EU also plans to unveil another round of sanctions against Russia on May 14, an EU official told the Kyiv Independent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin countered the allied demand for a ceasefire by inviting Ukraine to participate in direct negotiations in Istanbul starting May 15. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, these talks would be based on the terms of the 2022 Istanbul discussions and the "current situation on the battlefield."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to meet Putin in Turkey and has reiterated the demand for a full and unconditional ceasefire.

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Read also: Not all Hungarians are Orban, say Ukrainians living in EUs most pro-Russian country

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The Montana Department of Corrections on Monday moved 50 inmates housed at the Montana Womens Prison in Billings to the Riverside Special Needs Unit in Boulder as part of the effort to clear up beds for higher-security prisoners.

Its a quick move by the department, which is expecting about $246 million through House Bill 833 from this session, marketed by sponsor Rep. John Fitzpatrick, R-Anaconda, as a savings account to be used for a new womens prison and upgrades to Riverside so female prisoners can be housed there short-term.

That bill is still awaiting the signature of Gov. Greg Gianforte, who received the bill last week, but Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin thanked the governor in a statement for what he called a generational investment to modernize and expand our correctional infrastructure.

The move is part of a scenario that could include construction of a new 400-bed womens prison, perhaps in Butte, and there is $220 million set aside for its construction. Fitzpatrick detailed the possibilities with The Montana Standard last week.

Gootkin pitched the possibility of a new womens prison in Butte during a presentation before Butte-Silver Bow commissioners in March, but said three other sites are being considered  Billings, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and Jefferson County. The DOC said Friday that no decisions on that have been made.

Long at or overcapacity like the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, the womens prison houses 250 inmates. There were 241 inmates in the population before Mondays transfer, meaning there should be another 50-60 beds opening in Billings, DOC spokesperson Carolynn Stocker told the Montana State News Bureau.

A news release from the department said there were 62 women awaiting placement at the womens prison in Montana county jails before the move, three-quarters of whom had been awaiting transfer for more than a month. They are expected to be transferred to the Billings facility by the end of the month.

Twenty-five male inmates with long-term medical needs who had been housed at Riverside were transferred to Montana State Prison earlier this month in part to make room for the female inmates.

Some of the money in HB 833 was set to be used for that transfer and to build modular housing to meet those peoples care needs, and other portions were earmarked for retrofitting the Riverside Special Needs Unit specifically to house women. Fitzpatrick speculated during the session the facility could be converted to house about 80 inmates.

The department said Monday the Riverside facility only needs minor renovations to accommodate the new prisoners, who are considered low-risk inmates with a history of good behavior.

Montana Womens Prison is over capacity, and has been for a while, Gootkin said in the statement. Not only does that affect the DOC, but it creates capacity concerns for county detention centers which hold our inmates until we can find room for them in prison. Repurposing Riverside allows for some relief in both of those areas.

Prison capacity issues have plagued Montana for years. Two weeks ago, Gootkin and Gianforte broke ground on a $156 million effort to add more than 100 new beds to the Montana State Prison.

But the state now has 600 male inmates at CoreCivic prisons in Arizona and Mississippi, and the Montana State Prison remains about 50 inmates over capacity. Lawmakers this session approved hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated toward more infrastructure and capital projects for the department.

A spokesperson for the governor's office said he received HB 833 last Wednesday and "will carefully consider the bill" over his 10-day review period. Gootkin on Monday hinted that he believes Gianforte will sign the measure.

Not only will we have the capacity we need to accommodate our inmate population, but we will be able to provide a safer, heathier work environment for our employees, he said in a statement.

J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, noted last week that the $220 million the Legislature set aside for a new womens prison and believes some of the writing is on the wall the DOC wants it built in Butte.

The DOC already owns 25 acres in south Butte that includes the former Acadia building, where the pre-release center in Uptown Butte is moving to this summer. The DOC says it could also use a 23-acre site nearby if Highlands College is moved to the Montana Tech campus Uptown.

The primary budget bill before Gianforte would allow the university system to spend up to $50 million on such a move if it can find private donors or outside money to do it.

Gallagher says a Highlands College move could be a great thing for Butte, but he is ambivalent if not wary about having a womens prison in Butte, saying it has some positives but theres absolutely some negatives.
The EU has declared it will not import "even a single molecule" of Russian gas or oil.

Source: European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jrgensen in Warsaw, before an informal meeting of European energy ministers, as quoted by Ukrinform and reported by European Pravda

Details: Jrgensen emphasised that the EU will not allow Russia to weaponise energy or use it as a tool of blackmail.

He explained that the EU has decided to end imports of Russian energy, a move he described as vital for the blocs security and its solidarity with Ukraine. He added that this remains a key priority on the EUs agenda.

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When asked about US-Russia talks in the context of ending the war in Ukraine, and speculation about resuming imports of Russian gas to Europe, he emphasised that the EU has no intention of importing "even a single molecule" of Russian energy now or in the future.

Jrgensen underscored that the EUs position is unequivocal: it will not rely on Russian energy currently, nor will it do so after peace is achieved, sending a firm message to Moscow.

Background:

On 6 May, the European Commission presented a roadmap for the complete cessation of Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, while also minimising Russian oil imports.

However, Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian gas and oil pipelines as their primary sources.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the European Commissions roadmap, in its current form, is unacceptable to the Slovak government.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed, stating that "President von der Leyen's proposal will bankrupt Europe and place an unbearable burden on Central European families".

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Eufaula Police Department is currently investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Monday night.

Police say that on May 12th at 9:35 p.m., an officer and three males were involved in a shooting. There were no reported injuries.

One male was transported to Medical Center Barbour with a pre-existing heart condition for precaution.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave until the Alabama State Bureau of Investigations finishes their investigation.

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Ukraine's European partners are planning to wait for a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey before pushing the U.S. to impose new sanctions on Russia, Bloomberg reported on May 12, citing undisclosed sources.

Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, rejected U.S.-backed calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. The Kremlin instead invited Ukraine to engage in direct talks in Istanbul.

Zelensky responded by accepting the invitation, saying he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey on May 15  a decision that various experts told the Kyiv Independent may have caught Putin off-guard.

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U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Putin, the sources told Bloomberg.

If Putin refuses to meet with Zelensky or Russia does not agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on May 15, European leaders will call on U.S. President Donald Trump to follow through on his threat to impose sanctions on Moscow, the sources added.

The Kremlin has not said whether Putin will attend the meeting.

Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with the slow progress in peace negotiations, saying on April 26 that Putin may be "tapping me along," and that the Russian leader may not be interested in ending the war.

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The U.S. president also threatened on May 8 to join partners in imposing "further sanctions" if Russia does not agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

Kurt Volker, a former U.S. special representative for Ukraine, said on May 9 that he believes Putin is not interested in a peace deal, but may agree to a ceasefire later in the fall if Ukraine's allies succeed in imposing tougher sanctions on Russian gas, oil, and financial transactions.

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

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Ukraine's European allies called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and threatened additional sanctions against Russia in a joint statement issued May 12.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, along with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, convened in London for a meeting of the Wemair+ group dedicated to Euro-Atlantic security and Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"We joined Ukraine in calling for an immediate, full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for talks on a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace," the officials wrote in a joint statement published after the summit.

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Earlier in the day, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined the meeting via video link and confirmed that Russian forces have not honored the proposed ceasefire set to begin May 12. Ukraine and its top European allies warned Russia on May 10 that it would impose harsher sanctions if the Kremlin did not accept the 30-day truce.

The ministers detailed some of the promised penalties in their statement.

"We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy," they wrote.

"We will keep Russian sovereign assets in our jurisdictions immobilized until Russia ceases its aggression and pays for the damage caused."

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The ministers also affirmed their commitment to strengthening Ukraine's military, providing "robust security guarantees," and promoting a strong NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin countered the allied demand for a ceasefire by inviting Ukraine to participate in direct negotiations in Istanbul starting May 15. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, these talks would be based on the terms of the 2022 Istanbul discussions and the "current situation on the battlefield."

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was prepared to meet Putin in Turkey and has reiterated the demand for a full and unconditional ceasefire.

An undisclosed Ukrainian official told Axios that Zelensky will be in Turkey on May 15 even if Moscow does not agree to the ceasefire proposal.

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Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether Zelensky plans to make the trip even if Russia does not support the truce, a source close to the Presidential Office said: "We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire."

Putin has yet to formally confirm his attendance on May 15.

Germany threatened to introduce new sanctions on Moscow if it did not implement a ceasefire by the end of May 12. The EU also plans to unveil another round of sanctions against Russia on May 14,an EU official told the Kyiv Independent.

The Weimar+ group was formed in February 2025, expanding from the regional alliance of France, Germany, and Poland to include the U.K., Spain, Italy, and the European Commission. The group's establishment came in response to shifting U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

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Read also: Like a game of tennis  Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure

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Train travel is enjoying a booming renaissance, and Europeans are all for it, according to new research.

A survey of 11,000 people commissioned by rail manufacturer Hitachi Rail found that almost half of the respondents intend to travel more by train and less by plane in the next five years.

Globally, over seven in ten said they would use public transport more if it were better connected, and over half would use it even if it cost more.

Rail travel is on the rise in Europe

The new research found that citizens in countries around Europe and in North America anticipate train travel to soar in the coming years at the expense of flying.

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Rail travel already accounts for around one-third (29 per cent) of long-distance journeys - those which are 2.5 hours or more.

One-third of people surveyed also expect to travel more by train in the next 12 months. For rail travel in the next five years, that increases to 40 per cent across countries and 49 per cent across cities.

In contrast, plane travel is set to stagnate, with only around 2 per cent expecting to fly more in the same time period.

Respondents said they anticipate their car travel growing, but by 50 per cent less than rail.

Two-thirds of Europeans back banning short-haul flights

The eagerness for more train travel in the future is also complemented by a clear majority (62 per cent) backing legislation to ban short-haul flights where high-speed rail alternatives exist.

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In Europe, where there are an increasing number of high-speed rail routes, support rises to 67 per cent.

Such legislation has already been introduced in France, and has been proposed in Spain too.

In both countries, more than twice as many respondents are in favour of the ban as opposed to it, the research found. Those surveyed in both countries said they would even support stronger additional legislation (63 per cent in Spain and 56 per cent in France).

Across every place surveyed, more people backed funding new rail infrastructure with increased air or road taxes than those opposed to it.

The research also explored how to grow public transport usage, with passengers identifying crowding, affordability and convenience as the biggest challenges.

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Related

Across all countries included in the survey, over seven in ten said they would use public transport more if it were better connected, and this remained at over half even if it cost more.

Those surveyed expect to increase their rail usage more than any other form of transport in the next five years, and they support government action to enable this, said Edoardo La Ficara, group chief markets officer at Hitachi Rail.

We, as an industry, have a crucial opportunity to meet this public demand by delivering a great sustainable mobility transition.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  An Evansville man charged with the murder of his mother appeared in court on Monday to set a new trial date.

Jaron Wells was arrested in in Carrier Mills, Illinois, back in 2023 after his mother, Shanay Hunt, was found dead in her Harriet Street home in Evansville. A judge previously declared a mistrial due to a hung jury.

The new trial is set to begin on June 11.

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  An Evansville woman is slashed with a knife during a domestic dispute.

Officers say they were called to a local hospital around nine last night where a victim told them her girlfriend had cut her. The victim told police it happened at a residence in the 200 block of East Florida Street.

Evansville man accused of breaking into home; stealing items from incarcerated man

Officers say the victim had large lacerations on her head and right thigh, and was being taken to surgery. They say the offender, Amiyah Render, was found in the ER lobby, and she was reportedly there to check on the victims condition.

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Render was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail and charged with Domestic Battery With a Deadly Weapon.

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President Donald Trumps plan to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family has led to an uproar among ethics experts, Democrats and even some Republicans. But some of the loudest criticism has come from his most fervent MAGA supporters.

On his podcast Monday, The Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro pointed to Qatars relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, saying that accepting a gift from the royal family is not America First.

Is this good for President Trump, is it good for his agenda? Is it good for draining the swamp and getting things done? The answer is no, it isnt, Shapiro said. It isnt. If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop.

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He added: I think if we switched the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, wed all be freaking out on the right.

Far-right influencer Laura Loomer, who has had direct access to Trump, wrote a series of posts criticizing the gift.

I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him, she wrote on X on Sunday. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million gift from jihadists in suits.

Fox News host Mark Levin shared Loomers post, adding: Ditto.

Loomer, however, also tempered some of her criticism with effusive praise for the president. It will be a stain, but he is still the best President of my lifetime, she wrote on X on Monday.

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First reported by ABC News, the super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet  which is estimated to be valued at $400 million  from Qatar is expected to be converted for use as Air Force One. The overhaul would take years and a potentially hefty price tag, along with a host of security concerns, according to aviation and intelligence experts who spoke with NBC News.

Meanwhile, Trump has defended his decision to accept the plane, calling it a great gesture from Qatar and suggesting it was too good an offer to pass up on.

I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer, he said Monday when pressed about the deal. I mean, I could be a stupid person [and] say, No, we dont want a free, very expensive airplane.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The decision by President Donald Trump to accept a $400 million luxury jet as a gift from Qatar has struck a nerve with several GOP senators.

A number of Republican lawmakers, including MAGA loyalists, have spoken out against the presidents plan to keep a customized Boeing 747-8 gifted to him by the Qatari royal family, a jet so extravagant it has been dubbed a palace in the sky.

Senators have raised ethical concerns about the U.S. president replacing Air Force One with a plane supplied by a foreign government. Others have expressed worries about safety issues and potential legal complications.

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Im not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas, Sen. Rick Scott, one of Trumps staunchest supporters, told The Hill. I dont know how you make it safe.

The customized Boeing 747-8 that Qatar intends to gift the Trump administration features an L-shaped couch, built-in bookshelves, and built-in TV. / AMAC Aerospace

Gosh, let me give you a plane. I mean, that seems pretty nice, but they support Hamas, so I dont know. I dont know how you make it safe, the Florida Republican added.

Ted Cruz relayed similar fears, telling CNBCs Squawk Box on Tuesday morning he is not a fan of Qatar.

I think they have a really disturbing pattern of funding theocratic lunatics who want to murder us, funding Hamas and Hezbollah, and thats a real problem, the Texas Republican said.

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I also think the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems, so well see how this issue plays out, but I certainly have concerns.

Sen. Josh Hawley, another ardent Trump supporter, said: It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America. That would be ideal.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast.

Trump defended his plans to accept the luxury jet from Qatar, saying on Monday it would be stupid to turn down such an offer. He added that the plane would be handed over to his presidential library once he leaves office, and he will not use it after his presidency.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday that legal details connected with receiving the jet as a gift from the Qatari government to the Trump administration are still being ironed out.

The Constitution prohibits any U.S. government official from accepting gifts from any king, prince, or foreign state without permission from Congress.

An unnamed Qatari official told CNN the plane is being given to the Pentagon, rather than being a personal gift.

GOP senators are still uneasy about the potential legal ramifications of Trump accepting and using the Boeing 747 from Qatar.

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West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told reporters on Monday that the administration should run the legal challenges to determine if accepting the gift is permissible.

We need to look at the constitutionality of it, sure, she added.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told Axios: If Qatar gives a plane to the president of the United States, it seems to me that raises questions of whether the administration would be in compliance with the gift law.

Not every Republican senator has expressed such concerns. Sen. Tommy Tuberville told CNN that free is good and that it makes fiscal sense for Trump to use the gifted jet.

If its legal for him to accept that gift and be able to fly on it for the next four years, or three and a half years, I think its great. Itll save us money, the Alabama senator said.
Like Jack Torrance in The Shining, the ghost of Jim Crow keeps rearing his ugly head in Alabama as the state continues to pursue a discriminatory scheme against its Black residents.

NPR reported last week on a three-judge panel (including two Trump appointees) at a federal district court, who ruled unanimously that Alabama purposefully diluted the influence of Black voters when it refused to draw a second majority-Black district as repeatedly ordered by federal courts.

Basically, Alabama defied court orders and a ruling from the Supreme Court that required the state to draw another majority-Black district, after Republicans in the Legislature were found to have diluted Black voters power through redistricting after the 2020 census. The maps Alabama voted on last year were drawn by a court-appointed special master after Republicans in the state Legislature repeatedly refused to draw fair ones. And their ongoing refusal to cooperate could lead to some sort of federal monitor down the line.

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The judges wrote in the ruling:

[T]ry as we might, we cannot understand the 2023 Plan as anything other than an intentional effort to dilute Black Alabamians voting strength and evade the unambiguous requirements of court orders standing in the way.

The stinging critique continued:

The Legislature knew what federal law required and purposefully refused to provide it, in a strategic attempt to checkmate the injunction that ordered it. It would be remarkable  indeed, unprecedented for us to hold that a state legislature that purposefully ignored a federal court order acted in good faith ... And it would be unthinkable for us to hold that a state legislature that purposefully took calculated steps to make a court-required remedy impossible to provide, for the purpose of entrenching minority vote dilution, acted in good faith.

The ruling also says that at a future date, the court will consider whether to require Alabama once again to get pre-clearance from the Department of Justice for its redistricting under the Voting Rights Act.

One might wonder whether the ascension of Harmeet Dhillon  a MAGA lawyer who has overseen the evisceration of the DOJs Civil Rights Division, which handles voting rights violations  could shape Alabamas defiance on this front going forward. A significant number of the divisions employees reportedly quit rather than execute Dhillons perverse vision of turning civil rights enforcement into a weapon to wage Trumps culture wars.

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Redistricting is not the only front in the effort by some white Alabamians to amass more political power. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey recently approved a bill to usurp power from the water utility board in Birmingham  a majority-Black city  for herself, her lieutenant governor and the four majority-white counties that surround the city.

The Associated Press notes proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes, old infrastructure and recent scandals as a reason to strip power from the utility board. But as Ive written, white officials have used such plans in recent years to sideline officials in largely Black communities. And Birmingham officials, including mayor Randall Woodfin, have filed a lawsuit alleging the bill constitutes blatant racial discrimination. (A spokesperson for the governor told the AP last week that they are reviewing the highly unusual suit.)

Jim Crow racism, purported by many as a thing of the past, seems to be hard at work in the Heart of Dixie.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Donald Trump is paving the way for white South African refugees to come to the United States, but theyre not all that interested in taking him up on his offer, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The U.S. president falsely claimed Monday that Afrikaners, the white descendants of mainly Dutch colonizers in South Africa, are facing a genocide in their home country. So then why dont they actually want to leave?

Maritz Grobler, a tenth-generation South African on his fathers side who owns a sprawling 1,000-acre farm in Settlers, wasnt interested in the offer to relocate. This is my country, Grobler told the Journal.

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But its good to know that [Trump] will back us  if shit happens, he added.

While white South Africans are the target of horrific crimes, they are killed in significantly lower numbers than Black South Africans, according to the Journal.

White people account for roughly 7 percent of South Africas population of 63 million people, and of that number, Afrikaners make up about two-thirds, so roughly three million people in total. Despite having a vastly smaller population, white commercial farmersthe majority of whom are Afrikanersstill possess about half of the countrys land and produce a whopping 90 percent of its agricultural products. In 2024, South Africas agricultural exports were worth a record $13.7 billion.

Afrikaners have therefore maintained a hefty chunk of the nations wealth. Only 1 percent of white South Africans live in poverty, compared to nearly two-thirds of Black South Africans. This accumulated land and wealth is the direct result of systemic historical racial oppression under South African apartheid.

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Despite one Trump officials claim that white South Africans have been given an exception to Trumps refugee ban because they would be supposedly easier to assimilate into the majority-white U.S. population than refugees from other countries, Grobler said that the cultural difference was still too great.

I dont want to speak English for the rest of my life, Grobler said. White South Africans typically speak Afrikaans, not English. But it seems that language barrier likely wont incense Vice President JD Vance the way it did when the hypothetical immigrant children he was mad at were brown.

Grobler told the Journal that politicians seek power and money and get it through playing the race card and hammering on historic events.

South Africans on the ground will be able to move forward together if politicians get out of the way and go do their bloody jobs, he added.
NEW YORK (AP)  A former fashion model testifying in Harvey Weinstein s retrial on sexual assault charges was confronted on the stand Tuesday with a private journal in which she wrote about people who sexually abused her, but notably left out the disgraced former Hollywood mogul.

Michael Cibella, a lawyer for Weinstein, noted that the journal by Kaja Sokola names at least two people who had sexually assaulted her. Neither one of them, she acknowledged to the jury in Manhattan, was Weinstein.

Instead, the Pulp Fiction producer is mentioned in the writings for altogether different reasons. Under an entry for Harvey W Sokola wrote that he was promising me help, but nothing came out of it.

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The trauma that Harvey Weinstein inflicted on you was that he made promises that he didnt keep, even as you accused two other men of sexually assaulting you, Cibella said.

The Polish model, now a 39-year-old psychotherapist, pushed back at the characterization.

Thats your interpretation and Ill leave that with you, Sokola responded from the witness stand. Harvey made promises he didnt keep -- and he sexually assaulted me.

Earlier in the day, Sokola had argued that the journal, which she wrote in Polish in 2015, shouldnt be discussed in open court at all.

She said the writing has been part of her treatment for substance abuse. One of the steps of the program, she explained, was to list all the people and things with which she held resentment.

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This is very inappropriate, Sokola pleaded as one of Weinsteins attorneys began to cite portions of the text to the jury. Please dont read that. This is my personal things. Im not on trial here.

Judge Curtis Farber assured Sokola that he would only permit limited questioning around the document. He also said he had concerns about the journals completeness and authenticity and wondering how defense lawyers had obtained what appeared to be private medical records.

This might backfire tremendously for the defense, Farber said at one point, as prosecutors also strongly opposed inclusion of the journal as evidence in the trial. Thats the risk theyre willing to take.

Weinstein's lawyers, in their cross-examination of Sokola that began Friday, have sought to cast Sokola as a wannabe actor who tried to leverage her consensual relations with the former studio boss.

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Cibella, to that end, quizzed Sokola on Tuesday about what she told prosecutors during a 2020 interview.

He contended that a prosecutors handwritten notes from the meeting dont include any mention of Weinstein using force or tearing off her clothes, as shes described the incident to jurors in her testimony.

Is it a fact that you never made an allegation in 2020 that Mr. Weinstein used force? Cibella asked.

That is a lie, Sokola fired back.

Cibella also questioned Sokola about her communications with Weinstein in the years after she claimed he had sexually assaulted her in 2006.

Among them were phone messages, text messages and emails in which she tried to meet up in person with the co-founder of the production company Miramax or asked him for help on various movie industry opportunities.

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Sokola, who is expected to return to the stand on Wednesday, testified last week that Weinstein exploited her dreams of an acting career to subject her to unwanted sexual advances, starting days after they met in 2002, while she was a 16-year-old on a modeling trip to New York.

Some of those allegations are beyond the legal time limit for criminal charges, but Weinstein faces a criminal sex act charge over Sokolas claim that he forced oral sex on her in 2006.

Prosecutors added the charge to the landmark #MeToo case last year, after an appeals court overturned Weinsteins 2020 conviction. The guilty verdict pertained to allegations from two other women, who also have testified or are expected to testify at the retrial.

Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty and denies ever sexually assaulting anyone.

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The Associated Press generally does not name people who allege they have been sexually assaulted, but Sokola has given her permission to be identified.

___

Associated Press reporter Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this story.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) weighed in on President Trumps trip to the Middle East, saying Tuesday that the decision not to visit Israel sends a clear message about his stance on the war in Gaza.

Trump traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, late Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss investment. He is also slated to make stops in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.

I think that the fact that hes avoiding Israel on this trip sends a hell of a message, Tester said Tuesday during an appearance on MSNBC.

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If Israel didnt pick this message up, theyre tone deaf, he continued. Because the message is pretty clear, I think, to everybody around him, that if you want to play in the Middle East, then youve got to be nice with others, and theres been a lot of problems over the last few years.

His comments come as the Israeli military has continued to conduct airstrikes on civilians in the West Bank and blocked humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip  which is run by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Trump and administration officials had encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire but recently turned their focus to recovering American hostages.

Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held by Hamas was released on Monday, as Israeli forces struck a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, killing a group of around 16 people that consisted mostly of women and children.

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Netanyahu said earlier this month his mission continues to be eradicating Hamas. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, after the militant group launched an attack on Israel that left roughly 1,200 people dead and more than 250 were taken captive.

Since that day, more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in subsequent strikes, according to local health officials. That number does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

We want to bring all our hostages home. Weve so far brought back 147 alive, and 196 total. There are  up to 24 alive, 59 total, and we want to return the living and the dead, the prime minister said earlier this month during an Independence Day event in Jerusalem.

Its a very important goal, he added. The war has a supreme goal, and the supreme goal is victory over our enemies, and this we will achieve.

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Netanyahus comments echo some of the recent remarks from far-right leaders of his governing coalition.

We need to tell the truth  bringing back the hostages is not the most important goal. It is, of course, a very, very, very, very important goal, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said last week, according to CNN.

But anyone who wants to destroy Hamas and eliminate the possibility of another Oct. 7 must understand that in Gaza, there cant be a situation where Hamas remains present and intact, Smotrich added.

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Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin on Monday revealed on The View that she was advised against taking even seemingly insignificant gifts from foreign officials while serving under President Donald Trump in his first term.

If we were meeting with other heads of state, we would actually be told dont even take a pen from them because it likely has surveillance capabilities in it, said Griffin, now one of the hosts of The View.

Griffins comments arrive as Trump faces bipartisan backlash over his plan to accept a $400 million luxury plane from the Qatari royal family to serve as his new Air Force One.

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I bet his national security team is like, This does not seem like a good idea, Griffin said.

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg swiftly replied, We dont seem to have any national security team.

Trump has defended the move, declaring that itd be stupid for him to pass on the aircraft and claiming it wouldnt be a gift for him but rather one made to the Department of Defense.

Critics have since pointed to a clause in the Constitution prohibiting officials from accepting gifts from any King, Prince, or foreign State without congressional approval.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), in comments to HuffPost, said such a move by Trump just doesnt seem right, while right-wing radio host Ben Shapiro branded it as inherently bad, citing the Qatari governments ties to Hamas.

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Moments earlier on The View, Griffin questioned why Trump needs a brand new luxury plane when Air Force One is super nice as is.

Two things stood out to me. Yes, its clearly a violation of ethics rules, said Griffin while emphasizing that U.S. government officials shouldnt be able to be bribed or feel indebted to others.

She later continued, Its also a huge national security risk. So youre going to have the Qatari government know all the ins and outs, security protocols, technology of the plane that houses the U.S. president.

Griffin also underscored that Qatar is not friends with America.

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They shelter Hamas terrorists. They protect their money. They allow them to carry out their terrorist activities, Griffin said.

So, that we would kind of be getting in bed with them in this way  just in so many ways, scares me.

Related...
CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A former executive director at the Carbondale YMCA is facing charges after police say he embezzled almost $100,000 from the organizations accounts.

According to a release from Carbondale police, 44-year-old Jason Mackie was taken into custody after funds were reported missing from the Carbondale YMCAs operations account.

AG says more than 400 illegal gambling machines seized

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An investigation discovered that, over the course of several years, multiple deposits intended for NBT Bank had been altered or had not been deposited at all, police say.

Mackie is alleged to have stolen cash intended for deposit as well as having written multiple checks for cash when it was not needed, according to police.

Police state from December 2020 through April 2024, Mackie had embezzled $99,844.14 from the YMCA.

Mackie is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and other related 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 PAhomepage.com.
By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Humeyra Pamuk and Erin Banco

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Days before a surprise U.S. ceasefire agreement with Houthis, U.S. intelligence started picking up indications the Yemeni fighters were looking for an exit after seven weeks of relentless U.S. bombings, four U.S. officials said.

Houthi leaders began reaching out sometime around the first weekend in May to U.S. allies in the Middle East, two of the officials said.

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"We started getting intel that the Houthis had had enough," one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity to recount the internal discussions about the intelligence, which haven't been previously reported.

Interviews with current and former U.S. officials, diplomatic sources and other experts show how a campaign that the U.S. military's Central Command once envisioned might stretch through most of this year came to abrupt halt on May 6 after 52 days, allowing President Donald Trump to declare victory before heading to the Middle East this week.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have disrupted commerce by launching hundreds of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, saying they were targeting ships linked to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians over the war in Gaza.

Two sources said Iran played an important role in encouraging the Iran-aligned Houthis to negotiate, as Tehran pursues its own talks with the United States over its nuclear program aimed at ending crippling U.S. sanctions and preventing a military strike by the U.S. or Israel.

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But the culmination of the ceasefire accord underscored how quickly the Trump administration moved on initial intelligence to secure what in March seemed unthinkable to many experts in the short term: a Houthi declaration it would stop striking U.S. ships. Trump's unconventional approach included bypassing close U.S. ally Israel, which is not covered by the agreement, and which was not told ahead of time, an Israeli official and a person familiar with the matter said.

The Houthis weren't the only ones feeling pressure. The bombing campaign has also been costly to the United States, which has burned through munitions and lost two aircraft and multiple drones.

After the early May tips on the Houthis, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated a series of meetings at the White House on Monday morning, and concluded there was a window of opportunity with the Iran-aligned fighters, one of the officials said.

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who was already leading U.S. negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, worked through Omani mediators and held indirect talks with the chief Houthi negotiator and spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, two U.S. officials told Reuters.

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Abdulsalam was in turn in contact with the Houthis' top leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, one of the officials said.

A framework agreement was reached later on Monday, one of the officials said.

By Tuesday, May 6, Trump was ready to announce an accord, declaring the Houthis had capitulated.

"They said please don't bomb us any more and we're not going to attack your ships," he told reporters.

Asked about Reuters' findings, the Houthis' Abdulsalam said the group communicated only via Oman and agreed to the ceasefire because the Houthis had been responding to the United States defensively.

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"So if they stopped their aggression, we stopped our response," Abdusalam told Reuters, declining further comment.

A spokesperson for Witkoff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

OFF-RAMP

Each side saw some benefit to striking a deal. For the Houthis, it offered an off-ramp that could allow them to rebuild and relieve pressure that, over months or years, could have strategically put them at risk, U.S. officials and experts say.

Washington's allies in the region also wanted out, one source said.

"Because if the Houthis were under more pressure, their response was going to be to fire on the Saudis or the Emiratis," one person familiar with the matter said.

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At the start of the U.S. campaign on March 15, al-Houthi was defiant, saying in a televised address that his fighters would target U.S. ships in the Red Sea as long as the U.S. continued its attacks on Yemen.

At the time, it appeared the United States might be locked in a costly standoff with a group known for its resiliency, as U.S. forces used up munitions during more than 1,100 strikes. Hegseth said the U.S. would only halt its bombings once the Houthis agreed to stop striking U.S. ships and drones.

The Houthis shot down seven U.S. MQ-9 drones -- each worth tens of millions of dollars -- since Trump took office.

The Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, whose deployment in the Middle East was extended by Hegseth, lost two fighter jets, including one falling from the deck of the ship after the massive vessel was forced to make a hard turn because of a Houthi attack in the area.

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Some analysts questioned the wisdom of the U.S. strategy. The Houthis had already endured nearly a decade of heavy strikes launched by a Saudi-led military coalition, but were able to rebuild to the point where they could threaten the U.S. Navy and Israel.

One of the U.S. officials said a turning point for the Houthis came on April 17, when the United States targeted the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel terminal on the Red Sea coast.

It was the deadliest strike to that point, with the Houthi-run Health Ministry saying 74 people were killed. The Pentagon has not commented on specific numbers of people killed in individual strikes.

"That (damaged) their ability to conduct operations and generate revenue," the official said, describing efforts to squeeze the group economically.

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Asked for comment, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Reuters Trump's ceasefire was "another good deal for America and our security."

"The objective at the outset was securing the freedom of navigation, and that was achieved through the restoration of American deterrence."

Pentagon spokesperson Marine Colonel Chris Devine said in response to Reuters' findings that the U.S. military campaign successfully degraded Houthi capabilities and "set the stage for the President to achieve a ceasefire agreement."

LONGER CAMPAIGN PROPOSED

Trump's campaign to weaken the Houthis came after failed attempts to deter and degrade the group during the Biden administration.

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The U.S. military's Central Command recommended a campaign, lasting at least eight months, that would include a gradual shift to more targeted strikes from the broader ones that took place in the first few weeks, the official added.

The bombings cost well over $1 billion, officials say, and killed a significant number of mid-tier Houthi fighters who trained lower-level forces, as well as destroyed multiple command facilities, air defense systems, weapons manufacturing and storage facilities.

They also destroyed stocks of anti-ship ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, aerial drones and drone ships.

But the strikes didn't cut Houthi supply lines or fray higher level leadership, and three experts cautioned the group may rapidly recover.

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The group's persistent attacks on Israel also demonstrate that it retains significant capability, despite the U.S. campaign. Those have continued after the May 6 ceasefire announcement.

U.S. officials and other sources also caution that it is unclear how long the ceasefire will hold, and if the Houthis will continue to see the United States and Israel as separate threats, especially as Israel retaliates against Yemen.

"Proxies of Iran and Iran don't distinguish between what is Israel and what is the United States," one person familiar with the situation said.

"Their view is that anything Israel does is enabled by the United States. So at some point, I think the Houthis will see themselves as trying to hold the United States accountable."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Humeyra Pamuk and Erin Banco; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York, Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia, Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, James MacKenzie in Jerusalem and Mohamed Ghobari in Aden; Editing by Don Durfee and Deepa Babington)
By Francesco Guarascio

HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnam is stepping up its fight against counterfeits and digital piracy after the United States accused the country of being a major hub for these illegal activities and threatened crippling tariffs, documents reviewed by Reuters show.

Among products that are subject to increased inspections at borders to ascertain their authenticity are luxury goods from Prada and Gucci owner Kering, electronic devices made by Google and Samsung, and toys from Mattel and Lego, according to a document dated April 1 from the customs department of the finance ministry.

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Consumer goods such as shampoos and razors sold by Procter & Gamble and Johnson and Johnson products are also included in the list, the document showed.

The crackdown focuses on imported counterfeits, not those that could be made in Vietnam, which are also of concern to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

A clampdown on the use of counterfeit software is also underway, according to a warning from inspectors at the Ministry of Culture sent on April 14 to a local company, whose name was redacted from the document seen by Reuters.

The letter, it says, followed a complaint from the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the industry's global trade association, whose members include Microsoft, Oracle and Adobe.

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A person familiar with the matter said similar letters have been sent to dozens of companies since the start of April.

Vietnam's finance and culture ministries and the customs department did not reply to requests for comment, nor did any of the mentioned companies.

A spokesperson for BSA said it has for years urged Vietnam to monitor and take action against the unauthorised use of software.

Vietnam's recent moves are part of an array of measures taken or pledged by the Southeast Asian export-reliant industrial hub to persuade the Trump administration to reconsider punitive tariffs. Vietnam faces duties of 46% on exports to the U.S., its largest market, if confirmed in July after a global pause.

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Vietnam and the U.S. began informal talks to avoid tariffs well before Trump announced global "reciprocal" duties on April 2.

Enhanced protection of intellectual property, including the fight against counterfeits and digital piracy, is among the issues being discussed with the U.S. in ongoing tariff talks.

Also under discussion are the reduction of Vietnam's big trade surplus, the fight against trade fraud such as illegal transshipment, and lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers for U.S. businesses, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last month instructed officials to strengthen the fight against trade fraud, "especially regarding the origin of goods, counterfeit goods."

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The measures are meant to please Washington but some may irk China, which is the main source of Vietnam's imports.

"NOTORIOUS MARKETS"

Despite enhanced controls on imported counterfeits, fake luxury goods targeted by the authorities were on display last week at Saigon Square Shopping Mall in Vietnam's business hub Ho Chi Minh City.

The mall is on the list of "notorious markets for counterfeiting" published in January by the U.S. Trade Representative.

"They are not authentic and are made in China," said an attendant in one of the stalls in the market, referring to Prada wallets and bags she's selling.

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She noted counterfeit Prada belts, also available at her stall, were made in Vietnam. The person declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject.

Calls to Saigon Square went unanswered. Its website says the mall offers "imitations of famous brands at low prices".

The USTR removed a Vietnamese marketplace at the border with China from its latest watchlist published in January after a crackdown by local authorities. It praised Vietnam's efforts to combat illegal practices, but also expressed concerns over continuing online sales of counterfeit products and Vietnam's role in producing fakes.

The Vietnamese platform of Singapore-based e-commerce giant Shopee remained a major hub for the sale of counterfeits, the USTR said.

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"As more brands have shifted production from China to Vietnam, stakeholders report that Vietnam has become a key manufacturer of counterfeit products," the USTR said in a separate report published in April.

The USTR and Shopee did not reply to requests for comment.

To improve copyright protection Vietnam is planning to set up specialised courts "to fulfil Vietnam's commitment... to strictly enforce intellectual property rights" and attract foreign investment, according to a draft law reviewed by Reuters scheduled to be approved by parliament in June.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu; editing by Lincoln Feast.)
An internal battle has emerged inside the Make America Healthy Again movement, with the CEO of a supplements company and a top adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leveling accusations against each other that include making threats of retribution, conflicts of interest and leaking false information to far-right activist Laura Loomer.

At the center of the fight are Peter Gillooly, CEO of The Wellness Company, and Calley Means, who in addition to serving as an adviser to RFK Jr. is the co-founder of a health care payments company and the brother of Casey Means, who was recently nominated to be the next surgeon general by President Donald Trump.

In a formal complaint to the Office of the Special Counsel and other agencies filed Saturday and obtained by POLITICO, Gillooly accuses Calley Means of abusing his position at HHS and violating the law prohibiting conflict of interest in government services by threatening to involve Kennedy and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya in the dispute.

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If one more thing happens, Im going to go to Jay Bhattacharya and Bobby and tell him that you and your cadre of Peter McCullough and Kelly Victory are spreading lies and trying to fuck with him and hurt his administration, Means said, naming two members of the companys medical board, in a recording of a Saturday morning call between him and Gillooly obtained by POLITICO. (The transcript of the call is quoted in the complaint.)

During the call, Means accused The Wellness Company, a supplement vendor led by a medical board of vaccine opponents that is regularly promoted on conservative media, of leaking false information about his own company, Truemed, to Loomer. Truemed provides customers with doctors letters that allow them to use pre-tax dollars to purchase health and wellness products via their health insurance plans.

I am going to sue the shit out of you and escalate this if it continues, said Means, who is currently serving as a special government employee. In that role, Means is allowed to serve in a temporary capacity without having to step away from his personal business.

The dispute puts on display the competing interests within Kennedys MAHA movement which has swiftly gained power and influence during Trumps second term. The MAHA coalition has reshaped the federal governments approach to health care as Kennedy has ousted roughly 25 percent of HHS staff and empowered vaccine opponents, wellness entrepreneurs and alternative medicine advocates with little to no government experience.

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I received information that the Wellness Company was actively spreading provably false information about Truemed, Means said in a statement to POLITICO. I called the CEO of the Wellness Company and threatened legal action if he continued to spread this provably false information. I noted I would prefer they stop spreading provably untrue information before I was forced to take legal action.

A lawyer for Truemed sent a cease and desist letter to Gillooly and The Wellness Company founder Foster Coulson on Monday, stating they have reason to believe the company spread false information about Truemed with Loomer for the purposes of embarrassing a competitor, according to a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO.

Coulson denies sharing information with Loomer. I have never spoken to Laura Loomer in my entire life, Coulson told POLITICO. Using the government to essentially weaponize them against a private company is extremely concerning and is a tremendous threat.

The confrontation appears to have been prompted by a Friday post on X from Loomer accusing Means and Truemed of committing tax fraud by auto-generating doctors' letters without authentic medical review.

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Reached by POLITICO, Loomer denied being sent any information about Means and said she did not know Coulson. I look up stuff on my own, Loomer said.

Means accused Coulson of sharing incorrect information about Truemed with people like Loomer, possibly as part of an effort to cut in on Truemeds business. Following Truemeds business model could save The Wellness Companys customers 30-40 percent on their supplements, Means told Gillooly during the call. Now, that should be something that you guys partner with us on but since you guys have a telehealth platform and if you guys wanted to do that and compete that would be maybe even a good idea, Means said.

He clearly states that if I do not accept his accusation and comply  which I am not guilty of in the first place  he will sue myself and my business, Gillooly wrote in the complaint. Additionally, Means threatens to blackmail my private corporation with HHS executive leadership if we do not comply with his demands, and extort my business into transacting with Truemed.

I think there needs to be a thorough investigation because this sort of behavior has no place in the federal government, Gillooly told POLITICO.

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The complaint was submitted Saturday to the Office of Special Counsel, HHS Office of Civil Rights, HHS Office of Inspector General and the Federal Trade Commission.

In order to protect the integrity of our investigative process, HHS is unable to confirm any specific investigations or inquiries that may be taking place within the office, an HHS spokesperson said in a statement. The Office of Civil Rights thoroughly reviews each complaint and determines if it has the legal authority to review and investigate the complaint.

The Office of Special Counsel, which handles complaints of government employee wrongdoing, and the HHS inspector general declined to comment. The FTC did not respond to a request for comment.


ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Abilene residents may notice some commotion at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) in the next couple of days, but dont worry  its just training.

Dyess AFB will conduct active shooter, antiterrorism, and force protection exercises on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 3-4) to test various components of emergency response scenarios.

During this time, the community may notice emergency response vehicles and hear loud noises in the area.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
May 13New York's prisons are still in a state of emergency, lacking the staff they need to run properly and relying on a detachment of National Guard troops to shore up security staff headcounts. But for the roughly 10,000 people still working as corrections officers within those prisons, the special enhanced overtime pay meant to make the job more attractive has expired.

After the wildcat strike of thousands of New York corrections officers and sergeants in February and March, the state prison system has been turned on its head. An estimated 8,000 officers or more were on strike at one point or another during the 22-day job action, and efforts to get those officers back to work had mixed results.

In order to get those officers back to work in early March, state officials offered a series of terms: a 90-day suspension of a law that restricted the use of solitary confinement and required rehabilitative programming for almost all inmates every day, a commitment to ending 24-hour shifts for COs, promises to enhance safety screenings for visitors and packages, and a commitment to listening to the officers on issues of safety more regularly.

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On top of that, officials agreed to pay those who came back to work an enhanced overtime rate of 250% of their regular rate for work over the 40-hour limit.

That enhanced overtime was originally part of the memorandum of understanding, or MOU between the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the striking officers, part of a commitment to get the officers back to work.

It was always pitched as a temporary move. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul gave explicit power to DOCCS to pay those increased rates in her executive orders declaring an emergency within the state prisons. Those orders have been renewed three times. But the specific overtime boost was authorized by the MOU, not the executive orders, and the terms of that MOU have been met. The original MOU outlined 30 days of overtime pay, but DOCCS extended that overtime for another 30 days on April 7.

More permanent changes to compensation have already been approved. Trainees, COs and sergeants were each bumped up a pay grade last week, netting about $4,000 more per year for COs and trainees and $5,000 more per year for sergeants. And state officials approved a $5,000 bump to location pay, for when an officer has to travel a long distance to get to work.

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But the state prisons are still operating in an emergency posture, now more than 3 months after the strike started. DOCCS has not been able to significantly add to CO headcounts above the roughly 10,000 that it had once the strike ended  and even the pre-strike staffing numbers weren't optimal.

About 2,000 jobs were already open across the 42 facilities before the strike began, and after the strike, the prisons are operating with only about 65% of their optimal numbers. Efforts to right the ship have been slow-moving; besides efforts to open up recruitment to 18-year-olds and out-of-state residents, officials have also boosted pay grades and location pay for distant assignments, as well as committing to regular dialogue with security staff on safety within the prisons.

Officers inside the prisons report dismal working conditions. They're still being asked to work extended, 12-hour shifts, and a previous commitment to break 12-hour shifts up in blocks of two days at a time has been reversed. Multiple officers at facilities across the district said they and their colleagues are seriously reconsidering employment in the prisons, and said that losing the boosted overtime pay gives them another reason to walk away.

HALT, the law limiting solitary confinement and xtending programming requirements, remains paused until June. Changing that law was a key request of the striking COs. The COs who spoke with the Watertown Daily Times said that if they get to that day, June 8, and don't see some material change in conditions, they're likely to walk away.

"There's just so much we want to deal with  we walked out because things weren't safe, we were underpaid, we didn't feel listened to, and none of that has changed much," one officer, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their position, told the Times on Monday.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staffing issues continue to cause some problems in Austin according to the agency.

On Mothers Day, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport dealt with some delays blamed on staffing by the FAA.



I know that this airport is understaffed, and I can see it when I travel, said Valentia Davalos who was dropping her mother off at the airport on Monday.

The staffing issues continue to leave some fliers on edge, due to it being an ongoing problem that, in some cases, has impacted safety.

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Another close call near AUS: Small aircraft enters flight path of commercial plane

We had a few of those close calls on the runway and stuff like that, and that really makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up a little bit, traveler Sydney Malcom said, referring to past incidents at Austins airport.

The FAA on Monday said operations were back to normal. But U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who represents part of Austin, still takes issue with what those normal operations are. Hes advocated for more to be done to address staffing problems.



The real danger is safety, Doggett said. Those are indications that its not safe to fly, because yesterday [Sunday], we were short five air traffic controllers. We dont want to wait until theres a catastrophe here before we get the action that we need.

The sense of urgency in Austin is heightened by what is happening at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Newark has experienced FAA staffing shortages, and even radar outages, leading to cancellations and delays.



We have to fix this, because what you see in Newark is going to happen in other places across the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

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In an interview with Meet the Press Moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday, Duffy said theyre looking at fixes.



Congress has given me the authority to extend the retirement age for air traffic controllers from from 56 to 61, but thats not the problem, Duffy said. Im going to give them [air traffic controllers] a 20% up front bonus to stay on the job. Dont retire. Keep serving your country.

Texas Rep. Doggett: Austin airport missing half of necessary air traffic controllers

Still, Doggett said that doesnt take care of the issues happening now that need immediate fixes.

Thats why Ive been advocating strong support for the application made last summer to give our air traffic controllers the tool of expanded space to watch for these and also continue to advocate for more air traffic controllers, because we dont want to wait until theres a catastrophe here before we get the action that we need, Doggett said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11)  Newark International Airport experienced yet another day of cancellations and delays Monday, after experiencing another communications issue on Sunday.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that an FAA software update pushed out Friday night allowed backup systems to kick in Sunday when a main communications line went down.

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This prevented a full radar blackout, as we previously saw on April 28 and May 9.

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This Sunday on Face the Nation, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the airline is taking extra measures, in addition to its 35 daily flights already cancelled. On Wednesday, airline CEOs  including Kirby  will meet with the DOT for what is being called a delay reduction meeting.

What weve also done is put bigger airplanes on the route, said Kirby. So put a larger plane, have fewer flights, but with bigger planes to maintain the number of seats that w

Sec. Duffy said new fiber optic cable should be up and running to Newarks air traffic control by the end of the month, but still requires updated equipment to handle the faster speeds.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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Duffy said bringing in additional air traffic controllers is also more challenging than it seems.

It does take time to train up controllers from other areas, said Duffy. So even if you have a 20-year experienced controller, they move to a new airspace, it takes them a long time to train up, so we dont have the ability to just snap our fingers and move controllers around.

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 Federal Aviation Administration is considering temporary flight reductions in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport, and it's launching an emergency task force to ensure safety, among other system upgrades announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at a press conference on Monday.

Duffy blamed recent telecommunications issues at Newark Liberty International Airport on former President Joe Biden's administration, claiming that it mishandled a move of air traffic control from New York to Philadelphia in 2024.

He said that the administration had moved the terminal radar approach control, or TRACON, "without properly hardening the telecom lines feeding the data."

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"Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden did nothing to fix this system that they knew was broken," he said, casting blame on his predecessor under Biden.

"Without addressing the underlying infrastructure, they added more risk to the system," he added.

PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to reporters during a news conference on Newark Liberty International Airport at the Department of Transportation Headquarters, May 12, 2025 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Duffys allegations come after an equipment issue on Sunday prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to order a 45-minute ground stop at the New Jersey airport.

However, Duffy claimed that the issue did not technically result in an outage -- because the FAA had just performed a software update on the backup system on Friday night to prevent future outages.

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"The software patch was successful, and our redundant lines are now both working," he said, confirming that the main line went down on Sunday -- but the backup line did not.

It was only out of "an abundance of caution" that traffic controllers shut down the airspace for 45 minutes on Sunday, Duffy explained.

MORE: Equipment issue again disrupts air traffic at Newark Liberty airport: FAA

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau also appeared at the press conference on Monday and announced that the agency was launching an emergency task force to ensure that travel in and out of Newark remains safe and efficient.

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The task force comprises experts from the FAA, Verizon and L3Harris -- an FAA contractor that purports to focus on "advanced defense and commercial technologies."

Sundays incident marks the fourth time in the past two weeks that technical problems have disrupted air traffic at Newark.

PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks to reporters during a news conference on Newark Liberty International Airport at the Department of Transportation Headquarters, May 12, 2025 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Duffy also noted that the telecoms system's age contributed to recent issues.

"The system is so old that even when you have high-speed fiber information coming in ... the information has to be slowed down, it comes in too fast," Duffy said, saying that the information could only travel at "the speed of copper wires."

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For that reason he said that the FAA has replaced copper lines with fiber lines at Newark, along with New York City's LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The new lines are currently being tested, he said, and the agency hopes to make the switch and have them fully operational by the end of May.

"The goal is to add three new telecommunications lines between New York and Philadelphia," Duffy added. "This will provide more high-speed reliability and redundancy -- so if one goes down, we're assured that the others will stand up."

Additionally, the FAA will be meeting with airlines on Wednesday to discuss potential flight reductions at the Newark, he said, echoing an announcement made last week by the FAA. The move would be an effort to reduce ongoing flight delays to and from the airport.

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During the meeting, the airlines will confidentially propose flight cuts to the agency based on the congested timeframes identified by the FAA.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced on May 2 that the airline was "unilaterally" cutting 35 daily roundtrips from its Newark schedule after several air traffic controllers went on medical leave following the April 28 outage. Newark often has 80 or more flights per hour, Kirby noted in the statement, calling the number unsustainable.

MORE: Radar screens at Newark airport went black again overnight

If approved, flight reductions are expected to stay in effect all summer. A final decision will be made after the meeting, and the order will be submitted to the Federal Register by the FAA.

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Duffy said that the FAA is closely working with Verizon and L3Harris to determine the underlying cause of the recurring telecommunications issues and address them in an expedited manner.

He also said that he is asking the Office of Inspector General to conduct an investigation into decisions made by the last administration that might be linked to recent equipment failures.

Rocheleau reiterated that traveling in and out of Newark remains safe, and the task force will continue to monitor the upgrades announced by Duffy.

FAA launches emergency task force to ensure safety flying in and out of Newark originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
TAMPA  The state plans to execute Glen Rogers on Thursday evening, almost 30 years after he stabbed to death a 36-year-old mother of two in a Tampa motel bathtub.

Barring a last-minute stay, the execution will affirm what a jury long ago unanimously decided should be Rogers fate. Yet his lawyers have argued there is much that the jury never heard  enough that if another jury heard it, Rogers might instead receive life in prison.

Courts have repeatedly rejected efforts to reduce the sentence for Rogers. Rulings essentially say his arguments are meritless and should have been made long ago.

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As he faces the now imminent prospect of the death penalty, Rogers lawyers say his story is yet to be fully told.

Well documented is the tale of the blue-eyed charmer known as the Casanova Killer or the Cross-Country Killer, twice convicted of murder and suspected in at least three other deaths across the U.S. Less known is the tale of a damaged young man whose early life experiences in state facilities and as a victim of sexual abuse that put him on a path to murder, his attorneys contend.

Glen basically is a creature that was built by the state, said Dan Sikes, the attorney handling Rogers federal appeals. And people wonder why hes accused of doing the things hes accused of doing.

The making of a killer

Glen Edward Rogers was born in 1962, the second-youngest of seven children who grew up in Hamilton, Ohio, a hardscrabble industrial town about 20 miles north of Cincinnati.

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His father was described in court records and news accounts as an alcoholic, prone to fits of rage wherein hed break things in their home and fire a gun outside. When his drinking caused him to lose his job at a paper mill, the family moved into a dilapidated house.

Their mother was described in court as a battered woman who would severely punish the children if they woke their dad from his drunken naps. They were seldom disciplined otherwise, even when they got caught burglarizing houses.

New details surfaced about five years ago, when experts  among them, a former FBI agent  working for Rogers defense uncovered what were described as repressed memories of horrific sexual abuse he endured. Witnesses were lined up to corroborate.

Court records filed in 2020 include a detailed summary.

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When he was 10, Rogers spent many nights with a woman in his hometown who raped him until he was replaced by another boy. He was the same age when he began spending time in a local brothel, known as the cathouse.

One of his older brothers, who is now deceased, took advantage of Rogers by pimping him out to obtain drug money, court records state. The records name two women who raped the boy, but also offered him to men who produced child pornography.

When he was 11, court records state, a man described as a notorious child molester gave Rogers a job sweeping his Hamilton radio store, using it as a grooming opportunity for sexual favors. He gave Rogers gifts and showed up at his house if he missed work, reminding him of his generosity to get him to acquiesce to the abuse.

Rogers was interviewed later as part of a criminal investigation against the man, but denied being molested by him, court records show. He recalled that once, when he and the man were alone on a boat, the man told him he could murder him anytime he wanted. The man pleaded guilty to a sex crime in an unrelated case, records state.

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Mr. Rogers family and local community failed him, attorney Ali Shakoor wrote five years ago. It is no wonder that he began a life of crime at such a young age and was eventually sentenced to juvenile correctional facilities, where he was further ruined.

In his early teens, Rogers began using drugs. He ended up in the Training Institution of Central Ohio, a defunct juvenile detention facility. Rogers recalled further sexual abuse there at the hands of male guards. He also was regularly locked in a room, where he was kicked and punched, then held in solitary confinement.

One night, staff awakened Rogers. He was told to go outside and dig a hole. A boys body was later placed inside it and buried, court records state.

The state of Ohio failed to protect Mr. Rogers and is partially responsible for him eventually becoming a capital defendant, Shakoor wrote.

A string of murders

Rogers had worked as a cab driver in his hometown, according to news accounts. Hed also been described as a carnival worker.

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Before he turned 30, Rogers had been arrested more than 25 times, news accounts state. The crimes ranged from petty theft to attempted arson to assault.

The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1995 described him as a free-spending Goodtime Charlie who wooed women in honky-tonks and taverns. But the same story, drawing on reports from people who knew Rogers, called him disturbed, angry and a man who could turn mean, especially when he drank.

Police questioned him in 1994 after a man named Mark Peters turned up dead, tied to a chair in a dilapidated cabin in northern Kentucky. Peters, 71, a neighborhood handyman who repaired old clocks and restored antique furniture, had let Rogers stay in his house. Investigators were unable to determine a cause of his death. Soon after, Rogers left town.

He surfaced in Van Nuys, California, near Los Angeles in September 1995. A bartender at McReds Cocktail Lounge remembered the well-dressed, bearded stranger romancing Sandra Gallagher, a 33-year-old mother of three who was celebrating a $1,250 lottery win. He was seen getting into her truck. The truck was found the next day, burned. Gallaghers body was inside. Shed been strangled.

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In early October that year, a woman named Linda Price met Rogers in a beer tent at the Mississippi State Fair. She had two children. She worked in sales and, like Rogers, lived out of hotels. Quoted in news stories from the time, friends said she was lonely and fell immediately for him.

They got an apartment together. She was found there in early November, stabbed to death in the bathtub.

Days later, Rogers appeared at Showtown USA, a bar and restaurant in Gibsonton, a carnival town on the eastern shore of Tampa Bay. Tina Marie Cribbs, another young mother, was there with friends. Rogers bought them drinks and flirted with her. She offered to give him a ride and said shed be back. She never returned.

She was found two days later in the bathtub of Room 119 at the Tampa 8 Inn motel off Columbus Drive, near Interstate 4. She, too, had been stabbed. Rogers had rented the room. Her Ford Festiva was missing. Her wallet turned up at a highway rest area in North Florida. His fingerprints were on it.

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As a nationwide manhunt ensued, Rogers turned up in Bossier City, Louisiana. People saw him shooting pool in a bar called ItIl Do and dancing with a woman named Andy Jiles Sutton. Her roommate found her two days later, lying nude on a leaking waterbed. Shed been stabbed.

Days later, Kentucky State Police located Rogers driving Cribbs stolen car. He was arrested after a high-speed chase.

Juries in Florida and California found him guilty for the murders of Cribbs and Gallagher; authorities in the other states chose not to prosecute him.

Defense lawyers presented some evidence of Rogers troubled upbringing, along with claims that he was mentally ill. Rogers denied killing anyone. But he also denied, in a 1997 jailhouse interview after his trial, that hed had an abusive childhood. Whether his claim is true is unclear.

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It wasnt enough, anyway, to overcome the brutality of Cribbs murder.

This totally destroyed my life, her mother, Mary Dicke, said in a sentencing hearing. She was all I had.

The Florida Supreme Court last week turned down Rogers latest appeal, which included the claims about his childhood.

His remaining legal avenues include a challenge to the constitutionality of lethal injection, pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, and a new pleading filed Monday, which challenges the quality of the legal representation death row inmates receive from the state.

If neither of those appeals succeeds, Rogers will be executed at 6 p.m. Thursday at Florida State Prison, near Starke.
Claim:

The nation of Qatar offered the Trump administration a Boeing 747-8 for use as Air Force One.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

Trump called the plane a "gift," in a post on his social media site, Truth Social. A representative of the administration clarified that Qatar "has offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense," not to Trump himself.

On May 11, 2025, several mainstream news outlets reported that the nation of Qatar had offered U.S. President Donald Trump a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be remodeled into a new Air Force One.

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The claim also circulated widely on social media. Several viral posts alleged that the plane was a form of bribery, while others noted that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who reportedly approved acceptance of the offer, used to work as a lobbyist for Qatar's government. (She did, according to a November 2024 Semafor story.)

According to a post Trump made on his social media platform, Truth Social, and a comment Snopes received from an administration spokesperson, the claim is true  Qatar offered a Boeing 747, but for use by the Department of Defense (which fits with remodeling the plane into Air Force One, since the Air Force is in charge of the presidential plane), not for use by Trump as a personal plane.

In February 2025, The New York Times published a story detailing a tour that Trump took of a Boeing 747-8 plane owned by the Qatari royal family. According to the story, Trump was frustrated over delays in acquiring two new Boeing 747s to be used as Air Force One. The plane from Qatar, according to the story, was a potentially faster way.

That possibility appeared to be significantly more likely after Trump's May 12 post on Truth Social responding to the reports. Trump said the "Defense Department [was] getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily."

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The "temporarily" comment implied that the administration only plans on using the plane until the new ones come in from Boeing. According to the February New York Times article, the Air Force had already contractually committed to paying the aircraft manufacturer $3.5 billion of the $4.3 billion required for the new planes. Boeing is reportedly three years behind schedule.

In a news conference, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Qatar's gift would be "accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws," and that "President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency." An administration spokesperson told Snopes that the plane would "not be presented nor accepted this week while [Trump is] in Qatar." (Trump went to the Middle East for a three-day tour on May 12.)

This is not the first 747 Qatar has offered to a foreign state  in 2018, the emir gifted a jet to Turkey, according to the BBC.

Sources:

Haberman, Maggie, et al. "Trump Is Poised to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One." The New York Times, 11 May 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/us/politics/trump-qatar-jet-gift-air-force-one.html.

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Lipton, Eric, et al. "A Frustrated Trump Wants His New Air Force One Planes Pronto." The New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/us/politics/trump-musk-air-force-one-boeing.html.

News, A. B. C. "Trump Administration Poised to Accept 'palace in the Sky' as a Gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511. Accessed 12 May 2025.

Ordonez, Franco. "Trump Says He'd Be 'stupid' to Turn down Qatar's Offer of a New Plane." NPR, 12 May 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/05/11/g-s1-65838/qatar-plane-trump.

Qatar's Emir "Gives $500m Private Jet to Turkey." 17 Sept. 2018. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45550537.

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Trump Defends Plan to Use Qatari Luxury Jet for Air Force One. 12 May 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5ell3gkxvo.

Trump's New Attorney General Pick Is a Former Qatar Lobbyist. 22 Nov. 2024, https://www.semafor.com/article/11/22/2024/pam-bondi-trumps-new-attorney-general-pick-is-a-former-qatar-lobbyist.
By Marta Maciag, Canan Sevgili and Julia Kotowska

(Reuters) - Poland holds the second round of a presidential election on June 1, a major test for the pro-European government that will determine whether it can implement its agenda.

The vote pits Rafal Trzaskowski from the ruling centrist Civic Coalition (KO) against Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS).

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Trzaskowski won 31.4% of the vote in the May 19 first round, with Nawrocki on 29.5%. Opinion polls indicate Sunday's vote will be very tight.

Here is a guide to the vote:

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Since it came to power in 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition has been trying to undo the previous Law and Justice government's judicial reforms that the European Union said eroded the rule of law and politicised the courts.

However, President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the Law and Justice party, has used his power of veto to block the government's proposals. His term ends on August 6. If Nawrocki succeeds him, the standoff will continue. If Trzaskowski wins, reforms to align Poland with EU norms are likely to proceed.

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HOW DOES THE ELECTION WORK?

The second round is being held because no candidate scored more than 50% in the first round. Presidents can serve a maximum of two five-year terms.

Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. Exit polls will be published shortly afterwards. Partial results may trickle in throughout the evening on Sunday, or they may wait and report the final result on Monday.

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES AND WHAT ARE THEIR PLATFORMS?

The frontrunner, 53-year-old Trzaskowski, has been mayor of Warsaw since 2018. He was narrowly defeated by Duda in the 2020 presidential vote.

Trzaskowski's main proposals include developing Poland's arms and technology industry, ensuring the country has a strong position in the European Union and introducing civil partnerships for LGBT couples.

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Conservative historian, Nawrocki, 42, ran the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, in northern Poland in 2017-21, and now heads Poland's Institute of National Remembrance.

He wants to see lower taxes, a withdrawal from the European Union's Migration Pact and Green Deal, and is critical of giving more rights to LGBT couples.

Both candidates are pledging to allocate 5% of GDP to defence in response to concern over Russia's war in Ukraine and warnings from President Donald Trump that Europe should no longer rely on the U.S. for its defence.

(Reporting by Marta Maciag, Canan Sevgili and Julia Kotowska; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung has vowed political and economic reforms to help the country recover from the shock of December's brief martial law.

Here are some of the main policy proposals put forward by Lee and his party:

ECONOMY

The Democratic Party has vowed to gradually increase budgets for research and development and invest heavily in artificial intelligence if Lee wins, starting with this year's extra budget.

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The party also plans to make defence one of the country's key industries, provide vouchers to help local businesses and strengthen the country's soft power by ramping up support for the content industry.

Lee has said there was no need to rush to strike a deal with the United States on tariffs. He added it was important to recognize protectionism was a global trend and not unique to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and therefore diversifying both imports and exports was necessary in the long term.

FOREIGN POLICY

Lee will pursue a new Asia strategy and cooperation with the "Global South" and strengthen cooperation with the European Union in trade, supply chains, defence and infrastructure.

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He will seek to ease tensions with North Korea first by restoring a military hotline and a military agreement ditched by Pyongyang amid rising animosity in 2023, while maintaining the goal of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula and the transfer of wartime operational control from the United States.

South Korea's national interest must be the measure of all foreign policy decisions, he has said, stressing balance and some degree of distance was necessary, including over the tension between China and Taiwan.

The bedrock of South Korea's diplomacy is the alliance with the United States, but there was "no need to unnecessarily antagonize" China and Russia, he said.

POLITICAL STABILITY

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The DP said it would oversee a recovery of South Korea's democracy following the political crisis caused by former president Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration in December.

The party also intends to more tightly control the president's right to declare martial law.

It has vowed to reform the legal system because it says prosecutors have become politicised and aims to separate investigations and prosecutions. Increasing the number of Supreme Court judges and reforming the prosecutors' office are central to Lee's pledges.

WORK CULTURE

Lee plans to introduce a four-and-a-half-day working week to cut down on work hours. South Koreans work some of the longest hours among OECD countries.

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Lee aims to cut the number of hours worked to below the OECD average, according to the DP's campaign policy white paper, while raising the current legal retirement age from 60 to 65.

POPULATION CRISIS

In an effort to improve the country's record-low birth rates, Lee plans to offer income tax deductions for credit card payments to parents in proportion to the number of children they have and increase the supply of public rental housing for newly married couples.

To address the needs of an ageing population, Lee will seek to increase nursing services and build senior-friendly housing.

CLIMATE CHANGE

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Under Lee's presidency, the DP says South Korea will accelerate the push towards renewable energy and shut down coal plants by 2040, but not immediately start dismantling nuclear power generation, instead gradually shifting the mix to greener energy.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies, Michael Perry and Saad Sayeed)
May 13A 36-year-old Fairbanks man was shot and killed by police Monday night after he began firing at officers arriving at an apartment complex in response to a report of a domestic dispute.

Thomas Bean shot and killed 29-year-old Jesse Bidgood, of North Pole, before police arrived at the home on Washington Avenue on Monday night, according to a statement from the Fairbanks Police Department and Alaska State Troopers.

Bidgood was dating Bean's sister, troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel said.

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Bean began shooting at Fairbanks police officers with a semi-automatic rifle as they got to the area, hitting their vehicles, the statement said. The incident was reported just before 10:25 p.m.

Police and Bean exchanged gunfire, and Bean was hit in that exchange, the statement said.

"Multiple Alaska State Troopers and additional (police) officers responded to assist. Bean continued to defy officer commands," it said. "Due to his actions, multiple law enforcement officers shot at Bean fatally striking him."

Two police officers were treated for minor injuries associated with shrapnel, the statement said.

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The homicide and officer-involved shooting both occurred on the street outside the home, McDaniel said in an email. Bidgood was declared dead at the scene and "had allegedly been shot by Bean before officers arrived," he wrote.

Troopers said they are actively investigating the initial domestic disturbance, homicide, and officer-involved shooting. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is the lead agency.

Once that investigation is complete, the state Office of Special Prosecutions will review the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers involved.

The troopers who discharged their firearms have been placed on seven days of administrative leave in accordance with Department of Public Safety policy. The Fairbanks police officers who discharged their firearms have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.

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The names of all the officers who discharged their firearms will be released in three days, officials from both agencies said.

"We recognize that incidents of this nature can be deeply traumatic for everyone affected  including the families, friends, witnesses, and first responders," Fairbanks police Chief Ron Dupee said in a statement. "We sincerely appreciate the public's continued cooperation and patience."

The incident was captured on multiple dashboard and body-worn cameras, McDaniel said.

The shooting was the second involving Alaska law enforcement on Monday night. An Anchorage police officer shot and killed the driver of a vehicle pulled over for a traffic stop just after 11:30 p.m., police said Tuesday.

Anyone with information related to the Fairbanks case is asked to contact the Bureau of Investigation at 907-451-5100.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said that there would be nighttime road closures for Fairfax County Parkway for much of the week of May 12.

VDOT Northern Virginia posted about the closures on the X platform, explaining that they were related to the Popes Head Road interchange project.

Crews are working to replace the traffic signal at Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road with an interchange that will feature triple roundabouts. The purpose is to allow traffic to flow via two new bridges over Fairfax County Parkway.

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Citations begin for school bus cameras in Fairfax County

VDOT said from Monday, May 12 through Thursday, May 15, the following closures were in effect from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. the following morning:

Northbound Fairfax County Parkway will be closed to all traffic between Burke Centre Parkway and Braddock Road. Through traffic will be detoured via Burke Centre Parkway, Route 123 (Ox Road) and Braddock Road back to northbound Fairfax County Parkway.

Southbound Fairfax County Parkway will be closed to through traffic between Braddock Road and Burke Centre Parkway. Through traffic will be detoured via Braddock Road, Route 123 and Burke Centre Parkway back to southbound Fairfax County Parkway.

Southbound Fairfax County Parkway between Popes Head Road and Burke Centre Parkway will be open to local traffic only. Those on northbound and southbound Fairfax County Parkway needing to reach Nomes Court, Ladues End Lane and Colchester Meadow Lane will be detoured via Burke Centre Parkway, Route 123, Popes Head Road and southbound Fairfax County Parkway back to Nomes Court/Ladues End Lane/Colchester Meadow Lane.

McDonalds in Fairfax County implements new 21+ policy for indoor dining after fight

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In addtion to introducing the roundabouts, VDOT said the road project, which is expected to be completed by late 2026, also includes:

Building a short segment of the future Shirley Gate Road extension that will provide pedestrian and vehicle access to the future Patriot Park (Fairfax County is designing the rest of the Shirley Gate extension).

Constructing a shared-use path linking the Fairfax County Parkway Trail to the future Patriot Park.

Reconstructing the Fairfax County Parkway Trail.

Installing a sidewalk along the north side of Popes Head Road.

Extending Ladues End Lane to the new roundabout at Popes Head Road.

All road work is contingent upon the weather.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A Fall River woman was sentenced to prison on Monday for stealing nearly $90,000 in Social Security benefits intended for her child over the course of six years.

Charging documents stated that 45-year-old Nancy Taylor of Fall River first applied to receive Social Security benefits on behalf of her child as a representative payee in August 2014. At this time, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reportedly told Taylor that she was obligated to notify them if her child left her custody.

Three injured in multi-vehicle crash on Chestnut Street in Springfield

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Taylor lost custody of her child in May 2016, but failed to notify SSA of this fact. She called SSA in October 2021 to update contact information for her child so that she could continue receiving benefits.

The charging documents further stated that in June 2022, Taylor visited an SSA field office to reactivate a receipt of her childs benefits, during which she provided two fraudulent forms that stated her child still lived with her and that the benefits had been spent on her childs care. However, the stolen benefits had actually been used by Taylor primarily to pay her own bills.

From May 2016 to May 2022, Taylor embezzled approximately $86,994 in Social Security benefits intended for her minor child. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024, and pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money in February 2025.

Nancy Taylor was sentenced on Monday in federal court to ten months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She has also been ordered to pay $86,994 in restitution.

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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Thousands of people are paying their respects this week to officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

On Monday, the families of CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks, Investigator Alden Elliott, and Investigator Sam Poloche got to see the names of their loved ones engraved in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

ALSO READ: Still healing: Colleagues speak with Channel 9 to remember officers killed in ambush

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Tuesday night, the names of those four fallen heroes were read aloud during a candlelight vigil at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, as well as the U.S. Marshals Office, was in attendance.

Last month, Channel 9s Hannah Goetz spoke with some of those officers as the one-year anniversary of the shooting approached.

They said it brings them pride to be able to honor their friends.

I think so, like, because each one of those guys, youre not going to find better people. So, it makes you proud to tell people about them, you know, said Deputy US Marshal Stephen Baldwin.

VIDEO: Honor him: Names of 4 fallen Charlotte officers join memorial wall in D.C.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  The family of a former Boeing quality control manager who killed himself after lawyers questioned him about his whistleblowing on alleged jumbo jet defects has settled a lawsuit against the aircraft maker.

Details of the settlement over John Barnetts death were not disclosed in a court filing Monday.

Barnett, a longtime Boeing employee, shared his safety concerns with journalists after he retired in 2017. He said he once saw discarded metal shavings near wiring for the flight controls that could have cut the wiring and caused a catastrophe. He also noted problems with up to a quarter of the oxygen systems on Boeings 787 planes.

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Barnett shared his concerns with his supervisors and others before leaving Boeing, but according to the lawsuit they responded by ignoring him and then harassing him.

Barnett, 62, shot himself on March 9, 2024, in Charleston after answering questions from attorneys for several days. He lived in Louisiana.

The document announcing the settlement and closing the case in federal court in South Carolina was one page and the only detail was that either side can reopen the lawsuit if the settlement is not finalized in 60 days.

Boeing did not answer the lawsuit in court papers before the settlement.

We are saddened by John Barnetts death and extend our condolences to his family. Boeing took actions several years ago to review and address the issues that Mr. Barnett raised," the company said in a statement Tuesday.

___

EDITORS NOTE  This story includes discussion of suicide. The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A family is devastated Monday after a shooting late Sunday left their loved one dead at a northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex. Police said they are still looking for the suspects as of Monday afternoon.

Oklahoma City Police have identified the victim as 24-year-old Thomas Wade III.

Probably a couple of hours after it happened, I received a phone call, the victims father Thomas Wade said.

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Its a phone call no parent wants to get. Wade was left heartbroken standing near the scene just hours after his son was shot and killed late Sunday night.

Hes a good kid. Has a good heart. You know, he was just taken too soon, Wade said.

ORIGINAL STORY: Police investigating fatal shooting in NW Oklahoma City

It was around 11:30 p.m. when police were called to the apartment complex just north of the intersection at NW 23rd Street and Portland Avenue. Just earlier, two guys knocked on a door there.

When the victim answered the door, he was simply shot and killed, apparently right in the doorway, Msgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department said.

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A woman and two children were also inside, though none of them were harmed. Wade told KFOR that those were his sons kids, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old.

Hes a good dad, a hell of a dad, Wade said. Nobody deserves anything, whatever the situation is, nobody deserves to have their home invaded, their lives, uprooted behind somebody else that is apparently just wanted to come up on something

The motive behind the shooting isnt clear right now.

Were still trying to piece together what happened. Hopefully, well have answers to all those questions soon, Knight said.

LOCAL NEWS: Police investigating after a body found in SW Oklahoma City

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Both suspects ran away after the shooting and are still gone. A piece is now missing from Wade and others hearts as he struggles to comprehend how someone could do this, knowing the devastation it causes.

Its not worth somebodys life and what it does to somebodys family or anything else, its not worth it, he said.

Police are urging anyone with information to call the crime stoppers hotline.

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.
An eastern German city is offering two weeks of free lodgings in a bid to attract new residents as it continues to grapple with depopulation some 35 years after reunification.

Successful applicants will be eligible to spend two weeks in a furnished flat in Eisenhuttenstadt, some 100 kilometres south-east of Berlin, from September 6-20, the city administration said.

Like many other regions in the former communist East Germany, Eisenhuttenstadt has seen a sharp population decline in the decades after German reunification, with younger people moving away in particular to look for work elsewhere.

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And the trend is rising, said city official Julia Basan, noting that the current population has declined from over 50,000 to some 24,000 in recent years.

Located on Germany's eastern edge on the border with Poland, Eisenhuttenstadt was founded in 1950 to provide accommodations for workers at a newly established steelworks.

Initially designed for a population of 30,000, Eisenhuttenstadt became the first planned city in East Germany. Between 1953 and 1961, the city was called Stalinstadt - Stalin City.

The steelworks continues to provide the most important source of employment - a fact reflected in the city's new name - German for ironworks city.

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The scheme is aimed at anyone who could imagine moving to Eisenhuttenstadt, according to the city, including returnees, commuters, skilled workers and the self-employed.

As part of the initiative, successful applicants will also be offered a leisure programme as well as internships and the opportunity to visit with local companies.

Further information and the application form are due to go online by the end of May at www.jetzt-plane-schmieden.de.

Other cities in the former East Germany have launched similar schemes in the past to combat population decline.
While many people have enjoyed unusually sunny spring days in England, farmers are worried that the lack of rainfall is affecting their crops.

With no sprouts emerging from the parched ground and little rain forecast heading into May, farmers fear the worst: a failed harvest that could devastate livelihoods and disrupt food supply chains.

"Agriculture really depends on seasonal weather patterns, and those have clearly changed a lot, so it's very difficult for farmers to decide what to drill, where to plant their crops," Paola Tosi of the University of Reading told the BBC.

What's happening?

The United Kingdom has had the driest start to a year in four decades, with precipitation of around 8.1 inches during the first quarter, according to Met Office data shared by Insurance Journal. This is the lowest since 1985, threatening grain crops and increasing wildfire risks.

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Local farmer George Brown expressed concerns regarding spring barley on his farm in Newbury, Berkshire.

"But we've got large chunks  especially on top of the hills  where it's absolutely barren still, waiting in rows to germinate," he told the BBC.

Regional farmers are not just dealing with the lack of rainfall. They also experienced heavy rain that waterlogged fields in autumn. These drastic fluctuations of too much rain and little to no rain significantly impact planting schedules and crop development  making it harder for farmers to plant and increasing the risk of lower yields.

Why is this concerning?

Unpredictable weather isn't just an inconvenience  or, in the case of the U.K., an opportunity to enjoy sunny, rain-free days. It's a direct threat to food production and farm sustainability. Crops such as wheat and barley depend on seasonal patterns to grow properly, and disruption leads to poor harvests or even total loss.

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For small farms, one bad season could have long-lasting financial consequences. Crop losses from large farms mean food shortages and higher prices at the grocery store. Inconsistent weather also increases the chances of soil degradation and negatively impacts biodiversity.

What's being done about it?

In response to these challenges, farmers in the U.K. and worldwide are turning to more resilient crop varieties and experimenting with planting techniques that retain moisture in dry conditions. Others are investing in better soil health practices, including cover cropping and reduced tillage, to make their land more resilient to extreme conditions.

As the climate continues to shift, long-term solutions  backed by research, funding, and policy  will be key to helping farmers weather the change.

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.
Del. Ryan Nawrocki (R-Baltimore County). (File photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

For a few short minutes, it appeared that there might be a contentious intraparty challenge for a state Senate seat.

Del. Ryan Nawrocki (R-Baltimore County), elected in 2022, posted ever so briefly on social media that he was holding a May 19 fundraiser for the Senate  the same seat currently held by Sen. J.B Jennings (R-Baltimore and Harford counties), who was elected to his fourth Senate term in 2022 and previously served eight years in the House of Delegates.

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I have no intention of running for Senate, Nawrocki said in a phone interview Monday. It just kind of, there was some fat-finger stuff that happened there, and I posted something, and I immediately changed it.

But not before the texts and phone calls to Nawrocki, Jennings and reporters started flying.

Ive seen the screenshot, you know, 17 times. You probably got it from the same people who sent it to me, Nawrocki said. First of all  if Im running for Senate, Im not announcing it in a throwaway line seven lines deep in a post on Facebook.

The post pitched an event in Middle River and an evening you wont want to miss  great local brews, fantastic food and an important cause: supporting our campaign for Maryland State Senate.

Sen. J.B. Jennings said he intends on running for a fifth term in the Senate in 2026. (File photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

The new post, as of 9:23 a.m., replaced the Senate announcement with supporting our campaign for Maryland!

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Jennings, for his part, said he was surprised by the post and the calls and texts he got alerting him to a potential challenge.

This kind of caught me off-guard this morning on what he wrote in his Facebook post. I have not talked to him, Jennings said. I thought we were all going to run together.

The post touched off chatter about a larger play by the newly recognized, hard-right Freedom Caucus in the Maryland House.

Nawrocki is one of seven members of the caucus. Currently, there are no members in the Senate. Some have speculated that the caucus might seek to primary an incumbent senator. At events this session, members of the caucus have talked openly, if not vaguely, about RINO  Republican in Name Only  lawmakers.

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Jennings district, a safe one for Republicans, seems a likely choice for a primary challenge. All four state lawmakers are Republicans. Dels. Lauren Arikan and Kathy Szeliga are also members of the Freedom Caucus.

Arikan, a second-term Republican, wrote in a text message that she was not planning a run for Jennings seat. She said she was not aware of any changes in the district.

Del, Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County) speaks at a Freedom Caucus anti-tax rally during the 2025 legislative session. (File photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Szeliga, in her fourth term in the House, also said she is not interested in a run for Senate.

I am very focused on holding Democrats accountable for $1.66 billion in taxes. Not running against Jennings, Szeliga said in a text, adding that she is very concerned about Democrats raising taxes again in October, in a potential special session.

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Nawrocki, for his part, repeated that he would not run against Jennings not even in six months.

Im not running for Senate, Nawrocki said. Unless youre calling to tell me that J.B. is running for governor or something like that, and then maybe I would consider it. But no, Im not running against J.B.

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A family of four, including a 7-month-old baby and a 6-year-old child, has been found dead at a Montana home in an apparent murder-suicide, police said in a release obtained by PEOPLE

The father has been identified as Nicholas Olson-Hartley, 33, and the mother as Katie Olson-Hartley, 27

"It appears Nicholas Olson-Hartley took the lives of his young family before calling 911," Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio said







A family of four, including two young children, has been found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in a home in Montana, police have said.

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On Sunday, May 11, just before 6 a.m. local time, Kalispell Police Department (KPD) responded after a man  later identified as the husband and father of the family  allegedly made "multiple concerning statements to dispatch," before ending a mental health emergency call, Chief of Police, Jordan Venezio, said in a Tuesday, May 12 release obtained by PEOPLE.

Officers found the family, including a 7-month-old baby and a 6-year-old child, dead from gunshot wounds at the home, Venezio confirmed. The property was in the Silverbrook Estates community, NBC News reported.

The father and suspected shooter has been identified as Nicholas Olson-Hartley, 33, by police, and the mother as Katie Olson-Hartley, 27.

Google Maps Kalispell Public Safety building Kalispell Public Safety building

"It appears Nicholas Olson-Hartley took the lives of his young family before calling 911," police chief Venezio said in the release obtained by PEOPLE, adding, "After making the phone call to dispatch, he took his own life."

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"The Kalispell Police Department mourns with the family that is suffering from this senseless tragedy. KPD is making all resources available for our officers to ensure they can process this and move forward in a healthy way to continue to serve the Kalispell community," police said.

Kalispell City Government/Facebook Kalispell Police vehicle Kalispell Police vehicle

"After collecting evidence throughout the day and interviewing numerous people, we believe this tragic event to be the result of a murder suicide," Venezio said, per the release.

KPD said they believe this is an isolated incident and that there isn't a continued risk to the public.

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.

KenRinger/Getty Kalispell, Montana Kalispell, Montana

"We are deeply saddened by the recent tragic loss of one of our Silverbrook families," Westcraft Homes, the Silverbrook Estates community's real estate developer, wrote on Facebook on Monday, May 12, without naming the family.

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"Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences go out to all who are grieving  especially the extended family, neighbors, and friends affected by this unimaginable tragedy," the post continued. "And to the first responders whose responsibilities in such situations can bring trauma and heartbreak into their lives too."

"Let us honor the lives lost by fostering kindness, reaching out, and lifting one another up. Let us support, listen, and show compassion," they added.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.



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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Road closed and detour signs were put up at multiple intersections along Maple Street in Fayetteville on Monday morning, as crews began construction and are set to revamp a portion of the thoroughfare this summer.

From Gregg to Leverett avenues, crews will repave the existing two-lane roadway and implement a variety of safer bike- and pedestrian-friendly amenities, opening Maple Street back up to traffic when students return to the University of Arkansas in August, Fayettevilles active transportation manager Matt Mihalevich said. Then, during the summer of 2026, crews will shut down Maple Street from Leverett to Garland avenues to complete similar improvements along that stretch of the road.

Were working together to accomplish this pretty significant project and major improvement for both the city and the university, Mihalevich said.

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Shortage of Real IDs causing frustration statewide

There will be a two-lane bike path along the south sidewalk from the Razorback Greenway to Garland Avenue with plants separating the cycle track and the street, Mihalevich said. Even further from the street, an 8-foot-wide Senior Walk sidewalk will be built, which will be able to hold five to six years-worth of University of Arkansas graduates names.

We have the 40-mile Razorback Greenway thats just on the eastern edge of campus, just past Arkansas (Avenue) along the railroad tracks, and then we have the campus, university, over 30,000 students, Mihalevich said. There is not actually a trail connecting those directly, so what this project will do is provide that direct connection.

Crosswalks will be improved as well, with motion-activated signals being installed, eliminating the need for bikers or walkers to push a button indicating they want to cross Maple Street, Mihalevich said. The crosswalks will be raised above the street surface with wider stripes, with hopes of making it easier for cars to see the crosswalk, Mihalevich said.

Will Richardson, a Fayetteville resident who bikes to work daily, said hes happy to hear the city is investing in increased safety for cyclists. He said he has to remain diligent when crossing Maple Street on the Razorback Greenway.

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I pretty much always have to stop here to make sure that a cars not flying by, Richardson said. A lot of people tend to speed on this stretch as well, and so youve got to watch out for yourself and be defensive.

There will be upgraded traffic signals and improved storm drainage.

The improvement project is more than a decade in the making, with the inability to secure funding delaying the start date, but a grant will help pay for a big portion of the $10,943,640 estimated cost.

The city of Fayetteville was awarded a $25 million grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, $7.5 million of which will be used for the Maple Street improvement project. The University of Arkansas is paying $2.25 million, and the city is contributing $1.25 million, paid for by the 2019 Transportation Street Bond.

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While the construction may cause headaches, Richardson understands and is excited for the finished product.

I dont think anyone likes construction, Richardson said. Its a necessary evil in a place thats growing as quickly as Fayetteville does.

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 KNWA FOX24.
A man wanted for allegedly firing an AR-15 rifle at a Thurston County sheriffs deputy was arrested Tuesday afternoon near the Nevada-California border, ending a multi-day manhunt across multiple states, according to the Thurston County Sheriffs Office.

The FBI Criminal Apprehension Team, with air support, used a Grappler device to stop the vehicle carrying 27-year-old Damien Madison and his mother.

Both were taken into custody.

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Authorities say the arrest followed a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The search for Madison began after deputies say he opened fire on a pursuing K9 deputy during a chase that started in Grays Harbor and ended in Thurston County.

According to Sheriff Derek Sanders, Madison began throwing objects at the patrol vehicle before firing multiple rounds from an AR-15, disabling the deputys vehicle on Waldrick Road Southeast.

Madison then ran into nearby woods after being dropped off by a driver, who was arrested at the scene. A large-scale search followed, involving SWAT teams, Guardian One helicopter support, and officers from surrounding jurisdictions.

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Sheriff Sanders said Madison had a long criminal history, including car theft and burglary, and warned the public he was armed and dangerous. He speculated during the search that Madison could be hiding in an unoccupied outbuilding or may have already stolen another vehicle.

He has a history of stealing cars after fleeing from stolen cars, Sanders said. Hes also a prolific burglar, so theres a decent chance that he is in someones shed, barn, or house, which may be not occupied.

Sanders also expressed frustration over what he said were repeated warnings about Madisons danger to the community. Last time I talked about him, I actually specifically stated that if the judges dont start taking this seriously, that someones going to get hurt or killed, and here we areshooting at the police, Sanders said.

Officials have not yet released details on the charges Madison and his mother may face following their capture.
Jurors will be shown images of the stabbed heart of a beloved Queens EMS lieutenant murdered by a maniac who randomly knifed her more than 20 times, officials said in court Monday.

The 43-year-old daughter of tragic victim Alison Russo-Elling wept in court at times during Mondays opening testimony.

The disturbing images of Russo-Ellings fatally damaged heart will be part of the case involving defendant Peter Zisopoulos, 36, who is charged in the horrific attack on the 9/11 first-responder, who was on a meal break just a half-block from her stationhouse Sept. 29, 2022, when she was killed.

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The accused killers lawyer cautioned jurors during opening argument that the evidence could be grisly.

Peter Zisopoulos is on trial for murder in the 2022 random Queens stabbing death of EMS Lt. Alison Russo-Elling. Michael Nagle

The medical examiner will describe the stab wounds, some 5 inches deep, to her heart, her liver, her lungs, Queens public defender Gina Mitchell told the jury.

You will see her heart removed for autopsy, stabbed multiple times.

More than 40 city firefighters and EMS personnel packed the courtroom for the trial alongside the 61-year-old victims kin, as prosecutors indicated they plan to rely heavily on surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts of the senseless attack.

The knife had blood on it. Blood with DNA from two individuals, Queens Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe said. One, Alison Russo. The other, that [of the] defendant.

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When the police found the defendant, he still had the murder weapon in the right front pocket of his pants, Selkowe said.

He was caught red-handed  his hand covered in blood.

Russo-Elling, a 9/11 first responder, was killed while on duty.

First responders saluted Russo-Ellings body as it was loaded into an ambulance. Robert Miller

The troubled accused killer lived with his hoarder mom and two siblings in a railroad apartment near the crime scene, Mitchell said Monday.

You will see the bed in which he sleeps directly beside his mother, she said.

In court, Zisopouolos, who wore an orange parka and orange winter pants in court despite the warm weather, refused to use an insanity defense  despite the opinion of two psychiatrists who examined him before trial, the judge said.

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The doctor was of the opinion that there was a viable psychological defense here, but your client does not wish to use that defense, and thats what he told two psychiatrists, Queens Judge Ushir Pandit-Durant told Mitchell. So he does not want that defense.

More than 40 city firefighters and EMS personnel were in court for the start of the murder trial Monday. James Messerschmidt

Pandit-Durant said Zisopoulos denies its even him in the shocking video of the fatal attack.

Mitchell left that defense option open during her opening statements.

If you decide the video is real and Peter Zisopolous is the man in the video, the next question is, did he intend to kill her? she said. The million-dollar question is, if you decide that was Peter Zisopolis, what was in his mind? Did he intend his actions?

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But prosecutors contend that two camera angles of the incident show Zisopoulos coming up behind Russo-Elling on 20th Avenue and 41st Street shortly before 2:30 p.m. on the day of the attack  and then is seen running at her, knocking her to the ground and repeatedly stabbing the helpless FDNY worker.

Prosecution witness Courtney Bryson, who saw the incident, shot video of the attacker walking away and leaving the mortally wounded victim bleeding out.

Authorities said Russo-Elling was stabbed 22 times while on her lunch break. Robert Miller

The victims daughter, Danielle Fuoco, said outside court that she struggled to watch footage of her moms senseless death.

It was disturbing, but it needs to be done, Fuocco told The Post of airing the footage in court. Im here to make sure this all turns out the way its supposed to and to get justice for my family.

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The stricken daughter had wept during testimony from EMT John Nicosia, 28, who recalled finding her mom dying on the sidewalk.

She was very critical. She was not breathing. She had no pulse, Nicosia said. She was bleeding from her chest abdominal area.

I performed CPR and started breathing for her, said the EMT before breaking down in tears.

Sorry, he said, composing himself, then adding, Her clothes were saturated in blood.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Those who use EBT cards or SNAP benefits in Alabama will notice new features they now have access to.

The new cards now have a lock/unlock feature through the and alert feature available on the ConnectEBT app and website, preventing people from scamming them using in-store or online purchases.

EBT cardholders can also sign up for alerts online through the app. These alerts include account activity alerts through text, the ConnectEBT app and email.

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To use this feature, clients can choose one of the options below:

ConnectEBT App

Download the app.

Create an account or log in with your user ID and password.

The Lock/Unlock option will be displayed on the home screen.

Select the Lock/Unlock option.

Client can select one of the following:

Lock Card Everywhere  This option will lock your card at ALL stores, including online.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources suggests the following:

Lock Card  This option will lock your card at ALL stores outside of Alabama, but allows online purchases.

ConnectEBT Website

Visit connectebt.com

Create an account or log in with your user ID and password.

On the home screen, click the tab labeled Card.

Select Lock/Unlock option.

Clients can select from one of the following:

Lock Card Everywhere  This option will lock your card at ALL stores, including online.

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More information on the program can be found here.

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Describing the law as substantially overbroad, a federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a preliminary injunction blocking a 2023 Florida law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows.

A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, backed the Central Florida venue Hamburger Marys in a First Amendment challenge to the law. The state appealed in 2023 after U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued a preliminary injunction.

Tuesdays majority opinion said that by providing only vague guidance as to which performances it prohibits, the act (the law) wields a shotgun when the First Amendment allows a scalpel at most.

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The Constitution demands specificity when the state restricts speech, said the 81-page majority opinion, written by Judge Robin Rosenbaum and joined by Judge Nancy Abudu. Requiring clarity in speech regulations shields us from the whims of government censors. And the need for clarity is especially strong when the government takes the legally potent step of labeling speech obscene. An I know it when I see it test would unconstitutionally empower those who would limit speech to arbitrarily enforce the law. But the First Amendment empowers speakers instead. Yet Floridas Senate Bill 1438 (the law) takes an I know it when I see it approach to regulating expression.

But Judge Gerald Tjoflat, in a 45-page dissent, said the majority reads the statute in the broadest possible way, maximizes constitutional conflict and strikes the law down wholesale. He argued that the federal court should have sent the case to the Florida Supreme Court for help in interpreting the law  a step known as certifying a question to the state court.

Instead, the majority sidesteps the very tools our system provides  tools designed to respect state authority, foster comity, and avoid unnecessary constitutional rulings, Tjoflat wrote. By casting aside those safeguards, todays decision stretches this court beyond its proper role and departs from the humility and restraint that federal courts owe when state law is in question.

The law, dubbed by sponsors the Protection of Children bill, sought to prevent venues from admitting children to adult live performances. It defines adult live performances as any show, exhibition, or other presentation that is performed in front of a live audience, which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or specific sexual activities,  lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.

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It would allow regulators to suspend or revoke licenses of restaurants, bars and other venues that violate the law. Also, it would prohibit local governments from issuing public permits for events that could expose children to the targeted behavior.

While the law does not specifically mention drag shows, it came after Gov. Ron DeSantisadministration cracked down on venues in South Florida and Central Florida where children attended drag shows. It also came amid a series of controversial laws passed by Republicans in Florida and other states about transgender-related issues.

Tuesdays majority opinion focused, in part, on the use of the words lewd conduct in the law. It said the term is overbroad and that Rosenbaum and Abudu understand the acts prohibition on depictions of lewd conduct to reach speech that is constitutionally protected, even as to minors.

The result is that venues like Hamburger Marys are prone to restrict minors from consuming speech that they are within their constitutional rights to access, the majority opinion said. Not only that, but the acts sweep risks indirectly squelching adults access to nonobscene speech.

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Tjoflat, however, wrote that the laws enumeration of terms is not perfectly sorted by specificity, but its ordering still lends credence to the idea that lewd conduct was intended merely as a catchall phrase, rather than a significant expansion of the statutes scope.

Simply put, the question before us is not whether (the law) is stylishly and elegantly written, Tjoflat wrote. The question is whether the statute violates the Constitution, and our review requires us to engage with the statutory text, as written, in good faith and with the presumption that the Legislature did not intend to infringe on constitutional rights. By applying the aforementioned principles and reading the statute harmoniously, we can and should conclude that the statute reaches only speech that would be considered obscene (under a U.S. Supreme Court precedent).

Hamburger Marys was located in Orlando at the time it filed the lawsuit but later announced plans to move to Kissimmee. It said in 2023 that it had run family friendly drag shows for 15 years.

Tuesdays majority opinion said the fact that Hamburger Marys left the Orlando location after filing the challenge did not make the lawsuit moot. It said in cases involving businesses that pause operations but may resume them, courts take a common-sense approach to evaluating mootness.

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Rep. Randy Fine introduces HB 1423, the companion to SB 1438, while several drag queens sit behind him. Credit: Screenshot/Florida Channel

A federal appellate court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling blocking enforcement of a 2023 Florida law designed to protect children from drag shows.

Writing for a 2-1 majority, Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum upheld the statewide injunction, opining that laws that restrict free speech demand specificity but that the underlying law was vague.

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Requiring clarity in speech regulations shields us from the whims of government censors. And the need for clarity is especially strong when the government takes the legally potent step of labeling speech obscene, she wrote. An I know it when I see it test would unconstitutionally empower those who would limit speech to arbitrarily enforce the law. But the First Amendment empowers speakers instead.

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Hamburger Marys was an Orlando restaurant and bar that hosted drag shows including family friendly performances to which children were invited. Its parent company filed the underlying lawsuit against the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis from enforcing the law. The business closed its Orlando location in June and is seeking to reopen in Kissimmee.

The 2023 law threatened fines, loss of operating licenses, and criminal penalties against any venues that expose any child to lewd performances, even if the child has parental consent. Hamburger Marys argued it had to engage in self-censorship and consequently was losing business despite 15 years of trouble-free performances.

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Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat issued a lengthy dissenting opinion.

In litigation generally, and in constitutional litigation most prominently, courts in the United States characteristically pause to ask: Is this conflict really necessary? he wrote.

Here, the Majority fails to ask this question and, by skipping it, puts the First Amendment on a collision course with core principles of federalism and judicial restraint. Because this conflict was entirely avoidable, I respectfully dissent.

Tjoflat took aim at the appellate court for its earlier ruling, in October 2023, upholding what he described as a sweeping injunction that prevented yet another run-of-the-mill obscenity statute from taking effect.

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On appeal of the injunction, we had two good options: we could apply ordinary tools of statutory construction to read the statute narrowly and avoid unnecessary constitutional conflict, or we could certify the unsettled state-law questions to the Florida Supreme Court, allowing the states highest court to speak first, he wrote.

  Instead, the Majority chooses a third, unwarranted path: it reads the statute in the broadest possible way, maximizes constitutional conflict, and strikes the law down wholesale.

The state asked the Supreme Court to lift the injunction while it appealed the underlying merits of Hamburger Marys challenge. In a November 2023 6-3 ruling the Supreme Court refused, with justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch dissenting.

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Former district court judge Russell Fagg, seen in a blue jacket at the counter of Anderson Towing on Feb. 10, 2025 (Screenshot as part of the federal lawsuit).

A federal court has told longtime Billings Police Chief Rich St. John he will have to put a towing company back on the citys call list.

On May 9, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy granted Anderson Towings motion for a preliminary injunction. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, claims St. John used a personal relationship with former Yellowstone County District Court Judge Russ Fagg to blacklist Anderson Towing from working with the city.

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State law dictates the Montana Department of Justice, establish and maintain an equitable rotation among qualified tow truck operators. Anderson Towing was suspended from the state tow rotation for six months in October 2024 and permanently removed from the Billings Police Departments tow rotation in February 2025.

Fagg took issue with Anderson Towing after a car crash in February. He later went to retrieve the car and took issue with the company only accepting cash or cashiers check.

The company recorded several of its interactions with Fagg, who did pay the bill. He then filed a complaint with the Montana Office of Consumer Protection in Helena.

Billing practices were used as a reason for St. John to take Anderson Towing out of the citys rotation. The company was told the reason, in a letter, was excessive invoices.

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The City of Billings also filed a records request for other complaints about the towing company.

The request discovered complaints including inconsistencies in disclosing prices, inconsistencies in pick up hours, unreasonable charges, and went on to say the request had also found complaints citing overcharges.

The tow company had no chance to be heard in regards to their removal from the tow rotation, the court order said. Anderson also told the court the decision by the city of Billings has cost them 15% of their business and about $52,000 in lost revenue per month.

However, the document also said Anderson was unable to show how many customers are gained through the rotation, nor how many tow rotation calls are fielded in any particular month.

250509 (19) Order Granting Prel Inj Mtn
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Representative Scott Peters hosted a news conference Monday alongside a local farmer and school officials to raise the alarm on federal funding cuts to food assistance programs that could impact the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and others.

These cuts dont stop with the USDA, Rep. Peters said. He said more cuts are looming that will continue to impact everyone facing food insecurity, including the 400,000 families who rely on food assistance in San Diego County.

Federal cuts starting to impact the San Diego Food Bank

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In March, the Trump Administration froze over a billion dollars in Congressionally approved funding for USDA programs that purchases foods from local growers that are served in schools and food banks. The administration also canceled 500 million dollars for the emergency food assistance program, said Rep. Peters.

Local farmers who rely on LFPA could really feel the brunt of cuts.

Its a reality, its a very, very excruciating reality, said Ramona farmer, Byron Nkhoma of Hukama Produce.

For eight years, Nkhoma said he was in the red until federal assistance helped him invest in and grow his business, which now helps serve nutritious leafy greens and vegetables to families facing food insecurity in the county.

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Trump administration proposes cuts to SNAP benefits

My biggest concern is to think about going back into those red margins. It is a terrible thought, he said.

Advocates say theyre already seeing an increase in demand. Feeding San Diego said in January about 149,000 households were in need of its networks assistance. Last month, the number of households reached 158,000. Theyre asking San Diegans to take a stand in the fight and reach out to local, state and federal representatives to share their concerns.

Whether its SNAP, Cal Fresh, the school meals, said Bob Kamensky, CEO of Feeding San Diego. Those organizations that are dependent on that to get into the food distribution, they are no longer going to have it available. So where will people go? Theyll go to the next available source, which would be our agency network, which will further saturate what is already a saturated network.

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Kentucky distributed 170,000 doses of Narcan last year, contributing to the state's continued decline in fatal overdoses. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

As the White House and Congress weigh difficult budget decisions, Kentuckians are watching closely, especially those of us who work to address the opioid and overdose epidemic. Proposed federal cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) threaten to dismantle the programs responsible for a 30% reduction in overdose deaths in Kentucky over the past year.

On May 1, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth decreased for the third year in a row, with a 30.2% decrease in 2024 over the previous year.

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Fatal overdoses decreased among Black Kentucky residents from 271 in 2023 to 170 in 2024  a 37.3% decrease that reversed a recent trend.

According to the 2024 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, 1,410 Kentuckians lost their lives last year to a drug overdose.

In 2023, Kentucky reported a 9.8% decrease compared with 2022. In 2022, there was a decrease of 2.5% from 2021, marking the first year Kentucky saw a decrease in overdose deaths since 2018. By working together, the governor said, Kentucky is saving lives. He credited the states continued decline in overdose deaths to several factors including:

More than $29.7 million was distributed in grant and pass-through funding from the Office of Drug Control Policy;

170,000 doses of Narcan were distributed;

84 syringe exchange program sites served 27,799 unique participants;

More than 17,390 Kentuckians received addiction treatment paid for by the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort;

More than 17,980 Kentuckians received recovery services (housing assistance, employment services, transportation, basic need services, etc.) in their community paid for by the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort;

19 Kentuckians sought treatment through the Kentucky State Police Angel Initiative;

More than 3,320 incoming calls were made to the KY HELP Call Center with more than 14,080 outgoing follow up calls,

And 21 counties are now certified as Recovery Ready Communities representing nearly 1.5 million Kentuckians.

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As the leaders of People Advocating Recovery and the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, we have seen the impact of this crisis firsthand  and we have seen the transformative impact of smart investments from public safety and recovery organizations working hand in hand for overdose prevention, treatment and recovery.

Let us be clear: we strongly support responsible governance. Government efficiency, fiscal discipline and strategic workforce development are essential for a thriving nation. But these proposed cuts, particularly to frontline recovery and public health services, will not achieve those outcomes; they will undermine them.

The proposed restructuring of HHS would eliminate approximately 20,000 federal jobs within that agency, including layoffs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These are the very institutions leading our nations response to addiction and mental health. Weakening them now is like pulling fire crews off duty during wildfire season, while the fire is still smoldering.

Equally alarming are reports that Congress is weighing as much as $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade. These cuts would devastate the already strained safety net especially in rural areas, like Appalachia, leading to hospital closures, spikes in ER use and inevitably increased incarceration of people with untreated behavioral health needs.

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Cutting essential recovery infrastructure is not a pathway to economic stability. In fact, it threatens the very workforce development efforts policymakers want to prioritize. We cannot grow the economy by sidelining millions of Americans who are in or seeking recovery in the midst of this crisis. Instead, we must invest in them. When people recover, they return to work, support their families, contribute to their communities and economy.

This is not the time to abandon our efforts to end this deadly public health crisis. Now is the time to reaffirm our promise to curb addiction, save families and children, and erode this deadly disease once and for all. Kentucky and the nation have made great progress, its time we turn that progress into prosperity for all and make recovery a national priority.

Authors profiles

Tara Hyde, left, is CEO of Pe

ople Advocating Recovery, a nonprofit based in Louisville that works to eliminate barriers to recovery from substance abuse disorder.

Van Ingram is the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.
May 12ROCHESTER  Amenah Alasadi anticipates the need for more flexibility in helping Rochester-area families if a proposed change to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program occurs.

As a Families First of Minnesota home visitor, she helps families find resources to help balance budgets when their paychecks fall short.

"The incomes they have do not cover all the expenses for these families," she said during a roundtable discussion on Monday morning, pointing to a need for SNAP support, which was previously known as food stamps.

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She pointed to other potential services, but also cited gaps in the help people need to keep food on the table amid increased costs for a variety of necessities.

"Channel One is helping a lot of families, but sometimes they don't have everything," she said of the regional food bank and its shelves in Rochester.

Channel One Executive Director Virginia Witherspoon said food shelves strive to provide a variety of healthy food options but cannot cover all potential needs, which is where SNAP benefits provide more flexibility.

"Channel One doesn't distribute SNAP and doesn't receive SNAP, but we know that it is  much bigger than us  the largest and most effective program," Witherspoon said Monday morning, during the roundtable discussion held at Families First's Rochester offices to address potential SNAP changes.

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Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program provided assistance to 42.2 million people in 2023, according to the department's most recent data.

In Olmsted County, 709 families received benefits in March this year, with census data pointing to 6% to 8% of local households relying on the support at some point in recent years.

Federal lawmakers have been working on Farm Bill revisions that could shift some of the cost to states. Early versions of proposed legislation sought to shift up to 25% of the cost to states within 10 years, but potential revisions are expected to emerge this week.

Tikki Brown, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, said the proposed shift could mean $220 million annually for the state program, which she said is unachievable.

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"We are unable to make up that type of cost in our state budget," she said, noting it would likely require a reduction of dollar amounts issued or the number of people receiving support.

With the average benefit set at $5 a day, Witherspoon said local food shelves would likely become overwhelmed if the benefits declined. She pointed to the 2023 benefit decrease in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

"We know that SNAP cuts lead directly to increased demand at food shelves," she said.

With statewide food shelf visits reported at 9 million last year, Witherspoon said the demand has tripled in recent years as access to food from government commodities and corporate donations has continued to decrease.

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"We are looking at a perfect storm of everything going poorly at once," she said.

Brown said the federal benefit is intended to fill gaps, rather than cover all food costs for a family, which makes food shelf options critical on top of the federal program.

"Nearly 70% of families with children who receive benefits have at least one working adult in their household," she said. "This tells us that even with a paycheck, many families need help making their ends meet."

It was a message echoed by Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, who said many myths and untruths surround the federal program that has been a safety net for families.

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A former Renville-area farmer who now assists his son operate their family farm, he said he's seen the need in his community and throughout the state when families struggle.

"People are proud, but they will use it when they need it," he said of his community members.

Steve Barthel of the Minnesota Grocers Association said the impact goes beyond families needing food by providing an economic impact for grocery stores and their employees.

"SNAP supports almost 400,000 jobs across the country," he said, pointing to roughly $20 million in direct wages.

In Minnesota, he said cuts to the SNAP program could lead to an estimated loss of 1,500 grocery-store jobs due to decreased revenue in an industry facing tight profit margins.

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"There are other economic impacts that come from what truly is an economic stimulus program, in addition to all the good it does in fighting food insecurity across the state," he said.

The Rev. Krista Strum of Rochester's Hosanna Lutheran Church said the potential ripple effects are likely to add stress to already-struggling community programs.

"Our churches are seeing people daily coming in and asking for assistance," she said, pointing to church programs throughout the community that seek to fill existing gaps.

"We are very concerned about the funding shift," she said. "(It's a concern) for those who are already depending on it, but also for those who are on the margins and struggling to put food on the table. That's increasing."
Impact Dakota lead a food safety certification program in Minot, North Dakota, in May 2025. (photo courtesy of Impact Dakota)

The North Dakota program that provides training and support to manufacturers in the state faces an uncertain future if federal funding is cut.

Impact Dakota temporarily lost its federal funding last month. Jodie Mjoen, CEO and president of Impact Dakota, said federal funding is usually renewed on April 1. This year on April 1, he was informed that the federal funding  more than $800,000 for the year  was being pulled by the Trump administration.

Jodie Mjoen, and president of Impact Dakota (photo courtesy of Impact Dakota)

We were told about 5 p.m. on the 1st that they werent going to renew the funds, and we had no advance notice at all, Mjoen said. And so we were scrambling.

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The nonprofit organization got a reprieve a couple weeks later, but with funding only for the next six months instead of the usual year.

Impact Dakota did have some revenue coming in from 22 ongoing projects, Mjoen said. Manufacturers that use Impact Dakota for training often pay fees that provide the matching money needed to be eligible for the federal grant.

But without the federal funding, Mjoen said it essentially cut the organizations revenue in half.

Without federal funding being restored, We would have been probably shut down within 30 to 60 days, Mjoen said.

Jeff Edberg is vice president of operations at Spectrum Aeromed, a company that makes interiors for air ambulances and is based at Hector International Airport in Fargo. He also chairs the Impact Dakota board.

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He said the funding reprieve gives the organization a little time to work on a Plan B if funding is cut in September.

We do have a little bit of a reprieve to dig into that little bit more, he said, with a board meeting coming up later this month.

Mjoen said the organization may be forced to focus more on North Dakotas larger cities.

One of the things weve always prided ourselves on is that were able to support manufacturers in every single community throughout North Dakota, Mjoen said.

Impact Dakota is part of a national network of state programs supporting manufacturing. Mjoen said the program can offer on-site assessments and advice on how to make the best use of space in a facility and make the manufacturing process more efficient.

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Mjoen said Impact Dakota, which has seven employees, can provide some classes to multiple employers at the same time, providing training at a lower cost than private consultants in the Twin Cities or Denver.

Mjoen said value-added agriculture processing is a large manufacturing sector and Impact Dakota helps those businesses navigate and comply with federal regulations.

Edbergs Spectrum Aeromed has been among the beneficiaries.

Its a great resource for all manufacturers in North Dakota, Edberg said.

Impact North Dakota also works with the state Commerce Department. The department reimburses some businesses for the cost of using Impact Dakotas services.

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While its difficult to predict the exact impact of federal funding cuts on Impact Dakota, we remain hopeful, Kim Schmidt, communications manager for the state Commerce Department said in an email to the North Dakota Monitor.

Federal funding is secure through September, and we are optimistic that Impact Dakota will adapt and find alternative sources if needed. We expect more clarity in the coming months as federal priorities for manufacturing growth are revealed.

The Commerce Department also administers the North Dakota Development Fund that received $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to create Automate ND. Impact Dakota helped assess the applicants for the grant program to address workforce shortages through automation.

Impact Dakota also is working with Bismarck State College on a program to use virtual reality to expose people with disabilities to potential careers in manufacturing.

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Impact Dakota dates back to 1999. Mjoen has been with the organization for six years.

The reward is being able to help and grow these companies, Mjoen said.

Mjoen said Trump administration tariffs and economic uncertainty mean manufacturers have to be even more cost conscious.

It seems really bad timing for cuts to come, Mjoen said. The program is more needed tomorrow than it is today.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A federal grand jury indicted a Wisconsin judge Tuesday on charges she helped a man in the country illegally evade U.S. immigration authorities looking to arrest him as he appeared before her in a local domestic abuse case.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan's arrest and ensuing indictment has escalated a clash between President Donald Trumps administration and local authorities over the Republicans sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats have accused the Trump administration of trying to make a national example of Dugan to chill judicial opposition to the crackdown.

Prosecutors charged Dugan in April via complaint with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction. In the federal criminal justice system, prosecutors can initiate charges against a defendant directly by filing a complaint or present evidence to a grand jury and let that body decide whether to issue charges.

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A grand jury still reviews charges brought by complaint to determine whether enough probable cause exists to continue the case as a check on prosecutors power. If the grand jury determines theres probable cause, it issues a written statement of the charges known as an indictment. Thats what happened in Dugans case.

Dugan faces up to six years in prison if she's convicted on both counts. Her team of defense attorneys responded to the indictment with a one-sentence statement saying that she maintains her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court. She was scheduled to enter a plea on Thursday.

Kenneth Gales, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in Milwaukee, declined to comment on the indictment Tuesday evening.

Dugan's case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration against a Massachusetts judge, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a courthouse back door to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent. That case was eventually dismissed.

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Prosecutors say Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back jury door on April 18 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse seeking his arrest.

According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. Online state court records show he was charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic abuse in Milwaukee County in March. He was in Dugans courtroom that morning of April 18 for a hearing.

Court documents suggest Dugan was alerted to the agents presence by her clerk, who was informed by an attorney that the agents appeared to be in the hallway. An affidavit says Dugan was visibly angry over the agents arrival and called the situation absurd before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers. She and another judge later approached members of the arrest team in the courthouse with what witnesses described as a confrontational, angry demeanor.

After a back-and-forth with the agents over the warrant for Flores-Ruiz, Dugan demanded they speak with the chief judge and led them away from the courtroom, according to the affidavit.

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She then returned to the courtroom and was heard saying words to the effect of wait, come with me and ushered Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out through a back jury door typically used only by deputies, jurors, court staff and in-custody defendants, according to the affidavit. Flores-Ruiz was free on a signature bond in the abuse case at the time, according to online state court records.

Federal agents ultimately captured him outside the courthouse after a foot chase.

The state Supreme Court suspended Dugan from the bench in late April, saying the move was necessary to preserve public confidence in the judiciary. A reserve judge is filling in for her.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that an independent outside official will take control of Rikers Island from New York City in a sweeping decision aimed at fixing years of violence and deteriorating conditions at the jail complex.

In her 77-page ruling, Manhattan Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain took aim at the city Correctiin Department for failing to act as the situation at Rikers has worsened. She didnt immediately name the official who will take over management of the facility and report directly to the court.

But Swain said the official cannot be a city government employee, rejecting a proposal from Mayor Adams administration to keep the infamous jail under local control. Adams has sought to maintain control of the citys jails, arguing his administration has made strides in addressing longstanding issues.

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Mary Lynne Werlwas, an attorney with the Legal Aid Societys Prisoners Rights Project, said Swains historic decision to remove the citys control will help end the culture of brutality in the citys jails.

For years, the New York City Department of Correction has failed to follow federal court orders to enact meaningful reforms, allowing violence, disorder, and systemic dysfunction to persist in the jails, Werlwas said in a joint statement with Debra Greenberger, a partner at the Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel law firm that helped bring a lawsuit against the city that established a consent decree requiring reforms at Rikers.

This appointment marks a critical turning point  an overdue acknowledgment that city leadership has proven unable to protect the safety and constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals.

The official, dubbed a remediation manager, will report directly to Swain, who has helped oversee management of the citys jail system as part of the consent decree Mayor Bill de Blasios administration entered into with the federal government nearly a decade ago to address systemic issues at Rikers.

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In November, Swain found Adams administration in contempt of multiple provisions of the consent decree designed to improve conditions for inmates and staff at Rikers. Since then, she has weighed whether to formally take control of the city jail system from Adams administration, culminating in Tuesdays order.

In the decision, Swain said the citys pace of implementing reforms has been unacceptably glacial and that use-of-force rates and other forms of violence have worsened over the past decade. She slammed the Correction Department for failing to incorporate the monitoring teams recommendations.

Defendants have demonstratedin virtually every core area the court and the monitor have identified as related to the persistence of excessive and unnecessary forcethat neither court orders nor the monitors interventions are sufficient to push the [Correction Department] toward compliance, Swain wrote.

Swains order gives the remediation manager broad powers to take all actions necessary to fix the jail system. That will include an ability to make decisions about policies and procedures, disciplinary actions over use-of-force issues and personnel matters. The manager will also participate in contract negotiations and procurement decisions, according to the ruling.

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Rikers is not working, said Interim Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, whose office is party to the Rikers consent decree. Clear and longstanding constitutional rights are not being protected. The women and men of the Southern District stand ready to work with all stakeholders, including the new manager, to remediate constitutional violations and improve the operation of our prison system.

The ruling says the independent official is expected to work with the correction commissioner. But the judge also wrote the person will possess all powers of the commissioner necessary to remedy the situation at Rikers, giving the manager wide latitude to run the complex.

The opinion is very clear that in all Nunez-related issues, the commissioner reports to the manager, Werlwas said, referring to the decade-old court case Nunez vs. City of New York. This is not dual control of the jails, this is a very specific structure. It makes perfect sense to expect cooperation and to have them work collaboratively, but the order makes very clear who is in charge.

In response to the decision, the mayor said that, because of the law mandating the closure of Rikers, his administration has been prevented from making improvements to the jail complex. Under city law, Rikers is supposed to close by 2027, but Adams has said that is an unrealistic deadline.

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How much oversight are you going to do before you realize that there are systemic problems that we have turned around? he said, adding that he would comply with the order.

Benny Boscio, the president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, said in a statement that the ruling reinforces union members employment rights.

While interpretations of todays ruling may vary, its important to note that COBAs arguments concerning our members rights to representation and collective bargaining were reflected in the judges order, Boscio said. We are willing to work productively with whomever is ultimately appointed the remediation manager, while maintaining our fierce advocacy for the preservation of our members employment rights and improving their working conditions.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) slammed the mayors handling of Rikers, saying both staff and those incarcerated at Rikers have suffered from worsening humanitarian conditions.

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The federal courts decision to appoint a remediation manager to oversee changes on Rikers reflects the mayoral administrations failure to adhere to the Nunez court orders and convince the court of meaningful progress to make the jails safer, the speaker said in a statement.

In assessing the citys efforts to remedy problems at Rikers, Swain pointed to May 2023 as a key moment when there were three serious use-of-force incidents and two deaths. But the Correction Department, then under Commissioner Louis Molina, either did not disclose the incidents to the monitor or issued misleading statements.

Rather than addressing the severity of the incidents at issue, then-Commissioner Louis Molina cast aspersions on the prior administrations management of the Rikers Island jails, Swain writes.

She touched repeatedly on this theme as a source of concern  that when violence occurred or new initiatives were launched, such as a special unit for detainees prone to setting fires, the city failed to properly inform oversight bodies. Sometimes, the monitor found out about incidents from media inquiries.

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On Nov. 27, Swain found the city was still in contempt of a staggering 18 provisions of court orders and wrote she was inclined to impose a receivership. Swain highlighted what she called wasted resources, noting the department has mismanaged one of the richest staffing ratios in the country and writing the city has devoted enormous resources to the jail system without deploying them effectively.

The class action lawsuit that resulted in the consent decree was brought against the city by the Legal Aid Society on behalf of inmates at Rikers.

Sarena Townsend, former deputy correction commissioner of trials and investigation, lauded Swains decision.

It was frighteningly clear from the citys response to contempt motions that no one at the Department of Correction had even one solution to correct its constitutional violations above and beyond keeping the commissioner for longer than Mayor Adams reign, Townsend said. This is a victory for all incarcerated New Yorkers and for all New York City Correction Department staff.

The judge asked that the plaintiffs, the city and the federal government present her with four candidates for the remediation manager job by Aug. 29 so she can make an official appointment.
NEW YORK  A federal judge ruled Tuesday that an independent outside official will take control of Rikers Island from New York City in a sweeping ruling aimed at fixing years of violence and deteriorating conditions.

In her 77-page ruling, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain didnt immediately identify the official who will take over management of the facility and report directly to the court.

Swain did rule the official cannot be a city government employee, rejecting a proposal from Adams administration to keep the infamous jail under local control. The ruling marks a blow to Mayor Eric Adams, who has said his administration can properly run the dangerous jail complex

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Mary Lynne Welwas, an attorney with the Legal Aid Societys Prisoners Rights Project, said Swains historic decision will help end the culture of brutality in the citys jails.

For years, the New York City Department of Correction has failed to follow federal court orders to enact meaningful reforms, allowing violence, disorder, and systemic dysfunction to persist in the jails, Welwas said in a statement with Debra Greenberger, a partner at the Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel law firm that also helped bring the original suit against the city that established the consent decree.

This appointment marks a critical turning point  an overdue acknowledgment that City leadership has proven unable to protect the safety and constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals.

The official, dubbed a remediation manager, will report directly to Swain, who has helped oversee management of the citys jail system as part of a consent decree Mayor Bill de Blasios administration entered into nearly a decade ago to address systemic issues on Rikers.

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In November, Swain found Adams administration in contempt of multiple provisions of the consent decree designed to improve conditions for inmates and staff on Rikers. Since then, she has weighed whether to formally take control of the city jail system from Adams administration, culminating in Tuesdays order.

In the decision, Swain wrote that the remediation manager will have broad powers to take all actions necessary to fix the jail system. That will include an ability to make decisions about personnel, according to the ruling.

The ruling says the independent official is expected to work with the Department of Correction commissioner. But the judge also wrote the person will possess all powers of the commissioner necessary to remedy the situation on Rikers, giving the manager wide latitude to run the complex.

The class-action lawsuit that resulted in the consent decree was brought against the city by the Legal Aid Society on behalf of inmates on Rikers.

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The judge asked that the plaintiffs, the city and the federal government present her with four candidates for the remediation manager job by Aug. 29 so she can make an official appointment.

In response to the decision, Mayor Adams said that, due to the law mandating the closure of Rikers, the administration has been prevented from making improvements to the jail complex. Under city law, Rikers is supposed to close by 2027 but Adams has said that is an unrealistic deadline.

How much oversight are you going to do before you realize that there are systemic problems that we have turned around? he said, adding that he would comply with the order.

_____
A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged migrant gang members is lawful, but determined that the administration has provided insufficient notice before deporting migrants under the proclamation.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Haines' ruling stands in contrast to two other federal judges who have ruled that Trump's use of the AEA for deportations is unlawful.

The Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act -- an 18th century wartime authority used to remove noncitizens with little-to-no due process -- to carry out deportations by proclaiming that migrant gang members constitute a "hybrid criminal state" that is invading the United States.

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MORE: Trump administration asks SCOTUS for permission to deport nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants

Haines, a Trump appointee, said she found that the proclamation "complies with AEA," but said that the Trump administration "must provide greater notice to those subject to removal under the AEA than they are currently providing."

In her ruling, Judge Haines said that the declarations submitted by the Trump administration to the court "indicate that there is factual basis for President Trump's conclusions in the Proclamation" and pointed to the designation made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.

As a result, Judge Haines said she found that the proclamation meets the definition of a "predatory incursion" under the AEA.

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Haines also said she will afford "substantial deference to the conclusion" by Trump that TdA is "acting at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela."

PHOTO: Salvadoran prison guards escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the MS-13 gang recently deported by the U.S. government at the CECOT prison, in Tecoluca, El Salvador April 12, 2025. (Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia via Reuters)

"It would be intolerable that courts, without the relevant information, should review and perhaps nullify actions of the Executive taken on information properly held in secret," Judge Haines said.

However, the judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot remove the petitioner, a Venezuelan man in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody identified as A.S.R., unless he is given 21 days notice and "an opportunity to be heard." Haines added the notice to A.S.R. needs to be in English and Spanish and must clearly "articulate the fact that he is subject to removal" under the AEA.

A.S.R., according to the government, was moved to a detention center in Texas last month.

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Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement to ABC News that the ACLU disagrees with the judge's ruling on the use of the AEA.

"The court properly rejected the government's argument that they can remove people with only 12 hours' notice," said Gelernt. "But we disagree with the court's ruling that the Alien Enemies Act can be used during peacetime."

In her ruling, Judge Haines said the case "implicates significant issues."

MORE: Judge extends block on deporting alleged gang members under Alien Enemies Act

"In resolving those issues, this Court's unflagging obligation is to apply the law as written," Haines wrote in her conclusion. "The court now leaves it to the Political Branches of the government, and ultimately to the people who elect those individuals to decide whether the laws and those executive them continue to reflect their will."

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Earlier this month, a Trump-appointed federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting migrants under the AEA in Southern District of Texas, ruling that its invocation of the AEA "exceeds the scope" of the law.

A week later, a federal judge in New York ruled that the AEA was "not validly invoked" by the Trump administration when it sought to deport two alleged Tren de Aragua members from that state.

Federal judge in Pennsylvania rules that Trump's invocation of AEA is lawful originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
May 12DAYTON  A Miami County physician who failed to register homemade "destructive devices" avoided prison in federal court Monday, but his attorney says the doctor's sentence was not lenient.

Steven J. Werling, 54, of Concord Twp. outside Troy, was sentenced to five years of probation by U.S. District Judge Michael Newman.

Werling pleaded guilty in November to a bill of information that he possessed an unregistered firearm, specifically two small plastic cylinders containing a mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum.

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During his probationary term, Newman warned Werling that there will be zero tolerance, that he must not commit any federal, state or local crimes and is prohibited from possessing a firearm, ammunition, destructive device or dangerous weapon of any kind.

"The court has the right to revoke your probation and send you to prison as if I could have today, that would be a potentially lengthy prison sentence, so I caution you very strongly, strongly as I can on the record so there's no confusion. I'll read it again just so we're very clear: No firearms, no ammunition, no destructive device, anything that can be considered a destructive device or leading to a destructive device or dangerous weapon of any kind, just so we're 100% clear," Newman said.

Attorney Jon Paul Rion, who represented Werling, said the devices are smaller than two shotgun shells and contain less explosive material.

The purpose of the devices was protective, Rion said, if society were ever to collapse with a breakdown of law and order.

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During Werling's allocution  the direct address between the judge and convicted defendant before sentencing  the doctor said that over the past year he has spoken with others and done a lot of reflection and soul searching but that the beliefs that ultimately brought him to court are no longer there.

"Your honor, I am humbled. I have respect for the law and its institutions. I understand and apologize for any fear, disruption or inconvenience I caused others, patients, society," he said. "My goal in life has been to help, not to harm."

Brent Tabacchi, an assistant U.S. attorney of the Southern District of Ohio, pushed for a 24-month prison term. He said the devices are inherently dangerous.

The FBI last April seized explosive devices as well as homemade pipes, explosive chemical components, gunpowder and other materials used to make explosive devices from Werling's home in the 1400 block of Barnhart Road, according to court documents.

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Werling's license is active but the Ohio Medical Board notes an opportunity for a hearing following his federal conviction. It is possible he will lose his license.

"You have an individual with no prior medical (board) history, no prior disciplinary action, no concerns over a 20-year period. This is a good doctor, someone who's really given themselves to the community, never ben sued, never lost anybody," Rion said. "That's a lot to be said over that period of time so I think the medical board will be asking themselves the same questions the judge is."

Werling had previously been listed in Premier Health's provider directory as a proctologist at Advanced Colon Treatment, with locations in Tipp City and Piqua. He is a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

He was prominently involved in anti-vaccine activism during the COVID pandemic. In 2022, he was one of four people on a committee linked to a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment called "Medical Right to Refuse," according to documents on the Ohio Attorney General's Office website.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Honolulu Police Department said more ghost guns are being recovered at crime scenes, and now state and federal officials are cracking down on the weapons.

Ghost guns do not have serial numbers and can be assembled from kits and 3-D printers, making them virtually untraceable when used to commit crimes.

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On May 12, Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda said shell introduce a bill in Washington D.C. on May 13 called the Ghost Act, which looks to track gun parts that are shipped in the mail.

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With the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on scene on May 12, Tokuda, the Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan showed reporters examples of 3-D printed gun parts and kits.

They showed the parts that can be ordered online to assemble a gun, and then the pieces that are made with the printer, which can create a deadly weapon when put together.

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Law enforcement officials showed even the smallest pieces can be made with a printer to modify a gun. Logan said parents should be aware that the plastic pieces could look like toys, but theyre not.

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Were having criminals that are legally purchasing [the top] online because its unregulated and then printing the bottom, said DLE Director Mike Lambert while showing an example of a ghost gun in his hand. So with this act, we will be able to know from law enforcement how many of these kits are coming into the state.

The act would require the buyer to sign off on the item when it arrives in the mail, and law enforcement will be able to see if the person is a registered gun owner or a felon.

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This is something a legal gun owner should embrace because we all know the ones that are trying to be untraceable, they are the ones causing chaos on our streets, Tokuda said. This doesnt infringe on ability or rights, its about accountability.

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According to HPD data provided to the legislature in 2025, HPD confiscated 84 ghost guns from January to November 2024, compared to 34 ghost guns confiscated during the same time in 2023.

The DLE and HPD said the new legislation will help track who is bringing what into the island.

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There are over 500,000 registered firearms in the state of Hawaii, Lambert said. We literally have no clue when parts are coming in and then being constructed into final weapons and thats the issue.

Its already a felony to possess or make unserialized parts in Hawaii, but the Honolulu Prosecutors Office says the law doesnt reach the assembled gun itself.

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A bill sitting on Gov. Josh Greens desk clearly defines a ghost gun and would make it illegal to possess, transfer or sell a ghost gun. It would also enhance sentencing for people who use a ghost gun to commit a felony.

In the past when we have received cases involving firearms that were not serialized, we charged them under the Place to Keep statute (Section 134-23 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes), the Honolulu Prosecutors Office said in a statement. The bill that is awaiting Governor Greens signature was part of the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorneys legislative package this session. We submitted this bill because Hawaii does not have a ghost gun law with a definition of a ghost gun. This bill will close that gap.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
SOUTH CAROLINA (WSPA)  A new, federal rule is now in effect to stop misleading pricing for live-event ticketing and short-term lodging.

The Federal Trade Commission has enforced a rule on Monday, requiring businesses that sell live-event tickets and/or short-term lodging to disclose total prices clearly for customers.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs said that all businesses must describe what fees are for. Businesses are not allowed to use vague phrasing such as convenience fee, service fee, or processing fee.

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This includes all charges and fees the business knows about and can be calculated upfront. There also cannot be any hidden fees, such as through fine print.

The SCDCA said Airbnb and VRBO is included in short-term lodging. Live-events include concerts, sporting events, music, theater, and other live performances that audiences watch as they occur.

Visual performances and film screenings are not considered live-events.

For more information, visit the FTCs website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
CHICAGO  Felony charges have been filed against a man who was shot by Chicago police during a foot chase on the citys West Side over the weekend.

Officers said 21-year-old Kewion Kingcade has been charged with one felony count of aggravated assault of a peace officer, fire official or ER worker, and one felony count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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According to police, the incident began after officers were called to a report of a person armed with a gun in the 1900 block of Austin Avenue, in Austin, around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Once police arrived on the scene, they said Kingcade allegedly fled. Officers pressured him, but said at one point, he allegedly turned in the direction of officers while armed with a firearm.

After turning toward the police, CPD officers opened fire, striking Kingcade.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Kingcade was later taken to the hospital, where he was subsequently taken into custody and charged.

At the time of his arrest, Kingcade had four warrants out for his arrest. He is set to appear in court on Tuesday for a detention hearing.

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Authorities did not provide a booking photo for the suspect arrested.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A total of 97 grams of fentanyl hidden in the rectum of a 47-year-old man was seized this week at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a news release.

On early Monday morning, May 12, CBP officers seized 40 grams of powdered fentanyl and 57 grams of fentanyl pills inside three small packages concealed in the rectum of a 47-year-old male U.S. citizen who was crossing the border as a pedestrian, the agency said.

CBP said the events leading to the seizure began shortly before 1:30 a.m. when the man arrived from Mexico as a pedestrian.

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A CBP drug-sniffing dog screening arriving pedestrians alerted officers to the presence of drugs. Officers located a small amount of methamphetamine wrapped in foil in a bag the man was carrying, CBP said.

CBP said the man told officers that he was also transporting drugs internally. He was transported to a medical facility for an exam, which confirmed the presence of multiple objects internally concealed.

Medical staff monitored the man, and by 9:15 a.m., he had passed three bundles. The contents of the packages tested positive for fentanyl, CBP said.

CBP said the man was returned to the port of entry, where he was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents to face federal charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt.

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Fentanyl is a dangerous drug, and any exposure could be deadly but when it is in a powder form the danger increases exponentially, CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio said. Not only is the smuggler at risk but so is anyone else in the vicinity if the packaging would be compromised and the powder became airborne.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
May 12OLYMPIA  Some of the state's most habitual speeders will soon be required to install speed-limiting devices in their car.

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation Monday requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for drivers whose licenses have been suspended due to reckless or excessive speeding starting in 2029. The bill, known as the BEAM Act, is named after the four victims who died in a crash in Renton in March 2024: Andrea Hudson, 38; Boyd Buster Brown, 12; Matilda Wilcoxson, 13; and 12-year-old Eloise Wilcoxson.

An 18-year-old driver, who had reportedly been involved in three high-speed collisions within the 11 months before the crash, ran through a stoplight at 118 mph before striking a minivan.

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The driver, Chase Jones, pleaded guilty to four counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault, and last month, was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.

"What's behind this bill, of course, is just a really simple goal to save lives," Ferguson said Monday.

According to bill sponsor Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, the crash is part of a concerning trend.

In 2022, 29% of crash fatalities occurred when at least one of the drivers was speeding.

Between 2019 and 2023, fatal crashes involving a speeding driver increased by 40% in Washington, according to Leavitt. Over the same period, speeding tickets for motorists driving more than 50 mph have increased by 200%.

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According to Leavitt, there were 810 traffic deaths in Washington in that same period, a 9% increase from the prior year, with excessive speed contributing to 251 of the incidents.

"This bill's really about saving lives, similar to the ignition interlock program," Leavitt said of the devices that prevent driving under the influence offenders from driving drunk. "The successful ignition interlock program is really patterned for those who are the disproportionate of the folks who are causing fatal crashes and injuries across our state."

In March, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste attributed the increases in traffic infractions to bad behaviors developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when traffic drastically increased. As more drivers returned to the road, some have kept the bad habits they developed.

In Washington, a driver can have their license suspended if they receive three or more moving violation infractions within one year or four or more within two years. However, many drivers simply don't comply with the suspension.

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According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, an estimated 75% of suspended drivers continue to drive during this period.

The legislation, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2029, will require drivers whose license was previously suspended due to reckless or excessive speeding to equip their vehicle with an intelligent speed assistance device. The device operates similarly to the ignition interlock device used by repeat DUI offenders and uses GPS to restrict a driver to the posted speed limit.

Similar legislation was recently signed into law in Virginia and is currently under discussion in Georgia and New York, among other states.

The bill received broad bipartisan support in both the House and Senate during the legislative session, and Ferguson noted Monday that it was signed into law during the first year it was proposed.

"We cannot bring back those we've lost, but we can take meaningful steps to stop this from happening again," Leavitt said in a statement. "This bill sends a clear message: safety on our roads matters, and we will do everything in our power to protect our communities."
A 3-year-old girl, identified by family only by her first name Camiria, died after a fiery car crash on I-45 in Conroe, Texas, on Sunday, May 11.

The girl's mother and 5-year-old sister remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Police allege that the driver who hit the family's car, which was parked on the shoulder, was intoxicated.

A 3-year-old Texas girl died and her mother and sister were injured in a fiery crash on Mothers Day, which police allege was caused by an intoxicated driver.

The Conroe Police Department said officers responded to the crash scene in the northbound lanes of I-45 at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, according to a press release.

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Police said the 26-year-old mother and her two daughters, ages 5 and 3, were inside a Toyota Camry parked on the shoulder due to a blown tire. Thats when a Honda Civic traveling in the HOV lane veered and struck the back of the familys car. Both cars were engulfed in flames when police arrived, they said.

The mother and her 5-year-old daughter were pulled from the wreckage by first responders and taken to a local hospital with severe burns and injuries, police said. As for the 3-year-old girl, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police did not identify the family, but relatives did share the 3-year-old girls name: Camiria, Fox 26 first reported.

Loved ones wrote on a GoFundMe campaign that the mother, Shavhon White, and her 5-year-old daughter, Chloe, remain in critical condition.

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As they navigate through this unimaginable heartbreak, we want to come together as a community to offer them the love, support, and resources they need, the fundraiser reads.

The financial burden from medical expenses, funeral arrangements for baby Camiria, and the overwhelming emotional toll is something they should never have to face alone, it continued.

According to police, the driver, identified as 55-year-old Donald Carson, also suffered injuries that led him to being transported to the hospital.

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Following an investigation, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office charged Carson with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and two counts of intoxication assault, both third-degree felonies, per the release.

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Police said that once Carson is released from the hospital he will be taken to the Montgomery County Jail. Its unclear if he has retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

"This crash was entirely preventable and is an unimaginable loss to our community and most importantly this family," Conroe Police Chief Jon Buckholtz said in the release, adding "we will never know the impact that this child may have had on the world: a life full of promise and potential."

Buckholtz also said that police investigators are working with prosecutors to ensure that "swift and strong justice is served."



Read the original article on People
Prosecutors in the Karen Read case want jurors to hear more about an incident on a 2021 New Years trip to Aruba where Read accused her boyfriend, John OKeefe, of cheating on her, during her trial.

The request comes despite prosecutors agreeing not to bring up testimony about the incident during their case at a prior pre-trial hearing. In a filing, special prosecutor Hank Brennan said the shift in strategy came from Reads defense opening the door for such testimony.

The defense did so, Brennan writes, when they had Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik read a series of flirtatious text messages between Read and Brian Higgins, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms. In the text exchange, Read claims OKeefe was all over [a] friends sister in the lobby of our hotel and accused him of hooking up with another girl in Aruba.

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The jury should be permitted to hear from the witnesses of this Aruba incident who will rebut the characterizations made by the defendant to Brian Higgins, the filing reads.

Prosecutors say they will elicit testimony about the incident from four witnesses: Erin OKeefe, John OKeefes sister-in-law; Marietta Sullivan, Laura Sullivan, and John OKeefes niece. The Sullivans were on the Aruba trip with Read and John OKeefe. All four testified at Reads first trial.

Judge Beverly Cannone has not ruled on the motion. Reads defense has not replied to the filing, and it has not been argued in open court.

Reads retrial is off on Tuesday due to unavoidable circumstances.

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Before the trial, Reads defense moved to keep evidence of the trip out, claiming it was a completely irrelevant verbal argument between Read and Marietta Sullivan.

In a filing, her lawyers claimed the only purpose of the evidence was to assassinate Ms. Reads character in the eyes of the jury.

The Commonwealth has no reliable evidence to suggest that the Aruba incident had anything whatsoever to do with John OKeefes death a full month later on January 29, 2022, or that this remote and isolated incident was even a point of contention in Ms. Read and Mr. OKeefes relationship after that trip, the motion reads.

Karen Read murder case

Read the original article on MassLive.
The RISE Coalition brings awareness to the signs and dangers of local human trafficking. Were joined by Maggie Schade, who is highlighting efforts in our community to combat trafficking.



You can find more information about the RISE Coalition on their website, here.

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Leading figures from the world of cinema, including Julie Delpy, Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes, have published an open letter on the first day of the Cannes film festival, criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza.

"As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza," said the letter, published in French newspaper Liberation on Tuesday.

More than 300 members of the global cinema scene have signed the letter, which asks: "Why is it that cinema, a breeding ground for socially committed works, seems to be so indifferent to the horror of reality and the oppression suffered by our sisters and brothers?"

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The letter came in response to the killing of Fatma Hassouna, a 25-year-old photojournalist who starred in a film selected to be featured at the celebrated film festival in Cannes.

According to the letter, Hassouna died alongside 10 of her relatives in an Israeli attack in April.

The film - "Put your Soul on Your Hand and Walk" by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi - shows the devastating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has consistently rejected the allegation that it is committing genocide in the coastal territory, but the United Nations and other international aid groups have described the situation as catastrophic.

The 78th edition of the Cannes film festival starts on Tuesday evening and runs until May 24.
Donald Trump wasnt having a great weekend PR-wise on May 4. In a Meet the Press interview, he reiterated to Kristen Welker that American girls dont need so many dolls (or pencils), and answered I dont know when asked if his job was to support the Constitution. Even a social media Star Wars meme from his staff went sideways, depicting him as a Sith Lord. Needless to say, his critics were not kind.

Yet if Trump has a genius for anything, its his ability to change the subject  to turn the audiences focus in another direction in the way a magician does. And with a few random but apparently poorly thought-out social media posts later that day, about imposing tariffs on movies made outside the U.S. and reopening Alcatraz as a prison, he accomplished exactly that, whatever the real goal was.

In the chaos that followed, Hollywood received a pronounced taste of what its like being pulled into Trumps media circus, and the uncertainty that comes from dealing with a president of the United States who appears to tweet first and think about consequences and logistics later.

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To ardent Trump supporters, its all part of a master plan, the often-invoked art of the deal. To less sympathetic ears, Trump often sounds like a philosophy student who didnt bother to do the reading, trying to wing his way through a final exam. Or to cast him in the cinematic terms in which biographer Tim OBrien has said Trump sees himself, like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, he appears to be making this up as I go.

Perhaps more than anything, these two examples of Trump winging it reveal how suggestible the current president is in terms of being influenced by the last voice he hears  or, perhaps, the latest thing he sees.

Despite having the formidable intelligence of the U.S. government at his disposal, Trump seemingly reacts based on his most recent meeting or dinner companions at Mar-a-Lago  in the case of the film tariff proposal, one of his anointed ambassadors to Hollywood and full-throated supporter, Jon Voight.

As for the sudden interest in Alcatraz, the Hollywood Reporter fairly persuasively connected the dots to Trumps local PBS station running the 1979 Clint Eastwood thriller Escape From Alcatraz, which would be ironic given both the platform (hes watching public TV while trying to dismantle it?) and title, inasmuch as the movie hinges on the time a prisoner held on The Rock might have gotten away.

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CNN NewsNight host Abby Phillip framed the film-tariff threat as a question about Trumps decision-making, noting how based on the example of Voight and others, The last person to whisper in his ear gets, apparently, an executive order.

Jon Voight, shown here speaking at Donald Trumps victory rally on Jan. 19, floated the idea that prompted the presidents film tariffs post. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Up the cable dial, MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell seemed to get it right when he pointedly dismissed the movie-tariff idea as something that will never happen  especially given that Trump subsequently admitted he hadnt done any due diligence in terms of consulting with key constituencies.

While Hollywood might express understandable concern, ODonnell said, It is a complete waste of your time to even think about that very, very stupid statement.

By then, though, the damage had been done, as studio executives, and the news outlets devoted to covering them, scrambled to grasp the feasibility of what had been proposed, becoming the latest bystanders to take an unscheduled ride aboard the Trump train, a dizzying spin on the carousel of craziness.

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What would the film tariffs mean? How would they or could they be implemented? Were they even legal? What would actually qualify as foreign for these purposes? And did Voight really say, again, that Trump is the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln?

Within days, Trump and the rest of the world seemed to have moved on to other matters  Trumps latest insults to Canada (and the new prime ministers responses), the conflict between India and Pakistan, electing the first American Pope, trying to negotiate actual trade deals (and retreating in the standoff with China), accepting a $400 million presidential jet from Qatar  making the fleeting frenzy over film tariffs feel, with the benefit of hindsight, like some kind of weird dream.

At first blush, Trumps tweets can easily look like a form of calculated distraction  more reminiscent ofThe Prestige than Escape From Alcatraz, intended to get the audience focusing their attention elsewhere. Yet that might be giving him too much credit, considering how quickly the administration backtracked on the tariff talk, and how fast the topic of reopening Alcatraz sank into the sunset.

Clint Eastwood in the 1979 thriller Escape From Alcatraz, directed by Don Siegel. (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Trying to discern Trumps motivations occupies a lot of time, but the simplest explanations are often the best, and more than anything, he seems to suffer from what can best be described as verbal incontinence.

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Its difficult, frankly, to get the media and those swept up in such two-day controversies to recognize that, since theres scant precedent for a president of the United States whose pronouncements have to be viewed with this level of skepticism. Many CEOs, moreover, have made the calculated decision that theres little to be gained by commenting and running the risk of antagonizing the White House.

Instead, executives engaged in a private strategizing session, since it would be corporate malpractice not to plan for the possibility of something that might dramatically impact their business. Although theres no assurance when  or even if  Trump will circle back to the idea. With any luck (at least from Hollywoods perspective), foreign film tariffs could become the new Infrastructure Week, which, as CNN noted, turned into a recurring joke from the first Trump administration.

Not that the passing of one fabricated crisis wont be followed by others. After all, what will Trump come up with the next time he dines with one of his Hollywood ambassadors, Mel Gibson or Sylvester Stallone? Tune in next week to find out.

To be fair, journalists are understandably programmed to chase stories, and the loonier they sound, the better they are. With Trump, though, the press and the interested parties might want to consider a variation on another old saw  namely, if something this president says sounds too good (or bad, or just plain bonkers) to be true, thats probably because it is.

The post With Film Tariff Threat, Trump Takes Hollywood for a Ride on the Tweet Now, Think Later Train appeared first on TheWrap.
The ancient Romans were masters of building and engineering, perhaps most famously represented by the aqueducts. And those still functional marvels rely on a unique construction material: pozzolanic concrete, a spectacularly durable concrete that gave Roman structures their incredible strength.

Even today, one of their structures  the Pantheon, still intact and nearly 2,000 years old  holds the record for the world's largest dome of unreinforced concrete.

The properties of this concrete have generally been attributed to its ingredients: pozzolana, a mix of volcanic ash  named after the Italian city of Pozzuoli, where a significant deposit of it can be found  and lime. When mixed with water, the two materials can react to produce strong concrete.

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But that, as it turns out, is not the whole story. In 2023, an international team of researchers led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that not only are the materials slightly different from what we may have thought, but the techniques used to mix them were also different.

The smoking guns were small, white chunks of lime that can be found in what seems to be otherwise well-mixed concrete. The presence of these chunks had previously been attributed to poor mixing or materials, but that did not make sense to materials scientist Admir Masic of MIT.

"The idea that the presence of these lime clasts was simply attributed to low-quality control always bothered me," Masic said back in January 2023.

"If the Romans put so much effort into making an outstanding construction material, following all of the detailed recipes that had been optimized over the course of many centuries, why would they put so little effort into ensuring the production of a well-mixed final product? There has to be more to this story."

Outside of the Pantheon in Rome. ( Mariordo/Wikimedia Commons/CC-SA-4.0

Masic and the team, led by MIT civil engineer Linda Seymour, carefully studied 2,000-year-old samples of Roman concrete from the archaeological site of Privernum in Italy.

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These samples were subjected to large-area scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and confocal Raman imaging to gain a better understanding of the lime clasts.

One of the questions in mind was the nature of the lime used. The standard understanding of pozzolanic concrete is that it uses slaked lime. First, limestone is heated at high temperatures to produce a highly reactive caustic powder called quicklime, or calcium oxide.

Mixing quicklime with water produces slaked lime, or calcium hydroxide: a slightly less reactive, less caustic paste. According to theory, it was this slaked lime that ancient Romans mixed with the pozzolana.

Based on the team's analysis, the lime clasts in their samples are not consistent with this method. Rather, Roman concrete was probably made by mixing the quicklime directly with the pozzolana and water at extremely high temperatures, by itself or in addition to slaked lime, a process the team calls 'hot mixing' that results in the lime clasts.

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"The benefits of hot mixing are twofold," Masic said.

"First, when the overall concrete is heated to high temperatures, it allows chemistries that are not possible if you only used slaked lime, producing high-temperature-associated compounds that would not otherwise form. Second, this increased temperature significantly reduces curing and setting times since all the reactions are accelerated, allowing for much faster construction."

Schematic of the proposed mechanism for self-healing within ancient Roman mortars. (Seymour et al., Science Advances , 2023)

And it has another benefit: The lime clasts give the concrete remarkable self-healing abilities.

When cracks form in the concrete, they preferentially travel to the lime clasts, which have a higher surface area than other particles in the matrix. When water gets into the crack, it reacts with the lime to form a solution rich in calcium that dries and hardens as calcium carbonate, gluing the crack back together and preventing it from spreading further.

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This has been observed in concrete from another 2,000-year-old site, the Tomb of Caecilia Metella, where cracks in the concrete have been filled with calcite. It could also explain why Roman concrete from seawalls built 2,000 years ago has survived intact for millennia despite the ocean's constant battering.

So, the team tested their findings by making pozzolanic concrete from ancient and modern recipes using quicklime. They also made a control concrete without quicklime and performed crack tests. Sure enough, the cracked quicklime concrete was fully healed within two weeks, but the control concrete stayed cracked.

The team is now working on commercializing their concrete as a more environmentally friendly alternative to current concretes.

"It's exciting to think about how these more durable concrete formulations could expand not only the service life of these materials, but also how it could improve the durability of 3D-printed concrete formulations," Masic said.

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The research has been published in Science Advances.

A version of this article was first published in January 2023.

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BOSTON (SHNS)  A parade of primary care physicians pleaded with lawmakers Monday to devote new funding toward the sector, warning that staff shortages and long waits for appointments will worsen without action.

Building on years of alarming reports about gaps in care, doctors and reform supporters urged lawmakers to craft a baseline spending target and to overhaul payment processes.

State watchdogs have already cautioned that Boston has some of the longest wait times for new patient physicals in the country and that Massachusetts has a comparably low share of physicians working in primary care. Several veteran doctors on Monday offered anecdotes of their own.

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Dr. Katherine Atkinson, a family doctor based in western Massachusetts, said she struggles to recruit new physicians to her practice even when medical students voice an enthusiasm for primary care.

They always come and are really excited by what we do, and they say, This is what I want to do. And then a year later, I get a heartbreaking email that says, Dr. Kate, I ran the numbers, and I cannot afford to do primary care. I can make five times as much as a cardiologist,' Atkinson told the Health Care Financing Committee.

Im begging you: please pass this or something like this. Do not study it again. I have been testifying for over a decade as things have gotten worse and worse and worse, and were really at a cliff, she added.

A pair of bills before the committee Monday (H 1370 and S 867) would move toward new payment models for primary care while quantifying the specific share of health care spending that must go toward primary care (12% of total health care expenditures in the Senate bill, at least 15% in the House bill).

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Reaching those investment targets while controlling overall health care spending could spell painful changes for others in the health care system.

Rep. Richard Haggerty, a Woburn Democrat who filed the House proposal, warned of a crisis [that] is making it almost impossible to find a primary care physician in our commonwealth in a reasonable amount of time.

The idea is straightforward: if we invest more in keeping people healthy, we can avoid the much higher cost of treating them when they get sick, he said of his legislation.

Some physicians have argued that primary care offers too little pay and too much frustration to attract staff compared to other specialized medical fields. A state report published in January found the primary care workforce here is aging and that the share of physicians in direct patient care is dropping.

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Primary care doctors at Mass General Brigham are moving to join a union. While that unfolds, hospital leaders at MGB announced Monday they would invest nearly $400 million in primary care enhancements, the Boston Globe reported.

Tackling problems in primary care has been a topic of debate on Beacon Hill for years, but elected officials have not been able to agree on a path forward.

Former Gov. Charlie Baker twice proposed legislation (2019 and 2022) that would have required providers and insurers to increase what they spend on primary and behavioral health care, but lawmakers did not embrace either measure.

A lobbyist representing health insurers told lawmakers Monday her group is directionally supportive of the provisions in the bill to increase investments and expenditures for primary care.

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Sarah Chiaramida, senior vice president and general counsel at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, described the Senate version of the bill authored by committee co-chair Sen. Cindy Friedman as the right framework.

Primary care is the backbone of our health care delivery system, and MAHP supports provisions aimed at increasing expenditures as an important first step to reforming the way we pay for and deliver health care, Chiaramida said. However, its critical that increased investments in primary care be within the cost growth benchmark and not add to overall health care costs, which is a critical point that is reflected in [the Senate version of the bill] as health care affordability remains a significant research concern. As such, any requirement to increase funding for primary care must be coupled with offsets to other areas of spending to ensure that the overall cost of care does not increase unsustainably in place.

Chiaramida called on lawmakers to give the Health Policy Commission authority to strictly enforce these requirements.

Gov. Maura Healey said in January that she would order more resources to be directed to the front lines of primary care, adding that she wants to build a whole army of primary care providers to be out there across our state.

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During Mondays hearing, co-chair Rep. John Lawn asked longtime physician and former Massachusetts Medical Society President Dr. Alan Goroll what he views as the number-one reason many medical students are not choosing to go into primary care.

Let me use a military analogy, Goroll answered. Youre very patriotic person. Youd like to serve your country. You want to be sure that you have the tools, the technology, the teamwork, the resources and the respect, and that we have your back. Primary care doctors do not feel they have any of that.

They are not dummies, he added about medical students. They look at this and they say its underresourced, the payment system is counterproductive to having time to spend with patients, the prestige is low and the future is dim as they build skyscrapers for cancer and heart disease, stuff for people to come from overseas. They see the resources being put in other places.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Financial experts, who have been digging into Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), said they would give state lawmakers an accurate figure on their financial woes by Monday.

A select committee of lawmakers from both the House and Senate questioned David Greenwall, an accountant hand-selected by Governor Kevin Stitt, on Monday. Greenwall said he was tasked with breaking down the agencys finances.



The states chief financial officer, Aaron Morris, also testified and was asked if the department had enough in its budget to make it to June, which is the end of the fiscal year.

I do believe the agency needs a supplement for payroll, said Morris.

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Neither Morris nor Greenwall was able to give lawmakers an exact figure as to the departments shortfalls. They said they would work with LOFT in order to get a more accurate figure to the legislature by the end of Monday.



Lawmakers, however, promised to find a way to fill the gap.

We just want to assure the state employees of Oklahoma that were going to make sure they get paid, said Sen. Paul Rosino (R-Oklahoma City), the Senate chair of the select committee.

Along with the lack of money to pay employees, another issue was brought up by legislators. They asked financial experts if the state had the funds budgeted to pay for services for uninsured Oklahomans who go through the agency.

Governor Stitt appoints special council to investigate Oklahoma Department of Mental Health

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There are human beings behind every single dollar that were looking at, people in crisis, people in need, said Rosino.

The department calls those unpaid funds pended payments. ODMHSAS sent News 4 a statement after Mondays hearing;



While ODMHSAS is committed to ensuring care for uninsured patients, it has not traditionally budgeted separately for pended payments. Instead, these payments have been managed at year-end using available funds.



We want to make sure that were delivering top quality care to people who need it, whether they insured or not, said Rep. Mark Lawson (R-Sapulpa), the House chair of the select committee.

Governor Stitt announced he has hired an attorney to conduct a full, independent investigation, into the agency. He granted special counsel Robert McCampbell the authority to investigate potential abuse, waste, mismanagement, and fraud that the Governor said was uncovered by Commissioner Allie Friesen, Stitts recent appointee.

In recent weeks, Friesen has been questioned by lawmakers on her understanding of a budget of the departments magnitude.



Im still very concerned whether or not they would really need a whole lot of money or they just cant find it, said Rosino.

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If the department comes back with a supplemental budget for fiscal year 2025, as well as an overall budget for fiscal year 2026, the legislature will have to vote on the numbers by the end of the regular session, which ends in less than three weeks.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
ROME  The CEO of shipbuilder Fincantieri has claimed the Italian state- controlled yard can be a catalyst in President Donald Trumps shake-up of U.S. naval shipbuilding.

Pierroberto Folgiero said Fincantieri could enable and support a kind of renaissance of shipbuilding in the U.S.

Speaking to analysts on Monday, the Italian manager added that Trumps executive order issued last month to boost the U.S. shipbuilding business would help Fincantieris Marinette Marine yard in Wisconsin where it is building new - but delayed - Constellation class frigates.

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The order will debottleneck the performance of the existing defense shipyards in the US, including ours in Marinette, he said.

On April 9, Trump signed an executive order to revitalize an industry accused of lagging behind Chinas following reports that recent naval programs have experienced delays and cost overruns.

A March report by the United States Government Accountability Office pinned blame on the U.S. Navy, stating the Navys shipbuilding acquisition approach does not align with innovative practices that promote timely, predictable development and delivery of new, fully capable ships.

The report recalled how the Navy contracted Fincantieri to build Constellation-class frigates in 2020 during the first Trump administration. The vessel was based on the Fremm frigates the yard had built for the Italian Navy, and the U.S. Navy reported basic andfunctional designs were 88% complete.

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Five years on, after changes were ordered to the design, the Navy is now reporting the design is just 70 percent complete and the program is three years behind, the report said.

As a result of these changes, in part, the frigate now bears little resemblance to the parent design that the Navy touted as a built-in, risk reduction measure for the program in 2020, the report stated.

Now, in 2025, the ongoing redesign has driven weight growth at levels that exceed available tolerances. Already the Navy is considering a reduction in the frigates speed requirement as one potential way, among others, to resolve this weight growth.

In a January interview with U.S. conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump blamed the Navy for playing around and tinkering and changing the design.

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He claimed the frigate was designed on a ship that was unbelievably successful in that same class, you know, design-wise.

We had it down, and they made changes. They always have to make changes. You know, these guys get in there, and they think theyre smart, and in many cases, unfortunately, theyre not smart, and they take something and they make it worse for a lot more money. Thats what they do. I mean, they spend more money to make it worse, he said.

Addressing analysts on Monday, Fincantieri CEO Folgiero said he hoped naval technology cooperation between the United States and Italy could play a part in an upgrade of the American naval shipbuilding industry.

He pointed to a U.S.-Italy Joint Leaders Statement published after an April visit to Washington by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni which stated, Italy will contribute to the maritime renaissance of the U.S. shipbuilding sector.

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He said he hoped another Fincantieri owned yard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, could now increase its capacity and focus on icebreakers.

There is huge attention on the new Arctic routes, which are increasingly important for the administration. A good example of technology-driven shipbuilding is icebreakers, he said, adding that Fincantieri could leverage its existing expertise on the vessel type.

He also said Fincantieri could create a repair and maintenance hub for Constellation frigates at its facility in Jacksonville, Florida.
HESSTON, Kan. (KSNW)  A fire at Hesston College caused significant damage to one of its academic buildings Friday afternoon.

The fire broke out just before 4 p.m. in the J.D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts. Investigators believe it started above a chemistry classroom, between the buildings original wood ceiling and the roof.

The structural integrity of the building has been severely impacted, President Mark Landes shared in an email to faculty and staff. We were told that the roof was damaged enough that it could collapse at any time.

Because of the fires location, substantial smoke damage affected both Charles Hall and the adjacent Bonnie Sowers Nursing (BSN) Center. While the BSN Center did not sustain structural damage, elevated carbon monoxide levels and surface residue have made the facility temporarily unusable.

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No injuries were reported.

Access to both buildings is currently restricted.

Faculty and staff have been relocated, and replacement computers have been distributed. Final exams originally scheduled in Charles Hall and the BSN Center have been moved to alternate locations.

The fire was ruled accidental, though the exact cause has not been identified.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- A rainy Tuesday morning could not deter about 25 fired federal workers from walking the halls in the U.S Capitol for the 10th consecutive week to pressure legislators to reverse cuts to the federal government spurred by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Cameron Hilaker, a former USAID employee, said he believed that the actions DOGE took were illegal, and he wants Congress to hold members of DOGE accountable for taking those actions and to rebuild the gutted federal agencies.

"When members of Congress ask us what they can do to help, I personally say three things: Investigate, imprison, rebuild," said Hilaker, a member of Feds Work for You, a group dedicated to highlighting the importance of federal employees. He orchestrated the Tuesday gatherings.

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As Hilaker and fellow employees who lost their jobs met one member of Congress after another, they focused not on the repercussions that President Donald Trump's cuts have on themselves, but rather on the people their agencies served.

Hilaker worked as an USAID emergency manager before he was placed on administrative leave in January. He said that he will stop receiving a salary July 1, around the same time that he and his wife are expecting their first child. Preparing for his child's imminent arrival has made it difficult for him to look for new jobs.

Members of Feds Work for You spent the day visiting Senate offices to try to relay their message directly to officials. The group met with senators and their staffers from both sides of the aisle, including Sen. Suzanne Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Van Hollen, D-Md.

"What is happening right now is a direct attack on the services we provide to the American people," said Van Hollen, referencing DOGE layoffs. "I call this the great betrayal, and I think people around the country are understanding that betrayal."

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Mack Schroeder, a former Health and Human Services employee who was placed on administrative leave in February and then terminated Saturday, had been coming to the Capitol since February to get lawmakers to recognize the importance of the work that he and other federal employees do.

In fact, in April he was the subject of viral interaction with Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who called Schroeder "a clown" and said that he "probably deserved" to be fired.

Schroeder now hopes to turn his attention to full-time advocacy work. He ultimately wants to turn the focus away from himself and concentrate on the most vulnerable people who will be impacted by these cuts at his former agency, such as the elderly who rely on Meals on Wheels and people who need Medicaid-subsidized health care.

"This is not about saying that I deserved to lose my job or not. This is about the people who aren't gonna be getting the care that they deserve," Schroeder said. "People are gonna die because we're not able to do the work that we were hired to do."

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Dan McDonald, a former USAID employee for 10 years was the team lead for the West Bank and Gaza desk. Before he was laid off, he focused on providing immediate assistance to Palestinians, while also fostering long-term development in the region, such as providing job training and educational programs.

McDonald said the USAID mission to the West Bank and Gaza stopped operating, which could have severe consequences in the Middle East.

"My concern is really about the impact of the longer-term development work that offers alternatives to radicalization throughout the Middle East, but especially in the West Bank and Gaza," McDonald said.

"There's a lot of opportunity for desperation and radicalization as USAID steps back from that kind of long term building of systems and structures."

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Amy Hertzberg, a former Environmental Protection Agency employee, who is still on administrative leave, said the impact of the federal cuts extend beyond the people laid off and the people these agencies used to help. She said that many of the EPA's remaining employees must show up at work, but are not actually permitted to do work.

"I've heard of people who sit there during the day. They've exhausted all the optional trainings they could do. They have no work that they've been given, so they sit in the office for eight hours jiggling their mouse because they get in trouble if they don't jiggle their mouse," Hertzberg said.

Hertzberg formerly worked in EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, where her job was to help identify and protect the most vulnerable populations in the United States. But now she said there was a growing feeling that the entire agency was in "disarray."
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Union Sportsmens Alliance annual Take Kids Fishing Day is coming soon.

On Saturday, May 17, families are invited to visit the Lakeside Lake at 9:30 a.m. for a free, fun-filled day. The first 150 kids aged 2 to 15 will be gifted a free fishing rod and reel.

Lakeside Lake is located at 3500 Lakeside Dr., Dayton.

Kids can learn about the importance of fishing and conservation from union members and other volunteers. Volunteers will also help parents/guardians with fishing instruction if needed.

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Thousands of new fish introduced to Deer Meadow Pond

The Ohio AFL-CIO is leading the event as part of its series of free youth outreach activities organized under the Union Sportsmens Alliances Work Boots on the Ground conservation program. The union has worked over the last few years to improve the lake.

According to the USA, fishing is $35 billion industry that contributes $600 million annually to fisheries conservation and water access. Over 40 million anglers participate in the sport, and USA is aiming to inspire the next generation.

To learn more about Union Sportsmens Alliances Work Boots on the Ground, click here.

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The first white shark of the 2025 season has been spotted off the coast of Massachusetts.

The sighting happened off of Nantucket on May 11, according to The New England Aquarium (NEAQ).

A person who was on the shore of Smiths Point in Madaket on the island noticed a pool of blood in the water, then saw a seal swimming toward the beach.

A shark was following close behind the seal, the witness said.

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After the seal got to shore, an NEAQ scientist examined pictures of the seals wounds and confirmed its bites came from a white shark.

This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be shark smart as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England, where theyll hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall, said John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist in the Aquariums Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

To be shark smart, the public should be aware of sharks presence in shallow waters. The public is also advised to avoid areas where there are seals or schools of fish, and to stay close to shore.

Scientists also encourage the public to report shark sightings through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys Sharktivity app, which has information on shark activity.

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Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem, but this recovery also means that people should take even more care while swimming or surfing, said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Anderson Cabot Centers Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies program.

Our work in the Aquariums Anderson Cabot Center focuses on balancing ocean use with preservation, meaning we recognize the importance of the ocean for human use while trying to reduce the impact of humans on sharks, and vice versa, Whitney said.

Sharks off of Cape Cod

Read the original article on MassLive.
The first group of white South Africans arrived in the United States on Monday, the State Department announced following the prioritization of the Afrikaner refugee resettlement program.

State spokesperson Tammy Bruce argued in a statement that the group is vulnerable and facing unjust racial discrimination in South Africa, saying taking them in is an action to protect victims of racial discrimination.

No one should have to fear having their property seized without compensation or becoming the victim of violent attacks because of their ethnicity. In the coming months, we will continue to welcome more Afrikaner refugees and help them rebuild their lives in our great country, Bruce said.

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The first plane carrying 49 Afrikaners, who are a white ethnic minority in South Africa, landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday morning, The New York Times reported.

President Trump defended granting refugee status to Afrikaner refugees, after halting refugee admissions for others seeking escape from violence or famine in countries such as Sudan and Afghanistan.

Because theyre being killed, and we dont want to see people be killed, the president said.

Its a genocide thats taking place that you people dont want to write about, but its a terrible thing thats taking place. Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether theyre white or Black, makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa, and the newspapers and the media, television media doesnt even talk about it, Trump added.

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He said he essentially extended citizenship to people who escaped violence in South Africa to come to the U.S. and that South African leadership plans to visit him at the White House sometime next week.

I dont care who they are, I dont care about their race, their color, I dont care about their height their weight, I dont care about anything. I just know that whats happening is terrible, he said.

Over the past four years, 101 current or former workers living on farms, who are not typically white, were killed, The New York Times reported, citing South African police data. A South Africa foreign ministry spokesperson slammed the Trump administrations move as politically motivated.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  U.S. officials have formally charged leaders of the Sinaloa cartel with terrorism-related charges related to trafficking drugs into the United States.

Leaders are calling this a milestone case. The indictment, which was just unsealed Tuesday, is the first-of-its-kind in the nation.

To the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, you are no longer the hunters, you are the hunted, you will be betrayed by your friends, you will be hounded by your enemies and you will ultimately find your fate here in the Southern District of California, U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said on Tuesday.

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The U.S. Department of Justice announced the unsealed indictment on Tuesday, charging alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel with narco-terrorism and material support of terrorism in connection with trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States.

DOJ: 22 charged for role in drug trafficking organization linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel

According to the DOJ, Pedro Inzunza Noriega (aka Sagitario, aka 120,aka El De La Silla) and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel (Aka Pichon, Aka Pajaro, Aka Bird), are facing narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering charges as alleged key leaders of the Beltran Leyva Organization, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that is believed to be the worlds largest known fentanyl production network.

Five other BLO leaders are also charged with drug trafficking and money laundering, the DOJ reports:

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David Alejandro Heredia Velazquez (Aka Tano, Aka Mr. Jordan)

Oscar Rene Gonzalez Menendez (Aka Rubio)

Elias Alberto Quiros Benavides

Daniel Eduardo Bojorquez (Aka Chopper)

Javier Alonso Vazquez Sanchez (Aka Tito, Aka Drilo)

According to court documents, since its inception, the Beltran Leyva faction has been considered one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations to operate in Mexico, engaging in shootouts, murders, kidnappings, torture and violent collection of drug debts to sustain its operations.

The court alleges the Beltran Leyva faction controls numerous territories and plazas throughout Mexico  including Tijuana  and operates with violent impunity, trafficking in deadly drugs, threatening communities, and targeting key officials, all while making millions of dollars from their criminal activities.

DOJ: 16 indicted in San Diego for allegedly distributing meth, fentanyl, heroin across US

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According to the indictment, Pedro Inzunza Noriega worked with his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, to produce and traffic fentanyl to the United States.

Court documents allege that the father and son were leading one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world. Over the past several years, they are alleged to have trafficked tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl into the United States.

On December 3, 2024, Mexican law enforcement raided multiple locations in Sinaloa that reportedly were controlled and managed by the father and son, seizing 1,500 kilograms (more than 1.65 tons) of fentanyl  which is reported to be the largest seizure of fentanyl in the world.

Rainbow colored fentanyl pills and fentanyl bricks with Louis Vuitton and Rolls Royce stamps (PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice) Cocaine seizure with the Incredibles brand and R brand (PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice) 1,680 kilogram cocaine seizure in Mexico City (PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice) Pedro Inzunza branded hat with Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, aka, Chapo Isidro and Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe aka, El Musico symbols (PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice) 1,500 kilogram fentanyl seizure on December 5, 2024 (PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice) 1,500 kilogram fentanyl seizure on December 5, 2024 (PHOTO: U.S. Department of Justice)

According to the DOJ, Federal drug trafficking indictments are pending against all alleged leaders of the Beltran Leyva faction, including:

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Fausto Isidro Meza Flores (aka Chapo Isidro)

Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe (aka El Musico)

Pedro Inzunza Noriega (aka Sagitario)

The Southern District of California also has indictments pending against other alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, including:

Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar (aka El Chapito)

Ismael Zambada Sicairos (aka Mayito Flaco)

Jose Gil Caro Quintero (aka El Chino)

The DOJ says this indictment is a result of President Trumps Executive Order 14157, which designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and the Secretary of States subsequent designation of the same on February 20, 2025.

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El Chapo-linked narcotrafficker sentenced for moving millions of dollars worth of cocaine

It is the first indictment from the newly formed Narco-Terrorism Unit which was established upon the swearing in of U.S. Attorney Gordon on April 11, 2025.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation in this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, and the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Zara Barker 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(NewsNation)  The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would be suspending all cattle, horse and bison imports from Mexico after a flesh-eating parasite known as a screwworm was detected.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says a potential outbreak is a national security issue, and it could devastate livestock if it crosses into the U.S. The screwworm was found in Veracruz and Oaxaca, which is just 700 miles from the U.S.

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According to the USDA, New World screwworms are deadly flies that lay eggs in open wounds. Once the larva hatches, it attacks living flesh, proving to be extremely deadly for livestock but also for pets, wildlife and even humans in some rare cases.

The U.S. has not had a widespread screwworm outbreak in decades, but stopping the imports now is key for the Trump administration, which made the call to suspend imports effective immediately. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is working alongside the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to enforce the freeze.

The suspension will be reviewed on a month-to-month basis. Any animals already in holding will be screened and treated before they enter the country.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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In November 2024, the screwworm was detected in Southern Mexico, and the U.S. halted all imports. Once a preclearance inspection agreement was reached earlier this year, the border was opened back up to imports.

Trump signs executive order aimed at cutting prescription costs

During that time, however, the screwworm traveled further north and headed to more rural and farming areas. U.S. officials say its a red flag because they now believe wildlife is helping carry the parasite.

The U.S. is now moving forward with what they call a three-prong strategy, which includes boosting surveillance and educating on early detection, limiting livestock movement to slow the spread and releasing sterile flies to break the breeding cycle.

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A 12-year-old boy who was swept away by rushing water is believed to have been found dead in the wake of major flash flooding in the Mid-Atlantic, authorities said Wednesday.

Constant, heavy rain fell over the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday and led to flash flooding in the mountainous region surrounding western Maryland, southern Pennsylvania and eastern West Virginia.

Most areas saw 1 to 2 inches per hour rainfall rates, while Allegany County in northwestern Maryland saw 5 inches of rain in a single hour.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, flood waters are shown in Westernport, Maryland, on May 13, 2025. (Aaron Stallings )

MORE: 9 million people under red flag warnings as fire danger envelops upper Midwest

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One death has been reported in Albemarle County, Virginia, following the rain event.

Jordan Sims, 12, went missing after he was swept away in swift water while walking outside late Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. A body was recovered Wednesday morning that is believed to be Sims, according to Albemarle County Fire Rescue.

The individual's body will be transported to the medical examiner's office for positive identification.

"This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our hearts are with the Sims' family and loved ones," Albemarle County Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston said in a statement.

PHOTO: In a photo provided by Alley and Tim Wade, students are being rescued by boat after flash flooding in Westernport, Maryland, May 13, 2025. (Alley And Tim Wade via AP)

Severe flooding led to the evacuation of multiple schools in Allegany County, where a flash flood emergency was issued Tuesday, with a dozen students staying the night at a high school.

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About 200 students and teachers were evacuated from Westernport Elementary School in Westernport by motorized boats to a nearby church, Allegany County officials confirmed to ABC News.

All students and staff were safely evacuated, according to the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services.

MORE: Minnesota's raging Camp House Fire explodes to nearly 12,000 acres

Students at several schools in Allegany County were safely evacuated to a high school, where 12 students spent the night, Allegany County Public Schools said. Those students were picked up by Wednesday morning.

All Allegany County Public Schools are closed on Wednesday, the school district said.

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A "significant portion" of Westernmore was evacuated due to the floods, according to the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services, which urged residents to stay home Wednesday to keep roadways clear.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, flooding is shown in Westernport, Maryland, on May 13, 2025. (Potomac Fire Company No.2 Inc.)

There are no reported injuries or missing persons from the flooding event in Allegany County, officials said.

Amid the heavy rain on Tuesday, the North Branch Potomac River at Cumberland grew 20 feet in 18 hours -- more than 1 foot per hour. The river crested early Wednesday morning and is slowly going down.

More rain is possible Wednesday evening over this heavily saturated region, which could induce additional flooding.

ABC News' Kenton Gewecke contributed to this report.

12-year-old boy swept away by rushing water believed to be dead after flash flooding impacts Mid-Atlantic originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  State lawmakers still havent passed a budget, and a July 1st deadline is approaching fast. Leadership in both houses is pushing back negotiations.

Lawmakers are already in overtime, originally extending the 2025 session until June 6. But now, Florida House and Senate leadership have backtracked on any of that progress made so far, with no set end date to pass a state budget.



House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) released a statement to House members that the Senate President was going back on his word.

I apologize for the lateness of this update, but circumstances have changed significantly from when we were together last Friday. The Senate President informed me this week that he is breaking his commitment to the House that he publicly announced from the Senate rostrum. I was disappointed when the Senate President informed me of his decision to no longer bring the Houses historic tax proposal to the Senate floor. As Im sure you can appreciate, this blew up the framework for the budget deal we had negotiated. As a result, we will be in touch with alternative dates as soon as possible. Im keenly

aware that the uncertainty around the schedule causes problems for you and your

families, but we will continue to work with the Senate to lock down dates as soon as

practical. Members, while the deal has blown up, we will still be meeting on Tuesday, May 13 to

hold a floor session to pass a concurrent resolution extending the timeline through the

end of June. We will also hold a meeting of the Select Committee on Property Taxes.

While the circumstances leading to this conference are less than ideal or even expected,

as Members of the Florida House, our responsibilities do not change. We will deliver a

fiscally conservative budget that cuts government waste and puts Florida on the best

possible trajectory for long-term success.

Over on the other side of the Capitol, President Albritton said he doesnt expect budget conferencing to begin this week.

Chair Hooper and I are continuing to work with our House partners to finalize joint allocations

needed to complete our work on the budget as expeditiously and responsibly as possible. For

your planning purposes, we do not expect to begin conference next week. As soon as we determine a date to start the budget conference, we will certainly let you know.

As I am sure you are aware, earlier this week Governor DeSantis expressed concern regarding

the tax relief framework announced last Friday. Specifically, that the proposal for an across-the board sales tax cut would unduly benefit tourists and foreigners and is, dead on arrival. From speaking with Senators, I know many of you share concerns with both the number and the policy of that framework and instead favor targeted tax relief that benefits growing families and seniors aging with dignity, including options the Senate proposed in SB 7034. The main concerns I heard from Senators were the following: An across-the-board sales tax cut of one quarter of one penny is not meaningful, felt, or

seen by families and seniors when compared with other available options.

A $2.5 billion recurring tax cut is not sustainable when combined with the projected

budget shortfalls already on the horizon.

A $2.5 billion recurring tax cut may constrain options for the major property tax reform

the Governor, House, and Senate, and most importantly  the Floridians we represent 

are asking us to put forward. Throughout the entire course of negotiations with the House, the Senate has been and remains

committed to tax cuts that offer broad-based and meaningful tax relief for families, seniors, and small businesses. As negotiations move forward, Chair Hooper and I will continue seeking your advice and feedback. It is important to me that we develop a tax relief package that is sustainable for the long term and leaves room in our balanced budget for the voters to consider meaningful property tax relief on the ballot at the next general election. We will continue to work towards a final budget and tax relief package the House, Senate and Governor can support.

And as the inner party budget battle continues, what does this mean for the Republican Party of Florida?

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8 On Your Side met with Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power, asking him how he plans to bring all parties to the table.

Were open to whatever they want to do. Were just trying to facilitate that opportunity for everyone to bring this in for a landing, said Power. Were going to have a historic tax reform package. Were just trying to get everyone that have that conversation, get it done so that the taxpayers can understand theyre going to get money back this year.

However, DeSantis said at a press conference in Tampa, there is no need to host a summit for the governor and republican leadership to go back and forth.



With all due respect, though, thats not the role of the Republican Party of Florida. And so, so, so, no, were not going to do a dog and pony show. Thats not the way this works. The way it works is people should do their jobs, said DeSantis.



As of now, state Senators do not have plans to be in Tallahassee this week, however, House members will be on the floor on May 12 to pass a resolution extending negotiations through the end of June.

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.
MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA)  A Miami man was arrested over the weekend after detectives said they learned he was abusing his 6-year-old stepson in unusual and violent ways.

Zachary Perez, 42, was charged with aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm following an investigation into his treatment of his stepson, according to reports by NBC 6 South Florida.

Man killed by masked robber at Lake Placid motel in set-up involving 5 people: sheriff

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Detectives with the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office said they learned Perez had repeatedly punched the boy in the face and put him in a dog collar.

The 6-year-old was made to wear the collar for two days, and investigators said Perez would yank the collar hard enough to make his stepson fall backward to the ground.

He is also believed to have kicked the child in the stomach and grabbed a tree branch to hit him with.

Perez was taken into custody on Saturday, May 10. A judge denied him bond during his court appearance the next day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
When Hurricane Helene tore through Ruskin, Florida, in 2024, Robert Paul and his wife lost nearly everything. Their home was destroyed, and like many Americans, they turned to their insurance provider for relief  and were relieved when their $30,000 claim was quickly approved.

But that relief quickly turned to frustration. The settlement check from the National Flood Insurance Program bounced  twice.

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The first time, officials blamed a bank switch. The second time, the bank refused to resubmit the check altogether. It again came back as no good, Paul told WFLA, so now the bank has told us they will not resubmit [the check].

Its the kind of scenario no one wants to deal with in the wake of a disaster. So what happened next? And did the Pauls ever get the money they needed to make repairs? Heres what happened, and what you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Did the family get their money?

Yes  but only after a new check was issued.

At the end of April, representatives told Paul to expect a new check in the mail, which he could then cash.

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Until the check cleared, Paul and his wife had to wait to begin repairs on their home.

In Florida, its common for homes in certain areas to flood after hurricanes, which makes flood insurance essential.

What is the National Flood Insurance Program?

The National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It partners with about 50 insurers to offer policies to homeowners and renters who want protection from floods.

Since most standard homeowners insurance policies dont cover flood damage, many homeowners, renters and even businesses purchase coverage through the NFIP, provided they live in a qualifying area.

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Policies typically cover up to $100,000 for your belongings and $250,000 for damage to your property. If your property is in a high-risk flood area, youre required to purchase flood insurance.

While no one wants to deal with flood damage, youll need to work with your insurance company to file a claim. Its important to document the damage and file a claim as soon as possible.

Once an insurance adjuster assesses the claim, you can start repairs  or wait for the check to arrive. But as Paul and his wife discovered, that process doesnt always go smoothly.

Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

What to do if you run into a similar issue

First, try to stay calm. After a major storm, its natural to want to start repairs right away.

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In the meantime, review your insurance plan to see if youre eligible for additional claims or if more documentation might help your case. Insurance adjusters will let you know if more visits are required, which could delay your claim.

If your check bounces, contact your insurance company immediately and follow their instructions.

Use your damage estimate to start getting quotes from contractors.

If you can afford it  and if your insurer approves  you might choose to pay out of pocket while you wait for the check. If not, you may have to wait, assuming you can still live in your home. This experience may also be a chance to plan better for the future.

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While you cant avoid floods or property damage, you can better protect yourself financially. Consider setting aside savings in a separate emergency or disaster fund. That way, when the unexpected happens, youll have some cash to help you handle the situation.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped by the Ohio Statehouse Tuesday to lend his support to imposing congressional term limits. The effort would require a constitutional amendment, and Ohios resolution calls for a convention of the states to draft it. The approach has never been tried before and presents several unknowns  brushed aside by the Florida governor and Ohio lawmakers.

Ohios proposal isnt even the only convention for which DeSantis is beating the drum. He was in Idaho about six weeks ago calling for a balanced budget amendment.

He doesnt even go here

Desantis visit comes amid a growing feud with Republicans in the Florida legislature. The governor and state legislative leaders both want to cut taxes, but the governor wants to focus on property tax cuts while House Speaker Daniel Perez is eyeing the state sales tax. Florida is one of nine states with no income tax.

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Perez criticized DeSantis for hopping on a private plane paid for taxpayers by the way when he could be hammering out a budget deal with Florida lawmakers.

If he were to spend more time here in this Capitol having conversations with myself and other members of the House hed understand my position  why we are in that position, Perez said. And if hes able to convince us otherwise and have us move in another direction, maybe his direction, he has every opportunity to do so.

He added the Florida House is ready for tough conversations while the governor is not.

Theres no difference between him and any seventh grader in Miami-Dade County right now who tweets, Perez said.

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The last time DeSantis stopped by Ohio he was campaigning for then-U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance while not-so-subtly laying track for his own 2024 presidential campaign. On Tuesday, he insisted his visit has nothing to do with running for anything.

Ohio state Rep. Heidi Workman, R-Rootstown. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal)

Ohios convention proposal

Freshman state Rep. Heidi Workman, R-Rootstown, is sponsoring the Ohio House Joint Resolution calling for a constitutional convention.

Voters are tired of Washington politicians spending decades in office disconnected from the people theyre elected to serve, Workman said. They want change, and theyre looking for that change right now.

DeSantis served three terms in Congress before running for governor, and said that experience left a mark.

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The incentives to do really good policy are just skewed away from that, he said. People get up there and basically, theyre told, You got to pay your dues.

Workman pointed to polling  notably, conducted by the pro-term limits organization U.S. Term Limits  indicating 78% of Ohioans want to set a ceiling on congressional service.

This is not a partisan issue  it is a people issue, Workman argued. Across Ohio and across the country, the demand for congressional term limits is strong and bipartisan.

Twelve states that have so far advanced a joint resolution calling for a convention. Every single one of them is controlled by Republicans.

Pitfalls

The problem with hosting a constitutional convention is that theres little to restrain what the conventions members decide to do. Article V of the U.S. Constitution is explicit on how you call a convention, but silent on what happens once delegates start debating.

To fill that void, two Ohio Republicans floated potential felony charges and a gag order to keep debates on track, as they considered a different constitutional convention proposal last year.

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DeSantis dismissed concerns about a runway convention, putting his faith in the ratification process that would follow.

It is the same no matter if Congress or the state proposes (an amendment), DeSantis said. It requires three-quarters of the states of this country, 38 states, to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. I dont think 38 states are going to ratify the work of a, quote, runaway convention.

He added theres nothing stopping Ohio from allowing the governor to recall delegates or place other requirements on their activity.

Still, with DeSantis himself backing convention efforts for term limits and a balanced budget, its not hard to imagine a convention exceeding its initial mandate. Asked about those different interests DeSantis argued both ideas could clear the required 34-state threshold before backtracking and suggesting Congress would likely step in to draft its own amendment if states got close.

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I do anticipate, in both instances, that you would likely force Congress to act prior to getting the 34 states  I just think practically that will happen, DeSantis said. But Im also not somebody that believes somehow the states arent capable of proposing an amendment.

Florida Phoenix reporter Christine Sexton contributed to this story.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. with Ohio state Rep. Heidi Workman. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal)

COLUMBUS, Ohio  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped by the Ohio Statehouse Tuesday to lend his support to imposing congressional term limits.

The effort would require a constitutional amendment, and Ohios resolution calls for a convention of the states to draft it. The approach has never been tried before and presents several unknowns  brushed aside by the Florida governor and Ohio lawmakers.

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Ohios proposal isnt even the only convention for which DeSantis is beating the drum. He was in Idaho about six weeks ago calling for a balanced budget amendment.

Ready for tough conversations

Desantis visit comes amid a growing feud with Republicans in the Florida Legislature. The governor and state legislative leaders both want to cut taxes, but the governor wants to focus on property tax cuts while House Speaker Daniel Perez is eyeing the state sales tax. Florida is one of nine states with no income tax.

Perez criticized DeSantis for hopping on a private plane paid for taxpayers by the way when he could be hammering out a budget deal with Florida lawmakers.

If he were to spend more time here in this Capitol having conversations with myself and other members of the House hed understand my position  why we are in that position, Perez said. And if hes able to convince us otherwise and have us move in another direction, maybe his direction, he has every opportunity to do so.

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He added the Florida House is ready for tough conversations while the governor is not.

Theres no difference between him and any seventh grader in Miami-Dade County right now who tweets, Perez said.

The last time DeSantis stopped by Ohio he was campaigning for then-U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance while not-so-subtly laying track for his own 2024 presidential campaign. On Tuesday, he insisted his visit has nothing to do with running for anything.

Ohios convention proposal

Freshman state Rep. Heidi Workman is sponsoring the Ohio House Joint Resolution calling for a constitutional convention.

Voters are tired of Washington politicians spending decades in office disconnected from the people theyre elected to serve, Workman said. They want change, and theyre looking for that change right now.

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DeSantis served three terms in Congress before running for governor, and said that experience left a mark.

The incentives to do really good policy are just skewed away from that, he said. People get up there and basically, theyre told, You got to pay your dues.

Workman pointed to polling  notably, conducted by the pro-term limits organization U.S. Term Limits  indicating 78% of Ohioans want to set a ceiling on congressional service.

This is not a partisan issue  it is a people issue, Workman argued. Across Ohio and across the country, the demand for congressional term limits is strong and bipartisan.

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Twelve states that have so far advanced a joint resolution calling for a convention. Every single one of them is controlled by Republicans.

Pitfalls

The problem with hosting a constitutional convention is that theres little to restrain what the conventions members decide to do. Article V of the U.S. Constitution is explicit on how you call a convention, but silent on what happens once delegates start debating.

To fill that void, two Ohio Republicans floated potential felony charges and a gag order to keep debates on track, as they considered a different constitutional convention proposal last year.

DeSantis dismissed concerns about a runway convention, putting his faith in the ratification process that would follow.

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It is the same no matter if Congress or the state proposes [an amendment], DeSantis said. It requires three-quarters of the states of this country, 38 states, to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. I dont think 38 states are going to ratify the work of a, quote, runaway convention.

He added theres nothing stopping Ohio from allowing the governor to recall delegates or place other requirements on their activity.

Still, with DeSantis himself backing convention efforts for term limits and a balanced budget, its not hard to imagine a convention exceeding its initial mandate. Asked about those different interests, DeSantis argued both ideas could clear the required 34-state threshold before backtracking and suggesting Congress would likely step in to draft its own amendment if states got close.

I do anticipate, in both instances, that you would likely force Congress to act prior to getting the 34 states  I just think practically that will happen, DeSantis said. But Im also not somebody that believes somehow the states arent capable of proposing an amendment.

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This story first appeared in the Ohio Capital Journal, a member with the Phoenix in the nonprofit States Newsroom. Florida Phoenix reporter Christine Sexton contributed to this story. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Governor Ron DeSantis said Florida Highway Patrol Troopers now have more authority in immigration cases.

FHP troopers, along with FDLE special agents and even FWC officers have been sworn in as Special Deputy U.S. Marshals to give them broader authority in cases that involve people who are in the country illegally.

Republicans unveil steep cuts to Medicaid in portion of Trump tax bill

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The governor said this will allow Florida law enforcement officers to conduct operations and arrest illegal immigrants without the help of federal agencies.

Earlier this week, we had more than 100 FHP troopers sworn in as Special Deputy U.S. Marshals, which is even over and above the 287(g) that empowers state troopers to execute federal warrants and remove dangerous criminal aliens for from our communities, DeSantis said.

The head of the FHP said its already having a big impact.

To date, we have assisted or been the primary arresting agency on over 1,020 illegal immigrants, said Dave Kerner, the executive director of the Florida Highway Patrol.

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Governor DeSantis said this will allow Florida to protect itself from dangerous criminals who should not be in the state.

Clearly, there has to be rules of the road. Clearly, the people of the U.S. have the right to determine who comes in or who doesnt come into our country. And clearly you gotta have enforcement, DeSantis said.

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.
Video above: Broke insurance companies moved money, report finds

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Florida insurance regulators fined a property insurance company $100,000 for its mishandling of claims in the wake of Hurricane Ian in 2022.

According to a consent order document provided by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Centauri Specialty Insurance Company failed to utilize properly appointed adjusters and provide a disclosure statement when providing payments on claims that were not the full and final payment.

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Manatee dies while receiving medical care at Florida state park: report

Insurance regulators pointed to 168 instances where the company used insurance adjusters who were not properly appointed. Florida law requires them to be licensed and appointed.

The office said that Centauri did not provide the particular disclosure statement when providing a payment on a claim that was not the full and final payment in 141 instances.

Centauri was fined $100,000, plus $2,000 in administrative costs. As part of the agreement, the company acknowledged it could face administrative penalties if caught violating the terms of the consent order in the future.

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The suspect accused of killing two people in a mass shooting at Florida State University in April has been taken to jail following his nearly month-long stay in the hospital, authorities said.

Phoenix Ikner, 20, who was shot by responding officers after opening fire on the Tallahassee campus on April 17, was released from the hospital on Monday, May 12, according to a statement from the Tallahassee Police Department.

He was then booked into the Leon County Detention Facility on two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder, the Leon County Sheriffs Office said in its own statement. Ikner was later taken to the Wakulla County Detention Facility, where he will await his first court appearance, which the agency says is standard protocol.

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The sheriffs office also shared a mugshot of Ikner, in which his face appears disfigured. Authorities have said Ikner is the stepson of a Leon County Sheriffs Office deputy who has been with the department for 18 years.

Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Police investigate the FSU shooting scene on April 17, 2025. Police investigate the FSU shooting scene on April 17, 2025.

Related: Who Is the FSU Campus Shooting Suspect? What We Know So Far

Ikner, who was deeply embedded in the sheriff's office's community, allegedly used her gun in the shooting, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil previously told reporters.

The shooting was reported to campus police at 11:50 a.m. on April 17 and the suspect was apprehended minutes later, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower said at a press conference hours after the shooting.

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As the incident unfolded, the campus went into lockdown. The notice was lifted around 3:20 p.m., officials said. Two men died and several others were wounded.

Related: Florida State University Shooting Victims Identified: What We Know

Courtesy of The Strom Law Firm; gofundme Tiru Chabba; Robert Morales Tiru Chabba; Robert Morales

The fatal victims were identified by loved ones as Robert Morales, a dining coordinator at FSU and Tiru Chabba, a regional vice president with Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, which supplies food to universities.

While a motive remains under investigation by police, those who knew Ikner have claimed he had extreme right-wing views.



Read the original article on People
May 12 (UPI) -- The 20-year-old Florida State University student accused of killing two in an April campus shooting has been released from a hospital in Tallahassee and is now a jail inmate.

Phoenix Ikner is facing two charges of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in the attack on the campus on April 17, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.

The suspect's court hearing is set for Tuesday morning, when the arrest report is scheduled to be released.

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He was released from an undisclosed hospital for treatment and surgery on his jaw after being shot by police, authorities said in a news release. He was first taken to Leon County Detention Facility and then transferred to the Wakulla County Detention Facility.

"Ikner's transfer to another facility is standard protocol, due to him being the stepson of a Leon County Sheriff's Office deputy," the Leon County Sheriff's Office said in a separate news release.

His booking photo was released on Monday.

A handgun used in the shootings is believed to belong to his stepmother, Jessica Ikner, a county sheriff's office school resource officer, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said. Officials said the weapon is her former service weapon.

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She has been with the Leon County Sheriff's Office for 18 years and is on personal leave.

He had invoked his Fifth Amendment right to not answer investigators' questions, and no motive has been given, police said.

Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator, and Tiru Chabba, an executive for food service vendor Aramark, died, according to family members and attorneys for the families.

Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said there doesn't appear to be a connection to any of the victims.

The suspect was a "longstanding" member of the LCSO Youth Advisory Council and was involved the office's trainings, the sheriff said.

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"In any case, especially one of this magnitude, the Tallahassee Police Department has the highest commitment to justice, transparency, and the safety of our community," Revell said in the release. "We are grateful for the work of our detectives, officers, medical personnel, and partner agencies who helped bring us to this point."

Classes resumed on campus four days after the attack.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A judge on Tuesday ordered the Florida State University student accused of killing two people and wounding six others in a mass shooting on campus last month to remain jailed without bond.

During 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner's first court appearance since the April 17 attack, Leon County Judge Monique Richardson ordered Ikner to have no contact with the victims and their families and approved the appointment of two public defenders for him, Megan Long and Randall Harper. The attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ikner, who was shot and wounded by officers, ending the attack, sat quietly during the hearing, which he appeared at via video from a lockup in a neighboring county. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder.

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Ikner is the stepson of a local sheriff's deputy, and investigators say he used his stepmother's former service weapon to carry out the shooting, which terrified the campus and the state's capital city.

Ikner was formally charged Monday after being released from a hospital. He was booked into the Leon County Detention Facility and then transferred to a jail in nearby Wakulla County, which is standard procedure when an inmate is related to a Leon County deputy, authorities said.

Investigators say that on the day of the attack, Ikner, an FSU political science student, arrived on campus and stayed near a parking garage until just before lunchtime, when he began walking into and out of buildings and green spaces while firing his gun. In less than five minutes, officers confronted Ikner, shooting and wounding him.

Authorities have not revealed a motive for the attack, which killed two men and wounded six other people.

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If Ikner is convicted of the murder charges, he could face the death penalty.

___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
During public comments at a recent Palm Beach County Commission meeting, a speaker told commissioners to make sure that local governments here are removing fluoride from the drinking water.

I do hear there are executive orders coming down that will require that anyway, Candace Rojas said. But I think you should be leaders and start that, since it makes everyone dumb, docile and gay.

Fluoride in the drinking water makes you gay?

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Seriously? Weve already sunk this far this quickly in the so-called "Golden Age of America"?

First, a little background.

Florida is poised to be the second state to ban fluoride in drinking water. Talk about dumb.

The fluoride bulk holding tank (in back) and daily tank (in front) at the Palm Beach County Water Treatment Plant No. 3, located in Delray Beach.

The bill passed this session by the Florida Legislature would preclude local governments from adding fluoride to drinking water as an effective cavity-fighting tool.

That removes the authority of cities such as Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Wellington, and unincorporated Palm Beach County to make their own decisions on protecting the dental health of their citizens.

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Fluoridating drinking water used to be considered sound science.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had called the addition of fluoride in drinking water, a process that began in 1945, as one of the Ten Great Public Health Achievements of the last century.

But now that President Donald Trump has appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services with a go wild on health mandate, water fluoridation, like life-saving vaccinations, are being marginalized.

Spreading alarm about water fluoridation has become one of the pillars of MAHA  Make America Healthy Again that is revolutionizing public health in ways that used to be unthinkable.

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Traditionally, the stated rationale for removing fluoride from the drinking water is that at high concentrations  far higher than those used in drinking water  fluoride could cause discoloration and pitting of teeth in a condition called dental fluorosis.

Opinion: Why isn't Congress doing anything about Trump? They want to be re-elected.

But Kennedy has turned fluoride into something far more sinister.

Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease, Kennedy wrote in a social media post.

And he is mainstreaming the widely debunked claim that peoples sexuality can be altered through chemicals in drinking water.

Talk of frogs making RFK Jr. the ultimate Trump toadie

The capacity for these chemicals that we are just raining down on our children right now to induce these very profound sexual changes in them is something we need to be thinking about as a society, he said in a three-year-old appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast.

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Kennedy talked about how adding the herbicide atrazine in water populated by frogs castrates and feminizes the male frogs.

What does this do to sexual development in children? Kennedy said. Nobody knows. We know what it does to frogs.

Kennedys gay-frogs riff was borrowed from an old rant by conspiracy theory maestro and Infowars creator Alex Jones.

Jones has claimed for years that the U.S. government uses chemicals to turn people gay and that the Pentagon has been developing a gay bomb to drop on enemy combatants.

The reason theres so many gay people now is because its a chemical warfare operation, and I have the government documents where they said theyre going to encourage homosexuality with chemicals so that people dont have children, Jones said on his broadcast 15 years ago.

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Editorial: With Trump's tariffs and federal cuts, Florida's tax plan comes at a bad time

He later claimed that the government is putting chemicals in the water that turn the friggin frogs gay.

The majority of frogs in most areas of the United States are now gay, Jones said.

From alleged 'gay frogs' to fluoride is a pretty big leap

Water-supply crackpots are being mainstreamed right here in Florida too. Of course, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the fringe medical doctor appointed as Florida Surgeon General by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is firmly in the alarmist camp.

And Ron Peri, a former Central Florida pastor who was appointed by DeSantis to the oversight board controlling Disney Worlds taxing district, has called homosexuality evil and linked it to the drinking water.

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Peri blamed birth control pills, not fluoride.

You know, theres estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They cant get it out, Peri said. The level of testosterone in men broadly in America has declined by 50 points in the past 10 years. You know, and so, maybe thats a part of it.

I think whats behind all this drinking-water hysteria is that as narrow-minded people see the societal stigmatization of LGBTQ people melt away, formerly closeted people become more visible.

And as a way to explain the greater visibility, the disappointed guardians of the past rationalize that it must be happening due to a secret water-tampering plot by the government to increase the population of LGBTQ people.

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So, yes. I agree with part of what the woman said during public comments at the county commission meeting.

Something is definitely trying to make us stupid.

But its not the fluoride.

Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network-Florida. He can be reached at fcerabino@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Fluoride in water isn't making Florida gay | Opinion
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A friendly competition thats sure to save lives is looking to reach new heights this spring.

The Flying for Life Blood Drive took flight Monday at KELO-TV, with the first of six days worth of collection events.

Dry, hot and windy weather impacting trees

This friendly competition between Avera Careflight and Sanford AirMed began several years ago during COVID when we really didnt know where we were going to go with the ability to collect blood as we prepare for the summer months, Community Blood Bank Executive Director Ken Versteeg said.

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Versteeg says the competition is also an opportunity to honor our high-flying first responders.

I cant even describe the amount of stress that they go through every single day when they come to a site and they have an emergency that they have to address. These are the first people that see an individual and determine if they need a blood transfusion or not, Versteeg said.

There are six units of O-negative blood, also known as the universal donor and rarest of blood types, on every flight.

Everybody that asks me my blood type, its like O-negative and they say oh, youre one of the lucky ones (laughs), Brandon resident Kathy Van Santen said.

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Van Santen is part of the 7% of the population with O-negative blood, but encourages everyone  whatever your blood type  to give.

Because its actually a needed thing in the communities, so yeah, if youre able, willing and able to do that, just give it a try, its not that bad, Van Santen said.

And the timing of Flying for Life is no mistake. Community Blood Bank requires 550 units of blood every week to meet the needs of its local hospitals, and finding donors during the summer can prove difficult.

This is the time of year where people forget about donating blood because their lives are so busy with the graduation ceremonies and then the vacations and then they might have family activities outside, but take the time to donate a unit of blood, Versteeg said.

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It could save a life.

The Flying for Life Blood Drive continues at 7 on Tuesday morning at GreatLIFE at Avera McKennan Fitness Center in Sioux Falls.

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 KELOLAND.com.
New Mexico Foundation for Open Government filed suit against the Los Lunas Schools Board of Ed for not releasing records related to its investigation of former Schools Superintendent Ryan Kettler (photo courtesy Los Lunas Schools)

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government announced on Tuesday a lawsuit against the Los Lunas Schools Board of Education, along with its public records custodian, Brian Baca, for their refusal to release public records related to an investigation of former Superintendent Ryan Kettler.

According to a news release from FOG, after Kettler was placed on administrative leave in July 2024, one year after he was fired, School Board President Michelle Osowski told Valencia County News-Bulletin reporters the districts lawyers would be investigating him. Subsequently, the newspaper filed Inspection of Public Records Act requests to learn more about that investigation.

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According to the suit, those records included:

 Any contract for services with DDSK Group LLC.

 Any scope of work services from DDSK Group LLC.

 Any and all invoices from and payments to DDSK Group LLC.

 Any and all correspondence between DDSK Group LLC and Los Lunas Schools employees to include electronic correspondence and messages on district issued and personal devices.

 Any and all correspondence between DDSK Group LLC and LLS Board of Education members to include electronic correspondence and messages on district issued and personal devices.

In response, the districts lawyers said they were unaware of any documents responsive [to the public records requests] and, moreover, were there an investigation company hired to conduct an investigation was done through [their] law firm and is protected by attorney-client privilege and not subject to the Inspection of Public Records Act.

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Nonetheless, FOG notes an Oct. 31, 2024 invoice shows Los Lunas Schools attorneys billed the district $21,685 to pay DDKS Group LLC, a firm that conducts school personnel investigations. The school board terminated Kettler on Nov. 14, 2024 and never explained its reasons for doing so.

NMFOG is suing the School District for unlawfully shielding its public records from view, the news release states. A public body cannot hide public records behind the attorney-client privilege merely because the school went through its attorney to hire an investigator. The attorney-client privilege covers only confidential communications between an attorney and their client and does not apply to the requested records concerning Kettler.

The lawsuit requests a judge to compel the district to release the records.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A Brazilian scientist who pushed back against chemical fertilizers and researched biologically based approaches to more robust food production has been honored with this years World Food Prize, the organization announced Tuesday.

Microbiologist Mariangela Hungria's research helped her country become an agricultural powerhouse, an accomplishment that has now won her $500,000 from the Iowa-based World Food Prize Foundation. Hungria has been researching biological seed and soil treatments for 40 years, and has worked with Brazilian farmers to implement her findings.

I still cannot believe it. Everybody said, my whole life, it's improbable, you are going the wrong way, just go to things like chemicals and so on. And then, I received the most important prize in the world of agriculture," Hungria said in an interview. "Sometimes I still think I'll wake up and see that it's not true.

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Norman Borlaug, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work to dramatically increase crop yields and reduce the threat of starvation in many countries, founded the World Food Prize. Since the first prize was handed out in 1987, 55 people have been honored.

Hungria said she grew up wanting to alleviate hunger. Early in her career, she decided to focus on a process called biological nitrogen fixation, in which soil bacteria could be used to promote plant growth. At that time, farmers in Brazil and around the world were reluctant to reduce their use of nitrogen fertilizers, which dramatically increase crop production but lead to greenhouse gas emissions and pollutes waterways.

Hungria studied how bacteria can interact with plant roots to naturally produce nitrogen. She then demonstrated her work on test plots and began working directly with farmers to convince them that they wouldn't have to sacrifice high crop yields if they switched to a biological process.

The work is credited for increasing yields of several crops, including wheat, corn and beans, but it has been especially affective on soybeans. Brazil has since become the world's largest soybean producer, surpassing the United States and Argentina.

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Although Hungria's research could be applied on farms in other countries, soybean production in the U.S. is different than it is in Brazil; American farmers typically rotate crops on their land between growing corn and soybeans. Enough nitrate fertilizer applied to corn still remains in the soil when soybeans are planted that little or no fertilizer needs to be applied, Hungria said.

Brazilian agricultural companies have faced fierce criticism for clearing forested land to create farmland, largely to grow soybeans.

Much of that criticism is justified, Hungria said, but she added that her biological approach builds up the soil and makes further encroachment into forested areas less necessary.

If you manage the crop well, the crop will enrich the soil with nitrogen. Soil health improves if you do the right things, she said.

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Hungria will be awarded her prize at an annual October gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, of agricultural researchers and officials from around the world.

Gebisa Ejeta, chair of the World Food Prize Laureate Selection Committee, credited Hungria for her extraordinary scientific achievements that have transformed agriculture in South America.

"Her brilliant scientific work and her committed vision for advancing sustainable crop production to feed humanity with judicious use of chemical fertilizer inputs and biological amendments has gained her global recognition both at home and abroad, Ejeta said in a statement.
           

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DES MOINES, Iowa  Monday was nearly a carbon copy (does anyone younger than 40 know what that is?) of Mothers Day in Central Iowa, with warm temperatures and light wind. Your weather timeline takes you through Tuesday and into a hotter Wednesday.

Lows Monday will again be mild. Tuesday will be similar again temperature-wise, but we may see a spotty shower east of I-35 in the afternoon. Most will stay dry. Wednesday will be hot, with highs close to 90 degrees. Then a system approaching from the west will bring two rounds of rain to the state. One will move across the north during the early morning, while the second will again affect areas mainly north of I-80 during the late afternoon and evening on what will be a breezy day. The images below walk you through the next few days:

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We wont see a lot of rain from Thursdays system, and again folks south of Highway 30 may miss out on rainfall entirely. We will see cooler temperatures move into Iowa starting Friday, as shown in the slideshow below.

Your WHO 13 7-day forecasts. Have a good evening!

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Overfishing by foreign vessels is decimating fish stocks in the West African country of Senegal, which is in turn fueling migration to Spain, according to a report released Tuesday.

The Environmental Justice Foundation, a London-based group specializing in environmental and human rights issues, said illegal overfishing and destructive practices by foreign vessels are responsible for increased irregular migration to Spain. It based its conclusions on interviews with fishermen in Spain and Senegal and its prior research on foreign overfishing.

The group found that 57% of fish stocks in Senegal are in a state of collapse, with foreign vessels playing a significant role in declining numbers. Its analysis showed 43.7% of licensed vessels in Senegal are foreign-controlled, predominantly of Spanish and Chinese origin.

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As fish populations dwindle, local fishermen are facing income loss, and many have turned to migration as a last resort. Fishing is an important economic sector in Senegal that employs 3% of the workforce.

Irregular migration to the Canary Islands almost doubled in 2024, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry, reaching 46,843. While exact figures arent known due to a lack of information on departures from West Africa, Senegal is one of the top three nationalities of arrivals to the Spanish islands.

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest in the world. The Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims were in the thousands last year.

Migrants and former fishermen in the Canary Islands told the Environmental Justice Foundation that the treacherous journey to Spain was a last resort, a way to provide for families when fishing in Senegal could no longer put food on the table.

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If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe, said Memedou Racine Seck.

Local activists in Senegal have voiced their frustration with foreign overfishing and its contribution to the migration crisis. Karim Sall, President of AGIRE, a Senegalese organization operating in the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected area, condemned foreign nations for their role in the crisis.

I get so angry when (foreign nations) complain about immigration because they are the real pirates and what they did is worse than clandestine immigration. Its theft, plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer, said Sall.

Industrial foreign fleets, many of which use bottom trawling techniques, are exacerbating the crisis. These vessels drag heavy nets across the seafloor, indiscriminately catching young fish and destroying marine ecosystems like seagrass and coral reefs, which are vital for fish reproduction. As a result, fish stocks are unable to recover, deepening the hardships of local fishing communities and eaters. Fish plays an important role in food security in Senegal, especially for protein consumption. Due to declining fish stocks, consumption per capita in Senegal has fallen from 29 kilograms per year to 17.8 kilograms per person.

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The report also pointed to a lack of transparency in fishing licenses and inadequate government management of fisheries as contributing factors. Despite efforts by the Senegalese government to address the crisis, experts warn that without stricter regulations on industrial foreign fleets, the situation will worsen.

Migrant and former fisherman Souleymane Sady, who arrived in the Canary Islands in 2020, summed up the situation fishermen in Senegal face: Since the government cannot regulate the boats and we cannot work normally, we choose to run away from the country to come for stability, he said.

____

Follow APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK (Reuters) -International travel spending in the United States is expected to decline about 7%, or $12.5 billion, in 2025 as politics and a strong dollar prompt foreign visitors to opt for other destinations, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

International travelers are shunning U.S. vacations due to unpopular policies from the administration of President Donald Trump, fear of being stopped at the border and an unfavorable exchange rate, said Julia Simpson, CEO of the WTTC, an organization representing the travel industry's private sector.

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"Of 184 countries, the U.S. is the only one that's seeing an absolute decline in international visitor spending," Simpson said. "The U.S. is definitely losing its crown in this area."

The U.S. is the largest travel and tourism economy globally, she said. However, international visitor spending in the country is projected to fall under $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion in 2024 and 22% below its previous peak in 2019.

A strong dollar, which makes U.S. vacations more expensive, caused a decline in foreign travel spending in the country in 2024, Simpson said, but now politics and worries about crossing the border were also weighing on U.S. visitation figures.

In March, Germany updated its U.S. travel advisory to emphasize that a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry after several Germans were detained at the border.

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The Trump administration requires all foreigners 14 or older to register and submit fingerprints if they stay beyond 30 days. This includes Canadians, who previously could visit for up to six months without a visa.

"The rest of the world are putting up open signs and getting people to come and see their country," Simpson told Reuters. "The U.S. at the minute has firmly got a 'we're not open for business, closed' sign, which is a great shame."

While 90% of U.S. travel and tourism spending comes from domestic tourists, Canadian travelers spend three times more on U.S. vacations than Americans, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Overseas visitors spend seven to eight times more than U.S. travelers.

Travel from Canada and Mexico, the largest source of inbound visitors to the U.S., is down about 20% year-over-year, the organization said. Visits from British, German and South Korean travelers are also trending lower.

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Overall, overseas travel to the U.S. fell about 12% year-over-year in March but rose 8% in April, according to data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Nia Williams)
NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV)  A former bank drive-through in downtown Neenah will soon become a lively public space called Alta Alley, thanks to a $33,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

The site at 101 W. Wisconsin Ave., once home to a Bank Mutual drive-through, will be transformed into a small plaza where people can relax, meet friends, or enjoy a bite to eat.

The project is a partnership between Alta Resources, which owns the property, Future Neenah, and the City of Neenah. Local businesses and residents are also helping to fund the project, along with a $500 contribution from the citys Community Development Authority.

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Green Bay fire and police teams work together to rescue baby raccoons

Alta Alley will offer free Wi-Fi, seating, overhead lighting, planters, public art, a performance area, and interactive features like light displays and sensory objects.

Future Neenah will design the space and organize events, while the city will help manage the grant and assist with planning. The plaza will not be part of the official city park system but will be maintained by Future Neenah.

Sara Hanneman of Future Neenah described Alta Alley as a cozy little nook in the heart of downtown, perfect for lunch breaks or a spot to relax while waiting for a table at nearby restaurants.

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The space is expected to open by late summer 2025, with all grant funds to be used by the end of 2026.

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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 cases nationwide, with the majority, 700, in Texas.

This is a disease that was considered eliminated from the United States, said former acting CDC director Dr. Rich Besser. The only reason that were seeing this pop up in the way that we are is because vaccine rates have declined.

The CDC found that 96% of the 1,001 confirmed cases were people who are unvaccinated against measles or whose vaccination status is unknown.

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Falling vaccine rates could mean millions of measles cases: Study

Measles is probably one of the most contagious viruses that we know. And so you have to have vaccine coverage rates of above 95% in the community for it not to spread, explained Dr. Besser.

When it drops below that, it starts to find people who arent vaccinated and it starts to spread. And unfortunately, weve seen people lose their lives from that, and I think were going to see more.

Data from the outbreak shows that three people have died from measles this year.

Dr. Bessers warning comes as local health leaders acknowledge federal spending cuts are making it harder to prepare or address infectious disease spread.

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With federal cuts, Austin could be underprepared for significant measles outbreak

The Federal Government has pulled back hundreds of millions of dollars from Texas alone. The health departments have had to let some staff go because of those cuts and cuts to the federal Centers for Disease Control. That all plays a role.

Before Dr. Besser became the president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a health organization advocating for health equity, he was the acting director of the CDC during the initial response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic.

He argues vaccination rates would be higher if there were an unequivocal messaging from the Secretary and others in government, saying, not only is it the best way to protect your child, but every parent should make sure that their child is fully vaccinated.

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Health officials say a 2nd measles case has been reported in Travis County

As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has urged parents to do their own research on vaccines, Dr. Besser is asking parents to talk to their doctor.

While its a personal decision to vaccinate your child, its one that affects the other people in your family, your neighbors, those in your community, Besser said. So talk to your doctor, get your questions answered so you can do the right thing in terms of protecting your children.

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.
By Colleen Howe

BEIJING (Reuters) -Wang Yilin, a former chairman of state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), was sentenced to 13 years in prison for bribery and fined 3 million yuan ($416,667), state-run CCTV reported on Tuesday.

State media reported in July 2024 that Wang, who retired from CNPC in 2020, had been expelled from China's ruling Communist Party for discipline violations. The report said he was under investigation for illegally accepting high-value assets and taking advantage of his position to help others seek benefits in project contracting.

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CNPC, which is the parent company of listed PetroChina, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The company said in a statement last year that it firmly supported Wang's expulsion from the Party, which it said showed the organisation's "zero-tolerance" stance on corruption.

Prior to his role as CNPC chairman, Wang was at the helm of China National Offshore Oil Corp, or CNOOC, the parent of listed CNOOC Ltd.

($1 = 7.2000 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Colleen Howe, Editing by Louise Heavens)
Cherlynn Stevenson speaks during the Mike Miller Memorial Marshall County Bean Dinner, part of the Fancy Farm political festivities, Aug. 2, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

MIDWAY  Saying she has flipped a district before and vowing to do it again, Democrat Cherlynn Stevenson of Lexington launched her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives before a gathering of supporters at a distillery in Woodford County Tuesday.

I know what it takes to win a competitive seat with voters from all sides of the aisle by focusing on everyday issues, not political division, by knocking on every door I can and meeting voters where they are, said Stevenson, who won an open seat in the Kentucky legislature in 2018 in a traditionally Republican district in southern Lexington.

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She hopes to win next year in the 6th Congressional District held since 2013 by Republican Andy Barr who is running to succeed Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate.

Im running for Congress for one simple reason, Stevenson said over the roar of Bluegrass Distillers boilers. I love Kentucky, and I want to do all I can to make it even better. I love my country, and I want to take us off of the rollercoaster ride that has driven a carton of eggs up and nest eggs down.

Stevenson said, Tariffs are destroying our economy. Cuts to Medicaid threaten our health care. Dismantling public education is destroying our kids future. Its about time weve actually had someone in this office who works for us, not for Elon Musk, his billionaire buddies and the corporate elite.

Stevenson is the first Democrat to announce for the seat.

Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, speaks on the Kentucky House floor. (Photo by LRC Public Information)

One Republican has announced  Kentucky Rep. Ryan Dotson, of Winchester. Dotsons campaign kickoff is set for June 3 in his hometown. Of potential Republicans who may enter the race, hes seen as one of the farthest to the political right and is making culture war issues a part of his campaign messaging, stressing his commitment to banning transgender women and girls from using womens restrooms.

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Though Barr has held the U.S. House seat for over a decade, Democrats see the district as one they could flip heading into the midterm elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has said it considers the district in play.

Stevenson, who was chosen as caucus chair by Kentucky House Democrats in 2022, won a close reelection bid against a Republican challenger in 2022 despite the GOP-controlled General Assembly having drastically redrawn her district. She narrowly lost her 2024 bid for the statehouse seat to Republican Rep. Vanessa Grossl, of Georgetown.

Stevenson, who grew up in Knott County in Southeastern Kentucky, said her mother was a teacher and her father worked in coal. Believe me when I say that growing up they instilled in me the importance of hard work and doing whats right right now. A Morehead State University graduate, she has lived in Lexington for about 25 years. In her announcement speech, she voiced support for labor unions and reproductive rights.

Kentucky is positioned to receive a lot of national attention during the midterm elections. Gov. Andy Beshear, who has not ruled out a 2028 bid for president, will serve as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association in 2026. That puts Beshear in a place to rally support and money behind his partys candidates across the nation in key elections.

Democrat Cherlynn Stevenson delivers her announcement speech against a Woodford County backdrop at Bluegrass Distillers in Midway, May 13, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jamie Lucke)

Stevenson told reporters she thought it would take a floor of $5 million to win the U.S. House seat, depending on whether she has primary challengers.

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Some see the 6th Congressional District as a purple district. It includes Lexington, the states second largest city and one of Kentuckys last remaining Democratic strongholds. However, Republicans regularly fare better in elections in the more rural and suburban parts of the district, such as Georgetown and Richmond.

Democrat Amy McGrath came within 3 percentage points of unseating Barr in 2018 but since then the Republican has easily won reelection with nearly two-thirds of the vote over little known and underfunded Democratic challengers.

In an interview, Stevenson said she recently spoke with McGrath, who told Stevenson that her six years of experience in the legislature is an advantage that the former Marine fighter pilot lacked. She ran a good race in a lot of ways but were not the same person, Stevenson said of McGrath. I think that were going to come across to folks in a little bit of a different way.

Obviously, its a tough district, but it being an open seat in the environment that were are seeing with tariffs threatening our economy, with families worrying that their health care is going to be stripped away, with veterans seeing their health care in jeopardy, I think that were just going to be in a completely different environment than she ran in. I think its going to be different in a lot of ways.

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The Republican Party of Kentucky views the 6th Congressional District as a safe seat for the party. Spokesman Andy Westberry said in a statement that Stevensons entry into this race isnt a serious campaign; its a one-way ticket to political career-ending humiliation.

Lets be clear: the 6th District is Trump Country  rock-solid Republican ground where liberal pipe dreams go to die, Westberry said. If the DCCC thinks Cherlynn Stevenson is their ticket to a majority, theyre more delusional than we thought. This district will send another conservative fighter to Washington, and Democrats will be left wondering why they even bothered.

Asked about the GOP description of the Central Kentucky district as Trump country, Stevenson said, I would call it Beshear country.

Both the Republican president and Democratic governor have carried the district.

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Stevenson said Beshears political formula of being authentic and talking to people about their issues and not focusing on political division is one she plans to employ.

Candidates may formally file their election paperwork with the Kentucky Secretary of States office in November, which is a year before the 2026 general election. The deadline for filing is January.

This story was updated with information about Stevensons announcement speech and event.

Jamie Lucke contributed to this story.
Former Gov. Jeff Colyer, who is edging closer to filing as a 2026 Republican candidate for governor, chats with former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius during a ceremony on steps of the Kansas Capitol in 2023. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Former Gov. Jeff Colyers campaign for governor accelerated with appointment of a treasurer in advance of filing for the Republican Partys nomination in 2026.

Colyer, 64, served as Kansas chairman of last years campaign by President Donald Trump. He is a former Johnson County member of the Kansas House and Senate who was lieutenant governor on the ticket with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Upon Brownbacks resignation to serve in the first Trump administration, Colyer was sworn in as governor in 2018.

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Colyer sought a full term as governor but narrowly lost the 2018 primary to Republican Kris Kobach, who was defeated in the general election by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. In terms of the 2026 race, Colyer has yet to formally register as a candidate with the secretary of state.

Colyer did announce selection of state Rep. Kyle Hoffman, a Coldwater Republican, as treasurer for his gubernational campaign.

Kyle is a leading voice for rural Kansas and a great advocate for fiscal responsibility and conservative values, Colyer said. Hes going to be a huge asset as we carry our winning message to every county in Kansas.

Kelly, who followed her defeat of Kobach with a victory over former GOP Attorney General Derek Schmidt in 2022, cannot seek reelection. Colyer was poised to seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, but withdrew following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

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Democratic Governors Association spokesman Sam Newton said in a statement Colyer was the failed right-hand man to Brownback.

Besides reminding Kansans of the broken budgets and underfunded public schools of the Brownback era, Colyers announcement confirms that the GOP primary field is going to be crowded, chaotic and focused on extreme partisan policies, Newton said.

Newton said Kansas would be better off with a governor like Kelly who took a middle-of-the-road approach to leadership, balanced the state budget, promoted business investment and ended the states sales tax on groceries.

Hoffman, treasurer of Colyers campaign, said Colyer was more than a politician, he is a humanitarian  selflessly serving those in need around the world. Hell make a great governor.

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Colyer, a surgeon in the Kansas City area who served international medical missions, was the states 47th governor from January 2018 to January 2019.

He was lieutenant governor under Brownback from 2011-2018. He was in the Senate from 2009-2011 and the Kansas House from 2007-2009. In 2002, he unsuccessful sought the GOP nomination for U.S. House.
The former head of the Broward Sheriffs Office Tamarac unit has been fired following his demotion over a triple murder in February, according to a notice of termination released to the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday.

Jemeriah Cooper was a captain serving at the helm of the unit when Mary Gingles, her father and a neighbor were shot and killed, deputies say, by her husband, Nathan, in her Tamarac neighborhood. In the weeks following the murders, Cooper was demoted to deputy, serving in the Port Everglades division. He was also placed on probation.

On Friday, Coopers termination was issued and his pay discontinued for failure to meet probationary standards, according to the notice. The termination was finalized on Tuesday.

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On a Sunday morning in February, Nathan Gingles, 43, had shot and killed his father-in-law, David Ponzer, then took the couples 4-year-old daughter as he chased his wife through the neighborhood before killing her as well as Andrew Ferrin, 36, a stranger whose home she had run into to try to escape, according to the Sheriffs Office.

Cooper was among several BSO employees either demoted or placed on leave after the murders. Mary Gingles had frequently notified the Sheriffs Office of Nathans threats to her life  including providing information about a backpack full of suspicious supplies and a tracker on her car  but he was never arrested or detained. A judge had ordered his guns surrendered under a domestic violence injunction, but Sheriffs Office personnel never took them, including the gun he used to commit the murders.

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Prior to his promotion to the Tamarac district, Cooper had faced allegations of sexually harassing four deputies, according to internal affairs records. Investigators sustained a conduct unbecoming finding in his case, but not a finding of sexual harassment.

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Cooper declined to comment when reached by phone Tuesday.

Eight other deputies, many of them in the Tamarac district, were placed on administrative leave with pay after the murders. One of them, Detective Brittney King, also had a change in her status this month. On May 1, internal affairs notified her that she had been placed on administrative investigative leave without pay, according to a notice obtained by the Sun Sentinel.

King is under investigation in relation to the following charges: Discretion, Breach of Confidence, Meeting BSO Standards; to-wit: Criminal lnvestigations and Detective Duties and Responsibilities, Meeting BSO Standards; to-wit: Domestic Violence/Dating Violence case Procedure, Neglect of Duty, Evidence and Property, Case File Maintenance System, Body Worn Cameras (BWG), and Risk Protection Order (RPO), according to the notice.

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King was heavily involved in the investigation into a tracker that Gingles said her husband had placed on her car, according to emails obtained by the Sun Sentinel, an investigation that could have resulted in her husbands arrest.

The detective had authored an application for a search warrant of the GPS tracker in support of a domestic violence stalking charge on Jan. 16, a month before the murder, records show. The warrant would have allowed BSO to identify the person who bought the tracker and make an arrest. The application for the warrant said the owner of the tracker was unknown.

It is unclear whether the application for the warrant was ever presented to a judge, or if BSO did present it to a judge and the judge did not approve it.

Meanwhile, another of the deputies under investigation, Lieutenant Michael Paparella, returned to full duty on April 28, according to records.

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We are very disappointed that the decision was made to move Detective Brittney King to no-pay status,' Dan Rakofsky, the president of IUPA 6020, the BSO deputies union, said in an email. This decision was obviously made without the due process that must accompany any investigation into the performance of a law enforcement officer. We adamantly oppose this action and will fight for our members when the case is properly concluded. Detective King is obviously the first of the scapegoats that the Sheriff promised the public.

Cooper also became a member of the union after his demotion to deputy.

On Friday, he was informed that he failed to meet probationary standards, but we are unaware of any reason for his termination, Rakofsky said.

Requests for the job status of the remaining deputies were not available as of Tuesday afternoon.

Staff writer Angie DiMichele contributed to this report.
New research from Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) reveals that the Australian telecommunications industry is being thwarted by data security and accessibility issues. The study surveyed 234 telecomms professionals in Australia. 46% of survey respondents cite organisational challenges of protecting sensitive data and ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.

Appian research reveals that 90% of telcos have invested in digital solutions but data security and access hurdles remain

The survey also found that 74% are operating with incomplete data, which negatively impacts their ability to do their job with accurate and comprehensive information. In a highly competitive and fast-paced industry like telecommunications, where customers expect real-time solutions and seamless service, these data gaps can erode trust, damage a companys reputation and impact the bottom line.

Telecoms data security vulnerability

Recent digital advancements are transforming the telecommunications industry yet also creating security challenges. 90% of respondents say their organisations have introduced new digital tools or initiatives over the past five years. But this evolution is not necessarily keeping pace with the increased sophistication and frequency of cyber-attacks.

With a rapidly growing digital economy and infrastructure, Australia is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. This year,

Telstra, one of the nations largest telco providers, was targeted in a data breach that impacted 47,000 customers. The impacts of such data breaches can include financial losses, regulatory fines and reputational damage.

New digital tools and processes can be a double-edged sword, said Luke Thomas, Area Vice President Asia Pacific and Japan at Appian

On the one hand, technology has revolutionised the telecommunications industry, with big data and AI driving innovation to enhance productivity and improve the customer experience. However, if implemented without a clear cyber-security strategy, digitisation and its accompanying data influx can expose organisations to additional vulnerability.

Data security also appears to be a more significant challenge for the telecommunications sector, in comparison to other industries. In comparative research, only 36% of supply chain workers and energy professionals cited data security as an issue.

To mitigate cyber security vulnerabilities, Appian recommends an enterprise-grade security solution that can provide an organisation with control of its security posture to improve data security and privacy. Single sign-on (SSO) authentication and authorisation, plus real-time intrusion detection monitoring and response are key features. A highly secured system also enhances compliance with policies and regulations at the local, state, federal and global levels.

A lack of connection with incomplete, inaccessible data

In addition to facing a data security challenge, the telecommunications industry is hindered by incomplete data, or workers lacking access to the data they need. Of those surveyed, 39% cited data accessibility as a common challenge for their organisation, and 35% said that its difficult for them to access the data they need to do their daily jobs.

In an immediate sense, a lack of complete or accessible data can impact telecommunications workers' ability to make informed decisions. This has wider implications in their abilities to troubleshoot issues, provide reliable customer support, or optimise network performance, explains Thomas. This can have a detrimental effect on an organisations workforce, negatively impacting employee experience and morale. Its not a great image for the telecommunications industry, which is in the business of connecting people.

Almost half of respondents (49%) reported that the inability to access complete and accurate data impacts their ability to complete reporting and analysis. 29% acknowledge a similar impact on budgeting and planning.

This lack of data visibility limits an organisation's ability to innovate, respond to market demands, and maintain competitive advantage, as decisions made without reliable information are inherently riskier and often less effective. This creates a ripple effect, slowing down processes, increasing operational costs, and ultimately impacting the bottom line, Thomas continued.

To address these challenges, Appian advocates implementing a modern process orchestration platform, enhanced by data fabric and AI. This provides an architectural layer and toolkit that seamlessly integrates data across different systems to create a centralised, unified view. Data fabric substantially enhances both security and operational efficiency for telecommunications providers. It allows for precise control over who can view, update, and delete data ensuring that every piece of information is accurately accounted for and securely managed.

The potential of AI for telecoms

Despite the industrys significant investment in data solutions, 54% of telecommunications workers admit to rarely or never using AI in their roles. With increasing awareness and education available around the benefits of AI for organisations, this highlights the opportunity for Australias telecoms sector to revolutionise processes, data management, and security with AI.

"AI and advanced data management tools can be transformative for the complex data security and data access challenges that the telecoms industry is facing. Real-time threat detection and response and streamlined, connected data help foster a more responsive and resilient data ecosystem that can revolutionise workers lives, boost operational efficiencies and benefit the end customer, concluded Thomas.

In addition, having AI embedded as part of operational telco processes will help with productivity, governance, and accountability  all essential to delivering value from AI. Deploying AI in isolated projects is complex and costly. By embedding AI within a process, enterprises can access valuable AI capabilities when and where they need them, in just a few clicks.

Process gives AI data. AI is nothing without data. But most enterprises struggle to feed AI complete data from across systems, while still ensuring privacy and maintaining access privileges. By integrating AI into processes, enterprises ensure AI receives quality, real-time data from all systems. They can enforce privacy controls to prevent unauthorized access and optimize data governance to comply with regulations

Download the full Appian Asia Pacific Data Trends Whitepaper to learn how telcos can build resilience by improving data security and data access and automating process orchestration to improve visibility, agility, and profitability.



About Appian

Appian is The Process Company. We deliver a software platform that helps organisations run better processes that reduce costs, improve customer experiences, and gain a strategic edge. Committed to client success, we serve many of the worlds largest companies across various industries. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

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Scam messages purportedly sent by state accounts flooded Hoosier inboxes Tuesday. (Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Fraudulent messages purportedly sent by state agencies about collecting tolls are scams, the Indiana Office of Technology confirmed Tuesday.

The office cautioned Hoosiers to not click on any of the links, noting that Indiana does not send unpaid toll notifications via text or email messages.

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A (former) contractors account was hacked and used to send those messages, the office added.

Each scam message says it was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of numerous state agencies. Some of the messages came purportedly from former Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Indiana previously used the platform, offered by Colorado-based Granicus, to manage digital communications with constituents. The contract for those services ended December 31  but Indianas account wasnt removed, according to IOT.

The office said its working with the company to stop any further communications.

Agencies like the Department of Revenue and Alcohol & Tobacco Commission also warned subscribers on Tuesday to ignore and delete the spam messages, and apologized for the inconvenience.

Indiana has since switched over to products from California-based Salesforce.
Wren Clair - KSTP

Wren Clair will join Minneapolis, Minnesota NBC affiliate KARE on May 19.

Clair left Minneapolis ABC affiliate KSTP suddenly in February after nearly seven years there. At the time, news director Kirk Varner confirmed she left the station, but gave no further details.

We're excited to have Wren join the team of talented meteorologists at KARE 11, said Doug Wieder, KARE president and general manager. Her expertise in weather forecasting and commitment to viewers aligns perfectly with our station's mission.

Clair joined KSTP in 2018 after working at stations in Wisconsin and Boston.
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (FOX 56)  Controversy continues to swirl in Lawrenceburg after the citys fire chief resigned last week along with several other firefighters.

The former chief is now speaking out, revealing why he felt forced to walk away. John Durr has dedicated more than thirty years of his life to fighting fires and saving lives. To him, the job is personal.

As a young man, he watched his brother fight the fire that burned down his familys home, which inspired him to do the same for others.

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To be able to save that photo album or that chest or something that was handed down to the family for years, thats whats meaningful to them, said Durr.

He has spent much of his firefighting career in Lawrenceburg, becoming fire chief last October and overseeing a crew of 17 volunteers.

But even with our numbers that we had, we had some people that were on medical-like duty, he said. They had, you know, personal issues or whatever, and theyre not considered interior firefighters.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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He said staffing with volunteers can make some shifts harder to fill.

In the middle of the day, when everybodys at work, youre going to get less numbers, you know, and in the middle of the night when everybodys asleep, then how many numbers are you going to get? Durr asked.

Which is why he said he fought for a mutual aid agreement with the countys fire department. He said it would have provided rescue services for city firemen who may become trapped while fighting major fires.

That team wasnt to go on the roof and cut holes, said Durr. That team was only there to save my guys.

But Durr said each time he requested to partner with the county department, city leaders turned him down.

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For me to have to fight to try to get us more help and to have to explain that and beg for thatI felt like it was wrong.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

He said he believed the safety of his crew was being compromised, which is ultimately why he decided to resign.

At the end of the day, the responsibility is going to fall back on the chief. And when it comes to command decisions, when it comes to dispatch decisions, and when it comes to monetary decisions, Durr added.

At least ten others have also resigned, citing similar reasons. In one resignation letter, a former firefighter stated, I have always believed in the core values of integrity, accountability, and public service that this role demands, and I feel those principles are no longer upheld within the department.

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This makes for a toxic environment and undermines the reason we wanted to be a fireman to begin with, one stated.

With the current status of the department, I feel it is no longer safe for me to continue, another one wrote.

But Mayor Troy Young released a statement on Friday, saying two of the volunteers have withdrawn their resignations. He said eight new firefighters have been hired, and the department is well-positioned to provide quality service.

Youngs full statement reads:

I met with Chief Durr on Tuesday morning, May 6, and at that time he submitted his prepared letter of resignation and one additional resignation letter from a firefighter. On Thursday, May 8, at 11:34 A.M. Chief Durr delivered a folder with 10 additional letters of resignation from firefighters. As of today, May 9, two of the firefighters have withdrawn their resignations. At no time were the residents of the City of Lawrenceburg without fire protection. In a strong show of community and professional support, an abundance of qualified firefighters has joined the department. Among the new personnel are eight certified firefighters, including five certified training officers, ensuring the department remains not only fully staffed but also well-positioned to provide continued high-quality service and internal training. We are looking forward to them joining the roster with our current dedicated firefighters. The City of Lawrenceburg Fire Department was originally founded in 1904 and remains committed to its mission of providing effective emergency response and public safety. The department looks forward to continuing to serve the community with professionalism, skill, and integrity. Mayor Troy Young

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 56 News.
A former longtime area school administrator learned how long he will spend behind bars for a sexual assault case involving a child.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Chad Hill, 55, was sentenced to one and a half years in prison and five years of probation, according to Greene County Court of Common Pleas records filed on May 9.

Hill is also required to register as a Tier I sex offender, meaning he must register his address every year for 15 years.

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As previously reported by News Center 7, Hill pleaded guilty to a charge of gross sexual imposition and a rape charge was dropped.

Beavercreek police were called to a home on March 9, 2024, about a sex offense.

Police confirmed that the victim in the case was a juvenile, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

Hill was employed at Greene County Educational Service Center (ESC) at the time of the offense, but police confirmed the victim was not a student.

Greene County ESC previously told News Center 7 that Hill resigned for personal reasons on May 10, 2024.

Hill has worked for several schools over the years. A spokesperson for the Dayton Regional STEM School confirmed he performed part-time contracted treasurer services for the school from July 2019 to December 2023.

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Hills LinkedIn profile shows he previously served as the high school principal for Vandalia-Butler City Schools and New Lebanon Local Schools.

He also previously worked at Huber Heights City Schools, Tecumseh High School, and Madison Local Schools.

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ST. LOUIS  Former Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator Christopher Kit Bond died Tuesday in St. Louis at age 86, Governor Mike Kehoe announced.

Kehoe has ordered all U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at all government buildings and grounds across the state from Tuesday until sunset on May 22, after Bond is buried.

Bond will be honored at a State Memorial Service on Tuesday, May 20, held at noon inside the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. The service is open to the public. Afterward, the late governor will lie in state in the rotunda for 24 hours to allow Missourians an opportunity to pay their respects.

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Funeral services will beheld at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, 9450 Clayton Road, on May 22 at 1 p.m. All are welcomed to attend.

A private burial will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to a charity of your own choosing. The family identified a handful of charities that were important to Bond:

Kit leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Linda Holwick Bond; his son Samuel Reid Bond, referred by Kit as his hero for his service as a U.S. Marine in Iraq, and Sams family, wife Margaret Crews Bond, granddaughter Elizabeth Ivy Bond (14) and grandson Samuel Walker Bond (11). Kit Bond was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Bond and brother, Arthur Bond Jr.

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Bond was born in St. Louis on March 6, 1939. He had a love of Cardinals baseball, Chis football, the Mizzou Tigers, and fishing. He was passionate about his chestnut trees, which he planted by hand on his familys property in Mexico, Missouri. At one time, Bond had the largest chestnut orchard in the state.

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In a statement, Kehoe described Bond as a skilled statesman and fierce advocate for Missouri.

Kit Bond was a skilled statesman, public servant, and a man who truly loved Missouri. I am blessed to have known Kit and honored to call him a friend and a mentor. Kit, always with his trademark smile and sense of humor, was a fierce advocate for Missouri throughout his accomplished 40-year career of public service. Kit kept Missouris interests at heart, both in office and out, making our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Whenever he was thanked for his service, Kits response was always, Serving the people of Missouri was the honor of my life. His legacy as a favorite son to his beloved State of Missouri lives on through all he achieved for his home state. Kit touched the lives of so many men and women throughout his career, and today I join them in grieving the loss of a good man. Just as they will miss their friend and mentor, so will I. On behalf of all Missourians, Claudia and I share our deepest condolences and offer our prayers for his wife Linda, his son Sam, and the entire Bond family. Statement from Governor Mike Kehoe

A cause of death was not announced.

Bond attended Deerfield Academy, a college preparatory boarding school in Massachusetts, and graduated from Princeton University in 1960 with an A.B. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1963, finishing top of his class.

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After practicing law in Washington, D.C. from 1964 to 1967, Bond moved that fall to Mexico, Missouri, his maternal grandfathers hometown. He first sought public office in 1968, in an unsuccessful attempt to unseat incumbent Democrat Bill Hungate for his spot in the U.S. House of Representatives. The following year, Missouri Attorney General John Danforth appointed Bond to lead the Consumer Protection Division.

In 1970, Bond defeated long-time incumbent Haskell Holman to become Missouri State Auditor. Bond was 31.

Just two years later, Bond made history by winning the governorship, becoming the first Republican governor in Missouri in 28 years, and, at 33, the youngest governor in state history. His campaign sparked controversy due to the states residency requirement to seek office. According to state law, a candidate for governor must be a resident for at least 10 years, but Bond had lived in Missouri for half that time. Bond was challenged in court, but the Missouri Supreme Court ultimately sided with him.

In 1976, Bond famously rescinded former Governor Lilburn Boggs 1838 exterminator order against Mormons. That fall, Bond lost his re-election bid to Joseph P. Teasdale in a narrow race. After his defeat, the late governor joked, experience is what you get when you expect to

get something else. Bond bounced back and beat Teasdale in a gubernatorial rematch in 1980.

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After Sen. Thomas Eagleton said he would not seek a fourth term in office, Bond ran and won the 1986 race to fill the vacancy. Bond would go on to serve four terms in office. He opted to retire rather than run in the 2010 election. He was succeeded in office by then-Rep. Roy Blunt. After leaving politics, Bond founded Kit Bond Strategies, now known as KBS Group.

The tributes to the late senator and governor have poured in since word of his passing, from both sides of the aisle, with political friends and foes heralding his dedication to Missouri and the St. Louis area, and commitment to public service.

Senator Eric Schmitt said Bond helped to improve the lives of generations of Missourians across the Show Me State, and Senator Josh Hawley called Bond a champion for Missouri who served his state and his nation with the utmost distinction for decades.

John Danforth, Bonds former boss in the Missouri AGs Office turned colleague in the US. Senate, said Bond was a legislators legislator.

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Kit Bond was, maybe, the most consequential person in the history of our state, Danforth said. And thats what weve lost today.

Bond championed measures big and small, from cleaning up nuclear waste in Weldon Spring, to helping former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay secure federal funding to remake Washington Avenue in the downtown area, or getting a pedestrian bridge built over car traffic at the St. Louis Zoo, after the 2001 death of seven-year-old Luke Maue, who was killed by a drunk driver.

He was an upstanding and outstanding person, and just a fun guy to be around. He was a professional, but he had a great personality as well, Slay said. And there was no talk about party politics when he and I were together working on things. It was just about helping to get things done for his constituencies and for the state of Missouri.

Rep. Ann Wagner described Bond as a forward-thinking visionary who supported women entering public service and was both a mentor and friend to her.

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Few people in Missouri politics have had more of a positive influence on our state and the nation than Senator Kit Bond. A true statesman seemingly from a bygone era in todays divisive world, Kit Bond devoted his life to public service, working with others to find the best ways to lift up Missouri and the nation, to make it a better place for those he was so honored to serve. He was a cheerful warrior who always had an encouraging word and a smile on his face, even in challenging times.

After leaving elected office, Kit continued to advocate for our state and the policies he fought for throughout his career. My happiest phone calls in recent memory were from Kit and Linda inviting Ray and me to dinner. Sharing stories about Missouri politics, both past and present, spanning three decades, was always the highlight of the evening, and something I will miss dearly. At a time when it was hard for women to break into politics, Kit was a forward-thinking visionary who worked to promote and advance the careers of many women entering public service. I was so honored to serve as Missouri Republican Party Chairman alongside Kits incomparable female Chief of Staff Julie Dammann and Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway, advancing strong conservative policies that benefitted our state. Ray and I are heartbroken to hear of his passing and our prayers are with his wife Linda, who took such incredible care of him and supported him always, as well as his son, Sam, and the entire Bond family. Kit was a dear friend, a mentor, and I would not be where I am today were it not for his friendship, advice and support. I will miss him every day. Statement from Congresswoman Ann Wagner

According to Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan, the state has lost a giant.

Kits service to Missouri was defined by his deep commitment to improving the lives of our citizens, whether through securing vital infrastructure projects or supporting critical economic initiatives, Carnahan said in a statement. He was a man of principle, integrity, and, above all, love for the people of Missouri. His leadership set a high bar for future generations, and he leaves behind a powerful example of dedication and resilience.

In that statement, Russ quoted his late mother, former Senator Jean Carnahan, when discussing Bonds service:

On the national scene, Missouris senior senator remains an advocate of family issues. He was a strong supporter of Head Start, Family and Medical Leave legislation, and the Parents as Teachers program. The National Journal labeled him a conservative with a soft spot for cities and housing. Colleagues give him high marks for his gregarious manner and efforts to find solutions that work. One Democratic senator noted, [Bond] always tries to form alliances in the sensible centera trait that has served him well both in the nations capital and with his midwestern constituency. Jean Carnahan, If Walls Could Talk

Photo credit: Charles L. Barnes

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Europe has to drastically increase its defence spending, former NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday.

Military expenditure should be raised to 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) or more, he said at the start of a democracy summit in Copenhagen.

NATO countries in Europe spend significantly less on defence, which US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized.

The two-day summit, which Rasmussen helped to organize, is taking place for the eighth time in the Danish capital.

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Among the speakers this year are the EU's foreign affairs representative, Kaja Kallas, and former British prime minister David Cameron.

In light of Trump's policies and the threat from Russia, the focus is primarily on European defence and the future of trans-Atlantic relations.

Sharp criticism of Trump

In his opening speech, Rasmussen did not hold back in his criticism of current US policy.

"Today, the values we jointly defended are being replaced by words from our history books: territorial expansion, spheres of influence, might makes right, and of course, America first," he listed, without directly naming Trump.

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Rasmussen was Danish prime minister from 2001 to 2009 and subsequently NATO secretary general until 2014.

With regard to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rasmussen warned: "I know Putin. He has his eyes on NATO territory. Our intelligence services tell us the same thing."

"We can stop him only be rebuilding our deterrence," he added. "Effective deterrence requires that our enemy realizis that the prize of aggression is unbearable."
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark.  A former officer says she sounded the alarm years ago on four West Memphis Police officers put on leave after allegations of sexual misconduct.



Major Stacy Allen, Captain Mose Walker and officers Ivora Hall and Treasure Gaither are under a cloud of controversy over sexual misconduct allegations. The officers were put on leave several weeks ago as part of a state investigation.



Jennifer Jordan spent 13 years on the West Memphis Police Force leaving in 2021. She says as the top female officer, 12 to 13 other women came to her with complaints.

4 West Memphis law enforcement officers placed on leave

Major Stacy Allen, Captains Mose Walker and Ivora Hall and Officer Treasure Gaither

There were some things that were brought to my attention by some female employees, that they were not feeling safe in their work environment. So, as a sergeant at the time, I took it upon myself to put myself out there and speak up for them, Jordan said.



For the first time, she is speaking publicly about the problems on the force.



Im no longer in law enforcement, and I feel like its important that we put a face to some of this, she said.

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Because she says what was happening then is still happening now.



Most of the allegations were sexual misconduct of individuals in positions of authority that were using their positions of authority to manipulate women into doing things maybe they didnt want to do, Jordan said. There were some allegations of stalking, there was harassment. There were women that were afraid to come to work every day.

The new allegations dont surprise her. Neither does the pace of the investigation.

Still we received nothing but push back. It was constant delays, Jordan said. I dont know how long they were suspended that time, but it was a really long time they were suspended with pay, and I think this time theyre also suspended with pay. So basically, they just get a free vacation while we stress about the outcome.

This weekend came reports that one of the officers, Major Stacy Allen, had been officially fired from the police department.

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Women detail allegations against West Memphis Police major

He is the only current officer who was part of the investigation during Jordans tenure.

Jordan said she heard that there were four individuals fired, but in the same text thread, she was told that the mayor might back out.

WREG reached out to the City of West Memphis for comment.



In a statement, the city said we are unable to comment on personnel matters involving individual employees, where there is legal action pending, including the status of Major Stacy Allen or others previously placed on administrative leave.



But they did say all the officers were still on paid leave and the investigation is ongoing.

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The last time we saw Major Allen and Captain Walker was in a city council video last month when they appeared with their attorney before council members for a name-clearing hearing.

Meeting gets heated as West Memphis officers seek to clear names amid sexual harassment accusations

The City of West Memphis says no interviews will be done regarding the officers, leaving many wondering whats to come, and one former officer doubtful.

Nothing was done, Jordan said. Not only was nothing done, but the safety measures that were put in place to protect females and and other people they werent adhered to, so I genuinely have seen no movement that would make me believe that the police department is any safer or better.

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The City of West Memphis said the police investigation is being conducted by their internal affairs division with the support of an independent, thrid-party contractor.

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NIAGARA FALLS  When the Niagara Region for New York State Parks moved its offices from Niagara Falls State Park to DeVeaux Woods State Park three years ago, it left behind an empty administration building that a lot of visitors pass by. Theyre being put to good use again.

The former offices are now home to the archives for all the state parks of Niagara and Erie counties, dating back to when Niagara Falls State Park was created in 1885. What had been stored in various state park offices is now in one place for everyone to look at on their own time or for research.

Were so hopeful that with the addition of these exhibits, the archive will help draw a different kind of visitor, said Mark Mistretta, the Western District Director for State Parks, adding it would be open year-round.

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Items found include photographs, manuscripts, maps and letters. There is also an exhibit on display, The Fight to Preserve Niagara, highlighting artifacts dating to the state parks creation, with the original founding documents and correspondence with Free Niagara Movement members Thomas Welch and Frederick Law Olmsted.

Courtney Geerhart, a former employee at the Niagara Falls Public Library, has been curating all these items and their move over the past year. She found the opportunity to be the first curator here very exciting.

The goal has always been to make these materials more accessible and highlight their vital role in telling the story of our parks, Geerhart said. Archives are more than just storage. They safeguard the stories that shape our understanding of where weve been, how weve changed, and why these places matter.

One room containing the majority of the archives was dedicated to Barry Virgilio, a 41-year State Parks employee who worked on cataloguing, preserving, and sharing the stories within the archives. He was instrumental in saving the materials first when the Beaver Island Casino burned down in 1992 and when their subsequent space in a freezer at Joseph Davis State Park lost power, threatening the papers by melting.

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Aside from housing the archives, the building holds the parks education team office and a community room for events.

The building is connected to the State Park welcome center through an underground tunnel.

Geerhart advises that anyone looking to go through the archives make an appointment so they can get the materials out ahead of time. They request about a weeks notice beforehand.
The former boss of broadband provider TalkTalk is bidding to become the first woman to chair Channel 4.

Dame Tristia Harrison is among the contenders to replace Sir Ian Cheshire, The Telegraph has learnt.

She served as chief executive of TalkTalk from 2017 until late last year.

The 52-year-old, who received a damehood for services to telecoms last year, is also on the board of trustees at homelessness charity Crisis and is a non-executive director at retailer Next.

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Sir Ian left the broadcaster last month after he was not appointed for a second three-year term. His tenure included a winning fight against privatisation with the Conservatives.

Sir Ian Cheshire stepped down as the chairman of Channel 4 in April - Christopher Pledger for The Telegraph

The hunt for a new chairman, which is being overseen by Lord Grade, the chairman of Ofcom, comes at a critical time for Channel 4.

Alex Mahon, the chief executive, last month announced she will also step down this summer. The new chairman will be expected to lead the search for her replacement.

Jonathan Allan, Channel 4s operations chief, will replace Ms Mahon on an interim basis, while veteran media executive Dawn Airey has taken up the role of interim chairman.

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Ms Airey, who in previous media jobs sparred with Lord Grade, is not in the running to lead the board permanently. An appointment is expected by autumn.

Dame Tristia is bidding to become the first female chairman of Channel 4 since it was founded in 1982, in competition with the entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow.

Ms Wosskow, 51, is already on the board as a non-executive director, and is seeking the chairman role, Sky News reported.

She founded home exchange website Love Home Swap and is co-chairman of Invest in Women, a government-backed scheme supporting female entrepreneurs.

The new chairman will also be tasked with leading the channel through a period of turmoil for traditional TV.

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Channel 4, which is publicly owned but commercially funded, last year crashed to a record 52m deficit after it was hit by an advertising downturn. The company slashed around 240 jobs and said it would sell its London headquarters in an effort to balance the books.

Bosses have said they expect to broadly break even this year. Nevertheless, the broadcaster is facing a significant challenge as it tries to stem the exodus of its target Gen Z audience to streaming rivals and social media apps such as TikTok and YouTube.

The shift in viewing habits has also hurt rival ITV, which is now facing the prospect of a potential merger or sale, while the BBC is locked in talks about the future of its licence fee funding model.

The challenges have led many industry observers to speculate about the need for mergers to take on deep-pocketed US rivals.

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Ms Harrison and Channel 4 declined to comment. Ofcom was contacted for comment.

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SAN DIEGO (AP)  A onetime county teacher of the year at a Southern California elementary school has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for grooming and sexually assaulting two young boys on campus.

Jacqueline Ma, who taught at Lincoln Acres Elementary in National City near San Diego, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, one count of a lewd act on a child, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.

She was arrested in March 2023 after the mother of one of the victims reported inappropriate messages she found between her son and Ma on a family tablet. Investigators learned that Ma had groomed the boy for more than a year before she sexually abused him when he was 12 years old, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.

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Investigators also discovered that she had groomed and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy in 2020.

This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible and her actions are despicable, District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement last week. Her victims will have to deal with a lifetime of negative effects and her 30-year sentence is appropriate.

Ma had taught in the district since 2013 and had a bachelors degree in biology and a masters in education, both from UC San Diego, according to her teacher of the year profile in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The award was given for the 2022-23 academic year by the San Diego County Office of Education.
COMPANY NEWS: Addressing the growing demand for professionals trained in applied Artificial Intelligence, IIT Roorkee, through its Continuing Education Centre (CEC), has partnered with Scaler, a tech education soonicorn, to launch an Advanced AI Engineering Program. The initiative aims to equip learners with hands-on skills in AI and machine learning, preparing them for high-impact roles in an increasingly technology-driven workforce.

Designed for both tech and non-tech professionals, it offers flexibility and real-world learning, with a curriculum curated in collaboration with industry experts and faculty from IIT Roorkee. The course comprises comprehensive modules that cover core concepts of machine learning and deep learning, with a strong emphasis on practical applications. The curriculum will cover the use of large language models (LLMS) for system design and developer productivity, featuring hands-on training with tools such as Cursor and Copilot. Additional modules include building AI agents using industry frameworks, evaluating generative AI applications, and working with LLMS across modalities such as text, image, audio, and video, integrating APIs like OpenAI and ChatCompletion for a comprehensive understanding of generative AI in action. Students will also be learning to apply AI in specific sectors and industries. For example, in the healthcare sector, learners will learn to utilise AI to build efficiencies through advancements in diagnosis, drug discovery, and patient care.

Delivered through a blend of live online classes and hands-on learning through real-world projects, the program also includes a two-day campus immersion at IIT Roorkee. As part of the campus immersion, learners will get access to the resources and facilities of IIT-R, including their state-of-the-art research lab. Learners will also have the opportunity to interact and engage with like-minded peers, as well as industry leaders on campus through networking events.

Our partnership with Scaler represents a strategic step towards shaping the future of technical education by combining academic depth with industry-driven innovation, said Professor Kaushik Ghosh, Coordinator, CEC, IIT Roorkee. Through this collaboration, we aim to launch a series of programs that address emerging fields and equip learners with future-ready skills. The successful launch of the Advanced AI Engineering Program is just the beginning  and a strong example of the kind of impact we aspire to create together.

Upon successful completion of the two-month program, participants will receive a joint certificate from the Continuing Education Centre at IIT Roorkee and Scaler. This certificate program not only adds credibility to their professional profile but also serves as formal recognition of their ability to work with advanced AI technologies. It can support career transitions into roles such as Data Scientist, AI Engineer, DevOps Engineer or Software Developer, and demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning in a rapidly evolving field.

Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler and InterviewBit, said, "Our partnership with IIT Roorkee reflects a shared commitment to building the next generation of tech talent by blending academic excellence with real-world industry readiness. This collaboration is not limited to a single program  it marks the beginning of a broader, strategic initiative to launch cutting-edge learning opportunities in high-growth technology domains."

Scaler offers courses in Software Development, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, as well as a four-year residential undergraduate program and an 18-month master's program. The curriculum is designed to be structured and practical, with one-on-one mentorship to support learners at every stage of their learning journey. These programs help individuals build the skills needed for roles such as full-stack developer, back-end engineer, data scientist, data analyst, and machine learning engineer.

About IIT Rookee:

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is among the foremost institutes of national importance in higher technological education and engineering, as well as basic and applied research. Since its establishment, the Institute has played a vital role in providing the country with technical manpower and know-how in the pursuit of research. The Institute ranks amongst the best technological institutions in the world and has contributed to all sectors of technological development. It has also been considered a trendsetter in the area of education and research in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. The Institute had celebrated its Sesquicentennial in October 1996 and has now completed more than 175 years of its existence. It was converted to IIT on September 21, 2001, by an Ordinance issued by the Government of India declaring it the nations seventh Indian Institute of Technology, an Institution of National Importance.

About Scaler:

Launched in 2019, Scaler is India's leading tech education company, upskilling working professionals and educating aspiring engineering students. Scaler's industry-vetted curriculum provides solutions to real-world challenges, addressing the changing dynamics of the technology industry through three flagship programmes: Scaler Academy, Scaler DSML and Scaler DevOPS. Scaler believes in creating real-life impact by focusing on 'impact-driven' tech talent. Enrolled learners are mentored and taught by leaders and subject-matter experts working with leading organisations, including MAANG companies. Scaler has achieved enviable career outcomes in a short period, and on average, its learners see a 4.5x return on investment (ROI) and a salary hike of approximately 126%. To further redefine tech education, Scaler has launched Scaler Neovarsity, an online university offering an outcome-focused Master's Programme accredited with ECTS. Additionally, Scaler has established the Scaler School of Business, a Postgraduate Program in Management and Technology, and the Scaler School of Technology, a four-year residential undergraduate program in Computer Science. Scaler Enterprise is its B2B arm, focusing on building relationships with domestic and global organisations to provide them with industry-ready talent. Over 1000+ companies have worked with Scaler for their tech recruitment needs. The startup's parent firm, InterviewBit, has been featured on the Financial Times' Asia Pacific High Growth Companies rankings for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Scaler has also been featured by Time Magazine in its 2024 ranking of the world's rising stars in the edtech industry. Valued at $710 million, Scaler is backed by marquee global investors like Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), Tiger Global, and Lightrock India. It has expanded its footprint across India and the US.

For more information, please visit: www.scaler.com
Forsyth County Association of Educators concerned about Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools financial crisis

FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  The Forsyth County Association of Educators held an urgent meeting on Monday, expressing concerns about the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools financial crisis and potential impacts they may face.

Their biggest concern is that some employees fear the district is running out of money and wont be able to pay them.

The president of the FCAE said during the virtual Zoom meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. that they plan to demand transparency from the district about the financial crisis ahead of the board of education meeting that will be held on Tuesday.

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Where are we going forward, especially tomorrow when were trying to vote on the budget for next year? Where are we at right now  Where are we going forward? Because then theyll be taking that to the county commissioners who end up deciding how much to actually give us, President of the FCAE Jenny Easter said.

This comes as the district faces an investigation by the state auditors office and an $8 million shortfall this year, which is expected to grow to a $16 million shortfall next year.

A finance firm found WS/FCS was overspending on personnel, zoning in on 81 central office positions being eliminated or left unfilled.

They may not be student-facing positions, but they are definitely positions that help with our finance and help with our payroll and HR  As we keep losing these workers in our district  what does that mean for our schools with the students?  We know that our working conditions are their learning conditions, Easter said.

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Concern is turning into panic for some employees with WS/FCS.

Easter said her members want the district to clarify the potential impacts the districts financial challenges will have on employees.

It was stated at the state board of ed meeting  that the district might not have the funds to make payroll in May  Whether thats the truth or not, thats the only thing weve heard, Easter said.

Regarding concerns about district staff being paid, a spokesperson with WS/FCS said, All employees will receive their pay for the mid- and end-of-month pay periods.

The school board will meet on Tuesday night to discuss the current state of the 2024 to 2025 budget at 6:30 p.m.

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In addition, the board will meet in a closed session from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter. Closed session of the full board will begin at 5:30 p.m.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  May 17 is Armed Forces Day and Fort Conchos artillery crew will be firing on the hour every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to a social media post from the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, service members looking for an activity with their family, the fort will have an onsite activity book for the kiddos to complete as you tour the post.

Armed Forces Day designed to pay tribute to those currently serving in our armed forces. May 17 is the start of the Blue Star Museum program nationwide. All active-duty military and their families can get free admissions to participating museums. Fort Concho will run this offer to veterans and their families as well.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Four men, including a minor, were arrested in connection to a shooting that killed a teenager and injured a woman, North Richland Hills Police said in a release Monday.

Officers responded to the 8400 block of Emerald Hills Way on April 29, where they found a 17-year-old boy inside a car. He had been shot.

The teenager, Alvin Sweet of Watauga, later died, police said.

Sweet was found inside a Honda Civic that had crashed into a parked vehicle, police said.

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A 30-year-old woman who was a bystander was also injured by a stray bullet during the shooting, police said.

Police arrested three men on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. An additional minor suspect was taken into custody on Monday, May 12, police said.

Investigators determined that the people responsible were known to Sweet and that the motivation for the shooting was drug related.

North Richland Hills police said the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the North Richland Hills Police Department at 817-281-1000 or Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-TIPS to remain anonymous.

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 Japanese, New York investors own thousands of suburban Fort Worth homes

 What can Florida school vouchers tell us about Texas?

 TCU students cars targeted in burglaries

[Get our breaking news alerts.]

Police have not released details about the charges the suspects might face.

The information about the suspects bond amounts will not be available until they have appeared before a judge, police said.
Frankenmuth is looking ahead to its first and only luxury boutique hotel, set to open in 2026  and it will come complete with a speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden underneath.

Zehnders of Frankenmuth has announced plans for Landmark Lounge, an intimate cocktail experience located beneath in-progress hotel The Mill at Zehnder Park. Identified as an elevated destination for crafted cocktails and smaller bites in the lower level of the historic building, the 1,680-square-foot space will offer a dark, moody ambience enriched by velvet and leather textures, a dramatic wood bar, and low-top tables with seating for up to 50 guests.

The overall project is a recreation of a mill that was built on the same site in 1848, three years after the founding of Frankenmuth. The original mill stood in the center of Frankenmuth until the late 1950s, when it was deemed obsolete and demolished. In the 1980s, city leaders decided to erect a replica, which ran as a fully functioning flour mill until the late 1990s.

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Zehnders purchased the property in 2020 after it had stood vacant for a number of years.

More: Frankenmuth is magical during holiday season: Historical photos of Michigan town

The lower level, we call it the Landmark Lounge, drawing off the iconic nature of the building, Zehnders CEO Al Zenhder told the Free Press. Weve partnered with another Michigan business, Iron Fish Distillery, and theyre creating a line of specialty crafted cocktails for us, which everyone is testing as we speak. It has been a great, great partnership for our company, and were going to continue to feature different areas of this property as the project develops, in anticipation of a 2026 grand opening.

Zero-proof cocktail options will also be available. Final touches are being made to the menu, which will also include a limited offering of small plates.

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Landmark Lounge will be open to the public, serving as a destination for locals and travelers looking to enjoy a night out in downtown Frankenmuth. In addition to serving the public, Landmark Lounge will also be available for private events, including weddings, corporate retreats, and milestone celebrations. Hours of operation will be announced at a later date.

Follow along Landmark Lounge and The Mill at Zehnder Parks journey through their social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cocktail lounge planned for new Frankenmuth luxury boutique hotel
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Frankfort father accused of setting fire to his Flat Creek Road home appeared before a judge at the Franklin County Regional Jail on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Dustin Fields, 43, was arrested and charged on April 30 with arson after the bodies of his two teen sons and a dog were found among what remained of the Franklin County home.

Ky. father pleads not guilty, asks to attend funerals after sons bodies found inside home he allegedly set on fire

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The case is being sent to a grand jury after the judge found probable cause. This comes a week after Fields public defender entered a not guilty plea.

Investigators believe that Fields set the home on fire. Court documents noted that accelerant was found throughout the house and on Fields shoes.

On Tuesday, Lieutenant Ron Wyatt with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office was called as a witness. He testified that multiple witnesses have been interviewed, including Fields brother and wife.

Fields public defender asked Wyatt if Fields wife arrived at the scene before him, to which he responded he didnt know.

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Do you know if anybody was present who could testify? he asked.

There were multiple other officers there, multiple body cams in operation, Wyatt responded.

Fields attorney also asked Wyatt if he knew where Fields was going the night of the fire. He testified that Fields told him he had gone to the Bellpointe subdivision to pick up a woman, Mrs. Peek. During the trip, Wyatt said Fields car broke down twice, and a passerby gave him a ride home.

Wyatt testified that the accelerants mentioned in court documents were found by a K-9 unit from Ohio.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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You indicated that the dog indicated potential accelerants found on the shoes?

Yes.

Were those the shoes he was wearing?

Yes.

So they werent found in the home?

They were not in the home.

Also under cross-examination, Wyatt stated that there has been no official determination of arson by the fire marshal. But said they are working diligently.

In a May 5 arraignment, Fields requested a furlough to attend the boys funerals. A memorial service was held on May 9. The Commonwealth objected.

His bond remains at $2 million.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Franklin County Crisis Care Center is set to open in central Ohio in a few weeks after an 11-year process.

The center will cater to adults who are experiencing mental health and substance use crises, expanding capacity and access to services in the region.

The Franklin County Crisis Care Center was funded by the Alcohol, Drugs and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH).

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When these doors open, we hope this is the first place they think to bring somebody and that they receive the care that knows that they would return again if they needed to, ADAMH Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Thomas said.

Recovery Innovations, a crisis care nonprofit, will be running the day-to-day operation of the care center, where no one will be turned away.

Whether someones homeless, whether they have insurance or not, whatever their demographics or situation is, theyre not boxed out of being able to get care, Dr. Chuck Browning, the chief medical officer with Recovery Innovations, said.

The center will offer 23-hour observation units with short-term stabilization and a safe space for people in immediate mental health or substance use crises. The goal is to keep people out of hospital emergency rooms; the center has a first responder entrance for ambulances and EMS to bring patients through.

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By being able to have first responders drop individuals off quickly, we hope to see more law enforcement transporting here as opposed to other locations by being able to alleviate some of the strain on emergency departments, Thomas said.

Browning said a facility of this size can have a huge impact on the community and makes it easier for people with mental health or substance use issues to get help.

When youre in crisis, one of the things separate from medication and separate from therapy and those kinds of things is feeling cared for. People need connection and they need a feeling of hope and empowerment, Browning said.

The first phase of the Franklin County Crisis Care Centers opening is happening in summer 2025. A behavioral urgent care will open as phase two in 2026, and inpatient treatment will be available at the center for phase three in 2027.

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Anyone interested in seeing the center, ADAMH is hosting a community open house on Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit ADAMHs crisis center web page by clicking here.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Franklin County Sheriffs Office deputy was attacked by a dog after a traffic stop in the North Central part of Columbus on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies were attempting a traffic stop at approximately 2 p.m. when the driver of the vehicle failed to stop. After a brief chase, the driver stopped near the intersection of Mock Road and Century Drive and then ran from the car.

As the deputy began to chase the suspect, a pitbull jumped from the drivers side of the suspects car and attacked the deputy, biting him on the face. A second deputy on the scene shot and killed the dog.

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The deputy was taken to a local hospital and is expected to recover from his injuries.

The suspect was arrested and is facing felony charges. The sheriffs office did not name the suspect or the charges they are facing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Students at Wichitas Franklin Elementary School raised more than $2,000 for pediatric patients at Via Christi St. Francis hospital.

The students held a coin drive. The money collected bought instruments and therapy kits for the young patients.

Amy Gunderson, the nursing manager of the St. Francis pediatric unit, went to Franklin Elementary on Monday to thank the children. She said the toys are very important for the patients.

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This means the world to them, she said. This may be the only bright spot in their day. The musical instruments that theyre bringing in, the therapeutic toys to help with their breathing exercises, it makes doing the things in the hospital that are hard, it makes them kind of fun and lets them be a kid at the hospital while also receiving the treatment that they need.

Derbys dinosaur tourist attraction simplifies pricing

The teacher who supervised the project wants students to remember their good deed.

I hope that one, they remember the feelings that they had. They should be prideful. They should feel impressed with themselves, and I hope that they remember these experiences as they go out into the world and into middle school and high school, Erin Buster, Franklin Elementary music teacher and ambassador sponsor, said.

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She said this is the most money students have raised for a school service project.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
(WSPA)  Whether its the cost of a new cell phone or the monthly service, Americans spend $180 billion a year on their mobile devices. Many dont realize there are simple ways to slash the cost of your cell phone plan and sometimes smarter ways to get a new phone than taking advantage of the free phone offer from major carriers.

Bob Atkisson reached out to 7NEWS, struggling to get answers on why his free phone offer, which he got with a trade-in over the holidays, appears to have raised his bill over the last few months.

I specifically said to the person on the phone, Now, just to make sure this will not cost me anything monthly, my bill will not go up. And she said, No, as a matter of fact, its going to go down, Atkisson said.

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The Greenwood man had seen a commercial offering an Apple 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence on us.

But he told 7NEWS, after he saw his monthly bills, the offer he thought he was getting didnt add up.

It shows that Ive paid more money, he said, confused.

A similar story

Well get back to Atkisson, but 60 miles north, Leon Wiles saw the same commercial and ran into the very same bill shock.

It was twice as much as what they explained to me I was shocked; I was blown away, Wiles said.

He was even more shocked to see the bill he received after he sent back the two new phones, a charge for more than $1800.

In a statement, a Verizon spokesperson told 7NEWS, We advise customers to carefully verify that any promotions they intend to use are indeed compatible with their selected service plan. It is crucial to understand the terms and conditions of both the plan and the promotion to ensure eligibility and avoid potential issues.

Dont get locked in!

Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org, warns that free phone offers can lock you into higher payment plans for years.



Sometimes you wind up being put into a premium plan. Im just shocked these days when I see $60/$70/$80 a month for one line. Are they kidding at the big carriers?



Dworskys advice: seek out plans for closer to $25 a month. Theyre actually offered by major carriers like Verizon and AT&T through their prepaid service, and they generally have ample data.



For instance, AT&T has an unlimited talk, text and data prepaid plan for $25 a month if you pay for a year upfront ($300).



In addition to prepaid plans, you could also use a mobile virtual network operator, which resells service under much cheaper brands, though they may have more usage restrictions.

Trade-in or sell?

Another way to potentially save money is to look into selling your old phone outright instead of trading it in.

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Many online sites typically offer more than your carrier, and youll get cash, which means you are not locked into a lengthy plan.

Sites like Swappa, Decluttr and Gazelle specialize in electronic resale and are generally trusted in the industry because they verify the used phones they sell are what they say they are.

Or if you want cash in hand, sell your old phone at brick-and-mortar stores like Fix Phone.

Buyer beware

The manager of Fix Phone in Greenville, Adam Komilov, warned that when it comes to buying used phones that do not come directly from the manufacturer, you should do your research on third-party sellers.

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We have a lot of customers that spend like $1000 to buy an iPhone 16, a brand-new phone, but when they turn it on and check it out, its an Android phone inside, and they find out that theyve been scammed, he said.

Komilov also warned, Sometimes people buy phones from third-party sites and social media and end up with a stolen phone that the original user has locked, which means the phone wont work.

Here To Help gets resolutions

Back at Atkissons home, 7NEWS helped connect him with a Verizon rep that settled his billing issue, so hes now back to paying about $240 for four lines and is comfortable with a credit they gave him for his used phones.

Still, hes locked into 36 months of payments, so lets do the math on what he could be saving if he had switched plans to a prepaid one.

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He would have had to buy the phones directly from Apple for $1600, offset by selling his old iPhone 13 Max Pro and iPhone 11 for an estimated $600.

But even with the net $1000 expense, if he had switched his plan to a prepaid unlimited for $25 per phone line, he has 4 lines, he would save $140 each month. In 36 months, hed have $4,400 extra dollars plus two paid-off phones.

Wiles warned that his bill arrived just after Verizons 30-day return policy ended. And he got nowhere until he contacted 7NEWS. We reached out to Verizon and his $1800 bill was dropped.

It was just spiraling. So, when I contacted you, I immediately got a positive and affirmative response, and I hadnt gotten that before. So whatever your magic was, it made a tremendous difference, Wiles said to our 7NEWS Here to Help crew.

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The moral of the story: be sure you get in writing exactly what your charges will be, including taxes and fees for any free phone, and if youre paying more than 25 to 35 dollars a line, know there are other plan options, some even unlimited, that could drastically lower your bill.

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.
One of the greatest challenges in combating ransomware is that, while new security tools and practices continue to emerge, threat actors are simultaneously advancing their tactics and becoming increasingly sophisticated. Ransomware and data theft extortion continue to be pervasive threats with business email compromise and fraud among the top self-reported cybercrimes for businesses and individuals in Australia in the 2024 financial year.

Today on Anti-Ransomware Day, Commvaults Darren Thomson said: Ransomware attacks continue to escalate year after year, and cybercriminals are no longer just chasing payouts  theyre hunting for headlines. Recent attacks targeting high-profile organisations and critical supply chains show a clear shift in strategy: aiming for maximum disruption and publicity by targeting the big fish.

Recent research found that on average, one cybercrime is reported every 6 minutes in Australia, with ransomware alone causing up to $3 billion in damages to the Australian economy every year. Yet, despite the rising threat, too many organisations remain underprepared. True cyber resilience means more than just defence, it also requires the ability to recover fast. This is where tools such as cleanroom environments come in. By restoring critical cloud services in a secure, isolated space and using automation to speed up recovery, companies can minimise downtime. While recovery takes 24 days on average, some organisations dont achieve business-as-usual for over 200, often due to poor preparation and a lack of understanding of their Minimum Viable Company  the essential systems needed to stay operational.

But resilience isnt just a concern for businesses. Individuals must also take responsibility for their cybersecurity. The recent tech outages in Spain and Portugal bring a harsh reminder of how reliant we are on digital systems. Consumers should start by evaluating their own Minimum Viable Company: Could you manage without internet access? Do you have a backup plan if payment terminals go down?

Taking practical steps like using secure password managers, avoiding password reuse, and steering clear of public Wi-Fi without a VPN are essential. On Anti-Ransomware Day, it's time for both businesses and consumers to assess their cyber resilience.
The Trump administration is set to possibly receive a luxury 747 jet from Qatar's royal family.

Trump wants to use the 747 as the new Air Force One since the replacement plane is delayed.

The possible transfer raises significant questions about potential security risks that could be costly to address.

President Donald Trump wants a luxury aircraft gifted by Qatar's royal family to be his new Air Force One. Beyond the legal and ethical questions, there are a host of security concerns.

Air Force One is a call sign for any US Air Force aircraft the president flies on, but it most commonly refers to the well-known light blue and white plane used for presidential transport. The aircraft is custom-built to operate as a secure, self-sufficient flying command center if need be. Using a plane gifted by a foreign country to fill this role would demand significant work to deliver the necessary capabilities and mitigate potential security risks.

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Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA operations officer who served multiple Middle East tours, said that there are standards that the US Air Force, Department of Defense, and Secret Service are required to uphold to move the president securely.

"It's going to cost an exorbitant amount of money to get that up to standard with a plane gifted by a foreign government," he told Business Insider.

Trump said on Sunday evening in a Truth Social post that the Defense Department will receive a 747 "free of charge" to temporarily replace his aging Air Force One. He said the US would take possession of it in what he described as "a very public and transparent transaction." The White House says that while Qatar has offered the jet, the details are still being sorted.

The specially configured version of Boeing's 747-200B, built to transport the president of the United States, is a highly recognizable aircraft with its iconic livery that has become synonymous with the Air Force One call sign. It is fitted with secure communications equipment and can refuel mid-flight.

Air Force One is a specially configured version of Boeing's 747-200B jumbo jet. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

The plane is also equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and missile countermeasures.

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The Air Force has operated two of these militarized 747s, which the service designates as VC-25A, for 35 years. The tail numbers are 28000 and 29000. A new aircraft, the VC-25B, is set to replace these planes and has been in development since 2015. However, the program has faced a number of issues that have forced its start date to be pushed back from 2024 to 2027 at the soonest.

On Monday, Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed that it has taken Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One."

ABC News, which first reported Sunday on the gift, said that Trump would use the Qatari-donated 747 (which has an estimated price tag of $400 million) as the new Air Force One until just before he leaves office in 2029.

Asked Monday whether Qatar had asked for anything in exchange for the luxury 747, Trump said the US has provided the Gulf country with lots of security over the years. He described the gift as "a great gesture" and said he "would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."

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"I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane," he said.

The president said that the US has kept Qatar  and its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  secure and will continue to do so. "If it wasn't for us, they probably wouldn't exist right now. And I think this was just a gesture of good faith," he added. The US military operates out of several key bases in these three countries.

Trump said Monday that he's "disappointed" in the delays to the new Air Force One. Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

In response to further questions, Trump said that he does not plan to use the 747 after he leaves office and that the plane would go directly to his presidential library foundation.

Beyond raising questions about the legality of accepting an expensive gift from another country, the Qatar 747 news quickly triggered criticism from some US lawmakers and stoked concerns about the potential security risks of receiving such an important asset from a foreign state.

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Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services subcommittee that oversees Air Force One, said that "retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."

Boeing, the US aerospace giant, reportedly built the 747 as a private jet for Qatar's royal family, which acquired the aircraft in 2012. It is significantly larger than the 757-200 "Trump Force One" that the president and his organization have been using as a personal plane.

Tearing apart the plane 'piece by piece'

Once the Qatari 747 is eventually received by the Air Force, assuming the transfer takes place, it would need to be modified and essentially militarized by the Pentagon to meet the requirements of transporting a president  a high-stakes job that is unlikely to be cheap.

"The idea of getting it from a foreign government, you literally would have to tear it apart piece by piece," said Polymeropoulos, now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He said acquiring this 747 isn't cost-effective because it would be expensive for the government and military to retrofit the aircraft to bring the plane up to the necessary standards.

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"I suppose you can, but basically, you're building a whole new plane," he said.

The Qatari 747 would need to be modified and essentially militarized by the Pentagon. Nathan Howard/REUTERS

BI asked the White House about addressing the security concerns and whether these surfaced during discussions of the aircraft's transfer. The administration pointed to Trump's remarks from the press conference earlier on Monday.

Qatar has stressed that a decision to transfer the aircraft is not final. A Pentagon spokesperson referred BI to the White House for questions about Air Force One procurement.

Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who protected several presidents during his 20-year-long career, identified multiple potential concerns with acquiring the 747.

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LaSorsa, president and CEO of J.A. LaSorsa & Associates, told BI that these possible risks include sabotage to the 747's mechanical or operational features, tracking of the aircraft, and any surveillance through audio or video recording devices. He stressed that the American government would thoroughly examine the entire plane in a process that could take up to a year or longer.

"They're going to do their due diligence, if they do, in fact, use it," he said, but that's time and money.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Freed US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on Tuesday said he was "fine" in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his release by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Alexander, who is currently being treated in hospital, was released by Hamas on Monday after more than 19 months in captivity.

In a video released by Netanyahu's office, the 21-year-old soldier said he was still weak, but that it was a "matter of time" before he could recover.

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The prime minister said it was "so nice to hear" from Alexander.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff also took part in the conversation, with Netanyahu saying he was "very grateful for the help that you and President [Donald] Trump gave us."

Witkoff posted an image on X of him meeting Alexander in hospital. "After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience," Witkoff wrote.
Freed US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander will not travel to Qatar to meet US President Donald Trump, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said on Tuesday.

"The Alexander family confirms that as of now, Edan will not fly to Qatar," a statement from the forum said. "The family remains in continuous contact with the Trump administration."

Several Israeli media outlets reported before Alexander's release on Monday that he may travel to Qatar to meet Trump, who is in the Middle East this week on his first multi-day foreign trip since taking office again in January.

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Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 quoted the family saying that the 21-year-old needs peace and quiet, but that he would speak to Trump by phone on Tuesday and meet him at a later date.

Alexander is reported to be in good condition after being held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas for more than 19 months following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

He is currently being treated in hospital after being released late on Monday.

Alexander's release is seen as a gesture towards the US, with Hamas hoping it will prompt Trump to exert pressure on the Israeli government to reach an agreement that includes a permanent end to the war.
French film star Gerard Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence on Tuesday after a Paris court found him guilty of sexual assault against two women on a film set in 2021.

The actor is also to be added to the French register of sex offenders.

Depardieu, who was not present when the judgement was handed down, denied the allegations.

The decision is not final. Depardieu's lawyer Jeremie Assous said "he will of course lodge an appeal."

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Two women accused the 76-year-old of making obscene remarks and touching them inappropriately during the filming of the movie "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters") by director Jean Becker in 2021.

The plaintiffs are a set decorator and an assistant director. The trial, which began in late March, has gripped France.

During the court proceedings, the actor portrayed himself as the victim of false accusations, though he admitted in court to touching one of the women on the hip, insisting it was without sexual intent.

He faced up to five years in prison and a 75,000 fine. The trial, which lasted significantly longer than expected, saw Depardieu speak at length.

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Prosecutors requested an 18-month suspended sentence, while his defence team argued for a full acquittal.

The award-winning actor has appeared in more than 200 films, many of which have become cinema classics, such as "Cyrano de Bergerac," "Asterix and Obelix" and "The Last Metro."

A growing list of allegations

Depardieu has faced numerous accusations of sexual assault over the years, including some anonymous ones, but this case marks the first time the French film icon has stood trial over the claims.

In addition, Depardieu faces a separate trial on rape charges following a complaint from actress Charlotte Arnould. He strongly denies all allegations.

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In an op-ed published in Le Figaro newspaper, he wrote: "I have never, ever abused a woman."

He described himself as the target of "media lynch law," insisting: "I am neither a rapist nor a predator. I'm just a man."

Once hailed as a national treasure, Depardieu has become an increasingly divisive figure in France amid the growing number of accusations and public backlash.
Paris  French cinema icon Gerard Depardieu was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in Paris in 2021 and handed an 18-month suspended sentence. The 76-year-old actor had denied the charges that he forcefully groped a set decorator and an assistant producer on the set of "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters").

Depardieu was not in court for the verdict or sentencing on Tuesday, as he's currently filming in Portugal. His lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.

Depardieu was accused by a set decorator, 34, and an assistant producer, 54, who said the actor grabbed and groped them during filming in Paris in August and September 2021.

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"I am deeply moved, I'm very happy with this decision," the assistant producer, identified in court only as Amelie, said after Tuesday's decision was handed down. "It is a victory for me, a step forward. Justice was served, I feel."

Taking the stand in March for the first time, Depardieu told the court he was nothing like the man described by the two women.

"I don't see why I would grope a woman, her buttocks, her breasts," he said. "I'm not somebody who rubs himself up against people on the metro."

The two women did not immediately report the alleged offenses, but after the Depardieu published an open letter in Le Figaro newspaper in October 2023 in which he stated: "Never, never have I abused a woman," the set designer went to the police. She reported Depardieu for alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist insults.



The trial opened in October, but it was adjourned due to Depardieu's failing health. His lawyer told the court in March that Depardieu was diabetic and had undergone a quadruple-bypass heart surgery.

French actor Gerard Depardieu (left) walks with his lawyer Jeremie Assous as he arrives for the opening of his trial in which he is accused of sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021, at the Paris criminal court in the Tribunal de Paris courthouse, March 24, 2025. / Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty

Medical experts later deemed him fit to attend the trial, but limited the hearings to six hours per day, with a provision for 15-minute pauses if Depardieu needed them.

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"Gerard Depardieu is someone who is very free, who can be extremely direct," said his lawyer Jeremie Assous, who dismissed the accusations as "lies."

Dozens of protesters, mostly women, gathered outside the courthouse in March, denouncing what they called endemic sexism and impunity for sex offenders in French cinema and French society. They said they were pleased the actor was finally in court to answer the allegations, and waved placards with messages including: "Victims, we believe you; rapists, we see you"; "Touch one, you answer to all."



A giant of French cinema, Depardieu has been more infamous than famous in recent years. He's been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women in the movie industry. Many of the claims surfaced years after the alleged incidents took place, however, so under French law the actor cannot be tried for them.



In a high-profile move, the actor left his native France for a few years about a decade ago, moving to Belgium, having criticized French tax increases.

Depardieu has been open about his admiration for Russia under autocratic President Vladimir Putin, who bestowed Russian citizenship on him in 2013.

He later also became a citizen of Dubai.

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By Tassilo Hummel

PARIS (Reuters) -A Paris court on Tuesday found actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set and handed him an 18-month suspended sentence, with the judge saying he appeared not to have grasped the "traumatic" impact of his behaviour.

In the highest-profile #MeToo case to come before judges in France, Depardieu repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer said he would appeal the court's decision.

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Depardieu, 76, was a towering figure in French cinema, starring in more than 200 films over five decades, including Green Card, The Last Metro and Cyrano de Bergerac.

His trial marked a moment of reckoning for the #MeToo protest movement over sexual violence, which has failed to gain the same traction in France as in the United States, although there are signs that social attitudes are changing.

One of the two plaintiffs, Amelie K, a set decorator now aged 54, told the court the actor had groped her all over her body as he trapped her between his legs and made explicit sexual comments on set in 2021.

"I was terrified, he was laughing," she recounted.

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Depardieu, who denied sexual assault, had argued before the court that he did not consider placing a hand on a person's buttocks sexual assault and that some women were too easily shocked.

Handing down his sentence, the presiding judge, Thierry Donard, said of Depardieu: "He does not seem to have grasped either the concept of consent or the deleterious and traumatic consequences of his behaviour towards the women he assaulted."

He ordered Depardieu, who was not in court for the verdict, to be put on a list of sex offenders.

#METOO RECKONING

Depardieu has figured prominently in the debate over the #MeToo movement in France, as he faced a growing number of sexual assault allegations that put a spotlight on how women are treated in the movie industry.

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Prosecutors say he should face trial in a separate rape investigation, following allegations brought by actress Charlotte Arnould, 29, who said she could not bear remaining silent any longer.

More than a dozen women have accused Depardieu of sexual violence, though not all have filed complaints.

Depardieu has consistently denied wrongdoing. "Never, absolutely never, have I abused a woman," he wrote in an open letter in the daily Le Figaro newspaper in October 2023.

The Depardieu trial laid bare a generational divide in France over sexism.

Earlier during the investigation, a group of 50 French stars, including Carla Bruni, wife of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, denounced what they called the "lynching" of Depardieu. Brigitte Bardot, 90, told BFM TV this week that "those who have talent and grope a girl get thrown into the gutter".

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Women's rights campaigners say they have seen a shift in attitudes in France - notably following the case of Gisele Pelicot whose ex-husband was convicted last year of inviting dozens of men to rape her after drugging her unconscious.

"It's truly a victory and a step forward. We're making progress," Amelie K. told reporters after the verdict.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Juliette Jabkhiro; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Alex Richardson and Sharon Singleton)
ORLANDO, Fla.  The suspect in the deadly shooting on the Florida State University campus last month was released from the hospital Monday and transferred to a detention facility, according to the Leon County Sheriffs Office.

Phoenix Ikner, 20, was taken by the Tallahassee Police Department to the Leon County Detention Facility, the sheriffs office posted in an update on its Facebook page.

Ikner, the stepson of a Leon County sheriffs deputy, faces felony charges stemming from the April 17 shooting on the FSU campus. He faces two counts of first degree murder and seven counts of attempted first degree murder.

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Ikner was wounded when law enforcement responded to the shooting about four minutes after it began.

He was booked at the facility, but then transferred to the Wakulla County Detention Facility, where he will await his first appearance in court, the post stated. The transfer to the neighboring county was standard protocol because of his relationship to the sheriffs deputy.

LCSO thanks all of our first responder partners who have worked tirelessly to ensure justice in this case, the post read.

_________
AUSCERT is excited to announce two more keynote speakers at the AUSCERT Cyber Security Conference, taking place at The Star on the Gold Coast from 2023 May 2025.

Marek Kowalkiewicz, Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School is ranked among the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders in AI by thinkers360. He has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, was a global research program lead and founding research Manager of SAPs Machine Learning lab in Singapore, and a Research Fellow at Microsoft Research Asia. His newest book, The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions is a winner of Australian Business Book Awards (Technology) 2024.

Professor Kowalkiewicz will present a keynote on AIs unchartered territories and how AI is no longer just a tool. In a thought-provoking keynote he will explore how AI is reshaping our world, our work, and even our sense of agency. He will take delegates beyond cybersecurity to glimpse the broader societal shifts underway.

Jess Modini, Cyber Epidemiologist at UNSW Canberra is a respected IT leader, lecturer and cyber security researcher, with a career spanning over 13 years across the Royal Australian Air Force, government, academia, and the private sector. Her current work explores AI-driven threat modelling and malware propagation at scale, blending deep technical expertise with a passion for cyber resilience, intelligence sharing, and interdisciplinary innovation.

Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, Australias National Cyber Security Coordinator will open the conference with the first keynote. A leader at the forefront of national cyber strategy, the Lieutenant General will share the Australian Governments vision for strengthening national resilience and coordination in response to the evolving cyber threat landscape.

The AUSCERT Cyber Security Conference will also feature MC Adam Spencer and around 900 delegates across the four-day event including the Gala Dinner in The Star Ballroom.

An impressive line-up of over 50 speakers, will present and run workshops, including:

- Matthew Gurr, Region Lead and Senior Security Engineer at Amazon Web Services

- Melina Ryan, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft

- Chathura Abeydeera, Director of Consulting and Offensive Cybersecurity Services at KPMG Australia

- Kelsy Luengen, Security Influencer at SEEK

- James Young, Principal Security Strategist, Splunk CISCO

- Kyle Jackson, Cyber Security Strategy and Architecture Consultant at Sekuro

- Kylie Watson, Head of Security  CISO for the APJ MEA Region at DXC Technology

- Alex Tilley, Global Threat Research Coordinator, Okta and highly awarded cybercrime researcher

- Louise Hanna, General Manager, Excite Cyber

To view, the full conference program, please visit: https://conference.auscert.org.au/
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  The man believed to be responsible for carrying out a deadly mass shooting at Florida State University was released from the hospital Monday and taken into police custody.

The Tallahassee Police Department said 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner was shot once in the jaw on April 17 after he refused to comply with officers commands. Ikner underwent multiple surgeries during his near month-long hospital stay.

2 dead after car crashes into house in Lakeland

Phoenix Ikner (Credit: Leon County Sheriffs Office)

Authorities said he was taken to a detention facility in the region after his release Monday. Ikner was also formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder, according to police.

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In any case, especially one of this magnitude, the Tallahassee Police Department has the highest commitment to justice, transparency, and the safety of our community, Chief of Police Lawrence Revell said Monday. We are grateful for the work of our detectives, officers, medical personnel, and partner agencies who helped bring us to this point.

Two food service employees, identified as Tiru Chabba, a 45-year-old father of two, and Robert Morales, an FSU alum, were killed in the shooting. Six others were injured.

While little is publicly known about a possible motive in the case, court records have revealed more about Ikners past, including that he had several physical and mental health issues.

Ikner is also the stepson of a Leon County deputy, and was said to have gotten access to his stepmothers personal handgun, which was found at FSU.

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The Tallahassee Police Department plans to release a probable cause affidavit providing more information on the case following Ikners first appearance in court.

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.
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) - Funding cuts have hit aid organisations that help the world's most vulnerable women especially hard, with over half of those surveyed at risk of closure within six months, a report by the United Nations agency for women said on Tuesday.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in January for a second term, his administration has cut billions of dollars in foreign assistance in a review that aimed to ensure programmes align with his "America First" foreign policy.

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The United States was the world's biggest aid donor, and its action has been aggravated as other international donors have also reduced funding.

The UN Women report found the funding cuts had affected 90% of the 411 women-led and women's rights organisations it surveyed - with half projected to close within six months unless new cash becomes available.

"Many women's organisations are now being stretched to the brink. They are being asked to do more, with less," Sofia Calltorp, director of UN Women's Geneva office, told reporters.

She said the suspension of U.S. foreign aid, which is subject to review, has affected more than $40 million of the body's funding for projects, with a devastating impact on women and girls in crisis areas.

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In Afghanistan, for instance, women and girls must walk for hours to access basic health services because some health facilities have been closed, Calltorp said.

Also in Ukraine, more than 70% of women's organisations reported major disruptions and many have suspended shelters, legal aid and trauma support for survivors of the conflict, she said.

As the United Nations marks 80 years since its creation, its Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month announced an initiative to improve efficiency and cut costs.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; editing by Barbara Lewis)
California became a national pioneer four years ago by passing a law to make ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement. But only months before the policy is to take effect, Gov. Gavin Newsom is withholding state funding  delaying the mandate as the course comes under renewed fire.

The pause  confirmed by state officials in the governor's Wednesday budget revision  has left school districts throughout the state in limbo nearly four years after the launch deadline was set. Beginning this fall, students entering 9th grade would have been the first class required to pass a one-semester class at some point during their high school years.

But under the 2021 law, the mandate to reach 5.8 million students does not take effect unless the state provides more money to pay for the course. The funding would cover the cost of materials and the teacher staffing and training that go along with adding a new field of study.

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Newsom's office, which issued its May revision of next year's proposed state budget amid a tightening financial outlook, did not respond to questions about why he has not included funding for the ethnic studies requirement that he approved, praising it as an avenue to teach students about the diverse communities that comprise California."

A spokesperson for the Department of Finance answered on Newsom's behalf.

"The budget doesnt include funding that would trigger the ethnic studies graduation requirement," said H.D. Palmer. As to the reason why, "the short answer is that the state has limited available ongoing resources."

At the onset, $50 million in seed money was allocated statewide, but the law stated an additional unspecified amount would be needed in the future. State officials later set that amount at about $276 million. But several years have passed without state officials budgeting the funding.

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As California's more than 1,600 high schools wind down for the year, it is uncertain how many will offer the course in the fall. Some  including Los Angeles Unified, Santa Monica Unified and Alhambra Unified  will go forward with ethnic studies no matter what. Some of these districts, including L.A. Unified, already have their own ethnic studies graduation requirement.

Others  including Chino Valley Unified  will shelve the class until the law forces them to offer it.

Still others, such as Lynwood Unified, in south L.A. County, say they are deeply concerned about any wavering in the state's commitment to the subject.

State funding would be "critically important for sustainability," according to a Lynwood district statement. Without it, the school district is going to cancel the course and instead teach units of ethnic studies within other classes.

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"We remain committed to the principles and purpose behind ethnic studies  ensuring our students see themselves and others reflected in the curriculum," Lynwood Supt. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite said. "However, like many school districts across California, we are navigating the dual challenge of declining enrollment and insufficient state funding to support new course mandates."

Renewed controversy

The current political environment complicates the launch of the ethnic studies requirement.

State officials were moving toward an ethnic studies requirement amid the nation's racial reckoning after the 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and violent attacks on Asian Americans.

Many ethnic studies supporters believe that anti-racist teachings and exploring the history and perspectives of marginalized groups  Black and Indigenous people, Asians and Latinos  are key to bridging misunderstanding among students, reducing racial and ethnic conflict, and motivating teenagers to pursue social justice causes.

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But not everyone sees ethnic studies the same way. Some religious and political conservatives view the state's guidelines for ethnic studies as the kind of "woke" ideologies in education that President Trump has vowed to eliminate as he seeks to do away with diversity, equity and inclusion programming in schools.

California's ethnic studies curriculum guide embraces pro-LGBTQ+ content and speaks of connecting students to "contemporary social movements that struggle for social justice and an equitable and democratic society, and conceptualize, imagine, and build new possibilities for a post-racist, post-systemic-racism society."

With tensions high over how race, religion and ethnicity are taught in schools, state lawmakers recently explored legislation that would have put strict standards on how ethnic studies could be taught. That bill was supported by 31 legislators and its sponsors expressed particular concern about how ethnic studies teachers are presenting Jews and the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict  re-igniting long-simmering concerns about the field of study.

Amid weekend discussions, however, the group shelved the bill  which dealt only with ethnic studies. Instead, lawmakers unveiled a broader piece of school legislation aimed at ending campus antisemitism while providing greater "anti-discrimination protections related to nationality and religion."

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A hearing on the new bill is set for Wednesday.

Teacher Amber Palma talks with student Angel Alvarez during an ethnic studies class at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood. (Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

Although the bill's provisions are still being crafted, it would apply to any course or schooling activity  and include a mechanism for stronger oversight of K-12 ethnic studies, which remains central to the concerns of the bill's primary sponsors, including Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay).

"Jewish families and children have been made, in many instances, to feel unwelcome or made the targets of hate and discrimination in school  where they're supposed to feel safe and supported," Addis said. "We want to get all the things in place to get back to what schools are supposed to be doing."

Troy Flint, chief communications officer for the California School Boards Assn. said the ethnic studies requirement "has been fraught since its inception, and there have been starts, stumbles and restarts to try and develop a piece of legislation that's amenable to all the different interest groups. ... And I don't know that we've reached that point yet."

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"School districts are in a bind," both in terms of their costs and their academic program, he added, "because there's a possibility a mandate could be implemented, but it's uncertain."

'White supremacists generally think that they're above people because they have money or good history or they're related to a king or something. And I've seen countless immigrants get deported or accused of something because they're considered not human or aliens. At the end of the day, we're all human. What's the point of having power and not using it for good?'

Jayden Perez, 15, a ninth-grader at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood

(Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

Read more: State discipline law keeps Black, Latino kids in class. Trump says it's illegal

What's happened since the law was approved?

Newsom signed the ethnic studies graduation requirement into law in 2021, giving districts four years to develop one or more ethnic studies classes, using a menu of materials and topics from the nearly 700-page state model curriculum guide, approved by the State Board of Education.

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That curriculum guide had been a source of controversy  leading Newsom to veto an earlier bill for an ethnic studies requirement. After substantial revisions, the final version eliminated course materials that likened the Palestinian cause, in its conflict with Israel, to the struggles of marginalized groups in America  because critics said it lacked balance or nuance.

The revision also toned down what critics characterized as obscure academic jargon and bias against capitalism. More groups were added as potential study topics, including Jewish Americans, Sikhs and Armenians.

Under current law, the state's model curriculum serves as a guide  not a required set of lessons. School districts are responsible for developing their courses and are free to teach units that reflect their enrollment. Students in Glendale, with its large Armenian American population, for example, could study the Armenian immigrant experience.

'Understanding one's background or ethnicity can result in conflict, but I believe that I can build bridges, because many people can understand one another and where they originally came from and what they grew up in. People should be able to talk about this and show our side of the story.'

Gabriel Smith, 14, a ninth-grader at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood

(Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

This flexibility has allowed academic experts in the field to prepare prepackaged courses and lessons that vary widely to help schools prepare. Some are free to download. Independent Institute, for example, has posted one free curriculum that consciously aims to be less controversial in terms of current political disputes.

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The group with perhaps the most long-standing ties to the field of ethnic studies in California has created a curriculum called Liberated Ethnic Studies. This curriculum also is free to download, although some of its creators and supporters have worked as school district consultants.

A portion of the Liberated content guide has worried a coalition of Jewish groups who contend portions of the curriculum veer toward antisemitism. Their concerns have fueled ongoing debate in Sacramento about the need for stricter course standards.

Read more: Judges block Trump threat to cut school funding over DEI, rulings extend to California

'Ethnic studies should be required because you are learning about the impact of the experiences of different cultures and ethnicities. The most impactful thing I've learned is how one's color or one's culture can affect the way other people think of them  how it affects them in their daily lives and how it might affect their workplaces.'

Arianne Moreno, 15, a ninth-grader at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood

(Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

Creators of the Liberated materials had been involved in writing the first version of the state's model curriculum  which also was criticized by Jewish groups and legislators. State officials ultimately removed the Liberated academics from involvement in the state's curriculum guide. And the academics, in turn, disowned the state curriculum guide and created their own materials.

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A leader of the Liberated curriculum effort, Cal State Northridge professor of Chicano and Chicana studies Theresa Montano, said she does not know how may school districts are using their lessons because they can be downloaded for free. She estimated that 70% of the Liberated content is virtually identical to the state's revised model curriculum.

She said concerns about politicized content are overwrought.

"Ethnic studies was born out of a movement to begin to make certain that communities of color have the rightful location in the curriculum," Montano said.

She added that the scholars who put together the Liberated contents are recognized leading experts in an academically rigorous field that has developed over the last 60 years.

Students take part in an activity during an ethnic studies class at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood. (Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

What's happening in the classroom?

Ethnic studies teacher Amber Palma teaches at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood and virtually all of her students are Latino with immigrant backgrounds  and some degree of current political context is unavoidable.

"If the class is about your identity and your place in this American society  and that is a real social political issue that you are facing in context as we speak  you can't say we're going to not talk about what's happening," Palma said. "You have to address concerns, as you would with any class, with any kids."

"Given our climate and the challenges that our students and their families and their communities are facing, I think we really do need to push the sense of empowerment, a sense of agency," said Palma, whose district developed its own curriculum.

Students listen as teacher Amber Palma leads a discussion during an ethnic studies class at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood. (Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

If done right, ethnic studies is a good thing for all students," said David Bocarsly, executive director of Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California, a lobbying group whose positions include supporting Israels right to exist. "Unfortunately ... we have seen far too many instances of factually inaccurate and antisemitic content entering classrooms," he said.

Bocarsly said members of his coalition of Jewish groups estimate there are real or potential problems in several dozen school districts among the 1,000 in California, based on issues that have emerged. The extent to which the Liberated curriculum is used in these districts has not been determined.

Assemblymember Addis is concerned that there could be inappropriate elements of Liberated's alleged bias affecting "hundreds and hundreds" of school districts up and down the state.

In April, the California Department of Education concluded that two Bay Area ethnic studies teachers in the Campbell Union High School District violated California law when they included content related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that was allegedly biased and discriminated against Jewish students.

How are school districts responding?

A winter clash in the Palo Alto, Calif., school district underscores the kinds of debates that have unfolded about the course.

In a district with 40% Asian enrollment, some complained the course defined power and privilege in a way that discounted the hard work that resulted in prosperity for many immigrants. Critics also accused district officials of a lack of transparency and of not allowing for meaningful input into course content. Some were concerned that topics would be divisive.

"As feared, rancor has ensued," said Lauren Janov, a critic of the Liberated curriculum and co-founder of Palo Alto Parent Alliance. "From the start, the state lost control of ethnic studies."

In January, the Palo Alto board approved its own ethnic studies requirement by a 3-2 vote.

In February, Santa Ana Unified shelved three ethnic studies classes as part of a legal settlement reached with a coalition of Jewish groups. The groups had filed a lawsuit alleging that secrecy and antisemitism defined the districts ethnic studies rollout.

The district still offers various other ethnic studies courses and has no plans to reverse policy, regardless of state funding, a district spokesperson said.

Student Arianne Moreno distributes an assignment during an ethnic studies class at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood. (Hon Wing Chiu / For The Times)

In San Bernardino County, the Chino Valley Unified school board president also raises cost as an issue but sees the mandate pause as an opportunity to step back from ethnic studies.

"We made it clear that the course will not be implemented unless the state mandate goes into effect," said Sonja Shaw, a pro-Trump Republican who is running for state superintendent of public instruction.

"Much of the ethnic studies already being pushed reflects divisive, politically driven ideology that doesnt unite students; it separates them. ...While kids are falling behind in reading, writing and math, the state continues to push its political agendas onto children," Shaw said.

In Los Angeles Unified, the state's largest school system, 11 courses can satisfy the district's requirement, including a broad survey course and more specialized classes, such as African American Literature, American Indian Studies and Exploring Visual Arts through Ethnic Studies.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The community paid their final respects to an unidentified baby girl who was found in a Manchester pond more than a month ago.

Dozens of people filed through the Conor-Healey Funeral Home on Monday to remember Baby Grace Doe.

The infant was found in the water by a kayaker at Pine Island Park back on March 27th.

Police are still trying to figure out how she died and have not been able to locate her mother.

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Its not like TV where we get results in 10 minutes. A lot of the time, the results were looking for actually takes months, said Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr.

Emotions ran high as people searched for comfort and closure in the case thats still surrounded in questions.

I said, how could I not go to that? This little baby is all of our baby right now, said Laura Mick. Is there something we dont know? Is there some piece of information thats missing?

Police released an artists rendering of Baby Grace Doe last week.

Authorities have increased the reward for information leading to a breakthrough in this case to $5,000.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact the Manchester Police Department Tip Line at 603-716-7236.

Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A Paris court has found Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexual assault and given him a 18-month suspended sentence.

The sentence follows a high-profile and tumultuous trial in Paris in March related to accusations of groping on the set of Jean Beckers The Green Shutters in 2021.

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The Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac was not in court to hear the sentencing, and was instead represented by his lawyer Jeremie Assous.

The trial marked Depardieus first time in court against a backdrop of at least 20 public allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior against him, dating back decades, although many allegations have only come to light in recent years.

It is also seen as a landmark #MeToo test case in France, which was slow to embrace the movement, with a near omerta in the film world around the question of inappropriate behaviour until recently.

Depardieu is reportedly currently in Portugal on the set of Fanny Ardants upcoming film (Ela Olhava Sem Nada Ver), which is shooting on the island of Sao Miguel. Long-time friend Ardant is one of the few figures in the French film world to have remained publicly supportive of the actor.

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The feature  about a love story between two women on a mysterious island  is Depardieus first film or TV role since 2022, following his fall from grace amid a raft of sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.

Depardieu could be back in the dock for a second time in the coming months in relation to rape allegations by actress Charlotte Arnould, dating back to 2018.

The Paris Prosecutors Office made a request for a trial last summer related to the allegations, which is making it way through the judicial system. The actor has denied the accusations.

Tuesdays sentence is related to assaults on two female crew members on the set of The Green Shutters.

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In the first, the actor pinned a set dresser with his legs and kneading her breasts, saying: Come touch my big parasol, Im going to shove it up your pussy. In the second, a third assistant director, who testified under the pseudonym of Sarah, said Depardieu had touched her buttocks and breasts on two occasions when she was accompanying him on set.

Depardieu has repeatedly refuted both accounts saying his actions had been misinterpreted.

A number of women, who were not pressing charges, also gave evidence, including an actress who alleged Depardieu had shoved his hands into her knickers during a photo-call on the set of Netflix show Marseille.

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WASHINGTON (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Gastonia Police K-9 Bo and Sergeant David Rowland have been invited to Washington, D.C., for a special reception at the U.S. Department of Justice, where they will meet with Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Attorney General Bondi expressed great admiration for Bos recent honor as American Humanes 2024 National Hero Dog.

Gastonia Police K-9 Bo goes to Oscars for Canines after national award win

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Bo is in Washington as part of the National Police Week observance, representing the Gastonia Police Department and the vital role of K-9 units in public safety.

As part of the visit, Sergeant Rowland and Bo will also attend a reception Tuesday, May 13, at the U.S. Capitol, hosted by Congressman Tim Moore.

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.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will be investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Monday in Glynn County.

The GBI was called in to investigate at the request of the Glynn County Police Department, the agency said in a news release.

Glynn County police officers were searching for Shannon Melvin Tanner, 51, of Brunswick, who was suspected of an armed robbery that happened Sunday at a T.J. Maxx in Brunswick.

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Police found Tanner in his car Monday on Georgia Hwy. 99 near Golden Isles Parkway in his car.

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GCPD said that Tanner drove his car toward a detectives car, and the detective fired a shot at Tanners car as it approached.

Tanner and the detective were not injured or hit in the shooting, GBI said.

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Police followed Tanner for approximately seven minutes until his car crashed on Interstate 95 near mile marker 35 in Brunswick.

Tanner was taken to a local hospital for his injuries, and no officers were injured.

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After the GBI completes its investigation, the case file will be given to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorneys Office for review.

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A Geneseo man who was arrested last year on charges of aggravated domestic battery and attempted first-degree murder, has entered a plea in the case.

David Boan, now 23, appeared in Henry County Court in Cambridge yesterday and a negotiated plea was presented to the court. A motion to amend the second count, aggravated battery  great bodily harm, was granted without objection. Boan waived arraignment, as well as jury and bench trials and a presentence investigation. He pled guilty to the amended aggravated battery charges. The remaining counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery/victim 60+, were dismissed.

David Boan (Geneseo Police Department)

Boan was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with credit for 303 days served, and a year of mandatory supervised release. He was fined $75 plus assessments, but the fine was waived by the court.

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Boan was arrested in Geneseo on July 13, 2024 after officers found a person in the 600 block of S. Congress Street, suffering multiple stab wounds to the head, face and body. The victim was treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for serious but non-life-threatening wounds.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
An international study featuring scientists from Curtin Universitys School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Space Science and Technology Centre offers new insights into the Moons history and provide a better understanding of what lies beneath its cratered surface.

Researchers from Curtin University, Nanjing University and The Australian National University analysed tiny, green glass beads collected by Change-5  the Chinese National Space Administration mission to the Moon.

Typically, lunar glass beads are formed from impacts that melt surface rocks.

However, the beads in this study were found to have unusually high levels of magnesium, which Professor Alexander Nemchin from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences said was evidence of a potentially deeper origin.

These high-magnesium glass beads may have formed when an asteroid smashed into rocks that

originated from the mantle deep within the Moon, Professor Nemchin said.

This is exciting, because weve never sampled the mantle directly before: the tiny glass beads offer us a glimpse of the Moons hidden interior.

Co-author Professor Tim Johnson, also from Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the chemistry of the beads was unlike that of lunar surface rocks sampled previously.

Professor Johnson said the rocks may have been brought up from the Moons mantle by a massive

impact.

One such event could be the formation of the Imbrium Basin, which is a huge crater formed more than 3 billion years ago, Professor Johnson said.

Remote sensing has shown the area around the basin's edge contains the kind of minerals that match the glass bead chemistry.

This is a big step forward in understanding how the Moon evolved internally; if these samples really are pieces of the mantle, it tells us that impacts can excavate otherwise inaccessible mantle material to the surface

Study lead Professor Xiaolei Wang from Nanjing University said the discovery could have wider implications and influence future missions to the Moon and other planets.

Understanding how the Moons interior is made helps us compare it to Earth and other planets,

Professor Wang said.

It could even guide future missions, whether robotic or human, that aim to explore the Moons deep geology.

A potential mantle origin for precursor rocks of high-Mg impact glass beads in Change-5 soil was published
Credit: Reuters

Donald Trumps confrontation with Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office was a long time coming.

The two governments have been exchanging barbs about an alleged genocide of white South Africans for months.

It is a row that has its roots in genuine lawlessness, a disillusion with Nelson Mandelas promised rainbow nation, and post apartheid racial tensions that cannot be simply wished away.

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But it is also a story of confused narratives, fringe black and white extremist groups, and the outsize influence of Elon Musk in the White House. Perhaps above all, it is about concepts being lost in translation between South Africa and America.

The confrontation began to spiral earlier this month, when what were apparently the first refugees to be allowed into the United States since Donald Trump issued a blanket ban landed at Dulles Airport near Washington, DC.

They were not from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan or any of the worlds other active war zones. They were from South Africa. And they were all white Afrikaners.

Race has little to do with refugee status. But the incident has thrust into the spotlight not only the increasingly bitter relationship between Pretoria and Washington, but also Mr Trumps own contentious focus on what has been called white victimhood.

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In America, the news has been predictably divisive. The White House trumpeted the arrival of the 59 as a triumph, claiming they were victims of racial discrimination, and hinted that they were escaping a genocide. An under-secretary of state was dispatched to welcome them.

Deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau, left, greeted Afrikaner refugees from South Africa at Dulles International Airport - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press

But the Episcopal Church, which has long been given US government grants to resettle refugees in America, responded by saying it would refuse to do so in this case, citing its steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.

Bishop Sean Rowe said it was painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.

In South Africa, the news was met with a mixture of outrage, glee and bemusement.

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Chrispin Phiri, a foreign ministry spokesman, insisted that these are not refugees yet added: We are not going to stand in their way.

Kallie Kriel, the CEO of AfriForum, an influential Afrikaner pressure group which has previously called for white people to stay in South Africa, said the flight was a direct result of the [African National Congress] ANC-led governments targeting of Afrikaners through discriminatory racial legislation.

Other South Africans  including Afrikaners  have rolled their eyes at the entire episode.

This is about Trumps America. It really isnt about us, said Max du Preez, a prominent Afrikaner journalist. Theres an awful lot wrong in South Africa, but the persecution of white Afrikaners is not one of them.

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The fury of the American Episcopalians is rooted in concern at a double standard  one it clearly believes is rooted in race.

In the fiscal year from October 2023 to September 2024, America resettled 100,034 refugees, the highest number admitted in a single year since 1994. Yet on his first day in office, Mr Trump signed an executive order banning refugees entry until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States. That includes applicants from war zones.

A little over two weeks later, he signed another, ordering the government to promote and prioritise the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.

The order, which also froze all aid and other funding to South Africa and accused its government of supporting Hamas and Iran, grants a small group of white people the only exception to an otherwise global ban on refugees.

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By then, Washingtons relationship with South Africa had been deteriorating for some time. In December 2023, the ANC-led government in Pretoria brought a case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

But the immediate trigger was a new South African law allowing the state to seize land without compensation, provided it was in the public interest.

The bill, signed into law by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in January, allows for expropriation without compensation only when it is just and equitable and in the public interest  such as when the property is unused.

It does not mention race. But land ownership is a hugely contentious issue in South Africa, where three-quarters of farmland is owned by white people, who make up just 7 per cent of the population.

White South Africans gathered in support of US president Trump outside of the US embassy in Pretoria earlier this year, following an executive order granting them refugee status - MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, announced he would snub a G20 meeting in Johannesburg the following month, stating: South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property.

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Shortly afterwards Mr Rubio expelled Ebrahim Rasool, South Africas ambassador to Washington, on the grounds of being a race-baiting politician who hates America.

Mr Rasool had said that the Maga movement was a response to a supremacist instinct and demographic trends that suggest whites will become a minority in the United States for the first time by the mid 2040s.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, Trumps South-African born first buddy, accused his homeland of racist ownership laws which equate to genocide against white farmers.

Mr Trump repeated that wording earlier this month, saying white farmers were being targeted specifically. Its a genocide thats taking place... and farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. But whether theyre white or black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa, he said.

Credit: Reuters

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In the Oval Office today, he showed Mr Ramaphosa what he claimed were burial sites right here, over a thousand of white farmers.

If Afrikaner nationalists have been making the rounds of Maga-affiliated media in recent weeks, describing a South Africa on the brink of collapse and a community facing deep levels of persecution, the South African government certainly sees Musk as the driving force behind Donald Trumps policy making.

When Trump first signed the executive order, for example, Mr Ramaphosa reached out to Mr Musks father Errol, who still lives in South Africa, to see if he could arrange a phone call with the tycoon. Musk senior later told The Telegraph the two spoke for several minutes.

Mr Ramaphosa himself has rejected the allegations of genocide levelled by the US administration even before he got to DC.

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A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political persecution, religious persecution, or economic persecution, the South African leader said of those arriving in the US after the refugee flight. And they dont fit that bill.

There are mounting suspicions in South Africa that Elon Musks business interests are dictating American foreign policy - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

White genocide

The notion of white genocide has gained traction in certain sections of the white, and particularly rural, Afrikaner community over the past ten years.

It has emerged on the back of very, violent crimes of murder, torture and other things that have happened to the Afrikaner community, and very specifically to rural Afrikaner farmers, says Marius Oosthuizen, a Pretoria-based consultant.

Theres a faction of the Afrikaners who feel very threatened, very embattled, both because of insecurity and crime and the threat of land expropriation.

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There is plenty of debate about whether that is justified.

Figures collated by South African police show that in 2024, 44 murders were recorded on farms and smaller plots of agricultural land. While the country does not release crime statistics broken down by race, eight of those killed were farmers.

Mr Du Preez points out that everyone in South Africa (where around 20,000 murders are committed annually) suffered from insecurity, and that living in black or coloured townships was statistically vastly more dangerous than being a white farmer, however.

The farm murders are a genuine problem, he said, but were a matter of common criminality. Study after study failed to find any kind of political motivation, he said. There was no comparison to Robert Mugabes evictions of white farmers from Zimbabwe in the 2000s, either in intent, scale, or effect, he pointed out.

Protesters pictured at Dulles International Airport, where 59 South Africans arrived after being granted refugee status - WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

There are clear tensions nonetheless, and there has long been frustration in South Africa over the sluggish pace of land reform in the decades since the end of apartheid. While redistribution of land ownership has always been part of the post-apartheid project, it has always previously involved compensating those who give up their property.

But AfriForum, a Right-wing pressure group, explicitly links the new property law to the refugees who landed in Dulles, saying it permits expropriation without compensation, and also places Afrikaners and other landowners in the governments crossfire.

No land is understood to have yet been seized under the act. Defenders of the legislation say it is less likely to be used against farmers than for taking control of derelict and abandoned buildings and sites in city centres.

But the law passed earlier this year does mirror the populist rhetoric of Julius Malema, a former ANC firebrand who now leads a populist rival to the ANC called the Economic Freedom Fighters. He has long demanded expropriation without compensation.

Mr Trump ambushed Mr Ramaphosa with a video of Mr Malema singing kill the Boer calling for occupation of farms during the Oval Office meeting.

Mr Ramaphosa, quite reasonably, pointed out that this was not government policy, that Mr Malema leads a fringe opposition party, and condemned the rhetoric.

And he brought in John Steenhuisen, his white agriculture minister, who told Mr Trump that most farmers wanted to stay in South Africa and that what the country really needed was help in delivering economic growth that would shut the door on extremists like Mr Malema.

Thats all fair enough. But some still feel that the spirit, if not the letter, of the new law has a racial undertone.

When they did this, they did it through a constitutional review process, and so the ANC will argue that they are doing it within the ambit of the law, that its not aimed at white South Africans. But if you look at the fundamentals, its really about the ability of government to expropriate white-owned land, says Dr Oosthuizen.

Combine that with Mr Malemas salty rhetoric, including adoption of a song with the line kill the Boer, and many rural Afrikaners feel genuinely threatened, he added.

So while the 59 who arrived in Dulles airport were the first to take advantage of the refugee exemption, more may be on the way.

White farmers picketing in support of an executive order by the US president in February, which cut off American aid amid claims that South Africa was discriminating against them - KIM LUDBROOK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In March, the South African Chamber of Commerce in the United States said it had handed the US embassy in Pretoria the details of nearly 70,000 South Africans who contacted it for more information about the refugee scheme. Demand was huge, it reported

It just spread like wildfire. I had 7,500 emails in my mailbox. Over 2,500 texts, WhatsApps and messages. Basically our mail server crashed, Neil Diamond, the head of the chamber, told television channel Newzroom Afrika at the time.

How many will really leave?

Those who really believe in white genocide, want to leave the country or establish a separate state are the crazies of our society, said Mr Du Preez. Theyre tiny even among conservative Afrikaners.

There is a reason Afrikaners named themselves after the continent, he pointed out. They regard themselves as indigenous, and on the whole intend to stay.

More important than the number of refugees, say some, is the message they send.

Stephen Grootes, a South African radio host, argued in the liberal newspaper Daily Maverick, that Mr Trump simply needs to prove to his own constituency that white people are victims.

Mr Oosthuizen agrees. The refugee flights, he suggested, may play to a domestic political audience in America: In Americas own political discourse there is a racial element  black lives matter, family values, and the battle for preservation of white America. That definitely motivates some of the Republican base.

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The tart saltwater odor of fresh-caught shrimp hangs thick in the air, stronger even than the earthier scent of marsh and mud, at Bubba Gumbos and BG Seafood, a dockside restaurant and seafood market on Tybee Island, Georgia. This is one of many restaurants that dot the creeks and rivers snaking like veins through the coastal Georgia marshes. They run the gamut from the upscale and trendy to more bare-bones joints like this one, adjacent to a working dock.

These establishments serve all kinds of seafood, but shrimp is the main attraction. You can order them steamed, fried, or blackened, on top of a salad or sandwiched in a poboy, or swimming in gravy and grits. Or you can dive into the local delicacy: low country boil, a melange of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes, spiced and steamed and served in a succulent heap best eaten with two hands and a huge appetite.

Shrimp are abundant in the ocean off Georgias coast, because the same network of creeks and rivers that houses the docks and restaurants serves as an ideal nursery for baby shrimp. And for a long time, those shrimp fed not just hungry diners but a thriving industry of boats to catch them, docks to serve the boats, and packing houses to process and distribute the shrimp  and all the people those businesses employ.

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But thats not the case anymore.

The shrimp industry in Georgia is  really declining, said Marc Frischer, a professor at the University of Georgias Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Were actually at risk of losing it.

Fewer than 200 shrimp boats are working on Georgias coast these days, Frischer said, down from around 1,500 in the early 2000s. Shrimpers in other south Atlantic states and the Gulf of Mexico are facing similar declines.

The main culprit, scientists, shrimpers, and the International Trade Commission agree, is foreign imports: Farm-raised shrimp from Asia and South America have flooded the market in huge quantities, cratering prices and making it impossible for the local industry to compete.

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Around the same time that foreign competition skyrocketed, U.S. shrimpers started noticing another problem: a mysterious new shrimp disease. Scientists have only recently cracked that case, a condition known as black gill, and they say its linked to climate change: New environmental conditions have helped give rise to a new disease, a pattern thats likely to repeat as the climate keeps warming.

The decades-long effort to understand black gill offers some lessons for the scientific community as more climate-driven diseases emerge, even as the still-rising ocean temperatures help black gill spread into a second species of Georgia shrimp.

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Julia OMalley

In the Georgia legislature this year, coastal Republican Jesse Petrea decided to take on the issue of foreign competition with a bill requiring restaurants to disclose the origin of their shrimp  because even on the shrimp-rich coast, many are serving imports.

You got pictures of shrimp boats on the wall, and youre serving Indian shrimp, Petrea said. Somewhat consumer fraud in my opinion.

To back up Petreas bill, SeaD Consulting, a Gulf-based firm that specializes in seafood mislabeling, performed genetic testing on the shrimp at 44 Savannah restaurants. The company found that 34 were actually serving foreign shrimp.

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Some people would say, Well, but theyre cheap. They are, but at what cost? Petrea said of the imported alternative. Ill pay a little more for domestic shrimp, and we all should recognize we have to pay a little more.

A white man in a shirt and baseball cap stands on a fishing boat

American waters simply dont have enough shrimp or shrimpers to replace foreign imports completely, Petrea said, but he hopes clearer labeling can help domestic shrimp take over a little more of the market to keep local shrimpers in business. The bill didnt pass this year, but he said he plans to bring it back next year. Alabama passed a similar law last year, and Louisiana and Mississippi already have shrimp labeling requirements.

But shrimpers problems also go beyond what shrimp restaurants choose to buy.

Theres a lot of packing houses closing down, said Charlie Phillips, who owns a seafood packing operation and a dockside restaurant in Townsend, Georgia.

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And packers often control the docks. A lot of the shrimpers are losing dock access. They dont have a place to unload, Phillips said.

Phillips doesnt handle shrimp anymore, because just like shrimp boats, packing houses struggle to compete with cheaper imports.

Many in the industry are hoping that the Trump administrations new tariffs will help by driving up the price of imported shrimp. But Phillips, who also sits on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, is skeptical.

Its still going to be cheaper than domestic, he said of the imported shrimp. For the most part, the customers are going to pay the price.

Shrimp, potatoes, sausage and corn served up with butter and a red sauce.

On top of the financial challenges, shrimpers have faced a medical mystery for decades.

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Shrimpers started reporting dark discoloration in shrimp gills in the 90s. The condition came to be known as black gill and was soon prevalent from the Gulf to the Chesapeake Bay. The diseases rise coincided with a sharp decline in shrimp catch numbers in Georgia in the 2000s and 2010s, raising concerns that the two were linked.

Now, Frischer with UGA said, he and his fellow researchers know what causes black gill and much more about its impact on Georgia shrimp.

The condition is caused by a type of microorganism commonly found in water known as a ciliate. The ciliate attaches itself to the gills, and the shrimps natural immune response produces melanin. Once theres a high enough concentration of the melanin, the shrimps gills take on a darkened appearance to the naked eye. Affected shrimp are still safe for humans to eat, but their respiration rates and endurance are affected and they become more vulnerable to predators.

The particular ciliate that causes this disease has probably always been there, Frischer said, but its never caused a problem before  in fact, it had never been identified by scientists before he and his team did so. But climate change has shifted ocean conditions. Disease, he explained, arises when just the right conditions overlap among a host, a pathogen, and the environment  in this case, shrimp, the ciliate that causes black gill, and the ocean off the southeastern U.S. coast.

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All of these things can exist, but as our environment changes, we create that intersection that creates the disease, Frischer explained. And he said that will keep happening as the climate continues changing. Whats happened in the shrimp here, black gill, were going to see a lot more stories like that in many, many more species.

Read Next

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The world is farming more seafood than it catches. Is that a good thing?

Frida Garza

The good news is that Georgias shrimp population seems to be doing all right, despite black gill. If shrimp manage to shelter from predators, it turns out they can recover because the condition is isolated to their gills. The gills are part of the shell that the shrimp periodically shed and regrow, so when they molt they can rid themselves of black gill. While the overall shrimp catch has dropped, thats more likely because there are so many fewer boats because of the economic forces that Petrea and Phillips described. The amount of shrimp each boat brings in has remained steady  though Frischer said there isnt great data from before the disease emerged. And as warmer water pushes the annual emergence of black gill earlier, it does appear to be hurting the summer stock of brown shrimp, one of two main species of shrimp caught by Georgia shrimpers.

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But its purely luck of the draw that black gill has turned out to be survivable. As climate change fosters the emergence of more new pathogens, Frischer said, some will prove harmless but some will decimate species and ecosystems. Theres no real predicting which will be which. And Frischer said theres a bigger lesson here about the scientific response to new diseases.

Black gill first appeared in the 90s, research began in earnest in 2013, and scientists only now have it figured out. Thats decades from outbreak to understanding, and its too slow, Frischer said, especially when a new climate-linked disease like this could just as easily wipe out a species as not. He compared black gill response to COVID-19 research, which built on decades of scientific understanding of viruses in general, coronaviruses specifically, vaccines, mRNA, and a host of other areas that provided a scientific baseline so researchers could quickly produce vaccines.

We really need that basic research to deal with problems in something close to real time, not decades, he said. We dont have decades.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Georgias beloved shrimp industry grapples with disease and foreign imports on May 13, 2025.
A traffic stop in Dalton, Georgia, which police admitted was a mistake, led to a 19-year-old Mexico-born college student's arrest and possible deportation.

The Dalton Police Department on Monday said it was dropping the traffic-related charges against Ximena Arias-Cristobal that led to her initial arrest last week. But she remains at an ICE detention facility in southwest Georgia.

"After suffering for more than a week in police and ICE custody, it turns out this was all the result of a police mistake. The tragedy of our system is that there is no immediate remedy for Ximena, as ICE does not care about fairness or justice," her attorney, Dustin Baxter, said in a statement to NBC News.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, was arrested in Dalton, Ga., following a traffic stop. (City of Dalton via WXIA)

"We will fight for her release at her upcoming bond hearing, and then try to restore some sense of normalcy to her life," he said. The ordeal began May 5 when Arias-Cristobal, who is in the country without authorization, was pulled over by Dalton police. She was accused of making an improper turn and driving without a valid drivers license, but dashcam video of the traffic stop showed that the officer meant to stop another vehicle.

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"After a review of the dash cam video of the traffic stop, it was determined that Ms. Arias-Cristobals vehicle appeared similar to the offending vehicle but was not the vehicle that made an improper turn," police said Monday in a news release.

The release stated that a black pickup truck made an illegal right turn on red at an intersection. The officer could not immediately pursue the truck because he was behind another vehicle that had stopped at the red light. Arias-Cristobal was driving a dark gray pickup truck.

The truck that made an illegal right run on red, left, and Arias-Cristobal's truck. (City of Dalton)

According to local news reports, she has lived in the Dalton area since her family came to the U.S. when she was 4 years old. She is enrolled at Dalton State Community College. Her arrest sparked protests in the city.

Chris Crossen, assistant chief of police, said at a news conference that he "regrets the circumstances that led us to where we are here today."

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But added that the department has "no part in the other proceedings."

Online records show that Arias-Cristobal is being held at the Stewart Detention Center, an ICE detention facility in Georgia. Her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, is being held at the same facility. He was detained about two weeks ago following a traffic stop.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X that Arias-Tovar "admitted that he is in the country illegally."

"The family will be able to return to Mexico together," the department said. "Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to. We are not ignoring the rule of law."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A 19-year-old college student from Georgia remains in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after a traffic stop led to her detainment, records show.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal was arrested on May 5 in Dalton, Georgia, when her dark gray truck was mistaken for a black pickup that made an illegal turn.

The Dalton Police Department announced on Monday that a review of dash cam video showed she was not the driver who committed the traffic violation and all charges against her have been dropped.

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City officials -- including the city administrator, prosecuting attorney and city attorney -- confirmed the stop was in error and notified Arias-Cristobal's legal team.

PHOTO: A 19-year-old college student from Georgia remains in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after a mistaken traffic violation led to her detainment, records show. (WTVC)

MORE: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrested at ICE facility while joining Democrats to conduct 'oversight'

Despite the dismissal of charges on Monday, the 19-year-old Dalton State College student had been taken into ICE custody following the traffic stop and remained in custody on Monday, triggering concerns about her immigration status.

Arias-Cristobal, who is undocumented, has lived in Whitfield County since she was 4 years old, her family told ABC News' Tennessee affiliate WTVC.

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Her family said that Arias-Cristobal was not eligible to register in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program because it had ended.

Arias-Cristobal is being held at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, ICE records show.

MORE: ICE targets businesses and restaurants across DC

Her attorney, Charles Kuck, said in a statement to ABC News that despite the charges being dropped, Arias-Cristobal is "inside the Trump deportation machinery" and is still facing deportation.

Arias-Cristobal has a bond hearing next week, her attorney said.

According to WTVC, Arias-Cristobal's father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, was similarly detained by police in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, two weeks ago for going 19 miles over the speed limit.

The family told the outlet that he is being housed at the same ICE detention center.

Georgia college student remains in ICE custody after mistaken traffic stop originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King speaks at the Georgia Chamber of Commerces Eggs and Issues event in Atlanta in January. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King has joined the race to take on Sen. Jon Ossoff in next years midterm election.

Insurance Commissioner John King. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

In social media posts announcing his run Monday, King emphasized his military and law enforcement background. King served in the U.S. Army National Guard for four decades, retiring as a major general in 2023. He also served in the Atlanta Police Department and the Doraville Police Department, where he was chief for 17 years.

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Ive had the privilege to lead your sons and daughters in some incredible places around the world: Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Africa. During President Trumps first term, I served on the U.S. Mexico border. As an Atlanta police officer, I was shot and stabbed in the line of duty, protecting our community. Ive never shied away from a fight, but what truly scares me today is having Jon Ossoff for six more years.

King was appointed insurance commissioner by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019 and elected to a full term in 2022, making him Georgias first Hispanic statewide elected official. He was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. at 17. He posted his announcement video to X in both English and Spanish, a sign he could be trying to court Latino voters.

Though Latino voters in Georgia favored former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, Republicans have made inroads in recent years, and advocates report a lack of outreach to Latino Georgians from either major party.

In his announcement, King positioned himself as a strong potential ally to the president.

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President Trump got sent to Washington DC to solve some very big problems, King said. He needs help, and Im asking for your support to go help President Trump and solve these incredibly big problems.

King now joins Congressman Buddy Carter, a six-term Republican representing a coastal Georgia district, in the race against Ossoff. Carter threw his hat into the ring last week, also pitching himself as a strong Trump backer.

Sen. Jon Ossoff. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Ossoff is the only Democratic senator up for re-election in a state won by Trump in 2024, so the race for his seat is likely to keep attracting attention. Last week, Kemp announced that he doesnt plan to run, which could spur even more Republicans to try their chances. He has raised more than $11 million so far in 2025, according to federal election filings.

Some of Carters colleagues in Congress are seen as potential contenders, including Reps. Rick Allen, Mike Collins and Rich McCormick as well as state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

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Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene took herself off the list last week with a social media post.

In a statement, Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Charlie Bailey expressed confidence that Trumps policies will harm any Republicans chances in a general election.

John King touting his loyalty to Donald Trump at the launch of his bid for Georgias Senate seat is telling yet not surprising as the Republican field grows and caters to the MAGA far-right, Bailey said.

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A Georgia state House representative is pushing for new legislation after watching the Channel 2 Action News special on cancer-causing chemicals found in some synthetic braiding hair products.

What products are we using that is knowingly or unintentionally causing harm to our community? State Rep. Inga Willis of District 55 asked Channel 2s Audrey Washington.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

It was perfect time for me to see your work and what youve chosen to amplify, Rep. Willis said to Washington.

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The special really allows us to bring more awareness from a legislative perspective because were seeing people respond from a consumer perspective, Rep. Willis explained.

A new study from Consumer Reports raised serious concerns about synthetic hair used in braiding.

RELATED STORIES:

According to the report, scientists tested 10 synthetic hair brands. The lab tests found cancer-causing chemicals in all 10, and the chemical benzene in three.

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Benzene is mostly linked to leukemias, said Carmen J. Marsit, Ph.D., a chemist, and Emory University Professor of Environmental Health.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to all 10 companies whose products were tested.

Two responded, stating their products are safe and questioning the testing methods:

Magic Fingers said it is proud of the trusted and top-quality hair products it provides to customers.

Our customers know they can count on us for braids and extensions that meet their highest expectations for fashion and performance, said a magic Fingers spokesperson. The unusual testing methods employed by Consumer Reports do not fairly match the real-world way that our customers use our Braiding Hair.

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A Sensationnel spokesperson said they pride themselves on producing the finest quality hair products on the market and are constantly evaluating materials and processes with customer safety in mind.

The claims and conclusions presented by the Consumer Reports study are unfounded and misleading, they said. Its study used a harsh and unusual testing methodology on hair braiding products that are clearly not intended for ingestion.

We strongly disagree with the claims Consumer Reports makes about the potential risk to consumers that could arise from the safe and common use of our products. We unequivocally stand by the safety of Sensationnel products, and our company urges consumers to continue to confidently use Sensationnel products.

Last year, the FDA also proposed banning chemicals found in certain hair straightening products, which are linked to different cancers.

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As for the proposed committee study, Rep. Willis said:

It will also allow me the opportunity to bring in experts, chemists, toxicologists, physicians, survivors like me, said Rep. Willis.

Willis said its important to hold the hair product companies accountable and to push to change which chemicals consumers are exposed to.

The more awareness takes hold in our communities, the more we can shift legislation, the more we can shift labeling and protect consumers, Rep. Willis said.

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OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A Georgia man was arrested on Monday from an armed robbery in 2023.

On December 15, 2023, Oconee County deputies responded to the Bountyland Quick Stop, on S. Highway 11, for a possible armed robbery. Deputies said that they were informed that a man was found inside the store when an employee arrived for their shift.

The man was holding a pistol, making threats to harm the employee. He then took the employees cell phone and struck them in the head with the pistol, according to arrest warrants.

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The suspect was identified as 38-year-old Laron Jeffery Woodard, from Macon, GA. Woodard was charged with violent burglary, armed robbery, assault, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Woodard was denied bond on all 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
ATLANTA (AP)  When Georgia's governor and a lightning-rod congresswoman decided last week to not run for the U.S. Senate, it seemed like the waiting game was over among Republicans seeking to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff.

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents a district on the Georgia coast, had become the first major Republican candidate to declare when he announced on Thursday. Then, state Insurance Commissioner John King did the same on Monday.

I expect a competitive primary  Senate seats dont come along that often, said Eric Tanenblatt, a top national GOP fundraiser and Kemp ally who has backed Trumps rivals in presidential primaries.

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But after the exits of Gov. Brian Kemp and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, theres a new waiting game going on. Hopefuls are looking to President Donald Trump and Kemp for support. The governor told reporters last week that hed like to unite with Trump behind a preferred candidate, which could head off an expensive and tumultuous primary that could weaken a nominee.

I had a good conversation with President Trump about my decision. And Im going to continue talking to him about the races in Georgia, Kemp said in Forsyth, Georgia. I think if its possible, it would be great if we can line up on things. Thats hard to do sometimes in primaries.

Kemp and Trump met Sunday in Washington, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, and some possible contenders are waiting to see how things play out. Republican congressman Mike Collins said on the day that Kemp stepped aside that he wanted to hear from Trump.

I will speak to President Trump and his team and do whatever is necessary to ensure he has another vote in the Senate for the America First agenda, Collins said on the day Kemp stepped aside.

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Five other GOP officeholders have acknowledged interest in the race, including two other Republicans in Congress, Rick Allen and Rich McCormick. Also mulling it over are Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and state Sen. Greg Dolezal.

Trumps own desires could elevate others.

U.S. Rep. Brian Jack, Trumps White House political adviser during Trumps first term, is in his first term in Congress. Jack has vaulted onto a leadership track in the House, becoming deputy chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOP House campaign arm. Having also served as an aide to then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Jack was elected as the freshman representative to the House GOP Steering Committee. Jack has shown no public interest in the Senate seat but may be closer to Trump than any Georgia Republican.

Republicans have flagged Georgia and Michigan as prime opportunities for expanding their Senate majority in 2026. But in Georgia, unlike Michigan, the Democratic incumbent is seeking reelection. Ossoff is trying to show he can deliver for Georgia and work with Republicans while also offering a sharp critique of Trump.

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While Georgia backed Trump in 2024, the states voters have sometimes supported Democrats. They chose Joe Biden in 2020. They handed Senate control to Democrats in January 2021 runoffs by electing Ossoff and Raphael Warnock after Republicans David Perdue and Loeffler lashed themselves to Trumps false claims that his 2020 defeat was rigged. They then reelected Warnock in a runoff over Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee in 2022.

Any Republican challenger to Ossoff must win a primary that could be decided well to the right of the broader electorate.

Republicans dont want business as usual. They want disruption, said Chip Lake, a GOP campaign consultant who worked for Walker in 2022.

But a primary in which every candidate tries to be the most conservative and most loyal to Trump could cause problems later.

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If we nominate someone that is just too extreme, I dont think its going to go well for us in a general election, Tanenblatt said.

Rallying around a single candidate might reduce that risk. Thats where Trump and Kemp, who has his own fraught history with the president, could play key roles.

Kemp pledged that his political organization, considered the most effective in Georgia, will work for a Republican Senate win in 2026. Victory could burnish Kemps reputation.

Just because my names not on the ballot, that doesnt mean that I wont be on the political playing field, Kemp said.

But some time to campaign without a Trump endorsement would give candidates time to prove themselves, said Brian Robinson, a Republican political consultant.

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Well see how hard theyre working. Well see how much money theyre raising and well see what machinations go on in the third-party groups out of D.C., Robinson said, alluding to politically active conservative groups such as Club for Growth.

Carter, a pharmacist, mayor and state lawmaker before he went to Congress, is trying to get a jump on that process. Tanenblatt said Carter is the kind of Republican who can appeal to the Trump base and the partys more traditional wing. His challenge, Tanenblatt said, is that hes largely unknown in metro Atlanta, home to most Georgia voters.

Collins, a second-term congressman, might benefit from representing a northeast Georgia district that includes some of Atlantas suburbs. Besides Greene, hes maybe the most like Trump stylistically, with a string of inflammatory social media posts and a big, booming personality. Its not an act, said Jay Morgan, a longtime Republican strategist.

This is not something he made up, Morgan said. Hes gotten a little better at it, hes gotten a little more polished and he is a hard worker. Nobody will work harder than Mike Collins.

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Maybe the best-known Republican prospect is Raffensperger, but his notoriety could cut both ways. Raffensperger is best known for clashing with Trump when Trump asked him to overturn Bidens 2020 win in Georgia.

The best argument Brad Raffensperger can make is he can win, Morgan said.

Raffensperger appealed to moderates and even Democrats in his 2022 reelection bid, but he is despised by many Republican activists.

Donald Trump is the leader of this party, and youre not going to have success at all in a primary as a candidate running for any office in Georgia if you dont acknowledge that and be supportive of that, Lake said,

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The right nominee will tap into GOP hunger to win back one of Georgias Senate seats after three consecutive losses.

They are tired of losing, Morgan said. And this could be a critical, critical race. Depending on what happens in the country and the mood of the country, this is a race Republicans can win again.

___
Gerard Depardieu has been given an 18-month suspended prison sentence for sexual assault in a case that has further stained the French actors reputation.

The Paris Criminal Court ordered the 76-year-old, who was not present in court for the verdict, be added to the sex offenders register.

He was convicted of assaulting two women on a 2021 film set and was ordered to pay 10,000 in moral damages to both of the victims: a set dresser, 54, identified only as Amelie, and a 34-year-old assistant director.

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Depardieu was also ordered to pay a further 1,000 and 2,000 respectively for secondary victimisation.

His lawyer said he would appeal against the verdict.

Depardieu, who has starred in more than 200 films and television series, is the highest-profile figure caught up in Frances response to the #MeToo movement.

Around 20 women have accused the actor of assault or inappropriate behaviour, but this is the first case to come to court.

The trial related to charges of sexual assault during the filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) by director Jean Becker.

A court sketch of Depardieu during his trial in Paris - Benoit Peyrucq/AFP via Getty Images

In March, lead prosecutor Laurent Guy said the 18-month suspended sentence requested takes into account the total lack of remorse shown by the defendant.

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Amelie testified that Depardieu pinned her down in 2021 on set, saying, he was very strong and groped her.

She also said Depardieu made obscene remarks and suggestions, boasting he could give women an orgasm without touching them.

Speaking after the verdict, she said: This is a victory for me. Justice has been done.

Carine Durrieu Diebolt, her lawyer, said: I hope this marks the end of impunity for artists in the film industry.

With this decision, we can no longer say [that Gerard Depardieu] is not a sexual abuser.

My thoughts are with the other victims whose cases are time-barred, said the lawyer, praising the courage of the victims who took the stand.

Catherine Le Magueresse, the lawyer for one of the accusers, spoke after the trial - Thomas Padilla/Associated Press

Depardieu has denied sexually assaulting the women.

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Im vulgar, rude, foul-mouthed, Ill accept that, he told the court, but he added: I dont touch.

I adore women and femininity, he also said, while describing the #MeToo movement as a reign of terror.

Throughout the trial, Depardieu was supported by his daughter Roxane, his ex-partner Karine Silla and actor Vincent Perez, as well as actress Fanny Ardant. Depardieu is currently shooting a film with her in Portugal.

On Monday, he won public backing from French film star Brigitte Bardot.

Those who have talent and put their hands on a girls bottom are thrown in the gutter, said Ms Bardot in her first TV interview in over a decade to mark her 90th birthday.

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We could at least let them get on with their lives. They cant live any more.

Lawyers for the two complainants had denounced the approach of Depardieus defence team.

Jeremie Assous, the actors lawyer, called the two women liars and hysterical, arguing they were working for the cause of rabid feminism.

Claude Vincent, the assistant directors lawyer, said: What we witnessed was not a defence strategy but an apology for sexism.

In an open letter, nearly 200 French lawyers urged the judiciary to fight what they called courtroom sexism.

Handing out the ruling, presiding judge Thierry Donard concurred by saying: The rights of the defence cannot justify outrageous and humiliating remarks that undermine peoples dignity. The civil parties were subjected to a highly offensive defence.

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Depardieu has also been indicted in another case following a rape complaint filed by actor Charlotte Arnould, 29. Prosecutors have requested a trial.

In April, French MPs criticised endemic abuse in the entertainment industry after a six-month inquiry.

Depardieu became a star in France in the 1980s, winning the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990 for his performance in Cyrano de Bergerac.

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German authorities have ordered the demolition of a Bavarian house because the roof is 36 centimetres too high.

Jens Riediger, the houses tenant, says he was devastated after local officials claimed the roof and other irregularities were serious violations of building regulations.

The Bavarian administrative court in Munich warned that its ruling is binding and final, ending a four-year court battle between the developers and local authorities.

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The house is one of three such cases under demolition orders in Upper Bavaria, despite the region suffering from a housing shortage, according to local media.

Mr Riediger, a 57-year-old engineer, was bitterly disappointed by the decision. He told the Bild newspaper: Living space worth millions of euros is going to be destroyed. And this only because the roof is 36cm too high, and because a garage was built instead of a carport [roofed shelter] and the ground was filled in.

He also claimed there are other houses in the village of Wolfratshausen, south of Munich, with taller roofs than his home.

Local officials claimed the houses roof and other irregularities were serious violations of building regulations - Stefan M. Prager / BILD/Stefan M. Prager / BILD

His family has got some time to find a new place to live, with the demolition crew not due to arrive until spring 2026.

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Well have moved out by then. We now live in 180 square metres, it will not be easy to find a house like that for the same rent, he told Bild.

The row over the height of the buildings roof has dragged on since 2021, when the developers offered to remedy the problem by removing the propertys regulatory defects.

The offer was reportedly rejected by the local court, which instead looked into the possibility of turning the building into a womens shelter, an idea that was also abandoned.

A spokesman for Wolfratshausens district office defended the decision in a statement to Bild, arguing that the house had many serious defects.

The row over the height of the buildings roof began in 2021 - Stefan M. Prager / BILD/Stefan M. Prager / BILD

The significant deviations [from planning regulations] consisted of embankments, higher walls, roofs with different pitches and the construction of a garage instead of a carport, they said.

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It is not the first time that a German house has fallen foul of planning rules that some might view as draconian.

In 2014, a German pensioner was ordered to tear down her home because it had been built in 1939 without planning permission, due to the chaos of the Second World War breaking out.

The pensioner resisted the ruling and launched a long court battle, which ended in victory after local officials backed down on the demolition order.

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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed the situation in the Gaza war with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his two-day visit to Israel on Tuesday.

Immediately before the meeting, Netanyahu had announced a new offensive to dismantle the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Steinmeier said before the conversation that they would talk about the conduct of the war and its consequences, as well as the new announcements.

Steinmeier defends meeting with Netanyahu

"I very much hope that we will receive explanations, including explanations of what is intended in the medium and long term," the German president said.

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Steinmeier also rejected the demand from the human rights organization Amnesty International not to meet Netanyahu. "I find that the demand is very simplistic," he said. "It would also be the easiest thing for politicians to avoid difficult conversations. That has never been my stance. And it is especially not my stance in relation to Israel."

Amnesty had previously called on the German president to refrain from meeting Netanyahu, who is being sought under an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.

Military honours, meetings between presidents

Steinmeier arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv at midday, where he was greeted with military honours by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

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Herzog had been in Berlin on Monday, and Steinmeier had flown on to Israel on Tuesday morning.

The reciprocal visit honours the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states 60 years ago.

Diplomatic ties were formally established on May 12, 1965, following an agreement between Germany's then-chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol.

The move came after a gradual rapprochement between the two nations whose relationship had been deeply scarred by the atrocities carried out during the Holocaust, during which Nazi Germany murdered some 6 million Jews.

In the following decades, Germany and Israel have built a close network of political, economic, military, scientific and cultural cooperation.

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But the anniversary was overshadowed by the ongoing Gaza war, with Steinmeier appealing to Herzog in Berlin to lift the blockade preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the civilian population in the coastal area and adhere to international law.

"Israel's enemies do not abide by the rules, but we must," Steinmeier said in his speech at a state banquet in the German capital on Monday evening. At the same time, he noted Israel's right to self-defence.

In Jerusalem, the two heads of states visited the National Library of Israel.

Visit to Kibbutz Be'eri to conclude the trip

On Wednesday, Steinmeier plans to visit Kibbutz Be'eri, which is located directly on the border with the Gaza Strip. Hamas had almost completely destroyed it during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Steinmeier visited the kibbutz with Herzog a few weeks after the attack.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Jerusalem on Tuesday to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany, forged in the grim shadow of the Holocaust.

Steinmeier was welcomed at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport with military honours by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who visited Germany on Monday to mark the diplomatic milestone.

Diplomatic ties were formally established on May 12, 1965, following an agreement between Germany's then-chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol.

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The move came after a gradual rapprochement between two nations whose relationship had been deeply scarred by the atrocities carried out during the Holocaust, during which Nazi Germany murdered some 6 million Jews.

In the following decades, Germany and Israel have built a close network of political, economic, military, scientific and cultural cooperation.

But the anniversary was overshadowed by the ongoing Gaza war, with Steinmeier appealing to Herzog in Berlin to lift the blockade preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the civilian population in the coastal area and adhere to international law.

"Israel's enemies do not abide by the rules, but we must," said Steinmeier in his speech at a state banquet in the German capital on Monday evening. At the same time, he noted Israel's right to self-defence.

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In Jerusalem, the two heads of states visited the National Library of Israel, with Steinmeier set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the afternoon.

Human rights group Amnesty International had previously called on the German president to refrain from meeting Netanyahu, who is being sought under an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, where he is greeted with military honors by Israeli President Izchak Herzog. Steinmeier and his wife are on a two-day visit to Israel to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel. The visit follows a recent trip by Herzog and his wife to Germany. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
GERMANTOWN HILLS, Ill. (WMBD)  Teachers were slimed and sprayed with silly string by their own students outside of Germantown Hills Middle School on Monday.

Its all part of the celebration day for Laps for Life, which incentivizes students to raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital by being able to get back at their teachers.

Students raised more than $35,000 over the past week, which surpassed the goal of $30,000. All proceeds raised will help children within the Peoria area fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

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7th grade math teacher Kari Keys described the passion students have for the event as unreal.

It sends chills through my body to know that our small community, we have a little over 800 students here, can raise that much money and come together. So, its a great feeling, she said.

Its been going on for six years now, and was started after a Germantown Hills student was diagnosed with leukemia.

Assistant Principal Lindsey Davis said its important to honor people who dont get a happy ending in their cancer battle.

We want to recognize those patients as well and make sure that they are remembered and continue to fundraise so that we dont have any more of those, she said.

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Other activities included a warp wall, relay races, bouncy houses, a DJ, and an obstacle course.

Laps for Life has raised more than $140,000 for St. Jude over the past six years.

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 CIProud.com.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has banned the far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," a prominent faction of the Reich Citizens movement.

The group, which reportedly has around 6,000 followers, has been accused of establishing a "counter-state" and building criminal economic structures.

According to the Interior Ministry, police have been conducting raids since early Tuesday on properties of key members in seven German states, including Baden-Wurttemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

Dobrindt stated that the group's members used anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to support their claimed sovereignty, adding that such behaviour cannot be tolerated in a state governed by the rule of law.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has banned the far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," a prominent faction of the Reich Citizens movement, with four of its alleged ringleaders detained during raids across several German states.

The group, which reportedly has around 6,000 followers, has been accused of establishing a "counter-state" and building criminal economic structures.

Four German men were taken into custody, including the group's founder, Peter Fitzek, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said.

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The men, aged between 37 and 59, are due to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe on Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to the Interior Ministry, police have been conducting raids since early Tuesday on properties of key members, including in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

It also said the group has for years operated illegal banking and insurance businesses through affiliated entities.

Dobrindt stated that the group's members used anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to support their claimed sovereignty, adding that such behaviour cannot be tolerated in a state governed by the rule of law.

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So-called Reichsburger, or "Reich Citizens," believe that the modern German republic illegitimately replaced the German Reich that was founded in 1871 and continued under the Nazi regime until 1945.

They do not recognize democratic institutions like parliament, courts, or laws and refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions, or fines.

The "Kingdom of Germany" group was founded in 2012 by Peter Fitzek, who was born in Saxony-Anhalt. He appointed himself its head.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has banned the far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," a prominent faction of the country's Reich Citizens movement, with four of its alleged ringleaders detained during raids across several German states.

The organization, which reportedly has around 6,000 followers, has been accused of establishing a "counter-state" and building "criminal economic structures."

Four German men, aged between 37 and 59, were taken into custody, including the group's founder, Peter Fitzek, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said.

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Later on Tuesday, an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe ruled that one of the four suspects will be remanded in custody, with the other three - including Fitzek - yet to appear before the judge, according to a spokeswoman.

Who are the Reich Citizens?

Reich Citizens is an umbrella term used to describe a diffuse group of German residents who do not recognize the authority of the current system of government.

The movement has no official structure and consists of several groupings, with "Kingdom of Germany" currently the most prominent.

Reich Citizens - or Reichsburger - are generally considered to belong to the extreme right, though the movements do not align completely.

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Many of the group's followers maintain that the German Reich proclaimed in 1871 still exists. They do not recognize modern-day democratic and constitutional structures such as parliament, laws or courts.

They also refuse to pay taxes, social security contributions or fines.

Reich Citizens groups have engaged in violent and criminal activities and are being monitored by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as extremist organizations.

In 2023, the agency estimated some 25,000 people were part of the movement.

Most prominently, the alleged ringleaders of a group surrounding Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss - a descendant of a noble German family whose title carries no formal weight - were arrested in December 2022 over an alleged planned coup attempt.

Crackdown on 'Kingdom of Germany'

The "Kingdom of Germany" group was founded in 2012 by Fitzek, who was born in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

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Announcing the ban, Interior Minister Dobrindt said that the group's members used anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to support their claimed sovereignty, adding that such behaviour cannot be tolerated in a state governed by the rule of law.

According to the Interior Ministry, police have been conducting raids since early Tuesday on properties owned by key members, including in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

It also said the group has for years operated illegal banking and insurance businesses through affiliated entities.

"The 'Kingdom of Germany' is characterized by a decidedly profit-oriented focus," the ministry said, adding that members have carried out unauthorized banking and insurance transactions for years via sub-organizations.

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Alleged ringleader Fitzek has been convicted several times including for driving without a licence and conducting illegal banking transactions.

He was also sentenced by a district court to a total of eight months' imprisonment for intentional assault and insult.

According to prosecutors, as the "supreme sovereign" Fitzek was responsible for determining the ideological orientation of the group and issued his own "laws."

Two of the detained men served as his deputies while the fourth man was responsible for the group's finances.

As part of the ban, authorities have confiscated the group's assets and shut down its online presence.
BERLIN (AP)  The German government on Tuesday banned the far-right organization Kingdom of Germany as a threat to the countrys democratic order and arrested four of its leaders in raids across several states.

The group is part of the countrys so-called Reich Citizen, or Reichsburger, movement that claims the historical German Reich still exists and refuses to recognize the current democratic government or its parliament, laws and courts. Members also refuse to pay taxes or fines.

About 800 police officers launched raids Tuesday on the groups properties and the homes of its leading members throughout the country.

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Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, in announcing the ban on the group, said its members have underpinned their claims to power using antisemitic conspiracy narratives that cannot be tolerated.

The members of this association have created a 'counter-state' in our country and built up economic criminal structures, Dobrindt said. We will take decisive action against those who attack our free democratic basic order."

Among those arrested Tuesday was the group leader Peter Fitzek. He proclaimed the Kingdom of Germany in the eastern town of Wittenberg in 2012 and says it has around 6,000 followers, though the Interior Ministry says it has about 1,000 members The group claims to have seceded from the German federal government.

This is not about harmless nostalgia, as the title of the association might suggest, but about criminal structures, criminal networks," the minister told reporters later in Berlin. "Thats why its being banned today.

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The group's online platforms will be blocked and its assets will be confiscated to ensure that no further financial resources can be used for extremist purposes, Dobrindt said.

The group gave no immediate public comment, and generally declines to interact with media outlets.

It's not the first time that Germany has acted against the Reichsburger movement.

In 2023, German police officers searched the homes of about 20 people in connection with investigations into the far-right Reich Citizens scene, whose adherents had similarities to followers of the QAnon movement in the United States.

Last year, the alleged leaders of a suspected far-right plot to topple Germanys government went on trial on Tuesday, opening proceedings in a case that shocked the country in late 2022.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday called for more support for United Nations Blue Helmets, international peacekeeping forces monitoring peace processes in conflict areas around the world.

Pistorius was speaking at the opening of a two-day international conference in Berlin aimed at discussing the future of UN peacekeeping, with representatives from over 130 states expected to attend.

"We are very convinced that UN peacekeeping missions are among the most legitimate, effective and cost-effective means of international crisis management," said the minister.

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Pistorius advocated equipping peacekeepers with more modern technology, saying they would benefit immensely from unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.

He also stressed the need for better coordination on tasks and aims for the troops.

Pistorius suggested defining achievable goals as part of mandates and then providing the necessary instruments and capabilities to achieve them.

"UN peacekeeping missions must be adequately equipped," he said.

The minister said he was therefore looking forward to Wednesday's donor conference aimed at mobilizing financial support for the Blue Helmets.

According to the German Foreign Office, the conference provides a forum to "debate various approaches to present-day and future challenges, as well as announce specific pledges of support for UN peacekeeping missions" with the goal of improving security for the Blue Helmets, increasing effectiveness of the missions and promoting acceptance.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is also attending.

Boris Pistorius, German Minister of Defence, speaks at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 in Berlin, where delegates from over 130 countries discuss the future of blue helmet missions. Hannes P Albert/dpa
The German government and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have called for sweeping reforms to United Nations peacekeeping operations, urging the international community to modernize and strengthen missions in the face of escalating crises.

Speaking in Berlin before representatives from over 130 countries, Guterres warned that peacekeeping operations must be made "fit for the future" to respond effectively to the growing number of wars and humanitarian crises.

"We are now facing the highest number of conflicts since the foundation of the United Nations and a record number of people fleeing across borders in search of safety and refuge," Guterres said.

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He acknowledged that the Blue Helmets face both operational challenges and looming budget cuts, while discussions continue on how to make their missions faster and more effective.

Germany is hosting a two-day conference at the Foreign Office to rally concrete commitments from UN member states and to strengthen the foundation of peacekeeping missions.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized the need for modern equipment, especially the use of drones and other advanced technologies, to better protect peacekeepers and fulfill mandates.

"We are very convinced that UN peacekeeping missions are among the most legitimate, effective and cost-effective means of international crisis management," said the minister.

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He also called for improved coordination of tasks and objectives, along with more realistic mission goals.

Attention is now focused on Wednesday's donor conference. While the United States has scaled back its funding and is not attending at a high level, China - the largest troop contributor among UN Security Council permanent members - is sending its defence minister. Russia, another UN veto power, remains diplomatically sidelined due to its war on Ukraine.

Achievements and failures

Since 1948, more than 70 UN peacekeeping missions have been launched. Around 4,400 personnel have died in service. Missions are often deployed under difficult conditions, where even limited stabilization is considered a success if it allows space for diplomacy or enhances transparency.

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Examples range from the long-running UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon, to darker chapters such as the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where lightly armed peacekeepers failed to prevent mass killings. More recently, the military-led government in Mali forced UN peacekeepers to withdraw.

(L-R) Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and Boris Pistorius, German Defence Minister, attend the opening of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025, bringing together over 130 countries to discuss the future of peacekeeping missions. Hannes P Albert/dpa
Germany's newly-minted Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited US President Donald Trump to visit his ancestral home in the Palatinate region of western Germany during a future trip.

"I have invited him to come to Germany and visit us in his hometown of Bad Durkheim. And I will go there with him," Merz said on Tuesday evening at an economic conference organized by his conservative Christian Democrats.

Merz spoke with Trump for 30 minutes by phone last week, just two days after taking office in Berlin as chancellor, and extended the invitation. Trump has not yet publicly commented.

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Trumps family traces its roots to Kallstadt, a small wine-growing village on the Wine Route in Rhineland-Palatinate, which is part of the Bad Durkheim district.

His grandparents emigrated from there to New York in the late 19th century. Merz, who completed his military service in the Palatinate in the 1970s, is familiar with the region.

Visit to Washington 'very soon'

The chancellor also confirmed plans to visit Trump in Washington "very soon." Merz said the two would discuss issues that underpin the trans-Atlantic alliance, including NATO, as well as urgent challenges like ending the war in Ukraine.

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He referenced a second conversation with Trump on Saturday, during which he spoke to the US president from Kiev alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

It had become clear there that "we stand together in the European Union, we want to keep the Americans on board and we are now showing that the free world that we are determined to defend ourselves," he said in reference to the Kiev trip.
The European Union is prepared to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia if no progress is made in ending the war in Ukraine this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 13, Reuters reported.

The statement comes ahead of a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

Merz said EU leaders support Zelensky's diplomatic push for a ceasefire but warn of sweeping new sanctions if Putin refuses to engage seriously.

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"We are waiting for Putin's agreement, and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at the European level for a significant tightening of sanctions," Merz said during a news conference.

An EU official told the Kyiv Independent that the bloc will unveil its next package of sanctions on May 14. The 17th round of EU measures could target additional sectors of Russia's economy, with new penalties reportedly focused on energy and financial markets.

The EU has imposed 16 sanctions packages since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting military suppliers, Russian state entities, and individuals involved in the war.

Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.

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"I believe more compromise and more concessions are no longer reasonable," he said. "We support President Zelensky's efforts, but there must be a real effort from Russia in return  starting with a ceasefire."

Zelensky has confirmed his readiness to meet Putin in Istanbul on May 15. While Russia has not disclosed whether Putin will attend, the Kremlin has indicated interest in sending a delegation.

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Kyiv and its allies have demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Russia has so far rejected.

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"If Putin doesn't show up, that's the final signal that they are not ready to end the war," Zelensky said. "That means all the promises of the United States, Europe, and other leaders must be fulfilled. This should be the strongest package of sanctions."

In Washington, Republican lawmakers have echoed the call for punitive action. U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told Fox Business on May 13 that the "Russian Sanctions Act of 2025 is ready to go."

At least 72 senators support the legislation, which includes sweeping financial penalties and 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium, Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 1.

"And we've alerted President Putin to that  these sanctions are very serious," Kellogg added.

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CNN reported that Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer serving as Trump's unofficial envoy to Moscow, will observe the May 15 talks in Istanbul.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the potential meeting between the two leaders, suggesting he might attend as well. The U.S. president has just begun his four-day Middle Eastern tour.

Zelensky and Putin last met face-to-face in December 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, there have been no direct talks between the two leaders.

Read also: As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putins next move

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 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Nearly a decade ago, Airbnb envisioned being more than just an app to reserve a place to stay for vacation. With its latest redesign, you can now book a chef or personal trainer.

Heres what else you might have missed during your busy day:

5 things

Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg/Getty Images

1 Picking a price: Mattresses. Strollers. Power tools. President Donald Trumps tariffs and unpredictable trade policies have already jacked up the cost of some common household products. Companies say theyre having a hard time figuring out what to charge.

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2 Eye on 2028: The next presidential primaries are still nearly three years away, but the jockeying to replace Trump has already started in earnest  at least among Democrats. Republicans, on the other hand, are taking a wait-and-see approach.

3 Menendez brothers: Three decades ago, they were convicted of killing their parents following two sensational trials that captivated people across the country. After a series of twists and turns, this weeks resentencing hearing means they could possibly be freed.

4 Tall task: Climbing Mount Everest normally takes several weeks because you have to let your body gradually adapt to the low levels of oxygen. Four friends want to speed up the process and do it in a week using an anesthetic gas. Critics warn its dangerous.

5 Get a grip: People have used arm wrestling to settle scores for decades, but its hard to pin down the origins. Versions took root across Japan, Spain and Cuba before the turn of the 20th century, and now Africa wants to see these battles of the biceps in the Olympics.

Watch this

 Food of the future? As the worlds appetite for meat continues to grow, farmers are under pressure to find sustainable and affordable ways to feed their livestock. In one country, bugs are a popular solution.

Top headlines

 Trump announces plan to lift sanctions on Syria during trip to Middle East

 Israel targets Hamas leader Mohammad Sinwar in hospital strike in Gaza

 Cassie Ventura testifies in sex trafficking trial of Sean Diddy Combs

$4,200

 Thats the amount a Kentucky boy spent on lollipops that he accidentally ordered on Amazon using his moms phone.

Check this out

 Scintillating science: A biologist tracking whales in the Norwegian fjords and a scientist holding tiny froglets are among the top images from this years Nature Scientist at Work competition. Take a look.

Emma Vogel

Quotable

 Priced out: The retired veteran and his wife moved from Maryland to Brazil last year after struggling with the high cost of living in the US. He said they immediately felt at home there.

Quiz time

SolStock/E+/Getty Images

 What were the most popular baby names last year?

A. James and Sophia

B. Oliver and Emma

C. Noah and Emilia

D. Liam and Olivia

 Scroll down for the answer.

Good vibes

 Pretty scary: Supercross dirt-bike racing features spectacular jumps performed at breakneck speed, and few riders do that better than Austin Forkner. He has suffered a lengthy list of injuries over the years and recently returned to the track with a fresh perspective after undergoing brain surgery.

Thanks for reading

 Well see you tomorrow.

 Quiz answer: D. Liam and Olivia were the most popular baby names in 2024, a position both have held since 2019.

 Check out all of CNNs newsletters.

5 Things PM is produced by CNNs Chris Good, Meghan Pryce, Kimberly Richardson and Morgan Severson.

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The contestants in a race to extend life are on their second lap.

In a seven-year global competition, teams are rushing to discover novel therapeutics and interventions that can extend human life by a decade and help people age well.

In 2023, Peter Diamandis, an entrepreneur, self-proclaimed futurist, and founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, launched the $101 million healthspan competition. Since then, over 600 teams from 58 countries have put their ideas in the ring, including medical devices, lifestyle interventions, and biological therapies. Today, the competition awarded each of the top 40 teams $250,000 to help them test their hypotheses in clinical trials.

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We're really pushing at a global scale for people to accelerate the process, so we can get real solutions in the hands of people who need them, Jamie Justice, PhD, executive director of XPRIZE Healthspan, tells Fortune.

Teams from all over the globe, composed of students, university researchers, and even a Nobel Prize winner, are competing for the coveted prize, which will amount to $81 million.

One team of high schoolers from Malaysia pitched a community-based solution that includes facilitating drum circles with older adults. Another team is testing the potential life-extending benefits of popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs, GLP-1s. Still another is examining whether the drug Metformin can help prevent cognitive decline. By 2030, the winner will have shown that their therapy can restore muscle, cognitive, and immune function in a one-year clinical trial of older adults.

"The next breakthrough in aging could come from scientists and entrepreneurs, anywhere. With this prize, we're igniting a global healthspan revolution, and these semifinalists are leading the charge," said Diamandis, in a press release. "This competition isn't just accelerating progress, it's challenging our society's beliefs in what's possible when it comes to aging."

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Judges made up of leading researchers and scientists in the field assessed teams based on whether they illustrated really solid innovation [on a] potential breakthrough that could affect all of the processes that underlie how we age, says Justice. Teams had to show a readiness for clinical trials with strong evidence of an intervention that can be scaled to the broader population.

While people are living longer, there is still a decade-long gap, on average, between how well people live and how well they live in good health. This competition is hoping to reduce the gap and extend how long people live in good health.

We're looking at solutions that can be proactive and can be generalized to a greater population, so that we can begin to address that gap at a population level, Justice says.

Teams will submit data from their clinical trials by April of next year, ahead of XPRIZE selecting the top ten finalists in July of 2026, followed by the grand prize winner selected in 2030.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Google agreed to pay $50 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the search engine giant was racially biased against Black employees.

The settlement, which was reached after mediation and certified by a U.S. District Court judge in Oakland on Friday, covers some 4,000 Google employees in California and New York.

The original lawsuit came after a state agency, now known as the California Civil Rights Department, in 2021 began investigating Google's treatment of Black female workers.

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In 2022, former Google worker April Curley filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Jose alleging that she and other Black workers experienced systemic discrimination.

Curley, who worked at Google for six years, had been hired to conduct outreach and design recruiting programs with historically Black colleges.

However, her experience at the company quickly soured, she said, alleging that she was stereotyped as an "angry" Black woman, that she and other Black women had not been allowed to present during important meetings and that she was wrongfully terminated in 2020 after challenging internal practices.

Black workers were hired to lower-level jobs, paid lower wages, subjected to hostile comments and denied promotions, Curley and other Black workers who joined the proposed class-action alleged in their lawsuit.

The complaint said managers disparaged Black employees for not being "Googley" enough, comments the plaintiffs said served as racist dog whistles.

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Throughout the litigation, the Mountain View-based company has maintained that it did not violate any laws.

"Weve reached an agreement that involves no admission of wrongdoing. We strongly disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone improperly and we remain committed to paying, hiring, and leveling all employees consistently," Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said in a statement Tuesday.

In addition to the monetary payout, Google has agreed in the settlement to analyze pay and correct differences based on race for the next three years. The company has also committed to maintaining transparent salary ranges and methods for employees to report concerns about pay or other practices.

And through August 2026, the company will not require employees to enter into mandatory arbitration for employment-related disputes, according to the settlement agreement filed last week in federal court.



Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A number of Republican lawmakers are souring on President Donald Trumps plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747 aircraft as a gift from Qatar  a rare series of rebukes of the president by his allies in Congress.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday became the most prominent Republican to express discomfort with the deal, telling reporters there are lots of issues associated with that offer which I think need to be further talked about."

Firebrands within the GOP caucus have gone even further in their rebukes, saying the deal could feed questions of impropriety and legitimize a regime they argue supports Islamist militant groups around the world.

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I do think the jet probably sends the wrong signal to people, and I don't like the look or the appearance [of it], so I would hope he rejects it, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Tuesday on Fox News.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) noted Qatars financial support for militant group Hamas, a foe of Israel, and voiced concern about the security risks the plane could present. Qatar was also a backer of Hezbollah in the past, though the relationship soured after the Syrian Civil War.

I also think that the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems. So we'll see how this issue plays out, Cruz said Tuesday on CNBC.

The senators remarks have made the outrage over the potential deal a rare bipartisan moment in Washington, as Democrats and some of the most fervent backers of the president outside of government unite to slam the plans.

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The U.S. and Qatar have a warming, yet complicated relationship. Despite its past material support for terror groups, Doha emerged as a critical mediator in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and members of the Trump administration had ties to Qatar before entering government. Some of the funding to Hamas reportedly came at the request of Israel, as part of ploys to stabilize Palestinian territories occupied by Israel.

Qatar has offered to transfer the $400 million luxury plane to the United States to be used as a temporary Air Force One while a new plane is under construction. Trump  who is visiting Doha this week as part of a Middle East tour  has said it would be donated to his future presidential library after he leaves office. Qatar has said no final decision has been made but discussions between its defense ministry and the Pentagon about the planes transfer are ongoing.

MAGA loyalist Laura Loomer, who has flexed her muscles over Trumps foreign policy in recent weeks by orchestrating a purge of insufficiently loyal staffers on the White House National Security Council, was among the first Trump backers to slam the deal.

Podcaster Ben Shapiro also criticized the deal on his show Monday, saying taking sacks and goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, all the rest, that isnt America First.

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Meanwhile, Democrats went out guns blazing against the decision, characterizing it as blatant graft and also raising potential national security concerns about the U.S. president flying on a jet gifted from a Middle Eastern partner.

This isnt a good idea even if the plane was being donated to the U.S. government. But Trump GETS TO KEEP THE PLANE??? Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said in a post on X. Its simply a cash payment to Trump in exchange for favors. Just wildly illegal.

We don't know what kind of bugs might be put in that aircraft, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told CNN on Tuesday. We know that Air Force One is more than just a plane. It's also got secure communications.

While the plane is free, modifying it to make it usable would come with a hefty price tag of hundreds of millions of dollars. According to lawmakers and former Air Force officials, the plane would need to be rebuilt to make sure it does not have any bugs hidden in its hardware and so that the military can install needed secure communications and security technologies on the plane.

Joe Gould contributed to this report.
The question  standard, trite and almost a punchline  has to be asked anytime someone hits the century mark when reaching a milestone birthday.

Whats the secret?

And so, when John Googe, one of the most influential community builders whose name youve almost certainly never heard, was asked just before a throng of well-wishers filed into the Barn at Reynolda Village, he took a few seconds to think before answering.

He doesnt do things halfway  never has, never will  and so he wanted to give a thoughtful answer.

Whats the secret? he said, repeating the question for emphasis. The secret, to me, is keeping the mind busy. Busy with positive things.

Given all that John Googe has accomplished across his 100 years, hes had plenty to ponder.

Googe was once the chief operating officer of Midlands Insurance, a multi-state insurance company. He was president/general manager of Holiday Broadcasting, a radio company that operated stations in Winston-Salem.

Googe was also the owner of a general aviation company, and, toward the end of his working life, he founded a company that ran payroll for other businesses.

Hes amazing, said Tony Joyner, a close friend and his personal trainer for nearly a quarter of a century. He still works out four times a week.

Long list of achievements

Like a lot of men of his generation, Google did his bit during World War II as a fighter pilot. As a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps  hes older than the Air Force  Googe flew P-51 Mustangs, duty that took him to Chichijima, an island south of the Japanese mainland near where President George H.W. Bush was famously shot down in 1944.

Its also the place where war-crime tribunals learned that Japanese officers had eaten captured American pilots after torturing and killing them.

Can you imagine being sent somewhere like that before you were 20? his friend Carver Rudolph asked me once.

No.

But youd never hear any of that from the man himself. Hell acknowledge his service and confirm some of the details, but to Googe, it was just something that young men did.

When he returned home, he was smart enough to see what a good deal the GI Bill was. He got to work earning a degree from Guilford College, starting a family and getting on with the business of carving out his piece of the American dream.

Hes really adventuresome, said longtime friend Donna Kraus who came from Greenville, N.C. for the party. Hes smart and was really fun to work for.

A link to former US Sen. Jesse Helms

An odd fact, a story confirmed years ago by former county commissioner and radio man Dave Plyler, is that Googe had a hand in helping launch the political career of one Jesse Helms.

Not long after launching Holiday Broadcasting, Googe decided he needed to expand.

In order to do so, he needed a bigger transmitter  and a partner to help pay for it. Googe wound up in Raleigh talking up an executive with the Capital Broadcasting Network who might be interested in expanding the reach of his own programming.

One of the stars of Capitol Broadcasting was Helms, the news director making a name for himself with fiery editorials. The executive, Plyler said, sent Googe to discuss his proposal with Helms.

If Helms thought it was a good idea, the executive was on board. Helms signed off. Googe got his transmitter. The audience for Helms editorials grew, and, as we all know now, he went on to bigger things.

I didnt even know that, said son Keith Googe.

Legacy of philanthropy

John Googes biggest impact on the community, though, came through his philanthropy and support for local nonprofits.

You know his family, his mom and dad, started the local Goodwill, right? Plyler said on the occasion of Googes 90th birthday.

But whats not widely known outside the boardroom is that Googe followed the example of his parents and worked for its benefit throughout his life. He even served a term as the national chairman of the organization in the early 1970s.

He also helped the local Industries for the Blind get its start and worked tirelessly to build it into the nations largest employer of the sight-impaired. Right here in little old Winston-Salem.

Between them, IFB and Goodwill are good for a quarter of a billion each year, Plyler said in 2015, referring to revenue generated by the nonprofits. People who need employment, or who cant see and need work, can thank John Googe for what hes been interested in his whole life: people and community.

Thats quite a legacy for a man who could, if he wanted, justifiably toot his own horn. John Googe isnt built that way. He never was.

On the occasion of his 100th birthday, he did allow a moment of introspection.

This is unreal, he said. I never thought I would get this far. Im still able to maneuver around. Ive been blessed.
Republican lawmakers have released more details on their long-awaited reconciliation tax bill, which features proposed cuts to Medicaid and clean energy projects, and lower taxes for high income Americans. Titled "THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL" in a nod to President Donald Trump, the measures set out by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday reflect some of Trump's campaign promises such as lower taxes on tips and overtime.

A preliminary analysis from the Urban Institute's Tax Policy Center finds it would cut taxes by about $2,800 in 2026 on average, compared to what households would pay if the 2017 tax breaks expired. Nearly 70% of the cuts would go to those making $217,000 or more. That said, it is still in flux and the numbers will likely change over the next few weeks.

Republicans have very little wiggle room to pass the billthey need support from virtually every member, and fractions have already arisen, related to Medicaid cuts, clean energy cuts, and the proposed increased limit on the state and local tax deduction. As written, the bill would result in an estimated $4.9 trillion increase in the federal deficit over the next decade, though Republicans are counting on revenue from Trump's tariffs to offset some of that.

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The Ways and Means Committee will meet Tuesday to consider the plan. Here's what's currently included for individuals.

Medicaid cuts of $880 billion

To pay for some of the sweeping tax breaks they are proposing, Republicans have included $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, the federal health care program for the poorest Americans. This has already been one of the most controversial parts of the bills, with Democratic lawmakers and even some Republicans, including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, blasting the cuts.

A recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that millions of Americans would lose their health care coverage under recent Republican proposals.

Cuts taxes on tips and overtime through 2029

The bill would cut taxes on tips and overtime for some workers starting in 2025 through the end of 2028. Under the tips section, the bill attempts to limit who can qualify for the tax break so that higher-wage workers aren't taking advantage of the break. It specifies only those working jobs that typically receive tips qualify, and it is subject to a $160,000 income limit.

Increases standard deduction

The bill temporarily increases the standard deduction, by $1,000 through 2029.

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Rather than erase taxes on Social Securitya campaign trail promise from Trumpit also gives seniors aged 65 and older an additional $4,000 for the standard deduction from 2025 through 2028. This additional deduction starts phasing out for individuals who earn $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples).

Increases SALT deduction

The state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT, would triple from $10,000 to $30,000 for married couples. This is a boon to high-tax states like New York and California, and lawmakers from those states would like the deduction to reach even higher. The SALT cap was reduced to $10,000 in Trump's first term.

Increases child tax credit

The bill also temporarily increases the child tax credit, from $2,000 to $2,500, through 2029.

Increases estate tax exemption

The estate tax exemption, how much wealth is excluded from the federal estate tax when an individual passes away, would be increased to $15 million.

Creates car loan interest deduction

Those with a car made in the U.S. would be able to deduct some car loan interest, though this measure begins to phase out for those earning $100,000 a year or more.

Allows more people to deduct charitable donations

While taxpayers are usually allowed to deduct charitable donations only if they itemize their taxes, the bill would allow some to deduct up to $150 per year ($300 for married couples) when taking the standard deduction.

Creates tax-preferred child savings account

The bill creates a new tax-preferred savings account for children called a "money account for growth and advancement," or MAGA account. Parents would be able to invest $5,000 per year, and earnings on the investments could be used to pay for school or job training expenses, buy a home, or start a small business. Those born in 2025 to 2028 would receive $1,000.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., told Semafor that the accounts would help children in the U.S. "begin the journey of savings and benefit from the wonders of compound interest."

Eliminates EV tax credits

Starting next year, the $7,500 credit for purchasing new electric vehicles created under President Joe Biden would be eliminated. Renewable energy tax credits would also be phased out.

New taxes on remittances

Non-citizens in the U.S. could pay a new 5% tax on money sent overseas, with American citizens being exempt.

Tax on university endowments

Private universities would see a new tax on their endowments, as Trump continues his battle against top schools like Harvard. The biggest endowments could see their investment income taxed up to 21%.

Eliminates tax-exempt status for 'terrorist' supporters

Another provision would allow the State Department to eliminate the tax-exempt status for "terrorist supporting" non-profit organizations as designated by the agency.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
It turns out, kids still ask the darndest questions  and that tradition held strong during a recent high school field trip to the nations Capitol.

For many schools, a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., is a time-honored rite of passage. Such was the case for an unnamed institution whose students, in a clip posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, participated in a Q&A session hosted by Georgia GOP Rep. Brian Jack.

Then came that question  the one thats quietly echoed in the minds of many Americans for years:

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Why is [Trump] so orange? one high schooler asked.

Jack, momentarily caught off guard by the question posed, stammered before mustering up a response.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs executive orders and proclamations in the Oval Office of the White House, on May 5 in Washington. Alex Brandon via Associated Press

Uh, thats, you know what, its, its, its your perspective, he responded. It isnt certainly mine. I just think he has a great tan.

Was this a masterclass in democracy? Probably not. But an unfiltered moment of truth-telling from Americas youth? Absolutely.

Users on the platform were quick to crown the students as the heroes they didnt realize they needed.

Get these kids in the WH press room, one wrote.

Another chimed in: It takes a high schooler to call out the GOP for their bizarro acceptance of a president in clown makeup. Bravo!

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In 2019, a senior Trump administration official told The New York Times that Trumps hue can be attributed to good genes. The official, who remained anonymous, also claimed that the look came from powder, not bronzer.

In her 2018 memoir, Unhinged, former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman revealed that Trump relies on the daily use of a tanning bed.

Related...
Several Republican senators expressed misgivings that the Trump administration plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family to use as Air Force One, noting the potential for security and legal risks.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, said that President Donald Trump and the White House need to look at the constitutionality of the issue.

Id be checking for bugs is what Id be checking for, Capito said.

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Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri argued that it would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said he needs to research whether it will pass legal muster. We ought to follow the law, he said.

Given the massive value of a Boeing 747-8, the move is unprecedented and raises substantial ethical and legal questions. A Qatari official said the plane is technically being gifted from the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon, describing it more as a government-to-government transaction instead of a personal one. The Defense Department will then retrofit the plane for the presidents use with security features and modifications.

Trump said Sunday night that the Defense Department plans to accept the luxury jet as a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, on social media. He said the multimillion dollar jet would be used on a temporary basis in a very public and transparent transaction.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the legal details on accepting a Boeing 747-8 jet to replace Air Force One as a gift from the Qatari royal family are still being worked out.

Any donation to this government is always done in full compliance with the law, she added.

Ethics experts have raised concerns about the potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitutions Emoluments Clause, whichprohibits a president from receiving an emolument or profit from any King, Prince, or foreign state unless Congress consents.

Not all in the party criticized the move and some defended the Trump administration.

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Sen. Tommy Tuberville told CNN that, as long as its legal, free is good. You know, we dont have a lot of money right now to buy things like that.

The Alabama Republican said hed flown on Air Force One before and the plane was old, adding, If its legal for him to accept that gift and be able to fly on that for the next four years, or three and a half years. I think its great. Itll save us money.

Asked if he thinks the Qataris want anything in return, Tuberville assessed, I dont think theres a lot that we can give them, other than be one of our allies.

He also pointed to supply chain issues to justify the transaction, saying in his state, which has a large Boeing manufacturing presence, you cant get an airplane for about six or seven years right now because of the backlog.

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Weve got to get Boeing going again. I think thats one of the key points. But at the end of the day, if it would save us money, I think itd be awesome, he said.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville talks with CNN's Manu Raju on Monday. - CNN

Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told reporters asking about the Qatari jet that it was the stupidest issue and he has zero issue with the president accepting it.

We have received gifts  we can go back through land gifts and go back through these countries given us gifts in the past. Why is it a big deal? he said to reporters.

Pressed on reports that the plan is for the plane to go to Trumps presidential library at the end of his term, Mullin argued that other presidents have planes at their libraries  though admitted he didnt know if those were from the Qataris.

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Do you think hes compromised because hes getting a plane the president could easily buy himself, personally? he asked reporters.

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines said you cant beat free when asked about the Qataris offer.

He added that he expects the Department of Justice to look at the legal questions raised and theyll come up with an opinion on it.

Its gonna be for government use, he added.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis also didnt express concern, though he noted that the jet has to be conveyed, categorically, to the US government, rather than to Trump personally.

I dont think emoluments come in, but Im not an attorney. Ill leave it to others to do that, he said, referring to the emoluments clause in the Constitution.

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I dont know how thatd be any different than Qatar making a decision to write a check to the US government  if this is in fact, going to the US government, he added.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday would not say if it is ethical or constitutional for the Trump administration to accept the jet as a gift from Qatar, saying he needs to learn more details about the potential offer, which he described as hypothetical.

I dont know enough about it yet, and I dont know if theres been any offer. Im sure if and when we have more information, well sort all that out. But at this point, its obviously, still a hypothetical, he said.

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EAU CLAIRE  Gov. Tony Evers toured Lippert Components Inc. on Monday, hearing about how the company is using training grants to attract and retain new employees.

Lippert Components employs 600 people locally, including 450 workers in manufacturing, said Brian Schudiske, Lippert Components senior vice president. The company has been growing 15% annually, and one of the buildings Schudiske showed off is just two years old. Evers saw components that go on vehicles such as Hondas and Toyotas, as well as a variety of other customers.

Matt Jerlecki, Lippert Components director of learning, explained to Evers that they are working with Chippewa Valley Technical College to train new workers specifically on jobs available at their location on the east side of Altoona.

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Jerlecki said they have trained 122 people since launching their program in March 2024. Some are learning welding skills, while others are learning fabrication skills, such as using lasers.

Its a lot, he told Evers. Its expanded our pool of potential welders.

Jerlecki said it has been an important partnership with CVTC as they utilize a $400,000 Fast Forward Worker Training Grant. The company received the grant in 2024 from the Department of Workforce Development to provide real skills and certifications aligned with high-demand manufacturing roles in the Chippewa Valley region, a press release states.

Theyve been willing to innovate with us, Jerlecki said of CVTC. Its been able to allow us to grow our team. And we can expand now to high-school students. Our success rate is 90-some percent.

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Jerlecki added of the outreach to high-schoolers: When they are working for us, they are getting paid. The real plan is three years from now, theyll become our engineers.

The company routinely has about 95% of all jobs filled. Jerlecki said a lot of that is because they keep expanding.

Were going to continue to expand which is why we built this building, Jerlecki said. We want to do more business in Wisconsin.

Evers said he was impressed with the tour.

What is important to me is how well the CVTC and Lippert are working well together, Evers said. They are making sure they are trained at the highest level possible. Its good for Wisconsin. They are a great company; they hire a lot of people. Its nice to see the pieces working together.

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Over the past six years, Gov. Evers and his administration have made it a top priority to address the states generational workforce challenges and build a workforce prepared to meet the needs of a 21st-century economy by making smart, strategic investments in key sectors, a press release from his office reads.

Jerlecki said he was thrilled to have the governor come and see the facilities.

Its great for us to be able to share the success of our team members, Jerlecki said.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Gov. Mike Kehoe has announced a new task force aimed at overhauling Missouris K-12 public education funding model.

The imitative aims to modernize the states current formula, last revised in 2005, to meet the needs of todays students and schools.

A 16-member task force has been charged with reviewing Missouris K-12 school funding model and recommending changes in a final report to the governor by December 1, 2026. The report will propose a revised formula for how state funding is allocated to public and charter schools.

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Missouri Highway Patrol reopens probe into Crocker overdose death

To secure a better future for Missouri students and schools, we must rethink how we fund Missouris foundation formula, said Kehoe via a news release. We need a modernized funding model that rewards outcomes, encourages innovation, and ensures fairness for all Missouri students. These Task Force members bring the experience, perspective, and commitment needed to make responsible changes at business-speed. We look forward to reviewing their recommendations.

According to the Saint Louis University PRIME Center, to calculate school funding, Missouris current funding formula has not seen significant revision in nearly two decades. The task force will evaluate how it can be updated to reflect change in education, demographics and economic conditions.

The task force will consist of several voices across the state, both from urban and rural communities. Members will include:

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Matt Davis, of Eldon

Noah Devine , of Kansas City

Emily LeRoy , of Hermann

James Jim Meats , of Springfield

Mike Podgursky , of Columbia

Donald Don Thalhuber , of Columbia

Michael Jeremy Tucker , of Liberty

Chris Vas , of Kansas City

Casey Wasser , of California

David Wood , of Versailles

Kerry Casey , of Chesterfield

Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, of Pasadena Hills

Casey and Westbrooks-Hodge both currently serve on the Missouri State Board of Education, according to the governors office.

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.
For eight generations, Sterman Masser Potato Farms has operated in the Hegins Valley of Schuylkill County, and it plans to continue its operation for generations to come.

But to do so in the current agriculture economy it will need to farm as efficiently as possible, with demand for its products continuing to grow.

So Sterman Masser recently applied for and received a $400,000 grant through a new state program to buy an eight-row planter, the biggest such piece of machinery on its farm or anywhere in the county.

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And visiting the Hubley Township farm on Monday to speak about the new program was Gov. Josh Shapiro, who said he has prioritized the states agricultural industry since being elected in 2022.

I want agriculture to be the center of our economy in Pennsylvania, he said while standing on the farm with Dave Masser, President and CEO of Sterman Masser.

Gov. Josh Shapiro takes questions from reporters during a press conference on the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program at Sterman Masser Potato Farm in Sacramento, Monday, May 12, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

The agricultural innovation grant program that Shapiros administration created last year is the first of its type in the nation, and has already supported 88 projects in 45 counties, which shows the states commitment to family farms, Shapiro said.

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He is pushing for an additional $15 million in the states 202526 proposed budget to meet continued demand and expand access to innovation capital for Pennsylvania farmers and producers, he said.

We were overrun with applications, Shapiro said.

The grant for Sterman Masser covered half the cost of purchasing the $400,000 machine, which will be delivered next year and which will help double the number of acres it uses for potato planting and harvesting.

Dave Masser, President and CEO of Sterman Masser, speaks about the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program at Sterman Masser Potato Farm in Sacramento, Monday, May 12, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

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In Pennsylvania, we have a narrow window to plant over 1,000 acres of potatoes, and this planter will greatly assist us in planting in optimal conditions, Masser said. Investing in innovation keeps Pennsylvania growing for the next generation.

Supporting agriculture helps create jobs, feeds families and drives economic growth, ensuring Pennsylvania remains at the forefront of the farming industry, Shapiro said, pointing to Sterman Masser as an example.

Operating one of the largest potato processing facilities in the northeast, Sterman Masser has 400 employees, and its new machine will boost planting efficiency, reduce fuel usage, and allow it to increase the acres they plant and harvest from 1,000 to 2,000 acres.

Sterman Masser grows, processes, packs and ships a variety of products from its red, white, yellow and russet potatoes, ranging from bulk quantities to ready-to-eat convenience products.

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A variety of potato offerings from Sterman Masser Potato Farm in Sacramento, Monday, May 12, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

As a result of its innovation grant, for the first time in 50 years Pennsylvania will see an increase in the number of acres used for potato planting and harvesting, Shapiro said.

The Commonwealth is home to 50,000 farms, contributing $132 billion to the economy and supporting nearly 600,000 jobs, he said.

Our farmers are the backbone of our economy here in Pennsylvania  they put food on our tables, in our stores, and in our restaurants every day. If we want to compete and succeed as a commonwealth, then we have to invest in our ag economy, he said.

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Also receiving a recent state innovation grant was Jersey Acres Farm near Friedensburg, which it will use to buy a robotic milking machine for its dairy operation. Farm owner Kent Heffner, who additionally serves as president of the Schuylkill/Carbon County Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, also spoke on Monday about the importance of the new program.

Kent Heffner, President of the Schuylkill/Carbon County Farm Bureau, speaks during a press conference for the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program at Sterman Masser Potato Farm in Sacramento, Monday, May 12, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

When I was in high school, one farmer fed about 25 people. Today, that number has escalated to over 150, he said. The need to increase our efficiency will only grow.

I believe the future of agriculture will focus on smaller farms doing on-farm processing and selling directly to consumers. That means more funding will be needed to get these projects up and running  everything from fruit and vegetable processing to meat and milk. The need for this program is going to be great. Weve entered a new era  the era of sustainability  where we must get food from farm to table more efficiently to feed more people than ever before. Thanks to the ag innovation grant program, Pennsylvania is on the forefront of this era.

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The funded projects from the new program span 31 commodities and 40 types of innovation, including precision irrigation, robotics, biodegradable packaging and carbon-storing crops.

Also during his visit Monday, Shapiro also spoke about his opposition to federal funding cuts by President Donald Trumps administration that would hurt Pennsylvania farms and rural areas, leaving many of those communities behind, he said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro takes a look inside the cab of a tractor at Sterman Masser Potato Farm in Sacramento, Monday, May 12, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

Therefore, Shapiro said he is now urging federal legislators to avoid taking such action, saying the cuts would be really, really devastating to farmers since states could not afford to replace the federal money being taken away.

We seem to be investing in agriculture when seemingly the federal government is divesting, Shapiro said.

Ag shouldnt be a partisan exercise. It should be something that lifts everyone up.
Federal agencies scrambled to bring back over $220 million worth of contracts after Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency cancelled them, The New York Times reports.

However, of those 44 contracts that were cancelled and eventually reinstated, DOGE is still citing all but one of them as examples of the government spending the group supposedly saved on its website's error-plagued "Wall of Receipts." The White House told the NYT that this is "paperwork lag" that will be fixed.

Clerical errors or not, the "zombie contracts" are a damning sign of the chaos sowed by the billionaire's hasty and sweeping cost-cutting that would seem antithetical to its stated goals of efficiency.

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"They should have used a scalpel," Rachel Dinkes of the Knowledge Alliance, an association of education companies that includes one that lost a contract, told the NYT. "But instead they went in with an axe and chopped it all down."

Musk brought the Silicon Valley ethos of "move fast and break things" he uses at his business ventures, like SpaceX, to his cleaning house of the federal government. And this, it seems, resulted in a lot of wasted time and effort.

Some of the contracts DOGE cancelled were required by law, according to the NYT, and some were for skills that the government needed but didn't have. The whiplash was most felt at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which reversed 16 cancelled contracts  the highest of any agency in the NYT's analysis.

Many of the contracts that DOGE cancelled were reinstated almost immediately. The Environmental Protection Agency, for example, revived a contract just two and a half hours after Musk's team cancelled it, the paper found. Others were brought back within days.

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After losing a contract with the US Department of Agriculture in February, Raquel Romero and her husband gained it back four days later. The USDA told the NYT that it reinstated the contract after discovering that it was "required by statute," but declined to specify which one. Romero believes that a senior lawyer at the agency, who was a supporter of the couple's work, intervened on their behalf.

"All I know is, she retired two weeks later," Romero told the NYT.

The waste doesn't end there. Since the contracts are necessary, it puts the fired contractors in a stronger bargaining position when the government comes crawling back. In the case of the EPA contract, the agency agreed to pay $171,000 more than before the cancellation. In other words, these cuts are costing, not saving, the government money.

A White House spokesperson, however, tried to spin the flurry of reversals as a positive sign that the agencies are complying with Musk's chaotic directions, while also playing down the misleading savings claims on DOGE's website.

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"The DOGE Wall of Receipts provides the latest and most accurate information following a thorough assessment, which takes time," White House spokesman Harrison Fields told the NYT. "Updates to the DOGE savings page will continue to be made promptly, and departments and agencies will keep highlighting the massive savings DOGE is achieving."

Harrison also called the over $220 million of zombie contracts "very, very small potatoes" compared to the supposed $165 billion Musk has saved American taxpayers.

If this latest analysis is any indication, however, that multibillion-dollar sum warrants significant skepticism. We're only beginning to see a glimmer of the true fallout from Musk tornadoing through the federal government.

More on DOGE: This DOGE Operative Got a Huge Surprise Once He Was Actually Inside the Government
During my tenure with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), I had the privilege of serving alongside many dedicated officers and interacting with countless members of the Latino community. A vast majority of these individuals are striving to build a better life for their families, and they embody the hardworking spirit that defines our nation.

Also, as a Christian, I believe in welcoming and supporting our neighbors, not instilling fear.

Reflecting on our history, if Native Americans had an enforcement agency akin to today's ICE, many of us would not be here. This perspective should guide our approach to immigration today.

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As a retired THP Captain, I fully support bringing violent criminalsregardless of their backgroundto justice. However, this must be done through lawful and humane means. Immigrants who contribute positively to our communities and are not involved in violent crime deserve a path to citizenship, not the threat of deportation.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell speaks ahead of Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) during a 'Community Conversation and Town Hall' at the historic First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, as town hall events were being held in GOP competitive districts across the country, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. May 9, 2025.

The recent partnership between ICE and THP in South Nashville, which led to over 100 detentions, has raised significant concerns. This operation, conducted without prior notification to local officials, disproportionately targeted the Latino community and has instilled fear among law-abiding residents.

Nashville's immigrant population, constituting about nine percent of the metro area, includes many who are essential to our local economy and culture.

Critics, including the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, have condemned these actions as racial profiling and an erosion of trust in law enforcement. Local leaders, such as Mayor Freddie OConnell, have expressed opposition to these tactics, emphasizing that they conflict with Nashville's values of inclusivity and safety.

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More: Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell: Recent ICE arrests caused 'deep community harm'

I do not fault the officers involved; they are carrying out orders. However, I question the leadership that sanctions such operations. Under Governor Bill Haslam, our focus was on addressing areas with high crime rates and traffic incidents, not targeting specific communities based on appearance or ethnicity.

The recent legislation requiring local law enforcement to assist federal immigration authorities has further complicated this issue. While proponents argue it enhances public safety, opponents warn it could lead to additional racial profiling and undermine community trust.

Governor Lee, I urge you to consider the moral implications of these policies. Would Jesus, who taught us to love our neighbors, support actions that instill fear and division?

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I believe the answer is clear.

It's time for Tennessee to return to a law enforcement philosophy rooted in justice, compassion and leadership, that serves all people equally.

Mark Proctor

Retired Captain Mark Proctor served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 25+ years, including in Command roles under Governor Bill Haslam. He is a lifelong Tennessean and resides in Nashville.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ICE arrests may be legal, but they're not morally correct | Opinion
Gov. Mike Braun visited Lebanon Tuesday to help break ground for the $4.5 billion Eli Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon.

The foundry is the first research and development site of its kind in the world and will combine research, process development, and clinical trial manufacturing in a single site. It represents the most strategic capital investment in the nations pharma supply chain in a generation, Lilly Chairman and CEO Dave Ricks said.

Lilly has pledged $100 million in scholarships to train its own workforce.

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Braun said the foundry will create a pipeline of opportunity for Indianas university graduates and strengthen Americas pharmaceutical supply chain, as it returns pharmaceutical production back to the United States.

At the Foundry, Lilly scientists will research and make lifesaving medicines to replace injectable drugs for genetic and other diseases, Lilly Chief Scientific Officer and President of Lilly Research Laboratories and Lilly Immunology Dr. Daniel Skovronsky said.

Lilly built a pilot mini-foundry 20 years ago, and the diabetes drug Trulicity blossomed out of research there, along with a new breakthrough medicine to treat Alzheimers disease and others, Skovronsky said.

Lilly scientists plan to develop complex drugs that combine elements in new ways that have never been combined before to treat conditions including ovarian cancer.

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Ovarian cancer accounts for only 2% of female cancers but causes a disproportionate number of deaths.

We think we can fix that, Skovronsky said.

State and county leaders came together Tuesday to turn dirt with red shovels at the site south of Ind. 32 on Lebanons west side.

Braun thanked Lebanon Mayor Matthew Gentry for helping draw Lilly to Lebanon.

The groundbreaking of Eli Lillys Medicine Foundry marks a transformative moment for Lebanon and American manufacturing, Gentry said afterward. With a $4.5 billion investment, this facility will create 400 high-skill jobs. The Medicine Foundry will not only deliver high-quality jobs but also provide opportunities for local small businesses, including contractors, caterers, and service providers, ensuring that our entire community thrives into the future.

This facility bolsters our nations ability to produce critical medicines domestically, reflecting the values of hard work and independence that define our community and state, he added.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the Farmland Preservation Act on Saturday meant to preserve farmland and forestland.

The bill would allow farmers to enroll their land in a conservation easement that prevents the owner from selling or transferring it. In return, the farmers can get grants from a $25 million fund. This is meant to preserve farms for future generations.

Knoxville Police identify woman killed in crash off Broadway

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Agriculture is the top driver of Tennessees economy, and our farmers play an important role in our states success, said Lee. As Tennessee experiences unprecedented economic growth and job creation, the Farmland Preservation Act ensures that family farms can [be] preserved well into the future. I thank the General Assembly for their partnership in supporting rural communities so that all Tennesseans can thrive.

Tennessees farmland and forests are being lost at a rate of 240 acres per day, according to Tennessee Representative Greg Vital (R  Harrison). Tennessee has lost over one million acres of farmland to development over the last 20 years.

We are proud to partner with Governor Lee and the legislature to create this program, said Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. Tennessee is losing productive farm and forest land at an alarming rate. Once that land is converted to other uses, it doesnt change back. This voluntary program provides options to preserve that land for generations to come, ensuring that agriculture and forestry remain important aspects of Tennessees economy, landscape, and identity.

This highly toxic plant is spreading in Tennessee: Heres how to get rid of it

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The bill passed with bipartisan support.

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.
(WHTM)  Governor Josh Shapiro was in Schuylkill County today, highlighting his efforts in supporting Pennsylvania farmers.

Last year, the Shapiro administration created the first agriculture innovation fund in the nation.

The Department of Agriculture received applications for nearly $70 million worth of innovation projects, but only had enough funding for $10 million.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

Which is why Shapiro proposed an additional $13 million for the grant program.

Weve got to invest again, said Governor Shapiro. I spend a whole lot of time listening to farmers, listening to our agriculture interested, and they talk to me about the need for more capital and more innovation, more opportunity.

Shapiro says agriculture contributes $132 billion each year to Pennsylvanias economy.

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 ABC27.
ANDERSON  The director of the Grace House Recovery Center has been charged with felony counts of domestic battery and neglect of a dependent.

The Madison County Prosecutors office filed formal charges against Karl Wesley Lazar, 43, 3200 block of County Road 150 North, on Monday.

Lazar is charged with domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and neglect of a dependent resulting in injury.

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He was arrested by Anderson police in April for an alleged incident with a 15-year-old girl.

The Herald Bulletin does not report the names of alleged victims in neglect cases.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Brett Wright, during a Kids Talk forensic interview the girl said she lives with Lazar and she disclosed injuries to her teacher at the Anderson Preparatory Academy.

During the interview, the girl said Lazar had been verbally abusive and pushed her into walls at times.

She said a week ago Lazar shut a door on her left leg and knee several times, which caused bruising, and she had trouble walking for several days.

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The girl said in January the dog urinated on the floor and he pushed her face into the urine. She stated it has happened twice before.

During an interview with police, Lazar denied the allegations, stating he never raised his voice or caused any bruising and denied the incident with the dog urine.

Lazar said the girl wants to go live with either her mother or her boyfriend and made everything up.
Newport Police arrested the driver of a dump truck in connection with the death of a pedestrian last week.

Charles Deraway, 38, of Grantham, was charged with negligent homicide and second-degree assault, Newport Police Chief Stephen Lee said in a news release. Police said the dump truck struck and killed 34-year-old Zachary Shepard of Newport in a crosswalk just before 12:40 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Sunapee and Central streets, police said.

Emergency responders brought Shepard to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

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Police said Deraway was heading east on Central Street, operating a 2016 Westerner dump truck owned by Barton Excavating. As Deraway prepared to make a right turn onto Sunapee Street he failed to come to a complete stop and the truck hit Shepard, who was walking west in a crosswalk, police said.

Investigators interviewed several witnesses and reviewed security video from the area. The New Hampshire State Police Analysis and Reconstruction Unit helped with the investigation.

Deraway was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Newports district court.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the crash can call Detective Paul Beaudet at 603-863-3232 or email pbeaudet@newportnh.gov.
The southbound side of Interstate 5 through the Grapevine was briefly closed Monday afternoon as crews battled a small brushfire.

Kern County Fire Department crews stopped the forward spread of the fire between the north and southbound sides of I-5 at the bottom of the Grapevine, according to department spokesman Jon Drucker.

Drucker said a cause was not yet known and that the fire burned only a few acres.

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The southbound side of I-5 was closed for a time, according to the California Highway Patrol Tejon station, but some lanes were reopened as crews responded to the fire.

CHP spokesman DC Williams said traffic was backed up for several miles while all lanes were closed but with lanes reopened, vehicles had started to move again.

"With three lanes open, traffic's moving pretty good," Williams said.
The longtime president of the NAACP's Florida State Conference has penned a letter to state officials expressing "grave concerns" on "the integrity of the Presidential Search Process at Florida A&M University" and that she's willing to "take all appropriate advocacy and legal actions."

Adora Obi Nweze, also an NAACP national board member, said in the letter that the search "is being dangerously derailed," adding "an individual lacking the necessary academic and administrative qualifications has been inserted into the pool of candidates under circumstances strongly suggesting political interference."

Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, is seen here in a 2015 file photo at an announcement about the creation of a then-new Wakulla County chapter of the NAACP.

Though the letter does not mention her by name, it's referring to presidential finalist Marva Johnson, Charter Communications Group Vice President of State Government Affairs, whose candidacy has caused pushback and even outrage from many in the FAMU community.

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The resistance to Johnson  a former Florida Board of Education chair also appointed to other boards by both former Gov. Rick Scott and current Gov. Ron DeSantis  comes amid broad speculation that her name was added late to the search committee's original list of three finalists that panelists interviewed and voted on during closed sessions.

Nweze, who couldn't immediately be reached, has ties to FAMU: She received an honorary doctorate from the historically Black university in 2021. She's been president of the Florida State Conference since 2000.

"We are aligned with the growing coalition of alumni, student leaders, civic organizations, and higher education advocates who have raised similar concerns about the fairness and credibility of this process," Nweze wrote. "Their collective voice underscores the urgent need to preserve the integrity of this presidential search and protect the institutional independence of Florida A&M University."

She went as far as to call for a restart of the presidential search, calling "upon the Board of Trustees to recommit to a fair and untainted process, one truly reflecting the academic excellence and visionary leadership FAMU so rightfully deserves."

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That's unlikely: Businessman Earnie Ellison was recently forced to resign from the board after triggering a tense discussion during a trustee meeting during which he proposed suspending the search and starting from scratch. After a lengthy discussion, his suggestion was shot down.

Nweze also insisted "the presidential search must be transparent, competitive, and guided by the best interests of the institution and its stakeholders," but that's been limited by state lawmakers. In 2022, they exempted searches for state university presidents from Florida's public records and open meeting laws and made them confidential until finalists are decided upon.

Besides Johnson, the three other finalists are visiting on campus the week of May 12: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rondall Allen, University of Central Florida Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Gerald Hector and FAMUs Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm.

Following the visits, the FAMU Board of Trustees will meet virtually at 9 a.m. May 16 to vote and select one to be the universitys next president. The final confirmation rests with the Florida Board of Governors.

This story contains previously published material. Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network  Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Will FAMU presidential search wind up in court? Fla. NAACP enters fray
Shannon Booth - WOWT

Gray Media has made some management moves at its Nebraska stations.

Its named Shannon Booth as the next general manager of NBC affiliate WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska. She will succeed Jim McKernan, who is retiring on June 2 after a 44 year career in broadcasting.

To replace Booth, Gray named Jacque Harms general manager of Gray's CBS affiliate KOLN and NBC affiliate KSNB in Lincoln, Nebraska, and NBC and CBS affiliates KNOP and KNPL in North Platte, Nebraska.

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For the past eight years, Booth has overseen several market-leading television, digital and streaming products serving Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, North Platte and many communities in between.

Booth also spent 18 years at KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she held several management positions in news, digital, marketing and creative and at WOI in Ames, Iowa, KTIV in Sioux City, Iowa, WHO in Des Moines, Iowa; and KWWL in Waterloo, Iowa.

Harms returns home to Nebraska where she began and also spent most of her more than 35-year career in the media business. She first joined the KNOP staff in North Platte on a part-time basis in 1994. Over the next several years, she served as an anchor, reporter, photographer, producer and news director.

Five years ago, she was named gm of WTOK in Meridian, Mississippi. In 2025, she relocated to Colorado Springs to become the General Manager of KKTV.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  The Green Bay Police Department (GBPD) held a special ceremony to honor Wisconsin law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

The event, part of National Police Week, May 11th through 17th, was held in front of the Law Enforcement Memorial at the Green Bay Police Department. The ceremony began at 1:00 p.m. and featured a presentation of colors by the GBPD Honor Guard.

Green Bay agency hosts monthly diaper giveaway and resource fair for local families

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Several speakers took part in the somber event, including Father Richard Getchel, the departments Chaplain; Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich; Police and Fire Commission President Rod Goldhahn; and GBPD Chief Chris Davis.

The ceremony paid tribute to the fallen officers ahead of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which takes place on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

National Police Week is a time to honor and remember law enforcement officers across the country who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

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.
A police dog was killed after escaping his handler's property and attacking an off-duty officer in New Palestine.

Just before 8 p.m. on May 12, Greenfield Police Department K-9 Ace escaped his home while his handler, Officer Caleb Freeman, was away.

The dog, a Belgian Malinois, bit a neighbor, causing severe injuries, a news release from the Greenfield Police Department stated.

Ace, a Greenfield Police Department K-9, was killed after attacking a neighbor near his handler's home on May 12, 2024.

The neighbor, an off-duty officer with the New Palestine Police Department, "is familiar with working dogs and knew how to get Ace to let go," according to Greenfield Police spokesperson Deputy Chief Chuck McMichael. It's unclear how Ace died, but no weapons were used to subdue him, McMichael said.

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The neighbor was taken to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment.

The Greenfield Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding Ace's death and reviewing internal policies, according to a news release.

Ace joined Greenfield police in 2018, according to a department social media post from the time. He was trained in tracking, evidence recovery and narcotics.

2021 investigation: IMPD's dogs bite more than other big cities

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana police K-9 killed after escaping home, biting off-duty officer
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  A woman died on Tuesday after a car she was driving crashed into a tree off the I-40 East on-ramp, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release.

Around 12:14 a.m., Greensboro officers, Greensboro firefighters and Guilford County EMS responded to the on-ramp of I-40 East from West Wendover Avenue when they were told about a vehicle that had crashed.

Erica Trenise Caviness, 38, of Greensboro, was driving a silver Nissan Sentra on the on-ramp of I-40 East when her car ran off the right side of the road.

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The car then went down an embankment and hit a tree. Caviness was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where she died.

The passenger was also taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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.
A wind-driven fire in the small Arizona community of Greer prompted evacuations after the Greer Fire grew quickly to 3,500 acres, the town of Eagar said in a Facebook post.

Authorities set a "go" status for the communities of South Fork and North Woods May 13 after a fire started on private land and got into "heavy fuels" in the area, destroying "multiple structures," according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

Greer had a population of 58, according to the 2020 census. It's in eastern Arizona within the White Mountains and surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. It's slightly north of Phoenix but is marginally closer to the state's southern border than the northern border, according to Google Maps.

The low that has cooled us down is centered over Nevada. This low has also led to our widespread breezy and windy conditions. In this satellite loop you can see convective clouds closer to the low pressure system. You can also see the #GreerFire in eastern AZ. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/UwfXmLqf1j  NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) May 14, 2025

Large air tankers and other aircraft were launched to assist, the department reported, but the air tankers were grounded due to high winds around 2:20 p.m.

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State Route 260 was closed in both directions between mileposts 385 and 393 due to the fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation, while the southbound lanes of State Route 373 leading to Greer were also closed.

The American Red Cross announced it opened an evacuation center at Round Valley High School Dome in Eagar, where evacuees were told to go on the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System on Facebook. The website said everyone east of a 1-mile radius of State Route 261 should consider themselves in "set" status in the state's "ready, set, go" system, meaning they should be prepared for the "go" order.

Evacuees with recreational vehicles or large animals can go to the Round Valley Rodeo Grounds in Eagar, according to the website.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs posted on X about the fire and said she was thinking of all those affected and was "deeply grateful for our brave firefighters."

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The mayors of Eager and Springerville signed a declaration of emergency May 13 that prohibited the burning of any type outdoors as well as outdoor smoking.

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Greer Fire in eastern Arizona forces evacuations
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is getting ready to break ground on its first temple in the island nation of Singapore.

The Singapore Republic of Singapore Temple, as it will be known, was announced in the April 2021 General Conference by Prophet and President of the Church, Russell M. Nelson. The temples groundbreaking ceremony will be held in June. The first counselor in the Churchs Asia area presidency, Elder Kelly R. Johnson, will preside at the event.

TIMELINE: The year-long debate surrounding the now-approved Fairview Texas Temple

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The temple will be located off the West Coast Highway and Pasir Panjang Road on the south side of the main island.

From the beginning, Latter-day Saint communities in Singapore have represented diverse ethnic and national backgrounds, the Church said in a press release Monday. Singapore has drawn this diverse community because it is a hub of Southeast Asian commerce, education and culture.

According to the Church, Singapore is home to over 3,200 Latter-day Saints in six congregations.

What are Temples?

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are referred to by members as Houses of the Lord, according to the Churchs website. From the grounds outside to the practices inside, members of the Church hold the entire property of Temples as sacred.

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From the very beginning, there have been sacred places upon the earth where God has communed with His children. They were designated by God and hallowed by His presence as places where He would teach and bless His children, the Church says on its site.

The Church teaches that throughout biblical history, the Tabernacle which was carried around was a portable temple. The Church also points to several additional scriptures from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, which mention temples on several occasions.

What happens here?

Inside the Temple, members of the Church seek to draw closer to God by making covenants and performing saving ordinances for themselves or members of their family who have passed away. These temples are typically only open to members who have a temple recommend card.

Church members believe through the temple endowment ceremony, that they can be endowed power from on high, which appears in Luke 24:49.

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Those who are endowed in the house of the Lord receive a gift of Gods priesthood power by virtue of their covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to know how to draw upon that power, President Russell M. Nelson, said in a speech to members of the Church.

The Endowment is one of many things that can happen inside of a Latter-day Saint temple. In the LDS church, members can also baptize family who have passed away and confirm them as members of the Church if they wish to accept them in the spirit world.

Marriages, or sealings, can also be performed in the temple.

Temples dotting the world

There are currently over 350 temples across the world that have been announced, are operational, or are presently under construction  over 180 of those have been announced by President Nelson.

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The Churchs first temple was constructed in Kirtland, Ohio in 1833. The temple took three years to complete and was dedicated in 1836. According to the Church, Jesus Christ appeared to the first LDS Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and accepted the Kirtland Temple as His house.

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 ABC4 Utah.
During a 2019 visit to Singapore, President Russell M. Nelson told members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that he prayed for the day that there would be a temple there. That day is coming soon.

The church announced on Monday that the Singapore Temple groundbreaking ceremony will take place on June 28. President Nelson first announced the temple at the April 2021 general conference, less than two years after his visit to the sovereign city-state.

Elder Kelly R. Johnson, first counselor in the Asia Area Presidency, will preside at the groundbreaking ceremony.

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Singapore has been home to the church since April 14, 1969  four years after officially becoming an independent republic. It has approximately 3,200 members, according to the church, who comprise six congregations.

Time in the temple increases our confidence before the Lord, President Nelson said at the most recent general conference. Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We do not know the day or the hour of his coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that great and dreadful day.

What is the significance of Latter-day Saint temples?

To Latter-day Saints, temples are the most sacred places on Earth. In temples, they make promises with God and participate in ordinances that they believe are necessary for salvation. Temples differ from meetinghouses, where Sunday services and other activities are held throughout the week.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man is facing felony drug charges after he showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound this weekend.

Read next: Community remembers Shenango Valley doctor murdered 20 years ago

According to a police report, officers responded to Saint Joseph Warren Hospital late Saturday night for a report of a gunshot victim.

Police located the victims car and found several bullet holes and broken windows. Reports state a shoe box was located on the passenger floorboard with several plastic bags inside with suspected narcotics, as well as two digital scales with residue, a blender container, a spoon, a notebook, and a debit card.

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Reports state the narcotics were suspected fentanyl and weighed approximately 106 grams.

The victim was identified as Darius Simmons, 48. He was charged with aggravated drug trafficking and possession of drugs, both felony counts.

Simmons pleaded not guilty in a Monday arraignment. He is due back in court next Monday and is being held without bond in the Trumbull County Jail.

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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Happy Monday, Utah! Its been all about the wind machine this afternoon. The pressure gradient between low pressure to our west, and high pressure to our east is giving us strong, gusty winds across a good part of the Beehive state.

Wind Advisories have been issued for parts of Cache Valley, the Ogden Valley, SL Valley, and Tooele Valley, along with the west Desert, Uintah County, and Grand County through late Monday evening. Winds could gust between 30-40 mph on average in these locations. A High Wind Warning is in effect for SW Utah where wind gusts could be between 65-70 mph.

The gusty southerly winds will also help to boost Monday afternoon daytime highs back into the mid to upper 80s for the Wasatch Front, and into the lower 90s for SW Utah.

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A strong upper low will move into Utah on Tuesday, bringing big changes back to the region. High temperatures will drop about 20-30 from Monday afternoon through Tuesday with highs only in the upper 50s to low 60s for northern Utah, with highs only in the mid 70s for SW Utah.

Clouds will help kick off Tuesday, but as the upper low gets closer Tuesday afternoon, look for scattered showers and storms to begin to develop. Widespread showers will become likely Tuesday afternoon and evening across Utah, especially for areas north of I-70.

Scattered showers and storms will remain possible, if not likely throughout the day on Wednesday as the upper low continues to work through Utah. High temperatures will remain below average with highs only in the 50s along the Wasatch Front and 70s for SW Utah. A few high mountain based snow showers and snow squalls may be possible above about 9,000 FT as some cooler air works in with the trough.

The upper trough should begin to exit the area on Thursday, but still keeps isolated rain chances around during the day. Highs will begin to rebound but remain above average during this time.

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Friday will be the pick day for the rest of the upcoming week. Look for a mix of clouds and sunshine with warm temperatures across the Beehive state.

Our next storm system begins to approach this weekend, bringing increasing chances for showers and rumbles, along with another round of cooler temperatures.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
With House Republicans warring over Medicaid, Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie is playing peacemaker  telling moderates the party isnt going to gut the safety-net program while also assuring fiscal hawks that Republicans will slash hundreds of billions of dollars.

Its a delicate balancing act for the mild-mannered Kentucky Republican, whos been largely successful in preventing an all-out, intraconference revolt. But hes about to face his biggest leadership test yet Tuesday as his panel meets to advance its contributions to President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill that go further than what some centrists would like  and not far enough to satisfy every hard-liner.

I think hes learned a lot, said Rep. David Valadao of California, one moderate who has more Medicaid recipients in his swing district than any other House Republican and has been working to warn his colleagues about going too far in overhauling the program. But he just has a very difficult task.

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The Energy and Commerce portion of the massive, party-line package needs to reduce the deficit by $880 billion. The bulk of these savings is expected to come from changes to Medicaid, which currently serves nearly 80 million Americans.

The draft legislation being marked up Tuesday would scrap the most controversial proposals that had initially been on the table, including one to cap federal spending in states that have expanded Medicaid under the Democrats' 2010 health law. At the same time, it would throw conservatives red meat, like banning federal funding for Planned Parenthood and pulling back money from states offering Medicaid to undocumented immigrants.

It also would add new mandates that will likely force states to revamp how they finance their programs or cut benefits, along with new work requirements that are expected to result in reduced enrollment. Democrats released preliminary Congressional Budget Office estimates they requested Sunday night, which found more than 8.6 million people would go uninsured if the health portions of the GOPs party-line package became law  resulting in cuts of at least $715 billion.

In many ways, this bill is a compromise for Guthrie, who has talked for nearly his entire, 16-year career in Congress about wanting to make sweeping changes to Medicaid to protect it from abuse and, in turn, insolvency  in line with what hardliners are pushing.

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Id personally love per-capita allotments for Medicaid, said Guthrie in an interview earlier this year, referring to a controversial proposal to cap federal spending in the program. Im not sure were going to be able to get 218 votes for that.

The conferences staunchest conservatives, however, dont see it as a compromise at all. To the extent that Guthries proposal seeks to strike a balance between wishlists for centrists and fiscal hawks, the latter contingent see it as falling far too short.

I sure hope House & Senate leadership are coming up with a backup plan  because Im not here to rack up an additional $20 trillion in debt over 10 years or to subsidize healthy, able-bodied adults, corrupt blue states, and monopoly hospital ceos, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said in a social media post Monday.

Hard-liners are also privately livid that Guthrie and House Republican leaders were, in the later stages of negotiations, too focused on Trumps anxieties about the House appearing too aggressive on Medicaid. Fiscal hawks privately fumed that Guthrie and leadership increasingly turned to creative ways to find savings across the program. But in the end, it constituted shell games that wouldnt bend long-term federal spending on the program, according to four Republicans involved in the talks.

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Guthrie was a recent guest at an hours-long House Freedom Caucus meeting on the subject, where efforts to explain how Congress could inadvertently cause widespread Medicaid coverage losses largely fell flat.

Thats not our problem, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) shot back at one point.

Guthrie has, however, spent considerable time among moderates, often one-on-one, to walk them through various potential proposals on overhauling Medicaid and sort out any confusion.

Those conversations have involved no strong-arming, said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, the Florida Republican who chairs the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing and trade, in an interview.

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I sit down and walk through some policy options and I think I made people feel more comfortable with where we are, Guthrie told reporters after a recent meeting with members concerned about deep Medicaid cuts. Were not going to do anything thats drastic.

The conservative health policy chops Guthrie has accumulated over years of studying the issues has lent him credibility with members on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum.

He brings up that right mixture of the human aspect  the compassionate side of being an American  along with a deep understanding of policy that exceeds most staff members, said Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), an ally of Guthries on the committee. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), a member of both Energy and Commerce and the House Freedom Caucus, conceded in an interview that while there are things we're all disappointed arent in [the bill]  Most people who've talked with him realize that he's an honest broker who's trying to do a hard job.

Guthries own willingness to compromise could also be what brings colleagues around at Tuesdays markup. That includes Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), who had been expressing reservations about Medicaid cuts but on Tuesday praised Guthries proposal as one that strengthens the social safety net while restoring fiscal responsibility.

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Hes probably the most transparent committee chair in the halls of Congress, Langworthy, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said of Guthrie in a recent interview. He and the staff of Energy and Commerce are doing yeoman's work listening to members' concerns across the conference of all ideologies to make sure that  this is a final product that will be able to get 218 votes.

Thats one Energy and Commerce Republican Guthrie can count on. He can only afford to lose about a handful of others on the panel and still advance the measure, given all Democrats are expected to oppose it. His margin of error will be even more slender when it hits the House floor as soon as next week, bundled together with the other components of the massive package of tax cuts and extensions, border security investments, energy policy and more.

Hard-liners will be sure to keep grumbling. Moderates will continue to be inundated with political attack ads from Democrats, alongside public backlash from hospitals and GOP state legislators that would feel the effects.

The GOP is putting up smoke and mirrors but this is all very simple: Donald Trump and Republicans are abandoning working families so they can fund tax handouts to billionaires, DNC chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

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And in the leadup, Guthrie has tried to keep a low profile: A typically accessible presence on Capitol Hill, the lawmaker has recently been shielded by aides who would rather he not weigh in on the increasingly fragile, ongoing negotiations.

But Guthrie has found it hard at times to stifle his chattiness  one of the qualities that has helped him build at least modest consensus around one of the thorniest issues in the megabill.

Heading into a closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol two weeks ago, Guthrie almost slipped into the room undetected by the press. But ten feet from the door, a reporter asked Guthrie whether one sensitive Medicaid proposal remained under consideration.

The committee chair started to reply as a staffer quickly interjected to silence the exchange. Just before stepping into the meeting, however, Guthrie stuck his head out to confirm: Were still discussing.
Former GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley dinged President Trump on Tuesday over his decision to accept a palatial $400 million jet from Qatar to temporarily replace Air Force One.

Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and US can be bought, Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during Trumps first term, wrote in a post on the social platform X. If this were [former President] Biden, we would be furious.

Trump, who is in the Middle East this week, has faced criticism from both sides of the aisle  including from some of his most ardent supporters  over the pricy present from a foreign government, but he defended the move Monday, telling reporters it would be stupid for him to turn down the offer.

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I could be a stupid person and say, No we dont want a free, very expensive airplane, but I thought it was a great gesture, Trump said.

Under the arrangement, the jet the Qatari royal family previously used will be given to the U.S. Defense Department to replace the aging Air Force One fleet while Trump is in office. The new aircraft will be transferred to Trumps eventual presidential library after he leaves the White House.

Haley, the former governor of South Carolina who unsuccessfully challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, joined a chorus of detractors who highlighted questions about the gifts implications and Qatars ties to Hamas.

Accepting gifts from foreign nations is never a good practice. It threatens intelligence and national security, she wrote. Especially when that nation supports a terrorist organization and allows those terrorist regimes to live on its soil.

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Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who previously worked for the Republican National Committee (RNC), also pointed out how Republicans would have reacted if a Democratic president had done the same thing.

If Obama had done this when I was at the RNC, I know what our statement would have said, he wrote on the social platform X.

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Israeli-US hostage Edan Alexander, who was held captive by the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip for over 19 months, was released on Monday as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement with Israel.

The 21-year-old was handed over to the Red Cross in the southern city of Khan Younis. Alexander, who was serving in the Israeli military when he was abducted, was the last known living captive with US nationality in Gaza.

Footage released by the Israeli army and government captured the emotional reunion of Alexander with his family at a military base in Israel.

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Overcome with emotion, his mother, Yael, cried tears of joy as she embraced him. Alexander, also tearful, smiled as he hugged his father, Adi, and siblings, kissing his brother and sister on the forehead. The family had travelled from the United States to welcome him home.

He was then flown by helicopter to a hospital. A photo taken aboard the helicopter showed Alexander holding a sign that reads, "Thank you, President Trump."

The release is seen as a gesture toward the US, with Hamas hoping it will prompt US President Donald Trump to exert pressure on the Israeli government to reach a Gaza agreement that includes a permanent end to the war.

Alexander was taken by Palestinian Hamas militants from a military base near Gaza during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

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Alexander's release was arranged through negotiations between Hamas and the US, with no direct involvement from Israel.

Hundreds of people gathered in central Tel Aviv to celebrate the news, erupting in cheers as reports of the handover emerged. Similar scenes also reportedly played out in his US hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey, where crowds also marked his return.

Alexander's father told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 that the family had not slept the night before. His son looked pale and thin, but was standing on his own, he noted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "very emotional moment." He credited the development to Israeli military pressure in Gaza and political efforts by Trump.

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Unlike previous hostage releases - which were often marked by staged and degrading public displays - Alexanders release was carried out without ceremony. The more discreet transfer in this case may have been intended to avoid provoking the US.

Israeli media, citing his family, reported that Alexander might travel to Qatar for a meeting with Trump, depending on his health. Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week. He is not set to visit Israel.

Hamas announced Alexanders forthcoming release at the weekend, saying it followed talks with the US in recent days and formed part of its efforts to advance a broader agreement on Gaza.

Trump on Sunday called the announcement "monumental news" and a gesture of goodwill toward the US and mediators Qatar and Egypt.

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Netanyahus office said the US informed Israel that Alexanders release could pave the way for negotiations based on a previous proposal from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel has already accepted.

The plan envisions a two-stage release of all remaining hostages and the bodies of deceased captives, with a prolonged ceasefire between stages. But there are still hurdles, including Hamas' demand that any deal must include a full end to the war.

Netanyahus office announced that Israeli negotiators would travel to Qatar on Tuesday for talks.

Negotiations 'under fire' to continue

Despite the release, Israel signalled its intention to escalate military operations in Gaza.

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Negotiations "will continue under fire during preparations for an intensification of the fighting," the Israeli leader said in a statement.

Israel stressed that it remains under no obligation to agree to a ceasefire or prisoner exchange.

Relatives of other hostages expressed frustration.

Families of captives without foreign citizenship accused Netanyahus government of indifference. "Hamas saw that President Trump had enough of Netanyahus indecisiveness and threw him a bone, leaving Israel out," said Shimon Or, whose nephew remains held in Gaza, told the ynet news outlet.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said no one should be left behind: "Edans return must mark the beginning of a comprehensive deal that brings everyone home."

Reports of torture in captivity

Alexander was reportedly tortured during his captivity, according to accounts from previously released hostages cited in Israeli media. He is said to have spent over 500 days in a tunnel, sometimes shackled, and to have suffered significant weight loss. Hamas released a video of him in November 2024 that showed him weeping uncontrollably.

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Alexanders parents immigrated to the United States shortly after his birth. He later moved to Israel alone to serve in the army.

58 hostages still in Gaza

According to Israel, 20 hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza, with the status of three more unclear. The bodies of 35 deceased hostages are also still being held.

Hamas and other militant groups killed about 1,200 people in their October 7, 2023, assault and abducted over 250 hostages into Gaza, triggering the current war. According to the Hamas-run health authority, more than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
This AmeriCorps program has been serving New Hampshire lakes since 2017. (Courtesy of the Lakes Region Conservation Corps)

A program serving New Hampshire lakes since 2017 was a casualty of the Trump administrations massive cuts to AmeriCorps, a federal agency that engages service members around the country.

On April 26, members of the Lakes Region Conservation Corps learned their program had been terminated effective immediately. For years, corps members coming to New Hampshire from around the country have done crucial conservation work related to water quality, maintaining public access to trails, running educational programs, and much more.



Federal fallout

As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and

whether to make up the difference.

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The cuts have left the eight host sites to come up with new plans quickly, just on the brink of the busy summer season.

Its causing this strain on our organizations that have come to rely on this work thats helped really exponentially grow the work that we do, said Rebecca Hanson, executive director of the Newfound Lake Region Association, which had been one of the program sites. And even just the pivot is taking a huge amount of energy, and its a momentum interrupter and interrupting, you know, the actual conservation work that were trying to do.

Twenty-eight positions with the lakes program were affected, 16 of which were active members, with $567,000 in federal funding lost, said Rachel Bruns, chief engagement officer for Americas Service Commissions, a nonprofit representing state service commissions and other groups that receive AmeriCorps funding.

Theyre among the over 30,000 AmeriCorps members around the country affected by the sudden terminations, who had their lives overturned really in a matter of minutes, Bruns said. Americas Service Commissions has launched an emergency fund to support service members struggling with the loss of living stipends, health care, and housing.

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Theres still really no official communication that has come to us or the field at large regarding the reason for these grant terminations, Bruns said. So the only kind of information that has been provided is what was stated in the termination letters, which stated that the grant no longer effectuates agency priorities.

The terminations dont seem to follow any obvious logic, and really there doesnt seem to be any rhyme or reason for which grants were terminated and which grants were not terminated, Bruns said.

The termination letters came from an AmeriCorps email address, she said. Its our understanding that the termination notices are, we believe, really directed by the Department of Government Efficiency, but the notifications dont explicitly state that, Bruns said.

The Washington Post reported on April 25 that DOGE ordered AmeriCorps to end $400 million in grants, or about 41% of the agencys grant funding.

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Bruns was aware of four grants in New Hampshire that had been terminated, including the lakes program; a clean energy planning grant, which she said didnt have members associated with it; the RSVP program for service members 55 and older; and a placeholder grant that Volunteer NH could use to fund needs in the state in the upcoming program year.

Across the country, we are gravely concerned about what this means for the community services that these AmeriCorps members were providing, Bruns said.

The day the news reached the Squam Lakes Association, Hunter Hine, a service member from Maryland, was getting ready for a volunteer program to help the local salamander population when he ran into another member who said they were having an emergency meeting. There, he learned that the program he had committed to stay with for several more months no longer existed.

It was very surreal, Hine said.

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For Hine, getting this job was super important for my career goals, for getting to, really, the place I wanted to go, which was working in an environmental nonprofit, like a watershed organization.

Since January, his service has stretched across a broad spectrum of work. He has engaged volunteers, particularly with the water quality volunteering program, where volunteers get trained on sampling and measuring equipment to test temperature and phosphorus and chlorophyll and indicators of health around the lake, he said. Hes also done trail work and created social media graphics and flyers, and with summer coming, he and others will help with campsite hosting, kayak and canoe rentals, and more.

At the Squam Lakes Association, the organization funded about half the program, with the government funding the other half, said EB James, its executive director.

With their busy season having just begun, were hitting this with as much optimism as we can, James said. With the program dismantled, the eight host sites are no longer affiliated, and each is responding differently, with some keeping their people and some not, he said. At the Squam Lakes Association, they are working to maintain their commitment to those who joined them to serve for a full term that started in January and was set to end in the fall.

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We committed to them in January that we are going to give them a leadership conservation experience through November, and our board has just agreed that we are going to figure out how to get that done, James said. So on the private side, you know, were going to make sure that our commitment to this doesnt go (away), you know, for this year anyway.  Were not exactly sure how were going to do that, but were going to.

With members coming from all over, just being done is not really a tenable option, James said. He described the loss of the program as a radical change.

These young folks signed up to do service to the community and service to America, and its still needed, James said. Just because the program is gone doesnt mean the need has disappeared. And so  were going to honor that commitment.

At the Newfound Lake Region Association, three service members were scheduled to join the site on May 19 until the end of October, with AmeriCorps set to cover their living allowance and education awards, and the site providing the housing, Hanson said.

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Service members have carried out a lot of our mission work, a lot of that on the ground conservation work since the site joined the program in 2019, Hanson said.

They have worked on stormwater projects, with stormwater being the biggest impact to water quality in lakes throughout the state, she said. Theyve done water quality monitoring, weed watching to protect the lakes from invasive species, run free educational programs for all ages, served as hosts at the Grey Rocks Conservation Area, helped with writing and program implementation, and other odd jobs that are required for a small nonprofit, Hanson said.

The association had to act quickly to figure out how that work could still get done and maintain the commitment to those who had agreed to serve at the site. The organization found money in its budget to pay the would-have-been service members an hourly wage as conservation assistants for a shortened season that will run through the end of August.

AmeriCorps, with its funding support for service members, really increased the amount we could do and allowed it to use its budget and donated funds for other mission-related purposes, Hanson said.

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James said that when floods struck the area a couple of years ago, our AmeriCorps members were first responders. Theyve been absolutely fundamental to the successes this organization has had protecting the water quality, he said. And this program has been responsible for maintaining a ton of public access  like almost all public access  certainly in the Squam area and in many places throughout the center of New Hampshire, he said.

The lakes program has also been an important pipeline for future environmental leaders in the state, James said.

If you look out at the seven years of folks that have come through here, just about every, certainly halfway large, conservation group in the center of the state has hired a past AmeriCorps member in some capacity, James said.

For Hine and his peers, its an uncertain climate. Pointing to cuts across federal government positions, its definitely a worrisome time for trying to be in this field and for your career in this field, Hine said, but at the same time, it seems like there is some hope.

He said he and his peers  most of whom are not from New Hampshire  were committed to continuing to be of service.

We all wanted to just come here and help this community, he said.
Curious about what happened to Bindi Irwin? Fans were shocked to learn that the young wildlife warrior is enduring a serious medical emergency. She unexpectedly missed a major event, the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas, leaving many worried about her health. Her brother, Robert Irwin, addressed the crowd at the fundraiser, explaining her absence and sparking concern.

Here are all the details about what happened to Bindi Irwin and her health update.

Bindi Irwins health update explained

Bindi Irwins health update came shortly after, with the 26-year-old conservationist sharing a raw and heartfelt video from her hospital bed.

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On Monday, May 12, Bindi revealed she had undergone emergency surgery after her appendix ruptured. However, the procedure uncovered more complications.

In an Instagram video, Bindi said doctors also discovered 14 new endometriosis lesions, which they removed during the same operation. Additionally, they repaired a hernia she had developed during childbirth four years ago. Im sorry if Im a little out of it in this video, she said.

In the caption, Bindi elaborated further. She recalled her earlier surgery from two years ago, when 37 endometriosis lesions and a cyst were removed. This latest operation adds to her long battle with chronic pain, which she has spoken about publicly in the past.

While providing her health update, Irwin praised the doctors and her family. She thanked Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu, her husband Chandler, daughter Grace, and mother Terri for standing by her. She also expressed pride in Robert for stepping up to host the Las Vegas gala and continuing the legacy of their father, Steve Irwin.

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Bindi reassured fans that while recovery will take time, she plans to attend the next Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane this November. Time to heal now. Sending my love to you all, she wrote. The post quickly drew thousands of supportive comments, including messages from fans and celebrities alike.

The post What Happened to Bindi Irwin? Health Update Explained appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A man faces charges after police say he lured a young girl into an Uber and raped her at a Dauphin County hotel.

The charges filed Monday by Susquehanna Township Police state that, while the girl was walking in Harrisburg on April 20, Abdoulaye Gueye, 22, of Harrisburg, allegedly tapped on her shoulder, called her beautiful and asked how old she was.

Harrisburg man charged after allegedly strangling woman, stopping her from calling police

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Despite being told she was a minor, police say Gueye continued to walk with her and asked her if she wanted food and to go to a hotel.

Police said he then called an Uber and they were dropped off at the Days Inn, along Front Street in Susquehanna Township. The charges filed show they then got a room, then walked to Wendys, and returned to the hotel room. Gueye would then leave to go get marijuana, and the girl eventually fell asleep.

The victim disclosed to police that she then woke up to Gueye touching her and proceeding to rape her.

Police said the victim went to the hospital the next day, and then they were called and learned of the incident.

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Gueye faces felony charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with child, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, and luring a child in a moto vehicle. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors.

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He is locked up at $100,000 bail that was set by Magisterial District Judge Marian Urrutia. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on May 22.

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A Michigan man who last year fired eight shots toward people in a hotel parking lot in Lincoln went to prison for it Tuesday.

Michael Cornejo's attorney, Bob Creager, argued for probation for the 28-year-old from the small town of Bangor, Michigan, near Kalamazoo, who he described as a good kid who hasn't even had a brush with the law before this.

Creager described the shooting last summer as a case of self-defense but said Cornejo had to consider the litigation risks, given current jury instructions for self-defense in the state.

"The Nebraska Supreme Court has it wrong," he said.

By statute, Creager said, a defendant "wins" if the jury finds that the actor believed force was necessary, not "reasonably believed" it, as the Supreme Court has ruled, which creates a more difficult threshold.

They had been set to go to trial when the state made a plea offer to reduce the charges, and Cornejo pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted first-degree assault and flight to avoid arrest.

"The government prosecuted this case like it was a drive-by gang shooting, in which one gang was in the building and one gang was in the car, and they jump out and they just start firing randomly," Creager said.

But it wasn't, he said.

Based on Cornejo's high-profile work at the time as a petition circulator and the retaliatory actions that sometimes go along with that, he said, Cornejo was apprehensive when it looked like someone was approaching his car, then reached for his waist.

"Whatever it was, it wasn't a gang shooting," the defense attorney said.

At about 4:30 a.m. June 18, gunshots sent Lincoln police to the AmericInn on North 27th Street near the Interstate 80 exit.

Police found eight shell casings in the parking lot, a bullet hole through the lobby window and bullet markings on the pillars at the entrance.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller said he doesn't know that he cares so much about why Cornejo did what he did "as opposed to what actually happened in this case."

He said Cornejo wasn't just shooting in an open area or shooting into the pavement or the sky.

"He was shooting at level with a human being," Miller said.

And the casings show he was moving when he fired the shots, apparently in the direction of at least one person.

"I don't know how anybody can look at this and say that incarceration is not warranted," he argued.

A woman told police a stranger had driven up to the hotel, pointed a gun at her and started shooting, then drove off as she and a man ran for the front door.

Police saw an SUV like the shooter's nearby and tried to stop him, Cornejo fled, ultimately crashing at a roundabout at North 14th and Superior streets.

Inside the SUV, police found a "ghost gun" pistol that looks like an AR-15, and nitrous oxide cans, which they believe he had gotten high on.

Creager said Cornejo feared for his safety that night and fired the shots.

"Yes, it was reckless. It was dangerous. People could have been hurt, but they weren't, fortunately," he said.

Creager said he gets the seriousness of what happened. It's not good. But it isn't what it seemed to be and wasn't something that required a lengthy prison sentence.

In the end, Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus said though Cornejo denies it, there was evidence he was under the influence of nitrous oxide, which had made him paranoid.

"I don't know if anyone can explain your behavior on this night. I think we can all agree it was incredibly dangerous behavior," she said.

Ideus said Cornejo was lucky he hadn't killed or permanently injured someone.

"At the end of the day the safety of the community requires that people not engage in behavior that you did," she said.

And she sentenced Cornejo to 18 to 26 years in prison for it.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WWLP)  Harvard students, faculty, staff, and alumni handed the universitys president over 450 unaddressed discrimination complaints on Monday.

Members of a coalition called Harvard United for Inclusive Campus hosted a press conference Monday afternoon outside Harvard Universitys Johnston Gate. The group then hand-delivered 452 complaints to the office of Harvard President Alan Garber, which reportedly expressed concerns from over 350 members of the university community.

Harvard says it wont abandon core principles to meet Department of Education demands

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The letters claim that Harvard has fostered a systematic anti-Palestinian bias, leading to a hostile climate for Arabs, Muslims, and Palestinians on campus. All complaints were originally submitted directly to the Harvard University Office for Community Conduct between January and March 2025.

For over 18 months, Muslim and Arab students, faculty, and staff have been asking our university leadership for support and protection from doxxing, harassment, and death threats, said Dr. Lara Jirmanus, Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and faculty member whose complaint was never addressed. At best, we have received no response or a cold form email from Harvard administrators.

This comes amid the universitys battle with the Trump administration over frozen federal grants to the institution and threats to its tax-exempt status over pro-Palestinian protests. 22News will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Harvard University wont surrender its core principles to appease the Trump administration, its president said in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday.

Harvard President Alan Garber decried the governments overreach into the constitutional freedoms of private universities in a three-page letter hitting back at the Trump administrations earlier threats to withhold grants from the university.

Consistent with the law and with our own values, we continue to pursue needed reforms, doing so in consultation with our stakeholders and always in compliance with the law, Garber wrote. But Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government.

Last week, McMahon wrote in her own letter to Garber that Harvard should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided. The Education Secretary laid out a laundry list of complaints against the Ivy League institution, from its bloated bureaucracy to its mathematics curriculum.

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McMahon opened her letter by taking aim at Harvards international students, claiming that the university has made a mockery of this countrys higher education system by inviting foreign students, who she claims engage in violent behavior and show contempt for the United States of America.

Garber defended the students, noting that there was no evidence to support allegations that they are more prone to misconduct: They come to this country and to Harvard to learn and achieve at the highest levels, just as our U.S. students do.

Harvard President Alan Garber stuck to his guns in a letter responding to Education Secretary Linda McMahon's laundry list of complaints. / Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

McMahon also accused the university of partisanship, citing the membership of strongly left-leaning Obama political appointee Penny Pritzker on Harvards main governing board. But Garber was having none of it.

I must refute your claim that Harvard is a partisan institution, the Harvard president wrote. It is neither Republican nor Democratic. It is not an arm of any other political party or movement. Nor will it ever be. Harvard is a place to bring people of all backgrounds together.

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The Trump administration and Harvard have been embroiled in a bitter feud over the universitys refusal to heed a long list of government demands involving its policies for hiring and admission, as well as its curriculum.

When Garber vowed that Harvard would not compromise on certain issues, President Donald Trump turned up the pressure by threatening to revoke the schools tax-exempt status.

Harvard later sued the Trump administration in a bid to stop the government from freezing billions in federal funding.

We share common ground on a number of critical issues, including the importance of ending antisemitism and other bigotry on campus, Garber told McMahon. You and I have a shared interest in ensuring that American universities continue to be global leaders in innovative and life-saving research that benefits all Americans, boosts the national economy, and serves the countrys interests.
Harvey Weinsteins legal team resumed their questioning of Kaja Sokola, one of the convicted movie moguls accusers, on Tuesday during his retrial in Manhattan.

The defense questioned the former Polish model about a private journal in which she documented people who had sexually assaulted her  but notably did not include Harvey Weinstein. Instead, the former Hollywood producer was mentioned in other contexts, including an entry referring to Harvey W, where Sokola wrote that he was promising help, but nothing came of it, the Associated Press reported.

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The trauma that Harvey Weinstein inflicted on you was that he made promises that he didnt keep, even as you accused two other men of sexually assaulting you, Michael Cibella, one of Weinsteins attorneys, said to Sokola.

Thats your interpretation and Ill leave that with you, Sokola replied. Harvey made promises he didnt keep  and he sexually assaulted me.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sokola contended that the journal  which she wrote in Polish in 2015  should never have been introduced in open court, as its entries were part of her substance abuse treatment.

This is very inappropriate, Sokola said as one of Weinsteins attorneys began reading portions of the text to the jury. Please dont read that. This is my personal things. Im not on trial here.

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Judge Curtis J. Farber told Sokola that only limited questioning regarding the private journal would be permitted. He also expressed concerns about the journals completeness and authenticity, as well as questioned how the defense had obtained what appeared to be private medical records.

This might backfire tremendously for the defense, Farber said. (Prosecutors also opposed the inclusion of the journal as evidence.) Thats the risk theyre willing to take.

Sokolas cross-examination began last Friday, during which Weinsteins lawyer questioned her about previous lawsuits she filed against the former Hollywood producer  particularly regarding the roughly $3.5 million in compensation she received.

Cibella insinuated that the payouts helped her escape her now-estranged husband in 2021, with whom she is currently undergoing divorce proceedings. (Sokola told the jury that he was physically violent toward her and their son.) However, Sokola argued that she was working two jobs and out-earning him at the time.

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Cibella also suggested that, in the early 2000s, Sokola tried to leverage then-studio boss Weinstein to launch her acting career.

You believed that if you had consensual sex with Mr. Weinstein, youd get your foot in the door and become a movie star, he said.

No, that is not what happened, Sokola replied, emphasizing that she never had a consensual relationship with Weinstein.

At one point during her testimony, Sokola said she simply wanted Weinstein to be honest about whether she had a real chance of succeeding in the film industry as an actor.

I didnt want money. I didnt want any shortcuts, she said. I just wanted him to be honest with me.

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After Fridays cross-examination, Sokolas attorney Lindsay Goldbrum said in a statement, Today, Kaja Sokola stood strong in the face of an aggressive cross-examination, straight out of the victim-blamers playbook, Weinsteins team mistakenly thought they could break her resolve. But Kaja was unwavering. Despite facing relentless and invasive questioning about the most painful and personal aspects of her life, including those unrelated to the charged incident, she remained composed and resolute. Her courage and grace in that courtroom was nothing short of remarkable.

Earlier last week, Sokola took the stand and alleged that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in both 2002 and 2006. However, Weinstein is not facing charges for the alleged 2002 assault. That testimony was introduced to demonstrate Weinsteins propensity or predisposition to commit the crimes for which he is currently on trial, Judge Farber explained to the jury  including the alleged 2006 assault involving Sokola.

Weinstein is charged with two counts of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and one count of third-degree rape. The charges stem from accusations by Sokola, former TV production assistant Miriam Haley  the first accuser to testify in Weinsteins retrial  and actor Jessica Mann.

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In Tuesdays cross examination of Kaja Sokola, one of the three accusers in the trial against Harvey Weinstein, the former moguls defense team sought to use a journal she had kept in 2015 against her.

The appearance of the journal, which Sokola said was related to treatment she had undergone for alcohol abuse and which was brought forward by her sister from Poland after a subpoena was issued against her, led to Sokola calling its unveiling very inappropriate and unethical.

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Im not on trial here! Sokola said, raising her voice.

Im wondering how this got into your possession, she said, adding that it had been in Poland. I havent seen these in many, many years.

While he called it intrusive, Judge Curtis Farber allowed the use of the journal, which had been obtained by the defense team, in limited scope, after a morning and post-lunch discussion as well as repeated objections from prosecutors and Sokola herself. Sokola was questioned about the fact that in a chart listing people that had wronged her as well as the related action, she had listed Weinsteins name and wrote that he had promised to help her but did not, and did not list any sexual assault.

Sokola testified that was correct and was cut off from answering further as she raised her voice.

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Sokola had earlier testified that she first met Weinstein at 16 years old while working as a model in New York.

The charged interaction with Weinstein is alleged to have taken place in 2006, after a lunch meeting with Weinstein and Sokolas sister at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. Sokola, who was then 19 years old, said she had arranged the meeting because she wanted her sister to meet with Weinstein so she could prove to her that she had a possible career as an actor. After a brief lunch, Sokola said Weinstein asked her to come up to a hotel room to see a script and then forcibly held her down on the bed and performed oral sex on her.

She is one of three complaining witnesses in the case, and the second to testify, after Miriam Haley, who alleges he forced oral sex on her at his apartment in 2006, and from aspiring actress Jessica Mann, who alleges she was raped by Weinstein in 2013 in a Manhattan hotel.

Sokola also testified to a sexual encounter that occurred with Weinstein when she was 16, when she said he touched her vagina and put her hand on his penis to masturbate. This encounter is not charged in this case, but Sokola entered in civil litigation against Weinsteins brother Bob Weinstein, Disney and Miramax in 2019 and later won a $3 million settlement related to the incident.

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Weinsteins defense team had pressed Sokola on the stand Friday, trying to imply that her asylum application had motivated her claims against Weinstein and that she had engaged in consensual sex with Weinstein to further her career.

Raising her voice and coming to tears on the stand last week, Sokola denied any consensual relationship with Weinstein and said she wanted his honest opinion about whether she had a career as an actress.

I met a person who was on top of the world at the time. I didnt want money. I didnt want any shortcuts. I wanted him to be honest with it, Sokola said. It was not a transactional relationship. I treated him as a professional relationship.

He was telling me about my promising movie career, she said. Unfortunately he was lying.

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Michael Cibella, a defense attorney for Weinstein who led the cross-examination, repeatedly pointed to her acting aspirations and interviews she had previously given to NewsNation and Rolling Stone about an earlier incident with Weinstein, where she had not mentioned the charged incident, as well as the fact that she had received a role as an extra on the Nanny Diaries from Weinstein (though the part was cut from the film) and had received a letter of recommendation from a Weinstein associate for the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute after the alleged charged incident had taken place, but had never enrolled.

On Tuesday, he pointed to reach outs Sokola had made to Weinstein in 2010 and 2011 related to potential scripts and wanting to meet for business opportunities, as well as what he said were discrepancies between her testimony about Weinsteins use of force during the charged incident.

Last week, upon questioning from Cibella, Sokola, who fled from her husband in Poland, testified that she was applying for a U visa, which allows victims of crimes who report a crime and cooperate with prosecutors to live and work in the U.S. for up to four years, and that participating in this case could help.

Cibella also pointed to the fact that Sokola received $475,000 as part of a settlement fund related to the 2016 incident with Weinstein at the end of 2021 or early 2022. Sokola, who had earlier testified that she was in an abusive relationship with her husband in Poland at that time and needed to flee the country, flew to New York around that time. She headed off Cibellas line of questioning, implying she needed the money to flee and rent the apartment in New York, which costs $11,000 a month. Cibella also pointed to the fact that Sokola had previously spoken out against the fund, which she said was because it released Weinstein from further civil claims, but then reversed course.

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I flew to New York and I rented this apartment, because I was working two full-time jobs and earning what would be the equivalent of $15,000 a month, Sokola said.

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More than 40 years after the naked body of a 15-year-old Palo Alto girl was found tied up and covered in blood near a bus stop, the man responsible for the long-unsolved slaying was sentenced to life in prison.

Gary Ramirez, 78, of Hawaii was sentenced Monday after pleading no contest to the brutal 1982 rape and murder of Karen Stitt, the Santa Clara County district attorney's office announced. He is eligible for parole after 25 years.

The victim was sexually assaulted and stabbed 59 times in her neck, chest, abdomen and back, according to a medical examiner's report. The killer left his blood and semen on her body, but investigators were unable to identify a suspect at the time.

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The case went cold for decades until new DNA technology and a community tip led investigators to arrest Ramirez at his Maui residence in 2022.

Read more: How California detectives found a suspect in teen's 40-year-old rape and killing

Over 40 years ago, Karen Stitt lost her life, but she was not forgotten, Santa Clara County Dist. Atty. Jeff Rosen said in a statement Monday. Today, thanks to a dedicated detective, a persistent prosecutor, and our crime lab, the person responsible is behind bars.

Karen spent the last evening of her life walking around Sunnyvale with her 17-year-old boyfriend, who left her at a bus stop around midnight so she could travel back to Palo Alto, prosecutors said.

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The boyfriend "later told police that he felt bad about leaving her alone, but he did not want to get in trouble with his parents for being home late," according to a statement filed by Sunnyvale Police Det. Matthew Hutchison in the documents to arrest Ramirez.

A truck driver found her body in the bushes below a cinder-block wall near the bus stop around 10:45 the following morning. The dirt and leaves around her were disturbed, indicating that she continued to struggle after being left there, Hutchison wrote.

By 2000, detectives were able to use new DNA testing technology to build a profile of the suspect based on a bloodstain found on the wall and the fluids found on the girl's body.

The profile did not match her boyfriend, and he was ruled out as a suspect. Unfortunately, it also did not match anyone in a national DNA crime database, and the case went cold once again.

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That was, until 2019 when Sunnyvale police used a tip to determine that one of four Fresno brothers might have committed the crime and began a genealogical hunt to match the crime scene DNA to a family member, prosecutors said.

A DNA sample obtained from Ramirez's daughter provided a breakthrough and established Ramirez as the prime suspect in April 2022.

He was arrested at his home in Makawao, Maui, in August 2022 and extradited to Santa Clara County, where he was charged with murder, rape, kidnapping and being armed with a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He pleaded no contest in February.

Several of Karen's friends and family members attended Monday's sentencing hearing to share their continued grief about the gruesome killing and show that she has not been forgotten, prosecutors said.

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"Justice is a difficult thing," Robin Morris, the girl's aunt, told the district attorney's office in a February phone interview. "Hes lived his entire life, and my niece didnt get that privilege."

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Henderson Community College (HCC) recognized a staff member with Henderson County High School (HCHS).

HCC officials have announced Amanda Lacer, assistant principal of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Unit at HCHS, has been awarded two of HCCs highest honors: the 2025 Pathfinder Award and the HCC Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award.

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Officials say the Pathfinder Award, established by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), is presented annually to one teacher or counselor in each of the states 16 college service areas who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to helping students identify career pathways and navigate postsecondary education. Lacer was honored during the HCHS CTE Banquet on May 1 with a commemorative award and prize package. Each KCTCS-affiliated recipient will be considered for the statewide Pathfinder of the Year award.

Amanda Lacer has had a significant and lasting impact on technical education in Henderson County, said Dr. Chad Phillips, HCCs Chief Student Affairs Officer. From developing apprenticeship programs to streamlining dual credit opportunities, she has continually broken down barriers between industry, HCHS, and HCC. Thanks to her leadership, HCHS graduates are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in todays workforce.

HCC says in addition to the Pathfinder Award, Lacer received the Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award during HCCs May 9 commencement ceremony. The award recognizes an individual or organization whose leadership and service have had a profound and positive influence on the college and its mission.

Henderson Chamber kicking off new series to feel like summer

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As principal of the CTE Unit, Amanda has nurtured and strengthened a vital partnership between HCHS and HCC, said Dorsey Ridley, HCC Board Chair. Through her leadership, CTE programs have expanded and evolved to prepare students for real-world success while enriching our community.

Officials note Lacer is set to retire at the end of the 20242025 academic year.

HCCs Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mike Knecht and Chief Student Affairs Officer Dr. Chad Phillips present the 2025 HCC Pathfinder Award to Amanda Lacer. (Courtesy: HCC) HCCs President/CEO Dr. Jason Warren and Board Chair Dorsey Ridley present the 2025 Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award to Amanda Lacer. (Courtesy: HCC)

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Families gathered at Day Head Start on Monday to celebrate 60 years of the national Head Start program with cupcakes, arts and crafts and plenty of smiles.

Since its creation in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of his War on Poverty, Head Start has served more than 40 million children and their families across the United States.

The federally funded program has been a part of the San Angelo community for decades and provides early childhood education, health services and family support to low-income families.

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Happy birthday to Head Start  its 60 years nationwide, said Carolina Raymond, director of Head Start in San Angelo. So, we are a federally funded program. President Lyndon B. Johnson started this in 1965.

The local program currently serves more than 400 children across the Concho Valley and is more than just a childcare service. Head Start offers comprehensive early learning opportunities to prepare children for kindergarten, while also supporting parents with family development services.

A lot of people think were a daycare  and were not set up like a daycare at all, we have a curriculum, and our main goal here is to ensure our children are kindergarten-ready, that our parents are their first teacher, and were really investing in the whole family, Raymond said.

Head Start serves children ages 0 to 5, with services that include early education, health screenings, nutritious meals, and family engagement initiatives. Each family is assigned a family service worker who helps parents set and achieve personal goals, such as obtaining a GED, finding employment, or accessing community resources.

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Every parent has a family service worker, and they do comprehensive goals with the parents, Raymond said.

If a parent is looking to achieve getting their GED, or looking for a job, or any sort of resources, were trying to help those parents better themselves to better their family.

The program also includes Early Head Start, which supports pregnant women and children from birth to 36 months. Enrollment for Early Head Start begins the first week of June.

Its a program that works, and it is just an amazing place to be, Raymond said. Were such a tight-knit family, and we want you guys to be a part of it.

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For more information or to enroll, families can contact Day Head Start or visit the programs website.

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Andrea McChristian, former policy research director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, had to convince those who know her best  including her father  that taking a job at a nonprofit that supports educational equity around math was a logical career move.

After all, her dad said, her true passion is social justice.

McChristian said the explanation was simple: A lack of access and opportunity in mathematics for all students means many children, particularly kids of color and those living in impoverished communities, are forced to take educational pathways that leave them unqualified for lucrative STEM careers.

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The role of math in educational equity is really a civil rights  and a social justice and racial justice  issue, she recalled telling him.

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Broken down that way, friends and family quickly understood why the national policy director role at Just Equations made sense for the Yale University and Columbia Law School graduate.

And, its focus on education conjures an old love: McChristian, who holds a masters degree in early childhood education from the University of Nevada, was once a member of Teach for America, which recruits college graduates to work in high-need schools for two years. McChristian was a Head Start teacher in the Las Vegas Valley.

But it was an even earlier experience that drew her to the field, she said. Her father, also a Yale grad, worked for IBM and moved his family frequently when McChristian was a child, allowing her to attend schools in several locations, including Japan.

McChristian, who was born in California but lived all over the East Coast, said the constant relocation created a unique opportunity to observe educational inequity firsthand, both here and abroad.

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In Tokyo, I was trying to catch up with students at my expat school, she said. And then, a year later, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina, reading a textbook to another student in the 7th grade who didnt know how to read. So that spurred me to want to understand why there are these disparities.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What do you see as the purpose of your new position?

Theres a disconnect between the people who live and breathe this work and everyday community members. My entire career has been about breaking down these concepts and these ideas that really impact peoples lives into actionable steps that they can take to change their communities. Im excited to bring that kind of perspective to the math equity landscape.

What do you see as some of the biggest challenges that we as a nation face in moving kids forward in math?

A lot of times when you just say the word math, peoples minds shut off. They go quickly to, Oh, Im not a math person, or Math isnt relevant to me. They dont even want to talk about the ideas around why that might be. Maybe they didnt have access to math coursework that was relevant to their experience, that was culturally responsive. Did they have all the options for the coursework that would get them to the career or the path they wanted to have?

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Its been difficult, but its also been invigorating in many ways because it shows me the opportunities for me to add value. I can list why this is a racial and social justice issue. I can show what this means for the average high school student if they dont have access to math that speaks to them and how that sets them up for their future career.

Historically, what have we been doing wrong in terms of math instruction?

For many, many years, weve had this traditional math sequencing without fail, where you go from Algebra I all the way up to calculus  if youre able to. And that is still an extremely important pathway as calculus is kind of a soft requirement for highly selective colleges.

But we know some students want computer science or data science instead. These kinds of courses may be more relevant to what they want to do in college  and for their future careers.

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Were not saying do away with any certain model. Were saying, make sure students have as many options as possible in terms of math coursework they need to succeed. Its about adding more to the plate, giving students more resources.

What would you like to change about how mathematics is taught today?

First is the traditional sequence, the ending point of calculus for those students who want to go into STEM. We need more options there, additional pathways that can include data science and stats.

Then, once we get to the college admissions stage, we want to make sure colleges  including the more highly selective institutions  reflect this change. Because its not helpful if a high school can say, Oh, now our students can take data science to complete their graduation requirement, but the university those students want to attend does not factor that into the admissions process.

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Is Calculus Necessary? As Caltech Drops Requirement, Other Colleges Stay Course

And then, once students get to college, we want to make sure they have access to other coursework  just as they did in high school  that may be more relevant to their experience.

How will the Trump administrations plans for NAEP impact the information we collect regarding student achievement?

We are a nonpartisan 501(c)(3). But I will say we have been very intentional about the push for the continuation of data. Data such as the Nations Report Card provides us with an assessment of where our kids are.

Related

After Gutting Staff, Education Department Remains Quiet on Future of NAEP Test

How will the defunding of Head Start impact students later achievement in mathematics?

At Just Equations, we focus primarily on the high school to college pathway. But as a former Head Start teacher, I feel very passionately about the work that can be done to support students social-emotional, literacy and math needs at the early childhood education level.

Why is it important to solve this issue? To bring more students into mathematics?

For me, its informed by my family experience. My dad grew up in South Central Los Angeles and through a program called A Better Chance, he was able to attend a high- performing high school and then go on to Yale University. He had so many opportunities presented to him that he never would if it had not been for this.

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My dad always told me, Theres not a lack of talent, theres a lack of opportunity. And so thats what really fortifies me in this space to ensure that every student, that Black student, that Latinx student, has access to the coursework they need to go into a STEM career.

Related

Changing the Face of STEM  and Helping Black Students Aim for the Stars

So thats why I go back to it being a racial and social justice issue. We cant afford for people to tune out of the math conversation as we have these new digital technologies emerge, as we see more of our world go online, as we see misinformation and disinformation being used by online technologies to target communities of color.

Disclosure: The Gates Foundation provides financial support to Just Equations and to The 74.
Andrii Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, had a telephone call with US Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio on 13 May.

Source: press service of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During the conversation, Yermak confirmed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to attend negotiations in Turkiye and emphasised Kyivs commitment to securing an unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.

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Yermak also referred to US President Donald Trumps suggestion that he might attend the talks in Turkiye on Thursday, adding that the presence of the leaders of the United States, Ukraine and Russia could mark a significant step toward genuine negotiations to end the war.

Direct negotiations between representatives of Kyiv and Moscow are expected on Thursday 15 May.

Background:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, but if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin only agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdogan are prepared to travel there instead.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraines allies should prepare the strongest package of sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin leader fails to attend the Istanbul talks to agree on a ceasefire.

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Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has said that if Russian ruler Vladimir Putin refuses to hold talks in Turkiye, this will indicate that Russia does not want to end the war.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote from Yermak: "I believe that if Vladimir Putin refuses to come to Turkiye, it will be the final signal that Russia does not want to end this war, that Russia is neither willing nor ready for any negotiations."

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Details: Yermak added that as of now, the Russians had not given any response regarding Putin's participation in the talks in Turkiye. Meanwhile, Kyiv confirmed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready and will be in Turkiye.

Yermak reiterated that on 12 May, there was also a very strong and clear statement by US President Donald Trump that he expected both leaders to be present in Turkiye.

Yermak believes that if Russia refuses to negotiate, there should be a strong response from the US and the whole world. In particular, new sanctions against Russia and increased military aid to Ukraine.

He also added that work is continuing on the formation of security guarantees for Ukraine.

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"But the most serious and strongest guarantee is the powerful, well-prepared and trained Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are working on this together with our partners. We also expect that the mineral resources agreement with the US will become one of the elements of the future security guarantee system," Yermak said.

Background:

The day before, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed to Zelenskyy that he was ready to accept direct talks between Ukraine and Russia.

According to a Bloomberg report, European leaders are ready to wait until a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin in Turkiye before putting pressure on the US to announce new sanctions.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  The GOP cost-cutting bill has been unveiled in Washington, and billions in cuts are on the table for Medicaid.

I think if the cuts that we are seeing in this draft legislation go through, hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians will become uninsured, Emily Beauregard told FOX 56.

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It is shaping up to be the next big political fight in Washington, D.C., with high stakes for the Commonwealth; 31% of the state is enrolled in Medicaidthats about 1.3 million people.

The Congressional Budget Office said as many as 8.6 million people nationwide will lose coverage over the decade under the current proposal.

While it is expensive to cover, folks, its a lot more expensive for people to be uninsured, to have their health deteriorate, to not be able to work because theyre not healthy enough to work, Beauregard, executive director of the policy non-profit Kentucky Voices for Health, said.

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The plan, which currently includes work reporting requirements, she argues, will create more bureaucratic churn.

We know that 96% of Kentuckians, with Medicaid coverage, are working. Theyre caregivers, theyre students, theyre retired, or they have a disability or illness that keeps them from working, she said. Every time you submit this information, it has to be processed. If its not processed in time. You could have done everything right. You still lose your coverage. We see that happening in Kentucky today.

Beauregard said the most recent data shes seen from the state shows at least 6 thousand households a month have to redo paperwork, and in the gap of time before it gets fixed, they sometimes go uninsured. She also worries that fewer insured people could result in rising medical debt and put added strain on rural hospitals.

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You could see certain services being cut. You could see reimbursements being reduced. It could take many forms, she said.

President Donald Trump reportedly wants the bill delivered to his desk by July 4.

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Medicaid sign at U.S. Senate Democrats press conference on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)

A coalition representing more than 150 Michigan-based health care providers, advocates, educators and community organizations urged Michigans congressional delegation Tuesday to vote against Medicaid cuts proposed by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Protect MI Care Coalition  which includes the Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Health & Hospital Association and the Michigan League for Public Policy  sent a letter to all 13 of Michigans members of Congress outlining their deep opposition to a spending plan as proposed by House Republicans. The proposal would slash at least $880 billion over the next 10 years from the bill that covers energy and health care, including from Medicaid.

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These cuts would devastate Michigans health care system, put the lives and livelihoods of millions at risk, and reverse years of progress in improving health outcomes across our state, the letter said.

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The proposal unveiled on May 11 would strip health care coverage from up to 512,000 Michiganders through punitive work requirements, restrict support for nursing homes and hospitals, and drain billions in federal funding from our state, especially in rural and underserved communities that already face barriers to care. Medicaid is not a luxury. It is a lifeline, the coalition said.

Both U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) and U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which began debate on the budget plan Tuesday.

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Dingell, in her opening statement, noted 2.6 million people get their health insurance through Medicaid in Michigan, representing approximately one in four Michiganders, two in five children, three in five nursing home residents, and three in eight working age adults with disabilities.

To all my colleagues who say youre cutting waste and fraud, Medicaid is 22%, more cost-effective than any private insurance plan. We have to protectchildren and seniors and nursing homes and people with disabilities, and please dont say youre not going to hurt them, because many things in this bill are a backdoor way of doing so, Dingell said.

James, who did not offer an opening statement, has stated in the past that Republicans are working to protect Medicaid from insolvency to ensure those whove rightfully paid into their benefits & our most vulnerable can access these essential programs.

Just prior to the committee hearing Tuesday, estimates were released from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicating that as written, the GOP bill would result in 7.6 million people going uninsured, while 10.3 million people would lose coverage under Medicaids health safety net program, a collaboration between Medicaid and various federal grant programs that support healthcare providers.

Among the changes Republicans are proposing are new Medicaid work requirements for some adults, seeking to penalize the dozen states that allow immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status in the program, and requiring states to more frequently check Medicaid enrollees eligibility.
EAU CLAIRE  For the second time running appeals focused on Shane Helmbrechts competency to stand trial delayed his arraignment.

Helmbrecht, 53, Eau Claire, is charged with first degree intentional homicide for the 2016 death of his neighbor, Jenny Ward. His mental status has been questioned almost since the day of the killing, with numerous evaluations, rulings and appeals.

The case shifted significantly in 2023, when prosecutors brought the degree of latitude Hellmbrecht had in coming and going from the group home he lived at, as well as the fact he had obtained a drivers license, to the courts attention. They sought a new evaluation, and Helmbrecht took his mothers car and went to Mexico after the court scheduled his arraignment.

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While the court never said what the results of the evaluation were, but scheduling was a major indicator the judge had concluded Helmbrecht was competent to stand trial. He has remained in custody since his extradition from Mexico, and prosecutors have become increasingly critical of further requests for evaluations, calling them delay tactics.

Because Helmbrecht has not been arraigned, he has yet to enter a plea in the case.

Mondays hearing played out in much the same way as a March arraignment did, with attorneys pointing to its ongoing fight before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals as cause for further delay. The defense has appealed both the finding that Helmbrecht is competent and denial of a later request for another evaluation.

Prosecutors have until June to file a response to the defense requests, and the defense will have 11 additional days to file their reply.

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While both sides voiced support for the delay, they had different ideas about when the arraignment should be put back on the schedule. Prosecutors asked for a mid-July hearing. The defense wanted one in August.

The court set arraignment for July 28.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WFLA)  Jacksonville officers and a beachgoer saved three drowning children on Saturday at Huguenot Park.

Officers saw a beachgoer carrying a small boy and girl out of the water before hearing Help me! Help me! from a young boy caught in a rip current, JSO said.

Beach Patrol Officer Tyler Sweeney grabbed a buoy, stripped off his vest and gear, and dove into the water to find the boy who was calling for help.

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As Officer Sweeney was finding the boy in the water, Officer Billy Crocker tended to an unconscious 8-year-old girl, giving her CPR.

According to JSO, after giving the child a sternum rub, she began to show signs of recovery.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue arrived, started oxygen on the 8-year-old girl before transporting her to a local hospital.

Officer Sweeney located the boy in the water and brought him back on shore to safety.

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JSO said Officer Crocker followed up with the girl at the hospital on Sunday and confirmed she will be released soon.

The children were at the beach as part of a t-ball outing, officers later learned.

We cant stress water safety enough. Rip currents and rough surf are deadly. Adults and children need to be extra cautious, knowing their swimming abilities, and- if in doubt- stay out. We are grateful that all three children are okay today, knowing this could have easily ended in tragedy, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said in a post on Facebook.

Officer Crocker was recently honored as JSOs Police Officer of the month for his work solving a hit-and-run involving a 6-year-old, JSO said.

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By now, I'm sure you know there is a newly elected pope  Pope Leo XIV.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images

As the Catholic Church embraced Pope Leo, many eyes turned to the religion's followers to see how they feel about their new leader. And, seeing as Catholicism is largely a conservative practice, curiosity especially turned toward MAGA's response.

TIZIANA FABI / AFP via Getty Images

Well, American conservatives have been vocal in sharing their opinions via the r/conservative subreddit. Here's a raw, unedited, and candid recap of what they're saying:

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1."They say he's more conservative on the gospel, if that's true, it'll be a good thing I think. That said, time will tell."

"I liked the energy Pope Francis brought to young people, just disliked his open politics and more liberal view of the gospel. He did a lot of good outwardly and for the reputation of the church to general public. It is exciting to be in a new era though. The only thing I didn't like is he didn't speak in English during the inauguration. Would have been a neat thing to see with him being the first American Pope."

Markinoutman

2."Assuming I have the right X account, he reposted a tweet recently which was anti-Trump in regard to immigration policy. I am Catholic, I generally liked Pope Francis (and likely this new Pope) but disagree with them on their immigration statements."

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"Catholic Doctrine is essentially this: Nations have a moral duty to regulate immigration for the sake of order and security, but they must also treat migrants justly and humanely, especially those fleeing real danger. To the new Pope Id say: We are one of the most charitable nations in the world, but the President has a duty to enforce laws. We have treated removal humanely and illegal immigrants not following our laws does far more harm than good."

RotoDog

Related: Justin Trudeau's Shady Comment Toward Donald Trump Is Going Super Viral

3."Im honestly exhausted by people who only view the Pope through a political lens. The papacy isnt a partisan office."

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"The Pope isnt some figurehead to be cheered or attacked based on party lines. Hes the Vicar of Christ, not a political operative. Reducing him to a cheap politician misses the entire point of his role and calling."

jshauns

4."The papacy has always had political influence."

"Caring for the poor is at odds with government decisions sometimes. Thats just how the world is. Reality often gets in the way of perfection."

WillGibsFan

5."Curious to see his profile, he seems generally a bit more centrist than Pope Francis but obv still a pope."

"The name choice is interesting for both old and recent Leone, one stopped Attila and the other attempted to theologically confront communism if memory serves me well."

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Related: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It "One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President"

6."Guys, as a Catholic, I can tell you hes left leaning."

"You will probably see the same stuff as Francis, even if its only the media lying about what hes actually saying."

AnOriginalUsername07

TIZIANA FABI / AFP via Getty Images

7."The Catholic faith transcends modern political divides."

"Most core teachings have been preserved and descended from Christ himself, so to say there's liberals and conservatives is a gross overstatement."

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CapitalismWorship

8."Hes an Augustinian."

"I dont think hes going to make classical liberals very happy. I could be wrong."

 BlahZay19

9."Reading his Wikipedia page, he's pro-climate change."

"I don't see him being any sort of a game changer and just maintain the status quo."

 Squeezer999

10.Randomly, there was this comment:

"Emperor Trump is upon us :3"

Choco_Cat777

11.And finally:

"I suppose we will wait and see (and pray)."

AnOriginalUsername07

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Also in In the News: "We Went From 'Lower The Price Of Eggs' To 'Lower Your Standard Of Living'": 39 Of The Best, Most Brutal, And Very Relatable Political Tweets Of The Month

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Also in In the News: "We Don't Import Food": 31 Americans Who Are Just So, So Confused About Tariffs And US Trade

Also in In the News: People Who Voted For Trump Are Getting Very Honest About Donald Trump's Latest Truth Social Post
MACOMB, Okla. (KFOR)  Two men in Oklahoma are being praised as heroic by law enforcement after rushing into a fiery crash last week, saving lives.

The crash happened May 9 along a rural road in Macomb. Witnesses told Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office deputies that a driver hit a tree along the road going at least 60 mph. The truck snapped the tree in two, collapsing on part of the vehicle and causing enough damage to eventually spark a blaze.

I saw the tree rock and I felt like the impact from the bang, said eyewitness Stacey Murray, who was on the porch of his nearby home when the crash happened.

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After yelling at his loved ones to call 911, Murray sprinted over to the truck to see if the occupants inside were okay. Murray said he noticed there were two men in the vehicle.

It was kind of  heart pounding, said Murray. You had to do something.

Murray said he received assistance from other family members, including Chad Humphrey, who told Nexstars KFOR he didnt even realize initially how close the crash was to their home. Humphrey said he remembered Murray screaming for help, and the family having to use two household fire extinguishers to keep the flames at bay so they could act.

We were all filling up with water: Man out of thousands after using pump with bad gas

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Murray said a passenger in the vehicle fell out of it when he opened their door, and he had to drag him away. Humphrey said it was harder to get the driver out.

He was trying to get out of the drivers side door, but he couldnt open it because it was barred by the tree, said Humphrey. I grabbed him. He was still incoherent.

Neither man said they were thinking about their own safety during the ordeal, although they said they could certainly feel the intensity of the heat. After they got both men a safe distance away, they said they watched the fire like a bonfire. Several smaller explosions followed and all of the tires on the truck popped according to the witnesses.

Humphrey became visibly upset when asked directly if he even thought about the potential risk to his own life, and concluded his interview after only three minutes.

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The Pottawatomie County Sheriffs office has praised both mens heroic behavior in a social media post.

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Chad and Stacey for their heroic actions, the May 9 post read. Without their swift intervention, the occupant of this vehicle would not have survived.

KFOR asked both men if they thought they could have waited for authorities to show up to act. They said seeing the aftermath is proof that wouldnt have helped.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and the Pottawatomie County Sheriffs office has not shared any updates on the condition of the individuals involved in it.

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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 Queen City News.
MACOMB, Okla. (KFOR)  Two men in Pottawatomie County are having their actions praised as heroic by law enforcement after rushing into a fiery crash last week, saving lives.

The crash happened May 9 along a rural road in Macomb. Witnesses told Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office deputies that a driver hit a tree along the road going at least 60 mph. The truck snapped the tree in two, collapsing on part of the vehicle and causing enough damage to eventually spark a blaze.

I saw the tree rock and I felt like the impact from the bang, said eyewitness Stacey Murray, who was on the porch of his nearby home when the crash happened.

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Murray said, after yelling at his loved ones to call 911, he sprinted over to the truck to see if the occupants inside were okay. Murray said he noticed there were two men in the vehicle.

It was kind of like heart pounding, said Murray. You had to do something.

Murray said he received assistance from other family members, including Chad Humphrey, who told News 4 he didnt even realize initially how close the crash was to their home. Humphrey said he remembered Murray screaming for help, and the family having to use two household fire extinguishers to keep the flames at bay so they could act.

We were all filling up with water: Man out of thousands after using pump with bad gas

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Murray said a passenger in the vehicle fell out of it when he opened their door, and he had to drag him away. Humphrey said it was harder to get the driver out.

He was trying to get out of the drivers side door, but he couldnt open it because it was barred by the tree, said Humphrey. I grabbed him. He was still incoherent.

Neither man said they were thinking about their own safety during the ordeal, although they said they could certainly feel the intensity of the heat. After they got both men a safe distance away, they said they watched the fire like a bonfire. Several smaller explosions followed and all of the tires on the truck popped according to the witnesses.

Humphrey became visibly upset when asked directly if he even thought about the potential risk to his own life, and concluded his interview only three minutes into asking questions.

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The Pottawatomie County Sheriffs office has praised both mens heroic behavior in a social media post.

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Chad and Stacey for their heroic actions, the May 9 post read. Without their swift intervention, the occupant of this vehicle would not have survived.

News 4 asked both men if they thought they could have waited for authorities to show up to act. They said seeing the aftermath is proof that wouldnt have helped.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and the Pottawatomie County Sheriffs office has not shared any updates on the condition individuals involved in it.

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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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Hey Siri.

Am I eligible to receive part of the $95 million settlement reached after a class-action lawsuit accused you of spying on users?

While you wait on Siri's response, anyone who's owned an Apple device since 2014 may be eligible to receive part of the settlement.

Here are the details.

Am I eligible for part of the Siri settlement?

While the eligibility requirements are broad, they are open to anyone who has owned or purchased a Siri-enabled device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024, and who live in the United States or its territories.

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Be aware that to opt in, you will swear under oath you experienced an unintended Siri activation while having a private conversation.

What is considered a 'Siri-enabled device'?

Siri-enabled devices include:

iPhones

iPads

Apple Watches

MacBooks

iMacs

Apple TV streaming boxes

HomePod speakers

iPod Touches

How can I submit a claim in the Siri class-action lawsuit?

The Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement website allows Apple customers to claim a portion of the settlement.

Some users received an email or postcard with a claim identification code and confirmation code that can be used to make the claim. If not, you can still submit a claim online.

 Submit a claim form online

Is there a deadline to submit a claim?

Yes, the deadline is July 2.

How much money can I expect from the Siri lawsuit?

Payments for each device are capped at $20 and you can claim up to five devices.

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The amount may be less, depending on the total number of claims submitted.

When will payments be sent?

It is unclear when payments will be sent out, but more clarification is expected after the court holds a final approval hearing Aug. 1 to decide whether to approve the settlement.

If appeals are filed, that may delay payments.

Lopez v Apple: Lawsuit alleges private conversations were being recorded

The lawsuit, Lopez v. Apple, was filed in a California federal court in 2021 by users who alleged their private conversations were being recorded by their Apple devices after unintentionally activating Siri.

Users in the class-action lawsuit claimed their Apple devices were recording them without their consent and sending their information to advertisers who used it to target them with online ads.

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At the time, Apple said only a small portion of data was shared to help improve Siri and dictation.

Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and that the company did anything improper or unlawful, according to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.

The court did not decide in favor of either the plaintiffs or Apple; both sides agreed to a settlement, court documents said.

The lawsuit's FAQ page said a court hearing to approve the settlement is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1. If the settlement amount is approved, those who claimed devices will be sent their part.

What is Siri?

Siri is a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence that is built into all Apple devices. Apple described Siri as a "private digital assistant" that learns what you need.

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It's capabilities range from answering questions and sending messages to telling you where you parked and recommending restaurants.

"The more you use Siri, the better it knows what you need. You can also tell Siri about yourself and change how and when Siri responds. Siri is designed to protect your information, and you can choose what you share," Apple said on its website.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Apple settlement over Siri eavesdropping: How file a claim
Shannon Hampson stood in the shade of the state Capitol on Monday morning as a 15-month-old girl gripped onto the early childhood educator T-shirt she wore while other children ran across the lawn and sipped on juice boxes.

For nearly 20 years, Hampson has had a rich passion for child care. Its not only been a paycheck and a way of life, but something the owner of Wild Child Daycare in Lincoln cares about deeply.

And its something she hopes to protect, not just for the sake of her own in-home center, but for providers throughout Nebraska and the nation, leading Hampson to advocate for an industry she feels is crucial to raising successful children and building strong communities.

We want (Nebraskans) to know that we're here and that child care providers are important in communities across the state, Hampson said. A lot of times we're overlooked, but we are actually supporting two different generations. We're supporting the young children that are growing up to become the workforce, and we're supporting the workforce that is in the workforce right now.

Hampson, alongside dozens of child care providers across the state, joined together Monday to participate in the nationwide A Day Without Child Care movement, advocating for additional support and shining a light on a vital but struggling industry.

The demonstration was organized by the national advocacy group Community Change Action, which asked child care providers, parents and families across the country to shut their doors, call out sick or close early for the day.

Providers in Nebraska opted to forgo closing Monday and instead focused on campaigning for additional support from elected state officials and spreading awareness throughout their communities.

As part of the awareness effort, providers, parents and children gathered at the Capitol to meet with senators and advocate for more support amid an ongoing nationwide child care crisis, which has shuttered centers doors, increased costs, lowered staff ranks and caused lengthy waitlists across the country.

Affordable, accessible child care is so critical to the economic development and well-being of our city and our state in its entirety. We have an affordable child care shortage. We don't have enough facilities, we don't have enough staff, we don't have enough well-paid staff, said state Sen. Jan Raybould of Lincoln as she ate lunch on the lawn with children from Hampsons center. It's a struggle for day care facilities to be able to even make it, and what they provide is so essential.

In Lincoln alone, at least five child care centers have closed their doors since November 2023, including several longtime centers that had been serving the community for decades.

But that trend appears to finally be showing a positive shift, according to Suzanne Schneider, the associate director of the nonprofit Lincoln Littles. So far in 2025, no centers have shut down and two have actually opened, with a third expected to open soon.

Staffing, stability and quality are all on an upward swing, too.

Weve hit a plateau and were starting to see things trending upwards, Schneider said. Were no longer moving downhill.

While the rate of closures has slowed, providers and families continue to see the negative local impacts of the child care crisis, especially in terms of tuition prices.

The cost of child care in Lincoln has increased significantly since 2019, jumping from an average of about $8,600 a year for in-center care to $11,300 a year in 2023, according to a report released by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center earlier this year.

Providers have faced a lose-lose battle for years, working to raise staff salaries to keep quality teachers, while simultaneously trying to avoid increasing tuition costs to remain affordable for families.

For Robin Roberts, the owner of Robins Nest Child Care and Preschool in southeast Lincoln, this constant fight has proved to be strenuous on her business, which is why she joined advocates on the Capitol lawn Monday.

I still scrape by every single month, still live check to check, she said.

Val Hyde, the community coordinator for Communities for Kids in Lincoln County, drove from North Platte on Monday morning to show support for providers in the western, more rural parts of the state.

As North Platte continues to expand and diversify, Hyde said theyre working to place child care at the forefront of that growth to attract employees to the area through prioritizing affordable, quality child care.

The workforce doesn't happen without child care. You can't have one without the other, Hyde said. It goes hand in hand.
The Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reversed the firings of more than 100 federal employees with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the federal institute that helps protect coal miners from black lung, according to Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.

Roughly 200 employees of the NIOSH office in Morgantown, West Virginia, were put on administrative leave in April and informed they would be formally fired in June. Some were temporarily brought back roughly two weeks ago, but until Tuesday they were told they would still be terminated next month.

In a letter sent Tuesday, a copy of which was obtained by ABC News, HHS said, "You previously received a notice regarding the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) upcoming reduction in force (RIF). That notice is hereby revoked. You will not be affected by the upcoming RIF."

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MORE: 'I want to live': Coal miners speak out as Trump strips away health protections

The move comes after public pressure from Capito, and follows a series of ABC News reports detailing the impact the firings would have on black lung health care programs for coal miners.

Capito, announcing the reversals on X, said, "The heath and safety of our WV workers, including our miners, is of the utmost important and I will always advocate for their wellbeing."

Critics said the initial firings, part of President Donald Trump's efforts to slash the size of the federal government, belied his vow to reinvigorate America's coal industry.

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NIOSH has offices in several other states covering a range of issues from vehicle safety to firefighter health care. It's unclear if any employees in those offices were also rehired.

PHOTO: In this July 21, 2007, file photo, the US Department of Health and Human Services building is shown in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images, FILE)

ABC News reached out to HHS for comment.

The announcement came just hours before a federal judge ordered HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to temporarily halt its dismissal of NIOSH officials who oversee the black lung surveillance program.

"Losing the services of these experienced and dedicated employees is an aspect of the irreparable harm to the miners and the public that cannot and should not be ignored," U.S. District Judge Irene Berger wrote in her order Tuesday.

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It was not immediately clear whether the ruling had anything to do with the Trump administration's decision to reinstate the workers earlier Tuesday.

Judge Berger's ruling came after a veteran coal miner named Henry Wiley, in April, challenged the Trump administration's removal of the NIOSH employees, arguing that terminations endangered him and other miners.

The judge wrote Tuesday that Wiley and a handful of NIOSH officials who testified in a hearing last week persuaded her of the importance of NIOSH's health screening program and a waiver called Part 90, which allows miners with early-stage black lung disease to transfer to roles out of the mines.

MORE: How Trump's executive order on coal could impact energy use in the US

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If the NIOSH dismissals were allowed to go forward, Berger wrote, "thousands of miners will go without screening for black lung, and those with black lung will be deprived of access to the Part 90 transfer option."

Berger referenced Kennedy directly, writing, "Does the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services genuinely believe that a miner diagnosed with black lung is not being injured when the program designed to confirm his condition and provide him with workplace protections to prevent its progression is rendered inaccessible? This court does not share such a belief."

Berger ordered the Trump administration to grant "full restoration of the NIOSH Respiratory Health Division, rescission of the [reduction in force letters], and compelling continued health surveillance" through the health surveillance program and Part 90.

She gave Kennedy three weeks to report in writing when the court's orders have been satisfied.

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In a statement to ABC News, plaintiffs attorney Sam Petsonk said, "This opinion gives life to our foundational principles of judicial review, empowering ordinary citizens like these coal miners to defend their rights."

"We're glad to see the Administration already taking some initial steps in the direction of complying with the order. America's coal miners deserve nothing less, and in fact they deserve a heck of a lot more," Petsonk said.

An HHS spokesperson told ABC News that Kennedy has been working hard to maintain NIOSH's critical functions as HHS streamlines its operations, and that the Trump administration is committed to supporting coal miners and firefighters.

HHS reverses NIOSH firings that stripped coal miners' health protections originally appeared on abcnews.go.com






Davis High School student Averiee Osmundson, 18, died in a traffic collision near U.S. Highway 77 in Oklahoma, almost a week before her graduation

In a statement, her cousin said that she was planning to attend Oklahoma State University on a scholarship

She could always just put a smile on everybody's face, said Osmundsons aunt















A high school student who was about to graduate in a few days was killed in a single-vehicle collision in Oklahoma last weekend.

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In an incident report obtained by PEOPLE, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) stated that the crash occurred on Saturday, May 10, on Foothill Road about 0.4 miles west of U.S. Highway 77, which is approximately 3 miles north of Springer.

The OHP report said that a 2005 Lexus RX330 driven by Averiee Osmundson, 18, was traveling eastbound on Foothill Road. The vehicle departed the roadway to the left when it overcorrected reentering the roadway before overturning an unknown amount of times.

The Lexus was ejected approximately 78 feet from where the vehicle came to rest, continued the report.

Osmundson, who hailed from Springer, was pronounced dead at the scene following injuries sustained in the crash, according to authorities. Her body was taken to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiners Office.

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The OHP report also noted that a seatbelt was not in use at the time. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Kegan Muth, Osmundsons cousin, paid tribute to her in a statement shared with KOKH.

She was more than an 18-year-old graduating high school; she was a beautiful, young, talented girl, Muths statement read in part. She knew just the right words to say and when to say them. She had a scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University, which she couldnt wait to attend, even if her bubs said to rethink it.

She wanted to be a pediatrician, the statement continued. All she ever wanted was to help the ones who needed the help. She always made everyone smile and happy. She didnt see life like everyone else. She saw the bright light in the pitch black dark.

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Osmundson was a senior at Davis High School and was scheduled to graduate on Friday, May 16, per CBS affiliate KOTV.

Davis Public Schools acknowledged Osmundsons death in a letter shared on Facebook Sunday, May 11.

This devastating loss will be deeply felt throughout our entire school community, especially among the Senior Class of 2025, read the letter in part.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to Averiees family, friends, and our entire school community, the letter added. Please continue to keep her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.

Cassie Muth, Osmundsons aunt, told KOTV that the family has been shattered by what happened.

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She was only two miles from her house," said Muth.

Muth remembered her niece for having an amazing heart.

She could always just put a smile on everybody's face. She was very adventurous, very outgoing, Muth said.

Honestly, Im still in disbelief that she's been taken from us at such a young age with so much potential and a lot still ahead of her, she said, per KOTV.



Read the original article on People
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, a Republican, competes for a fourth term as mayor of the state's largest city against Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr., a Democrat, in the officially nonpartisan race. (Photos courtesy of Jean Stothert for Omaha and John Ewing for Mayor | Omaha-Douglas City-County Building photo by Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  Voters in Nebraskas largest city, those who havent cast early ballots, hit the polls Tuesday to decide what kind of history the city should make, a fourth term for Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert or a first for Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr.

Stothert started the five-way race this spring as a heavy favorite facing historical vulnerabilities common to Omaha mayors who seek to stay in office a long time. Some local political observers have worried she set herself up to learn the Hal Daub lesson.

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Like Daub, Stothert has ruffled feathers among some in Omaha by unapologetically pressing her vision for the city, sometimes at odds with voters and donors. Daub faced pushback from voters and donors tired of his controversies and cantankerousness.

Voter fatigue vs. Name ID

Political scientists, consultants and politicians have said Stotherts biggest challenges may be voter fatigue with a three-term mayor, unrest about the economy under President Donald Trump and the lack of a clearly articulated plan for a fourth term.

Stotherts GOP defenders say she easily advanced in an April primary with former State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a fellow Republican. But he softened Stothert with relentless criticism of her support of the citys streetcar project and poor street quality. Ewing, too, hammered her on streets and potholes.

Ewing, a Democrat with a long history on local ballots as county treasurer, largely let them fight. He lost a close 2nd Congressional District race in 2012 with then-U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., in which he stressed competence and steadiness.

Stothert record

The mayor, a Republican running in the officially nonpartisan race, has argued that her record speaks for itself, that downtown Omaha, because of city partnerships with private donors and her work with businesses like Mutual of Omaha, is rebuilding stronger after the damage to the commercial real estate market from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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She has argued that the city is safer because of the way she has worked with Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to pay police officers more and grow the budgeted number of officers the city can hire and help curb violence.

But McDonnell, a former Omaha fire chief, and Ewing, a former Omaha police officer, argued Stothert hasnt done enough to help the city recruit and fill those new officer positions and, because of that, the city has neglected property and nuisance crimes.

Ewings pitch

Ewing would be the first Democrat to lead the city since former Mayor Jim Suttle, who helped revive the citys finances with moves that upset some City Council conservatives, including implementing a restaurant tax that Stothert opposed and eventually accepted and has let stand as mayor.

If he beats Stothert, Ewing also would be the citys first Black mayor, clearing a hurdle that former State Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha came closest to in 1997, losing narrowly to Daub. The Ewing campaign has pointed to Ewings record as a treasurer and as a high-ranking police officer. He was first elected treasurer in 2006.

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Ewing and his campaign have said he is ready for the job and that he would focus the city more on the basics of providing city services, emphasizing improving streets, working with police and neighborhood groups to address crime, helping all of the city grow and boosting affordable housing.

Late attacks

Stotherts camp has criticized miscalculations by his treasurers office in 2021 of how much to pay local school districts and governments based on funds from the Omaha Public Power District. A state audit found that the mistake, a calculation that began decades before Ewing took office, led to incorrect payments to some local school districts and governments.

Late in the race, in an effort to overcome what looks like an advantage in energy and enthusiasm from local Democrats, some Stothert supporters have sought to force Ewing to discuss transgender rights, which has helped Republicans nationally.

Ewing has argued that the move is a political distraction irrelevant to the job as mayor. Stothert, a former grand marshal of Omahas pride parade, has defended the ads as fair game given his party if Ewing and his supporters can lump her in with Trump, whom she has publicly supported.

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Omahas election runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early ballots can be turned in until polls close. Early ballots turned in by the close of business Monday will be counted on Election Day. Early ballots returned Tuesday will be opened and counted on Friday.

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Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed 35 bills on May 12, including a GOP-backed measure that would force every level of government in the Grand Canyon State to assist in President Donald Trumps mass deportations.

The slew of vetoes Monday brings her total for the year to 124. Thats already 50 more than the 73 bills she vetoed in all of 2024, and Hobbs is swiftly closing in on the record 143 measures she rejected in 2023.

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When I assumed the role of Governor, I pledged to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the Arizona Constitution, as did each of you, Hobbs wrote in her veto letter for Senate Bill 1088, using language shes used in vetoes of two other Republican immigration measures. Arizonans, not Washington, D.C. politicians, must decide whats best for Arizona.

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Hobbs went on to tout her working relationship with the federal government on border security, which she said has resulted in stopping fentanyl at ports of entry along the southern border, disrupting cartel operations in the state and keeping communities safe.

The bill she vetoed, SB1088, would have forced every level of government in Arizona  from the state down to cities and towns  and all of their contractors to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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The measure would have allowed any legislator to force the attorney general to investigate any governmental entity the lawmaker thought was violating the law, and it would have given every Arizonan the ability to go to court to demand a judge order a government to comply.

But the requirement that Arizona governments do what the federal government wants would only exist while Trump is president: It was designed to self-repeal at the end of 2028, just weeks before the next president takes office in January 2029.

Hobbs panned the proposal as a move focused more on performance than actually doing anything to make Arizonans safer.

I will continue to work with the federal government on true border security, but we should not force state officials to take marching orders from Washington, DC, she added. My focus will always be on delivering real results for Arizonans.

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Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Republican from Queen Creek and the sponsor of SB1088, accused Hobbs of being a radical leftist who supports open border policies.

There is no logical justification for Hobbs veto on this reasonable bill that helps align local and federal government officials with their critical law enforcement duties, but she remains committed to her radical ideology of open borders and appeasement for cartels, he said in a written statement.

While she has said she is willing to work with Trump on border security matters, Hobbs has consistently rejected Republican legislation that would force Arizona governments to act as extensions of Trumps immigration enforcement agencies.

Earlier this month, Hobbs vetoed a similar bill that would have required all levels of government in Arizona to enforce, administer and cooperate with Trumps mass deportation efforts  but only until Trumps final day in office. That bill also would have forced the governor and AG to do the same.

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And the governor has rejected the Arizona ICE Act, which would have opened the doors of schools to ICE agents and mandated that every law enforcement agency comply when ICE asks them to hold onto a prisoner, as well as a different bill to require county jails to share personal information on all inmates with ICE.

Here are all of the bills Hobbs vetoed on May 12:

SB1002, pronouns; biological sex; school policies

SB1003, public schools; restrooms; reasonable accommodations

SB1014, prohibited weapons; muffling device; repeal

SB1020, disruption; educational institution; concealed weapon

SB1024, state agencies; payments; cryptocurrency

SB1052, voter registration; temporary absence

SB1064, voting; equipment; internet; custody; violation

SB1088, government; compliance; immigration; deportation

SB1091, school districts; bonds; overrides; ballots

SB1094, business; discrimination prohibition; social criteria

SB1095, central bank digital currency; ban

SB1098, early ballot drop off; identification

SB1116, groundwater model; receipt; written findings

SB1143, firearms transactions; merchant codes; prohibition

SB1268, hospitals; patient immigration status; reporting

SB1310, false documents; recording; violations

SB1322, state broadband office; transfer; ADOA

SB1373, digital assets strategic reserve fund

SB1435, attorney discipline investigations; costs

SB1463, initiatives; existing laws; impact statement

SB1518, subsequent AMAs; groundwater portability

SB1536, cities and towns; primary elections

SB1586, gender transition procedures; provider liability

SB1591, concealed weapons permits; fees

SB1725, fentanyl; nine grams

HB2067, governing boards; records; access

HB2092, land divisions; disclosure affidavit; recording

HB2221, law enforcement; defunding; prohibition

HB2222, settlement agreements; report; approval

HB2233, corporation commission; lobbying; prohibition

HB2256, domestic proceedings; therapeutic intervention; prohibition

HB2274, water improvement district; Willcox basin

HB2517, written request; property locators

HB2570, temporary non-expansion area

HB2671, DCS; kinship care placement; requirement

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HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  It was after dawn on Saturday when the tornado tore through Holmes County, carving a destructive path through multiple areas, including Noma, Bethlehem, Esto, and Winterville.

Emergency crews responded immediately, assessing damage, clearing roadways, and restoring power.

The governor declared a state of emergency, activating the Florida State Guard to help with recovery efforts.

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The local state of emergency is something we do in the state of emergency that the governor signs allows us to go on private property and help citizens clean up their property and get trees off their house and get debris moved to the right way, Holmes County Sheriff John Tate said.

State resources are mobilizing, but the people of Holmes County are writing the real story.

State of emergency to be issued in Holmes County

Neighbors helping neighbors, strangers offering meals, and volunteers stepping up to serve.

Within 30 minutes, we could hear machinery going, and people were trying to cut their way down the highway to our road. There were a lot of people here helping. I still dont even know who all of them were. It was family, friends, churches, neighbors all helping each other. And, you know, got a lot of our damage, impacted resident Leesa Lee said.

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There were 2,500 people without power on Sunday. As of noon Monday, authorities said power had been restored to all but about 100 customers.

Tate said the goal is to get power to everyone by Monday night or Tuesday. As of Monday, all the roadways are clear.

They were all across the road, volunteers everywhere getting trees out the road. And it was just a community effort everywhere you looked, County Commissioner District 4 Earl Stafford said.

Those impacted say the outpouring of help has brought them hope in a time of heartbreak.

Holmes District Schools excuse absences for students impacted by storm damage

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So when I got here, I was kind of devastated seeing the home I grew up in with the roof partially torn off. And but again, as devastated as I felt, my heart filled immediately once I saw everybody out here helping, impacted resident Zach Lee said.

Volunteers say that they plan to help until there is no longer a need.

We knew people would be hungry. And we got a lot of workers out here working. And we just wanted to do our part to help the community, and this community really pulls together when something like this happens, Doctors Memorial Hospital CEO Rohan Anderson said.

Those with damages, who are in-need of help, can call the Holmes County Sheriffs office at 850-547-3681.

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HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Mayor Joshua Garcia gave his fourth annual State of the City address at the Holyoke City Council meeting.

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia addressed the city council Tuesday night, laying out his vision for Holyokes future in his State of the City speech, while unveiling his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

Healey administration awards grant funds to train thousands of workers across Mass.

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Garcia touted signs of the citys economic health, highlighting transformative infrastructure investments from road and sidewalk upgrades to modernizing city buildings.

The state of our city is strong, and Im going to propose some ways that we together can make it stronger, said Mayor Garcia.

Mayor Garcia presented two versions of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, one that maintains current operations, while the other includes his bold proposal, the Municipal Finance Modernization Act. The plan would create a Chief Financial Administrative Officer, a position recommended by the state. The Mayor says these reforms would make the city more efficient and save over $100,000 by 2027.

Its going to reorganize city departments, change important job titles, and rectify issues with auditing that have plagued Holyoke for decades, said Mayor Garcia.

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Mayor Garcia also praised the financial practices of the police department under new leadership, including a 47 percent cut to the overtime budget. It was the major milestone in the citys public education that was most celebrated during Mayor Garcias speech as Holyoke schools exit a nearly decade-long receivership from the state and receive funding for a new middle school.

Mayor Garcia ended his address with a message of hope, urging Holyoke residents to look towards a better tomorrow for the city.

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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.

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COURTESY PHOTOS A city ambulance responding to a 911 call this morning is out of commission after a head-on crash with another vehicle.

COURTESY PHOTOS A city ambulance responding to a 911 call this morning is out of commission after a head-on crash with another vehicle.

A city ambulance responding to a 911 call this morning was hit head-on by another vehicle on Waialua Beach Road on Oahus North Shore, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.

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EMS officials said just before 9 a.m., the ambulance was headed to the call, with lights and sirens on, when it was struck head-on by a sedan.

The car driver, an 83-year-old man, allegedly attempted to pass another vehicle and crossed a double-solid line before crashing into the ambulance, EMS officials said.

Paramedics treated the man who declined transport to the hospital. A 50-year-old paramedic in the ambulance sustained minor injuries and also declined transport, EMS said.

A second EMS unit was dispatched to handle the original emergency call.

The damaged EMS vehicle is now out of service and will be replaced by.

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Honolulu EMS urges drivers to yield to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens,  EMS officials said in a statement.

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Woodway, TX (FOX 44)  National Police Week serves as a time to reflect on the bravery of those who protect our community and have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Police Week also highlights the challenges officers face like a 57-year life expectancy due to stress, says Woodway Public Safety Department Chief Khalil El Halabi.

The average officer has their first heart attack at 49 years old, El Halabi said. Where 45 percent of our heart attacks occur under the age of 45. I believe 147 deaths occurred, fatalities, last year. Which is a 25 percent increase from the year before, from 2023.

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Khalil has been in law enforcement for 17 years, and has lost a good friend in the line of duty.

Chief Allen was a friend of mine, El Halabi said. He was the Marlin Chief, and he passed away over a decade ago. That one was difficult. He was an honorable man and he was feloniously killed.

Even school police departments celebrate National Police Week  like Jeffrey Foley, the Midway Independent School District Chief of Police.

Remembering officers who have put every single thing that they have on the line and ultimately didnt make it home, Foley said. So remembering why were here and what were doing to protect our communities, I think its important. Its critical to kind of keep us going.

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Foley had once worked with one of the five DART officers killed in Dallas.

That one hit me pretty good because its getting closer to home, and it was people that I knew, Foley expressed. So it hits you and it makes you realize and re-evaluate how you do your job every day, and what steps you need to take to protect yourself.

The legacy of the fallen lives on in the communities they safeguarded, and in the hearts of those they loved.

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On a sweltering hot day about eight years ago, Samia Moreland was working the front desk of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Childrens Center when a strange man wandered through the unlocked front doors.

Immediately, Morelands senses heightened. He was alone, sweaty and his clothes were extremely dirty. On his shoulders was a backpack.

She didnt know what to do or say to the man  she only knew that she needed to do everything she could not only to remain calm, but protect the dozens of children and staff in various classrooms throughout the center.

Is this a school? he asked her.

She replied that it was, attempting to mask the mounting fear rising inside her.

While the man asked for a drink of water and apologized for his dirty clothes, he also made a number of concerning statements.

Moreland was in shock, her mind racing. How could she possibly get this man to leave without causing a scene, or worse, prompting him to harm her or the students and staff? One wrong move and the situation could escalate.

Moreland, who was the assistant director of the center at the time, followed her instinct to convince the man to leave the facility as swiftly as possible. She offered him her bottle of water, and, luckily, he left. She quickly locked all the doors and called the police, who apprehended him moments later.

While a crisis had been averted, the incident opened Moreland's eyes and convinced her a change that needed to be made. The center simply wasnt as safe as it should be.

We need to do more, she thought at the time. We need to train more, we need to be more knowledgeable, and we need to make sure that our families are aware that we are doing what it takes to ensure safety in our facilities.

Moreland, now the current interim director of the center, found that change in Standard Response Protocol, a nationally renowned security system used in school districts across the country.

Now, she is part of a group working to share her passion for school safety by helping child care centers throughout Lincoln implement the protocol to keep the citys youngest residents safe.

Standard Response Protocol was created by the I Love U Guys Foundation, which was founded by two parents in 2006 after their daughter died in a school shooting, to help school districts across the nation utilize uniform, planned and practiced responses to a variety of emergency situations with a common vocabulary.

The protocol defines five actions  hold, secure, lockdown, shelter and evacuate  to make security in school districts clear, concise and easy to understand.

Hold is used to keep students in classrooms and hallways clear. Secure indicates staff and students should stay inside and lock outside doors, while lockdown means to lock doors and stay quiet and out of sight. Evacuate is used to move students and staff to a safe place, and shelter is used during weather emergencies, like tornado warnings.

If the UNL Childrens Center had Standard Response Protocol in place at the time of the 2017 incident, Moreland said she would have been better equipped to not only handle the situation herself but ensure staff knew the proper protocol so they could protect the students as best as they could.

In the years since, the child care center located near UNLs City Campus has teamed up with Lincoln Public Schools, the nonprofit Lincoln Littles and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department to help other child care centers in Lincoln implement protocol and train staff by offering free, quarterly training sessions.

When it comes to emergencies and disasters, the time to prepare has already passed, she said. The likelihood of something happening in our own building is very slim, but if we don't prepare for it now, then if it does happen, we're not going to be OK. We're not going to be safe.

LPS has been utilizing the protocol since 2014 and has reaped the benefits many times, said Kyle Poore, the district's security coordinator.

Most recently, in January, McPhee Elementary School was placed in lockdown for 16 minutes after a man armed with a knife tried to break into the school by smashing glass windows inside the school's secure entrance.

Because staff had been trained extensively on the protocol, all students and staff were safe and unharmed, and the man was arrested as he entered the school, district officials said at the time.

But the protocol does more than just protect schools and child care centers in the case of an intruder. Facilities can also use the system for a variety of emergencies, including inclement weather, a fire or nearby police activity.

When tornadoes struck eastern Nebraska in April, the UNL Childrens Center went into shelter mode, Moreland said. And, several weeks ago, the center went into a hold during a medical emergency.

The protocol also helps the Lincoln Police Department communicate with child care centers and schools when police activity is occurring nearby. In those situations, facilities are able to go into a hold to keep all students inside and away from any potential danger.

Keeping kids safe should be at the top of the list. And it's hard to do if you don't know that there's a dangerous situation, said Suzanne Schneider, assistant director of Lincoln Littles.

The nonprofit organization offers regular training sessions on a variety of topics for directors of local child care centers, ranging from how to train staff on the protocol to creating simulations and discussing how to respond.

The trainings, which are completely free to those who attend, also often include local first responders who help walk attendees through what to do in case of an emergency, according to Poore.

I think it just shows the community support that we have. I mean, when we have our training, the fire marshal is there, Lincoln police are there, emergency management is there, he said. It just really reiterates to the community, to the centers, that we are a community, and we are all here to do the same thing, which is to help keep your staff and your students safe.

The next training is April 3 from 1-3 p.m. at the Lancaster County Extension Office featuring a group from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who will be walking through several emergency scenarios.

So far, at least one person from about more than 66% of Lincolns 120 child care centers have attended the groups training sessions, Schneider said, as well as several centers in other communities such as Fremont and Omaha. Someday, Schneider hopes to expand their work to include in-home child care centers, too.

But now the groups sights are set beyond just Lincolns city limits. With the help of a bill in the Nebraska Legislature, they hope to help implement Standard Response Protocol in child care centers across the state.

The bill (LB162) introduced by Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha would allocate state funding to create grants for child care centers to enhance safety and security by aligning with emergency response protocols already in place for schools.

If passed, it would greatly benefit child care centers statewide and ensure every center in Nebraska has the resources to take safety and security to the next level, Schneider said.

I would just love to see this be available statewide, and have a training program that is ready to go, and people are able to easily access it, she said.

So far, Moreland said shes heard nothing but positive feedback on Standard Response Protocol from both families and staff members at the UNL Childrens Center.

Staff feel equipped to handle any situation, while parents have peace of mind knowing their child is safe.

It seems like (families) trust that their children are safe with us, and that really is our ultimate goal, she said.
(NewsNation)  American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, who was held captive in the Gaza Strip for more than 19 months, was released Monday.

Many hostages remain in Gaza, including Omri Miran, whose brother-in-law, Moshe Lavi, told Morning in America he hopes his family will soon experience a similar reunion. Lavi said hes confident the Trump administration will do everything possible to ensure all hostage families have a similar outcome.

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More than 100 House Democrats urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to spare a crisis service for LGBTQ youth from federal funding cuts, calling the plan, part of a leaked budget proposal, ill-advised and dangerous in a letter addressed Tuesday to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

An internal budget document first reported last month by The Washington Post would eliminate specialized services for LGBTQ youth who contact 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, as part of a broader Trump administration effort to slash funding and programs it says are bloating the federal government.

The proposed cuts, which need approval from Congress, would not take effect until October.

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The service for LGBTQ youth has received nearly 1.3 million calls, texts and online chat messages since its launch in 2022, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In February, the program received an average of 2,100 crisis contacts daily.

Ending this mental health support for youth in distress would devastate a vital resource for some of our nations most vulnerable young people, Democrats, led by Reps. Seth Moulton (Mass.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.), wrote in the letter to Kennedy. This shortsighted and dangerous plan undermines 988s ability to provide tailored support for a population with a higher risk of suicide and will have lethal consequences if enacted.

Surely you can agree that every American deserves the resources necessary to prevent suicide and self-injury, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the lawmakers wrote, adding that Kennedy should scrap the plan.

Tuesdays letter follows a similar plea from Democratic senators last week.

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Elimination of services that help keep youth alive is reckless, and we urge you to reconsider your proposal to eliminate this lifeline, seven Democratic senators, led by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Ed Markey (Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.), wrote in their letter to Kennedy.

The lawmakers compared the program to other support services tailored to specific groups, like veterans and service members, disaster survivors, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and people with neurodivergence.

This specialized intervention connects LGBTQ+ youth with specially trained crisis counselors, who can provide understanding, empathetic, and confidential support, the senators wrote. While we strongly disagree with the many actions taken by the Trump Administration targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, we believe that suicide prevention should be a nonpartisan issue.

Republican Reps. Mike Lawler (N.Y.) and Young Kim (Calif.) wrote to Kennedy in a similar letter this month, calling any cuts to 988s specialized services for LGBTQ youth a devastating setback, stripping away a critical resource for youth already at elevated risk.

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These are real, vulnerable young people who urgently need access to mental health care, they wrote.

In a statement to The Hill on Tuesday, Moulton said hes hopeful more Republicans will join Democrats in calling out the administrations callous plans.

Support for 988 has always been bipartisan, he said.

Trump signed the bipartisan National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in October 2020, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline officially launched in 2022 under former President Bidens administration. Congress increased funding for the hotlines LGBTQ youth specialized services last year on a bipartisan basis, from $7.2 million for an initial pilot program to $33.1 million.

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Tailoring suicide prevention services to ensure theyre effective for the most at-risk groups should not be political; it is simply clinical best practice, said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, a national LGBTQ youth suicide prevention organization that led the pilot phase of the 988 hotlines specialized LGBTQ service.

Now one of seven centers that make up the LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork, The Trevor Project responds to roughly half of 988s calls and texts from LGBTQ youth.

A 2024 report from the group found that 39 percent of LGBTQ 13- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. considered suicide over the past year, including 46 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth. Half of LGBTQ young people who wanted mental health care said they were unable to access it.

Kennedy has not explicitly addressed concerns about the proposed cuts to the 988 hotline program for LGBTQ youth, though he has defended broader cuts at HHS, including a reduction in force estimated to affect roughly 20,000 federal workers.

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Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants, he said in a news release in March announcing restructuring at the agency.

A SAMHSA spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of Tuesdays letter and other lawmakers calls to keep the 988 specialized LGBTQ youth programs funding intact.

Updated at 4:15 p.m. EDT

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Democrats will be looking into President Donald Trumps decision to fire Librarian of Congress Carla D. Hayden, saying litigation will be evaluated strongly.

Moving forward, I think whats clear is that perhaps the executive branch should be removed from the process, Jeffries told reporters during a Tuesday press conference, adding that there should be a change to account for the possibility of an out of control executive who is gonna abuse the authority that he in this instance has been given by the Unites States of Congress. The library of Congress is part of the legislative branch.

The White House fired Hayden last week and on Monday said it was appointing deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to take over the gig in an interim capacity, prompting Democrats in Congress and even some Republicans to question the constitutionality of the Presidents actions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) on Monday acknowledged there may be a separation-of-powers issue when he said congressional leaders want to make sure were following precedent and procedure in naming a librarian of Congress replacement.

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The top Democrat on the House committee that oversees the Library of Congress, Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY), sent a letter to the Library of Congress Inspector General on Monday requesting the office look into whether Trumps White House infringed on the legislative branch with the firing and appointment of an acting director.

Hayden was fired from her position by Trent Morse, the deputy director of White House personnel, on Thursday by email.

On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately, the email said, according to a screenshot released by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

Thank you for your service, the email continued, citing no cause for her removal.

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The firing is unusual as the Library of Congress rarely gets a new top librarian. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016, Hayden was the first African American and first woman to serve as the head of the institution. Her predecessor was appointed in 1987.

The problem that we confront right now in this Congress is that House Republicans and Senate Republicans are nothing more than a compliant rubber stamp for Donald Trumps extreme agenda, Jeffries said during his press conference Tuesday. Theyre not a check and balance. Theyre not working for the American people. Theyre actually working for an out-of-control executive branch. Now, its the Library of Congress, not the library of the executive branch. So clearly theres going to have to be some reforms at this particular point in time mowing forward.

Jeffries added: The President probably violated the law.

Questions surrounding the legality or constitutionality of Trumps actions here remain genuinely murky, but Jeffries noted the mystery around Haydens sudden dismissal. It also comes at a time when the Trump administration is taking a sledgehammer to the constitutional separation-of-powers in other areas, including through his DOGE cuts and as his administration ignores some court rulings.

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What cause did he have to fire Dr. Hayden? he asked. Theres no cause. Its all made up foolishness.

Haydens unprecedented firing and the questionable appointment of Trumps former personal lawyerturnedDOJ official  Blanche, as deputy AG, is Senate confirmed so he can serve as an acting official  to the position has sparked outcry from other House Democrats.

Her sacking by Donald Trump, who knows little about Congress and less about libraries, is a scandal exposing his contempt for learning, literature and knowledge, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said in a social media post Friday.

All fellow Marylanders can take pride in the work of Dr. Carla Hayden, who has provided remarkable leadership as the Librarian of Congress. Her sacking by Donald Trump, who knows little about Congress and less about libraries, is a scandal exposing his contempt for learning,  Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) May 9, 2025

Her dismissal is not just an affront to her historic service but a direct attack on the independence of one of our most revered institutions, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) said in a statement.
House Republicans are moving forward with plans to raise the nations debt ceiling by $4 trillion as part of a larger plan to advance President Trumps tax agenda.

The proposal, which was included in legislative text unveiled by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, is in line with House instructions outlined in a blueprint adopted by congressional Republicans last month that kicked off the process by which the party is using to enact Trumps tax priorities.

Including the debt ceiling in the broader bill will allow Republicans to avoid Democratic demands for concessions in exchange for their votes to raise the debt limit. But tacking debt limit action onto the same vehicle theyre using for Trumps tax plans could also put a tight time crunch on Republicans to pass the sweeping tax bill.

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Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent is already calling on Congress to raise or suspend the debt ceiling by July to keep the federal government from defaulting on its more than $36 trillion debt.

In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Friday, Bessent said there is reasonable probability the governments cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess.

Theres also a key difference in how both GOP-led chambers plan to address the debt limit in instructions for the budget framework Republicans adopted last month. While the Houses plans call for raising the debt limit by $4 trillion, the Senates instructions detail a $5 trillion increase to the debt ceiling.

Some Senate Republicans have argued the higher proposed figure would stave off the threat of default through the coming midterm elections. But not all Republicans were happy with the $5 trillion amount.

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Other internal disagreements over proposed savings for the plan, including in areas such as reforms for Medicaid, have also emerged as challenges for House GOP leadership as it works to keep the party unified behind the sprawling package.

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May 12AUSTIN  A bill authored by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) to protect Texas families from the dangers posed by fly-by-night chemical container storage operations has passed the Texas House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. The measure now heads to the Texas Senate for consideration.

House Bill 3866 was filed in response to the July 2024 Permian Basin Container (PBC) fire in northern Ector County, where a chemical container storage facility that set up operations in an existing residential neighborhood caught fire and released hazardous smoke into the surrounding area. The incident led to groundwater contamination and required a broad emergency response from local and state officials.

"I'm proud to report that HB 3866 has passed the House with strong bipartisan backing," Landgraf said. "This is a community-driven effort to ensure that what happened during the PBC fire doesn't happen againanywhere in Texas."

House Bill 3866 sets new safety standards on large-scale facilities that collect and recondition chemical containers. The bill prohibits these facilities from operating within 2,000 feet of existing private homes. It also establishes a registration system through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and routine periodic inspections.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A proposal by Republicans in Congress would allow President Donald Trump's administration to remove the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that it says support terrorism, creating what some nonprofits say is an arbitrary standard to financially punish charities that advocate for issues that dont align with his agenda.

Unusual language added Monday to a reconciliation bill from the House Ways and Means Committee  the tax-writing committee  would allow for terminating the tax-exempt status of groups the administration deems terrorist supporting organizations. The language mirrors a bill from the last Congress that passed in the House but did not pass the Senate.

The definition and criteria for determining whether or how an organization supports terrorism are unclear. The bill also targets nonprofits in other ways, echoing complaints by Trump, who has called the tax-exempt status a privilege that has been abused. Trump has threatened to revoke tax-exempt status for groups that dont abide by his directives or agree with his views.

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GOP Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, who chairs the Ways and Means panel, said during debate on the bill last fall that members of Congress have the duty to make sure that taxpayers are not subsidizing terrorism. Smith didn't immediately respond to a message seeking further comment Tuesday.

House Republicans are conducting hearings this week for the so-called budget reconciliation process on various sections of the bill as a self-imposed Memorial Day deadline to pass Trumps tax breaks and spending cuts looms. Committees will then stitch the various sections together in what will become a massive package that is likely to include trillions of dollars in tax cuts.

The provision in the Ways and Means bill would create a new way to strip tax exemptions granted by the Internal Revenue Service to charitable organizations.

Churches and religious entities, universities, private foundations, political associations and other nonprofits such as labor groups are among those that often qualify as 501(c)(3). There are other 501(c) groups including (c)(4) trade unions, and (c)(6), including business groups. The exemption is powerful because the groups dont pay certain taxes and their donors get a federal tax deduction.

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Concern among advocacy groups

The Ways and Means proposal would hand unchecked power to administration officials to punish organizations that do not fall in line with the administrations ideology, sad Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, without due process, without a third-party investigation and without public evidence.

The previous bill faced backlash from a variety of groups warning it could be a way to punish those at odds with the administration. The new one faces similar concerns.

This is a five-alarm fire for nonprofits nationwide," said Lia Holland, campaigns and communications director at the nonprofit group Fight for the Future, which advocates free speech online. Any organization with goals that do not line up with MAGA can be destroyed with a wink from Trump to the Treasury.

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Holland said the terribly thought-out legislation puts environmental, racial justice, LGBTQ+ and other groups at risk.

The provision is one of several in the GOP bill causing concern for nonprofits and foundations, including one that would take away resources from foundations by increasing a tax on the income they earn from investing their endowments.

Additionally, the bill would require that corporations give at least 1% of their taxable income to charity to receive a tax benefit. Any donations below that threshold would not be deductible.

Trump's feud with nonprofits

Trump has previously called the tax-exempt status a privilege that has been abused, and hes already threatened to revoke it for those that dont abide by his directives or agree with his views. Most recently thats included Harvard University, which defied the administrations demands to limit on-campus activism. Trump froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to the school, moved to terminate $450 million more and questioned its tax-exempt status. Harvard has sued to stop the grant freeze.

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Michelle Roos, executive director of the Environmental Protection Network, which represents hundreds of former scientists and regulators, said last month we all pay the price when charitable organizations are silenced based on politics.

For example, the move to revoke tax-exempt status could choke off funding for groups that urge greater action to promote clean air, water and land, work to help communities most affected by industrial pollution and advocate for projects and policies to combat climate change  among other issues.

It threatens the rights, health, and future of every community, Roos said in a statement.

Last month, Trump said he could target environmental groups and the ethics watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

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Though past presidents have tried to influence and direct the IRS, presidents cannot order the agency to conduct tax investigations under a law passed by Congress in 1998. The IRS can examine an organizations tax-exempt status and can rescind it if its not operating for charitable purposes as required. Still, the IRS independence under Trump is in question.

Speaking generally about the Trump administration's stance toward nonprofits before the bill was unveiled, Thomas Kelley, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, told The Associated Press it would devastate charitable groups if donations were no longer deductible. He also said most private grant-making foundations have internal policies that they give only to 501(c)(3) organizations.

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St. John reported from Detroit. Associated Press writer Thalia Beaty contributed reporting.

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Read more of APs climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment.

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Follow Alexa St. John on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at: ast.john@ap.org.

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House Republicans are looking to raise excise taxes on private university endowments in President Trumps tax bill as the administration battles with higher education.

The text of the legislative package released Tuesday shows Republicans want to increase university endowment taxes ranging from a 1.4 percent to a 21 percent increase.

For institutions like Harvard University with a student adjusted endowment of $2 million, the tax on the endowment would bump up to 21 percent.

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The gains on a university endowment were never taxed before Trumps first term in 2017 under a tax package that put a 1.4 percent rate on colleges with 500 or more tuition paying students and had $500,000 or more in endowment funds per student.

The increase in the tax would come as the Trump administration has gone to war with higher education, pulling research funding for numerous institution.

The biggest showdown has happened with Harvard when $2.2 billion in funding was paused and the university sued the administration.

In a recent letter to Harvard from Education Secretary Linda McMahon, she drew attention to the universitys massive $53 billion endowment multiple times.

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[D]espite amassing a largely tax-free $53.2 billion dollar endowment (larger than the GDP of 100 countries), receives billions of dollars of taxpayer largess each year, McMahon wrote in the letter.

If Harvard prefers not to change, then Harvard should have no problem using its overflowing endowment to fund its bloated bureaucracy, the secretary wrote later in the letter.

Much of the money donated to a universitys endowment is legally designated to funding certain aspects of the university, making it difficult for a school to move around the money to areas of need if the federal government goes after a schools funding.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 68-0 to reject Gov. Dan McKees proposed raises for 11 cabinet members on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Screenshot/Capitol TV)

One way to unite state lawmakers across the political divide: Give them a common cause.

In this case, defeating Gov. Dan McKees pitch to raise salaries for 11 of his department heads.

The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday in a 68-0 vote to reject McKees proposed cabinet raises, marking the first time on record that the legislature has exercised its statutory authority to veto executive salary hikes.

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State law specifies that annual raises pitched by the governor automatically take effect within 30 days, unless the legislature acts to stop them through a joint, concurrent resolution which must pass through both chambers.

McKee wrote to the Rhode Island General Assembly notifying them of his proposed raises on April 18, giving the legislature till May 18 to make a move. The Rhode Island Senate has not scheduled a vote as of Tuesday, with leaders still discussing the proposal, Greg Pare, a Senate spokesperson said.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, who sponsored the resolution to stop the salary increases, made it clear when McKee unveiled the combined $82,000 worth of salary increases in March that he had reservations about doling out raises in cash-strapped times. The state is facing a projected $190 million deficit for fiscal 2026, alongside threats of potentially devastating cuts to federal funding.

House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski also said prudence was needed in explaining the bill on the floor Tuesday.

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This is not a reflection of any one particular director but has more to do with the financial circumstances at this time, Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat, said.

The 68-o vote came swiftly. The only lawmaker who commented prior to the vote was Rep. Charlene Lima, a Cranston Democrat.

I dont think people should be getting raises at this time, Lima said.

McKee, however, has defended the salary bumps as necessary to keep pay competitive with other states and the private sector.

Nine cabinet members would receive 5% raises effective May 18 if the Senate fails to vote on the resolution before then. They are the head of the Departments of Administration; Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals; Business Regulation; Children, Youth and Families; Corrections; Environmental Management; Human Services; Labor and Training, and Revenue.

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The Department of Transportation director would get a 2% raise while the Rhode Island State Police superintendent, who also serves as director of the Department of Public Safety, is in line for a 0.5% raise.

Absent from the vote Tuesday were representatives Mia Ackerman, a Cumberland Democrat; Stephen Casey, a Woonsocket Democrat; Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican; Brian Kennedy, a Hopkinton Democrat; and William OBrien, a North Providence Democrat.

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Around five months after cutting the ribbon on the brand-new child care facility in Milford, the center has raised thousands of dollars to become completely debt free with the help of the new Nebraska Child Care Tax Credits.

The Milford Childhood Learning Center, which officially opened its doors in June, set out to tackle its final hurdle and achieve debt-free status in August with $130,000 left to raise to cover the total cost of the $1.2 million project.

Now, after dedicating the past three or so months to encouraging donors to take advantage of the program, which provides donors with credits equal to 100% of their contribution, the child care center just over 20 miles west of Lincoln officially has zero debt.

It's just amazing how fast it's happened, said Dave Welsch, the financial sustainability chairman, adding: It just puts us on much more stable footing when we don't have that loan hanging over our head that we have to make payments every month.

The Nebraska Legislature passed the School Readiness Tax Credit Act and the Child Care Tax Credit Act in 2023 to help offset financial pressures many families and providers have been facing in recent years and allocated $25 million each year to provide those who qualify with tax credits.

The Child Care Tax Credit Act offers nonrefundable credits to individuals and entities, like businesses and philanthropic organizations that make contributions to help improve the availability and quality of child care in Nebraska.

Of the total $25 million, $2.5 million was slated to go to those who contribute to the child care industry through the Nebraska Child Care Tax Credit on a first-come, first-served basis.

As of Monday, there was only around $19,400 left to be claimed in this category, which will likely all be claimed by the end of the year, according to Mike Feeken, strategic partnerships adviser for First Five Nebraska.

The credits are being used up. People are using it. They are taking advantage of this, he said.

The idea to build a brand-new child care center in Milford came in the spring of 2023 after many community members noticed a growing need for additional child care offerings, specifically for infant care. Prior to Milford Childhood Learning Center's creation, there was only one other provider in the town of 2,200 people.

Now, the center serves around 40 children, with hopes to be at the 54-student capacity by next September.

While the center's construction was largely funded through $742,000 in grants and $333,000 in community donations, the center's board of directors aimed to raise the final $130,000 through local donations.

After learning more about the tax credits last spring, Welsch, who is also a member of the board, set out to discuss the new incentive with past donors and other people within the community. From there, the donations began rolling in, he said, most of which came from community members who dont have any children enrolled at the center.

Without the tax credits, Welsch said the Milford Childhood Learning Center would likely still be far from its goal.

We've had a great response to the child care credit, he said. It's going really good.

The Milford center is among a number of child care centers across the state benefiting from the tax credits, Feeken said.

Through his role at First Five Nebraska, a Lincoln-based nonprofit focused on child care advocacy, Feeken travels around Nebraska to inform communities and centers about how the tax credits work and the benefits of using them.

Not only do the tax credits give individuals or businesses an opportunity to take advantage of a financial incentive for making a contribution, but the program has helped child care providers and center owners get out into the public and advocate for their businesses, Feeken said.

I think it's really been a benefit for our providers so that they can really engage with other folks beyond maybe just the parents of the children, he said. To be able to go into that broader community and say, Hey, we are enabling your employees to be able to go to work because we're watching your children, we need your financial contribution in order for us to continue with our work, so that you can continue with your work.

Despite reaching their goal of becoming debt-free, the Milford centers director, Samantha Ahlers, said the center will continue to raise funds to ensure its long-term sustainability by supporting competitive staff wages, affordable tuition and high-quality care.

The center has established a sustainability fund, which already has $10,000 donated to it, and a scholarship fund to help provide financial assistance to families in need. Future donations will also be used to purchase new learning materials and toys to ensure staff members have the best resources available for the children they serve.

The bottom line is, nonprofit day cares, such as ours, actually are nonprofit. The tuition, the rates that we charge each week, simply do not meet the payroll and the electricity and meals and everything that we have to provide, Welsch said.
Isable Aguirre, a 72-year-old Houston resident, cant read or write and speaks only Spanish. The senior also struggles with memory loss.

Don't miss

His stepson thinks these factors made Aguirre the perfect target for unscrupulous solar panel salespeople who left him in massive debt, according to a report from KPRC 2.

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The senior said he doesnt remember signing consenting or signing to buy solar panels that have been installed on his house since 2023. But his stepson, Oscar Garcia, believes thats exactly how the trouble started.

Even if you come to his house and tell him, Hey, sign this and sign that, he will sign it, Garcia told KPRC 2. And then next time hes like, What did I sign?

Aguirre recalled, I clearly told them I didnt want that, and they ran away.

But now, he has solar panels sitting on his roof, locked and inactive. No payments have been made on them, but he is staring down nearly $98,000 in debt.

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Garcia said a lien has been placed on his stepfathers home.

Solar panel complaints up over 800% in 5 years

Aguirre has lived in his Northside Village home for more than 15 years, and relies solely on Social Security for income.

According to Garcia, the sales team pitched a too-good-to-be-true story: They were telling him something about that, I think Medicaid was going to pay for them or his Social Security was going to pay for them.

Garcia wasnt present when the deal went down, but a contract he shared with KPRC 2 names Texas Energy Resources Innovation as the contractor, and GoodLeap as the loan company now charging Aguirre.

Texas Energy Resources Innovation is not Better Business Bureau accredited and has an F rating for failure to respond to 15 complaints filed against it.

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GoodLeap is BBB accredited and holds an A rating, but its also racked up over 1,000 consumer complaints in the last three years. The company was also named in a 2023 lawsuit by the Minnesota Attorney General, accusing it and three others of making misrepresentations and engaging in other deceptive conduct while marketing their loans to prospective customers.

According to a report from non-profit Texas Appleseed, solar-related consumer complaints to the Texas Attorney Generals Office jumped a massive 818% from 2018 to 2023.

Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

Many of the harmful practices targeted older Texans and people who are not native English speakers, it said. These practices included misleading statements that residents would no longer receive electric bills after panels were installed, false promises of government tax credits, and forgeries of signatures or other deceptive practices used to execute financing contracts.

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Common complaints included defective or damaged goods, problems with sales practices, failure to provide repairs, and unsatisfactory workmanship. In about 8% of cases, customers said they were billed for equipment or services that they never received.

Forty-two percent of the complaints involved solar loans, and another 11% mentioned leases, which are the two most common ways people pay for residential solar. GoodLeap and Solar Mosaic were the lenders most commonly cited in the complaints.

Lawmakers are paying attention. House Bill 1640 would require the Public Utility Commission of Texas to create a consumer guide for going solar. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1036 aims to create a regulatory framework to protect consumers.

How to protect yourself

Thinking about going solar?

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that solar scams can begin with a phone call, a message on social media, or a simple knock at the door. Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with solar salespeople:

Theres no such thing as free solar panels, even if someone claims the government will cover the cost under a special program.

Salespeople may exaggerate or lie about rebates, tax credits, or utility incentives that you can receive. Make sure to do the research and verify these facts yourself.

Dont get pressured into signing on the spot or paying upfront or immediately.

Promotional rates or short periods of relatively low payments are often used to mask the true cost.

Solar can save money, but only if the deal is real and right for you. With the solar industry growing fast, its more important than ever to read the fine print, check company credentials, and never rush into a deal, no matter how sunny it sounds.

Vist the the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Consumer Solar Awareness website for more useful information and guidance to avoid scams.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Editors Note: The story has been updated to reflect the correct date of the crash. The video attached to this story has also been replaced with the correct date of the crash.

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Theres no word on whether a driver will face any charges more than a year after they hit and killed a Howard University student in a crash.

Now, the family of the 18-year-old who was killed, Mohamed Samura, is speaking out and pushing for answers.

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Samura was hit in the crash on April 11, 2024, near the Howard University business school. He died in the hospital four days later.

The Metropolitan Police Department initially reported that the driver was going at a high rate of speed on 6th Street NW before they failed to negotiate a left turn onto Fairmount Street NW and struck a man who was on or near the crosswalk.

RFK Jr. criticized for swimming in bacteria-contaminated Rock Creek with grandchildren

According to Mohamad Samuras father, Foday Samura, and the familys attorney, that was the latest update they received. No one has been charged or cleared.

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The familys attorney said the driver of the car is a university employee.

I think Mohammad deserves justice, Foday Samura told DC News Now in an interview Monday, more than a year after the crash.

Joseph Blaszkow, who is representing the family, said, Theres a wealth of information that we want to find out.

He hopes the case goes to court, and if it doesnt because someone was charged criminally, he raised the possibility of civil litigation.

There may or may not be criminal responsibility, Blaszkow said. Thats not our call to make. But the civil responsibility will still be there.

Shes not a bad person: Mom says after daughter drives through Laurel festival

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Foday Samura remembers his son as a respectful young man who brought so much joy to his family.

When we go somewhere, they call me and said, Is that your younger brother? And I turn around, I look at him and said, Mohamed, what do you think? He said, No, hes not my brother. Hes my daddy,' Foday Samura said.

DC News Now reached out to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, asking if charges will be filed and confirming if it has received the investigative report from MPD.

We are unable to comment on the existence of investigations, a spokesperson responded.

We are able to fight for him when he is already gone, Foday Samura said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
Editors Note:

This story has been updated to include a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Weeks after federal immigration agents raided an Oklahoma City home and removed a U.S. citizen and her daughters at gunpoint, News 4 has uncovered documents disproving a claim shared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitywhich suggested the property was still owned by a woman indicted for human smuggling at the time of the raid.

Now, despite the fact records show the suspected human smuggler sold the home well before a federal judge issued the search warrant for it, the U.S. government is trying to seize the home from its new owner.

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ORIGINAL STORY: Were citizens!: Oklahoma City family traumatized after ICE raids home, but they werent suspects

As News 4 first reported on April 25, agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security burst into the home with guns drawn, forced a woman, who News 4 is calling Marissa, and her three daughters outside, and taking their phones and moneydespite their names not appearing anywhere on the search warrant.

Marissa and her daughters had just moved into the home from Maryland and had only been living there for a couple of weeks.

Marissa told News 4 she saw agents from ICE, the FBI and U.S. Marshals present during the raid.

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The FBI and U.S. Marshals later denied involvement.



As News 4 has reported since the beginning, the search warrant agents served was validly-issued by a federal judge one day prior to the raid, on April 23.

MARISA-WARRANT-REDACTED_RedactedDownload





As News 4 previously reported, the warrant authorized federal agents to enter the home and seize certain items regardless of who was inside, however, it listed 8 specific people as its targets.



But none of the eight people were Marissa, or her daughters, or her husband, or anyone else they knew.



The names on the warrant were ones Marissa said she recognized from mail still arriving at the house.

She told News 4 she assumed they belonged to the previous residents.



As News 4 previously reported, DHS later admitted the homes previous residents were the actual targets of the raid.

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Former Oklahoma Assistant Attorney General Tim Gilpin questioned how much law enforcement knew before executing the search.



I wonder if the law enforcement agency had the correct information, if they did their duty and responsibility to double check the information, and what was their level of certainty that they had the right house and the right people? Gilpin said.



In a second press release posted to X, formerly Twitter, the day after the agency admitted Marissa and her family were not the intended targets, DHS defended the raid.



In the release, DHS stated it had surveillance on the home and presented a judge with evidence it was being used as a stash house by a human smuggling group. DHS also said one of the eight suspects named in the warrant had paid the homes utility bill, though the agency would not say when that payment occurred.



DHS said it had not ruled out current occupants from its investigation.



DHS issued another press release a week after News 4s first report.

The release included facts News 4 had previously shared: that the raid, based on a lawful court order from a judge, was targeting a suspected human smuggling operation.

However, the release also shared reports from other media outlets, which claimed one of the eight human smuggling suspects named in the search warrant, a woman named Cidia Lima Lopez, still owned the house at the time of the raid on April 24.

DHS cited those reports claims as fact in its news release.

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But News 4 foundthat is not true.

Homeland Security backtracks, KFOR uncovers new information on ICE raid



News 4 obtained a copy of a deed, on file with Oklahoma County, showing Lima Lopez sold the home more than a week before the judge even signed the warrant.

DEED_RedactedDownload



It was signed, stamped and notarized in Oklahoma County on April 14.

Records on Zillow show the home was listed for sale on March 18more than one month before the judge signed the warrant.

ZILLOW-2_RedactedDownload





News 4 also found a March 29 Facebook post from the homes new owner advertising it for rent, verifying Marissa and her family were renting the home from its new owner, not a woman indicted for human smuggling.

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FACEBOOK-HOME-RENTAL-AD_RedactedDownload

News 4 asked DHS if their investigators were aware the home had been sold and if they made that fact clear to the judge when they asked the judge to sign the warrant.

DHS did not answer News 4s question.



Gilpin said that information may not have changed the judges decision, but it raises questions about the accuracy of what investigators presented.



It may have helped him to have looked at a sale of the house and to check out the names of whos the new owner, Gilpin said. Its not unusual, though, in criminal enterprises that property switches hands.



On top of all that, federal prosecutors now want to seize the home.



News 4 obtained a legal notice, filed May 7 by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, stating the government is seeking forfeiture of the property as part of the human smuggling investigation in which Lima Lopez, the homes former owner, was indicted.

LIEN_RedactedDownload

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The deed confirming Lima Lopez no longer owns the home has been publicly available online since at least April 30; however, the court filing still lists Cidia Lima Lopezthe homes former owneras the defendant. It does not mention the new owner at all.

Gilpin said it may still be legal for the government to seize the home from its new owner under federal forfeiture laws.



Most people dont realize that the government has a great deal of power when it comes to seizing assets and when they suspect criminal enterprise is associated with the assets, he said.



We asked the Assistant U.S Attorney, who filed the motion to seize the home, Why would the new owner be forced to give up the home they just purchased?

Sara Conley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, sent us this statement:

We receive cases from various federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies for possible prosecution and suspected violations of federal law. Each case is reviewed based on the available evidence and assessed to determine whether it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. However, we cannot provide any information regarding the existence of any potential evidence or ongoing investigations. Sara Conley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma

What is a migrant? What is ICE? 10 terms to help you understand the debate over immigration

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DHS has not answered questions about whether its agents knew the house had been sold, listed for rent and occupied by an unrelated family for several weeks before the raid.



News 4 also sent the following 10 questions to a DHS spokesperson:

Were your investigators aware Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez did not own the home at the time they asked the judge for the warrant on 4/23? Did your investigators make the judge aware of the fact Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez was not the owner of the home before the judge signed the warrant? If your investigators were unaware Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez was no longer the owner of the home at that timewhy? Did they not check with the county to confirm via property records? In one of your releases, you mention one of the members of the Lima Lopez human smuggling group was still actively paying utilities at the home. What date was that utility bill paid? Was it before or after the home was sold on 4/14? Were your agents aware the home had been publicly listed for rent? If so, why did they seem unaware of the fact renters were living inside at the time of the raid? Why has DHS not returned the renters property back to them? Does DHS suspect [the homes new owner] is part of the Lima Lopez human smuggling group? If so, why [have they] not been arrested? Last week, the U.S. government filed a lien to seize the home from its current owner. Why? In the statement in which you said: we have not ruled out current occupants involvement in the smuggling ring which residents are you referring to specifically? Why are they not listed as suspects or targets in the search warrant? Why have they not been arrested? Would you be willing or able to unseal the 84-page affidavit you referenced so the public can better understand all the evidence you presented the judge to make him comfortable with signing off on the warrant?



DHS responded with a repeated statement that the warrant was for the property, not individuals, and that the search was authorized by a judgeas News 4 has always reported.

They did not answer any of News 4s specific questions.



Meanwhile, Marissa and her family still have not received their phones or money back.



As News 4 previously reported, members of Congress have asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the case, seeking a timeline for the return of Marissas property.



At last weeks congressional hearing, Noem said she could not share a timeline because the investigation is still ongoing.

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Noem again defended the actions of agents and reiterated the search warrant was for the home, not people.

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.
Archaeologists working in northern Guatemala (formerly the Mayan city of Dos Pilas) recently discovered fragments of more than 100 human bones which researchers believe belonged to those sacrificed by the Mayan people to appease their gods, Live Science reported.

The bones were discovered within a flooded cave, which is historically known as Cueva del Sangre, or the Cave of Blood. Many of the fragments showed signs of violence. The Cave of Blood is a vast underground network WHICH was first mapped in the 1990s. Dating back to somewhere between 400 B.C. and 250 B.C., it was used by the Mayans during a time when their civilization was experiencing great affluence. Scientists posit that the cave was a sacred location in which ritual blood sacrifices were held. This theory is supported by the discovery of obsidian blades within the caverns; as well as the fact that the bodies were left lying on the floor in the open, rather than properly entombed.

Related: Archaeologists Find Rare, Complete Kit of Pre-Roman Iron Tools

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Michele Bleuze, a bioarchaeologist who studied the bone fragments, noted a particularly grisly fact about the recovered bones. "The emerging pattern that we're seeing is that there are body parts and not bodies, she said. In Maya ritual, body parts are just as valuable as the whole body.

Bleuze and her colleague, forensic anthropologist Ellen Fricano, believe that the signs of violence on the bones are the biggest indicator that the site was used for blood rituals. All of the marks, such as those made to someones forehead with a beveled blade and similar cuts on an adolescent hip bone, were made shortly before death.

Related: Archaeologists Solve Centuries-Old Mystery Behind Dual Shipwrecks

There are a few lines of evidence that we used to determine that this was more likely a ritual site than not, Fricano explained. She added that the bones seemed to be placed in a deliberate arrangement, indicating that they were displayed as part of the rituals. Bleuze and Franco hypothesize that the rituals were conducted to appease the Mayan rain god Chaac, a way of ushering in the warm seasons and blessing the communitys crops.

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The researchers stress that they will continue analyzing the skeletal remains, as many questions remain unanswered. They hope to discover the identities of those sacrificed, including their relationships, origins, and health at the time of death. Right now, our focus is who are these people [sic] deposited here, because they're treated completely differently than the majority of the population, Bleuze said.

Related: Immaculately Preserved Boats Dating Back 1,000 Years Unearthed by Scientists
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Every Monday, PIX11s Monica Morales highlights and honors a local mom making it happen.

Lets honor a Lower East Side mother, a senior cook getting recognition for all her hard work feeding her community. Shes one of 38, who the city calls Hunger Heroes.

More Local News

Nicole Genao is a mother of three. She said she was inspired by her mother, Maria Cortez.

For 24 years, her mom was an assistant cook at Stuyvesant High School. Genao grew up watching her work so hard to feed New York City children. Now she has her own motto.

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Every tray she serves and every menu she creates, she says its an honor. There are thousands of city workers like her, serving 800,000 nutritious meals to students every single day.

Cecilia Freytes from East Harlem says she was a crossing guard for years and went from the sidewalk to the lunch line. Its her dream job.

A ceremony highlighted these community champions, thanks to a partnership between No Kid Hungry NY and the NYC Department of Education.

This is the fifth year No Kid Hungry NY and NYCs DOE have honored cafeteria staff from NY Public Schools for being on the frontlines of the battle against hunger, letting kids know that not all superheroes have capes. They sometimes wear aprons.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
May 12A hunter shot and killed a female grizzly bear in North Idaho Friday evening after mistaking it for a black bear.

The hunter killed the grizzly in the Priest Lake drainage and immediately self-reported the killing using the Citizens Against Poaching hotline, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Grizzlies in the Lower 48 are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. An investigation into the killing is ongoing, and the hunter is cooperating, according to Fish and Game.

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The killing comes in the first season since Idaho began requiring black bear hunters to pass a bear identification test to help them differentiate between the two species. The requirement, which had already been in place in other states, went into effect on Jan. 1.

TJ Ross, a Fish and Game spokesman, said the hunter had taken the bear identification test.

Ross did not have more information about where the bear was killed. He also said there wouldn't be a decision on whether the person gets cited until the investigation is over, but that the agency appreciates that the hunter self-reported.

"People make mistakes, and we understand that," Ross said. "We always appreciate when folks are forthcoming and self-report. It makes the whole process much easier."

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It's the third consecutive year that a black bear hunter has mistakenly killed a grizzly in North Idaho.

Last June, a hunter shot a grizzly near St. Maries after consulting with Idaho Fish and Game about whether the bear  which he'd seen on a trail camera  was a grizzly or black bear. Fish and Game officials had assured him it was a black bear.

A year earlier, a hunter killed a grizzly north of Priest Lake. That hunter was issued a citation.

In the release, Fish and Game officials said black bear hunters need to be aware that they could encounter protected grizzlies in the upper Snake River drainage and in the Panhandle, and that they should not rely solely on size and color to differentiate between the two species.

North Idaho is home to between 70 and 100 grizzlies from small populations in the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains, according to a Fish and Game document.
At a time when the federal government is conducting a radical erasure of Black history in the name of fighting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and school libraries are banning books about race, Ibram X. Kendi is ready to introduce kids to Malcolm X.

This shouldnt come as a surprise. Kendi, whose new book Malcolm Lives! is subtitled The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers, has made it his mission to promote antiracism. His previous books include How to Be an Antiracist (2019) and Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America (2016), which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. As an academic  most recently at Boston University and soon to be at Howard University  and as a writer, he lives to spotlight the very history that the current administration would like to bury, especially where it potentially influences young minds.

He is well aware of the timing of his new book. In fact, he savors it.

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When people are trying to attack history, trying to kill our awareness of history, those are the moments we should be creating it, he said in a recent interview. Those are the moments in which we should be making it even more legible for people, so that they can understand why other people are actually trying to prevent us from having an awareness of history.

And in Malcolm X, the complex street hustler turned Black nationalist firebrand worshipped by everyone from Stokely Carmichael to Clarence Thomas, Kendi believes he has the perfect subject for the moment.

Malcolm's life and story, and the ideas that he personally wrestled with, are ideas that we're wrestling with now, he said. I think he can help adults and young people to better understand what's going on.

Kendi  the X stands for his middle name, Xolani, a Xhosa and Zulu word for peace  pulls no punches in making such connections. This is how he analyzes the Lansing, Mich., fire departments indifference after a white mob set fire to Malcolms family home in 1929: Racism is worse in times of tragedy. If you are Black, the agencies designed to help you will ignore you or hurt you. Ask Black residents of New Orleans who survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Ask houseless Black people near you. Ask Black people who called the police when their loved one was having a mental health crisis  and the police came and killed them.

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Read more: What would Malcolm X say about Trump? New book argues his legacy is more important than ever

As Malcolm Xs centenary approaches on May 19, books about his life have been flowing fast, furious and by any means necessary. Two  Manning Marables Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (2011) and Les and Tamara Paynes The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X (2020)  won Pulitzer Prizes. Mark Whitakers The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icons Enduring Impact on America arrives Tuesday.

Malcolm Lives! is different from the above in one obvious way: It is intended for readers between the ages of 10 and 14. It is disarmingly blunt and direct. Perhaps to the dismay of the censorious, it is also instructional.

In other words, it is a school library book banners worst nightmare.

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Malcolm has the ability to teach every young reader that no matter the challenges that they're facing, the adversity that they're facing in this moment, they have the potential and the capacity to become a great historical figure like Malcolm X, Kendi said. To me, thats one of the most interesting aspects of his story. With everything he endured as a young person, he still was able to navigate everything and become this pivotal and influential figure.

Kendi hopes Malcolm Lives! might find its way into the hands of readers not unlike the young Malcolm. As Malcolm Little, he was a petty crook who didnt fully discover the power of reading until he was incarcerated  at which point he began devouring books like food. He memorized the dictionary. He studied Islamic texts and Black history. He read H.G. Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Nietzsche and Kant. He was a young person in prison heading nowhere, Kendi said. And it was books that led him to become the person that we know of to this day.

So when Kendi approached the task of introducing Malcolm to todays young readers, he thought about the impact Malcolm Lives! might have on someone encountering not just Malcolm for the first time, but exploring books for the first time. He knows books can unlock new worlds, which is one reason so many books, including those written by Kendi , have been banned. After all, its not the physical book that poses a threat, its the ideas contained therein and their capacity to provoke someone to think differently  and perhaps to hope.

Read more: Malcolm X's full story will never be told. These biographies explain why

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When I think about putting this book in the world, I think about how this book can be the book that allows a Black child to realize that they are important, that they have potential, even if that child is incarcerated, he said. Or it could be the book that allows a white child to realize the problem isn't Black people, which then prevents that white child from going down a path in which they end up harming a Black child and therefore harming their own sort of life chances.

I mean, this is important work.

Get the latest book news, events and more in your inbox every Saturday.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A worker welds together heavy machinery in June 2023 at a Manitou Equipment plant in Madison. The plant was subjected to a "worksite enforcement action" on May 13, 2025, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

U.S. immigration officials conducted a worksite enforcement action that resulted in eight arrests Tuesday in Madison, three days after their boss, Kristi Noem, was subjected to a protest in the same South Dakota city.

At least one of the two targeted businesses, Manitou Equipment, was awarded financial support from the state while Noem was governor.

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The media office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a written statement that the agencys action was at Manitou and also at Global Polymer Industries in response to information or allegations received by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.

ICE later issued a news release saying two people from Nicaragua and one from El Salvador were arrested at Manitou, and three from Nicaragua and two from Guatemala were arrested at Global Polymer. The release alleged that all eight people were in the country illegally and said theyre being held by ICE pending deportation proceedings.

The news release did not say whether the businesses would face consequences, but they were criticized in a statement from ICE Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt.

Employers who knowingly hire individuals without legal work authorization not only undermine our nations immigration laws but also exploit vulnerable populations, Holts statement said. These enforcement actions make it clear: illegal hiring practices arent limited to major metropolitan areas  they are happening in small towns across rural America, and we will continue to hold violators accountable, wherever they operate.

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In response to follow-up questions from South Dakota Searchlight, an ICE spokesperson said this is all the information I can provide at this time. Madison Mayor Roy Lindsay Jr. said Tuesday when reached by phone that he was out of town and suggested calling Police Chief Justin Meyer, who said all questions should go to ICE.

ICEs statement said it enforces business compliance with federal employment eligibility requirements, and has the responsibility to conduct worksite enforcement initiatives targeting employers who violate employment laws.

During these operations, any alien determined to be in violation of U.S. immigration laws may be subject to arrest, detention, and, if ordered removed by an immigration judge or other authority, subject to removal from the United States, the statement said.

Action follows protest

Noem delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree Saturday at Dakota State University in Madison. Around 200 demonstrators gathered outside the graduation ceremony to protest the actions of Noem and the Department of Homeland Security that she leads, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE.

The protesters were especially concerned about the targeting of more than 1,000 international students nationwide, including one at South Dakota Mines in Rapid City  Priya Saxena  who is suing the government after it revoked her visa.

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Her revocation was triggered by a criminal records check that turned up a four-year-old misdemeanor traffic conviction against her, and a charge of driving under the influence from the same traffic stop that was dropped after a test showed her blood-alcohol content to be within the legal limit. On Tuesday morning, while ICE was making arrests in Madison, Saxena was participating in a court hearing in Rapid City, where shes seeking an order preventing further immigration enforcement against her.

Anden Wieseler is a member of the Dakota State University Student Senate who opposed Noems invitation to the university and helped organize Saturdays protest. He wasnt surprised by news of the immigration enforcement action.

I had several conversations with members of the DSU student body and a lot of us kind of expected something like this to happen after bringing Kristi Noem to Madison, Wieseler said.

The Manitou Equipment plant in Madison on May 13, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

A student who graduated Saturday, Carter Gordon, said the dual immigration enforcement action in Madison reeks of retribution.

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You could make the argument that they wouldve happened even had she not been protested, but it feels very vengeful, Gordon said.

The nonprofit South Dakota Voices for Peace, which advocates for immigrants, is trying to gather information about the arrests and affected families. The nonprofit works with local rapid-response observers around the state, including one that reported seeing ICE helicopters Tuesday morning in Madison.

Chief Executive Director Taneeza Islam said the groups main initial worry is whether the arrested people have children, and where they are.

These kids are our top concern at the moment, Islam said.

About the companies

One of the companies targeted, Manitou, is a France-based global manufacturer of construction equipment. Plant manager Jeff Minnaert told South Dakota Searchlight in 2023 that the Madison location employed about 250 people, and about 25% of them were Hispanic.

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The company was seeking additional employees at the time to support a planned $60 million expansion that was set to add a combined 125 jobs to the Madison plant and another location in Yankton. In December 2022, while Noem was governor of South Dakota, the board of the Governors Office of Economic Development awarded Manitou nearly $1 million through a construction sales-tax refund program to help with the expansion.

Global Polymer Industries in Madison on May 13, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

In July 2023, also while Noem was governor, the Governors Office of Economic Development received a Silver Shovel award from Area Development magazine, which the magazine said was due to activity including the Manitou expansion.

The other targeted business, Global Polymer Industries, is a Madison-based company that was founded in a garage in the small town of Arlington in 1993. It describes itself as one of the nations largest manufacturers of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which is a flexible product that retains its shape and melts only under extremely high temperatures. The companys wide range of products includes conveyor components, sprockets, guide rails and custom-molded parts.

South Dakota Searchlight attempts to speak with officials at both companies were unsuccessful Tuesday.

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This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. Central on May 13, 2025.

Participating agencies

A news release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the following agencies supported its May 13, 2025, enforcement action in Madison:
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement New Orleans Field Office announced a weeklong operation resulted in the arrest of 196 immigrants in Nashville.

In a news release May 13, the agency said some had significant criminal histories.

ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said the operation focused on identifying those with criminal histories. He did not name any of those arrested.

More: THP says ICE operation ongoing, over 350 stopped for traffic violations

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This enforcement effort underscores ICEs unwavering commitment to public safety and the rule of law. Our officers are focused on identifying and removing individuals who pose a threat to the safety and security of Tennessee residents, said acting Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans Field Office Director Brian Acuna. During the operation I witnessed the men and women of the Tennessee Highway Patrol carry out significant public safety efforts. The New Orleans Field Office is grateful for their support."

The Metro Nashville Council Immigrant Caucus condemned the "tactics, scope, and narrative" used by the Department of Homeland Security.

"While we all share a commitment to public safety, true safety is never achieved through fear-based enforcement that harms entire communities under false pretenses," the caucus said in their own news release May 13. "Let us be clear: accountability must never come at the expense of due process, human dignity, or community trust. The language and framing in the DHS announcement dangerously stigmatize entire immigrant communities in Nashville and misrepresents the reality of what has transpired."

On May 8, the Tennessee Highway Patrol announced it made 468 traffic stops in an ongoing joint operation with ICE agents.

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Williams said of the 196 arrested, 95 had prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Thirty-one of those arrested were previously removed immigrants who reentered the United States illegally, the release stated.

ICE released limited information on seven of the 196 arrested. They did not provide the name of anyone. The agency stated a Venezuelan national and an El Salvadorian national were affiliated with gangs. A Mexican national had been previously removed from the U.S. six times and convicted of felony domestic assault and sex with a minor. An Iraqi national had been convicted of rape.

Williams said individuals with final orders of removal who returned to the country illegally after being previously deported are subject to immediate removal from the country.

The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a court hearing before an immigration judge or travel plans for removal.

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Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ICE says nearly 200 arrested in Nashville during recent operations
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A historic church in the heart of Johnson City, with long ties to the history of Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, is for sale.

Members of Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church on Main Street have decided to sell the property.

The church was constructed in two phases, starting 100 years ago in 1924, with the building to the east that houses the gym and dining area. It was originally used for Sunday services until the neighboring three-story neo-Gothic style building was added in 1927.

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EJ Shoes founder George F Johnson donated money to build the church which was named for his mother who was a member.

It was built using brown stone from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania and features a 112-foot-tall tower with Carillonic Bells. The gymnasium floor was made from EJ leather.

In recent years, the church has been known for its community outreach with weekly free meals and bicycle giveaway program.

According to WNBF.com, the membership voted overwhelmingly to approve listing the property for sale due to the high cost of maintenance and declining membership.

Some have expressed concerns that the historic building could end up being demolished to make way for a parking lot.

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Sarah Jane Johnson Church is participating in the annual Sacred Sites tour this Sunday and will be open to the public from 2 to 4 p.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 WIVT - News 34.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD)  The Illinois Department of Public Health announced its first mosquito pool to test positive for the West Nile virus in the state on Tuesday.

The virus is transmitted through mosquito bites, and symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches, which can last from a few days to a few weeks. Most infected with the West Nile virus will not show any symptoms, but severe cases can lead to death.

The sample was taken from Rockford on Friday and tested positive on Monday, according to an IDPH news release.

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The news of the first batch of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus is a reminder for Illinois residents to begin protecting themselves from diseases caused by mosquito and tick bites, said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.

Bird tests positive for West Nile virus in Tazewell County

In 2024, IDPH reported 69 human cases of the West Nile Virus in Illinois, which led to 13 deaths. Last year, there were 3,108 positive mosquito batches and 54 positive birds.

The state health department encourages everyone to practice the three Rs to prevent the spread of the virus:

REDUCE- make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut.Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.

REPEL- when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.

REPORT  report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.

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More information on the West Nile Virus is available here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH)  The Office of the Inspector General has ruled that the use of deadly force by police officers in a 2023 incident in New London was justified.

Connecticut Office of Inspector General investigating officer-involved shooting in New London

On Nov. 26, 2023, three New London police officers shot and wounded Christopher Nolan, a 42-year-old Black man at the Clarion Inn in New London after responding to a report of a shot being fired from a second-floor window.

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Officers arrived at Nolans room to find him standing behind a curtain near the window and told him to show his hands. Nolan allegedly responded to police by saying Ill shoot multiple times.

When he raised his right hand up, an officer said that they observed Nolan holding a revolver and pointing it in their direction. The three officers  Joseph Nott III, Seth Bolduc and Anna Agnew  then allegedly shot at and wounded Nolan. Police later recovered a loaded revolver from the windowsill of the room.

The Inspector Generals office said that the officers shot at Nolan in response to what they perceived to be an imminent threat against them, and therefore their use of deadly force was reasonable and justified under Connecticut law.

The report continues by saying that Nolan still refused to obey commands from officers after being shot. Nott III then used his taser on Nolan, causing him to fall to the floor.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  A new bill under consideration in Springfield would give tax credits to blood donors.

House Bill 1179 would give a $250 income tax credit to anyone who donates blood four times a year.

Currently, only 3% of Illinois residents donate blood, with the average donor doing so less than twice a year.

Experts say that as the states population increases, there are not enough replacement donors to meet demand.

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Our health is the most important thing that we have. And we do not know what the future holds when it comes to our health. If you are in a position where you need blood, the last thing you need to hear is that we ran out, said Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), who gave blood at a Rockford clinic on Monday.

If approved, the tax credits are estimated to cost the state up to $8 million a 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR)  Former Sangamon County Sheriffs Deputy Sean Grayson has been in jail since July. He is charged with the murder of Sonya Massey after he shot and killed her when responding to a 911 call at her home last July.

Even now, he is in the Macon County Jail, awaiting a trial date that wont come until October. On Wednesday, his attorneys will argue in front of the highest court in the state that he should be released on conditions pretrial.

READ MORE: Upcoming trial dates for Sean Grayson announced

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His team argues that now is not the time to determine whether Sean Graysons actions as a law enforcement officer were criminal.

Now is not the time to determine whether Sean Graysons actions as a law enforcement officer were criminal. Rather, the question is whether, as a private citizen, he poses a danger to the public That cannot be mitigated by appropriate conditions of pretrial release, including home confinement and electronic monitoring, his team wrote in a submission to the court.

Its a rare and first-of-its-kind test for Illinois law that eliminated cash bail. In order to detain someone, there are a few arguments the state can make. In Graysons case, the state is arguing that no combination of pretrial release restrictions could make it so Grayson is not a threat to his community.

Given that defendant indisputably shot an unarmed woman in her kitchen, and an independent expert concluded the shooting was not justified, the public should not be relied upon to police defendants compliance with conditions of release, The Attorney Generals Office wrote in a brief to the court.

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Illinois Sen.s Sonya Massey bills advance through committee

It has taken months for the Supreme Court to even get to oral arguments. The trial court in Sangamon County ruled twice that Grayson be detained, but an appellate court ruled in November that Grayson should be released with pretrial conditions, but they gave time for the Supreme Court to step in. The Supreme Court decided to keep Grayson detained while they hear the case out, which will finally happen Wednesday.

His trial is set to begin in October in Peoria County.

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 WCIA.com.
The world is rejoicing in the election of Pope Leo XIV, and I am fully with them. However, before we allow our beloved Pope Francis to recede into memory, I would offer one final reflection on him as it pertains to a critical matter quite dear to his heart.

The context is that in the days following the death of Pope Francis, much of the world found itself in mourning and remembering a host of his words, gestures, and teachings that evoked Gospel attributes of mercy, compassion, respect for life, and universal brotherhood. I truly believe Pope Francis will be remembered as a man of great Gospel hope and love.

These are gentle memories for many  memories that warm the heart.

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However, as consoling as those memories may be, it would be tragic if we were to forget or overlook one of the greatest concerns of his final years and days, which I believe was a deep wound in his heart: the tragedy of Gaza.

Solidarity with victims everywhere

It is critically important to remember the history and context of the crisis. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal attack in Israel, killing 1,200 innocent Israeli citizens and taking 251 Israeli hostages into Gaza.

My concern for those who are mourning their dead is profound, along with my prayers and concern for the hostages and their loved ones, who still must live daily in terror and fear.

On the anniversary of the attack last year, while still serving as Bishop of Tucson, Arizona, I was invited to participate in an event of remembrance and prayer at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, where I stood in solidarity with those who mourn their dead, call for the release of hostages, and pray for an end to the hostilities.

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Pope Francis also prayed for the dead, condemned their killings and spoke of the Israeli hostages on multiple occasions.

But as the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza exploded at a terrifying rate, he set the example of how we must stand in solidarity with all victims everywhere.

A ongoing crisis

Israels campaign in Gaza has now taken 52,000 Palestinian lives, the vast majority being innocent civilians, including many children.

On March 18 of this year, Israel ended its two-month ceasefire and resumed attacks on Gaza.

From that time, the Israeli military has greatly altered the map of the Gaza enclave, declaring approximately 70% of it either a military red zone or under evacuation orders, requiring hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into ever-smaller pockets.

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Israel has also initiated a blockade of humanitarian assistance  most notably of food  which has resulted in a global outcry. The Gaza Strips 2.3 million population now depends on aid supplies that have collapsed rapidly since the blockade began.

And as of May 4, Israel has been calling up thousands of reservists to expand the war in Gaza, which many anticipate will involve seizing and occupying more territory in Gaza if not the entire state.

It is also anticipated by many that the Israeli Prime Ministers security cabinet may ratify a plan to take control of  and sharply reduce  the distribution of lifesaving aid inside Gaza.

While Pope Francis did not live to see these actions, I find it deeply moving that in response to the ongoing situation, one of his final charitable acts was to have a "Popemobile" converted into a mobile health clinic to assist Gazas sick and wounded children.

Each life is sacred

Pope Francis insisted that the world must not to look away from the suffering of Gazas inhabitants.

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He consistently directed our attention to Gaza, and took the prophetic stance of calling the pastor of the lone Catholic Church in Gaza nightly to hear how he and many others (Christians and non-Christians alike) were coping with the crisis while huddling together for safety in the churchs compound. I visited that church myself almost 12 years ago and was humbled and troubled even then by what I observed.

But this was by no means the beginning of his statements and actions.

Several of the Holy Fathers more substantial remarks on Gaza were included in a book authorized by Pope Francis and released ahead of the current Jubilee Year of Hope [2025], in which he also took the remarkable step of calling for an investigation into whether the actions of the Israeli Government constitute genocide  a position maintained by many around the world.

I believe the Holy Father was moved by what was reported to him, as well as his own viewing of photos of razed buildings, dead bodies and starving children.

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For those who would criticize the Holy Father for advocating on behalf of the Gaza victims, I would argue that he consistently stood on the side of all those being victimized, regardless of their nationality, religion or political affiliation. His advocacy flowed from his recognition that all of humanity is one family, all human beings have an undeniable dignity, and each life is sacred.

Pope Francis was not antisemitic

I believe that some who want us to look away from Gaza and ignore the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding there may struggle to cast this situation as somehow antisemitic on the part of Pope Francis. Or they may portray him as taking sides in a political matter that does not involve religion.

Such efforts collapse upon themselves.

The Holy Father had only the greatest of respect and appreciation for Judaism and its faithful, as noted in his lifelong friendship with Abraham Skorka, Chief Rabbi of Argentina. His multiple calls to free the Israeli hostages, his condemnation of all antisemitism and his express hope for Israeli citizens to live in peace and security are further proofs of his desire for only the wellbeing of Israeli citizens and the Jewish faithful throughout the world.

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But none of this would stop him from speaking out just as strongly for those who are now being slaughtered, starved or forced from their homes and communities into squalid and unsafe encampments.

A man who would not be silent

I think the lesson for us is two-fold.

First, it is good for us to remember the gentle and kind ways that Pope Francis made visible the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But in addition to being a man of kindness, compassion, mercy, and loving sacrifice, he was also a man with an iron backbone. He would not be cowed into silence.

In calling for an end to the ongoing destruction of Gaza and the slaughter of its citizens, Pope Francis was speaking a profound and prophetic truth. We would be less than faithful to his legacy if we were to be selective and overlook what was a deep wound in his heart  a wound to which he called our attention often.

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And second, I believe we need to amplify his call to end the violence in Gaza and to release the Israeli hostages.

We cannot be silent. We too must speak up as the world witnesses the slaughter of the Palestinian people. Our call to the Israeli government, as well as our own, is one that flows from Sacred Scripture. It is a call to an end of violence, and an embrace of peace and justice.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been met with great joy here in his native country, as well as around the world.

As we all look to the future with great hope, a future that will be marked by our new popes leadership and priorities, it is critical that we not redirect our attention from where Pope Francis so frequently directed us: the call to justice, peace, and dignity for Gaza.

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Along with mercy, kindness, hope and understanding, it remains a crucial part of both his legacy and our future.

Edward J. Weisenburger is archbishop of Detroit. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: As Catholics celebrate new Pope Leo, remember Gaza's pain | Opinion
A young woman places a paper on the door to the Governor's Office to oppose House Bill 4156. The papers read, "You chose politics over people. You broke my heart." Hundreds gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol to oppose the new immigration law during Hispanic Cultural Day on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Several Oklahoma civil rights groups on Tuesday filed an amended lawsuit seeking to block the enforcement of a controversial anti-immigration law after they said state officials have been allowed to enforce it.

The latest legal wrangling comes after the U.S. Department of Justice in March dropped its objections to the implementation of House Bill 4156, which created the crime of impermissible occupation for undocumented immigrants in the state.

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, the National Immigration Law Center, Padres Unidos de Tulsa and the League of United Latin American Citizens Oklahoma City chapter, Barbara Boe and Christopher Coe filed the amended lawsuit on behalf of undocumented immigrants living in the state.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton are among those named as defendants.

We are fighting once more against this harmful law, which the court already enjoined last year as unconstitutional said Noor Zafar, a senior staff attorney with the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project, in a statement. Every day that HB 4156 is in effect, it puts immigrants in Oklahoma at risk of arrest, detention, and banishment from the state and undermines the federal immigration system that Congress set up. We are using every legal tool available to stop this law from tearing apart communities across Oklahoma.

First-time violators of the law, signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in April 2024, face up to a year in jail and a fine up to $500, or both, and the person must leave the state within 72 hours. A second offense is punishable by two years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

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Several of these groups and the U.S. Department of Justice, which was led by former President Joe Bidens administration, had separately sued last year to stop it from taking effect. The suits, filed in the Western District of Oklahoma, were combined.

A federal judge then put the law on hold ahead of its July 1, 2024, implementation. Opponents argued that federal authorities are responsible for enforcing immigration.

In March, the Department of Justice, led by President Donald Trump, announced that it no longer objected to the law and dismissed the case.

The groups argued Tuesday that the state officials have unprecedented power to arrest, detain, and expel noncitizens, by creating a novel system with immigration crimes completely outside the federal system.

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For far too long, Oklahoma law enforcement was stymied because the federal government had declined to do anything about deporting illegal immigrants found working at illegal marijuana grows, said Carrie Burkhart, a spokesperson for Drummond, in a statement. Enforcing HB4156 ensures the safety and security of Oklahomans, and our office will vigorously defend it.

A bill proposed this session, House Bill 1362, would have repealed this law, but did not advance from a Senate committee. It would have allowed an individual to be arrested and charged with a new felony punishable by five years in prison if they are apprehended for a violation of Oklahomas criminal law and are determined to be an undocumented immigrant. But they could agree to be returned to their country of origin by federal immigration enforcement rather than be imprisoned if they have no other felony charges or previous convictions for a violent offense.

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Much of Keir Starmers time as Labour Party leader has been devoted to combatting the damaging rhetoric and actions of the hard Left as represented by his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

Five years ago, for example, an actual shadow cabinet member told a meeting that: We need to make the wider case on immigration. We welcome migrants. A couple of years later the same politician was still at it: Weve always welcomed people to work in this country, he said. And in response to a question on whether foreign nationals living in the UK should be able to vote, he answered: I would like us to look at that.

In case anyone watching was remotely unsure of what his views on immigration were, he told another meeting of party supporters: The Labour Partys been a bit scared about making the positive case for immigration for quite a number of years. I think we need to turn that around. The whole of the UK is better because of immigration.

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No doubt you saw the big reveal coming  the shadow cabinet member in question was, of course, Keir Starmer himself, who yesterday performed his latest 180-degree turn on the issue of immigration by promising significant cuts in the number of people arriving here  at least in terms of those arriving legally. New arrivals would also be expected to speak English and there will be a wait of ten years before immigrants can apply for full UK citizenship.

This represents a victory for all those voters whose unhappiness with record (and unsustainable) levels of immigration seen in recent years motivated them to vote Reform in this months local elections. But the (mostly) London-based progressive elite who have rended their garments in anguish at Starmers announcement are not happy: aside from Brexit, this is a group of people who are used to getting their own way, and theyre not about to take this latest defeat lying down.

In Starmers defence, he is only doing what any pragmatic politician of Left or Right would have to do in order to have a chance of remaining in office. No one seriously thinks we can continue importing nearly a million people every year without some pretty drastic economic and social consequences, not least in terms of local services and housing. When even a privileged Leftie lawyer like Starmer can work this out, and can make the sort of announcement he did yesterday without risking the resignation in high dudgeon of a single minister, he is on pretty solid ground.

But wheres the political strategy beyond this single issue? One of Starmers greatest weaknesses as a politician is that he has been so willing to say whatever is necessary in order to slide up that greasy pole, whether that meant resigning in protest at Jeremy Corbyns leadership in 2016, only to rejoin the front bench and campaign to make him Prime Minister, or promising the country that Labour would respect the outcome of the 2016 EU referendum and then telling his party that they would be given a chance to reverse that outcome in a second referendum.

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Then there was his leadership campaign in 2020, where he promised to endorse Corbyns legacy by supporting ten key socialist pledges, only to ditch most of them within months. Or his flailing over the definition of a woman, starting out by claiming it was not right to say that only women have a cervix and that 99.9 per cent of women dont have a penis, only to concede, after the Supreme Court decision last month, that a woman is an adult female.

And now his volte face on immigration can be added to the ever-growing list of topics on which Starmer has proved himself unreliable. It may be that as a relatively inexperienced politician, he is merely undergoing, somewhat later in life than usual, those formative events that can shape an individuals world view, of having long-held views challenged and undermined by real-world events.

That may be so, but your average voter doesnt give a fig for such subtleties or context. All they see is a man whose core, defining principles are unpredictable and apt to shift with the political weather.

What will be the electoral benefit to Labour as a result of its new immigration policies? Starmer is hoping that former Labour supporters who opted for Reform two weeks ago will now give Labour another chance. That would be an optimistic expectation. Given Reforms momentum in recent polls, such voters are more likely to be convinced that voting for that party is now proven to elicit important concessions from the governing party, so why would they now abandon that strategy?

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Meanwhile, all those petticoat-gripping, pearl-clutching progressives who voted Labour in 2024, once theyve put down the smelling salts, might well consider switching their vote to other parties, perhaps the Liberal Democrats or even the Greens. Certainly those who remain in the Labour camp will do so with more reluctance and more complaining than before yesterday.

None of this is to say that Starmer was wrong to change policy as he has done. It was inevitable and it was right, although it remains to be seen whether these reforms alone will make the impact on immigration figures that ministers hope for.

But on a wider political level, Starmer has only confirmed that he is a weathervane, not a leader. It is increasingly difficult to imagine a man with such a devalued brand leading his party into the next election.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  Roanoke City Council looks much closer to having its budget set for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, but it came at a cost for Roanoke residents and visitors.

Your next dinner out in the star city could cost you a little extra, as council boosted the citys prepared food and beverage tax one percent, bringing it to 6.5 percent overall.

With that ordinance comes a 1.5 percent discount for business owners who pay the taxes on time, and a surprise vote in favor of a two-year sunset clause, which can lower the tax back to 5.5 percent in 2027. Texas Tavern owner Matt Bullington was in attendance, and while he didnt call the decision a win, he was pleased with those modifications.

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I feel that when I reached out to individual council members and had a lot of conversations with them, they were receptive and they understood that theyre in a financial fix, Bullington said. Lets hope that they figure that out, then it sunsets and we can go back to at least where we were.

Mayor Joe Cobb was frustrated with the sunset amendment because he felt like it wasnt the right time to make a change like that.

Roanoke restaurants speak out on city councils proposed meals tax increase

We have the provision of reviewing it annually, he said. Im concerned that we box ourselves in, and limit ourselves.

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Another tough call for leaders today: revising the school board budget. Council voted 5-1 in favor of leveling the budget from last year, leaving the school board almost $7 million short of what it was hoping for.

Councilman Nick Hagen was the one No vote on both issues, and he believes this can be harmful to the schools.

I think one of the concerns that they will see is that theyre going to have to make some very hard decisions about looking at classes that are being cut, Hagen said. Thats one of the concerns I have.

Mayor Cobb had different thoughts.

I dont buy this idea that we dont support the schools, he said. I dont agree with it, and I think theres a narrative thats being cast out there that are trying to make us look like the bad guys and we are not.

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Mayor Cobb mentioned the school board still gets the most money from the city of any entity, along with an annual $5 million from the Capital Improvement plan.

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Remnants of a Chinese-origin long-range PL-15 missile fired by Pakistan are shown at a media briefing by senior Indian military officials

India has confirmed Pakistan used Chinese-made missiles during the recent cross-border military strikes.

Air Marshal AK Bharti, Indias director general air operations, said Indian forces had intercepted and neutralised a range of hi-tech foreign weapons used by Pakistan, including the Chinese-origin PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile and Turkish Byker YIHA III Kamikaze drones.

You can see the pieces of it on the screen, AM Bharti said during a media briefing, pointing to the debris of a PL-15 missile recovered from a field in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, bordering Pakistan in northern India.

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Pakistan claims it shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafales.

A French intelligence source told CNN that a Rafale jet had indeed been downed during exchanges of fire.

Delhi sidestepped a question on whether it had lost jets, saying instead that all its pilots were safe.

The PL-15, developed by Chinas Aviation Industry Corporation, is designed to strike high-value airborne targets at ranges exceeding 200km.

Images of the wreckage of a Chinese-made PL-15 missile were broadcast on Indian television and shared on social media

A Byker YIHA III Kamikaze drone was also recovered

In public, Beijing has so far struck a diplomatic tone on the crisis between two South Asian neighbours that were brought back from an all-out-war through back-channel talks.

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But in private, a Chinese delegation travelled to the Pakistani foreign ministry in the middle of the night to celebrate the success of the missile strikes.

Fighter jets armed with PL-15 missiles used by Pakistan

Indias decision to name China in the recent crisis signals growing alarm in New Delhi over deepening military cooperation between the arch rivals.

The Pakistani and Chinese militaries are hosting joint exercises and sharing common weapon platforms.

The Chinese are also sharing their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with Pakistan.

Officers are embedded in the military commands of each others nations, such as Pakistani officers placed in Chinas Central Military Commission and Western Theatre Command at Chengdu, which oversees the operational frontier with India.

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The PL-15 missile, which has never before been used in combat, is powered by a dual-pulse motor that propels it to hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 5.

Because they are very, very fast, they basically have what you call a no-escape zone, said Fabian Hoffmann, a missile technology researcher and fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis.

The confirmation comes just days after Pakistans army published a YouTube video showcasing its military arsenal, including a Chinese-made JF-17 Block 3 fighter jet, less advanced than the J-10C, equipped with PL-15 missiles. The combination offers potent punch, a caption reads.

Analysts believe one of these missiles may have been used to shoot down a Rafale fighter deep inside Indian territory in a long-range stand-off engagement in which neither side crossed the border.

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The wreckage of a Rafale was reportedly found near Bathinda in Punjab in northern India.

The apparent involvement of Chinese aircraft in shooting down a Rafale has ricocheted through defence circles  and sent stock in its maker, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, surging by as much as 20 per cent.

Until now, Chinese weaponry had not been field-tested against Western-made systems like the Rafale.

The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of 36 Rafale F3Rs, the most advanced model of the aircraft.

Hu Jixin, the former editor of the Chinese state-owned Global Times, said the battle showed Chinas level of military manufacturing has completely surpassed that of Russia and France, adding that Taiwan should feel even more scared.

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By Saeed Shah, Asif Shahzad, Shivam Patel, Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Reuters) -At 2.09 a.m. on Saturday, Ahmad Subhan, who lives near an air base in the Pakistan military garrison city of Rawalpindi, heard the first explosion that rattled the windows of his house - and took South Asia to the brink of war.

As dawn broke, the heaviest fighting in decades between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan reached a crescendo, after nearly three weeks of escalating tensions.

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Fighter jets and missiles crisscrossed the skies of one of the world's most populated regions. Pakistani officials said they would convene an emergency meeting of their top nuclear decision-making body.

The critical eight-hour window also saw Indian missile barrages on three major Pakistani air bases and other facilities, including Nur Khan, which is ringed by civilian homes like Subhan's, and just a 20-minute drive to the capital, Islamabad.

After the initial blast, Subhan and his wife grabbed their three children and ran out of their home. "We were just figuring out what had happened when there was another explosion," said the retired government employee, who remembered the precise time of the strike because he was just about to make a call.

This account of Saturday's events - which began with the looming specter of a full-blown war and ended with an evening cease-fire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump - is based on interviews with more than a dozen people, including U.S., Indian and Pakistani officials, as well as Reuters' review of public statements from the three capitals.

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They described the rapid escalation of hostilities as well as behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving the U.S., India and Pakistan, and underscore the key role played by Washington in brokering peace.

The attack on Nur Khan air base saw at least two missile strikes as well as drone attacks, according to Subhan and two Pakistani security officials, who like some of the people interviewed by Reuters, spoke on condition of anonymity.

The barrage took out two roofs and hit the hangar of a refuelling plane, which was airborne at the time, according to one of the officials, who visited the base the next day.

A senior Indian military officer, however, told reporters on Sunday that an operations command center at Nur Khan had been hit.

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"The attack on Nur Khan ... close to our capital, that left us with no option but to retaliate," Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told Reuters.

Nur Khan is located just over a mile from the military-run body responsible for Pakistan's nuclear planning.

So, an attack on the facility may have been perceived as more dangerous than India intended - and the two sides should not conclude that it is possible to have a conflict without it going nuclear, said Christopher Clary, an associate professor at the University at Albany in New York.

"If you are playing Russian roulette and pull the trigger, the lesson isn't that you should pull the trigger again," said Clary.

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India's defense and foreign ministries, as well as Pakistan's military and its foreign ministry, did not immediately respond to written questions submitted by Reuters.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson did not directly respond to questions from Reuters about the American role, but said that further military escalation posed a serious threat to regional stability.

VANCE CALLS MODI

India and Pakistan have fought three major wars and been at loggerheads since their independence. The spark for the latest chaos was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on "terrorists" backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

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It was the latest of many disputes involving Kashmir, a Himalayan territory ravaged by an anti-India insurgency since the late 1980s. Both New Delhi and Islamabad claim the region in full but only control parts of it.

Hindu-majority India has accused its Muslim-majority neighbor of arming and backing militant groups operating in Kashmir, but Pakistan maintains it only provides diplomatic support to Kashmiri separatists.

After a go-ahead from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian military on May 7 carried out air strikes on what it called "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan, in response to the April attack in Kashmir.

In air battles that followed, Pakistan said it shot down five Indian aircraft, including prized Rafale planes New Delhi recently acquired from France. India has indicated that it suffered losses and inflicted some of its own.

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Senior U.S. officials became seriously concerned by Friday, May 9 that the conflict was at risk of spiralling out of control, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Another source familiar with the matter said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a series of calls from May 6-8 with Indian and Pakistani officials, including with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the foreign ministers and national security advisers of both countries.

Then on the morning of May 9, Rubio and U.S. Vice President JD Vance discussed with Trump in the Oval Office a plan for Vance to call Modi to underscore that Washington "believed there was a high probability for dramatic escalation as the conflict entered its fourth day," the source said.

"The vice president encouraged Modi to consider de-escalatory options, outlining a potential off-ramp that Secretary Rubio and his staff understood the Pakistanis would be amenable to," the source added.

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Rubio then engaged in "a marathon session of telephone diplomacy" with Indian and Pakistani officials into the early morning of May 10 to get the parties talking and reach an agreement on a ceasefire, the source said.

The U.S. intervention came despite Vance saying publicly on Thursday that the U.S. was "not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business."

The sources didn't provide specifics but said Modi was non-committal. One of the people also said that Modi told Vance, who had been visiting India during the Kashmir attack, that any Pakistani escalation would be met by an even more forceful response.

Hours later, according to Indian officials, that escalation came: Pakistan launched attacks on at least 26 locations in India in the early hours of May 10.

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Pakistan said their strikes occurred only after the pre-dawn Indian attack on its air bases, including Nur Khan.

NUCLEAR SIGNALS

A little over an hour after that Indian attack began, Pakistan military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed Indian strikes on three air bases.

Some Indian strikes on Saturday, May 10 also utilized the supersonic BrahMos missile, according to a Pakistani official and an Indian source. Pakistan believes the BrahMos is nuclear-capable, though India says it carries a conventional warhead.

By 5 a.m. local time on Saturday, Pakistan's military announced it had launched operations against Indian air bases and other facilities.

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About two hours later, Pakistani officials told journalists that Prime Minister Sharif had called a meeting of the National Command Authority, which oversees the nuclear arsenal.

Dar told Reuters on Tuesday that any international alarm was overblown: "There was no such concern. There should not be. We are a responsible nation."

But signalling an intention to convene NCA reflected how much the crisis had escalated and "may also have been an indirect call for external mediation," said Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia expert.

About an hour after the NCA announcement, the U.S. said Rubio had spoken to Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir - widely regarded as the most powerful man in that country - and was pushing both sides to de-escalate.

Rubio also soon got on the phone with Dar and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.

"Rubio said that Indians were ready to stop," Dar told Reuters. "I said if they are ready to stop, ask them to stop, we will stop."

An Indian official with knowledge of Rubio's call with Jaishankar said that Rubio passed on a message that the Pakistanis were willing to stop firing if India would also cease.

'GREAT INTELLIGENCE'

Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who only days earlier warned of conflict, dialled into a local TV news channel at around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Two-and-a-half hours after Pakistani officials shared news of the NCA meeting, Asif declared that no such event had been scheduled, putting a lid on the matter.

The international intervention anchored by Rubio paved the way to a cessation of hostilities formalized in a mid-afternoon phone call between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan. The two spoke again on Monday.

Pakistan Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said in a briefing that New Delhi had initially requested a call between the DGMOs after the Indian military's May 7 strikes across the border.

Islamabad only responded to the request on Saturday, following its retaliation and requests from international interlocutors, according to Chaudhry, who did not name the countries.

Asked about Chaudhrys remarks, a spokesperson for India's defense ministry referred Reuters to a statement made by Indian DGMO Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai on Sunday. Ghai said he had reached out to his Pakistani counterpart on May 7 after the Indian strikes in Pakistan to communicate New Delhi's "compulsion to strike" back at "terror" infrastructure, but his request for a call was turned down.

Almost exactly 12 hours after Pakistan said it had launched retaliatory strikes against India for hitting three key air bases on May 10, Trump declared on social media there would be a cessation of hostilities.

"Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence," he said.

(Reporting by Saeed Shah, Asif Shahzad and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam in Islamabad, Shivam Patel in New Delhi and Jeff Mason, Andrew Shalal and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Additional reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad and Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Katerina Ang)
NEW DELHI (AP)  The Indian government on Tuesday disputed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S.-mediated ceasefire between India and Pakistan came about in part because he had offered possible trade concessions.

Addressing a weekly news conference, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesman for Indias foreign ministry, said top leaders in New Delhi and Washington were in touch last week following the Indian militarys intense standoff with Pakistan, but that there was no conversation on trade.

The issue of trade didn't come up in any of these discussions, Jaiswal said, referring to the conversations held between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar.

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Following Saturdays understanding between India and Pakistan to stop military action on land, in the air and at sea, Trump told reporters on Monday that he had offered to help both nations with trade if they agreed to de-escalate.

I said, come on, were going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Lets stop it. Lets stop it. If you stop it, well do a trade. If you dont stop it, were not going to do any trade, Trump said.

And all of a sudden, they said, I think were going to stop, Trump said, crediting trade leverage for influencing both the nations decision. For a lot of reasons, but trade is a big one, he said.

The militaries of India and Pakistan had been engaged in one of their most serious confrontations in decades since last Wednesday, when India struck targets inside Pakistan it said were affiliated with militants responsible for the massacre of 26 tourists last month in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any links to the attackers.

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After India's strikes in Pakistan, the two sides exchanged heavy fire along their de facto borders, followed by missile and drone strikes into each others territories, mainly targeting military installations and airbases.

The escalating hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals threatened regional peace, leading to calls by world leaders to cool down tempers.

Trump said he not only helped mediate the ceasefire, but also offered mediation over the simmering dispute in Kashmir, a Himalayan region that both India and Pakistan claim in entirety but administer in parts. The two nations have fought two wars over Kashmir, which has long been described as the regional nuclear flashpoint.

New Delhi also declined Trump's offer for mediation on Tuesday.

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We have a longstanding national position that any issues related to the federally controlled union territory of Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. There has been no change to the stated policy, Jaiswal said.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late Tuesday that Pakistan was expelling a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, accusing him of unspecified inappropriate activity and giving him 24 hours to leave the country.

In a tit-for-tat move last month, India and Pakistan reduced each others diplomatic presence in Islamabad and New Delhi. So far, none of the expelled diplomats have returned. Pakistan and India routinely expel each others diplomats over allegations of espionage.

___

Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad.
By Adnan Abidi and Fayaz Bukhari

JAMMU/SRINAGAR (Reuters) - Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan are maintaining a ceasefire that ended four days of intense military clashes, but many in the Indian-ruled part of disputed Kashmir are demanding compensation for damages from cross-border firing.

Hundreds of villagers evacuated their homes as the rivals targeted each other's military installations with missiles and drones, killing about 70 civilians, after New Delhi struck what it called terrorist camps across the border.

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Many returned to find their homes destroyed or roofless.

"Where will we go with our kids? We don't have anywhere to live and anything to eat," said Roshan Lal, from the village of Kot Maira in Akhnoor in India's district of Jammu, about 7 km (4 miles) from the de facto border.

The shelling had left his home uninhabitable, the 47-year-old added. "I want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for justice," he said. "We need compensation for the damages."

In the nearby village of Pahari Wala, farmer Karan Singh said he buried seven cattle in his field, while his family are living in makeshift shelters.

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"I left the village when the conflict began," he said. "We don't have a place to stay."

In Salamabad, a border village in the Kashmir Valley, shelling injured Badrudin Naik and his six-year-old son, but both returned home after five days.

"I am happy to return," he said. "But my house is damaged. My two uncles' houses were completely destroyed. We want a permanent peace as it is we on the border who suffer more."

Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan, which both rule part of Kashmir, but claim it in full, have fought two of their three wars over the region and engaged in several smaller clashes over the decades.

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Teams have fanned out in the region to assess damage to homes, shops and other facilities, said a senior local government official, who sought anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to media.

"Today our teams have gone to the areas which were affected," he said, adding, "The government will decide the amount of compensation."

On Monday, Modi warned Pakistan that New Delhi would target "terrorist hideouts" across the border again if there were new attacks on India. Pakistan denies Indian accusations of supporting militants who attack India.

Standing in front of the cracked wall of his Pahari Wala home, Joginder Lal said Modi should ignore U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced the ceasefire, saying Washington had played a role in halting the fighting.

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"We want to take full revenge against Pakistan," the 60-year-old added.

(Reporting by Adnan Abidi in Jammu and Fayaz Bukhari in Srinagar; Writing by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly and Clarence Fernandez)
Indianas wild lands not only offer Hoosiers the opportunity to explore, they hold a bountiful selection of edible gifts.

As the outdoors fully shake off the winter slumber, we use this edition of Scrub Hub to speak with an expert and find out what tasty treats nature offers us during the spring.

We spoke with Wild Edible Indianas Carrie Vrabel to help us find some select snacks when headed out on a hike this spring and answer the question: What are the best plants to forage during spring in Indiana?

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Vrabel offers private foraging classes and helps run the Wild Edible Indiana Facebook group, which has more than 7,000 members.

Indiana foraging tips

Before digging into the individual edibles, Vrabel offered some advice for Hoosiers just starting out in the foraging world.

Learning plant identification is the best place to start. Foragers should not rely on their phones, Vrabel said, but invest in a good guide that helps the reader identify plants.

Second, never eat anything you are not 100% sure about. Vrabel suggests using at least three sources to make sure the plant is edible. She recommends checking out identification classes and posting photos in online forums for some extra guidance.

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Its also important to be thoughtful about what you harvest. A good rule of thumb Vrabel has is to never take more than one-fifth of what is there and only to harvest when there is an abundance of that plant.

Once Hoosiers are prepared to start foraging, there are a handful of springtime plants that are good for beginners to focus on.

Dryads Saddle or Pheasant Back fungi

Morels are an obvious delicacy for foragers in Indiana, but a lesser-known treat is the Dryad Saddle or Pheasant Back fungi that is known as the morel hunters consolation prize since it is a bit easier to find while hunting for morels.

A Pheasant Back mushroom growing on a dead log.

These are fun to find, Vrabel said, and the key to harvesting them is when the pores on the underside of the mushroom are still really small and close together. As the mushroom ages those pores widen, and the fungi moves past being tender enough to eat.

Ramps

Ramps are a popular forage plant for Hoosiers out on hikes in the woods. There are two varieties here in Indiana, Vrabel said, one has a wider leaf, and the other is more narrow.

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Ramps are basically Indianas native onion, Vrabel said, but there are two look-alikes that people should watch out for. The easiest way to determine a ramp is by tearing away the tip of the leaf. A ramp will have a distinctly onion smell, and the look-alikes will not have that same smell.

Be mindful when you harvest them, Vrabel said. Ramps are very slow growing native plants that take about seven years to establish a colony.

Garlic Mustard

Garlic mustard is an invasive plant found throughout the woods in Indiana forests. The leaves have a very pungent garlic flavor, but also have a bitter aftertaste. Vrabel said theyre best mixed with other greens.

Garlic mustard was brought to the U.S. as a food plant by the colonists, Vrabel said. It has spread very quickly and can be identified by its serrated heart-shaped leaves.

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The roots of the plant also can be used as a wild horseradish. Vrabel said it has that wasabi-type flavor and that the entire plant is edible.

Stinging Nettle

While stinging nettle might not seem like the best food source at first, theres a quick way to remove the "sting" and enjoy these as a nutritious foraged green, Vrabel said.

If you briefly boil or steam the plants, the stings are gone. But it will take some care when harvesting stinging nettles. A good pair of gloves should be enough to keep he stinging at bay.

Vrabel said she brings a pair of scissors with her and just cuts off the tops of the stinging nettle plants, then puts them in a big bag.

Dandelion

Dandelions are everywhere, and the entire plant can be eaten or consumed. They also they have a lot of nutritional value, Vrabel said.

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The leaves can be boiled or tossed into a salad raw, but Vrabel's favorite way to prepare them is by making dandelion root coffee.

The key to making a good coffee is to dry the roots out first for about a week or so before roasting them in the oven. Vrabel usually roasts the dried roots for 20 minutes at 325 degrees before grinding them up in a coffee grinder. Then you can soak the grounds in a French press.

Black Locust

Trees are also a good source of foraging in Indiana, and Vrabel said one of the best is the black locust.

These might be ready to harvest around mid-May with clusters of white flowers on their branches, Vrabel said. The key to harvesting these is finding a yellow dot in the center of the flower. The dot is typically most vibrant just as the flowers open and begins to fade as the flowers age. The earlier the flowers are harvested, the better the flavor is, which Vrabel said is hard to describe.

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Hoosiers will want to keep their eyes out for these flowers as the window to harvest begins in about two weeks.

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana foraging expert provides tips and tricks for the spring
Indiana lawmakers could have acknowledged that Indianapolis and its suburbs are getting stiffed on road funding. They also could have fixed it.

Instead, the Indiana General Assembly agreed to send an additional $50 million a year toward fixing Indianapolis roads. But the state isn't just giving away that money. It's treating it like a matching grant, requiring Indianapolis to come up with $50 million on its own to unlock the money.

It's the culmination of a long-running gag in which the Republican-controlled legislature has sought to force fiscally conservative Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett to raise taxes on Indianapolis. Hogsett, the opposite of a tax-and-spend Democrat, has long promised not to raise taxes.

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Hogsett should suck it up and raise taxes now. Improving the city's infrastructure is more important than upholding some arbitrary pledge.

Indianapolis potholes are forever

A pothole threatens a car on Westfield Road in the Broad Ripple section of Indianapolis.

When Indiana allocates transportation money, the state grants preference to narrow, rural roads over wide urban and suburban streets. So, as IndyStar has often noted, Indiana's share of road money from the state covers maintenance for 3,400 road miles. But the city actually has 8,400 lane miles, because its streets are much wider than the roads in Indiana's rural counties.

This problem has existed for a very long time, leaving cratered streets since time immemorial.

WRTV-TV (Channel 6) created an amazing video piecing together archives to show the same pothole story, done over and over again, on loop for 45 years. You can see former mayors Bill Hudnut, Bart Peterson and Greg Ballard all giving interviews as Indianapolis fills potholes. The mayors have been Republicans and they've been Democrats, all giving the same answers to the same questions.

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Anyone blaming Hogsett for failing the city in some unique way needs to answer the question: Why didn't any of those other guys fix it?

It's a multigenerational problem that defies solution. Marion County pays more money to the state than it receives in return. Meanwhile, as Jeffery Tompkins recently wrote for IndyStar, Indianapolis is overbuilt for the current population, hanging legacy maintenance costs on a tax base that can't afford them.

Unlike Tompkins, though, I'm encouraged by the state's willingness to throw in another $50 million a year. Indianapolis needs to put it to maximum use.

Take the money, mayor

When you combine Indiana's new property tax law with the matching-grant framework for giving Indianapolis more money, Republican lawmakers are sending municipalities a pretty clear message: It's time to raise taxes.

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Indianapolis can't afford to not take them up on it.

As IndyStar's Jordan Smith wrote, the city now has the ability to raise its wheel tax (primarily affecting commercial vehicles) to $240 and excise tax (affecting consumers purchasing cars at the point of sale) to $150. Marion County is only generating $14 million off of these taxes now, but could collect an estimated $67 million if it maxed out both under the new law.

Briggs: Fishers, Carmel don't think renters deserve single-family homes

Hogsett has previously said Marion County residents and businesses are already paying enough in taxes and the state should just give back more of that money. That's a nice position. Unfortunately, you can't pave potholes with principles.

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While the state hasn't given Indianapolis the road funding formula it wants, lawmakers have provided a massive and sustainable funding boost. Indianapolis budgeted about $200 million toward roads, bridges and greenways in 2025, which means the new law could help Indianapolis increase that spending by 50%.

That is huge  and genuinely very helpful. Take the money, mayor!

If third-term Hogsett truly isn't running for anything again, he can afford to take a political hit by accepting this gift and raising taxes to put a dent in the city's infrastructure deficit. It would provide a lasting benefit to the city, as well as his successors, who will probably still be doing interviews on potholes for another 45 years.

Hogsett can sell the tax increases by saying the Republicans made him do it.

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Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Bluesky at @JamesEBriggs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Hogsett should finally agree to a tax increase on Indy | Opinion
DENVER (KDVR)  A 71-year-old hiker from California fell while traversing the South Rim Trail in Pitkin County on Monday and was rescued by first responders after suffering a possible broken arm and head injury.

The Pitkin County Sheriffs Office said deputies were notified of the matter at about 4:40 p.m. The 911 caller said the injured hiker had fallen and incurred a possibly broken arm and a head injury about a mile from the trailhead.

FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar

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The sheriffs office noted that the South Rim Trail is popular, but steep and difficult, stretching about four miles between Snowmass Village and the longer Rim Trail.

Many agencies responded to the 911 call, including the Snowmass Village Police Department, Roaring Fork Fire Rescue and Mountain Rescue Aspen.

The injured hiker was found after 5 p.m. by a Snowmass Village police officer. At 5:15 p.m., a paramedic reached the location and began medically evaluating the hiker, as well as medically stabilizing the patient. Another 15 minutes later, the Mountain Rescue Aspen team and the second Roaring Fork Fire Rescue paramedic arrived to assist in bringing the injured hiker down the trail.

The injured hiker was carried out on a stretcher, and everyone had left the field just after 6 p.m. The injured hiker was transported to Aspen Valley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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A 16-year-old girl innocently riding her scooter outside a Bronx school was shot in the head and killed by a teenage boy Monday after a fight broke out among youths leaving the schoolyard, police officials said.

The girl, identified as Evette Jeffrey, was not involved in the melee between teen boys that escalated when one of them opened fire outside their Morrisania schoolyard around 5 p.m., cops said.

Investigators are looking for a 14-year-old boy who they believe pulled the trigger, firing off at least three shots, according to police.

An innocent 16-year-old girl was shot in the head and killed outside a Bronx charter school Monday evening. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Our city has suffered another senseless tragedy tonight, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at the scene of the deadly gun violence. A 16-year-old girl playing in a school yard is now dead. And a 14-year-old is wanted in connection with her death.

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The teen boy was allegedly involved in a fistfight outside the building at 800 Home Street, which houses three separate schools  the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School, Bronx Latin and the Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School.

Security footage showed a group of youths leaving the schoolyard and entering a walkway alongside the school building, where the brawl breaks out, according to Tisch.

One boy walks up to a rival teen and punches him in the face, knocking him down, Tisch said. A second boy begins throwing punches at other people in the crowd.

The hooligans gravitate toward Union Avenue, where the boy who was first knocked down runs toward the rival who hit him and opens fire, she said, citing the footage.

A dispute between two groups escalated outside the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health & Science Charter School just after 5 p.m. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

One member who appeared to be involved in the dispute opened fire, striking the victim. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

It then appears that someone passes the first male a pistol, Tisch said.

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He fires three rounds into the crowd  and strikes Jeffrey, who was leaving the schoolyard on her scooter, the top cop said.

One of the victims friends tried to shield her from the gunfire, but couldnt save the teen.

Sources said the victim was an innocent bystander. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Paramedics rushed her to Lincoln Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

While this is happening at the other end of the walkway, the victim is seen riding from the schoolyard toward the walkway on a scooter, Tisch said. She is not engaged in the fight and immediately walks over to another male member at the edge of the group who attempts to pull her behind a brick wall for cover.

The girl, who was an unintended target, was struck in the head, the commissioner said.

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She immediately falls to the ground, while the other children run away for their lives.

Jeffrey was rushed to Lincoln Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch spoke to the press at the scene. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Police recovered three shell casings at the scene of the fatal shooting. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Mayor Eric Adams visited the scene of the pandemonium along with other city officials to offer their condolences Monday night.

Several lives are destroyed, Adams said of the deadly shooting.

We know that we have an obligation to create safe environments for young people. And that is what we try to do every day, he added.

Adams encouraged the parents to be vigilant about what their children bring home, asking them to search their kids bookbags and bedrooms.

The teens killing would be the first murder in the 42nd Precinct this year. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

He promised to bring more patrols to the schools and asked the parents to hold up their end of the bargain.

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We should not have had a 14-year-old with a gun, he said.

No arrests had been made as of late Monday and the investigation is ongoing. Its unclear what school the suspect attended.

The teens killing would be the first murder in the 42nd Precinct this year. The Bronx has seen a precipitous decline in violent crime in the first quarter of the year, with a nearly 30% drop in murders and a 30% drop in shootings borough-wide from last year.

Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger and Larry Celona
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  The Jefferson County Regional Crime Lab recently used hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money to buy new technology that puts shell casings from crime scenes into a database, helping connect and solve cases.

FOX31 got into the lab to see how it all works.

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I place the cartridge case in this holder, Jefferson County Regional Lab Forensic Scientist Erin Mulligan explained during a demonstration. Inside the equipment, there are some light sources as well as the camera.

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The 3-D images from this new lab equipment go into ATFs National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN. Cartridge cases are entered from sites all around the country. Scientists can then search them against other cases in the system to try to link the casings to shooting scenes.

This takes information for maybe two different crime scenes, Brent Beavers, special agent in charge for ATFs Denver Field Division, said. It might be one has more information, one has less. You put it together. Investigators talk. Now theres an opportunity to solve crimes and prevent future ones.

According to ATF, 13,213 pieces of evidence were submitted to NIBIN in Colorado in 2024. The database generated 60.1% leads in the system for law enforcement to follow up on.

For the 2025 fiscal year-to-date, 4,740 pieces of evidence have been submitted to the NIBIN database in Colorado, with 48.8% of casings generating leads.

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For Jefferson County, for metro Denver and the state of Colorado, this is a huge success to have this machine in place, Beavers said. I think citizens will be safer because of it.

Looking at the data from April, the Jefferson County Crime Lab told FOX31 they were able to return results to local agencies, on average, 4.7 days after receiving a cartridge case in the lab.

Were getting a lot more calls than, say, ten, 15 years ago, Arvada Police PIO David Snelling said. Were finding a lot of shell casings. You cant always track suspects via cell phone video. When we can link them through this technology to the scene, its incredible.

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Arvada police shared a case from back in 2022, where the NIBIN database helped connect a suspect to two crimes. A suspect followed a victim in their car and shot at the victims vehicle on 57th Ave. One of the bullets lodged in the rear seat headrest on the drivers side of the car.

In the original case that we had in March of 2022, we never found a gun and so it was put together by shell casings, Snelling said.

Then, in 2023, DPD had a case where a suspect shot at a bar on Sheridan Boulevard. The casings found at that scene were connected to the case in Arvada.

Through the NIBIN database and the investigative work, they were able to link the two cases together and identify a suspect. This year, the suspect pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

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The shell casing, it leaves an individual signature on that on that from the weapon, Snelling said. So, this technology is absolutely amazing to be able to match 1 to 1.

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.
Insurers are seeking to charge homeowners across California for some of the costs of the catastrophic Los Angeles County fires the companies were burdened with when the state's insurer of last resort needed a bailout.

The California FAIR Plan Assn., with the approval of state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, assessed its member carriers $1 billion on Feb. 11 when the plan was swamped with thousands of claims after the Jan. 7 fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Sylmar.

The plan, operated and backstopped by the state's licensed home insurers, said it has made $2.75 billion in claims payments as of Friday and expects its costs for the fires will total $4 billion, which it could not cover with its limited surplus and reinsurance funds.

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Now, under a policy Lara put in place last year that is being challenged in court, insurers are filing applications with the state Department of Insurance seeking to surcharge their policyholders statewide for half the costs of that assessment.

Read more: FAIR Plan to assess insurers $1 billion for L.A. fires; consumers may be on the hook for nearly half

That means even if a person lives hundreds of miles away from the fires, they could be forced to help pay their insurers' costs of the assessment  on top of annual premiums that have risen hundreds or even thousands of dollars for some homeowners as many insurers have sharply raised rates.

So far at least 10 home insurers and their affiliates have filed applications for surcharges, with the annual fees ranging from about $6 or less for some rental policyholders, $20 or $30 for condo owners and typically $40 to $60 for a standard homeowners policy, though some are less or somewhat more.

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The insurers are seeking to apply the charges starting this year, with some spreading the charges over two annual billing cycles.

Among the insurers that have filed applications are affiliates of AAA and Mercury, two of the largest home insurers in the state, and carriers with smaller market share such as Amica and Western Mutual. Lara has final say about whether to allow the surcharges to go through.

"This modest, temporary cost recovery  just a few dollars a month for most policyholders  is critical to preventing a catastrophic collapse of Californias insurance market," said Denni Ritter, vice president for state government relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Assn. trade group.

Hilary McLean, a spokesperson for the FAIR Plan, said it has no role in determining how its member carriers decide to pay for assessments.

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Read more: Insurer of last resort kept growing. Then L.A. fire victims paid the price

While many of the state's licensed home insurers have yet to file applications, most future surcharges could be in a similar range because the FAIR Plan assessed its member carriers based on their share of California's home insurance market.

"That was the ballpark estimate," said Rex Frazier, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, which represents major property and casualty insurers.

But Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a Los Angeles-based group that filed the suit to stop the surcharges, said that because the application figures are only averages, homeowners with larger policies could end up paying surcharges totaling hundreds of dollars.

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"The average doesn't fully represent the impact on many homeowners, and $50 is not negligible for Californians who have already seen massive home insurance premium increases," she said, adding that this could be the "tip of the iceberg" if the FAIR Plan further assesses its member carriers.

Michael Soller, a spokesperson for Lara, said regulators are reviewing the applications to ensure they follow the rules established by the department regarding which policyholders are being charged, for how much and for what duration. Insurers must break down the charges by their different lines of insurance.

"We also want to understand each insurers process to prevent overcollection. Its about fairness, transparency and holding insurance companies within legal bounds," he said.

The FAIR Plan got into financial trouble as insurers fled the state's home insurance market, which was hit with a series of devastating fires even before this year, including the 2018 blaze that nearly wiped out the town of Paradise in Northern California.

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A Times analysis found that in the Palisades and Eaton fire zones, the FAIR Plans rolls shot up last year a combined 47%. From 2020 to 2024, the number of homes in both areas on the plan nearly doubled from 14,272 to 28,440.

Read more: Consumer group sues insurance commissioner over Fair Plan assessments on state homeowners

Lara's surcharge policy was instituted as part of his Sustainable Insurance Strategy to make the troubled homeowners market more attractive to insurers. It allows insurers to recoup from their policyholders up to half of any FAIR Plan assessment that totals up to $1 billion for residential losses and $1 billion for commercial losses. Any assessments that exceed those limits can be completely passed on to policyholders. Residential customers are not responsible for commercial losses.

However, an additional assessment may not be necessary, according to a Feb. 11 letter sent by the plan to Lara seeking permission for the current assessment on its member carriers.

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The plan said it was running out of money to pay claims after using up $510 million in unallocated funds and drawing money from its $5.78-billion reinsurance program, acquired by the insurer to spread its risk from fires and other catastrophic events. However, it estimated it would have $306 million in cash after the assessments of its members as of June 30.

Frazier said that he had "no reason to believe" there would be another FAIR Plan assessment related to the Jan. 7 fires, but that another major blaze this year could change the calculus. "I think the worry is what happens next November or December," he said.

McLean said the FAIR Plan "cannot speculate on losses associated with future disasters."

A bill working its way through the Legislature would authorize the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank to issue bonds on behalf of the FAIR Plan to help pay its claims and increase its liquidity.

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Consumer Watchdog, which called Lara's decision last year to provide for insurer surcharges an "industry bailout," sued Lara in April in Los Angeles County Superior Court claiming that nothing in the 1968 statute that created the Fair Plan contemplated such a charge on policyholders. It also alleged Lara violated state law by approving the policy via administrative fiat rather through the proper rulemaking procedure.

A spokesman for Lara at the time said the lawsuit "serves to undermine our efforts to restore competition to all areas of our state, so people can get off the Fair Plan and back to the regular market. The American Property Casualty Insurance Assn. called it a "reckless and self-serving stunt."

The state's 10 largest home insurers also were sued last month by a group of Jan. 7 fire victims who allege the companies colluded to drop policyholders and force them into the FAIR Plan, where they would pay more for less coverage. That had the effect of reducing the insurers' liabilities after the fires due to the plan's losses.

The American Property Casualty Insurance Assn. called the lawsuit "meritless."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An unseasonably sweltering heat wave is forecast to hit large swaths of the United States over the course of this week, bringing record temperatures across the Southeast and northern Plains.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that 34 cities will either match or exceed the highest temperature on record for this time of year. The heat will be especially brutal in Texas, where record highs are expected across the state. San Antonio is forecast to reach 107F on Wednesday, a full 10 degrees above the highest temperature ever recorded on May 14. Del Rio, Texas, is forecast to hit 110, surpassing the previous record by seven degrees.

Potentially historic and unusually hot high temps continue with most areas reaching 100 or higher each afternoon, many records likely to be tied or broken, the NWS office in San Antonio wrote on X Tuesday.

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Northern states are also facing unprecedented heat, with records forecast for parts of Wyoming along with North and South Dakota. Strong winds that are accompanying the heat have created critical fire weather in the region as well.

Temperatures will ease slightly in the central regions of the U.S. over the next few days as the heat shifts eastward, bringing the chance for record highs to parts of North Carolina and Florida.

Summer heat arriving in spring

Triple-digit weather is not uncommon in many of these places; what is unique is how early in the year it is arriving.

Definitely more like August this week than May, Cameron Self, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services office in the Houston and Galveston area, told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

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Like all other forms of extreme weather, heat waves have become more intense because of climate change. The U.S. now sees nearly three times as many heat waves per year as it did in the 1960s, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. They havent just become more frequent, they also last longer and reach higher temperatures. Americas heat wave season now lasts 70 days. In the 1960s, it was just 24 days long.

Heat is dangerous at all times of year, but early heat waves can be especially risky because people often arent as prepared for extreme heat as they would be in the summer months.

Timing can matter, as heat waves that occur earlier in the spring or later in the fall can catch people off-guard and increase exposure to the health risks associated with heat waves, the EPA warns.

The National Weather Service is advising Americans not to underestimate the risks of the current heat wave just because its coming in late spring. On Tuesday, the agency shared guidance on how to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion  which include dizziness, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness  as well as those of more advanced, and potentially deadly, heatstroke.
Interim Charlotte City attorney Anthony Fox is not interested in the role full time, according to a spokesperson for the city.

PAST COVERAGE: Interim city attorney in the spotlight as Charlotte City Council votes to settle

Foxs contract expires at the end of June but Mayor Vi Lyles has been informally asking councilmembers if they are interested in extending it.

A spokesperson says Fox remains willing to serve his community in 2025 as the council desires.

A spokesperson for the city of Charlotte says Anthony Fox is not interested in the city attorney role full time. He is not ruling out an extension. His contract expires at the end of June but "he remains willing serve his community in 2025 as the Council desires." https://t.co/vZ5x46ctyC  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 13, 2025

This comes as the Charlotte City Council made the controversial move to settle with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings.

VIDEO: Inside the technicalities of how Charlotte City Councils settlement vote passed
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concluded on May 12 that Russia was responsible for downing flight MH17 in July 2014.

Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport en-route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 17, 2014. Three hours into the flight, the Boeing-777 was shot down by Russian proxy forces using a Buk surface-to-air missile above Ukraines Donetsk Oblast.

All 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board, among them 196 Dutch citizens, were killed.

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Russia never claimed responsibility for the disaster, instead fanning conspiracy theories to shift the blame elsewhere.

A "large majority" of ICAO members ruled in favor of the Netherlands and Australia in a case brought forth before the international body in 2022, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ruling deemed Russia "responsible for the downing of Flight MH17" adding that Russia's actions "violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention," the statement added.

"In the coming weeks the ICAO Council will consider what form of reparation is in order," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said. "In that context the Netherlands and Australia are requesting that the ICAO Council order the Russian Federation to enter into negotiations with the Netherlands and Australia, and that the Council facilitate this process."

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Relatives of the MH17 crash victims insist that Russia's recognition of responsibility for the downing of the plane should be part of a possible peace deal on ending Moscow's all-out war against Ukraine, European Pravda reported on Feb. 26, citing obtained copies of letters.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada Yulia Kovaliv, who also serves as Kyiv's ICAO representative, told European Pravda that the decision marks "another important step in holding (Russia) accountable."

"Civil aviation is a painful topic for the Russians, and we will continue working to ensure that violators of the Chicago Convention, such as Russia and Iran, are held accountable, Kovaliv added.

The District Court of The Hague in November 2022 sentenced in absentia two Russian nationals and one Ukrainian national to life imprisonment for their involvement in the downing of flight MH17. A fourth defendant, also a Russian national, was acquitted on the grounds of insufficient evidence connecting him to the crime.

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In another incident on Dec. 25, a Russian Pantsir air defense missile likely caused an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash over Russian airspace, killing 38 of the 67 people on board.

Baku has previously accused Russia of accidentally shooting down the plane and demanded an admission of guilt and reparations.

Read also: The downing of MH17, and Russias responsibility













Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Priya Saxena, center, receives congratulations from her attorney, Jim Leach, foreground, after graduating with a master's and doctoral degree from South Dakota Mines on May 10, 2025, in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

RAPID CITY  Priya Saxena was staying up late to read comments about her doctoral dissertation around 1 a.m. on April 7 when she saw the message in her email.

I was numb at the time, she testified through tears Tuesday in a Rapid City courtroom, where she continued her fight to remain in the country.

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The email from U.S. immigration officials said her visa was revoked. Saxena called some friends and holed up in her bedroom.

I was scared, she said, and I had no idea what to do next.

Her fear was based on the realization that I could be deported at any time, she said. A student from India, she was less than a month away from graduating with masters and doctoral degrees from South Dakota Mines, something shed been working toward for five years.

Her visa revocation was triggered by a criminal records check of international students undertaken by the Trump administration. The check turned up a four-year-old misdemeanor traffic conviction against Saxena, for failing to pull over for an emergency vehicle in Meade County.

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The check also turned up a charge of driving under the influence against her from the same 2021 traffic stop, but her blood tested within the legal limit and the charge was dismissed. She had disclosed those legal matters to immigration officials when she obtained her most recent visa in 2022.

The criminal records check was part of a broader action by the Trump administration against more than 1,000 international students nationwide, not only for items appearing on their records but also for activity the administration described as anti-Semetic, such as publicly protesting Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

The administration initially terminated students records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which is used by colleges to verify and manage international student eligibility. Then the administration backtracked, leaving students such as Saxena with restored educational status but in limbo with their visas and their future.

Saxena testified that she decided to book a plane ticket to India and leave the country voluntarily, but then postponed the ticket and ultimately canceled it after speaking to a defense attorney in Rapid City, Jim Leach. Since then, theyve sued U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem  the former governor of South Dakota  and Noems agency. The lawsuit alleges its illegal for the government to instigate an immigration enforcement action against Saxena for something the government already knew about before it issued her current visa.

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With her degrees now in hand, and her visa not scheduled to expire until 2027, Saxena would like to apply for a program that allows international students to remain in the country and work in fields related to their degrees. Saxena has a doctorate in chemical and biological engineering and a masters in chemical engineering.

U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier granted Saxena a temporary restraining order last month and extended it long enough for her to walk across the graduation stage and collect her degrees on Saturday at South Dakota Mines  the same day Noem appeared at another South Dakota institution, Dakota State University in Madison, to receive an honorary degree and deliver a commencement address. Noem was met by hundreds of protesters outside that ceremony.

On Tuesday, as Saxena was in court in Rapid City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement was conducting a worksite enforcement action in Madison, where the agency made a total of eight arrests at two Madison businesses.

Saxenas restraining order is scheduled to expire at the end of this week. Her court hearing Tuesday was about her request for a temporary injunction. That would stop the government from pursuing any further immigration enforcement proceedings against her while her lawsuit is pending. Judge Schreier heard testimony and arguments and said shell issue a written decision in the next few days.

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Leach argued that Saxena needs protection from unlawful and unpredictable actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He referenced the agencys widespread deportation efforts under President Donald Trump and its shifting policies.

Everybodys afraid of ICE now, and shes afraid, Leach said of Saxena.

Michaele Hofmann, an assistant U.S. attorney, argued that a temporary injunction would improperly restrain the government from taking further action if Saxena engages in additional criminal activity, or if Saxena violates the terms of her U.S. residency in other ways. Hofmann argued that if a temporary injunction is granted, it should be narrowly tailored to allow the government to act in response to those possibilities.

EDITORS NOTE: This story was updated at 8:30 a.m. Central on May 14, 2025, with new information about the number of arrests made in a Madison immigration enforcement action.
PORTER COUNTY, Ind.  An internationally wanted man was charged with several counts related to fraud after he was arrested Saturday in Porter County.

Just after 2 p.m. a DEA agent was parked near mile marker 36 on I-90 when he observed a vehicle with dark window tint following a semi-truck dangerously close.

The driver, later identified as Anatolie Cataraga, 41, of Philadelphia, was pulled over around mile marker 40 and gave the agent a false name, according to court documents.

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Cataraga said he spoke Russian and the agent communicated with him using a translator device.

The agent noticed unusual wear and tear near the central air vent during a search, according to documents.

Internationally wanted man found with 130 credit cards in Porter County

The agent removed the vent and observed a black satchel inside of it. The satchel contained 130 cards, described as poor quality credit cards, and a wallet containing three passports, one from Romania and two from Moldova.

There was matching government IDs with Cataragas face on them and multiple skimming devices were located as well, court documents allege.

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A Porter County detective went to the Hobart Police Department that evening to interview Cataraga.

A Hobart detective told the responding detective that Cataraga had an active warrant out of Moldova by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).

The Porter County detective scanned each bank card and found that none of them matched information to what was on the physical card. The detective noted in a court document that four digit codes were placed on the back of each card.

Authorities allege Cataraga was using skimming devices and then re-coding the cards with stolen information.

He was charged with four counts of fraud, identity deception and unlawful sale or possession of a transaction manipulation device.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  A pursuit that started in Idaho ended on I-15 in Weber County early Monday morning.

Utah Highway Patrol said Idaho State Police alerted northern Utah authorities around 11 a.m. about a pursuit of a black Range Rover that was headed toward the Utah state line.

Man hospitalized in overnight shooting involving Salt Lake City Police Department

Shortly after Idaho State Police canceled their pursuit, Box Elder Troopers and officers with the Tremonton Police Department found the Range Rover on eastbound I-84. As Utah officers turned around to make contact with the Range Rover, it allegedly sped off at a high rate of speed.

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The pursuit reportedly continued until it reached southbound I-15. As the pursuit passed Brigham City, Weber County Troopers were alerted and prepared for spikes. As the Range Rover approached the Weber County line, Box Elder Troopers say they lost sight of the car and called off their pursuit.

(Courtesy: Utah Highway Patrol)

Moments later, Weber County troopers successfully spiked the suspects car at mile marker 349 in Farr West.

The southbound lanes of I-15 were briefly shut down as troopers with Utah Highway Patrol conducted a felony stop. The driver and passenger of the Range Rover were then safely taken into custody without any further incident.

Utah Highway Patrol said the two were booked into the Box Elder County Jail and both face felony charges. Their identities have not been released.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
DENVER (KDVR)  Boulder County Sheriffs Office deputies are investigating a report of someone shooting an ultralight airplane Friday near the Longmont airport.

A Longmont city employee reported a voice message on Friday, May 9, at approximately 7:24 p.m. to the Boulder County Sheriffs Office. The caller claimed to have shot at an in-flight ultralight aircraft near the Vance Brand Longmont Municipal Airport, which is located on Airport Road in Longmont.

Boulders lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, Suncor allowed to continue

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The sheriffs office said that since deputies were notified, there have been no victims or damage identified or reported in this case. The Boulder County Sheriffs Office, Longmont Department of Public Safety, Transportation Safety Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were all notified and remain in contact during the ongoing active investigation.

The sheriffs office said that investigators have been in contact with a person of interest but are not releasing any identifying information at this time.

We do not have information leading us to believe there is an active threat to the aviation community utilizing the Vance Brand Longmont Municipal Airport, the sheriffs office said Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boulder County Sheriffs Office tips line at 303-441-3674. The case number is 25-02237.

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14-year-old arrested on assault charges after man found shot in Salisbury

SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A 14-year-old is facing assault charges after a man was found shot Tuesday evening.

Officers were called to the 1300 block of Tabernacle Street around 4:45 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

When crews arrived, they found a 20-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim was conscious and alert at the time and was airlifted to Atrium Health Presbyterian Charlotte. Officials say hes in critical condition. His name is being temporarily withheld at this time.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

Police have arrested a 14-year-old in connection with this incident. The juvenile has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury, and attempted robbery with a deadly weapon.

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Due to the suspects age, no additional information will be released.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Salisbury Police at 704-638-5333 or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

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Pharmacists who advocated for legislation setting regulations on pharmacy benefit managers celebrated from the Iowa House gallery as the chamber sent the bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk May 12, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa House lawmakers sent legislation to implement restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers to Gov. Kim Reynolds Monday, a bill supporters said will help keep rural pharmacies in business  but that opponents said could lead to higher insurance and drug costs for Iowans.

Pharmacists celebrated from the gallery as the House voted 75-15 Monday on Senate File 383, the legislation setting some restrictions and regulations on pharmacy benefit managers. PBMs are the entities that negotiate prescription drug prices between manufacturers, health insurance companies and pharmacies.

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The bill sets new restrictions on certain PBM practices that supporters of the measure argue are major factors contributing to the closure of local and rural pharmacies in the states. It creates multiple restrictions on PBMs use of strategies that favor a specific pharmacy to fill a prescription, like different cost-sharing rates or fees, or other financial penalties or incentives.

The legislation would also require pharmacies to be reimbursed at the average state or national acquisition cost of a drug.

Rep. Brett Barker, R-Nevada, said the bill was needed to combat practices by PBMs, which he said have manipulated the U.S. health care system and stacked the deck against consumers, pharmacies, employers and taxpayers.

These monopolistic companies have become three of the most powerful corporations in the world from profiting off an opaque and complex system at the expense of everyone else in supply chain, Barker said. These abusive, anti-competitive practices have created an epidemic of pharmacy closures and rising prescription drug prices nationwide.  Community pharmacists want to care for their communities, and its time that they get an even playing field to do just that.

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Pharmacists and advocates have spoken out in favor of the bill, saying that current PBM practices favoring mail-order prescription refills and pharmacy chains have played a major role in the closure of more than 200 pharmacies across the state, including 31 pharmacies in 2024. The measure was amended by the Senate to make some definition changes for how drug rebates received by PBMs would be passed through to health insurance companies to lower coverage costs, but Democratic Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott said the amendment could lead to higher health insurance costs for Iowans.

Some business leaders share these concerns, citing the Legislative Services Agency analysis that found the bill could result in higher costs and copays for the states health insurance program. According to a news release Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) from earlier in May, the bill could result in an additional $340 million in costs for private-sector health insurance plans and raised costs of approximately $169 per insured Iowan annually.

Leaders representing business organizations like ABI, the Iowa Business Council and Iowa chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business released a statement urging lawmakers to make further changes to the legislation that will ensure health coverage costs do not rise for Iowans.

ABI members and Iowa businesses support policies that improves access to care. But this legislation simply shifts hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs to employers and working families, Nicole Crain, ABI president said in the news release.

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Rep. Jeff Cooling, D-Cedar Rapids, introduced an amendment that he said would limit prescription drug cost increases for Iowans, but the proposal failed. He said he believed the portion of the bill setting a dispensing reimbursement fee of $10.68 from PBMs to pharmacists for each prescription would be a cost put on Iowans filling their prescriptions.

Cooling said the bill allows the insurance or employer group to decide whether to cover the dispensing fee.

As a representative in this state, I cant imagine an employer that is going to say, yes, thats okay insurance company, raise my rates, Ill cover that,' Cooling said. What to me seems far more likely is (saying), no pass that on. So I believe a vote for this is a vote to raise prescription costs per fill by $10.68 if someone fills them at an independent pharmacy.

He also said this provision will likely further incentivize Iowans to fill their prescriptions at larger pharmacies and increase financial pressures on independent and rural pharmacies, as people filling their prescriptions at larger, chain companies which do not receive the $10.68 dispensing fee.

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Thats fine, but when folks figure out that they can go to a larger pharmacy and not have to pay that $10.68 at the counter, where do you think theyre going to go to save money? Coolin said. Thats what I think will happen. I think even with the best of intentions with this bill, that it will not fix the problem that we all want to fix.

But the Iowa Pharmacy Association, a major supporter of the bill, released a statement urging the legislation, as passed by the Senate, to go to the governors desk. In a news release, the organization stated other states have implemented similar PBM regulations and have not seen health insurance premiums increase.

Wes Pilkington, the president-elect of the Iowa Pharmacy Association Board of Trustees and owner of Evans Crossing Pharmacy, said in a statement that further changes to the bill are only designed to protect the massive profits of Big Insurance and the PBMs they own.

Big Insurance makes huge profits on the current system which leads to pharmacy closures and harm to Iowas patients, Pilkington said. This legislation is designed to help Iowa pharmacies, NOT protect Fortune 10 insurance companies.

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Barker dismissed the criticisms of the bill as misinformation.

Despite mistruths many you have heard in this room tonight, dark money, astroturf campaigns and fear mongering, we have a really good bill in front of us that will move the needle to protect vital health care infrastructure in our state, Barker said.  By sending this bill to the governor, Iowa will take a huge step to catch back up with states across the country who have taken a leading role in reforming a broken system by reining in abusive PBM practices.

Kate Gainer, CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, celebrated the bills passage in a statement Monday.

This bill is a critical step toward protecting Iowas local pharmacies and ensuring accountability for PBMs, whose practices have forced Iowa pharmacies to shutter their doors and countless Iowans to lose healthcare access, Gainer said. With states nationwide enacting similar reforms, were grateful the House and Senate have paved the way for Governor Reynolds to sign this bill and safeguard Iowas pharmacies and the patients they serve.
DES MOINES, Iowa  The Iowa House on Monday passed the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform bill and sent it to the governors desk.

PBMs are entities that negotiate the prices for prescription drugs between pharmacies and insurance companies, handle reimbursements to pharmacies, and determines where a patient can get their medications from. Champions for the reform bill say that the current practices of PBMs are detrimental and have resulted in numerous pharmacies closing across the state.

Golf tournament raises $30,000 for families of Iowa veterans and first responders in first swing

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The reform bill, SF 383, passed the House 75 to 15. It requires PBMs to reimburse pharmacies based on the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost for prescription drugs and to reimburse pharmacies with a professional dispensing fee.

Following the passage of the bill, the Iowa Pharmacy Association released a statement thanking the Legislature for protecting Iowa pharmacies and their patients.

We commend the Iowa House for recognizing the urgent need to address PBM middlemen abuses. This bill is a critical step toward protecting Iowas local pharmacies and ensuring accountability for PBMs, whose practices have forced Iowa pharmacies to shutter their doors and countless Iowans to lose healthcare access. With states nationwide enacting similar reforms, were grateful the House and Senate have paved the way for Governor Reynolds to sign this bill and safeguard Iowas pharmacies and the patients they serve. Iowa Pharmacy Association CEO Kate Gainer

The bill is now eligible to be signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

Iowa News:

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DES MOINES, Iowa  After two decades in the Iowa Pharmacy Association, CEO Kate Gainer is stepping down.

Working for the IPA has brought so much meaning to my life, both professionally and personally, she said.

Gainer started working in the IPA in 2005 and was named the CEO in 2011. She was at the forefront of advocating for legislation supporting pharmacies across the state.

On Monday, a PBM reform bill passed the Iowa legislature and is now headed to the Governors desk.

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During this legislative session, Gainer has organized several meetings at the Capitol where IPA members and community members demonstrated their support for reform. The most recent was Monday morning, ahead of the Houses debate on the bill.

Her efforts led to the passing of what she calls a historic reform bill.

Gainer said she will mainly miss the people she created close relationships with over her 20 years.

The highlight for me working for IPA isnt a singular piece of legislation or an achievement from our strategic plan, but its truly the relationships that Ive built with so many pharmacists across the state and its the people that have meant the most and have made this work really, really rewarding, she said.

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Gainer will stay in Iowa, but will take time to spend with her family before deciding whats next.

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Up until this week, tariffs between China and the United States had reached new heights, spurring uncertainty among Nebraska farmers and the agricultural industry at large.

A new 90-day truce between the two countries, rolling back most of their recent tariff increases, promises to bring some relief but still leaves more to be desired as Nebraska producers look to open up new markets, officials said.

Jordan Dux, the senior director of national affairs for the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said the bureau is grateful for President Donald Trump's efforts to secure the deal announced Monday, but he said there are bigger goals for the agriculture industry.

"The 90-day pause is good, the bringing down the tariff rates, that's a positive thing," Dux said. "At the same time, hopefully the negotiations continue and we get to a point where we are seeing increased market access for Nebraska ag products."

U.S. tariffs levied against Chinese products fell sharply from 145% to 30% as part of the trade deal, and Chinese tariffs on American goods dropped from 125% to 10%. The deal comes amid a similar agreement with the United Kingdom signed last week and as negotiations with the European Union, which has targeted Nebraska beef among other products, continue.

Trade competition

Nebraska's agricultural industry is always trying to find new markets for its products, including soybeans, pork and beef, and tariffs have an impact on those efforts.

China is the top destination for U.S. soybeans  but the country could be a good market for U.S. pork products, Dux said.

Nebraskas agricultural exports totaled $7.9 billion in 2023, according to the Nebraska Farm Bureaus Agricultural and International Trade report based on the latest available trade data.

That number represents a drop in export value of about $2 billion, a 21% fall from the previous year and one of the steeper falls in recent history, which was created in collaboration with Rolling Prairie Economics.

But exports were also higher in the period between 2020 and 2023 than ever before, driven by products like soybeans, corn, grain and beef.

The report highlighted competition from Brazil as one of the reasons for a decline in trade with other countries. In 2023, Brazil surpassed the United States as the largest exporter of corn in the world, and China increased the amount of soybeans it sourced from Brazil in 2022 while decreasing what it got from the U.S.

The report also noted lower commodity prices and a decrease in beef production as contributing to the export decline.

The U.S. isn't the only country pursuing trade deals. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and other Latin American leaders are set to meet with President Xi Jinping of China this week to discuss trade and economic opportunities. Those discussions could impact the United State's position in Chinese markets.

Farm forecast

Although shifting tariff rates are creating uncertain outcomes for farmers, a recent report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows some good signs, with a strong cattle sector and federal relief boosting the industry.

The report produced by UNL's Center for Agricultural Profitability in partnership with a University of Missouri policy analysis center found that farm profits are to set to increase by about $3.35 billion in Nebraska. Total profits for producers are expected to be about $9.42 billion with livestock products generating $370 million more than last year, while crops are set to generate about $210 million less.

It's almost like a tale of two farms, or more specifically, a farm and a ranch, said Brad Lubben, an agricultural policy specialist at UNL. Because on the farm side of the ledger, on the crop side of the ledger, we actually see lower commodity prices and lower prospects for crop receipts.

At the same time, there have been real gains in the cattle industry, Lubben said, with high demand and record prices.

The boost is also attributable to a projected $1.58 billion in additional payments from the federal government. The payments are part of the federal American Relief Act of 2025, which authorized about $10 billion in aid to farmers to mitigate input costs and falling prices, according to the federal Department of Agriculture.

But the report has a caveat: It doesn't account for the uncertainties of trade conflicts.

Those are real uncertainties right now for producers and even at strong economic projections, it's concerns about the road ahead, Lubben said. And that helps to sort of explain the more pessimistic producer sentiment that we see out there."
A dog at Wuanita Swedlund's kennels in Farmington, Iowa, as photographed by USDA inspectors. (USDA photo courtesy of Humane World for Animals)

Iowa is again ranked near the top of the list in the annual Horrible Hundred tally of states with the most dog breeders and brokers cited by regulators.

The nonprofit Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States, recently published its 2025 installment of its annual Horrible Hundred report cataloging the most egregious regulatory violations as cited by state and federal inspectors of puppy mills.

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For the 13th year in a row, Missouri had the highest number of dealers in the report, with 26 different operators listed. Missouri was followed by Ohio, with 16 operators; Iowa, with 12, and New York and Pennsylvania, with 11 each.

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More than half of the breeders in this years report are USDA licensed, which means they can legally sell large numbers of puppies to pet stores and to online consumers they havent met in person. Thirty-eight of the breeders in the report are repeat offenders who have been included in one or more of the 12 most recent reports.

The Iowa breeders and the violations listed in the 2025 report are:

A dog at Stonehenge Kennels in West Point, Iowa, as photographed by USDA inspectors in 2023. (USDA photo courtesy of Humane World for Animals)

Steve Kruse of Stonehenge Kennel in West Point: In 2024, after two license suspensions and after appearing in seven prior Horrible Hundred reports, this massive kennel was cited for additional violations. Inspectors noted that the inside of four food bowls were smeared with dried feces or a thick buildup of dark brown organic material.

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Over the years, more than 140 sick or ailing dogs have been found at the kennel. Kruse received a 21-day suspension from the USDA in March 2023, and in 2021 at least 199 dogs were euthanized at the facility.

Brian Lichirie in West Point: Lichirie is licensed to resell dogs bred by himself or by others to pet stores and other outlets. Sales records suggest he is closely linked to Steve Kruse of Stonehenge Kennel and another Iowa breeder, Wuanita Swedlund. A lawsuit filed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 2024 alleges the USDA has allowed dealers such as Kruse to launder dogs through other dealers, such as Lichirie.

A USDA inspection report dated May 30, 2024, indicates that the agency performed a special inspection to recheck four dogs at the kennel, although the reasons for that are unknown. A February 2025 USDA inspection indicates Lichirie had more than 300 animals at that time.

Wuanita Swedlund of Farmington: In December 2024, USDA inspectors found a number of concerns at Swedlunds breeding operation, including a heavily matted dog, several dogs with no water, and an enclosure that was heavily contaminated with fecal material.

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Swedlunds business was referenced in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lawsuit against the USDA after six of Swedlunds puppies died in the cold and she was neither fined nor penalized. Past violations at Swedlunds kennel include references to a dog that was able to enter an adjoining enclosure and partially eat a puppy that later had to be euthanized.

Sherry and Steve Akers of Westwind Wheatens in Red Oak: This AKC-inspected breeder failed two consecutive state inspections in 2024. Inspectors reported two limping dogs, and issued violations for 17 heavily matted dogs, a very strong and nearly overwhelming odor of animal waste, and unvaccinated animals.

Robin Demmer of Demmer Doodles in Bernard: During a July 2024 inspection, state inspectors cited this business for four violations. Issues included unsanitary conditions and dogs in need of vaccines. The business also appeared to have acquired at least two litters of puppies from Wisconsin with no proof of vaccination.

Julie Krause of The Buttercream Ranch in Algona: In October 2024, inspectors cited this establishment for selling 17 underage puppies and going more than a year with no visit by a veterinarian. Inspectors also reported some dogs had no medical records. Two visits by state inspectors in 2023 were cataloged as attempted, indicating no one was present to let inspectors review the business.

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Heath Rex Meyers of Century Farm Puppies in Grundy Center: Meyers received an official warning from the USDA in March 2025 after incurring a variety of violations in 2023 and 2024. Some of Meyers recent USDA violations included a January 2025 violation for rodent feces around dog food.

In 2024, the USDA reported two dogs were in need of veterinary care, including one which had a 5-inch long wound on her side and a 2-inch wound on her neck. The other dog was in such poor dental health that blood was visible in her mouth and she was reacting painfully, inspectors said. In addition, some dogs had no water, and inspectors reported unsanitary conditions. Also in 2024, a female bichon was found with two of her toes trapped in the flooring of her kennel. After being freed, the dog was limping.

Beverly and Douglas Prier of Rocky Valley Shelties and Douglas Shepherds & Doods in Dyersville: During an inspection in June 2024, state inspectors found multiple violations, including kennel parts that were unsanitary or had sharp areas that could hurt the dogs. Inspectors also reported a lack of records to prove that veterinary care had been provided and that dogs were being adequately tracked when bought and sold.

Terisa Steiber of Rockytopp Kennels in Lansing: USDA inspectors who visited Rockytopp Kennels in August 2024 found five violations. No veterinarian had visited the kennel in roughly 17 months, at least 72 dogs did not have up-to-date examinations, at least 25 dogs were overdue for rabies vaccinations, and conditions were unsanitary, with dirty walls and feeding receptacles. When inspectors tried to visit again in December 2024, they were denied access to the business.

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Rhonda Van Der Zwaag of Van Der Zwaag German Shepherds in Hull: In July 2024, Van der Zwaag failed a state inspection due to lack of proof that a veterinarian had visited the facility since September 2022. In 2022, state inspectors found that multiple puppies at this business had died of parvovirus and other causes, highlighting the need for regular veterinary oversight at the property.

Ruthi Wheatley of Wheatley Kennels in Adair: A state inspector who visited Wheatley Kennels in January 2025 noted that the owner refused inspection [because] non-compliant issues from October 2024 have [not] been fixed, adding, I talked with the owner and gave them a two-week plan to move the dogs to a new facility on the property since they are unable to bring the current facility into compliance.

Despite not being shown around the kennel, the inspector noted that While parking my car in the drive and going to the residence I observed one dog run approximately 20 feet by 20 feet  that was 90 to 95 percent covered in feces and urine. I told the owner what I saw in the run and she stated that [it] has not been cleaned [due] to the weather and other ongoing projects at the farm. We discussed the lack of ability to bring the facility into compliance and the options for housing areas on the property. The owners have another facility licensed as a commercial kennel on the property they are moving the commercial breeding dogs into and suspending the boarding activity to make room for the breeding animals.

Terry Yoder of BRs Dobermans in Riverside: In March 2025, it was reported that 17 dead dogs were found on the property of BRs Dobermans. Forty-nine dogs were seized, many of them in poor health, after an individual reported acquiring two sickly dogs from the kennel. The kennel had been inspected two months earlier and was deemed then to be in compliance with all regulations.

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Between summer 2024 and winter 2025, state inspectors were denied access to BRs Dobermans on three occasions and were unable to perform any inspections at the site. Earlier in 2024, inspectors reported excessive trash and clutter, mouse feces present on all surfaces throughout the facility, enclosures that were coated in dirt, hair, feces and grime, bad odors and more.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  For many Iowa students, theres only a couple more weeks till school is out. However, when they return next fall, some may find their schools policy on phones has changed due to a law going into effect this summer.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed the law on April 30; it directs Iowa schools to develop policies that restrict the use of electronic devices during class and setting up ways they will securely store students phones.

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The superintendents of Westwood Community Schools and Lawton-Bronson Community School District both say theyve had these policies in place before the Governors law.

In the elementary, students are not to have them out during the day. They leave them in their bags and in their lockers. High school differs. Some of them have baskets, and when you walk in the room, you have to deposit your phone in the basket, and when you walk out of the room at the end of class, you can pick your phone up. And, you know, if its not a basket, its some other container, said Chad Shook, the superintendent with Lawton-Bronson Community School District.

Due to the new law, both school districts are making a few changes to comply with it.

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A lot of it is looking at our policies and see how they match up, and one of the things that I know right now our policies dont include wearable devices as much as it probably should. So that is one thing that the governor put in there is wearable technology needs to be addressed, and so well be addressing that this summer, said Jay Lutt, the superintendent with Westwood Community Schools.

Were talking about methods of collecting cell phones when kids come to class that are consistent from classroom to classroom. Right now, thats kind of in the hands of our teachers, but we want to be consistent. You know, when were talking about adapting the model policy put about put out by the Department of Education, said Shook.

Rob Sand announces run for Iowa governor

Lawton-Bronsons superintendent says he doesnt see why this needed to become a law when many schools were already tackling the issue.

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I feel like this is something that our teachers, parents, students, school board are very capable of handling. Im not sure that we needed legislation to address this, but its here. So, well make sure where we fall in line like all the other schools, said Shook.

Iowa schools need to have some sort of cell phone policy in place by July 1 when the law goes into effect.

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DES MOINES, IOWA  For the first time in four sessions, the Iowa Senate took up legislation on the use of eminent domain relating to carbon dioxide pipelines.

HF 639 passed through the chamber by a vote of 27 to 22 Monday night. While the bill doesnt prohibit the use of eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines on agricultural land, it adds requirements relating to the process.

It says that a pipeline company shall hold informational meetings in each county where property rights will be affected 30 days prior to filing a petition for a new pipeline. It requires that at least one member of the commission attend each of the informational meetings. It also adds insurance requirements for pipeline companies for all damages and operations of the hazardous liquid pipeline.

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Iowa House sends PBM reform bill to governors desk

The Iowa House passed another version that would prohibit the use of eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines on agricultural land. The Iowa Senate did not bring that version to the floor, and voted down Republican and Democrat amendments attempting to change the bill to that.

State Senator Mike Bousselot attempted to amend the bill to ban the use of eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines in the future, but not including the pipeline by Summit Carbon Solutions. That amendment failed by a vote of 22 to 28.

The group of 12 Iowa Republican Senators who were withholding a vote on state budget bills spoke in favor of this legislation, but also expressed frustration that the full prohibition of eminent domain was not passed.

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Crowds of Iowa landowners were waiting all day after the hours of caucusing by both parties, waiting for action to be taken. The landowners wanted the full prohibition as well, but are still in favor of the requirements added by the legislation.

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By John Irish and Parisa Hafezi

PARIS/DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran will hold talks in Istanbul on Friday with European parties to their now-moribund 2015 nuclear deal, two European and an Iranian diplomatic source said on Tuesday,

The talks among senior diplomats come as both sides seek to position themselves ahead of an expected fifth round of U.S.-Iranian negotiations in the coming days.

Earlier talks planned on May 2 were postponed with Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, initially hesitant over concerns such talks could create a parallel track and hijack the negotiations pursued by the Trump administration that Washington says aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

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But diplomats said they opted to go ahead because it was ultimately in their interest to maintain dialogue with Iran and reaffirm how they envisaged the parameters of a new nuclear deal.

Iran is also keen to hold the talks to keep its options open and assess where the European powers stand regarding the reimposition of U.N. sanctions, something Iran's foreign minister warned them on Monday against doing.

Relations between the E3 and Iran have worsened over the last year despite sporadic meetings, against a backdrop of new sanctions imposed on Tehran over its ballistic missile programme, its detention of foreign citizens and support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Under terms of a U.N. resolution ratifying a 2015 nuclear pact, the three European powers could reimpose United Nations sanctions against Tehran before October 18, known in diplomatic circles as the "snapback mechanism."

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The European powers are not part of current negotiations between Iran and the United States, the fourth round of which ended in Oman on Sunday.

But the three powers have sought to coordinate closely with Washington with a view to whether and when they should use the snapback mechanism to raise pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.

According to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters, the E3 countries may trigger a snapback by August if no substantial deal can be reached by then.

The next round of talks between Iran and the U.S. to resolve disputes over Tehran's nuclear programme will be held in the coming days after both sides have consulted with their respective capitals, according to Oman, which mediates the negotiations.

(Reporting by John Irish and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Rod Nickel)
Iraq has released more than 19,000 prisoners under a sweeping amnesty law designed to relieve pressure on its overcrowded prison system, including inmates convicted of being members of ISIL (ISIS).

The move offers legal reprieves to some individuals convicted on terrorism-related charges, judicial authorities said on Tuesday.

The law has also halted all executions, including for former ISIL members. The group once controlled nearly a third of Iraqs territory after sweeping across the country in 2014, capturing major cities, including Mosul, Tikrit and Fallujah, before they were vanquished in 2017.

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The years of their control killed thousands of people, displaced hundreds of thousands, decimated the Yazidi population and left vast areas in ruins. Many members were arrested as Iraqi forces retook ISIL-held areas.

The amnesty law, enacted in January, allows certain prisoners convicted of belonging to armed groups to seek release, a retrial or have their cases dismissed. However, those found guilty of killings linked to extremism are excluded from eligibility.

The legislation was strongly backed by Sunni lawmakers, many of whom have long argued that anti-terrorism laws disproportionately targeted Sunni communities in the years after Iraqs clampdown on ISIL.

Detainees will now be permitted to request retrials if they claim their confessions were obtained through torture or coercion while in custody.

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After a meeting in Baghdad chaired by Supreme Judicial Council President Faeq Zeidan, officials confirmed that 19,381 prisoners had been freed from January to April.





The total number of individuals benefitting from the law  including those sentenced in absentia, granted bail or with arrest warrants lifted  now stands at 93,597, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

The reforms come amid mounting pressure on Iraqs penal system. Justice Minister Khalid Shwani said this month that the countrys 31 prisons held about 65,000 inmates  nearly double their intended capacity.

When we took office, overcrowding stood at 300 percent, he told The Associated Press news agency. After two years of reform, weve reduced it to 200 percent. Our goal is to bring that down to 100 percent by next year in line with international standards.

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Thousands more people remain in the custody of Iraqs security forces but have yet to be transferred to the Ministry of Justice due to lack of space.

Among those released under the new amnesty are individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes such as corruption, theft and drug use.

Iraq has faced international criticism for its use of the death penalty. Rights groups have condemned mass executions and opaque legal processes, including carrying out death sentences without notifying prisoners families or legal representatives.

Last month, Amnesty International expressed concern after at least 13 men were put to death in Nasiriya Central Prison in the southern governorate of Thi Qar following their convictions on overly broad and vague terrorism charges.
BAGHDAD (AP)  More than 19,000 prisoners have been released in Iraq so far this year under a broad new amnesty law that eases prison crowding and frees some people convicted of terrorism-related crimes, judicial authorities said Tuesday.

The amnesty covers some people convicted of the terror-related offense of membership in the Islamic State group, which had been seen by Sunni Muslims as disproportionately targeting their community. However, anyone convicted of a killing in connection with terrorism-related charges is not eligible for the amnesty. Other crimes covered under the amnesty include corruption, theft and drug use.

The number of releases were announced following a meeting Tuesday in Baghdad among top judicial officials led by the head of the Supreme Judicial Council Faeq Zeidan to discuss the implementation of the new law, passed earlier this year.

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A statement released after the meeting said that 19,381 inmates were released from prisons during the first four months of the year. It added that the overall number of beneficiaries of the law, including those sentenced in absentia, those released on bail and those with outstanding arrest warrants, reached 93,597.

Iraq's prisons face a crisis of overcrowding, with the justice minister saying earlier this month that the country's 31 prisons hold about 65,000 inmates despite being built to hold only about half that number.

Thousands more detainees remain in the custody of security agencies but have not yet been transferred to the Justice Ministry due to a lack of prison capacity.

Among provisions of the new law adopted in January is that some people convicted of terrorism charges can ask for a retrial if they assert that their confessions were taken under duress while in detention.

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The general amnesty law had strong support from Sunni lawmakers who argue that their community has been targeted by terrorism charges, with confessions sometimes extracted under torture.

Thousands of detainees held in the country are linked to the Islamic State group, which was defeated in Iraq in 2017. Some former members of the extremist group were executed for their acts while they controlled large parts of the country.

All executions have been halted under the general amnesty law.

Iraq has faced criticism from human rights groups over its application of the death penalty and particularly over mass executions carried out without prior notice to lawyers or family members of the prisoners.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Iron Fire, burning in the Gila Wilderness north of Silver City, was 100 percent contained as of Monday afternoon, May 12, fire officials announced in a news release issued Tuesday morning.

The fire started on May 4 and was caused by lightning, fire officials said.

Windy conditions that first day quickly caused the fire to expand and it initially was estimated to have reached 901 acres.

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But after crews used GPS and walk-arounds to get a better estimate, the fire was estimated to be about half of that. Final estimates had the fire at 482 acres.

Command of the fire will transfer back to the Gila National Forest at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, fire officials said.

On behalf of the entire Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team, I want to extend my thanks to the local communities and partners for the incredible support shown throughout the week, Incident Commander Marcus Cornwell said. As we return command to the Gila National Forest, the team remains ready to assist southwest New Mexico with any wildfires that exceed the initial response.

In anticipation of high winds forecasted for Monday and Tuesday, all firefighting personnel were removed from the fireline on Sunday afternoon to ensure safety.

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Forecasted winds pose a significant hazard due to unstable snags (dead trees) within the fire area and limit the use of aircraft, fire officials said.

Three hotshot crews and three engines remain strategically positioned to provide initial attack support for any new fire starts within the Gila National Forest, fire officials said.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for southwest New Mexico, including parts of the Gila National Forest. This alert includes low relative humidity and 30-40 mph wind gusts, conditions that can lead to rapid fire spread. For details, visit: https://www.weather.gov/epz/

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions remain in place on the Gila National Forest. For full details, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/alerts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Update at 4:55 p.m.

IROQUOIS COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA)  The Iroquois County Sheriffs Department has provided an update on the shooting that happened near the Village of Iroquois Monday evening. Among other new details, authorities revealed that the victim of that shooting has died.

Officials said in a news release that they identified Nicholas Gregory, 38 of Milford, as the murder suspect, adding that he is in custody and charged with first-degree murder. The investigation revealed that before killing someone, he had stolen a car Monday night.

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UPDATE: Coroner IDs cyclist killed in Danville semi-truck crash

Officials said Gregory first parked his truck on a railroad crossing on County Road 2150N, just west of Iroquois, and then entered a nearby home. He exited the home and stole the homeowners car from the driveway.

Gregory then drove back to his truck, right as officials said 57-year-old Angela Taylor of Donovan was stopped in her car near the railroad crossing. She was unable to proceed because of Gregorys truck.

Gregory exited the stolen vehicle and approached Angelas vehicle. As Angela exited her vehicle to see what Gregory was doing, he fired one round from his pistol, striking her, officials said. Gregory fled the scene in the truck he parked on the railroad tracks.

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Taylor was taken to St. Marys Hospital in Kankakee, where she was pronounced dead.

Cowden shooting suspect out of custody, investigation continues

Officials added that after fleeing the scene of the murder, Gregory drove to a home in Watseka.

He interacted with the resident briefly before driving away and shouting that he was going to kill the resident, officials said. [The] Watseka Police Department began to assist in the search at that time.

Gregory was later found in Jasper County, Indiana, and a vehicular pursuit started that extended into Newton County, Indiana. He was arrested in the latter county, booked into its jail and extradited to Iroquois County.

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The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

IROQUOIS COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA)  A Monday evening shooting in Iroquois County left one person hurt and the suspected shooter in custody after officials said they fled to Indiana.

The shooting happened west of the Village of Iroquois in the area of 2150 N Road, officials from the Iroquois County Sheriffs Office said in a release. The dispatch center was informed that a person had been shot and the suspect had fled the scene.

Danville man sentenced to prison for aggravated domestic battery, battery while detained

Responding deputies took one person from the scene to St. Marys Hospital in Kankakee. Officials did not say what condition they are in.

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Later, the sheriffs office was informed by its counterparts in Jasper and Newton Counties in Indiana that deputies were involved in a pursuit of a vehicle suspected of being involved in the shooting. The driver of that vehicle was later arrested in northeastern Newton County and was booked into the Newton County Indiana Jail without incident and on unspecified charges.

WCIA reached out to the Iroquois County Sheriffs Office for more information; they could not share further details 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 WCIA.com.
CLARK COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)Detectives with the Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit arrested 33-year-old Derek James Pixley of Borden, Indiana.

Pixley was taken into custody Monday evening for the murder of Brittney Boman. Boman was killed in a shooting incident on October 2, 2022. Boman was shot on Brownstown Road in Henryville, Indiana. The Clark County Sheriffs Department responded to the shooting, and Boman was later transported to the University of Louisville Emergency Room, where she was hospitalized until December 30, 2022, when she succumbed to her injuries.

In December of 2024, the Clark County Sheriffs Department transferred the case to the Indiana State Polices Cold Case Unit. After conducting a new separate investigation, ISP detectives presented the completed case on May 7, 2025, and obtained an arrest warrant for Pixley.

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Detectives and troopers with ISP were able to locate Pixley during the evening on Monday in Scott County and made the arrest without incident. Pixley was then taken to the Clark County Jail, where he is currently incarcerated. The news release states that the investigation is still ongoing.

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 MyWabashValley.com.
Hamas propaganda always gets you in the end. This is the dark conclusion that emerges from the new trend for some conservatives to abandon their support for the Middle Easts only democracy.

Last week, the Tory MP Mark Pritchard made a speech in the House of Commons that seemed almost designed to appeal to social media. Ive been in this House for 20 years, he began. I have supported Israel pretty much at all costs, frankly. But today, I want to say that I got it wrong and I condemn Israel. While acknowledging the countrys right to exist and the need for the hostages to be freed  thanks for that!  he made no bones about his new position: Id like to withdraw my support right now.

This statement is perhaps best assessed by considering it through the eyes of the people it directly concerns. Firstly, lets look at it through the eyes of ordinary Gazans, with whom the MP would likely profess to be most concerned. On Friday, a contact in the Strip sent me a string of expletive-filled messages about Hamas after they issued a public threat to anybody who helped the Americans deliver aid. This morning, when I sent him Pritchards speech on WhatsApp, he replied in a scathing voice-note.

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He can come also to live in Gaza. He will change his mind, you know? He added his concern that such high-profile swivels of international support may inadvertently embolden Hamas, causing them to harden their position in ceasefire negotiations and bringing further suffering on ordinary Palestinians like himself.

I imagine the jihadis of Hamas would be cackling. They would be unlikely to have heard of the MP for The Wrekin, but from their point of view, every wins a win. Pritchard was obviously not supporting the terrorists, but in the bigger picture, that is likely how they would see it. After all, he was withdrawing support from the very country that Hamas has sworn to destroy, which is the whole point of their propaganda campaign.

For months  no, years  we have been aware of the pernicious falsity of Hamas propaganda. Whether falsifying casualty figures, exaggerating reports of famine or censoring footage so that it looks as if Israel is only targeting civilians, the methods have hardly been a secret. Sadly, however, they take their toll in the end.

Seen through the eyes of Jerusalem, Pritchards posturing will hardly cause sleepless nights. In the final analysis, Israel has an obligation to defend itself, whatever British MPs may think. As Zeev Jabotinsky, one of the fathers of modern Israel, put it: We are not to sit for anybodys examination and nobody is old enough to call on us to answer. We came before them and will leave after them. We are what we are, we are good for ourselves, we will not change, nor do we want to. No tears, in other words, are likely to be shed over a speech made by a parliamentarian whose reputation does not extend far beyond Westminster.

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Yet he is only one of several. Last week, Kit Malthouse abandoned his reputation for compromise by rousing a group of Conservatives from both chambers to further damage Tory electability by signing a letter to the Prime Minister pledging their support for the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State. The letter was leaked to the Guardian. Amusingly, Sir Keir just ignored them.

This is a trend that goes beyond Parliament to the drawing rooms of the conservative elites. Take Matthew Parris. Is he still a Tory? Its hard to know them from the Lib Dems these days. Either way, he has adopted the same line as the FT and the Economist, who both put the boot in to Israel last week.

How are our successors going to feel when one day British children are taught at school that, in their own century, their own countrymen averted their eyes while Palestinians faced a rain of missiles and bombs, with many tens of thousands dying in the assaults? he asked in a recent column.

In truth, Conservative Arabism is hardly something new, particularly among the upper crust. Lord Cameron has been pretty vocal in support of Gaza since October 7, repeatedly calling on Israel to pause while it was in danger of actually winning. He has made a point of backing the two-state solution to the hilt, which at times like these is always a reliable measure of a man who appears to care more about his own self-image than the grim reality on the ground. Though he was quite happy, in his time, to bomb Libya.

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Some may suggest that these are patricians with a bit of a Lawrence of Arabia thing going on. They fall in a rich tradition. We can count Sir Mark Sykes, of Sykes-Picot fame, who created all those Middle Eastern states that are flourishing so profusely today. We can count Harry St John Philby, father of the Soviet spy Kim, who persuaded the Saudis to give drilling rights to the Americans rather than Britain and converted to Islam in 1930.

We can count Tories like the late Ian Gilmour of The Spectator, the late MP for Westbury Dennis Walters, and the late diplomat and parliamentarian Anthony Nutting, all of whom held Arabist views that, one might argue, sometimes blinded them to the rights and wrongs of things.

Despite the best efforts of these chaps, however, Israel is doing pretty well. Amid the agonies and tragedies of war, and in the face of the far-Right threat and constitutional crisis, it has eviscerated Hezbollah, humiliated Iran and all but destroyed Hamas.

It has the highest birthrate in the OECD, its GDP per capita surpassed that of Britain  its former colonial ruler  and in 2020, in March, Googles parent company, Alphabet, bought the Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz for a record-breaking $32 billion. Moreover, according to the UN, it is the eighth happiest country on Earth, while Britain languishes at twenty-third. Stick that in your Tory hookah and smoke it.

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In a bizarre set of votes Tuesday that came mere hours apart, Nebraska lawmakers moved to provide paid sick leave to more than 25,000 workers  and then changed their minds.

Lawmakers have for months been mulling changes to the state's new sick leave law that nearly 75% of Nebraska voters approved last fall, which required employers with fewer than 20 workers to offer at least five days of paid sick leave per year and employers with 20 or more workers to offer at least seven paid days of leave annually.

A proposal championed by Republican Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney sought to exempt businesses with 10 or fewer employees from the law in a move that Democrats in Nebraska's formally nonpartisan Legislature cast as an attempt to undermine the will of Nebraskans.

Lawmakers added Strommen's proposal to another bill (LB415) in March and gave the entire package first-round approval.

Amid second-round debate Tuesday morning, though, the Legislature voted 36-4 to adopt a new amendment that would have instead provided paid sick leave to workers employed by businesses with at least six employees  a compromise that would have ensured the benefit to 25,457 small business employees left out of Strommen's initial proposal.

Three hours later, Republicans reversed course and moved to repeal the amendment they had broadly voted to adopt.

Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte filed a motion Tuesday afternoon to reconsider the morning vote on the compromise amendment, setting up a rare second vote on the measure.

In a striking vote Tuesday afternoon, 15 lawmakers  including only one Republican  voted to adopt the same amendment that had garnered broad bipartisan support Tuesday morning. One Democrat and 25 Republicans who had voted for the compromise Tuesday morning flipped their votes Tuesday afternoon, killing the amendment.

Moments later, lawmakers voted largely along party lines to send LB415 onto the final round debate. In addition to excluding businesses with 10 or fewer employees from the paid sick leave law, the version of the bill that advanced also excludes independent contractors, seasonal or temporary agricultural workers, and Nebraskans under the age of 16 from being eligible to accrue paid sick leave.

Jacobson, the Republican who engineered the reversal and who did not vote for the compromise in either vote, said the compromise was "a bridge too far" and called the voter-approved law "a government mandate."

"The concern in my district, is when you go under 10 people, there are employers that just plain can't afford it when you slap all of these mandates on top of each other," he said, later adding that "there were a number of (lawmakers) that weren't sure what we were voting on" when they supported the compromise.

But some Democrats suggested the about-face was meant to punish progressives for attacking their Republican colleagues over the bill in remarks that at times turned personal.

Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould acknowledged as much in the minutes after the vote.

A Democrat who has drawn the ire of her progressive allies in the Legislature this year over her support for bills aimed at undercutting voter-approved paid sick leave requirements and minimum wage increases, Raybould told the Journal Star she had concerns Strommen was "unduly pressured" by lobbyists to offer the compromise  and about "over-the-top" rhetoric from progressive lawmakers amid debate on the bill.

She noted that Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha had referred to her colleagues as "evil" and "morally destitute" amid debate Tuesday morning in an instance of an attack that Raybould called "unnecessary in this debate on this bill."

Tuesday's debate indeed featured fiery remarks from some Democratic lawmakers who have for months waged mostly-failed filibusters against attempts to narrow laws enacted by Nebraska voters in recent years  including the law providing paid sick leave and a proposal to limit annual minimum wage increases voters approved in 2022.

Those remarks often came in defense of voters, who backed the proposal in 89 of Nebraska's 93 counties.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, who has been among the fiercest critics of proposals seeking to scale-back voter-enacted laws and of the senators who champion them, said Tuesday that "cynical, powerful politicians in this Legislature" had moved "to not only undermine the will of the people, but to remove modest but meaningful earned sick leave benefits from thousands of hardworking Nebraskans."

Other lawmakers were more tame. Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha said he ran into a constituent "who gave (him) an absolute earful" as he walked into his polling place in the Douglas County city Tuesday morning.

"It's the same old thing I've heard time and time again from my constituents," he said. "'Do you all not think we know what we voted for?'"

Republicans repeatedly pushed back on that characterization, though, pointing to the out-of-state spending that fueled the petition drive that put paid sick leave before voters in November. The ballot campaign raised more than $3 million across 2023 and 2024, more than $2.5 million of which came from progressive groups based in Washington, D.C.

"It's not so much a voice of the people as it is a voice of outside interests from Washington that want to change how we live in Nebraska," Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said.

That LB415 advanced to the final round of debate Tuesday was not a surprise to Democrats, who have grappled all year with the filibuster-proof majority Republicans enjoy when they vote in lockstep.

But the way in which the proposed law advanced  after progressives secured a compromise before watching it go up in flames hours later  brought new heights to Democratic frustration and deepened divisions in a statehouse already rife with discord.

"It shows who you are as people that, no matter what, you're going to win," Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney told his Republican colleagues. "But you have to win, in a sports context, in the most unsportsmanlike way ever."
Israel struck a hospital in Gaza early Tuesday, a day after briefly pausing military activity for the release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander by Hamas.

The Israeli military resumed strikes in Gaza about an hour after Alexander left the territory, hitting the Al Daraj neighborhood in northern Gaza on Monday evening, before striking the Nasser medical complex in southern Gaza on Tuesday, according to hospital officials.

The IDF strike targeted the surgical ward on the hospitals third floor, which is now completely out of service, killing two patients and wounding medical staff, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) said.

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The target of the strike was Hassan Eslaiah, a prominent Gaza photojournalist who Israel accuses of being a terrorist. He was being treated at the hospital after being wounded in an earlier targeted Israeli airstrike in April.

The IDF has accused Eslaiah of taking part in the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and of belonging to Hamas Khan Younis Brigade, although it has not provided evidence to support those claims.

In a statement following Tuesdays strike, it described him as working under the guise of a journalist and said that it had eliminated him and other significant Hamas terrorits in a precise strike.

Eslaiah crossed into Israel on October 7, 2023, documenting the attacks in photographs that were published by multiple major news organizations. He had previously said he had no forewarning of the attacks and rushed to the scene to document a major news event alongside other photojournalists.

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CNN, along with other news organizations, had periodically used material provided by Eslaiah. CNN cut ties with him in November 2023 after new allegations emerged of links to Hamas. CNN said he was not working with the network on October 7, 2023.

Eslaiah said from his hospital bed in April that he faced false allegations from the IDF and that he was not fighting or anything.

The Ramallah-based Palestinian Journalists Protection Center condemned Eslaiahs killing, demanding an international investigation into what they described as a heinous assassination. The center called Eslaiahs killing the deliberate targeting of the voice of truth.

A person inspects Nasser Hospital on Tuesday, a part of which was damaged in the aftermath of an Israeli strike, according to hospital officials. - Hatem Khaled/Reuters

The Nasser hospital strike on Tuesday is the latest example of deliberate Israeli attacks on medical facilities in Gaza, for which Israel has been accused of violating international law.

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Hospitals are entitled to special protections during armed conflict under international humanitarian law and can only be targeted under extremely limited circumstances, such as if they are being used to actively commit an act harmful to the enemy, according to the Geneva Conventions.

The latest attack on Nasser hospital totally destroyed two patient rooms, partially damaged three others and a nursing station, according to MAPs medical activity coordinator who is based at Nasser Hospital.

The extension of the intensive care unit, which contains three ICU beds, was also affected  its electrical and oxygen systems were damaged in the strike  rendering the entire section non-operational, the coordinator said in a statement provided by MAP.

The strike adds to an already rapidly deteriorating situation for Gazas medical facilities.

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Nasser hospitals medical director Dr. Atef Al-Hout said the hospital is rapidly running out of fuel to power its generators amid Israels now 10-week blockade of the strip.

Following the release of Alexander, the Israeli American hostage, the United States is renewing its push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

An Israeli delegation was set to fly to Qatar on Tuesday to resume negotiations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed those talks will continue under fire, with no slowdown in Israeli strikes expected without a deal.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that a major new offensive aimed at defeating Hamas will be launched in the coming days.

Speaking to Israeli reservists injured during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu declared that "the destruction of Hamas and the release of all our hostages - these two go hand in hand."

"In the coming days, we will go in with full force to complete the campaign," Netanyahu said during the meeting at his office in Jerusalem, referring to a new military push.

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Tens of thousands of reservists have recently been mobilized by the Israeli military in preparation for renewed operations. However, Israeli media reports suggest the offensive may be delayed until after US President Donald Trump concludes his visit this week to the Gulf region.

"Our forces are already on the ground," Netanyahu said, according to the remarks released by his office.

He said that if Hamas offers to release more hostages, Israel would accept them - but would continue its offensive regardless.

There will be "no situation where we end the war," he said. While a temporary ceasefire is possible, "we will go to the end."

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Netanyahu also claimed that more than half of the approximately 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would choose to leave if given the opportunity. However, he acknowledged difficulties in finding countries willing to take them in and said efforts are under way to address this.

The escalation has intensified fears among Palestinians of a new wave of displacement, reminiscent of the mass expulsions during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War.

Ceasefire negotiations are expected to resume soon in Qatar.

Hamas has rejected Israel's demand to disarm and insists on a full end to the war as a condition for releasing remaining hostages. Israel, in turn, is only willing to halt the war if Hamas relinquishes control of Gaza and has expressed its intention to maintain a long-term military presence in the territory.
For the second time in a one day, the Israeli army has struck a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to medics, at least six people were killed in Tuesday's strike on the European Hospital.

The Israeli military said it had carried out a "a precise strike on Hamas terrorists in a command and control center," located in an underground structure beneath the facility.

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The claim could not be independently verified.

Unconfirmed Israeli media reports suggested the target may have been Mohammed al-Sinwar, the younger brother of Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar, who was killed last year.

Mohammed al-Sinwar is considered a rising figure in the Islamist group and is believed to have taken over as head of Hamas armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, following the death of military chief Mohammed Deif.

There was no immediate confirmation from Palestinians on the identities of those killed, or whether al-Sinwar was among them.

Witnesses described a highly tense atmosphere on the ground after what they said were particularly powerful Israeli strikes. The Hamas-run health authority in Gaza reported that more than 40 people were injured in the European Hospital strike.

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Earlier, the Israeli military also targeted Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, similarly claiming it was being used by Hamas militants. Palestinian authorities said three people were killed in that attack.

The Israeli army has long accused Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in Gaza for military purposes. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), however, condemned the strike on Nasser Hospital as "unacceptable."
CAIRO (Reuters) - The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile that was launched from Yemen towards Israel on Tuesday evening, and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility.

Sirens were heard in several places in Israel.

The militia group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile towards Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree.

President Donald Trump announced on May 6 that the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthis as the group agreed to stop attacking U.S. ships, part of a 17-month campaign against Red Sea shipping intended to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

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But the Houthis have continued to fire missiles and drones towards Israel, most of which the Israeli military says it has intercepted, without casualties or serious damage occurring.

Israel has been fighting a war in Gaza since a deadly raid by Palestinian militant group Hamas into southern Israel in October 2023, which prompted Israel's war in Gaza.

The Houthis are part of Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance against Israeli and U.S. interests in the Middle East, a group also including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Israel has weakened those groups by assassinating top leaders and destroying military infrastructure since the Gaza war began, though Houthi capabilities appear largely intact.

(Reporting by Elwely Elwely, Menna Alaa El-Din and Muhammed Al Gebaly; Editing by Gareth Jones and Cynthia Osterman)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Hatem Khaled

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -An Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed a well-known Palestinian journalist whom it accused of working with Hamas and was recovering in hospital from an earlier strike, the territory's health ministry said.

Israel has accused Hassan Aslih, who has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media platforms, of taking part in the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza.

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It has said Aslih documented and uploaded footage of "looting, arson and murder" during the Hamas-led incursion into Israel.

Ahmed Siyyam, a Gaza civil emergency service member, told Reuters the attack hit the third floor of a Nasser Hospital building in the southern city of Khan Younis, where dozens of patients and injured were being treated.

Two patients, including Aslih, were killed and several others were wounded, the health ministry said.

Later on Tuesday, the Gaza health ministry also said nine missiles slammed into and around the courtyard of the Gaza European Hospital in the south of the enclave, killing at least 16 people and wounding 70 others.

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Israel's military said it hit a "Hamas command center" beneath the hospital. Hamas denies exploiting hospitals and civilian properties for military purposes.

In a separate statement about the Nasser Hospital strike, the Israeli military said it "eliminated significant Hamas terrorists" in Nasser Hospital, among them Aslih, who it said had "operated under the guise of a journalist".

HEAVY DAMAGE

Reuters footage showed heavy damage to one of the Nasser hospital buildings, including to the medical equipment and beds inside.

"I came to the hospital not knowing whether to mourn the martyrs, treat the patients and injured, or deal with the staff who no longer feel safe," said Atef Al-Hout, director of Nasser Hospital.

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According to the International Federation of Journalists, at least 160 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.

Officials in Gaza, where Hamas took control in 2007, put the number at 215, and accuse Israel of deliberately targeting journalists. Israel denies this and says it tries to avoid harm to civilians.

Aslih headed the Alam24 news outlet and worked as a freelance photojournalist. He had previously worked with several Western news organizations. He was wounded last month in a deadly strike on a tent in the Nasser hospital compound.

Some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage in the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

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Israel's response has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and destroyed much of the enclave.

A blockade on aid supplies since March 2 has left the population at critical risk of famine, according to a U.N.-backed monitor.

A senior World Health Organization official warned on Tuesday that hunger and malnutrition could have a lasting impact on "an entire generation".

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Additional reporting by Hussam al-Masri and Hatem Khaled in Gaza and May Angel in Jerusalem; Editing by Aidan Lewis, Gareth Jones, Mark Potter and Daniel Wallis)
By Swantje Stein and Max Schwarz

ZURICH (Reuters) - Israel's Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael says she had been frightened by pro-Palestinian protests and security concerns surrounding Israel's participation in the competition, but was "focusing on the love" shown by global fans.

"I've been mentally preparing for this," Raphael told Reuters in an interview on Monday following her appearance at the contests "turquoise carpet" opening ceremony on Sunday, which was disrupted by protesters.

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"Yesterday was frightening, even at times uncomfortable, she said. "But Im focusing on the good and the love" shown by global fans, she added.

Raphael, 24, was at the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. She was selected in January to represent Israel in the 2025 contest.

Basel police said on Monday they were investigating an incident of a person apparently making a threatening gesture towards the Israeli delegation during Sunday's ceremony.

A young man wearing a keffiyeh head scarf - that has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian cause - and holding a Palestinian flag allegedly made a throat-slitting gesture toward Raphael, according to a delegation from Israel's public broadcaster KAN.

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Israel's military campaign in Gaza in response to the October attack has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the territory.

The conflict has prompted officials in countries including Spain, Slovenia and Iceland to question whether Israel should take part in the competition.

Raphael's entry, New Day Will Rise, is a pop song with verses in English, French, and Hebrew. She is scheduled to perform in the semi-finals on Thursday, May 15, with the final due on May 17 at Basel's St. Jakobshalle arena.

Despite the controversy, Raphael said her goal remains unchanged.

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"The agenda that I came here with from the beginning is spreading love and hope as much as I can, she said. Its just helping me rebalance," she said.

(Reporting by Swantje Stein and Maximilian Schwarz, writing by John Revill; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
The Israeli military has announced that it has once again intercepted a missile fired from Yemen. Prior to this, rocket alarms were sounded in various regions of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Initially, there were no reports of injuries or damage. The attack occurred during the visit to Israel by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Recently, after a missile from the Yemen-based Houthi militia struck near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, Israel attacked the international airport of Yemen's capital Sana'a.

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Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have been regularly attacking Israel with missiles and drones as an expression of their solidarity with the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement.

The Israeli Air Force has frequently responded with airstrikes on militia targets in Yemen.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump recently announced unexpectedly that attacks on Houthi targets would be halted. Oman has claimed to have mediated a ceasefire. The Houthis also expressed their general willingness for a ceasefire with the US.

However, the Houthis' stance towards Israel remains unchanged and hostile.
Members of the Maine House of Representatives during the first session of 2024 in the State House in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)

As the Maine Legislature approaches its anticipated last month of work, lawmakers are deciding which issues to defer until next year.

Maine has a two-year legislative session, so it is routine for several bills to be carried over into the second regular session to afford lawmakers more time to deliberate, amend proposals and negotiate.

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Carry-over requests from committees are due to the presiding officers on Friday, according to a memo the Legislatures presiding officers sent committee chairs on April 29, though realistically all deadlines are moving targets until the end of the first regular session. The presiding officers have the final say on what will be carried over.

The total number of bills committees can request to hold should not exceed 5% of their anticipated overall bill load, according to an earlier April 9 memo that advised chairs to begin identifying bills theyd like to be carried over.

For example, for the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, that 5% amounted to an estimated six bills as of Monday. That number is higher for the Judiciary Committee, about 11 bills out of the 216 total it had as of Tuesday morning.

More bills were referred to committees during session on Tuesday and will continue to be throughout the week, so these numbers are not final.

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As committees decide which bills to request to carry over, votes already taken give a sense of some of the issues that will likely not be decided until 2026.

Lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Monday decided they need more time to contemplate a proposal, LD 1851, to create parity between the Wabanaki Nations in how much revenue they get from the states slot machine income.

While legislators said they agreed with the spirit of the bill, they did not support the means it proposed to do so, which would involve a tax increase for Hollywood Casino in Bangor.

I also have really enjoyed the work that weve been doing in the past few years, in regards to tribal gaming and trying to create equity there, said co-chair Laura Supica (D-Bangor). So, I would ask the committee to consider carrying this over.

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The committee voted unanimously to do so on Monday with four members absent, though the chairs said they will reevaluate all of its proposed carry over bills as the week goes on to make a holistic plan for its recommendations.

In the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday, Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) requested the committee carry over one of his bills, LD 754, explaining that it had drafting errors and needed additional work.

His hope with the bill is to complement other legislation that the committee endorsed this session to address lithium ion battery waste, especially from electronic smoking devices, he said. However, Bennett thinks the work needed on the bill cannot be done in the limited time remaining for committee work.

The Judiciary Committee has voted to carry over one bill so far, LD 1788, which would prohibit an agency or official from charging a fee to cover the actual cost of searching for, retrieving and compiling a noncommercial request of a public record for the first two hours of staff time.

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Co-chair Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) suggested on May 6 that the bill be carried over and the bill sponsor, Rep. Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford), agreed. The committee followed suit with a unanimous vote among those present, with four members absent.

While both Carney and Henderson noted that substantial work has been put into the bill so far, they said expertise from groups such as the Right to Know Advisory Committee is needed to work through outstanding logistics.

Im still looking at two pages worth of issues to consider, Henderson said. There are legitimate questions.

The Judiciary Committee will also be sending a letter to the Right to Know Advisory Committee asking them to take up the matter for consideration and to invite Henderson to present on it before the Legislature returns for the second regular session in 2026.

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Committees are racing to wrap up their work as the bulk of the action shifts to the chambers of the House of Representatives and Senate, which are starting to have lengthier sessions with floor votes.

Debate on the two-year budget is also expected to pick back up soon as the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee has been meeting every day to cast votes on what to include in the plan.

At the end of March, Democrats pushed through a two-year budget that continued government spending at the same level but also included additional funding to address emergency needs. The majority did so without GOP support after Senate Republicans refused to support an earlier change package for the current fiscal year to address the MaineCare funding deficit, and some other urgent needs, unless it included structural reform to the healthcare program.

That plan did not include any policy changes to address the sizable budget deficit the state faces over the next biennium. Gov. Janet Mills proposals to close that gap  tax increases and program cuts  as well as the requests from the public and lawmakers are being considered in this next iteration of the budget plan.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Serious crimes have been committed recently, when ATV drivers downtown arent following the law.

Several Jackson County legislators are hoping to keep both residents and first responders safe while addressing the issue.

ChiefsAholic sentenced for 2022 Oklahoma bank robbery

An ordinance pertaining to this was on the agenda Monday for them to discuss, but not much was shared on it then.

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At least two Jackson County legislators are hoping to enhance public safety and reduce traffic hazards by prohibiting off-road vehicles on specific streets.

Legislator Sean Smith says there are opportunities for stiffer consequences if they come from Jackson County.

That affords us an opportunity to maybe pass something at the county level, but we also have to balance that with the idea that we have rural areas in the county, and we dont want to impede someones normal use of something thats appropriate in rural areas, but we do have to figure that out legislatively, Smith shared.

This comes off the heels of incidents, where people, including an officer, have been hurt.

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Sean Smith is the sponsor of Ordinance 5984. The ordinance includes fines, jail time, mandatory impoundment and potential safety courses for violators.

Police need some really serious tools to come down on, because its easy for those vehicles to elude a normal police pursuit, so when you do grab them, you really need to bring the hammer down, Smith said.

Hes hoping to obtain for stiffer penalties, while making sure police and the county prosecutor have the tools they need to enforce violations of this kind of activity.

Kansas City bar hires sheriffs deputies to protect customers from bad characters

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Smith and legislator Manuel Abarca both have similar ordinances on the matter. Monday, neither were taken up for discussion.

Smiths has been moved to the anti-crime committee. Its likely the two ordinances will merge into one next week, Smith says.

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James Carville is expressing serious outrage following reports that President Donald Trump plans to accept a $400 million airplane from Qatar, but believes the scandal could become an effective rallying cry for an embattled Democratic Party to win back voters.

The longtime strategist appeared Tuesday on NewsNation and urged fellow Democrats to seize on a corruption narrative, as Trump would violate the U.S. Constitution by accepting the gift from a foreign government without approval from Congress, and certainly made his case to host Chris Cuomo.

Hes taking a $400 million jet for lifetime use from a foreign government, said Carville. Hes selling places at a White House dinner for people that buy his memecoin, which goes right into his pocket. And thats what the tragedy is, thats what the Democrats need to do.

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They need to jump on this corruption and never get off of it, he continued.

The Democratic Party certainly appears to be listening, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that hes put a hold on all presidential nominees to the Justice Department in response to Trumps plan to accept the Air Force One replacement.

Schumer called the supposed gift naked corruption, a sentiment previously voiced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Even some Republicans, including far-right GOP influencer Laura Loomer, have reacted unfavorably to Trumps willingness to accept the Qatari gift.

Carville believes this is the exact right moment for Democrats to pounce, as the GOP also unveiled potential Medicaid cuts on Sunday with drafted legislation, which Trump promised would be a big, beautiful bill, that could leave more than 8 million people without health insurance.

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This is why, while hes having dinner at the White House, rewarding people who are giving him money, taking airplanes, knocking 8.6 million people off of health insurance  if the Democrats cant message against that, they oughta just blow themselves up, said Carville.

But I think they can, he continued.

Trump suggested on social media that it'd be foolish to decline the "FREE OF CHARGE" gift. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

Trump suggested on social media Sunday that it would be foolish to decline the FREE OF CHARGE gift.

While Trump would violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by accepting the gift without congressional approval and potentially hand another nation undue influence over a U.S. official (himself), Cuomo argued the corruption road is what lost Democrats the election.

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The former CNN host argued that voters have had enough of regularly hearing about how crooked Trump might be.

Carville  who regularly covers the subject on his podcast  said Tuesday that hed never get off the corruption road.

And its not gonna stop  every day, were going to find out more and more and more, he continued. Thats what I really believe.

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(WJET/WFXP) A Jamestown, New York woman learned her sentence this week after being caught with 200 grams of methamphetamine while also having a warrant out for a separate drug charge.

According to the Chautauqua County District Attorneys Office, 48-year-old Lisa Tibbetts of Jamestown was sentenced to seven years in state prison followed by two years of supervised release.

Morning lane closures planned for I-90 this week

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Tibbetts was convicted of two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance after pleading guilty to the two charges in February this year.

Tibbetts was arrested back on September 11, 2024, after leading police on a short foot pursuit while in possession of 211.7 grams of methamphetamine and was wanted at the time for second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, along with a bench warrant.

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.
Jamie Lee Curtis didn't expect to be at the forefront of the artificial intelligence debate in Hollywood. But she didn't have a choice.

The Oscar-winning actor recently called out Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on social media, saying the company ignored her requests to take down a fake AI-generated advertisement on Instagram that had been on the platform for months.

The ad, which used footage from an interview Curtis gave to MSNBC about January's Los Angeles area wildfires, manipulated her voice to make it appear that she was endorsing a dental product, Curtis said.

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"I was not looking to become the poster child of internet fakery, and I'm certainly not the first," Curtis told The Times by phone Tuesday morning.

The ad has since been removed.

What happened to Curtis is part of a larger issue actors are dealing with amid the rise of generative AI technology, which has allowed their images and voices to be altered in ways they haven't authorized. Those changes can be wildly misleading.

Images and likenesses of celebrities including Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift and Scarlett Johansson have been manipulated through AI to promote products and ideas they never actually endorsed.

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AI technology has made it easier for people to make these fake videos, which can proliferate online at a speed that is challenging for social media platforms to take down. Some are calling on social media firms to do more to police misinformation on their platforms.

"We are standing at the turning point, and I think we need to take some action," Curtis said.

Read more: Trump posted a fake Taylor Swift image. AI and deepfakes are only going to get worse this election cycle

Curtis first became aware of the fake AI ad about a month and a half ago when a friend asked her about the video. The "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and "Halloween" actor then flagged the ad for her agents, lawyers and publicists, who directed her to send a cease and desist letter to Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram.

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Nothing happened.

"It's like a vacuum," Curtis said. "There are no people. You can't reach anybody. You have an email, you send an email, you never get anything back."

Two weeks later, another friend flagged the same fake AI video. When Curtis wrote to her team, they assured her they went through the proper channels and they did everything they could do, she said.

"I went through the proper channels," Curtis said. "There should be a methodology to this. I understand there's going to be a misuse of this stuff, but then there's no avenue of getting any satisfaction. So then it's lawlessness, because if you have no way of rectifying it, what do you do?"

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Curtis was concerned about the nefarious ways that people could alter the voices and images of other people, including Pope Leo XIV, who has identified AI as one of the challenges facing humanity. What if someone used AI to attribute ideas to the pope that he didn't actually support?

Read more: Gov. Newsom signs AI-related bills regulating Hollywood actor replicas and deep fakes

Inspired by the danger of that possibility, she made her scathing Instagram post, tagging Zuckerberg, after she was unable to directly message him.

"My name is Jamie Lee Curtis and I have gone through every proper channel to ask you and your team to take down this totally AI fake commercial for some bulls that I didn't endorse," Curtis wrote in her post on Monday. "... I've been told that if I ask you directly, maybe you will encourage your team to police it and remove it."

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The post generated more than 55,000 likes.

"I've done commercials for people all my life, so if they can make a fake commercial with me, that hurts my brand," Curtis said in an interview. "If my brand is authenticity, you're co-opting my brand for nefarious gains in the future."

After she posted, a neighbor shared with her an email of someone at Meta who could help her. Curtis emailed that person (whom she declined to name), copied her team and attached the Instagram posts. Within an hour of sending the email, the fake AI ad was taken down, Curtis said.

"It worked!" Curtis wrote on Instagram on Monday in all caps. "Yay internet! Shame has [its] value! Thanks all who chimed in and helped rectify!"

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Read more: The real Scarlett Johansson decries 'misuse of AI' by a deepfake video shaming Kanye West

Meta on Monday confirmed the fake ad was taken down.

"They violate our policies prohibiting fraud, scams and deceptive practices," said Meta spokesman Andy Stone in an email.

As the technology continues to become more widely available, there are efforts underway at tech companies to identify AI-generated content and to take down material that violates standards.

Organizations like actors guild SAG-AFTRA are also advocating for more laws that address AI, including deep fakes. Both the writers' and actors' strikes of 2023 hinged in part on demands for more protections against job losses from AI.

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Curtis said she would have wanted the fake AI ad to be taken down immediately and would like to see technology companies, not just Meta, come up with safeguards and direct access to people policing "this wild, wild west called the internet."

"It got the attention, but I'm also a public figure," Curtis said. "So how does someone who's not a public figure get any satisfaction? I want to represent everyone. I don't want it to just be celebrities. I wanted to use that as an example to say this is wrong."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A delegation from Alianza Ceibo, Amazon Frontlines, representatives of other Amazonian nationalities, and activist Jane Fonda, on a tour about the damage caused by oil extraction in the Amazon. Credit - Michelle Gachet via Amazon Frontlines

Jane Fonda has always been one to stand up for what she believes in. With a lifetime of activism under her belt, the Oscar-winning actress has turned her attention to the climate crisischoosing action over despair.

In 2019, she started Fire Drill Fridays, as a way to inspire people to participate in non-violent direct action in support of the climate movement, and created her own climate PAC in 2022 to help elect politicians that prioritize the climate. Now Fonda is turning her attention to the Amazon, partnering with Amazon Frontlines, a non-profit organization working with Indigenous peoples to defend their land rights. Together, they are urging Ecuadors Constitutional Court to create a national framework that enshrines the rights of Indigenous people to decide what happens in their homeguarunteeing the right to free, prior, and informed consultation and consent.

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Read more: Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation

To this end, on May 13 several hundred Indigenous people delivered an open letter to the Constitutional Court in Ecuador. On the same day Fonda is also delivering a printed copy to the Ecuadorian embassy in Los Angeleswhich includes signatures from a number of organizations, including Greenpeace and Amazon Watch, as well as advocates like Lupita Nyongo, Emma Thompson, and Mark Ruffalo. The campaign comes as Ecuadors President, Daniel Noboa, announced plans last year to auction off 8.7 million acres of Indigenous territory in the Amazon rain forest to oil companiesdespite Ecuadorians voting to stop oil drilling in the region.

Time spoke with Fonda ahead of planned actions in Quito and in Los Angeles on May 13 with Amazon Frontlines.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

TIME: How did you get involved with Amazon Frontlines?

Fonda: I don't think it's a secret that I'm a climate activist. I'm very concerned about what burning oil, gas, and coal has done to our climate. It's created a pollution blanket around the planet that's heating the climate, such that ecosystems that are critical to our survival are risking collapse.

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The rain forests in South America determine a lot about the welfare of the entire world, not just the people who live there. A number of tribes that live in that northern forest have created an organization called Ceibo Alliance [to defend their community and culture]. This is really the first time that this has happened where not just one tribe of Indigenous peoples, but many tribes have come together in an organization to save their forest. The Amazon Frontline is the outward looking arm of the Ceibo Alliance. It is the people who live outside the forest who are helping Ceibo succeed. Im part of that group now.

[Last year] I met an Indigenous woman named Nemonte Nenquimo, whose ancestral lands are in the northern part of the Ecuadorian rain forest. I asked if [Ceibo] would invite me to the rain forest. I had two reasons for going. I wanted to just experience the forest and understand it and feel it. And then I wanted to find out what I could do to help them save the forest.

Can you tell us a bit about the open letter you signed with the Amazon Frontlines? What is the action about?

Indigenous peoples in Ecuador are leaving their forest today and traveling by canoe, by foot, to get to Quito on the other side of the Andes, to deliver a letter and a message to the Constitutional Court of Ecuador saying, Give us our rights. We need to have a voice in what happens to our land, informed prior consent. This is a really important case, because the prior victories that the Indigenous peoples have had didn't lock this into law. The informed prior consent in this case is not only to save the forest, but is to lock in the law that they have to be informed before any action is taken on their homelands.

Why is Amazon preservation a critical part of the climate fight?

The Amazon, along with all the other rain forests in the world, but the Amazon happens to be the biggest, does two things for us.

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The forests absorb a whole lot of the carbon that we burn, which reduces the pollution, and that is critical.

Read more: The Fight to Save Ecuadors Sacred River

Also, there are species that still exist in the forest that we don't know, that we've never discovered. So many cures, so many solutions to problems exist in the rain forests that we haven't discovered yet. So it's a fountain of information, of knowledge, of cures, of medicines. Those creatures and plants, the flora and fauna that live there, are part of the fabric of life that is required for human beings to survive on the planet. It would be a critical blow to the fight against the climate crisis if 8.7 million acres of ancient rain forests are cut down for oil.

You recently traveled to the Amazon. What did you learn about the grassroots work happening in Ecuador?

It's unprecedented. [The place where we stayed] was a series of very beautiful thatched buildings, including a seven story high tower with thatched roofs all the way down. It was gorgeous. [The Indigenous people] run it, they own it, and they benefit from it. We stayed there, and it's incredible. They're working on ways to create eco-tourism that they can benefit from.

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I was shown what plants heal toothaches, what plants heal broken bones. The forest becomes a pharmacy. They listen to the plants, they talk to the animals. It made me very sad, because I realized how much we've lost our connection to nature. They understand that we're part of nature.

For many people, tackling climate change feels like an insurmountable task. What advice do you have for people who want to take action but dont know how to?

The vast majority of Americans are really concerned about climate, and they don't do anything because they don't know what to do. First of all, talk about it. Talk about your concerns. We have to make people understand that the natural world is why we are alive, and that we have to care about it.

Number two, be sure you're not invested in fossil fuels. Trillions have been taken out of banks and investment companies by people who are concerned about the climate crisis. If you're disinvested, think about your city, your school, all the organizations that you know, and start to build support for getting them to divest from fossil fuels.

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Third, vote for climate champions. Find out if the people you're thinking of voting for take money from the fossil fuel industry. Most of them do, and vote for people who don't, because if they do, they're going to be supporting legislation that helps the corporations, not you as a citizen.

Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com.
By Mariko Katsumura and Kyung Hoon Kim

TOKYO (Reuters) -It's a cold, wet morning and frigid air is seeping through the open doors of a college gymnasium in Tokyo. But that doesn't seem to worry Soichiro Kakimoto and 30 other young businessmen as they gear up for their weekend routine: cheerleading.

"Smile when times are tough!" shouts a tall man with an eager smile. The others -- all dressed in dark suits and ties --pump their fists and jam to the upbeat music that fills the space.

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Their chants echo through the gymnasium.

"Yes you can! You can definitely do it! Go, Japan! Go Japan!"

The young men are all about spreading cheer through their eye-popping acrobatic performances, volunteering their weekends at shopping malls and other venues to entertain crowds.

Calling themselves "Cheer Re-Man's" -- a mash-up of "cheerleading" and "salaryman" -- the group, formed in 2023, is made up of alumni from the elite Waseda University's male cheerleading squad.

Their day-jobs range from real estate sales to marketing, and they balance their professional lives with their passion for cheerleading. For practice, the squad often borrows half the gym from a female college cheerleading team in exchange for biscuits.

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From Monday to Friday, Kakimoto is the quintessential Japanese salaryman, commuting in crowded trains, working late and going out drinking with colleagues, wearing the stretchy navy Uniqlo suit that doubles as his cheerleading uniform.

"On weekdays, I use my brain and on weekends, I use my body. Even if one isn't well, the other might be, and that's contributing to my overall mental health," said the 23-year-old, who works at a software development company.

"If we, Japanese salarymen, can do what we're passionate about, then everyone else can keep chasing their dreams too."

The unusual sight of Japanese corporate warriors being launched 7 metres (23 feet) into the air in synchronised routines won them an online commercial spot to advertise the stretchy Uniqlo suits they wear for their performances.

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The group also competed in "Britain's Got Talent", where they came third in their semi-final.

On a recent weekend, the suited men performed in front of a huge crowd at a shopping mall with gravity-defying stunts, human towers and infectious energy.

Yasuko Yamaki, a 61-year-old housewife who learned about the group three months ago through social media, was there to see the spectacle.

"In Japan, we're all going through a lot. Watching these salarymen putting in so much without giving up makes me cry," she said. "It's so inspirational."

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura;Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Kate Mayberry)
May 13AUGUSTA  State Auditor Matthew Dunlap says he's considering challenging incumbent Jared Golden for the Democratic nomination for the 2nd District seat in Congress.

Dunlap, who previously served in the Maine Legislature and as secretary of state, said he's testing the waters for a possible run because "we live in an increasingly dangerous world" and "while an unelected billionaire (Elon Musk) gleefully dismantling the safety mechanisms that generations have come to depend on in the name of 'efficiency,' Congress sites idly by, doing nothing."

"Today, in these uncertain times, we are the leaders we are looking for, and for someone like me, with accumulated knowledge and experience, to step away from the service of my country I feel would be an abrogation of my patriotic duty," Dunlap said in a written statement.

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"As I have begun talking this through with family, friends, and associates, it's increasingly clear that we ourselves must step up to provide the direction our nation needs," he continued. "To that end, I am exploring a run for Congress sooner rather than later and will continue to gather information from the people of the Second Congressional District to guide my decision going forward."

Dunlap did not mention Golden in his announcement.

The 2026 election cycle will be a historic one in Maine. In addition to the state's two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is facing reelection and the governor's race is wide open, with Gov. Janet Mills unable to run because of term limits.

Politicians of all stripes are assessing their chances at various races and those decisions will likely impact other races.

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Golden, for example, has been raising money for another reelection campaign for Congress, while also being mentioned as a possible gubernatorial or U.S. Senate candidate.

But Golden's voting record and public statements, especially his willingness to work with President Donald Trump and express support for tariffs, have sparked anger from some Democrats, who are eager to see him primaried. His mixed voting record could also make it difficult for Golden to win a Democratic primary.

Golden has narrowly held his seat since dethroning Bruce Poliquin in 2018 in a ranked choice election. He survived the 2024 cycle against a well-funded former NASCAR driver, Austin Theriault, who was backed both by Trump and House Speaker Michael Johnson.

His seat remains a prime pick-up opportunity for Republicans. Already, former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who has mostly lived in Florida since ending his two terms as governor, has moved back to Maine and announced his candidacy for the 2nd District seat.

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Golden cited the Republican challenger in a written response to the potential primary challenge by Dunlap.

"Matt Dunlap has a small chance of beating me, but zero chance of beating Paul LePage,' Golden said. "But no matter what anyone says, it's a free country and Matt can do what he wants."

Nebeyatt Betre, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the committee continues to back Golden.

"Jared Golden has always been a stalwart defender of Mainers' values, from lowering costs, advocating for organized labor, and fighting for working families and their access to health care," Betre said. "Rep. Golden has proven he is uniquely-suited to win tough races, and the DCCC is proud to work to reelect him once again next November."

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Dunlap, of Old Town, ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2012. He previously served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004 and as secretary of state from 2005 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2021.

He has been Maine's state auditor since November 2022. He was appointed to the position in January 2021, but resigned that October, after failing to obtain the required credentials.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo.  An overnight crash along Missouri Route 21 left a Jefferson County Sheriffs Deputy injured early Tuesday morning.

The crash took place around 3:15 a.m. on Route 21, nearly two and a half miles from Highway 141, involving a deputy patrol vehicle and a pickup truck.

According to a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, it is unknown how the crash happened. Both vehicles were traveling northbound on Route 21 when, at some point, the two vehicles collided. Given the heavy fog in the area of the crash, it is unclear whether this weather condition contributed to the incident.

Photo Courtesy of Jefferson County Sheriffs Office

Missouri Highway Patrol reopens probe into Crocker overdose death

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FOX 2s Brian Howe was at the scene of the crash and the footage showed significant damage to the drivers side of the Jefferson County Deputys Patrol Vehicle.

The deputy involved in the crash was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and was later released, according to the spokesperson. The deputy would receive treatment The driver of the pickup truck suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  An air quality monitoring program funded by a three-year grant from the Environmental Protection Agency is underway for underserved communities in Jefferson County.

This is the second year of the grant to monitor the air in at-risk neighborhoods.

The goal of this was to give certain communities low-cost, high-quality monitoring equipment at 10 different sites to provide real-time particulate matter measurements on easy-to-understand dashboards that the public can use.

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Typically, underserved or disproportionately impacted communities are exposed to a greater amount of pollution just because of their location, said Jim Rada, the Environmental Health Services Division Director at Jefferson County Public Health. They may be located near highways, near industrial areas, another in other areas where activities that generate particulate matter are located. So this grant was specifically designed by EPA to locate these monitors in these communities to give those residents a better opportunity to understand air quality in real time in their communities.

The devices measure particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less, picking up on things like car exhaust, burning wood, fossil fuels or wildfire smoke.

We saw higher levels of particulates during the fire over in Golden in particular. And then we set up a couple of additional monitors at the evacuation center for the quarry fire so we were able to keep track of where we were moving people or where pollution was the greatest as it related to the populations, said Rada.

The hope is that this information would allow people to make good decisions about their health, about whether to spend time outside, how to protect themselves.

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This is an extension of Denvers Love My Air program. This app will be especially helpful during wildfires.

This program is only set to last 3 years, but the final year they will work to see if there are resources, to continue the program beyond that.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) derided President Trump as a wannabe king after the president confirmed plans to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari government.

Wannabe Kings accept corrupt gifts from foreign powers. Not the President, Jeffries wrote in a post on the social platform X, responding to reporting from ABC News that Trump was planning to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar.

The president subsequently confirmed the reporting that Qatar would gift the Defense Department the luxury jet, which would be available for Trump to use as Air Force One through the end of his term, at which point it would be transferred to the Trump presidential library.

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Jeffries hinted that Congress should take action in response to the latest transaction.

Prohibiting members of Congress from stock trading is clearly not the only thing we must address this year, the Democratic leader added.

Other Democrats have similarly piled on criticism in response to news of the gift.

Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are trying to force a vote on a measure to reiterate a basic principle: no one should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts. And Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) called for an ethics review in response to reports of the plans to gift the luxury plane.

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But Trump has doubled down, saying Monday that it would be stupid to turn down the gift, which he called a great gesture from the Arab nation.

I think its a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, No we dont want a free, very expensive airplane, but I thought it was a great gesture, Trump told reporters Monday.

Trump said the Qataris knew the delivery of a new Air Force One jet had been delayed and wanted to help out because weve helped them a lot over the years in terms of security and safety.

He said he thinks Qatar made the gesture because he has kept them safe.

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If it wasnt for us, they probably wouldnt exist right now, the president added.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday hammered the Trump administration for threatening to arrest Democratic members of Congress, saying such a move would constitute a clear case of executive overreach.

Its a red line, Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. They know better than to go down that road.

Three House Democrats from New Jersey faced off against law enforcement officials outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility last week in Newark, N.J., where they were attempting to inspect a migrant detention center. They were joined by Newarks Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, who was arrested on charges of trespassing  an allegation he denies.

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After Barakas arrest, the three New Jersey Democrats  Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver  were involved in a brief skirmish with ICE officials outside the facility. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused the lawmakers of assaulting the officers  including body-slamming a female ICE officer, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN over the weekend.

The Democrats rejected the allegations, saying it was the officers  several of whom wore masks  who became physical with the lawmakers.

Still, McLaughlin said there will likely be more arrests in the incident, reiterating that targeting the lawmakers is definitely on the table.

Jeffries issued a statement shortly after the incident on Friday, defending his fellow Democrats and warning the administration against impeding the oversight powers granted to Congress under the Constitution.

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On Tuesday, he took that message up a notch, characterizing McLaughlin as a joke while warning that Democrats wont be cowed by Trumps threats, especially as the presidents approval ratings have fallen well under water.

Were not going to be intimidated by their tactics to try to force principled opposition from not standing up to their extremism, Jeffries said.

It didnt happen when Donald Trump temporarily was sitting high in the immediate aftermath of the election. Do you think its going to happen now, when hes the most unpopular president in American history after his first 100 days? the New York Democrat continued. Give me a break. No ones intimidated by this dude  no one.

He added, And so there are clear lines that they just dare not cross.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Honey Meerzon's parents are Jews from the Soviet Union, who moved to the United States in the 1970s to escape religious discrimination. Luis Romero's parents fled Castro's Cuba when he was eight years old.

The two ended up as neighboring business owners at the corner of Smith and Herbert Streets in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. It's there that Romero has been running his family's tire shop, Quick Tire, for the past 20 years. Meerzon has owned the four-unit rental property next door for the past ten.

Now, these two children of refugees from communism are having their businesses taken from them by the all-too-American process of eminent domain.

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Last month, the city council of Perth Amboy voted that Meerzon's and Romero's properties were not, in fact, comfortable homes or a successful business, but are rather blighted hazards.

Because their two buildings are too close together, too close to the street, and have some (since-collected) litter and stray cats in the backyard, the city says it is now entitled to take the properties.

Meerzon and Romero strongly object to the idea that their properties are in any way blighted. They argue that the city's report claiming otherwise is riddled with erroneous complaints and fatal factual errors.

Nevertheless, the city has moved forward with seizing their properties, which sit right on the edge of a massive city-facilitated warehouse project.

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Both property owners now face a looming deadline at the end of May to file a lawsuit challenging the seizure.

"They refuse to answer our calls. They refuse to answer any of our lawyers," says Meerzon. "They're waiting for us to go to superior court to monetarily drain us until we have no choice but to take whatever they offer us."

Neither Perth Amboy's mayor nor any members of the city council responded to Reason's request for comment.

Both Meerzon and Romero see a dark irony in their properties being seized by the city, given their family's backgrounds.

"[My parents] said this is the only way you get on your feet. You have to take a risk, you have to make an investment, you have to leave a legacy for your children," Meerzon tells Reason. "This is what happens to the legacy they dreamt of having coming here."

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"The reason [my parents] left Cuba is the system how it was, they just come to your home, say 'we want this property. You have to get out,'" says Romero. "Here it's done legally."

'Make Way for Gateway!'

In April 2024, Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba and members of the city council gathered a few houses down from Meerzon's and Romero's properties on Smith Street for a little demolition work.

The occasion was a press conference to announce the beginning of the city's "Gateway" redevelopment project.

For two decades, Perth Amboy has been plotting a conversion of the town's waterfront and former industrial areas into a more desirable mix of apartments, recreational space, and logistics businesses.

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Gateway, a joint project between the city's redevelopment agency and Denver-based developer Viridian Partners, was the latest stage in this massive, government-led reinvention of Perth Amboy.

Viridian Partners had promised to invest $110 million in cleaning up the 44-acre Gateway site that would eventually become a massive warehouse and parkland.

But first, some old buildings on the edge of the site had to be torn down.

"This key entrance to our city, once tarnished by decay, is now the focal point of our redevelopment efforts," the mayor said at the press conference, where he donned a hard hat and sat in a large excavator.

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Enabling Perth Amboy to do the Gateway project is New Jersey's Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. The law allows local governments to create "redevelopment areas," inside of which they can deploy extraordinary carrots and sticks to attract and guide investment.

"In a redevelopment plan, a municipality can do a lot of stuff you can't normally do," says Peter Steck, a former New Jersey city planner and current planning consultant.

On the carrot side, redevelopment lets local governments offer hand-picked developers tax and financing incentives to build projects in which the city can play a major role in designingdown to the aesthetics and the building materials used.

"They like to play favorites, they can pick their designated developers and there is no required criteria of choice," says Steck.

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On the stick side, local governments can seize properties within a redevelopment area and transfer them to their private development partners.

Officially, Meerzon and Romero shouldn't have had to worry that the excavator Caba had posed for photos on would come for their properties too.

City maps of the Gateway redevelopment area show that their little corner of Smith Street are excluded from the zone.

Map of Gateway redevelopment with Meerzon's and Romero's properties highlighted in red. ((lllustration: Eddie Marshall/City of Perth Amboy) )

Moreover, New Jersey state law provides a number of procedural and substantive safeguards against local governments just willy-nilly seizing property for redevelopment.

Before a property can be taken, a local government must conduct a redevelopment study showing that the area is "in need of redevelopment." Generally that means that the properties in the area are disused, blighted, or pose a health or safety hazard.

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That study has to be approved by votes from both a local planning agency and a governing body, like a city council. Property owners are given an opportunity to contest any blight allegations at public hearings before those bodies.

"New Jersey law on its face is supposed to only allow New Jersey municipalities to declare land blighted if it's causing actual harm to the surrounding properties," says Robert McNamara, an attorney with the Institute for Justice who has litigated redevelopment seizures in New Jersey.

Yet those theoretically robust protections are often a lot weaker in practice. Given the powers New Jersey's redevelopment law unlocks, municipalities have a lot of incentive to see blight that isn't there.

Once a redevelopment study is initiated, "the predisposition is that the area is blighted," says Steck. "The planner doing the investigation is programmed to find whatever he or she can to fit within the criteria and tell the planning board, 'In my opinion, it's blighted.'"

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Though Meerzon and Romero didn't know it, by the time of that April 2024 press conference down the road, Perth Amboy was already months into a redevelopment study of their properties.

It would conclude that Meerzon's occupied apartment building and Romero's tire shop were both just as blighted as the vacant, boarded up homes being torn down a few houses down.

The Taking

In December 2024, Meerzon received a notice in the mail from an attorney working for the city referencing a redevelopment study that had been conducted on her property and the neighboring ones. It said that a Zoom call to discuss the study was scheduled in two days.

At the time, Meerzon hadn't received a copy of the referenced study. When she called the city to get one, she says the staff were initially unforthcoming.

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"They said the woman who can give me the report is on vacation for a week and cannot help me," says Meerzon.

With a call with the city scheduled in two days, Meerzon went to city hall and said she wouldn't leave until she was provided a copy of the report.

That did the trick. That same day, the city turned over an 87-page report detailing how Meerzon's and Romero's properties were blighted, unsafe, and therefore qualifying for a redevelopment seizure.

The blight designation was shocking to Meerzon. Since acquiring her property, she'd invested some $150,00 in upgrades: adding new siding, replacing boilers, installing a French drain, and adding a new fire alarm system at the city's request.

Indeed, the city's evidence that her property, as well as her neighbor's, was blighted seemed thin.

The redevelopment study cited a handful of traffic stops in front of the properties and some trash and stray cats behind them as evidence that they had become "detrimental to the safety, health, morals, or welfare of the community."

The study claimed that both buildings' lack of setbacks from the street posed a safety hazard. Meerzon's building was also described as having too little parking and receiving too many Fire Department calls.

The study also said that Romero's and Meerzon's buildings were blocking two small, vacant city-owned parcels behind them. That made those parcels unlikely to be developedand New Jersey's redevelopment law allows property seizures to facilitate development on otherwise undevelopable lots.

None of these allegations made much sense to Romero or Meerzon.

Two of the five Fire Department visits to Meerzon's property cited in the city's report were medical responses to one of her tenants reporting a respiratory issue.

The building's close distance from the street was a common feature of properties in the area. No one had raised concerns about it before.

"We never had any issues with the city, any code enforcement, violations, safety issues, accidents, nothing. No pedestrians complaining about vehicles coming out," says Romero.

With it increasingly clear that the city was determined to seize their properties, Meerzon and Romero jointly hired an attorney. They also brought on Steck, the planner, to prepare a report rebutting the city's evidence that their properties qualified for redevelopment.

Steck's report details a number of apparent errors in the city's redevelopment study. The most glaring mistake was that they appear to have gotten the property lines wrong.

As can be seen in the below image, the city's report shows the front of Meerzon's and Romero's buildings as extending several feet beyond the property line into the public right of way. That property line placement also shows their properties covering vacant land behind them.

City's mapping of Romero's (green outline) and Meerzon's (blue outline) property lines shows their buildings many feet into the public right-of-way and blocking vacant land in the rear. (City of Perth Amboy)

Steck's report argues this property line is "obviously misplaced." Using satellite photos from the state's Department of Environmental Protection, he shows that their properties end at the street in the front and do not cover the vacant land behind them.

Steck's mapping of Romero's (green outline) and Meerzon's (blue outline) property lines shows their buildings not extending into the public right-of-way and not blocking vacant land in the rear. (Illustration: Christian Britschgi; Peter Steck)

This more logical placement of the property lines undermines several of the city's determinations that the properties qualify for redevelopment.

The vacant lots that Romero's and Meerzon's properties are allegedly blocking, and therefore rendering undevelopable, are instead owned by Romero himself and used as tire shed for his business. The litter said to be in the rear of the properties is actually on adjacent city-owned land.

"They were saying in the back of the property there's trash and wild cats going around. But that property isn't even in the study area and that's embarrassing," says Steck.

'Don't Bulldoze Our Dreams'

At the beginning of the year, Meerzon and Romero had that Zoom call with a city planning board attorney confirming that Perth Amboy was in fact interested in seizing their properties for redevelopment.

The next required step was a hearing before the city's planning board, which happened in March 2025.

At the hearing, Meerzon and Romero presented evidence to the city planning board showing that their properties were not blighted.

They argued that the litter the city complained about in their report was either not on their properties or had already been cleared. Either way, it was a de minimis amount of refuse.

Images of litter Perth Amboy is citing as evidence of blight. The right image shows a small amount of litter on Meerzon's property. (City of Perth Amboy)

Meerzon says that at that hearing, the city focused blight accusations on how close her and Romero's buildings were to the street (which was allegedly a traffic hazard) and how close they were to each other (which was allegedly a fire hazard).

If these features justified the seizure of Romero's and Meerzon's properties, then many other properties in Perth Amboy also meet the definition of blight.

"To conclude that a residential vehicle backing out on a busy road in Perth Amboy is a basis for an area in need of redevelopment designation likely renders hundreds of homes in the City as eligible for a blight designation," reads Steck's report.

Ultimately, this did nothing to move the planning board, which voted to approve the redevelopment designation.

The final step in the process was a city council hearing and vote, which was held in mid-April.

NJ.com reported that some 80 people attended the hearing to oppose the seizure, sporting signs that read "Don't bulldoze our dreams" and "Save our homes, save our family."

About a dozen people spoke at the meeting, all in support of Meerzon and Romero. No members of the public supported the city's efforts to take the property.

At the hearing, Romero told the city council there was nowhere else in the city where he could relocate his tire shop, meaning his employees (several of whom had worked at the tire shop for decades) would lose their jobs.

Meerzon said she wasn't trying to stand in the way of the area's growth. "We are not against development. But we are against being erased," she said, per NJ.com.

After receiving this public testimony, the five-member Perth Amboy city council went into a closed session to discuss the seizure of Meerzon's and Romero's properties.

They ended up spending three hours deliberating. One by one, Meerzon's and Romero's supporters slowly started to trickle out of city hall.

Finally, near midnight, the city council returned and, without any public discussion, voted 41 to declare the two properties in need of redevelopment, and thus, subject to seizure.

Next Steps

With the redevelopment vote complete, Meerzon's and Romero's properties are now subject to seizure effectively at the city's discretion.

Their only remaining option to save their properties is to proactively sue the city in a local superior court. State law gives them until the end of May to file a lawsuit.

Hoping to avoid an expensive legal fight, Meerzon and Romero have both been trying to negotiate with the city about improvements they can make on their property. The city, they say, has been completely unresponsive.

The city doesn't even have to communicate exactly what the property will be used for. Since the purpose of the seizure is to clear blight, and that's a public purpose, effectively the seizure is the public use.

"I can do whatever they tell me to do," Meerzon tells Reason. "We tried calling them to see what we can do, if we can negotiate something, if we can talk about anything. Nobody will call us back."

The taking of her property would not only be a major financial loss for her but also a serious hardship for her tenants.

"They are tenants who walk to work. They don't have cars. Displacing them is a huge, huge hit because they have no way to get to work now," she says.

Meerzon notes that their properties have always been excluded from the Gateway redevelopment area and should be left alone as a consequence.

However, it's not an unusual tactic for cities to leave areas that they intend to bulldoze out of a major redevelopment area. This way, if a property owner does challenge a seizure in court, the rest of the project isn't held up as well.

New Jersey's courts have prevented redevelopment seizures in the past.

McNamara, the Institute for Justice attorney, successfully litigated a case challenging the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's attempted seizure of an Atlantic City man's home. That case was resolved in 2019.

"What Perth Amboy is hoping for is that they'll get away with declaring land blighted when in fact the land is simply coveted," says McNamara.

The post New Jersey Town Says Small Setbacks, Stray Cats Allow It To Seize Private Property appeared first on Reason.com.
Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week's stories include:

Proposed funding cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Zoning reform in Baltimore.

Encampment crackdowns in California.

But first, our lead story on a case of apparent eminent domain abuse in New Jersey. There, the city of Perth Amboy is using incredibly flimsy blight allegations to seize an apartment building and a family-owned tire shop from owners whose families came to America to escape communism.

In Perth Amboy, Property Rights Take a Back Seat to 'Redevelopment'

Honey Meerzon's parents are Jews from the Soviet Union, who moved to the United States in the 1970s to escape religious discrimination. Luis Romero's parents fled Fidel Castro's Cuba when he was eight years old.

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The two ended up as neighboring business owners at the corner of Smith and Herbert Streets in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. It's there that Romero has been running his family's tire shop, Quick Tire, for the past 20 years. Meerzon has owned the four-unit rental property next door for the past 10.

Now, these two children of refugees from communism are having their businesses taken from them by the all-too-American process of eminent domain.

Last month, the City Council of Perth Amboy voted that Meerzon and Romero's properties were not, in fact, comfortable homes or a successful business, but are rather blighted hazards.

Because their two buildings are too close together, too close to the street, and have some (since-collected) litter and stray cats in the backyard, the city says it is now entitled to take the properties.

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Meerzon and Romero strongly object to the idea that their properties are in any way blighted. They argue that the city's report claiming otherwise is riddled with erroneous complaints and fatal factual errors.

Nevertheless, the city has moved forward with seizing their properties, which sit right on the edge of a massive city-facilitated warehouse project.

Both property owners now face a looming deadline at the end of May to file a lawsuit challenging the seizure.

"They refuse to answer our calls. They refuse to answer any of our lawyers," says Meerzon. "They're waiting for us to go to superior court to monetarily drain us until we have no choice but to take whatever they offer us."

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Neither Perth Amboy's mayor nor any members of the City Council responded to Reason's request for comment.

Both Meerzon and Romero see a dark irony in their properties being seized by the city, given their family's backgrounds.

"[My parents] said this is the only way you get on your feet. You have to take a risk, you have to make an investment, you have to leave a legacy for your children," Meerzon tells Reason. "This is what happens to the legacy they dreamt of having coming here."

"The reason [my parents] left Cuba is the system how it was, they just come to your home, say 'we want this property. You have to get out,'" says Romero. "Here it's done legally."

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Read the entire story here.

The White House Proposes Steep Cuts to HUD

The Trump White House's budget proposal released earlier this month proposes steep cuts to federal housing programs. The administration is asking for a 44 percent cut to current funding levels for the next fiscal year, according to an analysis from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The $26 billion in proposed cuts would significantly reduce funding for rental assistance programs administered by HUD.

It would also zero out funding for the Community Development Block Grant program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.

Also on the chopping block is the Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) to Housing program (a.k.a. "baby YIMBY grants") that was intended to reward cities for reforming their zoning codes. Read some of Reason's criticism of that program, and its poorly targeted grant awards, here and here.

Baltimore Takes Up Zoning Reform

On Monday, Baltimore City Council members introduced a package of bills to allow more homes on less land.

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The proposed reforms, which have the backing of Mayor Brandon Scott, would allow between two and four homes on land currently zoned for single-family units, permit taller single-stair buildings, and eliminate off-street parking requirements, reports The Baltimore Banner.

"Nothing stands more clearly in our way than our own laws of prohibition and division," said Councilman Ryan Dorsey at a Monday news conference announcing the reforms, per the Banner. "The bills being introduced today are the first, modest step to correcting course."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Proposes Encampment Crackdown

On Monday, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom urged cities and counties to adopt a model ordinance targeting homeless encampments written by his office.

The model ordinance would prohibit "persistent camping" in a single location and camping on sidewalks. It would require that local governments "provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter prior to clearing an encampment."

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The Supreme Court's 2024 Grants Pass decision gave local governments more freedom to clear encampments and cite the homeless for sleeping in public, even when there are no local shelter beds available.

The release of the model ordinance was accompanied by the governor's release of $3.3 billion in voter-approved funding for supportive housing and treatment programs.

Local governments in California are complaining that the governor is blaming them for inaction on homelessness while not providing them with enough funding to address the problem, reports the Associated Press. Advocates for the homeless argue that encampment clearances are punitive and merely separate the homeless from social service providers.

Quick Links

First Things reviews Yoni Appelbaum's Stuck and finds broad agreement on his criticisms of zoning regulations.

A country club sues to block a townhome development enabled by recent "missing middle" reforms in Raleigh, North Carolina. Did someone say snob zoning?

Could Hong Kong get even more dense? This Works in Progress essay by Benedict Springbett argues that yes, yes it can.

Washington Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a recently passed rent stabilization bill into law. Critics argue the measure will reduce the supply of rental housing.

Some YIMBY propaganda spotted in the wild in D.C. The rebellion is growing.

Spotted some YIMBY propaganda in the Meridian Hill park bathrooms pic.twitter.com/NYBcVLzSGO  Christian Britschgi (@christianbrits) May 12, 2025

The post New Jersey Town Uses Flimsy Blight Allegations To Seize Tire Shop, Apartment Building appeared first on Reason.com.
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  Jessamine County Schools is set to host a school safety forum tonight. This comes on the heels of two lockdowns this semester from reported threats.

Back in March, Jessamine County schools were put on lockdown for what police later called an unsubstantiated threat at East Jessamine High School. Weeks later, a vape was mistaken for a potential firearm at East Jessamine Middle School. Now the district is trying to offer transparency to parents amid safety concerns.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Parents and community members will hear a short presentation from Jessamine County Superintendent Sara Crum on the districts protocols when responding to threats, as well as from other district leaders.

Nicholasville Police Chief Michael Fleming and Jessamine County Sheriff Kevin Grimes will also be in attendance to answer questions about their response to these latest events and what they are doing to keep everyone safe.

Crum said transparency is key.

I think, you know, for the most part, we just wanted to be able to share what information we are able to share with the community about why we do things the way we do on those days. And then also, you know, were learning and growing every time something like this occurs, and so we also just want to be transparent with families that this is new territory for all of us, said Crum.

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Parents were able to submit questions ahead of tonights forum.

Crum said its part of the effort to cover as many topics as possible.

Live questions will also be answered if time allows. Discussions are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at East Jessamine High School.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
A Gary nature preserve will soon be getting a facelift.

Tucked behind what may seem like one of the citys many wooded areas is the Ivanhoe South Preserve, a sanctuary of wetland, unique plant life, and a globally rare dune-and-swale habitat just off Seventh Avenue and Colfax Street. Despite its vast landmass, the preserve sits as a jewel rarely visited by those in its surrounding neighborhood.



Now backed by $400,000 in funding, the preserve will receive major upgrades. Improvements range from a sidewalk linking the park to West Side Leadership Academy, half a mile away, to educational signs, an expanded parking lot, boardwalks, and a new gathering space.



Ive always wondered what they were doing because I sometimes see folks parked over there, said Jared Benard, who lives two blocks from the preserve and attended Mondays announcement. They said they have hikes. Id like to participate in one  I think its a good thing that theyre preserving this area.

The land, originally set to be a subdivision that was never developed, was purchased in parcels by The Shirley Heinze Land Trust, which was founded in 1981. Since that time the land trust has pieced together 250 lots to create the 53-acre preserve.

The 53-acre preserve is a sanctuary of wetland, unique plant life, and a globally rare dune-and-swale habitat. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

Although the preserve has been open to the public for years, leadership at Shirley Heinze trust were looking for ways to make it more accessible as an asset for the neighborhood and the entire city.

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Were committed to connecting people to nature, and a few years ago we found a perfect opportunity to pursue funding through the Northwest Indiana Forum and the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, said Kris Krouse, executive director of the Shirley Heinze Land Trust.

Our goal was to connect neighbors and students from West Side Leadership Academy by building a sidewalk from Ivanhoe South to the high school.

After securing the READI grant, the land trust needed $200,000 in matching funds, which it secured with a $50,000 award from the Legacy Foundations John S. and James L. Knight donor-advised fund and $150,000 from American Water Charitable Foundations Water and Environmental Grant program, a philanthropic nonprofit established by American Water.

Mayor Eddie Melton praised the collaborative partnerships and recalled his own experiences learning about nature in the region.

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I remember going on field trips to Deep River, and they would teach us about the monarch butterfly and everything about Northwest Indiana from a natural perspective, he said. So Im extremely excited; this investment will strengthen our citys connection to the environment and improve the quality of life for our residents.

State Senator Mark Spencer, a 33-year educator, highlighted the opportunities on the horizon for students, particularly those right around the corner at West Side.

I am excited about the opportunity for our young people to engage in all thats being offered in this wonderful natural forest, especially the biology classes, he said.

Ivanhoe South stands as a sanctuary between neighborhood and industry and its now becoming even more, its a classroom without walls.

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Legacy Foundation President and CEO Kelly Anoe highlighted disparities in access to green space, especially in communities like Gary.

Not all people and not all neighborhoods have the same access to nature and maintained green space especially in those that are underserved, she said.

Gary residents Barbara Freeman and Ethel Fields walk a trail along the Ivanhoe South Preserve. (Javonte Anderson/Capital B)

According to Jeff Berglund of Berglund Construction, the project is expected to start in the coming weeks and will be completed by September.

Barbara Freeman, a resident and board member of the land trust, brought her friend Ethel Fields, who had never visited the preserve.



I love it, Fields said as Freeman guided her through the trail.

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Were so used to seeing abandoned areas, Freeman said. We have to promote this. This is a jewel in our own community.

The post This Is a Jewel in Our Own Community, Residents Say as Preserve Gets $400K Upgrade appeared first on Capital B Gary.
Jillian Lauren (left) at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on May 13, 2025. - Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Bestselling author Jillian Lauren, who is the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, pled not guilty to charges stemming from the Los Angeles Police Department officer-involved shooting that left her wounded outside of their home in Eagle Rock on April 8.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Lauren, 51, pleaded not guilty to felony charges on Tuesday for willful discharge of a firearm in a gross negligent manner and assault of a person with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors are also seeking a firearms sentencing enhancement and if convicted, the author faces up to 19 years in state prison, per the paper.

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Laurens attorneys did not immediately respond to Rolling Stones request for comment.

Last month, Lauren was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly firing in the direction of police officers first. According to the LAPD, Lauren racked her gun and fired it during a standoff with police officers who were in a neighboring yard conducting a search for hit-and-run suspects who had fled the scene of a nearby traffic collision earlier that day.

Body-worn camera footage and home-surveillance video later released by the LAPD appeared to show Lauren pointing her gun toward a fence which officers were standing behind.

The officers gave Shriner repeated verbal commands to drop the handgun, however, she did not comply, LAPD Commander Alex Chogyoji said in a case overview video released late last month. Moments later, Shriner racked the handgun, pointed it at the officers and fired, resulting in an officer involved shooting.

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Lauren released her first memoir, Some Girls: My Life in a Harem, in 2010, and her second, Everything You Ever Wanted, in May 2015. Both books reached The New York Times bestseller list.

Following the shooting, Lauren was booked in absentia on suspicion of attempted murder and released on $1 million bail. She is due back in court on June 18 for a preliminary hearing on whether the case against her will proceed, per the Times.









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Aerial shot of the NIOSH campus in Bruceton, Allegheny County. (Photo from the CDC)

The Pittsburgh-area lab responsible for certifying virtually all U.S. government-approved respirators in the country was preparing to shutter for good in June. The Capital-Star reported last month that employees had been told their positions were being eliminated as part of sweeping cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The lab is responsible for certifying and auditing just about every N95, as well as masks worn by doctors, firefighters, welders, coal miners, and other professionals.

But those plans changed Tuesday afternoon. Officials with the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees union say many, if not all, employees remaining at the Bruceton facility, many of whom were on administrative leave, received an email telling them their jobs were safe  at least for the moment.

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You previously received a notice regarding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) upcoming reduction in force, read an email sent to lab employees by Thomas Nagy, the agencys acting chief human capital officer, and shared with the Capital-Star. That notice is hereby revoked. You will not be affected by the upcoming RIF.

The employee who shared the email did so under the condition of anonymity, for fear of retaliation.

But a union official told the Capital-Star between recent buyouts, layoffs and early retirements, its been difficult to say with certainty how many employees remain. And with so many on administrative leave, its been hard to confirm if anyone did not receive the notification Tuesday.

Were still trying to figure out what it all means and who it all covers, said Suzanne Alison, a steward at the local American Federation of Government Employees chapter that represents Allegheny Countys NIOSH employees. Were crowdsourcing a little bit among ourselves.

Two N95s and a N100-type masks (photo from the Centers for Disease Control)

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to detailed questions about the decision to reverse the planned cuts, but said that, The Trump Administration remains committed to supporting coal miners, who play a vital role in Americas energy sector. Under Secretary [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]s leadership, NIOSHs Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program will continue to meet the needs of our nations miners.

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Workers at the National Personal Protective Technology Lab learned their jobs were no longer being cut on the same day a U.S. District Court judge in West Virginia granted an injunction ordering employees of NIOSHs mine safety and respiratory health divisions return to work following previous cuts. That was in response to a class action case led by West Virginia coal miner, Harry Wiley.

Its unclear if there was any connection between the ruling and the reversal of cuts to the respirator certification lab. Alison said the ruling likely only affected employees at NIOSHs Morgantown division, who also faced steep cuts earlier this year.

West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said Tuesday on the social media platform X that over 100 employees would be returning to work at the Morgantown facility.

However, employees at NIOSHs Pittsburgh-area Mining Research Division, which studies best practices for avoiding workplace injuries and deaths, do not appear to have received the same notices as those at the respirator certification lab, Alison said.

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Kennedy is scheduled to testify Wednesday before both the U.S. House Appropriations committee and the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee to discuss his agencys proposed budget, which includes drastic staff cuts.

There are two Pennsylvania representatives on the House Appropriations panel, Republican Guy Reschenthaler and Democrat Madeleine Dean.

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When Joe Biden arrived at a heavily promoted, record-breaking fundraiser in Los Angeles last year, he didnt appear to recognize one of the star co-hosts of the event: George Clooney.

The moment was detailed in Jake Tapper and Alex Thompsons new book, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, to be published next week.

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In an excerpt in The New Yorker, Tapper and Thompson detail the scene at a pre-fundraiser clutch, as Clooney and Julia Roberts, another co-host, entertained high-dollar donors while waiting for Biden to arrive.

They write that the President said thank you for being here to guests as he shuffled past them. Clooney felt a knot form in his stomach as the President approached him. Biden looked at him. Thank you for being here, he said. Thank you for being here.'

You know George, the assisting aide told the President, gently reminding him who was in front of him. Yeah, yeah, the President said to one of the most recognizable men in the world, the host of this lucrative fund-raiser. Thank you for being here.'

An aide, they wrote, clarified to the president that it was Clooney, who he had known for decades.

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They wrote that Biden said, Oh, yeah! Hi, George!

They added, Clooney was shaken to his core. The President hadnt recognized him, a man he had known for years. Clooney had expressed concern about Bidens health beforea White House aide had told him a few months before that they were working on getting the President to take longer steps when he walkedbut obviously the problem went far beyond his gait. This was much graver.

The event was a success, raising more than $30 million for Democrats, a record sum.

But in the following days, the White House pushed back against reports of Bidens cognitive state, even though he had been on a heavy schedule of international travel. The featured attraction at the event was a conversation between Biden, Barack Obama and Jimmy Kimmel. But after that ended and the audience cheered, Biden stood on the stage and peered at the audience. Obama took Bidens arm and directed him off the stage. The White House pushed back against some reporting by outlets on the right as spreading cheap fake videos, but Bidens disastrous debate performance later in the month convinced Clooney and other Democrats that his campaign was not sustainable.

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The next month, Clooney published his op ed urging Biden to withdraw from the race. Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was serving as co-chair of Bidens campaign, took issue with Clooneys assessment and doubted that the op ed would have the desired effect, Tapper and Thompson wrote.

A couple of weeks later, Biden dropped out of the race.

Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, appeared on ABCs The View last week in advance of the books publication.

They are wrong. There is nothing to sustain that, the former president said when asked about claims that his cognitive ability was in decline in his final year.

Jill Biden said, The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us, and they didnt see how hard Joe worked every single dayIf you look at things today, give me Joe Biden anytime.

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A new book alleges that President Joe Biden didnt recognize George Clooney at a June 2024 Democratic fundraiser that the actor hosted for him.

Journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson detail the uncomfortable exchange in their new book, Original Sin, writing, Clooney was shaken to his core.

Weeks after the alleged incident, Clooney penned an op-ed in which he pleaded for Biden to step down and let another Democratic candidate run for president.







Did a startling moment at a fundraising event inspire George Clooney to urge Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential election?



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Thats one claim made by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson in their upcoming book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, which is based on more than 200 interviews with Democratic insiders.



In an excerpt of the book obtained by the The New Yorker, the authors detail how a star-studded Democratic fundraiser in June 2024 seemingly brought Bidens mental acuity into serious doubt.



At the exclusive Hollywood event  which was hosted by Clooney and Julia Roberts  It was obvious to many standing there that the president did not know who George Clooney was, the excerpt reads, noting that an aide seemed to jog Biden's memory by saying, "You know George."

Clooney was shaken to his core," the excerpt continues. "The president hadnt recognized him. A man he had known for years.

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The book, which is set to release on May 20, also includes a reaction from someone who witnessed Biden's apparent memory lapse.

It was not okay, the Hollywood VIP told the book's authors. That thing, the moment where you recognize someone you know  especially a famous person whos doing a f------ fundraiser for you  it was delayed. It was uncomfortable.



Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty George Clooney greets President Joe Biden during the Kennedy Center honoree reception on Dec. 4, 2022 George Clooney greets President Joe Biden during the Kennedy Center honoree reception on Dec. 4, 2022

A month after drumming up support for Biden at the summer fundraiser, Clooney penned an op-ed for The New York Times titled, I Love Joe Biden, But We Need a New Nominee."



"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, Clooney wrote on July 10, 2024. In the last four years, hes won many of the battles hes faced.



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However, the two-time Oscar winner noted that "the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time, referencing Biden's age, which was a top concern to voters  particularly following his disastrous debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump.



Related: George Clooney Urges His Friend Joe Biden to Save Democracy by Exiting 2024 Race: One Battle He Cannot Win

Clooney even referred to the fundraiser as being an eye-opening event, pleading with the then-president to save democracy by stepping aside and allowing another candidate to run.



"Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010. He wasnt even the Joe Biden of 2020," Clooney said. "He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."



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Despite Vice President Kamala Harris failed bid for the White House in Bidens place, Clooney has continued to praise the former president for doing the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington: stepping aside.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on May 13, a Biden spokesperson commented on Tapper and Thompson's new allegations in Original Sin about the 2024 Democratic fundraiser, saying, We have not reviewed the book, and the authors did not fact check the book with us, despite it being a common practice to do so. So we are not going to respond to every bit of this book they choose to release via select leaks in the reporters' efforts to make a profit."

The spokesperson added: "We continue to await anything that shows where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or where national security was threatened or where he was unable to do his job. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite  he was a very effective president.

Clooney's spokesperson declined to comment on the excerpt.

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In April, Clooney, 64, sat down with Tapper for an interview on The Lead, in which he opened up about writing the essay.



"I don't know if it was brave," the actor and director admitted. "It was a civic duty because I found that people on my side of the street  I'm a Democrat, I was a Democrat in Kentucky so I get it. When I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth, I thought it was time to [say something]."

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When Tapper asked Clooney if people were "still mad" at him over the op-ed, he replied, "Some people, sure."



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"It's OK," he continued. "You know, listen, the idea of freedom of speech, the specific idea of it, is you can't demand freedom of speech but 'Don't say bad things about me.' That's the deal."

The Wolfs star added, "You have to take a stand. If you believe in it, take a stand. Stand for it. Then deal with the consequences. That's the rules."



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Georgias foster care system is already in crisis. As a foster parent and advocate for more than two decades, Ive dedicated my life to supporting children in need. Through my work with foster families across the state, Ive seen how essential stable, high-quality health care is for these vulnerable children. Thats why so many foster parents are deeply worried about Georgias Medicaid transition and what it could mean for the children they love and care for.

For years, Georgia Families 360 has provided specialized Medicaid services tailored to the unique needs of children in foster care. Now, the state has awarded sole control of these services to a new provider, and many families are feeling uncertain about what comes next. According to a ProPublica investigation, this provider has been accused of systematically denying claims for mental health care and autism therapy, services that many children in foster care rely on for stability and healing.

Additionally, the new provider is currently on trial in Macon for Medicare fraud, a case uncovered by the Department of Justice. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley has opened a national inquiry into the companys Medicare billing practices. Recent reporting also has shed light on troubling aspects of Georgias Medicaid procurement process. The selection of the new provider was fraught with red flags, where some of the selected organizations reportedly failed to meet the states own eligibility criteria, yet they were still approved.

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These concerns arent just theoretical, as foster parents have told me they are already struggling to confirm whether their childs trusted therapist or medical provider is still in-network. Some have already faced denials for services their children have relied on for years. In an already complex and often overwhelming foster care system, any disruption in health care access adds stress to families and, more importantly, to the children themselves.

This issue goes beyond the procurement process and the qualifications of this new provider; its about the well-being of our children in foster care. For these children, stability can make all the difference. Many have endured unimaginable hardships, and the consistency of a counselor or doctor they trust can be one of the few constants in their lives. Losing access to that care, even temporarily, can be devastating.

These children rely on the adults around them for safety, guidance, and support. It is our responsibility to provide them with a strong foundation so they have the opportunity to grow and heal. We owe it to our children to do better. They have already faced enough uncertainty, and access to their doctors and therapists should never be in question. Foster parents, advocates, and concerned citizens must stand together to demand better for Georgias foster children. We must protect them because every child deserves to feel valued and supported.

John DeGarmo is the founder and director of the Foster Care Institute, a published author and a foster parent to more than 60 children.
Jon Stewart found it hard Monday night to keep up with the Trump administrations many, wild announcements from the past week.

So much comes at us every day with [Trump]. I cant even sleep, organize thoughts, eat, the Daily Show host began Monday. And he knows! He knows hes toying with us.

The comedian went on to briefly discuss White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Millers remark that Donald Trump is considering suspending habeas corpus, before turning his attention fully to President Trumps acceptance of a luxury jet from the royal family of Qatar.

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The jet in question will reportedly be used as the new Air Force One and then transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation before Trump leaves office. Qatar is giving us a plane that  Trump gets to keep? Hes like the reverse Oprah, a visibly confused, frustrated Stewart remarked. Tightly gripping his stack of papers, Stewart continued, Why does his library  need a jet?

Calling the plane a flying fk palace, Stewart reflected on Qatars status as an ally to not only America but also Iran, China and Hamas. Trumps going to take a $400 million jet from people he would expel from Columbia University, the Daily Show host joked.

You can watch the full segment yourself in the video below.

Stewart went on to blast Trump for characterizing Qatars offer as simply him getting a free plane. Its not a free jet. Thats the point. You know the expression, Theres no such thing as a free lunch? Thats about being skeptical of the motives of somebody who gives you a sandwich. A sandwich! A B.L.T., Stewart said. Now imagine that B.L.T. has an engine, nine bathrooms and funds proxy wars.

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Trying to cover as many of Trumps moves over the past week as he could, Stewart shifted focus to the presidents signing of an executive order designed to reduce the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in America. I like this! Stewart exclaimed. During his explanation of his plan, however, Trump said that his administration is going to equalize the cost of pharmaceutical drugs and remarked that equalizing was a new word hed come up with.

In response, Stewart mockingly pulled out a dictionary and double-checked to make sure equalize was already there. I thought it sounded familiar, he quipped. Ultimately, the Daily Show host found it impossible to come to grips with all of the announcements, updates and news that have come and continue to come from the Trump administration at such a relentless pace. Hes trying to kill us all, Stewart half-jokingly observed.

It feels like a decade ago that they threatened to suspend habeas corpus  it was Friday, the comedian added. Since then, weve had the largest bribe ever given to an American president, the seeming surrender of a trade war we started and the socializing of our pharmaceutical industry  What even is this country?

The post Jon Stewart Blasts Trump for Accepting $400 Million Qatar Jet: Hes Like the Reverse Oprah | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
JOPLIN, Mo.  The Joplin man charged with an armed bank robbery makes his first appearance in court.

David Cox, 28, pleaded not guilty today in Jasper County Court to first degree robbery and armed criminal action. Hes charged in the May 3 robbery of Commerce Bank at 20th and Connecticut in Joplin.

David Cox, 28

Police say Cox walked into the bank carrying a cross-body bag with part of a gun sticking out. They say Cox gave the bank teller a note demanding money, saying it was for his sick daughter.

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PREVIOUS: Joplin man turns himself in after armed bank robbery

Cox allegedly stated This was a bad idea, before leaving on foot toward the wooded area behind the bank. Court records say tipsters identified Cox from the description police issued, and after speaking with Cox, JPD says he turned himself in.

His bond is set at $250,000. He will have a bond reduction hearing in June, Cox told the court he planned to apply for a public defender.

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Uruguays former President Jose Mujica, a leftist icon known for his progressive social reforms, died on Tuesday at the age of 89.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica, Uruguays President Yamandu Orsi announced on X.

President, activist, leader and guide. We will miss you very much, dear old man. Thank you for everything you gave us and for your profound love for your people, said Orsi, who was close to the late leader. CNN has contacted the Uruguayan presidency for more information.

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The folksy, former guerrilla is remembered for his modest lifestyle during his presidential term  famously shunning the presidential palace to carry out his duties from his rural farm.

He had been battling cancer for more than a year prior to his death, telling reporters in 2024 that he would fight on for as long as he could.

Ill continue to fight alongside my comrades, faithful to my way of thinking, and entertaining myself with my vegetables and my chickens, he said. For the rest, I am grateful, and after all, you cant take away what Ive had.

A humble leader

Pepe Mujica, as he is more widely known, burst into the national scene in the 1960s as a leader of the leftist militant group Tupamaros, which waged an armed insurgency against the government in the 60s and 70s after being inspired by the Cuban Revolution.

Mujica works on his crops on May 21, 2010 in Montevideo, Uruguay. - Ricardo Ceppi/Getty Images

The uprising was put down by government forces during Uruguays military dictatorship, and Mujica was subsequently imprisoned for nearly 15 years, enduring many forms of torture.

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Mujica spoke of the horror of that period in 2020. Being tied up with wire with my hands behind my back for six months; being thrown out of the truck for two or three days; going two years without being taken to the bathroom, having to bathe with a jar, a cup of water, and a handkerchief, he said.

He was released from prison in 1985 after democracy was restored to the country. Four years later, he and other members of Tupamaros founded the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), a party under which he won several legislative elections.

In 2009, he launched his bid for president, winning in a runoff with more than 50% of the vote.

Under his watch, between 2010 and 2015, Uruguays economy expanded, and he implemented several progressive reforms. Uruguay legalized abortion, gay marriage, and allowed the recreational use of cannabis, becoming the first country in the world to do so.

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Mujicas supporters regarded him as one of the humblest leaders the country has ever had, pointing to his decision to forgo the presidential palace and live in a rural farmhouse during his term.

In 2012, he gave CNN a tour of his farm, showing how he toiled the fields, planted fresh fruits and chrysanthemums, and drove around in an old Volkswagen Beetle.

Mujica arrives at a polling station in Montevideo, Uruguay, in October 2014. - Mariana Greif Etchebehere/Bloomberg/Getty Images

His modest life led many to refer to him as the worlds poorest president, a moniker he took issue with.

Im not a poor president; poor is someone who needs a lot, he said in a 2014 interview with CNN. My definition is Senecas. Im a sober president; I need little to live, because I live the way I lived long before I became president. I still live the same way, in the same neighborhood, the same way, and Im a republican president. I live the way most of my people live.

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In April 2024, Mujica announced he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his esophagus. After months of treatment, his doctor said in August that the cancer in his esophagus appeared to be in remission, but that he had developed a kidney disease due to radiation therapy to treat the tumor.

In January, he said the cancer had spread to his liver, telling the Uruguayan media outlet Busqueda that he was dying. He chose to forgo additional treatment and asked to be left alone in the twilight of his life.

Im doomed, brother. This is as far as I go, he said.

Latin America in mourning

Leaders across Latin America mourned the former president, saying the region had lost a beacon of hope and humility.

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Alberto Fernandez, former president of neighboring Argentina, praised Mujicas modesty, calling him an example of austerity in a society that rewards those who amass fortunes.

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales, a fellow leftist leader who was in office roughly around the same time as Mujica, called him a brother full of wisdom whose teachings would continue to live on.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric echoed those sentiments, saying, If you left us anything, it was the unquenchable hope that things can be done better  step by step, so as not to go off the rails, as you used to say.

CNNs Veronica Calderon contributed to this report.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Georgia statewide politics has a decidedly West Georgia flavor.

The new chairman of the state Democratic Party, Charlie Bailey, is from Harris County. State Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon is a former state senator from Columbus.

Bailey is in place going into the crucial 2026 election cycle. Josh McKoon is fighting to keep his job at the Republican State Convention next month.

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And McKoon got a powerful push in that direction late last week.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the Georgia GOP race. He gave his full-throated endorsement of Josh McKoon in a May 8 social media post.

The presidents post read partly: Josh is 100 percent MAGA, and I know he will continue to do a fantastic job.

I really enjoyed the working relationship we had during the election campaign, McKoon said. And I think the fact that you point out that he would weigh in on something like this shows you how important the president thinks the 2020 election is. And how important it is to him to have people he trusts in these positions to carry the ball into the endzone on behalf of our candidates.

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Bailey, who was elected earlier this month to lead the Georgia Democrats, will fight McKoon every step of the way next year.

I am not surprised. he said of McKoons endorsement from Trump. Josh has supported these MAGA policies and Donald Trump every step of the way, as is his right to do. Donald Trump probably owes him that.

The 2026 Georgia election will feature some compelling races, including Democrat Jon Ossoffs attempt to hold on to his U.S. Senate seat. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp announced last week he will not challenge Ossoff. McKoon says the Republican bench is deep.

And unlike the presidential election where we knew who are candidate was well ahead of time, and we were able to consolidate our party behind that candidate, President Trump, McKoon said. This time its more likely that you and I will be having this conversation in June of next year, OK, you got your nominee. Now, what are you going to do.

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Bailey speculates why Kemp did not enter the race against Ossoff.

People from Georgia aint for Medicaid cuts, cutting HeadStart firing people from the CDC, cutting veterans benefits, Bailey said. I hadnt talk to Gov. Kemp about this, but if I had to guess  if I was a betting man  he knows everything I just said is true. He doesnt want to be out there defending Donald Trumps actions on these things.

We are just 53 weeks away from next years primaries. They are scheduled for May 19th, 2026.

The Republican state Convention is set for June 6th and 7th. McKoon is facing opposition from David Cross of Gwinnett County.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office says its officers helped save three children at the beach who were drowning.

This happened at Huguenot Park on Saturday afternoon, when the officer heard a boy screaming for help.

Just moments before, officers saw a beachgoer, identified as Steven Insco, carry a boy and girl out of the water.

Beach Patrol Officer Tyler Sweeney stripped off his vest and gear, grabbed a buoy, and dove into the water to find the boy who was calling for help, JSO said.

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According to JSO, the boy was caught in a rip current.

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At the same time, JSO says another officer, Billy Crocker, did CPR on the 8-year-old girl until she started showing signs of recovery.

When Jacksonville Fire and Rescue arrived, they gave the girl oxygen and then took her to a nearby hospital.

Officer Sweeney also managed to bring the boy back to shore safely.

On Sunday, Officer Crocker followed up with the girl at the hospital and confirmed she had improved and would be released soon, JSO said.

We cant stress water safety enough. Rip currents and rough surf are deadly. Adults and children need to be extra cautious, know their swimming abilities, andif in doubtstay out," JSO said.

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Judges around the country have been rejecting President Donald Trumps Alien Enemies Act invocation. But in the latest ruling on the subject, a judge approved Trumps bid to use the act to deport Venezuelan citizens who are members of Tren de Aragua  though she said the government must provide more notice under the act.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines, a Trump appointee in the Western District of Pennsylvania, wrote Tuesday that Trumps proclamation describes a predatory incursion by Tren de Aragua, a group that, she emphasized, the government has deemed a Foreign Terrorist Organization. She deferred to Trumps assertion that TdA acts at the direction of the Venezuelan government.

The 1798 act was previously used only during declared wars. The text of the act says its for [w]henever there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government.

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While there isnt a war, other judges  including another Trump appointee, in Texas  have rejected the argument that the presidents proclamation satisfies the requirement of there being an invasion or predatory incursion. And a newly declassified government memo contradicts Trumps assertion that the Venezuelan government is directing TdAs actions.

Earlier this month, that Texas judge, Fernando Rodriguez Jr., deemed Trumps invocation unlawful. He wrote that the terms invasion or predatory incursion are meant to refer to an organized, armed force entering the United States to engage in conduct destructive of property and human life in a specific geographical area. Applying that context to Trumps proclamation, Rodriguez said that, even when crediting the presidents description of TdAs activities, they dont trigger the act.

None of these rulings affects the governments ability to remove people under the usual immigration authorities that have been routinely used outside of wartime.

Importantly, Haines also said the government must provide more notice to those it wants to remove under the act. She said they need 21 days notice and an opportunity to be heard, with notice in both English and Spanish, and interpreters when necessary.

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Haines ruling only applies in her Pennsylvania district, which is also the case for the rulings going the other way in the Southern District of Texas, the Southern District of New York and Colorado.

While the Supreme Court has handled preliminary litigation under the act, there isnt a nationwide standard because it hasnt decided the underlying legality of Trumps invocation. But Haines ruling, which can be appealed to a federal appeals court, shows that judges can reach different conclusions on the subject, even if hers winds up being an outlier. That judges are coming to different conclusions raises the stakes for the high courts potential resolution of the issue.

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
A federal judge for the first time has backed President Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, a war power Trump has used to deport Venezuelans he claims are part of a criminal gang.

U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines, a Trump appointee to the bench in Pennsylvania, upheld Trumps March 14 proclamation declaring that Tren de Aragua, a violent gang based in Venezuela, is mounting an incursion into the United States.

Though that incursion looks nothing like the military invasions the founders envisioned when they passed the Alien Enemies Act in 1798, Haines said old statutes can be applied to modern developments in the world. And she compared Tren de Aragua to the military detachments or pirates that pillaged the United States when the law was passed.

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Its a rare legal victory for Trump on the most aggressive plank of his mass deportation effort. Judges in New York, Colorado and Texas have reached the opposite result, concluding in effect that the gang is not mounting the type of government-backed incursion needed to justify the presidents invocation of the act. Almost simultaneously with Haines ruling, a second judge in Texas barred Alien Enemies Act deportations without 30 days notice.

But Haines ruling is double-edged. Despite backing Trump on the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, her ruling sharply rejected the administrations primary goal: to deport those targeted by the Alien Enemies Act quickly  sometimes within hours  with limited due process.

Indeed, Haines said the Trump administration had fallen woefully short of its obligation to allow those targeted by the Alien Enemies Act to raise legal challenges. The judge said that the administration must allow individuals subject to the act 21 days to file lawsuits challenging their deportations, up from the 12 to 24 hours the Department of Homeland Security says is sufficient.

If the administration abides by that three-weeks notice requirement, Haines ruling permits the officials to deport a single individual, identified only by the initials A.S.R., who is being held in Haines western Pennsylvania district. That individual had sued on behalf of himself and other potential targets of the Alien Enemies Act residing in western Pennsylvania, urging the court to block his summary deportation.

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The ruling creates a split among district courts that is likely to require higher courts  and, eventually, the Supreme Court  to resolve the dispute.

Notably,top intelligence officials in the Trump administration have rejected the idea that Tren de Aragua is closely linked to Venezuelas government, concluding that it is a loose association that has been splintered by government crackdowns and has limited organized leadership.

But Haines, deferring to Trumps authority on matters of national security, noted that Trump has designated the gang as a terrorist organization, and she described the group as bent on destabilizing the United States and flooding the United States with illegal narcotics  and using those narcotics as weapons against American citizens.

Trumps purpose in invoking the Alien Enemies Act  which has been applied only three other times in American history  was to sidestep many of the legal protections that can often slow down the deportation process. Haines requirement of a 21-day window for challenges  matching the requirement embraced by other federal judges who have rejected Trumps assertion of the Alien Enemies Act  undercuts that goal.

Other judges in Texas and Washington are eyeing similar questions about the proper invocation of the law.
Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate has issued a ruling that appears to be a win for four state employees who are suing hedge funds over controversial investments made on behalf of state public pension funds. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

FRANKFORT  Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate has declined to approve a final settlement in the longrunning lawsuit against big hedge funds over their role in controversial investments by the Kentucky Retirement Systems more than 13 years ago.

The settlement was announced Jan. 8 by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, who said the hedge funds had agreed to pay $227.5 million to Kentuckys pension programs for public employees.

Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate

But in a four-page order issued on Friday, Wingate said, The Court is left without a sufficient reason as to why the Courts approval is necessary for this settlement or why this Court is being asked to make findings that the Court is without sufficient knowledge to make.

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Wingate wrote that he welcomes the parties to settle the matter as they best see fit, however, the Court declines to bless an agreement and enter an order that asks the Court to make findings that the Court believes to be outside of its role.

While the order leaves open the door to further settlement talks, it is a setback for Coleman, the hedge funds and the other parties who had agreed to a global settlement of this case  and related cases  and submitted it to Wingate for approval.

Kevin Grout, a spokesman for Colemans office, said late Monday, Were reviewing the courts order and discussing with the Kentucky pension board leaders.

The order appears to be a big win for four Kentucky public employees who filed a separate case against the same hedge funds in 2021. Thats because a key part of the proposed settlement order would have required that their case, as well as other related litigation, be dismissed.

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The employees in that separate case are represented by attorney Michelle Ciccarelli Lerach, who released a statement Tuesday that said Wingates order highlighted many flaws of the proposed settlement  primarily that it would have extinguished the valuable claims of her clients.

Lerach said, We will continue to prosecute our case with the full intention of garnering a result more in line with the actual losses sustained in order to provide significant benefit to the plan and its beneficiaries.

Wingates Friday order also included a directive that will slash the potential amount that could be paid in fees to attorneys who represent Colemans office in the case.

The contract between Coleman and those private attorneys led by Ann Oldfather, of Louisville, calls for the fees to be 20% of the first $250 million gross recovery in the case.

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The proposed settlement called for hedge funds to turn over $227.5 million, but that total had two parts  $82.5 million in new money plus $145 million held in reserve by Prisma, one of the hedge fund defendants in the case.

Wingates order said the $145 million has belonged to Kentuckys pension funds all along and is not to be considered recovered funds and/or a portion of the settlement recovery for the purpose of determining attorneys fees.

Don Kelly, the attorney representing Blackstone, one of the defendants in the case, emphasized in a statement Monday that Wingates order leaves the door open for the parties to settle the case. The settlement is clearly in the best interests of the Commonwealth and its pensioners and will result in significant assets being paid to the pension plans, Kelly said. As stated by the Attorney General and the KPPA (Kentucky Public Pension Authority), who are best positioned to make decisions in the public interest, now is the time to put an end to this long running expensive and distracting litigation.

From the cases outset the hedge funds have denied allegations that the investments resulted in high fees, low transparency and massive losses for Kentucky public pension plans. Kelly said in his statement Monday that Blackstone Alternative Asset Management had delivered a net return of 30 percent on investment.

Lerach and Oldfather initially worked together to represent a group of state government retirees when the case was filed in late 2017. They alleged that the financially troubled Kentucky Retirement Systems (since reorganized as the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority) irresponsibly gambled with hedge fund investments in hopes of big returns but the result was big losses.

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A key development in the case came in July 2020 when the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs  whose own benefits had not been cut and were protected in state law by a legal doctrine called the inviolable contract  did not have standing to press their claim.

But then-Attorney General Daniel Cameron intervened and the court allowed him to take over as plaintiff to recover damages for the pension systems benefit.

His office contracted with the group of Louisville attorneys led by Oldfather to handle the case for the state.

In 2021 the public employees represented by Lerach filed their separate suit. These new plaintiffs have been given standing by the courts because they were hired after enactment of a 2013 pension reform law that put them into a new hybrid cash balance pension plan whose benefits do not enjoy the same security as plaintiffs in the original lawsuit who were hired before 2013.

This story has been updated.

Read the judges order

CommonwealthvKKROrder5-12-25
A federal judge denied a request by the U.S. Department of Justice to reconsider a preliminary injunction allowing a Dartmouth College doctoral student from China to continue his studies while a likely lengthy court battle plays out.

Xiaotian Liu, 26, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration last month after a student immigration status was abruptly terminated. Dartmouth barred Liu from doing research until he got temporary relief as the case proceeds.

Judge Samantha Elliott denied the DOJs motion for reconsideration last Friday, according to court documents, citing the standard for reconsideration and when evaluated as if it has been considered prior to the issuance of the order.

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Motions to revoke or modify the preliminary injunction will be considered based on new evidence, Elliott said.

Liu, 26, worked with the ACLU of New Hampshire and the Shaheen & Gordon law firm to file the suit against Kristi Noem, U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, and Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in federal court after Dartmouth halted his research.

The dispute comes after Liu was notified that his non-immigrant student status was terminated in a Homeland Security database, known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Last month, Elliott granted Lius request for the preliminary injunction. The injunction will remain in effect until further ordered by the court, according to the court records.

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The DOJ claims Liu was unable to show irreparable harm and provided Liu and his lawyers with a policy regarding terminations, according to the motion.

The policy indicates that the (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) can terminate records for a variety of reasons and that termination does not always result in an adverse impact on the student, the motion for reconsideration reads. The policy applies to Mr. Liu.

The ACLU of New Hampshire opposed the motion to reconsider.

jhelps@unionleader.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A federal judge Monday granted a joint motion to end the federal oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department regarding excessive force.

This ruling finalizes what the department and our community have worked tirelessly for over the last decade: we have earned back the right to run our own police department, Mayor Tim Keller stated in part in a news release Monday. I made it clear from day one, we would meet our challenges head-on, making hard changes, building new systems, and proving APD can uphold the highest standards on its own. This moment shows that reform and strong policing can go hand in hand, and that trust, accountability, and safety are not competing values  theyre connected.

APD has been under the settlement agreement since 2014 after nearly two dozen officer-involved shootings and cases of excessive force. Since then, APD has been under independent monitoring and a consent decree with the DOJ, a process that has cost the city millions of dollars. Over time, the police department has worked to meet goals outlined by the consent decree.

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City of Albuquerque, DOJ file joint motion to end APD oversight

In 2024, the Monitoring Team determined APD met all requirements in the CASA. Flash forward to 2025: the U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Albuquerque filed the joint motion for dismissal Friday, which follows a long record of findings that APD has maintained full compliance with the court-approved settlement agreement, according to a previous news release from the DOJ.

It wasnt an easy road, but we continued to push forward and slowly this team and all of our officers became accustomed to what was necessary to get into compliance, APD Chief Harold Medina stated in the news release. This is a victory for the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department who have changed their culture. They are the ones that have put the most blood, sweat and tears into this, faced the most scrutiny. They have done a wonderful job at changing the culture of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Federal officials highlighted the most notable requirements APD met:

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Use of Force: APD has significantly reduced the frequency and severity of force. In 2022, force incidents declined 18% from the previous year, and over 60% involved only low-level force. Only 4% of force cases were found out of policy, and each was met with appropriate corrective action.

Crisis Response: Less than 1% of behavioral health and suicide-related calls involved force, and the Citys Albuquerque Community Safety department has diverted tens of thousands of calls away from police to civilian responders.

Accountability and Oversight: APD reviews every use of force, sustains misconduct findings when appropriate, and has strengthened its internal and civilian oversight systems.

Training and Culture: Officers are receiving consistent, CASA-aligned training, and data shows a shift toward a culture of self-correction and accountability.

The Justice Department also wrote in the May 9 news release that it is confident that APD is ready to move forward independently, continuing its commitment to constitutional policing.

Teen accused of killing a woman searching for her stolen car is set to begin trial

U.S. District Judge James Browning of Albuquerque dismissed the matter with prejudice.

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When asked for comment, the United States Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico referred KRQE to its May 9 news release.

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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.
U.S. District Court Judge Irene Berger said the federal Department of Health and Human Services could not legally end services at NIOSH's Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program, which was started by Congress (NIOSH | Courtesy photo)

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the full restoration of services at the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safetys Respiratory Health Division, ending a reduction in force that robbed coal miners nationwide who rely on the program of options to prevent further illness and injury.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger issued Tuesdays preliminary injunction as part of ongoing litigation in a class action lawsuit filed by coal miners against the federal government over the closure of the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program, a department within NIOSHs Respiratory Health Division.

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Workers at the CWHSP, as well as numerous other NIOSH departments and divisions, have been on administrative leave since April due to reorganizations happening at the federal level. Permanent terminations for most employees were scheduled to occur in June and July as part of cost-saving measures instituted by the new federal Department of Government Efficiency.

Bergers order on Tuesday directed the federal Department of Health and Human Services to do three things: rescind all RIFs issued to workers in the Respiratory Health Division at NIOSH, continue all work mandated by the federal Mine Safety and Health Act without pause, stoppage or gap if and when the federal government continues efforts to reorganize itself and have DHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. submit a written certification to the court in 20 days showing that the federal government is complying with its orders.

At a hearing for the case in Charleston last week, coal miners testified that, without staffing at the CWHSP, they are unable to exercise rights afforded to them through the federal Mine Act.

Utilizing those rights  which have existed for decades and are mandated through an act of Congress  requires action by NIOSHs CWHSP.

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But since April 1, the department has been unstaffed. Some workers were told to return to work in early May. But last week they were once again put back on leave. On Tuesday, hours before Bergers order was filed, members of West Virginias congressional delegation announced that at least 100 NIOSH workers were returning to work permanently.

Without any workers, coal miners across the country have been unable to have black lung screening results certified by NIOSH. That certification is necessary for miners with black lung to qualify for a Part 90 transfer, which allows them to move to a different, less dusty part of a mine without retribution  including a cut in pay, hours or benefits  from their employers.

Arguments in the case and Bergers ruling

Attorneys for the miners have argued that the rights afforded to coal miners to access free black lung screenings and secure transfers once diagnosed, among other services, cannot be stopped just because the federal government is going through a reorganization. Berger agreed, saying Kennedy and DHHS lack the authority to unilaterally cancel the CWHSP since it exists to serve a responsibility mandated by congress.

[DHHS and Kennedy] do not indicate how many extra months of dust inhalation, in their considered judgment, is acceptable for a miner with black lung while the program Congress established to eliminate that risk is paused, Berger wrote.

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Attorneys for the federal government argued that the lawsuit should be thrown out because it deals with employees angry over being terminated, which does not justify a federal class action suit. Berger called those claims patently absurd, saying the plaintiffs in the case are not employees, but are beneficiaries of programs that were stopped through illegal agency action at DHHS.

The federal government also alleged that services ending at NIOSH and specifically the CWHSP were temporary and couldnt be construed as being a final agency action. They maintained that, since those services were likely to return, there was no immediate harm present that necessitated a preliminary injunction.

In her order, however, Berger again disagreed and noted that the federal government repeatedly failed to show evidence outlining how CWHSPs services would be resumed, when that would happen or in what manner. She wrote that testimony from NIOSH employees and the cases lead plaintiff, Harry Wiley, presented overwhelming evidence that the work had been stopped  not just paused.

The [federal governments] evidence consisted solely of press releases regarding a planned reorganization of HHS that contained no mention of the programs at issue. Thus, the only evidence before the Court is that the CWHSP and the RHD have been shut down, Berger wrote.

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That shut down, she said, presented clear harm as miners with black lung like Wiley were being continually exposed to dangerous coal dust despite congressional actions existing that are meant to shield them from such.

As the testimony before the Court made clear, that dust exposure will cause [Wileys] disease to progress until it becomes debilitating. Does [Kennedy] genuinely believe that a miner diagnosed with black lung is not being injured when the program designed to confirm his condition and provide him with workplace protections to prevent its progression is rendered inaccessible? Berger wrote. This Court does not share such a belief.

There is no cure and limited treatment options for black lung. The only adequate intervention for people who have the disease, experts say, is limiting exposure to dangerous coal dust that is known to exacerbate it.

Wiley lives in Kanawha County but works in a Raleigh County mine as a mine electrician.

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A miner for 38 years, Wiley was diagnosed with black lung disease in November 2024 by a local clinic. He sent the results to NIOSH to start proceedings to be approved for a Part 90 transfer. In December, according to evidence submitted to the court, NIOSH sent a letter to Wiley saying a CT scan from October 2023 did not show findings of black lung.

Wiley testified that he never received this letter. He called NIOSH multiple times to follow up on his transfer request and got no response. If he had known they were looking at an outdated scan, he told the court, he would have submitted additional evidence to verify his black lung diagnosis and secure his Part 90 letter. And if the CWHSP were still functional, he said, he would have accessed a free screening through the agency.

Instead, Wiley  and every other miner in the country who has been unable to contact or work with NIOSH over recent months for a Part 90 transfer  has been forced to continue working in dustier parts of the mine.

Berger said its clear, given how black lung develops and the lack of treatments for it, that keeping the CWHSP functional is overwhelmingly and strongly in the publics interest.

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[NIOSH epidemiologists] testified that they are seeing more miners with black lung, and more cases that progress quickly. They also testified that their work, and the work of the CWHSP as a whole, saves lives, Berger said. The necessary inverse of that testimony is that cancelling the CWHSP will cost lives. Remaining in a dusty job may reduce the years in which Mr. Wiley can walk and breathe unassisted, in addition to hastening his death. It is difficult to imagine a clearer case of irreparable harm.

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In the ongoing legal battle to decide the fate of the Utah Fits All Scholarship program, a judge Monday ruled on a pair of outstanding issues that were preventing the case from moving on to the expected appeals process.

Last month, 3rd District Judge Laura Scott ruled that the divisive school voucher program currently being utilized by thousands of Utah children was unconstitutional.

In her April 18 decision against the program, Scott said that because the Utah Fits All program is created by the Legislature and a publicly funded educational program, it must satisfy the constitutional requirements applicable to the public education system set forth in the Utah Constitution.

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The Legislature, added Scott, does not have the authority to circumvent these constitutional requirements by simply declining to designate the program as part of the public education system.

A few days later, Scott decided the school voucher program could continue pending the expected defendants appeal before the Utah Supreme Court.

On Monday, Scott ruled on a couple of outstanding claims for relief issued by the lawsuits group plaintiffs that includes the Utah Education Association and several individuals.

Given its ruling that the Program is unconstitutional under article X and article XIII of the Utah Constitution, the court concludes that Plaintiffs Third Claim for Relief and Fourth Claim for Relief are moot, wrote the judge in her ruling.

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However, Scott still opted to formally rule Monday on the two claims that she did not address last month for purposes of completeness for appeal.

In other words, the defendants in the case against the school voucher program  which includes Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown  can now move forward with the appeals process.

The two outstanding plaintiff claims focused primarily on the legality of the Utah Fits All Scholarship program being managed and overseen by private entities. Scott dismissed both claims Monday after articulating lengthy legal analysis in her ruling.

The court concludes that these claims are not independent and/or alternative grounds for declaring the Program unconstitutional, the judge wrote. Accordingly, the court dismisses Plaintiffs Third and Fourth Claims for Relief.

School vouchers: A long-contested Utah court battle

The state was sued by the Utah Education Association, along with plaintiffs Kevin Labresh, Terra Cooper, Amy Barton and Carol Lear, in 2023, after the school voucher program was enacted.

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The Utah Fits All Scholarship program gives eligible K-12 students up to $8,000 a year for private school tuition and other costs. It went into effect in the fall of 2024.

The teachers union argued the program violated the Utah Constitution because it diverts income tax revenue to fund private schools.

Scott agreed with the union and other plaintiffs in last months ruling, saying the program violated sections of the state Constitution that require the state to fund a public education system open to every student that is free of charge, and to use state income tax to fund public schools and to support children and people with disabilities.

Proponents of the program argued the program did not affect the states system of public schools, but was in addition to that constitutional requirement, and that it cleared the bar of using income tax to support children.

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Scotts ruling Monday on the two previously outstanding plaintiffs claims comes days after the state filed an unopposed petition for permission to file interlocutory appeal with the Utah Supreme Court.

The petition revealed the urgency likely shared by both parties to move the case forward through the legal process for final disposition.

While the district court said it would decide Plaintiffs third and fourth claims in the near future, the case will still not be final and eligible for direct appeal until the lower court orders relief, read the petition.

And no party wants that to happen yet  before this Court can review and decide the merits  given the stakes of enjoining the Program: stopping educational benefits for thousands of Utah children and voiding part of teacher salary raises.

Scotts ruling Monday essentially addresses the issues raised in the interlocutory appeal, pending a response from the Utah Supreme Court.
A federal judge on Tuesday seized control of New York City's notorious jail complex on Rikers Island, which will now be run by an official who reports directly to the court.

In a 77-page ruling, Judge Laura Taylor Swain wrote that she found the conduct of the city over the last nine years "leaves no doubt that continued insistence on compliance with the court's orders by persons answerable principally to political authorities would lead only to confrontation and delay."

She also wrote "that the current management structure and staffing are insufficient to turn the tide within a reasonable period; that defendants have consistently fallen short of the requisite compliance with court orders for years, at times under circumstances that suggest bad faith; and that enormous resources -- that the city devotes to a system that is at the same time overstaffed and underserved -- are not being deployed effectively."

PHOTO: A views of the New York City jails on Rikers Island, Dec. 10, 2022 in Queens, New York. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

The manager, who will report to the judge, will work with the city's jails commissioner and will be "empowered to take all actions necessary" to fix the complex.

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"While the necessary changes will take some time, the court expects to see continual progress toward these goals," the judge wrote.

Critics have described brutal, violent and inhumane conditions inside the jail for years.

New York Mayor Eric Adams addressed the ruling during a news conference at city hall on Tuesday, saying that Rikers' problems were "decades in the making." He claimed that the legal requirement that the jail close in 2027 limited his administration's ability to address them.

"It stated you can't make any capital improvements on Rikers Island," Adams said. "We can't spend money on Rikers Island to improve the conditions."

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Mayoral candidate Scott Stringer, who previously served as the city's comptroller, praised the judge's ruling as "long-overdue but necessary" in a statement released on Tuesday.

"For decades, Rikers has represented a systemic failure of multiple mayoral administrations -- plagued by violence, neglect, and dangerous and inhumane conditions," he said. "While I applaud this decision, I do not view it as a victory; instead, it is a scathing indictment of our citys failed leadership."

Judge seizes control of New York Citys Rikers Island jail complex originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
May 13It's not often that someone at the lower end of the organization chart chastises those at the very top.

But that's what happened recently when a state appeals court justice asked the Illinois Supreme Court to stop ignoring the Illinois Constitution's clear language that governs the legislative process.

Fifth District Appellate Justice Mark Boie wrote that he could not ignore "the legislative and executive branches of our state government's continued disregard for the procedural rules and processes involved in passing laws in this state, then hiding behind and citing our supreme court precedent ... to justify their actions."

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That's fiery language by judicial standards.

What's this about?

It concerns the public's interest in having a thoughtful, deliberate legislative process that is required by the Illinois Constitution, but ignored by state supreme court justices.

All Illinoisans have a dog in this fight because they have to live within the laws as written.

The dispute concerns the Constitution's "three-readings rule"  Article 4, Section 8, Paragraph (d)  which requires that proposed legislation be read and discussed in both the state House and Senate on three separate days.

As explained in a court decision, "the three-reading requirement ensures that the Legislature is fully aware" of a bill's contents while providing "the opportunity for the public" to read and comment on the bill "prior" to passage.

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It reflects one of those good-government promises proponents used to sell the 1970 Illinois Constitution to voters.

But few things involving Illinois' pervasively corrupt government are what they seem because the governor, legislature and supreme court ignore the three-readings rule.

Boie wrote his partially concurring opinion in a case involving a 2023 gun law. But there have been many other important laws passed in the same surprise-attack manner, most notably the controversial SAFE-T Act social-justice bill.

In a process known as "gut and replace," proponents at the last minute strip an unrelated bill of its contents, put in new language and present the final product for a vote. Once passed, sometimes in a matter of hours, legislative leaders sign a statement asserting all rules were followed.

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Senate President Don Harmon wrote such an affirmation regarding the gun bill, a fib so bold that Boie, relying on the undisputed legislative history, charged "there is nothing further from the truth."

The bottom line is that the legislative process can become a giant game of pretend. Legislators pretend to follow the rules. The high court for years has pretended to believe them.

As a result, Boie charged that "foundations of the bedrock of democracy are decimated by failing to require the lawmakers to adhere to the constitutional principle."

He noted appellate courts in the Fourth and Fifth districts, representing 89 of Illinois' 102 counties, have said "now is the time" for the high court to end this "continuing disregard for the proper constitutional rules and procedures required for passing laws."

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What will the high court's justices do in the face of such a clarion call? Probably nothing.

They have, mostly, ignored the issue. They've occasionally warned legislators to change their behavior, the equivalent of an old man shaking his cane at misbehaving kids.

But, just like they ignore the three-readings rule, legislators ignore the justices' warnings.

All seven high court justices swore an oath to uphold federal and state constitutions. What they apparently meant was that they would if they felt like it, and wouldn't if they didn't.
When Cannes Film Festival Jury President Juliette Binoche was asked today why she didnt sign a global film industry open letter condemning the silence over the deadly impact of Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza; The English Patient Oscar winner told a reporter I cannot answer you.

You will maybe understand it a little later, the actress said.

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Binoche at this afternoons Cannes jury press conference was asked by Al Jazeera English about the open letter that was released on the eve of the festival with signatures from more than 350 cinema world figures including Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem.

In Cannes, the horror Gaza must not be silenced, read the letter.

Binoche was questioned on why she did not sign the letter herself, despite being well-known for speaking out about a variety of causes. After a long hesitation, she refused to answer but insisted that there was a reason for her decision.

The letter, published on the website of Frances Liberation newspaper on Monday evening, was addressed For Fatem, in memory of 25-year-old Gaza artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna.

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The young woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in mid-April just 24 hours after it was announced that Sepideh Farsis documentary Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, exploring Hassounas life in the Gaza Strip, would world premiere in the parallel Cannes section ACID. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed in same strike.

Politics, particularly on the global scale, have always found a place here at Cannes, and today Binoche also fielded queries about Donald Trumps possible film and TV import tariffs as well as the latest guilty verdict dispensed in a Paris court to her Let the Sunshine In co-star Gerard Depardieu for sexual assault on the set of Jean Beckers The Green Shutters in 2021.

Binoches jury members at the 78th Cannes include Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia, Alba Rohrwacher, Leila Slimani, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sangsoo, Carlos Reygadas and Jeremy Strong.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Following a six-month legal battle that made waves in the political landscape across the country, Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs was sworn into the North Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday morning.

Riggs took her oath during a ceremony inside the Capitol building in Raleigh, marking the official end to a longstanding dispute as Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin, who repeatedly called for reviews and for thousands of ballots, including those of overseas military members, to be thrown out.

Allison Riggs swears in for her seat on the state Supreme Court as her husband Bryan Everly stands beside her and Associate Justice Anita Earls reads Riggs oath in the old Capitol buildings House chamber in Raleigh, N.C. on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)

Thank you for your trust and unwavering support, Riggs told family and supporters after she was sworn in to an eight-year term. You chose a path forward where power stays in the hands of the people, not politicians.

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PREVIOUS: Republican concedes long-unsettled North Carolina court election to Democratic incumbent

A federal judge ruled last week that the N.C. State Board of Elections must certify the results of last Novembers election, which declared Riggs as the winner for a seat on the state Supreme Court. The results showed that she won by 734 votes from over 5.5 million ballots cast. The board issued the election certificate to Riggs on Tuesday.

In his ruling in favor of Riggs, the U.S. District Judge Richard Myers said throwing out the absentee ballots would be a violation of those voters rights.

Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs speaks to protesters at a rally in Raleigh, N.C., on Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)

Two days later, Griffin finally conceded in the race, setting the stage for Riggs to be elected to an eight-year term as an associate justice.

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While I do not fully agree with the District Courts analysis, I respect the courts holding  just as I have respected every judicial tribunal that has heard this case, Griffin said. I will not appeal the courts decision.

PREVIOUS: Federal judge orders certification of NC Supreme Court election in favor of Allison Riggs

Riggs reacted to the news with the following statement:

After millions of dollars spent, more than 68,000 voters at risk of losing their votes, thousands of volunteers mobilized, hundreds of legal documents filed, and immeasurable damage done to our democracy, Im glad the will of the voters was finally heard, six months and two days after Election Day. Its been my honor to lead this fight  even though it should never have happened  and Im in awe of the North Carolinians whose courage reminds us all that we can use our voices to hold accountable any politician who seeks to take power out of the hands of the people.

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After two recounts, the result of the election remained in the air for months, as Griffin voiced protests regarding the eligibility of more than 65,000 ballots. Court decisions trimmed the potential ballots at issue down to approximately 7,000.

Riggs, appointed last year by Gov. Roy Cooper to replace former Justice Mike Morgan, is one of two Democrats on the seven-member state Supreme Court. Despite his loss, Griffin will remain as a state Court of Appeals judge, as his term doesnt end until 2028.

FILE  North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, right, appoints State Court of Appeals Judge Allison Riggs, left, to the North Carolina Supreme Court to fill a vacancy, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum, File)

I wish my opponent the best and will continue to pray for her and all the members of our court system here in North Carolina. I look forward to continuing to serve the people of North Carolina, Griffin said.

The North Carolina Supreme Court election was the last race nationally in the 2024 general election that had been undecided.

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 CBS17.com.
Court watchers scratching their heads over the legal scrum concerning illegal immigration are learning what the firearm industry has known for years. There are judges who will engage in legal gymnastics to arrive at a preferred result.

Media have been reporting on the ongoing debate of whether federal district court judges can issue sweeping decisions that affect policy across the entire nation. Even U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has weighed in on the ongoing tensions surrounding the separation of powers between the three co-equal branches of government  the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Each is designed to hold the others in check, ensuring that the government isn't run by fiat from just one branch.

None of this is new to the firearm industry. For decades, firearm industry members have been caught in that ongoing tension between those who write the laws, those who enforce the laws, and those who decide if those laws are aligned with the U.S. Constitution.

Consider the recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Duncan v. Bonta. The court decided in a 7-4 en banc decision that California's ban on standard-capacity magazines did not violate the Constitution because it decided that magazines are not "arms" protected under the Second Amendment; they're mere "accoutrements" despite being essential to the proper functioning of a semi-automatic firearm. .....
CLAYTON, Mo.  Two juveniles could face charges after being arrested for allegedly spraying racist and antisemitic graffiti at a Clayton school.

According to a Clayton Police Department spokeswoman, officials at Glenridge Elementary School discovered the graffiti on school grounds Monday morning. The graffiti also included other offensive language.

The School District of Clayton alerted police, who began investigating the vandalism. Police said they were able to identify the individuals involved and took them into custody without incident.

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Sheriff tells FOX 2 not to record in public place as we seek answers to rides for his children

Per juvenile privacy laws, their identities will not be released to the public. Police would not say if the juveniles attended the school.

The juveniles have been referred to St. Louis County Juvenile Court for possible prosecution of second-degree property damage  hate offenses.

Police said there is no threat to the community.

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May 13The Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday is expected to weigh regulations streamlining residential development as part of the city's preliminary draft land use plan.

The Montana Land Use Planning Act, signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte in 2023, required 10 Montana cities, including Kalispell, to draft a new plan that places a particular focus on housing and is influenced largely through community engagement.

The commission convenes on May 13 at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.

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A dedicated city webpage (engagekalispell.com/#tab-59610) allows residents to pick and choose from 14 zoning regulations identified in the act that they believe would most effectively promote attainable housing in Kalispell.

The city is required to adopt a minimum of five out of 14 regulations. Potential ordinances include allowing apartments as permitted use in office and commercial zones, higher density housing near community hubs like colleges or public transit, and having tiny houses defined in building code.

The housing section of the draft plan is aimed at increasing access to attainable housing for all income levels, according to a memo from city planner Donnie McBath. The plan supports compact and connected neighborhoods through infill development, redevelopment of underused sites and higher-density housing near services and transportation corridors.

Recent development has eased the housing market, but affordability, limited vacancy and an imbalance in the geographic distribution of housing types remain key issues, according to McBath.

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While the rental vacancy rate sits at a tight 1.1%, close to 30% of Kalispell's total land area remains vacant, amounting to around 2,500 acres. Nearly all of that land has zoning designations that support housing.

"This available land base presents a significant opportunity for accommodating future residential, commercial and public facility needs," wrote Development Services Director Jarod Nygren in a memo.

Kalispell's population is expected to grow by around 19,000 residents by 2045, prompting the need for between 8,800 and 10,000 new housing units, according to McBath.

Between 2021 and 2025, City Hall approved roughly 7,500 new residential units, which was a significant step toward meeting that growth, according to Nygren.

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The city is currently home to an estimated 15,847 dwellings, which consists of 60% single-family homes, 30% multifamily units and 10% manufactured or mobile homes, according to the memo.

The Montana Land Use Planning Act has drawn criticism from city officials for limiting public input on site-specific developments and instead frontloads public involvement in developing a plan. The law ends public hearings in front of Council on site-specific construction, which includes subdivisions.

That provision was ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge in Bozeman earlier this year, though, leaving city planners with unanswered questions on how site-specific projects should be approached.

THE COMMISSION also will hear a proposal from the developer of a subdivision south of Kalispell looking to expand its neighborhood.

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Colton Behr, developer of the Anderson Ranch subdivision that was OK'd by Council in September 2024, is looking to add 12 acres to the 31-acre property that resides on the west side of Demersville Road and just south of Lower Valley Road.

The extension, which is at the south end of the property, is meant to get the development in line with the city's growth policy, which designates four housing units per acre. The bulk of the new property is within a 100-year flood zone but will only be used for parkland, open space and stormwater detention, according to the development proposal.

The entire subdivision stakes out 166 lots for single-family detached dwellings. The homes will be 1,600 square feet or less on 4,500-square-foot lots, "which equates to small homes on small lots that can provide more attainable housing options for residents of Kalispell," according to the subdivision proposal.

Neighboring units will share a driveway to preserve area for on-street parking. The neighborhood is expected to bring roughly 56 students to the K-12 school system at full buildout and will generate about 1,600 daily vehicle trips, according to a traffic study done last fall.

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The PUD proposes 13.31 acres of parkland along the south side of the property.

The subdivision shares a planned unit development with Todd Gardner, who owns property directly west. The combined planned unit development amounts to 95-acres zoned for residential, industrial and commercial uses.

An Amazon distribution warehouse is being built on the Gardner-owned property. The one-story building is set to be about 28,000 square feet and located on United Drive near Fred's Applicance.

The property will also see some road work, including an east/west road connecting U.S. 93 with Demersville Road, which may be fitted with a traffic signal. Another traffic signal will also be built on the portion of road meeting Demersville Road and Bar H Drive.

Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.
Rabbi Moti Rieber (right) sits beside author and activist Mark McCormick at a March 25, 2025, Statehouse hearing. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

In February, I testified against House Bill 2299, a bill to put the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism into statute, focused on university campuses and punishable by prosecution by the states attorney general, Kris Kobach. A watered-down version (Senate Bill 44), which took out most of the enforcement provisions, passed at the end of the session.

Both versions were aimed squarely at the University of Kansas, which had a pro-Palestinian encampment last year and which according to some has become a hotbed of antisemitism. The new law focuses on protest (no masks used to harass Jewish students) and curriculum (banning incorporating or allowing funding of antisemitic curriculum or activities in any domestic or study abroad programs or classes). Leaving aside the fact that it is impossible to study Western history and not encounter antisemitism, this language is extremely broad and could and probably would be used to suppress pro-Palestinian speech by students, visiting speakers, or in Muslim or Arab studies classes.

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This points to the main problem with the IHRA definition of antisemitism: it equates anti-Zionism  opposition to Israels actions or even Israel itself  with antisemitism, a racialized hatred of Jewish people. This is a popular position among traditional Jewish communal organizations. Kansas Citys JCRB/AJC testified in favor of the original bill, which I remind you would have allowed Kobach to identify and prosecute antisemitism.

Anti-Zionism and antisemitism can and do overlap  people could hide their antisemitism behind expressions of anti-Zionism, for instance, or they can accuse random Jews of being responsible for Israels actions  but they are not the same. The many young Jews who took part in campus protests last year can attest to that.

(For the rest of this column I will refer to politicized accusations of antisemitism as antisemitism. Actual antisemitism  hatred of Jews  will remain without quotation marks.)

The bill raised two questions. First, why didnt it address the explosion of antisemitism from the political right, from the poisonous discourse on the former Twitter to neo-Nazis at the Jan. 6, 2021, riot (now pardoned, of course) to white supremacists in close proximity, or even in the Trump administration (including, of course, Donald Trump himself).

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Second, why is antisemitism on college campuses so unique and terrible that it requires special legislation addressing it, when allowing anti-Black racism on college campuses is practically a MAGA platform plank? This question was raised on the floor of the House, but it wasnt answered.

Criminalizing speech critical of Israel in this way has become a significant problem. Campus protests were suppressed last year. Since the start of the second Trump term, people who have criticized Israels actions in Gaza  without necessarily attacking Israels right to exist  have been arrested and set for deportation for political speech, a clear violation of the First Amendment. Two of the most prominent examples are Columbia Universitys Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of pro-Palestine protests there, and Tufts Universitys Rumeysa Ozturk, who appears to have only co-written an op-ed in a student newspaper.

Both columns and protests are political speech protected by the First Amendment. Yes, even for noncitizens. There is no evidence that either of these people have been involved in any actual Jew-hatred, and as I will explain in a moment, protesting Israels actions in Gaza is justifiable.

Accusations of rampant antisemitism in universities is also the cudgel Trump is using to attack their funding and governance.

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This crackdown is largely a project of the Christian right, as spelled out in the Heritage Foundations Project Esther, which focuses exclusively on antisemitism on the left and advocates for increased censorship and suppression of protest. Antisemitism has become todays equivalent of McCarthy-era communism  the accusation itself is condemnatory. No further evidence (or thought) is needed.

That traditional Jewish communal organizations  particularly the Anti-Defamation League and JCRB/AJC  have allied themselves with this effort in the name of protecting Israel should be an embarrassment. This politicization of antisemitism doesnt do Jews any favors. Not only have we consistently voted, by large majorities, for Democrats, but our very place in this society is built on the foundation of liberal democracy, especially freedom of expression and religion.

Jews have prioritized Bill of Rights protections for more than 100 years, including helping found the ACLU. It is a cruel irony indeed that these pillars of Jewish freedom in American society are being dismantled in the name of protecting Jews.

To which I say, no thanks.

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Fortunately it appears that (some) people are catching on to the ruse: Several of the main liberal Jewish denominational bodies recently issued a joint statement rejecting the false choice between confronting antisemitism and upholding democracy. Its a good statement, and it doesnt assume the legitimacy of the universities are hotbeds of antisemitism framing. Other, similar statements have been released.

But as the Antisemitism Awareness Act working its way through the U.S. Congress makes clear, this problem will get worse before it gets better. In a moment that pulled back the curtain, a clause was added to that bill that would protect the right to say that the Jews killed Jesus  a calumny that has caused untold injury and death to Jews throughout history and is the very definition of actual antisemitic speech. (Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, R-MAGA, sounded sympathetic last year.)

To be clear: People are criticizing Israel because it is committing significant human rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank and especially Gaza, and not out of Jew-hatred. Jews are involved in every level of the Palestinian solidarity movement, including encampments. There are already laws to protect people from harassment and violence; Jews dont require special protection. Claiming otherwise has real consequences for real people, including dividing Jews between good Jews who support Israels actions (and Trump) and bad Jews who dont and should be suppressed.

Where antisemitism exists on the left and in the pro-Palestine movement, it should be criticized and condemned, but we shouldnt deploy state power to slay dragons that arent really there. Policing Trumped-up, politicized charges of antisemitism is something that Christian nationalists, including Kobach and the Heritage Foundation, should not be empowered to do.

Rabbi Moti Rieber is executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action, a statewide, multifaith issue-advocacy organization that works on a variety of social, economic and climate justice issues. He writes this column in his private capacity. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Tuesday, Kansas Citys Finance Governance and Public Safety Committee will be asked to approve nearly $3 million in settlements in three cases.



These settlements come just weeks after the Kansas City Police Board approved more than $18 million in total settlements to Ricky Kidd for his wrongful incarceration and the family of Cameron Lamb for his wrongful death.

Lees Summit West student passes away after battle with Leukemia

One of the latest payees may come as a surprise, the city employee who admitted guilt in three peoples deaths and has already cost the city money in the case.

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Dominic Biscari, Frank Blake and Chris Hernandez all will have lawsuit settlements discussed Tuesday.

A judge already awarded Hernandez at least $700,000 in a whistleblower lawsuit that stemmed from being told to lie to the media which ultimately led to the dismissal of City Manager Brian Platt. The $1.4 million dollar total now up for approval would also include legal fees.

In 2021 Biscari, 21, was going 51 in a 35 mph zone with lights and sirens when he crashed into a vehicle at Westport and Broadway and a pedestrian on the sidewalk, before crashing into a building killing three people.

Dispatch had told him to end response to the call prior to the crash. State caps helped the city only pay out $1.8 million of $32 million in judgments.

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Biscari admitted guilt but maintained innocence in whats called an Alford Plea in 2023 to three counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter.

By the next year, friends and loved ones were protesting an arbitration decision to grant Biscari backpay and allow for him to return to work.

Now, Kansas Citys law department director says $915,000 will settle lawsuits between the city and the International Association of Firefighters, Local No. 42 and Biscaris workers compensation claims.

In 2021, Army Colonel Frank Blake was also badly injured in a crash while riding his bicycle at the North Kansas City intersection of Amity Avenue and Northwest Boulevard. FOX4 reported a year earlier on the dangerous intersection after nine crashes that year, but no changes were immediately made prior to Blakes injuries. Blakes settlement would be for $387,000.

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22-year-old Kansas City woman named youngest architect in the US

Yeah its concerning and were on a tight budget anyway, and its really frustrating to spend money like that, but like I said, I trust our legal department to make the right recommendation, Kansas City 2nd District Councilman Wes Rogers said.

The settlements will be discussed at the committee meeting taking place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday inside City Hall.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says $400 million in local incentives are available for the Royals.

In a news conference Monday about a different topic, Lucas released more of a funding plan for the team. He said the city could redirect sales tax dollars from the development and fund them back into the project.

Big Slick announces first wave of celebrity guests expected to be in KC

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The future location of the teams been up in the air ever since the failed stadium vote in April of 2024 when the Royals had planned to build their new stadium in the East Crossroads of the city.

Monday, Lucas added that his citys primarily focused on Washington Square Park now while Clay County and Kansas leaders try to entice the team to build in their entities.

Were somewhat agnostic as long as theyre staying in Kansas City, Lucas said Monday. So if the Royals were ever to call me and say, We want to be at the 3 and 2 Complex off of Bannister Road and Blue River Road, Id be a bit surprised, but Id say, Alright, how can we make it work?

Lucas met privately with Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman late Monday afternoon too.

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The teams not commenting on the mayors remarks prior to the meeting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Editors note: For background info and additional context, scroll to the bottom.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City will not pay a nearly $1 million settlement to a firefighter involved in an on-duty crash that killed three people.

The Kansas City, Missouri Governance and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday rejected a more than $900,000 settlement in regard to a deadly 2021 crash involving a Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) firetruck.

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The lawsuits were filed against the city by Dominic Biscari  the man responsible for the crash that killed three people  and the Kansas City union International Association of Firefighters, Local No. 42.

Video shows Kansas City firetruck run red light in deadly Westport crash

Local 42 filed a lawsuit against the city after KCFDs fire chief said in 2023 that he planned to fire Biscari after he pleaded guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Biscari also filed a lawsuit against the city for workers compensation benefits, the City Council said.

After the proposed settlement was presented during last weeks meeting, the committee on Tuesday was asked to approve and authorize a $915,000 settlement of the lawsuits. The committee, however, rejected the settlement during Tuesdays meeting.

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At this point, this committee finds it not appropriate to resolve the litigation in the nature that it has been presented to us and will not move forward in support of the settlement, Mayor Quinton Lucas said during the meeting. Instead, we will hold the item off docket, which in council parlance largely means the ordinance is rejected.

The mayors office released an official statement after Tuesdays meeting, which reads in part:

The mayor supports all city employees but also supports accountability for the harm they commit. The proposed legislation did not do so. Mayor Lucas continues to extend his condolences to those grieving the loss of their loved ones and friends.

FOX4s Lexy French also spoke with the mayor after Tuesdays meeting.

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In this situation today, I think we felt like this was not the right direction for us to go, he told FOX4. A tragedy shouldnt lead to a windfall for someone. I think thats why you saw us today reject what was proposed for us.

Email raises concerns about KC Firetruck driver months before deadly crash

Its unclear what the next steps are.

I imagine therell be more discussions, Mayor Lucas said.

In the official statement from the mayors office, he said, Neither the committee nor the council has any existing plans to revisit the item.

Another facet of these lawsuits is whether Biscari  whos still technically a city employee  will be allowed to go back to work as a firefighter and paramedic.

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Someone remains an employee of Kansas City without resolution today, but I hope we have more steps in the future that frankly are common sense, the mayor told FOX4. Common sense to me suggests that in addition to extending our condolences to those who lost their lives tragically several years ago, we also make sure that everyone else in Kansas City is as safe as possible from harms that could be otherwise predictable. And I think thats all Ill say on that.

Justice for Jen and Michael: Friend of two victims says Biscari doesnt deserve a dime

Two of the victims both worked at Ragazza and were leaving work when the crash happened. During public comment at Tuesdays committee meeting, Laura Norris, the owner of Ragazza, asked the committee to reject the settlement and invest in public safety.

I clearly opposed him (Biscari) getting a dime, Norris said. He walked away from that accident after killing three people, and it was reckless. It was absolutely unnecessary.

If youre going to spend nearly $1 million, please do it on public safety, not for workers comp. And for what injury? We werent really aware of him (Biscari) being injured. Reinstate driver training and create a solid plan for installing the Opticom system throughout the city.

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Norris spoke with FOX4 about the importance of being in the committee meeting and speaking on behalf of San Nicolas and Elwood.

I felt like it was important for people to hear about this [and] for it to get in front of the public one more time, she told FOX4. I feel like this is the last opportunity to try to work for justice for Jen and Michael. Their families dont live in Kansas City. So, I felt like it was important because I think this is a public safety issue.

As friends of Jen and Michaelwhat can we help do to make something good come out of this horrific incident?

Several other people were at the meeting in support of the victims.

Background

On Dec. 15, 2021, a firetruck and an SUV crashed near Broadway Avenue and Westport Road. The crash killed three people  41-year-old Jennifer San Nicholas and 25-year-old Michael J. Elwood, who were both in the SUV, and 41-year-old Tami N. Knight, who was walking on the street.

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Biscari was the one driving the firetruck. Court documents say he ran a red light going 16 miles over the speed limit with lights and sirens still on after the crew had been given instructions not to respond to the call.

Witness describes Westport crash involving KCFD firetruck that killed 3 people

Biscari entered an Alford plea in 2023, which means he pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter while maintaining his innocence.

After he pleaded guilty, the citys fire chief said he planned to fire Biscari. Local 42 then filed a lawsuit against the city.

The case between the city and the union went to an arbitrator. In April 2024, the city tried to throw out the arbitrators ruling that would allow Biscari to go back to work  a decision that was met with protests.

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Although hes still technically employed by the city, a ruling has yet to be made to determine whether Biscari can return to work.

Stay with FOX4 for the latest updates on this story.

Previous coverage

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Sen. Cindy Holscher, left, and Sen. Doug Shane considered submissions from the public as part of Tuesday's Senate Committee on Government Efficiency meeting. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  The Kansas Senate Committee on Government Efficiency dug through hundreds of online submissions Tuesday and set an agenda for the coming months tackling issues from transparency to auditing.

The meeting agenda, released Monday, said committee members would discuss suggestions received through the COGE portal, where Kansans were encouraged to share ideas to make the government more efficient.

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Erickson said 3,254 submissions were made to date, with topics ranging from specific ideas about government efficiency to people who were venting frustrations. There also were a few recipes, she said.

She has read all the submissions and with the help of committee staff had winnowed the number for consideration to 349 COGE-like submissions, Erickson said.

The committee agreed that submissions that might not fit the COGE mission could be passed along to state agencies or others who could address the issues.

How are we going to carve this bird today? Thats the $64,000 question. There are submissions that deal with local and federal, Erickson said. Our focus is not to deal with those one-offs that I would call more constituent services, someone who has a specific issue. But are there patterns?

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Setting aside those that didnt fall into the COGE focus left the committee with 349 submissions to consider. Erickson stressed that all committee members have access to the 3,000-plus submissions received and could add topics at any time.

Identify tangible ideas, she said. We want to look for things that are possibilities to take up during our next legislative session. You can start to see some themes, some natural groupings.

To get an idea of the time involved and how to best work through the emails, the committee took about 30 minutes to look through 40 pages of submissions and then began discussions of what issues might be appropriate for COGE to consider. Eventually, they considered all 349 submissions.

The result? The committee will discuss the following broad topics in order of importance:

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Transparency and ease of access Agency workflow and interagency cooperation Impact of third-party vendors, professional organizations and other non-government entities Auditing process/auditing environment State budgeting and expenditure practices Cost and access of medical care Procurement

As the committee reached agreement on overall categories to explore, members also looked at what would put teeth into what theyre doing.

Weve got to identify it, and weve got to rectify it, Erickson said. She also said shed like to consider how to incentivize state agencies to become more efficient.

Sen. Renee Erickson led the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency through a planning process to organize 349 public submissions. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)

Sen. Larry Alley, R-Winfield, said the committee needs to consider how to enforce its work.

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If we dont put some type of penalty in there  and usually the agencies or the other groups dont respond unless its taking care of their money  if you penalize them in some way for not doing their job, then they will correct it, he said. But if you dont, theyre not going to correct it. You need some teeth, and that teeth usually goes with what we only have up here and thats the only thing we have, is a budget process of money.

Erickson agreed that accountability will be a factor in the committees work.

What would that look like as we identify efficiencies or waste? What was the term someone used, identify and rectify? I like that, she said. What does that rectify part look like to me? Thats the accountability, the teeth that were talking about.

Sen. Doug Shane, a Louisburg Republican, said accountability could look like training.

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We tie in whatever the legislative expectations are, as far as monitoring for waste and bloat or what have you, and come up with some very clear legislative guidelines, statutory guidelines that if they arent followed, that maybe the quote, unquote punishment is were going to be trained on efficient and ethical spending of taxpayer funds, he said.

The committee agreed it would start in June by digging into the top two priorities with three agencies: the Kansas Department for Children and Families; the Kansas judicial branch, including include local sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies; and the Kansas Department of Labor.

Sen. Mike Thompson, a Johnson County Republican, said he wants the agencies to bring ideas on creating efficiencies.

I dont want the agency to come and tell us why they cant do something, he said. I want them to come with ideas, and I think that needs to be our big focus.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, announced his run for state insurance commissioner on May 13, 2025, which was followed up with a fundraising event in Downtown Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Longtime Republican legislator Dan Hawkins declared Tuesday his intention to run for Kansas insurance commissioner in an announcement laced with pro-Trump sentiments.

Hawkins, an insurance agent from Wichita, followed the announcement with an event in downtown Topeka attended by fellow legislators, government officials and lobbyists, the early supporters of a nearly two-year campaign. He is the first candidate for insurance commissioner to announce he will seek the office in 2026.

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As I considered my next steps and how I can continue to serve my fellow Kansans, it became clear that my decades of experience helping individuals and small businesses navigate the complexities of the insurance industry could be especially beneficial to people across the state, he said in a statement.

Hawkins, 64, was first elected to the House in 2012, and he has served as House speaker, the chambers top leadership position, since 2023. During the most recent legislative session, Hawkins led a supermajority of House Republicans who were set on enacting conservative legislation. They successfully overrode a flurry of vetoes by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Hawkins is a husband, father and grandfather. He is a graduate of Emporia State University and a veteran of the Kansas National Guard, and he has been in the insurance business for three decades, specializing in employee benefits. While in public office, Hawkins has been a staunch opponent of Medicaid expansion, the state-level process that would allow low-income adults to be covered under the public insurance program.

His campaign for insurance commissioner is rooted in conservative Republican values. The first words that appear on his campaign website are: PRO-LIFE. PRO-GUN. PRO-TRUMP. He characterized the hallmark of his time as House speaker as leading the charge to stop Laura Kellys radically liberal agenda.

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Hawkins will seek the GOP nomination in the 2026 primary. His current term as a legislator expires at the end of 2026.

The insurance commissioner oversees the Kansas Insurance Department, which regulates insurance companies that operate in the state. Hawkins said creating a competitive insurance environment in Kansas would be his objective if elected. He believes deregulation would increase consumers options, lower costs and make insurance issues easier to navigate.

No Kansan should be denied coverage, he said. Just like President Trump has made it his mission to make life miserable for foreign cartels, it will be my job as insurance commissioner to do the same for any insurance company that does not follow the law.

In a statement of substantial interest filed April 22, Hawkins reported that he receives commissions from six insurance companies, ranging from medical to dental to life insurance. He is on the payroll at his own insurance agency, the Hawkins Group, and at Conrade Insurance Group, which is based in Newton.

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Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is Hawkins campaign treasurer.

One only needs to talk with Dan for a few minutes to see his love for our state and its people, Eisenhower said in a statement. The insurance industry can be very complex and confusing and its important that Kansans have an advocate in the insurance department.

Hawkins announcement is the latest in a trickle of candidacy declarations. Current Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt hasnt said whether she will seek a third term. She is expected to join a crowded governors race.

Most recently, former Gov. Jeff Colyer, who filled former Gov. Sam Brownbacks position in 2018 after Brownback left for a post in the first Trump administration, filed paperwork assigning a treasurer to a gubernatorial campaign but hasnt made a formal announcement.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab and conservative podcaster Doug Billings have also declared intentions to run as Republicans. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican, and Lt. Gov. David Toland, a Democrat, also are widely expected to run for governor.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Families displaced from a Gardner apartment complex are meeting with Kansas Legal Services on Tuesday.

This comes after it was decided that the 700 residents of Aspen Place apartments were only given a 48-hour notice to vacate last week.

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The Kansas Legal Services executive director, Matt Keenan, will first meet with families individually. Family meetings will start at 4:30 p.m., and a group meeting will follow at 6 p.m.

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The team will help tenants go through their legal options in the situation. The meeting is being held at the Hampton Inn Gardner and Conference Center.

The complex was described as having a severely deteriorated and outdated water system, which was installed in the 1950s, resulting in multiple pipe ruptures over the years.

Residents said there are also deteriorating roadways impacting emergency response teams from getting to the complex.

Kansas news: Headlines from Wichita, Topeka and around the Sunflower State

In addition to the legal services, the Salvation Army is still offering emergency shelter that remains open 24/7 for both families and single adults in Olathe through the end of the month.

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Check-in and registration are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, with a short screening process and background check required. Theres also a pet shelter located directly across the street.

Temporary housing options are also available through Project 1020.

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Robert Hutchison, a deputy attorney general in Kansas, said a district court determined a man wrongfully convicted of rape and sentenced to life in prison was eligible for more than $200,000 in compensation from the state for serving three years in prison. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature's video feed)

TOPEKA  The Kansas attorney general and a Shawnee County judge approved a wrongful-conviction settlement of more than $200,000 for a man who stood trial three times for a series of criminal sexual offenses before a jury acquitted him of two charges and failed to reach a verdict on the final charge.

On Tuesday, an attorney for the state informed the governor and legislators that Anthony Bowers was entitled to compensation of $182,650 for three years served in prison on an overturned conviction for rape. The settlement included about $25,000 for legal fees.

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Robert Hutchison, deputy attorney general in Kansas, said the State Finance Council had to be informed of the decision previously approved in Shawnee County District Court. The payment didnt require an endorsement by members of the State Finance Council, which included Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins.

State law mandated Attorney General Kris Kobach process petitions filed by people convinced they were owed compensation for wrongful convictions. Each petition must be considered by the state court, which in this case fell to Judge Teresa Watson.

We wrestled with this for a long time because this isnt the kind of offense for which we like to see compensation paid out, Hutchison said.

Three trials and prison

In Jackson County, Hutchison said, Bowers was the subject of a hung jury on charges of rape, aggravated sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child during his first trial.

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At a second trial in 2016, he was convicted on all three charges and sentenced to three consecutive life terms with a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison.

The Kansas Court of Appeals reversed his convictions because prosecution witness Jill Shehi-Chapman testified at trial about subject matter that fell into the category of expert testimony. The appellate court objected to Shehi-Chapman testifying as to her opinions regarding the general behavior of perpetrators of sexual abuse when she was not certified as an expert witness in the Bowers case.

And, thereby, prejudicing the verdicts he received, Hutchison said.

At the third trial, a jury acquitted Bowers of rape and aggravated sodomy and was hung on the aggravated indecent liberties charge.

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The prosecutor in Jackson County declined to retry Bowers a fourth time on the aggravated indecent liberties issue because of the Court of Appeals opinion, elapsed time from the alleged offense and consistency issues involving the evidence, Hutchison said.

Candy, soft drinks

Meanwhile, the State Finance Council voted to release $10 million to the Kansas Department for Children and Families to cover state expenditures during the remainder of the current fiscal year.

The council likewise agreed to transfer $1.8 million to DCF following compliance with a legislative directive to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a plan to deny recipients of SNAP the option of using the federal funds to buy candy or soft drinks.

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The state agency submitted the request to the USDA, but withdrew that application when the governor vetoed the budget measure tied to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Republican-led Legislature overturned Kellys veto of the soda and candy prohibition, which prompted DCF to resubmit the request to USDA to limit food stamp expenditures in Kansas.

Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, a Wichita Republican, asked the DCF secretary if there was any plan to withdraw the request a second time.

DCF Secretary Laura Howard apologized for the start-and-stop process regarding the SNAP limitation enacted by the Legislature. She said the proposal to USDA wouldnt be dropped a second time.

Ill take responsibility for what happened earlier, Howard said. That was really an administrative error on my staffs part.
DEDHAM, Mass. (WPRI)  Karen Reads second murder trial will not resume on Tuesday due to unavoidable circumstances, according to a court spokesperson.

About 20 minutes before the fifteenth day of witness testimony was set to take place, the cancellation was announced. No additional details were released.

Read, 45, is accused of ramming into her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer 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 while operating a vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crime.

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MORE: Trooper pressed about broken taillight in Karen Read trial

Defense attorneys say she was a victim of a conspiracy involving the police and plan, as they did in the first trial, to offer evidence pointing to the real killer.

A police investigator was questioned Monday about the behavior of one of his subordinates following the death of OKeefe.

A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse.

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Karen Reads retrial has been canceled for Tuesday due to unavoidable circumstances.

The court didnt give details as to why the testimony will be delayed.

A source tells Boston 25s Ted Daniel that the trial was canceled due to an illness.

Ive been told testimony in the Karen Read trial was cancelled today due to an illness.  Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) May 13, 2025

Read, 45, of Mansfield, is accused of striking John OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert following a night of drinking.

We just got an email from the court system that says court is canceled today in Karen Reads re-trial for unavoidable circumstances.



Will try to learn what those circumstances are.  Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) May 13, 2025

On Monday, jurors once again saw Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik on the stand all day.

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Court went later than usual so they could finish questioning him and not bring him back for a fourth day.

Much of the focus was on Reads Lexus SUV.

Bukhenik says Karens right rear taillight was shattered when he and former state trooper Michael Proctor had her Lexus towed to the Canton Police Station.

Reads attorneys have long suggested the taillight was tampered with and pieces were brought back to the crime scene at 34 Fairview Road in Canton.

In his final line of questioning, defense attorney Alan Jackson asked if Bukhenik ever considered Brian Higgins, the ATF agent who exchanged flirtatious texts with Read, to be a possible suspect in OKeefes murder.

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Bukhenik says he never considered Higgins to be a suspect because of the totality of evidence he says State Police have that point to Karen Read killing OKeefe.

A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile.

Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

Get caught up with all of the latest in Karen Reads retrial.

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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Kate Middleton and Prince William will have some guests this summer at Windsor Castle.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have been invited for a state visit by King Charles, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday, May 13. The couple will stay in Windsor from July 8 to 10. This is a departure from tradition as most guests usually stay at Buckingham Palace, which is currently undergoing renovations.

"The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 8th July to Thursday 10th July 2025," the statement, which was also translated into French, read. "The President and Mrs Macron will stay at Windsor Castle."

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It's expected that William, 42, and Kate, 43, will help hosts the guests and likely hold a state banquet. The mom of three missed the last one in December 2024 during the visit of Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, as she continued to recover from cancer treatment.

The last state visit from France was back in March 2008 when then-President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, were guests of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Kate Middletons brother, James, is opening up about one of the hardest periods of his life.

The Princess of Wales younger brother spoke to The U.K. Times about struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts nearly a decade ago.

I think at the time I was spiraling out of control, Middleton told the outlet in an article published on Monday.

It was only once I was diagnosed that I came to terms with the fact that I could have depression and needed to make sure I was present for myself. I needed to re-find who I was. I knew that the kinds of thoughts I was having were not me. I wasnt being myself. Id lost who James was.

James Middleton and Carole Middleton attend the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church on May 20, 2017. Pool via Getty Images

In his book, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, the businessman opens up about being at his parents house in November 2017. The Times says that in the early morning, Middleton writes hed made his way to his parents skylight and was thinking of jumping off the roof.

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He wrote that it was only his late dog, Ella, who saved him, when the two made eye contact.

There are reasons to be alive, and not wanting anyone to suffer from what I might do was a major one, Middleton shared. I imagined what it would be like for Ella, how unfair it would have been for her, and then that extended to my whole family and my friends. All I would have done was transfer my pain on to other people.

Middleton credited his sister, Kate, and brother-in-law, Prince William, for campaigning about mental health at the time. He also told the Times that hed attended therapy sessions with both Kate and his sister, Pippa Middleton, which was important to his recovery.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Pippa Middleton and James Middleton attend church on Christmas Day on Dec. 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire. Samir Hussein via Getty Images

Having them there meant that I knew I was surrounded by people that truly understood what I was going through, he shared, though he said his biggest challenge was that I had my own stigma about mental health.

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I think I was most terrified that when I wrote about having depression, I would be called a fraud; that people would say, Youve had a privileged upbringing. Youve had everything, essentially. No real struggles, he said. That sort of feedback. But depression doesnt select like that and, anyway, I think Ive learnt to accept criticism.

James has openly spoken about his mental health over the years, as have other younger members of the royal family, including Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Markle and the Princess of Wales.

Kate previously wrote about the importance of seeking help for mental health issues, particularly in children, in a guest blog for HuffPost in 2016.

Like most parents today, William and I would not hesitate to seek help for our children if they needed it, she wrote.

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We hope to encourage George and Charlotte to speak about their feelings, and to give them the tools and sensitivity to be supportive peers to their friends as they get older, the then-Duchess of Cambridge said (Prince Louis was not mentioned, as he was born two years later).

She added, We know there is no shame in a young child struggling with their emotions or suffering from a mental illness.

Related...
Kate Middleton is set to have another tiara moment at Windsor Castle.

On Tuesday, May 13, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles has invited French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to a state visit during the summer.

That will likely mean Kate and Queen Camilla will be dusting off their tiaras for a dazzling state banquet at the 1000-year-old castle.

The visit takes place from July 8-10, and the French couple will be based at Windsor. Its a departure from the usual arrangements because Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing crucial upgrading.



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In a simple statement, the palace said on May 13, The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Tuesday 8th July to Thursday 10th July 2025.

The President and Mrs Macron will stay at Windsor Castle.

Although Buckingham Palace has not confirmed any details of the visit, its expected that Prince William and Princess Kate will help host the visitors.

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Queen Camilla, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron Queen Camilla, King Charles, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron

Usually, a state banquet is at the center of the entertaining and soft power diplomacy that is led by the royal family.

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Princess Kate, 43, was missing from the last banquet  for the visiting Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani in December as she continued her recovery from her cancer treatment.

She did take part in some of the visit, in the earlier part of the first day, however.

The state visit by the Macrons follows the visit by the King, 76, and Queen, 77, who made their first official overseas visit since their May 2023 coronation to France, and then Germany, in September 2023.

The last State Visit to the U.K. from France was in March 2008 when the then President Sarkozy and his wife were the guests of the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle.

Read the original article on People
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Enterprise native and U.S. Senator Katie Britt will give the commencement speech to the graduating class of 2025 at Enterprise High School, according to Enterprise Principal Stan Sauls.

Sen. Britt will deliver the address on May 22 at the Enterprise High School Wildcats Stadium.

The junior senator was raised in Enterprise and graduated from Enterprise High School.

Magazine covers from EHS trophy case of Katie Britt in High School (Courtesy of Enterprise High School) Magazine covers from EHS trophy case of Katie (Boyd) Britt in High School (Courtesy of Enterprise High School)

Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in late 2022 and assumed office in January 2023. She is Alabamas first elected female senator and the youngest republican woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City police are investigating a morning crash that left a motorcyclist dead after being thrown from an Interstate 70 bridge near downtown.

According to KCPD, just after 8:10 a.m., dispatch received a call about a deadly crash involving a motorcycle.

34-year-old woman killed in head-on crash near Kearney Monday

Investigations revealed that a Honda CVR600F motorcycle had been driving eastbound on the I-70 exit ramp to Beardsley Road when the driver missed the curve on the ramp and hit the concrete bridge rail.

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The motorcyclist was then ejected off the bridge and landed on the railroad tracks below. KCPD said the driver died on the scene.

At this time, the name of the victim has not been released.

This is the 24th fatality of 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
(COLORADO)  Colorado lawmakers have passed the Kelly Loving Act, a new bill that, if signed into law, would provide new protection for transgender individuals.

HB25-1312 is named after Kelly Loving, a Club Q shooting victim. The bill would create several protections for transgender individuals, including children, and add deadnaming and misgendering as discriminatory acts in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

This bill, by far, has generated a lot of conversations, said Senator Rod Pelton, who detailed that he had received many emails concerning HB25-1312. The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday, May 6, with a 20 to 14 vote, right before it adjourned its regular session on Wednesday, May 7.

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The act has sparked concerns from some communities, including parents and educators. In late April, Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education Secretary Jason Jorgeson sent a letter on behalf of the Coalition of Colorado Public School Administrators, Board Members, and individuals who influence educational decisions in Colorado, opposing HB25-1312 due to significant concerns.

According to the letter, which has over 80 signatures, the Kelly Loving Act would undermine local control, parental rights, and create ambiguity and compliance challenges for schools. The letter states that the bill penalizes parents for their speech or belief about their childs gender identity.

Read the full letter here:

Colorado-House-Bill-1312-School-Board-Member-Letter-1Download

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While some senators also agreed that the bill could put a strain on families and even schools, some senators argued that the policy would help transgender individuals.

The Kelly Loving Act seeks to increase the amount of dignity and respect that we as a state offer to trans Coloradans, Senator Julie Gonzales said during the bills third reading on May 6.We all deserve the freedom Freedom to make decisions about our bodies, our families, and our futures.

The letter sent by Jorgenson argues that the chosen names and dress code policy requirements in the bill undermine the districts authority to create policies that align with the needs and values of the communities.

The prohibition on gender-specific dress codes may limit schools ability to maintain clear and equitable standards for student conduct and attire, the letter says.

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Senator Chris Kolker explained that the dress code section of the bill leaves it up to the schools to make it equal for all students.

I know students go to school dressed a certain way when they leave the house, but when they get to school, they are dressed a different way because their parents dont know, Kolker said. Its just what that child wants to wear, and they come back and change before they get back home. Thats not about transgender policy, its about what that kids choice is. We are just leaving it to the school to enforce policy, establish policy, enforce it, and make sure it is equal amongst all kids.

The Kelly Loving Act would also determine the allocation of parental responsibilities when making child custody decisions, and would consider deadnaming, misgendering, or threatening to publish material related to an individuals gender-affirming health-care services as types of coercive control.

Another section of the bill would also prohibit a Colorado court from enforcing another states law that authorizes a state agency to remove a child from a guardian because the guardian allowed the child to receive gender-affirming healthcare.

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This could strain family relationships and place schools in the challenging position of navigating sensitive custody disputes, diverting resources from our core educational mission, the letter sent by Jorgenson said.

Kolker further defended the bill, explaining that it is reinforcing previous laws, and it is not about taking parents rights.

He said that the bill reinforces an existing civil rights framework in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, by adding clarity and enforcement precision. It does not create new superior rights for transgender people, nor does it strip rights from anyone else. In practical terms, it says you may not deny someone housing, employment, or public services because they are transgender, that public forms must respect a persons chosen name and gender marker when they have been legally recorded.

While the Kelly Loving Act has passed both the House and the Senate, it still awaits a signature from Colorado Governor Jared Polis to be considered

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Governor Polis appreciates the work of the bill sponsors and all the advocates involved in the bills progression, especially in removing the controversial changes to family law from the bill, and will review the final version of the bill.

To read the full bill, click the link above.

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HAZARD, Ky. (FOX 56)  Kentucky State Police are investigating after a church van was stolen on Thursday from Smithboro Baptist Church in Knott County.

Police said troopers responded to the area of Qs Quick Stop locations in the Colson Community of Letcher County to locate the vehicle. Troopers ended up finding the stolen van and a man identified as 22-year-old Cecil Shell, of Whitesburg, around 7:05 p.m.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Reportedly, troopers attempted to talk to Shell, who allegedly backed up the van, hitting a building and leaving.

According to a news release, authorities found the stolen vehicle in a creek after it was involved in a single-vehicle collision.

A search was conducted for Shell, but he wasnt located.

Kentucky State Police Cecil Shell (Via Kentucky State Police)

Arrest warrants were issued for Shell for receiving stolen property 10,000 or more, first-degree criminal mischief, and first-degree fleeing or evading police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kentucky State Police at (606) 435-6069.

The investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL)  A third-grade student at Ketron Elementary School was one of only a few students in Tennessee to be recognized for his reading accomplishments.

Phoenix Hall was one of only ten students statewide to receive the Tenn Under 10 Literacy Leader Award. The award celebrates students who have made great strides in reading while overcoming challenges.

Country Thunder will not return to Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025

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He came to me in third grade at the beginning of the year, and he was improving, and his mom came and watched him a little bit, Ketron Elementary teacher Phelan Bradley said. And he has a vision teacher, and she also came to watch him. She was really impressed with his progress, and he has really gained a lot of confidence in his reading this year.

The school held a celebration in the gymnasium to honor Phoenixs achievement. According to Bradley, Phoenix is the first student in Sullivan County to ever receive the award.

Oh, I love it, Bradley said. Ive cried a lot, Ive kind of been silly about it, but Im really proud of Phoenix. He has really made a lot of gains this year, and I think hell be ready for fourth grade.

Phoenix was presented with a $1,500 check to be put in a scholarship fund for his post-secondary education. He will also serve as a literacy ambassador for Tennessee.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
May 12A Kettering man has pleaded guilty connected to a domestic violence incident that led to an hours-long standoff with a SWAT response.

Robert Edward Schafer, 56, pleaded guilty to obstructing official business, which could carry a fine of up to $2,500 and a prison term of six months to a year, according to a plea agreement filed Monday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

As part of the agreement, one charge of inducing panic was dismissed.

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His sentencing date has not been set pending a pre-sentencing investigation, according to court documents.

The charges stem from an incident early Nov. 17, 2024, when Kettering police were called to the Speedway at 2150 E. Dorothy Lane around 6:50 a.m. to meet a woman who said she was assaulted in the 3100 block of Bulah Avenue.

She said that she and Schafer had begun arguing while Schafer was highly intoxicated, according to an affidavit filed in Kettering Municipal Court.

She went into her bedroom to get away, but he reportedly followed her, pushed her onto the bed and slapped her.

"Robert then took (the woman's) phone, locked the bedroom door from the outside and did not allow (her) to leave," an affidavit read. "(She) was able to break the door down and drive to Speedway to call for help."

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Officers went to the address on Bulah Avenue and tried to talk to Schafer. After it appeared he had barricaded himself inside, the Kettering Regional Special Response Team responded, and an hours-long standoff ensued.

For six hours, area residents were asked to stay in their homes, and people were urged to avoid the area, until Schafer was finally taken into custody around 1:40 p.m.

Minor injuries were reported due to the initial domestic violence incident, police said.
Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary claimed that Donald Trump granting refugee status to white South Africans has nothing to do with race, even though the president claimed that Afrikaner farmers were facing genocide because they happen to be white.

The MAGA-boosting Canadian businessman also told Fox News on Tuesday that he had no idea why this particular group gets all this focus. OLeary added that every administration has its own policy on immigration and that he doesnt understand this debate at all over white South Africans getting fast-tracked to citizenship while Trump shuts out most other refugee admissions.

Following his vow in February to cut off all funding to South Africa and resettle white Afrikaners in America over a new land expropriation law, Trump announced on Monday that 59 white South African refugees were en route to the United States. The president also made it clear he was echoing the debunked white genocide conspiracy theory that alleges white farmers in South Africa are being targeted and killed en masse.

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It's a genocide that's taking place that you people don't want to write about, Trump declared in the Oval Office. It's a terrible thing that's taking place. And farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they're white or Black makes no difference to me, but white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.

Shark Tank host Kevin O'Leary declares that despite Donald Trump saying white South Africans face "genocide," the president granting them refugee status "has nothing to do with race." (Fox News)

Despite the presidents claims, which have been amplified in recent years by South African-born first buddy Elon Musk and right-wing media figures such as Tucker Carlson, theres no evidence that white farmers are facing a spike in violence and murders. Despite the prevalence of online misinformation that tends to center around a few high-profile cases, its estimated that roughly 50 farmers, from different racial backgrounds, were killed last year in a country that recorded over 19,000 murders.

Additionally, a South African court ruled in late February that white genocide in the country was clearly imagined and not real after blocking a bequest to a white supremacist organization. The group says it enables resistance against the promised slaughter of whites in South Africa and the theft of their property.

During an appearance on Fox News midday panel show Outnumbered, which featured the majority of the hosts criticizing the liberal medias reaction and hypocrisy over the so-called refugees, OLeary insisted that any outrage was misplaced.

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I dont understand this. Every administration has their own policy on immigration, the venture capitalist declared. The previous administration believed in open borders, this one believes in closed borders.

Despite online claims, there is no evidence that white South Africans are facing a genocide. (Getty)

Describing the refugee asylum process as almost like a pardon system, OLeary said that this happens in every administration and any president can do this. Likening the white South Africans to the huge amount of Irish people that migrated to the United States in the 19th century, he said there was a reason for that before reiterating that this was much ado about nothing.

Whether its good or bad, I dont know, but it happened decades ago. Presidents make decisions on who they want let into the country. Its been done generation after generation, he concluded. I dont know why this particular group gets all this focus. It has nothing to do with race or religion. These people wanted to come to America, and Trump accepted them. Its over.

When Trump first announced he was cutting off funding to South Africa, he pointed to a recently passed land law and said the government was confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly. Musk has called the Expropriation Act an openly racist law and deemed a Black nationalist South African party of actively promoting white genocide.

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The law in question, which has been challenged in court, is akin to eminent domain in the United States in that it allows the government to seize land from private parties for the public interest without compensation. The Expropriation Act, however, notes that it would only take farmland if negotiations for monetary settlement fall through, and no farms or land have been taken so far under the law.

Despite it being three decades since the end of apartheid, which saw South Africas white minority government preventing Blacks from having fundamental rights or owning land, white Afrikaners still disproportionately control the nations farms. While white people make up just 7.3 percent of the population, they own 72 percent of South Africas farmland.






Kim Kardashian was joined by her mother, Kris Jenner, as she arrived at the Palais de Justice court in Paris on Tuesday, May 13

The SKIMS founder, 44, is set to testify against the 10 people accused of being involved in her October 2016 robbery

Having been tied up and held at gunpoint, Kardashian was robbed of her jewelry worth nearly $9 million











Kim Kardashian has arrived in France to testify at the trial of those suspected of being involved in robbing her at gunpoint in 2016.

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On Tuesday, May 11, the SKIMS founder, 44, was spotted going into the Palais de Justice court in Paris, wearing a black blazer and skirt combo with her hair sleeked up into a bun. She wore minimal jewelry for the event  though she notably donned a large diamond ring on her right hand, along with several silver earrings and sunglasses.

Kardashian was joined by her mother Kris Jenner, 69, who opted to wear a patterned black and white suit jacket with her hair sleeked back. She also wore black sunglasses as she headed up the steps of the courthouse behind her daughter.

Kardashian is set to testify in the trial of ten people  dubbed the "Grandpa robbers" by French media due to their older ages and previous criminal history  who are being tried on charges related to the 2016 burglary of The Kardashian's star, according to the New York Times, NBC News and ABC News. Half of the suspects are considered alleged accomplices.

Edward Berthelot/GC Images Kim Kardashian arrives at the Palais de Justice, on May 13, 2025 in Paris, France. Kim Kardashian arrives at the Palais de Justice, on May 13, 2025 in Paris, France.

Police initially arrested 17 suspects in connection with the robbery across the country in January 2017. One of the men later indicted by prosecutors is the younger brother of Kardashian's Paris chauffeur. One of the suspects on trial, Yunice Abbas, 71, has publicly admitted to his involvement in the crime and recently testified that he regrets the trauma it caused, NBC News reported.

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Ahead of the trial, a source told PEOPLE that the reality star was eagerly awaiting her chance to testify against the suspects involved in the 2016 Paris robbery.

Edward Berthelot/GC Images Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner arrive at the Palais de Justice, on May 13, 2025 in Paris, France. Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner arrive at the Palais de Justice, on May 13, 2025 in Paris, France.

Kims a bit nervous, but she always said that she wanted to testify in person," the insider said. "This is her choice. She was terrified for her life during the robbery. She wants the people involved convicted.

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.

SADAK SOUICI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Kim Kardashian arrives at the Paris Courthouse to testify as part of the trial against suspects in the 2016 armed robbery against her, in Paris, France, 13 May 2025. Kim Kardashian arrives at the Paris Courthouse to testify as part of the trial against suspects in the 2016 armed robbery against her, in Paris, France, 13 May 2025.

In October 2016, five armed men broke into Kardashian's room at the No Address Hotel in Paris, where she was staying while attending the city's Fashion Week. The reality star was tied up at gunpoint and locked in a bathroom as the thieves stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry in the middle of the night.

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Kardashian has said the robbers took two diamond Cartier bracelets, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, a gold Rolex and other items during the heist, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. A $4 million ring gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West was also among the items stolen.

According to the Times, the stolen jewelry was estimated to be worth nearly $9 million and most of it was never recovered.

A source close to the reality star told PEOPLE in 2016 that she managed to escape after wriggling her hands out of the zip ties. A second source told PEOPLE that Kardashian then "screamed from the balcony" for help.

Kiran Ridley/Getty A general view of the Palais de Justice of Paris, where Kim Kardashian is about to testify as a witness in her burglary case, on May 13, 2025 in Paris, France. A general view of the Palais de Justice of Paris, where Kim Kardashian is about to testify as a witness in her burglary case, on May 13, 2025 in Paris, France.

Kardashian previously shared in Season 13 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians that she believed the perpetrators tracked her via social media, as she had been "Snapchatting" that she had been at "home and that everyone was going out."

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"They ask for money. I said I don't have any money," she said. "They dragged me out on to the hallway on top of the stairs. That's when I saw the gun clear, like clear as day. I was kind of looking at the gun, looking down back at the stairs."

"I was like; 'I have a split second in my mind to make this quick decision," she continued. "Am I going to run down the stairs and either be shot in the back? It makes me so upset to think about it. Either they're going to shoot me in the back, or if I make it and they don't, if the elevator does not open in time, or the stairs are locked, then like I'm f-----. There's no way out."



Read the original article on People
Kim Kardashian is en route to Paris to testify in her upcoming robbery trial.

A source exclusively tells PEOPLE that The Kardashians star, 44, is eagerly awaiting her chance to testify against the suspects involved in 2016 Paris robbery.

Kims a bit nervous, but she always said that she wanted to testify in person," the source says. "This is her choice. She was terrified for her life during the robbery. She wants the people involved convicted.

Kim Kardashian/Instagram Kim Kardashian posts a view from her private plane Kim Kardashian posts a view from her private plane

On Monday, May 12, the SKIMS founder revealed she was traveling abroad with a post shared to her Instagram Stories. Alongside a photo of the view looking out from her private plane, Kardashian added an emoji of the French flag, indicating she was touching down in Paris.

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In October 2016, armed thieves broke into Kardashian's room at the No Address hotel in Paris, where they bound and gagged her before putting her in a bathtub. As they held her hostage, five masked men stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry from the reality star in the middle of the night, PEOPLE previously reported.

"They put plastic ties around her wrists, but she managed to squeeze her hands out of the wrist ties by wriggling her hands," a source close to Kardashian told PEOPLE at the time.

After escaping, a second source told PEOPLE that Kardashian "screamed from the balcony" for help.

Taylor Hill/Getty Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian

Kardashian previously revealed that the robbers took two diamond Cartier bracelets, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, a gold Rolex and other items during the heist, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. A $4 million ring gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West was also among the items stolen.

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The stolen jewelry was estimated to be worth nearly $9 million and most of it was never recovered.

Ten people are expected to appear in court to face charges in connection with the heist, according to the New York Times, NBC News and ABC News. The trial for the suspects involved began Monday, April 28.

Related: Kim Kardashian Was Bound and Gagged as Thieves Robbed Her in Paris a Decade Ago. Now, 10 People Face Trial

In a 2017 episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians., the reality star opened up about the harrowing ordeal and recalled fearing for her life in a conversation with her sisters.

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"They ask for money. I said I don't have any money," she said. "They dragged me out on to the hallway on top of the stairs. That's when I saw the gun clear, like clear as day. I was kind of looking at the gun, looking down back at the stairs."

"I was like; 'I have a split second in my mind to make this quick decision," she continued. "Am I going to run down the stairs and either be shot in the back? It makes me so upset to think about it. Either they're going to shoot me in the back, or if I make it and they don't, if the elevator does not open in time, or the stairs are locked, then like I'm f-----. There's no way out."

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Kardashian herself has said she believed the perpetrators tracked her via social media.



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"I was Snapchatting that I was home and that everyone was going out," she explained in the episode. "So I think they knew Pascal [her bodyguard] was out with Kourtney and that I was there by myself."

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Kim Kardashian said she thought she was going to die at the hands of armed robbers as she gave a tearful testimony at a trial in Paris on Tuesday.

The American television personality was held at gunpoint in a five-hour ordeal in which the gang were alleged to have stolen $9 million (7.5 million) worth of jewellery.

Speaking for the first time since the trial began on April 28, the socialite told the packed courthouse I absolutely did think I was gonna die when the gangsters stuck a gun in my back on the night of Oct 2 2016.

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They tied the reality TV star up, dumped her in her hotel bathroom, and made off on bike or foot with the jewels, including a $4 million (3.7 million) ring from then-husband Kanye West.

The gang were identified and caught after leaving DNA traces.

Hi! Im Kim Kardashian and I just want to thank everyone, especially the French authorities, for allowing me to testify today and tell my truth, she told the courthouse on Pariss Ile de la Cite, where she wore a black skirt suit and jewelled necklace.

The trial of 10 suspects has attracted huge media attention, with close to 500 reporters accredited, and crowds flocking around the courthouse to catch a glimpse of the woman who boasts 357 million followers on Instagram.

Kim Kardashian, centre, said she developed anxiety after the incident during Paris Fashion Week in October 2016 - SADAK SOUICI/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSOCK

She would remain on her feet in high heels for the next five hours as she relived the trauma of that night, delivering often emotional testimony about her ordeal.

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I came to Paris for Fashion Week and Paris is always a place I love so much, Kardashian said. She was staying at an exclusive, discreet hotel in the centre of the city at the time.

She was in her room  with my best friend downstairs, my sister and my friend and my mom ... all out for the night  when she heard stomping up the stairs, she said.

People who I assumed were police officers because they were in uniform entered her room, Kardashian told the court.

The attackers seized her ring, then threatened her with a gun and tied her up with a zip tie, she said in an emotional account.

I was certain that he was going to shoot me, so I said a prayer for my family, she said.

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She also feared she would be raped as she was naked underneath her robe, which opened and exposed everything on my body.

But instead, her legs were tied together, and a gun was held up to her.

She was not hit by the men, but their sudden appearance and the weapon were absolutely terrifying.

Calmness saved my life

Ultimately, I decided not to resist and stay calm. That calmness saved my life, she said.

Despite the trauma, Kardashian accepted the apology of 68-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, who has admitted to tying her up but denies being the mastermind of the robbery.

Kris Jenner accompanies her daughter to court - Edward Berthelot/GC Images

The judge read out a letter Mr Khedache, who is deaf and known as Old Omar, wrote to her when he was arrested in 2017. It says: Sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, your children, and those who love you.

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With tears in her eyes, Kardashian, who is training to be a lawyer, looked at the accused and said: I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it, I forgive you.

I really do believe in second chances, she added. But it doesnt change the emotion, the feelings, the trauma and the way my life has changed.

Khedache then wrote a note to Kardashian that the judge read and which said: Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me... I am forever grateful.

Asked what she wanted from the trial, she said: I want to become a lawyer, and I do believe everyone has the opportunity to speak their truth, and this is my closure and my opportunity to put this to rest after everything Ive been through.

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She added: I spend a lot of time in prisons meeting with people who have committed crimes. So I am empathetic towards people who have committed crimes and their families.

A sketch of Kim Kardashian testifying at the court during the trial - REUTERS

She said she had sought therapy for a phobia about going out after the raid.

It changed the way that I felt safe at home, she said, adding she now relied on up to six security guards there.

The remaining men on trial are in their 60s and 70s, earning the title grandpa robbers by the French media. Five of the accused face armed robbery and kidnapping charges. The others are charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorised possession of a weapon.

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Two defendants, Yunice Abbas and Khedache, admit the charges. The rest deny them.

This was Kardashians first appearance at the trial, which started two weeks ago and is expected to last about a month.

It comprises a presiding judge, two professional assessors, and six main jurors. The hearing involves more than 2,000 documents and there are four civil parties.

The trial is scheduled to run until May 23.

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Kim Kardashian appeared at Palais de Justice in Paris to testify in the trial of the men who allegedly robbed her at gunpoint in 2016.

The reality star wore an unexpected black ensemble that included a plunging peplum blazer.

In her testimony, she described "absolutely" thinking she was going to die during the robbery.







Kim Kardashian has arrived at the Palais de Justice in Paris to testify in the trial of ten men who allegedly robbed her in the French capital in 2016. The accused, known as the "grandpa robbers" because of their average age, allegedly broke into her hotel and held her at gunpoint before making off with millions of dollars worth of jewelry, including her engagement ring.

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For her court appearance, Kardashian wore an all-black ensemble with a number of unexpected touches. On the top, she opted for a structured black blazer. The jacket featured padded shoulders, a fitted waist, and a peplum detail. She paired the plunging blazer with a long black maxiskirt with a slit up the back, a pair of black slingback heels, and black Alaia sunglasses.

She wore a large statement diamond necklace and a pair of sparkly climber earrings. She styled her hair in chic chignon with long pieces framing her face.

Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, accompanied her daughter to the trial. She wore a checked blazer and black pants.

Getty Kim Kardashian at the Palais de Justice Kim Kardashian at the Palais de Justice

During her appearance in court, Kardashian recounted the terrifying night when the robbers broke into her hotel room. As Kardashian recalled, she was just nodding off to sleep when the group of men stormed into her room with the hotel's night receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, whom they had handcuffed. Kardashian was naked apart from a robe.

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They demanded her engagement ring, which one man soon found on the nightstand, she recalled, per BBC.

"They picked me up off the bed and and grabbed me and took me down the hallway to look for more jewelry, more stuff," she went on.

She then realized that a man was holding a gun at her back.

"That was the first moment I thought should I run for it? But it wasn't an option so I just stayedand that's the moment I realized I should just do whatever they say," she said.



Getty Kim Kardashian at the Palais de Justice Kim Kardashian at the Palais de Justice

Kardashian then recalled begging for her life. At one point, she was pulled forwards by one of the men and her robe fell open. "I'm certain that's the moment he rapes me," she said. "I say a prayer to mentally prepare myself." However, her legs were tied together and one man held up a gun.

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"At that point I was sure that's when they were going to shoot me," Kardashian then explained. "So I said a prayer for my family and my mom and my sister and best friend[...] I hoped they would have an OK life after".

She then reiterated: "I absolutely did think I was gonna die."

Kardashian was left tied up on the bathroom floor as the men made their escape.

Getty Kim Kardashian at the Palais de Justice Kim Kardashian at the Palais de Justice

Kardashian's stylist and friend, Simone Harouche, was also in the hotel at the time and was the first person to see Kardashian after the robbery. She gave her testimony earlier in the day.

The trial began last month and is set to conclude on May 23. All but two of the accused have pleaded not guilty to the robbery.

Read the original article on InStyle
Kim Kardashian told a Paris court she absolutely did think I was going to die when she was robbed at gunpoint in 2016.

The testimony, given by Kardashian on Tuesday afternoon, details the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2016, during which the reality star and business mogul was held at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week and robbed.

Kardashian testified she was getting ready for bed in her hotel room when she heard a commotion. Several masked men then burst into her room, she said. Kardashians hands were zip-tied, her mouth was taped and a gun was pointed at her temple, she testified.

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I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me, she told the Paris court. I absolutely did think I was going to die.

Ten men are on trial for their alleged roles in the heist, the majority of whom are in their 60s and 70s. One other suspect died before the trial, and another was excused for illness.

The assailants  who Kardashian said arrived at her hotel disguised as police officers  made out with about $6 million in jewelry, including Kardashians engagement ring, according to The Associated Press. Kardashian said they also stole about $1,000 from her wallet.

Prosecutors said Kardashian was tracked through her Instagram by the gang of veteran criminals, who have been called the grandpa robbers by the French press.

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Hairstylist Simone Harouche also testified on Tuesday that she heard Kardashian yelling from their shared two-floor hotel suite.

I have babies and I need to live. That is what she kept on saying, Take everything. I need to live, Harouche testified.

Kardashian said she thought one of the robbers told her to shut up when she asked if she was going to die.

After the group of men left, Kardashian managed to go downstairs to find Harouche. The two hid in bushes on the balcony until police arrived in fear that the robbers would come back, Kardashian said.

One of the defendants, 69-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, wrote a letter that was read to the court asking Kardashian for forgiveness.

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Kardashian offered forgiveness and a reminder that her trauma continues.

I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you for what has taken place, but it doesnt change the emotion and the feelings and the trauma, the way my life is forever changed, Kardashian responded in her testimony.

The trial is expected to last until the end of the month.
Kim Kardashian arriving at the Palais de Justice in Paris ahead of her testimony on May 13 - Credit: Edward Berthelot/GC Images/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian appeared in a French court room Tuesday morning, May 13, to recount the harrowing armed robbery she endured at a hotel in Paris in 2016: I absolutely did think I was going to die, she testified, according to the BBC.

Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint on Oct. 3, 2016, with the alleged crooks taking over $6 million in jewelry. Now, French authorities have charged 10 people, nine men and one woman, in connection with the robbery, with prosecutors alleging that the crew was part of a seasoned criminal gang. (Many of the suspects are in their 60s and 70s, leading the French press to give them the nickname les papys braqueurs, which translates to the grandpa robbers.)

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While on the stand, Kardashian testified that when she first heard the footsteps of the robbers climbing up the stairs of the hotel room, she thought it was her sister, Kourtney, and a friend returning from a night out. Eventually, the door to her room was flung open, with Kardashian saying two men came in dressed as police officers. She said they had with them the hotels night receptionist, who was handcuffed.

When they first entered, Kardashian said, the robbers kept asking about a ring, ostensibly referring to an approximately $4 million diamond given to her by then-husband Kanye West. But Kardashian said she was in such shock that she thought it might be a terrorist attack.

Honestly, a lot of terrorist attacks were going on in the world, and me and my friends were talking about what was going on in the world, Kardashian said. I didnt get what was happening and I didnt get it was about my jewelry, even though they specifically asked for my ring.

Eventually, Kardashian said, one robber found the ring next to her bed, while another discovered a jewelry box while rifling through her stuff. When Kardashian tried to grab her phone to alert her bodyguard, she said someone grabbed her phone, then pulled her off the bed, and took her down the hallway as they searched for more jewelry. She said one men held a gun to her back and she thought about running before realizing she should just do whatever they say.

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According to Kardashian, the robbers ultimately threw her back on the bed and tied her hands with zip ties. She remembered telling the night receptionist to please translate to [the robbers] that I have babies, I have to make it home.

All the while, Kardashian said, she was wearing just a bathrobe, and she remembered thinking this would be the moment he rapes me. The man, however, tied her feet together, taped her mouth, and locked her in the bathroom.

After a few minutes, Kardashian said, the noise in the other room stopped, and she began to free herself. She was able to remove the zip ties from her wrist and the tape from her mouth, then left the bathroom in search for her stylist, Simone Harouche, whod been sleeping downstairs and had locked herself in a bathroom during the robbery. Harouche helped Kardashian remove the ties on her feet.

Near the end of her testimony, Kardashian spoke about the long-term effects of the robbery, saying she developed a phobia of going out, lest people see me out and know my home was empty. She added, I cant even sleep at night if I know theres not multiple security [guards], she added.

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Kardashian even addressed one of the defendants, Aomar Ait Khedache, who admitted to taking part in the robbery and sent Kardashian a letter after his arrest in 2017. I do appreciate the letter for sure, she said. I do appreciate it. I forgive you. But it doesnt change the emotion, the feelings and the trauma and the way my life has changed.

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Kim Kardashian testified Tuesday, May 13 at the trial for the suspects involved in the October 2016 Paris heist

The reality star was tied up and held at gunpoint as five masked men robbed her of jewelry worth nearly $9 million

Ten people are on trial, including Yunice Abbas, who co-authored the 2021 book I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian







Kim Kardashian is testifying at the trial for the suspects involved in the 2016 robbery in which the reality star was tied up and held at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room.

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According to the BBC, on Tuesday, May 13, Kardashian, 44, was asked at one point if she thought she was going to die during the robbery, to which she replied, "I absolutely did think I was gonna die."

The reality star also said she was wearing nothing but a robe during the incident, adding that it came open when one of the men pulled her toward him "exposing everything on my body."

"I was sure that I was going to be raped, she testified, according to NBC News. However, her legs were tied together instead.

According to Kardashian, she repeatedly told the robbers "I have babies and I need to get home to my babies," and said she thought one of them told her to "shut up" at one point, per NBC News.

ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Kim Kardashian enters trial in Paris on May 13, 2025 Kim Kardashian enters trial in Paris on May 13, 2025

As her testimony continued, Kardashian said even as it became clear that the robbers appeared to only be interested in stealing her jewelry, she still feared for her life and worried that her mother, Kris Jenner, and sister Kourtney Kardashian would find her dead.

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After being thrown onto the bed with her hands and feet bound, Kardashian told the court she thought she was going to be shot.

BENOIT PEYRUCQ/AFP via Getty Court sketch of Kim Kardashian at Paris robbery trial Court sketch of Kim Kardashian at Paris robbery trial

"At that point I was sure that's when they were going to shoot me," Kardashian said, according to the BBC. "So I said a prayer for my family and my mom and my sister and best friend."

She added that she knew Kourtney, 46, would be returning to the hotel soon. She said she believed "I would be shot dead on the bed and she would see that and have that memory forever."

Edward Berthelot/GC Images Kris Jenner (left) and Kim Kardashian at robbery trial in Paris on May 13. 2025 Kris Jenner (left) and Kim Kardashian at robbery trial in Paris on May 13. 2025

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Before the robbers exited her room, Kardashian said one of them dropped her on the bathroom floor. She waited several minutes to ensure they were gone before she tried to free herself. She told the court that she was able to free her hands before hopping to her stylist's room to get help.

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Kardashian further testified that prior to the incident, she felt safe in Paris. However, now she has four to six bodyguards with her at all times, including when she's at her home in California.

Ten people are being tried on charges related to the heist, according to the New York Times, NBC News and ABC News. The group has been dubbed the "Grandpa robbers" by French media due to their older ages and previous criminal history, according to ABC News.

Kardashian was visiting the city for Fashion Week in October 2016 when five masked men broke into her room at the No Address Hotel and tied her up at gunpoint before locking her in a bathroom. The thieves stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry from the reality star in the middle of the night.

The SKIMS co-founder has said the robbers took two diamond Cartier bracelets, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, a gold Rolex and other items during the heist, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. A $4 million ring gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West was also among the items stolen.

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A source close to the reality star told PEOPLE in 2016 that she managed to escape after wriggling her hands out of the zip ties. A second source told PEOPLE that Kardashian then "screamed from the balcony" for help.

Kardashian previously said she believed the perpetrators tracked her via social media.

French police initially arrested 17 suspects across France in connection with the armed robbery in January 2017. Half of the 10 suspects currently on trial are considered alleged accomplices. One of the men indicted by prosecutors is the younger brother of Kardashian's Paris chauffeur.

One of the suspects on trial, Yunice Abbas, 71, has publicly admitted to his involvement in the crime. He co-authored the 2021 book I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, in which he identified himself as one of the robbers behind the heist. Since then, Abbas has testified that he had no role in choosing the title of the book, which he claims misrepresents his actions, NBC News reported.

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I regret it, not because I got caught, but because ... there was a trauma, Abbas testified on April 29, per NBC News.

According to the Times, the stolen jewelry was estimated to be worth nearly $9 million and most of it was never recovered.



Read the original article on People
Kim Kardashian on Tuesday described how she thought she "would die" during a 2016 robbery in Paris as she testified in court.

"I thought I would die," the US celebrity said at the trial in the Palace of Justice.

Kardashian was attacked by robbers disguised as police officers in October 2016 in an exclusive hotel in Paris' chic 8th district.

The reality TV star and entrepreneur was threatened with a gun, gagged and bound with adhesive tape before her assailants made off with an estimated 9 million ($10 million) in jewellery.

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The 44-year-old described how the intruders sought to take her engagement ring, finding it by her bedside table. "I thought it was some type of terrorist attack, I did not realize it was for my ring."

She called to the hotel concierge, who had been forced to take the robbers to her room at gunpoint, to ask them: "Are we going to die? I have two babies, I must make it home."

Kardashian said that she thought she would be raped when one of the men tied her up.

After being threatened with a gun, she described being certain she was going to be shot.

Nine men and one woman have been on trial in Paris for the attack since the end of April.

The defendants, whose average age is around 60, have been described by the French press as the "grandpa gang."
German authorities have banned a far-Right monarchist group and arrested its self-proclaimed King.

In raids across seven German states, police arrested senior members of the Kingdom of Germany, which rejects the existence of the post-war German state and is led by Peter Fitzek.

Alexander Dobrindt, the new German interior minister, banned the group owing to its alleged anti-Semitic views and attempts to build a counter state opposed to democratic order in Germany.

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The group is part of the wider, loosely connected Reichsburger movement, whose members typically deny the legitimacy of the modern German state, believing it to still be occupied by the Allied powers of the Second World War.

While some Reichsburger members are considered harmless eccentrics, others have been put on trial for allegedly plotting coups in Germany, such as the businessman Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss of Greiz.

As part of their rejection of Germanys post-war constitution, some wish for the return of 19th century-style rule under a Kaiser and print their own money and identity documents.

Peter Fitzek showing his Kingdom of Germany ID card - Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Mr Fitzek founded Kingdom of Germany, which has its own alternative currency, in 2012.

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Video footage of his coronation has been posted on YouTube, where he is seen wielding a sword and wearing a crimson ermine cloak.

Credit: Youtube/karmasinghde

During Mondays raids, Mr Fitzek was arrested at his home in Halsbrucke, Saxony, while other members houses were raided in several west German states.

Mr Fitzek faces numerous charges including illicit financial transactions and illicit use of insurance, the Bild newspaper reported.

He has previously been prosecuted for illegal bank transactions and driving without a licence, and once received an eight-month prison sentence for intentional bodily harm.

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Three senior members who were also arrested in Tuesdays raids have been named only as Benjamin M, Martin S and Mathias B.

German officials say Kingdom of Germany has around 6,000 members, making it the largest single group within the Reichsburger movement.

Its websites and social media platforms have now been banned in Germany.

Kingdom of Germany currency

Despite the eccentric nature of its leader, police union chief Rainer Wendt welcomed the arrests and said there was nothing funny about the group.

This was long overdue. This organisation has been up to its evil deeds for more than 10 years. These are not harmless lunatics, but dangerous people, he told Bild.

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Reichsburgers are against the system, they are against our constitutional order. They dont abide by our laws, including our gun laws.

As he banned the group on Tuesday, Mr Dobrindt said: The members of this association have created a counter-state and criminal economic structures.

In this way, they undermine the rule of law and the Federal Republics monopoly on legitimate use of force. At the same time, they use anti-Semitic conspiracy narratives to back up their supposed claim to authority.

The Kingdom of Germany constitution for sale on Amazon

In a parallel legal process, Reichsburger figurehead Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss is on trial in Frankfurt accused of treason and plotting a coup against the former government led by Olaf Scholz.

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He and his co-conspirators allegedly planned to storm the national parliament in Berlin with an armed group to arrest MPs, on what they referred to as Day X.

An indictment read out in court last year suggested that the group viewed the death of Queen Elizabeth II as the sign that it was time to launch the coup.

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President Barack Obama had a royal visit during his trip to Norway.



The former U.S. leader visited with King Harald V, the King's daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre at the Bygd Kongsgard royal summer estate in Bygdyveien on Tuesday, May 13.



The visit came as Obama was in Norway for a lecture at the Oslo Spektrum on Monday, May 12. Moderated by Sofie Hgestl, a podcaster and former member of Norwegian parliament, the discussion delved into some of the most pressing issues of our time, as well as his thoughts on the challenges facing the world's democracies in the future.



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Obama and King Harald were well acquainted during his time in office. The monarch presented the former president with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts in international diplomacy.



The meeting came just over a year after King Harald reduced his royal duties following a lengthy sick leave and an operation to install a permanent pacemaker.



"The King will make adjustments to his program in the future, out of consideration for his age. This will entail a permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities in which the King participates," the Norwegian Royal House announced on April 22, 2024.



Princess Mette-Marits husband, Crown Prince Haakon, is next in line to the throne and has assumed some royal duties due to his fathers health limitations.

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The couple married in 2001 and share two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Princess Ingrid is currently second in line to the throne thanks to Norway adopting absolute primogeniture in 1990, allowing for eldest female children to come before their brothers in the order of succession.



Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty President Barack Obama and King Harald of Norway on June 6, 2014 President Barack Obama and King Harald of Norway on June 6, 2014

Though the King of Norway has had several health issues in recent years, including hospitalizations for infections in December 2022 and May 2023, he stated in January 2024 that he had no plans to abdicate.

The issue was top of mind after Queen Margrethe of Denmark voluntarily stepped down from the throne in January 2024.

No, I don't really have it. I stand by what I have said all along. I have taken an oath to the Storting, and it lasts for life, King Harald said at the time, referring to his promise to the Norwegian Parliament when he acceded at age 53 in 1991.



Read the original article on People
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  Kip Moore was announced as another name coming to the stage at this years Sioux Empire Fair, a news release said.

Moores songs include Something Bout A Truck and Beer Money.

Arrest made in homicide on North Minnesota Ave

Moore will play the main stage Thursday, Aug. 7. Kip Moore is free with paid fair admission. Fair admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6  12, and free for children ages 5 and under.

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The rock band Tesla is a grandstand act for Aug. 5 at the Sioux Empire Fair.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Then U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond heads for a closed session of the Senate about the new START Treaty, a ratification of a nuclear-arms treaty with Russia, in the U.S. Capitol December 20, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images).

Former Missouri governor and U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who was the youngest person ever elected to the states highest office, died Tuesday. He was 86.

Bond was on a Missouri ballot nine times and lost only two races, a bid for Congress in 1968 and his bid for a second consecutive term as governor in 1976. He went on to win a new term as governor in 1980 and four subsequent elections to the Senate starting in 1986.

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When he was elected auditor in 1970, Bond was the first Republican to win that office since 1928. When he was elected governor, Bond was the first Republican to win that office since 1940.

Kit Bonds official portrait from 1973, after he was the first Republican elected Missouris governor since 1940 (Image from Missouri Official Manual).

In his first term as governor, Bond was seen as a moderate, working to strengthen consumer protection laws and backing the Equal Rights Amendment. The latter position, as well as his support for President Gerald Ford against Ronald Reagan for the 1976 GOP presidential nomination cost him support in his party and was blamed in part for his loss for re-election.

In his second term, Bond was faced with a major budget shortfall and economic recession. To combat the recession, Bond worked with lawmakers to pass a $600 million bond issue to fund new state facilities and college campus buildings.

The Parents as Teachers program was also launched in Bonds second term, about the same time his son Sam Bond was born. When he became a senator, Bond sponsored legislation to make it a national program.

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I think that Parents as Teachers is Missouris greatest export, Bond said in an oral history interview in 2014. We believe that when you advocate Parents as Teachers, you are telling people across the country that Parents as Teachers is Missouris greatest export.

In that same interview, Bond said the job of governor was one of the most satisfying jobs Ive ever had.

Bond grew up in Mexico, Missouri, the grandson of the founder of A.P. Green Industries, a fireclay manufacturer and a major employer at the time.

He attended a boarding school in Massachusetts, Princeton University as an undergraduate and studied law in Virginia, practicing law in Washington, D.C., until he returned home in 1967. His time away became an issue in the 1972 campaign for governor, when opponents alleged he had violated the Constitutional requirement that governors be residents of the state for 12 years prior to their election.

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The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Bond was qualified to be governor because he always intended to return to Missouri despite his years away.

It has been said that residence is largely a matter of intention, to be determined not only from the utterances of the person whose residence is in issue but also from his acts and in the light of all the facts and circumstances of the case, the ruling in Bonds case stated.

As a senator, Bond became known for his work on the Senate Intelligence Committee, his commitment to national defense and, as illustrated by buildings like the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri, the source of earmarked federal funds for local projects.

In a tribute on the Senate floor in 2010, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, praised Bond as a fighter and a man of honor.

There was never a doubt in all of these years of Kit Bonds service that this was not a man of the very highest integrity, McCaskill said. And finally, a work ethic. And gee howdy, Missourians want a work ethic. They want somebody who understands that they are working hard and they want to see you working hard, and that is exactly what Senator Bond has done for these 42 years.

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At a retirement dinner in Bonds honor in 2010, Thomas Payne, then-dean of the University of Missouris College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, hoisted a large cardboard cutout of an ATM machine with Bonds face on it in reference to the numerous appropriations Bond helped secure for the school.

Youre the chief purveyor of porcine products, Payne said.

In a 2009 article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bond defended earmarks.

Trusting local leaders and empowering them to fund critical projects that serve a compelling state or local need is a much better way to help Missouri, Bond wrote.

Following the news of his death, Gov. Mike Kehoe paid tribute to Bond. In a statement, Kehoe called Bond a skilled statesman, public servant, and a man who truly loved Missouri. I am blessed to have known Kit and honored to call him a friend and a mentor.

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During the legislative session Tuesday, state Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican, announced Bond had died and also paid tribute to him.

The impact of Kit will outlive everyone in this chamber, everyone who serves in the House of Representatives, and his impact will outlive governors, Hough said. We dont have a lot of people like that anymore. We have a lot of people that want a quick hit and post on social media. It is lucky to have lived in a time that he didnt have to put up with a lot of that crap.

Former governor and U.S. Sen. Kit Bond in a portrait for the lobbying firm Kit Bond Strategies, formed after he retired from elective office in 2011 (Image via Kit Bond Strategies website).

Other remembrances of Bond hit similar themes.

Former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth, who was attorney general during Bonds first term as governor and worked alongside him in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 1995, called Bond a role model of a public servant.

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Kit Bond was one of the most consequential people in the history of our state, Danforth said. At each level of his career, he knew the responsibilities of the job he was elected to do, and he did that job very well. As a U.S. Senator, he focused on results for Missouri. From highways and bridges to Parents as Teachers, his contributions are tangible.

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican who now holds the seat Bond held, said he was sad to hear of his death.

Kit proudly served our state as governor and then in the U.S. Senate for 24 years, with his trademark sense of humor and dedication to making Missouri the best state in our union, Schmitt said. He helped to improve the lives of generations of Missourians across the Show Me State.

State Senate President Pro Tem Cindy OLaughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, said in a statement that Bond never lost touch with his Missouri roots.

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Missouri lost a giant today, OLaughlin said. Kit Bond dedicated his life to serving this state with integrity, humility, and an unshakable commitment to doing what was right. Kit Bond was more than a statesman. He was a pillar of Missouri history and a steady hand during uncertain times. From serving as one of our youngest governors to decades in the U.S. Senate, his life was defined by a deep commitment to public service.

One of the most difficult political puzzles of Bonds second term as governor was how to divvy up the $600 million in bonds for state construction. Former state Rep. Chris Kelly, a Columbia Democrat elected in 1982, said Bond finessed that job well.

Bond kept his eye on the goal of the bond issue, which was to generate jobs and economic growth, Kelly said.

He got lots of people to work in the state, building infrastructure that we needed very badly, Kelly said.

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Kelly, who was in office from 1983 to 1994 and served again from 2009 to 2015, said the current legislature isnt living up to that legacy. The decision to kill a capital spending bill with more than $500 million of projects for communities around the state is an example, Kelly said.

His great achievement was this $600 million bond issue, Kelly said, and its tragically ironic that the legislature would fail to do what he did so well on the occasion of his passing.

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  California's governor called upon the state's cities and counties to ban homeless encampments this week, even providing blueprint legislation for dismantling the tents lining streets, parks and waterways throughout much of the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, made homelessness a priority of his administration when he took office in 2019. It had previously been an issue primarily for mayors and other local officials, but Newsom pumped money into converting old motels into housing and launched other initiatives to tackle the issue.

Still, he has repeatedly called out cities and counties to do their part, and on Monday, he unveiled draft language that can be adopted by local governments to remove encampments. Here is what to know:

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What does the model ordinance say?

Newsoms model ordinance includes prohibitions on persistent camping in one location and encampments blocking sidewalks and other public spaces. It asks cities and counties to provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter before clearing an encampment.

What do local governments say?

Organizations representing California's cities and counties balked at the suggestion that they are to blame for street conditions. They say they need dedicated, sustained funding over multiple years for permanent projects instead of sporadic, one-time funding.

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Carolyn Coleman, executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities, said that eight in 10 cities have policies to address encampments but they need money to address the root causes of homelessness, such as more housing.

The California State Association of Counties said the state has not provided as much money to address homelessness as it says it has and that half of the money has gone to housing developers.

What do homeless advocates say?

Studies have shown that encampment bans and other punitive measures make it even harder for people to find stable housing and work, said Alex Visotzky with the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

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People may lose critical documents or lose contact with a trusted case manager, forcing them to start all over again.

In Los Angeles, Jay Joshua watches over a small encampment in which he also lives. He says encampments can be a safe space for those living there.

What are California cities doing about encampments?

Major cities with Democratic mayors have already started cracking down on encampments, saying they present a public health and safety hazard.

In San Francisco, new mayor Daniel Lurie vowed to clean up city sidewalks. In San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan has proposed arrests if a person refuses shelter three times.

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Do cities and counties have to adopt it?

Newsom can't make cities and counties adopt an encampment ban.

But the proposed encampment legislation was paired with an announcement of $3.3 billion in grant money for facilities to treat mental health and substance abuse disorders, suggesting that he could condition state funding on compliance.

In 2022, he paused $1 billion in state money for local government, saying that their plans to reduce homelessness fell short of the acceptable.
As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's trending politics reporter, Hope Karnopp is often trying to help people understand what's going on in government and elections through stories and social media video.

But in a story about the history of Wisconsin's first capital, in Belmont, she explains how state government got started  and got to where it is.

It's all part of the job for Karnopp, who joined the Journal Sentinel in late 2023 after covering politics in Madison as a Journal Sentinel intern. The Green Bay native graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, since joining the Milwaukee newsroom, has covered presidential campaigns, both national conventions and legislation in the state Capitol.

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Here, you can get to know her a little more:

Question: You recently did a story on Belmont, which was the capital of Wisconsin before Madison. What's your favorite detail from that story?

Answer: My favorite detail by far was Historical Society staff getting calls from people who think they're contacting the First Capitol salvage yard. Apparently, they keep the correct phone number handy on a Post-it note. Sometimes during an interview, I'll hear a perfect quote or anecdote, and it's like a lightbulb goes on in my brain. That was one of them.

It seems like there was a lot of corruption in the story of relocating the capital. Is there a sliding-door scenario where Belmont is still the capital today?

The decision came down to only a few votes, so it's certainly possible. I was surprised Mineral Point wasn't selected, because that was really the booming city at the time. It's amazing that one person, James Doty, is responsible for how Madison looks today. It's hard to picture it as anything else now.

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More: Why did Wisconsin's capital move from Belmont to Madison? Corruption, land and lobbying

More: Stories behind Wisconsin's four capitol buildings include pigs, destructive fires and Iowa

Do you find that your role lends itself to documenting the history of Wisconsin's political landscape, or was this an outlier? What is the central mission of the trending politics reporter?

This might be the only history-centric story I've taken on at the Journal Sentinel, but I find myself looking back in time quite a bit. When I wrote about Wisconsin's referendum process, for example, I dug into the Blue Book and found some fascinating historical details that shaped the story.

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That's one part of my trending role  analyzing what's changed or stayed the same throughout Wisconsin politics, like rules for returning absentee ballots. My job is a new addition to our newsroom and means a lot of different things, including fact-checking claims that go viral online.

Often, I'm explaining what's going on behind our traditional politics headlines. When I voted in my first election at 18, I had no idea who or what would be on the ballot. I aim to provide that essential information to readers.

You get to write about a lot of fun stuff on the politics beat, like a campaign ad with a panda suit or lawmakers wanting to make the Brandy Old-Fashioned the state cocktail. Do you find it difficult to thread the needle of finding engaging stories while still recognizing how big a role politics can have on the lives of everyday citizens?

My philosophy behind these fun stories is to explain something serious about politics that readers didn't know before. A panda ad is bound to draw attention, but it also shows how candidates have to reach voters differently in the digital age. Or, why lawmakers worry about upsetting the beer or cheese lobby when they pick a new state symbol.

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Even my stories about specialized license plates go deeper. How do citizens interact with bureaucracy through state DMVs? Where does the money come from to improve the roads we drive on every day?

I try to find stories with wide appeal, even to non-political junkies, and share how state government works in the process.

What was your path to journalism?

I loved creative writing as a kid and filled many notebooks with the first chapters of books I never finished. I thought about being a teacher like my mom. I enjoyed my social studies classes in high school, where we connected current events to history.

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Journalism seemed like a combination of all those things. I went into college not knowing exactly what it would entail, but I wandered over to the state news desk at the Daily Cardinal student newspaper, and the rest was history.

You're from Green Bay, went to school in Madison and now live and work in Milwaukee. So, which of the state's three biggest cities is really the best? Bonus points for saying something nice about the Big Appleton.

Don't make me choose! I love the pride Green Bay has in our Packers. Madison is the quintessential college town and the Terrace is one of my favorite places, but I love the upgrade to Lake Michigan. Milwaukee's restaurant scene has absolutely blown me away. The people encouraging you to move to Milwaukee are correct.

Appleton is underrated. Great mall, College Avenue rocks, beautiful riverfront. That's three things.

Politics right now: Complicated! To say the least! Is this stressful? Dismaying? What do you tell people who want to know what the job is like?

It was a whirlwind in 2024. I covered both conventions and countless rallies. Election seasons are stressful, but I find it important to provide useful information when votes matter so much in Wisconsin. That responsibility can feel like a lot, but our amazing, supportive politics team sticks together.

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Something I tell people is that politics is  for the most part  civil and cooperative at the state level. Rep. Todd Novak got that point across in the First Capitol story. I try to highlight examples of bipartisanship, which I think most voters want but seldom see in headlines.

Name three things important to you that have nothing to do with work.

A cup of freshly brewed, medium-roast coffee in the morning, framed posters from indie rock concerts I've been to and visiting Door County with my family.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Get to know Journal Sentinel trending politics reporter Hope Karnopp
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs released a public statement on Tuesday after it was revealed last month his office was under state investigation

A Knox News report found that the Trustees Office was under investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury for the use of taxpayer funds for expensive hotels and improper use of county vehicles. One employee was subsequently fired for breaching office policy.

Knox County prosecutor fired over social media posts, DAs office to review all cases

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Biggs said in a statement that he has reimbursed the county for hotel stays over the recommended maximum rate and for gas allowances. He endorsed the state investigation and said a more complete explanation would be forthcoming following its completion.

I want to address concerns regarding rates paid for hotels in Nashville. I take responsibility and assure you I take this very seriously. Taxpayers expect elected officials to spend dollars efficiently. The taxpayers are owed an explanation as to why I have been silent. I endorse a thorough investigation by the state and declined to release information that could interfere with the probe. I followed established Knox County policies and procedures for expenditures and received approval for these hotel stays. Nonetheless, I must ensure that all expenditures are scrutinized and justified regardless of prior approval. I have personally reimbursed the county every cent spent over the recommended maximum hotel rate. I also reimbursed Knox County for the gas allowance for the vehicle use in question. Im committed to ensuring complete transparency and accountability in all matters. Upon completion of the State investigation, I will share with citizens a more expansive explanation of what occurred and what I have done to prevent future occurrences. Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs

Biggs was elected as trustee in 2022 and recently announced he will seek reelection in 2026. He won an at-large seat on the Knox County Commission in 2018. Knox County Register of Deeds Nick McBride recently announced that he will run to unseat Biggs next year.

 See more top stories on WATE.com

As elected officials we have to hold ourselves to a higher level because the community does entrust us with their tax dollars and their trust that we are going to do a good job, so thats something that obviously that I take very seriously and, as I said, once this investigation wraps up, Ill have a lot more to say about that. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs

The Trustees Office collects the countys property taxes and plays a key role in the management of Knox Countys budget.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The Knoxville Police Department held their annual memorial service Monday to honor retired officers who had died the past year.

This service at the Public Safety Complex honored eight retired KPD officers who had passed away since last years ceremony in May 2024. Their names are:

Investigator Carl Benjamin

Officer Phillip Garland, Jr.

Captain Kenneth Snyder

Investigator Terry Henry

Sergeant Holland Morrell

Sergeant Robert Ryan

Officer Gary Shoffner

Lieutenant Nathan Tinder

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We are fortunate, of course, that we didnt have a line-of-duty death here at the Knoxville Police Department last year, amazingly fortunate, said KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland. But we always still want to recognize those folks who dedicated almost the entirety of the better part of their lives to doing this profession and to our community and to our department.

Man convicted of killing woman in 2019 charged with assaulting another woman

The ceremony was part of National Police Week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Question : Regarding Social Security, my husband and I dont have the online accounts they keep talking about. We share a single smart phone. We dont have a landline. Are we going to be able to do this ? I dont want to buy a second cell phone.

Answer : Yes, according to the Social Security Administration, which has a long list of trouble-shooting tips on its website, , for people who are trying to create an online my Social Security  account for the first time, or who are trying to transition their existing account to the new sign-in procedure at login.gov. FAQs at explain that there are a number of ways a person can receive a one-time authentication code to set up the account, including by phone call, text, email, letter or in person at a Social Security office.

Both you and your spouse can add the same mobile phone number to your separate login.gov accounts. If you would like to use your mobile phone as one of your Multi-Factor-Authentication methods, you can choose to receive your MFA code via text or phone call,  the website says.

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You each will need a unique email address, however. One option is through gmail.com.

Q : Is Alan Wong, the Hawaii chef, a billionaire ?

A : No. The website for Ecole Ducasse, a network of culinary schools, mistook him for a technology entrepreneur when it listed him among the richest chefs in the world. Wong doesnt appear on the corrected list and a note at the bottom explains the earlier error, saying there was a conflation between Alan Wong, the renowned chef, and Allan Wong, a tech billionaire worth $1.1 billion. The full note is at.

Allan Wong the tech billionaire is richer than the culinary website gives him credit for, according to Forbes.com, which estimated his net worth Monday at $1.4 billion. Forbes described him as a co-founder of electronic toymaker VTech Holdings, which is also one of the largest manufacturers of residential phones in the U.S.

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Alan Wong the chef is one of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine and does business as Alan Wongs Consulting Co. I am not the billionaire,  he said in an email.

Q : Are the rules getting any easier for kupuna going through TSA ? We have REAL ID. We are not in wheelchairs, we walk through the screener. But bending down to take off our shoes and put them back on is getting difficult.

A : Passengers age 75 and older can leave on their shoes as they pass through a Transportation Security Administration airport checkpoint, although if the alarm goes off during security screening, you may be required to remove your shoes for further screening or undergo a pat-down. You can request to be seated during this portion of the screening,  according to the TSA website.

Theres no age-related exemption for removing a light jacket, though, which is required for Advanced Imaging Technology screening, it says.

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Auwe Auwe to the criminals who vandalized cellular towers in Windward Oahu on Saturday. People could not communicate, even if it was an emergency. Once these criminal (s ) are caught their case (s ) should be turned over to the federal government, since it deals with communications.G.F.

(The Honolulu Police Department said on social media that it is investigating the vandalism-related criminal case  that caused outages Saturday for some cell phone towers in Windward Oahu. By Sunday morning at 9 :15 a.m. the affected cell towers were fully operational and phone service had been restored for customers of all affected cellular carriers, HPD said.)

Mahalo I appreciate Kapolei High Schools tradition to recognize the senior class graduates along the entrance of the school. As I drive by regularly, the portraits make me smile with pride.Kapolei supporter------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia will announce its representative for the expected peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul once President Vladimir Putin "deems it necessary," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 13.

President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Putin to meet in Turkey on May 15 to launch the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022, though the Kremlin has not revealed whether the Russian leader would attend.

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Peskov nevertheless said that "the Russian side continues to prepare for the talks in Istanbul."

The Ukrainian Presidential Office has already signaled that Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official except Putin, arguing that only the Russian leader can make fundamental decisions about the war.

Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak said that Putin might "delegate the technical and preparatory stages," but Ukraine understands "who is ultimately in charge." According to Yermak's advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, "only Putin can make a decision to continue the war or stop the war."

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the potential meeting between the two leaders, suggesting he might attend as well.

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"Thursday's meeting between Russia and Ukraine is very important. I strongly pushed for it to happen. I think good things can come from it," the U.S. president said.

Reacting to Trump's comment, Zelensky said he welcomed the possibility of Trump attending the meeting in Turkey, calling it "the right idea."

Ukraine and its European allies have urged an unconditional ceasefire starting on May 12 as the first step toward peace. Russia has ignored this proposal, continuing its attacks on Ukraine.

Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether Zelensky plans to make the trip even if Russia does not support the truce or if Putin declines to attend, a source close to the president said, "We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire."

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The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky took place in 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Since then, there have been no direct in-person meetings between the two leaders.

Ukraine and Russia have not held direct peace talks since the unsuccessful negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CHICAGO (WGN)  The primary contest for who will succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is still 10 months away, but one well-financed candidate is already spending on advertising.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is launching his first digital ad on Tuesday morning. Its a chance for the Congressman, who currently represents part of Chicagos northwestern suburbs, to reintroduce himself to voters in the statewide contest.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi hits campaign trail after Senate bid announcement

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Krishnamoorthi officially jumped into the Senate race last week. Hes now one of three Democrats vying for the seat that will be left empty by Sen. Durbin, who announced that he would not seek a sixth term back in April.

The advertisement highlights Krishnamoorthis first day on the campaign trail, including a stop at his childhood home in Peoria. Efforts to underscore his ties to downstate could prove important, as multiple Chicago-based Democrats compete for support in new areas.

The video will run on YouTube and other social media platforms. Krishnamoorthi says in the ad that hes running to fight for everyday people. It also features the five-term Congressmans signature tagline, urging voters to forgo his lengthy last name and simply refer to him as Raja.

Dick Durbin announces he will not seek another term in U.S. Senate

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The campaign declined to disclose the initial amount being spent to get their digital advertising operation up and running. Prior to announcing his run for Senate, Krishnamoorthi amassed a campaign war chest of more than $19.4 million.

Hell have to compete with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who already has the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire, as well as Sen. Tammy Duckworth. On Monday, Illinois Blue PAC, a federal political action committee that could pump millions of dollars into the race, came out in support of Strattons campaign.

Rep. Robin Kelly is also in the running to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin. Kelly has represented Illinois 2nd Congressional District since 2013 and refers to herself as an underdog in the race.

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.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) says it is disbanding after more than 40 years of armed struggle against the Turkish state.

The announcement came after the PKK held its congress in northern Iraq on Friday, about two months after its imprisoned founder, Abdullah Ocalan, also known as Appo, called on the group to disarm in February.

For most of its history, the PKK has been labelled a terrorist group by Turkiye, the European Union and the United States. It fought for Kurdish autonomy for years, a fight that has been declared over now.

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This is all you need to know about why Ocalan and the PKK have given up their armed struggle.

Who is Abdullah Ocalan?

Ocalan was born to a poor Kurdish farming family on April 4, 1948, in Omerli, Sanliurfa, a Kurdish-majority part of Turkiye.

He moved to Ankara to study political science at the university there, where he became politically active; driven, biographers say, by the sense of marginalisation that many Kurds in Turkiye felt.

By the mid-1970s, he was advocating for Kurdish nationalism and went on to found the PKK in 1978.

Six years later, the group launched a separatist rebellion against Turkiye under his command.





Ocalan had absolute rule over the PKK and worked to stamp out rival Kurdish groups, monopolising the struggle for Kurdish liberation, according to Blood and Belief: The PKK and the Kurdish Fight for Independence, by Aliza Marcus.

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At the time, Kurds were denied the right to speak their language, give their children Kurdish names or show any expression of nationalism.

Despite Ocalans authoritarian rule, his charisma and positioning as a champion of Kurdish rights led most Kurds across Turkiye to love and respect him, calling him Appo, which means Uncle.

What was the armed rebellion like?

Violent.

More than 40,000 people died between 1984 and 2024, with thousands of Kurds fleeing the violence in southeastern Turkiye into cities further north.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Ocalan led operations from neighbouring Syria, which was a source of tensions between the then-Assad regime and Turkiye.

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The PKK resorted to brutal tactics beginning in the late 1980s and early 90s. According to a report by the European Council on Foreign Relations from 2007, the group, under Ocalan, kidnapped foreign tourists, adopted suicide bombing operations and attacked Turkish diplomatic offices in Europe.

Perhaps even worse, the PKK would repress Kurdish civilians who did not assist the group in its guerrilla warfare.

Supporters of pro-Kurdish DEM Party wave flags with portraits of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan at a rally for Newroz in Istanbul, Turkiye, March 17, 2024 [Umit Bektas/Reuters]

Did Ocalan change his views?

Eventually, more than a decade after he was caught.

In 1998, Ocalan was forced to flee Syria due to the threat of a Turkish incursion to capture him. A year later, Turkish agents arrested him on a plane in Nairobi, Kenya, thanks to intel received from the US.

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He was brought back to Turkiye and handed the death penalty, yet his sentence was changed to life in prison after Turkiye abolished capital punishment in 2004 in a bid to become a member of the EU.

By 2013, Ocalan changed his stance on separatism and began lobbying for comprehensive Kurdish rights and greater regional autonomy in Turkiye, saying he no longer believed in the effectiveness of armed rebellion.

This radical shift led to the start of a shaky peace process between the PKK and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), headed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The peace process led to some freedoms for Kurds, yet fighting erupted between the government and the PKK in 2015 due in part to fears that the party was trying to create a Kurdish statelet in neighbouring Syria during its civil war.

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At the time, many Kurds from southern Turkiye had left for Syria to help the Kurds there fight against ISIL (ISIS).

In 2015, the AK Party had also formed a new alliance with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which was staunchly opposed to any peace process involving the PKK.





Whats different about this peace process?

In announcing its disarmament, the PKK said it has completed its historical mission by breaking the policy of denial and annihilation of our people and bringing the Kurdish issue to a point where solving it can occur through democratic politics.

However, analysts argue that there are other reasons behind the decision.

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The PKK and its Kurdish allies in the region are more vulnerable than before due to recent developments, according to Sinan Ulgen, an expert on Turkiye and senior fellow at Carnegie Europe in Brussels.

The reason the PKK gave up its armed struggle has to do with the change in the international context, Ulgen explained.

US President Donald Trump does not see Syria as a strategic focal point for foreign policy and is, therefore, unlikely to keep supporting Kurdish armed groups in the country as it had during the fight against ISIL, he explained.

In addition, the new government in Syria is on good terms with Turkiye, unlike under the now-overthrown Assad regime.

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This new relationship could significantly hurt the ability of the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), to operate along the Syria-Turkiye border.

MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greet supporters at a rally while campaigning for the presidential election on May 7, 2023, in Istanbul [Burak Kara/Getty Images]

Will Turkiye follow through?

The political climate seems ripe for that.

Main political parties, such as the AK Party and its rival Republican Peoples Party (CHP), have vocally or tacitly supported a new peace process.

But it was the MHP, long opposed to any overtures to the Kurds, that created the window for a new peace process.

In April 2024, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli invited Ocalan to renounce terrorism in front of Turkiyes parliament in exchange for possible parole.

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The fact it was Bahceli  was kind of unbelievable, said Sinem Adar, an expert on Turkiye with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWB).

Bahcelis change of heart is probably to help his coalition partner, Erdogan, run in and win the next national election, experts told Al Jazeera.

Masked Kurdish youths hold a poster of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during Newroz celebrations on March 21, 2025 in Diyarbakir, Turkiye [Sedat Suna/Getty Images]

Under the constitution, Erdogan cannot run for another term unless an early election is called, which needs 360 out of 600 votes in parliament.

To add the votes of Kurdish delegates from the Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) to the MHP-AK Party alliances votes, [Erdogan] needs to broaden his political support base in parliament over and above the current ruling alliance, Carnegies Ulgen told Al Jazeera.

What happens to Ocalan now?

It is unclear if he will be released, but his prison conditions could significantly improve, said Ulgen.

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He said the government would prefer to gradually increase Ocalans freedoms, so it can gauge the reactions of his support base and the broader public.

Many people in Turkiye still view Ocalan as a terrorist and blame him for a conflict that has taken the lives of so many.

I think the government wants to test the waters before allowing Ocalan to go free, Ulgen told Al Jazeera.




Members of the Kentucky Student Voice Team address reporters after a court hearing in Frankfort, May 13, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

FRANKFORT  Questions around the right of Kentucky students to sue for a better public education system were heard in court Tuesday. Its one of the first steps in what could be a multi-year lawsuit against state officials that harkens back to a landmark decision rendered decades ago.

Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd heard arguments from both sides for nearly two hours. Attorneys for the students, some of whom are members of the Kentucky Student Voice Team, said the students are entitled to benefit from high-quality public education and have a right to pursue the case. Meanwhile, Republican Attorney General Russell Colemans office argued that the students are making claims about a metaphysical injury and lack standing to sue.

Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd

Now, Shepherd must consider whether to accept the attorney generals motion to dismiss the case or allow the students claim to proceed. He also must consider a motion to dismiss by House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers, the top Republicans in the General Assembly and defendants in the suit.

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The Kentucky Student Voice Team (KSVT), which has about 100 members across the state, is a nonprofit organization and began as a spinoff of the Prichard Committee, a statewide group that in the 1980s organized grassroots support for school reform in Kentucky. However, KSVT has been an independent organization for several years and is no longer affiliated with the Prichard Committee. KSVTs position relies heavily on the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling in Rose v. Council for Better Education, often cited as the Rose decision, which was a 1989 landmark decision that prompted widespread changes to Kentuckys public education system.

After that decision, the General Assembly in 1990 passed a penny increase in the sales tax to fund the Kentucky Education Reform Act. At the time, the Supreme Court said that Kentucky students must be provided with an equal opportunity to have an adequate education. The Rose decision also provided the basis for similar lawsuits to be filed in other states.

The students filed their lawsuit against the state and General Assembly in January. They allege that the state government has failed to maintain the level of commitment to education required by Kentuckys Constitution and past court decisions and failed to meet their obligation to monitor the efficiency of the education system. The students also claim the Kentucky Board of Education and Department of Education have failed to ensure the states educational system is constitutionally compliant.

Attorney General Russell Coleman

Attorney General Colemans office represents the state in the case. Coleman filed a motion to dismiss KSVTs complaint in February. He argued that the students are asking Shepherd to do what the Rose court was unwilling to do: supplant the role of the General Assembly in deciding what constitutes appropriate legislation to provide for an efficient school system.

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The relief the Plaintiffs seek is not of the kind this Court can grant  and even if it could, the Plaintiffs have not demonstrated standing and have failed to join indispensable parties, Coleman wrote.

While Shepherd questioned him, Aaron Silletto of the attorney generals office argued that past court cases on constitutional claims require anyone seeking remedies to show how they have been affected individually. He said the students initial complaint, which was 70 pages long and included several allegations about the current state of Kentucky education, had generalized situations that werent specific to the students listed as parties in the lawsuit.

A concrete injury means not something that is just theoretical or metaphysically possible or something like that.  Here, we have a laundry list of complaints about the system, but not one of these claims has said in either the amended complaint, the original complaint, or in response, anything more about how that system has injured them, as opposed to just being a deficiency in the system thats in the air, Silletto said.

Michael Abate

Michael Abate, one of the attorneys representing the students, countered, saying that denying someone a constitutional right is harmful in itself. Among their allegations, the students say they missed out on educational opportunities by not being provided with opportunities in school to think critically or discuss complicated and sensitive issues.

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The loss of a constitutional right is an injury, Abate said.

Shepherd represented the Prichard Committee in the original Rose case. In his pressing of Silletto on the issue of the students standing, Shepherd said that he views public education not as an individual activity but rather a commodity for a community at large.

Osborne and Stivers are seeking to be dismissed as parties to the lawsuit. Eric Lycan, who is the general counsel for the House speakers office, said in court that they have legislative immunity under previous court decisions. In 2022, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that legislators were immune from claims brought by the executive branch challenging the constitutionality of certain laws.

I would also say that this legislature takes very seriously the constitutional duty to provide citizens with common schools, and if it is the will of the court that the current system is unconstitutional, the legislature stands ready and willing to remake the educational system from the ground up, Lycan said.

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Members of the KSVT held a press conference after the hearing. The students emphasized that the changes they are seeking go beyond a win in the courtroom and called for others invested in public education to support them.

Our leaders have a choice to make  continue to ignore the glaring issues in our public schools that are threatening to destroy them or use this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make lasting change for the betterment of Kentucky students for generations to come, said Ivy Litton, a member of KSVT. Kentucky has led the nation in terms of academic excellence before, and we can do it again.

Because recent flooding in Frankfort damaged the courthouse downtown, the Tuesday hearing was held in the Kentucky Court of Appeals building on Chamberlin Avenue.

Editors note: This story was updated to clarify that KSVT is an independent organization from the Prichard Committee.

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Drug use and multiple fires at an abandoned home in Los Angeles have created the perfect scenario for disaster, residents say.

What we've been dealing with here is so difficult, because were always on the phone calling 911, calling our representatives, not getting a lot of answers, a neighbor named Jeanne told CBS Los Angeles in a story published May 1. We are a group of neighbors whose lives have been severely affected.

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Its a problem thats been brewing for five years, according to the local broadcaster, after one Hollywood building was turned into short-term housing. Jeanne says things got worse after a nearby property was vacated.

Heres what neighbors say has been going on, and how distressed properties can hurt home values.

Trouble in the neighborhood

The abandoned home  two doors down from the short-term housing facility  provided a convenient setting for illicit activity, says Jeanne.

It was the perfect scenario for disaster, she said. The people that were buying drugs would then have a place to go over and do them.

Since November, the abandoned property has been on fire at least seven times, reports CBS Los Angeles. Jeanne, who is a mother and a photographer, says shes worried about embers sparking a blaze in her building.

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Our lives are in danger. Our property is in danger, she said. I have 30 years of photo archives as a photographer that are now at my moms, that I cannot bring here because I know theyre at risk.

Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

Jeanne blames the city for failing to intervene, calling the situation a complete failure on the part of local officials.

Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinezs office told CBS Los Angeles in a statement that its working with the Department of Building and Safety to have the abandoned property declared a public nuisance. This may allow authorities to take action to protect residents, which cant come soon enough for some.

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We cant put up with it anymore, Levi Freeman told CBS Los Angeles. Its not OK. I am terrified. I want these people removed from my neighborhood. I mean, what are we waiting for, for them to burn the whole place down?

How distressed properties can hurt your finances

The average home in Los Angeless Hollywood neighborhood is worth over $950,000, according to Zillow. But being within close proximity of a property in disarray can have a number of negative effects, including on a homes value.

The Center for Community Progress says that research has consistently shown that abandoned and unkept properties lead to a reduction in value for surrounding properties. A report by the group cites multiple examples showing the impacts of vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties on communities.

Public health is a top concern. Individuals living in derelict homes may be exposed to more toxins such as mold, lead and asbestos. The group also claims studies show vacant and run-down properties can attract criminal activity, including violent crime.

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As for homeowners finances, the report says these types of homes in a neighborhood can both lower the value of surrounding properties and increase home insurance premiums. An increase in policy cancellations may be possible as well.person. If you see people trespassing on the property or engaging in illegal activity, call law enforcement and let them know whats going on.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Erik and Lyle Menendez will have a new shot at freedom after 35 years behind bars for murdering their parents, a judge ruled Tuesday.

The ruling from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers' sentences from life in prison without parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. The state parole board must decide whether to release them.

The judge's decision followed months of pushback from prosecutors who opposed resentencing, arguing the brothers hadn't taken adequate responsibility for their crimes. Ultimately prosecutors did not call any witnesses, saying they had presented all of their evidence.

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The defense turned to family members and those who knew the brothers since their conviction to speak to their character and rehabilitation. The brothers also addressed the court via video as family members listened on tearfully. Most of the brothers family members, including aunts and uncles, have long supported their bid for freedom.

On Aug. 20, 1989, I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification, Lyle Menendez said, choking up as he addressed the room. The impact of my violent actions on my family ... is unfathomable.

A fast decision

Jesic issued his decision immediately after the brothers spoke. The hearing was slated to last two days, but Jesic made his decision in one, offering the brothers new hope after years of unsuccessful appeals and attempts to win freedom in a case that has captured public attention from the start.

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The brothers were convicted in 1996 for murdering their father, Jose Menendez  a powerful record executive  and their mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time. While defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

While the sentence reduction is a major win for the brothers, defense attorney Mark Geragos said he had been seeking to have their charges reduced to manslaughter, which would have allowed them be immediately released. The judge did not go that far.

Im not saying they should be released; its not for me to decide, Jesic said. I do believe theyve done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance.

The brothers have an appearance before the parole board on June 13 as part of a risk assessment report ordered by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to aid in his clemency decision.

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Erik Menendez also spoke about taking responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family.

You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better, he said.

The judge said he was especially moved by a letter from a prison official who supported resentencing, something the official had never done for any incarcerated person in the 25 years of his career.

Defense witnesses spoke of brothers' character

The defense called several of the brothers cousins, a former judge and a former fellow inmate to the witness stand to testify that the brothers were not only rehabilitated but helped others. Prosecutors cross-examined the witnesses but didnt call any of their own.

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We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough, said Anamaria Baralt, a cousin. They are universally forgiven by our family.

Diane Hernandez, a cousin who also testified during the brothers' first trial, spoke about the abuse she witnessed in the Menendez household when she lived with them.

When Jose was with one of the boys  you couldnt even go up the stairs to be on the same floor, Hernandez said of the brothers' father.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly.

They are a real family, said Mark Geragos, the brothers lead attorney, after the hearing. Real people who have lived through unimaginable horrors. And Im hopeful and glad that were one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.

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Los Angeles County prosecutors argued against the resentencing. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said the brothers had not taken complete responsibility for the crime.

Geragos emphasized that the purpose of resentencing is to encourage rehabilitation," not relitigate the original crime.

We have evolved, Geragos said. This is not the 90s anymore. We have a more robust understanding of a lot of things.

Former district attorney and fami ly support resentencing

The previous LA County District Attorney George Gascon had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. Since their conviction, the brothers have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for fellow people in prison, his office said in a petition.

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A former judge who said he considered himself tough on crime, Jonathan Colby, told the court that spending time with the brothers and witnessing their growth made him believe in rehabilitation.

Anerae Brown, who had been formerly incarcerated, cried as he testified about how the brothers helped him heal and eventually be released through parole.

I have children now, he said. Without Lyle and Erik I might still be sitting in there doing stupid things.

___

This story has been updated to correct the ruling was issued Tuesday, not Friday, fixes the spelling of Baralt's first name and corrects that the defense attorney, not the judge, wanted the charges reduced to manslaughter.
The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times has gotten closer  literally  to President Donald Trump after steadily shifting his newspaper to the right.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a biotech entrepreneur who acquired his citys ailing broadsheet in 2018, was spotted in conversation Tuesday with Trump as the president held court with major U.S. business executives during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Soon-Shiong is a prominent figure in a deep-blue U.S. city but he posted a video of his encounter with Trump on social media and said he was honored to meet the president along with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia.

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The doctor said he and bin Salman share a common goal to cure cancer and he praised the wonderful conference in which the kingdom corralled a cross-section of business leaders for the first major overseas trip of the second Trump administration.

At the event, Soon-Shiong stood in a private audience with the president and bin Salman, speaking animatedly to two of the most powerful men in the world.

The White House said Trump is delivering on his promise to Make America Great Again by catalyzing investment with the Saudi trip in a statement that made no mention of Soon-Shiong, who drew scorn in Los Angeles for directing the editorial board to stop making presidential endorsements ahead of the November election.

The entrepreneur was one of about a dozen wealthy American executives who attended the lunch in Riyadh, including Open AI chief executive Sam Altman and Elon Musk.

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Soon-Shiongs appearance with Trump on the first day of the presidents week-long trip to the Middle East highlights the sharp turn by the owner of one of the countrys largest newspapers whose family had served as major donors to Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign.

Since then, Soon-Shiong has moved ever closer to Trump, unsuccessfully angling for a place in his first administration, appearing in conservative media, and accusing his own newspaper of editorial bias and becoming an echo chamber for progressive politics.

That transition came to a public head last fall when Soon-Shiong stunned the Los Angeles Times editorial board after overruling its decision to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. Several members of the board and newspaper staff have since departed.

I said, This is unacceptable. And as you can see, because its a left lean, they wrote terrible stories about President [Donald] Trump, Soon-Shiong told Tucker Carlsonin a March interview. So my statement to them was, You may have an opinion, but all of us should have opinions based on facts.

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I took a lot of heat because the editorial board resigned, he said. I can just say they were not happy.

Soon-Shiongs appearance came as he tried to attract more conservative readers to his newspaper. He also announced plans for an AI-powered bias meter to gauge the fairness of opinion articles.

Former employees, including Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Molly OToole, called Soon-Shiongs audience with Trump and Saudi leaders shameful, noting that the paper had previously published stories on modern slavery in the country and the assasination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi , which the CIA concluded had been directed by bin Salman.

The L.A. Times had no immediate comment on the visit.
Labour has been accused of bringing in two-tier justice in Northern Ireland over plans to end legal immunity for soldiers involved in the Troubles.

The Governments proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 would scrap protections from prosecution for veterans.

And the repeal of sections of the Act would put Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Fein, as well as other IRA suspects held during the Troubles, in line for taxpayer-funded compensation.

Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Fein, has denied repeated allegations that he was a senior leader in the IRA during the Troubles - Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Conservatives claim that by changing the law, the Government would be prioritising human rights lawyers while alienating those it relies on to defend the nation.

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Writing for The Telegraph, Mark Francois, the shadow Armed Forces minister, said: This is an obvious case of two-tier justice.

One for our Northern Ireland veterans (many of whom were recruited from Northern towns in England, in what we would today call Red Wall constituencies) and another for the likes of Gerry Adams and his cronies.

How any self-respecting Labour MP could possibly vote for this  when it comes before the Commons in a few months time  and then still look their constituents in the eye defies belief.

Mark Francois, the shadow Armed Forces minister, says it defies belief that Labour MPs could vote for the proposals and look their constitutents in the eye - Lucy North/PA Wire

Under Operation Banner, more than 300,000 British soldiers were sent to Northern Ireland. More than 760 died and 6,000 were wounded.

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The Tories are supporting a parliamentary petition, already with more than 35,000 signatures, urging Labour not to go ahead with its proposals.

Mr Francois said: If this Labour Government still presses ahead with these very ill-advised changes, it must remember one simple truth: a nation that forgets the past sacrifices of its soldiers risks losing the trust of those who would serve in the future.

One section of the 2023 Act denied Mr Adams and up to 400 other IRA suspects interned in the 1970s the right to claim compensation, which a Northern Irish high court has ruled is incompatible with human rights laws.

At the height of the IRA campaign in the 1970s, Westminster came under attack, including the explosion of a 20lb bomb at Westminster Hall in 1974 - Chris Ware/Hulton Archive

One person was killed and 200 injured in March 1973 when the IRA exploded a car bomb outside the Old Bailey - Michael Ward/Getty Images

Mr Francois said: The treatment of veterans in the context of Northern Irelands troubled legacy is not merely a legal or historical matter  it is a litmus test for the Governments broader commitment to the Armed Forces.

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By prioritising the interests of human rights lawyers  and figures like Gerry Adams  the Government risks alienating those it relies on to defend the nation.

Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, previously said the decision was taken by the Government as part of its absolute commitment to the Human Rights Act.

He said the Government was considering how to lawfully address the issue of interim custody orders.

The previous governments Legacy Act has been found to be unlawful in a number of respects by our domestic courts, Mr Benn added.

It was also widely rejected by families who lost loved ones to paramilitary violence, including the families of Armed Forces personnel killed by the IRA.

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Any incoming government would have had to deal with this fundamental problem, and this Government is doing so in a way that is lawful, balanced and proportionate.

Mr Benn said that the country owed Operation Banner veterans a huge debt of gratitude.

Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, represented Mr Adams in the past while working as a private barrister.

The minister insisted that his work was unconnected to the legislation paving the way for Mr Adams to claim compensation.

The Attorney General has refused to disclose whether he advised the Government on its decision to repeal sections of the Legacy Act.

A chilling message to veterans who risked their lives

By Mark Francois

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Over 300,000 British soldiers served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. For decades, under Operation Banner, these troops were deployed to one of the most politically complex and dangerous theatres in modern British history.

Over 760 British soldiers lost their lives, and more than 6,000 were wounded, many with life-changing injuries, inflicted by both Republican and so-called Loyalist terrorists. Bombings, shootings, and ambushes not only scarred the soldiers, but also the communities they were sent to protect.

Now, consider the reaction of those who served  including those still living with the physical and psychological scars of that conflict  to the news that the Government plans to repeal parts of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. Shockingly, these changes could enable figures like Gerry Adams to sue the British taxpayer under the guise of upholding the Human Rights Act.

This decision sends a chilling message to the veterans who risked their lives to uphold the rule of law during one of the most difficult chapters in our nations history. It undermines their sacrifices and prioritises the interests of those who were, in many cases, their adversaries in that mission.

Adding insult to injury

Adding insult to injury, the Governments actions reflect a growing detachment from the veterans community. The downgrading of the veterans minister from a Cabinet position to a Parliamentary under-secretary of state  even one as distinguished as the current officeholder  is deeply concerning. This move can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to diminish the voice of veterans, particularly those from Operation Banner, at a time when their needs are being systematically ignored.

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The implications extend far beyond historical arguments. The British Army is already facing a recruitment and retention crisis, and these actions risk deepening the sense of disillusionment among serving personnel. Soldiers may quite rightly question whether this Government of human rights lawyers truly has their back.

Specifically, an order now going through Parliament, at the behest of Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, would delete key parts of the Legacy Act 2023, which currently defends British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland from an endless cycle of investigation and re-investigation, often inspired by Sinn Fein.

Even more appallingly, the same order, which Labour MPs have already voted in favour of once, in a preliminary committee, but which Conservatives opposed, would delete key clauses in the Act, which would enable Gerry Adams and some of his supporters to sue the British taxpayer.

Despite solemn pledges from Sir Keir Starmer, at Prime Ministers Questions, that he would seek to prevent such an outcome, the order, as drafted, still contains these outrageous provisions.

A litmus test over the Armed Forces

This is an obvious case of two-tier justice: one for our Northern Ireland veterans (many of whom were recruited from Northern towns in England, in what we would today call Red Wall constituencies) and another for the likes of Gerry Adams and his cronies. How any self-respecting Labour MP could possibly vote for this  when it comes before the Commons in a few months time  and then still look their constituents in the eye defies belief.

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The treatment of veterans in the context of Northern Irelands troubled legacy is not merely a legal or historical matter  it is a litmus test for the Governments broader commitment to the Armed Forces. By prioritising the interests of human rights lawyers  and figures like Gerry Adams the Government risks alienating those it relies on to defend the nation.

It is perhaps little surprise therefore that on Friday, a group of veterans launched a parliamentary petition opposing Labours two-tier justice  on one hand pursuing Northern Ireland veterans while seemingly supporting figures like Gerry Adams.

If you also agree that we should defend those who defended us and upheld the rule of law, you can sign this petition to show your support: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/725716

In summary, if this Labour Government still presses ahead with these very ill-advised changes, it must remember one simple truth: a nation that forgets the past sacrifices of its soldiers risks losing the trust of those who would serve in the future.

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Mark Francois is the shadow Armed Forces minister

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Larry Summers, who served as treasury secretary in former President Bill Clintons administration, on Monday said it was President Donald Trump who caved in the U.S.-China trade war, while assessing how the new agreement informed his prediction on the probability of the U.S. entering a recession.

The U.S. announced it reached an agreement with Beijing to reduce tariffs for now in an effort to deescalate the tension between the worlds two biggest economies.

In an interview with CNNs The Arena, Summers said its very clear that Trump was the one to blink here.

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We had said that we were determined to impose these policies for an indefinite period, Summers said. China didnt make any consequential or significant change in its policies.

As part of the deal, the U.S. will slash the additional import taxes it levied on Chinese imports last month to 30% from 145%. In exchange, China said it will reduce tariffs on U.S. imports to 10% from 125% for the next 90 days.

Summers credited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who led the delegation representing the U.S. in the Geneva talks with China, for reaching an agreement with Beijing under the circumstances.

Look, sometimes its good to blink when you make a mistake, its usually best to correct it and retreat, even if its a little bit embarrassing, he said.

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The economist, though, conceded that while he was heartened to see the administration less committed to disastrous policies than he originally feared, the U.S. has not fully averted the possibility of entering a recession. Summers now assessed the odds of a U.S. economic downturn to close to 50-50 ... but perhaps a little bit on the south side of 50-50.

Mondays deal was welcomed by the markets, prompting the U.S. dollar to jump.

In a White House press conference, Trump told reporters he expects to possibly speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping by the end of the week.

They were very happy to be able to do something with us, he said. The relationship is very, very good.

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For his part, Xi seemed to make a subtle reference to the U.S. in his first remarks since the trade war pause.

There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars, he said, according to CNN. Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation.

Related...
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  For National Day Without Child Care, some providers in the Las Vegas valley took the day off to rally at Paradise Park where they advocated for AB185, which would require HOAs to allow licensed, in-home child care facilities.

The bill passed in the assembly and is making its way through the State Senate.

I have moved to like seven different houses with the same issues. The homeowner says Yes and they talked to their homeowner association. The home association says No, you cant do it, explained Vahentina Parker, director of Hands Of Luvv Childcare, a home-based facility.

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Parker said she hopes HOAs would gain a better understanding of what child care workers do.

We follow the rules just like your regular tenants. Just come and see what we do, and then youll understand, said Parker, citing the struggle the Las Vegas area is having with child care options.

Its a desert, not a shortage, she said. Even in my community, to be honest, I am the only home child care provider.

For National Day Without Child Care, some providers in the Las Vegas valley took the day off to rally at Paradise Park where they advocated for AB185, which would require HOAs to allow licensed, in-home child care facilities. (KLAS) For National Day Without Child Care, some providers in the Las Vegas valley took the day off to rally at Paradise Park where they advocated for AB185, which would require HOAs to allow licensed, in-home child care facilities. (KLAS)

Meanwhile, Octavia McLaurin, owner of the Kreative Minds Child Care facility in the southwest valley, said she hopes lawmakers will understand the true value of caretakers.

A Day Without Child Care is to let them know- if we dont work, they dont work, she said.

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McLaurin said there is a ripple effect when there is no one available to take care of children.

This is my third state doing child care, said McLaurin. Las Vegas is the lowest state paying for child care providers.

I keep my doors open because I want to make sure I provide and serve for the community that these kids need, that the families need, that they dont understand, she continued.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A now-released corrections officer accused in a deadly hit-and-run told police he consumed alcohol at a hookah lounge and later returned to the crash scene with his mother, according to documents 8 News Now obtained Tuesday.

Maurice Washington, 45, is accused of hitting and killing Elijah Givens, 58, around 3:30 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Decatur Boulevard and Alta Drive. Givens was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk but against the light, police said.

In court Monday, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Suzan Baucum set Washingtons bail at $250,000. Washingtons attorney argued for a lower bail, adding that Washington is a corrections officer at the City of Las Vegas Detention Center.

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Washington no longer appeared in jail records as of Tuesday, and a court record indicated he posted bond. Nevada law requires a defendant to post 15% of their bail amount with the help of a bail bondsman, meaning Washington likely paid $37,500 for his release. During Mondays hearing, Baucum ordered Washington to wear a GPS-monitoring and drug-monitoring bracelet should he post bond.

Detectives located debris from a car, which contained a part number matching a Mercedes sedan, documents said.

About a half hour after the crash, a man later approached police and said his cousin, Maurice Washington, contacted another person, saying he was the driver who hit and killed Givens, documents said. The man told police Washington was at a hookah lounge before the crash.

About 45 minutes after the crash, Washington returned and told police he was driving, documents said. He explained that after the crash he parked about a half mile away and called his mother. He did not call 911 because he was scared, police said. Washingtons mother later picked him up and drove him to the crash scene.

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During the contact with [an officer], Washington displayed indicators of impairment, such as a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath, slurred speech, and trouble pronouncing his words, police said.

Police later located Washingtons car, which they said had damage consistent with a vehicle versus pedestrian crash.

While speaking with detectives at the Clark County Detention Center, Washington said, I hit something; I didnt realize what I hit. I said to myself, I think I hit somebody, documents said. Washington also admitted to drinking at the hookah lounge.

The city is aware of the charges filed against one of our off-duty corrections officers, a city spokesperson said after Washingtons arrest. The case is under investigation by Metro police, and the city will be reviewing those findings. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the man who died in this accident.

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Washington was due in court on Wednesday.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The professional relationship between a public defender and an embattled Clark County District Court judge turned deeply personal after the judge accused the lawyer in open court of having a sexual relationship with her client, according to documents obtained by the 8 News Now Investigators.

The public defender now wants the judge, Erika Ballou, to be disqualified from the case. Ballou herself, prior to being elected judge, was a public defender.

In April, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline charged Ballou with six counts stemming from a criminal case that the 8 News Now Investigators first highlighted. Ballou previously admitted she violated several ethics rules in an unrelated commission case where she posted a photo of herself in a hot tub with public defenders and made comments about police.

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NV Supreme Court orders removal of Las Vegas judge from case

Now, the public defender, Anna Lee Stone, says Ballou accused her in open court  using the most vulgar language  of [expletive] her client, according to an affidavit seeking Ballou to be removed from criminal proceedings against Jermaine Demecio Garner.

Not only did Judge Ballout make the accusation, she did so In apparent frustration or retaliation for her dislike of the lawyers zealous advocacy, Stone wrote in the affidavit. An affidavit from another public defender, included in the documents filed May 9, says Ballou made the comment in front of witnesses, but after the courts cases concluded the morning of March 17.

Stone continued: I submit that Judge Ballous accusation that I was having a sexual relationship with my client  is sufficient on its own to warrant disqualification, as it demonstrates Judge Ballou harbors a deep-seated animosity toward me which renders fair judgment impossible.

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Garner, the defendant named in the case from which Stone seeks to have Ballou tossed, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a felony. Ballou is scheduled to preside over a hearing on that case on Wednesday, May 14.

But it was a prior case involving a criminal defendant named Dshawn Cross, charged with attempted residential burglary, a felony, in which Ballou and Stone sparred publicly on a number of occasions. Stone describes in great detail, in an affidavit and supporting exhibits totaling 90 pages, Ballous comments and actions.

Stones allegations, made under the pains and penalties of perjury, include: Ballou questioning Stones credibility behind Stones back but in front of her colleagues; Ballou telling Cross it was Stones fault Cross was in custody; and Ballou telling Stone something to the effect of, I want you to do your job, counsel. Thats why you get paid the big bucks.'

The feud spilled over into Garners case, Stone said in her affidavit, when Ballou refused to let Stone argue her case that Garner receive a prompt hearing related to his house arrest.

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Judge Ballou outright refused my request to make a record and did not provide a reason for refusing my request, Stone wrote. As a result of Judge Ballous refusal to let me make a record or consider my arguments, Mr. Garner remains in custody unlawfully.

An attempt to reach Stone late Monday afternoon went unanswered. Similarly, an email to Ballous attorney in the matters pending before the state Commission on Judicial Discipline, also went unanswered.

One of Ballous ethics charges includes her appearing in a photo of her in a hot tub with two public defenders.

Ballou served as a public defender for over 15 years before being sworn into the bench in 2021. Her current term ends in 2027.

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Public record shows Stone became a member of the Nevada bar in October 2020.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge set bail Monday at $5,000 for a man accused of driving impaired, killing a 23-year-old man who was walking on the sidewalk, and then concealing receipts from a nearby dispensary.

Daniel Stakleff, 38, is accused of hitting and killing Joree Odabi, 23, in the May 6 crash on Warm Springs Road near Torrey Pines Drive, records said. Stakleffs car jumped the curb, ran into a light pole and hit Odabi, police said.

Inside Stakleffs car, officers said they found an empty marijuana vape cartridge and an empty marijuana vape pen wrapper, documents said. Investigators also suspect Stakleff may have attempted to conceal a bag with receipts in it from a nearby dispensary.

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Video investigators obtained shows Stakleff reaching inside the drivers side front door and later dropping the bag behind some landscaping, documents said.

The dispensary is located about seven minutes from the crash scene.

Stakleff faces charges of DUI resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in death, and failing to maintain his lane, records said.

In court Monday, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Joe Bonaventure set bail at $5,000, records said. Prosecutors argued for $250,000 bail. Should Stakleff post bond, he would be required to wear a GPS-monitoring bracelet and a drug patch, records said.

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A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 7.

8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A former tenant allegedly set an apartment complexs leasing office on fire because he was upset over increasing rent prices, police said in documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

Clinton Hogan Jr., 66, faces a first-degree arson charge connected to a May 5 fire at a Boulder Highway apartment complex, records said. Clark County firefighters responded to the fire at the apartments leasing office near Tropicana Avenue.

The fire started around the offices front window, a county spokesperson said. After the fire, a witness told police he saw a person break into the front office with lighter fluid, documents said.

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Officers arrested Hogan shortly after the fire walking nearby, documents said. They noted he was carrying a lighter, painters solvent and a bottle of whiskey.

Hogan told an officer he used to live at the apartment complex but that he moved because his rent got too high, documents said.

He said that he was upset because he had to leave the apartment complex due to high rent, documents said. He said that he had been drinking.

Another witness said he saw a man matching Hogans description pouring fluid onto the front window of the leasing office, documents said.

Hogan remained in custody Monday on $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 22.

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A report from constructioncoverage.com released last November showed the Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas metropolitan area had the 20th-highest median rent in the nation, with prices at $2,107 per month.

As a whole, Nevada ranked No. 11 in the country with the median rent price at $2,031. The national median rent that month was $1,865.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman is accused of stabbing and killing a 4-month-old puppy a day after taking custody of it, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

A Clark County grand jury voted last week to indict Shuntiera Tyler on a charge of cruelty to animals, records said.

On Sept. 15, 2024, a person discovered the 4-month-old Husky-German Shepherd mix beaten and bleeding in a dumpster at an apartment complex near Rainbow Boulevard and Sunset Road, documents said.

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A Clark County Animal Protection Services officer responded, finding the puppy in poor condition and not breathing, documents said. The officer scanned the dogs microchip, finding the name of the puppys previous owner.

That previous owner told police he re-homed the puppy to Tyler the day before, documents said. That person also told police that Tyler told him she gave the dog to another person because she could not keep the dog in her apartment.

In an interview with police, Tyler described how she met a third person to drop off the dog, documents said. Police reviewed surveillance videos from nearby stores and businesses, and used license-plate-reader technology, but could not find Tylers vehicle on the route she described.

The discovery of the dog in the dumpster happened just nine minutes after Tyler told a person she re-homed the dog, police said.

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Tylers grand jury charge indicates she is accused of stabbing the puppy in the chest.

Metro police initially arrested Tyler in February, records said. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Rebecca Saxe set bail at $20,000 and ordered Tyler not to have any animals. Tylers justice court case was dismissed following the grand jury indictment.

During a grand jury return hearing last week, Clark County District Court Chief Judge Jerry Wiese ordered Tyler to appear in court on May 20. Tyler remained out of custody as of Tuesday.

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Suenos Festival goers enjoy the sun and music against the Chicago skyline while at Grant Park on May 28, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. - Credit: Natasha Moustache/Getty Images

When Michelada Festival canceled its 2025 festival last week over the uncertainty around artist visas, the situation rang the alarm for several other Latin music festivals around the country.

Michelada, a Chicago-based event, became the first of its kind to cancel over the rapidly changing political climate. The festival wrote on May 6, Were no longer able to guarantee the full experience we had dreamed up for you with all your favorite artists. Although we tried to push through, it became clear that we wouldnt be able to deliver the full lineup as planned.

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Just a month earlier, organizers had unveiled a lineup that included Grupo Firme, Luis R. Conriquez, Los Alegres Del Barranco, and Neton Vega. They quickly replaced Los Alegres  whose visas were revoked by the State Department over their depiction of a cartel kingpin at a show in Mexico  with Gabito Ballesteros. But with visa statuses for both Ballesteros and Conriquez now uncertain, organizers were forced to act quickly and cancel the event altogether.

Its not fair to the consumer to go through those changes, says Miguel Torres, one of Micheladas owners. You want to deliver on what you promise, and not create the question of, Will the artist be there or not?

It was too big of a gamble and a risk to move forward, adds Fernando Nieto, Micheladas co-founder.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has made securing work visas incredibly difficult for international artists. (FKA Twigs canceled a U.S. run over the issue.) And, on top of that, theres a growing fear of visa revocations among artists who perform narcocorridos, over what happened to Los Alegres del Barranco. At the time of Los Alegres revocation, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau accused the group of glorifying criminals and terrorists with their performances.

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Promoter and new Jalo Fest organizer Ricky Calderon has also had to deal with these issues in the last few weeks. Calderon noticed how difficult securing visas has become under the presidential administration for many artists, and moved quickly to address the problems at two of his own events last month. The organizer had booked both Alegres del Barranco and Gabito Ballesteros for a pair of shows in Northern California in late April. Just days before, he was forced to replace them with other artists.

Everyone wants to go to these shows, but it really affected us, Calderon says. What can I say?

Calderon says the situation also affects promoters credibility with ticket buyers, who are already struggling to cover the rising costs of shows. With the concern around artists being able to stick on the lineup, fans are choosing to wait until closer to the event to purchase tickets.

As he deals with the repercussions at one-off shows, Calderon has also been slowly rolling out Jalo Fest, the first-ever Latin music festival in Sacramento, slated for this summer. Hes already confirmed appearances from El Tri, Tucanes de Tijuana, Eslabon Armado, and Santa Fe Klan, among others, but the visa problems have affected three artists he planned to feature: Alegres, Ballesteros, and Edicion Especial. The setback forced him to postpone his fests lineup announcement multiple times, preventing his organization from getting a head start on sales.

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We were supposed to announce and go on sale two months back, Calderon says of the event, scheduled for Aug. 30 and 31. People dont want to buy tickets knowing that things might get canceled down the line. Its really affecting us. Its a big investment for both the people and also for us as business people.

After Micheladas cancellation, its unclear how Chicagos Suenos Fest will fare later this month, given that the lineup prominently features corridos acts such as Peso Pluma, Tito Double P, and Oscar Maydon. BottleRocks La Onda Fest will also showcase similar artists the following weekend in Napa. (Reps for those festivals did not respond to Rolling Stones request for comment.)

Abel DeLuna, founder and board member of Latino promoter collective Promotores Unidos, has his act Sonora Tropicana performing at the NorCal event. He says the delay in visa issuance (and the narcocorrido conversation) is unprecedented, and will likely have lasting effects on the industry. As demand for the artists in the genre continues to grow, so too does the uncertainty around booking them.

I think this is going to affect us as long as this president is in office. And now, with Mexico prohibiting corridos The government hasnt prohibited it here, but were scared that it could happen, explains DeLuna. You never know what to expect with Donald Trump.

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DeLuna says that as an organization, the association of promoters has discussed how to help each other out, but ultimately, we dont have a solution to this, he says. What we are going through now is something I have never seen before.

Ramiro Bojorquez, organizer of Belico Fest in Phoenix, which debuted last year with several artists known for their narcocorridos, is proceeding with caution, but remains committed to delivering a top-tier show. After hosting Gerardo Ortiz, Junior H, and Luis R. Conriquez in 2024, he feels a responsibility to keep the Mexican music event alive and ensure it lives up to the Belico name.

Im investing a lot of money in this and Im a bit scared, but its a passion project for me, says Bojorquez.

Slowly, hes been announcing acts confirmed for the fall event: Xavi and Clave Especial, who are all U.S. citizens, and Neton Vega, who had his work visa confirmed last month, he says. Bojorquez had to pull back on announcing other acts for the festival, and ultimately decided not to re-book Conriquez, the leader of the belico subgenre.

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Were very, very cautious about who we book, and not taking away from the whole experience, because our name is based on that genre and culture of Mexican music, says Bojorquez. Its a movement that we started, and now we have to continue. We cant let government restrictions stop us. We gotta work with what we have and give the audiences what they want.

As Belico Fest continues filling out their lineup, Bojorquez explains that hes going to focus on booking artists who are either from the United States or already have their visas confirmed, contending that its not worth the risk of having to pull out an artist. Its scary because youre investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a festival and youre dependent on the outcome of the festival, he says.

Bojorquez also pointed to a troubling double standard that seems to specifically target Mexican musicians, while other media portraying narcoculture, like Netflixs Narcos, which explores the drug trade and depicts cartel kingpins, face no scrutiny.

I cant stay quiet. I cant keep my arms closed, says Bojorquez. Its happening on Netflix and in other parts of the media. You cant blindfold people because you dont like the way they talk.

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US President Donald Trump received a warm welcome on Tuesday in Riyadh, on his first multi-day foreign trip since he returned to the White House earlier this year.

Trump was received at King Khalid International Airport by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de-facto ruler.

They shook hands and smiled before joining their delegations for traditional coffee in the airport hall.

Later, guards on horseback escorted Trump's car as it arrived at the al-Yamama Palace, where he and Mohammed spent some time greeting Saudi and US officials as well as business leaders.

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Tech billionaire and US government adviser Elon Musk, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman were among those seen chatting with the two leaders.

According to the White House, Trump's schedule includes a lunch with around 250 government officials and prominent businesspeople from both countries.

The royal welcome for Trump marks a stark contrast to the one his predecessor, president Joe Biden, received during his 2022 visit, when he was welcomed at the airport by a provincial governor.

Riyadh is the first leg of Trump's Gulf tour, ahead of visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

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The trip is expected to focus on economic deals, the war in Gaza and Iran's nuclear programme.

Trump is scheduled to attend a Saudi-US Investment Forum on Tuesday before a summit with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain on Wednesday.

His talks in Riyadh could lead to an anticipated agreement on civilian nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom has previously announced it will invest $600 billion in the United States in the coming years, while Trump said he will be asking the crown prince to increase that to around $1 trillion.

Saudi Arabia was the destination for Trump's first trip abroad as president in 2017 during his first term in office, after the oil-rich country announced $450 billion in investments in the US.

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The stop in Riyadh marks Trump's first official trip abroad since taking office again in January, although he did make a short visit to Rome last month for pope Francis' funeral.

Trump's visit to Doha this week could be overshadowed by reports that he is set to accept a luxury Boeing aircraft as a gift from Qatar's royal family.

The president has also suggested he could fly to Turkey on Thursday to join a possible meeting between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes US President Donald Trump at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcomes US President Donald Trump at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcomes US President Donald Trump at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcomes US President Donald Trump at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

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ATLANTA (WSAV)  Georgia hunters can add a new color to their closet other than camo and neon orange, thanks to a new law.

House Bill 167 was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday.

HB 167 allows Georgia hunters to wear fluorescent pink as an outer safety garment, if theyd rather opt out of the typical orange.

When hunting deer, boar or bears, Georgia requires hunters and those accompanying hunters to wear daylight fluorescent orange, or fluorescent pink, during firearm seasons.

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The clothing still has to be worn above the waistline and has to be at least 500 square inches of the fluorescent colors. This includes head coverings.

You can read the full bill below:

HB-167Download

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Fresh Hell

Republican lawmakers slipped language into the Budget Reconciliation Bill this week that would ban AI regulation, on the federal and state levels, for a decade, as 404 Media reports.

An updated version of the bill introduced last night by Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, includes a new and sweeping clause about AI advancement declaring that "no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the ten year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act."

It's a remarkably expansive provision that, as 404 notes, likely reflects the engraining of Silicon Valley figures and influences into Washington and the White House. Tech CEOs have vied for president Donald Trump's attention since he was inaugurated, and the American tech industry writ large has become a fierce and powerful lobbying force. The Trump administration is also stacked with AI-invested tech moguls like David Sacks, Marc Andreessen, and Elon Musk.

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Meanwhile, the impacts of a regulation-free AI landscape are already being felt. Emotive, addictive AI companions have been rolled out explicitly to teenagers without evidence of safety, AI companies are missing their climate targets and spewing unchecked emissions into American neighborhoods, and nonconsensual deepfakes of women and girls are flooding social media.

No regulation will likely mean a lot more fresh hell where that came from  and little chance of stemming the tide.

https://twitter.com/americans4ri/status/1921926042672849026

Blank Checks

The update in the proposed law also seeks to appropriate a staggering $500 million over ten years to fund efforts to infuse the federal government's IT systems with "commercial" AI tech and unnamed "automation technologies."

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In other words, not only does the government want to completely stifle efforts to regulate a fast-developing technology, it also wants to integrate those unregulated technologies into the beating digital heart of the federal government.

The bill also comes after states including New York and California have worked to pass some limited AI regulations, as 404 notes. Were the bill to be signed into law, it would seemingly render those laws  which, for instance, ensure that employers review AI hiring tools for bias  unenforceable.

As it stands, the bill is in limbo. The proposal is massive, and includes drastic spending cuts to services like Medicaid and climate funds, slashes that Democrats largely oppose; Republican budget hawks, meanwhile, have raised concerns over the bill's hefty price tag.

Whether it survives in its current form  its controversial AI provisions included  remains to be seen.

More on AI and regulation: Signs Grow That AI Is Starting to Seriously Bite Into the Job Market
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Several law enforcement agencies in Kern County are honoring peace officers on their memorial day this Thursday.

The Bakersfield Police Department is honoring their officers at 7 a.m. at BPD headquarters on Truxtun Avenue. Truxtun Avenue will be closed between Chester Avenue and H Street starting at 5:30 a.m. Eye Street will also be closed to the south lot of BPD headquarters.

Coroner confirms identities of 2 killed in Arvin shooting

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The California Highway Patrol is honoring current and fallen officers in their memorial ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at CHPs Bakersfield Office at 9855 Compagnoni St.

The Kern County Sheriffs Office peace officer memorial will take place at headquarters at 1350 Norris Road at 10 a.m.

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All county wide law enforcement agencies will hold a ceremony honoring all officers and personnel at 12 p.m. at the Kern County peace officer memorial on Truxtun Avenue. The eastbound lane of Truxtun Avenue will be closed starting at 11 a.m. and re-opening at 1 p.m.

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Ceremonies are expected to last 30 minutes.

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The Lake Norman Marine Commission is slated to be dismantled by July 1. But some have safety concerns, so some lawmakers are stepping in.

Lawmakers drafted a bill during a committee meeting last week to update and refurbish the old commission, creating a new one with more authority, according to Senator Vickie Sawyer.

She told lawmakers that with the revisions, two counties would have to vote to dismantle the commission, not just one. It would also add four commissioners to the existing five.

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Channel 9s Hunter Saenz spoke with Jeff Tarte, the former mayor of Cornelius and former state senator, who helped facilitate the bill and has lived on the lake for decades.

This clarifies and adds specificity to the real authorities and responsibilities of the Marine Commission going forward, he said.

Still, current Marine Commissioners have concerns. Commissioner David Scott told Saenz last month that he has concerns, including lake safety, water quality, and maintenance.

The Wild West, deaths will go up, I believe, Scott said.

He also questioned law enforcements ability to patrol, worried about jurisdictional boundaries.

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But Tarte said patrols will remain in place.

Everything will be fine, even if the marine commission didnt exist, he said. Their ability to patrol the lake changes not one iota.

If the bill passes, the counties surrounding the lake would still need to work together to form the commission.

Tarte said he hopes that could happen by July 4.

The main thing is, most of it is common sense, he said.
The Oklahoma Senate has advanced a resolution that would block the Oklahoma State Department of Education from requiring schools to seek information about the immigration status of students and their parents during enrollment.

Senate Joint Resolution 22 also rejects a proposal to require teachers to take the U.S. Naturalization Test to renew their teaching license.

Both of those proposals have been supported by state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, who leads the state agency, while his fellow Republican, Gov. Kevin Stitt has been a fierce critic of the immigration-check proposal, accusing Walters of using children as political pawns.

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Ultimately, the Senate approved the resolution rejecting those rules proposals 43-0 on Tuesday, May 13. But plenty of legislative drama occurred on the Senate floor in the hour before that vote.

The resolution now heads to the House Administrative Rules Committee, chaired by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus. If approved by that committee, and then the full House, without changes, the resolution would then go to Stitt for his signature. The Republican-controlled Legislature has until May 30 to act on administrative rules proposals.

An attempt by state Sen. Shane Jett to change a Senate resolution to approve an immigration-check rule proposed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education failed.

Last-minute changes to the resolution

On Tuesday, a maneuver by state Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, resulted in one change in the resolution, to approve a proposed rule requiring school districts to report to the state agency donations to the district of more than $17,000 from non-government sources. Jetts amendment passed by a 26-18 vote after more than 45 minutes of questions and debate  and after the resolutions author, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, urged a no vote.

Bergstrom said the proposed rule had been poorly written by the state agency and that the agency hadnt been given legislative authority to create the rule.

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Jett claimed that, among others, the Chinese Communist Party and other bad actors were pouring money in Oklahoma school districts. He cited one example, one used by Walters nearly two years ago.

In September 2023, Walters told a U.S. House education subcommittee he believed the Chinese Communist Party has tried to influence Oklahoma schools through Mandarin language programs. He specifically alleged that the states largest school district, Tulsa Public Schools, had taken money from the Chinese government.

The Tulsa district said Walters was wrong. In July 2023, the districts board of education renewed an agreement for the Confucius Classroom Coordination Offices through the International Leadership of Texas, a nonprofit described in an agenda item as an international partnership dedicated to building the field of Chinese language teachers and Chinese language learning in American schools for the 2023-24 school year.

According to a Congressional Research Office report from May 2023, the parent organization of the Confucius Classroom and its collegiate counterpart, the Confucius Institutes, is the Chinese Language Council International, which is affiliated with Chinas Ministry of Education.

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Some senators  even Republicans, including Bergstrom, Sen. Brent Howard of Altus, Sen. Brenda Stanley of Midwest City and Sen. Dave Rader of Tulsa  seemed skeptical of Jetts idea, but the amendment still passed.

Two other amendments proposed by Jett  either of which would have changed the resolution to say the Senate approved the agency's immigration rule  both were tabled, after motions to do so by Howard, by votes of 27-16 and 27-17, respectively.

Jett initially had proposed the amendments before the resolution was introduced in the Senate Administrative Rules Committee, chaired by Bergstrom, but he and another far-right legislator, Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin  both members of the committee  were not in the room on May 7 when the committee voted 6-1 to approve the resolution. They then entered the room for a vote on another resolution.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Senate advances resolution rejecting Ryan Walters' immigration rule
HARTFORD Conn. (WTNH)  State lawmakers were battling it out in Hartford on Monday evening, but this time it was not over policy.

Monday was the Fourth Annual Bipartisan Kickball game between the Democrats and Republicans at Dunkin Park.

USDA funding cuts have harsh impact on Connecticut food pantries

Instead of the high-stakes fights during the legislative session, the lawmakers come together on the field for some good-natured competition, which benefits Connecticut Foodshare.

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Connecticut Foodshare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski noted that for every dollar raised for Connecticut Foodshare, they can provide two meals in the state.

The more important thing though, we get it, its 2025, Jakubowski said. Democrats and Republicans dont agree on a whole heck of a lot. But here they are together trying to help solve hunger in the state of Connecticut. We really appreciate it and it has been a good game so far.

Watch the video in the player above.

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Nora Mabie and Kaiden Forman-Webster

Montana Free Press + ICT

Two bills aimed at strengthening the states commitment to Native American education and language revitalization recently became law.

Sponsor Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, described the bills as complementary, as both relate to state initiatives that stem from Article X of Montanas Constitution, which reads in part, The state recognizes the distinct and unique cultural heritage of the American Indians and is committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity.

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In 1999, the state Legislature enacted the Indian Education for All Act to implement that constitutional mandate, requiring K-12 public schools to teach Native American history and culture.

And in 2013 the Legislature established the Montana Indian Language Preservation program to support tribes language revitalization efforts.

The Legislature appropriates money each biennium for both programs, and Windy Boys bills  now law  enact measures to improve financial accountability and elevate the role of tribal governments.

INDIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL

Enacting Indian Education for All has not been easy.

Since 2007, the Legislature has appropriated about $3.5 million annually to Montana school districts to implement IEFA. According to the original legislation, schools are supposed to use the funds for curriculum development, class materials and teacher training.

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In 2021, a group of Montana students and tribes sued the state Office of Public Instruction and Board of Public Education, alleging that districts were improperly using funds meant to support IEFA. One school, according to court documents, used IEFA funds to pay a portion of librarians salaries. Others allegedly used the funds to purchase books unrelated to Native American culture or history.

School districts and schools have no incentive to fully and accurately report their IEFA expenditures because there is no penalty for failing to do so, the plaintiffs claimed.

While the Board of Public Education recently reached a settlement agreement in the case, the class action lawsuit continues against OPI, which is responsible for distributing IEFA funds.

Windy Boy has brought several bills across multiple legislative sessions that aim to bolster the states commitment to IEFA. In 2023, he brought a bill that required, rather than encouraged, school districts to implement IEFA. The bill, which was signed into law, also stipulated that IEFA funds can be revoked if districts fail to report how the funds are spent.

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This year, Windy Boy successfully carried Senate Bill 181, which adds new mechanisms of financial accountability.

If a school district fails to submit an annual report showing how IEFA funds were spent, or if an annual district report shows improper IEFA expenditures, OPI is authorized to reduce the districts IEFA funding until a report is submitted. The law requires OPI to publish an annual report listing any districts that fail to submit satisfactory IEFA reports. It also requires the Board of Public Education to note IEFA reporting failures in a schools accreditation status report.

In a March House Education Committee hearing, Windy Boy testified that the legislation is about accountability and transparency.

If you get a dollar, then you should provide a report for what youre spending it on, he said.

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The new law also enhances tribal consultation and the role of Native language specialists in the development of IEFA curricula. And it requires OPI to create and manage an online portal by which parents, students and educators can submit feedback on IEFA implementation.

Rep. Peter Strand, D-Bozeman, who carried the bill in the House, said the legislation creates mechanisms that ensure that the money we give to schools for Indian Education for All goes where its supposed to go.

SB 181 cleared both chambers, and Gov. Greg Gianforte last week signed it into law.

LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION

Another Windy Boy bill, which revises laws related to Native language revitalization, was also recently signed into law.

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The Montana Indian Language Preservation (MILP) program aims to help revitalize Native American languages by encouraging tribes to create resources that perpetuate language usage. The program has a biennial budget of $750,000. Several Native languages in Montana are considered critically endangered, meaning the youngest speakers often are elders who speak the language infrequently.

Windy Boy successfully brought legislation in 2023 that elevated the role of tribal governments in administering the MILP program. This year, he sponsored Senate Bill 182, which grants more flexibility in such partnerships, allowing tribes to decide whether to partner with local school districts, rather than requiring them to do so. SB 182 encourages tribal governments to use MILP funds for professional development for staff and collaborations and stipulates that tribal language education materials produced by the tribes be housed at the Montana Historical Society for conservation.

We should be preserving what we have left, Windy Boy said in a January committee hearing.

In January, Patrick Yawakie, a lobbyist for the Blackfeet, Fort Belknap and Chippewa Cree tribes, told members of the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee he wished a program like MILP had existed when he was young.

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Having access to Indian education growing up wouldve been a great opportunity for myself, definitely, to understand parts of my identity that Im still learning today, he said.

In the same hearing, former lawmaker Sharon Stewart Peregoy testified that Little Big Horn College, the Crow Tribe and area school districts have used MILP funds to provide the needed materials to teach the Crow language.

The language is the conveyor of the culture, she said. If you dont have the language, the worldview does not come across.

As the language program continues to grow, Windy Boy said he hopes tribes and OPI can eventually create a language curriculum for all teachers to use.

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Teachers that go in to teach math, science, history, or whatever, they walk into the room and theyve already got a set curriculum. Why cant we? Windy Boy told Montana Free Press in a January interview. He said he hopes to focus on that issue in the 2027 legislative session.

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This story is co-published by Montana Free Press and ICT, a news partnership that covers the Montana American Indian Caucus during the states 2025 legislative session.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Another fried chicken chain is planning its arrival to the Dayton area.

According to 1851 Franchise, Marvin Monroy and Mauricio Blanco are business partners, and are reportedly looking to open four Laynes Chicken Fingers locations in the region.

After making its southwest Ohio debut, the prospective team expects to expand to the Columbus area and beyond for the Buckeye state.

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Colliers, a commercial real estate service, advertised on social media in late April that it was looking for possible sites for the chain in the Miami Valley.

Were actively seeking sites for purchasepad sites, freestanding drive-thrus, & existing buildings between 1,5003,000 SF, said Colliers.

Graeters unveils wave of summer flavors

Laynes has several items on the menu, including:

Chicken, club and grilled cheese sandwiches

Three, four and five-count chicken tender meals fries, Texas toast, sauce and a drink

Grilled chicken wraps

Shakes

Kids meals

Customers have the option to order chicken either original or spicy.

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Nexstars WJW in Cleveland reported last month the chain is opening the first Ohio location in Parma.

WDTN.com is working to learn details on where its Dayton-area locations will be plotted.

In recent years, chains like Big Chicken, Culvers, Huey Magoos, Popeyes and Raising Canes have opened in the area. WDTN.com reported in January Zaxbys is planning its first area location in Liberty Township.

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.
This series was produced as part of the Pulitzer Centers StoryReach U.S. Fellowship.

For decades, Gary has worn the title Steel City with pride. Today, researchers are finding that a by-product of that legacy is airborne particles laced with heavy metal contaminants that drift into homes and settle in lungs.

Now, a new study offers a clearer look at what residents actually breathe and track into their homes. Over two years, researchers with the Northern Lake County Environmental Partnership collected nearly 400 road dust samples and paired them with data from lowcost air monitors at over 300 locations across Gary and northern Lake County. Their findings are grim: Soil along Broadway and the west side contains lead at levels more than twice what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference level for polluted areas, and iron concentrations that rival those found at known industrial cleanup sites.

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The studys preliminary findings, which are unpublished to date, also shows that airborne dust in Lake County is nearly three times more plentiful and smaller than in a comparable Indiana city, meaning particles can lodge deeper in lung tissue.

Even more alarming, the research links almost all of Lake Countys airborne manganese  a chemical element used in steelmaking  to emissions from U.S. Steels Gary Works. While manganese is essential to producing durable steel, longterm exposure can harm the nervous system, causing memory problems, tremors, and other neurological issues.

Andrew Fulton, a U.S. Steel spokesperson, told Capital B Gary in a statement: The EPA recently determined that emissions from integrated iron and steelmaking facilities, including Gary Works, are protective of human health and the environment with an ample margin of safety.

Data on contaminants in Gary remains under-researched, with the first study on road dust testing being conducted only in 2019. A driver behind the study, researchers say, is that fenceline communities built near industrial sites, like Gary, often lack environmental testing. This creates an inequity issue, as communities disproportionately most in need of such studies, often cannot afford them. In northern Lake County and Gary, where legacy contamination has been prevalent for decades, the cost-effective road dust testing methods used by the partnership help low-income communities better understand what contaminants residents are living with  and the information needed to advocate for their health.

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My experience has been that northern Lake County is a community with not a ton of environmental justice representation, said Esmee Belzer, a doctoral student at the University of Notre Dame involved in soil testing. There is a unique opportunity to help the community in a way that they couldnt necessarily help themselves, because acquiring environmental data is really expensive, and takes a lot of time and takes a lot of effort.

In 2023, researchers, Gary residents, and members of the Northern Lake County Environmental Partnership, alongside professors and students from Valparaiso University, the University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, and Hope College, began testing for contaminants.

Knowing that theres people in your court who want to support this work, and in a time where that doesnt feel federally supported  I really think it just comes down to having a diverse and large group of people coming together for a common goal and sharing their opinions on what we can do to improve it, thats really all you can do, Belzer continued.

While further analysis is needed to directly tie contamination hotspots to legacy polluters like Gary Works, researchers developed a map that correlates to the amount of contamination for particular areas in Gary and northern Lake County. Heres what they found.

Methodology

The studys lead investigators, Ellen Wells, director of the occupational and environmental health sciences program at Purdue University, Julie Peller, professor of chemistry at Valparaiso University, and Graham Peaslee, professor emeritus in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Notre Dame, spent two years collecting 387 road-dust samples from 332 sites across northern Lake County. At Notre Dames Nuclear Science Laboratory, they used particle-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy  an advanced technique for detecting trace metals  to analyze each sample. The team then mapped the results to highlight contamination hotspots and link them to historic industrial sources.

Air pollution

Particulate matter are tiny particles in the air from different emissions like dirt, smoke, and soot, which is used to measure and monitor clean air standards and air pollution.

Read More: The EPA Moves to Limit This Pollutant That Hurts Black People Disproportionately

Particulate matter can cause many adverse health effects, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and cancer, said Jung Hyun Lee, a doctoral candidate at Purdue University, who collected and analyzed the air samples for the study.

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To measure air pollution, researchers collected particles from northern Lake County to measure their size and describe their shape, and compare them to particles from a control site in West Lafayette.

Comparatively, there were nearly three times more particles in Lake County compared with West Lafayette, and the particles in Lake County were also much smaller in size, Lee said.

Additionally, Lake Countys air particles had dark, pointy crystal-like edges, which also indicate they were created by industrial activity, Lee said. In contrast, the particles from West Lafayette were larger, smoother, and circular.

Air quality was measured by using low-cost PurpleAir monitors, which record data every two minutes, compared with EPA monitors that record every three to six days.

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The Northern Lake County Environmental Partnership is continuing to install and monitor PurpleAir monitors in the area. Residents can find real-time data on Garys air quality from installed Purple Air Monitors online.

Looking ahead, the partnerships next steps are to apply their methodology to other PurpleAir monitors across northern Lake County, Lee said. Since these collect data every day, and are in more locations than the official monitors, they expect to determine any air quality concerns or data gaps.

Lead, iron and manganese

A map developed by researchers shows preliminary findings of high amounts of lead and iron detected in the Gary samples, at higher limits than what is allowed by the EPA.

The EPA sets a limit of 100 parts per million of lead in residential areas, like Gary, while the limit for iron in soil is around 20,000 ppm. However, testing shows Gary is over the EPA limit of expected exposure for lead, with high lead concentrations along Broadways corridor and Garys west side, which can come from various sources, Belzer said, like older lead-based housing stock and industrial lead emissions. Testing also shows elevated levels of iron concentrations along the Lake Michigan coast, and in some residential areas of Gary.

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Belzer added that while the findings suggest that theres a large amount of lead contamination in the area, further analysis is underway to definitively source where its coming from and isolate other factors.

The study also suggests that Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Mill in East Chicago, about 20 minutes from Gary, is a significant contributor to Garys iron contamination.

Cleveland-Cliffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The study compared levels to similar road dust studies in the 1980s, and found heavy metal concentrations in northern Lake County  including arsenic, cobalt, zinc and lead  were higher than national averages of similar road dust studies.

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Finally, the study also found that U.S. Steels Gary Works is a large contributor of manganese contamination in the area, according to the EPAs Toxics Release Inventory database, which documents all releases of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment.



In 2023, Gary Works accounted for 81% of all TRI reported air releases in northern Lake County in 2023.

Fulton, the U.S. Steel spokesperson, told Capital B Gary that a study relying solely on information in the EPAs TRI database as indicative of contamination is misleading if not fundamentally flawed.

The database not only includes permitted air and water discharges, but also materials disposed of in on-site secured landfills and off-site secured permitted disposal facilities, Fulton said, adding, This study clearly does not consider the full picture of environmental compliance at U.S. Steel or that the Gary Works facility has achieved a compliance rate exceeding 99%.

In March, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency would review a range of air-pollution rules, including those for integrated iron and steel mills. In its latest SEC filing, U.S. Steel said it had applied for two-year exemptions from those hazardous-air-pollutant standards.

The data from these ongoing studies, will be uploaded to the NLCEP website.

The post Lead, Iron, and Manganese Found in Garys Air and Soil appeared first on Capital B Gary.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The leader of the federal agency that investigated the DWI corruption scandal has left his position as Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Albuquerque. Now, former SAC Raul Bujanda sat down with KRQEs Anchor, Dean Staley, for an extended exit interview that covered crime, guns, and the states biggest police corruption scandal.

Bujanda discusses his time with the FBI, youth violence, and speaks candidly about teens access to guns. Nothings gonna happen unless we get control of one of these two things: either our appetite for drugs, or our overall supply of guns, Bujanda explained.

What does the former FBI leader believe is the main driver of crime in New Mexico? Will more cops be charged in the corruption scheme?

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Those questions and more are discussed in the full interview above.

Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others.

You can also watch our podcasts in video form, both on-air and online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQEs YouTube page at youtube.com/krqenews13.

Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Insiders (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.

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If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Diana E. Murphy federal courthouse is shown in Minneapolis Friday, May 17, 2024. Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer.

After the Trump Administration announced the nomination of Daniel Rosen as Minnesotas next U.S. Attorney, one detail stood out: the states very likely, soon-to-be top federal prosecutor has scant experience in the field of criminal law.

Rosen, 59, has spent most of his three-decade-long legal career as a civil litigator, carving out a reputation as a top eminent domain lawyer. He represented the main landowner in what is believed to be the largest eminent domain case in Minnesota history, which paved the way for the development of Target Field.

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But when it comes to the bread-and-butter work of the office of the U.S. Attorney  locking people up for federal crimes  Rosen is a novice. Assuming he is confirmed by the Senate, that will differentiate him from his recent predecessors.

Since 1991, six appointees have served as U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. Of those, just one  Clinton appointee David Lillehaug  arrived in office without at least a short stint as an assistant U.S. attorney on the resume.

By contrast, Erica MacDonald, who was U.S. Attorney for Minnesota during the first Trump administration, logged eight years as an assistant U.S. attorney and an additional eight years as a state court judge prior to her appointment.

Likewise, Andrew Luger, who served during both the Obama and Biden administrations, spent six years as an assistant U.S. attorney in New York (and nearly two decades in private practice) before he became Minnesotas top prosecutor.

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If youre going by traditional credentials, its a very unusual pick, said David Schultz, a professor of political science and law at Hamline University in St. Paul. Generally, youre looking for people with more of a prosecutorial background. I cant think of any situation where you would need an eminent domain expert in that office.

Schultz said that he does not know Rosen personally, has little insight into his politics and emphasized that he did not intend to disparage Rosens professional reputation.

But Schultz said that it is clear that political loyalty, rather than expertise, has emerged as the prime consideration in the selection of U.S. Attorney nominees during the second Trump administration.

The dynamic was highlighted by the nomination of Ed Martin  who pushed claims Trump won the 2020 election  as the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., the most prestigious of all 93 U.S. Attorney offices.

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Last week, Martins nomination withered amid concerns about his full-throated defense of the Jan. 6 rioters and public association with a known Nazi sympathizer. Trump then tapped the Fox News host and conspicuous Trump loyalist Jeanine Pirro to fill the post.

Barry Anderson, a retired associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, served as the chairman of the committee that recommended Rosens nomination to the four Republican members of Minnesotas congressional delegation.

Anderson said he and his colleagues conducted hour-long interviews with three finalists: Rosen, MacDonald, and Ronald Schutz, a partner and trial lawyer at Robins Kaplan, the large Minneapolis law firm.

I think we were all impressed. I was impressed by his civil trial experience, said Anderson.

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Asked about Rosens dearth of prosecutorial experience, Anderson responded that there was some discussion about that.

I dont view that as a critical deficiency, he said. There is no such thing as the perfect applicant who ticks every single box. Its the entire package that makes a good candidate. And one of the advantages that a civil practitioner brings to the table is that wide variety of experience.

In announcing Rosens nomination, the Republican members of Minnesotas congressional delegation were fulsome with their praise. In a statement, the group branded Rosen one of the sharpest legal minds in the country.

Reached for comment, Rosen declined to speak on the record but offered a one sentence statement: Im honored by the nomination, and I look forward to the confirmation process.

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A Minnesota native, Rosen has been a reliable donor to Republican candidates and causes for over 20 years. His giving has occasionally crossed the aisle. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig are among the past recipients of his giving ($2,800 and $500, respectively).

Rosen graduated from the prestigious Blake School in 1983, where his classmates wrote on his senior page that he was going to be the first Jewish president.

He attended college at the University of Wisconsin before going to law school at the University of Minnesota. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the first Gulf War.

In his legal practice, he worked alongside his lawyer father, then logged five years as a solo practitioner before co-founding the firm Parker Rosen. In 2017, he became the partner in charge of the Minneapolis office of a Miami-biased law firm before returning to solo practice several years ago.

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The Senate confirmation form lists him as a Florida resident, but MPR News reported recently that he plans to move back to Minnesota.

Rosen is a past chairman of the Minnesota Council of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.

In 2014, he was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board, where he served for seven years. According to the minutes of a December 2021 meeting, the board voted on a resolution to thank him for his years of hard work as his tenure came to an end. The resolution passed 5 to 1, with the lone nay vote coming from Rosen.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 39-year-old Leavenworth, Kansas, man was convicted last week after he admitted to killing his cat.

Craig A. Hendricks was charged with animal cruelty after claiming he killed his cat on December 12, 2023, according to Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson.

Juvenile on minibike critically injured in Northland crash: KCPD

Hendricks told an animal control officer that he killed his cat because the cat was trying to kill him.

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The deceased cat was recovered after Hendricks handed the animal control officer a box he had stored in his freezer with the cat inside.

Thompson said the case was delayed after concerns were raised about Hendricks mental competency to stand trial.

Those who commit crimes against our animals should be held accountable. A society fails when it is complicit in these acts, Thompson said.

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Hendricks is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18.

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.
(WHTM)  In Lebanon County, law enforcement officers began their day by honoring the men and women who died while protecting and serving the public.

Bagpipes played Amazing Grace during the memorial service during National Police Week, which was created by President Kennedy.

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You honor them by continuing to do the job, you honor them by continually answering the call and protecting the community and teaching children right and wrong, thats how we honor them moving forward, said Captain Eric Sims of the Lebanon County Police Department.

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Today, Lebanon County honored the seven men and women in law enforcement who died between 1890 and 2023.

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Hasan Piker claimed on YouTube that he was detained and questioned by U.S. border patrol agents at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport upon his return from a Mother's Day trip to France.

Piker said the agents asked him questions about his stance on President Donald Trump and the Israeli war.

The Turkish-American political commentator is a U.S. citizen who was born in New Jersey.







Progressive political commentator Hasan Piker is claiming that he was recently detained at the airport and questioned by federal agents because of his political views  a story that's been met with swift denials from the Department of Homeland Security.

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Piker, 33, alleges in a YouTube video posted Monday, May 12, that he was pulled aside by border patrol agents at Chicago O'Hare International Airport as he returned to the United States from his family's Mother's Day trip in France. He says he was flagged down while getting scanned for Global Entry and moved into a detention center at the airport.

While there, Piker says he was interrogated by agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who were cordial in their approach and asked him simple questions about his job  where he streams games and talks about current events  before eventually turning to his stance on President Donald Trump and the Israeli war.

Im sitting there and theyre asking me about Trump, Piker says in the video. Theyre asking me about Hamas, and he kept saying stuff like, Do you like Hamas? Like, do you support Hamas? Do you think Hamas is a resistance group? 

Related: ICE Took a Trump Supporter's Wife as They Returned from Their Honeymoon. Still, He Says, 'I Don't Regret the Vote'

Piker alleges that the agents kept asking over and over again about his views on the Israel-Gaza war and he kept repeating that he was on the side of civilians, was a pacifist and wanted the endless bloodshed to end. He claimed that the agent was attempting to try to get me to say something like, Oh I support Hamas or whatever is not allowed.

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Like why is this denying me entry into the country of my birth?, he questioned. This is my birthright. Im an American citizen. You cant just stop me at the f------ border and be like, Whats your opinion on Donald Trump? 

Phillip Faraone/Getty Hasan Piker at Politicon 2018 in Los Angeles Hasan Piker at Politicon 2018 in Los Angeles

Responding to Piker's story, a Department of Homeland Security official tells PEOPLE in a statement that the YouTube video "is nothing but lying for likes," adding that the claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless.

Our officers are following the law, not agendas. Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection  a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler," the statement continues. "Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Piker notes in the video that he was released, but suggests that the goal with the interrogation was to put fear into peoples hearts. He also accuses the government of being unafraid of using intimidation tactics because of a persons political views or speech.

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Does this stop me from saying whatever the fuck I want to say? Of course not, Piker says. Dont be ridiculous. But the reason why I wanted to talk about it was to give you more insight into what the government is doing, and to speak out against this sort of stuff.

Related: Donald Trump Says He'd Be 'Honored' to Deport Americans to El Salvador Prison: 'I'm All for It'

In response to the video, Chip Gibbons  who is part of the Defending Rights & Dissent organization, which works to defend U.S. citizens' civil liberties  told The Guardian in a statement that they were "deeply disturbed" to learn of the news.

We are deeply disturbed that CBP is stopping political commentators at the border to interrogate them about first amendment-protected activities. Such an abuse of power is an affront to press freedom," he wrote.



Read the original article on People
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Mary Courtney didnt take the traditional path into nursing. At 41, with three school-aged kids at home, she made a life-altering decision: she was going back to school.

I went back to nursing school at 41, she said. The kids were school-aged, and I just decided it was time.

It wasnt easy. To attend Odessa Colleges LVN program, Mary commuted from Monahans every weekday, carpooling with other students, studying into the night, and often waking at 2 a.m. to study some more before class. Then came the after-school routine: dinner, homework, bedtime, and back to the books.

Mary Courtney & Rachel Hamilton / Mother and Daughter

They thought I was crazy, she laughed. But they helped me through it.

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That grueling year of sacrifice and commitment laid the foundation for a now 18-year career at Medical Center Hospital, where she serves as a charge nurse on the medical oncology unit. And today, just a few floors away, someone else is following in her footsteps, her daughter, Rachel Hamilton.

Rachel didnt start her career in healthcare. Right after high school, she earned a degree in education, heavily influenced by what her friends were doing at the time. But the classroom didnt feel like home. Life happened. And eventually, like her mother, she found herself pulled toward nursing.

I really like the sciences, and I was heavily influenced by my mom, she said. My sister is also an RN. My brother-in-law too. Theres a lot of medical in our family.

At 35, Rachel returned to school and earned a second bachelors degree, this time in nursing. Though she occasionally wonders why she didnt do it sooner, shes found meaning in the path she chose.

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I wish Id done it when I was younger, Rachel said. But I think starting later brought a kind of clarity. It really made a big difference in how successful Ive been.

Now, the two women, one an experienced charge nurse, the other a newly minted RN, lean on each other both professionally and emotionally. We can vent to each other, talk it out, Mary said. We pick each others brains. It helps more than people might realize.

She saves me all the time, Rachel added. Im a super emotional person. When I have my moments, I call her. She talks me off the ledge.

That closeness isnt just about shared shifts and similar schedules. Its about watching one another persevere. Rachel remembers what it was like seeing her mother go through nursing school while raising a family.

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She didnt sleep much, Rachel said. We all thought she was a little bit cuckoo for going back. But she got through it. She showed us how to do hard things.

And recently, that full-circle journey came with a moment of recognition.

Just a few months into her career, Rachel was named Medical Center Hospitals Daisy Award recipient for April. The award, given monthly to one nurse at the hospital, celebrates extraordinary compassion and care at the bedside.

Rachel had been caring for an older gentleman when his family submitted the nomination.

He was just a really sweet, older gentleman, she said. I didnt feel like I did anything special. I just tried to be friendly and let them know they were being cared for.

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But to his family, her presence was unforgettable.

Rachel went well beyond everything, the patients daughter wrote. She had compassion for [my father] and why he was in the hospital. She listened to him. She would get down on his level and look him in his eyes. She communicated with him about everything she was doing to and for him.

Another family member added, Rachel exudes an air of compassion and comfort. She seemed to embrace my husband and me as family.

Even though Rachel felt unsure of her impact, the nomination reminded her that small, quiet moments matter.

Just being thought of, she said, it means so much.

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Mary wasnt surprised.

She has a great heart, and she loves the people she takes care of every day, she said, visibly proud. This just confirms what we already knew.

For both women, nursing is more than a job. Its a way of living.

Nursing is love, Rachel said. Its a big warm hug when people need it most.

Mary agrees. You never know whats going to happen in life, she said. So love hard, care deeply, and be present. Thats what matters most.

Their family has now become what Rachel lovingly calls a medical dynasty, with multiple nurses, a respiratory therapist, and a shared belief that care is both a skill and a calling.

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From the long nights at the kitchen table to the hospital halls, they now walk side by side. Mary and Rachels story is a reminder of whats possible when compassion is passed down, not just through lectures or lessons, but by living it out loud.

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.
(Photo by Getty Images Plus)

A long-running dispute between insurance commissioners in Iowa and Pennsylvania has escalated, with Iowa regulators arguing that hundreds of elderly Iowans are now being put at risk due to a companys willful violation of a court order.

In 2022, Iowa Insurance Commissioner Douglas Ommen sought an injunction against the financially struggling Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, or SHIP, arguing the company intended to coerce vulnerable Iowans into paying confiscatory rate increases of 400% or more, even while imposing draconian cuts to policyholders benefits.

Douglas Ommen is Iowas insurance commissioner. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Insurance Division)

At the time, Ommen said SHIP, which had sold long-term care insurance policies to more than 880 Iowans, was financially insolvent with a $1.3 billion funding shortfall.

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The injunction, which was later granted, barred SHIP from offering any rates, riders or policy documents to any Iowa policyholders that had not been previously authorized and approved by the Iowa insurance commissioner.

In January 2025, SHIP informed the Iowa insurance commissioner the company had filed a request with the commonwealth court of Pennsylvania to begin implementing a court-approved rehabilitation plan for the company, allowing SHIP to contact Iowa policyholders and to offer, or in some cases force, changes to their policies.

The Iowa commissioner then informed SHIP that even if the Pennsylvania court granted the request and the company followed through, it would be in clear violation of the injunction issued in Iowa. Under that scenario, the commissioner warned, he would authorize the Iowa attorney general to seek sanctions against SHIP.

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According to newly filed court papers in the case, SHIP did not back down and now intends to unilaterally modify all Iowa SHIP policies between May 31 and Oct. 28.

Iowa commissioner cites North Dakota case

According to the Iowa commissioner, there are now 501 SHIP policyholders in Iowa who in April were the target of a mass mailing informing them of potential modifications to their policies.

One of those Iowans is Clarence Busch, who has maintained his policy for over 30 years, and currently relies on it to pay for his assisted living care. Busch reported to the Iowa commissioner that the letter from SHIP was difficult to understand, and that he is now concerned that I will lose the benefits I am receiving.

Another Iowa policyholder, 74-year-old retired attorney Janet Huston, says in court filings that she has paid premiums on her long-term care policy continually since purchasing it at age 47. Purchasing the SHIP long-term care policy was part of my plan to care for myself in retirement, Huston says in an affidavit filed with the court. Now, 27 years later, I am concerned that the benefits for which I have paid premiums since the inception of the policy in 1997 or 1998 will not be available to me when I need them.

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The Iowa commissioner alleges it never authorized SHIP to contact any Iowa policyholders and that the Iowa court has never modified its injunction barring such contact.

SHIP has been litigating a nearly identical case in North Dakota, where a trial court recently awarded summary judgment in favor of the North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance and permanently barred SHIP from modifying the policies of North Dakota consumers without the commissioners approval.

After that decision was rendered, SHIP wrote to the judge in the case and claimed the North Dakota insurance commissioner didnt recognize the realities facing SHIP and was unfairly seeking a result that is simply not possible. The company said it intended to discontinue its participation in the North Dakota court proceedings, adding that it did so without any lack of respect for this honorable court, but in recognition of the hard realities it faced.

In pursuing a contempt-of-court finding against SHIP, the Iowa commissioner is arguing that SHIPs conduct is beyond the pale and that the companys response to the North Dakota courts decision shows their state of mind.

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SHIP, the Iowa commissioner says, has no intention of respecting the laws or court orders of any jurisdiction outside of Pennsylvania. Their contact with Iowa policyholders was not a fluke, or an accident, or a one-off violation; it was a deliberate plan months in the making, with the full knowledge that it would violate the temporary injunction.

The Iowa commissioner not only seeks a finding of contempt, it is also requesting a civil penalty of $500 for each of 503 acts on contempt. The company has yet to file a response to that request.

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  For President Donald Trump, accepting a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar is a no-brainer. But Trumps plan threatens to turn a global symbol of American power into an airborne collection of ethical, legal, security and counterintelligence concerns. Chief Legal Analyst Khalif Rhodes explains the emolument clause in the U.S. Constitution and how it applies in this case.

READ NEXT | Could a new Air Force One be on the way?

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.
More than 22,500 acre-feet of groundwater were retired under the water rights retirement pilot program  enough to cover annual water usage for about 45,000 homes.

After years of setbacks, a program that would authorize the sale and permanent retirement of water rights over the next decade in order to reduce groundwater overuse in the driest state in the union is moving forward.

But a sketchy economic outlook and accompanying reduced state revenue estimates means a funding source to implement the program might have to wait.

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Assembly Bill 104 would establish the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program, which would allow willing landowners to sell their water rights back to the state through the year 2035. The bill would direct the state engineer to permanently retire those rights from future allocation to address Nevadas dwindling groundwater supply.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard the bill, which will need to pass through the committee by Friday to move forward. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously last month.

Legislation to create a voluntary water rights retirement program was first introduced in 2023 by former Republican Sen. Pete Goicoechea, but stalled in the Legislature.

For more than a year, lawmakers, conservation groups, mining interests and local water managers worked together to craft the bills language and ensure its passage, an effort reflected by the bills bipartisan passage in the Assembly and wide support.

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Establishing a water rights retirement program in statute would be simply a step forward in our state in addressing over-appropriation and over pumping, said Democratic Assemblymember Natha Anderson of Sparks, who chairs the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and presented the bill to the Senate panel last week.

During the hearing, representatives from several rural counties spoke in support of the measure, including officials in Washoe, Humboldt, Eureka, and Churchill counties.

Its a really, very well thought out bill that has lots of support, and we just appreciate that this bill is before your committee, said Jeff Fontaine, representing the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority and Humboldt River Basin Water Authority.

Several conservation groups also spoke in support of the legislation, including the Great Basin Water Network, the Walker Basin Conservancy, the Nevada Conservation League, and the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition.

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Assembly Bill 104 builds on a pilot program launched in 2023 that used a one-time allocation of $25 million in federal funds to purchase groundwater rights from private Nevada landowners in over-pumped and over-appropriated basins.

More than 22,500 acre-feet of groundwater were retired under the pilot program  enough to cover annual water usage for about 45,000 homes  at an average cost of just over $1,000 per acre-foot.

The pilot program proved more successful than anticipated, attracting offers from water rights holders to sell a total of $65.5 million in rights in a matter of months  about $40 million more than available funding.

Despite wide support, the establishment of the voluntary water rights retirement program has faced some difficulties during this years legislative session.

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One drawback discussed during the hearing was the lack of any funding to implement the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program, if passed.

A bill with similar language was introduced in the Assembly, but faced challenges due to the addition of a fiscal note as lawmakers face challenging budget cuts.

While we dont have any money to fill the coffers right now, if we build it, they will come, said Kyle Roerink, the executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, which was part of the working group that shaped the bill.

What we are asking you all to do is, lets build this statutorily. Lets figure out ways to get the money, he continued.

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The bill authorizes the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to apply for and accept any gift, donation, grant, federal money, or other source of money for the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program. If established, the program would be administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Groundwater is vital in Nevada, where it supplies about 30% of the states total water use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, in many rural communities, its the primary or sole water source for homes, farms, and ecosystems.

Prior to the 1960s, Nevada experienced relatively minimal development of groundwater sources. Now significantly more groundwater is extracted than is returned to Nevadas aquifers each year.

As a result, more than half of Nevadas 256 groundwater basins are over-appropriated, meaning the volume of water listed in the rights exceeds the amount of actual available water.

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A little more than half the groundwater withdrawn is used for agriculture with another 30% used for mining operations.

Mining and farming representatives agreed Nevadas dwindling groundwater supply is an issue that must be addressed.

During the hearing, Doug Busselman, the executive vice president of the Nevada Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill. The Nevada Farm Bureau was part of the working group that helped develop the bill.

Nevada Farm Bureau also has a policy which supports a voluntary purchase of water and retirement to bring basins back into balance, Busselman said.

The Nevada Mining Association was also heavily involved in the creation of the bill, and helped present the bill during the Senate hearing.

We all know groundwater is a critical resource in Nevada, and its facing pressures like none before, including an increasing population base in Nevada, climate change and the need for reliable and up to date resource information, said Alan Biaggi, a representative for the Nevada Mining Association.
A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Trans Kids Belong" at a March 2024 rally outside the North Carolina Legislative Building. Republican state senators have introduced a bill in 2025 that would enact new restrictions on the rights of transgender people. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)

Why are so many conservative politicians obsessed with denying the existence of transgender people? Several years ago, it was the infamous bathroom bill that sought to micromanage the public restrooms trans people used.

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Now, the same forces are at it again with bills targeting transgender youth. Under legislation approved by the state House last week, charges of abuse and neglect against parents who refuse to acknowledge their childs gender identity would be barred.

Supporters say the bill is about validating parental rights, but if thats so, why did they defeat an amendment that would protected parents who acknowledge and support their transgender kids?

After all, some politicians have promoted attacks of precisely this kind on parents who love and celebrate their trans children.

The bottom line: Gender dysphoria is a long-established medical condition for which gender transition frequently amounts to lifesaving care. By denying this reality, lawmakers are assuring that some young people will be denied care and that their lives will be cruelly and needlessly endangered.

For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield.
(Photo Korea Tourism Organization Photo Korea (photo by Lee Sang-il))



Jeju Island, known for its breathtaking natural landscapes and unique topography, is one of South Koreas most popular tourist destinations, welcoming both domestic and international travelers year-round. While most visitors rely on rental cars or public transportation, these options can be less than ideal for international travelers unfamiliar with local traffic laws or the complexities of navigating the public transport system.

To provide a more comfortable alternative, we introduce LOYQU Taxi Tour, a smart mobility service designed especially for travelers who want to explore Jeju with ease. With LOYQU Taxi Tour, you can conveniently visit major attractions based on your schedule and receive insider tips on hidden gems and local eateries directly from experienced local drivers.

If you want to reduce travel fatigue and add more flexibility to your trip, start your special day in Jeju with a taxi tour.

What is a Taxi Tour?

A taxi tour is a customized travel experience where you use a taxi as your private vehicle for a set number of hours, visiting your preferred tourist spots freely. It offers a more efficient alternative to public transportation, allowing you to cover more ground in a day without the physical strain of driving yourself.

This mode of travel is especially useful in Jeju, where tourist sites are often spread out. Even destinations that are difficult to access via public transportation can be easily reached. With a taxi tour, you can focus entirely on enjoying your tripno need to worry about directions or traffic.

Most importantly, taxi drivers with extensive local knowledge can guide you to lesser-known attractions and restaurants favored by locals, giving you a richer travel experience.

For a safe, comfortable, and seamless journey from start to finish, we highly recommend LOYQU Taxi Tour.

How to Use LOYQU Taxi Tour

LOYQU is a smart mobility service designed for travelers. By installing the LOYQU mobile application, you can easily access a wide range of features. Check which cities offer taxi tours, browse popular tourist attractions, restaurants, and cafes in each area, and create your own personalized itinerary.

If trip planning feels overwhelming, you can also explore one of LOYQUs curated popular routesrecommended for a guaranteed enjoyable experience. For those new to taxi tours, here are two simple ways to use LOYQU.

(LOYQU App Main Page & Reservation Page (Credit: LOYQU))



Reserve a Popular Course

LOYQU offers a With the popular course feature based on travel patterns and user movement data, making it easy and convenient even for first-time visitors to enjoy Jeju. These curated routes are built using big data from actual users and highlight not only major attractions but also newly trending destinations, making them especially helpful for those visiting Jeju for the first time.

Simply choose your preferred travel style from among the themed route options, select your desired date and driver, and you can book your itinerary with ease. You can also freely customize your schedule to suit your preferences by adding or removing destinations as you wish.

If youre unfamiliar with taxi tours or new to sightseeing in Korea, select from LOYQUs popular course options for a more fulfilling and hassle-free travel experience.

(LOYQU App Main Page & Reservation Page (Credit: LOYQU))



Reserve with a Flexible Schedule

This is a personalized taxi tour option for those who wish to create their own schedule. Start by selecting the region and date of your trip, then freely add or modify the places youd like to visit to build your own itinerary. Each destination is accompanied by a description and images to help you choose, and locations are displayed on a map so you can easily plan an efficient travel route. Once your itinerary is complete, simply select your preferred driver and finish the reservation with ease.

This option is highly recommended for those who already have specific places in mind or prefer planning their own travel itinerary.

(LOYQU App Main Page & Reservation Page (Credit: LOYQU))

(LOYQU App Main Page & Reservation Page (Credit: LOYQU))



LOYQUs drivers are veteran professionals who have completed specialized training in tourism taxi services. They not only offer friendly service but also possess extensive knowledge about local destinations, making them reliable travel companions.

If your schedule isnt fully set or needs to be adjusted due to weather or other circumstances, theres no need to worry. Your driver can recommend popular spots and routes on the spot, allowing for a flexible and enjoyable travel experience.

Additionally, LOYQU Taxi Tour fares include the drivers service fee, so theres no need to worry about separate tips or providing meals.

To ensure a satisfying trip no matter which driver you choose, you can browse verified reviews from actual users to find a trustworthy and highly rated driver.

Download: iOS / Android

Top 10 Most Popular Taxi Tour Destinations in Jeju

For those planning a trip to Jeju, here are the most popular travel spots based on LOYQU Apps 2024 Big Data of Travel Routes. If youre considering a taxi tour in Jeju, use these popular routesfavored by many travelersto plan a more rewarding and satisfying trip.

1st Place: Secret Forest of Andol Oreum Volcanic Cone The Secret Forest of Andol Oreum Volcanic Cone is a serene path lined with dense cypress trees, perfect for a tranquil walk or a moment of rest surrounded by mystical, forested scenery.

Secret Forest of Andol Oreum Volcanic Cone (Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



2nd Place: Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market Jeju Dongmun Market, the largest and oldest traditional market on the island, offers fresh seafood, produce, and local specialties during the day, and transforms into a bustling night market filled with delicious street food at nighta favorite among both tourists and locals.

Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market (Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



3rd Place: Hamdeok Beach Jeju Dongmun Market, the largest and oldest traditional market on the island, offers fresh seafood, produce, and local specialties during the day, and transforms into a bustling night market filled with delicious street food at nighta favorite among both tourists and locals.

Hamdeok Beach (Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



4th Place: Arte Museum Jeju At Arte Museum Jeju, visitors can experience immersive media art installations themed around eternal nature, where light and sound come together to create a truly captivating atmosphere.

Arte Museum Jeju (Photo Arte Museum Jeju. Courtesy of Korea Tourims Organzation./)



5th Place: Hyeopjae Beach Located in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, Hyeopjae Beach features shallow waters and a pine forest nearby, making it a great spot for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing camping trip.

Hyeopjae Beach (Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



6th Place: Dodu-dong Rainbow Coastal Road Dodu-dong Rainbow Coastal Road is a popular photo spot featuring a seawall painted in rainbow colors. Its also recommended for visitors who want to enjoy a peaceful seaside walk while taking in views of the ocean.

Dodu-dong Rainbow Coastal Road (Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



7th Place: Saryeoni Forest Path Preserving the natural beauty of Jeju, Saryeoni Forest Path is home to diverse local flora and fauna. Walking through its dense cedar forest provides a healing experience for both body and mind, making it a beloved destination for nature lovers.

Saryeoni Forest Path (Photo Korea Tourism Organization (Photo Korea))



8th Place: Saebyeol Oreum Volcanic Cone Famous especially in autumn when the silver grass is in full bloom, Saebyeol Oreum Volcanic Cone is one of Jejus signature scenic spots. Its gentle slopes and picturesque views attract many visitors throughout the year.

Saebyeol Oreum (Photo Korea Tourism Organization (Photo Korea))



9th Place: Geum Oreum Volcanic Cone Geum Oreum Volcanic Cone is a hidden gem on Jeju Island, known for its unique terrain featuring a crater and a small lake at the summit. The mysterious atmosphere makes it a memorable stop for those seeking lesser-known travel experiences.

Geum Parasitic Cone (Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



10th Place: Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road A popular coastal drive in western Jeju, Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road is renowned for its wide-open ocean views and rows of wind turbines, creating a distinctive and scenic landscape loved by many travelers.

(Photo Korea Tourism Organization)



* This column was last updated in April 2025, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.

COPYRIGHTS KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED www.visitkorea.or.kr
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Pinellas County businessman accused of taking money from the disabled remains a free man.

A federal bankruptcy judge has repeatedly ordered Leo Govoni to produce key documents on his assets, but Govoni failed to do so again on Monday.

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The judge found Govoni in contempt of court but stopped short of putting him behind bars.

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Ten days ago, Judge Roberta Colton told Govoni he would face fines of $5,000 a day plus attorneys fees until he produced those documents. Govoni failed to do so again Monday, so that meter is still running.

8 On Your Side tracks down founder of St. Pete nonprofit that lost millions of disabled peoples money

Why are these documents so important? Because attorneys for the people to whom Govoni owes money want to know where their money went.

Govoni was back in federal court Monday afternoon, and despite failing to honor the judges order, he walked out again a free man.



Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked Govoni, Where did the money go? Govoni did not respond.



Colton ordered Govoni to produce financial records for himself and his businesses. She found him liable for over $120 million taken from Govonis now bankrupt St. Petersburg non-profit, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration.

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After a series of delays, the judge wrote: it is now obvious that Govoni was stalling for time.

On April 25, Colton said Govoni provided one personal record within 15 minutes of the courts second deadline, but the document he ultimately provided was not only worthless, but it was objectively false and misleading, despite being given under penalty of perjury.



I have no further comment, said Attorney Buddy Ford, who is representing Govoni. Were going to be getting more documentation to the trustee.

Ford told the court his team has provided tax and loan documents and has issued subpoenas to Govonis former personal attorney and account.

However, that wasnt good enough for Colton, who found Govoni in contempt. She said hes nowhere close to the production of documents that have been requested.

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In one court order document, Colton wrote: Govoni has created a massive corporate web of investments and transactions. He is using the complexity of the web as a means of frustrating the Trustees collection efforts. The judge continued to write: Govonis contempt of this Courts orders is not only willful, but it is also knowingly intended to further injure the victims.

A former client, a girl named Amora, was injured in a car crash 10 years ago.



Her mother, Nicalea Gonzalez, said shes now taking care of her daughters needs with credit cards. Gonzalez trusted that Amoras settlement money would be safe at Govonis non-profit.



She doesnt have half of what she had in there, and its not okay, she said.



The victims, who have nothing left to take care of their loved ones, want justice to be served.

It might not be today, but tomorrow, sometime youre going to have to answer for what you did, and I hope its soon, said Gonzalez.



As for now, Govoni remains quiet and back on the street.



Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked Govoni, Will you ever break your silence?

Govoni did produce some documents. When the judge asked where the documents had been, despite repeated requests for them in the past, Govonis attorney claimed that some were at a bank, others with a former accountant and still others in Govonis attic. Still, that doesnt answer the question of why its taken so long to produce them and why some remain missing.

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As for the victims, many of them are skeptical that any of their money will ever be recovered. Some want Govoni to face criminal charges, and while there is a multi-agency U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Govoni and the Center for Special Needs, so far, theres no word on when  or if  Govoni will ever face charges for that missing $120 million.

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.
While the world and the nation were fixated on the white smoke billowing above the Vaticans Sistine Chapel, and the latest White House assault on the U.S. economy, a group of Memphis police officers were quietly acquitted of abusing their power and brutally beating a Black man to death.

But because the cops are also Black, last weeks inexcusable verdict has failed to generate the outrage it deserves.

Yes, the Rev. Al Sharpton put out a statement denouncing the decision, and the Congressional Black Caucus expressed its disappointment.

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But outside of Memphis, where the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols remains an open wound, few others have expressed the rage required for such an obvious miscarriage of justice.

Nichols, a 29-year-old father and FedEx worker, was pulled over on Jan. 7, 2023 for what police initially said was reckless driving. After fleeing for his life on foot, Nichols was caught and severely beaten by police.

Prosecutors said the cops on trial  Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, Jr.  along with two others, excessively pepper sprayed, tased and pummeled Nichols during a vicious attack that led to Nichols death three days later.

Two other cops involved in the beating  Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr.  avoided a trial in state court after they agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors.

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The five officers, who are all Black, were members of the Memphis police departments Scorpion Task Force, a since-disbanded street unit that was tasked with bringing down crime levels in the city.

They were let off the hook by an all-white sequestered jury that was bused in from 350 miles away in Chattanooga, Tenn. after defense attorneys convinced a judge that because of pre-trial publicity, the officers would not be able to get a fair trial using jurors from Memphis.

The jury, despite a mountain of evidence, took about 8 hours over two days to reach a verdict of not guilty on charges that included second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

Todays verdicts are a devastating miscarriage of justice, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Nichols family, said in a statement. The world watched as Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by those sworn to protect and serve.

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Cameras not only captured parts of the deadly attack, but they also recorded the cruel cops laughing and bragging about the blows they landed, as Tyre lay helpless, calling out for his mother.

I was hitting him with straight haymakers, dog, one of the officers said.

The saving grace was that the officers had already been convicted on federal charges, and still face jail time. But the state acquittal sends a dangerous message to Memphis and the nation that local authorities condone such behavior, and that no citizens, especially its Black ones, are safe.

It is also absurd that the city of Memphis has taken no responsibility, claiming these officers acted on their own, when it was the rough tactics of the since-disbanded VIPER Squad that empowered them to commit this brutal beating as Tyre called out for his mother, Sharpton said in his statement.

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When initial protests broke out in the days after Nichols death, much of white America washed its hands of the Black-on-Black violence. But the racial element in most police brutality cases isnt about the color of the cop. These cases are racial in nature because the victim is almost never white.

Black cops, even in Memphis, represent a largely white institution that has tormented people of color for generations.

Race aside, police brutality by anyone against anyone should outrage everyone.

_____
Islam Hajjaj feeds her 6-year-old malnourished daughter Najwa, at a shelter in central Gaza City, on May 11. Israel's total blockade of food and humanitarian aid has led to Palestinian children facing mass starvation. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images

(Warning: Distressing photos and graphic medical details throughout.)

Dr. Razan Al-Nahhas just returned to Chicago from a volunteering stint in Gaza, where for two months the emergency physician mostly treated visibly malnourished Palestinian children at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital  an increasingly common sight since Israel began attacking the territory 19 months ago, and stopped all food and aid deliveries 70 days ago.

Al-Nahhas said she initially felt confused when she didnt see improvement in the health of her pediatric patients within days, or even weeks, of treatment. The doctor recalled a 9-year-old girl who came in with lung injuries from an explosion, and was extubated days into being at the ICU.

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Anywhere else, she would have been out of the ICU within a few days. She was intubated and extubated and intubated and extubated, I think four or five times, she told HuffPoston Thursday. When I left [Gaza], she was still in the ICU. She had been there for almost three weeks. And this was a consistent theme I was experiencing with patients that I would see in the ER.

The doctor realized that pediatric patients were not improving because they are severely malnourished and dehydrated  lacking the carbohydrates for energy, the fats to reduce inflammation, and the protein to build and repair tissue, skin and muscles.

Al-Nahhas was hardly the only doctor to see how Gazas dire starvation crisis is helping fuel the genocide that health care workers, aid groups, world leaders and human rights organizationshave accused Israel of committing. Amid a decimated health care systemwhose hospitals are routinely under siege, doctors in Gaza are treating both victims of direct military attacks as well as the children and pregnant women whose wounds and recoveries are disproportionately impacted by food scarcity.

Suwar Ashur, 5 months, is being treated for malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, on May 1. Suwar is one of thousands of children experiencing malnutrition as a result of Israel's total blockade of food and humanitarian assistance. Doaa Albaz/Anadolu via Getty Images

For this story, HuffPost heard from more than a dozen health care workers  most of whom are physicians  who have either recently volunteered or are currently working in Gazas hospitals.

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I witnessed Gazas health care workers handle mass casualty incidents with competence and preparedness that surpasses the best trauma centers in this country, said Dr. Brennan Bollman, who recently returned to the U.S. from volunteering in Gaza. But they cannot heal people without supplies and medicines. And no matter how skilled they are in caring for the horrific wounds caused by bombs, the human body cannot heal without food.

Ten weeks ago, Israel launched its blockade preventing all aid  including food, water, shelter and medical supplies  from entering the territory that has been destroyed to the point where the population of 2.3 million is forced to rely entirely on humanitarian assistance for their survival. Scenes documented by Palestinians on the ground show crowds tightly packed at food distribution centers, while difficult photos and videos of starving children circulate online.

The food and aid scarcity has doctors and experts begging for Israel to reopen Gazas humanitarian corridors before more Palestinian families starve to death. More than 9,000 children have been admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year, according to UNICEF, with hundreds more unable to access help due to displacement. At least 57 children have died from the effects of malnutrition since the blockade began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Ive seen children who are dying from starvation. I will tell you, children who die from starvation do not even cry toward the end, they dont have the energy, said Dr. Mohammed Kuziez, a pediatrician who volunteered in Gaza. And eventually their heart rate just slows down until their heart eventually gives out.

The World Food Programs rations ran out weeks ago, and the World Central Kitchen closed most of its community soup kitchens because it has no more food. The World Health Organization only has enough supplies to treat 500 children with acute malnutrition  a fraction of the urgent need, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHOs representative in Palestine, said on Tuesday.

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Believe it or not, people no longer care about bombs, rockets or even death. What consumes them now is food, how to find it, how to feed their children, said Areej, a member of aid group Mercy Corps in Gaza who remains anonymous out of safety concerns. Its impossible to describe how hard life has become. People walk around in a daze, dizzy from malnutrition and despair.

Food security experts backed by the United Nations said on Monday that 1 in 5 people in Gaza  about 500,000 people  are facing starvation, while an additional million can barely find food. Palestinians will experience a full-blown famine before the fall if Israel continues its aid blockade and carries out its planned large-scale invasion, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classifications new report.

Three indicators of famine must rise above specific thresholds before qualifying as IPC5, the groups most severe rating: food consumption, acute malnutrition in children and non-trauma mortality, primarily from malnutrition and disease. Experts stress that Gazas lack of a formal famine label from the IPC does not mean the people in the region arent already starving, nor does it mean governments should wait to act until such a label is given.

We are seeing  children who cannot get even one full meal a day, and mothers forced to split one piece of bread among five kids. People walk for hours just to reach food distribution points, and many go back empty-handed because there simply isnt enough, said Rana Soboh, nutrition officer in North Gaza for aid group MedGlobal. We are seeing children with wasted bodies and swollen bellies from malnutrition.

Jihad Saad sits at the Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza City, on May 4. Saad is one of dozens of children inside the hospital suffering from severe malnutrition due to Israel's total blockade of food and aid. Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

COGAT, the Israeli agency overseeing Gazas humanitarian aid, called the IPC report alarmist and misleading, claiming it does not account for the massive volume of aid, especially food, that entered Gaza during the ceasefire. Data has shown the aid that entered Gaza during the ceasefire earlier this year was still dramatically lower than what was required.

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At any given moment at Rafah crossing, there is a lineup of trucks, a convoy worth, that extends three to five miles on any given day. And them being held up at Rafah crossing results in the spoilage of the materials and goods youre trying to move through, said Dr. Marybeth Brownlee, whose experience includes field feeding operations in threatening environments.

So even if you get these trucks through, if they were to encounter things that I call bureaucratic warfare  where crossing through they get to the checkpoint and its like, you need to fill out this form in triplicate, and you used a staple instead of a paper clip  these are things that do happen, she continued. This further delays the aid delivery.

The Israeli militarys relentless bombing on Gazas people and infrastructure means Palestinians are constantly at risk of injury, sickness and death. But hospitals are either under siege, or lack enough fuel and medical supplies, making it difficult to receive adequate treatment. Al-Nahhas recalled trying, unsuccessfully, to save the lives of four babies killed by one explosion. Bollman witnessed children severely burned, broken apart, blown open. Dr. Hamza Nabhan said most of the children he treats at Indonesian Hospital have intracranial hemorrhaging or subdural hematomas. Dr. Ahmed Al-Farah said rockets caused children to suffer burns, as well as injuries to their liver and bowels.

I really think that were getting to that point where these people are just going to start dying in the thousands very soon, of starvation [and] lack of access to proper medical care, Al-Nahhas said.

Palestinians crowd together in hopes of receiving a hot meal, in Nuseirat refugee camp, in Gaza on May 13. Israel's total blockade on food and humanitarian assistance has led to the mass starvation of Palestinian children. Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty Images

The doctors themselves also face starvation, working for 24-48 hours straight with, usually, just a little rice in their stomachs. Hospital staff are fatigued, working at a quarter of their capacity while struggling to maintain morale, Al-Nahhas told HuffPost.

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Al-Farah said that his hospital in Khan Younis asked the community to donate blood to help save lives during mass casualty events. But when staff conducted blood tests, they found that all of the donors were themselves anemic from lack of nutrition.

The doctor, who heads the pediatric and maternity building at Nasser Hospital, added that the intense stress facing thousands of malnourished and displaced pregnant women often result in premature births, with many of the babies struggling with sepsis, respiratory issues and congenital abnormalities. If the children are lucky enough to survive infection, Al-Farah said they will still likely develop neurological conditions.

Babies in the first three years need amino acids, need free fatty acids, need essential amino acids, need a trace element, need iron, need everything, he said. So we are talking about a miserable situation that affects this generation of Palestinian children.

Severe vitamin deficiencies in starving children can result in what the doctors said are micronutrient disorders like night blindness, anemia, rickets, nerve-related illnesses and scurvy. Kuziez said that people in Gaza were already experiencing vitamin deficiencies because the blockade banned fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

Several doctors also stressed that malnourished Palestinian children will also experience poor brain development and mental health. Without enough nutrients, children may become nonverbal, find it difficult to concentrate and struggle with information processing.

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Our children are suffering from nightmares, memory loss, involuntary urination and severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, Nabhan said. Over 95,000 children are trapped in this invisible agony, wounds that cant be seen are far deeper than any physical injury.

Children historically have the ability to heal and recover from things like PTSD a lot better than adults do, Kuziez said before adding that the trauma theyre facing first has to stop. And as Israels blockade shows no sign of opening, the doctor warned that more Palestinians will die from the effects of severe acute malnutrition.

Even if today this blockade was to end, a significant portion of these children are still liable to suffer severe long-term effects and death because of the lack of a strong medical infrastructure, he said. Kids who have been starved and deprived, when you provide food to them, develop something called refeeding syndrome. We saw this with people who were freed from the death camps after the Holocaust, thats how we know about this condition.

Osama Kamal Al Rakab suffers from malnutrition in the town of Beni Suheyl, in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on April 14. Israel's total blockade of food and humanitarian assistance has led to the mass starvation of Palestinian children. Hani Alshaer/Anadolu via Getty Images

U.N. officials have decriedIsraels blockade, accusing the military of weaponizing aid to inflict collective punishment on the Palestinian people. Israeli officials announced plans to dismantle the existing aid system and instead move supplies through Israeli hubs under the militarys conditions. The plan was denounced by the U.N. and the wider aid community, saying itfails to meet the minimum standards for humanitarian action.

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The International Court of Justice recently heard arguments in the case accusing Israel of violating international humanitarian law by blocking the U.N.s primary agency responsible for providing aid to Palestinians. Dr. Karameh Kuemmerle told HuffPost that waiting for a legal opinion is really fatal at this point, and said the Doctors Against Genocide coalition is introducing a medical definition for genocide to highlight the public health emergency facing regions like Gaza.

To think this is happening again  how could we be repeating the same genocidal behavior of the starvation that was perpetrated? said Dr. Dannie Ritchie, a Brown University professor whose Jewish father fought in World War II. This is a humanitarian disaster and crime, and it must be stopped. We need to let the children eat. We need to be able to take care of the families so that they can take care of the children. Let the children eat, let the people eat. Stop this genocide.
TOWN OF TURIN, N.Y. (WWTI)  A Monday afternoon crash in Lewis County has claimed the life of one person.

According to the Lewis County Sheriffs Office, a 1988 Ford dump truck operated by 49-year-old David Kantor was traveling eastbound of Lyman Road. Authorities said that Lyman failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway.

New York State budget tweaks Foundation Aid formula

The dump truck then struck a parked trailer and an excavator located on the Gomer Hill Road.

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Kantor was transported to a nearby landing zone and where airlifted to SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. However, he later died as a result of his injuries.

The investigation is currently ongoing to Sheriffs officials.

The New York State Collision Reconstruction Unit and Commercial Vehicle Unit, Lyons Falls Ambulance, Turin Fire Department, Town of Turin Highway Department and Groffs Towing all assisted on the scene.

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GLAAD issued its alarming Social Media Safety Index report on Tuesday, which found that, after significant rollbacks in protected speech, social media platforms are overwhelmingly failing to protect LGBTQ people.

The year-to-year decline is so sharp in the study, now in its fifth year, that the nonprofit advocacy group ditched its previous letter-grade system for a numeric one to more accurately reflect how negative platforms including X, Facebook and YouTube can be for the queer community, Jenni Olson, senior director of social media at GLAAD, told TheWrap.

It became clear that the letter grades system wasnt fully reflecting the levels the platforms were at since they all would have just gotten F grades. The numeric ratings give a more complete picture, Olson explained.

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In 2024, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads and X all received a grade of F, while TikTok earned only a slightly better D+: For 2025, the platforms were rated numerically, with TikTok at 56/100; Facebook: 45/100; Instagram: 45/100; YouTube: 41/100; Threads: 40/100; and X the lowest at 30/100.

The terrible rollbacks from Meta and YouTube are the most important news this year, Olson said, referring to both companys recent decisions to allow previously prohibited hate speech, such as references to LGBTQ people being abnormal and mentally ill as well as the use of pejorative terms such as tranny and transgenderism.

It is especially horrible that YouTube removed gender identity from its list of protected characteristics  and yet is continuing to state that the policy hasnt changed, when it very clearly has  This is just unprecedented for a major platform. It is extremely concerning for a company to remove a protected characteristic group from a hate speech policy, Olson said.

At a time when real-world violence and harassment against LGBTQ people is on the rise, social media companies are profiting from the flames of anti-LGBTQ hate instead of ensuring the basic safety of LGBTQ users, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement shared with TheWrap.

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These low scores should terrify anyone who cares about creating safer, more inclusive online spaces, she added.

Trans activist and journalist Imara Jones recently told TheWrap that X (formerly known as Twitter) is the most dangerous platform, while the relatively new Bluesky, which was not included in GLAADs report, is definitely much better in moderating anti-trans speech.

According to the report, online anti-trans hate, harassment and disinformation have skyrocketed in the past year, while some platforms disproportionately suppress LGBTQ content, via removal, demonetization and forms of shadowbanning.

The report analyzed 14 indicators affecting LGBTQ people online, including data privacy, moderation transparency, training of content moderators and workforce diversity. It was created in partnership with Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) and research consultant Andrea Hackl.

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Read the full GLAAD Social Media Safety Index report here.

The post LGBTQ Social Media Users Safety Is So Bad That GLAAD Changed the Way It Reviews Apps for a More Complete Picture appeared first on TheWrap.
The Missouri Attorney General on Monday filed suit against Liberty Utilities for last months natural gas explosion in Lexington, Missouri, that killed a 5-year-old boy, sent his sister and father to the hospital with serious burns, destroyed three homes and damaged multiple others.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey claims Liberty Utilities (Midstates Natural Gas) Corp was reckless and violated the Missouri Underground Facility Safety and Damages Prevention Act after failing to properly mark a gas line in early April. That, Bailey said, ultimately caused the explosion.

Defendant falsely reported to an excavator that it had marked all of its underground gas pipelines, Bailey wrote in the suit. Relying on Defendants assurance that it did not have a pipe in the area, the excavator drilled into the ground and punctured Defendants pipe, allowing natural gas to leak into the community.

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Defendants actions put a residential community at risk, caused an explosion that shook the community of Lexington, Missouri, and grievously harmed an innocent family.

Five-year-pld Alistair Lamb (center), center, died on April 9 when his Lexington, Missouri home exploded due to a nearby gas leak. Ten-year-old Camillia Cami Lamb, left, and the childrens father Jacob Cunningham, right, survived the explosion with severe burns.

Bailey wrote that his office was bringing the action to penalize the company for its reckless actions and to insure that it takes every reasonable precaution to prevent such horrendous tragedies in the future.

The lawsuit, filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court, is the third filed in the tragedy, which occurred on April 9.

This was a preventable tragedy, Bailey said in a release Monday afternoon. These companies must take their responsibilities seriously. The law is clear, the process is simple, and the consequences of failure are catastrophic. Were holding Liberty Utilities accountable to ensure that every utility in Missouri does its due diligence to prevent future disasters.

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The family of Alistair Lamb, who was killed in the explosion, and his father, Jacob Cunningham, and sister, Camillia Cami Lamb, filed a wrongful death suit on April 21. That suit names Liberty Utilities Corp. as a defendant, along with United Fiber LLC, Alfra Communications LLC, and Sellenriek Construction, whose workers were involved in digging to lay fiber optic cable in the hours prior to the explosion.

Earlier this month, a second family, Shayne and Alicia Billings, filed suit in Lafayette County Circuit Court against The Empire District Gas Company, which does business as Liberty Utilities or Liberty, along with United Fiber, Sellenreik Construction and Alfra Communication. The Billings family claims that the companies were negligent in contributing to the gas leak that destroyed their family home near the point of the explosion, at 17th Street and Franklin Avenue.

No warnings, no evacuations of homes

Baileys suit comes a week after the National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report showing that days before the digging began, Liberty Utilities sent a locator to mark all buried utilities in that area. But the section of the line involved in the explosion was not identified or marked during this process, according to the preliminary report released May 5.

Just after 4 p.m. on April 9, the subcontractor who was among the crew helping install fiber optic cable in the area of Franklin Avenue and 17th Street began drilling into the unmarked section of a capped underground gas distribution main, the report said.

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More than three hours later, after neighbors had repeatedly reported smelling gas, the explosion occurred inside Cunninghams rented home along Franklin Avenue near 17th Street.

Alistair Lamb, 5, died in the house explosion in Lexington, Missouri.

In a press statement, the Missouri Attorney General noted that the Missouri Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act requires utility companies to respond to locate requests and mark the location of underground facilities within two working days.

Liberty Utilities not only failed to do so, but also falsely reported that the site was marked, the Attorney Generals Office said.

Since the day of the explosion, neighbors surrounding the area, which is part of the towns antebellum historic district, have been angry. The odor of natural gas had been wafting through the neighborhood for hours on April 9.

Debris and building materials remain scattered along the sidewalk on Franklin Avenue on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Lexington, Missouri, after a gas explosion shattered windows and damaged nearby structures.

Neighbors have repeatedly complained that no authorities  either police, fire department or utilities  warned them of possible dangers or suggested they evacuate.

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Yet the NTSBs preliminary report said Liberty Utilities directed that a business about 15 feet from the leak be evacuated before the explosion.

Cunninghams family has said that he and his children returned to their home adjacent to the gas leak in the early evening. The explosion reportedly occurred when Cunningham turned on a light switch to his home. The explosion could be heard for miles, and shattered windows in more than a dozen surrounding homes. Flames and black smoke shot into the air.

Tragedies like this are exactly why this law exists, Bailey said in the statement. Its imperative that companies follow the law  not just to avoid penalties, but to protect lives. When they fail to do so, my office will hold them accountable.
Two Justice Department officials were denied access to the Library of Congress on Monday, causing a brief standoff on Capitol Hill.

The two officialsPaul Perkins, an associate deputy attorney general, and Brian Nieves, a deputy chief of staff and senior policy counselwere seeking access to the U.S. Copyright Office but were denied entry at around 9 a.m., sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The New York Times.

The pair had brought a letter from the White House declaring that they were going to be serving in two top positions at the library under Todd Blanches leadership and recommendation. Blanche, the deputy attorney general, was named acting librarian of Congress by President Donald Trump on Mondayan appointment that would have to be confirmed by the Senate.

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The letter reportedly declared that Perkins would be acting as register of copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, while Nieves would be the acting deputy librarian, according to The Times.

The president name his lead defense lawyer from his criminal trial last year, Todd Blanche (R), as acting Librarian of Congress. / Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Library staff members called U.S. Capitol Police, however the two Justice Department officials left willingly after General Counsel Meg Williams asked them to leave and reiterated they were not allowed access to the Copyright Office.

Representatives at the Justice Department and Library of Congress did not immediately respond to the Daily Beasts request for comment.

The president launched an overhaul of the library last week after dismissing former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Thursday. He then proceeded to fire the director of the Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter over the weekend, according to several reports.

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Despite Trumps appointment of Blanche, library staff have reportedly been recognizing Robert Newlen as their interim replacement instead, according to The Times sources. Newlen was principal deputy librarian and Haydens second-in-command.

Trump ousted Carla Hayden from the top post on Thursday. / Shannon Finney/Getty Images

Staff seem to be waiting for direction from Congress, with Newlen additionally sending an email to employees saying he did not recognize Blanches appointment as valid, according to Politico.

The terminations have sparked an outcry from House Democrats including Rep. Joe Morelle, who described Trumps termination of Perlmutter in particular as a brazen, unprecedented power grab with no legal basis in a statement Saturday.

Perlmutter was laid off from the Copyright Office after publishing a report on the contentions between artificial intelligence and fair use.

Blanche, meanwhile, was Trumps lead defense lawyer during his Manhattan criminal trial last year.
A day after deadly clashes shook Tripoli, Libyas United Nations-recognised government in the west of the country has begun asserting control following the reported killing of powerful militia leader Abdelghani al-Kikli, also known as Gheniwa.

The Emergency Medicine and Support Centre confirmed it retrieved six bodies from the Tripoli neighbourhood of Abu Salim on Tuesday, after heavy fighting erupted across the capital the previous night and into the early morning. Explosions and gunfire echoed through the southern part of the city as rival armed factions clashed for several hours.

The fighting stemmed from the killing of al-Kikli, commander of the Stability Support Authority, SSA, on Monday by a rival militia, a senior government and health official told the Associated Press news agency.

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An official and local media say al-Kikli was killed during a meeting at the 444 Brigades base, a group loyal to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

Al-Kikli had been accused by Amnesty International of war crimes and other serious rights violations over the past decade.

Libya analyst Jalel Harchaoui told the AFP news agency that al-Kikli had been ambushed, citing a relative. Among Tripolis most successful armed group leaders, he was known for outmanoeuvring the prime minister, the analyst added.

On Tuesday, Dbeibah declared a military operation had dismantled irregular armed groups. The move is seen as a direct effort to reassert state authority and strengthen his position in the capital.

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Gheniwa was de facto king of Tripoli, Tarek Megerisi of the European Council on Foreign Relations told Reuters. His henchmen controlled the internal security agency  cash transfers from the central bank numerous public companies and ministries.

Al-Kiklis forces reportedly operated prisons and held influence over ministries and financial institutions, underscoring a significant shift in the balance of power with his death.

Clashes also spread beyond the capital, with fighting between Tripoli-based groups and rival militias from Misrata, a key coastal city to the east. Authorities imposed a temporary curfew before later announcing that calm had returned.

Libya, a major oil producer and key route for immigrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean, remains deeply divided between Dbeibahs UN-recognised administration in the west and a rival eastern government aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar.

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Foreign powers including Turkiye, Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates continue to back opposing sides in the ongoing power struggle.

Tense calm across the capital

Dbeibah said a military operation had restored calm and asserted the governments authority. What was accomplished today shows that official institutions are capable of protecting the homeland and preserving the dignity of its citizens, he wrote on X, praising the armed forces role.

Schools across parts of the capital have been closed until further notice.

The UN mission in Libya expressed alarm over the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas, warning that attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes and calling on all sides to immediately cease fighting.

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Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been governed for most of the past decade by rival governments in eastern and western Libya, each backed by an array of fighter groups and foreign governments.
A couple's proposal to create a retreat for wedding and memorial ceremonies on a property in a largely residential area southeast of Santa Fe gained support recently but also drew concerns about noise and impacts to roads from some residents of Canada de los Alamos.

ChrisTina Simek and Thomas Simek are seeking to use their 3.45-acre property at 7687 Old Santa Fe Trail, east of Interstate 25, to hold retreats and are pursuing a conditional use permit from Santa Fe County, according to a proposal discussed at a May 8 county land-use hearing. ChrisTina Simek's website describes her as a "life cycle celebrant" with a background in ministry, mediation, hospice and life planning.

"We choose and value where we live, above all, for its quiet and calm. That's why we feel so strongly that this proposal threatens to diminish the integrity of our rural residential community," said Steven Felt, a resident of Old Santa Fe Trail who noted he was speaking for 25 neighbors who also object to the project. "We also feel strongly a [conditional use permit] allowing a commercial operation in a residential zone establishes a dangerous precedent."

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Others, though, spoke in support of the idea, praising ChrisTina Simek's work on past ceremonies and saying she helped them through rough periods. Some said the region needs healing spaces like the one Simek hopes to provide.

"Yes, we do have businesses in Santa Fe  burial businesses, wedding chapels, etc," said Patricia Rivera of Santa Fe. "But what we don't have is a space that is very intimate, very personable, that involves the very people whose lives are being touched by whatever is happening, be it a trauma, be it a baptism."

The matter, which will come next before the county Planning Commission, drew a sizable crowd at last week's hearing.

Canada de Los Alamos retreat 1

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Residents of Canada de los Alamos last week spoke out against an application seeking a conditional use permit to allow the property at 7687 Old Santa Fe Trail southeast of Santa Fe to hold weddings, memorials and retreats. Others, though, spoke in support of the idea, praising ChrisTina Simek's work on past ceremonies and saying she helped them through rough periods. Some said the region needs healing spaces like the one Simek hopes to provide.

The application states the gatherings will be free of alcohol and limited to 50 attendees, with hours ranging from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The site is currently zoned "traditional community," designed to "preserve the character of traditional communities" by accommodating residential, small-scale commercial and traditional agricultural uses, according to the county website.

It is our hope to explore the possibilities of utilizing our land as an outdoor small event gathering space for Memorial/Celebrations of life, Wedding Ceremonies, Transitional Ceremonies, and Ceremonies celebrating well being following chronic illness," the Simeks wrote in their application.

The application described ChrisTina Simek's work as "assisting families in celebrating lifes greatest joys, and deepest griefs through support and ceremony."

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The meeting was held before the county hearing officer Marilyn Hebert, who will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission about whether the conditional use permit for the retreat should be approved or denied.

The Planning Commission can make any decision it wishes on the matter, independent of the recommendation.
LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor Reid Hoffman did not join President Donald Trump and a group of other tech leaders to Riyadh as reported by the White House, his office said Tuesday.

Hoffmans chief of staff Aria Finger told POLITICO Hoffman did not attend, while also tweeting a photo of the two of them having lunch, noting Not in Riyadh.

Hoffmans name was on a list of tech leaders attending a lunch with Saudi officials, provided to reporters by the White House. The list also included Elon Musk, Nvidias Jensen Huang, OpenAIs Sam Altman and Amazons Andy Jassy, among others.

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Hoffman stood out among the guest list because of his major donations to Democratic candidates. He was among a group of venture capitalists in the 2024 election to publicly support former Vice President Kamala Harris in a rebuke of other tech world figures who had started to vocally endorse Trump.

The invite list, featuring dozens of top U.S executives, was largely handled by the Saudi Crown Princes team, according to one White House official and two people close with the administration, all granted anonymity to speak candidly about logistics. The list was finalized in conjunction with the U.S. National Security Council and top White House senior advisers, said one of the people.

Hoffman was invited by the Saudis due to his ties to leadership in the country, according to one of the people close with the administration.

Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he disembarked Air Force One. The presidents trip to Saudi Arabia is Trumps first major trip abroad since taking office.

While in Riyadh, Trump announced that hes lifting sanctions on Syria.
(Image: Stripes Korea)



Alien Registration Card (ARC) is an official ID for foreign residents in Korea. It functions like a social security number and serves as proof of immigration status. While foreigners staying in Korea longer than 90 days are required to get an ARC, SOFA members are exempt from the requirement. Still, obtaining an ARC can unlock full access to many everyday services.

Just like other foreigners in Korea, SOFA members can also easily obtain one and it does not affect their visa or legal status. Servicemembers and their family members may each get an ARC, which is useful for obtaining a Korean bank account and using other local services off base and online.

You may have already heard guidance here and there, but the process can still feel overwhelming. So, heres everything you need to know including a step-by-step guide to help you get started!

Why you need an ARC?

Many essential platforms in Korea such as delivery apps, ticketing services and mobile verification systems either require ARC verification or work much more smoothly with it. In Korea, most mobile services are tied to a personal identification number linked to your phone, so without an ARC, accessing these features can be frustrating. Ive run into this issue when writing guides on services like Baemin and Coupang since many features are not available for users without an ARC. Most short-term service members in Korea skip getting an ARC. But trust me, if you have family, live off-base or simply want to enjoy life in Korea like locals do, having an ARC makes a world of difference.

Having an ARC provides access to many essential services such as:

Opening Korean bank accounts.

Signing mobile phone contracts. Although you can use mobile service without ARC, having one allows for full access to mobile ID based services.

Using mobile identity verification including PASS and Kakao

Easier access to essential Korean-lifestyle apps such as Baemin, Yogiyo and Danggeun (Karrot).

Creating a Naver account and receiving discounts through Naver Pay when making restaurant reservations, booking event tickets and more.

Full access to Coupang, Koreas top delivery app, which features services including fast shipping, food delivery without delivery fees and Coupang Play (OTT streaming service).

Easier set up for internet, utilities and any services that require identity verification.

What to prepare

Here are seven documents to prepare before heading to the immigration office. The first five documents on the list are relatively easy to gather, while the others might require a little more work to obtain. Please note that each applicant must prepare a full set of documents individually even when applying as a family.

1. Completed ARC application form  Available on-site

2 .One passport-sized photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)  Most immigration offices have a photo booth.

3 .Physical passport

4 .Copy of passport data page

5. Copy of military ID and dependent ID card  Front and back together on the same page and clear photo required.

* Sponsors CAC card, Dependent ID for family members

6. Copy of lease agreement

Off-base: Copy of housing contract with applicants name.

On-base: Housing Assignment Memo or memo from barracks manager.

7. Copy of PCS orders or equivalent official documents showing DEROS

Bring original and extension orders if extended (must be less than 30 days old at the time of appointment).

For dependents, orders must show family member names and DEROS. If not, provide additional official documents verifying the information.

DoD civilians and their dependents: Letter of employment

Contractors and their dependents: USFK Form 700-19A-E

How and where to apply

ARC cards are issued by Korean Immigration Offices. In the Pyeongtaek area, on-base immigration services are available for the U.S. military community. These services do not require a reservation, but arriving early is strongly recommended due to long waiting times.

For off-base immigration offices, reservations are usually required via www.hikorea.go.kr. Business hours are 9 a.m.  6 p.m., Monday through Friday (Closed Korean holidays). The office is closed for lunch from 12 p.m.  1 p.m.

Pyeongtaek Area

1. Osan Air Base

Location: AMC Terminal, Bldg. 648, 1st Floor

Hours: 9 a.m.  1 p.m. (Mon . , Wed . , Fri . ) / Closed on U.S. and Korean holidays

Contact: 031-666-2672

2. Camp Humphreys

Location: One-Stop, 2nd Floor, Room I-201

Hours: 10 a.m.  4 p.m. (Wed, Thu) / Lunch break: 12 p.m.  1 p.m. / Closed on U.S. and Korean holidays

3. Pyeongtaek Branch Immigration Office (Off-base)

Location: 3 rd floor CK Tower, 1375 Gyeonggi-daero, Pyeongtaek-si (near Songtan Station), Naver Map

Reservation: Required

Seoul Immigration Office (for those in Yongsan and Seongnam)

Location: 319-2 Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (near Omokgyo Station), Naver Map

Reservation: Not required

Yangju Immigration Office (for those in Dongducheon)

Location: 23 Pyeonghwa-ro 1475 beon-gil, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, Naver Map

Reservation: Required except the third Tuesday of each month

Daegu Immigration Office (for those in Daegu)

Location: 1152-1 Shinseo-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu (near Ansim Station), Naver Map

Reservation: Required

Gumi Immigration Office (for those in Waegwan)

Location: 188 Sinpyeong-dong, Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk, Naver Map

Reservation: Not required

Changwon Immigration Office (for those in Jinhae)

Location: 86-1 Sinpo-dong 1-ga, Masan Happo-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, Naver Map

Reservation: Required

How to make a reservation at Hi Korea

1. Visit www.hikorea.go.kr.

2. Click Apply in Reserve Visit

3. Choose Visit Reservation Application (Non-member)

4. Under Identity verification using passport number, enter DoD ID number instead of the passport number.

5. Select your region and choose the ARC option when booking.

2. Click Apply in Reserve Visit (Image: HI KOREA website)

3. Choose Visit Reservation Application (Non-member) (Image: HI KOREA website)

4. Under Identity verification using passport number, enter DoD ID number instead of the passport number. (Image: HI KOREA website)



NOTE: Call 1345 for assistance!

If you have any questions before applying, you can contact the Immigration Contact Center by dialing 1345. The service is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and agents will kindly assist you with any inquiries regarding ARC.

Things to know
CHICAGO (WGN)  Despite fears of immigration enforcement and deportation raids, the annual Little Village Mexican Independence Day Parade will proceed as scheduled.

The areas chamber of commerce on Monday issued a statement confirming its commitment to the Sunday, September 14th parade down 26th Street. Last weeks popular Cinco de Mayo Parade on Cermak was canceled due to fears over the Trump administrations immigration policies and their impact on the community. The two-day Michelada Fest scheduled for July was also canceled.

Feb. 2025 | Little Village protests mass deportations, raises concerns over Trump administrations actions

This parade is more than just a celebration  its a declaration of who we are, Jennifer Aguilar, the chambers executive director, said in a statement. We will not be silenced by fear-mongering, we will not hide, and we will not be intimidated. We stand proud and united, and we are determined to move forward with this cultural experience for our community and all who join us in celebration.

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Chicagos annual parade has grown to hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Mexico gained independence from Spain on Sept. 16, 1810.

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.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU)  The South Sioux City Public Library will play host to a live Irish music performance Thursday evening.

Starting at 6:30 p.m. on May 15, The Shamrocks will perform in the librarys cafe area. The four-member band plays traditional Irish music and has performed in the local area for many years.

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The program is free to attend and open to the public. Its made possible by contributions from Live Well Home Care and Kevin ODell Electric.

If you have any questions, you can send an email to publiclibrary@southsiouxcity.org, or call Library Assistant Dan Nieman at (402) 494-75745.

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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
WASHINGTON (KELO/AP)  When the Iowa nonprofit Midwest Honor Flight brings veterans to the memorials of northern Virginia and Washington, the schedule is packed and the day is active. Jerry Raabe of Volga, S.D. was among the 85 honored veterans brought by the organization on May 6 to the National Mall and its Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where John David Hamilton Jr.s name can be found.

When I look at the wall today, I see his name up on the wall and my reflection at the same time, Raabe said at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport a short time later.

Rural SD hit hard by Noems cut to FEMA grants

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Hamilton and Raabe went to Vietnam together; the wall includes more than 58,000 names of people lost in combat or missing in action. Even though he personally opposed the war in Southeast Asia as a conscientious objector, Raabe was drafted and served as a medic in the Army, earning a Bronze Star Medal for heroism in ground combat.

I tried my best as a medic to save people, and hopefully I saved some people along the way, Raabe said.

While in Vietnam, he was exposed to Agent Orange, a herbicide widely used by American forces during the Vietnam War. Raabe says the Department of Veterans Affairs identified the defoliant as the cause of his Parkinsons disease: a disorder of the brain which impacts balance, movement and coordination.

Ive been doing speech exercises probably four or five times a week, Raabe said. It helps with, also helps with the facial expressions and the swallowing, so because thats another symptom of Parkinsons, is that youll have a softer voice, loose your ability to speak and also loose your ability to swallow.

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Hes also mindful of his mental health. There is no cure for Parkinsons.

I got involved with a mindfulness or cognitive behavioral therapy because I, again as this disease progresses, I know that Im going to face anxiety and depression because of it, Raabe said.

His son Ryan Raabe, who served as his dads guardian on the trip, marvels at his father.

Its just so hard for me to wrap my head around what he had to go through and what he had to sacrifice and for him to be able to live the life that he does the way that he does, giving to other people, caring about other people, giving us the best life that you could imagine, it was just, so proud to have him as my dad, Ryan said while seated next to his dad at the airport.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 17-year-old senior student faces charges after a loaded firearm was found at Maplewood High School Tuesday morning.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the schools weapon detection system prompted staff to check the student as he entered the building.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The loaded semi-automatic pistol was found inside his backpack.

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Authorities said the 17-year-old will be charged in Juvenile Court for bringing a weapon onto school property and unlawful gun possession.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
EAU CLAIREA local childcare center closed its doors Monday to participate in the fourth annual Day Without Child Care to highlight the funding needs of centers across Wisconsin and the country.

Amid concerns over the consequences of the loss of Childcare Counts funding, Julia Bennker of Ms. Julias Schoolia organized a local rally and press conference before heading out to Madison to participate in Tuesdays larger rally at the state capitol.

[The center has] been licensed for just over a year, Bennker said. It started as a play group when I was in Colorado seven years ago.

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Bennker said said that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding helped her with all of her start-up costs.

That program isnt around anymore, she said. I started really lucky. I got involved in child care advocacy in a meaningful way in October. Now that I own a business, it is very clear to me what role I can play in advocacy work.

While the Day Without Child Care is four years old, this years comes less than a week after the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee voted to remove Gov. Tony Evers proposed funding for the Child Care Counts program from the state budget. This removes about $480 million, though those at the rally were still hopeful there was time to change this.

This proposal was meant to supplement the loss of federal funding for the Child Care Counts program. The funding is set to expire at the end of June, with the last payments to centers coming in July.

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According to a report released in March by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, a quarter of childcare businesses in Wisconsin are at risk of closure without an extension of the Childcare Counts funding. Closures in rural areas are currently estimated to be around 35 percent.

Attending the rally and press conference at Bennkers center were Senator Jeff Smith (D), Representative Jodi Emerson (D), Representative Christian Phelps (D), Chris Hambuch-Boyle of the Wisconsin Public Education Network, and Eau Claire City Council members Nate Otto and Jessica Schoen.

We, as a society, need to treat childcare with the same respect we treat any education at all, Smith said. Ninety percent of brain development occurs between birth and six-years-old. Why would we not treat that period of time in a persons life as valuable as we do the rest of their educational process to prepare them for life? And yet the average pay for someone doing that work is $13 an hour.

Smith emphasized that the Child Care Counts program is not enough, but that losing it will have detrimental effects on families in terms of access and cost.

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Emerson expressed similar sentiments.

Childcare workers are the workforce of the workforce, she said. Think about all the people that you work with who have kids at home. How many of them would not be able to show up at the office or [would need to] work virtually without these childcare providers.

Emerson mentioned that 60 percent of her daughters take-home pay goes to providing childcare for just one child.

Every place in the workforce is looking for workers right now and so this is what we can do, Emerson said. We know that the childcare workers, the educators are drastically underpaid, but we cant keep on putting that on the backs of young families. Look at what young families are going through right now. Housing costs are skyrocketing. College costs are skyrocketing. Theyre paying off their student loans and then theyre paying 60 percent of their weekly wages to a childcare provider.

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In addition to several planning to drive out to Madison today, several who attended the rally were also aiming to speak at Monday nights City Council meeting where City Council members Otto and Schoen would be introducing a resolution to support the governors $480 million funding for early childhood education.

We want to send a message to the legislature that our community supports investment in early childhood education, Otto said.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Community members are invited to attend a human trafficking awareness event later this week.

The resource fair and panel discussion will take place on Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Warren. Its sponsored by the Warren-Trumbull County Branch of the American Association of University Women. Attendees will learn facts and myths about human trafficking, its prevalence in the area, resources available in the area, and how to help victims and survivors.

We just hope that people learn about this topic. Its something that I personally never really thought about or knew about in this area and its really close to home, and were just hoping to bring awareness to the idea that its here and we need to help, said organizer Lindsay Naples.

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The event is Thursday, May 15. The resource fair will begin at 5 p.m., with the panel discussion starting at 6.

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(Above: Report on fire ring program by FOX 5/KUSIs Jennifer Franco on April 19, 2025)

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  While one city is considering getting rid of all its beaches fire rings as a way to save money, a city just across the San Diego Bay aims to provide an alternative solution.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced possibly cutting the citys beach fire ring program in his draft budget for fiscal year 2026, prompting some to raise questions about what this would mean for coastal enjoyment.

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Coronado paddle out honors fallen Navy SEAL

Gloria previously said eliminating all 180 fire rings in San Diego and within Mission Bay would save the city about $135,000 a year, bringing it closer to closing its $258 million budget deficit.

The city cited some of the non-monetary benefits that would stem from removing the fire rings, including reducing late-night noise and illicit activities on beaches and nearby communities.

Meanwhile, in the city of Coronado just across the water from downtown San Diego, people can still light fires at public beaches given that they follow a set of rules and guidelines.

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A local company, Blulite Bonfires, is offering to collaborate with the city of San Diego on ways to help it balance providing beach activities with meeting its fiscal goals.

In partnership with the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, Blulite Bonfires is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 27 to highlight the citys beach services. Gloria and other city officials were invited to the event, according to the company.

Instead of losing vital beach experiences due to budget constraints, San Diego has a real opportunity to partner with professional service providers, said Rene Contreras, founder of Blulite Bonfires, in a statement. Were not here to criticize, but to collaborate offering solutions that help the city maintain beach services in a sustainable, community-focused way.

Local business owners, community organizers and staff from Coronados Parks and Beaches Department are among those expected to attend. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the beach next to Hotel del Coronado.

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As for the possibility of getting rid of fire rings in San Diego, city staff said people would still be allowed to bring their own portable propane devices. If included in the finalized budget, the city would remove the fire rings in phases based on staff availability during the summer.

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HUBBARD, Ohio (WKBN)  Hubbard Exempted Village School District announced Tuesday that a long-time employee is the recent recipient of a state award.

Derek Helmick was honored Thursday, May 1, at the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Northeast District Conference, where he received the Unsung Hero award.

Helmick, a custodian in the districts maintenance department, has worked for Hubbard Schools for 27 years. He is responsible for overseeing the HVAC systems across the district.

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The nomination for the award was submitted by fellow staff member Donna Mahoney, who highlighted Helmicks consistent hard work and quiet leadership.

Derek is the epitome of the unsung hero, Mahoney said in a provided statement. Dereks the quiet force behind the scenes. He prides himself on getting things done correctly. He answers the call to help; holidays, middle of the night, on vacation. Hell be there.

Former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown presented Helmick with the award during the conferences Gala event. Brown recognized his contributions to public education and the vital role of school support staff.

We are incredibly proud of Derek and grateful for his many years of service, said Superintendent Raymond Soloman. He embodies the spirit of an unsung hero, and were thrilled that his work is being celebrated at the state level.

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The Unsung Hero award is given to individuals who make a meaningful impact in their schools without seeking recognition  individuals who go above and beyond every day to ensure schools run smoothly and students thrive.

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With ongoing tariff uncertainty shaking up supply chains across the globe and impacts already being seen and felt at the countrys busiest gateway, it will take weeks, if not months, to untangle the backlog and stabilize the system.

Thats according to Mayor of Long Beach Rex Richardson, who convened with officials from the Port of Long Beach (POLB) to unveil a study on the gateways economic impact. The assessment revealed that the San Pedro Bay port complex handled 9.6 million TEUs in 2024, contributing $300 billion to the United States GDP and supporting 2.7 million jobs across the country, including 1.1 million in California. But recent tariff policy announcements have led to a 30-percent reduction in cargo volumes, impacting 100,000 jobs in California alone, according to Richardson.

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Theres no denying it; weve entered the reality of a new tariff era, he said at a press conference on Monday. A reduction in trade in our ports doesnt just affect dock workers, truckers, local businessesit threatens American jobs and economic security all across our country.

The SoCal citys mayor alluded to the administrations announcement that tariffs on China-made goods would be reduced from 145 percent to 30 percent, saying that stakeholders throughout the supply chain, from business owners to supply chain managers, are not going to celebrate a conclusion to the crisis.

This is still a crisis of our own making that we need to address through long-term, long-range, strategic and stable policy making, he added. The mayor, who met with workers and business leaders earlier in the day to understand the impact of the tariffs and tariff threats, said, Damage is done.

Weve seen ships that never sailed. We have containers that sit empty. We have American businesses and consumers that are preparing and beginning to pay the price for these policies. The rollback is a step that should be acknowledged, but recovery will not be immediate, he added, estimating that it could be months before the system returns to normal.

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POLB executive director Mario Cordero illustrated the sobering scope of the issue. In 2024, we had record cargo at the Port of Long Beach9.6 million, the best in our 113-year history. And first quarter 2025, we moved the most container volume of any port of country. During those high-volume, peak periods, one might see 20 vessels arrive at the port on a given day.

The low point that we saw in the first week of Maythat number was 14, Cordero said. And on Friday, the Maritime Exchange (which monitors the flow of incoming and outbound cargo) reported zero container ships leaving China bound for U.S. ports. The ports in China are essentially 24/7, so to have a 12-hour period where theres no vessel departing from any Chinese port to the U.S.A., that should be concerning. That is a big red flag, Cordero said.

The U.S. and China have reached a ceasefire in the trade war for now, but that doesnt mean operations will rev back up immediately. If this gets resolved in a way that the shipper has confidence to not only book their cargo, but pay for the cargo to come out to the West Coast, at the very least, that takes two weeks right there, he said.

Sailing from any port in China to the West Coast takes an additional 14 days. Accounting for any complications that might take place at the port of origin adds still more time to the meter. I would say, in a good scenario, four weeks, in a bad scenario, six to eight weeks until normal operations at the port resume in earnest, he projected.

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According to Richardson, the cancellation or pause of in-progress orders has disrupted the entire logistics and supply chain continuum.

That means fewer people being called into work. That means fewer shifts that they can count on, fewer people, Richardson added. And it ripples not only from the docks but to the warehouses and to the trucks and to all of that. That creates an economic impact with Ground Zero here in the city of Long Beach.

Gary Herrera, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU, Local 13) underscored that point. The facts are the facts: the work was here two months ago, three months agowe were breaking records, he said, comparing that timeline to the reality that has solidified following Trumps reciprocal tariff announcements.

For ILWUs registered dockworker workforce, work opportunity has dwindled from five to six days a week to two to four days. For our part-time workers, theres absolutely zero work opportunities for them, he added. Cargo containers are sitting empty at the terminals and workers are not being hired to move them in the event that volumes begin to surgea factor that could lead to future backlogs.

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And the instability caused by the administrations vacillating trade policy is radiating throughout the local logistics network. Weston LaBar, chair of the Long Beach Economic Partnership and chief strategy officer of Waterfront Logistics, which operates 600,000 square feet of warehousing space near the POLB, said the group has seen huge demand right now for bonded warehousing from anxious companies grappling with the implications of the tariffs.

But now, the group worries that working through the long and cumbersome process of securing the bonds needed to operate the spaces from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be for naught. Our biggest fear in that process is that we may get permitsright about the time theyre not needed anymore.

If we permit our facility to be bonded, and theres no bonded cargo, not only did we miss out on helping the shippers coming into the nation that are trying to navigate the trade war, but then we have a whole bunch of space that we cant use, he added.

Meanwhile, Customs broker and freight forwarder Alba Wheels Up has already seen a huge surge demand from shippersand that was just based on whispers of the news last week that the administration might be working on a trade deal that would lower the China tariff rate, according to president of trade and government relations Vince Iacopella.

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Especially because we have this 90-day kind of reboot they want to frontload and get as much inventory as they can at 30 percent, he said. Its a little harder to make longer-term investments and sourcing decisions without the long-term certainty, but there is a short-term advantage, he added. Long Beach also enjoys the shortest transit time of any American port from Asiaanother advantage.

Business may be ramping up at far-flung sourcing locales and ports, but Richardson said he believes the 90-day tariff pause is just thata respite, not a solution or a guarantee that the supply chain will return to optimal health over the course of four weeks, or four months. Without an end to the trade war, uncertainty will still reign supreme.

Last week, what we said was were sounding the alarm. This is important. People count on the port and they dont know it. They just know they click and buy and it shows up. They have no idea how these decisions impact their ability to provide the basic needs for their family, he said.

And so the point of today is demonstrating the economic impact. This is real. These are real numbers, he added. These are jobs, economic impact we all should be concerned about trade policy and errors, because they will have an impact on your ability to procure goods, on how much those goods cost.
A Long Beach student was arrested on suspicion of participating in a nationwide social media challenge that encourages students to jam lead or metal into the ports of their Chromebook laptop computers.

The "Chromebook challenge" is a viral TikTok trend in which students short-circuit their school-issued Chromebook computers, causing sparks, smoke and, in some cases, a fire.

Videos on TikTok show students jamming paperclips, pencils or the lead from mechanical pencils into USB ports.

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On Thursday, a 13-year-old student was arrested in connection with an arson incident that occurred inside a classroom at Perry Lindsey Academy, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

No injuries were reported.

The student inserted a foreign object into a battery charging port, damaging a Chromebook, according to the Long Beach Unified School District.

The school district declined to say if the student would be held responsible for the damage to the computer.

Read more: How 'Minecraft' and 'Sinners' went viral in completely different ways

This isn't the first time a student has been disciplined in connection with damaging a Chromebook for the sake of this social media challenge, but the district did not specify how many other times it had occurred.

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The district is urging parents and caregivers to speak with their students about the dangers of participating in social media challenges.

"Inserting objects into charging ports is unsafe and can lead to significant disciplinary action and legal consequences," the district said in a statement. "We ask families to continue reinforcing responsible digital behavior at home and to remind students: If you see something, say something."

In a Northern California middle school, a student participated in the challenge by making her Chromebook smoke. The teacher discharged a fire extinguisher on the smoking computer and evacuated the classroom.

Incidents of smoking Chromebooks have been reported by school districts in Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.

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In Connecticut, the superintendent of Newington Public Schools, Maureen Brummet, said Chromebooks are expensive and are going up in price, "so when a student does intentionally destroy a Chromebook, its their responsibility to replace it," NBC reported.

A local fire marshal, who responded to a school in Connecticut that was filled with smoke from a damaged Chromebook, told NBC that the batteries in the computers produce toxic smoke when they catch fire.

Read more: Contributor: Is your favorite influencer's opinion bought and sold?

Videos of the challenge were previously found on TikTok by searching #ChromebookChallenge, but that tag has been taken down by the app. Instead, TikTok users will find the title "Your safety matters" and a message that reads: "Some online challenges can be dangerous, disturbing or even fabricated."

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Users are invited to click on a "view resources button" to help them identify whether a challenge viewed on the app is harmful.

Dangerous social media challenges have been occurring for years, including the 2016 "Cinnamon Challenge"  inhaling a spoonful of cinnamon  or the 2018 "Tide Pod Challenge," which encouraged social media users to swallow soap-filled laundry pods for likes and follows.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
More than 20 school districts across Long Island were hit by cyber hackers leaving more than 10,000 students records and personal info vulnerable to criminals, state education records revealed.

The widespread data breaches and digital intrusions  28 Long Island incidents were self-reported to the state last year  have cybersecurity experts sounding the alarm about schools nationwide increasingly becoming targets for identity thieves, ransomware gangs and data extortionists.

Districts with lower operating budgets are even more at risk, according to experts.

More than 20 school districts in Long Island were hit with cyberattacks last year, according to state education records. Gorodenkoff  stock.adobe.com

Schools have an incredibly rich amount of data, Randy Rose, vice president of security operations at the Center for Internet Security told Newsday. People think its just grades  but its personal information, sometimes financial information.

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Theres data associated with kids that are in need. Data on kids that are in afterschool programs.

Some of the intrusions on Long Island were minor  a student who was caught snooping on a classmates grades  but others were much more concerning.

Third-party breaches compromised the personal records of more than 6,000 students in Great Neck, another 1,000 Smithtown, as well as nearly 2,400 in Brentwood and Hewlett-Woodmere combined, according to state education records.

Hackers even infiltrated software systems used by schools across the US, education records show.

The attacks left more than 10,000 students records and personal info vulnerable to criminals. CarlosBarquero  stock.adobe.com

Michael Nizich, an adjunct associate professor of computer science at the New York Institute of Technology, said the level of regularly updated cybersecurity prevention necessary to adequately protect school districts is just not going to be feasible economically.

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I think what youre seeing is that these school districts are now becoming targets because of the value of data that criminals are starting to find, Nizich told Newsday.

But its not always the firewall that fails. Oftentimes breaches boil down to human error, as cybersecurity investments only go so far without proper training.

About 45% of the time, hackers werent exploiting technical flaws, but instead human behavior, according to an investigation by Newsday  pointing to phishing emails, fake login pages and malware disguised as digital ads.

And the real-world impacts on districts can be devastating, as cyber incidents can derail afterschool initiatives, delay lunch programs, disrupt statewide testing  even freeze entire school operations, Rose explained.

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For students, the possible real life consequences can be even more dire  derailing credit scores and impacting their ability to apply for loans and credit cards.

When it comes time to go to college or get their first bank account, credit card, theyre unable to, Rose told Newsday.

The new state budget just added record funding into public education, including an additional $270 million for Long Island, although each individual district will decide how the money gets spent.
Getty Images.

Early this budget season, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman said school funding cuts were on the horizon. His House budget certainly follows up with that promise.

According to analysis by the Ohio River Valley Institute, the FY2027 school allocation under the House Plan falls $2.7 billion short of what the General Assembly agreed to invest in public education in the 2022 Fair School Funding Plan. That represents a funding cut of about 25% from the previous plan.

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These cuts will be felt across the state. According to the same analysis, 91% of school districts will have less funding under the House plan than the Fair School Funding Plan. An unlucky 26 school districts will see their state support reduced by 50% or more.

In February, my firm Scioto Analysis asked 17 Ohio economists for their thoughts about the plan to cut spending on public education. Of those economists, 14 agreed the cuts would hurt Ohios economy in the long run. Only one disagreed.

Dr. Kathryn Wilson of Kent State University explained the harms reductions in school spending can have on the economy, saying they can lead to lower human capital development that hurts the productivity of future workers, but also that it can lead to more costs for taxpayers with more government assistance and criminal justice spending needed with a less educated state population.

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In 2023, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis of school spending in Ohio. We built off evidence of the relationship between school spending, test scores, and graduation rates to estimate the long-term impacts of school spending on labor force productivity. We found that increased investment in students leads to wage impacts in the long run that will grow the states economy. We also found cuts will hurt productivity and reduce output for the state.

According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Ohio has about 1.7 million children currently enrolled from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This means the proposed $2.7 billion cut would represent about a $1,600 per-student decrease in spending from the baseline of the General Assemblys Fair School Funding Plan.

In our 2023 study, we estimated what would happen if the state reduced school funding levels to the per-student expenditure in Indiana, which is about $3,600 lower than Ohio. We estimated this would cost the state somewhere between $30 billion and $120 billion in economic value in the long run.

Scaling these losses to match the Ohio Houses $1,600 reduction in per-pupil spending, we can estimate the reduction in statewide school funding will cost the state economy somewhere from $14 billion to $54 billion in the long run in the form of lower earnings from lower test scores, lower graduation rates, and higher social spending.

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Yes, $2.7 billion is a lot of money. But educating a state workforce costs money. Cutting corners on education might lead to short-term benefits, but there are long-term costs the state will have to bear for decisions like this. These include lower productivity, lower earnings, and higher spending on social services and criminal justice.

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Cleveland's News 5 suddenly announced the departure of longtime meteorologist Mark Johnson after more than 30 years last week.

On Friday, May 9, the news station shared via its website that Johnson "is no longer employed at WEWS." It did not disclose the reason for the change.

We want our audiences to know that News 5 and its parent company, Scripps, take protecting our audiences trust very seriously by requiring our employees to adhere to the highest ethical standards. We cannot provide further details, as this is a personnel matter, said Steve Weinstein, WEWS VP and GM, in a statement on the website.

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WEWS added that "safety and accuracy" are the priority, and it will "begin an immediate search for Johnson's replacement."

PEOPLE reached out to News 5 Cleveland for comment but did not immediately hear back.

News Director Jodie Heisner told Cleveland.com that the station couldn't comment beyond what was posted on our website.

Johnson's page has also been scrubbed from WEWS' website, Cleveland.com reported.

The meteorologist has not publicly addressed his exit. On Friday, he changed his Facebook cover photo from an image of him doing a news segment to lavender, thunderous skies.

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In November 2023, Johnson celebrated 30 years with WEWS, writing on Facebook, "Truly honored and blessed to be a part of the News 5 Cleveland Family for 3 decades. Thank you for welcoming me into your home all these years. #grateful."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Johnson graduated from Kent State University in 1988 and began working for WEWS five years later, in November 1993. He has garnered Seals of Approval from the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.

PEOPLE contacted Johnson for comment.

Read the original article on People
Credit: Courtesy of Los Alegres del Barranco

Los Alegres del Barranco will face formal charges in a Jalisco court after being accused of glorifying crime during their now-infamous March concert in Zapopan. A judge in the Mexican state ruled on Monday that the band must remain in Jalisco and pay a hefty guarantee amid their criminal proceedings over the allegation.

The criminal proceeding affects all four band members, along with the groups manager and concert promoter, and accuses them of glorifying the criminal activities of cartels.

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The six people charged will have to attend weekly court appearances, pay a guarantee of approximately $15,500 per person accused, and theyll have to stay in Jalisco for the following three months, according to Rolling Stone en Espanol. (The band was given an exception to perform preplanned shows on May 30 and June 6 and 27.)

The bands spokesperson, Luis Alvarado, defended the band to the press outside of the courtroom, calling for the groups right to freedom of speech.

All of us who tell stories, whether with a pencil or an accordion, have the right to do so. If those stories make someone uncomfortable, that shouldnt take away our right to freedom of expression, Alvarado said. This process will take a long time, but we are strong. We will continue to fight for our rights. The group remains united, we are grateful to those who support us.

The band was accused of making reference to Ricardo Ruiz Velazco, or El Doble R, during its corrido of the same name, and El Del Palenque. During a recent show, the band played an instrumental version of the song and displayed the lyrics onscreen like karaoke.

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The band has continued to play its narcocrrodiso and obtained legal permission in Michoacan to freely perform its songs, despite state law that prohibits music that glorifies crime.

In early April, the band issued an apology after the U.St. State Department revoked the band members visas for displaying a visual of a cartel kingpin during the Zapopan show.

As a musical group, it was never our intention to create controversy, much less to offend. We acknowledge that, as artists, we have a great responsibility to our audiences, especially to the new generations who follow our music, the band wrote.

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Two men and a child are dead after a house fire engulfed their Putnam County mobile home Monday morning, according to the Putnam County Sheriffs Office.

Three more people were taken to a hospital, including a baby.

The fire destroyed the home on North Maryland Avenue in East Palatka.

According to the Putnam County Sheriffs office, they received a call around 8:50 a.m. about a fire at a mobile home with multiple people inside.

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Action News Jax has learned that the home is being rented by the Hernandez family. When the fire broke out, officials said six members of the family were inside.

Action News Jax confirmed with the family that the people inside the home were Carolina Gomez and brothers Fernando and Enrique Hernandez. The two men died, according to the Putnam County Sheriffs Office.

Three children were inside, which family identified as 7-year-old Eliza Hernandez, 4-year-old Angel Hernandez, and a baby.

Officials said the 4-year-old died at the hospital, but the 7-year-old managed to escape the fire on her own and get to a neighbors house.

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According to the Hernandez family, Eliza and the baby are Carolina and Fernandos children. Police said the mother was transported by ground to a trauma center, and the baby was transported by air ambulance.

Officials told Action News Jax the two remained in life-threatening condition Monday night.

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Putnam County Emergency Services Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Clu Wright said that the fire started in the foyer. The cause is still under investigation.

Scott Moore was down the street when the fire first broke out. He said the entire situation was just unbelievable.

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I just heard a firefighter ran out with a child, it was just crazy, said Moore. He (the child) just didnt look like he was moving at all.

Alice Crews is the landlord for the family and has known them for 10 years. She says she couldnt believe this happened to them.

They have always been very kind, very responsible people, said Crews. Just really, good people of the community.

The State Fire Marshals office is taking the lead on the investigation and working to determine a cause. The Putnam County Sheriffs office is assisting.

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London residents were in for a bit of a surprise this month, when Prince Harry was caught wandering around a neighborhood knocking on random doors while looking for some friends.

According to the Daily Beast, Harry was seen "looking somewhat confused" in Hammersmith and Fulham, where he tried "at least three doors before finding the right one."

One resident told The Sun that "We were shocked to see it was him on the camera. We only really noticed once neighbors started talkingand then we were like, 'Oh yes!'"

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Meanwhile, another source said "Two of the houses he knocked at are at completely opposite ends of the road, which is about half a mile long... Its a bit odd he didnt seem to have a clue which house he was aiming for."

So...who was Harry looking for? A source tells The Daily Mail that the prince was trying to find his friends, John and Georgina Vaughan, who he didn't realize had moved. As they put it: "He was looking for a friend who used to live in this road and now they rent the house out to people from overseas. They've rented it out, they've moved away and that's all I will say."

Another resident told the outlet that he was "trying to remember either the parents or his friend who lived at the top of the road. The people he knew have long gone and moved elsewhere."

They added, "I think he got the numbers muddled up. I wondered what he was doing wandering around our street. If he'd knocked on my door, I would have invited him in and said, 'I can give you all the information you need.' But he didn't knock on my door, and I just feel very sorry for him."

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LSUs Memorial Tower on Monday, March 20, 2023, on Tower Drive in Baton Rouge. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

LSU Provost Roy Haggerty is leaving the university to accept the same position at Oregon State, where he previously taught and served as a dean.

The provosts position is the highest ranking role on campus for an academic, in many instances second in command to the president.

LSU President William Tate thanked Haggerty for his service in a campuswide email announcing his departure. Haggertys departure was confirmed to the Illuminator last month by LSU Board of Supervisors member Remy Starns.

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Haggerty is the third high-ranking administrator to leave LSU this year.

Before coming to LSU in 2022, Haggerty worked at Oregon State for 26 years as a professor and as dean of its College of Science.

Oregon is our community, and it is OSUs responsibility to do everything we can to make it better, Haggerty said in an Oregon State news release. I cant wait to join President Murthy and everyone at OSU to advance all of Oregon.

Troy Blanchard, dean of LSUs College of Humanities and Social Sciences will serve as interim provost and executive vice president effective May 19.

According to Tates email, Haggerty will continue to support LSU in an advisory role to the President and the Interim Executive Vice President and Provost.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Six LSU Shreveport students have created an artificial intelligence tool to help the Air Force Global Strike Command Center (AFGSC) better predict the weather.

The tool helps AFGSC make medium-range weather forecasts (3-10 days) to improve mission planning.

Students developed a user-friendly app that integrates GraphCast overlayed with global maps, predictions for temperature, precipitation and wind speed, comparative analysis between the AI model and traditional weather models, and traditional weather alerts, among other functions, a press release stated.

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LSU Shreveport encouraging children to explore their passions

According to U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Tubbs, the app delivered an instantaneous solution for Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, where it is being beta-tested as part of Project Airstorm.

LSUS computer science students from left to right are Duaa Khawaldeh, Vincent Hartline, Joshua Francis, Antonio Mata, and Eliana Gafford. Not pictured is Connor Zittrauer.

Collaborating with LSUS students on Project Airstorm through STRIKEWERX and the LSUS Collaboratory has been exceptional, said Tubbs, 377th Test Support Squadron flight chief of mission weather operations, who serves as the Air Forces primary point of contact for the project. The students, including those in the National Security Fellowship Program, brought technical expertise in computer science, mathematics, and AI along with enthusiasm for addressing real-world Air Force challenges.

Their work  from coding and integrating GraphCast to designing a user-friendly interface  has delivered a practical tool for Kirtlands immediate needs. The LSUS teams creativity and adaptability shone in design sprints and collaborative efforts, making them invaluable partners.

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LSU Health Shreveport celebrates its largest graduation ever

While GraphCast is the apps foundation, the students switched to other services for different app areas because of budget and time constraints.

We needed a different AI model to do the map imaging, and we found Media Source map data to generate our map tiles, said Antonio Mata, a senior from Shreveport. We needed more time and money to use GraphCast for this, but we were able to integrate Media Source into the app. We definitely had to learn how to communicate with each other, with our points of contact, and solve problems.

LSUS computer science student Eliana Gafford presents her teams weather app powered by artificial intelligence at an April 30 presentation in the LSUS Collaboratory.

One tweak to the app included map files that made lightning strike points available to view.

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Thats useful to the Air Force because they can see if its safe for a plane to go into this area or tell them to avoid this area, Mata explained.

Shreveport and LSUS launch GIS training for local residents

LSUS computer science faculty member Keyvan Shahrdar added that experimental learning is integral to the curriculum.

This kind of project gives students practical experience working in a collaborative software development environment and helps bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application, Shahrdar said. Theyre not only writing code but also managing timelines, understanding budgets, selecting tools, and adapting to evolving requirements  skills that are critical in any professional tech role.

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The real strength of AI lies in its ability to analyze vast datasets and uncover trends that would be difficult or impossible for humans to detect manually.

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 KTALnews.com.
A group of international gamblers legally purchased nearly every number combination in a Texas state lottery drawing  a scheme designed to guarantee a win. It worked  and it may be why another woman is now being denied her own $83.5 million prize.

Im being treated as the bad guy, the anonymous winner said.

The groups $95 million win, which the New York Post described as something out of a heist movie, was spearheaded by London-based trader Bernard Marantelli and bankrolled by Zeljko Ranogajec, an Australian professional gambler known as the Joker.

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Together, they exploited a simple math trick: when the jackpot is large enough, you can make a profit by buying almost every possible ticket. According to the Wall Street Journal, the group teamed up with Lottery.com and used warehouses packed with printing terminals to produce 99.3% of those combinations in just three days.

The team won a lump-sum prize of $57.8 million, but lottery officials are closing loopholes so that they may keep other winners from collecting.

International scheme could cost another winner their jackpot

Buying every ticket wasnt illegal under Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) rules at the time. As the Post reports, nothing in the Texas state lottery code says a person cant buy every number combination.

Winners are also allowed to remain anonymous, so the group initially claimed their prize through a local company called Rook TX. But the victory didnt stay quiet for long.

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When a Texas woman won an $83.5 million jackpot this past February, after buying her ticket through the Jackpocket app, she was told she couldnt collect her winnings. State officials are now cracking down on anything that falls outside of tightly controlled, in-person lottery purchases  especially when foreign actors are involved or the ticket-buying process becomes hard to regulate.

Sometimes there are reasons to investigate things, but I dont think mine is one of them. the anonymous winner told Nexstar, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Dawn Nettles, a longtime lottery watchdog, disagrees.

It doesnt matter that the courier apps werent officially banned in Texas when she bought her ticket, because she purchased it over the internet and paid an added fee  and those things are against the law, she told the Post.

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Even so, Nettles admits that others have gotten away with similar purchases in the past. She is now part of a class action lawsuit targeting the original $95 million payout to Rook TX and says that it should never have been allowed.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called the team's win the biggest theft from the people of Texas in the history of Texas, reports the Post. Others have raised concerns that international groups are siphoning off winnings that should benefit Texas residents.

If you win $50 million in the lottery, you are probably going to buy a new car, new home, buy things for friends  all that is going to assist [the states] economy. But not if the money is leaving the state, said Nettles.

The TLC formally banned lottery courier services in February 2025. In a press release, the commission said it would revoke the licenses of any retailer working with such services. The new policy became effective immediately and is expected to be written into official rules this spring.

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At the governor's request, the Texas Rangers have launched an investigation into both the 2023 group win and the February 2025 case.

Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

How to play the lottery legally

If you're trying your luck with the lottery, make sure you follow Texas law to avoid trouble, especially now that enforcement is tightening. Here are a few guidelines:

Buy in person. Texas law prohibits the sale of lottery tickets by mail, phone or internet. You must buy tickets from a licensed retailer within the state.

Avoid courier apps. As of February 2025, services like Jackpocket are no longer permitted in Texas. Even if theyre still operating, your ticket may not be valid.

Read the rules. Each state has different regulations. Before purchasing a ticket, check with your states lottery commission for the latest guidelines.

Keep your receipt. Whether claiming a prize or disputing a decision, having proof of your purchase can help your case.

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With rule changes underway, lottery players should take care to avoid any missteps. That means youll need to play the lottery in both the letter and the spirit of the law.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
A downtown Lake Geneva business is celebrating both a milestone anniversary and a recent expansion.

Officials from JAYNE Boutique are honoring 10 years of being located in downtown Lake Geneva.

JAYNE Boutique, 771 W. Main St., features clothing items, jewelry, shoes, handbags, eyewear and hair accessories.

Katie Cummings, president of JAYNE Boutique, said she is pleased with the support the store has received from the community during the past decade.

"Fortunately for us, it's really only grown and exceeded our expectations," Cummings said. "Obviously, COVID threw a wrench in everyone's plans but we kind of came back stronger than ever. People really adapted this shop local mentality and if you don't support your local businesses that you love, they won't be there for you to shop. So even in this post COVID world, people are shopping local."

Cummings said Roger Wolff, regional manager for JAYNE Boutique, has played a huge role in the store's success during the past 10 years.

"He's been great," Cummings said. "He's completely an expert of the town and in the shoe industry in general. He's really tied to the community and a great asset to our team."

Cummings said JAYNE Boutique officials decided to establish a store in Lake Geneva to be open in a resort community. She said the Lake Geneva store attracts customers from other JAYNE Boutique locations.

"We knew we wanted to head to a resort community, and Lake Geneva was kind of the perfect spot," Cummings said. "We get a lot of cross customers, a lot of Illinois people who love to go to Lake Geneva and a lot of Lake Geneva people who love to head downtown to Chicago."

Before JAYNE Boutique, the Main Street building was previously the location for The Bootery, The Country Cobbler and Tootsies.

"The several businesses that were here before us were also shoe stores. So, I feel people have this memory of shopping in downtown Lake Geneva saying, 'Wasn't there a shoe store on the corner?,'" Cummings said. "So, we've loved putting our marketing on it and also offering a wide selection of clothing, home goods and accessories, and we've loved getting to know the community and working to employ members of the community and partnering with some of Lake Geneva's non-for-profits, schools and churches."

To honor the 10-year anniversary, a celebration event is being held Wednesday May 14, 4 p.m. at the 771 W. Main St. location. The event will include a ribbon-cutting and cake-cutting ceremony and sales at the main store as well as at the recently-opened JAYNE Outlet store.

"We're going to be having some in-store discounts which is always everyone's favorite. We will have some roll-back pricing, special items brought in for the sale for $10 each to commemorate our 10th birthday," Cummings said. "So that kind of kicks off the weekend for us, then we will be doing a cross promotion with a 'bounce back' coupon to shop over at the outlet store that weekend, as well."

JAYNE Boutique officials then will conduct a customer appreciate days event Thursday, May 15 through Sunday, May 18 which will include discount items at the main store and outlet store, as well as an opportunity to win a $250 shopping spree.

Expansions celebrated as well

Besides the 10-year anniversary, JAYNE Boutique officials also are celebrating the opening of the new JAYNE Outlet store, 734 W. Main St., the former location for Lola's clothing store.

The outlet store features shoes and other clothing items. Cummings said the 734 W. Main St. location is an ideal site for an outlet store.

"The outlet is a fun, great way to pass along some of the savings that JAYNE gets to its customers and also clean up current inventory in our JAYNE stores and consolidate sales into one spot," Cummings. "We kind of knew we wanted a more permanent outlet situation. We were excited about Lake Geneva because of the all-year traffic we get up here. So, we're keeping our eyes peeled for locations that were open and that was perfect for us. It's a cool building. There's a loft and a huge basement."

A temporary outlet store was established in an expanded area of the main store last year.

"We did a test of the outlet last year, and it really exceeded all of our expectations," Cummings said. "So after that, we were like, 'We got to find something more permanent.'"

The area of the temporary outlet store is set to be used as expanded space for the main store, which will include fitting rooms and a seating area.

"We're excited about the expansion," Cummings said. "We've added seven fitting rooms, and it really kind of helps to bring this stylist, experiential shopping, working to outfit you best or accessorizing in the most flattering way. So, the new seven fitting rooms will really help us deepen our customer experience."

JAYNE Boutique was established in 2012. Other JAYNE Boutique stores are located in La Grange, Illinois; Oak Park, Illinois and Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Cummings said more JAYNE Boutique stores could be opened in the future.

"We would like to, for sure," Cummings said of opening more stores. "We're always looking for new opportunities."

The Lake Geneva store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about JAYNE Boutique, visit www.shopjayne.com.
MACON, Ill. (WCIA)  A man from Macon is now facing formal charges following an incident in that village last week that left him shot and an officer hurt.

Oscar McCurry Jr. has since been identified as the person who, on May 3, was armed with a knife when Decatur Police confronted him in a gas station parking lot. McCurry allegedly ran from officers, stole a Macon County Sheriffs squad car, rammed a Decatur Park Police squad car and pointed a police-issued shotgun at officers, prompting them to open fire on him.

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After being hospitalized, McCurry was booked into the Macon County Jail over the weekend on preliminary charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery to a peace officer and unlawful possession of a firearm. On Monday, he made an initial appearance in court and was arraigned on the following formal felony counts:

Aggravated unlawful possesion of a weapon

Felon in possesion of a weapon

Aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon

Aggravated battery to a peace officer

Possesion of a stolen vehicle

Possesion of a stolen firearm

A sworn statement filed in the case, signed by Sheriffs Sergeant David Pittenger, also revealed new details about the confrontation with McCurry and their attempts to negotiate with him.

Deputies responded to the P&V gas station in Macon on May 3 in reference to a person with a machete who had crashed their car into a semi-truck. Pittenger said McCurry, whose machete was still in a sheath, told deputies he believed his daughter was being held inside the cab of the semi and was being sexually assaulted, which is why he crashed his car into the semi.

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The owner of the semi allowed deputies into the cab, and they found no one inside. Pittenger said this information still wasnt enough to convince McCurry his children werent in danger.

A deputy called McCurrys girlfriend to get him to calm down, but right as a deputy got off the phone with her, McCurry ran from the gas station and into the middle of U.S. Route 51. A deputy maneuvered their squad car onto the southbound lanes of the highway to block traffic at Andrews Road.

Danville man sentenced to prison for aggravated domestic battery, battery while detained

Pittenger said McCurry had unsheathed his machete and was standing in front of the squad car that had blocked traffic; the deputy inside quickly got out to put distance between him and McCurry. McCurry, who made suicidal statements, refused to put the machete down despite numerous commands to do so.

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A short time later, Oscar opened the drivers side door of the deputys vehicle, Pittenger said. Deputies observed Oscar then get into MSO squad car MC25 and drive away at a high rate of speed.

Pittenger said McCurry didnt get far, initially driving around in circles before driving west on Andrews Street and north on Wall Street. However, he aimed MC25 at multiple other squad cars, forcing the deputies driving them to take evasive action. One of those squad cars ended up in a roadside ditch.

McCurrys ride came to an end when he rammed a Decatur Park Police car on Wall Street a quarter mile south of Route 51, disabling MC25 and the Decatur Park Police car. But while the ride was still happening, McCurry got his hands on the department-issued shotgun inside, which Pittenger said McCurry was holding as he exited the squad car.

Oscar ignored all commands given by deputies [to drop the shotgun], at which time deputies fired their department-issued weapons at Oscar, Pittenger said. At that time, Oscar dropped the shotgun but retrieved a knife from his pocket while still standing in the roadway.

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Taylorville Police arrest dangerous felon after tracking him to their city

McCurry again refused demands to drop the knife, but Pittenger said he was taken into custody a short time later. Having been shot during the incident, McCurry was initially transported to Decatur Memorial Hospital for treatment of the gunshot wounds and then to a hospital in Springfield for injuries sustained in the crash.

The Decatur Park Police officer who was hurt in the collision with MC25 was also taken to Decatur Memorial. He is expected to be okay.

A week after the incident, a visibly injured McCurry was booked into the Macon County Jail. A check into his criminal history revealed that McCurry has a prior felony burglary conviction out of Oregon.

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In court on Monday, Judge Lindsey Shelton found that pretrial detention was necessary for McCurry and ordered him to remain in custody as his court case continues.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 28.

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 WCIA.com.
It is nastier than China. It has treated the US very unfairly. And it has shown no willingness to compromise. President Trump has been furiously dialling down his tariff wars over the last few days, reaching a truce with China, lifting his levies on Britain, and it is close to an agreement with Japan, with smaller economies such as Vietnam likely to follow soon afterwards. There is just one big exception. The European Union.

The global trading system, after the shock of Liberation Day, should soon be back to something close to normal. The US and China, the two largest economies in the world, and by far the most important trading relationship, have reached a deal that will take levies down to manageable levels and re-open the Pacific trade routes. Britain has carved out an exception for itself and many others will get what the President will no doubt refer to as great deals very soon.

The one exception will be the EU. There is absolutely zero sign of any progress, and Trump has singled out the bloc for extra criticism. There is now a real risk that huge tariffs on the EU remain in place while they are lifted elsewhere. We can see something very similar in defence, with Frances President Macron now recognising that he needs the UK as much, if not more, than the other way around. The tables have decisively turned.

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And yet, the bloc only has itself to blame. The trade masterminds in Brussels, despite constantly boasting about how they are the smartest negotiators in the world, have brought this calamity upon themselves. First, they have racked up a huge surplus with the US, running to 198 billion euros a year, while fiercely protecting their own market. American cars are rarely seen in Europe because they have always faced a 10 per cent tariff; its agricultural market is closed to American exports; the EU harasses the USs tech giants with spurious fines and cumbersome regulations; and countries such as Ireland use blatantly unfair tax deals to lure away American manufacturing.

It can hardly complain if the US has grown tired of an abusive relationship. Even worse, the EU has always treated trade negotiations as a trial of strength, ignoring the argument that a free and open economy would benefit both sides. We saw that very clearly in its high-handed approach to the Brexit negotiations. Might, its officials loftily assumed, was always right. It can hardly complain now that the Trump administration is deploying the same argument against it.

The US needs Chinese goods to fill the shelves at Walmart. And it cant cut itself off from global trade. But it will get along just fine without buying so much from the EU. In California and Florida they can drive a Land Rover, a Lexus, or even one of the super-slick new Xiaomi electric cars instead of a BMW or a Porsche. Australian and Argentinian wine is as good as French, and Burberry is just as stylish as Prada. The EU has fallen to the back of Trumps queue, and deservedly so  the damage that is about to befall its major exporting industries is entirely down to its own institutional arrogance.

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This is an adapted excerpt from the May 12 episode of The Rachel Maddow Show.

Last month, Donald Trump had his annual physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Usually, health is a personal topic, but when it comes to Trumps medical report, this story is explicitly not personal. It is about the country; it is about policy; and it is about the health of literally tens of millions of Americans.

Dr. David Kessler is a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner who has served multiple presidents, Democrat and Republican. He was most recently a very senior science adviser to former President Joe Biden. Hes been the dean of the medical schools at Yale and the University of California, San Francisco. To put it simply, Kessler is a big deal. And, as a medical doctor, Kessler took a look at Trumps medical report  and to him, it told a story, a good news story that he thought more Americans should know about.

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During his first term, a scan showed signs of plaque buildup in his coronary arteries, which put him at risk of a heart attack. In 2020, his body mass index was just over the threshold for obesity, Kessler writes in a new piece for The Atlantic.

According to Kessler, that combination would have made him a candidate for a GLP-1 drug, like the weight loss drugs Ozempic or Wegovy, and indeed, throughout his 2024 campaign, people speculated that he was taking one.

Kessler goes on to write, Then, last month, Trumps latest physical showed that he had dropped 20 pounds, moving him from obese to overweight.

As The Atlantic noted, Trump has never publicly said that he is on a GLP-1. When reached for comment, the White House did not address questions about the weight loss. In an emailed statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Atlantic that Trump is in peak physical and mental condition.

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Kessler then shares what he calls the most revealing aspect of Trumps medical report, the list of drugs he is taking, which includes a combination that amounts to what doctors call intensive lipid-lowering therapy  a treatment usually reserved for patients who are at significant risk of cardiac disease.

Trumps weight is no more important than the fact that he is on that drug regimen and that it seems to be working: His LDL (the bad cholesterol) has dropped dramatically in recent years, Kessler writes.

What Kessler sees in Trumps medical report is a success story, success against conditions that tens of millions of Americans struggle with: obesity and cardiac disease. That success appears to be largely thanks to medical science. According to his exam, the president is on two cholesterol-lowering drugs, the lipid-lowering intensive therapy that really does appear to be working for him.

We do not know if the presidents documented weight loss is thanks to Ozempic or a similar drug; certainly no shame if it is. It is not listed in his medical report, and the White House will not say one way or the other. (We also reached out to the White House, and they gave us the same response Kessler got.)

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But the point here is not the presidents personal health. The point is that the president of the United States appears to be improving his own health through access to great medical care and medical science. That is what he gets. But, simultaneously, his administration is doing so much to hurt regular Americans opportunity to achieve those same good health outcomes.

The budget for the National Institutes of Health, the government research agency that produces much of the science for these drugs and countless others, has been slashed. Nearly $2 billion in research grants have been canceled.

The FDA, which shepherds drugs to market and makes sure they are safe, is reeling from staffing cuts, and the staff that is there cannot complete basic tasks because their government credit cards have reportedly been frozen.

Trump and his allies in Congress are currently debating how many hundreds of billions of dollars they are going to cut from Medicaid, which provides health insurance to tens of millions of Americans.

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As for those GLP-1 weight loss drugs that can be a lifesaver for so many people, the Trump administration rescinded a Biden administration proposal to have those drugs covered by Medicaid and Medicare. Now the White House says weight loss drugs are expected to get a big price cut under Trumps new executive order targeting drug prices, though that order does not have the force of law.

Trump is personally benefiting from the scientific and medical infrastructure the U.S. government has built up over decades, while simultaneously destroying that infrastructure for everyone else.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Its not exactly a secret that air travel concerns are growing among Americans. As The New York Times noted, recent problems have resulted in major delays and cancellations, led to safety concerns for travelers and emerged as a major challenge for the Trump administration.

To address this major challenge, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a press conference in which he appeared desperate to pass the buck to the Biden administration, despite the fact that many of the recent problems emerged after the Trump administration got to work.

But I was struck by how, exactly, the former Fox News personality tried to avoid blame.

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The cracks that you are now seeing today were highlighted actually over the last four years, Duffy said, adding, [T]he president was understanding the cracks at the end of his administration and was going to fix it four years ago. But the last administration, they did nothing about it.

Im not altogether sure what the Cabinet secretary was even trying to say  I think he was making an effort to explain Donald Trumps disinterest in the issue during his first term (remember infrastructure week?)  but the idea that the Biden administration did nothing to address systemic issues is the exact opposite of the truth.

But there was one other comment of particular interest.

We didnt have to be here, Duffy said. This did not have to be our story. Over the last four years, the last administration, they knew this was a problem. And by the way, during Covid, when people werent flying, that was a perfect time to fix these problems.

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I dont mean to sound picky, but its astonishing just how often Republicans forget who was president five years ago.

The perfect time to work on systemic issues was during Covid? Perhaps  but does Duffy remember who was president when people werent flying?

Ill give him a hint: It wasnt Joe Biden.

This comes up far more often than it should. Last summer, for example, Trump insisted that the White House was responsible for trying to suppress a controversial report  a move he claimed ultimately rigged the 2020 election. What he didnt seem to realize was that he was accusing his own White House, not Bidens, since the Democrat didnt take office until 2021.

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A year earlier, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia blamed the Biden administrations policies for a Michigan woman whose sons died in 2020  when Biden was a private citizen and Trump was president.

Months later, Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas blamed Biden for paying people to stay home in 2020, referring to a law that Trump signed. The same week, Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado blamed the Democratic president for Covid-related school closures in 2020  which, again, was a year that Biden spent campaigning, not in the Oval Office.

It also wasnt too long ago when former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany pointed to crime data from 2020 to blame Biden for the U.S. murder rate, apparently unaware that it was her former boss who was president at the time.

Last year, then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, before she was appointed to a U.S. Senate seat, took aim at the Biden administrations approach to criminal justice protests in 2020  when there was no Biden administration.

Duffy, in other words, isnt alone among Republicans with short memories.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Late last week, Donald Trump took the extraordinary step of firing Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, despite her impressive record and years of bipartisan support. Soon after, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a scathing statement suggesting the presidents decision was not the final word on the story, and it looks like the New York Democrat was correct.

As this week got underway, for example, the administration announced that Todd Blanche  a former Trump defense attorney whos now the deputy attorney general  would serve as the acting librarian of Congress. He was part of an apparent new team that also included two other Justice Department officials: Brian Nieves, wholl serve as the acting deputy librarian, and Paul Perkins, wholl serve as the acting copyright registrar.

But its not quite that simple: It wasnt long before lawyers started asking whether a president can appoint temporary officials to serve in a separate branch of government. Whats more, there are related questions as to whether the appointees could legally work in the executive and legislative branches simultaneously.

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If that werent quite enough, NBC News reported that things got a little dicey when Trump appointees showed up at what they considered their new offices.

Two Trump administration DOJ officials who claimed to be assigned to the Library of Congress in acting leadership roles were turned away from its offices this morning, three sources familiar told NBC News. [Nieves and Perkins] arrived at 9 a.m. at the U.S. Copyright Office in the Madison Building and presented an email saying they were given the new roles, but the two were not allowed into the offices and left. The two had also presented a letter saying that Todd Blanche, the current deputy attorney general, was being appointed to also be the acting librarian of Congress. The two left after speaking with library staff and security.

In case this isnt obvious, standoffs like these are not at all common. The New York Times reported that when Nieves and Perkins showed up, staff members at the library balked and called the U.S. Capitol Police as well as their general counsel, Meg Williams, who told the two officials that they were not allowed access to the Copyright Office and asked them to leave.

Evidently, at least in this instance, that worked.

The controversy is likely to continue  not just because these dubious Trump appointees might try to return to the offices the White House expects them to hold, but also because Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Library of Congress inspector general, Kimberly Benoit, to launch an investigation.

With this in mind, its unlikely that weve heard the last of this story. Watch this space.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
With just weeks remaining before Election Day 2016, Donald Trump faced off against Hillary Clinton for the third and final presidential debate of the cycle, and the Republican seemed eager to talk about the Clinton Foundation  or more specifically, its Middle Eastern donors.

Saudi Arabia giving $25 million, Qatar, all of these countries, Trump said. You talk about women and womens rights? So these are people that push gays off buildings. These are people that kill women and treat women horribly. And yet you take their money.

After the election, the president continued down the same path, spending part of his first term condemning Qatar as a regressive state-sponsor of terrorism.

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His attitudes apparently evolved over time, however, especially as the Trump Organization pursued business opportunities in the Middle East. Now, nearly a decade after Trump condemned Clinton for being the indirect beneficiary of Qatari generosity, the Republican is eager to accept a superluxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from his friends in Qatar.

A New York Times analysis highlighted the ways in which the president is raising red flags about corruption that eclipse some of the dramatic controversies from his first term.

The administrations plan to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari royal family is only the latest example of an increasingly no-holds-barred atmosphere in Washington under Trump 2.0. Not only would the famously transactional chief executive be able to use the plane while in office, but he is also expected to transfer it to his presidential foundation once he leaves the White House. The second Trump administration is showing striking disdain for onetime norms of propriety and for traditional legal and political guardrails around public service.

The analysis added that Trump doesnt fear legal consequences, since Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices effectively elevated the presidency above the law, and he doesnt fear congressional accountability, because obedient GOP lawmakers hold majorities in both chambers of Congress.

Its that latter point thats of particular interest.

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The deeply chilling part of this bribe and national security betrayal from the president is just how blatant and erroneous what hes doing is, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said as the controversy intensified. Hes almost daring Republicans to stand up to him and defend our country.

The New York Democrat added, So, where are our Republican friends with this kind of egregious, grubby, awful self-enrichment?

Its hardly an unreasonable question. This apparent arrangement raises legal, ethical, political, mechanical, financial, and national security concerns. Are there any GOP lawmakers prepared to acknowledge reality?

To date, no Senate Republicans have publicly called on the White House to reject the gift, but some came close. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, for example, described the plan as a mistake and not worth the appearance of impropriety. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also sounded a note of skepticism, while Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called Qatars offer pretty strange.

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But other GOP partisans were quick to say what the president wanted them to say. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, for example, compared the jet to France gifting the U.S. the Statue of Liberty  I dont think he was kidding  while Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma suggested Congress would gladly approve the arrangement.

My personal favorite was Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who said, Gosh, let me give you a plane. I mean, that seems pretty nice, but they support Hamas, so I dont know.

As the president continues to struggle to come up with a coherent defense, Senate Democrats are planning to force a vote in the coming days on a resolution disapproving of the plan. Watch this space.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* Only one Democrat holds statewide elected office in Iowa: Rob Sand, the Hawkeye States auditor. With this in mind, party officials were delighted to see Sand launch a gubernatorial campaign this week, giving Democrats a top contender in the race to replace retiring Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

* On a related note, Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra also filed the paperwork this week for a gubernatorial candidacy of his own in Iowa.

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* In New Jersey, one of only two states with gubernatorial races this year, time is running out before the GOP primary, and frontrunner Jack Ciattarelli just received a significant boost: Donald Trump has thrown his support behind the former assemblyman's candidacy. In 2015, Ciattarelli said Trump was a charlatan who was unfit to be president, but hes since become a Trump loyalist.

* The Democratic National Committees credentials committee voted to invalidate the process that elevated David Hogg to his current leadership post. If the full DNC agrees, Hogg and his fellow vice chair, Malcolm Kenyatta, might need to run again for their positions.

* In Georgias U.S. Senate race, now that Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has decided not to run, the GOP field is starting to grow with lower-profile contenders: Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King is the latest to throw his hat into the ring.

* In Minnesotas U.S. Senate race, its a crowded Democratic field, but Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan just received a high-profile endorsement: Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts threw her support behind the lieutenant governor, calling her the partner I need in the Senate.

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* And in Texas, a poll commissioned by the Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP leadershipbacked super PAC, found incumbent Sen. John Cornyn trailing state Attorney General Ken Paxton by 16 points in their upcoming Republican primary. Thats not great news for the incumbent. (Details on the polls methodology and margin of error are not available.)

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* Trump in the Middle East: President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would cease sanctions against war-torn Syria to give them a chance at greatness, as he seeks to strengthen ties to Saudi Arabia and others. Oh, what I do for the crown prince, Trump said as Mohammed bin Salman, seated in the front row, crossed his arms over his chest in an expression of gratitude.

* A fascinating report on an underappreciated story: When he approved a campaign to reopen shipping in the Red Sea by bombing the Houthi militant group into submission, President Trump wanted to see results within 30 days of the initial strikes two months ago. By Day 31, Mr. Trump, ever leery of drawn-out military entanglements in the Middle East, demanded a progress report, according to administration officials. But the results were not there.

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* On Capitol Hill: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday he is placing a hold on all Trump Justice Department nominees as he seeks answers on the administrations plan to accept a luxury jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One.

* Will the FDA ever be the same? The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced it will begin the process of pulling prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children off the market. The supplements are usually given to kids at high risk for cavities.

* I dont know if a story like this one will resonate with the general public, but in terms of the free press and Americans right to know about an important and controversial presidential trip, it matters: The group representing White House journalists said Monday it was disturbed that the Trump administration barred any wire service news reporters from traveling with the president on Air Force One to the Middle East. No reporters from The Associated Press, Bloomberg or Reuters were on the plane, where presidents often take questions from traveling members of the press.

* Farmers need this information, and fortunately, theyll now get it: The Agriculture Department will restore information about climate change that was scrubbed from its website when President Trump took office, according to court documents filed on Monday in a lawsuit over the deletion.

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* A story weve been keeping an eye on: More than 100 of the employees who were laid off from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) facility in Morgantown are expected to have their jobs restored, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said in a statement Tuesday.

* Im going to assume Musk will turn down the offer, but this debate is actually a good idea: Former Social Security commissioner Martin OMalley challenged billionaire Elon Musk to a public debate Monday over Musks claims that the retirement program for Americas seniors is rife with fraud.

* Noted without comment: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, posted photos on Sunday of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a contaminated Washington creek where swimming is not allowed because it is used for sewer runoff. Rock Creek, which flows through much of Northwest Washington, is used to drain excess sewage and storm water during rainfall. The creek has widespread fecal contamination and high levels of bacteria, including E. coli, and the city has banned swimming in all of its waterways for more than 50 years because of the widespread contamination of Rock Creek and other nearby rivers.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
If Trump-aligned Floridians have their way, the historically Black university Florida A&M may soon be under the thumb of a trusted MAGA ally.

The late entry of Marva Johnson into the pool of candidates to become FAMUs president has sparked concern about her allegiances, the selection process and her apparent lack of qualifications. Johnson, who has been appointed to boards by Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott, has no college administrative experience and has remained an ally of DeSantis as his GOP administration has undermined Black history lessons in the state.

The Tallahassee Democrat nailed down some of the concerns from Black Floridians, FAMU affiliates and others:

The resistance to Johnson  a former Florida Board of Education chair also appointed to other boards by both former Gov. Rick Scott and current Gov. Ron DeSantis  comes amid broad speculation that her name was added late to the search committees original list of three finalists that panelists interviewed and voted on during closed sessions.

As the outlet notes, Johnson is facing a wave of dissent:

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A Change.org petition against her candidacy has garnered more than 10,000 signatures.

Floridas state NAACP president is threatening potential legal action over the selection process.

Popular film director Will Packer, a FAMU graduate who has produced films like Takers, Straight Outta Compton and Think Like a Man, warned that a group of activist Republicans are trying to put in the highest position of power someone who is solidly and objectively unqualified for it.

And various Black media personalities online have sounded the alarm on Johnson, as well.

The ultimate decision will be up to the Florida Board of Governors, the governing body for the states universities. The boards vice chair, who happens to be white, has voiced support for Johnson and called criticism of her unfair.

But at this point, it seems quite fair for anyone to be concerned about close allies of the governor being tapped to wield control over local colleges and universities. It hasnt exactly gone well in other cases.

Former Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Fla., was DeSantis pick to lead the University of Florida, and his brief stint as president ended in controversy last year when he resigned amid widespread concerns about his spending. Another DeSantis ally  Richard Corcoran  was tapped to lead the historically liberal-leaning New College of Florida, while the colleges board of trustees includes right-wing influencer Christopher Rufo. And under their leadership, New College of Florida has undergone a right-wing transformation, bringing on employees from conservative media outlets and right-wing think tanks.

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In November, The Guardian published an article describing that transformation, with a headline that said: With Trump returning to power, rightwingers may seek to replicate New College of Floridas experience across US.

That, it would seem, is the precise scenario that opponents of Johnsons presidential candidacy at FAMU are trying to avoid.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University student who has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), wrote to his infant son in an opinion piece for The Guardian published Sunday, saying his absence is not unique.

My heart aches that I could not hold you in my arms and hear your first cry, that I could not unfurl your clenched fists or change your first diaper, Khalil said in the piece.

I am sorry that I was not there to hold your mothers hand or to recite the adhan, or call to prayer, in your ear. But my absence is not unique. Like other Palestinian fathers, I was separated from you by racist regimes and distant prisons. In Palestine, this pain is part of daily life, he wrote.

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Khalil was recently denied permission to go to his first childs birth, and his wife said she welcomed the boy into the world by herself.

This was a purposeful decision by ICE to make me, Mahmoud, and our son suffer, Noor Abdalla, Khalils wife, said in a previous statement.

In his opinion piece for his child, Khalil said late last month that he waited on the other end of a phone as your mother labored to bring you into this world.

I listened to her pained breaths and tried to speak comforting words into her ear over the crackling line, he added. During your first moments, I buried my face in my arms and kept my voice low so that the 70 other men sleeping in this concrete room would not see my cloudy eyes or hear my voice catch.

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Khalil had a notable role in recent Columbia protests, backing Palestinians and opposing Israel. In an opinion piece for a Columbia student newspaper last month, he said the school laid the groundwork for my abduction and pushed for the schools students to not abdicate their responsibility to resist repression.

The logic used by the federal government to target myself and my peers is a direct extension of Columbias repression playbook concerning Palestine, Khalil said in an April opinion piece for the Columbia Daily Spectator. In the 18 months since the genocidal campaign in Gaza began, Columbia has not only refused to acknowledge the lives of Palestinians sacrificed for Zionist settler colonialism, but it has actively reproduced the language used to justify this killing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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May 13A Maine judge says she will not wait for the state supreme court to rule on an appeal before she moves forward with releasing people from jail and dropping charges against those who have unconstitutionally gone too long without a lawyer.

Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy also agreed to declare that the entire state, not just its public defense agency, is at fault for these Sixth Amendment violations, as the American Civil Liberties Union has alleged in its lawsuit.

"[I]t is the State's obligation to provide indigent criminal defendants with representation," Murphy wrote in an order last week. "Or as counsel for the MCPDS defendants put it very early in this litigation: it is the State of Maine that is the 'real party in interest in this matter.'"

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Murphy wrote that she plans to resume the process soon. No date was scheduled with the Kennebec County Superior Court, where the case is being heard, as of Tuesday morning.

Murphy first ruled in January that the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services was liable for not providing continuous legal representation to hundreds of poor, criminally charged Mainers.

She announced in March that she intended to start holding a series of hearings in April to identify and release anyone who has waited more than two weeks without a lawyer. She also planned to dismiss charges against defendants who had waited more than 60 days for a lawyer. Once released, they would still be on strict bail conditions. Any charges dropped could be filed again once a lawyer is available, Murphy said.

Advocates for Maine crime victims said these plans will put at risk the safety of victims whose perpetrators are in jail. The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence said in January that "victims of crime are bearing the consequences" of the state's constitutional failures.

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A lawyer for the state urged Murphy to wait for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's opinion on more procedural grounds, arguing that Murphy was using the wrong legal procedure for this kind of case. The state also said the habeas process can't legally be applied to felony-level charges.

Murphy, however, disagreed. She said Maine technically doesn't recognize "felonies," and that the criminal code instead using a series of "classes" for sentencing.

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Murphy's hearings will follow the "writ of habeas corpus" process. Habeas cases are typically filed on behalf of individual defendants who say they're being jailed illegally  in this case, the law's application would be unprecedented because it will potentially provide habeas relief to a large, yet-to-be-determined number of people, all at once.

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"Where a writ has been granted, the purpose of habeas corpus  to swiftly secure the liberty of a person wrongfully detained  would be defeated if the delays resulting from an appeal could pause the discharge of a wrongfully detained person," Murphy wrote in her most recent order.

The ruling results from a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine first filed against the state's indigent defense system in 2022, which has been amended several times to account for a growing crisis of defendants who are entitled to lawyers, but don't have them.

An emergency law recently took effect, allowing the state to hire more public defenders and judges to appoint more private attorneys to cases that need them. The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services also filed a court-ordered plan in April, laying out how they intend to identify unrepresented defendants and get them lawyers.

"This order shows the court recognizes the urgency of this crisis because no person should be incarcerated or dragged through months of criminal legal proceedings without an attorney," said ACLU of Maine Legal Director Carol Garvan in a statement. "The court's decision underscores the importance of habeas corpus protections, which entitle people to a speedy process to challenge unlawful restraints on their liberty. Any time the state chooses to restrict a person's freedom, it is the state's responsibility to ensure a fair and speedy process. That constitutional requirement cannot be indefinitely put on hold because the state has filed an appeal."

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A spokesperson for the Office of the Maine Attorney General, which is representing the state and the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services, said it doesn't comment on pending litigation.

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May 13A Maine judge says she will not wait for the state supreme court to rule on an appeal before she moves forward with releasing people from jail and dropping charges against those who have unconstitutionally gone too long without a lawyer.

In doing so, Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy said the state would have one more week to find jailed defendants a lawyer before they get released.

Murphy wrote in her order this month that she plans to resume the process soon, but no date was scheduled with the Kennebec County Superior Court, where the case is being heard, as of Tuesday morning.

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Murphy ruled in January that the state's public defense agency is violating the Sixth Amendment by not providing Mainers with criminal charges with continuous legal representation.

She announced in March that she intended to start holding a series of hearings in April to identify and release anyone who has waited more than two weeks without a lawyer. She also planned to dismiss charges against defendants who had waited more than 60 days for a lawyer. Once released, they would still be on strict bail conditions. Any charges dropped could be filed again once a lawyer is available, Murphy said.

Advocates for domestic violence survivors and other crime victims have shared their concerns with this latest development, saying it puts many at risk. A lawyer for the state urged Murphy to wait for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's opinion on more procedural grounds, arguing that Murphy was using the wrong legal procedure for this kind of a case.

Murphy's hearings will follow the "writ of habeas corpus" process. Habeas cases are typically filed on behalf of individual defendants who say they're being jailed illegally  in this case, the law's application would be unprecedented because it will potentially provide habeas relief to a large, yet-to-be-determined number of people, all at once.

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"Where a writ has been granted, the purpose of habeas corpus  to swiftly secure the liberty of a person wrongfully detained  would be defeated if the delays resulting from an appeal could pause the discharge of a wrongfully detained person," Murphy wrote in her most recent order.

The ruling results from a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine first filed against the state's indigent defense system in 2022, which has been amended several times to account for a growing crisis of people who are entitled to a lawyer but don't have them. An emergency law recently took effect, allowing the state to hire more public defenders and judges to appoint more private attorneys to cases that need them.

"This order shows the court recognizes the urgency of this crisis because no person should be incarcerated or dragged through months of criminal legal proceedings without an attorney," said ACLU of Maine Legal Director Carol Garvan in a statement. "The court's decision underscores the importance of habeas corpus protections, which entitle people to a speedy process to challenge unlawful restraints on their liberty. Any time the state chooses to restrict a person's freedom, it is the state's responsibility to ensure a fair and speedy process. That constitutional requirement cannot be indefinitely put on hold because the state has filed an appeal."

A spokesperson for the Office of the Maine Attorney General, which is representing the state and the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services, said they don't comment on pending litigation.

This story will be updated.

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May 13AUGUSTA  A proposal to create an annual "day to remember" honoring democracy on the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol won initial support from lawmakers in the Maine House of Representatives following a heated debate and party-line vote Tuesday.

The proposal, from Rep. Rafael Macias, D-Topsham, would require the governor to issue a proclamation each year on the date "honoring the resilience of democracy" and encouraging people to use the day to reflect "on the values of democracy, civic responsibility and the importance of protecting constitutional governance."

"Jan. 6, 2021 is a day I will never forget," Macias said during a floor debate on the bill. "I'm so glad it will be remembered for what it was  a rebuffed coup attempt that was completed four years later. We should write down how it really happened, otherwise it will be remembered how (rioters) want our descendants to believe it. This bill puts that day on the record."

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The House took an initial vote of 74-65 to advance the bill, LD 702, along party lines, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. It still faces an additional House vote as well as votes in the Senate before it could be sent to Gov. Janet Mills for her consideration.

The bill drew heated debate for about a half hour before House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, stood up and asked lawmakers to vote quickly so they could move on to other work.

"If there was ever truly a debate where we're not changing a vote or convincing each other, it's this one," Faulkingham said. "It's just becoming mean and nasty and I would just encourage members to end this debate and take it to social media. Take it outside. Take it wherever you need to take it. But we're not convincing each other in here."

During the debate, Republicans argued the proposal was only fueling division and presenting a one-sided narrative around the events of Jan. 6 while Democrats said the day of remembrance is important for documenting history.

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"I am deeply troubled we are wasting time speaking about Jan. 6," said Assistant Minority Leader Katrina Smith, R-Palermo. "The people of Maine are focused on the future  trying to figure out their electric bills and how to fund their children's education  not dwelling on the past."

Smith said Jan. 6 was a gathering of "good American patriots" who came to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the end of President Donald Trump's first term. "I cannot stand by while this bill passes with only one side of the story looking to be told and memorializing claims that Jan. 6 was a premeditated attack or that only members of Congress suffered on that day," Smith said.

Rep. Barbara Bagshaw, R-Windham, who was present at the Jan. 6, 2021 rally that preceded the riot at the U.S. Capitol building, recounted her experience Tuesday and condemned Democrats who she said labeled her an insurrectionist and a rioter when she was running for reelection.

"An insurrection is against a sitting president," Bagshaw said. "On Jan. 6, who was the sitting president? That was Donald John Trump. So he didn't make an insurrection against himself ... I went to hear a speech. I was dragged through the mud. We're trying to cause further division (with this proposal)."

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"Unless we're going to put facts down and state the truth, we shouldn't waste taxpayer dollars with this nonsense," she added.

Rep. Marc Malon, D-Biddeford, said it's important to remember what happened on Jan. 6, 2021.

"This happened, and it was an assault on our democracy, in my opinion," Malon said. "It's important that we remember because facts do matter."

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Major General James Crook, who has died aged 101, took part in a major British nuclear test programme in the course of a distinguished career in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).

In 1956, Crook went to South Australia as one of a group of scientists working on the biological problems of atomic explosions. Maralinga  the name means Place of Thunder  is on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert, about 700 miles north-west of Adelaide. It was covered with grass, flowering shrubs and trees, and there was plenty of animal life, including lizards and snakes, rabbits, kangaroos, emus and parrots.

Scientific and recreational facilities had been established, a large runway and aerodrome built and a 100 ft tower constructed at the end of a long road leading from Maralinga village.

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In this series of weapons tests, four rounds were planned  two from the tower, one from the ground and an air-drop from a Valiant bomber. Crooks task was to put out items of medical equipment at varying distances from the tower. Some were placed on the surface, while others, including foodstuffs, were buried to assess the effect of ionising radiation. A further task was to place articulated dummies in battle-dress to calculate the dynamic effects of the blast wave on human beings.

Also exposed to the bomb were trucks, light vehicles, aircraft, tanks, guns, radar and other military equipment. Blast detectors, heat detectors and gamma neutron detectors were among a large assortment of scientific instruments laid out to measure the effects of the bomb.

The area was a scene of great activity. Bulldozers, drillers, graders and mobile cranes raised clouds of dust. Several times, Crook found himself looking over his shoulder at the tower and wondering whether atomic bombs ever exploded prematurely.

The first round was to be exploded from the tower. The fireball was expected to come into contact with the ground and the radioactive fall-out, affecting the first 100 miles downwind, was predicted to be high. Firing, therefore, could only be permitted when the wind was in exactly the right direction and of the right strength.

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Crook and other service officers watched the explosion on a hill within a few miles of the tower. He wrote afterwards: A tremendously bright, white-blueish flash illuminated the area. It was like a magnesium flare and outshone the sun. An orange fireball rose extraordinarily quickly, attached to the ground by the mushroom-stalk cloud. The roar and the intensely hot pressure wave came several seconds later.

A dustcloud rises from a British nuclear bomb test in Maralinga, 1952 - AP/STR

James Cooper Crook was born at Prestatyn, north Wales, on March 19 1923. He won an open scholarship to Worksop College before going to Guys Hospital on a junior science scholarship. His father, Francis, had served in the First World War before going to Guys, and his grandfather, Sir Edwin Cooper Perry, was Superintendent of Guys from 1897 to 1920 and vice-chancellor of London University.

In 1946 he was commissioned into the RAMC as a National Serviceman and was serving in North Africa during Britains severe winter of 1947-48. A soldiers life seemed preferable to that sort of experience and he decided to make a career in the regular Army.

After three years in Cyrenaica Province, Libya, he returned to England to begin his training in pathology at the Queen Alexandras Military Hospital at Millbank in London. It was during the period 1954 to 1957, when he was the Army medical liaison officer to the Medical Research Council in the radiobiology unit at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell in Oxfordshire that he attended the nuclear tests at Maralinga.

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Early in the morning, on the day following the explosion of the first round, he drove to the health control checkpoint, where a complete decontamination centre had been established. He changed into protective clothing, including rubber boots, overalls and a respirator. He was given a personal dose-rate meter and walked to the dirty car park. There he collected a dirty jeep and drove towards the bomb site through a scene of devastation  with blackened earth, charred and flattened trees, and fires burning in vehicles and other target items.

As he retrieved the food targets, the needle on his dosimeter was recording several roentgens per hour. He wasted no time in completing the task and returned to the centre to undress and shower. This was followed by rigorous monitoring to confirm that he was completely free of contamination.

There followed postings to Cyprus during the EOKA Emergency, and to the David Bruce Military Hospital in Malta. He was the RAMC specialist and pathologist at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down in Wiltshire from 1960 to 1963.

After a posting to Eastern Command Laboratory, he moved to the Ministry of Defence. He hated having to wear a city suit, a bowler hat and carry an umbrella, and he jumped on the hat when he finished the appointment. After five years in command of the British Military Hospital at Munster in West Germany, he returned to the MoD  this time without a bowler hat.

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It was his final appointment. He was promoted to major general and finished as director of Army Pathology. In 1981 he retired from the Army and worked as a civilian medical practitioner at the Army Blood Supply Depot in Aldershot , where he became known as the Bleeding General.

In retirement in Cornwall, he loved travelling and, having loaded his family into their veteran Morris Oxford, he would drive across France to Bavaria for camping holidays. He also enjoyed researching the family history.

In 2023 he received the British Nuclear Tests Medal and wore it at the last Remembrance Service he attended.

James Crook married, in 1950, Ruth Bellamy, who was serving with Queen Alexandras Royal Army Nursing Corps. She died in 2015 and he is survived by two daughters and a son.

Major General James Crook, born March 19 1923, died March 16 2025

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Six of the nations leading social media platforms are failing to keep LGBTQ users safe from online bullying and harassment and quell the spread of disinformation, according to a new report from GLAAD, an LGBTQ media advocacy group.

Now in its fifth year, GLAADs Social Media Safety Index evaluates policies and product features of TikTok, X, YouTube, and Metas Instagram, Facebook and Threads on more than a dozen LGBTQ-specific indicators, including whether platforms have public-facing policies against deadnaming and misgendering or regulations preventing users from engaging in hate speech that targets LGBTQ people.

The social media landscape has shifted drastically since the group published its first report in 2021, said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAADs president and CEO, with new and dangerous challenges in 2025.

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In January, Meta, owned by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, dropped some of its rules protecting LGBTQ people, allowing users to share allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality.

The updated language, part of a broader overhaul of the social media giants content moderation practices, also permits users to argue for gender-based limitations of military, law enforcement, and teaching jobs and sex- or gender-based exclusion from spaces like restrooms and sports.

What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and its gone too far, Zuckerberg said in a video announcing the new policies. He said the November elections, which saw Republicans retake control of Congress and the White House, feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech.

President Trump celebrated the updated policies, which included eliminating the companys third-party fact-checking program.

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In its report on Tuesday, GLAAD called the changes at Meta draconian and said the company should restore sections of its hateful conduct policy that shielded LGBTQ people from harassment. The group said it was also deeply concerned about what it said was a similar policy shift at YouTube, which removed gender identity and expression from its hate speech policys list of protected characteristics last month.

In a post on X, the social platform owned by billionaire and Trump White House adviser Elon Musk, YouTube said it removed that language as part of a routine copy edit to its Help Center, and its policy against hate speech had not changed. YouTubes public-facing policy states it does not allow content that promotes violence or hatred against individuals based on Sex, Gender, or Sexual Orientation.

Each of the six platforms failed to pass GLAADs evaluation, with TikTok scoring the highest, 56 out of a possible 100, and X, at 30, scoring the lowest.

A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment on GLAADs findings. Representatives for X, YouTube and Meta did not return requests for comment.

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At a time when real-world violence and harassment against LGBTQ people is on the rise, social media companies are profiting from the flames of anti-LGBTQ hate instead of ensuring the basic safety of LGBTQ users, Ellis said in a statement Tuesday. These low scores should terrify anyone who cares about creating safer, more inclusive online spaces.

GLAAD acknowledged Tuesday in its report that some companies have worked to make LGBTQ users, particularly transgender users, safer on their platforms.

TikToks hate and harassment policies, for instance, provide the most comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people, according to the groups report, including a prohibition on intentional deadnaming and misgendering, and YouTube this year rolled back a policy that allowed advertisers to exclude some users from seeing ads based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Advertisers on YouTube are also prohibited from promoting conversion therapy, a discredited practice that aims to change a persons gender identity or sexual orientation, but the platform has not adopted a similar policy for individual users, according to GLAAD.

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While it ranked lowest on the organizations scorecard, X is one of just two platforms  the other being TikTok  that prohibit both targeted misgendering and deadnaming, though that protection is granted only where required by local laws, according to Xs abuse and harassment policies. The company also must always hear from the target to determine whether a violation has occurred, effectively requiring targeted individuals to engage with and report content that might be against the rules.

Jenni Olson, GLAADs senior director of social media safety, said tech companies are taking unprecedented leaps backwards in their policies regarding targeted harassment.

This is not normal, she said in a statement. Our communities deserve to live in a world that does not generate or profit off of hate.

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The University of Louisiana Monroe library, photographed from Northeast Drive. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisiana lawmakers have advanced a new TOPS award for high-performing students, scrapping language from an original proposal that would have dramatically changed the popular scholarship program.

House Bill 77 by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, was amended Tuesday in the House Committee on Appropriations because it would have increased state spending nearly $50 million annually at a time when lawmakers are working under budget constraints. In its current state, Turner said his proposal comes with a $12 million cost that can be covered with unused TOPS awards.

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Originally, Turners bill would have created a flat rate for each level of TOPS award rather than a unique allotment for each school. The new rate would have meant students at LSU, its two medical schools and the University of New Orleans would pay more out of pocket, while students at other Louisiana schools would pay less.

The provisions drew the criticism of Phyllis Taylor, whose late husband Patrick F. Taylor was responsible for the creation of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, a merit-based scholarship program for Louisiana students who attend in-state schools.

With the new amendments, Turners bill creates the TOPS Excellence award, which is available to any student with a 3.5 grade point average and a score of 31 or higher on the ACT. The scholarship will equal tuition and fees at the public university the student chooses or $12,000, whichever is less.

The new Excellence award would go to students who enroll in college starting in the upcoming fall semester or later.

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Turner added amendments to his bill that incorporate language from House Bill 70 by Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie. It would expand the number of students eligible for the TOPS Tech award, which covers up to two years of study in a skill or occupational training program.

The bill will next be debated on the House floor.

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President Trump has only been in office for a little more than 100 days, but his policy changes have already had widespread consequences for workplaces across the country, as businesses anticipate newfound challenges.

Nearly 85% of employers believe that the federal changes to DEI policy will have an impact on their business during the first year of the Trump administration, according to a new survey from Littler, the largest global employment and labor law firm, which surveyed around 350 legal and HR leaders across various industries. And around 75% of employers said that they had concerns about the business and legal impacts of immigration policy changes.

"The findings illustrate that topics dominating the headlinesincluding immigration and inclusion, equity and diversity (IE&D)are creating significant challenges for employers both from a workforce management and legal perspective, the report reads.

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Jorge Lopez, chair of the immigration and global mobility practice group at Littler, tells Fortune that employers are running into problems when it comes to how these topics intersect with their ability to adequately staff their companies.

Not because employers are going out there and hiring undocumented workers, he says. But theyre concerned because of a higher level of scrutiny and review mechanisms from a compliance perspective, and what impact that could potentially have.

Almost immediately after his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order eliminating all federal DEI programs. He also signed a directive ordering federal agencies to combat illegal private sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities. Although this would only affect companies who are already operating illegally, those signals from the executive branch acted as an impetus for many major corporations to roll back their policiesa trend that had already begun the year before.

The president has also taken unprecedented steps to crack down on immigration, declaring a national emergency at the southern border, and attempting to limit birthright citizenship, although the latter issue has been blocked in court. The administration has also received widespread criticism for sending hundreds of immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador on the allegations they were gang members, despite the fact that many had never been tried and convicted. Last week, he called for an additional 20,000 ICE officers to help with immigration arrests.

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When it comes to DEI, however, there is still significant employer resistance despite the presidential interest. Around 45% of employers said that they are not currently considering new or further rollbacks of their diversity policies.

Even as some organizations modify their programs in response to the administrations priorities, its unlikely that IE&D will disappear any time soon, writes Jeanine Conley Daves, a member of the firms Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Consulting Practice. It remains an important talent recruitment and retention strategy at many organizations.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali's military government announced on Tuesday that it had dissolved all political parties, approving a recommendation publicised last month that spurred unprecedented protests in the capital, Bamako.

A statement read on state television said the decision had been validated by military leader Assimi Goita, who seized power in the West African country after coups in 2020 and 2021.

Last month, a national conference of political actors in Mali recommended naming Goita as president with a five-year mandate as well as dissolving the parties.

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In protests in Bamako on May 3 and May 4, several hundred critics carried placards displaying messages calling for multi-party elections and chanted slogans such as: "Down with dictatorship, long live democracy." The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.

Ahead of another planned protest on May 9, Mali suspended political activities across the country, forcing the opposition parties to call off their gathering.

Meanwhile, three opposition politicians are feared to have been abducted in recent days, according to party officials and human rights activists, raising fears of mounting repression.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement last week that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by "masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes" on May 8. The group also said "unidentified men" seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako on the same day.

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On Tuesday, a member of CODEM, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, told Reuters that the party had not heard from Abdoul Karim Traore, a party youth leader, for two days and feared he had been abducted too.

Mali's security ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Mali Newsroom; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet, Aidan Lewis)
In 1982, 15-year-old Karen Stitts naked body was discarded near a bus stop in Sunnyvale after she was brutally raped and stabbed and finally, more than 40 years later, her killer has been sentenced.

The Palo Alto teen had spent the evening with her 17-year-old boyfriend, who, after a night of walking around together, left her at the bus stop around midnight so she could get back home, and he wouldnt miss his curfew.

A truck driver spotted Stitts body, bloody and tied up, in the bushes near a bloodstained cinder-block wall just before 11 a.m. the following day, officials with the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said in a news release.

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She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times in the neck, stomach, chest and back, and despite the killer leaving both his blood and semen on the teens body, police were unable to implicate anyone in the gruesome murder and the case went cold.

In the years that followed, investigators used DNA technology to create a profile from the bloodstain found on the wall and the bodily fluids on Stitt that exonerated her boyfriend, but did not match anyone else in the national DNA crime database, the L.A. Times reported.

Karen Stitt, 15, a resident of Palo Alto seen in this undated photo. (Santa Clara County DAs Office) Karen Stitt, 15, a resident of Palo Alto seen in this undated photo. (Santa Clara County DAs Office)

In 2019, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Detective Matt Hutchinson used a tip that the teens killer was likely one of four brothers from Fresno and launched a genealogical investigation to find a family member that matched DNA from the crime scene.

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Some three years later, in April 2022, Gary Ramirez, now 78, a resident of Maui, was identified as the suspect after his daughter provided a DNA sample to investigators.

Arrests made in sextortion scam tied to California teens suicide

Four months later, he was arrested at his Maui home, extradited to Santa Clara County and charged with murder, rape, kidnapping and being armed with a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

In February, the 78-year-old pleaded no contest to the 1982 slaying and on May 12 was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years.

Over 40 years ago, Karen Stitt lost her life, but she was not forgotten, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. Today, thanks to a dedicated detective, a persistent prosecutor, and our Crime Lab, the person responsible is behind bars.

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Several of Karen Stitts friends and family reportedly attended Mondays sentencing, where they were able to share the pain that the long-unresolved case continues to cause.

Justice is a difficult thing, Robin Morris, Stitts aunt, said in an interview, according to The Times. Hes lived his entire life, and my niece didnt get that privilege.

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NOTE: The video above shows some of the top headlines of the week.

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa man was arrested early Tuesday morning after investigators said he allegedly strangled his girlfriend at an area motel. George Douglas, 28, has been charged with Assault by Impeding Breath or Circulation, a third-degree felony.

According to an Odessa Police Department report, around 1:05 am on May 13, officers were called to a Motel 6 off Interstate 20 to investigate a disturbance. At the scene, investigators met with a 45-year-old woman who was crying and had red marks on both sides of her neck and ruptured blood vessels in her eyes. The woman said she and her boyfriend, identified as Douglas, got into an argument because he was intoxicated and was behaving aggressively.

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Things escalated, the victim said, when she tried to gather her belongings and leave the motel room; she said Douglas threw her to the ground, threw her belongings across the room, and then threw her on the bed where he began to choke her. The woman told investigators that she fought Douglas off by pushing him and scratching his face.

Douglas told investigators that the argument was only a verbal one and that no physical assault had occurred; however, the victims injuries were consistent with her version of events, OPD said. Douglas was arrested at the scene and booked into the Ector County Law Enforcement Center where he remained as of Tuesday afternoon. His bond has not yet been set.

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Video is previous coverage

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Upshur County Grand Jury released its May 2025 list of indictments Monday, which includes those accused of attempted murder, arson and DUI with death.

Jeremiah Burkhammer

One of the more notable people indicted on Monday was Jeremiah Burkhammer, 19, of French Creek, who is accused of picking up a 4-month-old victim and throwing them onto a pillow while yelling at them during an incident in February 2025.

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Court documents say that Burkhammer also appeared to be smacking the chest of the victim while the victim is crying, and covering their mouth, during which time the victim had muffled crying and was flailing their arms and legs.

Burkhammer has been indicted on one count of suffocation and three counts of child neglect, creating risk of death or serious injury.

Dustyn Walton

Another notable indictment this term is Dustyn Walton, who is accused of stabbing another man with a knife at the Kanawha Lounge in Buckhannon in January 2025. Court documents say that the victim was stabbed after they found Walton urinating outside and telling him that it was not right. After the stabbing, the victim was found lying on the bathroom floor with blood soaked through their shirt. Officers said that Walton had also run from the area before the time the stabbing was dispatched.

Walton has been indicted on one count of attempted murder and one count of malicious assault.

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Man charged after allegedly robbing Morgantown hot spot while barefoot

Joshua Foster

Another person indicted Monday was Joshua Foster, who is accused of driving drunk and colliding with another vehicle in November 2024, killing one person. Court documents say that Foster admitted that he was the driver of a black truck involved in the wreck and that he admitted to having alcohol before going for a drive to clear his head. He also admitted to drinking before driving and blew a .242 on a preliminary breath test, officers said.

Foster has been indicted on one count of DUI with death and one count of aggravated DUI.

Brittany Hurst

Also indicted was Brittany Hope Hurst, of Buckhannon, who is accused of setting fires at a building on West Virginia Wesleyans campus in October 2024. Court documents say that Hurst started the fires in two separate trash cans in two different parts of the Benedum Campus Center.

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Hurst has been indicted on four counts of second-degree arson, one count of third-degree arson and three counts of destruction of property.

Mikela Mitchell

Also indicted was Mikela Mitchell, of French Creek, who was arrested in April 2025 and is accused of operating a theft ring across multiple homes in Barbour, Upshur and Randolph counties. Court documents say that the thefts totaled more than $70,000 worth of property.

Mitchell has been indicted on 10 counts of grand larceny, two counts of petit larceny and two counts of embezzlement.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Court records have revealed new charges against a man accused of firing a gun that hit a school bus in Orange County.

Willie Lee Howard was first charged with two counts related to a shootout at a school bus stop. He was recently arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm linked to the same event.

As per the initial report from the Orlando Police Department, at least three people participated in the shootout on April 23, during which one bullet hit the bus while around 30 students were inside.

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No students were reported to be injured.

A school bus driver is retiring after 70 years of transporting students.

Officers noted that Howard was not initially charged with the shooting out of an abundance of caution. However, following the receipt of a statement from the bus driver, the authorities concluded that there was probable cause to arrest Howard for aggravated assault with a firearm.

Howard was arrested on May 5 on allegations of attempted second-degree murder and the unlawful exhibition of a weapon within 1,000 feet of an educational institution.

Howard was subsequently released on bond pertaining to a charge of tampering with evidence in this matter, while law enforcement officials continued to compile evidence to add shooting-related charges.

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The updated police report states that Howards behavior caused the bus driver to fear for his life, prompting him to flee the scene to ensure the safety of himself and the children on the bus during the shooting.

It should be noted that at the time of the assault, the bus driver was acting as an extension of the Orange County public school system staff and is considered a school employee.

The school bus stop, depicted on the map below, is at the intersection of Heber Circle and Imogene Court in Orlandos Carver Shores neighborhood.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  An Albemarle man is facing a second indecent exposure charge for another incident on the Rail Trail, according to court and jail records.

Santiago Garcia-Herrera, 47, was arrested on Monday, May 12. He has since been released from jail after posting a $10,000 secured bond.

According to court documents, Garcia-Herrera exposed himself to a woman on New Bern Street while in his vehicle on Tuesday, March 18.

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This comes after Garcia-Herrera was charged with indecent exposure for an incident that happened on Monday, April 7.

How a viral TikTok video may have led to the arrest of a man accused of indecent exposure in South End

The victim in that incident says she was walking her dog on the Rail Trail when Garcia-Herrera blocked the crosswalk with his pickup truck and exposed himself.

Her friend, Nicole Smith, posted about the incident in a now-viral TikTok video, warning other women and voicing frustration that police had yet to make an arrest.

I got a lot of comments from women saying that the same thing had happened to them or was happening to them on a consistent basis, Smith told Queen City News.

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Two weeks after Smith and her friend filed a police report on the incident, police announced that Garcia-Herrera was charged after turning himself in.

Garcia-Herrera is set to appear in court on Tuesday, May 13, for the second charge, and he has another court date on Tuesday, May 20, for the first charge.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office arrested a suspect in connection with the deadly shooting of a 7-year-old in a 2014 shooting.

On Monday night, deputies arrested Rashad Montreal Turner, 32, for the connection in Terrez Colemans death in the 8900 block of Prescott Road on Aug. 16, 2014.

According to the affidavit, Coleman and his family were driving on Prescott Road when a vehicle passing in the opposite direction reportedly fired a shot. The family learned that an 11-year-old female in the backseat was grazed by the bullet, and Terrez had been struck.

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The family sought medical attention from a nearby fire station.

On Nov. 22, 2016, deputies conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the 6100 block of Antioch Road. The driver was identified as Turner. During the stop, deputies recovered drugs and a stolen Smith and Wesson handgun. Turner was arrested on drug and gun charges.

On March 24, 2017, detectives were alerted that the Smith and Wesson handgun had led to a fired bullet casing at the scene on Prescott Road.

The affidavit states the handgun was reported from Ruston during a vehicle burglary around Sept. 16, 2013. Detectives learned that, at the time, Turner was a student at Grambling State University, which is located near Ruston.

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After reviewing Turners cell phone records, cellular towers placed him in proximity to the vehicle burglary.

Using newly available investigative tools and technology, including digital forensic analysis and open-source intelligence software, detectives linked Turner to both the weapon theft and the homicide. Evidence placed Turner at the scene of the shooting in 2014.

Turner was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted first-degree murder.

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ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. ( WAVY)  Members of the Isle of Wight County Sheriffs Office arrested a man on child pornography charges.

According to officials, 53-year-old Joseph Wayne Clifford was arrested Monday morning at his home in Carrollton and was charged with 10 counts, including possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography.

A cyber tip with information involving Clifford and the use of child sexual abuse material was sent to the Sheriffs Office Special Investigations Division. Search warrants were executed for Cliffords home and electronics. After investigating, it was revealed that close to one million child sexual abuse images were uncovered on Cliffords electronic devices.

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Clifford is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail without bond.

Sheriff James R. Clarke, Jr says that protecting precious children is a top priority. We will relentlessly pursue, charge and prosecute all child sexual predators Clark said.

The Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted with the case.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A D.C. man is facing a first-degree murder charge after he was accused of fatally beating a 77-year-old inside an apartment complex in the Navy Yard area last month.

Minutes before 8 p.m. on April 23, D.C. Housing Authority Officers responded to an apartment complex in the 400 block of M St. SE for the report of a disorderly person. This is where the Carroll Apartments and the 400 M Street Apartments are located.

At the scene, officers found a man, later identified as 77-year-old Bernard Williams, suffering multiple injuries from an assault. Police noted that he was unresponsive, and responders took him to the hospital for treatment.

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Man at DC Jail fatally stabbed by another inmate

Officers took the disorderly man, Walter Parker, 48, of Southeast, into custody at the complex, police said. Authorities then charged him with aggravated assault, carrying a pistol without a license and destruction of property.

Five days after the alleged assault, on April 28, Williams died from his injuries. The medical examiners office ruled his cause of death as complications from blunt force trauma, and it was deemed a homicide.

As a result, on May 12, authorities charged Parker with first-degree murder.

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A man who has served almost 40 years in prison for murder is set to be freed after the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction.

Peter Sullivan, 68, who has always protested his innocence, was found guilty in 1987 of the murder of Diane Sindall who was killed on her way home from work in Merseyside.

His case was referred to the Court of Appeal after fresh DNA evidence came to light casting doubt on his involvement.

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It is believed to be the longest-running miscarriage of justice affecting a living prisoner in UK history.

On Aug 1 1986, Sindall, a 21-year-old bride-to-be and florist from the Wirral, had run out of petrol while driving home and is understood to have decided to walk to the nearest garage to fill up a jerry can.

She was then set upon, sexually assaulted and beaten to death in an alley. She was left with injuries that Merseyside Police detectives described at the time as the worst they had ever seen.

After his arrest, Mr Sullivan was dubbed the Beast of Birkenhead or the wolfman because bite marks had been found on the victims body.

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Some of Sindalls belongings were later found burnt in woodland on Bidston Hill, about five miles away.

The hunt for Sindalls killer will now restart

On the night of the murder, Mr Sullivan, an unemployed labourer from Birkenhead, had been playing darts at a local pub and drinking heavily.

Mr Sullivan, who was described as a quiet loner, was arrested and repeatedly interviewed without having a solicitor present.

He initially made a confession but later retracted it.

At his sentencing, the trial judge described it as a crime of considerable abomination and outrage.

But there were questions over the manner in which Merseyside detectives had questioned Mr Sullivan during interviews amid claims the Police and Criminal Evidence Act had not been followed.

Peter Sullivan was found guilty of murder in 1987. He has always protested his innocence - Merseyside Police

Mr Sullivan was jailed for life in 1987 and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years before he would become eligible to apply for parole.

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But because he always maintained his innocence, he was never approved for release on licence.

Mr Sullivan first raised his case with the Criminal Cases Review Commission  the body set up to look for potential miscarriages of justice  in 2008 but was rejected.

He applied again in 2021 after new forensic work discovered the DNA of an unknown man at the scene.

Experts believe it originated from traces of semen that had been recovered from the crime scene and stored.

Merseyside Police reopened the case but the sample did not match any stored on the national DNA database used by police.

Mr Sullivan watched the proceedings at the Court of Appeal via video link from HMP Wakefield, where he is currently held.

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As the judgment was handed down by Mr Justice Holroyde and his conviction was formally quashed, Mr Sullivan could be seen holding his hand to his mouth and appearing tearful.

Mr Sullivan heard the verdict on a link from prison - Julia Quenzler / SWNS

In court, members of the public embraced and one woman tearfully said weve done it .

The court was told that Mr Sullivan must now be released from custody. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had earlier indicated it would not seek a retrial.

In a statement read out by Sarah Myatt, his solicitor, following the judgment, Mr Sullivan said: What happened to me was very wrong, but it does not detract or minimise that all of this happened off the back of a heinous and most terrible loss of life.

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He added: Im not angry, Im not bitter.

I am simply anxious to return to my loved ones and family as Ive got to make the most of what is left of the existence I am granted in this world.

Kim Smith, the sister of Peter Sullivan, told reporters outside the Court of Appeal: We lost Peter for 39 years and at the end of the day its not just us, Peter hasnt won and neither has the Sindall family. Theyve lost their daughter, they are not going to get her back.

Weve got Peter back and now weve got to try and build a life around him again.

We feel sorry for the Sindalls and its such a shame this has had to happen in the first place.

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Nick Price, the director of legal services at the CPS, said: We recognise the enormous impact this conviction has had on Peter Sullivans life and the profound implications of the courts decision in respect of this conviction.

The court has made clear that the scientific analysis of DNA evidence, which was not available at the time of Mr Sullivans original trial in 1987 means that his murder conviction is now unsafe.

He added: Our thoughts remain with the family of Diane Sindall.

Sindall had been planning to get married - Merseyside Police/PA

At the time of her murder, Sindall and her fiance had been saving up to get married and she had a part-time job working behind the bar at the Wellington public house in Bebington.

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On the night of her murder, she had been working at the pub. She had left work at 11.45pm in her blue Fiat van, but on her way home the van ran out of petrol. Sindall got out of the van and was seen by several witnesses at the time walking down the road.

Twelve hours later, her body was discovered by a member of the public in an alleyway. She had been sexually assaulted and murdered.

Det Chief Supt Karen Jaundrill said: Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Diane Sindall who continue to mourn her loss and will have to endure the implications of this new development so many years after her murder. We are committed to doing everything within our power to find whom the DNA, which was left at the scene, belongs to.

Unfortunately, there is no match for the DNA identified on the national DNA database.

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Police say the DNA does not match any member of Sindalls family, nor her fiance at the time.

To date more than 260 men have been screened and eliminated from the investigation which was reopened in 2023, said Ms Jaundrill. The investigation team has obtained most of the samples locally; however, screening has also taken place in Swansea, Perth, London, Hull and Newcastle with the provision of voluntary DNA elimination samples.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

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POWELL, Ohio (WCMH)  A Powell man convicted of murdering a man and kidnapping and raping his girlfriend will spend a minimum of 43 years in prison.

Brandon Toleque, who was found guilty of murder with two firearm specifications, one count of first-degree kidnapping, and one count of first-degree rape, was sentenced to 43-years-to-life in prison.

Two arrested in fatal beating west of Columbus facing 22 total charges

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Toleques total sentence included 15-years-to-life for murder, 11 years each for kidnapping and rape, plus six years for the two firearm specifications. Judge James Schuck ordered that all sentences be served consecutively.

After a five-day trial, a jury convicted Toleque of killing Arazeia Richardson on Nov. 15, 2023. Richardson was a guest in Toleques home at Thornbury Lane and Ascot Court in Powell.

Video surveillance from a Ring camera showed Toleque, Richardson, the woman and two others enter the home on Nov. 12. The two individuals left the home later that evening and later Toleque forced the woman to leave the home with him at 1:09 a.m.

Toleque, 32, was arrested two days later in Marshall County, Indiana; when taken into custody, a woman in the car Toleque was driving told officers that Toleque killed my boyfriend and that he needed to trust her before raping her twice, court records state.

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He will be 75 when eligible for parole. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Department of Corrections (DOC) in the District is investigating after an inmate was killed during an assault on Monday afternoon.

A spokesperson said that the inmate-on-inmate stabbing involved two residents at the DC DOC Central Detention Facility shortly before 3 p.m.

We need the funding to be able to do the work: DC early childcare providers, advocates push for fully funded pay equity for teachers

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Jail staff and medical personnel administered immediate life-saving measures. Despite their and DC Fire and EMSs attempts, the injured resident  a 29-year-old man  was pronounced dead at the scene.

In an update Tuesday, police identified him as Carlos Shelley of Southeast D.C.

The DOC Office of Investigative Services is investigating the incident with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

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The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is investigating a man in his 70s found stabbed to death inside an apartment complex for seniors in northwest Jacksonville.

Read: Man dies in stabbing at Jacksonville senior living facility, woman detained

JSO tells Action News Jax the man, who hasnt been named, was found dead on the floor of the lobby of the Morris Manor Apartments on Tuesday after getting stabbed sometime around 2:15 a.m.

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Police say security video from inside the apartment complex shows the man walk out of an apartment on the second floor after hed been stabbed, go to the lobby, and collapse.

Action News Jax tried speaking with some of the people living at the apartment complex, but none wanted to go on camera.

Some people living nearby, instead, shared their shock after hearing what happened.

You wouldnt think in a senior living facility, something like that would happen, a woman told Action News Jax, not wanting to share her name.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

JSO says a woman, between 60-85 years old, was found inside the apartment where the man had walked from after the stabbing.

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Police havent shared the relation between the two, but say she was detained and taken downtown.

Neither the man who died nor the woman detained have been named, and police havent shared whether they believe the woman was responsible.

I just lost my parents, and I cant imagine someone taking my daddy from me through a murder, another woman, who also didnt want to share her name, told Action News Jax.

Morris Manor declined Action News Jaxs request for a response to the stabbing.

People living near the apartment complex hope the family of the man killed gets all the support they need.

I pray that, you know, the community could come together and, you know, lift the family up, a neighbor told Action News Jax.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Coroners Office identified the man who died after his vehicle crashed into a pole on Highway 178 on Friday.

Robert Eugene Davis, Jr., 54, of Bakersfield, was driving westbound on Highway 178, east of the Haley Street off-ramp at 12:27 p.m. May 9, according to officials. His vehicle then crashed into a street post.

RELATED: 1 dead after vehicle crashes head-on into pole along Hwy 178 in east Bakersfield

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Davis was taken to Kern Medical where he was pronounced deceased at 1:36 p.m., the coroners office said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
Authorities are investigating a deadly early morning house fire.

According to the State Fire Marshals Office, crews responding to 11 Hanlon Drive just after 4:30 a.m. on Monday found flames shooting through the roof of the single-family home.

Firefighters were informed the owner was likely still inside the burning building.

Crews quickly entered the home and used thermal imaging cameras to search for occupants amid heavy smoke conditions.

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Firefighters found an unconscious and unresponsive man on the bathroom floor and managed to carry him to a window and down a ladder, according to authorities.

The man was carried into a waiting ambulance, where EMTS immediately began life-saving measures.

The man later succumbed to his injuries. His identity is not being released at this time.

Officials say just after the victim was pulled from the house, the buildings roof and part of the rear walls collapsed.

The fire was eventually knocked down with crews utilizing master streams and multiple hose lines.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although officials believe it began in the upstairs living area of the home.

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On behalf of Marlborough Fire Department, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family that lost a loved one this morning, Marlborough Chief Kevin Breen said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 26-year-old man is facing kidnapping and other charges after he allegedly held a woman against her will and assaulted her, Horizon City Police said.

At about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9, officers from Horizon City Police responded to a call for service in regards to an alleged assault.

The victim alleged that the suspect, later identified as Justin Charles Ocon, held her against her will inside his residence, physically assaulted her with a firearm, choked her to cause her to lose consciousness and prevented her from calling for help, police said.

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The investigating officer obtained the following warrants for Ocons arrest:

 Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with bond amount of $50,000

 Kidnapping with a bond amount of $100,000

 Assault causing bodily injury/impeding breath with a bond of $20,000

 Interference with emergency request for assistance with a bond of $10,000

Horizon City Police Criminal Investigation officers located Ocon hiding in an apartment in the 12500 block of Rojas in East El Paso, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Ocon was transported to the El Paso County Dentation Facility, where he was booked under bonds totaling $180,000 on the above-listed charges.

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At the Horizon City Police Department, we are unwavering in our commitment to protecting those who are most vulnerable, especially family members impacted by violence. We will always stand strong in support of victims and work tirelessly to ensure their safety and well-being. No one should ever feel trapped or alone in a situation of family violence, Assistant Police Chief Jose A. Kluge said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
BULL SHOALS, Ark.  A mans body was found in a home in Bull Shoals after authorities responded to a fire on Tuesday, May 13.

According to a Facebook post from the Bull Shoals Police Department (BSPD), local authorities were called to a house fire on McDonalds Meadow in Bull Shoals just after 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.

When firefighters were able to get into the home, they located a deceased male inside the residence.

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Arkansas man arrested after firing gun at hospital

Bull Shoals Chief of Police Brad Harper and Fire Chief Brent Mitchell, in collaboration with the Arkansas State Police (ASP), determined the fire to be an accident and that no foul play is suspected, BSPD says.

The victims body was turned over to the Marion County Coroners Office, and the next of kin have been notified.

BSPD thanks the Bull Shoals Fire, Fairview Fire, Flippin Fire, Grover, the Marion County Coroner, Marion County Office of Emergency Management, ASP and Baxter Health for helping with the response to the fire.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  One man has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being involved in an altercation with the Salt Lake City Police Department overnight.

The police department said one of its officers attempted a traffic stop around 11 p.m. on Monday near 600 West and South Temple. The suspect did not stop, and his car was later found abandoned near 70 South. Officers say, based on evidence at the scene, the driver had crashed into several parked cars.

(Courtesy: Salt Lake City Police Department)

Around 11:43 p.m., an SLCPD officer found a man near the abandoned car on the railroad tracks. The officer reportedly gave the man multiple commands to stop running, but the man allegedly did not listen.

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The Salt Lake City Police Department said the officer fired one shot at the suspect, wounding him, and then requested urgent backup. The suspect, who has not been identified, was then taken into custody, and officers began life-saving efforts until paramedics could take him to the hospital.

The suspects condition was originally considered stable but had deteriorated within hours of the reported shooting. Salt Lake City Police say the suspects injuries are now considered life-threatening.

One officer sustained abrasions during the incident, according to SLCPD.

The use of force in this case was a rapidly unfolding incident, said SLCPD Chief Brian Redd. It highlights the risks and dangers our officers face every day, often with little warning and in circumstances that require split-second decision making. As a police department, we remain committed to transparency and allowing for a thorough investigation to occur.

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The SLCPD officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave and an investigation led by the West Jordan Police Department is underway.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Memphis man has been arrested and charged with distributing fentanyl that led to the deaths of three people, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

An indictment was issued for 28-year-old Darian Glover, alleging that on June 24, Glover distributed fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. If he is convicted of the crimes, Glover faces from 20 years to life in federal prison.

I love you, says mother to son who was shot allegedly trying to kill her

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He could also be fined up to $1 million and sentenced to at least three years of supervised release after his time in custody is served.

Our hearts go out to the victims families in this tragic case, said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEAs Louisville Division. Fentanyl is a scourge plaguing America, and the dedicated men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration will stop at nothing to rid this poison from our communities.

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 WREG.com.






Joel Cauchi, the man who fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney mall on April 13, 2024, carried out the attack due to his "hatred towards women, his former doctor has reportedly testified in court

That was nothing to do with psychosis. He couldnt have organized himself to do what he did. I think it might have been due to his frustrations, sexual frustration, pornography and hatred towards women," the doctor reportedly told an inquest on Tuesday, May 13

The suggestion goes against evidence from other psychiatric experts that Cauchi did have a psychotic episode during the attack









Joel Cauchi, the man who fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney mall on April 13, 2024, did not have a psychotic episode and most likely acted out due to his hatred towards women, his doctor has reportedly revealed in court.

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A psychiatrist who previously treated Cauchi, 40, for several years before the attack made the bombshell claim in an inquest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. This contradicts evidence from other psychiatric experts suggesting that Cauchi was floridly psychic during the attack, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian reported.

The Queensland doctor, referred to as "Dr. A" for legal reasons, alleged in court that Cauchi did not have a psychotic episode, as this didnt fall in line with him having the capabilities to organize the planned attack, according to the outlets.

That was nothing to do with psychosis, Dr. A said, per The Guardian. He couldnt have organized himself to do what he did. I think it might have been due to his frustrations, sexual frustration, pornography and hatred towards women.

Cauchi stabbed and killed six people and injured 12 others at a Westfield mall in Sydney on April 13. He was fatally shot by a responding police officer. Ash Good, 38, whose 9-month-old daughter was also injured in the attack, died in the hospital, News.com.au and The Telegraph previously reported.

AYUSH KUMAR/AFP via Getty Images Flowers are displayed at a memorial set up inside the Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre in Sydney on April 19, 2024 Flowers are displayed at a memorial set up inside the Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre in Sydney on April 19, 2024

Dr. A treated Cauchi at a private clinic from 2012 to 2020. He had been completely unmedicated since 2019 and was weaned off the antipsychotic medications, Clopine and Abilify, years before the attack. The doctor reportedly told the inquest the medication would have made no difference," per SMH.

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According to the outlet, Cauchi's mother, Michele, had tried to warn Dr. A and his nurses that her son was declining in late 2019, saying that Cauchi was scrawling messages about being under satanic control and was obsessing over pornography and sexually transmitted diseases.

Dr. A denied in the inquest that his former client showed signs of reemerging psychosis at the time and stands by the decision to wean him off his medication, per SMH.

It was my decision, and his decision, Dr A told the inquest on Tuesday, per SMH. I was listening to the patient  I did not fail in my care of Joel. I have no error on my behalf.

Lisa Maree Williams/Getty A paramedic moves an empty stretcher outside Westfield Bondi Junction A paramedic moves an empty stretcher outside Westfield Bondi Junction

It wasnt psychosis, it wasnt even early warning signs of relapse, it was based on his fear of STDs, it was based on his sexual frustration, he told us later about prostitutes and women and sex, Dr. A added.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

During a press conference on April 14, per 9 News Australia, Queensland Police Acting Asst. Comm. Roger Lowe said that he was "aware this individual has suffered from mental health" issues, referring to Cauchi.

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Cauchis family said in a statement after the April 13 attack, per the BBC, "We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time. Joel's actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened."

Read the original article on People
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A suspect who led Horry County police on a chase last week that led to more than 25 pounds of fentanyl with a street value of more than $1 million being seized has been released from the hospital and formally charged.

Omega Junior Wilson, 38, was charged with failure to stop for a blue light with great bodily injury and trafficking in fentanyl. He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Saturday, where he remains as of early Tuesday afternoon on a $150,000 bond.

The chase happened at about 4 p.m. Thursday and ended near Pine Island Road in Myrtle Beach, police said. At least one bystander was hurt.

Photo: Horry County Police Department

The incident began when an officer tried to stop a pickup truck for traffic violations near Fantasy Harbor Boulevard and Forestbrook Road. Police said the driver fled and was seen repeatedly throwing packages from the window of the vehicle and driving erratically during the pursuit.

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Police were able to retrieve the items that were thrown from the vehicle, which amounted to 25.3 pounds of fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, one kilogram of the drug can produce up to 1.5 million pill dosage units and has the potential to kill 500,000 people.

Long story short  a lot of people could and would be harmed if these drugs were left out in the community, HCPD said in the Facebook post.

In May 2010, Wilson pleaded guilty to a drug charge and was sentenced to 14 years in prison, online records show.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Yiyang Shen, a 25-year-old of Doraville, Georgia, was sentenced to fines and jail time for damaging the iconic Yellowstone National Park, according to NBC Montana.

"Mr. Shen was charged with operating a motor vehicle in a prohibited area in a manner that caused damage to park resources and foot travel in a thermal area not confined to any designated and marked trail or boardwalk," said a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office of Wyoming.

For parking his car in a thermal area, Shen was sentenced to a week in jail, five years of unsupervised probation, a fine of $1,050, and a ban from Yellowstone.

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Shen wasn't the only one sentenced recently for disrupting Yellowstone; the same update from the Attorney's Office included two more public land violations.

One man was caught driving drunk in Yellowstone. It was his third DUI in 10 years, for which he was charged $3,050 and received 10 days of jail time. Meanwhile, a woman was sentenced to a week in jail and a $40 fine for walking off the path and 10 feet onto the cone of the Old Faithful geyser.

Park areas have these stiff penalties and movement restrictions because ecosystems are more delicate than we anticipate.

Thermal areas in Yellowstone, for example, are full of microbes that have evolved for particular heat levels and water chemistry. Contaminating these pools threatens those balances, as can be seen in color changes in some of them.

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While visitors might think that going off-path does little more than disturb the rocks underfoot, human presence scares local wildlife away from the habitat it needs for feeding, mating, or shelter. The larger the impact of human activity, the less there is for plants and animals.

Besides the ecological damage, thermal areas pose a safety concern for visitors who get too close. Visitors have been burned from getting too close, and some have even died.

For those who need a refresher, Yellowstone regulations can be found here.

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RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A man has been sentenced in Rankin County after he broke into a home and stole a childs piggy bank.

Madison and Rankin Counties District Attorney Bubba Bramlett said Dennis Anthony Walker, of Mendenhall, was sentenced on April 22, 2025, to serve 25 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

Woman said she was wrongfully arrested over handicap parking space

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On October 13, 2023, Rankin County deputies responded to a home on Clara Foote Road for a house burglary. They said the home had been ransacked, and a childs piggy bank had been stolen.

Deputies canvased the area, and neighbors reported seeing a man running from the house into a wooded area. Authorities searched the area, but they only found a pair of flip flops.

Dennis Anthony Walker (Courtesy: Rankin Co. District Attorneys Office)

Continuing their search, Bramlett said deputies located a vehicle in the woods. They discovered the vehicle belonged to Walker. He was later arrested in Simpson County.

According to Bramlett, Walker had previous convictions in neighboring counties for house burglary.

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A 65-year-old man fatally shot himself after a four-hour standoff with a SWAT team on Monday, May 12, Grapevine police said in a news release.

Officers responded to a report of a man with a gun in the 4400 block of SH-360 frontage road across from a residential neighborhood around 9 a.m., police said.

The 911 caller reported that the man was in distress and wanted to harm himself, police said.

When officers arrived, they found the 65-year-old man in a wooded area a few feet away from a business, with a handgun pointed at his chest, police said.

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Grapevine Police negotiators talked to the man in an attempt to get a response while more officers set up a security perimeter, police said.

Police said members of the Northeast Tarrant County Area SWAT Team arrived and attempted further communication with the man.

After nearly four hours, members of the SWAT team deployed less-lethal gas near the man in an attempt to get him to drop his gun and begin talking, police said.

The man then shot himself in the chest, police said.

The man was treated by medics at the scene and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

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Grapevine Police is in contact with the mans family and is working to support them as needed, according to the release. The Department is also ensuring counseling and peer support are available for first responders.
May 12A Biddeford man says he was trying to defend himself from a stranger with a gun when he was shot outside his office Sunday afternoon and taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Joshua Wolfe, 32, described the ordeal in a phone interview Monday after being released from the hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his hip. The man who police say shot him is now facing a gun charge; he is in custody at York County Jail on $1,060 bail pending his first court appearance Wednesday.

Wolfe said he's glad he's alive and didn't panic, but he's concerned about hostility in the city.

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According to Wolfe, he was driving to his office on Elm Street around 12:30 p.m. Sunday when a pedestrian suddenly stepped in front of his car. Wolfe said he was alarmed and called out at the man through his window as he pulled into the parking lot.

After parking his car, Wolfe said, another man wearing a bright orange sweatshirt came up to him and said he was upset about how he talked to his friend.

Wolfe said he told them to leave, but after he sat down inside his office, he noticed the men were taking a video of his car inside the garage. He went outside again to tell them to leave when the man in the orange sweatshirt drew and cocked a handgun, and pointed it at his chest, Wolfe said.

Security camera footage reviewed by the Press Herald shows Wolfe pointing at the building camera, notifying the man he was being filmed, before walking back toward the building.

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"I was very level-headed and cool, because ... there was no reason to escalate this," Wolfe said.

The man then followed Wolfe, keeping the gun pointed at him, before Wolfe swiftly turned back around and knocked the man to the ground.

"I had seconds to react and make a last-minute choice, to either just go in and get killed, or maybe get killed," he said. "I chose maybe get killed."

The two men struggled over the gun and one shot fired, striking Wolfe near his hip. They continued to wrestle for a few minutes until Wolfe grabbed hold of the pistol, stood up and walked inside.

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A witness had called police, and Wolfe was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Biddeford Police Department.

Derick Dorais, 34, of Biddeford, was arrested that afternoon and faces one count of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Biddeford police confirmed Monday.

When he got back from the hospital, Wolfe said, he noticed children playing across the street from where he had been shot. He said he wants to encourage other business owners in the area to stay vigilant.

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A man was punched, repeatedly stabbed and robbed on a Bronx train after a clash with brutal attackers who demanded he hand over his gold chain, the Daily News has learned.

Alberto Abreu Contreras, 39, was on his way home early Monday morning from his job as a valet, riding the No. 4 train heading north around 2:19 a.m. when he was approached by three men  all wearing black  who ordered him to hand over his chain.

When he didnt cooperate, they grabbed the jewelry and pulled the victim onto the train platform at the E. 167th St. station in Highbridge.

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If you dont give me your stuff Im going to stab you, one of the men threatened, police sources told the Daily News.

The crooks then furiously attacked Contreras, punching him in the face and stabbing him in the abdomen and torso before taking off with the wounded victims 14-karat Jesus medallion chain, EarPods, Samsung Galaxy A23 phone and IDs.

I was sitting on the train, and a guy grabbed me by my chain through my hoodie, Contreras told The News about the terrifying attack. He dragged me out onto the platform, I held onto the guy for dear life. There was two more guys that came to help him. They said, Let him go. He was saying, Im sorry, Im sorry in Spanish, and he ran down the escalator.

Contreras was unconscious following the beatdown and said he woke up in a hospital.

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He was transported to Lincoln Hospital, where he was initially in critical condition. After surgery, however, hes now expected to recover.

I still feel the pain, Contreras told The News. They put tubes in my stomach to see if there was internal bleeding. It is what it is, this goes with the neighborhood, this can happen to anyone.

His three attackers, who are all believed to be in their 20s, remain on the loose.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.
Video above: Manatees gather at TECO Manatee Viewing Center as water temperatures drop

HOMOSASSA, Fla. (WFLA)  A manatee died while in the care of staff at a Florida state park, a federal report shows.

A manatee named Shantay was found dead in a medical pool earlier this year, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection report dated March 5.

Car crashing into Lakeland house was a double homicide: sheriff

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On January 23, park employees were draining the pool in order to conduct required care for the animal. They left the manatee unattended and checked on it periodically.

During one of these unattended periods, the pool drained faster than anticipated, the USDA report said. Because of the position of the manatee by the edge of the lift and the dropped water level, the animal became entrapped and drowned.

WFLA has requested the necropsy report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which will provide more information about to the manatees death.

Failure to implement proper handling procedures can result in injury or death of the animal, the USDA report said. Handling of all animals shall be done as expeditiously and carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, excessive cooling, behavioral stress, physical harm, or unnecessary discomfort.

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A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said park staff worked with state wildlife officials to review the incident and take steps to prevent them in the future.

As part of these efforts, the manatees under care were relocated to a secure spring location and have not been housed in that pool until necessary repairs were completed, the FDEP statement read, in part.

The USDA report also pointed out concerns with the parks facilities. An enclosure housing a bobcat was found to have a door that was severely rusted and not in good repair, which can result in injury to the animal.

In November 2023, a sandhill crane named Ruby was killed by an unknown species while residing in an open-top enclosure. Park employees told USDA officials the birds living in that habitat are now housed in a fully enclosed area overnight.

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Staff continue to closely monitor all wildlife in the park, the FDEP said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The Manchester school board voted Monday night to approve the $238 million budget OKd by aldermen, a figure $8 million less than it requested in February. The budget process left some board members angry over a perceived lack of support  both political and financial  for city schools.

Youre the chair of this committee, and were counting on you to stand up for our next generation, but when there was an opportunity to retain more teachers for them, you said no, school board member Chris Potter told Mayor Jay Ruais. So well find a mayor who values education. I havent seen you come to this committee with a single priority, a single question, a single idea for a year and a half, but then you go to the aldermen and suggest reducing our staff.

I dont know how you can honestly tell me that you value our children when youre working against them.

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Ruais said he finds it extraordinarily disrespectful to suggest he doesnt value the children in the Manchester School District, because I unequivocally do, having a daughter that is going to enter the school district at some point in time.

I just think thats horrific to suggest that I dont value the school children in this district, Ruais said. We have a difference of opinion about how much should be expended on that, and the balance  the global look  that I have as mayor, balancing a number of different priorities for the city. I found the best compromise that I could with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which is why it passed as significantly as it did.

But to suggest that I dont care about the children, it could not be further from the truth, and is disgraceful to suggest it.

Earlier this month, Manchester aldermen approved a school budget for fiscal year 2026 of $238 million, an increase of $3.5 million over the current budget and $1.5 million more than Ruais allocated for education in his budget proposal.

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Alderman Pat Long initially proposed a school budget of $238,499,925  an increase of $4 million. That vote ended in a 7-7 stalemate, with Ruais joining aldermen Chris Morgan, Crissy Kantor, Ross Terrio, Ed Sapienza, Norm Vincent, Kelly Thomas and Joe Kelly Levasseur in voting no and breaking the tie.

A follow-up motion by Long proposing a school budget number of $237,999,925 garnered more support, passing 10-4.

The approved budget will still yield job losses, and will still yield deep cuts, Manchester teachers union President Sue Hannan said in a statement. It was obvious that the aldermen had a previous agreement at the $3.5M mark before the meeting ever started. It was troubling that the mayor wouldnt vote in the positive for the $4M improvement to his budget, breaking the tie to vote no.

We fear the loss of trust with him will be devastating.

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School board members voted unanimously Monday night to accept the budget funds. A special meeting of the Board of School Committee is expected to be held next week for members to review in detail Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiels plan to make up the $8 million gap between the budget requested by city schools and the number approved by aldermen.

Ruais said over the last two fiscal years between state and city dollars Manchester schools have received an additional $11 million ($4.5 million from the city).

Potter disagreed.

With respect, this is a cut, Potter said Monday night. If its not a cut, why are we reducing our staff by 22 and eight? You know perfectly well that this is detrimental to our students. You know public opinion was lopsidedly in favor of supporting education. You had the opportunity to say yes when it was 7-7. So maybe it wasnt technically a veto, but it was in your hands.

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If youll go back and watch the meeting, I voted no when it was tied  I did not veto anything, Ruais said. If you look back and watch the meeting and  knowing the aldermen as well as we do  there was a wide variety of opinion. Some felt that it should be significantly higher. Some felt that it should be very significantly low. And what I tried to do was strike a balance between the two, which is why you saw 10 people in support of that out of the 14.

Hannan said Ruais touts the budget as an increase in funds over the past two years that he has been in office. The real truth, she said, is the district had to use $9 million from its rainy day funds for the 2024-25 school year, and will take another $8 million from the same funds to cover one-time costs for the 2025-26 school year.

Masking the budget cut by calling it an increase is poor form, and shows that there is knowledge that the district could have and should have received the entire 4.27% of the tax cap, Hannan said. Casting shade on the districts transparency regarding the budget, or anything else, is laughable.

School board Vice Chairman Jim OConnell said he was incensed listening to aldermen the night of the budget vote.

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The disparaging comments about our district, about this board, about particularly our finances and our finance director, the inference was that we were less than open in our finances, OConnell said. Theres no question, every member of the public in this city knows that they can go and find where every single cent is, where it comes from and where it goes to in this district. In the best of worlds, were going to view things differently, and wed have a robust conversation about the best way to fund our school district and the needs of our children, but spreading misinformation doesnt help that.

I think we have to be careful in the language that we use, because ultimately, the budget comes from here and goes over to the aldermanic side, Ruais said. I think we have to be really careful if we want to be able to work with each other, the language that we use, because these should be collegial bodies where we can work together, find compromise and find the best solutions for our city, our district, and our taxpayers as well.
The Manchester school board has approved the hiring of a new assistant superintendent and principals at Queen City schools.

Ryan Roth, currently the Director of Student Intervention Services with the Atascadero (California) Unified School District, was selected as the new assistant superintendent of middle schools and student services.

Longtime Manchester School District administrator and assistant principal Keith Puglisi will become the next principal at Manchester School of Technology, and Tim Larney, an administrator in the Nashua School District, was named the next principal at Highland-Goffes Falls.

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As we worked to fill these roles, we were fortunate to have an extremely strong pool of candidates Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel said in a statement. Mr. Roth, Mr. Puglisi and Mr. Larney bring with them diverse experiences that align with our district goals and strategic vision for driving student success.

Roth has served as both a district administrator and school principal, working in California and Massachusetts.

As both an educator and a parent, I recognize how sacred the partnership is between schools and families." Roth said in a statement. "Together, we nurture not only academic success but also the well-being and full potential of each child.

Puglisi has served in Manchester schools since 1998, first working in special education and as a physical education teacher before transitioning to an assistant principal role at West and Memorial high schools and MST. He also served as interim principal at West and Parkside.

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I am humbled by the opportunity to take on the role as principal of the Manchester School of Technology and work with the extraordinary faculty and staff, Puglisi said. Each day, I see students engaged in learning, proving that the school's combination of academic, career, and technical education provides students with a greater opportunity to thrive and succeed inside and outside the classroom, including whatever post-secondary path they desire.

Larney has served as an assistant principal in Nashua since 2020, having previously worked as a classroom teacher.

I am honored to step into the role of principal at Highland-Goffe's Falls, Larney said. It is clear that this is a school with a strong sense of community and a commitment to student success. I look forward to getting to know the students, staff, and families.

Puglisi succeeds Principal Tim Otis, and Larney succeeds Principal Sue Matthews, both of whom are retiring at the end of the school year.

All three begin their new roles July 1.

pfeely@unionleader.com
(MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo.)  The City of Manitou Springs remains under emergency water restrictions due to limited potable water supply.

The city issues began on May 6, when high turbidity levels were reported at French Creek after a storm that brought rain and snow into the area. Manitou Springs main water supply is a senior direct flow water right on French Creek on Pikes Peak. The city also gets water from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and uses it as backup.

The city can only access the water from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project by exchanging into storage in the Manitou Reservoir and direct delivery by Colorado Springs Utilities Old Northslope Pipeline. Currently, the Old North Slipe Pipeline is out of service for emergency repairs. As of Monday, May 12, the City said once repairs are finished and the system is recharged, the city will switch to it until turbidity levels subside.

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On Monday, the City was able to process 150,000 gallons of water, but it was all consumed overnight from 8 p.m. through Tuesday morning.

The City understands that some water use cannot be avoided, but we ask the community to be cognizant of the severity of the situation and make every effort to use water responsibly and efficiently, the City said in a statement. Every gallon conserved helps preserve the supply for all residents and prevents further strain on the system.

The statement further explained that while the Citys secondary water tank had increased resiliency, the water remains critically low.

The City is asking citizens to conserve water, and is requiring them and businesses to only use it for essential drinking and sanitation purposes, such as brief showers, dishwashing, or bathroom usage.

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In the statement, the City thanked local businesses that have closed or shifted to using disposable items to reduce water use.

While other businesses are not required to close, the City encourages those that are able to shorten hours or temporarily close to consider doing so as an added conservation measure, the statement said. We understand that this may not be feasible for some businesses and appreciate the continued limited water use, wherever and whenever possible.

The City also thanked citizens for their help. The City of Manitou Springs extends its deepest thanks to everyone for their attention, cooperation, and commitment to preserving this essential resource. Your ongoing conservation efforts are making a meaningful difference during this critical time.

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MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa  The Marshalltown City Council voted 6-1 to move forward with crafting the language of a developers agreement to bring new life into the Marshalltown Mall.

The mall would be renamed Shoppes at Marshalltown.

Im here in front of you with a grand vision for repurposing the mall, said developer Glen Kitto. We cant attract national tenants without a brand new looking mall, so its very important for us to get financing in order to make that happen.

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Iowa House sends PBM reform bill to governors desk

Kitto estimated there would be 225 construction jobs to rebuild the mall. Once complete, the mall would employ around 250 people.

What council will do tonight is simply discuss whether or not they want to pursue the writing of a development agreement, said Carol Webb, Marshalltown City Administrator. The information thats contained in tonights materials relates to major terms of the agreement such as what will, primarily the tax increment financing incentive.

The councils vote was to move forward on terms, but did not approve the 20-year proposal, which under tax increment financing, would raise $7.2 million.

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If things move forward, a store could open the doors in the summer of 2026. So far, no retailers have signed on. Kitto said stores dont want it known what they are planning, but once one signs an agreement, others will follow.

Iowa News:

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Maryland will become the first state to use money collected from a surcharge on insurance plans sold under the Affordable Care Act to fund a program to pay for abortions, regardless of a patient's insurance coverage, under a measure signed into law Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore.

The law will make about $25 million available when it takes effect July 1, because a $1 surcharge has been unused and growing over the last 15 years since the ACA took effect in 2010. It's estimated to make about $3 million available annually in future years.

The lieutenant governor and I were very clear from Day 1  that Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access, Moore said, highlighting the measure among some 170 bills signed at a ceremony.

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The program will be paid for through the transfer of certain insurance premium funds collected by carriers that can only be used for abortion coverage in accordance with the ACA. Supporters say other states have access to a similar surplus of funds through their state exchange insurance systems.

If programs like ours are duplicated across the country, we could help millions of Americans access essential abortion care  without relying on taxpayer dollars, said Del. Lesley Lopez, a Democrat from Maryland's Montgomery County, in the suburbs of the nation's capital.

Officials in New York and Illinois already have reached out to Maryland officials to learn more about the program, said Lopez, who sponsored the bill.

A dozen states require abortion coverage in ACA marketplace plans, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues. They are California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

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This money exists in every state that has abortion as a required type of care under their states benefit exchanges," Lopez said. "Its basically all the blue states that mandated abortion be covered when the Affordable Care Act was starting to be implemented.

The law creates a grant program fund in the state's health department to improve access to abortion clinical services. It requires the department to award grants to nonprofit organizations to support equitable access.

Lynn McCann-Yeh, co-executive director of the Baltimore Abortion Fund, which helps pay costs associated with abortion for people who live in Maryland or who travel there, said its hard to keep up with an annual budget of about $2 million.

We would need many, many more times over that to fully be able to meet the full logistic and medical support for each caller, she said.

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She said the $3 million that would be made available annually under the new law could make a major difference. The fund could apply to administer a share of that money.

The $3 million is a great start, but it will take more than that and it will take sustained funding, she said.

Maryland's legislature is controlled by Democrats, who hold a 2-1 advantage over Republicans in voter registration statewide. Last year, Maryland voters approved a constitutional amendment with 76% support to enshrine abortion rights in the state's constitution, in response to the 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. The court's decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization gave control over abortion to the states.

I think before the Dobbs decision, there just wasnt quite the same type of urgency as there is now," Lopez said. "Weve seen abortion bans in some form or another in double digits in states across the country, so weve got to make sure that we shore up all the support we can in a state like Maryland that has it as a constitutionally protected right.

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Twelve states currently enforce abortion bans with limited exceptions at all stages of pregnancy. Four more have bans that kick in after about six weeks, which is before many women know theyre pregnant.

The Dobb decision and an influx of people from other states seeking abortions in Maryland has made the financial need more urgent, supporters of the law say.

Maryland has been seeing an increase in patients from other states where abortion has been banned. Last year, 15% of abortions in Maryland were obtained by patients from other states, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. That's a decrease from 20% in 2023.

___

Associated Press journalist Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
A man in his 80s died in a fire at his home in Marlborough early Monday morning, the Massachusetts State Fire Marshals Office announced Tuesday.

Marlborough police and firefighters responded to 11 Hanlon Drive around 4:35 a.m. after a passerby reported the fire, the State Fire Marshals Office said in a press release. At the scene, they found the single-family home fully engulfed with flames and fire venting through the roof, but did not hear smoke alarms sounding.

Firefighters soon learned that the homes sole resident  a man in his 80s  was still believed to be inside the house, the fire marshals office said. In an attempt to rescue him, they attacked the fire aggressively while quickly setting up a ladder to the second floor.

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Firefighters found the man unresponsive inside the house and carried him out down the ladder to awaiting EMTs, the fire marshals office said. He was found unconscious on his bathroom floor, according to MetroWest Daily News.

The man was rushed to a hospital, but he died later Monday morning, the fire marshals office said. His name is being withheld pending full family notifications.

We at the Marlborough Fire Department again want to express our condolences to the family that lost a loved one yesterday, Fire Chief Kevin Breen said in the release.

Marlborough and Southborough firefighters initially fought the fire from inside the house, but they were forced out when a rear wall and a part of the roof collapsed, MetroWest Daily News reported. After about 30 minutes, they managed to get the fire under control.

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The home sustained catastrophic damage, but no other injuries were reported, the fire marshals office said. Photos of the remains of the house published by MetroWest Daily News show that little but its front facade is still standing, and the newspaper reported that the homes structure is unstable.

What caused the fire

State and local fire investigators and police are still determining the origin and cause of the fire, but it does not appear suspicious, the fire marshals office said. So far, no evidence that it was set intentionally has been found.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the fire began in the center of the home near a rear wall, the fire marshals office said. No working fire alarms have been uncovered from the debris.

Fire Chief Breen is urging all Marlborough residents to check their smoke alarms to ensure theyre working properly. They should also verify that they have a smoke alarm installed on every level of their home.

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Massachusetts has seen 10 fatal house fires so far this year, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in the release. Half of them involved older adults, he added.

Every home needs working smoke alarms on every level, but people aged 65 and over are at greatest risk in a fire, Davine said. If you or a loved one needs help installing or maintaining your smoke alarms, please contact your local fire department.

No further information has been released.

More News

Read the original article on MassLive.
Lincoln Police Chief Sean Kennedy is accused in a violent assault during which he allegedly threw a family member against a kitchen wall over the weekend, court documents show.

Kennedy, 53, of Westwood, was placed on administrative leave following his arrest at his home on Saturday.

Kennedy is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a family member, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dedham District Court on Monday.

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The family member was later treated at a local emergency room for a facial laceration and eye injuries, which had become black and blue and required 2-3 stitches above the eye, police wrote in their report.

Kennedy, who was released after posting $1,500 bail on Sunday, was arraigned on the charges on Monday.

Conditions for his release are that Kennedy stay away from and have no contact with the victim. Kennedy was allowed to return to his home with Westwood Police to gather his personal items.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for June 26, with Kennedys presence waived, according to the court.

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Boston 25 has reached out to Boston Attorney Martin F. Kane II, who is representing Kennedy, for comment.

Just a challenging time for everybody, said Lincoln Police Lt. Jon Wentworth, now serving as the towns acting police chief after the Select Board voted Monday night to appoint Wentworth into that position.

On Saturday at approximately 6 p.m., the victim and a friend went to the Westwood Police station to report a domestic assault and battery that had happened hours earlier.

Westwood Fire was requested due to a facial laceration on the victims left side, Westwood Police Officer Paul Messina wrote in his report.

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The victim was visibly upset and at times reluctant to describe the events leading up to the assault, Messina wrote.

The victim told police that Kennedy became violent during an argument. He allegedly threw the victim into a wall in the kitchen and this was not the first time he had been physical in that manner, the victim told police.

The victim told police that Kennedy is a police chief and became increasingly reluctant to provide additional details of the assault.

Westwood Fire encouraged the victim to receive further treatment at a local hospital. Later, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham, police spoke again with the victim, who recounted the events leading up to the alleged assault.

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Kennedy and the victim had plans to watch a Celtics game. Around 3 p.m., they began to argue and Kennedy, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 230 pounds, became violent, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim told police after being thrown by Kennedy against a kitchen wall, the victim hit the wall and fell to the floor. Kennedy then allegedly took off from the home.

The victim, who also discussed past alleged assaults involving Kennedy dating back to 2010, told police that todays injuries were worse than anything in the past, Messina wrote in his report.

The victim told police of Kennedy, Hes just a jealous guy and He definitely lost his (expletive), it doesnt take much.

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The victim felt guilty for reporting the incident and wanted to make this all go away, often times through tears, Messina wrote.

Kennedy has been placed on administrative leave from his job as police chief in Lincoln following his arrest, Lincoln Town Administrator Timothy Higgins said this week.

The Town takes any such allegations very seriously and, consistent with Town Policy, has placed the Chief on administrative leave, Higgins wrote in a statement on Monday.

The town will conduct its own internal review of the matter, Higgins said.

Law and security expert Todd McGhee told Boston 25 that its important for the town to act swiftly and with full transparency in these types of cases.

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They are following the guidelines regardless of who makes an offense of rules, regulations, or violations of law, McGhee said. So that holds the accountability for the men and women of Lincoln Police Department as well as maintaining the trust and integrity amongst the town residents.

Kennedy earned $184,457 in his police job in 2023, according to an online public employee database.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A Massachusetts college senior has died in the Bahamas after accidentally falling from a balcony days before graduation, according to Bentley University.

Gaurav Jaisingh died while on Bentley University's annual senior class trip to the Bahamas, the school and police said.

Bentley University's commencement is set to take place on Friday.

PHOTO: A sign is shown on the campus of Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., on May 13, 2025. (WCVB)

"We share our deepest condolences with Gauravs family, friends and loved ones. While local authorities are investigating, it appears Gaurav accidentally fell from a balcony. We will share more information when available while respecting his family's privacy," Bentley University said in a statement to ABC News.

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"This is an enormous tragedy for our community. Bentley is providing resources for those who are impacted and encourages anyone who needs support to reach out to the universitys counseling center," it continued.

MORE: Parents of missing Pittsburgh student ask Dominican police to declare her dead

The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed an American male fell from an upper-level balcony while inside his hotel room with other roommates.

"He was found unresponsive on a lower floor," according to police.

PHOTO: Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. (Denistangneyjr/Getty Images)

Emergency services responded and transported him to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital, according to police.

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The investigation into the death remains ongoing, police said.

Jaisingh, a native of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, was a member of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity and the school's South Asian Students Association, according to his Linkedin profile.

Massachusetts student dies in Bahamas after falling from balcony originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Massachusetts college student died this week after falling from a hotel balcony during a senior class trip in the Bahamas.

Gaurav Jaisingh was with fellow Bentley University students in their room at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort when he fell Sunday night around 10 p.m.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said he was found unresponsive on a lower floor and died on his way to the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing, but police said it appeared to have been an accident.

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Jaisingh, from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity and the South Asian Students Association. He was a finance major with a minor in computer information systems, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was set to graduate Friday.

We are profoundly sad to confirm that one of our students, Gaurav Jaisingh, passed away last night in a tragic accident during the annual senior class trip in the Bahamas, Bentley said in a statement Monday. We share our deepest condolences with Gauravs family, friends and loved ones.

The school said counseling services and other resources were available to anyone in need.

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We will share more information when available while respecting his familys privacy. This is an enormous tragedy for our community, the school said.

Bentley University is a private school in Waltham  about 12 miles west of Boston  with about 4,500 students.

_____
By John Irish, Lili Bayer and Julia Payne

BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - "Massive" sanctions European leaders threatened to impose on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine face formidable political obstacles and would need U.S. support to succeed, officials and diplomats said.

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland declared in Kyiv on Saturday that Russia would be hit by new punitive measures if it did not heed calls for a 30-day ceasefire within days.

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That pledge failed to move Putin, who instead called for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15. U.S. President Donald Trump backed that call, undermining the European leaders' efforts to show Trump was firmly on board with their threat.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, however, repeated the leaders' threat on Tuesday, saying that "if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at European level for a significant tightening of sanctions".

He said Europe would aim to target sectors including energy and financial markets. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday the European Commission had been asked to propose new sanctions in those areas.

Diplomats say, however, that after 16 sanction packages imposed on Russia by the EU over the war in Ukraine it is increasingly difficult to get the necessary unanimity among the bloc's 27 members to pass major new measures.

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Hungary, which maintains close ties with Russia, has often blocked or sought to water down major new sanctions on Moscow.

Diplomats say only pressure from Trump's administration might make Budapest change tack, but there has been no sign of that so far.

Some European officials say they are coordinating with Washington on possible further sanctions. But it is not yet clear whether Trump is willing to join forces with the Europeans.

SANCTIONS PACKAGE

EU envoys are set to agree on a 17th package of sanctions on Wednesday that primarily hits Russia's shadow fleet in combination with separate measures on chemical weapons, human rights and Russian hybrid threats.

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Those are easier to pass as the bloc runs out of major targets. Attempts to hit Russia's gas and nuclear sectors, for example, have consistently hit the buffers.

Some officials have resurrected ideas, such as lowering a $60 price cap on Russian oil, agreed by the Group of Seven nations. That would require Washington's support, though, and there has been no change in the last two years despite the group's pledge to periodically review the level.

Diplomats said the leaders' bold words risked undermining the EU's credibility if they could not follow up with action.

"You keep them (sanctions) on the table as a possible pressure lever, but putting down an ultimatum when you can't really do it is not serious," one said.

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"There's no appetite at all at European level for this sort of sanctions. It's hard enough to just get a basic package."

A senior European official said: "The danger here, obviously, is that the Russians might see this as a bluff."

(Reporting by John Irish in Paris; Lili Bayer, Julia Payne and Jan Strupczewski in Brussels; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is highlighting new data that shows promising results from her We Are L.A. program  an initiative focused on preventing homelessness through proactive support and resource connection.

Speaking from South L.A.s St. Johns Community Health Center, Bass shared findings from an independent study that indicates the program is having a real impact.

According to research conducted by Loyola Marymount Universitys Center for Urban Resilience, nearly 75% of program participants reported improvements in their lives after receiving support through We Are L.A.

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The program claims it has reached more than 40,000 Angelenos, offering services like Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, CalFresh and legal assistance to prevent evictions.

This research shows that our innovative approach actually helps prevent people from becoming unhoused, Bass said. The key to the program is one-on-one personal support  working with a caseworker to connect people to what they need before they fall through the cracks.

The mayor also noted a 10% drop in street homelessness across the city over the past year and highlighted that nearly 100 encampments have been cleared through her Inside Safe program. Additionally, permanent housing placements have nearly doubled compared to 2022.

Despite these gains, the mayors homelessness strategies remain under scrutiny. A recent forensic audit ordered by a federal judge revealed challenges in tracking $2.4 billion in homelessness spending across the city and LAHSA, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The audit raised concerns about data collection and accountability, casting a shadow over City Halls efforts.

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Statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom has introduced a directive for stricter encampment rules and announced $3.3 billion in new funding from Proposition 1 to expand mental health and substance use treatment. Though Bass acknowledged tensions with the state, she expressed gratitude for recent support.

I certainly share the governors frustration, she said. But our focus has been getting people off the streets and into housing  not just banning encampments.

For the first time in six years, the mayor noted, homelessness in Los Angeles is on the decline  a hopeful sign in the citys ongoing battle against the crisis.

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry provided an update on progress and changes being made at Evansville Animal Care & Control.

In January, we heard passionate concerns and thoughtful suggestions about the future of Evansville Animal Care & Control from residents across the city, said Mayor Terry. Shortly after, we welcomed an embedded representative from Best Friends Animal Society to observe and offer expert recommendations to help strengthen our operations; we felt it was important to let her get settled and to begin hearing her recommendations before making significant changes.

According to Mayor Terry, one of the most impactful developments is the creation of a foster-to-adopt program, which will allow adopted pets to go home on the same day instead of having to wait up to a week for a spay or neuter surgery. The mayor says this approach was recommended by Best Friends Animal Society and will open up kennel space and speed up the adoption process.

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City officials are currently finalizing that programs guidelines, including the penalty structure for non-compliance. Best Friends also recommended other changes that are now being implemented, including improvements to vaccine protocols and more effective cleaning and disinfection practices.

City Councilor Missy Mosby is working with the Evansville Animal Care & Control Board of Directors to update EACC ordinance, including a reduction in the hold time for animals at the facility and studying the potential to alter the structure used by the facility. Those changes are expected to go to the EACC Board during its June meeting.

Animal Care & Control will be working to launch a formal volunteer orientation and release process to increase opportunities for community involvement. Best Friends designated veterinarian, Dr. Becca, also received her license to practice in Indiana and will serve as the veterinarian for Covetrus, the citys medical supply merchant.

Mayor Terry will provide more information to the press on Tuesday afternoon and discuss the progress at Evansville Animal Care & Control.

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THOMSON, Ga. (WJBF)  Its the time of year to celebrate the achievements of high school seniors around the CSRA.

McDuffie County school leaders got to celebrate 8 seniors at Thomson High School Monday as they prepare to start their journeys to becoming teachers.

The ceremony is part of a partnership with Future Georgia Educators, capping off 4 years of hard work and dedication.

Lori Whatley has been overseeing the program at Thomson High School for the last 10 years.

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Ive seen a lot of students. When they come in as freshmen, sometimes theyre very immatureand Ive seen them grow and develop into leaders, and into someone I would want to teach my children, said Whatley.

For students, signing the dotted line means getting ready to make a difference.

I want to become a teacher because I want all children to know that everyone matters. Them and everyone else too, said SharKeisiah Johnson, a Thomson senior.

Just helping the kids. You dont realize how many kids just have speech disabilities, and how much it affects their everyday learningand Ive learned that a lot. So, just being able to help those kids be better in the classroom and perform better, said Topanga Lewis, another Thomson senior.

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School leaders here and around the state continue to work to bring more teachers to Georgia schools.

The state department of education recently announced a new initiative called Teach in the Peach to get more teachers in Georgia schools.

Last week, more than 300 future teachers across Georgias 48 school districts attended the first ever state-wide educator signing day in Atlanta.

Whatley says the key difference for her students is the hands-on experience students get helping children around the school district.

2nd and 3rd year students have been able to go out to the schools and work in the classrooms with the students. Very hands-on, and that to me has been the difference maker for my students to become interested in this as a career, said Whatley.

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She says theres still more work to do, but the future is bright for Georgia education.

I believe Georgiawith our lawmakersare on the right track, and we have been for multiple years with salary increases, and that goes a long way to recruit people into the profession, Whatley said. They can definitely still do more. We definitely dont want to stop what were doing: we want to keep going and make progress with that. But I think we are recruiting the best and the brightest into the field.

Students say theyre planning to make the most their last few weeks here at Thomson High School before graduation.

But before they do, theyre sharing lessons theyve learned over the last four years.

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Every kid is different. Every kid learns at a different pace, so you just always have to be there for them, said Lewis.

Not everything is going to be easy. Everything takes timeno matter if its a short period of time or a long period of time. So, Ive learned a lot keeping that in mind, said Johnson.

Its also an emotional time for Whatley, who will be retiring on June 1st after teaching for the last 3 decades.

Shes leaving words of wisdom for her students as well.

I want my students to know that teaching matters. It doesnt just matter sometimesit matters every single day, and thats whats hard about teaching, said Whatley. The book work and the background knowledge you have to learn to be a teacher isnt hard. The hardest part of teaching is getting there every day, showing up, being your best for a group of students and teaching every day. It matters what you do.

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(Reuters) - The Texas health department reported 717 cases of measles in the state on Tuesday, an increase of eight since its last update on Friday, as the U.S. battles one of the worst outbreaks of the childhood disease in the country.

Cases in Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, rose to 405 from 403 since the last update, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Texas had reported seven additional cases in the last update on Friday, which was the lowest increase since the outbreak began in February.

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New Mexico's health department reported 71 cases, unchanged from its last update. Most of the state's cases are from Lea County, adjacent to Gaines County in Texas.

Federal data released on Friday showed that the number of measles cases in the country exceeded 1,000 for the first time in five years. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,001 measles cases in 31 jurisdictions, as of May 8.

Researchers have warned that the country is at a tipping point for the return of endemic measles, a quarter century after the disease was declared eradicated in the country.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas, Tasim Zahid and Sahal Muhammed)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Multiple debates took place at an Oregon State Senate committee Monday as the legislature heard what people have to say on a bill that would toughen up gun laws in Oregon.

Senate Bill 234 is moving through the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. If passed, it would give local governments the authority to decide rules surrounding firearms in public buildings like city halls.

Overall, your viewers should know that SB 243, the Community Safety Firearms Act, will put safety first for Oregonians, prohibiting devices like bump stocks and letting local governments decide whether to allow guns in city halls and official meeting locations, Senator Anthony Broadman (D  Bend).

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What truly stopped me from becoming a true victim? My firearm. My ability to carry not only at home where I work, but out in public as well. To say that restricting our right to carry in a public place is crazy, added Brian McGregor, who spoke out against the bill.

The bill also bans devices such as bump stocks that would make a semi-automatic rifle shoot more rapidly. On Monday, the public spoke to a senate committee, who voiced mixed opinions.

We need these measures because kids are wracked with worry that a mass shooting will happen at school, and gun deaths in Oregon have increased 140% over the past decade. Rapid-fire devices that turn firearms into automatic weapons dont belong in our community. A healthy democracy allows people to visit their local leaders and attend government meetings without a threat of gun violence. More than anything, Oregonians want leaders to work together for prevention of gun deaths and injuries, said Broadman.

States with bans on bump stocks have a significantly reduced chance of those devices being used in shootings, leading to significantly fewer deaths and injuries, said Steve Schneider, the firearm suicide prevention program director for Alliance For Safe Oregon.

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The bill originally would require gun buyers to wait 72 hours between when a dealer requests a criminal background check from the Oregon state police, but an amendment removes this section of the bill.

That would prevent any gun shows in Oregon from happening, said Rick, who spoke out against the bill.

Another segment that was taken out requires a buyer to be 21 or older to purchase semi-automatics.

The Dash 9 amendment removes the 72-hour waiting period. The minimum age provision was already proposed to be removed by an amendment, said Broadman.

The Senate committee will vote on the bill Wednesday.

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The committee will determine next steps, potentially voting to have the bill as amended going to the Senate floor, said Broadman.

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.
City leaders in Melbourne will meet Tuesday evening to discuss ways to improve safety in the downtown area.

The concerns come after a shooting left one man dead over the weekend.

Stephan Dieujuste faced a judge on Monday to hear the charges against him.

Dieujuste told police he was defending himself when he shot 19-year-old Nathaniel Jennings near Vernon Place and East New Haven Avenue on Sunday.

The city council meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.

Channel 9 will monitor the meeting and provide updates on Eyewitness News.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Erik Menendez (left) and his brother Lyle listen during a 1992 pretrial hearing after the two pleaded not guilty. - Credit: VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty Images

Erik and Lyle Menendez are now a huge step closer to possibly going home.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic recalled the brothers sentences of life without parole in a dramatic reversal of fortune at a court hearing Tuesday. He then resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole in connection with the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

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The brothers each addressed the court before hearing their fates. I make no excuses and offer no justification, Lyle said in a lengthy statement, appearing by video from his prison in San Diego. I take full responsibility for my choices. The choice to confront my dad about the abuse. The choice to keep the family secret instead of asking for help. The choice to stay instead of leave. The choice to buy guns and ammunition. The choice to point a gun at my mom and dad and shoot them. The choice to reload, return to the den, and run up to my mom on the floor and shoot her again.

His voice quivering, Lyle also expressed regret for his choice, after his arrest, to make a mockery of the criminal justice system by soliciting perjury. It was a jaw-dropping moment considering prosecutors stated over and over earlier in the day that the brothers did not deserve resentencing because they had not admitted they asked people to lie for them to cover their tracks. Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian specifically accused Lyle of having attempted to recruit a former girlfriend, Jamie Pisarcik, to falsely testify that Jose had drugged and violently raped her.

Lyle said Tuesday that hes spent the last 35 years trying to understand who I was and why I made those horrific choices. He said he was immature, impulsive, emotionally isolated and in a co-dependent relationship with his younger brother, Erik, with whom he shared the traumatic bond of allegedly having been sexually abused by their father.

My choice to buy guns did not come from logic or reason. I was scared but also filled with rage. Im so sorry I didnt ask for help. I should have trusted someone: a relative, the police, a parish priest, he said.

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At the end of the statement, Erik leaned over and placed a hand on Lyles shoulder before addressing the court next. On Aug. 20, 1989, I committed an atrocious act of brutality, he said after putting on his glasses. My actions were criminal. They were also selfish, cruel, and cowardly.  I have no excuse.

Erik said he feels responsible like no one else, even though he was barely 18 years old at the time. I reached out to my 21-year-old brother [and] convinced him we couldnt escape. Im the one who was too ashamed to turn to my family or anyone else. [Instead], I bought guns and ammunition and barged into the den where my parents were and fired all five rounds. I went back out to the car to get more ammunition and didnt stop until my parents were dead.

Reading from a written statement like his brother, Erik admitted he concocted an alibi about having been at a movie theater and did everything he could to get away with my crimes. He apologized to his family members for having stolen Jose and Kitty and said he plans to spend the rest of his life helping others.

After the judge rendered the new sentence and ended the hearing, Erik smiled and waved to relatives in the courtroom. Lyle, sitting beside him, nodded to the group visible to him via a courtroom camera. Three of the relatives had testified earlier in the day, asking Judge Jesic to release the brothers on time served. Outside the courtroom, family members expressed their hopes the parole process will move swiftly.

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Im very emotional. They deserve release. I hope the parole board will grant it on June 13, at their hearing. It would mean the world to our family and my mom to see them, cousin Diane VanderMolen tells Rolling Stone. In morning testimony, she and two other cousins took the witness stand and said the brothers had accepted responsibility for their actions and were not a danger to society.

On both sides of the family, we believe that 35 years is enough, cousin Anamaria Baralt testified. They are universally forgiven by everybody in our family, and we are very hopeful that they can get a second chance at life.

Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, have spent the last 35 years behind bars for the grisly killings inside the familys mansion. After an initial televised trial ended with two hung juries  one for each brother  Lyle and Erik were convicted of murder at a follow-up trial and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 1996.

At trial, the brothers said they suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father and believed their parents had plans to kill them to keep a lid on the familys dark secret. Prosecutors argued the brothers acted out of greed, resorting to murder to get their multimillion-dollar inheritances before being cut out of their parents will.

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In her testimony Tuesday, cousin Diane VanderMolen recounted some of what she told jurors during the brothers first trial. She recalled how Lyle had shared with her when he was a child that his father had been molesting him. She also described the hallway rule inside the Menendez familys home. (Her testimony about the alleged sexual abuse was not allowed at the second trial.)

When Jose was with one of the boys, you werent allowed to go down the hall, she testified Tuesday. She said no one dared challenge Jose because he was incredibly intimidating. She explained that while Kitty once had been like a second mother and mentor to her, Kittys personality greatly changed after she allegedly discovered Jose was having an affair.

Jose was so powerful. And Kitty became the enforcer, VanderMolen testified in a soft voice. She said Erik and Lyle were scared of their parents when they carried out the grisly slayings. They were afraid, plain and simple.

They did not see a way out, she testified. Afterward, after getting older, they realize now that they would have had other opportunities.

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Judge Jesic set the crucial hearing last week after L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman tried to derail it. The process was initiated by Hochmans more liberal predecessor, George Gascon, last October. Gascon said he considered the brothers young ages at the time of the killings  Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21  and the brothers exemplary behavior behind bars. He said they had paid their debt to society and should be eligible for parole, immediately.

Another cousin, Tamara Lucera Goodell, testified Tuesday that the brothers have been rehabilitated. She pointed to the green space, hospice, and meditation programs for other inmates that theyve started behind bars and asked the judge to strike down their life sentence so her bedridden 93-year-old grandmother, Joan VanderMolen, Kittys sister, would have a chance to see them in person before she dies.

For 35 years, I have watched my entire family spiral during different conversations about what happened, she testified. I watched my grandmother and my aunts [be] traumatized. It would help them, in their healing. She said her grandmothers family had a long of history of abuse in multiple forms.

My grandmother moved out at 17 so she would not continue the cycle of abuse. And [it was hard] for her to learn that that cycle of abuse was continued by her sister, in the very forms that she and her sisters survived, she said. [Release] would bring a lot of closure for all of us.

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Baralt, whose mother is Joses older sister, said her elderly mother is ill with stage four cancer and hopes the brothers will be released while shes still alive. We are on borrowed time at this point, she said.

Joan, 93, and Baralts mother, Teresita Baralt, 85, testified at a hearing last November that they supported the brothers release. No child should have to endure what Erik and Lyle lived through at the hands of their father, Joan said on the witness stand. It breaks my heart that my sister Kitty knew what was happening and did nothing about it, that we knew of, she said under questioning by Mark Geragos, the lawyer representing the brothers.

Anamaria Baralt testified Tuesday that her entire adult life has been consumed by the relentless scrutiny of the high-profile homicides. It has been torture, for decades, to have to live out that kind of trauma in the public eye, she said. As a relative of both the victims in the case and the perpetrators, the trauma is 360 degrees, she said.

Baralt said she has no hesitation supporting release. Asked by a prosecutor if she would have guessed back in early 1989 that the brothers were capable of killing their parents, she said no. But she added that everyone is older and wiser now. After the hearing, she was wiping tears.

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Im so happy, Baralt tells Rolling Stone. Im glad I wore waterproof mascara.

Geragos argued during the hearing that if the brothers had been sisters, they never would have been convicted. Anybody whos got a couple of neurons firing knows that back in the 1990s, we had a completely different understanding of child abuse and child molestation, he said. Geragos said that during the first trial, the men on the jury couldnt bring themselves to vote for the lesser charge of manslaughter, while the women on the jury all voted for manslaughter. He said understanding the syndrome of domestic abuse victims was still in its infancy and almost exclusively female at the time.

I think they should be released today, Geragos argued. This was literally a lifetime ago.

When he issued his resentencing, Judge Jesic said the brothers committed an absolutely horrific crime, but he saw no evidence they were at risk of committing another violent felony if released. He said he was greatly influenced by prison officials vouching for the brothers rehabilitation. As shocking as the crime was, Im almost equally shocked by some of the letters that Ive read, mostly from the prisons, Jesic said. I think its pretty amazing what the defendants have done in prison.

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In a statement, Hochman called the resentencing decision a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice. He confirmed the Menendez brothers are immediately eligible for parole, saying any final decision on release will ultimately rest with the state parole board and the governor. The parole board hearing set for June 13 was scheduled in connection with the brothers separate bid for clemency from the governor.

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A resentencing hearing to determine whether Eric and Lyle Menendez, who killed their parents in their Beverly Hills home decades ago, is underway Tuesday, just days after a new assessment changed the brothers risk status.

The Menendez brothers are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of their mother, Kitty Menendez, and father, Jose Menendez. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time of the killings.

While defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

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Family members say the brothers have been rehabilitated after more than 30 years in prison and should be released, which a resentencing could allow, but Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman does not agree.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are seen in a hearing sketch on May 9, 2025. (Mona Edwards) FILE  Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit in Beverly Hills Municipal Court where their attorneys delayed making pleas on behalf of the brothers who are suspected in the murders of their parents on March 12, 1990. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) FILE  This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections via AP, File) A courtroom sketch shows Joan VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, speaking during a hearing on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Mona Edwards) Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit with defense attorney Leslie Abramson, right, in Beverly Hills Municipal Court during a hearing, Nov. 26, 1990. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman gives a news conference about the Menendez brothers case in Los Angeles, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon speaks during a news conference regarding the Menendez brothers, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Erik and Lyle Menendez are pictured, on August 12, 1991 in Beverly Hills. (Getty Images) Erik Menendez, left, and is brother Lyle, in front of their Beverly Hills home. (Getty) Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November, 1989. (Getty Images)

I dont think they should be resentenced right now, Hochman said in a recent interview. Theyve not come clean with all of the lies that they have told over the last 30 years about their crime. And full insight into ones actions is a huge signal that youve been rehabilitated. And if you havent been rehabilitated, you continue to constitute a risk of violence and danger to society.

The hearing, which is expected to last two days, also comes in the wake of findings shared in a comprehensive risk assessment by the states parole board.

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The report raised the brothers risk level from low to moderate and contained a rules infraction involving a cellphone, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Now we have board-certified psychologists that are also agreeing, Hochman said, referring to the report. He violates the rules of the prison that hes at when he gets an illegal cellphone  You would think that someone would be on their best behavior if they knew that a judge was going to reconsider their resentencing motion, Hochman said.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos responded to the cellphone incident on Friday, downplaying the severity of the infraction.

The standard for the judge  is, are they likely to commit a super strike? Last time I looked, cellphones in prison are not a super strike, Geragos said.

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In California, a super strike refers to a specific list of extremely serious felonies such as murder or sexual assault.

It was not known if the brothers would testify during the resentencing hearing, but KTLA reporter Annie Rose Ramos has heard that it was unlikely.

No cameras will be allowed in the courtroom.

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 KTLA.
May 13 (UPI) -- The Menendez brothers were resentenced Tuesday to 50 years to life in prison, making them eligible for parole.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez, who until Tuesday had been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, after they were convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 shooting deaths of their parents in Beverly Hills.

At the hearing, both brothers told the court they take "full responsibility" for killing their mother and father.

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"I committed an atrocious act against two people who had the right to live, my mom and dad," Lyle Menendez, 57, said as he broke down in tears. "Today, 35 years later, I am deeply ashamed of who I was."

Erik Menendez, 54, told the court he felt "profound sorrow."

"I fired all five rounds at my parents and went back to reload. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I'm truly sorry," he said.

Jesic's decision came at the end of the first day of what had been scheduled to be a two-day hearing. He cited letters from corrections officers about the brothers' time in prison. While the judge called the crime horrific and said he was not advocating for their release, he said, "one day they should get that chance."

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"It's now up to the parole board and the governor of California," Jesic added.

The pair has argued that they killed their parents in self-defense following years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

On Tuesday, attorneys for the brothers argued both have been rehabilitated after serving more than 30 years in prison. Corrections officers, fellow inmates and family members also argued for their release.

A cousin, Diane Hernandez, urged the judge to "be merciful," adding the brothers "are remarkable human beings at this point."

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office warned Tuesday against resentencing and said the Menendez brothers have failed to take full responsibility for their crimes.

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The hearing was advocated for by former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, and garnered public support following the Netflix documentary The Menendez Brothers, which chronicled the case.

However, District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed the resentencing effort and has argued that the killings were premeditated and not an act of self-defense, citing six "unacknowledged lies" the brothers told.

The hearing had previously been set for April, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a risk assessment, which found that the brothers were only a "moderate risk" to commit violence if released.

A motion made by Hochman during a hearing on Friday to cancel the resentencing based on the risk assessments was denied by the judge, leading to Tuesday's trial start date.

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Both Menendez brothers were found responsible for cell phone violations since late last year, but the judge ruled that the information was not sufficient to result in a withdrawal of the motion to resentence.

Newsom could commute the brothers' sentences at any time but has not done so. The parole board is expected to hold a hearing in June, and at that time will offer its recommendation to the governor.

Attorneys for the brothers have also pursued a new trial as they purport to have new evidence against the brothers' father, which includes a letter sent from Erik Menendez to a family member in 1988 that references the alleged abuse.
The Menendez brothers will finally get their day in court after a series of delay as part of their bid to be resentenced on lesser charges after more than three decades behind bars.



On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court judge Michael Jesic said details from the California Board of Parole's newly completed risk assessment, which was conducted at the request of Gov. Gavin Newsom as a part of the brothers' clemency bid, contained no new information that would prevent the court from considering a lesser sentence. Newsom's order is a separate path to freedom for Lyle, 57, and Erik, 54, Menendez who are serving a life sentence for the sensational 1989 murders of their parents at the family's Beverly Hills mansion.



The brothers' legal team, Mark Geragos, Alexandra Kazarian, and Cliff Gardner have long argued that the brothers are changed men who have undergone extraordinary rehabilitation efforts behind bars, a viewpoint that is shared by family members of their victims, Jose and Kitty Menendez. [Geragos is the co-owner of Engine Vision Media, the parent company of Los Angeles magazine.]



Many of those family members are slated to testify during the two-day hearing on behalf of the brothers' release. In a statement they said: "...our journey to forgiveness was not linear. Its a direct result of the men they have become. But we also continue to feel the pain that their actions have inflicted on all of us. Both of those feelings and experiences can exist in the same space."

On the state's side, newly elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman maintains that Erik and Lyle Menendez have not taken full responsibility for their crimes, alleging they failed to admit to lies told during their trials. He has since shifted focus, now asserting that the brothers violated prison rules by possessing cellphones  a point their attorney, Mark Geragos, contends was known to former District Attorney George Gascon through his deputies Brock Lunsford and Nancy Theberge, who were demoted when Hochman took office. Both deputies are now suing Hochman.



Gascon announced last October that he believed the brothers suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, which their mother was complicit in and recommended to the court that their life sentences without parole be reduced to 50 years with the possibility of parole. Gascon argued the Menendez brothers' case and murder trials would have been handled differently today due to current understandings of sexual abuse and trauma, and the brothers' rehabilitation during their 30 years in prison.



The brothers were under 26 at the time of the murders, so they could be eligible for parole through the state's youthful offender law, Gascon argued. Hochman tried to rescind that recommendation, which was denied by Jesic.



Animosity between Hochman and the Menendez family led their attorney, Bryan Freeman, to file a complaint accusing the District Attorney of bias and violating Marsy's law, which was written to protect the victims of crimes. Hochman told the judge Friday that he intends to fight their release. "Right now, they are not in a position where we would advocate for re-sentencing," Hochman said.
Erik and Lyle Menendez received a chance at freedom Tuesday after more than 35 years in prison, with an L.A. County judge granting a request to resentence them after hours of emotional testimony from family members who said the brothers had spent enough time behind bars for the brutal 1989 killings of their parents.

Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said late Tuesday that he would resentence the brothers to 50 years to life, meaning they will be granted a parole hearing at some point in the future.

"We are deeply humble and grateful and happy for our family," Lyle Menendez said in a phone call with one of his attorneys outside the courthouse in Van Nuys, which was relayed to a Times reporter.

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Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman argued that the brothers had failed to show proper "insight" into their crimes and had not atoned for lies they told over the last 30 years about the nature of the killings, but Jesic dismissed those arguments as irrelevant. Prosecutors needed to prove the brothers posed an unreasonable risk to the public, according to Jesic, who said they failed to do so.

Photos of Erik Menendez and Lyle Menendez from 2016 and 2018, respectively. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation / AP)

After deciding they should be resentenced, Jesic allowed each brother to speak to the court over a Zoom call from prison. In tearful addresses that drew sobs from the relatives who have been fighting for their release for years, Erik and Lyle said they took full responsibility for their crimes.

Erik called the murders "an atrocious act of brutality against two people who had every right to live."

"I have no excuse, no justification, for what I did," he said.

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"I take full responsibility for all my choices ... the choice to point a gun at my mom and dad ... the choice to reload ... the choice to run and to hide and to do anything I could to get away," a tearful Lyle said moments earlier.

Jesic's decision ended an eight-month saga that started when then-Dist. Atty. George Gascon filed a petition for the brothers to be resentenced late last year, and followed an emotional day of testimony.

Anamaria Baralt, often wiping away tears, testified Tuesday that the relatives of victims Jose and Kitty Menendez wanted a judge to give her two cousins a lesser sentence than life without parole for the 1989 murders inside their Beverly Hills mansion.

"We all on both sides of the family say 35 years is enough," she said in the courtroom. "They are universally forgiven by both sides of their families."

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The hearing was the culmination of years of advocacy by the family to free the brothers, who were convicted of first-degree murder.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos addresses the media outside Van Nuys Courthouse. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

Defense attorney Mark Geragos asked Jesic to resentence the brothers to manslaughter, arguing they shot their parents to death out of fear their father might kill them to cover up years of sexual abuse. But instead, Jesic's ruling aligned with a request made last year by Gascon. The reduced sentence of 50 years to life makes them eligible for parole under the state's youthful offender law because they were under the age of 26 at the time of the murders.

I want to give a hat tip to Judge Jesic who was able to cancel out all the noise surrounding this, all of the grandstanding, all of the political back and forth, and he did what the code section said," Geragos said late Tuesday. "He did what justice said should happen."

A parole hearing will likely be scheduled in the coming months. But Gov. Gavin Newsom could also grant them clemency if he honors a pending request. A hearing on that matter is currently scheduled for June 13.

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California's resentencing law leans heavily in favor of defendants, a point Jesic reminded the courtroom of early Tuesday. Under state law, Jesic said, he could block a resentencing petition only if the defendant poses an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, meaning there is a risk they will commit another violent crime  such as murder, manslaughter or rape  if they are released.

Hochman this year announced his opposition to the brothers' release. He alleged that the brothers continue to lie about the motive behind the murders, dismissing the idea that they genuinely feared Jose would kill them to cover up his alleged sexual abuse.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman is surrounded by media outside the Van Nuys Courthouse during a hearing in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

The decision to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez was a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice, Hochman said in a statement Tuesday evening. Our offices motions to withdraw the resentencing motion filed by the previous administration ensured that the Court was presented with all the facts before making such a consequential decision."

The district attorney's office did not put forth any witnesses Tuesday. In a closing argument that was repeatedly interrupted by Jesic, who kept noting prosecutors were applying the wrong legal standard, Deputy Dist. Atty. Habib Balian questioned whether the court could really believe the brothers would not re-offend.

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"Resentencing is about one important word: trust," Balian said. "The Menendez brothers are asking you, trust us. Trust that we won't commit more crimes. ... We have to ask ourselves, are they trustworthy?"

Balian also spoke about the gruesome nature of the crime scene, noting how forensic evidence showed some of the shotgun blasts were fired at point-blank range to highlight the viciousness of the crime.

Baralt, whose mother was Jose Menendez's older sister, said in court that the family had endured decades of pain from the scrutiny of the murders.

"From the day it happened ... it has been a relentless examination of our family in the public eye," she said, beginning to cry. "It has been torture for decades."

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She said the family was the butt of repeated jokes on "Saturday Night Live" and lived like outcasts who wore a "scarlet M."

Read more: Menendez brothers' bid for freedom set to reach a courtroom next week

In the gruesome 1989 murders, the brothers bought shotguns with cash and opened fire as their mother and father watched a movie. Jose Menendez was shot five times, including in the kneecaps and the back of the head. Kitty Menendez crawled on the floor, wounded, before one of the brothers reloaded and fired a fatal blast, jurors heard at their two trials.

On the stand Tuesday, Baralt echoed the brothers' justification for killing their parents, saying it was related to sexual abuse they endured. But Baralt also told the judge that she believes they have changed and are "very aware of the consequences of their actions."

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"I don't think they are the same people they were 30 years ago," she said.

Diane Hernandez, another cousin, told the courtroom about the "Hallway Rule" that governed where people could or could not be in Jose Menendez's home. If the father was alone with Erik and Lyle in an upstairs room, no one else could be on that level, she said. Oftentimes, Hernandez said, Jose would then tell the rest of the family whichever brother he had just isolated "felt sick" and could not join the family for dinner. On cross-examination, she said she never witnessed either brother being abused.

Read more: Menendez brothers' bid for freedom stalled by fight over parole board document

Balian spent the morning trying to punch holes in the relatively clean reputations the brothers have earned behind bars. Both brothers had repeatedly received "low" risk scores from state corrections officials until the recent report that Hochman invoked, which raised their risk level to "moderate."

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Under cross-examination, Baralt acknowledged that she never thought her cousins were capable of killing their parents until they'd done it. She also said that before their criminal trial decades ago, Lyle Menendez had asked a witness to lie for him on the stand.

Nearly two dozen of the brothers' relatives, including several who testified Tuesday, formed the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition to advocate for their release as interest in the case reignited in recent years. The release of a popular Netflix documentary on the murders, which included the unearthing of additional documentation of the alleged sexual abuse, helped fuel a motion for a new trial.

The family has become increasingly public in its fight after Hochman opposed his predecessor's recommendation to resentence them. The relatives have repeatedly accused Hochman of bias against the brothers, called for him to be disqualified from the case and alleged he intimidated and bullied them during a private meeting. Hochman has denied all accusations of bias and wrongdoing, and says he simply disagrees with their position.

Kitty Menendez's brother Milton was the only member of the family opposed to Erik and Lyle's release, but he died this year. Kathy Cady, who served as his victims' rights attorney, is now the head of Hochman's Bureau of Victim Services, another point of aggravation for the relatives fighting for the brothers' release.

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Tamara Goodell  a Menendez cousin who previously filed a formal complaint against Hochman  testified Tuesday she had no reservations about freeing the two men who killed her great-aunt, noting Erik and Lyle had repeatedly apologized to her and the family.

The three have been writing letters back and forth since 2000, according to Goodell, who described rehabilitative programs the brothers have launched for other inmates and said continuing to imprison them would only "prevent the good" they can do in this world.

She saved her ire for Hochman, describing a January meeting at which she said the district attorney was hostile and defensive while she questioned him about Cady's hiring.

"You're a victim in this case, aren't you?" Geragos asked her.

"I'm glad you see it that way," Goodell responded, while staring daggers at the prosecution table.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Patients are suffering the torture of waiting up to three days in A&E in utterly degrading conditions for a bed in mental health wards, nurses have claimed.

The number of mental health patients being kept in A&E departments for at least 12 hours has risen five-fold since before the pandemic, according to new figures obtained under freedom of information laws from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Distressed patients were often guarded by security instead of being cared for by healthcare professionals, while some patients attempted suicide on hospital grounds. Others eventually left the hospital without receiving treatment  running the risk of causing harm to themselves and the public.

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Prof Nicola Ranger, the general secretary and chief executive of the RCN, said it was a scandal in plain sight.

She also used her address at the unions annual conference to criticise Sir Keir Starmers immigration plans, and paved the way for a summer of NHS strikes over pay.

Prof Nicola Ranger called Sir Keir Starmers plans to reduce immigration pandering and scapegoating - Royal College of Nursing

In a report released to coincide with the conference in Liverpool this week, nurses described waiting times for mental health beds as prolonged and degrading.

They told how brightly lit and noisy emergency departments were close to torture for mental health patients, whose conditions often worsened the longer they waited.

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Rachelle McCarthy, senior charge nurse at Nottingham University Hospital, said: It is not uncommon for patients with severe mental ill health to wait three days.

Many become distressed and I totally understand why. I think if I was sat in an A&E department for three days waiting for a bed, I would be distressed too.

Another senior nurse from the south-west of England said: Some of them are in severe crisis. They want to leave. They want to self-harm. They are massively distressed and struggling.

She said the hospital had been forced to deploy a team of senior nurses, security staff and the fire service to stop waiting patients attempting suicide on hospital grounds on more than one occasion.

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At one emergency department in the South East, a mental health patient was monitored for 24 hours by a security guard instead of receiving treatment. His brother told the RCN: My brother needed care from a mental health professional, not to be guarded like he was a threat.

Not enough beds

Nearly 5,300 mental health patients waited at least 12 hours after they had been admitted to A&E departments in England last year  up from about 1,000 in 2019.

This will be just the tip of the iceberg as only one in four of Englands 145 hospitals with emergency departments released figures under the Freedom of Information Act to the RCN.

At some hospitals, no mental health patients had experienced 12-hour waits in 2019 but, by last year, there was at least one waiting all day in A&E every day of the year. At the Manchester Royal Infirmary, the number of mental health patients waiting more than 12 hours for admission surged from zero in 2019 to 463 in 2024.

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The average rise across all hospitals of mental health patients waiting more than 12 hours was 383 per cent.

Analysis by the union also found the number of hospital beds for mental health patients has dropped by nearly a fifth in the last decade, meaning there are now 3,699 fewer in-patient spaces, and the number of mental health nurses for every 10,000 mental health patients in England has halved.

Prof Ranger told the RCN annual congress: The people who wait the longest are the most severely mentally ill. If parity of esteem between mental and physical health is to mean anything, then these utterly degrading waits must end.

She called for urgent and sustained investment in community mental health nursing to ease the overwhelming pressures on emergency departments.

Pandering and scapegoating

Prof Ranger also slammed the Prime Ministers plans to reduce immigration as pandering and scapegoating and said the UK was so reliant on overseas colleagues.

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On the possibility of striking over pay, she added that nurses in England wanted to fight for more.

Im not here today to tell you that were going on strike, but Im not here today to tell you that we are not going on strike, she told 3,000 delegates.

Thats not my call. You need to decide how you feel. We will plan together and get whats best for nursing and what it needs.

Referring to the figures, Minesh Patel, associate director of policy and campaigns at the charity Mind, said: Long wait times in A&E can be difficult for everyone. But for the people attending A&E in mental health crisis  and more than 700 do every day  the impacts can be significant.

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When people who may have attempted suicide, self-harmed, or experienced psychosis, they need timely and urgent help. They are being let down by a system that is overwhelmed and depleted.

Alexa Knight, Englands director at the Mental Health Foundation, also called for better community support for mental health patients, adding: The frequency of people attending A&E experiencing a mental health crisis clearly shows that not enough people are receiving mental health support at the best time  early in their journey.

It comes as the patient safety watchdog said that mental health hospitals were not always acting on recommendations made to improve the safety of patients.

The Health Services Safety Investigations Body said this led to missed opportunities to learn, improve and prevent harm to patients and NHS staff.

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A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve, and we know that many NHS staff feel burnt out and demoralised, having been overworked for years.

Thats why this Government is investing an extra 680 million in mental health services this year, to help recruit 8,500 more mental health workers, and put mental health support in every school.

We have also launched one of the worlds first 24/7 mental health crisis support services via NHS 111 and announced a 26 million investment in new crisis centres, to ensure patients can get timely support from a trained mental health professional.

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MENTOR, Ohio (WJW)  Mentor police detectives are searching for a suspect accused of robbing a CVS Pharmacy in the city on Tuesday morning.

Officers responded to a possible robbery at the CVS in the 9000 block of Mentor Avenue around 10:53 a.m., the Mentor Police Department said.

Arrested: Man gets 20th OVI while allededly driving drunk in Ohio

According to police, a preliminary investigation revealed that a man wearing khaki pants and a gray hoodie walked into the pharmacy and handed a note to the woman working the register demanding money.

Courtesy of Mentor police

Investigators said the man then allegedly pointed to his waistband, suggesting he might have a gun.

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The suspect is accused of grabbing cash from the register before leaving the store on foot toward Hopkins Road.

Cleveland Clinic to soon require copays up front

According to Mentor police, law enforcement set up a perimeter and tried to find the suspect with K-9 and drone units. Officers did not find the suspect, police said.

During the search, the Mentor Public School District decided to place Mentor Memorial Junior High and Hopkins Elementary School under a shelter in place, meaning no one was allowed to come in or leave the buildings.

Anyone with information on the robbery or the suspect should reach out to Mentor police at 440-974-5789 and reference report 25-13288.

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KEDOUGOU, Senegal (AP)  The quickest way to separate gold from rock, Sadio Camara says, is with a drop of mercury. She empties a dime-sized packet of the silvery liquid into a plastic bucket of muddy sediment outside her home in southeastern Senegal. With bare hands and no mask, she swirls the mixture as her children look on.

I know mercury isnt good for your health  thats why I dont drink the water it comes into contact with, she said. I only process small amounts of gold, so theres no danger.

But even small-scale exposure can carry serious risks.

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Across West Africa, mercury  a potent neurotoxin  remains the dominant method for extracting gold from ore in the regions booming informal mining sector, much of it illegal and unregulated. In Senegals gold-rich Kedougou region, women like Camara use the metal regularly, often without protective gloves and masks, to make a living.

Mercury exposure can cause irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, tremors and loss of vision, hearing and coordination. Once released, it spreads easily through air, water and soil. Particularly after heavy rains, it contaminates rivers, poisons fish and accumulates up the food chain.

A 2018 Duke University-led study found mercury levels in soils, sediments and water near artisanal gold mining villages in southeastern Senegal that exceeded safety thresholds set by the World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 10 to 100 times.

In artisanal mining, mercury is prized for its ability to bind quickly and easily to gold. Miners mix the liquid metal into crushed ore, and the mixture is then heated  often over open flames  to evaporate the mercury and leave behind a lump of gold. The process is cheap, effective and dangerous.

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If it hurt right away, like a knife, people would stop. But the issue is that it takes years for the dangers to manifest, said Doudou Drame, president of the Observatoire Territoriale du Secteur Extractif, an organization that advocates for safer conditions for gold miners in Kedougou. People are dumping it directly into the river. Theyre burning it in the open, releasing toxic smoke into the air. Its extremely dangerous.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest global source of mercury emissions, even more than the burning of coal, according to the UN Environment Programme. In Senegal alone, artisanal mines are estimated to release between 12 and 16 metric tons of mercury each year.

Kedougou has rich land  very rich land, Drame said. Now mercury is everywhere. Our animals consume it, and it comes back to us. Even the soil is no longer fertile.

For women, a life that puts them in mercury's way

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Along the muddy banks of a rust-colored pond, dozens of women wade knee-deep as they rinse piles of sediment in search of gold. Children dart between mounds of earth while the runoff pools around their feet. With little access to clean water, many women spend long hours in local waterways to work, bathe their children, wash clothes and clean dishes.

Women are much more exposed than men, said Modou Goumbala, the monitoring and evaluation manager at La Lumiere, an NGO that supports community development in southeastern Senegal.

That exposure can be especially dangerous for pregnant and nursing women. Mercury can cross the placenta, putting fetuses at risk of developmental delays and birth defects. Infants may also absorb the toxin through contaminated breast milk.

Inside her kitchen hut not far from the stream, Camara heats a nugget of mercury-laced sediment with a metal spoon over an open flame. The toxic metal evaporates and leaves behind a kernel of gold. Theres no mask, no gloves  just the raw materials and her bare hands. Her children stand just a few feet away, watching and breathing the fumes.

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Camara said she doesnt usually handle the burning herself; that task is typically left to men. But she and other women regularly mix and shape the mercury amalgam with no protection. One of her children suffers from frequent stomachaches, though she hasnt noticed any other symptoms. Still, the risks loom.

Why take the risks? Because gold pays

The easiest way to earn money today is gold mining, Camara said. Subsistence agriculture will not provide you enough for food or other needs.

In Senegal, gold processors like Camara typically process between 5 and 10 grams of gold per month, earning the equivalent of $370 to $745  more than double the national average salary of about $200.

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Senegal ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2016, pledging to reduce mercury use and pollution. But the substance remains widely accessible. Most of the countrys supply comes from Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, with smaller amounts smuggled from dental clinics in Dakar, according to a 2022 report by the Institute for Security Studies.

In 2020, the government promised to build 400 mercury-free gold processing units. So far, only one has been constructed  in Bantaco, about 15 miles from Camaras home. The facility uses gravity to separate gold from ore, eliminating the need for mercury by relying on sluices and shaking tables.

During a recent visit, the rusting slab of metal sat unused beneath a corrugated roof.

People used it for a while, but then they stopped, because one single unit cant cover an entire community, Goumbala said. Naturally, those who were nearby could use it. But for those who are very far away, they cant afford to transport the ore all the way, process it and then go back. Its extra work. Thats a problem.

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Camara said she tried the unit, but in addition to being far away, it was less effective at isolating gold  some was lost in the process.

Repeated efforts to schedule an interview with Senegals director of artisanal and small-scale mining were unsuccessful. The director later said the department had been suspended. He did not provide a reason.

Senegal swore in a new president in 2024, but residents say the problems remain.

Theres a new administration in place, but promises are still just promises, Goumbala said. He believes the lack of progress is due to limited funding.

In an effort to curb pollution, authorities temporarily suspended mining within 500 meters (1,640 feet)of the Faleme River, which cuts through Senegals gold belt and forms part of the border with Mali.

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But enforcement is weak as officials struggle to stem the influx of informal miners, many of whom arrive from neighboring countries. Critics say the measure barely scratches the surface of the problem.

The solution is to install the gold processing units within the communities  at least one per village, Goumbala said.

Even so, he acknowledged the challenges: The machines are expensive, difficult to maintain and require replacement parts that are only available abroad.

Theres also resistance among miners, who say mercury is more efficient and profitable.

We need to convince communities that even if they make more money using mercury, in the end, theyll spend that profit on treating illnesses caused by it, Goumbala said. The long-term consequences are far worse.

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___

Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Despite a number of recent challenges and changes, Mercy Medical Center in Aurora recently got a top grade from an independent hospital watchdog organization.

The Leapfrog Group, which according to its website grades nearly 3,000 hospitals on how well they keep their patients safe, recently gave Mercy Medical Center an A grade for the spring 2025 period. Thats the highest grade a hospital can receive.

Achieving an A hospital safety grade recognizes Mercy Medical Centers unwavering commitment to patient safety and its dedication to providing the highest level of care possible, Leah Binder, president and CEO of the Leapfrog Group, said in a news release from the hospital.

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Leapfrogs grading of Mercy is detailed on the organizations website, which shows that the hospital was graded across five categories: infections, problems with surgery, safety problems, practices to prevent error and doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

Each category contains several metrics that contributed to the hospitals overall grade, and most of these metrics showed Mercy performing at or above average. For example, Mercy scored higher than average on patient falls and injuries, the responsiveness of hospital staff and the spread of various infections, among others.

However, Mercy Medical Center did score lower than average on some metrics, including nursing and bedside care for patients, serious breathing problems after surgery, harmful events following a procedure and collapsed lungs.

An advanced breakdown of the scoring, available on the organizations website, shows the data used in the hospitals grading came from 2024 or earlier.

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In Mercy Medical Centers news release about the results of the grade, Leapfrog CEO Binder congratulated the hospital and its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.

The hospitals CEO, Fernando Gruta, said in the news release that he was grateful for the amazing, talented staff at the hospital. Leapfrogs recent grade, he said, shows the passion and commitment of the hospitals physicians, nurses and frontline staff.

Last year, Mercy received a B in both the spring and fall grading periods, according to Leapfrogs website.

Mercy Medical Centers newly improved grade comes soon after Prime Healthcare purchased it and several other hospitals from Ascension at the start of March.

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In addition to the change in leadership, Mercy has also been dealing with the loss of a significant number of doctors as Advocate Healthcare slowly pulled out of the hospital over the past year or more as well as the loss of its Level II Trauma Center designation over allegations of understaffing.

Hospital officials have said that, despite the changes, Mercy Medical Center continues to provide health care services including emergency and critical care without any gaps in coverage.

A Mercy spokesperson also previously told The Beacon-News that the hospital had already started the process of voluntarily withdrawing its trauma center designation when the state revoked it.

However, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, said in a statement Friday that she is in active communication with both the Illinois Department of Public Health and Prime Healthcare to find a solution that will allow compliance to be restored.

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Because Mercy no longer has its trauma center designation, local emergency medical services are currently redirecting patients who require that level of care  such as those who suffered serious injuries in car crashes, falls or violence  to other area hospitals that are still designated as trauma centers.

Those hospitals include Rush Copley Medical Center, the other hospital in Aurora, and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva.

Delnor Hospital also received an A ranking from Leapfrog for the spring 2025 period. However, Rush Copley received a B.

In a statement sent to The Beacon-News, a Rush Copley spokesperson said the hospital sits on the cusp of an A grade from Leapfrog but earned a B because of the fluidity of their methodology and impact of even the slightest change.

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Having been awarded an A more than 20 times by Leapfrog for excellence in safety, we anticipate that the medical center will again receive top marks in a future cycle, the spokesperson said, especially given our history of success with Leapfrog and the fact that Rush Copley continues to be recognized as high performing in several specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
By Natalia Siniawski

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico hopes to start a review of its trilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada in the second half of this year, ahead of schedule, to provide clarity to consumers and investors, the nation's economy minister said on Tuesday.

"We estimate that we'll start discussions in the second half of the year," Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard told journalists on the sidelines of a ministry event with local financial technology firms.

"We hope they'll happen as soon as possible and that we can reach an agreement soon," he added.

The USMCA trade pact is up for review next year. U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for the agreement to be renegotiated ahead of time.

Ebrard said the early review could make trade policies between the three nations "easier and clearer" for both consumers and investors.

On Monday, Ebrard said he expected the planned review to begin ahead of schedule. "That could be convenient for us," he said. "Because it would make clear to us how (the treaty) will work compared to other parts of the world."

Despite ongoing U.S. tariffs, the USMCA remains in effect, currently impacting shipments of products such as steel and completed automobiles from Mexico into the United States.

Ebrard added that Mexico is working to negotiate more favorable terms for exports of steel, aluminum, automobiles and tomatoes to the United States.

(Reporting by Natalia Siniawski in Mexico City; Editing by Kylie Madry and Matthew Lewis)
Turkiye ready to support Russia-Ukraine peace talks at every step: Erdogan

Xinhua) 08:38, May 13, 2025

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (C), Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (L) and Syria's foreign affairs chief Asaad al-Shibani attend a joint press conference in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 12, 2025. During a joint press conference on Monday in Ankara with his Syrian and Jordanian counterparts, Fidan noted that discussions are still ongoing regarding the modalities of the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, reiterating Turkiye's commitment to facilitating peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement by Erdogan's office.

Erdogan emphasized that a comprehensive ceasefire is essential to create the proper environment for initiating talks and urged all parties to seize the current window of opportunity for a diplomatic dialogue aimed at ending the conflict.

He expressed his willingness to host the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Turkiye on the occasion of peace negotiations.

The call with Zelensky came just one day after Erdogan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the Turkish president said his country is ready to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul again.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, Erdogan said Turkiye had become a "pivotal actor in global peace diplomacy," citing its role in offering mediation, humanitarian aid, and conflict resolution.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed the president's message, stating that Turkiye is "ready to provide all kinds of contributions, especially in terms of facilitating and hosting" the Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

During a joint press conference on Monday in Ankara with his Syrian and Jordanian counterparts, Fidan noted that discussions are still ongoing regarding the modalities of the proposed meeting.

"Ukraine demands a ceasefire before talks begin, while Russia prefers to start negotiations prior to any truce being declared," Fidan said, adding both sides are seeking to secure continued U.S. support.

"Despite this, our position is clear. We invite both parties to come together as soon as possible to initiate a ceasefire," he stated.

In a statement to journalists at the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin proposed the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul. Putin said Russia remains committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine to address the root causes of the ongoing conflict and lay the groundwork for a lasting and stable peace.

In response, Zelensky said it is a positive sign that Russia has begun to consider ending the war. However, he required a ceasefire starting Monday as the first step towards the goal.

In 2022, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held direct talks in Istanbul but failed to reach a consensus on halting the fighting.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  New Mexico is the only state in the country that doesnt pay a salary to lawmakers, even though some have pushed to change that policy for years. After another failed attempt this session, some are wondering if there is any chance New Mexicos system could change?

Who we send to Santa Fe does not represent the incredible depth and diversity and insight and expertise of families across our state, said Representative Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla).

Democratic state Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena says thats just one of the many reasons why she thinks New Mexico should have a paid legislature. She says the states current volunteer set up ensures that the powerful, wealthy, or retired make up the vast majority of candidates who can do the job.

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New state law expands who can become a NM law enforcement officer

And that means when were there taking these consequential votes that affect and impact our lives every day, a lot of the folks taking those votes are really disconnected from whats happening in real time, said Rep. Cadena.

The issue is one of what drove Representative Cadena to write a letter at the end of this session, only saying, The people of New Mexico deserve better.

That body, in my perspective and insight, does not represent the New Mexicans that I try to show up for every day, said Rep. Cadena.

The legislative salary idea has been around for years, including this session, where a joint resolution, SJR 1, didnt get a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Democratic Senator George Munoz. He opposes the idea of a paid legislature, saying the current system doesnt limit whos involved.

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Bernalillo County DA speaks out on juvenile crime bills not passing in the NM Legislature

I see a wide variety of people there. I see teachers who have jobs that leave the schools for 60 days. I see non-profit organizations that have people that are elected, I see retirees, I see ranchers, said Senator George Munoz (D-Gallup).

He adds that creating legislative salaries could also attract the wrong kind of lawmakers to the Roundhouse. Now, will it open it up to an array of people, sure it will. It will get people running for a job, and it will not be for service to the state or for service to their constituents, said Sen. Munoz.

Democratic Representative Angelica Rubio was a sponsor of both the House, HJR 18, and Senate resolutions, SJR 1, for a legislative salary this session. She says they plan to reintroduce an updated version in 2026.

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Mexico says migrant deaths have doubled since Trump took office

SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Mexicos Secretariat of Foreign Relations said the number of Mexican migrants who have died while unlawfully crossing into the United States has doubled since President Donald Trump took office.

The Department says 181 Mexican nationals have died during the first four months of this year, more than twice when compared to same time period last year. There were 81 from January-April 2024.

Migrant advocates blame the lack of traditional pathways to get into the U.S.

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It has to do with politics that are closing off any possibility of asylum, said Pedro Rios, of the San Diego-based American Friends Service Committee. Someone that would normally present themselves at a port of entry, that opportunity no longer exists for them and it forces them to seek extremely dangerous ways to cross into the United States.

Rios also blames policies that have led to a militarization of the border, and says only the smugglers are benefitting from it.

5 arrested after deadly smuggling incident off San Diego coast; girl remains missing

In January, Trump ordered active duty personnel to the border to help with support missions in California and Texas.

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Last month, he took it a step further designating a 60-foot-wide strip of land running along the border, from the Pacific Ocean all the way to El Paso, as a military installation where soldiers and marines could stop and arrest migrants for trespassing on a military base.

87 charged with illegal entry into new Texas military buffer zone

Trump called it sealing the southern border of the United States  repelling invasions.

Rios says this decision is why migrants are taking more risks turning to smugglers.

With militarization comes much more groups of people that are profiting off smuggling. They go hand in hand, unfortunately, so people that profit from smuggling make a lot of money and they become opportunistic as we know they are ruthless, their primary concern is making money.

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Mexicos Secretariat of Foreign Relations says its likely more Mexican immigrants have died, but have not been identified due to the lack of paperwork and forensic personnel who can identify remains discovered in harsh and desolate terrain.

Border Report Live: US fights smugglers by land, air and sea

Rios agrees.

When people make their way into the United States, oftentimes, people that are smuggling them will tell them to get rid of all your identifying information. So, if they pass away in the desert or in the mountains they have no identifying information; Its much more difficult for the families to be able to find out what happen to them.

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Last year, the remains of 453 people were discovered, but 198 remain unidentified, according to Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Relations.

Rios added that its not just Mexican nationals who are dying while trying to unlawfully enter the United States, but people from all over the world.

Last week, a panga boat carrying more than 16 people capsized off the Del Mar, California coastline. Three migrants, including a 14-year-old boy from India, died.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

The boys 10-year-old sister remains missing and is presumed dead.

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In 2023, a boat overturned in the surf off Point Loma  eight migrants died in that accident.

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico will tighten the flow of cattle from the south of the country to limit the potential spread of the screwworm, the nation's agriculture minister said on Tuesday.

The screwworm, which can kill cattle or other hosts within weeks, has recently been detected in the south of Mexico and has caused the U.S. to suspend imports of cattle, horses and bison from its neighbor.

Mexican Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegue, speaking at a regular press conference alongside President Claudia Sheinbaum, ruled out closing Mexico's southern border to cattle from Central America, but acknowledged it will take a long time to eradicate the pest.

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"We are going to be restricting cattle movement from the south of the country much more tightly," Berdegue said, adding that "closing the border is a complex issue that needs to be carefully analyzed, because it also impacts the national meat supply."

The clampdown from Mexico is in response to the U.S. suspension of cattle imports, though Berdegue said on Tuesday that Mexico was complying "100%" with the U.S.' demands.

The two countries have put out conflicting information on how long the suspension will last, with Mexico claiming it agreed on a 15-day suspension with U.S. authorities, and the U.S. calling for it to be in place on a "month-by-month" basis.

The suspension threatens to increase U.S. beef prices by further tightening already-limited supply, while hurting ranchers in Mexico. Sheinbaum said on Monday she hoped the measure had a limited economic impact, given that she only expected it to last 15 days.

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TECHNICAL MEASURES

Since June, Mexico's agriculture ministry has spent more than 167 million pesos ($8.60 million) to combat the pest, it said in a Monday statement.

That includes inspecting cattle shipments and ranches in states along Mexico's southern border, the ministry said, as well as a program to release sterilized screwworm flies, which reduce the mating population of the wild flies.

($1 = 19.4166 Mexican pesos)

(Reporting by Raul Cortes and Rafael Escalera Montoto; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Kylie Madry)
Mexican authorities were seeking suspects Monday in the assassination of a mayoral candidate who was shot dead during a campaign rally in the gulf coast state of Veracruz.

The attack Sunday evening in Texistepec killed Yesenia Lara Gutierrez, 49, who was running for mayor of the town of 20,000.

At least three other people were killed in the attack, authorities said. Three others were wounded.

Video of the campaign event at which the attack occurred showed a chaotic scene of people running for cover as about 20 gunshots rang out in the streets amid the rally. Media reports indicated that at least three people opened fire.

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Lara, 49, was at least the second mayoral candidate killed this year in Veracruz, a violence-ridden state that is having mayoral elections in more than 200 municipalities on June 1.

Lara's husband, Enrique Aruguelles, a former city council member in Texistepec, was shot dead in 2022.

Read more: For political candidates in Mexico, the stakes can be life or death

On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that police were trying to track down the killers of Lara, who was running under the banner of Sheinbaum's ruling Morena political bloc.

"We don't know the motive," Sheinbaum told reporters at her regular morning news conference.

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State authorities in Veracruz were heading the investigation, the president said. Texistepec is about 125 miles southeast of the port city of Veracruz.

Veracruz Gov. Rocio Nahle Garcia condemned the attack and vowed there would be no impunity. "No office or post is worth the life of a person," the governor wrote on social media, calling the slayings "cowardly."

Also on June 1, Mexico is holding nationwide balloting for the election of hundreds of judges  part of a controversial constitutional reform backed by Sheinbaum and her predecessor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Lara's slaying again underscores the problem of electoral violence in Mexico, where last year's national elections resulted in scores of killings of candidates.

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Campaign rallies and other public appearances can leave candidates especially exposed despite police protection. During last years elections, slain candidates included a mayoral aspirant stabbed to death in the gulf coast state of Tamaulipas after a breakfast event, and mayoral hopefuls shot dead during campaign stops in the states of Guerrero and Guanajuato.

Organized crime seeks to control local mayors, whose responsibilities include police forces, budgets and contracts, experts say.

"Mayors and mayoral candidates are essentially under siege because they are a critical point of influence and protection for criminal actors," David Shirk, a political scientist at the University of San Diego, told The Times last year.

In a report on political violence this month, the Mexican consulting firm Integralia said that organized crime sought to "capture public local institutions."

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"The threats and attempts against candidates are meant to influence electoral results," the firm concluded. "Meantime, the kidnappings and threats against officials serve as mechanisms of territorial and financial control."

Like Lara's slaying, other political killings also have been carried out in public. The killing of Rosa Alma Barragan, in the town of Moroleon in Guanajuato is just one example.

Barragan, who was running for mayor, was killed at a campaign event in 2021 when gunmen sprayed a crowd with bullets.

Read more: Indigenous activist's disappearance and killing cause outcry in Mexico's Oaxaca state

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Hours before her slaying, Lara published a profie of herself on social media, vowing that, if elected, she would aid the poor and young of the town.

"The force and vitality of our young motivates me to keep on walking from day to day," she wrote.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A grand jury indicted a New Mexico woman and her son on first-degree murder after they were accused of killing a man at his house. Late last month, a woman called police and said two people were banging on her door. The suspects were identified as 44-year-old Munah Green and her 17-year-old son Rickey Rodgers.

Bernalillo County DA provides update on Operation Route 66 in Albuquerque

Police said the womans boyfriend, Richard Powell, confronted the two outside, and thats when Green told her son to shoot Powell after the argument escalated. Court documents said Rodgers shot the man several times.

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Arrests of homeless people in Miami Beach for violating new anticamping laws sharply spiked in February, according to public records obtained by Reason.

In one particular week in mid-February, arrests of homeless people made up two-thirds of all arrests in Miami Beach.

The numbers are a glimpse into enforcement of anticamping laws in the city that became a model for the rest of Florida. And Florida is now leading a national crackdown following a Supreme Court decision that it's not cruel or unusual punishment to criminalize sleeping in public, even when there was no other shelter available. When Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a statewide law last year banning cities from allowing camping in public, he chose Miami Beach for the location.

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DeSantis and Miami Beach officials say the laws are a firm but compassionate way to get people off the street and stop unsightly tent camps. However, homeless advocacy organizations and civil rights groups say criminalizing homelessness is cruel and counterproductive.

The arrest statistics were obtained from weekly memos that the Miami Beach city manager sent to the city council from last September through May on homeless outreach and enforcement. All of the memos are available here.

The memos show that in 2024, Miami Beach police arrested 261 people under an anticamping ordinance that it strengthened in October of the previous year.

The Miami Herald reported this January that, in addition to the anticamping ordinance, Miami Beach police were heavily enforcing quality-of-life offenses and nuisance crimes along the iconic beach and boardwalk. The result, the Herald reported, was that 42 percent of all Miami Beach arrests in 2024 were homeless people.

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That kind of percentage isn't unheard of; in 2022 Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that roughly half of all arrests in Portland over a four-year period were of homeless people.

But in February, memos show that Miami Beach police began enforcing the law in a way that dwarfed its previous efforts.

(CJ Ciaramella | Reason Magazine)

According to a March memo from the Miami Beach city manager, the number of arrests for prohibited camping went from 10 and 13 in December and January, respectively, to 78 in February. The number of camping arrests dropped to 27 in March.

During the week of February 17, Miami Beach hit a particularly eye-popping statistic: Of the 125 total arrests that week, 8266 percentwere of homeless people.

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Of the 445 total arrests by Miami Beach police in February, 238 were homeless53 percent.

During that same period, the Miami Beach Police Department Homeless Resource Unit placed four people in emergency shelters or residential treatment, according to city memos. The city's other homeless outreach services recorded dozens of placements, but also hundreds of refusals of service.

(City of Miami Beach)

A spokesperson for the city of Miami Beach said in a statement to Reason that "no directive was issued to focus on the camping ordinance, and our approach continues to balance enforcement with outreach and care."

"The City of Miami Beach remains deeply committed to treating all individuals, including those experiencing homelessness, with dignity and compassion," the statement continued. "While we continue to prioritize public safety and the appropriate use of public spaces, we recognize the complexity of homelessness and actively work with our Office of Housing & Community Services to connect individuals with shelter and supportive services."

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Under Miami Beach's anticamping ordinance, police must give homeless people the option of being transported to an available shelter. If they refuse, they can be arrested and taken to jail.

However, a Miami Herald review of arrests made after the city's public sleeping ban was enacted found Miami Beach police officers asked "only vague questions about whether homeless people want shelter or other assistance before detaining them. Officers do not appear to discuss the availability of beds in specific shelters, offer transportation to the shelters or explain that declining services will result in their immediate arrest."

Things used to be different. From 1992 to 2019, Miami was prohibited under the terms of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit settlement from arresting homeless people for sleeping, bathing, or other essential activities.

David Peery was homeless in Miami from 2008 to 2018 and was the class representative for homeless plaintiffs in the consent decree that resulted from the settlement.

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Peery, now the founder and executive director of the Miami Coalition to Advance Racial Equity, was shocked by the February statistics. He says they show a "remarkable and deeply troubling diversion of police resources."

"They're spending their time chasing people whose only crime is not being able to afford a home," Peery says. "It's totally fiscally irresponsible and cruel."

As Reason's Christian Britschgi wrote, if cities are going to outlaw sleeping in public, they should also be working to deregulate and expand the types of housing they allow, but in many cases local governments are instead fighting new housing and trying to shut down shelters.

The spike in arrests also doesn't make sense to Peery because homelessness is going down in Miami-Dade County. In January, before the spike in arrests, the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust reported a 31 percent drop in unsheltered homelessness in Miami Beach over the previous year.

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There was one major event on the calendar that month. The Miami International Boat Show took place February 1216. Boatingindustry.com wrote that the trade show expected 100,000 attendees from around the world and was projected to generate $1 billion in economic activity for the state of Florida. DeSantis was on hand to offer a speech on freedom for recreational boaters.

It's not uncommon for cities to roust homeless people to make way for high-profile events and VIPs. Last March, for example, the Miami Herald reported that police ordered homeless people to move out of an area where filmmakers were shooting Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

"It's more important to hide homelessness than to solve it," Peery sighed.

The post Miami Beach Homeless Arrests Spiked in February Under Anticamping Law appeared first on Reason.com.
Flooding aftermath of Edenville Dam failure | Timothy Wenzel of Midland photo

At a Monday afternoon motion hearing, Michigan Court of Claims Judge James Robert Redford rejected the state of Michigans request to resolve a case brought by several individuals impacted by the 2020 Edenville Dam failure without a trial.

Nearly five years ago, on May 19, 2020, the Edenville and Sanford Dams, located near Midland, failed due to record rainfall, forcing thousands of individuals to evacuate and causing catastrophic flooding and damage to property.

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The Edenville Dams former owner Lee Mueller was found liable for $119 million in environmental damage in a suit brought by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Days after the dam failed, a number of property owners took action against the DNR and EGLE, seeking compensation and arguing the departments actions contributed to the dams failure. The DNR and EGLE sought summary disposition on the grounds that there is no genuine issue of material fact within the complaint.

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According to the Michigan Judicial Institute Civil Proceedings Benchbook, a motion of this nature should not be filed until discovery is completed, however the motion may be granted when there is no reasonable chance that further discovery will result in factual support for the nonmoving party.

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The bottom line is, theres some, limited albeit, but there is some expert discovery thats continuing, Redford said.

Any further motions for summary disposition must be filed no later than July 3, 2025, with the court scheduled to hear arguments on those motions on Sept. 15, 2025.

The DNRs motion clearly created factual questions on whether EGLE was aware of the safety risk posed by the dam, Redford said, noting that the courts task under the specific motion filed by the state is to determine whether an issue of material fact exists to warrant a trial.

The opinion to deny [this motion for] relief is not an opinion which states the plaintiffs will win this case at trial. Thats not the standard. This case, if allowed to, will go to trial, and the trial court will have to weigh and evaluate the credibility of the evidence in a standard and in a manner which is far different from that in the [summary disposition] motion, Redford said.

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Kevin Carlson, who represents the individuals impacted by the dam failure, was pleased with Redfords decision, saying they would finally have their day in court.

These plaintiffs have suffered unimaginable losses, and we are committed to holding the parties responsible accountable for their actions. For five years, the State of Michigan knew about the dams dangerous condition but refused to act in the best interests of the public and instead made the dam more dangerous by authorizing higher water levels. We look forward to pressing forward with this case and ensuring justice for those impacted by this catastrophic failure.

While the Michigan Advance reached out to Nathan Gambill, the assistant attorney general representing the DNR and EGLE, he redirected questions to a department spokesperson. The Attorney Generals office had not responded as of the time of publication.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and 19 other attorneys general are suing the Trump administration for attempting to force states to increase immigration enforcement by threatening to withhold federal funding.

The group has filed two separate lawsuits, one against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and another against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy.

The Trump Administration is illegally tying immigration enforcement demands to vital federal funding grants that have absolutely nothing to do with immigration, said Nessel in a release sent to 6 News.

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Nessel says Congress has established dozens of federal grant programs administered by FEMA and the DOT. That money funds projects ranging from disaster relief and flood mitigation to railroad, bridge and airport construction.

In February, Secretary Noem directed DHS and other agencies, including FEMA, to stop federal funding to jurisdictions that refused to assist with federal immigration law enforcement.

In March, the DHS changed the terms and conditions put on federal funds to require recipients to prove that they assisted with enforcing these laws.

Secretary Duffy issued a similar letter, stating that grant recipients are required to assist the government with immigration law enforcement.

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DOT funds are used for highway construction, public transportation maintenance and competitive funds for airport and railway development.

Nessel says state grant applicants have seen a similar requirement added to the terms and conditions.

In the lawsuit against FEMA, the attorneys general say the immigration condition exceeds FEMAs authority. They add that the conditions are constitutional because Congress appropriated the funding to help states prepare for, protect against, respond to and recover from disasters.

In the lawsuit against the DOT, the attorneys general say that imposing an immigration enforcement condition on all transportation funds, which are appropriated to support critical infrastructure projects, is beyond the agencys jurisdiction.

The following states are attached to the lawsuit:

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Hawaii

Illinois

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnestoa

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Oregon

Rhode Island

Washington

Wisconson

Vermont

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Micro school districts ask New Mexico lawmakers for more state funding and local control. (Photo courtesy Santa Fe Public Schools)

Leaders from New Mexicos micro school districts emphasized to lawmakers on Tuesday the need for local control, more state funding and opportunities for students and teachers in rural areas.

According to an LFC brief, micro school districts are ones with 200 or fewer students; New Mexico has 20 such districts spread throughout rural areas of the state serving a total of 2,360 students.

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Mosquero Municipal Schools, one of the states micro school districts, hosted members of the Legislative Finance Committee Tuesday for the first LFC meeting of the interim this year. Mosquero is located in northeast New Mexico in Harding and San Miguel counties.

Mosquero Municipal Schools Governing Board President Victor Vigil told lawmakers local control is key to districts success and a one-size-fits-all approach does not make sense when comparing districts that serve only a couple hundred students and more urban districts serving thousands. He emphasized that schools in rural areas serve not only as places of learning, but also as community gathering places and sources of information because libraries, museums, businesses and other facilities are not readily accessible.

The school is the heartbeat of the town. Its the heartbeat of a community, especially in a rural area, Vigil said during the meeting.

Mosquero Superintendent Johnna Bruhn highlighted the need for additional state funds for micro districts. According to the LFC hearing brief, micro districts received $26,100 per student from the State Equalization Guarantee distribution this year, compared to the statewide average of $13,900. However, funding does not stretch as far in rural areas as in urban areas, she said.

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One of the things that would help is if micro districts were funded like we had 100 kids, even if we dont, Bruhn said. That would allow us to make theadjustments that we need to deliver all the educational requirements that this state has for our kids, to our kids. With less than that, we cant do it.

The LFC brief noted that micro districts rely chronically on emergency supplemental funds from the Public Education Department.

Bruhn also pointed out that if the PEDs rule requiring 180 instructional days in a school year were implemented in her district, it would require changing the calendar to a five-day school week with a later start time to allow students and staff to travel to school. She said that would increase travel time to about 15 hours per week rather than the current 12 hours.

Instructional time would actually decrease to 27.5 hours per week. The four-day week is essential here, she said.

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Bruhn added that more incentives to entice highly qualified teachers to work in micro districts are needed, including housing because many staff members, including herself, live in surrounding towns.

Rep. Derrick Lente (D-Sandia Pueblo), a member of the LFC, said many of the concerns Bruhn presented are similar to those of Native communities in New Mexico. Local control of how and what students are taught is influenced by culture and tradition  lawmakers noted during the discussion that Mosquero and the surrounding area is largely influenced by agricultural work.

If what is important to this community is farming and ranching, the same thing is being said by those pueblos, tribes and nations when we talk about making sure that what were teaching our children in terms of a culture, in terms of a practice are rooted in a native language, Lente said. I think that we need to share these with the PED because these shouldnt be a liability, but these should be an eye opener in terms of how we need to look at things differently for rural education.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland woman is facing multiple felony charges after police say they found a 5-year-old child in her care with extensive injuries and discovered methamphetamine inside her home during a welfare check.

Credit: MCSO Records

45-year-old Michelle Leeann Landers was arrested on Thursday, May 8, and charged with injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance, both third-degree felonies.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the arrest stemmed from a welfare check after Midland Police officers were dispatched to a home on West Louisiana Avenue on Wednesday, May 7.

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Officers reported that when they arrived and went inside the home, they found a 5-year-old girl lying on a bed, conscious but unresponsive.

According to the affidavit, the child had fresh bruises and scratches on her arms, legs, and torso, along with burn marks on her forearm. Reports showed that Emergency Medical Services were called, and the child was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police say Landers, who identified herself as the childs sole guardian, had a crystal-like substance in a plastic bag in her hand when officers arrived. As she led them through the home, she allegedly dropped the bag on the floor in plain view. Officers recognized the substance as methamphetamine.

Detectives interviewed Landers at the Midland Police Department, where she reportedly admitted the methamphetamine was hers but denied injuring the child. She also claimed that she had been with the child all day and could not explain how the injuries occurred or why she hadnt noticed them.

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Landers also told officers that she and the child lived in the house, while another individual stayed in the garage. She claimed the child had not been left alone or with anyone else.

Due to what police described as the totality of the circumstances, Landers was arrested and transported to the Midland County Detention Center.

In addition to the two felony charges, jail records show Landers is also facing multiple municipal violations, including:

Unrestrained child

Failure to appear (two counts)

According to jail records, she is being held on a total of $90,000 bond and remains in custody as of Tuesday, May 13.

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The condition of the child has not been updated, and the case remains under investigation by local authorities and child welfare services.

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On 12 May the commander of Ecuadors army,, said that an intelligence leak may have resulted in an ambush which killed 11 soldiers on 9 May in Orellana province.

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By Ahmed Kingimi

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Suspected insurgents killed five Nigerian soldiers in assaults on two army bases in northeastern Borno state early on Tuesday, security sources and a district official said, less than 24 hours after another deadly attack on troops in the region.

Nigeria, which has grappled with an Islamist insurgency for over 15 years, has this year witnessed a surge in attacks by Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province in Borno, the heartland of the militants.

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Two soldiers from the 24 Task Force Brigade in Borno's Dikwa district said militants flew two surveillance drones in the vicinity before attacking the brigade's base around 1 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Tuesday.

The base also housed some troops from the 153 Battalion in nearby Marte district, which was attacked on Monday with at least five soldiers killed.

Nigeria's Defence Headquarters, which coordinates the anti-insurgency operation, did not respond to a request for comment.

"We responded effectively this time, with the Nigerian Air Force providing support to pursue them. We killed many of them," a soldier involved in the battle told Reuters by phone.

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Around the same time, militants on trucks mounted with machine guns attacked the army's 3rd Battalion base in the Rann area of Kala Balge district, 65 km (45 miles) from Dikwa, two security sources and a district official said.

Insurgents torched a mine-resistant vehicle, a gun truck and a Russian-made T-72 tank but quickly retreated when air force fighter jets arrived, said the security sources.

At least five soldiers were killed while four sustained gunshot wounds, the Kala Balge district official said.

Borno state governor Babagana Zulum said he was "more determined than ever to support the military, security agencies, and our volunteer forces in the fight to end terrorism and insurgency in our state".

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Last month, Zulum warned that jihadists, who a decade ago controlled large swathes of the northeast before they were pushed out by the military, were making gains again in Borno.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; editing by Mark Heinrich)
CAIRO (AP)  Clashes between heavily armed militias rocked the Libyan capital, with gunfire and explosions heard across the city following the killing of a powerful warlord, officials said. At least six people were killed, they said.

The hourslong clashes, which involved heavy weapons, took place Monday evening into the early hours of Tuesday and centered in Tripolis southern neighborhood of Abu Salim, the officials said.

The fighting stemmed from the killing of Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, commander of the Stabilization Support Authority, SSA, on Monday by a rival militia, a senior government and health official said.

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The SSA is an umbrella group of militias that rose to become one of the most powerful groups in western Libya, which has a history of atrocities and rights abuses during the countrys long-running conflict. Al-Kikli, who was known as Gheniwa, has been accused by Amnesty International of war crimes and other serious rights violations over the past decade.

Al-Kikli was killed in a facility run by the 444 Brigade, a militia commanded by Mahmoud Hamza, a warlord close to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, one of the officials said.

Hamzas militia and their allies then attacked the offices of SSA across the capital, seizing their assets and detaining dozens of SSA fighters, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety.

The Health Ministrys Ambulance and Emergency Services said in a statement that at least six people were killed in the vicinity of Abu Salim, the SSA stronghold. It said it helped evacuate many families trapped in the clashes.

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Residents reported heavy clashes and explosions in multiple areas in the capital, with dozens of vehicles carrying fighters affiliated with different militias in the streets.

It was a nightmare, said Ahmed Ammer, who lives in the city center, adding that the clashes were reminiscent of the civil war that engulfed the North African country following the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

He said the clashes subsided early Tuesday morning, but the situation has been tense with many fighters in the streets.

Classes in the capitals schools were suspended on Tuesday, according to the Tripoli-based Education Ministry. The University of Tripoli also said it suspended studies, exams and administrative work until further notice.

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Dbeibahs government posted on its social media platforms early Tuesday that its forces carried out a military operation in Abu Salim and took full control of the area. It didnt provide further details.

In a statement, the U.N. mission in Libya expressed alarm about the intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas and warned that attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes.

The clashes were the latest bout of violence in the largely lawless Mediterranean country, which has been plunged into chaos and division since 2011. Amid the chaos, militias grew in wealth and power, particularly in Tripoli and the western part of the country.

Libya has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments. Currently, it is governed by Dbeibahs government in the west and by the administration of Prime Minister Ossama Hammad in the east.
State police have identified Patrick Kanonczyk, 36, as the man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Millcreek Township on Sunday evening.

The incident occurred after police responded to reports of a man smashing a car window with a hammer and attempting to attack a woman, identified as Kanonczyks girlfriend, in the 1600 block of Treetop Drive.

Police identify man killed in Millcreek officer-involved shooting

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The state police were summoned by Millcreek Police prior to the shots being fired.

According to authorities, Millcreek Police attempted to subdue Kanonczyk with a taser, but it was ineffective. Following this, an officer opened fire, resulting in Kanonczyks death.

The Pennsylvania State Police have activated their Major Cases Team to investigate the shooting, which includes bringing in extra investigators and forensic services. Police are asking anyone with information, pictures, or videos related to the incident to contact the state police in Erie at 814-898-1641.

Over 60K pounds of food donated during 2025 Stamp Out Hunger food drive

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Carter Mook, Chief of Millcreek Township Police Department, stated, We do train regularly in the use of force with our various tactics and weapons at our disposal and the reason for that is to ensure as safe of an outcome for the public and our officers as we can in situations like this.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with authorities yet to formally interview the officers involved and any other potential witnesses. The findings will be compiled into a report for the district attorney to determine if the shooting was justified.

Police would not go into any further detail about what led to the shooting.

When looking into a criminal history for Kanonczyk, all we were able to find was two summary traffic violations.

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As the investigation continues, well be sure to bring you the most up-to-date information.

All facts from this article were gathered by WJET/WFXP journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by WJET/WFXP staff.

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.
A federal grand jury indicted Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on May 13 on charges that she tried to assist an undocumented immigrant escape arrest from her courtroom last month, putting her at the center of the growing dispute between President Donald Trump and the judiciary.

The two-page indictment accuses Dugan, 66, of obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest. The two charges carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $350,000 fine, but sentences in cases involving nonviolent offenses typically are much shorter.

Dugan is expected to enter a plea at a May 15 hearing. But members of her defense team issued this statement: "As she said after her unnecessary arrest, Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court."

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The indictment came after a string of witnesses entered the federal courthouse throughout the day on May 13 to testify before the grand jury.

Among those making appearances were Alan Freed Jr., Dugan's court clerk, and Mercedes de la Rosa, who was the attorney for Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the undocumented immigrant at the center of the case. De la Rosa has withdrawn from his case.

Also giving testimony was Milwaukee County Judge Kristela Cervera, a misdemeanor judge whose courtroom is next to Dugan's. She arrived and left with defense attorney Michael F. Hart.

Cervera, Hart and Freed declined to comment when reached at the courthouse.

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The grand jury of 20 people returned the indictment against Dugan at 5:10 p.m. on May 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph. The grand jury didn't return an indictment against anyone else in the Dugan case.

The vote by the grand jury was not disclosed, something that is not unusual. Joseph said the requisite number was recorded. To indict, 12 of the 20 jurors need to vote for it.

After the brief indictment return hearing, Joseph reminded the grand jury of their oath to keep the proceedings secret.

Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling appeared for the government, which is unusual, highlighting the profile of the case.

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U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman was selected to preside over Dugan's case.

Mercedes de la Rosa, right, who was an assistant public defender for Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, is seen departing the Federal Courthouse, as Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan's case went before a federal grand jury, on May 13, 2025, at the Milwaukee Federal Courthouse.

The case stems from the arrest of Flores-Ruiz, 30, at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18.

On that date, two federal agents eventually chased Flores-Ruiz down outside the courthouse and apprehended him at West State Street and North 10th Street downtown, according to the criminal complaint. His arrest is part of a federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants by Trump officials.

A week later, Dugan was arrested at the courthouse, handcuffed and taken into federal custody to appear before a federal magistrate. Dugan's arrest was announced nationally by FBI Director Kash Patel on the social media platform X.

Judge Kristela L. Cervera leaves the Federal Courthouse with attorney Michael Hart, as Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan's case went before a federal grand jury in Milwaukee on May 13, 2025.

The indictment is so short that it omits a number of details provided in the earlier criminal charges against Dugan.

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That criminal complaint said a six-member arrest team showed up on the 6th floor of the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18 with plans to arrest Flores-Ruiz.

It said de la Rosa, his attorney, took pictures of the individual members of the arrest team and alerted Dugan's clerk, Freed, that the federal agents were outside the courtroom, telling him where they were seated and what they were wearing. Freed, a former employment law and disability rights attorney, informed Dugan of the situation.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan.

The indictment then accuses Dugan of leaving her courtroom and confronting the six-member arrest team in the hallway, falsely telling them that they needed a judicial warrant, not an administrative one, to take Flores-Ruiz into custody.

It also alleged that the veteran judge, who was first elected in 2016, directed the group to leave the public hallway and go to Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley's office. The criminal complaint said it was actually Cervera, her fellow misdemeanor judge, who took the group to Ashley's office to make a copy of the warrant and talk to Ashley by phone about their plans.

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Cervera, however, left one agent behind in the public hallway, the criminal complaint says.

Dugan is accused in the indictment of then expediting Flores-Ruiz's case by handling it off the record while most of the arrest team members were in Ashley's office. Dugan then directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney, de la Rosa, to exit the room via a "non-public jury door," according to the indictment. That door led to an adjacent hallway and to the public area on the 6th floor of the courthouse with elevators.

Dugan told de la Rosa that her client could appear by Zoom for his next court date.

But the federal agent who was left behind by Cervera saw de la Rosa and her client in the public hallway and got onto the elevator with them, leading to Flores-Ruiz's eventual arrest.

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Flores-Ruiz is being held in federal custody at the Ozaukee County Jail. He is expected to have a new public defender named before his next court hearing on May 14.

Dugan's arrest at the courthouse has prompted widespread criticism from protesters and local government officials. Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley has said he and his colleagues are "all concerned" about the manner in which Dugan was handcuffed at the courthouse.

But Trump officials have said they routinely execute warrants and make arrests in public buildings, such as the courthouse, because they know where and when a person is expected to be and know that the person passed through a security checkpoint and should be unarmed.

A CNN report on May 6 said it had confirmed a dozen cases of people being arrested by ICE on or near courthouse grounds in Virginia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

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Reporter John Diedrich can be reached at jdiedrich@gannett.com. Reporter Daniel Bice can be reached at dbice@gannett.com.(This story was updated to include new information.)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Federal grand jury indicts Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan
A Milwaukee County judge has ordered federal immigration agents to bring a 36-year-old man back to the local jail to ensure he is not deported before a sexual assault case can move forward.

Kevin I. Lopez, 36, faces two felonies after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman and 14-year-old girl after a small gathering at an east side restaurant he co-owned.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Lopez after a preliminary hearing May 7 at the courthouse complex, marking the fourth such arrest in the past two months. ICE announced his arrest on social media and said Lopez is a citizen of Mexico.

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Circuit Judge Jeffrey Wagner ordered Lopez be held without bail on May 13 after prosecutors argued deporting Lopez would deny the woman and girl their state constitutional rights as crime victims.

Before his arrest by ICE, Lopez had been out of custody on $25,000 bail. Wisconsin requires defendants to post the full amount of bail before release.

His deportation hearing was set for May 19. If Lopez waived the hearing, he would be deported within 48 hours, said Assistant District Attorney Katrina Voge.

"We did have pretrial conditional release options that were working," Voge said. ICE has completely changed that. It is either we move forward this way and I prosecute his case, or he is gone and he is deported.

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The judge ordered ICE to turn over Lopez to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, which runs the local jail, by May 15, when Lopez is scheduled to appear in court for a final pretrial hearing. Lopez's trial was scheduled for May 27.

Lopez appeared by video for the May 13 hearing.

In a motion seeking his pretrial detention, Voge said deporting Lopez before the case resolves would deny the victims their dignity, shows a lack of respect for what they had endured, deny them meaningful closure," and would leave them with no knowledge of his whereabouts.

One of the charges Lopez faces  first-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 by use of threat or force  qualifies for Wisconsins preventive detention statute, which allows a defendant to be held without bail.

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According to the criminal complaint, the sexual assaults occurred in the early hours of March 24, after the woman, the teen, Lopez and two other adults returned to an apartment, and the woman and 14-year-old fell asleep on the couch.

Lopez is accused of assaulting the woman on the couch as she slept and taking photos of her before raping the teen girl as he restrained her hands, the complaint says.

Lopez was charged March 28. After making bail, he was placed on the highest level of pretrial supervision with GPS monitoring under a limited curfew of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

His attorney, Geoff Misfeldt, argued that his client had been complying with the conditions of his release and that prosecutors did not meet the relatively high legal standards for pretrial detention.

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If the State thought he was a threat to the community, it should have sought his detention when he was out of custody, he wrote in a defense motion filed before the hearing. Now, the state seeks to detain someone who is already detained.

If convicted of the two felonies, Lopez faces a maximum possible sentence of 65 years in prison followed by 35 years of extended supervision.

As of May 13, Lopez was listed as being in ICE custody at the Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau, according to online records.

Ashley Luthern is a reporter and deputy investigations editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at ashley.luthern@jrn.com.

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David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee judge orders ICE to bring man to local jail for sex assault case
Fifty-seven children have died from the effects of malnutrition during the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip, Rik Peeperkorn, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), said on Tuesday, citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Peeperkorn, who represents the WHO in the Palestinian Territories, said in a video call that the UN organization has not yet verified these figures. However, he noted that the WHO has observed an increase in malnourished children.

In connection with this, he reported many young patients with pneumonia and gastrointestinal diseases. "You normally dont die from starvation, you die from diseases associated with it," he said.

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From the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, it was stated that in recent weeks, more than 57 children may have already died due to the food crisis.

Since the beginning of March, the Israeli military has not allowed aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip.

The armed forces accuse the Palestinian extremist organization Hamas of selling aid supplies at inflated prices to the suffering population and using the proceeds to pay for their fighters and weapons.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned at the beginning of the week of an escalating famine in the coastal strip, based on a recent analysis indicating that the entire population of the Gaza Strip  around 2.1 million people  is affected by acute food insecurity. Of these, 244,000 people are already suffering from famine, the FAO said.
Members of the Head Start program and Kids Count on Us participate in the Protect Our Kids rally at the Minnesota State Capitol Monday, May 12, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

Its been a disappointing year for Minnesotas parents of young children and the advocates hoping to secure more investments in child care.

Across the state, child care centers are shutting down, exacerbating the shortage of day care spots. Meanwhile, the cost of care continues to climb; only Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts have higher average infant child care prices. Child care workers in Minnesota earn on average just over $15 per hour, often less than they could make at Target or a restaurant.

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Now, a plan by President Donald Trump to cut funding is threatening the already-precarious child care system.

Teachers and advocates for Head Start, the federal program that provides subsidized child care to low-income families, gathered at the Capitol Monday  with hundreds of preschoolers in tow  to protest proposed Head Start cuts and the lack of state action to counteract them.

More than 12,000 Minnesota children could lose their care if Head Start funding expires at the end of September.

Advocates with Kids Count On Us  a child care advocacy group affiliated with the religious organization ISAIAH  rallied for state and federal spending on child care in conjunction with National Day Without Child Care events around the country.

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Minnesota needs to be bold about raising revenue to fund the things we need, like a fully funded child care system, so it is affordable and accessible for all families, said Renee Olsen, who runs child care centers in Barnum and Willow River.

The threats to Head Start come on the heels of an especially difficult six months for child care.

Although Gov. Tim Walz says he wants to make Minnesota the best state to raise a family  and Vice President J.D. Vance fancies himself a beacon of pro-family public policy  neither the state nor the federal government plan major investments in child care anytime soon.

In Washington, Republicans are rolling back programs that provide child care to low income families, at the behest of Vance and the worlds richest man, presidential advisor/donor Elon Musk. Vance co-authored an essay in the Wall Street Journal in 2021 arguing against child care subsidies; instead, the government should reward parents who choose to stay at home and raise children, Vance wrote.

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More than 80% of stay-at-home parents are women.

And in Minnesota, theres not money in the state coffers this year to make up for the potential loss of federal funds. The state is already spending more money than its bringing in, and with tax increases off the table for Republicans, Walz and legislative leaders are looking for ways to cut spending.

Novembers budget forecast, which predicted a $5 billion deficit in 2027 and 2028 if current spending trends continue, ended hopes of wide-scale state-level investment in child care before the legislative session began.

State Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, said a tax on social media companies, which was included in the Senates recently released tax bill, could help pay for investments in child care. But in the House, which is tied 67-67, Republicans have vowed to vote against any tax increase.
On 12 May Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attended a bilateral business event in Beijing, ahead of the multilateral forum taking place today (13 May) to promote ties between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).

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Three raging wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced evacuations and the deployment of members of the states National Guard to battle the blazes.

The fires continued to expand on Tuesday, fanned by hot, dry, and windy weather conditions.

In Brimson, the largest of the three wildfires, known as the Camp House fire, rapidly ballooned to 11,778 acres. The fire, which started on Sunday, has destroyed more than 40 structures and led dozens of people to evacuate. There were 80 people working to respond to the incident, and several road closures implemented.

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The fire has been very active the last two days, with the burning period going into the night, the Minnesota Incident Command System wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Three wildfires in northern Minnesota have burned dozens of structures and forced evacuations, burning nearly 20,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon. Governor Tim Walz said he was deploying the states National Guard in response (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)

In the nearby Superior National Forest, the Jenkins Creek Fire had spread over 6,800 acres, quadrupling in size after erupting Monday morning.

The fire moved quickly, driven by strong southerly winds, according to officials.

Southwest of the two wildfires, the Munger Shaw fire tore over more than 1,400 acres, according to the wildfire-tracking app Watch Duty. More evacuations were reported in that area, according to the national forest.

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The causes of all of the fires remain under investigation. Not one of the fires is contained.

The fires have led to road closures. Not one of the three blazes of varying size has been contained (Lake County Sheriff's Office)

On Monday, Democratic Governor Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris 2024 running mate, said he had authorized the National Guard to assist in the response.

"Wildfires in northern Minnesota have forced families to evacuate and caused severe damage to and loss of property. My thoughts are with those Minnesotans who are being impacted by this dangerous and unpredictable fire," said Walz.

As the fight continues, an air quality alert issued due to the spread of wildfire smoke has been extended through Wednesday.

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Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency warned.

Similar alerts were issued at around the same time last year due to wildfire smoke coming from Canada.

Firefighters are working to fight the fires amid hot and windy conditions. Smoke from the fires has forced air quality alerts (Duluth Minnesota Fire Department)

Walz and the states forestry officials told residents to be extra careful about anything that could cause heat or sparks. Burn restrictions were in place.

Red flag warnings have been issued for 65 counties, and any wildfire that starts in this weather is expected to explode. Climate change is making wildfire-prone conditions more frequent.

The governor said that while Minnesota typically sees more than 1,100 wildfires a year, 970 have already occurred this year. Of those, 40 were on Sunday and Monday, according to WCCO News.

"I've worked for DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Forestry for nearly 30 years, and the weather the last few days is just really unprecedented," Patty Thielen, director of forestry for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the station. "Really low humidity, high winds have allowed fires to spread really quickly."
Mavious Redmond of Austin, Minnesota, has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds after more than 25 years of fraudulently collecting Social Security retirement benefits after her mothers death in 1999.

Redmond collected more than $360,000 in payments, and allegedly impersonated her mother on several occasions, including forging her signature.

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Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said in a statement, Redmond stole well more than a quarter-million dollars in taxpayer funds. She scammed social security for literal decades. No more. My office will continue to aggressively pursue the federal programs fraud that plagues Minnesota.

Redmond will be sentenced at a later date. But is this an isolated case of daring theft, or an example of a larger trend of Social Security fraud?

Social Security scams

According to think tank Brookings, before the DOGE cost-cutting team made a target out of Social Security fraud, fraudulent payouts were an extremely small problem for the SSA.

Claims of widespread fraud in Social Security were misleading, with fraud representing just 0.00625% of the annual budget, far less than what private companies like Mastercard or Visa would accept, said the report dated March 26 of this year.

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DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency, run by Elon Musk, is responsible for finding fraud and waste across government programs, but with Social Security, he may be looking in the wrong place. The inspector general found in 2021 that over the previous two decades, about $300 million in benefits was paid to Social Security recipients after their deaths. Of that, about one-third was recovered.

Musk claimed on Feb. 16 of this year that the SSA was still paying benefits to millions of deceased Amercians, using a chart from the SSAs Numident database. Fact checkers responded immediately to clarify that the table Musk posted on his social media did not provide evidence that payments were going to beneficiaries who were long dead  or to those impersonating them.

Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek released a statement following Musks post. The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits.

DOGE and the White House continued to muddy the waters, however, with the president repeating Musks false claim two weeks later.

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Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

The success rate of SSA scams

As reported in The Hill, the SSA receives 80 million calls a year from citizens on its 1-800 number. JD Vance and Musk have both claimed that 40% of those calls, which would total 32 million, are from fraudsters who steal your direct deposits.

The Washington Post reports that only one in every 3,100 calls succeeds  briefly  in direct deposit fraud, accounting for 0.032% of all calls to the 1-800 number.

They further found that for every successful attempt at direct deposit fraud, five attempts were prevented by SSA staff. However, 7,000 SSA workers were laid off in early April, and more cuts are planned. Critics of DOGE and the administration note that this will mean SSA offices will be severely understaffed, and many will have to close. For seniors with limited mobility issues, or who already face economic barriers, they may have to travel hundreds of miles to visit a Social Security office in the future.

Current stats on Social Security

About 69 million people in the US currently receive Social Security benefits. The Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program reports a payment accuracy rate of 99.7%.

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The SSA further reports that the majority of improper payments paid out actually go to eligible beneficiaries, but are incidents of mistakes or delays, resulting in incorrect payment amounts.

Their data also show that, contrary to claims from Musk, only 0.1% of Social Security benefits are paid to those over 100 years old. The SSA already has dedicated processes in place to prevent benefits from going to those who have died. They use data from state agencies, funeral home directors, and financial institutions to keep their records up-to-date, as well as comparing whether beneficiaries are using other programs like Medicare.

So while fraud happens, stories like Mavious Redmonds are newsworthy precisely because theyre so rare. The millions of Americans who rely on Social Security should not face cuts to their services to prevent a few clever fraudsters from collecting illegal payments.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas State Senator Gary Stubblefield has released a statement following a traffic stop in Fayetteville on April 26.

Sen. Stubblefield, a Republican from Branch, Arkansas, has been an Arkansas Senator since 2013. Stubblefield was stopped in Fayetteville near the Washington County Jail when returning from a reunion, according to body cam footage obtained by KNWA/FOX24.

The stop was initiated by Officer Harrison Hudspeth of the Fayetteville Police Department just after 11 a.m. on Saturday. In conversation with another officer, Hudspeth cites improper lane usage and driving below the speed limit as the reason for the stop.

Hudspeth can be heard on body cam footage discussing the possibility of intoxication, but tells another officer he did not detect the smell of alcohol.

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The interaction between Hudspeth and Stubblefield was recorded on FPDs body camera system. Hudspeth can be heard asking Stubblefield if he had anything to drink that morning, to which the Senator responded, I dont drink I do not drink

In the video, Stubblefield can be seen complying with all field sobriety tests requested by the officer, while also reassuring officers that he had not had any alcohol in years. Later, officers ask Stubblefield about his medical history, including what medications he takes as well as if he has ever had issues with his blood sugar levels.

Ofc. Hudspeth then offers Stubblefield the option to find a safe ride back to Branch, before deciding to drive him back to his hotel, until his wife could come to Fayetteville to drive him home.

A phone call between Hudspeth and Stubblefields wife, Kathi, is then recorded on the body camera. Hudspeth explains to Kathi Stubblefield that he believes her husband was experiencing a medical issue.

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Monday, Sen. Stubblefield posted a statement to his Facebook page in regard to the incident, stating, I would like to clarify the actual events. I was at a reunion with fellow Razorbacks. I was on my way home Saturday morning when I was pulled over by a police officer for getting too close to the yellow line. After a discussion of why I was pulled over, they realized I was not drinking or intoxicated. I offered to take a sobriety test to prove I was not drinking. They then said there was no need for it.

Arkansas Sen. Bryan King sends letter to governor asking for prison plan changes

In the statement, Stubblefield then goes on to say that the stop was a result of a medical issue.

I then explained to them I am on a medication and have been for over a year for some health issues lve been dealing with for several years. I missed two days of my medication, and it hindered me, Sen. Stubblefield stated.

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He then states that things returned back to normal once he returned home.

They offered to take me back to the hotel where I stayed. They then called my wife and she and my daughter picked me up at the hotel. There were no issues, and the policemen were very kind, considerate, and accommodating, as were the hotel staff. Within a day of being on my medication, everything was back to normal and has been since, Stubblefield stated.

He completes his statement with a note about the Franklin County Prison project, which he has been actively outspoken against.

I find it interesting and not a coincidence that the timing of this incident is at the time we are fighting a nasty battle over a prison being put in my district. A fight that wont end here. This will not stop me! Period. Thank you to all who have shown support, encouragement, and understanding, Sen. Stubblefield stated.

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Fayetteville Police Chief Mike Reynolds released a statement on the incident.

According to Chief Reynolds, officers initiated the traffic stop after observing Stubblefields vehicle weaving within its lane.

Chief Reynolds said Sen. Stubblefield showed signs of impairment due to a medical condition, prompting officers to transport him to a nearby hotel to wait for a family member to arrive.

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UPDATE: Winter Ganoe has been found and is safe, according to Newport News Police.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  Virginia State Police have issued a CODI Alert for a missing Newport News girl who was last seen on foot in the 100 block of Melville Drive.

Winter Ganoe

Winter Ganoe, 12, has brown hair, hazel eyes and is 5-foot-2, 160 pounds. Police said she was last seen wearing a lilac Hello Kitty shirt, blue pants and princess sneakers.

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Police said Winters disappearance poses a credible threat to the childs health and safety.

For more information, contact Newport News Police at 757-247-2500 (24-hour dispatch) or visit https://vsp.virginia.gov/active-alerts.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  On Monday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Liberty Utilities after the companys failure to properly mark a gas line caused a deadly explosion in Lexington, Missouri.

The April 9 explosion killed a 5-year-old boy and severely injured the boys father and sister. His father filed a lawsuit against Liberty Utilities and three other companies in April, and the couple who lived next door also filed a lawsuit against the same companies last week.

ChiefsAholic sentenced for 2022 Oklahoma bank robbery

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Now, Bailey is following suit, accusing Liberty Utilities of violating the Missouri Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act.

This was a preventable tragedy, Bailey said. These companies must take their responsibilities seriously. The law is clear, the process is simple, and the consequences of failure are catastrophic. Were holding Liberty Utilities accountable to ensure that every utility in Missouri does its due diligence to prevent future disasters.

Missouris Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act requires utility companies to respond to locate requests and mark the location of underground facilities within two working days. Attorney General Bailey said Liberty Utilities not only failed to do so but also falsely reported that the site was marked.

Section 319.045 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri authorizes the attorney general to seek injunctive relief and civil penalties against any person who violates this Act. Under Missouri law, Bailey said he is duty-bound to enforce compliance with public safety statutes and take legal action against entities that endanger Missourians through negligence or misconduct.

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Second lawsuit filed by neighbors of 5-year-old boy killed in Lexington gas explosion

Tragedies like this are exactly why this law exists, he said. Its imperative that companies follow the lawnot just to avoid penalties, but to protect lives.

Bailey is seeking the maximum penalty allowed by law, as well as mandatory safety training, the appointment of a compliance monitor and a permanent injunction barring further violations.

You can view the 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.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Missouri-based company is getting ready to move into the Capital City later this year and help local workers get their home improvement projects finished.

27 News got in touch with Roofers Mart this week to learn more about its plans to set up shop in southeast Topeka, marking the opening of the companys first Kansas location. Digital Marketing Manager Bridget Rivet confirmed the company will be opening a new branch in the city at 2220 Southeast Lakewood Boulevard.

Its absolutely heartbreaking: Seven puppies found abandoned in Jefferson County

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Roofers Mart CEO Buzz Vierling elaborated on the companys Topeka plans, saying the new branch should be opened sometime in the fall of 2025. It will mark the first Kansas-based location for the company which has its roots set in nearby Missouri.

Our customers are professional contractors, and our primary products include asphalt shingles, low-slope commercial roofing materials, and vinyl siding, but we sell products for the entire building envelope, including hardboard siding, decks, windows, doors, coatings, slate and tile, Vierling said. We also have long-standing partnerships with several manufacturers with operations in the state as well as the Kansas City area, including DaVinci Roofscapes, Ply Gem, and GAF.

Roofers Mart is new to Kansas with the company operating eight locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. The company got started in 1983 with its first location in Rockhill, MO. It now provides supplies and services to those who are completing professional roofing projects.

Vierling said the new location will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the work week. Exceptions will be made whenever national holidays roll around.

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2025 graduation plans released for Topeka area high schools

Roofers Mart will be set up at an existing building, and plans to add another building to the property.

Roofers Mart is a regional building products distributor that is both independent and family owned, and we are excited to join the Topeka building community, Vierling said.

You can learn more about the services Roofers Mart provides by heading to its website.

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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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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ST. LOUIS  The Missouri Senate is embroiled in a heated debate over abortion rights and gender-related care as Republicans push to repeal Amendment 3 before the legislative session ends Friday at 6 p.m.

Amendment 3, which was approved by nearly 52 percent of voters last year, protects abortion rights in Missouri up to the point of fetal viability. However, Republicans are seeking to replace it with a new constitutional amendment that would allow abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergency and would ban gender-affirming care for minors.

Senator Adam Schnelting of St. Charles argues that Amendment 3 goes too far, claiming that most Missourians do not want abortion on demand.

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Senator Patty Lewis of Kansas City accused Republicans of using ballot candy to mislead voters by adding unrelated language to the proposal.

Missouri Highway Patrol reopens probe into Crocker overdose death

The debate in Jefferson City intensified on Monday night as Republicans opened discussions on the proposal to repeal Amendment 3. However, after just two hours, Democrats began blocking a vote, effectively stalling the debate.

The proposed amendment has already passed in the House, and now the GOP is racing against the clock to get the measure on the ballot before the session ends.

The proposals inclusion of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors has added to the controversy, with opponents arguing that it infringes on the rights of transgender youth.

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As the legislative session deadline approaches, the future of Amendment 3 and the proposed changes remains uncertain, with both sides entrenched in their positions.

All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, speaks March 5 in the Missouri House (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

A bill passed by the state legislature Tuesday and on its way to the governor will require school districts to create a policy banning cell phone usage throughout the school day, including during breaks between classes and at lunch.

A majority of U.S. adults support cell phone bans during class time, or 68% as recorded in a Pew Research Center poll. But restricting mobile phone use for the entire school day is less popular, with 36% in support.

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State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, filed the cell-phone-ban legislation with restrictions only during instructional time. She wanted to give school boards and charter schools the ability to decide whether or not to place further limitations on cell phones, she told The Independent.

Lawmakers decided to pursue the more restrictive policy, and Steinhoff believes students will see benefits academically and socially.

The statistics really do hold that if we do the (full day), bell to bell, thats going to have the biggest turnaround, she said.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly 53% of school leaders believe that cell-phone usage has hurt students learning abilities. And 72% say it has negatively impacted mental health.

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Many school districts have chosen to enact bans, and states around the country have been increasingly writing bans into law with restrictions passed in at least nine states and 10 states testing the policy in a pilot program since 2023.

Missouris full-day ban would be one of the more restrictive laws, but there are exceptions.

Students who need a mobile device to accommodate a disability are exempted, and cell phones would be allowed if there is a safety emergency at school.

The legislation also gives school districts and charter schools the ability to decide if teachers may allow students to use cell phones during class.

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The bill does not require phones to be locked up. School boards will have to decide whether devices will be stowed in designated areas or allowed in students backpacks.

Districts will have to enact a policy during the 2025-2026 school year.

The legislation is part of a sweeping education package negotiated in the final weeks of the legislative session.

It began as a three-page bill prescribing reporting requirements for school safety incidents. Now, at 138 pages, it contains bipartisan legislation, with multiple provisions aimed at school safety.
Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck speaks against a proposed constitutional amendment banning abortion during debate in the Missouri Senate on Monday evening (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

With four days left in the legislative session, Republicans brought a proposed constitutional amendment banning abortion up for debate Monday night in the Missouri Senate only to set it aside after three hours.

Its unlikely to be the last abortion debate in the Senate before the legislature adjourns for the year at 6 p.m. Friday. Republicans can bring the bill back to the Senate at any time in the next few days.

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Republicans spent the first hour of debate scorning Amendment 3, which voters approved in November to protect the right to reproductive health care including abortion up to the point of fetal viability.

Sometimes people get in, we can only describe it as horrible situations, but I dont think taking the life of an innocent should be something that we can legally do, said Senate President Pro Tem Cindy OLaughlin, a Shelbina Republican. I think its morally wrong and I think we need to support women whove had unintended pregnancies or other situations where they feel trapped and they dont feel supported.

Senate President Pro Tem Cindy OLaughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, is pictured on Jan. 8 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

After Republicans spoke in favor of the bill, Democrats stood up to block it from coming up for a vote.

The proposed ban, which has been a top priority among Republicans this year, seeks to repeal the constitutional right to an abortion but allow exceptions for medical emergencies, fatal fetal anomalies and for survivors of rape and incest in the first 12 weeks of gestation.

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The 12 week deadline for survivors has raised concerns from Democrats, and from the GOP leader of the House.

Its just disgusting to put that torture and timeline on someone whos a survivor of domestic violence, state Rep. Patty Lewis, a Democrat from Kansas City, said Monday evening.

State Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, speaks on the Missouri Senate floor Monday as part of an effort to hold off anti-abortion legislation (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

The proposed ban, if approved by a simple majority of voters, would reinstate several targeted regulations on abortion providers, or TRAP laws, that were recently struck down as unconstitutional by a Missouri judge.

The language that could appear on each ballot does not mention the amendment would ban abortions, a detail thats been highly-criticized by Democrats as deceiving.

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Missourians would be asked if they want to amend the Missouri constitution to:

Guarantee access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages;

Ensure womens safety during abortions;

Ensure parental consent for minors;

Allow abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest;

Require physicians to provide medically accurate information; and

Protect children from gender transition?

Missourians could see the question on the November 2026 ballot, or as soon as this year if the governor chose to call a special election on the issue.



On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, an Affton Democrat, pointed out that last session, Senate Republicans voted against an attempt to add rape and incest exceptions to what at the time was a near-total ban on abortion in the state.

It makes you wonder exactly whats going on here, Beck said of some Republicans changing course on the issue.   Its very interesting to see the mental gymnastics that are taking place to be able to say that this is OK.
Dyllan Davault, a harvester at Robust Cannabis facility in Cuba, Mo., tends to greenhouse plants on May 2, 2023 (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday regarding whether or not cities and counties can stack marijuana sales taxes, in a legal battle that began in 2023.

The courts answer will impact more than 70 areas statewide, where both city and county governments have been imposing a 3% tax at dispensaries, according to Missouri Department of Revenue data.

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The court case focuses on Florissant-based dispensary Robust Missouri 3 LLC, where customers are paying a total sales tax of 20.988%, which includes a 3% sales tax from both the city of Florissant and St. Louis County.

The Missouri Department of Revenue broke down the total sales tax rate for adult-use marijuana products in Florissant currently. Another 6% state marijuana tax is added on, for a total of 20.98%. (Source: Missouri Department of Revenue)

Robust argues its unconstitutional to have two local governments taxing customers.

Theres only supposed to be one local government, one boss, one master dictating outcomes and imposing the 3% tax, said Eric Walter, Robusts attorney, at the Tuesday hearing.

St. Louis County and St. Charles County have the authority to pass a 3% tax on unincorporated areas, he said, but not on their entire geographic footprint.

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A panel of Missouri appellate judges agreed with Robust in November, ruling that the constitutions plain, unambiguous language means cities and counties cannot stack marijuana sales taxes.

Only one local government is authorized to impose an additional three percent sales tax, Judge John Torbitzky of the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District wrote in the unanimous opinion.

That decision reversed a lower courts ruling last year that allowed both Florissant and St. Louis County to both impose a 3% sales tax on marijuana products.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May wrote that if Robusts interpretation of the law were accepted, it would lead to absurd outcomes, because a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue.

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May was largely talking about public health regulations  particularly those that apply to marijuana dispensaries  because public health in Florissant is regulated by St. Louis County.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell asked Walter to respond to Mays ruling that Robusts interpretation effectively nullifies other county ordinances regarding health and welfare.

This is not a county health code case, Walter said, an argument the appellate court agreed with.

However, St. Louis Countys attorney, Laura Robb said, Tuesday that public health is in the purpose of the constitutional amendment voters approved in 2022 legalizing recreational marijuana. Florissant relies on St. Louis County to impose public health ordinances on all its businesses, she said, because it doesnt have its own department of public health.

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So its only logical that portions of the revenue should be captured by the institution with the public health duties, Robb told judges Tuesday.

Robb agreed with May that it would have an absurd result to have dispensaries that are essentially not governed by any of the applicable public health ordinances that apply to every other building thats in Florissant.

The constitutional amendment states that local government means, in the case of an incorporated area, a village, town, or city; and, in the case of an unincorporated area, a county.

At a hearing last year, attorneys for St. Louis and St. Charles counties argued the word and is key in the definition.

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Supreme Court Judge Kelly Broniec asked Robb to review the section of the constitutional amendment titled local control. There, it outlines how residents can vote to ban dispensaries in their towns and cities.

Broniec read the question the law states should be submitted to voters: Shall (insert name of local government) ban all non-medical microbusiness dispensary facilities and comprehensive marijuana dispensary facilities from being located within (insert name of local government and, where applicable, its unincorporated areas) and forgo any additional related local tax revenue?

Broniec asked if this provision supports the counties definition of local government or Robusts?

If one of the local governments disallowed it and one allowed it  if it was on the same ballot, lets say  whose would control, if both the city and the county are a local government, Broniec asked.

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I dont know the answer to that question, Robb said.

Walter later told Broniec that he loved her question.

It was very insightful because when you talk about the constitutional authority allowing the local government to outright ban dispensaries, theres a particular procedure, Walter said, and even dictates what the language needs to be when presented to the voters on the question.

Walter pointed out that the constitution requires that each one of Missouris eight congressional districts have no less than 24 dispensaries. The 2nd Congressional District is comprised almost entirely of St. Louis County, and if the county were able to impose a ban, thered be a few parts of St. Charles and Jefferson counties remaining to cram 24 dispensaries into.

That would invade the prerogative of all the 90 maybe unique municipalities within the county of St Louis, Walter said. And they should be allowed to decide whether or not they want these businesses for their citizens.
ALLENDALE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A mobile home is a total loss after a fire in Allendale Township Monday night, officials say.

Around 10:30 p.m., firefighters were called to the Allendale Meadows mobile home community off of Lake Michigan Drive in Allendale Township, where a home in the 11000 block of Sugar Loaf Avenue was on fire, the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said in a release.

The aftermath of a fire that destroyed an Allendale Meadows mobile home and damaged others. (May 13, 2025)

When first responders arrived, the mobile home was completely engulfed in flames, the sheriffs office said. The fire was starting to spread, and a deputy and two officers with the Grand Valley State University Police Department started evacuating homes nearby.

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Firefighters with six local fire departments worked to contain the fire and put it out.

The homeowner told first responders that a faulty electric fan had caught fire in a bedroom, the sheriffs office reports. The fire quickly spread to the rest of the home.

The home is a complete loss. Multiple nearby homes were damaged from the fires heat, the sheriffs office says, and several vehicles are also a complete loss.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
May 12A lot of the canned Molson Coors water in disaster areas across the country was likely produced in Trenton, using water beneath the soil of Butler County.

In April 2024, the Trenton Brewery produced more than 300,000 cans of water, which were then sent to one of a half-dozen Molson Coors breweries to be prepared for distribution.

Now, it is doubling that amount for the 2025 run.

"Wherever there's a disaster, we have a brewery ready to distribute some water," said Shane Smith, line lead on can line six of the Trenton Brewery.

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Last year, Molson Coors donated water to disaster relief efforts for communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, floods in Houston and Northwest Iowa, and wildfires in the Texas Panhandle. In 2023, 120,000 cans of water went to East Palestine, Ohio, following the Norfolk Southern train derailment carrying noxious chemicals.

Molson Coors is known for distributing a variety of Miller and Coors brands. Every day, they produced more than 338,000 beers, which would provide eight beers per person at a sold-out Great American Ball Park (capacity is 42,271). Capacity is typically maxed out during the summer, and the Trenton brewery is the second-biggest Molson Coors facility in the network while being the lowest-cost producer.

On Monday, it dedicated a line to run between 600,000 and 800,000 cans of water because there is a bigger need, said Trenton Brewery Plant Manager Gabriela Bozdog.

"We have seen in the past that the number of natural disasters has increased a lot, and we want to be able to contribute to the communities," said Bozdog. "The more water we are producing, the more we are able to cover the ones in need."

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The water that would be distributed for the year is manufactured ahead of the summer.

So why Trenton? It's the only Molson Coors brewery uniquely set up to produce the water for its network. The facility at 2525 Wayne-Madison Road has distributed a couple million cans of water for disasters since it started in 2017. The company puts the water in a 12-ounce slim can, and Smith said, "There are only so many breweries and so many lines that make that can."

It also sits on the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer  an underground reservoir that supplies water for communities from Logan County to the Ohio River  and outside of a glacier, there are not many sources that will provide any more pure water, Smith and Bozdog said.

"It's not something new for us," Bozdog said of the water production. "It has already become a tradition to have this production on an annual basis, but if there is a need, we'll continue to produce and to contribute."
President Trump signed an investment deal with Saudi Arabia on the first day of a 4-day trip to the wealthy Gulf region. Trump's visit comes as he faces scrutiny over a plan to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family. NBC News Tom Winter reports more. New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker and former Senior State Department and CIA Official Ned Price join Chris Jansing to discuss the significance of this trip in relation to Trumps personal interests.
Inside the Washington State Library in Tumwater, Wash. (Courtesy of the Office of Secretary of State)

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is preparing to lay off nearly 50 Washington State Library employees due to a decline in state and federal funding.

In the past two weeks, 47 workers at the main library in Tumwater and at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle learned they are at-risk of losing their jobs, some in June and others in September, because of the lack of resources, Hobbs announced Monday.

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It is heartbreaking and distressing to witness the near elimination of our states Central Library, which has existed since territorial times to enrich our culture and serve as a research hub for our states residents, Hobbs said in a statement.

Staff in 27 state-funded positions received a layoff date of June 30 while those in 20 federally funded positions have a Sept. 30 date.

Hobbs warned of potentially far-reaching repercussions.

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Operating hours of the main state library in Tumwater will be trimmed and it may be closed entirely to the public, curbing access to its trove of historical and governmental collections.

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In addition, the Ask A Librarian program that receives thousands of calls each year could go unanswered, and email inquiries will not receive timely responses. Additionally, subscriptions to newspaper and genealogy databases will be discontinued, and the acquisition of new materials will be drastically limited, said deputy secretary of state Randy Bolerjack.

Similarly, the Talking Book and Braille Library may be closed to the public with phone support reduced and circulation and registration services slowed. Production of braille and audio materials could also be reduced or suspended at the states only accessible library service for people who are blind or have other disabilities.

Fiscal challenges are playing out on two fronts.

At the state level, the library system continues to suffer from a sluggish housing market thats generated less revenues from fees paid on real estate transactions. A portion of this fee revenue goes to support the library.

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The secretary of states office requested $6.7 million for the next budget to make up for lower-than-expected receipts and maintain current service levels. While House and Senate budgets contained a smaller sum  $2.7 million in the House and $1.2 million in the Senate  there was no money in the final budget passed by the Legislature, Bolerjack said.

Those dollars were counted on to fund 15 jobs in the library in Tumwater and 12 positions at the Talking Book and Braille Library.

A thin silver lining looms.

A bill awaiting action by Gov. Bob Ferguson would impose a new $50 surcharge on all filings handled by Superior Court clerks, of which $20 would go to the secretary of states office for the library, archives and state legacy projects. This would generate up to $6 million in a full biennium, according to a fiscal analysis.

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So while there will be job cuts, hopefully, if the legislation is signed, some of those laid off can be hired back, Bolerjack said.

Meanwhile, the federal government informed the state April 2 that it had terminated a grant that paid for 20 positions. Then last week, the federal government rescinded the termination and will be providing $3.9 million, Bolerjack said.

Those employees still face layoffs because there is no indication whether the grant funding will be continued after Sept. 30, he added.

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Former colleagues of slain Beech Grove police officer William Toney attend an Indiana Parole Board meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

One week before Benjamin Ritchies scheduled execution, family and friends of slain Beech Grove law enforcement officer William Toney urged the Indiana Parole Board on Monday to reject the death row inmates bid for clemency.

The Indianapolis hearing was the second and final opportunity for the board to openly weigh Ritchies plea for a commuted sentence.

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Ritchie, who has been on Indianas death row since his 2002 conviction, is set to be executed May 20 for the 2000 killing.

The five-member panel heard from a remorseful Ritchie at the Indiana State Prison last week, but the condemned man did not appear at the latest hearing in Indianapolis. Instead, the session was reserved for public comments from those who oppose  and support  clemency.

Slain Beech Grove police officer William Toneys widow, Dee Dee Horen, speaks before the Indiana Parole Board on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The governor, in tandem with the parole board, can elect to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment.

Nine of Toneys family members, friends and fellow police officers at the Beech Grove Police Department who spoke at Mondays hearing were resolute: Deny clemency.

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Its time. Were all tired, said Dee Dee Horen, Toneys widow. It is time for this chapter of my story, our story, to be closed. Its time for us to remember Bill, to remember Bills life, and not his death.

The officer was also survived by two daughters. Neither spoke at the hearing.

Horen, a Beech Grove elementary school teacher, rejected Ritchies claims that a difficult childhood fueled his actions.

Ive taught 100 Benjamin Ritchies, and they had difficult upbringings, and they had obstacles in their lives, and to my knowledge, none of them made this decision  none of them made a choice to be a criminal and kill a police officer, Horen said. We all have choices in our life, and he chose to kill Bill.

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She called on the board, and the governor, to follow through with Ritchies execution because we believe in a system that honors its protectors and punishes those who choose to destroy our peaceful towns.

The board will make a recommendation, but a final clemency decision about whether to commute Ritchies death sentence to life in prison without parole will ultimately be up to Gov. Mike Braun. Theres no timetable for the board, or Braun, to issue opinions.

A cowardly ambush

More than 20 law enforcement officers  including a dozen from the Beech Grove Police Department  attended Mondays hearing.

Per court documents, the underlying crime began as a police pursuit of a stolen van on Sept. 29, 2000. Toney later pursued Ritchie on foot. Ritchie ultimately fired four shots at the police officer, who did not survive the shooting.

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Ritchie said that on the night of the incident, he was with a group trying to steal rims from car dealers. He said the subsequent police chase sped out of control and ended in a shootout.

The inmate said he regretted his horrible actions, which Ritchie and his legal team have attributed to an unstable upbringing and lifelong brain damage from fetal alcohol exposure.

Beech Grove Deputy Police Chief Robert Mercuri, who was a sergeant and supervisor in charge on the night of the killing, was involved in the initial vehicle pursuit and was among the first to render aid after the shooting.

I found my friend Bill lying on the ground in that backyard. I attempted CPR. I rode with him in an ambulance to Methodist Hospital, praying the entire time that he would survive, Mercuri recalled.

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He said Toney had volunteered to work an extra shift to help a colleague that night. Mercuri called Toney a rising star in law enforcement who brought energy and optimism to the job and was a role model to other officers.

He refuted Ritchies claims of a shootout, emphasizing that Toney was targeted by a cowardly ambush.

Ritchie hid in bushes and fired the first shot at Toney while the officer was clearing a fence, Mercuri told the parole board. He said the inmate still does not own up to his dishonorable act.

Benjamin Ritchie continues to put out there that he was just some kid, and and the truth is that he is a conniving, manipulating predator who prays on the weak, good and unsuspecting people of the world, Mercuri said, adding that he would victimize the weaker prisoners and create a bunch of Ben Ritchies, emboldened by the fact that he played the system, if granted clemency and allowed to enter the general prison population.

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Tyler Banks, with the Indiana Attorney Generals Office, additionally argued against clemency based on Ritchies repeated violent behavior in prison. He pointed to Ritchies 43 conduct reports since 2001 that stemmed from assaults of officers and other inmates, in addition to threats, intimidation, disorderly conduct and other disruptive incidents.

Hes tried to convince you that if you commute his sentence, he will not be a problem, but an asset, for those other offenders in general population, Banks said. His conduct in the highly-structured environment of death row proves otherwise.

Although Ritchie claims his earlier defense lawyers were ineffective because they failed to present his FASD diagnosis at trial or in post-conviction proceedings, Banks maintained the trial record already contained extensive evidence of prenatal substance abuse.

All that Ritchie has that is new or different is simply a new name for a diagnosis, Banks said.

A hidden disability

But an hour-long presentation from a mental health expert argued otherwise, emphasizing that Ritchie suffers from a hidden disability that went undiagnosed for most of his life and his condition has only recently been investigated.

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Dr. Megan Carter, a forensic psychologist and expert in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), told the board she diagnosed Ritchie with pFAS, or partial FAS. Carter noted in her evaluation of Ritchie that he has 15 of the 23 deficits of the disorder.

She said he especially struggles with speech, emotional regulation, academics and social skills.

Dr. Megan Carter, a forensic psychologist, speaks to reporters on Monday, May 12, 2025, outside the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

People think that is a childhood disorder, but its really a lifelong disorder, Carter said. Its often known as a hidden disability because  you cant see the problem. But you see it in their behaviors and their emotions.

The inmates current counsel said prior lawyers completely failed to investigate the source of Ritchies serious brain damage because they erroneously believed he lacked the facial features that are commonly associated with prenatal alcohol exposure  like small eyes, a flat midface and thin upper lip.

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Carter said less than 10% of individuals with FASD exhibit those facial features, though.

FASD inhibits a persons ability to process information quickly and understand consequences, and also impacts their decision-making skills, emotional regulation and abstract thinking, Carter explained. She held that people with FASD, in a lot of ways, have brains similar to toddlers.

The psychologist cited evidence that Ritchies birth mother drank heavily during pregnancy and was neglectful during his early childhood. In addition to the FASD diagnosis, testing of Ritchies baby teeth revealed significant lead exposure.

Carter said Ritchies neurodevelopmental condition left him especially vulnerable to reacting violently under stress.

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When he gets into stressful situations, like this was on that night, his frontal lobes  which are already not functioning very well  kind of go offline, and he goes more into a primitive, survival mode, Carter said. That means that hes not thinking about consequences. Hes not considering other peoples perspectives. Hes just simply reacting.

Indiana death row inmate Benjamin Ritchie (Mugshot from the Indiana Department of Correction)

She noted that in emotionally-charged situations, those with FASD tend to be more reactive due to a faster and increased release of cortisone and other stress hormones.

The situation was unique. It was different than hed ever experienced, Carter continued. It was unpredictable, emotionally-charged, unstructured and unsupported, and thats when individuals with FASD have the most trouble conforming their behavior to whats expected.

The expert additionally maintained that an earlier diagnosis and external supports in school and at home might have changed the course of Ritchies life. Had he been diagnosed with FASD before age six, Ritchie wouldve had a higher chance of staying out of the criminal justice system.

A lot of people have had really terrible childhoods, right? They were beaten, they were neglected, and they dont go on to commit crimes. But they dont have a lot of behavior dysregulation. They dont have severe deficits like (Ritchie), Carter said. Were not going to see the neurocognitive scores that we see in FASD.  I think those things are important to acknowledge as contributions to his brain development and his social development.

John Mast, a former special education teacher who worked with Ritchie for more than three years starting in the early 1990s, further described him as a student with a severe emotional handicap that affected all aspects of life, including in the classroom.

Mast recalled Ritchies violent and aggressive outbursts in response to minor, everyday disruptions like a lost pencil or school bus delay.

Given my experiences with Ben as an adolescent, this situation was the exact type of situation where those severe emotional disabilities became fully evident and engaged, he said. He did not have the emotional tools, he did not have the skills, to make a different and acceptable decision.

Members of the parole board asked about Ritchies psychological profile, his ability to understand consequences, and whether new neuroimaging might shed more light on his condition and his thinking at the time of his crime.

Ritchies attorney, Steve Schutte, said those are legitimate questions that the defense team wanted to explore before the Indiana Supreme Court, but the justices denied requests for a new hearing. The inmates lawyers are now seeking a last-minute execution pause from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The governor and this board now have to make a decision without the kind of process wed usually rely on, Schutte said.

(Ritchie) is not looking for sympathy, Schutte added. What hes asked is to be allowed to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Neither the governor nor any current members of the states parole board have deliberated a death penalty clemency case before Ritchies.

Three clemencies have been granted in Indiana since 1976.

The most recent was in 2005, when then-Gov. Mitch Daniels commuted the death sentence for Arthur Baird, who killed his pregnant wife and her parents in 1985. Although the parole board denied his petition for clemency, Daniels granted Baird clemency one day before the scheduled execution, in part citing questions about Bairds sanity.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An initiative aiming to help people returning from the criminal justice system find safe and stable housing has selected Montgomery County for the 2025 Housing Justice Peer Network.

Montgomery will be one of eight communities in the nation selected for this initiative led by the Housing Solutions Lab at NYUs Furman Center and the Center for Justice Innovation.

The program will span 16 months and will support local governments to strengthen their partnerships between housing and criminal justice agencies to help people in reentry.

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The program is supported by both the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. The national network aims to find real solutions to help returnees access stable housing.

Homelessness increased in 2024: What Dayton is doing to help

Montgomery County is proud to collaborate with partners like Homeless Solutions and the Public Defenders Office to break down barriers and create real opportunities for the people we serve, said Commissioner President Judy Dodge. Stable housing is the foundation for successful reentry and strengthens our entire community. Everyone deserves dignity, stability and the chance to rebuild. That begins with a safe place to call home.

Teams will be guided by the Housing Justice Peer Network and given technical assistance and support for data collection and cross-sector collaboration. There will be two phases for the program.

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Phase One, which has already begun, is monthly virtual sessions where experts are sharing strategies to connect systems and advance reform.

Phase Two will focus on helping each community develop an actionable local implementation plan.

Area Molson Coors site making 830K+ water cans for disaster relief

This plan might include creating housing navigation support for returning citizens, launching eviction prevention efforts or developing alternatives to traditional courts that better serve vulnerable populations.

Too often, justice-involved individuals face serious obstacles when trying to secure stable housing, said Haley Carretta, Director of Montgomery Countys Office of Strategic Initiatives. This initiative gives us access to tools, data, and proven models to break that cycle and make a lasting impact.

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To learn more about the initiative, 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 WDTN.com.
The following article is by Nathan Prewett for the Trussville Tribune:

MOODY, Ala. (Trussville Tribune)  The Moody City Council approved a reimbursement agreement with Moody LP to construct a retail space on a property along the citys thoroughfare on Highway 411 during its meeting on Monday.

City Attorney Kyle Barrentine gave an overview of the agreement during the public hearing, citing Amendment 772 of the Alabama Constitution that allows a municipal body to provide public funds as incentives for economic growth.

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Moody LP seeks to build 200,000 to 250,000 square feet of Class A commercial retail space. The property exists before a section of the Little Cahaba River and stretches from the 7 Brew Coffee location to Joey Atkins Drive.

Its an area and section of town that the city has been trying to get redeveloped for a number of years and it can have some challenges there, Barrentine said. This agreement holds out the promise for that to happen.

The challenge, he said, is in clearing the land, grading, and construction.

The cost of the development is expected to be an estimated $100 million. As a result, the developer asked to be provided with incentives to get the project started, including abatement, sales and property taxes, fees, and permits.

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Barrentine added that it is expected to create a substantial amount of jobs upon completion, as well as have establishments not currently in the city. Tax revenue that the space is expected to generate will also be substantial.

Among the terms of the agreement is that the first $50,000 made per year will be received by the city before sales or other tax abatement that are eligible to be rebated. The developer will have five years to begin the incentive process after it invests a minimum of $10 million.

The abatement percentage would be up to $65.1 million during the course of 35-40 years, Barrentine said or whenever the sum is paid.

The abatement percentage is that for the first five years after the incentive is activated 100% of the derived revenue will be 100% for the developer. But at the 61st month, 85% of the revenue will go to the developer with 15% going to the city.

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At the 180th month, 75% of the revenue will go to the developer while the city receives the remaining 25% until the agreements termination by payment of the sum of $65.1 million or the 35 to 40 year timeframe runs out.

Barrentine said that the city published a legal notice as legally required in the St. Clair Times advertising the agreement and the meeting with its public hearing.

Mood LPs owner, Stan Pate, was present and said that as part of the project the existing buildings on the property will be demolished but that he will work with the small business owners there to relocate.

Margaret Goodwin brought up concerns about the river, particularly with potential flooding. Pate said that among the first actions is to have engineers assess the area and form a soil erosion plan.

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We recognize the importance of the river, Pate said.

Alabama nonprofit art studio that celebrates the autism community hit by Trump cuts to NEA

Michael Ray, who owns a tattoo parlor on the property, also voiced concerns about the river, saying that the endangered aquatic life may be at risk with the construction there. Later in the meeting Karen Bareford with the Cahaba River Society spoke briefly and said that she would be willing to work with Pate to ensure protection of the rivers wildlife.

Ray and another resident, Craig Martin, brought up potential traffic issues, with Martin urging that additional red lights be put at a section of the road by the property near a Starbucks location said to be heavy with traffic. Pate agreed with him and said that a traffic study would be done.

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Ray also pointed out that he and other business owners that pay leases month by month to operate there would be forced to leave and did not desire to do so. Pate reiterated that the leases would be honored and that he would work to help relocate all of the owners.

Were notIm not about to be unfair with any of the businesses located there, Ray said.

He also criticized the citys advertisement for the hearing, saying that it should have been published in other outlets and posted on social media as well.

Val Bagley said that the project will affect the families of the business owners and their employees.

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Moodys a small town, Bagley said. And I love the people here. Theyve always wanted to keep it a small town. We all understand that you have to have growth at some point in time. We get that.

The businesses that are going to be demolished  its going to affect the families. Not only that, it doesnt matter what our lease says, the people that are leasing, yeah, we will be affected. But our employees, as soon as they find out that this is happening, theyre out. Theyre going to be looking for somewhere else to go.

She added that when they look elsewhere for a place to rent the rent would be increasing substantially.

After discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

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I think its a positive thing for the city of Moody, commented Mayor Joe Lee. Its property that is a challenge to develop and weve shown it to many developers and we feel that Stan Pate is the right person to develop this property.

Moody City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave.

Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.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 CBS 42.
MORAINE, Ohio (WDTN)  A program offering additional safety checks to seniors and individuals with disabilities is open in Moraine.

The Moraine Police Department is reminding the community it offers a service for certain residents to have extra safety measures.

According to the department, residents who are at least 65 years old with serious medical conditions and live alone, and individuals with Alzheimers, Autism, Dementia or developmental disorders are among those who can participate.

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Through MSSI, our Police and Fire Departments can quickly access critical information using secure databases, ID bracelets, and lock boxes  ensuring help gets where its needed fast, said MPD.

Moraine police said the program is voluntary. To enroll in the program, call Moraine Police Department at 937-535-1166, ask for Sergeant Dyer and reference the program.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Community College will host three spring commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 16 at the Don Haskins Center on the UTEP campus.

Commencement ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

An estimated 2,356 graduates will walk the state. This includes 788 dual-credit, early college high school and P-TECH students.

Photos courtesy of EPCC

Photos courtesy of EPCC

The ceremonies are as follows:

9 a.m.  associate of science, associate of applied science, and certificate of completion.

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1 p.m.  associate of arts (excluding multidisciplinary studies) and associate of arts in teaching.

5 p.m.  associate of arts in multidisciplinary studies.

Ray Martinez III, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), will serve as the keynote speaker. TACC is a comprehensive membership association comprised of 48 community colleges from across Texas.

For more information, including do and dont for those who plan to attend, please see Ceremony Information at https://www.epcc.edu/Academics/Commencement

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
BALTIMORE (AP)  More than 200 firefighters battled a massive blaze that broke out at a west Baltimore warehouse, disrupting Amtrak service in the area and prompting officials to move dozens of area residents.

Commuter rail service was canceled Tuesday amid fears the building could collapse onto railroad tracks.

Firefighters were dispatched to the multistory mattress warehouse at Edmondson Avenue and Bentalou Street around 7 p.m. Monday and found heavy fire, the Baltimore City Fire Department said in a social media post. About 30 residents of nearby homes were temporarily evacuated.

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By Tuesday morning, the fire had been contained to the building, but firefighters were chasing hot spots and a deep-seated fire in multiple locations, fire department spokesperson John Marsh said. No injuries had been reported.

The cause has not been determined, and officials were still working to figure out where the fire started, Fire Chief James Wallace said at a news conference Tuesday. City and state officials will investigate, and Wallace said he has asked for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to take the lead, he said.

The ATF brings a ton of resources for us, and given the size and scope of the fire, the fact that we disrupted rail service, its very appropriate that we bring all hands on deck to investigate the cause of this fire, he said.

Officials believe that part of the building may have been in use and part may have been vacant, but they didnt have information about the buildings history, he said.

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Its been years since weve had a fire of that magnitude  seven alarms, Wallace said. But it was necessary to bring in additional resources, including aerial ladders and a heavier water flow, he said.

The warehouse backs up to railroad tracks. Amtrak service was stopped for a time between Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., Amtrak said in a social media post.

Service was restored by Tuesday morning, but was still restricted to one track and Amtrak warned that delays were expected for the rest of the day along the Northeast Corridor.

The Maryland Transit Administration canceled MARC commuter rail service on its Penn line on Tuesday morning because of the fire and concerns that the structure may collapse onto the tracks. Service was restored midday on a Saturday schedule, but extended delays were expected.
A group of more than 350 international actors, directors and producers have signed a letter published on the first day of the Cannes Film Festival condemning the killing of Fatma Hassona, the 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist and protagonist of the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk.

Hassouna was killed along with 10 relatives in an Israeli air strike on her family home in northern Gaza last month, the day after the documentary was announced as part of the ACID Cannes selection.

The signatories - which include Pedro Almodovar, Ruben Ostlund, Guy Pierce, Ralph Fiennes, Melissa Barrera, Yorgos Lanthimos, Susan Sarandon, Alfonso Cuaron and David Cronenberg  denounce genocide in Gaza: "We cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza," read the letter initiated by several pro-Palestinian activist groups and published in French newspaper Liberation and US magazine Variety.

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We are ashamed of such passivity.

The letter also urged cinema to use its art form to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed and to be present to protect oppressed voices.

It concludes: For Fatma, for all those who die in indifference. Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies. Lets act before its too late.

Other signatories include Mark Ruffalo, Viggo Mortensen, Javier Bardem, Leila Bekhti, Costa-Gavras, Brian Cox, Radu Jude, Asif Kapadia, Aki Kaurismaki, Alex Gibney, Julie Delpy, Virginie Efira, Adele Exarchopoulos, Judith Godreche, Sandra Huller and Laura Poitras.

Read the full letter below.

When asked about the open letter at the Cultural Council in Brussels today, French minister of culture Rachida Dati told Euronews: It is their role to engage and to have a commitment. I believe that culture and politics go hand in hand. It can be exceptional, when we are committed to creative freedom - because as you know, at the moment there are more and more attacks on creativity. That's why I want to create a senior civil servant for creative freedom.

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She added: I have taken measures to prevent these attacks on creativity, including many programmers and curators who no longer want to select films. There is more and more self-censorship when it comes to programming. And so, we have to commit to this freedom of creation, we have to prevent obstacles to the freedom of creation, and artists have a role to play in taking sides, in mobilising in relation to what is happening in the world.

Concluding, she shared: Personally, I'd be very surprised if the cultural and artistic players weren't mobilised and committed. That's what culture and politics are for. Culture, I was going to say, saves the world. It is said that music softens morals - culture can also save the world. So, I think that everyone is doing their part.

Rachida Dati - Brussels - 13 May 2025 - Euronews

The Cannes Film Festival kicks off today, with an opening ceremony headlined by Robert De Niro and three films showing the devastation of Russia's war on Ukraine. Two documentaries featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a third film shot on the brutal frontlines of Europe's biggest war in 80 years are to be screened on a "Ukraine Day" of programming.

Nothing similar has been planned for the war in Gaza, but the film on Hassouna is set to "honour" her memory, organisers have said.

Fatma Hassona - Cannes ACID

Here is the full letter:

Fatma Hassona was 25 years old.

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She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsis film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival.

She was about to get married.

Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed by the same Israeli strike.

Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, film-makers and artists are being brutally murdered.

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At the end of March, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for his film No Other Land, was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army, before being released under international pressure. The Oscar Academys lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologize for its inaction.

We are ashamed of such passivity.

Why is it that cinema, a breeding ground for socially committed works, seems to be so indifferent to the horror of reality and the oppression suffered by our sisters and brothers?

As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard.

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What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices?

Why this silence?

The far right, fascism, colonialism, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+, sexist, racist, islamophobic and antisemitic movements are waging their battle on the battlefield of ideas, attacking publishing, cinema and universities, and thats why we have a duty to fight.

Lets refuse to let our art be an accomplice to the worst.

Let us rise up.

Let us name reality.

Let us collectively dare to look at it with the precision of our sensitive hearts, so that it can no longer be silenced and covered up.

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Let us reject the propaganda that constantly colonizes our imaginations and makes us lose our sense of humanity.

For Fatma, for all those who die in indifference.

Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies.

Lets act before its too late.
The earned income tax credit will help families, columnist Tyler Mac Innis argues. (Getty Images)

No amount of budgeting right now is going to make up for the fact that we do not make enough to make a living, says Ashley Salazar. She recently took on a second job, baking in the early hours of the morning before heading to a full-time job as a pharmacy technician.

Ashleys story, featured in a recent KATU report, is an all-too-familiar refrain, especially at a time when the cost of living is rising and tariffs are supercharging the trend. In Oregon, there are thousands of Ashleys.

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Thats why one of the best investments the Oregon legislature can make this session is to renew and expand the tax credit for working families, the Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit. It would give a boost to Ashley and hundreds of thousands of other hardworking families struggling to make ends meet.

In 2024, 127,000 Oregonians held more than one job in addition to their primary job, according to a recent report by the Oregon Employment Department. Six percent of Oregon workers worked multiple jobs last year.

Even for many getting by on a single job, Ashleys story should feel familiar. The cost of affording basic needs continues to rise. Compared to other states, Oregonians spend the 8th most on groceries, according to a recent LendingTree report. Electric bills have soared in recent years, as much as 56 percent since 2021. And of course, the cost of housing is ever rising. A minimum wage worker in Oregon would need to work 74 hours a week just to afford a one-bedroom apartment, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

There is much to do to stem the tide of rising costs. But one proposal before the Oregon Legislature this session would help workers struggling to get by.

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House Bill 2958 would make much-needed improvements to Oregons Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable tax credit that boosts the after-tax income of workers. The federal version of the credit lifts 68,000 Oregonians, including 34,000 children, out of poverty each year. In turn, Oregon provides a match of the federal credit worth 9 percent for most families, and up to 12 percent for families with young children, putting additional cash into the pockets of hardworking families.

Without action this session, Oregons match of the federal EITC will disappear, as the tax credit is scheduled to expire.

HB 2958 would not only renew Oregons credit, but double the match available to eligible Oregonians. It would make Oregons tax credit twice as impactful.

Moreover, it would expand eligibility to childless workers under age 25 and older than 65, who are currently barred from claiming the credit even if their income would otherwise qualify them. HB 2958 recognizes that neither youth nor old age protects against economic insecurity, and that workers of any age may struggle to pay the bills.

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What kind of impact would HB 2958 have on a family? Consider what it would mean for a family with three kids living off the wages of a full-time minimum wage worker. Under HB 2958, their Oregon EITC would increase from about $840 to $1,750. That additional $910 may be enough to help a family confront a sudden crisis, like the need to make a car repair, or it might help them buy clothes and school supplies for the kids, or help them catch up on rent.

Few bills before the Oregon Legislature this session stand to directly boost the incomes of Oregon workers like doubling the EITC would. Ashley and thousands of workers like her are already working their tails off in a valiant effort to just meet their basic needs. Oregon can ease a bit of their load by strengthening the tax credit for working families.

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State Supreme Court Justice takes the oath of office in the old North Carolina House chamber on May 13, 2025. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in Tuesday after a six-month wait, bringing to an end a months-long saga that saw tens of thousands of ballots challenged and ultimately counted.

Riggs took the oath of office, administered by her fellow Democrat on the court Justice Anita Earls, before the packed old House chamber of the North Carolina State Capitol. She received a minute-long standing ovation after swearing the oath and gave remarks on the importance of defending the right to vote and choosing justices who will uphold the rule of law.

Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs speaks at her swearing-in ceremony on May 13 in Raleigh. Though she did not name Griffin in her remarks, condemned his months-long effort to overturn the results of the Supreme Court race. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

I learned from the people who fought, bled, and died for the right to have a democracy where we all get to be heard, Riggs said. The reason I was able to stand resolute, not discouraged and not intimidated, is because I knew that I stood arm-in-arm with you protecting that precious and fundamental right to vote.

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The ceremony came just six days after Republican state Court of Appeals judge Jefferson Griffin conceded the election, concluding a months-long effort to overturn the results of the race in an attempt to turn a 5-2 Republican majority on the states highest court to a 6-1 margin. That challenge was halted by a federal district judge appointed by President Donald Trump on May 5, but not before Republican judges on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court ruled in Griffins favor.

While she did not refer to Griffin by name, Riggs blasted his long and winding election challenge that sought to dispose of tens of thousands of ballots in an effort to overturn her victory.

You won this election more than six months ago, but it was fewer than seven days ago that this race finally ended, Riggs told the crowd of her supporters. Thats more than 180 days after Election Day, nearly $2 million spent, more than 68,000 voters lawful votes put at risk, taxpayers time and resources wasted, immeasurable damage done to our democracy.

She condemned all efforts to undermine our rights and our democracy and pledged to protect the rights of all North Carolinians, regardless of whether they voted for her.

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Disappointed politicians should not use courts to try and get a different election outcome, she added. It is crucial for you to use your precious right to vote to elect candidates and especially judges who will put the Constitution, the rule of law, and their solemn oath above their own personal political ambitions and ideologies.

In remarks ahead of the swearing-in, Justice Anita Earls (left) said she was grateful that voters reelected Riggs or she couldnt survive the next two years on the court. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Ahead of the swearing in, Earls paid tribute to Riggs parents and husband for giving her much-needed support throughout all the tribulations of the election, prompting applause for both her mother and her husband who were in attendance at Tuesdays ceremony. And she praised the newly sworn-in justice for her intelligence as well as her passion and heart, something Earls said was evident even when they first met during the redistricting process in 2009.

She is a brilliant jurist, she finds the issues I miss  we dont always agree, but thats because we have the courage of our convictions, we understand deliberation, we can toss ideas off each other, Earls said. I am so grateful to each one of you for bringing her back, because I just couldnt survive the next two years without her. Earls term is up in 2026, and she is expected to seek reelection.

Among those in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony were Isaac Jenkins and Janice Sanders-Moye of Concerned Citizens for Community Action, a nonprofit that worked to ensure votes for Riggs were counted across the state. Sanders-Moye said she was so glad people stood up on Riggss behalf and called it a great honor to attend the ceremony.

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We worked 14 different counties to help get her elected, and thats why we were so dissatisfied when they held up the election when they would do the recount because we knew that the vote was accurate. But we held out to the end, Jenkins said.

Clad in a Riggs campaign sweatshirt she picked up during the election, Leisa Greathouse, a retired curator with the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said it was a privilege to be an eyewitness to history at Tuesdays ceremony.

Thats one reason [I came]. Second reason, trying to secure the democracy that I see being chiseled away at, little by little, our Constitution, Greathouse said. This beacon of light is a great hope for the whole country, not just for North Carolina.
The rainy weather pattern will continue tonight as the pesky upper-level low sits west of Alabama. This will send another band of rain and storms across Central Alabama this evening before tapering off to a few showers overnight. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain this evening. We could pick up an additional 1-2 inches of rain, and that will keep the flood threat high. A Flood Watch is in effect until 7 PM. Watch for rising water on streams, creeks, and drainage areas.

It will be mostly cloudy and muggy tonight with a few lingering showers. Watch out for patchy dense fog with visibility less than 1/2 mile. The low will be in the lower 60s.

The upper-level low will start to weaken and move northeast toward Ohio on Tuesday. We will have more scattered showers and storms. Some could be strong. More heavy rain is expected, making the flood risk high.

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The low will finally be away from Alabama on Wednesday, and an area of high pressure builds south of the state. This will allow us to dry out with a partly cloudy sky with only stray showers. It will become warmer with highs in the middle 80s.

It will feel like summer on Thursday and Friday with unseasonably warm temperatures and a partly cloudy sky as the ridge sits across the Central Gulf. There could be a stray shower on Friday. High temperatures will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Weekend Outlook: The break from the rain will end this weekend as a cold front moves into North Alabama and upper-level waves move across the state. These waves will ride over the ridge of high pressure across the Gulf. Saturday and Sunday will be warm and humid with scattered showers and storms. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain. High temperatures will be in the middle 80s.

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Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
VANDALIA, Ohio (WDTN)  Theres a new trend in gun ownership  more women are taking up firearms, not only for sport, but also for self-defense.

According to Gallup, gun ownership among women rose from 15 percent in 2007 to 2012, to 20 percent in 2019 to 2024.

With more than 31 years of law enforcement experience, Patty Tackett is the owner of Miami Valley Shooting Grounds in Vandalia, where she offers a number of classes to teach people how to shoot and handle a gun.

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It is very important for me to see people learn how to shoot a gun before they start carrying it, says Tackett. The First Shots class that Bob does, thats an excellent class for new people.

Bob Marks has been working at the range for about the last six years, teaching people the basics.

First Shots class is a class that is geared toward beginning shooters who have never done this before. Or maybe somebody that just needs a refresher. It focuses on all the very fundamental, basic type things that go into shooting from just how to stand, how to hold the gun, loading and unloading procedures, all those types of things. states Marks. The focus is always safety.

Over time, he and Tackett have watched the demographic of people enrolling in classes change.

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Classes are mostly women, all age groups, says Marks.

Shooting is changing  the people coming in, the age group, the dynamics of whos shooting. No longer are we looking at 20-year-olds and 30-year-olds coming in here. We have watched the increase of women shooters, says Tackett.

She holds a class once a month specifically for women.

We do things differently  how we hold the gun, how we load our magazines, everything that we do because our bodies are different than men, describes Tackett.

Starting first in the classroom, they then put their skills into action on the range.

When they walk out of here, not only are they comfortable with their gun, but the way theyre carrying it and what they can do with it other than just point and shoot at a range, states Tackett.

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With a range of levels and skills, the class is tailored to each person.

We meet them where theyre at. If theyve never shot a gun, we take them out on the range, we give them a gun, let them try different guns and stuff, says Tackett.

With one-on-one attention, the class aims to make women more comfortable.

They come in with such low self-confidence and they leave so excited. That to any instructor is one of the most exciting things in the world, smiles Tackett.

Janelle Hattery is in the class. She went from never touching a gun to now owning one.

My sisters a police officer. My stepsisters a police officer. My moms been a concealed carry for a long time. So, theyve been trying to talk me into being more comfortable and to be able to carry a gun and use one. So, Im really glad that I decided to come and join Pattys class, states Hattery. Its really important, especially for women, to be more comfortable with carrying a gun, holding a gun.

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Linda Lorenz first came to the class in August 2024, shortly after she had surgery on her right shoulder.

The first time I came, I was just planning on coming and watching because, you know, my arm just wasnt working because I had fallen and had messed up my arm. Patty says, no, no, you know, we can let you shoot with your left hand, and Im saying what? I could barely do anything with my left hand. She had Bob work with me, specifically with my left hand. And I was amazed at how well I did, describes Lorenz.

As shes been recovering from surgery, Lorenz has learned to shoot with her non-dominant hand.

Lorenz then convinced her friend Sandra Lambert to come to the class.

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I came here kicking and screaming because I did not want to, admits Lambert.

Shes been learning to shoot since last year.

They teach you how to carry the gun. They teach you how to handle yourselves with the gun. They teach you how to shoot, describes Lambert. Its fun. Its something to do. And I think in this day and age, we need to protect ourselves.

While Tackett helps train women, she says its not for everybody.

Nobody should do it that doesnt want to do it. But if you have an inkling in your mind to say, I think Id like to try it, then try it, states Tackett. I want these women to leave here with a confidence I can. They dont need to be Annie Oakley. They dont. I just want them to know, I can do this if I have to.'

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Tackett says in addition to women, theres also been an increase in couples coming to the range, with some people even making a date night out of it.

Tackett says Miami Valley Shooting Grounds also offers a Move and Shoot class, as well as a CCW class for $50. Even though in Ohio you can carry without a permit, Tackett says the CCW class still fills up every month.

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The search is over. Morehouse College has selected its 13th president.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Morehouse College Board of Trustees has named renowned public health leader and alumnus Dr. F. DuBois Bowman to the position.

This comes after a national search for the schools leader.

Bowman graduated from Morehouse in 1992.

Returning to Morehouse as its 13th president is the honor of a lifetime, said Bowman. This institution shaped who I aminstilling a commitment to excellence, justice, and impact. I am excited to partner with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters to build on our legacy and write the next chapter of Morehouses transformative story.

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He currently serves as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Dr. Bowmans record of visionary leadership, his deep commitment to academic excellence, and his lifelong dedication to Morehouse make him the ideal choice to lead the College into its next era, said Willie Woods 85, chairman of the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. He brings an extraordinary blend of intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and values-driven leadership.

School officials said his appointment follows a historic milestone for the college, which recently named both Research College & University (RCU) and Opportunity College & University (OCU) in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications.

Current Morehouse College President Dr. David A. Thomas announced his retirement last year. He will conclude his tenure in June.

Bowman will take over as president on July 15.

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Drivers traveling along I-90 early in the morning should be on the lookout for lane restrictions and shifting traffic patterns near where work is being done on the Jordan Road Bridge.

PennDOT contractor crews will be starting work around 5:30 Wednesday morning and work until around 8 a.m.

Work to replace Jordan Rd. bridge over I-90 starting Monday

That work will continue on Thursday, weather permitting.

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Crews will be resetting work zone traffic devices being used in connection with the replacement of the Jordan Road Bridge.

PennDOT said drivers should anticipate travel delays for these two days and slow down when driving through the work zone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Many of the gubernatorial candidates in the June 10 primary have millions left in reserves as the race nears its end. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor)

Some of this years gubernatorial candidates are draining their reserves as the primary enters its final weeks, though one Democratic candidate has kept much of her money banked as the race winds to a close.

At $4.7 million, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11) maintained the largest war chest 29 days out from the June 10 primary, according to a disclosure filed with the New Jersey Law Enforcement Commission that was released on Monday. Sherrill, the Democratic frontrunner in the limited public polling of the race, reported raising just under $9.2 million through May 9.

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Micah Rasmussen, director of Rider Universitys Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, noted that 150,000 Democrats have already voted via mail-in ballots as of Tuesday.

That means voters who are making those decisions have made those decisions largely absent her paid messaging, Rasmussen said.

Some of Sherills rivals have spent more heavily.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, a Democrat, ended the reporting period that closed May 9 with $787,169 in reserves after spending down most of the nearly $9 million hes raised. The high rate of expenditure means Fulop can spend only about $500,000 in the races closing weeks.

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The main question at this point for him is, does he have enough to get across the finish line, and there we have to know more about how much of this spending is for ads that are still yet to come, Rasmussen said.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-05) had just over $2 million banked on May 9 out of the roughly $9.1 million Gottheimer has raised so far, his campaign filings show.

On the Republican side, where five men are vying for the partys nod for governor, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli ended the reporting period with roughly $2.6 million banked after raising about $9.1 million total.

Former radio host Bill Spadea, Ciattarellis chief rival for the GOP nomination, had about $1.9 million banked on May 9, though hes raised less than $4.2 million throughout the race.

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State Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Union) had $895,134 in reserves on May 9, of the just under $5 million hes raised.

Ciattarelli is dominating organizationally, hes dominating financially, and hes dominating in terms of the all-important endorsement from Trump, Rasmussen said. Hes not leaving any opportunity for a challenger to get ahead of him.

In New Jersey, candidates for governor who meet spending and fundraising thresholds can receive up to $5.5 million in public matching dollars for the primary at a rate of 2-to-1 in exchange for agreeing to spend no more than $8.7 million chasing the nomination. Ciattarelli, Fulop, Gottheimer, and Sherrill have received the full match of $5.5 million.

Former state Sen. Steve Sweeney, a Democrat, finished the reporting period with about $2.2 million banked. He raised just under $7.6 million through May 9.

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat, reported the smallest war chest among candidates who have qualified for public matching funds. He had $666,561 in reserves on May 9 and raised about $5.4 million through that date.

Its not clear whether Barakas arrest by federal immigration authorities last week boosted his fundraising. He received 18 contributions totaling $10,177 on May 9, the date of the arrest and the final day of the reporting period. Baraka reported receiving three times as many contributions on May 9 as on May 8, though that days six contributions amounted to $12,460.

Barakas campaign used his arrest as the focus of a fundraising plea last week while he was still in federal custody.

Rasmussen said he expects the arrest to boost the Baraka campaigns finances.

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Late money is better than no money, he said. But the problem with late money  the problem with it coming in at the end  is: Can you spend it wisely enough and fast enough?

Sean Spiller, the only Democratic gubernatorial hopeful who did not qualify for public matching funds, finished the reporting period with a paltry $97,389 banked after raising $431,478 throughout the cycle.

Spiller is relying on Working New Jersey, an independent expenditure committee that told state campaign regulators it intends to spend $35 million on the primary. Its not clear how much the group has spent. Its not required to report its spending until May 30.

Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac and Burlington County contractor Justin Barbera, both Republicans, have not filed any quarterly or 29-day disclosures with the state election commission.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A mother and daughter had both of their homes shot at in Warren overnight this weekend.

According to reports, police responded to the 500 block of First Street SW around 11 a.m. on Sunday after a woman found bullet holes outside her house and car.

The woman told police she woke up to a message on her phone from her neighbor shortly before 3 a.m., asking if she was OK and that they had heard gunshots. She noticed that her front screen door had a bullet hole, as well as the houses siding.

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Police reports state there were a total of six bullet holes on the outside of the home, as well as a bullet to her cars grill that went through a headlight.

While police were responding, the woman discovered that her daughters house had also been shot at. Police found at least three bullet holes in the front of the residence in the 700 block of Fourth Street SW.

No shell casings were recovered at either scene. The incidents remain under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
ST. LOUIS  Sunday was a tragic Mothers Day in St. Louisa 24-year-old mother, Jorre Hadley, was shot and killed in the Ville Neighborhood Sunday evening.

Her family says not only did she die on Mothers Day, but the date also marked her late Mothers birthday.

Police say they responded to a shooting in the 4400 block of Maffitt just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday night.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found a female who had been shot multiple times inside of a car. Firefighters and paramedics responded. They did everything they could, but unfortunately this woman lost her life last night, said Mitch McCoy, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

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As the oldest of eight siblings, Jorre had returned home to help raise her brothers and sisters. Their mother passed away from a heart attack in January 2021.

Her sister, Janiya, says they were planning a summer trip to Chicago for Jorres 25th birthday.

And then my little brother called me and my little brother was screaming on the phone. When I had pulled up, it was just a crime scene. My little brother and they were crying, Janiya said. My nephew and sister were in the back of the police car. They wouldnt let me see them.

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Police said this marks the 42nd homicide in ST. louis this year. At this time last year, there were 64. Anyone with information is urged to call St. Louis Police or leave an anonymous tip with Crimestoppers. Jorres family is hoping for justiceand peace.

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WASHINGTON, PA (WCMH)  A mother and son from Columbus were among the victims identified in a deadly crash that occurred Sunday afternoon in Western Pennsylvania.

According to the Washington County Coroners Office in Pennsylvania, three people were traveling in a vehicle heading westbound on Interstate 70 near the Claysville Exit, west of Washington, Pa. For reasons that are still unknown, the vehicle veered across the median and into the eastbound lanes.

Two dead in shooting near east Columbus school

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The vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer on I-70 East at approximately 1:08 p.m. Emergency medics arrived at the scene and pronounced 25-year-old Aisha Trawally dead at the scene.

Trawally, of Columbus, was in the front passenger seat. Her son, 4-year-old Abdul-Salami Touray, was life-flighted to UPMC Washington Hospital, but was pronounced dead at 2:04 p.m. The coroners report noted that Trawally was not wearing a seat belt and Touray was not in a childs seat.

The driver of the vehicle, also not reportedly wearing a seat belt, was taken to a Pittsburgh-area hospital in an unknown condition.

The crash remains under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A 60-year-old motorcyclist was killed on Monday on the Kansas Turnpike. The crash happened near Emporia in Lyon County around 4:30 p.m.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said a motorcycle, operated by Richard Schroeder of St. Joseph, Missouri, was heading north in the left lane due to a lane closure. At the same time, troopers say a Mazda SUV came up behind the motorcycle and rear-ended it, causing Schroeder to fall off.

Schroeder died at the scene. The 26-year-old driver of the SUV from Rio Grande, Texas, was not injured.

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Two deaths in Mounds View are being investigated as a murder-suicide, police said Tuesday as they identified the people involved.

Aaron Winfield Johnson, 48, of Minneapolis, died from multiple gunshot wounds on Sunday and the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office ruled his death a homicide. Robert Eugene Bostic, 50, died of a single gunshot wound and the medical examiners office said his death was a suicide.

The men have been described as acquaintances, according to police.

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Police were called just before 8 p.m. Sunday to check a persons well-being in the 5200 block of Greenwood Drive, which was Bostics home.

Officers could see a person inside the residence lying on the floor with signs of trauma and forced the door open to check on the people inside, according to a previous statement from Mounds View police. They found the two men deceased inside the home, along with a handgun.

Mounds View police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man is facing 11 felony charges after allegedly threatening his neighbors with a shotgun during a graduation party over the weekend.

Credit: MCSO Records

According to an arrest affidavit and Midland County jail records, 40-year-old Joshua Paul Tabor was arrested Saturday night and charged with 11 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony. The charges stem from an incident on May 10 in the 7400 block of Boot Drive.

Officers with the Midland Police Department responded around 11:21 p.m. to multiple 911 calls reporting a man with a shotgun threatening guests at a nearby home. Call notes indicated that a woman could be heard yelling, followed by a man, identified later as Tabor, stating, Im grabbing the shotgun now. Moments later, callers reported seeing Tabor holding a firearm.

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According to police, the disturbance began when Tabor allegedly began yelling at a neighboring household to turn down their music during a backyard party. Witnesses said he threw an object at them and splashed a female guest with liquid. He then reportedly said, Since youre not listening, Im going to grab my shotgun, and returned with a 12-gauge firearm, which he appeared to load and point at the group, including several children.

One witness told police that when someone shouted that children were present, Tabor replied, I dont give a (expletive) about kids.

Several partygoers retreated inside the home while one man confronted Tabor and punched him in the nose to stop him from climbing the shared fence, according to the affidavit.

When officers arrived, Tabor was found standing in his driveway with his hands raised. He was detained without incident, medically cleared at Midland Memorial Hospital, and booked into the Midland County Detention Center.

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Jail records show Tabor is being held on 11 separate aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges, each carrying a $50,000 bond, for a total bond of $550,000. As of Monday, no attorney is listed on file, and all charges are listed as pending disposition.

The case remains under investigation.

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Main Streets representatives gathered for Main Street Day at the Capitol May 5 to showcase what their districts are doing in the community.

Executive Director Brandi Johnson said it was a great day at the Oklahoma City Capitol. She said the day celebrated Main Streets from across Oklahoma.

I was proud to represent Duncan and share the exciting projects on the horizon, Johnson said. As one of the original Oklahoma Main Street communities, its important that we continue to carry the torch and keep our Main Street thriving.

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Johnson said she had the opportunity to speak with Sen. Spencer Kern about the Main Street Duncan Pocket Park.

He expressed his strong support for keeping Main Street at the heart of our community, Johnson said.

Johnson said a pocket park is a green space in a dense area. She said its a location to add beauty and greenery to the area.

The park drawings show a performance stage with seating, picnic tables, memorial benches, a small children's play area, memorial bricks and more.

The memorial bricks will offer community members a chance to leave a tribute within the park.

The pocket park will be located on Main Street and 8th Street and will open to the public during MSDs office hours. It will also provide a place where Main Street and the community can host events, like live theatre performances, live music, open mic events, a Christmas tree lighting, seasonal markets or craft fairs, food truck events, community fitness classes like yoga, private celebrations, public art exhibits or outdoor performances and daily rest and relaxation.

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Oklahoma Main Street Center, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, led the event to help revitalize historical downtown districts.

Oklahoma State Main Street Director Buffy Skee said the capitol day gave the Oklahoma Main Street districts an opportunity to showcase what they are doing in their town.

It was a fantastic day that gave local Main Street programs from all over the state the opportunity to highlight their upcoming events and share the progress of their local economic revitalization efforts, Skee said. The Main Street program is driven by passionate volunteers  local individuals committed to transforming their urban neighborhoods and historic commercial districts. We are grateful for their dedication to their communities and incredibly proud of the hard work they put in to help these programs flourish and grow.

The program included several Main Street milestones and new additions for Ardmore Main Street Authority, the Historic Greenwood District, Main Street Muskogee, Tahlequah Main Street, Tulsa Global District and Tulsa Route 66 Main Street.

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For more information about Oklahoma Main Street Program, visit www.OKcommerce.gov/mainstreet or call 405-815-6552.

For more information about the MSDs pocket park or support levels, contact Johnson at 580-252-8696, email info@mainstreetduncan.com, visit www.mainstreetduncan.com or Main Street Duncan on Facebook.






Jon Stevenson, the captain of a fishing vessel, remains missing after his boat sank near Westport, Wash., on May 9

Three other people from the vessel were rescued

"He was selfless in a way, because he cared so much for other people and his family, said a fisherman who worked with Stevenson







The Coast Guard called off the search for the missing captain of a 68-foot fishing vessel that sank off the Washington coast over the weekend, while the victims friends remembered him as a happy and caring individual.

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According to a news release shared on Saturday, May 10, the maritime law enforcement agency said the incident involving the Captain Raleigh boat occurred near Westport, Wash., on Friday, May 9.

Authorities said they received a distress call from the vessel master at approximately 8:15 a.m., local time, who said the boat was taking on water and the onboard pumps could not keep up.

Responders arrived at the scene, and a good Samaritan vessel pulled alongside the Captain Raleigh and offered a dewatering pump, read the Coast Guard news release.

Shortly after a rescue crew from Station Grays Harbor arrived at around 8:30 a.m., the Captain Raleigh immediately sank, the Coast Guard added.

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A Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor boat crew rescued three life-jacket-wearing members of the Captain Raleigh from the water, who were subsequently taken to the station for medical evaluation.

Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier/ U.S. Coast Guard District 13 The Coast Guard announced on May 10 that it had called off the search for the captain of a boat that sank near Westport, Wash., on May 9 The Coast Guard announced on May 10 that it had called off the search for the captain of a boat that sank near Westport, Wash., on May 9

Meanwhile, the captain was reported to still be aboard the Captain Raleigh when she sank near the Grays Harbor bar entrance, said the Coast Guard, per its news release.

Crews, including a U.S. Navy dive team, took part in the search efforts. At about 11:45 a.m., they pinpointed the location of the Captain Raleigh, said the Coast Guard.

However, the Navy dive team was prevented from accessing the wreck site until 6 p.m., due to unfavorable environmental conditions

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Unfortunately, debris, poor visibility, and strong subsurface currents prevented the divers from accessing the interior of the fishing vessel, the Coast Guard added.

At approximately 8:40 p.m., the agency suspended the search for the captain.

Gofundme Jon Stevenson (left) Jon Stevenson (left)

Capt. Justin Noggle, commander of Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, said in a press statement: "This is a tragedy for our fishing communities. Im thankful our Coast Guard crews were able to save the three crewmembers quickly, and our hearts are with the family and friends of everyone impacted by this tremendous loss.

Media outlets, including NBC affiliate KGW, the Lincoln Chronicle and The News Tribune, identified the missing captain as Jon Stevenson, 44, of Newport, Ore.

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According to a Facebook post from the Newport Fishermens Wives, Stevenson was a husband and father of three children. He was described as a much-loved member of the commercial fishing industry up and down the West Coast.

An outstanding man who spent his life taking care of and entertaining all with his wicked sense of humor, Jon was deeply cherished by everyone who knew him, read the groups post.

Taunette Dixon, a friend of the Stevenson family and a member of the Newport Fishermens Wives, told KGW that the captain was known for being joyous.

"He was just a happy human, said Dixon.

"He was selfless in a way, because he cared so much for other people and his family, Kyle Retherford, a commercial fisherman who had worked with Stevenson, said to KGW. He loved his family, and it was inspiring.

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Dixon established a GoFundMe for Stevensons family, whose description read in part: We all feel the need to help this beautiful family, and this is one thing we can do to ease some of the pressures they are feeling. The thing Jon would want the most is that his family supported and cared for.

PEOPLE contacted the Coast Guard and Dixon for additional information on Tuesday, May 13.

The Coast Guard said in its Saturday news release that a Seattle commercial salvage team is expected to arrive at the wreck scene and develop a salvage plan. It added that the sinking had no reported impact on the shoreline.

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During a wild pursuit Monday, a carjacking suspect slammed into two patrol cars, causing one to strike a nearby home, and rolled the stolen vehicle, authorities said.

Officials from the Lakewood station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said deputies responded to a call about a carjacking in the 8800 block of Alondra Boulevard on Monday afternoon.

Deputies found a stolen car driven by the suspect in the area and believed the suspect to be armed, officials said. From there, the car pursuit began.

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While chasing the car for about 10 miles into Carson, deputies transitioned into surveillance mode, meaning they fell back in hopes the suspect would slow down, officials said. Police may switch from active pursuit when the driver is speeding or behaving erratically.

Read more: Theft suspect killed in crash on 210 Freeway following police pursuit that reached 115 mph

Tailed by deputies, the suspect sideswiped a semi-truck but continued driving. After hitting the truck, officials said the suspect intentionally rammed their vehicle into two separate marked patrol vehicles.

Then the suspect crashed the car they were in, rolling it over and landing on the roof.

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The pursuit ended at the intersection of Broadway and South Main streets in Carson, near the Goodyear Blimp base, according to KTLA. The suspect was then taken into custody. Officials did not provide additional details about the person.

Read more: Police pursuit ends dramatically with SWAT team and armored vehicles on home's front lawn

Helicopter video from KTLA showed that one of the patrol vehicles the suspect crashed into was thrust into a nearby home.

Lakewood officials said the two deputies in the cars that were hit were injured. One was treated at the scene, and the other was taken to a local hospital with moderate injuries.

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Officials did not provide information on whether any occupants of the home or others were injured during the pursuit or the crashes.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA)  Mumford & Sons will bring their Railroad Revival Tour to Spartanburg in August.

The folk rock band will bring along several other acts to join them on the tour which makes a stop at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds on August 4.

The Spartanburg stop joins three other outdoor venues in New Orleans, Richmond, Virginia, and Burlington, Vermont.

The tour is separate from their traditional North American tour which will run from June through October to support their latest album, Rushmere.

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Tickets for their Spartanburg stop go on sale Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m.

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Federal prosecutors launched their efforts to prove that Sean Diddy Combs transformed his hip-hop business into a racketeering organisation that compelled women to fulfil his sexual demands over a span of two decades.

Testimony in Combs' trial in New York began on Monday, following the conclusion of jury selection and the opening statements from the attorneys.

Combs, dressed in a white sweater and sporting hair that has transitioned from jet-black to nearly entirely grey, arrived at the courtroom shortly before 9 am local time.

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He greeted his lawyers with hugs and signalled a thumbs-up to his supporters seated in the wooden benches behind him. Earlier that morning, a queue to enter the courthouse extended down the block.

Combs' mother and several of his children were guided past the crowds and directly into the building.

Family and supporters of Sean "Diddy" Combs, including his mother Janice Combs, center, return to the courthouse after a break in New York, Monday, May 12, 2025 - Seth Wenig/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

The proceedings are overseen by US District Judge Arun Subramanian. The lead prosecutor is Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey, while Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson presented the opening statement.

The defence is led by New York attorney Marc Agnifilo, with attorney Teny Geragos delivering the opening remarks.

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Combs  better known by his artist name Diddy  attorney Teny Geragos acknowledged that his client's aggressive behaviour, frequently exacerbated by alcohol, jealousy, and drugs, could justify domestic violence allegations.

She however argued that such behaviour does not support charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. She advised jurors that while they may perceive Diddy as a jerk and disapprove of his kinky sexual practices, hes not charged with being mean. Hes not charged with being a jerk.

Sean Diddy Combs, center, motions a heart sign to his family in attendance as he is escorted out of lock-up by US Marshals, on the first day of trial, Monday, May 12, 2025 - Elizabeth Williams/AP

Diddy, who is 55-years-old, pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment. His charges included one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Hes also being charged with two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Prosecutors say Diddy coerced women into drugged-up group sexual encounters. He reportedly called those nights freak offs, wild king nights or hotel nights. They also accused him of threatening these women into silence through blackmail and physical abuse, including choking, hitting, kicking and dragging, often by the hair.

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Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, was expected to testify on Monday or Tuesday. Combs told Cassie that if she defied him again, he would release recordings of her having sex with a male escort, souvenirs of the most humiliating nights of her life," Johnson said.

Sean Diddy Combs stands as his defence attorney gives her opening statement to the jury on the first day of trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York - Elizabeth Williams/AP

The sex parties are central to Combs' sexual abuse, prosecutors say. Diddys company paid for the parties, held in hotel rooms in and outside of the US. Johnson added that the hip hop stars employees set the rooms with his preferred lighting, extra linens and lubricants.

Combs coerced women, including Cassie, into using drugs and participating in sexual acts with male escorts while he indulged himself, occasionally documenting the encounters, according to Johnson.

In 2023, Cassie initiated legal action against Diddy, which was settled within hours. However, this prompted a law enforcement inquiry and led to numerous additional lawsuits with comparable allegations.

This frame grab taken from hotel security camera video and aired by CNN appears to show Sean "Diddy" Combs attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in March 2016 - AP/AP

Following the closing arguments, jurors were presented with surveillance footage capturing an assault by Combs on Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016, which prosecutors assert is a crucial element of their case against him.

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The footage shows Cassie near the hotel elevators with a bag just prior to Combs turning a corner, attacking her, and forcefully throwing her to the ground, subsequently kicking her and dragging her back toward their room.

After several US broadcasters aired the video of the attack last year, Diddy apologised and said he was disgusted by his actions.

The hip hop superstar, commonly acknowledged as one of the best and most influential rap artists, is facing at least 15 years in prison and up to life if convicted on all charges. He has been held at a federal jail in Brooklyn, since his arrest in September. The trial is expected to last two months.
Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk joined President Trump on his first day in Saudi Arabia, appearing with other top business leaders for a lunch with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Musk was at the Royal Court for a coffee ceremony, followed by the lunch, when Trump arrived. The Tesla CEO and top adviser to the president was seen talking with the crown prince and other business leaders.

Trump introduced Musk to bin Salman, patting him on the back while the three men chatted for a few minutes.

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Other top business leaders at the Royal Court included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

Its unclear whether Musk will join Trump on other stops on his Middle East trip, when the president travels to Qatar and United Arab Emirates.

Musk has been a top adviser of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has been a constant presence by Trumps side since Election Day, joining him on Air Force One and in Cabinet meetings.

His special government status is set to end May 30, and he has faced pressure from Tesla board members to return to the helm of his company after months in Washington, leading DOGE.

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He outlined that the cadence of his time with the White House will decrease to 1 to 2 days per week in a recent interview with The Hill and other journalists.

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(The Hill)  Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump on his first day in Saudi Arabia, appearing with other top business leaders for a lunch with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Musk was at the Royal Court for a coffee ceremony, followed by the lunch, when Trump arrived. The Tesla CEO and top adviser to the president was seen talking with the crown prince and other business leaders.

Trump introduced Musk to bin Salman, patting him on the back while the three men chatted for a few minutes.

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Crown prince greets Trump for elaborate Saudi welcoming ceremonies

Other top business leaders at the Royal Court included FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

Its unclear if Musk will join Trump on other stops on his Middle East trip, when the president travels to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Musk has been a top adviser of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has been a constant presence by Trumps side since Election Day, joining him on Air Force One and in Cabinet meetings.

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His special government status is set to end May 30, and he has faced pressure from Tesla board members to return to the helm of his company after months in Washington leading DOGE.

He outlined that the cadence of his time with the White House will decrease to 1-2 days per week in a recent interview with The Hill and other journalists.

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Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Edwards was found dead Monday morning, Muskogee Police Spokeswoman Lynn Hamlin confirmed.

Hamlin said police officers were dispatched to Edwards' home around 8:05 a.m.

"The Medical Examiners office has been notified, there is nothing suspicious at this time and found him unresponsive," Hamlin said.

Edwards was elected district attorney in 2022. He was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt the previous October to replace former Muskogee County District Attorney Orvil Loge.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A new, full-service veterinary clinic designed to offer care for low-income families is set to open in East Providence.

Potter League for Animals announced that Pets In Need Veterinary Clinic would permanently close its doors at the end of April, citing financial constraints that have made it impossible to sustain the clinics services.

BACKGROUND: Affordable veterinary clinic to close in East Providence

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But that didnt stop many Rhode Islanders from fighting to keep the nonprofit alive, just as it had done for their pets over the past decade.

Tracey Moakler told 12 News that Pets In Need has been there for her animals through thick and thin, describing the nonprofit as her savior. She expressed concern not only for herself, but for others who relied on the clinic.

Whats going to happen to the people that really need something like this? she asked. My whole reason [for speaking out] is to see if theres someone out there who can stop the closing, keep this great service running, and help the veterinarians keep their jobs.

12 RESPONDS: Pet owner speaks out to save East Providence vet clinic

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Now, the same doors at 50 Amaral Street will reopen next Monday, May 19, under a new name: the Rhode Island Community Pet Project (CPP).

Dr. Hank Wietsma and John Gillespie first developed the concept of a small animal practice focused on providing affordable care to Rhode Island pet owners. With the help of private donors, foundations, and community support, that vision became reality in 2016 through Pets In Need.

The generosity and willingness of my colleagues and friends to help keep this program going is

something Im incredibly grateful for, Wietsma said. Since opening in 2016, PIN [Pets In Need] has provided over 28,000 appointments for the pets of families in financial hardship. That work must continue.

Now serving as CPP President, Weitsma has been working to secure financial support and staffing commitments from the veterinary and animal welfare communities.

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The organization is led by a board made up primarily of regional veterinarians and aims to ensure a seamless transition by continuing the essential services Pets In Need provided.

According to CPP, several veterinarians and technicians  including former staff members  have already pledged to volunteer their time to help carry on the clinics mission.

CPP will face challenges, especially with rising demand, but continuing to help these pets  even on a modest scale  is critical to me, our team, and the families we serve, Weitsma added.

Appointments can be scheduled now by calling (401) 270-3832.

NEXT: Mass. nonprofit covers cost of emergency c-section for struggling dog

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Two women were "walking the shallows" not far from Streaky Bay, Australia, before being reported missing on Tuesday, May 13

Police said a 67-year-old woman and a 65-year-old woman were "pulled from the water but could not be revived"

"There was no report of any shark involvement," a South Australia Police spokesperson told PEOPLE







Two women have been found dead after going missing not far from the popular tourist town of Streaky Bay in Australia.

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At approximately 11:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday, May 13, emergency services were called to an area near Back Beach Road following reports that "two women had gone missing in the ocean," South Australia Police said in a news release. They confirmed that the women had disappeared "while walking the shallows."

"A 67-year-old woman from Sturt and a 65-year-old woman from Streaky Bay were pulled from the water but could not be revived," the news release stated. "Police are preparing a report for the Coroner after the bodies of two women were recovered from waters near Streaky Bay."

Police have asked anybody who may have witnessed the incident to get in touch.

IconsAustralia/Alamy Stock Photo Streaky Bay, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia Streaky Bay, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

Despite the Streaky Bay area being the site of several shark attacks, a South Australia Police spokesperson told PEOPLE that, "There was no report of any shark involvement."

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Back Beach "is a popular surf spot for both locals and visitors," according to the South Australia Tourism website. It is located around five miles from the coastal town of Streaky Bay's center on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula.

"Beyond surfing, families love exploring the rock pools, making it a great spot to visit at low tide. Its also an excellent location for beach fishing, with deep holes along the shoreline offering prime conditions for anglers," the website stated.

However, they warn visitors that swimming at the main beach is "not recommended" due to "strong rips and persistent waves," adding, "Strong, confident swimmers may access the southern beaches during low wave conditions."

The tragedy comes just months after 28-year-old Lance Appleby died in a suspected shark attack while he was surfing at Granites Beach in Streaky Bay on the evening of Jan. 2, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

IconsAustralia/Alamy Stock Photo Police car (stock image) Police car (stock image)

South Australia Police Senior Constable Rebecca Stokes said at the time, per the outlet, "I understand someone went out on a jetski immediately after the attack which is extremely brave of them and were able to recover the surfboard."

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"But there was just no sign of this young man, there's just been no sign of him," the officer added. "From what I understand of the terrain and the surf there, it is known to be frequented by sharks."

Police and Emergency Services crews will continue searching waters at Westall for the body of a man, believed to be the victim of a fatal shark attack," police said in a Jan. 3 news release.



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Donald Trump has doused EU hopes that his rapprochement with Britain and China might quickly lead to a trade ceasefire with Brussels.

As he announced his breakthrough with Beijing on Monday, Trump turned his fire on the EU, describing the bloc as nastier than China.

They treated us very unfairly, Mr Trump told reporters. They sell us 13m cars. We sell them none. They sell us their agricultural products. We sell them virtually none. They dont take our products. That gives us all the cards.

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The European Union is in many ways nastier than China, and weve just started with them. Oh, theyll come down a lot. You watch.

Although the EU last Thursday said it was ready to hit the US with tariffs on 95bn (80bn) of American imports, Mr Trump that same day described Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, as fantastic adding: I hope were going to meet.

This was taken as a signal that Mr Trump might be open to doing a deal with the EU, a bloc he has previously said was created explicitly to screw the US.

Tech talks

Pressure is now growing on the EU to strike a deal, particularly as Japan and Korea may also agree terms with Trump on tariffs before Brussels gets a look-in.

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Europes powerful business lobby is growing increasingly skittish at the prospect of a trade war erupting with the US when the 90-day tariff pause elapses in early July.

Fredrik Persson, BusinessEuropes president, has urged the two sides to eliminate the existing tariffs and commit to avoiding any further levies.

We should preserve tariff-free arrangements that support our companies in key sectors such as aerospace, spirits, and medical devices, he said.

Maros Sefcovic, the EU trade negotiator, has been to Washington in the past month to hold initial talks, while tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen will also head to the US on Tuesday.

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Trump has complained about the EUs crackdown on US tech companies, an issue that may have to be folded into any deal on tariffs.

At the weekend, Von der Leyen said she would meet Trump only if there was a concrete package to discuss. But the presidents comparison of the EU and China has dialled down expectations of a breakthrough.

Trade experts questioned Trumps claim that the EU was nastier than China.

It is true that the EU does impose some tariffs and regulatory barriers to US trade, but they are not comparable to China, says Sam Lowe, a partner at advisory firm Flint Global. The EU average applied tariff is very low.

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Before Trump re-entered the White House, the average US tariff rate on imports from the EU was just under 1.5pc, while the EUs average tariff on US imports was 1.35pc.

But during the presidents liberation day announcement on April 2, Mr Trump hit the EU with a 20pc reciprocal tariff, plus a 25pc tariff on imports of vehicles and car parts.

A week later, he suspended the reciprocal tariffs, including the EUs 20pc rate, for 90 days to allow the White House to fix bilateral deals.

Mr Trump last week nailed down the first such deal with Britain, and on Monday announced the details of a major climbdown in his tariff war with China.

Zero for zero tariff package

But the EU remains in limbo. If the 20pc US tariff comes into force in early July, it will hit 379bn of EU exports to the US, while the 25pc tariff piles more pain on 50bn-plus of automotive goods.

The Bruegel Institute estimates that a no-deal outcome across the Atlantic could wipe 0.7 percentage points off US GDP, and 0.3 points off the EUs economy.

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The EU is looking for a zero for zero tariff package covering industrial goods such as cars, chemicals, machinery and drugs. But if its offer is spurned, its retaliation could hit American goods  ranging from aircraft and cars to chemicals and seafood.

Brussels could even unleash its anti-coercion instrument, originally created to face down threats from China, against US services sectors like tech and banking.

Trumps preference for personal relationships and his suspicion of the bloc have left Europes individual leaders having to do much of the diplomatic heavy lifting with the US president.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, Micheal Martin, Irelands taoiseach, Germanys Friedrich Merz and Italys Giorgia Meloni have all tried their own individual charm offensives.

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But Trump has a personal beef with some of these countries, ranging from Irelands wooing of US tech and pharmaceutical companies to Germanys freeloading of US defence.

The EU has also struggled to move as quickly in trade talks with countries like China and the UK, because it must build consensus among its 27 member states.

However, given that its single market boasts 460m consumers, the bloc will no doubt have undeniable heft once trade negotiations begin in earnest.

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As the nation seeks to unleash energy production, geothermal has been a high-profile source of attention for multiple presidential administrations because it is clean and renewable, but the average American doesnt seem to know about it.

Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that comes from heated rocks and liquids stored deep in the Earth. When that energy is released naturally to the earths surface, hot springs, geysers and volcanoes form  typically near tectonic plates.

Geothermal power plants generate electricity by drilling deep into the earth to access the hot solid or liquid below. If happens when solid, cold water is poured down to create steam, which rotates a turbine that then powers a generator, producing electricity.

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In the coming years, the United States will face unprecedented growth and energy demand as we race to win the AI war against China and bring gigawatts of new data center capacity online, and an all-of-the-above approach for energy development is the only option we have to move forward, Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., said Monday during a field hearing for the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hosted by Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy and Southern Utah University.

Geothermal power, he said, will help meet those needs.

Geothermals moment: Big promise, federal delay

The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that human-made geothermal energy, or enhanced geothermal systems, could ultimately power over 65 million homes and businesses in the states, and will be the next frontier for renewable energy deployment.

It is arguably the least polarizing renewable energy option across political party lines as it is viewed as one of the most practical solutions to the United States energy demand, and Utah is considered a hotbed of geothermal opportunity.

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Utah is third in the nation for its production of utility-scale electricity derived from geothermal energy, behind California at No. 1 and Nevada, which takes second place.

The only issue: The best places to build power plants are on federally owned land.

Even when the geology is ideal, it can take years to get a green light to drill. In states like Utah, where so much promising geothermal potential lies beneath federally managed lands, the permitting backlog is especially problematic, Maloy said Monday.

She and two of her Republican colleagues, Stauber and Rep. Nicholas Begich, R-Alaska, held the field hearing, Letting Off Steam: Unleashing Geothermal Energy Development on Federal Land, discussing with energy developers and experts the barriers to developing geothermal energy on federally owned land.

A subcommittee hearing on energy and mineral resources and geothermal energy is held Monday, May 12, 2025, in Cedar City, which included Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah. | House Committee on Natural Resources

Getting land permits for energy purposes from the Bureau of Land Management is not a new process. In fact, geothermal energy was the first type of renewable energy that the BLM approved for production on public lands in 1978.

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The issue is timing.

We need smart federal policy, Tim Latimer, CEO of Fervo Energy and witness during Mondays hearing, said. Today, 90% of geothermal resources lie on federally managed land, but permitting can take up to a decade, much longer than equivalent wind, solar, oil and gas projects. That needs to change.

Federal permits can take upward of 10 years to be granted, and that doesnt include litigation, Stauber warned. Thats why bipartisan bills like Sen. Mike Lees co-led Geothermal Energy Optimization (GEO) Act and Utah Sen. John Curtis Geothermal Energy Opportunity (GEO) Act (same name different legislation) or Maloys Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act have been pushed at the federal level to streamline the federal permitting process and establish a permit-by-rule system.

Efforts are continually being facilitated. An April auction from the Bureau of Land Management in Utah brought in $5.6 million for 14 parcels of land for leases and potential development.

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Paul Thomsen, vice president Of business development at Ormat Technologies, Inc., and longtime geothermal energy advocate, emphasized that despite all the efforts made  not to discredit them  the interagency conflicts add to the issue of long-delayed permits.

For the last four years, he said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has put the Department of Interior under threat of lawsuit for granting geothermal permits at the expense of certain fish species.

We shouldnt have regulatory capture due to the threat of litigation, he said, So we urge the committee to address the interagency conflicts that hinder geothermal energy exploration.

Maloy inquired whether expedited geothermal energy permitting could still be carried out in an environmentally safe manner if it were approved.

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Thomsen was very confident it could be.

One of the amazing things about geothermal is it has a footprint disturbance 22 times smaller than solar with integrated storage, he added. We can move the geothermal power plants. We can move the wells and so forth to make them as benign as possible for the surrounding environment. Couple that with no emissions and base load power, the environmental footprint of these facilities is astonishing.

Contributing: Amy Joi ODonoghue
Summerlike heat smashed record highs in parts of the Northern Plains and upper Midwest the past several days, including one city nicknamed the "Nation's Icebox," and that has helped fuel wildfires in northern Minnesota.

Impressive International Falls

On Mother's Day, International Falls, Minnesota, along the border with Ontario, Canada, soared to 96 degrees. That was their hottest May high on record, topping a 95-degree high on May 21, 1964. It was also hotter than parts of the South, including both Houston and Orlando.

Then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, they also topped out in the low 90s. It was the first time the city had a four-day 90s streak in May dating to 1897. It was also the earliest four-day 90s streak on record, there, by over three weeks.

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Their morning low Monday was only 70 degrees, easily their record warmest May low and the first time the town had recorded a May low in the 70s in almost 130 years.

It's Usually The 'Icebox'

International Falls is one of the coldest cities in the U.S., nicknamed the "Icebox of the Nation". Their average low temperatures plunge below zero from just before Christmas through late February. They once plunged to 55 degrees below zero in January 1909.

Their average high in mid-May is 62 degrees, while their average low is around the point we'd expect frost on the ground, 36 degrees.

But the weather pattern the last several days  strong southwest winds, dry ground and a stubborn heat dome of high pressure  sent temperatures soaring in Minnesota, and other parts of the Northern Plains and upper Midwest. Parts of the Red River Valley of North Dakota and northwest Minnesota soared to 100 degrees Sunday, according to the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network.

Wildfires Fueled

That extreme heat, together with winds and recent dry weather, helped fuel a trio of wildfires in northeast Minnesota's Arrowhead.

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The largest of those fires  the Camp House Fire near the town of Brimson, about 35 miles north-northeast of Duluth  already destroyed 144 structures, including some homes and cabins, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The Munger Shaw Fire near Cotton also destroyed two structures. Evacuation orders were still in effect in parts of St. Louis and Lake counties.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called up the National Guard to help battle the fires.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
LOGAN COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Nearly 50 years ago, two men broke out of an Oklahoma prison to go on a crime spree that involved murdering a town marshal and a park ranger in Logan County.

According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Paul Ruiz and Earl Van Denton escaped from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. The two men were both serving life sentences. Ruiz for armed robbery. Van Denton for murder.

The escape

On June 23, 1977, the pair were a part of a 20-member crew tasked with tearing down a brick factory near the prison when they decided to escape.

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They had been placed in an empty building during a lunch break. The door to the building was not guarded, which allowed Ruiz, Van Denton and Elmer Finin to escape.

Entrance Gate and Guard Station at Oklahoma State Penitentiary (Photo by  Shepard Sherbell/CORBIS SABA/Corbis via Getty Images)

Two of the guards in charge of supervising the work crew were demoted and suspended after the incident.

The three men fled from the prison into the city of McCalester. Shortly after the escape, Finin separated from Ruiz and Van Denton. Finin was arrested in Hot Springs on October 31, 1977, at a service station where he worked. He was returned to the prison he escaped from and died there on October 21, 1981.

Oklahoma disappearance and Louisiana murders

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas says the first possible murder associated with Ruiz and Van Dentons crime spree happened on June 27, 1977, when Gerald Tiffee disappeared in Boswell, Oklahoma. However, the two were never charged with the disappearance.

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Natural State History: The powerful political family that influenced Arkansas early days and pre-Civil War US

Ruiz and Van Denton headed southeast to Louisiana. Ruiz and Denton murdered Jimmy Cockrell near Colfax. Cockrells body was found on June 28. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas says it is suspected that on the same day, Ray Jones and Alton Wilson were killed near Franklinton, Louisiana. Their bodies were found in Tiffees pickup truck, which had been submerged in a flooded gravel pit.

Logan County murders

The men headed north into Arkansas in a stolen car. When they got a flat tire near Magazine, they rolled the tire to town to have it repaired.

Marvin Richie was Magazines marshal. He was informed of the mens actions by citizens. Richie went to offer assistance. Ruiz and Van Denton ultimately kidnapped Richie in an attempt to take his car. They drove through Magazine and Blue Mountain, where they were spotted in the patrol car with Richie handcuffed in the rear seat.

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The men drove to Ashley Recreation Area on the shore of Blue Mountain Lake. They stopped a truck driven by two United States Army Corps of Engineers rangers, David Small and Opal James.

Marshal Marvin Richie

Courtesy: Magazine Police Department

The rangers were ordered into the patrol car, and Ruiz and Van Denton drove into a thickly wooded area.

The two men handcuffed Small and Richie together. They forced them into the trunk of the patrol car. Meanwhile, they made James lie on the ground behind the car.

Ruiz took Smalls watch and one of the men took Richies shirt. Before closing the trunk, they shot Small and Richie. Richie was killed. Small was hit in the chest and blacked out for a period, but eventually regained consciousness.

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Small was rescued five hours later by searchers.

Ruiz and Van Denton took the James and rangers truck south.

They abandoned the truck about forty miles from Magazine. They killed James there and hiked to Oden in Montgomery County, where they stole another truck.

Capture

The two men used the stolen truck to drive back into Oklahoma, where they stole a taxi cab in Purcell on July 1. They killed the driver of the cab, Melvin Short. His body was found in Grady County, Oklahoma. Using Shorts car, the men drove to Portland, Oregon, where they were captured on July 8.

They had contacted a family member in Oklahoma for financial assistance, but the family member contacted law enforcement. The men were waiting for a money transfer when they were captured.

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Natural State History: Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an Arkansas native that inspired Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash

At the time of their arrest, Van Denton and Ruiz were with a third man, David Christofferson. The men had picked up Christofferson while he was hitchhiking in eastern Oregon. Christofferson was questioned and released.

Conviction

The men were eventually extradited to Arkansas. They were tried in Booneville on capital murder charges and convicted on April 27, 1978.

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas said during the trial, Small identified the fugitives who kidnapped him and shot him along with Ritichie and James. The jury found them guilty and recommended the death penalty.

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The Arkansas Supreme Court overturned their convictions due to the pretrial publicity in Logan County, which was deemed prejudicial to their case.

A second trial was held in Morrilton in 1983. They were convicted again and sentenced to death. The death sentences were overturned by the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1987, and that phase of the trial was held again. They were convicted again and sentenced to death.

Another appeal was filed in 1989 to the Eighth Circuit. It was denied. A final appeal was made on January 3, 1997. It was also denied.

Execution

Ruiz and Van Denton were executed at the Cummins Unit prison in Lincoln County on January 8, 1997, along with Kirt Wainwright, who was convicted of murder and robbery in Nevada County in 1988.

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Ruiz and Van Denton declined to give final statements. Small was present for the executions but was not allowed to view the proceedings.

Van Denton was executed first and declared dead at 7:09 p.m. Ruiz was executed and declared dead at 8 p.m.

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A senior naval officer was charged with the second-degree murder of his spouse Wednesday, according to the U.S. Navy.

Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Olsen was also formally accused of obstruction of justice following a preliminary Article 32 hearing at Naval Base San Diego, California, on May 7, said Cmdr. Paul Macapagal, spokesperson for the U.S. Naval Forces Japan.

The body of Jessica Olsen, his wife, was found Oct. 28, 2024, at an off-base Japanese hotel in Fukuoka, Japan.

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We are unable to comment further at this time due to the ongoing litigation, Macapagal said. The Navy is committed to ensuring the military justice system is fair and impartial, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

It is now up to the Navys Office of Special Trial Counsel to decide whether Christopher Olsen will face a court-martial.

Marines killed in vehicle crash during border deployment identified

Fukuoka Prefectural Police found the body of Jessica Olsen, 37, in a hotel room after the hotel notified local authorities, Stars and Stripes reported.

The publication also reported that police discovered her bleeding, which implied her death was the result of a crime.

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Christopher Olsen, born in Florida, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2014 and was promoted to lieutenant commander on Sept. 1, 2024.

He is currently assigned to the Naval Surface Group Southwest in San Diego, California.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jessica Olsens death is ongoing, the NCIS confirmed in an emailed statement.

Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further at this time, the agency said.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Tuesday officially certified Allison Riggs as the declared winner of the state Supreme Court race, which has been contested by her competitor since last November.

Riggs, an incumbent on North Carolinas high court, addressed ballot concerns and the long-awaited victory during a swearing-in ceremony at the courthouse in Raleigh.

We won this election more than six months ago, but it was fewer than seven days ago that this race finally ended, Riggs told the crowd.

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Thats more than 180 days after Election Day, nearly $2 million spent, more than 68,000 voters, lawful votes put at risk, taxpayer time and resources wasted, immeasurable damage done to our democracy, she continued.

North Carolina Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin (R) officially conceded on May 7 after claiming 60,000 ballots should be declared invalid because those voters didnt include information like a drivers license or Social Security number on their registration forms. He challenged 5,500 additional ballots from military and overseas voters, arguing they should have been required to present a photo ID upon voting but werent.

Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers, who was appointed by President Trump, issued a Wednesday ruling requiring the state elections board must certify Riggs as the winner.

It was such an honor to be sworn in again to serve as an Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court. I will continue to uphold the rule of law and defend the U.S. and state constitutions- without fear or favor, Riggs wrote in a Tuesday post on X.

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Her term will last through late 2032.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Dozens of state union workers gathered in front of the State Legislative Building in Raleigh on Tuesday for Political Action Day.

As the General Assembly works on the state budget, union workers with UE 150 made sure they werent forgotten about.

Workers from Kinston to Morganton were in attendance to discuss understaffing in state facilities and how theyre working with legislators to pass the budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

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The group is asking state leaders for a list of needs.

That includes filling a $1.2 billion budget gap in the State Health Plan.

The State must invest into the huge State Health Plan budget gap, and significant pay raises for state workers and retirees this year, said Sekia Royall, a cook at OBerry Neuromedical Treatment Center in Goldsboro and past president of UE150.

UE 150 is also asking for an increase in state wages.

The group says they want to see a $25 an hour minimum wage for state employees, that is a 20% increase in salary.

Minimum wage is still $7.25, whos supposed to live off that? said Charles Owens, Healthcare Tech with Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro.

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When it comes to UNC system workers, theyre also asking to create sanctuary status to protect undocumented workers and students from federal enforcement agents.

Overall, the organization says state employees are working in areas that are incredibly understaffed.

William Young, a cook at Cherry Hospital, has seen it first hand.

I work at a hospital and a lot of hospital workers are working long hours and not getting paid enough money and just absolutely getting stressed out, said Young.

You can view the full list of what theyre asking for below.

2025-Political-Action-PrioritiesDownload

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State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee. May 12, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers gave second-round approval Monday to a series of budget bills for the next two years, moving one stage away from closing a projected deficit of more than half-a-billion dollars.

The mainline budget bills, Legislative Bills 261 and 264, dominated debate Monday with a handful of changes. Other budget bills to appropriate additional funds to agencies for this fiscal year (LB 260) and to appropriate salaries for state senators (LB 262) and constitutional officers (LB 263) advanced last week with little debate.

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Also advancing Monday were LB 513, from State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, to give all judges in the state a 1.5% salary increase in each of the next two years, and LB 534, from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, to cover about $2 million in legal claims against the state.

Speaker John Arch of La Vista. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

With no further amendments expected, lawmakers will vote one last time on the budget bills Thursday, the final day to pass the budget, and send them to Gov. Jim Pillen, according to a scheduling announcement by Speaker John Arch of La Vista. Lawmakers will have $1.1 million to spare.

However, using the one-time fixes in cash fund sweeps and borrowing from the states rainy day fund to close the budget gap for the next two-year budget mean that lawmakers for the following biennium would be at least $110 million in the hole, current projections indicate.

Pillen retains his veto pen, including for line items, which could change the final figures. It takes 30 votes to override a veto.

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The narrow positive balance will make it difficult to pass other senator priority bills this year with a revenue impact or cost, such as to reduce the states inheritance tax (LB 468), ban most tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products in the state (LB 316) or crack down on adversarial nations agents (LB 644).

Im pleased with the results

State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Legislatures Appropriations Committee, confirmed the hundreds of millions of dollars moved to close the projected deficit through June 30, 2027  in cash fund transfers, reduced spending and taking from the states rainy day fund  is the most hes seen in his ninth year on the committee.

He said appropriators shifted hundreds of millions of dollars in 2017, too, but had more time to respond, rather than this years devastating economic forecast that came in April.

Im pleased with the results of the budget, Clements said after the debate. Im glad that we have a balanced budget again.

State Sens. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, Christy Armendariz of Omaha and Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, from left. May 12, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

When lawmakers returned in January, they faced a projected $433 million shortfall for the next two years, a number that has since grown. Lawmakers have shifted funds or cut spending by $850 million to cover the deficit since it was identified last November.

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A large part of the deficit, but not all, came because the states economy, measured by per capita income, is doing well compared to other states. As a result, the federal government pulled back on the percentage of Medicaid costs it covers in Nebraska, passing on a cost of about $55 million this fiscal year and nearly $300 million next year.

We have cooked the books

Blame for the remaining deficit largely differs by political ideology in the Legislature, with conservatives blaming shaky economic forecasts and progressives, such as State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, blaming inequitable, unaffordable tax cuts passed in 2023.

By Jan. 1, 2027, Nebraskas income tax rate for corporations and for individuals making $18,000 or more will fall to 3.99%. At that point, there will be three individual tax tiers, rather than four.

Conrad blamed Pillen and his legislative allies for the tax cuts, stating the economic forecasts are not like a weather forecast and that economic projections are lower not by fluke, not by accident, not by surprise, but by design. She said chickens are coming home to roost.

State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha. May 12, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a member of the Appropriations Committee, alleged Clements and other committee members didnt do their work or properly vet all the proposals before the Legislature. Instead, she said, senators gave a rubber stamp to many budget cuts and fund transfers that Pillen and his staff requested.

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We have cooked the books, Cavanaugh said. This isnt real. This isnt real money.

Echoing Cavanaugh, State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, a freshman on the Appropriations Committee, cautioned that one budget-balancing measure  sweeping an estimated $24 million in unspent agency funds by this June 30  also isnt reality. She said at least $7 million of those funds intended to be swept from the Nebraska Department of Education are already obligated and will be spent.

Lets focus on real numbers

However, State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte told colleagues not to get too carried away on what he termed as demagoguing of the sky is falling. He pointed to possibly rosier forecasts in the states future that opponents rejected as natural wage growth.

Clements, too, has said lawmakers knew getting to 2027 would be a pinch point.

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Lets focus on real numbers. Lets focus on the numbers we know, Jacobson said.

Conrad, a former eight-year member of the Appropriations Committee, said she was intimately familiar with the budget and told Jacobson and others she would not be mansplained by anybody in this body how the state budget works.

State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Ben Hansen of Blair. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair described what he viewed as a federal carrot becoming a stick for state spending cuts and that lawmakers should be looking at tightening our belts as best we can. He noted federal proposals in Congress to cut spending, particularly to Medicaid.

Its not about tightening our belt, as it is, we might be having to lop off limbs in order to help pay for our budget, Hansen said of the future.

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Cavanaugh has suggested lawmakers might need to come back for a special session, which some Republicans rejected publicly but quietly acknowledged is possible. If state revenues dont bounce back, lawmakers who are set to adjourn in less than a month could be back sooner than next January.

After the budget bills pass, Pillen has set his sights on additional property tax relief that, with the final budget balance, would likely only come with increased sales or sin tax revenue, such as through currently exempt goods or services, a proposal that failed to gain traction last summer.

Nebraska Supreme Court increase

Throughout Monday, the budget deficit fluctuated as lawmakers approved final cash transfers and additional spending. Lawmakers closed the last remaining gap by taking $5 million more from the states rainy day cash fund.

Its the rainy day fund, and folks, its raining, said State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, who secured $3 million more for the Nebraska Supreme Court.

State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, center. March 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Holdcroft framed his proposal as investing in the Nebraska Supreme Courts core judicial services that are delivering results and uplifting public safety, such as problem-solving courts and probation services that court officials said could be in jeopardy without additional funds.

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Problem-solving courts are intensive court programs bringing individuals and families together with one-on-one interactions with judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, law enforcement, court officials and more to help Nebraskans.

This includes Adult Drug and DUI Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, Reentry Courts, Juvenile Drug Courts, Young Adult Courts, Mental Health Courts and Family Treatment Courts.

Each year, it costs the state about $4,400 per participant in problem-solving courts, Holdcroft said, compared to $41,000 for incarceration.

Clements and State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk said the courts had enough funds for the next year, citing the Legislative Fiscal Office, but that if the courts needed additional funds, officials could request more funding in January for the following fiscal year.

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State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, an attorney, said that even if that was true, the fiscal office doesnt make policy. He told senators to listen to county attorneys and others who are running around like their hair is on fire to promote a need, not a want.

State Sen.-elect Robert Hallstrom of Syracuse talks with State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair at a legislative retreat in Kearney on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Holdcroft said he understood that all senators were looking for ways to close spending but that they needed to distinguish between cost savings and cost shifting, which he said would fall to county jails, emergency responders, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and families or communities already under stress.

If the programs were cut, Holdcroft said, the people who need the programs dont disappear.

They simply fall through the cracks into more expensive and less effective systems, Holdcroft. If we let that happen, we are not saving the state money. We are making the problem worse and paying more for it down the line.

Affordable and workforce housing

State Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse also made a deal to take $8 million out of the states Affordable Housing Trust Fund to preserve $4 million each in the Middle Income Workforce Housing Fund and the Rural Workforce Housing Fund.

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Hallstrom said some projects in the workforce housing funds were put in limbo with the pending cuts, echoing Dover that a house built today is much better than delaying the building of that house until a later time.

I will pledge to use whatever is at my disposal to try and avoid the ultimate transfer a couple years down the road from this fund, Hallstrom said.

Conrad said lawmakers budget for two years, not one, and shouldnt backfill.

Domestic violence services

Another major change, but not to the states bottom line, came in Bosn earning support for $3 million in each of the next two years to support domestic violence services for survivors.

Bosn said the life-saving interventions are required under state law but that it has been a critical funding failure as a previous fix fell short in actually getting dollars to survivors. She said federal funding in this area has also been cut.

This amendment is about making sure survivors are not turned away, Bosn said.

State Sens. Carolyn Bosn and George Dungan, both of Lincoln, meet on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. April 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Conrad, in a tense exchange with Bosn, asked whether she voted for Trump and envisioned the cuts coming. Bosn said she did vote for Trump but didnt expect the cuts.

State Sen. Jason Prokop of Lincoln had brought similar legislation this year, LB 348, seeking to find a long-term fix for domestic violence services.

The solution fell on the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund, a cash fund that collects excess Medicaid dollars for use in other areas, such as supporting new moms and babies.

However, thats the same fund that Clements and a majority of his committee targeted for $10 million to help rightsize the budget.

Taken together with Bosns changes and others this session, fiscal estimates show the fund would be depleted next fiscal year for a variety of services.

Other changes

In other changes to the states main budget, State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha clarified that lawmakers could sweep only $4 million in unspent funds for work on broadband, rather than a planned $5 million transfer. Clements and State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, chair of the Legislatures Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, confirmed the situation.

DeBoer identified the error Monday morning after continuing to review a last-minute murder sheet of additional cuts last week.

If this was a road, Id be all over it, Moser said, praising DeBoer.

State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha. Jan. 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil restored $264,488 of a larger planned cut to Educational Service Units in a 42-0 vote. An earlier amendment from Murman that didnt specify where the funds would come from failed 17-26 before he refiled the amendment to use general funds.

Murman, chair of the Education Committee, said ESUs might have made up the cut by increasing property taxes.

Dover secured $1 million for the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska to support water and agricultural research and existing collaborative initiatives to implement best practices in water conservation. A vote to preserve the funding in committee stalled 4-4, with Dover missing the vote for a doctors appointment.

State Sen. Brad von Gillern of the Elkhorn area, chair of the Revenue Committee, said the state funding was critical in the public-private partnership to not run-off private investors.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, center, greets Gov. Jim Pillen ahead of the governors annual State of the State Address to the Legislature. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Clements said that NU could find the funding elsewhere as he noted its set to get more than $13 million more in the next biennium, which is less than the NU Board of Regents requested. NU President Jeffrey Gold has said tuition increases could be in the future.

Lawmakers rejected an amendment from Conrad, to restore $500,000 in a Nebraska State Patrol cash fund for equipment, and State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, to continue diverting at least $20 million in interest from the proposed new state prison and proposed Perkins County Canal to economic recovery.

McKinney said the previous deal was transferring interest for three years, not two, and that a deal is a deal and a deal should be honored.

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23:56 Clashes erupt in Kerala village over alleged vandalism of Gandhi statue File image Tension prevailed at Malappattam in this north Kerala's Kannur district on Wednesday evening after clashes between CPI-M and Youth Congress workers during a march led by Youth Congress state president and MLA Rahul Mankootathil. The march was organised in protest against the alleged... Read more >

23:48 Cop trying to stop truck crushed to death; driver arrested A 41-year-old traffic police constable was crushed to death after a truck driver knocked him down while he was trying to stop the heavy vehicle in Pune district, an official said on Wednesday.The police said constable Mithun Dhende was alerted about a truck being driven dangerously on the... Read more >

23:36 Sack Vijay Shah for Col Qureshi remarks: Uma Bharti Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Wednesday demanded immediate sacking of her party colleague and Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah from the state cabinet for embarrassing the people of India with his controversial remarks against Colonel Sofia Qureshi. Bharti is probably the only BJP leader... Read more >

23:32 Gurugram: Boy, 17, jumps to death from 15th floor over Board result A 17-year-old boy died by suicide by jumping from the 15th floor in Tata Primanti society in Sector 72 on Wednesday, the police said.The deceased studied in a private school in Sector 49 in class 12, they said.According to police, Shaurya Sandilya was reportedly upset because he scored 75 percent... Read more >

22:59 Muslim youth forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in Mathura; case registered A Muslim man was allegedly forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and subjected to religious harassment by a group of youths in Mathura's Jamuna Par police station area, the police said on Wednesday. The accused also recorded a video of the incident and circulated it online. A case has been... Read more >

22:53 Pahalgam: Indian team to meet UNSC sanctions panel The terrorist attack site in Pahalgam, J-K A team from India is here to meet the 1267 sanctions committee of the UN Security Council in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack for which 'The Resistance Front' had claimed responsibility. The TRF is a front for the UN-proscribed Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Sources... Read more >

22:42 Saudi Crown Prince hopes 'ceasefire' will restore calm between India, Pak Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India, expressing hope that it will restore calm between the two neighbours. Prince Mohammed made the remarks while delivering a speech during a meeting of leaders from the Gulf... Read more >

22:13 Fire breaks out in a forest near LoC in J-K's Poonch File image A fire broke out in a forest area near Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening, officials said.The fire was noticed in the Chajla forest area of Mankote sector around 7.15 pm and had engulfed a vast area, they said.They said fire and emergency services,... Read more >

21:45 Missing soldier booked for Pahalgam inside job remark The terror attack site in Baisaran, Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir/ANI Photo An FIR was registered on Wednesday against a missing soldier after a video appeared on social media in which he had claimed that the Pahalgam terror attack was an inside job. The soldier, Dlhair Mushtaq Sofi, is a sepoy of 29 Rashtriya Rifles and a resident of the Tral area of Jammu and... Read more >

21:40 Search launched in J-K's Kathua after reports suspicious movement of people File image Security forces on Wednesday launched a search operation after a woman reported suspicious movement of two persons at her village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said. The joint search operation by police and paramilitary forces was underway at Gaghwal and its adjoining... Read more >

21:30 SC upholds bail of man accused of sympathising with ISIS The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to cancel the bail of a man booked under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA for allegedly sympathising with terror group ISIS.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh upheld the Delhi high court order granting bail to Ammar Abdul Rahiman and said... Read more >

21:04 Suspected spy held in Haryana over sharing information with Pakistan A suspected spy was arrested in Panipat district on Tuesday for allegedly supplying sensitive information to some individuals in Pakistan, the Haryana police said.The suspect, Nauman Ilahi (24), is from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, who had been working as a private security guard in the district,... Read more >

20:54 'Tharoor crossed Lakshman rekha on India-Pak remarks' Congress leader Shashi Tharoor The Congress is a democratic party in which leaders express their views freely, but Shashi Tharoor has crossed the 'lakshman rekha' with his repeated comments on the India-Pakistan conflict, party sources said on Wednesday. The sources made the assertion after a meeting of senior leaders,... Read more >

20:51 WPI inflation dips to 13-month low of 0.85% in April Wholesale price inflation dropped to a 13-month low of 0.85 percent in April with softening in prices of food articles, fuel and manufactured products, with experts projecting further easing in the data of next month, government data showed on Wednesday. Read more >

20:38 3.4 magnitude tremor hits Gujarat's Kutch, no damage reported A 3.4 magnitude tremor hit Kutch district of Gujarat on Wednesday evening, the Institute of Seismological Research said. No casualty or damage to property was reported due to it, a district disaster response official said. The 3.4 magnitude tremor was recorded at 6.55 pm with its... Read more >

20:26 2 more Pak soldiers succumb to injuries, toll rises to 13 Two more Pakistani soldiers have succumbed to injuries, raising the death toll of military personnel during the recent confrontation with India to 13, the army said on Wednesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the army, two more soldiers succumbed to... Read more >

19:55 Rupee gains 10 paise to settle at 85.26 against US dollar The rupee pared most of its initial gains and ended the day higher by 10 paise at 85.26 (provisional) against the American currency on Wednesday, supported by gains in domestic equities and positive macroeconomic data. Forex traders said the weakness of the American currency in the overseas... Read more >

19:32 Modi chairs CCS meet, first since India-Pak clash pause Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, the first since the halt in the India-Pakistan military standoff, and is learnt to have discussed the security situation in the wake of the pause on Operation Sindoor. He was joined by Defence... Read more >

19:19 DU college urges students, staff to follow VC's X handle; withdraws notice later File image of Delhi University Delhi University's Shaheed Bhagat Singh College urged its students and staffers to follow the official X handle of vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh and share his posts expressing solidarity with the armed forces but withdrew the notice later in the face of criticism. The college's Principal Arun... Read more >

19:14 Kerala police launch probe after threats to Jehovah's Witnesses The Kerala police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation following a complaint from the public relations officer of 'Jehovah's Witnesses', a Christian religious group, that he received a threatening international phone call. The caller allegedly warned that members of the group... Read more >

18:51 JNU suspends MoU with Turkish varsity Jawaharlal Nehru University has suspended the memorandum of understanding with Turkiye's Inonu University after Turkey's support to Pakistan in the attacks against India. Due to National Security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Turkiye stands suspended until further... Read more >

18:23 Baloch leader declares independence from Pak Visuals of a protest in Balochistan/File Image/Reuters/ANI Baloch representative Mir Yar Baloch on Wednesday declared independence from Pakistan, citing decades of violence, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations in the region. In a post on X, he said the people of Balochistan have given their national verdict and that the world must... Read more >

18:17 UP traders announce boycott of Turkish imports File image Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad fruit traders have decided to boycott Turkish apples and other imports in response to Turkey's support for Pakistan amid tensions with India. Shadab Khan, a local fruit trader, has expressed strong opposition, stating that any country supporting Pakistan in... Read more >

18:10 Sulking Sena-UBT ex-corporator meets Uddhav; says she is still with party Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray/File image A day after she resigned from a Shiv Sena-UBT post, former corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar on Wednesday met party chief Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, and later said she was still with the party. Ghosalkar said Thackeray called her and that she put forth her concerns before him. She... Read more >

17:38 Maha tourist dies after collapsing inside Taj Mahal complex A 45-year-old tourist from Maharashtra died after collapsing inside the Taj Mahal complex on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. The man, identified as Shivling Babayya Swami from Latur district, was visiting the monument with his family when he suddenly felt unwell. He lost... Read more >

17:12 Markets end higher as inflation cools to 6-yr low in April Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Wednesday as retail inflation eased to a nearly six-year low of 3.16 per cent in April, creating enough room for the RBI to go for another rate cut in the June monetary policy review. A cooling US April inflation data and a pause in... Read more >

16:52 Court orders FIR against minister for remarks on Col Qureshi Madhya Pradesh High Court suo motu directs registration of FIR against BJP Minister Vijay Shah for his comment calling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a sister of terrorists. HC says prima facie offences under BNS are made out.Shah has sparked a major controversy with his objectionable comments on... Read more >

16:44 Bookings for Azerbaijan, Turkey down 60% With boycott calls for travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan trending on social media, MakeMyTrip on Wednesday said it has witnessed a decline in bookings to the two nations by 60 per cent in the last one week while cancellations have jumped 250 per cent. Calls for boycotting travel to Turkey and... Read more >

16:39 #Life lessons: UP education officer celebrates son's 60% results His son's Board result An Aligarh education officer showed the parents how it's done by celebrating his son's passing the class 12 Board exam with 60 per cent marks. My son Rishi has passed his intermediate examination with 60 per cent marks. Many many congratulations and best wishes son, Aligarh Basic Shiksha... Read more >

16:31 The village of the elephant whisperers Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change & Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, shares this heartwarming news: Today, a dream comes true! The Elephant whisperers of India get a village dedicated to them at Theppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.... Read more >

16:23 'China Will Keep Supplying Pakistan Weapons' If the Indian government won't use the incidence of Pakistani sponsored terrorism to territorially diminish PoK, there is no disincentive whatsoever to the ISI to divert from its strategy that has pushed India to the wall, asserts Dr Bharat Karnad, a well-known contrarian voice on national... Read more >

16:19 Pakistan gets $1.023 billion tranche from IMF The International Monetary Fund has disbursed a second tranche of USD 1.023 billion under the Extended Fund Facility programme for Pakistan, the central bank said on Wednesday. The disbursement of the second tranche comes on a day when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is holding virtual... Read more >

16:02 'Trump's motives on India-Pak peace not difficult to guess' Former Indian diplomat Mahesh Sachdev has questioned the actions of US President Donald Trump in claiming his role towards the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. He hinted that the claims might come from a place of personal motives and said that such remarks by the... Read more >

15:34 What is Omar Abdullah doing in a bunker near LoC? Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday assured every possible help to rebuild homes of people affected by Pakistani shelling near the Line of Control, and said the pain of my people is deeply personal. Abdullah, who visited the shelling affected areas of Uri, including... Read more >

15:04 New timings for Change of Guard Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan The Change of Guard Ceremony on the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan will shift to the summer timing i.e. between 7:30 am and 8:30 am with effect from this Saturday. Read more >

15:01 Monster dad gets 30 yrs RI for raping minor daughters, son A 45-year-old man here was on Tuesday sentenced to 30 years' rigorous imprisonment for raping his two minor daughters and a minor son. Delivering the sentence, judge Anuj Kumar Sangal of the POCSO (protection of children from sexual offences) court in Champawat also imposed a fine of Rs 1.25... Read more >

14:39 The huge ammo Lashkar terrorists were carrying Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shukroo forest area of Keller in South Kashmir's Shopian district on May 13. This is the massive cache of arms and ammunition recovered in the operation. Read more >

14:34 Chopper service at Vaishno Devi shrine resumes after 7 days The helicopter service to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district resumed on Wednesday after being suspended for a week due to the military standoff between India and Pakistan, officials said.This came a day after flight operations recommenced at 32 airports, including... Read more >

14:24 Stiff Competition In PE/VC Fund Landscape Because... The competitive landscape for private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) funds is getting more intense, with the number of players going up to grab a piece of the pie. According to India Private Equity Report 2025, released by Bain & Co and the Indian Private Equity and Venture... Read more >

14:19 WPI inflation dips to 13-month low of 0.85% in April Wholesale price inflation dropped to a 13-month low of 0.85 per cent in April with softening in prices of food articles, fuel and manufactured products, with experts projecting further easing in the data of next month, government data showed on Wednesday. WPI-based inflation was 2.05 per... Read more >

14:06 BJP's Naqvi calls his party's minister a 'fool' Vijay Shah Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday condemned Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah's controversial remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior Army officer who briefed the media along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during... Read more >

14:01 NCW slams derogatory remarks against Col Qureshi The National Commission for Women has strongly condemned the purported derogatory remarks made against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, calling for respect for women in uniform.Though Commission chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar did not name anybody but her remarks come a day after Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay... Read more >

13:31 2 weeks of sleeplessness end for BSF jawan's family The BSF jawan's father The family members of Border Security Force constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was released by Pakistan from its custody on Wednesday, expressed immense relief and gratitude to the central government and BSF authorities for securing his return. The constable, who hails from Rishra in West... Read more >

13:23 ITAT Body Concern Over High Pendency Of Cases The Delhi branch of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Bar Association has raised serious concerns over an increasing backlog of cases at the tribunal's Delhi benches, in a letter to the ITAT president, highlighting a deteriorating judicial environment marked by frequent adjournments.There... Read more >

13:07 Col Sofiya Qureshi daughter of India: BJP MP prez Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president VD Sharma on Wednesday said that the party took cognizance over state Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and warned him about the matter. He emphasised that the party leadership is very sensitive and no... Read more >

13:04 'Gopniya sainik' shoots himself dead at police camp in Sukma File pic A 'gopniya sainik' allegedly committed suicide at a police camp in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected Sukma district on Wednesday, police said. Gopniya sainik or secret troopers are recruited by the police from among local youth for intelligence gathering and to assist them in anti-Naxal operations... Read more >

12:58 India triumphs Unlike Pakistan, India belongs to all religious communities, including Muslims. Pakistan has already lost the war of ideas primarily because India has refused to become a Hindu Pakistan, writes Hilal Ahmed. Read the column here. Read more >

12:36 10 India Sounds Slipping Into Silence There is a whole range of sounds that many of us grew up hearing. They were the soundtrack of our early lives. Many are slowly fading away, going mute and may be only still heard in little quiet corners of India. Dominic Xavier goes looking. Or rather listening... Lend us your ears Read more >

12:27 'Delighted my son headed Operation Sindoor' DGMO Air Marshal AK Bharti Director General Air Operation (DGMO) Air Marshal AK Bharti played a crucial role in the success of Operation Sindoor which successfully dismantled terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Air Force and the other armed forces showcased their valour and... Read more >

12:21 China's Global Times, Xinhua X-account handles blocked in India The X account handles of Global Times and Xinhua on Wednesday showed that it has been withheld in India in response to a legal request. An email query sent to the Ministry of Electronics and IT elicited no immediate reply in this regard. This development comes in the backdrop of Beijing... Read more >

12:18 AI, Tech Changes Cause Taxing Times For Accountants The changing speed of technology and impact of artificial intelligence on their roles has left Indian accountants overwhelmed, who are finding it difficult to keep pace with the rapidly evolving scenario, according to the findings of a survey by a global accounting body. The third... Read more >

12:11 Schools reopen in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur Representational image Schools in five Punjab districts bordering Pakistan reopened on Wednesday, six days after they were ordered to be closed in view of the military standoff between India and Pakistan, officials said. The state government on May 8 ordered the closure of academic institutions for three days as... Read more >

12:04 CDS, services chiefs meet President General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, along with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, and Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, called on President Droupadi Murmu and briefed her about Operation Sindoor.... Read more >

11:44 Pak hands over BSF jawan in their custody Pakistan on Wednesday handed over BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, apprehended on April 23, to India via the Attari-Wagah border front in Punjab, the force said. The constable was handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) by Pakistan Rangers at 10:30 am. The handover was conducted... Read more >

11:36 BSF jawan in Pakistan custody handed over to India Representational image Today BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since 23 April 2025, was handed over to India: BSF Read more >

11:23 I did a good job: Trump on brokering India-Pak ceasefire US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim that Washington got involved with India and Pakistan, saying he didn't like what was happening and that he did a good job as he convinced the two countries to let's have peace and let's go and make trade deals. Trump was speaking to Fox News... Read more >

10:57 Prime Video To Introduce Limited Ads https://im.rediff.com/movies/2022/apr/29amazon3.jpg?w=450&h=450 In a bid to fuel its investment in content, Amazon's Prime Video will introduce limited advertisements on its subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming platform starting June 17.The move aims to enable the platform to continue investing in compelling content over the long term.According to an... Read more >

10:53 Amriki papa ne war rukwa di kya: Cong takes swipe at govt Trump again claimed credit for stopping Indo-Pak conflict during the Saudi visit With US President Donald Trump reiterating his claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the Congress on Wednesday asked what do the typically loquacious Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have to say about this revelation and did they... Read more >

10:41 Operation Sindoor: Cold light of reason through fog of diplomacy The deals being struck by other nations should be instructive of the zeitgeist. This is a time to grab a hand offered without animus, not strike a truculent posture. Read MK Bhadrakumar's column here. Read more >

10:35 Justice Bhushan Gavai sworn in as 52nd CJI Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai sworn in as 52nd Chief Justice of India. The CJI greeted President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, former President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after he took oath. Read more >

10:08 US replies on whether Pakistan will dismantle terror camps The US said it encourages direct communication between India and Pakistan and commends Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for choosing the path of peace.India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the conflict after four days of intense... Read more >

09:59 'Nation saddened by Sofiya Qureshi's insult' Col. Sofiya Qureshi Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai slammed Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his objectionable remark on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Calling Kunwar Vijay Shah's remark an insult to women, the army and the people of the country, Ajay Rai requested Prime Minister... Read more >

09:52 Sebi Proposes Relief For FPIs Investing In Govt Bonds The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Tuesday proposed regulatory relaxations for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing solely in Indian government bonds under the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) and Fully Accessible Route (FAR). Sebi has suggested easing registration and... Read more >

09:47 Two more arrested in Assam for 'defending' Pakistan Two more persons have been apprehended in Assam for sympathising with Pakistan, taking the total number of arrests to 58 so far in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Both the arrested persons hail from Sonitpur district, Sarma said in a post on... Read more >

09:29 Centre adds bullet-resistant vehicles to Jaishankar's security cover The security cover of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been strengthened with the addition of two bullet-resistant vehicles following a review of his Z category armed central protection recently, official sources said on Wednesday. The move comes days after a military conflict... Read more >

09:24 Preposterous: India on China renaming parts of Arunachal A Chinese village in Arunachal Pradesh MEA on China renaming parts of Arunachal Pradesh: We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not... Read more >

09:13 UN hopes India and Pakistan will use ceasefire for... Yoshita Singh, PTIWith India and Pakistan having reached an understanding to end hostilities 'we're in a better place,' a spokesperson for United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said and hoped the countries would use it to deal with their 'outstanding issues'.India and Pakistan reached... Read more >

08:44 Pakistan asks Indian diplomat to leave within 24 hours Pakistan on Tuesday declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission here 'persona non grata' for engaging in activities what it called incompatible with his privileged status.A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that the concerned official has been directed to... Read more >

00:59 Pune cops register case against pro-Palestine protesters File image The police registered a case against members of a group for waving pro-Palestine posters and staging a protest outside an outlet of a popular pizza chain in Pune city on May 8, an official said on Tuesday. The police also booked some Hindutva activists and locals for thrashing the protesters... Read more >
PALMER PARK, Md (DC News Now)  The search continues for the person who shot a grandmother to death over the Mothers Day weekend.

The Prince Georges County Police Department said investigators believe Leslie Davis, 54, was a target in a shooting that may not have been random.

Well, if you want a good neighbor, that was her right next door, said William Jackson, who has known Davis for roughly 40 years.

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Shes not a bad person: Mom says after daughter drives through Laurel festival

Officers responded to Davis home along Ray Leonard Road around 2:20 p.m. on Saturday. They found Davis body inside the residence.

You would be hard pressed to ever see her. Ive never seen her without a smile on your face, Jackson said. And on top of that, she had a great smile. She would joke, she would talk to you.

Investigators are also looking for a motive.

I dont know what they did, or why they did it, Jackson said. I cant find, along with the rest of the neighbors in this area, any justification for anybody hurting that woman.

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Jackson has a message for the judge if the suspect is convicted.

That the judge find it in his heart to make sure that he gives that sentence, that we all look for sometime, called from now on,' Jackson said.

Laurel man faces up to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl

Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for Davis death.

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.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is no way Israel will halt its war in Gaza  where airstrikes on two hospitals Tuesday killed at least eight and wounded dozens  even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.

Netanyahu's comments are likely to complicate talks on a new ceasefire that had seemed to gain momentum after Hamas released the last living American hostage on Monday in a gesture to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is visiting the region but skipping Israel.

They pointed to a potentially widening rift between Netanyahu and Trump, who had expressed hope that the release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step toward ending the 19-month war.

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The Israeli military on Tuesday struck what it said was a Hamas command and control center located beneath a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The strike on the European hospital was the days second strike on a hospital, and left at least six people dead and 40 wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The dead were taken to Nasser hospital, which Israel struck earlier in the day, saying militants were operating inside it, without identifying them. Two people were killed in that strike.

In comments released by Netanyahu's office Tuesday from a visit to wounded soldiers the previous day, the prime minister said Israeli forces were just days away from a promised escalation of force and would enter Gaza with great strength to complete the mission. ... It means destroying Hamas.

Any ceasefire deal reached would be temporary, the prime minister said. If Hamas were to say they would release more hostages, well take them, and then well go in. But there will be no way we will stop the war, Netanyahu said. We can make a ceasefire for a certain period of time, but were going to the end.

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Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The dispute over whether to end the conflict has been the main obstacle in negotiations going back more than a year.

Israel says 58 hostages remain in captivity, with as many as 23 of them said to be alive, although authorities have expressed concern about the condition of three of them. Many of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the war were freed in ceasefire deals.

Comments come after hostage release

Monday's release of 21-year-old Alexander resulted from negotiations between Hamas and the Trump administration that appeared to have largely bypassed Israel, which made no concessions for his release.

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Alexander, who was 19 when he was taken from an Israeli army base during the 2023 attack, was the first hostage released since Israel shattered an eight-week ceasefire with Hamas in March and unleashed fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.

Israel has promised to intensify its offensive, including by seizing Gaza and displacing much of the territorys population again. Days before the ceasefire ended in March, Israel blocked all imports from entering the Palestinian enclave, deepening a humanitarian crisis and sparking warnings about the risk of famine. Israel says the steps are meant to pressure Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement on Israels terms.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that according to Gazas Health Ministry, 57 children had died from the effects of malnutrition since the blockade began on March 2.

A WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, said that if the situation persists, nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition over the next 11 months.

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This is one of the worlds worst hunger crises, unfolding in real time, Peeperkorn said.

Netanyahu faces criticism

Alexanders release created a backlash against Netanyahu, who critics accuse of putting the lives of the hostages in danger by continuing the war. Netanyahu says he is committed to returning all the hostages, destroying Hamas and resettling much of Gazas population through what he refers to as voluntary emigration.

During a nearly two-hour meeting in Tel Aviv with the families of hostages on Tuesday, the United States' special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Adam Boehler, the Trump administrations envoy for hostage affairs, said they would do what was needed to bring the remaining hostages home.

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Witkoff said everyone would prefer a diplomatic solution and that most hostages had been released through diplomacy. The officials headed to Doha, Qatar, after their meeting to join Trump. Qatar has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas.

Witkoff said they wouldnt be traveling to Qatar if they didnt think there was a genuine chance for progress in negotiations.

Alexander's parents say he told of unimaginable difficulty in captivity

Alexanders parents said in a statement on Tuesday that their son described enduring a harsh captivity that included hunger, lack of water, and appalling sanitary conditions.

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His mother, Yael, said he feared for his life every day, but the most terrible sound that Edan feared was the sound of the war going on above their heads. Deafening explosions, the whistles of missiles, the sounds of collapse, collapse, and the earth shaking.

Alexanders parents called on Netanyahu to listen to the vast majority of the Israeli public and prioritize the return of the remaining hostage. They thanked Trump and his envoys for their tireless efforts on Edans behalf.

Israel seeking to move Palestinians out of Gaza

Netanyahu has voiced support for a plan proposed by Trump for Palestinians to be moved out of the Gaza Strip after the war - a proposal that has infuriated Palestinians and Arab nations.

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We have put together an administration that will allow them to leave, but the problem with us is one thing  we need receptive countries, Netanyahu said during his visit to the wounded soldiers Monday. Thats what were working on right now. If you give them the go-ahead, I tell you that more than 50% will leave, and I think much more.

Israel and the US have been seeking countries willing to take Palestinians who would potentially move out of the territory.

Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in the 2023 attack. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians.

Israels offensive has obliterated vast swaths of Gazas urban landscape and displaced 90% of the population, often multiple times.

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___

Becatoros contributed from Athens, Greece. AP reporters Ibrahim Hazboun in Jerusalem, Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Natalie Melzer in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday vowed to wage a "full force" offensive in Gaza aimed at defeating Hamas once and for all, as Israeli jets struck hospitals in the city of Khan Younis, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens.

Speaking to wounded reservists at his office in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: "The destruction of Hamas and the release of all our hostages  these two go hand in hand." He added that "in the coming days, we will go in with full force to complete the campaign," referring to a planned new ground operation.

Tens of thousands of reservists have been mobilized, although Israeli media reported that the assault may be postponed until after US President Donald Trump concludes his Gulf tour later this week.

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He said that if Hamas offers to release more hostages, Israel would accept them - but would continue its offensive regardless.

"There will be no situation where we end the war," he said, adding that while a temporary ceasefire might occur, the goal remained to "go to the end."

Hospital strikes in Khan Younis

On Tuesday, the Israeli military conducted two separate strikes on hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis.

At least six people were killed and more than 40 injured in a strike on the European Hospital, according to medics. The army said it had targeted "a precise strike on Hamas terrorists in a command and control center" located beneath the facility. The claim could not be independently verified.

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Earlier in the day, three people were reported killed in another Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital. The military similarly alleged that Hamas was operating from within the medical complex.

Unconfirmed Israeli media reports suggested the target of the European Hospital strike may have been Mohammed al-Sinwar, the younger brother of the late Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar and a rising figure in the groups military wing. There was no immediate confirmation from Palestinian authorities regarding the identities of those killed. Yahya al-Sinwar was killed last year.

Missile threat from Yemen persists

Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, triggering air raid sirens in cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. No injuries or damage were initially reported.

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The attack coincided with a visit to Israel by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has launched frequent missile and drone attacks at Israel since the Gaza war began in October 2023, declaring support for Hamas.

In response to previous attacks, Israel has targeted Houthi positions in Yemen, including airstrikes on the Sanaa international airport. The US had also been carrying out strikes against Houthi assets but recently announced a suspension of those operations, with Oman having brokered a ceasefire. Despite this, the Houthis' stance toward Israel remains openly hostile.

Ceasefire talks to resume

Negotiations on a potential ceasefire were expected to restart as soon as Tuesday evening in Qatar.

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Israeli media said a team of Israeli negotiators arrived in Doha. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump's hostage envoy, were also scheduled to participate in the indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas continues to reject disarmament and demands a full end to the war as a condition for further hostage releases. Israel has rejected those terms and insists on maintaining a long-term military presence in Gaza.

Netanyahu on Tuesday also reiterated his claim that more than half of Gazas 2 million residents would emigrate if allowed, though he acknowledged difficulties in finding host countries and said discussions were under way to address the issue.

The comments and latest escalation have intensified Palestinian fears of renewed mass displacement, drawing comparisons to expulsions in 1948 and 1967.

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According to Israel, 20 hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza, with the status of three more unclear. The bodies of 35 deceased hostages are also still being held.

Hamas and other militant groups killed about 1,200 people in their October 7, 2023, assault and abducted over 250 hostages into Gaza, triggering the current war. According to the Hamas-run health authority, more than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
(Getty Images Plus)

Over the past four decades, the number of women incarcerated in the criminal justice system has surged by more than 585 percent, placing a growing financial burden on them through fines and fees. This burden is especially devastating because women often enter the system at a significant economic disadvantage, making it even harder to navigate and recover from monetary sanctions.

Amber Foster  a commercial truck driver, advocate with Return Strong, and mother of four based in Las Vegas  experienced the financial and psychological burdens of fee debt during her eight year sentence in Nevada.

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When Foster was incarcerated, her mother took over primary care of her children, even though she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and surviving on SSI benefits. What many people dont really understand is that its not just the person who is incarcerated, our families are incarcerated with us, Foster said.

Research shows that when prisons impose fines and fees, it is entire families  specifically women  who pay the price. One study on the fees imposed on incarcerated people across 14 states found that 83% of the family members shouldering these costs were women. Most often, its mothers who pay.

These fees are not about accountabilitytheir primary function is to raise revenue. And when you consider the full weight of court debt on incarcerated people and their families, it becomes clear: these monetary sanctions amount to a form of double punishment, compounding the consequences of incarceration long after a sentence has been served. Though often framed as a tool for accountability, in reality, the imposition of fines and fees often extract money from people with no means to pay, driving them further into debt that follows them for years after release.

The burden of court debt falls especially hard on women, particularly mothers. It erodes their sense of identity and the pride that comes from being a provider. Being a mom to me means being their financial provider and protector. It hurt for me not to be able to be there financially. There was a time when they were homeless and I wasnt able to help, said Foster. A study from the Center for American Progress underscores this, finding that almost two-thirds of women, and more than two-thirds of Black women, were either the primary or co-providers for their households.

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Even when families are able to send money to their loved ones inside, those funds are often siphoned off for debt repayment. As Foster notes, lets say my mom put $100, I would only get $20. They were taking like 80% of it [for restitution, fines, fees, and medical bills], Foster explained. A couple of times I had to call my uncle because my mom was out of food, because she would send the money to me.

In Nevada, as in the majority of states across the country, fees imposed on a single person often translates into a decades-long debt sentence for their entire family. A recent national survey on the impacts of fines and fees found that 99% of parents impacted by court debt were forced to cut back on at least one essential need. This translates to 17 million households facing food or housing insecurity or lacking another basic need. For women who are already at socio-economic disadvantage, the burden of court debt is doubly amplified. As Foster noted,Without all the fines and fees payments, I could have gotten a car, a down payment for an apartment, clothes for my daughter and son, money for my mom, she added. It could have done wonders.

With multiple fee-traps laced throughout the criminal legal system, Nevada is one of the most expensive places to be incarcerated in the U.S. Commissary markups  or fees on items purchased from commissary  once climbed as high as 66%, resulting in massive profits for the state at the expense of families. Thanks to recent reforms, however, markups capped at 35%, meaning families will now see their dollars go further when supporting loved ones. In addition, Nevada passed legislation eliminating markups on hygiene items, room-and-board fees, and medical co-pays, taking an essential step toward protecting the health of incarcerated people and easing the financial load on families.

But we still have work to do. One man released after nearly 15 years in prison received a letter from the Nevada Department of Corrections demanding $7,216.76 in medical debt, payable within 30 days. To meet that demand, one would need to earn $115,000 annually without spending a dollar on basic needs. Its not just cruel, its impossible.

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The financial toll is just one part of the story. The emotional and psychological toll is just as crushing. Foster noted how difficult it was to be a mother when your only means of connection to your child is being blocked by fees. Letters and phone calls were how we stayed connected. There were times I couldnt call them because I didnt have money for the phone call fees. The system is made to break you. If you dont have a strong mindset it will break you.

Right now, the Nevada Legislature has another opportunity to support mothers and families of people who are currently and formerly incarcerated by passing SB88, which would discharge medical debt upon release from prison, and SB323, which makes a pilot program that allowed 15 minutes of free phone calls for women in the women s prisons permanent. Additionally, lawmakers have the chance to pass SB120, which would require judges to offer payment plans, at no cost, for fines and fees and end public defender fees. These critical reforms recognize that incarceration should not come with a lifelong debt sentence that prevents people rebuilding their lives and caring for their children.

Nevada has already demonstrated leadership in eliminating exploitative fees that burden struggling families and hinder successful reintegration. This session, the state has a chance to actively support women like Foster, who have risen above unimaginable trauma and hardship to rebuild their lives and provide for their families.

By continuing to eliminate these court-imposed costs, and passing reforms like SB 88, SB 120, and SB323, Nevada can serve as a model for a compassionate, rehabilitative justice system that puts people first  not profit.
An 80-year-old Nevada woman, Barbara Trickle, pled guilty on April 28 to running a years-long lottery scam in federal court that defrauded victims of more than $15 million, according to the U.S. Office of Public Affairs (PAO).

Trickle and two others stand accused of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, a crime which 8 News Now says carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, plus a minimum fine of $250,000.

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Trickle and her accomplices allegedly mailed millions of fake prize notices to potential victims from 2012 to 2018. Recipients were told that they would receive a large cash prize if they paid a fee between $20 and $50, according to court documents.

The three scammers were accused of their crime in 2023 as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The defendant and her co-conspirators used the promise of sweepstakes winnings to defraud the most vulnerable members in our communities, said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the services Criminal Investigations Group during the case, according to PAO.

[We] will continue to aggressively investigate mass-mailing schemes and other types of fraud to protect older Americans from financial exploitation and bring criminals to justice.

Targeting older adults and those more vulnerable

While Trickles scheme targeted individuals of all ages and backgrounds, prosecutors say that many of the victims were older adults.

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Trickle was the owner of a printing and mailing business, and supervised the lasering, printing and mailing of the fraudulent prize notices  even directing her employees to collect and analyze data to improve the response rate of victims.

Once a victim replied to the scheme with the $20 to $50 fee, they received a report describing sweepstakes opportunities, or what the PAO report described as a trinket of minimal value. Any respondents were inundated with additional mailers in the hopes of extracting more money. But none of the victims were ever paid the prize that was promised.

In 2018, the USPIS executed multiple search warrants and the Department of Justice (DOJ) obtained a court order to shut down Trickles fraudulent operations.

The Department of Justices Consumer Protection Branch is committed to protecting elderly consumers from fraudulent mass-mailing schemes, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Departments Civil Division, according to the PAO press release. We are grateful to the Postal Inspection Service for their thorough investigation in this matter.

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Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees  here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis

Protecting yourself from elder fraud

Believe it or not, scams like this are common, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reporting that seniors are losing more than $3 billion annually to elder fraud.

But there are a number of government supports in place to help seniors who have been victims of scams. The Office for Victims of Crime manages a National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11, open to all Americans aged 60 and older who have been a victim of financial fraud.

Case managers will help victims by recommending appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to victims that will assist them in reporting and connect them directly with appropriate agencies. The service is also available in multiple languages.

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The DOJ also maintains an Elder Justice Initiative, and complaints may also be filed online.

Finally, be sure to educate yourself about the types of scams that fraudsters use to target older adults, and check in with friends and family before you reply to any mail-based or online messages that look too good to be true.

If the offer is high-pressure or time-sensitive, thats often a sign that its a scam youll want to avoid.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka returned to the gates of an ICE detention center days after he was arrested for allegedly trespassing at the same facility.

Baraka, a Democrat running for governor, was turned away shortly after he arrived outside Delaney Hall on Tuesday. He was blocked from getting within 20 feet of the entrance by eight armed ICE officers, two SUVs and yellow barriers, according to NJ Advance Media.

The mayor was arrested last Friday after witnesses said he attempted to enter the facility alongside New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman and LaMonica McIver, who were there for a congressional oversight visit.

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Now they wont even let us close to the gate, Baraka said Tuesday.

The mayor has denied he trespassed in the first place. Video of the incident shows Baraka being told he cant go inside the facility because hes not a Congress member. He turns around and joins protesters in a public area on the street before several ICE officers surround and handcuff him, then drag him past the gate.

Baraka was driven away in an unmarked car and released from detention about five hours later.

Rep. Watson Coleman accused the Department of Homeland Security of being intentionally misleading with the information they released in wake of Barakas arrest. The mayor on Saturday said he was shocked by all the lies told about the incident.

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Baraka is set to appear in federal court on Thursday for a hearing on the trespassing charge. He said he plans to plead not guilty.

The mayor has been clear in his opposition to the privately run detention center opening in Newark. ICE announced a 15-year contract with the Geo Group to run the facility in February, and Baraka has accused the group of defying city ordinances.

Newark Fire Official Gwendolyn Saleem has attempted multiple times since last week to serve summonses at Delaney Hall for alleged violations of state fire safety laws, but no one has accepted the paperwork, according to NJ Advance Media. In response, she clipped the summonses onto a chain link fence near the gate.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  Newark Mayor Ras Baraka briefly returned Tuesday to the gates of the federal immigration detention center where he was arrested last week on trespassing charges.

Baraka, a Democrat running for governor in the June 10 primary, was turned away from Delaney Hall, the facility where he was arrested Friday. He departed and stayed about a half hour away from the building, according to NJ.com.

Witnesses said the arrest last week came after Baraka attempted to join three members of New Jerseys congressional delegation, Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, in attempting to enter the facility.

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Baraka, an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown and vocal opponent of the facility's opening, faces a court hearing on the trespassing charge on Thursday. He has denied the trespassing charge

It wasn't immediately clear how Baraka's appearance at the gates Tuesday differed from Friday when he was arrested. He denied being on the detention facility's property, which is run by private prison operator Geo Group. Alina Habba, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said on the social platform X that Baraka trespassed there again.

In video of the Friday altercation shared with The Associated Press, a federal official in a jacket with the logo of the Homeland Security Investigations can be heard telling Baraka he could not enter the facility because you are not a Congress member.

Baraka then left the secure area, rejoining protesters on the public side of the gate. Video showed him speaking through the gate to a man in a suit, who said: Theyre talking about coming back to arrest you.

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Im not on their property. They cant come out on the street and arrest me, Baraka replied.

Minutes later several ICE agents, some wearing face coverings, surrounded him and others on the public side. As protesters cried out, Shame, Baraka was dragged back through the gate in handcuffs.

Delaney Hall is a two-story building next to a county prison and formerly operated as a halfway house. In February, ICE awarded a 15-year contract to The Geo Group Inc. to run the detention center. Geo valued the contract at $1 billion, in an unusually long and large agreement for ICE.
HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Residents of Hawkins County continue to voice their concerns via online petitions and social media posts about the NewEarth Micronation Tennessee from NewEarth Nation Coalition.

Concerns over planned micronation in Hawkins County

NewEarths Tennessee trustee, Marcia Willardson, said she is here to listen to residents.

NewEarth is mainly volunteers that see the vision of what the earth can be, how we can work together, and how were coming together to reunify ourselves from all the separation that has occurred in our societies, Willardson said. My job is to listen. What does this community want? What does the community need? What can we bring to enhance the community? Not, Were bringing a plan that you have to live with.'

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One of the main concerns of residents is the expansion plans of the micronation. According to the deed obtained by News Channel 11, 60 acres of land were purchased by NewEarth off of Stanley Valley Road.

Willardson said the micronation will only expand if the community wants it.

What Im here for is to really listen to the community. This is an agricultural community. I grew up in an agricultural community. My grandparents were Iowa farmers. Willardson said. I know in agricultural communities, they dont want to drop something like San Francisco in the middle, in the heart of your community.

Residents have also voiced concerns over NewEarth creating a sovereign micronation. Willardson says NewEarth defines sovereign as a personal relationship with the divine.

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Sovereignty is an understanding your own relationship with the divine and being fully available to express that. The relationship with the divine is a personal relationship.

Its through our religions. Everybody has their perspective, and we have a variety of ways to realize that, to see that, to feel that. I cant define your relationship with the divine.

Country Thunder will not return to Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025

Willardson said the micronation is not designed to be cut off from the rest of the world.

We intend to pay every tax that we owe and be as much of a contribution to the community and to the state and to the nation as we possibly can be. Were not talking about, you know, sitting down and being isolated from humanity. You know, were talking about unifying and bringing whatever gifts we can possibly bring to all levels.

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Instead, they are focused on uniting different perspectives.

New Earth is the idea that we can all have the prosperity, we can all be economically independent. We can all have the ultimate health that weve envisioned that we really deserve. To bring the full fullness of our health, of our religion, of our political, of our relationship with our neighbors.

Despite plans on the NewEarth website for what will be included in the micronation, including a residential area and a Regenisis Health Center, Willardson said the land is a blank slate and NewEarth will use the property however the community sees fit.

Were still now just gathering information. We dont even have the first ink on the page of the plan. And for the most part, we purchased the land were looking now to see how do we fit into the community and over time, how can we continue to bring benefits as the community really wants them?

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Willardson said that NewEarth picked Hawkins County due to the kindness of the people there.

The people are down home and friendly in the communities, said Willardson. Large cities, people are so disconnected that it isnt the same quality of relationships that we can build. And there are so many dividing factions. And really our heart is to unify not only ourselves with the community, but to bring what the community needs in order to flourish.

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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  State officials announced that global venture platform Newlab will open its newest innovation lab in New Orleans, describing the project as a model for statewide economic and technological development.

I want this project today to serve as that blueprint across the state so we can do more of these, Josh Fleig said during a press conference at the Capitol.

Newlab New Orleans will be housed at the historic Naval Support Activity site and will provide industrial-scale space and specialized equipment to support technology startups. The facility will partner with government, industry, and academic institutions to create a network of test sites and regulatory sandboxes aimed at driving innovation and economic growth across Louisiana.

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People here are making bold moves to ensure Louisiana continues to lead the nationand the worldin energy production, resilience, and ultimately, its about its people, David Belt with Newlab said.

Officials said the innovations developed at the hub will not only power homes and the fuel industry but also help retain graduates, grow local companies, and secure a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the project a force multiplier for both the city and the state.

Im so proud to be a part of it, Cantrell said, praising project partner Shell for its continued investment in Louisiana.

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She recalled Shells major role in supporting the city after Hurricane Katrina through the Clinton Global Initiative and said the companys commitment has remained strong.

To be here todayShell again unwaveringin investing in people, investing in New Orleans, investing in the state of Louisiana, she said.

Newlab began its work in the state last year through two clean energy programs backed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The company plans to continue investing in the region through its new lab.

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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.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY)  It has been a frustrating situation for residents at one apartment complex on the Peninsula, as residents at The Villages of Stoney Run said about 20 cars had their windows smashed in  and its not the first time theyve seen trouble like this.

One resident, Antonio Knox, just bought this Dodge Charger not long ago. Now hes getting the window replaced.



A bunch of delinquents had ransacked our cars and entered our cars unlawfully, Knox said.



Last year, his Hyundai was stolen from the same parking lot  a lot he said needs more security.



To get better lighting, to get more cameras surrounding the area, fence in the surrounding area, Knox said.



William Beagle, who just moved to the complex, was also hit.



Its going to cost us, like, at least over $500 because our deductible was too high, Beagle said.



Beagle said he and others went to the front office to talk to the property manager after it happened Saturday morning.



Nothing she could really do, Beagle said. Upper management was definitely avoiding us. Apparently, theyve run dry of funds, so they cant give any reimbursement to any residents.



Beagle said nothing was taken from his car, and he thinks the suspects were looking for cash or guns. Now, both Knox and Beagle say theyre looking to get out.



It would be nice to get out of my lease, but personally, I mean, were just going to try to stick it out for the next 11 months, Beagle said. Weve taken steps to have more protection for ourselves. After that, well be moving to a house in the country.

10 On Your Side reached out to the Breeden Company about the incident and if there were any plans to add security. They responded with a statement saying:

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The Breeden Company, who manages The Villages at Stony Run Apartments, is addressing the recent vehicle break-ins in our community. We are assisting the Newport News Police Department with their investigation. The wellbeing of our community remains our highest priority.

If you have any information that could help, call Newport News Police.

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.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  After its proposal of its MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, NextEra Energy hosted an open house to help inform the public and answer questions about its plans for the 105-mile-long transmission line.

More than 135 people attended NextEra Energys open house on Monday at West Virginia Universitys Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown. The majority of the attendees were property owners who are concerned about how the MidAtlantic Resiliency Links construction would affect their property.

NextEra Energy plans to file its applications for the project in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia this fall. If approved, construction will begin in 2029, and service will begin in 2031.

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Safety Cloud system by HAAS Alert could save lives on the road

12 News spoke with NextEra Energys senior director, Kaitlyn McCormick, on where the energy from the transmission line would be distributed.

Its broadly helping to support and provide an electricity backbone on the grid. We have two ends and are not directly affiliated with any generation source, so power can move on the transmission line from various points throughout the system, and its not affiliated with any one particular user at the end, said McCormick.

The proposed 500-kV transmission line is a result of PJM Interconnectiona regional transmission organizationfindings of an 11-gigawatt power generation retirement and an approximate 7-gigawatt of additional demand of energy happening throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

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The last NextEra Energy open house to be held in West Virginia is on Wednesday, May 14, at the Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department in Bruceton Mills from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

If you would like additional information on the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link but arent able to make the open house, you can call 833-849-1461, email MARL@NextEraEnergy.com or visit NextEras website for potential route previews and to submit a questionnaire voicing your concerns.

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 WBOY.com.
A New Hampshire doctor pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges he wrote prescriptions for patients to obtain drugs despite the fact they werent needed for medical reasons, federal officials said.

According to court documents, Robert G. Soucy Jr., D.O., 72, of Columbia illegally prescribed opioids from his home.

Prosecutors said Soucy, knowing that pharmacies in and around Colebrook would not fill prescriptions for several of his patients, instructed a patient to bring his prescriptions to a pharmacy in another location to have it filled.

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Soucy also continued to prescribe opioids to the patient, whom he knew had a substance-abuse disorder, without conducting any medical evaluation or testing and after the patient had moved out of New England, prosecutors said.

According to investigators, Soucy issued prescriptions for drugs including fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone, lorazepam, diazepam and methadone 12 times between Nov. 21, 2022 and March 24, 2023.

Officials said the prescriptions were not written for a legitimate medical purpose.

Soucy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration registration and is no longer authorized to prescribe controlled substances.

Soucys medical license expired June 30, 2023.

In 2017, Soucy was reprimanded by the New Hampshire Board of Medicine for inappropriately prescribing medical marijuana.

pfeely@unionleader.com
MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace couldnt contain herself during Mondays broadcast and stifled some nervous laughter while reporting on President Donald Trump  who waved away all ethical concerns in potentially accepting a $400 million Boeing 747 from Qatar.

Wallace was reading from an NBC News article published Sunday that cited sources familiar with the matter who confirmed Trump is preparing to accept the luxury aircraft as a replacement for the current Air Force One. He has since called critics of the gift World Class Losers.

Two of the sources also confirm that ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation once the president ends his second term, Wallace read on the air Monday, with this final portion prompting her to audibly chuckle.

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Im laughing cause I try not to cry anymore, she told her viewers through stifled laughter.

Now, you might find yourself asking, Can he do that when the price of a pizza brushes up against the upper limits of what is on the books and considered an acceptable legal gift for any normal federal employee? Wallace continued in reference to the ethical questions.

While the president suggested on social media that it would be foolish to decline the FREE OF CHARGE gift, Democrats, independents, and even some Republicans have decried the idea for blurring the lines around public service and Trumps personal gain.

I dont know who needs to hear this, but NO, Donald Trump cannot accept a $400 million flying palace from the royal family of Qatar, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrote Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. Not only is this farcically corrupt, it is blatantly unconstitutional.

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Im so disappointed, far-right GOP influencer Laura Loomer wrote on the platform.

President Donald Trump salutes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's delegation Tuesday at the Royal Palace in Riyadh. Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The Constitution does indeed prohibit federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign nations without congressional approval. Known as the foreign emoluments clause, it is intended to prevent foreign governments from gaining undue influence over U.S. officials.

Trump traveled to the Middle East on Monday and received a royal welcome from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Tuesday upon arriving in Saudi Arabia. The presidents trip, amid Israels ongoing bombardment of Gaza, includes the controversy-laden stop in Qatar.

Watch the full MSNBC segment below:

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KWALKWALAWA, Nigeria (AP)  After two decades of working his farm in northwestern Nigeria, Umaru Muazu now struggles to find water for his crops.

A murky puddle is all that remains of a river near his 5-hectare farm and those of others in this community in arid Sokoto state. Because the 62-year-old Muazu can't afford to dig a well to keep crops like millet and maize from withering, he might abandon farming.

Before, with a small farm, you could get a lot," he said.

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Climate change is challenging agriculture in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. With long dry spells and extreme heat, water bodies are drying because the arid season is becoming longer than usual. The wet season, though it can dump excessive rain, is short.

It's fresh pain in a country where the World Food Program says 31 million people already face food insecurity. Efforts to recover from one climate shock are overlapped by the next, said WFP spokesperson Chi Lael.

The challenges faced by farmers in the north, who account for most of what Nigeria eats, are affecting food prices and availability in the booming coastal south that's home to the megacity of Lagos.

More than 80% of Nigerias farmers are smallholder farmers, who account for 90% of the country's annual agricultural production. Some work their fields with little more than a piece of roughly carved wood and their bare hands.

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Farmers are facing low yields because the government has failed to develop infrastructure like dams to help mitigate the effects of climate change, said Daniel Obiora, national president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria.

There is little data available on the drying-up of smaller water bodies across the north. But farmers say the trend has been worsening.

In Adamawa state, water scarcity caused by higher temperatures and changing rain patterns has affected over 1,250 hectares (3,088 acres) of farmland, disrupting food supply and livelihoods, Nigerias National Emergency Management Agency said last year.

Over-extraction of water and deforestation are other factors contributing to northern Nigeria's drying rivers, according to Abdulsamad Isah, co-founder of local Extension Africa nonprofit that often works with farmers.

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Elsewhere in Sokoto state, Nasiru Bello tilled his farm to cultivate onions without assurance of a meaningful harvest. With nearby rivers and wells drying up, he has resorted to pumping groundwater for the farm that provides the sole income for his family of 26. But the cost of pumping amid soaring gas prices has become unbearable.

The plants do not grow well as it did, he said.

Nigeria is forecast to become the world's third most populous nation by 2025, alongside the United States and after India and China.

With Nigerias population expected to reach 400 million by 2050, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has been encouraging climate-smart agriculture to help ensure food security, including drip irrigation, which delivers water slowly and directly to roots and helps conserve water, instead of traditional irrigation systems that flood entire fields.

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There should be more orientation for farmers about climate change, said Yusuf Isah Sokoto, director of the College of Environmental Science at Sokoto's Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic.

At least two-thirds of the trees in the state have been lost due to deforestation, contributing to rising temperatures, Sokoto said.

Data from the government-run statistics agency show that local agriculture contributed 22% of Nigerias GDP in the second quarter of 2024, down from 25% in the previous quarter. While the trend has fluctuated in recent years, experts have said agricultural production still does not reflect growing government investment in the sector.

Household food imports, meanwhile, rose by 136% from 2023 to 2024, government statistics show.

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The decreasing farm yields are being felt elsewhere in Nigeria, especially the south.

In Lagos, the price of several items grown in the north have nearly doubled in the last two years, partly due to decreasing supplies. A head of cabbage grown in the north is selling for 2,000 naira ($1.2), nearly double its price a year ago and more than five times the price in Sokoto.

Nigerian authorities acknowledge the problem. Many farmers who once harvested up to 10 tons are hardly able to get half that these days, agriculture minister Aliyu Abdullahi said earlier this year.

Nigerias President Bola Tinubu and his government have touted agriculture as a means for economic prosperity. Shortly after he took office in May 2023, Tinubus government declared a food security state of emergency and announced plans to activate 500,000 hectares of farmland in Nigerias land banks, which are mostly in the north.

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The land banks, however, are yet to be activated.

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Thousands of people across New Jersey and the nation celebrated the release of Tenafly native Edan Alexander on Monday after the 21-year-old American-Israeli man spent more than 19 months in Hamas captivity.

For 19 excruciating months, we have all been hoping and praying alongside Edans family members for his safe release. With every day that Edan has been held hostage, the Alexander family has endured unimaginable pain, uncertainty and fear, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said. With Edans return home, their  and our  prayers have finally been answered.

Hundreds gathered for a watch party in Tenafly, where residents have marched every week for Alexanders release since he was captured in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in southern Israel.

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Alexander grew up in Bergen County and graduated from Tenafly High School before traveling to Israel and joining the countrys military. He was 19 years old when he was snatched from his post near the Gaza border during the Hamas attack.

After months of hoping and waiting, Monday brought a joyous scene in Tenafly, with residents cheering and watching on a giant screen as Alexander was pictured standing without assistance next to a Red Cross worker before his journey back into Israel.

The celebration was set up by Temple Sinai of Bergen County, after Hamas announced plans to release Alexander. It featured Israeli music and numerous attendees holding Alexanders picture.

He is honestly the strongest kid that I know, the strongest person that I know. So resilient throughout all of this, Alexanders friend Michael Leschner told WCBS. We feel so honored and so relieved finally, like, this has just been such a long time coming and we love Edan so much.

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Alexander was believed to be the last living American citizen held by Hamas. During his time in captivity, the group forced Alexander to film a terrifying hostage video, in which he pleaded for help from President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The fear is at its peak, and we are dying a thousand times every day that passes, and no one feels for us, Alexander said in the video.

Israel says 58 hostages remain in Gaza, an estimated 23 of whom are still alive. Hamas said it released Alexander as a goodwill gesture toward the U.S. government, and Israel did nothing in exchange for the release.

Trump departed Monday for his first Middle East tour during his second term. He is scheduled to visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but not Israel.

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Alexander is coming home to his parents, which is really great news, Trump said Monday at the White House.

Alexanders parents, Adi and Yael, met him Monday at Israels Reim army base. They were expected to travel from there to a hospital in Tel Aviv.

Like everyone here in Jersey, Im overwhelmed with emotion and joy, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., whose district includes Tenafly, said in a statement. We will not rest until every last hostage is reunited with their families and loved ones.

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Olga Grays, owner of Mrs. Olga's Daycare in Las Cruces, speaks during a "Day Without Child Care" event on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM)

Olga Grays has cared for hundreds of children since she became certified in 2025 as a home daycare provider in Las Cruces, but her experiences have not been without difficulty.

Grays owns and operates Mrs. Olgas Daycare near the west side of the city where she cares for 15 children throughout the day. She described the business to Source NM as a family with her adult children working with her, as well as long-time employees.

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Grays joined the national Day Without Child Care movement on Monday, where early childhood centers closed their doors for a full day to bring awareness to the necessity of childcare and the low wages teachers are paid to care for children. Albuquerque-based advocacy organization OLE New Mexico hosted three events in the state, including at Grays home.

Organizers, educators and parents spoke in Las Cruces about the need for a guaranteed $18 per hour base wage for early childhood educators; expanding the industry to recognize experience as well as education teachers have; and ensuring child care is accessible and affordable in the state.

Maria Ruiz, a long-time employee of Grays, explained that she entered the early childhood education workforce soon after moving to the U.S. from Mexico and has at least 20 years of experience working with children. However, because she does not have a degree, she is stuck only making minimum wage.

All my kids were so little and I saw them grow here, Ruiz said in Spanish as an interpreter translated. She became a widow several years later and left the daycare to make more money to sustain her family, but returned to Olgas where she enjoyed better working conditions. She said her years of experience should qualify her for higher wages. We cant afford this kind of life. Everything is so expensive.

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Marc Cordova, a single parent with two young children enrolled at Olgas Daycare, emphasized the flexibility a smaller daycare provides him so he can get to work early and ensure his children are cared for.

Marc Cordova is pictured with his youngest children, Evalynn Codova, 5, and Marc Cordova Jr., 3, at Mrs. Olgas Daycare in Las Cruces on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM)

Marc Cordova is pictured with his youngest children, Evalynn Codova, 5, and Marc Cordova Jr., 3, at Mrs. Olgas Daycare in Las Cruces on May 12, 2025. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM)

Mrs. Olga and her employees have always gone that extra mile for our children. Mrs. Olga has even offered to get my Evalynn ready for school and drop her off, knowing my situation of being a single father. I dont know any other daycare programs willing to help like that, Cordova said.

Grays explained to Source that not only has she looked after and taught children during the day, but shes also done emergency foster care for children who, for example, do not get picked up or who need a safe place to stay while their guardians deal with other factors. She said she took in one four-month-old boy until he was 8 years old.

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Its my passion. I feel like kids that are the most in need, who lack the resources because either both parents are addicted or they dont have that support, that those are the kids who [dont get] seen. I understand theres parents who could afford expensive daycares with better quality, Grays said. I chose to get a pay cut and stay in this because I feel like thats who needs it the most. And who sees them? Nobody really. And so I make sure that I tell my employees, my kids, they have the same heart as me.

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The Cerro Pelado Fire seen from La Bajada Hill on April 29, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)

Those who suffered losses in prescribed burns gone awry in New Mexicos historic 2022 wildfire season are asking the courts to intervene, following what their lawyers say are failures by the federal government and Congress to make victims whole.

In the spring of 2022, the Cerro Pelado Fire, the Hermits Peak Fire and the Calf Canyon Fire escaped containment lines to become runaway wildfires, all of them first ignited by the United States Forest Service as prescribed burns. The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires merged in late April of that year and grew into the biggest fire in New Mexico history.

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In total, the fires burned nearly 400,000 acres, and left livelihoods and homes destroyed in their wake.

Last week, thanks to a federal judges intervention, a dozen victims of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire finally received full compensation, while lawyers representing Cerro Pelado Fire victims recently filed a lawsuit against the United States Forest Service, setting up a difficult battle in federal court.

The court has emerged as a last resort for compensation amid ongoing concerns about the distribution of $5.45 billion compensation fund for Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire victims Congress created in late 2022, along with an unsuccessful effort by members of New Mexicos congressional delegation to create a similar fund for Cerro Pelado Fire victims, lawyers for victims of both fires said in recent interviews.

Here we are, three years later, after the devastation of the burn scar, my clients finally got their day in court, Brian Colon, attorney with Singleton Schreiber, a firm representing Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire victims, told Source New Mexico. They got compensation awarded for the trespass that the federal government conducted when they were negligent three years ago.

A watershed for Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire victims

Federal Judge James Browning took a day and a half last week to listen to testimony from a dozen victims of the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, who each described in detail the financial cost and also the emotional toll of the federally caused, 534-square-mile wildfire.

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One by one, Judge James Browning ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the fund Congress created, to award them thousands of dollars. The judge stepped in as part of a judicial review allowed for in the act Congress passed when the parties cannot agree on an appropriate compensation amount.

By the time the victims testified in court, FEMA had offered them low or sometimes no money at all for certain categories of losses. Notably, Browning ordered FEMA to provide the victims so-called noneconomic damages, akin to pain and suffering payments, for the emotional hardship the fire caused. FEMA had provided each of them a final payment offer listing $0 for noneconomic damages.

Even though last weeks hearing involved only a dozen clients, the payments ranging between $9,000 and $330,000 represent a watershed moment and a measure of closure in a legal battle pending for more than a year, Colon said. FEMA initially said the law Congress passed only allowed the agency to pay victims for losses that carry a price tag: burned homes, forgone business revenue and evacuation expenses, for example.

By intervening to hear individual cases, Browning had to evaluate and quantify aspects of victims experiences such as their proximity to the fire as it was burning; their anguish as they fled the blaze; and the extent of the nuisance and trespass the fire represented on their property.

Late last year, in a separate, more-sweeping lawsuit, Browning ordered FEMA to begin awarding noneconomic damages, saying in a 99-page ruling that the damages are allowable under New Mexico state law and the law Congress passed.

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That order remains pending, and, as with the individual cases Browning ruled on last week, can still be appealed. FEMA and the United States Attorneys Office, which represents the agency in court, have declined to say whether they plan to appeal.

While the victims lawyers have no indication what FEMAs intentions are, Colon noted that his firm has filed lawsuits on behalf of hundreds of named victims, each of whom could go before Browning in the coming months to seek whatever recourse the judge deems fit to award.

Were gonna put as many of them in front of Judge Browning as he will permit, in whatever timetable he dictates, Colon said. And were optimistic that he is going to continue dedicating a very substantial amount of time to try and move these cases forward.

Browning announced in January he intends to retire in February 2026 after 22 years on the bench.

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While the payment of hundreds of millions of dollars in noneconomic damages for all victims who seek them is still pending, the FEMA claims office Congress created is continuing to award compensation for other types of losses.

According to the latest figures, FEMA has paid 16,966 claims totaling $2.35 billion for things like reforestation, business expenses, damaged property and losses local governments incurred responding to the fire.

Victims left out due to cover-up, lawsuit alleges

In enacting the Hermits Peak bill, members of New Mexicos congressional delegation have said they envisioned the accompanying claims office as a way to swiftly and fairly pay victims of the fire without the need for a costly and time-consuming court battle.

A new lawsuit alleges a Forest Service cover up denied people living within the Cerro Pelado Fire the same opportunity.

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In late April of this year, lawyers representing 20 plaintiffs, including individual property owners and the Jemez Pueblo and Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service for the 46,000-acre fire in the Jemez Mountains, alleging that agency was negligent in failing to monitor the area for still-burning embers in the pile of thinned trees and brush it ignited after the snowpack had melted.

The lawsuit also accuses the Forest Service of covering up its failure to monitor the pile by issuing an initial investigation determining the cause of the fire to be inconclusive. Moreover, the lawsuit says, the Forest Service only ordered a second investigation that ultimately concluded the wildfire had begun as a holdover after a whistleblower and others raised issue with its original determination.

The [Forest Services] cover-up of the actual cause and origin of the wildfire resulted in the victims of the fire being left out of the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, the lawsuit alleges.

A spokesperson for the Forest Service declined to comment Monday afternoon, saying the service does not comment on pending litigation.

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Chris Bauman, the plaintiffs lawyer with B&D Law Offices, told Source New Mexico on Monday that even after New Mexico Democrats U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez and U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan sponsored the Cerro Pelado Fire Assistance Act, he never thought the separate bill had much of a chance of delivering compensation like the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act did.

We were told by people that know more about how things work in Washington that it was a long shot, he said. So really we didnt have much expectation, but obviously we were hopeful.

Winning a lawsuit against the federal government is difficult, Bauman said, due to the discretionary function exemption to the Federal Tort Claims Act. That exemption prohibits the federal government from being liable if employees acted within the scope of their duties during a harmful act.

Baumans firm needs to prove that the Forest Service employees who lit the fire in January violated a mandatory policy when they failed to notice that the pile of debris they had lit smoldered undetected for months until catching a huge wind gust on April 22, 2022. According to the lawsuit, the burn plan laying out the series of pile burns in the area requires continuous monitoring, especially after the snowpack disappears.

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So thats what weve tried to highlight in our complaint, is that there were multiple instances where they were required to do things under the burn plan and failed to do so, he said.

Its not clear how much damage the fire caused, in terms of dollars, Bauman said, though he acknowledged its far less than the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. Still, he said, the victims only recourse is a lawsuit with a high bar to clear.

The government will probably file the motion to dismiss, claiming lack of jurisdiction because of the discretionary function defense. We anticipate that will be sort of the first challenge to our case, he said. Hopefully well survive that.

Once the information had emerged that the Cerro Pelado Fire had escaped from a pile burn, the states congressional delegation in October 2023 introduced legislation similar to the Hermits Peak bill to compensate victims. Its been stalled ever since.

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Leger Fernandez told Source New Mexico on Monday in an emailed statement that she has not given up on Congress passing the Cerro Pelado Fire Assistance Act and fully compensating those victims like the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire Act aims to do.

We continue to push for the Cerro Pelado Fire Assistance Act because the communities harmed by that fire deserve justicejust like the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon survivors, she said. When Democrats were in the majority, we were able to pass the Hermits Peak legislation because we had leadership in the House, Senate, and White House that prioritized disaster relief. Unfortunately, thats no longer the case.

Republicans have refused to advance the Cerro Pelado bill despite repeated efforts, she said. She also cited the recent firing of the FEMA administrator a day after he testified that FEMA should still exist.

Its clear that the Trump White House isnt focused on helping disaster survivors, she said.

Were not giving up. Well keep fighting to get Cerro Pelado survivors the compensation they deserve.
Indian and Pakistani authorities said yesterday [Macau time] there was no firing reported overnight along the heavily militarized region between their countries, the first time in recent days the two nations were not shooting at each other.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all military actions on land, in the air and at the sea Saturday in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire to stop the escalating hostilities between the two nuclear-armed rivals that threatened regional peace.

The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir, and other areas along the international border, the Indian army said in a statement, adding that no incidents had been reported.

Senior military officials from India and Pakistan are scheduled to speak later Monday to assess if ceasefire was holding. There were fears it would not hold after they accused each other of violations just hours after it was announced.

Local government officials in Pakistan-administered Kashmir reported no incidents of cross-border firing along the Line of Control and said that civilians displaced by recent skirmishes between Pakistani and Indian forces were returning to their homes.

Pakistans military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif, said late Sunday that Pakistan remains committed to upholding the ceasefire and will not be the first to violate it.

He also confirmed that senior military officials from both nations would speak on by phone.

Soon after the ceasefire announcement on Saturday, Pakistan reopened all of its airports and restored flight operations. India followed up Monday with reopening of all the 32 airports that were shut temporarily across northern and western regions due to the flare up in tensions.

Its informed that these airports are now available for civil aircraft operations with immediate effect, the Airports Authority of India said in a statement.

The militaries of the two countries have been engaged in one of their most serious confrontations in decades since last Wednesday, when India struck targets inside Pakistan it said were affiliated with militants responsible for the massacre of 26 tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The tourists, mostly Indian Hindu men, were brutally killed in front of their families in the meadow town of Pahalgam last month.

India accused Pakistan of backing the militants who carried out the massacre, a charge Islamabad denied. The incident first led to a spat of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures by both the nations, sending their bilateral ties to a near historic low.

The two expelled each others diplomats, shut their airspace, land borders, and suspended a crucial water treaty.

After Wednesdays strikes in Pakistan, both sides exchanged heavy fires along their de facto border in the restive Kashmir region followed by missile and drone strikes into each others territories, mainly targeting military installations and airbases. Dozens of civilians were killed on both the sides in heavy shelling, the two countries said.

The Indian military on Sunday for the first time claimed its strikes into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Pakistan last week killed more than 100 militants, including prominent leaders.

Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai, the director general of Indias military operations, who will be talking to his Pakistani counterpart, said Indias armed forces struck nine militant infrastructure and training facilities, including sites of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group that India blames for carrying out major militant strikes in India and the disputed region of Kashmir.

Ghai said at least 35 to 40 Pakistani soldiers were killed in clashes along the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. Five Indian soldiers were also killed, he said.

Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said his countrys armed forces had killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers along the Line of Control. Pakistani military also claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets and inflected heavy losses on Indian military installations by targeting 26 locations in India.

The Associated Press couldnt independently verify the claims made by India and Pakistan.

Air Chief Marshal AK Bharti, the director general Indias air operations told a news conference that despite minor damage (s) incurred, all our military bases and air defense systems continue to remain fully operational, and ready to undertake any further missions, should the need so arise.

Bharti reiterated that New Delhis fight was with terrorists, and not with Pakistan military or its civilians. RAJESH ROY, NEW DELHI, MDT/AP
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gives her State of the State address on Jan 16. 2024 during the opening day of the legislative session. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source NM)

New Mexicos governor on Tuesday announced the creation of a center in Albuquerque that will help foreign companies relocate and invest in the state.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the NMexus Center, a global business accelerator, will assist companies with the costs of relocating to the U.S., including job training, human resources and legal issues.

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Dont think of it as a soft landing; think of it as more of a launch pad for investing and expanding businesses, Lujan Grisham said during a news conference at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, organized by the International Trade Administration, a government agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce.

NMexus Center Executive Director Amar Vakil said at the news conference the accelerator will help businesses obtain work visas, identify customers and market their products.

Seven companies have agreed to initially relocate to the accelerator, starting with a total of about 40 jobs in Albuquerque, Lujan Grisham said. The companies are from India and Oman and include Zonap Engineering India; Alligator Automations; DCirrus, Inc.; Supreme Technology; American Grain Corporation; Oliver Merino LLC; and Ardic, according to a news release published by the governors office.

Lujan Grisham said the goal is to create approximately 1,500 new jobs related to water, cybersecurity, energy and agriculture. In the news release, her office estimated the accelerator will have a total economic impact of $400 million. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony in June, she said.

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NMexus will be located in Albuquerques Mesa del Sol area, within the U.S. House of Representatives district represented by Democrat Rep. Melanie Stansbury, who said it will bring jobs back to the state.

New Mexicans are strong, resilient, determined, creative and we are ready to bring international partners to employ our people and bring good-paying jobs back to the United States and back to my home state that I grew up and was born and raised in, and to my district, Stansbury said at the news conference.

The governor also announced partnerships with other foreign companies that are considered NMexus strategic partners: IIT Kanpur, the Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Oman Business Network and the Traders Advocacy Group of Ghana.

City of Albuquerque Economic Development Director Max Gruner said at the news conference NMexus will act as an infrastructure of welcome for foreign companies to come to and stay in New Mexico.

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In New Mexico, in Albuquerque, we are writing the economy of the possible, Gruner said. We are not guided by a nostalgia of a golden age long ago, we are navigating by a horizon of possibility, by a vision of a future where opportunity is abundant and resilient.

Center Executive Director Vakil said companies path to the American success story runs through New Mexico.

New Mexico believes in taking risks, investing in partnerships and investing in global ambition, Vakil said. These ambitions can be fast-tracked into a success story in the state of New Mexico.

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Health officials recommend everyone 6-months or older receive an influenza vaccine every season for prevention. (Courtesy of CDC/ Brandon Clifton)

Mid-May marks the end of widespread influenza infections across the country, wrapping up a flu season New Mexico health officials described as one of the most severe in recent memory.

Hospitalizations and infection rates from influenza ran significantly higher this year, New Mexico Department of Health Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelser told Source NM.

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The respiratory viruses following the pandemic are reestablishing themselves, Smelser said, We dont want higher rates of these diseases in our populations because of the hospitalizations and deaths; its more important than ever that we recommend people stay up to date on immunizations, such as influenza, RSV and COVID.

A contagious respiratory virus, influenza can infect people year-round, but often spreads further in late fall through the early spring. The virus has several types and can mutate rapidly, often requiring new vaccines to address the specific strains to be developed each year.

While not as high as last years rates, influenza-like illness reports to the New Mexico Department of Health peaked later, in January this year, mirroring the national flu trends. The flu spread intensely in the states Southeastern portion, notably in Lincoln and Lea counties, according to NMDOH data.

Between Sept. 29 and May 3, New Mexico reported 1,916 hospitalizations for influenza, with seniors older than 75 accounting for nearly one-third of the cases and adults ages 18 to 49-years old another 20% of them.

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Deaths from influenza and pneumonia, which can be a complication of influenza, decreased from the prior year by 32.5%. Between September and May, New Mexico recorded 145 deaths from pneumonia, 76 adult influenza deaths and three pediatric influenza deaths.

About 27% of eligible New Mexicans received a flu shot this year and more than half of those were older than 65-years-old, according to NMDOH.

New Mexicos flu season tracked with nationwide trends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified the 2024-2025 flu season as high severity overall for children, adults and seniors, the first high severity season since 2017-2018.

As of May 3, influenza had infected approximately 47 million people, hospitalized 610,000 people and caused 27,000 deaths nationwide  including 226 children.The CDC estimates the hospitalization rate was the highest in the last 15 years.

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The CDC also notes a decline in influenza vaccinations nationwide with 147 million shots distributed this season  10 million fewer than last year.

Smelser said consistent flu vaccination can protect against future strains of flu, as the virus mutates.

We had a very severe year that caused a lot of impact both on the personal level and for their families, communities, loved ones but also economically, with missed days at work, at school, Smelser said. We really want people to stay up to date on all of their vaccines.

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TALLAHASSEE  With no new deal in sight, House Speaker Daniel Perez called back his members to extend the budget talks to June 30 following the collapse of a deal with the Senate last week.

I dont think were at risk of a shutdown, but were no closer now than we were three weeks ago, said Perez after the regular 60-day session ended earlier this month without producing a balanced budget as required by the state constitution. Its a sad day for the Legislature when we are going backward instead of forward.

He blamed fellow Republican Senate President Ben Albritton of Wauchula for breaking the faith by reneging on a budget framework and $2.5 billion tax cut hed agreed on just 10 days ago.

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As presiding officers, as elected officials  our word is our bond, Perez said, recalling growing up in Miami where deals were made on a handshake. Breaking our word  breaking a deal  is breaking faith not only with one another but also with our institutions. However, I will not allow these actions to deter us from fulfilling our constitutional obligations.

Perez also called out fellow Republican, Gov. Ron DeSantis  who was in Ohio Tuesday promoting congressional term limits  for refusing to have a conversation with him or other House leaders about the budget, saying he was no different than any seventh grader from Miami-Dade County who tweets.

Perez told reporters he hadnt spoken with the governor in quite some time.

At some point adults have to prevail. I am willing to have that conversation with him at any moment. He is not, Perez said. Is he scared? Is he scared of having the tough conversation?

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Instead, Perez said, DeSantis has been flying around the state on the taxpayers dime trashing the House spending plan.

That is not what I would do if I were the governor, but he is entitled to make that decision, Perez said. If he would spend more time in this capital having conversations with myself and other members of the house he would understand our position and why we are in that position.

The members have no idea when they will be back in Tallahassee for budget conference hearings. That lack of predictability  is very disruptive, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa said.

Once you pass tax cuts its difficult to recover that revenue, and we should not be cutting taxes at a time where we know people are going to need to lean on those services, Driskell said.

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The Legislature left Tallahassee May 3 without agreeing on a tax package for the 2025-26 budget cycle beginning July 1. They must have a balanced budget by then.

They extended the regular 60-day session to June 6 in the hopes of resolving their $4.5 billion spending gap, fueled mainly by a historic, permanent 12.5% cut in the state sales tax rate, which would reduce it from 6% to 5.25% and cut revenues by $5 billion.

But a more cautious Albritton said that was too much of a tax cut all at once and could destabilize the state economy. He suggested a more gradual reduction in the sales tax rate over several years, along with a permanent exemption on clothing under $75 and a repeat of several popular sales tax holidays offered over the past several years.

Before going into an extended recess, legislative leaders also announced they had agreed upon a framework for the state budget that would provide $2.5 billion in tax cuts, including a permanent quarter-cent cut in the sales tax rate.

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That deal fell apart last week after DeSantis said such a deal was a Florida Last plan that was dead on arrival and he would veto it.

Albritton also said Senate members felt that the quarter-cent cut was not meaningful for constituents, since it amounted to a savings of 25 cents for every hundred dollars spent. He added a permanent $2.5 billion tax cut wasnt sustainable given projected revenue shortfalls, and a sales tax cut could limit future property tax relief.

DeSantis has proposed either lowering or eliminating property taxes altogether, which would require a constitutional amendment approved by at least 60% of voters. He blamed local governments for raking in huge amounts of property tax revenues and spending it recklessly.

How hypocritical of us to say that local governments are spending wasteful taxpayer dollars and were not able to do it to ourselves, Perez said.

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Reducing spending shouldnt be mixed up with property tax reform, Perez said, which is something the Legislature or governor cannot do anything about this year.

Instead, they can cut sales taxes and change how much tourist development tax money can be spent on marketing versus public works projects, he told the House membership Tuesday.

There are lots of things he said he is willing to entertain, he added, but not a $1,000 check to homeowners, as DeSantis proposed.

These checks do not solve the property tax problem, Perez said. They are just state taxpayers apologizing for local government spending, which is the kind of irresponsible idea that I associate with California policymakers.

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Perez reminded the House members that his goal was to cut out-of-control spending, and reducing taxes was just one way to achieve that goal.

The House is not moving, Perez said. I am not going to leave this Legislature in a worse position than I found it.
Disentangling would cost too much: "Neither side wants to decouple," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday, a reversal from the Trump administration's line that we needed to lessen supply-chain dependence on China for national security reasons. Earlier this week, the U.S. and China agreed to a deal that would bring American tariffs on Chinese goods down to 30 percent, from 145 percent, while China will bring its tariffs on American goods down from 125 percent to 10 percent. This is a temporary pause for 90 days while further deals are negotiated.

"Finally we have a President that will stand up to China's unfair trade practices," Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said when the original tariffs were announced a month ago. But also: "We concluded that we have shared interests, and we both have an interest in balanced trade," said Bessent this week. Which is it?

The part that's not said: The Trump administration very nearly drove the economy into the ground, and they got scared and have now backed off.

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"Both sides are trying to portray it as the other was more desperate," Nicholas Borst, director of China research at an investment advisory firm, told Politico. "What we saw, though, was just sort of the initial innings of economic pain."

But is this trade relationship any better than the one we had in March, or February, or January? It's not clear that this is much of a win, and even a 30 percent tariff still leaves lots of companies in the lurch.

Has China made any concessions in a way that's superior to the pre-April 2 status quo?  Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) May 12, 2025

Some people, including a former Trump administration official speaking to Politico, speculate that China's threatened rare earth cut-off was more damaging to automakers and the defense industry than anyone's letting on, and that China actually can log this one as a W; "China's export restrictions to the United States worked. It created enough pain to compel the U.S. government to plead with the Chinese government to reverse course," the official told Politico.

California's homelessness crackdown: On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom called on hundreds of towns and cities in his state to ban tent encampments on public land. He appears to be favoring a much more punitive, sweeping approach now. "The governor has created a template for a local ordinance that municipalities can adopt to outlaw encampments and clear existing ones," reports The New York Times. Since Newsom controls which housing-related funds get distributed, he has some influence over what localities do and has the ability to reward them, in essence, for adopting his preferred ordinances and enforcement tactics.

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"Nearly 40 percent of the state's Democrat-dominated electorate said they were so weary of squalid settlements overtaking parks and blocking sidewalks that they supported the arrest of homeless campers if they refused shelter, according to a poll last month by Politico and the Jack Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research at the University of California, Berkeley," reports The New York Times. "At the same time, a companion survey in the Democrat-led state showed that nearly half of California's policy leaders and elected officials opposed addressing encampments with law enforcement." That's a fascinating gap in the priorities of normal people vs. the folks who are supposed to represent them, and an interesting bit of magical thinking on the part of elected officials: How are you supposed to put an end to public-land tent encampments without deploying cops? Just ask nicely?

Scenes from New York: Trying to get my hands on a Pope Leo cookie. God bless Queens! They don't have these in Brooklyn.

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Joe Biden's aides discussed whether he would need frequent wheelchair use if he had been reelected, reports Axios.

"Republican lawmakers proposed to significantly increase taxes on the richest US universities, broadening a fight between the Trump administration and elite higher education," reports Bloomberg. "Private colleges and universities with at least 500 students and endowments exceeding $2 million per student would pay a rate of 21% on net investment income under a bill released Monday as part of the House's plan to extend the 2017 tax cuts. That's up from the current tax of 1.4%." Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Yale would all qualify, per these new criteria.

The Trump administration plans "to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari royal family," which President Donald Trump will use as Air Force One for the duration of his term while Boeing "finishes building a new generation of presidential aircraft," per The New York Times. Only a "stupid person" would refuse a "free very expensive airplane," the president said in response to criticism.

"Wall Street's three major indexes rose sharply on Monday with the S&P 500 marking its highest level since early March as a U.S.-China agreement to temporarily slash tariffs brought some hopes for the easing of a global trade war," reports Reuters.

People are mad that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went swimming in Rock Creek, which has dangerously high bacteria levels, over the weekend. (Also that he went swimming in pants.) Honestly, it's kind of darkly funny that people are so angry about RFK Jr.'s actions but not angry thatD.C. residents can't swim in this lovely creek because of how nasty it is. (Or that his grandchild is called "Bobcat.")

Mother's Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025

The post No Divorce From China appeared first on Reason.com.
Since at least 2019, internet users have claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, once called her son "an idiot with zero common sense" and predicted that he would be "a disaster" if he ever went into politics.

Social media users on platforms including Reddit (archived), X and Threads (archived) shared the rumor in the form of an alleged direct quote from the president's mother, which read in full: "Yes, he's an idiot with zero common sense, and no social skills, but he IS my son. I just hope he never goes into politics. He'd be a disaster."

We first looked into the authenticity of this quote in 2019 and found no evidence Trump's mother had ever made such a statement. Other publications, such as PolitiFact and Reuters, also fact-checked the quote and found no proof it was real.

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Because digital archives of newspapers, books, and magazines grow and change over time  meaning that it's always possible for new evidence for historical claims to become available  we took another look at the quote after it began circulating again in the months during and after Trump's campaign and eventual victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

In short, just as in 2019, we found no compelling evidence to support claims of the quote's veracity at the time of this writing.

We ran searches for the full quote as well as the distinctive clauses "he's an idiot with no common sense" and "I just hope he never goes into politics" on Newspapers.com and Gale OneFile, both of which are large databases of periodicals, and found no evidence to support the quote's authenticity. We also searched for the quote on Google Books and the Internet Archive, which likewise returned no evidence that the quote ever appeared with secure attribution in any legitimate publication.

A Google search for the quote found no instances of the quote at all before 2019, nearly two decades after Mary Anne MacLeod Trump's August 2000 death. The absence of any evidence of a quote dating within the alleged originator's lifetime is a common red flag for fake or misattributed quotes.

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One development since 2019 was the emergence of what appeared to be a newspaper clipping showing the quote underneath a photo of Trump and his mother, which appeared (archived) to have first circulated (archived) online in June 2020. Examples of the clipping, which did not include the name of the paper in which it was allegedly published or a date, appeared (archived) in numerous (archived) posts on X (archived).

(X user @RobertCStern)

However, we found no evidence that the clipping was genuine. Although the alleged clipping included a genuine photo of Trump and his mother that was prominently featured in a 2016 New Yorker article titled "Donald Trump's Immigrant Mother," we found no instances of the photo paired with the quote in any real newspaper or magazine.

It remains possible that a primary source proving the quote's authenticity exists somewhere  for example, in a newspaper archive that had not been digitized by the time of this writing  and for that reason we've refrained from issuing a definitive rating.

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Previously, we looked into the claim that Trump's mother was an undocumented immigrant.

Sources:

Emery, David. "Here's How to Authenticate Viral Quotes Attached to Historical Figures." Snopes, 5 Dec. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//articles/464027/how-to-authenticate-quotes/.

Evon, Dan. "Did Trump's Mom Once Call Him an 'Idiot'?" Snopes, 12 Dec. 2019, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trumps-mom-call-him-idiot/.

Fact Check Ratings | Snopes.Com. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check-ratings/. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.

"False Claim: Donald Trump's Mother Said He Would Be a Disaster in Politics." Reuters, 17 Apr. 2020. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/article/world/false-claim-donald-trumps-mother-said-he-would-be-a-disaster-in-politics-idUSKBN21Z29U/.

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Kasprak, Alex. "FACT CHECK: Was Donald Trump's Mother an Undocumented Immigrant?" Snopes, 30 Jan. 2017, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/donald-trumps-mother-immigrant/.

"Mary MacLeod Trump Philanthropist, 88." The New York Times, 9 Aug. 2000, https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/09/nyregion/mary-macleod-trump-philanthropist-88.html.

Pilon, Mary. "Donald Trump's Immigrant Mother." The New Yorker, 24 June 2016. www.newyorker.com, https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald-trumps-immigrant-mother.

Putterman, Samantha. "No Evidence Trump's Mother Called Him an Idiot." @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/dec/18/facebook-posts/no-evidence-trumps-mother-called-him-idiot-zero-co/. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
New Delhi, India  Guns have fallen silent for now along the tense India-Pakistan frontier, after a ceasefire that appears to have held for three nights.

On May 7, India launched predawn attacks on what it called multiple terror sites across Pakistan to avenge the April 22 killing of 26 men, almost all of them tourists, in Indian-administered Kashmirs resort town of Pahalgam. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing the gunmen. Pakistan denied its involvement.

Indias aerial assault kick-started four days of heightened tension, as both neighbours fired missiles and drones at each others military installations in a rapidly escalating cycle that brought them to the brink of full-scale war.

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Both sides have claimed to have decisively damaged, even destroyed, the others key strategic facilities, even though early evidence suggests more limited damage to military bases in both India and Pakistan.

Yet even as India and Pakistan arrived at a ceasefire that United States President Donald Trump insists his administration brokered, experts say something has indeed been decimated, potentially beyond repair: Old red lines that had defined the tense relationship between the South Asian neighbours.

India and Pakistan have entered a phase of armed coexistence with little room for diplomacy and a narrow margin for error, despite having a live and sensitive border, Praveen Donthi, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera.

This situation does not bode well for either country or the region, because even accidental triggers could escalate into a war-like situation with no guardrails in place.

India-Pakistan dispute: Who settles it?

The seeds of the India-Pakistan conflict were sown when their independence from British rule in 1947 was accompanied by a partition of the Indian subcontinent to create Pakistan.

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Since then, the two neighbours have fought four wars, three of them over Kashmir, a region they both control partially along with China, which governs two thin slices in the north. India claims all of Kashmir, while Pakistan claims all parts other than the ones governed by China, its ally.

After their 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan signed what is known as the Simla Agreement, which said the two countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations.

While Pakistan has often cited United Nations resolutions to argue for international involvement in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, India has cited the Simla Agreement for more than half a century to insist that any negotiations between the countries be strictly bilateral.

To be sure, the US has since intervened to calm tensions between India and Pakistan: In 1999, for instance, President Bill Clinton pressured Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to withdraw troops from the icy heights of Indian-controlled Kargil, where they had entered. However, Washington publicly played coy about its role, allowing India to insist that the US had only helped with crisis management, not any dispute resolution mediation.

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That changed on Saturday, when US President Donald Trump upstaged New Delhi and Islamabad to announce a full and immediate India-Pakistan ceasefire hours before the governments of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the development.

The next day, Trump went further. I will work with you, both to see if, after a thousand years, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir, he posted on his Truth Social platform.

And on Monday, merely 30 minutes before Modi was scheduled for his first address since India launched attacks in Pakistan, Trump told reporters at the White House that his administration had leveraged trade to reach a ceasefire. Lets stop [the fighting]. If you stop it, well do a trade. If you dont stop it, were not going to do any trade, Trump said. And all of a sudden they said, I think were going to stop. For a lot of reasons, but trade is a big one.

Such US mediation, were it to happen, would shatter Indias longstanding red line against mediation by other countries, say experts.

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India has consistently sought to avoid third-party involvement in the Kashmir dispute even as it has occasionally welcomed third-party help in crisis management, Christopher Clary, a former Pentagon official and a non-resident fellow at the Washington, DC-based Stimson Center, told Al Jazeera.

When he spoke, Modi largely stuck to traditional positions he has taken after previous bouts of tension with Pakistan. He said terror and talks cannot happen together, and water and blood cannot flow together, a reference to the Indus Waters Treaty for sharing water between India and Pakistan, which New Delhi walked out of after the Pahalgam attack.

Unlike Pakistan PM Sharif, who expressed gratitude to Trump for brokering a ceasefire, Modi claimed that India had only paused its military action  noting the decision was taken bilaterally. He did not mention Trump or his administration.

Regardless, the spectre of international intervention in Kashmir has been resurrected, said Sumantra Bose, political scientist and the author of the 2021 book Kashmir at the Crossroads. He said Indias furious barrage of missiles and drones at Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam killings catered to domestic jingoism but naturally roused global alarm.

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India might, however, be helped in avoiding actual US intervention in Kashmir by the immediacy of the Trump administrations other foreign policy goals, like the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, that will divert already overburdened [American] policymakers to other tasks, said Clary.

Unprecedented targets

According to Bose, India and Pakistan crossed not just red lines, but a Rubicon by attacking numerous high-population targets in cities and towns last week.

India, in its most expansive offensive against Pakistan outside full-blown wars, said it hit terrorist infrastructure on May 7 as part of what it called Operation Sindoor. That was a reference to the vermillion that married Hindu women apply to their forehead, and an allusion to the manner in which the Pahalgam attack appears to have unfolded: Multiple witness accounts suggest the attackers segregated the men, then picked and hit non-Muslims.

Modi claimed, in his Monday statement, that the Indian attacks had killed more than 100 terrorists. Pakistan has insisted that only 31 civilians  including two children  were killed in the May attacks.

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Yet both sides agree that the Indian missiles struck not just two cities  Muzaffarrabad and Kotli  in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but also four cities in Pakistans Punjab province, the countys economic heart and home to 60 percent of its population. The targets were Bahawalpur, Muridke, Shakar Garh and a village near Sialkot. This was the first time that India had struck Punjab since the 1971 war.

As tensions spiked, India accused Pakistan of unleashing a swarm of drones towards it  a charge Islamabad denied. Then India launched a wave of drones that reached Pakistans biggest population centres, including its two biggest cities, Karachi and Lahore. In the early hours of May 10, India and Pakistan fired missiles at each others military bases across multiple provinces  far beyond disputed Kashmir  even hitting a few.

Pakistan, which called its campaign Operation Bunyan Marsoos (a structure made of lead, in Arabic), targeted Indian air force bases and missile storage facilities in Drangyari, Udhampur, Uri and Nagrota (all in Indian-administered Kashmir), as well as in Pathankot, Beas and Adampur in Indian Punjab and Bhuj in Gujarat, Modis home state. Indian armed forces said that while they shot down most incoming missiles and drones, four air force bases suffered limited damage.

We dont know what the quantum [of Indian losses] are, but clearly Pakistan has demonstrated capability to impose costs on India even as we try to impose costs on them, Indian military historian and strategic analyst Srinath Raghavan told Al Jazeera.

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Regarding red lines, another thing Pakistan sought to demonstrate was that they could keep this [the fighting] going till they had hit Indian military installations in retaliation.

Meanwhile, India too targeted the Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi, Murid airbase in Chakwal and the Rafiqui airbase in Shorkot.

India has shown that it is willing and capable of carrying out more strikes across the border, whether its a terrorist or even military infrastructure in Pakistan, Raghavan said. Indias response went far beyond what happened in 2019, when Indian jets bombed what they described as a terrorist camp in Balakot, in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after a suicide bomber killed more than 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers.

Now, the 2025 attacks will serve as the new baseline for India, experts said.

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India would respond [in the future] on a similar scale, perhaps even a little bit more. Given the way both Balakot and the current crisis have played out, that should be the expectation, said Raghavan.

Other weapons: Water to peace pacts

It isnt just missiles and drones that the two sides fired at each other, though.

Right after the Pahalgam attack, India suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 agreement that had previously survived three wars  in 1965, 1971 and 1999  unscathed. The treaty gives India access to the waters of the three eastern rivers of the Indus basin: The Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Pakistan, in turn, gets the waters of the three western rivers: The Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

The river system is a vital lifeline for Pakistan, which relies on its waters. India, as the upper riparian state, has the ability  in theory at least  to restrict or stop the flow of the water into Pakistan. Islamabad described New Delhis decision to walk away from its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty as an act of war.

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In an incendiary remark at the peak of the tensions, Pakistani former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said either the water will flow, or their blood will, seemingly referring to Indians.

Three days after the ceasefire was announced, India has still not recommitted itself to the pact. In his speech on Monday evening, Modis statement that blood and water cannot flow together signalled that New Delhi had not yet decided to return to the treaty.

New nuclear threshold?

Even as India and Pakistan ratcheted up their measures  first diplomatically, then militarily  against each other, the rest of the world was spooked by the prospect of what could have turned into a full-blown war between nuclear-armed neighbours.

Up until now, that reality of nuclear weapons has affected Indias decisions in terms of how it treats its tensions with Pakistan, said Clary, the former Pentagon official. Indias goal is to punish Pakistan without risking nuclear danger, he said.

But on Monday, Modi appeared to suggest that New Delhi was reassessing that approach. India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail, he said.

Modis comments pointed to a fundamental shift that has occurred in relations between India and Pakistan, Donthi, the International Crisis Group analyst, said. Both sides are willing to take greater risks and explore the potential for escalation below the nuclear threshold. However, there is very little space there, effectively making the euphemism of the region being a nuclear flashpoint truer than ever.

Armed group or Pakistani government? No difference to India

Modis comments on nuclear blackmail werent the only ones that marked a break from the past.

When India launched attacks against Pakistan on May 7, it emphasised that it was only targeting terrorist bases and not attacking Pakistani military installations. However, on Monday, Modi said that in future, India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism.

That position raises the danger of war, said experts.

The conflation of terrorists and their (alleged) backers  namely, the military and the government  portends serious risks, Donthi said. It assumes that they are in lockstep. Such an assumption doesnt take into account facts such as the seemingly successful ceasefire.

India and Pakistan had signed a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in 2003 and had renewed it in 2021. Despite cross-border firing along the LoC, the ceasefire had largely held until last week.

With the threshold for a military conflict lowered, the situation has become precarious, Donthi said.

A single militant attack is all it takes to plunge into war, leaving no room for diplomacy and raising no questions. Any power hostile to either or both sides can exploit this.
No legislation to regulate homeschooling will be introduced this session, despite the subjects recent attention and the urging of child advocates.

Rep. Jen Leeper made the announcement in response to a reporter question at the House Democrats news briefing ahead of the session Tuesday.

There wont be any legislation this session on homeschooling, Leeper said. I think we, in an effort to be publicly transparent brought everyone to the table to listen from all of our agencies that interact with students and children and their wellbeing about where there are gaps in the system and now were going to do the public and methodical work to explore all those places where kids are slipping through and see what we can do next session to ensure all the children of Connecticut are safe.

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CT Senate Republicans on X responded to the news, calling it a win for parents rights and Republicans.

Thanks to the strong voices of CT Republicans and passionate homeschooling families and advocates, the proposed legislation imposing new mandates on homeschoolers will not move forward this session, they said. This is a major victory for parental rights and educational freedom in our state!

The legislatures Education Committee and the Committee on Children held a joint hearing May 5 to hear from experts regarding the states homeschooling policies. Speakers called to address legislators included state experts Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, Department of Children and Families Commissioner Jodi Hill-Lilly, Office of the Child Advocates Acting Child Advocate Christina Ghio and Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Executive Director Fran Rabinowitz.

Homeschooling group leaders included National Home Education Legal Defense Attorney Deborah Stevenson, Connecticut Homeschool Networks Diane Connors and Coalition for Responsible Home Educations Beau Triba.

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Homeschool families showed up in droves to the event and joined Republican legislators in criticizing the joint hearing, with both groups decrying implied connections between homeschooling and the recent case of a Waterbury man which prompted the hearing. The 32-year-old man recently freed from a Waterbury home was reportedly found malnourished after being withdrawn from school at age 11 and then reportedly held captive for decades.

The homeschooling community, which had staged consistent protests at the Capitol have said that legislators are using the case as an opportunity to restrict their freedom to teach their children.

In addition, homeschooling families dispute a report from the state Office of the Child Advocate that claims high rates of abuse and neglect among families who have withdrawn their children from school, prompting the OCAs calls for oversight.

Nearly one-quarter of families of students withdrawn for homeschooling had at least one accepted DCF report and approximately 8% had four or more accepted DCF reports, the report states. In our 2025 data review, we found that approximately 10% of the families had at least one substantiation, including substantiations for physical abuse, physical neglect, and educational neglect.

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Christina Ghio, acting child advocate for the Office of the Child Advocate, told the Courant that the Office is not trying to stop people from homeschooling, people who are doing high quality homeschooling, providing instruction and regularly engaging their children in activity.

But because we have no regulations at all, there are parents who use that freedom to withdraw their children under false pretenses and hide them and that is what we are trying to address, she said.

Connecticut currently has no oversight of homeschooling. Parents are not required to notify their home districts that they intend to homeschool and no follow-up is ever done to ensure children are keeping up with grade level standards.

Connecticuts education commissioner and head of the superintendents group also argued that more oversight is needed to ensure children are safe and learning.

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Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, called for strengthening of regulations around homeschooling, perhaps through an academic evaluation or a portfolio or a standardized test.

We do not want in any shape or form to want to control homeschooling, she said. We want to safeguard every child in Connecticut and ensure we are upholding our obligation to the state constitution that all students must be educated.

We want to know you are educating your children, she added.

One outraged homeschooling parent who wrote to the Courant said the number of public school students with open DCF investigations should be considered and that reports on potential dangers of homeschooling constitute a massive overreach to support the political agenda of the state infringing on homeschooling parental rights.

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My 5 year old (who is homeschooled) graduated from his homeschool early learning program today. He reads at a Kindergarten/First grade level and also does math at a K-1 level. He is quite well cared for, and even received a lesson in politics and standing up for his own freedoms during a trip to the state capital last week, while other children were at a desk using their Chromebooks to play Blooket and Prodigy, she said.

Senate Republicans also issued a statement Tuesday about the announcement.

Homeschoolers have nothing to do with the tragic situation in Waterbury. Instead of focusing on DCF and the Waterbury public school system on how and why that child fell through the cracks of the system, Democrats targeted the thousands of homeschoolers in our state who do an amazing job of educating their students outside of Connecticuts education system. 

The last thing state government should do is get in the middle of something that is working. Homeschooling is working  and working tremendously well. This was once again the majority Democrat party in Connecticut trying to take control of peoples lives. Its destructive and its wrong. Together, we stood up to it and we spoke out. Our voices were heard.

Reporting from Courant reporter Livi Stanford is contained in this article.
Very Brexity. These were the words police officers breathlessly uttered as they rifled through Julian Foulkes book collection, looking for evidence of thoughtcrime. The bodycam footage from the 2023 arrest of Foulkes  a retired special constable from Kent, who was cautioned for sending malicious communications  sent a chill down my spine, as Im sure it did for many Telegraph readers. If not liking the European Union is enough to raise the eyebrows of Englands poundshop Stasi, then I guess Ill see you all in the gulag.

Foulkes horrendous treatment was as absurd as it was illiberal. The offending tweet that led six police officers to his door was actually condemning anti-Semitism. He accused Londons pro-Palestine hate-marchers of being one step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals  a reference to a recent anti-Semitic riot at an airport in Dagestan.

The subtlety was apparently lost on Kents finest, who cuffed Foulkes, held him for eight hours and began ransacking his house as if he were a drug kingpin.

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Last week, Kent Police apologised and wiped the caution from Foulkes record. But to chalk this up as some kind of hapless error risks normalising this new breed of authoritarianism  even more so than it already has been.

Being slammed in a cell for hate speech is really not nothing. Foulkes feared hed never be able to visit his daughter abroad again. He feared his neighbours would think he was a paedophile, as cops hauled out laptops in evidence bags. No free nation can allow this state-led harassment of innocent people, merely for expressing their opinions on the internet, to become routine.

But it has. A recent Times investigation found that at least 30 people a day are being arrested for saying grossly offensive things on the internet. According to Greg Lukianoff  president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in the US  this means that Dear Old Blighty is already, easily, arresting more people for speech crimes today than America did during the first Red Scare. Its no longer hyperbolic to ask if Britain in 2025 still qualifies as a free country.

Were we just going after genuine hate-speakers, that would be bad enough. No one should be arrested for an opinion, no matter how odious. But its obviously gone far beyond that now.

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As two parents from Borehamwood found out recently, even criticising your daughters school too vigorously can lead to a knock at the door. YouTube comics have been convicted for off-colour jokes. Lying social-media attention-seekers have been convicted for being lying social-media attention-seekers. This really isnt normal. Or at least, it shouldnt be.

The establishment appears to have imbibed the paternalistic notion that censorship begets harmony. That involving the police in even the most minor social-media squabbles is essential, lest widespread unrest ensue.

This oozes contempt for the public, of all backgrounds  as if white Brits are only ever a few spicy tweets away from a pogrom and minorities would rather be protected from offence than violence and burglary.

Well, the treatment of Foulkes and many more reveals that censorship only begets more censorship. Our decades-long experiment in policing hate has ended up with pensioners being handcuffed for criticising anti-Semites. Yet more proof that we cannot trust the state to decide what is right, good and true  and that speech codes, however tightly drawn, can balloon to include totally innocent, even righteous, speech.

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So its time for a peoples revolt against our supposed betters  against a distant establishment that thinks it has the right to dictate what we can say, think and do. Very Brexity, I know. But they surely cant arrest all of us.

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.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Kent Countys chief inclusion officer will soon retire and the county doesnt currently intend to replace her, News 8 has learned, raising questions about the future of the countys diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

In May 2021, Kent County hired Teresa Payne as its first ever chief inclusion officer to oversee and improve the countys diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. At the time, the county said Bransons new role demonstrated its commitment to fully embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in its strategic priorities.

Kent County Chief Inclusion Officer Teresa Payne. (Courtesy)

In a letter to staff last week, Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg announced that Payne will retire June 1.

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In light of recent federal executive orders that may restrict certain diversity, equity, and inclusion activities, along with ongoing conversations with federal funding agencies and observations of how other institutions are adapting, we have been evaluating how to thoughtfully refocus our efforts to remain compliant with evolving federal requirements, Vanderberg said in the letter, which an official familiar with the matter provided to News 8.

NAACP lists companies that dump DEI in its tactical spending guide for Black Americans

News 8 reached out to Vanderbergs office asking if the position will be filled and, if not, what that means for the future of the countys diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. A spokesperson did not address those questions, only saying the letter reflected where things stand.

News 8 found the county has already removed one effort to boost inclusion, the cultural insight council, from its website. An error message on the URL for that page says it cannot be found.

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Multiple county commissioners told News 8 there arent plans to replace Payne once she retires.

Its definitely something I dont think Kent County can live without, Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack said of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Womack said the decision was made by staff  not commissioners.

We just received a letter, he said. It was a staff decision. Now its time for us commissioners to ask questions and make sure its something we dont want to override or we may have to override.

While Womack wants to keep the position, he said he understands that continuing it could risk the countys access to federal money. The Trump administration has threatened to cut funding for institutions that support DEI.

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I want the community to understand that the federal government does have a gun to the head of cities, colleges, universities, counties, Womack said. And the services and the federal money these municipalities need to serve the community, that always has to come first.

Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives?

Commissioner Kris Pachla said his understanding is the county doesnt intend to replace Payne and will instead evolve that position.

We know the terms diversity, equity and inclusion in particular are very hotly contested in todays political environment, Pachla said. We dont want to put ourselves in a situation that will unnecessarily draw attention when were not doing anything controversial.

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Even if the inclusion officer position is eliminated, Pachla said the county still values a diverse workplace.

Although we have a position that is now being shifted, were not backing away from the core effort because its built into all the work we do, he said. The notion of diversity, that we are pulling people from all backgrounds into the county because our county is made up of people from all backgrounds  thats built into our (human resources) systems. Thats built into the way we have managerial work. All those different things are useful for when were bringing new people into the county.

Womack agreed, but said he intends to talk with other commissioners about taking action to ensure Paynes position remains.

Diversity, equity and inclusion has always been a part of our mission statement, Womack said. Were going to continue to do what we do, but were going to delve deeper into what has happened to the inclusion officer and that program.

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Donald Trump is in talks to accept a $400 million gift from a foreign government. The president has become impatient as he awaits replacements for Air Force Oneinitially due from Boeing in 2024, theyre now expected in 2027and ABC News reported yesterday that the small Persian Gulf country of Qatar, an American ally, intends to give him a plane.

The most astonishing thing is that Trump is doing this out in the open. One secret to his impunity thus far has been that rather than try to hide his misdeedsthats what amateurs such as Nixon and Harding didhe calculates that if he makes no pretense, he can get away with them. This worked when he called on foreign countries to interfere in U.S. elections, when he declined to divest from his companies in his first term, and when he tried to subvert the 2020 presidential election. Now he is daring the courts, Congress, and Americans to either stop him or else declare graft legalat least for him.

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Underscoring the crookedness, the plane would ultimately belong not to the U.S. government but to Trump: Once he leaves office, it would reportedly be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than Jan. 1, 2029, and any costs relating to its transfer will be paid for by the U.S. Air Force, per ABC. In short, a foreign government might give the president of the United States a $400 million personal gift. Not a bad haul at a time when Trump is asking American children to do with fewer dolls and pencils. (Federal law allows officials to accept personal gifts below a certain amount, currently set at $480. Thats 0.0001 percent the estimated value of the plane.)

Just how final this deal is remains uncleara Qatari government spokesperson said it is under considerationbut Trump confirmed the arrangement on Truth Social. So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane, he wrote.

Accepting an aircraft from a foreign country, even an ally, raises many questions about national security. Who can vouch for the safety of the plane? Who will inspect every inch of the plane to be sure its not bugged? (A standard 747 has 171 miles of wiring, according to Boeing.) That assumes the plane could be made operable at allnot a sure thing, as The Wall Street Journal reported in an earlier iteration of this story. All of this would be worrisome to the White House except that, as Ive written, Trump does not care about national security. Trump is the only thing hes interested in, former National Security Adviser John Bolton told me earlier this year.

If theres no such thing as a free lunch, theres certainly no such thing as a free plane. The Qataris would presumably not give Trump such a plane out of the goodness and generosity of their hearts. Theres a simple term for this: bribery. The fact that we dont know what Qatar might want from Trump doesnt change that. In fact, its arguably scarier, because rather than consider the exchange a quid pro quo for something specific, Trump could slant any number of policy choices to benefit Doha. The Supreme Court has, in a series of recent decisions, made prosecuting politicians for corruption harder and harder, but that doesnt preclude the rest of us from using plain language.

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In this case, theres a specific term too: foreign emoluments. The Constitution is not a very long document, but it specifically forbids officeholders from taking gifts from foreign powers. Trump realized during his first term that the ban is all but unenforceable. He accepted many foreign emolumentsincluding in the form of business at his Washington, D.C., hotelbut a court rejected a lawsuit lodged by Democratic members of Congress, concluding they had no standing to sue. (The first Trump administration also failed to keep a proper log of gifts, and some were missing at the end of his time in office.)

The first Trump term was a festival of petty grift, but that was just a warm-up for the second term. In 2021, Trump described bitcoin as a scam; now, hes decided to get in on the scam and has made, at least on paper, almost $1 billion from crypto projects, according to Bloomberg. The president is openly using his office to profit. In an auction that ended today, buyers of his personal cryptocoin can win a chance to tour the White House. As if that werent bad enough, the arrangement has also drawn bidders who believe that the winners access to Trump will provide a good chance to influence U.S. policy.

Ahead of Trumps own Middle East jaunt this week, his family business has also struck billions in deals in the region recently; his sons have traveled to or announced agreements with Dubai, Saudi Arabia, andwhaddya knowQatar. Perhaps it would have been too brazen even for Trump to have his son Erics Middle East trip come right after his. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a former top official in the first administration, is also reportedly serving as an informal adviser on Middle East diplomacydespite his business interests in the region.

During his first presidential campaign, Trump presented his wealth as a guard against corruption. He couldnt be bought off, he claimed, because he was independently wealthy; indeed, he boasted that hed been the one doing the buying. Instead, his high personal net worth has only elevated his ambitions for corruption. Where a previous Republican president saw government of, for, and by the people, Trump sees the government as nothing more than the greatest opportunity for self-enrichment.

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The courts may have effectively prevented prosecutors from policing official corruption, but if the U.S. Congress is willing to allow a foreign government to give the president a $400 million personal gift, what checks on his power remain? Whats the point of having a Constitution, or a Congress? The airplane may be free for Trump, but the cost to Americans could prove exceedingly steep.

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The Crisis of American Leadership Reaches an Empty Desert

By Lynsey Addario

Several months ago, I was reporting in Sudan with the photographer Lynsey Addario. She recently returned to the region and spent several days photographing and speaking with some of the people who are streaming into Tine. According to aid workers on the ground, more than 30,000 people have arrived there since regional fighting intensified in mid-April, and more than 3,500 are now arriving every day. The photos below capture the desperation of people with nowhere to go, the absence of infrastructure to help them, the desolation of the empty desert.  Anne Applebaum

Read the full article.

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The government has defended the exclusion of online and monthly publications from certain public events, calling it a common practice, following concerns from press groups over media access and transparency.

In a written response to Portuguese media outlet Lusa, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) said that organizers determine suitable arrangements for media coverage based on the nature, content, and location of the event, adding that priority is typically given to television and radio stations, daily and weekly publications, and news agencies.

The statement followed public backlash over a recent press conference by the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) about a MacauFrance research agreement, where only select media outlets were invited.

Online news platforms and monthly publications were excluded.

Last week, the GCS released a statement about a signing ceremony between Macau and France for a joint scientific research program, in which the FDCT clarified that only reporters from daily and weekly newspapers, TV stations, radio, and news agencies are invited.

As cited in the report, the FDCT did not provide a response to inquiries about the criteria used.

The controversy comes just weeks after two journalists from the online outlet All About Macau were detained while attempting to attend a Legislative Assembly (AL) session.

The AL later cited space constraints, stating there was a large turnout of reporters.

However, the outlet contested this explanation, noting that there still appeared to be empty seats in the chamber.

The Macau Journalists Association expressed concerns over what it described as discriminatory practices that hinder press freedom, while the Macau Portuguese and English Press Association said the situation sets a worrying precedent.

Meanwhile, the GCS reiterated that journalists must follow all relevant laws and regulations when performing their duties.


ERWIN, Tenn. and POPLAR, N.C. (WJHL)  Slayton Johnson held out hope for months that he and fellow rafting outfitters could access the Nolichucky River Gorge this year and not see an entire seasons revenue vanish.

How will rafting on the Nolichucky change after Hurricane Helene?

Now, the man who purchased Wahoos Adventures Nolichucky Outpost barely a year ago is resigned to the near-certainty that this season is a wash. The nail in the coffin came in the form of a letter from a Pisgah National Forest District Ranger: (T)he Poplar Boat Launch recreation site  and Road will remain closed to public and commercial use until the site has been fully restored.

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The Forest Service has allowed CSX to use our parking lot that we begin the river at as a staging area for their rebuild, Johnson said. Indeed, since shortly after violent floodwaters from Hurricane Helene tore through the Gorge and destroyed CSXs line, the company has been posted up at a federally-owned launch funded by rafting user fees.

Safety has been cited at times, but Johnson said all the rail has been removed from the river and private kayakers and rafters have been running it for months. The access point in Poplar, N.C., though, remained a busy scene filled with heavy equipment Monday.

Its tons of heavy machinery, lots of incoming deliveries, outgoing, things like that, so they just dont want us to share the risk of being in that construction zone, Johnson said.

Wahoos owner Slayton Johnson at Chestoa along the Nolichucky River, where commercial trips down the rivers gorge typically conclude. (Photo: WJHL)

But Johnson said he still believes a compromise could have been reached. And he said when members of the fledgling group Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association (NORA) found an alternative put-in on private property just upriver, CSX said they wouldnt grant an easement across tracks that wont be in use until at least December.

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Absolutely safe river, Johnson said. The Forest Service is not disputing that, nor is CSX necessarily. That was one of their main objection points, which has been met.

As it looks now, a rail rebuild that could run into the hundreds of millions is taking precedence over local jobs that both Johnson and Erwin Alderman and small business owner Michael Baker say are critical to the town and Unicoi Countys economy.

Our community of about 150, 200 guides, theyre all gone, Johnson said. Theyre now working other rivers, other jobs, other towns.

Hes afraid one missed season could have a larger impact due to a focus on return guests.

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Folks have been rafting with Wahoos for 25, 30 years. Now theyll probably go find another river this summer, and that could mean that they go back to that river again the next summer and the next summer. So bit of a domino effect with missing one summer.

Baker said rafting guests are a big piece of an $18 million tourism industry in Unicoi County, along with Appalachian Trail hikers and people coming to see the areas natural beauty.

Its the lodging that comes with it, people staying here and all the residuals that happens with it, Baker said. Not everybody in the party rafts, theres usually a family and some go hiking, some go caving. Its a big loss for this year not having the permits on the Gorge.

Like Johnson, Baker said he was hopeful a compromise might be worked out. Not many miles away as the crow flies, a Norfolk Southern rail rebuild is co-existing with rafting companies along the Helene-ravaged French Broad River.

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3 federal agencies sued over CSX rail repair work in Nolichucky Gorge

I would think that there could have been, but I understand, you know, we have to build back the railroad and we have to make it safe, Baker said.

Outfitters have applied for state grants administered through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Theyve worked out a deal with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to provide ferry service where the Chestoa Bridge, now washed out, used to cross the Nolichucky at the AT. And the East Tennessee Foundation recently provided the first $100,000 of what may be additional funds for the companies to provide river cleanup services.

We are doing everything we can in our power to survive this summer and be able to come back and provide this experience to folks next year, because the river is significantly enhanced, Johnson said. It really is a better experience.

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He lauded the East Tennessee Foundation and its grant.

The East Tennessee Foundation is awesome, Johnson said. Theyre hooking us up with some grant money to do river cleanups here on the lower Nolichucky and well be able to clean it up, get a lot of hazards that are downstream of the section that we normally raft out of the river and just make it a way for us to survive this year.

Johnson said the railroads refusal to consider an alternative site on private property is a bitter pill to swallow.

I feel very terrible for everybody that lost a whole lot more than we did, but that doesnt make this injustice feel any better, he said. Ive tried to really do things the right way, stay out of the river, trust the process, trust our government officials that this was all going to work out.

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That CSX is using a staging area paid for by rafting user fees doesnt lessen the sting, he said.

Lets just say somebody owns a hardware store and a company comes in and overtakes their parking lot and says, I know that this is yours, but you can no longer operate. Were going to kick you out.

Your source of income is gone and thats that. Theres a term called being railroaded, and were being railroaded here on the Nolichucky and the parking lot itself.

Dara Worrell of the East Tennessee Foundation said businesses like Johnsons  and the people who run them  are crucial to Southern Appalachias economic future.

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I think natural resources are a reason a lot of people come to East Tennessee to visit or live, and we think economic development and natural resources are going to be huge in bringing these areas back (after Helene), Worrell said.

Baker said he hopes that in the long run, recreation and tourism-related businesses will flourish in Unicoi County.

I think a lot of people have the vision to rebuild and to make the outdoor industry even stronger, he said.

I do know that theres a commitment from the state and our regional partners that once we are built back, to spread the word that Unicoi County is open, our tourism industry is open, and we look forward to having visitors locally, regionally and worldwide come to our county.

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Johnson, who with his wife put years of work experience and savings into a bet on Wahoos in early 2024, hopes hes around to be part of that renaissance.

Im a hard-working American, Johnson said. I pay my taxes. Ive worked endless jobs to be able to afford this company, and its just unfortunate that its being taken away so that the railroad can, I guess, save a few bucks.

I dont think you get to owning a business if you dont have a bit of perseverance. So we are going to persevere.

News Channel 11 requested comment from CSX Monday afternoon about rationale behind their concerns about allowing a put-in location for the rafting companies but had not heard back by publication time.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The New Mexico Department of Agriculture has launched a new campaign to celebrate the women who have shaped the states agricultural community.

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The Matriarch of New Mexico Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the 2026 class. The new program will honor women who have devoted their lives to advancing agriculture in our state.

As the campaign kicks off, the NMDA has chosen two women theyre hoping can inspire future nominations. As for next years matriarch, you have until June 21 at midnight to submit your nominations. You can submit those nominations online.

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Video originally aired Jan. 14, 2025.

KANSAS (KSNT)  A national non-profit has filed lawsuits against four porn websites for allegedly failing to follow a newly established Kansas law that requires porn sites to verify users age.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation filed the suit against the sites, which 27 News is choosing not to name.

The suits claim a Kansas parent found their 14-year-old had been accessing hardcore pornography on various adult websites, according to a news release from the organization.

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Kansas law requires pornography companies to implement reasonable age verification methods, and the companies named in these lawsuits failed to do so, said Dani Pinter, senior vice president and director of the organizations Law Center.

Why are flags to fly at half staff on Thursday in Kansas?

Last year, the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature passed Senate Bill 394, which requires websites to have age verification to prevent minors from accessing harmful content. Several other states have enacted age-verification laws since 2022  Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Utah and Virginia.

The Kansas bill makes it a violation of state consumer protection laws for a website to fail to verify that a Kansas visitor is 18 if the website has material harmful to minors. The attorney general may choose to go to court seeking a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation. Parents can also sue for damages of at least $50,000.

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It is unreasonably dangerous for these pornography websites to provide this product which they know is harmful to children, that children are drawn to access, and do access, without employing age verification as required by Kansas law, Pinter said. Our plaintiff deserves every measure of justice.

Petition started to overturn parole for cop killer

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit against a company with over a dozen adult websites, alleging it failed to abide by the age verification law. The sites are different than those the non-profit is suing. Kobachs suit hasnt been resolved.

For more Kansas 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.
On Tuesday, dozens of students and staff from a school in Gig Harbor were home recovering from a Norovirus outbreak.

Discovery Elementary School said 50 people have gotten sick since Thursday, but the illness didnt start in their kitchen.

Out of those 50, 35 of them are still recovering at home.

University of Washington Professor Dr. Ferric Fang said the virus is highly contagious.

The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, Fang told KIRO 7.

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The Peninsula School District said they are actively working with the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department to stop the outbreak.

Also noting the health departments investigation confirmed the school kitchen was not the source of illness, we have implemented precautionary measures.

Fang said a norovirus outbreak of any size isnt uncommon, especially in crowded settings.

Its normal for it to be in a school, its so infectious the schools cant control it, for students and staff, its a nightmare dealing with it, Fang said.

The district told KIRO 7 the school kitchen was closed yesterday for cleaning and making sure nobody preparing the food is sick.

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Today, they said the threat is clear and the kitchen is open again.

Doctors said most people get the virus multiple times in their life.

Its an aggravating problem, even though most people dont die and get over it on their own theres no specific treatment for it, Fang said.

The health department said they are working with the school this week to ensure everything is properly cleaned and the outbreak is contained.

The full statement from the Peninsula School District can be seen below:

On Thursday, May 8, Discovery Elementary identified multiple students displaying symptoms of gastroenteritis, prompting staff to follow district protocols by sending affected students home and notifying the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department when absence numbers reached the reporting threshold.

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By Friday, May 9, approximately 50 students were either absent or sent home with similar symptoms. Following their investigation, TPCHD suspects norovirus as the cause affecting both students and staff. Our school team promptly communicated with all Discovery Elementary families Friday morning, sharing TPCHDs guidance that children and staff showing symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea should remain home until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

Although the investigation confirmed the school kitchen was not the source of illness, we have implemented these precautionary measures:

 Temporarily closed the Discovery Elementary kitchen for thorough sanitization

 Arranged for meal preparation at an alternate location, with packaged breakfast and lunch options provided to students

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 Enhanced cleaning protocols throughout the building

 Scheduled periodic restroom closures during school hours for additional disinfection

We appreciate our partnership with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the quick response from our health services team, custodial staff, and school administrators."
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  North Charleston Police Chief Ron Camacho honored Monday a group of Spanish-speaking officers and civilians who taught a recent Citizens Police Academy class.

The agency held its first-ever Latino Citizens Police Academy in February. Over eight weeks, the academy offered participants an inside look at the law enforcement profession and allowed them to experience scenarios that officers encounter while performing their duties.

The academy was taught in Spanish, which allowed the agency to further engage the Latino community.

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The Spanish-speaking community here in North Charleston has exploded over the last years. In order to better communicate, and in order to better engage with that community  language is a huge part of that  we have many Spanish-speaking officers, but we need more, said Chief Camacho.

The North Charleston Police Department is currently looking to hire seven officers. Chief Camacho said the most important thing the department is looking for is people with good character.

Members of the North Charleston City Council recognized participants of the Latino Citizens Police Academy in April.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU)  The North Sioux City commissioners were met with pushback from the community over a new mitigation plan on diverting water after the flooding in June 2024 that destroyed many homes.

Stockwell Engineering presented a third option to the commissioners where water would be diverted back north, instead of going into McCook Lake.

The water would go into Mud and Goodenough Lakes as well as farm fields, before going back into the Missouri River.

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The mayor said, people have something they dont like with every plan, so they intend to hold public hearings in the future to get the communities input. No dates for the hearings have been set at this time.

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Every plan is going to have pushback from the community, but the third plan, there are a few homeowners that would be affected, and I think our goal is to improve the plan, and get it good enough where it does not affect anyone, said North Sioux City Mayor Chris Bogenrief.

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Bogenrief added the goal now is to submit a plan to FEMA with the three different options, while the city and community decide on the official plan.

The commissioners also discussed Penrose and Northshore Drive that were affected by the flooding last June in North Sioux City, deciding that Penrose will get fixed up this summer while Northshore Drive will have a delay.

Penrose would be starting soon in June. Northshore, there was still an environmental assessment that had to be done and some easements obtained, so thats why that one had to be pushed back to late fall or early spring, said Bogenrief.

Bogenrief added that the funds for Penrose and Northshore Drive project is coming from FEMA.

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The commissioners next meeting is set for Monday, May 19 at 6 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  The Northampton Fire Department issued its incident report for the month of April, resulting in more than 650 calls for service.

The department said that it has an average of 22 calls per day in April, which were for the following incidents:

Fires: 12

EMS: 502

Hazardous Condition: 17

Service Call: 12

Good Intent Call: 29

False Alarm: 88

Two injured in North King Street crash in Northampton

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In total, firefighters responded to 660 incidents for the month. So far this year, there were 2,817 on record. The busiest station is the downtown headquarters with 435 incidents and Friday was the busiest day of the week. The average response time for these incidents was 6 minutes and 48 seconds.

The crew received five mutual aid requests and helped 22 times for surrounding communities. In addition, the fire department is responsible for inspections such as smoke detectors, school fire drills, and reviewing solar plans, which included 95 total in April.

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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Lawmaker Ron Lam called for the government to promptly disclose the annual investment plans of the six local gaming concessionaires, while fellow lawmaker Nick Lei highlighted the need to adopt successful revitalization strategies from other regions to improve Macaus six underrevitalized historical districts and boost community economic development.

Yesterday, Lam submitted an oral interpellation for todays Legislative Assembly (AL) session, questioning the authorities failure to uphold the publics right to know about non-gaming investments by the six gaming concessionaires.

He stressed that these investments, mandated by the new 10-year concessions granted to the citys six casino operators, should be viewed as equivalent to public funds, highlighting the need for transparency regarding budget allocations and implementation status.

The decade-long new gaming concession contracts officially took effect in 2022, requiring the six gaming operators to invest a total of MOP130 billion in non-gaming projects over ten years. Under these contracts, the operators have committed to a total investment of MOP118.8 billion, with MOP108.7 billion allocated for non-gaming initiatives.

Furthermore, following the first years gaming gross revenue exceeding MOP180 billion, the operators must increase their non-gaming investment by 20% throughout the contract period, raising the total non-gaming investment to MOP130.44 billion.

MOP130 billion in non-gaming investments will be vital for stimulating local economic development. However, the public remains unaware of the implementation timeline and specific details of these investment plans, Lam stated.

Using the recently concluded 2025 Macao International Parade as an example, he criticized the authorities for refusing to disclose the total budget for private sector investments.

The lawmaker reaffirmed that the authorities have a responsibility to transparently disclose expenditure details, enhance transparency, and improve effectiveness through social oversight.

He urged the government to promptly announce the specific annual investment plans and directions of the six gaming operators, and to establish a government-led platform involving these companies for public tendering and evaluation based on the annual plans.

This approach would ensure the appropriate use of investments and enable full participation from all sectors of the local community, thereby genuinely promoting the diversified development of Macaus economy, Lam noted.

Revitalizing six historic districts is a key initiative in the governments 2023 plan, in collaboration with the six gaming concessionaires, as part of their non-gaming strategy.

Lei believes that the current revitalization efforts lack a comprehensive understanding of the communitys historical and cultural context, as well as the design of tourist experiences, which have hindered effective engagement with surrounding communities. He expressed concern that this oversight could impede sustainable community economic development in the long run.

Lei recommended that the government integrate feedback from various stakeholders, transform and utilize historical resources, create synergies between attractions and their neighborhoods, develop unique district characteristics, and design thoughtful tourist routes. This approach aims to achieve true cultural and tourism integration, promote the revitalization of old quarters, drive community economic development, and maximize resource utilization.

Regarding specific areas like Rua da Felicidade, Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, and Ponte 16, as well as Piers 23 and 25, Rua de Cinco de Outubro, and the Inner Harbour district, where revitalization and conservation efforts are still pending, Lei submitted a written inquiry about the progress and timeline for reviewing the six historical districts.
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com

The Northshore School District Board of Directors is expected to make a final selection for its new superintendent Wednesday.

In the race is Dr. Shaun Carey, who currently works as the superintendent for the Enumclaw School District.

His leadership is grounded in equity, shared responsibility, and a commitment to creating systems that ensure student success and staff empowerment, the Northshore School Districts website states.

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School officials wrote Carey has a background in strategic planning, instructional design, and fiscal and labor management.

3 current WA superintendents in running for Northshore School District job

Anacortes School District superintendent Dr. Justin Irish is also a candidate. The Northshore School District stated Irish addressed statewide funding challenges during his time and was previously the Assistant Superintendent in the Edmonds School District.

He has prioritized academic achievement, equity, inclusion, social-emotional learning, and strong community partnerships, officials wrote online.

Dr. Patrick Murphy, the superintendent of the Olympia School District, is also running.

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The Northshore School Districts website states Murphy has worked collaboratively with his community to expand educational opportunities, implement research-based schedule changes, and maintain high levels of student achievementall while elevating the physical and mental health of students and staff.

Officials wrote that during his tenure, Murphy led the development of a district-wide strategic plan focused on student success.

The position is up for grabs after the districts current superintendent, Michael Tolley, announced his retirement.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Learning just got a little more exciting for some local students. Northside Elementary unveiled its newly renovated library on Monday.

A $77,000 grant from the St. Joe Foundation provided new flooring, paint, and furniture.

In addition to over 10,000 books, theres also a book vending machine and new technology for students to discover.

Officials believe the new environment will spark a love for reading.

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Little ones, they can learn to grow to have a hunger and a thirst and a passion for reading because you learn to read all the way up to the third grade and then you read to learn from fourth grade on and you know, as lifelong learners, were still reading to learn more, Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen said.

The upgraded space promotes technology while preserving the value of traditional books.

Liberty County teacher in top 5 for Fla. Teacher of the Year award

As much as we are moving forward, I think we do not need to get lost in the foundation of things, like books are always going to matter. And I think being well-rounded as individuals and citizens to know how to read a book or look up something in a dictionary is just as important on how to Google something. So, I think all of the types of literacy are important, Northside Elementary Fifth Grade Teacher Adrianna Swearingen said.

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The initiative to promote literacy has already proven successful among Northside students.

I love it. It just feels more spacious and less crammed, and it just feels more comfortable and makes me want to read more, Northside Elementary Fifth Grade Student Charlotte Forrester said.

Northside is one of the first to receive the renovations, but officials said more schools will see the upgrades in the future.

The new library is set to be fully operational for all students for next school year.

But fifth graders have already seen it before they move on from Northside.

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ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  Escambia County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested a man on May 7 after he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriends home through a doggy door.

Inmate death under investigation at the Walton County Jail

According to court documents, 26-year-old Caelan William Ross broke into the home on North 61st Avenue on May 4.

Deputies were called to the home for a report of a burglary after the ex-girlfriend found Ross in her bed, according to the documents.

A mugshot of Caelan William Ross (Escambia County Sheriffs Office).

Eventually, the two struggled, and the female possibly hit Ross in the nose with her elbow, court documents said.

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Ross reportedly left the same way he had come in  through the large dog door.

Spirit Airlines to offer flights from Pensacola to Houston

He was charged with burglary with assault or battery.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Local leaders are asking for serious state help in the form of the Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package this legislative session.

The mayors of Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview, and Gresham joined Multnomah County Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon Monday to urge state lawmakers to pass this transportation package.

Bock bock, you next: Man harassing peacocks tried to murder man who confronted him

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They want to improve conditions they believe are dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike, and the mayors said they need state funding to get it done. On top of that, they argued road maintenance will improve the local economy as well.

State investments in transportation infrastructure directly support our local businesses, attract new employers, and create good paying construction and infrastructure jobs right here in east Multnomah County, Troutdale Mayor David Ripma said.

Fairviews mayor Keith Kudrna said they have plans for new developments that serve the communitys needs, but without good roads they cannot get done.

Like Sandy Boulevard, where residents at the senior manufactured home park must walk along roadside ditches to catch the bus or to cross the street at an unmarked crosswalk, he said. The problem is that we do not have enough money to finish these visions.

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The countys road fund pays for road maintenance, but the upcoming budget proposes cutting close to $2 million from it. Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall called that proposal unacceptable.

There has to be an overinvestment, an oversized investment, in East County starting now, he said. There has been tremendous years of underinvestment that includes transportation and these that its challenging for us to be able to bring our folks from poverty to prosperity. We have to make these investments. We have to.

New express routes will take Portland-area residents on day trips to the coast

If they are not able to get financial help from the state in this package Stovall said they will carry on, but it will not be easy. He said roads across the county will be underprepared.

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They wont be maintained, Stovall said. Will new roads and new infrastructure not be delivered? Yes, that will be the case. Will we be able to move forward as communities? Absolutely. Is it going to be more challenging? Of course. Thats the critical response to the question is it will be more challenging to deliver the things that we need to deliver.

Jones-Dixon said he is definitely looking to make sure those cuts to the countys road fund are not made in the upcoming budget. And later this month the Joint Committee on Transportation is holding a public hearing for the transportation package.

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Joe Bidens decline was obvious in the final months of his presidential campaign, but new and intimate accounts by his staffers reveal that the presidents inner circle conducted a cover-up of his faltering mental acuity as early as 2023.

Axioss national political correspondent Alex Thompson and CNN host Jake Tappers book, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, doesnt hit shelves until May 20. But some early glimpses at the book, published Tuesday by The Guardian, provide a more detailed picture of the chaos endemic to the end of Bidens tenure.

We attempted to shield him from his own staff so many people didnt realize the extent of the decline beginning in 2023, one unidentified senior aide, who quit the White House in protest of Bidens campaign, told Thompson and Tapper.

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I love Joe Biden. When it comes to decency, there are few in politics like him, the aide continued. Still, it was a disservice to the country and to the party for his family and advisers to allow him to run again.

A Democratic strategist who spoke to the reporting duo was more blunt.

It was an abomination, the strategist said. He stole an election from the Democratic Party; he stole it from the American people.

Since at least 2022, Biden struggled to maintain his trains of thought. He wavered on his top aides names. His speeches dragged.

When he proved incapable of delivering a two-minute video address without stumbling, aides filmed him with two cameras so the edit would be less obvious, The Guardian reported.

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His regression summoned prominent Democrats to issue stern warnings. In a 2023 visit to the White House, former President Barack Obama reportedly cautioned Biden: Just make sure you can win the race. Days before Biden dropped out, thenSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told him that, should he usher in another Trump era due to his own hubris, he would go down in American history as one of the darkest figures.

You have bigger balls than anyone Ive ever met, Biden reportedly told Schumer as the senator left.

Power players on Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign team had searing reviews of the presidents performance.

He totally fucked us, David Plouffe told Thompson and Tapper. Plouffe was Obamas 2008 campaign manager and had been tapped to help Harriss 107-day-sprint to the White House, which he described as a fucking nightmare.

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Its all Biden, Plouffe said, remarking that Harriss campaign had begun in a deep hole, thanks to Bidens insistence on staying in the race.

Tapper and Thompson interviewed some 200 individuals for the book, but none of their perspectives swayed Bidenthen or now. Last week, while speaking with The View, the 82-year-old continued to deny allegations that he had and was experiencing symptoms of mental decline.

They are wrong, Biden said. There is nothing to sustain that.
Private school vouchers, public school finance and teacher pay have been the focus of heated debates during this years legislative session over how to direct taxpayer dollars to support Texas childrens education. But those havent been the only education-related issues up for discussion.

Many other bills aim to reshape public education in Texas. Some offer additional resources, while others introduce new restrictions. Proposed legislation would boost funding for campus safety, support students who are falling behind in math and reading, and prohibit the use of cellphones during school hours.

Other measures have drawn more controversy. These include bills that would extend the states higher ed ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs to K-12 schools, require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, and expand teachers authority to discipline students. Supporters say these changes will improve classroom environments, while critics warn they could harm the states most vulnerable children.

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Heres a look at some of the most significant education bills under consideration and where they stand in the legislative process.

K-12 DEI ban and school libraries

In March, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would expand the states DEI ban on its public colleges and universities to K-12 public schools. The measure, Senate Bill 12, was advanced by the Texas House's public education committee in May and now heads to the full chamber for a vote.

SB 12, filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton, the Conroe Republican who chairs the Senates K-16 education committee, would prevent school districts from taking race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation into account in employment decisions. It would also outlaw trainings, programs and activities that reference those characteristics, unless required by federal or state law.

In addition, the bill would bar student groups centered on sexual orientation or gender identity from public schools. It would also give parents the right to file complaints about any perceived violations of the DEI ban, prompting formal investigations.

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Supporters say that DEI initiatives waste instructional time and taxpayer funds, and push political ideologies onto students. During a hearing earlier this year, Creighton said DEI programs are using millions of taxpayer dollars meant for the classroom to fund political activism and political agendas.

Opponents warn that eliminating DEI support could worsen inequities; increase bullying, harassment and discrimination; exacerbate mental health problems; make some students feel ashamed of their identities; limit how topics like race are discussed in classrooms; and allow racism to grow in schools.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 13, by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, would give school boards and parents more control over what books can be put in school libraries, as well as ban books that have indecent content or profane content. Anti-censorship advocates say it could lead to the removal of books featuring gender and sexuality content from school libraries.

The bill was passed by the Senate in March. The bill, which was advanced by the House's education committee in May, is now awaiting a vote in the full chamber.

More religion in schools

Earlier this year, the Texas Senate approved a pair of bills that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms and set aside time during the school day for prayer.

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The measures are priorities for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the leader of the Texas Senate, which approved them in March. They are now awaiting consideration in the House.

Supporters say the bills are an acknowledgement of the countrys religious roots and would help restore traditional values. Sen. Mayes Middleton, the Republican who authored Senate Bill 11, the prayer-in-school bill, defended the legislation by saying, Our schools are not God-free zones. He added, We are a state and nation built on In God We Trust.

Senate Bill 10, the Ten Commandments bill, was met with sharp criticism from some Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, has argued the measure goes too far in promoting a specific faith. Most Texans are religious, she said during floor debate in March, but I would venture that Texans do not want religion crammed down their throat by their government.

Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, also raised concerns during the debate. He read aloud a letter signed by 166 religious leaders from across the state, including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Buddhist representatives, who urged lawmakers to oppose the Ten Commandments bill. The letter warned against turning public schools into places of worship, arguing that such moves risk alienating students from diverse backgrounds.

STAAR and school accountability

Both the Texas House and Senate have passed their own versions of legislation that would overhaul standardized testing in Texas public schools. But it remains to be seen if lawmakers can find a middle ground and reconcile the differences between the proposals.

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House Bill 4 got a near unanimous vote in the House in May. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1962 the month before.

Both bills would swap the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, with a shorter test to free up time for more instruction. Students would be tested at the beginning, middle and end of the school year so teachers could use test results to identify areas for improvement and shape their lesson plans.

The similarities stop there. The House proposal, but not the Senates, would change how students are graded. Instead of using a rigid scale to track students academic performance, their outcomes would be compared to their peers around the country. Supporters of the House proposal say that approach would be a better measuring stick. Critics say the change would obscure whether Texas students have met expectations for grade-level skills.

The bills also differ in their response to a pair of lawsuits school districts filed against the state. The districts said they sued because the TEA was too hasty in introducing changes that affected their score in the states school accountability rating system, giving an inaccurate picture of their performance. The suits blocked the release of those scores for two years in a row. A judge ruled to allow the release of the 2023 scores last month.

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Under HB 4, the TEA commissioner would have to get approval from the Legislature for all major changes to the states school ratings system. Districts could still sue to challenge changes to the accountability system, but the House bill sets up a fast-track court process for those lawsuits to be settled so disputes do not affect the release of the ratings.

Meanwhile, the Senates version of the bill would solidify the TEA commissioners authority to determine how school performance ratings are calculated. SB 1962 would make it difficult for districts to use the courts to challenge changes to the performance ratings system. The Senate also largely leaves it up to the TEA to set the standards schools and districts have to meet to get a good rating.

Uncertified teachers

As Texas struggles with a severe teacher shortage, school districts, especially in rural areas, have increasingly turned to hiring uncertified educators to fill classroom vacancies. Last year, 56% of newly hired teachers across the state were not certified, raising concerns about the quality of education students are receiving.

Senate Bill 2253, would require schools to have only certified teachers in core subjects by the 2029-30 school year. To help teachers, it would include a one-time $1,000 stipend for some untrained educators who were recently hired and get certified by the end of the next school year. The Senate approved the bill, which now heads over to the House.

Student discipline

Amid rising concerns about classroom violence, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas lawmakers are pushing legislation that would expand school districts' authority to discipline students.

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House Bill 6 passed the House and, after receiving approval in the Senate's K-16 Education Committee, is now headed for a vote in the upper chamber. It seeks to give schools more flexibility in handling disruptive behavior. The bill would allow administrators to suspend students for repeated and significant classroom disruptions or for actions that endanger the safety of others, requiring those students to remain out of school during the suspension period.

In recent years, Texas law has limited such discipline. Students in pre-K through second grade have generally been protected from suspension unless they committed serious crimes. Similar protections have applied to homeless students, who could only be suspended in cases involving violence, weapons, drugs or alcohol. HB 6 would roll back those restrictions, giving schools broader discretion to suspend these students.

Though the bill has received strong Republican support in the House, some lawmakers say it needs more clarity. In March, Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, urged representatives to tighten the bills language, warning, we're not sending kindergarteners home to an empty apartment.

Another bill, Senate Bill 1872, which has passed by the Senate and is under review by the House Public Education Committee, would require the expulsion of any student who assaults a teacher or a school volunteer, even if the incident happened off campus. Expelled students would be placed in the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, which serves students who have been removed from their original schools.

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Another bill would expedite the process of referring students to truancy court when they miss out on school. Senate Bill 1925, which still hasn't received a vote in the Senate K-16 Education Committee, would no longer require schools to intervene before referring students to court. It also requires schools to notify parents if their children have three truancies in four weeks.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1871 would make it easier for students to get mental health help through the telehealth platforms and for those required to go to an alternative education program to participate virtually. The measure has passed the Senate and was referred to the House Education Committee.

School safety

Lawmakers are also considering increasing funding for school safety.

In 2023, a year after the Uvalde elementary school shooting, the state passed House Bill 3, mandating armed officers at every school. The law also increased schools annual safety allotment to $10 per student, gave districts $15,000 per school for safety upgrades, and created a $1.1 billion grant program to help school districts pay for additional school safety requirements, like silent panic alerts.

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Many school leaders said the measure wasnt enough to pay for those new jobs or otherwise implement the law effectively. Law enforcement shortages have also made it hard for schools to hire new officers.

One key proposal this session is Senate Bill 260, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, which would give schools an additional $28 per student and $30,000 per campus each year to pay for safety upgrades. The bill has been passed in both chambers. Lawmakers will now meet behind closed doors to resolve the differences between their two versions.

Another bill, Senate Bill 598, introduced by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, offers a more generous funding model, proposing to give schools $100 per student and $60,000 per campus each year for school safety. The bill is currently under review by the Senate K-16 Education Committee.

Literacy and numeracy

Earlier this month, the Texas House approved House Bill 123, which aims to provide struggling students extra learning support as early as kindergarten, before learning gaps compound. Last month, the Senate passed a similar bill, Senate Bill 2252. Members from both chambers are now expected to reconcile differences in their proposals in a closed-door conference committee.

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More than half of third graders in the state are not at grade level in reading or math, meaning they lack the key foundational skills they need to thrive as learners. Students who are behind in third grade rarely catch up, which can lead to serious consequences later in life. Research shows students who struggle to read by third grade are more likely to drop out of high school. Math proficiency is tied to economic mobility as an adult.

The legislation would require districts to use literacy and numeracy screeners to identify students who are struggling early on. The screeners would assess students three times a year between pre-K and 3rd grade on skills like phonics, vocabulary and spelling. Those who are furthest behind would get extra tutoring in small group settings.

The legislation would also expand educators access to math and reading instructional materials. Teachers often work unpaid hours to complete training known as math and reading academies, which give them the tools to help build students skills in those subjects. HB 123 would give districts funding to pay teachers who take those courses after their regular workday.

Cellphone ban

After several states across the country introduced strict limits on cellphone use in public schools, Texas lawmakers are considering a similar approach.

House Bill 1481, introduced by Rep. Caroline Fairly of Amarillo, the only Gen Z member of the Texas House, aims to significantly restrict the use of "personal communication devices" in public schools. This includes cellphones, tablets, smartwatches and similar electronics. Fairly said she hopes the measure will improve students' mental health and academic performance. Supporters of the bill say it could help reduce cyberbullying.

The bill would give school districts some flexibility in how to implement the restrictions. They would be able to ban the devices entirely, provide designated storage areas, or extend the ban to extracurricular activities.

However, not all lawmakers support the proposal. During a hearing earlier this year, Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, expressed concerns that the policy might prevent students from reaching emergency services or contacting their parents when needed.

First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 1315 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
In yet another triumph for the self-styled party of working people, we learnt today that since the start of the year employment is down, unemployment is up, wage growth has stalled and vacancies are falling. Businesses are responding to the October Budget  specifically the Chancellors decision to hike Employer NICs by 25 billion  exactly as we knew they would. Theyre freezing recruitment, cutting hours, and bracing for whatever Labours bright sparks might inflict on them next.

When the Australian CEO Tim Gurner last year suggested that unemployment should jump 50 per cent to shake employees from their post-Covid, work-wherever-you-please lethargy, he was instantly pilloried. The usual suspects sneered about unfettered capitalism and lambasted Gurners personal wealth. But he had a point. Here in Britain, productivity dropped 0.7 per cent in the last three months of 2024. In the public sector (annual staff bill: 270 billion), it remains well below pre-Covid levels.

Too many employees now seem to believe their boss should work for them, not the other way around. Vested interests appear to view the expectation that people show up and do their jobs as akin to modern slavery. Members of the PCS union, which represents civil servants, have voted to strike over the requirement they be in the office 60 per cent of the time. Staff at HM Land Registry began indefinite action this week on similar grounds.

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The organisation may vary but the refrain is always the same: inconsiderate employers  in the case of civil servants, thats us  are failing to acknowledge their childcare duties, commuting time or personal wellbeing. Whats fascinating  though often unnoticed  is that the more employers try to boost employee happiness, the more dissatisfied those workers seem to be. We have more rights than ever before, yet a Gallup study has revealed were more angry, and more sad, than virtually any other workers in the developed world.

Can anyone honestly say they are happier in the knowledge that sending a fellow worker a birthday card could now constitute harassment? Have the watertight procedures implemented by armies of HR staff to protect employees against injury to feelings made us more content, or more atomised?

Rather than address these issues, Labour are doubling down. Egged on by unions, theyve embarked on a moral crusade against an imaginary foe, believing their cause so righteous that it cannot possibly have negative effects. Consider the speech our Attorney General Lord Hermer  a near household name after he was embroiled in a hypocrisy row  delivered last Friday. In the manner of a parent patiently talking down to a petulant child, he intoned that the right to security is a fundamental human right, recognised in all international treaties  as though hybrid working was what world leaders had in mind when they signed up to those agreements.

In any case, the right to security is a category error: this Government can no more provide it in the workplace than they can provide sunny weather for Keir Starmers birthday party. Yet still Angela Rayners Employment Rights Bill  currently over 50,000 words long and still growing  is making its way through Parliament. Labour contend that more worker entitlements will be good news for business, with more productive, committed workers. There is precious little evidence to support such claims. Its far more likely to further reduce the incentive to hire.

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We dont have unfettered capitalism, we have the phoney variety, in which individuals do their best to succeed and politicians do all they can to tie their hands. But where, exactly, do Reeves, Rayner and the rest of the gang think all this will end? In 1984, the UK unemployment rate peaked at almost 12 per cent. The social and political fallout was huge. Bustling communities grew quiet, factory gates locked, the workless felt stripped of purpose. Were not back in the 1980s yet, but the idea Labour will deliver on their promise of 80 per cent employment by 2029 is looking increasingly ridiculous.

There are already a mind-boggling 9.25 million economically inactive people, with a further 1.75 million who are unemployed  against a working age population of 43 million. We need more people in work than getting out of it.

Then again, nothing would erode the trust voters begrudgingly put in Labour last year more quickly than a jobs downturn. Nothing would dislodge Starmer, and bring Britain to its senses, more quickly than a surge in unemployment. A shock might do us all some good in the long run.

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NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Northwestern State University awarded Jesci Lord Marchand with its Lauren Vaughn Memorial Scholarship, which is given annually to a student enrolled in NSUs accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

I am pursuing nursing because I deeply want to help and serve others, Marchand said. While all areas of nursing interest me, I feel particularly inclined to neonatal nursing.

The scholarship was created to honor Lauren Vaughn, who lost her life in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. This was the second year that the Lauren Vaughn Foundation hosted the LV5K on Easter weekend, which celebrated Vaughns life and raised $38,000 for the scholarship while bringing awareness to the dangers of drunk driving.

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NSUs web development program among the nations most affordable

Marchand is originally from Bastrop but moved to Pineville in 2020 to attend Louisiana Christian University, where she earned a bachelors degree in biology with a minor in chemistry.

NSU nursing student Jesci Marchand placed third in her age group in the second annual LV5K.

Marchand said she felt a calling to pursue a healthcare career. She initially planned to apply to medical school before learning about NSUs accelerated nursing program. The program allows students with a bachelors degree to complete the necessary nursing courses for the BSN in 16 months.

Through communication with [Assistant Professor] Kathy Vaughn, I learned about the accelerated BSN program and how to apply for it, so I jumped at the chance, Marchand said. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to obtain my BSN in one year.

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Marchand will pursue her nursing degree at NSUs Cenla campus in Alexandrias England Industrial Airpark.

Because my husband and I live in Ball, Louisiana, I am exceedingly thankful for the convenience of Northwestern State Universitys Alexandria Campus, Marchand said. I am thankful for every opportunity provided by NSUs nursing program, and I am especially grateful for the Lauren Vaughn Memorial Scholarship. I am thrilled to begin the accelerated BSN program in May.

NSU School of Business receives accreditation extension

Vaughn graduated from Alexandria Senior High School in 2018 and became interested in medicine on a field trip to LSU Medical Center. She earned a bachelors degree in biology at Louisiana Tech. Vaughn was enrolled in NSUs accelerated BSN program and scheduled to graduate in August 2023. On March 31, 2023, Vaughn was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses. She passed away just a few days later on April 7.

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For information about the Lauren Vaughn Memorial Foundation, visit lv5k.com or the groups Facebook page. Donations to the Lauren Vaughn Scholarship can be made at northwesternstatealumni.com/vaughn-scholarship.

To learn more about degree programs at NSUs College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, go to nsula.edu/nursing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The elderly population in Washington state is growing. Currently, 18% of the states population is 65 and older. According to the AARP, thats a 7% increase since 2000, and is expected to rise past 23% by 2050.

More elderly folks means an increased need for nursing home care. According to independent health policy research organization KFF, more than 13,600 Washington residents are living in certified nursing facilities.

But how do you pick the right nursing home?

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rates facilities on a five-star scale. Every facility that accepts Medicaid and Medicare payments is rated, so the majority of locations are included. A score breakdown is available on the Medicare site, with full reports on each facility.

The Medicare site lists 11 nursing homes in the city of Tacoma.

Each was given a score out of five based on three primary metrics: health inspections, staffing and quality measures. Heres how Tacoma nursing homes ranked.

Best Tacoma nursing homes

No nursing homes in Tacoma received a five-star score, but three were awarded four stars.

Avamere Transitional Care of Puget Sound

Avamere Transitional Care of Puget Sound received four stars:

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Over its past three inspections, Avamere has had 10 total health citations. The average for that time frame is 9.6 in the country and 18.2 in Washington state.

One of those citations followed a complaint, and two followed a facility-reported issue. The nursing home has had no infection control inspections in the past three years, according to the Medicare site.

Staff at Avamere have more time for each resident than most nursing homes. The national average is three hours and 52 minutes per resident each day in the country, and four hours and 24 minutes in the state. Avamere staff has over five hours per day for each resident on average.

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The nursing staff turnover rate at Avamere is 42.7%, which is nearly 5% lower than the national average and 7% lower than the state average.

Avamere got four stars for quality measures, based on four stars for short-stay quality measures and long-stay quality measures. It had high percentages for short-stay residents receiving flu shots and pneumonia vaccinations when needed, and a 56% successful return home rate for short-stay residents.

The nursing home was also better than the average in several long-stay quality measures, including the impressive 0% of residents with symptoms of depression, compared to the 9.8% national average and 15% state average.

Eliseo

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Eliseo also received a four-star score:

Eliseo has had 17 health citations over the past three inspection periods, all following complaints (10) or facility-reported issues (7). The facility has not had any infection control inspections in that time, according to the Medicare site.

Its average number of residents per day is considerably higher than the state and national averages, at 123.2 compared to 83.8 across the country and 72.1 across the state. On average, staff has four hours and 44 minutes per resident each day. The nursing homes staff turnover rate is 64.4%.

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Eliseo received a five-star score for quality measures, reflecting five stars for short-stay measures and four stars for long-stay measures.

Short-stay residents at Eliseo have low re-hospitalization rates, and a high rate of residents are at or above their expected ability to care for themselves. The nursing home has a 60.6% successful return home rate for short-stay residents, compared to the national average of 49.9%.

Long-stay residents have comparatively low rates of major injury falls, new or worsened pressure injuries/ulcers and UTIs. But a whopping 82.8% of long-stay residents have symptoms of depression, compared to the national average of 9.8% and the state average of 15%.

The Oaks at Lakewood

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The Oaks at Lakewood got a four-star rating as well:

Health inspections: Four stars

Staffing: Three stars

Quality measures: Four stars

The Oaks has had 14 health citations over the past three years, two following complaints and one following a facility-reported issue. The facility has not had an infection control inspection in that time.

The Oaks has an average of 69.3 residents per day, with staff generally spending four hours and 21 minutes with every resident each day. It has a 36% turnover rate among nursing staff.

The nursing home received four stars for quality measures, reflecting three stars for short-stay measures and five stars for long-stay measures.

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Fewer residents overall have major injury falls, or new or worsened pressure ulcers/injuries than at the average home. Its rate of successful return home for short-stay residents is 61.7%.

Long-term residents are less likely to experience UTIs, catheter insertion or excess weight loss at The Oaks than the average nursing home.

Worst Tacoma nursing homes

Three nursing homes received three-star ratings:

Tacoma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is the only facility listed with a warning of an abuse citation.

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Another three nursing homes received two-star ratings:

But two facilities received only one star.

Park Rose Care Center

Park Rose Care Center received a score of one star, reflecting:

Health inspections: Two stars

Staffing: Two stars

Quality measures: One star

Park Rose has had 31 health citations over the past three inspection periods, 25 of which followed complaints against the facility. It has had one infection control citation in that time.

The nursing home averages 99.1 residents per day, with staff spending an average of five hours and 27 minutes with each resident per day. Park Rose has a 57.1% turnover rate among nursing staff.

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The facility received two stars for its short-stay measures and one star for its long-stay quality measures. Only 25% of short-stay residents are at or above their expected ability to care for themselves after leaving, compared to the national average of 54.06%. Only 39.2% of short-term residents successfully return back home, compared to the national average of 49.9%.

Across the country, an average of 79% of short-stay nursing home residents receive flu shots when needed, and 45% of healthcare staff get a flu shot. At Park Rose, these rates drop to 54.5% and 34%, respectively.

Long-stay residents have higher rates of pressure ulcers and UTIs than at the average nursing home. More than 30% of long-stay residents see an increased need for help with daily activities, while the national average is 17% and the state average is 18.8%.

Heartwood Extended Healthcare

Heartwood Extended Healthcare also received one star overall:

Health inspections: One star

Staffing: Three stars

Quality measures: Three stars

Over the past three inspection periods, Heartwood has had 23 health citations, including 19 following complaints. It has not had any infection control inspections in that time.

The facility averages 89.4 residents per day, with staff spending four hours and 11 minutes with each resident per day. The staff turnover rate at Heartwood is 60.3% among nursing staff.

Heartwood received a two-star score for short-stay measures and a three- star score for long-stay quality measures.

Only 28.6% of short-stay residents got flu shots when they needed one, and only 15.7% of staff got a shot for the current season. Only 34.3% of long-stay residents needing a flu shot received one.

While short-stay residents have better mobility at discharge than at most nursing homes, only 29% successfully return home.

According to the Medicare site, 45.8% of long-stay Heartwood residents ability to walk independently has worsened, compared to a state average of 26.3% and a national average of 21.3%

How Medicare ranks nursing homes

The Medicare site gives a score out of five stars based on three primary metrics: health inspections, staffing and quality measures.

The health inspection metric looks at the annual compliance inspection report for each facility, plus the previous two years inspections. Nursing homes may be inspected in addition to their yearly checks, if they report an incident or receive a complaint. Such reports from the past three years are also taken into account, as well as the past three years of infection control inspections, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The staffing metric looks for high staffing levels and low turnover rates. The ratio of staffing hours per resident per day are calculated, describing the average time residents spend with staff every day.

The metric for quality looks at performance aspects among both short-stay and long-stay residents, like pain rates, flu shots, weight loss and more.

In these ratings, a short stay is considered any stay 100 days or less, with a typical goal of improving their health in order to return to their previous lifestyle. Long stays exceed 100 days and have a typical goal of keeping their highest possible well-being while in a long-term facility.
 This story first appeared in New York Focus, a non-profit news publication investigating New York state politics. Sign up for their stories at nysfocus.com/newsletter.

Labor unions and business lobbyists successfully convinced Governor Kathy Hochul to pay off New Yorks $6.2 billion unemployment insurance debt  and boost unemployment benefits for the first time in six years  as part of her final budget agreement with the state legislature.

New York owed the money after borrowing from the federal government to cover pandemic-era unemployment claims. The state has been repaying the debt since then, through higher taxes on businesses, but was still years away from being in the black.

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State law requires that unemployment benefits remain frozen when the system is in debt, so weekly unemployment benefits have since 2019 been capped at $504, a lower benefit than neighboring states provide and less than a full-time minimum wage salary. The budget agreement will increase weekly benefits to a maximum of $869 this year, with more increases in future years.

On the business side, this is a huge victory since employers will no longer face additional taxes to pay off the debt, said Assembly Labor Committee Chair Harry Bronson, who had been advocating for the plan. On the worker side, this is a huge victory, because the weekly benefit will increase, he said.

The state will use $8 billion of its reserves to pay off the debt and add to the unemployment trust so that it can pay out claims without going back into debt.

The Assembly first proposed the measure in March after Hochuls executive budget in January failed to address the issue. The New York AFL-CIO, a statewide federation of labor unions, and corporate lobbying groups like the Business Council pushed for its inclusion in the final budget.

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We werent getting a lot of support  from the governor at all up until last week, said Bronson. He said that organized labor and business lobbyists did a full court press over the weekend, and ultimately the governor agreed with us.

The AFL-CIO and Business Council lauded the changes in statements Thursday.

The final deal also includes a small increase, beginning in 2026, to the payroll tax that funds the unemployment system. Under current law, employers are taxed on the first $12,800 of an employees wages.

Economists say there are a couple of problems with the current financing structure. First, taxing such a small portion of wages means that low-wage employers end up paying a higher tax rate than high-wage employers. That tends to help the finance and tech industries and hurt small businesses. Second, the state does not tax employers enough to fully fund the system, which means it ends up having to borrow money from the federal government and freeze worker benefits during economic downturns. New Yorks system has been underfunded for decades, according to the federal Department of Labor and policy experts.

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The final deal will increase the amount of taxable wages by roughly $5,000 in the first year. Thats not nearly enough to fully fund the system, according to three economic policy experts interviewed by New York Focus.

This is such a minor adjustment to the financing that it doesnt fix the insolvency, said James Parrott, the director of economic and fiscal policy at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School.

Parrott and others argue that if the state was going to bail out employers by using public money to pay off the debt, it should have required them to pay more into the system to ensure that it doesnt need another bailout after the next recession.

This was a tremendous missed opportunity to radically improve the financing structure, Parrott said.

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Nathan Gusdorf, executive director of the liberal think tank Fiscal Policy Institute, said that the budget had done a good job by paying off the debt and raising the benefit level. But theres still some risk.

Given the likelihood of a recession triggered by federal tariffs, theres a serious risk of future benefit freezes and solvency challenges, he said. At some point in the future, the governor and the legislature will need to address unemployment insurance tax reform.
The United States and China have agreed to a 90-day suspension of significant tariffs on each others goods, including those from Macau and Hong Kong.

The agreement, announced yesterday following two days of negotiations in Geneva, reduces U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports by 24 percentage points, retaining a 10% rate, while China will mirror the move by cutting tariffs on U.S. goods to 10% and lifting non-tariff countermeasures imposed since April 2, 2025.

A joint statement highlighted the importance of the bilateral economic relationship to both nations and the global economy, noting that the parties commit to take the following actions by May 14, 2025, explicitly including tariff modifications covering goods from the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the talks as productive, highlighting that both sides showed great respect during negotiations. He stressed that neither side wants a decoupling, adding that the previously high tariffs were an embargo, the equivalent of an embargo neither country desired.

Chinas Vice Premier He Lifeng will co-lead ongoing trade discussions with U.S. officials, including Secretary Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to foster continued communication and cooperation. Ns
Republican lawmakers from the New York suburbs are vowing to sink President Trumps sprawling budget plan over their demand for a much higher cap on deducting state and local taxes, or SALT.

Westchester County Rep. Mike Lawler and Long Islands Rep. Nick LaLota say they plan to vote against Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill because it only includes an increase in the SALT cap to $30,000, much lower than the $62,000 or more they say is fair to the middle-class and affluent communities they represent.

LaLota Tuesday said Republican leaders could increase the SALT cap without blowing through their estimates for losing revenue from a range of tax cuts.

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Plenty of room for a SALT fix, LaLota, who represents the pricey East End of the island, wrote on X. Lets get it done and pass the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Still a Hell no,' LaLota declared to reporters on Capitol Hill.

A handful of other blue state Republicans, including Rep. Andrew Garbarino, Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Tom Kean Jr., are also opposed to the $30,000 cap, which includes a $400,000 income cap.

All the lawmakers have repeatedly vowed to force Republican leaders to either eliminate or significantly increase the SALT cap, which was implemented in the 2017 Trump tax bill. The current cap is $10,000, but it would disappear altogether if no new bill is passed, a fact that the GOP rebels believe gives them leverage.

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Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican lawmaker in New York City, says she is satisfied that the new number is fair to homeowners in her middle-class district.

Despite the tough talk, some insiders believe the suburban lawmakers will eventually cave and vote for the bill if House Speaker Mike Johnson makes a last-minute decision to sweeten the deal a bit.

Johnson agreed to meet with a group of pro-SALT Republicans late Tuesday amid some progress toward narrowing the dispute, Punchbowl News reported.

Johnson can likely only afford to lose three Republican votes to pass the bill, due to the slim GOP majority. The SALT dispute is just one of several competing demands he is juggling from factions in the fractious GOP caucus.

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Democrats are already slamming the Republican lawmakers for failing to get the SALT cap eliminated altogether. They have signaled they will target the suburban lawmakers, most of whom represent competitive swing districts, in the 2026 midterms.

Trump and his Republican allies are seeking to use a parliamentary sleight-of-hand known as reconciliation to renew his signature tax cuts and enact big spending cuts. It requires the House and Senate to pass an identical bill to avoid a filibuster in the upper chamber, giving individual lawmakers outsized power.
Republican lawmakers from the New York suburbs are vowing to sink President Donald Trumps sprawling budget plan over their demand for a much higher cap on deducting state and local taxes, or SALT.

Westchester County Rep. Mike Lawler and Long Islands Rep. Nick LaLota say they plan to vote against Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill because it only includes an increase in the SALT cap to $30,000, much lower than the $62,000 or more they say is fair to the middle-class and affluent communities they represent.

LaLota Tuesday said Republican leaders could increase the SALT cap without blowing through their estimates for losing revenue from a range of tax cuts.

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Plenty of room for a SALT fix, tweeted LaLota, who represents the pricey East End of the island. Lets get it done and pass the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Still a hell no, LaLota declared to reporters on Capitol Hill.

A handful of other so-called blue state Republicans, including Rep. Andrew Garbarino, Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Tom Kean Jr., are also opposed to the $30,000 cap, which also includes a $400,000 income cap.

All the lawmakers have repeatedly vowed to force Republican leaders to either eliminate or significantly increase the SALT cap, which was implemented in the 2017 Trump tax bill. The current cap is $10,000 but it would disappear altogether if no new bill is passed, a fact that the GOP rebels believe gives them leverage.

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Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the only Republican lawmaker in New York City, says she is satisfied that the new number is fair to homeowners in her middle-class district.

Despite the tough talk, some insiders believe the suburban lawmakers will eventually cave and vote for the bill if House Speaker Mike Johnson makes a last-minute decision to sweeten the deal a bit.

Johnson can likely only afford to lose three Republican votes to pass the bill, due to the slim GOP majority. The SALT dispute is just one of several competing demands hi is juggling from factions in the fractious GOP caucus.

Democrats are already slamming the Republican lawmakers for failing to get the SALT cap eliminated altogether. They have signaled they will target the suburban lawmakers, most of whom represent competitive swing districts, in the 2026 midterms.

Trump and his Republican allies are seeking to use a parliamentary sleight-of-hand known as reconciliation to renew his signature tax cuts and enact big spending cuts. It requires the House and Senate to pass an identical bill to avoid a filibuster in the upper chamber, giving individual lawmakers outsized power.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  The story of Connecticut cannot be told without recounting the journeys of many Italian immigrants.

Author Arnaldo Aranci spoke with Ann Nyberg about his new book, Niclas Story which retells his parents journey from war-torn Tuscany to the United States.

Nyberg: Author on fighting fear, moving towards success

Watch the full video in the player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
A bipartisan group of City Council members is urging Trumps Department of Justice to step in to overrule the Big Apples sanctuary city laws, The Post has learned.

The councils Common Sense Caucus penned a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday asking to take legal action against New York City for its policies on illegal immigrants that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and the federal government.

We understand the Department of Justice (DOJ), under your direction, is already suing the state of New York for violating federal statutes by impeding communication between state and federal authorities on immigration enforcement, the caucus wrote in the letter obtained by The Post.

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We ask the DOJ to expand this legal action to include New York Citys so-called sanctuary city laws, which shield criminal aliens from federal immigration authorities, place the public at risk and severely undermine efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and our own law enforcement agencies to coordinate on issues of national security.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is being urged to expand her legal action against New York to include NYC. Getty Images

The DOJ filed a federal suit against the Empire State in February targeting the 2019 Green Light Law, which allows illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses and bars the feds from accessing any of the state DMV data.

Our Constitution specifically grants the federal government the power to establish laws to protect our borders and regulate immigration, and New York City cannot willfully ignore these laws, said David Carr (R-Staten Island), who led the effort.

I believe the courts would side with the Department of Justice in a lawsuit to compel local authorities to comply with federal law enforcement agencies like ICE, and AG Bondi is the right person to lead this effort.

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The city started rolling out its pro-immigrant policies in 2011, when it enacted a ban on detainer requests from ICE unless they come with a judicial warrant and the person had been convicted of serious crimes within the prior five years.

David Carr (R-Staten Island) led the charge on the legal action. Paul Martinka

Over the next few years, five more laws were put on the books restricting the coordination between the New York City Police Department and the citys Department of Correction.

The group of lawmakers, who have repeatedly tried to roll back the laws, claims the reckless, ill-conceived policies are a threat to New Yorkers.

These so-called sanctuary city laws are only giving sanctuary to dangerous criminals who prey on New Yorkers, said Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (Queens). Thats why weve been fighting for years to repeal them. Now that we have a President and a federal administration that actually prioritizes the safety of Americans, we are hoping that can finally happen.

The Council Minority leader Joann Ariola believes the current federal administration will help overturn the laws. Michael Nagle

Trump-friendly Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly stood by the laws, arguing that they actually make the city safer.

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We tell you, if you are a victim of a crime, call the police and report it. We tell you that if you need medical attention, go to the hospital and get that medical attention, the Dem mayor said during a radio appearance last month.

The DOJ did not respond for comment.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) warned Trump administration officials they would soon face a problem if they continued arresting her fellow Democratic colleagues.

Ocasio-Cortez specifically called out Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan, and she accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of using public intimidation.

If anyones breaking the law in this situation, its not members of Congress, its the Department of Homeland Security, she said during an Instagram video posted Sunday. Its people like Tom Homan and Secretary Kristi Noem.

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You lay a finger on someone, on Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman  or any of the representatives that were there, you lay a finger on them, we are going to have a problem, Ocasio-Cortez added. Because the people who are breaking the law are the people not abiding by it.

Her warning comes after DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said three Democratic New Jersey members of the House  Watson Coleman and Reps. Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver could be arrested after a visit to Delaney Hall, a New Jersey detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), last week.

Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka (D) was arrested during the visit after refusing to leave the facility.

ICE officials reported that Watson Coleman, Menendez and McIver were pushing and shoving among the people in the crowd outside the facility, though Coleman denies the accusation.

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Delaney Hall has become a contentious point in New Jersey, with Trump administration officials saying the facility is critical in its effort to detain violent immigrants in the country illegally. However, Baraka and other local officials argued that the administration has not secured proper permits to house migrants at the facility.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Although Pakistan and India agreed to a ceasefire Saturday, restrictions to port access in both countries are making container shipping companies rethink their approach to docking at Pakistani ports.

Ocean carrier giants Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Hapag-Lloyd followed the lead of CMA CGM in implementing new surcharges on cargo to and from Pakistan.

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And beyond that, multiple shipping liners are scrapping calls to Pakistans ports or adjusting their routes in the region to adapt to the scenario.

As major shipping lines mostly leave the Pakistani ports out of their direct service routes, importers and exporters in the country are growing concerned over container congestion at the port.

Exporters are worried that they wont be able to meet their shipping deadlines as fewer ships come to pick up cargo. This leads to longer lead times and likely extra costs. And for importers, cargo collection entering Pakistan has been slow since the start of May due to the backlog.

MSC, the worlds largest container shipping company, announced emergency operation surcharges for Pakistan-related shipments. The fine will be $800 per container headed to the U.S., Europe and Africa, and $300 per container to and from the Middle East Gulf and Indian subcontinent.

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Until further notice, the fee will be effective on the gate-in date of May 19 for shipments to Europe, Africa and the Middle East/Indian subcontinent. Shipments to the U.S. will be effective June 11.

Rival Hapag-Lloyd is implementing its own contingency surcharges for shipments between Pakistan and Europe and Africa. The surcharges for containers out of Pakistan will be $500, while the fees for cargo entering the country will be $300. Fees will go into effect May 21.

The company is also implementing a $1,500 per container general rate increase/adjustment for goods exiting select ports in India to the U.S. East Coast, as well as cargo headed from Pakistan to the U.S. and Canada.

Both Pakistan and India have effectively halted trade with one another in the wake of a terrorist attack in Kashmir last month that resulted in military escalations from both sides.

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As part of the trade embargo, the south Asian nations have banned the import of goods fromor transiting throughthe other country into their own ports in the wake of the rising tensions.

But under the rules imposed, carriers looking to make direct calls at Pakistans Port of Karachi or Port Qasim will not be able to do so, because their cargo would be turned away from Indian ports, including major container hubs like Mundra and Nhava Sheva.

According to the Pakistan Ships Agents Association, most large container ships visiting Pakistan carry up to 70 percent Indian goods, thus making the Indian ports more of a priority.

Overall, the pattern emerging is that whilst India retains their direct network connectivity to overseas ports, Pakistans connectivity is becoming reduced as basically a large amount of cargo now has to be transshipped, said Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, in a daily LinkedIn updated Tuesday. The India/Pakistan conflict therefore has the consequence of negatively impacting Pakistani supply chains much more than Indian supply chains.

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As an alternative, vessels are instead redirecting to transshipment hubs like Colombo Port in Sri Lanka, the Port of Singapore, Malaysias Port Kelang, the Port of Salalah in Oman and the UAEs Jebel Ali Port.

Most of the major container liners have shifted some form of their service operations due to the suspension of trade between the countries.

MSC launched a direct weekly feeder service from Pakistan to Colombo to transport export containers to Sri Lanka for connections to global destinations.

CMA CGM revised five of its service lines, removing Karachi port calls from three services to Europe, the Mediterranean and intra-Asia. Port Qasim was removed from the Indamex route, which travels between India and the U.S. East Coast. These routes will instead use transshipment hubs in Colombo and another UAE-based gateway, Khalifa Port, to connect Pakistani cargo to the rest of the world.

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The ocean carrier is supplementing Pakistani cargo by adding Port Qasim to its Pakistan Khalifa Express (PIKEX) service it launched in April.

Hapag-Lloyd is deploying a dedicated shuttle, the Sofia Express, between the ports of Salalah and Karachi, with Port Qasim also included in the rotation. This is the second feeder option for Pakistani transshipment cargo, complementing the Pakistan Shuttle Service operating between Karachi and Salalah.

HMM has switched two of its services so that they will call Indian ports first, before calling at Pakistani ports.

Cosco Shipping and subsidiary Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have stopped bookings to Karachi, with the formers ships being redirected to Port Kelang instead.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Ontario County Sheriffs Office is honoring one of its K9s, who passed away on Monday at 14 years old.

K9 Cecil (Photo/Ontario County Sheriffs Office)

K9 Cecil worked with OCSO for nine-and-a-half years. He worked to find many suspects, drugs, and helped deputies during high-risk encounters.

Deputies remember one mission when Cecil was searching for someone in an attic. They said he fell through the floor, but was uninjured and continued his work.

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After retiring from the force in August 2021, Cecil stayed with his former handler, Deputy Fitzgerald.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
BLACK RIVER FALLS  The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is conducting an investigation of an officer-involved shooting in the town of Hixton on Monday morning.

Officers with the Jackson County Sheriffs Office attempted to stop a vehicle following a call to the Sheriffs Department, a DOJ press release states. The vehicle fled, prompting a pursuit by officers that ended when the vehicle came to a stop off the road in the 8100 block of Sand Prairie Road N. in the town of Hixton. During the encounter, an officer discharged their firearm, striking the subject.

Aid was immediately rendered to the subject, who was flown to a nearby hospital, where the subject remains in critical condition, the press release states. No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.

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The involved law enforcement officer was wearing a body camera during the incident and will be placed on administrative assignment, per the agencys policies, the press release states.

None of the names of the officers or the subject have been released at this time.

DCI is leading the investigation and is assisted by Wisconsin State Patrol. All involved law enforcement are fully cooperating with DCI during this investigation. DCI is continuing to review evidence and determine the facts of this incident and will turn over the investigative reports to the Jackson County District Attorneys Office when the investigation concludes, the press release states.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN  After nearly three months of uncertainty, a ray of hope shines over the future of Penn State Schuylkill campus.

On Monday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Schuylkill is not on a list of seven Commonwealth campuses slated for closing following the 2026-27 school year.

Citing sources close to the Penn State board of trustees, the Inquirer listed Schuylkill, Hazleton, Scranton, Beaver and Greater Allegheny as campuses that will remain open.

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Graduates of Penn State Schuylkill celebrate commencement May 10. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

At this point its just a rumor, State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp, said in a statement released Tuesday. However, I remain cautiously optimistic that Penn State has heard the strong support that more than 5,400 of my constituents in Schuylkill, Luzerne and Carbon counties have expressed about Penn State Schuylkill and Hazleton.

Cory Scherer, Schuylkills interim chancellor, said he has received no official word regarding Penn State Schuylkills future.

The board of trustees must meet and hold a public vote, said Scherer, who was appointed to the post in July 2024. Until then, were in a wait-and-see mode.

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Official vote set for Thursday

The trustees are scheduled to meet in executive session Thursday, though it is uncertain if a decision on Commonwealth campuses will be forthcoming.

On Feb. 25, Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi announced that 12 of the universitys 20 Commonwealth campuses were being studied for potential closure.

The Inquirer listed Dubois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York as being on the list to be closed.

Robert S. Carl Jr., president of the Penn State Schuylkill advisory board, said he preferred not to comment until the trustees announced their decision.

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At Penn State Schuylkills 80th commencement ceremony last Saturday, Carl told the graduates and their families that no stone has been left unturned in the effort to keep the Schuylkill campus open.

The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, of which Carl is president and CEO, sent a packet of information supportive of keeping Schuylkill open to Bendapudi and the board of trustees as recently as last week.

Though there had been previous appeals to Bendapudi, it was the first time the trustees were contacted directly.

Included were letters of support from 37 businesses and corporations that are Chamber members, and letters from the advisory board and its ex-officio members, which include state representatives.

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The packet included a video with statements of support from Scherer and his predecessor, Chancellor Patrick Jones, as well as Penn State Schuylkill students.

Reached in Harrisburg, where the House is in session, State Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp. expressed delight at the prospect that Schuylkill Campus would remain open.

Schuylkill campus serves an important need to first-time college students who can remain close to home and receive an affordable education, he said.

With programs in nursing and radiology, he said, the campus had adjusted to the needs of the 21st Century workplace. Schuylkills students also have gained practical experience through internships with local businesses and corporations.

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Theyre hitting on all cylinders, Twardzik said.

At the same time, he expressed sympathy for the regions where campuses will close.

Its heartbreaking, he said, to lose a school.

Dual enrollment is huge benefit

In recent months, Schuylkill County school officials have spoken about how important Penn State Schuylkill was to their districts and to the county as a whole.

Many students from the county take dual enrollment courses through Penn State Schuylkill each year, earning college credits while still in high school, and many other students attend the campus after graduating high school.

Dr. Sarah Yoder, Pottsville superintendent, said on Tuesday that if the campus remains open as reported it would be a huge benefit to Pottsville students.

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Those juniors and seniors who can get a jump start on college through dual enrollment classes save time and money, and those who are first-generation college students feel more comfortable having started college courses even before beginning their university educations, she said.

Penn State Schuylkill campus, pictured Thursday, March 20, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

As an example of the beneficial community partnerships the campus engages in, Pottsville School District is working to have a bullying and cyber-bullying study done by Penn State Schuylkill faculty in its schools, funded by the Department of Justice. The results of that research would benefit not just Pottsville but school districts in general, she said.

Were cautiously optimistic, she said of the news that Penn State Schuylkill will remain open.

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I was thrilled to hear the news that Penn State Schuylkill will remain open, said Shawn T. Fitzpatrick, superintendent of Schuylkill Haven Area School District.

This is a tremendous victory not only for the students, faculty and staff, but also for the entire Schuylkill County community, he said.

Penn State Schuylkill has long been a cornerstone of opportunity, education, and growth in our region, and Im grateful it will continue to serve and inspire future generations for years to come, Fitzpatrick said.

Campus dates to 1934

Schuylkill Campus was originally in Pottsville, where it was chartered in 1934. Classes were originally held in rented space, and science students shared laboratory facilities with an area high school.

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As World War II and Korean War veterans took advantage of the GI Bill, the campus began offering its first associate degree programs in 1953.

In 1967, after outgrowing its space in Pottsville, the campus relocated to a 39-acre tract on the site of the former Schuylkill County Almshouse near Schuylkill Haven.

Schuylkill Campus has more than 700 students in 10 baccalaureate programs, including fields of healthcare, business and technology. It offers four associate degrees, and the first two years of undergraduate classes for more than 275 majors that can be completed at University Park.
As its name suggests, the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut has the sea  or, rather, the Mystic River  right at its door. While the relationship between the museum and the river has been mostly harmonious, rising water levels are now prompting significant protective changes.

What's happening?

Flooding at the museum site has been more frequent than ever. Historically, it might happen a few times a year. Now, flooding is a monthly or weekly occurrence, according to April reporting from the New York Times.

First opening to the public in the 1930s, the museum was built on the Atlantic Ocean at the low-lying site of what once was a shipyard. Constructed on the water, it was not designed to withstand today's rising seas.

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At the moment, most of the museum's campus is considered a critical flood zone by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Even the highest points are only 14 feet above sea level, per the New York Times, making floods an inevitability.

"Flooding often submerges walkways throughout the campus," the paper noted, "preventing visitors from accessing buildings and experiences."

Why is Mystic Seaport flooding concerning?

As noted by the Times, researchers expect sea levels in the area to rise 20 inches by 2050.

"It might not be 2050," Chad Frost told the publication, "but this isn't a question of 'if,' but rather 'when.'" The architectural expert has been collaborating with the museum for years, focusing on flood resilience since 2020.

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Rising sea levels primarily stem from human-caused pollution, which traps heat in our atmosphere and can cause Arctic ice melting and water to expand. In the context of the Mystic River shoreline, the higher water levels can supercharge flooding events, making them more frequent and more destructive.

As temperatures increase worldwide, we can expect more intense climate shocks, including not only floods but also hurricanes and fires.

Museums beyond Connecticut are making preparations to survive wildfires and extreme floods too. At the Louvre in Paris, France, artworks not on display can be stored off-site at a higher elevation, according to KRTV.

"This is a slow building crescendo that gets worse the longer we wait," Frost continued, referring to the peril at Mystic Seaport's doorstep. "The clock is ticking," he added.

What's being done about Mystic River flooding?

The New York Times reported that, for the past five years, the museum has been implementing new methods for protecting its historical artifacts, including coastal barrier fortification and plans for building elevation.

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Specialists are also relocating some of the buildings. However, some operations are tied to the waterfront  like the historic watercrafts on display  and if coastal levels continue to rise, those materials could be lost or damaged.

To protect the vulnerable Mystic River coast and so many others, we need to address the proliferation of heat-trapping pollution that exacerbates sea level rise and flooding events. Some steps you can take include lowering the amount of energy you consume that's fueled by burning dirty energy sources like oil, coal, and gas. Coordinating with your community can also maximize your impact.

More actions to take at the community level include those similar to the efforts that Frost has helped the museum to pursue, like flood-risk assessment. Advocating for infrastructural plans and local investments to help make your neighborhood safer can reduce the costs  financial and otherwise  of flood recovery efforts down the line.

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.
The Financial Services Bureau (DSF) will begin refunding 60% of the 2023 professional tax paid by residents from May 23, under Article 20 of the 2025 Budget Law. The refund, capped at MOP14,000, will benefit 165,000 taxpayers. Bank transfers will be made on May 23, while non-registered recipients will receive crossed cheques by early June. Residents are urged to verify their bank details and addresses.

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Officials near Alpine, Texas, issued a warning for residents in April regarding sightings of a black bear in the area.

The bear, likely searching for food and part of a wildlife monitoring project, wandered south from Big Bend National Park, according to KFYO Radio.

What's happening?

Via a Facebook post, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department alerted the Trans-Pecos Wildlife District community of the bear's proximity and urged locals to secure all bear attractants, including human food, dumpsters, livestock, and pet and chicken feed.

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Human food and activity is one of the primary drivers of black bear traffic. In particular, bears, like humans, take a special interest in "treats packed with sugars and fats," per KFYO, meaning the scent of calorie-rich leftovers can bring a bear straight into your backyard.

Authorities encouraged residents to report any bear sightings to TPWD biologists via the agency's webpage.

Why are neighborhood black bear sightings concerning?

Black bears have been making a comeback from near-eradication in West Texas since the end of the 20th century, and the most recent sighting is only the latest in a series.

Outside of Big Bend National Park, wildlife habitat loss and resource shortages as a result of urbanization regularly drive bears into residential regions. The Houston Chronicle reported 154 bear sightings across Texas in 2022 alone  up from only 25 in 2000.

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"Human-bear interactions are going to start becoming more common as bears continue to recolonize," wildlife research assistant Matthew Hewitt explained.

Unfortunately, while human food and activity do attract bears, human communities aren't welcoming to the intrusions, and human-bear interactions can quickly devolve into conflict. In fact, the resurgence of bears can prove problematic for bears and humans alike, as constructive as it may be for local biodiversity.

"More than 95% of Texas land is privately owned," Texas Monthly noted, "placing bear habitats at odds with human interest."

What's being done about black bears?

To keep yourself safe, TPWD encourages removing or securing all bear attractants to avoid making your home an easy target for a hungry bear.

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Never go looking for black bears on your own  according to Yellowstone Bear World, black bears have deadly paws and jaws that make them one of the most powerful North American species.

If you do encounter a black bear in a residential area, loud noises and gestures can help ward it off.

In the long term, collective efforts to minimize waste and invest in proper garbage management can de-incentivize black bears from paying residential visits. Conservationist efforts to restore wildlife habitats can also help ensure black bears have the resources they need to survive on their own.

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Two individuals were allegedly caught smuggling a Central American spider monkey, a species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, into Texas from Mexico, MySanAntonio reported.

What's happening?

According to a federal criminal complaint, U.S. Border Patrol Agents at the Anzalduas Port of Entry in Mission, Texas, conducted a vehicle inspection on a car driven by Angel Arturo-Hernandez and Ashile Yaleei Alejandro on April 6.

The agents said they discovered a spider monkey "concealed from view in a zippered pink-colored bag," per MySA.

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It is illegal to own protected wild animals in Texas without a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The pair reportedly had not declared that they were bringing in any pets or live animals from Mexico, nor did they have a permit for the spider monkey, which would it an illegal act of smuggling wildlife across international borders.

The monkey's endangered status would elevate this criminal act to a felony violation under the Endangered Species Act, which protects and prohibits the "take" of listed endangered species.

During the investigation, Homeland Security investigators reportedly learned that the pair had intended to transfer possession of the monkey to someone else once they successfully crossed the border.

Why is illegal wildlife trafficking important?

Research from the International Fund for Animal Welfare reported nearly 2,000 wildlife seizures and poaching incidents in Hispanic America between 2017 and 2022. That total included the trafficking of over 100,000 wildlife species, some of which are at risk of extinction.

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Not only is the trafficking experience incredibly traumatic for the removed species, but many are trafficked in barbarous conditions that often result in death, such as an eastern box turtle that was shoved into a box stuffed with socks.

Additionally, introducing a non-native wildlife species to a new environment can also risk throwing that ecosystem out of balance. Non-native wildlife species are not automatically invasive, but there is potential that they can be.

Invasive species compete with native species for food and resources, and they can threaten native species with diseases they're not equipped to defend against. Over time, invasive species can wipe out native ones and overtake the ecosystem, leading to biodiversity loss.

What's being done about illegal wildlife trafficking?

Homeland Security Investigations is collaborating with interagency partners to dismantle wildlife trafficking organizations. In 2023, the agency established the Wildlife and Environmental Crimes Unit to reduce wildlife trafficking incidents in the country.

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Nonprofit organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund, are also educating the public about wildlife trafficking crimes and calling on governments worldwide to implement policies to protect endangered and trafficked wildlife.

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The Minnesota Department of Health has updated its guidelines on fish consumption from certain waterbodies in the state based on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination data.

What's happening?

MPR News reported in mid-April that the Minnesota Department of Health issued new warnings about PFAS in certain fish. Roughly 44 water bodies in 10 counties, both in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, are included in the new guidelines.

People should avoid all fish from the Minnesota River Valley ponds and Long Meadow Lake in Hennepin County. Warnings also advise limited consumption of Mooney Lake bass, George Lake walleye, and yellow perch and common carp from Otter Lake, McCuen Creek, Bear Creek, and the Crow River's south fork.

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However, guidelines were loosened for one lake, with the Department of Health saying that one serving of smelt caught from Lake Superior per week is OK  previously, it was one serving per month.

Why are PFAS concerning?

The updated guidelines indicate officials are finding higher concentrations of PFAS in these areas and species. PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in the manufacturing of products like non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and food packaging.

These forever chemicals accumulate in the body and are linked to certain health issues. According to WebMD, the presence of PFAS can cause high cholesterol, low birth weight, early puberty, childhood obesity, decreased fertility, hormone changes, weakened immunity, thyroid problems, and more health issues.

Angela Preimesberger, who leads the health department's fish consumption guidance program, said, "It's really important that people understand that our guidelines are affected by where you're fishing and who you are, and that we have different guidelines for people that are in sensitive populations."

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Sensitive populations include pregnant women, children under 15, and women who are breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant. Other populations are advised to consume these fish with caution and in limited quantities.

PFAS also harm the environment. They build up in animals, causing reproductive, immunity, and developmental problems. This can weaken populations and topple ecosystems, reducing biodiversity that is vital to a healthy planet for everyone.

What can be done about PFAS in water?

Officials have implemented several standards regarding drinking water, swimming areas, and seafood contaminated by high levels of PFAS. However, removing these chemicals is difficult, requiring targeted filtration, osmosis, or ion exchange, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. It can't be done on a large scale, either.

Preventing the manufacture of more forever chemicals is crucial. The 3M Company contaminated groundwater, lakes, and rivers in the Minnesota area for decades. Holding brands accountable for their environmental impact can drive progress toward cleaner water and a cooler planet.

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Supporting environmentally conscious brands and advocating for strict regulations and corporate policies can also make a difference.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Monday appealed a ruling from a federal judge that struck down a law that would have required social media companies to verify the ages of its users and verify parental consent for those under the age of 16.

Yost, who is running for Ohio governor in 2026, filed the notice of appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Judge Algenon L. Marbley, a Clinton appointee, ruled in April that the law is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment, and blocked Yost from enforcing the law. See a report on Marbleys ruling in the video player above.

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At the time of the decision, Yosts office said it was reviewing the order to determine the next steps.

Under the law, social media companies would have had to develop methods for verifying the ages of its users by asking for government ID, credit or debit card information, or a digital consent form. Users under 16 would have had to get verifiable parental or legal guardian consent.

NetChoice, which sued to block the law, argued that the law was so vague that it would have restricted access to sites regardless of the type of content.

This Court lauds the States effort through the Act to protect the children of this state, Marbley wrote in his judgment. This Court finds, however, that the Act as drafted fails to pass constitutional muster and is constitutionally infirm. And in this constitutional democracy, it cannot be gainsaid that even the governments most noble entreaties to protect its citizenry must abide in the contours of the U.S. Constitution, in this case the First Amendment.

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State lawmakers are now considering a bill that would require consent in app stores instead of on individual social media apps.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
(File photo by Caspar Benson/Getty Images)

Two Ohio prisons are arming their staffs with tasers through a new, nearly $350,000 pilot program.

Trumbull Correctional Institution staff received Taser 10s last week and Ross Correctional Institution will start staff training this month, said JoEllen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The pilot program costs $349,441 a year, which includes training and certifications, Smith said. Staff must complete training to carry the tasers.

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Over 78% of those currently housed in the department have committed a crime of violence in their lifetime, Smith said in an email. This means that the inmates the staff supervise are more dangerous than they have been in the past, and we want our staff to have the tools to do their jobs safely.

On Christmas Day, an inmate beat Officer Andrew Lansing to death at Ross Correctional. This was the first time an employee was killed by a prisoner since 1996.

The TASER 10 devices have built-in Bluetooth signaling that is connected to our body-worn cameras, Smith said in an email. The body-worn cameras will begin recording if a TASER 10 device is taken off safe mode. The TASER 10 will not fire when it is in safe mode.

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Staff in Ohio prisons do not carry firearms.

Tasers are not to be used for punishment and they are not to be used if the incarcerated person is pregnant or six weeks postpartum, in an elevated physical location, submerged in water, younger than 15 years old, restrained, or riding bicycles or in control of moving vehicles, according to the ODRC taser policy, dated May 6.

The exceptions are when necessary to protect self or others from an immediate threat of death or serious physical harm threatened by an incarcerated person or anyone else; to prevent or halt the commission of an escape or to apprehend an escapee; or to prevent loss of control of the institution, or a significant part of, or to regain such control, according to the ODRC policy.

The Ohio Justice & Policy Center is asking ODRC to pause the pilot program.

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Threatening the use of a taser is like threatening to shoot someone, said Ohio Justice & Policy Center Policy Director Michaela Hahn Burriss. Just because a taser might make somebody more compliant doesnt necessarily mean that you de-escalate the situation. Using a taser is force. Tasers are lethal.

A 2017 Reuters report found 104 prison deaths from 2000-2017 were linked to tasers. The report also detailed hundreds of examples of tasers being misused in U.S. prisons.

Tasers pose a risk, not only to the incarcerated population, but to employees as well, Burriss said. This is something that is well documented.

At least 95% of incarcerated people will eventually be released, according to the Education Commission of the States.

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Tasers are not going to rehabilitate someone, Burriss said. We dont have a lot of confidence, given what we are experiencing and seeing that this is going to be handled and rolled out in a way that keeps people safe.  These are life and death stakes.

Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.

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An Ohio man was recently arrested for his 20th DUI.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police in Norwalk, which is in Huron County, confirmed that 75-year-old Spencer Blatnik was arrested after driving erratically on May 2, our CBS affiliate WOIO reported.

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An arrest report obtained by WOIO states Blatnik was driving 10 mph under the speed limit, then sped up, then slowed down again.

After pulling him over, an officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol from Blatniks van. He tried to explain to the officer that he spilled beer in the van.

WOIO reported this is the first time hes been arrested for DUI since 2012.

Before that, Blatnik had been arrested in the following years: 2009 (twice), 1999, 1994, 1993, 1989, 1988 (twice), 1984, 1983, 1982 (twice), 1980 (three times), 1979, and 1974.

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An Ohio man has been charged with federal crimes after being accused of sending at least 65 threatening letters and electronic communications to approximately 34 victims, including public officials, law enforcement and local CBS affiliate WBNS.

Ronald Lidderdale, 39, has been charged with making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking.

Agents caught a break after a local news organization was sent a letter with white power on February 11. That date coincided with a letter with white powder received by Tegna owned WBNS.

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At times, he allegedly claimed the white powder was Ricin. One letter contained a 9mm bullet with the last name of the public official etched on it.

According to charging documents, Lidderdale allegedly sent threats to publicly elected officials holding statewide office in Ohio, elected officials holding office in the federal government, and individuals involved in Ohio politics.

"Perpetrators who violate federal law by sending such serious threats in the mail or online will not remain anonymous. Actual or threatened political violence in any form must be condemned," said Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris. "We will work with our law enforcement partners to identify these bad actors and prosecute them."

Court documents allege that Lidderdale sent a letter to a local TV station and emails to federal and local law enforcement outlining his plans.

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We asked Tegna about it, but were met with a no comment.

"Targeting public officials with threatening messages and substances is a serious federal crime that won't go unpunished," stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. "FBI agents have worked closely with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate these incidents and arrest the suspected offender."

Mailing threatening communications carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, conveying false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking are all federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A power grid operator for Ohio and other states said plenty of resources are available to meet typical peak summer electricity demand but warned that there are extreme scenarios in which generation capacity may fall short.

PJM, a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of electricity across Ohio and 12 other states, said it expects summer usage to peak at about 154,000 megawatts. The company said one megawatt can power about 800 homes.

Ohio again ranks among worst states in country in list by U.S. News & World Report

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The company expects to have enough reserves to meet that demand, but noted its the first time in PJMs annual assessment that generation capacity may fall short of required reserves in an extreme planning scenario that would result in an all-time PJM peak load over 166,000 MW.

The company is concerned about the imbalance of supply and demand due to the lack of building new resources and generator retirements.

This outlook at a record peak heat scenario reflects our years-long and mounting concerns as we plan for enough resources to maintain grid reliability, Executive Vice President of Operations, Planning and Security Aftab Khan said in a statement. All resources within PJMs footprint should be prepared to respond when called upon.

If the extreme scenario were to happen, PJM would use contracted demand response programs to meet its needs.

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Demand response programs pay customers who have opted in to reduce their electricity during system emergencies, PJM said.

Amendment to eliminate Ohio property taxes moves one step closer to voters

The National Weather Service expects the summer months to be hotter than normal along parts of the East Coast. PJM said it has about 179,200 megawatts of generation capacity over the summer, plus another 7,900 megawatts of contracted demand response resources.

PJMs long-term load forecast predicts a massive jump in peak demand over the next 15 years.

This forecast captures the dramatic increases in future energy demand, as evidenced by the last two years when data center development has grown exponentially, Khan said.

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AEP Ohio has blamed PJM for customer bill increases that will go into effect in June. PJM does not generate electricity, but coordinates how electricity is transmitted to help meet electricity demand.

In a recent auction, the entire PJM region saw significant increases in the price of electricity generation capacity compared with previous auctions, AEP Ohio stated. This cost is always passed to customers dollar-for-dollar, with no markup or profit for AEP Ohio.

Amendment to eliminate Ohio property taxes moves one step closer to voters

AEP estimates that beginning in June, customers who use 1,000 kWh of electricity per month would see their monthly bills increase by about $27.

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Ohio lawmakers recently passed House Bill 15  awaiting Gov. Mike DeWines signature  which aims to address energy shortages and growing demand. It would also repeal the remaining portions of HB 6 (2019), which landed the states former speaker of the House in federal prison.

The remaining portions subsidize two Ohio Valley Electric Corporation coal plants on the backs of Ohio ratepayers. One of the plants is in Ohio, the other in Indiana. The Ohio Consumers Counsel estimates that the amount Ohioans have paid since January 2020 is more than $464 million to date. Ohio Republican leaders have been at odds since the scandal unfolded about the remaining portions of the law.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Ohio state Rep. Rodney Creech, R-West Alexandria. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.)

Ohio Republican Representative Rodney Creech has been removed from his leadership role at the request of House Speaker Matt Huffman, he said, adding that the leader asked him to resign following criminal allegations and an investigation that led to no charges in 2024.

Creech, of West Alexandria, was formerly the chair of the Agriculture Committee, but the state website shows that he is no longer in that role.

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The lawmaker gave us a statement, saying, in part: These allegations have been found to be demonstrably false, and I have already begun pursuing legal action against those who are pushing this filth.

We reached out to Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffmans team for a statement and clarification, but did not hear back.

I do not think the pressure on me to resign was justified, but I do believe Speaker Huffman is doing what he believes to be in the best interest of the Ohio House, Creech said.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook.

This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

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The Gavel outside the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

The Republican majority on the Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that nitrogen gas didnt qualify as toxic in 2016 when it killed a worker at TimkenSteel  a company founded by an important Republican family.

The family sold majority ownership of the company in 2014, but appeared to still be invested and playing a leadership role when the accident took place. Members of the family have continued to be big contributors to Republicans  including three of the justices who ruled against the killed workers widow.

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At issue in the case was whether nitrogen could be considered toxic at any concentration. At stake was tens of thousands of dollars a year that the company could have been on the hook to pay for decades.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is currently pushing to use nitrogen gas in the states death chamber.

In March of 2016, Kenny Ray Jr., 32, was inspecting fire extinguishers at TimkenSteels Faircrest plant. When he went into a pressurized elevator-control room, a pulse-cleaning system malfunctioned, the room filled with nitrogen and Ray, who also worked as a firefighter and policeman, suffocated.

His widow, Sharmel Culver, was awarded death benefits, which are two-thirds of the deceased workers average weekly pay, but capped at about $800 a week. Culver wanted more, arguing that her husband was killed by safety violations at the plant.

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Days after Rays death, the Canton Repository reported that TimkenSteel had a history of safety violations. The company was facing $500,000 in fines at the time of the accident, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration had placed the company on its list of severe violators, the paper reported.

Culver, Rays widow, wanted TimkenSteel to pay her a violation of a specific safety requirement benefit. That could have forced the company to pay half again as much as she was getting in death benefits.

And TimkenSteel might have had to pay for a long time. Spouses are eligible for the benefit as long as they live or until the remarry. Dependent children are eligible until they turn 21  25 if theyre in school full time.

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Culver said she was entitled to the extra benefits because TimkenSteel violated rules requiring the company to minimize an employees exposure to air contaminants and to provide respiratory equipment to protect against them.

The Ohio Industrial Commission denied the claim, saying that in order to be a contaminant, nitrogen had to be toxic in any amount.

Nitrogen is a common element which makes up about 3% of the human body. It also makes up about 78% of the air we commonly breathe.

But nitrogen dispels oxygen, and when oxygen concentrations drop below 16% the brain orders the lungs to breathe faster and deeper. When they drop to around 5%, coma and death happen quickly, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board reported.

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Highly concentrated nitrogen is such an effective killer that Alabama is using it in its death chamber.

When Culver, Rays widow, appealed the Industrial Commissions denial of her claim to the 10th District Court of Appeals, that court agreed with her. In directing the Industrial Commission to reconsider its denial, last year it said that whether a substance can be considered toxic must take into account how concentrated it is and how that concentration affects human health.

In order for this definition to make sense, it must be understood to mean a substance becomes toxic when it is present in the atmosphere at an abnormal level, the judges wrote. This is not a static amount, but a threshold relative to the unique properties of each substance.

However, the Ohio Supreme Court last week rejected that reasoning.

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Culvers position is essentially that Ray died because of a hazardous concentration of nitrogen gas in the atmosphere; ergo, nitrogen gas is an air contaminant,' the six Republican justices wrote. But the definition of air contaminant in effect at the time of Rays death included only toxic gases

The lone Democratic Justice, Jennifer Brunner, wrote a dissent accusing her colleagues of playing word games to deny killed workers families due compensation.

Such games are a poor excuse for denying justice to workers whose injuries result in death, Brunner wrote. We can and should recognize that the term hazardous concentration and the plain meaning of toxic gases provide relief for fatally injured workers such as Ray. These regulatory terms are not and should not be used to perform gotcha jurisprudence based on rules of construction about redundancy.

The presence of the Timken name in the case also raises questions, but theyre hard to answer. The family founded a company that in 1901 moved to Canton, started manufacturing roller bearings and then moved into steel, power transmission, and other areas.

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Its also closely associated with Republican politics in Ohio. Jane Timken  wife of former chairman, CEO and board president Ward Timken Jr.  was chair of the Ohio Republican Party from 2017 to 2021. Last year she was elected to the Ohio Senate after running as a Republican.

The Timken family has also generously donated to Republican causes and candidates  including for the Ohio Supreme Court. Records at the Ohio Secretary of States office indicate that Ward Timken Jr. contributed $80,000 to national and state Republican groups just in the five weeks before the 2020 election.

The Timken Good Government Fund in 2022 gave $2,000 each to the committees of Republican justices Pat DeWine and Pat Fischer. The same year, Jane Timken gave the justices $2,500 each, and last year she contributed $2,000 to a committee for another Republican Justice, Megan E. Shanahan, state records show.

A spokesman for the Supreme Court was asked if the judges believed they had a conflict of interest.

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Requests for recusal are governed by Supreme Court Practice Rule 4.04, the spokesman, Andy Ellinger, said in an email. No party in this case filed a request under that rule requesting any justice to recuse. Moreover, each justice may recuse themselves if they deem they have a conflict.

Its also hard to learn the extent of the familys involvement in TimkenSteel when Ray was killed at its Faircrest plant in March 2016.

A spokesman for the Timken Company noted that TimkenSteel was spun off in 2014 and now has a new name, Metallus. He referred questions to that company.

On behalf of Metallus (formerly TimkenSteel), Id like to clarify that the Timken family has had no management role, board seats or other ties to the company since 2019, Director of Communications Jennifer Beeman said in an email. Additionally, they are not considered major shareholders. We will not be providing any additional comments.

Asked in a follow-up question what the Timken familys involvement was in 2016  when Ray was killed, in other words  Beeman didnt respond.

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Donald Trump is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.

The Qatari government said a final decision hadnt been made. Still, Trump defended the idea  what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government.

So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane, Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night.

ABC News reported that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.

The gift was expected to be announced when Trump visits Qatar.
An Arizona company plans to open Oklahomas second alternative online school in the 2026-27 academic year.

The Statewide Charter School Board, without a vote in opposition, approved the creation of ThrivePoint Academy of Oklahoma. The school falls under the umbrella of Learning Matters Educational Group of Glendale, Arizona, which is expanding into a fifth state. It currently operates charter schools in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.

According to its application with the Oklahoma state board, ThrivePoint, which will serve students in grades 6-12, hopes to have about 300-400 students when it opens. It wants to grow to 2,000 students after five years of operation. ThrivePoints Oklahoma operation will have its teachers and staff based in-state. Former state Sen. Clark Jolley of Edmond is serving as ThrivePoints board chair in Oklahoma.

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We want to make sure we do as much local operation as we can, said Timothy Smith, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Learning Matters Educational Group.

ThrivePoint had its initial application last year denied by the current boards predecessor, the Statewide Virtual School Charter Board. Last month, the current board held off on approving ThrivePoints application, citing concern in five areas of the application. Skyler Lusnia, the director of school performance for the state agency, told board members on May 12 that ThrivePoint had addressed those concerns in its amended application.

ThrivePoint will be the 13th charter school sponsored by the state board. Of those, eight are online charter schools.

They have some experience in other states doing this and having success, said Brian Shellem, the state boards chair. One of our tasks is to attract high-quality people who are already getting it done, so were hopeful that they will have a great impact on Oklahoma, especially for kids who have already fallen behind.

Statewide Charter School Board Chair Brian Shellem, shown here in a 2024 file photo, said the operators of a new online charter school have had success in other states.

Smith said said ThrivePoint helps students who are behind in earning credits needed for graduation, with the goal of making them college- or career-ready.

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One of the things that (the board) was talking about is, can a student catch up in a year? Smith said. "We have a track record of students who are many times one year behind, or even two years behind, and theyre able to catch up with their peers because of our personalized learning plan that each student has."

He said his organization has operated in Arizona for 25 years and in California for 15 years.

In a cover letter that accompanied ThrivePoints application, Jolley described the school's model as innovative.

It is an option for underserved students and their families to receive personalized guidance helping them chart their futures, he said.

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More: How Oklahoma leaders at Supreme Court hearing on religious charter school responded to arguments

The Statewide Charter School Board, shown here in March, approved a new online charter school at its May meeting.

The only alternative online school now operational in Oklahoma is Insight School of Oklahoma, which is based in Midwest City and serves about 1,100 students. Smith said he believes there is enough demand for alternative online education in the state that both schools should be able to succeed.

Theres certainly a big need for it, and unfortunately there are an increasing number of students who are falling into that at-risk category for a number of reasons, Smith said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma approves online charter school: What to know about ThrivePoint
The Supreme Court recently heard arguments for Oklahomas St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School. If successful, St. Isidore would become the first outwardly religious charter school in the United States. As a former Oklahoma public school teacher and current law student, I find this case highly concerning. Not only could religious charter schools upend public education in Oklahoma, but they rely on themes and arguments reminiscent of a much darker time in our history.

Our Founding Fathers, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, believed that for American democracy to work, it needed schools where all children could learn literacy, history, patriotism and morals. Later advocates like Horace Mann built on this idea, championing common schools where children of different economic and religious backgrounds could come together and learn alongside one another. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has consistently ruled that public schools cannot require students to adhere to any one religion. These developments shaped the public school system we know today  a system designed to include all children, no matter who they are or what they believe.

More: Drummond: Allowing St. Isidore school would threaten religious liberty | Opinion

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Yet, some groups never accepted this inclusive model of common schooling. Instead, they want to allow tax dollars to flow freely to any school a parent wishes to send their child to, regardless of who runs it, what it teaches or whom it excludes. This isnt a new trend. After Brown v. Board required public schools to desegregate, White parents responded by sending their children to private  often religious  schools that could exclude Black students. Once this system of segregation academies emerged, White parents began demanding that their tax dollars pay for this private, exclusionary education. They used phrases like school choice and parental rights for the freedom not to send their children to integrated government schools.

Today, school choice and parents rights are back in vogue  this time, in support of religious charter schools. Although charter schools are often privately operated, they are intended to be public schools; Oklahoma charter school law says so. Yet, in recent years, the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot discriminate against religious institutions in generally-available government programs. If the Supreme Court decides that charter schools are such a program, states will be required to allow religious groups to establish charter schools at taxpayer expense. This includes religious schools that kick out students for disagreeing with their religious dogmas, call LGBTQ+ students sinful perversions, and refuse to accommodate students with disabilities if doing so would compromise their religious beliefs. Such efforts to keep out certain students are just as wrong today as they were during Jim Crow. This is not religious freedom; it is exclusion in the name of religion.

Demonstrators rally April 30 outside the Supreme Court as the justices hear oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond in Washington D.C. At issue in the case is the establishment of the nation's first religious charter school.

More: Why we favor state funding of a Catholic charter school | Opinion

Fortunately, we can take steps to mitigate this harm. Oklahoma could change its charter school laws to put public school boards, rather than private ones, in charge. We could also embrace other forms of school choice, like magnet schools and open enrollment, that dont involve any private actors. To truly defeat religious charter schools and the un-American principles they represent, however, it will take people coming together and standing up for public schools. This includes civil rights and social justice advocates, but it also means crossing traditional party lines.

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Employers want well-trained workers. Faith leaders value independence from government involvement. Even many Oklahoma conservatives, especially moderate and rural ones, have pushed back against Republican Party elites and stood up for public education. Public schools are a public good supported by public resources; they should stay that way. This is a cause worth putting our differences aside for, lest we end up on the wrong side of history.

Brian Broderick

Brian Broderick is a former Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher (U.S. Grant High School) and current student at Harvard Law School.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Our founders devised an inclusive model of common schooling | Opinion
Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Edwards has died after nearly four years as the county's top prosecutor.

Muskogee police said Edwards was found dead in his home shortly after 8 a.m. May 12 by officers making a welfare check. Muskogee Police Public Information Officer Lynn Hamlin said there was nothing suspicious at this time regarding Edwards death.

Kathryn Brewer, the executive coordinator of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council, said in a statement that Edwards was known as "a serious and skilled prosecutor, a thoughtful mentor and a public servant."

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"His impact stretched across multiple jurisdictions, and he remained steadfast in his commitment to victim advocacy and community safety," she said. "His passing leaves a void in the Oklahoma legal community that will be deeply felt.

State Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, said Edwards had made a lasting impact on the community.

Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Edwards died May 12, 2025

Larry was deeply committed to justice and the well-being of our community, and his legacy of service will not be forgotten, Frix said in a statement. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues during this challenging time. He will be truly missed.

Gov. Kevin Stitt now is responsible for naming a person who will serve the remainder of Edwards term.. Stitt had appointed Edwards as Muskogee County district attorney in October 2021 to fill the vacancy after the resignation of then-DA Orvil Loge. Edwards was elected to the post in 2022.,

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A spokesman for Stitt said there is no timeline yet as to when Stitt might appoint Edwards' successor.

Stitt said May 12 he was saddened to learn of Edwards' death.

"My prayers are with Mr. Edwards' family, his colleagues in law enforcement and the entire Muskogee community," Stitt said. "We are grateful for his service to Oklahoma and the legacy he leaves behind."

Edwards first graduated from Oklahoma State University with a marketing degree, then the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1990 before starting his prosecutorial career in Tulsa County. He worked as a homicide prosecutor, drug and gang unit specialist and liaison to the Tulsa Police Department.

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Edwards was cross designated as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts in the 2001 prosecution of James Whitey Bulger, Stephen Flemmi and John Martorano in the murder of Roger Wheeler in 1981 in Tulsa  one of the most notorious crimes ever to occur in Oklahoma.

Edwards went on to serve as first assistant district attorney in the office serving Rogers, Mayes and Craig counties in northeastern Oklahoma, and later held the same position in the Muskogee County office in 2020.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Muskogee County district attorney Larry Edwards found dead in his home
Oklahoma judge sentences Chiefsaholic in Tulsa robbery

TULSA, Okla.  An Oklahoma judge added more prison time to a well-known Chiefs fan known as Chiefsaholic and for his string of robberies across the country to fund his obsession with the Super Bowl team.

On Monday, Xavier Babudar, 30, was sentenced to 34 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Both his state and his 17.5-year federal sentence will run together. Upon completing his federal sentence, he will serve 14.5 years in the Oklahoma prison system.

Babudars robbery spree over seven states enabled him to purchase expensive tickets to Kansas City Chiefs games and cultivate a large online following as Chiefsaholic, a knockoff of the Chiefs official mascot, K.C. Wolf.

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The Chiefs Superfan pleaded guilty in Tulsa District Court to robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault while masked or disguised in connection with a 2022 robbery of the Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union in Bixby, Oklahoma. He also pleaded to remove an electronic monitoring device.

The Kansas City Chiefs Superfan confessed to holding the bank employee at gunpoint and ordered her to open the vault, while he stole $139,000.

Payton Garcia, the victim of the robbery, filed a civil suit against Babudar and was awarded $1.6 million for losses, $2 million for emotional damages, and $7.2 million in punitive damages.

He is currently serving a 17-year federal sentence in Leavenworth, Kan., for a string of robberies in seven states that funded his obsession with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Babudars attorney asked for 22 years, saying, Babudar pleaded guilty to all counts and is taking responsibility for his actions. He is extremely remorseful and is fully prepared to serve his sentence and work to rehabilitate himself from his transgressions, court records show.

According to a brief filed in May, Tulsa prosecutors countered the 22-year sentence with a life sentence: This Court lacks any legitimate evidence of rehabilitative intent; it only has evidence of propensity to recidivate. At 29 years of age, Babudars youth suggests a long recidivism risk.

Babudar made a mockery of Oklahoma law on a national stage when he exploited the courts bond leniency to resume his crime spree. OKLAHOMA STATES BRIEF AS TO SENTENCING

His disregard for Oklahoma law deepened as he committed two additional bank robberies while a fugitive: specifically, the robbery of Heritage Bank in Sparks, Nevada, and the robbery of U.S. Bank in El Dorado Hills, California, the brief states.

He engaged in these crimes with similar violent tactics- terrorizing bank employees through the threat of a weapon, the state continued.

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Oklahoma lawmakers are concerned that behavioral health clinics could soon start shutting down across the state, as leaders of Oklahoma's beleaguered mental health agency say the department is about to run out of money.

Officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services still do not know how much additional money the agency will need from the Legislature to pay its staff through the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The latest estimate was about $23 million.

Whatever the final figure is, it will not include pending reimbursement claims from certified community behavioral health clinics, said Aaron Morris, the state's chief financial officer.

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Morris testified about the department's finances to a special legislative committee May 12. David Greenwell, a public accountant appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt to investigate the mental health agency, also spoke.

Certified community behavioral health clinics, often called CCBHCs, are designed to provide a range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable people regardless of their ability to pay. Oklahoma has 13 CCBHCs that serve all 77 counties.

While the clinics are paid a monthly rate by the state, they also are reimbursed later for additional costs incurred for providing services to uninsured people.

Those pending reimbursement claims are subject to the availability of funds and are not contractually obligated, Morris told lawmakers.

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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioned how the clinics can get by without those payments. House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, asked Morris to consider adding those payments to the agency's financial requests to the Legislature.

More: Oklahoma Mental Health Department unable to make payroll amid financial crisis

Without budgeting for reimbursement payments, "we will have these departments shut down, especially in western Oklahoma, where we have one provider," Moore said.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, also voiced concern.

"When we talk about pended payments, I'm a little concerned that we're talking about it as discretionary, as if it's some kind of bonus, when the state has mandated to these providers a lot of things that they have to do," Kirt said.

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The focus on the reimbursement payments came on the heels of reporting from Oklahoma Voice, a nonprofit online news outlet, that revealed that eight CCBHCs in Oklahoma say they're owed nearly $150 million in reimbursement payments.

After the May 12 legislative hearing, the mental health agency issued a news release addressing concerns about the payments and referencing the $150 million figure, though not confirming or denying its accuracy.

The statement said the mental health department has not traditionally budgeted separately for those payments, but managed them at the end of the year using available funds. The statement said Commissioner Allie Friesen had asked the department's now-former chief financial officer, Rich Edwards, to develop an algorithm to assist providers in estimating and planning for anticipated reimbursement payments. But that never happened, the agency said.

More: Norman is partnering with Mental Health Association to prevent homelessness. How will it work?

House Majority Leader Mark Lawson and Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, are pictured May 5 during a special committee in the House that has opened an investigation into the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Gov. Kevin Stitt extends reach into mental health department investigation

The May 12 hearing was the first time lawmakers heard from Greenwell since he was appointed by Stitt. The accountant has been tasked with digging into the agency's finances as it faces a deficit and continues to stall its 2026 budget request.

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Greenwell told lawmakers he did not yet have specific numbers for the agency's supplemental request for 2025, or its budget request for 2026. A final number should come agency soon, as state officials plan to meet with the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency on May 12.

Greenwell said nothing significant had yet come to his attention in reviewing the reports and data that have been made available to him, though he confirmed the department does need more money to sustain itself through June.

The exact amount of money the agency needs has been a moving target for months. Friesen had told lawmakers in April that the agency faced a $43 million deficit, but asked for a $6.2 million special appropriation. It's unclear how the agency reached those numbers.

On May 5, agency officials told lawmakers the department needs at least $23 million to pay its staff through the fiscal year, admitting they aren't fully confident in that figure.

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The governor appointed a special counsel to conduct an outside investigation into the department on May 12. Stitt said in a statement that former U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell will leave no stone unturned.

These problems didnt develop overnight, and solving them wont happen overnight either," Stitt said. "But we are moving quickly, and we are not looking the other way.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lawmakers concerned OK mental health agency unable to pay providers
Oklahoma Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen, right, prepares to testify before a select committee investigating finances of the mental health department on May 5. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  An emergency one-time appropriation of $27.4 million is needed for the Oklahoma mental health department to make it through the current fiscal year and pay its employees, according to an official request made public Tuesday.

The amount the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services needs to stay afloat is slightly more than four times what agency leaders had initially told lawmakers theyd need to address financial shortfalls. After the agency reported it wouldnt be able to make payroll beginning May 21, the request grew to $23 million from the initial $6.2 million.

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The states chief financial officer and a specially appointed financial expert arrived at the $27.4 million figure after reviewing the budget, and that figure will be the agencys official request.

Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, Senate appropriations chair, said this request should cover the expenditures listed in the report, which includes nearly $3.4 million in payroll, $16 million in promised outcome-based payments for providers, and a handful of other line items.

The agency is projected to have over $116.6 million in cash and revenue for the rest of the fiscal year, but will expend about $144 million, according to the request shared with Oklahoma Voice. Some of these expenditures are directed spending mandated by the Legislature and require money to be sent to certain programs and funds, like one for children in crisis.

Rep. John Kane, R-Bartlesville, vice chair of the House budget committee, said he has no doubt the Legislature will provide this emergency budget ask because nobody wants to not pay our people. House leaders have previously said the priority is paying state employees.

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Aaron Morris, CFO for the state of Oklahoma, on Monday told lawmakers the request would not include funds for some payments to providers, who are seeking reimbursement by the state agency for services provided to uninsured populations. Despite reports from some providers of needing over $84 million in reimbursements this budget year, the request does not have a line item for these payments.

I think its an emergency. Were gonna have to fund it for sure and get them on track, Kane said. And hopefully next year, when we start talking about a budget, we really are comfortable with where we are, and I think we can do it, no doubt.

He said the agency has not yet made an updated request for the upcoming budget year, which begins July 1.

And I dont know where well be on this years budget. I think were going to be a little bit of a shot in the dark, Kane said. And then I suspect that the governor will be monitoring that pretty closely, since it is an executive function at that point, and then see how they go through the year. That might be something were talking about in February, right when we get back.

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The Legislature has until the last Friday in May to approve a budget.

The appropriation will have to come through a joint committee on appropriations and budget, which Kane said is normally a five day process.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  One person has been arrested after a woman arrived at an Oklahoma City hospital with a gunshot wound on Friday, May 9.

According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, 21-year-old Audrey Elizondo arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Investigators discovered that before she was dropped off, she was shot by 24-year-old Tymaine Reed while inside of a car near NW 10th St. and May Ave.

LOCAL NEWS: Investigation underway following Oklahoma County Jail inmate death

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Officials say Reed was handling a gun when it went off and hit Elizondo. She later died on Saturday, May 10, while in the hospital.

According to Police, Reed was originally booked on complaints of domestic assault and battery with a deadly weapon, but those complaints have been amended to murder in the second degree.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Update: State troopers identified the victim of the deadly crash as Kimberly G. Terhune, 64, of Maple Hill.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY (KSNT)  One person is dead and two others are injured in a crash on I-70 in Wabaunsee County on Tuesday.

The Wabaunsee County Sheriffs Office posted to social media around 11:40 a.m. on May 13 that a crash involving two vehicles forced the shutdown of traffic on I-70 east near mile-marker 343 close to the Wabaunsee/Shawnee County line. Multiple agencies responded to this construction zone crash.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced just before 2:30 p.m. on May 13 that I-70 reopened. One lane of traffic is open in each direction.

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Why are flags to fly at half staff on Thursday in Kansas?

The sheriffs office added an update to its social media post stating that two people are injured with one local Wabaunsee County resident dead. The identity of the deceased is not being released at this time.

A crash has shut down I-70 east in Wabaunsee County on May 13, 2025. One person is dead and two others are injured. (Photo By: Tim Schoepflin) A crash has shut down I-70 east in Wabaunsee County on May 13, 2025. One person is dead and two others are injured. (Photo By: Tim Schoepflin)

KDOTs online KanDrive map shows a significant slowdown of traffic in this area. You can check KanDrive by clicking here.

Its absolutely heartbreaking: Seven puppies found abandoned in Jefferson County

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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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  One person is dead after a shooting was reported in the Franklinton section of Columbus Monday evening.

According to Columbus police, the shooting happened on the unit block of South Princeton Avenue at approximately 5:27 p.m. The victim, later identified as 19-year-old Richard Murphy, was found unresponsive and transported to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at 6:02 p.m.

Two dead in shooting near east Columbus school

Detectives are still investigating the shooting to determine the motive and identify those involved. CPD is asking that anyone with information to call Columbus Police at (614) 645-2557, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

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One in five people in the Gaza Strip are facing starvation as the entire territory edges closer to famine, a new United Nations-backed report warns, after nearly three months of Israels blockade of critically needed humanitarian aid.

The warning comes as the UN and several NGOs, as well as civilians in Gaza, say the situation has deteriorated since Israel launched its renewed assault on the enclave in March, as residents struggle to access food, medicine and clean water.

The enclaves entire population is experiencing high levels of acute food security and the territory is at high risk of famine, the most severe type of hunger crisis, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said in its latest report Monday.

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Goods indispensable for peoples survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks, the IPC said. Food is running out, and what little is left is being sold at exorbitant prices that few can afford, it said.

Israel imposed a humanitarian blockade on Gaza on March 2, cutting off food, medical supplies, and other aid to the more than 2 million Palestinians who live in the territory. Israel says the blockade, along with the militarys expansion of its bombardment of Gaza, is intended to pressure Hamas to release hostages held in the enclave  but international organizations say it violates international law, with some accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

There is a high risk that famine will occur between now and the end of September, the IPC report warned, leaving most people in Gaza without access to food, water, shelter, and medicine.

Only an immediate and sustained cessation of hostilities and the resumption of humanitarian aid delivery can prevent a descent into famine, the report said.

Shuruq Ayyad consoles her 12-year-old daughter Rahaf, who is suffering from malnutrition, at a school-turned-shelter in al-Rimal in central Gaza City on May 4. - Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

Under the IPC system  a five-phase scale used to measure the severity of food insecurity  a famine can only be declared if data shows certain thresholds are met. Those conditions are: at least 20% of all households must face an extreme food shortage, 30% or more of children must be acutely malnourished, and at least 2 in every 10,000 people die every day because of outright starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.

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The first threshold has already been met, according to the IPC. Nearly 469,500 people  around 22% of the population - will likely experience catastrophic food insecurity, the highest phase on the IPC scale, between May and September, the report said.

David Mencer, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, said Monday that famine has never happened in Gaza, despite IPC warnings, and that if there is hunger in Gaza, it is caused by Hamas depriving civilians of humanitarian aid.

Whilst largely pinning the blame on Hamas for rising hunger levels, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday acknowledged the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza, telling CNN: If there wasnt a humanitarian crisis, there wouldnt be an effort to try to deal with it. So, the answer is, obviously yes, there is a humanitarian crisis.

Since March, Israels renewed assault has displaced more than 430,000 people, the report said, disrupting essential services and the distribution of critical supplies.

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All 25 bakeries run by the UNs World Food Programme (WFP) were forced to shutter at the beginning of April due to lack of supplies, and food is running out at most of the 177 hot meal kitchens, according to the IPC report. And food prices are soaring.

Prices for flour have increased 3,000% since February and 55-pound sack of wheat flour can run anywhere between $235 and $520, the report said.

At a Monday press conference, the UN Secretary Generals spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said only about 260,000 meals have been prepared and delivered across the Gaza Strip on Monday, which is a 70% reduction since last Wednesday.

According to the spokesperson, the blockade, which has passed 70 days, has depleted UN agencies food reserves. Stocks have run out, bakeries have shut down, community kitchens are closing daily, and people are starving, he said.

Pregnant women and children among the most at risk

Children and pregnant women are at particularly high risk. Nearly 71,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under five are expected between April 2025 and March 2026, the report said. And nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women will need treatment for acute malnutrition, it said.

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During the nineteen months since Israel launched its assault on Gaza in the wake of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, people have resorted to scavenging for food, eating grass and animal feed, and drinking polluted water. Starving mothers have been unable to produce enough milk to feed their babies and parents have scrambled to keep their children alive, parents and doctors told CNN.

Imran Rajab, a mother living in Gaza city, told CNN earlier this month she was forced to bake bread using flour from a garbage dumpster to feed her six children.

People walk along a street lined with damaged storefronts and a shuttered bakery in northern Gaza on April 1. - Hamed Sbeata/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

My kids are vomiting after they eat it. It smells horrible, Rajab said. But what else can I do? What will I feed my children if not this?

Dr. Amjad Al-Muzaini, a gynecologist working in Gaza City, said women in Gaza are forced to choose between feeding their children or caring for their own health. Most often, they sacrifice their own well-being to ensure survival, he said.

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While doing cesarean surgeries, women were found to have severely deteriorated intestinal and uterine tissues, Al-Muzaini said, likely the effects of eating poor-quality and mainly canned foods.

The WFP has said recently it is ready to surge enough aid into Gaza to feed the entire population for up to two months. UNRWA, the main UN agency supporting Palestinians, said it has nearly 3,000 trucks filled with aid waiting to cross into Gaza that is currently blocked by Israel.

Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border, the WFPs Executive Director, Cindy McCain said on X. But WFP hasnt been able to get new aid in since 2 March.

If we wait for famine to be officially confirmed, it will be TOO LATE, she said.

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Israel launched its war in Gaza following Hamas October 2023 attack in which militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Since then, Israels military campaign has killed almost 53,000 Palestinians. Since Israel resumed its bombardment in March, more than 2,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

CNNs Jeremy Diamond, Tareq Al Hilou, Mohammad Al Sawalhi, and Dana Karni contributed reporting.

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As he finishes college in China, computer science student Ma Tianyu has set his sights on graduate school in the United States. No country offers better programs for the career he wants as a game developer, he said.

He applied only to U.S. schools and was accepted by some. But after the initial excitement, he began seeing reasons for doubt.

First, there was President Donald Trumps trade war with China. Then, Chinas Ministry of Education issued a warning about studying in America. When he saw the wave of legal status terminations for international students in the U.S., he realized he needed to consider how American politics could affect him.

The recent developments soured some of his classmates on studying in the U.S., but he plans to come anyway. He is ready to adapt to whatever changes may come, he said.

American universities, home to many programs at the top of their fields, have long appealed to students around the world hoping to pursue research and get a foothold in the U.S. job market. The durability of that demand faces a test under the Trump administration, which has taken actions that have left international students feeling vulnerable and considering alternate places to study.

All of the Trump administrations activities have been sending a message that international students are not welcome in the U.S., said Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC, a professional association for international enrollment managers at colleges.

Competitors see an opening

Around 1.1 million international students were in the U.S. last year. A large decline in their ranks could cripple school budgets that rely on tuition from foreign students, who are ineligible for federal student aid and often pay full price to attend.

Its too early to quantify any impact from the administrations crackdown, which has included new scrutiny of student visas and efforts to deport foreign students for involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. But many fear the worst.

Students and their families expect and need certainty, said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators. And they do not function well in a volatile environment like the one we have currently.

The U.S. has been rebounding from a decline in international enrollment that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As top competitors such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom rolled back recruiting efforts and made immigration policies less welcoming, the U.S. appeared ready to bring in far more students.

Now, a few months into the Trump administration, industry experts say its unlikely the U.S. will be able to capitalize.

The U.S. was so perfectly positioned to become the far and away, clear first-choice destination for international students, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services. His company works with colleges in the U.S., Canada and Europe to recruit international students. Then it just went out the door.

In Canada, where colleges saw enrollment increases during the first Trump administration, they are hoping for another bounce. In a letter following the recent election, a member organization for Canadian universities urged the new Liberal government to address immigration policies that have affected recruitment of foreign students.

This is a moment of real opportunity for the country to attract international talent, said Gabriel Miller, president of Universities Canada.

Americais appeal remains resilient

The U.S. holds strong appeal for students prioritizing career outcomes, in part because of the optional practical training program, which allows foreign students to stay on their student visas and work for up to three years, said Lindsey Lopez of ApplyBoard, an application platform for students seeking to study abroad.

Graduates earning this post-college work experience were among the foreigners whose legal status or visas were terminated this spring.

Still, the diversity and size of the U.S. job market could help American schools stay ahead of the competition, Lopez said.

The U.S. is the largest economy in the world, she said. Its just the vastness and also the economic diversity that we have in the U.S., with a whole variety of different industries, both public and private, for students to choose from.

William Paterson University, a public institution of 10,000 students in New Jersey, typically has around 250 international students. It expects an increase in foreign students in the fall, according to George Kacenga, vice president for enrollment management. The school has focused on designing programs around STEM majors, which appeal to international students because they open access to OPT programs.

Students have expressed concern about securing visas, but most of the schools international students are from India and report they are getting appointments, he said.

In Shanghai, many students in Austin Wards 12th grade class have either committed to attending U.S. colleges or are considering it. Ward teaches literature in a high school program offering an American Common Core curriculum for Chinese students.

Ward said he avoids discussing politics with his students, but some have asked him about the U.S. governments termination of students legal statuses, signaling their concern about going to the U.S. MDT/AP
MORGANTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Burke County authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred over the weekend.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies responded at 9:45 a.m. Saturday to a residence in the 3300 block of Crawley Higgins Avenue, southwest of Morganton. Initial reports indicated that an altercation between individuals at the scene escalated, resulting in the shooting of one of the subjects.

3D-printed gun, narcotics seized in Burke County operation

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The victim was pronounced deceased shortly after first responders arrived. The Burke County Criminal Investigations Division is being assisted by the State Bureau of Investigation.

The name of the suspect and victim are not being released at this time.

The Burke County Sheriffs Office is working with the SBI and the District Attorneys Office to review evidence and determine the circumstances surrounding the homicide.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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SUNBURY, Ohio (WJW)  One lucky Ohio Lottery player will soon be $120,000 richer.

A jackpot-winning Rolling Cash 5 ticket worth $120,000 was sold at Hub Carryout, located at 245 North Columbus Street in Sunbury, according to the Ohio Lottery.

Parents sought after Canton toddler dies

The lucky ticket matched all five numbers in the jackpot drawn on Saturday, May 10.

The winning numbers were 1-8-16-22-39.

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According to the Ohio Lottery, the jackpot winner has 180 days to claim the prize.

Browns Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out for 2025 season

Rolling Cash 5 is a daily draw game with drawings held at 7:05 p.m. Learn more about Ohio Lottery draw games here.

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HIXTON, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  There is one person in critical condition after an early morning officer-involved shooting in Jackson County. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office attempted to stop a vehicle when it sped off and a chase began. The vehicle eventually stopped in the town of Hixton. During the traffic stop, one officer fired and hit a suspect in the vehicle. That person was flown to the hospital, where the Department of Justice reports they are in critical condition.

The officer involved will be placed on administrative assignment per department policy. The Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation has begun an investigation. Sheriff Duane Waldera explains, Its standard protocol that when a person discharges their firearm, then we have an outside agency investigate the what happened and gain the facts.

The sheriff says no deputies were injured during the incident.

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LANCASTER, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Lancaster man faces several charges after allegedly making arrangements to meet a teen girl on Saturday at a Garrard County park.

Lancaster police told FOX 56 there was never a teen girl in the first place, and the encounter was staged by an online group known as Ky. Predo Poachers.

RELATED | Georgetown man allegedly believed he was meeting teen girl, faced police instead

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We are a private organization that has volunteers all over the state and we use online decoy accounts to pose as underage kids. We let the alleged predators message and friend request us first, a Ky. Predo Poachers organizer told FOX 56. They take the conversations into inappropriate territory. We just interview them and turn over the evidence to the police when we are done. We have someone watching for a signal from me to call the police as I am nearing the end of the interview, so they can arrive on scene before the alleged predator leaves.

Officers said they were dispatched just after 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, to the park area behind the Five Star gas station. They met 40-year-old Jeffrey Poynter as he was sitting with a man from the group.

Court documents allege that Poynter believed he was there to meet up with a 14-year-old girl, and a representative from the group supplied police with transcripts of messages Poynter allegedly exchanged with them.

Investigators said some of the messages were sexually centered, and Poynter allegedly sent multiple images of his genitals.

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Video obtained by FOX 56 shows a volunteer meeting with Poynter before he called Lancaster police. At the end, hes placed in the back of a Lancaster police vehicle.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Poynter was arrested and charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, promoting a minor under 16 in a sex performance (solicitation), unlawful transaction with a minor under 16 (solicitation), and possession of a controlled substance not in the proper container.

He was lodged in the Jessamine County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond, court records show.

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This is the second time a man has been arrested this month in Lancaster, believing they were there to meet a teen girl.

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The U.S. has an immediate and actionable vital national security interest in the economic survival, recovery and growth of Argentina.

On April 11, the International Monetary Fund approved a $20 billion balance-of-payments loan to Argentina to shore up the countrys foreign-exchange reserves. On the same day, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank Group approved development finance packages for Argentina of $12 billion and $10 billion, respectively.

This extraordinary $42 billion financial transfusion is a clear message of hope for Argentinas economic survival, recovery and growth. The U.S. must move quickly to seize the opportunity provided by a rising Argentina to enhance American geostrategic security by helping the country to unlock its substantial reserves of critical minerals and escape the sovereign debt trap.

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Argentina has substantial reserves of strategically important critical minerals such as lithium and shale oil and gas. It is in the U.S. strategic interest to deny China access to such resources. Argentinas lithium reserves of about 20 million tons account for 20 percent of total world reserves. Lithium is the key ingredient for rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles  a sector dominated by China.

With recoverable shale reserves of 16 billion barrels of oil and 308 trillion cubic feet of gas, Argentina would rank among the top five globally. President Trump should help ensure that American finance, technology and expertise are available to Argentina to unlock the economic potential of its lithium and shale oil and gas resources, and that the U.S. market remains open to exports from Argentina.

Beyond critical minerals reserves, Argentina has enduring strategic value by virtue of geography, overlooking the vital sea lines of communication that connect the south Atlantic to the south Pacific. President Javier Milei, together with his economy minister, Luis Caputo, must find a way to monetize the countrys strategic value.

Accordingly, Milei should persuade Trump to support a proposal to convert all of the outstanding Argentine sovereign debt held by official creditors into grants by the end of 2026. Such a conversion would eliminate about $98.9 billion of debt (equivalent to about 14.7 percent of GDP) per the projected statistics contained in the IMF Staff Report.

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In return, 10 years following the date of such conversion, Argentina would voluntarily pledge to donate each year to a special purpose development fund for Latin America (managed jointly by the IMF and the World Bank Group) an amount equal to up to a maximum of 0.25 percent of nominal GDP in terms of U.S. Dollars, provided that after giving effect to such donation the Argentine federal budget will have an overall surplus of at least 2 percent of GDP, a step necessary to safeguard the countrys financial resilience.

The Argentine stock market has outperformed the U.S. stock market over the 12 months ending in April, delivering an extraordinary return of 48.5 percent compared to 12.25 percent. The same has been true over the comparable three-, five- and 10-year periods. Clearly, investors are signaling confidence in Argentinas growth potential.

But if Argentina is to grow, it must be unshackled from the grip of a heavy debt-service burden. In conjunction with the proposal to convert all of the debt held by official creditors into grants, Milei should also offer to swap at face value all of the outstanding Argentine sovereign debt held by private-sector creditors for a like amount of Argentina Perpetual Participation Certificates (a twist on the old British Consols). The proposed swap would cover about $165.5 billion of Argentine sovereign debt held by private-sector creditors (equivalent to about 24.7 percent of GDP), per the IMF Staff Report.

In lieu of interest, the holders of the participation certificates would be paid an aggregate annual amount equivalent to 0.75 percent of nominal GDP of the preceding calendar year. If nominal GDP grows in any subsequent year, the size of the participation payments for that year would increase; if nominal GDP declines, the size of the payments would decrease. The participation payments would be free of Argentine taxes. Likewise, any realized gains or losses as a result of trading participation certificates would not be included in Argentine taxable income. Participation certificates denominated in Argentine Pesos and U.S. Dollars would be listed on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, respectively.

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According to the IMF Staff Report, private Argentine citizens collectively hold about $200 billion in cash and cash equivalents outside the country. This flight capital represents a unique pool of country knowledgeable, investible capital that could potentially anchor Argentinas program to privatize state-owned enterprises. While it is difficult to estimate the total cash proceeds of such privatizations, $15 billion may be a reasonable figure. As an example, the Argentine petroleum company YPF is owned 51 percent by the state and 49 percent by the public. The shares held by the public have a current market value of about $6 billion. The shares held by the state would have a similar valuation.

Opportunity is knocking at the door of a rising Argentina. What will the answer be?

Samir Tata is the founder and president of International Political Risk Analytics, an advisory firm based in Reston, Virginia, and author of the book, Reflections on Grand Strategy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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In defending the gift of a super luxury jumbo jet hes preparing to receive from the royal family of Qatar to use as Air Force One, President Donald Trump described it as a brilliant deal. Not for the American people, it isnt.

The Boeing 747-8 jet is so lavish it is estimated to be worth around $400 million, and Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School and an MSNBC columnist, has said that a gift of this size from a foreign government is unprecedented in our nations history. Ali Al-Ansari, Qatars media attache to the U.S., said in a statement that the deal is not final, as the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments of the two countries defense departments.

After Democrats and some Republicans objected to the planned transfer of the flying palace as unconstitutional and corrupt, not to mention needing costly retrofitting, Trump suggested Democrats ought to be in awe of his deal-making abilities. The real offense, he said, would be paying for the plane.

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So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane, Trump posted on Truth Social. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.

Contrary to Trumps insinuation that this is actually good for Americans, by accepting the luxe jet hed be taking the American public for a ride. The Constitutions emoluments clause prohibits public officeholders from receiving gifts from foreign states without consent from Congress. Theres a simple reason for that: Those countries have their own interests that are separate from, and often at odds with, the interests of the American public. By accepting the jet, Trump would be accepting a favor that could raise the potential for a reciprocal act that serves the interests of Qatar instead of the U.S.

There is no question that any court that got to the merits would find a violation of the foreign emoluments clause, Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, a public interest watchdog, told me.

ABC News, citing sources familiar with the plan, reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trumps top White House lawyer David Warrington concluded it would be legally permissible for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trumps presidential library before the end of his term. (Its worth noting, as my colleague Steve Benen pointed out, that Bondi used to work as a registered lobbyist for foreign clients, including the government of Qatar.)

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But Hauser argued that its eventual donation to the library  where it appears plausible that Trump and his family could continue to use the aircraft after his term ends  makes it no less of a violation of the emoluments clause. You absolutely cannot use the existence of a nonprofit organization as a shield against political corruption, Hauser said. You can be corrupt on behalf of a charity.

Think about it this way: Even if you re-gift a gift, it doesnt change the fact that you received a gift. That applies even if Trump doesnt use the jet after exiting the White House. Of course the premise for this gift is to replace the aging aircraft in the Air Force One fleet with an impressive new jet, as Boeings contract to replace them has been delayed and plagued by cost issues.

Avoiding conflict of interest matters beyond the corrupt back-scratching scenarios that they can set in motion. They also help maintain citizen trust in the government. A president who can only think of human interactions  including governance  as a series of private zero-sum transactions may not care about, or even understand, that.

It doesnt matter whether Trump agreed to a specific quid pro quo behind closed doors. A free jumbo jet for Air Force One is a big favor  and a hugely tangible and personal one at that. There would be no way to extricate that from the rapport between the White House and Qatar going forward  it would be baked in as part of the bartering capital Qatar has with Trump in future instances when discussing everything from policy on Iran to Israel to natural gas deals. Moreover, other countries around the world will observe this and surmise that U.S. policy may be sold to the highest bidder.

Subscribe to the Project 47 newsletter to receive weekly updates on and expert insight into the key issues and figures defining Trumps second term.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
President Trump doesnt dominate just one party in America  he dominates them both. And its becoming clear Trump may dominate the Democratic Party longer than he will the Republican Party.

Today, Democrats have no policies except anti-Trump policies, and they have no leaders except strident, knee-jerk Trump-opponents.

The nadir of Democrats reflexive opposition, thus far, came with their response to the deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Garcia entered the U.S. illegally in 2011. In addition to his purported gang membership (a police informant said Garcia was an active member of MS-13, held a low rank in the gang, and went by the name Chele), Garcia is accused of human trafficking and assaulting his wife, Vasquez Sura while in the U.S.

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Such warning signs didnt stop Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) from traveling to El Salvador last month to visit with Garcia. Nor did it stop four other Democrat House Members from going a few days later.

As more details have surfaced about Garcia, Democrats have backed off their public histrionics. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) has said This is not the right person to be saying that we need to bring him back to the United States. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) would go on to refuse comment altogether.

Garcias case is a lesson for looking before you leap  or before you jerk your knee. Yet knee-jerk opposition is precisely what Democrats agenda has become. They blindly follow their first instinct to resist Trump whenever possible and blame him for everything.

This came to a boil last Friday, when a group of Democratic officials tried to force their way into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark.

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Habitual, blind opposition gives Democrats an automatic response to play through a willing establishment media megaphone. Trump functions as Democrats safety net. His history of low approval and favorability ratings undergirds their strategy. Anti-Trump sentiment helps inflate Democrats level of support. It also gives them political positions to adopt if they cannot come up with or generate them themselves.

Democrats problem on both fronts, however, is that they only have support, positions, and unity by default; they are not doing either positively on their own. This raises the question: What will Democrats even do when Trump leaves the political scene a few years from now?

Democrats have been unable to generate positive support for their own positions. Nor do they have any particularly new issues. Instead, since Trumps November election, Democrats have been taking stridently anti-Trump positions, which only serve to resurrect Biden administration stances that cost Democrats last November  even after Kamala Harris replaced Biden.

Democrats have opposed Trumps stopping illegal immigration and deporting illegal immigrants (as in the case of Abrego Garcia and their attempted ICE incursion). However, Bidens rating on immigration was abysmal, because his border policy was nothing short of sabotage. According to Real Clear Politics average of national polls, Bidens approval rating on the issue was 33.5 percent.

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Following Trumps victory, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), now a potential 2028 presidential candidate, immediately proclaimed that Illinois would do more transgender surgeries. Yet even Democrats believe that transgender issues  especially Harriss support for taxpayer-funded gender surgeries for prison inmates  hurt Democrats in 2024. Polls show that Americans strongly opposing allowing biological men and boys to compete in girls and womens sports.

Democrats are not generating positive policies that Americans favor, but rather just reacting with knee-jerk negativity to anything Trump supports. Their reactive attitude caters only to the 23 percent of voters who self-identified as liberals in 2024 exit polling, who make up more than half of the Democrat Party.

This means that Democrats message is only resonating in places where they already win, Americas deep-blue enclaves. But this gets Democrats no closer to cutting into Trumps 312-226 electoral vote victory.

Whats more, such anti-Trump positioning could well mean that Democrats are primed to fall below their current artificial levels of support once Trump leaves the stage.

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Consider again that only 23 percent of the country identified as liberal in 2024, and that Bidens final job approval rating average  the rating for an administration pursuing a strong set of liberal policies  was just 39 percent overall. What happens when this reactively anti-Trump party, lacking any positive vision, no longer has Trump to run against?

Democrats need positive policies  not simply opposition  that generate support. It is not now and will not be enough just to galvanize the opposition to Trump. Once Trump is gone, Republicans will be running someone else. Democrats look like they will still be running against Trump.

There is an adage in American politics that you cant beat something with nothing; right now, Democrats only something is Trump. Its hard to see how they will go on without him.

J.T. Young is the author of Unprecedented Assault: How Big Government Unleashed Americas Socialist Left. He has over three decades experience working in Congress, the Department of Treasury, the Office of Management, and Budget, and representing a Fortune 20 company.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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In the latest front of their war on the poor, Republicans in Congress are trotting out what could be one of their biggest health policy failures ever: Medicaid work requirements.

Republicans frame these mandates as a way to encourage people to work. But work requirements fail to increase employment, while only succeeding at tossing millions of people off Medicaid. And thats exactly what Republicans in Congress are banking on.

Work requirements  or paperwork requirements, more accurately  are little more than a bureaucratic cudgel. They impose layers of complex red tape on Medicaid enrollees, forcing them to clear administrative hurdles and prove their employment status or that they qualify for an exemption (such as caregiving or attending school). The primary result is health care coverage being taken away from eligible Americans.

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We know this because nearly everyone on Medicaid who can work already is. We also know this because states like Georgia and Arkansas have experimented with work requirements to disastrous results. In the latter state, for example, some 18,000 Arkansans lost coverage, even though researchers found nearly everyone targeted by the policy already met the requirements.

Republicans, however, are plowing ahead anyway. In March, experts at the Urban Institute estimated that between 4.6 million and 5.2 million adults ages 19 to 55 would have their health care ripped away due to paperwork hurdles from new work requirements.

But this is, of course, the GOPs real goal: to keep as many people off Medicaid as possible. Indeed, consider why Republicans are proposing work requirements at all: to save federal dollars and help pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans. Those savings cant be realized if people keep their Medicaid coverage. They only accrue when coverage is lost.

What happens when people lose their coverage? They forego care, fall into crippling debt, and may even die. A 2017 study by Harvard health economist Benjamin D. Sommers that dug into the Affordable Care Acts Medicaid expansion found that one life [was] saved annually for every 239 to 316 adults gaining insurance. Extrapolating from the Urban Institutes coverage loss estimates, work requirements would lead to more than 15,400 avoidable deaths per year. Losing health care coverage because you couldnt clear the red tape wont make your cancer diagnosis disappear.

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But that doesnt matter to House Republicans. In fact, they want to make sure people who cant meet their new Medicaid paperwork requirements cannot afford insurance at all. One especially cruel change buried in this new bill would make people who fail to satisfy Medicaid work requirements ineligible for any financial assistance to buy private coverage on their own through the ACAs marketplaces. In other words, Republicans in Congress would effectively rip away the only affordable alternative to Medicaid, condemning millions of vulnerable Americans to go without coverage entirely.

Work requirements are just one puzzle piece in Trump and Republicans larger plan to reduce government spending by kicking people off their health insurance. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that if you combine the effects of this bill with new rules Trump has proposed, and Congresss refusal to extend the enhanced tax credits that keep ACA marketplace premium costs affordable, nearly 14 million more Americans will be uninsured by 2034. Thats a staggering number of folks who will no longer have financial protection against steep costs for prescriptions, doctor visits or hospital stays.

To add to that suffering, for those fortunate enough to successfully navigate the new paperwork reporting requirements and keep their Medicaid, the House Republican plan would, for the first time, require states to impose out-of-pocket costs for accessing many health care services. In other words, they would force states to charge the poor to use their Medicaid coverage.

Beyond causing millions of people to lose coverage and increasing health care costs for Americas most vulnerable families, the Republican bill will wreak extensive collateral damage. Researchers predict that hits from Medicaid work requirements could cost up to 450,000 jobs across the country and blow holes in state budgets. States with rural hospitals already on the brink of closure could face even deeper crises.

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What makes this especially hard to swallow is the why behind it all. Republicans in Congress arent proposing this as a measure of fiscal discipline. In the same bill, they propose more than $4 trillion in tax breaks that would disproportionately flow to the wealthiest Americans. All in all, the bill adds trillions of dollars to the national deficit, putting the United States on a significantly worse fiscal trajectory than it already is. Theyre not doing this because theyre trying to be fiscally responsible. Theyre doing it because they want to cut the Medicaid program by kicking off as many people as possible  and theyre hoping no one will notice.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
After the U.S. Supreme Court gave the Trump administration the green light early last week, it seems President Donald Trump finally has his trans military ban. Following a monthslong process of trying to push the initiative through, the Pentagon announced Thursday that it would begin the process of forcibly discharging over 1,000 openly trans troops.

Military officials also announced that they would initiate inquiries into military health records to identify troops who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, or are receiving treatment and havent already been identified for dismissal.

In addition to the trans military discharges, Trump has stripped all mention of trans people from government materials and websites, unilaterally reinterpreted Title IX in a way to exclude trans people from sex discrimination protections in education (under the guise of banning trans athletes), barred trans people from changing the sex marker on their passports and reverted markers for those who previously changed their gender marker and applied for a renewal.

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Trump also signed an executive order declaring that the United States only recognizes male and female as valid legal sexes determined at conception, signed an executive order barring federal funds from going toward gender-affirming care for youth while ordering the an official inquiry into the national and international medical consensus on such care, and proposed an HHS rule that could result in Affordable Care Act medical plans dropping coverage of gender-affirming care for adults. Trump also ordered that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to end all investigations into anti-trans discrimination cases.

The military ban is particularly egregious in that it targets adults who have volunteered to potentially give their lives for their country, something Trump himself got exemption from when he was younger, citing bone spurs. These people have passed every test theyve faced along the way and built careers of service, only to see a president and his transphobic administration seize power and drive them out using noxious, bigoted language to do so. The policy as written by Pentagon officials declares that troops identifying as trans conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honourable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, because they are trans.

Its long been estimated that the U.S. military was quite possibly the countrys largest employer of trans people when they were allowed to serve openly for the first time under former President Obama. As a demographic, American trans people were at one point near the top for largest percent of a country serving in the military, behind only American Samoa.

In a country where trans people so often face casual bigotry in job and home-searching, the military was a place where they could build a career and a life under government protection. Now that government is targeting them and kicking them out.

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The military ban tells a much broader story of the current state of legal rights for trans people in the U.S. This is the second time around that Trump has ordered a ban on military service; last time President Joe Biden reversed the order. Its likely that the next Democratic president will similarly lift this ban, but that will be too late for many who are having their careers and lives ruined by Trump today. Beyond that, the next Republican president will likely reinstitute yet another ban  and on and on the eternal transphobia carousel turns.

Eventually, trans people will likely stop bothering to try, which no doubt is the ultimate conservative goal with all of these anti-trans policies.

This is the reality that trans people have faced now for years. Every four or eight years someone from the red or blue side gets voted into the White House and determines how equal we are in society and under the law until someone from the other side gets voted in and reverses course. Want an accurate passport that matches your appearance? Better get a renewal before the bad side takes office. Want to press a discrimination claim against a transphobic employer? Depends on if the guy from the blue or red team won the last election.

This is no way for a government to treat a couple million law-abiding, harmless citizens who simply want to be left alone  and in many cases, make the ultimate sacrifice for a government thats now rejecting them. With Democrats mostly reluctant to counter the near-constant drumbeat of anti-trans policy and propaganda, I dont see a way off this roller coaster in my lifetime, and I have a lot of life left to live. I guess Ill just wait until the next election to live my life, hopefully it goes my way.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A new bill in Congress threatens to dictate what Americans can read, watch and say online. On May 8, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah and Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA)  a recycled attempt to ban online pornography nationwide.

While concerns about pornography, including moral and religious ones, are part of any healthy public debate, this bill does something far more dangerous: It empowers the federal government to police speech based on subjective values. When lawmakers try to enforce the beliefs of some Americans at the expense of others rights, they cross a constitutional line  and put the First Amendment at risk.

The legislation aims to rewrite the legal definition of obscenity, an area of law that represents a very narrow exception to First Amendment protections.

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The IODA seeks to sidestep the Supreme Courts long-standing three-part test for obscenity, established in the 1973 case Miller v. California. The material must appeal to a prurient interest, depict sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

Lees bill would scrap that standard and replace it with a broader, far more subjective definition. It would label content obscene if it simply focuses on nudity, sex or excretion in a way that is intended to arouse and if it lacks serious value.

By discarding the concept of community standards, the IODA removes a key safeguard that allows local norms to shape what counts as obscenity. Without it, the federal government could impose a single national standard that fails to account for regional differences, cultural context or evolving social values.

The bill also deletes the requirement that material be patently offensive, a crucial element that keeps the obscenity test anchored in societal consensus. Instead, it replaces it with a subjective inquiry into whether the work was intended to arouse or titillate. But intent is notoriously difficult to prove and easy to allege. That language could easily sweep in a wide range of protected expression, including art, health information and sex education.

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In another relevant case, Reno v. ACLU, the Supreme Court struck down most of the Communications Decency Act for restricting online speech in terms that were unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. The court made clear that the online world is entitled to full First Amendment protection, rejecting analogies to broadcast regulation and insisting that any restriction on speech online must withstand strict constitutional scrutiny. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act directly undermines this precedent by reviving the same vague, subjective standards that Reno condemned.

The consequences we are outlining arent speculative. We have decades of history showing how vague obscenity laws have been used to suppress speech that governments dont like and the expression of marginalized communities.

The Comstock Act of 1873, championed by anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock, was used to suppress a wide range of material from James Joyces Ulysses to Margaret Sangers pamphlets on contraception to a Bernard Shaw play to medical books. Under this law, countless people were prosecuted not for distributing pornography, but for challenging prevailing ideas about sexuality, gender and morality.

A more recent example was an Indianapolis ordinance that banned sexually explicit material portraying the subordination of women. The ordinance was drafted by the prominent feminists Catherine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin. In 1985, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals held the ordinance unconstitutional, writing that the state cant mandate preferred viewpoints and that [a]ny other answer leaves the government in control of all of the institutions of culture, the great censor and director of which thoughts are good for us.

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First Amendment protections are their most vital when they shield controversial, uncomfortable expressions. Because the Supreme Court has consistently held that expression may not be banned simply because it offends, shocks or challenges mainstream sensibilities, that principle allowed civil rights movements, reproductive freedom advocates and LGBTQ communities to speak, publish and organize.

Moreover, regulating speech on the internet through an obscenity law raises serious concerns about overbreadth and vagueness, two constitutional doctrines that guard against laws that give government too much discretion to censor. When people cannot reasonably predict what is legal and what is not, they self-censor.

Other countries show how laws like these are routinely weaponized to silence dissent and censor culture. In India, obscenity laws have been used to censor films, silence political critics and prosecute artists under vague standards that often reflect cultural conservatism more than actual harm. In authoritarian regimes, vague obscenity laws are routinely used to suppress dissent, punish activists and control access to health and educational materials.

These examples show how easily obscenity regulation becomes a tool of broader censorship, especially when intent, morality or offense are used as standards.

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The Canadian experience provides a chilling illustration of how these laws can be weaponized. After Canada implemented an anti-pornography law similar to the Mackinnon-Dworkin model in Butler v. Queen, the consequences were swift and stark. In the first two and a half years following the laws implementation, more than half of feminist bookstores had materials confiscated or detained by customs officials. This decision also led to widespread censorship of womens and LGBTQ literature in Canada.

Even if IODA is adopted into law, it will likely be overturned upon review by the judicial branch. But until it works its way through the courts, there will be considerable collateral damage.

Laws like this chill speech the moment they are introduced. Libraries may rethink their collections. Publishers may delay or pull content. Platforms may become more cautious about hosting sexual or health-related material. The uncertainty alone can be enough to suppress swaths of protected expression on a scale we havent seen or experienced in modern times.

The introduction of this bill isnt surprising when viewed in the light of Project 2025s policy goal to criminalize and ban pornography. Lees bill rests on the assumption that long-standing First Amendment precedent goes too far in protecting sexual expression. But in reality, it is precisely because sex and sexuality are so deeply tied to identity, autonomy and social norms that this area of speech needs robust protection. We cannot have a meaningful right to speak if that right disappears the moment we touch on sensitive or controversial topics.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
* Tariffs on hold

 US and China take a step back from sky-high tariffs and agree to pause for 90 days; Macau goods temporarily spared; markets jump on news

* Transport | Jetfoil Sao Jorge scrapped, protection group claims

* Light Rail | Ridership up 6% in April after March decline

* The environmental bureau acknowledges difficulties in following up on residents complaints related to noise pollution

* Xia Baolong calls for greater integration with Hengqin

* Trumps reshaping of higher education tests Americas appeal for intl students

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Tuesday, May 13, 2025  edition no. 4715
Since returning to office, President Donald Trumps trade strategy has largely revolved around poorly solving the problems of his own creation. Just in the last week weve seen him trumpet supposedly historic deals that, on closer inspection, fail to even undo the damage that he caused in the first place. As the number of these quasi-agreements pile up, with little to show to American consumers or manufacturers and none of the major deals hed promised in sight, it will be hard for his administration to keep ignoring the growing mess that hes made.

Most recently, the U.S. and China reached at least a temporary ceasefire in the trade war that Trump launched shortly after his return to office. When talks began in Geneva over the weekend, American companies were paying a 145% tariff on goods imported from China, a truly ludicrous number that was entirely unsustainable from the moment it was levied. The number only ratcheted that high in the first place due to Trumps mistaken belief that China would quickly back down from a trade fight. Instead, China retaliated with tariffs of its own and refused to yield to Trumps demands for major concessions.

Looking at the deal the two countries announced Monday morning, its hard to see what  if anything  the U.S. has gotten out of the last four months. The two sides agreed to reduce tariffs on each others products, with a 30% levy remaining on Chinese imports to the U.S. and a 10% rate for American imports to China, with more formal talks to come. But that still doesnt undo the several weeks of uncertainty that U.S. companies have faced and the several weeks this summer where shelves will likely reflect the slowdown in traffic at West Coast seaports.

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Those talks with Beijing came on the heels of Trump announcing a supposed trade agreement with Britain, the first since Liberation Day early last month. But both sides begrudgingly admitted last week that despite the fanfare, there was no actual deal in place to be signed as many of the details remain to be ironed out. What little information was given made clear the pending deal is not the sweeping agreement that Trump would prefer, one that could replace the losses from London leaving the European Union. And, adding insult to injury, the universal 10% import tariff that Trump had ordered would remain in place for British goods.

Trump had caused less of a rift with the U.K., long one of Americas closest allies, than with China, but even in trying to patch up that relationship he damaged another. As part of his tariff crusade, in late March he imposed a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and foreign-made auto parts, in theory to help support domestic automakers. Last month, under pressure from those U.S. automakers, the White House retreated slightly, creating a still-complicated scheme to offset some of the stacked import fees that were hammering the U.S. companies bottom lines.

And now those same companies are now frustrated about one of the few details we do know about the deal-to-be with Britain. As Fortune reported last week, the announced tentative framework would see among other concessions the U.S. drop its 25% sectoral tariff down to 10% of a vehicles value, a level that reflects the U.K.s own duty on imported cars. While that is only valid for the first 100,000 vehicles  with any cars above and beyond that once again subject to the full duty  it neatly matches the volumes exported from Britain last year.

None of this flailing has improved Americas standing in the global economy. Nor has it persuaded Americans skeptical about the supposed positive impact from Trumps economic plans. Perhaps thats because even when the president is clearly backing down, as he has repeatedly since taking office, he persists in arguing that tariffs are a panacea for ailing American companies. The efforts to then undo the problems he causes will remain themselves half-hearted, so long as Trump is still convinced that the tariffs will pay off handsomely.

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It is a commonly understood bit of courtesy that if you cause a spill, you should be the one to clean it up. As such, if you then demand praise for doing so, youll likely catch a bit of a side-eye  especially if it turns out the floor is still messier than it was to begin with. Trump is demanding not just praise but adulation for his dealmaking skills even as the mess he made continues to stain Americas good name and trickle down to U.S. consumers.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that he claims will force Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices paid by Americans to match the prices paid in other countries. It certainly sounds like a good idea. We pay  by far  the highest prices in the world, for everything from the antipsychotic Abilify to the weight loss drug Zepbound.

But dont get your hopes up just yet  and not just because the proposal is, in the view of many experts, of dubious legality. The order is framed around the absurd premise that high prices stem from the U.S. subsidizing a bunch of freeloader countries around the world. In truth, we pay more because we subsidize corporate monopolies, including Big Pharma and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), that drive up drug prices at home.

Though Trumps order criticizes drug manufacturers, it would tolerate continued profiteering and price gouging from Big Pharma. It would leave the biggest PBMs  middlemen whose identities Trump claims not to know, even as his administration is suing them for jacking up insulin prices  unscathed. And it would deflect scrutiny from those PBMs parent companies, like UnitedHealth Group, whose bottom lines depend on anticompetitive business models.

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Trump is right that drug prices are too high. A January 2024 RAND study found that we pay nearly three times as much for prescriptions as other high-income countries. In 2023, the median annual list price for new brand-name drugs increased 35% to an eye-popping $300,000. So its understandable that a July 2023 KFF poll found a majority of Americans are worried about being able to afford their medicines, with 3 in 10 reporting they havent taken them as prescribed due to costs. All too often, patients pay with their lives.

Trump is also right that Big Pharma plays a big role in this crisis. Manufacturers game the patent process for brand-name drugs to keep prices high and block more affordable generic and biosimilar options from coming to market. Although they claim these high prices fund research and development of new medicines, their own records show greed also plays a leading role. A 2024 report from consumer advocacy group Public Citizen found the excessive prices paid by Americans for prescription drugs fund self-enriching activities, including stock buybacks, dividends to shareholders, and executive compensation, that far exceed their investments in innovation.

There is no way to lower drug costs for American patients without costing Big Pharma, whose executives can afford patio dinners at Mar-a-Lago and hefty donations to Trumps inauguration fund, and the biggest PBMs, which even Trump admits are worse than the drug companies. They dont even make a product, and they make a fortune.

So Trumps order  so vaguely worded that its not clear if the rules would only apply to federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid or more broadly to commercial plans  ignores the greed inflating American pharmaceutical prices. His order, for example, has just about nothing to say about the role of PBMs. These middlemen negotiate pharmacy benefits on behalf of health plans with drug manufacturers and pharmacies. The Big Three  CVS Caremark, Cigna Groups Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Groups OptumRx  account for nearly 80% of U.S. prescription drug claims, giving them enormous leverage to demand rebates from drug manufacturers in exchange for coverage.

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Because rebates are based on list prices, PBMs are incentivized to prefer drugs with higher list prices, even when cheaper generics and biosimilars are available. Indeed, PBM rebates and fees account for 42% of every dollar spent on brand-name drugs in the commercial market, according to a health care research firm Nephron Research. Other high-income countries provide universal health care and directly negotiate drug prices with manufacturers, eliminating the need for PBMs.

So rather than target Big Pharmas patent abuses or PBMs market power, Trumps executive order would require manufacturers to sell their drugs to American patients at the lowest price available abroad. If manufacturers wont comply voluntarily with this most favored-nation policy, Trumps order directs Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to propose rules that would tie the drug prices paid in the U.S. to those in other countries. And, yes, those prices are often significantly lower. For instance, a one-month supply of Novo Nordisks Ozempic costs $969 in the U.S. compared with $59 in Germany.

Sounds great. But Trumps order assumes Big Pharma wont just choose to raise prices charged outside the U.S., bringing them more in line with the inflated prices we pay. It also assumes that Trump has the power to do all this  a very big if. Trump issued a similar executive order during his first term, but a federal judge blocked it for procedural reasons. Health policy experts predict Mondays order will run into similar legal challenges, and the markets seem to think so as well, with drug manufacturer shares surging more than 6% in some cases following the announcement.

Even if Trumps order were to take effect, however, it would do nothing to address the root causes of the problem it purports to solve. That would require prohibiting the pharmaceutical industrys patent abuse and pursuing enforcement action against those that have violated antitrust laws. It would mean banning PBMs from accepting rebates. Finally, it would mean taking on the PBMs parent companies  that is, the giant health insurance conglomerates that own them, which similarly gouge patients and taxpayers for medical services  by breaking them up.

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Anything less than those structural reforms is unlikely to bring about significant change. Until policymakers address the growing gap between inflated list prices of medicines and the actual costs of those medicines, we should expect the same system[ic] dysfunction that exists today to only fester and worsen in the future, says Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of the nonprofit drug price research firm 46brooklyn. In other words, we cant export our homegrown drug pricing crisis. Its something we have to fix ourselves.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
I could be a stupid person and say no, we dont want a free plane, said the president of the United States about the Boeing 747-8 which the royal family that rules Qatar has offered as a gift.

There are obviously ethical, legal and constitutional issues  to say nothing of security concerns  with President Donald Trumps willingness to accept a $400 million donation from a Middle East petrostate with tens of billions of dollars of business interests in the United States. (Its also more than a bit hypocritical, given that Trump leads the party still obsessed with Hunter Bidens comparatively low-stakes shady overseas business dealings.) Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., put it concisely in a post on X: Not only is this farcically corrupt, it is blatantly unconstitutional. Congress must not allow this over-the-top kleptocracy to proceed.

Perhaps less noticed is that Trump is poised to accept an exorbitant personal gift of a jumbo jet (meant to be used as Air Force One) from a government that has provided substantial funding for the antisemitic, fascistic terror group Hamas about 100 days after he signed his Executive Order to Combat Anti-Semitism. (For years, Qatar funded Hamas with the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Israeli government.)

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At the same time, Trumps administration continues to employ Kingsley Wilson as deputy press secretary for the Department of Defense, despite a recent social media record of posts widely seen as antisemitic. And since Trump returned to the White House, two powerful members of his inner circle have made stiff-armed salutes in front of big crowds and many cameras. Yet, the administration has used the thinnest of pretexts to characterize activists as antisemitic, before then claiming theyre providing material support to Hamas.

To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you, Trump said in a White House fact sheet that accompanied his January antisemitism executive order. He also promised to quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.

Indeed, Trumps supposed war on antisemitism is his rationale for his war on universities and campus activism. Meanwhile, pro-Israel and Trump-friendly media outlets have published many articles and op-eds decrying what they say is the nefarious influence of Qatari billions on U.S. universities and student activist groups. (Well have to check back in later to see if theyre equally appalled by Qatars lavish funding of an American presidents air travel.)

The Trump administration has tried to justify its deportation proceedings against Mahmoud Khalil, the green-card holder and spouse of a U.S. citizen who served as a mediator and spokesperson for a pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel student activist group encamped last year on the campus of Columbia University, on the basis of fighting antisemitism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later admitted Khalil had broken no laws, and the government has yet to provide any evidence that Khalil spread Hamas propaganda or participated in any harassment of Jewish students and staff. (Khalil is still detained in Louisiana and last month a federal judge ruled he can challenge the governments deportation attempt in court.)

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NBC News reviewed over 100 pages of documents the Trump administration filed as evidence to back up its deportation efforts for Khalil, and found that in some instances, the government appears to be relying on unverified tabloid articles about Khalil. In others, the governments claims about him are clearly erroneous because timelines dont match.

In plain English, Trump and his administrations claims that theyre battling antisemitism are absurd. In fact, they are falsely likening protected speech with which they object (such as co-signing an op-ed critical of Israels conduct in the war in Gaza) to a national security crisis requiring the most severe methods of enforcement, including denials of due process. The administration is also cloaking its brazen attempt to shake down universities and bring them to heel politically by withholding federal funds in the name of protecting Jews.

As Trump put in the antisemitism EOs fact sheet, My promise to Jewish Americans is this: With your vote, I will be your defender, your protector, and I will be the best friend Jewish Americans have ever had in the White House.

But in accepting a $400 million personal gift from Qatar, a country that funded the group that gleefully butchered Jews on Oct. 7, 2023, Trump has made an absolute mockery of his war on antisemitism. Lets call Trumps so-called war on antisemitism what it is: Trumps cudgel to attack his perceived enemies.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A coalition of lawmakers, families, and advocates gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday to voice strong opposition to House Republican proposals that would slash funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The proposals, still under negotiation, are part of broader efforts by Republican lawmakers to reduce federal spending and address the national deficit. However, critics say the proposed cuts would hurt millions of vulnerable Americans who depend on the programs for basic needs like health care and food.

Dozens of advocates traveled to Washington to speak out against the potential funding reductions. Emotions ran high as speakers shared stories of how these programs have impacted their communities.

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They deserve to eat. They deserve their medications, and they deserve to live a fulfilling life, said one advocate during the rally. Communities like mine will never forgive you if you dont vote no on these large cuts, added another community member.

GOP lawmakers argue the current structure of programs like Medicaid and SNAP is unsustainable and requires reform.

We need to make sure these programs dont continue to see costs spiral out of control in a way that doesnt actually help people, said Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.). He added that the intention is not to take coverage away, but to improve how the programs function.

Were not going to reduce Medicaid spending, and were certainly not going to do it in a way that causes average beneficiaries to lose their coverage, Kiley said.

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Part of the Republican plan reportedly includes stricter work requirements and shifting more funding responsibility to states, though full legislative details have not yet been released.

Democratic lawmakers at the rally promised to push back forcefully in upcoming budget negotiations. Several expressed concern that the cuts would disproportionately harm low-income families, children, and seniors.

Its cruel to cut nutrition assistance from needy children, seniors, and families, said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.).

This bill hands out trillions of dollars of tax breaks to billionaires and the biggest corporations, added Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.).

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As the budget fight unfolds on Capitol Hill, both sides are bracing for a contentious debate over the future of Americas most critical social safety net programs.

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May 12BIDDEFORD  With steady hands and firmly planted feet, students at the University of New England gently lowered tiny orange lobsters, no bigger than their thumbs, into the cold salt water.

UNE's marine biology students had stepped in as "foster parents" for 30 baby lobsters since they were hatched last year. And the time for reunification with the sea had now come.

The release followed two years of research and hard work  nursing their single-clawed mother back to health (eventually regenerating her claw), tending to 10,000 larvae, preparing the best meals a lobster can eat (fish and blue mussels) and extracting piles of genetic information.

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This work has all been in pursuit of an experiment to breed more orange lobsters, one of the rarest of its kind. The odds of finding one in the wild are 1 in 30 million, making them rarer than the 1-in-1 million blue and purple lobsters. Markus Frederich, a professor of marine sciences at UNE, and his team of students managed to breed 15.

"It's opened a whole other world for me," said Claire Fecteau-Volk, a marine biology undergraduate student leading the project.

The researchers are now heading back to the lab, where they will work to answer the question at the root of all the work: How do orange lobsters, surrounded in a sea of mottled-brown brethren, come to be?

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

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The project unintentionally launched in 2023. That's when a Scarborough fisherman accidentally caught the original lobster, which UNE eventually named Peaches, in Casco Bay.

With the odds stacked against them, they took on a project that would require each step of the process to fall perfectly into place. The state of Maine has tight restrictions around catching breeding-female and undersized lobsters to preserve and sustain lobster populations.

But Peaches, who at the time had no eggs, was missing a claw.

UNE already had a teaching permit from the state that allows it to possess 10 undersized lobsters. And once Frederich discovered that Peaches had produced eggs, Frederich got another permit from the state that allowed the university to raise an unlimited number of sub-legal-sized lobsters from that lobster only.

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Frederich said it was a "Let's see what happens next" project  unlike anything he's ever done.

"This project dropped into my hands out of nowhere," Frederich said. "I thought, 'Let's just do it, because it's this amazing opportunity which I can't ignore.'"

Frederich and his students, including undergraduates Ruby Motulsky and Fecteau-Volk, were intrigued by how the color of Peaches' shell came to be.

"We have this limited time window to work with the next generation, a whole other cohort of potentially rare lobsters," Fecteau-Volk said.

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After Peaches' eggs hatched, the team began studying the babies and their genetic information  and for fun, Frederich added, "guessing what color each baby will be."

Those colors could change with the many molts the lobsters undergo before they reach their final hue. Half of Peaches' litter came out blue but eventually turned to brown. The rest of the lobsters remained orange.

RELEASE THE BABIES

By late April, the researchers had extracted all of the genetic information they needed from the baby lobsters, each now 1 year old. It was time to set them free.

In the warm, Monday morning sunshine, the researchers headed out on a boat to introduce the lobsters to their natural habitat. They docked on Ram Island, UNE's multipurpose research station just off the coast of the Biddeford campus.

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Fecteau-Volk and Kai Watkins, a graduate student, then had a treacherous task: keeping their balance atop the slippery, seaweed-covered rocks with the small tank of small lobsters in hand.

The team then took turns scooping the young lobsters, one or two at a time, out of the tank and into the tide.

Fecteau-Volk described the feel of the babies in their hand as "damp buttons." One pinched Fecteau-Volk's finger on its way into the water  though unlike the crush of an adult claw, it felt more like a tickle.

They spread the lobsters out across the shoreline, ensuring each one had enough territory to settle down safely.

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And then, there was the bittersweet, final goodbye. The babies are now on their own  they won't be tracked.

"Let's hope these little babies survive," Frederich said.

FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE

Frederich doesn't anticipate that the results of the research will shake up the lobstering industry. There's no plan to push more orange lobsters into Maine's waters  nor is there a dire need for it.

Rather, Frederich said, he launched the project as a way to incorporate exploration into his teaching.

"It's like being a little kid, going to the world with open eyes and trying to understand what's there," he said. "Not every project needs to have the ultimate goal to save the planet. We're learning new things, and that's exciting."

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Ahead of their release date, the baby lobsters traveled to Kennebunk Middle School. The students went wild; Frederich described the reaction as an "insane zoo."

He believes that any spark of curiosity marks the success of this project. And for Fecteau-Volk, a senior who has been with the project since the start, those sparks ignited a fire.

"I'm not from Maine originally, so I had no idea what the lobstering world was like beforehand, aside from what ended up on my dinner plate," Fecteau-Volk said. "It's really cool to see how the creature works and how that translates into how we take care of it."

Frederich and his students will now dive deep into the data, working to decode the 15,000 genes they extracted.

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"We've no idea what we will learn or why it's important that we learn that. We might find that out later," he said. "You're building a foundation of all kinds of information, and it might come in handy one day. And if it doesn't, it still allowed us to teach."

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukraines special services of attempting to disrupt a public survey of Hungarians on Ukraines accession to the European Union.

Source: Orban following a meeting of the Hungarian Defence Council on 13 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Orban alleged that there had been "an unprecedented attack on Hungary by the security services in recent days".

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He claimed that Ukraine had launched a coordinated campaign to discredit Hungary in order to undermine the public consultation on Ukraines EU membership.

He further alleged that Kyiv had enlisted contacts within Hungary, including a Hungarian opposition politician, to carry out this campaign and target Hungarys defence forces.

Orban described the alleged collaboration between a Hungarian opposition party and Ukraines special services as unprecedented in Hungarys memory.

He vowed that Hungary would complete its survey on Ukraines European integration, asserting that neither Brussels nor Kyiv could decide on behalf of the Hungarian people.

Background:

Tensions in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations have been escalating since the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) announced it had uncovered a Hungarian intelligence network operating in Zakarpattia Oblast (Transcarpathia) in Ukraine's west.

Hungary subsequently expelled two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage. Ukraine announced the expulsion of two Hungarian diplomats in response.

Hungary also detained and deported a former Ukrainian diplomat on Friday 9 May.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
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An Oakland County district judge has been barred from presiding over felony cases.

According to an administrative order signed last week by 52nd District Chief Judge Travis Reeds, 52-4 District Judge Kirsten Nielsen Hartig will only hear civil, landlord/tenant and small claims cases starting May 27. All felony cases in the jurisdiction, which covers the cities of Troy and Clawson, will be heard by Judge Maureen M. McGinnis.

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Hartig was initially assigned civil actions in a February order from Reeds, although felony cases were not mentioned.

The order is the latest problem for Hartig, who the Detroit Free Press reports has had a troubled tenure on the bench, including battling with Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald over court procedure and allegations of mistreating court staff that Hartig denied, but ultimately resulted in a $100,000 settlement by the county. A former court administrator also alleged in a lawsuit that Hartig was the target of an investigation by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.

An email request for comment to Judge Hartig was not returned.

When asked to comment on the administrative order by Michigan Advance, Oakland Countys Public Information Officer Bill Mullan said that it spoke for itself.

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It was issued to ensure fairness in the courtroom. Any future questions should be directed to the Judicial Tenure Commission, Mullan said.

A request for comment was sent to Lynn Helland, the commissions executive director, who said there was no information he could provide.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  50 Cents Growth Advisor Orville Hall shares an update on their goal to make All Roads lead to Shreveport.

Hall addressed the city council Monday afternoon for their work session by letting councilmembers know it has been three years since the G-Unit team has been working with Shreveport officials to bring the local studio and festivals to fruition. He said Curtis Jackson met with downtown officials last Wednesday to discuss the planning stages before he traveled to Baton Rouge, where he met with State Representatives of north Louisiana.

Mr. Hall thanked the city council for their willingness to help with all the stages over the years.

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The tone and the theme was team! We all worked and spoke as a team as Curtis showed you some of his properties. The next day we met with each of the city council people who met with Curtis. Youve always opened your schedules up over these three years every time, Hall said.

Hall said their team is thinking about hosting a downtown parade in the future to signify Shreveports new growth.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
LOCUST GROVE, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA)  The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is seeking information regarding the disappearance of a missing northeast Oklahoma teen last seen more than two decades ago.

OSBI said David Allen Crabtree, 13, was last seen at his home in Locust Grove in Mayes County on April 9, 2000. Crabtrees cold case file on OSBIs website is listed as a suspicious disappearance.

Michigan men sentenced for possessing Molotov cocktails, leading officers on Northwest Arkansas pursuit

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The department shared two photos, one of him at age 13 and the other is an age-progressed photo of Crabtree at age 31.

David Crabtree (Courtesy: OSBI)

David Crabtree (Courtesy: OSBI)

Anyone with information regarding Crabtrees disappearance is asked to contact OSBI at cold.case@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.

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 KNWA FOX24.
The South American nation of Uruguay announced that it will establish consular offices in Macau and Hong Kong by the end of 2025.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of trade relations between the two sides.

The announcement was made by Uruguays Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mario Lubetkin, during his first official visit to Macau during the weekend.

We will have a Consulate General with two offices, one in Hong Kong and one in Macau. The aim is to implement a policy of attracting investment and promoting cultural exchanges, Lubetkin told local media.

At a reception in Macau, Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong emphasized the promising trade potential between Macau and Uruguay. As the new consulate is established, Im confident that our relations will go further, especially in economic cooperation and personal exchanges, Cheong said.

Cheong highlighted Macaus role as a bridge connecting China with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries and noted a new service center being built jointly by the Macau and Hengqin governments, which will offer legal, financial, translation, and information services to facilitate trade and investment between China and countries like Uruguay.

Lubetkin also met with Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai to discuss enhancing economic and trade cooperation, tourism promotion, and Macaus role as a regional platform.

As cited by GCS, the CE expressed a commitment to deepening ties with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, stating, Through deepening pragmatic cooperation with Uruguay  particularly in cultural exchange, educational ties, tourism development, economic and trade engagement, and technological innovation  we aim to establish a multi-level cooperation framework to achieve collaborative development. Nadia Shaw
LOCUST GROVE, Okla. (KFOR)  The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is seeking information regarding the disappearance of 13-year-old David Allen Crabtree.

According to OSBI, David was last seen on April 9, 2000, at his home in Locust Grove.

OKC cyclists celebrate Bike to Work Day May 16

Authorities say the right image is an age-progressed photo of David at age 31.

13-year-old David Allen Crabtree, Images courtesy OSBI

If you have any information, contact tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
St. Cloud police have arrested a substitute teacher at Neptune Elementary School.

Police say Casmore Shaw, 71, allegedly grabbed a student by the shirt collar and threw him into a classroom wall as punishment. The alleged incident happened on April 30.

The police department says the school notified them and the Department of Children and Families after it happened.

Student safety is, and will always be, one of our departments most important concerns, said St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. We have worked diligently with school administration and DCF to ensure a thorough investigation, making sure our students have the secure and nurturing environment they deserve.

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Police say the Osceola County School District confirmed that Shaw was immediately removed from classroom duties as a long-term substitute teacher and is no longer employed by the district.

Shaw is among multiple substitute teachers who have been arrested in central Florida in the last few weeks.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A teacher at an elementary school in Little Rock was surprised Monday morning with a major award.

Otter Creek Elementary School teacher Karyna Johnson was honored as the 2025 Arkansas Fine Arts Teacher of the Year by Arkansans For The Arts.

Two Little Rock students head for Broadway after winning awards for musical theatre

The award comes with a $1,000 stipend and a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives.

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Johnson said what keeps her motivated is a mission to make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed in the arts and beyond.

Just making sure that where theyre born and who they are isnt what holds them back from being the best version of themselves they can be, Johnson said.

Little Rock teachers go viral on TikTok for Not Like Us remake motivating students for tests

Nominations for next years Fine Arts Teacher of the Year will open in December.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Bangladesh's Election Commission has suspended the registration of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, effectively barring the party from contesting the next national elections.

The move comes after the interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus banned all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act after days of protests. The government cited national security threats and a war crimes investigation under way against the partys top leadership over the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

With the home ministrys ban on all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, the Election Commission has decided to suspend the partys registration, Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters late on Monday.

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Under Bangladeshs electoral laws, a political party must be registered with the Election Commission to participate in national polls. The suspension means the Awami League  which led the country for more than 20 years  is now officially disqualified from contesting future elections unless the ban is lifted and the registration restored.

The Election Commission also prohibited the party and its affiliates from conducting any political activities, including publications, media appearances, online and social media campaigns, processions, rallies or conferences, until the International Crimes Tribunal completes its proceedings.

Hasina, credited with turning around the economy but accused of human rights violations and the suppression of dissent, won a fourth straight term in 2024, but the poll was boycotted by the main opposition, whose top leaders were in jail or in exile.

Bangladesh has seen rising tensions and protests in recent months, after deadly protests forced Hasina to flee to India in August 2024 and an interim government led by Yunus took charge.

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Yunus, who is not aligned to any party, has pledged reforms and said national elections could be delayed until 2026. He has said he is not interested in running.

India said on Tuesday that it was concerned by the ban on the Awami League, as well as the "curtailment of democratic freedoms" and "shrinking political space" in Bangladesh.

"We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.

Washington was aware of the move and urged Bangladesh to respect the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association for all, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told reporters. "We support a free and democratic process as well as fair and transparent legal processes for all individuals," Pigott said.

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Political parties, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have also demanded an early poll and return to a democratically elected government.

The newly formed student-driven National Citizen Party, which emerged from last years uprising that toppled Hasina, wants polls only after reforms are implemented.

The unrest began in July with student protests against public sector job quotas, but morphed into one of the deadliest periods of political violence since independence in 1971.

The Awami League has faced growing criticism in recent years over alleged authoritarianism, corruption and rights violations under Hasinas leadership.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Additional reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Michael Perry, William Maclean and Leslie Adler)
KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN)  Kettering students at one elementary school will now be able to learn outside.

Kettering City Schools partnered with the KCS Forward Foundation to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Scott Inskeep Outdoor Classroom on Monday. The new learning environment is located in a courtyard area at Oakview Elementary School.

The outdoor area first came about when district STEAM leader Bern Schwieterman wanted to create a space outside where students could learn and grow.

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Outdoor classrooms create dynamic and student-centered learning that supports the diverse needs and preferences of learners, said Schwieterman in his proposal to the KCS Forward Foundation.

The outdoor classroom features tables and benches, stools and a white board, allowing students to do their daily studies outside. The space is build on a wooden platform that features a ramp for increased accessibility.

The classroom space was named in dedication of former Kettering City Schools Superintendent L. Scott Inskeep, whos family asked for contributions to the foundation, in lieu of flowers.

The foundation and district hopes the outdoor classroom will have a positive impact on students and that other schools may also want to create their own similar spaces.

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A beloved outdoors store chain is closing all locations.

The Next Adventure chain was "a mainstay of Portland's outdoor scene for nearly three decades," Axios reported.

The owners have decided to retire and will be closing all four locations, according to Axios. Willamette Week reported that the locations will close by fall 2025.

A closing sale starts May 28 and runs through the summer, according to KOIN-TV.

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The locations closing are "the flagship headquarters in Portland's Central Eastside, a smaller store in Sandy and its paddle centers in Portland and Warren," reported Axios. They are all in Oregon.

Weve been in business for 28 years, and weve loved every minute of it and loved Portland, Deek Heykamp, co-owner of the store with his childhood friend Bryan Knudsen, told Willamette Week. You come to a point in your business life where you have to make a decision, and we decided to retire.

Heycamp told Willamette Week: "Were facing a lot of uncertainty, and as the leader of the company, my job is to make sure that we have stability and certainty for our team and our staff and our vendors. He did not detail the uncertainty.

The co-owners told KOIN-TV that the chain gradually grew into a beloved Portland institution.

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At their height, the company "grew to have nearly 200 employees and $24 million in annual sales," the television station reported.

All of the inventory will be sold, The Portland Business Journal reported.

"Founded in 1997 by childhood friends Deek & Bryan, Next Adventure began as a humble endeavor selling used gear and closeouts. Since then, we've blossomed into the go-to destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a curated selection of top-quality gear at unbeatable prices," the chain's website says.

Related: Beloved Ice Cream Chain Suddenly Closes Multiple Stores
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  More than 100 people gathered with signs and bullhorns in front of Tweed New Haven Airport to protest the deportation flights by Avelo Airlines.

And while those flights are not arriving or departing from Tweed, protesters were looking to send a message to the owners of the airline, which is being paid by the federal government to fly some immigrants out of the country.

New Haven protestors rally against Avelo deportation flights out of Arizona

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So as Avelo flights takeoff and land here at Tweed, the passengers coming in or wondering whats going on with all the protesters out front?

Im not necessarily one side or the other, although I see Avelo on this one, that is great money, right? said Avelo passenger Chuck Maurer, who said he would not boycott the airline.

As an Avelo flight lands at Tweed New Haven Airport on Monday night, a deportation flight is sent to take off from Arizona. President Trump deporting illegal immigrants who he says may have criminal records and were released from jails in Venezuela.

Protesters say they must have a hearing first. That is American due process.

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They have a moral responsibility to say no, for not participating in something that is so immoral, Rabbi Herb Brockman of New Haven said.

Its also about our faith, and what we are rooted in, as people of faith, Bishop John Selders of Moral Monday CT said. In fairness and justice and love and regard and care.

Avelo Airlines said in a statement that, While we recognize the right of individuals to peacefully assemble, Avelos main priority will continue to be maintaining the safety and timeliness of our operation.

While the protest was in front of Tweed New Haven Airport, it is important to point out no deportation flights have either taken off or landed from that airport.

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Im angry and sad and Im sad about what our government is doing, definitely, Sharon Astor of New Haven said.

News 8 reached out to Tweed, and they gave us a statement saying the federal government dictates who flies in and out of their airport, and they have no say whos on the planes or what planes come into the runways.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Tzadik Management owns and operates 18 apartment complexes in Sioux Falls. The Arnolds Park Apartments is one of them.

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents were filed in the Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy court. They say Tzadik owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to local businesses.

Since buying the apartments starting in 2018, Tzadik has been the subject of hundreds of complaints from insect infestations to security issues. There have been so many complaints even the Mayor got involved and spoke to us in February of last year.

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Rural SD hit hard by Noems cut to FEMA grants

My office specifically is kind of fed up with all the complaints coming to me, said TenHaken.

We also spoke with Tzadik Properties owner Adam Hendry last year. He told us the company spent millions of dollars fixing up the properties. The bankruptcy filing does not mean Tzadik will have to sell its properties in Sioux Falls. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows business owners to reorganize their finances and continue operating while developing a repayment plan.

Secured creditors like banks are more likely to get their money, unsecured creditors like small businesses are usually last in line. According to court documents, the money owed to unsecured creditors includes $82.4 thousand to Sioux Falls utilities, $61.7 thousand to MidAmerican Energy and $52.3 thousand to Home Depot.

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And the list of small businesses in Sioux Falls who may not get paid or get partial payment is a long one. For instance, Hendry owes Cressman Sanitation more than $17 thousand, Norberg Paints $9.3 thousand and Xtreme Cleaning Services $8.1 thousand.

Hendrys largest debt is to the Sioux Falls Law firm of Breit and Boomsma at more than 128 thousand dollars. Last month we told you that 3 of Tzadiks apartment properties were put up for sale as the company restructures. Tzadik reports $65 million in assets and $46.89 million in liabilities. The financial platform Bondoro, which tracks bankruptcies, says the filing indicated there will be funds available to pay unsecured creditors, but that remains to be seen.

Last month, Tzadik listed the Parkside Apartments, Sandy Creek Apartments and North Cleveland Apartments for sale, totaling 126 units.

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By Asif Shahzad, Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Shivam Patel

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Tuesday it remained committed to a truce with India agreed after four days of intense fighting last week, but vowed to respond with full resolve to any future aggression by New Delhi.

The nuclear-armed neighbours halted their worst fighting in nearly three decades after agreeing to a ceasefire on Saturday, following diplomacy and pressure from the United States.

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Tuesday's comments from Islamabad came in response to a speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the previous day that warned Pakistan New Delhi would target "terrorist hideouts" across the border again if there were new attacks on India, without being deterred by "nuclear blackmail".

Pakistan's foreign ministry said Islamabad categorically rejected Modi's "provocative and inflammatory assertions" in the speech.

"At a time when international efforts are being made for regional peace and stability, this statement represents a dangerous escalation," it said in a statement.

"Pakistan remains committed to the recent ceasefire understanding and taking necessary steps towards de-escalation and regional stability," it said, promising full resolve in meeting any future aggression by its neighbour.

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The two sides fired missiles and drones targeting each other's military installations after India said it struck "terrorist infrastructure" sites in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday in retaliation for an attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 Hindu tourists.

Pakistan, which said the targets were all civilian, denies Indian accusations that it was behind the attack in the Himalayan region. Its military has said 40 civilians and 11 of its armed forces were killed in the attack.

India said at least five of its military personnel and 16 civilians died.

India said on Tuesday it had declared an official of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata "for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status".

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Pakistan also declared a staff member at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad persona non grata "for engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status".

Each was given 24 hours to leave the country.

Both countries have already reduced the strength of their embassies after relations nosedived after the April 22 attack.

MODI REPEATS WARNING

Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan each rule part of Kashmir, but both claim it in full, having fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over it, along with several limited flare-ups, particularly in 1999 and 2019.

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Earlier on Tuesday, Modi visited the Adampur air base near the border and repeated his warning to Pakistan in remarks to Indian Air Force personnel, with whom he posed for photographs.

"We will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism," Modi said, referring to India's response in the event of another attack.

"We will enter their dens and hit them without giving them an opportunity to survive."

Separately, the Indian foreign ministry said the issue of trade did not come up in talks with Washington regarding the tension with Pakistan.

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The understanding to stop the fighting was reached directly with Islamabad after Pakistan's military operations chief called his Indian counterpart and made the proposal, it added.

Pakistan has said it called India in response to a call from New Delhi on May 7, which the Indian military immediately followed its strikes on the "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the leaders of India and Pakistan were "unwavering", and the United States had "helped a lot" to secure the ceasefire, adding that trade was a "big reason" why the countries stopped fighting.

India has said the military operations chiefs of both nations spoke by telephone on Monday, reiterating their commitment to halt firing and consider steps to reduce troops on the border.

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Pakistan has not provided details of the call.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam in Islamabad, Shivam Patel and Sakshi Dayal in New Delhi; Writing by Tanvi Mehta, Abinaya Vijayaraghavan and YP Rajesh; Editing by Gareth Jones and Clarence Fernandez)
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the Central Committee and the State Council, continued his six-day inspection tour of the city, with a series of key visits and meetings focused on economic diversification and regional integration.

At approximately 9 a.m. yesterday, Xia arrived at The Complex of Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, where he was welcomed by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai.

There, Xia held discussions with representatives from the business community, emphasizing the critical role of Hengqin in the SARs future development.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip reported Xias encouragement for Hong Kong and Macau entrepreneurs after the meeting to local media.

He stated, Director Xia also hopes that entrepreneurs from the business community in Macau and Hong Kong are full of confidence in economic development.

He maintained his confidence in economic growth, saying, We must strengthen our confidence, invest in Hong Kong and Macau, develop the economy, give full play to Hong Kong and Macaus own advantages, and further expand opening up to the outside world. Tai quoted Xia as saying, Only struggle can win development.

Following the meeting, Xia engaged in a nearly three-hour seminar with about 20 representatives from various local industrial and commercial sectors.

They met with Xia to share their perspectives on the existing economic conditions.

Secretary for Administration and Justice Andre Cheong reiterated Xias directive that Macau should take the development of Hengqin as its own business, stressing Hengqins crucial role in Macaus appropriate economic diversification.

Cheong added that the government plans to allocate more resources to support Hengqins development through a dedicated working group established earlier this year.

Other local leaders echoed Xias messages. Fu Jianguo, president of the Macau Chinese Enterprises Association, noted Xias encouragement to improve livelihoods, promote youth entrepreneurship, and advance economic diversification.

Xias visit also included a tour of the Macau University of Tourism, where he interacted with students and encouraged youth to contribute to the Greater Bay Areas development. Nadia Shaw
As one war after another raged in Afghanistan, an estimated 3.5 million Afghans found relative safety living in Pakistan, including about 700,000 who fled across the border following the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021.

In 2023, the Pakistani government announced its intention to deport 3 million Afghans in its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. More than 800,000 Afghans then returned to their homeland from October 2023 through January 2025.

Deportations got underway in earnest in April of this year, with nearly 110,000 Afghan refugees deported to Afghanistan from April 3 to May 3.

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Thus far, the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM) has provided support to about 48,000 Afghan returnees and is urgently requesting funds to "address the needs of between 600,000 and 1.5 million Afghan returnees" in the coming months.

Also in place to provide assistance is the Aseel Foundation. During the tumultuous summer of 2021, Aseel expanded its mission of linking Afghan artisans to the

international marketplace and began crowdfunding aid packages to support Afghans who were displaced, facing food insecurity, or affected by natural disasters.

In April, Aseel began deploying personnel to the returnee area at Torkham to provide

Aseel's Atalan Group in April 2025 (Aseel)

deported Afghans with food packages, clothing, and shelter. It has also begun to register Afghans for omid (the Persian word for "hope") identification cards, which allow holders to receive direct crowdfunded aid.

Blocked Paths to the U.S.

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, some U.S. allies with Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications and an estimated 20,000 U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) applications fled to Pakistan. They weren't just hoping to escape Taliban reprisals: Their cases could be processed only through an active U.S. embassy.

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For three and a half years, an agreement between the U.S. and Pakistani governments was meant to offer Afghans security in Pakistan. But refugees in Pakistan cannot work or send their children to school, and they face elevated costs of living, threats of deportation, and extortionate visa costs.

After President Donald Trump's January 20 executive orders suspended the USRAP and paused foreign funds, Afghans in the SIV and USRAP pipelines began facing the threat of deportation.

(Aseel)

One Afghan told me he had been returned to Afghanistan already, despite his USRAP case.

"I showed the letter which was emailed to us by [the] State Department to exempt us from deportation, but all the Pakistani authorities, including police, was laughing," he said.

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I asked the Pakistani Embassy and the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs how long they assured the U.S. that its allies would remain safe within their borders, whether those Afghans face retribution on return to their homeland, and how many of America's Afghan allies have thus far been returned. I received no answer.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told me that the "Department does not comment on private diplomatic conversations." The spokesperson added that "all countries must be able to manage their borders and immigration processes in a manner that ensures the safety, security, and prosperity of their citizens."

Legal Breakthroughs and Lingering Uncertainty

With the world deaf to their pleas for assistance, USRAP applicants (speaking under pseudonyms) told me they feel increasingly desperate.

Farid tells me he has been waiting in Pakistan for USRAP processing since September 2021, facing "financial hardship, the constant threat of deportation, [and] lack of access to health care and education." In Pakistan, Farid's wife suffered a miscarriage and has developed severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. While taking her for medical treatment, Farid was detained by police and forced to pay a bribe to be released, exhausting the last of the funds he had made from selling his family's home and his wife's jewelry.

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Farid says he feels "utterly hopeless," and explained that a close friend, also a USRAP applicant, recently committed suicide.

Haseena qualified for the USRAP through decades of work with the U.S. government and international NGOs. Her efforts, including helping a 14-year-old who had been forced to marry a senior Taliban member, earned her threats from the Taliban as well as from ISIS and other extremist groups. For her safety, Haseena was transferred to Pakistan a year ago with help from a former employer. The Taliban tortured her brother when they could not locate Haseena.

Haseena's processing was nearly complete, and she had been contacted by IOM about scheduling travel in December before the USRAP suspension. "I cannot even imagine returning because doing so would mean certain deathfor me and for my loved ones," Haseena told me.

Nasib spent the last three years waiting for USRAP processing in Pakistan. "We had gone through many problems" before the USRAP suspension, Nasib noted. Now, he added, "the problems have increased." For Nasib, deportation "means death."

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It is unclear whether the applicants who shared their stories will benefit from a recent breakthrough in the International Refugee Assistance Project's Pacito v. Trump lawsuit, which was filed in February to challenge the USRAP suspension.

Following U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead's February 25 preliminary injunction that forced the U.S. government to continue processing USRAP cases, the government argued it should have to process only 160 USRAP cases.

On May 5, Whitehead issued a compliance order compelling the government to process 12,000 refugees who had conditional approval and confirmed travel scheduled prior to the executive order. Not all of these refugees are Afghan or based in Pakistan. An untold number of other refugees with no confirmable travel plans remain in limbo.

(Aseel)

Afghans who are set to be processed under the compliance order have not yet received notice, according to Shawn VanDiver, the founder and president of #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization supporting Afghans seeking relocation and resettlement. If the government complies with the timeline ordered, then all Afghans set to be processed will receive word of their inclusion by May 19. According to VanDiver, the government is attempting to file an appeal to have the order amended or overturned.

The post Pakistan Deports Afghans Awaiting U.S. Resettlement appeared first on Reason.com.
Pakistan on Tuesday warned India that it would respond after Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to launch more strikes across the border if terrorists attack his country.

"Any future aggression will also be met with full resolve, Pakistans Foreign Ministry said in Islamabad, calling Modis comments on Monday "provocative and inflammatory."

Modi said New Delhi would target terrorist hideouts across the border again if there were new attacks on India.

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The threat came in the Indian premier's first public comments after the nuclear-armed rivals launched tit-for-tat missile, drone and airstrikes last week in their worse clashes in decades.

The clashes were triggered by a militant attack last month in the Indian part of the disputed region of Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

New Delhi blamed the attack on Islamist jihadist groups based in Pakistan and said airstrikes on May 7 were to target the terrorists hideouts.

Islamabad rejected the allegation and said civilians were killed in the Indian missile strikes.

Modis comments came as a fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump on Saturday continued to hold between the South Asian neighbours, which have fought three wars over Kashmir.

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We hope India will prioritize regional stability and the well-being of its citizens over the narrow, politically motivated jingoism, the ministrys statement added.

Top military commanders from both sides agreed to sustain the ceasefire in a telephone conversation on Monday.

Their national security advisers were to meet in a neutral country to discuss the disputes under Trumps formula, Pakistani officials said.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Panama City Police Department is asking for help locating 87-year-old Betty Stewart.

She is five feet five inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, and has grey hair and hazel eyes.

She was last seen Monday wearing a black shirt with white designs and dark blue pants around the 900 block of Calhoun Ave.

Anyone with information on Stewarts whereabouts is urged to call the Panama City Police Department at (850) 872-3100.

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You can also report tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling (850) 785-TIPS.

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Weve often heard the saying, children dont come with instructions.

Thats only partly true.

For decades, one local organization has been providing a guide and resources for parents across the country to give them the support they need on this fulfilling and challenging journey.

Michael ONeal is the founder and Executive Director of Parent University.

Darrell ONeal is the agencys Associate Executive Executive Director.

They sat down with WSAVs Kim Gusby to talk about the program and the last session of the school year.

Click the arrow in the video box above to watch our interview.

Last Parent University session of the 2024  2025 School Year!

Saturday, May 17

9:30 AM  1:30 PM

Sol C. Johnson High School

3012 Sunset Blvd

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Free Continental Breakfast

Free Lunch and transportation!

Need a ride? Text your name, address and phone number to

912-755-4422 by COB Thursday, May 15th

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
PARIS (AP)  Paris court gives actor Gerard Depardieu a 18-month suspended sentence after he was convicted in a sexual assault case.
PARIS (AP)  French movie star Gerard Depardieu was convicted Tuesday of sexually assaulting two women on a set and received an 18-month suspended prison sentence in a case that was widely seen as a post-#MeToo test for the country's film industry.

The 76-year-old Depardieu, one of the most prominent figures in French cinema for decades, must also pay both accusers a total of 29,040 euros (around $32,350) in fines, and the court ordered that his name be listed in the national sex offender database.

The actor was convicted of groping a 54-year-old woman responsible for decorating the set and a 34-year-old assistant during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021.

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Depardieu, who has denied the accusations, did not attend the hearing in Paris. His lawyer said that his client would appeal the decision.

Accuser praises the verdict

The case offered a fresh assessment of how French society and its filmmakers would handle sexual misconduct allegations against a top actor in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

One of the accusers, the set dresser, said she was very much satisfied with the verdict.

Im very moved, she told reporters. Thats a victory for me, really, and a big progress, a step forward. I feel justice was made.

Her lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, said it is the victory of two women, and it is the victory of all women beyond this trial."

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Today we hope to see the end of impunity for an artist in the world of cinema," Durrieu Diebolt said. "I think that with this decision, we can no longer say that he is not a sexual abuser. And today, as the Cannes Film Festival opens, Id like the film world to spare a thought for Gerard Depardieus victims."

A suspended sentence means that Depardieu does not have to go to prison unless he commits another offense. Suspended sentences are common in France for a wide range of crimes.

The court said it took into account Depardieus age, his poor health and his criminal record, which included one prior unrelated conviction, although the court offered no details.

Other misconduct allegations arose

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Depardieus long and storied career  he told the court that hes made more than 250 films  has turned him into a French movie giant. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1991 for his performance as the swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac.

In recent years, the actor has been accused publicly or in formal complaints of misconduct by more than 20 women, but so far only the sexual assault case has proceeded to court. Some other cases were dropped because of a lack of evidence or an expired statute of limitations.

During the four-day trial in March, Depardieu rejected the accusations, saying hes not like that. He acknowledged using vulgar and sexual language on the film set and that he grabbed the set dresser's hips during an argument, but denied that his behavior was sexual.

The court, composed of a panel of three judges, concluded that Depardieus explanations in court were unpersuasive and not credible" and stressed both accusers' constant, reiterated and substantiated declarations.

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The court also said that both plaintiffs have been faced with an aggressive defense strategy based on comments meant to offend them. The judges therefore concluded that comments by Depardieus lawyer in court aggravated the harm to the accusers and justified higher fines.

Depardieu lawyer Jeremie Assous regretted that the court considered that questioning the accusations is an additional assault ... which means that now the defense, even in this type of trial, is no longer accepted."

The two accusers testified in court

The set dresser, whose duties could include choosing the furniture and paintings that will appear in a movie, said the actor used his legs as pincers to hold her as she squeezed past him in a narrow corridor.

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She said he grabbed her hips then started groping her behind and in front, around. She ran her hands near her buttocks, hips and pubic area to show where she was touched. She said he then grabbed her chest.

The woman also testified that Depardieu used an obscene expression to ask her to touch his penis and suggested he wanted to rape her. She told the court that the actors calm and cooperative attitude during the trial bore no resemblance to his behavior at work.

The other plaintiff, an assistant, said Depardieu groped her buttocks and breasts during three separate incidents on the film set.

The Associated Press does not identify by name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they consent to be named. Neither woman has done so in this case, although one has agreed to be pictured.

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Some expressed support for Depardieu

Some figures in the French cinema world have expressed their support for Depardieu. Actors Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant were among those who took seats on his side of the courtroom.

French media reported last week that Depardieu was shooting a film directed by Ardant in the Azores archipelago, in Portugal.

The actor may have to face other legal proceedings soon.

In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home. That case is still active, and in August 2024 prosecutors requested that it go to trial.

For more than a half-century, Depardieu stood as a towering figure in French cinema, a titan known for his commanding physical presence, instinct, sensibility and remarkable versatility.

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A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of Frances most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures.

In recent years, his behavior toward women has come under renewed scrutiny, including after a documentary showed him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea.

Actor Juliette Binoche, who presides over the jury for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, said Tuesday that Depardieu is apparently no longer sacred, adding it makes us reflect on the power some people have.

___

Associated Press journalists Samuel Petrequin, Catherine Gaschka and Yesica Brumec contributed to this report.
PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The former Holland Coast Guard station is in the process of being purchased by Park Township as a base for water rescue operations.

The station is located on Lake Macatawa near Holland State Park and Lake Michigan.

Park Twp receives DNR funds for park projects

Cal Keuning, a firefighter with the Park Township marine division, said the site will provide fast access to high-traffic areas.

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Were talking minutes if somebody is in the water, if theres a water emergency, if they go under, its minutes. We have to get on scene very quickly, Keuning said. The benefit of having the station staffed. I mean we are right there at the dock ready to go to get on our personal watercraft.

The summer of 2021 was the last year the coast guard staffed the station. In 2024, Park Township responded to 19 water rescue calls, 20 calls in 2023, and 24 calls in 2022.

Coast Guard to officially close Holland station

Howard Fink, the township manager, said the site will also serve as a place to help educate swimmers and boaters with the goal of preventing an emergency in the water.

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Our vision is to change the culture in this region so that in addition to all the great things about West Michigan, when people come to West Michigan, they know this is a region of great water safety, Fink said.

The township is purchasing the property for $1.4 million and is planning about $400,000 in improvements in the coming years.

It also has an existing dock. Those docks are going to be quite accommodating to our needs and to the needs of other entities like the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office, who presumably will have its boats there as well so theres a lot of infrastructure at this location that makes it ideal, Fink said.

First responders expect to be operating from the location sometime this summer.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Parliament has been attacked over ludicrous plans to offer students virtual work experience.

The scheme will allow teenagers to learn about life in Parliament without requiring them to set foot in the Palace of Westminster.

It is the latest in a string of similar programmes run by taxpayer-funded organisations in recent years, costing a combined 250,000, according to research by The Telegraph.

The Parliament scheme is an extension of a successful pilot that concluded last year, which introduced students to a diverse range of teams and career opportunities through an online course.

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The trial version, run by Springpod, a specialist virtual work experience provider, had over seven hours worth of content and offered a certificate following a self-evaluation at the end.

Parliament has said it is now planning for this to form part of its ongoing work experience offer to students across the UK, at a cost still to be determined.

The programme is advertised on provider Springpods website

However, the proposals have led to a backlash from sceptics, who question whether it is possible to gain work experience without actually going into work.

Greg Smith, the Tory shadow business minister, called it a ludicrous idea, while Richard Tice, the deputy Reform UK leader, branded it the new pinnacle of stupidity.

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The Telegraph has identified several similar schemes used by various public bodies in the wake of the Covid pandemic, with a total value of around 250,000.

In one case, the NHS commissioned a virtual work experience programme to promote data careers in the health service, worth 100,000.

The scheme was intended to give school and university students the chance to develop key employability skills such as problem solving, data literacy, storytelling and presentation.

The contract notice said it would feature bite-sized experiences including live online career challenges, live online career panels and live online recruitment briefings.

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It is understood this was not meant to be a traditional work experience placement, with the programme more closely resembling career guidance sessions for students.

Enough cash for two nurses

Mr Tice, whose party has pledged to clamp down on working from home in councils, told The Telegraph the scheme could have paid for two more actual nurses, in a hospital.

He said of the virtual programmes: This is the new pinnacle of stupidity. It would hinder, not help, a students understanding of work. What a ludicrous waste of taxpayers money.

Mr Smith, the Tory MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, also lashed out at the proposals, claiming the concept of a workplace from a screen was for the birds.

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He told The Telegraph: This is a ludicrous idea. The very concept of gaining experience of the workplace is being there, talking to people doing the job, seeing it in action.

Other public bodies to offer virtual work experience schemes in recent years include the Met Office and Historic England, both primarily funded by the Government.

The Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), the UKs leading public funder of environmental science, ran a programme paid for with equality, diversity and inclusion funding, worth around 15,000.

Valuable to children across country

A House of Commons spokesman said: We have previously run a successful pilot for a virtual work experience programme for 14- to 18-year-olds, which concluded last year.

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This enabled children who live across the country  and not only those within commutable proximity to the estate  to gain valuable experience working with Parliament.

We are now tendering in line with public contract regulations to make this part of our ongoing work experience offer to students across the UK.

Final costs are still to be determined, though value for money is of course a key consideration  with the tendering process also ensuring fair and open competition in the source of supply.

Sam Hyams, the chief executive of Springpod, said: While some criticisms may grab headlines, they dont reflect the reality for many young people or the employers working hard to inspire and engage them.

Virtual courses widen access

He added: We greatly welcome the ambition from politicians to provide in-person work experience to every young person but the sad reality is that, for all the historic initiatives, only 36 per cent of UK students currently get in-person work experience before they leave school. Virtual programmes arent a replacement.

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They complement in-person opportunities by widening access and giving students a way in, especially when location, money or lack of networks are a barrier.

A spokesman for Historic England said: Our virtual work experience offer is just one element of our wider early careers programme, which includes a range of other in-person work experience and training opportunities.

Virtual work experience has a far wider geographic reach than our in-person work experience opportunities, meaning that a greater number of young people who have an interest in the heritage sector can gain some experience of what a career in this sector could offer them.



It is also cost-effective as a method that complements our in-person work experience and training opportunities. In the last two years, almost 2,000 young people have benefited from this opportunity, which equates to a current cost of around 10 per participant.

The Met Office and the NERC were approached for comment.

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About 40 years ago, a married Massachusetts couple went to a Halloween party. It was the last time 18-year-old Anna Foster was seen.

Her husband joined in on search efforts. Nearly three years later, he was convicted for her murder.

Earlier this month, he was denied parole for the sixth time.

Michael Foster was convicted of murder in the second degree for the death of his wife, Anna Foster, on Aug. 14, 1989 in Norfolk Superior Court. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

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Michael Foster was 22 when he strangled his wife, tied her body with a clothesline and put her body in a nearby pond in an attempt to conceal the crime, the parole board said. Foster then joined in efforts to try and find his wife.

On Dec. 20, 1986, Anna Fosters body was found in a pond in Wrentham.

Michael Foster fled to Florida. While there, he was convicted of several other offenses, including battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and grand theft (stealing an automobile). He was returned to Massachusetts in 1989 to face the murder charge.

He first went in front of the parole board in 2004.

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After his Jan. 30 parole board hearing, the parole board denied parole for the 60-year-old with a review in two years.

Officials said he has a lengthy history of disciplinary reports, but has stayed out of trouble since 2017. He received his GED in 1991. Since his last hearing in 2023, he has completed 24 programs, including Alternative to Violence, Jericho Circle, Restorative Justice Retreat and the Family Violence Education Group.

He remained sober for nearly 30 years. However, he has prior substance misuse.

Four of Anna Fosters family members spoke in opposition to parole. Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Laura McLaughlin also spoke in opposition to parole.

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The Board states that Michael Foster continues to minimize his pattern of domestic violence. It also stated that the programming he has been engaged in has mostly been recent and finds a lengthier period of reflection and rehabilitation is needed.

More on the Massachusetts Parole Board

Read the original article on MassLive.
NEOSHO, Mo. (KNWA/KFTA)  One organization that provides career opportunities for non-traditional students is partnering with a southern Missouri college.

UpSkill NWA is an organization that gives free education opportunities in healthcare careers for underemployed adults or those who did not follow a traditional college path.

The organization partners with universities and workforce development programs around Northwest Arkansas, and on Tuesday, announced its newest partner.

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Just over the Missouri border sits Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. This college will now allow Northwest Arkansas residents to earn degrees in healthcare fields.

President of Crowder College, Dr. Chett Daniels, said the McDonald County university looks forward to the partnership.

We are excited for this collaborative effort to assist northwest Arkansas learners with their employment potential, Daniels said.

Crowder College provides more than 80 certifications at its McDonald County Instruction Center.

This is another example of how strong partnerships prevent state boundaries from becoming barriers to career opportunities, Daniel said.

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UpSkill NWA will cover all costs of earning a degree, including tuition, books, fees and equipment, according to a press release.

The organization said its approach to providing opportunities will help Northwest Arkansas residents out of low-wage work and, ultimately, promote long-term economic mobility.

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A music teacher at Oakstead Elementary in Land O Lakes was arrested Monday on charges related to child pornography.

Joseph Allen Watson, 53, faces two counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of promotion of child pornography and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way device.

Watson had worked in the Pasco County School District for 24 years and also worked as a summer Bible school teacher at Grace Lutheran Church in Carrollwood, police said.

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A message from Oakstead Principal Clare Ennis to families said that law enforcement confirmed the charges are not connected to the teachers role and that they acted immediately to ensure the individual is no longer on campus and has no further contact with students.

I sincerely understand how troubling this news may be, and we will work to provide care and support to students and staff on campus, Ennis said.

At a news conference Tuesday, agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said they launched an investigation into Watson on Friday after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He was arrested after admitting to owning an account that received and shared child pornography.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said Watson was not a hands-on offender and did not produce the images himself. He faces up to 45 years in prison.

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Child pornography is more than just pornography, assistant statewide prosecutor Rita Peters said. Child pornography is a memorialized record of the rape and brutalization of the child, and in this case, a child that was pre-pubescent. We trust the judicial system will ensure a fair result in this community.

Ennis said the investigation was active and anyone with information should contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 800-226-1140.

The safety and well-being of our students is the priority, district spokesperson Toni Zetzsche said.

Jessica Wright, Pasco County school board member for District 4, which Oakstead Elementary is a part of, said she was deeply saddened by the news but thought it was important to be talked about openly.

When we find out people could be putting kids in harms way, were going to make sure theyre not going to see the light of day, she said.
LAND O LAKES, Fla. (WFLA)  An elementary school teacher in Pasco County has been arrested for possession of child sexual abuse material, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced.

Joseph Watson was arrested Monday after the Office of Statewide Prosecution worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Pasco County Sheriffs Office.

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AG Uthmeier said Watson is a soon-to-be former elementary school teacher, a member in a local church choir, and was involved in the churchs summer youth program.

Its hard to find a more depraved example of someone who betrayed the local communitys trust than Mr. Watson, Uthmeier said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Pasco County Schools shared the following statement with families regarding the arrest:

I want to make you aware of a situation involving a staff member who was recently arrested by FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement). Music teacher, Joseph Watson has been arrested by FDLE on the following charges: 2 counts of possession of child pornography, 2 counts of promotion of child pornography, 2 counts of unlawful use of a 2-way communication device.

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At this time, law enforcement has confirmed that the charges are not connected to the teachers role in Pasco County Schools. I want to assure you that law enforcement and Employee Relations are involved, and acted immediately to ensure the individual is no longer on campus and has no further contact with students.

I sincerely understand how troubling this news may be, and we will work to provide care and support to students and staff on campus. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority. This continues to be an active investigation, and if you have any information that may assist law enforcement, we encourage you to contact FDLE at (800) 226-1140.

A statement from the Grace Lutheran Church following the arrest:

It is with heavy hearts that Grace Lutheran Church acknowledges the recent reports of the arrest of a member of our congregation, Mr. Joe Watson, on charges related to child pornography. Grace Lutheran Church is committed to the safety and well-being of all members of our congregation, especially our children and youth. At this time we have no record indicating that Mr. Watson has participated in any unsupervised volunteer roles within our youth ministries or had direct individual interaction with any of our youth. As a community of faith, we lean on the words of Psalm 34:18: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We pray for God to provide wisdom, peace, and healing in the days ahead.

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May 12ELIDA  A St. Marys man was transported to Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center after he was struck by a vehicle while walking around noon Monday, May 5, at the intersection of Kiracofe Avenue and Greenlawn Road in Elida, according to an Allen County Sheriff's Office crash report.

The vehicle of Clarence Jostpille, 78, struck the pedestrian, Brant Thompson, 35, from St. Marys, while conducting a left turn onto East Kiracofe Avenue.

Thompson was transported by American Township EMS to St. Rita's for injury treatment, according to the report.

Jostpille was charged with not yielding for right-of-way pedestrian traffic at a crosswalk.

Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A person on a skateboard was killed by a Tesla in a hit-and-run early Tuesday morning in west Las Vegas.

According to police, a 33-year-old man is dead after he was hit by a Telsa at around 1:20 a.m. near the intersection of Rainbow Boulevard and Vegas Drive.

According to Las Vegas Metropolitan police, preliminary details showed a Tesla Model Y was driving south on Rainbow approaching the intersection with Vegas Drive.

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The man on the skateboard was attempting to cross Rainbow on the north side of the intersection when the Tesla hit him. The driver of the Tesla failed to stop at the scene or notify police.

Medical personnel responded to the scene, and despite life-saving efforts, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The collision marked the 66th fatal traffic-related incident in the LVMPDs jurisdiction for 2025.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments Collision Investigation Section at (702) 828-3060 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555, or on the Crime Stoppers website.

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Rainbow was closed to traffic at Vegas. Police urged drivers to avoid the area.

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YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Pennsylvania lawmaker is hosting a free unclaimed property event in York County this week.

State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) announced she is hosting the unclaimed property event at the Penn Township Municipal Building at 20 Wayne Avenue in Hanover, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.

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At our last event, we helped return more than $200,000 to southern York County residents, Phillips-Hill said. Many Pennsylvanians are surprised to learn the state could be holding money that belongs to them. It only takes a few minutes to check, and I encourage you to come get assistance.

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Phillips-Hill said York County residents can search the Pennsylvania Treasurys unclaimed database and receive in-person assistance from Treasurer Stacy Garritys staff.

York County residents who cant attend the in-person event can visit the PA Treasury website.

According to the Pennsylvania Treasury, more than one in ten Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property.

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(WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Senator Dawn Keefer (R-Cumberland/York) is drawing criticism after using a flamethrower to burn a sign with Governor Josh Shapiros name on it, a month after an arsonist set fire to Shapiros home.

Keefer posted a one-minute video to social media on May 8 saying Shapiros $51 billion fantasy budget would lead to a 52% income tax increase. But just like the farmers in the Whiskey Rebellion, Keefer wrote, we say ENOUGH.

The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 was an uprising of farmers and distillers in western Pennsylvania in protest of a whiskey tax enacted by the federal government, according to HISTORY.

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Protests led to violence on a government official who was tarred and feathered, the fatal attack on a tax collectors Allegheny County home known as the Attack on Bower Hill, and the eventual discharging of a militia by George Washington to restore order in the region.

Over 230 years ago, Pennsylvanians held the line against taxation, Keefer says in her video, before using a flamethrower to burn a sign that says Shapiros $51.5B Fantasy Budget.

Commenters on Keefers video noted her use of a flamethrower on a sign with Shapiros name came less than a month after State Police say a man threw Molotov Cocktails inside the Governors Residence, burning the dining room.

Your theatrics, torching a budget, only weeks after someone tried to assassinate the Governor is despicable, said a commenter under Keefers video.

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You dont take a flamethrower to a Governors budget when the Governors home was just torched, said State Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-43). It was insensitive, uncalled for, and really has gotten to a point where disappointed this type of rhetoric continues to move forward. We have to tone this all down.

Keefer believes the bigger concern should be the state burning through taxpayer cash, saying last year there was out of control spending in last years budget. She declined to speak specifically to the flamethrower video.

The Governor and Senate Republican leaders declined to comment on the video, best described as incendiary.

The state budget is due in less than seven weeks on June 30.

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(WHTM)  The Democrat-controlled Pennsylvania State House passed a bill that would implement several changes in the states election laws.

The bill would allow counties to pre-canvass mail-in ballots and allow voters to cure their ballots by fixing mistakes such as failing to sign the envelope.

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The bill would also allow for in-person early voting up to 11 days before an election and set standards for drop boxes in all 67 counties.

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Counties would also be required to keep electronic poll books and create a post-election audit process.

Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton says the bill would make elections more secure in Pennsylvania.

House Bill 1396 responds to the needs of our most essential election stakeholders and would make all of our elections free, fair, efficient, uniform, safe and secure, said McClinton.

All 102 Democrats voted for the bill and all 101 Republicans voted against it. The bill faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled State Senate.

Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie), chair of the House State Government Committee, voiced concern about the bill after it passed on Tuesday.

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This 98-page bill was rushed to prime time with only about a week elapsing from introduction to final passage by the House, Roae said. It gave little time for stakeholders to weigh in and have their concerns addressed.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Nearly a week after Pennsylvania House lawmakers passed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana, State Senators voted it down during a committee hearing earlier this morning.

On Wednesday, May 7, H.B. 1200, also known as the Cannabis Health & Safety Act, passed on party lines, with 102 Democrats voting yea, and 101 Republicans voting nay.

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This vote came after the bill passed through a House committee back on May 5.

SPOTLIGHT PA: Whats next for marijuana in PA?

Earlier today, the Republican-controlled Senate Law and Justice Committee held a hearing to discuss H.B. 1200, and to decide whether or not to put it to a vote in front of the whole Pennsylvania Senate.

The committee ended up voting down the legalization bill by a vote of 7 to 3, with one abstention.

Chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) took to social media saying that a state-store model for adult-use cannabis wont pass the Senate; its a fact, not an opinion. The Houses advancement of H.B. 1200 to the Senate wasnt a genuine legalization effort but political theater. I havent received any discussions from House leadership or bill sponsors.

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He continued by saying, I remain committed to crafting a cannabis bill that can pass the Senate and be signed into law to benefit all Pennsylvanians. That starts with honest dialogue from everyone involved, including House leadership and the governor, to develop a realistic approach, not political theater.

With H.B. 1200 having gone up in smoke, negotiations on Governor Josh Shapiros budget plan remain underway.

Back in February, Gov. Shapiro proposed a $51.5 billion budget for Pennsylvania, which included a call to legalize marijuana. As part of Shapiros budget plan, he needs a surplus of cash and new money streams to support future expenditures.

These hypothetical money streams included raising an estimated $1.2 billion from legalizing adult-use marijuana and expanding how the corporate net income tax is applied and introducing taxes on skill games.

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The final budget is due on June 30.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Peoria Public School Board of Education voted not to waive the cost of tuition for children of non-resident employees.

It was the second time the school board has rejected the idea that their employees should be able to bring their children from out of the district and then attend PPS schools for free.

The move failed at the school boards meeting on Monday by 4-3 vote. Voting for the waiver were Gregory Wilson, Chanel Hargrave-Murry and Christina Rose.

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The waiver would have allowed teachers who dont live within the district to have their children go to school for free if they attended a PPS school. Currently, the district requires tuition from non-district students who want to attend school within the district.

Peoria school board to reconsider tuition waiver for kids of non-resident employees

I dont think its fair to those of us who are taxpayers, to have a non-taxpaying person attend Peoria Public School without some financial investment, said Board President Paris McConnell.

The tuition to attend PPS is $10,000 for those who live outside the district. Employees who live outside of the district but want their children to attend PPS schools already pay at a reduce rate which is $4,500.

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When the waiver first came to a vote during the Jan. 13 meeting, the same three people voted for it. At that time, Lynne Costic, Martha Ross and Paris McConnel voted no. Due to not all members being in attendance, the council agreed to bring it back up at a future meeting.

This time, Larry Ivory joined the no side.

District Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said fewer than five employees have taken advantage of the opportunity since 2021.

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ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities are investigating after a person was hit and killed by a train Tuesday morning in Antioch.

Officials with CSX told News 2 that the incident took place at approximately 8:34 a.m. on the tracks off Hickory Hollow Parkway near Bell Road. According to a press release from the Metro Nashville Police Department, two engineers on board reported first seeing the man about 2- to 300 yeards away as the train came around the curve.

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(Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN)

The engineers repeatedly sounded the trains horn, but the MNPD said the man remained still. The emergency brakes were applied, but the train was unable to stop before striking him. The man  who has not yet been identified  died from his injuries.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

We deeply appreciate the swift response from the local emergency personnel and extend our heartfelt thoughts to everyone impacted by this tragic event. This incident is currently under investigation, said a CSX spokesperson.

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No additional details about the deadly incident were immediately released.

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 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  One person is in serious condition after a crash in central Wichita Monday afternoon.

It happened around 1 p.m. in the intersection of 9th Street and Grove Street.

The crash involved two vehicles, a black pickup truck and a blue car.

Sedgwick County Dispatch said that one person was in potentially critical condition. At the hospital, they were found to have non-life-threatening injuries.

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Man killed in northwest Kansas rollover

One of the drivers was booked at the Sedgwick County Jail on warrants unrelated to the crash.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An investigation is underway after a reported shooting that left someone with wounds in their legs.

According to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning near Fountain Avenue and North Main Street.

A 2 NEWS photographer at the scene saw an ambulance leave the area and spoke with a responding officer who said that a person had been shot in the legs.

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That person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

There is currently no suspect information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
American men are in trouble. From Richard Reeves "Of Boys and Men" to Nicholas Eberstadts "Men Without Work," we have learned that men are opting out of our most important institutions  work, education and family  in record numbers.

But what or who is to blame for this male malaise?

Uncle Sam.

This was Allysia Finleys thesis, writing about mens growing disconnect from work in a recent Wall Street Journal article: Blame government, which showers benefits on able-bodied people who dont work, Finley wrote.

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Finley is certainly right that we have a growing problem when it comes to young mens connection to work. In 1976, just 5% of young men ages 25 to 40 were not in the labor force. That number has more than doubled, rising to 11% in 2024. Over the same period, the share of men in this age range not working full-time rose by 46%, such that now more than 1 in 5 men in this age group are not working full-time. In 2024, 3.8 million men ages 25 to 40 were not in the labor force, and a total of 7.8 million were not working full-time.

DN-YoungAdultMen

Whats also apparent from these trends is that working-class men have been much more affected by the male flight from work than college educated men. The increase is only up 79% among college educated men, whereas it is up 165% among less-educated men. This is worrisome because such men are more likely to end up poor, unmarried, depressed and prone to succumbing to deaths of despair.

But is Finley right to blame the government for this male flight from work?

Yes, in part, it would seem. A large minority of young men who are not working, or who are working less than full-time, are collecting food or cash from the government.

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The 2024 Current Population Survey indicates that 31% of men ages 25-40 who are not working full-time collected some form of cash or cash-equivalent benefit in the form of food stamps, Social Security for disability, Supplemental Security Income, or unemployment insurance in the prior year. Such benefits are particularly common among the nearly 4 million men in this age group who are not in the labor force, of whom 40% had received some cash or cash-equivalent government benefit. This doesnt include other non-cash government supports, like health insurance or reduced rent.

DN-MoreYoungMen

We should note that national surveys, such as the Current Population Survey, tend to underreport the share of adults on such programs. To Finleys point, the share of young men receiving one or more of these benefits is likely higher than what the CPS indicates. But, as shown above, these benefits are largely going to those without college degrees. Furthermore, there is a large share of those who did not receive any such benefits and so are clearly not being enticed by Big Government. There is more to this story.

So, what besides Uncle Sam is to blame? Our work at the Institute for Family Studies suggests broken families and big business also have a big hand in this male malaise. Regarding family, as Brad Wilcox wrote in his book Get Married, young men are more likely to end up idle, to work less, and to earn less money if they came from a non-intact family. He added, In fact, these young men are 36% less likely to hold down a full-time job by the time they hit their mid-twenties.

When it comes to big business, as Wilcox noted in The American Conservative: Many of the nations biggest businesses  from Alphabet (YouTube) to TikTok to Microsoft (Xbox)  are selling products that serve teenage boys and young men one dopamine hit after another. The problem with these products is they make school and work relatively less appealing, inhibiting the ability of many young men to develop the skills, ambition, and work ethic that would enable them to thrive in the twenty-first century economy.

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Work done by Princeton economist Mark Aguiar and his colleagues indicates that screentime  from gaming to porn  can account for nearly half of the drop in working hours for men in their twenties from 2004 to 2017. Of course, many parents of teenagers understand this problem starts before men hit their twenties.

Throw in the well-documented failures of schools to cultivate the hearts, minds and talents of boys and young men, and what Eberstadt calls a normative sea change that has made it a viable option for sturdy men ... to sit on the economic sidelines, living off the toil or bounty of others and you get a fuller picture of the familial, economic and cultural forces arrayed against our young men.

The bottom line is that, yes, government handouts can, and do, sustain the growing male disconnect from work. But the story of young men and unemployment is about much more than the failures of Uncle Sam. There is plenty of blame to go around.

Grant Bailey is a research associate at the Institute for Family Studies. Brad Wilcox is Distinguished University Professor and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and senior nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW)  PETA is calling for change after another incident at Cedar Point, where animals escaped from their enclosure last Friday. Three llamas were seen running freely  part of a growing trend at the amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.

FOX 8 News Tino Bovenzi has learned unknown actors were responsible for two similar incidents last year.

Whats new for the new season at Cedar Point

Guests at Cedar Point were surprised to see three llamas running freely on Friday, May 9. Cedar Point said its third-party operator accidentally left the gate unlocked.

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Its not the only time animals have run freely at Cedar Point.

Watch: Animals run loose from Cedar Point petting zoo

Last year on June 11, two camels escaped, giving park guests quite the scare. A week later, a dozen goats escaped their enclosure.

Debbie Metzler of the PETA Foundation has been watching closely from afar.

These incidents at Cedar Point have PETA asking a question: When will everyone realize that animals dont want to be exploited for human amusement? Metzler said.

PETA said it is most concerned about guest safety and animal safety, with the loud environment creating a panicked situation that can trigger an animals fight-or-flight response.

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Three strikes and youre out should be the rule applied to this exploitative animal exhibit. And the animals could not be making it more clear that they dont want to be there, Metzler said.

Honey Hill Farm supplies and cares for the petting zoo animals at Cedar Point.

Dog-friendly patios to enjoy this spring and summer in Northeast Ohio

In a statement to FOX 8, it said the two incidents last year were the result of intentional interference by an unknown party. Since then, cameras have been installed to prevent similar occurrences.

As anyone who has ever had a pet knows, animals just get loose sometimes, said Megan Powell-Larkin, director of operations for Honey Hill Farm. Last week, our pet llamas  Skye, Gandalf and Dante  took advantage of a rare set of circumstances to explore the grassy area behind their enclosure before being safely returned a few minutes later. Animals are always looking for greener pastures and novel experiences, and occasionally they succeed. Weve already changed our processes to ensure that these particular circumstances cannot repeat themselves, but I have no doubt that the llamas will continue scheming up other ways to entertain guests and embarrass their caretakers in the future.

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No park guests or animals were hurt in any of these incidents. Cedar Point says The Barnyard has also been enhanced with additional fencing. The park hopes fewer of these incidents will happen moving forward.

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Qidere LGP QUA Johnson was shot and killed in Philadelphia on Mothers Day in what authorities are saying was a robbery gone wrong.

The Philadelphia Police Department confirmed to ABC News that the 30-year-old artist, who was also outspoken about gun violence and promoted positivity, was shot multiple times a little after 4:40 p.m. in the Juanita Park neighborhood. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly before 5 p.m. Law enforcement is currently searching for three men who may be linked to the fatal shooting, and is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and a conviction in the case.

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His life will never be in vain with me, QUAs publicist, Nikki Bagby, told ABC 6 Action News. I am heartbroken because people knew QUA as a rapper, but people didnt know him as a community advocate. Literally, he was the voice of the youth.

The young rapper was known as the Voice of the Youth because of the honest way he approached street life in his music. The rapper decided to rebrand himself as a positive influence after spending time in prison.

Media personality Mina SayWhat Llona, who has interviewed LGP multiple times, spoke with ABC 6 Action News about Johnsons death. Its heartbreaking, its just not enough words and I think people are just tired, she told the news outlet. You know, were tired of saying rest in peace, were tired of it being the same story and the same narrative. Were losing young people that are very talented.

She noted that its unfortunate that even someone as positive as Johnson is vulnerable to gun violence. A young guy not saying those things, being positive, she said. You know, giving people inspiration and even he is susceptible to some of the things that our youth are dealing with right now, and its just sad.

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Meek Mill was also disappointed when heard the news, taking to his Instagram Stories to make a statement. Killing ambitious young bulls like this on Mothers Day is a Philly type of thing, the Philly rapper said. St will make you different. Prayers to your family, and lets collect some of them guns. St sad out here.

In 2018, LGP QUA was honored by the city and state at his former school, Edward T. Steel Elementary, where he and Puma also donated $10,000.

Whoever is looking at me getting these awards and certificates, is like, There is hope, the rapper said at the event. They see someone who was on the negative side change and is on the positive side now.

The schools principle Jamal Dennis added at the time, Its very hard to do a lot of things if you never seen it, Bringing someone in that they can actually see and hear from, that the road is going to be bumpy  things happen in life.

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Filipinos cast their votes for the Philippine midterm elections in Antipolo City on May 12, 2025. Credit - Ryan Eduard BenaidNurPhoto/Getty Images

The Philippines 2025 midterm election could have marked a moment of reckoning for the decades-old populist Duterte dynasty. Its patriarch, 80-year-old former President Rodrigo, had been arrested by the International Criminal Court in March for alleged crimes against humanity. His daughter and practical successor, current Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, was impeached by the House in February on charges including corruption and threatening to kill political rival President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. and faces a trial before the Senate later this year.

Instead, however, the election, in which tens of millions of Filipinos braved extreme heat to vote Monday for some 18,000 national and local offices across the archipelago, marked a resurgence for the Dutertes, according to preliminary results.

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Rodrigo himself and his youngest son Sebastian were elected mayor and vice mayor of Davao City, where Rodrigo previously served as mayor for more than 22 years before becoming President in 2016 and where the family has long held power. Given that Rodrigo remains in detention in The Hague, Sebastian is expected to discharge the duties of the office.

In the Senate, where Saras fate will be decided, key Duterte allies resoundingly won re-election, including Christopher Go, Rodrigos former aide, who was the most-voted-for senator, and Ronald dela Rosa, the former national police chief at the height of Rodrigos deadly drug war, who ranked third in the overall vote tally. The two, who also face potential arrest by the ICC, staunchly defended the drug war during their first terms in the Senate. Another Duterte-allied lawmaker from the lower legislative chamber, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, snagged a Senate seat. Marcoleta previously said that he would defend Sara against impeachment.

While some opponents had hoped that an electoral defeat for the Dutertes, following the other blows theyd already faced in the run-up to the vote, might once and for all push the family out of relevance, the Dutertes have instead appeared to reassert their unprecedented influence, experts say. Youre talking about a President who was more popular when he stepped out of office than when he assumed office, says Aries Arugay, who chairs the department of political science at the University of the Philippines. Rodrigos drug war, like similar ones in Colombia, Mexico, and Thailand, may have earned international criticism, but it also similarly won a significant amount of domestic support, says Arugay, because of their visuality and their ability to sow fear, which is often a proxy for effectiveness.

Emily Sorianos family did not believe it at first when they heard of Rodrigo Dutertes shocking arrest on March 11. Like many other families in the Philippines, hers had held off on their sighs of relief until Duterte was flown to the Netherlands later that evening to face charges related to his brutal anti-drug campaign that human rights groups say killed more than 30,000 people.

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Sorianos son, who was 15, was among seven people killed in Caloocan, Metro Manila, in December 2016, as part of that campaign. Since 2017 up until today, weve long called for an end to the killings, and for Duterte and the policemen to be held to account, Soriano tells TIME tearily. That call hasnt gone to waste, she added.

Indeed, Rodrigos arrest was no certainty. For years, he and his allies had fought the ICC to avoid accountability. But as the Dutertes rivalry with the powerful Marcoses, who have their own despotic family history, intensifiedRodrigo and Marcos Jr. have traded criticisms over foreign and domestic policy as well as accusations of drug use, and Sara has stepped up her interest in succeeding Marcos Jr. in the 2028 presidential electionthe government led by the Marcoses and their allies proved less willing to protect the controversial Duterte family that it had once entered into a delicate alliance with to win the presidency in 2022.

But while Soriano waits for Rodrigos ultimate fate to be decided before the ICC, she admits that back home the specter of a Duterte return to power looms. While some observers previously suggested that Rodrigos arrest could mark the beginning of the end for the dynasty, the midterm election results appear to show otherwise.

This is not the end, Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a statement after the election. Its a renewed beginning. The Vice President framed her familys and their allies showing in the polls as the start of an opposition movement against the Marcos-led government. We will continue to hold the government accountable, advocate for the issues that matter, and work tirelessly to serve as a strong and constructive opposition, she said.

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For Marcos, the final years of his presidency will now likely be marked by further division and challenges. Once extremely popular, he has seen his approval ratings plummet partly due to his Administrations performance on addressing domestic issues, such as rising costs of living and concerns about corruption, but also in large part because of the rival dynastic feud. The Dutertes and their allies have claimed that Saras impeachment and Rodrigos arrest were politically motivated and used both to consolidate support, especially in the southern part of the Philippines, a historic Duterte stronghold.

Saras public ratings went up after her fathers arrest, while senatorial candidates allied with the Dutertes like Go and Dela Rosa also saw boosts in opinion polls. The Dutertes supporters were not that noisy prior to the arrest, says Arugay.

Richard Heydarian, a Manila-based political analyst who lectures at the University of the Philippines, says the boost could also be in part attributed to disinformation campaigns. Reuters reported in April that a network of social media accounts sprang up in the wake of Rodrigos arrest, coordinating praise of the Dutertes and attacks on the ICC and Marcoses. Israel-based Cyabra, the tech firm that discovered the network, told Reuters the disinformation campaigns shaped the conversation in the lead-up to the elections.

Still, neither the Dutertes nor the Marcoses have an easy path ahead. While the next electoral competition will be for the presidency in 2028, the most immediate battleground will be in the Senate, which will reconvene in June. And despite key electoral victories for the Dutertesincluding Marcos Jr.s own sister Imee, who broke with her family to back the Dutertes and also appears on track to win a Senate seatMarcos allies appear to have retained six of the 12 seats up for election in the 24-member chamber.

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Public opinion polls consistently show that Sara is most Filipinos preferred candidate to succeed Marcos come 2028, but an impeachment conviction, which requires a two-thirds majority vote, would bar her from public office for good under local law.

For people like Soriano, however, the elections are about more than political stratagem and determining which family holds the most nominal power. Its about how they will wield it. In office, Dutertes lieutenants, she fears, are likely to continue what Duterte left behind.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
DENVER (KDVR)  A driver was in the wrong place at the wrong time on Monday after an ember from a roadside grass fire flew into his car, setting the interior ablaze.

Mountain View Fire Rescue was called to a fire on the north side of Highway 52, just west of County Line Road, in Erie on Monday afternoon.

Nearly a dozen billboards pop up in Denver decrying DOGE cuts to national parks

The fire was reported just before 2:30 p.m. and crews who arrived on scene first found multiple small grass fires that were emitting large amounts of smoke.

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Fire crews were able to get control of the flames before they spread further than the immediate area. However, while wrapping up, they were alerted to a Lexus SUV west of the crews in the westbound lanes that had caught fire.

Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue) Mountain View Fire Rescue crews were called to fight a grass fire along Highway 52 near Erie on Monday, May 12, 2025, and had to respond to a car fire shortly thereafter. (Courtesy Mountain View Fire Rescue)

Personnel redirected efforts to help the driver, but Mountain View Fire Rescue said on Facebook that the Lexus is a total loss. The driver told firefighters that an ember flew into his SUV and caught fire to some material in the front seat.

The driver had minor burns on his hand and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

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A 43-year-old man found guilty of first-degree domestic-violence murder for fatally shooting the mother of his child in the midst of a custody dispute was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison.

Duane Dushon Moore was convicted by a jury in March of killing 40-year-old Kayla Vallee inside his University Place apartment.

Vallee, a Bonney Lake resident, was a mother to five children and worked as a medical dispatcher at the University of Washington. She also worked at Walmart to make ends meet.

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At least four people gave victim-impact statements during Moores sentencing hearing before Pierce County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Andrews, according to court records. Moore was not required to be present during the hearing. Relatives and family friends previously said Vallee enjoyed going to Seattle Kraken games with loved ones and doing river floats. She also liked helping out on her familys farm in Orting.

Vallee and Moore shared custody of their 10-year-old son, according to court documents, and at the time of the murder the boy was temporarily living with Moore in University Place.

Kayla Vallee, 40, was killed on Dec. 9, 2023, at a University Place apartment complex. Delilah Kieffer

On the morning of Dec. 9, 2023, Vallee borrowed her mothers car to drive to the apartment to pick up her son. According to charging documents, Vallee and Moore were supposed to discuss custody arrangements. Relatives previously told The News Tribune that Vallee, who was living with her mother in Orting, had recently gotten her own apartment.

A few hours later, Moore showed up to Vallees mothers home and left the boy and his belongings in the driveway. The Sheriffs Office was called to respond to Moores apartment, and deputies found Vallee dead inside.

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The Pierce County Medical Examiners Office later determined Vallee died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Deputies located Moore later that day on a trail south of Buckley after a 911 caller reported a suspicious vehicle. He was arrested after an hour-long standoff that ended with a stun-gun shot, according to the Sheriffs Office.

Moore had no prior criminal convictions, according to court records.

In other news from Superior Court:

Man sentenced for fatal shooting outside Tacoma apartment complex

A 27-year-old man accused of murder for a fatal shooting outside an apartment complex in Tacomas South End has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years, six months in prison.

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Adrian Ramirez Martinez pleaded guilty May 7 to first-degree manslaughter for the July 27, 2024 killing of 28-year-old Ismael Merino-Ramirez. He was sentenced the same day, receiving a punishment at the low end of the standard sentencing range.

In a victim-impact statement filed with the court, Merino-Ramirezs uncle wrote in Spanish that his nephews wife and six children demand justice. He asked that Ramirez Martinez be sentenced to many years in prison.

Prosecutors wrote in a court filing that part of the reason they asked the court to allow them to amend the defendants charges from second-degree murder to first-degree manslaughter was that an eyewitness was reluctant to be involved in the case and feared retaliation.

Deputy prosecuting attorney Kara Sanchez also wrote that the resolution was appropriate because Ramirez Martinez was taking responsibility for his actions, was pleading guilty to a Class A felony and lacked a significant criminal history. She said there were other potential evidence issues.

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Its unclear what led to the shooting. According to court documents, a witness told police he used to live in the same apartment complex as the victim and the defendant, and the three used to drink together on weekends.

The witness drove around with Merino-Ramirez for food and drinks before the shooting. At about 1 a.m., Merino-Ramirez got a call from the defendant asking to meet up in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 9200 block of South Hosmer Street.

No one else was in the parking lot, according to the witness. He later told police he thought he heard Ramirez Martinez and Merino-Ramirez arguing, but he said he also heard the defendant laugh a couple of times. The witness reported that he didnt hear what the two were talking about.

When [the witness] ducked into the victims car to grab a phone charger, he heard the shot fired, prosecutors wrote in charging papers. He then stood up, looked around and saw the victim holding his chest while telling him to call the police.

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Ramirez Martinez then drove away.

Police responded and began life-saving measures on Merino-Ramirez until fire personnel arrived, but he died at the scene. The Pierce County Medical Examiners Office later found he died of a gunshot wound to the torso.
The government has initiated a review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a key benefit for individuals with long-term health conditions or disabilities, as part of Labours cost-cutting benefit reforms.

Confirming the review, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will engage with disabled individuals and relevant organisations to explore potential adjustments to eligibility criteria.

Currently, approximately 3.7 million people across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland receive PIP, a benefit designed to assist those facing challenges due to long-term physical or mental health issues.

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Changes to the health-related benefit formed the bulk of savings in Labours Pathways to Work Green Paper, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projecting that anticipated changes could impact around 800,000 recipients. However, some independent experts predict the impacts could be even greater.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street in early April (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)

The announcement has prompted calls from several Labour MPs for Ms Kendall to release an impact assessment detailing the potential consequences of these changes, as they will likely be expected to vote on the measures before this become available. Around 40 are now expected to mount a rebellion against the plans when they are presented to Parliament.

Ms Kendall said: Personal independence payments is a crucial benefit that makes a contribution towards the extra costs of living with a disability.

I know how anxious many people are when theres talk about reform, but this Government wants to ensure PIP is fair for people who need it now and into the future.

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In our Green Paper we promised to review the PIP assessment, working with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and other experts. And I can tell the House we are starting the first phase of that review today.

My right honourable friend, the minister for social security and disability is going to be inviting in stakeholders this week to develop the scope, and terms of reference for this review. We will keep the House updated as this work progresses.

Labour MP Imran Hussain (Bradford East) said 41,000 disabled people in his constituency would be affected. He told MPs many of them were rightly horrified by Ms Kendalls policy.

He drew attention to the change which means people will now need to score four points on an individual disability assessment category, which can indicate difficulties with parts of day-to-day life.

Labour MP Imran Hussain said 41,000 disabled people in his constituency would be affected and were rightly horrified by Labours welfare plans (House of Commons)

Mr Hussain said: The four-point rule has the potential to devastate the lives of tens of thousands of people in Bradford overnight. These plans would take away the vital lifeline from those with the greatest need, living in the most deprived areas, often. I cannot support any cuts that worsen inequality in places like Bradford.

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So I say to the minister, in absolute sincerity, please listen to the growing calls, in this place and out there, to scrap these unfair cuts and instead do the right thing by taxing the super rich so they can pay their fair share?

Ms Kendall replied: I hear very clearly what my honourable friend says, but I also want to be clear to the House  for people who can never work, we want to protect them. For disabled people who can work, we want to support them.

The truth is that if you are a disabled person and in work, you are half as likely to be poor than if you are out of work. We want to improve peoples chances and choices by supporting those who can work, to do so, and protecting those who cannot.

Protesters chant: No more deaths from benefit cuts, March 2025 (PA) (PA Wire)

The changes, which are part of a package of measures that could save 5 billion-a-year by the end of the decade, were announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in March. They include the reintroduction of reassessments for people on incapacity benefits, alongside improved support aimed at ensuring claimants arent indefinitely written off.

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In a bid to to focus personal independence payments (PIP) on those with higher needs, eligibility requirements would be tightened from November 2026 for the daily living element of the benefit.

Mr Hussains party colleagues Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) and Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole) said ministers should be transparent about how current claimants will be affected.

Richard Burgon (Leeds East) warned they could be pushed into poverty, and said it flew in the face of what a Labour government is meant to do.

Mr Juss said: Can my right honourable friend please outline what analysis has been done to understand how the changes proposed in the pathways to work Green Paper will affect those who rely on PIP not just for employment support, but for their daily living and mobility needs?

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Work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said: We are determined to open up opportunities for people who have been out of work, often for a long time, on health and disability grounds, give them the chance through much better employment support to get into work, but we recognise there will be people who will not be able to work and will never be able to work.

He said those with the most severe lifelong conditions will qualify for the new universal credit health element from April next year.
Hundreds filled the pews in Oakland at Saint Paul Cathedral to watch Bishop David Zubik give his Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo the 14th.

Monday night, Bishop David Zubik said mass to a packed house of Pittsburgh Catholics and others who have excitement and hope about the new Pope.

Ann Betters from the North Side said, That he is a missionary that he is looking out for the entire world and he is talking about service.

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Jessica Lynch from Aspinwall said, Even more than the Catholic faith, just generally theres definitely a buzz and its very exciting to have someone who grew up like a lot of us did, being a regular kid in America.

Born and raised in Chicago, Pope Leo also has ties to Pennsylvania. He graduated from Villanova University before becoming a priest. Later, he spent more than 20 years in Peru.

Fred Egler of the Strip District said, Hes a combination of being born in America but also has a lot of international experience he was a Bishop in Peru for many years he was the head of a large religious order so he traveled all over the world and then he spent time in Rome so its unique combination.

The Bishop says Pope Leos influence is already being felt across the church.

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Bishop David Zubik said I think hes begun to already give us the message that we need to work for peace together I think hes also made a lot of references that weve really gotta take a look at people who weve placed on the fringes of society and work to make them feel very much a part of the church.

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At Perry Traditional Academy, students took time out from classes on a recent Thursday to listen quietly in the school auditorium while a small group of their classmates questioned the four candidates running in Pittsburghs upcoming mayoral primary.

The topics covered an array of issues important to the teens: policing, school funding and youth involvement in their administrations.

The forum, coordinated by the Allegheny Youth Vote Coalition working with Pittsburgh Public Schools, was the eighth held at a public high school in the city, all designed to get the youngest and future voters involved in elections. After the candidates left, they had a short oral civics test on elections, with prizes for correct answers.

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Whats happening in Pittsburgh and surrounding Allegheny County is part of a national trend.

Young people have consistently turned out to vote at lower rates than older Americans. Civic organizations are hoping to reverse that by getting teenagers engaged in public debate before they are even eligible to vote, seeing it as foundational to the future of U.S. democracy.

A Pew Research Center analysis found that voters under the age of 30 made up 15% of voters in the 2020 election and 27% of nonvoters, a slight improvement in both categories over 2016, when that demographic was 13% of all voters and 33% of nonvoters. Voters were also much older than nonvoters, on average, in the 2018 and 2022 midterm elections, according to Pew.

Allowing teens to have a voice in local elections

Among the groups leading the effort nationally is the Civics Center, which works with high schoolers to run voter registration drives and hold forums that are geared toward raising their participation in elections. Others, such as The Gem Project Inc., in Newark, New Jersey, have pushed for students to be able to register and cast ballots in local elections before they turn 18.

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Last year, the Newark City Council dropped the minimum voting age to 16 for school board elections, making it the first municipality in the state and the second largest city in the country to do so for any election. Oakland was the largest city in the U.S. to lower its voting age in 2020, but teens voted for the first time last year.

Breanna Quist, 18, and one of the recent registrants in Newark, said the push was especially important to her because it allowed students to vote for an office, school board, that directly affects them.

This just shows how young people should always just take action. They shouldnt be fearful. They should always advocate for what they believe is right, she said during an interview at a voter registration town hall earlier this year.

Nishani Ward, 16, said it was an inspiration when Newark lowered the voting age for local elections.

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Doing this right now, Im more likely to do it in the future and do it more routinely in the future, she said.

Media reports said turnout among 16- and 17-year-old registered voters in the April school board election was less than 4% but outpaced the overall turnout.

Helping young people learn their role in democracy

In some places across the country, young people have had success when demanding a greater voice in political decisions. Theyve argued that voting adults dont always consider them or their needs when casting their ballots. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states and the District of Columbia allow 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the time of a general election to vote in primaries.

Even though the youth vote tends to bend left politically, this might be a good time to reconsider the minimum age because its become less predictable, said Daniel Hart, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University who has studied lowering the voting age.

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Data from AP VoteCast, a survey of interviews with registered voters in all 50 states, found that Democrat Kamala Harris had a slight edge over Republican Donald Trump among young voters, but young men swung to the right for Trump even if they didnt agree with him on all issues.

The Allegheny Youth Vote Coalition held two vote huddles in 2024, drawing students from throughout the county. They learned about the electoral process and held more than 20 voter registration drives, said Rachel Martin Golman, senior director of social impact of the National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh and a coalition member.

During a workshop earlier this year, one student attendee asked why the candidates didnt come speak to them, Golman said: And we all thought, yes, why not, and worked to make it happen."

Laura Brill, the founder and CEO of the Civics Center, a Los Angeles-based coalition member, said the point is that most teens today have few opportunities to consider their important role in our democracy. She said engaging the candidates directly is the kind of formative experience we believe has been missing from high schools for decades and has undoubtedly led to the low rates of engagement we see among the up-and-coming voters.

You are the future

At Perry, the students in the audience didnt shy away from asking questions important to them and their peers.

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Makaila Nyambe, 17, asked each mayoral candidate about funding for schools, while fellow junior Deahmi Mobley questioned how they might establish a good relationship between law enforcement and teens. Previous forums at other schools included questions on other issues, including how each candidate would implement diversity, equity and inclusion into their administrations.

Trash, homelessness and public safety came up constantly, along with a disagreement over whether more school spending would improve academic performance. Infrastructure, road repairs and cuts to public transit also generated discussion.

The students listened closely when all four candidates talked about neighborhood policing and building relationships -- and about the importance of young people at such a forum.

You are the leaders we have been waiting for, said one of the mayoral candidates, retired Pittsburgh police detective Tony Moreno.

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You are the future of Pittsburgh, said another candidate, Thomas West, a business owner and former television news producer. You are the future of America.

Stalea Chapman, a 17-year-old senior, said afterward she was glad the candidates were taking the students seriously and reaching out to them because their futures are intertwined with politics and policies, especially now.

It is a lot of pressure being young and seeing what the economy is turning to and whats going on in the world, she said. Its frightening for young people because we want to be successful.

___

Alexander reported from Newark, New Jersey. Associated Press Polling Editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this article.

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___

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(FOX40.COM)  The Placer County Sheriffs Office announced on Tuesday that it is opposing the proposed coyote take ban by the California Fish and Game Commissions Wildlife Resources Committee.

Video Above: Sierra Valley ranchers face wolf attacks, prompting concern from authorities

Under California law, to take means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill.

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The proposed ban would prohibit the taking of coyotes unless there is direct evidence that property or agriculture has been damaged.

These changes would eliminate proactive predator control and instead force ranchers and livestock producers into a depredation-based system that requires proof of harm only after the damage is done, said PCSO.

Police investigating officer-involved shooting near downtown Sacramento

The sheriffs office said the ban threatens the safety of rural communities and populated areas where there is a concern of predator-human interaction. According to PCSO, there are already growing challenges from predator activity in Placer County and forcing people to wait for evidence is a punishment.

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Sheriff Woo is encouraging the Commission to reconsider these proposed changes at its meeting this Thursday and instead work collaboratively with agricultural stakeholders to find a more reasonable and effective path forward, said officials.

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May 12MITCHELL  The Mitchell Planning and Zoning Commission, during its regular meeting on May 12, approved a business park design plan and recommended approval for 12 townhomes and a rezoning request.

The commission recommended approval for rezoning three of the four Gold Key Properties LLC lots at 1717 W. Eighth Ave. from R4 High Density Residential District to Transportation, Warehousing and Commercial District. Gold Key Properties LLC is owned by Pamela Bathke, wife of Mitchell City Council member Mike Bathke. The fourth lot, which has a house and garage, was not requested to be rezoned and will remain residential.

The property is under a purchase agreement, with plans for the new owners to build a storage shed on the property, similar to the storage units on nearby properties. The purchase agreement is pending approval of a change in zoning.

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"That's why they requested to rezone to TWC," Pamela Bathke said.

Commissioners discussed a complaint about potential flooding of nearby properties due to building the storage shed, which would require raising up the elevation in the area.

Bathke requested comment from Public Works Director Joe Schroeder about raising elevation.

The storage shed building permit would require a site plan. Since it's under an acre, it will not need a drainage plan, according to Schroeder. As long as the new owner follows the planning and zoning requirements, Schroeder saw no reason to deny a permit for building.

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"We would want to know where the drainage is going," Schroeder said. "It would be the owner's responsibility to show they are following the laws of South Dakota," Schroeder said.

The commission's recommendation for approval will go before the city council at a future date.

The commission recommended council approval of conditional use permits for Koch Premier Properties to build townhouses in the 100 and 1500 blocks of Lakeview Lane.

Four-unit townhouses will be built at 1517 Lakeview Lane on the north side of the lot, which will mirror the existing townhouse units at this location.

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Additionally, two sets of four-unit townhomes will be built on the lot south of this, which will face each other with a common private driveway. All three townhouse buildings will be constructed at the same time, according to Jordan Hefner with Vanbuskirk Construction of Sioux Falls, who represented Koch Premier Properties.

Hefner expects townhomes to be able to be rented out to tenants by November 1.

Nearby homeowner Chet Edinger requested that steps be taken to mitigate the extra traffic on Lakeview Lane by Koch putting in a private drive on the northwest backside of the development at 1517 Lakeview Lane, which would connect to the 100 block of Lakeview Lane. This step was not recommended by the commission.

The commission approved the design plan for the Jensen Capital and Development 2.87 acre lot at 1303 S. Ohlman St, north of Motel 6, which will be developed in stages into a private business park of suites or contractor storage yards across six buildings. Jensen called it the Mitchell Independent Business Park and Luxe Lockers.

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The first building will house 3,433 square feet of commercial shop or storage space and 1,567 square feet of office space, to be completed by the fall. There will be an upper story included in the office space. Jeremy Jensen of Jensen Capital and Development will build out the lots with the intent to sell them, starting on the east side.

"The first building is presold to a business that is expanding in the Mitchell area," Jensen said.

Jensen, who has owned the property for about three years, is working with SPN to address drainage in the area. A site plan approval is pending with the Mitchell Public Works department. An HOA-style agreement will facilitate snow removal, parking, and grass maintenance.

Planning Commissioner Jacob Sonne, who works for SPN, abstained.

The Planning Commission also welcomed Main Street Mercantile and local real estate owner Jeremy Gunkel, who takes over commission responsibilities from architect Larry Jirsa.
The audience at Mondays Parker County commissioners meeting was noticeably smaller than the last.

The court approved the final plat for a subdivision to be known as Muslims United Phase II, on 4.8 acres of property in the Peaster area.

The name of the entity drew criticism and multiple speakers last month who said they were concerned about the political agenda of Islam, pointing to an uptick of mosques being built in Dallas and surrounding areas.

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Its worth noting that Phase I was approved in February, with little fanfare. The property owners plan to carve off the 4 acres to set up two separate lots for their children, who graduated from Peaster ISD and are moving back to the area.

The platting process is legally necessary, as the new homes would need addresses for 9-1-1 among other things.

County official Becky McCullough, speaking as a citizen Monday, said she lives in that community and has known the family her entire life.

These are good people, and I understand the name sounds scary, but we have personally let them read the comments and things that have been said [online]... she said. I went to school with [the family], my kids call him uncle.

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Theyve met all the legal requirements. I understand a lot of people want to make this political ... I dont really understand why its political.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Jacob Holt said entity name was established in 1985, when the family bought the property.

He said questions about a non-profit status, ag exemption requirements and other concerns prompted him to personally drive out to the property to take pictures of cows, fencing and ag equipment.

Echoing other comments, there are things going on in this country and across the world that I dont think anybody in this room supports, with places where Shariah Law is heavily enforced, Holt said. Theres threats to the Bill of Rights, to the Texas Constitution ... but under the Bill of Rights and the Texas Constitution are very clear establishments of freedom of religion, freedom of ideology.

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We also value property rights very heavily in Texas.

Other staff noted all requirements had been legally met for the plat to move forward.

Parker County Republican Party Chair Brady Gray thanked the county for handling residents concerns and meeting them with diligence and understanding.

As I said [at the last meeting], I think the concerns are well-founded, I understand why they exist and it makes sense, he said. I have also heard testimony of people who know this family.

I appreciate everything yall have done to take precautions.

Commissioners also approved a $17,700 credit to Precinct 2 from a cost saving to the turning lane project on Farm-to-Market 920. Commissioners also approved a $98,500 with Halff and Associates for traffic studies at intersections near U.S. Highway 180, Centerpoint Road and Bankhead Highway.

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Freese & Nichols representative Chris Bosco said the funds had been anticipated in the original scope, but that the infrastructure consulting firm was moving faster than the Texas Department of Transportation, whom the county had thought would be doing the work.

The cost includes management, collection of traffic counts, analysis and a report provided to commissioners and to TxDOT.

A fee of $1.7 million was also approved for projects leading to the Interstate 20 expansion, in frontage road and ramp improvements from Dennis Road to Old Dennis Road/Bowie Drive.

Bosco said Graham Associates were originally selected for the work, during which it was planned that TxDOT would do the schematic and environmental, with Graham doing final design.

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Projects had been put on hold, however, and Bosco said thered been talks with the state and Graham to go ahead and let the firm do schematic work, a traffic study and environmental work to move the project forward.

Commissioners OKed an additional $134,540 to Freese & Nichols to manage the work, for a total of $1,892,760.

All monies were budgeted out of the countys transportation bond that passed in 2023.

A belated proclamation was also read Monday, established April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

County Attorney John Forrest read the order, noting several community organizations, such as Freedom House, that provide resources to victims.

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All of these are great programs, but without awareness and acknowledging they exist ... thats why we have these months, so individuals know these services are available to them and theres help out there, he said.

Professional Victim Assistance Coordinator Lisa Mehrhoff said people come in to her office every day seeking protective orders.

Youve got applications versus final... we have over 120 protective orders, she said in reference to the past year. There are some that dont meet all the elements, but they have things going on that we may need to pursue another avenue to give them help and protection.
David Plouffe, a top adviser to former Vice President Kamala Harriss 2024 campaign, describes the race against President Trump as a fing nightmare.

The pundit cast blame on former President Biden for his late-stage decision to withdraw from the race, according to a book set to be released next week.

He totally fed us, Plouffe is quoted to say in Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

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The book, co-written by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axioss Alex Thompson, is scheduled to be released May 20. Early copies have gone out to some media outlets in promotion, including The Guardian, which revealed Plouffes remarks.

Biden dropped his reelection bid race after a disastrous debate against Trump that fueled already lingering questions about his age and mental capacity to serve another four-year term. He endorsed Harris, who accepted the uncontested Democratic nomination at the partys convention last August, with just over 100 days to mount a campaign against Trump.

Biden, 82, has been on a media blitz ahead of the books release and has downplayed his role in Harriss loss. He said during a recent appearance on ABCs The View that he blames himself for Trumps return to the White House this year  and thinks he would have won if he stayed in the race.

I was confident I would beat Trump, the former president told The View hosts last Thursday. Hes a loser.

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Biden noted in a separate BBC interview that he didnt regret waiting until after the debate against Trump to withdraw, saying, I dont know how that would have made much of a difference.

Plouffe, who also worked on former President Obamas campaign and as an adviser under Obamas administration, told the Original Sin authors that Harriss campaign was a fing nightmare.

And its all Biden, Plouffe added, according to The Guardians reporting.

Plouffe, 57, had already appeared to direct blame toward Biden shortly after Election Day and ultimately deleted his account on social platform X following backlash.

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We dug out of a deep hole but not enough, he wrote in one of his final posts last fall. A devastating loss. Thanks for being in the arena, all of you.

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A Plymouth man will spend two years in prison after pleading guilty to his role in efforts to fraudulently obtain nearly $360,000 in funds from COVID relief programs, federal prosecutors said.

Tyree Jones, 33, pleaded guilty on Jan. 8 to conspiring with others to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic by submitting fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Maine.

He was also ordered to pay $359,274 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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Prosecutors claim Jones submitted three fraudulent applications for himself and obtained $51,666.

On his applications, Jones claimed to be the sole owner of trucking and agricultural businesses that didnt actually exist.

In addition to filing his own fraudulent applications for himself, court documents show Jones offered to help others obtain PPP and EIDL funds in exchange for kickbacks from any funds they received.

Jones and the co-conspirators caused fraudulent applications to be filed for at least 12 other people. In support of the false applications, Jones and his co-conspirators provided falsified IRS and bank documents, according to the release.
The Polish hauliers blockade of the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint continues, causing many hauliers in the queue to turn back and take other routes.

Source: State Customs Service of Ukraine on the morning of 13 May

Details: During the night shift on the night of 12-13 May, the Yahodyn checkpoint, due to the ongoing blockade by Polish hauliers, cleared only eight lorries for departure from Ukraine, while 205 were cleared for entry.

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Quote: "Many hauliers are leaving the e-queue for crossing the border through Yahodyn, choosing other checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border. The electronic queue, which yesterday numbered 1,391 vehicles, has almost halved and as of this morning stands at 789 empty or loaded vehicles."

More details: Hauliers are no longer joining the live queue to enter Ukraine.

Background:

Polish hauliers began their blockade at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint at 16:00 on 12 May, stating that they would allow one lorry per hour to enter and one to exit.

Buses and lorries carrying humanitarian aid will be allowed to pass unhindered.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine warned that similar actions by Polish hauliers are possible over the next few months.

On 10 April, it was announced that Ukraine's transport visa-free regime with the EU had been extended until the end of 2025. This mechanism gives Ukrainian hauliers the right to operate commercial transports to the EU under a simplified scheme, without the quotas and individual permits that were previously in place.

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When police in Dalton, Georgia pulled over Ximena Arias-Cristobal, officers accused the 19-year-old college student of making an illegal right turn at a red light.

She told officers she didnt have her international drivers license on her, according to a police report, and she was taken into custody.

Then she was moved to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center roughly four hours away, and now she faces the possibility of being removed from the country along with her family.

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But local police this week admitted the officers made a mistake.

After a review of dash cam footage from the traffic stop on May 5, it was determined that Ms. Arias-Cristobals vehicle appeared similar to the offending vehicle but was not the vehicle that made an improper turn, according to a statement from the Dalton Police Department.

Police and prosecutors dismissed the charges against her, but Donald Trumps administration intends to remove her from the United States, where she has lived since she was four years old.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal poses for a senior portrait provided by family friend Hannah Jones. The Georgia college student is facing deportation after she was mistakenly arrested by local police and put into ICE custody (Courtesy Hannah Jones)

Arias-Cristobals parents did not have legal permission to enter the United States from Mexico in 2010 when she was a toddler, and she did not qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which ended the year before her family entered the country, according to family friends.

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She is now isolated from her family members  except one. Her father Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar was recently arrested after allegedly going 19 miles over the speed limit and is inside the same ICE detention center, according to online detention records reviewed by The Independent.

The family will be able to return to Mexico together, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Independent following her arrest.

Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to. We are not ignoring the rule of law, she added.

The Trump administrations CBP Home app is giving parents illegally in the country a chance to take full control of their departure and self-deport, with the potential ability to return the legal, right way and come back to live the American dream, McLaughlin said.

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Her bond hearing is scheduled for May 20.

During a news conference on Monday, Daltons assistant chief of police Chris Crossen we certainly regret the circumstances that led us to where we are today.

Ximena is one of many young, innocent people who have had the misfortune of being caught up in Trumps cruel dragnet, her attorney Dustin Baxter told The Independent.

The fact that Ximena, like many others, has committed no crime for which they can be deported means nothing anymore, he said.

Growing up in the United States and being a beloved member of her community means nothing to ICE, Baxter said. The administrations reinstatement of a so-called no release policy and arrest quotas make a mockery of Trumps promise to deport bad people, he added.

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The reality is there are very few bad immigrants. Most are just like us, they want to work hard, care for their families, and contribute to society, Baxter told The Independent. It is a shame that we do not let them. We remain committed to obtaining Ximenas release from custody and fighting against a broken immigration system to allow her to remain in the country in which she grew up and which she loves.

Dalton police and prosecutors have dropped charges against Ximena Arias-Cristobal after officials admitted officers mistakenly pulled her over on May 5 (Whitfield County Sheriffs Office)

Arias-Cristobal is a recent graduate of Dalton High School and a cross country athlete now attending Dalton State College. She was enrolled for the spring 2025 semester, a college spokesperson told The Independent.

Her arrest sparked outrage and ongoing protests throughout the Dalton community, and Republican state Representative Kacey Carpenter is pressing an immigration judge for her swift release.

Its impossible. I mean, thats the argument that you hear all the time from people on the other side is, well, theyve been here 15 years. Why haven't they become a citizen? Because its impossible, Carpenter told NewsChannel 9. There is not a pathway for someone that is in America right now towards citizenship, unless they get married or they have a child, and the child grows up and the childs 18, then they can petition for their parents. But as far as an individual thats between the ages of four and 25, theres no pathway.

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A GoFundMe established by family friend Hannah Jones, whose children Arias-Cristobol baby-sat for several years, has raised nearly $80,000 as of this publication.

Dalton is a largely Republican-leaning part of the state, but Jones told The Independent last week that everyone knows this is wrong.

She is currently jailed inside Georgias Stewart Detention Center, operated by private prison firm CoreCivic. At least 10 people died in the facility between 2017 and 2024, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union, which had previously criticized the facility for inadequate conditions and due process violations.

Her arrest follows several high-profile cases across the country involving immigrant families with mixed legal statuses, as the president and immigration officials embark on a sweeping, aggressive anti-immigration agenda.
May 12Authorities have arrested the Bowdoinham man they say was involved in a high-speed chase and domestic violence incident Sunday.

The 44-year-old was taken into custody by the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office and Maine Warden Service around 10:30 a.m. Monday  one day after police say he led them on a pursuit from Interstate 295 into Bowdoinham.

He was arrested on Carding Machine Road in Bowdoinham "without incident," according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

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Police first encountered the man at 8:22 a.m. Sunday when they say he was seen entering Interstate 295 in Topsham at a high speed. A Maine State Police trooper caught up with his car 5 miles down the highway in Bowdoinham, but the driver did not stop when the trooper turned on their blue lights and sirens, police said.

The car exited the highway in Bowdoinham and drove at a high speed through a residential area before the trooper ended the pursuit after 2.5 miles because of public safety concerns, police said.

A short time later, Topsham police received a report of a domestic violence incident at the Topsham Fair Mall involving the same car.

Police said a witness reported seeing the male driver allegedly assault a female passenger in a Hannaford parking lot before forcing her back into the car and driving off. Police found the car at a house on Carding Machine Road in, but the suspect ran into the woods when Sagadahoc County deputies tried to talk to him.

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The victim was found and is safe, police said.

Police tried unsuccessfully to track the suspect with a K9 unit and a Maine Forest Service helicopter. An arrest warrant was drafted on multiple charges, including domestic violence assault, criminal speed, failure to stop, violating conditions of release and operating after suspension.

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NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11)  At least two people were arrested when protesters and police pushed and shoved each other outside an immigration detention facility in Newark Monday evening.

It happened at around 5 p.m. outside Delaney Hall, which was reopened by ICE and the President Donald Trump Administration. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested and accused of trespassing at the facility last Friday.

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Baraka was not at Mondays protest, led by religious leaders from around the tri-state area. They locked arms outside of the two gates of the immigration facility, impeding anyone from entering or leaving throughout the afternoon.

When it was time for a shift change at the facility Monday evening, Police forcibly moved protesters to allow immigration workers to come and go

At least two arrests were made with one woman shouting, Everyone should be free, while handcuffed in the back of a Newark Police squad car.



Baraka was arrested by federal authorities on Friday and released a few hours later. Several videos show him complying with orders to leave the property after federal officials told him he could not inspect the facility.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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On Monday, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba said she would carefully review things before announcing the next steps with the mayors case.

It was a more careful statement than the one she released Friday, which ended with NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
CARBONDALE  Police charged a Carbondale woman with three felony counts for having multiple sexually explicit, artificial intelligence generated photos of juveniles on her cellphone.

Sandra Rogers, 35, of 140 Westgate Drive, turned over her cell phone to police. When officers found computer-generated images on the device, Rogers said she thought she deleted them, the police affidavit states.

According to the criminal complaint:

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On Feb. 26, Carbondale police officer Tim Mackrell received a call from Detective Kevin Keiper of the Hernando County Sheriffs Office in Florida. Keiper is a criminal investigator with the the Major Case/Special Victims Unit there. Keiper requested assistance from Carbondale police regarding his investigation linking Rogers to a suspect in Florida via a series of text messages.

The messages, between Rogers and Scott Daniel Louis Watson, contained discussion of the sexual abuse of an actual six-year-old girl.

On March 3, detectives from the Hernando County Sheriffs Office came to the Carbondale Police Station regarding their investigation.

Working with Hernando County law enforcement officers, Carbondale Police seized Rogers Samsung cell phone after obtaining a search warrant for the device.

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Hernando Detective Chris Vascellaro completed a forensic search of the phone and found multiple photos of what appeared to be young children engaged in sex acts, generated by artificial intelligence.

Rogers admitted the photographs were sent to her by the Florida suspect and that she believed she had deleted them from her phone.

On April 23, Detective Pete Petrucci of the Blakely Police Department did an independent forensic interview of Rogers phone. He found multiple computer generated sexually graphic photos of prepubescent females engaging in sexually explicit acts on the phone by using the Cellebrite extraction program.

Rogers is charged with three felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on May 27 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.
May 13---- A juvenile male is dead after a report of shots being fired on Monday night in southeast Willmar.

According to a news release from Willmar Police Chief Michael Holme, an unresponsive juvenile male was located by officers responding to the call around 11 p.m. Monday. Medical attention was provided but the juvenile was declared deceased by medical personnel.

Chief Holme said the shooting does not appear to be random and the public is not in danger.

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Police secured the area of the shooting in the 1800 block of Seventh Avenue Southeast, conducted interviews with witnesses and processed the crime scene, according to the news release.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Willmar Police Department at 320-235-2244.

Police were assisted at the scene by the

CentraCare Emergency Medical Services and the Willmar Fire Department.
Police investigating officer-involved shooting near downtown Sacramento

(FOX40.COM)  A suspect was hospitalized following an officer-involved shooting on Tuesday morning near downtown Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

Video Above: What happens when you call 911?

Police said officers responded to reports of a man brandishing a gun before 10 a.m. in the area of North 16th Street.

The suspect was taken to the hospital. No officers were hurt.

The area between North A Street and North C Street is closed during the police investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Police identified the alleged perpetrator of a March 6, 2024, attack on the C&O Canal towpath near Point of Rocks after arresting him for indecent exposure in another part of Frederick County two months later, court documents show.

John David Hawk, 34, is charged with one count each of attempted third-degree sex offense, attempted fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault and false imprisonment in connection with the March 6, 2024, towpath attack.

Chief Assistant States Attorney for Frederick County Ricky Lewis on March 4, 2025, requested a warrant for Hawks arrest on those charges.

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The filing lays out how Hawks prior arrest on June 29, 2024  which resulted in the seizure of his cellphone  led investigators to suspect that he was responsible for the towpath attack.

According to the filing, Hawk was arrested that day after a woman called 911 to report that he was publicly masturbating in the area of 750 Carroll Parkway. He was believed to be living in Frederick County at the time.

Hawk was released on his own recognizance after the June 29, 2024, arrest, online court records show. He ultimately entered an Alford plea to one count of indecent exposure in connection with the incident.

An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgment that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict.

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Online court records show that Senior Judge Terrence McGann sentenced Hawk to three months imprisonment for the offense, but suspended the entire sentence. McGann also ordered Hawk to serve 18 months of unsupervised probation.

While Hawk did not serve any jail time for his indecent exposure conviction, his cellphone was seized as part of his arrest for the offense, the request for an arrest warrant says.

In February 2025, the FBI analyzed the data collected from the cellphone tower closest to the scene of the towpath attack.

The data revealed that the cellphone seized from Hawk on June 29, 2024, was in the area during the time of the attack on March 6, 2024.

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Additionally, the request for an arrest warrant says, the National Park Service received multiple tips identifying Hawk as the potential perpetrator based on his physical appearance, his tendency to loiter in the area of the attack and his history of inappropriate behavior toward women.

The victim of the March 6, 2024, attack was also shown a photo array containing an image of Hawk, who she positively identified as the perpetrator.

The womans name in court documents matches the name of one of two women who spoke to The Frederick News-Post on condition of anonymity last year about their experiences of being attacked by a man on the C&O Canal towpath.

At that time, the victim of the March 6, 2024, attack told the News-Post that she was on her way back to her car from a three-mile hike when a man who she had seen near the trailhead earlier approached her.

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The woman said the man forced her to the ground, covered her nose and mouth with his hand and tried to take her toward the river bank. She fought him off, used her Apple Watch to call 911 and hid until police arrived.

The request for an arrest warrant says the woman had injuries to her neck, right ear, face, lips, jaw, left shoulder and right arm as a result of the attack.

At some point between his Sept. 26, 2024, plea hearing in the indecent exposure case and his arrest in the towpath attack case, Hawk relocated to South Carolina.

A detective with the Frederick County Sheriffs Office and a special agent with the FBI Baltimore Field Office traveled to South Carolina on March 10, 2025, in an effort to locate and arrest Hawk, the News-Post previously reported.

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He was extradited to Maryland on March 20, 2025, and has been held without bail at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center since then, online court records show.

Hawk briefly appeared in Frederick County Circuit Court on Monday for a conference ahead of his trial, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 13.

His public defender, Graziella Bianchi, declined to comment on Hawks behalf when reached by phone after the conference.

A press release from the National Park Service on March 11, 2024, said the March 6, 2024, incident was believed to be related to a second incident on March 10, 2024, in which a woman was chased by a man wielding a stick near the Nolands Ferry entrance to the C&O Canal towpath.

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That woman also spoke to the News-Post on condition of anonymity about her experience.

Asked on Monday whether the States Attorneys Office is investigating a connection between the March 10, 2024, incident and the March 6, 2024, incident in which Hawk is charged, Lewis declined to comment.

Hawk is scheduled to appear in court for another pre-trial conference on July 23 at 9 a.m.






Officer Jared Desalvo of the New York Police Department's Harbor Unit rescued a Maltese dog from New York City's East River on April 30

The NYPD shared on May 10 that Desalvo adopted the canine after no one came forward to claim her

The dog, named Hudson, will now live with Desalvo, his wife and their two children







A dog who was saved from New Yorks East River has a new lease on life  all thanks to one of her rescuers.

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The New York Police Department shared on X on Saturday, May 10 that officer Jared Desalvo of the NYPDs Harbor Unit is adopting a Maltese dog named Hudson, who was rescued from the water by South Street Seaport by him and two others on his team on March 30.

Every dog has its day, and today Hudson gets to go home with the family of one of her rescuers, the NYPD wrote alongside a video of Officer Desalvo discussing the adoption.

In the video, Desalvo could be seen holding Hudson, a Maltese estimated to be a year or two old, as he shared her story. He noted that after he and his fellow officers rescued her, she was brought to the Animal Care Center of New York (ACC) for checkups and care.

Hudson was diagnosed with a respiratory infection but recovered with the help of antibiotics.

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Related: Flipping Cute Dog Rescued from East River Is Now Waiting for Her Owners to Take Her Home

NYPD Officer Jared Desalvo and fellow New York Police Department coworkers who helped save Hudson Officer Jared Desalvo and fellow New York Police Department coworkers who helped save Hudson

He said Hudson was put in foster care for a few weeks as the ACC waited for someone to claim her. Unfortunately, no one came forward. But [it presents] a unique opportunity for me and my family. Well be adopting Hudson, and shell be in good care, Desalvo shared.

In the video, Desalvos children  identified as Salvatore, 9, and Stella, 8, by the NY Daily News  could be seen walking in and greeting the pup before giving her plenty of hugs. He told the outlet that they came in just after he officially completed the adoption paperwork.

They [believed] that they [were] going to a [Communion] party, Desalvo told NY Daily News of the surprise. They [knew] about the rescue and everything. Since that day, theyve been asking constantly about the status of the dog.

NYPD News/X Officer Jared Desalvo's children with their dad and new dog Hudson Officer Jared Desalvo's children with their dad and new dog Hudson

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The dogs status is that she is now a part of Desalvos family permanently  something his kids are ecstatic about. The family appeared happy as they took new family portraits with their new furry companion.

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I think its a great opportunity to give her a second chance, Desalvo told NY Daily News. Shell be a great part of our family. Shell be very well taken care of.

Hudson was rescued on Sunday, March 30 after the NYPD received a call at around 8:10 a.m. for a dog in the water near the South Street Seaport. NYPD Special Operations Divisions Harbor Unit immediately responded to the scene to pull the dog from the water and wrapped her in a warm blanket.

NYPD Hudson after she was rescued Hudson after she was rescued

Animal Care Centers of NYC spokesperson Katy Hansen told PEOPLE after the canines rescue that she did not have any form of identification and wasn't microchipped or wearing a dog license. However, the maltese did enjoy being around people.

"The staff and volunteers love her," Hansen shared, adding that the pup was so flipping cute. [Hudson] seems to be well looked after and enjoys the company of people."



Read the original article on People
PITTSBURG, Kan.  Area law enforcement teams up with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to execute a search warrant, resulting in multiple arrests.

According to the Crawford County Sheriffs Office, members of the Pittsburg Police Department, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigations High Risk Warrant Team executed a search warrant at 1414 S. Pine Street in Pittsburg.

Multiple suspected illicit substances, as well as paraphernalia, were located during the search, according to law enforcement.

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Five arrests were made, including:

Tina Williams, 41

Nichole Corbitt, 44

Shawn Counts, 47

Jeremiah Wools, 36

Ronald Smith, 62

Two children at the residence were placed in police protective custody.

The Crawford County Sheriffs Office says anyone with tips regarding what they call drug houses can submit tips online at (620)724-8274

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE)  The Las Cruces Police Department has released the identity of the man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Walnut Street last Thursday. According to police, 18-year-old Josiah Perrault died from injuries sustained during the shooting.

Teen accused of killing a woman searching for her stolen car is set to begin trial

A different man police believe is involved was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Officer-Involved Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting. This includes agents from New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department, Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office and New Mexico State University Police.

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A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20. Las Cruces police say its delayed until next week to allow witness interviews to be completed and to permit Chief Jeremy Story and other LCPD personnel to attend National Police Week in Washington, D.C.

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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.
UPDATE: Matthews Police say Stassinos has been found safe as of Tuesday evening.

MATTHEWS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Authorities are asking for the publics help in locating a missing elderly Matthews woman. Constantia Evange Stassinos, 84, was last seen late Monday night, May 12, near Novant Health Matthews Medical Center.

According to police, Stassinos was spotted around 10:15 p.m. Family and law enforcement are concerned for her safety.

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Anyone who sees Stassinos or the vehicle she was driving is urged to call 911 immediately or contact the Matthews Police Department at 704-847-5555.

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Matthews

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Dayton police are making a push to find and stop graffiti taggers from leaving bad marks on local buildings.

The Dayton Police Department held a press conference on Tuesday, sharing several photos of graffiti they had spotted in several areas across Dayton, including Main Street, Third Street and more.

NATO is coming to Dayton, heres what to know

Police are asking for the publics help to find those responsible for the marks and hold them accountable.

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Officials say they would rather street artists make artistic murals over unattractive tags.

Its sad to go down West Third Street, East Third Street, Main Street, and seeing people tagging, making our community look very poorly, said Maj. Brian Johns, DPD. Theres people working hard to try to make the community pretty, make it beautiful, clean up tags, and it happens again.

Officers say they hope to find security footage or nearby witnesses that could help their investigation.

Miami Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads police to the individuals responsible for recent tags.

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If youve seen graffiti in the Dayton area, youre asked to report it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Seattle police are asking for the publics help in looking for an accused thief with an expensive taste.

According to Seattle Police, the man entered a Tiffany and Co. jewelry store on Pine Street on Jan. 2 and asked to try on a bracelet.

A police report said the man entered into the store posing as a customer and was noticeably shaking. He asked to try on a bracelet and then abruptly ran out of the store, making no attempt to pay for item, valued at $27,000.

A store security guard tried to grab the man but he ran off. The security guard was able to wrangle the bracelet off his wrist, and it was returned to Tiffanys.

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The same man is still wanted by the Bellevue Police Department for allegedly stealing a different Tiffany bracelet on Dec. 26, 2024, valued at $16,000.

The suspect is about 59 and weighs around 160 pounds. He is in his 20s and has dark hair which could be worn in a shorter style.

Anyone with information about the suspects identity or location is asked to call 911 or SPDs Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
May 13---- A 49-year-old man from Willmar was taken into custody after authorities say he fled from police Monday afternoon.

According to a news release from Sgt. Ross Ardoff, commander of the CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force, a Taser stun gun was deployed against the man to assist in the arrest. He was wanted on outstanding warrants related to controlled substance charges.

Agents attempted to stop a vehicle leaving a hotel in the Willmar area shortly after 1 p.m. Monday. Ardoff said the male fled in the vehicle, initiating a police pursuit.

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A marked squad car began pursuing the vehicle in the 1500 block of 19th Avenue Southeast and ended within the 1400 block of Gorton Avenue Northwest, after the driver stopped and exited the vehicle.

According to the news release, the driver refused to obey verbal commands before the stun gun was used.

The man, who was not named, remained in custody of the Kandiyohi County Jail as of Tuesday morning, according to the online roster.

No one was harmed and no property damage occurred as a result of the pursuit.

According to Ardoff, a search of the vehicle yielded approximately 6 ounces of white powdery substance, which field-tested positive for "the presence of a controlled substance."

The substance was sent to the

for additional testing.

The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force was assisted by the Willmar Police Department and the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office.
WOLCOTT, Conn. (WTNH)  Three teens are among the seven arrested this week in connection to handguns stolen from the Sportsmens Outpost in April, Wolcott police say.

On April 18, nine handguns were stolen after a vehicle rammed into the front of a business. Wolcott Police responded in 30 seconds, but that was still enough time for the thieves to grab more than a handful. The vehicle involved was later determined stolen from Bristol.

BACKGROUND: 9 handguns stolen after car rams into Wolcott store

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During a press conference Tuesday, Wolcott police said they were notified of a few suspicious things after the robbery.

Those tips included a 16-year-old who was accidentally shot in the hand in Bristol and a stolen Kia located in Pine Lake in Bristol. The vehicle held a handgun with the serial number obliterated, police said.

Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens. Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens.

During the investigation, police learned one of the stolen handguns- and possibly the one involved in the shooting of the teen- had been tossed into a river in Bristol. The Connecticut State Police Dive Team helped recover the handgun.

As a result of the continued investigation, three 16-year-olds from Bristol were each charged with roughly a dozen various offenses, including burglary, criminal mischief, larceny, and more. One of the teens included the one shot in the hand.

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They face similar charges in Bristol as well.

Police identify 19-year-old motorcyclist killed in Bristol crash

Wolcott police believe they planned to sell the stolen guns on the street for profit.

Four adults were also charged by Bristol police- on offenses related to hiding or getting rid of the stolen weapons. Police said they were family members and friends of the teens.

The adult arrestees include Alvin Martinez, 45; Jessica Henry, 36; Makiah Henry, 18; and Shane Erdmann, 20. All are from Bristol.

As of Tuesday, Wolcott police said eight of the nine stolen firearms have been recovered.

The video below is from Good Morning Connecticut at 5 a.m. on May 14.

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Baltimore County Police officers stationed in older buildings are concerned about the safety of their drinking water after testing found unsafe amounts of lead in the water in one building. Now, their union says, theyre being ignored.

An employers job is to provide a safe working environment, said Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4 President David Rose. They cant even provide clean water.

Rose said over the past month, officers have raised issues with the union over water at three buildings: the North Point Government Center in Dundalk, as well as the departments precincts in Essex and Cockeysville. While testing has and is still being conducted at North Point, a former junior high school, the FOP president said the precincts havent been addressed.

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At all three locations, several officers bring drinking water from home or rely on donations for their shifts, Rose said, and their attempts to have the department supply bottled water have failed.

The most immediate concerns seem to surround the Dundalk government building, where Rose said the polices K-9 and SWAT units are stationed  51 officers in total.

According to an April 23 water analysis report reviewed by The Baltimore Sun, testing found lead in two areas of the building: the Mens Locker Room and the Womens Restroom Right Sink.

The analysis, conducted by KCI Technologies and Home Land Labs, showed three testing locations within the North Point building. The last of them, a water fountain on the second floor, detected no lead.

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While the EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, the amount of metal in the womens sink was faint enough to pass its April 22 test. But samples taken the same day from the mens locker room failed with lead units nearly 10 times the limit.

According to the analysis paperwork The Sun reviewed, using the EPA 200.8 method, which uses plasma and mass spectrometry to analyze trace elements present in water, the company allows a reading of .0005 milligrams per liter of lead in water. The amount of lead in the mens locker room failed with .148 milligrams per liter, the test shows, while the womens sink passed with .0027 milligrams per liter.

Police department spokesperson Joy Stewart said several water sources were tested last month at the North Point Government Center and a sink in the mens locker room was the only one that failed. Additionally, the county only allows the second floor of the building to be used, she said, and the problem sink is located on the first floor.

Upon learning of employee concern, the department acted immediately and contacted property management to initiate testing at the North Point Government Center, Stewart wrote in a statement Monday to The Sun. Tests were conducted at multiple locations. Two of the locations tested, including a drinking fountain, passed EPA potable water standards. One recently replaced sink faucet, in the unoccupied first floor, showed lead levels above EPA standards.

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To prevent the consumption of non-potable water, a sign was placed at the sink to ensure that water from the faucet is not unintentionally consumed, Stewart wrote. Results of the initial tests were provided to the [Fraternal Order of Police].

Stewart said the county also procured a water consultant to perform additional testing at 14 locations within the North Point Government Center, including testing the main line. The latest testing results are expected within two weeks.

Neither Home Land Labs nor KCI Technologies responded to questions or requests for comments.

According to the EPA, lead can enter drinking water when pipes made from it begin to corrode. Though Congress began requiring lead free plumbing materials in 1986 for public water systems, homes and facilities built before then are more likely to have lead piping, the federal agency states.

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Rose said while the water failure at North Point, which closed as a school in 1981 before becoming a public park, may be isolated on paper, officers are concerned about its cleanliness throughout the building.

These guys dont even know if its safe to shower, he said.

According to the EPA, lead from shower water cannot penetrate skin.

Both the police union and department said further testing on North Points main water line is underway and that the countys Property Management Division is awaiting the results.

Meanwhile, according to Rose, officers at the Cockeysville and Essex precincts  which opened in 1969 and 1973, respectively  are left largely without options. A water machine in Essex doesnt work, he said, while a request for bottled water at Cockeysville was denied.

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The water concerns at Essex run in concert with spacing problems, as well, as somewhere between 20 and 30 staff members have to work offsite because there isnt enough room in the main precinct building.

The county government is planning a mammoth expansion and renovation project at the precinct, one that will add more than three-times as much square footage to the 52-year-old building.

Before then, however, Rose said while it is the governments responsibility to test the water at the Essex station and other facilities, the union is prepared to pay for its own testing if need be.

Have a news tip? Contact Luke Parker at lparker@baltsun.com, 410-725-6214, on X as @lparkernews, or on Signal as @parkerluke.34.
A former teen model on the stand to testify against Harvey Weinstein protested Tuesday as the disgraced movie moguls attorneys began to read from her personal diary in the Manhattan courtroom where his sexual assault retrial is into its second week.

Facing cross-examination in her third day of testimony, Kaja Sokola was confronted by defense lawyers with passages from the journal, written in 2015 in Polish. Kaja protested, saying it was for a substance abuse treatment program during which she was instructed to list all the people for whom she held resentment.

This is very inappropriate, Sokola said as one of Weinsteins attorneys began to cite the text. Please dont read that. This is my personal things. Im not on trial here.

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The judge heard Sokola out, telling her he would only permit limited questioning around the diary  then said he had concerns about how Weinsteins lawyers had obtained it. This might backfire for the defense, Judge Curtis Farber said, the AP reported. Thats the risk theyre willing to take.

Under questioning, she told the jury that the journal named at least two people who had sexually abused her, but neither was Weinstein. She also confirmed that she had named him, but in an entry titled Harvey W under which she wrote: promising me to help  nothing came out of it.

Weinstein lawyer Michael Cibella pointed out the discrepancy between Sokolas entries and her testimony.

The trauma that Harvey Weinstein inflicted on you was that he made promises that he didnt keep, even as you accused two other men of sexually assaulting you, Cibella said.

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Thats your interpretation and Ill leave that with you, Sokola said. Harvey made promises he didnt keep  and he sexually assaulted me.

New York prosecutors are trying Weinstein again after the states Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 conviction last year, ruling that improper testimony and rulings tainted his trial.

Now 73, Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies that he raped or sexually assaulted anyone. He is also appealing a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles, where a 16-year prison sentence still stands, which has allowed New York authorities to hold him while they re-set their own case.

The post Polish Model Protests as Harvey Weinstein Lawyers Read From Her Diary in Court: Im Not on Trial Here appeared first on TheWrap.
Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs speaks at an NC Democratic Party rally on Jan. 5, 2025. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)

Over the last several decades, few initiatives of the American political right have met with greater sustained success than the relentless crusade to capture control of the courts. The U.S. Supreme Courts reactionary majority is, of course, the ultimate and most visible example of this success, but the ongoing effort to politicize and radicalize the judiciary has borne fruit in many places.

See, for example, the appellate courts in North Carolina where, thanks to the investment of big dollars and a whatever-it-takes-to-win approach to campaigning, Republicans have captured sizable majorities on the states Supreme Court (5-2) and Court of Appeals (11-4).

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By spending millions of dollars and waging a determined and unabashed culture-war-based ground game that has helped spur conservative voters to action in bottom-of-the-ballot races that once were treated as nonpartisan, the GOP has transformed the state appellate courts through a series of narrow electoral wins into a rubber stamp for its gerrymandered legislative majorities.

And while progressives have tried to push back periodically, theyve mostly found themselves in a defensive posture and promoting bland messages like lets keep the courts fair or we need judges who will respect the Constitution  themes that are true and accurate enough, but that were never capable of firing up the troops.

And then along came Jefferson Griffin.

Six months ago, millions of Democratic- and progressive-leaning North Carolinians had only the vague idea of how the states courts were organized  much less the identities of the people who serve on them. Incumbent Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs was a mostly anonymous jurist  well-known only among the states small cadre of civil rights and civil liberties lawyers of which she was once a member.

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Today, thanks to Griffins ill-conceived and politically disastrous effort to overturn his loss to Riggs in last Novembers state Supreme Court election by tossing thousands of ballots, everything has changed.

Conservative pundits and pols may be spinning the brave face notion that Griffins failed challenge helped advance the cause of voter integrity  that is, identifying categories of voters on whom Republicans can impose new roadblocks to voting  and one suspects thats something they will pursue.

But by far the biggest and most important impact of Griffins failed effort is the transformative boost its given to progressives and Democrats in awakening them to the importance of judicial elections.

Indeed, a lot of Republican and conservative operatives are likely wanting to kick themselves right now, or at least, Griffin. Had he quietly conceded last November after a second recount confirmed his defeat, it would have been a disappointment for the right, but hardly a defeat of great consequence.

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Republicans would have still maintained their large majority on the high court and most North Carolinians would have quickly forgotten about the contest.

Today, however, after six months of dreadful nationwide publicity for Griffin in which he was rightfully portrayed as a sore loser, along with six months of unprecedented organizing and messaging by dozens of progressive good government advocates and advocacy groups, the visibility of the state courts is dramatically different.

Meanwhile, Justice Riggs has emerged as a minor political rock star.

Thanks to her willingness to abandon the traditional tight-lipped posture of Democratic judicial candidates by stepping out and running a very public campaign to rally public support for her legal argument to count all the votes that were cast, Riggs, in effect, beat the right at its own game.

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For the first time in recent memory, a young, progressive Democratic judge presented herself as (and spoke to average people like) a real person with whom they could easily identify  not just a distant and vaguely mysterious figure in judicial robes voicing sober legal platitudes.

Its no wonder that other Democratic judicial candidates are already lining up to invite her to headline their campaign fundraisers.

And, of course, for Democrats and other progressives looking to alter North Carolinas political environment by breaking Republicans gerrymandered strangleholds on the legislature and U.S. House delegation, all of this news could scarcely have come at a better time.

At the heart of the GOP gerrymandering success is the partys control of the state Supreme Court. If Democrats are to have any hope of seeing fair redistricting maps return to North Carolina  maps that would reflect a state that, as the Riggs-Griffin election demonstrated in stark terms, is evenly divided between the two major parties  theyll have to end the current GOP dominance of the high court. And that will necessitate winning elections in 2026, 2028 and 2030, prior to the next scheduled round of redistricting in 2031.

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Whether Democrats can capitalize on their recent good fortune in those upcoming elections remains, of course, very much an open question. Notwithstanding the outrage and enthusiasm of recent months, voter memories can be short, and its a sure thing that that big GOP dollars and hardball tactics arent going anywhere.

For now, though, the chance that Democrats can reverse recent patterns in judicial elections looks much brighter than it did at this time last year. And all those concerned can thank Jefferson Griffin for the sea change.
Surprising new data has revealed that New York isnt leaning as politically blue as usual.

An April poll by the political analysis firm GrayHouse shows that President Donald Trump, a Republican, has a higher approval rating than New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who assumed office in 2021.

The poll revealed that 36% of participants approve of Gov. Hochuls performance, while 55% disapprove. In contrast, 43% of participants approve of President Trumps performance, and 56% disapprove.

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Additionally, 49% of participants found Gov. Hochuls political views to be too extreme for the state, although the poll results did not refer to any of the governors specific stances.

The poll of 826 registered New York voters was held in late April, as President Trump approached the 100th day of his second term.

The data hints at a trend of New York voters leaning more purple than expected in the recent past. While Kamala Harris won New York in the 2024 presidential election, President Trump earned 43.6% of the states vote, up from 36.8% in 2016.

Hochul, who is the first woman governor of New York, is running for reelection in 2026.

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The states last Republican governor, George E. Pataki, was in office from 1995 to 2006; prior to that, Republican Malcolm Wilson served as New Yorks governor from 1973 to 1974, taking over the role when Gov. Nelson Rockefeller resigned.

More on Politics

Read the original article on MassLive.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's hard-right nationalist George Simion and centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan are neck-and-neck ahead of a May 18 presidential run-off that could have far-reaching consequences for the European Union, an opinion poll suggested on Tuesday.

The eurosceptic Simion decisively won the first round of the ballot on May 4, with some 41% of the vote, triggering the resignation of leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the collapse of his pro-Western coalition government, and significant capital outflows.

Simion, 38, opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement. He has suggested he would veto Brussels military aid to Ukraine, while saying Europe should depend on NATO for its own defence.

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Dan, 55, running as an independent on an anti-corruption platform, won 21% of the vote in the first round, advocating for continued support for neighbouring Ukraine and alignment with Brussels on key economic and defence issues.

Romania's president has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that decides on military aid. The president can also veto important EU votes that require unanimity.

The poll conducted by AtlasIntel and commissioned by local news website HotNews.ro showed Simion and Dan would each get 48.2% of the vote.

It surveyed 3,995 people from May 9-12 and had a margin of error of 2%.

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The survey did not include the diaspora, where nearly 1 million Romanians voted in the first round, more than 60% of them for Simion.

Analysts have said a Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO's eastern flank, where Bucharest plays a key role in providing support to Ukraine as it fights a three-year-old Russian invasion.

It would also expand a cohort of eurosceptic leaders in the EU that already includes the Hungarian and Slovak prime ministers.

An opinion survey conducted by polling institute Verifield and commissioned by Dan last week showed Simion was on course to secure 54.8% of the vote in the run-off to Dan's 45.2%.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Allergies have been rampant through early spring, but signs are pointing to conditions getting worse over the next few weeks.

Tree pollen is normally the first allergen to emerge around western Massachusetts, but grass pollen is on the rise due to significant wet weather.

Westover Air Reserve Base has nearly exceeded the monthly average for rain this month in just the first two weeks of May. This, combined with warmer temperatures, increased grass pollen levels over the weekend.

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Doctor David Robertson told 22News that this will impact some but not all people with spring allergies, Were at that time of year when people that have both tree pollen and grass pollen may be in for a rough few weeks until the tree pollen is gone. So tree pollen is on the way down, grass pollen on the way up, but if youre allergic to both, its gonna be probably pretty rough for a few weeks.

The pollen count on Monday and Tuesday is exceptionally high for tree pollen and moderate for grass pollen. This weeks rain should quell symptoms in the short term. However, more rain and heat will only extend both the tree and grass pollen seasons.

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.
Does Pope Leo XIV subscribe to the tenets of the economic agenda of patriotic populism?

Well, it seems so, as he officially revealed his thinking behind his papal name, telling cardinals in Rome that he chose it "mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution."

The Pope further explained that "the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution," one that includes the promises and perils of artificial intelligence.

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So, we Americans should consider the teachings of this popes predecessor, by moniker, Leo XIII.

Such inquiry reveals an economic model that aligns totally with the America First vision: a pro-worker populist framework, flowing from the political right.

Regarding America broadly, here are Leo XIIIs thoughts on the United States in 1895: He "esteemed and loved exceedingly the young and vigorous American nation, in which We plainly discern latent forces for the advancement alike of civilization and of Christianity."

On the economy, his landmark 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum (Of New Things), reconciled and tamed the modern era of industry with Christian ethics.

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Leo XIII completely rejected socialism as antithetical to Christianity. Marxist ideologies dehumanize individuals, promote atheism, and elevate the state to a place of deceptive sacredness. The Church has always opposed the seizure of private property and production, which distorts the state into a false god distributing benefits.

He also rejected raw commercialism that diminishes humans as mere cogs in a giant economic machine. Rather, Rerum Novarum explained the Catholic vision for a thriving, private-sector economy. It explained clearly that private ownership of enterprise "is not only lawful, but absolutely necessary."

Those enterprises must then promote the common good by uplifting the inherent and profound dignity of workers. Leo XIII also insisted that laborers had a right to collectively organize and to demand just and humane working conditions.

With these papal teachings, Leo XIII reaffirmed what followers of Jesus have believed for time immemorial: A thriving society must prioritize workers to ensure the success and prosperity of families and communities - rather than just credentialed elites, the state, or multinational conglomerates.

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We Catholics pay homage to the precepts of economic subsidiarity and distributism, as explained eloquently by G.K. Chesterton. A vibrant nation requires that decision-making and economic power be dispersed throughout the land. Only then can a society flourish. In comparison, efficiency studies from Harvard Business School ring hollow.

Notably, this philosophy does not slouch into the tyranny of socialism, as strict Austrian economics adherents might suggest. Instead, this authentic Christian approach to the economy elevates the necessity of private enterprise, while concurrently insisting that public policy be ordered toward the common good, rather than toward maximum efficiency that rewards a connected few.

Turning to domestic U.S. politics, voters have moved massively on pro-worker issues toward the patriotic populist movement. In fact, for three months straight now in 2025, TIPP Insights national polling for the League of American Workers has found that voters identify the GOP as the "party of workers" over the Democrats, a seismic political shift over prior eras in American politics. Working-class people, without a college degree, identify the new America First GOP as the "party of workers" by a stunning +14% margin, 47-33%.

In addition, U.S. Catholics, many of whom are working-class citizens, delivered Trumps amazing victory last November, especially with large Catholic populations in key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Trump earned a massive +11% margin among Catholics nationwide. This landslide among voters in the largest denomination in America powered his incredible popular vote triumph.

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So, does the election of Leo XIV signal a new understanding from the Vatican regarding the economic populist nationalist movement in America and around the globe?

As an American, he clearly understands the reality of politics in the United States today. We grapple with an unhappy and restless citizenry. That anxiety has many sources, including aggressive secularization. But a large part of the justifiable anger flows from frustration with an economic model that delivers massive benefits to a small cabal of interconnected globalists, while the masses struggle to simply afford the basics of life.

For instance, young adults face economic hurdles that were unknown to their parents and grandparents. Homeownership seems impossible under theworst housing affordability ratios in U.S. history. No wonder young adults recoil from marriage and parenthood.

In addition, American workers have, for decades, faced a near-constant flow of illegal aliens, pouring into the United States to compete unjustly and unlawfully against American citizen laborers, depressing wages. On this topic, the gulf between the Vatican and the America First movement is wide. But even here, if the new Pope Leo is indeed reviving the approach of the prior Pope Leo, then he will clearly ascertain that porous borders do grave harm to workers.

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So, lets work and pray to make the Rerum Novarum world a reality.

There are valid reasons to hope that Pope Leo XIV will welcome this challenge - to create the kind of society we want. Not one obsessed simply with topline GDP, but rather an America of bountiful private enterprise where families thrive, small businesses blossom, and the common good becomes paramount.

Steve Cortes is a former advisor to President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance and a former commentator on Fox News and CNN.

&

Josh Mercer is vice president of CatholicVote.
The Catholic Church announced that Pope Leo XIV will not just lead the world's Catholics  he will also be a dedicated poster.

On Tuesday, the Dicastery for Communication  the Vatican's communications office  said that Pope Leo XIV will maintain an "active social media presence" on the Church's official papal accounts on X and Instagram.

The pope is already keeping that promise; he posted for the first time on Instagram on Tuesday, sharing images from his first few days at the helm of the Church. The photos include images from his first public address after his selection.

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Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting spoken by the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd, he wrote in his image caption. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, and among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.

The pope's accounts on X and Instagram  @Pontifex  have approximately 52 million followers, according to the Vatican.

Pope Leo was active on social media before he became the pope, and while most of his commentary is related to Catholicism, the Church, and Catholic initiatives, he has also offered some criticism of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Pope Leo XIV will be active on the official social media accounts for the pope, according to the Vatican (Vatican Media)

In early February, Vance suggested that Christians are supposed to express love in a sort of tiered ranking, saying that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world.

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Pope Leo  then just Illinois-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost  took issue with that.

JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others, he shared on social media.

Vance indirectly responded to the comment after he received pushback on social media, challenging his critics to read up on the Catholic idea of ordo amoris, which translates to order of love.

A few days after that, Pope Leo shared an article from a Jesuit publication titled Pope Francis letter, JD Vances ordo amoris and what the Gospel asks of all of us on immigration, which was critical of the Trump administrations immigration policies and provided context for the tenet that Vance cited.

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While Pope Leo may be the first pope to have been active on social media prior to taking his office, Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI were also frequent posters.

Pope Benedict, the successor to Pope John Paul II, was the first pope to use an official social media account. The official pope account was started on X in December 2012 back when the site was still Twitter.

"Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart, Pope Benedict wrote in his opening Twitter post.

A few months later, Pope Francis was selected and took over the account. During his time as pope the Vatican launched an Instagram account.

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Pope Francis was a regular poster as well. According to the Vatican, his posts were a near-daily accompaniment throughout Pope Francis pontificate with short messages of an evangelical nature and exhortations in favor of peace, social justice, and care for creation.

His social media posts in 2020 alone were viewed more than 27 billion times, according to the Vatican. Content posted by the Pope Francis will be archived on the Vatican's website, according to The Hill.

Following Pope Francis's passing, Prevost, an Illinois-born American who spent much of his adult life in Peru, was selected to replace him.

He was named a cardinal under Pope Francis in 2023, and was considered an ally of the former pope.
(Adds dropped 'Paul' in papal name in paragraph 5)

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo XIV has told the world's Jewish communities he wants to strengthen the Roman Catholic Churchs dialogue with them, in a message coming after a souring of relations between the Vatican and Israel over the war in Gaza.

The first U.S.-born pope sent a letter to Rabbi Noam Marans, the Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee, who posted the letter on the social platform X late on Monday.

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Trusting in the assistance of the almighty, I pledge to continue and strengthen the Churchs dialogue and cooperation with the Jewish people in the spirit of the Second Vatican Councils declaration Nostra Aetate, Leo said in the letter.

Nostra Aetate was a landmark document in the 1962-1965 Council that repudiated the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus and urged dialogue with non-Christian religions.

The brief document revolutionized Catholic relations with Jews after centuries of persecution and mistrust. Dialogue that ensued over the following two decades made it possible for Pope John Paul II to become the first pontiff to visit a synagogue, giving a speech in Romes main temple in 1986, where he called Jews our beloved elder brothers.

After years of often tense relations, the Vatican and Israel signed a fundamental agreement in 1993 and exchanged full ambassadors the next year.

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A Vatican source said Marans would attend Leos inaugural Mass on Sunday. More than a dozen other Jewish leaders from around the world were also expected to attend, the source said.

It was not yet clear if any Israeli government leader would attend the Mass.

While the late Pope Francis often condemned antisemitism, relations between the Vatican and Israel soured after the start of the war in Gaza in 2023.

Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages to Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, Palestinian authorities say, and swathes of the heavily built-up enclave have been laid to waste.

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The Israeli delegation to Pope Francis funeral last month was headed by its ambassador to the Vatican Yaron Sideman, which sources said at the time was an intentionally low-level representation because of Francis comments about Gaza.

Francis, who visited the Holy Land in 2014, suggested last November that the global community should study whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza constituted genocide, in some of his most explicit criticism of Israel's conduct in its war with Hamas.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella, editing by Alvise Armellini and William Maclean)
As Pope Leo XIV walked through a crowd at the Vatican on Monday, NewsNation correspondent Robert Sherman asked the new pontiff if he had any message for the United States.

Many, Leo replied with a smile.

Then, after a short pause, he added: God bless you all.

The short exchange  which went viral on social media  came as the first U.S.-born pope delivered a powerful address to thousands of journalists.

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Pope Leo XIV met with journalists from around the globe in Rome on Monday. When NewsNation asked if he had a message for the United States, he said, "God bless you all."

More: https://t.co/3oXituidfV@RobertShermanTVpic.twitter.com/cc43joKAig  NewsNation (@NewsNation) May 12, 2025

Leo called in his speech for the protection of the precious gift of free speech and the press and urged reporters to disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred.

We do not need loud, forceful communication, the pope added, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.

Some people on social media interpreted Leos one-word reply  many  as a possible jab at Donald Trump, noting the pontiffs past criticism of the U.S. president and his top allies.

In 2015, Leo (then a bishop) shared an opinion piece from The Washington Post by Cardinal Timothy Dolan titled Why Donald Trumps Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Is So Problematic. Trump at the time was early in his first presidential run.

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More recently, in February, the now-pope posted on social media an article critical of Trumps vice president, headlined: JD Vance Is Wrong: Jesus Doesnt Ask Us To Rank Our Love For Others.

Leo is yet to directly address Trump since he was elected pope last week.

Trump, for his part, has predictably tried to insert himself into the narrative of Leos conclave victory by apparently trying to take credit for it.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated Pope Leo XIVs title from 2015. He was a bishop at that time.

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Pope Leo XIV made history, but for his family, the announcement struck closer to home

Born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955, the pope grew up with his older brothers, Louis and John, in the Chicago suburb of Dolton

In this week's issue of PEOPLE, his brother is opening up about his younger sibling's lifelong devotion to his faith, even in the face of some mild childhood teasing







As a child, Louis Prevost and his family would always joke that his little brother Robert wasn't like the other kids in their hometown.

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"I told my brother he was weird," he tells PEOPLE for this week's issue while reflecting on growing up outside Chicago with his two brothers  and says that fittingly enough, the future pope "always wanted to play priest."

"Nobody else in our 'hood played priest, but Robert did. And our parents always supported his wishes in that area," adds Louis, 74. "Mom let him use our ironing board to put a sheet over, and crackers we had for communion. My brother enjoyed this."

Although it may have caused some teasing, Robert's dedication to faith was never in doubt  and, at least to some, his future seemed clear.

"Even as a young kid in the second grade a nun told him, 'You will be pope some day,' " he recalls, adding that even their friends' mothers echoed that prediction.

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"They all thought my brother would grow up to be the pope!" he adds

Those predictions came true decades later, when Robert, 69  now Pope Leo XIV  was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, May 8.

ARCHIVIO GBB/Redux The future pope with brothers Louis and John Joseph in 1958 The future pope with brothers Louis and John Joseph in 1958

Although the news came as a big shock to many, his family believes that there is no one more qualified to lead the church.



"It hasn't fully sunk in even after a fews days that my little brother is now the pope," the Navy veteran tells PEOPLE from his home in Port Charlotte, Fla.

"In fact, its mind-boggling. Our family life has changed forever. It has been nonstop media buzz," he adds.

Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV

The new pontiff previously served as the leader of the Augustinian order, and in 2023, he was appointed by the late Pope Francis to the Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from across the globe. He also served as bishop of the city of Chiclayo, Peru, and later became a citizen there.

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It's his worldly experiences as well as his people skills that make him uniquely qualified to be a good religion leader, according to Louis.

For more on Pope Leo XIV's historical papacy, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.



Pope Leo's PEOPLE Magazine Cover

"My brother is down to earth, a nice guy, a wonderful human being who has traveled the world and met leaders from everywhere. He can talk to people from the bottom of society to those at the top," Louis says, sharing that his brother is "equally at ease" with regular people "as he is with presidents."

"He can smooth over the conservatives who were uncomfortable with Pope Francis and help put divisions aside," Louis adds. "He will help make all Catholics happy and build up the church instead of tearing it down."



ARCHIVIO GBB/Redux Robert Francis Prevost in his 1968 yearbook photo Robert Francis Prevost in his 1968 yearbook photo

Born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955, the pope grew up with his older brothers, Louis and John, in the Chicago suburb of Dolton. Their parents, Louis, an educator, and Mildred, a librarian, were Catholics whose devotion rubbed off on Robert.



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"Our parents also believed in public service and were educators," Louis shares.

"We went with dad to events at school and were raised in a home that respected elders. We were taught that and not to judge people, not be prejudiced against anyone," he adds. "We learned all of the when we were small children."



Villanova University Robert Prevost in his 1977 Belle Air Yearbook Robert Prevost in his 1977 Belle Air Yearbook

As the siblings grew up and graduated from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, their school on Chicago's South Side, Leo prepared to move to Michigan to begin his career in the seminary at St. Augustine Seminary High School.



"Having parents so supportive was a big plus," Louis shares. "They told him it was a big commitment, and he knew it. He wanted it."

Although it's been a whirlwind since his brother was elected pope, Louis says he was happy to be able to text with him briefly. His other brother John also traveled to Rome to visit his brother in the Vatican.

Even though they were only able to have a brief visit, that's okay  the pope has some important work to do.



Read the original article on People
Despite being the first pope from America, a country where the Catholic Church is known for its relative conservatism, Pope Leo XIV  who spent much of his adult life working in Peru  is expected to largely continue his predecessors progressive reforms, despite some past comments criticizing the acceptance of LGBTQ+ lifestyle choices.

James Martin, an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Outreach, a prominent Catholic LGBTQ+ organization, told Salon that the new popes background in Latin America means that he understands the global south, a fact that likely contributed to his being selected as pontiff.

I think that gave him some appeal for a lot of the cardinals, Martin said.

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On many issues, such as his advocacy for immigrants, Leo  who before this month was known as Cardinal Robert Prevost  is expected to act in line with the direction taken by Pope Francis, which might be expected given the high-ranking roles that Francis appointed him to. His choice of the name Leo has also drawn attention for his namesake, Pope Leo XIII.

Kristy Nabhan-Warran, a professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Iowa and an expert on Hispanic Catholicism, told Salon she took special note of this name, given that Leo XIII was known as an advocate for workers during the industrial revolution from 1878 to 1903. Leo himself made this connection, saying he chose the name to emphasize the social teaching the church offers in light of modern challenges, like artificial intelligence, that require a "defense of human dignity, justice and labor.

Nabhan-Warran said that while the new pope has not been called a liberation theologian, his work in Peru mirrors some of the values espoused by liberation theologians, because among liberation theologians and liberation pastors, you have to walk the walk.

There are stories about him that are circulating, that are verified stories, carrying rice on his back to keep one's parish, Nabhan-Warran said. You could say that this pope, Pope Leo XIV, when he was a cardinal and bishop and just parish priest, and before that, he was very much a pope of the people.

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Others, like Leos longtime friend Mark R. Francis, the former president of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, point to his role in the Order of St. Augustine, which emphasizes bringing people together and building community. In the orders own words, its roughly 2,800 members aim to build community and serve the Lord's people.

I think hes going to be concerned with bringing people together, and thats part of the Augustian spirituality and something that Im sure hes going to follow through with, Francis said. He told Salon that he expects Leo to follow in his predecessors footsteps but that he expects him to do so in a more deliberative and procedural way.

Hes not going to be shooting from the hip in terms of issues, Francis said. Hes less extroverted and exuberant. Hes less spontaneous. Hes going to be more deliberative, and that's just his personality.

Some comments from the new pope on LGBTQ+ issues, however, have drawn scrutiny and prompted speculation that he might lean more conservative. At the 2012 Synod of Bishops, a gathering where bishops convene to discuss church matters, he told the group he complained about how alternative families comprised of homosexual partners and their adopted children are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed on television programs and in cinema, according to the Catholic News Service.

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The sympathy for anti-Christian lifestyle choices that the mass media fosters is so brilliantly and artfully engrained in the viewing public that when people hear the Christian message, it often inevitably seems ideological and emotionally cruel by contrast to the ostensible humaneness of the anti-Christian perspective, Leo said.

But Francis, who has known Leo since the 1970s, said that he expects the social justice aspects of his ministry to be very important, adding that he wouldnt place too much confidence in stuff he said in 2012.

"We all evolve on some of these more delicate issues," he said. And Leo is not perceived as representing the more conservative faction of the U.S. church. As one of the cardinals said, hes the least American of all the American cardinals, Francis said, referencing Leos career of service in Peru.

Indeed, in more recent comments Leo has struck a different tone on LGBTQ+ issues than he did more than a decade ago. When Leo was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, Leo was asked whether his views had evolved under the influence of Francis.

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Doctrine hasnt changed, and people havent said, yet, you know, were looking for that kind of change, but we are looking to be more welcoming and more open, and to say all people are welcome in the church, he responded.

Michael OLoughlin, executive director of Outreach, the LGBTQ+ Catholic organization, told Salon that hes hopeful but still waiting to see how Leo acts as pope.

The interpretation people are making seems to be based on one comment from 2012, which was admittedly a more conservative tone, but that was a year before Pope Francis was elected, so his views may have shifted, OLoughlin told Salon. Im also keeping an open mind because some of his comments yesterday seem to suggest hes more in line with Pope Francis.

OLoughlin added that, in the days after Francis election, there was also discussion of several past comments that were seen as anti-LGBTQ+, but he obviously took another direction.

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If Leo is to follow his predecessors direction, its likely to put him at loggerheads with conservative Catholic leaders in the United States, who are broadly seen as more reactionary than their peers, particularly in Europe.

Leos career in Peru also seems to have been integral to his election as pope. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and columnist at the National Catholic Reporter, was at the Vatican when Leo was elected pope. In his telling, that victory was powered by stalwart support from Latin American cardinals.

What seems to have happened is that the Latin American cardinals were solidly united behind Prevost, and as a result, on the first ballot, he got a lot more votes than was expected, whereas some of the other people who were the supposed front runners didn't get as many votes as they thought they would, Reese told Salon.

On potentially finding himself at odds with the American Church and the conservative faction within it, Reese cautioned that Conservative Catholics in America have a very loud megaphone, but they don't have a lot of troops.

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He pointed to a Pew Research survey from April of 2024, which found that 75% of American Catholics had a favorable opinion of Francis, despite him becoming a political lightning rod among American conservatives in the last five years of his life.

Any politician in Washington would kill for those numbers, Reese said.

Reese compared the election to early presidential primaries, when a candidate's performance is often not just compared to how well other candidates did, but also to the expectations others had for them ahead of the election.

Expectations of Prevost were low, and he exceeded them, and the cardinals started to say, Whos this? and they took a look at them and liked him, Reese said. The Latin American cardinals were totally on board with him. They didnt see him as a Gringo, they saw him as a colleague. They felt that he may have been born in the United States but that his heart was in Latin America.
The first months of this year have posed very important challenges for the current Mexican government and also for the class struggle. The arrival of Trump is shaking the government and accelerating the contradictions inherent in reformism. Added to this is a wave of mobilisations led by the teachers of the CNTE union in Zacatecas and Chapingo against attacks on their pensions. Likewise, tensions in schools are also rising over the demand for subsidised canteens for the students.

[Originally published in Spanish at marxismo.mx]

Class struggle on the rise

More than 6,000 social mobilisations of different types took place during the government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) from 2018 to 2024. Many of them were tinged with right-wing characteristics, others were not exactly mobilisations against the government but rather against the bosses, local authorities or university leaderships; few mobilisations were carried out by the left, rejecting AMLOs reformist policies. We could say that one of the biggest victories of AMLO's government was to demobilise the social movements of the left.

The political figure of AMLO himself was one of the two fundamental factors that allowed him to achieve this. AMLO banked on all the political capital he accumulated from his long career, as well as the confidence that he won among the grassroots supporters of various social movements. He was also able to consistently capitalise on the attacks against him from the right.

These factors allowed him to stop the mobilisations and ask people to be patient, insisting that he would solve their problems. It also made it possible to reinforce or reorganise the battered capitalist state. Under his rule, the various armed organs of the state were strengthened and their credibility in society was bolstered (that was particularly true of the army).

The other factor was the number of social programmes introduced by AMLO, that benefitted millions of people, mainly the most needy. More than 25 million families benefited from at least one social programme. In addition, his wage policy, which increased the minimum wage, meant that the wages of the working class recovered some of their purchasing power.

In some sectors, such as among teachers and health workers employed by the state, he promised a minimum wage of 16,000 pesos, well above the previous minimum wage. These were the bases on which a certain social peace was established.

AMLO banked on all the political capital he accumulated from his long career, as well as the confidence that he won among the grassroots supporters of various social movements / Image: EneasMx, Wikimedia Commons

The current mobilisations are extremely interesting, not only because of how widespread they are, but also because they are directed at the policy of Claudia Sheinbaum's government. First, the government put forward a reform of the ISSSTE (pension laws) whereby a series of regulations would be modified so that FOVISSSTE  the state agency offering housing loans to government employees  could build housing for workers, which meant increasing the pension contributions for workers who earn more than 10 UMAs [Units of Measurement and Update, a base measure used to calculate the number of pesos paid in taxes and other contributions]. This proposal was later modified so that, among other things, this change in pension contributions would only be paid by political appointees and not by rank and file workers.

However, this roused the teachers of the CNTE [Democratic Teachers Union], who opposed the changes and took up the slogan of repealing the 2007 reform of the ISSSTE Law, which eliminated the previous pension system and replaced it by individual accounts, retirement after 30 years of work, and the ceiling of 28 years of service for women. In addition, workers savings were passed into the hands of private companies  so called Retirement Funds Administrators (AFOREs).

The government claimed that the current changes would not affect the workers, before withdrawing the reform, but the teachers rightly stayed on the streets. They are planning to escalate their struggle until the 2007 reform itself is overturned. The government says it is open to discussion and has asked them not to go on strike, but the workers have remained steadfast in their struggle.

Alongside this, workers at the University of Chapingo are currently on strike, demanding a salary increase and retirement plans for the teachers. Although the authorities have done everything possible to derail the mobilisation and have refused to sit down to negotiate, the teachers have remained firm in their struggle.

In Zacatecas, workers at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ) have also gone on strike. 33 campuses have stopped all teaching, from secondary to postgraduate level. The central demand is a 15 percent wage increase, while the Rector's Office is offering only four percent with an additional one percent in other benefits  this is clearly an insult to unionised workers. The strike has called for major mobilisations in which other social and political organisations have taken part. At the time of writing, this struggle had been ongoing for 20 days and the workers continued to resist.

The mood among the students is also significant. They have occupied campuses and have mobilised across different schools for different demands. For example, there are strikes and mobilisations at the University of Puebla. In Yucatan, the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Merida has also been occupied. At the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), the Interdisciplinary Professional Unit in Engineering and Advanced Technologies (UPIITA) has gone on strike, and in the upper secondary schools of UNAM there have been stoppages and mobilisations calling for university canteens amongst other demands.

We cannot yet say that there has been a radical change in the mood among workers and youth, but what we can say is that we are entering a different period, where significant shifts are being prepared in different sectors of society. Among the working class, there are economic and political demands being raised that can only be won by wresting them from the bosses or directly from the government.

Unrest is also steadily accumulating among the youth  this is not strange, as young people cannot see a future for themselves under capitalism. On 8 March, 200,000 young women took to the streets of Mexico City and there were demonstrations in more than 20 cities. Young peoples demands, such as for subsidised canteens, fall on deaf ears in the schools, and in the streets they are met with ceaseless violence. It is the youth who are on the receiving end of the worst that this system has to offer and it will not be a matter of coincidence when they lead the strongest mobilisations in the coming period.

Trump accelerates the contradictions

As we have explained in other articles, Trump's arrival at the head of the US government is posing a number of complicated challenges for the Mexican government. We do not need to repeat what we have already explained elsewhere. Rather, we must analyse how the Trump administration will accelerate the contradictions already present in the Mexican government.

Since Trump took office, the situation has become more unstable around the globe. He has attempted to put an end to military conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East, using his unique mixture of threats, outrageous statements and negotiations, this is by no means proving as simple as he had promised before his election. Meanwhile, he is stirring up a series of economic and political conflicts. US policy now revolves around a central question that Trump seeks to resolve: US imperialism has been weakened amidst the rise of other world powers and needs to strengthen itself.

Trump aims to recover the US industrial capacity by using tariffs to bring companies back to the United States. The focus of his tariff policy is, of course, China. He shares with the rest of the ruling class the desire to clip the wings of Chinese capitalism, to eliminate it as a competitor. But he also has aims in the backyard of US imperialism in the western hemisphere. He aims to safeguard the US zones of influence by applying greater pressure to Mexico and Canada, in order to make them completely servile under the threat of greater tariffs.

Trump's arrival at the head of the US government is posing a number of complicated challenges for the Mexican government / Image: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

He seeks to withdraw from regions where the US previously had committed economic and military support, abandoning the European Union as well as Ukraine to their fate. And finally, Trump wants to fight to keep regions or strategic sectors that serve US capitalisms goals  by recovering the Panama Canal, taking Greenland and developing strategic domestic industries like microchips and artificial intelligence.

From this stems his entire policy of attacks against Mexico. Although the current government is saying that it is going to fight with dignity to defend sovereignty, in reality it has given in on everything that Trump has asked for: it has moved 10,000 troops from the National Guard to the northern border, it has transformed its policy against the drug trade  no longer using a light touch as it did before  it has sent 29 drug lords as trophies for the US administration, and it has toughened its tariff policy against Chinese goods. What US imperialism wanted, it got.

The governments of AMLO and Claudia Sheinbaum never aimed to break the countrys dependence on the US. On the contrary, their policy has been to maintain this link. First AMLO and now Claudia are doing everything possible to take advantage of business with US imperialism. The infrastructure works developed in the last six years, including greater transport connection with manufacturing zones near the US border and more bridges over the Rio Grande, have had precisely this aim.

For a while it seemed that this project connected with the international environment of economic relocation (or nearshoring); capital came to invest, taking advantage of Mexico's geographical position and its trade agreements with the US, so that the goods of the new firms could enter the US market without paying taxes. Now this is about to go down the drain. The so-called Mexican miracle may turn into its opposite if tariffs are eventually imposed. [Note: this article was initially published on 27 March, after Trump had suspended the 25 percent tariffs initially imposed on Canada and Mexico on many key products, although for others those tariffs remain in place. While not subject to the standard 10 percent tariffs introduced in April, many commodities from Mexico including steel and aluminium continue to be subject to tariffs.]

The pressure being exerted by US imperialism, which has resulted in constant tariff negotiations with the Trump administration, has brought with it increased uncertainty. Companies are therefore unsure whether to invest, wait and see, or even to withdraw investments and repatriate capital to the USA, or wait. There is a feeling of instability among those capitalists with interests in Mexico, and this is not good for the economy, which has been stagnating for a period now.

In addition, Claudia Sheinbaum is seeking to substitute goods that are currently sourced from China with automotive components assembled in Mexico itself. She has also imposed tariffs on clothing from China. She has said she will maintain a tough stance on China, despite the fact that it is the US that has kicked her in the mouth! It sounds like a joke: it is the Americans who are doing everything they can to undermine her, but she has told them that she will defend the business she has with them, no matter what. We do not believe that the alternative is to tie Mexico to a different imperialist country, but Sheinbaums total surrender to US imperialism is striking.

Ultimately, the economic question is not the only factor, although it is indeed the main one. There is also the pressure being placed on migrants in the US to return to Mexico, with over 19,000 having returned already. In addition, there are the almost one million Latinos who are in Mexico because they are waiting for a humanitarian visa to cross the northern border. This means that if tariffs go ahead and companies start leaving the country, unemployment will intensify.

Finally, we have the role of the Mexican drug cartels, six of which have been declared terrorist organisations by the US government. As we have said elsewhere, it is difficult to conceive of an armed intervention capable of putting an end to them. Such an intervention would cause an outburst from the masses against such a policy. What is clear is that this is a cudgel in the hands of the Americans that can be used at any time it pleases to beat the Mexican government over the head.

This cannot be called the dignified treatment of equals. Such words conceal the true nature of the relation between the USA and Mexico  that of master and slave.

Times of struggle and instability

Claudia's government has scored some partial victories, such as delaying tariffs for two months, and this has earned her increased popularity. 80 percent of Mexicans support her and there is now a pact  essentially a popular front  between the bosses and the government, but this does not guarantee stability of any kind.

The strength and confidence that the government once enjoyed is going to erode rapidly / Image: Gobierno de la Ciudad de Mexico, Wikimedia Commons

On the contrary, the strength and confidence that the government once enjoyed is going to erode rapidly. This will not happen overnight, nor will it happen in a linear fashion, but we are entering a period in which the class struggle will become increasingly visible on the streets, and the working class and the youth will be present. These struggles will not only be justified, but will have every obligation to redouble their efforts in order to succeed.

As the pressures of imperialism increase and the consequences of its aggressive policies are felt, the Mexican government will have two options. On the one hand, it could take a more radical stance towards the US and mobilise in the streets to prevent factory closures and layoffs, calling on workers to defend jobs through strikes, as Cardenas did. This is certainly the least likely path.

On the other hand, it could continue to give in to whatever imperialism wants, while strengthening the government's link with the national bourgeoisie. This link will manifest itself in government support for the capitalists at all levels, giving them tax breaks, investing in venture capital, protecting their investments, etc. In the medium term, the bourgeoisie will also demand counter-reforms that defend their interests against the workers.

We want to fight against imperialism and its attacks, and we will be on the side of the workers and youth in the struggle for their demands. We understand that the only way to seriously fight against imperialism is to fight against capitalism as well. If Claudia Sheinbaum takes the Cardenist road, we will critically support her, but if she chooses the alternative of allying herself more and more with the national bourgeoisie and giving in to imperialism, we will not support her and we will say clearly that this road will only lead her to defeat.

Regardless of which path this government follows, the task of communists is very clear: we must continue to gather our strength for the formation of the revolutionary party, to fight with our class and prepare the cadres for future developments in the class struggle. We communists are internationalists and we believe that the North American working class is our ally in the fight against capitalism and imperialism in the region, and thus for the establishment of a union of socialist states in North America and the world.
Pope Leo XIV recently made his public debut as the leader of the Catholic church. In a moment already drawing millions of views across social media, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV offered a strikingly simple message when asked if he had any message for the United States.

Many, the pope replied with a smile.

A bit later the pontiff added, God bless you all.

The brief exchange, captured by NewsNation correspondent Robert Sherman as the pontiff made his way through a crowd at the Vatican on Monday, was just one of several viral moments from Leo XIVs public debut.

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The pope, who is the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church, later addressed thousands of journalists with a powerful speech that championed freedom of the press and decried division. He said that the right must be protected.

We do not need loud, forceful communication, said the pope. But rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.

That emphasis on compassion and humility hit especially hard for a global audience tuned into rising political polarization across some parts of the world, especially in the United States.

His one-word answer  many  quickly gained traction online. Some observers interpreted it as a nod to the complex challenges facing the U.S., while others noted it echoed themes Pope Leo XIV has addressed in past comments on immigration and moral leadership.

Whatever the meaning, the moment quickly became one of Pope Leo XIVs most talked-about early remarks.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Portland gang leader was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday for local drug trafficking and possessing a weapon in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Noah Herrera, a known leader in Portlands 18th Street Gang, was sentenced to 144 months and five years of supervised release.

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Herrera was the second-in-command leader of the gang, and he worked regularly with Gustavo Torres-Mendez, the gangs local leader, who was sentenced to nearly 14 years in 2024, court documents said.

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During Herreras time in the 18th Street Gang, they were heavily armed and sold drugs to local buyers around Portland, officials said.

In August 2022, agents seized nearly nine pounds of methamphetamine after a transaction Herrera organized in Portland, and just a few weeks later, two gang subordinates collected over $126,000 and were dispatched by Herrera and Torres-Mendez to purchase drugs in California near the border.

The return vehicle was stopped by federal agents who found over 104 pounds of methamphetamine, officials said.

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Agents also executed a search warrant on a home in North Portland used by the 18th Street Gang, where they said they found 10 handguns, a shotgun, extended magazines, body armor and more drug evidence.

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The following year, while being held in prison pending trial, Herrera was found with a shiv.

On Jan. 10, 2025, Herrera pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine and possessing a dangerous weapon in a federal facility.

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.
KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  A pregnant woman and her two children died early Monday morning in a Kingsville Township trailer home fire.

According to Kingsville Township Fire Chief Dave West, firefighters were called around 4:55 a.m. to a house on the 5700 block of South Wright Street.

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According to the fire department, firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames. Witnesses said the home was gone within minutes.

WJW photo WJW photo WJW photo

Inside the home was 24-year-old Izzy Georskey, who was 6-months pregnant, along with her 8-year-old daughter Brooklynn and 1-year-old daughter Celeste, loved ones told FOX 8 News.

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Georskeys fiance also lived there but wasnt home at the time.

Neighbors said the family also had two dogs who did not make it out of the home on time.

She was awesome, a great person. She was so funny. A great person, honestly, a great mom, said family member Sammy Long. Brooklynn was the funniest little girl ever. She was awesome. Celeste was just getting her personality, just the cutest thing.

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The house fire is under investigation by the coroners office and the Ohio State Marshals Office, the fire department told FOX 8.

According to the Ohio State Fire Marshals office, the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

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The State Fire Marshals office is working with the Ashtabula County Sheriffs Office, Ashtabula County Coroners Office and local fire departments in the investigation.

The Buckeye Local School District released a statement about the fatal fire Monday, saying, It is with deep sadness that we share the tragic news of a family lost in a devastating house fire early this morning. Our hearts go out to the loved ones, friends, and the entire community affected by this unimaginable loss. For those who may need support during this difficult time, counselors will be available today until 4 p.m. at All Things Coffee House, located at 3075 Creek Rd, Kingsville. We also have counselors available at Kingsville Elementary for any students and staff who need support today and the remainder of the week. Keep everyone in your thoughts.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral expenses. More than $17,000 had been raised as of early Tuesday morning.

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.
A tragic fire in Kingsville Township, Ohio, early Monday morning claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and her two young daughters.

The fire occurred in the 5700 block of South Wright Street, engulfing the home in flames just before 5 a.m.

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Firefighters arrived to find the structure fully engulfed, and despite their efforts, four lives were lost, including the unborn child of the 24-year-old woman identified as Izzy Georskey.

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The Kingsville Township Fire Department confirmed the deaths of four people. Family identified them as an eight-year-old girl, a one-year-old girl, and their mother, Izzy Georskey, who was six months pregnant.

Two dogs also perished in the fire. The fiance of Georskey was not at home during the incident as he was working a third shift. He returned to find the devastating aftermath.

Im grateful that he has a very big support team behind him 100 percent, said Sammy Long, a family member, referring to the fiance of the deceased. He didnt deserve any of this, nobody does. The Buckeye Local School District has made counselors available to students and staff affected by the tragedy. A candlelit vigil organized by the districts PTA is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. at the Kingsville Elementary School to honor the victims. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Ashtabula County Coroners Office and the Ohio State Fire Marshals Office. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the fiance and help with funeral expenses, raising over $21,000 from more than 360 donations as of Tuesday afternoon.

Community Blood Bank to honor donors at upcoming event

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The Kingsville community is rallying around the bereaved family, offering support and organizing events to remember the victims. The investigation into the cause of the fire continues as the community mourns this loss.

You can donate to their GoFundMe here.

All facts from this article were gathered by WJET/WFXP journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by WJET/WFXP staff.

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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Donald Trump is visiting three countries in the Middle East this week for business deals. The trip could strengthen ties between the U.S. and the kingdoms in the Gulf.

White House officials say the president is looking to return to Washington with more than $1 trillion worth of investments in the U.S.

The president received a royal welcome as he landed in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

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Its an honor to be here with you, my friend. Weve had a tremendous relationship over the years, said Trump.

President Trumps first stop in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia, with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to follow. The goal of the trip is to strengthen the relationship with these countries.

Weve brought tremendous investment and tremendous jobs, and well continue to service your great country very well, said Trump.

This is the presidents first state visit of his second term. At the same time, the president is facing criticism for a plan to accept a jet as a gift from the government of Qatar, which would be used as Air Force One.

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I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person. Say, no, we dont want a free, very expensive airplane. But it was. I thought it was a great gesture, said Trump.

The president says it would be a gift to the Defense department but George Washington University political ethics expert, Peter Loge, says that doesnt matter.

What that means is a foreign government is buying part of the United States defense. Thats wrong. The United States is in charge of its defense, said Loge.

The president is expected to finish this trip by the end of the week, and he could make one additional stop in Turkey.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -President Donald Trump signed a several agreements with Saudi Arabia. Hes in the Middle East on the first major foreign trip of his second term.

President Trump announced hes ending sanctions on Syria and engaging with the new government which is a change in U.S. policy.

He says hes also working with leaders in the Middle East to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

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The crown prince didnt meet former president Joe Biden at the airport during a visit in 2022.

The former president accused the crown prince of ordering the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

President Trump signed a series of economic cooperation agreements with the crown prince hoping for a trillion dollars in investment into the U.S.

Our President Donald Trump is going to the Middle East on a public corruption tour, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Republicans and Democrats have urged President Trump to reconsider a gift from the government of Qatar, a $400 million jet to replace the nearly 40-year-old planes serving as Air Force One.

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Its insanely corrupt, said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer says until he learns more, hell put a hold on some political nominees.

He isnt just blurring the line between public service and personal profit, hes erasing it, said Schumer.

President Trump said on Monday, a free gift is a no-brainer.

I mean, I could be a stupid person. Say no, we dont want a free very expensive airplane, said Trump.

The White House says President Trump is following all of the laws regarding foreign gifts.

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Have you had a hard time finding a primary care doctor or had to wait months to get an appointment? You are not alone. Its no secret that there is a physician shortage, but the latest numbers show its only getting worse. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a shortfall of about 40,000 primary care physicians by 2036.

Boston 25 News reached out on social media to see who was having a hard time finding a primary care doctor, and viewers answered. We received countless comments on social media saying it took months to find one, and even longer to make an appointment. And the problem is not going away.

I think weve known for a long time that there is going to be a shortage of physicians, said Dr. Michael Collins, the Chancellor of the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester.

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As the population lives longer, there is naturally a need for more physicians, but the supply isnt keeping up with the demand. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Massachusetts had the third-highest number of primary care physicians per 100,000 population at 137. Thats compared with Utah, which only had 67 per 100,000.

I think Massachusetts is a great example of how bad the shortage really is because if you look at the data, Massachusetts has amongst the nations highest concentrations of physicians, even primary care physicians, yet you dont have enough, said Michael Dill, the Director of Workforce Studies at AAMC.

Dr. Collins says one reason the supply is shrinking: The hassle for primary care doctors, such as typing in patients medical notes during a visit and responding to hundreds of messages on charts at the end of the day. Another--the pay discrepancy compared to other specialties.

It is a challenge to know that you work this many hours taking care of this patient, said Dr. Collins. But because you dont have some of those technical things, youll be paid a percentage, a much smaller percentage.

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With a smaller salary compared to other specialists, it takes longer for the PCPs to pay off their school debt. The UMass Chan Medical School, which is known for producing primary care doctors, is working to ease some of that burden.

If they come to our medical school and theyre from Massachusetts, they would pay about half, say roughly $40,000 in tuition, said Dr. Collins.

UMass Chan also created an accelerated MD program, allowing students pursuing careers in family medicine to complete the program in three years instead of four. Its more than doubled its class size. It has also added new clinical affiliates at UMass Chan Baystate in Springfield and UMass Chan Lahey in Burlington. But adding more resources wont help overnight. The AAMC says it takes about ten years to train a new physician, and the shortage of PCPs has long-term consequences.

For the 3-year medical school program, the students commit to a residency in family medicine, pediatrics or internal medicine

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It you cant get care, youre likely not going to get better, said Dill. Ultimately, thats going to impact more than just the health of the population of Massachusetts or the nation. Its going to affect the health with the communities, the health of the economy, and its going to drive up health care costs.

Thats why Dr. Collins says its important to respect the work that primary care physicians do to prevent burnout and make it a desirable career.

I think that many of our learners will be very happy if they have a few more colleagues, some better technical support, a little more remuneration, and support within the profession that says its great for you to be a primary care practitioner, said Dr. Collins.

UMass Chan was just named one of the best graduate programs in the country, according to US News and World Report. About 43% of its graduating class will be moving on to internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced a new policy that aims to slow the number of migrants in the U.K., after the number quadrupled over the past four years.

Starmer was elected to serve as prime minister in 2024, and during his remarks, he criticized the previous conservative administrations, spanning 2019-2024, for the severe increase in inward migration to the country.

He called their migration policies a one-nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control.

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Well, no more, Starmer said. Today, this Labour government is shutting down the lab. The experiment is over. We will deliver what youve asked for time and again, and we will take back our borders.

The announcement comes nearly four months into the Trump administrations attempts to curb the nations own high inward migration rate. In the U.S., The New York Times reported the Biden administration oversaw net in-migration of 8 million people over four years.

In 2025 so far, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported over 71,000 removals.

In the U.K., at its highest recorded level, inward migration reached nearly 1 million people per year. Thats about the population of Birmingham, our second largest city, Starmer said. Thats not control; its chaos.

How will the U.K. crack down on immigration?

Outlined in an 82-page document released Monday afternoon, the Home secretary laid out a plan to restrict inward migration to the country.

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In response to a decision from 2020, which reduced the requirement threshold for workers seeking a visa, the document proposes increasing the threshold for skilled worker visas to graduate level to reduce lower-skilled migration.

Next, it proposes abolishing the immigration salary list, which made it easier for migrants to get a visa for low-paying jobs.

Under this proposed policy, the U.K. would also end overseas recruitment for social care visas, which were given to care workers, home carers and senior care workers. During a three-year transition period, the white papers added that the U.K. will permit visa extensions and in-country switching for those already in the country with working rights, but this will be kept under review.

Further, Starmers administration proposed increasing the length of time needed for migrants to qualify for citizenship or the right to stay permanently from five years to 10 years.

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Other newly proposed changes include the government increasing English language requirements across every main immigration route.

Generating much conversation on X, Starmer wrote Monday morning in a post, If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English. Thats common sense.

If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English. Thats common sense.



So were raising English language requirements across every main immigration route.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 12, 2025

Starmer on why immigration restrictions are necessary

Nations depend on rules  fair rules  sometimes theyre written down, often theyre not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us to our rights," Starmer said.

He continued, In a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.

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The prime minister then described the current immigration system as one that seems almost designed to permit abuse and one that encourages businesses to employ foreign-born workers over young British people.

Unemployment among British citizens has increased in the past five years, per the House of Commons Library, and Starmers proposed plan promises to look into the underlying causes of these trends, whether it be lack of opportunities, training or poor working conditions.

Starmer added that when a nations immigration system hurts its own citizens, politicians defending it are actually contributing to the forces that are slowly pulling our country apart.

So, yes, I believe in this. I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly, Starmer said.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Prince William County police is asking for the publics assistance in an old cold case murder from 1996.

On May 3 of 1996, a body was found on Hunter Place in Woodbridge. A couple weeks later on May 15, 1996, the body was identified as 19-year-old Ziska Iyabo Rodgers Williams. Detectives learned her identity after a photo appeared in the paper. She had been reported missing in Washington, D.C., on May 7.

DC man pleads guilty in 20+ year Maryland murder cold case

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The autopsy revealed she died from stab wounds.

Anyone with information can contact the Prince William County Police Department at 703-792-7000.

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.
May 12 (UPI) -- Tory Lanez was hospitalized on Monday after an attack by a fellow inmate at a California state prison where the rapper is serving a 10-year sentence for shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, was attacked at about 7:20 a.m. in the prison in Tehachapi, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles in Kern County, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The agency, according to an KNBC-TV report, didn't say how Lanez was attacked, though the Los Angeles Times and TMZ reported he was stabbed.

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"Staff immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid," a prison spokesperson told ABC-News. "Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment."

KTLA-TV reported he was taken to a hospital in Bakersfield, which is 41 miles north of Tehachapi.

Lanez, 32, is eligible for parole in July 2029, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He was sentenced on Aug. 8, 2023, and admitted to the prison three weeks later. Sentencing was delayed eight months when Lanez hired new lawyers and filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied.

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He was convicted in December 2022 for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in both her feet after an argument in 2020.

Charges included assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Lanez had faced up to 22 years in prison during his sentencing and possible deportation to Canada.

Lanez had seven U.S. top 10 albums: Alone at Prem, Chixtape 5, PLAYBOY, The New Toronto, I Told You, Cruel Intentions and Memories Don't Die from 2018 to 2021.

Megan has alleged that Lanez, through his surrogates, was harassing her from prison. In January, a judge issued a protective order through 2030 ordering him to stop harassment or any other contact.
With an overflowing crowd on Monday, the McDowell County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to remove a section of a proposed ordinance that would have allowed for unwanted animals to be euthanized after 14 days in the county animal shelter.

The meeting was dominated by animal welfare issues and the proposed change that would have set a 14-day maximum stay for animals in the shelter.

County Manager Ashley Wooten said the commissioners asked the county planning board to recommend improvements to the current county animal ordinance several months ago. The goal was to provide rules that would protect homeowners and their animals from other larger and more aggressive animals roaming around, Wooten said. The commissioners also asked the board to review ordinance language to provide additional authorities for the animal control staff.

One proposed change was a maximum holding period for animals in the shelters custody. Under the proposed rule, animals would be euthanized if they are still in the shelter on day 15 after being taken there. The planning board said the goal of this policy change would be to ensure there is always space at the shelter for animals.

McDowell Countys shelter has had a low euthanasia rate for years.

At Mondays meeting, the commissioners made it clear from the start they heard what was being said. The McDowell County Administrative Offices had an overflow crowd of people who came to show opposition to the proposed change. Many wore red to show their support.

Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Lynn Greene said the countys ordinance covers not just dogs and cats but birds, horses, sheep, pigs, goats and exotic animals. He made a motion to remove the 14-day maximum period for animals at the shelter and his motion passed unanimously.

I dont think any of us want to see animals destroyed, said Chairman Tony Brown. We didnt ask for that. We didnt push for that.

Brown asked people in the crowd to raise their hands if any of them had adopted an animal. Almost everyone did.

Greene said he made his decision about the proposed ordinance based on his convictions and his religious beliefs. He said he would have made the same choice even if no one showed up.

After the meeting, local animal welfare advocates expressed their satisfaction with the commissions actions.

Susan Menard, a volunteer with the Mercy Fund Animal Rescue, attended the meeting.

I assumed they would do the right thing, which they did, without any prodding from any of us, she said. I knew that portion of the ordinance would fail, but I also know that it is important to be proactive and to rally the troops just to make sure that an ordinance like that is not passed.

Menard said she was really pleased with the section that addresses animals roaming at large. It will allow animal control officers to enforce the rules about animals that roam and cause problems for people and smaller animals.

Heading toward a new animal shelter?

County officials also heard an update on a possible new animal shelter. The state has urged McDowell officials to expand and improve the county shelter.

The shelter on N.C. Highway 226 South was built in 1980. The county has heard from an architect that a proposed site for a new shelter on Spaulding Road appears to be suitable. It would be located on county property next to the Law Enforcement Center, which is the Sheriffs Office and the jail.

County officials have talked about starting a formal fundraising campaign to add to the approximately $1 million that has already been set aside for a new shelter. The county set aside about $900,000 from American Rescue Plan Act money. The county also got proceeds from the sale of the old Foothills Pilot Plant.

Your best bet may be to fully commit to moving forward with the design and development of the facility and fundraise alongside this effort, Wooten said to the commissioners in a memo.

The county used a similar approach for the McDowell Emergency Services headquarters on Barnes Road, Wooten said.

Commissioner David Walker made a motion to continue with site selection for what would be the new animal control building and come back with a recommendation for a potential site at the next regular monthly meeting. His motion was passed unanimously.

Walker also made a motion to create a proposed committee that would work on raising money for the new animal building. His motion was passed unanimously.

County officials also talked about spaying and neutering of animals. One animal advocate in the audience said people can adopt animals but those animals need to be spayed or neutered to control the homeless pet population.

For years, McDowell County has had a program where people can get vouchers from the McDowell County Department of Social Services that covers the cost of spaying and neutering. Wooten said Animal Hospital of Marion and Foothills Animal Hospital in Dysartsville have local veterinarians participating in this program.

Walker made a motion to take $25,000 from the countys sale tax revenue and add it to the spay and neuter effort. His motion did not get a second from the others but the board will talk about this some more during the work on the 2025-2026 budget.

Menard said, Its been promised for a long time. I know that it is a difficult and expensive task, but its time. Its time to get it done.
Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg has come under fire in recent months for announcing a $20 million plan to primary older, Democratic incumbents running for reelection. Now, a complaint from another vice chair candidate may lead to Hoggs ouster from party leadership.

Kalyn Free, a Native American attorney and party activist, lost her bid for DNC vice chair in February, and has since filed a complaint that the election itself was fatally flawed and violated the DNC Charter and discriminated against three women of color candidates, per her statement given to Semafor.

Because the board must have gender balance, at least one male candidate had to be selected as a vice chair.

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Free says that by running the vote for the two positions at the same time, with the requirement that at least one male candidate be chosen, it gave both male candidates a boost.

Free has asked for two new vice chair elections, and on Monday after over three hours of debate, the committee voted 13-2 to require reelections for both Hogg and fellow vice chair Malcolm Kenyattas seats.

Hogg was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when a former student opened fire, killing 17 people. Since then, he has become a gun control activist and founded several nonprofits, which aim to give more political power to young people.

Of the 201.5-point threshold required to win a vice chair seat, Hogg received 214.5 votes.

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Kenyatta has served as a Pennsylvania state representative since 2018, and he received 298 votes in his bid for DNC vice chair.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta speaks at a campaign rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Philadelphia. | Matt Rourke

Hogg says the decision to require reelection is targeted

While the vote to require reelection was made without any acknowledgement of Hoggs recent conflicts with DNC leadership, the vice chair said, It is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party, which loomed large over this vote, per his statement reported by The New York Times.

Hogg added, The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort.

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. | Manuel Balce Ceneta

On Saturday in a lengthy X thread, DNC Chair Ken Martin explained how Hoggs position to primary incumbents is in direct violation of what he believes the partys mission is.

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Imagine the message it would send if party insiders could quietly influence outcomes. If the perception takes hold that decisions are made behind closed doors by a few powerful actors, we risk alienating the very people we claim to represent, Martin wrote.

He continued, Thats not democracy. Thats not our party. Party officers have one job: to be fair stewards of a process that invites every Democrat to the table  regardless of personal views or allegiances."

The chairman then quoted the Democratic Partys charter, adding that he would defend the DNCs mission as long as I am Chair of this great institution.

On Bill Maher, Hogg calls for meritocracy in DNC elections

The day before Martins long X statement, Hogg appeared on a segment of Real Time with Bill Maher, accompanied by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and former DNC Chair Donna Brazile.

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Maher asked Hogg, What is the deal with that woman who attacked you because you beat her at that job? Did you beat her fair and square? Was there any fire there?

Hogg responded, There was the election that the DNC held, and I was the person that won one of the three positions that they had for the at-large vice chairs.

Not to bore people, but to get into the bureaucracy of the DNC, we have a gender balance rule at the DNC, because of course we do, Hogg said, which was met by laughs at the studio.

Lawler, cut in, adding that the Republican National Committee has its own gender rules as well. If the chair is a male, the vice chair has to be a female.

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Well, whats interesting is that thats even more progressive than our vision, Hogg said, Which is that the chair doesnt count toward the gender balance rule that we have.

Hogg added that he doesnt believe the gender balance rule makes sense ... in this day and age, because I want to focus on who is just best at the job.

Vice chair Kenyatta says Hogg is misrepresenting the story

In another X thread posted on Monday, Malcolm Kenyatta criticized the DNCs decision to make him and Hogg rerun for their seats.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta speaks during the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. | Brynn Anderson

It is unfortunate as I believe we both won fairly & there is no charge that we acted improperly, Kenyatta wrote.

He continued, The credentials committee believed, as they stated, that they are remedying a procedural flaw. But doing so the way they did, is a slap in my face. Im frustrated, but Ill be ok.

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Kenyatta added his belief that the requirement to run for reelection is not about Hogg.

This story is complex and Im frustrated  but its not about @davidhogg111. Even though he clearly wants it to be," he wrote.
A civil war has broken out in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s inner circle over a Laura Loomer post.

Casey Means, an adviser to the health secretary and CEO of health payments tool Truemed, has reportedly accused The Wellness Company CEO Peter Gillooly of leaking false information to Loomer, a MAGA hardliner whose posts on X have led to high-profile terminations.

In a complaint filed Saturday with multiple agencies, Gillooly accused Means of abusing his role as a senior adviser and violating conflict of interest laws by threatening to involve Kennedy and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya in their dispute, according to Politico.

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Central to the complaint is an expletive-laden Saturday-morning phone call in which Means accused Gillooly of leaking false information to Loomer about Truemed, which gives customers doctors letters that let them use pre-tax dollars to buy health and wellness products through their health insurance plans.

Laura Loomer. / Eduardo Munoz / REUTERS

According to a transcript and recording of the Saturday call obtained by Politico, Means told Gillooly: If one more thing happens, Im going to go to Jay Bhattacharya and Bobby and tell him that you and your cadre are spreading lies and trying to f--- with him and hurt his administration. I am going to sue the s--t out of you and escalate this if it continues.

The heated phone call came on the heels of an X post where Loomer accused Means of committing tax fraud through his company.

Sources have come to me today to say they believe the letters from True Med are allegedly auto-generated instantaneously, auto signed, and not actually reviewed by a doctor, she claimed. If these claims are true, and the letters are being auto generated as opposed to being reviewed by a doctor, that would be TAX FRAUD!

NEW:



Is a Never Trumper White House health advisor who is the brother of the Trump appointed US Surgeon General committing Tax fraud?



Im very concerned about the @WhiteHouses decision to not only nominate @CaseyMeansMD as the US Surgeon General, but to also have her brother pic.twitter.com/2AJ3uTk03P  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 9, 2025

Loomer and Means traded barbs on X last week after the far-right activist expressed concern with Means appointment as health adviser, and opposed the nomination of Means sister, Casey, as surgeon general. The Means siblings have been credited as the brains behind Kennedys Make America Healthy Again movement.

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In a statement to the news outlet, Means said he received information that The Wellness Company was actively spreading provably false information about Truemed.

I called the CEO of the Wellness Company and threatened legal action if he continued to spread this provably false information, he said. I noted I would prefer they stop spreading provably untrue information before I was forced to take legal action.

Loomer herself put the accusations of leaks to rest, telling Politico that she had her own sources about Truemed: I look up stuff on my own.

On Monday, a Truemed lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to Gillooly and Foster Coulson, founder of The Wellness Company.

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I have never spoken to Laura Loomer in my entire life, Coulson told Politico. Using the government to essentially weaponize them against a private company is extremely concerning and is a tremendous threat.

Gillooly told the publication that Means behavior has no place in the federal government. He filed his complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, Federal Trade Commission, and the Health Departments Office of Civil Rights and Office of Inspector General.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Health Department for comment.
SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Catawba College bid farewell to Dr. Renee McCachren, Professor of Music, who retired this spring after 41 years of dedicated service.

In tribute, the community celebrated her commitment to scholarship, culture, and service.

She joined Catawba in 1984 as an Instructor of Music. Rising through the faculty ranks, she was awarded tenure and was ultimately promoted to the highest faculty rank of Full Professor of Music.

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Her areas of teaching in the Music Department included music theory, music history and piano.

She also directed the Performance Concentration and regularly offered master classes for piano students.

In 2017, she was commissioned as Senior College Marshal, an honor awarded to the senior faculty member of the College. In that role, she has carried the ceremonial mace in Catawbas academic processionals, such as Commencement, for the past nine years.

In her years of dedicated service, McCachren taught and influenced thousands of students, mentored numerous faculty members and composed a noteworthy and lasting legacy.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Its been five years since the Columbus Division of Police started what the department calls the immersion training program, which engages new officers with the community to give them a better understanding of who lives there.

Now, the benefits of the program are becoming evident, police leaders said, based on crime in the city and peoples relationship with police.

Columbus Anheuser-Busch brewery receives $300 million investment

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More than a dozen new recruit classes have been through the training.

City leaders started the immersion program following civil unrest in Columbus and nationwide during 2020. It is one of many changes the division has made since then.

What we identified was a lot of the recruits coming to Columbus now, they arent from Columbus, so theyre not aware of the city, Columbus Division of Police Sgt. Keith Barker said. This allows them the opportunity in a low-stress environment to engage in a community, to learn about what the communitys concerns are, to hear it, and real-world perspective.

The immersion program is several weeks long and consists of several parts. Officers start in a classroom environment by learning resources available in their assigned zone, followed by volunteer work.

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Last week, some of the officers volunteered at Jordans Crossing, a non-profit organization in the North Hilltop section of the city.

Amendment to eliminate Ohio property taxes moves one step closer to voters

We are a resource center operation, Jordans Crossing Director Jennifer Rieser Braunm said. Six days a week, we do around 5,000 meals a week. We send people to treatment. We have showers for the people that dont have running water in their homes or living on the land. We have a free store, we have a clothing closet.

Rieser Braunm said Jordans Crossing was one of the original partners with the program. She said it helps people who utilize their services to form a better relationship with police.

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They come in street clothes and they are extremely patient with our people, she said of the officers. Its a different level of respect thats earned. I believe you have someone that maybe didnt, didnt want to be around a police officer, and here they are at the free store on a random Wednesday dealing with a police officer, and when they find that out, its like, wow, that guy really is real.

The next part of the program is for the officers to identify a problem they see in the community and find a solution. After implementing that solution, the new officers must present it to the division.

So, when they are responding to that call, instead of saying, Hey, you can go down to Jordans Crossing, I heard about them, they say, Hey, Ive actually done some service work at Jordans Crossing, Chairperson of Public Safety at Franklin University Dr. Chanelle Jones said.

Why the opening of the Columbus Zoos North America Trek is delayed

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Jones helped create the immersion program. She said the recruits have identified and found solutions to more than 160 problems in the city. Some of those are giving away steering wheel locks to prevent car theft, giving away gun locks to prevent accidental shootings and informing immigrant communities.

She is also a part of the citys civilian police review board. Jones said from 2023-2024 officer complaints to the inspector generals office decreased by 11 percent. She credits the program for helping make that happen.

We are very, very proud of the different projects that our officers have done, Jones said. Theyre truly making an impact and really changing the landscape of how we look at police community relations here in Columbus.

She said in the last five years, the program has directly impacted about 35,000 people. She said the indirect impact is immeasurable.

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City Attorney Zach Klein, who also played a role in creating the program, credits the program as a big reason for improving the communitys relationship with police in recent years.

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They grow, the community grows, he said. Its a win-win for public safety, and its a really special opportunity for the officers in the community to come together.

Program leaders said that in the coming years, they hope to expand the immersion program to include not just the new recruits, but more tenured officers.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A violence intervention and prevention program for students appears to be making a difference in Colorado schools.

The program, called Safe2Tell, allows students to anonymously report threats to their own and others safety, according to the Colorado Attorney Generals Office, which revealed in a report released Tuesday that a total of 3,117 reports were made in April 2025.

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The Colorado Attorney Generals Office released Safe2Tell Colorados April 2025 monthly report. (Credit: Safe2Tell Colorado)

Colorado students are stepping up for each other, said Attorney General Phil Weiser, in a statement. They are speaking out when they see something troubling, and they are doing it with purpose and responsibility. Each report gives schools and families a chance to intervene before someone gets hurt.

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The amount of April reports was a 12.8% increase compared to March, the attorney generals office said, with the most frequently reported concerns involving school safety, bullying, mental health, substance use, and abuse and exploitation.

Safe2Tell examples

The attorney generals office singled out several examples of how Safe2Tell was used to keep students safe last month, including to intervene against an individual who made disturbing comments about using drugs to manipulate peers.

The Colorado Attorney Generals Office released Safe2Tell Colorados April 2025 monthly report. (Credit: Safe2Tell Colorado)

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In another instance, the attorney generals office said a report was submitted about a student who had posted videos of themselves drinking and vaping at school. The student has since been placed on a safety plan, following an investigation by school officials.

Students watching out for each other, program says

Safe2Tell says the program is on track to receive more than 30,000 reports by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

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Our students are watching out for their friends, classmates, and schools, said Safe2Tell Director Stacey Jenkins, in a statement.

False reports, meanwhile, continue to represent only a small share of reports, according to the attorney generals office, which said only 2.2% have been determined to be false so far this school year.

The Colorado Attorney Generals Office released Safe2Tell Colorados April 2025 monthly report. (Credit: Safe2Tell Colorado)

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The attorney generals office noted Safe2Tell is not an emergency response nor a mental health counseling service provider, but rather a pathway for students to distribute anonymous reports to local law enforcement and school officials, as required by law.

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Colorado students who would like to make an anonymous report through Safe2Tell can do so at any time by visiting the programs website, using its mobile app, texting S2TCO to 738477 or calling 1-877-542-7233.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
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The death penalty in the United States is sustained by a fantasy and an illusion. Americans imagine that when the state kills, it can do so in a humane manner.

Weve tried many things to turn that conception into a reality. Unlike other countries, which choose a method of execution and stick with it over long periods of time, over the course of 125 years the United States has used more methods of execution than any other nation.

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We have hanged people, electrocuted them, put them in the gas chamber, killed them with lethal chemicals, asphyxiated them, and, on occasion, shot them to death. We have put our faith in the development of new technologies for putting people to death and debated whether older methods were just as good.

But, despite these efforts, botched executions continue to occur. An execution is botched if it does not follow standard operating procedure or departs from the requirements of the legal protocol that governs the conduct of executions.

My research found that more than 3 percent of all executions go awry and that lethal injection, the most commonly employed execution method, is the most unreliable.

Last week, we learned another hard lesson about executions, namely that there is no foolproof way of killing someone. This is a lesson that death penalty opponents need to keep in mind before they endorse any execution method or say that it meets the requirements of the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

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It was driven home when South Carolina released the results of a state-sponsored autopsy in the case of Mikal Mahdi, who it put to death by firing squad last month. The autopsy showed that the firing squad botched the execution  with shooters missing the target area of the mans heart, causing him to suffer a prolonged death.

South Carolina had resurrected the firing squad because of difficulties with lethal injection procedures and with obtaining the drugs needed to carry them out. It did so thinking that a firing squad would be a safe, reliable, and humane execution method. Four other states (Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah) have also bought into that belief and have the firing squad in their execution menus.

Indeed, praising the firing squad has become quite fashionable even among those who would like to see the death penalty abolished.

For example, in 2015, Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor pointed to evidence that the firing squad is significantly more reliable than other methods, including lethal injection using the various combinations of drugs thus far developed.  Just as important, there is some reason to think that it is relatively quick and painless.

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A return to the firing squad, she wrote, and the blood and physical violence that comes with it  could conceivably give rise to its own Eighth Amendment concerns.  [But] at least from a condemned inmates perspective  such visible yet relatively painless violence may be vastly preferable to an excruciatingly painful death hidden behind a veneer of medication.

Two years later, she returned to this theme, writing, Some might find this choice regressive, but the available evidence suggests that a competently performed shooting may cause nearly instant death.  [And] may also be comparatively painless.  And historically, the firing squad has yielded significantly fewer botched executions.

In between Sotomayors two frequently cited endorsements of the firing squad, Professor Deborah Denno, this nations leading scholar about methods of execution, raised eyebrows when she called the justices 2015 assessment of the firing squad compelling because they consider the calculation of the methods cruelty versus visible violence through the eyes of a condemned inmate.

Denno argued that More solid evidence suggests that a competently performed shooting may lead to nearly instant death, while she conceded that an incompetently performed shooting may well cause acute pain, she insisted that such instances are rare.

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But Denno dismissed that concern, writing such issues would not exist today.  Expert markspersons, situated so closely to the inmate, would be firmly secured and would not miss such a bold target on an inmates heart unless the miss was deliberate.

The consensus of opinion concerning firing squads, Denno concluded, comports with Justice Sotomayors argument that they are swift and relatively pain free.

In 2019, Stephanie Moran, writing in the University of Miami Law Review, joined the profiring squad chorus. She argued that Firing squads pose a substantially lower risk of pain and require materials the government already has in abundance. Further, the use of firing squads is more feasible than lethal injection and results in a quicker death, with less risk of cruelty.

While firing squads may shock the senses, Moran observed, they are in fact the only way to comport with the requirements of the Eighth Amendment.

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Finally, those sentiments were echoed last March when two Arizona legislators introduced a resolution asking that the states voters be allowed to vote to approve firing squads as the primary manner of execution in the 2026 election. One of the bills sponsors called death by firing squad by far the most humane and expeditious way to carry out an execution.

Mahdi also believed that. So he chose the firing squad over lethal injection, as South Carolina law allowed him to do.

But things did not go as he and many death penalty opponents believed they would. The autopsy revealed that Mahdi endured pain beyond the 10-to-15 second window of consciousness that was expected.

From witness accounts, we already knew that he groaned for roughly 45 seconds and continued to breathe for around 80 seconds. The autopsy suggested that the bullets that killed Mahdi had a downward trajectory that mostly missed the heart.

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As NPR reports, none of the bullets hit his heart directly, as is supposed to happen during the execution. Instead, the wounds caused damage to his liver and other internal organs, and allowed his heart to keep beating. Pathologists, NPR continues, say that the injuries likely caused the prisoner pain and suffering while he was still conscious.

It quotes one of them who said that it took him some time to bleed out.

What happened to Mahdi should remind death penalty opponents not to play the dangerous game of trying to figure out which method of execution can do the job required by our Constitution. None can.

That is just one reason why it is time to abolish capital punishment.
A prominent U.S. attorney was tragically found dead inside of his home on Monday.

A District Attorney in Oklahoma was found dead inside of his home on Monday morning, according to reports. The Muskogee Police Department announced that Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Edwards was found dead in his home on Monday morning, May 12.

The prominent District Attorney was found unresponsive on Monday morning. His death was confirmed shortly after he was found.

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"Muskogee Police were called to a house near Highway 62 and North 32nd Street for a welfare check on Edwards," FOX 23 in Oklahoma reported.

"When officers arrived, Edwards was found unresponsive in the house."

At this time, no foul play is suspected. An investigation into the death is ongoing.

Edwards was beloved by his friends and family members, along with his colleagues. He had been with the Muskogee District Attorney office since 2021. Prior to that, he worked as an Assistant District Attorney for Tulsa County for more than a decade.

Tributes for the prominent U.S. attorney are pouring in on social media.

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"Larry was more than just a friendhe was a guiding force in my life. He helped bring justice to someone who hurt my family, and stood by me during some of my darkest moments. When I couldnt help myself, Larry was there. He literally kept me out of jail and helped steer me toward a better path," one friend wrote.

"Over the 26 years I knew him, he became someone I could always count on for wisdom and support. The last time we spoke, I was facing something deeply personal, andas alwaysLarry gave me the words I needed to hear. He told me I would be okay, and I believed him.

"I know Im not the only one he impacted, but my heart breaks for those who never got the chance to know him. He was truly a light in this world, and Im grateful for every moment I had with him."

Our deep sympathies go out to Muskogee County District Attorney's Office and the family and friends of DA Larry Edwards, who passed away this morning. DA Edwards was a staple to all those that worked with him and he will be greatly missed. #LODD #EOW@ATFDallas Muskogee Office pic.twitter.com/QfzDjB8Bpp  ATF Dallas (@ATFDallas) May 12, 2025

Our thoughts are with his friends and family members during this difficult time.

May he rest in peace.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Homeowners have four days to protest their property appraisals that the Taylor County Appraisal District sent on April 15. For some property owners, like Tommy Simons, the appraisals increase their property values. Simons said his residential value doubled from about $40,000 to $80,000.

Things may be different in other cities, but in Abilene, things are tight. People are having a tough time and they cant afford the increases in taxes, Simons explained. Its more drastic this year than what Ive ever seen, especially on the commercial. And the commercial people cannot afford those types of increases. The landlords cant afford the increased tax bill; they will have to pass it on to the tenants. The tenants are struggling as it is now.

Not happy with your property appraisal from Taylor Co.? Protesting it may be easier than you think

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Brooke Howard, Taylor Countys chief appraisal officer, said a lot goes into calculating property appraisals, especially real estate trends.

We take properties that have sold in neighborhoods or market areas, and we analyze those sales and then apply that to all the properties in those neighborhoods. There has been a change, and it just depends on the area, the type of property for which they are selling, Howard shared.

Residents have the choice to protest the amount, but they must do so by this Thursday, May 15. They can do so by going to their website and mailing in a paper from the supporting documents to 1534 S. Treadaway Boulevard, Abilene, TX 79602, or calling the office at (325) 676-9381.

To complete the form online, click on the taxpayer portal tab. You will then be prompted to enter your information, including a special PIN found on your tax documents.

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Advocates and supporters of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project rallied Monday, May 12, 2025, on the State Capitol steps in support of the stalled coastal restoration plan. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator)

Supporters of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project took to the State Capitol steps Monday afternoon, urging state leaders to advance the stalled coastal restoration project.

The Mid-Barataria project, part of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan to rebuild wetlands with diverted sediment and water from the Mississippi River, is often hailed as the cornerstone project in Louisianas fight to rebuild its rapidly sinking coastline.

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Gov. Jeff Landry has railed against the plans high cost and impact to fisheries, blaming a key Army Corps construction permitting loss on former Gov. John Bel Edwards. The pause has prompted increasing uncertainty as to whether the massive coastal restoration plan will continue as originally designed.

Advocates of the project worry any alternate plans will mean further delays or  worse yet  inactivity that could spell doom for Louisianas coast.

Now is the time for courage and action, Simone Maloz, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, said during a news conference in concert with the Capitol demonstration. Supporters held aloft signs with phrases promoting sediment diversions printed boldly across pictures of Louisianas coast as speakers took turns at the lectern to speak about the uncertain project.

Honor the legacy of our coastal program and recommit to the bold vision our coast demands, including resuming construction on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, Maloz added.

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The river built the land, now we must let it help us heal it, the Rev. Ernest Dison Sr., pastor at a church in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, said during the rally. His neighborhood went underwater in 2005 when storm surge from Hurricane Katrina exposed design flaws in floodwalls along the Industrial Canal and Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. Decades of wetlands diminishment allowed the storm surge to reach the city largely unabated.

Dison said his faith and environmental stewardship are closely entwined, and the risk storms pose to his community convinced him to speak out in support of the coastal master plan.

We need to protect our communities, he said. This Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project gives us hope. We cant afford to waste that opportunity to be good stewards of what weve been given.

Money problems

The Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority and Louisiana Senate has approved more than $500 million for Mid-Barataria construction to begin despite its status being in limbo.

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Opponents of the large-scale diversion, including those with fisheries interests, have floated the idea of using the money to build smaller sediment diversions. But whether funding can be redistributed that seamlessly is a question with no outright answer.

Louisianas money for coastal restoration comes largely from a trust created with BP oil spill settlement dollars. A cohort of federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior, oversee the funds

Maloz said in an interview she is concerned an alternate plan might not get the same financial approval Mid-Barataria did from the trust overseers.

[The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is] very tied to the damage that happened  that money is intended to mitigate and fix that problem, she said. Thats a huge question that is looming on the alternatives  is that the right project to mitigate for those injuries, for that natural resource damage that occurred from the oil spill?

Smaller scale diversions

Diversion advocates and scientists maintain smaller diversions arent as effective at rebuilding wetlands, still sending fresh water into Barataria Bay but with less benefit.

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Opponents fear the deluge of fresh water from the Mississippi River would alter the salt content of the brackish water, killing shrimp and oyster populations near shore and pushing other marine life away from the coast.

Ehab Meselhe, a Tulane University professor and scientist who worked on hydrologic modeling for the Mid-Barataria plan, published a number of peer-reviewed studies modeling smaller Mississippi River diversions. They involved moving a fraction of the water Mid-Barataria currently proposes. His findings: Less water meant less wetland growth.

Its not going to move as much sediment, build as much land, Meselhe said, all while concerns over impacts to oysters and shrimp stick around. There is no doubt you will have the impacts, and definitely a lot less benefit.

Even still, he emphasised the need to find a solution that involves and supports the people who live in the area.

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There is no silver bullet solution. Every time you touch the system, you will have benefits and you will have impacts, Meselhe said. Some strategies are better than others  I think we need to sit at the table and see what are the palatable options that are out there, and these are the ones we need to pursue.

Anne Milling, founder of post-Katrina advocacy group Women of the Storm, said in an interview that mitigation dollars tied to Mid-Barataria gave the plan actionable ways to support fisheries.

Yes, its our culture of Louisiana, which I love and adore and respect, Milling said. Youve got to remember that $375 million was set aside in the Mid-Barataria Diversion project to compensate and help the communities relocate from any disturbance from this diversion.

We cannot afford to take solutions off the table, Maloz said, voicing her organizations support for small-scale diversions in other areas while still standing in support of Mid-Barataria.

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There was a really extensive process that said, This is the solution that matches the loss in that basin. This is what it needs for that overall long term health, she added.

Permit drama increases uncertainty

Controversy over a pulled construction permit and a social media fight between Landry and his predecessor, Edwards, have heightened tensions and uncertainty over the Mid-Barataria Sediment Division even further.

Landry delivered a harsh critique of Mid-Barataria last November, saying the threat it posed to the shrimp and oyster industry would break Louisiana culture. His administration then issued a 90-day pause on all work related to the project on April 4, saying the high cost called for a smaller-scale diversion.

The Army Corps recently revoked a permit for the nearly $3 billion project, citing unreported documents, project uncertainty and lack of support from the current governors administration as reasons to reconsider. Landry accused Edwards of purposely hiding a 500-page study from Army Corps officials.

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Edwards countered Landrys claims, saying accusations of a cover-up are unfounded, and stressed that the report in question didnt change the science behind the Mid-Barataria plan, The Times-Picayune reported.

Maloz said she believed the project had everything it needed for approval, wanting more answers from the Army Corps decision.

We feel like we went through this really extensive process that had science, that had people, that had communities all in mind to get us to a decision on both the permit and the funding, she said. And now it feels like we have been entirely cut out of that process.
More carbon dioxide  released from cars, factories and power plants  was present in the atmosphere last year than ever before in recorded history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest report.

The federal agency has been monitoring CO2 levels since the 1960s. It's part of the work started by Professor Ralph Keeling's father, Professor Charles David Keeling, who first documented the building up of CO2 in the atmosphere, driving climate change. Now, the Trump administration's proposed funding and personnel cuts threaten to put an end to decades of critical scientific research, according to leaked budget documents and climate scientists.

Standing at what he called the center of the operation that his father started at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, Professor Ralph Keeling continues his father's work, analyzing air samples collected from around the planet inside volleyball-like flasks.

Ralph Keeling analyzing air samples collected as part of NOAA's global CO2 monitoring program. / Credit: CBS News

"He never encouraged me to go into the field. But he inspired me by what he did," said Keeling as he worked in his La Jolla, California, lab.

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His father  the climate scientist whose readings of carbon dioxide confirmed to the world to the possibility of the greenhouse effect  co-authored a federal science report in November 1965 and warned about high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, blaming the industrial burning of coal, oil and gas.

"The headline, sadly, is the same every year, is that we keep breaking records. And it's concerning," Ralph Keeling said.



What also concerns him are cuts proposed by the Trump administration that he said would slash climate research at NOAA, such as the ongoing collection of CO2 samples.

"It would be a big blow if that work stopped," Ralph Keeling said. "Not just for me personally, but for the community and for the world at large."

CBS News has reached out to the White House for comment.

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NOAA's carbon sampling program collects air from all over the world. Over the years, CBS News crews have stood on a volcano in Hawaii to see samples gathered, as well as see them shipped from Norway back for analysis at a NOAA laboratory in Boulder, Colorado.

The reason samples collected near the North Pole are sent to Colorado is because scientists want to confirm that they're measuring on the same scale, according to Ove Hermansen, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

The result is what's known as the Keeling Curve, named after Ralph's dad, who died in 2005. It's a simple graph plotting the unchecked rise of carbon dioxide. The image below shows how closely the Keeling Curve matches the rise in global average temperatures.

A sample of the Keeling Curve which plots the unchecked rise of carbon dioxide. / Credit: NOAA Global Monitor Laboratory/CBS News

"It's beautiful data, but it's also sad, underlying that sense of, wow, scientific wonder and beauty is also a sadness that this is actually what's happening," Ralph Keeling said.

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The Trump administration's plans would eliminate funding for NOAA's global CO2 program and end decades of unbroken data collection, Keeling said, degrading the nation's ability to project how climate change could impact us in the future.

"So, turning off a program like this would be like turning off the headlights on a dark street at night. You can't see where you're going," he added.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected on May 12 the classification of white Afrikaners emigrating to the United States as refugees, stating they do not meet the internationally recognised criteria for such status.

Speaking during a high-level panel at the Africa CEO Forum held on Monday in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, Ramaphosa reiterated that true refugees are compelled to flee their nations due to political, religious, or economic persecutiona definition he insists does not apply to Afrikaners.

His remarks come in the wake of a U.S. executive order by President Donald Trump authorising the resettlement of Afrikaners, labelling them as victims of unjust racial discrimination.

Ramaphosa emphasised South Africas unique post-colonial legacy, noting that it is the only African nation where colonisers chose to remain permanently. He highlighted that despite the nations painful history under apartheid, no group had been forcibly expelled. Rather, the Afrikaners seeking relocation to the U.S., according to him, are individuals resistant to constitutional reforms aimed at redressing past injustices. They are not being persecuted, Ramaphosa said. They are leaving because they do not wish to embrace the democratic transformation unfolding in South Africa.

In a recent phone call with President Trump, Ramaphosa personally challenged the narrative being presented by right-wing Afrikaner factions, describing them as fringe elements opposed to social equity. He also signalled interest in visiting Washington to further clarify South Africas stance. The tension comes as Washington slashes aid to Pretoria, citing land reform policies, foreign policy positions, and South Africas strengthening ties with Iran.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Prosecutors are recommending a five-year prison sentence for an Austintown man who pleaded guilty Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to child pornography charges.

Read next: Coroner investigating after discovery of unidentified remains

Sentencing will be July 8 for Robert Casey, 73, who entered guilty pleas before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum to five counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony.

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Defense attorney John Shultz is expected to argue for a lesser sentence when Casey is sentenced.

Also, under terms of the plea, Casey must register as a Tier II sex offender when he is released from prison.

Assistant Prosecutor Caitlyn Andrews dismissed 10 other pandering counts as part of Caseys plea agreement. He was secretly indicted March 27 by a grand jury.

Andrews said Casey was indicted after a tip to members of the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Force triggered an investigation.

Investigators served a search warrant at Caseys home, where several electronic devices were seized. Some of those devices had child sex abuse material on them.

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Casey has been free on $50,000 bond since his initial arrest. Judge Krichbaum continued that bond until his sentencing.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Parents and students at Burnet Middle School made their voices heard Tuesday morning as they gathered to protest the potential firings of teachers and administrators.

This comes as Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools face a critical school year ahead where they must show signs of improvement or face state intervention from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Students and parents protested at Burnet Middle School on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, as the campus prepares for the loss of teachers and administrators. (KXAN Photo: Chris Nelson) Students and parents protested at Burnet Middle School on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, as the campus prepares for the loss of teachers and administrators. (KXAN Photo: Chris Nelson)

AISD says expert teachers could improve failing schools

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In August 2024, Dobie was identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) under the districts Federal Accountability System for the third consecutive year. If a campus fails to exit the CSI for multiple years, then this requires the campus to enter a Turnaround Plan.

Discussions about what the district will do moving forward have included closing Dobie and moving students to Lamar Middle School. However, the district is no longer exploring a temporary closure for Dobie, so it is now proposing the district-managed restart plan.

To turn around the lower-performing schools, Austin Independent School District is trying to hire the best teachers it can get to replace some of the current ones at all three schools.

The teachers the district chooses to remove from their position could then be placed in other AISD schools, according to the district.

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I dont think the new teachers are going to have an easier time  I think theyre being set up to fail  and thats a horrible feeling. Its also horrible to lose our teachers who we really like, said Ellen Knox, who has a child attending Burnet Middle School.

On Tuesday night, the Burnet Middle School Parent Teacher Association will meet with AISD Superintendent Matias Segura to make their voices heard.

The district will host a job fair on Wednesday and Thursday to look for teachers with a track record of improving students grades.

The positions are eligible for up to $20,000 in stipends to support one of the three restart campuses, according to AISD.

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Nabil Remadna contributed to this report.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The Providence Ordinance Committee is considering a plan that would split the vacant Carl G. Lauro Elementary School into a charter school and a swing space for Providence Public Schools.

The proposal would have Asa Messer Elementary School students move into the swing space temporarily as their school undergoes construction.

Joe Parrillo, a teacher at Asa Messer, told 12 News hes concerned about the potential move to Lauro.

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Nobody should be in that building, he said.

RELATED: Smiley floats new proposal for shuttered Providence elementary school

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) closed Lauro and the Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School two years ago because both buildings needed expensive repairs.

Rather than spend $95 million repairing buildings that are like museums, theyre building 21st century learning environments that look very different than whats here now, RIDEs Mario Carreno said.

A spokesperson for Mayor Brett Smileys office told 12 News Lauro has not undergone any renovations since it closed, but the building was never condemned. Instead, it was simply deemed unusable by the district.

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The other portion of the Lauro building would be given to Excel Academy, a charter school in North Providence.

If the lease agreement being by considered by the city is approved, Excel Academy would invest roughly $14 million into renovating the space.

MORE: Asa Messer students may use old Carl Lauro school as swing space next year

Providence Superintendent Javier Montanez wrote a letter of support to the city council last week.

The Excel Academy lease will provide funds that help support Lauros swing space improvements, meaning more capital funds can go towards the Asa Messer project  and it provides a steady stream of funds to cover future capital revolving fund projects, he said.

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Smiley also backed the plan. He said residents dont want to see another empty building in the city.

We have a great opportunity and our partner, the charter school, is putting some real money into it, he said in April.

But Parillo has his own suggestion.

We need to change the plan for Asa Messer, he said. Renovate us like new, build a new middle school over at Carl Lauro, and keep that charter school out of here.

Nothing was decided during Monday nights committee meeting. The committee hopes to make a decision on whether to approve the plan by the start of the summer.

We just want to make sure that were vetting all the possible best uses, Providence City Council President Rachel Miller said.

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NEXT: Providence leaders disagree on future of shuttered Carl Lauro Elementary

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)Childcare providers across the state and country took the day off to rally for more funding and support during A Day Without Childcare. In Wisconsin, the Joint Finance Committee cut $480 million from the Governors proposed budget, some of which was allocated to childcare services. Providers say 25% of facilities may have to close without that money.

Lawmakers and providers joined together at Julias Schoolia in Eau Claire to share the need for these services. They say without childcare providers, employees in other fields wont be able to work and that would directly affect employers, families and children. While the battle to secure this funding continues, childcare providers say theyre in limbo. Leanne OBryan, Executive Director of Rachels Place Early Learning Center, says, Its very stressful. Its very stressful to be a director in this program. We have so many things to do at the center that we need to be taken care of and having to advocate this many days and this often and this hard (it) takes a lot of time away from the children and the staff.

Advocates for childcare services say if lawmakers do not promise to reinstate the funding, they will head to the Capitol tomorrow to rally for it.

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Update: As of 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, Moore has been located and is safe, according to police.

(WJET/WFXP)  Pennsylvania police are asking the public for help finding a missing woman.

On Tuesday, May 13, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Warren stated they were looking for 31-year-old Hayley Moore from Youngsville, PA.

Moore was described as being 58, weighing 200 pounds and was last seen wearing a dark colored t-shirt and multicolored shorts.

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She was last seen on a camouflaged colored ATV in Triumph Township, Warren County.

Anyone with information regarding Moores location is asked to call the PSP Warren barracks at 814-728-3600.

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DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A body camera caught a woman resisting arrest and kicking a Pennsylvania State Trooper in the head during a traffic stop in Dauphin County, according to State Police.

The charges filed by State Police show, Rebecca Strauser, 47, of Northumberland County, was pulled over just after 9:30 p.m. on North River Road in Halifax Township on April 26.

A marijuana odor was coming from her vehicle and she displayed signs of impairment when talking with the Trooper. Eventually, she was told she was being arrested, and she then resisted.

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State Police said they were then able to watch part of the incident on the body cam of the Trooper who pulled Strauser over.

The video showed Strauser slurring her speech and not wearing a seatbelt when the Trooper approached her while she was in her vehicle. As she got out of the vehicle and was questioned, she became noncompliant, State Police said.

She then began to resist the efforts of the Trooper who was trying to get her in handcuffs, and during the struggle, the Troopers body cam was knocked off, but it was still working and picked up audio. The Trooper is heard telling Strauser to stop resisting, and he is also heard telling her she kicked him in the back of the head, the charges filed show.

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Millersburg EMS, who was also dispatched, soon arrived on scene and helped to get her in handcuffs. She was then taken into custody and to Holy Spirit Hospital for a blood draw.

Harrisburg man charged after allegedly strangling woman, stopping her from calling police

It was later found out that she was under the influence of cocaine and had the drug in her possession, State Police said

Strauser was charged with a felony count of assault of a law enforcement officer, and misdemeanor counts of DUI and resisting arrest. She was also charged with multiple summary counts of traffic violations.

Online court records show she waived her charges for court, and she is in Dauphin County Prison with bail set at $50,000 by Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Jo Margerum.

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Her formal arraignment is scheduled for July 11.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The recent ICE operations across Nashville have left an impact on local businesses.

Business owners are sharing that staff are not showing up for their shifts, and there were rumors of operations happening this past weekend along Broadway. Those reports have not been verified, but the concerns among the local Hispanic community are very real.

The whole conversation out there was its Hispanics who are undocumented. So it is uncomfortable to even go to a grocery store, and people kind of look at you, said Yuri Cunza, President of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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We are powerless: Nashville officials respond to recent ICE activity

In just over a week, more than 500 traffic stops were conducted in Nashville alone, resulting in over 100 immigrant-related arrests.

One of the arrestees was wanted for a killing in El Salvador, according to the THP, but News 2 has not been able to confirm that because ICE has not identified the people they took.

Theres no rhyme or reason to it, its just grabbing people to get rid of them, said Gina, an ER nurse whose husband is a Mexican immigrant. Nobody wants to leave home, nobody can work. Our income got cut in half. Its scary, its wrong, its a purge.

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Nashville city officials have expressed surprise with last weeks ICE operations. Its no different for Nashvilles Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

At this point, any small business is concerned, said Cunza. Hispanics are being chased around town, captured like they are being hunted down. And they are being labeled as people that you dont want in the community. But many are part of the workforce.

Supporter group cancels Nashville SC game events in response to immigration arrests in TN

Cunza said there are over 2,000 Hispanic-owned businesses within Nashville. His advice to them, and the 400-plus who are chamber members: always have identification, follow the laws, and be prepared for anything.

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The plans and programs announced by the White House will take place regardless of what we do. But, at least with the least amount of casualties, Cunza expressed. Be informed. Make sure you know an attorney that deals with immigration.

Meanwhile, Gina, who preferred not to use her last name, said her husband is in the process of getting his citizenship, adding he has been avoiding his job as a construction worker.

Like the chamber, Gina is greatly concerned for local businesses, specifically those along Nolensville Pike, where a vast immigrant population resides.

I think the immigrant community revitalized this neighborhood and its continuing to grow, and this could be a setback. And that affects all of Nashville. It will have a trickle-down effect, Gina told News 2 on Monday.

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Nashville releases timeline of ICE activity across city

After what she called a hard week, Gina is now working to help the businesses along Nolensville Pike, including collecting donations and food for affected families.

Keep your eyes out, try to help your neighbor, said Gina.

As for Cunza, he said hes had communication with the Metro government and other local chambers of commerce.

He hopes the federal government can work towards positive solutions or compromise with these mass deportations, such as work visas for illegal immigrants in crucial sectors of the workforce (i.e. agriculture).

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What is the next step? I could not say to people dont worry because it is something that will continue and will be happening throughout the year and beyond. I wish I could say differently but I cant, Cunza said.

Cunza believes comprehensive immigration reform is needed to rectify the issues that, he said, have mounted across several administrations.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  San Diego residents are pressing for the redesign of an intersection connecting three major arteries in uptown that has long confused motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians because of its layout and track record of traffic collisions.

In 2023, beloved neighborhood bartender Joshua Gilliland was walking to work when he was hit and killed by a driver under the influence at the intersection of Park Boulevard, El Cajon Boulevard and Normal Street.

I would love for Josh to be here and for him to see all the progress that has been made, said Scott Moore, Joshs best friend. Its been a problem for years, and had things been different, my best friend might still be here. Its a hard pill to swallow that nothing was done for so long.

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The confusion of the intersection is capturing the attention of local lawmakers after more than 1,200 residents signed a petition for change.

Driver found guilty of murder in hit-and-run death of beloved Cheers bartender

It is confusing for drivers, it is dangerous for bicyclists and it has proven deadly for pedestrians, San Diego City Council Member Stephen Whitburn, who represents this area, said.

The intersection has seen more than a dozen crashes. The dog park which sits at the T of El Cajon and Park boulevards, still has caution tape up and cones, a reminder of one of the latest cars that drove through the dog park, damaging two of the fences.

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Every week, new shards of glass and broken taillights appear. You dont have to stand here long to see the dangers, said Anar Salayev, executive director of BikeSD & Board Member on the Uptown Community Planning Group.

Residents have been pushing for change, and recently more than 1,200 residents signed a petition, which is getting the attention from local lawmakers.

How DUI-related deadly crashes compare from 2023 to 2024 in SD County

Our friends at the City Transportation Department are taking notice. The department tells us that if the funding is available to do it, they are prepared to begin a comprehensive traffic safety study of this intersection, Whitburn added.

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The city is facing a $258 million budget deficit, but Whitburn is suggesting using the increased revenue from parking meters to fund the project, and mentioned that a roundabout could be one of the options. Roundabouts have been recently added nearby on El Cajon Boulevard.

Were calling on the city to conduct a formal traffic study and redesign this intersection to prioritize clarity, safety and accessibility. We cant afford to wait for another tragedy, Salayev said.

As Moore remembers his best friend, Josh, he hopes speaking out on these issues would make him proud.

Something about Josh is he was a proud pedestrian, he didnt renew his drivers license once he moved to California and he would walk all around Hillcrest and University Heights, Moore said. Someone whos so cognizant of the rules, and for this to happen, its such a tragedy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is backing bipartisan legislation aimed at helping workers as young as 18  particularly those who enter the workforce straight out of high school  gain access to employer-sponsored retirement plans, a benefit many currently dont receive until age 21.

On Monday, Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, teamed up with HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., to reintroduce the Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act. The bill seeks to eliminate regulatory and financial barriers that discourage employers from offering retirement benefits to younger employees, a gap that disproportionately affects low-income and non-college-bound workers.

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Contributing to a retirement plan early on sets people up for financial security in the future, Kaine said. Im proud to introduce this bipartisan bill that would ensure younger workers have access to their employer-sponsored retirement benefits when they are starting out in their careers.

Under existing federal law, employers who offer 401(k) or other defined contribution plans are only required to make them available to workers 21 and older. While companies can voluntarily lower the participation age, many dont, citing the cost and complexity of compliance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

A 2021 report by the Plan Sponsor Council of America found that 40% of employers restrict retirement access to workers under 21, leaving many younger employees without the chance to begin building savings during their first years in the workforce.

Americans who dont attend college and immediately enter the workforce should be given every chance to save for retirement, Cassidy said in a statement. This legislation empowers American workers, giving them more opportunities to plan for a secure retirement.

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The proposed legislation would require employers to open their retirement plans to eligible employees beginning at age 18. It would also delay ERISA audit requirements that are triggered when younger workers are added and exempt those employees from certain retirement fund testing mandates that increase administrative costs for employers.

Advocates for the legislation argue that starting retirement contributions even a few years earlier can significantly improve long-term outcomes, thanks to the power of compound interest. The proposal has drawn endorsements from a wide range of organizations, including the Insured Retirement Institute, Edward Jones, TIAA, LPL, the American Benefits Council and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act will expand the opportunity for more younger workers to start saving earlier for retirement by allowing them to participate in their employer-sponsored workplace plans, said Paul Richman, chief government and political affairs officer at the Insured Retirement Institute.

This measure will not only help younger workers get into the habit of contributing to their retirement savings, but it will also provide additional years for their savings to grow to ensure a more secure financial future.

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The bill builds on a similar measure introduced in 2023 and reflects broader Democratic efforts to expand access to financial tools for working-class Americans. It also aligns with Kaines long-standing emphasis on workforce development and economic opportunity  particularly for those who do not follow a traditional college path.

The proposal now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

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Jimmie Nelms (Courtesy: Kansas Department of Corrections)

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The National Fraternal Order of Police is asking the Kansas Department of Corrections to overturn parole for the man who ambushed and executed a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.

The national president says they support Gov. Laura Kellys request to review and reverse the decision, saying that the release of Jimmie Nelms would be a travesty to justice and would dishonor Trooper OBriens sacrifice

Nelms and Walter Myrick killed KHP Trooper Conroy OBrien in 1978 after a traffic stop. Myrick died in prison in 2009.

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KHP leadership condemns release of troopers killer

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Cote dIvoires opposition figurehead, Tidjane Thiam, has stepped down as president of the Democratic Party of Cote dIvoire (PDCI) amid mounting legal and political challenges, but insists he will not abandon the quest to reclaim the presidency.

Addressing party supporters via social media on May 12, the former banker reaffirmed his commitment to the October 2025 elections, despite a controversial court ruling that disqualified his candidacy over dual citizenship issues. Thiam, who renounced his French nationality in March to comply with electoral requirements, lamented the decision as a deliberate strategy to weaken the opposition.

Thiams departure from the partys top post follows weeks of turbulence, including a court challenge to his Ivorian citizenship at the time of his PDCI election. His removal from the electoral roll has ignited concerns of an uneven playing field, as three other opposition figuresmost notably former President Laurent Gbagbohave also been excluded.

In his speech, Thiam alleged that these developments reflect a broader pattern of politically motivated exclusions aimed at securing tailor-made elections and a certain victory for the ruling establishment.

In the wake of Thiams resignation, PDCI deputy president Ernest NKoumo Mobio has assumed interim leadership, calling for party unity in a moment of deep political urgency. The party is planning to hold its Congress on May 14th.

President Alassane Ouattara, now 83, has yet to confirm whether he will seek re-election. The government maintains that the judiciary operates independently, rejecting accusations of interference. Still, Thiams ousting has cast a long shadow over the credibility of the electoral process, raising questions about the future of pluralism and democratic transition in one of West Africas most influential nations.
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has harshly criticised countries imposing sanctions on Russia.

Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet

Details: Putin argued that these sanctions harm not only Russia but also the countries imposing them, calling their leaders "idiots" for acting against their own interests, before quickly apologising for his language.

He added that fear of sanctions should be avoided, as it leads to immediate failure.

Background:

Brussels is preparing to impose currency controls and trade duties on Russia if Hungary blocks the extension of EU economic sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to its war against Ukraine.

After consultations between US and European officials, the US supported potential talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, before announcing new sanctions against Moscow.

In a nighttime statement on 11 May, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not mention a 30-day ceasefire but said he was ready for "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday 15 May.

On the same day, US President Donald Trump publicly called on Ukraine to accept Russia's proposal for direct negotiations in Istanbul on 15 May, despite the Kremlin's refusal to agree to the 30-day ceasefire demanded by Kyiv and its Western allies.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine expects a full and lasting ceasefire from Russia starting on 12 May and declared that he will personally be waiting for Putin in Turkiye on 15 May for potential peace talks.

On Monday, Trump suggested that future talks between Russia and Ukraine could be productive and offered to attend if it would be useful.

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The Kremlin intends to set high barriers for the potential return of foreign investors who fled Russia at the start of the war against Ukraine.

It is important to consider how these companies behaved after their departure, and whether they, for instance, helped Ukraine, Putin said during a meeting with the association Business Russia.

The Russian leader dismissed the suggestion that returnees should apologize as insufficient. "Oh no. That is by no means enough," said Putin.

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Western company executives should immediately apologize if they expected advantages in Russia from doing so, he said. Russian corporations need to be protected from strong competition. Therefore, a pragmatic assessment of benefits is necessary, he added.

If it is advantageous for Russia for a particular company to come, then Moscow must let them in; otherwise, any pretext is valid to deny them entry, Putin said.

In most cases, this can be reconciled with WTO rules - and otherwise, Russia "will argue in court for at least 15 years," said the 72-year-old president.

After the war against Ukraine ordered by Putin, many Western companies left Russia due to sanctions imposed by Europe and the United States.

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Despite the mass exodus, the Russian economy has continued to grow by pivoting toward war production.

Officially, Russian authorities remain confident that many foreign investors will eventually return once the conflict is resolved, although no companies have publicly announced concrete plans to do so.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's potential refusal to attend peace talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul would be the "last signal" that Russia is not willing to end the war in Ukraine, Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak said on May 13.

Zelensky invited Putin to meet in Turkey on May 15 to launch the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022, though the Kremlin has not revealed whether the Russian leader would attend.

"Up until now, we have not received an answer or confirmation that President Putin will be in Turkey. But President Zelensky of Ukraine is ready and will go," Yermak said in a keynote discussion at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, in comments reported by Politico.

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Yermak said Ukraine is "ready to discuss anything," but "only if a ceasefire is achieved."

"We're ready to discuss any options that are on the table. There are many interesting and very strong options. The strongest guarantee is Ukraine's prepared and trained military force, and our partners exactly understand what we need to prevent such a terrible war from happening again," he said.

Yermak added that if Putin does not come to Turkey, it will be "the last signal" that Russia "does not want to end the war and is not ready for any negotiations."

Ukraine and its European allies have urged an unconditional ceasefire starting on May 12 as the first step toward peace. Russia has ignored this proposal, continuing its attacks on Ukraine.

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Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether Zelensky plans to make the trip even if Russia does not support the truce or if Putin declines to attend, a source close to the president said, "We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire."

The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky took place in 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Since then, there have been no direct in-person meetings between the two leaders.

Ukraine and Russia have not held direct peace talks since the unsuccessful negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

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Former White House aide and current political pundit Alyssa Farah Griffin knocked President Trump over his reported acceptance of a jet from Qatar to use for his official travel, saying the move scares her.

I dont know why he needs a brand new luxury plane right now, Farah Griffin said Monday on ABCs The View. Its clearly a violation of ethics rules  its also a huge national security risk.

Farah Griffin said Trump accepting the jet signifies the U.S. getting in bed with Qatar, adding it scares me in so many ways.

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Farah Griffin isnt the only one made nervous by Trumps decision. Several GOP senators on Monday told The Hill they had concerns about the purchase.

Im not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas, said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), an ardent Trump supporter. I dont know how you make it safe.

Gosh, let me give you a plane. I mean, that seems pretty nice, but they support Hamas, so I dont know. I dont know how you make it safe, Scott continued, declining to say what Trump should do as the decision is up to him. I dont want the president of the United States flying on an unsafe plane.

Trump on Monday defended his decision, saying a new plane was necessary and he would have been stupid not to accept the gift from Qatar.

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They said, We would like to do something, and if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use during a couple of years while theyre building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture, Trump told reporters.

Some Democrats have suggested the president needs to get approval from Congress to accept the luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from the Qatari government.

Farah Griffin, a CNN contributor and co-host of The View, was a former top press aide to the president during his first term and has since emerged as one of his sharpest critics in the media.

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The Quad City Symphony Orchestra Association (QCSO) has announced the appointment of Zack Morton as concert orchestra conductor with the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles.

Zack Morton (Quad City Symphony Orchestra)

We are thrilled to welcome Zack Morton to the QCSYE artistic team, says Hisham Bravo Groover, QCSO assistant conductor and youth ensembles music director. His love of music and music education poured from him from the moment he walked into rehearsal. Zack is a deeply knowledgeable and experienced musician, and his expertise is matched by his passion and the inspiring way he connects with young musicians. We feel incredibly fortunate to have him on the team and look forward to working alongside him to continue strengthening our music education programs.

Morton is director of instrumental music at Moline High School and has held the position since 2013. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Morton has an undergraduate degree in trombone performance and music education. From 2006-2007, he accepted a position abroad as bass trombonist with the Hofer Symphoniker in Hof, Germany.

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After performing for a year in Hof, and two months touring with the Berlin-based Philharmonie Der Nationen, he returned to the University of Iowa to finish his degree in music education. While in Iowa City, Morton was assistant conductor of the New Horizons Senior Band and brass choir for two years. After returning to the Quad Cities, he became active as a bass trombone performer, performing with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, the South-East Iowa Symphony Orchestra, and the Quad City Brass Quintet. His tenure at Moline High School includes expanding the musical offerings of the instrumental program, including adding a third concert band, a second orchestra, and a chamber orchestra.



Im so excited to be joining the QCSYE team as the Concert Orchestra conductor, he said. My own experiences in the Youth Symphony in high school helped me decide I wanted to become a music educator, and the QCSO has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a teacher, I have seen firsthand the amazing opportunities area students have through these ensembles, and Im honored to become the next conductor of the concert orchestra.

Morton will begin his role as concert orchestra conductor in May 2025.

About the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles

The Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles (QCSYE) program consists of four youth orchestras for students in grades two through 12. Under the direction of the outstanding QCSYE conducting staff, members have the opportunity to perform great orchestral repertoire with the most talented young musicians in the area and learn from the mentorship of professional musicians from throughout the region. Ensemble members come from the greater Quad Cities, as well as other communities in southeast Iowa and northwest Illinois.

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Has the Trump administration requested the return of anyone illegally deported to El Salvador? What documents are there regarding arrangements between that country and the U.S. concerning the detention of alleged Venezuelan gang members in a notorious prison there? What steps has the U.S. taken to pursue the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, specifically?

Those are just some of the questions that lawyers for the migrants being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison want official answers to.

Their request arose in the ongoing litigation over the Alien Enemies Act. President Donald Trumps invocation of that wartime law has been deemed unlawful by several judges, who point out that we arent at war or in any similar situation that would make the 1798 act relevant. Yet, these important rulings from judges around the country are only stopping further deportations under the act. Theres still the open question of whether lawyers for the people already sent to El Salvador can secure their return to the U.S.

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That litigation is playing out in Washington, D.C., before that districts chief federal trial judge, James Boasberg. After holding a hearing last week, he determined that he needs to figure out whether the scores of people held in that Salvadoran prison are technically in U.S. custody, such that they can get relief in U.S. courts. Obviously, they arent being held in the U.S., but a broader legal concept called constructive custody is at play.

Boasberg said that discovery could help him answer that thorny custody question (discovery being the information-gathering process for litigation). Thats the context in which the questions from lawyers for the Salvadoran detainees arise. They told Boasberg in a court filing Monday that they think the record is already clear enough to establish his jurisdiction to provide them relief. But they filed a list of proposed questions for the so-called jurisdictional discovery inquiry.

Specifically, they proposed the following requests to the government, including ones touching on the Abrego Garcia case thats the subject of separate litigation in Maryland:

1. Admit that the United States requested of El Salvador that CECOT Class Petitioners (hereinafter Petitioners) be detained in El Salvador. 2. Admit that the United States has committed to provide El Salvador with funds that it has not yet provided in recognition of El Salvadors cooperation in detaining alleged members of Tren de Aragua. 3. Admit that, prior to Petitioners removal, the United States was aware that Petitioners would be detained at CECOT once removed to El Salvador. 4. Admit that the United States, acting pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act, decided that each of the Petitioners should be removed to El Salvador. 5. Admit that El Salvador did not request that any particular Petitioner be sent to El Salvador. 6. Admit that prior to Petitioners arrival in El Salvador on March 15-16, 2025, El Salvador had not charged any of the Petitioners with a crime. 7. Admit that prior to Petitioners arrival in El Salvador on March 15-16, 2025, El Salvador had not convicted any of the Petitioners of a crime. 8. Admit that President Trump stated to ABC News on April 29, 2025, that he could secure the return of Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States from El Salvador. 9. Admit that the United States has not requested the return of any Petitioner from El Salvador to the United States. 10. Admit that the United States has taken no actions to obtain the return of any Petitioner from El Salvador to the United States. 11. Admit that the Vice President of El Salvador said in an interview that El Salvador is providing a service to the United States by detaining Petitioners at CECOT. 12. Admit that the Vice President of El Salvador said in an interview that the status of the detainees sent to El Salvador is assessed by the country sending the detainees.

They further proposed asking the government to:

1. List all efforts by the United States to request or secure the return of Petitioners to the United States. 2. Identify the date and time that the United States informed El Salvador of the specific identities of the individuals that the United States removed to El Salvador on March 15- 16, 2025, pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act. 3. List the measures taken by the United States to pursue the return of Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador to the United States. 4. Identify all individuals that the United States removed to El Salvador solely pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act. 5. Describe the process followed by the United States to identify the individuals to be removed to El Salvador pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act. 6. Identify all individuals that the United States removed to El Salvador whom the United States has designated as members of Tren de Aragua.

Their request also includes all documents memorializing, documenting, or describing the arrangements between the United States and El Salvador concerning the detention of alleged Tren de Aragua members in El Salvador.

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Per Boasbergs post-hearing order, the government can respond by Wednesday to the discovery proposal and then the judge can weigh in. Given the governments stance in this litigation and elsewhere in Trumps second term, it wont be surprising if it resists answering such questions, at least in any depth.

That could be why lawyers for the Salvadoran detainees told Boasberg that they think theres already enough proof he has jurisdiction to provide relief, because given the governments potential further resistance or delay, this exercise could drag the matter out further without providing useful information, all while their clients sit in that foreign prison, having been sent there under a legal authority that judges have subsequently deemed inapplicable. Nonetheless, this discovery inquiry is a potential step toward facilitating their return.

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This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Dr. Rachel Levine made history in 2021 as the highest-ranking out transgender federal official ever confirmed by the U.S. Senate. But her legacy goes far beyond that milestone.

A pediatrician by training, Levine had already built a reputation for science-based public service as Pennsylvanias physician general and later as the states secretary of health under Gov. Tom Wolf. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became a steady, fact-driven voice amid political chaos. But her four-year tenure as assistant secretary for health under President Joe Biden was defined not just by her visibility  but by her mission to advance health equity for the most marginalized.

Theres no shortage of news, Levine told The Advocate in an interview shortly after the hundredth day of President Donald Trumps second term. And no shortage of work to be done.

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That work is being dismantled with alarming speed. Since returning to power, the Trump administration has rolled back many of the inclusive, data-driven policies Levine championed, replacing them with erasure, distortion, and overt discrimination.

That agenda includes the nomination of Brian Christine to replace Levine as assistant secretary for health. A urologist from Alabama with a record of anti-transgender statements, Christine has publicly denounced gender-affirming care for transgender youth as damaging and part of a so-called leftist assault on traditional values.

From equity to erasure

Levine described her work at the Department of Health and Human Services, now helmed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic who once suggested poppers caused AIDS, as operating across three lanes: overseeing 10 core offices, leading the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and coordinating efforts across siloed agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. Her team called it the connective tissue of the department. Personally, I was hoping for the beating heart of the department, but we got connective tissue, she said.

Her offices tackled urgent national health crises: syphilis, HIV, blood safety, nutrition, environmental justice, and long COVID. Under her leadership, the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV Policy became a cornerstone of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, which was started under the first Trump administration and significantly expanded under Biden. When I graduated from medical school in 1983, I never imagined Id become the syphilis czar, she said. Or czarina, if I may say.

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During her tenure, Levine often spoke of the importance of screening for syphilis as part of routine sexual health. Last year, she attended a screening clinic in downtown Washington, D.C., that drew many people who signed up for testing.

But many of the staff who built that infrastructure are now gone. Theyve been criticized, castigated, and DOGE'd, Levine said, referring to the wave of forced departures under Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. On April 1, HHS announced 10,000 layoffs, with another 10,000 workers already forced out via early retirement. The FDAs drug safety division lost more than 800 staffers. Many were locked out of their offices without warning.

Admiral Rachel Levine visit to Watkins School during National Nutrition Month March 2023

HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Rachel Levine's visit to Watkins School, speaking with fifth-grade students during National Nutrition Month in March 2023. HUM Images/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Levine also served as the nations blood safety officer, steered national policy on smoking cessation, and built new offices focused on climate and health. She emphasized that health equity wasnt an afterthought  it was the foundation. It wasnt something we worked on only on Friday afternoons, she said. It was baked into everything we did.

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That included expanding SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) data collection, substantiating gender-affirming care, and elevating LGBTQ + health at a federal level. One of the aspects of health equity, which I leaned into, was LGBTQIA+ health equity, Levine said.

That entire framework is now under attack.Under RFK Jr., the administration has dismissed non-partisan presidential advisors on HIV, defunded health equity programs and opposed care for transgender people.

Scout, executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network, called the rollback catastrophic.

A generations worth of LGBTQI+ health research has been canceled, they told The Advocate. Federal websites have been scrubbed. The data is disappearing.

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Scout credited Levine with fostering policy changes that never would have been possible under the current administration  from cancer screening guidelines tailored for LGBTQ+ populations to the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity on communicable disease forms. She created the environment where we could fix things  and she acted on it, he said.

Now, Scout warned, the gains are vanishing. Were rapidly moving back to the 1960s, when the tobacco industry was effectively setting public health policy. The projects are gone. The researchers are gone. Even the transgenic mice study that couldve told us how hormones interact with cancer was mocked. During this years address to a joint session of Congress, Trump claimed that the NIH was spending money studying transgender mice. Those do not exist. Transgenic mice are genetically modified to mimic human hormones.

When politics replace science

The Trump administrations first executive order declared that the federal government would no longer recognize transgender people. Sex would be defined as binary and immutable. HHS websites were rewritten accordingly. Many now open with disclaimers denouncing gender ideology.

When a trans person sees that, the amount of damage it causes is immeasurably high, said Dr. Carlton Thomas, a gastroenterologist and popular health influencer on social media known for his content on sexual health, particularly for men who have sex with men and LGBTQ+ issues. Thomas worked closely with Levine on sexual health initiatives. Levine started critical progress in queer health equity, including national guidelines on DoxyPEP and anal cancer screening protocols, he said. She was incredibly powerful for our community, Thomas added. I dont think many people know what she did for us behind the scenes to correct those disparities. And now its all being taken away.

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Thomas said Levine brought a level of competence and compassion rarely seen at the highest levels of government. This is a Harvard-educated woman who is incredibly brilliant and the kind of person you want in this role, he said. She understood what our community needed and set everything in motion. And now, with everything being rolled back, its really frustrating.

He described the current administrations changes to HHS websites as dangerous and disheartening. You cant rely on them anymore for accurate information, he said. Now I direct people to archived versions of CDC recommendations so that they can get science instead of ideology.

Thomas said much of his work today involves correcting misinformation on social media  addressing issues like site-specific sexually transmitted infection screening and the erasure of queer health needs in national data. Simple but critical things are being lost, he said. And when a trans person goes to a website now and sees a disclaimer that says their identity is not real, it does emotional damage.

The backlash, he added, is also profoundly personal. I saw firsthand the hate she receives just for existing, Thomas said. She put herself out there in a way most of us couldnt. And now we owe it to her  and each other  to show up for every part of our community because they come for trans people first. Who will be there for us if were not there for them?

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Levine said the disclaimers send a chilling message. Basically, theyre saying that we dont exist, she said. And it does challenge the scientific veracity of information coming out of HHS.

She blasted a recently released 400-page report from HHS that discredited gender-affirming care and promoted exploratory therapy. It was politically and ideologically motivated, she said. And it was not a well-written or good report.

HIV prevention in jeopardy

One of the most concerning rollbacks of the Trump administration is efforts at HIV prevention. Levines understanding of HIV isnt academic  its personal. She started her pediatric residency in 1983 in New York City , witnessing the devastation of AIDS firsthand. We saw babies, children, teens, and their parents all dying, she recalled.

She called medications for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, the understanding that U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable), and antiretroviral treatments medical miracles, but warned they remain out of reach for too many. We have to get those medical miracles to the people who need them most, she said.

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Despite a 10-fold increase in PrEP use between 2012 and 2021, a study published in Lancet Regional Health  Americas found stark inequities in access. In 2021, the PrEP-to-need ratio was lowest for Black people, despite their higher HIV risk. White residents in the South had higher access to PrEP than Black residents in the Northeast. Female uptake lagged far behind male uptake nationwide. And while overall numbers improved, the U.S. South still had the lowest rates of equitable PrEP use.

All of those prevention effortsand the research for a vaccine and a cureare now at risk, Levine said.

She said the current wave of anti-trans policy is no accident. This is a result of a specific strategy by conservative think tanks in Washington that started in 2021 to impact our community, she explained. They pivoted from marriage equality to attacking trans athletes, then trans and nonbinary youth, and now all trans and nonbinary people.

She added, If they have the opportunity to go for the rest of the Rainbow family, theyll do it.

Rachel Levine former Assistant Secretary Department of Health and Human Services on a PFLAG Panel October 2023

Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, president of the American Medical Association; Admiral Rachel L. Levine, the 17th assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Charlotte Clymer, writer, transgender activist, and military veteran, speak onstage during Learning With Love: The 2023 PFLAG National Convention. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for PFLAG National

Pediatric leaders praise Levine

Dr. Susan J. Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said Levine brought deep expertise and moral clarity to her role.

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The AAP greatly appreciates Dr. Rachel Levines dedication to children and adolescents, Kressly said in a statement to The Advocate. As the assistant secretary for health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Biden administration, she has driven key initiatives to improve the health and well-being of young people. Under her leadership, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health advanced the needs of adolescents, including working to protect their access to reproductive health care, and to ensure gender diverse and transgender youth could access evidence-based health care,.

"Dr. Levine has been a long-standing champion for comprehensive, evidence-based health care for all children, adolescents, and young adults. Having a pediatrician in this role was especially meaningful. Dr. Levines expertise helped shape policies to advance child and adolescent health, whether by promoting teen mental health and social media use, elevating public health expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic, or her achievements throughout her impressive career in academic medicine. She is a shining example of what it means to be a pediatrician advocate for EVERY child. We are grateful for her dedicated public service and are fortunate to have her as a long-standing member of AAP.

Where hope persists

Despite the backlash, Levine isnt retreating  shes recharging. Shes writing a memoir, giving public talks, and urging people not to succumb to despair.

I am a positive and optimistic person because I choose to be, she said. That fuels my work  and it fuels everyones work. She said public support has kept her grounded. People thank me for my service. They share their fears. And I try to meet them with hope.

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Levine has a clear message to those feeling overwhelmed: We are stronger together. Our LGBTQIA+ community is stronger together  and that includes our allies. They are trying to pit us against each other. We cannot let that happen.

And shes confident the backlash wont last forever. The wheel will turn. I dont know when, but it will. Justice will win out. But we have to work for it.
BERLIN (Reuters) -Police arrested four members of a radical group seeking to replace the modern German state, the interior minister and prosecutors said on Tuesday, in the latest operation against a far-right movement flagged as a potential threat to democracy.

The raids against the Koenigreich Deutschland, or 'Kingdom of Germany', came after the interior ministry banned the group, which prosecutors said had established shadow institutions for a new state in line with a far-right ideology known as the 'Reichsbuerger' movement.

One of the four people arrested was the 'Kingdom's' self-declared sovereign, the prosecutors said.

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Germany's domestic intelligence service put the broader Reichsbuerger movement under observation in 2016 after one of its members shot dead a policeman during a raid at his home.

Scrutiny of the movement, which covers a number of conspiratorial theories questioning the legitimacy of the modern German state, intensified in December 2022 when authorities thwarted advanced plans for an armed coup.

Its adherents believe that German democracy is an illegitimate facade and that they are citizens of a monarchy which, they maintain, endured after Germany's defeat in World War One, despite its formal abolition.

The aim of the decade-old 'Kingdom of Germany' faction, which says it has about 6,000 supporters, is to secede from Germany and establish a counter-state with its own police force and jurisdiction, said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.

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"We are not talking about a group of harmless nostalgics but about criminal structures and a criminal network," Dobrindt told reporters, adding their criminal economic network was long a focus for German authorities. No weapons were seized, he said.

Police acted on four arrest warrants for suspects identified as Mathias B., Peter F., Benjamin M. and Martin S., omitting their surnames in line with German privacy laws.

Prosecutors said the four men were suspected ringleaders of the group that had set up "pseudo-state-like structures and institutions", including a bank and insurance system, an authority printing "fictional documents" and its own currency.

Peter F. was the group's "supreme sovereign", with oversight and decision-making powers over the group's key areas, prosecutors said.

(Additional reporting by Madeline Chambers, Writing by Friederike Heine and Rachel More; Editing by Andrew Heavens, William Maclean)
The volatile goldfields of southern Mali have once again been thrust into chaos following a brazen double assault by an unidentified armed group in the Narena Commune (south Mali).

Early Monday, May 12, assailants torched heavy mining machinery, abducted two Chinese nationals, and claimed the lives of three minersone Malian and two Ghanaiansat an artisanal site.

Though no faction has claimed responsibility, the attack bears the grim imprint of JNIM, the al-Qaida-affiliated militants whose presence in the region has grown bolder amid Malis deteriorating security landscape.

This fresh surge of violence underscores the perilous nexus between Malis gold economy and extremist financing. With gold accounting for over 80% of the nations exports and more than two million citizens relying on the sector, artisanal mines have become both lifelines and targets. These informal operations, often under-regulated and cash-based, are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by armed groups who siphon off profits to fund insurgencies. The attack is not merely a tragedyit is a signal of how the countrys mineral wealth is becoming a war chest for destabilization.

Since the 2020 military coup, Malis rulers have struggled to fulfil their pledge of restoring order. By severing historic defense ties with Western allies and aligning with Russia, the regime hoped to chart a new course. Yet, attacks have intensified, political freedoms have been curtailed, and the silence of democratic institutions grows deafening. As Malis rulers entrench themselves, the specter of violence stretches deeper into the nations economic arteriesleaving miners, civilians, and the promise of prosperity increasingly at the mercy of the gun.
MOUNT HOPE, WV (WVNS)  A Raleigh County man was sentenced for a federal drug crime that involved methamphetamine.

According to a press release, on Friday, May 9, 2025, 28-year-old Devin I. Cresce, of Beckley, was sentenced to seven years and eleven months in prison, followed by four years of parole, for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.

Former corrections officer sentenced for involvement in the death of an inmate at Southern Regional Jail

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The press release stated that according to statements made in court, about 53 grams of methamphetamine was sold for $500 around July 13, 2023 by Cresce to a confidential informant while in a car at the Crossroads Mall in Mount Hope. Cresce revealed his involvement in the sale, and that he sold controlled substances at other times to the same confidential informant while at his house that included:

July 18, 2023: Around 80 grams of methamphetamine for $750

July 28, 2023: About 24 grams of fentanyl for $1,800

August 8, 2023: Approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine for $750

According to the United States Department of Justices press release, members of law enforcement carried out a search warrant at Cresces house on August 10, 2023, where they seized around 94.5 grams of fentanyl and 63 grams of methamphetamine. Cresce revealed that he planned for the controlled substances to be distributed throughout southern West Virginia.

Missing Greenbrier County mans death ruled homicide

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The press release stated that Cresces criminal history includes previous convictions for being a felon in possession of a gun, embezzlement, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and fraudulent schemes.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the Central West Virginia Task Force for their work on the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A man from Raleigh County was sentenced for a role in a drug trafficking organization.

According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, 31-year-old Deonatre Capri Dowell, of Beckley, was sentenced on Monday, May 12, 2025 to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Woman arrested for burglary and attempted murder in Mercer County

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The press release stated that Dowell acknowledged his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine base, also called crack, in Beckley and other parts of southern West Virginia.

According to statements made in court, Dowell received an ounce of fentanyl at his house in the Beckley area of Raleigh County from a co-conspirator on May 25, 2024, and that Dowell admitted to arranging the sale.

In addition, the United States Department of Justices press release stated that Dowell revealed that he received additional fentanyl from his supplier on consignment in May 2024, and that after he distributed it he paid the supplier back with the money he received.

According to the press release, around 535 grams of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, and two guns were seized after a search warrant was carried out by members of law enforcement on May 30, 2024. Dowell revealed that the controlled substances were in his possession and that he planned to distribute them.

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Two people arrested in Raleigh County for multiple charges

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their work on the investigation.

Members of the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office, Beckley Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police make up the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Most people would never think of asking someone in a wheelchair to get up and run.

But thats what advocates for people with invisible disabilities say we all essentially do  even if unknowingly  when we ask some people with autism, for example, to have socially-appropriate interactions at moments when theyre under a lot of stress.

I will probably will be scared, said Eric Carpenter-Grantham, 20, who lives in Montgomery County, Maryland. Because if they flash the lights on me, I dont like flashing lights on. So the sensory of it  people with autism and disabilities have sensory issues, so they do not like to be touched. And they probably would think Im crazy. They would probably think Im high.

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What Carpenter-Grantham is, in fact, is a person who describes himself as having high-functioning autism. He is also Black, and his mother, Linda Carpenter-Grantham, remembers talking to him after George Floyds death  in 2020, at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers (who were later convicted, including of second-degree murder in the case of one officer).

Mom told son how to do things  such as putting his hands in the air  to show police hes not a threat, in the event hes ever involved in an encounter.

Eric started to cry and said, Mom, I could do that. But the police would shoot my friends that have autism,' Linda Carpenter-Grantham recalled her son saying. So we started this mission.

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Pennsylvania lawmakers propose changes to unemployment benefits, worker taxes

This mission included meeting with Maryland lawmakers, who took up the cause of legislation to add a voluntary marking on drivers licenses for people who want police officers and others to know they have invisible disabilities, which  in addition to autism  can be things such as hearing loss, dementia or bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. The law passed unanimously and is due to be signed Tuesday by Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D).

But in advance of that, the Carpenter-Granthams were in Harrisburg Monday with Delegate Kym Taylor (D-Prince Georges County), who worked with other lawmakers to pass the bill.

A rendering of what Marylands new hidden disability designation might look like. Eric Carpenter-Grantham favors the butterfly, which he said represents hope, peace, freedom and change, but Marylands Department of Transportation will have the final say. (Courtesy Linda Carpenter-Grantham)

Now were taking it state to state, said Taylor, who worked with other lawmakers  including the leader of Marylands Legislative Black Caucus  to advance the legislation.

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The bill was uncontroversial: Erics ID Law, as its known, passed unanimously. But advocates say people who have invisible disabilities and are also non-white are at particular risk of being misunderstood and harmed by police.

The Carpenter-Granthams and Taylor met Monday with Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia & Delaware counties), who subsequently recognized all three on the House floor once the session re-started.

By Eric Carpenter-Granthams count, Maryland became the 23rd state to allow some kind of voluntary mark on its drivers licenses indicating an invisible disability.

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A portion of the 800 billion euros (approximately $888 billion) for the ReArm Europe program will be used to provide military support to Ukraine, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said in an interview with European Pravda published May 12.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on March 4 presented the ReArm Europe plan, a five-point initiative to strengthen the continent's defense capabilities in the face of escalating Russian aggression and shifting U.S. policy on transatlantic relations.

The plan involves a projected 650 billion euros ($684 billion) in increased defense spending and 150 billion euros ($158 billion) in loans for defense investments.

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Member states can use these funds to provide Ukraine with weapons and invest in the country's defense industry, Kubilius told European Pravda.

"Only member states can take out loans within the 150 billion euros instrument, but they can use these funds for joint procurement with Ukraine, in particular procurement in the Ukrainian defense industry for the needs of the Armed Forces," he said.

National defense funds can also be used to buy weapons for Ukraine, Kubilius said.

"And of those 650 billion that are intended for national defense spending, part can also be spent on weapons for Ukraine," he said. "This will be a decision of the member states."

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Officials have warned that Europe faces critical arms shortages, pointing out that Russia's military expenditures in 2024 surpassed Europe's spending by approximately $5 billion.

At a meeting of European foreign ministers and the EU High Representative in London on May 12, representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom pledged to "play a still greater role in assuring our own security."

"We will use all feasible levers to strengthen our collective defense capability and production and reinforce Europe's technological and industrial base," the ministers wrote in a joint statement. The officials also promised to ramp up military support for Ukraine.

Read also: Didnt Zelensky impose a ban on talks with Putin? Not really

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene woman is outraged after a registered sex offender and career criminal was only charged criminal trespass after invading her home while her children were inside.

Samuel Seballos was arrested following the incident at a home on the 800 block of Kirkwood Drive around 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

A resident in the neighborhood, who only wants to be identified as Elizabeth due to safety concerns, says that her stepson found Seballos inside their home uninvited while her three daughters were sleeping.

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She says her stepson left the door open while he was moving stuff in and out when he noticed someone he thought was his father standing inside.

However, the man didnt answer him, and when he turned on the lights, he saw it wasnt his father but a stranger, later identified as Seballos, who refused to say anything or leave until the stepson got a firearm and chased him outside.

Seballos was then arrested at Cobb Park across the street and booked into the Taylor County Jail for Criminal Trespass and Public Intoxication.

This arrest comes just one week after Seballos was released from the Taylor County Jail for another Criminal Trespassing incident at an Abilene motel, and prior to that, he is accused of trespassing at Abilenes Salvation Army in February.

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Seballos has an extensive criminal history in Taylor County. He has been booked into and released from the Taylor County Jail 15 times since 2002 for the following charges:

Indecency with Child (12/03/2002  12/04/2002)

Theft $1,500<$20K (07/28/2003  07/28/2003)

Disorderly Conduct, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (09/26/2003-09/27/2003)

Indecency with Child [Surety Withdraw], Theft [Surety Withdraw]

Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration (06/11/2009-07/17/2009)

Theft (03/09/2010-03/09/2010)

Drive without Valid Driver License, Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility, Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registry [Surety Withdraw] (05/27/2010-07/12/2010)

Assault Family Violence, Unlawful Restraint, Indecent Exposure (05/04/2016-05/05/2016)

Assault Family Violence [Surety Withdraw], Unlawful Restraint [Surety Withdraw], Indecent Exposure [Surety Withdraw] (09/09/2016-09/20/2016)

Unlawful Restrain [Violation of Probation], Assault Family Violence [Violation of Probation], Indecent Exposure [Violation of Probation], Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Robbery, Forgery (02/10/2017-07/18/2018)

Failure to Register As Sex Offender [2 counts], Retaliation (12/12/2018-08/26/2019)

Criminal Trespass (02/20/2025-03/03/2025)

Criminal Trespass (04/17/2025-05/03/2025)

Public Intoxication (05/07/2025-05/08/2025)

Criminal Trespass, Public Intoxication (05/10/2025)

The Texas Department of Public Safetys Sex Offender Registry shows Seballos was convicted of Indecency with a Child in 2004 for the sexual assault of a 7-year-old victim. He is listed on the registry as transient who was most recently verified to be in Abilene in March.

When asked why Seballos was only charged with Criminal Trespass, the Abilene Police Department said, trespassing is going onto a property and it was posted No Trespassing, or he was told to leave and refused to leave, or hed been previously warned and still went onto the property. Burglary is entering into a place/property and staying there without the consent of the property owner with the intent to commit a felony.

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Hear more about what happened to Elizabeth and her family tonight on BigCountryHomepage.com.

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May 13A man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced to probation after he reportedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old in Dayton.

Christopher Rentas, 44, was sentenced to up to five years of community control sanctions and ordered to register as a Tier III sex offender, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

Tier III sex offenders are required to register their address every day 90 days for the rest of their lives.

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He also must attend the Talbert Halfway House.

In March, Rentas pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

A second sexual battery charge was dismissed as a result of a plea deal.

Dayton police began investigating Rentas after an 18-year-old woman reported she was sexually assaulted, according to the prosecutor's office.

The woman is known to Rentas.

Rentas was previously convicted of attempted rape in 2012, according to the Ohio offender registry.

Staff writer Daniel Susco contributed to this report.






The United States government issued a level 2 advisory for those traveling to the United Kingdom over possible terrorism. Keep reading to learn how to protect yourself.







U.S. travelers going abroad might be surprised by what they see on the Department of States travel advisory for the United Kingdom.

The popular destination is designated as Level 2, which means travelers should exercise increased caution. The level was reissued on May 8 after a review.

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The State Departments rankings begin at Level 1, which indicate travelers should exercise normal precautions, and go up to Level 4, which means do not travel.

What do the advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State mean?

Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)

Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)

Level 4 (Do Not Travel)

The reason given for the UK's level 2 classification is the threat of possible terrorism.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom, the advisory states. There is also risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets.

The 2023 Counterterrorism Report spotlighting the UK said there were two terror attacks in the UK, with one in Northern Ireland. On March 28 the Northern Ireland threat levelset separately from England, Scotland, and Waleswas raised from 'substantial' to 'severe,' indicating a terrorist attack was classified as 'highly likely' rather than 'likely,' the report states. However, there were no security-related deaths in Northern Ireland in 2023, the first time for a calendar year since records began in 1969.

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The Level 2 ranking is not new, and does not mean that U.S. travelers should avoid the UK or consider it off-limits. Instead, it just alerts travelers to be more vigilant in public places and more aware in areas frequented by tourists. Travelers to Northern Ireland should also be aware of the specific situation in that part of the UK.

The U.S. travel advisory recommends travelers enroll in STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and prepare a contingency for emergency situations. The UK country information page can sometimes have additional information that travelers should be aware of in the country, including that U.S. citizens now need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to travel.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Several family members of Mexican drug trafficker Joaquin El Chapo Guzman have entered the United States as part of negotiations in a case against one of his sons, Mexicos Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch told the Mexican network Radio Formula on Tuesday.

El Chapos son Ovidio Guzman Lopez is facing drug trafficking charges in the US over his alleged role in the Sinaloa Cartel, which his father co-founded. Ovidio was extradited to the US in September 2023, several months after Mexican authorities arrested him in a large-scale operation that resulted in at least 29 deaths.

Days after his extradition, he pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking charges in a US court. But last week, he reached an agreement to change his plea, according to a court document reviewed by CNN. The document did not specify details of the agreement.

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Its clear that with his family going to the United States, its connected to this negotiation or plea deal opportunity provided by the (US) Department of Justice itself, Garcia Harfuch told Radio Formula.

Several Mexican media outlets reported Tuesday that 17 of Ovidios relatives had crossed the border into the United States. CNN has requested more information from the Mexican Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection, as well as the US Department of Justice.

Garcia Harfuch added that the relatives who left the country were not wanted by Mexican authorities.

Ovidio Guzman Lopez is facing drug trafficking charges in the US over his alleged role in the Sinaloa Cartel. - Mexican Government TV/Handout/Reuters/File

Los Chapitos

Ovidio is one of four sons of El Chapo who have been charged in the US with various crimes over their alleged roles in the Sinaloa Cartel.

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Collectively known as Los Chapitos, the brothers are thought to have been brought into the cartel as teenagers to learn the ins and outs of the organization, according to the think tank InSight Crime. Their roles became more prominent around the mid-2010s, roughly when their father was captured and extradited to the United States.

Another son of El Chapo, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, is also in US custody. He was arrested in July 2024 when he flew into the United States on a private plane from Mexico alongside Ismael El Mayo Zambada, a co-founder of the cartel who the brothers had been at odds with.

Joaquin had allegedly organized his arrest and that of El Mayo by luring him on the flight to examine a piece of land he thought was in Mexico, an official familiar with the operation had told CNN at the time. Instead, the plane landed in El Paso, Texas, where federal agents arrested them.

Mexico Secretary of Security Rosa Icela Rodriguez said in August that Joaquin had reached an agreement with his brother Ovidio so that they would go to the United States to surrender.

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However, an attorney for Ovidio told CNN that Rodriguezs claim was a complete and utter fabrication. An attorney for El Mayo said he neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the US government and described the flight to the US as a violent kidnapping.

Two other sons of El Chapo, Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, are still at large. The US has accused them of leading large-scale drug trafficking operations for the cartel and has issued $10 million bounties for information leading to each of their arrests.

Mexican forces had previously arrested Ovidio in a 2019 operation that ended in failure. Shortly after he was detained in October of that year, the cartel quickly mobilized dozens of gunmen to battle Mexican authorities and try to free him.

Ovidio was eventually released on the orders of then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to stop the violence. He then went into hiding until his second arrest and eventual extradition in 2023.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Karol Suarez contributed to this report.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  Creve Coeur resident Dennis Carrino recalls how his family would wonder what happened to his uncle.

They thought about him all the time, he said.

U.S. Army Cpl., 18-year-old Frederck Carrino, had been considered MIA following a Korean War battle in 1950.

Late last year, the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that Carrinos remains had been accounted for.

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His remains are scheduled to return to St. Louis this week. Shepard Funeral Chapel in St. John is handling the arrangements. Carrino will be buried with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

It means a lot to me and the rest of our family for sure, said Carrino.

His wife, Mary Beth Carrino, said, We were absolutely shocked at how many people were involved, and they do this every day, you know, continue to look for all the lost soldiers.

The Flagmans Mission Continues is an area organization that uses American flags to help pay tribute to service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. The agency is looking for volunteers to help set up flags outside the funeral home prior to Carrinos services and remove them after his funeral.

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Interested volunteers are asked to arrive at 9255 Natural Bridge Rd., St. John, MO 63134 at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, to help put flags in place and to arrive at the same location on Friday, May 16, at 4 p.m. to remove them.

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ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  Rep. Dale Strong stopped in Athens Monday to provide an update on what hes been doing in Washington, D.C.

Strong said he hopes to focus resources at the southern border, saying equipment is needed to keep people safe from fentanyl.

Alabama announces new lock feature for EBT cards

He will also prioritize defense spending. He said he believes North Alabama contractors are ready to support military needs.

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Its cost-effective to do business here, Strong said. I think that growth will continue in our community.

The congressman said, following a visit from FBI Director Kash Patel, some House Republicans are showing support for expanding the number of federal workers and members of the military on Redstone Arsenal.

Hundreds of FBI jobs are on their way to Huntsville, and Strong said bringing Space Command to the Arsenal could create as many as 3,000 jobs directly and indirectly supporting operations.

Theyre going to bring forward the secretary of the Air Force this week or next week, Strong said. That right there also starts the process to bring the US Secretary of the Air Force, which will then bring a recommendation for Space Command.

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Strong received a warm reception from those who attended Mondays program, but several protesters stood outside the ticketed event.

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Not everybody can afford that, especially prices are insane right now, said Melanie Kolowski, a member of the Purple People Resistance of Alabama.

Since March, several Huntsville-based groups have organized a series of protests, asking Strong for a town hall and more transparent communication.

The message is just come talk to the constituency, Kolowski said. Remember, you know, what you were elected to do.

While protesters have said the community is not getting an opportunity to speak with their congressman, Strong said his message is popular.

Im very, very accessible to the people, Strong said. You look at some of those outside, I understand theyre frustrated. Every time theres been any communication, they hate Donald Trump. They hate Elon Musk. Theyre also reeling from theyve lost every seat from the courthouse to the state house to Washington. And so, you know, most of them are trying to get their game together.



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The French Development Agency (AFD) and Moroccos fertilizer giant OCP Group have signed a 350 million financing agreement to support OCPs ambitious green investment program, which aims to decarbonize operations and increase production capacity while prioritizing environmental sustainability.

the deal was signed between the two institutions on May 12, as OCP seeks more funding for its decarbonization plan.

The funding will actually contribute to OCPs broader $13 billion investment program for 2023-2027, which focuses on achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 while expanding fertilizer production. A key goal is supplying all OCP industrial facilities with green energy by 2027, produced through wind, solar, hydroelectric, and cogeneration sources.

The program aims to increase the groups capacity to produce decarbonized fertilizers, notably by integrating green ammonia, to progressively reduce its carbon footprint and achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2040, OCP said in a statement issued Monday.

The funds will be disbursed based on performance indicators related to increasing clean energy and non-conventional water production capacity, developing green hydrogen and ammonia production, and integrating climate and biodiversity factors into OCPs risk management processes.

The initiative also aims to benefit African farmers by providing customized green fertilizers adapted to local crops, climates, and soils to boost agricultural yields across the continent.

The financing agreement was signed during a visit to Morocco by a high-level AFD delegation, led by Director General Remy Rioux. During the visit that also led the delegation to the southern provinces of Laayoune and Dakhla, AFD pledged 150 million for these provinces, aligning with Frances recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  U.S. House Homeland Security chairman Rep. Mark Green (R-Tennessee) is calling on authorities to be more transparent about a 2022 Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) traffic stop of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March.

On May 2, the THP released a redacted video of a traffic stop dated Nov. 30, 2022, involving Abrego Garcia in Cookeville. The 29-year-old was pulled over for speeding in a vehicle with eight passengers and told state troopers theyd been working in Missouri.

Body cam footage released from 2022 THP traffic stop of Maryland man deported to El Salvador

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In the video, THP troopers could be heard discussing among themselves their suspicions of human trafficking since nine people were traveling without luggage.

Hes hauling these people for money, one responding THP trooper said.

Abrego Garcia was not charged with a crime that day. The THP troopers allowed him to drive off with only a warning about an expired drivers license.

According to the Associated Press, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, an attorney for Abrego Garcia, said in a statement that he saw no evidence of a crime in the released footage.

In a letter to THP Col. Matt Perry, Green wrote that the Committee on Homeland Security is concerned that inadequate or ineffective information sharing between federal agents and the THP during the Biden administration may have led to the release of an active gang member and potential human trafficker.

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Trump says he could return Abrego Garcia to US, but wont

Because of that, hes calling on Perry to release the following as soon as possible, but no later than 5 p.m. on May 23:

An unredacted copy of all body camera and dash camera footage of the November 30, 2022 traffic stop of Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia from any employee or contractor of the Tennessee Highway Patrol; Unredacted copies of all notes taken by any employee or contractor of the Tennessee Highway Patrol referring or relating to the November 30, 2022 traffic stop of Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia; Unredacted copies of all reports referring or relating to the November 30, 2022 traffic stop of Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, including but not limited to, computerized dispatch reports, incident reports, or probable cause reports; A document sufficient to list all names of all Federal Bureau of Investigation employees or contractors and Tennessee Highway Patrol employees or contractors engaged in communications on November 30, 2022, to discuss the arrest, detention, or release of Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia; and A document sufficient to show the result of any query conducted by any employee or contractor of the Tennessee Highway Patrol in the National Crime Information Center database, of any person related to the November 20, 2022, traffic stop of Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, from November 30, 2022 to December 1, 2022.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Despite Democrats best efforts to paint Kilmar Abrego Garcia otherwise, we cant ignore reports that he is a transnational gang member, domestic abuser, and likely human smuggler, Green said in a statement to News 2. As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, its my responsibility to shed light on, and ensure the end of, the reckless, open-borders policies of the Biden-Harris administration. We will get to the bottom of why Abrego Garcia was released by the Biden-Harris administration despite the Tennessee Highway Patrols suspicions of human trafficking.

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GILMER, Texas (KETK)  East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran spoke along with Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb in Gilmer on Monday to show their appreciation for law enforcement.

Rep. Nathaniel Moran introduces No Tax on Overtime Act

Morans speech was a part of the East Texans for Liberty political action committees Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner. The free dinner was hosted at the Barbwire HALO Cowboy Church at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

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We need to do more of saying thank you to our law enforcement community day in, day out. It shouldnt just be one week of the year, one day of the year, but we should go out of our way constantly to remind those in the law enforcement community, our first responders, how appreciative we are that they keep our property safe and that they keep us safe, Moran said.

The event was held as a part of National Police Week which President Donald Trump declared as May 11 through May 17 in a proclamation on Monday.

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Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) filed paperwork Monday to run for Iowa governor in 2026, as multiple Republicans continue to weigh the opportunity to replace Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) when her term ends.

The Hills attempts to reach Feenstra and his campaign team were unsuccessful.

Feenstra, who was first elected to the House in 2020, has been openly mulling a gubernatorial bid since Reynolds announced on social media last month that she wont seek a third full term.

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Ill tell you right now, Im focused on fulfilling and making sure that we get Trumps agenda completed, Feenstra told reporters after an April 23 event in Iowa. However, I always want to do whats best for our state, and I will continue to look at all aspects of what that looks like.

Election handicappers at Sabatos Crystal Ball have rated the 2026 race in Iowa likely Republican but noted Republicans are playing defense with no incumbent. A blistering GOP primary battle also could impact the outcome.

Other Republicans who have made steps toward running for governor include former Iowa state Rep. Brad Sherman, who kicked off his campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in February, and Iowa state Sen. Mike Bousselot (R), who launched an exploratory committee last month.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and state House Speaker Pat Grassley, the grandson of longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), also are among Republicans who have expressed interest, The Des Moines Register reported in April.

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Auditor Rob Sand, the only Iowa Democrat in statewide office, is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A new report on East Baton Rouge Parishs early childhood education system makes recommendations and identifies existing challenges for families.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Task Force Report was created after eight months of meetings, data-led strategy, partners input, and national best practices to maximize public funding. The task force was formed in 2024 after findings from a data project showed that only half of children from low-income families are ready for kindergarten.

Louisiana Pre K-12 education rises in national rankings, according to U.S. News & World Report

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Parish leaders are recommended to establish a coordinating entity to focus and streamline building and executing community-wide, systems-level coordination with schools, early childhood education centers, family childcare providers, Head Start, Early Head Start, higher education agencies, government partners, and nonprofits.

The system currently has four major organizations playing a part: EBR Schools, the City of Baton Rouge/Mayors Office, YWCA, and Volunteers for America. Funding is received via a patchwork of federal, state, and local money.

We support the reports recommendations to establish a coordinated system that will expand access, enhance quality, and maximize funding for the children of our community. This report marks an important step forward we are excited to continue leading this effort to build a stronger, more unified foundation for every childs success, East Baton Rouge Parish School System Superintendent LaMont Cole said.

Report findings identify challenges

The report states the parish has made significant progress with early childhood education since EBR Schools took on coordination a decade ago. The task force believes its top recommendation to create a coordinating entity would aid the parish in accomplishing broader goals for early childhood education.

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The report identified funding as the biggest barrier to early care and education access for East Baton Rouge, much like other communities nationwide.

The task force found that too many children are going into kindergarten unprepared, adding that there is a disconnect between Pre-K assessments and kindergarten readiness.

Another finding suggested that families struggle to find information about early childhood education seats and how to apply. Focus groups identified high education costs and accessibility challenges that impacted their search.

Survey: Louisiana parents struggle with child care costs, access

Whats next?

Mayor-President Sid Edwards and Cole have asked the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) to gather a working group to analyze the next steps to create the coordinating entity. Its expected to take six to eight months to develop a plan.

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There is no greater investment we can make in the future of our community than investing as early as possible in our children and their families, Edwards said. Communities across the country have developed similar models, and we have the chance to learn from their successes. I fully support the creation of a dedicated coordinating entity that can get all the right players to the table to improve education outcomes in Baton Rouge.

The working group will host a community meeting series with families and providers. BRAF said meeting dates are expected to be announced in the summer.

East Baton Rouge Schools gets C rating in new state education report

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The News

One of the most consequential new proposals in the House GOPs massive tax plan may carry a Donald Trump-inspired name  but its Ted Cruzs brainchild.

The money account for growth and advancement, otherwise known as a MAGA Account, surprised plenty of tax policy mavens when it appeared in the long-awaited Republican bill released on Monday. It popped up, however, thanks to more than a year of intraparty advocacy by the Texas GOP senator.

Cruz initially used the name Invest America for his idea to seed tax-advantaged investment accounts with $1,000 for every newborn baby with a Social Security number, naming it after the coalition of businesses and philanthropists pushing the idea. It got a Trump-friendly rebrand on its way to the House Ways and Means committees tax cut measure; Cruz doesnt mind that at all.

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You can call it anything you like. What is powerful is enabling every child in America to have an investment account and a stake in the American free enterprise system, he told Semafor in an interview on Monday, after spending last week pitching his colleagues directly on it.

The basic idea is this: The money in each US childs account can accumulate interest and value by investing in equities while friends, family and employers are free to contribute up to $5,000 annually. By the time accountholders are adults, they would hold onto their tens of thousands of dollars in gains to use on education, start a business or buy a home.

After months of discussions with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith and the White House, Cruz said the inclusion of his proposal in the partys first draft is a big step toward a tax bill with legacy provisions that voters will notice for the long term. The president weighed in directly to include this provision, Cruz said.

He added that his plans multifold purpose would eventually allow all Americans to experience the miracle of compound interest and help produce new capitalists.

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There are many Americans who dont own stocks or bonds, are not invested in the market, and may not feel particularly invested in the American free enterprise system. This will give everyone a stake, Cruz said.

The first draft of the Houses tax legislation would tax distributions from the account at the capital gains rate, according to a committee summary. It also differs sharply from previous Democratic proposals for baby bonds proposals that would not allow investments in the private equities markets.

That is just a government program, where this is very much designed to get the next generation to invest in the market, Cruz said of the Democratic idea.

You see a lot of young people who in public opinion surveys, say they have a negative view of capitalism and they embrace socialism, he added. And what is powerful about this is, when every child has invested, its no longer an abstract idea.

Know More

Cruz attended the Milken Ideas Conference in Los Angeles last week and said there were multiple CEOs enthusiastic about the transformational impact of this idea. One potential way to leverage the accounts is a matched contribution from employers that would turn the newborn accounts into, essentially, a 401k for kids.

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The programs success in part rides on business leaders cooperating with employees to buy into it.

On CNBC last week, Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital said that several larger companies like Uber, Dell, Nvidia and Oracle have said theyll contribute to the accounts of the kids of their employees. Gerstner and Cruz said major philanthropists are also lined up to support the idea.

This is essentially a 401k for every newborn in America, and just like with 401ks, employers have seen it is a very attractive benefit for their employees to match or help seed those savings accounts, Cruz said.

Still, he acknowledged that Republicans have lots of work to do to educate the public about the new program. He said the Houses draft of the accounts could be further revised.

Burgesss view

Cruz is right to not declare victory too early on his big idea: His project now needs to survive votes in both chambers of Congress and potential cross-Capitol talks ahead of a final GOP deal.

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But getting the legislation in the partys initial draft is a notable victory for Trumps onetime presidential rival.

Room for Disagreement

Democrats are marshaling fierce opposition to the overall Republican tax package, which would lead to Medicaid health insurance coverage losses if the initial House GOP draft holds.

That said, at least one of them gives Cruz a reluctant plaudit for his idea.

Even a stopped watch is right twice a day, Senate Minority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told Semafor.

Overall, right now, when it comes to helping working families with the expenses of life, there are precious few examples when it comes from Republicans, Durbin added, noting that the GOPs proposed Medicaid cuts would be devastating across my state.

Notable
House Republicans on Monday announced that they plan to repeal Democrats tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs) and phase out those that apply to climate-friendly energy sources.

The green energy credits have long been in the GOPs crosshairs as party leaders decry climate spending. But they have also emerged as a point of conflict within the party, as Republicans whose districts house low-carbon energy projects have called for at least some of them to remain in place. while Freedom Caucus members have called or a full repeal.

Its not immediately clear whether either side of that debate  let alone both  will be satisfied with the approach ultimately taken by the Ways and Means Committee to phase out many major credits  while cutting others.

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In the text of their big beautiful bill released on Monday, Republicans called for terminating tax credits for pre-owned EVs purchased after the end of this year and new vehicles put in service after the end of next year.

The measure also includes a cap for new EVs put in service between 2025 and 2026, saying consumers will not be eligible for the tax credit if they buy from a manufacturer who has sold more than 200,000 EVs in the U.S. between 2010 and 2025.

Both sets of credits previously applied for EVs purchased through the end of 2032.

Meanwhile, the package also seeks to phase out credits for low-carbon energy sources. While these tax credits were expected to be a particular boon for wind and solar, they apply to any energy source that meets certain emissions thresholds.

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In the GOPs legislation, these credits will reduce to 80 percent for projects that begin producing energy in 2029, 60 percent for a project that begins producing energy in 2030 and 40 percent for a project that begins producing energy in 2031. After 2031, new projects will not be eligible for the credits.

In the Democrats 2022 bill, energy projects could be eligible for the full credit through the later of either 2032 or when the U.S. cut its electricity-related emissions by a quarter.

The bill also phases out tax credits for nuclear energy along the same timeline.

Meanwhile, it ends a tax credit for hydrogen energy projects whose construction starts after this year, while Democrats would have had the credit apply for facilities whose construction begins before 2033.

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After this year, tax credits for electric vehicle chargers, home energy efficiency updates and home renewable energy like rooftop solar are also axed.

Updated at 4:25 p.m. EDT

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If you listen to how Republicans in Washington talk about federal spending these days, you might imagine that we have entered an era of budget restraint.

Fiscal responsibility is what we do as conservatives, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in February. And we have a $36 trillion federal debt. We have a giant deficit that were contending with. I think we need to pay down the credit card. President Donald Trump has said much the same, suggesting that his administration aims to balance the federal budget before his term is out. Elon Musk has called the growth of federal debt terrifying, and said if this continues, the country will go, become de facto bankrupt. All of them, and many other Republicans in D.C., have argued that this is why the administration and Congress have made fiscal reform a priority, and why its worth doing despite the political cost.

There certainly is reason to worry. Johnson is quite right that the federal debt now exceeds $36 trillion, which is about the size of the entire U.S. economy and therefore a scope of debt not seen since World War II. That debt is only slated to grow, and debt payment itself is an increasing burden on the economywith annual interest costs rising to nearly $1 trillion this year (about three times what they were just five years ago).

Chart via Joe Schueller.

But although Republicans concerns about the debt are well grounded, their claims to have picked up the mantle of reform in response are baffling. The notion that Donald Trumps second presidency has launched an era of austerity and budget cutting is widespread among Republican politicians. They point to the aggressive slashing of government by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to the shuttering of some agencies, and to intense negotiations to curb spending in the reconciliation bill now being hashed out among congressional Republicans. They note that Democrats are accusing them of strangling the government, and describe a commitment to bear heavy political costs for the sake of the nations fiscal future. Many congressional Republicans, and many Republican voters, seem genuinely to believe that we are in an era of deficit reduction.

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But we are not. All the brash talk about DOGE slashing spending has been adding up to very little. The tax and spending proposals that Republicans are crafting this spring are in fact recklessly profligate. And no one dares to touch the entitlement programs that are the actual chief sources of the governments fiscal challenges.

Republicans are in the process of ballooning the debt, and at times they seem not only unwilling to acknowledge it but even genuinely unaware of it.

The Trump administrations first 100 days were dominated by the spectacle of DOGE. Unofficially run by Elon Musk, it took on several related tasks. It made a hard push to force some federal bureaucrats out of their jobs, and those changes could well endure. It has also tried to modernize some federal computer systems, where presumably it is well equipped to succeed. It has tried to force a restructuring of several federal agencies, which may not survive court challenges yet could still leave a lasting mark. But at the center of its mission has been the elimination of wasteful spending, and on that front the story of DOGE has been a farce.

Musk came in claiming his people could cut $2 trillion out of the budget, or nearly a quarter of federal spending. He brushed off questions about just how that could be achieved with vague intimations of immense secret pots of corrupt and wasteful spending. At first, he could sustain this by pointing to various ridiculous uses of public dollars in assorted agencies, but none of it added up to anything like the savings he had promised.

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By March 27, when Musk and several DOGE leaders sat down with Fox News Bret Baier to talk about their work, his ambition had been cut in half. Our goal is to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars, he told Baier,

So from a nominal deficit of $2 trillion to try to cut the deficit in half to $1 trillion, or looked at in total federal spending, to drop federal spending from $7 trillion to $6 trillion. We want to reduce the spending, by eliminating waste and fraud, to reduce spending by 15 percent, which seems really quite achievable. The government is not efficient, and there is a lot of waste and fraud, so we feel confident that a 15 percent reduction can be done without affecting any of the critical government services.

Just two weeks later, Musk had scaled down his expectations dramatically, announcing at a Cabinet meeting that he expected DOGE to reduce federal spending by $150 billion this year.

But even having reduced his projection of potential savings by more than 90 percent, Musk still appears to be exaggerating what DOGE has achieved. As of early May, about $70 billion in cuts have been itemized on DOGEs website, and even some of those will not actually reduce federal spending unless Congress rescinds them from this years appropriations statutes. That figure also does not account for the costs involved in firing and rehiring workers, providing severance and paid leave, lost productivity, diminished tax enforcement, and other implications of DOGEs personnel moves.

On net, as the Manhattan Institutes Jessica Riedl has noted, it is entirely possible that DOGE will actually increase federal spending for the year by a bit. But even if it meets its much-diminished claims, its effects on the governments fiscal trajectory will be marginal. Every bit counts, and $70 billion is real money. But it is less than 1 percent of federal spending for the year.

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At this point, no one can claim that DOGE will be a budgetary game-changer.

The actual federal budget process stands to make a bigger difference, but in the wrong direction. Congressional Republicans are at work on a reconciliation bill aimed at extending the tax rates established in 2017. In that process, budget hawks are working to contain the fiscal damage, but there is no reason to believe such damage will be altogether averted, or even kept particularly modest. That bill looks very likely to significantly accelerate the growth of the debt.

As written, the budget resolution that House and Senate Republicans adopted in April (which established the general parameters of the ultimate reconciliation bill) is almost unthinkably irresponsible. It gives Congress the room to reduce federal revenues by more than $5 trillion and increase spending on net by about $500 billion over the coming decade. Republicans almost certainly wont balloon the deficit by quite that much. But by giving themselves the room to do it while promising not to, theyve demonstrated their perception of the dynamics of todays fiscal politics. Increasing deficits is easy, shrinking them is hard, and Republicans think they can do the easy thing first to keep the legislative process moving and do the hard thing later when theyre under time pressure to get a bill done. That is not exactly an encouraging outlook.

Just continuing existing tax policy would drive the federal debt well beyond 200 percent of the size of the economy over the next 30 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. By that point, interest on the debt would take up about 80 percent of federal revenues. Such levels of borrowing present enormous risks to the American economy, and even in the absence of any dramatic fiscal crisis would reduce growth significantly. And Republicans are likely to increase the deficit by more than that, because they are looking to cut taxes further than they did in 2017, and to increase spending on defense, immigration enforcement, and a number of other priorities.

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The idea that this is what legislators are doing might come as a surprise to anyone observing Congress over the past month, since congressional Republicans are spending all their time fighting bitterly about the scope of spending cuts in the reconciliation bill. But these cuts are offsets of revenue reductions and spending increases that will add up to much more debt on net.

To avoid fully confronting that reality, some Senate Republicans have sought to mask the cost of extending the lower tax rates adopted in 2017. When those rates were enacted, they were set to expire this year, in order to keep the 10-year cost of the tax bill more presentable. So the CBOs formal budget projections have assumed those rates will disappear next year. If Congress extends them for another 10 years instead, its usual method of projecting costs (the so-called current law baseline) would require treating the extension as adding several trillion dollars to the deficit. But Senate Republicans are instead proposing to use not the law now on the books for the coming years but the policy in effect for this yearwith the 2017 tax-cut rates still in placeas the baseline for the budget. Under such a current policy baseline, extending these tax rates would be said to create no new cost.

In effect, then, the increased deficits that will result from lower revenue in the coming years were not counted when the reduced tax rates first went into effect in 2017 (because everyone pretended they would end this year), and will not be counted if they are renewed this year (because everyone will pretend they were never supposed to end). They just wont be counted at all. Congress will increase the deficit by almost $4 trillion over the next 10 years but not account for that increase in its budget math. That wouldnt be a way of reducing the cost of the reconciliation bill, it would just be a way of ignoring its cost. And even that gimmick wouldnt be enough to let Republicans claim they were reducing the debt.

The fact is that the only major legislative aim Republicans are pursuing this year will significantly increase future deficits and debt. And the effort to offset at least some of those costs is leading congressional Republicans into epic battles over spending that cast serious doubts about their ability to advance more fiscally responsible budget measures in the coming years.

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The Trump administrations budget proposal for next year, which was released May 2, highlights the nature of this challenge. The administration proposes reductions of almost 25 percent in non-defense discretionary spending, but would leave Social Security and Medicare essentially untouched. This was the administrations approach to budgeting in Trumps first presidency too. And it failed on several fronts. Because Congress cannot take such a budget seriously, it effectively surrenders the presidents first-mover advantage in the annual appropriations process. But because the budget process allows its supporters in Congress and the public to talk about bold spending cuts while not actually offering a path to controlling the growth of the debt, it encourages a culture of self-deception about fiscal policy.

The presidents budget thus encapsulates the story of contemporary fiscal policy: lots of talk about painful cuts while the debt continues to accelerate.

The reason that even deep discretionary cuts wouldnt offer a solution to the budget problem is simple: The budget problem is an entitlement problemit has been so for half a centuryand it is only getting worse all the time.

Chart via Joe Schueller.

This is the chief source of the intense self-deception that characterizes our budget debates. Many Republican deficit hawks have spent decades insisting that the trajectory of our debt could be transformed by cutting discretionary programs they dont like. But all domestic discretionary spending is now about 14 percent of the federal budget, while entitlement spending amounts to more than 50 percent, according to CBO figures. More importantly, the growth in federal spending is heavily concentrated in entitlement spending, while discretionary spending is declining as a share of the budget and the economy.

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It simply isnt possible to offset the coming growth of Social Security and Medicare spending by curbing domestic discretionary spending. All the painful cuts Republicans are now negotiating as offsets to the reduced revenues in their tax bill are going to be dwarfed by the growth of entitlement spending on the elderly.

This means that any effort to seriously improve the fiscal trajectory of the federal government has to be focused on entitlement reform. There is no alternative. Many Republicans used to acknowledge this openly until about 2017. But although the underlying problem has only grown worse, the GOP has mostly stopped pursuing entitlement reform.

To the extent that DOGE targeted entitlements, it focused on marginal management costs, or on phantom targets (like 150-year-old Social Security recipients who dont really exist). In the reconciliation process, there have been some efforts to curb Medicaid spending, but the most expensive entitlementsSocial Security and Medicare, which provide benefits to the elderly and have grown to well over a third of the overall federal budgethave been off the table. Not only has President Trump pledged not to touch them, his call to end the taxation of Social Security benefits would increase the programs costs and provide well-to-do seniors with even more benefits.

Curbing the growth of the old-age entitlements would be no simple matter, of course. Ideas for how it might be done are plentifulIm partial to the related proposals of my American Enterprise Institute colleagues James Capretta (on Medicare) and Andrew Biggs (on Social Security). But the will to take it on is hard to come by. Thats understandable, if not excusable. But it is not sustainable.

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If Republicans are going to pursue politically complex spending cuts, as they are doing in the ongoing reconciliation battle, they might as well target the actual sources of our deficit and debt challenges, rather than expending immense political capital to no significant long-term effect by focusing on domestic discretionary spending.

Taking on entitlement reform will require a different way of thinking and speaking about those programsunderstanding them as transfer programs rooted in intergenerational commitments, rather than as untouchable savings programs. Balancing gratitude to the past and solicitude for the future would help policymakers explain why they need to protect these programs but also to shield the rising generations from fiscal disaster. But of course, taking on such work would also require bipartisan accommodation, which our fiscal politics has sorely lacked.

The absence of bipartisan interest in budget reform is not the fault of Republicans alone. Most Democrats in Washington dont even pretend to care about deficits most of the time, and when they do, they talk as if higher taxes on the wealthy alone could solve the problem.

But the fact that Republicans do pretend to take these problems seriously is precisely the reason to hold them to account. Most elected Republicans (like most Republican voters) believe there is an urgent need for fiscal reform. But most also seem to believe that they are engaged in such work now, and they must grasp that this is not true. Otherwise they run the risk of repeating a dangerous mistake from the Tea Party era: By persuading themselves that they are focused on the right targets, they will come to blame the usual suspectssquishy party leaders and entrenched, corrupt elitesfor the failure to address the countrys fiscal challenge. So they will leave the Trump era even more persuaded of their own rectitude and of the corruption of the larger system.

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But that simply is not what is happening here. Republicans in the age of Trump are on a path toward failing to address the countrys fiscal problems because they are not being honest with themselves about what meaningful fiscal reform would need to involve, what budget policy they are in fact pursuing now, and just how little those two have to do with each other.

Ignoring the fiscal challenges our government faces is bad enough. But todays GOP is pretending to address them while actually making them worse.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Republicans were on Capitol Hill Monday night as they dodged or laughed off ABC News' exclusive reporting that President Donald Trump was considering accepting a luxury jet as a gift from the Qatari government to potentially use as Air Force One.

While several senators avoided questions or made jokes, few were willing to give a full-throated defense of the proposed gift.

Like most Republicans, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., initially said she didn't know enough about the story to comment but called it "an interesting one."

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MORE: Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources

When ABC News told her that Trump intended to use the gifted plane as Air Force One, she broke into laughter. "It might make me consider the appropriateness of that? Yes," she said.

Asked if she had security concerns about its use as Air Force One, she broke out laughing and said, "Well, they better sweep that plane from front to back."

PHOTO: The motorcade of President Donald Trump is parked next to a 12-year old Qatari-owned Boeing 747-8 that Trump was touring in West Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 15, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, FILE)

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., made a tongue-in-cheek comment of his own when asked about security concerns.

"Well, I think it'd be better if it were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America," he said.

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MORE: Trump defends Qatar jumbo jet offer, says it would be 'stupid' to turn away free plane

Majority Leader John Thune said he needed more information on the reports before he could make an appropriate assessment. "I don't know enough about it yet and I don't know that it's -- I don't know if there's -- any offer. I'm sure if and when we have more information, we'll sort it out," Thune said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to comment, saying he didn't have enough information. "I'm not going to comment on it," Johnson said, adding, "I haven't seen all the details about it."

When asked about the price tag of the potential gift -- an estimated $400 million  Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., sidestepped the issue.

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"I think we ought to follow the law, whatever that is," he said. "Well, France gave us the Statue of Liberty," Kennedy told reporters.

Republicans dodge, laugh off questions about Trump's gift plane from Qatar originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump is planning to accept a $400 million luxury jet from a foreign government as a gift, an unprecedented deal that raises all sorts of constitutional, ethical and national security concerns, but most members of his party dont seem to mind.

Many Republicans on Capitol Hill shrugged off the news or dodged questions about a wildly shocking arrangement that, had it occurred under a Democratic administration, would have made their heads explode.

Cant beat free, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) told reporters when asked about the offer Monday.

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), meanwhile, declined to comment on the $400 million jet deal, saying he needed to talk to ethics first.

Trump is planning to accept the luxury Boeing 747-8 airplane, referred to as a palace in the sky, from the government of Qatar, retrofit it, and then use it as his presidential plane until near the end of his term, at which point it would be turned over to Trumps presidential library foundation. He maintained on Monday that it would be stupid to turn down the offer of a free plane to replace the current Air Force One Boeing 747, which is aging.

The U.S. Constitution specifically forbids anyone holding public office from accepting gifts from foreign officials or governments without explicit approval from Congress. Moreover, accepting the jet from a foreign nation known for seeking to influence policy in the Middle East would expose Trump to giant conflicts of interest, as even a few Republicans acknowledged this week.

It just doesnt seem right, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told HuffPost. I think people will think that it could possibly sway your decision-making process.

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When you get something of that value from a country, one typically thinks that theres something in it for the country that is offering it, added Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

According to ABC News, which first reported on the luxury jet offer, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously worked as a highly paid lobbyist for Qatar, and the White Houses top lawyer concluded the deal would be permissible on the condition that the planes ownership be transferred to Trumps presidential library.

Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an emailed statement. President Trumps Administration is committed to full transparency.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) deferred to the White House on the legality of the deal but he told HuffPost the biggest problem with the jet offer is that it might not be practical, since the plane would have to be refurbished with various presidential necessities. The cost of retrofitting a plane into Air Force One would also likely fall on U.S. taxpayers.

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Theres a reason why its taking us so long to get the Air Force One rehabbed right now, Rounds said. Its just got a whole lot of stuff in it that protects the president. Im not sure how much time we save on the new one.

Asked if she would ever accept a $400 million gift from a foreign nation, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) answered, Thats a hypothetical thats never going to happen.

Democrats were apoplectic about the presidents plans to accept the luxury jet from Qatar, pointing to the move as more evidence of Trump profiting off the presidency, such as the multibillion-dollar business deals his family has inked across the Middle East and shady crypto ventures Trump has launched since returning to the White House.

How is this gift not naked corruption? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asked Tuesday, vowing to put a hold on all of Trumps political nominees to the Department of Justice in protest.

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What is most chilling about this brazen bribe  and the national security betrayal  is how openly Donald Trump is doing it, he added. How he is lying about the need for this aircraft and the risks involved. And how he is daring Republicans to call him out. And how are Republicans responding? With silence. With their heads in the sand; total obeisance, afraid to tell the emperor he has no clothes.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who led an impeachment inquiry investigating influence peddling and potential conflicts of interest in the Joe Biden administration, declined to comment Tuesday when HuffPost asked about Trump accepting a free plane from a foreign government.

But Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) pointed to the plain text of the Constitution, which says that, without congressional approval, no officer of the United States can accept any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

The American Framers didnt  & the American people dont  want a president corrupted by foreign state money, gifts or luxury jets, Raskin wrote Tuesday on social media. No presents of any kind whatever are allowed from foreign states and kings without Congressional consent.
House Republicans draft budget bill includes a clause to give Donald Trump the ability to revoke the tax-exempt status of any group the Treasury Department says is a supporter of terrorism.

The move appears to be a revival of the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which the House passed in November under President Biden. The Senate had not taken up the measure, which drew criticism for granting dangerous powers to the president. Now those powers have resurfaced deep within the GOPs big beautiful bill: on page 380, to be exact.

Last year, 15 Democrats joined Republicans in the House to pass the antifree speech bill, which was originally intended to help clamp down on pro-Palestinian protesters, particularly those on college campuses. Even though the bill has languished since then, Trump has still attempted to target nonprofit institutions that refuse to kowtow to him, including institutions such as Harvard University.

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If the clause isnt excised from the final bill and passes, Trump can target any nonprofit that he and the Republicans dont like, whether they are focused on reproductive rights, climate change, refugee support, or anything else. The budget bill is going through the reconciliation process, meaning that it only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate to be passed.

If party lines hold on this bill, the nonprofit clause can pass without a single Democratic vote. Will Democrats hold the line and try to mobilize to remove the anti-nonprofit clause? Or will the caucus once again be divided, with some Democrats supporting the measure?


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

Black patients admitted to the hospital for labor and delivery are more likely to have stigmatizing language documented in their clinical notes than white patients, report Columbia University School of Nursing researchers in JAMA Network Open.

Veronica Barcelona, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Columbia Nursing, and her colleagues also found differences in how Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) patients were described compared to white patients.

Clinicians' documentation can both reflect bias and perpetuate it, the authors note, and may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care. Barcelona and her colleagues used a form of artificial intelligence called natural language processing to analyze the clinical notes of 18,646 patients admitted to two large hospitals for labor and birth in 20172019, identifying instances of both stigmatizing and positive language in their electronic health records.

Four categories of stigmatizing language were included: showing bias toward a patient's marginalized language/identity, suggesting a patient was "difficult," indicating unilateral/authoritarian clinical decisions, and questioning a patient's credibility.

The researchers also considered two types of positive language: preferred/autonomy, which portrays the patient giving birth as an active, decision-making participant in childbirth, and the patient's viewpoint from an impartial perspective; and power/privilege language, which includes noting markers of a patient's status or higher psychological or socioecological position.

Language conveying bias was found for 49.3% of patients overall, and 54.9% of Black patients. The most common type of stigmatizing language, describing a patient as "difficult," was seen in 28.6% of patients' charts overall and 33% of Black patients' charts.

Compared to white patients, Black patients were 22% more likely to have any type of stigmatizing language in their clinical notes. Black patients were also 19% more likely to have positive documentation in their charts than white patients.

Hispanic patients were 9% less likely to be documented as "difficult" patients than white patients and 15% less likely to have positive language overall. API patients were 28% less likely to have language in the marginalized language/identity category, and their charts were 31% less likely to include power/privilege language.

"These findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to mitigate biases in perinatal care and to foster documentation practices that are both equitable and culturally sensitive," the authors conclude.

Barcelona's Columbia Nursing co-authors include data manager Ismael Ibrahim Hulchafo, MD; doctoral student Sarah Harkins, BS; and Associate Professor Maxim Topaz, Ph.D.

More information: Ismael Ibrahim Hulchafo et al, Stigmatizing and Positive Language in Birth Clinical Notes Associated With Race and Ethnicity, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9599 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
Federal authorities have arrested a reputed member of the Pasadena Denver Lanes Bloods street gang, alleging that he and two others took part in a shooting spree in Lancaster last summer that claimed two lives and prompted the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to deploy more deputies to the city.

Jerry Wimbley III, a.k.a. Baby Poppa Ckrab, of Lancaster, was arrested Tuesday. The 20-year-old is charged with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, according to the U.S. attorney's office in L.A. He is accused of participating in the murder of two victims.

His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Two other alleged members of the gang were also charged in the federal indictment.

Vionnie Richardson, 37, a.k.a. Big Poppa Ckrab," is charged with one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He is in state custody in Nevada in a separate case.

Wimbley's brother, Jerry Wimbley Jr., 22, a.k.a. Poppa Ckrab and Little Poppa Ckrab, is charged with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. He's been in custody on unrelated federal robbery and money laundering charges since September 2024.

Read more: Security guard for Chase helped plan a $200,000 armed heist in Palmdale, authorities say

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The murders and attempted murder were allegedly committed to enhance the power and influence of the PDL Bloods street gang, according to the indictment. The gang has existed since the 1970s and operates in and around Pasadena and the Antelope Valley.

If convicted, the men would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison and a possible death sentence, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

As alleged in the indictment, these defendants engaged in violent and senseless acts, said U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli. Their alleged shooting spree is intolerable."

According to the indictment, the shootings unfolded on June 25, 2024, in Lancaster.

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That night at about 7:15 p.m., Richardson allegedly attempted to murder a victim  identified only as W.S.  firing at him at least 12 times, according to the indictment. The victim, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds but survived, was a member of a rival gang called the Hoover Crips, prosecutors said.

After the shooting, prosecutors allege that Richardson went to the Joshua Memorial Park and Mortuary, where the gravesite of a dead gang member authorities referred to as T.B. was located. There, he, Wimbley Jr. and Wimbley III took part in a vigil on the two-year anniversary of T.B.'s death.

Afterward, prosecutors allege, the three men drove to the area of Whit Carter Park, where a victim  identified only as E.G.  was working under the hood of a car. E.G.'s Washington Nationals hat was visible; the ballcap was blue, a color commonly associated with rival Crip gangs, according to the indictment.

According to the indictment, shortly before 9 p.m., Richardson, Wimbley Jr. and Wimbley III "each aiding and abetting the other," fired at least 20 gunshots from a 9mm automatic firearm at E.G. The victim died of multiple gunshot wounds. It is unclear whether the three men used the same gun.

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After the killing, the men returned to T.B.'s gravesite, where prosecutors allege that they stated, among other things, that they killed victim E.G. in memory of T.B.

According to the indictment, the men then drove to a gas station in Lancaster and were captured on surveillance footage shooting a victim identified only as D.M. According to prosecutors, D.M. was a member of the Broadway Gangster Crips. D.M. died in the street of multiple gunshot wounds.

The men made a final visit to T.B.'s gravesite. Hours later, at 2:18 a.m., Richardson allegedly posted a story on his Instagram account playing a song in the background with the sound of gunshots and lyrics that said, he tried to run for his life."

Prosecutors allege Richardson was referring to the murder of D.M., who attempted to run after they opened fire.

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Wimbley Jr. has separately been charged in connection with an armed heist of a couple cashing out a $200,000 check at a Chase Bank in Palmdale. A private security guard at the bank allegedly tipped off Wimbley Jr.

Lancaster, with a population of roughly 188,000, contracts with the Sheriffs Department for services.

The brutality of these alleged crimes reflects a complete disregard for human life and public safety, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. Gang violence has no place in our communities. The individuals that engage in ruthless crimes that endanger our residents will be pursued and held accountable."

The fatal shootings unfolded in a particularly bloody 24-hour period in Lancaster.

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The following day, seven other people were shot in what the Sheriffs Department described in a news release as a gang-related attack. Two men were killed.

Read more: Sheriff's Department to deploy more deputies to Lancaster after shootings leave 4 dead in less than 24 hours

The attack was a retaliation gang shooting carried out by people from outside the city who were armed with assault weapons, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris previously told The Times.

It was a bloodbath, he said. They were shooting into homes. It was a war zone.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Scientists have released some of the first independent test results confirming that drinking water in fire-affected areas around Altadena and Pacific Palisades is largely free of harmful contaminants, as an Altadena utility lifted the last do not drink notice left in the burn zones.

Researchers with the LA Fire HEALTH Study released results on Friday from 53 homes spread across the burn areas and the more than three miles surrounding them. They found only one with a toxic substance at dangerous levels: at one home, the water contained benzene, a known carcinogen, at concentrations slightly above the states allowable level of 1 part per billion.

The findings add to mounting evidence that the affected area's drinking water is safe. In March, Caltech professor Francois Tissots team found no lead levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's limit in the tap water of the 43 homes tested in Altadena and surrounding communities. Separately, UCLA professor Sanjay Mohanty's group found no concerning levels of heavy metals or potentially harmful "forever" chemicals in 45 homes tested in the Palisades.

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Experts noted that LA Fire HEALTH Study's elevated benzene level finding  at 1.6 ppb  remains below the federal limit of 5 ppb and would probably drop below 1 ppb once the homeowner follows the utilities recommendation to run all faucets in the entire house for at least five minutes to flush contaminants out of the lines before using the tap water.

The states limit of 1 ppb equates to no more than a two-in-one-million chance of a resident developing cancer from a lifetime exposure to the contaminant at that level, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. For higher, short-term exposures to benzene, the U.S. EPA says exposure to more than 200 ppb for more than a day could have negative, non-cancer health consequences for children.

Im optimistic from these results, said Chris Olivares, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Irvine who has led the tap water testing part of the LA Fire HEALTH Study. The major takeaway, I think, is the importance of flushing.

Read more: When FEMA failed to test soil for toxic substances after the L.A. fires, The Times had it done. The results were alarming

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Andrew Whelton  a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Purdue University and a pioneer in the field of post-fire water contamination and remediation  attributes the quick and successful restoration of safe drinking water to the hard work of local utilities and state regulators, which followed a post-fire playbook Whelton and others developed in the wake of the 2017 Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa, the 2018 Camp fire in Paradise and subsequent fires throughout Colorado in 2021 and Hawaii in 2023.

The way dangerous volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, could contaminate water supplies after a wildfire wasn't well known or studied until a Santa Rosa resident reported a strong smell of gasoline  a signature indicator of benzene  when turning on their kitchen faucet for the first time after the 2017 fire.

Scientists and public health officials raced to understand and solve the problem. They found benzene levels as high as 40,000 ppb , and it took a year to restore safe water.

After the Camp fire, scientists found levels over 900 ppb , which took eight months to remediate.

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After the L.A. County fires, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power found one instance of benzene at 71.3 ppb. The utility worked around the clock to restore safe water, first by closing roughly 4,800 open connections at fire hydrants and destroyed homes to restore water pressure, then continuously flushing water out of the system to push out contaminants. As they went, they tested and retested until benzene levels dropped to near zero.

LADWP  with the approval of the State Water Resources Control Board  lifted its do not drink notice on March 7, exactly two months after the Palisades fire broke out. Two of the three smaller customer-owned utilities in Altadena, Lincoln Avenue Water Co. and Rubio Canon Land and Water Assn.  which also detected benzene in their systems after the fires  quickly followed. The third, Las Flores Water Co., lifted the last do not drink notice on May 9.

Las Flores had registered the highest benzene levels of all the utilities: 440 ppb from a sample collected on April 10.

The LA Fire HEALTH Study team tested roughly eight homes within each burn area and over a dozen in adjacent communities between February and April while the testing and flushing process was ongoing.

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The results are some of the first from the LA Fire HEALTH Studys broad-ranging, privately funded effort between nearly a dozen academic and medical institutions, to understand the health consequences of the L.A. County fires over the course of 10 years.

Outside the burn areas, no homes the team sampled exceeded the states allowable limit for benzene or any of the other two dozen volatile organic compounds for which the group tested. And inside the burn areas, benzene was the only contaminant that exceeded the states allowable limits.

Read more: Inside the battle to restore drinking water in Altadena and Pacific Palisades

Although the utilities have worked for months to flush contaminants out of the labyrinth of pipes carrying water from reservoirs to private properties, it's homeowners who are responsible for finishing the job and flushing the pipes on their own properties.

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The researchers stressed that the one benzene exceedance  found in Lincoln Avenue's service area one week after the utility's "do not drink" notice was lifted  is a reminder that residents should follow the utilities guidance for safe water use once returning home.

"Lincoln Avenue Water Companys top priority is to provide safe and reliable drinking water to the community. Through extensive testing, we have established that our system is in compliance with all state and federal water quality standards," said Lincoln Avenue general manager Jennifer Betancourt Torres, in a statement to The Times.

"Its important to emphasize that samples taken from inside the home are considered a representation of the residential plumbing and not the water being delivered," she said.

The utilities and water safety experts say residents should first flush all of their lines  every faucet and spigot, both hot and cold, for at least five minutes. They should also run all appliances and fixtures, such as dishwashers and washing machines, once with hot water before using. Two batches of ice from a fridge icemaker should be discarded.

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The utilities are providing detailed, up-to-date guidance for their customers on their respective websites, including LADWP, Rubio Canon, Lincoln Avenue and Las Flores.

Times staff writer Ian James contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BOSTON (SHNS)  Resettlement service providers helping refugees and immigrants integrate into their new lives in Massachusetts are eyeing potential state financial relief as agencies scramble to adjust to Trump administration policies and a federal funding landscape marked by uncertainty.

Sen. Robyn Kennedy wants to revive the Massachusetts Resettlement Support Program through a budget amendment (#498) and deliver $500,000 to agencies that are contracted with the U.S. Department of State. The bulk of those state dollars must be spent on direct assistance for refugees and immigrants, including helping them secure their immigration status.

We are taking up the budget next week. Hopefully, we are going to fight to get this amendment, to get the MRSP funding back into the budget, Kennedy told leaders of refugee resettlement agencies gathered for a State House event Tuesday. Were going to continue that work.

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The account was funded at $500,000 in fiscal 2024. Resettlement agencies say they are now experiencing federally-induced chaos thats driving their state funding request.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20 suspending the countrys refugee resettlement program, as the new administration lamented record levels of immigration migration over the last four years. The order, which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in February, had noted states like Massachusetts and New York have even recently declared states of emergency because of increased migration.

Resettlement agencies here are now grappling with stalled federal funding and a stunted flow of new arrivals to serve, which has forced providers to lay off dozens of employees, according to advocates. The agencies offer job training, rental assistance, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and school integration services.

A refugee resettlement program in Northampton run by the Catholic Charities Agency closed this year, with providers citing federal budget cuts. The program said in a social media post it served over 1,500 individuals over eight years, such as asylum seekers, humanitarian parolees and unaccompanied refugee minors.

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Jeff Thielman, CEO of the International Institute of New England, said Kennedys budget amendment would fill funding gaps as organizations struggle to support existing clients, who can receive help for several years after coming to the United States.

Even with federal aid for refugees and groups, families can typically need an additional $500 or $600 each month, Thielman said. To cover the difference, Thielman said his organization either needs to raise money privately or turn to the state for help.

Otherwise, people will get into the homeless system  we dont want that to happen, Thielman told the News Service. Federal money doesnt go far enough for new arrivals. We need these new arrivals in our state to build our economy and fill the workforce. Therefore, some subsidy is important to keep them going.

Rabbi James Greene, CEO of Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, said the organization served about 480 people last year. Greene said JFS was expecting another 300 clients this year, though the last refugee family arrived on Jan. 17 ahead of the presidential transition.

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The administration tore down and fundamentally broke the USRAP, which is the law that allows for resettlements thats existed in Republican and Democratic administrations since the time of Reagan, Greene said, referring to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

What were here doing today is to talk with our state legislators and say the federal government is abdicating its responsibility, Greene continued. We need the support of our state to step in and step up and be with us in this work because the long-term interests of Massachusetts, of our commonwealth, are served by welcoming people.

Rep. Jim ODay called actions at the national level very troubling and praised Bay Staters willingness to speak out. He also broadly highlighted the Houses track record of supporting an influx of refugees from Afghanistan and Haiti.

Lawmakers funneled $12 million to resettlement agencies in 2021 to support the evacuees of the crisis in Afghanistan, as well as $10 million in 2022 to help Ukrainian refugees and immigrants.

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Im here to tell you all that Im willing to help. And I know that most of  no, I know that my colleagues are also willing to help, ODay said. I cant thank enough those folks that work in this field.

Kennedy, a Worcester Democrat, used her platform to condemn recent federal immigration arrests in the city, which have prompted a wave of protests. Worcester City Hall is closing early Tuesday and a City Council meeting was moved to Zoom over public safety concerns, officials tweeted ahead of another protest.

We have seen some painful moments in the past week. We see the invasion of masked ICE agents that terrorize our communities, Kennedy said. We need to make sure that we are standing up, to say that this will not happen in silence, to say that this will not happen in the cover of darkness, that we are grateful that our refugees, that our immigrants are here, and were going to continue to support them.

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City commissioners in New Smyrna Beach are set to vote to rezone land for its portion of a massive project known as Deering Park.

This community blends various uses, extending from Volusia to Brevard County, featuring business complexes, industrial buildings, and residential properties.

The city of Edgewater already approved its section of the project and had a groundbreaking in April.

However, some residents protested the plan in New Smyrna Beach, saying its inappropriate for the area.

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Its already becoming so busy and crowded and if you go down towards Flagler, you cant even get on the beach on the weekends, said Michael Dunphy.

Another concern is that more development could bring more flooding.

All of this westward expansion just adds stress to our already inadequate infrastructure. We have serious flooding issues here, said Bryon White.

Weve got a lot of people flooding, weve got a lot of people that are paying too much for insurance, said Bill Gallagher.

Those in favor say it brings a tax base and industry the city desperately needs.

We really are a tourism-based industry, restaurants jobs, hospitality, things like that, we really need more high tech and this is a solution to that, said Mark Beckwith.

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Glenn Storch is the attorney representing the developer and said serious consideration was given to the flooding issues the area faces and is now part of the project as a solution.

71 square miles of it have been preserved for conservation. We can direct stormwater to these areas during major hurricanes, said Glenn Storch.

The city will vote to rezone the land during the regular city commission meeting scheduled for 6:30 P.M.

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FALLS COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  A new resolution in Falls County is especially meaningful during National Police Week.

The Falls County Sheriffs Office is thanking the Falls County Commissioners Court and Falls County Judge Elliott for recognizing the sacrifice of its fallen heroes. In addition, May 15 is also set aside as Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day to honor peace officers who have died in the line of duty.

The resolution pictured below memorializes Falls County Sheriffs Deputy Matt Jones, who made the ultimate sacrifice on October 11, 2019. Deputy Jones was killed in a traffic accident on Highway 6, south of Riesel. Riesel Police Chief Danny Krumnow was also involved, who suffered critical injuries.

(Courtesy: Falls County Sheriffs Office)

Deputy Jones and Chief Krumnow were assisting a motorist when a Mazda passenger car hydroplaned and struck the two of them. The driver of the Mazda was also sent to the hospital with minor injuries.

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The Sheriffs Office says it greatly appreciates the support of the Falls County community as they all remember those who have served to fullest measure.

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FREDERICK, Md. (DC News Now)  Dr. Cynthia Izuno Macri is a retired U.S. Navy cancer surgeon who not only dedicated herself to serving the country but who has devoted herself to serving her community.

Macri is the daughter of a Japanese American parent. Her grandfather, who was a teacher in Hawaii, was interned after the Japanese military bombed USS Arizona, drawing the United States into World War II.

He was arrested on December 7, 1941, right after Peal Harbor, Macri explained. In fact, he was placed in a prisoner of war camp in Louisiana.

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Macris grandfather was one of 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent forcibly removed from their homes and held by the U.S. War Relocation Authority.

After high school, Macri hoped to enlist in the Marines and then study to be a doctor, but the Marine Corps did not offer the option to segue to medical school.

So I went to the Navy table and got a full scholarship, Macri recalled. I was going to do my four years [in the service] and get out but stayed for 35 years.

Having gone through the process, herself, Macri has devoted time to helping those struggling to make the transition from military to civilian life.

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I started working with homeless veterans in transitional housing in Baltimore, recalled Macri, who currently volunteers to help veterans in Montgomery County, Md. and Northern Virginia.

Macri has a special bond with the Asian American Center of Frederick, a nonprofit organization that assists with health care, housing and job training.

She gives back to the community, said Elizabeth Chung, Executive Director. Even after retirement she serves as a volunteer doctor in a free clinic.

The arms of this organization are open, Macri offered. They welcome everyone here. Being part of this organization makes me feel close to the community.

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A new report says that the free, very expensive jet that Donald Trump is expected to accept as a gift from Qatars royal family will require billions of dollars of investment and retrofitting to make it into a makeshift Air Force One.

The renovations are such that they would be impossible to complete before 2028.

The administration set off legal and ethical alarms over its plan to accept the $400 million Boeing 747-8 for use as the presidential aircraft. At the same time, a pair of Boeing VC-25 B planes are being completed to stringent military standards in the US. Neither is expected to be completed until 2027.

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The president hailed Qatar's great gesture and said that only a stupid person would not have accepted the gift.

However, the so-called free plane will carry hefty costs from a raft of upgrades, which range from ensuring secure communications to electromagnetic shielding.

The plane is currently being held in San Antonio, Texas. It is unclear if any retrofitting has already taken place.

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday (AP)

Current and former U.S. officials told the Washington Postthat retrofitting the newer plane to Air Force One requirements will take years of work and cost billions of dollars.

Completing the task before Trump leaves office in January 2028 would be impossible, according to the newspaper.

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Inside the split-deck Qatari jet, the same base model as the two VC-25Bs under modification by Boeing, there are two full bathrooms, nine lavatories, a master bedroom and a guest bedroom, multiple lounges, and a private office.

Meanwhile, the current planes are fitted with state-of-the-art defensive countermeasures, in-flight refueling capability, and secure communications equipment.

A private contractor would likely have to rip the plane apart before it was fit for use, including adding secure communications and classified upgrades.

A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft that President Donald Trump toured on February 15 at Palm Beach International Airport to check out new hardware and technology features (AP)

This isnt really a gift, Connecticut Representative Joe Courtney, a top Democrat on the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, told Politico.

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Youd basically have to tear the plane down to the studs and rebuild it to meet all the survivability, security, and communications requirements of Air Force One. Its a massive undertaking  and an unfunded one at that.

Maintenance and operation costs of presidential planes are also an expensive affair.

According to a 2021 internal Pentagon estimate, each VC-25B costs more than $2.5 billion, with an additional $7.7 billion in projected long-term operations and support costs over 30 years.

President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office behind a model of the new version of Air Force One on order from Boeing that won't be delivered until 2027 at the earliest (Getty)

A White House official told the Post it was premature to place a timeframe on how long the upgrades to the Qatari plane might take.

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The Qatari Defense Ministry is in talks with the White House about transferring the jet to the Pentagon, which would oversee its retrofitting.

The White House official said that Qatar offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense, but Trump would not accept it this week during his stop in the country, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as he embarks on his first major foreign trip of his second term.

The plane is expected to be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation in 2029. A source told CNN that Trump intends to use the plane as a private citizen, something that the president denies.
Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, senior envoys of US President Donald Trump, will travel to Istanbul on Thursday for possible negotiations on how to end Russias war in Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the administrations plans; CNN

Details: Reuters does not provide further details at this time.

CNN reported that Trump's possible participation remains an open question, which, according to a senior official, will largely depend on whether Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin attends the talks.

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"It is all very dynamic right now," one of the anonymous officials told CNN, adding that "no one knows much" about what the situation will be like on Thursday.

Regardless of whether Trump takes part in the talks or not, Trumps envoys to Ukraine and the Middle East, Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, plan to travel to Istanbul for the negotiations.

They intend to observe the possible talks between Ukrainians and Russians, mediated by Turkiye.

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Revolt, the youth culture multimedia platform, is set to launch The Peoples Brief, an unfiltered news and commentary series hosted by Lynae Vanee.

Vanee is a three-time NAACP Image Award nominee best known for her Parkin Lot Pimpin' digital series, where she offered compelling, authoritative and fearless takes on race, history and power dynamics. The show also featured her trademark intro, Ima keep it Black, but Ima keep it brief.

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With The Peoples Brief on Revolt, Vanee will continue to keep it Black, but she teases, I think were gonna need more time.

The new weekly series premieres on May 20, and is designed to shake up traditional news formats, according to a press release announcing the project. On The Peoples Brief, Vanee will break down top headlines from her distinct perspective and lived experience, providing coverage that blends incisive analysis, satirical commentary and real-world perspective to engage a new generation of viewers.

The series is the latest offering from Revolt, which services content across digital, linear and live media channels and is the flagship media brand of Offscript Worldwide, a next-generation media and creator ecosystem (which absorbed the company earlier this year). The partnership with Vanee is indicative of Revolts creator-first philosophy  a mission to lead with substance in a crowded content landscape, as well as to invest in emerging talent.

Revolt remains the trusted home for the cultures leading voices and innovators, said Deon Graham, the brands chief content officer. With The Peoples Brief, were proud to give Lynae the stage she deserves while continuing to push the culture forward through authentic, transformative storytelling.

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Vanee is a multihyphenate talent (a performer, poet, influencer, writer and actor) from Atlanta, Ga., and a rising force in media and culture. A graduate of Spelman College and Boston University with a masters degree in African American studies, Vanee has built a dedicated audience online, also hosting the longer-form video series The Let Out and a podcast called Femme Time, both of which center the voices of people of color and continue conversations about culture, mental health and identity. She is represented by ColorCreative.

Im beyond excited to collaborate with Revolt to bring something fresh and necessary to the conversation, said Vanee. As a Black woman and creator, working with a platform that doesnt just feature us but truly believes in us  thats rare, and it means everything. Were taking the topics people are already talking about, from politics to identity and power, and presenting them in a way that feels real, relevant and grounded in community.

Watch the trailer for The Peoples Brief above.

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

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson anticipates that California's sprawling Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, may need to be dialed back after Gov. Gavin Newsom releases his latest budget, which could reflect a multibillion-dollar deficit.

Even so, the physician-turned-lawmaker, who was elected to the state Senate in November, says her priorities as chair of a budget health subcommittee include preserving coverage for the state's most vulnerable, particularly children and people with chronic health conditions.

"We will be spending many, many hours and long nights figuring this out," Weber Pierson said of the lead-up to the state's June 15 deadline for lawmakers to pass a balanced budget.

With Medicaid cuts on the table in Washington and Medi-Cal running billions of dollars over budget due to rising drug prices and higher-than-anticipated costs to cover immigrants without legal status, Weber Pierson's dual responsibilitiesmaintaining a balanced budget and delivering compassionate care to the state's poorest residentscould make her instrumental in leading Democrats through this period of uncertainty.

President Donald Trump has said GOP efforts to cut federal spending will not touch Medicaid beyond "waste, fraud, and abuse." Congressional Republicans are considering going after states such as California that extend coverage to immigrants without legal status and imposing restrictions on provider taxes.

California voters in November made permanent the state's tax on managed-care health plans to continue funding Medi-Cal.

The federal budget megabill is winding its way through Congress, where Republicans have set a target of $880 billion in spending cuts over 10 years from the House committee that oversees the Medicaid program.

Health care policy researchers say that would inevitably force the program to restrict eligibility, narrow the scope of benefits, or both. Medi-Cal covers one in three Californians, and more than half of its nearly $175 billion budget comes from the federal government.

One of a handful of practicing physicians in the state legislature, Weber Pierson is leaning heavily on her experience as a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist who treats children with reproductive birth defectsone of only two in Southern California.

Weber Pierson spoke to KFF Health News correspondent Christine Mai-Duc in Sacramento this spring. She has introduced bills to improve timely access to care for pregnant Medi-Cal patients, require developers to mitigate bias in artificial intelligence algorithms used in health care, and compel health plans to cover screenings for housing, food insecurity, and other social determinants of health.

Q: You're a state senator, you practice medicine in your district, and you're also a mom. What does that look like day to day?



A: When you grow up around someone who juggles a lot, that just kind of becomes the norm. I saw this with my mom [former state Assembly member Shirley Weber, who is now secretary of state].

I'm really happy that I'm able to continue with my clinical duties. Those in the health care profession understand how much time, energy, effort, and money we put into becoming a health care provider, and I'm still fairly early in my career. With my particular specialty, it would also be a huge void in the San Diego region for me to step back.

Q: What are the biggest threats or challenges in health care right now?

A: The immediate threats are the financial issues and our budget. A lot of people do not understand the overwhelming amount of dollars that go into our health care system from the federal government.

Another issue is access. Almost everybody in California is covered by insurance. The problem is that we have not expanded access to providers. If you have insurance but your nearest labor and delivery unit is still two hours away, what exactly have we really done for those patients?

The third thing is the social determinants of health. The fact that your life expectancy is based on the ZIP code in which you were born is absolutely criminal. Why are certain areas devoid of having supermarkets where you can go and get fresh fruits and vegetables? And then we wonder why certain people have high blood pressure and diabetes and obesity.

Q: On the federal level, there's a lot of conversation happening around Medicaid cuts, reining in the MCO tax, and potentially dropping Affordable Care Act premium subsidies. Which is the biggest threat to California?

A: To be quite honest with you, all of those. The MCO tax was a recognition that we needed more providers, and in order to get more providers, we need to increase the Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. The fact that now it is at risk is very, very concerning. That is how we are able to care for those who are our most vulnerable in our state.

Q: If those cuts do come, what do we cut? How do we cut it?



A: We are in a position where we have to talk about it at this point. Our Medi-Cal budget, outside of what the federal government may do, is exploding. We definitely have to ensure that those who are our most vulnerableour kids, those with chronic conditionscontinue to have some sort of coverage. What will that look like?

To be quite honest with you, at this point, I don't know.

Q: How can the state make it the least painful for Californians?

A: Sometimes the last one to the table is the first one to have to leave the table. And so I think that's probably an approach that we will look at. What were some of the more recent things that we've added, and we've added a lot of stuff lately. How can we trim downmaybe not completely eliminate, but trim down onsome of these services to try to make them more affordable?

Q: When you say the last at the table, are you talking about the expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to Californians without legal status? Certain age groups?

A: I don't want to get ahead of this conversation, because it is a very large conversation between not only me but also the [Senate president] pro tem, the Assembly speaker, and the governor's office. But those conversations are being had, keeping in mind that we want to provide the best care for as many people as possible.

Q: You're carrying a bill related to AI in health care this year. Tell me what you're trying to address.

A: It has just exploded at a speed that I don't know any of us were anticipating. We are trying to play catch-up, because we weren't really at the table when all of this stuff was being rolled out.

As we advance in technology, it's been great; we've extended lives. But we need to make sure that the biases that led to various discrepancies and health care outcomes are not the same biases that are inputted into that system.

Q: How does Sacramento policy impact your patients and what experience as a physician do you bring to policymaking?

A: I speak with my colleagues with actual knowledge of what's happening with our patients, what's happening in the clinics. My patients and my fellow providers will often come to me and say, "You guys are getting ready to do this, and this is why it's going to be a problem." And I'm like, "OK, that's really good to know."

I work at a children's facility, and right after the election, specialty hospitals were very concerned around funding and their ability to continue to practice.

In the MCO discussion, I was hearing from providers, hospitals on the ground on a regular basis. With the executive order (on gender-affirming care for transgender youth), I have seen people that I work with concerned, because these are patients that they take care of. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be in both worlds.

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted photos of himself and his grandchildren swimming in waters known to be contaminated during a Mothers Day hike in Rock Creek Park.

In one of the photos from Sunday, Kennedy is seen fully submerged in the water, with his grandchildren swimming, in spite of an ongoing National Park Service advisory against coming in contact with the water in the Washington, D.C., park due to high bacteria levels. The same notice says swimming and wading are not permitted due to the health risks.

Stay out of the water to protect streambanks, plants and animals and keep you and your family (including pets!) safe from illness, the advisory states. Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading, and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and pet) health.

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Kennedy said in a post on X Sunday that he had hiked with his family and then went for "a swim with my grandchildren" in Rock Creek.

Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025

Washington, D.C., has banned swimming in Rock Creek, the Potomac River and other nearby waters since 1971 as a result of contamination.

The Health and Human Services Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.

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A microbial source tracking report published in 2022 by the D.C. government said that ambient water monitoring for Rock Creek showed "chronic elevated levels" of E.coli. "Fecal coliform" bacteria stemming from sewage is also deposited into Rock Creek, the Potomac and other tributary waters from combined sewers during storms according to a 2002 report from the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority.

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Kennedy revealed last year that he once suffered from a parasitic brain infection known as neurocysticercosis thats linked to larvae from pork tapeworms. The condition causes seizures, headaches, blindness, blurred vision, dizziness, psychosis or memory loss. A spokesperson for Kennedy told The New York Times in 2024 that the issue was resolved more than 10 years ago.

Kennedy's swimming photos are the latest in a string of outdoor episodes that have drawn public attention and scrutiny.

Kennedy said last year that he had received a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute in connection with his collection of a whale specimen from 20 years before. He also said he once picked up a bear cub that was hit by a van with plans to skin it, but instead left it in New York City's Central Park.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has set out to combat chronic disease as part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda, says he and two of his grandchildren swam in a creek that is known for sewage contamination.

In an X post, Kennedy said he and his family went on a hike for Mothers Day in Dumbarton Oaks Park in Washington, D.C. He added that he and his grandchildren took a swim in nearby Rock Creek  a highly contaminated waterway where swimming and even wading are prohibited by the National Park Service due to high levels of bacteria.

Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025

Rock Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which has dealt with sewage pollution for decades. According to The New York Times:

Rock Creek, which flows through much of Northwest Washington, is used to drain excess sewage and storm water during rainfall. The creek has widespread fecal contamination and high levels of bacteria, including E. coli, and the city has banned swimming in all of its waterways for more than 50 years because of the widespread contamination of Rock Creek and other nearby rivers.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment.Kennedy has a history of disclosing behavior that raises questions about his personal decisions around health and hygiene.

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He has confessed to dumping a dead bear cub in New York Citys Central Park that he said he had initially planned to eat after picking it up as roadkill. He once said in a deposition that a doctor believed a parasitic worm ate part of his brain and then died in his head. And his daughter has said he used a chain saw to cut off the head of a dead whale that washed ashore in Cape Cod and then drove back to New York after tying it to the roof of his minivan.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Sen. Bill Cassidy has a big decision to make about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

When Kennedy makes his first public appearance before the Senate health committee Wednesday since his February confirmation, public health officials and advocates hope the GOP senator from Louisiana  a doctor  will again challenge Kennedys long-held view that vaccines cause autism, as he did during Kennedys confirmation hearings, and also question actions Kennedy has taken as secretary.

But people with knowledge of Cassidy and Kennedys rapport expect Cassidy might opt to stick with a nonconfrontational approach he believes has helped steer Kennedy away from his anti-vaccine impulses since his confirmation  despite taking heat from the public health crowd.

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Its probably going to be really disappointing for people who want fireworks, said one of those people, adding that Cassidy and Kennedy often talk multiple times a week.

Where Cassidy comes down will say a lot about how much scrutiny Kennedys vaccine policies are going to get on Capitol Hill.

After his tough questions in January, Cassidy voted to confirm Kennedy, saying Kennedy had promised to uphold the current vaccine approval and monitoring system.

I will carefully watch for any effort to wrongfully sow public fear about vaccines, Cassidy said in a floor speech explaining his vote.

Since then, Cassidy has refrained from publicly criticizing the secretary, even as Kennedy has pledged new scrutiny for Covid-19 vaccines, offered lukewarm endorsement of the measles shot during an outbreak and reportedly hired a vaccine skeptic to lead a search for autisms cause.

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From his perch as chair of the Senates Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Cassidy could make life miserable for Kennedy by interrogating him, second-guessing his decisions and calling critics to testify against him.

But Cassidy over the last two months has instead chosen to try to influence Kennedy behind the scenes, believing it would be more productive to privately press Kennedy on thorny issues like vaccines rather than join the chorus of loud-yet-largely ineffective opposition, according to a person who has discussed the matter with Cassidy and was granted anonymity to share details of private conversations.

In making his choice about how to handle Kennedy, Cassidy also has to weigh whether he wants to risk getting on the wrong side of a Cabinet member whom President Donald Trump sees as a major contributor to his election win and a key asset in ensuring the GOP retains control of Congress next year.

Cassidy, whos up for reelection, voted to convict Trump of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol  and is staring down a primary challenge from the MAGA right in former Trump administration official John Fleming. Trump won Louisiana in November by 22 percentage points.

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The heat is on Cassidy, said Robert Hogan, a political science professor who studies American elections at Louisiana State University. Youve got an election system that hes running in that is more favorable towards  at least within the Republican Party  a more extreme candidate, and given the way he has voted on those controversial things, hes someone who should be worried.



Many who work in public health see Cassidy as their best hope to rein in Kennedys anti-vaccine proclivities. Before joining Trumps team, Kennedy ran a group that criticizes vaccine safety and has long believed, in defiance of scientific consensus, that the childhood vaccine schedule is linked to rising autism cases. During a confirmation hearing, Cassidy told Kennedy he was wrong about that.

What I hope will happen is that the Dr. Cassidy will show up and that he will feel aggrieved that hes been lied to and that Kennedy has not kept his many promises, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association, which represents public health professionals and opposed Kennedys confirmation.

Cassidy declined to reveal his strategy for questioning Kennedy at Wednesdays hearing. Officially, Kennedy is headed to Capitol Hill to make a case for the Trump administrations fiscal 2026 proposal, which would cut his departments budget by more than a quarter.

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He plans to say the cuts are needed to right-size a bureaucracy that grew bloated during the pandemic and to rein in wasteful spending.

Since voting to confirm Kennedy, Cassidy has praised him for endorsing measles vaccination  though the health secretary disappointed public health officials by also saying getting the shot is a personal choice  and for putting money behind a search for a new vaccine to stop future pandemics .

Its unclear how much the senators private counsel has influenced Kennedys measles messaging. But in one conspicuous episode, Cassidy urged people to get the measles vaccine after a second child died from the outbreak. Kennedy wrote a long post endorsing the vaccines just hours afterward, a message Cassidy quickly amplified .

That contrasts with the confirmation hearings, when Cassidy scolded Kennedy for his anti-vaccine past by recounting the story of a former patient of his whose liver failure could have been avoided with $50 of vaccines. He repeatedly asked Kennedy, unsuccessfully, to renounce his past claims that vaccines cause autism.

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Cassidy held the deciding vote on Kennedys nomination in the Finance Committee. He voted to confirm him, he said in a February floor speech, because Kennedy promised to have an unprecedently close collaborative working relationship with him, to ask for Cassidys input on hiring decisions at the Department of Health and Human Services and to work within the current vaccine approval and safety-monitoring systems.

An HHS spokesperson said, Secretary Kennedy maintains a professional and respectful relationship with Sen. Cassidy, grounded in a shared commitment to public health and evidence-based policymaking.

A person who has discussed the matter with Cassidy said the senator believes his relationship with Kennedy has been productive, and that Cassidy wants to use his chair at the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to help Kennedy succeed. Cassidy doesnt see his role as adversarial. He wants to help Kennedy use his platform in the most effective way possible, the person said.

The person said Cassidys decision to deal with Kennedy in this way is not motivated by his coming reelection campaign.

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Cassidy also does not believe Kennedy has violated his promises to him, the person said.

But during Kennedys confirmation hearings, Cassidy told Kennedy his Make America Healthy Again movement was a political force.

My phone blows up with people who really follow you, and there are many who trust you more than they trust their own physician, Cassidy told him.

The view from Kennedys camp

As White House officials fought to win Cassidys support and save Kennedys teetering nomination, Trump made a personal ask of Kennedy: Try to get along with the Louisiana senator, according to two people familiar with the matter who were allowed to speak anonymously to discuss private conversations. HHS did not respond to a request for comment on that issue.

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Kennedy agreed, and the administration eventually reached a deal: Cassidy would vote for him after Kennedy agreed to a list of commitments that gave the senator extraordinary access to the health secretary.

Since then, Kennedy has clearly abided by some parts of that informal contract: The two of them speak several times a week, with Kennedy giving Cassidy updates on his agenda and explaining his policy decisions, allowing Cassidy to push back on ideas that he thinks are off base.

The two have refused to talk publicly about their relationship, believing that the only way for it to be productive is if the content  and disagreements  dont spill out into the press.

Yet Kennedy allies and advisers say Cassidy hasnt exerted much of a visible influence on Kennedys policies, though they did acknowledge Kennedy has softened his vaccine rhetoric and recommended that people get the measles vaccine. An outbreak that started in Texas earlier this year has now infected more than 1,000 people and killed three.

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Within Kennedys inner circle and the wider Trump orbit, some see a continuing need to keep Cassidy happy, especially with Kennedy still trying to get his HHS team in place. They worry that Cassidy could single-handedly halt nominees or potentially cause havoc to the broader Trump agenda if hes alienated.

Others privately dismiss Cassidys influence, contending hes persona non grata to Trump and his allies because he voted to convict the president in 2021 and is likely to lose his reelection bid next year because of it.

Seven GOP senators voted to convict Trump after 10 GOP House members voted to impeach him following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Only five remain in Congress. Some retired, but others lost reelection campaigns after Trump targeted them, including former Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington.

Few in Kennedys camp believe the health secretary can help Cassidy avoid a similar fate  or would even have much inclination to if he could.

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Still, theres mutual recognition that it's beneficial for both to get along.

Bobbys default position is peace, said a person with direct knowledge. Because thats what the president wants.

Promises  not kept?

Public health figures say Kennedy has already broken his promises to Cassidy, at least in spirit.

POLITICO reported in February that Kennedy was planning a shake-up at a panel of expert vaccine advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency now under his purview, to root out members with conflicts of interest, but he hasnt done it yet.

They did delay the committee meeting; they did vet the members of the committee and then found out that they really didnt have any conflicts of interest, but they still talk about people being appointed to committees having conflicts of interest, the American Public Health Associations Benjamin said.

Kennedy didnt initially endorse the measles vaccine amidst the Texas outbreak, then did, but he also promoted vitamin A to treat the highly infectious disease, Benjamin said: Had he been a physician, he would have been charged with malpractice.



Vitamin A doesnt cure measles , according to the Infectious Disease Society of America. It can prevent complications in children who are malnourished, the society said.

Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center and a doctor at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said Kennedy is testing the fences to see what he can get away with. Offit pointed to Kennedy weighing whether to pull the Covid vaccine from the governments list of recommended immunizations for children and saying, incorrectly, that no vaccine has ever been tested in a clinical trial against a placebo.

Hes an anti-vaccine activist. Thats who he is, Offit said. Kennedy has rejected that label and told Cassidy and others he is only interested in more data about vaccine safety.

Offit recently published a letter he sent to Cassidy ahead of Wednesdays hearing calling for Kennedy to step down. Offit said Cassidy didnt respond.

A political conundrum

Cassidy, in raising his own concerns and then saying that Kennedy had assuaged them, helped legitimize him, the LSU political scientist Hogan said, with the end result a win for Trump.

On social media, Cassidy has touted his alignment with Trumps policies and a  great working relationship  with the president.

The senator also highlighted a shout-out from Trump at a recent White House event Cassidy participated in.

And Cassidy has voted for every top Trump nominee to reach the Senate floor.

Cassidy leads his Senate race for now, according to a Ragnar Research poll for his campaign.





That could change if Trump were to back a primary challenger, given the presidents popularity in Louisiana. Hogan said a Trump endorsement of Fleming or some other candidate would be devastating to Cassidy.

Fleming retired from a northwest Louisiana House seat after four terms in 2017, then held several positions in the first Trump administration, including a brief stint as an assistant to the president and senior adviser to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

Elected Louisiana state treasurer in 2023, Fleming said he would have had no problem voting to confirm Kennedy if he were in Cassidys position.

But as he, too, is a doctor, Fleming said his support for Kennedys confirmation doesn't necessarily mean that I would agree with absolutely everything that he believes, and that would be true of most anyone.

People close to Cassidy insist he wont be thinking about reelection when he questions Kennedy on Wednesday.

Having worked over eight years for Sen. Cassidy, Ive observed that he consistently prioritizes policy outcomes over political expediency, said Chris Gillott, a former deputy chief of staff and legislative director to the senator.

Whether its lowering health care costs or advancing funding and tax policy initiatives, he makes decisions based on their impact on the country and the people of Louisiana, Gillott added.

CLARIFICATION: This story has been clarified to better describe John Fleming's role in the first Trump administration.
More than 350 film world figures, including Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem, have published an open letter on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival condemning silence over the deadly impact of Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

The letter, published on the website of Frances Liberation newspaper on Monday evening, was headed In Cannes, the horror Gaza must not be silenced. It was addressed For Fatem, in memory of 25-year-old Gaza artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna.

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The young woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in mid-April just 24 hours after it was announced a documentary exploring her life in the Gaza Strip would world premiere in the Cannes. Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed in same strike.

She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April, 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsis film Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival. She was about to get married, read the letter.

Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, filmmakers and artists are being brutally murdered.

Israels bombing and invasion of Gaza began in October 2023 in response to Hamass October 7 attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages.

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Eighteen months on, at least 52,600 people have been killed by Israeli military action, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Gaza health authority, while the 2.4 million population is also facing severe food shortages due to a two month blockade of essential supplies by Israel.

The letter was published just hours after Hamas released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, in what it said was a gesture of goodwill ahead of U.S. President Donald Trumps visit to the Middle East, which does not include Israel. Around 58 hostages are still missing in Gaza, with around 24 of them still believed to be alive.

Further signatories include Pedro Almodovar, Javier Bardem, Leila Bekhti, Kaouther Ben Hania, David Cronenberg, Costa-Gavras, Julie Delpy, Alice Diop, Xavier Dolan, Adele Exarchopoulos, Nicole Garcia, Jonathan Glazer, Alain Guiraudie, Annemarie Jacir, Yorgos Lanthimos, Nadav Lapid, Mike Leigh, Boris Lojkine, Kleber Mendonca, Viggo Mortensen, Laura Poitras, Ruben Ostlund, Mark Ruffalo and Ira Sachs.

The letter also highlighted the case of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, with Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, who was attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army in late March, before being released under international pressure.

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The Oscar Academys lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologise for its inaction, read the letter, referring to a U-turn by the body.

As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard. What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices? Why this silence?

Read the full letter here:

For Fatem

Fatma Hassona (Fatem) was 25 years old.

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She was a Palestinian freelance photojournalist. She was targeted by the Israeli army on 16 April 2025, the day after it was announced that Sepideh Farsis film PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK, in which she was the star, had been selected in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival.

She was about to get married.

Ten of her relatives, including her pregnant sister, were killed by the same Israeli strike.

Since the terrible massacres of 7 October 2023, no foreign journalist has been authorised to enter the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army is targeting civilians. More than 200 journalists have been deliberately killed. Writers, film-makers and artists are being brutally murdered.

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At the end of March, Palestinian film-maker Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for his film NO OTHER LAND, co directed by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers and then kidnapped by the army, before being released under international pressure. The Oscar Academys lack of support for Hamdan Ballal sparked outrage among its own members and it had to publicly apologise for its inaction.

We are ashamed of such passivity.

Why is it that cinema, a breeding ground for socially committed works, seems to be so indifferent to the horror of reality and the oppression suffered by our sisters and brothers?

As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard.

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What is the point of our professions if not to draw lessons from history, to make films that are committed, if we are not present to protect oppressed voices?

Why this silence?

The far right, fascism, colonialism, anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+, sexist, racist, islamophobic and anti-Semitic movements are waging their battle on the battlefield of ideas, attacking publishing, cinema and universities, and thats why we have a duty to fight.

Lets refuse to let our art be an accomplice to the worst.

Let us rise up.

Let us name reality.

Let us collectively dare to look at it with the precision of our sensitive hearts, so that it can no longer be silenced and covered up.

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Let us reject the propaganda that constantly colonises our imaginations and makes us lose our sense of humanity.

For Fatem, for all those who die in indifference.

Cinema has a duty to carry their messages, to reflect our societies.

Lets act before its too late.

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Summer is almost here, but what will the weather be like this year?

Will it be like 2024, when it rained on almost every weekend day? Or like summer 2023, when it was cooler and wetter than usual?

Or will Rhode Island finally get one of those perfect summers with warm beach days perfect for sipping on a Del's lemonade? Preferably on a Saturday, when you don't need to take time off of work.

Here's a look at what the various weather forecasts are saying about what to expect this summer, including the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Farmer's Almanac (which, yes, is different than the old one), AccuWeather and the National Weather Service's long-range forecast

Old Farmer's Almanac: RI's summer 2025 will be hot and dry

Summer 2025 temperature map from the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Good news for beach lovers: the Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting hot and dry weather for summer 2025.

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"Expect hotter-than-normal temperatures across most of the U.S., except for the Northwest and southern Florida," the Old Farmers' Almanac's forecast says.

They predict Rhode Island will see slightly less rain than usual.

More: What will RI weather be like this summer? Get ready for heat, Old Farmer's Almanac says.

Farmers' Almanac: RI's summer 2025 will be 'broiling, average precipitation'

Farmers' Almanac's summer 2025 predictions for the U.S.

With a slightly different take, the Farmers' Almanac agrees with the Old Farmer's Almanac that it is going to be hot, but differs on the amount of rain to expect.

Their forecast said to prepare for new heat records to be set in summer 2025, anticipating that "heat will be in full force by July, with much of the nation sweltering with above to high-above average temperatures."

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Farmers' Almanac is also predicting heavy downfalls of rain.

More: How hot will it be this summer in RI? See Farmers' Almanac summer forecast

The National Weather Service: RI summer 2025 will be 'above normal' temps

The 2025 summer weather outlook for June, July and August issued by the National Weather Service.

In July, August and September, the National Weather Service says that there is a 70 to 80% chance that temperatures are above normal in Rhode Island. There's an equal percent chance that the region will see more or less precipitation than normal.

AccuWeather: RI summer 2025 will bring heat waves and thunderstorms

AccuWeather is predicting a mixed bag in the Northeast this summer.

"In the Northeast ... the summer will be full of ups and downs as heat waves are broken by showers and thunderstorms," the long-range forecast states. "The tradeoff will be higher humidity," which can ultimately boost temperatures.

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While AccuWeather didn't give a Rhode Island specific forecast about how many 90-degree days there would be, they did for nearby Boston. An AccuWeather graphic shows that in 2025, the Boston is expected to see 9-13, compared to 12 in 2024. The 30-year historical average for 90-degree days in the region is 14, according to AccuWeather.

Seth Jacobson and Melina Khan contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What will summer be like in RI? What the Farmer's Almanac, NWS predict
May 12WILKES-BARRE  On Wednesday

, May 14

, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) will host a virtual Rapid Response Information Meeting (RRIM) for employees affected by the recently announced Rite Aid layoffs which affected hundreds of workers in Pennsylvania.

The session will provide important information to help impacted workers during this career transition, like PA CareerLink services, Unemployment Compensation guidance, health insurance enrollment and additional local and state resources.

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The meeting will take place online from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and registration is required. Impacted workers can sign up online.

"Suddenly losing employment and having to determine your next move can feel overwhelming and intimidating," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "But L&I is here to help during this challenging time. Our Rapid Response team is working to ensure those impacted by Rite Aid's layoffs have access to the resources and support they need to help them transition to meaningful employment opportunities that offer family-sustaining wages."

L&I encourages workers to reach out to their local PA CareerLink for more information and services.

Topper: Flawed process created flawed legal marijuana bill

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Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton, this week said the flawed process leading to House Bill 1200  legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Pennsylvania  resulted in a flawed bill that demanded opposition.

The legislation passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Wednesday on a party-line vote of 102-101.

"The bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania was introduced at the end of the day Sunday and then rushed through a committee vote on Monday afternoon  a move that stifled debate and potential amendments," Topper said. "That flawed process led to a seriously flawed piece of legislation that creates an unnecessary government monopoly over the sale of marijuana, contains significant constitutional concerns, and fails to deliver on promised state revenue by cannibalizing the sales of legalized marijuana into new programs and state giveaways."

Topper said House Bill 1200 massively expands government by creating a government monopoly over the sale of marijuana by vesting sale and regulatory authority with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which estimated $260 million in costs to ramp up sales of marijuana. In addition, during the amendment process, Democrats unanimously rejected a Republican proposal that would have allowed municipalities to opt-out of having marijuana sales take place within their borders.

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"If Democrats were serious about getting this legislation done, the process they used would have reflected that," Rep. Topper said. "Unfortunately, this product was too rushed, too deeply flawed, and too far-ranging to garner any support from the House Republican Caucus."

House Bill 1200 now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate.

Structured literacy, PASS scholarship bills advanced

The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, this week advanced legislation to implement evidence-based reading instruction and establish the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Scholarship Program  both of which aim to provide students with resources for learning and advancing in and out of the classroom.

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"Structured literacy is a top priority for me as Chair of the Education Committee, as we have students in all grades that are not able to read at grade level," Culver said. "Methods used in recent years for teaching letters, words, and reading comprehension are doing a disservice to an entire generation, and research backs the need for change."

Senate Bill 700  requires schools to implement evidence-based reading instruction, conduct reading screenings for K  3 students and provides grant funding to support literacy development.

"Under-performing schools are also doing our students a disservice," Culver said. "PASS Scholarships allow parents and students to determine the best learning environment for them."

Senate Bill 10  uses state testing performance metrics to identify the bottom 15% of schools, in order for parents to qualify for PASS scholarships that could be used to attend an alternative school.

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The committee also approved the following additional legislation:

Senate Bill 114  expands the availability of long-term care training programs and nurse aide certification opportunities to address workforce shortages.

Senate Bill 127  requires schools to provide instruction on the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations, and post related resources online.

Senate Bill 227  applies the Right-to-Know Law to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, increasing transparency in school governance.

Senate Bill 246  requires notification to parents and school staff when a weapon is found on school property to promote communication and safety.

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Senate Bill 310  establishes a requirement for students to complete the FAFSA or an opt-out form as a condition for public high school graduation, supporting college and career readiness.

For information, visit www.pasenategop.com.

Pugh to hold concealed carry event

Rep. Brenda Pugh, R-Dallas Township, this week announced she will host a Concealed Carry Seminar on Thursday

, May 15

.

The event will be held at the Luzerne Volunteer Fire Department, 66 Tener St., Luzerne, from 6 to 8 p.m.

"Many people have questions about Pennsylvania's concealed carry laws and the Castle Doctrine," Pugh said. "I'm hopeful this event will help provide answers and clarity about firearm owner rights."

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The seminar, led by Sam Sanguedolce, Luzerne County district attorney, will provide information on state laws and a time to ask questions. No concealed carry permits will be offered.

Reservations are required by calling 570-283-1001 or visiting www.RepPugh.com/events.

Walsh to host seminar on financial exploitation of seniors

Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, invites residents of the 117th District to a free seminar on the financial exploitation of seniors at noon Friday, May 16, at the Meadows Manor Community Room, 200 Lake St., Dallas.

Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., with a complimentary lunch provided at 11:30 a.m.

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David Shallcross, director of senior protection at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, will lead a presentation on spotting and preventing financial exploitation among older adults.

"Fraudsters and scammers are constantly changing their tactics to prey upon unsuspecting victims," Walsh said. "Awareness is our best defense against financial exploitation. I am happy to offer this free seminar to help my constituents learn the red flags and protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to financial fraud schemes."

Registration is required. Call Walsh's Dallas office at 570-675-6000 for information or to reserve a seat.

House approves bill to increase pension payments for disabled veterans

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The state House of Representatives has approved legislation that would increase pension payments for veterans who are blind and for veterans who have lost limbs or are paralyzed due to their military service, according to Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton, one of the bill's prime sponsors.

"It's been 26 years since these pension payments made by our Commonwealth were adjusted, and it's long past due we make this change to support our disabled veterans," Watro said.

House Bill 1144 seeks to raise the pension amount from $150 per month to $200 per month for both the Blind Veterans Pension Program and the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

"This $50 increase per month is the first step in right-sizing these programs for the deserving veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country," Watro said. "I hope the Senate acts quickly on this important legislation."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
The Saudi royal court banquet was a golden opportunity for attendees to shake hands with Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but for two tech billionaires in the US presidents entourage, the priority seemed to be staying as far away from each other as possible.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, are in the large entourage accompanying the US president in Saudi Arabia this week, but images from a meeting on Tuesday with the crown prince show the two men looking visibly uncomfortable.

In one picture, Mr Altman looks to his left with a dissatisfied expression, and in another Mr Musk appears to be smirking to himself. They also dont seem to be in any of the same shots.

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The two have an ongoing and very public feud, underscored by opposing lawsuits.

Mr Musk has accused OpenAI, which develops ChatGPT, of fraud and breach of contract in a lawsuit that he dropped in June and then refiled in August.

In response, OpenAI launched a counter-suit accusing Mr Musk of harassment and requesting that he be stopped from any further unlawful and unfair action against the company.

Sam Altman, also in Riyadh, has an ongoing feud with Elon Musk - Brian Snyder/Reuters

A couple of days before the two set off for Riyadh, Mr Altman seemed eager to bury the hatchet, posting Lets be friends on the social media platform X in response to an article about Mr Musk.

But despite this overture, it does not appear as if the two men have put an end to their quarrel.

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Mr Musk and Mr Altman co-founded OpenAI back in 2015, but Mr Musk left three years later after failing to gain full control.

He has since accused OpenAI of straying from its founding mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity.

OpenAI has responded, accusing Mr Musk of spreading false information and claiming that Elons never been about the mission. Hes always been about his own agenda.

Mr Musk now has his own AI company, xAI, which developed the Grok chatbot, a direct competitor of ChatGPT.

The two billionaires shared a stage in 2015 - Getty Images/Michael Kovac

However, despite their personal issues, it seemed that neither wanted to pass up the opportunity to take part in Mr Trumps first major international trip since his inauguration.

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Mr Trump is also accompanied by several members of his cabinet, including Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defence, as well as long list of other executives, including Andy Jassy, chief executive of Amazon, Larry Fink and Stephen Schwarzman, the CEOs of BlackRock, and Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia.

Saudi Arabia is the first stop on the tour, after which the Trump team is heading to Qatar, where the US president will meet with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and visit the US militarys Al Udeid Air Base.

The final stop on Thursday will be the United Arab Emirates, where Trump will meet with president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Robert Benton, the Oscar-winning filmmaker who helped reset the rules in Hollywood as the co-creator of "Bonnie and Clyde," and later received mainstream validation as the writer-director of "Kramer vs. Kramer" and "Places in the Heart," has died at age 92.

Benton's son, John Benton, said that he died Sunday at his home in Manhattan of natural causes.

During a 40-year screen career, the Texas native received six Oscar nominations and won three times: for writing and directing "Kramer vs. Kramer" and for writing "Places in the Heart." He was widely appreciated by actors as attentive and trusting, and directed Oscar-winning performances by Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Sally Field. Although severe dyslexia left him unable to read more than a few pages at a time as a child, he wrote and directed film adaptations of novels by Philip Roth, E.L. Doctorow and Richard Russo, among others.

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Benton was an art director for Esquire magazine in the early 1960s when a love for French New Wave movies and old gangster stories (and news that a friend got $25,000 for a Doris Day screenplay) inspired him and Esquire editor David Newman to draft a treatment about the lives of Depression-era robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, imagining them as prototypes for 1960s rebels.

Their project took years to complete as Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard were among the directors who turned them down before Warren Beatty agreed to produce and star in the movie. "Bonnie and Clyde," directed by Arthur Penn and starring Beatty and Faye Dunaway, overcame initial critical resistance in 1967 to the film's shocking violence and became one of the touchstones of 1960s culture and the start of a more open and creative era in Hollywood.

The original story by Benton and Newman was even more daring: they had made Clyde Barrow bisexual and involved in a 3-way relationship with Bonnie and their male getaway driver. Beatty and Penn both resisted, and Barrow instead was portrayed as impotent, with an uncredited Robert Towne making numerous other changes to the script. I honestly dont know who the auteur of Bonnie and Clyde was, Benton later told Mark Harris, author of Pictures at a Revolution," a book about Bonnie and Clyde and four other movies from 1967.

Oscar-winning triumphs

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Over the following decade, none of Bentons films approached the impact of "Bonnie and Clyde, although he continued to have critical and commercial success. His writing credits included "Superman" and "What's Up, Doc?" He directed and co-wrote such well-reviewed works as "Bad Company," a revisionist Western featuring Jeff Bridges, and "The Late Show," a melancholy comedy for which his screenplay received an Oscar nomination.

His career soared in 1979 with his adaptation of the Avery Corman novel "Kramer vs. Kramer," about a self-absorbed advertising executive who becomes a loving parent to his young son after his wife walks out, only to have her return and ask for custody. Starring Hoffman and Streep, the movie was praised as a perceptive, emotional portrait of changing family roles and expectations and received five Academy Awards, including best picture. Hoffman, disenchanted at the time with the film business, would cite Kramer vs. Kramer and Benson's direction for reviving his love for movie acting.

Five years later, Benton was back in the Oscars race with a more personal film, "Places in the Heart," in which he drew upon family stories and childhood memories for his 1930s-set drama starring Fields as a mother of two in Texas who fights to hold on to her land after her husband is killed.

I think that when I saw it all strung together, I was surprised at what a romantic view I had of the past, Benton told The Associated Press in 1984, adding that the movie was in part a tribute to his mother, who had died shortly before the release of Kramer vs. Kramer.

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A lifelong movie fan

Benton was born in Waxahachie, Texas, outside of Dallas. He owed his early love for movies to his father, telephone company employee Ellery Douglass Benton, who, instead of asking about homework, would take his family to the picture shows. The elder Benton would also share memories of attending the funerals of outlaws Barrow and Parker, Texas natives who grew up in the Dallas area.

Robert Benton studied at the University of Texas and Columbia University, then served in the U.S. Army from 1954 until 1956. While at Esquire, Benton helped start the magazines long-standing Dubious Achievement Award and dated Gloria Steinem, then on staff at the humor magazine Help! He married artist Sallie Rendigs in 1964. They had one son.

Between hits, Benton often endured long dry spells. His latter films included such disappointments as the thrillers "Billy Bathgate," "The Human Stain" and "Twilight." He had much more success with "Nobody's Fool," a wry comedy released in 1994 and starring Paul Newman, in his last Oscar-nominated performance, as a small-town troublemaker in upstate New York. Benton, whose film was based on Russo's novel, was nominated for best adapted screenplay.

Somebody asked me once when the Academy Award nominations came out and I'd been nominated, What's the great thing about the Academy Awards? Benton told Venice magazine in 1998. I said When you go to the awards and you see people, some of whom you've had bitter fights with, some of whom you're close friends with, some people you haven't seen in ten years, some people you just saw two days before  it's your family. It's home. And home is what I've spent my life looking for.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared photos of himself submerged in Washington, D.C.'s Rock Creek with his grandchildren, despite longstanding warnings that high bacterial levels make the Potomac River tributary unsafe.

"Mother's Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek," RFK Jr. wrote alongside four photos from the outing posted to X on Sunday.

The photos show the 71-year-old member of President Donald Trump's administration both sitting in the water and completely submerging in the shallow creek.

Mothers Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025

Longstanding warnings from the National Park Service (NPS), however, say to stay out of the water because of high bacteria levels.

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"Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading, and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and pet) health," the federal agency warns on a webpage for the park.

Staying out of the water also helps to protect the natural landscape from erosion and negative impacts to wildlife as well, according to the NPS.

Washington, D.C., has banned swimming in waterways for over 50 years because of the widespread contamination.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Rock Creek has been found to have "fecal contamination" from sewage and high levels of bacteria, including E. coli.

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Despite the federal warnings and signs in the area detailing the risks, people have been known to still swim or wade in the water.

ABC News has reached out to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a comment.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. submerges in creek with high bacteria levels, including E. coli originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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:

A patient infected with chikungunya looks out from mosquito netting at the Clinicas Hospital in San Lorenzo, Paraguay, Friday, March 3, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, file

The U.S. government advised American travelers age 60 and older not to get a chikungunya vaccine as it investigates possible side effects.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration posted notices late last week on the vaccine, Valneva's Ixchiq.

Chikungunya, spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes, is a debilitating tropical illness marked by fever and joint pain. About 100 to 200 cases are reported annually among U.S. travelers.

Last year, the government began recommending the vaccine, which is made with weakened chikungunya virus, to U.S. adults who travel to countries where chikungunya is a problem.

But last month, a panel of vaccine experts who advise the CDC heard about an investigation into six people 65 and oldermost of them with other medical problemswho became ill with heart or brain symptoms less than a week after vaccination. More than 10 other similar cases have been reported in people from other countries.

European regulators are also looking into the issue.

The U.S. advisers voted to issue a precaution for people 65 and older about getting the vaccine.

They also recommended that a second chikungunya vaccineBavarian Nordic's Vimkunyabe made available for people age 12 and older who are traveling to countries where outbreaks of the mosquito-borne illness are occurring. CDC officials have not yet announced whether they will accept those recommendations.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
By Miranda Murray

CANNES, France (Reuters) -Hollywood icon Robert De Niro lambasted "philistine" U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday and his proposed film tariff at the Cannes Film Festival's opening ceremony, where he used his lifetime achievement award speech to call for protests.

The 81-year-old actor shared the stage at the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere with fellow Oscar-winning superstars like Halle Berry, Juliette Binoche and Quentin Tarantino to accept the award from longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio.

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Trump "has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he has announced the 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S.," said De Niro, known for films like "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull" and more recently "Killers of the Flower Moon."

"You can't put a price on creativity, but apparently, you can put a tariff on it," said De Niro, who called on "everyone who cares about liberty" to protest against Trump.

Organisers stress that they want to avoid politics and focus on the films, but this year's inclusion of movies from Gaza, Ukraine and Iran, as well as Trump's tariff announcement shortly before the festival, has put more focus on the world outside Cannes.

Binoche, the head of this year's jury, used her speech to pay tribute to Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza and is the subject of a documentary to be shown at Cannes.

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OFFICIALLY OPEN

Tarantino, the U.S. director who launched his career at Cannes, officially opened the festival, which now runs until May 24, with a mic drop before audiences settled in for the opening film, French comedy "Leave One Day."

U.S. actor Eva Longoria, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda and U.S. director Sean Baker - who won the festival's top Palme d'Or prize last year for "Anora" - were seen on the red carpet ahead of the festival.

German model Heidi Klum wore a pink flower petal-esque gown that trailed quite a ways behind her - but apparently not long enough to have her denied entry onto the red carpet after organisers changed the dress code recently to ban nudity and over-the-top trains.

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Berry, who is also on this year's jury, was wearing a black-and-white gown without a train on the red carpet after she said earlier on Tuesday that she had to switch her outfit choice last minute due to the updated dress code.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Sandra Maler)
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival got off to both a politically charged and Hollywood start on Tuesday evening as Robert De Niro was presented with an honorary Palme dOr by Leonardo DiCaprio.

An impassioned De Niro used his acceptance speech to address issues he said are facing the artistic community and threatening democracy under the presidency of Donald Trump.

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In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. That affects all of us here because the arts are democratic. Art is inclusive, it brings people together. Art embraces diversity and thats why art is a threat, thats why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists, he said.

Americas philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions, he continued. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he has announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside of the U.S. Let that sink in.  You cant put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it.

De Niro said Trumps actions were not a uniquely U.S. issue.

RELATED: Cannes Jury President Juliette Binoche On Trumps Movie and TV Tariffs: Hes Fighting To Save America And To Save His Ass

This is not just an American problem, its a global one, he said. We cant all just sit back and watch. We have to act and we have to act now, not with violence but with great passion and determination. Its time for everyone who cares about liberty to organize, to protest  and when there are elections, of course, to vote. Tonight and for the next 11 days we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival. Liberte, egalite, fraternite.

Leonardo DiCaprio pays tribute to screen giant Robert Di Niro at the #CannesFilmFestival and jokes that a nod and a smile from DeNiro is like a standing ovation pic.twitter.com/fPH0fzFKiJ  Deadline (@DEADLINE) May 13, 2025

DiCaprio, who arrived onstage to rousing applause, highlighted the role played De Niro in his early career.

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Growing up in Los Angeles, every young actor I knew watched De Niros work, the Oscar winner said. We studied him, trying to understand how he immersed himself so completely in his characters. He created the blueprint. He wasnt just another great actor, he was the actor.

DiCaprio recalled how he had gotten his first big movie break playing opposite De Niro in This Boys Life.

RELATED: Croisettiquette: Your Guide To The Dos And Donts Of The Strictest Red Carpet In The World

The audition process was a tough one. Lots of competition. None of us knew who would get the part  As a 15 or 16 year old, I did the only thing I could think of to stand out, I screamed at him at the top of my lungs, recounted DiCaprio.

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The room burst into laughter. Later that day, as the story goes, Bob was getting on his plane with a producer. Art Linson asked, Who do you want to play the part? And in classic De Niro fashion, he replied, Second kid from the last. Luckily, that second kid was me, and that moment changed my life forever, started my entire career in the world of cinema.

A montage of De Niros films was played, kicking off with the explosion in Casino and including the famous you talkin to me? scene in Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver.

The honor came close to 50 years after De Niro first attended Cannes with Bernardo Bertoluccis 1900 and Taxi Driver, which won the Palme dOr.

RELATED: Full List Of Cannes Palme dOr Winners Through The Years: Photo Gallery

In between times, he has been a regular guest at Cannes with movies including Scorseses The King of Comedy, which opened the festival in 1983; Sergio Leones last film, Once Upon a Time in America (1984), and Roland Joffes The Mission (1986), which also won the Palme dOr.

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Most recently, he was at the festival with Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, which played Out of Competition in 2023.

The ceremony preceded the world premiere of feel-good musical French film Leave One Day by Amelie Bonnin, which made Cannes history as the first debut feature to open the festival.

Mixing drama with pop songs and classics of the La Chanson Francaise, the tale of a talented top chef who returns to her small provincial town to help out in the family roadside diner after her father suffers a heart attack, was expected to go down well with the predominantly French opening-night crowd.

On a more somber note, the ceremony was dedicated to the late Emilie Dequenne, the Belgian actress who first achieved fame with her 1999 Cannes dOr-winning, big-screen debut in Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardennes drama Rosetta. Dequenne died in March at age 43 after battling a rare adrenal gland cancer.

RELATED: 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries

The opening ceremony also featured an impassioned speech from Jury President Juliette Binoche, who paid tribute to Gaza artist and photojournalist Fatima Hassouna.

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The young woman had been invited to attend this years edition as the subject of a documentary playing in the parallel ACID section but was killed in an Israeli airstrike just 24 hours after the films selection was announced.

Binoche was joined onstage by her jury members Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia, Alba Rohrwacher, Leila Slimani, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sangsoo, Carlos Reygadas and Jeremy Strong.

They will watch and vote on 22 films in the running for the Palme dOr including Wes Andersons The Phoenician Scheme, Ari Asters Eddington, Julia Ducournaus Alpha, Hafsia Herzis La Petite Derniere and Richard Linklaters Nouvelle Vague.

The honor of declaring the festival open went to Quentin Tarantino, who is at the festival this year as guest of honor of Cannes Classics with a special tribute devoted to late low-budget westerns director George Sherman.

Quentin Tarantino declares the #CannesFilmFestival officially open with a mic drop pic.twitter.com/X3EgMh5ClO  Deadline (@DEADLINE) May 13, 2025

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Members from the Rochester Union and Allied Professionals (RUNAP) gathered Tuesday morning outside of Rochester General Hospital on Portland Ave., claiming the hospital administration is not doing its part to ensure adequate staffing levels are maintained.

RUNAP is backing this claim with data, which it says is provided directly by hospital administration, as negotiated in the 2023-2027 contract.

In 2021, NYS passed a law with hospital safety staffing level requirements, and in the union contract, a provision provides the group with a route for consequences should those minimums fail.

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According to RUNAP, in the first quarter of 2025, there was not a single shift when there were enough registered nurses (RNs) working in the hospital to meet the clinical staffing plan. There was a night shift on January 20th when there were just enough RNs scheduled, but a normal amount of sick calls that day, then it dropped under the required staffing levels. The data RUNAP is relying on is provided each quarter by hospital administration as negotiated in the union contract.

Thats not to say its perfect; weve noticed that there are units where staffing data is missing or its incorrect. Theres one unit, an orthopedic surgical unit where they wereat least for a while, they were counting a virtual care nurse, whos a mile away in a different building, as if they were working on the floor, which was very troubling, says RUNAP union organizer, Will McMahon.

In the state law on hospital staffing safety, McMahon notes there is no consequence for hospitals when they dont meet a certain threshold. This factor is what led the union, as it was forming in 2021, to include, as a provision in its contract, consequences.

KORE Wireless will lay off Pittsford employees by July

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That component states if the hospital is not meeting safety minimums at least 90% (or under-staffing exceeds 10% of all shifts hospital-wide), it triggers a fine paid by the hospital each quarter. A staffing report issued Tuesday morning by RUNAP, shows that 97% of the time in Q1, there was inadequate staff.

Weve contracted with a computer programmer to build a program to analyze it and its a very simple process of just comparing the clinical staffing plan,  said McMahon, which are the grids for each unit that say if theres this many patients, there should be this many nurses, against the real numbers of how many patients there were and how many nurses there were.

The nurses gave them ample opportunity to resolve this internally. So now were going to arbitration thats handled by the American Arbitration Association. The hospital will eventually have to file their position, so well finally get what theyre thinking. As far as I can tell, theyre still scrambling to put that together in the meetings we have had with them on this issue, its become clear that theyre not even looking at these numbers on a hospital-wide basis themselves, McMahon says.

Rochester General Hospital provided the following statement in response:

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At Rochester General Hospital (RGH), we are proud of the progress our nurses and clinical teams have made, and the extraordinary work they do every day to heal, comfort and care for our community. We just celebrated that incredible work during Nurses Week, and continue to highlight them during our ongoing Magnet site visit.

Our top priority is ensuring every patient receives safe, high-quality care. We recognize that staffing is a critical component of that mission. We disagree with the unions recent claims regarding understaffing numbers. We have not been able to validate their calculations. Based upon our calculations, we believe that we have met the previously agreed-upon staffing levels. In fact, earlier this year in a widely-reported move, we temporarily reduced our bed count to preserve safe nurse to patient ratios.

RGH remains committed to working in good faith with the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals (RUNAP) to resolve any concerns about staffing through the formal resolution process.

RGH continues to take meaningful and ongoing steps to strengthen our workforce. Since last spring, weve added 50 full-time registered nurses to our team, reduced voluntary RN turnover to under 4%, and increased nurse recruitment by 17% year over year. In addition, the average hourly rate of an RGH nurse exceeds the NYS Adjusted Average Nurse hourly wage, reported by Beckers Hospital Review. We continue to lean in and improve the nursing work environment at Rochester General Hospital. These improvements reflect both the dedication of our teams and our continued investments in building a strong, stable nursing workforce.

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While were encouraged by the progress weve made, we recognize theres more work to do. Our commitment to excellence remains unwavering and we continue caring for our patients like family.

Magnet designation, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, is the highest credential a healthcare organization can achieve and indicates to patients and the public that these organizations have met the most stringent, evidence-based standards of nursing excellence in patient care delivery. RGH has been Magnet Designated since 2004. We are excited to be in the midst of our 5th re-designation.

The full staffing report by RUNAP can be found here: https://www.runap.org/staffingreport/

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May 12MORRISON  An ill detective and an abundance of pretrial motions  covering everything from whether to permit a jury to hear a 911 call to the possibility the Rock Falls Police Department violated investigative protocol and what that could mean  has led to a two-day delay in the start of a Whiteside County first-degree murder trial.

Jury selection was to begin Tuesday, May 13, in the trial of Kyle Cooper of Rock Falls, who is accused of fatally stabbing Daniel J. Gordon outside of a Rock Falls residence in the early morning hours of Feb. 14. Cooper is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery in connection with Gordon's death.

[ Rock Falls fatal stabbing trial delayed until May ]

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Cooper has been held in the Whiteside County Jail since Feb. 14, when he turned himself in at the county jail a few hours after Gordon's death. Cooper pleaded not guilty to the charges and demanded a speedy trial.

The trial was first set for April 8 and then was continued until May 13 at the request of prosecutors who were waiting for DNA testing results to arrive from the state crime lab.

The state asked for another continuance on Thursday for the same reason, asking that the trial be pushed to June 10.

Whiteside County Circuit Court Judge James Heuerman denied the motion to continue requested Friday. He did so after learning the DNA tests had not been started and after agreeing with the defense's argument that prosecutors, who knew the state crime lab was resisting testing the items because of a directive by Heuerman to the Illinois State Police that the DNA testing be video recorded, did not show it had taken steps to get the testing done. Defense attorney James Mertes maintained the prosecution could have used an independent lab to test the items.

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Also on Friday, Heuerman denied a request from the Illinois Attorney General's Office that the ISP be allowed to intervene in the case. Just after granting a prosecution motion in early April that consumptive testing be allowed, Heuerman granted the defense's request that videotaping be done to memorialize how the ISP carried out the consumptive testing, which is a process that, by its very nature, uses up samples of DNA during the testing procedure.

[ Judge: State police must video record consumptive DNA, blood testing in Rock Falls stabbing case ]

The ISP immediately turned the matter over to its legal department, with the Illinois Attorney General's Office filing the petition to intervene. The ISP has maintained that it has its own set of testing command protocols, and allowing anyone in for videotaping would be cause to shut the lab down to prevent any other testing from being caught on camera. As such, the items have not been tested.

Heuerman ultimately decided Friday, after talking with State's Attorney Colleen Buckwalter and Mertes, that the trial would proceed without DNA testing results.

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At that point, 16 pretrial motions were brought before Heuerman, including five from prosecutors and 11 from Mertes. Two Rock Falls police officers and one ISP crime scene investigator testified Friday afternoon under questioning by Mertes, in which he peppered them with questions about how they processed the scene of the stabbing. Mertes specifically said the department failed to process a white SUV, in which he said part of the altercation took place.

Questioning of a third Rock Falls police officer, who is the lead homicide detective in the case, was pushed to Monday, May 12, but then delayed until Wednesday because she was ill.

Cooper, 36, is charged with stabbing Gordon during an early-morning confrontation in a Rock Falls home's driveway in the 600 block of West 20th Street. Cooper and Gordon knew each other because Cooper's previous girlfriend was dating Gordon. The woman was with Gordon the night of Feb. 13, when they crossed paths with Cooper while out in the Rock Fall bar scene that night and began feuding.

Gordon, 27, was found unresponsive with multiple abdominal stab wounds about 2 a.m. just outside the residence and next to the white SUV, driven by his girlfriend and in which he had been a front-seat passenger just before the fight. Gordon died later that day at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, according to officials.

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Cooper, wearing blood-stained clothes, turned himself in at the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office later that morning and was charged with aggravated battery, police said. He was formally charged four days later with murder and an additional count of aggravated battery.

Pretrial motions will continue to be considered during a court hearing beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with testimony from Rock Falls Detective Autumn Day to begin at 1 p.m.

Jury selection will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, and continue through Friday. Opening statements most likely will begin Monday, May 19, with the trial to continue through the entire week and into the week of May 26.
A man who is facing the death penalty after prosecutors say he killed a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy has mental health disorders that were "triggered" by watching video of his son being shot by police the previous day, his attorney said.

Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, made his first appearance Tuesday, May 13, before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jody Luebbers, who will oversee the capital case.

When Luebbers asked Hinton if he is taking any medication  a standard question in all criminal cases intended to ensure that a defendant understands the proceedings  he replied, "Lexapro."

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Luebbers then asked what the medication is for, but Hinton's attorney, Clyde Bennett II, advised him not to answer.

Rodney Hinton Jr. walks into Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jody Luebbers courtroom for a hearing on Tuesday, May 13.

Lexapro is used to treat major depressive disorder as well as anxiety, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In an interview after the hearing, Bennett said Hinton needs additional medication to treat other "mental disorders" that he has.

"I don't think that the medication that he's taking (in jail) has caught up to the conditions that he has," Bennett said.

He declined to talk about Hinton's mental health diagnoses. But Bennett said Hinton's mental health condition led him on May 2 to drive into the deputy. He said Hinton was "triggered" by seeing video of his son being fatally shot by police the previous day.

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According to a Cincinnati police detective's testimony at a previous court hearing: On the morning of May 2, Hinton and other family members met with Cincinnati police and watched bodycam video of Hinton's 18-year-old son, Ryan, being fatally shot by an officer. The shooting happened the previous day in East Price Hill as police were investigating a stolen vehicle.

A Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff was struck by a car on Martin Luther King Drive near UC on Friday May 2, 2025. The car then crashed nearby.

Several hours after seeing the video, officials say, Hinton drove to the Clifton area and targeted Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson, who was working traffic control for a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony.

Hinton was described as being extremely distraught after watching the video. Bennett has previously said that Hinton was not in his right mind and that what happened was "classic, mental illness, criminal conduct."

Hinton faces charges including aggravated murder. He will continue to be held without bond at the Clermont County Jail.

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It's possible that Hinton's trial will happen in February 2026. A scheduling conference has been set for May 22.

More: $25M lawsuit accuses police of using 'excessive force' against man charged with killing deputy

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Attorney: Rodney Hinton Jr. was 'triggered' by police shooting video
Roger Koch, a U.S. Army veteran who oversees Ozark Centers Veteran Integration Program, was recently named a 2025 Mental Health Champion by the Missouri Mental Health Foundation.

Koch was one of three winners chosen from a pool of nearly 50 nominees.

The award was presented May 1 at the foundations banquet in Jefferson City.

Missouri Mental Health Champions are people who make positive contributions to their community, and whose actions have increased independence in others with similar mental health conditions.

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Koch was recognized for his one-on-one work with military veterans struggling with mental health issues, primarily post-traumatic stress disorder.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1985-2005, including an 18-month combat deployment to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and returned with PTSD symptoms.

After retiring from the military in 2005, he said in a statement: I chose to do what most combat veterans do, and thats to bottle everything up and cope with things the best way I knew.

He said he kept his PTSD struggles bottled up inside for 14 years before his wife suggested he seek professional treatment.

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I must admit, asking for help was a huge first step for me, Koch said in the statement. You figure, throughout my military career, it had been overly emphasized that a veteran should never ask for help or need assistance; it was considered a weakness if you did. Once I finally let my guard down and talked openly to mental health professionals, it didnt take them very long to diagnose me with anxiety, anger issues, depression and PTSD.

It was around this time that he earned of Ozark Centers search for a local veteran to lead its VIP program, working with other veterans and their mental struggles. Due to his veteran status, and because hes familiar with PTSDs destructive and disruptive power, he discovered it was easy for him to connect with the veterans he counseled.

Being a veteran seems to make the conversations more open, Koch said. Im not sure if its because of the trusting another veteran thing or being able to speak and understand the military jargon. Nonetheless, veterans tend to open up easier to other veterans.
Days before the Romanian presidential election runoff, the two presidential hopefuls are neck-and-neck. According to the latest poll by AtlasIntel, far-right George Simion and liberal pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan are tied at 48.2%.

Yet, another poll by CURS gives Simion 52% and Dan 48%.

Both are running on an anti-establishment platform in a country seeking change. Yet, with two drastically different views on the country's future, whoever takes the presidency will have the chance to change Romania for years to come.

The shocking vote

After Russian-friendly nationalist Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), took the first round by storm with 41% of the votes on May 5, the government coalition formed by the mainstream National Liberal Party, the Social Democrat Party and the Hungarian minority UDMR  whose common candidate Crin Antonescu came third with 20% of the vote  dismantled.

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The national currency, the leu, fell to a historic low when compared to the euro and dollar, despite the Romanian Central Bank's billion-euro effort to stabilize the national currency.

Scoring a mere 21% of the votes, Dan's chances to win the presidency seemed dim without an incredibly high mass mobilization of the electorate.

The first opinion poll made by Verified and published by Dan after the first round showed Simion winning with almost 55% of the votes in the runoff. The poll excluded Romania's diaspora, which is backing Simion. There has also been a tendency for Simion voters to refuse to participate in polls.

Running as an independent and relying on private donations, Dan has gained the support of the liberal Save Romania Union (USR), the party he founded in 2016 but left next year over the question of LGBTQ+ rights.

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Dan was opposed to giving same-sex partnerships the same rights as those of heterosexual couples.

For the runoff, Dan has also garnered the support of the National Liberal Party and the Hungarian minority party UDMR. The Social Democratic Party, Romania's biggest political party, officially abstained from endorsing a candidate. Antonescu, who came third, dismissed both candidates.

Romanian presidential candidate Nicusor Dan after exit poll results are announced in Bucharest, Romania, on May 4, 2025. (Mihai Barbu / AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of Romanian presidential candidate Nicusor Dan attend an electoral rally in Bucharest, Romania, on May 11, 2025. (Mihai Barbu / AFP via Getty Images)

"There is no precedent for this runoff," political scientist Claudiu Craciun told the Kyiv Independent.

"In 2004, 2009, and 2014, we had candidates who took 40% of the votes in the first round of presidential elections, and then they lost in the runoff. But they were center-left candidates defeated by center-right candidates, from the two major parties representing those ideological positions. Now, historical parties are in decline, for the second time in a row, they cannot bring candidates into the runoff, which means that this is a systemic issue," Craciun added.

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"We have a new situation, with the candidates of two smaller parties, USR, on the relatively progressive neoliberal center, and AUR, on the ultra-conservative side. We can anticipate that towns and cities, wealthier, more educated people will vote for Dan, but it's not clear how religious groups will vote, or how social democrats will be split," he added.

In the first televised debate between Simion and Dan, which lasted over four hours on May 8, national security and Russia's war against Ukraine were major topics. The relationship with Moldova, the cost of living crisis, the public health sector and foreign investment were also widely discussed.

"In the debate, Nicusor Dan showed a different facet, which took Simion by surprise: he was much more combative and managed to project the image of a leader more powerfully," journalist Ioana Dogioiu told the Kyiv Independent.

"He was resilient and spontaneous  things that people said he'd lacked before. He managed to stick the financial crisis to Simion, to say that the chaos he created scared investors, and to show Simion's duplicity by confronting him on his contradictory claims, which generate uncertainty and mistrust. But I'm not sure this is enough to create (additional) 3.5 million votes, which is how much Dan needs in order to win," Dogioiu added.

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Simion, who is the executive vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party, tried to appear more moderate and calm, repeatedly invoking the example of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, while also tying himself to the Trump administration.

Read also: Narrowly overcoming pro-Russian comeback, Moldovan President Sandu is facing tough term ahead

Dan and Simion on Ukraine

In the debate, while Dan pleaded for further support of Ukraine, Simion, who is persona non grata in both Ukraine and Moldova, emulated banned Russian-linked Calin Georgescu, saying that Romania has to stay "neutral" and only spend money on itself rather than give military aid to its neighbor.

Dogioiu says Simion's position on the war may garner some support, fueling old tensions between Romania and Ukraine, concerning Romanian minority rights. It can also give a voice to the frustrations with the market disruption caused by cheap Ukrainian grains passing through Romania since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Presidential candidate George Simion takes part in a talk organized by the Romanian Chamber of Commerce in Bucharest, Romania, on May 13, 2025. (Andrei Pungovschi / Getty Images)

Supporters of presidential candidate George Simion celebrate after exit poll results outside his campaign headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, on May 4, 2025. (Andrei Pungovschi / Getty Images)

But according to political scientist Cristian Preda, post-communist Romania has never had candidates openly supported by Russia until Georgescu and Simion.

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On election day, Kremlin ideologist Alexandr Dugin said that Simion's success "is Georgescu's win" and "a chance" for Russia.

"If Simion wins, we may get the old, radical, extremist, anti-media Simion, or the new, runoff Simion, who is more pro-European, more moderate."

"Romanians have mobilized before for smaller bets," Preda told the Kyiv Independent. "It wouldn't be bad for Ukraine and Moldova to provide more details about why Simion was made persona non grata now. This would clarify the situation even better. How do you elect a president who can't enter two such important neighboring countries?"

Further on, Preda argues that Simion is perceived as a candidate who will "prolong the electoral dispute" after Romanians have been exhausted from voting in five different elections  parliamentary, local, European, and two sets of presidential ones.

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"Simion says he would organize a referendum to sack the members of the Constitutional Court who canceled the Nov. 24 presidential elections (citing malicious foreign influence), and organize snap elections," Preda said.

"We've never had snap elections. This gives a sense of instability."

What happens if Simion wins?

"If Simion wins, we may get the old, radical, extremist, anti-media Simion, or the new, runoff Simion, who is more pro-European, more moderate. Let's say he goes through a 'Melonization' process," Dogioiu said.

"It will take time to convince international markets that he is not a radical; will his party, AUR, also go through a 'Melonization' process? Even in the best-case scenario, it will take time to gain the trust of the markets," she added.

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"He is trying to appeal to both radicalized Georgescu voters and to the more moderate electorate, which creates uncertainty but not panic."

In addition to the financial crisis and the potential loss of EU funds, a Simion victory would isolate Romania, Craciun said.

"He will play in the Fico-Orban field, building a pressure group within the EU. It's enough for him to delay initiatives, such as military aid to Ukraine, to become a malign actor."

Read also: Despite Russian-backed Georgescu barred from presidential race, Romanias far-right still aim to win

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SYRACUSE, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  A Rome man pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in connection with child pornography charges.

82-year-old John Kelly of Rome pled guilty on Tuesday, May 13, to conspiring to receive child pornography, as well as distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.

As part of his guilty plea, Kelly admitted that in August of 2022, he conspired with 65-year-old Richard Hockersmith of Plattsburgh to exchange child pornography. Kelly also admitted to mailing an SD card with the offending data back and forth between himself and Hockersmith.

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Kelly further admitted that during a search of his residence in February of 2024, authorities found images and videos on the same laptop computer he used to access the shared SD card.

Hockersmith  along with Kelly  was indicted in October of 2024 of the same charges. Hockersmith pleaded guilty in his hearing on December 10, 2024. He was sentenced on Wednesday, April 9; his sentence is unknown.

Kellys sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 in Albany. He faces a prison term of at least five years and as many as 20 years. Kelly could also face a supervised release term of between five years and life and a maximum fine of $250,000. Kelly will also be required to pay restitution to his victims and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

We will find and prosecute those who distribute child pornography in the Northern District of New York, whether by mail, computer or otherwise, US Attorney John Sarcone said in a statement. Justice has been served, but our work continues. Every child deserves to grow up safe, and we will never stop fighting for their protections. This predator will never harm another child again. Let this be a message: we will find you, we will expose you, and we will bring you to justice  no mercy, no hiding, no exceptions.

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- For Arelhi Clavijo, nursing isnt just a career; its a calling rooted in family, compassion, and a desire to serve.

A recent Odessa College graduate now working at a local hospital, Clavijo is among the newest generation of nurses stepping into the profession with both purpose and perseverance.

And as she begins her journey, shes not alone. Leaders like Dr. Timothy Benton, the new Chief Medical Officer at Medical Center Health System, are working to ensure nurses and physicians alike are supported as they care for the community.

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Clavijo graduated from Odessa College in December 2024 and began working as a registered nurse just four months ago. Though new to the field, her passion runs deep.

Both my parents were CNAs and worked at a nursing home, she said. Growing up around that, I saw how important their work was, and that made me want to pursue nursing and make a difference in peoples lives.

A second chance, a first step: Inside Odessa Colleges Nursing Programs

She chose Odessa College for its reputation, affordability, and proximity to home. They have a really good nursing program, she said. In five years, I hope to be furthering my education and gaining as much experience as I can. I want to be the best nurse I can be, every single day.

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That personal drive mirrors the philosophy of Dr. Benton, who has recently stepped into the role of CMO at MCH. Having served on the medical staff for over a decade, Benton says he hopes to support the dedicated workers by helping ease their burdens and strengthening the connection between caregivers and patients.

Dr. Timothy Benton, Chief Medical Officer at Medical Center Health System

Related: Medical Center Hospital names Dr. Timothy Benton as New Chief Medical Officer

My job is to help ease the burdens on physicians and to be a bridge between business and patient care, Benton said. This is about servant leadership. I want to support the people taking care of the patients.

Previously, Benton held the role of regional dean at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He worked closely with both MCH and Odessa College to foster partnerships aimed at building the healthcare workforce of the future.

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I think its critical that hospitals and colleges work hand in hand, Benton said. Thats the pipeline for the next generation of caregivers, whether its nurses or physicians. If we dont invest in them now, we wont have the healthcare workers we need tomorrow.

At MCH, more than 500 physicians have hospital privileges, not including hundreds of advanced practice providers and support staff. Benton says part of his vision is to use technology to alleviate administrative burdens and restore the core of medical work: caring for patients.

All of us went into this field to spend time with patients, he said. Technology can help us get back to that by handling some of the behind-the-scenes tasks and freeing up doctors and nurses to focus on what matters.

As a first-year nurse, Clavijo says shes grateful to be part of a system that values support and growth.

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My advice to other nursing students is to take it one day at a time and never lose sight of why you started, she said.

Its a message echoed by both Benton and Clavijo: healthcare isnt just a system, its a relationship. And in West Texas, that relationship is built on education, empathy, and a community committed to caring.

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.
American expat Rosie ODonnell claims President Donald Trump rigged the 2024 election.

While theres no evidence that happened  just as theres no reason to believe Trumps ongoing claim that he was cheated in the 2020 election  ODonnell alleges her old nemesis is the best witness to his own crime.

If he admits one more time that the election was rigged I mean why is he allowed to admit this over and over again and no one does anything about it? the A League of Their Own star asked fans on TikTok Monday.

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ODonnell didnt offer examples of the presidents alleged confessions, but numerous statements made by Trump have prompted critics to reach the same conclusion. The presidents odd relationship with syntax and pronouns can lead to confusion.

They rigged the election and I became president, so that was a good thing, he said in March.

Trump further fueled rumors of impropriety by thanking GOP megadonor Elon Musk for his mastery of vote-counting computers after the 2024 election.

The president frequently claims he won the election in an electoral landslide, despite defeating Democrat Kamala Harris by only 1.5% of the popular vote. Thereve been no serious challenges to his victory, but ODonnell is nevertheless crying foul.

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Its very obvious that it was [rigged] and he keeps saying it because he has some form of dementia or something that he cant help but tell on himself for what hes done, as he has always, she said. Its very, very overwhelming.

ODonnell famously fled the U.S. and moved to Ireland just days before Trump began his second term in January.

When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, thats when we will consider coming back, the 62-year-old Long Island native said on TikTok in March. Its been heartbreaking to see whats happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know.
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:

Two hearts plaque construction people. Credit: Justine Ross, Michigan Medicine

Accumulating evidence suggests that the immune system plays a crucial role in the emergence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseasea condition where fatty deposits, also known as plaque, gradually build up in the arteries.

This narrowing of blood vessels restricts blood flow to the heart and other organs, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

When the artery lining starts to be damaged, and cholesterol accumulates, the immune system responds.

Neutrophils, along with other immune cells, rush to the site.

While this is a natural defense mechanism, the inflammation associated with excessive neutrophil activity can accelerate plaque growth and worsen disease progression.

These harmful processes often occur silently, with no noticeable symptoms for years.

This makes early detection difficult, as reliable biomarkers to measure immune activity and inflammation remain relatively scarce.

However, a promising candidate is calprotectina key marker of neutrophil activation and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps, harmful structures that promote inflammation and plaque buildup also known as NETs.

The University of Michigan research team leading the study previously characterized calprotectin's utility as a biomarker in overtly inflammatory disorders like antiphospholipid syndrome and COVID-19, but this is the first time it has been considered as a potential marker for the general population.

Given the strong link between neutrophil activation and ASCVD, calprotectin may serve as an early warning signal for cardiovascular disease risk.

Ray Zuo, M.D., Edward T. and Ellen K. Dryer Early Career professor of rheumatology and assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Michigan, investigated calprotectin's role in ASCVD.

In collaboration with James de Lemos, M.D., and colleagues at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Zuo's team utilized samples and data from the Dallas Heart Study, a large population-based research project, to explore the relationship between calprotectin and ASCVD, including whether calprotectin can help predict future heart disease risk.

The results of the study confirm that higher calprotectin levels can predict future ASCVD, even in people who appear healthy.

Using blood samples from the Dallas Heart Study, a diverse population cohort where two-thirds of the participants are either Black or Hispanic, Zuo's team measured calprotectin levels in 2,412 individuals.

Over the next eight years, 114 people developed new ASCVD.

People with higher calprotectin levels were more likely to develop heart disease, even after accounting for common risk factors like age, sex, race, weight, smoking, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and kidney function.

People with more calprotectin in their blood also had higher coronary artery calcium scores, which indicate early plaque buildup in the arteries.

To understand how calprotectin may contribute to heart disease, Zuo's team conducted lab experiments, led by Somanathapura K. Naveen Kumar, Ph.D., a senior postdoctoral fellow in the Zuo Lab.

The team's work showed that calprotectin negatively impacts blood vessel cell health, reducing the production of nitric oxide (which keeps arteries flexible) and likely promoting scarring and damage in coronary arteries.

These findings, published in the journal JAMA Cardiology, suggest that calprotectin could serve as an early warning sign for heart disease, helping to identify people at risk long before symptoms appear.

This research could lead to better early detection and prevention strategies, potentially helping more people avoid heart attacks and strokes.

"These findings highlight calprotectin as a potential early warning signal for heart disease, long before symptoms first appear," said Zuo.

"And, since calprotectin appears to damage blood vessel cells, one wonders if it could eventually be targeted therapeutically."

"By understanding how immune activation contributes to artery damage, we hope to open new doors for earlier detection and better prevention strategies. In the future, measuring calprotectin levels could help identify at-risk individuals sooner, allowing for timely interventions that could ultimately save lives."

The Dallas Heart Study is a population-based cohort study that, since 2000, has tracked the health of thousands of people of various races and ethnicities to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of heart disease.

"Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States," said Zuo.

"Our collaboration with UT Southwestern using the Dallas Heart Study resource is a testament to the ways scientific collaboration can contribute to the advancement of life-saving medicine."

More information: Yu Zuo et al, Epidemiological and Translational Study of Calprotectin and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, JAMA Cardiology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2025.0945 Journal information: JAMA Cardiology
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on May 13 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials will attend planned peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey on May 15

The announcement comes as international attention centers on Istanbul, after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed hosting direct talks there between Kyiv and Moscow.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will attend but the Kremlin has so far stayed quiet about the possibility of Putin attending.

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"Our people are going to be going there. Marco is going to be going there. Others are going to be going, and we'll see if we can get it done," Trump said during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, would travel to Istanbul to observe the negotiations. Rubio's participation marks the first public confirmation of Cabinet-level U.S. involvement.

Witkoff has held several meetings with Putin in Moscow and came under criticism for pushing Russian talking points on Ukraine and the war. Kellogg has been more closely engaged with Ukrainian officials, even publicly supporting Kyiv's call for an unconditional ceasefire.

Zelensky said he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are willing to fly to Istanbul if Putin agrees to attend the talks there.

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"We will be waiting to meet with Putin in Turkey. So that Russia does not manipulate cities and say that Putin is not ready to fly to Ankara, but is ready to fly only to Istanbul," Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv on May 13.

The Kremlin has acknowledged preparations for the talks but has not confirmed whether Putin will personally attend. Trump, who is currently on a four-day tour of the Middle East, suggested he might join the summit.

"I've also been working relentlessly to end the terrible bloodshed between Russia and Ukraine, and, very importantly, talks are being held in Turkey later this week... and they could produce some pretty good results," Trump said.

A senior U.S. official told CNN that Trump's attendance would "largely depend" on Putin's presence. Zelensky said Trump had been formally invited, adding that his participation "would have an additional impetus for Putin to come."

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The last and only face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin occurred in December 2019 in Paris under the Normandy Format.

Read also: As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putins next move

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Chief Justice John Roberts described the rule of law as endangered and warned against trashing the justices, but speaking in Washington Monday he didnt point fingers directly at President Donald Trump or his allies for publicly excoriating judges whove ruled against aspects of Trumps agenda.

The notion that rule of law governs is the basic proposition, Roberts said during an appearance at Georgetown Law. Certainly as a matter of theory, but also as a matter of practice, we need to stop and reflect every now and then how rare that is, certainly rare throughout history, and rare in the world today.

As many legal experts express grave concern about Trumps attacks on law firms and with several federal judges advancing inquiries into whether the administration is refusing to comply with court orders, Roberts took a longer-term view Monday. He blamed schools for shortchanging civics education and leaving students with little understanding of the structure of U.S. government or the role of the courts.

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Thats really too bad, the chief justice told graduating students at the law school. Were developing a situation where a whole group of young people is growing up having no real sense about how our system of justice works.

Roberts suggested some recent verbal attacks on the justices had gone too far, but he gave no specific examples. The court has obviously made mistakes throughout its history, and those should be criticized, so long as it is in terms of the decision, really, and not ad hominem against the justices. I just think that doesnt do any good, the chief justice said.

In March, Roberts responded quickly when Trump called U.S. District Judge James Boasberg crooked and urged he be impeached for his rulings related to the administrations deportation of hundreds of men to a notorious prison in El Salvador.

Impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision, Roberts, an appointee of George W. Bush, said at the time.

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In a speech earlier this month, Roberts most junior colleague  Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Biden appointee  condemned threats and harassment that she said amounted to attacks on our democracy [that] ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.

Roberts public tone since Jacksons remarks has been notably less dire. At a judicial event in Buffalo last week, he repeated his earlier written statement opposing impeachment of judges over decisions, but passed up the opportunity to elaborate.

Roberts assured the students Monday that the tense public atmosphere surrounding the judiciary and the fact that the justices disagree a lot hasnt led to the kind of toxic personal strife that has permeated the Supreme Court at various times in its history.

We have to work together on these things that are difficult. You find a way to get along, Roberts said. Its a long job. If youre sort of really at each others throats with bad feelings and stuff like that, it just  its not a good way to function.  We do have to address some very, very difficult things, and were the only people who are doing it.

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For the second time in a week, Roberts, 70, signaled that he has no plans to step down from the court. As he discussed the recent death of retired Justice David Souter, Roberts recalled his former colleagues unconventional decision to step down in 2009 at age 69 without any known health issues or indication his mind was declining. Roberts said Souter said he wanted to return to New Hampshire and get back to reading some good books.

There arent many people who would have that kind of perspective, including myself  I wouldnt claim to have that kind of view  but sort of a very good, balanced way of looking at all of it, the chief justice said.
Russian forces are ramping up their offensive in southern Ukraine in an attempt to breach the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, Vladyslav Voloshyn, said on May 13.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a major industrial and logistical hub, remains untouched by ground incursions but is under growing threat.

Voloshyn said Russian troops continue to use artillery, kamikaze drones, guided aerial bombs, and unguided missiles to attack Ukrainian positions.

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"The number of these assault operations is quite high," he said, citing 24 combat engagements in the Novopavlivka direction alone.

Novopavlivka lies in central-eastern Ukraine, roughly 130 kilometers (about 80 miles) southeast of Dnipro, near the tri-border area of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

The estimated Russian advance in the Novopavlivka sector in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of May 13, 2025. A black symbol marks Novopavlivka. (DeepState / OpenStreetMaps)

Voloshyn described it as the "most mobile area" on the southern front, where four Russian regiments have concentrated assault units.

"They are trying to break through toward the administrative border of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts," he said, adding that fighting involves small assault groups and constant shelling.

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The Russian assaults prompted local authorities on April 28 to begin mandatory evacuations of families with children from four frontline villages: Kolona Mezhova, Novopidhorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka.

These settlements lie just 515 kilometers from Russian positions.

Although Russian troops have not yet entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the region has suffered regular missile, drone, and airstrike attacks that have killed and wounded civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.

Read also: As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putins next move

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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on Tuesday found Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives more than a decade ago, in a ruling that raises the prospect of victims families being paid compensation.

Russia has rejected the findings.

A Dutch-led international investigation concluded in 2016 that the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur airliner was shot down on July 17, 2014, from Ukrainian territory held by separatist rebels using a Buk missile system delivered from Russia. Moscow denies any involvement in the MH17 tragedy.

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The Netherlands and Australian governments brought the case against Moscow before the Montreal-based global aviation agency in 2022, and on Tuesday welcomed the verdict.

Council finds that Russia violated the Chicago Convention

The council found that Russia had violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, which requires that states refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.

It's the first time that the council, which represents 193 member states, has decided a dispute between governments.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the council would consider the question of reparations within weeks.

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In that context, the Netherlands and Australia are requesting that the ICAO Council order the Russian Federation to enter into negotiations with the Netherlands and Australia, and that the Council facilitate this process, Veldkamp said in a statement.

The latter is important in order to ensure that the negotiations are conducted in good faith and according to specific timelines, and that they will yield actual results, he added.

Dutch father Thomas Schansman, who lost his son in the disaster, said the ICAO decision makes it clear Russia was responsible for the tragedy and could lead to compensation, but that he and other relatives mostly want the country to acknowledge its culpability.

Money cannot buy anything back, he told The Associated Press.

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Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged the council to move swiftly to determine remedies.

We call on Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for its horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law, Wong said in a statement.

Russia rejects the council's findings

Speaking to journalists Tuesday, the Kremlin rejected the investigations results as biased.

Russia did not take part in the investigation of this incident and therefore we will not accept these biased conclusions, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

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Australian National University international law expert Don Rothwell said that the council had yet to publish the reasons for its decisions.

One of the consequences for this process will be that the council will probably make some recommendations that Russia pay what are called reparations, which is an international term for damages, as a result of its violation of international law, Rothwell said.

So we have to wait and see exactly what the council finds on that particular point, Rothwell added.
Russian forces have launched an airstrike on the village of Nechvolodivka in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast on 13 May, killing two people and injuring four.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: Syniehubov reported that the airstrike killed an 80-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, whose body was recovered from under the rubble of a house.

He added that a 69-year-old man and three women aged 67, 83 and 88 suffered injuries of varying severity.

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Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least two civilians and injured at least seven over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 13.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down all 10 drones launched by Russia overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

Russia launched the attacks despite a call by Ukraine and its partners for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on May 12.

In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed in an attack against the village of Zoria, while two other civilians suffered injuries in the villages of Dorozhnie and Svitle, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

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In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone attacked a car of energy specialists in the Sumy community, killing a driver, according to the local military administration.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 34 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, two people, including a child, were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia struck the village of Kindrashivka, injuring a 62-year-old man. A 51-year-old man suffered injuries in the village of Ruski Tyshky because of a Russian attack, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian drone struck a car, injuring a 72-year-old man, according to the local military administration.

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Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

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An elderly man has been injured in a Russian drone strike on a car in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The Russians are once again targeting civilians. An enemy drone attacked a car in a frontline hromada in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. A 72-year-old man has been injured." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Background: A Russian drone attacked a car carrying power engineers in Sumy Oblast on Monday 12 May, killing the driver and injuring three other people.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on May 12 to discuss a proposed meeting in Turkey between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian state-media outlet TASS reported.

The phone call comes as Moscow once again rejected a 30-day ceasefire, with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claiming that a ceasefire would give "Kyiv a break to restore its military potential and continue its confrontation with Russia."

Russia, who unilaterally launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, rejected U.S.-backed calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Putin instead invited Ukraine to engage in direct talks in Istanbul later this week.

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Zelensky responded by accepting the invitation, saying he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey on May 15  a decision that various experts told the Kyiv Independent may have caught Putin off-guard.

To coordinate the meeting, Zelensky also held a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier in the day on May 12.

"We are ready for direct negotiations with Putin. And it is very important that all of us in Europe are working together for long-term security guarantees," Zelensky said following the phone call.

No details were immediately released on the phone call between the Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministers.

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Despite offering the meeting, Putin has yet to formally confirm his attendance on May 15.

"Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence," Zelensky said in his evening address on May 12.

Russia is facing mounting pressure from Western allies to agree to a ceasefire and begin top-level direct negotiations.

Following a meeting in Kyiv, the leaders of the U.K., Germany, France, and Poland threatened to implement additional sanctions if it did not agree to a ceasefire by May 12. Upping pressure on Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he believed "both leaders are going to be there," adding "I even thought about flying over  I'm not sure where I'll be on Thursday."

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Read also: Ukraine war latest: Trump says both leaders will be at Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul

















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A house has burned down in the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in Russian attacks using various types of weapons.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The aggressor attacked the Nikopol district with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and UAVs. Strikes targeted Nikopol and Marhanets, Pokrovske and Myrove hromadas. A house caught fire." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

House on fire

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Photo: Lysak on Telegram

Details: Lysak said the fire had been extinguished.

Other damage is currently being assessed as the inspection of the areas is still ongoing.

Firefighter extinguishing fire

Photo: Lysak on Telegram

"No casualties have been recorded," Lysak concluded.

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

Elders of the Spulju Indigenous community in Taitung (Taiwan) with their small-scale farmland. Credit: University of Hawaii at Manoa

A new study by researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa examines how Indigenous communities define elderhood, and how this role supports healthy aging. Led by Yu-Chi Kalesekes Huang and Kathryn Braun of the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, the research reviews 20 scholarly publications to shed light on how elders contribute to the well-being of their communities.

Elderhood as a cultural role

The study looks at a range of Indigenous populations, including Inuit, Metis, and First Nations in Canada; Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Samoans, Tongans and Native Americans in the U.S.; Maori in New Zealand; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia; and the Aymara tribe in Chile.

Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the study identifies six common themes across cultures, finding that an elder is someone who:

Is respected for living, knowing and teaching traditional knowledge

Is committed to passing down wisdom to younger generations

Continues contributing to the community

Provides a vision for the future rooted in tradition

Is not necessarily defined by age

Acts as a care provider

These findings highlight that elderhood is a respected status earned through cultural stewardship, community service and wisdom, rather than age alone. Supporting individuals in attaining this role can promote healthier aging and enhance community resilience.

"We believe the important contribution of this research lies in emphasizing the key role of Indigenous elders in tribes and communities," said Huang. "For Indigenous peoples, the title of 'elder' is earned by playing a continuous role in preserving cultural traditions and enhancing community resilience, which brings benefits to the overall health and well-being of the community.

"If an older person earns the title of elder, they are seen as having aged successfully and embody the principles of healthy aging."

The study calls on policymakers and community leaders to embrace culturally grounded approaches that honor the vital role of elders in strengthening the health and resilience of Indigenous communities.

More information: Yu-Chi Kalesekes Huang et al, Elderhood and Healthy Aging from an Indigenous Perspective, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22010123 Journal information: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
MOSCOW (Reuters) - In Moscow, some of the best architecture may lie many metres underground.

With its vaulted ceilings, marble floors and tiled mosaics of Vladimir Lenin and the Red Army, the Moscow metro is a crown jewel of the Russian capital.

In the decades since Muscovites boarded the first train, 90 years ago this week, the metro system has grown to meet the demands of the ever-growing metropolis.

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Each day, millions of commuters in the city of 13 million crowd into the metro's 302 stations to ride on one of 16 snaking lines on their way to work or school.

Moscow transit authorities pride themselves not just on the metro's cleanliness and efficiency, but on its beauty.

"As a modern metro, it incorporates many architectural styles," says Yevgeniy Dovka, a Moscow transit official. "Each station is individual and practical, and has its own artistic solution."

Many newer stations depart from the grandiose Soviet style and feature decorations inspired by modern city life. The recently-completed station in Nagatinsky Zaton in southern Moscow, for example, displays mosaics of fish found in local rivers.

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Some daily riders, such as Viktoria, 25, say they prefer the older styles.

"Modern is not exactly my jam," she says. Travelling via an older station "feels like you've been to a museum."

Over the decades, the metro has witnessed important events in Soviet political history.

In Mayakovskaya station, tour groups now crane their necks towards mosaics celebrating Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in what Russia calls the Great Patriotic War.

Amidst that war, Soviet leader Josef Stalin convened a meeting of the Moscow City Council in the station's main hall, where he addressed party leaders and ordinary citizens sheltering from Nazi bombs from a lectern before treating them to a buffet.

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These days, Muscovites still find themselves wowed by the metro's rich history and beauty.

"I feel proud of it," Alina, 18, says. "Sometimes I think of moving somewhere (else), but I don't know how I'd live in a place without a metro."

(Reporting by Reuters in Moscow; Writing by Lucy Papachristou in London; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Ukrainian defense intelligence says it's stripped down a new, drone-launched Russian cruise missile.

The 'Banderol' missile contains parts from allied countries including the US, Japan, and South Korea, it said.

The new missile is reported to have been used in attacks on Odesa last month.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has published a breakdown of parts inside a new Russian cruise missile, and claims that many originate from countries including the US, Japan, South Korea, and potentially Australia.

This raises questions about Russia's ongoing ability to get around sanctions imposed on it over its invasion of Ukraine.

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Little is known in the West about Russia's S8000 "Banderol" cruise missile, which Ukraine says is made by sanctioned company Kronstadt. Reports emerged in Ukrainian media in late April about its use in a bombardment of the region of Odesa, home to a key Ukrainian port.

Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an influential Ukrainian radiocommunications observer, was among the first to report its use, and speculated that it may be a new type of drone.

It now appears that Ukraine has obtained a version intact enough to be closely examined.

The aftermath of a Russian attack on Odesa in early May 2025. Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A nimble new missile

Banderol, reportedly meaning "parcel" or "package," has a range of 310 miles and can cruise at speeds of almost 350 mph, according to Ukraine's defense intelligence agency, also known as the GUR.

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GUR said it's launched from an Orion drone, and is also being prepped for deployment from a Mi-28N helicopter.

One unique feature, the GUR said, is "its ability to execute tighter turns than other standard Russian cruise missiles" such as the KH-101 or the 3M-14 Kalibr, while still maintaining an effective cruise missile flight trajectory.

It carries a warhead of up to 150kg, per GUR.

Batteries, microchips, and telemetry

Much of its capabilities can be traced back to parts sourced from countries allied with Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence said.

In a detailed breakdown of components, GUR said it identified batteries from a Japanese company just weeks after Japan expanded export controls to stop the country's lithium-ion batteries from reaching Russia.

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It also said it found a servo  an electronic device that controls a motor  from a South Korean company in the missile.

Seoul added dozens of items to its export controls list, including dual-use items, in December, although it is unclear if this covers servo motors.

It's also unclear if these parts were already in Russian possession before the expanded export controls were put in place.

In addition, GUR said that up to 20 microchips originating from the US, Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea were found inside.

A telemetry module  or sensor and transmission device  resembling one made in Australia was also found, although the GUR said it could be a Chinese copy.

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The companies named did not immediately respond to Business Insider requests for comment, sent outside working hours.

Countries like the US and Australia have sent Ukraine significant amounts of humanitarian or military aid, and have implemented extensive sanctions and export controls against Russia.

However, reports have found that sanctioned items have made their way into the Russian military ecosystem via third parties.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, some parts of the missile, including chips and a jet engine, also appeared to have come from Chinese sources.

Beijing is ostensibly neutral, but has been accused by the US of covertly supplying Russia with extensive dual-use parts and even weaponry.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine called on governments and manufacturers in countries allied to Ukraine to tighten their diligence.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SACKETS HARBOR, N.Y. (WWTI)  New York State officials were on hand in the village of Sackets Harbor to celebrate completion of an important project.

New York Department of State Secretary Walter T. Mosley announced the completion of construction of a series of flood resiliency projects. Sackets Harbor was awarded over $3.3 million to complete the work through the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

State announces nearly $9 million of completed REDI projects in Clayton

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The projects include climate resilient upgrades and improvements of the village waterfront and greenspace at Market Square Park and other public waterfront sites within the village.

This also includes installation of a new seawall to protect the villages Water Treatment Plant. Residents and visitors utilize the Market Square Park for recreation and access to the downtown area, which includes a public dock used by recreational boaters and anglers.

Coastline resiliency and waterfront revitalization are working hand in glove here in Sackets Harbor with the completion of these transformative REDI and LWRP projects. The Village has taken a major step forward in creating a vibrant, sustainable and resilient waterfront and recognizing Lake Ontario as a critical social, economic, recreational and ecological resource for residents, businesses, and visitors. NYS Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley

Market Square Park dealt with historic flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario in 2017 and 2019. The bulkhead and park sidewalk were submerged and left the villages public dock unusable.

The flooding prevented visitors and residents from accessing the park and hindered entry to the downtown area. The parks greenspace was also damaged and at risk of further flooding during future weather events.

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According to state officials, the project will allow for safe, continued access to the public greenspace, the public boat dock, and the downtown during times of high water. In addition, as part of this project, the village enhanced public access to the waterfront at two locations within the Villages downtown district, made improvements to the Villages Market Square Park pump station and the shoreline at the Ontario Street wastewater treatment plant outfall as well as completed resiliency enhancements and drainage improvements at the Pickering Museum.

Here are some of the mitigation measures that were taken:

Raising the sheet pile wall, bulkhead, and waterfront of Market Square Park approximately two feet;

Installation of an all-access waterfront plaza including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks in Market Square Park;

Installation of 14-boat capacity floating docks with power/water pedestals and a sewage pump out station;

Construction of three new waterfront greenspaces with hand boat launches or fishing piers;

Expansion of public parking areas;

Shoreline stabilization at the Ontario Street wastewater treatment plant outfall; and

Installation of pavers, wooden plank walkways, stone walls, stone piers, and new site plantings to improve the resiliency and appearance of the entrance to the Pickering Museum.

The completed REDI projects are game changers for the Village of Sackets Harbor and the broader Jefferson County Community, Jefferson County Legislature Chairman William Johnson said. By investing in resilient infrastructure and protecting critical resources like our water treatment plants, we are safeguarding public health, supporting economic growth, and preserving our unique waterfront character for generations to come.

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The new structure is comprised of a stacked limestone revetment with associated site improvements, including new storm drains, permanent erosion control mats, and new tree plantings.

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Several equipment outages over the past two weeks at the Philadelphia-based air traffic control center that guides planes to and from Newark Liberty International Airport have raised concerns about how safe it is to fly at one of the nations busiest airports.

The outages  with two in the past week  come as anxiety around flying has spiked amid an already tumultuous year with a deadly collision and several close calls.

On Sunday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration said it implemented a ground stop for flights heading to Newark because of a telecommunications issue affecting controllers at Philadelphia TRACON Area C. The ground stop lasted about 45 minutes, according to FAA air traffic advisories. In this case, the transportation department says a backup system kicked in.

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Another 90-second-long radar and radio outage happened early Friday morning at the TRACON. Both incidents follow an outage at the same control center last month during the busy afternoon of April 28, which resulted in five workers there taking trauma leave, triggering more than a thousand canceled flights at the airport.

The five workers represent more than 10% of the staff at the facility, the FAA noted in a statement Tuesday. In total, there are 22 fully certified controllers and five fully certified supervisors. In addition, there are an additional 21 controllers and supervisors in training, including 10 certified to work in positions without supervision.

There is a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers, and the FAA for years has not met the staffing goal for the area that works Newark airspace, the statement said.

The TRACON facility, which operates 24/7, had three controllers on staff late Monday night. When fully staffed during the busiest part of the day, there should be 14 people, but the facility has not had that many available to work a shift for years.

Should passengers be concerned following the outages affecting Newark?

I can tell you, uncategorically, that the travel into Newark today is safe, acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said Monday at a news conference.

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Air traffic controllers tell CNN the recent outages put airline workers and passengers at risk, with one describing the loss of communications alone as the most dangerous situation you could have.

Ive never seen anything like this, said one Newark approach controller who has worked in air traffic control for more than 20 years and requested to remain anonymous because he is a current employee. Were playing Russian roulette.

The CEO of United Airlines, which maintains a hub at Newark, said the airport remains safe thanks to a lot of hard work.

I flew into Newark. It is and always will be, absolutely safe, Scott Kirby said at a launch event for the airlines new cabin Tuesday morning in Brooklyn.

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Kirby said he has spent time with pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, technicians and other staff at the Newark airport.

They know the facts and they always keep you safe, he said. I like to say that I have the easiest job of anyone at United. My job is to create an airline that our employees are proud of. Because if they are proud, they want to do exactly what those employees out at Newark were doing yesterday. They want to make you feel safe. They want you to feel comfortable. They want you to know that they care.

Flying is still safe  in general

The outages are the latest in a turbulent year for flying, following the deadly midair collision over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a Medevac jet crash in Philadelphia and a regional airline crash off the coast of Nome, Alaska, that killed 10 people.

Those events come on the heels of deadly Jeju Air and Azerbaijan Airlines crashes in December 2024 and about a year after an alarming Boeing door panel blowout in the United States and a fiery runway collision in Japan.

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In 2023, a string of near-collisions at US airports spurred the creation of an independent safety review team.

Dennis Tajer, a captain and spokesperson for Allied Pilots Association, the union representing American Airlines pilots, said professional pilots dont train for everything to go well.

If pilots lose radio contact, there are at least two radios on airliners, and air traffic control still has several frequencies should one go out, Tajer said. Theres even a guard frequency, should pilots require an emergency frequency that is heavily monitored.

The bottom line is, we, by regulation, have a procedure for this by training, he said. We are experts in the use of and we have additional equipment, such as additional radios, additional frequencies to at least make contact and speak with other aircraft.

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The traffic collision avoidance system, or TCAS, is also available on board, to identify other planes that might be dangerously close and keep them apart, Tajer added.

Even accounting for serious accidents, air travel remains the safest mode of transportation, Anthony Brickhouse, a US-based aviation safety expert, told CNN in March.

Should the tower not be able to broadcast, but can see the aircraft, there are also lights that can be flashed to alert pilots when to land or when to hold off, he said.

The New York City skyline is seen behind Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. - Seth Wenig/AP

Statistically speaking, youre safer in your flight than you were driving in your car to the airport, said Brickhouse, who has decades of experience in aerospace engineering, aviation safety and accident investigation.

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Reports analyzed by CNN from the National Transportation Safety Board show the number of accident investigations is down for the first quarter of 2025. The NTSB led 171 civil aviation investigations from January to March 2025, which include commercial, general, rotorcraft and specialized aircraft.

During the same time frame last year, there were 185 investigations. And the first three months of 2010 to 2019 averaged 215 investigations.

I think this year is bad, even more, other than (Reagan National Airport), because of all the things that have come to light, said CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo.

Without the NTSB, would we have ever known about the 15,000 near misses, she told CNN in April, referring to the 15,214 near miss events the board uncovered from 2021 and 2024, where aircraft were within one nautical mile of colliding, with a vertical separation of less than 400 feet at Reagan National Airport.

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Thats shocking - we wouldnt have known about that, she added.

A slower and safer approach

A number of issues plague Americas aviation system including inconsistent funding, outdated technology and short-staffed facilities.

Newark has been impacted by all three factors, and the chaos has been compounded by the closure of the airports busiest runway for rehabilitation work.

The FAA confirmed that at least three air traffic controllers were working in the Newark approach control facility Monday night. At the busiest times of the day, the number of controllers could be as high as 14.

An FAA spokesperson underscored to CNN that 14 was a staffing maximum and there had not been that many controllers working during a shift for years due to the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

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Despite these obstacles, United CEO Kirby told CNN flying is still safe at Newark  and nationwide  because airlines are scaling back the amount of flights departing day by day.

What happens when there are staffing shortages or technology outages  we train for those. But really what we do is we slow down the airline, Kirby added. We have fewer departures at every airport, so that we maintain the margin of safety everywhere that we fly.

Kirby delivered a similar message Monday in an email addressed to MileagePlus members who live near or have an upcoming trip that includes the airlines hub at Newark.

The truth is that all the flights in and out of (Newark) are absolutely safe, Kirby said. When there are (Federal Aviation Administration) issues, such as technology outages or staffing shortages, the FAA requires all airlines to fly fewer aircraft to maintain the highest levels of safety.

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The email includes a link to a video highlighting the number of safety protocols already in place to protect passengers, such as back-up radar services and advanced safety technology that helps pilots see other aircraft around them.

But those booking flights for summer vacation should avoid flights through Newark, according to CNN analyst and former FAA safety inspector David Soucie, who notes that nearby airports could experience delays due to reduced traffic at Newark.

Until we see a reliable, repetitive nature of the flights and without delays at that airport, I would avoid it if I can, Soucie added.

Summer travel is expected to be dreadful, according to Peter Goelz, a CNN aviation analyst and former managing director of the NTSB. Particularly around the high-volume holidays of the Fourth of July and Labor Day, he said.

While a reduction in the overall number of flights could mean weeks, if not months, of misery for travelers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this approach is one way airlines can maintain safety during the summertime rush.

Our mission is safety, and so I hate delays. I hate cancellations, and I hate families who come with little kids that are sitting there for four hours, Duffy said on NBCs Meet the Press. But I want you to get to where youre traveling, and if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely.

Duffy last week announced plans for a delay reduction meeting in which airlines  brought together by the FAA  collaborate to reduce delays. The meeting is set for Wednesday according to an FAA statement.

These talks have to start with the FAA, Soucie told CNN Sunday. We cant rely on the air carriers to say, Heres how much we think you can handle.

Thats the FAAs job, Soucie added.

When can we expect a fix?

On Thursday, the US Department of Transportation announced a three-year plan to build a brand-new air traffic control system, involving critical upgrades of communications, surveillance, automation and facilities. By 2028, more than 4,600 sites will get new high-speed network connections replacing antiqued telecommunications lines with fiber, wireless and satellite links, the department said.

What you saw in Newark, you will see variations of that through the airspace in the coming years, unless we undertake this mission, Duffy has told CNN.

The FAA also plans to add three new high-bandwidth telecommunications connections from New York to Philadelphia, replace copper lines with fiber-optic technology, and deploy a backup system to provide more speed and reliability.

Duffy said the ongoing air traffic control failures began with the Biden administration and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

I think it is clear that the blame belongs with the last administration, Duffy said during a news conference at the DOT headquarters Monday. Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden did nothing to fix the system that they knew was broken.

Chris Meagher, a Buttigieg adviser, said Duffy needs to spend more time doing what the American people are paying him to do  fix problems  and less time blaming others.

Duffy said he will ask the inspector general to open an investigation into the failures of the last administration and the move of controllers handling flights in and out of Newark from a New York facility to Philadelphia TRACON Area C.

Tuesday, the FAA announced they have completed upgrades to air traffic control simulators at 56 sites across the country. The simulators speed up training by 27% for new hires, the agency said in a statement.

These new simulators give air traffic control trainees a high-tech space to learn, develop and practice their skills, Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said in a statement. Its one of the many ways the FAA is increasing the number of air traffic controllers, improving training and keeping our skies safe.

Tajer called Newarks disruptions the volcano thats erupting right now, but there are other volcanoes in the air travel system.

Weve got to make sure that we bring them to an inactive state by investing in these modernizations of technology, he said. When it comes to safety, we got your back. We dont fly without that confidence.

On Sunday, a pilot radioed the approach controller, about the same time as flights headed to Newark were halted by the ground stop, according to radio frequency recorded by the website LiveATC.net.

Newark, just so you know, were all rooting for you, for better equipment and more staffing.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  According to a recent WalletHub study, Salt Lake City is one of the best cities in the United States for young adults to kickstart their careers.

The study compared professional opportunities and quality of life among the countrys most populated cities. Out of more than 180 cities in the study, the capital of the Beehive State was ranked eighth overall. Per WalletHub, the top 10 cities for starting a career are listed below:

Atlanta, Georgia Orlando, Florida Tampa, Florida Austin, Texas Miami, Florida Charleston, South Carolina Richmond, Virginia Salt Lake City, Utah Columbia, South Carolina Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The best cities for starting a career not only have a lot of job opportunities but also provide substantial income growth potential and satisfying work conditions, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. Its also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how good of a place it is for raising a family, to ensure life satisfaction outside of your career.

How were the cities ranked?

Source: WalletHub

In order to determine the best cities in which to launch a career, WalletHub compared 182 cities  including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state the company explains.

The study examined each citys professional opportunities and quality of life, evaluating those dimensions using 25 different metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, and the weighted average across all metrics determined a citys overall score.

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Salt Lake City was ranked 20th for professional opportunities and sixth for quality of life. West Valley City was also on the list, coming in at number 104 with a score of 108 in both professional opportunities and quality of life.

Within the professional opportunities dimension, some of the metrics examined included availability of entry-level jobs, monthly average starting salary, annual job growth rate, job satisfaction, and more.

As for the quality of life dimension, WalletHub examined the median annual income, projected population growth, housing affordability, and average commute time.

To see the full 182-city ranking, and to dive deeper into the studys methodology, visit WalletHubs website.

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The city of San Bernardino has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of a man killed by police during a foot pursuit in 2023, with most of the settlement expected to go to the man's young son, according to lawyers for the family.

Police alleged Robert Brown was holding a firearm as he ran from police and jumped over a fence, but relatives of the 28-year-old man claimed body-camera video of the deadly shooting suggested Brown was empty-handed when he was shot.

A video edited and released by San Bernardino police of the incident shows Brown holding what appears to be a handgun just moments before he climbs over a backyard fence, and is shot through the fence by the officer.

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On Wednesday, city officials announced after a closed session meeting that they would agree to a $4,875,000 settlement with Brown's family, said Jeff Kraus, a spokesperson for the city.

An attorney for Brown's family at one point accused police of planting a gun after the shooting, stating it took police hours to find the firearm following the shooting.

Read more: Deputy shot California man 5 times, including in the back. Family is awarded $30.5 million

Police said in an initial news release that a motorcycle officer tried to pull Brown over at 6:45 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2023, because of a vehicle code violation near 7th Street and Sierra Way.

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But instead of stopping, Brown ran away from the officer, jumping over a backyard fence.

"Stop! Get on the Ground!" the police officer, identified as Jackson Tubbs in the initial claim filed by the family, is heard yelling at Brown in body-camera footage. "Get on the ground!"

Police alleged Brown was holding a 9-millimeter handgun.

In the initial claim filed with the city, attorneys for the family pointed out that the video showed Brown pulling himself over the fence with both hands empty, suggesting he wasn't holding a gun in either hand.

But the video released by police shows Brown tumbling for a second after running from his car, and a still image appears to show him holding a handgun in his right hand. The police video also shows Brown pulling himself over the fence with both hands.

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Lt. Jennifer Kohrell, who narrates the video, said the video shows Brown tossing the gun over the fence before climbing over, and is seen by Tubbs kneeling down on the other side of the fence. In the video, it's not clear if Brown tosses an object over, and he is not visible beyond the fence.

The video shows Tubbs doesn't immediately jump over the fence in pursuit of Brown, but instead shoots through the fence, fatally wounding Brown.

Attorney Brad Gage, who filed the suit on behalf of Brown's sister, Victoria Brown, said Brown's parents will receive $175,000 of the settlement.

The rest of the funds will go to the estate of Robert Brown, whose primary beneficiary is expected to be his son, who was 6 years old at the time of the shooting.

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"It all goes to the benefit of the child, but has to be approved by a judge," Gage said. "This is all about protecting the child."

The funds would be put away until the child's 18th birthday, he said. A judge would determine who would serve as the boy's guardian.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Following an earlier announcement in February about impending layoffs, Southwest Airlines confirmed it is cutting skycaps out of its workforce at San Diego International Airport (SAN).

Skycaps are employees who serve in various airport roles, including handling luggage, offering curbside check-in, and assisting people with general airport navigation.

San Diego budget calls for ending of program to digitize archives

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On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said the company had notified its skycaps at SAN and nine other locations back in February that it would be contracting out that service.

Their work will be replaced by kiosk machines and a third-party vendor after their employment ends later this week.

The gap in notification to separation was to give the Employees a chance to apply with the vendor, said the spokesperson for the airline. We currently have 52 Skycap locations across our network and those 10 were the only locations operated by SWA Employees.

He did not specify the exact number of employees affected by the end of the skycap service at SAN or the nine other locations affected.

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Earlier, in February, the company stated it planned to lay off around 1,750 people nationwide in an effort to save $210 million in this years budget and $300 million in 2026.

At the time, CEO Bob Jordan said the layoffs would primarily impact Southwests corporate workforce.

Southwest Airlines is San Diegos largest carrier for air travel in terms of volume of passengers and number of overall flights.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  As part of the proposed cuts to San Diegos budget to close a more than $258 million deficit, the City Clerks Office is proposing discontinuing a program focusing on digitizing the citys archives for free public access online.

Called the Archives Access and Preservation Program, the city began the initiative more than a decade ago as a way to make its historical artifacts and records easier to view. Previously, historical documents could only be obtained through the public records request process.

More than 1,000,000 documents  from photographs and videos to legal records  have been uploaded to the citys website since then, serving as a resource for students research and for history buffs to explore San Diego of yesteryear.

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San Diego fire pits: Are they going up in smoke?

Under Mayor Todd Glorias proposed budget, however, the City Clerks office will wind down this program and return to public records requests as the main way to obtain archival documents that are not already available online.

Alongside the programs end, a number of full-time positions associated with it will be eliminated, axing the offices ability to host archival tours and exhibits on San Diego history in the lobby of the City Administration Building.

These changes will also impact the City Clerks passport services, reducing the number of appointments available, according to the draft budget.

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Efforts to digitize additional historical artifacts will continue, San Diego City Clerk Diana Fuentes said, but it would be more limited in scope and contingent on outside grant funding opportunities through programs like California Revealed initiative.

Above all, we remain committed to protecting the Citys historical records, Fuentes said. We will continue to focus on making it easier for everyone to find what theyre looking for by organizing and labeling  our historical records in clearer, more searchable ways.

San Diego Police Department pitches closing Northwestern Division

Maintenance of the citys archives is one of the primary responsibilities of the City Clerk, acting as an information gateway for the public to learn more about local government. The clerk is also responsible for overseeing city elections and managing legislative records, among other things.

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Even as the department is looking at scaling back its archival operations and laying off a number of its staff, the 2026 draft budget would increase its funding by about 8%, going from about $8.1 million allocated in the 2025 fiscal year to $8.2 million.

According to the draft budget, the city is expected to save about $807,106 in the cuts, but this will be offset by hikes to salary and benefits for remaining employees and an increase to funding for the departments information technology.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  San Diego has been given the green light to sue the regional planning commission who oversees municipal boundaries after it helped get a petition to get La Jollas secession from the city over the finish line.

Behind closed doors Monday, the City Council voted to authorize the filing of litigation against the Local Agency Formation Commission  or LAFCO  over its validating of 240 signatures in a petition for the enclaves cityhood that were previously denied by the county Registrar of Voters.

The move ended up pushing the petition submitted by the Association for the City of La Jolla to just a dozen signatures more than the required number to advance it to the next stage in the secession process.

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San Diego fire pits: Are they going up in smoke?

While it was celebrated as a win among proponents of La Jollas cityhood, the overruling of the Registrar of Voters determination drew immediate condemnation from San Diego leaders like Mayor Todd Gloria, who questioned LAFCOs rationale for accepting previously invalidated signatures.

In a statement earlier this month, Gloria said city staff sat in as the regional commission reviewed the signatures, describing their assessment as dubious and overbroad.

The petition needed signatures from about 25% of registered voters in the proposed citys boundaries  about 6,750 people  in order to initiate the secession process.

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Before LAFCOs intervention, the Registrar of Voters had shot down the petition submitted by the Association for the City of La Jolla twice over errors like the signatory lived outside La Jolla, did not have verifiable voter registration or had incomplete information.

Gloria said some of the signatures later accepted by LAFCO staff appeared to carry these same issues. He then pledged to pursue whatever legal options available to address the citys qualms with the petitions acceptance and get full transparency on the commissions decision.

Coast Guard intercepts pleasure craft carrying three undocumented migrants

Details about what the litigation may entail remains unknown after Mondays vote, although Gloria noted its goal is to provide San Diegans with the transparency they deserve and hold LAFCO accountable for its arbitrary and capricious decisions.

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From the outset, Ive made it clear that the City of San Diego has serious concerns about LAFCOs exceptionally broad and questionable interpretations that led them to overturn the County Registrar of Voters official determination that the La Jolla secession petition was insufficient, Gloria said. The decision by LAFCO to overrule the Registrar undermines public confidence in the integrity of this signature-verification process and sets a troubling precedent.

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

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Flinders University research has identified the most common early warning signs of eating disorders in children, to provide a guide for parents and caregivers about when to seek help.

The article, "Early Warning Signs for Eating Disorders in Children: A Realist Synthesis of Websites Summarizing Caregiver and Consumer Perspectives," was published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

It's not always easy to recognize when a child has an eating disorder, but missing important warning signs and delays in diagnosis and intervention could make a difference between life or death.

While eating disorders can affect people of all ages and backgrounds, most are likely to take hold during adolescence and can quickly become serious and potentially life-threatening.

It is estimated that a third (31.6%) of Australian adolescents engage in disordered eating behaviors during any given year.

Eating disorder expert and lead author Dr. Jamie-Lee Pennesi says more young children are being diagnosed with eating disorders than ever before, with parents typically reporting a delay between noticing any warning signs and seeking help.

"Spotting the early signs of an eating disorder in a child can be difficult, because it can start very innocently with subtle changes to their habits, such as changes in eating patterns, only eating certain foods, not finishing their meal, wearing baggy or oversized clothing, overexercising," says Dr. Pennesi.

"If these behaviors aren't addressed, they can quickly develop into serious eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

"Until now, research in this area has been limited. Our new findings are valuable because they draw on the perspectives of parents and caregivers to identify distinct early warning signs of eating disorders in children.

"We want parents and caregivers to be able to recognize the early signs of eating disorders in children as early as possible and to act swiftly in seeking professional support."

The study found the 10 most common early warning signs for an eating disorder in a child are:

Excessive or compulsive exercisesuch as exercising in secret (in the middle of the night or in their bedroom). Any obvious weight loss or gain. Obsession or preoccupation with food or food preparation. Cutting out major food groups such as carbohydrates or dairy. Secrecy or dishonesty around food or eatingsuch as reporting they have eaten elsewhere, or saying they have already eaten with a friend. Obsession or preoccupation with body image, weight, shape and size. Self-induced vomiting or making themselves sick, or signs of self-induced vomiting. Changes in bathroom habitssuch as frequent visits to the bathroom after meals or eating. Skipping mealssuch as avoiding food, mealtimes, or situations involving food. Rituals and rules about food and eatingsuch as eating food in a certain order, cutting food into tiny pieces, or a fixation on using the same crockery or cutlery.

Dr. Pennesi encourages parents and caregivers with any concerns about their child's eating habits to seek professional advice.

"If parents spot any of the early warning signs, we'd encourage them to start having conversations about their concerns and ask their GP for an assessment," says Dr. Pennesi.

Professor Tracey Wade, senior researcher at Flinders University's College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, says there are many reasons why parents may delay talking to their GP about their children's eating habits, including not recognizing the early warning signs of an eating disorder, or understanding the potential severity of the situation.

"The good news is that most young people who are identified early in the development of an eating disorder, and who receive appropriate treatment, are reported to recover," says Professor Wade.

The research team is working on a new study and is looking for volunteers who have a child in primary school (aged 512 years) diagnosed with an eating disorder to take part in a brief online survey about children's eating habits and provide feedback on questions in the survey.

More information: JamieLee Pennesi et al, Early Warning Signs for Eating Disorders in Children: A Realist Synthesis of Websites Summarizing Caregiver and Consumer Perspectives, International Journal of Eating Disorders (2024). DOI: 10.1002/eat.24359 Journal information: International Journal of Eating Disorders
A man was shot and killed in a downtown parking lot early Monday, Santa Fe police announced, but the agency provided few details about the incident.

A news release police issued Monday afternoon noted only the incident was under investigation, stating, "There are no threats to the community."

Santa Fe police Capt. Jimmie Montoya said no one had been arrested in connection with the shooting as of Monday afternoon, but he declined to answer questions about the investigation.

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Officers arrived around 3:30 a.m. Monday at the site of the shooting  a city parking lot at Water Street and Don Gaspar Avenue  and found a man with at least one gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police did not disclose the name or age of the man who was killed.

The parking lot was taped off as a crime scene early Monday morning, and a biohazard crew could be seen cleaning what appeared to be a large puddle of blood in the center of the lot.

Later Monday morning, the crime scene was cleaned up and the parking lot reopened.

The shooting marks at least the third homicide in the state's capital city this year, and the second to occur in the downtown area.

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Suspects have been charged in both of the previous deaths. A man was accused in March of shooting and killing his brother, Aaron Mitchell, at a home on Barela Lane. In April, a man and a young woman were accused in the shooting death of 49-year-old Alvin Crespin, a homeless man, at the downtown De Vargas Park.

Court records indicate Crespin's killing might have been tied to a 2021 homicide. Crespin initially was charged with murder in the death of a man whose body was found in a bathtub at a Cerrillos Road motel. The victim's nephew is accused of shooting and killing Crespin, who had pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the case.

A woman also was fatally stabbed in April in her home in Agua Fria village, just outside city limits. New Mexico State Police have accused Minerva Maria Marquez Dominguez's husband of killing her while the couple's 9-month-old grandson played near her feet.

Online databases of court records and Santa Fe County jail logs did not appear to show any shooting suspects had been charged or booked as of Monday evening.

Officers encouraged anyone with more information about the shooting to call Santa Fe police Detective Enrique Moreno at 505-955-5232.
President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Syria on Tuesday and dangled a similar enticement to Iran during a speech in Saudi Arabia, offering himself up as a historic peacemaker and outlining a transactional vision for future cooperation in the Middle East based on commerce, not chaos.

Expressing hope about Syrias new government, Trump announced that he would lift all sanctions on Damascus to give them a chance at greatness, something he said the leaders of Turkey and Saudi Arabia had encouraged him to do.

Oh, what I do for the crown prince, Trump said, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sat beaming below the stage.

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And while declaring that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, Trump offered what he called an olive branch to strike a deal to curtail its nuclear program that could ease economic sanctions on Tehran. Iran can have a much brighter future, Trump said. The choice is theirs to make.

But, the president asserted that his offer will not last forever, threatening maximum pressure should talks falter. Things are happening at a very fast pace, Trump said. So they have to make their move right now, one way or the other. Make your move.

The evening speech came after Trump, during his first day in Riyadh, met with billionaire investors and touted a $600 billion U.S. investment commitment by Saudi Arabia. Trumps lofty remarks about the regions development and future sought to broaden the focus on his weeklong trip to the region, which he described as a place of growth and limitless potential.

A new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts of tired divisions of the past, Trump said.

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Marveling at the Middle Easts rapid development, Trump contrasted his approach to the region, and the world more broadly, with his more traditional predecessors who long adhered to a foreign policy anchored in alliances built around advancing democratic values. Trump implied a particular break from the nation-building efforts and invasions of the George W. Bush-era, which typified the long-running GOP foreign policy orthodoxy that hes long railed against and, as president, upended. He did not mention Bush by name.

It is crucial for the wider world to note, this great transformation has not come from Western interventionists flying in with lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs, Trump said, declaring that the so-called nation-builders wrecked far more nations than they built.

At the same time, Trump expressed an eagerness to play a major role in the region, to catalyze talks with Iran, as well as with Lebanon and Syria, and hope about eventually seeing Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel.

I really think it's going to be something special, but you'll do it in your own time, Trump said.

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While criticizing Irans leaders for being focused on stealing their people's wealth to fund terror and bloodshed abroad, Trump offered what he called a new path and said hed be very happy if the U.S. can make a deal with Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be very profound, he added.

Trump also pointed to his ongoing efforts to broker a peace between Russia and Ukraine, with the possibility of talks in Istanbul on Thursday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Putins attendance up in the air, Trump plans to send special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take part in those potential meetings rather than changing his own scheduled visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to take part himself, a White House official said Tuesday.

The president also touted his recent truce with the Iran-backed Houthis after a nearly two-month skirmish in the Red Sea.

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We hit them hard. We got what we came for, and then we got out, he said.

Trump began his remarks by recapping the first few months of his term, describing efforts to constrain immigration, cut government regulations and set up trade deals with the United Kingdom and China.

We are rocking, the United States is the hottest country, the president said, before cutting himself off to pay deference to his hosts.

With the exception of your country, he interjected. Youre hotter.
Nearly every Oklahoman has a story about the Batfish. For decades, the USS Batfish has anchored itself in the hearts of families, children, veterans and history lovers across our state. Its more than a historic vessel  its a tourism asset that has drawn visitors from across the country and served as a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of our military service members. Preserving the Batfish is not just about protecting a landmark; its about ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made by those who helped shape Oklahoma and our nation.

The Batfish is no ordinary exhibit. This World War II submarine is a national treasure, known for accomplishing an extraordinary feat  sinking three enemy submarines in just 76 hours. That achievement made the Batfish legendary in naval history and helped shift the tide of war in the Pacific. After the war, the submarine found its permanent home in Muskogee, where it quickly became one of Oklahomas most beloved and unique historical attractions.

For years, the Batfish served as an immersive museum experience. Visitors walked its narrow passageways, stood in its control room and gained a visceral appreciation for the bravery of those who served. But that experience has been on hold since 2019, when severe flooding damaged and displaced the vessel. Without urgent action, this iconic symbol of military valor risks being lost forever.

A rendering for the updated site of the USS Batfish.

Thankfully, we have a clear and promising path forward. A plan is in place to relocate the Batfish to Port Muskogees Three Forks Harbor and incorporate it into the forthcoming Oklahoma War Memorial & Museum. This visionary project not only ensures the Batfishs restoration and preservation  it transforms it into the centerpiece of a new, premier cultural destination that will honor veterans, educate visitors and boost Oklahomas tourism economy for generations to come.

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More: Grayson is seeking funding to restore the high school Clara Luper attended

Tourism is one of Oklahomas fastest-growing and most impactful industries, contributing a record $11.8 billion in visitor spending in 2022. Before the floods, the Batfish welcomed tens of thousands of visitors annually who supported local restaurants, hotels and businesses. With restoration and strategic placement near the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, the Batfish will help establish Muskogee as a vibrant cultural and historical hub.

Yet even more than the economic return, this effort is about respect  for the men and women who wore the uniform, and for future generations who deserve to learn from their stories. When a student steps aboard the Batfish, theyre not just seeing a submarine; theyre experiencing history, understanding sacrifice and drawing inspiration.

Together, we can protect a legacy, grow our economy and invest in a future that celebrates the strength, sacrifice, and spirit of Oklahoma.

Sterling Zearley

Sterling Zearley is the executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: A facelift is in the works for Oklahoma's USS Batfish | Opinion
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace spoke at the Greenville County GOP convention at the Greenville Convention Center on Monday April 14, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

A lawsuit filed Monday by U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace claims one of the men she targeted in a shocking speech in Congress defamed her on social media in the weeks afterward.

The 1st District congresswoman accuses Eric Bowman of repeatedly and maliciously damaging her reputation following her hour-long speech in February, for which shes being sued for defamation by another man she named.

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Bowman has said more lawsuits are likely, but he meant against her.

All four men, who include Maces ex-fiance, have vehemently denied her accusations from the U.S. House floor that they committed some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable.

Bowman, a Sullivans Island software developer, called the lawsuit filed in Charleston County court headline theater.

Mace claims Bowman acted with reckless disregard to the truth and with actual malice towards Rep. Mace through his utter disregard of and callousness to her rights as a South Carolinian in purposely making such knowingly false declarations, the lawsuit reads.

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The lawsuit cites Bowmans posts on X, formerly Twitter, between Feb. 27  17 days after her speech  and March 17.

In that nearly hour-long speech broadcast live on C-SPAN, Mace accused the men of an array of sexual crimes, including raping and videotaping women without their knowledge.

Mace said she was among the victims. All four men immediately denied her claims.

At the time, the state Law Enforcement Division confirmed it was investigating Maces ex-fiance. A spokeswoman said Monday the agency had nothing new to report as the investigation continues.

No charges have been filed.

Bowman and Mace have blasted each other in social media posts since the speech.

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The posts that Mace cites in her lawsuit include Bowmans allegations that Mace illegally used her position on the House Veterans Affair Committee to steer VA contracts to friends and political allies.

Bowman knew these statements were objectively false when they were made and acted with a reckless disregard for the truth in repeatedly making such statements without support or any attempt to verify the veracity of such statements, the lawsuit reads.

In addition, it continued, Bowman has also spent months smearing Rep. Maces name and reputation through wide range of vile, contemptible, and repugnant character attacks.

Responding to the lawsuit, Bowman said his social media activity represents the truth.

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My posts  based on documents, public records, witness testimony, and materials from her own staff present evidence of hacking, blackmail, misuse of private images, misappropriated tax dollars, and retaliation against rival VA contractors, he wrote to the SC Daily Gazette in a text.

Those posts remain publicly available on my X feed (@_ericbowman) for anyone who wants to review them. I acted in good faith and without malice, and I will present this evidence under oath, he said. Im confident the First Amendment  and the documented facts  will prevail. Nancy Mace cant be trusted.

Defamation cases are harder for public figures to prove. Their claims must meet the actual malice standard.

Mace is facing an elevated standard of clear and convincing evidence, said Jay Bender, a First Amendment expert and longtime attorney for news outlets in South Carolina.

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She will need to prove that Bowmans posts were false, he knew that when he wrote them, and the posts have damaged her reputation, Bender said. Plus, some of Bowmans posts might be protected as opinion. Its supposed to be a very high standard of proof, he added.

While posts included in the lawsuit stop March 17  three days after a defamation suit was filed against her in U.S. District Court in Charleston  Bowmans posts about her continued.

In an April 9 post that tagged Mace, he wrote, What if this isnt just politics or drama? What if were witnessing a real mental breakdown  public, painful, and unchecked?

Mace announced her lawsuit against him on X: Let this be a warning to all. I didnt come to play, she wrote.

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The suit against Bowman comes a month after he was arrested on unrelated charges of stalking and harassment.

He said those April 8 charges came from his estranged wife, who he claimed he has not spoken to since November 2023 and is friends with Mace. He denied the allegations and continued to criticize his estranged wife on X after he got out of jail, calling the accusations weaponized law enforcement.

Bowman turned himself in at the jail and was released later the same day.

Mace has yet to respond legally to the lawsuit filed in March by Brian Musgrave of Fort Mill.

The case could test the limits of the speech or debate clause of the U.S. Constitution, which shields members of Congress from lawsuits for what is said in either chamber. Musgrave contends her posts after the speech arent protected.

Musgraves suit came two weeks after his lawyers, Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, warned Mace in a letter to either reveal evidence of the allegations, apologize or prepare to be sued.

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Mace has never responded directly to the lawsuit, even to reporters. Instead, shes repeatedly referred questions back to her House speech.

She has been uncharacteristically quiet (about the lawsuit) for a woman who isnt afraid to get in front of the microphone, Bland told the SC Daily Gazette on Monday.

The lawsuits loom as Mace mulls a run for governor. Mace hasnt officially announced but its widely expected that shes going to be part of a crowded field vying for the GOP nomination.

Gov. Henry McMaster, whos already the states oldest and longest-serving elected governor, cant seek another term.

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Others expected to run include Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette.

Mace has taken jabs at both on social media. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, as well as state Sens. Josh Kimbrell and Sean Bennett are also considering bids.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  Representatives in South Carolina have filed a letter to state leaders saying Mikal Mahdis execution was, in their words, botched.

Representative Neal Collins (R  Pickens) and Representative Justin Bamberg (D  Bamberg) filed the letter on Monday.

Mahdi was executed by firing squad last month for murdering a police officer over 20 years ago.

What this is about is, making sure that when we do execute as a state, people, that we do it in a way that is humane, Collins said.

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Collins and Bamberg said there were several things in the autopsy report that raised concerns.

Collins added that the letter will raise awareness on an execution he said that did not go as planned.

20250512094518_001Download

We need to have oversight and accountability and situations where things happen, where the unfortunate things happen, that we need to study, Collins said.

On the other hand, spokesman for Governor Henry McMaster, Brandon Charochak, said The governor has high confidence in the leadership of the Department of Corrections. He believes the sentence of death for Mr. Mahdi was properly and lawfully carried out.

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Chrysti Shain, from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, said all three bullets hit Mahdis heart, and he took his final breath at 75 seconds.

The bullets struck Mahdi in the heart, per the autopsy report. They did not miss, said Shain. The autopsy report shows no exit wounds. The same firm conducted the autopsy as in previous executions.

Exhibit-A-Mikal-D.-Mahdi-Autopsy-ReportDownload



Mahdis lawyers filed documents to the South Carolina Supreme Court with their concerns on what they called the mishandled execution.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Secretary of State David Scanlan pledged his office would provide unprecedented transparency after a court-named receiver took over one of the states four pooled risk programs that managed insurance benefit programs for member city, town, school and county governmental units.

At Scanlans urging, Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Martin Honigberg last month named Lance Turgeon, a financial executive with Wipfli LLP, as receiver, to make all decisions regarding New Hampshire Interlocal Trust (NHIT) finances.

Its a borderline situation right now, Turgeon told reporters at a news conference Scanlan called in his office Tuesday.

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Look at the cash position of the trust, its a negative number and the known claims, that is a negative number too.

Christina Ferrari, a Manchester lawyer representing the state, said Scanlan went into court seeking the protection upon learning NHIT trustees adopted a resolution on April 11 to dissolve the trust.

We are unpacking all the issues as this has come together so quickly in the last 30 days, Ferrari said.

NHIT is the smallest of four firms that manage health insurance and/or property and casualty insurance coverage for government entities.

Affected communities include the cities of Berlin, Laconia and Franklin, along with the towns of Amherst, Milford, Wilton and many communities in the Great North Woods region.

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The states risk management law exempts these firms from having to file any reports with the Internal Revenue Service or to be subject to regulation of the Department of Insurance.

Scanlans bureau was the only government entity charged with ensuring that the pooled risk management companies are financially solvent.

Probe of NHIT goes back four years

The state Bureau of Securities Regulation going back to 2021 opened a financial probe into NHIT operations.

The bureau claimed NHIT and Albert C. Jones Employee Benefits Inc. violated state laws through misuse of public funds and the diversion of surplus owed to the government members of the trust.

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Lawyers for NHIT have denied the charges.

An administrative proceeding against NHIT is pending with a hearing on the merits set for December.

Two months ago, Scanlan asked the Legislature to pass legislation (SB 297) to adopt more restrictive guardrails for all pooled risk management programs to ensure they are financially sound.

At that time, Scanlan warned both New Hampshire Interlocal Trust and HealthTrust, the largest pooled risk management program, were in danger of becoming financially insolvent.

If that bill was in place, NHIT would not be insolvent, Scanlan said.

The Senate passed it without debate on a voice vote. The House Commerce and Small Business Committee held a public hearing last month and has scheduled a work session on the issue next week.

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HealthTrust represents 191 of the states 234 cities and towns, 6 of 10 counties, 85 school groups and 74 other units like water, library and fire districts.

HealthTrust officials said Scanlans actuary drew false conclusions about the programs finances and maintained that it had more than enough assets to be viable.

They maintain Scanlans bill sets asset levels that are too low to create a healthy climate for the risk pools.

Scanlan released an April 11 statement that alleged HealthTrust on numerous occasions ignored the advice of their own actuaries to raise rates from 2020-23.

Last month, HealthTrust executives announced that they would exit the market should the Senate-passed bill be signed into law.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD)  State transportation officials want to hear from the community about a proposed Johns Island bridge replacement project.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is looking to replace S-91 (River Road) over Burden Creek on Johns Island.

The current bridge includes two 10-foot travel lanes with about one-foot paved shoulders. The proposed improvements would replace the existing bridge structure and build the roadway to meet current design and safety standards.

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According to the project website, it will provide two 12-foot travel lanes with two-foot paved and eight-foot grassed shoulders.

As SCDOT works toward replacing this bridge in Charleston County, members of the public are asked to respond to an online survey and share their preferences about possible construction plans, SCDOT said.

The survey is available at burdencreekbridge.com through June 13.

There, people can see information from a study that notes impacts associated with each potential construction plan, like natural resource impacts, historical or cultural sites, temporary detours, travel delays, and construction costs.

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Information gathered through the online survey will help form SCDOTs project plans and materials that will be shared during a public information meeting later in the year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
1 /3 VIDEO COURTESY SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn the luxury airplane gift to President Donald Trump.

COURTESY OFFICE OF SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ U.S. Sen Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, speaks on the Senate floor this morning on the proposed Qatar gift of a jet to be used as Air Force One by the Trump administration.

2 /3 COURTESY OFFICE OF SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ U.S. Sen Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, speaks on the Senate floor this morning on the proposed Qatar gift of a jet to be used as Air Force One by the Trump administration.

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REUTERS /NATHAN HOWARD / APRIL 25 President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews aboard Marine One, before boarding Air Force One.

3 /3 REUTERS /NATHAN HOWARD / APRIL 25 President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews aboard Marine One, before boarding Air Force One.

COURTESY OFFICE OF SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ U.S. Sen Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, speaks on the Senate floor this morning on the proposed Qatar gift of a jet to be used as Air Force One by the Trump administration.

REUTERS /NATHAN HOWARD / APRIL 25 President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews aboard Marine One, before boarding Air Force One.

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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz today blasted from the Qatari government to be used as a future Air Force One as disgusting  and wildly corrupt  among other things.

The Hawaii Democrat says he plans to ask his Senate colleagues to condemn Trumps plan to accept the Boeing thats worth over $400 million but will cost millions more to upgrade it to Air Force standards and ensure its not bugged or can be tracked, according to ABC News, which first reported the gift from Qatar on Sunday.

RELATED :

Trump confirmed the report to reporters today, saying Now, I could be a stupid person and say, Oh no, we dont want a free plane.

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Schatz blasted the plan today on the Senate floor and called it a clear violation of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

I cannot believe I have to say this but a president should not take a $400 million gift from a foreign country,  Schatz said. It doesnt matter which president, what party, it doesnt matter which foreign country.  I shouldnt have to explain why but it is a high principle literally enshrined in the Constitution  the Emoluments Clause in the Constitution. Its a fancy phrase, but a simple idea. No foreign gifts. If a foreign government offers you anything, but especially something close to half a billion dollars worth, the answer is no thank you. End of story. Very simple. End of story. I cannot take that.  But its also explicitly prohibited by the United States Constitution.

Air Force One is not just a random luxury airplane,  Schatz said. It is a symbol of and a projection of American power.  It represents not just the weight of the presidency, but America itself, generations of history and international leadership. But in one fell swoop Trump is selling out one of the most iconic symbols of American power that we have.

Its disgusting. Its wildly corrupt. And just because they are doing the corruption in plain sight does not make it any less damning, or sad or gross.

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According to The Hill, Trump told reporters that the gift helps us out because  we have 40-year-old aircraft. The money we spend, the maintenance we spend on those planes to keep them tippy top is astronomical. You wouldnt even believe it. So, I think its a great gesture from Qatar ; I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, No we dont want a free, very expensive airplane,  but I thought it was a great gesture.

Trump said he thinks Qatar made the offer because he has kept them safe,  adding, If it wasnt for us, they probably wouldnt exist right now.

See more :

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

PVD structure showing sex-based differences. On the right, PVD in an adult hermaphrodite (cyan). On the left, PVD in an adult male (cyan), alongside 18 neurons innervating the male tail fan (magenta). Scale bar: 0.05 mm (white) in each image. Credit: Podbilewicz's Lab, Technion

Is there a difference in brain structure between men and women? If we were to find such a difference in a single neuron, would it matter?

One of the most useful models for studying these questions is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). This tiny worm has several characteristics that make it an excellent research model, one of which is that every cell in its body has a predetermined identity and lineage.

Like humans, C. elegans has two sexes. However, instead of male and female, the two sexes of this worm are male and hermaphroditea self-fertilizing individual capable of producing both male and female gametes (sperm and eggs), allowing it to reproduce without a partner.

Researchers from the Faculty of Biology at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have examined these sex-specific differences (sexual dimorphism) in C. elegans, and uncovered surprising findings.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was led by Dr. Yael Iosilevskii and Dr. Menachem Katz from Prof. Beni Podbilewicz's Lab, in collaboration with Prof. David H. Hall of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

The researchers discovered that a highly branched neuron called PVD, previously characterized in hermaphrodites, forms a different structure in males. Moreover, while in hermaphrodites, PVD functions primarily in pain sensing, in males, it has an additional role during mating; when its development is disrupted, males are slower and less coordinated. This discovery provides a unique example of sexual dimorphism in the structure of a single neuron, which is linked to behavioral differences.

'Male' vs. 'female' brains

It has long been established that men and women have different susceptibilities to various neurological disorders. For example, women are more prone to depression, while men have a higher risk of Parkinson's disease. Could these differences be linked to the structure of individual neurons in the brain? This is difficult to determine due to the sheer number of neurons in the human brainapproximately 75 billion.

Even if a difference were found between the sexes in just one neuron, pinpointing its exact contribution would be challenging, as even the simplest tasks require a multitude of intricately interconnected neurons.

To explore the significance of a single neuron's spatial structure, researchers have turned to the nematode C. elegans, just one millimeter long. A unique feature of this organism is that the identity of all 302 neurons in the hermaphrodite is invariant, allowing scientists to map their placement, spatial structure, and connections fully.

"Furthermore," said Prof. Podbilewicz, "within the nematode population, there are also male individuals with distinct anatomy, additional neurons, and different behavior. This makes for a remarkably simple system where we can directly ask: What determines the structure of each neuron in the nervous system? Are there sex-specific differences, and do they affect behavior?"

To answer these questions, Dr. Iosilevskii and Dr. Katz studied the development of the sensory neuron PVD. This neuron has a highly branched structure, with repetitive subunits resembling a candelabra ("menorahs"). Its distinctive shape and its development during the organism's maturation have made it a research focus for over a decade. While much is known about its development in hermaphrodites, PVD had not been characterized in males or examined for sexual dimorphism.

The Technion researchers set out to determine whether male PVD neurons develop a different spatial structure and whether this difference influences a male's behavior.

When examining PVD development in males, the researchers found that its menorah-like structures remained consistent across both sexes. However, they were surprised to discover that in adult males, PVD extends additional branches into the tail fana specialized male organ used for mating. Along with Prof. Hall, they found that these branches are entirely separate from the previously known neurons in this region.

This unique branching of PVD does not occur during the tail fan's development but emerges immediately afterward, during the final molt from juvenile to adult. Shortly afterwards, the male begins to exhibit his sex-specific mating behavior. The researchers further discovered that when PVD does not develop properly, this mating behavior is impaired, causing males to become slower and less coordinated.

This discovery of sexual dimorphism in the structure of a single sensory neuron, which also relates to male-specific behavior, provides a unique example in C. elegans and opens new avenues for studying sex-based neural differences. The discovery is expected to enhance our understanding of how such sexual dimorphisms alter responses both at the single-cell level and the behavior of the whole organism.

More information: Yael Iosilevskii et al, The PVD neuron has male-specific structure and mating function in Caenorhabditis elegans, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2421376122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Southern California school districts are warning parents about a new TikTok challenge urging students to damage their school-issued Chromebooks.

The viral trend dubbed the Chromebook Challenge encourages intentionally tampering with charging ports, batteries or even inserting objects like pencil lead into the device ports or electrical outlets.

Participating in this challenge is extremely hazardous. It can cause Chromebooks to overheat, catch fire, or, in some cases, explode, posing serious risks of injury and property damage, the Oxnard School District stated in a post on Instagram Monday evening.

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A 13-year-old student in Long Beach was arrested for damaging a school-issued Chromebook by inserting a foreign object into a battery charging port last week, the Los Angeles Times reported

The Long Beach Unified School District told the Times it wasnt the first time a student was disciplined in connection with the social media challenge, but did not say how many other times it had occurred.

Oxnard school officials urged students to tell a trusted adult if they see or hear about anyone participating in the challenge and asked families to speak with students about the importance of not engaging in the behavior.

The School District shared the following need to know information:

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Damaging a Chromebook can result in suspension.

Families and students will be held responsible for intentional damage (this is not covered by insurance).

This behavior violates the OSD Acceptable Use Policy.

Theres a real risk of fire and the possibility of law enforcement becoming involved.

Email and text messages from several other school districts across Southern California have been sent to families in hopes of stopping the costly trend.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
BEACON FALLS, Conn. (WTNH)  Its an exciting year in the valley. A high school is celebrating a big honor as it makes moves to offer more unique programming for students.

The hallways are an obstacle course for flying, while classrooms focus on life-saving skills.

Whats Right with Schools: Waterbury students learn about careers within their community

The school day is busy and exciting at Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls, which is why its no surprise the state has taken notice..

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We were recognized by the Connecticut Association of Schools as the high school of the year, which is a great honor for us, Kurt Ogren, principal at Woodland Regional High School, said.

The high school, serving Beacon Falls and Prospect in Region 16, was selected as the standout when it comes to fostering a safe, healthy, and academically rigorous environment.

Like in this classroom, where students are learning to navigate the skies.

Its a class I look forward to every day. Coming here flying, learning about planes, its a real-world thing, Senior student Ryan Iannone said.

Whats great is that they can make this as advanced or as easy depending on your skill level. They had me on the easiest flying a Cessna, but they teach you the basics on how to go right, left, up, down, and work through any mishaps in the air.

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Down the hall, theyre learning to save lives, with EMTs in training, getting practice in the classroom.

You learn anything from bleeding control, CPR administrator, basically breathe for somebody if they stop breathing. Medication administration, Madeleine Frew, EMT instructor, said.

The school is partnering with Waterbury Hospital so students can ride along in ambulances.

Were doing the ride time and talking to patients and everything. Its pretty eye-opening, junior student Helayna Desrochers said.

Theyre pushing the envelope, seeking new partnerships to put students on the path to success.

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We have a partnership were just starting with post-university. Its going to start next year. Where students can earn their associates degree before they graduate high school, Orgen said.

A pathway to progress at Connecticuts high school of the year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday put a hold on President Trumps Justice Department appointees over the gift of a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar that could be used as his Air Force One.

The Brooklyn Democrat slammed as blatant corruption the present from the oil-rich Gulf Arab state to Trump, who admits he plans to hand over the palace in the sky to his presidential foundation when he leaves office.

This is an issue of outright bribery and a serious issue of national security, Schumer said.

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(Attorney General Pam Bondi) must testify before both the House and Senate to explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the emoluments clause  which requires congressional approval  or any other ethics laws, he said in a speech on the Senate floor.

Schumer asked a string of questions of Trump and Bondi, including why the plane was not being given to the American people and how much it will cost to install required security upgrades to allow the president to use it.

President Trump has told the American people this is a free jet. Does that mean the Qataris are delivering a ready-on-day-one plane with all the security measures already built in? Schumer asked. Or will American taxpayers cover the cost?

As Schumer and other Democrats point out, the Constitutions emoluments clause bars the president from accepting gifts from foreign leaders or governments without congressional approval.

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Trump, who has been frustrated with delays and cost overruns for a deal with Boeing for a new Air Force One, announced the purported gift last week ahead of his trip to the Middle East, which includes a stop in Qatar.

He said he would use the opulent plane during his presidency and then it would be given to his presidential library. No one in the Trump administration or Qatars monarchy has explained why the plane should not be a permanent gift to the American people.

Schumer asked who came up with the plan for the new plane and whether it might be a better use of taxpayer dollars to keep it and cancel the Boeing contract.

Schumer cant permanently block DOJ nominees, but he can slow down their consideration. Many Trump nominees have already been blocked using a variety of legislative tactics.

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The Office of Legal Counsel at the DOJ prepared a memo declaring that the acceptance of the plane was legal, a senior DOJ official said. But the DOJ has refused to release the memo, which was approved by Bondi.

Adding to the ethical questions, Bondi worked as a $1.3 million-a-year lobbyist for Qatar before joining the Trump administration.

Even some of Trumps hardline MAGA supporters have questioned the plane deal. Right-wing media guru Ben Shapiro called the deal skeezy while conservative talk radio host Erick Erickson said Trump shouldnt ride in a plane funded by Qatar because the Gulf monarchy bankrolls Hamas, the militant Palestinian terror group.
Scientists developed a questionnaire to identify whether your cat is a psychopath

What, exactly, is your cat thinking? Scientists came up with a questionnaire in 2021 that might give you some idea of where your feline friend fits on what's known as the triarchic model of psychopathy.

The model measures levels of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition in order to assess overall psychopathic tendencies. Ordinarily, the test is for human beings, of course, but here it's being applied to cats.

Having completed the survey  which you can find online  you'll be given what's called a CAT-Tri+ measure for your pet's level of psychopathy. The team is hoping that knowing this score can improve human and cat relationships.

What exactly is your cat thinking? ( Kamchatka/Canva

"Our cats and the differences in their personalities inspired us to start this research," psychologist Rebecca Evans, from the University of Liverpool in the UK, told Motherboard.

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"Personally, I am also interested in how owner perceptions of psychopathy in their cat can affect the cat-owner relationship. My cat Gumball scores relatively highly on the disinhibition scale  which means he can be quite vocal, proximity-seeking and excitable."

The questionnaire asks for information about how adventurous your cat is when exploring, how it reacts to danger, how it responds to other cats, whether or not it needs constant stimulation, and how well it follows house rules.

Related behaviors  including sudden mood changes, aggression towards new people, and reactions to being petted  are also explored.

In each instance you can mark your feline on a scale of "does not describe my cat" to "describes my cat extremely well".

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Other factors, measuring human-unfriendliness and pet-unfriendliness, are also included in the test, to help understand the relationship between the cat and owner.

The team hopes the survey can improve human and cat relationships. ( chalabalaphotos/Canva

From a total of 46 responses overall, you can work out your cat's CAT-Tri+ score for psychopathy. In humans, psychopathy is often characterized by a lack of empathy and a tendency to manipulate others  though psychopaths can appear normal and charming on the surface.

"It is likely that all cats have an element of psychopathy as it would have once been helpful for their ancestors in terms of acquiring resources: for example food, territory, and mating opportunities," Evans said.

The ultimate aim of the study was to give us a better understanding of our cats. Those that score more highly for boldness might benefit from spending more time with scratching posts or climbing obstacles, for example.

The ultimate aim of the study was to give us a better understanding of our cats. ( noly/Pixabay

Unwanted cats are still often abandoned or left to shelters (where they may be euthanized), and the research team hopes that a psychological study like this can help identify unwanted behaviors in cats, so owners can perhaps make adjustments to their environments or training accordingly.

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Relationships between 2,042 cat owners and their pets were studied in order to come up with the final questionnaire, with the researchers also able to tease out some patterns from the volunteers who had already answered the questions.

"Disinhibition and pet-unfriendliness predicted a higher quality cat-owner relationship; meanness and boldness predicted a lower quality relationship," the researchers write in their paper.

The research has been published in the Journal of Research in Personality.

An earlier version of this article was first published in December 2021.

Related News
Extreme weather doesn't just mean potential damage from wildfires and flooding  it could also put people at greater risk of catching a virus.

What's happening?

A study from Bangor University in Wales, United Kingdom, has detailed that sewage-associated viruses can persist for days in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters under certain conditions, raising concerns for public health.

According to the research, which was summarized in an article for The Conversation, viruses like norovirus and adenovirus can survive in water for up to a week, depending on the weather.

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In warmer waters around 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), viruses remained infectious for three days. Cooler temperatures stretched that survival period even longer.

Jessica Kevill, a post-doctoral research associate at Bangor's School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, said this represents "a global health concern," as climate-driven rainstorms and flooding could increase sewage discharge into natural waters.

The findings come on the heels of a troubling report from the U.K.'s Environment Agency, which revealed that water companies released raw sewage into waterways for a staggering 3.6 million hours in 2024.

Why is sewage contamination concerning?

Sewage releases expose people to harmful pathogens through activities like swimming, fishing, or boating. With extreme weather overwhelming sewer systems more often, untreated sewage can flood directly into bodies of water.

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This exposure can lead to serious illnesses, especially stomach bugs from feces-related viruses.

As a warming climate brings more frequent droughts, soil becomes drier, meaning it doesn't absorb water so well. With these conditions leading to more water run-off after intense rainstorms, there's a greater risk of sewage being carried in the torrent. Because of that, experts warn we could see an even greater risk of contamination.

Importantly, virus particles don't vanish instantly. Even after sewage stops flowing, infectious viruses can persist for days, meaning that timing matters when it comes to using natural waterways safely.

What's being done about sewage-related health risks?

To reduce risk, researchers suggest avoiding water-based activities in sewage-affected waters. Bangor University's research suggested waiting two-and-a-half days when conditions are cloudy or at least 24 hours with subsequent sunny days, as sunlight can accelerate virus deterioration.

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Hopeful innovations are also happening within the space. Scientists are working on natural solutions like using enzymes from bacteria to break down microplastics in sewers, offering potential new methods for cleaning wastewater before it reaches natural bodies of water.

Singaporean researchers are also advancing a "sludge-to-food-to-fuel" process that transforms sewage waste into clean hydrogen energy and sustainable animal feed.

While the discovery of lingering viruses in sewage-contaminated water is concerning, it also serves as a call to action. We must continue to push for improved infrastructure and embrace emerging tech to combat this issue and keep our sewage where it belongs: out of our water.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Pharmaceutical pollution is affecting Atlantic salmon's ability to migrate, according to a study published in the journal Science in early April.

What's happening?

Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences tracked young salmon's travel from the River Dal to the Baltic Sea, studying their reactions to clobazam and tramadol.

Clobazam helps control seizures and slows down the central nervous system. Tramadol is an opioid painkiller. Exposure sped up the fish's migration, appearing to make them less anxious, but is that a good thing?

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Marcus Michelangeli, a study contributor from Griffith University's Australian Rivers Institute, pointed out that such changes could be detrimental.

"While the increased migration success in salmon exposed to clobazam might seem like a beneficial effect, it is important to realize that any change to the natural behavior  of a species is expected to have broader negative consequences," he said, according to a release by the university.

Why is pharmaceutical pollution important?

Michelangeli said that this is an "emerging global issue," with hundreds of pharmaceuticals detected in global waterways. When people flush their medications down the toilet, they enter aquatic ecosystems.

Clobazam and tramadol were chosen for the study because they are common pollutants, but they're far from the only ones. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ibuprofen and aspirin can stunt aquatic organisms' growth, and antibiotics can poison aquatic plants.

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If fish and other aquatic wildlife are continuously exposed to pharmaceuticals, they could end up in humans' food. They are slow to degrade, meaning they build up and you could be exposed to all the medications that have been disposed of in waterways over time. This has untold effects on human health and well-being.

What's being done about it?

Unfortunately, this topic is significantly understudied. However, Michelangeli had some ideas on how to practically apply this new knowledge.

According to a release by Griffith University, he said, "By designing drugs that break down more rapidly or become less harmful after use, we can significantly mitigate the environmental impact of pharmaceutical pollution."

If you'd like to help, try limiting the amount of chemicals you use. Using organic fertilizer or ditching fabric softener can reduce your personal pollution output. To properly dispose of unused medicines, look into drug take-back locations near you.

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.
Drone technology is making it easier for researchers to assess drought tolerance in genetically modified corn plants to develop new and more resilient genotypes.

Rising global temperatures and drought have seriously impacted crop production, leading scientists to expand crop breeding programs. However, evaluations under stressful conditions can be complex and costly, according to a scientific study on the topic.

In order to get around these hurdles, researchers experimented using free software and a DJI Mavic 3M drone equipped with both red-green-blue (RGB) and multispectral sensors to capture images of test plots over time.

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"The continuous analysis, at different stages of the plant's life cycle, was essential to understand how they respond to water stress, as well as making it possible to predict how they'd behave in other areas," explained Juliana Yassitepe, a researcher at the Genomics for Climate Change Research Center in Brazil, according to a summary published on Phys.org.

The crops tested included 21 varieties of corn, with three conventional types and 18 genetically modified to overexpress genes related to water-stress resistance, the article explained. They were divided into two sections: one that was irrigated, and another that was subjected to drought stress.

The drone flyovers resulted in 290 images. Some used the multispectral sensor, which could capture non-visible light, like infrared, while the cheaper RGB sensor stuck to its namesake light bands.

The researchers found that the cheaper RGB images were more reliable and accurate, and by combining those with conventional ground measurements, they were able to define water stress parameters and feed the data into AI.

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"The prediction accuracies achieved by machine learning models using RGB data showed promising applications. Some vegetation indices reflected how plants changed under drought and correlated highly with the assessed traits," the study detailed.

The importance of protecting staple crops like corn can't be overstated. They play a key role in human consumption, animal feed, and the production of biofuels. Farmers are increasingly relying on innovative technologies to increase crop yields as the climate changes.

A Penn State University study evaluating 18 warming scenarios through 2090 concluded that lower corn crop yields are inevitable as temperatures rise, making this type of research invaluable.

"Climate change is real  that's the bottom line," said Suat Irmak, professor and head of the school's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "We need to understand how this might impact our national policies and food supply."

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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

All 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to miss global goals on combating infectious diseases, according to a new analysis in PLOS Medicine tracking the region's health progress.

While some countries are expected to end malaria by 2030, major challenges remain to eliminate HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and neglected tropical diseases, the study found, with new HIV/AIDS cases increasing steadily in the past decade.

Meanwhile, Singapore was the only country in the bloc projected to achieve the UN target for tackling non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and for road injuries, which are escalating across the region.

Researchers examined data from 1990 to 2021 to estimate the progress of ASEAN countries towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. These also include targets on nutrition, maternal, child and reproductive health, environmental health, and universal health coverage.

They found that although countries are committed to the 2030 targets, they face significant challenges due to unequal financial and social development.

"If countries fall short, it won't be due to lack of ambition, but rather due to underlying inequities in access, financing, and governance that must be addressed regardless of the date," said Paul Pronyk, a co-author of the study and a director of the Duke-NUS Center for Outbreak Preparedness, in the US.

"The consequence is not just missed targets, but preventable illness and financial strain on already stretched systems."

Countries such as Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines encounter considerable difficulties in meeting the goals, the study says, with the Philippines' overall score even regressing.

The likelihood of attaining the infectious disease-related target was particularly low for the Philippines due to its poor control of TB, HIV and hepatitis B, according to the analysis.

Meanwhile, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam saw a 40% to 90% increase in harmful alcohol consumptionamong the highest in the worldwhich, along with high smoking rates, is fueling chronic disease.

Countries falling behind often struggle with rural poverty, low education levels, and weak public health infrastructure, which limit and delay access to health care, says Pronyk, who is also a co-director of Singapore's SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute.

The ASEAN regionhome to 667 million peopleis also particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

In Cambodia and Laos, progress on communicable diseases is restricted by persistent gaps in the health care workforce and diagnostics, while in the Philippines, fragmentation across public and private systems is affecting the quality and cost-efficiency of health care, according to Pronyk.

Despite this, all ASEAN countries have made positive progress in nutrition, including the prevalence of stunting among children under five, according to the study.

"With targeted investments in primary care, health literacy, and cross-sectoral policy coordination, these lagging countries can still close critical gaps before 2030," said Pronyk.

Move the goalpost?

He believes moving the SDG goalposts, as some would advocate for, is not the solution.

"What's needed now is not a new timeline, but accelerated, equity-driven action," he urged. "The 2030 deadline is a powerful anchor for political accountability and should be upheld. Extending the timeline risks diluting the urgency, particularly in areas like non-communicable disease and environmental health where delayed action leads to compounding health burdens."

The UN adopted the SDGs in 2015 as a call to eliminate poverty, safeguard the planet, and make sure that all people have the benefits of prosperity and peace by 2030.

There are 17 SDGs, with "health" the central focus of SDG 3. Key targets of SDG 3 include: ending the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and tackling water-borne diseases, hepatitis and other communicable diseases; decreasing the global maternal mortality ratio to lower than 70 per 100,000 live births, and lowering the number of deaths and illnesses from unsafe chemicals and water, air and soil pollution and contamination.

"ASEAN countries should develop and implement robust strategies to address these health issues to improve effectively the health of their populations," urge researchers in the study.

They recommend that successes in high-performing countries should be shared regionally to help those falling behind.

Diptendra Sarkar, a public health analyst and professor at India's Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, says, "The study emphasizes the fact that socio-economic development is a key to achieving [health-related SDG] targets. Political stability and a tolerant society can push the social psyche to homogeneous socio-economic growth, [which] in turn is likely to push a country to achieve the 2030 health goals."

More information: Yafei Si et al, Progressing towards the 2030 health-related SDGs in ASEAN: A systematic analysis, PLOS Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004551 Journal information: PLoS Medicine

Provided by SciDev.Net
UPDATE, May 15: Both officers faced possible decertification at a meeting of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

Yzaguierre did not show up for the hearing, so the POST Commission voted for decertification by default. Smith was at the hearing. Commissioners voted to reset his case until July.

Earlier story below.

UPDATE: The Shelby County Sheriffs Office released a statement saying the woman involved does not want to further pursue the case.

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When the misconduct involving two deputies was brought to light, the Sheriffs Office took immediate and decisive action. An administrative review was initiated, as well as a thorough criminal investigation. Both deputies were placed on administrative leave during this process. Upon conclusion of the investigations, both deputies were terminated from their positions, and the District Attorneys Office was contacted and briefed about the case. Subsequently, the victim expressed a desire not to pursue the case further. These deputies have failed to uphold the trust placed in them by the community and this office, said Sheriff Floyd Bonner.

***

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Shelby County Sheriffs Office has requested the decertification of two former deputies after one was accused of having sexual intercourse with an intoxicated woman at a hotel following a traffic call, and the other was accused of being untruthful in his report.

According to the states records, WREG Investigators uncovered, former deputy Michael Yzaguirre was terminated in August 2024 for violating policies, including compliance with regulations, aiding another to violate regulations, personal conduct, and truthfulness.

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Former deputy Sheldon Smith was terminated in June 2024 for policy violations, including not activating his body-worn camera, unsatisfactory performance, truthfulness, duty to intervene, neglect of duty, and official reports.

On June 9, 2024, SCSO stated Smith responded to a call regarding a woman slumped over in a vehicle in a travel lane on Airline Road near Memphis-Arlington Road.

Shelby County hiring 335 new corrections deputies

Sheldon Smith, Michael Yzaguirre (photos SCSO)

SCSO said Smith deactivated his body-worn camera during his encounter with the woman in the car. Smith was then accused of taking the woman to a hotel and escorting her to her room without wearing his body-worn camera.

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Records state the woman was obviously intoxicated while driving, and instead of Smith performing a standardized field sobriety test, he allowed her to stay inside her vehicle until he took her to the hotel.

Obvious damage was seen on the womans vehicle, indicating she struck something, but Smith neglected to follow up along the route to see what may have been hit, the records state.

The woman reportedly claimed she was involved in a domestic violence incident with her husband, and he physically abused her. Smith is accused of not attempting to go to her home or contact her husband to determine what happened and arrest the primary aggressor.

Smith told internal investigators he realized the woman was intoxicated while driving, but he didnt mention she was intoxicated or involved in a crash in the incident report.

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Records state Smith also allowed off-duty deputy Michael Yzaguirre to take control of the scene, dictate how the incident was handled, help get the woman into the hotel room, and then leave her with Yzaguirre.

On June 11, 2024, SCSO opened an internal investigation regarding Yzaguirres involvement.

SCSO said he encouraged and directed Smith to falsify the report and omit important details like the woman being intoxicated and there being open containers.

Yzaguirre was purposeful in his actions, which ultimately led to having sexual intercourse with a citizen who  by his own admission  was unable to fully consent to the encounter due to the level of her intoxication, records stated.

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I love you, says mother to son who was shot allegedly trying to kill her

SCSO said Yzaguirre also accessed W.A.S.P from his departmentally-issued PDA and performed queries in reference to the incident.

Smith was terminated on June 21, 2024, and Yzaguirre was terminated on August 9, 2024.

Yzaguirre was honored with a plaque as Deputy of the Month for May 2022, according to the Shelby County Sheriffs Office.

Both officers are scheduled to appear at a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) meeting on Thursday. If the board votes to decertify them, they will no longer be able to work in law enforcement in Tennessee.

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WREG is working to find out if either officer will face criminal charges.

Weve asked the DAs office if theyve been made aware of the alleged incidents and if they are investigating criminal wrongdoing.

At this time, we have not received a response.

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 WREG.com.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday largely blamed a string of problems plaguing Newark Liberty International Airport and the larger flight system on the Biden administration  though he also seemed to accidentally indict Trump for not doing more.

As officials begin to reduce flights to stem the crisis, Duffy said in a press conference that Newarks recent issues  which have included radar outages, software problems, flight delays, and a lack of air traffic controllers  were left to us from the Biden-Buttigieg administration, referring to the former president and Pete Buttigieg, his Democratic predecessor.

We didnt have to be here. This did not have to be our story. Over the last four years, the last administration, they knew this was a problem, Duffy added. And by the way, during Covid, when people werent flying, that was a perfect time to fix these problems.

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That period would also cover 2020, Donald Trumps final year in office.

Critics of the administration quickly pounced on the statement.

Blaming Biden for Trumps actions in his first term is an impressive new category of mental gymnastics, progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen wrote on X.

The Trump Administration says it plans to investigate Biden changes to air traffic system (AP)

Nonetheless, Duffy accused the previous administration of failing to take action and focusing on issues like working at home and inclusive language for air workers.

As NJ.com notes, the Biden administration also pushed Congress to approve funding for 2,000 new air traffic controllers, and exceeded its 2024 hiring goals for such workers.

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Regardless of whos to blame for the problem, fixes remain urgently needed, as delays and under-staffing reportedly continue at Newark, one of the countrys busiest airports and a hub for United Airlines.

As few as three of a target of 14 air traffic controllers were scheduled to work Monday evening, The New York Times reports.

In a statement to the paper, a Buttigieg spokesperson chastised Duffy.

Secretary Duffy has a tough job, the spokesperson said. But he needs to spend more time doing what the American people are paying him to do  fix problems  and less time blaming others.

The Trump administration plans to reduce flights going in and out of the airport, install upgrades to fiber-optic cables connecting it to its air traffic control facility.

A series of aviation disasters have occurred since Trump took office, including a collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, but Duffy said Monday it was a falsehood these problems were rooted in changes that occurred since he took office.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Hartford residents are continuing to put pressure on the city and the school district to allocate funding toward schools.

A press conference will be held right before a town hall meeting about the search for a new superintendent, as Superintendent Dr. Leslie-Torres Rodriguez will step down from her role at the end of the school year.

Community describes qualities wanted for new Hartford superintendent

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Families and educators say they will have a clear message to the mayor, the city and the school district, which is to find money in the city budget and stop devastating cuts from happening.

The Fight for Hartford Public Schools Coalition will be hosting this press conference. The group is composed of parents, educators, students, school staff, and non-profit leaders.

They say the funding needs to go towards more school resources, whether that be staff or equipment, to help students thrive.

We need money and that is something we dont have much of, so that is a huge challenge where the superintendent needs to be an effective funder, Rachel Taylor said.

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Parents previously told News 8 that they needed the new superintendent to make funding a top priority.

When we talk about the national landscape and the Department of Educations potential closing and state funds, and the fiscal guard rails possibly being openThat money is not guaranteed, and class sizes are shrinking, so that does something to our budget, and we cant afford to close another school, A.J. Johnson, a parent at Hartford Public Schools, said.

The Fight for Hartford Public Schools Coalition is expected to hold its press conference at 5 p.m., while school district officials are scheduled to hold their meetings at 4 p.m. and 6 p.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 WTNH.com.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- At Odessa College, becoming a nurse doesnt just start with a stethoscope or scrubs. It begins with a choiceto begin again, or to begin at all.

The college offers two distinct nursing programs designed to meet students where they are: the traditional Registered Nurse (RN) program and the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. Both tracks share the same mission: preparing compassionate, competent professionals for the West Texas healthcare system.

The RN program here at Odessa College is unique in that we run it over a year and a half, instead of the traditional two years, said Yesenia Walsh, RN Program Director. It gets our students into the workforce faster without sacrificing the rigor they need.

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Rooted in compassion: New nurse and MCH leader reflect on the heart of healthcare

Students in the RN program experience a broad variety of clinical settings, from the ICU to long-term care. Walsh says the college partners with hospitals throughout the region, including rural facilities, to ensure students understand a full spectrum of patient needs.

Whats really special is that most of the students who come through our doors are from this area. And when they graduate, they stay here. Theyre taking care of our families, she said.

For Silas Hernandez, a current Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) student, that mission is personal. He was just a kid when an emergency appendectomy first sparked his fascination with the medical field.

WATCH: Silas Story

I remember feeling so scared, but the way the nurses explained things and made me feel safe, that stayed with me, Hernandez said. Now I want to be that person for someone else.

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Hernandez is halfway through the program, balancing courses, clinicals, and simulations designed to mirror real-world medical scenarios. One recent experience in the colleges simulation lab stood out.

They had the mannequins crash, and we had to jump into action, bag them, start CPR, figure out what was happening. It was intense, he said. But thats exactly what we need. It prepares you.

While the RN program is geared toward those with prerequisites and longer-term goals, Odessa Colleges LVN program is designed for speed and accessibility.

A person off the street can walk in, take their assessment, and apply for the LVN program, said Keisha Rasband, LVN Program Director. No prerequisites required. Its truly entry-level, and it gets people working fast.

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That accessibility is critical in rural West Texas, where facilities often rely on LVNs as a cornerstone of care.

Were in places like Monahans, Crane, Seminole, and Pecos, Rasband said. Without LVNs, we couldnt staff many of our healthcare facilities. Theyre the backbone.

The LVN program has also become a pipeline for high school students through Odessa Colleges dual-credit track. By the time they graduate, some students are already licensed and ready to enter the workforce.

Together, both the RN and LVN programs are shaping more than just professionals, theyre shaping neighbors, mentors, and community leaders.

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Seeing our students out in the hospitals, precepting the next class, its a full-circle moment, Walsh said. We know theyre ready because we see what they become.

And for students like Hernandez, the goal is simple: care with intention.

Theres going to be hard days. But if I can show up for someone in their hardest moment and make them feel safe, thats what makes it worth it, he said.

For more on Odessa Colleges nursing programs and application info, visit www.odessa.edu.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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If the world has learnt anything during the past decade, it is to take the words of the 45th and now 47th president of the United States with a modicum of sodium chloride. Wild statements come, outlandish pronouncements go, and in the giddy aftermath, everyone from political commentators to social media posters piles into the conversation.

This was entirely the case last week when  without much in the way of warning  Donald Trump floated the idea of reopening Alcatraz as a fully functioning prison, more than 60 years after the infamous Californian landmark ceased to fulfil this purpose.

Was he serious? As with many of Trumps more impulsive utterances, it is difficult to say. But if you sift through the details, there is a kernel of accuracy to the presidents musings.

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In follow-up comments to his original Truth Social post, he spoke of Alcatraz  almost admiringly  as a location which represents something very strong, very powerful. It is, he continued, something that is both horrible and beautiful  and strong and miserable.

Alcatraz was turned into a museum in 1972 and is now reached by a 15-minute boat trip from San Francisco - Ethan Swope

Few people who have made the 1.25-mile crossing to The Rock from the San Francisco waterfront would dispute the veracity of those sentences. And there have been plenty of visitors to Alcatraz  it attracts around 1.2 million sightseers per year  in the 53 years since it was turned into a museum, in 1972. Horrible and beautiful? Thats the gist of it.

I know this well, because I have been one of those 1.2 million annual tourists  hopping onto a boat at Pier 33, and making the 15-minute trip out into San Francisco Bay. Although relatively short, it is a journey that gives you time to think  that swarthy lump of stone looming incrementally larger with every chug of the engine; the thick walls that encompass the prison seeming to grow higher and heavier with every advancing yard.

Dock officer George Black operates the metal detector through which visitors to Alcatraz had to pass in March 1956 - Ernest K Bennett/AP

I can only assume that a similar thought process  albeit one of a far more pessimistic hue  went through the minds of those who were brought this way between 1934 and 1963.

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For all its notoriety, Alcatraz was only a federal prison for 29 years (the buildings on the island began life in 1859 as a fort; this became a military prison in the 1860s). But its legend has transcended this comparatively brief timespan thanks to the identities of some of the men who were incarcerated within it. It was, in part, a jailhouse of last resort, holding prisoners who had proved disruptive elsewhere in the system. It also became  the main source of its dark fame here in the 21st century  a storage space for major figures of organised crime; among them Chicago mobster Al Capone (who was kept in its cells from 1934 to 1939) and Boston crimelord James Whitey Bulger (who arrived in 1959).

A mugshot of the gangster Al Capone, one of Alcatrazs most infamous inmates, who was locked up on the island from 1934 to 1939 - Donaldson Collection

Perhaps these hardened villains looked at those walls as the boat docked, and shrugged. And perhaps they didnt. Alcatraz wears its grim, unwelcoming face without disguise. I remember finding it  to no great surprise  a bleak and desperate outpost, the long rows of cells, all concrete floors and metal bars, retaining their oppressive ambience more than half a century on from their retirement. But it was the combination of isolation and proximity that I found most discomforting. You can see the Golden Gate Bridge from the buildings upper windows. You can see the city in motion as well  its lights twinkling on the shore.

Little wonder that so many jailbirds, able to glimpse freedom at such tantalisingly close quarters, tried to make a break for it. Over those 29 years, there were 14 escape attempts, involving 36 prisoners. None of them, officially, managed the supposedly impossible. On the night of June 11 1962, three inmates  Frank Morris, plus brothers John and Clarence Anglin; all convicted bank robbers  made it beyond the walls, having left papier-mache heads in their beds, and wormed their way to the outside via ventilation ducts. They were never seen again. As of a formal report in 1979, the FBI considers all three men to have gone to their deaths in the exhausting currents and cold depths which surround the island.

Alcatrazs last surviving prisoner recalls the loneliness of life there, saying the only thing you could hear at night was the sound of ships whistles, out on the wider water - Fred Greaves/Reuters

Certainly, this enforced solitude  coupled with that taunting nearness of everyday metropolitan life  was a compelling reason as to why Alcatraz was not a place you would have wished to call home. In an excellent interview with the BBC, published this week, Charlie Hopkins  an armed robber who, now aged 93, is believed to be the last surviving Alcatraz alumnus  has recounted his stint on the island as a case of near-silence which spoke volumes. All you could hear during the night, he recalls, was the sound of ships whistles, out on the wider water. Now, thats a lonely sound, he adds. It reminds you of Hank Williams singing that song: Im so lonesome I could cry.

Alcatraz brings a reported $60 million (45 million) in revenue every year, something that would be lost if Trumps plan goes ahead - Noah Berger/AP

Hopkins, a Trump supporter, does not believe that the plan to return Alcatraz to its former role will amount to much  arguing, instead, that the president is trying to get a point across to the public about the importance of law and order. He also cites the obvious problems, all of which contributed to the prisons closure in 1963, that would realistically preclude its reopening: the operating costs (even six decades ago, it was three times more expensive to run than any other prison in the US system, with everything, including all food, having to be shipped to the island); its lack of modern facilities (back then, the sewage went into the ocean; theyd have to come up with another way of handling that). There is also the small matter of the money that would be lost: Alcatraz brings a reported $60 million (45 million) in revenue into the National Park Systems coffers every year.

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Yet the almost soundless seclusion that Hopkins describes so poetically does tap into Trumps notion of Alcatraz as horrible and beautiful. It is a desolate chunk of sandstone, either scorched by the Californian sun or lost in the mists which roll in off the Pacific, but spectacular in its vacuum in either guise  even if the stern example it sets is better suited to the past perspective of tourism, rather than the punishments of the present.

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A court security guard wolf-whistled at Kim Kardashian moments before she opened up about her fears that she would be raped and murdered during a robbery in Paris, according to The Independent.

Kardashian, 44, was bound and gagged as the grandpa burglars allegedly stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry from her hotel room in the French capital during Paris Fashion Week in October 2016.

The British paper has a reporter at the trial at the Palais de Justice in Paris. They reported that just as Kardashian was set to take the stand to recount her ordeal, a court security guard stationed in the press room wolf-whistled at her.

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Hi, Im Kim Kardashian, she then addressed the court before recounting the harrowing details of what she experienced, including fears that she would be sexually assaulted and shot dead.

She wiped away tears as she explained that the trip changed everything for her. Kardashian said it was about 3 a.m. on the day she was set to leave the city when two men dressed as police officers burst through the door of her hotel room, with the concierge in cuffs.

Kardashian, wearing only a bathrobe, became pretty hysterical as the two fake police officers marched her through the hotel room so she could point out her expensive jewelry, she said.

Kardashian waves at fans as she arrives at the Palais de Justice on May 13. / Edward Berthelot / GC Images/Getty

Kardashian began to cry as she recounted the next part of the story. So they called me back in the room once they realized that they had everything that I had and they threw me on the bed, she said.

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Fearing she was about to be sexually assaulted, she pleaded with the concierge to speak to the men in French to tell them to take the jewelry and leave her alone, she said.

I said, I have babies, please translate to them, I have babies, please, I have to make it home, they can take everything, I just have to make it home, she told the court.

He grabs my legs and pulls me towards him on the bed, and Im naked under my robe, she said of one of the fake officers.

The robe opens up and everything is exposed on my bottom half. I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me, she recounted.

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I was on the bed and the other one had the gun up to me, and at that point I was certain that was when they were going to shoot me, and it was over.

She ignored the defendants, Aomar Ait Khedache, 70, and Yunice Abbas, 71, who were sitting near her in court. She later explained that she even saw one of them as fatherly, as he seemed concerned at how worked up she was during the ordeal.

I felt like, because the guy that tied me up saw how frantic I was and wouldnt get close to me, almost whispering: Shhh, are you OK? I felt in that moment that he was [like] a father, she said.

I felt like he wanted me to know that I would be OK if I just shut up, she said, adding that she appeared to be wrong when they started later to aggressively grab her.

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The judge then read out a letter from Aomar Ait Khedache written after his arrest in 2017, that moved Kardashian to tears. She said she appreciated it but that it does not change what occurred between them. I forgive you, she added.

Not with the aim of getting forgiveness... I want to tell you human to human how I regret my actions and how I was touched to see you cry... I am sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, your children, and those who love you, it said, in part.

Kardashian had earlier said she imagined her sister Kourtney Kardashian would return to the room and find her dead.

Kardashian said she managed to escape by cutting the hand ties on a marble sink.

Aomar Ait Khedaches 2017 apology letter was read to Kim Kardashian for the first time today. / Sarah Meyssonnier / Reuters

After a few minutes I didnt hear anything, so I scootched over to the sink, and it was a marble sink so I cut my ties, she said.

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The assailants had left, she said, so Kardashian hid in the bushes and called her mother, Kris Jenner.

I remember calling my mom from the bushes to let her know what happened. And then I think while we were waiting for my security, we were trying to come up with a plan, if we should jump from the window, as it was just a one-story building, she said.

Ten defendants face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy. Eight of them deny any involvement.

The trial continues.
President Trump wants to accept a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and use it as Air Force One.

The president wants to use the jet amid delays with the new replacement fleet of AF1 aircraft.

Both Trump critics and some supporters opposed the potential plane deal with Qatar's royal family.

President Donald Trump is considering using a Qatari Boeing 747-8 given as a gift as Air Force One while the new presidential jet faces delays.

The ruling family of Qatar gifted the US president the $400 million luxury jumbo jet, and Trump said he would "never be one to turn down that kind of offer."

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The potential plane deal faced pushback from critics and even some Trump allies over security concerns and the legal and ethical issues associated with using a foreign-origin aircraft as Air Force One, the president's airborne command center.

Besides Air Force One, the presidential fleet includes other fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft depending on the mission.

Presidential aircraft fleet

A VC-25A aircraft and a VH-3D Sea King helicopter taxi following former President Joe Biden's sendoff ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. US Air Force photo by Hayden Hallman

Air Force One is a call sign that refers to any US Air Force aircraft transporting the president, though it is commonly recognized by its blue-and-white livery.

The Air Force has two "specially configured" Boeing 747-200B jets that are primarily used as Air Force One. The VC-25A aircraft is uniquely modified to serve as an airborne command-and-control center for the president, staff, and guests with the same level of safety and security as the White House.

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Other than the number of passengers it can carry, the main differences between the VC-25 and the standard Boeing 747 include more advanced electronic and communications equipment, a self-contained baggage loader, and the capability for in-flight refueling.

The VC-25 also has a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew, six passenger lavatories, and a compartment with medical supplies and equipment for minor in-flight emergencies.

Marine One

Nighthawk 46 arrives for the 46th president's send-off ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. US Air Force photo by Hayden Hallman

For shorter distance trips, especially to and from the White House, the president flies in Marine One, which includes military helicopters like the VH-3D Sea King and the VH-60N White Hawk.

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In service for nearly five decades, both military helicopters are set to be phased out and fully replaced with modernized rotary-wing aircraft, the VH-92A.

The next-generation Marine One is designed to be a militarized variant of the Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot.

Other aircraft

An 89th Airlift Wing C-40 and C-37 sit near UH-1N Iroquois helicopters and a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Andrews. US Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace/RELEASED

The presidential fleet also includes other fixed-wing aircraft besides the modified 747. The C-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200, is better suited for smaller airports or low-profile missions.

The C-40, based on the Boeing 737, can be used to fly the president but is more often used for Cabinet members or other VIP individuals.

Based on General Dynamics' Gulfstream long-range business jets, the C-37 is used to transport high-ranking government and Defense Department officials for worldwide missions.

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'Next Air Force One'

An artist rendering of the "Next Air Force One," the VC-25B, which will succeed the current Air Force One, VC-25A. Courtesy rendering/US Air Force

The two planes currently being used as Air Force One have been in service for nearly four decades. They are set to be replaced by a modernized variant dubbed the "Next Air Force One."

Officially designated the VC-25B, the new presidential aircraft is set to feature "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities," according to an Air Force release.

The two future VC-25B jets were initially scheduled to be fielded in 2024, but supply chain issues and shifting requirements could postpone their delivery to 2029.

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Facing pressure from the White House to have the new aircraft ready before Trump leaves office in January 2029, the Air Force and Boeing are aiming to have the new aircraft delivered by 2027, according to Darlene Costello, the Air Force's principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics.

A 'security nightmare'

US President Donald Trump's motorcade is parked next to a Qatari Boeing 747 on the tarmac of Palm Beach International Airport. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

An Air Force official told Air and Space Forces Magazine that the service is coordinating with the White House and Boeing "to further define the requirements and acceleration options while ensuring we provide a safe, secure, and reliable aircraft for the president."

Trump has previously expressed his frustration with receiving the next-generation Air Force One, suggesting earlier this year that he may seek "alternatives, because it's taking Boeing too long."

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Despite the backlash, the president doubled down on his proposal to use the Qatari jet as Air Force One, saying he doesn't plan on using it after his term and would donate it to a future presidential library.

"I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,'" Trump told reporters Monday.

Though free in cost, there's still a major cost to overhaul and retrofit the plane with the strict security requirements needed to serve as Air Force One.

"Along with the obvious ethical and legal issues, a $400M gifted luxury jet is not Air Force One," US Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut wrote on X. "Retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."

Read the original article on Business Insider
SPRINGFIELD, MO  A discount retailer is moving into some vacant stores formerly occupied by a now-bankrupt store chain.

Closeout merchandiser Ollies Bargain Outlet plans to take over at least two former Big Lots locations in the area, including Springfield and Lebanon. The storefronts became empty last year following Big Lots bankruptcy and liquidation.

On its website, the Pennsylvania-based company explains it is the countrys largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, adding, Our 574+ semi-lovely stores sell merchandise of all descriptions and some beyond description. Youll find real brands at real bargain prices in every department, from housewares and flooring to food, cookware, toys & games, electronics & more.

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According to City of Springfield building permit filings, Ollies is proposing a store at 303 E Battlefield Road (J) near Food 4 Less.

In addition, the companys website lists a new store coming to 1707 Southdale Ave. in Lebanon. No opening date is listed.

Ollies first location in southwest Missouri opened last April in Joplin at 1329 S. Rangeline Road in the former Slumberland location. The company operates ten other stores across Missouri, including the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas.

Springfields second vacant Big Lots store, located on North Kansas Expressway, remains vacant and is not listed in records for a proposed Ollies location.

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Ozarks First has reached out to Ollies corporate office for more details about the new stores. Were still waiting to hear back.

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ST. MARYS (KSNT)  Kansas transportation officials say a local highway near St. Marys shut down on Tuesday due to a semi-truck blocking both lanes of traffic.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced on KanDrive that Highway 24 was closed between KS-63 and U.S. 75 east of the town of St. Marys and two miles west of Rossville on May 13. A disabled semi-truck was blocking both lanes of traffic on the highway.

One dead in multi-vehicle I-70 crash in Wabaunsee County

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Highway 24 was reopened a little before 3:30 p.m. on May 13.

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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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:

Elia Chekwa is allowed to use her tablet for one hour a day. Her parents set a time limit to protect her from the dangers of excessive screen time. Credit: The Kids Mental Health Foundation

As kids spend more time on screens, a new national survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Kids Mental Health Foundation, founded by Nationwide Children's Hospital, identifies parents' greatest fears for their children around screen time.

The top three fears parents have around their child and screen time are: privacy and safety concerns (47%), exposure to misinformation (36%) and not socializing in person (34%). Fewer parents ranked concerns around body image and schoolwork high on their list.

"My biggest concerns with screens are making sure that my kids don't get exposed to things before I'm ready for them to and making sure that people aren't trying to contact them," said Xia Chekwa, a mom of three kids in Columbus, Ohio. "They're aware that not everywhere is a safe place, not everything is a safe thing to watch."

Eight in 10 parents say they actively do something to manage the screen time of kids. Parents who set screen-time boundaries say setting time limits works the best (58%), followed by encouraging offline hobbies (53%) and using parental control apps (34%).

"When it comes to screen time, we can't expect kids to set their own limits and boundaries, because this technology is made to keep us using it," said Ariana Hoet, Ph.D., executive clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's.

"As parents, we have to pay attention to how much they are using technologywhat they are consuming on it, what are they doing with it, and who they are interacting with through various platforms of games or social media."

A survey from The Kids Mental Health Foundation identifies parents' greatest fears for their children around screen time, and what the experts say adults can do about it. Credit: The Kids Mental Health Foundation

The Kids Mental Health Foundation offers free, evidence-informed resources to help parents understand how to set healthy screen time boundaries and understand how phones, tablets, computers and more impact the mental health and well-being of kids.

Dr. Hoet says having conversations with kids about technology and screen time is key.

"Sit with them, watch how they use it, ask them questions, be engaged," said Dr. Hoet. "And not only does that help your child feel like, oh, you're interested in me and what I'm doing, but it helps you learn as the parent or caregiver."

Xia Chekwa and her two children water their newly planted flowers together  part of her effort to encourage outdoor activities and prevent screen addiction. Credit: The Kids Mental Health Foundation

Chekwa believes having a social media plan and setting healthy boundaries with technology now will help her oldest daughter in the future.

"Eventually, there's going to come a time when we're not there," said Chekwa. "And we want to make sure that she knows, and she can decipher and use her intuition for herself and not just because mom and dad said so."

During Mental Health Awareness Month, The Kids Mental Health Foundation launched an initiativeKids Mental Health Starts With Us to empower adults across the United States to support children's mental health and wellness with confidence.

Survey methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Ipsos on the KnowledgePanel from April 4 to 6, 2025. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,085 adult parents of children under the age of 18.

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.14.
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Troy Meink as the next Air Force secretary in a 74-25 vote, with multiple Democrats breaking ranks to vote for President Donald Trumps nominee.

Meink, who previously served as deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, will now take charge of the Air Force and Space Force. He has a deep background in acquisition and technology development specializing in space and also served as NROs director of signals intelligence systems acquisition.

His career at the Air Force has included service as deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space and, while at the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico, stints as a program manager, senior research engineer and chief technical adviser. He served in the Air Force beginning in 1988 as a navigator on the KC-135 Stratotanker.

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Meink will take over the Department of the Air Force at a time of significant transformation, as virtually all major portions of its aircraft fleet are in the process of modernizing. That includes overseeing the services planned sixth-generation fighter, dubbed the F-47, as prime contractor Boeing begins the complicated process of developing and then delivering a complex, advanced aircraft without breaking the bank.

The Air Force is also developing multiple versions of semiautonomous drone wingmen, known as collaborative combat aircraft, that will fly alongside the F-47, the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and potentially other aircraft.

The service is in the midst of a major revamp of its bomber force as it brings on the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber to replace the retiring B-1 and B-2 bombers. The Air Force eventually plans to have a two-bomber fleet made up of the B-21, alongside heavily revamped B-52J Stratofortresses.

And the Air Force is worried about its LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. That program, which is to be built by Northrop Grumman, is planned to succeed the aging Minuteman III nuclear missile program, but higher-than-expected construction costs have forced the service to rethink its approach to Sentinel.

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Meinks acquisition background could help the service manage these multiple programs. His space expertise could also benefit the Space Force, whose missions are expanding and which has sought to grow its budget to handle them.

In his nomination hearing in March, Meink pledged to push for the Space Force to get the resources it needs, given the growing role it will likely play in future military actions.

Space is going to be one of the determining factors in a future conflict, Meink said. We definitely need to get that right.

But Meinks relationship with SpaceX founder and Trump administration adviser Elon Musk created controversy. Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois in February raised concerns about what they termed a potential quid pro quo between Meink and Musk, after reports surfaced that Meink had favored SpaceX for a contract while running NRO.

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These are incredibly serious allegations of misconduct and favoritism, they wrote in a letter to Meink. These reports raise concerns about your ability, if confirmed as secretary, to treat contractors fairly and prioritize the Air Forces mission over Elon Musks business interests.

According to a Politico report, Meink disclosed to lawmakers in written responses that Musk was present for his interview with Trump, but said several other people were also present and Musk did not ask any questions. Musks presence at the interview raised eyebrows among some ethics experts, who called it unusual.

Meink denied having a relationship with Musk or SpaceX beyond executing his duties as head of NRO, and said he did not ask for Musk to support him to be Air Force secretary, nor did Musk ask him for anything.
Senate Republicans on Monday indicated they have multiple concerns with President Trump potentially being gifted a new luxury jet from Qatar, ranging from safety to legal and ethical worries.

Trump on Monday defended his potential acceptance of a new Boeing 747-8 airplane from the government of Qatar to serve as a replacement for the current pair of Air Force One aircraft, saying that it would be stupid not to do so.

But Senate Republicans made clear they are uneasy about the potential arrangement for a multitude of reasons, including over Qatars alliances in the region.

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Im not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas, said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), an ardent Trump supporter. I dont know how you make it safe.

Gosh, let me give you a plane. I mean, that seems pretty nice, but they support Hamas, so I dont know. I dont know how you make it safe, Scott continued, declining to say what Trump should do as the decision is up to him. I dont want the president of the United States flying on an unsafe plane.

Some Republicans also seemed worried about the president flying on an aircraft that was purchased by another nation-state.

It would be better if Air Force One were a big, beautiful jet made in the United States of America, said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). That would be ideal.

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The move comes amid ongoing delays and budget overruns at Boeing, which has been contracted to build two new jets to serve as Air Force One. The Qatari jet, valued at roughly $400 million, would be transferred to Trumps presidential library following his term, the president said.

While Republicans were not quick to criticize, they indicated they have broad concerns.

If Qatar gives a plane to the president of the United States, it seems to me that raises questions of whether the administration would be in compliance with the gift law, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said.

Some also warned the Trump administration that it must have all of their Is dotted and Ts crossed to go ahead with the deal.

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I think they should run the legal challenges to see [if its OK]. Id be checking for bugs, is what Id be checking for, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said. We need to look at the constitutionality of it, sure.

Democrats, meanwhile, were quick to heap criticism on the move, arguing that it amounts to blatant corruption. They said accepting the jet would put Trump in violation of the Emoluments Clause, which prevents federal officials from accepting gifts from foreign countries without congressional consent.

Its inappropriate. Its unconstitutional, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. It sends the very worst message to Americans about being in office to enrich himself instead of being focused on whats in the best interest of the country.

Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) also announced on Monday they are seeking a vote on a measure targeting the gift over questions about foreign influence and national security.

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Schatz told reporters that the timing for that effort is not clear yet.

Many Republicans were hesitant to weigh in one way or another, saying they had not studied the issue or labeling the questions hypothetical, as no deal has been nailed down between the two countries.

I understand [Trumps] frustration. Theyre way behind schedule on delivering the next Air Force One, said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Whether or not this is the right solution or not, I dont know.

However, a number of Trump supporters brushed off potential concerns and seemed willing to give Trump significant leeway on the issue.

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I wish somebody would offer me a $400 million plane to get back and forth on, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) quipped.

Im all for it. If they offer him a plane  the ones we got, it costs a fortune to keep going. Theyre 40-years-old, Tuberville said. Boeing  at least they made [the Qatari] one.

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A House-passed move to make it easier for landlords to evict tenants ran into a bipartisan buzz saw when the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed putting it off until there are 10 times more vacant rental units in the market than there are now.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Lynn, R-Windham, a retired Supreme Court justice, has been trying for four years to persuade the Legislature to give landlords the right to evict any tenant by giving the occupant 60 days before the termination of a lease that it will not be renewed.

Lynn has criticized a landmark 2005 decision of the New Hampshire Supreme Court that held an eviction cant occur without a specific reason that equates to good cause.

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Nick Norman of Derry, legislative affairs director for the Apartment Association of New Hampshire, said if Lynns bill (HB 60) became law, landlords will be more likely, not less, to extend a lease to less-than-ideal applicants.

This would make landlords more willing to take a chance on someone with the understanding that they could make a change at the termination of the lease if it didnt work out, Norman said.

Over two weeks of public hearing, the House-approved bill attracted the opposition of a coalition of groups including Housing Action N.H., N.H. Legal Assistance, the N.H. Council on Developmental Disabilities, the N.H. Commission on Aging, the N.H. Local Welfare Directors Association and the N.H. Coalition to End Homelessness.

Elliott Berry, a retired N.H. Legal Assistance lawyer, was probably the only person in the State House Tuesday who was there 40 years ago to help write the states current eviction law.

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Why do we need to change the law that has been in effect for 40 years? Berry asked. This is a new ground for eviction and for what reason? We list in law already every common fault you can evict for including any legitimate business or economic reason.

Berry said as written, this change could allow a landlord 10 years after the end of an initial lease to evict anyone.

He submitted a packet of letters from some of the states biggest rental developers in the state that said there was no need for the legislation.

Kate Marquis, a Manchester resident for the past 25 years, said since lawmakers have sought this change, shes felt less secure about her future.

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This law makes it so easy to evict tenants, then the ability to get rid of someone on a whim is now possible, Marquis said.

Todd Marsh, president of the welfare directors group, said landlords already have the upper hand.

The current law language is a counterbalance to the power imbalance that exists today where the power is heavily weighted in favor of landlords, Marsh said.

The states rental vacancy rate is 0.5%, when the benchmark for a healthy real estate economy is considered to have at least a 5% rate.

Sen. Keith Murphy, R-Manchester, said he agreed with the concept of the bill, but said its not the time to impose it.

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The housing market is broken. I think its a good compromise to support the 5% trigger and until we get to that day, that its set aside, Murphy said.

Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene, said hes the only landlord among the six on the Senate Commerce Committee that considered this bill.

Im not asking for this, I dont think any of the landlords need this.

Several senators on the committee said it made no sense to pass a bill making evictions occur more easily the same year it was fast-tracking legislation to encourage more affordable housing and to break down regulatory barriers that block many developments.

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Committee Chairman Dan Innis, R-Bradford, said this middle-ground language makes sense.

Thank you all. I think its a reasonable outcome, Innis said.

The New Hampshire House leadership is unlikely to see it that way.

The House passed Lynns bill, 217-139.

To underline the importance of this issue to House GOP leaders, they also tucked this into the trailer bill (HB 2) to the two-year state budget it approved last month.

Whats Next: The full Senate votes on the proposed amendment in the coming days.

Prospects: Opponents of the bill face a multi-front battlefield. If House budget writers hold firm that it must stay attached to the budget, that makes this an even tougher public policy war for them to win.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  U.S. Senator Todd Young, among others, says he reintroduced legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code to clarify that Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are able to participate in partnerships for low-income housing investments.

Sen. Young says current Internal Revenue Code contains a provision stating that investors partnering with Tax-Exempt Controlled Entities (TECEs) are not entitled to certain benefits, including accelerated depreciations, bonus depreciation, historic rehab tax credits or certain energy credits that support companies offering affordable housing tax credits. This legislation would clarify that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not subject to this rule, therefore protecting their participation in partnerships that are crucial for low-income housing investments.

14-day closures needed for roads north of the Lloyd

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We cant address our housing affordability crisis without building more units, said Senator Young. By making one simple clarification, this bill will unlock much-needed new partnerships that are crucial for rural low-income housing investments.

Road closure planned for State Road 64 in Pike County

Officials say in 2023, Senator Young joined colleagues in urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to provide written guidance that clarifies that the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not Tax-Exempt Controlled Entities (TECEs).

The full legislation can be viewed below.

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WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- As the United States nears a critical crossroads in East Africa and the Horn of Africa that could either cement long-term regional stability or deepen global insecurity, Republican and Democrat lawmakers and foreign policy experts sounded an alarm during Tuesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

"We must stop building U.S. policy around individual leaders and instead focus on strengthening institutions, expanding private sector ties and empowering the region's young, dynamic populations," said Chairman Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho.

Due to a lack of meaningful U.S. messaging, East African countries have increasingly turned to adversaries like China, according to former ambassador to Botswana Michelle Gavin, and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

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She added that many in the region believe China better understands the paradox of resource-rich nations grappling with poverty and unemployment, where wealth often fails to circulate back to local communities.

Committee members spotlighted the need for a growing U.S. presence in East Africa as it relates to national security and economic interests. East Africa and the Horn are at the intersection of key maritime trade routes, and the U.S. holds a large military presence in Djibouti.

We must stop building U.S. policy around individual leaders and instead focus on strengthening institutions, expanding private sector ties and empowering the region's young, dynamic populations, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said at a hearing Tuesday. File Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI

China has increased its military presence throughout East Africa. It built a base in Djibouti in 2017, developed a training school in Tanzania and then just last weekend invited African leaders to Beijing for the African Defense Chiefs meeting.

Extremist insurgency groups like Al- Shabaab and Houthis, as well as violence from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, have created instability in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia. Risch claimed these groups were weakening the countries' institutions, making them susceptible to adversarial influence, notably from China, Iran and Russia.

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President Donald Trump has put pressure on the Houthis. Since March, the U.S. military has bombed the Houthis due to the insurgent group's attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

According to Joshua Meservey, a Hudson Institute senior fellow, Kenyan officials cautioned that Al-Shabaab presents the biggest threat to the Red Sea. They warned of the possibility of the two extremist groups collaborating and creating a larger issue in the area, even given their opposing sides.

Meservey laid out a four-tiered approach to "ensure Americans benefit from the opportunities in East Africa while protecting against the threats."

He stressed America's need for creating an East African strategy that takes into account broader African and global strategy. To do this, he suggested commercial engagement be at the core of the U.S. approach.

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He further said that forging a better strategy would benefit the United States because he sees East Africa as an "investment destination for American goods and for potential technological breakthroughs."

But Meservey suggested lawmakers assess how Washington can "positively influence democratic growth," given the United States' failed state-building experiment in Somalia. Yet, for more than a decade the United States' approach remained the same.

By supporting government and civic institutions, Merservey suggested that the United States develop a country-focused framework.

"Washington should concentrate its finite resources in countries that have a baseline level of competence, strategic importance and willingness to work with the U.S.," he said.

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One suggested way is to bring more African students to the United States to study and expose them to U.S. points of views. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., shared wanting to work with Risch to bring back funding for the Young African Leaders Initiative. The initiative was an exchange program with various participating colleges, one of them the University of Delaware in Coons' home state.

Ranking member Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., pointed to the stark contradictions between the Trump administration's rhetoric and the reality of its policies.

"This administration's cuts to foreign aid programs have been very damaging to what we need to do on the continent of Africa," Shaheen said. "While reports from the State Department indicate that life-saving aid continues to flow, what my staff, who traveled to Africa three weeks ago, saw on the ground was very different."

Shaheen showed the committee photos from the trip that pictured the real-time effects of foreign assistance cuts made by the Trump administration.

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In South Africa, two HIV/AIDS clinics dedicated to women and vulnerable children had been shut, both linked to State Department funding cuts. In Angola, a hospital used to receive ready-to-eat foods, such as canned food and baby formula, from USAID to address starvation and famine. The hospital was out of supplies during her staff's visit.

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., similarly showed concern for aid being cut by the Trump administration, highlighting that "research has shown that violent extremism surges during humanitarian crises." In questioning former ambassador Gavin, Rosen maintained that Islamic insurgents in Somalia take advantage of crises.

"It does feed right into the messaging about who the enemy is, but it also creates the kind of resource scarcity that leads to desperation, people seizing, who might not really be ideologically aligned, but are looking to survive," Gavin responded.

Shaheen also shared concerns about messaging of U.S. foreign policy and the impact of misinformation by China and Russia.

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Gavin responded that supporting independent media and investigative journalism would be crucial in a region like East Africa. Funding cuts to USAID included millions in grants provided to support and train independent and non-state news outlets, particularly in repressive regimes.

One of the suggested approaches to improve messaging would be more active U.S. embassies. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., criticized the Trump administration for being slow to nominate ambassadors throughout Africa, warning that this could undermine the hopes moving forward in increasing U.S. presence in East Africa.
A man who deputies say is a senior member of the Sex, Money, Murder gang was arrested in St. Johns County, the Sheriffs Office announced Tuesday.

Andrew Mariano, 23, of Flagler Estates, was taken into custody on charges related to racketeering, conspiracy to commit homicide, directing activities of a criminal gang, and money laundering, SJSO said in a Facebook post.

He was one of ten senior members arrested around the state, SJSO said.

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The arrest was a result of a years-long investigation by the Broward County Sheriffs Office into the Sex, Money, Murder gang, which is affiliated with the Bloods, a major street gang.

Additionally, detectives discovered a kill list of the gang members intended victims and notified them before the crimes occurred. Ultimately, saving their lives, BSO said in a news release.

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For Marianos arrest, a warrant was served on his home by SJSO and BSO. Guns and drugs were discovered at that time, authorities said.

The investigation revealed Mariano is responsible for trafficking in drugs and firearms across northeast Florida, SJSO said in its post.

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SJSO said Mariano is out of jail on bond.

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The parliamentary group leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) has rejected the possibility of supplying German-made long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

"We do not want to become a party of war and that is how we have always understood the rejection of the Taurus delivery and that is how it remains," said Matthias Miersch in Berlin on Tuesday.

Kiev has long been pressing Germany to provide the cruise missiles which would allow it to strike targets on Russian soil far beyond the front line.

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The previous SPD-led government always rejected the request over concerns of being drawn into the war, but a new conservative-led government has since taken office in Berlin, fuelling hope in Kiev of a possible change of course.

In the run-up to February's elections, new Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled openness to providing the missiles to ramp up pressure on Moscow, but has said he would only do so in coordination with European partners.

Following one of the worst election results in its history, the SPD agreed to become the junior partner in Merz's coalition government.
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia remains committed to its plan to join the European Union and wants to speed up its membership bid, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday after his recent trip to Moscow drew Western criticism.

Vucic travelled to Russia on May 8 and 9 for a parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War Two. He also met Russia's leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping there.

After meeting Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, on Tuesday, Vucic said Belgrade wants to accelerate its European integration and open more negotiation chapters with the bloc.

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"The atmosphere (in the EU), ... is not exactly great, I'm convinced because of the trip to Moscow, but ... I believe that Europe will have understanding for merit-based progress," he said.

Russia is Serbia's historical Orthodox Christian ally and a main supplier of natural gas, while Gazprom and Gazpromneft are also owners of Serbia's NIS oil company.

Moscow also supports Belgrade in its opposition to the independence of Kosovo, its former southern province.

Vucic, who has been beset by months of anti-corruption protests led by students, pledged that the government would work to introduce reforms needed for joining the EU.

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Serbia must root out corruption, reform its judiciary, media and election laws, mend ties with Kosovo and align its foreign policies with those of the bloc, including imposing sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

"A key element of our common foreign and security policy is the clear condemnation of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace," Costa said through an interpreter.

European Union officials have repeatedly urged presidents of nations aspiring to join the EU, including Vucic, to avoid Moscow's World War Two victory commemorations.

Costa said he "was glad to hear" that EU membership remains Serbia's first priority. "What needs to be done ... it is freedom of the media, suppression of corruption and improvement of the electoral law."

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Out of the Western Balkans nations, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia have secured a status of an EU membership candidate, while Kosovo lags behind.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Ros Russell)
A judge resentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents, ruling Tuesday the brothers will be eligible for parole. The brothers have been serving life without parole for the killings.

The stunning decision came at the end of the first day of what was scheduled to be a two-day hearing about resentencing for the brothers, who were convicted of first-degree murder for the killings in the living room of the familys Beverly Hills home.

Judge Michael Jesic said during the resentencing that a horrific crime was committed, but he was equally shocked by the letters from prison and corrections officers, saying its remarkable what the brothers have done.

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While they are immediately eligible for parole, Jesic said he is not suggesting they should be released, but one day they should get that chance.

The state parole board and governor must still decide whether to grant parole. A hearing with the board is already scheduled for June 13 as part of a separate bid by the brothers.

Theyre also seeking clemency from the governor, which could allow for their immediate release, and they have filed a habeas petition for a new trial.

Its now up to the parole board and the governor of California, Jesic said. CNN has reached out to the governors office and the state parole board for comment on the ruling.

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The parole board could either deny their request or recommend to the governor that they be granted parole. If the board recommends parole be granted, the decision will go to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In California, the governor has executive authority to affirm, reverse, or modify any Board decision to grant or deny parole to a convicted murderer, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Hell have 120 days to do that.

In 2022, Newsom used that authority to deny parole for Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, after the board recommended Sirhan for parole.

Last fall, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon recommended resentencing for the brothers, but his successor, Nathan Hochman, has fought against it.

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The decision to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez was a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice, Hochman said in a statement Tuesday evening. Our offices motions to withdraw the resentencing motion filed by the previous administration ensured that the Court was presented with all the facts before making such a consequential decision.

The hearing moved much more quickly than expected. Jesic had given no indication about when or in what form he would rule, acknowledging the complicated nature of the case in which the family members are victims who also support the defense. It was even thought a decision wouldnt come before the end of proceedings Wednesday, he said.

Brothers take full responsibility for the murders

The high-stakes hearing began Tuesday with arguments about whether Erik and Lyle Menendez should be resentenced in the first place.

The brothers appeared remotely from prison before the judge made the decision, and both took full responsibility for the murders.

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I committed an atrocious act against two people who had every right to live, my mom and dad, Erik said, adding that he created a crushing sadness for his family and there was no excuse for his behavior.

I will never stop trying to make a difference whether I am inside or outside of prison, he said.

Lyle also admitted to killing his parents, saying he was immature and filled with rage.

Had I trusted others to help me, I wouldnt have committed these crimes, he said. I didnt think anyone would believe me about my sexual abuse.

If he was let out of prison, he would continue to serve sexual abuse victims, he said.

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After court, defense attorney Mark Geragos said, I just know that on a day like today, that redemption is possible.

The fact is, the Menendez brothers have done remarkable work, and today is a great day after 35 years, he said. They are a real family, real people who have lived through unimaginable horrors, and Im hopeful and glad that were one, one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.

The brothers were hoping the judge would reduce that sentence to life with parole; Geragos said earlier Tuesday he hoped the judge would go even further and reduce the charge to voluntary manslaughter, with a sentence of time served.

Family members and close supporters testify

Family members who have long supported the brothers were in court Tuesday, with several taking the stand to plead for the brothers release.

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We just want this to end, cousin Anamaria Baralt testified.

Relatives say the brothers have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, and that the severity of the sentence should be revisited because of an evolving understanding of childhood sexual abuse. The brothers have maintained they carried out the murders in self-defense after years of abuse by their father, and continued to say that Tuesday.

Diane Hernandez, another cousin who testified Tuesday, lived with the Menendez family in their Beverly Hills home and viewed herself as an older sister to the boys. On the stand, she described how Jose Menendez intimidated and terrorized the house, and testified about his hallway rule that when he was with the brothers, no one else could be.

Please be merciful, Hernandez told the judge. The brothers, she said, are remarkable human beings at this point.

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Hochman, the current Los Angeles County district attorney, had said he was not opposed to resentencing, but doesnt feel its justified yet. The brothers, he says, have fabricated their claims of abuse and self-defense and must admit it first.

The Menendezes have had numerous chances to come clean with all their actions and if and when they do, theyll be ready for resentencing, Hochman told CNN earlier Tuesday.

Prosecutors pressed family members on whether they were aware of the brothers having lied to them over the years.

Were you aware the brothers lied to the family, to law enforcement and to the media? Seth Carmack asked Tamara Goodell, another cousin. She said she was, but that the brothers never spoke about it to her one way or another and they talk about the murders with her only to say sorry.

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Baralt was also asked whether the brothers had ever admitted to lying and trying to manipulate the case. She said Lyle had recently admitted asking a girlfriend to lie about his fathers abuse.

Retired Judge Jonathan Colby, who knew the brothers through a prison program, also testified they were great inmates, calling them peacemakers in prison. Anare Brown, who met the brothers while he was in prison, said they have remorse and insight, and have helped dozens of people they were imprisoned with.

Another factor Hochman cited in opposing resentencing is the recent finding the brothers would pose a moderate risk of violence if released. That came in a pair of comprehensive risk assessments conducted by the state parole board.

Both brothers had committed cell phone violations while in prison, he said  Lyle in November 2024 and Erik in January 2025.

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Prosecutor Habib Balian asked Baralt on Tuesday about the cell phones, and she acknowledged some of her conversations with Lyle had taken place on an illegal burner phone he had in prison.

Efforts toward release

Unlike a new trial, which would focus on the facts of the case, resentencing allowed the judge to consider a variety of factors, including the brothers rehabilitative efforts.

The brothers have founded a long list of prison programs, with Erik starting at least five, including a support group for disabled and elderly inmates. Lyle founded a massive beautification program, raising more the $250,000 to install greenery to help prison life to resemble the outside world.

Besides authority to change parole board decisions, Newsom also has the power to commute the brothers sentences, which would immediately free them  but he has so far refrained from doing so. The comprehensive risk assessments the judge requested ahead of the resentencing hearing were commissioned by the states Board of Parole after Newsom asked them to investigate whether the brothers would pose an unreasonable risk to the public if released.

Attorneys for the Menendez brothers are also pursuing a new trial, formally known as a habeas corpus petition. Attorneys claim to have new evidence against the brothers father, including a 1988 letter from Erik Menendez to a relative referencing the alleged abuse.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Taylor Romine, Matthew J. Friedman and Nick Watt reported and wrote from Los Angeles, and Melissa Gray wrote from Atlanta.

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May 13The end of May is just around the corner, and a handful of organizations and businesses will be hosting events to honor the nation's fallen soldiers of Memorial Day.

The largest event scheduled is the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Cherokee Memorial Park & Funeral Home, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. on May 26 at 14165 Beckman Road.

The service is free and open to the public, and will feature Dr. Charles R. Roots as guest speaker once again.

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A captain with the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, and a retired pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Ripon, Roots began his military career as a U.S. Marine in 1969.

He served nine years, and was commissioned as a Navy chaplain in 1983, then returned to active duty in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His last duty assignment was the Wing Chaplain for the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in New Orleans.

Roots retired in September of 2008 after 34 years of service.

The event will also feature several flag tributes, including the 68th Annual Avenue of Flags, where some 1,044 large veteran flags will be flown over the park. More than 8,439 small American flags will also mark burial sites.

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In addition, Killed in Action flags will mark 40 burial sites and the Field of Flags will honor 7,057 combat veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Walk of Valor Flag Tribute will honor 43 local combat veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan as well.

For more information, visit www.cherokeememorial.com/memorial-day.

Lodi Blooms, 11560 N. Lower Sacramento Road, will hos its Memorial Day 5K: A Run Through the Rows at 6 a.m. on Memorial Day.

Set against the backdrop of peak cherry season, this unique farm run invites runners to lace up their shoes and dash through the orchard rows consisting of about five loops.

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Registration is $35 and limited to 200 participants.

There will be post-race refreshments and cherry treats, as well as complementary Lodi Blooms cherry tasting and u-pick access.

Race check-in begins at 5:30 a.m. and the race starts at 6 a.m. The cherry orchard will be open to pickers at 7 a.m.

Proceeds will support the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau and its local youth and ag education programs.

For more information, visit www.chinchiolofarming.com.

Lodi's American Legion Post 22 will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Lodi Memorial Cemetery on East Pine Street at 9 a.m.

The event will feature the Legion's Color Guard, a bagpipe medley, the laying of wreaths, live music performed by the Lodi Community Band, an Honor Guard gun salute, a release of doves, and the Missing Man "fly by."

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Refreshments will be provided following the service. The entire community is invited and welcome to attend.

The Elk Grove Cemetery District and Cosumnes CSD will host the Memorial Day Ceremony & Walk for Veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elk Grove Historic Cemetery, 8540 Elk Grove Blvd.

Attendees will walk to the Elk Grove Historical Society parking lot for a community barbecue. Shuttle service will be provided by Cosumnes CSD. The event is free and open to the public.
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

Teenagers in rural and regional areas may not be receiving the level of contraceptive support they need, according to GPs interviewed in a new study from Monash University's SPHERE Center of Research Excellence.

The new study, "Contraceptive counseling in regions of Victoria with high incidence of teenage pregnancy: general practitioners' insights," has been published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health.

The study sought rural GPs' insights on the provision of contraception information to teenagers, including their approaches to contraceptive counseling.

Most of the 18 GP participants in the study reported that the higher rates of teenage pregnancy in their region were likely related to limited knowledge of and access to contraception, saying teens often experience barriers due to socioeconomic status, the costs associated with some contraceptive methods, and the limited providers available to insert long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).

The study found building rapport with teenagers, along with a focus on normalizing contraceptive discussions and empowering teenagers to make informed contraceptive choices, could improve contraception use and reduce unintended pregnancies.

Lead author, SPHERE Senior Research Fellow Dr. Jessica Botfield, said the findings show GPs could better support teenagers in learning about contraception options.

"Ensuring teenagers feel general practice is a safe place to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues was seen as important, to put them at ease and improve engagement in contraception discussions," Dr. Botfield said.

The study found that supporting informed decision-making and facilitating access to all methods of contraception for teenagers, including those in regions with higher incidence of teenage pregnancy, will require normalizing contraception discussions, addressing misunderstandings among GPs regarding intrauterine device (IUD) suitability for teenagers, and increasing the number of IUD-inserting GPs.

"Building on GPs' current efforts to provide contraception information and support to young people, and discussing contraception as part of routine care for teenagers, will further support these endeavors," Dr. Botfield said.

The results of this study support the Federal Government's recent announcement of additional LARC training centers of excellence, training opportunities and financial incentives for GPs and other primary care practitioners for LARC insertion, and subsidies that significantly lower the cost for women to access these methods.

The research paper cites earlier research that:

One-quarter of women in Australia have experienced an unintended pregnancy, with rates even higher in rural areas and among younger women.

Unintended pregnancies can be primarily attributed to inconsistent or non-use of contraception or contraceptive failure.

Teenage pregnancy and parenthood are associated with higher risks of maternal mortality and morbidity, experience of violence, and violation of rights to education, employment, and reproductive health.

Teenage mothers are more likely to experience obstetric complications, and their children are at higher risk of low birth weight and preterm delivery compared to older mothers.

Younger women are more likely to use less-effective methods of contraception such as the oral contraceptive pill, condoms, and withdrawal.

Limited availability of health care practitioners trained in insertion and removal procedures for long-acting reversible contraceptives, including the contraceptive implant and IUDs, impedes uptake of these more effective methods, particularly in rural areas of Australia.

More information: Jessica R. Botfield et al, Contraceptive counselling in regions of Victoria with high incidence of teenage pregnancy: general practitioners' insights, Australian Journal of Primary Health (2025). DOI: 10.1071/PY24169
NORTH CAROLINA (PINPOINT WEATHER ALERT)  Several severe thunderstorm warnings and flood warnings have been issued on Tuesday for multiple North Carolina counties.

Some of these counties are still recovering following 2024s Hurricane Helene.

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW: Sign up here for QC News Alerts and get Severe Weather Updates sent straight to your inbox

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Anson County, while a Flood Warning has been issued for Burke and Caldwell counties.

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Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes counties are all under a Flood Watch. A Flood Advisory has been issued for Cabarrus County.

Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News

What does Tuesday look like?

Although we are done with washouts, Tuesday and Wednesday will remain in an unsettled weather pattern.

We are tracking scattered showers and storms on Tuesday afternoon and evening, which will also continue into Wednesday.

Possibly a few more nuisance high water issues popping up through midweek.

Download the Pinpoint Weather app today!

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Storms over the next couple of days will be capable of producing locally gusty winds and hail. The severe threat is rather low, with a better chance for severe storms to our east.

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We cant rule out an isolated stronger to severe storm locally Tuesday and Wednesday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
LEHI, Utah (ABC4)  A Centerville man who is on the sex offender registry has been arrested for attempting to meet with a child in Lehi to engage in sexual activity.

Luke Winston Rogers, 39, has been charged with attempted rape of a child, attempted sodomy on a child, attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, three counts of dealing in material harmful to a minor, and failure to stop at command of police.

According to information filed by the Lehi Police Department, Rogers was using a popular social media app to chat with a user who identified herself as a 13-year-old girl to him. The child was an undercover Lehi officer.

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Interstate pursuit ends in Weber County, 2 arrested

Police provided multiple messages where Rogers spoke about engaging sexually with the 13-year-old. He shared sexual images of himself and others in the conversations. In one message from the child, she clarified that she was 13 years old, asking if he understood that. Rogers said that he did understand that.

Rogers allegedly also shared regular photos of his face. Police were able to use these photos to learn his identity and criminal history. He had previously been arrested for enticement of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor in 2023, and was a non-compliant sex offender.

During the chats, the 13-year-old and Rogers made plans to meet up in Lehi. On May 9, 2025, Rogers was en route to the meeting location when he began talking about his fears that he would get into a shootout.

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I brought a gun just in case. Im not going to be taken alive if I judged this wrong, Rogers allegedly wrote in messages to the 13-year-old.

Stepmother of Gavin Peterson sentenced for murder and aggravated child abuse

A Lehi police officer located Rogers as he traveled to the meeting location and pulled him over. According to police, Rogers initially complied with police but then began running away from the officers. As he was running away, an officer saw Rogers reach for his waistband at the small of his back, but he ended up tripping.

After apprehending him, officers searched Rogers person but did not locate a firearm or any other weapon. He did have erectile dysfunction medication, as well as headphones that were seen in photos hed shared during chats.

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Rogers was booked into the Utah County Jail and is currently being held without bail.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Ocean Safety officials have issued a shark warning for Pokai Bay after an aggressive 8-foot shark was spotted roughly 75 yards offshore in the middle of the bay Tuesday morning.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Lifeguards confirmed the sighting and have posted warning signs along the beach to alert swimmers and beachgoers.

No injuries or incidents have been reported.

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State land board rejects Army lease extension on training site

Officials are urging the public to exercise caution.

If you see a shark, youre asked to notify Ocean Safety personnel or call 911 right away.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Beach visitors are reminded to always check with lifeguards for up-to-date ocean conditions before entering the water.

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.
State prosecutors will be allowed to continue a capital murder trial against Amber Waterman, the Missouri woman currently serving two consecutive life sentences for kidnapping and murdering a pregnant woman in 2022, whom she lured with a fake job opportunity.

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled this week that Benton County prosecutors are able to continue their trial against Waterman, 45, after her defense attorneys argued that shes already been convicted on federal charges and said being tried again at the state level would equate to double jeopardy, according to KHBS, KARK, and CBS 5 News.

"We're disappointed that the Supreme Court did not agree with our arguments," Jeff Rosenzweig, one of Watermans attorneys, told KHBS.

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Waterman received two consecutive life sentences last year after being found guilty of kidnapping and shooting 33-year-old Ashley Bush to death. Bush, who was pregnant, had been lured to meet Waterman at her car in the parking lot of a convenience store after Waterman reached out on Facebook promising to give her clothes that would fit an expecting mother, as well as offering a job.

McDonald County Sheriff's Department Amber Waterman

PEOPLE previously reported that after Waterman killed Bush, she removed her child from her body and called 911 and acted like the baby was her own, telling responding officers that the baby died while she gave birth in her truck on her way to a local hospital.

Federal complaints previously obtained by PEOPLE stated that Watermans husband, Jamie Waterman, told detectives his wife confessed to killing Bush, and that the couple later burned her body and dumped it in a remote area. The affidavits claimed Jamie led police to the place where they had dumped Bush's charred remains.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri said in a press release last July that Waterman confessed to killing both Bush and her baby.



"This horrific crime resulted in the tragic deaths of two innocent victims," U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said at the time. "Todays guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for her actions and ensures that justice will be served."

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.

Waterman is currently serving consecutive life sentences without parole, PEOPLE reported last October.

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Benton County prosecutors said this week that they plan to seek the death penalty in part because Bushs family has requested it. Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Robinson said the worst crimes need to carry the worst punishment, whatever that happens to be," according to KHBS.

PEOPLE has reached out to Watermans defense attorneys for comment.

Read the original article on People






Jennifer James was fatally shot inside her Colorado home on April 28 by a stray bullet

Authorities have since arrested and charged 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku with her murder

James, 49, was a single mother of four who survived breast cancer four times since first being diagnosed at 29. She had been diagnosed with the disease a fifth time when she was killed











A cancer survivor and single mother of four is dead after being struck by a stray bullet in her Colorado home last month.

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Jennifer James, who spent 20 years battling breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease at the age of 29, died on April 28 after being hit by a stray bullet while sitting inside her home, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. She was 49 years old.

Police were alerted to a shooting around 11:20 p.m. local time on April 28. The caller said a female was shot inside her home in Berthoud, Colo., a quiet town located about 50 miles north of Denver.

Deputies with the LCSO and a nearby trooper from the Colorado State Patrol rushed to the scene and began applying first aid, but she could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene. Others were in the home, but no one else was hurt.

Investigators have since named 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku as a suspect after identifying him on surveillance video from nearby homes, KDVR reported, citing an affidavit. He was arrested on May 1 and allegedly confessed to firing the fatal bullet to detectives. He told police he was cleaning the gun in a car when he "accidentally" fired it outside of the driver's side window.

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He attempted to clear his chamber by firing the gun multiple times, however, he didn't know a live chamber was inside and thought the bullets would have hit a wall, according to KDVR, citing the affidavit. He turned off his lights and drove off to avoid attention, he said, per KDVR.

James Family/GoFundMe Jennifer James Jennifer James

Worku was booked into the Larimer County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder - extreme indifference, and is being held there on a $1.25 million cash-only bond, according to the LCSO. He is scheduled for a disposition hearing on June 6,



The LCSO said in its release that it is still investigating.

Friends and family are also paying tribute to James and her incredible spirit.

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.

"Jennifer was the epitome of sunshine. Anyone who knew her thought of her as the nicest person they had known," Juliana King wrote on the GoFundMe she created to help raise money for James' four children.

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She went on to say: "Jennifer was an incredible human being and was loved by so many people."

Her friends also revealed that James was battling cancer for a fifth time and going through chemotherapy at the time of her death.

A celebration of life is planned for James on May 14.



Read the original article on People
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office confirms it is investigating a case involving Nickerson USD 309 students and/or staff.

A spokesperson said the Reno County Sheriffs Office asked Sedgwick County to conduct the investigation.

It is an active investigation, and no one has been arrested.

The sheriffs office does not intend to release any other information. It wants to preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the rights of everyone involved.

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Opening set for new downtown Wichita hotel

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COFFEE COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  After a weekend of heavy rain, the flooding-plagued Shiloh Community went underwater again. Residents are once again looking to the state to keep its unfulfilled promises made to the historically black community.

The Shiloh community looked like a lake Friday night and ultimately over the weekend, as radar imaging says the community received seven inches of rainfall.

Its a nightmare because you are having to see your property and inheritance washed away, and nobody wants to deal with that. It becomes frustrating, aggravating, and its just tiring. We are tired of going through this. We need help now, said Shiloh resident and spokesperson, Timothy Williams.

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Woman trapped in car by tornado as her home was destroyed in Holmes County

Help has been promised for the community, as a binding contract to implement one of two projects to mitigate the running water from the highway pipes was reached last October. However, some residents feel like the contract has been breached as they say they havent been updated about the status of the project.

With it being well over 200 days since the agreement was reached, they believe the sight of this past weekend should prompt much-needed work to begin.

Talking with one of the guys over the VRA, and he says they are trying, but Im saying you are not trying hard enough. This property cant take it its sinking home are sinking and all this water making it waterlogged out here we are simply saying what else does aldot and fhwa need to see, get us out of this so we can live a normal lifestyle, said Williams.

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Williams says the flooding has affected his property, eroding the driveway, which has been damaging to vehicles. The state came out days before the storm to patch it up, but its slowly washing away. Its also affecting business at his restaurant.

Dealing with stuff like that its stressful you are losing on all ends you cant get your clientale back its been frustrating and aggravating.

Williams says its also bothersome that federal leaders have become involved over the last year and have discussed promises but have yet to act, leading them to get their own legal representation.

We are not going another six years like this. We feel like its the color of our skin because we dont get as many opportunities as we should, said Williams.

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Williams says with the legal representation, they hope it will speed up the process to help alleviate flooding when there is severe weather in the future.

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Summertime in Florida means a lot of different things: Long afternoons spent on the beach, plenty of opportunities to swim in the state's natural springs, rivers and lakes and of course, keeping your head on a swivel when it comes to wildlife.

Many of the critters in the Sunshine State, specifically reptiles, get a lot more active in the summer months. This time of year is when reports of alligators, iguanas and snakes turning up on residents' properties (and sometimes in their homes) ramps up.

But just because you have an intruder on your property, it doesn't give you the freedom to just "take care of it" on your own.

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Here's a refresher on nuisance animals in Florida, firearm laws and what to know if you'd like to trap or kill a nuisance animal on your property.

Can you shoot a wild animal on your property in Florida? What to know about nuisance wildlife

In general, you can't just shoot at any critters that intrude on your property because they're inconveniencing you. There are a lot of municipalities in Florida where you can't fire a gun at all at your home. And how you go about killing, trapping it or calling the FWC depends on what kind of animal it is.

Whereas Floridians are encouraged to trap and humanely kill invasive animals, like iguanas or pythons, others are protected and/or require hunting permits to kill. Even if you're trying to kill or trap an invasive species, there are still rules around how to go about it.

"It is important to remember that all of Florida's native species contribute to balanced ecosystems. While an individual animal exhibiting behavior that conflicts with human expectations may be labeled as 'nuisance wildlife,' we must be careful not to apply this term to an entire species," the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says.

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"Permits are required for various wildlife removal activities. Nuisance wildlife, as defined in Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 68A-9.010, may be taken using live traps or snares, or, where allowed, firearms during daylight hours. All traps and snares must be inspected at least once every 24 hours."

Before you shoot, check your local ordinances. There are some areas in Florida where you can't shoot a firearm unless you're at a licensed facility.

And there is no place in the state where you can shoot a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street, according to state laws. In other words, if you see an iguana on the sidewalk  even though it's invasive  you can't shoot it there, unless you want to be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.

According to the state statute, this applies to: Any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street, who knowingly discharges any firearm over the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or over any occupied premises, or who recklessly or negligently discharges a firearm outdoors on any property used primarily as the site of a dwelling

It doesnt apply to: A person lawfully defending life or property or performing official duties requiring the discharge of a firearm or to a person discharging a firearm on public roads or properties expressly approved for hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or Florida Forest Service.

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Can I shoot an iguana in my yard? What to know before you hunt Florida's 'baby dinosaurs'

Gator removal in Florida: What to do if you see an alligator in your backyard

If you see a gator in your yard, you might be tempted to "take care of it" yourself, but you shouldn't. The state has a system for removing nuisance gators that end up in places they don't belong. Removing a gator from your yard isn't the same as calling a private critter control service or your community's animal control, though. You have to call the FWC.

The FWC has a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program with a gator hotline. If there is a gator in your yard or pool, call the free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) will issue a permit to one of its contracted nuisance alligator trappers, authorizing the removal of the gator.

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The state pays its contracted nuisance alligator trappers for each job they are called out to. Calling SNAP's toll-free number and having a trapper come to your home wont cost you anything.

Alligator mating season: Can I shoot a gator in my yard? Florida wildlife laws to know

What makes an alligator a nuisance? What the Florida FWC says

An alligator is deemed a nuisance if it:

Is at least four feet long.

If the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property.

If it is smaller than four feet and winds up in places that are not acceptable, like swimming pools or garages, and must be removed.

"You should never handle an alligator, even a small one, because alligator bites can result in serious infection and its illegal. If there's an alligator under four feet in your swimming pool, on your porch or in a similar situation, call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline," the FWC's website says.

How can I remove nuisance wildlife from my yard in Florida?

Even if the animal you're trying to remove is considered a nuisance, there are still rules around how to handle certain critters.

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On its website, the FWC reminds Floridians that the discharge of a firearm may be prohibited in some cities and residential areas. Check with your local law enforcement before you fire a gun in your yard (see state statutes above).

"A permit issued by FWC regional offices is required to use steel traps to take destructive mammals (excluding species prohibited by the FWC). A Gun and Light at Night Permit and a hunting license are required to use a firearm and a light at night to take nuisance beaver, bobcat, fox, opossum, rabbit, raccoon or skunk that are causing destruction of crops and/or livestock," the FWC says.

"A Gun and Light at Night Permit is not required to take wild hog, coyote, armadillo, black or Norway rat or house mouse."

Here's a few animals that state law says can't be taken as nuisance wildlife:

Black bears

Deer

Bats  Except that bats may be taken either when: That take is incidental to the use of an exclusion device, a device which allows escape from and blocks re-entry into a roost site located within a structure (including chemical repellants), at any time from August 15 to April 15 or That take is incidental to permanent repairs which prohibit the egress of bats from a roost site located within a structure provided an exclusion device as described in sub-subparagraph a. above is used for a minimum of four consecutive days/nights for which the low temperature is forecasted by the U.S. National Weather Service to remain above 50 F prior to repairs and during the time-period specified.

The following birds: All birds listed in 50 C.F.R. 10.13 as protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act unless the take is authorized by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service by a permit or depredation order. Bobwhite quail Wild turkey



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If there is an animal intruding on your property and you're unsure about how to make sure it's trapped in accordance with state laws, contact your FWC regional office.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida gun laws and dangerous or invasive animals: What to know about
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One person was injured in a shooting overnight in North Nashville.

Officers were called around 1:13 a.m. to the 1700 block of Dr. DB Todd Jr. Boulevard after a wounded 57-year-old man arrived at a Nashville Fire Department station. Officials said the man showed strong signs of intoxication during his interaction with first responders.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, before the shooting was reported, the victim was involved in an interaction with two other individuals near Dr. DB Todd Jr. Boulevard and Buchanan Street.

The victim had a non-life-threatening injury to his leg and was taken to an area hospital for treatment. No additional information was immediately released.

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This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  With over 900,00 REAL IDs being issued in Arkansas, the Department of Finance and Administration is now reporting a shortage at certain revenue offices.

According to the DFA, the issue is the cards manufacturing. Scott Hardin with the DFA said its not basic card stock, but much more elaborate.

Its got security features built into it. Its got quite a bit built into that card, and they print it specifically for the state of Arkansas, Hardin said. So, were dealing with our vendor constantly. Were talking to them daily and getting shipments daily, 20,000 here, 20,000 there. And were trying to address the best we can. Right now, everythings being refreshed.

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Hardin said that they are actively monitoring the shortages, and they are able to get a new shipment to offices in need, usually by the next day.

The frustration grows at the DMV as mass crowds of people are causing wait times up to four hours, according to one person who tried to obtain a REAL ID today. Mysti Bostick is one of those frustrated people, and she said that it seems like the workers at the DMV are also confused about the shortage.

A lot of confusion, it seems like, and it doesnt really look like a lot of them are getting a lot of stuff done either. But opinions, opinions, right? Bostick said.

Hardin said patience is the key, and if you went to the DMV today and were unable to obtain an ID, check back tomorrow, as shipments are on the way.

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So basically, what we give them is a list of the offices that are doing the most business and that are in need, Hardin said. We think well have a shipment in tomorrow. So, if for some reason you go to a revenue office today and they say, Hey, were low on this, or Were hitting capacity, please check back tomorrow.

Arkansas DFA moves to online license and ID so revenue offices can remain on REAL ID

The DFA introduced a new policy that allows anyone who already has a REAL ID but needs to obtain a duplicate to do so online. Hardin said this is an effort to help relieve some congestion at the DMV.

If you do want a replacement or a duplicate license, were going to move all that online. You can click a couple of buttons, place the order, we place it in the mail to you. The reason were doing that is to free up time and space for those that need a real ID, Hardin said.

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

Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels

U.S. Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, who once rescued three dozen people during a battle in the war-torn mountains of Afghanistan, was still in his 20s when the trauma came for him.

Alcoholism, flashbacks, rages, and midnight panic attacks wrecked his life, his marriage, and his ability to parent his daughters.

Then the Medal of Honor recipient traveled to Mexico to be treated with ibogainea centuries-old psychoactive drug derived from a plant indigenous to Central Africa, increasingly viewed by the medical and science community as the next big hope in trauma, depression, addiction and brain injury treatment.

Meyer underwent one treatment session in 2019. And his life changed, almost overnight.

"It's like going through years of therapy in one sitting. It's a hard reset," Meyer said in a recent committee hearing. "I've never had an anxiety attack since. It saved my life. It gave my daughters their dad. And I'm now serving as a firefighter, as an author, and an entrepreneur, and a contributing citizen to my community. I'm present, I'm purposeful and I'm alive."

Now, Meyer and other advocates of ibogaine are pushing to bring clinical trials to Texas not only to help traumatized veterans and addicts who would participate, but also to build on the state's vast medical research network to eventually make the treatment available in the U.S.

On Monday, the Texas House overwhelmingly endorsed the idea with the 141-2 passage of a bill that would fund a grant program for research and medical trials of the treatment.

"Texas stands at a crossroads, facing a tidal wave of heartbreak. Families torn apart by opioid addiction, veterans haunted by invisible scars and countless lives dimmed by despair," said Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, the bill's House sponsor. "Ibogaine could be their miracle."

The Senate has already passed the legislation. Now that the House has approved the bill, it will return to the Senate with minor changes. If the Senate adopts the changes, the bill will head to the governor's desk.

One million Texans suffer from opioid abuse disorder, and studies have shown that more than 7% of Texas adults suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, Harris said. About 1.4 million veterans live in the state, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Recent studies suggest between 33 and 44 veterans commit suicide every day in the U.S.

"Ibogaine isn't just another drug. It's a whisper of redemption," Harris said. "In a single dose, it can silence the screams of withdrawal, quiet the cravings that chain people to addiction and mend the broken pieces of a mind ravaged by trauma."

Ibogaine comes from the iboga shrub and has been used for centuries by medical practitioners and spiritual healers in the plant's native West Central African nations of Cameroon, Congo and Gabon.

By the early 1900s, the treatment had made it west, through Europe to the U.S., before it was classified for its psychoactive properties as an illegal substance in 1970. Legal ibogaine treatments are available in clinics in Canada and Mexico.

The treatment interacts with brain neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors involved in memory, learning and neuroplasticity. Research suggests the drug can reset brain chemistry, which could help with addiction.

The patient is prepared in advance with a therapist and then is given the drug in a clinical setting, eyes closed. The drug induces a dream-like state that most patients describe as "not adverse, but meaningful," said Stanford neurosurgeon Achal Singh Achrol, who has researched ibogaine and testified before a Texas House committee in support of the bill.

The therapy "causes a rewiring in the brain," Achrol testified.

"It's unraveling memories," he said. "In this sort of revealing of stored memories that have an association of trauma, there is a release of that energy and the role it plays in the brain's network pathways."

In 2024, Stanford University published a study of 30 special forces veterans who were planning to go to Mexico for the treatment. All of them had brain injuries. Nearly all of them had PTSD. Half had alcohol and substance abuse disorder. Nineteen had been suicidal, and seven had attempted at least once to kill themselves.

One month after receiving the treatment under supervision from doctors and therapists, the veterans reported an 88% decline in their PTSD symptoms, an 87% decrease in depression symptoms and an 81% decrease in anxiety symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization's disability rating scale, the veterans in the study had an average rating of 30.2mild to moderate disability. A month after treatment, that average dropped to 5.1no disability.

The study also showed such stark improvement in cognitive functioning that tests suggested the drug can slow or reverse the effects of aging on the brainwhich could also have implications for dementia research, scientists told Texas House members during a recent hearing.

"We are not aware of any prior treatment that has demonstrated this biological capacity or degree of efficacy before," Achrol testified.

State Rep. David Lowe, R-North Richland Hills, voted against the funding.

He said he is skeptical of attempts to make money off veterans.

Lowe, a veteran who said he has been treated for PTSD, added that he believes the federal government, not Texas, should drive ibogaine testing if it has merit.

"I don't like it when they use veterans with PTSD as a selling point," he said.

On Monday during the floor discussion, several Republicans said they were initially skeptical about using government money to test psychedelicsuntil they met the veterans who had used the treatment.

Rep. Mike Olcott, R-Fort Worth, said not only was his mind changed by the incredible stories he'd heard, he was so moved by the drug's possibilities that he sponsored a veteran to travel to Mexico for the treatment.

"It seems impossible," Olcott said. "They start at 10 o'clock on a Friday night. It's a miserable night. They usually sleep the next day on Saturday. But when they wake up and kind of come to their senses on Sunday, the whole weight of what's been haunting them for years has been lifted off of them."

2025 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Danville Police say they responded to a shots fired call Friday in the 200 block of Grace Street and found a 32-year-old Danville woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds in the front yard of the residence.

The victim has been identified by Vermilion County Coroner Jane McFadden as Lacy K. Williams. She was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

DPD officers began an initial investigation and spoke to witnesses who had heard the gunshots and then observed a man standing next to the victim while holding a handgun, Deputy Joshua Webb stated in a news release. The suspect then went inside the residence and had not been seen since. Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect but were unable to do so.

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Danville Police Emergency Response Unit (ERU) responded to the scene and made entry into the residence. Once inside the residence, ERU members located a 60-year-old Danville man who was deceased with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Inside the home was William J. Rudy, 67 years old, of Danville.

Families of Williams and Rudy have been notified. Autopsies were performed May 11, and results are pending.

The Danville Police Department and the Vermilion County Coroners Office continue to investigate. If anyone has information about this or other crimes, they are encouraged to call the Danville Police Department at 217-431-2250 or Crime Stoppers at 217-446-TIPS.

The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit and the Vermilion County Coroners Office are assisting Danville Police in this investigation.
DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A Shreveport man has been arrested for a reported altercation at a preschool graduation on St. Vincent Avenue.

Shreveport Police Officers responded to a reported fight on May 12, just after 10 a.m. According to the Shreveport Police Department, officers determined that a physical altercation had taken place.

(Shreveport Police Department)

Officers say that after the initial confrontation, one of the involved parties, Demarcusse Brown, left the premises and returned later with a firearm. Officers reportedly detained and ultimately arrested Brown while still in possession of the weapon.

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Brown was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a stolen firearm, and disturbing the peace by fighting. Brown also had an outstanding warrant for domestic abuse battery. He was transported to the Shreveport City Jail.

The other male was issued a summons for disturbing the peace by fighting.

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Sisters Trish Caller and June Thompson grew up hearing about their older half-sister Geraldine Ratcliffe, but never met her until a DNA test changed everything

The test helped the siblings track down the child their mother was forced to give up in 1952

Caller admitted that she "couldn't believe" they finally found each other, and just wished the happy moment could have taken place while their mom was still alive







Two English sisters finally met their oldest sibling  and it's all thanks to a DNA test.

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Trish Caller, 61, and June Thompson, 63, spent decades trying to find their long-lost half-sister Geraldine Ratcliffe, 77, the siblings told SWNS.

Their mother, Mary Willis, was also dedicated to trying to find Ratcliffe, who was just four years old when Willis was forced to put her up for adoption in 1952, according to the Somerset County Gazette, where Caller works as a columnist.

"Having Geri in my life is something I've always wanted," Caller told SWNS.

Although their mom, who died in 2011, didn't live to see the happy day, the reunion was set into motion in 2023, when Caller's daughter, Laura Polley, submitted a DNA sample to Ancestry.co.uk.

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When a match turned up in April 2025, Caller sent an email to Ratcliffe  and assured her that despite the timing of the message (literally April 1 ) she wasn't pulling a prank.

In fact, Ratcliffe wasn't the only one who needed a little convincing.

"I thought Laura was playing April Fool's on me," Caller told SWNS, "turns out Geri thought the same thing too."

Caller and Thompson chatted with Ratcliffe over Zoom before meeting in person for the first time later that month. Caller told SWNS she felt "instant love" for her biological half-sister.

"Meeting for the first time was emotional," Caller said, noting that the three siblings share "similar" features and all have "the same laugh."

SWNS Ratcliffe (second from left) meets her family in Taunton in Somerset, England Ratcliffe (second from left) meets her family in Taunton in Somerset, England

Together, the sisters learned that their late mom was a survivor of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Ireland, according to SWNS and the Somerset County Gazette.

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Wills, who died at the age of 84, was just 21 when she gave birth to Ratcliffe in 1948.

A 2021 investigation by the Irish government found that the home, which was run by a religious order of Catholic nuns called the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, forced adoptions on the "vulnerable women"  and treated them with cruelty.

Between 1922 and 1988, around 900 babies died at the home, which is no longer in operation, according to the Gazette.



"Mum never told us any lies, she just never told us the truth as she was made to feel that she'd committed the worst sin against God," Caller told the outlet.

SWNS Mary Wills, the mother of Trish Caller, June Thompson and Geraldine Ratcliffe Mary Wills, the mother of Trish Caller, June Thompson and Geraldine Ratcliffe

After Wills had to give up Ratcliffe, she left Ireland and later met and married Peter Wills, with whom she welcomed Caller, Thompson and their brother Stephen, according to SWNS.

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Since finding each other, Caller said that all the sisters took an "emotional" visit to pay their respects at their mother's grave. They have a happier trip planned too.

"We're planning to take a trip to Ireland to see where mum spent her earlier years," said Caller.

SWNS Ratcliffe visiting the grave of her late mother, Mary Wills Ratcliffe visiting the grave of her late mother, Mary Wills

Although it was "a shame" they couldn't reunite with their sister while their mother was still around, Caller told the Somerset County Gazette that discovering Ratcliffe was "a complete miracle."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"We do feel like Mum is with us now, and she's been with us every step of the way," she said. "This is what mum would have wanted."



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WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4)  A Silver Alert has been issued for a 64-year-old man last seen in West Jordan, according to the Utah Dept. of Public Safety.

Burton James Murtaugh, 64, is described as white, 61, 165 lbs, with blue eyes, a gray mustache, and balding, gray hair. Murtaugh was reportedly last seen on Tuesday, May 6.

According to DPS, Murtaugh was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, gray shoes, navy backpack, and a black helmet. He was reportedly riding his bike home from work at The Rush Funplex  located at 7323 Jordan Landing Blvd., West Jordan  to his home in West Valley City.

Unknown woman

Burton Murtaugh, 64

Courtesy of West Jordan Police

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His bike, which he regularly rides to and from work, has been located, officials said. He will likely be on foot.

Burton has not returned home and has not returned to scheduled shifts at work. On 05/08/2025, an unknown female arrived at Rush Fun Center with Burtons bicycle, turning it in to staff, a press release from West Jordan police states. Burton has previous medical history including having a stroke three years ago which has affected his mental capacity.

The West Jordan Police Department is asking for the publics help in identifying the woman

in the photograph above that returned Murtaughs bicycle to Rush Fun Center, as she may have

information about his location.

If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact West Jordan police at 801-840-4000.

What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing. Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say.

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When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to:

Full name or nicknames.

Recent photos.

Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared.

Gender/sex.

Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos).

Date of disappearance.

Medical conditions.

Last known location.

Social media accounts.

Additional resources

For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah.

Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below:

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Latest headlines:

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The writ of habeas corpus, a right deeply rooted in English common law and recognized by the U.S. Constitution, allows people nabbed by the government to challenge their detention in court. That complicates President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Last month, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that foreign nationals who allegedly are subject to immediate deportation as "alien enemies" have a right to contest that designation by filing habeas petitions. And foreign students have used the writ to challenge the claim that they are "subject to removal" because their political opinions undermine U.S. foreign policy interests.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has a potential solution to this inconvenience. Last Friday, he told reporters that Trump is "actively looking at" suspending habeas corpus to facilitate the deportation of unwanted foreigners. "The Constitution is clear," Miller said. "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion."

There are a few problems with Miller's reading of the Constitution. The clause to which he refers says "the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it." Although President Donald Trump views unauthorized immigration as an "invasion," judges have been appropriately skeptical of that description. And while Trump might believe judicial review in this context is inconsistent with "the public safety," that assessment is likewise controversial. Finally, the power to suspend habeas corpus has long been understood as belonging to Congress, not the president.

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To justify his March 15 proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) against suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Trump averred that their illegal entry and criminal activities constituted an an "invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States." In a May 1 decision rejecting that interpretation of the 227-year-old law, Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas, said "the historical record renders clear that the President's invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and is contrary to the plain, ordinary meaning of the statute's terms." Five days later, Alvin Hellerstein, a federal judge in New York, agreed that the AEA "was not validly invoked by the presidential proclamation."

Both judges noted that Trump's understanding of "invasion or predatory incursion" is inconsistent with the law's historical context and with contemporaneous usage, including the definition of "invasion" reflected in dictionaries, correspondence among the Founders, and the Constitution itself. The Constitution "references 'invasion' on two occasions, each time in a military context," Rodriguez noted.

Article IV, Section 4, "requires the United States to 'protect each of [the states] against Invasion," and "at least one court has concluded that 'invasion' under this

provision requires 'armed hostilities' and does not include mass immigration," Rodriguez wrote. "Article I, Section 9 prohibits Congress from suspending the writ of habeas corpus, 'unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.' Although courts have not had to define what constitutes an invasion supporting the suspension of the writ, the use of 'Rebellion,' which refers to an armed uprising, suggests that both terms refer to a military attack, either from within or without. In addition, the Constitution in Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 also provides that a state may not 'engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.' This use of the related term, 'invaded,' expressly concerns warfare."

George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin highlights "an additional reason to conclude that [Trump's] broad interpretation of 'invasion' is at odds with the original meaning of the Constitution": "If illegal migration and cross-border drug smuggling are 'invasion,' that means we are in a state of invasion at virtually all times, since these activities have been ubiquitous for so long as we have had the War on Drugs and significant migration restrictions.Given the importance that the Founders assigned to the writ of habeas corpus (British violations of the writ were among the major grievances that led to the American Revolution), they would not have created a system where the federal government could suspend it at any time."

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If equating "mass immigration" with an "invasion" is dubious, so is the argument that it poses a threat to "the public safety" that "require[s]" suspension of the right to habeas corpus. That part of the Suspension Clause is "not just window-dressing," Georgetown University law professor Steven Vladeck writes. "The whole point is that the default is for judicial review except when there is a specific national security emergency in which judicial review could itself exacerbate the emergency. The emergency itself isn't enough."

Even if Trump's judgments were arguably correct, the Suspension Clause's placement and history strongly suggest the call is not his to make. "It is ultimately up to Congress whether the writ should be suspended (at least during times of peace)," says Case Western Reserve University law professor Jonathan Adler. "This is clear from the Constitution's text and structure. The suspension clause is in Article I, section 9, [which includes] several enumerated constraints on legislative power. It is an interesting question whether Courts can review a legislative suspension of the writ, but I think it is relatively clear that the Executive cannot do so unilaterally."

Abraham Lincoln's unilateral suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War was highly controversial, although Congress ultimately ratified it. Aside from that episode, the National Constitution Center says, the writ has been suspended just three times, in all cases by Congress: "in eleven South Carolina counties overrun by the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction; in two provinces of the Philippines during a 1905 insurrection; and in Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor." Although the Suspension Clause "does not specify which branch of government has the authority to suspend the privilege of the writ," the center notes, "most agree that only Congress can do it." Vladeck calls that position "the near-universal consensus."

In the 2004 case Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, Adler notes, "there was unanimous agreement that Congress had not suspended the writ," so "the question was whether the federal government could detain [Yaser Esam] Hamdi (an American citizen alleged to be an enemy combatant captured in Afghanistan) in the United States without putting him on trial." In a dissent joined by Justice John Paul Stevens, Justice Antonin Scalia (whom Trump has described as his model for Supreme Court appointments) said the answer was no.

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"Where the Government accuses a citizen of waging war against it, our constitutional tradition has been to prosecute him in federal court for treason or some other crime," Scalia wrote. "Where the exigencies of war prevent that, the Constitution's Suspension Clause, Art. I,  9, cl. 2, allows Congress to relax the usual protections temporarily. Absent suspension, however, the Executive's assertion of military exigency has not been thought sufficient to permit detention without charge."

While the other justices "did not agree with Justice Scalia on the merits," Adler adds, "a majority of the justices indicated that they too believe[d] it is for Congress to determine whether the writ should be suspended." Consider what Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said in the plurality opinion:

All agree that, absent suspension, the writ of habeas corpus remains available to every individual detained within the United States. Only in the rarest of circumstances has Congress seen fit to suspend the writ. At all other times, it has remained a critical check on the Executive, ensuring that it does not detain individuals except in accordance with law.Unless Congress acts to suspend it, the Great Writ of habeas corpus allows the Judicial Branch to play a necessary role in maintaining this delicate balance of governance, serving as an important judicial check on the Executive's discretion in the realm of detentions.

In short, Adler says, "unless Congress suspends the writ, it remains a check on the Executive." That claim, he notes, "would be nonsensical if the Executive could suspend the writ unilaterally."

Miller did not say Trump would definitely try to do that. "It's an option we're actively looking at," he said. "A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not." In other words, Trump may be willing to abide by judicial review as long as it poses no obstacle to his agenda.

The post Since Immigration Is an 'Invasion,' a Top Trump Adviser Says, the President Might Suspend Habeas Corpus appeared first on Reason.com.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Sioux City City Council met Monday evening, discussing traffic concerns and DEI programs.

Traffic signals on two busy Sioux City intersections will not be removed at 10th Street and Douglas Street, which is in front of the Cathedral of the Epiphany. Additionally, near Morningside Universitys campus, Morningside Avenue and Peters Avenue ended up getting formal consideration, failing to move forward.

10th and Douglas

It comes after a 2023 traffic study by Burns and McDowell Engineering. The company said survey results show pedestrians could safely cross the intersection without the use of the aging signals. However, Bishop Heelan Schools President John Flanery told the council a lot has changed since 2023. He indicated 125 students from five elementary grades cross that intersection multiple times a day along with parishioners at the cathedral.

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We feel like that, between the traffic of the students and in the age of the students and 3,500 people that go to mass at the cathedral every single Saturday and Sunday, that it would be very scary and very dangerous liability situation, explained Flannery.

Story continues below

Morningside and Peters

The light at Morningside and Peters drew no formal opposition and will still be used. Mayor Bob Scott said, if traffic signals were to be removed, street-side parking would also need to be removed. He thinks it could affect business in the area.

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Thats a real concern when you take parking out of an area like that, same way kind of up here. So youre taking traffic away from those businesses, which I dont necessarily like, said Mayor Scott.

The issue is not expected to come back before the council. However, paperwork indicates the signals will need to be upgraded and replaced.

DEI Programs

The ongoing discussion over the citys Affirmative Action Program is finally over. Programs dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as the Minority Business Enterprise Program, will be discontinued.

The action comes after the US Department of Transportation sent a letter to the city, claiming it could be at risk of losing millions in federal funds if it didnt comply with federal DEI policies.

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The council voted 4 to 1 in favor of ending the programs. Council Member Matthew O-Kane cast the lone no vote.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Sioux City Fire Rescue was called to the scene of a house fire in Morningside Tuesday morning.

Fire officials were called to the scene of a fire on the 1100 block of S. Fairmount Street at around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday morning.

According to a reporter at the scene, large amounts of smoke can be seen coming from the home.

John Nelsen with Sioux City Fire Rescue told KCAU 9 that officials arrived at the scene at around 7:50 a.m. After making their way into the home, Nelsen said that one firefighter fell through the floor and into the basement, leading to a Mayday call.

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Nelsen said that they were able to successfully rescue the firefighter who fell, and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

So these are things that we prepare for, Nelsen said. Its not an often occurrence that we have people fall through floors, but it is something that we have to be prepared for so we do our Mayday trainings, we do mock scenarios where we fall through floors or get entangled by debris from ceiling tiles or grid work for suspended ceilings. Things of that nature.

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Officials said no one was home during the fire, but there were supposedly five dogs at home at the time. Officials said all five dogs currently appear to be missing. Officials later confirmed that they had sadly located two dogs and one cat dead inside the home.

The Sioux City Police Department was called to the scene to assist and block of roads at around 7:49 a.m. A total of nine fire apparatus and more than 25 personnel were sent to the scene

Additionally, the home has been red-tagged by the city.

The fire is still under investigation.

This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will continue to provide updates as we learn more.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A Sioux Falls man is headed to prison following a deadly crash involving extreme speeds, alcohol and drugs.

A judge sentenced Tayten Stebbins to 25 years behind bars on Monday. As part of a plea agreement, Stebbins pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, and several other charges were dropped.

Over 20 arrests made in speed saturation patrol

Stebbins, 27, has admitted to driving over 100 miles per hour on Arrowhead Parkway while drunk on May 8th, 2021. That night, he sped through a red light and slammed into a car.

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The crash killed two Sioux Falls high school students and injured two others.

In court, one of the first officers to arrive on scene said its a crash he wont forget. The courtroom watched video from his body camera as he helped rescue two teenagers who were trapped in the backseat. He tried to save another teens life.

The officer told the judge it was one of the worst accidents hes seen in his career.

Victims family members, who gave emotional statements, said Stebbins actions have forever changed their lives.

The prosecution said Stebbins should face the consequences of his actions and asked the judge for a 50-year prison sentence.

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Stebbins also spoke in court and repeatedly told the victims family members he was sorry, and he never meant for this to happen.

The defense, and some of Stebbins family members spoke, saying hes no longer a danger to the public. His attorneys told the judge that Stebbins is now living with injuries from the crash, and they questioned if he could receive the ongoing care he needs while behind bars.

A small town still growing 10 years after a tornado

The judge cited the impacts of the crash on others as one of the reasons for the 25-year sentence. He said the case is a reminder that bad choices can have lifelong effects.

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On the night of the crash, Stebbins had been drinking at a bowling alley. The prosecution shared social media posts showing him drinking in the hours leading up to the crash. Stebbins was offered a ride, but refused.

For one count of manslaughter, Stebbins was sentenced to 25 years. For the second count, he received a 25-year suspended sentence. This means if he gets in trouble after being released from prison, he could serve another 25 years behind bars.

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

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Whooping cough cases are surging in California with rates returning to pre-pandemic levels, medical experts said.

As of April 26, a total of 590 Californians had contracted the highly contagious disease in 2025, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"California is one of the hot spots in the country right now," said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

Case rates are up by 35% in California compared to April 2024 , CDC data showed.

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, many practices that had lowered instances of whooping cough are no longer in place, and we're seeing the disease return to pre-pandemic levels," Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, the director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a January news release.

Infants are particularly at risk of infection as cases become more widespread across the state, he said.

What is whooping cough?

Pertussis, commonly called whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial disease that spreads by coughing, according to the California Department of Public Health.

The bacteria disseminates via droplets, the department said.

The most common way people contact pertussis is by being in close contactwithin 3 to 6 feetof someone coughing due to the disease.

"You stand next to somebody, they're coughing, then you can get it," Chin-Hong said.

Whooping cough cases tend to be cyclical, with numbers peaking in the spring and fall, according to Chin-Hong.

What are common pertussis symptoms?

Whooping cough starts out like a normal cold with a cough, Chin-Hong said, but the cough only worsens as time goes on.

According to the California Department of Public Health, people who contract pertussis experience severe coughing attacks that can last months.

"The cough is so forcefulespecially among younger patients, especially infantsthat (when) they cough, cough, cough, they're expelling all the air, and they don't even have time to inhale," said Dr. Dean Blumberg, the chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health.

At the end of the coughing episode, the person takes a deep breath in, causing a "whooping" sound as air rushes back into the lungs.

That's how whooping cough got its name, Blumberg explained.

Here are the early symptoms of pertussis, according to the CDC:

Runny or stuffed-up nose

Low-grade fever

Mild, occasional cough

After one to two weeks, people develop "rapid, violent and uncontrolled coughing fits," that can last up to 10 weeks, the CDC said.

The coughing fits can cause vomiting, broken ribs, difficulty breathing, trouble sleeping at night and exhaustion, according to the federal public health agency.

"Those who get these coughing fits say it's the worst cough of their lives," the CDC said.

Is whooping cough on the rise in California?

Whooping cough cases more than quadrupled in California in 2024, rising from 644 cases in 2023 to 2,753 cases the following year, the state's most recent data shows.

"We're seeing more pertussis cases in children who've been admitted to the hospital than we have in the past," Blumberg said.

Whooping cough cases dipped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have led to "a build-up of susceptibility in the population," Blumberg said, causing the disease to skyrocket in the state.

Decreased vaccination rates have also brought on the spike in pertussis cases, he said.

"Overall vaccination rates have dropped over the past few years since COVID because of all the politicization of vaccines," Blumberg said. "Even a few percent drop in vaccination rates can lead to a resurgence in these vaccine-preventable diseases."

Who is at higher risk of getting whooping cough?

"The younger you are, the higher the risk of the patient," Dr. Blumberg said.

Infants who are too young to be vaccinated are at the most risk of contracting life-threatening cases of whooping cough, the California Department of Public Health told The Sacramento Bee in an email.

Can you die from whooping cough?

Pertussis can be fatal, medical experts said.

About one-third of babies under 1 year old who get pertussis have to be hospitalized, and about 1% die from the disease, according to the CDC.

In 2024, 62 infants who were less than 4 months old were hospitalized for pertussis in California, the state health department said.

Out of those children, one infant ended up dying from pertussis.

Whooping cough can cause serious complications such as apnea, pneumonia, convulsions and encephalopathy, the CDC said.

How is pertussis treated?

Once someone contracts pertussis, it can be very difficult to treat the disease's symptoms, Chin-Hong said.

If you think you might have whooping cough, you should notify your health care provider, Blumberg said.

Once you are tested and diagnosed with the disease, some antibiotic treatments are available.

However, these antibiotics are only relatively effective if pertussis is caught early, Blumberg said.

Chin-Hong said the best strategy to prevent infection is vaccination.

"The treatment doesn't really get (you) better," he said. "It's just like supportive treatment, like you do with any cough."

How can I avoid getting sick?

Immunization is the best preventative measure to take to avoid getting sick, Chin-Hong advised.

Other than getting the vaccine, Blumberg suggested people avoid close contact with people who are sick and coughing.

He also advised parents to keep their children home from school or daycare if they are suffering from any whooping cough-type symptoms.

What vaccines are available for pertussis?

There are two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough.

DTaP, which prevents diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, is routinely given to infants at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, then again between 15 and 18 months and finally around 4 to 6 years of age, according to the CDC.

Tdap, which protects against the same combination of diseases as DTaP, is the vaccine recommended for preteens, adults who have never been vaccinated against pertussis and women who are 27 to 36 weeks pregnant, the CDC said.

Booster shots are recommended for adults every 10 years for continued protection against the disease.

Should I get vaccinated against whooping cough?

Vaccination is recommended for all Californians, the California Department of Public Health said.

"Because protection from vaccines decreases over time, it's important that children, adolescents and adults stay up to date on their vaccines to ensure they are protected," the state health department said.

How effective is the vaccine?

The vaccine is about 85% effective right after it's given, according to Chin-Hong.

"Whooping cough vaccines work but aren't perfect," the CDC said.

People who have received the vaccine and still contract whooping cough tend to have milder cases, the public health agency said.

Because the vaccine has a relatively short lifespan, children and adults need to keep getting booster shots to stay protected, Chin-Hong said.

"It's not like a one-time thing," he said. "You need to keep on getting it, and that's the reason why you can get all these outbreaks from time to time."

2025 The Sacramento Bee. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CHICAGO (WGN)  The trial of the man accused of attacking his pregnant ex-girlfriend in Edgewater and killing her 11-year-old son, who was allegedly trying to defend her, has resumed Tuesday at Chicagos Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

Crosetti Brand, the accused killer, is representing himself despite no prior legal training. His trial got off to a tumultuous start Monday, as he repeatedly clashed with a Cook County judge.

Crosetti Brand

Brand cross-examined his alleged victim who survived the incident, Laterria Smith, with court staying in session late Monday night so she wouldnt have to return to the stand Tuesday and face more questions from the man accused of killing her son, 11-year-old Jayden Perkins.

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Authorities say Smith was four months pregnant at the time of the March 2024 incident involving her and Perkins.

Testifying about the fatal stabbing, Smiths emotions poured through, causing a temporary break in court proceedings. Following what sheriffs deputies described as a panic attack, Smith returned to the stand to identify Brand as the man who killed her son.

A court sketch of Laterria Smith from Monday, May 12, 2025. (Photo provided)

Illinois agencies sued after ex-convict allegedly kills boy who defended mother

Brand faces 17 charges, including first-degree murder and domestic battery.

After Smiths testimony for the state, Brand questioned the victim, since hes representing himself. As part of his at-times rambling and incoherent cross-examination, Brand asked the judge and Cook County sheriffs deputies to bring out the knife prosecutors say he used to kill 11-year-old Jayden Perkins.

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Have you ever been in possession of or controlled this knife? Brand asked the grieving mother. Have you ever brandished that knife?

Smith denied she ever brandished the knife.

The defendant also asked Smith if she had relayed to investigating detectives that the two had a sexual relationship.

Smith replied, Yes, I told them.'

A court sketch of Crosetti Brand from Monday, May 12, 2025. (Photo provided)

Prior to Smiths testimony, Cook County Assistant States Attorney Danny Hanichak credited Perkins for saving his pregnant mothers life on March 13, 2024, in opening statements Monday.

The evidence is overwhelming that Laterria Smith is a survivor, Hanichak said. The evidence is overwhelming that Jayden Perkins is a hero.

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According to police, on the early morning of March 13, officers responded to the home the 11-year-old Perkins shared with his mother, Smith, in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue. Police said they believe Brand  just one day out of prison  forced his way into the home and began stabbing Smith, despite an active order of protection.

Jayden was our hero: How people are remembering the boy killed while trying to protect his mom in Chicago

Perkins then allegedly tried to defend his mother, who was four months pregnant, from the attack and was also stabbed. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Brand allegedly stabbed Smith 11 times, prosecutors unveiled on Monday. Prosecutors also say Brand became enraged over Smiths decision to break off their on-again, off-again relationship that spanned 15 years. The jury saw photos of Smith and Perkins bloody clothes and damage to a door that prosecutors say Brand kicked down.

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Representing himself in court, Brand told jurors in a short opening statement that self-defense is not a crime.

(The) defender(s) intent was not to commit a crime, but was to defend himself, Brand added.

A framed image of Jayden Perkins, 11, can be seen at a memorial honoring him following his death in Chicago on Wednesday, March 13. (Credit: WGN)

Earlier Monday, before opening arguments, the 39-year-old defendant shouted at the presiding Cook County judge, cutting her off at least seven times as she struggled to explain courtroom procedures and restore order.

Illinois Prisoner Review Board chair resigns after parolee allegedly kills 11-year-old, injures mother

A delay in court proceedings lasted nearly an hour until lawyers were ready to begin opening statements.

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The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at: 1-877-863-6338

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is: 1-800-799-7233.

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NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD)  Dr. David Koh works to heal asthma, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, COPD, pediatric sleep disorders, and more. He helped pioneer the first two sleep centers in the Twin Cities.

I still remember one of the physicians telling me, oh, sleep apnea is a diagnosis of the 90s. Its going to go away in a couple years,' said David Koh, MD, Im really proud of the fact that we did that, but you have to understand also that administrators of the hospital had the faith in me to really set that up it was really nice.

The Carle Health BroMenn Medical Center physician said he loves working with people and sharing what makes you unique.

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Even though youre culturally different, you should be proud of that, said Dr. Koh. You really do need to share that. Because, unlike 50-something years ago, people really do want to know your story. They want to know your background. They want to know how youre culturally different. So, I think the big thing here in share your story. The more people that know your story, the better off everyone is going to be.

Dr. Koh said that during Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, representation can make a difference in someones healthcare journey.

There are such subtle cultural differences when it comes to how people perceive medicine and how they should be treated, said Dr. Koh. It really does help to have all these different backgrounds and being able to talk to each other to really serve patients better.

Dr. Koh came to Chicago almost 56 years ago from Korea. He said the Twin Cities are a safe place for fostering different cultures and heritages.

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Its so well integrated, you dont really feel like youre a different culture, said Dr. Koh. So, I think things have really progressed for the better.

Celebrate 100 years with Carle BroMenn Service Auxiliary

You can attend an upcoming celebration to kick off the Carle BroMenn Service Auxiliarys 100 years of community dedication.

A short program will be held at Carle BroMenn Medical Centers Atrium at 1304 Franklin Ave, Normal, IL. The ribbon cutting and reception will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

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The Agent Orange Veterans Project is sponsoring a sock hop Saturday to benefit an upcoming veterans bus trip.

The dance, featuring music by The Dorals, will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Sons of Italy at 905 S. Mill St. The doors will open at 6 p.m. The cost is a $10 per person donation.

A cash bar, drawing and pizza and chips will be available.

Members of the Agent Orange Veterans group are organizing a 24-hour trip to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 27 to visit military monuments. The trip will not involve an overnight stay and is free to any veteran. A total of 112 seats are on the buses.

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The bus, chartered by Campbell Bus Co. of Slippery Rock, will leave at 3 a.m. from the Maitland Lane Free Methodist Church and return there around 3 a.m. Sept. 28.

The trip to D.C. will involve stops at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to watch the changing of the guard; the Vietnam, World War I and II and the Korean War memorials, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Coryea is hopeful of getting a visit to the White House, which is not guaranteed, he said. Bus trip travelers thus will need to provide Social Security numbers for security purposes, he said.

The bus will ride by the White House if a visit is not possible, he said. It will also ride past the Capitol.

The Agent Orange Veterans Project is raising funds from donations from community members. The sock hop will be one of its biggest fundraisers. Tickets for the event are available by contacting Coryea at (724) 651-6747 or one of the board members, or they may be purchased at the door.

Any veteran interested in attending the bus trip, or anyone who wants to donate toward it, may contact Coryea.

dwachter@ncnewsonline.com
May 12A Somerville man was charged Saturday with multiple counts of child pornography after a raid on a rehabilitation and recovery center on Alabama 36 near Hartselle, according to the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.

James Oliver Canter, 49, was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography with intent to disseminate and remained in the Morgan County Jail on Monday in lieu of a $375,000 bond.

During the search, 25 subjects were detained. Of those, seven were determined to have unrelated outstanding warrants and were arrested, according to the Sheriff's Office.

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Due to the number of residents and size of the property, the Sheriff's Office said, the search included the Morgan County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division, the sheriff's SWAT team, Pricevile Police Department, the sheriff's Drug Enforcement and Fugitive units, the University of Alabama Police Department, and the District Attorney Office for Marion and Winston Counties.

"The Morgan County Sheriff's Office continues to maintain a heightened focus on crimes against children. Through the effort of our investigators, we have made numerous human trafficking, child abuse and child pornography arrests. This will continue," Sheriff Ron Puckett said in a statement.

 eric@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2435
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The man who reportedly owns the south Charlotte home that exploded on May 2 has been arrested in Chicago in connection with the incident, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

According to arrest records, 41-year-old Michael Edward Barnette was arrested on Friday, May 9. He was charged with an out-of-state warrant as a fugitive from justice.

Queen City News was able to confirm through court documents that Barnette is the homeowner of 1645 Lombardy Circle, where a house explosion and two-alarm fire was deemed intentional one week before his reported arrest.

Credit: Charlotte Fire Department

No one was home during the explosion, but one civilian and one firefighter sustained minor injuries, officials said. The explosion and fire caused roughly $445,000 in damages.

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CFD said he has been arrested in connection with the fire and explosion. He is currently booked in the Cook County Sheriffs Office in Chicago and is in the process of being extradited to Charlotte.

Authorities say this is still an active investigation.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A South Coast lawmaker is pushing a bill that would ban the commercial farming of octopus for food, citing ethical concerns about the treatment of what he says are one of the oceans most intelligent creatures.

Testifying on his bill before the Joint Committee on Agriculture on Tuesday, Rep. Christopher Hendricks, D-11th Bristol, described octopi as having a level of sentience and awareness that is exceptional in the animal kingdom.

Octopus display problem-solving ability, short and long-term memory, play behaviors, even signs of individual personality. Their capacity for suffering is now widely acknowledged by the scientific communities, he said.

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Hendricks emphasized that the bill specifically targets commercial aquaculture of octopi for human consumption, which he said involves raising them in really confined, barren tanks, commercial tanks, for food production.

As a Portuguese-American from New Bedford, I have no interest in banning octopus consumption throughout the commonwealth, he clarified.

Instead, the bill targets only the farming and sale of farm-raised octopi, and does not affect the consumption or sale of octopi caught in the wild.

Framing the proposal as a preventative measure, he emphasized that no octopus farms currently exist in the state. Lets nip this in the bud, he urged.

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Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, 8th Middlesex, who also sits on the panel, said advocates have been active around this issue.

And youre absolutely right, that its not an industry yet, so were not hurting anybody, as far as we know, Arena-DeRosa said.

More political news

Read the original article on MassLive.
May 13South Point  A South Point man is facing being prosecuted as a major drug offender after officers raided his home and found more than 700 grams of methamphetamine.

On May 5, the Lawrence Drug and Major Crimes Task Force and the Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant in South Point.

During the execution of the warrant, authorities seized approximately 710 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms and several hundred dollars in cash. The amount of methamphetamine recovered exceeds 100 times the bulk amount defined for a Schedule II controlled substance, qualifying the offense for a major drug offender (MDO) specification under Ohio law.

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Douglas Smith, 44, of South Point, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with first-degree felony possession of controlled substances, first-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs, third-degree felony having weapons while under disability, fifth-degree felony receiving proceeds of an offense subject to forfeiture proceeding. The MDO specification significantly increases the severity of potential penalties if convicted. The case has been sent to the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court of Judge Christen Finley.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office and Lawrence County EMS also assisted in the execution of the search warrant, further demonstrating the strength and effectiveness of cooperative law enforcement efforts in the region.

This case remains under investigation and additional charges may be filed.

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PARSONS, Kan.  Parsons police said they arrested a repeat offender over the weekend following an alleged assault.

An officer with PPD responded to a disturbance call Sunday afternoon after a caller reported a fight between family members.

Traffic stop in Labette County uncovers meth lab; 4 arrested

The alleged victim, a 62-year-old man, told the arriving officer that Bryant McQuarie, 37, had hit his truck parked nearby before throwing two bricks and a banana at him. McQuarie, however, had already ran from the scene.

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Officers searched the area for McQuarie, where he was found not long after in the 800 block of S 14th St. PPD says McQuarie refused to provide a statement and was detained.

An eyewitness to the original incident confirmed to police she saw McQuaries aggressive behavior and damage to the vehicle. She provided a written statement to PPD and McQuarie was later taken into custody. He faces charges for aggravated assault and criminal damage to property. There was no explanation as to why McQuarie threw a banana.

His bond is set at $50,000.

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Aiming to ease a critical teacher shortage, UC Riverside has launched a new residency program in partnership with the San Bernardino City Unified School District that fully covers tuition, provides living stipends and guarantees job placement for aspiring teachers.

The one-year credentialing program, which began recruiting this spring, is open to candidates who already hold a bachelors degree.

Participants will receive approximately $32,000 in financial support, including a living stipend and funds allocated to mentor teachers, and will be placed in classrooms across the district for hands-on training, UC Riverside said in a news release.

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Across California and the nation, we are facing a shortage of qualified teachers, especially in critical areas like special education, dual-language instruction, math, and science, said Frances Valdovinos, assistant dean and director of teacher education at UC Riversides School of Education. This partnership gives future teachers an unprecedented level of support while helping San Bernardino schools meet urgent staffing needs.

In return, residents commit to teaching in the district after completing the program.

With roughly 190 retirements and resignations expected this year alone, the district says it is turning to long-term solutions to ensure classrooms remain staffed.

We need a pipeline of talented, dedicated teachers who understand our community and are ready to serve it, said Robert Morales, SBCUSD director of human resources. This residency is a game-changer.

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For more information about the program, click here.

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Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California on Monday night (May 12), on the first leg of a spaceflight doubleheader.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 26 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California's central coast Monday at 9:15 p.m. EDT (6:15 p.m. local California time; 0115 GMT on May 13).

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The rocket's first stage came back to Earth for a landing about 8 minutes later as planned, touching down on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 26 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on May 12, 2025. | Credit: SpaceX

It was the sixth flight for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description.

The Falcon 9's upper stage continued carrying the 26 Starlink satellites toward low Earth orbit (LEO), where they were deployed on schedule about 65 minutes after launch.

Related stories:

 SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company

 Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy

 Starlink satellite train: how to see and track it in the night sky

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Monday night's launch was the 56th Falcon 9 mission of 2025. Thirty-nine of those flights have been devoted to building the Starlink megaconstellation, by far the largest spacecraft network ever assembled.

Those launch numbers changed again just a few hours after this mission went in the books: SpaceX launched another Starlink mission, this one from Florida's Space Coast, early Tuesday morning (May 13).
House Speaker Daniel Perez addresses representatives as regular session goes into overtime on May 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

The Florida House and Senate have made no progress toward a budget deal during the past three weeks, House Speaker Daniel Perez acknowledged Tuesday, saying budget negotiations have to start all over again.

The House voted Tuesday to further extend the already-extended session, from June 6 to June 30. Although, since the Senate did not meet, the House-desired extension is not solid.

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Perez, during a half-hour floor session Tuesday, emphasized the contrast between the House and Senate and governors office in budget negotiations.

The governor isnt willing to have a conversation, period, period, Perez said. Theres no difference between him and any seventh grader in Miami Dade County right now who tweets.

Perez said he hasnt spoken to Gov. Ron DeSantis in quite some time.

The two chambers said on May 2 that they had agreed to a budget framework, which included a cut to sales taxes. That framework was no more after DeSantis said last week a sales tax cut would be dead on arrival and Albritton issued a memo to senators soliciting advice to develop a new tax package.

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I have very strong feelings about the Senate presidents actions, Perez told his chamber. As presiding officers, as elected officials, our word is our bond. Breaking our word, breaking a deal, is breaking faith, not only with one another, but also with our institutions. However, I will not allow these actions to deter us from fulfilling our constitutional obligations.

Dropping the agreement was a surprise to Perez.

For me, in my community of Miami, and my culture as a Cuban, your word is your bond, and that means everything to us, Perez told reporters Tuesday. Im one of the old-school guys. I can broker a deal off a handshake.

Perez said he does not think a final budget is any closer than it was three weeks ago and told to members the budget is truly worth fighting for.

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Budget negotiations, Perez said, are moving at a snails pace, are fluid, and he had nothing concrete to share.

Perez has criticized the governor for releasing videos on social media criticizing the House instead of engaging in direct conversations.

At some point, adults have to prevail. I am willing to have that conversation in person at any moment. He is not.  Why are you not willing to have a tough conversation? What is it, that, are you scared? Is he scared of having a tough conversation? I have no other conclusion to reach but that, Perez told reporters.

Perez criticized DeSantis use of the states airplane to fly around Florida, especially in the past few weeks, to insult the House. DeSantis spent Tuesday at the Ohio Capitol advocating for congressional term limits.

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I know today he took his private plane out to Ohio, Perez said. If he would spend more time here in this Capitol having conversations with myself and other members of the House, he would understand our position, why were in that position,

Priorities

The House resolution to extend until June 30 includes the same list of bills in the original extension that may be taken up. Among them are budget-related bills, including SB 110, the $200 million Rural Renaissance, a priority for Albritton. All other bills died May 2.

Throughout the session, House committees questioned the numerous failures of our state agencies, as Perez put it, reiterating that the state has a spending problem.

Perez said, Cutting recurring spending is the number one goal of the House. The House is not moving.

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DeSantis wants to eliminate property taxes, and leaders of each chambers have shown interest in that idea. Voters would have to decide to do that in 2026 at the earliest. In the meantime, DeSantis has proposed a $1,000 property tax rebate for Florida homeowners.

The only option Perez has ruled out, he said, is simply mailing $1,000 checks from the state treasury, saying that would not solve the property tax problem.

They are just state taxpayers apologizing for local government spending, which is the kind of irresponsible idea I associate with California policy makers, Perez said.

Albritton has said senators have told him a 0.25% sales tax reduction is not meaningful and that a $2.5 billion recurring tax cut could constrain options for major property tax reform.

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A Senate spokesperson told the Phoenix that Albritton remains hopeful that the budget can be completed by June 6 and the president was opposed to the expense of bringing senators up to Tallahassee this week to vote on a procedural motion.

We have to remember that this is a part-time Legislature. Most of my members, including myself, have other jobs, like full-time jobs, and we need to be able to have the predictability of a schedule so that we can get back to fulfilling those duties, Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell told reporters Tuesday.

Neither Perez nor Driskell was concerned about a shutdown should talks stretch past July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.

I think its likely that nothing could get done, and the worst case scenario is a skeletal-type budget that funds critical resources and probably nothing else, Driskell said.

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FAYETTEVILLE (KNWA/KFTA)  Voters across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley continue to cast their ballots in special elections in Benton, Sebastian and Washington counties.

Monday was the final day to early vote, with general voting happening on May 13.

Here is what voters are deciding across each county:

Benton County

Several cities are voting on special measures across Benton County that could impact fire services and schools.

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The Gravette Fire Department is asking residents to switch from mailed fire dues to a property-tax-based fee.

According to the ballot, if passed, a $50 fee for land with a property will be implemented, or a $35 fee for land without any buildings.

In Lowell, the Pleasure Heights Volunteer Fire Department will raise its fee from $40 to $100 each year if passed. This fee would appear on property tax bills.

Finally, in Gentry, voters are considering a millage increase to help fund a school expansion.

Voting can be done at one of five locations in the county from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sebastian County

Fort Smith voters are deciding on three key measures that are all tied to the citys existing 2% sales tax, however, none of these measures will raise taxes if passed.

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The first measure would extend the 0.75 of one cent sales tax. If passed, it will continue to fund the police department and support federally required sewer improvements.

Fort Smith faces $1 billion water, sewage revamp

Measure #2 would reauthorize the $0.01 sales tax, allocating it mostly for roads and drainage, while shifting a portion to help pay for those sewage upgrades.

The final measure would allow Fort Smith to issue up to $360 million in bonds for sewage improvements. If passed, these bonds would be paid back over the next 30 years.

Voters can cast their ballots at any of 10 locations in Sebastian County from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Washington County

Washington County voters are casting their ballots for increases to millage rates for several school districts.

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Voters in Farmington, Greenland and Prairie Grove are all deciding on these proposed millage rate increases.

Washington County voters may cast their ballots at any of six locations from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

To find sample ballots for your county, visit VoterViews website.

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This was supposed to be the week House and Senate leaders met to bridge the gaps of their budget divide that has already sent the legislative session into overtime and seen accusations and insults hurled among GOP officials.

Instead, only the House came to the Capitol on May 13  and only to extend the session to June 30.

That move, though, carries little weight since the Senate isnt doing the same. The session, which was set to end May 2, has already been extended by both chambers to June 6.

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Extending the session to June 30 sends a clear message. If the Senates plan is to wait us out, then they will find us unmoved, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, told his chamber. We will not be intimidated, and we will not be bullied.

From left, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami; Gov. Ron DeSantis; Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.

Perez said Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, reneged on the framework of the budget deal they agreed to on May 2 but added hes going to work to bridge the differences in between the chambers.

After the erosion of trust between the chambers, though, Perez said more time is needed to reach a final agreement.

The fiscal year ends June 30. If lawmakers dont pass a budget by that time it would mean a state government shutdown, throwing off planning for school boards, cities, counties and other entities throughout Florida.

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Perez said he doesnt think a shutdown will happen, but admitted the chambers are no closer to an agreement than they were last week.

Differences on cutting taxes fueling the divide

At the center of the dispute between Perez and Albritton is the House plan to cut the state sales tax. The House plan slashes it from 6% to 5.25%.

Albritton had expressed concern about cutting the tax too much, leaving the state unable to pay for vital needs  including schools, hospitals and prisons  in future years. State economists project a $7 billion shortfall in three years if current spending trends continue.

For Perez, the primary reason for cutting the sales tax is restraining the growth in state spending. The House budget bill was $113 billion, about $5.6 billion less than the current year.

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As part of the framework initially agreed to by Albritton, a 0.25% cut to the sales tax was included. Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, rejected that plan and threatened to veto any tax cut bill that lowered the sales tax rate.

When asked by reporters how Albritton "broke his word," Perez said Albritton told him in a phone call "he could no longer honor the deal." The Senate president didn't cite the governor's veto threat, according to Perez, saying only "he didn't believe it was in the best interests of his chamber."

DeSantis has fought with Perez and the House throughout most of the year. One of several complaints from DeSantis has been the Houses lack of progress on approving property tax cuts.

Perez disputed that line of attack by noting the House tax cut plan would have used bed taxes to provide rebates property owners. The details of that would be determined by county governments.

DeSantis: House is 'stabb(ing) voters in the back'

Over recent weeks, DeSantis has repeatedly slammed the House, saying its leadership has stabbed voters in the back and are sabotaging his agenda.

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In response, Perez noted DeSantis took the state plane to Ohio to promote his push for term limits for Congress and isnt helping resolve the conflict in Tallahassee.

If he would spend more time here in this Capitol having conversations with myself and other members of the House he would understand our position, Perez told reporters. The governor isnt willing to have a conversation, period. Period. Theres no difference between him and any seventh grader in Miami-Dade County right now who tweets.

He added, At some point adults have to prevail. I am willing to have that conversation.

The rift had become so heated Republican Party of Florida chair Evan Power offered to hold a summit between the legislative leaders and DeSantis to sort out the disagreement.

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DeSantis quickly shot down that idea, saying he wont participate in a dog and pony show. Power later said he still "stands ready" to help.

Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida House accuses Senate of betrayal as state budget talks stalled
Speed cameras are helping Neptune Beach Police crack down on dangerous driving near schools, police say.

Keeps drivers in check, said one driver, Nick Fiedler.

Police claim theyve seen a 92% drop in speeding in school zones since the cameras were installed.

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Police said that number is based off a survey conducted by the company that it eventually hired.

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According to new data from the Neptune Beach Police Department, they are now issuing nearly 30 tickets a day.

It keeps the kids safer, said another driver, Ariel Warner.

The cameras have been online in a few locations since about March.

Action News Jax told you when a warning period started as those cameras went live. And based on data from the police department, during that period, nearly 2500 drivers got a warning.

After that, the citation period began.

While many people said the numbers prove the cameras are making things safer, many others arent sold. Opponents point out that the cameras are installed by companies that get a cut of every ticket given and said the speed studies are done by that same company.

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Lawmakers in Georgia tried to ban the cameras, although the bill didnt pass.

In Neptune Beach, citations are only issued at 11mph or higher than the speed limit. That means if the speed limit is 15, a citation isnt issued unless you are going 26mph.

The police department said all citations are reviewed and issued by an officer.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  One Springfield business volunteered at a local campground Monday to clean up before children arrive this summer.

This cleanup is part of a five-year relationship between the YMCA of Greater Springfield and Eastman. Volunteers took to leaf-blowers and power-washers on Monday to make Camp Weber ready for the hundreds of kids that will visit this summer.

Nearly 100 employees show up on their own time each year to make the grounds spotless. Jim Gallerni, the Executive Director of Education and Operations, described how crucial this work is to the program.

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We cant clean this camp without our volunteers, Gallerni said. Eastman has come out now for five or six years, I believe, and they do a Herculean effort getting our camps ready and prepared to open up in June. It just allows us to give the children the best experience possible.

The 75-acre property hosts a slew of amenities, including everything from a 60-foot swimming pool to obstacle courses.

Registration for this summer is now open. You can head over to the YMCA website for more information.

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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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A woman from Springfield has pleaded guilty to a felony years after police responded to a call about a woman shooting a shotgun at a man and a house.

According to online court dockets, Kimberly Jo Presson, born 1966, pleaded guilty to one count of felony unlawful use of a weapon. Three other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Presson is due in court on July 30 for her sentencing.

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According to previous Ozarks First coverage, the Springfield Police Department was called out to North Meteor Avenue on a shots fired call just before 2 a.m. on Dec. 6 in 2022.

They were pointed to where, previously, a red truck from which a person had shot a firearm was parked. An officer collected shotgun hulls in the street and made contact with a person who lived next to where the incident occurred.

The person living there said he saw and recognized Presson. The witness approached Presson and asked why she was shooting at the home of a person he knew to be an acquaintance of Pressons and Presson allegedly pointed a shotgun at him, stating that she was looking for the acquaintance.

The witness said the person she was looking for wasnt there. Presson fired four shots in his direction but did not trick him, he told the police.

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Officers took a look at the home of the acquaintance and found around 50 small holes in the building. The police found through records that Presson owned a red Chevrolet Colorado.

Later, after 3 a.m., an officer was in the area and heard gunshots. He traveled to the same location on North Meteor Avenue and saw a red Chevrolet Colorado parked in front of the same home.

The officer followed the truck until he made a vehicle stop and arrested Presson. In her truck, he found two unused shotgun shells and a loaded shotgun.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of meddling in Hungary's internal affairs and colluding with an opposition party, European Pravda reported on May 13.

"Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv's) EU membership," Orban said after the meeting of the Hungarian Defense Council.

The remarks came days after Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed it had exposed a Hungarian espionage network in western Ukraine, detaining two agents.

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In response, Hungary expelled two Ukrainian diplomats, a move met with reciprocal expulsions by Kyiv.

Orban escalated the accusations by claiming that Kyiv had "renewed its contacts in Hungary to carry out this campaign" and had "launched a campaign against the Hungarian Defense Forces with the help of a Hungarian politician."

"Thus, the Hungarian opposition party took an active part in the special operation of the Ukrainian secret service. Such a thing has never happened in our memory," Orban said, likely referring to the Tisza party led by opposition figure Peter Magyar.

The opposition politician visited Kyiv in July 2024, raised funds for humanitarian aid, and pledged to "end Hungary's isolation from the West" if elected.

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The country is scheduled to hold national elections in 2026.

Read also: Not all Hungarians are Orban, say Ukrainians living in EUs most pro-Russian country

Orban said Hungary would proceed with a national consultation on Ukraine's EU membership bid, emphasizing that "neither Brussels nor Kyiv can decide instead of the Hungarian people."

The poll is non-binding and part of Orban's regular political playbook. Past consultations have been criticized for low turnout and manipulative questions.

For instance, a 2023 consultation on EU migration policy asked Hungarians if they supported Brussels's creation of "migrant ghettos" in Hungary.

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Less than 20% of voters participated, but 99% of those who did responded "no."

Kyiv formally applied for EU membership in 2022 and began accession talks in June 2024. EU leaders have outlined 2030 as a tentative target for Ukraine's potential entry.

As a member state, Hungary holds veto power over each phase of the process.

Orban, widely regarded as the EU's most pro-Russian leader, has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine and warned that Ukraine's EU membership would "destroy" Hungary.

Read also: As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putins next move

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Every spring, a new litter of ground squirrels make its way to the surface of Palisades Park, eventually becoming accustomed to people and their delicious handouts.

But the city of Santa Monica is reminding the public not to feed them. There are even red and white signs that tell people feeding the local wildlife creates an imbalance in native ecology as they become dependent on humans.

There are, of course, a host of other problems associated with feeding the small rodents. They carry parasites and diseases such as the bubonic plague, rabies and lyme disease that can be transmitted to people while feeding them. Their droppings also carry a health risk.

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Then there's what they can do to the land. Though the California ground squirrel is native to the area, its burrowing can contribute to coastal erosion, especially along the bluffs above Pacific Coast Highway.

The 26-acre seaside park sits at the top of the bluffs and is heavily used by locals and visitors, many who stop to admire the four-legged rodents and feed them.

We start to see more ground squirrels in Palisades Park every spring, said Tati Simonian, spokesperson for the city of Santa Monica. Just like the guidance in many parks and as it says on the signage in the park, we ask visitors to not feed the squirrels.

Ground squirrels at this park have long been a problem for the city, which has been cited by the county for overpopulation and has tried a number of suppression methods, including poison, gassing and euthanasia, angering animal-rights groups.

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In 2007, the city planned to control the population of ground squirrels by giving them birth control shots.

Despite these efforts, the ground squirrel population continues to grow in this progressive town.

But Santa Monica is not the only community dealing with these creatures.

In 2019, a lack of predators allowed the ground squirrel population to grow at Tres Hermanos Ranch in Chino Hills. In San Pedro, at Point Fermin Park, residents and visitors have been excessively feeding the ground squirrels that its population there has increased in recent years.

In San Diego last year, residents reported seeing more than the usual number of ground squirrels including at Liberty Station.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
St. Anthony Park breakfast/lunch cafe Hey Bear is shutting down this week, after less than a year in business. The last day is May 14.

The closure appears to stem from a long-running dispute between the cafe and its landlord, building owner Raymond & Territorial, LLC, over rent.

While remodeling the space before opening last fall, Hey Bear owners were informed by the city that the buildings basement prep kitchen, which had allegedly been built out by previous tenant Foxy Falafel and which Hey Bear intended to keep using, was not compliant with city codes and could no longer be used for food preparation, according to a civil complaint filed by Raymond & Territorial in April in Ramsey County Court.

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In response, Hey Bear owner Shawn Person requested that rent be cut in half due to the 50 percent reduction in usable space, according to emails attached to the court filing. The landlord declined, saying the cafe had leased the building as-is and without having negotiated any distinction between rentable space and usable space, a distinction Person disputes, per the filing.

Raymond & Territorial claims the cafe has not paid any rent at all since October 2024, and the company filed an eviction summons against Hey Bear in late April 2025. Hey Bear agreed to leave the space by the end of May rather than go to trial, Tim Jordan, a co-owner of Raymond & Territorial, said Tuesday afternoon.

In a closure announcement on social media, Hey Bear frames the situation as out of its hands.

Our landlords are being unreasonable and kicking us out by the end of the month. We were as amicable as possible and this is where we landed, kitchen manager Oskar Johnson wrote on the restaurants Instagram page.

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We didnt expect to be on the Saint Paul Restaurant Chopping Block and we (ought) not to be, Johnson wrote. Id like to think we were a candle that burned brightlyand had plenty of time left to go.

Hey Bear opened in fall 2024 in the spot formerly occupied by Foxy Falafel, which closed in summer 2023 after more than a decade. The cafe quickly became well known in the neighborhood for hearty, affordable and very delicious breakfast burritos, Reubens and other sandwiches with house-made ingredients like corned beef and chorizo.

Jordan, the buildings owner, said he is already working with a prospective new tenant in the food industry but declined to specify who might take over the space.

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ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)  Speaking to Parish President Jesse Bellard, when it comes to preparing for flooding in heavy rainfall, its so much more than just clearing out drainage ways a few hours before. Its a year-long process that has a ton of planning and budgeting involved.

In a years time, with a combination of federal money, state money and local parish money, well spend almost $2 million a year on drainage, said Bellard.

Bellard says the nearly $2 million spent on drainage each year consists of clearing roadside areas, canals and bayous across the parish; efforts that wouldnt be possible without help from state and federal funding.

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We just finished cleaning the bayou over by Lawtell. Were in the process of cleaning up the bayou by Washington, said Bellard. Just those two bayous, thats two years of dealing with the Corps of Engineers and all the red tape when it comes to doing a bayou. You know, a ditch is easy. A bayou. You got to jump through all kind of hoops to make it happen.

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While some low-lying areas of the parish still experience flooding rather often, Bellard says an evolving strategy will show progress as drainage efforts continue.

Were doing everything we can year-round, and it is a lot better than what it used to be, but its going to take a lot more to get it where it needs to be, said Bellard. Its going to be a more of a regional approach than just a parish approach. So, were working with them. Were working with Acadia Parish and Lafayette Parish, all the rest of the parishes for the south. And but it takes money to do everything that we need to do, and they need it just as much as us.

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And while drainage improvements in areas like Cankton were highlighted on KLFY last week during the rainfall, St. Landry Parish is a pretty big parish, so Bellard says work is still being put in to make sure all areas are taken care of, even when the sun is shining.

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May 13St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES to host public presentations for superintendent finalists

CANTON  St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES will hold public presentations for the three finalists vying for the district superintendent position on Monday, May 19. The presentations will take place in Conference Room C at SLL BOCES, at 40 West Main St. in Canton.

The public sessions follow interviews conducted on May 13 and 14 with various stakeholders, including the SLL BOCES board, component superintendents, bargaining unit representatives, and senior leadership.

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Community members, SLL BOCES staff, staff from component school districts, and representatives from component Boards of Education are encouraged to attend the presentations to learn more about each candidate's background and leadership experience.

The presentation schedule is:

5 p.m.  Darrin Saiff, Deputy Superintendent, SLL BOCES

5:30 p.m.  James Nee, Superintendent, Colton-Pierrepont CSD

6 p.m.  Jesse Coburn, Superintendent, Heuvelton CSD

The superintendent search is being facilitated by Dale Breault, district superintendent of Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES. A final appointment is expected later this spring, with the new superintendent anticipated to begin their role by Aug. 1.
ST. LOUIS  The last living American hostage held by Hamas terrorists is now home.

Edan Alexander was reunited with his family Monday after being held captive for 584 days by Hamas. Alexander is a dual citizen and an Israeli American soldier from New Jersey. He was captured by Hamas while serving in the IDF during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The St. Louis Jewish Federation said while this is a day of celebration, it is also a day of sorrow.

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St. Louis, although thousands of miles away, carries a heavy burden. Every Jew in the world carries a heavy burden, Danny Cohn, president of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said. But the St. Louis-Israeli community has not, not been touched. They are actively engaged. Their children are out there fighting wars, and it is a difficult time for all of us.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  An annual food drive collected thousands of pounds of food for the Food Bank of Siouxland.

The 33rd Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected 16,652 pounds of non-perishable food items over the weekend. The one-day food drive is held across the country, and the local event helps collect food for Food Bank of Siouxland.

Twenty-five volunteers helped the food bank sort and pack boxes with the donated items.

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Every bag, box, and can collected helps the Food Bank of Siouxland provide meals to households facing food insecurity throughout Siouxland. Its inspiring to see the community, and especially the Letter Carriers, come together to make a real difference and I am honored to be part of this nationwide effort to Stamp Out Hunger, stated food bank Executive Director Jacob Wanderscheid.

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The food bank thanks everyone who set out food for postal carriers to collect. If you missed the drive, the bank says highly requested items include cereal, soup, canned meat, peanut butter, and canned veggies and fruits. They accept donations Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Britain could weaken its post-Brexit animal protection laws to get a reset deal with Brussels.

The last Conservative government used Brexit freedoms to ban the live export from Britain of animals including cattle, sheep, horses and pigs, for fattening and slaughter abroad.

Animal rights campaigners now fear the ban, one of the first of its kind, could be sacrificed in UK-EU negotiations over a trade-boosting animal health agreement

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There are also concerns that a post-Brexit crackdown on puppy-smuggling gangs could be shelved in tough talks with EU bureaucrats to remove border red tape and checks.

Last week, Sir Keir Starmer suggested the UK would align with the EU on food and other standards.

But he added: We are not involved in, nor will we be involved in, a sort of race to the bottom on standards.

I think that British people are proud of the high standards that we have, and we want to maintain those standards.

It comes as Sir Keir is set to host Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, and Antonio Costa, the European Council president, for a UK-EU summit where parts of the reset deal are expected to be announced.

Setback for animal welfare

David Bowles, of the RSPCA, told The Telegraph: We have told the Government it needs to explain to the EU that our ban on live animal exports is not on the negotiating table.

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The Government has not confirmed to us that it isnt on the table. We have concerns that the ban, which only came into effect on January 1, could be negotiated away the same year.

He added: After nearly a century of campaigning for the ban, that would be a major setback for animal welfare standards in this country.

Negotiations over the reset have been complicated by separate talks over fishing rights in UK waters.

Expectations have now been downgraded for the UK-EU summit, which will launch a defence pact, alongside promises to continue negotiating closer relations in other areas, including the veterinary deal.

The live export ban was impossible when the UK was a member of the EU because of the blocs Single Market rules.

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Even now, it only applies to Britain because Northern Ireland continues to follow many of those rules under the Brexit deal.

Mr Bowles said the RSPCA also wanted assurances over tougher laws to stop puppy-smuggling, a cruel and lucrative trade prosecuted by Eastern European gangs.

The Government is supporting a bill outlawing the import of puppies and kittens under six months old.

That is easier after the UK took back control of its borders at Brexit and left the EUs pet passport scheme at the end of 2020.

British negotiators could try to secure exemptions for the animal welfare laws during talks over the deal.

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But Brussels could still demand full alignment to ward off EU member states concerns that Britain is cherry-picking access to the Single Market.

Joel Reland, a research fellow at the UK in a Changing Europe, said it would be up to the EU to decide whether to allow the bans to stay.

It depends on how difficult the EU wants to be, he said, Fundamentally, its a political choice.

He said: If they want it to be difficult, they could say, youre asking for selective access to the Single Market here, so youre gonna have to play by all the rules, and that means animal exports as well.

But the EU could decide to be charitable because the UK is no longer a member of the Single Market and the lack of British live animal exports reduced competition for European farmers.

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Brussels has previously rejected demands for a veterinary deal based on mutual recognition, which is an understanding that both jurisdictions regulate differently but achieve the same goals.

Dynamic alignment is the price you pay if you want to remove the vast majority of trade bureaucracy, added Mr Reland, whose new report Regulating after Brexit is published on Tuesday.

The Government did not confirm or deny it would weaken animal welfare protections to get the deal.

The European Commission declined to comment.

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The U.S. has announced a potential sale of more than $1.4 billion in helicopters and F-16 fighter jet parts to the United Arab Emirates, days ahead of President Trumps visit to the country.

The State Department on Monday evening said the proposed sale, which was approved and notified to Congress, includes $1.32 billion for CH-47 F Chinook helicopters and $130 million for parts and support for F-16s.

Trump is expected to travel to the UAE as the final stop on his four-day trip to the Middle East, a visit that is expected to reveal several new financial deals between the two countries.

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The UAE has already pledged to spend $1.4 trillion in U.S. investments over the next decade, expected to focus on semiconductors, manufacturing, energy and artificial intelligence.

Trump may also announce a major arms sale with the first country on his Middle East stop, Saudi Arabia.

While arms transfers and defense trade  overseen by the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the State Department  are seen as important tools of U.S. foreign policy and national security, such sales to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are seen as controversial given the two countries are involved in Yemens brutal civil war.

The State Department first reviews the deals sought by other countries to make sure they line up with Washingtons goals and, if approved, notifies Congress of the sale. Lawmakers then have the option to reject a potential agreement, but if not, the U.S. government moves on to negotiations.

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Democratic lawmakers Sen. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Rep. Sara Jacobs (Calif.) in January opposed a $1.2 billion arms sales to the UAE over its providing of weapons to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, a group the U.S. has charged with war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Ahead of the latest UAE sale announcement, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday said he would block any arms sale to a nation that is doing direct personal business with Trump, pointing to the Abu Dhabi-backed investment firm that is putting $2 billion into Trumps crypto venture and Qatars gifting of a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet.

We should have a full Senate debate and vote, Murphy wrote on X. UAEs investment in Trump crypto and Qatars gifting of a plane is nuclear grade graft. An unacceptable corruption of our foreign policy.

Congress in the past has attempted to block Trump from pushing through arms sales to Gulf nations, most notably in 2019, when they placed holds on deals for Saudi Arabia and the UAE over concerns about civilian casualties in the Yemen war, where the Saudi coalition has been blamed for the majority of civilian deaths.

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But Trump invoked a provision of the law that allows sales to go through immediately without a review period in cases deemed an emergency, attempting to circumvent Congress and push through 22 separate deals with the Saudis, Emiratis and Jordanians, with a total value of $8.1 billion.

Democrats who oppose any Gulf nation sales this time around will have a significantly harder time blocking them, given they only hold the minority in both the House and Senate.

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May 13Deputy fire chief cites 'significant life safety issues'

Econo Lodge in Albert Lea is closed immediately as of Tuesday due to significant life safety issues found in a recent inspection, according to Albert Lea Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske.

Laskowske said the fire department completed its three-year inspection on May 5 in contract with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office. After contacting the Fire Marshal's Office about the results of the inspection, the entities moved forward to close the hotel.

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He said he could not expand on further specifics other than to note the hotel needed a whole new fire alarm system, among other things. The issues were not structural in nature.

Tenants in the Econo Lodge portion of the hotel are required to move in a timely fashion to the attached Quality Inn portion that is still allowed to be operable or another hotel owned by the same company in the community. The hotel is owned by Twin Cities Hospitality.

Laskowske said he did not know how many people would have to move but said there were only some employees who were living there. The department is working with each individual because some have lived there for a while. Someone from the hotel staff will have to be on hand as the tenants move to stand by on fire watch.

Laskowske said a company has been contracted to install the fire alarm system. The hotel, at 2306 E. Main St., will not be reopened until the issues are resolved.

The Tribune has a call out to Econo Lodge. Check back for more information as it becomes available.
So heres your daily reminder that, just because Democrats control everything on Beacon Hill, it doesnt mean that theyre always going to get along.

State Sen. Jacob Oliveira, D-Hampden/Hampshire/Worcester, was reminded of that first-hand on Monday when he attempted to testify remotely before the Legislatures Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

The Ludlow lawmaker has several bills before the committee. And on Monday, he was back in his district meeting with childcare providers, according to Senate President Karen Spilkas office.

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When it was his turn to speak, the panels House chairperson, Rep. Tacky Chan, D-2nd Norfolk, cut him off, citing House rules requiring committee members to participate in hearings in person, Politico reported Tuesday.

Pursuant to the House rules, the chair is not recognizing committee members who are not here physically in person, Chan, of Quincy, said, according to State House News Service. As a result ... the chair does not recognize Senator Oliveira.

A bit of context: The two chambers are still sparring over joint operating rules that govern the flow of legislation between both sides of the State House.

While the House and Senate each have agreed to their own internal rules, theyve yet to reach an accord on this key bit of interchamber wheel-greasing.

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Negotiators are set to meet again on Thursday, State House News Service reported.

Sen. Pavel Payano, D-1st Essex, the committees Senate chairperson, protested, accusing his House colleagues of violating the sacred principle that no voice in democracy could be silenced, the wire service reported.

Sidelining Oliveira was the same thing as sidelining his constituents in Belchertown, Palmer, Wilbraham, Longmeadow, South Hadley, Warren, Hampden, Springfield, Granby, East Longmeadow and Ludlow, Payano continued.

I think that that is a travesty, Payano said, according to State House News Service. Youre telling the entire community your concerns are not welcome here. This is just not a matter of procedural fairness. To me, I find it discriminatory. You know, the folks out in western Mass., its not the same as people that are closer to Boston.

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Payano then read the testimony that Oliveira had prepared to deliver.

Chan, who said he understood there are complications for some folks, reiterated the House stance that legislators should testify in person.

The committee pile-up netted a stern rebuke from Spilka, who called the Houses power play deeply troubling.

The joint rules the House and Senate mutually agreed to in January do not prohibit remote participation, and the notion that one branchs rules can bind the operations of joint committees is without merit, Spilka said.

The Ashland Democrat said she could personally attest to [Sen.] Oliveiras hard work and dedication to his district, his constituents, and the Senate. I thank him for ably serving all three this morning.

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That wasnt the end of the days drama.

On Monday, the House announced that it had reached an agreement on a short-term funding bill to keep the doors open at the agency that provides health insurance for state employees.

The Senate gaveled out for the day without taking up the rather urgent legislation, saying it would do so on Thursday.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  The states land board rejected the U.S. Armys extension of its lease of the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, leaving the future of the militarys training in Hawaii unclear.

State Senator Glenn Wakai says that if the military is not able to use the lands for training such as live fire exercises.

Federal, local law enforcement aim to crack down on ghost guns

America needs to be ready, and the frontline for America is Hawaii, Wakai said. Americas military readiness is going to be hampered because theyre not able to do live fire exercises anywhere in the state of Hawaii.

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Wakai warns that the consequences of the military not having access to Pohakuloa Training Area, Kahuku, Makua and Poamoho for training wont just be a national security issue, but an economic one as well.

In light of [the military] being the third largest economic driver, after tourism and real estate, the military is a significant player here, the senator said. We need to do whatever we can to accommodate their needs, but not, of course, jeopardizing our environmental factors as well.

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The Board of Land and Natural Resources rejection of the militarys lease extension was not out of left field, with the military having a spotty history in Hawaiis aina.

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I think what the problem with the military has been is that they havent always been the perfect environmental stewards of our lands, Wakai said. They have not cleaned up Kahoolawe. They had a disastrous catastrophe with red hill.

The military used the island of Kahoolawe for bomb testing in the 1940s, with decades of military activity taking place on the sacred island. Military bombing of the island stopped in the 1990s.

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The island still has ordnances, with efforts to clean up the land ongoing.

In addition to the military activity on Kahoolawe, the military only paid $1 annually on the 65-year lease agreement, leaving a poor taste in everyones mouth.

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The military only paid us $1 a year. That needs to change, Wakai said. They need to pay fair market value for whatever lease agreement is reestablished. They got away with it for, almost free, for 65 years.

The BLNR Chair Dawn Chang says the Army can appeal the boards decision or file a lawsuit. The board will consider a lease extension for Kahuku, Makua and Poamoho in June, Chang said.

The Armys land leases on Pohakuloa Training Area, Kahuku, Makua and Poamoho are currently set to expire in 2029.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Tuesday was the day the business community brings its concerns to legislators in Hartford. The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) hosted Connecticut Business Day 2025 at Hartfords Bushnell Theater.

Business owners and business groups spoke about their agenda for this budget season.

Advocates push for increased support at Women-Owned Business Day at State Capitol

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Trying to look at every piece of legislation and asking these legislators, Does it make Connecticut more affordable? Does it make it easier for businesses to create more jobs? To grow here in the state, and be able to have a stronger economy? CBIA Vice President of Public Policy Chris Davis said.

Carmen Romeo runs Fascias Chocolates in Waterbury. He would like the states help in providing employee health care.

Theres 36 other states that allow associations, groups of companies, to get together through a chamber and allow small companies to band together and offer health care to their employees, Romeo said.

There is also a push among businesses that Connecticut schools teach students the skills they need to enter the workforce.

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Tariffs may have pushed up inflation a bit in April, government report to show

With 82,000 job openings here in Connecticut, its important for those policymakers to hear directly from the job creators about the programs that they need, the industries that need that additional help, Davis said.

While this event is mostly about talking to state officials, there is a topic on many business owners minds that comes down from the federal government: international tariffs.

We havent heard a whole lot about it, Katie DAgostino, the president & CEO of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce, said of her members. Really trepidation in the beginning, and now just trying to figure it out.

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For Romeo, who imports the cocoa beans, it is a big deal. Those beans already cost four times what they did three years ago. That is a big obstacle to success.

Were going to hit another one and that is tariff related, Romeo said. The price of cocoa beans has skyrocketed over the last couple of years. Thats just our little industry.

But the tariffs could hit just about everybody, which is why business leaders want state policies that help them as much as possible.

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The Maryland Department of Health oversees the state's 1.55 million Medicaid recipients. (Photo by Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters)

State officials and health care advocates worry that many Marylanders on Medicaid could lose coverage under a recent proposal from congressional Republicans that aims to cut billions in federal dollars by tightening program eligibility and other administrative hurdles.

While state officials are still determining the full scope of the GOP proposal unveiled Sunday night, they anticipate that a significant portion of Marylands 1.55 million Medicaid recipients could lose coverage under the current proposal.

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No matter how you slice it, were going to see the most vulnerable in our communities lose health coverage, said U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-3rd).

In an attempt to find $880 billion in federal savings over the next decade, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce released language for a budget reconciliation bill that would make hefty changes to the Medicaid eligibility process when people enroll or reenroll in the program.

Ryan Moran, the Maryland Department of Health deputy secretary who focuses on Medicaid, said the proposal gives the department a clearer idea of how the Trump administration plans to cut federal funding to Medicaid  but many questions remain on the total impact to Marylands Medicaid population.

This has been something that  has long been discussed since the election of the Trump administration, Moran said. Now that  there is text to actually react to, that is the work that we will be going through over the next couple days to understand in more detail.

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Medicaid is a health care program that is jointly funded by state and federal dollars to help lower-income households and certain other populations receive health coverage. About 25% of Marylanders receive health care through Medicaid.

There are several components to the proposal that could affect Marylands Medicaid operations, such as language to restrict federal Medicaid dollars from going to certain abortion providers or gender-affirming care for youths. The proposal also would restrict a states ability to tax health care providers to help fund the states share of Medicaid.

In addition, the proposal would cut federal funding from states that use their own money to help provide health care coverage for undocumented residents. Moran said that the department is evaluating how that language could affect some of Marylands Medicaid programs that undocumented individuals could benefit from.

As for Medicaid recipients, the budget reconciliation proposal calls for work requirements for people to stay enrolled in the program. The proposal exempts students, family caregivers, people with disabilities and some other cases.

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The budget reconciliation proposal also requires that recipients prove eligibility for Medicaid every six months, as opposed to the current annual redetermination process.

These two factors combined, plus other tightened eligibility requirements, would likely mean that many Marylanders would have to jump through hoops to get health care coverage through Medicaid, and some will likely fall through the cracks.

Ultimately, what ends up happening is that individuals dont go through the red tape to actually enroll in coverage, Moran said. So, it really does lead to a loss of coverage for individuals  who would otherwise be eligible.

Its making it harder for people to enroll. Fewer people do enroll, and that has dramatic, significant impacts on the health care ecosystem, he said. But it does, in the end, provide the federal savings that you were looking for  by having fewer enrollments into the program.

The proposed budget would also require significant state resources to conduct the increased eligibility checks for the 1.55 million Marylanders on Medicaid, which will likely put a burden on Marylands system, said Gene Ransom, CEO for MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society.

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Sen. Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, added that there could be additional downstream effects  such as additional strain on the states already extended emergency room wait times, which are some of the highest in the nation. With more uninsured people, she said, there will be more Marylanders receiving health care in emergency rooms.

Emergency rooms will be more crowded than they already are, Beidle said.

While the state works through the details of Sundays proposals, Moran noted that it is still early in the legislative process and there could be changes down the line  for better or worse for the state.

This is the first take Moran said. This is the start of a process that we will be watching over the course of the next few months. Just because things are included as proposals today, that doesnt mean there couldnt be other changes or amendments.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Governor Kay Ivey signed a new bill Friday that was well-timed for Mothers Day weekend.

The measure ends state sales taxes on several items purchased by expectant and new mothers, and it ends the states tax on feminine hygiene products.

Cybersecurity event affecting some state systems in Alabama

The 4% state sales tax cut will go into effect Sept. 1. Thats the same day Alabama will cut the state sales tax on groceries by another cent, down to 2%. The measure does not address city and county sales taxes. Those cuts would have to take place on the local level.

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Products that will be exempt from state sales tax starting Sept. 1 include baby bottles, formula, breast pumps and related products. Also, diapers, baby wipes and maternity clothing will be exempt from state sales taxes.

The tax cut will also apply to menstrual hygiene products.

Ivey issued the following statement after signing the bill that was sponsored by Alabama Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham.

Alabama is proudly the most pro-life state in America, and we remain committed to doing all we can to support our moms. As we head into Mothers Day weekend, I am excited to sign HB152 for all of our Alabama moms, Ivey said.

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Along with the grocery tax cut and the measure Ivey signed Friday, this year the Alabama Legislature also approved a family leave measure for teachers and updated the states Medicaid law to ensure low-income pregnant women can see a doctor in the first trimester of their pregnancy.

Rep. Dale Strong provides Washington Update at Athens State University

Robyn Hyden is the executive director of Alabama Arise, a non-partisan coalition that advocates for low-income and working families in Alabama. Hyden said this year the legislature took a number of positive steps on behalf of women and low-income families.



Personally, I think this demonstrates when one party is in power and is governing, they do have to bring home real support for their voters, she said. You can only do so much, you know, that gives away to your big donors or corporate interests, before voters start to ask, how is this any different? How is my life better? I think whoever is governing in our state or in D.C., theyre going to have to make the case that they have meaningfully helped their voters.

You can read the bill Ivey signed Friday, House Bill 152, below.

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HB152-baby and feminine product taxDownload

The state legislature will meet again on Wednesday.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, some of them masked, work alongside Harrison County, Miss., sheriffs deputies to make arrests in an investigation into illegal immigration and cockfighting in early May. States are increasingly setting policy for sheriffs on how much they can cooperate with ICE at local jails. (Photo by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

Local sheriffs are on the front lines in deciding whether to participate in the Trump administrations mass deportation plans. But states increasingly are making the choice for them.

More and more, sheriffs hands are tied no matter whether they do  or dont  want to help with deportations, though they often get the blame when conservatives draw up lists of sanctuary cities.

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Naughty lists, as we call them, are not super helpful here, said Patrick Royal, a spokesperson for the National Sheriffs Association. We all know there are places like Colorado where you cant [help with deportations], and places like North Carolina where you have to.

Cooperation between sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lies at the heart of the Trump administrations immigration detention policy. The administration plans to punish noncooperative jurisdictions with funding cuts  though many legal experts agree that cooperation is voluntary unless state or local laws say otherwise.

Sheriffs, who typically run local jails, must decide what to do when faced with immigration detainers  requests from ICE to hold onto incarcerated people up to two extra days so ICE officers can show up and arrest them. ICE issues those detainers when the agency reviews fingerprints sent electronically for background checks as part of the jail booking process.

Otherwise, arrested suspects who post bond or are otherwise released by a judge might go free despite their immigration status, prompting ICE in some cases to pursue them in the community.

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In North Carolina, Sheriff Garry McFadden ran on a platform of limiting cooperation with ICE when he was elected in Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, in 2018. But today, McFadden must comply with detainers because of a state law passed last year.

In a now-retracted Facebook post, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in late April accused Mecklenburg and several other North Carolina counties of shielding criminal illegal immigrants as sanctuary jurisdictions. Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said in the post he was writing federal legislation to prosecute sanctuary jurisdictions.

You cant say were a sanctuary county and have state laws that say we have to work with ICE. You cant have both, McFadden said. He added that hed like more choice about whether to comply with detainers. A federal funding cutoff would endanger important jail programs such as rape counseling, he said.

Everybodys focused on immigration like thats the biggest fire, and nobody wants to address the other things. The losers will be the prisoners who need all these services we provide, McFadden said.

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You cant say were a sanctuary county and have state laws that say we have to work with ICE. You cant have both.

 Sheriff Garry McFadden, Mecklenburg County, N.C.

Conservative sheriffs in Democratic-controlled states also can be frustrated by state policy on detainers. Sheriff Lew Evangelidis of Worcester County, Massachusetts, said hes been criticized for releasing prisoners wanted by ICE but sometimes has no choice: A 2017 state Supreme Court ruling prohibits holding prisoners based on detainers.

If they [ICE] want this person and consider them a threat to public safety, then I want that person out of my community. I want to keep my community safe, said Evangelidis. He supported a Republican-sponsored effort in the state legislature to allow 12-hour holds for ICE if a judge determines the prisoner is a threat to public safety, but the amendment was voted down in April.

States act on detainers

Many experts agree that ICE detainers can be legally ignored if states allow sheriffs to do that.

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That detainer request is just that, a request, its not a requirement, said Cassandra Charles, a staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, which is opposing Louisianas lawsuit to reverse a court-ordered ban on cooperation between Orleans Parish and ICE.

The general counsel for the North Carolina Sheriffs Association, Eddie Caldwell, agreed that the detainers are voluntary under federal law.

The association supports a state bill now under consideration that would require not only the 48-hour detention but also a notice sent 48 hours before release to let ICE know the clock is running. The proposal has passed the House.

The notification matters, Caldwell said, because there can be criminal proceedings that take weeks or months, so ICE in many cases doesnt realize the 48-hour window has started.

Tillis office said the senators disagreement with McFadden, a Democrat, and other sheriffs is about that notification.

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Its not necessarily that [sheriffs] are breaking the law, but rather making it as difficult as possible for ICE to take prisoners into custody by refusing to do some basic things. Notification is important, said Daniel Keylin, a senior adviser to Tillis.

States including California, Colorado and Massachusetts ban compliance with the ICE detainers, on the general principle that its not enough reason to hold people in jails when theyre otherwise free to go because of bail or an end to their criminal cases. Those three states have made recent moves to defend or fine-tune their rules.

Californias attorney general also has issued guidance to local jurisdictions based on a 2017 state law limiting cooperation with immigration authorities. That law withstood a court challenge under the first Trump administration.

Colorado has a law against holding prisoners more than six hours longer than required, and a new bill sent to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis last week would specify that even those six hours cant be for the purpose of an immigration detainer.

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Iowa, Tennessee and Texas are among the states requiring cooperation with detainers.

And Florida has gone further, requiring sheriffs to actively help ICE write detainers though official agreements in which local agencies sign up to help enforce immigration laws.

Cooperation boosts arrests

Such cooperation makes a big difference, experts say  jails are the easiest place to pick up immigrants for deportation, and when local sheriffs and police help out, there are more arrests.

A larger share of ICE arrests and deportations are happening in places where local law enforcement is cooperative with ICE, said Julia Gelatt, associate director for the Migration Policy Institutes U.S. Immigration Policy Program, speaking at a recent webinar.

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A declining share of arrests and deportations are happening from places like California, where there are really strict limitations on local law enforcements cooperation with ICE, she added.

ICE is making about 600 immigration arrests daily, twice the rate as during the last year of the Biden administration, said Muzaffar Chishti, an attorney and policy expert at the Migration Policy Institute, speaking at the same event.

Reports on deportations are incomplete, Chishti said, but he estimated the current administration is on track to deport half a million people this year and is trying to get that number higher.

The Trump administration has not been able to change the laws that are on the books, because only Congress can do that, Chishti said. Its going to take congressional action for the Trump administration to achieve its aim of higher [arrest and deportation] numbers.

President Donald Trump has added more pressure, last month requesting a list from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of sanctuary cities, which he says would face funding cuts. The administration also has sued some states, including Colorado, Illinois and New York, over their policies.

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Asked for comment on the legality of funding cutoffs for sanctuary policies, Bondis office referred to a February memo in which she promised to end funding to state and local jurisdictions that unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations. The memo cites a federal law saying local officials may not prohibit, or in any way restrict communication about immigration status.

Local jurisdictions in Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington joined a February lawsuit led by the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County in California against a Trump administration executive order calling for defunding cities with sanctuary policies, calling the order illegal and authoritarian.

In April, a U.S. district court in California issued a preliminary injunction in that case preventing any funding cutoff over sanctuary policies to the cities and counties in the lawsuit. And on Friday, the federal judge, William Orrick, ruled that the injunction applies to any list of sanctuary jurisdictions the administration may target for funding cuts.

Trumps new executive order seeking the list cannot be used as an end run around Orricks injunction, the judge wrote, while he decides the legality of detainer policies and other issues.

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The litigation may not proceed with the coercive threat to end all federal funding hanging over the Cities and Counties heads like the sword of Damocles, Orrick wrote.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

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After months of debate, a plan in Congress to block states from regulating artificial intelligence was pulled from the big federal budget bill this week. The proposed 10-year moratorium would have prevented states from enforcing rules and laws on AI if the state accepted federal funding for broadband access.

The issue exposed divides among technology experts and politicians, with some Senate Republicans joining Democrats in opposing the move. The Senate eventually voted 99-1 to remove the proposal from the bill, which also includes the extension of the 2017 federal tax cuts and cuts to services like Medicaid and SNAP. Congressional Republican leaders have said they want to have the measure on President Donald Trump's desk by July 4.

AI Atlas

Tech companies and many Congressional Republicans supported the moratorium, saying it would prevent a "patchwork" of rules and regulations across states and local governments that could hinder the development of AI -- especially in the context of competition with China. Critics, including consumer advocates, said states should have a free hand to protect people from potential issues with the fast-growing technology.

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"The Senate came together tonight to say that we can't just run over good state consumer protection laws," Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, said in a statement. "States can fight robocalls, deepfakes and provide safe autonomous vehicle laws. This also allows us to work together nationally to provide a new federal framework on artificial intelligence that accelerates US leadership in AI while still protecting consumers."

Despite the moratorium being pulled from this bill, the debate over how the government can appropriately balance consumer protection and supporting technology innovation will likely continue. "There have been a lot of discussions at the state level, and I would think that it's important for us to approach this problem at multiple levels," said Anjana Susarla, a professor at Michigan State University who studies AI. "We could approach it at the national level. We can approach it at the state level, too. I think we need both."

Several states have already started regulating AI

The proposed moratorium would have barred states from enforcing any regulation, including those already on the books. The exceptions are rules and laws that make things easier for AI development and those that apply the same standards to non-AI models and systems that do similar things. These kinds of regulations are already starting to pop up. The biggest focus is not in the US, but in Europe, where the European Union has already implemented standards for AI. But states are starting to get in on the action.

Colorado passed a set of consumer protections last year, set to go into effect in 2026. California adopted more than a dozen AI-related laws last year. Other states have laws and regulations that often deal with specific issues such as deepfakes or require AI developers to publish information about their training data. At the local level, some regulations also address potential employment discrimination if AI systems are used in hiring.

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"States are all over the map when it comes to what they want to regulate in AI," said Arsen Kourinian, a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown. So far in 2025, state lawmakers have introduced at least 550 proposals around AI, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In the House committee hearing last month, Rep. Jay Obernolte, a Republican from California, signaled a desire to get ahead of more state-level regulation. "We have a limited amount of legislative runway to be able to get that problem solved before the states get too far ahead," he said.

Read more: AI Essentials: 29 Ways to Make Gen AI Work for You, According to Our Experts

While some states have laws on the books, not all of them have gone into effect or seen any enforcement. That limits the potential short-term impact of a moratorium, said Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, managing director in Washington for IAPP. "There isn't really any enforcement yet."

A moratorium would likely deter state legislators and policymakers from developing and proposing new regulations, Zweifel-Keegan said. "The federal government would become the primary and potentially sole regulator around AI systems," he said.

What a moratorium on state AI regulation means

AI developers have asked for any guardrails placed on their work to be consistent and streamlined.

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"We need, as an industry and as a country, one clear federal standard, whatever it may be," Alexandr Wang, founder and CEO of the data company Scale AI, told lawmakers during an April hearing. "But we need one, we need clarity as to one federal standard and have preemption to prevent this outcome where you have 50 different standards."

During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in May, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, that an EU-style regulatory system "would be disastrous" for the industry. Altman suggested instead that the industry develop its own standards.

Asked by Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, if industry self-regulation is enough at the moment, Altman said he thought some guardrails would be good, but, "It's easy for it to go too far. As I have learned more about how the world works, I am more afraid that it could go too far and have really bad consequences." (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, parent company of CNET, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

Not all AI companies are backing a moratorium, however. In a New York Times op-ed, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called it "far too blunt an instrument," saying the federal government should create transparency standards for AI companies instead. "Having this national transparency standard would help not only the public but also Congress understand how the technology is developing, so that lawmakers can decide whether further government action is needed."

A proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI laws is now in the hands of the US Senate, where its Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has already held hearings on artificial intelligence.

Concerns from companies, both the developers that create AI systems and the "deployers" who use them in interactions with consumers, often stem from fears that states will mandate significant work such as impact assessments or transparency notices before a product is released, Kourinian said. Consumer advocates have said more regulations are needed and hampering the ability of states could hurt the privacy and safety of users.

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A moratorium on specific state rules and laws could result in more consumer protection issues being dealt with in court or by state attorneys general, Kourinian said. Existing laws around unfair and deceptive practices that are not specific to AI would still apply. "Time will tell how judges will interpret those issues," he said.

Susarla said the pervasiveness of AI across industries means states might be able to regulate issues such as privacy and transparency more broadly, without focusing on the technology. But a moratorium on AI regulation could lead to such policies being tied up in lawsuits. "It has to be some kind of balance between 'we don't want to stop innovation,' but on the other hand, we also need to recognize that there can be real consequences," she said.

Much policy around the governance of AI systems does happen because of those so-called technology-agnostic rules and laws, Zweifel-Keegan said. "It's worth also remembering that there are a lot of existing laws and there is a potential to make new laws that don't trigger the moratorium but do apply to AI systems as long as they apply to other systems," he said.




Since news broke that President Donald Trump was being gifted a new plane by the government of Qatar, some have tried to justify it by bringing up the Statue of Liberty, which was a gift from France to celebrate the 1876 U.S. centennial.

But while Lady Libertys pedestal famously features the words Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the social media reaction to Trumps plane gift was more like, Give me a break.

Thats because theres a big difference between the two: The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the U.S. from France to celebrate a century of U.S. independence, one Congress authorized President Grover Cleveland to accept. Meanwhile, Trump will reportedly use the $400 million Qatari plane as Air Force One until the end of his presidency andthen donate it to his presidential library.

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Although Trump has claimed the plane wouldnt be a gift to him but to the Defense Department, his past behavior  like when the FBI recovered thousands of government documents during a 2022 raid at Mar-a-Lago  suggests a guy who will take what he wants despite any rules or norms in place.

The plane gift is raising serious ethical and security concerns from both sides, even as some people try to conflate it with Frances gift of a statue.

I can't wait for the press to find out about France's so-called "gift" of the Statue of Liberty, accepted in 1886 by then-President Grover Cleveland.  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) May 13, 2025

To all of the Democrats bitching about Qatar giving us a plane...



The Statue of Liberty would like to have a chat.  AmericanPapaBear (@AmericaPapaBear) May 13, 2025

You can't be mad about Qatar sending the 400million dollar jet as a gift to the U.S.



The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. Gifts from foreign countries is not a new thing.  Calvin (@RealCalvin1) May 13, 2025

However, many people, including a few current and former members of Congress, chimed in to explain the very significant difference between giving a gift to a country vs. sending one to a countrys leader.

By far the worst take Ive heard: We accepted the Statue of Liberty, so Trump can take the Qatari jet. The Statue was a gift to the nation.



This is a luxury bribe to one man while he holds power.



If you cant see the difference, youve lost the plot.  Mike Levin (@MikeLevin) May 13, 2025

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Others pointed out that the Constitution requires Congress to approve any gifts from foreign states.

Just FYI because evidently Fox or OAN or whatever is pushing the lie that America accepted the Statue of Liberty and thats equivalent to the plane.



Congress VOTED to approve receiving the statue. So congress should vote on the jet  Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini)  (@AdamKinzinger) May 13, 2025

Ive been bombarded all day by Joe, should we give the Statue of Liberty back?



Yep, Qatar giving a luxury plane to Trump is exactly the same as France giving the Statue of Liberty to America.  Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 12, 2025

So the palace in the sky, $400M, Uday Hussein jet is actually a gift to Defense Department that will be used exclusively by Trump and he gets to take it home?



This would be like Grover Cleveland taking the Statue of Liberty and installing it in his yard when he left office. pic.twitter.com/sg51PBTVqN  Turnbull (@cturnbull1968) May 12, 2025

I missed the part where Grover Cleveland rode around on the Statue of Liberty & then packed it up and took it with him for personal use when he left office and struck a $5.5B real estate deal with France while in office enriching himself.



Can you direct me to this info? pic.twitter.com/E8o97ioZrH  Enough Alrighty (@enough_alrighty) May 12, 2025

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Remember the esoteric arguments about emoluments from Trump term 1? With a $400 million plane gifted from a foreign government, the subtlety is gone. And for those comparing the Statue of Liberty, let me know whose presidential library that one is in now. pic.twitter.com/DEpVfxDVcH  Jeff Roush (@JeffRoushPoetry) May 12, 2025

Who can forget the classic story of the Statue of Liberty, which was shipped to the U.S. in 1886 and served as a public monument until 1889, when ownership was transferred to exiting president Grover Cleveland https://t.co/uLWWj1kQzM  Andrew Egger (@EggerDC) May 13, 2025

Statue of Liberty staring at the Trump Administration like what the fuck pic.twitter.com/8TrmWzkRdF  FilaFresh (@filafresh) May 11, 2025

If I was France, Id be taking back the Statue of Liberty and giving the U.S. a packet of Kleenex instead.  PNW Area Man (@Notalwayswrite) May 13, 2025

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Literally speechless: ABC reports Trump will accept a luxury jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One, then transferred to his presidential library for personal use.



A foreign regime gifting a jet to a former president. Its bribery in broad daylight. pic.twitter.com/TVZfO52L9l  Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) May 11, 2025

Congress approved the Statue of Liberty. If Trump wants the Qatar plane, the Constitution says he needs Congressional to vote in favor of it. https://t.co/6sH5Rukc6I  Eric Nelson (@literaryeric) May 13, 2025

Related...
Austin is expecting a heat wave for the next several days. The National Weather Service is predicting highs above 100 degrees starting Tuesday through Friday: 103 Tuesday, 105 Wednesday, 102 Thursday and 101 Friday. The heat index  what the outside temperature actually feels like  could reach 106 on Friday.

"This is the type of heat we generally don't start seeing until July," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said at a press conference Tuesday. "It is unwelcome, but it's here."

Watson and other local officials warned that heat can be deadly even though Central Texas has experienced its "fair share" of elevated temperatures.

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"Our bodies have not acclimated to the heat yet," Wes Hopkins, chief of staff at Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, said at the news conference. "Everyone is at risk for a heat emergency."

The city of Austin and Travis County have opened up cooling centers at local libraries, recreation centers and county community centers. A list is available at austintexas.gov/alerts.

The centers, most of which are open until 8 or 9 p.m., are not just for people experiencing homelessness. Anyone who does not have adequate air conditioning or cannot afford to keep their home cool should use the centers, officials said. Pets are also welcome.

City of Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jim Redick encouraged people to sign up for the emergency alert system at warncentraltexas.org. By Tuesday afternoon, the text messaging system was geared up to send out alerts about the heat.

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Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray said his street outreach team has been sending out alerts through its text-messaging system and also has ordered 4,000 bottles of water to be distributed at local homeless encampments. Information about cooling centers is also being shared, he said.

Who is most at risk for heat illness?

While everyone is at risk because the heat wave is happening so early in the year and our bodies have not yet acclimated, Hopkins said people who are chronically ill, pregnant, older or very young are most at risk. Pets also should be kept inside, or be given access to adequate shade and water outdoors.

During past heat waves, local emergency rooms have seen an increase in patients with heat-related illnesses.

Often patients are workers who labor outdoors, such as those in construction or landscaping, or they are members of a vulnerable population that can't escape the heat, such as the unhoused. They also might be people who can't pay their utility bills and don't have air conditioning, said Dr. Nicholas Steinour, the former emergency department director for Ascension Seton hospitals.

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People who have compromised immune systems or take medications that prevent them from regulating their body temperature also are at risk, Steinour said. As the heat continues, the cumulative effects of dehydration also can lead to a trip to the emergency room, he said.

Dr. Ann Buchanan, an emergency room physician at St. David's Medical Center, said she sees more cases of kidney stones during heat waves because of increased dehydration. But she said her patients include "anybody that can't stay hydrated and stay cool."

National Weather Service in Austin shows temperature forecast for this week's early-season heat wave.

What can people do to avoid heat illness?

Stay ahead of hydration. Prevention is the best medicine, Steinour has said during past heat waves, noting that many of his patients have been dehydrated for days.

If you know you're going to be outside, start drinking water ahead of time. "If you wait until you are out there or later on that night, it's too late," said Dr. Ross Tobleman, the medical director for emergency care at Baylor Scott & White  Round Rock and Pflugerville. You will be trying to catch up with your hydration, he said.

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Take frequent water breaks. Adults need 8 ounces of water for every 20 minutes of outdoor activity with elementary school age kids needing about half of that amount, said Dr. Shyam Sivasankar, pediatric emergency medicine physician now at Texas Children's Hospital in Austin. You should be going to the bathroom often, he said, and your urine should be clear to light yellow.

Water or electrolyte drinks count as hydration; anything with caffeine and alcohol does not. Drink at least a glass of water after every soda, tea or alcoholic beverage. If you are using electrolyte drinks, be mindful of the amount of sugar in those drinks, said Dr. Gaurang Shah, an emergency department physician at St. David's Medical Center.

Buchanan also recommends alternating water and something with electrolytes if you are having trouble with hydration.

Elijah Nichols rides his skateboard on Chestnut Avenue in East Austin on his way home from his job as a mover on a hot Tuesday May 13, 2025.

Don't leave children or pets in a parked car  even with the motor running. Check the back of the vehicle every time you stop. Put your purse or bag in the back seat to ensure you check.

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Avoid being outside between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. when temperatures are highest, if at all possible. If you must be outside, schedule shade or indoor breaks. Exercise in the early morning hours or after sunset.

Keep your home cooler by closing blinds and shades and using fans. Use weather stripping to keep out the heat.

Be careful of what you wear. Wear breathable, lightweight and light-colored clothing that reflects sunlight. Don't forget a hat.

Use cooling centers. In addition to the cooling centers, seek other indoor spaces such as big box stores or indoor malls for respite.

Use pools to cool, but practice swim safety. That includes never swimming alone and designating an adult to monitor activity.

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Check on neighbors and friends. Do they have air conditioning? Plenty of water?

Men work under sunshades on the copper roof of the Capitol when the temperature was in the mid-80s Monday May 12, 2025. The multi-year Capitol roof replacement project concludes this summer and is the first roof replacement for the Capitol since 1949. Workers begin at first light and end their day before peak heat.

Heat safety: Can medications make this Texas heat worse for my body?

How are heat illnesses treated?

Often, emergency treatment starts by giving intravenous fluids, using cooling packs and trying to get patients rehydrated and cooled down, whether on the scene or in an ambulance.

Once at the hospital, doctors give patients cooled IV fluids, turn on box fans and place a wet sheet over them or mist them with water. They might place ice in the groin and armpits. It's all about lowering that body temperature.

If patients have nausea, an anti-nausea medication can help. Sometimes water or a drink with electrolytes are all that is needed, Buchanan said.

Know the signs of heat illness

Heat cramps: Sweating; muscle aches; prickly heat rash, especially in areas where clothing meets the skin; and dizziness. Move the person to a cooler area, hydrate, remove excess clothing and put cold compresses (a wet towel or shirt or an icepack) on hands, feet, armpits, neck and forehead. Call a doctor.

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Heat exhaustion: Flushed skin, sweating even more heavily, cold or clammy skin, nausea, not wanting to eat and a shallow heartbeat. Move the person to a cooler area, hydrate with water or an electrolyte drink, remove excess clothing, use cold compresses or spray them with water. Call the doctor to see if you need to go to the emergency room or a doctor's office.

Heat stroke: No sweating, fast heartbeat, fainting or feeling faint, breathing quickly, confusion or delirium, loss of consciousness and a high temperature. This is a medical emergency. If you can, quickly drive the person to the emergency room. If not, call 911. While driving or waiting for the ambulance, do all the same interventions: hydration, cooler area, less clothing and cold compresses.

Heat safety: Austin has seen record-breaking heat. Stay safe and out of the emergency room with tips

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How to stay safe, hydrated during Austin heat wave
Attorney General Pam Bondi is said to be acting as a figurehead, and the Department of Justice is being run from the West Wing, according to a report by The New York Times.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is alleged to be setting the agenda for the department from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in conjunction with President Donald Trump, the paper reports.

The Times spoke with 20 current and former officials about Bondis first months in office, and reports that Bondi sees her role as that of a surrogate, a faithful executor and high-volume messenger, compelled to cede ground to empowered players in the West Wing.

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The president has long been known for his love of hiring people as if it were a casting call, and pays special attention to their TV performances, a particular strength of the attorney general.

While she had a reputation as a hard-charging prosecutor as attorney general of Florida, since taking on the role of the nations chief legal officer, she has adopted a performative approach and demonstrated a willingness to execute White House directives, The Times reports.

This is a noticeable departure from the stance taken by previous heads of the Justice Department, who focused on the departments independence from the presidency.

The decisions are being made at the White House, and then theyre being pushed down to the Department of Justice, which is very, very atypical, Elizabeth Oyer, the departments former top pardon lawyer, told the newspaper.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi exits a press conference to announce the results of Operation Restore Justice (Getty Images)

Oyer was fired after refusing to restore gun ownership rights to the actor Mel Gibson.

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It feels like she is just performing a part, she said of Bondi. She is like an actor, in a way.

Citing current and former Trump aides, The Times states that it was clear from the start that Mr. Miller, who is not a lawyer, would exercise control inside the department.

Details are then reportedly discussed with Bondi and Trumps two former defense lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, whom the president appointed to positions at Justice after taking office, and who help run day-to-day operations at the department.

Edward Whelan, a conservative former Justice Department official, told the paper: I cant recall an attorney general who seemed willing to be subordinate to White House staffers.

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According to officials who spoke with The Times, while Bondi has been consulted on key decisions  including how to respond to a federal judges order to return immigrants deported to El Salvador with no due process  she does not appear to have played a major role in creating overall strategies, focusing on aligning her department with the Trump game plan and framing attacks on opponents.

There were reportedly tensions early on in Bondis tenure, when Miller was vocal in his opposition to the nomination of Chad Chronister, a Florida county sheriff, to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration at Bondis request.

Chronister later withdrew his name from consideration after criticism from conservative activists that he had arrested a pastor who had violated Covid-19 lockdown regulations and held a church service. The Times reports that Trump was miffed, asking advisers why she would have recommended him.

However, Bondis flattery of the president in cabinet meetings and her ubiquitous presence on Fox News show she knows how to stay in Trumps favor.

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When Bondi is on Fox  The Times notes there have been at least three dozen appearances to date  she exhibits attributes that earned her the job, alternating between cheerful chat and political attacks.

Those appearances have earned her scorn from both the left and right. Some of Trumps base criticize her for not going after the presidents list of perceived enemies.

Attorney General Pam Bondi at the Department of Justice (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Her much hyped release of files about Jeffrey Epsteins crimes and death to right-wing influencers turned into a debacle when no new information was included, and a backlash followed that has tarnished her reputation in those circles.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer is especially vocal in her disapproval and ridicule of Bondi.

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Pam Blondie is a liar, and we cant trust Pam Blondie anymore, Loomer said on a recent podcast appearance. Shes on Fox News more than she does her job.

In defense of Bondis role, Bove said that under her leadership, the department has arrested terrorists, cartel kingpins and gang leaders, helped secure the border, gotten drugs off the street at a historic rate and assisted in the removal of thousands of criminal aliens.

Her chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, said working so closely with the West Wing was essential for her to fight a liberal workforce in the department that was willing to blindly implement the agenda of the previous administration under President Joe Biden.

In one of her most recently reported actions, Bondi signed off on Trumps acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane donated by the Qatari royal family to be upgraded to serve as Air Force One.

Amid a flurry of legal and ethical and legal questions about the gift, it was noted that as a lobbyist, Bondi herself received six-figure consulting fees from Qatar prior to taking on her current role in the administration.
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  Gavin Petersons stepmother, who pleaded guilty to murder, was sentenced to 15 years to life for his murder. Gavin was 12 years old when the Weber County Sheriffs Office responded to a child found unresponsive at a home in West Haven. He would pass away, leading to an investigation into years of abuse at the hands of his family.

Nichole Lea Scott, 51, pleaded guilty to eight charges on April 17, 2025. Today, Judge Camille L. Neider of the Second District Court sentenced her for Gavins death. She was sentenced to 15 years to life for first-degree murder, 1-15 years each for three charges of aggravated child abuse, 1-15 years each for two charges of obstruction of justice, up to five years for endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult, and up to 364 days in jail for possession or use of a controlled substance. These will all run consecutively.

Father of Gavin Peterson receives maximum sentence for fatal child abuse

In the courtroom

A letter from Gavins sister, who also suffered abuse at the hands of Shane Peterson and Scott, was read in the courtroom.

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Please dont give these inhumane people a second chance at living a normal life. That is the first thing Gavin deserved, the letter read.

Letitia Toombs, an attorney for the State of Utah, recommended the maximum sentence for Scott. She said that Scott accused Gavin of being naughty and difficult to deal with, but stated that the only ones who believed he was naughty were Scott, Shane Peterson, and Tyler Peterson.

What everybody else saw was a respectful little boy, a kind little boy, a loving little boy, and a hungry little boy, Toombs stated. His only transgression reported by school staff was that he would take food because Nichole was not feeding him.

Woman accused of killing Gavin Peterson pleads guilty to murder, abuse

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Toombs read messages between Scott and Shane Peterson detailing Scotts frustration and statements of hatred toward Gavin. She additionally described Scotts abuse of other family members and lack of care toward Gavin, leading to his death.

Your honor, for all of the reasons stated  as well as the stipulated sentence  we ask the court to impose the maximum sentence possible, Toombs concluded.

Randall Marshall, defense attorney for Scott, then spoke. He stated that Gavin was in fact a difficult child to deal with and that Scott was overwhelmed and doing what she could in the moment.

Im not justifying it, Im just trying to help the court understand that at the time she was just so overwhelmed it was difficult for her to think straight, Marshall stated. He referenced some child abuse that Scott endured as a child.

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Protestors rally as father, brother of Gavin Peterson plead guilty in court

She recognizes just how awful this was, and shes truly sorry, Marshall said. Shes accepting responsibility.

Theres no sentence long enough, no punishment severe enough to reflect the depth of suffering that Gavin endured and the complete absence of humanity that was shown to him by the defendant, Brandon Merrill, the victim representative, shared after the defense concluded. We ask that you impose the maximum sentence under law.

Scott stood and addressed Judge Neider through tears. She apologized to her children and the family of Gavin. She said that she wished she could go back and change things.

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Im so sorry that I failed him. Im just sorry, Gavin, Scott said.

West Haven family appears in court for death of 12-year-old, community holds vigil

Finally, Judge Neider read her judgment. She addressed Scott directly, ensuring that she understood the gravity of the situation.

This is an absolutely horrific case. I want you to understand how seriously we have all taken it, Judge Neider stated.

During her description of the details of Gavins death and the abuse that preceded it, Judge Neider stated that she didnt believe that he was difficult to deal with. She said that it seemed he was trying to do whatever he could to earn affection and be compliant.

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I can imagine this little boy, sitting in the doctors office with you and agreeing with whatever you said about him. One, because if he crossed you, you were gonna punish him. And two, because he wanted to survive. He wanted to live, he wanted to go to school, he wanted to eat with the family, he wanted to be able to go to the barbecues, he wanted to be able to go to Lagoon, Judge Neider stated.

Multiple reports of abuse filed before West Haven boys death

The judge further states that Scott was the architect of abuse in the home, and that she could have stopped it at any point over at least five years. Instead of stopping it, she roped in Tyler Peterson and had him help punish Gavin, Judge Neider said.

Judge Neider took a moment to address Melanie Peterson, Gavins biological mother. She expressed that Melanie Peterson and other family members would be impacted by this grief and tragedy for the rest of their lives, and that went into consideration during sentencing.

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Nichole, never again should you have this kind of contact with a child. Never again should you publicly see the outside of a prison. And never again should this ever happen to another 12-year-old little boy, that hes starved to death in response to what someone perceives as behavioral issues, Judge Neider said to Scott. Why? Because this is not what we do to other human beings.

I dont know that you will get out, and frankly, I hope that you dont get out. I think that its entirely fair for you at this point to serve the rest of your life in prison, Judge Neider told Scott.

Scott stood as her sentence was read out to her, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Background information

Scott was arrested only days after Gavins death at a Weber County hospital on July 9, 2024. Gavins father, Shane Jesse Peterson, and brother, Tyler Shane Peterson, were also arrested. Tyler and Shane Peterson were charged with child abuse homicide, and Scott was charged with murder.

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Following their arrest, the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) released documents detailing an investigation into the abuse that Gavin endured for years, eventually leading to his death on July 9. DCFS concluded that Gavin suffered severe and chronic physical abuse and severe and chronic physical neglect.

TIMELINE: DCFS reveals years-long Gavin Peterson child abuse investigation before July death

On March 20, Shane Peterson pleaded guilty to five felony charges: one count of child abuse homicide, three counts of aggravated child abuse, and one count of endangerment of a child. He received the maximum sentence from Judge Neider on Tuesday, April 6.

He was sentenced to five years to life for the child abuse homicide charge, three 1  15 year sentences for aggravated child abuse, and up to five years for child endangerment. These sentences will run consecutively.

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I agree that you should be given the maximum sentence, Judge Neider stated at Shane Petersons sentencing. I am also going to encourage the board to keep you until you die.

Tyler Peterson, Gavins brother, was released for treatment due to mental health recommendations from his attorney. He pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and obstruction of justice on the same day as his father. Tyler Petersons sentencing is not set, but he will be in court on May 22 to review his treatment plan.

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 ABC4 Utah.
Russia's previously toned-down Victory Day parades sought to bring back its military splendor this year.

That was evident by the appearance of modern tanks, fighter jets, drones, and even Xi Jinping.

But it wasn't just military and political leaders in attendance. Steven Seagal showed up too.

As dozens of Russia-aligned world leaders gathered in Moscow to pay homage to its military, state media spotted one guest standing out from the crowd  the '90s Hollywood action star Steven Seagal.

Between shots of armored vehicles rumbling down the cobbled streets near the Kremlin, Seagal appeared briefly in a close-up during the state media outlet Izvestia's coverage of Russia's Victory Day.

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A separate clip of the movie martial artist moving through the crowd on Friday also circulated on social media over the weekend.

The French news agency Agence France-Presse reported from Moscow that Seagal was seen sitting near a Russian nationalist biker gang called the Night Wolves.

Seagal, a longtime friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been vocal about his support for Moscow and gained Russian citizenship in 2016. Russia's foreign ministry made Seagal a special representative in 2018 to promote Russian culture to the US, and he continued to publicly align himself with the Kremlin after it invaded Ukraine.

He wasn't the only US movie personality to attend Friday's parade. Oliver Stone, a three-time Oscar-winning director who's made a four-hour documentary about Putin, was also photographed at the event.

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Stone has also often praised Putin, calling him a "great leader" in a May 2023 interview with The Guardian. The director was photographed shaking Putin's hand during a reception for foreign leaders on Friday.

Oliver Stone was seen attending the parade sporting a Ribbon of Saint George, a symbol of the Russian military. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

Their appearance at the parade marks how Russia sought to elevate the grandeur of this year's event for the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's surrender in World War II.

The past two years' Victory Day parades had featured scaled-back processions, largely believed to be because of Russia conserving resources such as tanks and aircraft for the war. A few world leaders  mostly from eastern European and central Asian states  had appeared to watch the event.

On Friday, however, Moscow put on a full show for roughly two dozen leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, in attendance.

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Iskander and Yars ballistic missiles, Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers, and modern T-90 main battle tanks wheeled past a raft of cameras on the street, and Su-25 fighter jets roared over central Moscow with colored smoke.

Also featured in the procession for the first time were Russian attack drones, which have become the Kremlin's staple weapons in the war.

An armored vehicle carrying what appears to be Shahed drones, designed by Iran and used heavily by Russia in the war. Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

The days leading up to the parade, meant to be a demonstration of Russia's strength and confidence in its military, saw Ukraine threatening Moscow with several waves of attempted drone strikes that forced nearby airports to close temporarily.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned world leaders earlier that week that they could face risk by attending the Victory Day parade.

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"Our position is very simple for all countries travelling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation," Zelenskyy said.

During the actual parade, Russia cut off internet access in central Moscow and said it had stepped up measures to counter drone threats.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The ornate, stately Capitol at the center of Madison is one of Wisconsin's most recognizable landmarks, but the four-winged building that hosts lawmakers and visitors today isn't the original.

In fact, Wisconsin had four capitols before and after statehood, including a temporary fifth one in Burlington, Iowa. The current capitol was completed just over a century ago, in 1917.

Here's a timeline of Wisconsin's capitol buildings. Information was gathered from the 1947 Wisconsin Blue Book, interviews with historians, the state Capitol website and the Wisconsin Historical Society:

The first capitol: Oct. 25-Dec. 9, 1836

For just 46 days, legislators met in Belmont to pass the first 42 laws and decide where to place the permanent capitol. Buildings for the territorial legislature were constructed in advance by John Atchison, a land speculator.

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Lawmakers accused Henry Dodge, the territorial governor, of repaying a favor to Atchison by choosing Belmont. Dodge argued he was placing it at the center of the territory and pledged to accept whatever choice for the next capital lawmakers came up with.

While the buildings fell into disrepair long after lawmakers left  at one point, they were used as livestock barns  Wisconsin made efforts to restore them over the last century.

Few original elements remain, including a box stove. But the structures kept their historic look, including red roofs, white paint and the square battlement front on the council house.

The temporary capitol in Burlington, Iowa: 1837-1838

While the capitol was being built in Madison, lawmakers met in Burlington, Iowa, to conduct their work. At the time, the Wisconsin Territory included present-day Iowa, Minnesota and parts of Illinois and the Dakotas.

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James Doty, who lobbied lawmakers to choose Madison, pitched Burlington as a way to get Iowa delegates on board, even though they likely knew the Mississippi River would soon become Wisconsin's western boundary.

Halfway through the legislative session, in December 1837, the two-story building in Burlington burned down. In the meantime, lawmakers met in two other existing buildings.

The building in Burlington "might be classified as a Wisconsin Capitol, (but) this meeting was an interim meeting insofar as Wisconsin was concerned," according to the Blue Book.

The second capitol: 1837-1863

Construction on the capitol in Madison began in 1837 but dragged on for years, even after Wisconsin reached statehood in 1848.

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When the building wasn't ready in 1838, lawmakers met in the basement of a nearby hotel. In late November, lawmakers met in the cold, unfinished capitol. One member wrote that ink wells froze inside the building.

"It's pretty ugly. People called it Doty's wash basin, because of this copper dome it (had)," said Bethany Brander, the site manager of the First Capitol in Belmont.

Pigs were kept in the capitol basement, and when lawmakers wanted to delay votes on bills, they would rile up the squealing swine to drown out the speaker's voice.

"It sounds like absolute chaos," Brander said.

The third capitol: 1857-1904

Soon after the second capitol was completed, the growing state needed more space. Construction on a new building began in 1857, though lawmakers initially planned to expand the existing building.

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The east and west wings were built first. The second capitol wasn't wrecked completely until 1863, when the north and south wings were added.

The building was a "structure of architectural beauty and an imposing capitol for a pioneer state," according to the Blue Book.

By 1903, the state again started to outgrow the capitol, and a commission formed to consider next steps.

A year later, a fire destroyed much of the building's interior and many state records, despite the third capitol's state-of-the-art firefighting system. No one died in the fire, but the loss was near $1 million.

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Two months before the 1904 fire, lawmakers allowed private insurance for the capitol to lapse. Today, the building is insured for $200 million.

The Wisconsin State Capitol seen from the intersection of East Wisconsin Avenue and East Mifflin Street on April 17, 2025, in Madison.

More: There are 7,000 flowers and plants at the state Capitol each year. This is how they get there.

More: An annual ornament helps fund projects at the state Capitol. Here's how it got started.

The fourth and current capitol: 1906-present

Work on the current capitol began in 1906, and the building was completed in 1917. Two workers lost their lives during construction, which cost around $7 million. The price per person, based on Wisconsin's population at the time, was only $3.

Wisconsin's capitol dome is the largest dome by volume in the country and the only one built with granite. The state Capitol is only three feet and half an inch shorter than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

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From 1988 to 2002, the capitol underwent a $145 million renovation and restoration project. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001 and is considered one of the country's most beautiful state capitols.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The stories behind Wisconsin's four capitols  and a fifth in Iowa
ABBEVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A tornado warning was in effect for central Abbeville County, after a severe thunderstorm was located in the area.

As of 7:53 p.m., weather officials said the storm has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.

NWS officials the thunderstorm was found around 10 miles northwest of Abbeville. Locations that could see impacts include Antreville, Lake Secession and Lake Russell.

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7NEWS Chief Meterologist Malachi Rodgers said winds are as high as 32 miles per hour in the area, as well as a potential for hail.

People were advised to take cover in a basement or a room on the lowest floor in a building.

Though the tornado warning has expired, the National Weather Service (NWS) said flash flood warnings remain in effect southwestern Abbeville County for southeastern Elbert County in Georgia until 2:15 a.m.

The Abbeville County Department of Public Safety advised residents to not cross flooded roads.

Elbert County Emergency Services said that the ground in the area is fully saturated after the rainfall over the past few days.

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Even when its not actively raining, we urge everyone to exercise caution while traveling, Elbert County officials said. Please allow time for the water to recede, and avoid any areas where water is covering the roadway.

Photo shows impacts of extreme rainfall in Elbert County, Ga. (Photo: Elbert county Emergency Services) Photo shows impacts of extreme rainfall in Elbert County, Ga. (Photo: Elbert county Emergency Services) Photo shows impacts of extreme rainfall in Elbert County, Ga. (Photo: Elbert county Emergency Services) Photo shows impacts of extreme rainfall in Elbert County, Ga. (Photo: Elbert county Emergency Services) Photo shows impacts of extreme rainfall in Elbert County, Ga. (Photo: Elbert county Emergency Services)

You can watch the forecast in the video player above.

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.
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL)  The International Storytelling Center will not receive a $30,000 grant that it had previously been approved for, according to the organizations president.

The Storytelling Center received notice by email on May 2 that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a federal agency that President Trump wants to defund, had withdrawn the grant, even though it was approved last year.

Country Thunder will not return to Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025

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Others also received that email as the NEA withdrew grants to arts organizations across the country.

Storytelling Center President Michael Carson said the $30,000 from the NEA was going to help fund the 22nd annual Storytelling Live series, which begins May 20.

Despite the loss of funding, Carson said there is sufficient funding for this years Storytelling Live and the show will go on.

We did lose the National Endowment for the Arts grant, but that storytelling will continue and we will persevere. And other arts organizations will persevere, Carson said. And were continuing with our Storytelling Live series and our National Storytelling Festival, which is October 3rd through the 5th in Jonesborough.

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Carson said the email the Storytelling Center and other art organizations received said grant funding was being cut due to shifting priorities with NEAs grantmaking.

Which they mentioned cultural heritage, they mentioned the 250th anniversary of U.S independence. And we actually have a cultural storytelling program which celebrates using story to enhance and tell the story of American history and American independence. So we feel that were still a good fit.

The Storytelling Live series draws around 16,000 people to Jonesborough each year and contributes $8 million to the regions economy, according to the Storytelling Center.

I think thats one of the presidents priorities, is that arts organizations provide not just social and artistic value, but also economic value, and were definitely providing economic value, Carson said.

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For those concerned about the loss of grant funding, Carson encourages them to reach out to lawmakers in Washington.

To write people in Congress and let them know that as individuals and as supporters of the arts that they arent happy with the budget cuts and feel that theyre arbitrary and not fair to organizations that are serving the community and that are providing an economic impact for Jonesborough and the Tri-Cities.

This highly toxic plant is spreading in Tennessee: Heres how to get rid of it

The Storytelling Center has established a webpage where people can donate or look up lawmakers to contact.

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More information about the upcoming Storytelling Live series can be found on the organizations 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker, a longtime critic of Donald Trump, said Monday he was questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after returning to the country over the weekend.

Piker explained on Twitch, where he streams as HasanAbi, that he was pulled aside at Chicago OHare International Airport after a flight from Paris, even though he is enrolled in Global Entry. The influencer said he was questioned for two hours about his job, political affiliation, and if he had a connection with terrorist groups.

They take me to this backroom. This backroom is not great. Its destined in the most hostile way. The vibes are fucked back there, he said. Its very obvious they knew who the fuck I was.

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Piker said he was asked, Do you talk about Trump? to which Piker says he responded, Why are you asking me this? before saying he told the agent, I dont like Trump. What are you gonna do? Its protected by the First Amendment  He said he was gonna end the wars, he hasnt ended the wars. What the fuck is up with that.

Piker said the agent he spoke to was very sympathetic to Piker when he was asked questions about Israels war in Gaza, and when he was asked if he was involved with Hamas. (On X, Hasan said that the experience wasnt that bad but was a very strange experience overall.)

They straight up tried to get something out of me that I think they could use to basically detain me permanently, Piker said. [The agent] kept saying stuff like, Do you like Hamas? Do you support Hamas? Do you think Hamas is a terror group or a resistance group?

NEWS: Hasan Piker Detained, Interrogated by U.S. Customs Over Political Views



Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker (@hasanthehun) was detained for several hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago OHare on May 11 after returning from France. Agents pic.twitter.com/pS6wsCZyi9  Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) May 12, 2025

Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary, confirmed to The Washington Post that Piker was taken in for questioning, but claimed it had nothing to do with his political views.

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Our officers are following the law, not agendas, McLaughlin told the outlet. Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection  a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.

The incident with Piker comes amid concerns that the Trump administration is targeting people with anti-Trump and pro-Palestinian views. In March, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist with a green card, after he led protests at Columbia University. And several days ago, a judge ordered the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts student the Trump administration detained after she co-authored a pro-Palestine op-ed.

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This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

RUSH VALLEY, Utah (ABC4)  The Tooele County Sheriffs Office and other agencies are currently battling a fire in Rush Valley that has closed Main Street.

According to a post from the sheriffs office, dispatch was alerted to a structure fire around 3:30 p.m. The fire is near the intersection of Main Street and Pine Street.

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The Rush Valley Fire Department, Tooele County Fire Department, and Stockton City Fire Department are all on scene battling the flames. According to the sheriffs office, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

The fire is affecting residences in the area, and Main Street is closed to traffic until it is deemed safe to reopen the road.

Latest headlines:

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 ABC4 Utah.
A new study has revealed that Oropouche virus may be more prevalent in Latin America than initially believed  and it may be negatively impacting a vulnerable population.

What's happening?

Oropouche virus is a vector-borne disease, which means that a living organism is what passes it on to humans. In this case, mosquitoes and biting midges (a kind of fly) are the vectors that transmit Oropouche.

According to The Telegraph, Oropouche virus was found outside of its endemic area of Brazil for the first time in October 2023. While the World Health Organization says it was also detected in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, it has spread "rapidly" to other South American and Caribbean countries since the 2023 discovery, per the report.

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In fact, a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggests that Oropouche's stint in those regions may have started as early as 2001.

Researchers analyzed 9,400 blood samples from 2001 to 2022 from patients in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. They found that 6.3% of individuals had Oropouche antibodies, indicating they were previously infected with Oropouche virus.

Why is Oropouche virus prevention important?

While there is still a lot that researchers don't know about Oropouche virus, The Telegraph says it has been linked to stillbirths and birth defects. Pregnant people and their children are the most vulnerable to this disease.

The study also found that the El Nino phenomenon accelerates Oropouche transmission. El Nino creates warmer and wetter weather, and Earth's warming climate  driven by human activities, mostly the burning of dirty fuels  has amplified this phenomenon over time.

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This weather allows mosquitoes and biting midges to thrive and infect more people, which spells health and environmental problems.

"I think it's possible that Oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses," Dr. Jan Drexler, the head of the Virus Epidemiology Laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charite and lead author of the study, told The Telegraph.

What's being done about Oropouche virus?

Stopping the transmission of Oropouche virus can help keep global communities safe. Taking action to protect the environment can be one of the best ways to do this.

Individuals can help by reducing their heat-trapping pollution through adopting energy-efficient appliances, taking public transportation, and installing solar panels, among other things.

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There is no treatment for Oropouche virus, so the best way to protect yourself is to be preventative.

There are many ways to protect yourself from Oropouche virus and other diseases, such as Zika and West Nile, that are transmitted by mosquitoes. The WHO recommends using mesh bed nets, chemical insecticides, protective clothing, and insect repellents.

The authors of the study also recommend that health care workers in the Americas familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of Oropouche virus, per The Telegraph. These include fever, headaches, and muscle pain.

The symptoms may overlap with those of other illnesses such as dengue fever, as the WHO explains, but knowing that Oropouche is an option may help with diagnoses and treatments.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Sunset Point Rest Area was named one of the top rest stops in the country by a recent survey.

While we don't disagree that the Interstate 17 rest area and its "expansive views" are lovely, Sunset Point isn't the only scenic place for a pit stop in the Grand Canyon State.

There are 18 rest areas operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Some aren't much to look at  unless you prefer dry and dusty views  but others highlight the beautiful and varied vistas Arizona is known for.

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Here are four rest areas with beautiful, uniquely Arizona scenery for your next road trip.

4 other beautiful rest areas in Arizona

Here are four scenic rest areas in Arizona to visit on an upcoming road trip:

Salt River Canyon Rest Area : At the bottom of Salt River Canyon on US 60 in eastern Arizona, this rest stop is along the banks of its namesake river. Add in the towering canyon walls, this rest area is an awe-inspiring reminder of the powerful Arizona rivers that crafted the canyon. Plus, after navigating all the hairpin turns on the way down, you might need a few minutes to recover your nerves, especially if this is your first time driving through the canyon.

Painted Cliffs Rest Area : Off I-40 just west of the New Mexico state line, the Painted Cliffs Rest Area sits among the colorful buttes of the Painted Desert. The rock formations surrounding this rest area are tinged with pink, orange and purple from stratified mineral deposits, giving visitors their first taste of Arizona's vivid desert landscape.

Meteor Crater Rest Area : This rest area is located along I-40, one of just a few places to stop on the stretch between Winslow and Winona. Though named for Meteor Crater, this rest area doesn't offer views of the 50,000-year-old meteorite impact site. It does however give drivers a glimpse of vast, sweeping landscape and vibrant red rocks.

Hassayampa Rest Area: Though this rest area is closed for renovations through the summer, it offers a nice change of pace after exiting metro Phoenix on US 60. This rest stop between Morristown and Wickenburg is situated along the Hassayampa River among the mesquite trees.

Have a favorite scenic rest area, pit stop or overlook in the state? We want to know where your favorite spots are. Email shelby.slade@gannett.com with your recommendations.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 scenic Arizona rest areas that are worth the pit stop
Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, promoters of Gensol Engineering Ltd, have stepped down from their positions in the company following the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) damning interim order accusing them of large-scale financial misconduct. The development triggered a sharp sell-off in Gensols shares which slumped to their 52-week low on both, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

In exchange filings made late on Monday, Anmol Singh Jaggi, who served as managing director (MD) and Puneet Singh Jaggi, whole-time director (WTD), cited the SEBI order dated 15 April 2025 as the reason for their resignations. I am resigning due to the direction given under SEBI Interim Order, both brothers wrote in their respective letters, effective from the close of business hours on 12 May 2025.

The resignations come less than a month after SEBI barred the Jaggi brothers and Gensol Engineering from accessing the securities markets, accusing them of orchestrating a 'brazen' scheme to divert company funds into personal ventures and shell entities. The regulators 29-page interim order alleges the promoters used Gensol as a personal piggy bank  redirecting funds meant for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and procurement into luxury real estate, family-controlled companies, and even stock manipulation operations.

SEBI has also prohibited the Jaggi brothers from serving as directors or key managerial personnel in any listed entity. A forensic audit of Gensol and its network of related companies is currently underway.

Despite starting the day in deep red, Gensol shares staged a surprising recovery on Tuesday, hitting the upper circuit limit by market close. The sharp rebound came after the resignation of promoters, the Jaggi brothers, which appears to have offered a brief boost in investor sentiment.



On the BSE, the stock initially plummeted 4.99% to touch a 52-week low of Rs51.84, but later bounced back to end the session at Rs57.28, up 4.99%  the upper circuit for the day. A similar trend was seen on the NSE, where the share price sank 5% to Rs51.25 in early trade before recovering to close at Rs56.64, again up 4.99%.



From a high of Rs1,126 per share in 2023, Gensols stock has plummeted by nearly 90%, wiping out more than Rs3,800 crore in market capitalisation.

Earlier this month, while disposing an appeal filed by the Ahmedabad-based company seeking a stay on an interim order passed by SEBI, the securities appellate tribunal (SAT) directed the market regulator to pass a final order within four weeks in this matter.

During the hearing, senior counsel Chetan Kapadia, representing SEBI, vehemently objected to a stay on the 15th April order sought by Gensol. While arguing that the alleged forgery of the no-objection certificates (NOCs) submitted by Gensol is 'just the tip of the iceberg', he insisted that the companys transactions need to be examined in depth.

Gensol raised over Rs977 crore in loans from State-owned lenders like the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to expand its EV fleet and execute engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) contracts. SEBI's analysis showed that large portions of these loans were never used for their intended purposes.

Instead, the funds were systematically split, shuffled between internal accounts and funnelled into promoter-controlled companies. In one case, Rs96.69 crore from a PFC loan ended up with entities like Capbridge and Gensol Consultants  again, directly tied to the Jaggis.

SEBIs investigation uncovered a complex web of forged documents, circular fund flows and dummy entities, all designed to mislead investors, rating agencies and regulators. Among the private ventures named in the order is BluSmart, an EV start-up promoted by the Jaggi brothers.

The regulator has also blocked Gensols proposed stock split, warning that it could mislead retail investors amid the ongoing investigation.

With nearly 110,000 public shareholders affected and deeper scrutiny expected from regulatory bodies, the crisis at Gensol marks one of the most high-profile governance failures in recent times. Further regulatory action is likely once the forensic audit is complete.

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After receiving a federal prison sentence last year, Kansas City Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar, known for his costumed persona ChiefsAholic, was sentenced Monday to additional prison time to be served in Oklahoma, following convictions for a multi-state bank and credit union robbery spree.

Babudar was sentenced to 32 years in prison in Tulsa County, after being found guilty of one count of robbery with a firearm, one count of assault while masked or disguised, and one count of removing an electronic monitoring device.

Last September, Babudar was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison in U.S. District Court in Kansas City after pleading guilty to three charges in connection with a string of robberies or attempted robberies of nearly a dozen banks and credit unions across seven states in 2022 and 2023. They include a count of money laundering, a count of transporting stolen property across state lines, and a count of bank robbery.

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In Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Judge Michelle Keely County issued Babudars 32-year sentence to run concurrently with his federal sentence, according to a news release from Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler.

The infamous superfan will spend 17 and a half years in federal prison, and then be transferred to Oklahoma to serve his remaining 14 and a half years.

The violence that Babudar exhibited to the employees of the Tulsa Teacher Credit Union was abhorrent, Kunzweiler said in the release. He is a serial robber who traumatized these victims and numerous other victims across this country.

Babudar, famous for his Chiefs-themed wolf costume reminiscent of the teams mascot K.C. Wolf, became a high-profile figure on social media and was a regular presence at Chiefs games from 2018 through 2021, prior to his arrest on the robbery charges.

Oklahoma case against ChiefsAholic

On December 16, 2022, Babudar robbed the Tulsa Teachers Credit Union in Bixby wearing a mask and armed with a gun, according to the release. He used his firearm, later determined to be a BB gun, to demand that bank employees retrieve money from the safe.

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Babudar left once he had the money, but was quickly apprehended by Bixby police, the release says.

Less than two months after his arrest, Babudars bond was lowered. He bonded out of jail on Feb. 8, 2023, and was ordered to wear an ankle monitor. Reports show Babudar removed his ankle monitor on March 25, 2023, the release says.

Babudar did not appear for a March 27 court date and was apprehended by federal authorities in July 2023 in California.

Federal prosecutors have said Babudar stole nearly $850,000 from banks and credit unions during a 16-month stretch, and in many of the robberies, brandished what appeared to be a gun.

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As part of his plea in his federal case, Babudar admitted to robberies or attempted robberies in Clive, Iowa; Bixby, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; West Des Moines, Iowa; Nashville, Tennessee; Savage, Minnesota; Apple Valley, Minnesota; Papillion, Nebraska; Sparks, Nevada, and Eldorado Hills, California.

The Stars Robert Cronkleton and Nathan Pilling contributed reporting to this story.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN)  Illinois Governor JB Pritzkers proposal to ban student cell phone usage during class is moving swiftly through Springfield with bipartisan support.

And many educators are embracing the proposal.

A survey found that 90% of National Education Association members support the policy.

At Oak Park River Forest High School at similar policy was implemented two years ago, to tackle a growing frustration amongst teachers.

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As students enter their classroom, their phones are silenced and stored in a numbered pouch.

Meghan Cahill is a school counselor at OPRF.

The frustration was spending an additional, inordinate amount of time policing phones versus delivering what they love and passionate about which is the content of their class, she said.

Cahill was on the original committee in 2018 when they returned after Covid. The frustration only continued to build.

Bill to block cell phone usage in Illinois classrooms passes Senate

Principal Lynda Parker says the faculty banded together and with parents developed a new policy.

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Even with adults when it rings, when it buzzes, when it lights up, you feel compelled to check, she said. The students are the same way. There is an urgency to know what just came in versus staying focused on the content that is being taught.

Countless studies have concluded wireless devices have transformed the school day. A 2023 Common Sense survey of students ages 11-17 found that 97% of students use their phone at school around 43 minutes a day. The survey said they pick it up anywhere between less then one time to 229 times during the school day. The median was 13 pickups. Thirty-two percent picked it up for social media and 26% for YouTube.

State Senator Cristina Castro co-sponsored legislation that will ban the use of wireless devices in classrooms across Illinois during instructional time.

When you look at students focus, it should be on classroom and what their teacher is teaching, not their nose in a phone, she said.

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The legislation would ban all use of portable wireless devices during instructional time across the state. It does not apply to lunch time, recess, before or after school activities.

School issued devices would be excluded.

More News, Weather and Headlines at wgntv.com

Schools would determine their own cell phone policies and punishments.

The ban would be implemented at the start of the 2026 school year.

And exceptions would include IEPs, students with disabilities, emergency use and other situations determined by the school.

By setting the floor, it gives school districts some cover to implement the policy without fear of upsetting people. A lot of folks dont realize how many parents and teachers want this, Castro said.

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Castro admits the policy has received lukewarm support from students.

Its been a bi-partisan issue across the country- finding support from California to Florida, Arkansas to New York

University of Southern California psychologist Dr. Ravi Iyers work focuses on technologys impact on society.

He supports a bell to bell ban.

The full day restriction is what gives teachers the ability to no longer be the phone police, he said. So they can work on teaching and the phones are away the entire day and everyone gets a break.

But there has been some pushback, especially with a bell to bell policy. The National Parents Union recently completed a survey of 1,500 public school parents with children in kindergarten through 12th grade and found that 56% believe students should sometimes be allowed to use their phones in school- especially during lunch or recess, at sporting events or in class if approved by a teacher.

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While some schools have embraced lock boxes, that wasnt a popular option in this survey. Of parents whose children attend a school with a cell phone policy, 59% support keeping phones in backpacks, 15% in a central location, 14% in a locked cabinet in a classroom.

The main reason parents want their child to have a phone at school is in case of an emergency.

Parents really have a very visceral reaction to the idea that their kids not having access to these communication devices, National Parents Union President Keri Rodiriguez said.

Rodriguez says it comes down to trust.

(Parents think) Until you make our classrooms safe, whether its from gun violence, bullying, mental health concerns, you are not taking my kids cell phone, she said. They will find a way around these bans. They will send their kids to school with burner phones. Kids and parents dont trust the systems. And parents dont trust the system like that.

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Proponents say they understand that viewpoint but also argue phones still dont belong in classrooms.

Two years in, the biggest issues at Oak Park River Forest is students mistakenly taking the wrong phone, an error quickly corrected.

Parker calls it a much needed break for everyone.

Teacher said conversation buzz returned to the classroom. There were students asking each other questions, turning to one another, asking better questions, raising their hand to become involved, she said. And the funniest part is someone passed an old fashioned note like they used to! I thought that was a cute. It was very much an active classroom around the learning.

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Last month, the bill passed the senate in a vote of 55 to zero. It is currently moving through the house.

Just last week, it passed the house education policy committee with one nay vote.

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.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The man accused of killing a 22-year-old college student from Waxhaw, North Carolina, appeared in Columbia Municipal Court on Tuesday.

Alexander Dickey, a convicted felon, is facing a long list of serious charges connected to a violent home invasion that left South Piedmont Community College student Logan Federico dead.

RELATED: More than $33,000 raised for family of slain Waxhaw college student

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Dickey, who remains in jail without bond, stood before a judge on Tuesday, May 13, to hear the charges formally read against him:

Murder

Two counts of first-degree burglary

Two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Two counts of grand larceny (valued between $2,000 and $10,000)

One count of grand larceny (valued over $10,000)

Three counts of financial transaction card theft

Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon

Authorities said Dickey broke into two homes in Columbia, S.C., fatally shooting Federico in one of them. He is also accused of stealing credit cards, a firearm, and a vehicle. After attempting to flee, police said Dickey set a home on fire and had to be rescued before he was arrested.

The murder has devastated Federicos family and community. Known for her kind heart and dreams of becoming a teacher, Logan was visiting friends in Columbia at the time of the deadly break-in. Her father, Stephen Federico, spoke at a recent news conference.

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You cant kill my spirit, Federico said. You can kill my body, but not the love shared by my family and friends.

Logans father hugged investigators before Tuesdays hearing.

Photos: Columbia Police Dept Photos: Columbia Police Dept Photos: Columbia Police Dept Photos: Columbia Police Dept

A GoFundMe campaign set up to help with funeral expenses and support the family has already raised more than $34,000. The fundraiser remembers Logan as a proud Eagles fan who now watches from above and someone who leaves behind her brother Jacob, her loving parents, and countless people who were better for knowing her.

Dickey will remain at the Lexington County Detention Center until a General Sessions Court bond hearing regarding the Columbia investigation, authorities said on Tuesday.

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DENVER (KDVR)  An Aurora officer was injured, but not shot, after responding to a report of a suspicious person in a parking lot near Green Valley Ranch.

The Aurora Police Department said that officers were called to the 19900 block of East 56th Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. for a suspicious person in a parking lot. Police said shots were fired at the location.

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Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said in a press conference held at about 7:40 p.m. that an officer made contact and spoke to a suspect at a business called The Parking Spot. The company offers fenced, well-lit, off-site parking for the Denver International Airport, in addition to a shuttle. An employee of the business called in to report a person at the location who was trying car door handles and refusing to leave.

When officers arrived on scene, the suspect became combative. After about a minute of the officer reportedly attempting to speak with the suspect, Aurora police said the suspect charged the officer, resulting in a fight.

Chamberlain said the officer used de-escalation techniques and less-lethal methods to stop the suspect, which Chamberlain said was likely a Taser. Eventually, the officer was drug to the ground by the suspect, and some of his equipment was torn off in the process, according to the police chief.

Continued to verbalize with him, and sometime during that contact and that verbalization, an officer-involved shooting occurred, Chamberlain said. The suspect went down.

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Chamberlain said that the officer needed aid, and the suspect needed life-saving efforts. However, while at the hospital, the suspect died. The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave once he is released from the hospital.

As of 7 p.m., all eastbound lanes of 56th Avenue were closed at Himalaya for the investigation. Maxwell or 60th are alternative routes, but police requested that motorists remain respectful of the neighborhoods.

The 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team will be investigating the officer-involved shooting.

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An investigation is underway following the in-custody death of a man who was allegedly causing a disturbance inside a pharmacy in San Bernardino County late last week.

Deputies responded to an unwanted person call at the Walgreens located on 21650 State Highway 18 in Apple Valley shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department stated in a news release on Monday.

Deputies arrived and contacted Cesar Villalpando, who was in a stall inside the bathroom. Villalpando appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was detained without incident, the statement reads

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The Sheriffs Department said that medical personnel at the scene cleared Villalpando, 32, for booking, but when they arrived at the High Desert Detention Center around 5:10 p.m., he was unresponsive.

Deputies administered Narcan as jail medical staff attempted life-saving measures, but Villalpando was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital, according to the release.

Authorities are awaiting the Riverside County Coroner to determine the manner and cause of death.

Meanwhile, the investigation has been assumed by the Sheriffs Specialized Investigations Division.

Anyone with further information regarding the case was asked to contact the Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. Those who prefer to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 800-782-7463 or go to the WeTip website.

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Police have arrested four alleged ringleaders of the banned far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," including its founder Peter Fitzek.

The German men, aged between 37 and 59, were taken into custody on Tuesday morning as part of a broader crackdown on the extremist Reich Citizens movement, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said.

The spokeswoman said the suspects are to appear before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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According to the spokeswoman, two arrests were made in the German state of Saxony, one in Brandenburg and another in Rhineland-Palatinate. In addition, authorities carried out a search at the home of a suspect in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has banned the far-right group "Kingdom of Germany," a prominent faction of the Reich Citizens movement.

So-called Reich Citizens, or Reichsburger, believe that the modern German republic illegitimately replaced the German Reich that was founded in 1871 and continued under the Nazi regime until 1945. They reject the legitimacy of Germany's modern federal state and its laws.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden said on Tuesday it would propose that the European Union join a Pacific rim-based trading group with the aim of forming the world's biggest free trade area to help counter the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade accord sealed in 2018 between 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Britain joined last year and China also hopes to join.

"If the EU and the CPTPP as trade groups link together it would create the biggest free-trade area in the whole world," Sweden's Minister for Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, told Reuters by phone from Japan.

"At a time when the U.S. is closing itself off more and more and becoming inward-looking there are good opportunities for Europe to open itself up... to investment and trade," he said.

Trump's tariff blitz has upended decades of trade practice, shaken faith in traditional alliances and raised fears of a global recession.

Dousa, who is currently on a trade trip to several Asian countries, said Sweden would make its proposal on joining the CPTPP at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Thursday in Brussels.

Export-dependent Sweden is one of the strongest supporters of free trade inside the 27-nation EU, though Dousa said he expected some member states to be less keen on a CPTPP deal.

"We are ready to take up the fight with countries like France," he said. France has traditionally been more protectionist-minded, especially regarding agricultural produce.

While negotiations could take some time, Dousa said it might be possible to conduct negotiations sector-by-sector and industry-by-industry, meaning concrete agreements could be in place relatively quickly.

"This is existential for Sweden. If we want to be able to afford our healthcare, schools and social services here in Sweden... our exporters must have more markets to sell to," said Dousa.

The EU already has or is negotiating bilateral agreements with almost all CPTPP members.

(Reporting by Simon JohnsonEditing by Gareth Jones)
SWEETWATER, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A Sweetwater mother and her husband have both been arrested during an ongoing investigation into a child sex crime.

Shyrell Hennessey was charged with Injury to a Child last week in connection to the arrest of her husband David Saenz.

Saenz was arrested at the beginning of the month on charges for Promote Prostitution of Person under 18, Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, Online Solicitation of Minor Sexual Contact, and Sexual Performance of Child Produce/Direct/Promote.

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The Taylor County Sheriffs Office says the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating Saenz after receiving a Cypertip that he may be committing child sex crimes.

During the investigation, the sheriffs office states a 16-year-old victim was interviewed and claimed that Saenz was requesting lewd photos and videos and had also sexually abused her.

Saenz also confessed to the allegations, according to the Sheriffs Office.

Both Hennessey and Saenz remain held in the Nolan County Jail.

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U.S. President Donald Trump is considering easing sanctions on Syria as its leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, proposed signing a minerals agreement and building a Trump Tower in Damascus, the Times reported on May 12.

Al-Sharaa is reportedly offering a deal that would give U.S. companies access to Syria's natural wealth, reminiscent of the minerals agreement Washington recently signed with Kyiv.

The new Syrian leader, who assumed power following the ousting of Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in a rebel offensive last December, has moved to end Syria's years of isolation and crippling international sanctions.

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Al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate who remains designated as a terrorist by the U.S., is reportedly seeking a meeting with Trump during the latter's visit to Saudi Arabia this week, though no such meeting has been confirmed.

Trump suggested on May 12 that he might ease some of the Assad-era sanctions imposed on Syria, explaining he wants to give the country a "fresh start."

The U.S. and Ukraine signed the minerals agreement on April 30 after months-long, contentious negotiations. Initial plans to sign the deal in late February even collapsed following a heated White House argument between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The deal establishes a Reconstruction Investment Fund jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington and gives the U.S. special access to projects developing Ukraine's vast deposits of critical minerals, including lithium, titanium, and rare earth elements.

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Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will not attend an Arab League summit in Iraq this week and the countrys delegation will be headed by the foreign minister, the presidents office said Tuesday.

A short statement released by the office of President Ahmad al-Sharaa did not give a reason why he will not attend the summit but an invitation by the Iraqi government last month trigged sharp political divisions in Iraq. The summit is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on Saturday.

Al-Sharaa and his interim government in Syria have been scrambling to establish ties with countries across the Middle East in a bid to ease skepticism about his former ties to al-Qaida and to convince Washington to lift crippling economic sanctions on the battered country.

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Attending the Arab Summit would have been a major symbolic diplomatic victory for Damascus as well, as Al-Sharaa struggles to deal with opponents in the countries, largely from non-Sunni Muslim minority groups, as he tries to exert state authority across Syria.

Al-Sharaa took power after leading a lightning rebel offensive that unseated his predecessor, Bashar Assad, in December. Since then, he has positioned himself as a statesman aiming to unite and rebuild his country after nearly 14 years of civil war, but his past as a Sunni Islamist militant has left many  including Shiite groups in Iraq  wary.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq.

During Syrias conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside Assads forces, making al-Sharaa a particularly sensitive figure for them.
On Tuesday, 2559 stocks advanced, 1402 declined and 140 remained unchanged on Bombay Stock Exchange with advance decline ratio of 1.82 indicating a positive closing in the broader market. The trend of the major indices on Tuesdays trading is given in the table below.

On NSE, 43 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 10 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty Media, Nifty PSU Bank and Nifty Pharma were among the biggest gainers. Nifty IT, Nifty FMCG and Nifty Infrastructure were among the biggest losers.



Himadri Speciality Chemical (+1.06%) has entered into exclusive technology licensing partnership with Sicona, an Australian next-gen battery materials company.

Following the recent approval received from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Lupin (+1.21%) has launched Tolvaptan Tablets, 15 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg, 60 mg, and 90 mg in the United States (US). The company holds the exclusive first-to-file status for this product and will have 180-day generic drug exclusivity.

Larsen & Toubros (L&T) (-0.56%) Buildings & Factories (B&F) vertical has secured large orders from various state and central government undertakings in India.

Power Mech Projects (+2.11%) has secured an order worth a Rs971.98 crore (excluding GST) from Telangana Power Generation Corporation, Telangana

HFCL (+1.01%) has secured a purchase order aggregating to around Rs157 crore for the supply of various types of Optical Fiber Cables for the BharatNet Phase III Project in the West Bengal Telecom Circle, from Tera Software, a consortium partner of ITI. The order is to be executed within 3 years

KEC International (+0.34%) has secured new orders of Rs1,034 crore across various businesses. The transmission & distribution (T&D) business has secured STATCOM project from a global OEM in India; and order for supply of towers, hardware and poles in the Americas.

HCL Technologies (-3.04%) has signed the European Commission's AI Pact, reinforcing its commitment to the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies internally and with clients.

In Q4FY24-25, GAIL (India) (-2.11%) sales increased by 11.26% y-o-y to Rs36,442 crore, while operating profit decreased by 8.17% y-o-y to Rs3,535 crore and Net profit increased by 1.29% y-o-y to Rs2,506 crore.

In Q4FY24-25, Hero Motocorp (+1.97%) sales increased by 4.00% y-o-y to Rs9,970 crore, while operating profit increased by 9.26% y-o-y to Rs1,441 crore and Net profit increased by 24.00% y-o-y to Rs1,169 crore.

In Q4FY24-25, Cipla (+0.56%) sales increased by 9.19% y-o-y to Rs6,730 crore, while operating profit increased by 16.87% y-o-y to Rs1,538 crore and Net profit increased by 30.23% y-o-y to Rs1,214 crore.

In Q4FY24-25, The Anup Engineering (-8.38%) sales increased by 31.00% y-o-y to Rs205 crore, while operating profit increased by 22.99% y-o-y to Rs45.9 crore and Net profit decreased by 31.86% y-o-y to Rs29.3 crore.

In Q4FY24-25, JM Financial (+4.09%) sales decreased by 20.00% y-o-y to Rs1,004 crore, while operating profit decreased by 15.12% y-o-y to Rs578 crore and Net profit surged by 782.34% y-o-y to Rs235 crore.

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:
This story is published through the Indigenous News Alliance, which includes ICT.



Cara McKenna

IndigiNews



At the United Nations headquarters in New York City, Sierra Williams voice shook with emotion as she spoke about the toxic drug crisis in her community.



Death has been so normalized with our people  smallpox, residential schools, 60s Scoop, this has all led to trauma and tragedy in our communities, said the Tsilhqotin Nation Youth ambassador.



Self care for us is doing things to connect us to our culture, to our ways of life. The exact things that were taken away from us through colonization.



William, who is from Xeni Gwetin in B.C.s Nemiah Valley, was part of a Tsilhqotin delegation attending the UN Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues last week.



During a press conference, the group called for increased support from the federal and provincial governments to create Indigenous-led and culturally appropriate responses to the opioid crisis.



The delegation also highlighted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action from 2015 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.



The Truth and Reconciliation calls to action outline what needs to happen to improve the health and wellness of our Indigenous peoples across Canada, William said on April 24.



If the calls to action were to be realized, some of our people wouldnt have a reason to turn to drugs.

Related: ICT REPORTS: Opioid crisis devastates Indigenous communities in Canada

Jenny Philbrick, executive director of the Tsilhqotin National Government, said the nation declared a state of emergency over toxic drugs for all its six member communities more than a year ago.



But now, she told attendees, there is renewed urgency.



As we were coming over a week ago, we got news that another one of our community members had passed from an overdose, she said.



And so we are here today to bring this issue back to the table.



Tsilhqotin Nation is one of many Indigenous communities across the country facing the brunt of the opioid crisis.



In March, the Homalco First Nation on Vancouver Island declared a state of emergency, saying four young people had died over six months from toxic drugs. The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council also declared a state of emergency in all its 14 member communities in September.



In British Columbia, toxic drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for people aged between 10 and 59. According to the province, First Nations people are five times more likely to overdose than other residents and three times more likely to fatally overdose.



We know why theres a toxic drug crisis  there are so many different systemic reasons why were going through what were going through today, said Philbrick.



We know what the solutions are. We need partners to come to the table and help us bring our solutions  and move forward in a good way.



Xeni Gwetin Chief Roger William outlined a three-part plan involving the governments of Canada and B.C. but would allow Tsilhqotin Nation to deal with the issue in our own way.



We are in crisis, he said. We want to make decisions for our own people.



William said, first, Indigenous communities must be given resources for their own recovery programs on the land such as equine therapy  including cultural and language teachings.



Secondly, he said, First Nations must have the ability to safely exercise their voices in treatment spaces so its easier to seek out help, since people still face discrimination and racism in the healthcare system. Lastly, William pointed to the housing issue and said he wants to find space for all First Nations to come together to talk about solutions.



The basic needs of our people must be met to stop our people from falling into using drugs, he said.



If we can provide safe and secure housing for our people, then they have a place to come together with their families and get social support they need to overcome their addictions.



William added that some of the things are already happening and said many young people are often out on the land with Elders and the nation often holds gatherings as they try to get closer to Tsilhqotin law and ways of life.



And a lot of these programs that we look at  it always goes back to that Tsilhqotin law, the land and our water, he said. Those are really important to us.



Dakota Diablo, another Tsilhqotin Youth ambassador, said the public safety system in Canada continues to fail Indigenous Peoples because it was never built for us.



We have our own traditional laws, values and systems of holding our people accountable, he said.



How can our people seek help when structures meant to support our people cause so much harm?



IndigiNews requested comments from both the governments of B.C. and Canada but did not receive a response before publication.



Philbrick said since Tsilhqotin declared a state of emergency last year, there has been some progress on addressing the issue, but were needing more immediate resources such as beds for people who are detoxing.



We have managed to hire a project manager and obtain property for the beginning of on the land training, she said.



And we do have some solutions and some plans in place, but we  need immediate help in the meantime.



Tlesqox Chief Francis Laceese, who is also the vice-chief of Tsilhqotin National Government, said change has been a slow process. He said the nation recently met with the provincial government and is waiting to meet with the federal government after the recent election which has slowed things down.



Especially when you have a crisis  probably just not in our nation, but I think there are a lot of other nations that are in the same situation with us, he said.
A Tacoma church and community leaders recently celebrated a new affordable-housing project in the Hilltop neighborhood that has been decades in the making.

The Shiloh New Life Apartments next to the Shiloh Baptist Church, 1211 S. I St., offers 60 affordable housing units for low-income individuals and families, with a priority on offering units to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Pastor Chavis Young told The News Tribune the church purchased the land for the apartments nearly 25 years ago with a vision to create affordable housing.

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This was birthed from the heart of Pastor E.S. Brazill, who wanted to create low-income housing on that land, Young said.

Before becoming the New Life Apartments, Young said, the land was used for a variety of purposes, including transitional housing for those exiting incarceration. He said the New Life Apartments were part of a decades-old vision by the late Brazill, who dreamed of creating housing on a bigger scale.

Shiloh Baptist Church Senior Pastor Chavis Young, left, pauses with Maxine Miller, center, to look at a photo of Millers mother, Lily V. Brazill, in the lobby of Brazills namesake affordable housing complex on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Tacoma.

Brazills vision was carried on by Pastor Gregory Christopher, who retired from Shiloh Baptist Church in 2023 after serving the Hilltop community for more than 20 years.

Young said Christopher had a heart for serving the unhoused community as he experienced homelessness earlier in his life.

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While neither Christopher nor Brazill was not at the church to see their vision come to fruition, Young said it was a blessing to see the land where five houses once sat transformed into housing for dozens of families and individuals.

The complex is composed of two separate buildings, one named for Brazills wife, Lily, and the other named for James and Marilyn Walton  two community leaders who were involved with the church. James Walton was the City of Tacomas first Black city manager.

A furnished unit is prepared for a new resident at the Lily V. Brazill New Life Apartments and includes items to help set up the space, like a bedding set, plates, and other toiletries, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash.

Shane Vestnys, a property manager for the apartments, told The News Tribune as of May 7 all but one of the units had been leased.

Vestnys said one-third of the units are reserved for veterans experiencing housing instability. Veterans can be referred to the units through Veterans Affairs, and the Tacoma Housing Authority is providing housing vouchers for those individuals.

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Units are also available for individuals with disabilities.

Many of the units come furnished, and Vestnys said a representative from a service provider is on site to assist residents with the supportive services they might need.

The units are intended for individuals and families earning 3050% of the Area Median Income (AMI). According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data from 2023, Tacomas household AMI is $83,857.

The nearly $34 million project received $5,077,566 in funding from Pierce County, $6,020,000 from the Washington State Department of Commerce, $4,444,893 through the City of Tacomas Community Redevelopment Authority Board, and $14,458,765 in equity from the Washington State Housing Finance Commissions Low Income Housing Tax Credit.

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The public investments mark a region-wide push to create affordable housing stock.

To fully meet the housing needs of current and future residents, the county needs to produce, on average, over 2,300 units per year of housing affordable at or below 50% of area median income (AMI) through the year 2044, the countys Housing Action Strategy of 2022 found. Over half of these units are needed for households at 30% of AMI or below.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is depicted in this photo. (iStock via Getty Images Plus photo)

Here it is, torn from the battered and abused pages of the Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law  abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

No question about it. We Alaskans are enthusiastic fans of the First Amendment right peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Just the other day, April 19, over 3,000 people seeking redress of grievances demonstrated in downtown Anchorage carrying signs such as Hands off the Constitution and Health Care is a Human Right.

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A couple months earlier, Feb. 17, Presidents Day, hundreds demonstrated all over Alaska seeking redress of grievances. Anchorage, Juneau, Palmer, Fairbanks, and Seward had sign-wavers galore redressing grievances. Democracy is not a spectator sport, Resist, and No Kings bobbed over the heads of spectators growing hoarse from chants and shouts while unabashedly assembling and making their grievances known. The democratic process is messy, dontcha know.

And talking about kings, the right to assembly goes back that far. It has its roots in English history, evolving from the Magna Carta signed in 1215, to the English Bill of Rights, to the Founding Fathers and on to our Bill of Rights. We Alaskans have not been alone in the embrace of public demonstrations to pursue grievances. The Suffragettes, for example, who advocated the right of women to vote were not shy about public demonstrations.

As the historian Mike Wallace has written:

The twenty-third of October, 1915, was a crisp fall day, splashed with sunshine, perfect for a parade. In midafternoon tens of thousands of women clad in white dresses and yellow sashes stepped out of Washington Square. They strode up Fifth Avenue arrayed in delegations of assorted age and station  letter carriers wives from Queens, schoolgirls from Washington Irving High, ILGWU seamstresses, Henry Street settlement workers.

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Of course, later in the same century the Civil Rights Movement put even more feet on the pavement to air grievances about racism and inequality. On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous I Have a Dream speech as part of the March on Washington. The speech was delivered to an estimated 250,000 people who came to Washington, D.C., to demonstrate for civil rights.

So you get the idea. The principle of free speech, including the right to peaceful assembly, was so central to a successful democracy that it was the very first right in the Bill of Rights. We Americans have been using that right since the founding of this nation 248 years ago. But here in Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy would like to see an end to this First Amendment foolishness.

Early this year, the governor introduced House Bill 71/Senate Bill 74, An Act related to obstruction. It appears to target large demonstrations and spontaneous demonstrations without a permit. In my view, the primary purpose of this bill is to strongly discourage Alaskans from exercising their right to peaceful assembly in the first place. Here are some of the highlights, so to speak:

If the protest substantially interferes with someones access to a government building, or interferes with an emergency responder, the offense would be a class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and $50,000.

A person whose passage is obstructed could sue a protester for $10,000 if their rights were infringed, $50,000 if their property was damaged, and $100,000 if they were personally injured  in addition to attorneys fees and costs.

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Draconian. Might be worth considering if there were a substantial history of these crimes by demonstrators in Alaska. Lets take a look. The governors transmittal letter makes no mention of a history of these crimes. The bill itself makes no mention of a history of such crimes. A report submitted by the attorney general a year ago for very similar proposed legislation, House Bill 386, came up with cases in New York and Washington, D.C., where demonstrators blocked traffic, but did not report a single such case in Alaska.

And to top it all off, an internal legal analysis conducted by the Legislative Affairs Agency for HB 386 found, among many other critical findings:

The bill raises issues under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and art. I, secs. 5 and 6, of the Alaska Constitution. In particular, if challenged, there is a risk that the new crime of obstruction of free passage in public places could be found unconstitutional both facially or if applied to the protected speech of protests or demonstrations.

Finally, this is just the tip of the iceberg of Gov. Dunleavys attempts to subvert constitutional protections for Alaskans. See the ACLU analysis aptly titled, Dunleavy is the anti-First Amendment governor.

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DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  The Taliban's acting ambassador to Iran has met with his Burkina Faso counterpart in the Iranian capital Tehran as part of a broader outreach effort by the West African country to win new trade partners, according to Taliban-controlled media.

During the meeting between acting Ambassador Maulvi Fazl Mohammad Haqqani and Ambassador Mohammad Kabura, both parties pledged to cooperate on trade, mining and vocational training. The Taliban are the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.

In this meeting, the parties emphasized the expansion of cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture, mining, and the exchange of professional and vocational skills, the Afghan embassy in Tehran said in a statement.

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Both ambassadors also pledged Monday to have private sector delegations visit soon as part of the plan to develop trade between Afghanistan and Burkina Faso.

The meeting comes less than a week after the Commander General of Iranian law enforcement and security forces visited neighboring Niger and announced new areas of cooperation and training for the Niger Police and National Guard, including training at the Iranian Police University.

The meeting culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding covering several areas of cooperation between the two countries, according to a statement from Niger's Minister of the Interior, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Toumba to media outlets.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final weeks of withdrawing from the country after two decades of war.

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Burkina Faso has struggled in recent years with a ballooning militant insurgency, elements of which are aligned with the Taliban informally. The landlocked nation of 23 million people has come to symbolize the security crisis in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara in recent years. It has been shaken by violence from extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and the governments fighting them.

The three-nation bloc of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced last year that they were leaving the regional bloc known as ECOWAS. They then created their own security partnership, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, severed military ties with long-standing Western partners such as U.S. and France, and turned to Russia for military support.

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako, told The Associated Press that Burkina Faso and the Alliance of Sahel States, known by its French acronym AES, have been searching for alternative partners since their respective military juntas took power.

They wish to "rely less on western companies and focus more on their so called new partners, Laessing said.

Iran has been trying to boost cooperation with the Sahel AES countries. They also have been active in Burkina Faso sending even some aid. A shipment arrived at Ouagadougou airport.
How tall is Donald Trump?

The world already knows his youngest son, Barron Trump, towers over the president and his mother, first lady Melania Trump. But a video of Donald Trump and Elon Musk during their appearance in Saudi Arabia has got the internet buzzing.

Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, May 13, to kick off his first major international trip of his second term in office. Along with key administration officials, tech leaders like SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, his brother Kimbal Musk, Sam Altman, and Reid Hoffman have accompanied the president on his trip.

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Saudi Arabia is the president's first stop on a tour of the Middle East, which is also scheduled to include the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Though the trip has its own business and political implications for Trump, the internet seems to be captivated by his height compared to Musk's.

If the president's height fascination sounds like deja vu, it sort of is: Five months ago, a photo of Donald Trump and Prince William during their Dec. 7, 2024, appearance in Paris went viral, too.

Donald Trump and Prince William met in Notre-Dame Cathedral after attending a ceremony to mark the reopening of the landmark cathedral following the 2019 fire in Paris, France. French President Emmanuel Macron had invited Donald Trump along with former first lady Jill Biden, Prince William and other heads of state including Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the special event.

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The legendary Notre-Dame could have gone viral anyway for its Cinderella-esque comeback  the 12th-century cathedral caught fire April 15, 2019, when the world watched the beloved tourist landmark in flames. In December 2024, however, Notre-Dame wasn't the hot topic on social media.

In a now-deleted tweet on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, a photo of the British Royal and then-president-elect went viral Dec. 7, 2024. X user @revdaniel had said in his caption: "Trump says he is 6'3. Prince William is 'also' 6'3. What a liar the Prince of Wales is. (three eyeroll emojis)"

According to Palm Beach Post reporting, on Dec. 9, 2024, the tweet had been viewed 2.8 million times with almost 5,000 comments.

How tall is Barron Trump? Photos show the only son of Donald and Melania Trump towering over his parents for years

How tall is Donald Trump? How tall is Elon Musk? How tall is Prince William?

According to sites like potus.com and Biography.com, Donald Trump is listed as 6 feet 3 inches, although some reports say he's actually 6-2.

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Elon Musk is 6-foot-2-inches, according to a USA TODAY report back when Musk and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg were talking about fighting one another.

In a video posted by Donald Trump's communication team on X, Musk appears taller than the president as he greets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the Saudi Royal Court.

Prince William of Wales, the elder son of the late Princess Diana and King Charles III, is also 6-foot-3-inches tall. Biography.com also lists the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the British throne at 6-3.

In the video in this story, however, Prince William is visibly taller than Donald Trump.

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For those wondering, at 6-foot-7, Barron Trump is the tallest of the Trump siblings, and has been taller than his father since at least 2018 or 2019, when he was 12 or 13 years old. Barron Trump's mother, former model Melania Trump, is reportedly 5-foot-11-inches tall. Donald Trump's older sons Barron Trump's half-brothers  Eric Trump is reportedly 6-foot-5, and Donald Trump Jr. is 6-foot-1.

.@elonmusk greets @POTUS and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inside the Saudi Royal Court   pic.twitter.com/793zuBcocJ  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 13, 2025

Contributing: Mike Snyder, USA TODAY

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Elon Musk, Prince William pics question Donald Trump's actual height
(Reuters) - Tanzanian authorities arrested a senior opposition official as he was departing for a political conference in Belgium, his party said on Tuesday, as fears grow of an escalating crackdown ahead of an October election.

While President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who plans to seek reelection, says the government is committed to respecting human rights, a recent string of high-profile arrests has thrust her record into the spotlight.

Amani Golugwa, a senior member of Tanzania's main opposition CHADEMA party, was arrested at Julius Nyerere International Airport in the capital Dar es Salaam on Monday, his party wrote on X.

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Tanzanian police confirmed his arrest in a post on their Instagram account, writing that Golugwa "has a trend of leaving and returning to the country without following legal procedures."

"Dar es Salaam police special zone is continuing with the investigation on the matter in collaboration with other security organs," the post added.

A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Golugwa had been due to represent his party in Brussels at a forum organised by the International Democracy Union, a grouping of centre-right parties that CHADEMA belongs to and which also counts the British Conservatives and U.S. Republicans as members.

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"The IDU strongly condemns the unlawful arrest and assault of CHADEMA's (Golugwa)," the organisation posted on X. "Silencing opposition voices violates the core of democracy. We call for his immediate release."

Police arrested Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA's leader and Tanzania's main opposition figure, last month.

Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 attack and came second in the last presidential poll, was subsequently charged with treason over what prosecutors said was a speech calling upon the public to rebel and disrupt the elections.

He had held several rallies in early April under the slogan "No Reforms, No Election", where CHADEMA demanded significant changes to an electoral process they say favours the ruling party.

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Days after Lissu's arrest, the election commission disqualified CHADEMA from participating in the polls over its refusal to sign a code of conduct.

(Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Joe Bavier)
The Louisiana Senate has approved a nonrefundable income tax credit for homeowners to help cover up to $10,000 in expenses for installing a fortified roof. (Getty Images)

The Louisiana Senate advanced a bill Monday that would create an individual income tax credit for homeowners who install a fortified roof.

Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, cleared the chamber in a unanimous vote.

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The measure would give homeowners a nonrefundable income tax credit for up to $10,000 for out-of-pocket expenses used to pay for a fortified roof.

Fortified roofs are built with improved techniques and materials designed to prevent leaks and withstand hurricane-force winds, lowering the risk of storm damage and typically lowering homeowner insurance rates. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) set standards for the products and materials used,

The Louisiana Department of Insurance began its Fortify Homes Program about two years ago, offering grants of up to $10,000 to homeowners who want to upgrade their roofs and can cover any costs in excess of that amount.

A homeowner who receives a fortified roof grant from the insurance department would also be able to claim the tax credit but only for amounts the grant does not cover. The median cost of a fortified roof in Louisiana is about $16,229.

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Combined, the grant and the tax credit could allow more Louisiana homeowners to invest in fortified roofs, which could reduce the cost of property insurance. Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack reviewed the Fortify Homes Program recently and found that roofs built through the grant program directly reduced homeowners insurance costs at a median rate of 22%.

The states Fortify Homes program is in its third year of existence and has awarded more than 1,800 grants since its first round of funding in October 2023. Many more homeowners have opted to upgrade their roofs without grant money. As of Feb. 1, the IBHS had issued 5,413 fortified certificates to property owners in Louisiana, according to the auditors report.

Talbots proposal limits the total amount of credits the state may issue in a single fiscal year to $10 million, and they are to be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

The bill next heads to the House for consideration.

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TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  The Travis County Sheriffs Office is investigating after a woman in her 50s was stabbed to death Monday afternoon.

TCSO said it received multiple calls reporting that someone had been murdered on Monday, shortly after 4 p.m., at a home in the 14500 block of Oliphant Street. Thats in the Austins Colony neighborhood in eastern Travis County.

When deputies arrived, they found a woman in her 50s with stab wounds. Life-saving measures were performed, but the woman was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.

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According to a release from the sheriffs office, deputies were told that the suspect was the victims ex son-in-law, Ananias Jimenez-Arroyo, 34. KXAN is working to find attorney information for Jimenez-Arroyo to request a comment on the incident. This story will be updated.

TCSO said a family member of the victim had called 911 and reported that he entered the residence as the homicide was occurring. The family member and Jimenez-Arroyo then got into a fight, and Jimenez-Arroyo fled the scene.

Shortly after that, Jimenez-Arroyos brother-in-law called 911 to report the crime and provided the suspects location, according to the release.

Jimenez-Arroyo was detained by the Austin Police Department at a residence on the 7000 block of Decker Lane. He was booked into the Travis County Jail at 1:09 a.m. Tuesday after being released from the hospital.

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This is TCSOs second homicide investigation of the year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
BROOK PARK, Ohio (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team has found the city of Brook Park taking another step toward asking for state money to pay for road projects where the Cleveland Browns plan to build a domed stadium.

Brook Park City Council is considering a measure for the city to request money for road work around Hopkins Airport and the site of a Browns dome. The work would cost about $80 million.

A resolution would give the city of Brook Park permission to apply for funds through the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT awards money for special projects selected by a panel.

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The Browns hope to build a dome, virtually across the highway from Hopkins Airport.

Browns Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out for 2025 season

A traffic study recommends a turn-lane at I-71 and Snow Road, widening Engle Road, maybe adding a short bridge and more.

Brook Park Mayor Ed Orcutt recently outlined his pitch for applying to the state for the money.

What wed like to do is to add a couple of exit ramps and maybe widen our current entrance and exit ramps to I-71, he said. Which the cost, when you look at it, it seems very large. But, a project of this size, we feel that its necessary especially with it being right next to the airport.

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Cleveland breaks ground on West Side Market renovation

Brook Park City Council will discuss more about this at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Browns have asked the state for $600 million in bond money to help build the stadium, and that money would be paid back with profits from the project.

Meanwhile, the city of Cleveland is fighting in court to try to keep the Browns playing in their current stadium on the lakefront.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
On his last day as a judge, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday affirmed that he would not take up any official post after he retires.

While addressing a question, he said, "I will not accept any post-retirement post.. but perhaps will do something with law."

On how the allegations of corruption against Justice Yashwant Varma were handled, he said,

"Judicial thinking has to be decisive and adjudicatory. We see plus and minus and decide the issue then rationally. When we do that, we take decisions. Then the future tells you whether what you did was correct or not."

Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna comes from a family with a rich legal heritage. His father, Dev Raj Khanna, served as a judge of the Delhi High Court and his mother, Saroj Khanna, was a lecturer at Lady Shri Ram College.

He is the nephew of former Supreme Court Justice HR Khanna, who propounded the basic structure doctrine in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) and delivered the lone dissent in the ADM Jabalpur habeas corpus case (1976) during the Emergency - an act of judicial independence that cost him the position of CJI in January 1977.

CJI Khanna's grandfather, Sarav Dayal, a prominent advocate, served on the Indian National Congress Committee investigating the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

He has over three decades of judicial and advocacy experience, including significant roles in the Delhi High Court and as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department.

In June 2005, Justice Khanna was elevated as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court and made a permanent judge in February 2006.

He was elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019 and served as the 51st Chief Justice of India from November 2024 to May 2025.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows a teen girl who flew into Cleveland getting stopped by police just before she met up with a man shed never met before.

The planned encounter has a victim of human trafficking sounding a warning for teens and their parents.

Erie County man accused of using hammer to kill puppy: Sheriff

Cleveland Police body camera video shows a 17-year-old getting off a plane from Florida, both desperate and possibly in danger.

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She came here to meet a man promising her a new life. As the girl walked off the plane, an officer asked, This is her?

The officer also asked, Why are you in Cleveland? The teen answered, My boyfriends here.

The officer responded with, Your boyfriends here? Have you ever met this guy before?

The girl said, No. Its my first time. I had nowhere else to go.

Un-American: Man allegedly burned dozens of books from Beachwood library, police say

The girl said the man shed been talking to told her he is 19.

The teen girl flew into Cleveland in late winter, and police video has now been released to the I-Team.

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An officer also asked the girl, Is your grandmother your legal guardian? The teen answered and said that nobody is her guardian.

A police report shows the girls grandmother reported her missing in Florida. Investigators there found out about the flight to Cleveland.

Pregnant woman, 2 children die in Kingsville Township house fire

Here, the teen girl told police she had never met the man she called her boyfriend. She had only talked to him on the phone and over FaceTime.

We turned to Brittany Oldfield, a local human trafficking survivor. She now speaks to teens, warning them. She said a meeting, like the one planned in this case, can be very dangerous.

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She said, Shes flying in to meet someone based on their word, shes never met behind that screen. That is becoming a really common form of human trafficking in our youth. Predators are always one step ahead. She couldve been flying into Cleveland to meet a 40-year-old man.

The teen girl also told police, I dont have anybody really watching over me.

That teen opened up to police about a broken home life. They got social workers involved, and they reminded the teen of the seriousness of the situation.

Very disturbing: Local man facing felony after caught on video abusing his pet dog

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An officer said, Youre a pretty young lady, a 17-year-old, and youve never met this guy.

The police report shows an officer told the guy involved he would not be meeting the teen girl. That man had told the teen he had already gotten an apartment. He knew the address but couldnt remember the apartment number.

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.
PARIS (AP)  Defiant in diamonds, Kim Kardashian appeared in a Paris courtroom Tuesday to testify in the trial over the 2016 armed robbery that upended her life. The reality star and business mogul gave emotional, at times harrowing, testimony about the night masked men tied her up at gunpoint and stole more than $6 million in jewelry.

Heres what she revealed  and whats still to come.

A night that changed everything

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Kardashian said she was starting to doze off in bed in the early hours when she heard stomping on the stairs. She assumed it was her sister Kourtney returning from a night out. Hello? Hello? Who is it? she called.

Moments later, two masked men burst in. They dragged the concierge in handcuffs. They were dressed as police.

I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack, she said.

She grabbed her phone but froze  I didnt know what 911 was (in France). She tried to call her sister and her bodyguard, but one man grabbed her hand to stop her. They threw her on the bed, bound her hands and held a gun to her back.

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I have babies, she recalled telling the robbers. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.

Her robe fell open  she said she was naked underneath  as one man pulled her toward him. I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me, Kardashian said.

One attacker leaned in and told her, in English, shed be OK if she stayed quiet. He taped her mouth shut, and took her to the bathroom.

Kardashian later managed to free her hands by rubbing the tape against the bathroom sink. She hopped downstairs, ankles still bound, and found her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche. Fearing the men might return, the women climbed onto the balcony and hid in bushes. While lying there, Kardashian called her mother.

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The men took a diamond ring shed worn that night to a Givenchy show and rifled through her jewelry box. They took items including a watch her late father had given her when she graduated high school. It wasnt just jewelry. It was so many memories, she said.

A changed life and constant fear

Investigators believe the attackers followed Kardashians digital breadcrumbs  images, timestamps, geotags  and exploited them with old-school criminal methods.

The robbery reshaped Kardashians sense of safety and freedom. This experience really changed everything for us, she said. I started to get this phobia of going out.

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She often rents adjoining hotel rooms for protection and no longer stores jewelry at home, and now has up to six security guards at home.

"I cant even sleep at night otherwise, she said.

She also said she no longer makes social media posts in real time unless at a public event. Her Los Angeles home was robbed shortly after the Paris heist in what she believes was a copycat attack.

A letter and an unexpected moment of grace

In a powerful courtroom moment, the chief judge read aloud a letter from one of the accused, who is too ill to testify. The letter said he had seen Kardashians tears on television and expressed regret. Kardashian was visibly moved.

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Im obviously emotional, she said in response.

I do appreciate the letter, for sure," she added. "I forgive you for what had taken place. But it doesnt change the emotion, the trauma, and the way my life is forever changed.

Kardashian, who is studying to become a lawyer, added that she regularly visits prisons. Ive always believed in second chances, she said.

Diamonds, defiance and public image

Kardashian made a fashion statement in court, wearing a $1.5 million necklace by Samer Halimeh New York. The jeweler's press release for the necklace came out even as she was on the witness stand, a reminder that visibility remains currency, even if the rules have grown more complicated.

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The choice reflected defiance and the reclaiming of the image and luxury once used against her. Kim is Kim, her lawyer Michael Rhodes told Entertainment Tonight outside the Palais de Justice.

Kardashian said Paris had once been a sanctuary, a place where she would walk at 3 or 4 a.m., window shopping, sometimes stopping for hot chocolate. It always felt really safe, she said. It was always a magical place.

Whats next

Twelve suspects were originally charged. One has died. One was excused due to illness. The French press dubbed the group les papys braqueurs  the grandpa robbers  but prosecutors say they were no harmless retirees.

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The defendants face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association. If convicted, they could face life in prison.

Kardashian said she was grateful for the opportunity to "tell my truth in the packed Paris courtroom.

This is my closure, she said. This is me putting this, hopefully, to rest.

The trial is expected to conclude May 23.
A host of tech safety groups and at least one Democrat are blasting House Republicans proposal to block states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) models for the next 10 years, arguing consumers will be less protected.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), the ranking member on the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, said on Monday the proposal is a giant gift to Big Tech.

The Republicans 10-year ban on the enforcement of state laws protecting consumers from potential dangers of new artificial intelligence systems gives Big Tech free reign to take advantage of children and families, she wrote, adding the proposal, shows that Republicans care more about profits than people.

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The Republican tax bill, released by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Sunday night, proposes barring states from enforcing laws or regulations governing AI models, AI systems or automated decision systems.

The proposal includes some exemptions for laws that intend to remove legal impediments or facilitate the deployment or operation of AI systems, as well as those that seek to streamline licensing, permitting, routing, zoning, procurement or reporting procedures.

State laws that do not impose any substantive design, performance, data-handling, documentation, civil liability, taxation, fee, or other requirement on AI systems would also be allowed under the proposal.

Schakowsky claimed the proposal would give AI developers a green light to ignore consumer privacy protections spread, let AI-generated deepfakes spread, while allowing them to profile and deceive consumers.

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The bill underscores the Trump administrations focus on AI innovation and acceleration over regulation. President Trump has rolled back various Biden-era AI policies that placed guardrails on AI developers, arguing these were obstacles to the fast development of AI.

The Tech Oversight Project, a nonprofit tech watchdog group, pointed out Congress has failed to pass most AI-related legislation, prompting action on the state level.

The so-called states rights party is trying to slip a provision into the reconciliation package that will kneecap states ability to protect people and children from proven AI harms and scams. Its not only hypocritical, its a massive handout to Big Tech, Tech Oversight Project Executive Director Sacha Haworth said.

While Congress has struggled to establish AI safeguards, states are leading the charge in tackling AIs worst use cases, and it comes as no surprise that Big Tech is trying to stop that effort dead in its tracks, Haworth added.

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It comes amid a broader debate over federal preemption for AI regulation, which several AI industry heads have pushed for as state laws create a patchwork of rules to follow.

Last week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified before Congress, where he expressed support for one federal framework, and expressed concerns with a burdensome state-by-state approach.

The Open Markets Institute, a DC-based think tank advocating against monopolies, called it a stunning assault on state sovereignty.

This is the broligarchy in action: billionaires and lobbyists writing the laws to lock in their dominance, at the direct expense of democratic oversight, with no new rules, no obligations, and no accountability allowed. This is not innovation protectionits a corporate coup, wrote Courtney C. Radsch, director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets Institute.

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U.S. states considered nearly 700 legislative proposals last year, according to an analysis from the Business Software Alliance.

Nonprofit Consumer Reports also came out against the proposal, pointing to the potential dangers of AI, such as sexually explicit deepfakes.

This incredibly broad preemption would prevent states from taking action to deal with all sorts of harms, from non-consensual intimate AI images, audio, and video, to AI-driven threats to critical infrastructure or market manipulation, said Grace Geyde, a policy analyst for Consumer Reports, to protecting AI whistleblowers, to assessing high-risk AI decision-making systems for bias or other errors, to simply requiring AI chatbots to disclose that they arent human.

Commerce and Energy Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) defended the committees reconciliation proposal later Monday.

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This reconciliation is a win for Americans in every part of the country, and its a shame Democrats are intentionally reflexively opposing commonsense policies to strengthen the program, he wrote.

Meanwhile, some tech industry groups celebrated the proposal.

NetChoice, the trade association representing some of the largest tech firms in the world like Google, Amazon and Meta, said the commendable proposal will help American stay first in the research and development of emerging tech.



America cant lead the world in new technologies like AI if we tie the hands of innovators with overwhelming red tape before they can even get off the ground, said NetChoice Director of Policy Pat Hedger.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  A 14-year-old is in police custody after an innocent bystander was killed in a shooting near a Bronx school, police said.

16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was fatally shot in the head near I.S. 158 on Monday around 5:05 p.m., according to the NYPD.

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The shooting followed an earlier fight in the schoolyard on Monday, police said. The fight then carried out onto a walkway behind the school, when the shooter fired three rounds into a crowd of teenagers, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

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Jeffrey was not involved in the fight, but was an innocent bystander, who was trying to take cover behind a brick wall when she was shot, police said. She was rushed to an area hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

On Tuesday morning, her grandmother, who asked that her name not be made public, talked outside of the familys home about the loss of her granddaughter.

Its not fair, she said. She didnt bother nobody. She didnt go outside looking for fights or nothing like that.

We never thought wed be part of this community [of] parents that lose their kids to gun violence, the grandmother continued. We never thought wed be there. Now were there.

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Police have not yet charged the 14-year-old, who allegedly tried to run away from cops Tuesday morning, Kenny said.

Meanwhile, the family of Evette Jeffrey is now planning a funeral for the shooting victim who police said was simply trying to take cover from a stray bullet. It was fired from a gun that police said the 14-year-old boy somehow got his hands on.

It was a fact that the victims grandmother said she could not comprehend.

Why? she asked. When theyre so young, why?

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
ST. LOUIS  Detectives are asking for tips to help them solve a shooting that happened Monday evening in the citys Walnut Park West neighborhood.

According to a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened just before 9:50 p.m. in 5300 block of Riverview Boulevard.

Officers arrived at the scene and saw ballistic damage to Miami Grill restaurant. While there, officers were notified that a shooting victim had turned up at a local hospital to be treated for a graze wound to his neck.

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Missouri Highway Patrol reopens probe into Crocker overdose death

Police went to the hospital and met with the teenaged victim. Police said the teen was uncooperative, but did tell the officers he was near Thekla when he heard gunfire and then fell to the ground. The teen said once he realized hed been wounded, he received a ride to the hospital.

Anyone with information on the shooting can call detectives at 314-444-0001. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. Only tips submitted to CrimeStoppers that lead to an arrest are eligible for the reward.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A Georgia college student who has been in ICE detention since last week and faces deportation after being accused of making an improper right turn had her charges dropped when police said they stopped her car by mistake.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a 19-year-old Dalton State College student who lived in the U.S. without authorization since she was 4 years old, was initially pulled over by Dalton Police after they say she disregarded a no turn on red. She told officers that she had an international drivers license, but did not have it in her possession at that moment.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal was placed in ICE detention after making an improper turn at a red light. GoFundMe/ Hannah Jones

Arias-Cristobal was charged with driving without a valid drivers license and for making a right turn on red, minor offenses which would eventually land her in Stewart Detention Center, a private prison used to detain immigrants. She is being held with her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, who was reportedly taken into custody for going 19 miles over the speed limit.

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Whitfield County Sheriffs Office, which operates the county jail, has had an agreement with ICE since 2020, allowing agents to identify and take custody of removable immigrants arrested by state or local law enforcement agencies.

Hannah Jones, a friend of Arias-Cristobal who launched a fundraiser to offset her legal fees, told Newsweek the teen is facing a nightmare while in detention.

She said Stewart is a nightmare, its overcrowded, everyone is crying all the time, Jones told the outlet

Dalton Police announced on Monday that they and the citys prosecuting attorney have dismissed Arias-Cristobals charges after reviewing the officers dash cam footage.

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Police officials say the dash cam footage showed that Arias-Cristobals car, a dark gray pickup truck, looked similar to the offending vehicle, a black pickup truck, but did not make an improper turn.

Assistant Chief Chris Crossen defended the officer who arrested Arias-Cristobal at a press conference on Monday, saying the officer was just trying to do his job.

Its a very regrettable place that we are in right here, Crossen said. Watching the video from perfect hindsight, 20/20 view of a camera, we can certainly see that the vehicle was a different one in that line of traffic.

ICE did not respond to HuffPost on whether Arias-Cristobal will be released or is still facing deportation.

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In a statement to CBS News, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, called Arias-Cristobal an illegal alien who admitted to illegally entering the United States.

[The] family will be able to return to Mexico together, McLaughlin told the outlet. Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to. We are not ignoring the rule of law.

However, Dustin Baxter, an attorney representing Arias-Cristobal, told CBS affiliate WANF hes confident the teen will get bond at her hearing on May 20, stating that she has no criminal history, she has the support of her community, shes in class.

Baxter told the outlet, She does face deportation proceedings even if shes bonded out, so its going to be our job to find a way to keep her here based on her circumstances. What she has going on in her personal life and whether or not she has fear of returning to Mexico, her home country.

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MORRISANIA, The Bronx (PIX11)  Police are searching for a 14-year-old boy after a 16-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Bronx playground on Monday, according to the NYPD.

Police said a fight between young people broke out near the I.S. 158 campus around 5 p.m. One person was seen passing a pistol to another, who would then fire three rounds, according to authorities.

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Police said Evette Jeffrey was then shot once in the head as she was leaving the playground on a scooter. She wasnt involved in the fight and police dont believe she was the intended target, according to authorities.

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I have no words, I would be devastated if my daughter ended up in a situation like that, so I feel for the parents of that child, said parent Amanda Olivo.

Jeffrey was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Guidance counselors and social workers will be on hand in all Bronx schools on Tuesday, education officials told PIX11 News.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two teens will be charged as adults for their alleged roles in a drive-by shooting in Crockett County back in March, the Crockett County Sheriffs Department announced.

The shooting occurred on March 1 within the city limits of Friendship, Tennessee.

Crockett County authorities identified the suspects as Edward Antunez and Joseph James, and said they were transferred to adult court pending indictment by the grand jury.

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Coldwater, MS police search for third suspect in Mothers Day triple shooting

Antunez, who was 17 at the time of the crime, faces the following charges:

One count of unlawful possession of a weapon

One count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony

Two counts of aggravated assault

One count of retaliation for past actions

James, who is currently 17, has been charged with the following crimes:

One count of attempted first-degree murder

One count of unlawful possession of a weapon

One count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony

Two counts of aggravated assault

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A 26-year-old man suspected of stealing a vehicle Thursday in Tehachapi was arrested Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Tehachapi Police Department said the suspect, Luis David Zepeda, is believed to be the person who stole the vehicle, along with the victim's wallet, while claiming to have a firearm in the 800 block of Aspen Drive.

Officers quickly found the stolen vehicle at Meadowbrook Park, according to a TPD news release Monday, but the suspect fled. The department said it called off the pursuit because of dangerous circumstances, and that Zepeda allegedly fled the area.

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Zepeda allegedly traveled to Bakersfield, Lake Isabella and California City before reaching Las Vegas, where TPD reported he was located and taken into custody.

As he awaits extradition to Kern, Zepeda is suspected of felonies including carjacking, robbery and felony evading.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Orozco at 661-822-2222, ext. 207.
The landlord of the Highland Court Apartments, where five people died and others were critically injured in Mother's Day fire that rendered the building uninhabitable, is speaking out.

Geraldine "Jeri" Robinson told the Journal Sentinel May 12 that she was staying at her apartment at Highland Court the night of the fire, when chaos ensued.

"Somebody, as I understand, the guy had an accelerant that was thrown in his apartment," she said. Officials have not confirmed Robinson's account of what happened that night.

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The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office released the names of the victims May 12 and Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski has been providing updates, but law enforcement officials, which now includes the ATF and State Fire Marshal, have provided very little information on the incident.

What is known is that no building-wide sprinkler system was in the 85-unit apartment complex, located at 2725 W. Highland Blvd. Certain buildings constructed before 1974 were not required to have sprinklers, according to Lipski. Robinson said she has owned the building since 1987.

First responders dragged out or rescued dozens of tenants. Witnesses described tenants jumping from higher floors to the ground below and using the balconies to climb down. The deadly blaze drew about 22 fire engines and eight ladder trucks, including units from Wauwatosa and West Allis.

Robinson said she is aware of which unit the fire started in and the living arrangement was a "girlfriend-boyfriend" situation.

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"It started on the third floor," she said. "They did significant damage to the third floor. One of the people in that apartment threw an accelerant and the other person is in the hospital. It looked like somebody was burned really bad."

Robinson said the building had smoke alarms in the units and fire exits. "Every floor has two or three fire exits," she said.

Robinson reiterated the use of an "accelerant," which would make fire safety steps less effective. She added the building was inspected quarterly and "we never had a problem."

While the building did not have sprinklers in its living areas, it did have one in its parking structure. The parking structure's sprinklers had led to a building code violation notice for repeated failures to be up to city standards, records show.

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Robinson said the fire department may allow tenants to return May 13 to get personal belongings, stressing the need for residents to get medications. A nearby shelter has been set up for tenants.

Robinson spoke of a heroic effort from first responders and her neighbors as firefighters rescued about 30 people from the fire.

"Everybody sees a need and they jump in and do it," she said. "I sat out there with my tenants all day until it was time to go to the shelter. My tenants love me."

Jerome Reeves, who lives on the building's fourth floor, was among those saved from the blaze. He told the Journal Sentinel that Robinson was a "good landlady," whom he has known for years.

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Robinson said she has owned several properties in Milwaukee County, including 3970 N. Oakland Ave., the tower across from Shorewood High School.

"This is my last (property)," she said. "I'm getting rid of them all."

Milwaukee police asked anyone with information to call them at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or use the P3 Tips app.

Jessica Van Egeren and David Clarey contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Landlord discusses fatal Mother's Day apartment building fire
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  With Tennessees first execution in years set to take place in a little over one week, some death row inmates are pushing the state to reveal its supplier of the lethal injection drug, pentobarbital.

The state will use the single drug, pentobarbital, in its new death penalty protocol that was completed in December 2024.

Federal public defenders for some Tennessee death row inmates have called the new protocol unconstitutional and too obviously untenable to stand, the suit said.

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TN death row inmates want firing squad over lethal injection ahead of states first execution in years

In their latest filing, death row inmates have asked a judge not to allow the state to keep its supplier of pentobarbital a secret. They accused the state of purchasing the drug from an unauthorized source off the gray market, since every manufacturer of the drug has protections in place to ensure it is not used in executions.

Every manufacturer of pentobarbital has put in place strict distribution controls to prevent its drugs from being sold to departments of correction for use in executions, the court filing reads. This means that the pentobarbital Tennessee has acquired was obtained on the gray market. Gray market drugs are inherently risky.

There has already been fraud and misrepresentation in the acquiring of the drug, and that is of grave concern to our clients, because once were buying drugs from people who are not authorized to sell it, that introduces the possibility of so many ways things can go wrong, said Amy Harwell, assistant chief of the Capital Habeas Unit for the Federal Public Defenders Office.

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The state has argued it has a right to keep its source a secret, claiming it is protecting the drug manufacturers First Amendment rights.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

However, the inmates believe they have a right to know the states supplier to ensure the drug, which the U.S. Dept of Justice recently abandoned over concerns it could cause unnecessary pain and suffering, hasnt been compromised.

When a drug has come from the gray market, when we dont know what the drug dealers have done to that drug, how theyve cut it, how they might have diluted it, and those are the protections that have been erased from the protocol, the checking of the drugs, Harwell said.

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The inmates and their attorneys have asked Gov. Bill Lee to pause executions until the case can go to trial, which is scheduled for January 2026. Two inmates are set to be executed between now and then.

Gov. Lee has previously said he has no intention of pausing executions and is confident in the TN Dept. of Corrections new protocol.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

News 2 reached out to TDOC for a statement on the lawsuit, but had not heard back by the time this article was published.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Southerners were shocked over the weekend when a magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck Tennessee. Those shockwaves could be felt as far south as Atlanta, and  although not perceptible to humans  here in Columbus, too.

At the Columbus State University Coca-Cola Space Science Center, a seismograph recorded shockwaves in the time after shockwaves were felt around 9 a.m. in Tennessee.

Theres something called the eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone, and its a line that runs actually from northern Alabama all the way up to Virginia, explained Dr. Shawn Cruzen, director of the Coca-Cola Space Science Center.

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Along the Tennessee Seismic Zone, small earthquakes happen regularly. Most are too weak to be perceived.

Scientists arent completely sure why the earthquakes are occurring along that line, but they just know that they do, Cruzen said.

He called Saturdays earthquake kind of an exception, in magnitude. The strongest earthquake to impact the Tennessee Seismic Zone was a 5.1 quake near Fort Payne, Ala., in 2001.

Cruzen says scientists estimate the strongest quake which could happen along the line is about a magnitude 7.5, which would probably be felt in Columbus if it ever happened.

If you find yourself in an earthquake, Cruzen advises finding a table or archway to get under in case debris or objects start coming down. He also said you can go outside to avoid falling objects.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Empty and underutilized school buildings could soon be full again thanks to newly signed legislation aimed at addressing the childcare shortage in Tennessee.

The bill, recently signed by Gov. Bill Lee, will allow childcare agencies to rent or buy vacant or underutilized school buildings and use them as childcare facilities.

Its really just an easier avenue to find suitable childcare center space. Space is one of the prohibiting factors in growing the childcare industry, said Rebecca Woods, Vice President of Government Relations for Tennesseans for Quality Education.

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The legislation was drafted using feedback from childcare providers collected during a statewide study.

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Our study was really robust and hearing from the frontline in what could be done differently to help make it easier to create and expand more childcare seats in Tennessee, and this bill was a reflection of what we heard from the frontline, Woods said.

The legislation will require public school districts to report all vacant and/or underutilized buildings. Then, childcare agencies will be allowed to rent or buy those buildings to open new facilities.

The bill will also cut extra fees for home-based childcare facilities by allowing them to be classified as residences instead of commercial properties.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

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When theyre treated like a commercial property, theres often cost-prohibitive measures in place that really do not encourage the growth of licensed childcare, Woods said.

Finally, the bill alleviates problems faced by after-school childcare programs.

While advocates are celebrating the legislation, they hope the state continues to address issues impacting childcare, including its workforce.

Weve got to look at solutions that include public and private investment so that childcare can be affordable to working families, and so that we can pay childcare workers a livable wage, Woods said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The legislation will go into effect July 1.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The Cumberland County Board of Education will discuss the results from the Tennessee School Boards Association survey that was sent out in April.

TSBA sent out the survey to collect feedback from community members regarding what they would like to see in the new director of schools.

In other business, the board will discuss the director of schools search timeline progression and the directors contract, including a salary range, vehicle and contract length.

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The board will also discuss:

* The following policies for consideration: 5.604, 5.801, 6.202, 6.3071;

* The middle school survey results;

* The 2025-26 board meeting dates and work sessions;

* The Bakers Crossroads property;

* The Stone Memorial High School request for funds for a national archery tournament;

* Two budget amendments;

* Three out-of-state/overnight field trips;

* Two requests to retire inventory; and

* Two executive approvals for out-of-state and overnight requests for field trips.

The Cumberland County Board of Education will meet May 15 at 3 p.m. for a work session in the Central Services building at 368 Fourth St. in Crossville. The time was changed Friday, May 9, to accommodate graduation activities.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Tennessee State Veterinarian has urged animal owners to be on the lookout for an invasive pest: the New World Screwworm.

The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly that feeds on the live tissue of warm-blooded animals, and the bite causes painful and infected wounds. They are larger than houseflies and have metallic blue-green bodies, orange eyes and three dark stripes on their backs. The New World Screwworm had been eradicated from the U.S., but recently, the U.S. has halted the import of livestock at ports of entry along the southern border due to the pests spread.

RELATED: USDA halts live animal imports through US-Mexico border

(Courtesy: The Tennessee Department of Agriculture)

An international border means nothing to NWS or wildlife that may be carrying the larvae, Dr. Samantha Beaty, a Tennessee State Veterinarian, said. Livestock and pet owners should carefully inspect their animals and report any unusual or persistent wounds. NWS can cause devastating health impacts to affected animals, and early detection is critical to containment and treatment efforts. As with many animal health concerns, awareness and prevention go a long way in reducing the risk of spread to Tennessee.

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Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and other animals  including pets  could be affected. In rare cases, humans are also affected by the pest. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture advised people to regularly check their animals for wounds and treat them promptly. There are a few things to watch out for:

Wounds that worsen over time or do not heal

Maggots or foul-smelling discharge in a wound

Signs of unusual behavior or discomfort, like animals avoiding food or isolating themselves

Infestation could also be found in wounds caused by routine procedures, like castration, dehorning, branding or other more minor injuries like insect bites.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

You can call the State Veterinarians Office at 615-837-5120 if you suspect that your animal has been affected by the New World Screwworm. You can also call the U.S. Department of Agricultures Area Veterinarian in Charge at 615-517-2642. You can call 866-536-7593 on weekends and evenings. Any suspicious cases will be evaluated and samples may have to be submitted for confirmation in a laboratory.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty is urging animal owners in the state to be aware of an invasive pest after it was recently detected in Mexico.

While the flesh-eating parasite known as the New World Screwworm was eradicated from the United States decades ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday it was temporarily suspending all cattle, horse and bison imports from Mexico after recent detections in the country.

The larvae of these parasitic flies feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing painful infected wounds. Adult flies are slightly larger than houseflies, with metallic blue/green bodies, orange eyes, and three dark stripes on their backs.

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Flesh-eating screwworm detected, US stops imports of Mexican cattle

Beaty said Tennessees position along key travel, wildlife migration, and trade corridors increases the need for awareness among animal owners in the state. Species that could be affected include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and other mammals, including pets and, in rare cases, humans.

An international border means nothing to [New World Screwworm] or wildlife that may be carrying the larvae, Dr. Beaty said. Livestock and pet owners should carefully inspect their animals and report any unusual or persistent wounds. [New World Screwworm] can cause devastating health impacts to affected animals, and early detection is critical to containment and treatment efforts. As with many animal health concerns, awareness and prevention go a long way in reducing the risk of spread to Tennessee.

What to Look For:

Wounds that wont heal or worsen over time

Foul-smelling discharge or visible larvae (maggots) in a wound

Signs of discomfort or unusual behavior, such as animals avoiding feed or isolating themselves

Infestation may be found in wounds resulting from routine procedures such as castration, dehorning, or branding, or from minor injuries like insect bites.

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 See more top stories on WATE.com

Contact the State Veterinarians office at 615-837-5120 or the USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge at 615-517-2642 if you suspect your animal has been affected by the New World Screwworm. On weekends and evenings, call 866-536-7593. Suspicious cases will be evaluated, and samples may be submitted for laboratory confirmation.

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.
Texas-based Laynes Chicken is eyeing four locations in the Miami Valley.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Business partners Mauricio Blanco and Marvin Monroy told 1851 Franchise that they are developing four Laynes in the Dayton region.

Blanco said they are looking to make a big impact in the area.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Columbus Retail Team also posted on social media that Laynes is looking for sites to purchase in the area.

Laynes Chicken Fingers was started in Texas in 1994 and is known for its soon-to-be-famous chicken fingers and house-made sauces.

We are working to learn where the locations will be and when they are expected to open.

We will continue to follow this story.

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A Texas Senate bill requiring insurance companies to cover all follow-up care and treatment for potential adverse effects to patients who receive gender affirming care, including "therapy necessary to manage, reverse, reconstruct from, or recover from" such care is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott to become law after the House passed the proposal Monday and the upper chamber signed the measure Tuesday.

The House on Monday also advanced to the Senate a proposal limiting the definition of sex to male and female. The proposal acknowledges intersex people, or those born with a combination of male and female biological traits, though it specifies there is no third gender, instead the proposal calls for special accommodations as per federal and state law. Several rights groups and LGBTQ advocates have been fighting the proposals, which they say will erase the lived experiences of transgender Texans and hurt their health.

Equality Texas, an LGBTQ rights advocacy group, organized a rally Friday at the Capitol with dozens of rallygoers to oppose the measures that they say are anti-LGBTQ. The group is tracking more than 200 bills this legislative session that it says are harmful to LGBTQ Texans. The number of such proposals in Texas tops similar legislative considerations compared with any other state, CEO Brad Pritchett said at the rally.

Rep. Aicha Davis (D-Dallas) joins LGBTQIA activists as they protest Texas House bills at the Texas Capitol outdoor rotunda Friday, May 9, 2025. The group protested HB229, under which all Texas agencies and departments would be required to enforce a binary definition of gender, and HB778, which would increase liability for any insurer that covers transgender health care.

What are the bills?

House Bill 229 by Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, would require government entities to only recognize the sex of an individual at birth, prohibiting the agencies from accepting the gender identities of transgender Texans or of a person who identifies as nonbinary, meaning they neither identify as a man nor a woman.

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"It affects every aspect of our daily lives," said Shelly Skeen, South Central director of Lambda Legal, about the bill's potential effect on identities. "Mismatched IDs out you and that can immediately lead to violence," not getting paid for work, not accessing health care and more.

About 1.6 million people over the age of 13 in the U.S. are transgender, including 92,900 adults in Texas, according to the UCLA School of Law Williams Institute. Beyond individuals who transition to a different gender than the one assigned to them at birth, the United Nations estimates that about 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits.

Maxine LaQueene and Kellin Coin cheer as LGBTQIA activists protest Texas House bills at the Texas Capitol outdoor rotunda Friday, May 9, 2025. The group protested HB229, under which all Texas agencies and departments would be required to enforce a binary definition of gender, and HB778, which would increase liability for any insurer that covers transgender health care.

Troxclair has dubbed her bill the "Women's Bill of Rights," saying the definition of sex needs to be clarified and codified to help and protect women whose gender aligns with their sex at birth.

"We can't have women's rights if we don't even know what a woman is," she said in a Texas Public Policy Foundation video earlier during the legislative session. "We need to define what a woman is to bring clarity, certainty and uniformity in the way women are treated under Texas law."

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All world health and major medical associations recognize transgender youth, according to GLAAD, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ rights, and many have rejected insurance exclusions or limitations on gender-affirming care. Many of those organizations have asserted that gender-affirming care can be life-saving for those who suffer from gender dysphoria, severe mental distress for people whose sex at birth does not align with their gender identity.

Senate Bill 1257 by Mineola Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes wouldn't limit gender affirming care explicitly, but it would put health insurance agencies on the line for "all possible adverse consequences" related to a gender transition and all follow-up appointments to monitor the health of the patient.

In a statement to the American-Statesman, state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, who carried the companion legislation in the House, said SB 1257 is about "basic fairness and responsibility in health care coverage."

LGBTQIA activists protest Texas House bills at the Texas Capitol outdoor rotunda Friday, May 9, 2025. The group protested HB229, under which all Texas agencies and departments would be required to enforce a binary definition of gender, and HB778, which would increase liability for any insurer that covers transgender health care.

If an insurance plan chooses to cover gender reassignment procedures, it must also cover the side effects and provide care for those who later seek to reverse those procedures," Leach said. "Weve heard directly from brave individuals who have detransitionedpeople whose pain and healing journeys are real and cannot be ignored. Their voices matter, and this bill ensures they are not abandoned in their time of need by the very systems that once supported their transition.

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But advocates fear the bill will make it so burdensome for health care providers to treat transgender patients that they could deny coverage.

"It doesn't just lead into gender affirming care. It leads into health care that we all need, that we all deserve, that the state needs to make it great, to have our population healthy," said Emmett Schelling, executive director for the Transgender Education Network in Texas.

'Terrible burden for transgender community to bear'

Rox Sayde, a 30-year-old nonbinary advocate who is also a field intern at Equality Texas, said they are speaking out for their late partner, Amelia, a transgender Texan who died by suicide and could not access the mental health services she needed. When Sayde speaks out, they feel Amelia with them, and know she would be proud.

"I'm here because of her. Every day I think of her, and it keeps me going," Sayde said. "I'm not that spiritual of a person, but I think that the people we lose are still with us, when we think about them, and in the way that she shapes my life."

Sherry Brodell cheers as LGBTQIA activists protest Texas House bills at the Texas Capitol outdoor rotunda Friday, May 9, 2025. The group protested HB229, under which all Texas agencies and departments would be required to enforce a binary definition of gender, and HB778, which would increase liability for any insurer that covers transgender health care.

Sayde, who is nonbinary and is seeking gender affirming care, said they don't know if their health care will be possible because of SB 1257.

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"They're trying to legislate transgender people out of public life," Sayde said. "I'm just here because I have so much love for my community ... look at how beautiful we are."

Mandy Giles, a mom of two transgender children who are now young adults, came to the Capitol from Houston to testify and fight against bills she said would hurt transgender Texans. The proposals have created a tremendous amount of stress for her family.

"This is our home," Giles said. "To feel like our family is being split apart because my kids are being targeted" and they don't want to live here.

Giles cried at the rally Friday, she said, because she became overwhelmed by the "bittersweet" nature of being united with people who will fight for her kids, but also because of the need to fight in the first place. Seeing her kids be their authentic selves is a "beautiful journey" that makes her happy and hopeful, and she wished more people would help protect their rights.

Ezra Ray and Laura Gay greet each other as LGBTQIA activists protest Texas House bills at the Texas Capitol outdoor rotunda Friday, May 9, 2025. The group protested HB229, under which all Texas agencies and departments would be required to enforce a binary definition of gender, and HB778, which would increase liability for any insurer that covers transgender health care.

"I wish there were more allies here, because it's a terrible burden for transgender community to bear," Giles said. "To not be erased."

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Democratic state Reps. Aicha Davis of Dallas and Ron Reynolds of Missouri City attended the rally Friday in support of LGBTQ Texans and fight against the bills.

State Rep. Venton Jones, the vice chair of the House's LGBTQ Caucus and a Democrat from Dallas, promised advocates that though there are people who push legislation that hurts transgender people, there are "so many more that love you, that accept you, that will do anything to protect you."

"As a Black gay man living with HIV, it's not the easiest to come into this building every day. It's not the easiest to work across the aisle when someone was actively making legislation to make not only your life worse, but the lives of the people that you love and that you give everything for every day," Jones said. "And so I just want to say to you all, when you think about the thoughts around leaving this state how important it is for us to stay."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas lawmakers OK bill mandating insurance coverage for detransitioning
A Texas fire captain tragically died in a crash on Mother's Day, shortly after his wife gave birth to their fifth child.

Killeen Fire Capt. Marvin Taylor III was driving from an Austin hospital just after 1 a.m. Sunday, according to a statement from city officials. He was on his way to pick up his other children so they could meet their new sibling. Taylor's vehicle, which had no other occupants, was hit from behind by another vehicle "traveling at a high rate of speed."

An Austin police unit was near the scene of the crash and "was able to render aid immediately until fire and EMS units arrived," the statement said. Despite those efforts, Taylor died of his injuries at the scene.

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The statement also said the Austin Police Department took the driver of the other vehicle into custody.

"It is with great sadness that the Killeen Fire Department announces the unfortunate and sudden passing of active-duty member, Captain Marvin Taylor III," the department said in a statement Sunday.

Killeen fire captain remembered as 'selfless' and 'an inspiration'

Taylor joined the Killeen Fire Department in July 2014 and was promoted to fire captain 10 years later. Recently, he was also assigned as operations training captain for the training division. According to the city of Killeen, Taylor's fire certifications included swift water boat operator, advanced structural firefighter, fire officer I and TCFP field examiner.

In his career, Taylor also served on the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Water Rescue Team and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System Wildland Team. He was deployed several times by both teams "to various large-scale incidents" within Texas and outside the state.

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"Captain Taylor was known for his dedication, leadership, and countless deployments with Texas A&M Task Force 1 and TIFMAS," Killeen officials said in a social media post. "He will be remembered not only for his service, but for the impact he made on those around him."

Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski addressed the community in a recorded statement on Monday.

"As you can imagine, for the family of Captain Marvin Taylor and his Killeen Fire Department family, this has been a very difficult 36 hours since finding out the tragic news," Kubinski said. "We want to thank everybody, from the community across the state who has shown a tremendous amount of support and shared their love and prayers."

The Fire Department and Taylor's immediate family are asking for privacy as they process the captain's loss. Department members will be "standing watch" over Taylor until after the funeral services, which had yet to be announced as of Tuesday morning. The department and other local agencies escorted Taylor home from Austin on Monday afternoon.

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The city of Killeen lowered its flags at 8 a.m. Monday to honor Taylor. They will stay lowered until 8 a.m. the day after his burial.

A fundraiser created for his family has raised nearly $61,000 as of Tuesday morning. Its goal is set at $75,000.

"Marvin has been an inspiration to us all, and we are grateful for his selfless service to our community," the fundraiser stated. "He has always been there for others, putting their needs before his own. Now, we want to be there for him and his family."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas fire captain Marvin Taylor III dies in tragic Mother's Day crash
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  On Monday, the Texas House voted 118-16 to advance a bill addressing perceived issues with Texas Compassionate Use Program (CUP). House Bill 46, authored by State Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, will now head to a third reading in the House before getting sent to the Texas Senate.

Making the program easy-to-access statewide

The program has been set up, but its never been made functional or accessible, King said.

Kings concerns derive from the lack of accessibility to the program first established by the legislature in 2015.

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There are not enough dispensing organizations licensed in the state of Texas, King said.

The three licensed dispensers are all Austin-based and current law requires secured storage at the production facility.

The way it works today is I have to keep all that inventory in Austin, and so when we have patients in Houston and Fort Worth and Dallas and San Antonio, they order the night before. We drive the prescription to them the next morning and if they dont pick it up, we have to drive it back, Texas Original CEO Nico Richardson said. Thats in the high population density areas of Texas. If we go out into the rural areas to get on a delivery route schedule, because we need to schedule them out so that we have enough time to fill a route that can take two weeks sometimes. Richardson says planning to get medication to rural areas can be a weeks-long process.

HB 46 would allow those companies to create secure storage facilities in other cities, expanding easy access for those who need it. The bill would also increase the number of providers.

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According to an FAQ section on the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) website, Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 487 requires that the department issue at least three licenses but no more than the number of licenses necessary to ensure reasonable statewide access to, and availability for patients prescribed low-THC cannabis. HB 46 requires DPS to issue 11 licenses to increase supply.

Expanded patient eligibility

In 2015, the Texas CUP program was started specifically for intractable epilepsy. Since then the program has slowly rolled more patients in.

Currently, doctors can approve low-THC cannabis for patients dealing with:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Autism

Cancer

Epilepsy

An incurable neurodegenerative disease

Multiple sclerosis

Post-traumatic stress disorder

A seizure disorder

Spasticity

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Under HB 46, doctors can also prescribe low-THC cannabis for:

A chronic pain condition which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid

Glaucoma

Traumatic brain injury

Spinal neuropathy

Crohns disease or other inflammatory bowel disease

Degenerative disc disease

A terminal illness or a condition for which a patient is receiving hospice or palliative care

Instant-use THC

HB 46 would also lift the restriction on using a low-THC inhaler to take their medication.

There are a lot of patients that have episodic conditions that either need immediate relief or they cant digest our medication properly, Richardson said. If you ingest the medicine, it can take 30 minutes to an hour for it to become active in your system and your bloodstream. When you take it through an inhalation method, its almost immediate.

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Richardson says the new method could help first-time users who accidentally take too much cannabis because they arent aware of how long ingested THC takes to activate.

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.
Editors note: A correction was issued to reflect the House took a preliminary step to eliminating the STAAR test.

AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The Texas House of Representatives took one more step Monday to eliminate the states current standardized testing program and changes the system that judges a schools performance.

Members, this bill eliminates the STAAR test, State Rep. Brad Buckley, R  Salado, said to the House floor as he laid out House Bill 4. His statement was received by cheers from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The record shows 143 lawmakers approved the bill on its second reading, and just one, State Rep. Brian Harrison, R  Midlothian, voted against it. The bill needs to be approved one more time in the House before heading over to the Senate.

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Currently public school students take a series of standardized tests, known as STAAR, at the end of the school year to determine the students knowledge and achievements on subjects like math, reading and science. A survey in 2016 showed a majority of respondents opposed the test.

Buckley said the STAAR test is creating high levels of anxiety and stress for students and forcing schools to use between 17 and 18 school days to prepare. He says his bill will replace one high-stakes test with three smaller tests that are spaced throughout the year.

State Rep. Diego Bernal, D  San Antonio, said the bill will remove testing from being the center of gravity in the entire school year. Teachers would be able to focus on instruction rather than getting students ready for one test. If the bill passes the higher chamber, the state will move to a norm-referenced test that will show how Texas students compare to students around the country.

The new testing and accountability system would take effect this fall, if approved by the Senate.

How does it work?

First and second grade students will not be required to take any test. Also, social studies will no longer be a required test subject. Instead, students will take a smaller test at the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, and then at the end of the year.

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The tests are designed to take the student between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on what grade level the student is in and what time of year the test is taken. Also, teachers will know the results of their students scores 24 hours after the test is taken. Currently it takes six weeks to get the results from the STAAR test.

Buckley said this quick response, coupled with the spaced out testing, will allow teachers to see how well their students are performing throughout the year. Bernal said the data will help teachers understand how to help those students grow more throughout the year.

A-F accountability system

The bill also addresses the A-F accountability system that shows how well schools are performing. Buckley described the changes laid out in his bill are not less accountability, but smarter accountability.

The STAAR test is just one of the indicators the state uses in assessing the grade level of a school. School districts have sued to stop the release of those grades the past couple of years after the Texas Education Agency updated its standards for testing.

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This bill returns so much more power to school districts, and even this body, over the changes the TEA can make to the indicators in the assessment system, Buckley explained.

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.
Texas lawmakers are seeking to support kindergarten readiness and bolster literacy and numeracy skills with legislation aimed at improving students reading and math knowledge in earlier grade levels.

House Bill 123, which the lower chamber passed Wednesday with overwhelming bipartisan support, builds on previous legislation aimed at increasing teacher training and providing supports for students.

The $315 million proposal would revise requirements for teachers to attend and complete literacy and numeracy academies and require skills assessments for students in Kindergarten through third grade. The bill would also mandate tutoring interventions for certain students, based on their performance on the assessments.

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Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, said the bill supports programming meant to strengthen basic skills for students early on to set them up for success later in their academic careers.

Between Pre-K and third grade, you learn to read, and after that, you read to learn, Dutton said. If you never learn to read, reading to learn is going to become next to impossible.

Only 41% of third graders met state standards for math and 49% met state standards in reading in 2024, according to results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test.

While reading has largely recovered from pandemic-era lows, math scores for third-grade students in Texas continue to struggle to meet pre-pandemic levels.

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In 2019, 48% of third graders met state standards.

Some lawmakers raised concerns about increased mandates to test students.

Required testing is a persistent debate among Texas parents, some of whom worry that state-required standardized tests can place undue stress on students.

I've seen what all the standardized testing does, said Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg. I see what it does to my family. I see the stress it puts on my children.

Dutton insisted HB 123 doesnt require tests akin to the STAAR test but instead requires teacher-led assessments to understand students proficiency level in basic skills.

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Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, noted that teachers may struggle to teach a classroom full of students at different learning levels with just one lesson.

It's hard to teach 20 kids in one classroom at the same level, Thompson said. So, what the tutoring does is pin each and every student individually.

Texas first introduced reading academies in 2019, as part of what was a major overhaul to education funding at the time. The bill required a swath of elementary and special education teachers, as well as principals, to attend the academies to teach the science of reading, an evidence-based instructional method..

The Texas Senate received HB 123 on Thursday. As of Monday, the proposal had not yet been assigned to a committee.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House passes bill focused on early literacy, math skills
May 12AUSTIN  The Texas House of Representatives is considering advancing House Bill 1586 (HB 1586), a dangerous proposal that would lead to more unvaccinated children in schools  just as the state faces a deadly measles outbreak. As of last week, the bill has been placed on the General State Calendar and is headed for a vote by the full House.

The Immunization Partnership (TIP) strongly opposes HB 1586 because it poses a direct threat to the health of children, immunocompromised individuals, the elderly and communities across Texas. Both confirmed childhood deaths and the majority of hospitalizations in the current measles outbreak have occurred among unvaccinated children.

HB 1586 goes against the views of most Texans, who support strong vaccine requirements to protect public health.

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"This bill is a clear danger to the safety of our communities," Terri Burke, executive director of The Immunization Partnership, said in a news release. "Rolling back protections in the middle of an outbreak is reckless. Once again, the Legislature is ignoring the will of its constituents. More people testified against this bill in committee than testified for it, and 72 percent of the written comments opposed it. It's fair to ask: Who are lawmakers really listening to?"

School vaccine exemptions in Texas have more than doubled since 2018. HB 1586 would only accelerate this trend by removing guardrails to protect children, increasing the risk of future outbreaks.

If the public wants to help stop HB 1586 and protect children's health, they can contact their Texas state representative through an electronic form at immunizeUSA.org.
May 12Texas Mutual Insurance Company  the state's leading provider of workers' compensation insurance  is awarding a $100,000 grant to Odessa College to continue funding the college's safety institute, which provides workplace safety courses for employers, workers and the general public.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Texas Mutual has given a $100,000 grant to the college to support its safety training program. The initial grant in 2019 was used to establish the safety institute.

"We deeply appreciate the generosity of Texas Mutual Insurance," Tiffani Price, associate vice president for instruction, curriculum and workforce education at Odessa College, said in a news release. "Together, we are creating a strong culture of safety that reaches far beyond the classroom and into every part of our community. This grant enables Odessa College to provide cutting-edge, hands-on safety training that addresses the changing demands of our regional workforce specifically in the Permian Basin."

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Over a 26-year period, Texas Mutual has awarded $14.1 million in safety education grants, and more than 73,500 students have attended free or discounted safety training offered at colleges across the state. The safety education grants are one way Texas Mutual is delivering on its commitment to build a stronger, safer Texas.

Odessa College has leveraged the funding to continue to support Build the Basina dynamic program that incorporates virtual reality, video content and interactive sessions to teach life-saving actions and empower individuals to become safety leaders. The grant also continues to support the delivery of specialized safety and rescue training tailored to the energy sector, as well as CPR and first aid courses for the local community and ISD partners.

In the 2024 academic year, Odessa College trained 188 students in CPR and first aid, and 100 students in energy industry-specific safety and rescue techniques. Additionally, the grant allowed the college to provide situational awareness training to local early childhood educators, center owners and staff  strengthening safety awareness among some of the region's most essential professionals. Additionally, it was instrumental in replacing the worn poles in the electrical lineman training yard to ensure safe learning practices for our students and instructors.

"Community colleges like Odessa College are essential to fostering safer workplaces across Texas," Eric Bourquin, vice president of safety services at Texas Mutual, said in the release. "Through ongoing support like this grant, we're not just funding programs  we're investing in the people and communities who drive our state forward. We're proud to stand with Odessa College in this important work."

For more information about the Odessa College safety institute, contact the continuing education department at (432) 335-6580. For more information on Texas Mutual and its work in the community, visit texasmutual.com.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Texas prosecutor filed a federal lawsuit seeking to force three U.S. Border Patrol agents who responded to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting to testify in the prosecution of the former school police chief, who is facing criminal charges over the slow law enforcement action at the massacre.

The lawsuit from Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell filed on May 9 claims the testimony from the three officers, two of whom were part of the tactical team that eventually broke into a classroom and killed the gunman, is vital to the case against former school district Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who faces multiple counts of child endangerment and abandonment.

According to the lawsuit, the agents gave written statements early in the state investigation into the shooting and the response from nearly 400 local, state and federal officers who waited more than an hour to breach the classroom where the gunman was located. Nineteen fourth-grade students and two teachers were killed, and 18 more people were injured, in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.

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But U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have since then denied multiple requests to make the agents available for testimony about the law enforcement response, their tactical training, equipment and other topics.

The information sought is extraordinarily significant because the agents are uniquely qualified to clarify how Arredondo's actions, omissions, and orders as incident commander influenced their actions, the lawsuit said.

Customs and Border Protection officials did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday seeking comment.

The lawsuit seeks federal court help because a state court cannot compel the agents to testify on matters that relate to their official duties.

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The testimony could also be valuable to Arredondo if the agents' accounts present mitigating information for his actions that day, the lawsuit said. And it noted that Mitchell has offered to seek a court order granting the agents immunity for their cooperation and testimony.

The lawsuit does not name the three agents but identifies one of them as the tactical commander who directed and participated in the entry" of the classroom by officers.

The lawsuit said Border Patrol officials have claimed prosecutors can find the information they want from other responding law enforcement agencies. Border Patrol has also said the agents' testimony could reveal classified information or confidential sources, disclose law enforcement techniques or interfere with the orderly conduct of CBP business.

Arredondo and former Uvalde schools officer Adrian Gonzales are the only two responding law enforcement officers that day to be charged and are scheduled for trial in October. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

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According to the lawsuit, because Gonzales was indicted over his conduct prior to the arrival of the Border Patrol, the request to compel testimony from the agents is not part of his case.

Multiple investigations into the response have laid bare cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers.

Paul Looney, an attorney for Arredondo, said he also has been frustrated by Border Patrol's refusal to let its agents testify, and questioned why prosecutors aren't demanding to speak to more of them. The lawsuit said prosecutors initially wanted to speak with 18 agents, but narrowed it down to try to get Border Patrol's cooperation.

We want all of them. We want to know what they saw, what they heard, Looney said. One level of government is completely frustrating our ability to know what happened in there.
In 2019, Texas lawmakers passed a bill establishing open spaces at Texas universities as traditional public forums for anyone to speak freely. A new proposal in the Senate, however, would upend that statute and only allow students and employees to engage in expressive activities in common outdoor areas.

Senate Bill 2972 by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who chairs the Senate Education K-16 Committee, received its second approval from senators Tuesday, leaving one more vote before it advances to the House. The bill comes a year after multiple pro-Palestinian protests broke out at college campuses across Texas, resulting in more than 150 demonstrators getting arrested and some Jewish students feeling unsafe.

The 2019 law, SB 18, was priority legislation for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, which was passed with enthusiasm from Republican lawmakers who feared conservative voices were being silenced on campus. However, an interim hearing in 2024 after the pro-Palestinian protests, which notably opposed Texas' strong pro-Israel stance, sought to investigate how universities could better manage free speech.

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"The committee substitute of SB 2972 balances First Amendment rights of faculty, students and staff while returning local control to university leadership to ensure order and safety on campus to limit disruption during finals and class hours and the ability for peace officers to keep students safe during these organized efforts," Creighton said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

More: Texas lawmakers probe universities' compliance with anti-DEI law, free speech: Our takeaways

As per the bill, university boards of regents would have authority to designate areas on a campus to serve as limited public forums, but they would no longer be required to have a free speech area. University open spaces would be considered private unless designated otherwise, Creighton confirmed in response to Democratic Sen. Sarah Eckhart's questions on the floor.

Additionally, SB 2972 instructs institutions of higher education to prohibit expressive activities that include amplified sound or drums, encampments, wearing a face mask to conceal a persons identity and demonstrations that occur during finals week  all features of the pro-Palestinian protests, which universities and lawmakers deemed to be disruptive and threatening. The protesters have asserted their demonstrations were peaceful.

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Creighton's proposal would also bar speech on campuses between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. and the U.S. and Texas flags could not be replaced by any other.

More: A year ago, 136 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at UT. How campus has changed.

Creighton's bill resembles changes UT adopted after two large pro-Palestinian protests last spring, which a spokesperson said at the time were regular updates and clarifications to the school's policies. At an April 16 Senate K-16 Education Committee hearing, Amanda Cochran-McCall, UT's legal affairs vice president, was called as a resource witness for the bill, but senators did not call on her with questions.

Multiple students have sued the University of Texas for allegedly violating their free speech rights when they were arrested during the pro-Palestinian protests in April 2024. Free speech groups have decried UT's police response to the demonstrations, which was supported by Gov. Greg Abbott and applauded by conservative lawmakers. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrived mounted on horseback to control the demonstrations. Police used zip ties to detain protesters and pepper spray was used as a crowd control measure.

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At a Senate hearing in April, Sameeha Rizvi, a UT alum who is also a representative of the Council of American-Islamic Relations for Texas, said the restrictions in Creighton's bill would chill lawful speech. The bill would bar students from holding peaceful vigils in the evening or speaking up during the last two weeks of a semester, she said.

More: Analysis: UT increases limits on free speech after pro-Palestinian protests, Abbott order

Creighton's bill joins several proposals aimed at curbing "disruptive" free speech after the pro-Palestinian protests. Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, authored SB 2595, which the Senate passed last week, would make it a criminal offense for people to conceal their identity while intentionally" harassing, intimidating or threatening someone or a group of people in a public space. Middleton's bill closely resembles model mask ban legislation by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, that has been implemented in places like Nassau County, New York and North Carolina.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate poised to advance bill limiting free speech at colleges
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has declared an end to search operation at the site of a partially constructed Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed during a March 28 earthquake and killed scores of construction workers, the city's governor said on Tuesday.

The 30-storey State Audit Office tower was the only building in the Thai capital that collapsed from the tremors caused by a 7.7 magnitude quake that struck central Myanmar about 1,020 km (635 miles) away.

An investigation is underway into why the building came down so easily while those in the rest of the city stood firm.

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Earthquakes and tremors of that scale are extremely rare in Thailand and the quake sparked panic in the city, which ground to a halt for most of the day.

Authorities have recovered 89 bodies from the rubble and seven are still missing from one of the deadliest accidents of its kind in Thailand, which killed 96 people. In Myanmar, more than 3,700 people died.

The six-week operation in Bangkok involved hundreds of personnel, including international rescue teams in an around-the-clock effort during which search dogs and heavy equipment were deployed. The mission was severely hampered by the scale and weight of the debris.

"I want to thank all those who helped," Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittupunt told reporters. "This was a life changing incident for many and a lesson."

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Authorities have so far been identified 86 of the dead, while forensic tests are being conducted on 100 out of 313 fragments of human remains recovered from the site, according to police.

The probe is focusing on those involved in the construction of the building, which started in 2020.

A Thai anti-corruption watchdog said it had flagged to authorities irregularities it found in the construction of the skyscraper before it collapsed, while industry officials said initial tests of materials at the site indicated the presence of substandard steel.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty)
The boss of Thames Water has refused to rule out imposing a hose pipe ban on London and the South East this summer amid fears that dry weather could lead to a drought.

Chris Weston, the water suppliers chief executive, told MPs on Tuesday that while he was sure water supplies wouldnt run out entirely, he could not guarantee that restrictions on usage would be avoided.

He told the environment select committee: Im confident we wont run out of water. Im not confident that we wont have to restrict usage, because that will depend on what the weather does and what rainfall does between now and the summer.

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His comments came just hours after The Telegraph revealed that Britains only water desalination plant, which is operated by Thames, will be out of action for the rest of this year at least, risking further strains on supplies.

The 250m desalination plant in Beckton, east London, was designed to turn salty seawater into fresh drinking water for hundreds of thousands of households during a drought. However, it has effectively been mothballed for years because of technical problems and was unavailable the last time an official drought was declared in 2022.

Its closure will put more pressure on customers to cut their consumption if supplies tighten further in the coming months.

Water companies have already been told to ramp up conservation measures by the Environment Agency following the driest start to spring since 1956 in March and April.

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Asked why the Beckton plant was not available on Tuesday, Mr Weston said the company was trying to fix it but had no way of testing crucial pieces of equipment such as membranes.

He added: I share your concerns, the desalination plant is a big problem for us. I wonder why it was built in the first place.

I accept that it is not a good story. It was not a good investment, and so there are no excuses about it.

Dry weather to stretch water supplies

Thames has said its reservoir levels were currently about 95pc full. However, there are concerns that more unusually dry weather in the coming months could stretch supplies and force water suppliers to resort to restrictions. Rainfall in March was just one fifth of the historical average.

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Thames imposed a hosepipe ban during the last drought, while failing to fire up the desalination plant.

At Tuesdays select committee hearing, which at times became heated, Mr Weston and other top figures were also grilled by MPs over the companys financial problems and a plan to sell the business to private equity giant KKR.

Chris Weston, the chief executive of Thames Water, appeared before the environment select committee on Tuesday - House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

Sir Adrian Montague, the companys chairman, revealed it had just five weeks worth of cash left when it secured a 3bn emergency loan from creditors in March.

All I can say, and must say, was that the cash box was very nearly empty, he said. Honestly, its hair-raising.

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He defended Thames decision to delay improvement works on its infrastructure because of the crisis, insisting that the company cant magic money out of nowhere.

Shareholders had received no money since 2017 and dividend payments from Thames to its parent company, Kemble Water, were only made to pay off debts, he added.

However the City veteran, who was chairman of insurance giant Aviva previously, defended the decision to hand bonuses worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to executives.

He said: We live in a competitive marketplace and we have to provide the right sort of packages to these people otherwise the head hunters come knocking.

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When asked by Labour MP Helena Dollimore why head hunters would recruit from a failing company, Sir Adrian said: Its not a failing company. Its a company in recovery. We are making progress.

Thames chairman also faced tough questions from MPs over why the water company had entered exclusive takeover talks with KKR so soon, closing off the possibility of alternative bids.

Ofwat, the industry regulator, had let it be known that it wanted Thames to keep two bidders in the running until the latest possible moment.

Barbarians at the gate

The move has prompted concern that KKR, a US private equity fund, has struck a sweetheart deal with Thames senior lenders to back its bid in return for recovering more of their debts. It raises the risk that customers could pick up a larger tab.

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KKRs bosses were famously described as the barbarians at the gate after pioneering debt-fuelled takeovers in the 1980s. The company specialises in buying up businesses, stripping out costs and then selling them on for a profit in five to seven years.

As part of its 4bn bid for Thames, KKR has been lobbying the Government to give Thames relief from fines faced over a series of pollution incidents.

Thames and KKR argue that punishing the company now will only hinder attempts to turn it around.

Sir Adrian insisted that KKRs offer was by far the best and argued that Thames effectively did not have enough money to pay advisers to deal with two takeover bidders simultaneously.

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It is true that KKR said Were only going to do this if were the only person in the field, he said. And we agreed with that. We agreed with that, because we could not have handled more than one.

Alistair Carmichael MP, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said the hearing raised real concerns about the companys commitment to transparency and accountability to its customers.

He said: Alarm bells are ringing about the processes underpinning its proposed takeover bid by KKR and the potential for a corporate stitch up that benefits those at the top and fails to deliver for customers and the environment.

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.
As rumors swirl about jobs on the Rock Island Arsenal being in jeopardy, community leaders have joined together to announce they intend to fight the potential cuts.

Tuesday morning, a group known as the Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance met inside the Kone building in Moline to discuss the proposed changes and the impact they would have on the Quad-Cities.

On April 30, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent a memo with the subject line "army transformation and acquisition reform."

In the letter, Hegseth specifically mentioned restructuring, and merging, multiple units, including the Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command. Both are headquartered at the Rock Island Arsenal, where combined they employ about 1,500 people.

According to a memo distributed by the defense alliance, the proposed merger of these two units could eliminate as many as 400 jobs.

The economic impact the Arsenal holds is monumental to the area, said Quad Cities Chamber President Peter Tokar. In addition to being one of the largest employers in the area, the Arsenal contributes $1.2 billion annually to the local economy.

These potential job cuts have the potential to cause damage to the local economy, he said.

"We support efforts in government efficiency, that's of no question," he said. "In fact, the Rock Island Arsenal has been leading the way for some time, providing rapid response, innovative solutions to the Army, to real time issues through the Manufacturing Center of Excellence and the Quad Cities Manufacturing Lab."

The defense alliance is asking community members to sign a petition on the Chamber's website in support of the Arsenal, urging Congress to put an end to the merger.

With a view of the Arsenal behind him, Mike Matson, a member of the defense alliance and Davenport's mayor, pointed over his shoulder as he explained to the crowd gathered Tuesday that the community needed to unite together to advocate for and support the Arsenal. The threat of a merger might not only mean jobs would be lost, but could effect how the Army is supplied.

"The Arsenal is a key component in the lethality and readiness of our army and, quite frankly, our joint forces," Matson said. "Everybody knows when ... the National Command Authority has to make that decision to engage our forces anywhere in the world, the critical component is the supply chain, the logistics chain and, in this case, the munitions chain."

The Joint Munitions Command on the island employs about 600 people and is responsible for managing the weapons for 18 other arsenals, depots and ammunition plants. The Army Sustainment Command has approximately 900 employees and is responsible for providing logistics and materials to members in combat. Those can range from clothing to equipment to food.

"There's a lot of discussion about munitions in the world. This is who manages and controls and ensures that happens for all of us," Matson said, referencing the island behind him.

The decision to merge the two groups, he said, is driven by a desire to cut overhead and consolidate logistics, but leaves the door open for a lot of risk, especially if this is only the beginning.

"These guys here on the Rock Island Arsenal, men and women who served either in the civilian capacity, military capacity, and their families, their sole purpose is to ensure that the war fighter has the lethal tools and the key components, whether it's logistics or munitions, to do their job, and this is just potentially the beginning," he said. "We believe the secretary of the army has already called for a second round of transformations, further endangering readiness and the economic future of our region."

Changes on the Arsenal are not uncommon, and few would know that better than Trish Huber, who spent 32 years working at the Joint Munitions Command before retiring in 2015.

"There was other army initiatives, base realignments, downsizing, reorganizations, a lot. But when I look at the ... current transformation initiatives, they are significant and they will be disruptive. It will be a challenge to implement those initiatives and not disrupt the critical missions that are performed across DOD and especially focused on the island," she said.

Huber said she was surprised to see the secretary's memo, especially when it came to consolidating the munitions command. These workers are dealing with everything from small caliber ammunition to bombs, she said.

"You can imagine that you just don't move a mission without significant security and safety measures. It's not your Amazon delivery, and the people on the island working for JMC, they do this daily without incident. That's a critical mission," she said. "As they're preparing, this is our time to be very aggressive and support and defend the critical missions these commands do."
Thank You for Your Service, Ricky Cauthen

BOILING SPRINGS, S.C. (WSPA)  Im a red-blooded American, Marine veteran Ricky Cauthen told 7NEWS. I didnt do it for the glory or the money. I did it because I love my country.

Cauthen said it all started in high school.

I knew in ninth grade I was going in the military, Cauthen explained.

Soon after high school graduation, hed joined the Marines as an infantryman.

We were tasked to go find bad guys and either bring them to justice or make them safer over there, said Cauthen.

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He was sent to Iraq in 2004.

When we flew into Baghdad, it was pitch black night, he shared. But the pilot went straight up and came straight down in a combat landing, and thats when I knew.

His squadron was tasked with guarding the main power plant in the area.

When we got there, we got mortared 42 times, said Cauthen.

He served as a squad leader.

I would just make sure I stayed motivated, he explained. I would make sure we wouldnt get complacent. Thats the biggest killer of itcomplacency.

He explained hed pay attention to patterns.

The kids; they loved us because we handed them stuff. But thats how we knew we were safe because the kids were around, Cauthen said. Now, if we were strolling that exact same route again on foot patrol and we didnt see those kids,. Somethings up.

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He said that meant keeping his mind focused.

Oftentimes, Cauthen said he wouldnt call home to avoid being distracted.

Just trying to get home to my guys home, he shared. I came back both times with all my guys.

That was no easy feat and would weigh heavily on Cauthens mind later in life.

The lack of camaraderie and a lot of guilt for returning back when others didnt, he said.

Cauthen said that when he retired in 2009, the thoughts became too loud.

I went to alcohol a lot, and I got overweight and unhealthy, Cauthen said. But with the right people, I ended up doing better. Last year, I went to a two-week intensive outpatient therapy with the Wounded Warrior Project at Emory University Hospital in Georgia.

And his family and finding a new purpose.

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We go to prisons and take the gospel in prison to the guys in the prison, Cauthen explained.

Its a part of the Bill Glass Behind the Walls.

Cauthen said his work, through his faith, helps heal him.

Its just getting together with other veterans, Cauthen said. Just being able to hang out is better than nothing.

Because without it, Cauthen wouldnt be where he is today.

Ricky Cauthen, thank you for your service.

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.
By late Monday, the ripple effect from the latest radar failure at Newarks Liberty International Airport began to ebb at Logan Airport  with three flights arriving from 30 to 90 minutes behind schedule.

Other passengers werent so lucky. By midday, more than 80 flights had been cancelled out of Newark and another 110 delayed.

Newarks radar issues began on April 28 when screens essentially went blank for about 90 seconds  sending air traffic controllers into a panic. A similar thing happened again last Friday and then a third time on Sunday.

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Its frightening to hear that, said Brian Prescott, after arriving in Boston from Dallas/Fort Worth. It makes me very concerned. I know my wife, every time I leave the house to go check-in for a flight, shes very concerned about that. Its scary.

United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby, said in a letter on the airlines website that Newark Liberty is a safe airport but that the FAA has allowed it to run over capacity. Kirby said the airport can only handle 77 flights an hour max, but that the FAA has allowed 80+ hourly flights.

Until 2016, Newark was a slot-restricted airport, meaning the FAA capped the number of flights per hour. But as a reward for better on-time performance, those restrictions were lifted. (JFK, Reagan National and LaGuardia remain slot-restricted.)

Kirby favors a return to slot restrictions at Newark Liberty, which serves as Uniteds European hub and its largest hub on the east coast, with more than 146,000 flights in 2024. United controls about 77% of flights out of Liberty. Kirby called the airport a gem, but passengers havent always seen it that way.

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I didnt plan on traveling to Newark even before the power outages, said Britany Parmelee, arriving at Logan Airport from Austin. Ive always heard awful things about it.

Making Libertys radar problem more awful is the fact that the airports main departure runway is under repair  and will be out of service until mid-June  and the fact that rattled air traffic controllers walked off the job after the last two radar incidents because of mental stress. They may not return for some time.

Id love to know whats the problem behind the problem, said Jeff Tyner, also arriving to Boston from Austin. I mean, is it just old technology thats going out or is it a people problem?

The Trump administration suggests its both. Its proposing a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the air traffic control system and the hiring of more controllers. Of course, that wont happen overnight, and, in the meantime, highly trained air traffic controllers are retiring  which they can do at the age of 50.

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Controller jobs have long been known to be stressful, with thousands of lives on the line at any given moment  and training can take some time.

Tyner said the investment is worth it.

I would want to know that were using the best technology and that were paying people right, he said.

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Welcome home, Edan.

Thousands of locals flooded the streets of Tenafly, New Jersey, on Monday to celebrate hometown hero Edan Alexanders long-overdue release from Hamas captivity  and his eventual homecoming.

I havent slept for two nights preparing for this, Mali Oelsner, 45, one of the organizers of the celebration. This day is so important and so exciting for us. We were waiting 584 days for our community member, our beloved son of this community, to come back home.

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He volunteered to go to Israel and joined the IDF and he got kidnapped, Oelsner told The Post. Now hes coming back home.

Thousands gathered at Huyler Park in Tenafly, New Jersey Monday to celebrate the release of hostage Edan Alexander. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

Residents in Tenafly, New Jersey came out in force to celebrate Edan Alexanders release and return home. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

The crowd gathered at Tenaflys Huyler Park on Monday after word of the 21-year-old IDF staff sergeants release came down over the weekend after he was captured by the terror group during a sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023  one of 251 taken hostage.

More than 19 months later, Alexander was turned over to the Red Cross and crossed into Israeli territory.

The mood at the Tenafly park was rapturous with folks gathered around a giant screen broadcasting the news from Israel  Israeli flags were everywhere and locals danced to native music.

Edan Alexander, the last living American held hostage by Hamas, was captive for more than 19 months until now. IDF Spokespersons Unit

Residents of Tenafly, New Jersey have been praying for the release of hometown hero Edan Alexander. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

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As a mother, I can only think about his mom and how she feels, and how hard it must have been for her and how happy she is today, said Closter resident Leeron Mosayov, 50. Like her, Im very, very happy today, and also very sad for the additional people who are suffering immensely.

It feels good to be with the community, to be with people who all want the same thing, she said. My husband was here at 5 a.m., I came here at 8. It feels good to be together. I had a need for that.

Fellow Closter resident Shira Watermann said the wounds have not all healed following the deadly terror attack on Gaza that killed more than 1,200  but at least theres finally something to celebrate.

Residents followed the news of Edan Alexanders release by Hamas on a big screen and waved Israeli flags. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

It saddens me that its only him, said Watermann, 48. Were celebrating and everybodys happy and theres a lot of music, but it doesnt come without a side of us thats still so angry.

Ive been involved with a lot of the push to free the hostages, and this feels like the right place to be today, she added. Finally we get our moment of happiness during a very, very difficult time.
COMANCHE COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Three horses were killed during a bee attack in Comanche County last week.

The attack happened at a property just outside Comanche city limits on FM 590 Friday.

When first responders arrived at the scene, they found three horses and their owners were under attack by hundreds of bees, according to the Comanche Volunteer Department.

Both owners were taken into an ambulance immediately, according to Comanche VFD, who says one of the owners and a firefighter then put on bee suits and went to try and save the horses while soapy water was sprayed on the horses from a truck in an attempt to stop the attack.

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A post describing the incident states, the horses were finally moved away from the bees, but sustained hundreds of bee stings many of them around the horses eyes nostrils and mouths.

Despite immediate veterinary intervention and intensive treatment, all three horses sustained organ failure from the venom and died at an equine vet.

The bee hive, which unbeknownst to the owners was in a tree in the front yard where the horses had been moved that morning, was successfully removed by a professional exterminator.

These bees are likely Africanized due to the aggressive nature of the attack, but Comanche VFD did say any bees will become aggressive if their is a perceived threat to their hive.

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Comanche VFD provided the following information about bees, which are very active in the area this time of year:

The local fire departments respond to several bee calls each spring and in to summer. We do not dispose of the bees unless there is an imminent life threat or serious threat to people, pets, or livestock.

Bees will find holes in trees  dead or alive, holes or openings in buildings  vacant or not, brush piles, junk vehicles, and even holes in the ground.

The best practice if a hive is found is to avoid it. It seems most of the time a hive is found after it has been accidentally disturbed. However, the more aggressive Africanized bees will become aggressive when the perceived threat gets too close. There is no established marker or boundary for what is too close as engine noise from a mower or other loud noises many feet away can disturb the bees.

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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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
SPRINGFIELD  With less than three weeks until the Illinois legislatures scheduled adjournment, lobbyists, nonprofits, activists and others are ramping up efforts to get a piece of the states multibillion-dollar budget for everything from after-school funding to housing for people leaving prison.

But Gov. JB Pritzkers February spending plan leaves little wiggle room for lawmakers. In addition to a projected budget shortfall estimated at close to $1 billion, legislators have to come to terms with President Donald Trumps tariffs that have rattled the economy, while his newly formed Department of Government Efficiency has vowed to slash significant federal funding across the board. Pritzkers adversarial relationship with the Republican president could make Illinois a target for any of those federal cutbacks.

At a luncheon event last week, House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch discussed how the uncertainty could force lawmakers back to Springfield this summer to make adjustments to the budget that goes into effect July 1.

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Were going to pass the budget here in the next couple of weeks with the information we know. Theres a lot of things we dont know, the Hillside Democrat said. The only thing we can do is be committed to a process thats going to have everyone at the table and continue to say were not going to spend more than were bringing in.

The states fiscal picture brightened somewhat with an April report from the legislatures Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability that projected state revenue growth would be $266 million higher than the March estimate. The commissions figure, however, still falls $471 million short of the $55 billion in state revenues Pritzker used in his February budget proposal.

Last year, legislators had to pass a $750 million tax hike package to cover a deficit pegged at about $900 million. It took the House three tries and a series of procedural maneuvers to get the package through and balance a $53.1 billion spending plan.

Pritzker in February proposed no new taxes. But his proposal includes increased tax rates on table games at casinos outside Chicago, putting blackjack and roulette on the higher rate used for slot machines. The proposal also calls for a pause in the final shift of state sales taxes on motor fuel purchases to the states road construction fund, as well as an amnesty program for delinquent taxpayers. Together, those changes would generate an estimated $469 million, according to the governors office.

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I would say its hard to make a credible argument that those things are tax increases on working families, which is what the governors budget avoids, Andy Manar, the deputy governor on budget issues, said last week.

GOP state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer of Jacksonville, who co-chairs COGFA, and other Republicans in the legislative superminority have repeatedly pointed out that state budgets under Democratic leadership have grown in the last decade from under $40 billion to this years proposal of $55.2 billion, a rise the GOP attributes to bloated spending.

Republicans have spoken less about the uncertainty of future federal funding for Illinois and more about the need for a budget without increased taxes.

State Rep. Norine Hammond of Macomb, lead budget negotiator for the House GOP, said she and other Republicans have had only cursory discussions with House Democrats about the budget.

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They will continue to increase wasteful spending and absolutely continue to raise taxes on hardworking Illinois families and businesses, Hammond said. State government desperately needs structural reforms and to learn to live within its means.

State Rep. Amy Elik, a Republican from Godfrey who sits on the House General Services Appropriations Committee, pointed to a letter the Pritzker administration sent to state agencies last year calling on them to identify possible cuts. But Elik said she has since not heard anything about sufficient cuts.

Pritzker told lawmakers in February to be prepared for additional cuts to counter any budget requests they would make. But he said last month that people arent showing up at my door with proposed cuts, adding that any increases that theyre going to propose, whatever it is that Im signing, were going to have to make this budget balanced.

Pritzkers proposal included eliminating a health care program for noncitizen immigrants under 65, which drew criticism from some fellow Democrats in Springfield. The move would save an estimated $330 million in state funding, the governors office said.

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Manar last week said Pritzker remained firm on cutting the Healthcare Benefits for Immigrant Adults program.

If you look through his proposal, if you look through the details, youll see any number of programs that had to be reduced to bring the budget into balance, Manar said. This is a challenging year without question. These are tough decisions.

State Sen. Graciela Guzman, a Chicago Democrat, said lawmakers are still negotiating ways to keep funding the program.

Weve heard from our community  that this will have disastrous effects (for) individual people, like, neighbors that I have in my district that depend on HBIA for their cancer treatment for surgical care that they have lined up, Guzman said. I know of cases where people are on the transplant list and medical systems are telling them that they might have to be removed from the list if they lose coverage. This will cause individual instability for a lot of people.

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As he has in past years, Pritzker proposed the minimum mandatory annual increase of $350 million for funding K-12 public schools through the states evidence-based funding formula, which is designed to deliver equitable funding for school districts in low-income communities. State Rep. Will Davis, a Democrat from Homewood who chairs the House Appropriations Elementary & Secondary Education Committee, is again fighting for more, saying the increase needs to be at least $550 million.

New money is certainly important and if the new money is represented by $350 million, of course were not going to say no, but the idea is to try to get to where were going a little bit quicker, he said.

Last week, lawmakers outlined some of their budget requests before various appropriations committees. State Sen. Mike Simmons, a Chicago Democrat, pitched a request for $25 million to provide grants for schools that want to purchase electric buses.

We know that these will easily meet the needs of students and staff while improving public health, he said. Electric buses use zero emission, eliminating any risk of children or staff being exposed to toxic fumes generated by traditional school buses.

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The hearing came a day after electric bus company Lion Electric learned from a court-appointed monitor that the company would likely be liquidated. Lion Electric had to close its Joliet plant recently after being touted as a leading light of Illinois growing electric vehicle industry by Pritzker.

Bruce Mainzer, who leads the electric vehicle task force for the Chicago Metro Chapter of the Climate Reality Project, testified that Lions Joliet plant closed in part because of delays and uncertainty over the grant funding process for electric school buses.

Decarbonizing our transportation system must be a statewide effort regardless of ZIP code, he said. Electric buses significantly reduce exposure to harmful pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and, of course, carbon dioxide, the primary driver of climate change.

Mainzer said the $25 million appropriation would fund around 200 school buses. He said an electric Class C school bus costs about $375,000, three times the cost of a comparable diesel bus, which averages $125,000. The electric buses offer significant long-term savings, conservatively estimated at $10,000 or more annually in fuel and maintenance, he said while acknowledging that its difficult for school districts to leverage those savings to offset the higher upfront cost.

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During the same hearing, Sen. Guzman made a push for $50 million in after-school programming, and said tens of thousands of students statewide lost after-school services in the last two years. She said shes received feedback from students at a charter school that has suffered from cuts to their programming.

They shared what having that kind of uncertainty in their after-school programming has meant, that staff that has been able to provide emotional social support for them is no longer consistently available, Guzman said. This appropriation seems more essential than ever.

Susan Stanton, executive director for ACT Now Illinois, which advocates for access to after-schools programs, said studies show that students who participate in after-school programming overall have better school attendance, grades, standardized test scores and exhibit better behavior.

In these programs, students find mentors that often stay with them for the rest of their lives, Stanton said. So this is not like an added benefit to the school day. Its a critical, essential component.

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At another hearing last week on health and human services, state Rep. Maurice West of Rockford talked about appropriations for housing programs and other services for formerly incarcerated people, saying he looks at these programs as an investment to reduce recidivism in communities.

According to information provided by the Illinois Justice Project, a criminal justice reform advocacy organization, the Home for Good initiative wants to allocate $103 million for the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to help community groups carry out this effort.

Ahmadou Drame, the justice projects director, testified that this program would fill a massive hole in the states human services system.

There are over 3 million adults in Illinois who have arrest or conviction records, and each year nearly 200,000 people in Illinois leave prisons and jails. The reentry process can be confusing and challenging, with what seems sometimes like purposeful barriers at every turn, he said.

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Finding affordable housing is one of the most significant barriers that people face, Drame said. Illinois has only 34 affordable and available housing units for every 100 extremely low-income renters. This makes housing challenging for all people with low-incomes in Illinois, but especially so for people with records and those at the highest risk of gun violence.

Welch, meanwhile, at the hotel event noted every budget is its own preacher and lawmakers in many ways play the hand were dealt.

Were going to pass balanced budgets, he said. And listen, when youre in charge of a large group of tax-and-spend Democrats, that aint always easy.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Erik and Lyle Menendez will be eligible for parole after a judge on Tuesday reduced the brothers sentences for murdering their parents from life without parole to 50 years to life.

The brothers were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering their father Jose Menendez and mother Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Their case reached a major turning point last year when then- Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said he was reviewing new evidence in the case.

The brothers would still need approval from the states parole board to get out of prison. They could potentially go free on time served after spending nearly 30 years in prison for the murders. The state parole board will ultimately rule on whether to release them from prison.

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Heres a look at their case over the last three decades:

___

1990s

March 1990: Lyle Menendez, then 21, is arrested. A few days later, Erik Menendez, 18, turns himself in. They are charged with first-degree murder.

July 1993: The Menendez brothers go on trial, each with a separate jury. Prosecutors argued that they killed their parents for financial gain. The brothers attorneys dont dispute the pair killed their parents, but argued that they acted out of self-defense after years of emotional and sexual abuse by their father.

Jan. 1994: Both juries deadlock.

Oct. 1995: The brothers retrial begins, this time with a single jury. Much of the defense evidence about alleged sexual abuse is excluded during the second trial.

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March 1996: Jurors convict both brothers of first-degree murder.

July 1996: The brothers are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

February 1998: A California appeals court upholds the brothers conviction, and three months later, the state Supreme Court agrees.

October 1998: The brothers file habeas corpus petitions with the California Supreme Court. After they are denied the next year, they file petitions in federal district court, which are also denied.

September 2005: The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denies their habeas corpus appeal.

2023

May 3: Attorneys for the Menendez brothers ask the court to reconsider the convictions and life sentences in light of new evidence from a former member of the boy band Menudo, who said he was raped by Jose Menendez when he was 14. In addition, they submit a letter that Erik wrote to his cousin before the killings about his fathers abuse.

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2024

Sep. 19: Netflix releases the crime drama  Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,  a nine-episode series about the killings.

Oct. 4: Gascon says his office is reviewing new evidence in the case.

Oct. 16: Multiple generations of family members of the Menendez brothers hold a news conference pleading for their release from prison. The relatives say the jurors who sentenced them to life without parole in 1996 were part of a society that was not ready to hear that boys could be raped.

Oct. 24: Prosecutors say they will petition the court to resentence the brothers, and that it could lead to their release.

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Nov. 18: California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he would not decide on granting the brothers clemency until after the newly elected district attorney has a chance to review the case.

Nov. 25: A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge holds a hearing regarding the request for resentencing but says he needs more time to make a decision, delaying the resentencing hearings.

Dec. 3: Nathan Hochman is sworn into office as the new district attorney of LA County.

2025

Feb. 21: Hochman says his office will oppose a new trial for the Menendez brothers. He cast doubt on the evidence of sexual abuse. The following week, Newsom orders the state parole board to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to determine whether the brothers have been rehabilitated and if they would pose a danger to the public if released.

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March 10: Hochman says his office wont support resentencing the brothers because they have repeatedly lied about why they killed their parents.

April 11: Judge denies prosecutors request to withdraw their resentencing petition. The following week, resentencing hearings scheduled are delayed due to disputes among prosecutors and the brothers lawyers, who say they will ask to remove Hochmans office from the case.

May 9: Hochmans office remains on the case as the judge again denies prosecutors request to withdraw their resentencing petition.

May 13: Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduces the brothers sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. They are immediately eligible for parole because they committed the crime under the age of 26. The state parole board must still decide whether to release them from prison.
Tom Crann said farewell to MPR News listeners on Friday, hosting his final episode of "All Things Considered" as he makes the move to YourClassical MPR.

Crann has been a familiar voice for Minnesota Public Radio listeners since he arrived at the public station in 1995  initially as part of of parent company American Public Media's nationally syndicated classical music service Classical 24.

But he subsequently became known for his role on the news side, hosting current affairs show "All Things Considered" for the past 20 years, and also leading MPR News' election night coverage since 2012.

Chris McDuffie for MPR News

He will now be heard on 99.5FM YourClassical MPR, taking over the 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. slot that was formerly hosted by Steve Staruch, who is moving to a part-time role, hosting the 6 a.m.10 a.m. on Mondays, and then filling in as and when needed.

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Crann's first day at YourClassical MPR will be Monday, June 2. MPR News meanwhile is launching a national search for a new "All Things Considered" host, with various staff filling in until one is found.

Working in public radio since 1987, Crann came to St. Paul in 1995 when he was among the first announcers hired for the launch of Classical 24, American Public Medias nationally syndicated music service.

When he announced his pending move last month, Crann told MPR News: "That job was open, and it seemed to have my name on it. Its classical music for Minnesota in the afternoon, and I just thought it would be really nice thing to go back to."
Tory Lanez's team has confirmed that the rapper was stabbed in prison.

Hours after TMZ reported on Monday, May 12, that the musician, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, 32, was allegedly stabbed by another prison inmate, Lanez's team confirmed the news in a statement posted on his official Instagram account.

"Tory was stabbed 14 times - including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face. Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus. He is now breathing on his own," the statement said.

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.

tory lanez/Instagram Statement on Tory Lanes stabbing posted to his Instagram account Statement on Tory Lanes stabbing posted to his Instagram account

Lanez's team noted that "despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through."

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"He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support," the statement added.

TMZ, which was first to report the news, said that the incident took place during an alleged altercation in the yard of the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi.

According to The Los Angeles Times, citing a statement from a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson, the attack occurred at about 7:20 a.m. in a housing unit at the prison.

Prison staff is said to have immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid" to Lanez before rushing him by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

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The incident is currently under investigation by the California Correctional Institute and the Kern County District Attorneys Office, per The Los Angeles Times. The Office of the Inspector General was also notified of the attack.

PEOPLE has reached out to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for comment.

Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in July 2020.

Jerod Harris/Getty Tory Lanez in February 2022 Tory Lanez in February 2022

The artist was found guilty of all three charges related to the crime  assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence  in December 2022.

In January, Megan (whose real name is Megan Pete) was granted a restraining order against Lanez through Jan. 9, 2030, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE.



Read the original article on People
UPDATE, 3:24 PM: Sean.

That was the word Cassie Ventura said in a monotone voice over and over Tuesday responding to questions from the prosecution on the second day of Sean Diddy Combs sex-trafficking trial.

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The Bad Boy Records founders former longtime girlfriend gave Combs Christian name in one-word answers to queries from Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson, such as who demanded the marathon freak-off sex sessions with paid escorts who were drenched in Johnson & Johnson baby oil. Sean. Who picked out the outfits Ventura wore for the freak-offs? Sean. Who set up the video equipment to film the sessions? Sean. Whos violent outbursts was Ventura terrified of? Sean.

Who controlled every aspect of Venturas life during the couples 2007  2018 relationship?

Sean. Sean. Sean.

At one point Ventura gave a statement that could sum up most of her testimony in this first of what is expected several days: Every freak-off was directed by Sean.

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In sometimes meandering questions from AUSA Johnson, this afternoons testimony appeared to be a lot about set-up and crafting the story that puts Combs in the headlights of the charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more he was arrested on last September. The 55-year-old Combs, who has adopted a button-down, harmless-old-man persona in court this week, could be behind bars for life if found guilty.

To that, headshots were shown in court today of around a half-dozen males, many with shaved heads, who Ventura identified as some of the paid escorts from the freak-offs  including one smiling man Ventura said she only knew as the Punisher.

That lineup of compensated lovers was a break in what was, in many ways, a numbing litany of lists and locations that at times seemed like a waste of a star witness and the jurys time. Still, a long-game strategy slowly emerged for the feds near the end of the day: spotlighting the travel arrangements made over the years for at least three of the escorts so they could join Combs and Ventura for paid freak-offs in other states and cities. The shift toward sticking the landing on the sex-trafficking charge was short lived Tuesday, as other topics like the videos made of the dark hotel room sex sessions came up. Yet, in a case where consent is the core of the defenses own strategy, the prosecution moving away from kinky and cruel to criminal is incremental but important at this juncture.

While the prosecution and Judge Arun Subramanian did not often ask the very, very pregnant Ventura if she wanted to take breaks in what must be very trying testimony or how she was doing, this afternoons session did see the witness herself request a break at around 4 pm ET. Subramanian immediately order a 10-minute pause in the hearing.

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Before ending with talk about the visceral security footage of Combs beating an escaping Ventura in 2016 in the hallway of an upscale L.A. hotel, the last 45 minutes of Tuesdays court session saw the key witness going into detail about her efforts to delete the sex videos of her, escorts and sometimes Combs. If I was alone, I was deleting them, she asserted. Ventura called the idea of the explicit videos, let alone the videos themselves, humiliating, disgusting. I never wanted anyone to see me like that.

Objectifying me, putting me in very compromising gross positions with strangers.

On the subject of the freak-offs that spawned those videos, Ventura early this afternoon broke down in tears when she told the judge, jury and everyone else in the courtroom that the only thing she didnt hate about the sex sessions was the one-on-one time with Combs. When asked why she ever agreed to the freak-offs after Combs told Ventura of his attraction to voyeurism, she bluntly said: Good question.  I wanted to make him happy. I loved him.

A Ventura-instigated text exchange between Combs and herself showed the singer telling the I Need a Girl performer, I really need to f*ck. Explaining the undercurrent of the exchange, Ventura said she wrote that to Combs to get his attention and some time for just the two of them together, being that their entire relationship had become the freak-offs.

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Those freak-offs had sessions of Ventura being urinated on by escorts and Diddy himself, as the jury heard again. Sessions that left pricey hotel rooms covered in urine, baby oil, candle wax and more, including blood. I was expected to have freak-offs during my period, Ventura stated. She also revealed that after the sessions with the escorts, she and Combs would go into a private bedroom so she could smear the semen that had be ejaculated on her then-boyfriends body, especially his nipples.

Doing this made me feel horrible, made me feel worthless, that I didnt have anything else to offer, Ventura asserted in a quiet voice. Crying, Ventura said Combs was dismissive and called her predictable when she asked for them not to do any more freak-offs. Ventura admitted she would often backpedal when she met with the lack of Combs approval.

His look would change, she described. His eyes would go black. It was like the person I fell in love with was gone.

Ventura is set to return for more testimony on Wednesday. After the jury left the courtroom around 5 pm ET, Judge Subramanian informed the defense and the feds that he is going to severely limit what the press and others will be able to see of the actual sex videos featuring Combs, Ventura and the paid companions.

Sean Diddy Combs and Cassie Ventura

PREVIOUSLY, 8:21 AM: There were violent arguments that usually resulted in some form of physical abuse, testified Cassie Ventura this morning at the sex trafficking trial of her former longtime boyfriend Sean Combs.

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In the opening of her testimony, Ventura detailed to prosecutors how Combs mashed in my head, dragged me along the floor, kicked me, stomped on my head, adding that this happened too frequently.

Later, in her time in front of the court, a noticably distraught Ventura described the frequency of the alleged drug and booze-fueled freak-offs as a job.

Describing the sex sessions as all-consuming, the singer added that in the final years of her relationship with Combs her life was pretty much the freak-offs, recovering from the freak-offs, and either being subjected to or trying to avoid the relentless abuse by Combs.

The soft spoken eight months pregnant Ventura is by far the most anticipated witness of the Combs trial, and, in many ways, the flame that started this legal fire. Ventura took the stand today at approximately 11am Eastern Time.

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The public downfall of Diddy truly started when Ventura ( a.k.a. Victim-1) went public with her tales of abuse and assaults in quickly settled ($30 million) civil suit in November 2023, As more and more women and men came forward with similar stories involving Combs, Ventura found herself back at the center of things in spring 2024 when CNN obtained and broadcast a seemingly damning and now defense disputed 2016 hotel security footage of a half-naked Combs beating Ventura in the hall and dragging her back to their room. For months now, the defense alleges the footage, which their client had previously apologized for the violence he is shown committing, was doctored and doesnt tell the whole story.

Estimated by Judge Arun Subramanian to last eight to 10 weeks, the criminal trial of the much-accused Diddy follows his arrest last September on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more. Charges that could see the 55-year-old behind bars for the rest of his life if found guilty. Repeatedly denied bail and incarcerated in Brooklyns Metropolitan Detention Center since last fall, Combs has insisted he is not guilty and everything he did in the so-called freak offs and otherwise was with consenting adults, however kinky and disturbing it became.

Tuesday saw prosecutors leading the singer through how Ventura initially met Combs in New York City, as well as talking about the unexpected kiss he gave her in Las Vegas during her 21st birthday party celebration. It was my first real adult relationship. It was different, his lifestyle, Ventura told the jury of the beginning of her romantic interactions with Combs in mid-2007. I was just enamored with him. We had a good time. However, Ventura was also not hesitant to talk about how things very quickly went badly with the extremely controlling Combs.

I made the wrong face, and suddenly I got hit in the face, Ventura said at one point, delving into the physical relationship she had with Combs, but also the psychological abuse she says she suffered from the micro-managing rapper.

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Just before Ventura testified Tuesday, the defense suddenly moved to have her husband Alex Fine removed from the courtroom.

They were taking this move because they anticipated that Fine, who has two and soon-to-be three children with Ventura, may be added to the defenses 34-person witness list. Specifically, the basis for Fines testimony would be centered around an alleged 2018 rape of Ventura by Combs, and a string of profanity-laced texts to Combs from Fine back in 2023. Eventually the judge decided that a portion of this could be used as testimony, and that Fine would be permitted only to be in the court, until the point where the 2018 rape was mentioned.

With the defense out of the gate in their opening statement Monday strategically acknowledging Combs led an unconventional sex life, used drugs and committed domestic violence, they hope to dull the dark litany of accusations and evidence the prosecution will present. To that, defense attorney Brian Steels slicing up of the testimony of former hotel security guard and current LAPD officer Israel Florez on Day 1 of the trial yesterday was the approach of the Combs team in microcosm  find the contradictions, and the leaps of faith and pound on them.

In that sense, the decade-long relationship between Combs and Ventura was definitely a tale of two very different realities in the May 12 opening statements. Facing the jury on Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Johnson said if Cassie didnt do what the defendant wanted, the consequences were severe. Along with persistent alleged violence and assaults, Ventura was forced to let a male prostitute urinate in her mouth, and live in fear of videos of the freak-offs being made public to destroy her career. Her livelihood and safety depended on keeping him happy, AUSA Johnson added of the Me & U chart topper.

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This was a relationship, it was not based on coercion, it was not based on force, defense lawyer Teny Geragos said in her own opening statement in court in Lower Manhattan on Monday. Hoping to undermine one of the governments key pieces of evidence, the now infamous 2016 L.A. hotel security video, Geragos introduced a new tone. She told jurors: the video is overwhelming evidence of domestic violence. However, the defense says, it is not evidence of sex trafficking, claiming what the jury sees on screen is sadly a fight over a phone and the consequence of the toxic relationship between two people who loved each other.

The defense claim that Ventura finally broke up with Combs in 2018 around the time of the death from pneumonia of Kim Porter, the mother of four of Combs children. After Combs had publicly called Porter my soulmate, Ventura realized for the first time ever  all the things she wouldnt be to him, Geragos told the jury. The feds version of events is that the now married mother of two Ventura escaped from Combs in fear of her life.

The jury was seated Tuesday at approximately 9:50 am Eastern Time, with cross examination of Daniel Phillips, the paid sex partner of Ventura and Combs, picking up from Monday. As he did previously, defense attorney Xavier Donaldson emphasized over and over that it was Ventura who was in control and command of their sexual relationships with Phillips, at least initially. Previous to that, Tuesday, saw a discussion among the lawyers and the judge of media access to the explicit, so called freak off videos that will be shown in court during this trial at present, given a partial unsealing of that material is TBD.

Additionally, the feds and the defense once again bickered over whether or not material of prior bad acts, by Ventura should be included in the trial. Specifically, they were speaking of an incident of violence at a birthday party for Venturas brother in Connecticut. Combs defense wanted to see this evidence introduced as emblematic of Venturas character and her substance abuse of her own outside of the admittedly toxic relationship with Combs. Prosecutors argued that the incidents are essentially irrelevant.

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The judge decided that these text exchanges between Ventura and Combs on the evening of the Connecticut incident will be admissible in the trial.

Venturas testimony is expected to resume after the scheduled lunch break today. The court and lawyers have made an agreement that the pregnant Ventura wont be on the stand longer than 90 minutes at a time.

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A top campaign aide to former Vice President Kamala Harris blames former President Joe Biden for Harris loss, saying its all Biden in a new book about the former commander in chiefs apparent deterioration during the 2024 race.

The perspective shared by David Plouffe, who worked on Harris 2024 presidential campaign, underscores a frustration held by some Democrats: that Bidens reluctance to remove himself earlier from the White House race sealed the fate of Harris election bid.

Discussing the impact Bidens withdrawal in July of last year had on Harris chances, Plouffe described the then-vice presidents less than three-month bid for the White House as a fucking nightmare.

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And its all BidenHe totally fucked us, Plouffe, who was also manager of former President Barack Obamas 2008 campaign and a senior adviser in his White House, told the authors of the report.

First reported on by The Guardian and Axios, Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again  a new book by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson  provides accounts from interviews with over 200 people about what the authors describe as the then-presidents physical and mental deterioration and the White Houses quiet campaign to conceal it. The book will be released May 20.

A spokesperson for Biden told POLITICO that the former president and his team have not reviewed the book and declined to comment on the excerpts.

The book goes on to detail how Plouffe would receive calls for donors concerned about Bidens mental acuity and energy on the campaign trail. Plouffe said he tried to question the White House and Democratic Party about if they were confident Biden could win another election and was assured Biden was equipped to score a second term.

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In a separate incident, according to an excerpt published in The New Yorker Tuesday, the former president reportedly didnt recognize Academy Award winning actor and longtime acquaintanceGeorge Clooney at a fundraiser last June.

The two encountered each other after Bidens arrival to the event in Los Angeles, which was organized by Clooney, Julia Roberts, and former Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The former president was accompanied by an aide and allegedly took several tries before registering he was talking to Clooney.

Despite ongoing concerns from the public and other lawmakers about his physical condition and mental acuity, Biden, White House officials and his family members held firm on their stance that Biden could defeat President Donald Trump throughout the former presidents since-collapsed reelection campaign.

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But Biden and his team reached a fork in the road after his poor debate performance last June against Trump, which immediately sparked calls from top Democrats for Biden to withdraw from the race. Biden stepped aside a few weeks after the televised event.

Biden recently held himself accountable for Trumps win during an interview on The View last week.

Look, I was in charge and he won, so I take responsibility, he said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she does not believe Russia is genuinely interested in peace negotiations with Ukraine, despite a recent proposal for talks in Turkey.

"They are still bombing Ukraine. If they would be interested in peace, they could stop right now," the Estonian politician told reporters on the sidelines of a democracy conference in Copenhagen.

Kallas accused Russia of stalling for time and showing no real willingness to pursue peace.

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Speaking about the prospect for direct talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, she added: "It would be a good step if they actually sat down together."

However, she doesn't think the Russian leader will show up: "I don't think he dares, Putin."

Ukraine, with support from European allies, had issued an ultimatum for a 30-day ceasefire, which has since expired. In response, Putin proposed direct negotiations in Turkey on Thursday. Zelensky accepted the challenge and announced plans to travel to Turkey, though the Kremlin has yet to confirm whether Putin will attend.

Kallas: Security is as a regional responsibility

On the topic of European defence and pressure from US President Donald Trump to raise spending, Kallas said at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that the focus should be on building capability and unity, rather than meeting a specific target.

"It's clear that we have to do more. We need to invest more in defence," she said. "But I wouldn't get stuck in the numbers. I would actually focus on the capabilities that we need and also the thinking: So far the thinking has been that security is national; but we need to think regional. We are in this together as Europeans. And therefore, we should also invest together in the big capabilities, for example air defence."
Streetwear giant Supreme killed a major sponsorship deal with a top pro skateboarder  and then spread malicious rumors blaming him for the fallout, a new $26 million lawsuit alleges.

Tyshawn Jones, a 26-year-old pro-skater from the Bronx hailed as the best in the sport, is suing Supreme for not just arbitrarily killing his $1 million-a-year deal  and his 13-year relationship with the brand  but also for destroying his young career by effectively blacklisting him, his bombshell suit claims.

Tyshawn Jones, who many call the Michael Jordan of skating and is pictured here jumping over subway tracks in Harlem, is suing his longtime sponsor Supreme for killing a lucrative contract early, and then disparaging him to others in the industry, a new lawsuit claims.

I am saddened it has come to this, but I have a duty to myself and my career, and feel a responsibility to the next generation of skateboarders to stand up for what is right, Jones told The Post on Monday.

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Supremes success has been shaped in large part by the contributions of young talent, and I believe those contributions deserve to be respected.

Jones  a worldwide phenom considered by many to be the Michael Jordan of the sport  is known for his impressive skating feats across New York City  a talent that Supreme picked up on early when it offered him a sponsorship when he was only 13.

But after Supreme killed the deal last September  in an alleged effort to quickly shed costs  other brands started backing away from Jones, too, he claims in his lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Supreme said this August 2024 photo of him donning Marc Jacobs was an incurable breech. Marc Jacobs

Supreme allegedly told multiple third parties Tyshawn was kicked off Supreme for breaching his agreement with them, citing a photoshoot last year where Jones was dressed in another brands clothes, the suit states.

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But Supreme had never raised concerns in the past over similar photoshoots  and actually kicked Jones to the curb in a desperate effort to ditch its debt and stock obligations to the skater before the company was to be sold to eyewear giant Luxottica, the suit alleges.

Supremes termination is pretext for cost-cutting, the filing claims. Doubling down on their bad faith and willful breach Supreme, through several statements both impermissible and false, has widely disparaged Tyshawn as a liability, a risk  someone no brand would want to affiliate or work with.

Supreme had sponsored Tyshawn Jones since he was 13-years-old, roughly half of his life. AAAAAAAAAAAA  stock.adobe.com

Jones began skating at age 10 and quickly gained fame and notoriety in the niche sport, landing a namesake Adidas shoe model in 2019.

In both 2018 and 2022, Jones was named Skater of the Year by Thrasher Magazine, considered to be one of the sports highest accolades.

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But one of his earliest backers was Supreme, the suit states.

Tyshawn Jones and Supreme were synonymous due to their long partnership, his lawsuit claims. Getty Images

The names Tyshawn and Supreme go hand-in-hand, the suit states, akin to the relationship shared by Nike and Michael Air Jordan.

That all ended in September, when Supreme told Jones that their million-dollar deal was over, with 15-months still left in the contract, which paid the skater $1 million per year.

Supreme called an August 2024 photoshoot in which Jones wore Marc Jacobs brand clothing an incurable breach of his contract, according to the lawsuit.

It was a surprise to Jones, who had taken advantage of modeling and photoshoot opportunities for years, which Supreme encouraged and never objected to, the suit claims.

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Jones had been dressed in brands like Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton and more, and had starred in a 2022 a global campaign for Tiffany & Co.

Supremes success has been shaped in large part by the contributions of young talent, and I believe those contributions deserve to be respected, Tyshawn Jones told The Post. Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.

Soon after the 13-year partnership was dissolved, Jones claims he learned that his old sponsor was trying to cast him as the bad actor.

Through other people in the industry, Jones heard that Supreme was dispensing a narrative that he was at fault, according to the suit.

For instance, the photographer of the Marc Jacobs shoot told Jones when they ran into each other at Paris Fashion Week in January that Supreme employees told him they were no longer doing business together.

Supreme did not respond to a request for comment. Robert  stock.adobe.com

Supreme executives were telling other influential people in the skateboarding, fashion, apparel and marketing worlds that they had to terminate Jones sponsorship, falsely characterizing their termination as forced by Tyshawns material misconduct, the suit alleges.

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Supremes disparagement of Tyshawn is fodder for extensive industry gossip, which has quickly spread throughout the fashion, apparel and skateboarding marketplace, the filing states.

Supreme did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Jones lawsuit seeks the $1.25 million he claims he was still owed through his contract term.

He is also asking for $25 million in damages for Supremes alleged wanton and egregious conduct towards him, and to help disincentive other like-situated companies from destroying young athletes careers with impunity in the name of commercial gain.
A Republican representative told his fellow party members Monday that they are committing political suicide by threatening to cut Medicaid.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley wrote a New York Times op-ed Monday warning other Republicans that the Trump administrations pursuit to axe support for the lower class is both morally wrong and politically suicidal.

Hawleys essay was published only hours after Republicans announced new legislation that could sever millions of Americans only connection to essential healthcare. If the legislation takes effect, more than 8.5 million people would lose health insurance across the country.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) called the proposed cuts to Medicaid

Hawleys op-ed, titled Dont Cut Medicaid, questioned President Donald Trumps one big, beautiful bill, asking, Will Republicans be a majority party of working people, or a permanent minority speaking only for the C suite?

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The partys Wall Street wing is taking over, added Hawley, and theyre ignoring Trumps campaign promises to everyday Americans in order to further an agenda focused on corporate giveaways and preferences for capital.

Medicaid provides healthcare to over 70 million Americans. Hawley wrote that when Trump won the Missouri popular vote, voters also demanded that the state expand Medicaid coverage and inscribe that expansion in our state constitution. Now, Trump is violating his very oath to over a million Missourians.

All of which means this: If Congress cuts funding for Medicaid benefits, Missouri workers and their children will lose their health care, wrote Hawley. And hospitals will close. Its that simple. And that pattern will replicate in states across the country.

President Donald Trump's

Hawley, who has repeatedly opposed Medicaid cuts, called Trump out for falsely claiming the other week that the administration is doing absolutely nothing to hurt Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.

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With more than 80 percent of Americans opposing significant cuts to Medicaid, wrote Hawley, Republicans need to open their eyes: Our voters support social insurance programs, he wrote. More than that, our voters depend on those programs... our economy is increasingly unfriendly to working people and their families.

The mega-bill proposed in the House aims to majorly slash Medicaid in order to conserve federal funding. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been asked to find at least $880 billion in federal spending cuts over the next decade.

A woman attends a rally on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol to support research and policies for breast cancer treatment, that are at risk by proposed Medicaid cuts. / Tom Williams / Tom WIlliams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

Many other Republicans have shown little interest so far in trying to interfere with Trumps Medicaid plan, and legislation unveiled late Sunday would force states to make their own decisions about funding Medicaid by cutting benefits or increasing taxes.

The House will be discussing the drastic measures Tuesday, with talks likely stretching into Wednesday.

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If Republicans want to be a working-class partyif we want to be a majority partywe must ignore calls to cut Medicaid and start delivering on Americas promise for Americas working people, Hawley wrote.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Trump administration for comment.
Sitting at a desk in a remote Pentagon office, last Wednesday, Gen. Xavier Brunson has two maps displayed beside him.

One hung on the wall shows the entire world, displayed in a wide rectangle. Another, printed on a paper sheet in front of him, depicts Seoul and its distance from other nearby capitals: Tokyo, Taipei, Manila and Beijing, among others. Rather than showing the usual north-to-south view of Asia, this one displays what the region would look like if peering out from Chinas eastern coast.

Brunson has been sharing this second map in his many meetings in Washington, while arguing for the value of his command  overseeing the 28,500 U.S. troops in Korea. Seoul has one of Asias strongest militaries and sits inside the vital first island chain of countries that arc off Chinas coast like a parenthesis.

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It begins with looking from an enemys perspective and then seeing where you are and how you might array your capabilities, Brunson said.

But South Korea also has one of the worlds most alarming neighbors. In the last year, North Korea has traded troops and ammunition in exchange for Russian technology  on missiles, satellites, submarines, drones and most alarmingly a rogue nuclear program. Last year, North Korea conducted 47 ballistic missile tests, a number Brunson now expects to go down with Russias aid.

All this makes Brunsons job  or jobs  harder. Alongside U.S. forces on the peninsula, he would also lead South Korean troops in the case of a war, an arrangement known as Combined Forces Command, or CFC. He also helms United Nations Command, the group of 18 countries that have helped keep the peace on the Korean Peninsula since 1950.

Brunson sat down with Defense News on May 7 to discuss the 75th anniversary of UN Command, the future of U.S. forces in Korea and the assumptions hes trying to upend with the help of his maps.

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This interview has been edited for brevity.

North Korea has changed its policies  more emphasis on sovereignty, a new view of the southern border. How does UN Command need to change as well?

The North Koreans have changed fundamentally. The associations amongst the adversaries  those authoritarian colluders, if you will  in China and Russia and the [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea], those relationships have changed and matured.

We have to do the same thing. Whats really in the offing is that year 76 forward is going to be different for UN Command. The mandate remains, but our composition, our posture even may change in the future. And weve got to be flexible enough to do that.

Do you expect big changes to posture or membership, potentially the addition of new member states?

I wont mention these nations because those are bilateral things that are going on with the Republic of Korea, but there are nations that want to participate. We just recently got a New Zealand contingent thats come to the peninsula. And if you talk about things that excite me, its when I talk to those ambassadors and they look at me and they say: Hey, were working to get our soldiers here.

I wanted to ask about one of the other hats that you wear, which is the CFC. Has the timeline for handing over operational control of South Korean forces moved up?

Ive heard some mention of the urgency of that. My piece is to continue to talk to leadership about where we stand. Were continually trying to assess where we are along the bilaterally agreed upon conditions-based [operational control] transfer.

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If that decision is made, then my job is to now develop the strategy that lets us keep that policy moving forward. When leadership has made a decision, its my job to make it work.

To be clear, theres no decision that has been made yet, though?

None that I know of.

There were a few Patriot air defense batteries that were brought away from the peninsula to help with the campaign in the Middle East. Now weve reached a ceasefire in Yemen, do you know when those are coming back?

No, I dont know when exactly those capabilities are going to come back. But I do know that the [Indo-Pacific Command] commander has been able to ensure that we had other capabilities for an extended period of time within the Republic Korea. This is not the first time that capabilities have left the peninsula. In rough order, between 50 and 60 times, capabilities have gone to other places to support [military needs] around the globe.

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My job is to ensure that were able to meet the strictures of the Mutual Defense Treaty. I can say unequivocally, we can do everything that were supposed to do. I just want the stuff back because those are my people.

The increasing adversary that people in this building are concerned about is China. How are you working with South Korea to reorient around that threat?

Nations are going to make decisions that align with their own interests  always.

There are economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific. There are security relationships in the Indo-Pacific. What I find is that our ability to see, sense, and understand in and around the peninsula is coming closer in alignment.

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For example, in the West Sea right now, there are structures being erected by the Chinese. The Koreans see that. There are encroachments in and around the northern limit line by Chinese fishing vessels and Chinese naval vessels that cause concern to the Koreans.

They understand that those are threats that may have to be dealt with at some point in time.

South Korea has an election in June after the last president was impeached for declaring martial law. Regardless of who wins, do you think the recent work with Japan, South Korea and the U.S. will last?

I think it will survive because the threat will continue to metastasize. If theres a thing that our adversaries have learned over time is the power of alliances, the power of proxies.

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You can look in the Middle East and see a proxy fight thats going on. You can look in our region now, and weve got North Korea sending troops and materiel to Russia to participate in the conflict, not their own. We see China is still a benefactor for North Korea.

The new leader in the Republic of Korea from 4 June forward has to take on the fact that his nation sits at the juncture of an alliance of sorts that hes got to counter.

How many North Korean troops are now in Russia?

I think 10 to 12 [thousand] is where we throw our estimates at.

This alignment gives North Korea different options than theyve had previously facing sanctions. How do you continue to counter that?

Its capability on capability. What can our adversaries do? What do we need to be able to do?

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That really leads me to a sort of integrated assurance. Its using all the elements of power, of national power to assure our friends, partners and allies of our commitment to the alliance.

What we have thats unique in South Korea is we have diplomacy, and weve got the military there, partnered for the past 70 years.

We have the means to continue to assure our ally that we are there. That also sounds the bell every day that were on the peninsula to Russia and China. Were in the neighborhood.
Tory Lanez suffered a major scare this week while serving his 10-year jail sentence for being convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in her feet. The 32-year-old artist revealed that he was stabbed 14 times and the ensuing bodily effects he had to endure.

Lanez suffered seven stab wounds to his back, four to his torso, two to the back of his head, and one to the left side of his face, per his Instagram post. These damages caused both of his lungs to collapse, and he required breathing assistance via a device. At the time of his Instagram post, they said he finally gained the ability to breathe on his own.

Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through, they added. He also wants thank everyone for their continued prayers and support. Check out the post below.

The attack reportedly occurred on Monday (May 12) at 7:00 a.m. at a housing unit associated with California Correctional Institution, according to The Associated Press. Tory Lanez was immediately given aid and rushed to an outside hospital, per Pedro Calderon Michel, spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The prisons investigative unit and the Kern County District Attorneys Office are both investigating the matter.

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There were mixed reactions in the LUV artists comments. This is a hit on his life!!! one fan wrote. He needs protection! Another fan left a lengthy prayer for his safety and protection in the comments. Others, presumably Megan Thee Stallion fans, werent so empathetic. You get what u give Tory, one user wrote. How sad what happened to him. How fortunate he isnt a woman, because maybe theyd be blaming him for what happenedjust like they do to us women.

Lanez was found guilty on all counts in December 2022 after his trial for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in July 2022. The artists were reportedly involved in a romantic relationship and got into an argument while leaving Kylie Jenners house in Hollywood Hills. After the Houston rapper exited the vehicle, the Daystar artist shot the gun at the back of her feet and ordered her to dance. Lanez denied his accusations for the entirety of the process and even unsuccessfully attempted to appeal his conviction.

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In December 2022, rapper Tory Lanez was found guilty of shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in 2020, with Tory being sentenced to 10 years in prison in August 2023.

Handout / California Department of Corrections via Getty Images

He has been serving his time in a California prison, and on Monday, a spokesperson for the star confirmed that Tory had been rushed to the hospital after he was stabbed 14 times.

In a statement that was posted to Torys still-active Instagram account, which has over 11 million followers, it was said that Tory suffered two collapsed lungs following the attack, but is now talking normally and in good spirits.

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Per the BBC, Tory  real name Daystar Peterson  was attacked by another inmate at around 07:20 a.m. local time, and prison staff began aid on Tory before he was taken to a local medical facility for further treatment. A spokesperson for Californias corrections department, Pedro Calderon, added that an investigation into the stabbing is underway.

Sarah Morris / WireImage

Related: Donald Trump's Apparent Baldness Is Going Viral In A New Photo

Tory was stabbed 14 times - including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face, the statement on Torys Instagram page began. Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus.

He is now breathing on his own. Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through, the statement continued. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.

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Related: 28 Celeb Facts That Feel Like They're Made Up But Are Shockingly Real

Megan was shot during a pool party at Kylie Jenners house in July 2020, with Megan testifying that Tory had said: Dance, bitch, as he started shooting at her feet.

CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

I don't know if he could shoot me and kill me, she said during an interview with CBS Mornings. I was really scared, 'cause I had never been shot at before.

When Megans allegations were first made public, she was accused of lying about being shot  with other high-profile stars like Drake and Nicki Minaj among the big names to fuel this cruel speculation, and Megan reflected on this in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Olivia Wong / WireImage

Referencing claims that shed seen on social media that she was lying about the incident, Megan told the publication: In some kind of way, I became the villain. And I dont know if people dont take it seriously because I seem strong."

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I wonder if its because of the way I look. Is it because Im not light enough? Is it that Im not white enough? Am I not the shape? The height? Because Im not petite?" she added. Do I not seem like Im worth being treated like a woman?

A statement from Megan was later read out during Torys sentencing, with star being quoted as saying: "He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma.

More on this

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Rapper Tory Lanez's team has detailed the gruesome injuries he suffered in a brutal prison attack. In a statement posted to his Instagram page on May 12, 2025, the rapper's team revealed that he was stabbed 14 times.

"Tory was stabbed 14 times  including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face, the statement reads.

However, the musician is expected to live as he is improving, according to the statement.

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Lanez is serving a 10-year prison sentence for the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus,"' the statement continues.

"He is now breathing on his own. Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, "was stabbed in prison at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi" on Monday, May 12, 2025.

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The stabbing occurred in the prison yard, and the suspect is another inmate, whose name was not released, THR reported.

At approximately 7:20 a.m. today, Daystar Peterson (BW0168) was attacked by another inmate at a housing unit in the California Correctional Institution (CCI) in Tehachapi, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation deputy press secretary Pedro Calderon Michel said in a statement to THR. Staff immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid. Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment.

The motive for the stabbing is not clear, TMZ reported.

Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Makes Unexpected 9-Word Statement in Court
Patrick Spencer, the Tory MP, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault after an incident at the Groucho Club in August 2023, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The charges relate to two alleged attacks on two separate women.

The Conservatives suspended Mr Spencer on Tuesday afternoon and confirmed the Commons whip had been withdrawn.

Rebecca Harris, the Tory chief whip, also asked Mr Spencer not to attend the parliamentary estate while police enquiries were ongoing.

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Mr Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is due to appear before Westminster magistrates court on June 16.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the 37-year-old had voluntarily attended a London police station on March 13 for an interview.

Mr Spencer was elected as MP for the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat at the general election last July with a majority of 4,290.

The arrest and suspension of the party whip raises the prospect of a by-election being fought in the constituency in the near future. In July, Labour came second and Reform  now surging in the polls  was narrowly in third place.

MP had called for moral probity in politics

Mr Spencer is married with two children. He is the son of Baron Spencer of Alresford, who held one of the most senior positions in Conservative Campaign Headquarters when he was appointed its treasurer in 2006.

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Lord Spencer continues to be an active figure in the political Right and is the current chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies, the think tank founded by Margaret Thatcher.

Prior to entering Parliament, Mr Spencer worked in finance for private equity firm IPGL, a company led by his father.

He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think tank and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education.

Mr Spencer made his maiden speech in the Commons in July last year during a debate on the MPs code of conduct relating to second jobs, during which he said the most important thing to the people across my constituency was restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system.

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Lawyers acting for Mr Spencer said: Patrick Spencer categorically denies the charges.

He has cooperated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court.

Given that the proceedings are now on foot, no further comment will be made.

A Tory spokesman said: The Conservative Party believes in integrity and high standards. We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect.

The Conservative Party cannot comment further on an ongoing legal case.

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In a statement a Met spokesman said: The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man following an investigation by detectives.

The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Patrick Spencer, 36, from Suffolk, in connection with an investigation into two sexual assaults, which reportedly occurred at Groucho Club in August 2023.

Club previously closed over separate claims

In a separate incident unrelated to the charges against Mr Spencer, the Groucho Club was temporarily closed after police investigated allegations of a rape inside the venue on November 13 last year.

The clubs licence was briefly suspended by Westminster city council following the incident. A 34-year-old man was later arrested in Hertfordshire on suspicion of rape.

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The club was reopened a month later when the venues licence was reinstated with conditions.

A Westminster city council licencing subcommittee lifted the licence suspension with immediate effect, provided that the club complied with new licence conditions.

It included 13 recommendations from the Metropolitan Police on properly supervising lavatory areas, proper staff welfare training and a tightening-up of previously lax procedures relating to members and their guests.

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SCRANTON  Republican Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak again called for the county to pump the brakes on and pause its property reassessment project thats been ongoing since 2022 and nears completion  a proposal Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan rejected as disingenuous, untenable and impractical.

At a Monday town hall meeting he hosted on the ongoing reassessment, Chermak acknowledged the need to update property assessments countywide for the first time since 1968 and restore fairness to a system thats become wildly skewed over the past 57 years. But he also reiterated calls to pause the reassessment for a year to make sure tentative assessed values thousands of property owners have questioned or disputed are correct, a pause Gaughan doesnt support and wont entertain.

Why dont we wait and take a look at these numbers, see what the values are (and) make the proper corrections, Chermak told the audience of about 100 gathered Monday in the Peoples Security Bank Theater at Lackawanna College. My thought was whats the hurry?  Rushing through it doesnt do it for me. It doesnt do it for me. I think theres things that need to be looked at.

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A county resident attending Commissioner Chris Chermaks reassessment town hall Monday looks toward the stage in the Peoples Security Bank Auditorium in Angeli Hall on Lackawanna Colleges campus in Scranton. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Tyler Technologies, the firm conducting the reassessment, mailed in March tentative new property values that property owners have an opportunity to appeal before new assessments take effect next year. The tentative values should reflect a propertys fair market value, or the amount the property should fetch if sold.

More than 8,600 property owners who disagree with or question their tentative assessments booked appointments to raise concerns during an informal review process that continues through Friday, a precursor to a formal appeals window that will open this summer. Tyler had met with property owners to discuss questions relative to 13,602 properties as of Monday morning, information provided by county assessment Director Patrick Tobin shows.

Against that backdrop, Gaughan rejected the premise that the reassessment process isnt working and should be paused. Reacting Tuesday to Chermaks call for such a pause, Gaughan noted the process of rectifying issues with the tentative values is happening now via the informal reviews and will continue with formal appeals.

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The assertion hes making that we can halt or slow down the reassessment is extremely misleading and in my opinion its untenable and completely impractical, Gaughan said. Its not a discretionary initiative. If we were to stop it, or to slow it down, we would be just wasting everybodys time. We are at the finish line here and the goal is to stop perpetuating the existing inequities that the reassessment seeks to eliminate.

Neither Chermak nor Gaughan voted to initiate the reassessment, which a prior board of commissioners approved over Chermaks objections before Gaughan was in office. But Gaughan and other reassessment proponents maintain that a judge likely would have compelled the county to reassess anyway had the county failed to act.

As part of finalizing the deal with Tyler in 2022, the prior board of commissioners ratified an agreement postponing further action in a lawsuit filed by three taxpayers seeking to compel a reassessment on the basis of tax fairness. Those litigants specifically alleged the countys 1968 assessments had resulted in disparate taxes on similar properties, with some property owners paying more than their fair share and others paying less.

Among other terms, the stipulated order postponing the litigation states that the county shall fully complete the Reassessment and implement the final new assessed values for use in all real property taxation in Lackawanna County no later than January 1, 2026.

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Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, far left, hosts a town hall meeting to discuss the countys reassessment project. Seated next to Chermak, from left, are attorneys Anthony Lomma, Jim Mulligan and Kevin Walsh and professional property appraiser J. Conrad Bosley. The town hall was held Monday, May 12, 2025, in the Peoples Security Bank Auditorium in Angeli Hall on Lackawanna Colleges campus in Scranton. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

The question of whether the process can or should be paused notwithstanding, much of Chermaks town hall featured input from a panel of experts who explained the reassessment and appeals processes and answered audience questions. The panel included attorneys Tony Lomma and Jim Mulligan, who discussed residential assessment appeals, attorney Kevin Walsh, who spoke to the commercial side, and professional real estate appraiser J. Conrad Bosley.

They all advised property owners who disagree with their tentative assessments to challenge them through the available channels, including the informal review and formal appeals processes. Property owners still unsatisfied after exhausting those options can challenge their assessments in county court.

The panelists also recommended property owners considering appeals, be they residential or commercial, get an appraisal done to bolster their cases. A number of audience members voiced frustration Monday over inaccuracies they believe resulted in exceedingly high tentative assessments, issues the review and appeals processes are designed to address.

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On Tuesday, Tobin said informal reviews will continue through Friday and that Tyler can take walk-in appointments when appropriate at the county 911 Center, 30 Valley View Drive, Jessup. New final assessments reflecting potential adjustments made following informal reviews will be mailed by June 20, giving homeowners at least 40 days to file formal appeals by the Aug. 1 deadline.

Property owners who didnt participate in the informal review process can still file formal appeals.

Formal appeal hearings will be held from Aug. 1 through October, and officials anticipate a lot of them. Lomma said Monday he thinks there could be as many as 20,000 formal appeals filed countywide, though Tobin said Tuesday he anticipates 10,000 at most.

I base it on the informal appeals, Tobin said. Presumably a lot of those people will be satisfied with the result when they receive their final assessed value.

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Assuming the process continues as planned, the new assessment roll taxing bodies will use to generate 2026 property tax bills will be certified Nov. 14.

Full video of Chermaks reassessment town hall, including the audience question and answer portion, is available online via ECTVs YouTube channel.

Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak hosts a town hall to discuss the countys reassessment project in the Peoples Security Bank Auditorium in Angeli Hall on Lackawanna College campus in Scranton on Monday, May 12, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

County residents attend a reassessment town hall meeting Monday in the Peoples Security Bank Auditorium in Angeli Hall on Lackawanna Colleges campus in Scranton. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Rigathi Gachagua has declared that he is willing to support Fred Matiangis presidential bid in 2027on one condition: the former Interior Cabinet Secretary must first unite his Kisii base.

In a candid interview on May 12, 2025, Gachagua welcomed Matiangis growing visibility on the national political stage, calling it a significant milestone for the Abagusii community. But he cautioned that national leadership requires solid grassroots backing.

Matiangi appears qualified, active, and tough. He has what it takes to be president. But does he have the support from home? If Kisii doesnt rally behind him, where will his candidacy go? Gachagua posed.

To verify whether Matiangi enjoys sufficient regional backing, Gachagua said he had dispatched a 20,000-member team across Kisii to assess the local mood.

Ive sent them to listen to the ground and tell me whats going on. I also want to know if what Im seeing on television and what is being discussed align, he explained.

Gachagua Calls for United Opposition With Clear Strategy

Gachagua emphasized the need for the opposition to develop a strategic and unified approach to defeat President William Ruto in 2027. He noted that his support for Matiangior any other candidatewould only come through a consensus-driven formula.

I am ready to support Matiangi if the formula settles on him. But it cannot be forced that it must be him. That would mean weve lost direction, he said. If that formula favours Matiangi, he will be our candidate and he will win. If it favours me or Kalonzo Musyoka, we will also support and win. But we must work as one team.

The former Deputy President dismissed personal ambition in favor of coalition-building, saying Kenyas challenges require collective leadershipnot just a single hero.

I dont have to be president. I can be anything else. But I want to be part of that team. Matiangi also wants to be part of that team. Kalonzo too. We must put the country above our personal interests, he stated.

Gachagua drew a line when it came to local support. He insisted that backing someone who lacks full support from their own region would be politically unwise.

But you cant tell me that Rigathi Gachagua, who has united all his people, should support someone who doesnt have all his people behind him. I would be a fool, he said.

Gachagua Urges Matiangi to Resign from World Bank

Gachagua at the same time urged Fred Matiangi to formally resign from his duties at the World Bank in Washington before launching a full-scale political campaign in Kenya.

The fomrer DP said it would be improper and undignified for Matiangi to abandon his international role without a proper transition.

He must return, pick his files, and officially hand over. That way, he leaves with dignitydignity for himself, his community, and for Kenya, Gachagua stated.

He emphasized that the move would not only protect Matiangis professional reputation but also honor the Kisii community that stands behind him.

Gachagua Warns Kisii Community Against Turning on Matiangi

Gachagua also issued a pointed warning to the Kisii community: stand united behind Matiangi or risk embarrassing the very leader they encouraged to join politics.

Ive said it would be a mistake if you Kisii people have asked someone to leave his job, only for you to come here and start causing divisions in the community or allowing young people to insult him. That would be wrong. He has agreed to what you asked of him, he said.
SHAWANO COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV)  Town of Richmond officials voted to change their policy for handling stray dogs after a town supervisor shot and killed two stray dogs last month, causing controversy.

Town officials will now call the Shawano County Humane Society to assist the towns designated dog catchers with picking up stray dogs. The town will not have to pay the Shawano County Humane Society for these extra services.

Town officials will also need to post pictures of stray dogs reported to them on their social media accounts, an attempt to facilitate reuniting the animals with their owners.

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We now have a path, we have a plan, we can work together, said Shawano County Humane Society executive director Pam Nowak. We all understand and were clear.

Itll be nice to get this behind us, added town chairman Steve Gueths. I hope what we did tonight will do that.

Shawano County Humane Society officials said a policy like this could have prevented the incident that prompted these changes. According to an incident report from the Shawano County Sheriffs Department obtained by Local 5 News, town board supervisor Ken Damveld shot and killed two stray dogs back at the beginning of April.

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According to the incident report, Damveld told a deputy that the dogs were acting aggressively towards him, and thats why he shot them. One of the towns supervisors told Local 5 News that their municipality follows Wisconsin State laws when it comes to dealing with stray dogs.

According to that law, a person may intentionally kill a dog if its threatening serious bodily harm to the person and the person has tried other ways to restrain the dog or needs to take immediate action to protect themself.

Many people dont buy Damvelds story. Nowak believes that people often misconstrue aggressiveness with fear, while one of Damvelds relatives says he has a history of abusing animals.

Packers Athletic Club opens in Titletown with high-end amenities and exclusive access

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His own dogs through the years cower at him when he calls them, his own dogs are afraid of him, said Gina Damveld, who is Kens daughter-in-law. Ive heard him say repeatedly that its quicker to shoot them than to catch them.

She said both she and her kids have witnessed Ken doing terrible things to animals. Local 5 News made multiple attempts on Monday to reach out to him to get his side of the story, but didnt hear back. He didnt attend the meeting on Monday night.

Nowak said they dont really see reports of aggressive stray dogs in other cities, which is a big reason why shes skeptical about Damvelds story.

Community advocates have collected hundreds of signatures on a petition asking the town to stop allowing residents to shoot stray dogs.

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Nowak said she believes that the town of Richmond has a culture of people believing its okay to shoot stray animals. At a meeting, a supervisor refuted this claim.

At a meeting on this topic in April, multiple people made comments in support of Damveld. They said that these stray dogs can be dangerous and could have diseases like rabies and believe Damveld was protecting the community when he chose to shoot the dogs.

They also noted several other incidents in the area when dogs attacked people (sometimes children) and had to be shot. A speaker also noted that these dogs could have attacked livestock in the area if they continued to run loose.

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TPS superintendent talks nurses week and graduation ceremonies

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools (TPS), Dr. Tiffany Anderson, joined the 27 News morning newscast with nurse Suzanne Kates to discuss Nurses Week and the upcoming graduation weekend.

Dr. Anderson invited Suzanne Kates as a guest to wrap up their celebration and discuss the importance of National Nurses Week, which runs from May 6 to May 12.

Suzanne Kates is a roving nurse who serves seven schools. 27 News asked Kates about her job.

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Its absolutely heartbreaking: Seven puppies found abandoned in Jefferson County

I love school nursing, Kates said. I get to take care of students of all ages, its different every day and I honestly have the best team of nursing services around.

27 News also asked if school nursing was a tough position to fill.

It is a tough position to fill, Kates said. We are looking for new nurses, so but its great.

TPS is hiring nurses and conducting interviews all year round.

Look at our website, Anderson said. You know, certainly send me an email, look and apply. Now is a great time before we go out for the summer. We do interviews all year, so we have nursing, nurses and schools. We also have substitute nurses that, if you just say, hey, I just want to rotate, I want something in the evening. Its an amazing place to be and we would love for more people to be part of our team.

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Dr. Anderson also discussed the exciting upcoming graduation weekend for TPS and has a message for all students graduating.

Petition started to overturn parole for cop killer

Congratulations to all of our students, Anderson said. That is the message. Thank you to our families and the future truly is bright.

Class of 2025 commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 17, at the Stormont Vail Events Center, 1 Expocentre Dr, Topeka, KS 66612. Each commencement ceremony will also be live-streamed on the Topeka Public Schools YouTube channel.

High School Commencement Ceremonies

Topeka High School: 9:00 a.m.

Highland Park High School: 12:00 p.m.

Topeka West High School: 2:30 p.m.

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Graduation ceremonies for Hope Street Academy and Capital City School will take place on Wednesday, May 14. Hope Street will hold its ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium, and Capital City will hold its ceremony at 5:30 a.m. at the Topkea Center for Advanced Learning & Careers academy at 500 SW Tuffy Kellogg Dr.

Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School Promotion Ceremonies

Sheldon Head Start: From 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday, May 19.

Pine Ridge Prep: At 1:30 p.m., Monday, May 27

Shaner Early Learning Academy: At 1:45 p.m. on Monday, May 27.

Preschool Programs: At 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 27.

5th Grade: From 1:30  2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28.

8th Grade: At 8:00 a.m. Thursday, May 29.

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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TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM)  Beloved grocery chain Trader Joes may be planning a second Tampa location, according to local real estate sources familiar with the matter.

The popular specialty grocer is reportedly scouting sites within Tampas city limits to alleviate pressure from its notoriously packed South Tampa store on West Swann Avenue, which opened in 2014.

A spokesperson for Trader Joes confirmed the brand is exploring opportunities nationwide but stopped short of naming a new site in Tampa.

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We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year, the spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Business Journal. At this time, we do not have a new location confirmed in Tampa.

The existing South Tampa location, known for its cramped parking lot and high foot traffic, has become a local talking point, even sparking viral TikToks and neighborhood news coverage. In 2022, traffic congestion spilling onto Dale Mabry Highway prompted complaints from nearby residents.

Sources said Tony Cervone, a principal and executive vice president at Metro Commercial in Miami, is representing Trader Joes in its search. Cervone did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In addition to its Tampa outpost, Trader Joes operates stores in St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor. But with its compact footprint, typically 12,000 to 14,000 square feet, the grocer is more agile than larger chains like Publix or Whole Foods when it comes to finding suitable real estate.

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The current Swann Avenue store fits that mold: a 12,500-square-foot former gym. Trader Joes has historically preferred adapting existing buildings rather than constructing new ones, though exceptions are made for standout sites.

Several high-traffic areas in Tampa could support a second store. Britton Plaza, recently purchased by Brixmor Property Trust, has vacant space, but with Publix as the anchor tenant, leasing restrictions may prevent a competing grocer from moving in.

Another possibility is Water Street Tampa, where the first phase of retail is fully leased, but future phases are in development. Plans shared among brokers in 2024 include up to 62,000 square feet of future retail space along Cumberland Avenue, split between a garage and condo tower.

While Publix currently operates in Water Street, inside the Heron tower in what was once a GreenWise Market  its unclear whether the chain could block competitors from future phases. A Trader Joes could serve as a major draw for downtown residents and office workers alike.

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Representatives for Strategic Property Partners, the developer behind Water Street Tampa, were not immediately available for comment.

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WEST SALEM, Ohio (WJW)  A Tuesday morning crash caused the right two lanes of Interstate 71 North to close past the U.S. Route 250/Ashland/Wooster exit, in Wayne County, near the Ashland County line.

The crash involved two commercial trucks, an Ohio State Highway Patrol dispatcher wrote in an email to FOX 8 News. Minor injuries were reported.

Pregnant woman, 2 children die in Kingsville Township trailer home fire

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Foodstuff was seen strewn across the highway on Tuesday morning. One of the trucks was carrying canned goods, according to the patrol. The other was carrying animal feed.

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The middle lane was reopened before noon. The right lane was expected to stay closed for several hours for cleanup, according to the dispatcher. All lanes were reopened just after 4 p.m., according to the patrol.

Drug-resistant fungus Candida auris reported in 17 states, including Ohio

Traffic was backed up for several miles, according to the patrol. The crash led to travel delays averaging about an hour between mile markers 188 and 196, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

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Firefighters are still working to fully extinguish a warehouse fire in Baltimore that rose to seven alarms overnight and has disrupted train service along the busy corridor between New York and Washington, DC.

Train service in and out of Baltimore has been restored on one track, but delays of about 30 minutes are expected throughout the day along the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak said Tuesday.

As the fire jumped from four alarms to seven in the vacant multi-story warehouse filled with mattresses, the fire department made the decision not to send first responders in and instead fight the fire mostly from outside, Wallace said.

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I was very adamant I was not putting my people inside, he said. The chief noted that no injuries have been reported.

Officials are now concerned about the stability of the brick-and-mortar building, with multiple stories above and below ground and a large water tower on top, Wallace said. Building engineers are on site, working on an extensive demolition plan, he noted.

Its going to take a lot of work, but it is something that were addressing, Wallace said.

Crews were dispatched to the fire near the West Baltimore commuter rail station around 7 p.m. Monday, Wallace said.

Service on the commuter MARC Penn Line was restored late Tuesday morning, after being suspended due to the fire, but trains will be running on a Saturday schedule, the Maryland Department of Transportation said.

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Amtrak stopped service late Monday from Baltimore to Washington and Wilmington, Delaware, after local officials placed a hold on all tracks in the western part of the city. The stoppage included trains going to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The fire department evacuated about 30 residents living near the warehouse, Wallace said, adding those residents are staying at hotel shelters thanks to help from the Red Cross and other local agencies.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, Wallace said, noting that a full investigation will be led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with help from the state fire marshals office and city fire and police departments.

Smoke is seen rising from a fire at a multi-story mattress warehouse in Baltimore. - Citizen App

The warehouses proximity to train tracks complicated firefighting efforts, Wallace said. Crews were working with Amtrak to shut down the power lines tied to those tracks before attacking the fire from that side, Wallace said.

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The massive fire was giving off a tremendous amount of smoke, making it hard to see into the warehouse, and it was burning in a residential area, which means water mains there have a limited capacity, the chief said.

Our fire flows have exceeded a lot of what the water grid has, Wallace said, noting crews are having to bring in additional water apparatus.

Mayor Brandon Scott praised the first responders working on what has become an all hands-on-deck effort, he told reporters Tuesday.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  A travel advisory has been issued for southern New Mexico on Tuesday and Wednesday as the area prepares for high winds and blowing dust. The National Weather Service says gusts could reach up to 45 to 55 mph, with sustained wind speeds of 25 to 35 mph.

Story continues below

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The advisory will be in effect between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Winds are expected to peak between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The New Mexico Department of Transportation says that if you must drive, to follow these guidelines:

Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.

Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway  do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.

If you encounter a dust storm, check traffic immediately around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.

Do not stop in the roadway; pull completely out of the travel lanes and as far onto the right shoulder as possible.

Stop the vehicle in a position ensuring it is a safe distance from the main roadway and away from where other vehicles may travel.

Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.

Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.

Stay in the vehicle with your seat belts buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

You can stay updated on roadway advisories online.

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Have you been planning a trip to Paris? Or maybe you want to chill on the beach on an island like Costa Rica.

Of course, travelling requires money, and you'll need to know how to exchange your money for any foreign currency.

Here are some tips on what you should and shouldn't do when travelling abroad.

Should I exchange my money before I leave?

While it's not required, it's a good idea to exchange your American currency for the country you're traveling to. According to AAA, you should get your foreign currency exchange before you get to the airport. They suggest using your Bank or credit union because their fees and exchange rates are more reasonable than companies that are solely dedicated to foreign currency exchange.

What are some things I should do when exchanging money?

Here is a list of things you should do when travelling abroad, according to AAA:

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Do keep cash on hand: Cash is still king. When youre traveling, credit and debit cards might not be accepted everywhere you go. Some businesses might be cash-only. It's recommended to keep a fair amount of cash on you just in case.

Do spend your foreign currency before returning home : Before exchanging foreign currency, determine how much cash you'll need to carry. On average, each traveler in your group may require between $50 and $100 per day. If you're visiting a location with readily available and secure ATMs, $50 per person per day should be sufficient. As your trip comes to an end, assess how much local currency remains and aim to use it while still in the country. Consider purchasing a memorable souvenir or using the leftover cash to cover restaurant or hotel expenses. If you inform businesses that you're departing soon and wish to spend your remaining local currency, many will accommodate a split payment between cash and credit.

Do know what the exchange rate is worth : You need to know what your money is worth in another country. For example, suppose you're traveling from the U.S. to Japan and need to exchange U.S. dollars (USD) for Japanese yen (JPY). If the exchange rate is 1 USD = 150 JPY , then: Exchanging 100 USD would give you 15,000 JPY Exchanging 200 USD would give you 30,000 JPY However, exchange rates fluctuate based on market conditions, and banks or currency exchange services may charge additional fees. It's always a good idea to check current rates before making an exchange.



What are some things I shouldn't do when exchanging money?

Here is a list of things you should not do when travelling abroad, according to AAA:

Don't get your money exchanged at the airport : It's convenient to exchange your money at the airport. You're already going to be leaving from there? The logic makes sense, right? It's recommended that you go to a bank or credit union to make your exchange instead. It's more expensive to exchange at the airport, and it's already chaotic.

Don't rely on your credit card : When traveling, credit cards are ideal for larger purchases, but they shouldn't be relied on for every transaction. Some credit cards impose foreign transaction fees when used outside the U.S., with rates reaching up to 3%. To avoid unexpected charges, verify your credit card's foreign transaction fees before your trip.

Don't use American money: Some businesses in tourist-heavy countries will accept US currency. But these businesses could be taking advantage of your patronage if youre paying with American cash. According to AAA, the exchange rates at these businesses could be predatory. Youre better off using local currency.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Traveling abroad? 6 dos and don'ts for exchanging foreign currency
The Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it has sanctioned a network of more than 20 companies it says have supplied Iranian oil to China.

The departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned nearly two dozen firms on Tuesday that it says have assisted in dispatching billions of dollars worth of oil to Beijing for Irans armed forces general staff and Sepehr Energy, its primary commercial affiliate.

Todays action underscores our continued focus on intensifying pressure on every aspect of Irans oil trade, which the regime uses to fund its dangerous and destabilizing activities, Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

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The United States will continue targeting this primary source of revenue, so long as the regime continues its support for terrorism and proliferation of deadly weapons, Bessent added.

The department imposed sanctions on Huangdao Inspection and Certification Co., stating they have been providing oil cargo inspection services to ships already sanctioned for carrying Iranian oil.

CCIC Singapore PTE, an export company, was also on the list. The OFAC said CCIC Singapore PTE has assisted Sepehr in delivering inspections needed before the oil is transferred to China and in helping it hide where the oil originated.

Qingdao Linkrich was also slapped with sanctions, with OFAC stating that it helped Sepehr Energy-chartered vessels with discharge and arrival at Qingdao Port in China.

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State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the revenue from the sale of the oil funds helped in the development of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), nuclear proliferation, and Irans terrorist proxies, including the Houthis attacks on Red Sea Shipping, the U.S. Navy, and Israel.

The United States will continue to take action in support of National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which imposes maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deny it access to resources that sustain its destabilizing activities, Bruce added.

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Tree trimmer Jaime Yepiz, 43, was working on a 50-foot palm tree when dried palm fronds fell on him

Responders arrived to extricate him from the tree, using chain saws to free him after he was found unresponsive

Yepiz later died of his injuries at an hospital after he was rescued, Phoenix police said







A man died after being getting trapped underneath palm fronds from the 50-foot tree he was working on in Phoenix over the weekend, according to authorities.

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The Phoenix Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that officers responded to the scene to assist efforts to rescue a man  identified as tree trimmer Jaime Yepiz, 43  from a palm tree in a residential backyard.

The Arizona Republic reported that Yepiz was working on the tree when dried palm fronds fell on him.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Phoenix Fire Department said the victim was found around the trunk and stuck among the fronds,

Firefighters used chainsaws to free Yepiz after his co-workers said he was unresponsive.

Technicians arrived and began using rope systems with drone technology, accompanied with ground ladders to attempt to extricate the individual," officials said. "Firefighters ultimately used chainsaws from the bucket of a ladder truck to cut away palm fronds and secure the man and lower him down from the tree."

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The Phoenix Police Department said that Yepiz was taken to a hospital in extremely critical condition, adding that he later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.

Yepizs family later told ABC affiliate KNXV that their loved one died of suffocation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, palm fronds can collapse and encase a tree trimmer if they cut or pull dead fronds, adjacent fronds or a ring of fronds. The weight of the fronds causes pressure on the workers chest and can lead to suffocation, the agency warned.

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A message on a GoFundMe created to help pay for his burial in Sonora, Mexico, shared that Jaime leaves behind two daughters and four step-children.

Jaime was a hard worker, kind, and loved by all, the fundraiser description read.

A spokesperson for ADOSH confirms to PEOPLE that an investigation is ongoing.



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May 12LIMA  Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Destiny Caldwell told jurors in the trial of a Lima man accused of fleeing police, breaking into a county residence and assaulting the home's occupants for several hours that they will hear testimony this week that is "the things nightmares are made of."

Testimony began Monday afternoon in the trial of Leroy Page, who is facing multiple felony charges stemming from an Oct. 30, 2022, high-speed chase that ended near the intersection of West Elm Street and Fraunfelter Road. Those charges include having weapons under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, aggravated burglary, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of felonious assault.

In her opening statement to jurors, Caldwell said Page was the rear-seat passenger in a car that was pulled over for a traffic violation near the intersection of Main and Elm streets in Lima on the late evening hours of Oct. 30. Caldwell said jurors will see and hear that after the driver of that vehicle was removed from the car by police, Page climbed from the back seat to behind the steering wheel and sped off in the Jeep. He lost control and crashed in the front yard of a home near the intersection of Elm Street and Fraunfelter Road, west of Lima.

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At that time, the prosecutor said, Page broke into a residence and held its two occupants hostage and assaulted them for hours before forcing them to drive him to the intersection of Yoakam Road and West Breese Road. Page then fled the area.

Caldwell said Page's DNA was found on firearms found in the Jeep that was left abandoned at the Fraunfelter Road property and was also located in the vehicle of the homeowners who were forced to drive him from the scene. After almost two years on the run, Page was apprehended in Nevada in July by the FBI.

Page, 34, who is serving as his own attorney, deferred his opening statements. Steve Chamberlain from the Allen County Public Defenders Office is assisting Page as "shadow counsel" during the trial.

Monday's testimony came from Lima Police Department officers who were involved in traffic stop and high-speed vehicle chase involving Page. Dash camera and body camera footage from officers Lt. Scott Leudeke and Ptl. Nicholas Rayoum were played for jurors.

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In that footage, the rear-seat occupant of a vehicle that was the subject of a traffic stop can be heard telling the driver to "pull off" on several occasions. Rayoum testified he had observed a firearm magazine near Page's legs on the floorboard of the Jeep shortly before Page fled.

Rayoum said three LPD squad cars were unable to apprehend Page as he drove down Elm Street westbound at speeds which prosecutors said exceeded 120 miles per hour. The LPD officer said Page crashed in the front yard of a residence on Franunfelter Road, and officers were unable to locate the suspect that evening.

Testimony in the trial will resume Wednesday following an off day Tuesday for an undisclosed reason.

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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has downplayed concerns over President William Rutos newly nominated Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials, urging his supporters to focus on voter mobilization rather than appointments.

During an interview with Egesa FM, a local Ekegusii-language radio station, Gachagua emphasized that votersnot electoral commissionerswill ultimately decide who becomes Kenyas next President.

Voters Decide, Not the IEBC, Gachagua Says

I have no problem with the IEBC because the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the voters decision at the polling station is final, Gachagua stated. He spoke just days after President Ruto unveiled his list of nominees for the IEBC chairperson and commissioners.

Gachagua, who has recently intensified his political activities and is working to build alliances with key opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election, reaffirmed his trust in the electoral system.

He encouraged his supporters not to fear the IEBC nominations but to take action by registering new voters and ensuring a strong turnout in the next election.

IEBC does not choose the winner, it is decided by Kenyans. Our job is to protect the votes at the polling station level and to put the right agents, he remarked.

Gachagua Sets 7.1 Million Vote Target for 2027

We want to make sure that we win the 2027 presidential election with over 7.1 million votes so that it becomes impossible for anyone to manipulate the numbers, he declared.

The former Deputy President urged his political base to remain focused, stressing that overwhelming voter turnout offers the most effective path to electoral victory.

Ruto Nominates New IEBC Team

President William Ruto has nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the next IEBC chairperson. He also named Anne Nderitu, Moses Mukwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor, Francis Odhiambo, and Fahima Abdalla as commissioners.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has already referred the list to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, which is scheduled to begin vetting the nominees on May 26, 2025, at County Hall.

The vetting process is expected to attract national attention as the country prepares for a critical transition in the IEBC leadership, just two years before the next general election.

The president does not wish well for the Kisii community

Meanwhile, Gachagua intensified his criticism of President William Ruto, alleging that the Head of State vetoed the selection of Charles Nyachae as the next chairperson of theIEBC. In the interview with Egesa FM on Monday, Gachagua claimed that the IEBC Selection Panel had submitted two namesNyachae and Erastus Edung Ethekonto the President for nomination. However, Ruto reportedly rejected Nyachae due to a longstanding feud with the Kisii community.

The president does not wish well for the Kisii community. We have received reports that Nyachae was the preferred candidate to be the IEBC chairman. The president rejected him, Gachagua stated.

Gachagua further alleged that the rift between Ruto and the Kisii community stems from a violent confrontation during the 2007 General Election involving the late political veteran Simeon Nyachae.

He (Ruto) is still angry at the Kisii community because in 2007, the late Nyachae beat him up in South Mugirango and so he harbors anger with this community, Gachagua said.

The former Deputy President also raised concerns about Ethekons nomination, suggesting it was orchestrated to favor Ruto in the 2027 elections. He claimed that Ethekon has close ties to Josphat Nanok, the Presidents Deputy Chief of Staff.

The one who has been appointed was Nanoks employee and Nanok serves the President. So they will be trying to control the IEBC from State House, Gachagua added.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  A trial date has been set for the man accused of shooting and killing Evansville firefighter Robert Doerr in 2019.

According to court documents, jury selection for the trial of Larry Richmond Sr. will take place on December 11 and 12 of this year, with the jury trial scheduled to begin on December 15. Richmond is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Doerr was shot and killed in his own driveway in February of 2019. Doerrs widow, Elizabeth Fox-Doerr was sentenced to 90 years in prison for her role in the crime.

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Judge Celia Pauli was appointed to the case after the defense team raised councerns that Judge Robert Pigman would be unable to conduct a fair trial.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
WASHINGTON (AP)  Only a few Capitol riot defendants remained jailed after President Donald Trump issued mass pardons to supporters who joined a mob's attack on Jan. 6, 2021. A trial for one of them  a military veteran charged with federal firearms offenses and a hoax bomb threat  began Tuesday with testimony about his 2023 arrest near former President Barack Obamas Washington home.

Taylor Taranto was arrested in Obama's neighborhood on the same day in June 2023 that Trump posted on social media what he claimed was the former president's address. Investigators said they found two guns, roughly 500 rounds of ammunition and a machete in Taranto's van.

Taranto was live streaming video on YouTube in which he said he was looking for entrance points to underground tunnels and wanted to get a good angle on a shot, according to prosecutors. He reposted Trumps message about Obamas home address and wrote, We got these losers surrounded! See you in hell, Podestas and Obamas. He was referring to John Podesta, who chaired Hillary Clintons 2016 Democratic presidential campaign.

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Taranto wasnt the only Jan. 6 defendant whose criminal case didnt end when Trump provided clemency to all of the more than 1,500 people charged in the riot. In some cases, Trumps Justice Department concluded that the pardons covered separate offenses, such as charges for guns seized from homes during Capitol riot investigations.

In Tarantos case, however, prosecutors said the firearms offenses he faces are wholly unrelated to the pardon. Taranto, a Navy veteran from Pasco, Washington, is charged with carrying firearms without a license, with illegally possessing large-capacity magazines and ammunition and with making a hoax bomb threat.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated by Trump, is hearing testimony and will decide the case without a jury. The government's first trial witness was an FBI agent who led the frantic search for Taranto after Capitol police investigators watched his livestreamed video and heard what they believed to be a bomb threat.

A prosecutor, Samuel White, told the judge that the video captured Taranto outlining his ominous, threatening plan. Taranto said on the video that he was in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on a one-way to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

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Tarantos lawyers said he didnt have any bomb-making material and wasnt near the Gaithersburg institute. Defense attorney Pleasant Brodnax said the video shows Taranto was merely joking in an avant-garde manner.

He believes he is a journalist and, to some extent, a comedian, Broadnax said.

Taranto has been jailed since his arrest. The judge concluded that he poses a danger to the public.

Taranto was charged with four misdemeanors related to the Jan. 6 attack. Prosecutors said he joined the crush of rioters who breached the building. He was captured on video at the entrance of the Speakers Lobby around the time that a rioter, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by an officer while she tried to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door.

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Tarantos wife told investigators that he came to Washington because then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was offering to release unseen video of the Jan. 6 attack. Taranto made ominous comments about McCarthy on video, saying, Coming at you McCarthy. Cant stop whats coming. Nothing can stop whats coming, according to prosecutors.

Taranto was attacked and injured by other inmates in the wing of the Washington jail where other Jan. 6 defendants were detained while awaiting trial, according to his lawyers. They said he was shunned for negative comments that he made about Babbitt.
On changing battlefields, armies have to adapt quickly using the close relationship between industry and troops.

The model for that is having companies on the front line getting feedback, DIU's program manager said.

He called Silicon Valley a "secret weapon."

Modern battlefields change quickly, and the trick to making sure weapons and capabilities keep pace with new threats and challenges is to put companies on the front lines with troops, a Defense Department official said Tuesday.

It's a "Silicon Valley" type of model, the DoD official said.

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US military officials, acquisition team members, and leaders in Washington have long been discussing the need for rapid iteration for future fights, pointing to examples from the war in Ukraine, where an underdog nation on defense built an arsenal on a shoestring warfighting budget and held its own in the tech arms race against the larger invading Russian force.

Lessons from this conflict have shown just how quickly some weapons, like different types of drones, are entering the battle and then being thwarted by electronic warfare like signal jamming and other countermeasures.

When they run into a problem, the soldiers can relay their concerns and experiences to industry partners, which must react quickly to introduce new solutions. Sometimes, the cycle takes only a matter of weeks.

Drones have been omnipresent on the battlefield in Ukraine. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File

At a Hudson Institute event on building weapons that can be adapted at scale, Defense Innovation Unit Program Manager Trent Emeneker said uncrewed systems had changed warfare like nothing since the introduction of the machine gun during World War I and that the war in Ukraine is showing constant iterative adaptation in both technology and tactics.

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What's the trick? Emeneker suggested a rather untraditional government contracting approach with more trust in the defense industry and constant, close work on adapting systems.

"What we see is the model that works is companies and their engineering teams are embedded directly with the warfighter, on the front lines, at operations, in combat," he explained. "They take that learned feedback, and they send it back, overnight, to the larger engineering team."

Then, the solution is brought back to the warfighter. It's not going to be perfect, Emeneker said, but it's going to be better. And if not, they try again until they get it right.

"It's the Silicon Valley model of software development: go fast, release, update, and improve," he said.

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That is a shift in traditional thinking and how defense contractors have worked with the US military on weapons programs in the past. It would be a move away from years of testing complex, exquisite weapons systems before getting them into the hands of troops. There are efforts like that in the US military, but it's not militarywide.

A trainer holds an electronic warfare device used to counter drones in January 2020. US Army photo by PFC Gower Liu, 11th ACR Public Affairs

A lot of smaller, newer defense companies are embracing these concepts, especially in the uncrewed systems and artificial intelligence spaces. US military and defense industry leaders recognize that for potential future wars against peer adversaries like China, cheap, easily made weapons will be needed. Some companies have told Business Insider the work with soldiers has provided a constant stream of feedback for adapting systems.

This type of acquisition and development process is one that is becoming increasingly popular within special operations forces.

At the Hudson Institute event, some panelists discussed how this approach could give the US an advantage in a future war with China, which has undergone a massive transformation of its military resources, technologies, and capabilities in recent years.

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Adapting systems and capabilities to the needs of the US military quickly in a conflict situation depends on the private sector. "Silicon Valley is our secret weapon," Emeneker said.

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SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  A highly-technical rescue unfolded late last week deep in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, putting the training of Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to the test just days after it was completed. The THP strike team joined forces with park rangers and others to reach an injured hiker, trekking for miles on foot through steep rain-soaked terrain to carry her to safety.

6 News spoke with one of the THP troopers, Jalen Walker, who responded that morning. He shared what it was like to take part in possibly one of the most physically demanding rescues of his career.

No health risk despite change in water taste, says West Knox Utility District

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Walker and the THP strike team were notified Thursday night that the National Park Service needed help responding to a woman with a broken leg on the Alum Cave Trail. By Friday morning, the team was on foot taking on a little over 5 miles of steep, slippery terrain to reach her and carry her back to safety.

The weather definitely played a role in in the decision making that night, and it definitely adds to the struggles of getting down the mountain, Walker explained. Its very long, very labor demanding, especially with slick surfaces. The trail was very skinny in some places, but slick areas and the just the terrain overall was definitely difficult.

Ironically, the crew had trained with the NPS just two days earlier, running through a nearly-identical simulated mountain rescue.

Woman shares her experience with the 4.1 magnitude earthquake in East Tennessee

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Theres no doubt that this training was helpful. It was fresh in our brains because, like I said, it was just a few days before, Walker said. Being able to put those skills to use, while they were fresh and getting hands on, we didnt feel lost. We knew what our job was.

With a background in fire rescue, Walker said hes responded to similar situations before, but nothing this strenuous. Still, he said he was humbled to work alongside the park rangers.

It always brings a sense of pride, no matter if its this situation or whether were helping somebody on the side of the interstate, that you can help somebody get what they need, he said.

The hiker later commented on THPs Facebook post following the rescue stating You all showed amazing dedication, skills, and compassion and I feel blessed to have had each of you with me in my time of need. 

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The woman received medical care at the LeConte Medical Center, she also shared on the post that she is now doing better thanks to all the responders.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
SOUTHINGTON, Ohio (WKBN)  With the long Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer driving season just weeks away, law enforcement in Trumbull County is stepping up its seat belt enforcement, hoping it will save lives.

That is ultimately the goal here. We just want to make sure everyone gets home safely, said Lt. David Zatvarnicky, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

State, county and local departments will conduct their annual Click It or Ticket campaign from now through June 2.

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Under Ohio law, not wearing a seatbelt is a secondary offense, meaning police cannot pull you over just because youre not complying. However, figures from the State Patrol paint a grim picture. There were 30 fatalities in 2024 in our seven-county region where victims were not buckled in. Already this year, there have been 19 fatal crashes, and seatbelt compliance actually fell by nearly one full percentage point over the last twelve months.

You can also help us and wear your safety belt, said Trumbull County Sheriff Mike Wilson. Ive stopped many people over my career that said I didnt realize I didnt have it on. I was just busy, got in the car and left.

While officers stress the campaign is not just an effort to pass out traffic tickets, they do hope it can spread the message.

Every traffic stop that we all make together is an opportunity for us to send everyone home safely, Zatvarnicky said.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Monday marked the sentencing of a Miami County doctor who made unregistered explosives in his home.

Steven Werling claimed the devices were for self defense, but the court still considers it to be a very serious offense.

Police: Fatal motorcycle crash caused by driver with suspended license

On Monday, May 12, a federal court judge handed down Werlings sentence: five years supervised probation.

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The judge said this is a rare case where the court decided not to side with the governments recommended sentencing, which wouldve been a 24-month prison sentence.

Werling was initially arrested after law enforcement conducted a search warrant of his home in April 2024. Officials say the cause of the warrant came from Werlings research and purchasing of materials relating to the construction of explosive devices.

Werling pleaded guilty to charges of possessing unregistered explosive devices.

In his previous court appearance, the prosecution was seeking a 24-month sentencing, arguing that Werling built the devices knowingly and failed to register them.

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The defense countered that he deserves less, claiming that Werling built the devices for home defense without the intention of hurting anyone. Defense attorneys also argued that he cooperated fully with the FBI during their investigation.

The judge sided with the defense, giving a lesser sentence of five years probation.

This five-year sentence carries with it several stipulations: Werling is not allowed to own any firearms, ammunition or explosive decides, as well as any controlled substances.

He will also need to report to court-ordered mental health services to determine the state of his mental wellbeing.

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Werling is also required to complete 40 hours of community service and will not be forced to pay a fine.

2 NEWS spoke with Werlings lawyer following the sentencing.

The intent of Dr. Werling is very important, said John Paul Rion, Werlings attorney. The evidence was very clear that he was a scientist, a doctor, a scientist in a way, experimenting in his basement to try to make sure that hed be safe if chaos ensued.

Both the prosecution and defense will have two weeks to appeal the judges ruling, though neither party objected to Werlings probation sentence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Hartford police say a crash involving an evading truck caused a vehicle to strike a building Monday night. One person was injured.

Police said they were dispatched to the area of Albany Avenue and Bedford Street just before midnight for report of a motor vehicle accident.

Search for new Hartford superintendent continues

Upon arrival, they found a vehicle had struck the building at 498 Albany Ave., which is home to Community Health Services.

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A truck reportedly involved in the accident fled the scene.

An adult female had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

The Hartford License and Inspections Department responded to the scene to assess conditions.

Police are investigating.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The Trump administration on Tuesday asked some of the thousands of federal public health workers it laid off to return permanently, according to emails shared with POLITICO.

The move reinstates employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health  which lost more than 90 percent of its workforce, several hundred people, as part of the administrations broader purge of tens of thousands of federal health agency staffers last month.

You previously received a notice regarding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) upcoming reduction in force (RIF). That notice is hereby revoked. You will not be affected by the upcoming RIF, read one NIOSH employees notice, seen by POLITICO.

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The letters followed weeks of outcry from lawmakers, labor unions and public health experts who described the devastating effects the cuts could have , and one day before Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to make his first public appearance before Congress since his confirmation.

Kennedy has said HHS is filled with duplicative and wasteful offices and needs to be slashed, but has over the last month walked back many of the cuts, including to offices that processed Freedom of Information requests and researched womens health .

On Tuesday, letters went to workers on several NIOSH teams gutted April, including the Respiratory Health Division, the Division of Safety Research, the Division of Compensation and Analysis Support, the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, and part of the Division of Field Studies and Surveillance. These offices, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted research and provided direct services to workers in fields with high health and safety risks, including firefighters with cancer and coal miners with Black Lung Disease.

An HHS spokesperson declined to answer how many employees received similar notices, but said in a statement that the workers were rehired because the Trump Administration remains committed to supporting coal miners, who play a vital role in Americas energy sector and recognizes the courage and selflessness of firefighters, who embody the principle that public service is the highest calling.

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The administration has defended the cuts as lawful streamlining  of a bloated agency, but a judge Friday night deemed them likely unconstitutional and blocked them temporarily. The Department of Justice is appealing the decision.

Kennedy heads to the Hill Wednesday to testify before House and Senate committees about the presidents budget, the first opportunity for lawmakers to grill him about the mass layoffs and his sweeping overhaul of the Department of Health and Human Services. According to Kennedys prepared remarks, posted by the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, he plans to defend ongoing efforts to "cut government bloat," promising "significant workforce reductions" in the months ahead. The opening statement makes no mention of NIOSH, but says the agency will become more responsive and efficient, while ensuring that Medicare, Medicaid, and other essential health services remain intact.

Democrats are going to hold Senator Kennedy's feet to the fire, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a Tuesday press conference. We'll demand answers about the cuts and the firings. We'll demand answers about the chaos, confusion and uncertainty.

Most of the divisions restored Tuesday are based at NIOSHs Morgantown, West Virginia facility, though some are headquartered at the agencys outpost in Cincinnati, Ohio. In a Tuesday email to staff, seen by POLITICO, NIOSH Director John Howard noted that only a fraction of workers whose jobs were recently eliminated have been asked back, and said he would continue to make the case for reinstating everyone. But he called the partial cancellation of layoffs a recognition of the importance of much of our work.

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Howards email did not specify how many workers were impacted. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents NIOSH workers and recently sued the administration over the cuts, said its working to determine how many layoff notices were rescinded. The union confirmed, however, that some of the reinstated employees are on teams that manage the congressionally mandated National Firefighter Cancer Registry , Health Hazard Evaluation program , and Respirator Approval Program .

HHS officials have repeatedly pledged to maintain these programs, but government websites say they are no longer operating, and NIOSH workers told POLITICO legally required data collection and health and safety investigations were halted by the cuts .

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said Tuesday that Kennedy promised her in a phone call that over 100 [NIOSH] Morgantown employees will be returning to the job permanently.
The Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to resume the deportations of nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas, requesting that the court lift its order from last month that temporarily paused the deportation of migrants subject to the Alien Enemies Act.

In a new court filing, Solicitor General John Sauer said that some of the 176 detained migrants allegedly associated with the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization, have proven to be especially dangerous to maintain in prolonged detention.

According to the filing, a field officer from the Department of Homeland Security described a recent incident where 23 of the detained migrants barricaded themselves in a housing unit for several hours and threatened to take hostages and harm ICE officers.

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CNN reached out to the detainees attorney for comment.

The incident took place at Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, the filing said, where a drone recently captured an aerial view of detainees sending an SOS message. The detainees involved in the alleged barricading incident were relocated to another facility in Texas, according to the filing.

Transferring such prisoners to other facilities, moreover, creates ongoing risks of prison recruitment and expansion of Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang activities within the United States, Sauer wrote, arguing that the group should promptly be removed from the country.

The filing comes less than a month after the Supreme Court issued a rare overnight order that temporarily barred the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to speed up deportations.

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Less than two weeks prior, the high court temporarily greenlit the administrations use of the act but said that those subject to it must be given adequate notice so they can challenge their removals under the 18th century law.

The White House has alleged that the people it has deported under the act are dangerous members of Tren de Aragua, but has provided limited evidence proving as much. Government lawyers have cited tattoos on immigrants or clothing linked to gangs in court papers to allege criminality.

Multiple federal judges at lower levels have since also blocked the administration from carrying out deportations under it.

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Donald Trumps administration is pointing to an increase in tourism under Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to justify the cancellation of humanitarian protections for more than 11,000 Afghans in the United States.

On Monday, the administration announced plans to strip temporary protected status to roughly 11,700 Afghans who fled the country following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in the wake of the devastating years-long war.

Weve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent [sic] them from returning to their home country.

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Refugee aid and resettlement groups have blasted the administrations decision, noting that many Afghans are now threatened with being removed from a country they risked their lives to support.

The decision to terminate TPS for Afghans is not rooted in reality  it's rooted in politics, according to Shawn VanDiver, president of refugee assistance group AfghanEvac, calling the administrations announcement unconscionable.

Its just patently obscene, he told The Independent.

Homeland Securitys notice to the federal government claims there have been notable improvements in Afghanistans national security, now under the control of the Taliban, and requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.

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The notice in the federal register also claims that the Taliban government is promoting tourism to shift its global image.

Tourism to Afghanistan has increased, as the rates of kidnappings have reduced, the notice added. Tourists are sharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage, according to some reports.

Taliban security stand guard as Afghan refugees returning from neighboring Pakistan arrive at a medical camp near the border in Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 3 (EPA)

More than 23 million people in the country still need critical humanitarian assistance, according to the notice. But Homeland Security points to that as a relative success, as the number of Afghans in need of humanitarian aid has declined from 29 million over the previous year.

The TPS designation was opened to Afghans in 2022 after the fall of Kabul and extended in 2023.

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"During my combat tours in Afghanistan, local Afghans protected my unit and helped us return home. We promised to protect them. The Trump administration is breaking that promise, Army veteran and Democratic Rep. Jason Crow said in a statement.

Without protections, impacted Afghans will lose authorization to legally work in the United States and can be detained and removed from the country altogether, which could prevent them from legally entering the country for at least 10 years.

If America breaks its promises, we wont have friends in the future, Crow said. Without friends America will be less safe.

The administration is betraying Afghans who risked their lives for America, built lives here, and believed in our promises, AfghanEvacs VanDiver shared in a statement. This policy change wont make us safer  it will tear families apart, destabilize lives, and shred what's left of our moral credibility.

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Matthew Tragesser, chief of public affairs at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, claims bad actors are taking advantage of the program.

A critical part of the USCIS screening and vetting mission is to combat fraud and address vulnerabilities that pose risks to the integrity of our nations immigration system and the safety of the American public, he said in a statement to The Independent. Fraud detection efforts have found several cases of egregious deception by aliens using multiple identities by willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts, raising significant national security concerns. We believe this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Kristi Noems revocation of temporary protected status for Afghans could put women and girls at risk of systemic oppression and gender-based violence, aid groups says (Getty Images)

Without protections, Afghans in the United States could be forced to return to unimaginable circumstances, according to Krish OMara Vignarajah, president of refugee aid group Global Refuge.

Country conditions in Afghanistan have continued to remain unsafe over the last three and a half years of Taliban rule. Afghans still endure violence and repression at the hands of the Taliban, particularly reprisals against those who aided the United States, she added.

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Ending protections for Afghan women and girls means they face oppressive conditions and restrictions on work, their ability to travel and get an education, she said. This decision contradicts U.S. intelligence and human rights assessments, and in doing so, will jeopardize thousands of lives, according to Vignarajah.

The group is calling on the administration to extend TPS designations by at least six months, and has urged members of congress to reintroduce legislation that would open a pathway to lawful permanent status for Afghans who came to the United States following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.

We promised to protect our Afghan allies and those who were forced to flee, Vignarajah said. This is not just an egregious recission of that oath  it may be a death sentence.

Under the terms of a federal lawsuit trying to block the cancellation of TPS, temporary protected status for Afghans will expire May 20 and the elimination of the program takes effect July 12.

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Afghans with TPS who also have a pending asylum claim or special immigrant visa case or other pending immigration case are not supposed to be impacted by the decision, though the administrations maneuvers are unclear.

Refugee groups anticipate battling it out in court.

The lawsuit from immigrant advocacy group CASA Inc represents a man identified in court filings as A.F., an Afghan with TPS protections living in Virginia. He has an engineering degree and works as a project manager under his TPS-based work authorization, according to court documents

Without those protections, his employer could terminate him or, at best, place him on a lengthy unpaid administrative leave as a precursor to firing him. He cannot afford either option, the lawsuit states.

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Although he is a citizen of Afghanistan, he has never lived there and has spent only around five weeks of his life in the country, when he was a child, according to the lawsuit. A.F. has no immediate family in Afghanistan and no prospects of building a safe or stable life there.

This story was initially published May 12 and was updated with developments
Kenyas newly-minted Peoples United Opposition (PUO) has accused President William Ruto of state-capture in broad daylight after he forwarded seven names to fill the long-vacant Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

In a fiery Tuesday morning press statement, the coalition, fronted by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Fred Matiangi and five other party heavyweights, claims the list isnt a commission for the people; its a project designed to rig the 2027 election.

Why the uproar?

Stacked shortlist, opaque process. The PUO says the selection panel was a political extension of State House, ignoring constitutional demands for consultation and public participation. They point to last-minute inclusion of Hassan Noor Hassan  a relative of ODM whip Junet Mohamed, after the panel mysteriously extended its deadline.

The PUO says the selection panel was a political extension of State House, ignoring constitutional demands for consultation and public participation. They point to last-minute inclusion of Hassan Noor Hassan  a relative of ODM whip Junet Mohamed, after the panel mysteriously extended its deadline. Loyalists in line for top jobs. Nominee chair Erastus Edung Ethekon , a former Turkana County attorney with close ties to State House Comptroller Josphat Nanok, heads the list. Critics argue his record is riddled with failure.

Nominee chair , a former Turkana County attorney with close ties to State House Comptroller Josphat Nanok, heads the list. Critics argue his record is riddled with failure. Conflicts of interest. Short-listed commissioner hopefuls include Joy Midivo (a UDA official) and Charles Nyachae, son of the late powerful cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae, also said to be a close Ruto ally. Panel member Dr Adams Oloo doubles as a presidential communications adviser  an outright breach of impartiality, the statement says.

Article 88(2) requires the IEBC be independent, impartial and free from political influence. The opposition argues the latest picks undermine that clause, describing the agency as an extension of the presidents 2027 campaign machine.

Government push-back

Speaker Moses Wetangula insists Parliament  not State House  has the final word, urging critics to file objections before vetting begins on 26 May. The President is merely part of a constitutional process, he told reporters.

Kenya Kwanza MPs and groups like SUPKEM have rallied behind the nominees, calling on Kenyans to respect due process and avoid politicising an independent institution.

What happens next?

Key Date Event Whats at Stake 21 May Deadline for public memoranda Citizens can submit evidence supporting or opposing the seven nominees. 26 May National Assembly vetting Justice & Legal Affairs Committee grills candidates; a simple majority can confirm or reject. TBD House vote If Parliament rejects any name, the selection panel must restart the search.

Meanwhile, the PUO plans to launch a Peoples IEBC, a citizen-led watchdog that will mirror the official commission and publish its own scorecards on transparency and integrity, grounded in Article 10 national-values benchmarks.

Bigger political picture

Rutos critics see the move as the latest in a series of unilateral decisionsfollowing controversial appointments to parastatals and the judiciarythat entrench loyalists ahead of the 2027 polls.

Supporters counter that the previous IEBC collapsed after the 2022 election fallout and blame Raila Odingas camp for 15 months of delays. They argue the country cannot afford to head into another election without a referee.

This is not just about 2027. It is about the soul of our democracy, the PUO declares in its statement, urging Kenyans to unite, resist and reclaim our country.

Should Parliament wave the nominees through, Kenya will get its first full electoral commission since January 2023. If lawmakers balkunder pressure from a resurgent oppositionthe hiring process could return to square one, reigniting fears of an institutional vacuum barely two years before the next general election.

Read the full statement.
The Trump administration's move to prioritize the resettlement of white South African refugees in the United States even as it has turned away refugees from countries including Afghanistan and Haiti has sparked allegations of hypocrisy and a double standard, as well as questions about who is footing the bill for the new arrivals.

On Monday, the State Department said it had welcomed 59 Afrikaners whose applications to come to the U.S. were fast-tracked under President Donald Trump's executive order issued in February titled, "Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa." The order called on the administration to "prioritize humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement" for Afrikaners, a South African minority group descended primarily from Dutch settlers, "who are victims of unjust racial discrimination."

State Department Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, the second-highest-ranking U.S. diplomat, was on hand to greet the new arrivals' charter flight, and department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce signaled in a statement that additional Afrikaners will soon follow in their footsteps.

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"In the coming months, we will continue to welcome more Afrikaner refugees and help them rebuild their lives in our great country," she said.

PHOTO: Newly arrived South Africans listen to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar deliver welcome statements near Washington Dulles International Airport, May 12, 2025 in Dulles, Virginia. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

MORE: Video Explaining the controversy surrounding white South African refugees

However, the State Department has dodged questions about how that travel is being funded.

Typically, when a refugee who is resettled in the U.S. cannot afford the cost of travel, the State Department provides the refugee with an interest-free, repayable loan to fund the travel, which is administered through the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency. Refugees also sign a promissory note guaranteeing they will repay the loan before they depart their country of origin.

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But the International Organization for Migration told ABC News it was not involved in administering loans for any of the 59 people who arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport this week, and the Trump administration has repeatedly declined to say whether they paid their own way.

"State Department's Migration and Refugee Assistance account funds a variety of programs and activities aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, displaced persons and other vulnerable populations," a State Department official told ABC News when pressed about the costs.

"This includes activities related to resettling refugees in the United States, such as processing and their initial placement," the official added.

PHOTO: Some of the first group of white South Africans granted refugee status hold U.S. flags as they attend a meet and greet event, at Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia, May 12, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Trump administration defends white South African refugee program amid group's US arrival

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For decades, the State Department has defended its longstanding policy of making refugees fund their own way to the U.S., arguing it ensures each person assumes responsibility for his or her own success in a new country and that it helps establish credit history.

Critics of the Trump administration's policy say it is not the only way white South African refugees have received preferential treatment.

On the same day the 59 Afrikaners landed in the Washington, D.C., area, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would terminate temporary protected status, or TPS, for Afghans already in the U.S. -- revoking deportation protections issued by the Biden administration in 2021 after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

"We've reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. "Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country."

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The Trump administration has also moved to rescind TPS designations for Haiti, Venezuela and Cameroon. Additionally, refugee admissions from other countries have dropped drastically, and financial support for resettlement agencies has also undergone drastic cuts.

Meanwhile, there are doubts about the severity of the security situation that prompted the president to expedite the resettlement of Afrikaners.

Trump's executive order directly mentioned a controversial South African land seizure law enacted in early 2025 that allowed the country's government to take land without offering the owners compensation where it is "just and equitable and in the public interest" to do so.

But so far, the South African government has said no land has been seized under the law.

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On Monday, Trump also spoke of violent attacks against Afrikaners.

"It's a genocide that's taking place," the president said. "Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. But whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa."

PHOTO: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks as he attends a panel at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, May 12, 2025. (Luc Gnago/Reuters)

Following South Africa's apartheid era, white and Black landowners have been the target of violent farm attacks. The South African government said the primary motive for the attacks is robbery, but white nationalist groups and others have claimed they are racially motivated.

Trump has been a critic of the South African government's handling of the situation for years, and in 2018, he posted that he asked that then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers."

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Elon Musk, a South African native and a top adviser to the president during his second term, has also been vocal about the plight of South African landowners, amplifying claims of "white genocide."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied any persecution.

"A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political persecution, religious persecution or economic persecution," Ramaphosa said on Monday. "They don't fit that bill."

Some groups in the U.S. that frequently work with the government to resettle refugees have also pushed back on the Trump administration's prioritization of Afrikaners, with at least one, the Episcopal Migration Ministries, saying it won't play a part in resettling them.

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"In light of our church's steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step," Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said in a statement.

ABC's Armando Torres-Garcia, Luke Barr and Ely Brown contributed to this report.

Trump administration faces criticism for prioritizing white South African refugees originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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.

Upon entering the White House, President Donald Trump quickly shut the door on refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, and Venezuela. But this week, one group of refugees will be welcome: white South Africans. When asked to explain his logic here, Trump claimed there is no racism at play, and these South Africans just happen to be whitebut its striking that he seems to be letting a white supremacist talking point shape his immigration policy.

And this week, multiple lawsuits challenging Trumps executive order seeking to eliminate birthright citizenship will have their day at the Supreme Court, as oral arguments are scheduled for Thursday. Trumps order attempted to single-handedly change the Constitution and how American citizenship has been conferred for centuriesbut the high court will likely be considering a different question: whether district courts have the power to issue nationwide injunctions against the executive branch.

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

Back in January, Trump axed the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programbut a few weeks later, he signed an executive order saying the U.S. would promote the resettlement of white South Africans, known as Afrikaners, who it has deemed refugees from government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation. This week, the first Afrikaners to qualify for this program arrived in Washington.

Afrikaners are largely the descendants of Dutch colonial settlers. They historically controlled South Africas major institutions until the 1990s, when the African National Congress pursued land reform to compensate nonwhite South Africans who had been kicked off their land under the apartheid regime. The perceived persecution of the Afrikaners, who controlled South Africas major institutions until the end of apartheid, circulated as a white supremacist meme for decades, Slates Molly Olmstead explains. In the Trump era, it has been rehabilitated as a legitimate political grievance.

In March, Trump proclaimed that any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with rapid pathway to Citizenship. A few weeks later, Trump administration officials were in South Africas capital screening white citizens who could be eligible for U.S. refugee status, according to the New York Times. Their applications were processed within three monthsunusually quick, as most refugees wait years, oftentimes in camps around the world, as they go through an extensive screening process.

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Earlier this year, the State Department canceled the flights of approximately 10,000 refugees who had been screened, approved, and cleared to enter the U.S. These people had spent years working with USRAP to enter the U.S. lawfully, including thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. during its decades-long war in their home country.

Adding insult to injury, the Department of Homeland Security formally announced on Monday that it would be terminating temporary protected status for Afghan refugees currently living in the U.S., essentially allowing them to be deported back to Afghanistan. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS had determined that Afghanistan had an improved security situation and a stable economy now, making the country ineligible for TPS. Yet the State Department currently has a Level 4 travel advisory on Afghanistan, warning U.S. residents not to travel there due to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities.

South Africas government accused the Trump administration of taking in its white citizens as a political stunt, and disputed the presidents claim of discrimination against farmers of any particular race. The Episcopal Church also announced on Monday that it was ending a nearly four-decades-old relationship with the federal government under which it has offered refugee resettlement services because the administrations recent moves go against the churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.

Last month, two unnamed Trump administration officials told the Washington Post that there are ongoing negotiations with as many as 30 foreign nations to take in Americas deportees who are not citizens of their country, including Costa Rica, Panama, and Rwanda.

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And Reuters reported that the Trump administration was in talks with Libya to detain deportees from the U.S., as El Salvador has already been doing. But last week, a federal judge issued a blunt warning: Any immigrant deported without prior written notice and a meaningful chance to challenge their removal would clearly violate this Courts order.

Back in March, a group of noncitizens from Central America filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security over its deportation of undocumented immigrants to third countries that are not their designated home country without first allowing them to prove their fear of persecution, torture, and even death in those third countries. In April, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens to anywhere but their country of origin without due process. And in May, Murphy reiterated that the federal government still may not deport noncitizens to third countries unless they provide written notice in a language the noncitizen can understand and an opportunity to raise a fear-based claim against their removal.

Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested over a month ago near Tufts University over an op-ed she co-wrote alongside three other students that criticized the schools response to the pro-Palestine movement on its campus. After being detained at a Louisiana facility for six weeks, over the weekend Ozturk was released and returned home to Massachusetts.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions ruled last Friday that Ozturk was being unlawfully detained, concluding that the federal governments case has no evidence here  absent the consideration of the op-ed, which he said suggests a violation of her free speech rights. Sessions also found that Ozturk faced serious health risks in detention, where her chronic asthma worsened. She testified that she experienced at least eight asthma attacks over six weeks, whereas in the two or three years prior to her arrest, she had about nine.

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The federal government initially requested that Ozturk be released with an ankle monitor, but Sessions ruled she was not a flight risk and could be released without one. A doctoral student from Turkey, Ozturk still faces the threat of deportation, as the federal government will continue to pursue its case against her. Its arguing Ozturks presence threatens U.S. foreign policy interests, a claim it has raised in a slew of deportation cases it has brought against pro-Palestinian campus protestors.

Last week, a federal court ruled in favor of Georgetown University fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri, deciding that his habeas case could be heard in Virginia, instead of Louisiana, where hes been detained since March. Suri was teaching the class Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia, but DHS has accused him of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism. About a week ago, another federal judge ruled that Mohsen Mahdawia Columbia University student who was ambushed by immigration agents when he was called in for a citizenship interviewmust be released from immigration detention. Mahdawi was promptly freed from custody.

On Thursday, the high court will hear oral arguments over the presidents executive order that attempts to strip citizenship from children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and holders of temporary visas. Numerous lawsuits have been filed challenging Trumps policy as a plain violation of the 14th Amendment. And lower courts consistently ruled the order was blatantly unconstitutional and issued nationwide injunctions preventing the federal government from altering who gets to become American.

The Trump administration continued to escalate the cases and asked the Supreme Court to intervene, but the justices havent been asked to decide birthright citizenship on the merits. Instead, they will hear arguments over whether a lone district court judge should have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions at all, an issue thats been hotly contested within the judiciary for years. The Trump administration is asking the justices to narrow the injunctions by limiting their scope to only the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuits.

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Why is the DOJ going this route? If I were the lawyer for the Department of Justice, arguing the merits doesnt really convince five of the nine Supreme Court justices, Brian Green, an immigration attorney based in Denver, told me back in March. Under the current citizenship clause, all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are eligible to become citizens. The Trump administration has fixated on the jurisdiction thereof, arguing that children of undocumented immigrants and temporary immigrants do not have an allegiance to the U.S. and therefore should not be afforded citizenship.

Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia, told Slates Dahlia Lithwick that the governments arguments take on a restrictive interpretation of birthright citizenship that are not entirely coherent.

The word allegiance appears nowhere in the citizenship clause, but thats what they say it means, Frost explained. The administration argues that this is what the Reconstruction Congress intended it to mean, and then they say that if you enter the U.S. illegally or overstay your visa because you violated our laws, you dont have ;allegiance to the United States. 
The Trump administration on Tuesday said agencies have pulled $450 million more in federal funding from Harvard University.

The announcement from the federal antisemitism task force follows another forceful response from Harvard President Alan Garber, who dismissed the administrations latest threat that ended the schools eligibility for new federal research grants.

Harvards campus, once a symbol of academic prestige, has become a breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination, the task force said in a statement. This is not leadership; it is cowardice. And its not academic freedom; its institutional disenfranchisement.

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The more than $450 million in federal cash comes from eight federal agencies across the government, although the statement did not specify which agencies.

There is a dark problem on Harvards campus, and by prioritizing appeasement over accountability, institutional leaders have forfeited the school's claim to taxpayer support, the statement said.

Key context: Harvard has already lost more than $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts and faces several Trump administration probes after Garber refused to comply with a list of demands from the federal antisemitism task force. They included changes to the universitys hiring, admissions, discipline and programming  requirements which the university has said are unreasonable and encroach on its autonomy.

Garber, in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Monday, defended the institutions efforts to combat antisemitism and also rebuffed McMahons earlier claims about the institutions rigor in academics, merit-based hiring and admissions policies.

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Harvard will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear of unfounded retaliation by the federal government, he wrote.

On Tuesday, the task force accused the institution of failing to confront race discrimination and antisemitic harassment on its campus. The group said Harvard had a long-standing policy and practice of discriminating on the basis of race as recognized by the Supreme Court in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, a landmark case that ended the consideration of race in college admissions. Officials also said incidents of antisemitism have been met with no meaningful response from Harvards leadership.

Harvard, and its leadership group who are tainted by the egregious infractions under its watch, faces a steep, uphill battle to reclaim its legacy as a lawful institution and center of academic excellence, the task force wrote.
The Trump administration has often claimed that it wants to increase the nations fertility rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last month that the rate is at roughly 1.6 births per woman. That is higher than in other major developed countriesSouth Korea has dropped to a fertility rate of 0.75, for examplebut below the replacement level of 2.1.

Trump described himself as the fertilization president at a Womens History Month event at the White House earlier this spring, a title he claims is apt because of his verbal support of in vitro fertilization, a practice that many other Republicans oppose on religious grounds. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, has expressed concern about the decline in potential fertility among younger Americans. Our fertility is dropping dramatically, he claimed in April. Teenagers in this country have the same testosterone levels as 68-year-old men. (He was presumably referring to teenage boys.)

JD Vance and other top Trump officials have supported the so-called pronatalist movement that advocates for much higher fertility rates, at least among certain groups of people. These concerns are shaping policy areas that might seem unrelated at first glance. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy ordered his department in February to prioritize infrastructure projects in communities with marriage and birthrates higher than the national average.

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Most of the decline in the U.S. fertility rate can be attributed to the sharp decline in teenage pregnancies, something that would have been seen as a policy victory by conservatives a generation ago. Increasing fertility rates is a vexing issue that countries in Asia and Europe have struggled with for the last 20 years with little success.

Nonetheless, if the Trump administration is actually serious about the nations fertility rate, it might want to stop doing numerous things that will likely kill American children.

In April, for example, the Trump administration shuttered the communications office for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the components of the National Institutes of Health, and laid off its workforce. Among the offices responsibilities was coordinating the federal governments participation in the Safe to Sleep program, which aims to encourage parents to adopt safe-sleep practices for newborns and infants.

The Safe to Sleep program emerged in the 1990s as researchers sought to identify the causes of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, which killed thousands of infants every year at the time. While the specific causes of SIDS are still being studied, the program has helped persuade millions of parents to avoid practices that might seem safe or normalbed-sharing, using blankets or stuffed animals, letting infants sleep at night in car seats and strollersbut actually contribute to suffocation risks. Those changes and others helped reduce SIDS deaths by 50 percent by the 2010s.

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It is hard to imagine a better use of taxpayer funds than preventing infant deathsor one more aligned with so-called pronatalist interests. Instead, the Trump administration appears poised to destroy how federal public health agencies track infant mortality and maternal health problems and communicate about them to Americans. Kennedy began his tenure at HHS by proposing a radical internal restructuring of the department, shuttering numerous programs, and directing layoffs for roughly 20,000 employees.

Among the casualties are the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, or PRAMS, which collects data on prenatal and postpartum care across the country to improve policymaking on maternal and infant health. The Washington Post reported that HHS also dismantled programs that collect fertility and reproductive health statistics, with vast downstream implications for research that relies on official numbers for issues ranging from IVF success rates to postpartum depression.

Personnel can be policy as well. Kennedy, the nations top public health official, has a long history of spreading doubt and confusion about childhood vaccinations for personal gain. After the island nation of Samoa paused its measles vaccination program in 2019 after a fatal vaccination mishap, Kennedy flew in to encourage government officials there to engage in a natural experiment to see what would happen if they went without vaccinating their children against the disease. The resulting measles epidemic killed at least 83 children and sickened thousands of others.

While seeking Senate confirmation earlier this year, Kennedy downplayed his anti-vaccine views and told senators that he would leave current childhood immunization schedules intact. That pledge appears to be hanging by a thread. Kennedy and his allies are reportedly planning to remove the Covid-19 vaccine from the schedule. They also plan to require that future vaccine studies include unvaccinated control groups, a practice that health experts had long opposed because it was unethical.

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Some of Kennedys critics have described his policies and rhetoric, especially toward people with autism and vaccines, as eugenic in nature. After overseeing a measles outbreak in Texas that killed two children earlier this year, he recently suggested in a Fox News interview that the measles vaccine was unnecessary because the disease had a low mortality rate.

Even in 1963, before the introduction of the vaccine, there were 400 deaths a year and there were up to two million measles cases, he claimed. Only very, very sick kids should die from measles. With sufficient vaccination rates, however, it is possible to eliminate childhood deaths from measles altogether. Kennedys comments suggest that children who die from childhood measles outbreaks should die from it and that vaccinations only impede this outcome.

Other Make America Healthy Again advocates are cut from the same anti-scientific and conspiratorial cloth, casting themselves as brave truth-tellers who propose treatments that the medical establishment rejects as unproven and inflaming doubts about scientifically proven practices. At Kennedys behest, for example, Trump recently nominated Casey Means, a failed ENT surgeon with an inactive state medical license, to serve as the nations next surgeon general.

Means, like Kennedy, has espoused anti-vaccine views in the guise of questioning established truths and encouraging skepticism. That would make her a dangerous pick for an office that has long served as the nations top doctor of sorts. Among her other anti-child views is her promotion of raw milk, a term used by promoters to make unpasteurized milk sound natural and wholesome. Unpasteurized milk can sicken healthy adults by introducing them to a wide range of pathogens; those same illnesses can severely injure or kill children.

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Means framed her advocacy of unpasteurized milk as one of personal empowerment. When it comes to a question like raw milk, I want to be free to form a relationship with a local farmer, understand his integrity, look him in the eyes, pet his cow, and then decide if I feel safe to drink the milk from his farm, she once claimed. For decades, Americans did not need to engage in such feel-good nonsense to obtain safe milk for themselves and their children because the Food and Drug Administration operated a national quality-control program for dairy producers. The Trump administration laid off that task forces workers in April.

Beyond the nations public health apparatus, the Trump administration is also pushing federal agencies in ways that are directly harmful to children. Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has championed a radical plan to slash most of the agencys regulatory efforts. In April, the agency moved to end grants for a variety of health-related programs, including one that studies pesticide exposure among children in rural America and another that traces how forever chemicals enter the nations food supply. Other deregulatory efforts for air and water pollution will likely have an indirect health impact on American children in the years and decades to come.

Last week, Trump also fired the three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is charged with organizing recalls of unsafe products. While its mandate covers products for Americans of all ages, the CPSCs impact is most acutely felt in child-related products. The Trump administration eventually hopes to dismantle it altogether by absorbing it into Kennedys HHS. This campaign is hardly new: I wrote last year about efforts by the conservative legal establishment to defang the commission on behalf of companies that are frustrated by efforts to prevent them from selling unsafe products to American customers. But it is still striking given the agencys cost-to-payoff ratio and uncontroversial nature.

Trump administration officials do not generally describe these moves as if their goal is to increase childhood mortality. (Kennedy appears to be an exception.) They typically justify them as part of an effort to alleviate regulatory burdens on businesses, to reduce government costs, or to otherwise shrink the federal workforce. The net effect of these policy changes, however, is to make this country a more dangerous place for Americans to give birth and grow up.

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Is that at odds with Trumpworlds embrace of pronatalism? Perhaps not. Taken at face value, the term pronatalism simply means to be in favor of births and children. (Antinatalism, a fringe movement that supports human extinction on philosophical grounds, is its counterpart.) I would venture to guess that being pronatalist in that sense describes the overwhelming majority of Americans, even those who do not have or do not plan to have kids of their own. My child-free friends were all happy for me when I had a kid recently, for example.

For American conservatives, pronatalism appears to mean something much different. DOGE head Elon Musk, a South African billionaire, has framed his concerns about birth rates along white nationalist lines by focusing on declining fertility rates in Europe and the United States. Vance has favored shaming women who dont have children by deriding them as childless cat ladies, claiming they have no stake in the countrys future. Vance has also denounced federal subsidies for childcare that make it easier for working women to have children. Instead, he argued, children should be cared for at home by one of their parents. (Guess which parent he prefers.)

The Trump administrations real goal is not to increase the fertility rate or, more specifically, to address policy issues that prevent Americans from having more children. Instead, it appears that they hope to reorient American society by driving womenand especially white womenout of the workforce and pressuring them to raise children at home. It is unlikely that the Trump administration can reverse a nearly century-long social and economic shift over the next four years. It is also unlikely that their efforts to do so will lead to any measurable boost to U.S. fertility rates. If the Trump administrations goal is to increase childhood mortality rates over the next four years, on the other hand, then it is off to a terrific start.
The Trump administration has reportedly told the court overseeing the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, via private filings, that it was working to secure his release from custody from a prison in El Salvador, according to a memorandum filed by his lawyers on Monday.

That is in stark contrast to the public pronouncements by President Donald Trump, administration officials and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who have all stated that Abrego Garcia, who has not been charged, convicted or accused of any crime, will not come back to the United States despite an April 10 Supreme Court decision ordering the administration to facilitate his release from prison and return.

[T]he President has insisted on national television that, although he has the power to bring Abrego Garcia back, he wont, because his lawyers have advised him against it, the filing by Abrego Garcias lawyers states. Other cabinet members, including the Secretary of Homeland Security, have likewise testified before Congress that there is no scenario where Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again. Meanwhile, in sealed, ex parte proceedings, the Government presumably has told this Court the opposite, as it has repeatedly sought to draw out this litigation. (Ex parte proceedings refer to those held in private.)

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In another passage, the memorandum states that the Government has apparently suggested to this Court  belatedly, and in sealed ex parte communications  that it was working to secure Abrego Garcias return.

President Donald Trump claims that he could bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., but his administration's lawyers told him not to. Alex Brandon via Associated Press

The sealed communications cited in the memorandum include two motions to stay discovery filed by the Trump administration on April 23 and April 29.

The April 23 motion followed an order by Judge Paula Xinis approving discovery, including by allowing the depositions of government officials and production of documents. In a move that led to public speculation that the Trump administration may have been looking to seek Abrego Garcias return, Abrego Garcias lawyers agreed to the move and it was approved by Xinis, pausing discovery for one week. However, Xinis rejected the administrations next motion to pause discovery on April 29.

The revelation in Mondays memorandum that the administration told the court that it was working to secure Abrego Garcias return appears to be the first public suggestion of what was in the sealed communications that led Xinis to approve a one-week stay. But whatever was disclosed in those sealed communications did not prove enough to extend the stay.

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The administration previously told the court that it engaged in appropriate diplomatic discussions with El Salvador regarding Abrego Garcia following a ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rebuking the administration for not obeying the Supreme Courts decision, according to a brief filed on April 22. But it did not offer any details beyond that, adding that disclosing the details of any diplomatic discussions regarding Mr. Abrego Garcia at this time could negatively impact any outcome. The next day the administration filed its sealed motion to stay discovery.

Since the beginning of this case the government has been talking out of both sides of its mouth, saying one thing in court filings and another thing in the media, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of Abrego Garcias lawyers, told HuffPost in an emailed statement while noting that he cannot comment on the contents of sealed communications.

Their lawyers tell the District Judge that theyre complying with her orders, but that the evidence cant be shown to the court, Sandoval-Moshenberg added. Its time for that to end.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, the wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia of Maryland, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, speaks during a news conference on April 4, 2025. Jose Luis Magana via Associated Press

The government is now asserting multiple legal privileges, including those covering state secrets and deliberative process, in order to prevent disclosure of any information to the court through document discovery or the testimony of witnesses.

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Despite an order by Xinis compelling discovery and depositions, the Government has stonewalled Plaintiffs by asserting unsupported privileges  primarily state secrets and deliberative process  to withhold written discovery and to instruct witnesses not to answer even basic questions, the memorandum from Abrego Garcias lawyers states.

Three government witnesses have sat for deposition so far, and Abrego Garcias lawyers are seeking to depose more witnesses who they believe have more information about what the administration is doing to facilitate their clients release and return.

Prior to agreeing to stay discovery for one week on April 23, Xinis had called the administrations objections to discovery and claims of privilege specious and reflect[ed] a willful and bad faith refusal to comply with discovery obligations.

The memorandum filed by Abrego Garcias lawyers on Monday came following a May 7 order from Xinis acknowledging the receipt of a declaration from Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserting the state secrets privilege. Xinis ordered responses from the administration and Abrego Garcias lawyers by Monday and a briefing on the privilege assertions on May 16.

Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia remains in a prison in El Salvador despite the Supreme Court ordering the administration to release him and return him to the United States.
By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The arrest of a Wisconsin state court judge for allegedly helping a migrant evade U.S. authorities marks another salvo in a long-brewing debate about the presence of immigration agents in local courthouses.

The judge, Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee Countys circuit court, is due in federal court on Thursday to face charges of obstruction and harboring an individual due to face arrest. Dugans legal team argues she will be exonerated.

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Republican President Donald Trumps administration has broadened the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to carry out courthouse arrests as it ramps up deportations and cracks down on illegal immigration.

ICE courthouse operations have drawn fierce resistance from immigration advocates and some state courts, who have argued since Trumps first term that they risk disrupting court operations and dissuading millions of people from accessing the legal system.

The case against Dugan sits at the center of two themes of Trumps second term: boundary-pushing immigration enforcement and forceful pushback against judges the administration sees as standing in the way of its authority.

"All of this adds to a sense of the judiciary being under attack," said Jeremy Fogel, a former judge in California who now runs the Berkeley Judicial Institute. Whether or not its going to be successful, its seen as part of a broader attempt to weaken or delegitimize the judiciary.

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Dugan is accused of helping an immigrant in the U.S. illegally who was due to appear on assault-related charges evade immigration authorities on April 18 by escorting him into a non-public hallway, according to a criminal complaint and local police documents. The migrant, identified as Eduardo Flores Ruiz, was arrested outside after a foot chase.

As of May 6, ICE had conducted 189 courthouse arrests since Trump returned to office in January, more than doubling its pace from the prior full year under Democratic President Joe Bidens administration, according to a Reuters analysis of ICE data.

CHANGING POLICIES

ICE early in Trumps second term rescinded a Biden administration policy narrowing the circumstances under which it can make arrests at courthouses as part of a broader effort to open up more sensitive locations to immigration authorities.

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The new policy prioritizes migrants with criminal records, alleged gang members and those who have returned to the U.S. after previously being removed, but also allows relatives of criminal defendants or witnesses to be targeted.

State courthouses are an attractive venue for immigration authorities, given people reliably appear for court dates and are typically screened by security.

The ability of law enforcement to make arrests of criminal illegal aliens in courthouses is common sense, said Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement.

The practice has raised thorny issues over the divide between state and federal authority.

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When litigants stop feeling like they can access justice through the courts, and when the federal government starts taking time away from states administering justice to further their immigration enforcement agenda, it gets tricky under the law, said Sarah Rogerson, a professor at Albany Law School.

Some Democratic-run states, including New York, have passed laws to restrict ICEs ability to carry out immigration enforcement in or near courthouses.

A Massachusetts judge was charged during Trumps first term with impeding a federal immigration arrest of a defendant in her courtroom. That criminal case was dropped under the Biden administration, but state disciplinary authorities have since accused her of misconduct.

The Trump administration has escalated its rhetoric against federal judges, which have issued dozens of rulings constraining Trumps aggressive use of presidential power on immigration, slashing the federal government and exacting retribution on perceived adversaries.

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Trump-nominated FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media a photo of a handcuffed Dugan being led toward a police vehicle with the caption, No one is above the law.

FBI guidelines generally bar the agency from releasing photos of criminal defendants without a clear law enforcement purpose.

Pressed on the photo during a Senate hearing last week, Patel said the purpose was to show America that we investigate any individual who commits a crime, especially those in positions of public trust.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller)
US President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa while in Saudi Arabia.

"The president has agreed to say hello to the Syrian President tomorrow (Wednesday) during his stay in Saudi Arabia," the White House said.

Arab media have been speculating in recent days about a meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa. There has been no official information from Syria so far.

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On Monday, before departing to the Gulf, Trump said he was considering lifting sanctions against Syria.

"We're going to have to make a decision on the sanctions, which we may very well relieve," Trump said. "We may take them off of Syria because we want to give them a fresh start."

Sanctions were imposed by the US and other countries in the wake of the civil war that erupted under former president Bashar al-Assad. His regime was overthrown in early December by an Islamist rebel alliance.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to lift sanctions on Syria following last years fall of the Assad regime, saying the move will give them a chance at greatness.

The removal of the sanctions is a significant win for the Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who seized power after the stunning defeat of the Assad regime in December. It is likely to be seen as a blow by the Israeli government, which escalated military and territorial advancements in Syria in the wake of the Assad collapse.

Trump said in remarks to a Saudi investment forum in Riyadh that he made the decision after discussing with it Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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Syria, theyve had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years. Thats why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade, he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Syrias foreign minister in Turkey later this week, Trump said.

After decades of brutal rule, the Assad regime fell during the Biden administration in December, and Syrias new leaders have hoped Trump would consider lifting the punishing sanctions on the country.

The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important  really an important function  nevertheless, at the time. But now its their time to shine, Trump said. So, I say, Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.

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Trump expressed hope that Syrias new government will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country in keeping peace.

New Syrian President al-Sharaa previously founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Victory Front in English, which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses.

Trump met with Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday for a little over half hour  the highest-level engagement to date between the new Syrian government and the Trump administration. The US has not formally reestablished diplomatic ties or recognized the new government, but sources say there has been lower-level engagement.

Syrias foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, welcomed the news of the US sanctions relief.

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We see the lifting of sanctions as a new beginning on the path to reconstruction, he posted to X. Thanks to the stances of our Arab brothers  foremost among them Saudi Arabia  we are opening a new chapter toward a future worthy of the Syrian people and their history.

The UNs special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, also welcomed the announcement, saying the lifting of sanctions is imperative to allow the delivery of essential services like health care and education and to revive the economy.

The US move comes after the United Kingdom and European Union lifted some, but not all, of their sanctions on Syria earlier this year.

On Capitol Hill, the top senators on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee  Republican Jim Risch and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen  had encouraged the move before Trumps trip. Shaheen said in a statement Tuesday she is encouraged by the Presidents announcement to move expeditiously and am in touch with the State Department and NSC to make sure this long-awaited window of opportunity does not close for Syria.

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Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, offered a more reserved response.

I am very inclined to support sanctions relief for Syria under the right conditions. However, we must remember that the current leadership in Syria achieved its position through force of arms, not through the will of its people, the South Carolina lawmaker said.

Graham, who said in a press release he had just arrived in Turkey, noted he has been in close contact with Israel, as they are extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria.

During this trip, I will be discussing this matter with our allies in Turkey and will maintain extremely close coordination with our allies in Israel so that we can fully understand the implications of sanctions waivers, he said.

Syrians take to the streets to celebrate

Meanwhile, social media videos showed jubilant crowds in the main square of the city of Homs. People were seen wielding Syrian and Saudi Arabian flags as the crowd chanted: Hail Saudi Arabia, hail Saudi Arabia! Hail Salman, hail Salman! in apparent reference to the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Another video from the city showed large crowds gathered outside as fireworks lit up the night sky overhead.

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As a revolutionary Syrian, our ultimate goal is to rebuild our country, said Osaid Basha, who was celebrating in Homs.

He thanked the US and said Trumps announcement marks the first step toward recovery, and toward restoring Syria to its former state  or even better.

One of the key objectives of the revolution  toppling the regime  has already been achieved, he told CNN. Now, the focus must be on moving the country forward.

A video from the city of Latakia showed cars and motorcycles driving down the street, honking their horns as their passengers waved Syrian flags.

The countrys economy and trade minister, Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, shed tears live on air with Saudi outlet Al Arabiya, as he underscored that Syria is now entering a new phase.

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Syrias revival is about to begin. We are heading toward an economic renaissance, now that the international community has reopened its doors to us, he said tearfully, stressing that the countrys new government and investors are ready.

The Syrian people will soon enjoy an unprecedented level of relief and comfort, he cried.

Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Middle East Program, told CNN that in addition to the announcement marking a win for Sharaa, it is also a win for the Saudi crown prince.

(Trump) is saying this publicly to maybe reassure others that they have the tacit approval to give Syria a better opportunity, a shot, and so the optics of that are quite a big deal, Hall said. Now if that is also met with some kind of public meeting between al-Sharaa and Trump, or even a secret meeting, this means that the United States is clearly taking steps in a direction to give Syria a chance to rebuild.

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Al-Shaar told Al Arabiya he expects the impact of the sanctions being lifted to begin as soon as the country is integrated into SWIFT, a messaging service that connects financial institutions around the world.

Funds will start flowing in, initially from Syrians abroad, followed by supportive countries. The wheels of the economy will start turning, and trade and investment promises will begin to materialize, as the landscape is now open for investment, he said. The minister said the path is now clear for anyone who wants to invest in Syria and that this would, in turn, provide some financial relief to the countrys citizens.

There were no financial service restrictions relating to Syrian banks, according to Swift.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that crowds celebrating the US lifting of sanctions against Syria were cheering the Saudi king and that Syrias economy and trade minister, Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, rather than Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke to Al Arabiya about the impact of the sanctions being lifted .

CNNs Eyad Kourdi and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.

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On the first day of his visit to the Middle East, President Trump combined business with diplomacy, reaching out to the nascent government in Syria, extending an olive branch to Iran and agreeing to what the White House hailed as the largest economic pact signed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

The economic agreements include a $142-billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia, providing the kingdom with a slew of modern weaponry and offensive systems that Trump's predecessor, President Biden, had been holding in reserve to incentivize the Saudi royal family to normalize relations with the Israeli government.

In total, the White House said, Trump signed agreements with the Saudis on artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, healthcare investment and aerospace manufacturing that are worth about $600 billion. That number could not immediately be verified.

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The financial deals, struck as the U.S.-Saudi Investment Summit was held in the Riyadh, the capital, lent a pragmatism to the president's visit to a country that has proved to be an ethically challenging U.S. ally for decades.

The moves on Syria and Iran had been advocated by the Saudis and their Arab allies since Trump returned to office in January. Dispensing with tradition, Trump expressed a willingness to engage directly with players in the region that are viewed with deep suspicion in Washington, including Syria's new president and the leadership in Iran.

"I have never believed in having permanent enemies," Trump said in extensive remarks at an investment forum Tuesday. "I am different than a lot of people think."

"Far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it's our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders and use U.S. policy to dispense justice for their sins," he added. "It is God's job to sit in judgment."

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In his speech, Trump addressed Iran's ongoing nuclear enrichment program, stating once again that Tehran would "never have a nuclear weapon."

"I'm here today not merely to condemn the past chaos of Irans leaders, but to offer them a new path and a much better path toward a far better and more hopeful future," he said. "But if Irans leadership rejects this olive branch, and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure."

Trump also said he would end sweeping sanctions on Syria imposed during the country's civil war, drawing a standing ovation from those assembled to hear his speech, and fulfilling a long-repeated request from Syrias leaders and its Arab and international allies. Syria's longtime leader, Bashar Assad, was overthrown in December, and the country is now headed by an Islamist government.

Trump said he would order the cessation of the sanctions so as to give Syria a chance at greatness.

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The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important function, but now its their turn to shine, he said. So I say good luck, Syria. Show us something very special like theyve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia.

He said he was spurred in his decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Oh, what I do for the crown prince, Trump quipped.

Trump greeted by Saudi pomp

Trump arrived Tuesday in the Saudi capital for the first leg of his Middle East tour. He was welcomed with a pomp-and-circumstance-filled ceremony and a high-powered lunch with top business leaders and government figures before giving a speech at an investment forum.

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After Air Force One landed in Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport  escorted by Saudi Arabian F-15s  Trump emerged, pumped his fist in the air, then stepped off the plane onto a lavender carpet, where the crown prince greeted him with a jovial, two-handed handshake  a contrast to the seemingly reluctant fist bump he once gave President Biden.

Trump and the prince then walked to an ornate hall where they engaged in a traditional coffee welcome ceremony, the first phase of a two-day visit suffused with similar displays of pageantry.

Read more: Trump returns to the Middle East with tech titans, seeking trillion-dollar deals

Once done, Trump drove in the limousine known as the Beast, flanked by a phalanx of horsemen carrying Saudi and American flags, then stood before an honor guard and a military band that played "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the Saudi national anthem.

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Joining Trump was a raft of U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, special envoy Steve Witkoff and dozens of business leaders. In one unusual moment during the meeting, Trump offered a salute  typically reserved for U.S. service members  to a Saudi military officer.

Later, at a lavish lunch in Al-Yamamah Palace, Trump and the crown prince began an hourlong glad-handing session featuring Saudi royals, officials and military commanders.

Also on hand were elite business figures and star chief executives  all part of a 250-person guest list focusing on banking, tech, health, defense and artificial intelligence, including Elon Musk, a top aide to the president, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Los Angeles Times owner and biotech entrepreneur Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong also attended the lunch.

Yet it was business deals promised to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars that were the main focus of the day.

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Trump employed his usual patter to the proceedings, touting American-made weapons as the best military equipment in the world, by far.

As you know, we have the biggest business leaders in the world here, Trump said. Theyre going to walk away with a lot of checks for a lot of things that youre going to provide.

He added that his 24 hours in the country would yield an estimated 2 million job opportunities in the United States.

After the lunch, Trump and Mohammed signed a strategic economic partnership agreement, which, according to Saudi state media, included memorandums of understanding on energy, mining, mineral resources, defense and a cooperation agreement between NASA and the Saudi Space Agency.

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Trump will remain in the kingdom through Wednesday, when he will meet briefly with Syria's de facto president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, for the first time  a significant gesture by the American president toward an unknown leader and former Al Qaeda member. Trump will travel to Qatar on Wednesday and end the trip Thursday in the United Arab Emirates.

The business summit preceding Trumps speech was an all-day affair of roundtable discussions and onstage debates replete with the aphorisms and announcements that are de rigueur in such events.

CEOs of Saudi Arabias so-called giga-projects, sprawling construction sites that are already sprouting across the country, spoke glowingly of the kingdoms potential as a tourist destination. Jerry Inzerillo, who heads a massive tourism project near Diriyah, compared the sites future to Beverly Hills, touting it as a walkable mini-city with 6 million trees and six miles of parks.

Still, the focus was squarely on AI, with leaders in Saudi Arabias new state-sponsored AI company, Humain, joining the stage with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss the countrys plan to amass enough computing infrastructure to make it a major player in AI.

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In the hours before Trumps address, business leaders who signed memorandums of understanding with the Saudi government assembled for a group photo with government officials. Later, Musk took to the stage and returned to the now perennial theme of autonomous taxis, which he promised would soon make their debut.

As the sun waned, Trump and the crown prince arrived at the Ritz-Carlton, where the summit was held. (The hotel was once used as a gilded prison for dozens of officials and business figures ensnared in the governments anticorruption drive shortly after Mohammed's father, King Salman, took power.)

The crown prince led Trump into a gallery with pictures depicting previous meetings between U.S. presidents and Saudi monarchs, starting with President Franklin D. Roosevelts meeting with King Ibn Saud on board the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Quincy in 1945.

The leaders then toured a room with scale models showcasing the future form of the countrys giga-projects.

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When they entered the hall, the Saudis penchant for ceremony was again in full force, with strains of the theme from the movie Air Force One playing as the leaders walked to their positions near the stage, amid a scandal roiling Washington over a proposal by Trump to accept a historic gift from Qatar: A Boeing jet worth $400 million, which would serve as Air Force One for the duration of his term.

Bulos reported from Riyadh and Wilner from Washington.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On campuses across the country this spring, international students are watching the plans theyve made for the future come under threat. Hundreds of students have received emails telling them to immediately self-deport after their visas had been revoked for campus activism. Others learned from their universities that their student visa records had quietly been terminated. Union organizers report that students are afraid to attend meetings, let alone participate in protests. And behind it all is a mounting fear that the universitythe place they came to learn, work, and call homehas turned against them.

For decades, the United States has maintained a dominant position in global university rankings. American schools have long marketed themselves as open arenas for ambitious minds across the world, in which cultural diversity and scholarly freedom fuel innovation. But that well-worn image is now starting to crack.

In recent months, foreign studentsparticularly those participating in pro-Palestine protestshave had their student visas threatened or have been detained and placed in deportation proceedings, signaling a sharp and politically charged shift in federal policy. At the same time, public and private research universities, which depend heavily on international students tuition and laborespecially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplinesare facing the erosion of a vital economic pillar. These developments threaten not only the foundational rights of free speech and academic freedom but also the financial stability of the institutions that anchor the U.S. higher education system and conduct the vital research on which the future will be built.

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In March, the State Department revoked 300 visas of students involved in activism. By April, more than 4,700 students names were removed from the Department of Homeland Securityrun Student and Exchange Visitor Program, or SEVIS, databasea post-9/11 system that tracks visa compliancetriggering legal confusion and widespread fear. The purge spawned a legal firestorm with more than 40 federal judges issuing emergency injunctions, forcing the Trump administration to abruptly reverse course. In a federal court hearing later that month, the Trump administration confirmed that it generated the list by running the names of 1.3 million international students through a federal criminal records database. The overwhelming majority of the supposed hits were tied to minor infractions like traffic violations or dropped charges. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services then announced it would start screening immigrants social media activity for antisemitism.

The message has been unmistakably clear. We are not going to be importing activists into the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March, defending the crackdown. Among others targeted for protesting are Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student leader at Columbia, and Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts graduate student who was abducted by plainclothes agents in an unmarked vehicle after co-authoring an op-ed about the genocide in the student paper.

Far from isolated incidents, these cases reflect an emerging strategyleveraging immigration enforcement as a tool of political suppression. International students have become an ideal scapegoat: politically vulnerable, culturally diverse, and often outspoken. Immigration officials now claim broad authority to revoke visas for supporting terrorism, using vague, expansive definitions. The result is a chilling effect on campus expression and a stark warning to those who would protest U.S. policy.

For academic leaders like Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, the strategy is transparent. They want to undermine higher education and also heighten the new Cold War on campus, Wolfson said.

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The crackdown on international students sits at the intersection of two of Trumps long-standing goals: to rid the country of foreigners and to weaken institutions that challenge his authority, especially universities. Higher education has always been a thorn in Trumps sidea site of liberal values, multiculturalism, and dissent. By targeting international students, his campaign can strike at both immigration and academia in one blow, purging the university of its global character while feeding a nativist base eager to see elites punished.

Trump has also used international students as leverage in his broader campaign against higher education by threatening to ban foreign students from Harvard if the university didnt comply with a list of demands. By weaponizing visa policy in this way, the administration is sending a clear messageuniversities that fail to align with the political agenda of the right risk losing both their students and their autonomy.

This isnt the first time international students have been caught in the crosshairs of U.S. geopolitical anxieties. In 2020, the Trump administration abruptly canceled 1,000 visas belonging to Chinese students, citing alleged ties to the Chinese military and accusing some of stealing sensitive research. Although the Biden administration ultimately ended the controversial China Initiative in 2022, it kept the program in place for a year. Upon returning to office, Trump promptly reinstated ita move aligned with the goals outlined in Project 2025. In March, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent letters to six universities demanding information on Chinese students and faculty, reviving Cold Warstyle fears about espionage and foreign influence. Americas student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing, the letter warned, claiming Chinese nationals had unrestricted access to top research institutions and posed a direct threat to national security.

The stakes go beyond free speech and academic freedom. Attacks on international students also imperil the financial viability of universities, many of which have come to rely heavily on the undergraduate tuition revenue, research, and labor provided by foreign students. The dirty little secret of these public schools that nobody wants to talk about is that they have financially added revenue after the decline of state support through undergraduate international students, principally from China because they charge them a really high amount to attend, said the vice president of a large state universitys graduate student union. He was part of a class-action effort to restore SEVIS registrations before the administration reversed course late last month. (He has asked not to be named in order to avoid potential retaliation.)

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A 2016 study in the American Economic Journal found that between 1996 and 2012, a 10 percent cut in state appropriations resulted in a 16 percent increase in foreign enrollments at public research universities. Since the 1980s, foreign student enrollments have more than tripled, with the largest share coming from China. Today, the U.S. educates over one million international students a year.

The student union vice presidents school system, like many others, opened recruiting offices in China decades ago in a bid to attract the incomes of upper-middle-class families who were willing to pay full tuition. Without international students, he warned, the university would collapse very quicklynot just in terms of undergraduate tuition but also in terms of research output and academic operations. Basically all the medical research wouldnt happen because all the postdocs would disappear, he said.

The U.S. hosts more international students than any other country in the world, and the majority of them are graduate students who play essential roles in both teaching undergraduates and driving research. At institutions like Columbia Universityhome to over 23,000 international students, faculty, researchers, and visiting scholars from 162 countriesthe presence of global talent is foundational to academic life. More than half of all international students nationwide are enrolled in STEM programs, where they contribute to critical scientific research and technological innovation. Many remain in the U.S. after graduation, helping to launch start-ups, develop scientific and technological breakthroughs, and sustain the countrys role as a global leader in innovation and discovery.

The chilling effect on graduate student organizing has been swift. According to the union representative, some international students are now afraid to even meet privately with union organizers, fearing that any association could jeopardize their visa status or lead to deportation. These fears are not isolated. The wave of crackdowns is reportedly already deterring many prospective students from applying to U.S. institutions. As a result, the countrys long-held status as the global standard-bearer for higher education is under threat, undermined by policies that treat international students not as scholars but as political liabilities.

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What makes this crackdown particularly insidious is how seamlessly it folds into a broader reactionary offensive against protest itself. Wolfson fears that threats to international students will soon extend to international faculty as well. But the deeper objective, he argues, is larger still: Whats much more in [the Trump administrations] interest is creating an avenue for shutting down protests writ large. I think thats whats on the table here, in a big sense, is the chill of freedom of speech and dissent. Across the country, GOP-led states have introduced dozens of anti-protest laws, while other GOP lawmakers have sought to criminalize encampments and boycotts of Israel.

The consequences will ripple for years. Universities may lose access to global talent. Scientific research will suffer. Political expression will be chilled. At stake in this fight is not just the fate of thousands of foreign studentsit is the soul of the university and its role in a democratic society. Will it remain a place where people from across the world come to think freely, challenge power, and build common futures?
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on politicians to respect the decisions made by individual churches regarding political donations. According to Kindiki, honoring these preferences will help preserve harmony and prevent avoidable tensions between politicians and religious institutions.

While addressing congregants at Riiji Catholic Church in Meru County on Sunday, Kindiki underscored the need for politicians to carry out their political activities outside places of worship. He reminded leaders that churches operate under specific guidance from their spiritual authorities, and those guidelines should be upheld without resistance.

Church officials at the event had requested that no donations be publicly declared. Respecting that directive, Kindiki refrained from announcing financial contributions made by him and President William Ruto. However, he pledged to personally cover the full cost required to complete the construction of a priests house.

He emphasized that political leaders should recognize their dual identity as public servants and people of faith, saying the churchs authority must always come first during worship.

Church and Government Should Work Together, Not Compete

Kindiki also weighed in on the broader public debate surrounding political contributions to churches. He noted that while the government remains willing to support churches financially, such involvement must only occur in spaces where church leadership welcomes it. In institutions that prefer to keep politicians at a distance, he promised that the administration would respect that choice and stay away.

There has been intense debate about politicians giving money to churches. We do not want to appear to be in competition with church leaders on this matter. We will participate where we are requested and respect the directives about giving quietly.

The Deputy President dismissed any claims suggesting that political donations aim to undermine or infiltrate the Church. Instead, he positioned the relationship between the state and the Church as a collaborative partnership grounded in mutual respect.

The church and government are neither in conflict nor in competition, he explained. We will keep away from the churches that do not want us to attend their services because we dont want to cause confusion.

Kindiki reiterated the crucial role the Church plays in national development, pointing out its historical and ongoing contributions to essential services such as education, healthcare, and access to clean water. He said the government views its donations not as political gestures, but as support for vital community infrastructure that benefits all Kenyans.

Kindiki Confirms Government Commitment to Merus Development

Turning to matters of local development, Kindiki assured the people of Meru that the Kenya Kwanza administration intends to deliver on every promise made to them. He stressed that under his leadership as Deputy President, no pledged project would be shelved or forgotten.

He specifically cited the planned construction of the long-awaited Nithi Bridge, confirming that works are set to commence before the year ends.

As deputy president, I will ensure all pending projects are completed and the promises made are implemented. We intend to start the construction of the Nithi Bridge by the end of the year, he said.

Kindiki cautioned against being swayed by political bickering, noting that time will come for active campaigning, but the focus for now should remain on delivering tangible results.

As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Kindiki expressed strong confidence in President William Rutos bid for re-election. He dismissed opposition leaders as ineffective, claiming they had squandered opportunities when previously in power.

Dont worry about the 2027 elections. Were ready. When that day comes, we will square it out with the opposition. Some of those who say they will be our competitors were in top positions in government, but they did nothing, the DP said.

He challenged them to present evidence of the development projects they initiated during their tenure, accusing them of merely stirring unrest with empty promises.

We will want them to account for their time in office and what they did for Kenyans. They should be ready to tell the people of Meru and Kenyans in general what projects they initiated which are not there. Their work is just inciting citizens with empty talk, he stated.
The only declared Republican candidate in the 2028 race for Governor of Florida is weighing in on the tax battle brewing in Tallahassee.

In an exclusive interview with Action News Jax, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL 18th District), a former member of the Florida House, shared his thoughts on the disconnect between Republican leaders.

While the Florida House favors a permanent sales tax cut, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed for a property tax rebate this year and then permanent property tax relief that would be decided on the 2026 ballot.

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Donalds, whose candidacy is backed by President Donald Trump, seems to be backing the Governor in the debate, despite the fact that Governor Ron DeSantis has repeatedly teased his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, may throw her name into the hat to challenge Donalds.

When it comes to which policy he favors, Donalds said he believes lawmakers should focus on cutting property taxes.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Local governments and the state need to look at this very strongly, ways to protect Floridas homeowners. People who have chosen Florida for their home, not just for the next couple of years, but definitely over the last couple of decades. We need to make sure that were protecting those people so they can still stay in their homes, live in their homes and enjoy the beauty of Florida, Donalds said.

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DeSantis has threatened to veto any budget with a permanent sales tax cut, arguing it would threaten a future effort to permanently reduce property taxes.

But House Speaker Daniel Perez (R-Miami) told Action News Jax Friday he wants to find a way to do both.

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I am for doing both. Property taxes affect local government. Property taxes affect K-12 education. Property taxes affect police and fire. Thats a decision that people have to make at the ballot box, but I am for allowing the people to make that decision, Perez said.

Donalds told Action News Jax even though the battle over how to cut taxes has pushed the legislative session into an extended overtime that could trigger an unprecedented state government shutdown, he believes the divided Republican factions will sort out their differences.

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This too shall pass. You know, politics is an interesting situation, said Donalds. Youll see flare-ups like this from time to time, but at the end of the day, knowing everybody in there in Tallahassee, I think theyre gonna get this business done.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
What President Donald Trump has referred to as his big beautiful bill, currently being shepherded through Congress, includes a proposal for a MAGA savings account for children.

The savings account name stands for money account for growth and advancement, but shares an acronym with the Trump slogan, Make America Great Again.

The bills own name also harkens back to what Trump has called it. The legislation is called the one, big, beautiful bill in all capital letters and includes a number of Trumps campaign pledges.

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House Republicans have come under pressure to pass tax reform, which Trump pledged to do during the campaign.

The MAGA account is a tax-advantaged account that can be opened for children aged eight and under. They then wont be able to access the account until they turn 18, Newsweek noted.

The legislation says that the federal government would add $1,000 to the accounts of children born between 2025 and 2028; however, contributions are limited to $5,000 a year. Eligible children must be U.S. citizens at birth and have a Social Security number.

Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been a proponent of the idea of a savings account for children.

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The case I made to my colleagues is: We should ask ourselves in this bill, what will be the legacy that people will remember and talk about 10 years from now, 20, 30, 40 years from now? Cruz told Semafor earlier this month.

A bill pushed by President Donald Trump includes MAGA savings accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 (Getty)

The legislation would create accounts for every child born in America to help them begin the journey of savings and benefit from the wonders of compound interest, he added.

In the House legislation, the proposal is listed as the "MAGA Accounts Contribution Pilot Program." The accounts would be "exempt from taxation, the draft of the House bill states.

Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has previously put forward the idea of baby bonds, which also suggested putting $1,000 in savings accounts for U.S. babies.

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The savings account is a small part of a massive bill that currently suggests tax cuts of $4.9 trillion to aid tipped workers and those working overtime, as well as retired Americans. The cuts would partly be funded with cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and green energy initiatives.

It would also hit private universities with a new endowment tax of as much as 21 percent. For instance, Harvard remains reliant on its endowment amid a legal battle with the Trump administration. The Trump White House has removed Harvards federal funding and said that it will remove the universitys tax-exempt status. Harvard has said the effort has no legal basis.

The bill would also increase the federal debt ceiling by $4 trillion. Trump has spoken about the matter in private for months, noting that he wouldnt want to be pushed into a spending agreement with Democrats to avoid a default, Politico reported.

When I return from the Middle East, where great things will happen for America, we will work together on any and all outstanding issues, but there shouldnt be many  The Bill is GREAT. We have no alternative, WE MUST WIN! Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

I sure hope House & Senate leadership are coming up with a backup plan, Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy wrote on X on Monday. Because Im not here to rack up an additional $20 trillion in debt over 10 years or to subsidize healthy, able-bodied adults, corrupt blue states, and monopoly hospital CEOs.
Congressional Republicans wont be raising taxes on millionaires, despite President Donald Trumps pledge to do so.

The GOP-led House Ways and Means Committee released legislation on Monday for Trumps so-called big, beautiful bill.

Coming in at nearly 400 pages, the document would effectively extend Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from 2017, which set the tax rate at 37 percent for those making at least $2.5 million annually. Last week, Trump had floated bumping that number up to 39.6 percent to help pay for middle-class and working-class tax cuts and to protect Medicaid, a source close to him told The Hill.

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That idea met pushback from Republican-aligned interest groups and lawmakers.

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, told Trump he strongly opposed it.

I gave him my sense of why I thought any discussion of increasing rates was a bad idea: because it would kill jobs, it is damaging to small businesses, nobody in the campaign ever discussed this as an option, Norquist told NBC News. The other part is, the entire Republican Party is against it.

Texas Rep. Chip Roy, though, indicated that he was open to the idea.

I think its wise of him to be putting that on the table, Roy said. And I think a lot of people on my side of the aisle reflexively throw up on these kinds of things when weve got to put a package together, right? And that means moving some things around.

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Roy reacted to the bill by saying it would need significant additional changes to garner my support.

President Donald Trump greets Rep. Chip Roy after his address to Congress in January. / Win McNamee / via REUTERS

Trump had told reporters last Friday that his proposal is good politics.

I actually think its good politics to do it, where richer people give upand its a very small, its like a pointbut they give it up to benefit people that are lower income, he said per a White House pool report.

The legislation also raises the debt limit by $4 trillion, which may upset some Republican fiscal hardliners concerned about the deficit.

The bill also ends taxes on tips and overtime wages, Fox News reported.

Additionally, the legislation allows seniors to increase their standard tax deduction.
By Gram Slattery and Nandita Bose

RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday called Iran the "most destructive force" in the Middle East, blaming Tehran for instability across the region and warning that the United States will never allow it to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Offering what he described as both a final warning and a potential opening for diplomacy, Trump said Iran has a choice between continuing its "chaos and terror" or embracing a path toward peace.

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Tehran has repeatedly denied accusations of fomenting Middle East instability.

Trump said he was willing to strike a new deal with the Islamic Republic but only if its leaders changed course.

"I want to make a deal with Iran," he said. "But if Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch..., we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure."

Speaking at an investment summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Trump warned that "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon", and said his offer for a deal won't last forever.

Trump also drew a stark contrast between what he called the "constructive vision" of Saudi Arabia and the "collapse and suffering" he said had been caused by Iranian leaders.

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"There could be no sharper contrast with the path you have pursued on the Arabian Peninsula than the disaster unfolding right across in the Gulf of Iran," Trump added.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery in Riyadh and Nandita Bose in Washington; editing by Nick Zieminski and Mark Heinrich)
Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the stakes ahead of a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey by saying he wouldnt hold talks with any Russian representative other than the president himself.

Zelensky said he would travel to Turkey after US President Donald Trump urged him to meet Putin. The Russian leader had suggested direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in the country on Thursday in response to the ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum given to Moscow by Kyivs European allies on Saturday.

Asked by CNN about the goals of the possible meeting  one Putin has not yet agreed to attend despite proposing it himself  Zelensky said anything other than a ceasefire agreement would be a failure.

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Aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar Wednesday, Trump suggested he could travel to Turkey for the talks, and that Putin wanted him to attend.

Hed like me to be there, and thats a possibility, Trump told CNN. I dont know that he would be there if Im not there.

Despite Putin being the first to propose direct talks in Turkey, the Kremlin has since prevaricated over whether he will attend. Asked by reporters Wednesday about the make-up of Russias delegation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will only reveal who it is sending to Turkey once Putin gives the order to do so.

Zelensky said he would not consider meeting any other Russian representatives because everything in Russia depends on Putin.

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So I said that on (Thursday) I will go to Turkey and Im ready to meet Putin and an end to the war was through direct talks with him, Zelensky told reporters at a news conference.

Russia hopes to deal directly with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian state news agency TASS on Tuesday.

Our representatives are getting ready for this meeting, the news agency quoted him as saying.

Although it is not clear whether the US or Russian presidents will show up in Istanbul, Trump has confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the talks.

The uncertainty over Thursdays talks comes amid growing international pressure on Moscow to agree to the US-backed plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday that if Russia doesnt comply with those demands, sanctions  including on financial services  could be imposed in the coming days in close liaison with the United States.

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Going some way to make good on this threat, the European Union on Wednesday unveiled a fresh round of sanctions against Moscows shadow fleet of oil tankers, used by the Kremlin to circumvent previous Western sanctions against Russian oil exports.

Further sanctions could be imposed by France and Ukraines other major European allies if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire at the planned talks in Turkey.

Two European diplomatic sources told CNN they have low expectations for Thursday and doubt Putin will actually show up.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based conflict monitor, said on Monday that Russian officials already appeared to be setting conditions for Putin to reject the meeting, quoting several key aides as questioning Zelenskys intentions and calling the proposed meeting pure spectacle.

Ukranian President Voloydmyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in the grounds of the Mariynsky Palace in Kyiv on May 10, 2025. - Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Zelensky also said he offered Trump the option of joining the meeting, saying the presence of the US president would give additional impulse for Putin to fly in.

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He said earlier that his country would appreciate Trumps attendance, and said he supported the US presidents call for direct talks between himself and Putin.

Top Trump administration officials plan to be in Turkey this week, but the presidents possible attendance remains an open question that will largely be dictated by whether his Russian counterpart attends, according to a senior administration official.

He is visiting the Gulf this week, making stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, for his first major overseas trip since the start of his second term. He said he could detour to Turkey if I thought it would be helpful.

I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. I dont know where Im going to be on Thursday, Ive got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there. Theres a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen.

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Whether Trump attends or not, US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg and Trumps foreign envoy Steve Witkoff both plan to be in Istanbul for the talks, the senior administration official said. Another source familiar with the plans also confirmed Witkoffs attendance. As of Tuesday, the plan was for the US officials to observe the Turkish-facilitated talks between the Ukrainians and Russians.

Front line largely static

For months, Ukraine and its allies tried to convince the Trump administration that Putin acts in bad faith, and have said Russias agreeing to a ceasefire could function as a test of whether it is serious about achieving the peace the US president has long demanded.

Ukraines major European allies had given Russia an ultimatum on Saturday: agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine or face massive new sanctions.

Putin ignored the ultimatum, proposing the talks instead. Direct talks between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine have not happened since the early weeks of Moscows unprovoked full-scale invasion in 2022.

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Speaking on Tuesday, Zelensky said he expects the US and Europe to impose new strong sanctions on Russia if Moscow doesnt sign up to the ceasefire on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine doesnt seem to suggest Russia is preparing for a ceasefire. Russian troops have been inching forward in several key areas along the front line and launching near-daily drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities. Still, the front line in eastern Ukraine has not moved dramatically in recent months, with neither side able to break through.

The ISW said on Monday that Russia has reportedly deployed a largely ceremonial regiment of the Federal Security Service (FSB) to the front line, which the ISW said was likely in an effort to generate fear of more rapid future Russian advances.

CNNs Kylie Atwood, Alejandra Jaramillo, Alayna Treene, Mariya Knight, Gul Tuysuz and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.

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Youve probably heard about how Donald Trumps tariffs are wrecking the economy, in addition to unprecedented delays and unnecessary barriers for millions of social security beneficiarieswith the help ofElon Musk, and how his administration leaked classified war plans.

But did you know that, since taking office, Trump and his administration has laid off nearly 300,000 federal workers including 80,000 VA employees. But thats not even the half.

Here are some of the most outrageous things Trump has done since hes returned to the White House.

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 Shut down the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention

 Denied FEMA assistance to tornado victims in Arkansas

 Announced plans to start garnishing the wages of 5.3 million Americans who owe money on their student loans

 Stopped all Department of Justice civil rights investigations and police reform agreements. Those agreements include those made in Louisville and Minneapolis after Breonna Taylors death and George Floyds murder

 Ignored a federal judges ruling

 Stopped USDA inspections of meat, poultry, and even milk

 Ended the program to limit salmonella in Americas poultry products

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 Cut one billion for mental health programs in schools

 Signed an executive order to cancel Sesame Street

Meanwhile, your grocery costs keep going up.

Like the hip-hop philosopher from the Peoples Republic of Brooklyn The Notorious B.I.G. once said, If you dont know, now you know.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Two Months And Counting

Were coming up on two months since Kilmar Abrego Garcia was wrongfully removed from the United States, despite an immigration judge order barring it, and sent to a prison in El Salvador. Two months of incarceration for a deportation that the Trump administration admits was an error, and two months of stonewalling federal courts by the Trump administration, which refuses to try to facilitate Abrego Garcias release despite a month-old Supreme Court order to do so.

In a late night filing in federal court in Maryland, the Trump DOJ continued to tell the courts to pound sand, in so many words, rather than divulge the details of what its done and what it plans to do to facilitate his release. The Trump DOJ isnt as explicit as that; its more slippery and it continues to argue that it has complied with all court orders. But the upshot of raising tenuous state secrets claims to thwart discovery in the case is to further stonewall and delay, Abrego Garcias lawyers argue:

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The fact that the Government has repeatedly publicized informationin congressional testimony, public interviews, and social media postsabout Abrego Garcia and its unwillingness to facilitate his return confirms that answering the requested discovery would not imperil national security. More likely, the Governments assertion of state secrets is consistent with an effort to avoid judicial scrutiny of its actions.

That last part is key.

Unlike in normal discovery, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis is using this process to smoke out whether the administration should be held in contempt of court for repeatedly defying court orders. Stonewalling the discovery phase is part of the same overall pattern of contemptuous behavior, though the latest conduct is cloaked in enough of a veneer of an argument to probably avoid sanctions.

The latest round of filings  including the declaration from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that is the basis for the state secrets claim  are either sealed or partly redacted so we still dont have a complete view into the factual underpinnings for the invocation of the state secrets privilege. The seriousness of the state secrets privilege claim is colored by the administrations belated invocation of it in the earlier Alien Enemies Act case in DC, where U.S. District Judge James Boasberg was incredulous that it could apply to those deportations.

Cutting To The Heart Of The CECOT Matter

I dont usually burden you with reading entire legal filings, but this short new filing from the ACLU in the Alien Enemies Act case before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in D.C. cuts to the heart of the question of whether the Trump administration has constructive custody of the migrants transferred to El Salvadoran prisons.

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Boasberg already seems pretty convinced that constructive custody exists, but he wants limited discovery done to help establish a clear factual basis, presumably to buttress his ruling as it goes up on appeal.

This is only the proposed discovery ACLU wants to do on behalf of those still incarcerated in El Salvador; its not new factual information. But the precision of the questions and their implications frame up the issue clearly:

Just in case its still not clear, the case before Boasberg is the most viable legal vehicle at present for securing the return of the Venezuelan nationals deported on March 15 without due process under the Alien Enemies Act.

Immigration Case Miscellany

In a case out of the Northern District of Texas, the Trump Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to resume deporting Venezuelan nationals on grounds other than the Alien Enemies Act.

A federal judge ordered the release of a former student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from prison Friday, arguing the detention appeared to have been almost exclusively triggered by the militant Zionist group Betar, The Forward reports.

In a case out of the Western District of Louisiana involving allegations that a 2-year-old American citizen was deported to Honduras with her non-citizen mother, the family has dismissed its lawsuits for reasons that remain murky, ABC News reports.

For Your Radar 

Not every investigation by the Trump DOJ is inherently suspect, but these are some that bear monitoring:

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The Justice Department is now investigating a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia and has given limited immunity to the owner of the vehicle he was driving, a convicted felon in an Alabama prison with whom investigators recently spoke, ABC News reports. Hard not to see this as part of the larger White House-led smear campaign against the mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia.

The Justice Department will investigate a planned housing development in Texas that would have a mosque at its center, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) announced. The proposed project has stirred up an Islamophobic backlash among high-profile elected Republicans in the state.

If there was ever a textbook case of selective prosecution, the Justice Department investigation of New York Attorney General Letitia James appears to be it, James Zirin writes.

But Why?

Im still puzzling over precisely why the Trump administration is fixated on the Library of Congress and the U.S. Copyright Office  and especially why Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is now the acting Librarian of Congress and bringing a slew of DOJ officials there with him. Some of them were stymied yesterday from entry into the LOCs offices.

There are partial answers to why, but they dont really add up into a coherent whole yet. Yes, the former librarian was a Black woman. Yes, the head of the Copyright Office had just issued a warning on AI and copyrights. Yes, Blanche is Senate confirmed so he can serve as an acting official, which explains a lot of the dual-hat roles Trump administration officials are playing.

While those answers explain particular elements of this episode, they dont offer a global theory of the case. Stay tuned.

Judges Under Threat

The low-key ominous threat of unsolicited pizza deliveries at the homes of federal judges and their family members has continued, the WaPo reports. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge J. Michelle Childs says she has received seven anonymous pizza deliveries so far. Adding to the menace: In recent weeks, orders have been placed in the name of U.S. District Judge Esther Salass son, Daniel Anderl, who was fatally shot at the family home in New Jersey in 2020 by an attorney who posed as a delivery person.

Air Force One Lite

Following up on my more pedantic concerns about the technical feasibility of retrofitting a lux Qatari 747 for Trump to use as Air Force One by later this year, I cant find any reporting that suggests its close to possible.

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But retrofitting the 13-year-old aircraft to current Air Force One requirements would take years of work and billions of dollars, current and former U.S. officials say, the WaPo reports. Such a task would be impossible to complete before Trump leaves office.

But for a complete look at the many layers of inanity here, from the corruption to the security threat to the practical limitations, theres no one better that Garrett Graff. This is perfectly in his wheelhouse.

DOGE Watch

Politico: RFK Jr., DOGE gutted legally required offices at HHS

WaPo: The hidden ways Trump, DOGE are shutting down parts of the U.S. government

WSJ: OMB Director Russ Vought Takes Over the DOGE Agenda

Lede Of The Day

NYT: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, posted photos on Sunday of himself and his grandchildren swimming in a contaminated Washington creek where swimming is not allowed because it is used for sewer runoff.

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
President Donald Trump laid out his optimistic vision for the Middle East while speaking Tuesday at a forum in Saudi Arabia.

Trump, on his first trip to the region since taking office for his second term, also made several announcements that sent reverberations across the region.

During his remarks, Trump said he will remove the sanctions on Syria, and directed threats at Iran. He also pushed Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements that established diplomacy between Israel and the Arab nations.

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Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past, and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other, he said during remarks in Saudi Arabia.

His speech came after his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I really believe we like each other a lot, Trump told reporters.

The president, in his address, criticized Western interventionists for spending trillions and still failing to develop previously war-torn cities like Afghanistans Kabul and Iraqs Baghdad. Meanwhile, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are modernizing.

President Donald Trump and His Royal Highness, Mohammed bin Salman al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, look at a model of a city under construction, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. | Alex Brandon

Trumps private meeting with the crown prince yielded $600 billion in trade partnerships between Riyadh and Washington, D.C.

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Trump will leave Saudi Arabia for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. A quick stop in Turkey for ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia is also on the schedule, according to the White House press pool.

Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords

Trump revealed his wish and even (his) dream: For Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords.

President Donald Trump speaks at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. | Alex Brandon

Signed in 2020, this series of agreements established formal relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

It will be a special day in the Middle East, with the whole world watching, when Saudi Arabia joins us, Trump said.

But youll do it in your own time, he added. For Riyadh, the permanent end of the Israel-Gaza war is a prerequisite to entering a diplomatic agreement.

Syria to no longer face sanctions

Trump said the U.S. will remove its sanctions on Syria, designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the U.S. government in the late 1970s.

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Syria, theyve had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years. Thats why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade, he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet the Syrian foreign minister in Turkey later this week, the president added.

Syria endured 14 years of war under a half-a-century-long dictatorship. But, as the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy said, the fall of (Bashar al-Assads) regime marked a major turning point, a chance for this war-torn country to reclaim its future.

The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important  really an important function  nevertheless, at the time. But now its their time to shine, Trump said.

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So I say, Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.

Trumps olive branch and stern warning to Iran

Trump extended an olive branch to Iran but paired it with a stern warning and an offer that wont last on the table for too long.

If Irans leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive, maximum pressure  and take all action required to stop the regime from ever having a nuclear weapon. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, he said.

This is an offer that will not last forever. The time is right now for them to choose  right now, Trump said.

As CNN reported, the latest round of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. ended over the weekend without the parties reaching a consensus. Tehran and Washington are expected to engage in more negotiations over Irans nuclear ambitions and lifting the sanctions it faces.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has issued a stern warning to schools about the importance of meeting deadlines for uploading 2025 CBC student projects.

In a notice released on May 12, 2025, KNEC emphasized that schools would face a penalty of Ksh500 for each project uploaded past the deadline.

The notice specifically targets the projects for students in Grades 3, 7, and 8, as well as Grade 9 students preparing to transition to Grade 10. These students must complete their projects within the year as part of their educational progress.

The projects and performance tasks for Grades 3, 7, and 8, as well as KJSEA, have been uploaded to the CBA portal (https://cba.knec.ac.ke) for schools access, the notice reads.

Schools must upload the completed projects and their students scores to the portal within the stipulated timeframes.

The schools are expected to administer the projects and performance tasks and upload scores of all learners on the portal within the stipulated timeframes.

KNEC has set firm deadlines: all Grade 3, 7, and 8 projects must be uploaded by July 31, 2025, while Grade 9 students projects are due by August 30, 2025.

Late uploads will incur a Ksh500 penalty per candidate, underscoring the need for schools to stay on schedule.
US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has revealed what Ukraine and Russia will discuss if direct talks between them manage to take place.

Source: Witkoff in an interview with Breitbart News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Witkoff stated that among the key unresolved issues in the Russo-Ukrainian war, which will be discussed if the parties sit down at the negotiating table, are the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Ukraine's access to key waterways.

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Quote: "I think the major issues here are the regions, the nuclear plant, it's how the Ukrainians are able to use the Dnipro River and get out to the ocean. There are things here that I dont think are going to be difficult to solve if we get the parties to the table, they're talking to each other, were narrowing issues between them, and then we're coming up with compromises and creative solutions to address each of their concerns."

Details: Witkoff believes the United States has done "a lot to narrow the issues" and he identified "five regions" as the main obstacle.

"The major sticking points are down to the five regions. Russia has control  overwhelming control  of two of those regions. The Ukrainians have some degree of control over three other regions, so it's about how were going to assess  there's a difference between where the battle line are, where the troops are, and the administrative lines," he said.

Witkoff also noted that talks with both sides are already taking place in an informal format and the United States is insisting on the earliest possible organisation of a direct meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations.

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Previously: On 17 April, Witkoff presented European officials in Paris aimed at ending the Russo-Ukrainian war. The proposal included the recognition of Russia's control over several Ukrainian territories currently under Moscow's occupation.

A key component of the proposal is the de jure recognition by the United States of Russia's control over Crimea, as well as its de facto control over Luhansk Oblast and parts of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kherson oblasts.

Under the US plan, Ukraine would regain control over the occupied parts of Kharkiv Oblast, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the Kakhovka Dam. Ukraine would also gain control of the Kinburn Spit and unimpeded access to the Dnipro River.

Background:

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In a nighttime statement on 11 May, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not mention a 30-day ceasefire but said he was ready for "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday 15 May.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to speak personally with Putin on Thursday in Istanbul, after which Trump stated that he does not rule out a visit to Turkiye on 15 May.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  President Donald Trump signed an executive order this morning, aimed at evening the playing field when it comes to the price of prescription drugs.

In the most recent executive order, President Trump says while Americans make up less than 5% of the worlds population, Americans fund more than 75% of the worlds pharmaceutical profits.

The idea is ordering the prices for Americans to reflect the prices people in other countries have to pay.

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While many different outlets are reporting differences in who would benefit from the price slashing, for what Ozarks First can take from the order, it does not outline specifically if the cuts are for Medicaid or Medicare beneficiaries, or for Americans overall.

Its something residents like Ryker Mitchell, a Type 1 Diabetic, would welcome if the EO is successful.

I would say if it ends up being true and it does become a thing, Id be very happy, Mitchell said. Not even just for myself on insulin, but for people with other like chronic conditions. Ive got a couple of members of my family who, theyve got other like chronic illnesses and their costs are also pretty insane.

Mitchell has not only recently been counting carbs, but has lately been counting pennies.

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His total costs for his medicine, not limited to his insulin pump, insulin, lancets, blood testing trips, glucose readers, etc costs close to $1,000 every three months.

There was a period where I was purposely not eating anything up over like 10-11 carbs so that I wouldnt have to give myself insulin just to make it last as much as I could, Mitchell said. I have to really plan and budget around that of how am I going to pay for that, plus get all of my other bills paid in.

Mitchell is currently insured and hopes the slashes will impact him positively.

If it ends up panning out that that would be awesome, Mitchell said.

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At Grove Pharmacy, Pharmacist Shade Piper says some of the drug pricing hes seen just doesnt make sense.

For example, in the United States, Ozempic is somewhere around like $1,000 and the next highest country, its like $150, Piper said. Some countries are as low as like $80, so the pricing is higher in America versus other country. That doesnt make sense to me.

Piper believes the EO is progress, but thinks more should be done about PBMs or Pharmacy Benefit Managers.

Its a step in the right direction. I do think [they should] look into PBMs and, you know, state and federal level, which theyre they are working on, but a step in the right direction for sure, Piper said.

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The newest order has garnered support from Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, praising the move on social media, and calling on Congress to pass his bipartisan bill aimed at addressing what he calls Big Pharma price gouging.

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The Trump administration quietly fired the head of the U.S. Copyright Office over the weekend after her office issued a lengthy report condemning artificial intelligence companies for training their models on copyrighted works, often without the copyright owners consent or compensation.

Making commercial use of vast troves of copyrighted works to produce expressive content that competes with them in existing markets, especially where this is accomplished through illegal access, goes beyond established fair use boundaries, the third part of the 113-page pre-publication report concluded.

Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter had held the position since President Donald Trumps first term in October 2020, operating under the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden.

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Hayden herself was abruptly fired last week without cause in a two-sentence email. Trump on Monday tapped Todd Blanche, his former personal attorney, to run the Library of Congress despite having no apparent prior professional experience in the field.

Both Perlmutters and Haydens firings would appear illegal, since both operate under the purview of Congress  not the president.

Trump himself didnt appear to understand Perlmutters firing. He confirmed the news by sharing a social media post written by Mike Davis, a Republican attorney, that condemned it as 100% unacceptable.

Now tech bros are going to attempt to steal creators copyrights for AI profits, griped Davis.

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Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, highlighted Elon Musks connection to the firing.

It is surely no coincidence [Trump] acted less than a day after [Perlmutter] refused to rubber-stamp Elon Musks efforts to mine troves of copyrighted works to train AI models, Morelle said in a statement.

Democratic U.S. Senators Adam Schiff of California and Chuck Schumer of New York also condemned the firing as unlawful in a joint statement.

Companies such as OpenAI, Meta, and Elon Musks xAI (which acquired X, formerly Twitter, earlier this year) are predicated on vast troves of data, not all of it acquired legally.

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Court records show Mark Zuckerbergs Meta, for instance, illegally downloaded nearly 82 terabytes of pirated books to train its AI model, LlaMA.

Last year, an OpenAI whistleblower who alleged the company was built on copyright violations was found dead of an apparent suicide.

A 2023 class-action suit by Sarah Silverman and other authors against Meta and ChatGPT parent OpenAI accuses the companies of being industrial-strength plagiarists.

Related...
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps pick to head the Federal Railroad Administration affirmed to lawmakers that he would uphold a rule requiring two-person train crews that is being targeted for repeal by the big U.S. railroads.

At his nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, David Fink, the FRA nominee, assured Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., that he would stand by the regulation, which the FRA finalized in April 2024, aligning himself with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who also pledged to maintain the rule.

That seems to put both at odds with the Class I railroads, which are asking the Department of Transportation, through their lobbying group the Association of American Railroads, to scrap the rule as an unsubstantiated mandate that conflicts with the Trump administrations policy goals of regulatory reform, technological advancement, and data-driven rule-making.

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The major railroads have campaigned for allowing single-person crews they say have been successfully implemented by smaller railroads.





Fink was less committal when asked by Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., if he would help push through the Senate a stalled rail safety bill, a significant safety overhaul drawn up in the wake of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and chemical spill.

As far as legislation, my job [if confirmed as FRA administrator] is the person that executes the laws that you pass, Fink responded. So if you pass the law, were going to make sure the law is carried out.

Fink, who began his career with General Motors in the 1980s, in 2006 became president of Pan Am Railways, a major regional railroad, after serving as its executive vice president in 1998. He remained president through Pan Am Railways acquisition by CSX Transportation, a deal announced in 2020 and approved in April 2022.

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As the potential top official overseeing U.S. rail safety, Fink was confronted at the hearing regarding his own safety record while leading Pan Am Railways.





Several lawmakers cited a 2022 FRA audit calling out the company for significant safety issues that are not receiving the serious and thoughtful consideration by railroad leadership that Pan Ams employees, and the public, deserve.

Fink told Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., that he disagreed with some of the audits findings. When they said we didnt have a safety culture, I disagree and thats just not true, Fink said.

I also worked very closely with organized labor 14 times per year, going out into the field meeting with the people, and finding out what the issues were  and we would correct those things to try to make things safer. Safety is the first importance in the discharge of duty, and I will not waiver from that as an administrator.

Tackling cargo theft

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., sought a commitment from Fink to address cargo theft, which has been on the rise and is one of the costliest problems facing both railroads and trucking. Blackburn said businesses in her state describe the intermodal railyards in Memphis as a war zone due to the significance of the problem there.

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As administrator, Id like to know how youre going to work with communities like Memphis and how youre going to address what is a growing problem nationwide, she told Fink.

Ive not heard of the issues in Memphis, Fink said. Ive seen over the years, particularly in Southern California, where the trains were broken into while they were moving.

Its an issue we need to sit down and talk about with the security folks from the railroads, our folks at FRA, to find out whats going on and talk with the local communities. You have my word that if confirmed I will work on that.

Related articles:

Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.





The post Trumps FRA nominee vows to uphold 2-person train crews appeared first on FreightWaves.
President Donald Trump further solidified efforts to create a new relationship with Syria when he met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday morning. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also in attendance, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined remotely.

The meeting came after Trumpwho is in the middle of a three-country tour of the Middle Eastdelivered a speech on Tuesday in which he announced his plan to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria in support of "a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace.

Syrias President al-Sharaa, a former militant, led the countrys rebel resurgence in December, during which his armed faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)classified internationally as a terrorist grouptoppled Bashar Assads government in Syria. Until late December, the United States had a $10m bounty on the new Syrian President for his arrest.

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After the meeting, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the sit-down went great and referred to al-Sharaa as a young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter."

He added: Hes got a real shot at holding it together. I spoke with President Erdogan, who is very friendly with him. He feels hes got a shot of doing a good job. Its a torn-up country."

Trump expressed hope that Syria may join the Abraham Accords alongside other Arab and Muslim countries, to normalize relations with Israel.

In a post on X, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that al-Sharaa had "concluded with his hope that Syria would serve as a critical link in facilitating trade between East and West, and invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas." She also confirmed that the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas war were discussed in Wednesdays meeting.

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On Tuesday, Trump announced that the U.S. had agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion. Described by the Trump Administration as "the largest defense cooperation agreement" in history, the package includes deals with more than a dozen American defense companies in sectors including air and missile defense.

"The deals celebrated today are historic and transformative for both countries and represent a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia," the White House said in a statement.

A partnership between Saudi Arabias Ministry of Interior and the FBI was also included in the agreements.

Read More: Why Trump and the Saudis Are Cozying Up

Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Win McNameeGetty Images

News of the arms deal came after Trump attended a VIP lunch at the lavish Saudi Royal Court alongside other high-profile guests including Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO who is leading the Administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

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The attendance by Musk, who previously said he would significantly reduce the amount of time spent on DOGE from May, suggests he is continuing to play a prominent role in the Trump Administration.

Other key U.S. business figures including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink were also in attendance.

Trumps first day of the Middle East tour concluded with a dinner at Omar bin Saud Palace, alongside the Saudi Crown Prince.



Read More: Trump Doubles Down on Plan to Receive Qatars Plane Gift: Only a Fool Would Not Accept This

Meanwhile, before departing Riyadh on Wednesday morning and heading to Doha, Qatar, Trump attended the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. During the meeting, Trump emphasized his interest in making a deal with Iran, but he said in order for that to happen, the country must "stop sponsoring terror" and "must not have a nuclear weapon."

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These discussions and developments come amid Trump's decision to skip visiting Israel during his high-profile trip to the Middle East.



"The country left out of this picture is Israel," says Elliott Abram, a senior fellow at the Council for Foreign Relations. "While Trump had a close relationship with Israel in his first term, his transactional approach is leading him to negotiate with Iran, with the Houthis, and now with the Gulf countries without any attention to Israeli concerns."

Contact us at letters@time.com.
President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to a royal-purple-carpet rollout and a motorcade ride ensconced by a calvary of Arabian horses  a daylong kickoff to the first major international trip of his second term.

Surrounded by top business leaders and Saudi officials, the president sought to project himself as a consummate dealmaker and diplomat on the world stage. He outlined a lofty vision for peace and prosperity in the region, announced investment deals and said the US would lift sanctions on Syria, a major change in foreign policy.

He encouraged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, agreements inked with neighboring UAE and Bahrain during his first term that normalize relations with Israel. He put pressure on Iran to reach a nuclear deal with the US.

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The reality, though, is complicated: Trump is contending with an increasingly volatile and unresolved conflict in nearby Gaza that places serious limits on his ability to influence global affairs.

Taken together, the president offered one of the most sweeping visions yet of an emerging foreign policy doctrine in four months back on the world stage that has captivated friend and foes alike.

Im different than a lot of people think, Trump told the Saudi-US Investment Forum. I dont like permanent enemies, but sometimes, you need enemies to do the job and you have to do it right. Enemies get you motivated.

Pomp, circumstance  and investment deals

A former reality television star, Trump is acutely aware of the imagery that goes into a presidential visit, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman understood the assignment.

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Trump descended the steps of Air Force One to a 21-gun salute as the crown prince welcomed him. The two walked together through the Royal Court for bilateral meetings, a lunch with executives from some of the worlds biggest tech companies, and a signing ceremony underscoring the ways the US and Saudi Arabias governments plan to bolster collaboration on a range of defense and energy issues.

The lunch, attended by leaders from Amazon, OpenAI, Uber, Northrop Grumman, Palantir, Coca-Cola, Nvidia and Boeing, among others, demonstrated the lengths that Americas tech executives have gone to curry favor with the president during his second term. The White House touted what it described as transformative deals secured in Saudi Arabia, pointing to a $20 billion investment by Saudi company DataVolt for AI data centers and energy infrastructure, as well as an $80 billion investment from Google, DataVolt, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD and Uber in cutting-edge transformative technologies in both countries.

Trump, meanwhile, lavished praise on his hosts during remarks to an investment forum, calling the graciousness of the Saudi people unsurpassed. He reaffirmed bonds with the crown prince and announced plans to make our relationship closer, stronger and more powerful than ever before.

Trump speaks at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in Riyadh on Tuesday. - Brian Snyder/Reuters

The memoranda of understanding and other agreements signed Tuesday reflected the close ties the crown prince has sought to establish with Trump. It was a significant departure from former President Joe Bidens vow to make the kingdom a pariah after the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, whose 2018 killing went without mention Tuesday. A US intelligence report asserts that Prince bin Salman approved the operation to capture or kill the Saudi journalist.

A Syria surprise

At the end of his hourlong remarks to the investment forum, Trump revealed his plan to lift punishing sanctions on Syria, marking the first step toward a normalization in relations after more than a decade.

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Trump said he was persuaded to do so after recent discussions with the crown prince, as well as with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important  really an important function, nevertheless  at the time. But now its their time to shine, Trump said. So, I say, Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani told the countrys state news agency that the development marks a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people.

The move  which comes after the December fall of dictator Bashar al-Assads regime  is likely to face some criticism. New Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa previously founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra (the Victory Front in English), which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses.

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Trump is expected to informally greet al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, a White House official said earlier Tuesday.

Expanding the Abraham Accords: Still a fervent hope

Ahead of Trumps departure for the trip, there were discussions with Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, about signing agreements to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, Trump administration sources said.

Trump said Tuesday it was still his fervent hope that Saudi Arabia would eventually sign on, offering some public pressure as the crown prince looked on.

Saudi Arabia  a place I have such respect for, especially over the last fairly short period of time, what youve been able to do  will soon be joining the Abraham Accords. I think it will be a tremendous tribute to your country, and will be something thats really going to be very important for the future of the Middle East, the president said, though he soon added: But youll do it in your own time. And thats what I want, and thats what you want, and thats the way its going to be.

Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a bilateral meeting on Tuesday. - Win McNamee/Getty Images

The crown prince, the countrys de facto leader, has stated unequivocally that Riyadh wont normalize relations with Israel until there is a clear path for Palestinian statehood and a permanent end to the war in Gaza. Observers say neither is likely in the short term.

An increasingly volatile conflict in Gaza

Even as Trump spoke in Riyadh, he couldnt avoid the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he is launching a new, more intensive phase of the war, though an Israeli official has said it would begin after Trumps visit. During Trumps remarks, it was reported that Israel targeted Hamas leader Mohammad Sinwar in a strike on a hospital in southern Gaza, according to a senior Israeli official and two sources familiar with the matter.

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In 2017, Trump made his first major international trip to Saudi Arabia  followed by a stop in Israel. Eight years later, there is no planned stop in the country.

Trump reiterated his calls to end the war Tuesday.

The people of Gaza deserve a much better future. But that will or cannot occur as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture, and target innocent men, women, and children for political ends. The way those people are treated in Gaza  theres not a place in the world where people are treated so badly. Earlier this year, Trump laid out a plan for the US to take over Gaza, relocate Palestinians, and turn the war-torn enclave into what he described as the Riviera of the Middle East.

CNNs Oren Liebermann, Alayna Treene, Kristen Holmes and Jeff Zeleny contributed to this report.

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President Trump defended his decision to accept a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar, calling it stupid for him to turn it down amid an influx of criticism from both sides of the aisle over the gift.

I could be a stupid person and say, Oh no, we dont want a free plane. We give free things out, well take one too. And, it helps us out because  we have 40-year-old aircraft, he said Monday morning, referring to Air Force One. So, I think its a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, No we dont want a free, very expensive airplane, but I thought it was a great gesture.

The Boeing 747-8 airplane from the government of Qatar would replace Air Force One and would be kept by Trumps eventual presidential library after the end of his term. Boeing has had a contract with the U.S. government to build a new Air Force One, but it has been delayed.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged the delay but did not give his full backing to the offer.

I understand his frustration. Theyre way behind schedule on delivering the next Air Force One, Thune told The Hill later in the day. Whether or not this is the right solution  I dont know.

Trump earlier on Monday lashed out at a reporter when asked for his response to critics who say the luxury jet is a personal gift.

You should be embarrassed asking that question, he said. Theyre giving us a free jet. I could say, No, no, no, dont give [it to] us. I want to pay you a billion or $400 million or whatever it is. Or I could say, Thank you very much.

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Trump also said that the gift is not to him personally but to the Defense Department, while acknowledging that when he leaves office, the plane would go directly to the library.

Some GOP lawmakers said the administration needs to run the full gamut of legal tests to make sure the idea of him accepting a luxury jet is constitutionally foolproof.

I think they should run the legal challenges to see [if its OK]. Id be checking for bugs, is what Id be checking for, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). We need to look at the constitutionality of it, sure.

Other Republicans warned against him accepting such a gift.

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Nothing about getting Air Force One from a foreign government feels right. It may be legal, but I wouldnt do it, former George W. Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer posted on the social platform X. Air Force One should be American through and through. It shouldnt pass through foreign hands and it shouldnt be a gift from a King. Dont do it.

Even one of Trumps closest allies, Laura Loomer, called out the move as a stain on the presidency and said she was disappointed that the president would accept this gift.

I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him, Loomer said on X. But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million gift from jihadists in suits.

Meanwhile, Democrats made clear their anger and dissatisfaction with the move, arguing that it amounts to blatant corruption.

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Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced on Monday they are seeking a vote on a measure targeting the gift over questions about foreign influence and national security.

The Constitution is clear: elected officials, like the president, cannot accept large gifts from foreign governments without consent from Congress. Air Force One is more than just a plane  its a symbol of the presidency and of the United States itself, the quartet said in a statement, arguing that it creates a clear conflict of interest and undermines public trust in our government on top of influence and national security issues.

No one  not even the president  is above the law, they said. This week, we will ask the Senate to vote to reiterate a basic principle: no one should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts.

Schatz, who is running to become the No. 2 Senate Democrat, also wrote on X that one does not need a law degree to realize the gift is wildly corrupt.

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Additionally, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) derided Trump as a wannabe king, saying that the president shouldnt be accepting gifts from foreign countries.

The president left Monday morning for the Middle East, and he is set to visit Qatar during the five-day swing. And, so far, he has aimed his defense of criticism over the luxury jet toward the media and political opponents.

He blasted Democratic critics on Truth Social on Sunday, saying that accepting the gift bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!! MAGA.

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President Donald Trump spent the bulk of what was billed as a "major foreign policy address" to outline his vision for the Middle East instead touting his domestic policies and heaping praise on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum on Tuesday.

Four years after the U.S. intelligence community report was released that concluded that the crown prince approved the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump lauded the crown prince for his leadership and friendship.

"He's your greatest representative, greatest representative. And if I didn't like him, I'd get out of here so fast. You know that, don't you? He knows me well. I do -- I like him a lot. I like him too much. That's why we give so much, you know? Too much. I like you too much," Trump said while speaking in Saudi Arabia.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the end of the Keynote Address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Ali Haider/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

The speech marks a remarkable turn from the United States, especially considering the international condemnation then-President Joe Biden received when he visited Saudi Arabia in 2022 and famously fist-bumped the crown prince. While Biden once labeled Saudi Arabia a "pariah," Trump celebrated the kingdom, its leader and its potential.

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"For the people of this room, the days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world," Trump said.

Speaking to members of the royal family and some of the most powerful business leaders in the world, Trump credited the crown prince for Saudi Arabia's recent economic development.

"Riyadh is becoming not just a seat of government but a major business, cultural and high-tech capital of the entire world," Trump said.

"Mohammed, do you sleep at night? How do you sleep?" Trump said as the crowd applauded. "Critics doubted that it was possible, what you've done, but over the past eight years, Saudi Arabia has proved the critics totally wrong."

PHOTO: In this July 15, 2022, file photo, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fist bumps President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Royal Court of Saudi Arabia / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE)

Throughout his remarks, the crown prince smiled on, applauding and laughing at Trump's jokes, with billionaire Elon Musk seated prominently over his shoulder.

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The president also announced he will be ordering the end of sanctions against Syria and suggested he did so at Saudi Arabia's request, as well as Turkey's.

"Oh, what I do for the crown prince," Trump quipped. "The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important, really an important function, nevertheless, at the time. But now it's their time to shine."

Trump then touted his immigration policies, his win in November and his own economic agenda.

"The United States is the hottest country, with the exception of your country," he told Prince Mohammed. "I have to say right, I won't. I'm not going to take that on. No, Mohammed, I'm not going to take that on. Wouldn't that be a terrible thing if I made that full statement? But I will get to it. You're hotter, at least as long as I'm up here. You're hotter."

Trump heaps praise on Saudi Crown Prince MBS as he touts economic development originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Nairobi court has ordered the detention of Isaac Kuriaalso known as Kushfor 30 days as police intensify investigations into the assassination of Kasipul MP Charles Ongondo Were.

Police arrested Kuria in Isebania, near the Kenya-Tanzania border, as he allegedly tried to flee the country. A second suspect, found with him during the arrest, was also detained and transferred to Nairobi for further questioning. Their arrest followed a high-stakes manhunt by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), launched after the MP was gunned down along Valley Road in Nairobi.

Kuria now becomes the eleventh suspect linked to the killing. Other individuals already in custody include the late MPs bodyguard Allan Omondi, driver Walter Owino, and William Imoliwho investigators believe planned and financed the hit.

Also under investigation are prominent businessman Phillip Aroko, Lake Basin Development Authority director Ebel Ochieng, and suspects Edwin Oduor and Dennis Manyasi.

According to detectives, Kuria was directly involved in the assassination and fled through multiple counties to avoid capture. He allegedly discarded the murder weapon in Mihango, traveled through Narok, and eventually reached Isebania.

Intelligence reports indicate he had connections with criminal networks in Nairobi and maintained communication with contacts in Tanzania to coordinate his escape.

Police credit his arrest to weeks of surveillance and intercepted communications, which provided actionable intelligence. During interrogation, Kuria reportedly shared names of additional suspects and critical details about the planning of the murder.

DCI officials say the investigation now focuses on financial transactions and political affiliations that may reveal the motive. Sources close to the probe suggest the killing was a well-orchestrated political assassination.
When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira last week in Worcester, Massachusetts, the situation rapidly devolved into chaos and community outrage. Multiple recordings of the incident went viral, but what bystanders did not capture on video was how federal agents were able to draw Ferreira-De Oliveira out in public where they could arrest her in the first place.

ICE used Ferreira-De Oliveiras loved ones to lure her out of her home  where agents couldnt arrest her  and onto Eureka Street, three people with direct knowledge of the matter and another source familiar with the situation tell Rolling Stone.

Two of the sources independently say that ICE used the undocumented Brazilian womans daughters and grandchild as bait, in an operation that the Trump administration is now touting as another victory in its sprawling, often lawless crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration.

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Last Thursday, 21-year-old Augusta Clara, her three-month-old baby, and Claras 17-year-old sister had just begun driving away from their home when they were stopped by ICE agents. The three of them and Ferreira-De Oliveira, who entered the United States in 2022, are part of a Brazilian immigrant family who live together in the greater Boston area. (The family members do not all share the same immigration status.)

Ferreira-De Oliveira, who is 40 years old, was still at their nearby home when she received a phone call from one of her daughters, who said ICE had pulled them over and were threatening to arrest Clara.

Ferreira-De Oliveiras frightened daughter told her mother that she needed to leave the home now and come meet them on the street, because ICE was telling them that if they arrested Clara, they werent allowed to leave the baby in the hands of a minor. So, the feds insisted, grandma needed to rush over to take custody of the baby.

Shortly after Ferreira-De Oliveira arrived on the scene, ICE took her into custody. The agents suddenly no longer seemed interested in the 21-year-old daughter. ICE did not arrest her or her 17-year-old sibling.

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The feds never produced a warrant for Clara, which they claimed they had, and it is unclear if one ever existed.

They are traumatized for life, says one of the sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

We have an undocumented family who came to this country for reasons that are not public, who all live together, and they are now torn apart in a very violent and sensational manner, which is now on video for them to see for the rest of their lives, this person adds. When I was with the 17-year-old, she kept watching the videos, and I kept wanting to tell her, Dont watch the videos. Theyre only going to re-traumatize you. The whole family is still in shock, [and] these girls lives are shattered.

In a draft for a potential public-fundraising message, Clara appears to confirm certain details of this reporting. Everything started the day before when they arrested my partner, the father of my three-month-old son, while he was driving to work, reads Claras draft, sent by her attorney, Andrew Lattarulo, to Rolling Stone this afternoon.

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Rolling Stone has not yet independently verified some of the claims.

The draft continues: He committed no crimes or offenses against anybody. His only mistake was honking at a car that cut him off. The car ended up being an undercover ICE vehicle and they decided to arrest him over this. Later that morning, ICE agents showed up and knocked on my door to return my partners car and to also tell me to show up on the next day to sign some documents at an immigration building. I left my home the next morning to do so, and took my 17-year-old sister along. This is when ICE stopped my car and said I was under arrest, but since I was with my baby somebody else needed to be there to take him. So I called my mother to come over and take my son for me, and then the immigration agents wanted to arrest her as well. By now the neighborhood started to take notice of the situation and were filming it with their phones  I am currently staying with friends, as I am too afraid to return home. I am unable to retrieve any of mine and my babys things and I am unable to work because of my current predicament.

(Update: after this story was published, Clara posted her GoFundMe fundraising page, which included some revised copy compared to the draft her attorney previously shared with Rolling Stone. On her GoFundMe, she claims, The next morning, ICE came to my home, demanding I return my partners car and report to sign immigration paperwork. Her lawyer confirms that this second version of that detail is what she meant to say initially, and he cited a translation issue and language barrier.)

In justifying Ferreira-De Oliveiras arrest, the Trump administration has attempted to portray the detained grandmother as a violent criminal illegal alien, with the Department of Homeland Security noting in a statement provided to Rolling Stone that she was previously arrested by local police for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant victim. However, according to NBCs Boston affiliate, her daughter, Augusta Clara, said it was merely a domestic dispute with her 17-year-old sister. Public records show that the alleged dangerous weapon was a phone-charger cable. Sources with direct knowledge of the matter tell Rolling Stone that her daughters and her family want the mother brought home.

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ICE wasnt the only law enforcement agency on the scene.

The Worcester Police Department responded to the site of the arrest last Thursday, citing a group of about two dozen people trying to prevent ICE from conducting the arrest. The crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving, the police said. Worcester officers attempted to deescalate the situation and keep everyone safe.

Video obtained by Telemundo shows multiple Worcester police officers pushing a woman and slamming Ferreira-De Oliveiras teenage daughter into the ground. Worcester police arrested the teenage girl, alleging that she had had a newborn baby in her arms before passing it off to someone else, and then appeared as if she was going to run in front of a moving vehicle. Worcester police also arrested a 38-year-old school board candidate named Ashley Springs, alleging she pushed multiple officers and threw an unknown liquid substance on them.

Unfortunately, two individuals were arrested after several attempts by WPD officers to deescalate the chaotic situation, which included the endangerment of an infant, Worcester City Manager Eric Batista said in a statement.

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Massachusetts state law prohibits local law enforcement from assisting ICE.

Andrew Lattarulo, the lawyer representing Clara, tells Rolling Stone that the Massachusetts attorney generals office told him on Monday that it is looking into what happened, including regarding the conduct of the local police.

On Monday, the deputy director of the police accountability unit in the civil rights division in the Massachusetts attorney generals office called my office saying she was looking into the incident that happened in Worcester, Massachusetts, regarding my client, Lattarulo says. She said she was wondering if we could assist her and if my client would talk to her. We followed up via email, and we are in the process of setting up a time to meet or talk further.

Lattarulo, who works in the Boston area, says that he also told the deputy director that he has information to provide to the attorney generals team regarding how local law enforcement and state police [are] violating state law by assisting ICE, and holding people until ICE gets them. In Massachusetts, its illegal for these police departments to assist ICE, and since theyre continuously doing it, someone needs to look back and investigate them.

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The lawyer adds that the state attorney generals office indicated to him that they want to look into that, as well, and that they plan to discuss that matter more at a later date with him.

Spokespeople for the Massachusetts attorney generals office and the Worcester Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this story.

The Worcester community has been protesting the incident since last Thursday, including through a Hands Off Worcester Mothers demonstration on Sunday. The group Worcester Indivisible planned another protest at City Hall on Tuesday, which appears to have caused City Hall to close its doors and hold city business virtually. City spokesperson Tom Matthews said the closure came over public safety concerns, out of an abundance of caution. The Boston Globe reported that multiple city council members received bomb threats in the wake of the incident.

Meanwhile, Ferreira-De Oliveiras family and their allies and friends are still searching for answers about what happened that day. Her daughters, sources say, have been repeatedly asking: Where is my mom?

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U.S. President Donald Trump "issued an ultimatum" to Moscow and Kyiv to make progress in peace negotiations, otherwise the U.S. will abandon the process, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview with Breitbart News published on May 12.

"The president has issued an ultimatum to both sides that without those direct talks and if they dont occur quickly, then he believes the United States ought to step back from this conflict whatever that means and just not be involved," Witkoff said in an interview recorded on May 8, before discussions about possible high-level talks in Turkey on May 15.

Witkoff has been a key figure in Trump's efforts to broker a peace between Moscow and Kyiv, personally meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian and European officials.

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The real estate investor-turned-negotiator has faced criticism over his poor negotiation record, tendency to adopt Russian talking points on Ukraine, and reported reliance on Kremlin translators during talks with Putin.

Witkoff told Breitbart News last week that a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin is "entirely possible."

Zelensky has proposed meeting Putin in Istanbul on May 15, which would mark their first meeting during the full-scale war, and urged an unconditional ceasefire starting on May 12. Moscow has ignored the proposals for a truce and a meeting of the two leaders but backed starting direct talks this week.

According to Witkoff, the key topics in peace talks are the fate of the five partially or fully occupied Ukrainian regions, the status of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Ukraine's access to the Dnipro River and the Black Sea.

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Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's territory, including the entire Crimean peninsula, almost the entire Luhansk Oblast, and large parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

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The Kremlin has illegally declared these territories as part of the Russian Federation and insisted on Ukraine's full withdrawal from these areas to achieve a peace deal.

"Russia has control  overwhelming control  of two of those regions. The Ukrainians have some degree of control over three other regions, so its about how were going to assess  theres a difference between where the battle line are, where the troops are, and the administrative lines," Witkoff said.

"The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is a big part of this discussion because its a little bit of a crown jewel and its been closed, but we need to reopen that because it delivers a lot of electricity into some of the cities (like) Kyiv."

The U.S. has reportedly proposed taking control of the Zaporizhzhia power plant while ensuring it provides electricity to both Ukraine and Russia. Washington's peace proposals have also reportedly included the U.S. formally recognizing Russian annexation of Crimea, a step resolutely rejected by Ukraine and its European allies.

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During the interview, Witkoff also defended his criticized meetings with Putin, saying: "There is no deal without President Putins sign off. He is the leader of the Russian Federation, so the notion of not talking to President Putin is somehow something people are against, I dont understand that logic."

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Donald Trump announced a plan on Monday that he says will help lower the cost of prescription drugs by tying prices in the U.S. to other countries where people pay less.

But Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray found that the new executive order does not take immediate action to do that.

Pharmacist Jeff Smith said its the hardest part of the job at Mableton Pharmacy in Cobb County -- patients who cant afford the high cost of their medications.

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The first thing is once they hear the price, you just see the glaze in their eyes, Smith said. Theyre just thinking about their next meal or paying the lights, he said

Trump signed the executive order Monday for what he calls most favored nation prescription drug pricing.

He said he wants to cut the costs Americans pay for the drugs to be more like other countries.

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Starting today, the United States will no longer subsidize the health care of foreign countries. Which is what we were doing. Were subsidizing other health care countries where they paid a small fraction for the same drug, President Trump said.

The order also sets a 30-day deadline for drug-makers to voluntarily lower prices to be closer to what other countries pay.

A 2024 U.S. government study found that for every dollar paid in other countries for drugs, consumers in the U.S. pay $2.78.

The question remains, is this the right way to address that problem? asked Courtney Yarbrough, professor with Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health.

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Yarbrough told Gray that American dollars drive drug research.

Theres concerns that there will be fewer new drugs to be had at all. So, if you dramatically undermine the profitability of an entire industry like this, the logical consequence is that theres going to be less innovation, Yarbrough said.

Stephen Ubl President & CEO of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the organization that represents drug makers, said: The Administration is right to use trade negotiations to force foreign governments to pay their fair share for medicines.

But he also put the blame back at home on the middlemen in the U.S. market between manufacturers and pharmacists.

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The U.S. is the only country in the world that lets PBMs, insurers, and hospitals take 50% of every dollar spent on medicines, Ubl said.

The order essentially says the government will start negotiating with drugmakers, and if that doesnt work, Trump will start rulemaking to require it.

The president tried that in his previous term, but it was thrown out by the courts.
US President Donald Trump arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for his first multi-day foreign trip since he returned to the White House earlier this year.

Trump was received at King Khalid International Airport by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seen as Saudi Arabia's de-facto ruler.

Riyadh is the first leg of Trump's Gulf tour, ahead of visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The trip is expected to focus on economic deals, the war in Gaza and Iran's nuclear programme.

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Trump is scheduled to attend a Saudi-US Investment Forum on Tuesday before a summit with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain on Wednesday.

His talks in Riyadh could lead to an anticipated agreement on civilian nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom has already announced it will invest $600 billion in the United States in the coming years, while Trump said he will be asking the crown prince to increase that to around $1 trillion.

Saudi Arabia was the destination for Trump's first trip abroad as president in 2017 during his first term in office, after the oil-rich country announced $450 billion in investments in the US.

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The stop in Riyadh marks Trump's first official trip abroad since taking office again in January, although he did make a short visit to Rome last month for pope Francis' funeral.

Trump's visit to Doha this week could be overshadowed by reports that he is set to accept a luxury Boeing aircraft as a gift from Qatar's royal family.

The president has also suggested he could fly to Turkey on Thursday to join a possible meeting between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Donald Trump said the United States will lift its sanctions on Syria.

"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," said Trump on Tuesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he kicked off a three-nation Middle East trip.

"It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off," he said. "So I say good luck, Syria, show us something very special."

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Sanctions relief would loosen a tight economic noose around Syria and provide a major boost to the country as it tries to rebuild from a devastating 14-year civil war.

Trump is set to meet with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia.

Sanctions were imposed by the US and other countries in the wake of the war that erupted under former president Bashar al-Assad. His regime was overthrown in early December by an Islamist rebel alliance.

The new Syrian leadership under al-Sharaa has expressed interest in repairing ties with the international community and is seeking broader diplomatic recognition as it moves to stabilize the country.
Donald Trump made it easier to deport Afghans on the same day that he welcomed white South African refugees arriving in the country.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Monday that the government is ending the temporary protected status for Afghanistan, putting the legal residency of 9,000 Afghans in the U.S. in jeopardy. Noem claimed in a statement that conditions in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have improved enough for TPS for Afghans to expire on May 20, with the program being terminated on July 12.

Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country, Noems statement reads. Additionally, the termination furthers the national interest as DHS records indicate that there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.

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President Biden extended TPS to Afghans after the Taliban took over Afghanistan following the U.S. military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom worked with the U.S. military, subsequently arrived stateside. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would not renew temporary protections for Afghans in the United States.

The Trump administration has considered one exception to its plan to deport Afghan refugees: Christians, who potentially face persecution if they return to the country. But thats of little comfort to Afghans of various faiths who face an uncertain and dangerous future if they are deported to the hard-line authoritarian country, especially if they worked with U.S. forces.

What the administration has done today is betray people who risked their lives for America, built lives here, and believed in our promises, nonprofit group #AfghanEvac, which helps resettle Afghan families in the U.S., posted on X on Monday.

The move comes on the same day that the Trump administration is welcoming white Afrikaner refugees from South Africa while continuing to ban most other refugees. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Monday that the Afrikaners were admitted because they could be assimilated easily into the U.S., a racist confirmation that the administration sees white South Africans as preferable to Black and brown immigrants.

Afghan refugees reading the news on Monday will likely feel betrayed by the U.S., especially those who put their lives on the line to assist the U.S. military during its two-decade presence in Afghanistan. It seems that the only threat they pose to national security and public safety is being the wrong race or following the wrong religion for the Trump administration.


Tesla CEO Elon Musk has joined president Donald Trump on his trip to Saudi Arabia. After being greeted by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and awkwardly linking up with Trump, Musk arrived at the Saudi-US Investment Forum. That summit will also feature fellow tech titans Open AI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Musks prominent participation in Trumps first overseas trip underscores his enduring influence within the administration. This will inevitably raise questions about the scope of his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) which was set to sunset later this month. Yet it much more importantly reflects a paradigm shift in the US-Saudi Arabia relationship.

Since President Franklin D Roosevelt declared that the defence of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defence of the United States in February 1943, relations between Washington and Riyadh have been framed in transactional terms. Saudi Arabia supplied the US with the oil necessary to keep its economy afloat and the US offered the Gulf kingdom security against foreign adversaries.

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With the USs transition to energy independence and the inexorable phasing out of fossil fuels, the long-term sustainability of US-Saudi cooperation was called into question. President Joe Bidens arms-length approach to Mohammed bin Salman over Jamal Khashoggis 2018 murder and Saudi Arabias courtship of closer ties with China and Russia reinforced these doubts.

Trumps visit to Riyadh clearly demonstrates that rumours of the demise of US-Saudi cooperation are greatly exaggerated. The agenda on Trumps current trip to the kingdom also differs markedly from his foreign policy debut visit in 2017. While Trump left Riyadh eight years ago hailing a $350 billion ten-year arms deal, he hopes to exit Saudi Arabia this time with strategically vital investments in the American economy and a more robust diplomatic partnership.

In recent years, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has shelled out billions of dollars in investments in US companies ranging from transportation giant Uber to electric vehicle supplier Lucid Motors. Mohammed bin Salman hopes to compound the impact of these investments during Trumps Riyadh trip. While the $600 billion to $1 trillion figures being circulated might be unrealistic, large-scale capital infusions are expected.

In exchange for these investments, Saudi Arabia wants the US to help power its post-oil economic revolution. Artificial intelligence is at the heart of this transformation and a core component of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 modernization agenda. Ahead of Trumps arrival, Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to develop a new AI company. Trump is set to override internal American concerns about China-Saudi cooperation by offering Saudi Arabia advanced semiconductor chips.

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Saudi Arabias hosting of peace talks to end the Ukraine War marked Mohammed bin Salmans arrival as a global statesman. Saudi shuttle diplomacy between India and Pakistan also aided US efforts to de-escalate that conflict over the weekend.

With these achievements in tow, Trump is soliciting Saudi Arabias assistance on ending the Gaza war and considering its concerns about the Iran nuclear negotiations.

As Trumps trip to Riyadh unfolds, Saudi officials are quietly confident in their countrys indispensability to the United States. A truly remarkable transformation from Bidens pariah jibe towards Mohammed bin Salman just five years ago.

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP)  President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will ease sanctions on Syria and move to normalize relations with its new government to give the country a chance at peace."

Trump made the announcement shortly before he was set to meet Wednesday in Saudi Arabia with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime insurgent who last year led the overthrow of longtime leader Bashar Assad. Trump said the effort at rapprochement came at the urging of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto ruler, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

There is a new government that will hopefully succeed, Trump said of Syria, adding, I say, good luck, Syria. Show us something special.

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The developments were a major boost for the Syrian president, who had been imprisoned in Iraq for his role in the insurgency following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of the Arab country. Al-Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by insurgent groups led by al-Sharaas Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, that stormed Damascus, ending the 54-year rule of the Assad family.

The U.S. has been weighing how to handle al-Sharaa since he took power in December. Gulf leaders have rallied behind the new government in Damascus and want Trump to follow, believing it is a bulwark against Iran's return to influence in Syria, where it had helped prop up Assad's government during a decadelong civil war.

Then-President Joe Biden left the decision to Trump, whose administration has yet to formally recognize the new Syrian government. Sanctions imposed on Damascus under Assad also remain in place.

Before Trump spoke, the White House said he had agreed to say hello to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia.

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The comments marked a striking change in tone from Trump and put him at odds with longtime U.S. ally Israel, which has been deeply skeptical of al-Sharaa's extremist past and cautioned against swift recognition of the new government.

Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. The U.S. once offered $10 million for information about his whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaida.

Al-Sharaa came back to his home country after the conflict began in 2011 and led al-Qaidas branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and cut links with al-Qaida.

He is set to become the first Syrian leader to meet an American president since Hafez Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.

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Syria has historically had fraught relations with Washington since the days of the Cold War, when Damascus had close links with the Soviet Union and later when Syria became Irans closest ally in the Arab world. The removal of the Assad family could change the track.

Ibrahim Hamidi, a London-based Syrian analyst, said Trumps planned meeting with al-Sharaa marks a strategic shift for the country.

The Syrian-American meetings in Riyadh open the gate for the two sides to start discussing issues of disagreement between them in a positive atmosphere, said Hamidi, editor-in-chief of the Arab magazine Al Majalla. This is important.
Credit: Reuters

The United States is to lift all sanctions on Syria, Donald Trump announced on Tuesday.

The removal of sanctions, at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, represents a major US policy shift before an expected meeting between Mr Trump and Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Islamist president of Syria, on Wednesday.

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness, Mr Trump said to applause at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh.

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Its their time to shine. Were taking them all off, he added. Good luck Syria, show us something very special.

The White House confirmed that Mr Trump will say hello to Mr Al-Sharaa, marking the first meeting between a Syrian leader and a US president since the late Hafez Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian interim president, will become the first leader of his country to meet a US president in 25 years, when he and Donald Trump say hello - Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

In addition, Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, will meet Asaad al-Shibani, the new Syrian foreign minister, in Turkey later this week, the White House spokesman added.

Mr Al-Shibani said Mr Trumps decision marked a new start in his countrys path to a reconstruction estimated to cost more than $250 billion. He called it a pivotal turning point for the country.

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We ... stand ready to foster a relationship with the United States that is rooted in mutual respect, trust and shared interests, Mr Al-Shibani said.

Mr Trump said he had made the decision after discussions with the Saudi crown prince, and with President Erdogan of Turkey, whose governments have both strongly urged the lifting of sanctions.

Donald Trump delivered the news of the lifting of sanctions in a speech to the Saudi-US Investment Forum on Tuesday in Riyadh - Ali Haider/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Arab states had repeatedly called for the Assad-era sanctions to be lifted, warning that reviving Syrias bankrupt economy is the most pressing task facing the transitional government.

During his visit to Paris last week, Mr Al-Sharaa said there was no justification for maintaining European sanctions imposed against the Assad government.

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These sanctions were imposed on the previous regime because of the crimes it committed, and this regime is gone, he said in a press conference with Emmanuel Macron, the French president.

Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December 2024 by an offensive spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Mr Al-Sharaa, after 14 years of civil war.

US sanctions isolated Syria from the global financial system and imposed a range of economic restrictions on the government throughout more than a decade of civil war.

Syrians, who have seen their economy crippled by the Assad-era sanctions, were celebrating the news on the streets of Damascus on Tuesday night - Yamam Al Shaar/Reuters

Syrias economy went bankrupt and more than halved between 2010 and 2021, according to official Syrian data cited by the World Bank, which said this was likely to be an underestimate.

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Mohammed Barnieh, the countrys finance minister, said on Tuesday that the lifting of sanctions will help Syria in building its institutions, providing essential services to the people and will create great opportunities to attract investment and restore confidence in Syrias future.

Syrians met the news with joy and celebration, with dozens of men, women and children gathering in Damascuss Umayyad Square. They blasted music while others drove by in their cars waving Syrian flags.

The 42-year-old Syrian leader has reportedly offered Mr Trump a number of investment opportunities, including a Trump tower in Damascus.

The developments mark a striking change in the Trump administrations handling of Mr Al-Sharaa. It had previously said it would not lift sanctions on Syria until further progress is made on key issues, including the protection of minority rights.

Policy shift a blow to Israel

The US once offered $10 million for information about the new presidents whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaeda, and some US officials are deeply sceptical of his extremist past.

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The surprise move to lift sanctions was announced despite deep Israeli suspicion of the new Syrian administration. Israeli officials have continued to describe Mr Al-Sharaa as a jihadist, though he severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016

The move is likely to dismay Israel, which counts the US as its closest ally, and which has recently intensified air strikes on Syria.

Last month, the Israel Defense Forces targeted the presidential palace in Damascus in what Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz, his defence minister, warned was a message to the regime.

Relations with the US and Israel are continuing to sour over ceasefire talks to halt the 19-month war in Gaza and release more hostages. Mr Trump notably omitted Israel from his four-day diplomatic tour across the Gulf states.

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Syrian officials have meanwhile signalled their openness to a detente and even eventual peace with Israel.



07:51 PM BST

Thank you for following todays live coverage

We will be back soon with more coverage of President Donald Trumps four-day diplomatic tour across the Gulf states.

06:24 PM BST

Analysis: Israel will bemoan US lifting Syria sanctions

In Syria, there will be delight at Donald Trumps announcement of an end to the US sanctions regime. Across the border in Israel the feeling will more likely be dismay.

Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up Israeli strikes on the nascent government of Ahmed al-Shara, last month targeting the presidential palace inhabited by the former rebel leader who overthrew Assad.

The Israeli government views Mr al-Shara, essentially, as a leopard who has not changed spots. It sees the new Syrian regime as a threat, preferring the devil it knew in Assad.

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But Mr Trump - along with European leaders including Emmanuel Macron - appears convinced the former leader of the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has cast off his past as a jihadi and could propel Syria to a brighter future.

The surprise announcement by Mr Trump in Riyadh is the latest in a series of US decisions that impact Israel, apparently taken without concern for the views of a nation that sees Washington as its closest ally.

A truce with the Houthis in Yemen; hostage negotiations with Hamas; leaks of severe disagreements over the course of the war in Gaza.

On the roller-coaster that is the Trump administration, Mr Netanyahu appears to be on a swooping descent. Mr al-Shara, conversely, is climbing his way up.

05:50 PM BST

Whats in the US-Saudi arms deal?

We reported earlier that the US on Tuesday signed the largest defence sales agreement in history with Saudi Arabia - worth nearly $142bn (107bn) (see post at 3:38pm).

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According to the White House, the deal includes:

Air force advancement and space capabilities

Air and missile defence

Maritime and coastal security

Border security and land forces modernisation

Information and communication systems upgrades

05:47 PM BST

People of Gaza deserve better future, says Trump

President Trump said that all civilised people must condemn the October 7 atrocities against Israel, claiming it would never had happened had he been president at the time.

The people of Gaza deserve a much better future, he said, as applause erupted around the room.

But that will or can not occur as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture and target innocent men, women and children for political ends.

05:23 PM BST

Trump says he hopes Saudi will join Abraham Accords

The US president said that peace is returning to the Gulf, while praising the Abraham Accords, a set of deals brokered by Trump in his first term to recognise Israel.

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Trump said it was his dream for Saudi Arabia to soon be joining the Abraham Accords. Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco are already signatories.

Its my fervent hope, wish and even my dream that Saudi Arabia...will soon be joining the Abraham Accords, he said.

I think itll be a tremendous tribute to your country, and it will be something thats really going to be very important for the future of the Middle East.

05:16 PM BST

Rubio will attend Russia-Ukraine talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend peace talks between Ukraine and Russia due to take place later this week, said Trump.

Earlier, the US president said he would attend the meeting in Turkey if his presence would be helpful.

05:12 PM BST

Trump: I want to make a deal with Iran

Trump said that he will inflict massive maximum pressure on Iran if they dont agree to a deal with the US.

I want to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran, Ill be very happy, if were going to make your region and the world a safer place, he said.

But if Irans leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbours, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure (and) drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before.

Trump warned that this is an offer that will not last forever, saying that the time is right now for them to choose.

He said that Iran can have a much brighter future, adding that the choice is theirs to make.

We really want them to be a successful country. We want them to be a wonderful, safe, great country. But they cannot have a nuclear weapon, he said, as applause rippled across the room.

05:07 PM BST

Trump: Iran is most destructive force in Middle East

Trump has called Iran the most destructive force in the Middle East, saying that there are one of the few agents of chaos and terror that are left in the region.

He called on other Gulf nations to unify to seek stability and calm.

The biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond, said Trump.

There could be no sharper contrast with the path you have pursued on the Arabian Peninsula than the disaster unfolding right across in the Gulf of Iran.

05:02 PM BST

Time to end ancient conflicts and forge a new future, says Trump

Trump hailed the transformation of cities across the Middle East, saying that ancient conflicts should be left as a relic of the past.

A new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts of tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos, he said.

He added: Where it exports technology, not terrorism, and where people of different nations, religions and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence.

US President Donald Trump attends the Keynote Address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Shutterstock Editorial

04:59 PM BST

Trump vows that markets will rise

Donald Trump has said that markets will get a lot higher.

Its amazing what a rising market will do. Its going to get a lot higher, Trump said.

In fact, I told people five weeks ago its a great time to buy. I got criticised for that. Now they dont criticise me any more. People should have listened.

04:56 PM BST

Trump hints at breakthrough agreement with China

President Trump hailed his administration for reaching two historic trade deals.

He hinted that the US has reached a breakthrough agreement with China, adding that China ha d agreed to open up to the US for trade and everything else.

Trump said that his team still needed to get the little details down.

04:51 PM BST

Trump promises multibillion dollar deals with Amazon and Oracle

There will be multibillion dollar deals with Amazon and Oracle later this week, says Trump.

This week, there are multibillion dollar commercial deals with Amazon, Oracle, AMD, theyre all here, Uber, Qualcomm, Johnson and Johnson and many many more, he said.

04:50 PM BST

Trump says tax bill is in good shape to pass

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the newly unveiled tax legislation is well-positioned to pass.

It follows the release of the House Republicans sweeping tax plan that would also cut taxes and tighten healthcare benefits for the poor on Monday.

The United States Congress is on the verge of passing the largest tax cut and regulation cut in American history. We think were in good shape to get that, Trump said.

He also praised his administrations accomplishments so far, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico, immigration and recruitment to the US armed forces.

04:45 PM BST

Trump: US will make Saudi partnership more powerful than ever before

President Trump emphasised that the US-Saudi relationship is more powerful than ever before.

Today we take the next steps to make our relationship closer, stronger and more powerful than ever before, Trump says.

He added that it will remain that way.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the Saudi-US investment forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh - AFP

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday promised billions of dollars in deals with the United States from defence to artificial intelligence - REUTERS

04:42 PM BST

Saudi Crown prince is an incredible man, says Trump

Trump starts his address by saying that Saudi Arabia is a great place and has great people.

He then called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman an incredible man and said theres nobody like him.

Trump added that the visit marks 80 years of partnership between the two countries, calling US-Saudi relationship a bedrock of security and prosperity.

Credit: Reuters

04:40 PM BST

Saudi investment could raise to $1 trillion, says Crown Prince

The US and Saudi Arabia will work to raise investments between the two countries to $1 trillion in the coming months, the Crown Prince said.

It comes as the two nations announced 453 bn ($600 bn) in investments earlier on Tuesday.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that joint investments were one of the most important pillars of our economic relationship.

[We] meet today to deepen this strategic partnership in its various stages, from an economy based on natural resources to an economy built on diversifying sources of income, knowledge and innovation, he said.

04:35 PM BST

Trump steps onto stage

US President Trump has stepped on stage at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, while God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood plays.

04:21 PM BST

Trump arrives at US-Saudi Investment Forum in his car The Beast

Donald Trump has arrived at the Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh, where he is set to make a leadership address alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Follow the live stream at the top of the blog to watch live.

Credit: Reuters

04:16 PM BST

Musk says Saudi has approved Starlink

Tesla billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday confirmed that Saudi Arabia have approved Starlink for maritime and aviation use in the Gulf state.

Earlier today, Mr Musk was pictured alongside the US president as he met with Saudi dignitaries in the kingdoms royal court, including the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, Mr Musk, who recently stepped back from his role in the Trump administration, said: Id like to thank Saudi Arabia for approving Starlink for maritime and aviation.

Its unclear whether this is part of the 453 bn ($600 bn) US-Saudi deal that was agreed on Tuesday (see post at 3:56 pm).

Donald Trump is expected to give an address alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at the forum at around 5pm local time (3pm BST).

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - REUTERS

03:56 PM BST

Trump secures 453 billion Saudi investment pledge on Gulf tour

US President Trump secured a 453 bn ($600 bn) deal from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to invest in the United States.

Trump is on the first leg of a major four-day diplomatic tour across the Gulf states, where he is hoping to secure hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in the US.

Saudi Arabias investment commitment includes what the US described as the largest defence sales agreement in history, worth nearly $142bn (107bn).

03:43 PM BST

Trump expected to meet with Syrian president in Riyadh

US President Trump is expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Axios has reported, citing a source familiar with the details.

It comes as Trump said on Monday that he may ease US sanctions on Syria, which were imposed under the government of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and helped in removing him from power.

The sanctions keep the country cut off from the global financial system and make economic recovery extremely challenging after 14 years of war.

We may take them off of Syria, because we want to give them a fresh start, Trump told reporters.

03:38 PM BST

Trump signs 107bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia

The US has signed the largest defence sales agreement in history with Saudi Arabia, the White House has said, as Donald Trump prepares to give a speech in Riyadh.

Washington said the agreement is worth nearly $142bn (107bn) and includes providing Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art war fighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defence firms.

Co-signed by Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and the countrys de facto ruler, the agreement is also expected to include investments in artificial intelligence companies and energy production.

Later today, Mr Trump is due to head to Diriyah At-Turaif, a historical area and Unesco world heritage site on the edge of the Saudi capital, before attending an official state banquet held in his honour.

During earlier meetings between the two leaders, the US president was overheard calling the Saudi prince a friend, and said he believes they have developed a good relationship.

I really believe we like each other a lot, Mr Trump said.

The president is on the first leg of a major four-day diplomatic tour across the Middle East, where he is hoping to secure hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in the US.

03:35 PM BST

Saudi sets up mobile McDonalds for Trump visit

Saudi Arabia set up a mobile McDonalds near Royal Court ahead of Trumps visit to Riyadh, according to local reports.

As part of their glitzy treatment for the US president, Saudi officials arranged for a fully operational mobile McDonalds unit to be set up near the Saudi Royal Court to accompany Trump during his state visit.

Credit: X/@Mike_Wagenheim

03:15 PM BST

What happened at the VIP lunch earlier?

Elon Musk, who recently stepped back from his role in the Trump administration, was pictured alongside the US president as he met with Saudi dignitaries in the kingdoms royal court, including the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Tesla billionaire was amongst the VIPs joining Mr Trump for lunch in the royal court.

Also in attendance was Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, which Mr Musk co-founded. The pair have been locked in a legal battle over OpenAI becoming a for-profit company.

Mr Trumps presidential aircraft, Air Force One, was escorted by F-15s as he landed in the Gulf State earlier this morning for the first major overseas trip of his second term.

He was later driven to Saudi Arabias royal court in the Beast, the official state car of the US president, surrounded by horses with riders waving US and Saudi flags.

Credit: Reuters

02:39 PM BST

Trump and Saudi crown prince sign economic partnership agreement

US President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have just signed a strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.

The partnership reportedly includes agreements for energy, mining, and defence.

US President Donald J. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court - Getty Images Europe

01:58 PM BST

Witkoff: Trump spoke with released Israeli-American hostage

Released Israeli-American hostage spoke to President Trump after being released by Hamas on Monday, said Washingtons Middle East envoy.

Writing on X, Steve Witkoff said he was honoured to meet Edan Alexander in Tel Aviv, adding that his return gives hope to so many.

After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience, Mr Witkoff wrote on X.

We also had the opportunity to speak with @POTUS, whose leadership made this possible. We remain committed to bringing every last hostage home.

Mr Alexander, 21, was serving in an elite infantry unit on the border when he was captured by the terror-group Hamas during the 7 October attacks. He is believed to be the last known living hostage with US citizenship held captive in Gaza.

I was honored to meet Edan Alexander today and welcome him home. After months in captivity, the world is inspired by his courage and resilience. His return gives hope to so many. We also had the opportunity to speak with @POTUS, whose leadership made this possible. We remain pic.twitter.com/9rninnXSJy  Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East (@SE_MiddleEast) May 13, 2025

01:23 PM BST

Trump to Crown Prince: I really believe we like each other a lot

Inside the Royal Court, president Trump called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a friend and said they had developed a good relationship, according to the White House pool report.

I really believe we like each other a lot, Trump reportedly said.

President Donald Trump gestures to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he greets Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi ambassador to the United States - AP

01:00 PM BST

Rolling out the lavender carpet...

Saudi Arabia shifted from red to lavender for their ceremonial carpets in 2021, as wild lavender flowers are a recognised symbol of the kingdoms cultural heritage.

A worker cleans a lavender carpet ahead of the arrival of US President Donald Trump at the Royal Court in Riyadh - AFP

US President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a welcoming ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - via REUTERS

12:12 PM BST

The handshakes stop, lunch begins

US and Saudi delegations are now having lunch at Riyadhs royal court after Donald Trump spent more than an hour shaking hands with foreign dignitaries.

Later on, Mr Trump will attend a Saudi-US investment forum, before being hosted for a full-scale state dinner.

11:51 AM BST

Analysis: Silicon Valley royalty hopes to benefit from Trump visit

Silicon Valley royalty including Elon Musk and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman have jetted into Saudi Arabia as part of Donald Trumps entourage as the White House seeks to secure trillions of dollars in investment.

Mr Trump has been demanding the Gulf states buy more from the US - and the technology industry hopes to benefit from Republicans demands. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has been seeking to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

As Mr Trumps visit to Riyadh began in earnest, the Trump White House was reportedly considering greenlighting the sale of hundreds of thousands of powerful microchips to G42, an Emirati technology business that has ties to OpenAI.

The deal marks a split with Joe Bidens approach to the Middle East. Under the previous administration, the White House had regarded the UAEs approach to AI with caution, given its cordial relations with China and its tech sector.

The New York Times reported that David Sacks, the White House AI tsar, had been working on the deal, which would also see chips going to an AI venture being developed by OpenAI and G42.

Separately, Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a new state-run AI business, called Humain, which said it will work with US chip-maker Groq (no relation to Mr Musks Grok chatbot) to develop its technology. The AI business will be chaired by Muhammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince known as MBS.

11:37 AM BST

The business leaders joining Trump

There are more than two dozen business leaders joining Mr Trump on his visit to Saudi Arabia. They include:

Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Gianni Infantino, FIFA president Stephen A Schwarzman, chief executive of Blackstone Group Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock Kelly Ortberg, president and chief executive of Boeing Reid Hoffman, executive chairman of LinkedIn

Elon Musk recently took a step back from his role in the Trump administration - REUTERS

11:31 AM BST

What is the Saudi royal court?

The Saudi Royal Court is the liaison between its king, Salman bin Abdulaziz, and its government, which is led by the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It is the Kings chief executive office.

Bin Salman is currently hosting Donald Trump in the royal court as part of his official arrival ceremony, where foreign dignitaries and global business leaders are exchanging pleasantries.

Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh - REUTERS

11:20 AM BST

Musks rival Sam Altman also in attendance

Elon Musks rival Sam Altman is also in Saudi Arabia for Donald Trumps state visit.

Footage below shows the owner of OpenAI, which runs ChatGPT, shaking hands with the US president alongside the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

Mr Musk co-founded OpenAI along with Mr Altman but left several years ago. The pair have since been locked in a legal battle over its future as a for-profit company.

Credit: Reuters

10:48 AM BST

Musk joins Trump in Saudi Arabia

Elon Musk has joined Donald Trump on his state visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Tesla billionaire recently pledged to significantly cut back his role in the US government after the car firm reported a huge drop in profit.

Musk had led the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), giving him huge power over US spending.

He will be among the VIPs joining Mr Trump for a lunch in the royal court.

Donald Trump has brought Elon Musk on his visit to Saudi Arabia

10:37 AM BST

Watch: Trump greeted by Mohammed bin Salman

Credit: Reuters

10:33 AM BST

US and Saudi Arabia could sign $100bn arms deal

Saudi Arabia could buy more than $100bn of American weapons and military equipment in a deal that could be announced during Mr Trumps visit to the kingdom.

Missiles and radar systems are among the items that could form part of the package.

Joe Biden stopped selling offensive weapons to Riyadh in 2021 over the countrys role in the war in neighbouring Yemen.

10:31 AM BST

Pictured: Trump salutes at royal court

Donald Trump salutes in Riyadh

Donald Trump reviews the honour guard at the Royal Court in Riyadh - AFP

10:22 AM BST

Trump arrival ceremony under way

Donald Trump has arrived at the Saudi royal court for an official arrival ceremony.

The US president was greeted by Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, before the pair head for coffee and tea in the ceremonial blue room.

Mr Trump will then join a lunch with CEOs, bilateral meetings, followed by an agreement signing.

08:17 AM BST

Stakes could not be higher

As Donald Trump lands in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a whirlwind visit to the Middle East he will be arriving in his happy place, writes chief US correspondent Rob Crilly.

The stakes could not be higher across the region. Conflict rumbles on in Gaza, the Houthis continue to launch missiles from Yemen, Israel is making noises about attacking Iran, and there are oil, trade and investment talks under way.

Yet Mr Trump will avoid the hotspots for three Gulf states that are crucial to Washingtons regional strategy without being at the heart of the turmoil.

He can expect a warm welcome from the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all of whom have cash to invest in the US.

So while Joe Biden agonised for weeks over how to greet Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman (MBS) after calling his country a pariah, settling eventually on an awkward fist bump out of view of his travelling press pack, Mr Trump faces no such qualms.

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United States President Donald Trump has started his Middle East tour, arriving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just after 10am, where he was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

During his three-day trip, he will also travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a focus on securing economic agreements with three of the worlds wealthiest nations.

The trip will involve discussions on investment opportunities, and some experts say Trump may urge the Gulf countries to lower oil prices.

When will Trump be visiting each country?

Trump arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday just before 10am local time (07:00 GMT), where he was greeted by MBS. The same day, he is scheduled to attend a Saudi-US investment forum featuring leading companies such as BlackRock, Citigroup, Palantir, Qualcomm, and Alphabet.

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On Wednesday, he is scheduled to take part in a Gulf summit in Riyadh, before travelling to Qatar later that day. He will conclude his trip in the UAE on Thursday, May 15.

INTERACTIVE-Trumps Gulf Middle East visiting schedule-MAY12-2025-1747112522

Trumps first visit as president was to Saudi Arabia

During his first term, 2017 to 2021, Trump became the first US president to make the Middle East his first international destination, breaking with the longstanding tradition of visiting neighbouring North American countries first.

His trip to Saudi Arabia from May 20 to 22, 2017  during which he attended the Riyadh Summit  was a calculated move to bolster defence ties and secure substantial arms deals.

During that trip, Trump also visited Israel and Palestine.

INTERACTIVE - Where did Donald Trump go in his first term-1747055157

While Trump did not go to Qatar or the UAE during his first term, he met Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Riyadh Summit.

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During the summit, Trump and Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud signed a $110bn arms deal, including missile defence systems, tanks, combat ships and cybersecurity technology, with the intent of buying $350bn worth of arms over 10 years.

A memorable moment from that 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia was during the inauguration of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh. In a surreal photo op that quickly went viral, Trump stood alongside King Salman and President el-Sisi with their hands on a glowing orb.

Left to right, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Saudi King Salman, US First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump, at the new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, in Riyadh on May 21, 2017 [Saudi Press Agency via AP]

What is the value of US-Gulf investments?

Sami al-Arian, director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University, told Al Jazeera that Trump has been very vocal about his objective in visiting the three Gulf states: investments.

Trumps administration has reportedly discussed the possibility of expediting investments by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE before his trip to the region.

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Hes trying to get trillions of dollars out of these countries, al-Arian told Al Jazeera.

Hes already said that hes hoping to get $1 trillion from Saudi Arabia in terms of arms sales and commercial deals, he said.

US-Saudi investments

According to the latest data from the US Department of Commerce, the total stock of US foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia reached $11.3bn in 2023.

Conversely, Saudi Arabias FDI stock in the US stood at $9.6bn, mostly in transport, real estate, plastics, automotive, financial services and communications, according to the Commerce Department.

These figures are only FDI, not other investments, like portfolio investments or short-term financial flows.

US-Qatar investments

In 2023, the total stock of US FDI in Qatar was estimated at $2.5bn.

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According to the US-Qatar Business Council, US companies that have facilitated FDIs in Qatar focused on the fields of energy, petrochemicals, construction, engineering, and communications technology.

Conversely, Qatari FDI stock in the US reached $3.3bn in 2023, with investments concentrated in financial services, energy and real estate.

US-UAE investments

In 2023, the total stock of US FDI in the UAE reached $16.1bn.

According to the Reuters news agency, in 2023, the main FDI drivers were manufacturing, finance and insurance, construction and wholesale and retail trade sectors.

Meanwhile, UAE FDI stock in the US totalled $35bn in 2023  in financial services, transport, food and beverages, aerospace, and business services, according to the Commerce Department.

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In March, UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Trump and committed $1.4 trillion in investments to the US over 10 years in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing.

Weapons trade between the nations

The US is the biggest exporter of arms globally and a top supplier to Gulf countries.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia each accounted for 6.8 percent of the worlds total arms imports for 2020-24, making them the third and fourth largest importers globally.

The UAE is the 11th largest importer of arms, accounting for 2.6 percent of global imports for the same period.

Saudi Arabia is the main recipient of US arms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Between 2020 and 2024, Saudi Arabia received 12 percent of the USs total arms exports.

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About 74 percent of Saudi arms imports come from the US.

Trump is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth more than $100bn during his trip, according to Reuters.

In the 2020-24 period, the US was the top supplier of arms to Qatar, accounting for 48 percent of its imports.

In March, the US Department of State approved a large weapons package to Qatar worth $2bn, which includes long-range maritime surveillance drones and hundreds of missiles and bombs.

In the same period, the US was also the top supplier of weapons to the UAE, accounting for 42 percent of the countrys arms imports.
Lawyer Nelson Havi has stepped forward to defend cannabis growers arrested in Mt Kenya Forest, calling them enterprising Kenyans who deserve support rather than prosecution.

Responding to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomens remarks on the governments crackdown on cannabis farms inside the forest, Havi argued that bhang is a valuable crop and should be treated like any other agricultural product.

These hard-working farmers need support to add value to their produce and market it, Havi said. If you know them, ask them to contact me. I will act for them. It is time we challenged that colonial law criminalising the growth of omusala.

The former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president pledged to offer legal representation to any farmer charged in connection with the cultivation of cannabis in the region.

Murkomen Links Illicit Trade to Police and Local Administrators

Interior CS Murkomen had earlier announced that a multi-agency team had uncovered more than 10 acres of cannabis farms hidden within Mt Kenya Forest. He said the illegal activity stretches across three counties and involves a wider criminal network that includes police officers and local administrators.

We are dealing with a complex racket involving some members of the police and local administration, Murkomen said.

The cultivation of cannabis in Mt Kenya Forest is a growing concern. The partnership between the police, KFS, and KWS is actively reversing the trend.

The government, he added, had intensified surveillance and operations in the forest to arrest those responsible and dismantle the syndicate.

Despite growing calls for legalization, cannabiscommonly referred to as bhangremains illegal in Kenya. Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, anyone found in possession of the substance faces a minimum sentence of ten years in prison upon conviction.
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump addressed a Saudi-U.S. investment forum hours after signing multiple agreements with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as he began the first leg of a four-day Middle East trip.

Trump thanked his hosts, calling Riyadh a great place with great people, and referenced his second terms economic statistics while praising Saudi Arabia.

We are rocking. The U.S. is the hottest country, with the exception of your country  As long as Im up here, youre hotter, Trump said.

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Trumps Middle East trip: 5 things to watch

Trump spoke positively of the innovation the Middle East has seen since his visit eight years prior, calling it a modern and rising region.

Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past, and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos, Trump said. Where it exports technology, not terrorism, and where people of different nations, religions and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other.

US will lift sanctions against Syria: Trump

Trump announced the United States will lift all sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.

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Its their time to shine, Trump said, adding that the country should show us something special.

The U.S. government has held sanctions against Syria  a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism since 1979  in some form for decades, according to the Department of State.

If the responsible nations of this region seize this moment, put aside your differences and focus on the interests that unite you, then all humanity will soon be amazed at what we will see here in the geographic center of the world, and the spiritual heart of its greatest faiths, Trump said.

Trump on Iran nuclear deal: Time is right now

President Donald Trump addresses the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center while attending a Saudi-U.S. business investment forum on May 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

At the forum, Trump said he isnt in the Middle East to condemn past Iranian leaders but to offer them a new and better path forward.

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I have never believed in having permanent enemies, he said.

House panel releases sweeping GOP tax bill

Trumps comments came days after he dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Iranian officials for a fourth round of talks aimed at persuading Iran to abandon its nuclear program.

The time is right now for them to choose, Trump said of a nuclear deal. The choice is theirs. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Trump shares hope that Saudi Arabia will join Abraham Accords

Trump also referenced the Abraham Accords  a deal he helped broker that led to Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco agreeing to normalize relations with Israel  during his first term.

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He said it is his hope that Saudi Arabia will soon be joining the accords.

Saudi Arabia signs cooperation, investment deals with US

As part of Tuesdays agenda, Trump secured a $600 billion Saudi investment that involves deals on energy security, defense industry, technology leadership, and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals, according to the White House.

I really believe we like each other a lot, Trump said of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The White House hopes to return more than $1 trillion worth of investments in the United States, a White House official told NewsNation on Tuesday.

Unsolicicted pizza deliveries threaten federal judges: Report

Trumps Middle East itinerary

Talks have been scheduled with some of the worlds richest countries this week, including Qatar and the UAE.

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Qatari sources told NewsNation the goal for their stop is $200 billion in business deals. Ethical concerns have arisen after the country offered Trump a free Air Force One replacement  a Boeing 747 worth $400 million.

I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer, Trump told reporters Monday. I could be a stupid person and say, No, we dont want a free, very expensive airplane.

Has DNC found way to oust Hogg over procedural issue?

During the trip, Trump has floated the idea of stepping away from planned stops to visit Turkey as it hosts Ukraine-Russia talks on Thursday.

I was thinking about flying over. I dont know where I am going to be on Thursday, Trump said Monday. Ive got so many meetings.  Theres a possibility there, I guess, if I think things can happen.

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The Kremlin has not said whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Turkey.

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 NewsNation.
Aner Shapira was hailed a hero for his actions on Oct 7 - Family Handout

Donald Trump should not focus his rescue efforts solely on American hostages, the father of a British-Israeli man killed on Oct 7 has said.

Aner Shapira, 22, died during a battle with Hamas fighters outside the Nova musical festival.

Despite being unarmed and dressed in just a T-shirt and sandals, Mr Shapira, an off-duty soldier who was with 26 other young Israelis, fought off the terrorists for more than 30 minutes by throwing out seven live grenades they had tossed into the bomb shelter he was hiding in.

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An eighth device fatally wounded him.

His parents renewed plea for the return of all Israeli hostages comes after the release of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old US citizen, who was freed following direct talks between US officials and Hamas, controversially leaving Israel out of the process.

Credit: Telegram/@southfirstresponders

Asked whether he trusted the US president more than Israels leaders to bring about the return of the hostages, Mr Shapiras father Moshe, 54, said: The Americans have the ability to rescue people. Sadly, its not enough to rescue non-American citizens.

I would have liked to see Trump bring us more hostages. The one government that brings back the hostages, thats the one that should get the credit.

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Pressed on whether he believed Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, would secure the release of Israelis held in Gaza, he said: We hope. We are begging to see results. The most important thing now is to bring the hostages back.

I believe that hell be convinced that this is the wish of the Israeli people. We are a nation that searches for peace and life, not death.

Aner Shapira grew up in the quiet south Jerusalem neighbourhood of Talpiot. He was a keen pianist who recorded his own music in the hope of being a professional musician  often singing about social justice and unity between people.

He always took a stand, his mother Shira, 50, said. If he saw something was not right,he felt it was his business to make it better.

Moshe and Shira Shapira said the US had the ability to rescue hostages - Belinda Jiao

Aner Shapira (bottom left) with his parents and siblings - Family Handout

When Mr Shapira was in the city centre, his father recalled, he would ask for the names of police officers searching African immigrants for their permits  quizzing them on whether they only stopped them because they were black.

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Mr Shapira was off duty from his elite combat unit on that fateful Saturday in October.

His parents first heard the news about their sons acts from two people managed to flee the shelter thanks to his heroism.

We got a phone call from a female survivor who said, Its because of him that Im alive. Hes a hero. said Mr Shapira snr.

Days later, they received a call from the father of another survivor, who said Mr Shapira had thrown out grenades from the shelter. He said: Thanks to [Aner] my son is alive.

However, it was not until video footage emerged that the Shapiras friends believed the incredible story was true.

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They didnt believe us, Mr Shapira said. When the videos went viral people told us how amazed they were by what he did. We said, We told you! But they said, We didnt believe you.

Aner Shapiras family say this image shows him guarding the entrance of the bomb shelter on Oct 7 - Family Handout

In three-hour-long audio footage recorded from the shelter by a woman killed by Hamas, people sheltering described Aner as a fighter, Mrs Shapira said.

At one moment, she said, Mr Shapira threw out an unexploded RPG shell from the shelter and people said: That is our protector.

Speaking following the launch of an album of Mr Shapiras unreleased songs to celebrate what would have been his 24th birthday, his mother added: In the last hour of his life, he chose to be the man like he believed everyone should be: to save lives and care for others that he didnt even know.

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The album is called Looking for Love and can be streamed on YouTube.

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President Donald Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as the acting librarian of Congress. Blanche served as Trumps personal attorney during the presidents criminal trial in 2024.

Blanche will replace Carla Hayden, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama and was the first professional librarian, first African American and first woman to hold the lead position at the Library of Congress. Trump dismissed Hayden earlier this month with no official explanation given.

The president acted on his own in this decision, one person told Politico anonymously.

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There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children, Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, told the media, adding that Hayden did not fit the needs of the American people.

The Library of Congress does not lend books to the public. Its Young Readers Center hosts childrens authors and other programming for kids.

Haydens 10-year term would have concluded next year.

Shakeup at the Library of Congress  and new officials barred from entrance

Along with Blanche, two other Department of Justice officials have joined the Library of Congress roster: Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins has been made the acting register of copyrights and Blanches deputy chief of staff Brian Nieves has been made the acting deputy librarian of Congress.

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Perkins and Nieves were both barred from entering one of the Library of Congress buildings on Monday morning, according to reports.

Library staff called the U.S. Capitol Police and the librarys general counsel, Meg Williams, who told the men they were not authorized to access the Copyright Office. The men left willingly.

Also on Monday morning, Robert Newlen, a Library of Congress staffer who had served in his role for over 40 years and who had previously been tapped to temporarily replace Hayden, sent an email to library staff.

You may have read that the White House has appointed a new acting Librarian, he wrote. Currently, Congress is engaged with the White House, and we have not yet received direction from Congress about how to move forward. We will share additional information as we receive it.

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The librarian of Congress is appointed by the president and approved by the Senate.

Congressional Democrats object to changes at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is traditionally a nonpartisan institution. Besides its primary role, it also operates as a think tank for members of Congress, providing analyses, reports and surveys to lawmakers through the Librarys Congressional Research Service.

Senior congressional Democrats have raised concerns with Blanches appointment and with Hayden being fired, saying that because the Library of Congress is normally under the control of the legislative branch, Trump did not have the authority to fire Hayden. Leavitt argued that doing so was within Trumps right.

Earlier this year, House Democrats also alleged that the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, might have transferred information out of the Library of Congress and into the executive branchs control.

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Sharing of information could compromise legislative branch independence and the ability of Members of Congress to carry out their constitutional duties, stated Reps. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., among other representatives.

Their letter came with a request for an inspector general investigation at the Library of Congress.
On Sunday, May 11, President Donald Trump made a lengthy post on Truth Social, accusing American Pharmaceutical companies of overcharging consumers for years and using the excuse of Research and Development Costs as an excuse for their high prices. Trump continued that the following day, he would be signing one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Countrys history, one that would reduce prescription drug prices by 30% to 80% and save trillions of dollars for the U.S.

Read Next: Trump Tells Sean Hannity Why He Took Away One of Americas Favorite Tax Cuts

Try This: 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025

On May 12, Trump indeed signed an executive order that set a 30-day deadline for pharmaceutical companies to lower their prescription drug costs  but can it really slash 80% of drug costs? Or even 30%?

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Next, find out why Mark Cuban says this executive order has a real shot.

Will the Executive Order Save You Money?

The answer is a resoundingmaybe.

Trump signed a vast executive order that directs Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  and other health department leaders  to negotiate newer, lower prices for drugs with pharmaceutical companies over the next 30 days. If he is unsuccessful, Kennedy and HHS will then be required to set medication prices to the lower levels paid in other countries, where drug prices are drastically lower than those in America.

At the press-attended signing, specifics were not given as to the administrations goal pricing for medication, nor was it made clear exactly how HHS would lower drug prices if negotiations failed.

Be Aware: Trump Isnt Ruling Out a Recession This Year  What Could That Mean for Your Wallet?

The Argument Against Cutting Costs

Unsurprisingly, medication developers and manufacturers almost immediately pushed back.

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In a May 12 statement, Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of PhRMA, wrote, Importing foreign prices from socialist countries would be a bad deal for American patients and workers. It would mean less treatments and cures and would jeopardize the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America.

Further doubt was cast by Washington University health law expert Rachel Sachs, who told AP News that Trumps order boils down to asking manufacturers to voluntarily lower their prices to some point, which is not known. If they do not lower their prices to the desired point, HHS shall take other actions with a very long timeline, some of which could potentially, years in the future, lower drug prices.

Is an 80% Cut Realistic?

As it stands, HHS can adjust drug prices for those medications covered by Medicare and Medicaid; however, that power is restricted, slow and does not provide HHS with a blanket pricing authority.

Further still, HHS has even less authority over the drug prices paid by those millions of Americans with private insurance. At no point during the signing did Trump or Kennedy make expressly clear how they would restructure drug prices across the board to match those of other nations, should negotiations be unsuccessful.

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It is possible  perhaps even likely  that the executive order will have some impact upon drug pricing over a long timeline. However, given all that is known thus far, a 30% to 80% drop seems far less likely.

Editors note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com.

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Sources:

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Trump Orders 80% Cut in Prescription Drug Prices  Will You Really Save That Much?
President Donald Trump has said he is ordering the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria to start the process of normalizing relations between Washington and Damascus in hopes of bolstering the war-torn countrys new government, more than a decade after the Obama administration severed diplomatic ties at the outset of the civil war that ended with the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad last year.

Speaking in Riyadh, where he addressed a Saudi-American investment forum on the first day of his four-day, three-country swing through the Middle East, Trump said the new Syrian government will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace after the countrys people had seen their share of travesty and war over many years.

He told the audience of Saudi and American dignitaries that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the new Syrian foreign minister in Turkey later in the week, and, citing discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump also revealed that he is ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give the new government a chance at greatness.

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The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served an important, really an important function, nevertheless, at the time, but now its their time to shine. Its their time to shine. Were taking them all off, he said. So I say, good luck Syria. Show us something very special, like theyve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia.

Donald Trump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (EPA)

Ahead of the presidents speech, a White House official also said Trump had agreed to say hello to Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa  the former Islamic militant leader who has served as Syrias de facto president since Assad fled the country and took up an offer of asylum in Russia last December  even though Sharaa remains on a list of terrorists maintained by the American government.

Sharaa once fought with al-Qaeda in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. He later led the Syrian branch of the terror organization that carried out the 9/11 attacks, before breaking away in 2016 to form what became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that ousted Assad.

Since coming to power in a blistering offensive last year that swept away the Assad dynasty after it had held sway for more than five decades, Sharaa has promised to deliver an inclusive government until free and fair elections can be held.

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Trumps announcement of an end to more than a decade of harsh economic penalties  which were levied against the former Assad regime as a result of the now deposed dictators use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people, and other atrocities  came moments after he restated his openness to a relaxation of tensions with the Iranian government.

In his remarks, he offered a rhetorical olive branch to Iran and said the United States wants it to be a wonderful, safe, great country if its leaders choose to forswear their longtime pursuit of nuclear weapons. This was the latest in a series of signals meant to de-escalate decades of tensions between Washington and Tehran by reaching a new nuclear nonproliferation agreement, eight years after he threw out the one that was reached under the Obama administration.

Trump contrasted Irans economic isolation since the 1979 Islamic Revolution with the prosperity that Saudi Arabia has enjoyed over the same time period, during which Riyadh replaced Tehran as Americas main ally in the petroleum-rich region.

Irans decades of neglect and mismanagement have left the country plagued by rolling blackouts lasting for hours a day  all the time you hear about it. While your skill has turned dry deserts into fertile farmland, Irans leaders have managed to turn green farmland into dry deserts, he said.

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But the American leader said he had not come to Riyadh to condemn the past chaos of Irans leaders and instead offered Tehran a new path, and a much better path, toward a far better and more hopeful future.

Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, a former Islamist militant, became president of Syria in January (AP)

He said he has always been willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even with those with whom he has had profound differences, such as Irans leaders.

I have never believed in having permanent enemies. I am different than a lot of people think. I dont like permanent enemies, but sometimes you need enemies to do the job, and you have to do it right, said Trump, who pointed to Americas history of forging alliances with former adversaries. He told the audience that he would like to do the same with Iran, provided that the Iranian government chooses to cease causing chaos in the region.

I want to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran, Ill be very happy if were going to make your region and the world a safer place. But if Irans leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure and drive Iranian oil exports to zero like I did before, he said.

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Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. But with that said, Iran can have a much brighter future, Trump continued. The choice is theirs to make. We really want them to be a successful country. We want them to be a wonderful, safe, great country, but they cannot have a nuclear weapon.

The presidents offer of a relaxation of tensions with Tehran comes on the heels of multiple meetings between American and Iranian negotiators with an eye to an agreement that would take Iran off the path to achieving nuclear weapons capability.

When Trump first came to the presidency in 2017, there was just such an agreement in place. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral deal negotiated between Tehran, the five permanent U.N. Security Council members, Germany and the European Union provided for the lifting of sanctions imposed as a result of Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons technology, in exchange for strict limitations on Iranian nuclear research and power capabilities and inspections of nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The agreement, which followed years of painstaking talks, was part of an effort by the Obama administration to open dialogue with the longtime U.S. antagonist. Iran was once one of Americas closest allies in the Middle East region, with a pro-Western and largely secular government under the Pahlavi dynasty. But Washington and Tehran have not had formal diplomatic relations since April 1980, when the U.S. cut ties and imposed an economic embargo in the wake of the 1979 seizure of the American embassy and the resulting 444-day hostage crisis.

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Trump entered office opposed to the deal because it was negotiated in part by his predecessor, Barack Obama, and, with further prodding by Israeli and Saudi leaders, he eventually pulled the U.S. out of the agreement.

Now, eight years on from his decision to withdraw from the JCPOA and impose a maximum pressure sanctions campaign against Tehran, his administration is pushing for a new deal that would, in principle, reinstate much of what was in place under the old deal.

But Trump warned that Irans window for negotiating with Washington, even indirectly, will not be open for long. He explicitly stated that his offer will not last forever and said that the time for them to choose is right now.

We dont have a lot of time to wait. Things are happening at a very fast pace. Happening right here. Theyre happening at a very fast pace. So they have to make their move right now  one way or the other, make your move, he said.

With reporting by Richard Hall
The motto of one newly elected American world leader: " Fight! " The other introduced himself to the world with his first public word as pope:  Peace."

The contrast between President Donald Trump and Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV couldn't be more stark  politically, personally or in their world views. They lead in different roles and realms.

But Leo's historic election last week to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics as the first U.S.-born pope means that the two most powerful people on the planet are Americans. That raises questions about American influence at a time when Trump's tariff wars and one way or the other threats have upended eight decades of global order and sparked distrust among allies toward the United States.

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The prospect of too much American power in geopolitics is widely considered one reason that the Catholic Church had not elected an American to the papacy across the country's nearly 250-year history. Until, that is, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost of Chicago  Pope Leo XIV  was chosen last week to be the 267th pontiff.

The irony of Leos election is that many in the rest of the world will view it as a sign of hope  as an American who can speak for them rather than act against them, said David Gibson, director of Fordham University's Center on Religion and Culture.

Pope Leo is another kind of American on the world stage

The shock and delight of the not-well-known cardinal's election soon shifted into robust discussion about how the top of the global pecking order could be populated by two Americans.

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Trump is known to not enjoy sharing attention or primacy, as his America first foreign policy approach makes clear. American Catholics chose Trump over his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.

In one apparent appeal to them, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as a pope during the days of mourning for Pope Francis, who died April 21. The move was not appreciated by some Catholics and Italians. Trump denied posting the image himself and said anyone who was offended can't take a joke. He insisted that the Catholics loved it.

Even so, Trump wished Leo well and called it a great honor that the new pope was American.

Pope Leo, meanwhile, is in some senses a politician as well, with a calm manner and the approach of talking to his fellow cardinals in small groups before the conclave, they said. Though he was born in Chicago, Leo  then Prevost  spent two decades as a missionary in Peru before being appointed by Pope Francis in 2023 to lead the Vatican's powerful office that vets bishops around the world.

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He wouldn't be the first pope to wade into world politics. Pope John Paul II, for example, is rightly credited with helping bring down communism. But Leo enters the papacy having already criticized Vice President JD Vance, the highest-profile Catholic in American politics, on social media. Leo is at odds with the administration on such policy issues as immigration  Trump's signature issue  and the environment.

Like Trump, Leo has turned his attention to the media. On Monday in Vatican City, he called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the calling for all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press. In contrast, Trump's approach to journalists has been combative, from the White House to the courts.

Trump and Pope Leo are in different lanes as leaders

In early February, Leo  then still Prevost  shared an article from a Catholic publication with the headline, JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesnt ask us to rank our love for others.

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It came days after Vance  a convert to Catholicism  discussed immigration in a Fox News interview by referencing a Christian tenet that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world.

Leo, speaking Italian to thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square, described a different vision for the Church and human relations: We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open, like this very piazza, welcoming.

Vance suggested the papacy is bigger than politics and social media. It's very hard to fit a 2,000-year-old institution into the politics of 2025 America, he said during an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, adding that its better for all of us if we allow the church to be about the saving of souls.

In the rise of Trump at the same time as Leo, the gospel meets the culture, said Steven Millies, director of The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Religion and politics, he added, are misaligned because they are oriented toward different purposes."

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What both Francis and then Cardinal Prevost were doing was being bishops  teaching the Gospel, and reminding us the Gospel always is on the side of the poor, the afflicted, the suffering, Millies said in an email. Thats not Trumps lane as a president, a reality TV star or a businessman.

How American is Pope Leo's world view, anyway?

Leo's decades in Peru  he is a citizen of both countries  can give him a broader view of humanity and power, and religion and politics, scholars say.

Beyond the obvious personality differences with Trump, Leo is expected to wield power differently  to the neediest people first, for example, whereas Trump cut off American aid. Leo did not mention his American roots during his first speech, nor did he speak in English  a sign, some Vatican watchers said, of his global priorities.

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Even though it is factually true that Leo is the first U.S.-born pope, it makes more sense to think about him as the second pope of the Americas. This challenges America first approaches and imagines the region more holistically, as Pope Francis did first, with its center of gravity in the global south, said Raul Zegarra, assistant professor of Roman Catholic theological studies at Harvard Divinity School.

All of this points to a pope that understands global leadership through dialogue instead of isolation; who understands power through service, instead of domination," he said. "It is hard to imagine a sharper contrast with the current administration in the U.S.

To hear some of the American cardinals tell it, Leo actually is not all that American in style or outlook, and his U.S. heritage played little if any part in his selection as pope. But Trump hovered over the proceedings.

Six American cardinals who had participated in the conclave took the stage at a press conference as "Born in the USA and American Pie blared from speakers. Then, one after another downplayed Leo's American roots. One quoted a phrase that was going around, that Leo is the least American of the American cardinals. Several said they expected Leo to be a bridge-builder with the Trump administration  the meaning of the Latin word pontiff."

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Asked whether the cardinals elected Leo to offset Trump, several said no.

I dont think at all my brother cardinals would have thought of him as a counterweight to any one person, said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York.

Obviously the cardinals were quite aware of things that have occurred in the United States, statements that have been made, political actions that have been taken, said Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington. But the conclave's goal, he said, was choosing who among us could strengthen the faith.

Said Millies: Its not that the world should fear a U.S.-born pope. Quite the reverse: As the least American of the Americans, he is untainted by our recent politics and may seem safer even as, still, he is an American intimately familiar with this nations better angels.

___

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
Trump is replacing the first Black librarian of Congress with his own personal lawyer.

The Justice Department on Monday announced that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blance, Trumps lead defense lawyer in his Stormy Daniels hush money case, will be acting librarian of Congress. Blanche will replace Dr. Carla Hayden, who held the position since 2016 until she was fired on Friday.

The White House blamed Haydens firing on her support for DEI.

We felt she did not fit the needs of the American people, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters. There were quite concerning things that she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children. The Librarian of congress is a research position, not a book lending position. Hayden was not handing out woke books to children. She was leading the Of the Peoplecampaign, which aimed to showcase works from Black, indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and other communities of color in the library collections.


President Trump announced Tuesday he was rolling back sanctions on Syria at the urging of allies in the Middle East in an effort to boost the new government in Damascus.

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness, Trump said in remarks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prompting a standing ovation from a sea of Saudi officials in the room.

Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had encouraged him to remove the sanctions, which had been imposed against the former Bashar Assad regime amid a brutal civil war. The Assad government was driven out of office by Syrian rebels late last year.

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Oh, what I do for the crown prince, Trump said with a laugh Monday. The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important function  but now its [Syrias] time to shine.

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet later this week in Turkey with the new Syrian foreign minister.

U.S. sanctions had cut Syria off from the global financial system and imposed other economic penalties on the government as civil war raged on for more than a decade. Leaving those sanctions in place would make it difficult for the new government to lead a recovery, experts said.

In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace, Trump said.

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He also said his administration would look to assist Lebanon to find peace and economic development. Lebanon also has a new government after Nawaf Salam was appointed prime minister earlier 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 The Hill.
Renowned legal scholar and former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairperson Prof. PLO Lumumba has praised Kenyans for increasingly confronting political power through public scrutiny and civic activism, describing this shift as a sign of national awakening.

In a candid interview broadcast on a local TV station on Monday, May 12, 2025, Lumumba celebrated the countrys growing culture of inquiry, noting that the willingness to question leaders has reshaped Kenyas political landscape.

Civic Awareness Forces Politicians to Tread Carefully

Lumumba, who once served in the Law Society of Kenya, said Kenyans habit of challenging authority has forced many politicians into self-censorship, especially on matters of policy and governance.

We have created an environment where the politician may want to do certain things, but they cannot, he said.

Sometimes there has been pushback, but with the increasing human rights space, people have been afraid to do certain things.

He emphasized that this environment empowers citizens and builds a more accountable government.

Kenya Must Guard Hard-Earned Freedoms

According to Lumumba, the ability of citizens and the media to publicly express unfiltered opinions is a hallmark of democracy.

We have become a society that questions, and that is critical, he noted. What we should do is move further. There are those who want to claw back on the gains we have made.

He lauded open discourse as vital to national development, adding, The fact that we can sit here and say certain things that to the political class are unpalatable is a good thing. This is how you fertilise and cross-pollinate issues for the benefit of the nation.

Lumumba Slams Efforts to Weaken Devolution

Touching on constitutional governance, Lumumba decried what he called deliberate attempts to derail devolution, a framework enshrined in the 2010 Constitution to decentralize power and resources.

We have strangled devolution so that it doesnt work in its full splendour, he said. Indeed, devolution has had its say in terms of improving many things. The marginalised society is being mainstreamed, and persons with disabilities and women are playing a prominent part in the political space.

He urged leaders to strengthen county governments and protect the devolved system from sabotage.

Gen Z Movement Sparked Irreversible Political Awakening

Lumumba also weighed in on the 2024 anti-government protests led by Kenyas youth. He hailed their bravery and predicted that the movement would continue shaping the political discourse long into the future.

Our young people conquered fear, and once you do that, it is the beginning of liberation, Lumumba said. Let me tell you, the country has never been the same again, and it will never be the same again.

He noted that while demonstrations may have quieted, Gen Z had simply shifted their activism online, using social media platforms to hold both the government and opposition accountable.

They have made the persons in government and the opposition run scared. They know there is a crop of young Kenyans who have unmasked and undressed them at once, he observed.

Lumumba concluded by urging the youth to stay organized ahead of the 2027 elections.

What remains is that they must organise themselves and ensure, in the run-up to elections, they keep up the ante, he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Turkey for a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Trump called the prospective meeting "very important" and expressed optimism that "good things" could be achieved.

According to the White House, US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will accompany Rubio.

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Ukraine, with support from European allies, had demanded over the weekend that Russia agree to 30-day ceasefire. In response, Putin proposed direct negotiations in Turkey on Thursday. Zelensky accepted the challenge and announced plans to travel there, although the Kremlin has yet to confirm whether Putin will attend.

On Monday, before he departed Washington for Riyadh, Trump said he was mulling "flying over" to the talks himself. He noted, however, that he had a packed schedule on his three-nation trip this week to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Turkey for a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Trump called the prospective meeting "very important" and expressed optimism that "good things" could be achieved.

According to the White House, US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will accompany Rubio.

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Ukraine, with support from European allies, had demanded over the weekend that Russia agree to 30-day ceasefire. In response, Putin proposed direct negotiations in Turkey on Thursday. Zelensky accepted the challenge and announced plans to travel there, although the Kremlin has yet to confirm whether Putin will attend.

Putin decides everything in Russia, so he must also decide on the question of war, Zelensky said in his evening video message on Tuesday evening.

"It is his war," Zelensky said. "That is why negotiations must also be conducted with him."

Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing for the meeting in Turkey in close consultation with its partners, but he expressed doubts about Russia's willingness.

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"Russia talks a lot about direct negotiations, but when it comes down to it, they hide," he said.

Russian bombing kills two in Kharkiv region

At least two people were killed and several others injured in Russian airstrikes on Ukraines north-eastern Kharkiv region, officials said Tuesday.

An 80-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman died in the bombing of Nechvolodivka, a village west of Kupiansk, according to Kharkivs regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov. Four others were injured by Russian glide bombs, he said in a post on Telegram.

Nechvolodivka lies about 10 kilometres from the front line.

Russian forces have been attempting for months to retake the strategic rail hub of Kupiansk, which they initially seized at the start of the war but lost in autumn 2022 during a Ukrainian counter-offensive. The city sits on the Oskil River, which had served as a natural barrier, but Russian troops have already managed to cross it north of Kupiansk.
The News

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would order the lifting of all sanctions on Syria to give them a chance at greatness, a major shift in Washingtons policy toward Damascus.

The announcement  which Trump suggested was influenced by leaders in Turkey and Saudi Arabia  came a day before the US president met with new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader who helped topple Bashar al-Assad.

Sharaa has been trying to woo Washington, reportedly recently telling a Trump ally that he wants a business deal and a Trump Tower in Damascus.

Western governments have been reluctant to ease restrictions on Syria before the new leadership meets certain humanitarian and political conditions.
United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will lift all sanctions on Syria, declaring that it was time for the country to move forward, giving a nation devastated by years of ruinous civil war a crucial opening in reviving its shattered economy.

Speaking at an investment forum in Saudi Arabias Riyadh during his Middle East tour on Tuesday, Trump said the punitive measures had achieved their purpose and were no longer needed.

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness, he said. Its their time to shine. Were taking them all off.

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The president ended his remarks with a direct message to Damascus: Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.

The announcement marks a dramatic shift in Washingtons yearslong policy towards Syria, where sanctions targeted ousted President Bashar al-Assads government during years of war, and the country at large over its crackdown on dissent and human rights abuses during that nearly 14-year period.

Syrians suffered hundreds of thousands of deaths, and millions were displaced during the war.

Theres a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilising the country and keeping peace, Trump said in Riyadh, referring to the interim government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

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Later Tuesday, Al Jazeera Arabic reported that al-Sharaa will meet with Trump in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, according to the Director of Relations at Syrias Ministry of Information.

Trump had noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Syrias Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Turkiye this week, and said his decision to end the sanctions was influenced by conversations with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Al-Shaibani welcomed the announcement, calling it a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people as we move toward a future of stability, self-sufficiency, and true reconstruction after years of devastating war, according to the state-run SANA news agency.

Al Jazeeras Senior Political Analyst Marwan Bishara questioned the motives behind Trumps decision to lift sanctions and what Damascus is prepared to give in return.

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While noting that talks are expected between the US and Syrian top diplomats, Bishara asked, But then what?

Bishara said that the US had previously laid out conditions for any rapprochement with the new Syrian government, including reported crackdowns on Palestinian groups and possible normalisation with Israel. Theres also been talk about normalisation with Israelthat the new Syria will join the Abraham Accords at the expense of the Palestinians, he said.

Key obstacle removed, but others remain

The sanctions relief will be welcomed by al-Sharaas government, which also says it wants to transition away from the corrupt system that gave al-Assad loyalists privileged access to government contracts and kept key industries in the hands of the al-Assad family and its Alawite base.

Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, says that while it is important not to overestimate the significance of Trumps promise to lift sanctions on Syria, it is an important step in the future of a nation devastated by years of war.

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It takes away a key obstacle in their ability to establish some kind of economic development, economic prosperity, he told Al Jazeera. But there are plenty of other obstacles and challenges the country is facing.

Rahman said that Saudi Arabia helped push the US towards its decision to drop sanctions.

I think the United States was really dragging its feet on sanctions  they wanted to use it as leverage in order to push other policies in Syria, he said, adding that besides Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were also pushing for this pivotal outcome.

This wasnt something that was too difficult for Trump to do, Rahman added. He didnt need to get permission from anybody. He didnt even need consent from Congress.

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Syrias new government has sought to rebuild the countrys diplomatic ties, including with international financial institutions. It also counts on wealthy Gulf Arab states to play a critical role in financing the reconstruction of Syrias war-ravaged infrastructure and reviving its economy.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced in April that they will settle Syrias debt to the World Bank totalling roughly $15m.

The United Kingdom has also removed its sanctions on 12 Syrian government entities, including the Ministries of Defence and Interior and the General Intelligence Directorate.

But military attacks persist.

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Israel has carried out multiple air strikes in Syria since al-Assads removal. The countrys presidency denounced an Israeli attack near the presidential palace in Damascus as a dangerous escalation earlier this month.

Tensions between Israel and Syria soared after the Israeli government accused the Syrian authorities of failing to protect the countrys Druze minority.

The Syrian government and Druze came to an agreement after days of violence, the latter saying they did not need Israels intervention or protection.

Israel has previously called Syrias interim government a terror group from Idlib that took Damascus by force.

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Bishara warned against ignoring Israels role in destabilising Syria. The one that occupies Syrian territory  is Israel, which is intervening in Syria, trying to divide and weaken it, he said. He urged US officials to pressure Israel to halt its interference as sanctions are lifted and Syria attempts to rebuild.

Decades needed to recover

A February report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that at current growth rates, Syria would need more than 50 years to return to the economic level it had before the war, and it called for massive investment to accelerate the process.

The UNDP study said nine out of 10 Syrians now live in poverty, one-quarter are jobless and Syrias gross domestic product (GDP) has shrunk to less than half of its value in 2011, the year the war began.

Syrias Human Development Index score, which factors in life expectancy, education and standard of living, has fallen to its worst level since it was first included in the index in 1990, meaning the war erased decades of development.

The UNDP report estimated that Syrias lost GDP during the 2011-2024 war to be about $800bn.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The president has just signed a new executive order that seeks to put price controls on prescription drugs, which he says will lower costs by 90 percent.

President Donald Trump has put drug companies and his secretary of health and services on the clock to reach a deal on lower prices for the American people.

Were no longer paying 10 times more than another country, said Trump during his speech Monday. Whoever is paying the lowest price, we will look at that price and we will say thats the price were going to pay.

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Trump signs executive order aimed at slashing prescription drug costs

Amidst the exponentially rising prices of prescription drugs in America, President Trump is promising a solution.

The costs of most branded medication are exorbitant, said Nnodum Iheme, Ziks Family Pharmacy owner. Thats why something needs to be done.

Americans account for nearly 75 percent of global pharmaceutical profits, something that the current administration is looking to change, in an attempt to put the U.S. on a similar level with other global north countries.

They wont allow them to sell unless they sell at lower prices in other countries, which, given the [research and development] is kind of like a fixed cost, they can still afford to sell at a lower price to the other countries. But that means Americans are eating all of that R & D cost, said Jeff Haymond, Cedarville University economics professor.

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Drug lobbyists say that this is a bad deal, and that the U.S. capping their drug costs would impact research and development efforts.

Trump has also called on other countries to increase their caps, saying that would lessen the burden on American consumers.

Not clear how his executive order gets that yet, said Haymond. I wish him success, but that would be a really big win.

READ MORE: President Trump announces plan to cut prescription drug costs

Local pharmacists say they see firsthand the results of high drug costs, like people trying to stretch their meds, which reduces their effectiveness.

The ultimate goal is to protect the health of the American people, particularly elderly people, said Iheme.

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Nearly 70 million seniors in America are covered by Medicaid, but it could soon cost more as a new house bill introduced this week would cut roughly $800 million to Medicaid.

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.
A new executive order from President Donald Trump could potentially lower pharmaceutical costs for Americans.

The order, signed May 12, aims to reduce the costs of pharmaceutical products in the United States by having the U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of Commerce take action to ensure that foreign countries are not intentionally undercutting market prices and driving price hikes in the United States.

In Tennessee, there are 7.228 million residents, and in 2024, 14,802,257 prescriptions were dispensed among Tennessee patients, as reported to the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database.

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The order is not expected to have an immediate impact on American consumers.

Here is what we know about the executive order and its potential impact on Tennessee residents.

Trump's pharmaceutical executive order

The United States Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce have 30 days to provide drugmakers with price targets "to bring prices for American patients in line with those of comparably developed nations," the order stated.

If they don't make significant progress toward those goals within six months, drugmakers could face actions from several federal agencies. The requested drug discounts could range from 59% to 80% of list prices.

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"The order instructs the Administration to communicate price targets to pharmaceutical manufacturers to establish that America, the largest purchaser and funder of prescription drugs in the world, gets the best deal," said The White House,

The order cites recent data stating Americans pay more than three times the price for brand-name drugs than other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, countries. The order also states that the United States funds roughly 75% of global pharmaceutical products with less than five percent of the worldwide population.

How many people in Tennessee receive prescription drugs?

According to the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database, 14,802,257 prescriptions were dispensed in Tennessee in 2024, representing a 0.3% increase from the 14,751,654 dispensed in 2023.

Of the prescriptions dispensed, 3,165,603, the largest amount, went to people between 60 and 69 years old. The second largest amount went to people between 50 and 59 years old, with 2,733,326 prescriptions.

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U.S prescription drug prices run more than 2.5 times those in 32 comparable countries, according to a 2023 HHS report. The U.S. spent $1,310 per person on prescription drugs, compared to $646 per person paid in other developed nations, the report said.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Trump's order to lower drug costs could impact Tennessee
Harvard University will not receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding because it has become a breeding ground for hatred and discrimination against Jews, according to the Trump administrations new, multi-agency Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.

The Task Force, in a statement shared by Robert F. Kennedys Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, said Harvard has repeatedly failed to confront the pervasive race discrimination and antisemitic harassment plaguing its campus. Because of this, the Task Force said eight federal agencies are now canceling $450 million in funding to the university  adding to the $2.2 billion that was recently slashed last week.

Harvards campus, once a symbol of academic prestige, has become a breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination. This is not leadership; it is cowardice, The Task Force said in its joint statement on Tuesday.

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The statement continued: And its not academic freedom; its institutional disenfranchisement. There is a dark problem on Harvards campus, and by prioritizing appeasement over accountability, institutional leaders have forfeited the schools claim to taxpayer support.

The statement is signed by Josh Gruenbaum, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service; Sean R. Keveney, acting general counsel for the HHS; and Thomas E. Wheeler, the acting general counsel of the Department of Education.

The statement further noted that the Task Force fully supports the Trump administrations push to cut government funding from Harvard and other universities that fail to protect Jewish students from harassment. President Trump created the Task Force in February, days after signing an executive order that outlined additional measures to combat anti-semitism.

Harvard sued the Trump administration last month over the funding cuts, arguing it is unconstitutional and flatly unlawful. The Ivy League universitys $53.2 billion endowment is the largest in the world.

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Like several other Ivy schools, Harvard has been home to several anti-Israel protests since Oct. 7, 2023. Harvard settled two antisemitism lawsuits a day after President Trump returned to the White House when the school was accused of not doing enough to stop Jewish students from being bullied.

Meanwhile, RFK Jr.s Health and Human Services Department commended Columbia University for combating antisemitism last week, a day after local police arrested dozens of pro-Palestine student protesters for loudly occupying a library.





The post Trump Slashes $450 Million in Funding to Harvard for Being a Breeding Ground for Antisemitism appeared first on TheWrap.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has launched a scathing attack on opposition leaders, accusing them of unjustly targeting President William Rutos broad-based administration.

While addressing residents of Ugunja Constituency on Sunday, Wandayi openly declared his allegiance to President Ruto, dismissing opposition heavyweights including Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi as incapable of delivering genuine change.

If you give me a choice between Gachagua, Kalonzo, Matiangi and others on one side, and President William Ruto on the other, I will go with Ruto any day, any timewithout any fear of contradiction, Wandayi asserted, drawing applause from the crowd.

He argued that the opposition lacks the vision and credibility to lead Kenya toward meaningful transformation, branding Ruto as a better and more effective option.

Wandayi went on to praise the broad-based government, describing it as a unifying force that is driving economic revival across the country. He specifically lauded Azimio leader Raila Odinga for supporting the administrations development agenda, stating that such collaboration has helped stabilize the political environment and accelerate policy implementation.

The broad-based government has made great efforts to turn around the economy of this country and to make life more bearable, he said.

The Energy CS affirmed that the current administration has taken deliberate steps to uplift the standard of living for ordinary Kenyans. He pointed to ongoing reforms and economic programs as evidence of the governments commitment to progress.

Wandayi urged the public to back the governments initiatives and ignore what he termed as empty rhetoric from opposition leaders, who he claimed are driven by personal interests rather than national welfare.
By Yousef Saba, Gram Slattery, Pesha Magid and Nafisa Eltahir

RIYADH (Reuters) -President Donald Trump kicked off his trip to the Gulf on Tuesday with a surprise announcement that the United States will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S.

The U.S. agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to the White House which called it the largest "defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done.

The end of sanctions on Syria would be a huge boost for a country that has been shattered by more than a decade of civil war. Rebels led by current President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad last December.

Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh at the start of a deals-focused trip that also brought a flurry of diplomacy, Trump said he was acting on a request to scrap the sanctions by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"Oh what I do for the crown prince," Trump said, drawing laughs from the audience. He said the sanctions had served an important function but that it was now time for the country to move forward.

The move represents a major U.S. policy shift. The U.S. declared Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, added sanctions in 2004 and imposed further sanctions after the civil war broke out in 2011.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said on X that the planned move marked a "new start" in Syria's path to reconstruction. Trump has agreed to briefly greet Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a White House official said.

Trump and the Saudi crown prince signed an agreement covering energy, defense, mining and other areas. Trump has sought to strengthen relations with the Saudis to improve regional ties with Israel and act as a bulwark against Iran.

The agreement covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defense companies for areas including air and missile defense, air force and space, maritime security and communications, a White House fact sheet said.

It was not clear whether the deal included Lockheed F-35 jets, which sources say have been discussed. The Saudi prince said the total package could reach $1 trillion when further agreements are reached in the months ahead.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for U.S. arms, and the two countries have maintained strong ties for decades based on an arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security.

But relations were strained after the 2018 murder of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul caused a global uproar. U.S. intelligence concluded that bin Salman approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, a prominent critic, but the Saudi government has denied any involvement.
The News

A 10% universal tariff and 30% levies on Chinese imports would have been a five-alarm fire for Republican free-traders just a few months ago. These days, though, most in the party are just happy those tariffs arent several times higher.

President Donald Trumps massive Liberation Day tariffs five weeks ago prompted so much unease and confusion that the new US trade baseline of tariffs is borderline placid for many Republicans. Trump launched his initial tariffs at such high rates (reaching a blockade-equivalent 145% on China and above 40% for some other trading partners) that his administrations recent climbdown has made the remaining levies far more palatable for Republicans.

Theres a conditioning thats taken place, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. told Semafor, describing fellow Republicans as getting more comfortable with defending the tariffs while professing theyd prefer another approach.

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10[%] isnt as bad as 30. And 30 isnt as bad as 145 or 175, Cramer added. Suddenly half of that is  I dont want to say its tolerable  but its at least celebrated.

No policy illustrates Trumps takeover of the Republican Party more vividly than tariffs. The longtime party of free trade is transitioning into a party of protectionism, ceding its past identity on the issue to Democrats, who suddenly are positioning themselves as the party of open global markets.

That change hasnt necessarily been easy for Republicans to accept. As Cramer noted, many will still make clear they dont love tariffs, even as they defend Trumps strategy of imposing them in a bid to negotiate what he believes are better deals.

Yet the past few weeks have revealed that congressional Republicans in Congress will only defy the president in limited ways on trade, limiting the political pressure  if there ever was any  to change his strategy. Many Republicans want zero tariffs with important trading partners and more economic certainty, but since all they have to celebrate is temporary tariff pauses, theyll take the opportunity.

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Its definitely more manageable, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., of the current situation. The other wasnt.

Its not clear whether Trump envisions the zero-tariff environment that Republican free-traders want, and many are still bracing for him to end 90-day tariff pauses globally as well as with China. Whats more, the presidents stated goal of counting tariff revenue as payment for tax cuts is at odds with his hopes of reshoring US manufacturing lost overseas over the last 30 years.

But Trumps shift in the Overton window of the tariff debate has many Republicans relatively content with placeholder agreements to leave in place tariffs that would have been unthinkable last year.

He threatened real large tariffs he then backed off on to make a deal, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D, told Semafor. My preference still is not to have an increase in costs on the American consumer. Lets face it, a tariff is basically a sales tax.

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Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, another free-trader, called tariffs a very powerful weapon, but its a two-way street, because we still havent de-risked our supply chains from China  Theres some collateral impact here on businesses that are doing what he wanted them to do, which is to manufacture and make things in the United States.

Know More

In private, some Republicans are still smarting over what they see as Trumps self-inflicted economic wound.

Its been disastrous. The objective, I thought and most of my constituents think, is to keep the rest of the world  but China, in particular  from ripping us off. So where do we end up? We end up with slightly higher tariffs on China, but weve alienated the rest of the world, one Republican senator told Semafor.

If they cant choreograph a better ending to this, you do have to ask: Has this all been worth it? What are we accomplishing? this GOP senator added.

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Trump is operating at times with political impunity, even as his initial tranche of global tariffs created so much economic backlash that he found himself retrenching to focus the burden on China. Those higher tariffs on Beijing got their own temporary delay on Monday.

Along the way, Trump has crushed dissent among Republicans; the White House issued veto threats against a bipartisan bill requiring congressional approval of tariffs and against Senate measures intended to roll back tariffs on allies. One of those measures regarding Canada passed the Senate but went nowhere in the House.

Regardless, the GOP senator said, Republicans wouldnt have rebelled about anything anyway.

The View From Republican Leadership

The partys top rungs of Republicans set the tone in Congress. And Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D, long a critic of tariffs, has given Trump space to do what he feels he needs to do.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has similarly let little daylight show between himself and Trump on tariffs.

Tariffs are tools. And its a tool to help get other people that havent been treating us fairly, to treat us fairly. Its all part of the negotiating process. And President Trumps the master dealmaker, said Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo.

Burgesss view

Its clear that congressional Republicans economic agenda is mostly centered around tax cuts these days, not free trade. You even see some newer, more populist Republicans proposing tariffs.

If Trump hadnt won a second term, I would have guessed the GOP would go back to its previous trade orthodoxy. Now that doesnt look like it will happen anytime soon  especially not with Vice President JD Vance, a big tariff fan, waiting in the wings.

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And the relatively lower tariff rates as of this week have made it easier for pro-trade Republicans to tolerate the situation. Cramer likened the ups and downs to the sticker price on a college education. And then you meet with the admissions people, and its, Oh, its not as bad as I thought.

Room for Disagreement

At least one tariff skeptic in the party is still prepared to criticize Trump publicly.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., conceded in an interview that the tariff regime has improved over the past few weeks. But even though a 30% tariff on Chinese goods is less bad than 145%, its still bad.

Its complicated, because its not just China, its the whole world that is being tariffed. Even a 10% tariff on the whole world could raise prices five or 10%. Who knows? Paul said.

Notable
Employee Jericho Talatala assembles a forensic computer workstation used in police investigations at the Sumuri LLC plant in Magnolia, Del., which could be hurt by tariffs and reduced government spending. Tariffs meant to encourage U.S. manufacturing could have the opposite effect because many materials are imported from China. (Courtesy of Sumuri LLC)

Steve Whalen loves his home state of Delaware and hes proud to manufacture computers there that police officers use to catch bad guys. He said tariffs on imports from China and other countries, along with sharp cuts to government spending and the winding down of a program for small manufacturers, will make it harder for him to do that.

We got into business to keep costs low for the good guys, but tariffs or anything else that raises prices keeps us from doing that, said Whalen, co-founder of Sumuri LLC in Magnolia, Delaware, which makes computer workstations for police and government investigations. Whalen has to buy materials overseas, often from China, and he said the tariffs could force him to triple his price on some workstations to $12,000.

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Tariffs are the main tool President Donald Trump is wielding to try to boost manufacturing in the United States, calling the achievement of that goal an economic and national security priority. But the higher levies have led to retaliation and suspended shipments, and Whalen said they are just one of several Trump administration actions squeezing his small manufacturing business.

The wave of federal spending cuts, which has affected grants to state and local governments, could make his customers put off purchases. And the administration has moved to cut off funding for a $175 million state-based program that provides expert advice to smaller factories like his.

The Delaware version of that program, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, helped Sumuri fit expanded product lines into the limited space in its small-town factory.

We were really having a tough time trying to figure out how to utilize our space efficiently, Whalen said. They came here and helped us organize and optimize, and it made a huge difference.

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On April 1, the Trump administration cut off funding for 10 such manufacturing programs that were up for renewal in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming. Other state MEP programs will expire over the next year.

The administration gave a reprieve to those 10 states until the end of the fiscal year after objections from Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which manages the program, extended funding for the 10 states after further review and consideration and will continue to evaluate plans for the program, said agency spokesperson Chad Boutin.

The program has come under fire from Republicans since the George W. Bush administration first tried to end it in 2009, and again during the first Trump administration, but Congress has continued to fund it. The conservative Heritage Foundation said in a 2023 book that MEPs functions would be more properly carried out by the private sector.

Dots dont quite connect

Buckley Brinkman, executive director of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity, which works with his states MEP program, said it didnt make much sense for the administration to shutter the program as it seeks to boost the number of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

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Its one of those things where the dots dont quite connect, Brinkman said. I mean, jeez, heres a part of government that doesnt cost a whole lot, in the grand scheme of things  less than $200 million a year  thats returning 10-to-1 to the national treasury, working on a priority for the president.

A 2024 Upjohn report found an even higher return: 17-to-1 on $175 million in the 2023 fiscal year, creating $3 billion in new federal tax revenue.

In Wisconsin, which has lost more than 138,000 manufacturing jobs since 2000, some parts makers report that business is booming as manufacturers seek to avoid tariffs by finding U.S. alternatives to Chinese manufacturers, Brinkman said. But more broadly, he doubts that the tariffs will spark a manufacturing boom in the state.

Do we want all this manufacturing back? Do we have the will to get it back? The answer to both those questions is no, Brinkman said. Even without the tariffs we dont really want Americans doing a lot of those jobs that are in Chinese factories right now.

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In Delaware, the MEP helped Sumuri manage its expansion, but unpredictable tariffs and budgets are now a bigger danger, said Jason Roslewicz, Sumuris vice president of business development. Hes had to devote two employees to monitoring supply lines, tariff news and competitor pricing to stay afloat.

We went from putting things together in a basement to a 19,000-square-foot facility, doing exactly what were supposed to do here in the U.S., and its all in danger of coming apart because of this problem, Roslewicz said.

Other small manufacturers express similar concerns. TJ Semanchin, who owns Wonderstate Coffee in Madison, Wisconsin, said his business roasting and distributing coffee is in crisis because of the tariffs.

Wonderstates costs have almost doubled between tariffs on imported coffee and packaging materials from China, plus a cyclical rise in coffee prices. Im borrowing money to pay for this and at some point well have to raise prices. Well have no choice, Semanchin said.

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But many Republican state officials, and even some Democrats, have backed Trumps tariff push, including Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who credited the Trump administration with reshoring manufacturing and restoring this middle class which has been eviscerated over the last 20 years.

Theres dislocation in the short term, theres long-term opportunity, Youngkin said in an April 15 interview on CNBC. He said his state is hearing more interest from manufacturers looking to build or expand local factories since Trump took office. For instance, Delta Star recently announced a plan to add 300 jobs building power transformers in Lynchburg.

The president has been clear that there will be some level of tariffs, and folks are coming, and thats good for Virginia, Youngkin said in the CNBC interview.

Virginias MEP program, called Genedge, claims successes in streamlining production and quality control for local factory products including TreeDiaper, an automated tree watering device made in Ashland, and for advising EDM, a Lynchburg plastic product assembler that needed more efficient production to keep overseas competition at bay. But Virginias MEP is one of the state programs slated to expire in the next year.

Long-term trend

The slide in U.S. manufacturing jobs has continued on and off since 1979, and many experts say tariffs will not bring them back. Despite a modest bounce back under the Biden administration, the number of manufacturing jobs has declined from nearly 20 million in 1979 to less than 13 million today, even as the total U.S. workforce has grown from 89 million to 159 million during that period.

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Manufacturing faces labor shortages, with many factories operating below capacity because they cant find enough workers, according to Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University.

That doesnt bode well for a mass reshoring of factories from China and other countries, but Miller doesnt expect that to happen anyway.

Firms are not planning on reshoring much of the work that was offshored 20 to 25 years ago, Miller said. Im not concerned about having enough workers for manufacturing jobs that would be reshored because this isnt going to happen.

In a 2024 survey by the libertarian Cato Institute, 80% of Americans said America would be better off if more people worked in manufacturing, but only 25% said they personally would be better off working in a factory. The Chinese government has poked fun at the idea with memes of American workers struggling to make Nike sneakers with sewing machines.

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Joseph McCartin, a labor historian at Georgetown University, said the idea of a manufacturing rebirth is a mirage being conjured to attract the support of workers who have been underpaid in an increasingly unequal economy for the last 40 years, and are desperate for some hope of renewed upward mobility.

Manufacturing isnt the magic wand to make that happen, McCartin said.

What we need is to raise workers wages and make the economy less prone to producing inequality, McCartin said. That mission is not at all what Trump is about. He is dealing in stale nostalgia.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is waging a trade war without getting approval from Congress: He declared a national emergency to slap import taxes  tariffs  on almost every country on earth.

The president is now facing at least seven lawsuits that argue hes gone too far and asserted power he does not have.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade, which deals specifically with civil lawsuits involving international trade law, held the first hearing on the challenges Tuesday morning in New York. Five small businesses are asking the court to block the sweeping import taxes that Trump announced April 2  Liberation Day, he called it.

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Declaring that the United States huge and long-running trade deficits add up to a national emergency, Trump invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA) and rolled out 10% tariffs on many countries. He imposed higher up to 50% -- reciprocal tariffs on countries that sold more goods to the United States than the U.S. sold them. (Trump later suspended those higher tariffs for 90 days.)

Trump's tariffs rattled global markets and raised fears that they would disrupt commerce and slow U.S. and global economic growth.

Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel and director of litigation at the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center, said the president is exceeding the acts authority. That statute doesnt actually say anything about giving the president the power to tariff, said Schwab, who is representing the small businesses. It doesnt say the word tariff.

In their complaint, the businesses also call Trumps emergency a figment of his own imagination: trade deficits, which have persisted for decades without causing economic harm, are not an emergency. The U.S. has, in fact, run a trade deficit  the gap between exports and imports  with the rest of the world for 49 straight years, through good times and bad.

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But the Trump administration argues that courts approved President Richard Nixons emergency use of tariffs in a 1971 economic crisis. The Nixon administration successfully cited its authority under the 1917 Trading With Enemy Act, which preceded and supplied some of the legal language used in IEPPA.

The legal battle against Trumps tariffs has created unusual bedfellows, uniting states led by Democratic governors with libertarian groups  including the Liberty Justice Center  that often seek to overturn government regulation of businesses. A dozen states have filed suit against Trumps tariffs in the New York trade court. A hearing in that case is scheduled for May 21.

Kathleen Claussen, a professor and trade-law expert at Georgetown Law, said Tuesdays hearing and another scheduled for the states lawsuit in the coming weeks will likely set the tone for legal battles over tariffs to come. If the court agrees to block the tariffs under the emergency economic-powers act, the Trump administration will certainly appeal. It strikes me probably this probably is something that has to be decided by the Supreme Court, she said.

And if the cases do go to the Supreme Court, legal experts say, it's possible the justices will use conservative legal doctrines they cited to rein in government powers claimed by Democratic President Joe Biden administration to strike down or limit tariffs imposed by Trump, a Republican.

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The U.S. Constitution gives the power to impose taxes  including tariffs  to Congress. But over the years lawmakers ceded power over trade policy to the White House, clearing the way for Trump's expansive use of tariffs.

Some lawmakers now want to reclaim some of the authority they've given up.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, for instance, have introduced legislation that would require presidents to justify new tariffs to Congress. Lawmakers would then have 60 days to approve the tariffs. Otherwise, they would expire.

But their proposal appears to stand little chance of becoming law, given most Republican lawmakers' deference to Trump and the president's veto power. "That train has left the station,'' said trade lawyer Warren Maruyama, who was general counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in the administration of President George W. Bush.

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For now, many American businesses are struggling to cope with Trump's tariffs, which have lifted America's average tariff to the highest level since 1934  even after a trade truce with China was announced Monday, according to Yale University's Budget Lab.

Victor Schwartz of New York City has spent the last 39 years building a business importing wine and spirits from small producers across the world. The tariffs are hitting his business hard. His customers want regional wines from around the world, so he can't just shift to American vintages. And the state requires him to post prices a month in advance so it's tough to keep up with Trump's ever-changing tariffs.

His business  V.O.S. Selections  is one of the five plaintiffs in Tuesday's hearing. Its a race against time, he said. Will we get through it? Im not sure exactly.
Twenty-five years ago, George W. Bush, the governor of Texas, barely defeated the sitting vice president, Al Gore, in what remains the narrowest victory in presidential history: fewer than 1,000 votes in a single state, 48.85 percent to 48.84 percent in Florida.

There are many ways to explain how the vice president lost to an incumbent with a 60 percent job-approval rating.

Gore was a bad campaigner and almost supernaturally awkward  the kind of person who hires a consultant to teach him how to be an alpha male. Bush, by comparison, was loose, engaging and a good communicator, even when he mangled the syntax.

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But style points are hard to judge. It may be true that Bush won on vibes, as we would say now, but thats unsatisfying. Gore couldnt get a personality transplant, so had to try to win with the one he had. What possibly could have made the difference for Gore?

The most obvious answer: Behave more ethically.

In the spring of the election year, Gores longtime fundraiser, Maria Hsia, was convicted of five felony counts of campaign finance corruption for her role in using a Buddhist temple in Los Angeles to funnel illegal contributions to the Democratic Party. Gore had at first denied knowing that his own visit to the temple was for fundraising purposes, but as more facts came to light, he admitted that he knew his visit was finance related.

Hsias conviction was a boon to Gores rival for the presidential nomination, Sen. Bill Bradley (N.J.), who had zeroed in on the string of prosecutions into Clinton-Gore donors, including those hiding illegal donations from China. Of particular note was Gores role in hosting dozens of coffees for wealthy donors at the White House. Gore, who had always played the Boy Scout to Bill Clintons bad boy, was found to have been front and center in the effort to sell access to the administration. Gore may not have been the one selling nights in the Lincoln Bedroom to the highest bidder, but neither was he oblivious.

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When Gore gave his critics the gift of citing the existence of no controlling legal authority to forbid him from making fundraising calls from the White House, it sounded like Mr. Clean had adopted the Clintonian habit of parsing the truth within an inch of its life.

Gore outlasted the reform-minded Bradley to win the nomination, but the damage was magnified by the Bush campaign and congressional Republicans during the general election.

Had Gore been more upright, it might have been enough to switch 269 votes out of the 5.8 million cast for the two men  or gotten 538 of the 97,488 Floridians who voted for anti-corruption crusader Ralph Nader to switch to Gore.

Certainly consequences like those must have been on the minds of House Republicans a generation later when they went ape over the revelation that Hunter Biden, son of then-President Joe Biden, may have been getting paid for his paintings by influence seekers.

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It is concerning that President Bidens son is the recipient of anonymous, high-dollar transactions  potentially from foreign buyers  with no accountability or oversight (other than you), House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) wrote to the younger Bidens art dealer as his fathers reelection bid was heating up.

And no doubt it was effective. Of all the things that led Joe Biden to ruin, his sons inexhaustible appetite for making money off of his familys famous name has to rank high on the list. The presidents own obvious aged infirmity was what ultimately caused Democrats to force him out of the 2024 race, but his sons many years of shabby buckraking, both in active addiction and recovery, helped destroy Joe Bidens image as a straight shooter.

So what do Comer and the Republicans say today about President Trump amid what has to be the most audacious effort to sell access and favors by any president in American history?

Im not worried about anything the Trumps are doing, Comer said last week. I want you to write this down: Im not worried about anything the Trumps are doing business-wise, because theyre being transparent. Unlike the Bidens.

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Youve got to give them that. The Trumps are wide open.

As President Trump heads off for what looks like a royal progress through the Middle East this week, his family is taking in huge sums from Gulf State governments for development projects, including $2 billion for the familys cryptocurrency venture. One investor was particularly transparent: We would like to have direct dialogue with the policymakers.

Indeed.

A good opportunity for such dialogue will be bestowed on the top spenders on the latest offering of the familys digital currency, including a private dinner with the president himself and, for the most ambitious access buyer, a visit to the White House. Another win for transparency. While the Clinton-Gore folks were selling White House access on the sly to try to score campaign contributions, the Trumps are holding an auction, the proceeds of which go directly into their coffers.

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And theres more good news for transparency fans: The president is set to receive a half-a-billion-dollar gift from the government of Qatar in the form of a plane that can serve in the presidential fleet during his term and then be transferred to the ownership of Trumps presidential library when his term ends. The library has been taking in money hand over fist and now will have its own Boeing 747. Its so danged transparent, the ethics folks must be dancing in the streets.

Trump doesnt have to face voters again, so he doesnt have to worry about the backlash for himself. But the brazenness of it all wont be without consequences. One imagines that all this radical transparency will be worse for his party and political heirs than Clintons milder shenanigans were for Gore.

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President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship has been allowed to proceed while lawsuits against it make their way through the courts.

A Supreme Court ruling on Friday has curbed the power of federal judges to block presidential orders, allowing for the birthright citizenship policy to start in 30 days.

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution has established the principle that anyone born in the country is a US citizen.

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But as part of his crackdown on migration numbers, Trump is seeking to deny citizenship to children of migrants who are either in the country illegally or on temporary visas.

The move appears to have public backing. A January poll by Emerson College suggests many more Americans back Trump than oppose him on this.

But how does this compare to citizenship laws around the world?

Birthright citizenship worldwide

Birthright citizenship, or jus soli (right of the soil), is not the norm globally.

The US is one of about 30 countries - mostly in the Americas - that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.

In contrast, many countries in Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa adhere to the jus sanguinis (right of blood) principle, where children inherit their nationality from their parents, regardless of their birthplace.

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Other countries have a combination of both principles, also granting citizenship to children of permanent residents.

[BBC]

John Skrentny, a sociology professor at the University of California, San Diego, believes that, though birthright citizenship or jus soli is common throughout the Americas, "each nation-state had its own unique road to it".

"For example, some involved slaves and former slaves, some did not. History is complicated," he says. In the US, the 14th Amendment was adopted to address the legal status of freed slaves.

However, Mr Skrentny argues that what almost all had in common was "building a nation-state from a former colony".

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"They had to be strategic about whom to include and whom to exclude, and how to make the nation-state governable," he explains. "For many, birthright citizenship, based on being born in the territory, made for their state-building goals.

"For some, it encouraged immigration from Europe; for others, it ensured that indigenous populations and former slaves, and their children, would be included as full members, and not left stateless. It was a particular strategy for a particular time, and that time may have passed."

Shifting policies and growing restrictions

In recent years, several countries have revised their citizenship laws, tightening or revoking birthright citizenship due to concerns over immigration, national identity, and so-called "birth tourism" where people visit a country in order to give birth.

India, for example, once granted automatic citizenship to anyone born on its soil. But over time, concerns over illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh, led to restrictions.

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Since December 2004, a child born in India is only a citizen if both parents are Indian, or if one parent is a citizen and the other is not considered an illegal migrant.

Many African nations, which historically followed jus soli under colonial-era legal systems, later abandoned it after gaining independence. Today, most require at least one parent to be a citizen or a permanent resident.

Citizenship is even more restrictive in most Asian countries, where it is primarily determined by descent, as seen in nations such as China, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Europe has also seen significant changes. Ireland was the last country in the region to allow unrestricted jus soli.

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It abolished the policy after a June 2004 poll, when 79% of voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring at least one parent to be a citizen, permanent resident, or legal temporary resident.

The government said change was needed because foreign women were travelling to Ireland to give birth in order to get an EU passport for their babies.

Rights groups had feared a constitutional court ruling in the Dominican Republic would strip tens of thousands of citizenship, mostly of Haitian descent [Reuters]

One of the most severe changes occurred in the Dominican Republic, where, in 2010, a constitutional amendment redefined citizenship to exclude children of undocumented migrants.

A 2013 Supreme Court ruling made this retroactive to 1929, stripping tens of thousands - mostly of Haitian descent - of their Dominican nationality. Rights groups warned that this could leave many stateless, as they did not have Haitian papers either.

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The move was widely condemned by international humanitarian organisations and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

As a result of the public outcry, the Dominican Republic passed a law in 2014 that established a system to grant citizenship to Dominican-born children of immigrants, particularly favouring those of Haitian descent.

Mr Skrentny sees the changes as part of a broader global trend. "We are now in an era of mass migration and easy transportation, even across oceans. Now, individuals also can be strategic about citizenship. That's why we are seeing this debate in the US now."

Legal challenges

President Trump's executive order is already facing a Supreme Court legal challenge [Reuters]

Within hours of President Trump's order, various lawsuits were launched by Democratic-run states and cities, civil rights groups and individuals.

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Three federal judges ruled against Trump, issuing nationwide injunctions to block the orders from taking effect.

Most legal scholars agree that President Trump cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order.

In a win for President Trump, though, on 27 June, the Supreme Court ruled against nationwide injunctions.

In the majority opinion delivered by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court said: "Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts."

Because of the ruling to limit injunctions, Trump's birthright citizenship order will be able to take effect 30 days after the court's opinion was filed, the court said.

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It will apply to the 28 states that did not participate in the lawsuit.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the merits of the birthright citizenship order itself at some date in the future.

Most legal scholars believe it likely would be found unconstitutional.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent that birthright citizenship is the "law of the land" and the order is "patently unconstitutional".

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday, though, the administration expects the Supreme Court to agree with it and uphold the order in October.
Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trumps special envoy for Ukraine, claims that as part of a potential resolution to the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, the deployment of foreign forces west of the Dnipro River is being discussed.

Source: Kellogg on Fox News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The special envoy emphasised that the US is primarily advocating for a "comprehensive ceasefire", after which the parties will have to discuss other issues, including the status of certain territories, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the return of Ukrainian children and Ukraines prospects for NATO membership.

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Quote: "We are talking about a resilience force [This includes] the Brits, the French, as well as the Germans, and now actually the Poles, have a force west of the Dnipro River, which means its out of contact range [with Russia]."

Details: Meanwhile, according to Kellogg, a "peacekeeping force" could be deployed east of the Dnipro River with the participation of a third country "so you can actually monitor the ceasefire".

It should be noted that refusal to send troops to Ukraine is a consistent position of the current Polish leadership, so it remains unclear what exactly Kellogg meant.

Background:

On 13 May, Reuters and CNN reported that Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, senior envoys of US President Donald Trump, would travel to Istanbul, where talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place on Thursday.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that if Putin refuses to hold talks in Turkiye, this will indicate that Russia does not want to end the war.

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Steve Witkoff, US Presidents Special Envoy for the Middle East, has stated that Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to both Ukraine and Russia, warning that unless progress is made in peace talks, the United States will withdraw from efforts to reach a settlement to end the war.

Source: Breitbart News

Quote: "The president has issued an ultimatum to both sides that without those direct talks and if they dont occur quickly, then he believes the United States ought to step back from this conflict whatever that means and just not be involved."

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Details: Witkoff noted that this is not Americas war, but the US wants to help bring it to an end. "The way that that happens is a ceasefire  everybody stops the violence, and we spend a bit of time together making sure we can deal with the major issues here and I think that we can," he added.

Background:

In a nighttime statement on 11 May, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not mention a 30-day ceasefire but said he was ready for "direct talks" with Kyiv in Istanbul on Thursday 15 May.

On 11 May, US President Donald Trump publicly called on Ukraine to accept Russia's proposal for direct negotiations in Istanbul on 15 May, despite the Kremlin's refusal to agree to the 30-day ceasefire demanded by Kyiv and its Western allies.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed on the evening of 11 May that Ukraine expects a full and lasting ceasefire from Russia starting on 12 May and declared that he will personally be waiting for Putin in Turkiye on 15 May for potential peace talks.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has expressed doubt that the Russian side has even a fraction of the courage shown by President Zelenskyy, who has offered Putin a face-to-face meeting in Turkiye.

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Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg.

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on May 13, citing three undisclosed sources.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey for negotiations on May 15, potentially marking the first direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022.

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The Kremlin said it is preparing for the talks but has not revealed whether Putin will attend himself.

Trump expressed optimism about the potential meeting between the two leaders, suggesting he might attend as well. The U.S. president has just begun his four-day Middle Eastern tour.

"Thursday's meeting between Russia and Ukraine is very important. I strongly pushed for it to happen. I think good things can come from it," he said.

Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, and Witkoff, officially a Middle East envoy who also leads negotiations with Kyiv and Moscow, are expected to travel to Turkey to observe the talks regardless of whether Trump joins as well, CNN reported, citing sources.

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Later, speaking to Fox Business, Kellogg said the meeting in Istanbul "could really be a superb meeting."

"We can get peace  and I really believe it could happen quickly if all three leaders sit down and talk," he said. "President Trump has the art of the deal. He knows how to make it work."

"If he shows up, Zelensky will be there. If Putin shows up, too, I think we're much closer to a deal than people realize. And the first step would obviously be a ceasefire."

An undisclosed senior administration official told the news outlet that Trump's attendance would largely depend on whether Putin would arrive as well.

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Witkoff has held several meetings with Putin in Moscow and came under criticism for pushing Russian talking points on Ukraine and the war. Kellogg has been more closely engaged with Ukrainian officials, even publicly supporting Kyiv's call for an unconditional ceasefire.

Ukraine has welcomed Trump's potential participation but signaled Zelensky would not meet a lower-level Russian official if Putin declines to attend.

Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak said that Putin might "delegate the technical and preparatory stages," but Ukraine understands "who is ultimately in charge." According to Yermak's advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, "only Putin can make a decision to continue the war or stop the war."

Ukraine and its European allies have urged an unconditional ceasefire starting on May 12 as the first step toward peace. Russia has ignored this proposal, continuing its attacks on Ukraine.

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Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether Zelensky plans to make the trip even if Russia does not support the truce or if Putin declines to attend, a source close to the president said on May 12, "We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire."

The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky took place in 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Since then, there have been no direct in-person meetings between the two leaders.

Read also: As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putins next move

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The News

President Donald Trumps Qatari plane problem might circle his administration for longer than hed like.

Trump is forging ahead with his plans to accept a lavish jumbo jet from the Middle Eastern nations government, even as a number of conservatives and Trump allies question the potential security and geopolitical risks it would entail. As Democrats signal theyll try to keep the plane in headlines for weeks to come, Trump may find himself with limited cover from his own party on the matter.

Republicans two biggest concerns with the plane involve security and optics. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters that ensuring security of the jet is a real problem because, Im sure, given the opportunity, our adversaries would be happy to plant something.

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And Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., described his fears to Semafor more broadly: I worry about the president of the United States flying on any plane owned by a foreign government, especially a foreign government that supports Hamas and has a working relationship with communist China.

Trump is used to making decisions that run counter to establishment GOP views, and accepting the plane appears to be no exception. One person close to the president said Trump, particularly during his second term, cares far less about what others (even allies) think, adding that the hand-wringing is much ado about nothing.

But Democrats clearly recognize a political opportunity in the plane, given that Qatar has maintained friendly relations with Iran and that the leaders of Hamas resided in Doha until recently. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Trumps acceptance of the jet under those circumstances an embarrassment on Tuesday, as 27 Democratic senators released a resolution condemning Trumps still-unofficial acceptance of the jet.

If the political headaches it creates dont deter Trump, there are also logistical constraints to consider. Its not clear whether the president, if he accepts the plane, will be able to fly on it before leaving office: The luxury jet is 13 years old, and will need billions of dollars of work in order to comply with Air Force One standards, The Washington Post reported.

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Trump can decide to proceed with using the plane more quickly without meeting those standards. That would only increase GOP scrutiny.

I am not a security expert on what you have to do to planes and Air Force One, but my guess is it would be a very good question for people at the Pentagon, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told reporters. My guess is, it would take both significant amounts of both money and time to make sure that there isnt anything on the plane that shouldnt be on the plane.

Scott, asked if hes conveyed his concerns to Trump, replied: Im sure that he is worried about his own safety. I think hell figure it out.

Know More

The political fallout could run deeper than simple Democratic pushback. Trumps trip to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week was designed to tout financial partnerships with the region, but the plane offer is sparking US coverage that spotlights the potential downside of his deal-making diplomacy.

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I think his policies in the Middle East have been a lot stronger than his predecessor, [but] accepting a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar gift from the regime thats funded terrorist activities does not seem to be in the nations best interest, Marc Short, who served as chief of staff to Trumps first vice president, Mike Pence, told Semafor.

The Boeing 747 on offer to Trump will not be presented or accepted during the presidents overseas trip this week, a White House official said. Meanwhile, a Qatari official said the gift is under consideration but also still under review.

The roughly $400 million aircraft would amount to one of the largest foreign gifts received by the US, and it may be donated to Trumps presidential library after he leaves office  which would allow Trump to use it once hes no longer president. (Trump on Monday said he wont be using the plane after leaving office.)

shelby and morgans view

The conservatives who are raising security and optics questions have a point: Legitimate risks come with accepting such a gift from any foreign government, let alone one thats not a traditional US ally.

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Even Trump himself described Qatar as a sponsor of terrorism during his first term, when he supported Saudi Arabias push to isolate its neighbor.

In addition, its unclear whether Trump, who has made no secret that he wants a new Air Force One ASAP, will be content to lose out on flying in it while the necessary upgrades and checks are completed.

The deal still isnt official, and theres always a possibility that it doesnt pan out. But dont expect the intraparty criticism to be the reason he cites: For Trump, a free $400 million plane is simply a good deal.

Room for Disagreement

While a notably large group of conservatives and MAGA allies are making clear they dont approve of the plan, far more on the right remain silent  or think the criticism is overblown.

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Im not concerned about it, the person close to the White House told Semafor. I dont know that the president will ever ride in it. Remember, he just replaced the Trump airplane, and he likes that a lot.

And Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., spoke for a fair number of people in the party who appear to assume Trump wouldnt be able to use the plane until it meets security standards.

It wouldnt be usable the way that it is right now. Theyd have to make some changes to it, Rounds told Semafor. So, in this particular case, I think thatll work itself out  just because I think its going to take a lot of time to actually do something to it, to make it as a vehicle or an aircraft that the president could use.

Notable
President Donald Trumps trade war could come to an abrupt halt this month  even without concessions from dozens of trading partners.

Its up to the U.S. Court of International Trade, an obscure, New York-based federal court that decides cases related to trade and customs law. The court is hearing oral arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging Trumps use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose sweeping new tariffs last month, before suspending the highest ones on about 60 trading partners for 90 days. If the court grants the plaintiffs request for an emergency injunction it could upend the trade negotiations the Trump administration is now racing to complete with dozens of countries.

Trumps new measures include a 10 percent baseline tariff on imports from around the world, additional tariffs ranging up to 50 percent on a long list of trading partners (which he has since paused) and a sky-high tariff of 145 percent on China, which the administration just announced plans to lower to a still-substantial 30 percent.

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The president and his top economic officials have justified those duties by arguing the countrys soaring trade deficit with the rest of the world amounts to a national emergency that threatens our security and our very way of life. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative declined Monday to comment on the litigation.

The tariffs challengers say Trump is violating the Constitution and hope the Court of International Trade will grant their request for a preliminary injunction before the end of the month.

Thats vital because many businesses may not survive if the tariffs remain in place while the case is litigated potentially all the way to the Supreme Court, said Jeffrey Schwab, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, a conservative constitutional rights group representing VOS Selections, a New York-based wine and spirits company, and other small businesses suing over Trumps tariffs.

An injunction would also threaten Trumps efforts to use the threat of further country-specific reciprocal tariffs to negotiate new trade deals with dozens of countries. He announced the first of those agreements Thursday with the U.K., although many details remain to be worked out. His team also negotiated an agreement with China to deescalate tariffs and established a bilateral mechanism to try to tackle long-standing trade irritants.

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Trump also cited a national emergency over migrants and fentanyl crossing the borders to justify a previous round of tariffs on China as well as 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which have largely been suspended. The VOS case, however, only challenges the reciprocal tariffs that Trump announced on April 2.

The Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group representing manufacturers who favor import protection, has praised Trumps decision to use the emergency law to enact his trade agenda, which it called a bold and long-overdue reset of the global trade system.

But critics such as former Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.) contend Trump is using a flimsy excuse to usurp tax and trade powers that the Founding Fathers gave to Congress.

It really is the biggest issue thats been before our country ever since its founding, Danforth said in an interview. It has to do with the concentration of power and the idea that James Madison had of trying to spread power out in various parts of government.



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Danforth, along with fellow former GOP Sens. George Allen of Virginia and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and others including former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, have filed an amicus brief in the case arguing against Trumps action and urging the CIT to grant a preliminary injunction that would bar the administration from collecting the duties while the cases proceed.

From the founding of the Republic, the power to impose tariffs  like the power to levy taxes  has belonged exclusively to Congress, the brief reads. This is no formality. This nation was born of the slogan No taxation without representation, which means that the authority to tax, raise revenue and shape the publics economic obligations must rest with the peoples elected representatives.

The argument in our brief  just gets right to the heart of the matter, Danforth elaborated. It has nothing to do with the advisability of tariffs or some statutory issue. Its constitutional. Its Can the president expropriate [from Congress] the power to tax?, but Id also say the power to control foreign commerce.

Allen, who also was governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998, emphasized he wholeheartedly supports Trumps energy, border security and deregulatory efforts but draws the line at allowing the president to unilaterally impose import taxes.

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This is a case to preserve and honor the clear, well-reasoned constitutional principle that taxation should be determined by Congress, Allen said. My position is based on the conscience of a conservative. I'm taking a stand for this significant constitutional protection for free people and free enterprise, rather than personalities or hypocritical situational principles.

Schwab, the lead lawyer in the VOS case at the CIT on Tuesday, said they are making a number of arguments they think the court will find convincing.

Fundamentally, we dont think IEEPA authorizes the president to issue tariffs or impose tariffs at all, Schwab said, a point many opponents make since no previous president has used the legislation that way.

But even if the statute did allow tariffs, its not clear that it would allow the tariffs that he is imposing since they are so broad-based and not in response to a specific event or international development, Schwab added.

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Plaintiffs also challenge Trumps assertion that the large and persistent annual trade deficit in goods constitutes a national emergency that justifies imposing tariffs since the United States has run a trade deficit for 50 years. That gave Congress ample time to take action if lawmakers felt it was necessary, Schwab said.

They also raise a couple of more technical legal arguments, one known as the major questions doctrine, which requires a clear statutory delegation of power from Congress when an executive action exceeds an undefined threshold of economic and political significance, as plaintiffs contend that Trumps tariffs clearly do.

A somewhat related argument involves the nondelegation doctrine, which says Congress cant delegate authority to the executive branch without imposing some sort of restriction on it.

Here, essentially what the Trump administration is saying is they have the power to tariff without any kind of oversight at all and he can do it at whatever rate he wants, whenever he wants, Schwab said. We think if thats how the court would interpret [IEEPA, they would decide] thats unconstitutional.

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In its own brief, the Justice Department relies heavily on a 50-year-old decision from an appeals court that permitted then-President Richard Nixon to impose a broad tariff under analogous language in the Trading With the Enemy Act, a predecessor to IEEPA.

Since then, courts have been more reluctant to read broad grants of authority in arguably ambiguous language. But Thomas Beline, a partner at Cassidy Levy Kent, said he believed the CIT might accept many of the governments arguments.

One of the things that I come back to with IEEPA is that there's no prohibition in the law that says the president cannot use this authority for this purpose. Rather, it's a fairly lengthy list of things that the president can do and its fairly broad, Beline said.

In addition, Congress retains the power to end a national emergency declared by the president if it thinks thats appropriate. That gives the court the opportunity to say that's what Congress has determined to be the right balance of powers, Beline said.

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Schwab said he thought the most shocking element of the Justice Departments argument was its assertion that Trumps actions fall under the political question doctrine, meaning they are not even subject to judicial review.

Obviously, if the president can just declare a national emergency whenever he wants, without any court oversight, then the president effectively has authoritarian control, Schwab said, even if the Justice Department did not intend to go that far with its argument.

Both former senators expressed disappointment that only a few Republicans have joined Democrats in efforts to reassert congressional authority over trade.

I would like to see members of Congress get off their haunches and stand up for their prerogatives. Because this is clear in the Constitution. This is Article I, Section 8, Allen said.

If Congress gives up a key power like controlling taxation, why be in Congress?, Danforth said. What could they really do other than get themselves on the evening news?
By Daren Butler and Jonathan Spicer

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey is embarking on a hazardous path to ensure the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group implements its decision to disband after 40 years of conflict, facing obstacles that need to be overcome in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

Thousands of heavily armed PKK fighters in northern Iraq, where the group is based, are now expected to surrender their weapons at numerous locations across the region, with many then returning to NATO-member Turkey, according to Ankara's plans leaked to pro-government media.

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But there is also pressure on President Tayyip Erdogan's government to take the next step on what all sides call a delicate path toward possible peace, closing a conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984.

Turkish officials have declined to comment on how the process will happen.

The PKK and Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party, the third largest in parliament, expect Ankara to address Kurdish political demands, potentially before weapons are handed over.

After a cabinet meeting on Monday evening, Erdogan said the disarmament decision should also apply to U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria that Ankara regards as part of the PKK.

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In Syria, Kurdish forces head Mazloum Abdi said the PKK decision is "worthy of respect" and "will pave the way for a new political and peaceful process in the region".

But he gave no indication of planned steps, and earlier said the PKK disarmament does not apply to his Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which signed a deal to join Syria's institutions after President Bashar al-Assad's fall in December.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the PKK move a "turning point" and conveyed support to Turkey in a call with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.

While Washington and Ankara both deem the PKK a terrorist group, the U.S. alliance with Kurdish fighters in Syria that Turkey sees as an affiliated group has frayed bilateral ties.

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"Had there not been unconditional U.S. arms support for the PKK in 2014, the earlier peace process at that time could have yielded results - and the terrorist group might have laid down weapons back then," Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs in Erdogan's AK Party, told Reuters.

The SDF has been the main U.S. ally against Islamic State in Syria and U.S. officials have in the past distinguished between the Syrian Kurdish forces and the PKK, emphasising that their relationship is tactical and focused on counter-terrorism.

WEAPONS, AMNESTY

The PKK launched its insurgency with the original aim of creating an independent Kurdish state. But in recent years, as it was pressed deeper into Iraq, it urged more Kurdish rights and limited autonomy in Turkey.

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Baghdad and Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq are expected to play a role monitoring the disarmament process in coordination with Turkey's MIT intelligence agency.

Iraq's foreign ministry welcomed the PKK decision as a "positive and important step" for regional stability in a statement also apparently referring to Turkey's long-standing military presence in Iraq to fight the PKK.

It said this was an opportunity to reconsider "the pretexts and justifications that have long been used to justify the presence of foreign forces on Iraqi soil."

Turkish media reports said PKK militants descending from the Iraqi mountains will surrender their weapons in the areas of Sulaimaniyah, Erbil and Dohuk.

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They said the disarmament was aimed to be completed by the summer, after which some 2,000-4,000 militants without Turkish criminal records will be gradually returned to Turkey, while others could head to third countries.

One columnist close to the government wrote in Hurriyet newspaper that while some 60% of those in Iraq had not committed a crime in Turkey, the top 30 people in the PKK were wanted on criminal warrants.

Turkish officials declined comment on the reports.

The PKK took its decision at a congress held in response to a February call to disband from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island south of Istanbul since 1999. It said on Monday that he would manage the process.

(Reporting by Daren Butler and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul, Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad and Tuvan Gumrukcu in Antalya, Turkey; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Saying only a stupid person would turn down a free, highly-modified 747-8i airliner, President Donald Trump on Monday doubled down on his justification for receiving a donated jet from Qatar to serve as a presidential plane until Boeing completes delivery of two future VC-25B Air Force One aircraft.

However, the deal being negotiated raises a number of glaring questions. Ethical and legal concerns over Qatars gifting of the jet have already been highlighted across the mainstream media. But the question of whether the very luxurious aircraft, supposedly worth $400 million, will meet even stripped-down operational and security requirements for transporting a sitting U.S. president is just as pressing. The actual price of making this interim Air Force One aircraft happen is another unanswered question  it will be far from free  as is the supposed timeline for realizing it. Finally, Qatar has actually gifted a luxurious 747 to a key ally before, an act that also raised a lot of eyebrows. Regardless, just getting any 747-8i in the USAFs hands could be a good thing, even if it never actually flies in its intended role.

if we can get a 747, as a contribution to our Defense Department to use during a couple of years while theyre building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture, Trump told reporters at the White House Monday morning. Now, I could be a stupid person to say, Oh no, we dont want a free plane. We give free things out, well take one too. And, it helps us out, because, again, were talking about we have 40-year-old aircraft. The money we spend, the maintenance we spend on those planes to keep them tippy-top, is astronomical. You wouldnt believe it. So I think its a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much.

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The president also pushed back on concerns that accepting the jet would be a conflict of interest.

More from Trump explaining the luxury 747 jet gift from Qatar. https://t.co/u8W44IBpQ1 pic.twitter.com/tMTc8q7VPQ  Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) May 12, 2025

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said that any donation would meet all legal requirements for accepting such an offer.

KILMEADE: Do you worry that if they Qataris give us something like this that they'll want something in return?



LEAVITT: Absolutely not, because they know President Trump and they know he only works with the interests of the American public in mind pic.twitter.com/WnoBO4Beh3  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2025

Trumps comments today came in response to an ABC News report that he will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.

I thought it was a great gesture, and its something that was done by Ronald Reagan, Trump said of the donation offer and subsequent plans for the aircraft after he leaves office. They actually decommissioned the plane, and he put it in this library, and it actually has made the library  I think a Boeing 707  its actually made the library more successful.

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Its worth noting that the VC-137 that sits in the Reagan Library served for decades across multiple administrations, and had used up its service life. It was not procured by a single president and retired at the end of their term to serve as a display piece in their library.

Trump added that his presidential library would maintain possession of the aircraft, which he would not use after his presidency expires.

The idea of an interim presidential aircraft stems from delays in the current effort to replace the two current VC-25As  the oldest of which has been flying for 35 years  which are based on the 747-200 model. The VC-25B program traces its roots back to the late 2000s, and then-President-Elect Donald Trump had previously called for its cancellation back in 2017.

The 747-200s in any configuration have all but disappeared from the skies, meaning finding parts and general support for the type is getting harder and more expensive with each passing year. The USAF also flies four E-4B airborne command post aircraft based on the same design, which are in the process of being replaced themselves by a larger number of 747-8is. Trump noted the maintenance issues during his Monday press conference, without offering specifics.

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The VC-25As are the most expensive aircraft to fly in the USAFs portfolio, costing roughly $178,000 per hour based on numbers from four years ago. That price has only gone up, likely significantly.

Air Force One is seen landing for U.S. President Donald Trumps visit to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Chris Graythen

The designated replacements for these jets, known as Air Force One when the president is aboard, are the two VC-25Bs that Boeing is converting from 747-8i airliners, which you can read more about here.

The conversion process has taken far longer than initially anticipated, with estimates that the new jets would not be ready until 2029, after Trump leaves office. However, a top Air Force official testified last week that the flying branch is working with the White House and Boeing to speed things up.

Recent estimates that weve gotten from Boeing show a significant improvement in that date, Darlene Costello, the Air Forces acting acquisitions chief, testified before the House Armed Services Committee. We are looking at the requirements that are being potentially traded off to get to that date. And so I would not necessarily guarantee that date, but theyre proposing to bring it into [20]27 if we can come to an agreement on the requirements changes that can get us to that pointWere working with the White House on whats acceptable from a capability standpoint for those aircraft, and well refine the date accordingly.

VC-25B rendering. (USAF)

The Air Force has also relieved some of the security requirements for construction, for a production facility for a period of time, Costello added. It will not be a permanent relief, but that has enabled Boeing to be more efficient and productive in assembling the aircraft and  getting their mechanics to do the work, but were down to a few remaining issues that we have to work through, and we will hope to close out in the very near future and then we will have, I believe, a better estimate on the schedule.

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In her written testimony, Costello chalked up the delays to interiors supplier transition, manpower limitations, and wiring design completion.

We are committed to replacing the 35-year-old VC-25A with reliable air transport equipped with communications capability and security equal to that of the White House, Costello wrote.

All these delays have led to Boeing recording losses of more than $2 billion on the program, the contract for which was negotiated on a fixed-price basis. The aircraft, which were obtained second-hand, were already slated to be the most expensive fixed-wing aircraft ever built when you factor in the total program cost.

Converting any aircraft to one that will allow a president safe travel, with highly secure communications and the ability to conduct continuity of government operations in the event of a major contingency, including a nuclear exchange, is a very complex process.

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Earlier this year, reports were circulating on how Trump was looking at alternative options for the next Air Force One, including how he had reportedly inspected the former Qatari jet at Palm Beach International, Florida. As you can read about in this previous in-depth piece, the 12-year-old aircraft belonged to the ruling family of Qatar, but was subsequently marketed for sale. No buyers have taken on the Jumbo Jet, with its equally supersized operational costs.

According to a report from business news channel CNBC, L3Harris Technologies is set to work on modifications to the former Qatari 747. The company on Monday declined to comment.

A Boeing 747-8 sits on the tarmac of Palm Beach International airport after President Donald Trump toured the aircraft on Feb. 15, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) ROBERTO SCHMIDT

As we previously reported about efforts to speed up delivery of the VC-25Bs, Elon Musks visit to the Boeing facility in San Antonio, Texas, last December gave an indication of what this process might look like.

In an interview with CNBC to discuss another disastrous quarter for Boeings financial results in January, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged that the company had talked with Musk.

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The president wants the airplane sooner, and so were working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft, Ortberg told CNBC. He called the talks with Musk constructive.

In addition to complaining about the former security clearance concerns, Musk reportedly also criticized the amount of time built into the program for flight testing.

The idea was that we could just strip out a lot of the military stuff, just give the president a good-looking new airplane to fly in with commercial capabilities and maybe some minimal military upgrades, an unnamed former Pentagon official told The New York Times, after Musks apparent visit to Boeing in San Antonio.

Boeing CEO embracing' Elon Musk's help with VC-25B Air Force One replacement https://t.co/QhbOpNfAaY pic.twitter.com/hPumzydrtx  FlightGlobal (@FlightGlobal) February 21, 2025

The Air Force, White House, and Boeing declined comment on Monday on the compromises being discussed to move the VC-25B program along at a faster pace. The Pentagon deferred questions about the Qatari jet to the White House.

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Its one thing to hasten the conversion process. It is quite something else to ensure that the end product will meet the strict requirements for keeping the president connected, including with the National Command Authority (NCA), even in a dire crisis. The ability for the president to connect with the NCA anywhere and at any time underpins the credibility of Americas nuclear deterrent. It is not seen as a negotiable item in terms of requirements. Hardening the aircraft from the electromagnetic effects of nuclear explosions, defending it against a multitude of threats  especially surface-to-air missiles  and playing a role in the critical continuity of government mission are all aspects of Air Force Ones requirements. Many secondary modifications, including vast power generation capabilities and structural tweaks, are needed to integrate these and other features.

  The ultra-luxurious Boeing 747-8, which former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to receive as a gift from the Qatari emirs family, is poised to become the most valuable present ever given to the United States by a foreign government.



Aviation experts estimate the pic.twitter.com/GMXJWtZdCF  Savchenko Volodymyr (@SavchenkoReview) May 12, 2025

As we have addressed before, the ex-Qatari 747-8i is nowhere close to being suited for fulfilling these demanding requirements as it sits. And while the aircraft has a very impressive and expensive royal flight interior, creature comforts are just one element of what makes Air Force One accomplish its mission. With that in mind, while the aircraft may be free, the cost to modify it into the Air Force One role, even in a stripped-down manner, would be far more than its supposed (and inflated) $400M retail price tag. All these systems, once fully integrated, would also need to be tested, which goes beyond typical flight testing. Much of the interior will need to be ripped out and reinstalled to accomplish the necessary modifications.

All this would be done for a one-off aircraft with an extremely limited service life. Accomplishing this quickly just so Trump can use it for a couple of years  if that is even possible, which it likely is not  makes little logical sense. Then there is the risk taken on by drastically reducing requirements for this interim aircraft, which is a whole other issue, that will be defined by its final configuration. Maybe the jet could be relegated to domestic, lower-risk travels, but then the question goes back to what is the point?

On the other hand, with the 747 now well out of production, getting a free spare airframe that will be stripped for parts to support not just the future VC-25B fleet but also the larger fleet of at least four (and likely more) E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft the USAF is now in the process of converting would be a very good thing.

E-4C SAOC concept art from Sierra Nevada Corp.

Ultimately, however, as president, it will be up to Trump to decide what the security, safety, and communications requirements will be for any new Air Force One.

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Trumps interest in modifying the VC-25B program dates back to his first term, when he wanted to see the aircraft wear an entirely new red, white, and blue livery. That change was ultimately cancelled by the Biden administration.

The Air Force previously displayed a red, white, and blue livery for the VC-25B because it had been publicly expressed as a preferred livery in 2019. A thermal study later concluded the dark blue in the design would require additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing for several commercial components due to the added heat in certain environments, the Air Forces press release explained about the change away from Trumps proposed scheme.

Everything has its time and place. Well be changing the colors, Trump told reporters while aboard one of the existing VC-25As on Jan. 25.

So far, there has been no official request by Trump to reintroduce his preferred livery, an Air Force official told us. As with the other issues, what the new planes will look like is up to the ongoing negotiations between the Air Force, the White House, and Boeing.

A rendering of a VC-25B with the livery President Trump had selected. Boeing

In addition, although the VC-25Bs will be more capable in almost every way, some features once seen as critical have already been dropped, despite these aircraft having a massive multi-billion-dollar price tag. The ability for the jets to refuel in the air, previously viewed as extremely important for dealing with a dire contingency, will not be a feature on the VC-25Bs, as least as far as we still know at this time.

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As noted earlier, this isnt the first time Qatar gifted a fully converted royal 747-8i to another nation. In 2018, we were the first to report that Turkish President Recep Erdogan was given the sister ship to the 747-8i that Trump is now so interested in. That deal also raised concerns at the time, but in the end the Jumbo Jet is now flying in Turkish colors.

As for Qatars stance on the status of the luxury 747 in question, its possible transfer to the U.S. for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatars Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatars Media Attache to the United States, told Politico.

Though Trump is heading to the Middle East, where he will meet with Qatari officials, the White House pushed back against assertions that the president will close the deal on the jet.

It is true Qatar has offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense, but the gift will NOT be presented nor accepted this week while in Qatar, a U.S. official told The War Zone.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Aidan Kearney, the blogger known as Turtleboy, was indicted Tuesday on two more counts of felony witness intimidation in connection with a March incident outside a Canton pizza shop.

Kearney, of Jefferson, currently faces a 16-count indictment returned by a grand jury in 2023 in connection with what prosecutors have described as the harassment and intimidation of witnesses in the Karen Read case.

Kearney has written extensively about the Read case on his website and supported her lawyers theory of the case that shes been framed.

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The newest indictment is tied to an incident outside D & E Pizza & Subs in Canton, which is owned by Chris Albert. Albert is a member of the Canton Select Board and his brother, Brian, owned the home where Reads boyfriend, John OKeefe, was found outside.

On March 4, the night before a hearing on a motion to dismiss the 16-count indictment, Kearney was captured on video yelling into the pizza shop. On the video, Kearney called Chris Albert and his son, Colin, murderers, according to Special Assistant District Attorney Robert Cosgrove, who is prosecuting the case.

Tell me why Colin did it, Kearney said, according to Cosgrove.

Kearney and his lawyers have said his conduct is covered by the 1st Amendment. The indictment moves the case from Stoughton District Court to Norfolk Superior Court.

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A superior court arraignment on the new charges hasnt been scheduled yet.

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Read the original article on MassLive.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker said he was detained by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at Chicagos OHare International Airport after returning from Paris.

Everything Ive done is fully protected under the First Amendment, OK, and none of these questions are actually valid questions to ask, but I was entertaining it because I didnt want it, Piker, who streams under the name HasanAbi, said during a Monday video.

One, I didnt want to present it as being difficult, because I didnt want to extend the attention. And two, I actually wanted to see how far I could take it, Piker, who noted he is a U.S. citizen whos registered for the Global Entry program that expedites clearance for preapproved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S., added.

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Piker said the questioning when he was detained Sunday ranged from his thoughts on foreign terrorist organizations to his opinion of the Trump administration.

I saw no reason to hold back on certain things. So, I said I dont like Trump. What are you going to do? Its protected by the First Amendment. I dont like Trump, he told viewers on the stream.

Piker said he believes he was targeted by CBP due to his public views on the president.

This is nothing but lying for likes. Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless. Our officers are following the law, not agendas, Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary, said in a statement to The Hill.

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Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection  a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.

The Trump administration is facing several court battles for detaining individuals with legal status who have voiced opposition to the war in Gaza and their support for recognizing Palestinian territories as a sovereign state.

Piker said he believes the goal of the Trump administration is to prosecute speech, despite protections in the First Amendment.

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Washington County voters wait in line to cast their ballot shortly after a Springdale Civic Center polling site opened on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

The focus on funding facilities for Arkansas prisoners shifts from the state to the counties this week as voters in Madison and Pope counties consider sales tax and bond proposals in special elections Tuesday.

Madison County voters are considering adopting a 1% sales tax for operation and maintenance of a new county jail thats scheduled to be complete in June. Meanwhile, Pope County voters are being asked to approve an $89.9 million bond issue to build a new county jail and 911 call center, and a 0.75% sales tax to pay off the bond debt.

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During the 2025 legislative session that adjourned last week, lawmakers rejected a $750 million appropriation bill to fund construction of a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County that supporters, including the governor, have said is needed to alleviate crowding in county jails, several of which are holding state inmates due to a lack of prison space.

Because Madison County only has a 24-hour holding facility, County Judge Larry Garrett said they ship prisoners to other counties, some as far away as Lafayette County in southeast Arkansas.

Were hauling prisoners outside the county to be housed in other county jails and that has become very difficult, he said. Every jail is overcrowded and nowhere to go with them.

Garrett estimated 50-60 Madison County prisoners are housed around the state, which costs the county $45-$70 a day per person. The lack of a jail is also costing Madison County manpower, especially on long hauls to Lafayette County, which Garrett said takes two deputies off the street for 12 hours.

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An effort to build a jail has been ongoing for years, according to The Madison County Record. Ballot measures to support construction of a county jail failed in 2008, 2013 and 2014. In 2022, a construction tax passed, but a 1.25% maintenance and operation tax failed by about 200 votes. A 1% maintenance tax failed by 40 votes last November.

Because he knew they can only do it once, Garrett said they tried to build for the future and used $16 million to construct a 148-bed jail, though he doesnt expect the facility to open at full capacity immediately. Garrett estimated it would cost $1.9 million to return prisoners currently housed around the state to Madison County, which he said they cant afford right now.

If voters approve the maintenance and operation tax Tuesday, Garrett said it will help run the new jail, which he estimated will cost around $2.5 million to operate annually. That would include the cost of food and medical services and the salaries of employees, which Garrett said would be around 15 people at full staff.

Local officials have hosted town halls and tours of the new jail, the latter of which Garrett said was very positive, though he said hes not sure how that will translate at the ballot box.

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I think everybody wants a jail because we dont have one and they know that the criminals are getting turned loose, he said. They want a jail, they just dont want to have to pay to run it.

Garrett said he understands the aversion to more taxes, but noted that everyone who purchases something in the county like gas or fast food will pay the sales tax, not just local residents. Additionally, he said the City of Huntsville sunset a 1-cent sales tax last year, so the jails maintenance and operation tax would basically take the place of that.

Pope County

In Pope County, officials have also hosted town halls to inform local voters about the proposed three-quarter-cent sales tax to construct, operate and maintain a new jail and 911 call center. New facilities are needed because the countys population has doubled since construction of the current jail in 1981, Pope County Judge Ben Cross said.

County officials started the year with 11,000 active misdemeanor warrants, but because of overcrowding, the current 172-bed jail is only being used to hold felons and people whove committed violent misdemeanors like domestic violence, Cross said.

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If officials receive approval from voters Tuesday, Cross said the county owns 26 acres north of Exit 83 along I-40 where the new facility can be built. Because you get more bang for your buck, officials would construct one building that would house a 400-bed jail and 911 center, as well as the countys sheriffs office and office of emergency management, he said.

The acreage would provide space to expand in the future, and the tax, which wouldnt sunset, would provide a revenue source to continue operating the facility, Cross said.

You cant put a price on public safety, and thats one reason this is not a sunset tax because you have to have that money for generations to come to operate a facility like this, he said. If you sunsetted it and you built this facility, then you dont have money to maintain and operate it. Somewhere in the future youre kicking that can down the road.

The special elections in Madison and Pope counties are two of the elections taking place around the state Tuesday. The University of Arkansas Division of Agricultures Cooperative Extension Service has a list of elections on its website.

You can also check your voter registration, and find polling locations and sample ballots here.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Illinois Department of Transportation will close two bridges that span Interstate 155 as it travels through Tazewell County as they work on them.

The work on the Feather Road and the Armington Road bridges will begin on May 15 and last through mid-September, the agency said.

IDOT said bridge joints will be replaced on the Feather Road span, while new bridge joints and a concrete bridge deck overlay will be done to the Armington Road structure.

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Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,200 miles of highway and nearly 9 million square feet of bridge deck as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation.

Accomplishments through Year Five of Rebuild Illinois include approximately $16 billion of improvements statewide on 6,541 miles of highway, 686 bridges and 986 additional safety improvements.

For more information on IDOT projects, click here. For IDOT District 4 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict4 or view area construction details on IDOTs traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com and www.gettingaroundpeoria.com.

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GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. (WWTI)  A pair of men from Gouverneur have been arrested after an altercation late last week in St. Lawrence County.

According to New York State Police, they arrested 32-year-old Ryan Weir and 34-year-old Travis Cole. Weir was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing. Cole is facing charges of second-degree reckless endangerment.

Lewis County crash claims life of driver

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Just after 10 p.m. May 9, troopers responded to County Route 12 at the Riverside Hotel in the town of Rossie following reports of a fight in progress. The investigation revealed that Weir and Cole were involved in an altercation when a passerby intervened and attempted to separate the parties.

The victim managed to get Weir and Cole into their vehicle. However, as the victim drove away, Weir threw an object at the victims vehicle, causing damage. The victim decided to follow Weir and Cole to hold them accountable for the damages.

All parties stopped at the Clearview Motel, located on U.S. Route 11 in the town of Gouverneur. Both the victim and Weir exited their vehicles. As Weir approached the victim, he brandished a machete in a threatening manner. The victim picked up a metal pole from the ground for protection in response.

The victim swung the pole at Weir, striking him in the head and causing him to back off. Meanwhile, Cole drove erratically around the victim, instilling fear for their safety. In a defensive move, the victim threw the pole through the passenger side window of Coles vehicle, hitting Cole in the head and causing a minor injury.

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Authorities arrived at the scene of the Clearview Motel and separated all involved parties. Weir and Cole were arrested and transported to the state police station in Gouverneur for processing. Cole was released with an appearance ticket to return to the Town of Gouverneur Court at a later date in June.

Weir was arraigned in the Town of Gouverneur Court, where he was released under the supervision of probation. He was also charged with second-degree criminal mischief and received an appearance ticket to return to the Town of Rossie Court at a later date in June for the damage caused to the victims vehicle.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two kids were found early Tuesday morning after an abduction in Washington County, authorities announced.

Late Monday night, a 26-year-old mother who does not have custody rights kidnapped her two children from an apartment complex in the West Slope neighborhood of Portland, starting off an all-night search.

Officials said Trayviana Shoulders went to the Vista Hills Arms Apartments around 7 p.m. and drove off with her children.

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Shoulders was seen in a blue Mazda CX-5 with an Oregon plate of 423PDT, driven by a man who was later identified as Adan Osman Abdi.

On Tuesday morning, authorities said that the two children were found safe after a Washington State Patrol found the Mazda they were driving.

Shoulders and Abdi were both arrested, and the children were taken into protective custody, officials said.

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SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV)  Two major car makers are giving back in a big way. Hyundai and Genesis are donating over $200,000 to support children and families across the Hostess City.

For the next two days, Hyundai and Genesis top officials nationwide will help spread care, one dollar at a time. Its all about making a difference in the lives of Savannahs youngest residents.

Hyundai will present a $150,000 donation to the Childrens Hospital of Savannah. That will support both child passenger safety programs and pediatric cancer research. $50,000 of that will go toward teaching families how to properly install car seats.

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The remaining money from Hyundai Hope on Wheels will fund vital support for kids battling cancer. Later this afternoon, Genesis will present a $50,000 grant to the Deep Center, helping to expand youth arts education programs.

The events kick off Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Childrens Hospital of Savannah.

Theyll wrap up tomorrow afternoon with a $15,000 donation made towards Make-A-Wish Georgia.

This money is part of the companys broader commitment to supporting communities across the country. WSAV will be there today for those donation events.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Two men were taken into custody after they were accused of impersonating Potomac Edison employees to get money from residents in Washington County, according to deputies.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) said Earl Marshall Nicholson III and Billy Lee Nicholson were arrested on fraud charges.

The pair was accused of posing as Potomac Edison workers and trying to get money out of residents by claiming that they needed electrical upgrades.

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Montgomery County police warn of door-to-door handyman schemes

The sheriffs office believed that there might be more victims who had not reported the incident.

Anyone who may have had contact with Nicholson III and Nicholson should call 240-313-2886.

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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Two men were sentenced for reentering the United States after having been deported.

Mobile cashier robbed at gas station, police say

According to the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Alabama news release, Nicolas Joaquin Celestino-Gonzalez, 34, of Guatemala was arrested March 23, during a traffic stop conducted by Saraland Police.

SPD notified the United States Border Patrol of Celestino-Gonzalezs arrest and USBP determined that he had already been deported in 2018 and 2019, the release said.

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Celestino-Gonzalez was sentenced to time served  he has been in prison since his arrest  and an additional one-year term of supervised release, according to the news release.

Celestino-Gonzalez was referred to immigration officials for deportation and was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

In a separate sentencing, Francisco Torres-Ambrocio, 46, of Mexico was approached by United States Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop March 4, a release said. Agents discovered Torres-Ambrocio had already been removed from the United States twice in 2016.

He was convicted of illegal entry in 2016 and had been convicted of DUI in 2009, the release said.

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Torres-Ambrocio was sentenced to the time he had served since his arrest plus a one-year term of supervised release, according to the release.

He has been referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings and ordered to pay $100 in special assessments, the release said.

Mobile County Sheriff says man wanted in connection to 2017 death arrested in Key West

Both cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that uses the full resources of the Department of Justice to decrease the number of illegal immigrants entering the country, in an attempt to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  The Two Mississippi Museums will participate in Blue Star Museums, a program offering free admission to currently serving military personnel and their families.

The museums, located in Jackson, will offer the free admission from Armed Forces Day on May 17 to Labor Day on September 1.

Jeanne Williams to lead Jackson Hinds Library System

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, and participating museums across America.

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We are proud to take part in this program, which allows the families of servicemen and servicewomen to enjoy these museums at no cost, said Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums. The proud tradition of military service is an important part of Mississippi history, and those stories are reflected in each museum.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps) and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

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Two more aides left John Fettermans office in recent weeks, the latest in a stream of staff exits amid the Pennsylvania senators shifting political persona and questions about his health.

Fetterman aides Madeleine Marr and Caroline Shaffer parted ways with his team, according to two people familiar with their departures and granted anonymity to speak freely. They left shortly before New York Magazine reported that current and former Fetterman staff are increasingly concerned about the Democratic senators mental and physical health, one of the people said.

Staff inside Fettermans office had been bracing for the magazines story in the days before it was published. Fetterman has denied that he is not fit to serve, calling the report a one-source hit piece.

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A Fetterman spokesperson declined to comment, and Shaffer and Marr did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The two staffers had both worked for Fettermans office since early 2023, according to the congressional data website LegiStorm. The site listed them as legislative assistants.

Fettermans former chief of staff, top communications aides and legislative director departed his office in the last year and a half.

In addition to concerns over his health, some former staffers have been unsettled by Fettermans hardline support for Israel and recent meeting with President Donald Trump. Though Fetterman eschewed the progressive label during his 2022 Senate campaign, he supported some left-wing policies and backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during his 2016 presidential bid.

Fettermans defenders, many of whom are coming from conservative circles in recent days, have argued that Fetterman is being targeted by progressives because he sometimes bucks Democratic Party orthodoxy. A Monday op-ed in The Wall Street Journal argued that Fetterman turns out to be rather moderate, so the left claims he is mentally unfit.
ST. LOUIS  The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the publics help with finding two suspects wanted in a Family Dollar theft.

Two suspects are accused of shoplifting at a Family Dollar store in The Gate neighborhood of St. Louis around 11:30 a.m. on April 27.

Missouri Highway Patrol reopens probe into Crocker overdose death

Investigators say two female suspects, one of whom was holding a babys car seat, entered the Family Dollar and left with similar items they didnt pay for after 10 minutes inside. The two are accused of stealing toilet paper, various clothing and an ice cooler, among other things.

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The suspects reportedly escaped in a red 2005 Toyota Matrix with a Missouri license plate of AK1-A1A.

One suspect is described as approximately 28-30 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 250-300 pounds with short black hair. The second suspect is described as approximately 28-30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 250-330 pounds with long braids.

Photos provided by: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Photos provided by: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Photos provided by: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Photos provided by: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Anyone with relevant information on the theft or suspects whereabouts is asked to contact SLMPD at 314-444-2500 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Nearly a week after a jury found three former officers not guilty in their state trial for the beating death of Tyre Nichols, Nichols familys attorneys released a statement.

In the statement, civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci made it clear that they did not condone posters being put up around the city calling for vigilante justice against the acquitted officers.

Photo by WREG

Tyres family continues to process its deep grief, which was compounded last week by the lack of accountability for three officers in state court. The family very much appreciates the respect and support of so many in the community. However, since the verdict, they have been made aware of posters in public places around Memphis that seem to call for vigilante justice against those three officers. We want to make clear that the family and legal team do not know who is responsible for these posters, nor do we condone this type of vigilante justice. Tyres family remains fiercely committed to pursuing every remaining legal avenue for justice including federal criminal proceedings against the three officers and the civil litigation against the city and the officers involved. Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci

Dead or unalive, Posters of former officers hung after not guilty verdict

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The statement also addressed speculation about the familys litigation against the city possibly bankrupting Memphis.

Further, we want to address the ongoing speculation that any result in the ongoing civil litigation could bankrupt the City of Memphis. Its important to note that our quest for accountability is not intended to be punitive to the broader Memphis community and is designed to derive accountability specifically from those individuals and municipal entities who are responsible, all of whom have municipal insurance and other means contracted for precisely this purpose. Anyone who is speculating that the civil case could bankrupt the city is engaging in fear mongering and distorting the public conversation away from the real issue, the patterns and practices of the Memphis Police Department that led to Tyres tragic and wholly unnecessary death. Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

A Coram man accused of possessing methamphetamine admitted to a distribution crime Monday, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.

Blaine Justin Olds, 51, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Olds faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

Olds was detained pending further proceedings. His sentencing was set for Sept. 18, 2025.

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U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided and will determine any sentence.

According to the news release, beginning in May 2024, Olds and his co-defendant traveled from their home in Coram to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to deliver large amounts of meth. In October of that year, law enforcement arranged three controlled purchases from the defendants.

In each instance, Olds and his co-defendant traveled from Coram to the Blackfeet Reservation and exchange large amounts of meth for money.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  U.S. and Chinese officials say they have called a 90-day truce in their trade war, rolling back most of the recent tariff hikes.

The agreement drops the 145 percent U.S. tariff on Chinese goods down to 30 percent, and China agreed to lower its rate on U.S. goods to 10 percent.

Trumps next 100 days: Trade deals, foreign policy and reconciliation

Experts say that this agreement is temporary and could change at any time in this 90-day period. However, they say it is still a great sign that both countries are working to find a solution.

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My fear would be that a lot of businesses go under, just because its so sudden, said Eric Rothman, Dayton resident.

Several Dayton residents share similar sentiments: concerned for local businesses amidst the ongoing trade war between the United States and China.

According to officials, both countries say they recognize how important it is to resolve this trade issue, but Rothman says he and many other Americans are concerned about the economic impact once a deal is reached.

I do get the sense, like sure, I think this is where were maybe headed toward a better place than we were, said Rothman. But I still feel like theres some damage thats been done.

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In a new agreement, Chinese goods will have a reduction from thee initial tariff of 145 percent to 30 percent.

According to experts, 10 percent is a baseline tariff, while the other 20 percent is to get the country to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the country.

This is sort of a way to sort of induce Beijing to do more, to stop that trade, to take some more aggressive stances to prevent fentanyl from coming into the United States, said Riley Dugan, University of Dayton professor, dept. head of Management and Marketing.

How US-China tariffs reached sky-high levels in 3 months

For the U.S., the tariff will be lowered from 125 percent down to 10 percent. Dugan says the stock market are now responding to news of the deal, adding that this agreement is a good sign for consumers and investors.

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But the fact that youre at the table talking things out, thats a huge sign, said Dugan. Thats a huge sign of progress. So its good news for sure.

The new 90-day deal is now in place, but experts say to keep in mind that policies are not permanent, and can change quickly as the two countries continue to work to reach a long-term trade solution.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Because the New World screwworm has been detected in southern Mexico and is spreading north, the U.S. is halting live cattle, horse and bison imports from Mexico, on the orders of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

The protection of our animals and safety of our nations food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance, Rollins said in a statement Sunday, noting the suspension would exist on a month-by-month basis until a significant window of containment is achieved.

The notice said that despite good-faith efforts of both the U.S. and Mexico to wipe out the screwworm, which has been described as a flesh-eating maggot, the deadly parasitic fly has spread northward.

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Livestock already in holding to enter the U.S. will be processed normally, including a close inspection for the screwworm.

Rollins said she remains committed to opening the southern border again for livestock trade once eradication efforts have positive results.

Cattle serve as the backdrop for a roundtable discussion on the New World screwworm at the Texas A&M Beef Center in College Station, Texas, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. | Meredith Seaver

The notice adds that the New World screwworm, often called simply NWS, could still get across the border through natural wildlife movements.

What is New World screwworm?

The fly larvae  maggots  burrow into the flesh of living animals and cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. They can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, sometimes birds and in rare cases, people, per the announcement from the USDA.

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The first case was reported to the U.S. last November and the border was shut down to live animal trade. In February, the two countries agreed to a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol" to protect the trade and contain the fly larvae spread.

Close-up of a screwworm larva. Tusklike mandibles protruding from its mouth tear the flesh of living warm-blooded animals. A wound may contain hundreds of the larvae. | John Kucharski

The screwworm has already worked its way north through Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize, the notice said.

NPR reported that the maggots feast on the flesh and blood of their host with tiny mouth hooks. Left untreated, the parasitic infection can kill a full-grown cow within one to two weeks. Efforts to get rid of the pest go back many decades.

USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is releasing sterile flies in strategic locations in southern Mexico and Central America. The inspection service calls the screwworm a devastating pest.

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According to that agency, the adult screwworm flies are about the size of common houseflies, and have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs.

Mammals and birds that have been infected can show this type of behavior:

Irritated behavior

Head shaking

Decay smell

Evidence of a fly strike

Visible maggots in wounds

Eradicating New World screwworm

In the 1960s, the U.S. and Mexico got rid of the screwworm exactly as theyre hoping to do now, by releasing a huge number of sterile adult flies to mate with the females, who will then not produce viable eggs.

NPR said that in 1976, a Texas outbreak affected 1.4 million cattle and hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats.

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The USDA said the detection in southern Mexico is on farms about 700 miles from the U.S. border.

Reuters in April reported the first human case of illness caused by screwworm in Mexico. The woman, 77, was treated successfully with antibiotics and was in stable condition.

The journal BMJ noted at least 30 human cases in Nicaragua and at least 28 in Costa Rica.
May 12 (UPI) -- The United States on Monday sanctioned three Iranians and a related technology firm on accusations of advancing Tehran's nuclear weapons research, as the Trump administration continues to seek a new deal with the Middle Eastern country that would bar it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The State Department announced the sanctions targeting those affiliated with the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, which was originally blacklisted during the administration of President Barack Obama in 2014.

Known by the initials SPND, the Tehran-based entity, founded in February 2011, is responsible for nuclear weapons development research.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday said it was the direct successor to Iran's pre-2004 nuclear weapons program.

"All individuals sanctioned are involved in activities that materially contribute to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," the United States' top diplomat said in a statement.

The punitive measures imposed are secondary sanctions, according to the Treasury, which are sanctions that target those who deal with a sanctioned person or entity.

Sayyed Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber, 50, was sanctioned for being the head of SPND's Shahid Karimi Group, which works on explosives-related projects.

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Ahmad Haghighat Talab was sanctioned for being a SPND senior official and nuclear scientist who worked on the Amad Project, Iran's pre-2004 weapons program. U.S. officials accuse him of continuing to use his expertise to advance Iran's nuclear weapons program.

And Mohammed Reza Mehdipur, a longtime-SPND-affiliated official, was sanctioned for being the appointed head of SPND's Shahid Charan group, which has conducted nuclear-related research for Iran.

The firm blacklisted Monday was Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, an SPND-affiliated company that the State Department said has attempted to procure equipment that could be used in nuclear weapons research and development.

"The United States' actions are intended to delay and degrade the ability of SPND to conduct nuclear weapons research and development," Rubio said.

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The administration of President Donald Trump has repeatedly imposed sanctions against Iran since early February, when he signed an executive order to resume his policy of applying maximum pressure of sanctions and economic pressure against Iran -- a strategy from his first term that failed to coerce the Islamic regime into returning to the negotiating table on a new nuclear weapons deal.

During his first term in the White House, Trump imposed sanctions against Iran and unilaterally withdrew the United States from a landmark Obama-era multinational nuclear accord that aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Calling it "defective at its core," Trump had pursued his maximum campaign to bring Iran back into negotiations on a new deal. But instead, Iran moved away from its obligations under the accord and advanced its nuclear weapons program.

According to a Congressional Research Service report, the U.S. government estimates that Iran could need as little as a week to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a single nuclear weapon.

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Rubio on Monday said: "Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program."

However, talks on a potential new nuclear deal between the two countries are ongoing, with the fourth and most recent round having occurred in Oman last weekend.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran told reporters on Sunday that both sides now have a "better understanding" of one another, but that the removal of sanctions and Tehran's ability to continue enriching uranium are two sticking points. He emphasized that the enrichment of uranium "must definitely continue."

"There is absolutely no room for compromise there," he said, according to state-owned Press TV.

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Ahead of the talks, Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East and lead negotiator with Iran, told outlet Breitbart News that the U.S. will not allow an enrichment program to exist again in Iran.

He said Iran will have to dismantle its three enrichment facilities.

"That's our red line," he said. "No enrichment."
Earlier this month on May 8, travelers from the United States received a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning regarding Russia due to:

Danger associated with the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The risk of harassment or wrongful detention by Russian security officials.

The arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

The possibility of terrorism.

Russia isn't the only nation to receive the highest level of warning from the United States this week, though. On May 12 the U.S. warned travelers to stay away from Venezuela "due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure."

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Not only did the U.S. offer a warning for anyone traveling to the country, but its also "strongly advised" those in Venezuela to "depart immediately."

"The Department has determined there is a very high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela. Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years without respect for due process. The U.S. government is not generally informed of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela nor is it permitted to visit U.S. national detainees in Venezuela," the U.S. warned in its announcement.

"The U.S. government has no way to contact U.S. nationals detained in Venezuela, and those detained are not allowed to contact family members or independent legal counsel. According to former detainees, as well as independent human rights organizations, detainees have been subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, including severe beatings, prolonged restraint in stress positions, and waterboarding."

Venezuela wasn't the only country to receive the "do not travel" warning on May 12 either. Burma also received a "do not travel" warning due to "armed conflict, the potential for civil unrest, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, poor health infrastructure, land mines and unexploded ordnance, crime, and wrongful detentions."

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The U.S. also cited "armed conflicts" throughout the nation and civil unrest as a major factor. "The level of armed conflict and civil unrest varies significantly between and within states and regions and may change at any time," it said in a statement.

"Attacks by opposition militia on locations connected to the military and security authorities regularly occur in Rangoon and many other parts of the country. Local opposition militia groups actively operate around the country. Travelers are cautioned of the potential for the regime to limit access to highways and airports, causing an isolating situation."

The United States also added a Level 3 "reconsider travel" warning for Guyana and a Level 2 "exercise increased caution" warning for Spain on May 12.

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LONDON  British counterterrorism officers on Tuesday were investigating fires on two properties linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson with "intent to endanger life."

Emergency services were called to small fires outside the two properties in North London on Sunday and Monday. British media reported that one of the addresses is Starmers private home, while the other was previously owned by him.

Firefighters also dealt with a car fire near one of the properties last Thursday.

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Londons Metropolitan Police said in a statement Tuesday that officers from the Counter Terrorism Command were leading the investigation into the three incidents due to connections with a high-profile public figure.

There were no reports of injuries. Starmer and his family live in the prime minister's official residence at No. 10 Downing St.

I can only say that Prime Minister thanks the emergency services for their work and it is subject to a live investigation," the prime ministers spokesperson said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in London on Monday. (Ian Vogler / AFP - Getty Images)

Lawmakers from all sides of British politics were quick to condemn the incidents.

Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch offered her support to Starmer and his family, called them shocking and adding that an attack on our democracy ... must never be tolerated.

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While full details of the suspect weren't released, including his motive, the arson attacks have inflamed fears that extremist sentiments against politicians are on the rise, with two British lawmakers having been killed in the last nine years.

A self-described political activist shouted, This is for Britain before shooting and stabbing Labour lawmaker Jo Cox in Birstall, northern England, on June 16, 2016  one week before a vote on the divisive Brexit referendum.

Conservative lawmaker David Amess was meeting with constituents when he was stabbed more than 20 times by an Islamic State supporter in Leigh-on-Sea, eastern England, on Oct. 15, 2021.

A 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in arson attacks on two properties linked to Starmer. (Justin Tallis / AFP - Getty Images)

A report released by Britains Electoral Commission after last years general and local elections found 56% of respondents reported some kind of abuse or intimidation, such as physical threats, racist abuse and threats, toward family, friends and staff.

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Interim CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation, Will Fletcher, told NBC News: All elected representatives should be able to undertake their role free from abuse or intimidation, and that violence towards elected representatives or their property is completely unacceptable.

The suspect in the arson attacks will face court at a later date, police said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
When compared with other states, Texas is just below average  according to a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

Since 2017, the news media company has analyzed the 50 U.S. states across a variety of categories, including healthcare, education, natural environment, opportunity, economy, crime and corrections, infrastructure, and fiscal stability

So, how did the Lone Star State do in the 2025 rankings? Well, it wasn't the best  but it wasn't the worst, either.

Texas ranks 2nd in economy, No. 29 overall

While most states in the South ranked low, accounting for the majority of the 10 lowest-ranked states, the Lone Star State appeared in the middle of the pack. In its spot at No. 29, it ranked above Arizona and below Hawaii.

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Texas boasted the second-best economy in the country, behind Florida. Despite also doing well in "fiscal stability" and "infrastructure," it also ranked third-lowest in "opportunity" and fifth-lowest in "natural environment."

Here's how Texas ranked in each category.

Healthcare: No. 32

Education: No. 25

Natural environment: No. 46

Opportunity: No. 48

Economy: No. 2

Crime and corrections: No. 40

Infrastructure: No. 18

Fiscal stability: No. 12

LIST: 10 best US states

Utah ranked No. 1 on U.S. News' list for the third consecutive year. The western state boasted the third-highest labor participation rate at nearly 69%. It also claimed the fourth-highest rate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4% and the fourth-highest rate of business creation.

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Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, attributed the state's ranking to its evolving, diverse economy.

"[Twenty-five years ago,] Utah was probably known for three things: Footloose, green Jell-O, and the third would be a very youthful workforce," Blair said. "Theres a lot that has happened in Utah in the last 20 years where we have moved to being an entrepreneurial, startup state."

Utah, which has consistently ranked in the top five every year that U.S. News has published rankings, was once again joined by New Hampshire in the No. 2 spot. The New England state performed the best under the "crime and corrections" category and fourth-best in national environment. Minnesota also kept its ranking at No. 4 overall. Idaho and Nebraska switched places from last year, with Idaho ranking No. 3 and Nebraska, No. 5.

Florida was the only Southern state in the top ten, despite ranking low in housing affordability and income equality.

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Utah New Hampshire Idaho Minnesota Nebraska Florida Vermont South Dakota Massachusetts Washington

LIST: 10 lowest-ranking US states

Like the top states, the 10 lowest-ranking states were relatively consistent in their scores. Louisiana landed at the bottom once again, also ranking 50th in the "crime and corrections" and "economy" categories. Its highest score was in "healthcare," where it ranked No. 44. Other states ranking the lowest in categories were Mississippi (No. 48 overall) in "healthcare," New Mexico (No. 47 overall) in "education" and West Virginia (No. 46 overall) in "infrastructure."

However, some of the lowest-ranking states did fare well in some categories. West Virginia ranked No. 8 in "opportunity" and No. 19 in "crime and corrections." Pennsylvania (No. 41 overall) ranked No. 11 in "healthcare," and Oklahoma (No. 42 overall) ranked No. 19 in "economy."

Louisiana Alaska Mississippi New Mexico West Virginia Alabama Arkansas Michigan Oklahoma Pennsylvania

(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: U.S. News ranked the best states in America. Here's how Texas scored
U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder was among more than a dozen people arrested as part of a prostitution sting in Ohio, police said Monday. The former Ohio State wrestler, 29, was arrested for engaging in prostitution by uniformed officers inside a hotel room, the Columbus Division of Police said.

Snyder was released from custody at the scene.

Columbus Police Spokesperson Caitlyn McIntosh said officers conducted an undercover operation aimed at reducing prostitution in the city's north side on May 9. During the operation, the police division's Police and Community Together unit published online ads to "solicit others to engage in sexual activity for hire," the department said.

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On Friday evening, officers received text messages and phone calls from a man responding to one of the ads and a meeting was arranged at a nearby hotel, police said. The man  later identified as Snyder  arrived at the hotel, paid an undercover officer money and requested a sexual act, police said.

In this Aug. 20, 2016, file photo, Kyle Snyder, of the United States, kisses his gold medal after the men's 97-kg freestyle gold medal wrestling match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. / Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

Snyder was one of 16 men charged during the sting, police said, and he was summoned to appear in court on May 19.

Snyder won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and silver in Tokyo in 2021. He's a three-time world champion who won three national titles at Ohio State.

Last week, Snyder signed with the Real American Freestyle wrestling league, which is led by pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. The new league will hold its first event Aug. 30 in Cleveland, according to The Associated Press.

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Sarcophagus lids, a Greco-Roman portrait and fragments of what is believed to be a temple of Queen Hatshepsut were among 25 rare artifacts returned to Egypt from the United States, the Egyptian antiquities ministry said Monday.

The pieces  spanning centuries of Egyptian civilization  were handed over following a three-year recovery effort by Egypt's consulate in New York, the New York District Attorney's Office and U.S. security agencies, the ministry said in a news release.

The collection includes wooden and gilded sarcophagus lids dating back more than 5,500 years, parts of a temple believed to belong to Queen Hatshepsut and a Greco-Roman mummy portrait from Fayyoum  a southern city renowned for its distinctive Greco-Roman art.

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The trove also features intricately crafted jewelry from around 2,400 years ago, a granite foot fragment dating back to the Ramessid dynasty, during the peak of Egypt's power, as well as small ivory and stone figurines.

A rare gold coin dating back over two millennia to the reign of Ptolemy I  one of Alexander the Great's generals and founder of ancient Egypt's last royal dynasty  is also part of the collection.

The ministry released five images of the artifacts on social media.

The antiquities were seized in separate investigations beginning in 2022 and were held at Egypt's consulate in New York until their return to Cairo on Sunday, according to the ministry's statement.

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Officials did not reveal exactly how the artifacts left Egypt or how they surfaced in the U.S.

However, such thefts are not uncommon. During the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, looters ransacked museums and archaeological sites in the chaos, spiriting away thousands of priceless pieces.

Many of those artifacts later appeared on the international market or in private collections.

Egyptian authorities say they have succeeded in bringing home nearly 30,000 artifacts over the past decade.

In 2023, an ancient wooden sarcophagus was returned to Egypt after U.S. authorities determined it was looted years ago.

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The year before that, a stone sculpture that arrived in Memphis, Tennessee, was discovered to be a centuries-old artifact from Egypt. The artifact was confiscated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

In 2019, a stolen ancient Egyptian coffin that ended up being sold to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art for $4 million was given back to Egypt.

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On May 8, the U.S. Department of State released an updated travel advisory for the United Kingdom

Due to terrorist threats within the U.K., a Level 2 advisory was reissued to warn travelers to exercise increased caution during their visit

The advisory notes "risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks," in the U.K.

Tourists visiting the United Kingdom will need to be extra alert during their travels this summer.

On Thursday, May 8, the U.S. Department of State reissued a travel advisory for the U.K. due to a risk of terrorist violence, per the advisory. As the U.K. continues to experience increased terrorist threats, the advisory warns popular tourist locations could be unsafe for visitors.

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The advisory states that terrorist groups could attack with little or no warning in areas like transportation hubs, shopping areas, local government buildings, hotels, restaurants and churches among other common public locations.

Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty UK travel Level 2 advisory UK travel Level 2 advisory

The Level 2 advisory was reissued after the department's "periodic review" in order to urge travelers to "exercise increased caution" while visiting the popular destination.

There are four travel advisory levels. Level 1 advises travelers to "Exercise normal precautions," per the State Department's website. The Level 4 travel advisory is labeled as "Do not travel" and warns travelers to avoid making any trips to a certain location.

In the U.K,, There is also risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets, the advisory continues.

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The U.S. Department of States 2023 Counterterrorism Report gave an overview of terrorism in the U.K. and noted an increased threat level within Northern Ireland. At the time, the report indicated that terrorism was the third-highest rating, meaning that officials believed an attack was likely.

The terrorist threat level within Northern Ireland, which is monitored separately from the rest of the the U.K., was increased from substantial to severe, per the report. The increase in threat level meant a terrorist attack was no longer just likely but highly likely.

There were also two terrorist attacks reported in the U.K. for 2023, one of which took place in Northern Ireland.

Maja Smiejkowska/PA Images via Getty UK travel UK travel

The remainder of the advisory encourages tourists traveling to the U.K. to stay alert and be mindful of their surroundings while in public spaces, especially in crowds. Travelers should also make sure to monitor any breaking news in case they need to adjust travel plans.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Those traveling to the U.K. are encouraged to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, also known as STEP, the advisory recommends. The program allows for U.S. citizens to log their travel plans and receive alerts from the Department of State in case an emergency within the country takes place.

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Travelers are urged to check the U.K.s Country Security Report, which provides helpful information like the location of the U.K.s embassy and consulates. The Travelers Checklist can also be useful when creating a contingency plan while abroad, as well as staying up to date on the CDCs latest Travel Health Information page.

In addition to the U.K.'s advisory, updated travel advisories were recently released for Turks and Caicos in early March, as well as the Bahamas on March 31. Both locations were also issued a Level 2 advisory.

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KAMPALA (Reuters) - The Ugandan government introduced a bill in parliament on Tuesday that would allow military tribunals to prosecute civilians, months after the country's Supreme Court ruled the practice unconstitutional.

The top court's January verdict forced the government to transfer the trial of opposition politician and former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye to a civilian court, where state prosecutors have charged him with several crimes including treason.

Political allies and lawyers for Besigye, who has lost to President Yoweri Museveni in four elections, say the accusations are politically motivated.

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Minister of Defence Jacob Marksons Oboth introduced the "Uganda People's Defence Forces Bill, 2025" on the floor of the House on Tuesday, where it was referred to a House committee for scrutiny.

Civilians may be tried under military law in exceptional circumstances, such as when they are in "unlawful possession of arms, ammunition or equipment ordinarily being the monopoly of the defence forces," according to the draft law seen by Reuters.

Besigye was forcefully removed from the Kenyan capital Nairobi in November, and presented in a military court in neighbouring Uganda a few days later, where he was charged with offences including the illegal possession of firearms.

Kenya's government denied involvement in what it called Besigye's abduction.

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The new bill also includes crimes of abetting or aiding a soldier to commit crimes including treason, murder and aggravated robbery, among others.

Human rights activists and opposition politicians have long accused Museveni's government of using military courts to prosecute opposition leaders and supporters on politically motivated charges.

The new law will be used to "persecute regime opponents and deal with the growing resistance against the regime," said David Lewis Rubongoya from the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda's largest opposition party.

Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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NUP's leader Bobi Wine said on Friday he plans to contest the presidential ballot due in January, in which Museveni is widely expected to seek reelection.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Richard Chang)
LONDON (AP)  Human rights groups launched a court fight Tuesday challenging the U.K. government's decision to supply parts for F-35 fighter jets, saying they are being used by Israel in Gaza in violation of international law.

The legal challenge in the High Court alleges that the government is breaking domestic and international law and is complicit in atrocities against Palestinians by allowing essential components for the warplanes to be supplied to Israel.

Theres such clear evidence of the use of weapons parts from the U.K. being used in war crimes, including in genocide," Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said at a rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Until this case reaches its judgment, right now as we speak, there are significant human rights violations being delivered by British-made weapons and bombs.

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The government said in September that it was suspending about 30 of 350 existing export licenses for equipment deemed to be for use in the conflict in Gaza because of a clear risk that the items could be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Equipment included parts for helicopters and drones.

But an exemption was made for some licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets, which have been linked to Israels bombardment campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Rights groups argue that the United Kingdom shouldn't continue to export parts through what they call a deliberate loophole given the government's own assessment of Israels compliance with international humanitarian law.

Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the U.K.-based Global Legal Action Network, which brought the legal challenge, say the components are indirectly supplied to Israel through the global spare parts supply chain.

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U.K. officials have argued that stopping the export of F-35 fighter jet components would endanger international peace and security.

Compared to major arms suppliers such as the U.S. and Germany, British firms sell a relatively small amount of weapons and components to Israel.

The Campaign Against Arms Trade nonprofit group estimates that the U.K. supplies about 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, including its laser targeting system.

British-made F-35s are dropping multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza, which the U.N. secretary-general has described as a killing field, said Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, a lawyer for the Global Legal Action Network.

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The U.K. government has expressly departed from its own domestic law in order to keep arming Israel. This decision is of continuing and catastrophic effect," she added.

The hearing is expected to last four days and a decision is expected at a later date.

Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza in March, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. More than 52,800 people, more than half of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The ministrys count doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed thousands of militants, without giving evidence.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

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In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.

___

Brian Melley contributed to this report.
LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmaker Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault relating to two women, London's Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday.

Spencer, 37, was charged following an investigation into two alleged incidents at central London's Groucho Club in 2023. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 16.

Spencer, who belonged to the opposition Conservative Party, was elected in last year's general election to represent the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat in eastern England.

The party said it had suspended Spencer with immediate effect and he would no longer represent the Conservatives in parliament.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; writing by Muvija M)
By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Tuesday they had arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of arson after counter-terrorism officers launched an investigation into three fires, including one at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's private home.

Police were called to reports of a fire in the early hours of Monday morning at the property in Kentish Town in north London, the area that Starmer represents in parliament.

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Nobody was injured but damage was caused to the property's entrance, police said.

The man was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the fire and two further incidents, police said.

He remains in custody, they said.

Police are investigating whether a fire at the entrance of a property in nearby Islington on Sunday and a vehicle fire in Kentish Town on Thursday are linked to the incident on Monday.

A BBC report said the Islington property was also connected to the prime minister.

Dominic Murphy, head of London's Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said a key line of enquiry was whether the fires were linked as the two premises and the vehicle all have previous links to the same high-profile public figure.

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"We are working at pace and continue to explore various lines of enquiry to establish the cause of the fires, and any potential motivation for these," Murphy said, adding the investigation remained ongoing.

Starmer lived in the terraced house on a back street with his wife and two children before he moved into Number 10 Downing Street when he became prime minister last July.

His spokesperson thanked the emergency services for their work on Monday.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar and Catarina Demony, writing by Sarah Young and Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton and Tomasz Janowski)
LONDON (AP)  UK police arrest man on suspicion of arson over fire at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's house.
Ukrainian soldiers of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade "Steel Lions" captured an Uzbek citizen who participated in a Russian assault on Ukrainian positions near the eastern town of Lyman, the unit said on May 13.

Russia has been extensively recruiting foreigners and migrants to fight against Ukraine, and citizens of countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere have ended up in Ukrainian captivity.

The captive, named Umit, said in an interrogation video published by the brigade that he agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship, which he was promised after a year of service, and a monetary reward of 2 million rubles ($25,000).

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Umit said he had previously worked in construction and claimed that he had no military experience and had not served in the army before participating in the Russian war in Ukraine.

After being recruited into the Russian military, he was sent to assault Ukrainian positions. During the battle, he was injured, lost his bearings, and went directly toward Ukrainian positions, where he was captured, according to his testimony.

The Lyman sector in northern Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most fiercely contested areas along the front line. Its strategic importance lies in its proximity to key transport routes and logistics corridors.

At the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Uzbekistan declared that it did not recognize the proxy authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and supported Ukraine's territorial integrity.

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At the same time, the Central Asian country maintains close political and economic ties with Russia, and the two countries signed a military strategic partnership program in January.

Ukraine's military previously captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Ukraine, claiming that hundreds more are serving in the Russian Armed Forces. China has denied any direct involvement in the war and claimed it has urged its citizens to avoid armed conflicts.

North Korea, in turn, recently confirmed for the first time that it had sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast under the orders of leader Kim Jong-un.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Reuters) - Ukraine has concluded procedures for implementation of a deal with the United States on exploiting minerals, including the operation of an investment fund, the country's first deputy prime minister said on Tuesday.

Yulia Svyrydenko gave few details of the latest step in securing approval of the accord, promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump, but it was known that two additional documents were drawn up as part of its implementation.

"Another milestone on the path to launching the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund: Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on schedule," Svyrydenko wrote in English on social media.

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She said a note certifying completion of the process had been handed to interim U.S. Charge d'Affaires Julie Davis.

"These are equal agreements  forward-looking, aligned with Ukraine's national interests, and structured to ensure investment flows exclusively into Ukraines recovery and growth," Svyrydenko wrote.

After weeks of tough negotiations following a shouting match between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Trump in the Oval Office, Svyrydenko signed the minerals agreement in Washington and it was ratified last week by the Ukrainian parliament.

After that vote, Svyrydenko described the accord as "not merely a legal construct  it is the foundation of a new model of interaction with a key strategic partner."

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The minerals agreement hands the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and sets up the investment fund, which could be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine for the first 10 years.

Ukraine also sees the deal as a way to unlock supplies of new U.S. weapons, especially additional Patriot air defence systems it sees as vital to protect against Russian air attacks.

Zelenskiy hailed the reworked draft of the agreement as a marked improvement over earlier versions that some critics in Ukraine had denounced as "colonial." The accord also acknowledges Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Rod Nickel)
President Vladimir Putin appears to be facing a dilemma as Russian and Ukrainian representatives prepare for direct peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday.

Having repeatedly dodged Ukrainian and U.S. calls for a full 30-day ceasefire, the Russian leader instead offered direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian teams in Istanbul -- a proposal President Donald Trump enthusiastically backed.

The offer appeared significant -- the talks, if they go ahead, will be the first direct peace negotiations between the two sides since the early weeks of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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Zelenskyy, though, decided to up the stakes. "I will be waiting for Putin in [Turkey] on Thursday. Personally," he wrote in a post on X. "I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses."

The offer for the two presidents to meet face to face represents a challenge to Putin, who has not met with Zelenskyy since 2019, has repeatedly sought to undermine the Ukrainian president's legitimacy and suggested it would not be suitable for Moscow to negotiate directly with Kyiv.

PHOTO: This combination of pictures created on May 12, 2025 shows Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2024, and a picture of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference in Paris, France, on Feb. 16, 2024. (Mikhail Klimentyevthibault Camus/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"Zelenskyy has put Putin in a situation where no matter what Putin does, he loses," Oleksandr Merezhko -- a member of the Ukrainian parliament representing Zelenskyy's party -- told ABC News. "If Putin doesn't show up in Istanbul then he loses," Merezhko added. "The world will see that Putin doesn't want any negotiations."

"If Putin doesn't show up, then imagine how it will look -- on one hand the young defiant leader of a heroic country and on the other hand an old dictator, war criminal," Merezhko added. "Putin cannot afford to look like this. So, the chances that he will show up in Istanbul are slim."

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The Kremlin has so far been silent on whether Putin will meet with Zelenskyy, while reiterating the president's offer of direct negotiations in Istanbul. "Overall, we remain committed to a serious effort toward a long-term peaceful resolution," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

Konstantin Kosachev -- the deputy speaker of Russia's Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament -- reportedly suggested Putin would not attend.

Kosachev told the Rossiya-24 TV channel -- as quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency -- that Zelenskyy is trying "to shift the blame to Russia, to say: look, President Putin, whom I invited to Istanbul, refused, did not come. And then there will be all sorts of insinuations about why this happened."

MORE: Ukraine and allies ready for 'full unconditional' 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, foreign minister says

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Oleg Ignatov -- the International Crisis Group's senior Russia analyst -- told ABC News it would be "a big surprise" if Putin traveled to Istanbul. "Usually, Putin doesn't just meet with anybody without preparations," Ignatov explained.

Ahead of the last meeting between the two leaders in 2019, the Kremlin was preparing "for many months," he added.

Putin's offer of direct talks came after top European leaders visited Kyiv last week, expressing their support of Ukraine's demand for a full 30-day ceasefire during which peace negotiations could resume. Putin has so far not endorsed the proposal.

President Donald Trump appeared to back both the 30-day ceasefire and Putin's counter-offer of talks in Turkey.

PHOTO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit the Saint Sophia Cathedral, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 10, 2025. (Ludovic Marin/via Reuters)

First, European allies said the president endorsed the ceasefire in a phone conversation during their visit to Kyiv.

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But Trump then quickly also expressed support for Putin's offer of talks in Istanbul -- an offer interpreted by Ukraine and its European partners as an effort to dodge their proposal. Trump even publicly pressed Zelenskyy to "immediately" agree to the meeting.

After Zelenskyy countered with his offer of a direct meeting with Putin, Trump even suggested he might join. "I've got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there," he told reporters at the White House on Monday.

"There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen, but we've got to get it done," Trump said before departing for a planned visit to three Persian Gulf nations across four days. "Don't underestimate Thursday in Turkey," Trump added.

MORE: Trump predicts 'big week' in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Zelenskyy sees 'positive sign'

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Ignatov, though, warned against any expectation of a breakthrough. "The Russians clearly say that they're interested in keeping military and diplomatic pressure on Ukraine," he said. "They clearly say that there will be long negotiations and Ukraine should be prepared for this."

"They're both throwing the ball to each other," Ignatov said of Kyiv and Moscow, with Trump watching on, hungry for a peace deal he can sell as a political win.

Merezhko praised Zelenskyy for his diplomatic maneuvers. "Zelenskyy made a genius chess move which has cornered Putin," he said. "He said. 'Mr. Trump -- you want negotiations? You'll get it. I'm coming in person.'"

But the lawmaker said Ukrainians remain unsettled by the quick shifts in Trump's rhetoric and concerns that the president is being influenced by Russia's false narratives surrounding its invasion of Ukraine.

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"It looks as if despite Ukraine agreeing to all Trump's proposals -- even though it's not in our interests -- he is reluctant to impose serious sanctions on Russia, constantly looking for pretext not to do it and to blame Ukraine for not wanting peace," Merezhko said.

PHOTO: Ukrainian volunteer soldiers is pictured with a machine gun at an air defense position on May 9, 2025 in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with counterparts from France, Germany, Poland, the U.K., Ukraine and the European Union by phone ahead of this week's planned Istanbul meeting, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Monday.

"The leaders discussed the way forward for a ceasefire and path to peace in Ukraine," she said.

ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston contributed to this report.

Ukraine-Russia peace talks 'chess' match pits Zelenskyy against Putin originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
With just a day to go before Russian-proposed peace talks might begin in Istanbul, the Kremlin is still refusing to confirm whether or not President Vladimir Putin will attend the event.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has already said he will meet Putin there, a move that puts the ball very much into the Kremlin's court.

Upping the pressure further, U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 12 that he believes that "both leaders" will be there, thrusting Putin into a delicate diplomatic dilemma  how to avoid caving into Zelensky's proposal without upsetting Trump.

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"We're quite hesitant about whether or not Putin will arrive in Turkey," Yelyzaveta Yasko, a lawmaker from Zelensky's Servant of the People party, told the Kyiv Independent.

"I wonder if he would send someone else or make up an excuse not to be there  it's very hard to say at this point what will happen."

What was Putin's plan?

Russia has consistently demonstrated it has no interest in a full, 30-day ceasefire and has repeatedly refused to agree to U.S., European, and Ukrainian proposals to implement one.

Instead, it has unilaterally announced short-term ceasefires that Ukraine says have all been violated by Moscow.

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Putin's proposal to hold direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey came after the latest push for a full, 30-day ceasefire, backed by Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S.

The Kremlin has not responded well, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that "ultimatum language" in talks with Russia is "unacceptable."

"It's not appropriate. You cannot talk to Russia in this language," Peskov told a pool of Russian journalists on May 12.

The consensus among experts and Ukrainian lawmakers who spoke with the Kyiv Independent is that Russia's counterproposal for talks in Istanbul, and its faux outrage, are simply delaying tactics to avoid doing the one thing Putin doesn't want to do  stop the war and give up his maximalist demands.

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"It's an attempt to damage Ukraine's reputation as a responsible international partner and paint us as unwilling to negotiate."

"In my view, Russia's proposal to hold talks in Turkey serves two main objectives," Halyna Yanchenko, a lawmaker from the Servant of the People party, told the Kyiv Independent.

"First, it's an attempt to damage Ukraine's reputation as a responsible international partner and paint us as unwilling to negotiate  Moscow clearly hoped we would reject the offer outright.

"Second, it's a push to revive the so-called 'Istanbul agreements' from 2022 which effectively demanded Ukraine's capitulation. What Russia is trying to do now is normalize those old ultimatums and use them as a starting point for new talks."

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Moscow and Kyiv held unsuccessful talks in Belarus and Turkey in the early months of the full-scale war, with no direct negotiations having taken place ever since.

Leaked copies of Russia's demands at this time show Moscow was demanding Ukraine reduce its army to 50,000 people, five times less than the country had before the all-out war, as well as reduce the number of ships, helicopters, and tanks.

Russia also planned to ban Ukraine from developing "any other types of weapons as a result of scientific research, and not to produce, acquire or deploy in Ukraine missile weapons "of any type with a range of more than 250 km."

As well as leaving Ukraine defenseless, Russia now insists that, as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave the country's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, recognize Russia's annexation of the regions, and abandon any ambition to join NATO.

How has Putin's plan gone?

What Russia didn't appear to anticipate was Zelensky immediately agreeing to talks and insisting that Putin meet him there.

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Ukraine has made very clear that Zelensky will be in Istanbul on May 15, and that he will only talk to Putin, with presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak explaining that talks with lower-level representatives would be pointless.

"Only Putin can make a decision to continue the war or stop the war," Podolyak said on May 15.

The Kremlin has so far only said a Russian delegation will be present.It has yet to say whether or not Putin will attend in person, and to do so would not be in the Russian president's interests.

President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 12, 2025. (Andrew Kravchenko / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Putin does not see himself as Zelensky's equal, and has repeatedly mocked him and called him "illegitimate," so to appear on the same level on the global stage would risk him, in Russian eyes, as gifting Zelensky with the legitimacy he has tried so hard to deny.

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"I don't think there's a cat in hell's chance of him turning up," former U.K. Defense Attache in Moscow, John Foreman, told the Kyiv Independent.

"He doesn't regard Zelensky as legitimate, and any talks would be technical. He'll send a functionary," he added.

This view is shared by Jenny Mathers, a Russian political expert and lecturer at the U.K.'s Aberystwyth University, who told the Kyiv Independent that Putin is "very good at finding excuses" and will likely try to engineer one that allows him to save face whilst also keeping Trump on side.

"It seems unlikely that he would grant Zelensky the status of meeting him personally, president to president, after years of claiming that the post-EuroMaidan political order is illegitimate and indeed full of Nazis," she said.

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"He could easily engineer another pressing engagement, or give no excuse at all but send a negotiating team," she added.

What are the possible excuses?

One possible excuse on hand is a decree approved by Zelensky in the fall of 2022, that "stated the impossibility of holding negotiations with Russian President Putin," as a response to Russia's illegal annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, parts of which it didn't even control.

"Putin is not ready to stop the military campaign already planned for this summer and autumn."

Moscow has previously cited Zelensky's decree as a ban on talks with Putin and used it as an excuse for avoiding direct talks with Kyiv.

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But according to a source in the President's Office, the decree was a "a signal to those in Ukraine who wanted to speak (to Russians) bypassing the central government."

They added that it had been "twisted" by the Kremlin and it was in fact solely up to Zelensky to determine if he could speak directly with Putin.

Ukrainian soldiers from the 115th Brigade Mortar Unit conduct mortar training as members of the Anti-UAV unit test an FPV drone inhibitor in Lyman, Ukraine, on May 6, 2025. (Jose Colon / Anadolu via Getty Images)

What is Putin's longer-term plan?

Among Ukrainian lawmakers who spoke to the Kyiv Independent, it's clear that Putin is simply stalling for time in order to prolong the war.

"Putin is not ready to stop the military campaign already planned for this summer and autumn," Volodymyr Ariev, Ukrainian lawmaker from the opposition European Solidarity party, said.

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"He will not change his mind," he added.

As Russia continues to reject a full ceasefire, there are plenty of signs that its military and offensive operations are still in full swing.

Even as the U.S.-led peace talks have been in progress since February, Russia has been amassing troops across the border from Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, Zelensky has said.

And on the front lines in the east, Russia this week reportedly bolstered troops trying to take the city of Chasiv Yar with the elite FSB Presidential Regiment.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 43rd Brigade work on a Soviet-era Pion self-propelled howitzer near Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, on Jan. 27, 2025. (Wolfgang Schwan / Anadolu via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, devastating missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian civilians have only escalated during Trump's term in office, and there is no indication they will relent.

Over the weekend, after a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv of a "significant attack in the coming days, it was reported that Russia could be closing the airspace over the site from which it launches its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile.

Russia regularly uses close, and short-range ballistic missiles in aerial attacks against Ukraine, but intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are far larger, can be equipped with nuclear payloads, and are designed to hit targets at far longer ranges.

"Putin does not want any peace talks, because his goal is to seize Ukraine," Ariev said.

Read also: Like a game of tennis  Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Ukraine and its allies want Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire ahead of what could be the wars most pivotal peace talks later this week.

You may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey, President Donald Trump said Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet face-to-face for the first time since Russia started the war three years ago.

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I insisted that that meeting take place, President Trump said.

The Kremlin has not said who would attend, but President Trump said he may make a detour during his Middle East travels.

I was thinking about flying over, the president said. I dont know where Im going to be on Thursday. Ive got so many meetings.

The U.S. proposed a ceasefire deal in March, which Ukraine accepted but Russia did not. Instead, Russia has ramped up its attacks, even on civilians.

Putins only response has been more bombing, said French Junior Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad.

European leaders want the U.S. to help them ramp up the pressure on Russia with additional sanctions.

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Im very much welcoming Senator Lindsey Grahams sanctions package in the U.S., said Kaja Kallas, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the Senate now has enough support to pass his legislation to levy new sanctions against Russia and new tariffs on countries who buy Russian energy.

Lawmakers see this as a plan B if President Putin continues to stall, but it is still unclear whether President Trump supports the move.

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.
Key developments on May 13:

Germany's Merz threatens 'significant tightening' of Russia sanctions ahead of Ukraine peace talks

Rubio to attend Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Trump says

Zelensky to meet Erdogan in Turkey where both will wait for Putin ahead of peace talks

Ukraine reports destroying Russian Buk air defense system, Uragan rocket launcher

Former nuclear power plant employee arrested for allegedly helping Russia's GRU target drone strikes

The European Union is prepared to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia if no progress is made in ending the war in Ukraine this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on May 13, Reuters reported.

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The statement comes ahead of a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

Merz said EU leaders support Zelensky's diplomatic push for a ceasefire but warn of sweeping new sanctions if Putin refuses to engage seriously.

"We are waiting for Putin's agreement, and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at the European level for a significant tightening of sanctions," Merz said during a news conference.

An EU official told the Kyiv Independent that the bloc will unveil its next package of sanctions on May 14. The 17th round of EU measures could target additional sectors of Russia's economy, with new penalties reportedly focused on energy and financial markets.

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The EU has imposed 16 sanctions packages since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting military suppliers, Russian state entities, and individuals involved in the war.

Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.

"I believe more compromise and more concessions are no longer reasonable," he said. "We support President Zelensky's efforts, but there must be a real effort from Russia in return  starting with a ceasefire."

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Rubio to attend Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Trump says

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on May 13 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials will attend planned peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey on May 15

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The announcement comes as international attention centers on Istanbul, after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed hosting direct talks there between Kyiv and Moscow.

Zelensky has said he will attend but the Kremlin has so far stayed quiet about the possibility of Putin attending.

"Our people are going to be going there. Marco is going to be going there. Others are going to be going, and we'll see if we can get it done," Trump said during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, would travel to Istanbul to observe the negotiations. Rubio's participation marks the first public confirmation of Cabinet-level U.S. involvement.

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Read also: As Ukraine, Russia peace talks loom, all eyes are on Putins next move

Zelensky to meet Erdogan in Turkey where both will wait for Putin ahead of peace talks



Zelensky said on May 13 that he expects a ceasefire to result from a potential in-person meeting with Putin, which may take place in Istanbul on May 15.

Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Putin chooses to attend the talks there.

"We will be waiting to meet with Putin in Turkey. So that Russia does not manipulate cities and say that Putin is not ready to fly to Ankara, but is ready to fly only to Istanbul," Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv during a press conference.

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"I have conveyed the signal to President Erdogan, and the Turkish side is ready."

The meeting, if it occurs, would mark the first direct negotiations between the two leaders since 2019 and could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin's participation, while Kyiv continues to demand an unconditional ceasefire.

Read also: Russia killed Ukrainian author Victoria Amelina  but not her words or quest for justice

Ukraine reports destroying Russian Buk air defense system, Uragan rocket launcher

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces' attack drones destroyed a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system and a Uragan-1 multiple launch rocket system (MLSR), the military branch reported on May 13.

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During reconnaissance in an unspecified front-line sector, Special Operations Forces' operators detected the Buk-M3 and the Uragan-1 on combat duty, the unit said.

Ukrainian forces then launched attack drones and hit the targets, destroying the Buk-M3 system with an estimated value of $45 million, as well as its ammunition. The statement did not specify the time of the attack.

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The Soviet-era Buk surface-to-air missile systems are used both by Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine inherited Buk anti-aircraft systems from the Soviet Union, but the weapons typically use Russian-produced missiles. In 2023, Ukraine announced it had converted the systems to fire U.S. missiles.

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The Uragan-1 is a Russian multi-caliber rocket launcher with the ability to swap launch containers. It operates with calibers of 200 and 300 mm.

Read also: After spying scandal erupts, Orban accuses Ukraine of meddling, cooperating with Hungarian opposition

Former nuclear power plant employee arrested for allegedly helping Russia's GRU target drone strikes

A former employee of the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has been arrested on suspicion of working with Russian military intelligence (GRU) to help target drone strikes on the facility's power lines, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on May 13.

According to the SBU, the man was to assist strikes on high-voltage power lines that connect the Rivne NPP in Rivne Oblast with the Kyiv Oblast power facilities, supplying electricity to the capital and the surrounding area.

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The suspect quit his job at the Rivne NPP before the full-scale war began. In the spring of 2025, a GRU liaison contacted him and offered cooperation in exchange for money.

The suspect tried to install a GPS tracker on one of the main power line's poles. To approach the facility unnoticed, he allegedly scouted the locations of Ukrainian troops guarding the NPP.

The man was detained when trying to activate a tracking module, the SBU said.

Read also: Romania heads to historic presidential runoff as populist and pro-EU candidate are neck-and-neck

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KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he wanted to negotiate an unconditional 30-day ceasefire face-to-face with Vladimir Putin at this week's talks in Istanbul because only the Russian leader could enact such a pause.

Accusing Putin of being "scared" of meeting him, Zelenskiy said he expected "strong sanctions" from the United States and European Union if the talks did not take place, adding a failed meeting would show that Russia was not ready for diplomacy.

Zelenskiy told reporters that because "absolutely everything in Russia" depends on Putin, the only way to secure a ceasefire and an end to the war was through direct talks with him.

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"If he takes the step to say he is ready for a ceasefire then it opens the way to discussing all the elements to end the war," he said.

"I'm not even mentioning that he is scared of direct talks with me," Zelenskiy said, adding he would first meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara for talks and would head to Istanbul if Putin arrived there.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine had invited U.S. President Donald Trump to Thursday's meeting but had yet to confirm his attendance. Trump offered on Monday to join the prospective talks while he was travelling in the region.

The Ukrainian leader also said China had signalled it supported a 30-day ceasefire, which Zelenskiy says is necessary before any peace talks can happen.

(Reporting by Max Hunder, writing by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Christian Lowe)
Units of Ukraines Defence Intelligence (DIU) is using S-200 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems to strike Russian military personnel.

Source: Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military media outlet, with reference to Ukraines Defence Intelligence

Details: The exclusive footage, released for the first time, shows the missiles being prepared for use, specifically how they are being loaded onto the launch pad and refuelled with liquid fuel, as well as the launches themselves.

The S-200 anti-aircraft missile system is primarily designed to hit air targets at long ranges.

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However, judging by the video and statements by the Russians, the Ukrainian defence forces have adapted these systems for strikes against ground targets.

The S-200 anti-aircraft missile system

Ukraines Defence Intelligence

Last year, footage of the S-200 launcher with a 5V28 missile was published online.

After the collapse of the USSR, such systems were in service with Ukraine's air defence. However, in 2013, the Ministry of Defence recognised the systems as obsolete and decided to withdraw them from combat service and subsequently dispose of them.

There were earlier speculations that Poland could be the likely donor of the systems. During the Defence24 Days conference in 2024, a representative of the Armed Forces Command of Poland said that the 3rd Warsaw Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade no longer has such systems in its arsenal. Meanwhile, it cannot be ruled out that Ukrainian systems that were previously decommissioned have been restored.

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For reference: Russia has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine is striking its territory with converted S-200 anti-aircraft missiles. In the modified version for striking ground targets, the 5V28 missiles, which are 10.8 metres long and weigh 7.1 tonnes with a 220 kg fragmentation warhead, can essentially perform as ballistic missiles.

Similar statements were made in the summer of 2023. On 19 August, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported a night strike with such a missile on temporarily occupied Crimea. However, there was no confirmation or comment from the Ukrainian forces.

Missiles of this type are capable of hitting targets at a distance of over 300 km.

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The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) has supported, as a basis, the draft law amending the Budget Code to implement the agreement on minerals deals between Ukraine and the United States.

Source: Yaroslav Zhelezniak, First Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy

Details: A total of 286 MPs voted in favour of the draft law No. 13256 in the first reading.

Amendments to the Budget Code are needed to fill the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, established under a bilateral agreement.

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Ukraine's contribution to this fund will be formed from 50% of the revenues received after the agreement enters into force from:

royalties for the extraction of oil, gas, gas condensate and other minerals from new licences ;

issuing new special permits for mineral use;

selling the state share of production under new production sharing agreements.

These funds will be credited to a special fund of the state budget, from where, at the decision of the main spending unit (likely the Ministry of Economy), they will be transferred to the Reconstruction Fund.

Roksolana Pidlasa, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee, said that if the agreement were to be in effect from 2019, Ukraine's contribution to the fund could amount to more than UAH 3 billion (approx. US$72.38 million) over five years.

Background:

On 1 May, Ukraine's Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signed the minerals deal.

"Together with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, I have signed the agreement on the establishment of the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund," Svyrydenko wrote.

The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine had published the text of a memorandum with the United States on the completion of a formal agreement on economic partnership and a Reconstruction Investment Fund. The text was published on the website of the Ministry of Economy.

It states that the agreement will provide for the creation of an investment fund for Ukraines reconstruction.

On 8 May, the Verkhovna Rada voted to ratify the agreement on establishing a joint investment fund between Ukraine and the United States. All 338 MPs voted in favour, with none of them abstaining or voting against ratification.

On 12 May, Zelenskyy signed the ratification of the mineral agreement with the United States.

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A citizen of Uzbekistan who took part in the offensive against the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Russian side has been captured by soldiers of the 106th Battalion of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade Steel Lions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Lyman front.

Source: 63rd Mechanised Brigade

Details: The POW, named Umit, said he agreed to serve in the Russian army in exchange for Russian citizenship, promised after a year of service, and a cash reward of 2 million roubles (about US$24,875) .

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Umit said he had no previous military experience and had not served in the army. After recruitment, he was sent to storm Ukrainian positions. During the battle, he got lost, was hit, lost his orientation and came directly to the positions of the Ukrainian military, where he was detained.

"The Russians, come and join  this is your only chance to survive!" the brigade said.

Quote from Umit: "I was a fool. I didn't think it would be like this. I thought I would serve in the army and come back. But this is not the army; here you have to kill people. I don't want to kill anyone. I don't want to destroy a country."

Background: On 23 April, soldiers of the 49th Separate Assault Battalion Carpathian Sich on the Toretsk front in Donetsk Oblast captured an African mercenary fighting for the Russian occupation army.

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One Sunday in the middle of February, Julia got a call from her good friend Viktoria, a fellow Ukrainian immigrant who was 33 weeks pregnant with her third child. Viktorias water had just broken. Her husband, Vladislav, couldnt leave work. Julia sprang into helper mode.

I was so worried because it was my first time helping someone whos about to give birth, Julia said. She brought along a translator to ensure she and Viktoria could understand the English-speaking doctor. She stood by Viktorias side, holding her hand and encouraging her through contractions. At the end of the night, Viktoria gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Emily.

Rushing to help other women is a common occurrence for Julia and the other community health workers at a nonprofit organization that helps refugee women and their families in and around Decatur, Georgia, acclimate to their new country.

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In some cases, Julias work week extends into the weekend, especially when one of her 40 clients or someone in their families needs translation assistance during a medical emergency, access to transportation or help understanding their insurance coverage.

Sometimes, my job is 94 hours, she said. Our work is very interesting, but its so important to help these families.

Since the early 2000s, the organization has served thousands of refugee and immigrant women by offering workshops, mental health services and networking opportunities. Its leaders asked The 19th to withhold the organizations name out of concern that using it might jeopardize the funding they receive from the federal government, given the uncertainty of the current political climate. Julia is also going by a name other than her own because she works at the organization, and The 19th agreed to withhold the last name for Viktoria and Vladislav because of their status.

The organizations clients are Afghans, who arrived in Georgia in 2021 after the Taliban took over their home country; Central Africans, who were pushed out in large part because of the volatile security situation in their country; and Ukrainians, who fled a war that has been raging for three years.

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At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization bolstered its services to help women immigrants in metro Atlanta who needed to navigate conversations with health care providers. Community health workers had been an early part of the network, and the need for translation services and community connection led the organization to reintroduce the program, the organizations program coordinator of community health direction told The 19th.

Five years later, community health workers like Julia are the groups heart. The group serves more than 2,000 women immigrants and refugees each year and having representation is crucial to the work; 90 percent of the organizations staff are foreign-born.

The community health workers are now more necessary than ever. As the Trump administration implements more obstacles for refugees pathways to citizenship and makes changes to the Temporary Protected Services program (TPS), which allows immigrants from certain countries to live in the United States legally for a period of time, many families, including Viktorias, are left with fewer options and unsure of whats ahead.

Ukrainian refugees began arriving in the United States in 2022, when then-President Joe Biden created the Uniting for Ukraine program, granting Ukrainian citizens and their immediate families temporary stay in the country through what is known as humanitarian parole. In 2023, the Biden administration extended humanitarian parole to Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans, both as a form of temporary relief from the unrest and instability in these countries and to curb the number of immigrants illegally entering the United States from Mexico.

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Then came President Donald Trump, who, earlier this year, shortened the length of the protected status granted to these foreign nationals.

Nicaraguans now have protected status until July 5, Haitians have it until August 3 and Venezuelans until September 10, according to guidance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). What will happen to the program for immigrants from other countries, including Ukraine, is unclear.

The fates of as many as 532,000 people are in limbo, said Judith Delus Montgomery, an immigration lawyer from Clarkston, Georgia, a small city known as the Ellis Island of the South due to its welcoming of more than 60,000 refugees since the 1970s. Her firm, Delus Montgomery, LLC, has served thousands of immigrant families in the metro Atlanta area for 13 years, and Montgomery herself has worked closely with the Haitian community.

Born in the Bahamas to Haitian immigrants, Montgomery said she became a U.S. citizen through her parents when she was a toddler. She said that her personal experience as an immigrant and naturalized citizen inspires her work.

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Since the Trump administration announced it would shorten the protections for Haitian immigrants, which would have otherwise ended on February 3, 2026, Montgomerys days have been filled with anxious phone calls from clients. She has been working around the clock to help them find new ways to stay in the country legally and find other paths to citizenship.

People are in an uproar, she said. We have been inundated with phone calls.

With the end of their TPS period quickly approaching, immigrants have only two other options to stay in the United States, Montgomery said. They can adjust their status through a family member who is already a citizen or, if that isnt an option, they can petition for asylum. But that is a tough road to follow. According to data collected by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, more than 3 million active cases are pending before the Immigration Court. Of those, more than 2 million are formal asylum applications from immigrants who are awaiting hearings and decisions on their cases. As reported by the National Immigration Forum, the average wait time for asylum applicants to be seen before USCIS is more than six years, and some wait much longer.

A lot of the people living in the United States under temporary protection dont have a home to go back to. Now you have all these folks here and dont have a pathway to citizenship [but] they absolutely cant go back. These folks are in a precarious situation, Montgomery said.

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That includes the Ukrainians affected by the Trump administrations impending changes to their protected status and who can no longer apply for temporary protected status or for the Uniting for Ukraine program. Before leaving office, Biden extended Ukrainians stay in the United States until October 2026, but this is likely to change once the Trump administration completes its review of the parole programs, as outlined in the executive action called Securing Our Borders.

Reuters estimates that as many as 240,000 Ukrainians have or will be affected by the changes. Julia and Viktoria are among them.

Julias life is defined in periods: theres before the war and then theres everything that has happened since.

Before the war, Julia worked in sales and got some experience in the nonprofit space too, in a role where she helped organize games, workshops and training for college students.

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She lived in an apartment complex in Lutsk with her parents, brother and nephews. When the war began, she assembled a go-bag  full of medicine, warm clothes, her passport and money  and kept it close at all times in case she had to evacuate.

Day in and day out, Julia traveled to and from work until curfew arrived in the evening. When Russian forces attacked their city, she and her family huddled together in basements, holding each other tightly as they waited for the blaring emergency alarms to end.

Julia had friends in the United States and they kept encouraging her to take advantage of the humanitarian program and relocate. It was a heartwrenching decision: Her parents didnt want to leave Ukraine and she didnt want to leave her parents.

But she did move eventually. Julia arrived in the United States in January 2023, alone. Her parents, brother and nephews stayed in Ukraine.

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During an interview in mid-February at the organization where she works, Julia said that she, like many of her clients, was nervous and stressed about what she needed to do next. Because the Temporary Protected Status program isnt accepting any new applications, families like Julias have been essentially broken up since none of those who stayed in Ukraine are able to legally enter the United States. And at least some of those who have relocated to the United States cant return home because their homes are now in Russian-occupied areas  Russian soldiers might be eating off their plates, wearing their clothes, sleeping in their bedrooms.

Our cases are frozen, Julia said.

Their lives are frozen.

Then there are couples like Viktoria and Vladislav. She is Ukranian. He is Russian. They were each living in their respective home country when they met on an online dating site for Christians eight years ago. After their pastors gave them the OK to meet in person, the two connected quickly and fell in love. Soon after, Viktoria moved to Russia and she and Vladislav got married.

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After the war started, the couple and their first child, a girl, moved to Turkey, where their second child was born. Viktoria didnt feel safe as a Ukrainian living in Russia, especially after she shared her sentiments on the war on social media. The family lived in Turkey for 11 months. A close friend who lived in the United States told Viktoria and Vladislav about the humanitarian program. In 2023, the parents and their children moved to Dunwoody.

If the Trump administration forces them to leave, Viktoria and the couples middle child arent allowed to live in Russia, where Vladislav and the eldest daughter are from, because of their Ukrainian citizenship. In turn, Vladislav and the eldest daughter may not be able to live in Ukraine. Will the youngest child, the one whom Julia watched come into this world, be able to relocate to either country?

You dont know what you need to do, Vladislav said. Emilys path is less clear cut, he said, because shes an American citizen, and American governments dont recommend going to Ukraine because of the war or Russia because it isnt safe.

Theres also a bigger financial implication of Trumps approach to immigration. Across the country, agencies that help immigrants are struggling to keep their doors open or have laid off staff due to funding cuts.

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The organization where Julia works has also been impacted.

While it isnt a refugee resettlement agency, the organizations program coordinator said its social adjustment and economic empowerment services are funded by federal grants that come through the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Department of Health and Human Services. These grants, which account for almost half of the organizations annual funding, are at risk. If theyre gone, cuts are all but inevitable.

These cuts would happen just as the changes to immigration policies under Trump have amplified the need for the types of services the organization offers. With resettlement agencies shutting their doors, the group has received an influx of new clients whose original case managers are no longer available.

As Julia and her fellow community health workers help more and more people, the program coordinator said she has tried to remind them of the importance of self-care. But that can be difficult to balance when its not only more clients that theyre seeing, but also clients facing more severe challenges.

In just two weeks, the program coordinator said, the organization had helped more than 100 families get utility assistance, an increase that reflects a surge in housing issues and the number of families the organization has provided services for since the Trump administration began making changes.

As the uncertainty lingers and changes begin to take effect, the program coordinator anticipates an increase in homelessness among the families the organization helps, more difficulty in finding work and exacerbated mental health struggles.

Those who had to leave their native countries and embraced the United States as their home are now realizing their new life isnt actually safe.

Amid the struggles, the community has banded together to lend a hand. The organization has made room for them by ramping up its volunteer program that delivers food to families. Its also accepting more donations and it has stepped up its outreach allies to help those who need legal assistance, the program coordinator said.

Julia remembers feeling lost when she first arrived in Atlanta. She missed her family and wanted to go back to Ukraine, but a friend encouraged her to wait a year before making any big decisions. In many ways, its her work at the organization that has rooted her in the United States and kept her grounded in these times.

She was taking English as a Second Language courses at Georgia State University when a teacher asked if shed be interested in connecting with other Ukrainian refugees in the community. She agreed and was hired after her first interview with the organization. Immersing herself in the world of clients  a world so much like her own  was a whirlwind experience, but Julia enjoys helping and connecting with others. As she likes to say, she didnt find the organization. It found her.

Julia said that as time has passed since Trump announced changes to the Temporary Protected Status program, some of her clients have been getting in contact with lawyers to see what their options might be. Faced with the possibility of uprooting their families and starting their lives over once again, many have been feeling depressed and overwhelmed.

Julia is also contemplating what might happen to her. In January, she applied to continue her Temporary Protected Status, but because cases like hers are paused, she hasnt heard any updates. Her original stay was set to end April 19.

Depending on what the Trump administration does next, she said, she might return to Ukraine to be with her family or continue her work in Atlanta.

In the meantime, its the connection to her community that keeps her going. Theres her friendship with Viktoria, whose family is one of the many that remind her that life in the United States can be beautiful and complicated all the same.

Every person Ive met has a deep story of fighting to survive, to help, to support, she said. Sometimes life is very easy, but sometimes its very complicated and heavy.

She paused; looked at Viktoria and Vladislav, who were watching their second daughter as she played on the playground outside of the organizations office; and said, But this country supports us and I hope this country will continue to support us.

The post These Ukrainian women banded together after fleeing war. The U.S. may send them back. appeared first on The 19th.

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Graduation season is upon us as students of University of Louisiana at Lafayette are gearing up for celebrations for earning their graduate and undergraduate degrees.

The Ceremonies will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Cajundome and the Cajundome Convention Center.

A schedule and locations for individual ceremonies are listed below.

Friday, May 16

Cajundome

9 a.m.  College of Engineering

1 p.m.  College of Liberal Arts

Cajundome Convention Center

9 a.m.  College of the Arts

1 p.m.  University College

Saturday, May 17

Cajundome

9 a.m.  Ray P. Authement College of Sciences

1 p.m.  B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration

Cajundome Convention Center

9 a.m.  College of Education & Human Development

1 p.m.  College of Nursing & Health Sciences

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All Ceremonies are open to the public and tickets are not required.

Members of the public who plan to attend ceremonies are asked to park at Cajun Field.

The Universitys clear bag policy will be in place. Attendees can carry one clear bag, such as a one-gallon clear storage bag, or a small clear purse or clutch. The university informs attendees that police officers will examine bags and purses at all entrances.

Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed via links on the Cajundomes website. The individual ceremonies will also be livestreamed on the Facebook pages of seven academic colleges. Ceremonies for two, the College of the Arts and University College, will be livestreamed on UL Lafayettes main Facebook page.

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For more information, attendees are asked to visit the Universitys Commencement website. Students and parents with questions can also email graduation@louisiana.edu.

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BEACHWOOD, Ohio (WJW)  A man who checked out dozens of books from the Beachwood Public Library allegedly burned them in a social media video, the Beachwood Police Department said.

According to the police department, the man came into the Beachwood Public Library on Shaker Boulevard on April 2 and applied for a library card.

Investigators said he then checked out 50 books on topics including Jewish history, African American history and LGBTQ education, the police report said.

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Pregnant woman, 2 children die in Kingsville Township house fire

A library official told police she was later contacted by the Princeton University Bridging Divides Initiative, a group that reports suspected hate crimes online.

The group told her a photo posted to social media on April 3 showed the alleged suspect with a car trunk full of books and a caption related to cleansing the libraries.

Beachwood police said the books in the photo had Cuyahoga County Public Library stickers on them and appeared to match the topics of those the man checked out the day before.

Investigators said the man returned to the library on April 10 and checked out another 50 books and similar topics.

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During this encounter, (the man) told a librarian that his son was in the LGBTQ community, and he was trying to learn more about it, the police report said.

The librarian said his behavior was very odd and concerning, but no threats were made, Beachwood police said.

The Princeton University Bridging Divides Initiative later told library officials that a video posted online showed the suspect allegedly burning the books.

Parents sought after Canton toddler dies

Investigators said at least one of the books clearly had a Cuyahoga County Public Library sticker on it and matched one of the books the man checked out.

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The incident was reported to police on May 2.

According to Beachwood police, the checked-out books were not overdue yet. Once overdue, library officials would make the man pay for the books.

The police report said the 100 books are worth about $1,700.

The police investigation is ongoing at this time. According to Beachwood Police Chief Dan Grispino, once the investigation is complete, a city prosecutor will determine if a crime was committed and if charges should be fined.

The Beachwood Police Department is actively investigating this incident. Our department stands against antisemitism and all acts of bias-motivated crimes, Beachwood Police Chief Dan Grispino said in a statement. We are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting any hate-motivated incidents within the City of Beachwood. Our priority is to maintain a community that can thrive without the fear of threats of intimidation or violence.

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State Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) issued the following statement condemning the alleged book burning:

I condemn this act, not only because it is a crime against our institutions and community, but also because it is fundamentally un-American. This nation was founded on the right to free speech and open expression, and our libraries are the embodiment of that promise. Libraries are designed to be community-based safe harbors of free thought. Libraries offer ideas. This is their fundamental role in our democracy and why they are so vital. This act of violence is not just a crime against the public catalog of literature that was destroyed, but also is a violation of the marketplace of ideas that is a bedrock principle of American life.

This action will not be, should not be, and cannot be tolerated inside the 21st Senate District, this state, or this nation. There is no place for such hate, censorship, or intimidation in Beachwood, nor this country.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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More than a decade after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, the United Nations top aviation authority has ruled that Russia was responsible for the 2014 tragedy that killed all 298 people on board, one of the deadliest and most controversial disasters in modern aviation history.

On Monday, the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) found that the Russian Federation failed to meet its international obligations under international air law, which requires states to "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight" by not preventing the 2014 downing of the civilian airliner. The plane, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down by a Russian-made missile over the conflict ridden Donbas region, an area then teeming with pro-Moscow separatists.

Trial judges and lawyers view the reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, at the Gilze-Rijen military Airbase, southern Netherlands on May 26, 2021. Judges inspect wreckage of flight MH17 as part of criminal trial of four suspects. (Photo by Sem van der Wal / ANP / AFP) (Photo by SEM VAN DER WAL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) SEM VAN DER WAL/Getty Images

The Kremlin has consistently denied involvement, despite mounting evidence and multiple investigations over the years. But this weeks ruling adds another brick in the wall of international accountability.

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The case to the UN was brought in 2022 by the Australian and Dutch governments, who have both welcomed the ICAO's ruling. Together, their citizens made up the majority of MH17s passengers: 196 from the Netherlands, and 38 from Australia. Victims also included 10 Britons, as well as passengers from Malaysia and Belgium.

Australias Foreign Minister Penny Wong didnt hold back after the decision: We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp echoed the sentiment, calling the ruling an important step toward establishing the truth and achieving justice.

The ICAO's ruling reinforces the findings of a 2022 Dutch court that convicted three men, two Russians and a pro-Russian Ukrainian national, of murder for their roles in launching the missile that brought down MH17. All three were sentenced to life in prison, but none have served time, as Russia has refused to extradite them.
The top human rights official at the United Nations rang alarm bells Tuesday about the Trump administrations use of a Salvadoran megaprison to detain immigrants without due process, potentially for life.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a press release that his office had received information from family members and lawyers regarding more than 100 Venezuelans believed to be held in CECOT, or Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, the Salvadoran megaprison with a reputation for torturous conditions where the Trump administration has sent at least 288 men without charge or trial.

This situation raises serious concerns regarding a wide array of rights that are fundamental to both US and international law  rights to due process, to be protected from arbitrary detention, to equality before the law, to be protected from exposure to torture or other irreparable harm in other States, and to an effective remedy, the human rights commissioner said.

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Turk said the sense of powerlessness experienced by families of detainees seeing their loved ones treated like terrorists even without trial, as well as the use of shackles and demeaning rhetoric by the Trump administration, have been profoundly disturbing.

I welcome the essential role that the US judiciary, legal community and civil society are playing to ensure the protection of human rights in this context, he said.

I have called on the US Government to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with due process, to give prompt and full effect to the determinations of its courts, to safeguard the rights of children, and to stop the removal of any individual to any country where there is a real risk of torture or other irreparable harm, he added.

Trumps agreement with the government of El Salvador to detain hundreds of immigrants sent by the United States has raised both domestic and international legal challenges.

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Last week, human rights groups petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of over a dozen detainees and their families, and hundreds more men believed to be detained in the Salvadoran prison system, seeking emergency measures including the detainees release.

In the United States, courts have insisted that detainees be given the opportunity to contest their removals to so-called third countries  those other than the nations of their citizenship  and judges have paused removals under the Alien Enemies Act, one of the authorities Trump used to send detainees to CECOT.

Under that 18th-century law, migrants deemed by immigration authorities to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang were treated as enemy combatants and expelled to CECOT before being able to fully hear or dispute the allegations against them.

Neither the United States nor El Salvador have released the names of U.S. detainees in CECOT, leading many human rights experts to classify the detentions as enforced disappearances.

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Given the risk, the fear, of human rights violations being committed, there may well be concerns of enforced disappearance, Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, said at a press conference Tuesday.

And of course that is a really a serious issue under international human rights law.

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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United Nations top humanitarian official blasted Israel on Tuesday for deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on Palestinians, including the risk of famine  one of the strongest condemnations by a high-ranking U.N. official during the war in Gaza.

Tom Fletcher, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the Security Council, describing this work as a grim undertaking since Israel began blocking all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza more than 10 weeks ago.

He went as far as saying that the council must act now to prevent genocide," a claim that Israel vehemently denied.

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I ask you to reflect  for a moment  on what action we will tell future generations we each took to stop the 21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza, said Fletcher, a longtime British diplomat who took up the U.N. post in November. It is a question we will hear, sometimes incredulous, sometimes furious  but always there  for the rest of our lives.

In response to Fletchers remarks, the Israeli mission to the U.N. said that Israel will not accept a humanitarian mechanism that props up the Hamas terror organization that butchered our people in their homes and communities. Before the blockade, the U.N. and other international aid agencies handled moving aid into the enclave.

The U.N. World Food Programs director for Gaza, Antoine Renard, told The Associated Press that a quarter of Gazas population is at risk of famine. That's despite all the food needed to feed the territory's population sitting in warehouses in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan  and most of it is not even 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, he said.

Renard said WFP warehouses in Gaza are empty, and the agency has gone from providing meals for 1 million people at the end of April to producing only 250,000 meals daily. The meals they can serve are meaningless, compared to peoples requirements, he said.

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Soon, were going to speak about the fact that people dont even have access to a meal, Renard warned. Is that where we need to go to actually raise the alarm? Its now that we need to act.

The warnings come after food security experts said Monday that Gaza will likely fall into famine if Israel doesnt lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Nearly half a million Palestinians are facing possible starvation, living in catastrophic levels of hunger, and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises.

Israel has been openly and brazenly blocking humanitarian aid for over two months now  this is engineered starvation, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the Security Council. It is the most inhumane form of torture and killing.

Amid Israel's blockade, AP obtained a proposal from a newly created group backed by the U.S., the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, to implement a new aid distribution system based on plans similar to those designed by Israel.

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Israel has cited aid diversions by Hamas as reason for a new plan. The U.N. and aid groups have rejected Israels moves to control aid distribution.

It is a cynical sideshow. A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement, Fletcher said about the proposal, adding that it would exclude the disabled, women, children and the elderly.

Asked Tuesday when aid would get into Gaza, a spokesperson for the State Department repeated Israeli rhetoric that Hamas bears responsibility for the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. It's a claim that aid officials have continuously disputed.

"I will reiterate that we are supportive of creative solutions to get aid in there but also in a way that the aid is not falling into the hands of Hamas, that it actually reaches the people that need it, deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott told reporters.

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Renard said criminal gangs, not Hamas, had stripped WFP trucks of supplies between October and early January. He said some taking of food recently was not by gangs but people with nothing to eat.

Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in a surprise Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants or civilians.

Israel says it has killed thousands of militants, without giving evidence. The Israeli military on Tuesday struck what it said was a Hamas command and control center located beneath a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

I can tell you from having visited whats left of Gazas medical system, that death on this scale has a sound and a smell that does not leave you, the U.N.'s Fletcher said.
The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, has expressed concern over Germany's decision to tighten border controls and reject asylum seekers at the country's borders.

UNHCR's representative in Germany, Katharina Thote, told dpa that the agency was worried about the government's move to stop accepting asylum applications at the border.

She noted that Germany has been a key partner for UNHCR for decades and remains an important country of asylum in Europe.

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Stricter border controls were introduced on the orders of newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt last Wednesday, with exemptions applying to vulnerable groups, including heavily pregnant women, women with young children and seriously ill individuals.

The measures after Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led government took office, pledging to maintain temporary border checks already in place and to turn back illegal migrants at the border, even if they apply for asylum.

Thote said international law does not force refugees to apply for asylum in the first country they arrive in. In some cases, they can be sent to other safe countries  provided their rights are protected and it helps share responsibility fairly between nations, she added.

However, closing the country's borders to all asylum seekers could undermine the principle of fair distribution, she warned and called on Germany to uphold existing EU agreements on managing asylum claims.

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Border rejections of people without valid visas are not new in Germany. However, until now, these measures mainly applied to people who did not apply for asylum or had been previously banned from entering the country, for example after deportation.

A spokesman for Germany's Interior Ministry said it was too soon to assess the full impact of the policy. Since January, 45,681 people have applied for asylum in Germany for the first time  down from 84,984 in the same period last year, marking a 46% decrease.

A sign reading "Federal Republic of Germany" surrounded by EU stars stands in front of a border post in German national colors at the German-Polish border crossing Stadtbruecke. Hours after taking office, Interior Minister Dobrindt announced that asylum seekers could also be turned back at land borders. Carsten Koall/dpa
The United Nations has called for urgent de-escalation in Libyas capital, Tripoli, as rival gunmen exchanged fire in the citys southern districts after the killing of a powerful militia leader, with authorities imposing an emergency lockdown.

The appeal early on Tuesday came as residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions across multiple neighbourhoods from about 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.

Al Jazeeras Malik Traina, reporting from Libyas Misrata, said security sources had confirmed the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, widely known as Gheniwa, who is the head of the powerful Stability Support Authority (SSA) militia.

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Gunfire and clashes then consumed several parts of Tripoli.

Al-Kikli was one of the capitals most influential militia leaders and had recently been involved in disputes with rival armed groups, including factions linked to Misrata. His SSA is under the Presidential Council, which came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah through a UN-recognised process.

Traina said that at least six people have been wounded, although it remains unclear whether they are security force members or civilians.

In a statement shortly after the clashes began, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli, with intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.

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UNSMIL added that it calls on all parties to immediately cease fighting and restore calm, and reminds all parties of their obligations to protect civilians at all times.

UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli, with intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.

The Mission calls on all parties to immediately cease fighting and restore calm, and reminds all parties of their obligations to pic.twitter.com/SZ8oKgZ1p8  UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) May 12, 2025

UNSMIL voiced support for local mediation efforts, particularly those led by elders and community leaders, emphasising the need to protect civilians amid mounting tensions.

Schools shut, residents told to stay indoors

The GNUs Ministry of Internal Affairs urged residents to stay home and avoid movement, warning of further instability, while the Ministry of Education suspended classes across Tripoli on Tuesday, citing the deteriorating security situation.

The GNUs media platform said early on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defence had fully taken control of the Abu Salim neighbourhood.

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I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky, one resident told the Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.

Two others told Reuters that the gunfire was echoing all over their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.

Videos and images online showed plumes of black smoke amid the sound of gunfire, as well as armed men in the streets and convoys entering the city.

Footage verified by Al Jazeeras Sanad fact-checking agency captured the sound of medium-calibre gunfire in several neighbourhoods, including areas where the SSA militia is known to operate.

Several districts have seen what local sources describe as suspicious military manoeuvres, with convoys arriving from Az-Zawiyah, Zintan and Misrata  seen by many as preparations for a possible showdown in the capital.

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Al Jazeeras Traina said the renewed clashes have prompted anger and worry.

People are angry that every time these armed groups clash, civilians are caught in the crossfire, he said, adding that residents are demanding accountability.

When these groups fight and people are killed, no one is held responsible. Locals want justice, and expect the authorities to hold those behind the violence accountable, he said.

Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been governed for most of the past decade by rival governments in eastern and western Libya, each backed by an array of fighter groups and foreign governments.
May 12At least five Maine colleges and universities have opted to rename their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in recent months as part of a national trend that follows a Trump administration crackdown on DEI-related programming in education.

The changes span public and private institutions, from the University of Maine to Colby College, as schools have opted instead for words like "community" and "belonging."

But what's not clear is whether the offices are changing what they do. None agreed to an interview about the changes, and most schools that still have DEI language on their websites declined to talk about whether they plan to make the change in the future.

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Across the country, diversity offices have quietly changed their names or shuttered over the past several years  a shift that ramped up once President Donald Trump retook office and signed an executive order to end what he has called wasteful and immoral government DEI programs.

More than 30 public flagship universities have altered their diversity programs in some way: 14 have closed entirely, and 15 have been renamed or restructured, according to reporting from POLITICO.

"Many universities have engaged in what scholars call anticipatory obedience, which is to eliminate still-lawful policies and practices I think out of the very misguided hope that somehow it will keep the Trump administration off their back," said Johnathan Feingold, a Boston University School of Law professor who studies antidiscrimination law. "And I think it does reflect that the commitments we've seen to diversity, equity and inclusions have always been somewhat shallow on universities."

ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE

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After the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to every state education department giving them 14 days to remove any DEI programming in schools, colleges around the country scrambled to scrub related words from their websites, fearing the loss of federal funding.

The letter argues that any educational program that treats people differently based on race  including scholarships, financial aid, administrative support, housing and graduation ceremonies  constitutes discrimination.

"Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon 'systemic and structural racism' and advanced discriminatory policies and practices," it reads. "Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them  particularly during the last four years  under the banner of 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' ('DEI'), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming and discipline."

Three different federal judges have blocked the Trump administration's efforts to halt funding because of DEI policies and many states, including Maine's education department, refused to sign a letter of compliance. But by then, many of Maine's higher education institutions, including its largest university, had already made the change.

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'COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS'

University of Maine administrators announced on March 5 that its Office for Diversity and Inclusion would now be the Office for Community and Connections. In the statement they describe that new office, the OCC, as a new initiative that will "broaden and integrate" services for students at UMaine and the University of Maine at Machias.

"OCC builds upon the work of its predecessor, UMaine's Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), expanding its focus on fostering our students' personal growth and development and promoting our sense of community, connectedness and mutual respect," the letter reads. "With an enhanced mission and vision, OCC will extend ODI's reach and create more opportunities for collaboration and service."

The office's director did not respond to an interview request, and a university spokesperson declined to answer specific questions about the changes.

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The university's student newspaper, The Maine Campus, reported that President Joan Ferrini-Mundy addressed the issue at a student luncheon following her State of the University address on March 6, where she said university leaders across the country were figuring out how to react to the "Dear Colleague" letter.

"Part of the issue is doing two things at the same time: Staying very focused on ... how we are available to support our students in the ways that we have been without changing that, and maybe expanding that," Ferrini-Mundy said, according to The Campus. "But at the same time, really looking at risk in an uncertain moment."

The University of Maine at Augusta, the University of New England and St. Joseph's College all renamed offices or committees. UMA and UNE both attributed that decision to aligning the name more accurately with the program's work. Colby College has removed "for Student Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion" from the description of it's Pugh Center. Husson University is ending a certificate program in DEI it previously offered, citing low enrollment.

Feingold, the BU law professor, said that since college DEI programs aren't illegal, schools that choose to scrub that language voluntarily could be sending a message to their students and educational community about their values. And, he said, there's no reason to believe removing disfavored language will do anything to help colleges avoid being targeted by the administration.

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"There are many costs to failing to just hold one's ground, particularly considering that pretty much everything the Trump administration is going after under the umbrella of equity, diversity and inclusion is lawful," he said.

SOME DEI PROGRAMS REMAIN

Feingold said he understands the calculation some schools might make: that in a hostile political environment, they need to change certain names so they can keep doing the work they want to do internally without federal scrutiny. But there's no guarantee of that, he said.

"In this moment, in which the Trump administration has made it very clear its desire to wholly take over education in the United States, I think that strategically it's misguided to think that one can somehow avoid having to fight the Trump administration and maintain one's autonomy and independence simply by scrubbing disfavored language," he said.

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Some higher education institutions in Maine appear to be retaining their DEI offices and committees, although most declined to say whether there are plans to change them in the future.

For now, the University of Southern Maine is still home to the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact. Staff at USM directed questions about the future of the office to a spokesperson for the University of Maine System, who declined "speculation on what actions may occur in the future."

Southern Maine Community College in South Portland still has two groups, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Diversity Programming Committee, which SMCC President Kristen Miller said the college is not planning to change. "In light of the evolving and complex legal landscape, SMCC has not altered the name or scope of its DEI committees," she said.

The school later announced that Dr. Idella Glenn, the vice president of that office, will be retiring this summer, and the office will be restructured  the exact details of which haven't been announced.

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And at Bowdoin College in Brunswick and Bates College in Lewiston, their offices of Inclusion and Diversity, and Equity and Inclusion, respectively, remain. Directors of each of those offices declined to comment.

Feingold said its unclear if colleges are simply changing the names of their offices or substantively altering what they do. But even if the changes are just in name only, he said, that's a problem too.

"When universities speak, they have their own free speech rights," Feingold said. "The fact that universities are being coerced to alter the way they are talking to the world, that itself is a serious First Amendment concern, to the extent the government is coercing public and private entities not to say the things they want to say, particularly when the things the institutions want to say are modest commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion."

Note: this story was updated on May 13 to clarify changes at Colby College and the University of Southern Maine.

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(NewsNation)  An underwater volcano that is nearly 300 miles off Oregons coast is set to erupt very soon.

For decades, scientists have been monitoring the massive underwater volcano, and recent activity shows that it might be ready to erupt.

Philippine volcano briefly erupts, belching ash plume into the sky

The volcano is known as Axial Seamount, and scientists believe it could erupt at any moment between now and the end of 2025.

Scientists record more than 1K earthquakes per day

Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University, along with colleagues from the University of Washington and the University of North Carolina Wilmington, have been monitoring the volcano. They use sensors on the seafloor to watch Axial Seamount.

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In late March and early April, researchers were recording over 1,000 earthquakes each day. Chadwick also said the volcano has been swelling steadily, which is a sign that it is filling with molten rock.

Bright auroras on Jupiter are captured by Webb Space Telescope

According to NBC News, Chadwick said, This volcano is similar to the ones in Hawaii that erupt very fluid lavas. They tend to inflate like a balloon in between eruptions. At Axial, the seafloor is actually rising, and thats a big signal.

Underwater volcano poses no threat to people

Since this volcano is well off the coast and deep underwater, it wont pose any threats to humans. It is about one mile underwater.

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Chadwick reportedly said, Theres no explosion or anything, so it would really have no impact on people. Even if you were out on a boat right over the seamount when its erupting, you probably would never know it.

A Buddhist statue stolen from a Japanese temple nearly 13 years ago is returned from South Korea

When Axial Seamount erupted in 2015, magma came out of the volcano. One of the lava flows was nearly 450 feet thick, according to scientists. Chadwick said that is about two-thirds the height of the Space Needle in Seattle.

In November 2024, Axial Seamount swelled to nearly the same height as it did in 2015, the last time it erupted. That swelling is a sign that magma is pooling underground with increasing pressure that could fuel an eruption.

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The area where Axial Seamount is located is the most active in the Pacific Northwest, with the volcano erupting in 2015, 2011 and 1998. Axial Seamount is also the most monitored underwater volcano.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Commuters arriving at Union Station Tuesday morning were met with boards filled with cancellations due to a massive fire that broke out in West Baltimore on Monday night.

Several MARC Penn Line and Amtrak trains were suspended between the District and Baltimore due to the incident, leaving many early-morning travelers stranded and frustrated.

RELATED COVERAGE: Amtrak trains canceled, delayed after fire raged through warehouse in Baltimore

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Its a really stressful thing because were trying to get to work, and taking an Uber from Union Station to Odenton is out of the question, said Jordan Daniels, one of many passengers caught off guard by the sudden cancellations.

Sydney Williams, another MARC rider, shared a similar experience.

I saw that everything for the Penn Line was canceled. So I asked the [Union Station employee] and he said, Oh yeah, its canceled, youre going to have to figure out your own way,' Williams said. Its very disruptive  Im trying to figure out what Im going to do.

Firefighters were first dispatched to a multi-story warehouse in West Baltimore at about 7 p.m. on Monday night. More than 200 firefighters battled the fire overnight and into the early morning hours.

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According to Baltimore City Fire Department officials, the blaze displaced 30 nearby residents and temporarily shut down rail service in the area.

RELATED COVERAGE: Over 200 firefighters battle huge warehouse blaze in Baltimore

Though service on Amtrak was restored just before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, delays are expected throughout the day. The MARC Penn Line canceled all their morning trains.

Some commuters expressed frustration not just with the disruption, but with the lack of timely communication.

I understand things cant be controlled, but there has to be a better way when incidents like this happensomething to substitute so we can still get where we need to go, Daniels said.

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Its just the frustration of dealing with this constantly. A better job of communication would help, so people can make alternate plans before leaving home, said Williams.

Officials advise travelers to check for ongoing updates and allow extra travel time.

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The state of air travel in the United States isn't inspiring a great deal of confidence for travelers, but the CEO of one of the country's biggest airlines says that change could be on the way.

During an interview with CBS News' Margaret Brennan for "Face the Nation," United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed positivity about potential reform and improvement.

"This is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed," Kirby said.

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"I and others in the aviation industry have been working on this for decades, and I think we're finally we've turned the corner, and we have the commitment."

Kirby's comments come amid widespread issues at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Multiple outages have prevented air traffic controllers from monitoring incoming planes, and delays have affected travelers at the airport for several weeks.

Friday marked the second ATC outage at the airport in two weeks, as controllers were unable to communicate with planes for as long as 90 seconds.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has committed to working to fix the issue, but noted that "it's going to be billions, lots of billions" in order to fix things.

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Kirby remained optimistic despite the potential cost, citing a desire to reach across the aisle to fix the issue.

"It's bipartisan, it's bicameral," the CEO said in an interview with CBS News' Ed O'Keefe.

"Senate, House, administration, Secretary Duffy  across the board, a commitment to getting this fixed. We know how to do it."

Kirby also praised Duffy for being "action-oriented" and "committed to getting this done."

The CEO also stressed to passengers that they were safe to fly out of Newark, or from any other airport for that matter. He explained that in instances of outages, pilots are trained to find other ways to orient themselves in the air.

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"What happens is the pilots look for alternative frequencies," Kirby said.

"They go to alternative centers with alternative radars, and they also have a system in the airplane where they can see, its equivalent of radar, they can see their position in the air, in the sky, and all the other aircraft around them."
United Airlines (UAL) CEO Scott Kirby tried to assuage flyers concerns about the chaos at Newark Liberty International Airport, saying that the major New Jersey hub is absolutely safe.

Kirby delivered the message in an email to customers on Monday, following two weeks of crippling disruptions at the airport, where many air traffic controllers took leave after recently losing contact with planes for a brief period. The technology and staffing issues  along with a pre-scheduled renovation of a runway  have caused major delays and forced United Airlines to cancel dozens of flights every day.

Our hard working air traffic controllers clearly need more staff and better technology, and the good news is that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a plan to make that happen, Kirby said. But despite these challenges and constraints, there are many procedures in place to ensure your safety when you fly with us.

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Kirby said United pilots are trained for a wide range of potential issues, including radar or communications outages.

The truth is that all the flights in and out of EWR are absolutely safe, he said. Neither the FAA nor United will ever compromise on safety.

The message was sent to United customers with upcoming flights out of Newark and those who live nearby and have flown out of Newark before. It also included a video from Captain Miles Morgan, the managing director of United Airlines Flight Training Center.

Chris Rocheleau, the FAAs acting director, announced the creation of an emergency task force Monday to address Newarks telecom outages.

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Newark is a United hub, so the airline has been the most affected by the disruptions. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy told CNBC on Tuesday that he will convene airlines that fly out of Newark on Wednesday to figure out a plan to move forward.

All the airlines are going to come together and see if they can get to an agreement on how they reduce their capacity at Newark, Duffy said.

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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reassured customers that Newark Airport is "absolutely safe" for travel in an email sent on Monday.

Newark Airport, a major United travel hub, has experienced issues with equipment failures and short staffing, resulting in massive delays or flight cancellations over the last two-plus weeks. Earlier this month, a unanimous air traffic controller told NBC News that the facility was "not safe."

Despite these problems, Kirby, whose airline trimmed roughly three dozen flights from its Newark schedule daily in an effort to relieve some of the congestion problems, told travelers in his email that it is secure to use the New Jersey airport.

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"The truth is that all the flights in and out of EWR are absolutely safe, Kirby said, referring to Newark by its airport code EWR. When there are FAA issues, such as technology outages or staffing shortages, the FAA requires all airlines to fly fewer aircraft to maintain the highest levels of safety."

A Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft, operated by United Airlines Holdings Inc., at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. United Airlines Holdings Inc. will cut 35 daily round trips at Newark Liberty International Airport after Federal Aviation Administration technology failures and an air traffic controller shortage snarled flights for a full week. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg/Getty Images

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kirby sent the message to customers with upcoming flights at Newark as well as people based in the New York/New Jersey area.

On Sunday, United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the traffic into and out of Newark would be reduced in the coming weeks.

We want to have a number of flights that if you book your flight, you know its going to fly, right? Duffy said, via the Associated Press. That is the priority. So you dont get to the airport, wait four hours, and then get delayed.

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Duffy echoed that plan on CNBC Tuesday, saying that all airlines will work together on an agreed-upon plan for cutting back on their Newark capacity.

In the meantime, the FAA has gone about some immediate measures to fix equipment problems at the Philadelphia facility that controls Newark's traffic, including putting in a backup system on Friday and planning to replace faulty copper wiring in the building.
The universe is poised to die much faster than previously thought, according to new research by Dutch scientists.

But there's no great need to panic. We still have 10 to the power of 78 years before it happens  that's a one with 78 zeroes.

However, that is a major revision from the previous estimate of 10 to the power of 1,100 years, notes the research paper from Radboud University, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.

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"The final end of the universe is coming much sooner than expected but fortunately it still takes a very long time," said lead author Heino Falcke.

A trio of scientists at Radboud set out to calculate when the most "durable" celestial bodies  white dwarf stars  would eventually die out.

They based their calculations on Hawking radiation, named after celebrated British physicist Stephen Hawking.

Hawking postulated in the mid-1970s that black holes leak radiation, slowly dissolving like aspirin in a glass of water  giving them a finite lifetime.

The Radboud scientists extended this to other objects in the universe, calculating that the "evaporation time" depends on density.

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This enabled them to calculate the theoretical dissolution of the longest-lasting body, the white dwarf.

"By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we can unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation," said co-author Walter van Suijlekom.

Humankind needn't worry too much about the end of the universe. Unless we escape planet Earth, we'll be long gone.

Scientists think that our sun will be too hot for life in about a billion years, boiling our oceans.

In about 8 billion years, our star will eventually expand toward the Earth, finally gobbling up our by-then barren and lifeless planet and condemning it to a fiery death.

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Shedding light on dark energy

The research comes just weeks after scientists released new findings that may also shed light on the fate of the universe. Researchers in March said new data shows dark energy  a mysterious force that makes up nearly 70% of the universe  may actually be weakening.

If dark energy is constant, an idea first introduced by Albert Einstein in his theory of relativity, scientists say our universe may continue to expand forever, growing ever colder, lonelier and still. If dark energy ebbs with time, the universe could one day stop expanding and then eventually collapse on itself in what's called the "Big Crunch."

"Now, there is the possibility that everything comes to an end," said cosmologist and study collaborator Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki of the University of Texas at Dallas. "Would we consider that a good or bad thing? I don't know."

This image provided by NSF's NOIRLab shows the trails of stars above Kitt Peak National Observatory, where a telescope is mapping the universe to study a mysterious force called dark energy. / Credit: NSF's NoirLab via AP

Other efforts around the globe have an eye on dark energy and aim to release their own data in the coming years, including the European Space Agency's Euclid mission and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.

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Launched in 2023, the ESA's $1.5 billion Euclid space telescope is equipped with a near-perfect 3-feet-11-inch-wide primary mirror and two instruments: a 600 megapixel visible light camera and a 64-megapixel infrared imaging spectrometer. The telescope's field of view is roughly twice the size of the full moon.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  University Press of Mississippi will celebrate its 55th anniversary by hosting a book fair at Urban Foxes.

Attendees will be able to shop for books, school supplies and accessories. The event will be held on May 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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A rumor that circulated online in May 2025 claimed mean-spirited "Sesame Street" characters parodying Donald Trump in past decades were what prompted the U.S. president to eliminate federal funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which broadcasts the children's educational TV program. Trump has sought to end the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's (CPB) federal funding for PBS since 2017, during his first term in office.

As one of many examples, on May 7, an X user posted (archived) a video of Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci portraying a real estate tycoon named Ronald Grump  one of four "Sesame Street" characters parodying Trump over the years. The post displayed over 1.5 million views.

The clip, showing a watermark from a TikTok post (archived), depicted Grump informing Elmo and some of the human cast members of his plans to replace 123 Sesame Street with a tall building named Grump Tower, a name parodying the real-life Trump Tower. The post read, "This episode of 'Sesame Street' back in 1988 is why Trump is targeting PBS and Sesame Street so much! The episode was Ronald Grump intends to raze Sesame Street and redevelop it! Does this sound familiar because that's what he does everywhere!"

This episode of Sesame Street back in 1988 is why Trump is targeting PBS and Sesame Street so much! The episode was Ronald Grump intends to raze Sesame Street and redevelop it! Does this sound familiar because thats what he does everywhere!  pic.twitter.com/vmeyZ0qFw6  Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) May 7, 2025

Other users made similar claims about Trump holding a "grudge" over parodic portrayals, for example on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube.

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However, searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo and Google, as well as newspaper archives hosted by Newspapers.com, turned up no evidence to confirm the rumor that Trump targeted PBS funding cuts specifically, or in part, due to the parodic portrayals. Initial searches also failed to produce any records of Trump ever publicly acknowledging the character's existence.

A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that produces "Sesame Street," told Snopes by email, "Ronald Grump hasn't appeared in nearly 20 years, long before President Trump entered office. Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, and throughout our 55-year history 'Sesame Street' has parodied countless pop culture icons, television shows, and notable personalities in service of engaging families to further our educational mission to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder."

The White House didn't respond by press time to an email inquiring whether Trump was aware of the parodic portrayals, whether he had ever made public statements about it and whether there was any basis to the claim he targeted PBS due to the Grump character. The CPB declined to comment.

Snopes previously reported about the four "Sesame Street" characters parodying Trump in decades past. Pesci's Ronald Grump appeared not in 1988 as claimed in the above X post but rather during the May 18, 1994, ABC prime-time special, "Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever." According to Fandom.com's Muppet Wiki, the story ends with Grump abandoning his building plans upon realizing Oscar the Grouch's trash can resides on city property. The other three parodic characters, all Muppets, were named Donald Trump Muppet, Ronald Grump and Donald Grump.

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One of the more prominent posts promoting the rumor, a May 3 Facebook reel (archived) mentioning the Grump character, received over 3.2 million views and featured a song about Grump being a grouch, much like Oscar the Grouch, and comparing his assets to garbage. The video caption displayed a laughing emoji and read, "This is why Tr*mp hates 'Sesame Street.'" The user posting the clip added, "Is this why he wants to end PBS?"

Background on the Trump/'Sesame Street' rumor

Users shared and discussed this rumor in the days after Trump signed an executive order on May 1 aiming to slash federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS. The order directed the CPB to "cease direct funding to NPR and PBS," specifically claiming the two organizations produced "biased" programming.

A fact sheet (archived) accompanying Trump's order claimed NPR and PBS "fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars," for example accusing PBS of favoring both the Democratic Party and transgender issues. The fact sheet also made specific mention of a June 2020 CNN/"Sesame Street" racism town hall  produced days following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd  claiming the program presented a "one-sided narrative to 'address racism' amid the Black Lives Matter riots."

The Associated Press reported that federal courts pushed back against similar moves by Trump's administration to dismantle other organizations, with those courts asserting the White House may have overstepped its bounds in holding back funds appropriated by Congress.

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Days after Trump's executive order, on May 6, CPB announced the Department of Education's decision to terminate the Ready to Learn grant, which historically helped to fund "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow" and other well-known shows. The New York Times reported the cancellation of the grant program resulted in a loss of $23 million for children's educational shows and games. The article also noted the first Trump administration awarded the initial installment of the grant in 2020.

As for financial specifics, a PBS fact sheet (archived) featured data showing federal funding represented about 15% of its annual revenue. A CPB document (archived) also added, "PBS is funded principally by member station dues, distribution revenue and underwriting support. CPB provides funding to PBS for some of the national programming it distributes and for the infrastructure that distributes content and emergency alerts from PBS to public television stations."

The financials page (archived) on Sesame Workshop's website said 50% of its revenue derived from distribution fees and royalties, without offering further details.

For further reading, a previous fact check examined the time when Mississippi officials refused to broadcast "Sesame Street" in 1970 due to its multiracial human cast members.

Sources:

Chaet, Alex. "Watch the Entire CNN/Sesame Street Racism Town Hall." CNN, 6 June 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/app-news-section/cnn-sesame-street-race-town-hall-app-june-6-2020-app.

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"CPB and PBS Awarded Ready To Learn Grant from the U.S. Department of Education." Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 6 Oct. 2020, https://cpb.org/pressroom/CPB-and-PBS-Awarded-Ready-Learn-Grant-US-Department-Education.

CPB and the Public Media System. Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Apr. 2025, https://cpb.org/sites/default/files/CPB-Public%20Media%20Backgrounder%20APRIL%202025.pdf.

"CPB Statement on U.S. Department of Education Terminating Ready To Learn Grant." Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 6 May 2025, https://cpb.org/pressroom/CPB-Statement-US-Department-Education-Terminating-Ready-Learn-Grant.

Dobrin, Nikki. "'Sesame Street' Has Been Parodying Donald Trump Since the 1980s?" Snopes, 21 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sesame-street-donald-grump/.

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"Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ends the Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media." The White House, 1 May 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-ends-the-taxpayer-subsidization-of-biased-media/.

"Financials." Sesame Workshop, https://sesameworkshop.org/about-us/financials/.

"Historical Newspapers from the 1700's-2000s." Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/.

Joe Pesci Academy Awards Acceptance Speech. Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database, 25 Mar. 1991, https://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/link/063-2/.

Leingang, Rachel. "Trump Signs Executive Order to Cut Funding for Public Broadcasters." The Guardian, 2 May 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/02/trump-signs-executive-order-to-cut-funding-for-public-broadcasters.

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Morrison, Aaron, and Steve Karnowski. "Anniversary of George Floyd's Killing: Changes Were Made, but Short of 'reckoning' on Racial Justice." The Associated Press, 26 May 2023, https://apnews.com/article/george-floyd-death-anniversary-police-reform-protests-506efdec8275364db1b652cb6436339b.

Mullin, Benjamin. "Department of Education Eliminates Grant for PBS Children's Shows." The New York Times, 6 May 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/us/politics/doe-kills-grant-pbs-childrens-shows.html.

"PBS Fast Facts." PBS Foundation, https://foundation.pbs.org/pbs-fast-facts/.

Powell, Amy. "Trump Budget Threatens to Eliminate PBS Funding." ABC7 Los Angeles, 18 Mar. 2017, https://abc7.com/pbs-corporation-for-public-broadcasting-president-donald-trump-budget/1807507/.

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"Ronald Grump (Human)." Fandom.com, Muppet Wiki, https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Ronald_Grump_(human).

"Trump Signs Executive Order Directing Federal Funding Cuts to PBS and NPR." The Associated Press, 2 May 2025, https://apnews.com/article/trump-npr-pbs-republicans-public-broadcasting-f0e3e1acb96986732a0211833165bf84.

"TV Prime Time." The Des Moines Register, 18 May 1994, p. 4T, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register/172049836/.

Updates:

May 13, 2025: We updated this story to add a statement from a Sesame Workshop spokesperson.
A Frederick County Sheriffs Office deputy shot a man in downtown Frederick on Monday after responding to a report of someone having a mental health crisis, authorities said.

The Sheriffs Office said in a press release on Monday night that the man approached the deputy with a knife.

After multiple warnings to drop the weapon, the individual refused to comply, the press release said.

The Sheriffs Office said the deputy fired once at the man, hitting him.

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The shooting happened in a parking lot next to the Olde Towne Tavern at 325 N. Market St.

The man who was shot was taken to a trauma center, according to Katie Robine, a spokesperson for the Sheriffs Office.

The press release said the man was reported to be in stable condition at the trauma center.

In a Facebook post about the shooting, the Sheriffs Office wrote: We want to assure the public that there is no threat to the community.

Robine said that at about 6:44 p.m., family members of the man were in the parking lot and alerted a sheriffs deputy  who was in the area  about the mental health issue.

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The deputy approached the man and ended up firing a gun at the man, hitting him, according to Robine.

She did not identify the deputy who shot the man.

The Sheriffs Office did not release further details about the shooting or the circumstances that led to the mans family seeking help.

Other deputies also responded to the scene. Robine said deputies gave first aid to the man before he was taken to the trauma center.

A knife was recovered at the scene, the press release said.

Robine said the Frederick Police Department is handling the criminal investigation.

The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General was contacted, but declined to respond, the press release said.

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The intersection of North Market Street and 3rd Street was closed off while police investigated. Police crime tape surrounded the parking lot, where sheriffs deputies and Frederick police officers were gathered.

The Sheriffs Office asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact them at 301-600-1046.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Theres a new online challenge that school leaders said is dangerous. Students who participate could even face charges by law enforcement.

The challenge is called The Chromebook Challenge and is circulating on social media. Officials at the Greenville County School District are warning students against participating.

Students will film themselves on social media, such as TikTok, and damage their school-issued Chromebooks.

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The Greenville County School District explained that the trend has students intentionally trying to ruin their device by jamming objects into the USB ports, which sometimes causes the computer to catch fire.

Officials said that students across the country are participating, including students in their district.

We have had more than 100 Chrome books I believe, damaged in this manner, Greenville County Spokesman, Tim Waller said.

Waller said that participating in the viral trend is not only dangerous, but reckless and will lead to disciplinary actions.

It costs the district, well really it costs the taxpayers a great deal of money to equip 78,000 students with the latest, greatest chrome books, Waller said. We try to keep them up to date, we try to keep them in good shape, we have a regular chrome books replacement refresh program to make sure none of the models are too old at any given time.

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For those who want to tag along in the trend and damage their Chromebook, students could face suspension.

The student or parents could have to pay for the damaged computer, and law enforcement may even get involved.

We take a lot of pride in our Chromebook collection here and when you hear about something like this happening, it is very disheartening, Waller said. It is disappointing. These Chromebooks are there for the betterment and education of students.

Waller said he doesnt believe that a majority of students are influenced by what they see on social media, but when it comes to trends that could be harmful and urges parents to have that safety discussion with your child.

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For goodness sake, talk to your kids tell them this is not cool this is not something they need to be doing, Waller said.

The Chromebook Challenge has even prompted emergency response in other parts of the country, as fire officials said the challenge has already led to several fires.

To express concerns or for more information, the school district asks that you contact your schools principal.

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.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Our first shot of summertime heat is upon us, but some areas get warmer than others. Meteorologist Adam Rutt explains why.

Were well within our first shot of hot weather across KELOLAND, and while weve at least avoided the humidity that comes with the dog days of summer for now, we are seeing an example of how some parts of the region get warmer than others.

Dry, hot and windy weather impacting trees

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Beyond the topographical differences that can play a factor, as well as dried out ground due to drought, theres also a phenomenon that occurs not just in KELOLAND, but across much of the country.

Its called the Urban Heat Dome effect. On hot days like Monday, we all receive the suns heat as it comes through the atmosphere and reaches the surface. In more urban settings where pavement and cement are more prevalent, temperatures will tend to climb higher due to the pavements ability to heat up faster than bare ground.

Once the pavement gets hold of that heat, it doesnt release it as easily or as quickly as the ground is able to, and thus that heat lingers for a longer period of time. As a result, cities and other urban areas can be anywhere from four to eight degrees warmer than non-urban areas.

While that difference is on the lower side of the scale when we talk about smaller cities, it is still a noticeable difference all the same. Regardless of whether youre in an urban environment or not, heat is still heatso do what you can to stay cool and hydrated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Tesla will have to answer questions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about its plans to launch automated driving systems in Austin.

According to the NHTSAs letter sent on May 8, the agency requested certain information from Tesla regarding its development of driving automation technologies.

As you are aware, NHTSA has an ongoing defect investigation (PE24031) into FSD collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions, the letter read.

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Tesla reaches out to city of Austin over self-driving technology

The agency said it would like to gather additional information about Teslas development of technologies for use in robotaxi vehicles to understand how Tesla plans to evaluate its vehicles and driving automation technologies for use on public roads.

The NHTSA said based on public statements, it understands Tesla first plans to operate a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles in Austin starting this June. This is part of the companys plans to launch a self-driving paid service.

The agency wants to assess how well the vehicles can react to reduced roadway visibility conditions.

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The NHTSA requested a response by June 19.

The letter said Tesla may be fined up to $27,874 per day if the agency does not receive a prompt response, with a maximum fine of $139,356,994.

What does the NHSTA want to know?

The letter listed nine questions related to crash reporting, system development and automated responses to emergencies.

The agency asked for the number of vehicles anticipated to start within the next year or two years, as well as how these vehicles will be supervised or monitored by Tesla in real time.

Regarding emergency scenarios, the NHTSA asked for Teslas approach to vehicle interactions with first responders.

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Tesla to launch self-driving paid service in Austin this year

Explain how the system is designed to comply with traffic safety laws and how Tesla will monitor for compliance with traffic safety laws including traffic control devices, interactions with construction zones, and interactions with first responders, the letter read.

The NHTSA also asked how the robotaxis will safely operate in reduced roadway visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog, airborne dust, rain, or snow.

The letter asks how, or if, the vehicles responses to changing weather conditions partway through a ride would be different from a ride that starts in those conditions.

City of Austins Autonomous Vehicle Task Force

Back in December 2024, KXAN confirmed Tesla was in talks with the city of Austin over its autonomous vehicle technology. A spokesperson for the Transportation and Public Works Department said Tesla reached out to the citys autonomous vehicle task force.

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The City treats each AV company that expresses interest in Austin the same, offering training opportunities and providing uniform information, the transportation spokesperson said in an email to KXAN.

KXAN received an updated statement from the department regarding those discussions.

We are working with Tesla, as we work with all AV companies looking to deploy in Austin. The city treats each AV company that expresses interest in Austin the same, offering training opportunities and providing information about City right-of-way and procedures. Additionally, Austin Police recently participated in a training with Tesla vehicles that was hosted by the Texas Department of Public Safety. City of Austin Transportation and Public Works Department

KXAN reached out to Tesla for comment, and were waiting for a response.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
May 12The U.S. Attorney in New Mexico is criticizing the chief U.S. Magistrate judge for seeking legal views about trespassing violations in the state's new military defense zone, urging the judge to "correct course" to avoid "further impropriety."

In a nine-page "objection" filed Sunday, U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison sought to preempt a judicial opinion about the elements of criminally charging people illegally crossing into the U.S. with additional crimes of entering a restricted military zone and violating defense property security regulations.

The unusual court filing from the government comes just weeks after the Trump administration began the prosecution practice by designating a 60-foot-wide swath along New Mexico's southern border as military property called the New Mexico National Defense Area. The action was viewed as a way to legally use military troops for domestic law enforcement on American soil.

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The 170-mile long stretch is part of the federal government's "broader efforts to protect and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States in light of the 'National Emergency' caused by, among other things, unchecked unlawful mass migration," wrote Ellison, who was appointed April 19 by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

With hundreds of defendants now facing such misdemeanor charges in Las Cruces federal court, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory Wormuth on May 1 requested input from the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Federal Public Defender's office citing the scarcity of case law relating to these offenses and "the unprecedented nature of prosecuting such offenses in this factual context."

The judge wanted to hear about the standards of proof needed to find defendants guilty in these kinds of cases, such as whether offenders would have had to know they were on military property or willfully intended to violate the no-trespassing edict.

Ellison's office on May 5 filed a 14-page brief defending the prosecution practice. But in his objection filed days later, Ellison called the judge's solicitation of legal views an "extraordinary departure" from "foundational principles" because it wasn't spurred by any particular case.

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The request was issued without prompting from any party, outside the context of any particular case, "absent any relation to an identified defendant, on a miscellaneous docket, and untethered to any contemplated or requested relief," Ellison wrote.

Moreover, the judge's request "was an improper exercise of the Court's authority," he contended. He urged Wormuth to avoid "further impropriety of issuing an advisory opinion purporting to provide views on abstract questions of law that have not yet been properly raised in any case by any party."

Amanda Skinner, of the federal public defender's office, contended in her May 8 response to Wormuth that the signage warning those stepping into the defense zone is inadequate, but the U.S. Attorney's office argued such notification wasn't required to prove someone violated the military-related laws. The fact that someone has intentionally entered the zone from Mexico through an area other than a designated port of entry and knows that conduct is unlawful is enough to find someone guilty of the military zone infractions, federal prosecutors maintain.

The 12-by-18-inch signs, which are posted on stakes inside the zone, are in English and Spanish, but no other languages. Skinner, who couldn't be reached for comment Monday, asked Wormuth to hear oral arguments on the issue.

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Ellison wrote that it appeared the judge's "premature and inappropriate effort to decide questions before it" was apparently "designed to provide legal guidance to courts across all cases, present and future, across the district."

The New Mexico defense zone is a "crucial installation necessary to strengthen the authority of servicemembers to help secure our borders and safeguard the country. The Court should therefore be particularly reluctant to stray beyond the constitutional limits of 'judicial power' and unilaterally impose its legal views in cases implicating national sovereignty."
(NewsNation)  The Trump administration will cut the de minimis tariff on low-value packages from China, according to an executive order published on Monday.

The levies, reduced to 54% from 120%, will likely affect Chinas e-commerce powerhouses like Shein and Temu, as well as businesses in the U.S. that rely on Chinese-made products.

The baby tax: How Trumps tariffs impact child costs

The move marks the latest trade de-escalation between China and the United States. The countries reached a 90-day trade deal after talks in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend, soothing markets worldwide after months of uncertainty.

What is a de minimis tariff?

The de minimis exemption previously allowed Chinese packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty-free. The rule was created because sometimes processing a tariff fee on those small packages would cost more than the package itself.

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On May 2, an executive order went into effect that raised the levy on those low-value packages to 120%. Trump, who previously called the loophole a scam, cited the flow of fentanyl from China as the reason behind ending the tariff exemption.

Biweekly earners see extra paychecks in May 2025

Under Trumps latest order, de minimis packages are subject to a 54% tariff, or $100 flat fee. A far cry from duty-free, the levy decrease is still likely to ease some of the nations shipping concerns.

Jianlong Hu, CEO of Brands Factory, told Reuters the current tariff is still very high for international e-commerce merchants.

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Sellers are probably taking a wait-and-see approach, but in general, I think its fair to say the boom times of small package delivery from China to the U.S., the golden age is already gone, Hu said.

What does de minimis mean for Shein and Temu?

Last month, China-based budget retailers Shein and Temu hiked their prices in response to Trumps tariffs.

The price of the top 100 beauty and health products on Shein jumped 51% in the final week of April, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News.

Temu added import charges that sometimes cost more than the original product.

Will Pope Leo XIV have to pay US taxes?

The latest tariff change could give these retailers the time to reevaluate prices and adapt their businesses.

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Its not clear if Shein, Temu or other similar storefronts like Aliexpress will drop prices over the next 90 days  but experts predict merchants will likely take this time to restock their U.S. warehouses, even if the allure of de minimis has faded.

I think companies that were part of the cross-border boom from China will still want to diversify their business away from the U.S. as much as they can. Everyone has already realized if you depend on the U.S., its too risky, Hu said.

NewsNations Brooke Shafer and Andrew Dorn contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The Trump administration wants to hear this week how NATOs European member countries and Canada plan to boost defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product, new U.S. envoy Matthew Whitaker said Tuesday.

In 2023, as Russias full-scale war on Ukraine entered its second year, NATO leaders agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on national defense budgets. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so.

The leaders will set a new goal at a summit in The Hague on June 25. President Donald Trump insists that U.S. allies should commit to spending at least 5%, but that would require investment at an unprecedented scale.

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Trump has cast doubt over whether the U.S. would defend allies that spend too little.

Briefing reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey on Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker insisted that 5% is our number. Were asking our allies to invest in their defense like they mean it.

Make no mistake, this ministerial is going to be different, Whitaker said, adding that 5% is not just a number, it is a necessity for our security. The alliance is facing significant threats.

He did not outline those threats.

NATO leaders insisted at a summit last year that Russia remains the most significant and direct threat to Allies security, but some countries have grown uneasy about Trumps links to President Vladimir Putin.

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Last week, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that NATOs chief expects the leaders to aim for 3.5% hard military spending by 2032, and to 1.5% related spending such as infrastructure, cybersecurity and things like that. Also achievable by 2032.

While the two figures do add up to 5%, factoring in infrastructure and cybersecurity would change the basis on which NATO traditionally calculates defense spending. The seven-year time frame is also short by the alliances usual standards.

Asked about his demand, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte did not deny it, but he said: Im not going to confirm the figures. He said that there are many rumors floating around as envoys discuss the new spending goal.

Whitaker appeared to confirm the defense investment plan, saying that it also includes things like mobility, necessary infrastructure, cyber security. It is definitely more than just missiles, tanks and howitzers.

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But at the same time, its got to be defense-related. Its not a grab bag for everything that you could possibly imagine, Whitaker added.

It remains difficult to see how many allies might reach even 3.5%. NATOs most recent estimates show that 22 allies would reach the 2% goal last year, compared to a previous forecast of 23.

Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain would not, although Spain does expect to reach the 2% goal in 2025, a year too late.

Even the United States was estimated to have spent 3.19% of GDP in 2024, down from 3.68% a decade ago, when all members vowed to increase spending after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Its the only ally whose spending has dropped.

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Whitaker also said that any European investments in defense industry capabilities must also include the fair treatment for American defense technology firms." He said that excluding the U.S. and others "would undermine NATO interoperability, slow Europes rearming, raise costs and stifle innovation.

Last month, the European Union announced a new drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment in Europe.
By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Over 100 federal employees who screen coal miners for black lung disease and research other respiratory disease who had been terminated as part of sweeping government layoffs have had their jobs restored permanently, West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced on Tuesday.

They comprise a large percentage of the 313 workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that were notified that their layoff notices were rescinded, according to an internal email sent by the Department of Health and Human Services to employees on Wednesday seen by Reuters.

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NIOSH had nearly 1,500 full-time workers in eight offices around the United States.

Capito said in a statement that she got an assurance from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the HHS had reversed the terminations of employees at the NIOSH facility in Morgantown, West Virginia.

"My understanding from Secretary Kennedy is that over 100 Morgantown employees will be returning to the job permanently," she said in a statement.

NIOSH runs a coal mine health surveillance unit that had effectively been shuttered since February amid sweeping layoffs led by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, even as a resurgence of deadly black lung disease has affected at least one out of five coal miners - and increasingly workers as young as in their 30s.

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Reuters had reported that those potential job cuts, as well as cuts at the Mine Health Safety Administration, were putting miners at risk, even as President Donald Trump called for a revival of the coal industry.

The status of NIOSH workers had been in flux, with some workers brought out of administrative leave earlier this month only to be notified days later that they were permanently terminated.

Capito said she had several conversations with Kennedy urging him to save the coal workers' surveillance program.

Despite the return to full-time work of some NIOSH employees, the agency plans to proceed with most of its planned layoffs, according to internal emails seen by Reuters.

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Another letter seen by Reuters that was sent to NIOSH employees on Tuesday from its director, John Howard, said that some previously terminated employees who were called back include staff from selected units in the NIOSH director's office, the Respiratory Health Division that includes the coal mine surveillance unit; the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory; the Division of Safety Research and the Division of Compensation and Analysis Support.

It also includes 15 full-time employees of the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides support to 9/11 first responders stricken by illness.

It also includes 18 of 28 staffers of DECA, who work on compensation claims of former nuclear weapons workers that have cancer, who were among those brought back, two sources familiar with the news told Reuters.

Kennedy will testify before Congress on Wednesday, where he is likely to face questions about mass layoffs at HHS.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Mark Porter)
A US hostage freed on Monday in an American deal with Hamas has said he was held in a cage and repeatedly tortured.

Edan Alexander was shackled by his hands and feet for long periods, and was routinely abused by the terror group, he reportedly told Israeli officers.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier was referred to as the American during his 584 days of captivity. He is said to have been kept mostly in a tunnel with no light and given starvation rations, apart from during the past few weeks.

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On Tuesday, the 21-year-old, who was born in Israel but grew up in New Jersey, spent time with his parents and other family members, who had vociferously lobbied Donald Trump, the US president, to press for his release.

He was freed following an unprecedented direct one-off deal between the White House and the terror group.

Israel was not informed until the last minute.

Credit: Israeli Prime Ministry

Mr Alexanders plans to fly to Qatar this week to meet Mr Trump during his Middle East tour were shelved to allow him more time to recover, his medical team said.

Instead, he was pictured talking to the president on the phone and plans to meet him in the US later this month.

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An Israeli health ministry official said that she was extremely concerned about the welfare of the remaining hostages following Mr Alexanders release.

He was the last known living hostage with US citizenship held captive in Gaza. Hamas is believed to hold the remains of four other US citizens and the White House has now formally requested their return.

The soldier was released without any conditions, in what Hamas described as a goodwill gesture.

Mr Trump said he hoped it would lead to other releases. The US is known to be pressuring the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to end the war.

Edan Alexander was reunited with his brother on Monday - Israeli Government Press Office/Handout/via REUTERS

However, in the absence of a wider hostage deal, the Israeli military is set to drastically expand the scope of its operation in Gaza once Mr Trumps tour of the Gulf ends this week.

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The plan will involve, for the first time, taking and holding all areas of the territory. Massive destruction of buildings is also expected.

Officially, the army detonates or bulldozes houses because they are believed to be linked to Hamas, or because they are considered to pose a threat to advancing soldiers in the form of sniper vantage points or booby traps.

Military destroying Gaza homes

Israeli media have now reported that, during a closed-door committee meeting in the Knesset, Mr Netanyahu told politicians that the military was destroying more and more houses [so Palestinians] have nowhere to return.

Israel has set up a mechanism to allow Gazans to leave the territory, although no third-party countries have agreed to receive them.

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On Monday night, Israeli forces launched another air strike on Gazas Nasser Hospital, killing two, according to the Hamas-run health authority.

The dead included Hassan Eslaiah, a journalist, who followed Hamas terrorists into Israel on Oct 7 and took pictures of a burning tank. The IDF claimed he was a member of Hamass Khan Younis Brigade.

Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA) has said Israels blockade of aid into Gaza, which began at the start of March, amounted to a war crime.

Israel has accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas.

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The News

US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday signed a defense deal worth an estimated $142 billion, according to the White House.

The agreement, inked on the first day of Trumps Middle East tour, includes bolstering Saudi Arabias air and missile defense systems, as well as support for the kingdoms coastal and border security, the White House said.

Trumps trip to the Gulf is centered on business business business, as one analyst told NBC News. Still, diplomacy remains in focus: Trumps Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly meeting with Gaza negotiators in Qatar, and a possible stop by Trump in Turkey on Thursday, where peace talks are due to take place between Ukraine and Russia.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's comment on "unification" was about the U.S.-China trade relationship and U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed, the de facto U.S. embassy on the island said on Tuesday, after the wording caused unease in Taipei.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

Washington and Beijing agreed on Monday to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, pausing their trade war, a move Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House.

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"They've agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it's going to be fantastic for China, I think it's going to be fantastic for us, and I think it's going to be great for unification and peace," he said, without mentioning Taiwan.

The American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said in a statement that Trump was speaking about U.S.-China trade.

"It's clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship," a spokesperson said. "U.S. policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the U.S. approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations."

A White House National Security Council spokesperson reiterated that Trump "was clearly referring to U.S.-China trade relations".

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Taiwan's presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the U.S. comment that Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan.

"The U.S. commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged," spokesperson Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan's understanding was that the U.S.-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues.

Trump's remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan about whether U.S. policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters.

"Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?" one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

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The U.S. government only officially recognises the government in Beijing, and does not take a position on Taiwan's sovereignty, only acknowledging China's position on the subject under Washington's long-standing "one China policy".

Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee and Michael Martina; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Bo Erickson, David Morgan and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives kicked off public debate on major pillars of President Donald Trump's budget legislation on Tuesday, weighing choices about tax policies and spending on popular social safety-net programs that may strain their narrow majority.

The plan, which would extend tax cuts passed during Trump's first term, could add to the nation's $36.2 trillion in debt over the next decade. Congress' bipartisan Joint Tax Committee estimates the tax cuts would cost $3.72 trillion.

"Together with a one big, beautiful bill, we can ignite a second Trump economic boom and improve the lives of millions of our neighbors back home," House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri said at the outset of a marathon debate over the proposed tax package.

The committee's top Democrat, Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts, shot back that the Trump tax agenda amounted to "one big, beautiful tax cut for billionaires."

Lawmakers aim to partly offset the lost revenue by canceling many green energy initiatives and tightening eligibility for food and health safety-net programs that serve tens of millions of low-income Americans.

Some Republicans caution that program cuts could erode support among voters that elected Trump in November and handed the party control of Congress.

Republicans hold a narrow 220-213 House majority, and will need to stay united to pass a measure that Democrats are criticizing as hurting social programs.

Some Republicans from Democratic-led states including New York and California have threatened to oppose the legislation unless the so-called SALT cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes is increased.

"I will not support any bill that does not adequately lift the cap on SALT," New York Representative Mike Lawler said in a statement. "This bill, as written, fails to deliver and will not have my support."

Success in the House would be just a first step, as lawmakers would next need to pass the bill in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and are planning to use a legislative maneuver to bypass the chamber's 60-vote filibuster threshold for most legislation.

The Republican plan would extend the tax cuts passed during Trump's first term and includes several of his campaign promises, including temporary tax breaks for tipped income, overtime and interest paid on some car loans and an additional tax break for seniors.
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced this week it had successfully recovered a rare trove of smuggled artifacts from the United States, concluding a three-year diplomatic effort between the countries.

Gilded coffin lids from the Pharaonic era, gold funerary masks and what's believed to be fragments of Queen Hatshepsut's ancient temple were among the 25 items accepted in Cairo on Monday.

MORE: Stolen artifacts sold to US collectors will be repatriated to Cambodia, officials say

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The items spanned centuries and included a range of styles from different eras of ancient Egyptian civilization, the ministry said.

PHOTO: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday it had successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 historical artifacts from the United States. (Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

PHOTO: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday it had successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 historical artifacts from the United States. (Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

A portrait of a mummy from Faiyum, Egypt, a gold coin from the reign of Ptolemy I -- a Greek general and successor of Alexander the Great -- and jewelry pieces that date back 2,400 years were also among the items returned, according to the ministry.

The pieces were recovered in New York City in coordination between Egypt's consulate, the New York District Attorney's Office and American security agencies, the Egyptian antiquities ministry said in a press release.

Officials did not specify how the artifacts were smuggled from Egypt or how they surfaced in America, but said the recovery was part of a continued effort to "combat illegal trade in cultural properties."

PHOTO: Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday it had successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 historical artifacts from the United States. ( Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

MORE: US Returns Seized Artifacts to Egyptian Government, Including Mummies

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Similarly, in 2016 the U.S. returned a collection of stolen artifacts to Egypt, including an ancient wooden sarcophagus, a mummy shroud and mummified hand.

"While we recognize that cultural property, art, and antiquities are assigned a dollar value in the marketplace, the cultural and symbolic worth of these Egyptian treasures far surpasses any monetary value to the people of Egypt," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Sarah R. Saldana in a statement at the time.

That same year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement had returned more than 200 artifacts to India, as well as a stolen copy of Christopher Columbus' 1493 letter describing his discoveries in the Americas to Italy.

Egypt recovers trove of smuggled ancient artifacts from the US, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The administration of United States President Donald Trump says that Saudi Arabia will invest $600bn in the United States, including through technology partnerships and a weapons sales agreement worth $142bn.

A fact sheet shared by the White House on Tuesday explains that the agreement, which also includes collaboration in areas such as energy and mineral development, is the largest-ever weapons sale between the two countries.

The deals celebrated today are historic and transformative for both countries and represent a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the fact sheet reads.

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The pact represents a deepening of economic and military ties between the two countries, a trend that has continued for decades under both Republican and Democratic US presidents.





Trump was in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Tuesday as part of a Middle East tour, marking the first major international trip of his second term as president. Later in the week, he is expected to make stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

But already, the trip has renewed criticisms that Trump may use the diplomatic outing to advance personal interests.

The proposed transfer of a $400m luxury aeroplane, for instance, from Qatar to the US Department of Defence has raised questions in the US about the ethics and constitutionality of accepting gifts from foreign governments.

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During his first term as president, in 2017, Trump likewise included Saudi Arabia on his first major trip abroad, a voyage that similarly culminated in a multibillion-dollar arms deal.

But the global outcry over the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a consulate in Istanbul briefly threatened to upend the relationship. The US government has alleged that forces linked to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman were responsible for the killing.

Tuesdays agreement is designed to help modernise the Saudi military with state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defense firms, according to the White House fact sheet.

The first key component of this is upgrading the defence capabilities of Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera correspondent Hashem Ahelbarra reported from Riyadh.

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This is a country that has been trying to invest vast amounts of money over the last few years in its military, he added.

But the newly minted deal is not limited to security cooperation. The agreement also lays out a plan in which Saudi Arabia will invest $20bn in energy infrastructure and data centres for artificial intelligence in the US, a significant infusion of cash into industries with close ties to the Trump administration.

In both areas, US companies stand to reap a potential windfall.

Saudi Arabia wants to become one of the top global investors in artificial intelligence, and thats why you see many tech CEOs here in Riyadh, who are looking forward to getting some of those contracts, said Ahelbarra.

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The deal also includes references to collaboration on energy infrastructure and mineral investments, without offering many details.





Various US administrations, including during Trumps first term in office, have used the inducement of greater collaboration on security and arms sales to push Saudi Arabia to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel.

The two countries have never had formal diplomatic ties. But during Trumps first term, the Republican leader initiated a series of agreements known as the Abraham Accords to boost ties between Israel and various Middle East states.

Countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan agreed to recognise Israel as part of the agreements. But Saudi Arabia has been a holdout  and normalising ties between it and Israel could be seen as a crowning achievement for the second Trump administration.

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Israels war in Gaza, however, has complicated those efforts. United Nations experts have warned that Israels actions in Gaza were consistent with genocide, and South Africa has accused Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice.

The International Criminal Court, meanwhile, has issued arrest warrants for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant over accusations of war crimes.

The spiralling death toll in Gaza and allegations of human rights abuses have caused outrage in the region and hardened Riyadhs insistence that normalisation should come only as part of a wider agreement on a Palestinian state, a move Israel is not willing to consider.
RIYADH (Reuters) -The United States agreed on Tuesday to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it "the largest defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done.

The agreement, signed during U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said.

"The package signed today, the largest defense cooperation deal in U.S. history, is a clear demonstration of our commitment to strengthening our partnership," the fact sheet said.

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Reuters first reported last month that the arms package would be worth well over $100 billion.

Reuters previously reported that Lockheed Martin Corp was expected to sell C-130 transport aircraft, missiles and radars as part of the deal. CEOs from RTX Corp Boeing Co, Northrop Grumman Corp were expected to be in the kingdom, but the White House did not verify any specific equipment or makers as a part of the potential sale to Saudi.

Reuters could also not immediately establish how many of the deals on offer were new. Many have been in the works for some time, sources have told Reuters.

Saudi Arabia is the largest customer for U.S. arms. In 2017, Trump proposed approximately $110 billion of sales to the kingdom.

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As of 2018, only $14.5 billion of sales had been initiated and Congress began to question the deals in light of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Former President Joe Biden's administration tried unsuccessfully to finalize a defense pact with Riyadh as part of a broad deal that envisioned Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel.

The White House fact sheet did not mention if Riyadh would be permitted to purchase Lockheed's F-35 jets, the military aircraft that the kingdom has reportedly been interested in for years.

The two countries had discussed Riyadh's potential purchase of Lockheed's F-35 jets, two sources briefed on discussions told Reuters.

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However, it was not clear if Washington would permit the kingdom to move forward with a purchase that would give Saudi Arabia an advanced weapon used by close U.S. ally Israel, one of the sources said.

The second source said the qualitative military edge, or U.S. guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states, is an issue that "has come up."

The sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Israel has owned F-35s for nine years, building multiple squadrons.

Governments in the Gulf have long sought the most advanced fighter jet, built with stealth technology allowing it to evade enemy detection. If the U.S. did approve the transfer, Saudi Arabia would be only the second Middle East state after Israel to operate F-35 fighters.

(Reporting by Pesha Magid in Riyadh and Mike Stone in Washington; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Mark Potter, David Gregorio and Andrea Ricci)
The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a $142 billion arms deal on Tuesday, which the White House described as the largest defence sales agreement in history.

The US will provide Saudi Arabia with "state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services" from over a dozen firms, the White House said.

The deal includes air force advancement and space capabilities, air and missile defence, maritime and border security, as well as information and communication systems upgrades, it added.

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This deal is larger than one inked in 2017 during US President Donald Trump's first visit to the kingdom, which was worth almost $110 billion.

Trump, who arrived earlier Tuesday in Riyadh, signed several agreements with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman on cooperation in the energy, defence, medical and space sectors.

The agreements include development and modernizing capabilities of Saudi armed forces, judicial cooperation and medical research, according to Saudi state television.
TEXAS (KXAN) On Monday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called for the release of Texan David Barnes, who was wrongfully detained in Russia for more than four years, according to a press release.

The call comes after recently-freed Russian prisoner Ksenia Karelinas letter to President Donald Trump, urging the safe return of Barnes and two other Americans who were being held by Russia.

David Barnes, a Texas father of two sons, has been detained in Russia for far too long under charges already proven to be false said Sen. Cornyn. I urge President Trump and Secretary Rubio to prioritize efforts to bring David and all wrongfully-detained Americans throughout the world home.

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The release stated, in 2015 Barnes was accused by his ex-wife of sexually abusing his two sons in Texas, one of whom has Russian nationality. Details further said the actuation was found not credible and no charges were filed against Barnes in the United States.

During an ongoing child custody battle in 2019, his ex-wife fled to Russia with the children and a Texas court designated Barnes as the primary guardian of his sons, said the release. According to the release, Barnes ex-wife was indicted for interference with child custody and a warrant was issued for her arrest in Texas.

The release further detailed when Barnes traveled to Russia to rekindle with his sons in 2022, he was arrested by Russian police who were informed by his ex-wife of the child sexual abuse accusations in Texas. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison by a Russian judge in 2024.

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.
By Ahmed Aboulenein

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren called on President Donald Trump's nominee for deputy U.S. health secretary to recuse himself from decisions related to former clients and employers in the healthcare industry for at least four years.

Jim O'Neill, a health policy adviser with ties to several healthcare companies, is up for confirmation by the Senate as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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In a Monday letter to O'Neill reviewed by Reuters, Warren asked that he pledge to not seek compensation for four years after leaving office from any companies he regulated while serving, and to not lobby the health department or any of its agencies for the same amount of time.

O'Neill could not immediately be reached for comment.

"Your relationships with biomedical companies regulated by HHS will raise concerns about your impartiality in this role," wrote Warren, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee that will vote on advancing O'Neill's nomination for the Senate to confirm.

O'Neill is an ally of tech billionaire and erstwhile Trump-backer Peter Thiel and from 2012 to 2019 managed one of his venture capital firms, Mithril Capital Management. While at Mithril, he invested in biotechnology companies, some of which currently seek approvals for products from the Food and Drug Administration.

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He also served as chief executive of his philanthropic Thiel Foundation and as a managing director at Thiel Capital.

O'Neill also advises and serves on the board of ADvantage Therapeutics which is developing an Alzheimer's drug that will require FDA approval. He has agreed to recuse from ADvantage's specific-party matters for one year or two years if he receives a bonus from the company, as required by law.

Prior appointees have voluntarily made ethics commitments beyond those required by laws and government regulations, Warren wrote, and so should he.

If confirmed, O'Neill would report to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who criticizes industry influence over health agencies, pointing to the "revolving door" of officials going on to work for companies they regulated. Kennedy promised "radical transparency" at the department.

(This story has been refiled to fix the spelling of last name to O'Neill from O'Neil throughout)

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
US Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio will travel to Turkiye, where a potential meeting between representatives of Ukraine and Russia is scheduled for 15 May.

Source: NBC News citing a senior White House official, as reported by European Pravda

Details: US President Donald Trump had previously announced during a speech at a forum in Riyadh on Tuesday that Rubio would participate in the Istanbul negotiations.

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The White House confirmed to NBC News that Rubio will attend the talks in Istanbul alongside US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.

The official also clarified that Trump himself will not travel to Turkiye this week.

Background:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, but if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin only agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdogan are prepared to travel there instead.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraines allies should prepare the strongest package of sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin leader fails to attend the Istanbul talks to agree on a ceasefire.

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By Jan Strupczewski

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The trade deal struck last week between the United States and Britain is probably not going to serve as a template for a trade agreement between the U.S. and the European Union, Lithuania's Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius said on Tuesday.

In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of an EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels, Sadzius said the trade relationship between the U.S. and the 27-nation EU was a much bigger one than the one Washington had with Britain.

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"I have big doubts that the EU will have to ... adopt any template from anywhere," Sadzius said.

Washington and London last week announced a limited bilateral trade agreement that leaves 10% U.S. tariffs on British exports, modestly expands agricultural access for both countries and lowers prohibitive U.S. duties on British cars.

The two sides agreed to continue trying to agree a broader deal that will cover pharmaceuticals and reducing the remaining reciprocal tariffs.

But Sadzius said the EU economy was a much more powerful trading bloc. "I think European institutions are strong in this negotiation process, very strong," he said.

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"Competition between the European Union and the United States...is something that designs or defines the economic map of the world."

According to the U.S. trade department, trade with the European Union totaled $976 billion in 2024, more than six times the value of trade with the UK which added up to $148 billion.

The European Commission said it was analysing the UK-U.S. agreement for impact on the EU and global trade as it continues to negotiate the EU's own deal with the United States ahead of a July 8 deadline.

Until then there are 10% across-the-board U.S. duties on almost all EU products and 25% U.S. duties on European steel, aluminium, cars and car parts. If there is no deal by July 8, the across-the board 10% duty on European goods could go up to 20%.

(Reporting by Jan StrupczewskiEditing by Ros Russell)
U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, at Salt Lake Central Station in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 7, 2025. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

As Utah looks to double power production in the next 10 years, state leaders view geothermal energy as an untapped resource. But, officials say federal regulations are stunting the industry and hope Congress will peel back some of the red tape.

On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, which is under the House Committee on Natural Resources, held a hearing in Cedar City to discuss the barriers to geothermal production on federal land.

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For far too long the promise of geothermal energy has been underappreciated and underutilized in our national energy conversation. Despite its incredible potential, geothermal faces regulatory delays, permitting hurdles and a lack of investment that doesnt match the scale of opportunity, said Utah Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy during her opening remarks Monday.

In 2023, geothermal power plants located in seven states produced about 17 kilowatt hours of electricity, which is about 0.4% of all utility-scale electricity generation in the U.S., according to a congressional memo. Most of those sites are in the West or Hawaii  California produces more overall geothermal power than any other state, while Nevada generates the highest percentage of electricity from geothermal.

Despite recent advances in Utah, the Beehive State is lacking compared to California and Nevada. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Utah generates about 3.2% of total geothermal energy production in the U.S.  California is at about 66%, and Nevada at 26%. And about 1.5% of Utahs power comes from geothermal, compared to 10% in Nevada, and 5% in California.

Speaking during the hearing on Monday, deputy director of the Utah Office of Energy Development Jake Garfield laid out the states recommendations to Congress and the federal government.

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First, he said, the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, should offer more land for companies to lease. In the last five years, Garfield said the agency has put up more than 160,000 acres of land in Utah to lease for geothermal  during that same timeframe, the BLM office in Nevada put up more than 700,000 acres.

If it can be done in Nevada, it can certainly be done here, Garfield said.

The BLM should also focus on what Garfield called broad scale, programmatic planning for geothermal energy in the West, looking at where production is most feasible and where it should be prioritized.

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Just last year the Biden administration did a similar planning effort for solar power, and if it can be done for solar it can be done for geothermal energy, particularly because geothermal energy has far fewer impacts on the landscape, Garfield said.

And, streamlining energy production cant happen if the federal government does not also streamline construction of transmission lines, a unique challenge for geothermal facilities. Transmission lines need to be built to the source of energy, and doing so is a process burdened by federal regulations, Garfield said.

Were seeing the initial construction of a long transmission line from new energy sites in Wyoming down to southern Nevada, he told the committee. So far thats taken 16 years to permit, and construction still wont be done for another five years. If we see delays like that for transmission, well never see the full buildout of Utahs geothermal potential.

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Lastly, the permitting process for geothermal energy production itself needs to be shortened, Garfield said, calling out the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, a 1970 law that requires the federal government to conduct an environmental review before moving forward with infrastructure projects.

Garfield said offering geothermal projects certain exemptions under NEPA would help the industry  like whats being proposed by Maloy through her Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act, which requires the U.S. Department of Interior to process a geothermal drilling permit within 60 days.

Maloy is also sponsoring the Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act, which gives the geothermal industry the same flexibility as the oil and gas industry, cutting some of the regulations when pursuing a project on public land thats already been studied or disturbed by industry.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  New data from the American Heart Associations Get with the Guidelines database shows that Utahns are getting the fastest treatment in the nation for stroke care.

Strokes, which happen when a part of the brain is damaged due to an issue with blood flow, are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.

Baby fox rescued after falling into irrigation drain in Farmington

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Intermountain Health shared in a press release that with state-of-the-art medications and innovative treatment protocols that utilize multi-disciplinary medical teams to mobilize immediate care for stroke patients and close coordination with first responders, its hospitals contribute to this #1 placement.

According to the AHAs Get With The Guidelines database, 94.5% of stroke patients at Intermountain Health stroke centers  Intermountain Medical Center, McKay Dee, St. George, and Utah Valley Hospitals  receive life-saving medication that dissolves blood clots within 45 minutes or less of their arrival at an emergency department.

Quick medical treatment during a stroke is imperative in determining a positive outcome. If a stroke does occur, there are treatments available to prevent long-term brain injury, which are focused on restoring blood flow to the brain to prevent tissue from dying due to a lack of blood flow.

These include a blood clot-dissolving medication, known as tPA, and a procedure that uses a catheter to pull blood clots out of larger arteries in the brain. Both can reduce potential disability, but are time sensitive.

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During a stroke, every minute that passes leads to irreversible brain injury and to more severe long-term symptoms for patients, said Paul Johnson, MD, Intermountain Health stroke neurologist and medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

Neurologists often say that time is brain as a reminder that any delay in treatment leads to a loss of brain function. Our time is brain mantra focuses everything we do on getting patients the right care, as quickly as possible.

Teds experience

Tedd and Ann Itchon meeting with Dr. Johnson, who was a part of Teds stroke treatment. (KTVX/Jeff Hunter)

Early 2024, Ed Ted Itchon found himself disoriented and on the floor when he went to use the bathroom at 2 a.m.

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His wife, Ann, heard a commotion and entered the bathroom to find Ted on the floor, face down and groaning in pain.

She asked me a question. I tried to tell her what happened, and I couldnt. All I could remember was hearing me mumbling. That was it, Ted recalled to ABC4.

Quickly, Ann called 911.

Paramedics arrived soon after at the Itchon home in West Valley City and noticed Teds left side of his face was drooping and his entire left side was paralyzed. They could tell he was having a stroke, and he was rushed to the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

At the hospital, a specialized stroke team led by Dr. Johnson administered tPA medication to dissolve the blood clot in his brain.

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Ted was taken into surgery, where a thrombectomy was conducted to remove the blood clot in his brain.

Intermountain Health said that Ted is one of several patients to have a successful and relatively speedy recovery from the quick response, as well as speech, physical therapy, and acupuncture for some effects the stroke left on his foot.

The Itchons shared they are grateful for the team that saved Teds life.

It was fantastic that everyone reacted so quickly  from the fire department to the doctors, said Ann. Ted was already given the blood clot medicine and was being prepped for surgery by the time I arrived at the hospital. They caught the stroke really fast.

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I cant tell you how much I appreciate the doctors and the staff, Ted said. They were fantastic.

The Intermountain Health neurosciences team said its focused on continuing to improve outcomes for stroke patients, adding that for every second a person is experiencing a stroke, 32,000 neurons die.

Protocols and policies are continuously being improved to make treatment more efficient, said Dr. Johnson. In recent years, they have changed the workflow in the emergency department to expedite CT imaging, as well as procedures for preparing and administering clot-busting medications.

Intermountain Health also said that Intermountain Medical Center is one of the few large hospitals in the country that evaluates stroke patients by attending neurologists 24/7.

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Intermountain Health said that over 88% of patients receive treatment in 30 minutes or less, compared to 58% for other Joint Commission Certified comprehensive stroke centers. They said that in 2024, the median door-to-needle time was 22.5 minutes, compared to 34 minutes for other comprehensive centers.

Faster treatment of a stroke leads to better outcomes, but doing so safely requires the collaboration of many different teams and health care providers, ranging from medics to Emergency Medicine doctors, nurses, and stroke neurologists, said Dr. Johnson. At Intermountain Health, we are proud that our stroke program and high-quality care have contributed to the overall success in the state.

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BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  The practice nursing students can get has always been limited by the number of patients, and by real-world limits on space and resources. But in the University of Vermonts (UVMs) Clinical Simulation Laboratory, these limits are a thing of the past.

This spring, the Department of Nursing at UVM introduced training using virtual reality, or VR for short. With the labs 16 new VR headsets, nursing students can interact with simulated patients and train on specific surgical tasks.

Sarah Manacek, the departments director of simulation education, explained why VR is ground-breaking for trainees. Virtual reality is full immersion into a digital world. Students experience complete immersion into a virtual hospital, where avatars are the same size as humans, follow students with their eyes, and respond using natural language processing and machine learning.

UVM nursing student using AI technology. Photo: Bruce Gibbs/UVM.

The goal of simulation is to replicate reality as closely as possible.

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The 12,600 square-foot facility, which opened in 2011, already includes complex mannequins who use electrical stimuli to react as if they were human, 3D body-part models for skills training, and a program where community members ranging from 18 to over 80 years old play the roles of standardized patients. But Manacek thinks that VR can provide something other methods cant.

By turning to VR, weve been able to increase simulation opportunities without expanding our physical space  Simulations that require time to set up and repeat, like a patient hemorrhage, are a great opportunity for VR scenarios, and VR also excels for scenarios that require critical thinking and decision-making.

Julia Otterbein, a UVM Nursing graduate, said the new VR techology has been a positive aspect of her learning experience. I am a very hands-on learner, and I figure out new skills by trying them out. Being able to run through different patient experiences and diagnoses via this program has been amazing.

To date, the nursing program at UVM has completed over a thousand VR sessions, totaling 321 hours of active simulation. This fall, VR will also become part of the graduate nursing curriculum.

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UVM Nursing celebrated its annual Nurses Week last week, celebrating the impact nurses have on patients and nursing trainees.

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OREM, Utah (ABC4)  Utah Valley University is expanding its credit for prior learning (CPL) program to give students more opportunities to turn their real-world experience into academic progress.

CPL is a program that allows students to earn college credit for knowledge and skills they may have developed outside of the classroom, including work experience, military service, certifications, and other professional training.

BYU leads in student inventor patents, recent study shows

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UVU said in a press release that CPL is a priority to help support adult learners, especially those who may have started a degree but did not finish it.

According to the release, the initiative is meant to encourage new and returning students to finish their education through a pathway that saves time and money.

By expanding CPL, UVU aims to increase graduation rates and provide a faster route to career advancement, the release said.

The university said that in response to growing demand, CPL has been expanded in the following areas:

Business

Marketing

Construction management

Criminal justice

Culinary arts

Land surveying

Digital media

Human resources

Biology

Nutrition

Education

Health sciences

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CPL can be earned through several methods, such as standardized exams, institutional exams, portfolios of professional work, and evaluation of training or industry certifications.

Examples include students who have earned a certification in Microsoft Office, military veterans, and public safety professionals who have training that is pertinent to emergency service degrees. Those who have worked in digital media, such as professional animation, digital cinema, or web development, can also be assessed for credit.

Each request tells a story, said Colleen Sorensen, director of CPL and Student Assessment Services at UVU. Students come to us with real-world experience thats incredibly valuable. Weve made it our mission to build flexible and innovative pathways that recognize and honor that experience through CPL.

Learn more about the CPL program on UVUs website.

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Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, consults with Zahidul Islam, who recently joined the Weaver laboratory as a graduate student. Weaver led a study whose newly published findings reveal a breakthrough on flu vaccines for swine, birds and humans. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

LINCOLN  A new vaccine strategy developed and tested by a team from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln could signal an end to the annual flu shot routine.

The possible breakthrough is laid out in newly published research in Nature Communications. The study, Epitope-Optimized Vaccine Elicits Cross-Species Immunity Against Influenza A Virus, describes a vaccine that protects against H1N1 swine flu and can also protect against influenza in birds and humans.

Lab work is conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (Courtesy of UNL)

This research sets the stage for developing universal influenza vaccines so people wont have to go to the doctor and get a flu shot every year, said Eric Weaver, director of the Nebraska Center for Virology who led the Nebraska research team. This vaccine will protect you against the different strains that are out there.

Named after computer software

According to a UNL news release, swine vaccinated with immunogens designed in Weavers lab showed no signs of illness after being exposed to a commonly circulating flu strain. They developed antibodies against multiple viruses from several decades and several species and maintained their immune response throughout the six-month study.

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Based on the study results, Weaver said that immunity in pigs could last at least a decade. We hope that would translate into humans, he said.

Called the Epigraph vaccine, after computer software used to design it, the vaccine significantly outperformed a commercial vaccine used by the pork industry and a wild type vaccine based on naturally occurring strains with similar immunogens.

Both the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture supported the study.

The newly published findings confirm previous research that showed the vaccine design protected against the H3 influenza subtype. Weaver said the new results are particularly encouraging because H1 swine flu variants are detected twice as often as H3 variants and have nearly three times more genetic diversity.

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This H1 subtype is the largest and most genetically diverse subtype in pigs, Weaver said. Its also among the viruses that jumped from swine to humans to cause the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Its a big target and one of the harder targets to hit.

The UNL team noted that influenza A infects as much as 15% of the human population and causes thousands of deaths annually. Todays vaccines often lack long-lasting protection because of the genetic diversity and rapid mutation of proteins that help form the virus.

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln teams research, published April 29 in Nature Communications, revealed a breakthrough on protection against swine flu. A goal is to eradicate influenza in humans. (Courtesy of UNL)

Another challenge in controlling influenza, according to UNL, is that it infects multiple species, including birds, swine, horses and dogs, along with humans. Swine often act as a mixing vessel because they are susceptible to human and bird flu variants, contributing to the evolution of novel forms of the disease that can be transmitted back to humans, the statement said.

UNL offered as an example the 2009 swine flu pandemic, transmitted from hogs to humans. About 25% of the human population was infected with the new variant, and more than a half million people died from it in the first year, according to some estimates.

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If we can prevent influenza in swine, we can also prevent zoonotic jumps from avians through swine to humans, or from swine directly to humans, Weaver said. We could basically cut off this evolutionary arsenal or advantage that the virus has.

A goal, he said, is to produce a pediatric vaccine that will protect people throughout most of their life  and, ultimately, eradicate influenza.

Flu strains back to 1930

Weavers vaccine strategy, which has been patented, used the Epigraph software to study genetic codes of more than 6,000 strains of influenza virus from 1930 to 2021 and create a vaccine that represents their most common epitopes.

Epitopes were described as regions on a virus that trigger the immune system to produce antibodies to neutralize the virus and to send T-cells to destroy infected cells. Also according to the news release, some epitopes disappear as the virus evolves. The computer-derived Epigraph strategy increases the likelihood that the vaccine contains the epitopes needed to trigger an immune response and prevent illness.

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Our ability to understand how viruses evolve has increased exponentially in the past 20 years, Weaver said. What I see on the horizon is a third wave, where we go from good vaccines to universal, lifelong vaccines.

The UNL team now plans to test a vaccine to protect against both H1 and H3 strains of influenza.

Weaver said that he doesnt have a projection yet for when a longer-lasting flu vaccine for people might be available, but said his team is in discussions with a biotechnology company to pursue the human vaccine.

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A dispute over lawn work in Valencia resulted in a gun being drawn and a mans arrest last week, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal.

The man, whose identity was not released, was arrested near his home in the 25900 block of Palomita Drive on Friday, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputy Robert Jensen told the outlet.

He faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly threatened someone performing lawn maintenance on a neighbors home.

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The man was reportedly upset about lawn debris coming into his yard, prompting him to issue the threat.

He was arrested and booked into jail as a result, the outlet added.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After announcing that a possible abduction took place Tuesday morning, Portland police confirmed hours later that no crime took place.

Driver accused of deliberately ramming motorcyclist now faces attempted murder charge

PPB wants to thank the community, but is no longer asking for the publics assistance with this case, police said.

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VANCOUVER, Wash (KOIN)  Jan Gonzalez stood in the rain across from the Fred Meyer on Fourth Plain to make it plain to federal leaders: Hands off Social Security.

Weve worked all our lives to have these benefits. Weve paid into Social Security and now they want to cut, and they want to cut benefits and everything. And at a time when everybody is really struggling, I think its a really horrible thing to do, Gonzalez said.

She joined dozens of others in the rally to share their views about the potential massive cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.

Jan Gonzalez joined a Hands Off Social Security rally outside the Fred Meyer on Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, May 12, 2025 (KOIN) A Hands Off Social Security rally was held outside the Fred Meyer on Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, May 12, 2025 (KOIN) A Hands Off Social Security rally was held outside the Fred Meyer on Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, May 12, 2025 (KOIN) A Hands Off Social Security rally was held outside the Fred Meyer on Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, May 12, 2025 (KOIN) A Hands Off Social Security rally was held outside the Fred Meyer on Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, May 12, 2025 (KOIN)

House Republicans are pushing for roughly $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade, primarily from programs like Medicaid. Its a part of President Donald Trumps big bill. Supporters say the savings from the bill could offset trillions in tax breaks and reduce a national deficit.

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But critics of the bill, like Oregon US Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, say this could come at a cost for vulnerable communities.

All the changes they are doing are going to make it harder for people to get access to healthcare, Bonamici told KOIN 6 News. If its harder for them to get their healthcare, they put off getting their primary care. They get their healthcare in the emergency rooms. They have worse outcomes, and its more expensive. So, Im going to do everything I can to fight against these proposed changes.

Declining vaccination rates put Oregonians at risk of measles outbreak

Republicans are on a tight two-week deadline.

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is pushing for this bill to be passed by Memorial Day. Bonamici said she hopes to find out more once her Republican colleagues start discussing the bill this week.

But Jan Gonzalez is having none of it.

Ive been working since I was 15-16 years old. And so, I dont want anything cut. Its really important. I think we really need to stand up. I really dont believe this is what people really did vote for.

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LIVERPOOL, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Congressman John Mannion had an open discussion with 22nd Congressional District constituents during his first town hall meeting at Chestnut Hill Middle School on Monday.

Attendees had to reserve a slot ahead of the event due to the fact that Republican-led town hall meetings across the country have been filled with tension and chaos.

Mannion opened the floor, asking his constituents how they currently felt about the state of the federal government.

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Do you believe that democracy has been destabilized since January 20 of 2025? Mannion asked.

The crowd roared in agreement.

Another constituent wanted to know if it was possible that the Trump Administration could get funding rescinded for Micron. Mannion calmly responded and spoke highly of bringing semiconductor manufacturing to Central New York.

I continue to get reassurances that CHIPs and Science is going to happen, he said.

A mother, Jeanne Sokolowski of Liverpool, wondered if her 22-year-old son William, who lives with moderate autism, will potentially see cuts to his Medicaid benefits.

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If they do cut Medicaid, what happens to the quality of individuals lives when that happens? Mannion asked. It shouldnt come to that. We should find accountability in the system.

Sokolowski said she is proud to have a congressman who stands up for individuals with disabilities.

We cant afford to lose Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, Sokolowski said. Our most vulnerable people rely on it, and its essential, and we have to get humanity back.

Mannion also spoke out about whether he thinks lawmakers are upholding the Constitution on Capitol Hill by discussing checks and balances.

I work with these people, and there is a plan, he said. The plan is to continuously talk to them, the plan is to put up multiple pieces of amended legislation that they have to vote on.

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A core American value, some acknowledge as honesty, was brought up multiple times throughout the forum.

Weve got to tell the truth, he said.

Before stepping off the stage, he told the crowd he was going to save this country with his constituents, together.

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YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A tractor-trailer hauling six vehicles that crashed on I-83 Monday morning in York County was stolen, and the driver was taken into custody at the scene, according to State Police.

The driver, Ramon Vasquez-Fajardo, 29, was walking away from the crash scene between the Lewisberry and Fishing Creek road exits in Fairview Township when he was arrested around 4:30 a.m., State Police out of York said in a criminal complaint.

PSP: Body camera records woman resisting arrest, kicking Trooper in the head during Dauphin County traffic stop

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The complaint shows the truck and trailer carrying vehicles attached to it were discovered to be stolen out of Harrisburg. A Dodge Durango on the trailer was also confirmed to be stolen.

When Troopers arrived at the scene, they said they saw the truck and carrier, along with six vehicles, down an embankment about 20 feet off the interstate. Troopers were also advised that Fairview Police had Vasquez-Fajardo in custody, and they were able to identify him through his Dominican Republic ID card and New Jerseys drivers license.

The truck and trailers owner was contacted by State Police and was unaware the truck was stolen from their lot. The complaint states that when the owner got to the scene, they confirmed that it was their truck and trailer.

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A crash witness reported seeing the truck tip over and go down the embankment. They then reported seeing Vasquez-Fajardo crawl out of the drivers door and trying to leave the scene.

Vasquez-Fajardo faces three felony charges of receiving stolen property, along with summary charges of accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle or property, reckless driving and driving without a CDL.

He is currently in York County Prison with bail set at $50,000 by Magisterial District Judge Jason Loper. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 16.

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The U.S. Department of Interior is hoping to turn an old mine in a remote area in San Juan County into a new mine that will aid in building fighter jets.

On Monday, the agency announced it is expediting the review of what it says is a major energy project to mine for critical minerals in an astounding time frame of 14 days.

The expedited mining project review represents exactly the kind of decisive action we need to secure our energy future. By cutting needless delays, were supporting good-paying American jobs while strengthening our national security and putting the country on a path to true energy independence, said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

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The proposed operation would mine uranium and vanadium at what was once the old Velvet Mine to capture what was once left idled.

If approved, the Velvet-Wood mine project in San Juan would produce uranium and vanadium by accessing the old Velvet Mine workings and developing the Velvet-Wood mineralization.

The Thunderbirds perform during rehearsal for the air show at Hill Air Force Base on Friday, June 28, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News

Why are uranium and vanadium so important?

The agency says commercial uses of uranium include fuel for civilian nuclear reactors, as well as various uses in medical applications. Uranium is also used for fuel in U.S. Navy nuclear reactors, such as on the Virginia-class attack submarine, and in the production of tritium, which is required for nuclear weapons.

Additionally, vanadium has important uses, namely as a strengthening agent in steel production. It is also used in titanium aerospace alloys in both commercial and military aircraft  think of those fighter jets and defense.

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Top Gun came out in 1986, a wildly popular movie showcasing the talent of the U.S. military. It was resurrected in 2022, with a continuation of the story starring Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.

While it may seem like it is all about glamour, the reality is the United States needs these materials.

According to the agency, this new mine which is old would result in three acres of new surface disturbance given the proposed underground mining plan and the existing surface disturbance from the old Velvet mine.

Anfield Resources is the company involved in the project. It also owns the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill in Utah, which the company intends to restart. That mill would convert uranium ore into uranium concentrate.

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Todays actions will greatly accelerate the permitting review of the Velvet-Wood, said Adam Suess, acting assistant secretary for land and minerals management with the Bureau of Land Management.

By fast-tracking the review process for the project, we are driving American energy dominance and ensuring our nations energy security, he added in a press release.
The Green Mountain Care Board began its annual public review of health insurance premiums on Monday, when it posted the rate increases for 2026 proposed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Plan.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield says to keep pace with rising health care and pharmacy costs it will need to increase rates for individual health plans by 23.3 percent and by 13.7 percent for its small-group market. MVP is seeking a 6.2 percent increase for individual plans and 7.5 percent for small-group.

The Green Mountain Care Board says the increases in the individual market also reflect the anticipated loss of federal enhanced tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year without action by Congress.

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As part of its review, GMCB has begun accepting public comments on the proposed rate increases. A public comment forum has been scheduled for 4 p.m. July 24. GMCB has also scheduled public hearings to review the plans submitted by the insurers:

BlueCross and BlueShield on Monday, July 21 at 8:00 a.m.

MVP on Wednesday, July 23 at 8:00 a.m.

Final decisions by the board are expected to in August.

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Vermont's historic sites are getting ready to open for another season, with Bennington Battlefield Monument leading the way on Friday, May 16, followed by Chimney Point, Hubbardton Battlefield, Mount Independence and President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site the following week, opening on Friday, May 23.

The last to open will be the site of Vermont's first U.S. President, the President Chester A. Arthur State Historic Site, opening on Saturday, May 24.

"The Vermont State Historic Sites present history where it happened, and provide exciting experiences for everyone," Laura Trieschmann, state historic preservation officer, said in a news release. "This year we are honoring the Semiquincentennial with events, exhibits and lectures that highlight the American Revolution, signing of the Declaration of Independence and Vermonters' role in the fight for independence."

The Bennington Battle Monument is just over 306 feet high and was completed in 1891 to commemorate the Aug. 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington, considered a turning point in the Revolutionary War.

How did the American Revolution shape Calvin Coolidge's presidency? Find out at his state historic site

The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site has a new exhibit in the museum and education center examining how Revolutionary-era ideals shaped Coolidge's presidency. The exhibit will include a display of Revolutionary-era munitions and artefactual remnants unearthed at the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont.

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Mount Independence will have an ornamental plaster frieze and mural depicting significant events in American history by Constantino Brumidi, artist for the U.S. Capitol in the late 19th century. Historian Willard Sterne will speak about his new biography, "John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America's Independence," at Mount Independence on June 14.

On June 29, Hubbardton Battlefield will present a lecture titled "The Strong Women of Western Vermont during the American Revolution."

President Calvin Coolidge's "Summer White House" on the second floor of the Cilley General Store, at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch.

On July 4, there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Bennington Battle Monument. There will also be a parade at Plymouth Cemetery to lay a commemorative wreath from the White House to honor Calvin Coolidge on his 153rd birthday.

There's more. On the weekend of July 12-13, there will be a reenactment of the 1777 Battle of Hubbardton at Hubbardton Battlefield, the only engagement of the American Revolution fought entirely on what would become Vermont soil.

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Senator Justin Morrill State Historic Site in Strafford and Old Constitution House in Windsor are closed this season for preservation. Bennington Battle Monument will be closed the week of June 9 for routine maintenance on the exterior of the structure. It will reopen to the public for Vermont Days on June 14.

Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Bennington Battlefield Monument, other Vermont historic sites to reopen
The number of teens using guns to commit crimes is skyrocketing in the Miami Valley. Teens are also being victimized by gun crimes at alarming rates.

News Center 7s Mike Campbell spent several days looking at the problem and potential solutions for the recent rise in young gun violence.

The numbers are startling, but its the simple human cost and the loss that the community must stop. The terrible reality is that teen gun violence usually ends with teens either locked up or dead.

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Hollywood often glorifies gun violence involving young people. Movies and television shows usually fail to show the tremendous pain and loss that family members feel when gunfire turns fatal.

The pain was felt when Dayton Police said two teens opened fire on West Fairview Avenue last August. The gunshots missed their intended target, and the bullets claimed the life of 12-year-old Isabella Carlos.

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There are so many horrifying examples, such as when 16-year-old Tyron Smith died from an accidental shooting as teens took gun pictures for social media. This happened on Burwood Avenue in December 2024.

Adrien Totty, 17, died after being gunned down 19 days ago at an apartment complex on Midway Avenue. Then, Liziah Burdette, 14, died 48 hours later after being shot and left in a car on Davis Avenue.

Derrick Forward, President of the Dayton NAACP branch, said, Its very disturbing. Its very heartbreaking to see this happening on a day-in, day-out basis,

Foward said young people must see possibilities, not hopelessness.

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Death and destruction and teddy bears on poles, that is not the life the Lord intended for us to have, said Foward.

The concern is not just having young people victimized by crime, but young people committing crimes. Two 17-year-olds were charged with murder in adult court after being transferred following a violent shooting that killed a 23-year-old man.

Eric Shafer, Administrator of Montgomery County Juvenile Court, said, I wouldnt say that its exploding in numbers, but I would say its trending up a little bit.

Shafer said he knows teens must be held accountable, but theres still a lot of teaching to do.

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Young people dont know the extent of the damage a weapon can do, Shafer said.

An example of that took place a few days ago when an argument over a dog bite erupted into a shootout. Neighbors ducked for cover as three young people opened fire.

One Dayton resident, who did not want to be identified, said, Im just seeing chaos. It was like the OK Corral out there,

Dayton Police said they arrested three young men, aged 21, 18, and 17, for firing weapons.

Dayton Police Assistant Chief Eric Henderson said, Were seeing some of these weapons with switches that make them fully automatic and magazines that hold 30 rounds.

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Henderson went on to say officers have arrested almost 200 teens in the last two years for carrying weapons. In 2020, it was just 24, and that led to more teen victims, too.

Ten people under 18 were homicide victims in 2024, and already four more this year.

Police are turning to technology to stop the violence; license plate readers and flock cameras are helping.

Police are not just using license plate readers. They are adding to the camera coverage downtown, trying to monitor things with electronic eyes to stop trouble before it happens. Or solve crimes faster when they do happen.

Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence said, I know for a fact that parents and kids, when you ask them about school, their No. 1 priority is safety.

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He continued by saying that young people with bright futures economically lead to a safer community.

When you have hope, you dont pull the trigger. When you have hope, you dont think about doing violent things, Lawrence said.

Its clear that the community must convince young people that books and backpacks are the paths to success, not guns and gurneys.

One thing that all the people that News Center 7 spoke with agree that teens can get their hands on guns too easily, and that social media plays a big role.

Authorities urge anyone who knows someone who posts pictures with weapons to reach out to that person.

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BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW)  A 26-year-old man is facing a felony charge of cruelty to animals after he was caught on video physically abusing his dog.

According to police and Bedford Municipal Court records, Devonta Staten appeared in court Friday and bond was set at $2,500. He is due back in front of a judge Wednesday.

I-Team: Latest on money for road projects around Browns dome site

The video is really difficult to watch, said Bedford Heights Police Chief Michael Marotta. No animal should ever be treated like this. Very disturbing.

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The incident happened May 7 at an apartment complex in Bedford Heights.

On the video, Staten can be seen walking in the stairwell carrying the dog, he then throws her down on the floor. The dog tries to run a way but a few seconds later, Staten is seen dragging her and then throwing her against the wall.

No animal regardless if they misbehave or made a mistake should be treated in that kind of fashion , the chief said. He added, police became aware of the incident after someone reviewing the video at the apartment complex called officers.

The 2-year-old pit bull mix is named India. Police took her to a veterinarian and she is expected to make a full recovery.



Based on what happened she could have sustained very serious injuries, said Assistant Police Chief Ken Hatcher Jr. Its more of a blessing than anything.

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India is now at the shelter and officials say she is doing well.

Officers say it will be up to the court to determine if Staten will lose custody of India. Police said they hope India can be put up for adoption.

We would like her to go to a loving home, Marotta said. She was eating food out of our officers hands. She is very sweet. She deserves a home with someone that will care for her and take good care of her.

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Although a lawsuit has been filed against Cincinnati police and the Hamilton County jail in Rodney Hinton Jr.'s name, his criminal lawyer says Hinton had nothing to do with it.

That's because the complaint was drafted by an Atlanta, Georgia, woman who told The Enquirer she has never spoken with Hinton and that she filed the lawsuit on her own initiative.

The lawsuit, filed May 8 in federal court in Cincinnati, claims Hinton was subjected to "excessive force" following his arrest by Cincinnati police. He was arrested and charged in the May 2 killing of Hamilton County sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson, which prosecutors described as "targeted."

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It also claims that deputies subjected Hinton to "intimidation" when they lined up in a row behind him during his May 3 court appearance in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

Rodney Hinton Jr. appears in Hamilton County Municipal Court's Courtroom A on May 3, surrounded by sheriff's deputies.

"I had nothing to do with it. My client had nothing to do with it," said attorney Clyde Bennett II, who is representing Hinton in his criminal case. Hinton, who is charged with aggravated murder, faces the death penalty if convicted.

"We were totally unaware of it until it was reported by the media," Bennett said of the lawsuit. He added that the complaint appears to be "frivolous" because it wasn't filed by an attorney.

Mike Allen, a former Hamilton County prosecutor, said the lawsuit likely will be thrown out.

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"I don't see how it could proceed if she has nothing to do with him," Allen said, adding that Cincinnati police or the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office can seek to dismiss the suit, or the judge can do it.

"It's very strange," Allen said.

Not a licensed attorney

The woman who filed the initial complaint as well as an amended complaint four days later, Antoinette Holloway, is not a licensed attorney. She filed the complaint on Hinton's behalf and identified herself as a "next friend," a legal term that refers to a person who "appears in court in place of another who is not competent to do so," according to Cornell Law School.

In a phone interview, Holloway told The Enquirer she has not spoken with Hinton but felt compelled to file the lawsuit after reading news coverage online of Hinton's case. She said she doesn't believe Hinton is receiving adequate legal representation.

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In addition to the lawsuit, Holloway has filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court, requesting Hinton's immediate release from custody.

Rodney Hinton Jr. looks back at people seated in the courtroom following his arraignment Tuesday, May 13, on charges including aggravated murder in the killing of Hamilton County sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson.

According to a Cincinnati police detective's testimony at a previous court hearing, Hinton and other family members met with Cincinnati police on May 2 and watched bodycam video of Hinton's 18-year-old son, Ryan, being fatally shot by an officer. The shooting happened the previous day in East Price Hill as police were investigating a stolen vehicle.

Bennett said in court that Hinton's mental health condition led him to drive into the deputy. He said Hinton was "triggered" by seeing a video of his son being fatally shot by police the previous day.

Henderson was not involved in the stolen vehicle investigation that led to Hinton's son being shot by police. The deputy was handling traffic control during a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony.

Would have acted 'similarly' to Hinton

Holloway told The Enquirer that she believes she would have acted similarly to Hinton if one of her loved ones were fatally shot by police.

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Holloway described herself as "self-taught" in filing lawsuits, adding that she's been doing so since 2019. Court records show she has represented herself in federal lawsuits against at least five police agencies in Georgia. Four of those were dismissed by a judge's order, and one remains pending.

She said she'll file a lawsuit "if I see something that's going to affect me in any form or fashion."

A 2020 lawsuit against the Atlanta Police Department was dismissed a few days after Holloway filed it by U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash Jr., who declared the suit to be frivolous.

Two years later, Thrash dismissed another of Holloway's lawsuits against Atlanta police for being frivolous, adding that she alleged "no facts."

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Court records show she has also sued Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Attorney: Rodney Hinton Jr. not involved in suit filed on his behalf
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at a rally outside Oklahoma's Capitol celebrating the state's private school tax credit program on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitts veto of a bill that would provide Oklahomans more recourse in pursuing open records has drawn the ire of the states attorney general.

Stitt vetoed House Bill 2163 that would have formally created a Public Access Counselor Unit in Drummonds office and a deadline-laden process to help those seeking public records. The measure would allow for a person to request a review from the access counselor, who will then determine if the denial violated state law and advise the public body.

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The government body must then promptly and reasonably comply.

Oklahomans have several effective tools to ensure transparency and accountability in government, Stitts veto message said. Public records laws and the courts provide a neutral, fair process to review and resolve disputes over access to information. This bill bypasses that process and concentrates too much power in one office.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized the veto, saying Stitt didnt want him to have increased authority and the ability to hold the governor and his failed political appointees accountable for not following the law.

As Attorney General, I serve the people of Oklahoma, not bureaucrats or politicians, Drummond said. My client is the state of Oklahoma, not powerful insiders or special-interest groups.

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He said the veto would not stop him from upholding the law and fulfilling his duty to Oklahomans.

In 2023, Drummond announced he had hired former Republican State Senator Anthony Sykes as his public access counselor to help resolve disputes over open records.

Sykes has received 354 complaints and resolved 302, said Leslie Berger, a Drummond spokeswoman. His salary is $99,225, she said.

A request submitted in 2024 by Oklahoma Voice to Sykes for assistance in obtaining unredacted flight logs from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has yet to receive a response.

A 2024 Oklahoma Voice investigation found that the names of people on trips Stitt and others took on a state plane were redacted and did not list a purpose for the trip, which experts said appeared contrary to state law.

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Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, the House author, said he is considering a veto override attempt.

He said he was frustrated by the veto, adding that he has spent years trying to get the measure passed.

It seems that this is more of a political thing  an ongoing tiff between the attorney general and governor, Pfeiffer said.

The two Republicans have been at odds over a number of issues. The measure passed the House by a vote of 80-9 and the Senate by a vote of 40-5.

A veto override would take three-fourths votes in both chambers because the bill has an emergency clause.

Measures without an emergency clause take two-thirds votes in both chambers.

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VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV)  Vicksburg police are searching for a man who burglarized a restaurant this week.

Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones said the suspect was captured on surveillance video unlawfully entering the business, and he fled the scene shortly afterwards.

Vicksburg police are searching for a man who burglarized a restaurant this week. (Courtesy: Vicksburg Police Dept.)

Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Vicksburg police at 601-636-2511 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).

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Authorities are investigating a deadly daytime shooting in Bostons Roxbury neighborhood.

According to Boston Police, the shooting occurred on Tuesday just before 3 p.m. in the area of 107 Munroe Street.

An adult male victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.

In a late afternoon press conference, officials confirmed the man succumbed to his injuries.

The victims identity is not being released at this time.

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No arrests have been made.

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Homicide detectives were called to the sprawling scene, which includes area of Horatio Harris Park.

No further information was immediately available.

Boston Police confirm victim has life threatening injuries after shooting in area of Horatio Harris Park in Roxbury. Suspect(s) fled scene #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/fGZ7nTPXdc  Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredes) May 13, 2025

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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On September 11, 2001, my husband and I raced down 24 flights of stairs after watching a passenger jet plow into the south tower of the World Trade Center six blocks from our apartment. We ran to what we hoped would be safety in Battery Park in the southern tip of Manhattan, only to be engulfed in dust and debris as the Twin Towers fell. For hours, we wandered in that choking cloud, until we were saved by one of the boats that spent all day ferrying people to safety.

Five days later, Christine Todd Whitman, the leader of the Environmental Protection Agency, assured us Lower Manhattan was safe and the air was clear. Ten days later, our landlord and officials from the city, state, and federal governments told us it was safe to return to our apartment.

We moved back on September 23. From our terrace, we could see crews digging 24 hours a day through the pile of twisted metal and charred steel. Fires smoldered at the site for months, and a sulfuric stench permeated the air. Every day, I wiped away the dust from every surface in the apartment, but every morning, a fresh layer of dust appeared, no matter how many washcloths we shoved under doors and around windows to keep it out. When we moved in 2005, I was horrified to discover just how much dust had settled beneath and behind furniture and in every hidden corner and crevice.

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We now know the air in Lower Manhattan was far from clear when we returned to our apartment. It was toxic, filled with jet fuel, asbestos, glass fibers, and particles from pulverized electronics, cement, and other materials. Experts have compared breathing in the caustic dust to inhaling Drano. In the years since 9/11, that air has been linked to nearly 70 types of cancer and other illnesses that have since claimed twice as many lives as the attacks themselves. Whitman has apologized for falsely assuring the public the air was safe.

In 2010, Congress, after lengthy negotiations, established the World Trade Center Health Program to provide medical benefits to first responders and others whose health had been affected by the September 11 attacks. The program was extended by Congress in 2015 and covers people who worked in the rescue, recovery, or clean-up efforts at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, or the crash site of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. It also provides benefits for people who lived, worked, went to school, or attended daycare in the New York City disaster area.

I have carefully kept track of the WTC Health Program and the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) over the years because of my proximity to the disaster, and also because I am a licensed New York City tour guide. Since 2011when the 9/11 memorial in New York officially openedI have taken groups almost weekly to the memorial, pointing out the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the Towers on that day. I usually start my tours in the Memorial Glade, which was added in 2019 to commemorate the lives of those lost to 9/11-related illnesses. The sites plaque reads, in part:

 whose actions in our time of need

Led to their injury, sickness, and death

Responders and recovery workers

Survivors and community members

Suffering long after September 11, 2001

From exposure to hazards and toxins 

For a long time, I didnt think those words applied to me. But now, they probably do: At the beginning of this year, I began experiencing worrisome health symptoms. After a few tests, my doctor called to tell me I had uterine cancer. But I wasnt completely surprised, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had added uterine cancer to its list of WTC-related health conditions in 2023 based on extensive scientific review and research.

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Because of that status and since my husband and I were among the 25,000 residents who lived south of Canal Street during the WTC cleanup, my cancer treatment should be covered by the WTC Health Program/VCF. But I have no idea if I will ever be able to claim those funds or receive any further treatments I might need, thanks to recent actions by our current administration.

The program benefits are supposed to last until 2090, but funding is shaky. A deal to include long-term funding in a spending bill appeared to have been worked out by Congress late in 2024, but criticism from Donald Trump, then the president-elect, and his adviser Elon Musk torpedoed that bipartisan spending deal. The smaller bill passed in December 2024 did not include funding for the 9/11 health fund, to the great disappointment of New York legislators, firefighters, and other advocates for the program.

Then in February, when I decided it was time to approach a doctor with my symptoms, I started seeing reports that the Trump administration had cut both funding and staff from the CDC, a move that would directly impact the WTC Health Program. After a strong bipartisan backlash, the funding cuts were reversed and some employees were rehired.

I had a full hysterectomy on March 27. While recovering, I submitted my WTC Health Program/VCF formsjust as a new threat to the funds became clear.

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In late March and early April, the Trump administration announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the CDC, which oversees the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)the branch that runs the WTC Health Program. NIOSH was expected to lose about two-thirds of its staff, at least 873 positions, including doctors, nurses, researchers, and administrative workers. Then, around the first of May, layoff notices were received by nearly all remaining NIOSH staff, including at least 16 workers in the WTC Health Program.

With such drastic reductions to staff, applications to the WTC Health Program likely cant be properly reviewed or processed, and critical servicesand they are critical, because cancer rates for the affected population have been reported to be much higher than averagewill grind to a halt.

Even before the recent funding and staff cuts, the program was struggling to provide timely services for the more than 130,00 people currently enrolled. I recently spoke to a boat captain who spent 13 hours ferrying people to safety on 9/11, spending hours inside the toxic dust cloud that hung over Manhattan that day. After losing half his jaw to cancer, he submitted forms asking for compensation from the Health Program more than a year ago but has heard nothing.

Michael Barasch of the law firm Barasch & McGarry, which represents more than 40,000 responders and survivors who have been diagnosed with cancer and other 9/11-related illnesses (including me), recently communicated his fears to me in an email. If the layoffs are not reversed, 9/11 responders and survivors will die, needlessly, he said.

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Anyone trying to receive care through the program must have their illness certified as being related to 9/11 exposure and receive approval to begin treatment or file for compensation. Although HHS asserts that the program is functioning properly, Barasch and others affiliated with the program have said patients are not receiving the certifications they need to move forward with treatments.

Barasch said three FDNY employees with 9/11-related cancer have been denied treatment from the WTC Health Program just two weeks ago. The program simply cant function after these massive layoffs, he wrote.

For the last two decades, I have worked to keep the memory alive of those who died on 9/11. I tell tour groups how first responders rushed in; I show them the battered Sphere statue and discuss how it was buried under tons of debris. Ive written a book and multiple articles about my experiences on that day and in the months that followed, and Ive shared my 9/11 story in churches, libraries, schools, and jails- not just across America, but in-person in countries such as Japan, India, and Madagascar. My husband is just as active, coordinating an annual event that raises funds for a scholarship at Clemson University in the name of his friend and fraternity brother who died in the North Tower.

My goal has always been to honor my countrys promise to Never Forget. To never forget the ones who died on the planes, in the towers, in the streets. To never forget the ones who rushed into burning towers. Or spent months digging through smoldering rubble. Or cleaned buildings and houses or taught school or sold groceries or rebuilt lives in the blocks around Ground Zero.

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Now I raise my voice for myself as well as the thousands like me. We need this fund. We need the health care providers and the researchers studying our diseases and the staff who read forms and fill in databases. Our country promised to remember. Can we still count on that promise?

Read more at The Dispatch

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Prolific French movie star Gerard Depardieu was found guilty of sexual assault on Tuesday, with a judge handing down a suspended sentence of 18 months.

The charges against Depardieu stemmed from the testimony of two women, a set decorator and an assistant director, who worked alongside Depardieu on the set of 2022's "Les Volets Verts." Both women said that Depardieu, now 76, groped them on separate occasions. A judge ordered the actor to pay the two accusers between 14,000 and 15,000 and required Depardieu to register as a sex offender.

"For me, its a victory, truly," a victim who spoke to the New York Times shared. "We are moving forward."

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Depardieu, who has been a megastar of French cinema for more than 50 years, has been publicly accused of sexual assault by more than a dozen women. During the trial, multiple women testified about their own alleged instances of assault at the hands of Depardieu.

A former costume assistant named Lucile Leider said that Depardieu groped her multiple times in 2014, in a manner consistent with stories of Depardieu's two accusers.

I remembered saying no with a low voice, but Gerard Depardieu does not know that word, Lieder said. This man is dangerous."

Depardieu maintained his innocence throughout the trial, though he also admitted to the court that he didn't view placing a hand on a woman's buttocks as sexual assault. The actor told the court that he was worried a reckoning with sexual assault could become "a terror" and that he was not cut out to work in a post #MeToo film industry.

"I come from the old world, of course, and am not sure if this new world interests me," he said.

Depardieu has promised to appeal the verdict.
While many Atlanta families were getting ready for church or preparing Mothers Day brunch on Sunday, Jimmy Hill stood alone in protest outside one of Atlantas fastest-growing houses of worship, 2819 Church.

Located in southwest Atlanta  and boasting 800,000 followers on YouTube and nearly half a million on Instagram  the church went viral last month when founder and lead pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell gave a sermon telling Black parents to stop blaming white cops for killing Black kids.

Instead, teach your Black children to be obedient towards authority Mitchell proclaimed.

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Hill, who lost his 21-year-old son Jimmy Atchison at the hands of Atlanta police six years ago, said that he was hurt and confused by the pastors comments and has tried to get in contact with him after seeing the now-viral video.

Im out here because the mothers [who lost children to police violence] have already been through too much, so what better day to be out here than Mothers Day, Hill told Capital B. He said he and his sons mother, Cynthia Atchison, used to protest for justice for their son together until her death in 2022. Hill said she died from a broken heart.

Hill said he decided to protest outside the church because he thinks the rift between the Black church and social justice movements is indicative of a larger problem.

I dont know what happened, but the church at one time was the place we could go to and the pastors and the men and women of the church would stand up for civil rights, Hill said.

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During his April 13 sermon, Mitchell urged his congregation to teach Black children to submit to authority.

I dont care if most of you are Black.  We need to teach our children not to fight against authority, not to fight against cops, he said.

The inflammatory statements quickly spread on social media, where commenters criticized Mitchell for seeming to excuse police brutality. Social media commenters also dropped the names of Black people who followed police instructions or were unaware of the police presence when they were killed, like Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.

A week after Mitchells comments went viral, he apologized for the framing he used and said his words were being taken out of the larger context of submission to Gods will.

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While not my intention, I recognize I caused harm and for that I sincerely apologize, Mitchell wrote on Instagram.

For Hill, the apology wasnt enough. Atchison was unarmed at the time of the shooting and the officer was indicted on charges of murder, aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, and violation of oath by a Fulton County grand jury in 2022. A final evidentiary hearing in the case was held last week before the judge decides whether to proceed with trial or dismiss the charges.

Im trying to get some type of meeting with him and the families, Hill said regarding Mitchell.

Representatives from 2819 Church did not respond to Capital B Atlantas requests for comment.

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As for Hill, the grieving father plans to protest outside other Atlanta megachurches. He hopes to get the attention of pastors he believes are around only for the first few press conferences when Black people are killed by police, but who then disappear when the real fight for justice begins.

The post Viral Sermon Blaming Black Parents for Police Killings Sparks Mothers Day Protest appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Yvonne Rorrer figured someone would out her on the campaign trail, so she got ahead of the story and did it herself.

Rorrer, a Democraticcandidate for Virginias House of Delegates in the 47th district, revealed Saturday on social media that she is married and ethically nonmonogamous, meaning she and her husband consensually date other couples together.

In politics, people love to dig up the unexpected and spin it into a spectacle, the 47-year-old wrote on social media. I dont do shame, and I sure wont give anyone else the opportunity to tell my story.

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Rorrer told HuffPost on Tuesday that while no one was threatening to out her, she believes word of her lifestyle would have gotten out of her inner circle inStuart, Virginia, her hometown with a population of just over 1,000.

What we do is together, and is often categorized under the term of swingers, which has been around since the dawn of the sexual revolution. Its a large community of people, Rorrer told HuffPost.

This is not something that we have hidden from our adult children, our closest friends, the majority of our family members, she added. This has been our way of life for several years, and so it it would have come out. And if it was going to come out, I would rather it be for me and in my own words.

Rorrer and her husband of 22 years have been practicing ethical nonmonogamy for about two and a half years. They havent been intimate with another couple in six months, however, she said.

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After Rorrer revealed the information on social media, the internet had plenty to say  TMI, degenerate lifestyle, I guess Virginia is for lovers  and Rorrer personally replied to many of the messages she received onthe first day. Now, she said, her notifications are silenced, so she doesnt see the responses.

Rorrer said the reactions have been mixed. Her dad told her it doesnt pull a hair off my ass. Other family members, however, didnt know about it until she posted about it on social media.

Rorrers husbands parents are upset, she said  almost as upset as when they found out Rorrer is running for the delegate seat as a Democrat.

Yvonne Rorrer, a Democratic delegate for Virginia's House of Delegates. Yvonne Rorrer

Rorrer is a newbie to politics. She worked in property management for 20 years before the COVID-19 pandemic, then spent her time volunteering by representing child abuse victims in the court system. After her opponent, Wren Williams, voted against HB1727, which states that a person convicted of rape cant have parental rights of the child born of the rape, Rorrer decided to join the race.

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Thats what did it for me, Rorrer told HuffPost. I have no political background, but I have a mouth and I have an opinion, and that did it. That pretty much did it for me.

Politicians sex lives have been subject to scrutiny since the beginning. Stan Pulliam  former mayor of Sandy, Oregon, and a 2022 Republican candidate for Oregon governor  came clean in 2022 about being a part of a swingers group in 2016. Christian Ziegler, the former chairman of the Florida Republican party, perused bars looking for women to bring home to his wife, Bridget Ziegler, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a far-right group aimed at getting conservatives elected to school boards, according to a police report related to a rape accusation made against Christian Ziegler. Madison Cawthorn, a former Republican member of Congress, said politicians have invited him to orgies.

Rorrer might be the first to be open about her nontraditional lifestyle from the beginning.

It doesnt have to be for you, she said. Theres a lot of things that arent for me, but I dont judge people for it, unless theyre hurting somebody. What consensual adults do behind closed doors and in their relationships belong to them. Its 2025. Its time for people to start respecting the fact that people can make choices for their own lives that work for them. Me and my husband are happy. We are happy, and Ill be honest with you, our relationship and our communication and the depth of which we were able to love grew stronger after we got into this lifestyle than it had ever been, and it was because we had to communicate.

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Does she think the announcement will help her campaign?

No, she said with a laugh. But she said she didnt think it would hurt her chances, either.

I think the people who were going to vote for me anyway will still vote for me, she said. Democrats ... tend to be open to the differences in lifestyles and allowing people to be who they are. Its the more religious people who are judging us the hardest right now. You know, were going to hell.

Virginias 47th House of Delegates district typically votes red. The district was redistricted from the 9th House of Delegates district, which voted for a Republican representative for House of Delegates all the way back to at least 2008.

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I will have to now probably rely on all the swingers in the country to fund my campaign, Rorrer said with a laugh.

Related...
VIRGINIA BEACH (WAVY)  The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art lost nearly $33,000 in federal funds.

This all comes after they received a grant termination letter April 28.

The letter from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS, says the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Arts grant is no longer consistent with the agencys priorities, and that the IMLS is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of President Trumps agenda.

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Its not just about Virginia Beach MOCA and its $33,000, theres greater uncertainty here, said Truly Matthews, deputy director and director of education and engagement for the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art lost the federally-awarded grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for an education program that has already been completed, leaving the museum with a $32,399 funding gap.

Previously: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art moving to campus of Virginia Wesleyan

The terminated grant supported Natures Witness, a project that began in 2023 and was a two-year educational partnership with Seatack Elementary and the Environmental Studies Program with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. The program connected elementary and high school students through environmental exploration, mentorship and collaborative artmaking, guided throughout by professional teaching artists. The resulting student-created sculpture is now installed outside the museum.

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Over the course of these two years, MOCA staff along with teaching artists, visited these students in their classrooms, Matthews said. One reason for sharing this with the public is because of how well received this project was.

Although the grant was legally awarded last August and spent in full compliance with federal guidelines, the museum was notified April 28 that it had been retroactively terminated following a shift in federal priorities and a new executive order affecting IMLS operations. Now, Matthews is faced with the harsh reality that the program wont be returning. Residents said it puts everyone at a disadvantage.

Students like me who are trying to learn things, if it doesnt have funding, it wont exist, resident Kjirsten Flanders said.

Said resident Josea Ransburg: So many programs that are being cut with school education, museums, just anything thats of an educational purpose, these kids are gonna miss out on a whole lot.

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Museum staff now wonder about the reliability of funding from other national agencies, as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities have come under increasing threat.

They are a reliable source of funding for museums and libraries, and the recent executive orders calling for the disbanding of the IMLS as we know it, its shocking.

Museum staff says they plan to reprioritize their budget in the coming weeks.

If youd like to donate, you can find information on how to do so, by clicking 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 WAVY.com.
UPDATE Police say Harris has been found safe.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.(WAVY) Virginia State Police have issued a critically missing adult alert on behalf of the Newport News Police Department.

Police are searching for 31-year-old Daniel Isaiah Harris. Harris was last seen at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday on Taylor Ave in the city of Newport News. He is possibly driving a 2018 black Nissan Versa with Virginia plates: URC-8634. The description of his clothing is unknown.

Daniel Harris (Courtesy: VSP)

Daniel Harris (Courtesy: NNPD)

Harris is described as 6-feet-2-inches and weighs around 260 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.

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His disappearance poses a credible threat to his safety, police said.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts are asked to contact the Newport News Police Department at 757-247-2500.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A new playground is now up at St. Johns Park in Kansas City, Kansas Strawberry Hill neighborhood thanks to volunteers from the Unified Government (UG).

The UG said on Wednesday, May 7, several volunteers from Parks and Recreation, Environmental Services, Building & Logistics, Fleet and I.T. worked with members of the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association and a host of community members to build the playground.

Black Bear spotted near Kansas City area Taco Bell

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The project was funded by a donation of $70,000 from the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood Association as well as a donation of $10,000 from TURF, according to the UG.

The UG said volunteers started at 7:30 a.m. and successfully completed the playground by 3:30 p.m.

Afterward, volunteers, community members and elected officials held an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

This playground isnt just a place to play; its a symbol of what is possible when a community believes, shows up and keeps going, Parks and Recreation Director Angel Ferarra said in a news release. Parks bring people together, but its the people who bring the parks to life.

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GODDARD, Kan. (KSNW)  Goddard is the latest district in a wave asking voters for approval. The school district argues that the bond will improve the lives of its students and attract new ones, but the nearly $200 million price tag is of concern to some voters.

At $196 million, USD 265 guarantees the bond will not increase the mill levy tax rate more than 10.25 mills. This translates to roughly $9 a month per $100,000 of appraised home value. Nobody is denying the cost; where the contention lies is whether the cost of stimulating growth is worth the price.

With more and more housing developments being built and more and more families moving in, the schools are bound to become overcrowded and overwhelmed, Rachel Purdy, a Goddard voter in favor of the bond, said.

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Wichita Public Schools lays off 16 employees, making up for budget shortfall

With new housing developments coming to the city and a population boom projection, Purdy thinks the tax is worth it. Others in Goddard disagree, arguing that extra money would unfairly impact Goddards current citizens in favor of new ones.

The school district addressed that concern head-on.

We hope our community answers the challenge, Dane Baxa, a Goodard school district spokesperson, said. The challenge is here. Weve got 1,000 new students in the next 5 years, 2,000 in the next decade  its a 30% increase. We just dont have any capacity left at our elementary schools.

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They say it is their obligation to anyone living in Goddard.

We know that the kids are coming. We dont have a whole lot to say about the developments, but we do have a whole lot to say about education and the students that enter our doors, Ashley Miller, principal of Oak Street Elementary, said.

Voters approved the last school bond eight years ago in 2017. Supporters argue that another bond so soon is necessary to spur continued growth.

One of the reasons that my family came here and that I came here and that I stayed here is because Goddard has stayed ahead of the growth, Miller said.

Advanced ballots closed Monday, and in-person voting opens Tuesday at 7 a.m.

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WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  As Central Texas temperatures climb, the Greater Waco YMCA is preparing for an influx of visitors looking to beat the summer heat.

With swimming pools among the most popular ways to cool off, the YMCA says its taking extra steps to accommodate large crowds safely.

Were trying to make sure that we have the capacity to take as many people as we can, said Chris Bradford, Associate Executive Director of the Waco YMCA. We do have guards on all of our pools, and we keep a ratio that we have to maintain.

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While the water offers relief from the heat, YMCA officials are reminding visitors to take safety seriously, especially first-timers.

Acquaint yourself with the rules, Bradford said. Most of the time, nine times out of ten, drowning happens to a first-time visitor of a swimming pool or facility. Make sure you know where you can and cant go.

Bradford also recommends the U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for those who cannot swim.

Lifeguards like Noah Johnson say they are also stepping up efforts ahead of the busy season.

We are a team, so we help each other out. Were always communicating with walkies and we always have eyes on the water, Johnson said. Then based on the amount of people, we have more lifeguards in the water, and that does alleviate a lot of the stress.

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Johnson admits the job can be stressful, but said staying calm is essential.

Fear is transferable, he said. If Im panicking and having a hard time, I think thats going to make it a lot worse. So even though I am kind of a little stressed out, I do try to keep my composure.

With summer just around the corner, YMCA officials claim they are ready to keep swimmers safe and cool.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated on Tuesday that the European Union is prepared to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if there is no progress this week in ending the war in Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Merz spoke at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during which he addressed the topic of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

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Quote: "We are waiting for Putin's agreement and we agree that if there is no real progress this week, we want to work together at the European level for a significant tightening of sanctions.

We will be looking at other areas, such as the energy sector and also the financial market."

Details: Merz noted that EU leaders had agreed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he could take part in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul this week, provided that Russia halts the bombing of civilians in Ukraine.

Expressing respect for Zelenskyys willingness to compromise if it helps achieve a ceasefire, Merz added: "I believe more compromise and more concessions are no longer reasonable".

Background:

On 10 May, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland demanded that Russia agree to an unconditional ceasefire for 30 days starting 12 May.

The German government stated that if a ceasefire was not established in Ukraine by the end of Monday 12 May, Berlin would begin preparing new sanctions against Russia together with its European partners.

However, on 13 May, Bloomberg reported that European leaders are ready to wait until a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Turkiye before pressuring the United States to impose new sanctions against Moscow.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A Wales man was sentenced to prison last month for possessing multiple illicit controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced the conviction and sentencing of 37-year-old Christopher Anderson of Wales on Tuesday. This sentencing follows charges Anderson faced in 2022 in Monson.

Chicopee man sentenced for deadly crash on Route 9 in Belchertown

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The charging documents stated that on November 9, 2022, a sergeant was monitoring traffic on Wilbraham Road in Monson at approximately 9:24 p.m. He saw a Chevy Impala speeding between 60 and 65 mph in a posted 40 mph zone, and activated his emergency lights and siren while entering traffic.

The vehicle continued slowly but eventually stopped, and the sergeant witnessed movement between the two individuals in the vehicle. The driver, identified as Anderson, apologized for speeding and told the sergeant that the vehicle was registered to his mother. He said that he and his friend were traveling from the dispensary.

The Hampden DAs Office said that Anderson showed the sergeant a kit commonly used to consume marijuana. The kit contained rolling papers and a scale with cocaine residue on it. Upon further investigation, the sergeant found that Andersons license was suspended.

Anderson was arrested for operating under suspension and exited the vehicle. The sergeant saw a billy club in the drivers door pocket and searched Anderson and the vehicle for weapons. In Andersons pockets, officers found a second scale with white residue on it resembling cocaine, three full wax heroin bags, one open wax bag with a cut straw, a blue flip-phone, and $2,763 in cash.

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Officers searching the vehicle found multiple cut snorting straws with white residue, a small glass vial of cocaine, two pocket knives, a third digital scale, 258 bags of fentanyl, seven grams of crack cocaine, three grams of powdered cocaine, five oxycodone pills, and one diazepam pill.

Anderson was charged with:

Unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (Class A, fentanyl)

Unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (Class A, heroin)

Unlawful possession of a Class B controlled substance (oxycodone)

Unlawful possession of a Class C controlled substance (diazepam)

On April 11, 2025, Anderson was sentenced to three and a half to four years in state prison. He was also sentenced to one year of incarceration to run concurrently to his state prison sentence.

Local News Headlines

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The Wall Street Journals conservative editorial board on Monday cheered President Donald Trumps climbdown from his mega-tariffs on China, busting the White Houses spin on it as a win by describing it in an op-ed as more surrender than Trump victory.

Rarely has an economic policy been repudiated as soundly, and as quickly, as President Trumps Liberation Day tariffsand by Mr. Trumps own hand, wrote the newspaper, whose board has been a fierce critic of Trumps second-term trade policies, particularly his tariffs.

A tragedy of Trumps shoot-America-in-the-foot-first approach, said the paper, is that hes hurt his chances of rallying a united front of countries against Beijings mercantilism. It added, By targeting allies with tariffs, Mr. Trump has eroded trust in Americas economic and political reliability.

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But the possible silver lining, according to the Journal, is that markets have forced Trump to back down from his fever dream that high tariff walls will usher in a new golden age.

The age didnt last two months, and it was more leaden than golden, it added.

China and the U.S. agreed, in the agreement announced Monday, to pause the majority of tariffs for 90 days.

American tariffs on Chinese imports will sink from 145% to 30%. Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports will reduce from 125% to 10%.

Read the full editorial here.

Related...
Commuters who typically take the train to might want to have an alternate plan for Tuesday morning.

A massive fire at a mattress warehouse in a building adjacent to an Amtrak line disrupted MARC and Amtrak service, transportation officials said late Monday night.

The Maryland Transit Administration said on social media that it had canceled morning service on the MARC Penn Line, citing concerns that the structure may collapse onto the tracks. It encouraged passengers to use the Camden Line.

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A decision about afternoon service will be made later [Tuesday], according to an MTA service alert.

Amtrak announced on social media around 10:30 p.m. Monday that all trains were stopped between Wilmington and Washington, which includes a stop in Baltimore. By Tuesday morning, Amtrak service had been restored but was restricted to one track, according to a spokesperson for the Baltimore City Fire Department. The company predicted delays of up to 20 minutes.

But on Tuesday morning, Amtrak also canceled five trains from Washington to New York, consisting of trains 186,131, 112 and 151 and Acela Train 2162. Train 192 will make all local stops between Baltimore and New York, according to Amtrak.

Baltimore City Fire Department requested Amtrak de-energize overhead train lines, fire officials said, as crews battled the blaze that at one point was up to seven alarms and over 200 firefighters.

Buses have also been detoured, the transit administration said, for CityLink Blue, LocalLink 26, 77 and 80 until further notice.

This story may be updated.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) watches a passing high-speed maglev train on April 12, 2025, during a trade mission to Japan. (Photo by Ken Katsurayama/Governor's Office)

As the president and chief operating officer of Northeast Maglev, I can appreciate why there remains a degree of skepticism about the future of high-speed rail in Maryland. At this time, we do not have high speed rail anywhere in America.

While recent polls have revealed widespread majority public support for Maglev project throughout Maryland, I also respect the concern that exists within certain communities about the basic characteristics of this project  from routing specifics, potential for environmental impacts, to the perceived, but unfounded concern of disruption to local homes and businesses (The high cost of high speed: Why SCMaglev is not the answer  Maryland Matters)

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These are natural questions that accompany any new road or transit project, and they are particularly understandable in a project of this size and magnitude. Throw in the fact that this would be the first project of its kind in North America  that is, a rail project powered by green energy, floating on air via magnetic levitation, and traveling at a speed of 311 mph  it is easy to see why this proposal has inspired healthy discussion and debate.

Your opinion matters

Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org.

We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates.

Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines.

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Views of writers are their own.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of projects like these before allowing them to proceed. Our federal and state governments engage local communities in open forums, provide transparent information about the project, answer questions, and allow adequate time for public comment.

It is a thorough and time-consuming process, and deservedly so. The Northeast Maglev project will change the way Marylanders live, work and travel. It will redefine the economy of our state and those along the eastern seaboard. It will transform the manner in which Americans perceive public transportation.

For these reasons, and for the preservation of the special quality of historic communities and neighborhoods throughout the region, it is imperative that we get this right.

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Until the environmental review process has been completed, with one preferred alignment designated by the Federal Railroad Administration, and while the majority of Marylanders support the construction of the project, some members of our community will remain uncertain, and a project that will make life so much better for millions will remain on the slow train to completion.

Here is what we know. The Northeast Maglev project, when built, will make it possible for people to travel from Washington to Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Baltimore in 15 minutes, and from Washington to New York in just one hour, including all the cities and airports in between.

In so doing, it will substantially relieve traffic gridlock, improve the environment, reduce air pollution, create jobs and positively impact peoples lives in one of the most congested regions of our country.

This project has never asked for state taxpayer money; in fact, it has paid all matching funds to the federal government that the state would have had to pay to even study a project like this. It will be built with a combination of private investment, federal loan funding programs and international financing.

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We know, based on the NEPA studies, that this project will create about 123,000 construction-related jobs, 38,000 professional jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, while adding $8.8 billion in wages and salaries to the Maryland regions economy.

It will also remove 16 million cars from our clogged highways between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., which not only improves our quality of life but also reduces greenhouse gases in our state. Studies have shown that Marylanders lose over 100 hours a year stuck in traffic, and this project will go a long way to help alleviate this.

It is my hope that our federal and state governments can come together and finish the environmental review process. Only by doing so can we begin to provide definitive answers and a timetable that the public deserves with a final single alignment, and move toward the completion of a project our state so urgently needs.
The low will finally move away from Alabama on Wednesday, and a ridge of high pressure aloft will build south of the state. This will limit the amount of rain we receive to mainly northern Alabama on the southwest edge of the low. Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and warmer with highs in the middle 80s.

It will feel like summer on Thursday and Friday with unseasonably warm temperatures as the ridge settles across the Central Gulf. Thursday will be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 80s. Friday will be partly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower. High temperatures will reach the upper 80s to lower 90s. This will create excellent weather for the first two rounds of the Regions Tradition at Greystone.

Weekend Outlook: The break from rain will end this weekend as a cold front moves into North Alabama and upper-level waves traverse the state. These waves will ride over the ridge of high pressure across the Central Gulf. Saturday will be partly cloudy with scattered storms. Some storms could be strong to severe with gusty winds and additional heavy rain. Highs will be in the middle 80s. Sunday will be very warm and humid with more scattered showers and storms as the front stalls across Central Alabama. High temperatures will be in the middle 80s.

Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

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Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
The News

US President Donald Trump floated talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, as he hailed a total reset in otherwise frigid relations.

China watchers have long been skeptical that Xi would enter into a top-level meeting with the White House without greater certainty over the result  certainty which is unlikely given Trumps sudden U-turns.

The US leaders remarks nevertheless buoyed hopes that a temporary tariff suspension could be made permanent, and shifted focus to slow-moving trade talks with the European Union, with Trump describing the bloc as nastier than China. Negotiations between Washington and Brussels are unlikely to make progress anytime soon, Politico noted: Trump wants quick wins, which the EUs multilateral negotiating style is ill suited to.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Warren man now faces a more serious charge in an animal cruelty case that one advocate described as the worst case of neglect hes seen.

Thomas Leimkuehler, 43, was arraigned Tuesday morning in Warren Municipal Court.

He pleaded not guilty to violating prohibitions concerning companion animals, a fifth-degree felony.

Leimkuehler was originally charged with a misdemeanor after a dog was found Saturday chained in his basement on Oak Knoll Avenue.

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The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project rescued the animal, which they say had to be euthanized due to her poor condition.

Another court hearing is scheduled for June 12.

Brian Oehlbeck 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The states of Washington and California are co-leading a lawsuit against President Donald Trumps declared national energy emergency, warning the declaration poses a risk toward human and environmental health.

The emergency declaration, which was issued on Inauguration Day, allows federal agencies to use emergency procedures to boost oil and gas production.

We need a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy to drive our Nations manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and defense industries, and to sustain the basics of modern life and military preparedness, the declaration states. Caused by the harmful and shortsighted policies of the previous administration, our Nations inadequate energy supply and infrastructure causes and makes worse the high energy prices that devastate Americans, particularly those living on low- and fixed-incomes.

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Eye on Northwest Politics

However, in a lawsuit filed May 9, Democratic attorneys general requested a court order to halt implementation of the emergency declaration, explaining the order would allow federal agencies to bypass reviews for energy projects that are required under the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Preservation Act.

Describing the national energy emergency as fake, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said, The presidents attempt to bypass important environmental protections is illegal and would cause immense harm to Washingtonians. This wont lower prices, increase our energy supply, or make our country safer, adding, Were back in court to hold him accountable.

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While Trump declared the national energy emergency under the National Emergencies Act, the attorneys general note that Congress passed the law to stop presidents from declaring emergencies for frivolous or partisan matters  exactly what the president has done here.

New express routes will take Portland-area residents on day trips to the coast

In response to the emergency declaration, Casey Sixkiller, the director of the Washington Department of Ecology explained, Environmental regulations exist because weve seen what happens when they dont, adding, The federal administration is proposing an end-run that ignores the hard lessons of the past. These protections arent red tape  theyre guardrails that protect our air, water, land, and keep our families safe.

Washington and California are joined by several states in filing the lawsuit, including attorneys general representing Oregon, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

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This order deliberately cuts out clean energy projects and puts our communities in Oregon in the dark about the risks to their health, their homes, and their environment, said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. Were talking how we prevent polluted drinking water, protect against toxic spills and lessen the impact of natural disasters like flooding.

Sen. Merkley encourages call to resist at Central Oregon town halls

The only emergency is that the president disagrees with policies to address climate change in Oregon and elsewhere. He is illegally using emergency authorities to keep the nation reliant on energy sources like coal, oil, and gas. The order excludes wind, solar, and batteries  among the cheapest and cleanest modern energy sources that exist today. The end goal is clear: eliminate the competition so his oil and gas donors can keep gouging Oregonians and polluting the state, Rayfields office said in a press release.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against President Trump, U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. William H. Graham, and Travis Voyles, vice chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

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The attorneys general claim the defendants, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation have taken illegal actions to implement the executive order.

Bock bock, you next: Man harassing peacocks tried to murder man who confronted him

Lynne Richmond ACHPs acting director for the Office of Communications, Education, and Outreach, told KOIN 6 News On May 9, the ACHP was named in a lawsuit in federal district court, along with the President, the Army, and the Corps of Engineers, regarding the issuance and implementation of E.O 14156 on the national energy emergency. The ACHP is currently working with the Department of Justice on this litigation.

The DOJ and the Army declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. KOIN 6 News has also reached out to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This story will be updated if we receive a response.

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The national emergency declaration comes as energy production in the United States is at an all-time high, according to the attorneys general, noting oil and natural gas companies have no plans to increase output in response to the presidents executive order declaring the emergency.

President Trump is also trying to increase energy exports, which the U.S. Department of Energy says, will raise prices for American consumers, the attorneys general noted.

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.
Amid an ongoing exodus of talent from the Washington Post as staffers have grown increasingly demoralized with the direction of the legendary paper and embattled chief executive officer and publisher Will Lewis has been described as going into a state of hiding as his apparent drinking has become a joke among employees.

In a damning and comprehensive story by The New Yorker, reporter Clare Malone dives into the identity crisis occurring at the Post while wondering if mega-billionaire owner Jeff Bezos is selling out the publication as he cozies up to Donald Trump following the presidents return to the White House.

In some ways, this is all a story about Jeff and how he changed over the course of his ownership and really became a different person with huge implications for the institution, one former top editor at the Post told Malone.

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During Trumps first term, Malone notes, Bezos suffered through the media-bashing presidents relentless attacks on him and his paper before welcoming Joe Biden into office. However, Bezos felt a sense of betrayal after the Biden administration sued Bezos cash cow Amazon in 2023 for illegally maintaining monopoly power.

In the run-up to the 2024 election and in the first months of the second Trump administration, Bezos made a number of moves at the paper that raised the ire of Post staffers and its readers, who took the outlets Democracy Dies in Darkness motto to heart.

Will Lewis has come under fire from the Washington Post staff for his absence from the newsroom as well as his rumored drinking. (TWP)

Notoriously, the owners last-minute decision to block the editorial boards endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for president led to hundreds of thousands of canceled subscriptions and the resignations of several board members. Bezos mandate that the opinion section only concentrate on free market principles and personal liberties left staffers outraged and prompted the opinion editor to quit. Meanwhile, there has been a steady exodus of talent over the past few months, many of whom have jumped ship to The Atlantic.

Though Bezos and Lewis have implemented these changes while insisting the staff needs to be disciplined, both leaders of the paper have largely been missing in action despite calls from employees for meetings. Lewis leadership, or lack thereof, has been cited as a key reason why many reporters and editors have left.

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In exit interviews, meanwhile, staff members have attributed their departures to Lewiss lack of a discernible plan for the paper, Malone pointed out.

The idea that the newsroom is the reason for the Posts struggles is unfair, a former editor told the New Yorker. The newsroom is not always its own best friend, but Will somehow convinced Jeff that it is the problem, when really there is no business strategy.

Lewis has also apparently had a falling out with the papers executive editor Matt Murray, the former Wall Street Journal editor who was initially supposed to just temporarily replace Sally Buzbee but was permanently given the role when no other candidates took the offer. Much of his anger with Murray, according to Malone, is due to the papers coverage of Lewis scandal-plagued tenures at both the Post and the British tabloids.

I know Will [Lewis] was very upset with Matt [Murray] for the Posts coverage and for some period of time wouldnt talk to Matt, a former senior editor said. Both Murray and Lewis denied this to Malone, but in the end, Murray did institute a policy discouraging reporters from covering the paper itself.

Washington Post and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos has come under fire for his seemingly cozying up to Donald Trump in recent months.. (AFP/Getty)

Since last June, Lewis has gone into what a number of Post staffers described as a state of hiding, Malone added. Rumors began circulating about Lewis drinking heavily in social settings. One thing that has damaged him internally is that his drinking is widely known in the newsroom, the former senior editor said. Its literally something his employees joke about. (Lewis declined multiple requests to speak with reporters.)

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The New Yorker additionally noted that during his time at the Telegraph, Lewis had a a clique of mannish guys and a reputation for hard drinking. While the Guardian reported at the time that no one has ever seen him drunk or late for work, he picked up the nickname Thirsty Will Lewis.

A person who has known Lewis for decades described him to me as a wide boyBritish slang for someone who survives by his wits, often on the wrong side of right, an associate of Lewis told Malone.

Lewis absence at a number of staff-wide events has been notable, such as the recent Pulitzer Prize celebrations for the paper and a screening party for a documentary on the Posts legendary publisher Katharine Graham. Murray and Bezos also skipped the documentary screening.

In fact, Bezos has been incredibly hard to reach for the Posts leadership team. When the opinion editors attempted to set up an opportunity to talk with the billionaire in August, Lewis told them that Bezos's schedule was full until late September. Despite other requests from staff, and Bezos edicts demanding change in coverage, the owner hasnt visited the paper since before the election.

A Post spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
A speed limiter device, like this one, will be required for repeat speeding offenders under a Washington law signed on May 12, 2025. The law doesn't take effect until 2029. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

In a few years, with the help of technology, prolific speeders in Washington wont be able to drive as fast as they want.

Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday signed House Bill 1596 into law, requiring a new speed-limiting device as a condition to getting a restricted drivers license after getting it suspended for reckless driving or excessive speeding.

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Judges can also require the speed limiters as a condition of pre-trial release or post-conviction probation.

The tech, shown at a demonstration at the Capitol on Monday, is similar to ignition interlock devices that require people with histories of drunk driving to blow into a breathalyzer to show their blood alcohol concentration before they can start the car.

These new devices use GPS to restrict speed to the posted limit. Under the legislation, drivers could override the limiter three times per month.

The bill received bipartisan support in the Legislature as the state aims to turn the tide on traffic deaths after reaching a 33-year high in 2023. Of the 809 deaths that year, a third involved speeding drivers.

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Whats behind this bill is a really simple goal, which is to save lives, Ferguson said.

Gov. Bob Ferguson handing over the pen he used to sign House Bill 1596 to Rep. Mari Leavitt, the bills lead sponsor. The bill sets new requirements for repeat speeders to have speed-limiting devices installed in their vehicles. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

The new law is known as the BEAM Act, named after four people killed in a crash last year with a speeding driver near Renton: Boyd Buster Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson and Matilda Wilcoxson.

Last month, a judge sentenced the driver in the case to 17 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to four counts of vehicular homicide in the high-speed crash.

The driver was held up as an example of someone who wouldve needed to install a speed limiter. In the prior 10 months, he had reportedly been involved in two crashes in which his speeding was a factor.

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Before signing the BEAM Act, the governor met with families of those killed in that crash and others who are pushing for stronger traffic safety measures.

Its the family members who got us to this day, said prime sponsor Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place. Theyre the ones who were willing to share their story over and over again.

In Europe, new vehicles are required to have intelligent speed assistance technology installed.

But in the United States, the speed limiter idea is new.

Last month, Virginia became the first state to enact such legislation, requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for drivers convicted of going over 100 mph. Georgia quickly followed, with a bill awaiting the governors signature.

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Last year, Washington, D.C. approved a speed governor requirement for repeat offenders.

Lawmakers in several other states have also considered the requirement. In California last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a measure requiring passive speed limiters.

Washingtons legislation defines excessive speeding as 20 mph above speed limits over 40 mph, or 10 mph above speed limits under that threshold.

If a driver has a history of moving violations, including excessive speeding, they would have to use an intelligent speed assistance device for 120 days after getting their license back from a suspension. In reckless driving cases, that rises to 150 days. Driving without one during this probationary period would be a traffic infraction that could add 30 days to a license suspension.

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Tampering with the device is a gross misdemeanor.

Drivers would have to pay to install and remove the speed limiter, and an additional $21 per month. That monthly fee would go to the state Department of Licensing to offset the costs for low-income people who need the devices but cant afford them.

The legislation doesnt go into effect until Jan. 1, 2029.
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit is running for Michigan attorney general, he announced May 13.

Savit, a Democrat, pledged to fight corporate polluters, scams and rip-offs that harm Michigan consumers, and constitutional overreach and associated funding cuts by Republican President Donald Trump. He said another priority would be fighting "wage theft" by employers who fail to pay required overtime or avoid paying benefits by improperly classifying workers as independent contractors.

Eli Savit

"I'm running to stand up for the people of the state of Michigan, no matter who is screwing them over," Savit said in a May 12 interview with the Free Press.

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Savit, 42, of Ann Arbor, joins former federal prosecutor Mark Totten in the race for the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, Birmingham attorney Kevin Kijewski has announced his candidacy.

The current attorney general, Democrat Dana Nessel, can't run again in 2026 because of constitutional term limits.

Savit is completing his second four-year term as Washtenaw County prosecutor, where he campaigned to reduce racial and socio-economic inequities in the criminal justice system and increase support for mental health and addiction services.

Since he was first elected prosecutor in 2020, Savit established an economic justice unit focused on issues such as worker and consumer protection. He has also sought to eliminate, to the extent possible under current law, the use of cash bail in criminal cases, saying a defendant's financial resources should not dictate whether they remain free pending trial.

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"If you're dangerous, you should be held pending trial." Savit said. "You shouldn't be able to buy your way out, if you are wealthy."

Before that, he worked for the city of Detroit as senior legal counsel under Mayor Mike Duggan, suing the opioid industry and directing the city's legal efforts in winning, along with interest groups, a nearly $100-million settlement for Detroit Public Schools in a right-to-literacy lawsuit against the state of Michigan.

Savit, who grew up in Ann Arbor, graduated from Kalamazoo College and the University of Michigan Law School. In between, he worked as an eighth-grade history and special education teacher.

After law school, Savit clerked for two U.S. Supreme Court justices  Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020, and Sandra Day O'Connor, who died in 2023.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Washtenaw Prosecutor Eli Savit joins Michigan attorney general race
Credit: X

The daughter and grandson of a cryptocurrency chief executive have escaped abduction in Paris in a dramatic daylight struggle.

A video, authenticated by a source close to the case, shows a man and a woman walking with their son on Rue Pache in the eastern 11th arrondissement at 8am on Tuesday.

A van, apparently bearing a fake Chronopost logo, then draws up and three hooded individuals attempt to force the mother and son into the vehicle. A source said that the man with them intervened and was beaten with blunt objects.

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The woman grabbed a handgun belonging to the attackers and threw it away. The semi-automatic pistol, which was abandoned, turned out to be an Airsoft gun, the source added.

The victims screams eventually attracted passers-by and a resident threw a fire extinguisher at the masked men, who then fled in the vehicle.

The van was found a few hundred metres away on Rue Saint-Maur.

The three victims were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Three hooded figures tried to kidnap a woman and her child on a Paris street

The anti-crime unit of Pariss judicial police has been called in to investigate.

According to initial findings, the woman and her son are the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the chief executive and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform founded in 2011 that describes itself as a European pioneer in Bitcoin trading.

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Mr Noizats fortune is not publicly known, but the graduate of Ecole Polytechnique was an early Bitcoin investor and a tireless advocate of the controversial cryptocurrency.

His company claims to be the worlds oldest crypto-to-fiat exchange platform and was founded in 2011.

Kidnaps for cryptocurrency

It is the latest in a string of kidnap attempts by mafia gangs to extort Bitcoin and other tokens from holders in France and Europe.

Earlier this month, a 60-year-old Frenchman had a finger chopped off by attackers who demanded his crypto-millionaire son pay a ransom. Le Parisien reported that the attackers had demanded a ransom of 5 million to 7 million, which was not paid.

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The man, who has not been publicly identified, was abducted in broad daylight as he walked down a street in Pariss 14th arrondissement. Four men in ski masks forced him into a delivery van.

After being held for more than two days, armed police freed him from a house south of Paris, where five suspects in their 20s were arrested.

In January, David Balland, the co-founder of the crypto firm Ledger, which is valued at more than $1 billion, was abducted with his partner at their home in Mereau, near Bourges in central France. He also had a finger cut off.

Police were contacted by Mr Ballands business partner who received a video of the finger alongside a demand for a large ransom in cryptocurrency, of about 10 million.

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Mr Balland was quickly freed in a police raid and his partner was found the following day. Nine suspects are under criminal investigation in that case.

Other abductions of cryptocurrency figures or their partners were reported in Spain and Belgium in recent months.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King spoke to WSAV Monday following his bid for U.S. Senate.

King was appointed to his current position by Governor Kemp in 2019 and elected to the position in 2022. He is a native of Mexico and Georgias first Hispanic statewide elected official.

King isnt the only person to throw their hat into the ring. Rep. Buddy Carter announced his bid last week.

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Both intend to run against incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff who has held his position since January 2021.

Gov. Brian Kemp and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have announced they will not be running.

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A viewer recently sent us a reminder that the Lake Carmi, Vermont Eagle Cam was up and running again this season. Rick Willever sent us a message saying For the 4th year in a row, the bald eagles at Lake Carmi have 3 eaglets. The first one hatched around April 9th. They are growing quickly and can be seen regularly peeking over the side of the nest. Check them out www.lakecarmi.com. Check them out is exactly what Meteorologist Alex Wasilenko was doing Tuesday morning.

The Lake Carmi Eagle Cam was alive overnight with two adult bald eagles and two eaglets. However, the light of day and beautiful sunrise helped to illuminate the happenings in and around the big nest. One adult eagle came back and forth several times during the morning to not only give the eaglets a meal but they also did some tidying up. It was fun to see the adult eagles move the bigger branches while the eaglets tackled the smaller ones.

At the end of our FOX44 Morning Brew shows, the third eaglet had popped up its floofy, feathery head to see what was going on. This camera is beyond fascinating to watch, and as Alex can attest to, can be a bit distracting from time to time but in the best way possible. Whenever you have the time, feel free to check out www.lakecarmi.com. Once on the page, navigate to the YouTube channel where the live stream is located. Enjoy!

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Credit: UCL

Scientists have for the first time captured the moment a heart begins to form from embryonic stem cells.

In astonishing footage, heart cells were seen starting to organise themselves into an organ-like shape just a few hours after they had divided from stem cells.

The time-lapse images were captured by University College London (UCL) and the Francis Crick Institute, using the advanced light-sheet microscopy technique on a living model of a mouse embryo.

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The method uses a thin sheet of light to illuminate and take detailed pictures of tiny samples, creating clear 3D images without causing any damage to living tissue.

The images capture a critical moment in development, gastrulation, when the soup of new cells that begin dividing after conception start to specialise and move to their correct places in the emerging foetus.

In a human it happens around two weeks after pregnancy begins.

The images show a living model of a mouse embryo, created in a lab at UCL - UCL

Being able to see the heart forming so early could allow scientists to understand how congenital defects occur, and how to stop them.

Senior author Dr Kenzo Ivanovitch, of UCLs Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said: This is the first time weve been able to watch heart cells this closely, for this long, during mammalian development.

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We first had to reliably grow the embryos in a dish over long periods, from a few hours to a few days, and what we found was totally unexpected.

Using fluorescent markers, the team tagged heart muscle cells so that they would glow blue, and then took images every two minutes over 40 hours to create a time-lapse.

At the beginning of the process, the cells were capable of becoming various types, but within a few hours heart cells began to differentiate and started behaving in highly organised ways.

Rather than moving randomly, researchers found that they quickly started to follow distinct paths. It was almost as if they already knew where they were going and what role they would play, whether as part of the hearts pumping chambers or in its atria, where blood enters from the body.

Fundamental change to understanding

Dr Ivanovitch added: Our findings demonstrate that cardiac fate determination and directional cell movement may be regulated much earlier in the embryo than current models suggest.

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This fundamentally changes our understanding of cardiac development by showing that what appears to be chaotic cell migration is actually governed by hidden patterns that ensure proper heart formation.

Shayma Abukar, the lead author and a doctoral candidate at UCL, said: We are now working to understand the signals that co-ordinate this complex choreography of cell movements during early heart development.

The heart doesnt come from a single group of cells. It forms from a coalition of distinct cell groups that appear at different times and places during gastrulation.

Insights from the study could revolutionise how scientists understand and treat congenital heart defects, which affect nearly one in 100 babies.

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The findings could also accelerate progress in growing heart tissue in the lab for use in regenerative medicine.

Dr Ivanovitch said: In the future, we hope this work will help uncover new mechanisms of organ formation. This will inform design principles to precisely program tissue patterns and shapes for tissue engineering.

The research, which was supported by the British Heart Foundation, was published in the EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) journal.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Gabriel Flores and his aunt, Lucy Gutierrez, had a Mothers Day theyll never forgetone that ended with a viral post about the theft of their grandmothers (and mothers) purse. These two sat down with Concho Valley Homepages Manny Diaz to talk about their Mothers Day.

It was Mothers Day weekend, and I was really looking forward to spending time and my grandma and my mom at church, said Flores.

On May 11, the family was at St. Josephs church for Mothers Day Sunday mass. Gutierrez said that her 77-year-old mother is a weekly parishioner at St. Josephs Catholic Church who often helps usher a fellow churchgoer to and from her seat on Sundays. When her mother got up to usher, she left her purse in the pew.

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She usually leaves her purse on the pew, said Gutierrez.

Tom Green County jail logs: May 12, 2025

When she came back, the purse was gone. The family assumed someone turned it in because someone forgot it, but when the purse never showed up, Flores asked to see the Chruchs security camera footage.

I was able to go through all the cameras at church and see all the certain times and how exactly she did it, said Flores.

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The footage showed exactly who took Flores grandmothers purse. After looking at the footage, the family called the Police and filed a police report. Gutierrez also gave thanks to St. Josephs pastor, Benito Rojas, for being instrumental in the installation of security cameras around the church.

Immigration holds top Sunday, May 11 jail logs

Flores then went to social media post showing who took his grandmothers purse at church. This post would accumulate over 600 shares on Facebook. Someone called Flores after seeing his post and said they saw the woman in his post at the Walmart on 29th Street.

Flores then went to Walmart to confront the lady who stole the purse. When he got there, he asked the lady why she did it, and she denied it. Flores called the Police on the lady for stealing his grandmas purse.

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ASUPD seeks alleged bike, e-scooter thief

Following the interaction, the San Angelo Police Department arrived and arrested Denise Riesgo on an unrelated theft warrant that had been issued in another county.

I just wish that she had empathy and compassion for my mom, whos an elderly person, said Gutierrez. I believe everybodys human. If they make mistakes, you know, as long as they repent and do the right thing, I think everybody should be forgiven for any mistake thats taken and given a second chance.

The family stated that they were willing to forgo pressing charges if the alleged thief returned the purse and its contents, but so far, nothing has been returned.

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The family has chosen not to pursue a GoFundMe account and shared the following statement:

We are grateful for your concern and willingness to help. Our family will be covering the cost of replacing the lost items. We kindly ask that no donations be made to any GoFundMe accounts, as financial assistance is not needed. What we truly ask for is unity in prayer and a shared commitment to looking out for one another, especially our elderly, children, and the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The theft of the purse remains under investigation.

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer gave remarks on Tuesday from the Senate floor, pushing back on President Trump over his decision to accept a jet as a gift from the Qatari royal family.

In his speech, Schumer announced he is placing a hold on all political nominees for the Justice Department in response to Trumps pending acceptance of the luxury jet that would temporarily serve as the next Air Force One.

Several Democrats have also pushed for a vote on the ethics of the gift, as lawmakers say it requires Congressional approval.

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Watch above.

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REIDSVILLE, N.C. (WGHP)  A water outage in the City of Reidsville caused several Rockingham County Schools to close on Tuesday.

The city announced on Facebook early Tuesday morning that an electrical outage at the Reidsville Water Treatment Plant and a possible water main break are causing the outage. As a result, all people in the city are under a boil water advisory.

Due to that notice, Rockingham County Schools closed several of its schools on Tuesday.

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Those closed schools are:

Reidsville High School,

Reidsville Middle School,

Booker T Washington Learning Center,

South End Elementary School,

Moss St. Elementary School,

Monroeton Elementary School,

Williamsburg Elementary School,

Bethany Elementary School,

Lawsonville Head Start

On Tuesday afternoon, RCS released the following statement:

We have collaborated with Reidsville City Officials and will open all schools at the regularly scheduled time tomorrow, Wednesday May 14, 2025 with the following precautions: Schools will shut off all water fountains, we will serve pre-packaged breakfasts and lunches, students and staff will have full access to the restrooms. We are requesting all students bring at least one bottle of water with them tomorrow. Additional bottled water will be available for any student who needs it. RCS staff will continue to closely monitor the situation and communicate any changes as soon as possible. RCS

The Cone Health Annie Penn Hospital also experienced cancellations. The hospital will now open as normal with some modifications.

The hospital is only allowing one person per patient to visit due to limited hand washing sinks until the water test is cleared.

The cancer center, physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation will open as normal.

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EOG testing will not be affected by the closures.

In a press release later Monday morning, the city revealed that staff were notified of the water outage at 3:30 a.m. Electrical surges caused by Monday nights severe weather caused a water main break.

A 4-foot section of pipe was broken, causing a rapid loss of water supply and pressure.

Repairs are still ongoing, and the boil advisory remains in effect. The city is waiting on test results before lifting the advisory. The testing takes at least 24 hours.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The West Texas Mesonet marked the 25th anniversary on Monday, May 12, with the unveiling of the 168th station, which is located in San Angelo.

Started by Texas Tech University, the West Texas Mesonet project provides free real-time weather and agriculture information. This information is transmitted every few minutes to a base near Lubbock.

This collects everything you normally see from like your weather observation post at the airport, but it also collects the soil, said John Schroeder, the director of the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University.

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WATCH: San Angelo family speaks out after viral Mothers Day purse theft

The West Texas Mesonet project is in cooperation with the National Weather Service and provides support and data.

So, a whole bunch of different parameters that feed into all these different industries making decisions, Schroeder said. So, think about when youre gonna hear about your crops, or when youre gonna plant them, or when you get to harvest them. Transportation services, if the roads are OK to travel on, these sorts of questions we contribute to all those answers.

This is San Angelos second station, located off Knickerbocker Road near Angelo State University. The other is off Highway 87 near OC Fisher Reservoir.

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There are stations throughout West Texas, the Panhandle and New Mexico.

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Weatherford school campuses withstood unannounced security testing by the state last Wednesday, the districts security chief told trustees Monday.

At each and every one of our campuses, we had 100%, Director of Safety and Security Mitchel Jones reported of the Texas Education Agency mock intruder drill. They found no deficiencies for any door, at every campus, that keeps our campuses safe. They try to get into the campus without letting anyone know.

Jones added, We did have a few areas that we need to clean up and fix, but nothing major.

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He also updated the board on policies for the armed marshals and guardians who work alongside School Resource Officers on campuses.

Im thinking of removing the Glock (handgun brand) requirement, so they can have a weapon they feel comfortable with, he said, after introducing a new, all-black marshals uniform thats intended to make those officers identifiable as they patrol and check doors.

Later Monday, Superintendent Beau Rees reported he continues to meet with a nearly 50-member committee evaluating whether to call a facilities bond next fall.

Rees said the Facility Advisory of Citizens, Teachers and Students committee most recently toured the junior high to assess its condition.

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The FACTS committee will tour Crocket Elementary next, he said.

We will be meeting at the end of this month as well as in June and July, he said.

Finally Monday, PTA Council President Liza Walters updated trustees on the parental school support group.

Walters said Weatherford ISD has 10 PTA chapters, with 1,494 members.

While many think of a PTA as a fundraising organization, we fundraise to achieve our goals, she said, listing field trips and campus beautification among those.

The group also lobbies state lawmakers, and Walters said she recently met with Texas Rep. Mike Olcott to discuss his support for the now-passed voucher bill.

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Olcott was elected to replace a Republican who opposed Gov. Greg Abbotts voucher plan on grounds it challenged the community identity rural public schools represent.

Walters did not comment on her discussion with the Aledo Republican other than to call it interesting.

Board President Mike Guest thanked Walters groups for all you do. We want more of the families involved.
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared this week as Economic Development Week in Texas.

On April 23, Abbott declared that May 12-16 will be Economic Development Week in Texas to recognize the role that economic development organizations play in the state's economy, workforce and quality of life.

Economic development organizations look to support economic expansion in an area particularly looking to bring in companies, train and expand workforce opportunities and can work either independent from or within local, regional or state governments. The U.S. Economic Development Administration recognizes over 40 in the state of Texas.

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More: City of Austin, Chamber of Commerce host events for Small Business Week

The key to Texas unrivaled success in economic development is teamwork," Abbott said. "It takes a collaborative effort from organizations across the state to attract new businesses, investments, and jobs, as well as help existing Texas companies grow. By working together with all of our economic development partners across the state, we will build a stronger, more prosperous Texas for generations.

Abbott released a five-year statewide economic development strategic plan coined, "Bigger. Better. Texas.", outlining a blueprint for economic expansion and job creation. The plan has four main goals:

Establishes a unifying vision for the future of our Texas economy.

Identifies new target industry sectors and clusters expected to drive strategic economic growth and job creation.

Outlines objectives and initiatives to advance the states global competitiveness.

Provides data and recommendations to inform economic development decisions across the state.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abbott proclaims this week as Economic Development Week in Texas
WASHINGTON (WCBD)  Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trumps reported plan to accept a luxury jet from Qatar, pointing to the potential national security risk.

Several media outlets reported Sunday that the Trump administration was preparing to accept a $400 million Boeing jumbo jet from the Qatar royal family to be used as Air Force One. It was first reported by ABC News.

The idea that an aircraft from a foreign government would be used by the U.S. president quickly raised legal, ethical, and security concerns, even among some congressional Republicans and prolific right-wing commentators.

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Haley, the former South Carolina governor who served as UN Ambassador during Trumps first administration, joined the criticism in a May 13 post on X (formerly Twitter), writing that accepting gifts from foreign nations is never a good practice.

It threatens intelligence and national security, she continued, referencing the Qatari governments alleged ties to U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations in the region, such as Hamas.

Hamas releases Israeli-American hostage in goodwill gesture toward Trump administration

Still, while speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump brushed off the concerns, saying it would be stupid to refuse the offer.

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I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer, he said. I could be a stupid person and say, No, we dont want a free, very expensive airplane.

He further tried to tamp down opposition by saying he wouldnt fly around in the plane when his term ends, but rather donate it to a future presidential library. That did little to quell the controversy, however.

Some have argued the plan likely violates the Constitutions emoluments clause, which bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any King, Prince, or foreign State, without congressional consent.

Haley also expressed worry about the message the potential acceptance could send to other countries.

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Regardless of how beautiful the plane may be, it opens a door and implies the President and US can be bought, she wrote. If this were Biden, we would be furious.

Haley is one of few South Carolina politicians  past and present  who have weighed in so far.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, seemed skeptical of the plan but stopped short of openly rebuking it.

Air Force One is the symbol of America, Graham told Spectrum News at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport on Monday. When it lands or flies, it is America flying and landing, and I want to make sure that this whole thing is kosher.

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Trump will likely face persistent questions about the plane in the coming days as he travels to the Middle East, including a stop in Qatar.

The Associated Press contributed.

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CHOCTAW, Okla. (KFOR)  An Oklahoma man was left stranded on the side of the road for nearly two hours just a couple of minutes after he stopped in Choctaw to get gas.

Jonathon Kirkwood was headed to pick up his daughter from school on April 30 when he stopped at the eExpress Thunder Plaza Travel stop near South Choctaw Road.

Immediately about a mile, two miles up the road, I broke down on the side of the road with about ten other people all stranded as well, said Kirkwood.

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Kirkwood said other people who were also stranded told him they thought they had just gotten bad gas from the Thunder Travel Plaza.

I noticed that the state fuel inspector was there checking the gas and from there he told me that the gas station was at fault and he saw that they had five inches of water in their fuel tank, said Kirkwood.

Kirkwood was forced to take several days off of work and had to pay thousands of dollars to repair his truck.

I finally got my vehicle fixed for the price of $2,265, not to mention the tow truck, said Kirkwood.

Memorial Day travel expected to break 20-year record

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He was finally able to get a hold of eExpress customer service and they told him they would only pay for a portion of the repairs.

They would cover $1,000 of the total of everything that this cost. Thats not even half of the cost of what it was to repair the vehicle, said Kirkwood.

Kirkwood declined he offer and told the gas station he needed full reimbursement.

They said that if I did not accept that, they would put me in contact with their insurance company, but I still have not heard from the insurance company, said Kirkwood.

He is now left paying thousands of dollars for damage he did not cause.

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I would like them to reimburse me for everything that is coming out of pocket. Theres others out there that are having the same problem, said Kirkwood.

News 4 reached out to eExpress corporate but did not hear back.

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ALBUQUERQUE  Fernando Noriega says first and foremost, being an early childhood educator requires patience and love for the work.

But Noriega, a teacher at Caterpillar Clubhouse Daycare in Albuquerque, says he sees what amounts to a revolving door in educators, who despite loving what they do simply cannot sustain their families on $15 per hour or lower wages.

Instead, many opt for easier  yet better-paying  jobs.

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Were not trying to become millionaires, he said, speaking in Spanish. We just want to cover the necessities of our families, and to keep doing what we want, what we love, which is to care for children. Thats it.

At least 18 early childhood centers throughout the state temporarily closed their doors Monday as part of a national annual Day Without Child Care. In New Mexico, providers and educators demanded state lawmakers and officials institute $3 per hour pay bumps, to about $18 per hour, and a more clear path for compensation for workers.

Ana Castro speaks during the news conference

Ana Castro calls on lawmakers and state officials to implement pay increases for early childhood workers during a news conference Monday in Albuquerque. The conference, at the Love and Care Child Development Center, was part of a national day of action calling for improvements to states' early childhood systems.

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I ask: What would our community do without our service, without our training, without our calling? asked Ana Castro in Spanish during a Monday morning news conference outside one of the temporarily closed centers in Albuquerque. ... We deserve more.

The call comes after advocates and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department during this years legislative session asked lawmakers for more than $150 million to implement pay raises and a wage and career ladder for workers. State and federal dollars provide significant assistance to child care providers, which are often small businesses, including setting aside $77 million for grants to fund $3 per hour pay bumps in 2022.

The request for a wage and career ladder came with a $10 million price tag. The pay raises proposal was bundled into a larger $104.6 million request for a pilot program to broadly improve child care outcomes across New Mexico.

Neither ask, however, made it into the state budget for fiscal year 2026. Regardless, the early childhood department Monday said it will keep working toward increasing pay for workers.

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Governor [Michelle] Lujan Grishams administration remains deeply committed to increasing compensation and wages for early childhood professionals, early childhood department spokesperson Julia Sclafani said in a statement. As we move forward, we will actively engage providers and early educators to ensure their voices are heard and reflected in the decision-making process.

Fernando pushes Eva in a toy car

Fernando Noriega pushes his 3-year-old daughter, Eva, in a toy car at the Love and Care Child Development Center in Albuquerque on Monday. The two were attending a news conference as part of a national "Day Without Child Care" meant to demand better pay and supports for early childhood workers.

Last year, the Legislature appropriated $5 million for each of the following three fiscal years for the early childhood department to pilot a wage and career ladder for educators working in infant and toddler classrooms with children whose families are enrolled in child care assistance.

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While that pilot is in place, it is not sufficient to roll out a full wage scale and career lattice across all early childhood program areas, Sclafani said.

Sclafani and Camille Ward, spokesperson for House Democrats, each noted the state has implemented compensation programs and other financial incentives aimed at workers who make less than $18 per hour.

That includes a supplemental wage program, which can net workers as much as $2,548 over a six-month period if they have a bachelors or masters degree in early childhood education and work 32 hours or more per week.

State lawmakers are committed to making sure our transformational investments in early childhood education are directly serving New Mexicos kids, families, and the educators who care for them across our state, Ward said in a statement.

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Advocates say theyre sitting down with the early childhood department in hopes the agency can push the pay raises through administratively using money from its significant budget increase during the coming fiscal year.

Between fiscal year 2025, which ends June 30, and fiscal year 2026, the early childhood departments budget grew from $784 million to $995 million, Sclafani wrote in an email.

The budget increase could help the state enact wage increases for workers, Ward said.

With this substantial funding increase, we fully expect the department to prioritize improving access to quality early childhood education and care for New Mexicos children and increasing wages for educators, she said.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  The City of Mount Pleasants newly elected Mayor, Wesley Lyon, will be sworn into office on Wednesday.

I do wanna apologize: Longevity pay restored to full amount for Mt. Pleasant employees after cut

The biggest thing I want is for the citizens to trust the government again, Lyon said. If something needs to be said or something needs to be done, then Im going to say it or Im going to do it.

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He was elected to this role on May 3, beating Incumbent Mayor Tracy Craig Sr.

I certainly wish the new administration the best of luck because I want them to succeed, because if they succeed, the people in the city of Mount Pleasant will succeed, Craig said.

Craig served three terms and said the new mayor will inherit a community involvement issue.

Its kind of tough to get a feel about what the entire public wants when you dont have that minimum amount of people participating in the council meetings to let the council know the direction in which they want to go, Craig said.

Craig, along with his city manager and city council members, are facing charges centered around travel reimbursement issues.

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Former Mount Pleasant city manager indicted for making false record

I had no wrongdoing, so Im not really concerned with it, Craig said. Im just waiting on the time to go to court. I mean, Im ready to get it over with.

They were indicted by a Titus County grand jury and are now under investigation by the Texas Rangers.

Its out of our hands now, and we dont need to forget about it, but we need to put it behind us, Lyon said.

Instead of focusing on the case, Lyon has set several goals including implementing the citys new animal ordinances, creating more community engagement and financial transparency. He hopes to make changes to the citys website to show where every taxpayer dollar is spent.

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Have a little button that says what Mount Pleasant spent today, and you click on it and you see who and the amount and why, Lyon said.

Lyon also wants to hear from drivers by creating a page to easily report traffic issues and potholes.

City of Mount Pleasant awards 4 men for saving occupants from house fire

You click on it and you put it in, and then when they fill it in, they check it off and you say it was done, Lyon said.

It will also be his job to support the city council and work together with them to get the citys finances back on track.

Inside of Texas, we are number two on the cities that are most in debt, Lyon said.

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Most of all, Lyon said its going to take an entire community working together to get it all done.

Im hoping that people see this and they get involved, Lyon said.

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A man is accused of traveling more than two hundred miles to meet with an underage girl.

I just hope shes OK, Tessas Cherin told Channel 11.

People who live in the Moon area are stunned to hear about the sexual assault that police say happened at Americas Best Value Inn on University Boulevard.

According to detectives, 22-year-old Dustin Marshall took a bus from West Virginia to Moon, booked a hotel room there, then sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.

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Im glad its getting broadcast, and hopefully people will know about it so they can keep safe, Cherie said.

Investigators told Channel 11, officers were called to the hotel for reports that Marshall and the teen were fighting for hours.

Police tell Channel 11, Marshall originally lied about his age and identification, but later admitted who he was.

When police searched his phone, they say they found sexual photos of Marshall and the victim, plus other possible victims who appeared underage.

And in his Google history, officers say Marshall searched the age of consent in PA, Hotels in Moon Township, and is it a legal for an 18 year old to own a 15 year old.

Marshall is out of jail on non-monetary bond.

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Update: 5/13/2025, 5:28 p.m.

WESTERNPORT, Md. (WBOY)  Emergency officials in Allegany County, Md., have confirmed that everyone at an elementary school in Westernport has been safely evacuated after large-scale flooding swept through the area Tuesday.

In a Facebook post, the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services said that Westernport Elementary School students and staff have been safely evacuated and that students awaiting pickup are sheltering at the Westernport church.

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However, students and staff at Georges Creek Elementary School, just a few miles north, are also being evacuated to Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg. The City of Frostburg has also opened up an emergency shelter at the Frostburg Community Center.

Flooding has also struck nearby Mineral County, West Virginia and the City of Keyser, WV, leading Gov. Patrick Morrisey to order the activation of the State Emergency Operations Center. The governor said that his staff is working with local officials to coordinate evacuations in the area and fulfill any ongoing needs. He asked people to avoid the area and not attempt to drive through flooded roads.

Original: 5/13/2025, 3:50 p.m.

WESTERNPORT, Md. (WBOY)  Water rescue crews from north central West Virginia have been dispatched to assist with severe flooding in the area of Allegany County, Maryland.

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According to the countys Emergency Services Interim Director, Roger Bennett, crews from Monongalia, Preston and Mineral counties have been dispatched to the area of Westernport, Maryland, which is approaching major flooding levels. As of 3:20 p.m., Bennett said that there were 11 active water rescues in the area.

(Courtesy: Barton Hose Company No.1) (Courtesy: Barton Hose Company No.1) (Courtesy: Barton Hose Company No.1)

Flash Flood Warning in Lewis, Upshur, Webster, Braxton

Emergency officials told 12 News that boats and high-water vehicles were evacuating around 100 people from Westernport Elementary School around 3:20 p.m., and that two other area schoolsGeorges Creek Elementary and Westmar Middleare on lockdown. Nobody has been taken to the hospital as of 3:30 p.m.

Please say a prayer for five of our newly trained swift water rescue team as they travel to Westernport, MD to assist with water rescues due to flooding. Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department

Mineral County Administrator and Director of Emergency Services Luke McKenzie told 12 News that Keyser, W.Va. has also been impacted by flooding with multiple streets and a couple hundred city residents being evacuated. An emergency shelter has been opened up at Keyser Presbyterian Church.

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Crews from West Virginia are assisting local crews from Allegany County, as well as ones from Garrett and Washington County, Maryland, as well as Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

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 WBOY.com.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  As the names were called and bagpipes played.

We are gathered to say, we remember you, Wichita Falls Police Department Chief Manuel Borrego said.

The WFPD remembers the sacrifice seven officers gave to the community, including Lieutenant Walter Tommy Collins.

Wichita Falls celebrates Salvation Army Week with mayors proclamation

It is very difficult not just on this day, but every other day of the year. Kelly Collins, daughter-in-law of Lt Walter Tommy Collins, said.

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Collins is in attendance with her family to remember the fallen.

Lt. Collins lost his life trying to help two other officers who a gunman had shot in July 1989. Collins was shot and died from his wound.

Not only do we come forward to remember, but we also have the task of keeping his murderer in prison, Collins said. We are constantly surrounded by things that arent necessarily happy memories.

Collins grieves with other families in the front row of the ceremony.

We are grateful for the family members who are still able to make it and to come and remember their loved ones, because not only are we remembering our loved one, we are also remembering their fallen loved ones as well, Collins said.

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And by the end, families receive a gentle comfort knowing those seven lives will never be forgotten.

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 Texomashomepage.com.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republicans in Congress are moving with rapid speed to advance President Donald Trump's big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts and beefed-up border security funding as leaders work to enact many of his campaign promises.

House committees have been laboring for months to draft the legislation, which Republicans have labeled THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, a nod to Trump himself. Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing to approve the package and send it to the Senate by Memorial Day.

Democrats say they will fight what House party leader Hakeem Jeffries calls this extreme and toxic bill.

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Here's a look at what's in and out of the legislative package so far:

Tax cuts for individuals and businesses

The tax portion of the GOP legislation contains more than $5 trillion in tax cuts, according to an estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation  costs that are partially offset by spending cuts elsewhere and other changes in the tax code.

Republicans look to make permanent the individual income tax cuts passed in President Donald Trumps first term, plus enact some of the promises he made on the campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on auto loans. Republicans partially offset the tax breaks by rolling back the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden's presidency, such as a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, bringing the overall cost of the tax cuts down to about $3.7 trillion.

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The bill is expected to undergo further changes in the coming weeks. Lawmakers from New York are leading an effort to boost the state and local tax deduction, which the bill would already increase from $10,000 to $30,000 for families making less than $400,000 per year.

The legislation provides a deduction for those workers in service industry and other jobs that have traditionally relied on tips.

The package provides tax relief for automobile shoppers with a temporary deduction of up to $10,000 on car loan interest, applying the benefit only for those vehicles where the final assembly occurred in the United States. The tax break would expire at the end of Trumps term.

For seniors, there would be a bolstered $4,000 deduction on Social Security wages for those with adjusted incomes no higher than $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples.

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States to pick up more of the tab for food assistance

House Republicans are looking to shift some of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, known as SNAP, to the states. States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs under the bill beginning in fiscal year 2028. The share could also go higher for those states with high rates of overpayments and underpayments. The bill would also require states to pick up 75% of the administrative costs.

Currently, states shoulder none of the benefit costs and half of the administration costs.

Republicans argue that states have minimal incentive to control costs as a result of the current cost-sharing arrangement. But the changes would give them the incentive to enhance efficiencies and improve outcomes for recipients.

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Republicans also are expanding work requirements for food aid recipients, which under current law applies to individuals without dependents aged 18-54. The bill expands the work requirement through age 64 and exempts only those caring for a dependent child under the age of 7.

At the same time, the legislation would invest $60 billion in new money for agriculture programs, sending aid to farmers.

New work requirements for Medicaid

A centerpiece of the package is more than $900 billion in reduced spending, most of that coming through the Medicaid program.

Republicans insist they are simply rooting out waste, fraud and abuse to generate savings with new work and eligibility requirements. But Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage. In the 15 years since Obamacare became law, Medicaid has only expanded as most states have tapped into federal funds.

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An estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by at least 7.6 million from the Medicaid changes, and possibly more with other changes to the Affordable Care Act.

To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new community engagement requirements of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. The new requirement would not kick in until Jan. 1, 2029. People would also have to verify their eligibility to be in the program twice a year, rather than just once.

Applicants could not qualify for Medicaid if they have a home that is valued at more than $1 million.

Funding for 1 million migrant deportations, 20,000 new officers and the border wall

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The legislation would provide $46.5 billion to revive construction of Trumps wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and more money for the deportation agenda.

There's $4 billion to hire an additional 3,000 new Border Patrol agents as well as 5,000 new customs officers, and $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses, for a total of $69 billion in new spending.

It includes major changes to immigration policy, imposing a $1,000 fee on migrants seeking asylum  something the nation has never done, putting it on par with few others, including Australia and Iran.

Overall, the plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers. It calls for 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.

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More money for the Pentagon and Trump's Golden Dome

The House Armed Services Committee was tasked with drafting legislation with $100 billion in new spending. But they did that and more, passing a bill with $150 billion for the Defense Department and national security.

Among the highlights, it would provide $25 billion for Trump's Golden Dome for America, a long-envisioned missile defense shield, $21 billion to restock the nation's ammunition arsenal, $34 billion to expand the naval fleet with more shipbuilding and some $5 billion for border security.

It also includes $9 billion for servicemember quality of life-related issues, including housing, health care and special pay.

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Tax on university endowments and overhaul of student loans

A wholesale revamping of the student loan program is key to the legislation, providing $330 billion in budget cuts and savings.

The proposal would replace all existing student loan repayment plans with just two: a standard option with monthly payments spread out over 10 to 25 years and a repayment assistance plan that is generally less generous than those it would replace.

Among other changes, the bill would repeal Biden-era regulations that made it easier for borrowers to get loans canceled if their colleges defrauded them or closed suddenly.

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There would be a tax increase, up to 21%, on some university endowments.

Federal employee pension cuts

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform targeted federal workers pensions for a projected $50.9 billion in deficit savings over 10 years.

Most of the savings would come from requiring federal workers hired before 2014 to pay more into the retirement system. They would have to match the 4.4% salary rate paid by federal workers hired since 2014.

More drilling, mining on public lands

One section of the bill would allow increased leasing of public lands for drilling, mining and logging while clearing the path for more development by speeding up government approvals. Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas and coal would be cut, reversing former President Joe Bidens attempts to curb fossil fuels to help address climate change.

Oil and gas royalty rates would drop from 16.7% on public lands and 18.75% offshore to a uniform 12.5%. Royalties for coal would drop from 12.5% to 7%.

The measure calls for four oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over the next decade. It also seeks to boost the ailing coal industry with a mandate to make available for leasing 6,250 square miles of public lands  an area greater in size than Connecticut.

Republican supporters say the lost revenue would be offset by increased development. Its uncertain if companies would have an appetite for leases given the industrys precipitous decline in recent years as utilities switched to cleaner burning fuels and renewable energy.

In a last-minute add, Republicans also included a provision authorizing sales of hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah, prompting outrage from Democrats and environmentalists.

___

Associated Press writers Collin Binkley in Washington and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report.
Known for their integrated colors and patterns, collectors are often amazed at agates that wind up on Upper Peninsula lakeshores.

Known for its diversity and beauty, an agate stone is a form of quartz. It can be translucent and in some cases completely transparent.

Rockhounding, a cooler name for rock collecting, is a favorite pastime for visitors and residents who live in northern Michigan.

Here's what to know about the agate gemstone and where you can find it in Michigan:

How are agate stones formed?

Agates are formed when gas bubbles in lava leave a hole in the "vesicle" in the rock, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

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Silica (silicon dioxide) solutions flow into the hole in the host rock and fill it up over time, making the bands, the news release says.

Different chemicals in the solution cause the bands to be different colors.

Agates fresh out of the rock tumbler

How do I know my stone is an agate?

"Agates are sometimes hard to identify, even for the experts," Mary Ann St. Antoine, a senior environmental quality analyst in the Marquette District Office of EGLE, said in a news release.

Antoine, who said she found her favorite agate in Grand Marais, encourages collectors not to get discouraged when the outside of the rock has a dull, waxy luster.

Agates are often translucent, so collectors should hold them up to the light to see if they transmit some light.

When is the best time to look for an agate?

EGLE says the best time for Michiganders to look for agates is after a storm, when the waves have washed up new rocks.

Where can I find agate stones in Michigan?

The stones can be found across multiple locations in Michigan including:

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Techniques for identifying rocks

These identification techniques, according to the EGLE, can help rock hunters determine the type of rocks they have:

Appearance

Color(also color of a "streak" if it can be made by swiping the specimen on a piece of porcelain, creating a powder)

Luster (shiny, dull, glassy)

Fluorescence (shines under UV light)

Unique properties

Shape/structure (crystal form or amorphous?)

Breakage (how does it break apart, cleavage or fracture?)

Density/specific gravity (can get an idea by "hefting" to see if it's heavy for its size)

Unique properties

Magnetism

Smell

Radioactivity

What is a Yooperlite?

Yooperlite is a fluorescent rock that glows in the dark under ultraviolet light. It became known when a U.P. resident discovered them in 2017, according to a news release.

Is there a limit on how many rocks a person can collect?

According to the EGLE, one person can not exceed 25 lbs total per year on state-owned and public trust lands.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What to know about agates, rock collecting in Michigan
WASHINGTON  In Donald Trumps vision, hes set to usher in an American golden age in which the nation makes more of the worlds goods and sells more of its products.

But when it comes to the presidents personal travel, hes ready to ditch the old 747 known as Air Force One in favor of a luxe jet that the royal family of Qatar, a tiny yet rich Arab country nearly 7,000 miles away, wants to gift to the U.S.

Follow live politics coverage here

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The image of the 'America First' president floating above the clouds in Qatari splendor doesnt sit well with some of the MAGA faithful, much less the good government groups who warn the deal may run afoul of the constitutional clause that bars gifts from foreign nations absent congressional approval.

"That's a pretty strange offer," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. said.

Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, posted on social media that while she would take a bullet for the president, accepting a plane from Qatar would be such a stain on the Trump administration. Im so disappointed, she wrote.

Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, all the rest, thats not America First, right-wing host Ben Shapiro said on his popular podcast, adding, "If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop."

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In a post Sunday, Rep. Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican, didnt specifically mention Trump or the Qatari plane, but invoked former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her family foundations acceptance of foreign donations.

At a minimum, bad idea, he wrote.

Trump was unapologetic in a public appearance Monday. He said that the plane will someday be an exhibit in his presidential library after he leaves office and added he wouldnt use it as a private citizen.

He commended Qatar for what he described as a generous and welcome offer. A peninsula that juts into the Persian Gulf, Qatar is one stop on the presidents visit this week to the Middle East, the first major foreign trip of his second term.

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Theyre giving us a free jet, Trump said. I could say, No, no, no, dont give us. I want to pay you a billion or $400 million, or whatever it is, or I could say, Thank you very much. You know?

A Qatar press official, Ali Al-Ansari, said in a statement Sunday said the deal still under review.

"The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatars Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made," he said.

Trump reiterated his frustration over the time its taken for Boeing to complete jets that will replace the 747s that he is using now. The new planes may not be ready until 2027, the midpoint of Trumps term.

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Converting the Qatari gift into Air Force One would require an overhaul that would take years to carry out and raise possible security concerns, according to three aviation and intelligence experts. It would likely would have to be effectively dismantled, part by part, to ensure there were no listening devices or other security vulnerabilities that could allow foreign powers to eavesdrop.

The commercial jet would then have to be refitted with costly, sophisticated systems for mid-air refueling, missile defense, secure government communications and back-up power. The plane also would need to be hardened against potential electromagnetic pulse weapons.

"The plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told CNBC Tuesday morning.

Air Force One is more than a means of presidential travel. With its distinctive blue and white, it is an emblem of American power and prestige. It functions as a kind of flying bunker for the commander in chief, capable of withstanding a nuclear blast. If the transfer happens, Air Force One would acquire what some describe as a foreign taint for this quintessential symbol of American pride.

Air Force One (Ted Soqui / Corbis via Getty Images file)

The Qatari plane and its whiff of excess would also seem at odds with Trump's message that Americans may have to make do with less as he remakes the global economic order. Fewer dolls and pencils for America's children, while the president flies in style.

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Ari Fleischer, who was press secretary in Republican President George W. Bushs White House, posted on social media that Nothing about getting Air Force One from a foreign government feels right.

Air Force One should be American through and through, Fleischer added. It shouldnt pass through foreign hands and it shouldnt be a gift from a king. Dont do it.

Trump first toured the Qatari plane in February at the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago home. Known as the flying palace, the aircraft clearly made a favorable impression.

You look at some of the Arab countries and the planes they have parked alongside of the United States of America plane. Its like from a different planet, Trump told reporters Monday.

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During his first term, Trump complained that Air Force One wasnt as luxurious inside as his private plane, a former White House official said. Asked for comment, the White House did not immediately respond.

Congress GOP leaders gave muted responses when questioned about the swap Trump envisions. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana declined comment. Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota said, I dont know enough about it yet, and I dont know theres even been any offer.

Getting Congress to approve the present, in keeping with the constitutions emoluments clause, would seem a heavy lift. A 60-vote supermajority would be required for Senate passage.

But if Trump forges ahead and accepts the plane without Congress assent, there may not be much to stop him. He demonstrated in his first term that he has little to fear by way of impeachment.

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Is Congress going to impeach him? Probably not, said Richard Painter, who was chief ethics lawyer in George W. Bushs White House.

Whats more, the Supreme Court gave presidents broad immunity from prosecution in a landmark ruling last year.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has insisted any accepted gifts will be in accordance with the law.

Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws, Leavitt said. President Trumps administration is committed to full transparency.

Perhaps the only scenario Trump may need to worry about is that, after he leaves office, a future president may try to reclaim the aircraft for the U.S., seizing it from the Trump library.

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You might have a future administration file suit and seek to repossess the plane as property of the U.S. government, because it should never have been accepted to begin with, Painter said.

Newt Gingrich, a former Republican House speaker and Trump ally, said that in an ideal world, Trump would get Congress to approve the gift.

The lawyers have to go through some hoops here, but if there is no quid pro quo and its all out in the open in public, it doesnt strike me as an automatic problem, Gingrich told NBC News.

Ethics advisers in past administrations said they were wary of expensive gifts from foreign sources, no matter the reason. When President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in his first term, he refused the more than $1 million that comes with it. Instead, the Nobel committee distributed the prize money among various charities, said Norm Eisen, who was a special counsel for ethics and government reform in the Obama administration.

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Painter recalled that during the Bush administration, Saudi Arabias government offered a Rolex watch to a senior White House official.

We saw to it that the gift was either returned or turned over to the U.S. government, Painter said. We werent going to have one of our top White House national security officials running around with a Rolex watch from the Saudis."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The group representing White House journalists said Monday it was disturbed that the Trump administration barred any wire service news reporters from traveling with the president on Air Force One to the Middle East.

No reporters from The Associated Press, Bloomberg or Reuters were on the plane, where presidents often take questions from traveling members of the press.

Their reports are distributed quickly to thousands of news outlets and millions of readers throughout the world every day, so all have equal access to coverage of the presidency, the White House Correspondents Association said in a statement. This change is a disservice to every American who deserves to know what their highest elected leader is up to, as quickly as possible.

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The White House has been fighting in court with the AP, after the news service was blocked from covering smaller pool events when it decided not to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, as Trump had called for in an executive order.

In response to a ruling in that case, the White House instituted a new media policy that lumped the wire services in with print reporters in a rotation for space on Air Force One or Oval Office events. A Reuters reporter accompanied the president when he traveled to Pope Francis' funeral.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not return messages seeking comment.
The White House released a statement in late April announcing an executive order to fast-track deep-sea mining for minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and titanium. The directive aims to reduce reliance on imported resources. But scientists warn that it could open the door to irreversible damage in fragile ocean ecosystems, as Mongabay noted.

What's happening?

This new order focuses on polymetallic nodules, which are mineral-filled lumps found on the ocean floor. The White House's statement pinpoints "strengthening partnerships with allies and industry to counter China's growing influence over seabed mineral resources" as a primary driver of the order.

The executive order directs federal agencies to take numerous actions within 60 days, such as creating a process to grant exploration and mining permits and finding organizations interested in processing mined materials.

Why is deep-sea mining concerning?

Though pitched as a path to economic and energy independence from other countries, deep-sea mining could also harm some of the planet's most delicate ecosystems, warn experts. Jeff Watters, the Ocean Conservancy's vice president for external affairs, told AP News that "the harm caused by deep-sea mining isn't restricted to the ocean floor: it will impact the entire water column, top to bottom, and everyone and everything relying on it."

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The ocean absorbs about 31% of carbon pollution, which helps reduce some impacts of the changing climate, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The ocean also provides about half of the oxygen for the planet  mostly through ocean plankton that photosynthesize.

Deep-sea mining can disrupt the balance of the ocean, causing experts to criticize the move.

"We found persistent impacts, lasting for nearly half a century, to the seabed environment and particularly the larger animals living in the area," said UK National Oceanography Centre biogeosciences head Daniel Jones.

It may also cause the release of toxins and carbon and biodiversity loss, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

What's being done to protect marine ecosystems?

The United Nations' International Seabed Authority issued a statement condemning the U.S. executive order. According to the ISA, attempts to mine the ocean floor beyond U.S. waters without global oversight would threaten decades of international cooperation.

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Organizations like Greenpeace have also spoken out against the order. "Authorizing deep-sea mining outside international law is like lighting a match in a room full of dynamite  it threatens ecosystems, global cooperation, and U.S. credibility all at once," said Arlo Hemphill, a Greenpeace project lead, in a statement.

While the order is currently on track to continue, scientists, advocacy groups, and policymakers are taking action to protect oceans and marine life. For example, aquafarmers in California farm invasive purple sea urchins to reduce their harm to local ecosystems. And dozens of Commonwealth nations created the Apia Ocean Declaration to protect 30% of oceans from harmful human actions by 2030.

You can also do your part to keep marine ecosystems healthy by making ocean-friendly lifestyle choices. Reducing your carbon impact is a good way to start. Using less energy at home and cutting back on car travel can help lower pollution that makes its way into bodies of water. You can also choose plastic-free products to limit plastic pollution that winds up in the ocean.

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.
American officials welcomed a group of 59 white South Africans at Washington Dulles International Airport on Monday afternoon, in a ceremony greeting them as refugees under the argument that they are fleeing discrimination and racially based violence in their home country.

The newly arrived people are from the ethnic minority of Afrikaners, the group of whites who ruled South Africa during apartheid. The dozens that came Monday, including families with young children, arrived via a flight chartered by the State Department. Their resettlement in the U.S. comes as the Trump administration has shut down refugee admissions from almost all other countries, including Afghanistan, Sudan, the Republic of Congo and Myanmar.

The Afrikaners were met on arrival by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar.

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Landau said that Trumps pause of the U.S. refugee program was from the very beginning subject to exceptions when it was determined to be in the interest of the United States. He cited the example of when the refugees could be assimilated easily into our country.

They tell quite harrowing stories of the violence that they faced in South Africa that was not redressed by the authorities by the unjust application of the law, Landau said. The United States, as we were proud to say, has stood for equal justice under law and the fair and impartial application of the law.

In an executive order issued on Feb. 7, Trump said the United States would help with resettling Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation. He condemned what he called the countrys shocking disregard of its citizens rights, specifically stating the government had seized the agriculture property of white Afrikaners without compensating them.

The executive order also said the United States would no longer provide aid or assistance to South Africa. It came after a new South African land law went into effect and seems to reflect the views of Elon Musk, the head of the Trump's Department of Government Efficiency who was born and raised in South Africa.

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The law has been depicted by some whites in South Africa, and some on the right in the U.S., as specifically targeting white farmers to take away their land. The South African government and experts dispute this, noting that the law allows for expropriation in cases when the land is not being used or there is a public interest in its redistribution, similar to eminent domain laws in the U.S.

In February, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pushed back on claims that it was a land grab. The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution, he wrote on X days before Trump issued his executive order.

Discussion around the law has fit into a larger narrative on the American right about white South African farmers supposedly being killed in large numbers, something Trump talked about in his first term and which Musk has referred to as genocide, even though there is not data to support this.

The New York Times reported that 101 out of the 225 people killed on farms in South Africa between April 2020 and March 2024 were Black current or former workers living on farms. Of that number, 53 were farmers, who are usually white.

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The president on Monday said the carve out for South African refugees wasnt race-related.

Farmers are being killed, Trump told reporters. They happen to be white. Whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me. White farmers are being brutally killed and the land is being confiscated in South Africa.

White House deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser Stephen Miller defended the admission of white refugees on Friday.

Whats happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created, Miller said. This is race-based persecution. The refugee program is not intended as a solution for global poverty, and historically, it has been used that way.

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Officials in South Africa have disputed that claim.

It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being refugees is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africas constitutional democracy; a country which has in fact suffered true persecution under Apartheid rule and has worked tirelessly to prevent such levels of discrimination from ever occurring again, Chrispin Phiri, a spokesperson for South Africas Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, said in a statement Friday.

The first group of Afrikaners from South Africa to arrive for resettlement listen to remarks from Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar, after they arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., on May 12, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images)

Landau, the deputy secretary of state, reiterated the Trump administrations stance on Monday. It is not surprising, unfortunately, that a country from which refugees come does not concede that they are refugees, and unfortunately, you know, the South African government has not done what we feel is appropriate to guarantee the rights of these citizens to live in peace with their fellow South Africans, which is why, under our domestic law, they were given refugee status, he said.

The Episcopal Church said on Monday that it would not work to resettle the Afrikaners after the federal government asked it to do so under the terms of a refugee resettlement grant to the church.

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Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe wrote in an open letter that the church has decided to end refugee work with the federal government by the end of the fiscal year, in light of our churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years, Rowe wrote. I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country.

Thula Simpson, an associate professor of history at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, said that Trumps rhetoric and the admission of Afrikaner refugees in the U.S. has created tensions in South Africa.

By using the term genocide, Trump has gone beyond the reality here, Simpson said. It creates a very uncertain situation, very intense situation, with aggravated race relations in the country  and the outcome is unpredictable.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
May 12WASHINGTON  Two families of white South Africans whom President Donald Trump has designated as refugees arrived in the United States on Monday, en route to their new homes in southern Idaho.

The nine soon-to-be Idahoans are part of a group of about 50 Afrikaners, an ethnic group descended from European settlers, who landed at a Virginia airport to start new lives in the United States through a humanitarian program the Trump administration has suspended for most other people. The Idaho Office for Refugees, a private organization that coordinates resettlement in the state, confirmed that the families will settle in Twin Falls with the help of the nonprofit U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, or USCRI.

"USCRI has provided services to refugees and immigrants for over 100 years, and we'll continue to do our part regardless of country of origin," Eskinder Negash, the nonprofit's president and CEO, said in a statement. "We are hopeful that the arrival of this group of refugees indicates the government's intention to restart the U.S. refugee program and help other refugees in need of resettlement services."

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Holly Beech, communications manager at the Idaho Office for Refugees, said on Monday that "by and large," the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is still suspended, leaving people who have already been vetted and approved to reunite with their relatives in Idaho and other states unable to enter the country.

"The suspension has been devastating for our Idaho communities and for people overseas that have waited years to resettle, and had that approval and had that assurance, and are now in limbo," Beech said by phone.

Trump suspended refugee admissions by executive order on his first day in office, citing "public safety" and saying that his administration would "admit only those refugees who can fully and appropriately assimilate into the United States." In welcome remarks at Dulles International Airport on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau referred to those criteria and, noting that many of the Afrikaners are farmers by trade, likened them to "quality seeds" that will thrive "in foreign soil."

In another executive order on Feb. 7, Trump decried "egregious" racial discrimination by the South African government against Afrikaners, an ethnic minority that ruled the country until the 1990s under the apartheid regime. The U.S. president pointed to a 2024 law that allows the South African government to redistribute land, which is still disproportionately owned by white South Africans more than 30 years after the end of apartheid.

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"I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years," Landau told the Afrikaners. "We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the years. And I am sure that you will be successful."

No land has yet been seized under the controversial law, which is being challenged in court by the second-largest party in the country's unity government. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he decided to designate the Afrikaners as refugees "because they're being killed."

"It's a genocide that's taking place that you people don't want to write about," Trump told reporters. "Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they're white or Black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated in South Africa."

In February, a group of more than 150 white South African Christian religious leaders signed a letter denouncing Trump's executive order and rejecting his claim.

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"The narrative presented by the U.S. government is founded on fabrications, distortions, and outright lies," the leaders wrote. "It does not reflect the reality of our country and, if anything, serves to heighten existing tensions in South Africa. It also detracts from the important work of building safer, healthier communities and addressing the complex history of land dispossession by white Europeans from the black African majority."

In a statement issued Friday, South Africa's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation called the Trump administration's allegations of discrimination "unfounded."

"It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being 'refugees' is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa's constitutional democracy," the agency said, while adding that the Afrikaners were free to leave the country.

Black and white farmers alike have been subject to frequent attacks in South Africa, which has among the world's highest rates of murder and other violent crime. Because the roughly 7% of South Africans who are white disproportionately work as farmers, often in remote locations not easily accessed by police, the attacks have fueled claims of "white genocide."

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Despite Trump's professed indifference to the race of the farmers, only one racial group was represented among the first wave of refugees his administration said it would admit by repurposing the Preferred Communities program. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, that program is intended for refugees "with challenging needs that require special attention, including those with serious medical conditions, women at risk, and elderly refugees."

While Trump and his allies in Congress have criticized the criteria for admitting refugees and asylum seekers under current U.S. law as overly broad, the application lets South Africans request refugee status due to either "past persecution" or merely "fear of future harm based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group."

Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican from Spokane who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he supports Trump's effort to welcome the Afrikaners to the United States but sees a broader logic to the move.

"My understanding is that the administration is seeking to give these folks refugee status both, probably, as just a basic human-rights issue but also as leverage in diplomatic negotiations with the South African government," Baumgartner said by phone. "We would like them and other African countries to be aligned with us on any number of issues."

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Trump alluded to some of those issues in his Feb. 7 executive order, accusing South Africa of taking "aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies," such as accusing Israel in the International Criminal Court of committing genocide during the ongoing war in Gaza.

Baumgartner said he wants to see refugee resettlement resume, especially for people from Afghanistan and Ukraine who, he said, "fit the traditional, accurate definition of refugees." He said the Afrikaners also fit that definition.

"They are attacked by their government because of their race and their culture," he said. "And they don't have a lot of great options on where to go."

Baumgartner recalled that when he worked as a State Department contractor in Afghanistan, a U.S. Agency for International Development program to educate Afghan farmers was run by displaced white farmers from Zimbabwe, where the government seized land starting in 2000 in a project for which the Zimbabwean government began compensating those farmers earlier this year.

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Democrats have accused Trump of applying a double standard by welcoming white South Africans while barring refugees from the rest of the world. In a statement, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that "the decision by this administration to put one group at the front of the line is clearly politically motivated and an effort to rewrite history."

Chandra Upreti, director of the USCRI field office in Twin Falls, said by phone that the Afrikaners should begin arriving in the southern Idaho city sometime this week, although he didn't know exactly when.

"Twin Falls is a welcoming community, and we have opened our doors and our hearts to people from all over the world for the last 45 years," Upreti said. "My wife and I both grew up in a refugee camp with no country to call our own, until we resettled in Twin Falls, and today we proudly call this community our home. We own a business, and are incredibly thankful for the support we have received upon our arrival. As the director of the refugee center, I'm dedicated to offer the same warm welcome my family was fortunate to receive 17 years ago, and we remain committed to providing services to our newcomers, just like any other refugees that have resettled."

He said the newly arrived South Africans will receive the same services as other refugees. In the last fiscal year, he said, 242 refugees were resettled in Twin Falls, which Upreti said has both the capacity and community support to welcome people from around the world.

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"The widespread coverage of this news has sparked hope among some of the refugees from various backgrounds who are awaiting resettlement, and it reinforces our belief in the importance of continuing refugee resettlement efforts for those seeking safety in the first place," Upreti said. "It's our hope that we continue to do great work and continue to bring in folks from different parts of the world."

Speaking at Dulles Airport, Landau said the resettlement of the Afrikaners sends "a clear message that the United States really rejects the egregious persecution of people on the basis of race in South Africa, and we welcome these people to the United States and to a new future."

"Whether or not the broader refugee programs for other people around the world will be lifted," he added, "is still an ongoing consideration."

Orion Donovan Smith's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
BELMONT  Before Madison came Belmont.

The quiet community of around 1,000 people, nestled in the rolling hills of the Driftless Area in southwest Wisconsin, was the center of state government for a blip in history. Delegates passed the first laws there in 1836 and fiercely debated where to place the permanent Capitol, a decision that would hand a bright future to the selected city.

Legislators could have stuck with Belmont. They considered nearly 20 communities, from Racine to Prairie du Chien. The ultimate choice of Madison was prompted by a lobbyist's gifts of buffalo-fur robes and plots of land.

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People realize that lawmakers meeting in two unassuming buildings for just 46 days "can seem insignificant at the surface level," said Bethany Brander, who has managed the First Capitol Historic Site since 2017.

"They come here and then they realize just how much there is to the story and how much it helps you tell the rest of Wisconsin history," she said.

The Wisconsin Historical Society oversees the First Capitol, but the ownership really lies with the residents of Belmont.

The First Capitol moniker graces a mini-mart, apartment building and salvage yard in town. Sometimes, Historical Society staff get confused callers asking for the price of aluminum.

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"You talk with people, and they don't even know the First Capitol exists," said Kristie Popp, who has lived in Belmont for 52 years.

The First Capitol at Belmont as it appeared in 1906.

Politics in territorial Wisconsin was a 'wild west'

Establishing roads, bridges and banks were among the 42 laws passed at the first session in Belmont. But the biggest item on the agenda was deciding where the Capitol should go next.

The federal government promised $20,000 to construct public buildings for a new capital, an opportunity to bring industry, population and politics to one town.

Before that debate even began, though, the initial choice of Belmont caused an uproar.

Henry Dodge, the territorial governor, argued he was choosing a location at the center of the territory, which at the time included present-day Iowa, Minnesota and parts of Illinois and the Dakotas. Calling Belmont the first capital of Wisconsin is a bit of a misnomer  it was for the entire territory.

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Legislators accused Dodge of cronyism. John Atchison, a land speculator who lawmakers later appointed fiscal agent, bought 80 acres in Belmont and began constructing the Capitol buildings months earlier. Dodge may have been returning a favor to Atchison, who provided supplies to Dodge's troops during the Black Hawk War.

Tables and chairs are set up to show how people hosted legislative sessions inside of the council house at the First Capitol Historic Site on April 17, 2025, in Belmont.

The first representatives arrived in Belmont with business interests and political ambitions. They were impressed by Belmont's landscape  the name means "beautiful hill" in French  but quickly criticized the bad cooking and crowded conditions. The five Brown County delegates, and perhaps even more lobbyists, slept in a room about 15 by 20 feet.

Maybe the worst part was the cold, dreary conditions between Oct. 25 and Dec. 9, the short stretch of time lawmakers stayed there.

Enter James Doty, Dodge's political rival, with warm buffalo robes in tow.

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Doty, of course, had ulterior motives. He had just purchased 1,360 acres between Lakes Mendota and Monona and made plans for the isthmus. Doty distributed tracts of land to 16 lawmakers to rally support for placing the capital there.

"The early state government and the territorial government is pretty darn corrupt," Brander said. "Politics was really like the wild west out here."

A bill naming Madison the capital passed narrowly  the vote was 15-11 in the lower house and 7-6 in the upper house. Some lawmakers protested that the choice promoted "private interest at the expense of the public weal."

Dodge regretted his pledge to not veto lawmakers' choice for the state capital.

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"Speculation and thirst for gain appear to run into everything here. Patriotism and duty is apparently lost sight of," he told a congressional delegate who secured land in Madison.

After interim meetings in Burlington, Iowa, lawmakers moved to Madison in 1838.

Wisconsin law now requires lobbyists to register and publicly report their activity. And lawmakers today are much more civil, said state Rep. Todd Novak, a Republican whose district includes Belmont.

"We debate, but we keep it at a different level," Novak said. "I know to the public, it looks like we hate each other, but we really don't."

The exterior of the council house, right, and the court house at the First Capitol Historic Site on April 17, 2025, in Belmont.

Balancing historic preservation and modern upgrades

After politics moved elsewhere, the buildings in Belmont had storied lives.

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The council house was nicknamed "Noah's Ark" because several families lived there at once. The court house  the Supreme Court was never held there, despite the name  was occupied by Charles Dunn, the first chief justice. It was where his daughter married Wisconsin's first state governor, Nelson Dewey.

It wasn't until the early 1900s that Wisconsinites began thinking about preserving the buildings, which at that point had devolved into barns for horses and cattle. The old council house was in decrepit condition, with a leaky roof and rotted timbers.

Women's groups led the charge to save the buildings, part of a nationwide push to preserve history. The state Legislature was slow to provide funds  World War I and replacing the Capitol in Madison that burned down in 1904 took priority.

Some 15,000 people came to Belmont when the restored council house was dedicated in 1924. Last summer, the site recorded just under a thousand visitors.

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"Now, we got to fight people to get off their couch and away from Netflix," Brander said.

The Historical Society will request about $1.5 million from the state building commission in fall, with hopes to make the site more of a destination. That includes new bathrooms to replace pit toilets and a picnic shelter to encourage families to stay for a while.

A historical marker for the Belmont Wisconsin Territory 1836 is seen at the First Capitol Historic Site on April 17, 2025, in Belmont.

Improvements are a careful balance  a key idea in preservation is "repair before replace." There are only a few original elements left in the buildings, like a box stove and wooden framing. Recently added gutters aren't historically accurate, but they extend the life of the structures.

Belmont residents believe expanded hours would help draw visitors, but staffing is a challenge. Brander said many job-seekers are looking for full-time work, rather than part-time, seasonal positions. The Historical Society is always looking for volunteers and hopes to see more interest during America's 250th anniversary next summer.

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Popp, who worked at the site for 18 years, stops to give impromptu, outdoor tours when she drives by and sees cars there when the buildings are closed. Her grandfather milked cows when the court house was used as a barn around 1910.

"It's amazing how far people come and will stop there," Popp said.

In 1955, the Wisconsin Federation of Womens Clubs president called fundraising to restore the court house a "rare chance to interest our children in early Wisconsin history, also giving them a part in making that history live again."

And that history did live again  literally  when Wisconsin celebrated its 150th anniversary of statehood in 1998.

Gov. Tommy Thompson and his entourage ride up in front of the original State Capitol building located just outside of Belmont, as the State Legislature convened in the old hall as a kickoff to the State of Wisconsin's 150th Anniversary of Statehood in 1998.

Telling a complete history of Wisconsin's first residents

The state Assembly returned to Belmont for the state's sesquicentennial on a snowy day, similar to conditions the first lawmakers encountered. Then-Gov. Tommy Thompson arrived with legislative leaders in a horse-drawn carriage and wearing period clothing.

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"I remember it was really windy and cold, because some of the top hats were blown off and rolled around," Thompson recounted in 2025. "There was no heat inside ... We weren't going to burn any logs, because we didn't want to burn the building down."

The event was part costume party, part history class and part legislative session," according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of the event. But it also recognized how Wisconsin had changed.

Two Black lawmakers from Milwaukee boycotted the event  they couldn't have voted or joined the Legislature in 1836. Then-state Rep. Spencer Coggs read a "moving account" of the history of Black Wisconsinites. Other resolutions during the session cited women's accomplishments and honored tribal nations.

The site today includes a display about Dodge, a polarizing figure, who arrived in Wisconsin with at least five slaves and illegally squatted on Ho-Chunk territory. Since at least the 1600s, Native Americans had mined in the mineral-rich region. Ho-Chunk, Potawatomi and Meskwaki communities were pushed off their land through the 1870s.

"That's one of the biggest misconceptions when we talk about Wisconsin history. There were people here for thousands of years," Brander said. "It's really important that people get the whole story."

James Hibbard, a retired archivist at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Southwest Wisconsin Room, spent about three years scouring property tax rolls, court records, diaries and letters to answer longstanding questions about the First Capitol, like where Atchison got his building materials.

"There's more research that can be done and should be done," Hibbard said. "It never ends. As soon as you finish a book or an article, you find something new."

Education is an important part of the First Capitol, and the site frequently hosts fourth-graders learning about state history. Tim Strang, a social studies teacher in Shullsburg, brings his high schoolers to the First Capitol and the current Capitol each year as part of a field-trip-oriented Wisconsin history class he created.

"We're standing in Belmont, and they said this. Now we're standing in the Capitol, and here's what they're saying about that idea," Strang said. "(I'm) trying to relate as much of that as I can to our own state government."

Many of Novak's colleagues in the state Legislature have no idea what he's talking about when he brings up the First Capitol. But when he hosted fourth-graders from Argyle at the Capitol in Madison and asked if they knew where the first capital was, "everybody in that class raised their hand."

More: Stories behind Wisconsin's four capitol buildings include pigs, destructive fires and Iowa

More: Get to know Hope Karnopp, trending politics reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The homes of Belmont on Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Belmont, Wisconsin. Belmont was the capital for only 46 days, before legislators decided to establish Madison as the new capital.

Belmont today is a close-knit but growing community

It's easy to wonder how Belmont and Madison could have switched destinies if a few votes were cast differently.

As Bert Bohlin, a self-taught historian and preservation advocate in Mineral Point, wrote in a booklet about the village's history:

A decision to stay would mean greatness for Belmont; a decision to leave would mean Belmont would remain a small farming community in southwest Wisconsin.

Belmont faded into the background after lawmakers departed. Apart from a post office, general store and blacksmith, many businesses left. The newspaper followed lawmakers to Iowa. The village eventually moved three miles southeast to be closer to the railroad  that's why the original First Capitol site is far from the center of town.

Today, economic development is a main priority in Belmont. There's a new subdivision. Young people are returning to Belmont to start plumbing or roofing businesses, though the main street needs a new family restaurant for guests from a nearby hotel. It was a big deal when Belmont recently got a Kwik Trip.

Belmont isn't the booming city it could have been, but residents prefer it that way.

Taxes are affordable. Families are drawn to the high-quality school district. The EMS service doesn't see the staffing challenges other rural communities do. Residents support each other through tough times, and everyone shows up at Belmont funerals.

And they take pride in the fact that Belmont  and Lafayette County as a whole  doesn't have a single traffic stoplight.

As one longtime resident put it: "Next to heaven, Belmont is the best place to be."

If you go

The First Capitol Historic Site is typically open to the public between Memorial Day and Labor Day. May 24 is the first day of the 2025 season. The buildings are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is free, though a $2 donation is suggested. Educators can visit firstcapitol.wisconsinhistory.org for information on field trips. The site offers custom tours for groups.

Visiting the First Capitol can be part of a day trip to the Driftless Area. Locals recommend checking out the Platte Mound "M," Belmont Mound State Park, The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, Pendarvis Historic Site in Mineral Point and local ATV/UTV trails.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Before Madison, rural Belmont was Wisconsin's first capital
I come from a family rooted in the arts. My grandmother, Enid Flender, was a dancer-turned-public school teacher; my grandfather, Harold Flender, was a writer; and my mother, uncle, brother and I were shaped by a public-school education that prioritized the performing arts. I grew up in Manhattan Plaza in New York City, a federally subsidized building for artists, and fell in love with movies at Anthology Film Archives in the East Village. I have had the utmost privilege of knowing a life with creativity at the center of it.

And yet if it werent for the National Endowment for the Arts, I dont know if I would have pursued a life as an actor.

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My first time on stage was with the National Dance Institute, or NDI, a nonprofit that benefits directly from funding from the NEA. Created in 1976 by Jacques DAmboise, a star dancer of the New York City Ballet, NDI provides dance classes built into the public elementary school curriculum along with free summer programs. When I think of my time with NDI, my strongest memory is when a group of us were standing around a piano, clapping our hands, as we learned to keep the beat to the song Cement Mixer Putti- Putti. (We were young.) We couldnt really find the beat; there were always a few of us a little out of sync. So the teacher had us close our eyes. Within a few claps, the entire group was synchronized. The key was to focus purely on what we were hearing and feeling as opposed to watching everyone else.

Once we got it and opened our eyes, we were ecstatic. We had connected. We were a team. Now we got to concentrate our energy into our common goal: the performance. I remember the pure joy of being on stage at that performance after such hard work rehearsing  a feeling not unlike what some children describe when playing a game after months of work in the gym.

Some of my friends from the NDI program pursued artistic careers, but many did not. Even those who went into other professions still reflect upon their experience positively, though, for the values it instilled. In learning choreography, we gained discipline. In mastering a new song, we found confidence. We learned resilience, adaptability, and the value of working as a team. All skills that are useful whether youre a lawyer, a therapist, a pastry chef or a space engineer. (And as an actor, I will happily play any of these characters in a movie.)

Right now, federal funding for the arts is in serious danger. The latest budget proposal that the White House sent to Congress asks that the group be eliminated. Many theaters and other arts organizations have already been told that their grants have been revoked, creating a haze of operational uncertainty. Their very survival is at stake.

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This is why I recently went to Capitol Hill with the nonprofit arts organization The Creative Coalition to advocate for the NEA, meeting with the Congressional staffers whose bosses are on the fence about the value of federal arts funding. It was a powerful experience to talk with these influential players and walk the halls of our nations legislative offices. It was also sobering. We encountered resistance. Taxpayers shouldnt be supporting the arts, some staffers told us. But the visit reaffirmed my belief in the importance of arts funding. After all, even the skeptical staffers often had a favorite performance memory  a music lesson or play or dance classes that they had participated in. The argument to them almost made itself: if we only relied on private funding, many of them and other middle-class children may well have not had the chance.

Arts funding is often the first thing to be cut by governments, when in fact it should be protected as essential. Creativity gives us purpose. Imagination advances humanity. The arts foster empathy, understanding, and connection. Access to creative expression  whether through dance, music, painting, theater, or film  helps us communicate on a deeper level and provides a bridge into the shared experience of what it means to be human.

The National Endowment for the Arts doesnt cost very much. The United States allocates just 0.004 percent of its annual budget to the NEA. (In contrast, smaller countries like France, Germany, and the UK each invest a much greater percentage, over a billion dollars annually apiece.) And the money stimulates the economy. NEA grants have a powerful multiplier effect, according to the Creative Coalition: every $1 awarded to an arts organization is shown to typically generate about $9 in private investment or consumer spending, turning that $207 million into roughly $2 billion. That NEA grant isnt a handoutits a seal of approval for a project that then generates all kinds of private dollars that follow.

These projects arent Hollywood productions or Broadway shows, but local jazz festivals, museums exhibitions, arts education, and community theater  initiatives that enrich neighborhoods, build cultural identity, and stimulate local economies. These are year-round programs like the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and the Visually Impaired, which provides music education for the visually impaired. Or Creative Forces, which supports arts programming for active military members and veterans. And hundreds more like them.

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The NEA is particularly vital for small and rural arts organizations that would otherwise lack access to major donors or corporate sponsorships. (Forty percent of NEA funding is distributed through state and local arts agencies, ensuring communities have a direct say in how funds are used.) Without the NEA, large cities might still sustain their cultural scenes, but I fear that rural and small-town projects  from arts education in Idaho to community theater in Maine  could vanish.

Senior leaders at the NEA have just resigned en masse in the wake of the cuts. This is disheartening. But it doesnt make me lose hope. Congress will likely still have a say in what happens. And we can lobby Congress. Ill even include number for the Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121. If theres one thing I learned in Washington, its that elected officials are tracking the feedback; these calls matter. Nearly every one of our 541 representatives has constituents who benefit from NEA grants. This is the moment to let each one of them know that they should keep the NEA alive.

Every kid who wants to learn how to keep the beat to a song, every visually impaired person who wants to play a musical instrument and every Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who could use a little art therapy to help them recover from their trauma needs the NEA to stick around. Lets remind our representatives that theyre out there.

On our final night in DC, at a fundraising dinner, a few of my fellow delegates from The Creative Coalition did an impromptu musical jam at the front of the room. The space was filled with many of the Republican and Democratic staff members who we had met with earlier that day. Everyone started singing and dancing. (Or swaying!) As I looked around the room, the value was clear: the arts remind us to connect with each other. To have fun with each other. To sing with each other. The arts dont just entertain us they bind us, define us, and give us the language to imagine the future.

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Pauline Chalamet is an actor and producer living in Los Angeles.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is ordering flags to fly at half-staff later this week.

Kelly issued the order on May 13, stating that flags throughout Kansas should be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Thursday, May 15. This act is meant to honor Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Every day, Kansas peace officers put their lives on the line in service to their communities and fellow Kansans, Kelly said. Peace Officers Memorial Day is a solemn reminder to acknowledge and appreciate their sacrifices and commitment.

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Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement personnel who have died or been disabled while in the line of duty.

Blackout license plates available for purchase in Kansas starting on July 1, 2025

President Donald Trump declared May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 11 through to May 17 as Police Week in a recent announcement from the White House. Trump called on all U.S. governors to direct flags to fly at half-staff to mark Peace Officers Memorial Day.

For more Capitol Bureau 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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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Governor Laura Kelly has asked that the American flag be flown at half-staff on Thursday, May 15, from sunup to sundown.

Her office said Executive Order #20-30 calls for flags to be lowered in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day. The day is for paying tribute to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty.

Every day, Kansas peace officers put their lives on the line in service to their communities and fellow Kansans, Governor Laura Kelly said in a news release. Peace Officers Memorial Day is a solemn reminder to acknowledge and appreciate their sacrifices and commitment.

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Wichita teen injured in wrong-way crash on I-135

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Alondra Nelson, while serving as Director of Science and Technology Policy for the White House, attends a meeting of G7 science ministers on June 13, 2022, in Frankfurt, Germany. Credit - Sebastian Gollnowpicture alliance/Getty Images

Today, I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.

Even as the White House threatens the foundational tenets of constitutional democracy and continues to slash funding for essential social services, it is tempting to hope that the public institutions charged with promoting and protecting knowledge will, nevertheless, soldier on with their mission. I did.

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Since January 2025, scientists and librarians, program officers and policy analysts at the National Science Foundation, the Library of Congress, and other federal offices and agencies have focused on their work, despite an increasingly hostile political environment. Weve also seen civil servants fired and accused of not making the mark, vendorss contracts ignored, and grants and fellowships cancelled.

Perseverance has its limits. The erosion of these institutions integrityand the growing realization that it is impossible to fulfill their missions in good faithhas made the cost of continuing untenable. This is why I must step away from my work with two federal institutions I care deeply about.

In both these roles, over the past few years, I've been asked to serve on diverse bodies that offer guidance about how the Executive and Legislative branches can be stewards of knowledge and create structure to enable discovery, innovation, and ingenuity. In the instance of the National Science Board, this ideal has dissolved so gradually, yet so completely, that I barely noticed its absence until confronted with its hollow simulacrum.

I have encountered increasing barriers to the exercise of honest counsel. These repeated obstacles of procedural circumvention, particularly insidious to those of us who have long advocated for more democratic and inclusive knowledge systems, represent not just personal frustration, but institutional regression.

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Freedom of expression is not merely an abstract principle, or even a constitutional right, but a practical necessity for meaningful advisory work. In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, published as short stories in the late 1940s and as a novel in 1953, warned not only of the destruction of books, but of a society in which people had lost the desire to read them. The parallel today is not only the administrations effort to destroy and suppress knowledge, but also the institutions willingness to accept the cultivated irrelevance of ita challenge that undermines any serious effort to conduct research, inform policy, or guide public institutions.

The National Science Foundation (NSF)established as an independent agency through the National Science Act of 1950 and marking its 75th anniversary this weektraces its roots to Vannevar Bushs landmark report, Science, the Endless Frontier, addressed to President Harry S. Truman. But we might also see the establishment of this premier research institution as reflecting a response to fears depicted by Bradbury. The NSF can be understood not only as a catalyst of scientific promise for national purpose, but also as a guarded response to fears about centralized control over knowledge and thought, shaped by the dark shadows of the Third Reich and the emerging Red Scare.



The NSFs investments have shaped some of the most transformative technologies of our timefrom GPS to the internetand supported vital research in the social and behavioral sciences that helps the nation understand itself and evaluate its progress toward its democratic ideals. So in 2024, I was honored to be appointed to the National Science Board, which is charged under 42 U.S. Code  1863 with establishing the policies of the Foundation and providing oversight of its mission.

But the meaning of oversight changed with the arrival of DOGE. That historical tensionbetween the promise of scientific freedom and the peril of political controlmay now be resurfacing in troubling ways. Last month, when a National Science Board statement was released on occasion of the April 2025 resignation of Trump-appointed NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, it was done so without the participation or notice of all members of the Board.

Last week, as the Board held its 494th meeting, I listened to NSF staff say that DOGE had by fiat the authority to give thumbs up or down to grant applications which had been systematically vetted by layers of subject matter experts.



Our closed-to-the-public deliberations were observed by Zachary Terrell from the DOGE team. Through his Zoom screen, Terrell showed more interest in his water bottle and his cuticles than in the discussion. According to Nature Terrell, listed as a "consultant" in the NSF directory, had accessed the NSF awards system to block the dispersal of approved grants. The message I received was that the National Science Board had a role to play in name only.

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This episode reflects a deeper concern: the erosion of meaningful guidance. I was still free to discuss my concerns at the board meeting, but it was increasingly clear that it was just a performance without any impact. The advisory body had been transformed into a ceremonial assemblage. Consultation occurred without consequence. When grant applications are vetoed and whole organizations restructured, the freedom to speak becomes meaningless when disconnected from the possibility of being heard.



All of this is threatened by the creeping normalization of authoritarian approaches to knowledge management and academic freedom. The National Science Board has not been disbanded like so many other statutorily established, independent agencies in the federal government. But preservation of form provides little consolation when function has been strategically neutralized, mirroring the backsliding that scholars have thoroughly documented: maintaining legitimacy for institutions that no longer honor their founding purposes. This hollowing out is not just about governance in the abstract, it has material consequences for which research questions get asked, which datasets get produced, which knowledge gets produced, and which perspectives shape our understanding of pressing societal challenges. It has consequences for the integrity of knowledge itself.

The second institution from which I am departing is also demonstrating symptoms of democratic decay. In 2023, I was appointed by the Librarian of Congress to the Scholars Council, which advises the Kluge Chairs program, the Kluge Prize for the Study of Humanity, and other library programming intended to get ideas out of the stacks and into society by reinvigorat[ing] the interconnection between thought and action, bridging the divide between knowledge and power, and narrow[ing] the gap between thinkers and doers.



Last week, the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, was summarily dismissed via an email addressed to Carla from a White House HR administrator. The Trump Administration claimed that she was fired for things she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children. It is true that Hayden was repeatedly on record as saying the Library should be for all Americans. And it is false that the Library, which is intended to hold all books published in the United States, lends books to children. The ouster of Hayden is part of a broader pattern of political targeting of women and Black public servants across the federal government.

Dr. Carla Hayden was a leader in the digitization of libraries and a steadfast advocate for their public mission. Her dismissal signals more than a routine personnel shiftit reflects a deeper contest over who controls the curation and dissemination of knowledge in the digital age. That contest became even more apparent two days later, when the Trump Administration fired her direct report, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights. Perlmutters office had just released a report concluding that while generative AI poses novel challenges to copyright law, these could be addressed through voluntary licensing and market-based solutionsrather than statutory changes to the fair use doctrine. At a time when questions about AI and intellectual property are front of mind, the Library of Congresss oversight of the U.S. copyright system is more consequential than ever.

The steady accumulation of procedural adjustments, each seemingly minor, stand to systematically and collectively alter the purpose and impact of our institutions. The dismissal of Hayden, who took the helm of the Library of Congress with a vow to extend its resources to all of us, represents not merely a personnel change but a statement about what kind of knowledge stewardship is deemed acceptable.

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To watch these changes unfold without naming them for what they are is to participate in a collective amnesia about how knowledge infrastructures shape power relations. Like the shopkeeper in an authoritarian society described by Vaclav Havel in his essay The Power of the Powerless, who participates in his own oppression through small daily acts of complicity, placing a party slogan in his window not out of conviction but out of habit. To remain on advisory boards that have been stripped of meaningful advisory function is to become that shopkeeper, to lend legitimacy to a process that has been systematically delegitimized.



What then, is the responsible course of action? For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging. My resignation represents such a refusal, not a surrender of responsibility but an assertion of it.

This is not to condemn those who remain. There is value in continued presence, in bearing witness, in working for reform from within. But there comes a point when presence itself becomes an endorsement, when working within the system becomes indistinguishable from working for it.

In her Nobel lecture in 1993, the writer Toni Morrison observed:

"Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge. Whether it is obscuring state language or the faux-language of mindless media; whether it is the proud but calcified language of the academy or the commodity driven language of science; whether it is the malign language of law-without-ethics, or language designed for the estrangement of minorities, hiding its racist plunder in its literary cheekit must be rejected, altered and exposed."

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The aim of my resignation is to break free of powers that seek to limit knowledge and silence voice. To signal that certain boundary lines have been crossed. To insist that advisory roles must expand knowledge and be more than appendages to predetermined decisions.

I follow political economist Albert O. Hirschman, in his seminal work Exit, Voice, and Loyalty, who offered a framework for understanding responses to institutional decline. Exit (leaving) and voice (speaking up) need not be mutually exclusive strategies. My resignations are both, an exit that amplifies the voice of others. By departing these advisory roles, I aim to speak more clearly in my own language about what they have become and what they ought to be. This is not an abandonment of loyalty to these institutions' missions, but rather, its highest expression.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The ongoing Karen Read retrial in Massachusetts was unexpectedly paused this week due to "unavoidable circumstances."

On Tuesday, May 13, the court was supposed to hear testimony from its next witness in Read's murder retrial over the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe back in January 2022.

However, it was announced shortly after proceedings were supposed to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday that there would be no trial taking place today.

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"Please be advised that the trial in Commonwealth v. Karen Read is not taking place today due to unavoidable circumstances," Massachusetts state courts spokeswoman Jennifer Donahue wrote in a statement to the Boston Herald on Tuesday morning.

No further explanation for the day off was provided.

"Please be advised that the trial in Commonwealth v. Karen Read is not taking place today due to unavoidable circumstances," Massachusetts state courts spokeswoman Jennifer Donahue wrote in an email. https://t.co/6vmwwT6ed8  Boston Herald (@bostonherald) May 13, 2025

Read, 45, is accused of killing O'Keefe, who was found dead in the snow on the front lawn of a residence in Canton, Mass., in the early morning hours of January 29, 2022.

The prosecution alleges that Read hit O'Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking then left him to die. She is being charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

The case already went to trial in 2024, ending in a hung jury and prompting a retrial that began last month.

Related: Ruby Franke's Eldest Son Details His Last Conversation With Abusive Mom
As the Supreme Court hears arguments Thursday on a major Donald Trump policy for the first time in his second term, the president could secure a significant win affecting many of the lawsuits against his administration out of a case that is otherwise widely seen as a legal loser.

Trump has taken his attempt to end birthright citizenship  the longstanding practice of granting citizenship to any child born on US soil, regardless of their parents immigration status  to the high court. But in doing so, Trump officials made an intentional decision not to ask the court to review the constitutionality of the policy, which appears to run afoul of the 14th Amendment and more than 120 years of court precedent. Instead, the Justice Department wants the justices to focus on the power of lower court judges generally to issue orders blocking presidential measures nationwide  a major pet peeve of Trump.

We are thrilled to get this issue before the justices, a senior administration official told CNN.

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Trump has seen scores of nationwide orders  also called universal injunctions  halting his administrations initiatives, including in cases challenging his funding freezes, anti-DEI directives, mass layoffs of federal employees, cuts to public health research funding and various immigration policies.

While every president in the 21st century has faced multiple court injunctions, Trump has, by far, seen the most as he has signed a record number of executive orders in his few months in office. Trumps opponents in the case argue that his willingness to push and exceed the limits of executive power are why universal injunctions are needed in some instances, while noting that rolling back the nationwide orders in this case would present extraordinarily daunting logistical hurdles.

This is a fraught time for the relationship between the courts and the Executive Branch, several Democratic attorneys general said in a brief to the court. The Government is aggressively issuing Executive Orders of dubious legality, evading or ignoring court orders and attacking the judiciary. This is no time for this Court to limit the few powers that the courts have to do Equity in our Nation.

The frequency with which courts are issuing such blanket orders  a trend that took off when Republican-led states started asking for them to halt actions by President Barack Obama  has been subject to debate in the legal community. Justices across the ideological spectrum have signaled that the pattern deserves a closer look  though some have expressed more skepticism about the practice than others.

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On Thursday, the Supreme Court will be considering nationwide orders issued in multiple lawsuits challenging Trumps birthright citizenship executive order  brought by Democratic-led states, immigrant advocacy groups and individuals who are pregnant with children who would be denied citizenship under the Trump proposal. Trump is asking the high court to limit the current injunctions to just the handful of individual plaintiffs  or at the very least, just in the roughly two-dozen Democratic states-led that challenged the policy in court.

A ruling in Trumps favor on that request would be a huge victory for him, even if the court ultimately strikes down the underlying birthright citizenship executive order.

Unlawful Nationwide Injunctions by Radical Left Judges could very well lead to the destruction of our Country! These people are Lunatics, who do not care, even a little bit, about the repercussions from their very dangerous and incorrect Decisions and Rulings, Trump wrote on Truth Social in March, adding, If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!

If the Supreme Court puts any limits on when lower courts can issue nationwide injunctions  or eliminates them as a tool outright  the Trump administration would be able to pursue its agenda more quickly and effectively. And in the short term, if Trump is to prevail in scaling back the injunctions in this dispute, it would also let him, for some period time, terminate birthright citizenship for certain immigrants children  even with the overwhelming consensus that his executive order is unconstitutional.

Legal merits in the background

Trumps new policy would end birthright citizenship for babies born in the United States if both parents lacked citizenship. It would apply not just to children of undocumented immigrants, but even children of parents in the country on a legal but temporary status, such as a student visa.

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Lower courts have ruled quickly and aggressively against his Day 1 executive order as a violation of the 14th Amendment, which says, All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States. Multiple court precedents have affirmed the long-held understanding that a parents immigration status does not rob a babys right to citizenship if he or she is born on US soil, and before the constitutional amendment was adopted, Congress passed a similar statute as well.

Administration officials have privately expressed concern that the justices would not be willing to overturn court precedent thats more than a century old and did not want to face a major loss so early in his term.

Samuel Bray, a University of Notre Dame Law School professor and prominent critic of nationwide injunctions, told CNN that because the Supreme Court is not likely to uphold Trumps policy in the end, the dispute is an attractive option for the justices to use to limit or end the use of universal injunctions.

In other recent Supreme Court cases dealing with nationwide injunctions against presidential policies, the justices ultimately reversed the injunction because the policy itself was lawful, meaning that the justices didnt have the opportunity to decide whether it was appropriate for the lower courts to block the policy nationwide.

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The court has teed up the remedy question very clearly in the birthright citizenship case, Bray said. Theres not likely to be a scenario where the Supreme Court says it does not need to address the appropriateness of lower court orders blocking Trumps policy nationwide because it believes that the executive order is likely lawful, Bray said.

One case where the court majority avoided the issue was the challenge to the Trump first term travel ban targeting mostly majority Muslim countries. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the policy, but in a concurrence, Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, warned that court might need to end the practice of nationwide injunctions more generally.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, another conservative, echoed the sentiment in another case, writing that the routine issuance of universal injunctions is patently unworkable.

Speaking at a university event in 2022, Justice Elena Kagan, a liberal, addressed how nationwide injunctions  when coupled with forum-shopping  were hamstringing administrations of both parties, asserting that It just cant be right that one district judge can stop a nationwide policy in its tracks and leave it stopped for the years that it takes to go through the normal process, Kagan said.

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Even on the courts far-left wing, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson acknowledged in a 2024 opinion that universal injunctions raised contested and difficult questions, but stressed the answer was not straightforward and that the court should take its time in resolving it.

Suzette Malveaux, a Washington and Lee University School of Law professor who signed a friend-of-the-court brief in this case, cautioned against seeing all various justices comments as suggesting that theyre all aligned with conservative calls for ending universal injunctions, as some concerns seem more constitutional, while others seem more pragmatic.

The question about whether or not a nationwide injunction should ever be allowed  that seems to be far reaching, she told CNN. There are concerns  concerns from Democrats and Republicans alike, too  but I think were in a context where it makes it very clear why nationwide injunctions are important and how valuable they can be.

A long-running debate

Thursdays hearing could surface the many criticisms that have been raised about nationwide injunctions in what has been a long-running debate. Presidents of both parties and their allies have expressed frustration with their use, but Trump and his Republican allies have doubled down on the issue in recent months.

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Opponents say lower courts embrace of preliminary, universal orders quickly catapults high-stakes legal fights to the Supreme Courts emergency docket, forcing the justices to weigh in on major legal questions that havent had the chance to percolate among several lower courts. Outside of such emergency circumstances, justices tend to favor taking up cases that present legal questions that have been reviewed by multiple courts  especially if those questions have prompted disagreements between appeals courts about how they should be resolved.

If one loss binds the government forever against everyone, then we are going to lose out on the opportunity to get the wisdom of a great many judges as to how to solve a problem, said Paul Larkin, a senior legal research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

How litigants have funneled cases to courts that are perceived to be favorable to their causes  a practice known as forum shopping  has heightened criticisms of nationwide injunctions.

Republican and conservatives upped the ante during the Biden administration when they directed their lawsuits against the administration to single-judge court divisions, essentially allowing the litigants to choose their judges. In one such case, a Louisiana judge halted all White House communications with social media companies and in another, a Texas judge barred the Biden administration from making changes to the federal governments deportation priorities.

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(The Supreme Court ultimately reversed both injunctions, but not on the grounds that their nationwide nature was inappropriate.)

Friend-of-the court briefs opposing Trump in the birthright citizenship case argue that the forum shopping issue doesnt exist in this dispute, as the rulings against the measure were issued by several courts in multiple circuits across the country. They also say, given that the relevant precedent is more than a century old, that this is not a case where the justices would need more lower court percolation of the issue to properly decide it.

Then there are the practical issues if the justices were to rule that Trumps policy should only be blocked for specific plaintiffs while the litigation continues. It would require state and local governments to develop complex verification systems for determining whether a baby is entitled to the benefits of citizenship under Trumps policy, while imposing additional administrative burdens on new parents and injecting even more stress around the birth of a new child.

Even halting the policy in some states but not others would create a mess for government officials, Democratic attorneys general argued in a brief led by New Jersey. If a baby covered by Trumps policy was born in Pennsylvania, which is not party to any of the lawsuits, she would not have citizenship there, but could have her citizenship recognized in New Jersey, under the patchwork system Trump is proposing.

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Any family that wanted to challenge the denial of citizenship to their US-born child would almost certainly prevail if they filed a case in court. But, if universal injunctions were ended, courts would have to deal with each of those cases one by one, according to Omar Noureldin, who leads the policy and litigation team of Common Cause, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing Trump.

And thats totally unworkable, Noureldin told CNN.

CNNs Casey Gannon contributed to this report.

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On Monday, 59 white South Africans arrived in the United States as part of a refugee programme set up by President Donald Trump to offer sanctuary from what Washington has described as racial discrimination against Afrikaners.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration offered to resettle Afrikaners, descendants of European colonial settlers in South Africa, stating that they face harassment and violence in their country. At the same time, he froze aid to the African nation.

As the group arrived at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau told them: I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years.

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We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the years, he said.

How is Washington justifying special treatment to Afrikaner refugees?

In a news conference on Monday, Trump doubled down on claims that white people have been subjected to systematic violence since the end of apartheid, or white minority rule, in South Africa.

The Afrikaner community are descendents of mainly Dutch settlers who established apartheid in 1948. Under apartheid, whites could seize land and resources from the Black population, who were relegated to Bantustans or overcrowded townships.

Although apartheid ended in 1994  when the African National Congress won the first racially inclusive democratic election in South Africa  most commentators agree that racism persists today, with many Black people still disproportionately lacking access to land, resources and opportunities.

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In January, President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced a new law seeking to address land ownership disparities  which have left three-quarters of privately owned land in South Africa in the hands of the white minority  by making it easier for the state to expropriate land.

Ramaphosa has insisted that the law does not amount to land confiscation, but creates a framework for fair redistribution by allowing authorities to take land in the public interest without compensation only in exceptional circumstances, like when the area is abandoned.

Shortly after the introduction of the Expropriation Act, Trump wrote on his Truth Social account: South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY the United States wont stand for it, we will act.

Washington has said it agreed to grant Afrikaners refugee status after the introduction of the law.

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Trump is also at odds with the African nations prominent position in the International Court of Justices case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Is there a genocide risk against white South Africans?

Its a genocide thats taking place, Trump told reporters at the White House, a claim that has drawn criticism from South African officials and the international media.

Trumps claim echoes white nationalist beliefs that South Africas legislation aimed at rectifying apartheid is now, in fact, discriminatory against the Afrikaner community.

Right-wing organisations, such as the Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, have been championing a narrative that Afrikaners are under an existential threat.

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Elon Musk, the South African-born tech billionaire and a close ally of Trump, is perceived by many as an ally of the Afrikaner cause.

He has repeatedly posted his outrage on X against what he claims is unfair treatment of white South Africans  even going as far as claiming a white genocide was occurring.

Still, South African whites own most of the countrys private land and have about 20 times more wealth than Blacks on average. In corporate South Africa, white individuals occupy 62 percent of top management positions while 17 percent of leadership roles are held by Black managers.

And even statistics provided by AfriForum and the Transvaal Agricultural Union  also a group sympathetic to white farmers  show that the total number of farmers, across all races, killed every year numbers about 60. This is a country that sees 19,000 murders in all, annually.

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Some younger Afrikaners have taken to social media to mock the asylum offer, posting parody videos that highlight the privileges white people enjoy in South Africa today.

How has South Africa reacted?

In March, the South African government called Trumps claims that Afrikaners face persecution completely false, noting they have remained among the richest and most economically privileged groups.

On Monday, President Ramaphosa told an Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that we think that the American government has got the wrong end of the stick here, but well continue talking to them.

Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Trump about the issue.

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The South African president said the far-right Afrikaners seeking refugee status were a fringe grouping, adding that they are anti-transformation and anti-change [and] would actually prefer South Africa to go back to apartheid-type policies. I said to him [Trump] that I would never do that.

Ramaphosa also revealed that he is set to meet with Trump soon regarding the issue.

Whats the status of US-South Africa relations?

Tensions between the Trump administration and the government of South Africa are high, with the US expelling South Africas ambassador in March due to criticisms of Trump.

The Trump administration is also at odds with Pretorias prominent position in the International Court of Justices case against Israel, which stands accused of genocide in Gaza.

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Another major flashpoint was the abrupt pause in US aid funding in January and the dismantling of USAID operations in South Africa. This particularly affected the PEPFAR program, the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

In 2023 alone, South Africa received roughly $460m in PEPFAR funds, covering nearly 18 percent of the countrys total HIV/AIDS budget. The funding freeze is jeopardising efforts to combat one of the worlds most severe HIV epidemics.

Trade diplomacy has not escaped the fallout, either. With a proposed 30 percent tariff rate, South Africa was among the hardest hit by Trumps liberation day tariffs on April 2, which disproportionately affected some African nations. Only five other countries faced steeper trade hikes than South Africa.

Although a 90-day pause was granted before the tariffs implementation, the looming threat of higher trade levies  especially on car exports  has created deep anxiety in Pretoria.

Is this consistent with US refugee law and policy?

Yesterdays arrival of dozens of Afrikaners into the US comes as the Trump administration blocks nearly all other refugee admissions and leans into rhetoric about an invasion of immigrants from poorer nations.

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Speaking from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane said the Trump administration has made a priority of getting these people [white South Africans] into the United States.

Meanwhile, people fleeing widespread violence and persecution in countries such as Haiti and Afghanistan face a closed door.
Russia's Buryatia Republic declared a state of emergency on May 13 over massive forest fires that have engulfed multiple regions in the Russian Far East.

Authorities in the republic, which lies some 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Moscow and borders Mongolia, said that 22 fires have been recorded in the region, covering an area of 53,000 hectares.

Buryatia's Forestry Agency said that 90% of the 174 forest fires registered since the start of this fire season have been caused by human carelessness.

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Even heavier fires have been raging in the neighboring Zabaykalsky Krai, covering 576,000 hectares, the Russian Emergency Ministry said on May 13. A state of federal emergency in Zabaykalsky Krai was announced already in April.

Russian authorities blamed the swift spread of the fires on the wind and dry, hot weather. Wildfires are common in the vast forests of Siberia and Russia's Far East, especially during the dry summer months.

In Amur Oblast, a massive fire reportedly came close to a major highway, though state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the flames there had been extinguished as of May 13.

Read also: Like a game of tennis  Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  We Are the Champions could be the next song Central High Schools jazz band plays as it beat out hundreds of other bands from around the world at a competition in New York City.

The band took first place in the Ellington High School Jazz Competition and Festival in the global competition over the weekend.

WREG was there as they received a heros welcome at the airport and told us about the hard work it took to make their dreams a reality.

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Memphis, known for its homegrown musical talent, was on full display Monday as the jazz stars of the Central High School band received the royal treatment stepping off the escalator at the Memphis Airport.

They were welcomed with lots of hugs and cheers from some of their biggest fans.

Dr. Ollie Liddell is the bands director.

Were the best high school jazz band in the world this year Dr. Liddell said. Oh, this is a win for the city.

Memphis HS takes first place in global jazz band competition

Less than 24 hours ago, the band was dressed to the nines, performing in New York City, where they took first place in the Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival.

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They beat out hundreds of schools from around the world.

Students called the experience a dream come true.

Photo courtesy of Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Weve been looking forward to it for a long time and it finally happened, said trombone player Marquese Cobb.

When asked about how much hard work went into this, Dr. Liddell said there were a lot of long nights preparing for the festival.

Oh my gosh, listen, long nights, just practices, the kids practicing, extra practices, Dr. Liddell said. Im up late just listening to recordings and analyzing recordings, rehearsals, making notes.

So much sweat and tears and love and pain, just with everything, its just been such a great time, drummer Samuel Robbs said.

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We really just had to act like every single day was the finals of Essential Ellington, put that much passion into it and have that much love for each other, said saxophone player Jackson Hankins.

Bartletts Union Depot development to get even bigger

Going through rain, sleet and snow, literally, said trumpet player Kingston Granberry. Like when it was snowing outside, we were going to Ms. Toris daycare, working with Ron Carter, late nights at the school.

Their efforts paid off as they not only made their school proud, but their families too.

This is a musical city, this is what we do, Dr. Liddell said. We brought the soul of Memphis and we put it on display for the world to see and you see what happened.

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The Sant Andreu Jazz Band from Barcelona, Spain took second place and the Osceola County School for the Arts from Kissimmee, Florida took third place in the competition.

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 WREG.com.
Windy weather will be returning to New Mexico this week. Wind gusts up to 55 mph will bring a high fire danger and blowing dusts to parts of the state.

Warmer weather moved into New Mexico to start this week with high temperatures above average for the middle of May. Its also a much drier week across New Mexico. Winds picked up in western parts of the state with gusts up over 40 mph near the Arizona state line. Winds are settling down tonight with above average low temperatures into Tuesday morning.

Windy weather will develop Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon across the entire state. West, southwest winds will gust anywhere from 30 to 55 mph throughout the afternoon. This will bring a high fire danger across southern, southwestern, western, and central New Mexico both days. The highest fire danger will be for areas that didnt see the wetting precipitation that many saw last week. Thats helping with the fire danger in eastern and northern New Mexico. Blowing dust will also be possible in dust prone areas, but especially in southern and southwest New Mexico. A cold front will move across the state Tuesday, bringing cooler temperatures through Thursday afternoon.

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Winds settle down each afternoon into the end of this week, with the calmest day on Friday. Temperatures will start a warming trend Friday afternoon. That warming trend will continue through Sunday, but the winds will be picking up again through the weekend with Sunday the windiest afternoon.

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.
Windy weather will be returning to New Mexico this week. Wind gusts up to 55 mph will bring a high fire danger and blowing dusts to parts of the state.

Warmer weather has moved into New Mexico to start this week with high temperatures above average for the middle of May. Its also a much drier week across New Mexico. Winds picked up today in western parts of the state with gusts up to nearly 40 mph. Winds will settle down overnight with above average low temperatures into Tuesday morning.

Windy weather will develop Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon across the entire state. West, southwest winds will gust anywhere from 30 to 55 mph throughout the afternoon. This will bring a high fire danger across southern, southwestern, western, and central New Mexico both days. The highest fire danger will be for areas that didnt see the wetting precipitation that many saw last week. Thats helping with the fire danger in eastern and northern New Mexico. Blowing dust will also be possible in dust prone areas, but especially in southern and southwest New Mexico. A cold front will move across the state Tuesday, bringing cooler temperatures through Thursday afternoon.

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Winds settle down each afternoon into the end of this week, with the calmest day on Friday. Temperatures will start a warming trend Friday afternoon. That warming trend will continue through Sunday, but the winds will be picking up again through the weekend with Sunday the windiest afternoon.

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.
Will Democratic primaries become a new battleground for the MAGA-aligned right?

After the partys bruising loss to Donald Trump and successive Senate defeats in 2024, the Democratic Party is at a crossroads. The next two years will determine whether the party embraces a populist, progressive path or abandons issues like transgender rights to focus on winning moderates and Republicans dis-enthused with Trumpism  or some combination of the two.

Some conservatives with deep pockets seem to smell an opportunity. With the Democrats divided and the partys national leaders weaker than ever, some are hoping to steer the course of the left away from progressivism with strategic investments in off-year races.

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Elon Musk, the presidents DOGE baron-in-chief, made a ham-fisted attempt at doing so earlier this year. With a massive investment in Wisconsins Supreme Court race, Musk sought to block a liberal judge from cementing a left-leaning majority on the states highest court. His efforts failed, thanks in no small part due to a massive campaign led by Democrats aimed at exposing his influence.

In New Yorks heated mayoral primary, this phenomenon was embodied on Monday by Republican megadonor John Catsimatidis, a Trump supporter and longtime radio host who made his strategy plainly clear on WABC: "I am supporting [Andrew] Cuomo to wipe out all the socialists on June 24th.

Cuomo, the former governor, resigned in disgrace after several women came forward and accused him of sexual harassment and attempts to silence victims. Hes now leading in polling for the upcoming Democratic primary after the incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, became embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Hundreds of miles south in Pittsburgh, a separate tale of MAGA Republican influence in a Democratic Party primary continued to play out on the same day.

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A historically working-class city in the far western reach of the state, Pittsburgh is a deep-blue bastion surrounded by comparatively much purpler and redder districts. In March, the citys mayoral race made headlines after a number of high-profile Pennsylvania conservatives put money behind the effort to unseat incumbent Ed Gainey in a Democratic primary.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey accused his opponent of taking in money from Republican donors (AFP/Getty)

The fears of MAGA influence have only grown more intense as the race nears the May 20 primary election.

On Monday, the mayor opened up a new offensive against his rival, Corey OConnor.

Gainey, in a news release, reacted to a state election board filing detailing how a PAC supporting OConnor, Common Sense Change, took in $150,000 during the last filing period  the majority of its contributions  from a separate PAC funded entirely by a nonprofit housed in Delaware with no public face identified only as Good Leadership Action Inc. That comes despite a claim last month from Common Sense Changes administrator, Mike Mikus, stating that it was mostly funded by trade unions. Only a third of the PACs contributions in April and early May came from three unions backing OConnor.

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"My opponent has taken $160,000 from MAGA donors, been backed by 80 percent of the developer money in this race, and flipped his position on [University of Pittsburgh Medical Center] lawsuits after taking thousands from its corporate board, said Gainey.

Now, his backers are hiding the source of hundreds of thousands of dollars from voters because they know people in this city won't support developers, MAGA money, or whoever these people are trying to buy Pittsburgh, he charged.

Through the funneling scheme, the moneys origins are untraceable. But with the mayoral race coming down to a divide along key local issues, including development and affordable housing, there are signs that specific interests are working to unseat the mayor.

Democracy Wins PAC, the D.C.-based organization funded entirely by Good Leadership Inc., previously spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to block a Colorado state representative known for battling corporate landlords from winning a seat in the state senate. That time, it funneled money through a different PAC, Brighter Futures Colorado.

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OConnor responded on Monday, accusing Gainey in his own statement of taking so-called dark money, given the more than half a million dollars the Working Families Party has put towards the mayors campaign.

It has made campaigns nastier and more personal, and its part of why voters are so frustrated with the political process, OConnor said in a statement first reported by Public Source.

We dont coordinate with any outside groups, and I believe all campaigns and committees, no matter who they support, should be transparent about where their money is coming from. That includes both Common Sense Change and the Working Families Party, he said.

OConnor outraised his opponent in direct funding over the course of the campaign, but dueling internal polls released by his team and Gaineys show the race tightening in the final weeks.

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While the Working Families Party PAC backing Gainey is registered nationally, conflating it with the groups channeling money in support of his opponent is a stretch.

Founded in 1998, the Working Families Party is a well-known progressive organization that has been active in Democratic politics across the East Coast for decades, issuing endorsements and encouraging Democratic candidates to run on the partys ballot line in New York, where the party began. The WFP is supporting 36 candidates in Pennsylvania in this cycle alone.

Elon Musks attempts to sway the Wisconsins Supreme Court race fell flat. (Getty Images)

The same cannot be said for either OConnors independent expenditure or its main backer.

The website for Democracy Wins, now funding OConnors independent expenditure, still reads as a pre-2024 artifact. It depicts the group as an organization bent on funding a now-failed bid to oust Rep. Lauren Boebert, who switched districts to avoid a tougher reelection fight. Theres no statement on the website explaining why the group has now engaged in two separate, unrelated Democratic primary races.

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With the election a week away, Democrats are watching to see how this proxy fight for the partys future plays out. But regardless of the result, the true outcome could already be plain: Republicans with deep pockets increasingly see the intra-party struggles of their opponents as just as relevant a battlefield as any general election in a swing state or district.

As Musk takes a step back from DOGE (and likely his efforts to bankroll GOP causes to curry favor with Trump dwindle as well), many Democrats will be breathing a sigh of relief. But that doesnt mean their partys fight against conservative money is over  not by a long shot. It may just be more difficult to recognize.
MONONA, Wis. (WFRV)  A Wisconsin woman was arrested Monday morning after allegedly fleeing police on U.S. Highway 12 and later being apprehended by a K9 unit.

According to the Monona Police Department, an officer monitoring traffic near South Towne Drive spotted a vehicle matching the description of one that had earlier fled from Fitchburg police. The driver, identified as Jasmonique R. Hanger, reportedly sped recklessly down the highway despite not being actively pursued.

Man arrested for alleged hit-and-run, 5th OWI in Marquette County

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When the officer attempted a traffic stop, Hanger allegedly refused to stop, leading to a pursuit. Police say she exited onto U.S. Highway 51, then turned onto W. Broadway before pulling into an apartment complex and fleeing on foot.

Monona police deployed K9 Jakko after Hanger ignored commands to stop. The K9 unit successfully apprehended her, and she was treated at a local hospital for a bite wound before being taken to jail.

Officers reportedly found a small amount of cocaine in her vehicle.

While formal charges are pending, Monona police say they will refer multiple charges to the Dane County District Attorneys Office, including felony attempted eluding, resisting arrest, and cocaine possession.

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Fond du Lac Fire Rescue issues warning after fire spreads from yard to railroad tracks

Our officers are trained to use discretion and de-escalation, said Police Chief Brian Chaney. Unfortunately, some individuals do not allow us that opportunity.

No further details were released.

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(WFRV)  A dangerous TikTok trend that encourages students to intentionally set their school-issued Chromebooks on fire has prompted northeast Wisconsin school districts to issue urgent warnings to parents.

The Oconto Unified School District confirmed that a message was recently sent to families, alerting them to the viral challenge that is making its way through schools nationwide.

Two arrested in Wisconsin after chase involving ghost gun and suspected drug deal

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The trend reportedly involves students inserting foreign objects, like pencils, pens, or erasers, into Chromebook ports to trigger smoke or fires.

The devices contain lithium-ion batteries, which can reach temperatures over 900 degrees Fahrenheit when damaged, producing toxic smoke and creating a serious fire hazard that is difficult to control.

Wisconsin police K9 helps apprehend fleeing suspect after highway pursuit

District officials are reminding families that students who tamper with devices could face severe disciplinary consequences, including suspension, expulsion, or even referral to law enforcement.

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Parents are strongly encouraged to speak with their children about the risks and consequences of this trend and to stress the importance of avoiding participation.

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Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida will be able to make a lot more wishes come true for local children with critical illnesses.

The 10th Annual Fields Auto Group Jacksonville Walk For Wishes, held at the Seawalk Pavilion on May 2, raised $103,600.

The organization said in a news release that the money is enough to grant 13 transformative wishes for local children, providing hope, strength, and joy during their most difficult times.

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This years local event was emceed by Action News Jaxs very own Finn Carlin.

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We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible outpouring of support from the Jacksonville community, Anne Cuba, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, said in a news release. Each dollar raised brings us closer to making more wishes come true for children who need hope more than ever.

Make-A-Wish thanked presenting sponsor, Morgan & Morgan, impact sponsor, CSX, as well as other sponsors, in-kind donors, and volunteers, whose contributions helped bring this exciting evening to life.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A Salt Lake City woman has been arrested for leaving her 2-year-old in a vehicle with a stranger while she slept for several hours.

Chantelle Erichsen Rees, 32, is facing charges of felony child endangerment and child abandonment.

According to an arrest record filed by the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD), Rees reported that her 2-year-old child was missing after she left him in a vehicle with an unknown male.

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Rees told police that she had met the man at a gas station and exchanged clear with him for gas money. She then drove him to a nearby apartment complex, leaving her child with him in the vehicle while she went upstairs to shower and use the bathroom.

Sex offender arrested for attempting to meet child in Lehi, documents say

According to police, Rees said that she had not slept in eight days because she had been using drugs, and fell asleep while in the apartment. When Rees woke up, she couldnt find the vehicle and waited several hours to call the police.

Rees told police that she should have known better than to leave her child with a male she had just met. She recalled the man telling her he was experiencing psychosis, and she described him as paranoid and trippin.

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Police responded to the area of 951 West 500 South in Salt Lake City where they took Rees report before locating the vehicle with the unknown male and her child.

In an interview with the man, he told police that Rees went to the apartment, brought the child to the vehicle, and then went back inside, leaving him alone with the 2-year-old. The man told police he tried to call Rees, but she didnt pick up.

37-year-old man shot by Ogden police after allegedly threatening officer with knives

He left with the child after a few hours to figure out how to care for him. The man reportedly tried to give the child water and snacks, but said the childs health was declining. Officers who located the two reported that the 2-year-old seemed lethargic.

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According to Rees, she was struggling because she was homeless and living out of her car with her 2-year-old. She told police that she had some childcare supplies donated to her, but felt bad her child was sleeping in a vehicle.

Rees has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and is currently being held on bail.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

DUCHESNE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A woman died after an officer-involved shooting in Duchesne County over the weekend.

The woman  identified as the suspect in a reported domestic violence case  was shot after allegedly answering the door to Duchesne County deputies and pointing a handgun at an officer. She died at the scene, despite lifesaving efforts by first responders.

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Officials first responded to the scene around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, after receiving reports of domestic violence. The woman was reportedly carrying a handgun when she answered the door.

Deputies ordered her to drop the weapon, the Duchesne County Sheriffs Office said on Monday. The suspect raised the handgun and pointing it at the deputy. The deputy fired at her striking her in the chest.

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the case. Officials said no names have been released, pending the notification of family members.

There is no further information at this time.

Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately.

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SENATOBIA, Miss.  A Mid-South woman said she was wrongly arrested on Mothers Day over parking at a Mississippi business.

However, Senatobia Police said it didnt have to end that way.

Video captured by a witness showed the moments after a woman named Breshari Faulkner was taken to the ground and handcuffed.

Faulkner was accused by Senatobia Police of illegally parking in a handicap spot in a Walmart parking lot.

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WREG followed up with Faulkner, who said before cameras came on, she had just dropped off her grandmother and parked in the handicap spot while displaying a handicap placard.

Then the police tapped on her window.

I opened my door and I said Yes maam. She said You parked in a handicap, Faulkner said. I said, I am sorry, officer. I said I can move, but I got the handicap sticker.

Fight at J. Alexanders restaurant has customers diving for cover

According to the State of Mississippi Department of Revenue, the Disabled Placard is a removable windshield placard that is hung from the rearview mirror of a vehicle when you park in a disabled parking space. The placard must be used only when a physically disabled person is the driver or passenger of the motor vehicle at the time of its parking. It is illegal to park in a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities if you do not have the correct vehicle plates or parking permit. You can use the vehicle plates or placard in Mississippi and other states.

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Senatobia Police sent a statement saying, The officer observed the vehicle from the time it pulled into the parking lot and parked and did not observe anyone exit the vehicle.

Statement from Senatobia Police Department. Statement from Senatobia Police Department.

However, about six minutes into the Facebook Live, you can hear Faulkners grandmother mentioned.

Faulkner also showed WREG the handicap sticker. Its expiration date isnt until September 30, 2028.

Senatobia Police said it is Mississippi Law to show identification on demand when operating a motor vehicle.

The officer seen in the video claimed Faulkner refused and cursed at the officer. When the officer grabbed Faulkners arm, she claimed that Faulkner resisted.

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But Faulkner claims thats not the whole story.

Coldwater, MS police search for third suspect in Mothers Day triple shooting

While I got my license in my hand, Im trying to tell her I want a sergeant, Faulkner said. Its getting loud. She getting vocal. Its getting hotter and hotter with the situation.

Faulkner said whats not in the statement is that the female officer threatened to tase her in front of her children and threatened to call Child Protective Services.

I shouldnt have to be spending my Mothers Day sitting in a cell because of a handicap sticker, Faulkner said.

Senatobia Police said they get weekly handicap parking complaints, adding that while it may seem like a minor violation, it is not for those who need those parking spots.

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However, Faulkner claims her grandmother is one of those people who need those parking spots.

For me to have charges thrown on me wasnt right at all, she said. And I am not settling for that.

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If you want to understand how power works on a day-to-day basis, here is a handy primer: the less power you have, the more you are required to explain yourself. If you are late for work you need to have a reason why, but if your boss is late he or she does not. The lower you are in terms of status, the more you have to justify your actions.

I notice that when someone bumps into me. I am the one who automatically says sorry. Most women are programmed to apologise for difficult social interactions  its how we are brought up.

That is what makes it hard for us to say no, to demand respect, to insist that we mean what we say. Experience has taught us that, to be taken seriously, we have to prove that we count.

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The case of the Darlington nurses, who are locked in a legal battle with their local NHS trust over its transgender policies, includes an example of this in extremis. Why did nurse Karen Danson have to give a detailed account of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her own father for some to understand why she does not want to share a changing room with a biological male called Rose?

The details of what she went through, as described in an interview at the weekend, are just horrible. Nobody should need to go public with their private torments in order to demand something that we once took for granted: single-sex changing rooms. As she and her colleagues fight the NHS over this, the Supreme Court Equality Act decision (which defines sex as biological sex, and which various luminaries claim not to understand) has made it clear that they should have single-sex changing rooms.

Danson did not want to get undressed in front of Rose, a man who self-identifies as female but whose genitals could be seen through the holes in his boxer shorts. Liberal media compliance with all of this has meant that Rose has to be referred to as a trans woman and the Darlington nurses as vile transphobes.

Lets just end such compliance here.

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Rose asked Danson why she was not getting changed. I have never heard a woman ask that of another woman in a changing room, have you? Privacy, dignity, safety  these three little words surely do not need vast explanations.

These three words should also be the central tenet throughout hospital wards and care homes, particularly when intimate care is required. This is part of our understanding that we treat each other as fully human, even at our most frail.

Later, when Danson needed an urgent hysterectomy, she was informed that Rose would be present, and she obviously objected. Was this punishment for the legal action she and her colleagues were taking against their employers, the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation? Twenty-six women had complained about the changing room situation and were told they needed re-education. As with the case of nurse Sandie Peggie, who also took her NHS employer to court when she was suspended after complaining about sharing a changing room with a transgender colleague, the feelings of female nurses with decades of experience counted for nothing.

What mattered were the delusions of selfish men who cared not about how uncomfortable they made colleagues feel.

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So cowed has the NHS been that such men are deemed the victims of outrageous bigotry. They are the ones suffering from outdated prejudice, even though the health system has altered our very language to represent their desires and they have the full backing of their unions.

Most of the unions and some MPs are struggling to comprehend the Supreme Court judgment. This is yet more dishonesty. It is easy to understand. What they are struggling with is the fact that they have got the law wrong. Unions exist to protect all their members yet the intense focus on trans rights at the expense of womens means that they are not much interested in doing so.

The absolute abandonment of any principle of safeguarding by so-called progressives has been astonishing to behold. Safeguarding exists to protect the vulnerable. We need it because we know too much about the abuse of children, women, the elderly and the disabled  nearly always at the hands of biological men. That such reality is deemed offensive does not make it untrue.

There is no need for competitive victimhood here (trans people have a hard time but so do other sections of society) yet here we go again. We have seen it with the treatment of rape victims and the astonishingly low rate of convictions because the victims dont conform to a stereotype of respectable women attacked by strangers. The police described some of the children raped by grooming gangs as unrapeable. Gisele Pelicot was a heroine for going public with the crimes inflicted on her. But who would wish this on anyone?

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Women are required to explain themselves over and over in order to be believed and deserving of justice. Why? Why is it not enough for us to say no to men however they identify? Our institutions, including the beloved NHS, have not accepted that women have a right to say No.

But we do and we need to own it. I read once that when Meryl Streep is asked to pose in a certain way or do something she doesnt want to do she simply says, That wont be happening. She does not need to explain herself. None of us do.

That Danson found her voice is admirable. But no more apologies, no more explanations, no more stories of violation should be necessary now.

We have the right to our own space. We always did.

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May 13A woman was sentenced to probation in a hit-and-run crash that killed a woman in Dayton on New Year's Day.

Christy Marie Smith, 38, will spend up to five years on probation, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office. She also is required to attend programming at MonDay Community Correctional Institution and had her driver's license suspended.

She pleaded guilty to one count of failure to stop after an accident in April, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

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Around 2:50 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2022, 53-year-old Runonya Gail Chambers was walking east in the street when she was hit by a vehicle on East Third Street between Philadelphia and Monmouth streets, according to a crash report filed by Dayton police.

Investigators found the suspect vehicle, a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse, two days later.

Smith was listed as the registered owner of the SUV.

Staff writers Jen Balduf and Daniel Susco contributed to this report.
May 13A panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court has upheld the lengthy prison sentence for a Hazleton woman who admitted to causing a fatal stab wound to her husband.

Marlin Florentino Batista, 49, was charged by Hazleton City Police with stabbing her husband, Jose Luis Jimenez-Reyes, 23, during a domestic dispute outside their residence on South Locust Street on Dec. 13, 2019.

Jimenez-Reyes died two days later at Lehigh Valley Hospital  Cedar Crest. An autopsy revealed Jimenez-Reyes suffered multiple stab wounds including one to his heart.

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Batista pled guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced by Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III to 20-to-40 years in state prison on March 14, 2022.

Batista appealed the sentence claiming her admittance of accepting guilt and being remorseful was not considered by Pierantoni when sentenced at the higher end of standard sentencing guidelines.

The Superior Court rejected Batista's appeal in a 12 page ruling issued Tuesday.

"(Pierantoni) clearly considered all the relevant sentencing factors, including mitigating ones, and weighed them accordingly. We observed that (Pierantoni) considered Batista's remorse but did not find her credible....we conclude that Batista's sole claim on appeal is frivolous," the appellate court ruled.
Four men and a woman have been named finalists for the position of city administrator in Woodbury.

The five candidates, chosen following a screening of 64 applicants, will be interviewed by the Woodbury City Council and a number of staff and community members at the end of this month. The advertised salary range is $220,000 to $260,000.

Clint Gridley, Woodburys current city administrator, is retiring June 6 after 21 years in the citys top post.

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The finalists include:

 Larry Burks, who served as the township administrator for West Chester Township, Ohio, for seven years until February 2025. He previously served as assistant city administrator and economic development program administrator for Bellevue, Neb., and city administrator for Onawa, Iowa.

 Jeffrey Dahl, who has served as city manager and HRA executive director for the city of Wayzata since 2016. He previously served as assistant city administrator and economic development director for Chaska, and as city administrator and development services director for Osseo. Fun fact: He began his career as a community development intern with the city of Woodbury in 2005.

 Dana Hardie, who has served as the city manager for Victoria since 2019. Previous leadership positions include serving as the interim city manager and director of administrative services for Burnsville, and as an operations manager in Property Tax Services for Ramsey County.

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 Matt Stemwedel, who has served as city manager of Coon Rapids since 2015, after being promoted from his position as assistant city manager. He also has a previous connection to Woodbury: He served as the assistant to the city administrator from February 2007 to January 2012.

 Jay Stroebel, who has served as city manager for Brooklyn Park since 2015. He previously served as deputy city coordinator for Minneapolis and as the director / manager of planning and management for Minneapolis.

Baker Tilly, an executive search firm, is coordinating the citys search. The Woodbury City Council approved a contract for $29,500 with the firm, not including other project and travel expenses for the consultant, as applicable.

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WORCESTER, Mass. (WPRI)  The detainment of a Brazilian woman in Worcester last week has sparked public outrage.

A crowd swarmed ICE agents as they arrested Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira in front of her two daughters, one of whom was with a newborn.

Ferreira-De Oliveira is now being held at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, R.I.

FBI: ICE arrest made in Fall River

Footage of the arrest has since gained national attention. While Ferreira-De Oliveira was being detained, her daughter was seen screaming and neighbors were rushing to their defense.

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According to City Manager Eric Batista, the crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving.

The Department of Homeland Security told WCVB in Boston that Ferreira-De Oliveira came to the United States illegally in 2022, and she was arrested on multiple assault charges.

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A trial date has been set for a Brazilian woman, who last week was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, in connection with a domestic case she was previously charged with.

Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira was charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant victim.

She initially appeared in court on Feb. 3, where she pleaded not guilty and paid $500 cash bail, according to court records. Her last court appearance was a pretrial hearing on March 24.

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On Tuesday, Judge Zachary Hillman scheduled Ferreira-De Oliveiras trial date for July 18, according to court filings. Hillman requested that the Worcester County Sheriffs Department arrange for Ferreira-De Oliveira to be present in court that day.

Ferreira-De Oliveira is currently being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICEs Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS).

Defense attorney Sarah Amorin asked Judge Hillman to lift a no-contact order with Ferreira-De Oliveiras relative, the Telegram & Gazette reported. While Assistant District Attorney Matthew Kimmelstiel objected, Hillman ruled in favor of Amorins motion, but noted that the conditions against Ferreira-De Oliveira and her relative living together were still enforced.

Kimmelstiel argued against the trial date, and added that it will be difficult to prepare with a two-month time window with Ferreira-De Oliveira in ICEs custody, the Telegram wrote. He said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. will ask ICE not to deport Ferreira-De Oliveira until the domestic case has concluded.

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At 1:47 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, a Worcester police officer went to an apartment on Main Street, the police report read. A relative told the officer that Ferreira-De Oliveira struck them with a phone charging cable and was aware of the persons pregnancy. Ferreira-De Oliveira was arrested that day.

Days after ICE agents detained Ferreira-De Oliveira and Worcester police arrested two people, including Ferreira-De Oliveiras daughter and Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement about Ferreira-De Oliveiras prior charges.

The target of this ICE operation was a violent criminal illegal alien, Ferreira de Oliveira. She was arrested by local police for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a pregnant victim, according to the statement obtained by WHDH-TV.

In the days after Ferreira-De Oliveiras arrest by ICE, residents have spoken out online and protests have been held outside City Hall. Following two protests on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, another protest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

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After Tuesday nights city council meeting was set to be held remotely, Mayor Joseph Petty said Tuesday morning that it was done so after elected and city officials received threats of violence. In holding the meeting remotely, Petty added that the decision was made in the hope of easing tensions and to provide more time to get information to the community.

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Tuesday nights city council meeting in Worcester will be fully remote due to threats of violence made to elected and city officials, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said.

In a statement released Tuesday morning, Petty said tensions in the city have been high since a Brazilian woman was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Eureka Street last Thursday. The incident has caused public outcry in the days since.

Since the incident, the events of the last few days ... have been deeply disturbing and raised many questions, Petty said. As a result, many people  regardless of their viewpoint  are frustrated and angry.

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Unfortunately, elected and city officials have received threats of violence, Petty continued. City employees and department heads have also faced threatening calls and emails. It is important to remember that the people that keep city hall alive are just that  they are people. Employees have shared concerns about their safety."

With the hope that the many questions raised can be answered, Petty chose to make Tuesday nights meeting fully remote in the hope of easing tensions and to provide more time to get information to the community, he said.

I recognize that some do not agree with this decision, but as mayor I feel it is my responsibility to keep people safe as we seek to bring people together and get answers, Petty concluded.

The city made a similar announcement Monday night, that the meeting will be held virtually out of an abundance of caution regarding public safety concerns.

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The decision to make the meeting virtual comes after grassroots political organizers announced plans to hold a rally at the Worcester City Council meeting on Tuesday. Organizers were set to protest ICEs detainment of Rosane Ferreira De-Oliveira in Worcester, as well as Worcester polices arrest of a second woman and a girl both accused by police of disrupting law enforcement action during the incident.

Officials plan to close City Hall at 5 p.m. and hold the 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting via Zoom. There will be an opportunity for remote public participation, and citizens can join through the City Councils Zoom link or by calling 1-646-828-7666 and entering access code: 161 363 1913.

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TOKYO (AP)  Global free trade is in crisis, the head of the World Trade Organization chief said Tuesday while meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigaru Ishiba on Tuesday.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, told Ishiba that she has high expectations for Japan as a champion of open markets as U.S. President Donald Trump disrupts world commerce with his fast-changing tariffs and other policies.

Trade is facing very challenging times right now and it is quite difficult, she said. We should try to use this crisis as an opportunity to solve the challenges we have and take advantage of new trends in trade.

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Japan, as a champion of the multilateral trading system must help maintain, strengthen and reform the WTO, the Japanese Foreign Ministry cited her as saying.

Later Tuesday, the WTO chief met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and issued a joint statement, saying that in a time of uncertainty and disruption, the value of the multilateral trading system is unquestionable. Japan said in the same statement the current trade turmoil would have a significant impact on the global economy and the entire multilateral trading system and called for promoting WTO reforms, including its rule-making function, dispute settlement and monitoring of the implementation of agreements.

They met a day after the United States and China said they had agreed to slash recent sky- high tariffs for 90 days to allow time for negotiations.

Japan is among many countries yet to reach a deal with the Trump administration on hikes to U.S. tariffs, including those on autos, steel and aluminum.

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The WTO played a pivotal role in past decades as the U.S. and other major economies championed the trade liberalization that facilitated the growth of global supply chains, many of which are anchored in China. By dismantling many protectionist barriers to trade, it has aided the ascent of Japan and China, and many other countries, as export manufacturing hubs.

Since taking office for a second time, Trump has prioritized higher tariffs to try to reduce U.S. imports and compel companies to locate factories in the United States, doubling down on a trade war that he launched during his first term.

Okonjo-Iweala and Ishiba agreed that WTO member countries should unite to restore the organization's capacity to address challenges.

The trade chief visited Japan to strengthen cooperation between the east Asian country and the WTO to maintain and reinforce the multilateral trading system, Japanese officials said.

She also met with Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto.

___

Associated Press video journalist Mayuko Ono in Tokyo contributed to this report.
WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)  The Greater Providence YMCA (GPYMCA) honored community champions at the annual Y Heroes Celebration on Tuesday.

The celebration honors those who demonstrate its mission of strengthening the community through service, compassion and impact.

This year, our very own 12 News anchor Mike Montecalvo was among those honored.

Other honorees included:

University of Rhode Island student-athlete Rylee Kelly

Cranston Police Captain Justin Dutra

The Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation

Rhode Island Foundation President David Cicilline

Steve and Donna Yan for their work at the Newman YMCA

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The YMCA is a community. Were there for families, for individuals, for active older adults, with people of all different kinds of abilities, disabilities. We show up for them. We really want everyone to have access to our health and wellness programs, GPYMCA CEO Karen Santilli told 12 News.

The 2025 Y Heroes Celebration was hosted by The Rhode Show host Audrey McClelland. WPRI 12 is a proud sponsor of the Greater Providence YMCA.

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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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A Miami Valley native has been recognized by a national organization for her progress on improving nursing standards.

Jodi Mullen, senior quality improvement specialist at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, is a recipient of the 2025 Circle of Excellence award. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses awards up to 25 health care professionals with the award each year.

Photo/Provided | Jodi Mullen, clinical leader of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at UF Health Shands

According to the AACN, Mullen noticed communication failures as causes behind numerous patient safety reports in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

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In her position, she has implemented nurse integrated rounds through efficiency, management engineering rounds and nursing pre-implementation survey data. The AACN mentioned the results of her effort showed progress.

Post-implementation nursing survey data and analysis of PSRs after six months revealed improvement in nurses perceptions that patient care concerns were addressed, said the AACN.

As additional nurses entered the facility, Mullen found the potential of the NIR to have been successful.

She distributed the full pre-implementation survey to newly hired nurses and a modified version to incumbent nurses, and she reviewed PSRs for the entire time period, said AACN. The results demonstrated a continued reduction in communication failures.

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Before Mullen obtained a bachelors degree from Wright State University, a professor suggested she consider entering the pediatric field of nursing, specifically in the PICU.

All of the work that Ive done at the bedside with patients has been in pediatric critical care, and I credit her for seeing something in me and sending me in the right direction, said Mullen.

Mullens alma mater commended her for her progress in making a difference in the field.

Wright State University is immensely proud of Jodi Mullens selection as a 2025 Circle of Excellence Award recipient from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. As a two-time Wright State nursing alumna, Jodis innovative work improving clinical communication at UF Health Shands Hospital demonstrates the patient-centered, evidence-based approach that distinguishes our nursing program. Her success demonstrates how Wright State graduates are prepared to lead, innovate, and make a meaningful impact in health care settings across the country. We celebrate Jodi as an inspiring example of the excellence and dedication that define Wright State nursing alumni everywhere. Wright State University

Mullen spent 23 years of her profession at Dayton Childrens Hospital, which is where she claims her passion for patient safety and quality was established.

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I feel like that hospital and that unit really set a strong foundation for me as a nurse because thats where I grew up as a new nurse in quality and patient safety, where I found my love of that, said Mullen.

Staff nurse, charge nurse and clinical nurse specialist are just some of the positions Mullen has held in her career.

The award recipient also said people interested in pursuing a nursing career should find their niche, as there are many positions available in the nursing field.

You have to understand the science of it and learn that in school, said Mullen. Its when you really come out and you work with patients and families that you understand that the art of caring that goes along with being a nurse.

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The Circle of Excellence award is provided to AACN members who achieve measurable results, model a healthy work environment and provide data to analyze and eliminate barriers in the critical care and high acuity nursing practice.

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Vacation rental companies like Airbnb might soon be required to share more information with the city in a bid to boost transparency as Chicago aldermen again seek more control over the industry.

Wrigleyville Ald. Bennett Lawson is behind a push to get his City Council colleagues the addresses and management contact information for the rentals that make up a significant portion of the apartments in some neighborhoods.

Its information the city needs to address a host of potential problems, like parties in rented homes getting out of control or an influx of short-term units taking up much-needed housing stock, Lawson said after the ordinance advanced Tuesday in the City Councils License and Consumer Protection Committee.

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It became clear that we just need the data, said Lawson, 44th. We need to add some transparency.

The regularly updated database Lawson wants rental companies to help the city build also would include details like the units maximum occupancy, an apparent attempt to help neighbors ward off rowdy parties. The city already receives some information about the units, but not much, he said.

Two recent parties in vacation rentals have ended in shootings in his ward, Lawson said.

Ive had some that have gotten way out of hand, he told aldermen. Instead of always trying to figure out on the backside who is this, who rented it, if we know that there are some concerns on the front end, we can work with the platform, we can work with neighbors and address them proactively.

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The summer party months are fast approaching in Lawsons ward, which includes the hallowed grounds of Wrigley Field and the surrounding packed bars of North Clark Street, plus the Northalsted festivals that bring in thousands of LGBTQ+ people.

Many of the revelers rent apartments and make a weekend of it, bringing a frat house vibe to stretches of the North Side that lots of year-round residents dont appreciate.

While Airbnb parties are extremely rare with allegations of one in only .07% of Chicago reservations, the company is committed to working with Chicago lawmakers to help ensure guests, hosts, and communities are able to quickly and appropriately address nuisance and safety concerns, it wrote in a statement.

Aldermen have struggled for years to rein in the burgeoning vacation rental industry, installing ordinances to ban the rentals on a precinct-by-precinct basis and complaining that the operators can too easily slip through the cracks of the regulations in place.

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In addition to local and state hotel taxes, Chicago short-term rental units face targeted fees, with revenues earmarked for domestic violence and homelessness services. The city expects the short-term rental taxes to raise over $12.2 million this year.

The committee advanced the measure unanimously Tuesday. It could face a final City Council vote next week.

Around 235 short-term rental units are scattered throughout Lawsons ward, he said. Building owners often can make more through short-term rents than long-term leases, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Wrigleyville, he said.

Added up, those units put a dent in the citys housing stock, Lawson said.

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Potentially there are thousands of units that are not available to Chicagoans, he said. Having a little bit more information is going to help us chart through the summer and next steps if we need.

The committee also approved ordinances Tuesday to ban the sale of marijuana-like hemp products in Ald. Felix Cardonas ward, including the Hermosa and Belmont Cragin neighborhoods, and to renew an emerging business permit for a delivery company that uses small, rolling robots.

Moments later, the Workforce Development Committee advanced an ordinance allowing for work experience deemed equivalent to a college degree to be considered for eligibility in hiring for city jobs.

Tribune reporter A.D. Quig contributed.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  A quarter of rank-and-file officers in the Savannah Police Department (SPD) are taking their grievances among some executive staff to the chief and a city official in an eight-page memorandum indicating a motion of No Confidence.

The document sent to Lenny Gunther and city leaders, including City Manager Jay Melder, has been signed by 73 SPD officers, outlining concerns involving Assistant Chief DeVonn Adams, Major of Police Shinita Young and Director of Strategic Initiatives Sonya Johnson.

The first grievance, referencing WSAVs reporting, alleged that Asst. Chief Adams was dishonest about what officers were calling a staffing crisis in 2023.

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The letter also alleged Adams has a documented history of sustained truthfulness violations, including lying to Internal Affairs Investigators, and has now been elevated to a position where his lack of honesty represents the department.

Adams is then accused of creating what officers call an us versus them mentality when it comes to the relationship between rank and files members and executives by unnecessarily berating officers at roll call meetings.

When officers asked Executive Staff for less lethal methods of apprehending fleeing violent offenders, Adams allegedly said he would rather [they] shoot a suspect in the back than tase them while theyre running.

The complaint also alleged Executive Staff used SPDs $67 million budget for personal gain, buying new vehicles and equipment for themselves while officers were begging for basic safety supplies.

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When police precincts and specialized units for cases of water, they were allegedly told it wasnt in the budget.

Asst. Chief Adams and Major Young are both accused of unreasonable discipline practices.

The document alleges the pair consistently violate the City of Savannah policy by allowing disciplinary appeals to sit stagnant with no action for months on end in order to discourage sworn members from appealing unjust discipline.

Officers accused Johnson of implementing policies that are contradictory and illegal.

They allege she re-wrote policies without review or input by subject matter experts of Command Staff.

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They write this led to multiple critical issues, including policies which have language that violates Georgia law and policies that require practices which compromise officer safety.

This would be the first motion of No Confidence against an SPD executive since that of former chief Roy Minter in 2020. He resigned in 2022.

The complaint referenced Minters resignation and shows support for Chief Gunther, asking him to stand behind the rank-and-file members as they stood behind him two years ago.

SPD officials told WSAV that at this time they are not aware of or in possession of the document and are unable to properly comment on it.

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Once the memorandum is officially submitted to Chief Gunther, SPD would then review and investigate the grievances.

WSAV was told that should be happening soon.

Read the full complaint here:

Motion-of-No-ConfidenceDownload

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The federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals asked West Virginias Supreme Court of Appeals last year to determine if state law recognizes the harm caused by the excessive distribution of opioids to be a public nuisance  a key argument used in Huntington and Cabell Countys bid to appeal a 2022 federal decision. A majority of the state Supreme Court, however, opted not to issue an answer on Monday. (Getty Images)

As Huntington and Cabell County are attempting to appeal a 2022 federal ruling that found West Virginias public nuisance laws insufficient grounds for their lawsuit against three opioid distributors, the state Supreme Court on Monday declined to answer a certified question from the federal appeals court on a crucial aspect of the case.

Last March, the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals asked the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to decide whether state law recognizes conditions caused by prescription drug sales to be a public nuisance, and if so, what the elements are of such claims.

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In an opinion issued Monday written by Justice C. Haley Bunn, the state Supreme Court declined to answer that question due to disputed factual findings and related legal conclusions resting on those factual findings. Justice Beth Walker issued a separate opinion concurring with Bunns opinion and the courts decision to remain quiet on the question.

A dissenting opinion was written by Chief Justice Bill Wooton and supported by Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Tera Salango, who is sitting in on temporary assignment. Justices Tim Armstead and Charlie Trump both recused themselves from the case.

In her opinion, Bunn wrote that, since Huntington and Cabell County  as the plaintiffs in the case  were disputing unsettled facts used in U.S. District Court Judge David Fabers 2022 decision in favor of AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson, the state court cant fairly answer the legal question posed by the Fourth Circuit.

We would have to assume that some or all of the district courts disputed findings of fact and related legal conclusions were incorrect to answer any kind of question regarding public nuisance, because if the district courts challenged findings and related conclusions are correct, this Court need not reach the legal question of whether a public nuisance cause of action exists in these circumstances, Bunns opinion reads.

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In their dissenting opinion, however, Wooton argued that the state court could certainly offer an answer to the public nuisance question without taking on all the details and potential outcomes of the federal appeals case.

In short, nothing in our law compels the conclusion that a certified question must be dispositive of an entire case, which appears to be the majoritys underlying rationale, Wooton wrote. Our mandate is to resolve an issue, which is exactly what the Fourth Circuit has asked us to do.

Wooton called the majoritys reasoning in refusing to issue an answer to the questions wholly unpersuasive.

[Huntington and Cabell County] are entitled to an answer to the question posed by the Fourth Circuit, and the [drug companies] argument to the contrary can fairly be deemed cursory at best; it consists of one brief paragraph and a footnote, Wooton wrote. Unfortunately, the majority has come to the rescue by making the argument the [drug companies] could have made, but did not.

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Wooton pointed to weaknesses in case law from decisions in other states that were used by the majority to explain its rationale in denying answering the question, saying such cases lacked West Virginia-specific context. He also emphasized how critical the courts decision could be, and pointed to other similar circumstances where the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals opted to answer a certified question from a higher court when facts for the case were under dispute.

In declining to utilize [state law] in order to answer the certified question, this Court could well be viewed as having once again ducked an issue which it has ducked on three previous occasions, Wooton wrote.

Those three previous occasions he cites were cases also centered on opioid distributors where the state supreme court opted not to issue opinions.

We may never have a better opportunity than the one we are squandering today, Wooton wrote. The certified question in this case is one of great importance to our State, which has been ravaged by a flood of epic proportions: a flood of opioids which has, over the course of decades, overtaken the capacity of State, county, and municipal institutions and programs to remediate the damage caused in its wake.

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Huntington and Cabell County alone, he continued, lack the resources necessary to recover from the ongoing drug and overdose epidemic.

But the localities, Wooton wrote, deserve an answer to their overarching question: is there a light at the end of this tunnel?

Huntington and Cabell County opted out of a statewide lawsuit against opioid distributors in order to bring their own legal action in hopes of earning more money for remediation efforts. The arguments made in their case against the distributors, however, are nearly identical to those that were made on behalf of the state in its litigation. The states case proved successful.

Since the localities opted out of the statewide case against distributors, they are ineligible to receive most of the funds directly distributed to counties and municipalities from that settlement. The localities can, however, apply for and receive grant funds from the West Virginia First Foundation, the private nonprofit organization responsible for allocating the states share of the money.

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The localities have argued that the excessive distribution of opioids in their communities caused significant harm, spurring what is now a decades-long and still ongoing drug epidemic. According to the state Office of Drug Control Policy, at least 876 individuals in Cabell County died from overdoses involving opioids between 2015 and 2021, the highest fatal overdose rate for opioids in the state over that time.

Distributors named in the ongoing litigation allege, as they have in opioid cases across the country, that public nuisance laws do not apply when legal products are being distributed.

Cabell County and Huntington are seeking about $2.5 billion from the companies to support recovery efforts in their communities and implement a plan to decrease the impact of the crisis.

Without an answer from the state Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit will likely have to interpret West Virginias laws on its own as the localities request for an appeal moves forward.

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BUCKHANNON  A couple of weeks ago, West Virginia Wesleyan College professor Emily Ziebarth attended what she characterized as a strange meeting.

The schools administration, she said, told the gathered faculty and staff they would not be told who this years commencement speaker was. Zieberth missed part of the meeting, but her information was corroborated by a different professor the Times West Virginian spoke to.

There was a strange sort of preemptive defense, Ziebarth said. The president ran through how he votes and all that, and then gave us the option between coming and not coming. If you werent comfortable with who was going to speak, you were welcome to not come. And that was the part that bothered me the most. I dont like being given false dilemmas like that.

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The secrecy was for naught.

Two days before the graduation ceremony, it leaked online that Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., would be the commencement speaker. After a protest directed at Sen. Capito began gaining traction online, faculty received an email the night before the ceremony announcing the event had been moved inside the chapel. The school stated in the email it was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.

The school didnt release Sen. Capitos name officially until the morning of the graduation ceremony. The second email also said security would be increased due to a security concern unrelated to the keynote speaker.

Wesleyan declined to comment.

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Republican elected officials have faced constituent anger at town halls across the country. As President Donald Trumps administration reshapes American government, voters have demanded their elected officials push back on the actions of the Trump administration. A nationwide protest movement has developed, demanding the Trump administration stop dismantling government agencies, stop ignoring the orders of federal courts, especially where immigration is concerned and removing Elon Musk from government, to name a few.

So far, Sen. Capito, Sen. Jim Justice and Rep. Riley Moore have not appeared at any town hall demanded by their voters.

Ziebarth called Wesleyans decision to keep the commencement speaker secret strange. To her knowledge as a member of academia, other politicians who have spoken at commencement are usually announced way ahead of time. Her feeling, she said, was the schools choice was made less out of an unrelated security concern, and more out of a desire to avoid controversy and play both sides.

After the speakers identity leaked online, Ziebarth said a lot of her colleagues and several of her students werent comfortable at Wesleyans choice to have Sen. Capito give the commencement speech.

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Ziebarth said the Trump administration was openly attacking higher education and education in general by threatening and defunding institutions of learning across the country.

She is aligned with an administration that is attacking our values right now, Ziebarth said.

About a mile away off college grounds, a protest of around 45-50 people formed and did their best to make themselves heard by Sen. Capito. The protest pulled itself together with only 48 hours notice. Matt Kerner, coordinating member with the Poor Peoples Campaign, criticized WV Wesleyan for having Capito as a speaker.

He said Capito has aligned herself with an administration that has damaged thousands of nonprofit agencies like his own by dismantling AmeriCorps. People who took a year off to do nonprofit work before continuing on with a masters or doctorate program just had their plans torn up and thrown in the garbage, he said.

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A lot of Republicans are shying away from cameras, and they dont want to be tied to the legislation theyre supporting, Kerner said. They want to distance themselves and that is our job to shine the light on what they are trying to hide in the darkness. And theyre trying to hide an upwards continuation of the transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top right now.

Kimberly Berks, one of the protestors, reacted to a portion of Sen. Capitos speech. In her speech, Sen. Capito said things have to go right in the United States, because if they dont go right here, theyre not going to go right in the rest of the world.

It sounds good, but thats not what theyre doing, Berks said. Theyre not helping anybody. Theyre only helping themselves. Theyre cutting into a lot of programs we cant afford to lose. Well never get it right because theyre not getting it right.

Recently, Sen. Capito pounded the drum after DOGE began dismantling the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Morgantown and furloughing its employees. Eventually, the administration relented and restored some workers to their posts but they still face termination in June. Capito urged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to bring back those workers in order to support the coal industry. Capito also advocated for the Head Start program. The Trump administration restored that programs funding in its budget proposal.

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However, Kerner is suspicious of Capitos motives. He said the only reason Capito has been working on behalf of those services is because people stood up and began to complain about the Trump administration cutting those services.

She did nothing, Kerner said. People made noise, people pushed her to change, and she did.

On the day of the ceremony, Ziebarth noticed a different atmosphere on campus. While a significant police presence on campus established itself, a stage originally set up for an outdoor ceremony lay unused. Ziebarth suspected the school wanted to avoid any controversy. The email sent to faculty said Capito had agreed to come to Wesleyan a year ago.

Whats most tragic to Ziebarth is she herself is a two time graduate of the school, first for her undergraduate and then her graduate degree. The school is where she came home to herself, so seeing the school cavort with a supporter of a president that is attacking higher education is heartbreaking for her.

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At the end of the day, Ziebarth had her own personal rebellion. While sitting as a faculty member across the podium where Capito would speak, Ziebarth put on some dark rainbow sunglasses and displayed a love thy neighbor flag once the senator took the stage. She also put on some headphones. While Ziebarth had her own personal feelings, she also made sure her personal statement wouldnt disrupt the ceremony. But there was also no way Capito could miss the statement Ziebarth was trying to make.

Democracy, in general, that seems to be disappearing rapidly, and so its a really strange choice to bring a speaker like that there, she said. They knew that would be contentious there. Why on Earth would you hold a meeting two weeks beforehand, and try to weirdly defend yourself prior to even announcing it, and then give everyone that choice, which again, to me, was basically saying be quiet at home or be quiet here. But I could not sit silently.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  As the school year wraps up, West Virginia University President-elect Michael Benson is getting ready to step into the limelight.

Benson, who was previously the President of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, will begin his term in July of this year.

12 News got to speak with Benson for the first time moments before the start of the 2025 West Virginia Business Roundtable, where he was one of multiple university presidents representing their respective schools.

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Benson said he and his family are excited to be becoming Mountaineers. Its a wonderful community, people have been incredibly warm and welcoming and we look forward to getting to work and making a difference.

As for his plans for the university, especially after it has suffered financially in recent years, Benson said that plans will be announced soon.

WV Business Roundtable hosts dozens of state business leaders

Im a big believer that plans are important, but the planning process is even more important. So were in that process right now, and were going to roll out some ideas about the direction moving forward, but theres a lot to be excited about. There are a lot of blue sky opportunities ahead for the university, Benson said.

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Benson said the way hes been acclimating himself to his new school has been by getting to know people and different communities around the area.

I think the most important thing I can do as president is get to know people, relationships are key, and I want to know whats important to them and whats important to the university and see if we can get the two to come together, Benson said.

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Pictured from left to right: Ryan Orcutt, Executive Director of Development; Dr. Kyle Stafford, NEO President; Chief Billy Friend, Wyandotte Nation; Second Chief Norman Hildebrand, Wyandotte Nation; and Keith Gray, Wyandotte Nation Council Member

MIAMI, Okla.  Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College has announced a new five-year partnership with the Wyandotte Nation, which will contribute $100,000 annually to support NEO programs and initiatives.

The agreement was celebrated on May 2 with a check presentation on campus.

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The Wyandotte Nation has previously supported NEO projects like the Nursing Simulation Lab and Player Development Facility.

We are incredibly grateful to the Wyandotte Nation for their continued support, said Dr. Kyle Stafford, NEO President. Their partnership strengthens our mission and directly enhances opportunities for NEO students.

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Chinas President Xi Jinping said President Trumps trade policy would backfire, a day after U.S. and Chinese negotiators signed a deal to lower mounting tariffs.

There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars. Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation, Xi said during a Tuesday speech, according to a transcript from state-sponsored media outlet Xinhua.

He added that unity and cooperation among nations were indispensable for safeguarding global peace and stability.

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Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent said the highest tariffs imposed by Xi and Trump were the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade.

Bessent worked alongside U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to strike a deal with Chinese counterparts Monday that amounted to each side reducing tariffs on the other by 115 percentage points.

Tariffs on Chinese imports will drop from 145 percent to 30 percent, while Beijings tax on American imports is set to soften from 125 percent to 10 percent.

In his Tuesday speech in Beijing at a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders, Xi shared a five-point plan to increase partnership with those countries.

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Last year, trade between China and Latin American and Caribbean nations exceeded $500 billion for the first time, an increase of more than 40 times from the beginning of this century, according to Xi.

China has also signed free trade agreements with Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

We uphold solidarity and coordination and rise to global challenges with resolve. Together, China and LAC countries champion true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, advance global governance reform, and promote multipolarization of the world and greater democracy in international relations, Xi said, promising to advance their collective efforts amid a trade war with the U.S., according to a Xinhua transcript.

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A top Ukrainian official is urging the United States to unleash a new wave of economic reprisals on Moscow if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesnt show up to proposed peace talks in Turkey this week.

If Putin will not come to Turkey, it's necessary immediately to start real, new packages of the sanctions, new pressure, Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said in an interview with the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which POLITICO is part of. Russia understands only the languages of strength, and anybody who thinks that it's possible to find a compromise, Russia always uses to play games.

Yermaks comments offer the clearest sign yet of Ukraine working overtime to convince President Donald Trump that Russia, not Ukraine, is the major roadblock to a peace deal.

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Zelenskyy has offered to hold direct talks with Putin in Turkey on Thursday, and Trump has openly mused about going to Turkey to attend the meeting if both the Russian and Ukrainian leader attend. Yermak said the Ukrainians dont yet have confirmation that Trump will be coming. The Kremlin has so far declined to comment on whether Putin will attend.

Yermak said that a Putin no-show in Turkey would undermine Russias claim it is serious about peace talks. If he will not come, he doesn't want to end this war and is not ready for any negotiations, Yermak said.



Yermak also outlined Ukraines negotiating position going into the talks on Thursday, reiterating Ukraines insistence on an unconditional ceasefire before negotiations on a long-term peace talk can begin. It's impossible to talk and discuss anything when you're under attack, and when you are under attack of drones and rockets, he said.

Zelenskyy has struggled to balance ties with the United States, its major military backer alongside other NATO countries, since Trump took office and his administration began negotiating directly with Russia on peace talks to end its three yearlong war against Ukraine.

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Following a disastrous meeting in February in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance openly clashed with Zelenskyy, Ukraine has pushed to convince the new administration that Moscow, not Kyiv, is stonewalling Trump on his long-sought effort to secure a peace deal early into his administration. Russia yesterday hammered Ukraine with a salvo of over 100 killer drones. Ukraine recently signed a deal signing away rights to its deposits of rare earth mineral resources to U.S. development following months of negotiations to help repair the relationship.

The proposed talks in Turkey come after the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. called for a 30-day ceasefire to kickstart negotiations. Ukraine has asked the European Commission to draft up a major new European sanctions package on Russia that would target its energy and financial sectors if Moscow continued to stall on ceasefire and peace talks, France said Monday.

Russia, however, has shot down the prospects of a temporary ceasefire.

Putin was clear: first negotiations about the root causes [of the conflict], then talk of ceasefire, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

Gramer reported from Washington. Ronzheimer, of BILD, reported from Kyiv.
FLOWOOD, Miss. (WJTV)  The Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi will host free kidney screening events.

The Flowood event will take place on May 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the Clinton event will take place on May 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Florida rapper YNW Melly must remain behind bars until his double murder retrial, a has judge ordered.

In a March motion, Melly, whose legal name is Jamell Demons, had sought release for the second time since his 2023 trial ended in a hung jury. By that point, he had been imprisoned for more than 2,000 days, his attorneys said, since his arrest in 2019.

Demons, a rising star in the rap world at the time, is accused of suddenly shooting his friends, Christopher Juvy Thomas Jr. and Anthony Sakchaser Williams, inside a Jeep after an overnight recording session in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 26, 2018.

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In the motion for bond, Demons attorneys argued that he was the subject of extreme mental abuse at the hands of the Broward Sheriffs Office, and has not had any contact with the outside world in three years, including his family, issues also raised in a federal lawsuit his attorneys filed last year. He had also been forbidden from talking to other inmates, they said.

Judge Martin Fein had deferred ruling after a lengthy hearing last week over the motion for bond.

In his order on Monday, he concluded that prosecutors had sufficiently established evidence of Demons guilt in the murders of his friends.

States evidence is arguably sufficient to convict and is not contradicted in a material respect such that there is a substantial question of fact as to the guilt or innocence of the Defendant, the order concludes.

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Melly had previously been denied bond in 2023, following the mistrial. Feins order referred to that decision, in which Judge John Murphy concluded that the lack of a unanimous decision in the trial did not alter the nature or weight of the evidence of Defendants guilt.

________

Sun Sentinel staff writer Rafael Olmeda contributed to this report.

________
Rapper YNW Melly will remain behind bars after his legal team sought to have him placed on house arrest as he awaits a double murder trial.

In an order issued Monday, Broward Circuit Court Judge Martin Fein denied Mellys request to set a bond. Fein made his ruling after reviewing the evidence and testimony presented at the first trial and listening to arguments last week at an Arthur hearing, which allows courts to consider setting bonds for defendants charged with crimes that arent usually eligible for bail.

...This Court finds that the States evidence is arguably sufficient to convict and is not contradicted in a material respect such that there is a substantial question of fact as to the guilt or innocence of the Defendant, Fein said in his order.

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Mellys defense team proposed placing the rapper on complete house arrest with an ankle monitor and security guards posted at his home around the clock. The attorneys argued that Melly wasnt a flight risk because he had no passport.

Prosecutor Justin Griffis, however, stated that the severity of the murder and witness tampering charges against Melly should keep him in jail pending the outcome of his cases.

Mellys first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2023. After three days of deliberation, the jury told Broward Circuit Court John Murphy it was deadlocked and couldnt reach a verdict. Weeks after the mistrial, Melly requested that Murphy, who has since retired, set a bond. That request was denied.

Melly, 26, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is accused of gunning down his childhood friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in an alleged drive-by after spending the night of Oct. 26, 2018, at a Fort Lauderdale recording studio. Williams and Thomas, both aspiring rappers with the YNW collective, were known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy, respectively.

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Williams and Thomas families, court records show, opposed Mellys efforts to receive bail. Melly has been locked up in Broward since 2019.

READ MORE: YNW Melly kept in debilitating isolation while in jail, lawsuit says. He seeks release

Feins decision comes after attorney Michael Pizzi filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Broward Sheriffs Office in October, alleging egregious violations of Mellys constitutional rights. The 12-page lawsuit says the rapper has been kept in total isolation with no way to contact the outside world and has also been barred from meeting with his legal team on several occasions.

That suit is pending in Miami federal court.

Where does the case stand?

Mellys double murder case is scheduled to go to trial in September. However, the case has been marked by a series of delays after his first trial ended in a hung jury. The mistrial set off a whirlwind that ended with a prosecutor ousted, key evidence thrown out and new charges.

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Key evidence: A major cause of delay is the evidence removed from the retrial. Prosecutors appealed Murphys ruling on the evidence to a higher court. The bulk of the contested evidence was extracted from Mellys cellphone, email addresses and social media accounts.

Under Murphys ruling, most of the digital evidence admitted, including messages, will be confined to the day of and following the murders. But the attorneys now have a hearing on the evidence issue before the appeal court on Sept. 16.

Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, speaks with defense attorney Raven Ramona Liberty during a hearing before his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Demons is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018.

Attorney probed: In December, Mellys legal team discovered that the Broward Sheriffs Office had obtained a warrant for the phone records of the Raven Liberty, one of the rappers lawyers. Prosecutors havent divulge why Liberty was investigated. Liberty remains on the case.

These allegations are clearly a retaliatory ploy by the Broward County State Attorneys Office with a goal of trying to disqualify a highly qualified attorney who has zealously defended her client, said attorney Philip R. Horowitz, whos representing Liberty. Ms. Liberty has acted ethically and within the bounds of the law at all times.

Ex testifying?: In January, Mellys ex-girlfriend Mariah Hamilton was arrested for not testifying in Mellys trial. Hamilton was released and ordered to wear ankle monitor but isnt charged with a crime. Prosecutors allege that Melly and his codefendent Cortlen Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, collaborated to keep Hamilton from testifying in the case.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Batavia, New York man who was going on trial Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on charges he assaulted Boardman police last April instead pleaded guilty.

Anthony Goulet, 35, was sentenced to six months in the Mahoning County jail by Judge Anthony Donofrio after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and physical control of a vehicle as well as a fifth-degree felony charge of obstructing justice.

A fourth-degree felony charge of assault was dismissed.

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Goulet was to have a jury trial on Monday but opted for a bench trial at the last minute, and the jurors were sent home. He then pleaded guilty.

Goulet was charged after township police spotted him Feb. 25, 2024 asleep behind the wheel of a pickup truck behind a Tiffany South hotel with loud music coming from inside the truck.

Police tried but initially failed to wake Goulet, reports said. Officers also saw a can of Twisted Tea and other open cans inside the truck. When they opened the drivers side door, an empty can of Twisted Tea fell out, reports said.

Goulet refused to turn off the music despite repeated requests by police and was combative, reports said. He also appeared to be visibly drunk, reports said.

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When officers threatened to hit him with a stun weapon if he did not get out of the truck, Goulet dared police to use it, reports said. He reached for the glove box and was hit twice by the stun weapon, but it had no effect.

Officers then grabbed him to get him out of the truck, and Goulet hit one officer with the door and kicked another before they took him out of the truck and got him handcuffed, reports said.

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The typically Donald Trump-promoting New York Post joined the chorus of criticism over the presidents Qatari jet controversy as it urged him to think twice before accepting a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 from the emirates ruling family.

Trump, who is in the Middle East this week, has defended the reported imminent gift, which sources told ABC News would be used as Air Force One and then transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation when he leaves office.

But the New York Posts conservative editorial board warned of potential conflicts of interest, stated that Qatar is famous for seeking to buy influence, cautioned how the gift will be far from free, and said the optics are beyond awful, especially as Congress mulls hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts.

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The tabloids board damningly concluded: Team Trump claims the presidents actions are all meant to benefit the nation, but given all the foreign investments and conflicts of interest  and now a $400 million plane  they seem designed to benefit the president more than anything.

Read the full editorial at the New York Post.

Related...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Some influencers have won in court after legal action targeting their coverage of a missing Sumner County teenager.

Sebastian Rogers was last seen on February 25, 2024. Several YouTubers and TikToker content creators joined the search by March sharing theories, searching areas and gaining a following. However, that exposure quickly led to legal trouble.

Two separate cases were filed  one in Sumner County and the other in Pennsylvania.

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The whole reason we are here is because I wouldnt let people violate my freedom of speech, Andra Griffin, also known on YouTube and TikTok as Bullhorn Betty, said.

She is harassing me: Parents of missing Sumner County teen testify against YouTuber covering the case

There is so much drama and different avenues for people to go down that it surpasses just the idea that a child vanished, YouTuber owner of the channel Grannys Watching Jessica Seng described.

Nobody should ever entertain a frivolous lawsuit against people who just dont agree with your opinions, and thats really what I think it boils down to, YouTuber Stephanie Trude, known online as BBQ Lady, expressed. Just the worst part is that it is all on the back of a missing child.

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The first case involved a protection order filed by Sebastians mother and stepfather against Griffin that accused her of harassment and stalking.

Ive never talked to these people, Griffin said. Ive never tried to interview these people. Ive never knocked on their door.

They later claimed Griffin violated that order, citing hashtags and online comments. However, a Sumner County grand jury declined to indict her due to a lack of evidence, ending the case.

When it comes to my speech, it has emboldened me more because it anchored me, Griffin expressed. Like how dare someone trample on my freedom of speech? Im from Florida, and this is a public interest case, and Im entitled to my opinions.

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In the Pennsylvania case, Sebastians biological father Griffin, Dog The Bounty Hunter, and seven others sued two YouTubers, Trude and Jessica Seng, as well as 50 additional people who were not named for harassment and endangering their safety.

The entire frivolous nature and the financial strain that it brought upon us because nobody has tens of thousands of dollars lying around just to find legal representation, Trude explained.

A lot of what was quoted in this litigation just simply never took place, Seng affirmed.

The judge dismissed the case, saying that as public figures, they have a higher bar to reach when raising defamation allegations. The judge ordered the plaintiffs to pay the defendants legal fees.

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It has made me never want to help use my platform to raise awareness because this has obviously cost an enormous financial impact on us both, and we were spreading awareness, doing our due diligence, Trude expressed.

A lot of people come out here and they will say, I heard and it will be a thirty-minute discussion based around a rumor, Seng said. Its a thin line to walk, but ultimately I think the most important thing is for people to remember the attention needs to remain on Sebastian.

As of publication, News 2 is awaiting a response from Dog The Bounty Hunters team.

Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Feb. 25, 2024 from the Beech area in Hendersonville.

Sebastian Rogers: Description

Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI.

AMBER Alert Issued

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him.

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Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ.

Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonvilles first responders, Sumner County Sheriffs Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian.

Who to Contact

If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  With 93% of its members voting yes, Youngstown State Universitys Faculty Union has voted to support a statewide referendum to repeal Senate Bill 1.

The bill, which was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on March 28, bans faculty strikes, limits campus speech and eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

An effort is underway to gather the necessary signatures and place the issue on the November ballot.

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SB 1 fundamentally changes higher education in Ohio. Voters should decide whether this sweeping, expensive legislation becomes law, said YSU-OEA President Mark Vopat.

The union spoke out against the bill after it was passed and began its efforts to start the referendum last month.

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.
After Prince Harrys bombshell interview, one of the Royal family members is speaking out. Zara Tindall, the daughter of Princess Anne, talked about whats been happening behind the scenes.

Prince Harry lost his security appeal and talked about how he wanted to reconcile with his family. Life is precious. I dont know how much longer my father has, he said about his father who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. He wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.

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There is a lot of control and ability in my fathers hands, he said. Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him. Not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts do what is necessary.

Related: Harry Revealed the Shocking Truths to His Fallout with Charles After He Admitted His Dad Doesnt Speak to Him Anymore

It is very hard to see from the outside but, 100 per cent, it is a family that is still going through the same struggles other people do, Tindall said in a recent appearance on May 8 via The Sun. Whether they are relationships, obviously it is very easy to see every day. Were still very supportive of each other.

However, Royal sources are saying that King Charles and Prince William arent budging. William doesnt talk about Harry anymore, a royal source told Us Weekly. Everyone knows its a subject that they shouldnt bring up, so he hasnt brought up the interview and wont.

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A friend of the Royals told Hello! There is zero trust, they said. The family feels that private conversations with Harry are not possible.

They continued, Its taken its toll. He sees things everywhere, he picks battles with everybody and thats tiring. You cant live in permanent battle mode. Youre a 40-year-old man. Youve got to stop fighting the world.

British broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News well probably never see a reconciliation. This is not the case. Prince Harry is constantly in fight mode, battling personal crusades and publicly trashing the British royal family. Prince Harry may wear his heart on his sleeve. However, his lack of empathy towards others, hypocritical antics and blurred sense of reality has not only done him damage but has negatively impacted the whole royal family.

He doesnt serve his country, he only serves himself, royal expert Hilary Fordwich claimed. That is abhorrent to all the British and British values.

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Zara Tindall made candid comments about what life is really like in the British royal family in a rare revelation.

Zara  who is the daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips  opened up about her family dynamic at a London Sporting Club lunch last week.

"It is very hard to see from the outside, but 100%, it is a family that is still going through the same struggles other people do," Zara, 43, said, The Sun reported.

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"Whether they are relationships, obviously, it is very easy to see every day," she added. "Were still very supportive of each other."

The royal family was rocked last year by two cancer diagnoses announced in quick succession. Buckingham Palace said in February 2024 that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer and his treatment continues. Weeks later, Kate Middleton shared that she was undergoing treatment for cancer. She reduced her duties for most of the year and announced in January that she is in remission.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty (From left) Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Zara Tindall (second row) at Kate Middleton's Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, 2024. (From left) Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Zara Tindall (second row) at Kate Middleton's Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 6, 2024.

While appearing at the London Sporting Club lunch, Zara also spoke the lasting legacy of her late grandmother Queen Elizabeth, who was in the record-breaking 70th year of her reign when she died in 2022 at age 96.

"We had a very incredible person to look up to who is sadly not here anymore," the professional equestrian said. "She was amazing and an inspiration to all of us."

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Zara and her elder brother, Peter Phillips, are in the line of succession to the throne but do not have royal titles, as their parents made the unusual choice of declining royal styling when they were born. While appearing on the Seven: Rob Burrow podcast in December 2023, the pro rider said this had a positive impact, explaining, "We were very lucky that we got to do it a bit our own way."

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Zara Tindall and Princess Anne attend the Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Dec. 25, 2024. Zara Tindall and Princess Anne attend the Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Dec. 25, 2024.

Her view into the royal family's private dynamic follows Prince Harry's explosive interview with the BBC, where he voiced a wish for "reconciliation with my family." The conversation aired on May 2 after he lost a legal appeal to restore his state-funded security in the U.K.

Prince Harry argued that this protection was unfairly stripped when he and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles in 2020 and says that without it, he "can't see a world" where he would bring his wife and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, back to his home country given the security concerns.

"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," Prince Harry told the BBC in the interview filmed in California, where he, Meghan and their children live.

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"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he continued, referring to the King's health.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

"He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile," added Harry.

The Duke of Sussex has long maintained that as head of state, King Charles could help reinstate the security he is fighting for, a principle that the palace denies.



Read the original article on People
By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to attend the inaugural Mass of newly elected Pope Leo at the Vatican on Sunday, war commitments permitting, a top presidential aide told Reuters on Tuesday.

In a telephone interview from Kyiv, Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said the Ukrainian president would be willing to hold talks with any other world leaders on the sidelines of the inauguration.

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He added that the new pontiff had told Zelenskiy in a telephone call on Monday that he was ready to facilitate such meetings and had promised to "do his best" to help bring about a just and lasting peace.

Leo, who was elected in a conclave that ended last Thursday, will be officially installed as the new leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Roman Catholics at a Mass in St. Peter's Square on Sunday. A number of world leaders are expected to attend.

"He (Zelenskiy) is planning to come, but you know that before (Sunday) we have some other very important meetings, Yermak said, referring to possible peace talks in Turkey this week.

"Of course during war it's difficult to be sure, but I know that he will be happy to be in Rome on this day," he added.

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Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump met in St. Peters Basilica on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26, where they talked about air defence systems and sanctions on Russia.

"It's a great place for such meetings. The meeting with Trump was the confirmation of this," Yermak said.

The United States has not yet said who will represent the Trump administration on Sunday.

Yermak said that during the Monday phone call with Zelenskiy, the pope was "very warm talking about Ukraine. He said he is ready to do the best to achieve a just and lasting peace".

He added that the pope's reaction to an invitation from Zelenskiy to visit Ukraine was "very, very positive" but that no commitment was made.

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Yermak downplayed some of the low points in relations between Kyiv and the Vatican during the papacy of Pope Francis, who sometimes made comments that irritated Ukrainians.

When Francis said Ukraine should have the "courage of the white flag" to end the war there, the comment drew widespread criticism from allies of Kyiv but was hailed by Russia, which invaded its neighbour in February 2022.

"We think it (Leo's papacy) will be some continuation of the policy of Pope Francis," Yermak said, mentioning a papal pledge to continue humanitarian aid and to help return Ukrainian children taken by Russia from their homes.

"But at the same time, it will be a new policy," he said.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 12 dismissed former Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk from the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Havryliuk voluntarily stepped down from his role as first deputy defense minister on April 11, amid scandal over the ministry's handling of defense procurement.

Zelensky issued a decree on May 12 officially removing Havryliuk from the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the top command and control body for all branches of Ukraine's defense and security apparatus.

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The Presidential Office did not provide details on the reasons for the dismissal.

A source in the Defense Ministry reportedly told the news outlet Suspilne that the firing was related to Havryliuk's decision to transfer 78 billion hryvnia (approximately $1.8 billion) from the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) to a Polish intermediary company to purchase ammunition for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service.

Havryliuk was appointed first deputy defense minister in charge of procurement in May 2024. The defense procurement sector was reformed in December 2023, aiming to comply with NATO standards.

One of NATO and European partners' requirements for Ukraine was the establishment of two agencies that would be directly responsible for procurement for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, not through the Defense Ministry or contractors.

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Shortly before his resignation, Havryliuk on April 7 announced that the ministry planned to merge the DPA and the State Rear Operator (DOT), a sister agency overseeing the procurement of non-lethal supplies for the Armed Forces.

The announcement came as Defense Minister Rustem Umerov faced scrutiny and accusations of corruption for his efforts to undermine the DPA. In January Umerov fired Maryna Bezrukova, the head of the DPA, in a move that sparked outrage among anti-corruption activists.

Havryliuk announced his resignation on April 11 and was replaced by Serhii Boyev shortly thereafter.

Read also: Not what Putin was expecting  What we know (and dont know) about Ukraine, Russia peace talks in Istanbul

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky would not meet any other Russian official apart from Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul this week, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on the Breakfast Show program on May 13, explaining that talks with lower-level representatives would be pointless.

Zelensky has invited Putin to peace talks in Turkey on May 15, which would mark their first meeting during the full-scale war. Moscow has declared readiness to launch direct talks with Kyiv this week, but has not confirmed a possible meeting of the two leaders.

"No, of course. Well, this is not the format," Podolyak said when asked about Zelensky meeting another Russian representative if the Kremlin's chief does not attend.

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According to the advisor, even high-level Russian officials like ministers cannot make fundamental decisions on ending the war.

"That is, only Putin can make a decision to continue the war or stop the war," Podolyak added.

The comments echo Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak, who said that Putin might "delegate the technical and preparatory stages," but Ukraine understands "who is ultimately in charge."

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the potential meeting between the two leaders, suggesting he might attend as well.

"Thursday's meeting between Russia and Ukraine is very important. I strongly pushed for it to happen. I think good things can come from it," the U.S. president said.

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Reacting to Trump's comment, Zelensky said he welcomed the possibility of Trump attending the meeting in Turkey, calling it "the right idea."

Ukraine and its European allies have urged an unconditional ceasefire starting on May 12 as the first step toward peace. Russia has ignored this proposal, continuing its attacks on Ukraine.

Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether Zelensky plans to make the trip even if Russia does not support the truce or if Putin declines to attend, a source close to the president said, "We are ready for all options. But of course, we are separately waiting for a response on the ceasefire."

The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky took place in 2019 in Paris during a Normandy Format summit. Since then, there have been no direct in-person meetings between the two leaders.

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Ukraine and Russia have not held direct peace talks since the unsuccessful negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.

Read also: Like a game of tennis  Russia, Ukraine court Trump to avoid being blamed for peace talks failure

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Volodymyr Zelensky will only meet with Vladimir Putin for peace talks in Turkey on Thursday and not other lesser ranking Russian officials, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, held talks with his Turkish counterpart late last night to discuss the planned negotiations, but the Kremlin has not yet confirmed who it will send.

The Ukrainian president insisted in his evening address last night that he was ready to meet Putin for the first time since 2019, and criticised the Russian leaders strange silence over whether he will attend.

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Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence, he said. One way or another, Russia will have to end this war  and the sooner, the better.

Donald Trump said earlier on Monday that he was thinking about flying to Turkey for the peace talks after visits to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

I think we may see a good result from Thursdays meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, he told a news conference on Monday.

I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over  Im not sure where Ill be on Thursday, I have so many meetings.

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On Monday, Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trumps potential appearance in Istanbul, saying he hoped the Russians would not evade the meeting.

It came as Russia drastically reduced the number of drones it fired at Ukraine overnight.

Ukraine destroyed all 10 Russian drones that were launched, the countrys air force said on Tuesday morning.

This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks.

10:05 AM BST

Thats all for today

Were pausing our live coverage.

Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

09:28 AM BST

Europe to push US for new sanctions - if Putin doesnt show

Europe will push the US to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not attend talks with Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday.

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Ukraines European allies are holding back on pushing Donald Trump as they wait for the Kremlins answer on whether the Russian president will attend.

Mr Zelensky reiterated on Monday that he was ready to meet Putin on Thursday.

08:43 AM BST

Putin very strangely silent on peace talks, says Zelensky

Vladimir Putin is very strangely silent about attending peace talks in Turkey on Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence, he said in his evening address.

One way or another, Russia will have to end this war  and the sooner, the better.

08:28 AM BST

Your views...

07:59 AM BST

Trump lands in Saudi Arabia

Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, kicking off a four-day visit to the Gulf region.

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Much of the US presidents focus will be on the war in Gaza and the threat of Irans nuclear programme.

But Mr Trump suggested yesterday that he could fly to Turkey on Thursday to join potential talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Royal Terminal in Riyadh - AP

07:38 AM BST

Russia launches 10 drones overnight

Ukraine destroyed all 10 Russian drones that were launched overnight, the countrys air force said on Tuesday.

This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks.

07:21 AM BST

How Trump can ramp up pressure on Putin

Foreign sanctions have deprived Russian industry of critical materials it needs to produce Russias best weapons. Case in point: tantalum, a rare mineral that many high-tech industries rely on for capacitors, writes David Axe.

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The best Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, drones and tanks all include processors, navigation systems or radios that have tantalum capacitors. But most of the tantalum comes from abroad  the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil and China are main suppliers  and sanctions imposed by the United States and various European countries have squeezed that supply.

While Russia has its own tantalum deposits, they are significantly smaller, Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight reported earlier this year. Moreover, Russia lacks advanced processing facilities to produce high-quality tantalum powder needed for capacitors.

The bottom line is that sanctions are actually working, Frontelligence concluded. But will sanctions survive the chaotic, authoritarian administration of US president Donald Trump?

07:13 AM BST

Trump toys with late entrance to peace talks

Donald Trump said he could join peace talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday.

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The US president predicted a good outcome for the meeting, but said his attendance depended on his schedule.

I think we may see a good result from Thursdays meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, he told a news conference on Monday.

I believe both leaders are going to be there. I even thought about flying over  Im not sure where Ill be on Thursday, I have so many meetings.

On Monday, Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trumps potential appearance in Istanbul, saying he hoped the Russians would not evade the meeting.

07:12 AM BST

Welcome to our live coverage

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Well bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated in his evening address that work is continuing in Kharkiv following a Russian drone strike.

Source: Zelenskyys evening address on 13 May

Details: Zelenskyy reported that search and rescue efforts are ongoing in Kharkiv following a Russian drone attack on an energy facility  a civilian target  with early reports indicating no casualties. He accused Russia of responding to the expectations of talks and a ceasefire with further strikes and assaults.

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Zelenskyy emphasised that Russia alone is responsible for starting and prolonging the war and urged Ukraines allies to increase pressure on Moscow.

He also criticised Russia for doing a lot of talking about direct negotiations but not following through when opportunities arise, and stressed that decisions must be made by those who have real influence over the outcome. The president also confirmed that Ukraines team is actively preparing for the visit to Turkiye.

Background:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, but if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin only agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdogan are prepared to travel there instead.

US President Donald Trumps special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul on Thursday for possible negotiations on how to end Russias war in Ukraine.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that if Putin refuses to hold talks in Turkiye, this will indicate that Russia does not want to end the war.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has stated that Russia continues to prepare for negotiations in Istanbul on 15 May and offered no further comments.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that he is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, but if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdogan are prepared to travel there instead.

Source Zelenskyys comments to journalists on Tuesday, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy stated that he plans to meet with Erdogan in Ankara on 15 May  a meeting already agreed upon with the Turkish president.

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Quote from Zelenskyy: "We are waiting for a meeting with Putin in Turkiye. To prevent Russia from manipulating the choice of city and claiming that Putin is not ready to come to Ankara but is only willing to fly to Istanbul If Putin flies to Istanbul instead of the capital, I have already sent a signal to President Erdogan, and the Turkish side is ready for us to fly to Istanbul together."

Details: Zelenskyy added, "We will do everything to make this meeting happen," and noted that he can negotiate a ceasefire only with Putin, because "he is the only one who decides on it".

Zelenskyy also said that US President Donald Trump had been invited to join the meeting, but his decision is not yet known.

"But in any case, if he confirmed his participation, it would add extra momentum to get Putin to come," the Ukrainian president stated.

Background:

Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, senior envoys of US President Donald Trump, will travel to Istanbul, where talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place on Thursday.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that if Russian ruler Vladimir Putin refuses to hold talks in Turkiye, this will indicate that Russia does not want to end the war.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that the Russian side continues preparations for talks in Istanbul on 15 May and is not providing any further comments.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that if his conversation with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does take place, he will negotiate a full ceasefire.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking to journalists on 13 May

Quote: "We will do everything to make this meeting happen. If Putin is truly ready not just in the media but in real life to meet. And then, at the level of leaders, we will do everything to agree on a ceasefire. Because it is with him that I must negotiate a ceasefire. Because he is the only one who decides on it."

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Details: Zelenskyy said that if during the negotiations, Putin expresses willingness for an unconditional ceasefire, it will open the way for more detailed talks about ending the war as a whole.

Zelesnkyy also expressed hope that his American counterpart Donald Trump would join his talks with Putin.

Quote: "We offered President Trump to join. I dont know the decision of the president of the United States, but in any case, if he confirmed his participation, it would add extra momentum to get Putin to come."

Background:

Zelenskyy reported that he is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, but if Putin agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdogan are prepared to travel there instead.

Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, senior envoys of US President Donald Trump, will travel to Istanbul, where talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place on Thursday.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that if Putin refuses to hold talks in Turkiye, this will indicate that Russia does not want to end the war.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that the Russian side continues preparations for talks in Istanbul on 15 May and is not providing any further comments.

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U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, speaks from a lectern in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., during a press conference announcing the Public Lands Caucus. (Courtesy of Mike Simpson's X account)

Montana U.S. Rep Ryan Zinke, a Republican, joined with U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico, to launch a new bipartisan congressional coalition focused on conserving Americas public lands and expanding access to natural resources for all Americans.

At a press conference in Washington, D.C., last week, Zinke announced the launch of the Public Lands Caucus, which he will co-chair with Vazquez, comprising 14 members of the U.S. House representing districts across country, but are heavily centered in the West. Idahos Mike Simpson, a Republican, has joined the caucus and will serve as vice-chairman of the group along with vice chairwoman Debbie Dingell, a Democratic U.S. congresswoman from Michigan.

Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (left) speaks at a press conference announcing the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, while Montana Rep. Troy Downing listens. (Courtesy photo)

Idahoans live in Idaho because we love our public lands. One of my top priorities is preserving access to our public lands and defending our way of life, Simpson said on the social media platform X. Being named Vice Chair of the Public Lands Caucus is an honor. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure future generations can enjoy the same benefits that we do today.

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Zinke said protecting public lands is not a partisan issue.

Our public lands is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. Its an American issue, and we should use it in that context of being red, white and blue, Zinke said during the press conference announcing the caucus formation. Its important that we talk about better management to preserve and defend why we live in the West and why Americas greatest idea should be preserved and defended.

Zinke was the former secretary of the Interior during Donald Trumps first administration before resigning amid a series of ethics investigations.

Federal lawmakers aim to bring consensus-driven public lands policy

The caucus goal is to bring lawmakers together to advance practical, consensus-driven public lands policy that conserves national resources while supporting recreation, local economies and public access, according to a press release from Zinkes office.

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Make no mistake, our public lands are this nations great equalizer. On the water, on the land or in the back country, we all benefit equally from the foundations laid by great conservation leaders like Aldo Leopold and Teddy Roosevelt, Vasquez said during the press conference. Public lands and public access to our forests, rivers, grasslands and deserts are a unique American experience that we must continue to fight for and that we cannot take for granted. They also help support a multi billion dollar industry, an outdoor recreation that powers rural communities, connects Americans to their history and to their heritage, and allows us to pass on our traditions to the next generation.

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In addition to the two founding caucus chairs, the Public Lands Caucus includes representatives from Michigan, Idaho, California, North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Montana.

Rep. Troy Downing, a freshman congressman representing Montanas eastern district, told reporters at the press event that 100% of Montanas representatives supported the idea. Downing referenced his time serving on the Montana Land Board while he was the State Auditor, a five-member board that managed 5.5 million acres of state land, where he helped manage lands by sustained yield, to preserve them for generations.

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In Montana, public lands, public land access, hiking, hunting, fishing are incredibly important to us. You could say its in our veins, making sure that we are being stewards of these incredible assets, Downing said. But thats not just Montana. Thats not just the western states. Its not a partisan issue. I dont care what side of the aisle you come from, or if you come from neither side of the aisle. You care about this. You understand.

Many conservation-focused groups expressed their support of the new coalition, including Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and Western Landowners Alliance.

Will the U.S. sell off some of its public lands?

Public lands have become a political flashpoint in recent months as the Trump administration has promoted the idea that federal lands are part of the nations balance sheet and could be utilized to help pay off the national debt.

In early April, when the U.S. Senate passed its federal budget, Montanas two Republican senators, Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, bucked their party in a vote for an amendment which would have prevented the sale of public lands to lower the federal deficit, though the amendment failed 49-51.

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Showing that all of Montanas congressional delegation shares a similar idea on keeping public lands public, Zinke reintroduced his Public Lands in Public Hands Act, earlier this year with Vasquez, a bill which would ban the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Forest service from selling or transferring most public land, except in specific circumstances. Simpson supported the act by co-sponsoring the legislation.

And in Helena, a resolution which would have supported a Utah lawsuit against the federal government seeking to transfer federal land to the state, was defeated in the Legislature on a 33-66 vote. A number of conservative politicians and Republican-led states filed briefs in support of the lawsuit, including Idaho.

But the issue continues to gain traction.

Late Tuesday night, the day before Zinke announced the launch of the new caucus, House Republicans on the Natural Resource Committee approved an amendment that authorizes the sale of thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah.

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The proposed sales and exchanges are part of a large budget reconciliation bill that will require a vote before the full House.

The lands involved are almost all near the urban areas of Las Vegas, Reno and St. George, Utah, and appear aimed at allowing for affordable housing developments on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land.

Opponents question why selling public lands should pay for tax cuts to the wealthy

The move has drawn opposition from Democrats and conservation groups.

Tracy Stone-Manning testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during a hearing on her confirmation to become director of the Bureau of Land Management, on June 8, 2021. (Screenshot from U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources)

Tracy Stone-Manning, a Montanan who used to lead the BLM under the Biden administration and is now president of the Wilderness Society, told NPR that the move was the start of a bigger push to transfer federal lands.

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Congress is considering selling off our public lands to pay for tax cuts to the wealthy, Stone-Manning said. What were seeing from this administration is no balance at all.

During the Public Lands Caucus press conference, reporters asked Zinke about the committee actions, and Zinke responded, according to Politico, by saying he would make it clear to House leadership that he opposed the idea.

I strongly dont believe (land sales) should be in the reconciliation bill, Zinke said, though he did not explicitly say that he would oppose the entire reconciliation package as it stands.

Idaho Capital Sun editor-in-chief Christina Lords contributed to this report.

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The Daily Montanan, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com.

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Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke speaks at a press conference announcing the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, while Montana Rep. Troy Downing listens. (Courtesy photo)

Montana U.S. Rep Ryan Zinke, a Republican, joined with Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-NewMexico, to launch a new bipartisan congressional coalition focused on conserving Americas public lands and expanding access to natural resources for all Americans.

At a press conference in Washington D.C. last week, Zinke announced the launch of the Public Lands Caucus, which he will co-chair with Vazquez, comprising 14 members of the U.S. House representing districts across country, but heavily centered in the West.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Our public lands is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. Its an American issue, and we should use it in that context of being red, white and blue, Zinke said during the press conference announcing the caucus formation. Its important that we talk about better management to preserve and defend why we live in the West and why Americas greatest idea should be preserved and defended.

Zinke was the former Secretary of the Interior during Donald Trumps first administration before resigning amid a series of ethics investigations.

The caucus goal is to bring lawmakers together to advance practical, consensus-driven public lands policy that conserves national resources while supporting recreation, local economies and public access, according to a press release from Zinkes office.

Make no mistake, our public lands are this nations great equalizer. On the water, on the land or in the back country, we all benefit equally from the foundations laid by great conservation leaders like Aldo Leopold and Teddy Roosevelt, Vasquez said during the press conference. Public lands and public access to our forests, rivers, grasslands and deserts are a unique American experience that we must continue to fight for and that we cannot take for granted. They also help support a multi billion dollar industry, an outdoor recreation that powers rural communities, connects Americans to their history and to their heritage, and allows us to pass on our traditions to the next generation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

In addition to the two founding caucus chairs, the Public Lands Caucus includes representatives from Michigan, Idaho, California, North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Montana.

Rep. Troy Downing, a freshman congressman representing Montanas eastern district, told reporters at the press event that 100% of Montanas representatives supported the idea. Downing referenced his time serving on the Montana Land Board while he was the State Auditor, a five-member board that managed 5.5 million acres of state land, where he helped manage lands by sustained yield, to preserve them for generations.

In Montana, public lands, public land access, hiking, hunting, fishing are incredibly important to us. You could say its in our veins, making sure that we are being stewards of these incredible assets, Downing said. But thats not just Montana. Thats not just the western states. Its not a partisan issue. I dont care what side of the aisle you come from, or if you come from neither side of the aisle. You care about this. You understand.

Many conservation-focused groups expressed their support of the new coalition, including Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and Western Landowners Alliance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Public lands have become a political flashpoint in recent months as the Trump administration has promoted the idea that federal lands are part of the nations balance sheet and could be utilized to help pay off the national debt.

In early April, when the U.S. Senate passed its federal budget, Montanas two Republican Senators, Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, bucked their party in a vote for an amendment which would have prevented the sale of public lands to lower the federal deficit, though the amendment failed 49-51.

Showing that all of Montanas congressional delegation shares a similar idea on keeping public lands public, Zinke reintroduced his Public Lands in Public Hands Act, earlier this year with Vasquez, a bill which would ban the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Forest service from selling or transferring most public land, except in specific circumstances.

And in Helena, a resolution which would have supported a Utah lawsuit against the federal government seeking to transfer federal land to the state, was defeated in the Legislature on a 33-66 vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But the issue continues to gain traction.

Late Tuesday night, the day before Zinke announced the launch of the new caucus, House Republicans on the Natural Resource Committee approved an amendment that authorizes the sale of thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah.

The proposed sales and exchanges are part of a large budget reconciliation bill that will require a vote before the full House.

The lands involved are almost all near the urban areas of Las Vegas, Reno and St. George, Utah, and appear aimed at allowing for affordable housing developments on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The move has drawn opposition from Democrats and conservation groups.

Tracy Stone-Manning, a Montanan who used to lead the BLM under the Biden administration and is now president of the Wilderness Society, told NPR that the move was the start of a bigger push to transfer federal lands.

Congress is considering selling off our public lands to pay for tax cuts to the wealthy, Stone-Manning said. What were seeing from this administration is no balance at all.

During the Public Lands Caucus press conference, reporters asked Zinke about the committee actions, and Zinke responded, according to Politico, by saying he would make it clear to House leadership that he opposed the idea.

I strongly dont believe (land sales) should be in the reconciliation bill, Zinke said, though he did not explicitly say that he would oppose the entire reconciliation package as it stands.
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Central Washington University senior Kyle Stahl holds a copy of The Observer in front of his mouth during a protest on content regulation by CWU administration Thursday morning outside Discovery Hall.
India's generics medicine industry is unlikely to be impacted by President Donald Trump's move to slash drug prices in the US drastically, said Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA). On Monday, President Trump signed an Executive Order, which he termed as one of the "most consequential Executive Orders" in the country's history. The order directed pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of their medicines to align with what other countries pay for such prescription medicines. Trump gave pharmaceutical companies a 30-day deadline to cut costs or face action. "The generics industry is unlikely to be impacted, as it operates on razor-thin margins. In the US, the generics industry represents 90 per cent of prescription volumes while accounting for only 13 per cent of the market value," Sudarshan Jain said. The generics industry plays a pivotal role in ensuring medicines remain affordable and accessible. "Further details on implementation mechanisms will bring more clarity," Jain added in his brief statement on Tuesday. The Executive Order issued by the US Government seeks to balance innovation, access and overall healthcare costs. "Research and development in life sciences demands long-term commitment, substantial investment, and carries high risk. The Order emphasises that the cost of the innovation should be shared equitably among all stakeholders," Jain said, arguing that the innovator companies are expected to be affected with a 30-day window to align their US prices with Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) pricing. Trump has been claiming that for many years, US consumers were paying much higher prices for medicines that are drastically lower in other countries. The US President claimed that sometimes the medicines purchased by US consumers are five to ten times more expensive than the same drug, manufactured in the exact same laboratory or plant, and by the same company. "Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30 per cent to 80 per cent. They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA! I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION'S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World. Our Country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens Healthcare Costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before. Additionally, on top of everything else, the United States will save TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS," Trump wrote on X, hours before signing the executive order. President Trump has been focusing particularly on reducing Americans' cost of living ever since he stepped into the White House for the second time. (ANI)
According to Ahmedabad International Airport Limited (AIAL), which manages Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, this growth trajectory underscores Ahmedabad's importance as a destination and a crucial transit point.

The breakdown reveals a robust domestic sector, with over 11 million domestic passengers, complemented by a strong growth in international passengers, with over 2.2 million passengers connecting from Ahmedabad to global destinations.

Adani Group owns the Ahmedabad Airport, which is charting a course for sustained growth. It is ramping up infrastructure and technological capabilities, positioning Ahmedabad as a rapidly evolving aviation hub.

The past financial year also saw Ahmedabad host several world-class events, contributing to peak travel periods.

On January 25, 2025, the airport recorded its highest-ever passenger and aircraft traffic movements, serving an impressive 48,137 passengers and 351 aircraft movements.

This peak surpassed the previous record of 42,224 passengers and 328 aircraft movements on November 20, 2023.

Ahmedabad Airport currently serves over 36,800 passengers daily, with an average of 288 flights, including charter movements, and connecting Ahmedabad to over 48 domestic and 16 international destinations.

According to the airport operator, the skies above Ahmedabad have also become significantly busier, with air traffic movements experiencing a notable 16.2 per cent upswing in the past fiscal.

The airport handled 101,119 aircraft in 2024-25, a considerable rise from the 87,025 movements in 2023-24.

"This enhanced operational capacity is a direct result of strategic infrastructure investments. The addition of five new parking stands and implementation of a Multiple Aircraft Ramp System (MARS) at the existing aerobridges has optimised the use of available space," the airport operator said in their statement.

Ahmedabad Airport's growing connectivity is the outcome of the introduction of several new routes throughout the year.

Domestic additions include Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Nanded, Kolhapur, Dimapur, and Kishangarh. Internationally, new routes to Don Mueang (Bangkok), Kuala Lumpur, and Da Nang have strengthened Ahmedabad's global links.

It said increased flight frequencies to key destinations such as Delhi, Jeddah, Don Mueang, Kuwait, Kolkata, Kochi, and Abu Dhabi reflect the rising demand and the airport's responsiveness to passenger needs.

Recognising its role as a vital link for the surrounding cities, Ahmedabad Airport has introduced a direct bus service to Vadodara, operated by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), enhancing accessibility for travellers from neighbouring areas. (ANI)
Prose Integrated New Delhi [India], May 13: "Convocation is a celebration of graduation of new leaders, brimming with new energy, new dreams and new possibilities for the world." - Dr. Shubhasheesh Bhattacharya, Campus Director, NMIMS Navi Mumbai. SVKM's NMIMS Navi Mumbai School of Business Management hosted its 7th Convocation Ceremony for the MBA Class of 2023-2025 on April 15, 2025, marking a milestone in the academic journey of graduating students who were conferred with their MBA degrees. The event was graced by the Chief Guest Mr. Prasad K Panicker, Executive Chairman, Nayara Energy Limited. In his convocation address, Mr. Panicker offered invaluable insights to the graduates, urging them to embrace change and lead with resilience in today's ever-evolving business landscape. This event stands as a big leap in the future for these young minds. The ceremony was attended by Shri Bharat M. Sanghvi, Trustee & Nominee of the Hon'ble Chancellor, NMIMS Deemed to be University. Other dignitaries in attendance included Prof. Dr. Abhishek Ranjan, Pro-Vice Chancellor & Nominee of the Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor, Shri Ashish Apte, Controller of Examinations & Nominee of the Registrar, Dr. Shubhasheesh Bhattacharya, Director, SVKM's NMIMS Navi Mumbai Campus, and Dr. Nitin Balwani, Associate Dean, School of Business Management. Dr. Abhishek Ranjan, Pro Vice Chancellor, delivered an inspiring welcome address. In his impactful message, he shared, "Today is more than just a formal gathering--it is a tribute to the determination, discipline, and dedication each of you has shown over the past two years. It signifies the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of an exciting new journey filled with purpose and opportunity." While encouraging the graduates, Dr. Shubhasheesh Bhattacharya applauded the resilience, adaptability, and accomplishments of the graduating batch, highlighting their success across national and international competitive platforms over the last two years. "Honesty and truthfulness is nutrition to our soul; it helps to keep our head high & conscience clear," he said, inspiring the graduates to be the leaders with purpose and integrity. Dr. Bhattacharya also emphasized the school's commitment to fostering ethical leadership, critical thinking, and lifelong learning, and expressed gratitude to the faculty, staff, and families for their unwavering support. With a mission to shape industry-ready leaders who combine innovation with ethical responsibility, NMIMS Navi Mumbai continues to cultivate a research-driven and forward-thinking learning environment. As these bright graduates step into the professional world, they carry with them not just academic knowledge, but the values, vision, and confidence to shape the future of business and society. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by Prose Integrated. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
New Delhi: Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan has fianlly wrapped up a major shoot for his upcoming film, an untitled intense musical love story steered by acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Basu. The actor, known for his dedication and versatility, took to Instagram Stories to share an update with fans, posting a BTS picture along with the caption: Last Day of a Long Schedule .

While not much has been disclosed about the films storyline, sources close to the project suggest that this team-up between Kartik and Anurag Basu is unlike anything the actor has tried before. With music playing a main role, the film promises a rollercoaster of emotions, passion, and imppresive melodies that will linger long after the credits roll.

The current schedule, which spanned several weeks, included intense filming at multiple locations. Kartik, who has sunk himself deeply into this demanding character, shared an update on social media. His social media post hints at the level of commitment and energy that went into completing the long schedule.

Directed by Anurag Basu, known for cinematic jewels like Barfi! and Ludo, this film is expected to blend his signature storytelling style with Kartiks evolving creativity. Fans are already eagerly anticipating more updates about the films title, music lineup, which the makers have kept under wraps as of now.

With this major landmark completed, Kartik Aaryan gears up for the next phase of production as anticipation builds around what is shaping up to be one of the most awaited films of the year. A true crowd puller, Kartik continues to prove that all his choices are a masterstroke.

After this, he has two more big projects lined up  Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri and Naagzilla.
New Delhi: An American health insurance employee has sued the company after being sacked for productivity issues during chemotherapy and denied remote work for treatment. The employee described it as the most dehumanising work experience. The worker criticized the company for not showing basic humanity to a person undergoing cancer treatment, despite being a health insurance company. The disheartened employee believes that "companies don't deserve loyalty".

Sharing a post on Reddit, the employee wrote, "Last fall, I was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma. After the initial shock, I immediately sat down with my manager at HealthPlus Insurance (where I'd been a claims analyst for 3+ years) to discuss accommodations during my treatment. My oncologist recommended I work remotely during chemo to reduce infection risk. I had documentation, a doctor's note, everything. My direct manager seemed supportive until HR got involved.

The employee was allegedly told that working remotely was a privilege and not an accommodation. "Their response? "Remote work is a privilege, not an accommodation." They claimed my role was "impossible to perform remotely" despite the ENTIRE DEPARTMENT working from home during COVID just months earlier," he wrote on Reddit.

As a compromise, the employee was offered unpaid medical leave for chemo appointments but was required to be in the office on other days. When he pointed out that this violated ADA, the HR director claimed that the company employs 49 people and they are exempt from ADA requirements.

The employee said he showed up between treatments despite fatigue, nausea and a compromised immune system.

After his second chemotherapy cycle, the employee was placed on a performance improvement plan. Two weeks later, when his white blood cell count was at its lowest, the employee was terminated for not meeting productivity goals. "The final insult? They contested my unemployment claim saying I was fired for cause," the employee said.

"I got a lawyer. Turns out they had 53 employees (they counted part-timers differently), making them subject to ADA. Yesterday, we filed with the EEOC. This company's entire business is HEALTH INSURANCE, but they couldn't show basic humanity to someone going through cancer treatment.

"Companies don't deserve loyalty. Ever," he added.

Netizens Reaction

The Reddit post sparked anger and sympathy on the internet. Many users supported the employee and criticised the company's handling of the situation.

One user wrote, "This company's entire business is HEALTH INSURANCE but they couldn't show basic humanity to someone going through cancer treatment."

Another user wrote, "Wishing you kinder environments from a fellow worker on chemo in a toxic workplace."

Another user wrote, "Hey, congrats on the lawsuit, likely to be a great payday in time, and it sounds like they've laid it all out for you. Very sorry to hear about the cancer, and very sorry you had to deal with this, especially during such a difficult time. I hope your health is better and hope you find better people in your future. What assholes. I'm not sure how people work in those HR departments, unless they are sociopaths."

Another commented, "It's not ironic, this is literally what I would expect of an insurance company. They don't give a f**k about your actual health, they just want to cut costs/risk no matter what."
At least 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 78 others were injured in foiling what has been termed as "unprovoked and reprehensible" attacks by India, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated in a release on Tuesday. ISPR, the military media wing of Pakistan, also added that 40 civilians, among them seven women and 15 children, were killed in the fighting, and 121 civilians were injured.

Among the killed soldiers, six belonged to the Pakistan Army and five belonged to the Pakistan Air Force. The martyred army personnel include Naik Abdul Rehman, Lance Naik Dilawar Khan, Lance Naik Ikramullah, Naik Waqar Khalid, Sepoy Muhammad Adeel Akbar, and Sepoy Nisar.

The Pakistan Air Force confirmed Squadron Leader Usman Yousuf, Chief Technician Aurangzeb, Senior Technician Najeeb, Corporal Technician Farooq, and Senior Technician Mubashir as killed.

"Their noble sacrifice is an enduring symbol of courage, devotion, and unwavering patriotism  etched forever in the nations memory," wrote the ISPR statement.

The army pledged stern action against any further aggression, declaring that "any move to test Pakistan's sovereignty or territorial integrity will meet a prompt, full-spectrum, and determined response."

Tensions along the border continue as both countries are keeping a close eye on the situation.
Days after a US-facilitated ceasefire between Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Adampur Air Force Station, highlighting its critical contribution to Operation Sindoor  India's new era of precision strike operations against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The visit reiterated Adampur's status as a linchpin of India's air defense and anti-terror operations.

Frontline Fortress Near The Border

Located only 100 kilometers from the India-Pakistan border, Adampur is home to the Indian Air Force's second-largest base. It hosts the 47 Squadron "Black Archers" flying MiG-29UPG fighter aircraft and a forward deployment of Su-30MKI aircraft of 28 Squadron "First Supersonics." Both squadrons operated continuous Combat Air Patrol (CAP) sorties during Operation Sindoor, maintaining air superiority and border security.

The base is also supported by advanced radar networks and is said to be part of India's advanced S-400 air defense system, which provides it with advanced ability to detect and intercept hostile air threats.

Command Center Of Precision Strikes

In the May 7 operation, Adampur was a launchpad for simultaneous air strikes against nine high-value terror camps, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed center in Bahawalpur. Top terror handlers, including Abdul Rauf Azhar, were said to have been neutralised in the carefully planned operation involving real-time intelligence and space-based assets.

The base's operational coordination with the Army and Navy highlighted India's growing focus on tri-service coordination in high-risk missions.

Bharat Mata ki Jai pic.twitter.com/TdutUjMgQx  Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) May 13, 2025

Pakistan Claims Fail Flat In Wake Of India's Resilience

In the aftermath of the operation, Pakistan launched counterstrikes on May 9 and 10, stating it had shot down the S-400 facility deployed at Adampur with JF-17 Thunder hypersonic missiles. Indian defense authorities promptly discredited these claims. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sophiya Qureshi confirmed that the S-400 system was fully operational and that the air base had experienced minimal equipment damage.

Debris of crashed Pakistani drones and missiles in Kangniwal and Dhogri villages was concrete proof of India's effective interception and neutralisation of threats.

Voices From The Ground

Local civilians, who endured the days of heightened tension, breathed a sigh of relief after the ceasefire. Surjit Kaur, a resident of Kangniwal, said, "We would have died from panic alone  the sky never stopped roaring."

When Prime Minister Modi visited, he interacted with the air warriors and appreciated their "courage, determination, and fearlessness" and commended Adampur's outstanding performance under pressure.

A Symbol Of Strength And Vigilance

Adampur's performance in Operation Sindoor has revalidated its reputation as a pillar of India's national security. It is not merely a military asset, but a symbol of the nation's unrelenting determination to fight terrorism and protect its sovereignty  with precision, coordination, and unconquerable spirit.
Following the recent war-like conflict between India and Pakistan, the impact of Newtons lawevery action has an equal and opposite reactioncan now be seen in the stock markets of defence companies in China, Turkey, and India. While defence stocks in China and Turkey are experiencing sharp declines, Indian defence stocks are witnessing a significant surge. Simply put, from the battlefield to the stock market, Chinese and Turkish weapons have been exposed and beaten.

Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese and Turkish drones, fighter jets, and missiles during the conflict with India. However, these systems proved ineffective against Indias defence capabilities. This poor performance has raised serious questions about the reliability and quality of Chinese and Turkish defence products. In today's DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor, of Zee News, analysed the impact of India's defence power on Turkey, China.

Watch Full DNA Episode Here

There's a popular saying in the business world: "The market knows everything, and price is king." Today, Chinas HS China A Aerospace & Defence Index fell by over 2%, with individual defence stocks seeing declines ranging from 2% to 7%. Notably, AVIC Chengdu, which manufactures the JF-17 Thunder and J-10C fighter jetsused by Pakistan during the conflictsaw its stock fall 7% after the conditional ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had previously confirmed the use of the J-10C jets against India.

Similarly, Zhuzhou Hongda Electronics Corporation Ltd, which produces the PL-15 missile, witnessed a drop of more than 6%. The company is state-owned and plays a significant role in Chinas missile development. While Chinese and Turkish defence stocks fell after the ceasefire, Indian defence companies surged. Bharat Dynamics Limited, a government-owned missile manufacturer, rose by over 10%. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), which supplies to the aerospace sector, saw a rise of over 4%. Shipbuilding companies also gained between 4% and 6%.

On the other hand, Turkish defence giant Aselsan A.S., which manufactures everything from tanks to drones, witnessed a sharp decline of over 12% in its shares over the past three daysstarting Friday. This follows the Indian defence systems complete neutralization of Turkish drones.

5 Key Takeaways from Market Trends:

* Global confidence in Chinese and Turkish defence systems has eroded.

* Demand for their defence products is likely to decline in coming months.

* Indian-made defence products are gaining both demand and trust globally.

* India is set to increase its defence spending under the "Make in India" push, already announced by the Prime Minister.

* India-Russia defence relations are expected to strengthen further.

Who Buys From Whom?

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India sources its defence equipment primarily from:

Russia (36%)

France (33%)

Israel (18%)

Others (13%)

(e.g., S-400 from Russia, Rafale jets from France)

Pakistan sources:

China (81%)

Turkey (~4%)

Netherlands (~5.5%)

Others (>9%)

As the saying goes, every crisis presents an opportunity. China and Turkey tried to capitalize on the India-Pakistan conflictbut their defence systems were exposed and discredited, while Indias indigenous defence capabilities earned global trust. So, is this the beginning of the end for the Chinese-Turkish defence market dominance? Only time will tellbut the signals are clear.
New Delhi: Indias homegrown Akash missile system has proven its battlefield mettle, taking centre stage in Operation Sindoor by neutralising a barrage of Pakistani drones and missiles with surgical precision. Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai on May 12, during a special press briefing, hailed the systems performance as a defining moment in Indias air defence evolution, where indigenous technology did not just hold the line, it dominated it.

Air Marshal AK Bharti elaborated on the integrated defense network that enabled the success, crediting the Indian Air Forces Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).

It was this cohesive Air Defense (AD) architecture, backed by consistent funding, that allowed us to face waves of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAVs) head-on, he stated.

The operation also showcased Indias soft and hard kill counter-drone technology, effectively neutralising Pakistans unmanned threats with precision.

But Akashs story does not end on the battlefield.

Far from the Indo-Pak border, the Indian missile system has entered a new arena, an international competition for Brazils medium-altitude air defense contract, where it is up against Chinas Sky Dragon-50. The Brazilian Army initiated its search in November 2023, requesting quotes from global defense suppliers. By February 2024, a second round sought more detailed specifications.

Brazilian military chief General Tomas Miguel Mine Ribeiro Paiva has reportedly shown keen interest in Akash, suggesting a potential government-to-government procurement deal with India. His interest is grounded in personal experience. In August 2023, he attended a live demonstration of Akash in India and reviewed other indigenous systems like the Arjun tank and ALH Dhruva helicopter. Prior to that, his team had visited China in 2023 to evaluate the Sky Dragon-50 and SH15 howitzer.

Unlike the Chinese system, whose exact capabilities remain vague, Akashs strengths are well documented. Developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), it is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to protect key assets from aerial threats. Its architecture allows it to strike helicopters, jets and UAVs flying between 4 and 25 kilometers, using advanced ECCM (Electronic Counter-Countermeasures) and a fully automated rapid-response system.

What makes Akash especially formidable is its command-guided mechanism that allows a single unit to engage four targets simultaneously at 25 kilometers, something no other system in the world has demonstrated so far, according to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Mounted on mobile platforms and immune to both active and passive jamming, the system is built to move fast and deploy faster by rail or road.

Presently boasting 82% indigenous content, Akash is on track to hit 93% by 2026-27, a feat that not only makes it cost-effective but also highly adaptable. Several countries, including Armenia, have already placed orders, while others (from the Middle East, Africa, South America to Southeast Asia) have shown growing interest. The Philippines and Vietnam are among the potential future operators.

Akash is often compared to Israels Iron Dome, but some experts argue it surpasses its Israeli counterpart. Not only can it target UAVs and smaller projectiles, but its open-system architecture enables it to fit into both current and future defense frameworks.

During Indias Astrashakti exercise in December 2023, a single Akash battery took down four UAVs flying in tight formation, which then broke off to attack from multiple directions, an impressive show of coordination and effectiveness.

The system comes in upgraded variants, Akash-NG (New Generation) and Akash Prime. Both have an operational ceiling of 18 kilometers and a range of up to 30 kilometres.

Akash Prime goes a step further with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, improving its precision and performance in cold and high-altitude conditions.

Akash works everywhere  mountains, deserts and plains. Its adaptability and reliability make it unmatched. Being fully indigenous means India can tailor the system to suit the needs of foreign buyers, delivering not just a product, but a strategic partnership.

From national defense staple to international contender, Akashs journey signals a significant leap in Indias defense capabilities. As more global militaries line up for a closer look, it is clear  Akash is no longer just a missile system; it is a symbol of Indias evolving strategic ambition.
Adampur (Punjab): On a dawn visit that blended symbolism with strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the frontline Adampur Air Base at Jalandhar in Punjab on Tuesday morning  the first such visit by a head of government after the end of Indias blistering military offensive, Operation Sindoor.

Dressed in saffron sleeveless jacket, Modi was seen interacting with Indian Air Force personnel and getting clicked with air warriors.

"Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, " the PM said in a post on X.

The air base, one of the pivotal launching pads for Indias counter-strikes during the operation, stood at full readiness  its fighter fleet on alert and its men energised.

Addressing a joit press briefing on Monday, DG Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that the purpose of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorists and not to engage with the Pakistan military or Pakistani civilians. "Our fight is with the terrorists, our fight is not with the Pakistan military or Pakistan civilians, so that is very clear. We are very clear in our targeting," he stated.

The Air Marshal emphasised that the Indian Armed Forces showcased their effectiveness through precise strikes during Operation Sindoor.

Our counter systems and trained air defence operators are fully capable, and our nation's indigenous capability has proven its effectiveness. It has been demonstrated that no matter what kind of technology emerges, we are prepared to counter it. There is no need for excessive words, you have seen with your own eyes the consequences we have delivered, he said.

In a nationally televised address on Monday evening, PM Modi offered the nation clarity on Indias evolving security posture: terror will invite total retaliation.

We are not here to maintain old red lines. We are here to draw new ones, he said.

Referring to the recently concluded Operation Sindoor, Modi said India had merely suspended its military operations after Pakistan, reeling under severe damage and begged the international community for intervention. But the prime minister made it clear: the suspension is not a sign of retreat.

If there is another attack on Indian soil, we will strike at the roots. India will not accept nuclear blackmail. We will not make a distinction between a government that sponsors terror and the terrorists themselves, he warned.

Delivered on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the speech took a sharp turn from peace to power. Peace through strength is not a contradiction. It is a necessity, he said, quoting the Buddhas message but anchoring it firmly in the language of deterrence.

Pakistan Didnt Expect Firestorm

Asserting that Indias military campaign had shattered Pakistans assumptions, Modi revealed that missiles and drones launched by Indian forces had severely degraded Pakistans most critical military assets.

They prepared for a skirmish at the border. We hit them in the heart, he said.

Indian drones penetrated deep into enemy territory, disabling radar systems and crippling runways. Pakistans retaliatory strikes  aimed at civilian schools, places of worship and Army posts  were mostly intercepted. They failed in attack, failed in defence and now they failed in diplomacy, Modi said.

Global Silence

Without mincing words, the prime minister called out Pakistans global terror infrastructure  Muridke and Bahawalpur  as terror universities and accused Islamabad of harbouring internationally designated terror groups.

These are the same facilities behind 26/11, Pathankot, Pulwama and now Pahalgam. In one stroke, over 100 terrorists were eliminated, Modi said.

He lambasted the global silence and the hesitancy of world powers to hold Pakistan accountable. The time for talk is over. Terror and talks cannot coexist. Water and blood cannot flow together, he said.

A Nation That Stands Armed, Alert

The prime minister took time to personally salute the armed forces, scientists and paramilitary personnel involved in the operation. He dedicated Indias counter-strikes to the victims of terror, especially the families torn apart by the recent Pahalgam massacre, in which militants executed civilians after confirming their religion in front of their children.

This was not just terror. It was a challenge to our national unity. Operation Sindoor is our promise  to never allow the sindoor (vermillion) of our daughters and mothers to be wiped away again, Modi said.

War Cabinet On Standby

Even as Modi spoke, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level emergency meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Navy and Army chiefs and the Defence Secretary. Sources say Indias armed forces remain in full operational readiness, with surveillance drones and satellite systems monitoring Pakistans movements.

India, it appears, has adopted a new policy: zero tolerance, full-spectrum deterrence.

As Modi left Adampur, he did not just leave behind an airbase brimming with confidence  he left behind a message unmistakable in its simplicity: Terrorism will no longer be debated. It will be destroyed.
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], May 13: Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology and innovation and India's leading~ AI smartphone brand, today launched the latest addition to its premium razr series- the razr 60 ultra, setting a new benchmark in the category of flip phones. The brand new motorola razr 60 ultra is 'Simply Unmatched' in its overall smartphone experience, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and new moto AI features such as Look and Talk, which make it the world's most powerful AI flip phone. It is also the world's first smartphone crafted with Alcantara and Wood Finish* and features the world's most advanced 3 X 50MP flip camera system. Additionally, the razr 60 ultra also comes with our largest external display, and the world's most durable hinge tested for 800,000 flips#. As the world's most powerful AI flip phone, the motorola razr 60 ultra comes with really impressive features such as AI Image Studio, Catch Me Up, Remember This and much more along with the introduction of Look & Talk. With this feature users can just glance at their phone to unlock it and start a conversation--no hands needed. They can ask moto AI anything, from quick questions to catching up on missed notifications by just talking to moto AI from the external display allowing for effortless access, and smarter assistance. The personalized AI assistant revolutionizes user interactions, understanding voice, text, and images. And now it can even see the world through the user's lens. From everyday tasks and summaries to advanced content creation, it offers intuitive assistance and can instantly absorb documents to become an expert on any topic. Moto AI works behind the scenes to deliver a smarter, more intuitive way for users to interact and engage with their device. Features like Next Move recognize what's on the screen--whether it's a recipe, a chat, or content--and suggest helpful next steps in real time, making it ideal for users new to AI. The This On That feature enables seamless task transfers, like moving notes or documents between a Motorola phone and connected devices such as a tablet or laptop--making multitasking smooth and effortless. Additional features include Playlist Studio, which curates the perfect playlist based on what's on-screen to match every mood, and Image Studio, which uses generative AI to create and edit images, avatars, stickers, and wallpapers--turning imagination into reality. Designed to simplify and enrich everyday experiences, moto AI makes everything from capturing stunning photos to managing notifications smarter and more personalized. Built around three core pillars--Create, Capture, and Assist--moto AI empowers users in meaningful ways. 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Additional No Cost EMI offer upto 12 Months starting at 7500/ per month on leading banksEffective price, For 16GB+512GB variant,Net effective Price: INR 99,999 INR 89,999 Operator Offers:Benefits worth Rs. 15000 with Reliance Jio SIM Valid on Postpaid Rs. 749 plan and above * Includes Netflix, Amazon Prime, Jio TV & JioAiCloud. * Data Voucher 10 GB * 36 Months * Discount of Rs. 99 * 36 times * Additional Partner Coupons worth Rs. 8000 * Ajio: Rs. 600 off (*2) * Ease My Trip: Upto Rs.1500 off on Flights (*1) * Ease My Trip: 15% off on Hotels upto Rs. 4000 (*1) * Growfitter Premium Subscription worth Rs. 1500(*1) To know more about the product visit: Amazon - https://www.amazon.in/l/206850755031 Motorola website - https://www.motorola.in/smartphones-motorola-razr-60-ultra/p?skuId=528 Disclaimers:*Price including all offers. Subject to change at the discretion of the brand#Basis tests done under specific lab conditions~Basis TechArc 2025 report Detailed Marketing Specifications (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)
PM Modi Speech: In his speech at Adampur Air Base on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Indian Armed Forces and said they are 'best in this game'. He added that Operation Sindoor is not a 'normal military operation'.

In his visit to Adampur Air Base, PM Modi was briefed by Air Force personnel, and he also interacted with the soldiers. This visit also comes a day after his first address to the nation since Operation Sindoor was launched.

"Operation Sindoor is not a normal military operation. It is the confluence of India's policy, intention, and decisiveness. India is the land of Buddha as well as Guru Gobind Singh ji...When the sindoor of our sisters and daughters was removed, we entered the houses of the terrorists and crushed them," the PM said.

#WATCH | At the Adampur Air Base, PM Narendra Modi says "...Operation Sindoor is not a normal military operation. It is the confluence of India's policy, intention and decisiveness. India is the land of Buddha as well as Guru Gobind Singh ji...When the sindoor' of our sisters and pic.twitter.com/VAaYmMzvF1  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

Also Read: PM Modi On Operation Sindoor: From Pak's Desperation To PoK Warning - Highlights

At the Base, PM Modi also said, "Hum ghar mein ghus kar maarenge aur bachne ka ek mauka tak nahi denge."

"The Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy have defeated the Pakistani Army, on which these terrorists were relying. There is no such place in Pakistan where terrorists can sit and breathe in peace," he added.

#WATCH | At the Adampur Air Base, PM Narendra Modi says "...Hum ghar mein ghus kar maarenge aur bachne ka ek mauka tak nahi denge..."



He says "The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have defeated the Pakistani Army on which these terrorists were relying. There is no pic.twitter.com/4vgoTAfX27  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

PM Modi's Address To Nation

On Monday, PM Modi commenced his address by saluting the Indian Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists on behalf of all Indians. He dedicated their bravery and courage to all the mothers and daughters of the country.

PM Modi also warned Pakistan and said, The way the Pakistani army and government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India's stand is very clear. Terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, water and blood cannot flow together.

I will also tell the world community today that our declared policy has been that if we talk to Pakistan, then it will be on terrorism, if we talk to Pakistan, then Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, PoK, will be on that, he added.

Also Check: Before And After Pics: How India Airstrikes Changed Pakistan's Airbases

Operation Sindoor

The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK); altogether, nine sites were targeted.

This Operation came after the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed.

(with ANI inputs)
New Delhi: Pakistan is under attack. Its military convoys burned. Its intelligence units exposed. Its police stations hit. Its propaganda shattered. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has unleashed a wave of 71 coordinated strikes across 51 locations. The message is clear  Pakistan is crumbling, and the world must stop pretending it is not.

In a statement issued on May 11, the BLA warned India and other regional powers against falling for Islamabads ceasefire optics and tactical dialogues, declaring that the time has passed to believe in Pakistans promises. The group said Pakistans structural reliance on terrorism and religious extremism makes peace impossible and called for decisive action from India and the international community.

Referring to Pakistan as a terrorist state, the BLA insisted that global inaction was enabling a rogue regime to embed itself deeper into South Asias geopolitical fault lines. Pakistan is not just a breeding ground, it is a nuclear base of violent ideology, the group stated and cited its sponsorship of outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammad and the ISIS.

The statement followed the BLAs announcement of 71 back-to-back attacks launched under its ongoing Operation Herof across 51 locations inside Pakistan. These included military garrisons, ISI facilities, police stations, mineral convoys and critical infrastructure along key national highways.

The aim, according to the group, was not just destruction. It was a calculated test of battle coordination, ground maneuvering and strategic control. The attacks were described as a rehearsal for more organised warfare. We have rendered the enemy helpless on mountains, urban fronts and every other front, the BLA said, reinforcing its claims of battlefield dominance.

At a time when Pakistan is grappling with diplomatic isolation, internal economic collapse and mounting military pressures, the BLA believes a new order is emerging in South Asia. The group asserted that Pakistans structural vulnerabilities, especially its use of jihadist proxies, have caused irreparable cracks in the regions security architecture.

Dismissing any speculation about foreign backing, the BLA categorically rejected the idea that it functions as a proxy. Instead, it described itself as a dynamic and decisive party shaping South Asias strategic transformation. The BLA is neither a pawn nor a silent spectator, the statement declared. It vowed to continue its armed resistance until Pakistan is dismantled as a terror-exporting state.

The message to India was blunt: stop entertaining peace with a country whose hands are stained with blood and whose every promise is soaked in it.

Criticising the global powers for turning a blind eye, the BLA accused them of protecting short-term strategic interests at the expense of regional peace. It warned that such hypocrisy will only prolong the conflict. The BLA will no longer wait for permission, the group added, pledging to ramp up efforts to bring down the Pakistani state.

The group also hinted at building stronger internal alliances within Pakistans restive provinces to challenge Islamabads territorial control. Calls for resolute unity among Baloch factions signal a potential coalition of resistance movements.

While Balochistan has long been a hotspot of insurgency, the tone and scale of these latest attacks indicate a turning point. Rich in natural resources and geostrategic value, the province borders both Iran and Afghanistan and provides access to the Arabian Sea. It is also home to the Gwadar port, a centerpiece of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The BLAs operations are not just localised acts of rebellion, they are increasingly being framed as a regional movement against extremism and authoritarianism. The group sees itself as fighting not only for Baloch independence but for a more secure and terror-free South Asia.

Pakistans recent military setbacks, particularly during its standoff with India, have only emboldened this narrative. As Islamabad clings to ceasefires and diplomacy to recover from losses, the BLA is signaling it will not relent and wants India and the world to stop indulging a state it sees as irredeemable.
Four Bangladeshi infiltrators were arrested by the personnel of West Bengal Police on Monday from a place near the international border of India with Bangladesh in Nadia district of West Bengal, an official said.

Later, following their questioning, the investigating officials of Nadia district police came to know that the four arrested, including two women and one man, entered the Indian side illegally almost a year back with the help of local Indian agents based out of Nadia district.

Thereafter, an insider from Nadia district police said, they shifted to different parts of the country and started earning a livelihood there through some odd jobs. However, recently, following the initiatives by the administration of different state governments to hunt illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators settled there, the four decided to come to Hanskhali in Nadia district to go back to Bangladesh after getting the first opportunity.

On Monday, the local villagers tracked them loitering around mysteriously near the international borders at Hanskhali. The villagers informed the local police, who immediately rushed to the spot and took them into custody.

Thereafter, in the face of interrogation, they admitted that they entered the Indian side through the same international borders at Hanskhali, a year back, and this time they came here with the intention of going back to Bangladesh.

Later, they were presented at a district court in Nadia district, and the court remanded them to police custody. They will be interrogated further to track whether they had any links with the banned fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh, who had been active in different bordering districts to create sleeper cells," an official said.

Nadia had been frequently in the news for almost the last year over the arrests of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from there, considering that the international borders with Bangladesh in that district are extremely porous at certain points.

Nadia had also been in the news recently over busting rackets engaged in arranging fake Indian identity documents, including Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.
Aldona MLA and Command Area Development Authority (CADA) member Carlos Alvares Ferreira has strongly condemned the state government's decision to denotify 3.3 lakh square metres of irrigation land in Dhargalim, Pernem, for a proposed casino project. Calling the move "fraudulent and illegal," Ferreira warned that the decision would not withstand judicial scrutiny.

The land in question, originally earmarked for the Tillari irrigation project, was recently denotified by the state cabinet to facilitate the establishment of a gaming zone by Delta Corp Ltd. Ferreira, a senior advocate, said the denotification directly violates provisions of the Command Area Development Act, which was enacted to protect agricultural lands and support farmers through irrigation.

"I was shocked to read in the news that CADA land is being handed over to a casino firm. This land was classified for irrigation use just six months ago under an approved scheme by the CADA board," Ferreira said, noting that the cabinets unilateral action bypassed the statutory procedure outlined in the Act.

BJP Government which promised doubling farmers income has snatched land from them and has given to Casinos at Dhargal. I condemn Governments move of giving 3.33 Lakh sq meter of notified CADA land to Delta Corp Ltd for setting up of Integrated Resort Development Project.  Yuri Alemao (@Yurialemao9) May 12, 2025

He explained that under the law, land can only be included or excluded from CADA through a formal scheme involving public objections and board approval. "I personally ensured the approval of this scheme at the last CADA board meeting," he said.

Criticising the role of the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) and the state cabinet, Ferreira asserted that no executive decision can override statutory authority. "The cabinet has no power to bypass a board constituted under a law passed by the legislature," he stated.

Ferreira also accused the government of favouring casino interests, pointing to a reported Rs 5 crore waiver granted to Delta Corp. "I demand that the BJP government explain who benefited from this waiver. This appears to be a corrupt act aimed at gifting public land to private players," he said, adding that such actions contradict the BJPs earlier stance against casinos in Goa.

"This is proof that the government is selling Goa piece by piece. CADA land is meant to sustain agriculture, not promote gambling," Ferreira said, vowing to challenge the decision legally.
India on Tuesday rejected US President Donald Trump's mediation offer for Kashmir while asking Pakistan to vacate the illegally occupied Kashmir. India also reiterated that any issue relating to Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed bilaterally with Pakistan without third-party interference. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the outstanding issue is the vacating of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacating of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," Jaiswal said.

Answering a query, he said there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation from the time Operation Sindoor commenced but trade did not come up in any of these discussions.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration played a crucial role in brokering an immediate cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, following escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

India's precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The government had said that the perpetrators will face severe punishment and over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor.

Indian Armed Forces effectively repelled Pakistan's subsequent military aggression and pounded several airbases in Pakistan. The two countries have now reached an understanding to stop firing and military action after Pakistan DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart.
India on Tuesday made it clear that despite the understanding to halt military hostilities at the Line of Control (LoC), New Delhi is not going to restore the Indus Water treaty, which was suspended following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a briefing on Tuesday, clarified that the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 will remain suspended. This comes amid conflict between India and Pakistan over Operation Sindoor, launched to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

Jaiswal said, "After the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) decision, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has been put in abeyance. I would also like to take you back a little. The IWT was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship as specified in the preamble of the treaty."

"However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for several decades now. Now, as per the CCS decision, India will keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Please note that climate change, demographic shifts, and technological changes have created new realities on the ground as well," he added.

Also Read: With S-400 In Backdrop, PM Modi Debunks Pak's Claim On Adampur

Indias Measures Against Pakistan

A day after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed, New Delhi, on April 23, announced a series of measures against Islamabad, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. In addition, addressing a special press conference after a meeting of the CCS, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed that the Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and were given a week to leave India.

Afterwards, India also announced punitive measures like banning ships bearing the Pakistan flag from visiting any Indian port.

Also Read: In Adampur, PM Modi Hails Air Force, Says 'Operation Sindoor' Not A Normal Military Op

Operation Sindoor

After the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Armed Forces had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.

In the Operation, nine sites were targeted.

(with ANI inputs)
Indias top military leadership, in a display of unified force, held a joint press conference on Sunday to outline the success of Operation Sindoor  a major tri-services operation, which targeted terror infrastructure deep within Pakistani territory. Addressing the media were Air Marshal AK Bharti, director general of air operations; Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, director general of military operations; and Vice Admiral AN Pramod, director general of naval operations. These officers represent the apex of India's defence architecture, responsible for overseeing air, land and naval operations across critical theatres of engagement.

Director generals (DGs) are senior-most strategic and operational commanders in their respective services. They operate at the heart of national security planning, reporting directly to the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Lets meet the men behind the mission:

Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai  DG Military Operations

Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai took over as the DGMO on October 25, 2024, after serving as the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Chinnar Corps. His service along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir has equipped him with deep operational expertise.

An alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lt. Gen. Ghai was commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment in December 1989. Over the span of his distinguished 33-year career, he has held several prestigious appointments, including serving as colonel general staff in a division engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and as a brigadier at the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters.

His command experience spans a battalion in the Western Sector, as well as a brigade and a division along the Northern Borders, reflecting the depth and diversity of his operational expertise.

Ghais distinguished military career has earned him several of the nations highest honours. He has been awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and the Sena Medal (SM) in recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedicated service in key operational roles.

Air Marshal AK Bharti  DG Air Operations

Commissioned in June 1987, Air Marshal AK Bharti assumed charge as the DG of Air Operations in October 2024. He detailed the effectiveness of Indias aerial precision during Operation Sindoor.

Bhartis career reflects a deep-rooted commitment to military service, shaped by education at some of Indias premier defence institutions. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), he received foundational training in military studies and academics.

He later advanced his professional expertise at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), focusing on staff duties and operational planning and at the National Defence College, where he studied national security and defence strategy in depth.

In addition, Bharti is a qualified Fighter Combat Leader, a distinction that highlights his tactical acumen and strategic capabilities in air combat operations.

Air Marshal Bharti brings with him a robust legacy of leadership, combat experience and operational mastery, forged through decades of distinguished service in the Indian Air Force.

From the outset of his career, he immersed himself in frontline air operations and honing his skills in fighter tactics and air defence systems. His hands-on experience in these critical domains laid the foundation for his rise through the ranks.

Between August 2005 and September 2007, he led a frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI squadron, steering it through major international and domestic exercises.

Under his command, the squadron participated in Gagan Shakti, Indradhanush 2006 (alongside the UKs Royal Air Force) and Garuda 2007 (in collaboration with the French Air Force). These joint operations showcased his command prowess and deep understanding of multilateral air warfare tactics.

Bharti later transitioned to a key strategic role as the joint director of air defence operations at Air Headquarters, where he oversaw the formulation and execution of critical air defence strategies, enhancing the countrys aerial preparedness.

Now serving as the Director General of Air Operations (DGAO), Air Marshal Bharti shoulders the responsibility of managing and directing all Indian Air Force operations. His role involves ensuring peak operational capability and mission-readiness across the force that shows his expertise in planning, coordination and combat leadership.

Vice Admiral AN Pramod  DG Naval Operations

Vice Admiral Pramods naval journey began at the Naval Academy in Goa, where he was part of the prestigious 38th Integrated Cadet Course.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990, he quickly distinguished himself as a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare. His early training included naval aviation, qualifying him as a Naval Air Operations Officer, with an advanced certification from the Sea King observer course as a Cat A observer.

Pramods academic excellence was evident early on. He topped his flying and ground subjects, earning the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Rolling Trophy and the Uttar Pradesh Trophy for overall merit. He also placed second in the Long Communication Course.

In the formative years of his career, he served as Gunnery Officer II on INS Kirpan (P44) and later as the Signal and Communications Officer on INS Sujata. He pursued further professional education at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, later serving there as directing staff. His staff appointments at Naval Headquarters included roles as joint director of Naval Air Staff and joint director of Aircraft Acquisition.

Command at sea came with distinction. Vice Admiral Pramod commanded several key warships, including the anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Abhay, the amphibious warfare vessel INS Shardul and the guided missile destroyer INS Rajput as executive officer. He later helmed the multi-role stealth frigate INS Satpura, leading her during the high-profile International Fleet Review in 2016.

As a captain, he attended the Naval Higher Command Course at the Naval War College in Goa. He continued to lead from the front as the commanding officer of the Indian Naval Air Station INS Utkrosh in Port Blair, and served as fleet operations officer of the Western Fleet. At Naval Headquarters, he advanced to become the principal director of Aircraft Acquisition.

Promoted to flag rank in January 2021, he was appointed deputy commandant and chief instructor of the Indian Naval Academy. A year later, he transitioned to NHQ as the assistant chief of naval staff (air). By November 2022, he assumed command as flag officer commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), succeeding Rear Admiral Sandeep Mehta. His leadership during this tenure earned him the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, awarded on January 26, 2024.

In the same month, he was elevated to the rank of vice admiral and entrusted with the key position of director general naval operations at the Naval Headquarters.
India on Tuesday reiterated that there is a new normal in New Delhi's stand against terrorism and warned Pakistan to get used to it. Addressing the media, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Pakistan has a habit of celebrating its defeat. He said that Pakistan has been nurturing terrorism on an industrial scale and can't escape the consequences.

"Pakistan has nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale. If Pakistan thinks it can escape the consequences, it is fooling itself. The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but also of many other innocents around the world. There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better," said Jaiswal.

Reacting to celebrations across Pakistan after being hammered by India, Jaiswal said, "Claiming victory is an old habit. They did the same in 1971, 1975 and 1999 Kargil War. Dhol bajane ka Paksitan ka purana ravaiyya hai. Parast ho jaye lekin dhol bajao."

Jaiswal said that Pakistan's position changed on 10th May after its airbases were effectively put out of action by the Indian Armed Forces. "All you have to do is look at who called whom to negotiate the terms of the cessation of firing," said Jaiswal.

"In the last week, as a result of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has seen its terrorism centres in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and other places destroyed. Thereafter, its military capabilities were significantly degraded by us, and key airbases were effectively put out of action. If the Pakistani FM wishes to project these as achievements, he is welcome to do so," said Jaiswal, reacting to Pakistani FM Isaq Dar's victory claim.
Amid the conflict between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a briefing on Tuesday, said that over the last few years India has shared information with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) about why The Resistance Front (TRF), the front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), should be listed as a terrorist entity, he added that India is set to share more details on this matter.

Jaiswal said, "Over the last two years or so, we have been sharing information with the United Nations Security Council and the monitoring team of the Sanctions Committee as to why the terrorist The Resistance Front (TRF), which is the front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, should be listed as a terrorist entity.

We will be also in few days time sharing more details in this regard. Hopefully Security Council 1267 monitoring team will take strong note of what we present, what we file, and take due action against what is required," he continued.

#WATCH | Delhi: On UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Over the last two years or so, we have been sharing information with the United Nations Security Council and the monitoring team of the Sanctions Committee as to why the terrorist The pic.twitter.com/LhaRpehQKz  ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

Also Read: Indus Water Treaty To Be Kept In Abeyance: MEA Amid India-Pakistan Conflict

TRF had claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, in which 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali citizen were killed. The organisation went back on its statement later.

The MEA Spokesperson said, "We have had several rounds of briefings, and in these briefings, we have also shared with you the kind of linkage we see between the perpetrators of the attack of Pahalgam in particular, The Resistance Front (TRF). Foreign Secretary, in his statement, also made very clear the kind of evidence that we see, and an investigation is going on in this particular matter.

You would have seen that TRF had taken responsibility, and on the second day, twice, they had taken responsibility. Thereafter, possibly at the behest of their handlers, they rolled it back. But TRF is one organisation that is a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba. We have been pursuing the listing of TRF by the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee," he added.

Also Read: With S-400 In Backdrop, PM Modi Debunks Pak's Claim On Adampur

After the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7. In it terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) were hit; altogether nine sites were targeted.

(with ANI inputs)
Operation Sindoor: Indian Armed Forces have inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan in retaliation for the Pakistani Army's escalation following the Operation Sindoor. While the Indian Army has confirmed damaging 11 airbases of Pakistan, there have been talks about the Indian Navy's role in the counterattack. Now, a Pakistani journalist has exposed the propaganda of Pakistani forces while confirming that Malir Cantt in Karachi was hit and that too by the Indian Navy's INS Vikrant.

The video has since gone viral on social media. In the viral video, the journalist said that Malir Cantt and some other places in Karachi were hit by India.

"Malir Cantt in Karachi was targeted, and a couple of other locations were also hit. The attack was carried out from the sea using the warship INS Vikrant."- Admits a Pakistani Journalist pic.twitter.com/xBooYkKZDM  BALA (@erbmjha) May 13, 2025

Earlier, Vice Admiral Pramod said during a media briefing that the Indian Navy was at an advantage during Operation Sindoor and the presence of the carrier battle group ensured that the adversary did not get any chance to come close. Vice Admiral Pramod said Indian Navy's presence compelled the Pakistani air operations to remain bottled up "denying any opportunity to be a threat in the maritime space".

OPERATION SINDOOR



Immediately after the cowardly Pakistani sponsored #PahalgamTerrorAttack, the Indian Navy validated the anti-missile and anti-aircraft defence capability in a complex threat environment using a cross platform cooperative mechanism.



The operation leveraged pic.twitter.com/ExeYKbnYEa  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 12, 2025

"The Indian Navy maintains credible capability to detect, identify and neutralise any aerial platforms that threaten our units at sea...To sum up, the Indian Navy's dominance ensured that, should we choose to, we can strike at will," he said.

Vice Admiral Pramod said that the Indian Navy was at an advantage during Operation Sindoor and the presence of the carrier battle group ensured that the adversary did not get any chance to come close. He said the Indian Navy operates as a composite naval force that can address air, surface, and subsurface threats.
Prose Integrated Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 13: SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Jadcherla Campus, Hyderabad, organised the Convocation Ceremony for the School of Business Management (SBM). The ceremony acted as a tribute towards the achievements of the MBA students, acknowledging their academic milestones while marking their transition into the professional world. The esteemed Chief Guest for this graduation ceremony was Mr Srinivas Reddy Vudumula, Chief Operating Officer at Novulis Consulting, whose speech offered valuable insights into leadership, transformation, and the world of business. The Convocation Ceremony was presided over by the Shri Bharat M Sanghvi, Nominee of the Hon'ble Chancellor and Hon. Vice President & Trustee, SVKM's NMIMS. The graduation ceremony began with the registration of graduating students and the distribution of sashes. Guests and students were seated in the auditorium after which the academic procession formally entered the venue, followed by the lamp lighting, invocation, and NMIMS Anthem. Shri. Bharat M Sanghvi officially declared the Convocation 2025 of the School of Business Management open. Following this, he felicitated the Chief Guest with a token of appreciation. The welcome addresses were delivered by Dr Meena Chintamaneni, Hon'ble Pro Vice-Chancellor, and Dr Ashwini Deshpande, Director In-charge, Hyderabad Campus. Dr Meena Chintamaneni took to stage and addressed the graduates with an inspiring and thought provoking message. She said, "The world that awaits you is filled with both challenges and opportunities. You know that it is a complex and competitive world out there. Be confident that with the knowledge, values, and critical thinking skills you have developed here, at NMIMS, you will empower and you will lead with purpose and integrity." Dr Ashwini Deshpande highlighted the evolving educational initiatives at NMIMS, "Our students completed rigorous 99 credit programs along with immersion programs and workshops. This year, 40 electives were offered and we aim to increase that to 47 electives in the coming year. Our weekend program, a unique social internship initiative saw a new shift this year - students worked in a local govt education project or joined corporate CSR projects. Our students have been actively engaged outside the classroom in what we popularly call the OCAC (Outside Class Academic Collaboration), one of the best practices at NNIMS." The speeches were followed by the presentation of degrees to the graduating students by Dr Srividya Raghavan, Associate Dean, after which the Pro Vice-Chancellor administered the oath taking ceremony. Shri Bharat M Sanghvi then formally conferred the degrees, following which the students stood up in unison and bowed to accept the degree and affirmed their commitment with the traditional 'aye'. Another highlight of the event was the Sustainability Oath and the presentation of the Dean's List by Dr Srividya Raghavan. Dr Ashwini Deshpande, Director I/C NMIMS, Hyderabad, took to the stage to announce student awards, faculty awards, and staff awards, highlighting academic excellence and acknowledging community contribution. In his convocation address, Mr Srinivas Reddy Vudumula focuses on the importance of leadership and long-term vision while sharing anecdotes of his experience in the corporate world. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Srividya Raghavan, followed by the declaration of convocation closure by Shri Bharat M Sanghvi. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by Prose Integrated. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, as persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today," read a short statement issued by the MEA.

Earlier in the day, the Punjab Police announced that, in a significant breakthrough, the Malerkotla Police had apprehended two individuals for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

"Acting on credible intelligence, one suspect was arrested for leaking sensitive information regarding Indian Army movements to a Pakistan-based handler. Based on disclosures made during interrogation, a second conduit was also identified and taken into custody," read a statement issued by the Director General of Punjab Police, Gaurav Yadav.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that the accused had been receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for classified information. They were in frequent contact with the handler and were involved in channeling funds to other local operatives as per his instructions. Two mobile phones have been recovered, and an FIR has been registered," it added.

The operation by Punjab Police marked a significant step in dismantling cross-border espionage networks.

"Further investigation will be undertaken as per established protocol, with a focus on tracing the financial trail and identifying additional operatives and linkages within the network," the Punjab DGP stated.

Last month, immediately after the heinous Pahalgam attack which resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had announced several measures to punish Pakistan, including declaring the Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as Persona Non Grata. They were given a week to leave India as New Delhi also withdrew its own Defence/Navy/Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Five support staff of the Service Advisors were also withdrawn from both High Commissions.

India then launched 'Operation Sindoor', targeting at least nine terrorist base camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), to avenge the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

On Monday, for the first time since the understanding of the ceasefire, Indian and Pakistani military operations chiefs spoke to each other on a hotline to discuss ways to restore calm on the border.

According to official information, Pakistan affirmed that it will not take this conflict forward and also indicated its willingness not to violate the ceasefire.

The talks between Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) revolved around stopping military actions and firing on the lines of understanding reached after Indias anti-terror Operation Sindoor was halted at Pakistans request on May 10.

The DGMOs' hotline discussion also featured measures for observing restraint and respecting the consensus to stop firing and review the current situation.
Amritsar (Punjab): In a replay of Punjabs past liquor tragedies, 15 people have died and nearly a dozen others remain critically ill after consuming spurious liquor in several villages under the Majitha block of Amritsar district, officials confirmed on May 13. The toll is expected to rise, as several of the victims are battling for their lives at Amritsar Civil Hospital.

Mostly from Bhangali Kalan, Thariewal, Sangha, Marari Kalan and Patalpuri villages, the victims had allegedly consumed the illicit liquor on May 11 evening, authorities said. Some of them died by May 12 morning. According to the police, locals cremated the deceased without informing law enforcement.

We have learnt that all bought the liquor from a single source on Sunday evening. Some of them died on Monday morning, and locals cremated them without informing the police. Some people hid the fact and said the victims died of heart attack. We received information about the deaths late on Monday, said Majitha SHO Aabtaab Singh.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney, who visited the civil hospital, confirmed the death toll and highlighted the urgency of the situation.

An unfortunate tragedy has happened in Majitha. We got to know yesterday night, we received reports from five villages that those who consumed liquor yesterday are in critical condition. We rushed our medical teams. Our medical teams are still going door-to-door. Whether people have some symptoms or not, we are taking them to hospital so that we can save them. Fourteen people have died so far. The government is extending all the help possible. We are ensuring that this death toll does not increase...we have arrested the suppliers and further investigation is underway, she said.

Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh provided additional details. "We received information around 9:30 pm last night that here people have started dying after consuming spurious liquor. We took action immediately and rounded up four people. We also arrested the main supplier, Parabjeet Singh. Upon his interrogation, we came to know about the kingpin supplier, Sahab Singh. We have rounded up him as well," he said.

He said investigations are underway to ascertain the facts. "We have been given instructions from the Punjab government that strict action must be taken against suppliers of spurious liquor," Singh said.

He said raids are underway...manufacturers will be rounded up soon. Two FIRs have been registered under stringent sessions.... "Civil administration and we are going door to door to find out more people who have consumed this to avoid further casualties and save people. Fourteen deaths have been confirmed and six people are presently hospitalised. This incident took place in five villages," he added.

The Punjab government confirmed the registration of two FIRs in connection with the tragedy and announced the arrest of six individuals so far.

Two FIRs have been registered and main suppliers  Prabhjit Singh and Sahib Singh  have been arrested from Rajasansi. Four other accused, who bought liquor from the suppliers and distributed to the villages, have also been arrested, a government spokesperson stated.

Investigations have expanded beyond Punjab as teams look into the source of the illicit liquor and identify external firms involved in the supply chain.

Investigating teams have also begun probing other states to apprehend firms supplying the illicit liquor, the spokesperson added.

This incident has brought back grim memories of the 2020 hooch tragedy, in which nearly 130 people died and over a dozen lost their eyesight across the Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. The Majha region, once again, finds itself at the center of a tragic and preventable crisis.

Despite past incidents and subsequent crackdowns, the tragedy highlights persistent gaps in the monitoring and regulation of illicit liquor in the state.

Authorities are now racing against time  going door to door, identifying those who may have consumed the toxic brew and intensifying efforts to prevent the toll from climbing further.

The entire Majitha assembly constituency has been put on alert as the state administration and police scramble to contain the fallout of what may become yet another major hooch disaster in Punjabs troubled history.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level security huddle on Tuesday in the national capital with Indias top defence leadership. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane attended the meeting.

Held barely 24 hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's blistering national address, the meeting marked a critical moment in ongoing counter-terror framework. India is no longer just responding, it is scripting a doctrine of relentless retaliation.

Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that operational updates on Operation Sindoor were central to the agenda. Indias latest tri-services campaign, launched on May 7, has already dismantled multiple terror infrastructure hubs deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, following the Pahalgam massacre on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead.

Singhs emergency meeting was about the road ahead: ensuring Indias deterrence remains sharp, its intelligence tight and its response swift.

India has shifted from reactive to preemptive. In this new paradigm, the military is not just defending borders; it is redrawing them strategically through dominance and deterrence. The Defence Ministers war-room-style oversight is part of this transition, ensuring all branches of the armed forces remain seamlessly aligned for future contingencies.

Modi had set the tone in his speech on Monday evening: Every terror group now knows the cost of wiping sindoor (vermillion) from the foreheads of our daughters. That line was not rhetoric but a doctrine.

Characterised by precision strikes across air, land and sea, Operation Sindoor saw India hit 11 strategic Pakistani air bases and neutralise over 100 terrorists. But what set this operation apart was its calibrated restraint  massive military disruption with minimal collateral damage.

PM Modis speech also underscored this recalibration. He framed the Pahalgam attack not merely as a terror strike, but an assault on the soul of India  an attempt to fracture its unity by targeting innocents based on their religion. The world saw it. The country felt it. And India responded, Modi said.
Three terrorists who belong to the banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed by security personnel in an encounter on Tuesday in the Shukroo forest area of Keller in the Shopian district of South Kashmir. The operation was launched jointly by Jammu & Kashmir Police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of terrorists in the forest area.

"As the forces began a cordon and search operation in the area, the hiding terrorists opened fire, prompting retaliatory action," the officer said. "In the ensuing gunfight, three LeT terrorists were neutralised."

OPERATION KELLER



On 13 May 2025, based on specific intelligence of a #RashtriyasRifles Unit, about presence of terrorists in general area Shoekal Keller, #Shopian, #IndianArmy launched a search and destroy Operation. During the operation, terrorists opened heavy fire and fierce pic.twitter.com/KZwIkEGiLF  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 13, 2025

The identities of the dead militants are yet to be officially revealed, and an operation to search the area to eliminate any further militants is under way.

Cordon and search operations have been increased to sanitise the entire area, with the situation being under control.
PM Modi In Adampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the Indian Air Force's Adampur air base in Punjab, debunking Pakistan's claim that they destroyed the airbase and hit the S-400 system positioned there. PM Modi also addressed the air force personnel there and made a veiled attack on Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism. The Prime Minister said that the patrons of terrorism now know the consequences of daring India. PM Modi also hailed the armed forces for successful Operation Sindoor.

"Aatank ke aakao ko samajh aa gaya hai ki Bharat ki ore nazar uthane ka ek hi anjaam hoga- tabaahi aur mahavinaash (the masters of terrorism now know that what will be the consequences of threatening India, it will be destruction)...You attacked them from the front and killed them. You destroyed all the big bases of terrorism. 9 terrorist hideouts were destroyed. More than 100 terrorists died..." said PM Modi.

Praising the Indian armed forces for decimating Pakistani propaganda, PM Modi said that the Indian Air Force has now become an expert in dodging the enemy not just with weapons, but also with data and drones."

"Our objective was to strike the terror headquarters and terrorists inside Pakistan. But the conspiracy Pakistan hatched by placing civilian passenger planes in the line of fire, I can only imagine how difficult that must have been. I am proud that you achieved your objective without harming the civilian aircraft..." said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister further said the IAF today have the capability of new and cutting-edge technology which Pakistan cannot counter. "In the last decade, world's best technologies have reached the Air Force and all our other Forces. But we all know that with new technology, challenges are equally big. Maintaining a complicated and sophisticated system, operating it with efficiency is a prominent skill. You connected tech with tactics. You have proven that you are excellent in this game," he said.

Talking about Operation Sindoor, PM Modi said that the armed forces achieved desired targets in 20-25 minutes only. "Besides manpower, the coordination of machine in Operation Sindoor was also fantastic. Be it India's traditional air defence system which has witnessed several battles or our Made in India platforms like Akash - all of these have been given unprecedented strength modern and capable defence system like S-400. A strong defence cover has become the identity of India. Despite all the attempts of Pakistan, be it our air base or other defence infrastructure - all of these were not impacted at all. The credit goes to all of you. I am proud of all of you," said PM Modi.
Jammu: Zain Ali and Urwa Fatima, 12-year-old twins, like every other day, had returned from their school, finished homework, had dinner and fallen asleep. But sometime around 1:15 a.m., their world began to unravel.

They called their uncle in Jammu and said, Maamu, can you come pick us up? There is a lot of blasts going off here. They were scared, said their aunt Maria Khan. She choked on her words as she spoke because that call would be the last time their voices were heard.

A few hours later, around 6:30 a.m., their uncle reached the childrens house in Poonch to evacuate them. The family had already packed. Urusa (their mother) held Urwas hand, while Rameez (their father) held Zains. They had to walk a few meters down the lane to the car. But as they stepped out of the house  directly opposite Christ School where the twins studied in Class 5  hell opened up.

A bomb exploded right behind their house. Urwa died on the spot. Her body was torn apart by shrapnel. Urusa could not find Zain in the chaos. He had been hurled several houses away, his stomach torn open and intestines exposed. A stranger tried to press on his chest to keep him alive. But it was too late.

She left five minutes before him. Urwa was born five minutes before Zain and died five minutes earlier, Maria whispered.

Their father, Rameez Khan, lay unconscious and bleeding for over 30 minutes before being rushed to the hospital. Splinters had pierced his liver and rib cage. The family transported him from Poonch to Rajouri, then to Jammu. As he now lies recovering in a hospital bed, he still believes his children are at their grandparents house. One of these days, he would want to talk to them. Whom will we call? What will we say? said Maria.

What the Khan family did not know when they woke to the sound of shelling was that India had just launched Operation Sindoor  a retaliatory air strike deep inside the Pakistans territory following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan responded swiftly with heavy shelling near the Line of Control (LoC).

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed in a press briefing, During heavy shelling along the LoC, a shell fell behind Christ School in Poonch and exploded near the home of two school-going children. Unfortunately, both died, and their parents were severely injured.

He went on to describe Pakistans retaliation on May 7 as the deadliest, with 16 civilians killed, including children.

What is left unsaid in official briefings, however, is how civilians like the Khans received no warning.

We were not told anything. There were no sirens. No alerts. Not even a phone call. If the district administration had just told us, we would have left. Maybe our children would still be here, Maria said bitterly.

As Maria and her husband Sohail now alternate between hospital visits and paperwork, they are grappling with more than just grief.

We do not just want compensation. We want safety. Basic safety. Bunkers. Ambulances. A trauma care hospital. What kind of war are we fighting if we cannot protect our children? said Sohail.

At present, bunkers exist in some border villages, but not in towns like Poonch. We support our country, we understand the need to fight terrorism. But we are citizens too. Dont our lives matter? Arent we human? asked Maria.

On May 8, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the grieving family in the hospital and announced a Rs 10 lakh compensation for each person killed. But for Maria, that number means little.

You cannot put a price on children. Even if they give us money, who will explain to my sister how to live without her children? she said.

Urusa, who remains under medical observation, is barely eating or speaking. She is too broken to articulate her pain. She stares into space. Sometimes, she calls out to Urwa. Sometimes to Zain, Maria said.

Rameez, a government school teacher, had moved closer to the childrens school just a year ago. He wanted the best education for them. That dream killed them, said Maria.

The final rites were performed the same day. The twins were buried together. Maria did not stop replaying those final moments. It is not just the explosion. It is the silence that came after. The questions. The waiting. The lies we now tell Rameez.

As she looks around the hospital, at the other injured families, Maria shudders at the new reality. Even if one of them had survived even just one

We lost two children within minutes of each other. The world moved on. But for us, time stopped at 6:30 a.m., she added.

In Poonch, there are no sirens. Only echoes. And the haunting memory of two pairs of shoes left by the door  never to be worn again.
New Delhi: The decision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to approve yet another bailout  this time a $1.1 billion tranche  for Pakistan has ignited a firestorm of criticism and laid bare the Wests blatant double standards. A nation accused of nurturing terrorism has once again been rewarded, while Indias protests are brushed aside. The bailout is not just financial, it is a moral failure.

Lokesh Ahuja, an IIM Mumbai alumnus, has drawn sharp attention to the issue with a hard-hitting LinkedIn post, which has since gone viral. He contrasts the Wests punishing response to Russias invasion of Ukraine with its lenient treatment of Pakistan. Russia faced 10,000+ sanctions. Pakistan gets $1.1B from the IMF. Same playbook. Different treatment, he wrote.

When Russia attacked Ukraine, the West moved swiftly  $300 billion in reserves frozen, SWIFT access cut and global brands pulled out within days. But when Pakistan funnels funds to terror groups across South Asia, it gets international aid. If the war is near Berlin, it is urgent. If it is near Delhi, it is negotiable, Ahuja said, emphasising the indifference shown towards Indias security concerns.

He also points to the IMFs internal structure, which remains heavily tilted towards the old guard. The United States dominates the fund with nearly 17% voting power  enough to wield veto authority.

France, Germany, the United Kingdom and China also sit at the top. Despite being the worlds most populous nation and a rapidly growing economy, India holds a mere 2.7% share.

Voting rights at the IMF are tied to a quota system based on economic size and contributions, not population or global influence. This system ensures that legacy powers maintain control, while emerging economies like India struggle for representation. Reforms need 85% approval, making significant change practically impossible without U.S. consent.

IMF decisions are not just about economics. They reflect proximity, power and priorities, he wrote.

India has raised strong objections, warning that the funds may be misused by Pakistan to fuel cross-border terrorism. But the same international systems, which claim to defend democracy and stability, continue to insulate Islamabad from consequences.

Pakistans long track record of diverting foreign aid to its military and terror proxies is no secret. But geopolitical convenience trumps accountability. Obsessed with preserving outdated alliances, Western nations continue to bail out a nation that threatens regional peace.

Meanwhile, India  which confronts the fallout of Pakistans proxy war, remains unheard and sidelined. Ahujas post captures a growing sentiment across the Indian people and strategic community that global governance is not broken, it is rigged.

Until the world sees a terror strike in Delhi with the same urgency it saw missiles in Kyiv, the hypocrisy will persist. The IMFs latest bailout is not just a payout to Pakistan, it is a slap in the face to every nation battling terror alone.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians lost their lives. Addressing the nation on the eve of 12th May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that OPERATION SINDOOR is not just a name but is a reflection of the feelings of millions of people in the country and an unbroken pledge of justice. He said, We remain committed to taking strong steps to safeguard India and its people. On the battlefield, we have always defeated Pakistan, and this time. Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension. As Operation Sindoor is now on hold due to an understanding between India and Pakistan following a military-level escalation, here's what India achieved with the strategic operation:

Nine Terror Camps Eliminated: India successfully destroyed nine major terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen facilities. Over 100 terrorists were killed in action.

Cross-Border Precision Strikes: India redefined the rules of engagement, striking deep into Pakistans heartland, including Punjab province and Bahawalpur, once considered out of bounds even for U.S. drones. India made it clear: neither the LoC nor Pakistani territory will remain untouched if terror originates from there.

A New Strategic Red Line: Operation SINDOOR drew a new red line- if terror is state policy, it will be met with a visible and forceful response. This marked a shift from deterrence to direct action.

Equal Punishment for Terrorists and Their Sponsors: India rejected the artificial separation between terrorists and their backers, striking both simultaneously. This ended the impunity enjoyed by many Pakistan-based actors.

Exposure of Pakistans Air Defence Weaknesses: Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistans Chinese-supplied air defence systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes using Rafale jets, SCALP missiles, and HAMMER bombs, demonstrating Indias technological edge.

Indias Air Defence Superiority Displayed: Indias multi-layered air defence, including the indigenous Akashteer system, shot down hundreds of drones and missiles. This also showcased Indias growing capabilities in exporting advanced defence systems.

Precision Without Escalation: India avoided civilian or non-terror military targets, showcasing its zero-tolerance for terror while containing the situation from escalating into full-scale war.

Elimination of Key Terror Commanders: Multiple high-profile terrorists on Indias most wanted list were neutralized in a single night, crippling key operational modules. High-value targets eliminated include Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, Mudassir Ahmad. These individuals were linked to the IC-814 hijack and the Pulwama blast.

Airstrikes on Pakistani Military Installations: On May 910, India became the first country to strike 11 airbases of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation, destroying 20% of Pakistans air force assets. High casualties were inflicted at Bhoolari Airbase, including the death of Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf and the destruction of key fighter jets.

Coordinated Tri-Service Action: The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force worked in full coordination, demonstrating Indias growing joint military prowess.

A Global Message Delivered: India showed the world that it does not require anyones permission to defend its people. It reinforced the idea that terrorists and their masterminds cant hide anywhere, and if Pakistan retaliates, India is prepared for a decisive counterstrike.

Widespread Global Support: Unlike in previous conflicts, this time, multiple global leaders backed India, rather than calling for restraint. The shift showed Indias improved global standing and narrative control.

Kashmir Narrative Reframed: For the first time, Indias actions were seen purely through the lens of counter-terrorism, with the Kashmir issue completely decoupled from the strike narrative. This was made possible by the precision and clarity of Operation SINDOOR.
PM Modi At Adampur Air Base: A picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Adampur Air Base has turned heads in Pakistan as it debunked the neighboring nation's claims that it destroyed India's S-400 Missile Defence System with its JF-17 Fighters.

Earlier, addressing a press briefing, Colonel Sophia Qureshi had also rejected Pakistan's fake claims of damage made to India's S-400 and Brahmos Missile Base with JF-17. PM Modi visited the Adampur Air Base on Monday came a day after he addressed the nation for the first time since Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces.

In the picture, PM Modi can be seen saluting with the S-400 Missile Defence System in the background, fully intact with no damage.

Sharing some more glimpses from my visit to AFS Adampur. pic.twitter.com/G9NmoAZvTR  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2025

Also Read: 'Best In This Game': In Adampur, PM Modi Hails Air Force, Says 'Operation Sindoor' Not A Normal Military Op

In his speech at Adampur Air Base, PM Modi hailed the Indian Armed Forces and lauded them for their bravery. He added that there is only one answer to "raising eyes towards India - destruction"

"Bharat ke taraf nazar uthane ke liye ek hi anjam hai--tabahi," PM Modi said.

PM Modi's Address To Nation

On Monday, PM Modi in his address said that 'Operation Sindoor' is not just a name, but a reflection of the sentiments of crores of people of India, and an unwavering promise of justice.

Also Read: PM Modi On Operation Sindoor: From Pakistan's Desperation To PoK Warning - Key Highlights

The Prime Minister added that after Pakistan suffered heavy losses, its army contacted the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India.

After the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, the Indian Armed Forces had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Andhra Pradesh health minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader V. Rajini on Monday refuted allegations that the party's liquor policy during its 20192024 tenure contributed to a surge in liver and kidney diseases. She dismissed the claims as politically driven misinformation aimed at discrediting former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddys administration.

Rajini's remarks come in the wake of a report by a three-member expert panel, constituted by the current Chandrababu Naidu-led government, which cited a 100 per cent rise in alcohol-related liver disease cases during the YSRCP regime, based on data from the states flagship Arogyasri health scheme.

Terming the findings misleading, Rajini accused the ruling NDA coalition of manipulating health data for political mileage. The coalition is twisting facts and misusing data to spread deliberate lies, she said in a statement. Our government worked to regulate alcohol use, promote safer practices, and strengthen public health, unlike the previous TDP regime, which allowed unchecked liquor proliferation.

Former Health Minister Vidadala Rajini condemned the coalitions false propaganda against YSRCPs liquor policy, calling it a desperate attempt to divert attention from their failures. She said linking health issues to YSRCPs liquor policy is baseless and aimed at tarnishing the  YSR Congress Party (@YSRCParty) May 12, 2025

Rajini claimed that during the YSRCPs governance, liquor sales actually declined  from four crore to three crore cases between 201819 and 202324  and beer sales dropped significantly from three crore to one crore cases. She also asserted that no deaths due to illicit liquor were recorded during their rule, with quality certification from a Chennai-based lab and approval from the Competition Commission of India.

The former health minister further alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had introduced over 200 new liquor brands, flooding the market with lesser-known options, while the YSRCP government maintained the existing brands.

She said the YSRCP took concrete steps to curb alcohol consumption by regulating store hours, controlling the number of retail outlets, and shutting down over 43,000 alleged illegal belt shops. Rajini emphasized that rising health issues were more closely linked to broader lifestyle changes than to liquor policy alone.

Highlighting healthcare achievements under the YSRCP government, she said the number of diseases covered under the Arogyasri scheme rose from 1,059 to 3,254. The ambulance fleet also expanded significantly, with 108 and 104 services increasing from 622 to 2,204 vehicles, vastly improving emergency medical access.

Rajini concluded by pointing to recruitment drives that brought in over 53,000 healthcare workers to fill staff shortages in government hospitals. She noted that Andhra Pradesh under YSRCP reduced the national average shortage of specialist doctors from 61% to 4%, and brought nurse and lab technician shortages to zero.
HT Syndication Gurugram (Haryana) [India], May 13: Policybazaar, one of India's largest online insurance platforms, has launched through its insurance partners a comprehensive suite of initiatives tailored to the needs of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and their families residing in India. With a sharp focus on offering significant financial advantages and dependable elder care solutions, these initiatives aim to address two of the most pressing concerns for NRIs: affordability and peace of mind. Why NRIs are turning to Indian Health Insurance An increasing number of NRIs are opting for health insurance in India, not just for their families but also for themselves. Data shows that 30% of NRI customers purchase health plans as a backup for their own healthcare during frequent visits or in preparation for returning to India, while 70% seek to cover loved ones such as parents, spouses, and children living in India. India also offers an attractive value proposition. Health insurance premiums are at least 35% lower than in countries like the USA, Canada, Gulf nations, or Europe. Additionally, medical procedures, medicines, and consultations in India cost 70% to 90% less than in most Western countries, making high-quality care accessible at a fraction of the cost. This affordability, combined with India's growing reputation in medical tourism, has fueled the segment's growth, with the NRI health insurance market witnessing 70% growth in FY 2022-23, 140% in FY 2023-24, and an estimated 130% in FY 2024-25. Currently, 50% of Policybazaar's NRI customers are from the Gulf region, followed by 23% from Europe, 13% from North America, and the rest spread across Asia and other regions. Exclusive Financial Benefits for NRIs To further ease the financial burden, Policybazaar, in collaboration with leading insurance partners, is offering NRI-specific benefits such as: * Up to 40% Discounts on Premiums: Available to NRIs who maintain a no-claim status upon submission of valid documentation like a passport and proof of international residence. * 18% GST Refund: Applicable for annual premiums paid via NRE accounts, subject to necessary KYC, address, and banking documentation. * Multi-Year and Annual Policy Savings: Discounts of up to 15% reward long-term policy commitments. * Lower Overall Premiums: Indian health plans sold via Policybazaar are, on average, 35% more cost-effective than similar offerings in the GCC, USA, Canada, and UK, helping NRIs insure their families without compromising on quality. NRI Care Program, A Trusted Lifeline for Elderly Parents For NRIs deeply concerned about the health and well-being of ageing parents back home, Policybazaar has introduced the NRI Care Program in partnership with top insurers. This service is designed to provide personalised and dependable support, including: - 24/7 Emergency Helpline and Claims Assistance: A rapid-response setup ensures timely support in urgent situations. - Hospitalisation Coordination: Concierge-like services to manage hospital admissions, documentation, and discharge. - Doctor-on-Call and OPD Coverage: Timely medical guidance, minor treatments, and follow-ups without needing hospitalisation. - Wellness & Emotional Support: Tools and resources to maintain seniors' mental and emotional well-being, addressing isolation and inactivity. - Fast-Track Claims Processing: On-ground assistance is provided within 30 minutes during emergencies, offering NRIs peace of mind that their loved ones are never left unsupported. "Our endeavour is to ease the dual burden NRIs often face, managing their lives abroad while ensuring their families in India are financially protected and well cared for," said Sarbvir Singh, Joint Group CEO, PB Fintech. "With these offerings, we are combining intelligent financial solutions with deeply empathetic caregiving support. It's about giving NRIs the assurance that their loved ones are protected with the same care and efficiency they would expect anywhere in the world." About Policybazaar: As India's one of the largest insurance brokers, Policybazaar is committed to making insurance accessible, transparent, and personalised for every Indian and global customer. Since 2008, Policybazaar has empowered over 80.5 million registered users, issued 49.3 million policies, and helped protect 9 million families against death, disease, and disability. With a dominant market share of over 93% in India's digital insurance aggregator space and over Rs 15,000 crore in annual premium collection (FY24), Policybazaar works with 50+ insurance partners offering products across health, life, motor, and corporate insurance. The company supports customers with 24/7 digital assistance and an on-ground team of 6,000+ insurance advisors, ensuring a seamless experience across all touchpoints. For more information, visit www.policybazaar.com. All discounts are provided by insurers as per IRDAI approved insurance plans. T&C Apply. For media queries, please contact: Avneet Kaur Chadha PR and Corporate Communications, Policybazaar.com avneetsethi@policybazaar.com (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)
In a major success for security forces, Lashkar-e-Taiba operational chief Shahid Kuttay was killed along with two other terrorists in a gunfight in the Shukroo forest area of Keller in South Kashmirs Shopian district. Top police officials said that the operational chief commander of LeT, Shahid Kuttay, was killed along with two others in the gunfight. The identity of the two have been identified, and the identity of one is yet to be confirmed.

Shahid, a resident of Chotipora Heerpora, Shopian, was one of the most wanted terrorists. He joined terror ranks on March 8, 2023, and was involved in many terror-related cases.

Shahid Kuttay, s/o Mohd Yousuf Kuttay, r/o Chotipora Heerpora, Shopian, joined the terror ranks on March 8, 2023. He was a Category A terrorist. He was involved in the firing incident at Danish Resort on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists and one driver were injured. He was involved in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch at Heerpora, Shopian, on May 18, 2024. He is suspected to be involved in the killing of a TA personnel at Behibagh, Kulgam, on February 3, 2025, sources said.

The second terrorist has been identified as Adnan Shafi Dar, s/o Mohd Shafi Dar, r/o Wanduna Melhora, Shopian. He joined on October 18, 2024. He was with LeT and categorized as a Category C terrorist. He was involved in the killing of a non-local laborer at Wachi, Shopian, on October 18, 2024.

The identity of the third terrorist is being ascertained, officials said.

Earlier, a gunfight broke out between security forces and terrorists in the forest area after a specific input was received about the presence of terrorists in the Shukroo forests of Keller village in Shopian district.

In another development, the investigating agencies of the Pahalgam attack published a poster of three involved terrorists and announced a reward of ?20 lakh for anyone who provides information about them. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential. The posters were pasted at many places in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Anantnag districts. The three terrorists on the poster are identified as Mussa, Ali Bhai, and local Adil Thokar.

After hitting nine terror camps in PoK and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, operations have now intensified against active terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir and their supporters.

The SIA conducted raids the day before yesterday at 20 locations in the houses of OGWs in South Kashmir, stating that they were involved in sharing strategic information about security forces' movements and installations.

Prime Minister Modi yesterday gave a clear message to Pakistan and terrorists that Operation Sindoor is not closed, it's just kept in abeyance. If Pakistan's behavior doesn't change, the operation will be resumed. He also said terror and talks, terror and trade, and water and blood can't go together. "If they fire a bullet, we will answer with a shell," he said.
New Delhi: Actor Arjun Kapoor recently celebrated 13 years in Bollywood since his debut in Ishaqzaade. To mark the milestone, he penned a heartfelt letter to his 26-year-old self, reflecting on his love for cinema and the journey that brought him to where he is today.

The post quickly caught the attention of several celebrities from the film industry, who joined in to show their support and appreciation. Among them was Gunday co-star Ranveer Singh, who commented enthusiastically, PARMEEEEEEEE.

Fighter director Siddharth Anand also chimed in, calling the post Inspiring, while filmmaker Tahira Kashyap expressed her support in a simple but heartfelt manner.

Arjuns sister, Anshula Kapoor, shared her admiration too, writing, Best boy, best man.

For those who missed it, Arjuns post read: Dear 26-year-old Arjun, You did it. You are standing at the edge of a dream that once felt impossible. I know how many nights you have stayed up, watching films, believing somehow that cinema would be your escape, your purpose. You also worked hard to transformnot just your body, but your mind, your spirit. The hours, the discipline, the setbacks they were all worth it. Stay humble. Stay hungry. And never forgetthis journey began with a bullied kid who simply loved movies too much to give up.

With love and pride,

Arjun 2.0

Arjun Kapoor made his entry into bollywood with the movie Ishaqzaade alongside actress Parineeti Chopra.
Mumbai: After representing her film "Laapataa Ladies" as India's official entry at the 97th Academy Awards, the breakout star Nitanshi Goel is all set to make her debut at the prestigious Cannes 2025.

Nitanshi is the youngest actor to debut at Cannes and grace the red carpet for the global beauty brand, L'Oreal Paris, the official beauty partner of Cannes for the 28th year this time.

Sharing her excitement about her Cannes debut, Nitanshi said, "I came into this industry with aspirations of making things happen for me. From the incredible journey of 'Laapataa Ladies' to now standing on the global stage at Cannes, I am getting closer to realizing them. I am that girl who is representing every Indian girl out there who dreams big and is ready to go and achieve them, come what may. Being able to represent those girls at a global stage is a moment of sheer happiness. By me being on the carpet, I wish to empower each female out there who is taking charge of their life, dreams, and career. It's an absolute honor."

This platform is expected to draw a constellation of Indian stars this year as well, right from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, and Ishaan Khattar, who are expected to walk the red carpet. Their presence alongside Nitanshi underscores the diverse and vibrant landscape of Indian cinema that is increasingly making its mark on the world stage.

Nitanshi gained widespread recognition with her debut movie "Laapataa Ladies," co-starring Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam.

Made under the direction of Kiran Rao, "Laapataa Ladies" shares the tale of two young newlywed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husbands' homes.

"Laapataa Ladies" was Indias official entry to the Oscars 2025. Though it did not make it to the final shortlist, the movie received a lot of critical acclaim.
Hyderabad : As part of the Miss World 2024 events being hosted in Hyderabad, 109 contestants representing countries from across the globe will participate in a special Heritage Walk at the world-renowned Charminar on Tuesday.



As per the press note by I&PR Telangana, the Miss World contestants will arrive in four special buses and will be welcomed at Charminar with the traditional and vibrant Marfa music, popular in the Old City of Hyderabad.



A special photo shoot has been arranged at Charminar to capture the iconic monument alongside the international contestants.



Following the photo session, the contestants will visit the nearby Laad Bazaar (Chudi Bazaar) for a curated shopping experience. They will explore nine selected stores renowned for their traditional bangles, pearls, and ornamental items, including Hyderabad Bangles, Mujeeb Bangles, Kanhaiyalal, Motilal Karwa, Gokuldas Zariwala, K.R. Kasat, Jaju Pearls, A.H. Zariwala, and Afzal Miya Karchobwale.



The contestants will also witness live demonstrations of bangle-making techniques, offering them a glimpse into the city's unique artisanal traditions.



Later, the delegation will be hosted at the historic Chowmahalla Palace for a specially arranged cultural evening. A mehendi ceremony will be conducted, and the contestants will be given the opportunity to wear traditional Nizami attire, stated the press note by Telangana I&PR.



As part of the cultural showcase, specially curated films highlighting the diverse tourist destinations and cultural richness of Telangana will be screened.



The contestants will also visit the palace's Nizam-era exhibits, including ancient weapons, royal household items, and traditional artifacts, which will provide them with an immersive experience of Hyderabad's royal heritage and Old City traditions.



Officials from various departments have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the success and grandeur of this prestigious international event.



Meanwhile, the contestants of the 72nd Miss World Festival from the Asian and Oceanic regions marked Buddha Purnima with a cultural and spiritual visit to Buddhavanam, a renowned Buddhist heritage site at Nagarjunasagar in Telangana's Nalgonda district on Monday.



The heritage tour, a significant part of the festival's itinerary, aims to highlight Telangana's rich history and diverse cultural heritage to offer the contestants the region's profound spiritual and historical legacy.



The day's itinerary included a brief stopover at a guest house near Chintapalli, followed by a picturesque photo session at Vijay Vihar, set against the serene backdrop of the Nagarjunasagar reservoir.
New Delhi  Actor Rahul Bhat, best known for his intense performances in Black Warrant and Anurag Kashyaps Ugly, is set to make his third appearance at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This time, he arrives with a new milestonehis Hollywood debut in the English-language dramedy Lost & Found in Kumbh, which will be showcased at the Cannes Film Market.

Bhats previous Cannes outings include Ugly (Directors Fortnight, 2013) and Kennedy (Midnight Screening, 2023). With Lost & Found in Kumbh, he makes a dramatic genre and linguistic shift, stepping away from dark, brooding characters to embrace a lighthearted, family-centered story.

Directed by debutant Mayur Puri and produced by Los Angeles-based Mulberry Films, Lost & Found in Kumbh tells the story of Maddy, a London-based philosophy professor who travels to Indias Kumbh Mela with his British wife and son. The trip takes an unexpected turn when he discovers his Indian ex-wife and their son staying at his ancestral homejust as his father mysteriously disappears. As the family searches for him, the two half-brothers go missing in the vast and chaotic crowds of the sacred festival.

The film was shot during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagrajan event that occurs once every 144 years and draws more than 500 million pilgrimsoffering an authentic and visually rich backdrop to the emotional narrative.

Reflecting on the project, Bhat said,For a change, someone offered me a dramedy. Ive mostly played dark, intense characters, so this was refreshingsomething light, something in English. We filmed toward the end of the Kumbh, and it was still overwhelming: scorching heat, huge crowds. But it was also magical. This one isnt meant to be taken too seriouslyits a fun, engaging film, almost like a childrens story in parts. As actors, we often forget where we are, lost in our scenes, but this was the real Kumbh. You could feel it. After years of critical acclaim, Im finally hearing the word hit, and thats incredibly rewarding.

This Cannes visit comes on the heels of Black Warrant's runaway success on Netflix, where Bhat's portrayal of a tough prison officer with a hidden emotional core helped the series become one of the platforms most-watched global titles in 2025.

Bhat will take on the role of controversial Indian politician Sanjay Gandhi in Summer of 77, directed by Sudhir Mishra and slated for release on SonyLIV.
New Delhi: Just days after grabbing headlines for a controversial post, Ranveer Allahbadia is back in the spotlight following his appearance on the Piers Morgan show. The YouTuber, also known as 'BeerBiceps', joined a panel discussing India-Pakistan relations alongside Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar, and Shehzad Ghias Shaikh from The Pakistan Experience.

During the discussion, Allahbadia was seen holding a photo of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and terrorist Hafiz Abdul Rauf, using it to illustrate his stance.

He described Indias retaliatory actions as precision-oriented, moderated, and a retaliation, adding that India has never been an aggressor in any of these situations.

We export vaccines, philosophy, engineers, and leaders to the world  which is why our economy is eleven times that of Pakistans, Allahbadia stated.

He also questioned the host, saying, Piers, my question is to you. You've seen the objective facts and figures. What do you feel about this situation?

The world only knows this person (Osama bin Laden) India has a list of people like him, he added.

"THIS is the narrative the world should know."



Ranveer Allahbadia holds up a picture of Osama Bin Laden during Piers Morgan's debate on the ceasefire with Pakistan.



Watch in full



https://t.co/Qdt5aeDU8q@piersmorgan | @BeerBicepsGuy | @BDUTT pic.twitter.com/9l0XVWZkHy  Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) May 12, 2025

Deleted Post Controversy

Allahbadia was questioned about a now-deleted social media post in which he addressed "Pakistani brothers and sisters."

The post read: Dear Pakistani Brothers & Sisters, I will get hate from many Indians for this, but it is important to be said. Just like many Indians, I don't have hate in my heart for you. Many of us want peace as well. Whenever we meet Pakistanis, you invariably welcome us with love. But

Responding to the question, Ranveer explained that he deleted the post because Pakistan had broken the ceasefire shortly after a peace agreement.

I deleted it because Pakistan had just broken the ceasefire and gave us another reason to not trust the entire state once again. Even if you try to have a conversation with Pakistan, it responds with Wheres the proof of the Pahalgam attack? he said.

How Did the Internet React?

Online reactions were mixed. While some praised Ranveer for articulating his viewpoint, others questioned his credibility and motives.

One user wrote critically, Paid program to repair all the damage he did.

Another said, Piers, sorry bro you got the clown for the interview.

A third comment read, Who invited him to that show? What are his credentials for speaking on geopolitical issues? How much was paid for that seat at the table?

A fourth person joked, Since when did Ranveer start representing India? Just kidding.

A fifth commenter said: He deleted his tweet not because of the ceasefire but because of the backlash. Hes always been friendly to Pakistanis but still got bashed by both sides.

However, others came to his defense, appreciating his preparedness and articulate delivery during the panel.
Why Hungarys Orban Spies on Ukraine

  DALLE   ZN.UA Author Volodymyr Kravchenko Columnist of the International Politics Department at ZN.UA

While NATO focuses on deterring aggressive moves from Russia, one of its member states, Hungary, is reportedly conducting intelligence operations targeting Ukraine, a nation battling for its sovereignty and independence against a full-scale Russian invasion.

Ukraines Security Service (SBU) spokesperson Artem Dekhtiarenko said that counterintelligence operatives detained two former Ukrainian military servicemen accused of acting as assets for Hungarian intelligence. Their primary mission allegedly was to gather intelligence on the military preparedness of the westernmost region, Zakarpattia Oblast, specifically the disposition of air defense systems, troop deployments, and local attitudes towards potential foreign military deployments, including Hungarian units. They also acquired information related to the broader frontline situation.

A Test Of Fear And More. Who Is Going To Putin On May 9 And Why  

Both suspects have been charged with high treason committed under martial law. On May 9, the district court in Kyiv remanded them in custody for 60 days without the option of bail. If convicted, they face life imprisonment and asset confiscation.

Allegations that NATO member Hungary is actively conducting intelligence operations against Ukraine, a country under full-scale Russian invasion, have escalated into a significant diplomatic rupture, revealing not only Budapest's distinct intelligence priorities but also Viktor Orban's strategy of leveraging the conflict for domestic gain, concessions from the EU, and continued ties with Russia, thereby complicating Ukraine's war effort and its path to European integration.

Hungarian intelligence services have long infiltrated Ukraines Zakarpattia Oblast, home to a significant Hungarian minority. According to the 2001 census, over 150,000 ethnic Hungarians resided in the region, approximately 12% of the local populace. Budapest has sought to expand the rights of this minority, using it as a strategic lever to maintain influence over the region.

Hungary was the only NATO member to redeploy military units to its border with Ukraine just days before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Andras Racz, a former analyst at Hungarys Center for Strategic and Defense Studies, said that these deployments were not intended to be offensive. Instead, he claimed that the Hungarian government was not contemplating the occupation of Ukrainian territory but was preparing for a potential influx of refugees.

According to ZN.UA sources, Hungary has focused on gathering intelligence pertaining to border security and the combat readiness of Ukrainian units stationed in the region. Budapest is reportedly gathering information on the structure and functioning of the local and governmental bodies, regional elite vulnerabilities, security of electricity hubs and power plants in western Ukraine, and the protection of critical infrastructure, including information and communications facilities.

This is not news, Hungary has been spying on Ukraine for some time. Our NATO allies have known about it for years, including from us, Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi said on Facebook.

He noted that, as early as the second half of 2023, two national security officers in EU/NATO countries told him that, while most NATO members were actively exchanging intelligence on Russia, Hungary was notably absent from this collaboration.

Leaks from Hungarian intelligence made it clear to NATO allies that Hungarys civilian and military intelligence priorities diverged significantly from theirs, said Panyi.

Orban Has Done It Again. There Are Four Ways to Stop Him  

While most member states were focused on gathering intelligence on the Russian aggressor and sharing it with partners, the Hungarians were disproportionately surveilling Ukraine, despite it being under attack and partial occupation.

It is exceptionally rare for any government to publicly expose foreign agents or an intelligence network. However, Kyiv likely intended to send a clear warning to Budapest: interference in Ukraines domestic affairs wouldnt be tolerated. In response, Viktor Orbans government appears to have chosen escalation.

Amid the war, this fresh rupture in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations is deepening into yet another spiral of crisis.

How far will the crisis go? So far, the crisis currently remains a diplomatic ping-pong match within strained Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.

After SBU publicly disclosed the arrest of alleged agents working for Hungarian intelligence, Hungarys Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the report as propaganda and retaliated by expelling two diplomats from the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest. Kyiv responded in kind, expelling two Hungarian diplomats.

Soon after, Hungarian security forces forcefully detained former Ukrainian diplomat Serhii Aleksandrov in downtown Budapest, accused him of espionage, and deported him to Ukraine. Ukraines Foreign Ministry described such move as anti-Ukrainian hysteria.

Hungary also postponed bilateral consultations on national minorities that had been scheduled for May 12. Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar stated that the talks were delayed due to Kyivs unfriendly actions.

Its worth recalling that in late April, the Ukrainian government announced an agreement with Budapest to form expert groups to examine Hungarys 11 recommendations. Kyiv expected preliminary results by May 12 and hoped that progress would help unblock Ukraines stalled EU accession negotiations, which Hungary is currently obstructing.

The Window Is Still Open: Will Ukraine Be Able to Improve Relations with Orban?  

Moreover, Hungarian authorities claim that Ukraines announcement about exposing a Hungarian intelligence network on its territory is evidence of coordination between Kyiv and the opposition party Tisza. Budapest claims that the fact that Ukraines statement was quickly amplified by the opposition and escalated into a full-fledged international discreditation campaign points to a concerted effort.

The Orban government's hysterical response to Ukraine exposing its espionage in Zakarpattia Oblast stems not only from frustration over this public intelligence failure. It also reflects a deeper geopolitical conflict between Budapest on one side, and Kyiv and Brussels on the other. At its core, this conflict centers on Orbans use of the Ukraine file as a political tool: to strengthen his grip on power domestically, extract financial concessions from the EU, and ensure continued access to discounted Russian gas supplies.

Its worth recalling that Budapest refuses to supply weapons to Ukraine and consistently blocks EU declarations in support of Ukraine. Hungary also obstructs the disbursement of EU military assistance to Kyiv and has stalled the opening of the first negotiation cluster for Ukraines EU accession. The Orban cabinet even held a referendum on Hungarian public support for Ukraines EU membership, and Foreign Minister Szijjarto has made it clear that Hungary will maintain its veto unless the rights of the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia Oblast, which it claims were stripped by Ukrainian authorities, are fully restored..

Statements from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas suggest a clear EU strategy for dealing with the situation should Hungarys veto on Ukraines accession remain unbroken.

"We have a Plan B and a Plan C. But our focus is on Plan A," she said, adding that the EU is engaging in dialogue with Hungary to lift the veto.

"If that doesnt work, we are already working on Plan B, but I wont disclose it. We are still in the process," said Kallas.

How Ukraine Can Earn Billions from Its Geopolitical Position  

ZN.UA reported earlier that there are several possible courses of action to neutralize Hungarys position. The first option is to invoke Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which allows for the suspension of Hungary's voting rights. The second option is to apply sanctions against Hungary to indirectly pressure Budapest into voting in solidarity with the other EU member states. The third option involves ignoring Hungary when making key EU decisions on critical issues.

But while the EU searches for Plan B, Ukraine is already living under the plan being implemented by Orban, where Budapest's policies align more with Russia's interests than with peace and security in Europe. Kyiv must be prepared for the fact that Budapest will continue to attempt to engage in dialogue from a position of strength, obstructing the EUs decision-making in support of Ukraine, blocking the allocation of financial resources through the European Peace Facility, banning the import of Ukrainian agricultural products, demanding permission for the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory, and pushing for the expansion of rights for the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia Oblast.

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PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 13: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research's (SPJIMR) WISE Tech hosted a 'Demo Day' for the inaugural cohort of the Frictionless Finance Accelerator on Wednesday, May 7, at its Mumbai campus. In collaboration with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) and YES BANK, it marked the culmination of a four-month long journey to support 15 high-impact fintech start-ups working to reshape India's financial services landscape. The Demo Day brought together over 50 investors and venture capitalists, along with 13 financial institutions, to witness the innovative solutions developed by the cohort. The event also featured a fireside chat with Madhusudanan R, Founder of M2P Fintech, followed by an engaging 'Ask Me Anything' session. "WISE Tech was launched to spark purpose-driven innovation. Through the Frictionless Finance Accelerator, we've demonstrated how academia, industry, and institutions such as RBIH can co-create meaningful change in the sector," said Manoj Mohan, Executive Director, SPJIMR WISE Tech. Fifteen innovative start-ups, selected from over 150 applications, are addressing key challenges across diverse financial sectors such as agri-finance, climate finance, MSME finance, Nano entrepreneurship, retail finance, and supply chain finance. Their solutions include AI-driven tools, ESG assessments, digital lending, and inclusive financing models, reflecting the evolving landscape of India's financial ecosystem. Launched on National Startup Day, the Frictionless Finance Accelerator aims to foster innovation and inclusion in financial services by helping fintechs become more bank-ready, responsible, and resilient. RBIH connected start-ups with domain experts, industry leaders, banks and financial institutions, and investors--building bridges between innovators and enablers in the financial ecosystem. YES BANK played a pivotal role by engaging its internal business teams to explore collaboration opportunities with the start-ups. This included advisory inputs and discussions for potential Proof of Concept (PoC) engagements across lending, payments, and ecosystem banking--validating ideas in real-world scenarios and reinforcing its commitment to collaborative innovation. SPJIMR, through WISE Tech, focused on the design and delivery of the Accelerator. Start-ups benefited from nine targeted masterclasses and deep-dive mentoring by industry experts, including Santosh Kumar, Director, SPJIMR WISE Tech. SPJIMR also facilitated curated access to a broader ecosystem of banks, institutions, and potential partners. YES BANK 's participation in the Frictionless Finance Accelerator reflects its belief in the value of collaboration between banks and fintech start-ups to drive inclusive financial growth. The initiative aligns with the Bank's focus on encouraging innovation, advancing financial inclusion, and enabling a seamless digital banking experience. As part of the programme, YES BANK conducted one-on-one mentoring sessions with participating start-ups--assessing their business models, growth plans, and banking needs. This enabled the Bank to provide targeted advisory support and explore relevant product-market fit opportunities. "As a bank committed to driving digital innovation, YES BANK sees fintech collaboration as integral to shaping the future of financial services," said Dr. Rajan Pental, Executive Director, YES BANK. "By combining our domain expertise with the agility of fintechs, we are co-developing solutions that can enhance access, efficiency, and scalability across the financial ecosystem," he added. The Demo Day concluded with a formal graduation ceremony honouring the cohort and special recognition of the Top 3 pitches. Participants and stakeholders continued their interactions during post-event networking and speed-meetings, opening doors for new collaborations and funding opportunities. The success of the inaugural cohort sets the stage for future editions of the Accelerator and reaffirms SPJIMR's commitment to shaping a seamless, inclusive, and sustainable financial ecosystem in India. About RBIH: The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, dedicated to leveraging technology and innovation to enable frictionless finance for a billion Indians. The RBIH works towards this mission through its four pathways: RBIH Build - developing in-house solutions when market solutions do not exist, RBIH Design - designing customer-centric processes and products, RBIH Incubate - nurturing fintech startups and the innovation ecosystem, and RBIH Insights - conducting in-depth research and analysis to shape financial innovation. By building bridges between various stakeholders in the financial ecosystem, RBIH fosters an environment of collaborative innovation to drive financial inclusion. About YES BANK: YES BANK is a full-service commercial bank providing a complete range of products, services, and technology-driven digital offerings, catering to retail, MSME, and corporate clients. YES BANK operates its investment banking, merchant banking, and brokerage businesses through YES SECURITIES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has a Pan-India presence including an IBU at GIFT City and a Representative Office in Abu Dhabi. For more information, please visit the Bank's website at http://www.yesbank.in/ About SPJIMR: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a leading postgraduate management institute, recognised by the Financial Times MiM Global Rankings as India's #1 business school, by Business Today as one of the country's top five business schools, and by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five business schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and their leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international 'triple crown' of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Visit SPJIMR.org for more information. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686114/SPJIMR_WISE_Tech.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1896222/5316033/SPJIMR_Logo_1.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], May 13: Kabul Chawla, Chairman and Managing Director of BPTP Ltd., has been conferred with the highly esteemed IGBC Fellow Award by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the advancement of the green building movement in India. The award ceremony took place on 9th May' 2025 at the iconic BPTP Capital City in Noida, a landmark IGBC Platinum certified project recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and green building practices. K.S. Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII-Green Business Centre, presented the award to Chawla in a special ceremony. Stating on the occasion, Kabul Chawla, Chairman and Managing Director, BPTP, expresses his gratitude by saying, "It is a profound honour to receive the IGBC Fellow Award. I am deeply grateful to the IGBC for this recognition, which reflects the collective vision and dedication of the entire BPTP team. Sustainability is not just a responsibility, but a core value that drives our approach to real estate development. At BPTP, we believe that curating sustainable, future - ready spaces is an essential move for the well-being of our communities and the planet. This award inspires us to continue innovating and setting new standards in sustainable urban development, ensuring that our projects not only meet today's needs but also safeguard the environment for generations to come. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our partners, stakeholders, and IGBC for their trust and support on this journey." The IGBC Fellow Award is one of the premier recognitions in India's green building movement. It honours individuals and organizations demonstrating exemplary contribution to sustainable built environments. BPTP Capital City, the venue for this year's ceremony, stands as a demonstration to the evolutionary impact of green building initiatives. Located at Sector 94, Noida, the project features IGBC Platinum Certification, premium office spaces, and state-of-the-art amenities that represent the future of sustainable business workplaces in India. The IGBC has been at the spearhead of the country's green building movement, annually recognizing pioneers who have stepped up in environment and sustainable stewardship. The IGBC Fellow Award is a tribute to Kabul Chawla's unparalleled commitment and contribution in shaping India's sustainable built environment. About Kabul Chawla, Chairman and Managing Director, BPTP Limited: Kabul Chawla is a dynamic and visionary entrepreneur who has played a transformative role in shaping the landscape of Indian real estate. As the Chairman and Managing Director of BPTP Limited, he has led the company from its inception to become one of the most recognized and trusted names in the real estate sector, particularly across the Delhi-NCR region. With deep roots in Haryana and an entrepreneurial spirit that defines his journey, Chawla ventured into real estate in the early 2000s with a mission to redefine urban living and infrastructure. Under his leadership, BPTP grew rapidly, delivering innovative residential and commercial projects across Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Delhi. His foresight and strategic approach helped BPTP secure some of the most prominent land parcels and successfully develop integrated townships, plotted developments, high-rise luxury apartments, and commercial developments. A hallmark of Kabul Chawla's leadership has been his relentless focus on customer satisfaction, design excellence, and project delivery. He was among the early proponents of building environmentally friendly, self-sustained communities with world-class amenities, setting new benchmarks for lifestyle-centric developments. One of his most notable achievements includes the development of BPTP Capital City - a flagship project envisioned to be a next-generation mixed-use destination with an IGBC Platinum-rated office tower featuring a top-notch tenancy profile. The project underscores his commitment to sustainability, smart design, and future-ready urban planning. His people and leadership skills have also been instrumental in building a strong, dedicated team of over 1000 professionals who share his vision and passion. This collective strength has been a driving force behind BPTP's continued success and ambitious growth trajectory. He believes in empowering people, fostering a collaborative culture, and nurturing talent - values that are deeply embedded in the company's DNA. Despite the complexities and evolving dynamics of the Indian real estate sector, Chawla has remained steadfast in his commitment to quality, innovation, and trust - values that continue to guide BPTP's growth. His journey is a true inspiration for young entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in infrastructure and real estate development. With a legacy spanning over three decades, Chawla's contribution to the urban transformation of North India is both impactful and enduring. As BPTP gears up for its next phase of growth, his visionary leadership continues to steer the company toward excellence, sustainability, and community-focused development. BPTP is one of India's leading largest real estate developers, known for its innovative and customer-centric approach to creating world-class residential and commercial spaces. With a strong presence in Delhi-NCR, the company has delivered 24,500 homes and numerous landmark projects that blend modern architecture, premium amenities, and sustainable living solutions. BPTP remains committed to excellence, transparency, and, shaping urban landscapes with projects that redefine contemporary living. (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)
Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal and Prahalad Joshi to ban the sale of Pakistani flags and other merchandise on e-commerce platforms operating in India. In a letter to the Union minister, the industry wrote that Pakistani flags and merchandise can be seen listed on e-commerce platforms even as India launches 'Operation Sindoor' against the adversary. "I write to express my deep concem over a matter that strikes at the very core of our national sentiment and sovereignty. It has come to light that Pakistani flags, logo-bearing mugs, and T-shirts are being openly sold on major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart," BC Bhartia, National President of CAIT, wrote in the letter to minister Goyal. "This disturbing situation unfolds even as our valiant armed forces are actively engaged in Operation Sindoor -- a mission of critical national importance against Pakistan," he added. At a time when our soldiers are displaying unmatched courage and sacrifice to safeguard our nation, the sale of items representing a hostile nation is not only insensitive but also entirely unacceptable, the industry body said. "Such actions by e-commerce platforms reflect a blatant disregard for the dignity of our armed forces, the sovereignty of India, and the emotions of every patriotic Indian citizen," it added. "This is not merely an oversight. It is a grave matter that risks undermining national unity and poses a potential threat to our internal harmony and security," it further said. Against that backdrop, CAIT urged the government to ask the e-commerce players to put an immediate ban on the sale of Pakistani flags, logos, and all related merchandise across all e-commerce platforms operating in India. It also sought a thorough investigation into how such products were listed and permitted for sale. The industry body also called for stricter implementation of compliance mechanisms to ensure such incidents do not recur, including penal action or suspension of platforms failing to adhere to national sensitivities. (ANI)
Marble traders based in Udaipur, a key hub for marble, have urged the central government to put a ban on imports from Turkey, whose drones were found to be used by the Pakistani side in the recent conflict. The traders have unanimously decided to stop imports from Turkey. Kapil Surana, President of the Udaipur Marble Processors Association, told ANI that they have written to the Prime Minister requesting the government halt imports from Turket, particularly marble. "We fully support the historic decisions he has taken in the last few days," Patel said, referring to Operation Sindoor. "We have assured him that if he imposes any kind of sanctions on any country, then we are going to stand with him. We feel that business and industry cannot be bigger than the nation and national interest," Patel further told ANI. "If other associations across India too decide to stop imports from Turkey, it will send a clear message to the world that Indian businesses are fully backing the government in this critical time," he added. Why only marbles? He even suggested a ban on other products that India imports from Turkey. The Udaipur-based traders' body said India annually imports 14-18 lakh tonnes of marble, and around 70 per cent of it is sourced from Turkey. Hitesh Patel, the general secretary of the Udaipur Marble Processors Association, said the imports from Turkey amount to Rs 2500-3000 crore. The association, he said, has around 125 members. In their press briefing during the Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces had noted that forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones launched was done, and initial reports had suggested that they were Turkish Asisguard Songar drones. (ANI)
French actor Gerard Depardieu was convicted of sexual assault against two women and has received an 18-month prison sentence from a Paris court on Tuesday, reported Variety. The verdict stems from sexual assault charges filed by two women, a set decorator and an assistant director, who worked on the shoot of "The Green Shutters" in 2021. According to the outlet, the prosecutor had requested an 18-month suspended sentence following a four-day trial during which Depardieu refuted all accusations. Prosecutors also requested the court to fine the actor and obligate him to undergo psychological treatment, as well as have him registered in the sex offenders' file, reported Variety. As per the outlet, the assistant director reported in her complaint that Depardieu had touched her buttocks in the street, then touched her breasts a few days later on location and touched her buttocks again on another occasion. However, Depardieu refuted the sexual assault charges and said, "I may have grazed it with my back in the corridor, but I didn't touch (her buttocks)," Depardieu was quoted in Le Monde newspaper, as stated by Variety. The prosecution, led by Laurent Guy, emphasised that the plaintiffs had maintained their original accounts throughout the trial, while Depardieu's version of events had changed. The prosecutor pointed to eyewitness testimony that confirmed sexual assault had occurred."We have three eyewitnesses to the gestures made against Amelie at the crucial moment. This undeniably constitutes sexual assault," Guy said, as per Deadline. As part of a separate case, the famous French actor has been, since Dec. 16, 2020, indicted over allegations of rape and sexual assault filed by actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018. The actor has denied these allegations as well, according to Deadline. (ANI)
Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan-starrer 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' was released over 22 years ago, and it is still etched in the hearts and minds of fans. The presence of romance, humour, and heartwarming messages, coupled with stellar performances made 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' stand out. To date, there are many scenes from the film that linger in the audience's mind. Among them, the heart-wrenching climax, where Shah Rukh's character Aman dies due to a rare illness, continues to evoke strong emotions. On Tuesday, Preity walked down memory lane and talked about the emotional weight she carried while filming the movie's climax scene. During a QnA session on X, a fan wrote to Preity, "@realpreityzinta ma'am every time I watch Kal Ho Naa Ho, I cry like a kid. You absolutely nailed Naina Catherine Kapur. Learnt a lesson as well that is love sometimes means letting go. When you watch Kal Ho Naa Ho after 20 years of shoot, do you cry like us? #pzchat." In response, Preity opened up about losing her "first love in car crash". "Yes I cry when I see it and I cried when we were filming it too! My first love died in a car crash so this film always hit different. Fun Fact - Most scenes all actors cried naturally... and Aman's death scene had everyone crying in front of the camera and behind it too!," she shared. Here, Preity referred to the loss of her father, Durganand Zinta, who passed away in a car accident. She was only 13 years old when she lost her father. Her father was an officer in the Indian Army. Meanwhile, on the work front, Preity is all set to make her comeback in the industry with Rajkumar Santoshi's directorial 'Lahore 1947'. This project marks an important milestone for Preity as she returns to the silver screen after a hiatus.'Lahore 1947', produced under Aamir Khan's banner, marks a significant collaboration between Sunny Deol and Aamir Khan's Productions. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during Operation Sindoor, saying the Army's "tremendous resistance over the last five days" reflected India's strong stance against terrorism. "The way PM Modi has presented his entire stand in front of the country, we have seen India in the changing times; we have seen India grow from the number 11 economy to the number 5 economy," CM Yadav said. "We have seen Article 370 being removed from the country, PM Modi has announced his new policy against terrorism, the world is watching India in the changing times and we all have seen the tremendous resistance that the Army has shown in the last 5 days under the leadership of PM Modi," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation via videoconference on Monday. In his address, PM Modi remarked that the nation has witnessed both India's strength and restraint in recent days. He extended his salute to the country's formidable armed forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists on behalf of every Indian citizen. The Prime Minister highlighted the unwavering courage displayed by India's brave soldiers in achieving the objectives of Operation Sindoor, acknowledging their valor, resilience, and indomitable spirit. He dedicated this unparalleled bravery to every mother, sister, and daughter of the nation. Condemning strongly the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, stating that it shocked both the nation and the world, Shri Modi described the act as a gruesome display of terror, where innocent civilians enjoying their holidays were brutally killed after being questioned about their faith--right in front of their families and children. He stressed that this was not just an act of cruelty but also a vile attempt to fracture the nation's harmony. Expressing his deep personal anguish over the attack, he highlighted how the entire nation--every citizen, every community, every section of society, and every political party--stood united in demanding strong action against terrorism. He further asserted that the government had given the armed forces full freedom to eliminate the terrorists. He warned all terrorist organizations, declaring that they now fully understand the consequences of attempting to harm the dignity of the nation's women. "Operation Sindoor is not just a name but a reflection of the emotions of millions of Indians", emphasised the Prime Minister, describing it as an unwavering pledge to justice, one that the world witnessed being fulfilled on May 6-7. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, including a Nepali citizen. (ANI)
Envoy calls for strengthening Sino-LAC solidarity

08:41, May 13, 2025 By Zhao Jia and Li Peixuan ( China Daily

As the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum is set to open in Beijing on Tuesday, expectations are running high for a new chapter in China-LAC relations, said Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China.

He expressed the hope for closer cooperation and stronger solidarity to tackle shared challenges and unlock new development opportunities.

"We visualize the cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries as a comprehensive strategic partnership with many different areas that we have been working on," said Lugris, who is also dean of the Diplomatic Corps of Latin American and Caribbean Countries in China.

Over the past decade, the China-CELAC Forum has evolved into a vital platform for dialogue, development and strategic coordination, he noted, adding that it has fostered deeper mutual understanding and produced tangible outcomes across the region.

China and CELAC member states have entered a new stage marked by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and tangible benefits for the people.

In a congratulatory letter to the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in early April, President Xi Jinping welcomed all CELAC member states to attend the upcoming fourth ministerial meeting in China to discuss ways to foster development and promote cooperation, and jointly contribute wisdom and strength to addressing global challenges, advancing global governance reform and safeguarding world peace and stability.

Lugris said, "We are very hopeful to see a very fruitful meeting that could reach agreements and consensus in order to project our cooperation for the next 10 years." He also expressed confidence that new areas of collaboration will be identified and expanded under the framework of the forum.

The forum has established several mechanisms  such as the ministerial meeting, dialogue of foreign ministers of China and the Quartet of CELAC and the meeting of national coordinators  to build a comprehensive network between both sides. The CELAC Quartet comprises the current rotating chair of CELAC, its previous rotating chair and its next rotating chair, as well as the current rotating chair of the Caribbean Community.

In recent years, China-LAC cooperation has steadily deepened in both quality and scope, extending into areas such as technological innovation and green development.

China is the second-largest trading partner of the Latin American and Caribbean community, while the region is the second-largest destination for Chinese overseas investment.

Uruguay, in particular, has been a key beneficiary of this partnership, Lugris noted.

"Uruguay has implemented many programs under the framework of the forum," he said, citing initiatives such as expanded scholarship opportunities for Uruguayan students in China, joint development projects, increased exchanges between political parties and think tanks, and growing trade ties.

"In the past decade, we have doubled our exports to China," Lugris said. "That is clearly an indication that China has truly opened its market to more Uruguayan products."

Amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, Lugris emphasized the forum's increasing importance in promoting experience-sharing and mutual understanding.

"The forum opens up doors for more exchange of experiences between the region and China," he said, adding that he expects robust discussions at the meeting.

Citing shared values such as upholding multilateralism and defending free trade, Lugris called for continued joint efforts to promote free trade.

"China has a very clear position in pushing for more active work at the World Trade Organization and continuing to negotiate free trade agreements with many countries around the world," he said.

China has signed free trade agreements with five LAC countries  Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua  and negotiations for similar agreements with Honduras and El Salvador are progressing in an orderly manner.

Despite what he described as "very severe" global circumstances, Lugris expressed strong confidence in China's economic outlook, noting that a healthy Chinese economy sends a positive signal not just to its citizens, but also to the world.

"There has been an incredible modernization of the Chinese economy in the past decades, with a lot of efforts in science and technology," he said, pointing to visible changes in daily life such as mobile payments, electric vehicles and other innovations that often surprise foreign visitors.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Virendra Sachdeva hailed Prime Minister Modi's address on Operation Sindoor, saying it sent a strong message to Pakistan that "terror and talks cannot go together." Speaking to ANI, Virendraa Sachdeva said that the entire nation is standing with Prime Minister Modi and the armed forces. "In his address, PM Modi saluted the valour and courage of our armed forces...PM Modi has given a clear message to Pakistan that terror and talks cannot go together... The entire nation is standing with PM Modi and the armed forces," the Delhi BJP president said. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed the nation via videoconference on Monday. In his address, he remarked that the nation has witnessed both India's strength and restraint in recent days. He extended his salute to the country's formidable armed forces, intelligence agencies, and scientists on behalf of every Indian citizen. PM Modi asserted that Pakistan's military and government have continuously nurtured terrorism, warning that such actions will eventually lead to Pakistan's own downfall. He declared that if Pakistan seeks survival, it must dismantle its terror infrastructure--there is no other path to peace. He reaffirmed India's firm stance, stating that terror and talks cannot coexist, terror and trade cannot run parallel, and blood and water cannot flow together. Addressing the global community, he reiterated India's long-standing policy that any discussions with Pakistan will focus solely on terrorism and any negotiations with Pakistan will center around Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the Prime Minister reflected on Lord Buddha's teachings, emphasizing that the path to peace must be guided by strength. He underscored that humanity must progress towards peace and prosperity, ensuring that every Indian can live with dignity and realize the dream of a Viksit Bharat. The Prime Minister asserted that for India to uphold peace, it must be strong, and when necessary, that strength must be exercised. He stated that recent events have demonstrated India's resolve in safeguarding its principles. Concluding his address, he once again saluted the valor of the Indian armed forces and expressed his deep respect for the courage and unity of the people of India. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta offered prayers at the North Guruvayurappan Temple in the national capital on Monday. CM Gupta was accompanied by Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva. Speaking to ANI, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, "The national capital, Delhi, is a miniature of India. People from every state of the country live here, and Delhi has a lot of love and affection for everyone... I have come here today to congratulate the families from South India. Today is the anniversary of their temple, and as the Chief Minister, I have come to assure them that Delhi is theirs, and the Delhi government is with them through every happiness and sorrow." Earlier, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena unveiled a plaque to mark the foundation stone laying of a 500 KV Solar Energy Plant at the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was present on the occasion. The LG said the initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. "This is part of the Prime Minister's vision. I have visited the Legislative Assembly premises many times before. Though not all were implemented, I gave several suggestions in the past--as is often the case, it depends on one's intent and vision. But perhaps it was destined to be accomplished through the hands of Vijender Gupta Ji," Saxena said. "Every time I come here, I feel a deep sense of the unique heritage this place holds, and it is our responsibility to preserve that legacy. It was in this very Assembly that Vithalbhai Patel once served as the Speaker. I'm pleased that an initiative like green energy is being launched from here. This foundation stone is not just symbolic. It is also historic," he added. The Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, said that her government aims to build a solar energy network in Delhi to make the city green and clean. "The Delhi government are taking up new projects every day, and work is underway on them. With the foundation laying of a 500 kw solar power plant in the Delhi Assembly, we aim to build a solar energy network in Delhi to make the city green and clean," Gupta told reporters. The Chief Minister also said that her government is working to ensure more electric vehicles in Delhi, adding that the government will introduce 2,080 electric buses in the city. "...We are also working to ensure more electric vehicles in Delhi. We will introduce 2,080 electric buses in the city. The Legislative Assembly Speaker is also doing a great job of making the Delhi Assembly paperless," she said. (ANI)
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address on Operation Sindoor and asserted that India is a "mature democracy" that is fighting terrorism and not attacking civilian lives. "140 crore Indians have absolute faith in Prime Minister Modi and after hearing him speak where he says that no nuclear blackmail will be tolerated anymore, we have even more faith in him. Terrorist attacks on India have been given a befitting reply and the response has always been on our own terms...When the Prime Minister talks about the act of terror being the act of war, we have more faith in him, Army, Navy, Airforce. When the international world community questions us on terror, it is amply clear that India is a mature democracy that is fighting terrorism and not attacking civilian lives," Shaina NC told ANI on Monday. In a bold and unequivocal message to the nation following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared that India will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail and will respond to any terrorist attack with strict and decisive action. "Operation Sindoor is now India's established policy in the fight against terrorism, marking a decisive shift in India's strategic approach", PM Modi declared, stating that the operation has set a new standard, a new normal in counter-terrorism measures. In a first address to the nation since India's military retaliation 'Operation Sindoor,' PM Modi outlined three key pillars of India's security doctrine. Firstly, the 'Decisive Retaliation,' any terrorist attack on India will be met with a strong and resolute response. India will retaliate on its terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is 'No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail.' PM Modi said India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats. Any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes. The third pillar is 'No distinction between terror sponsors and terrorists.' PM Modi said India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities. PM pointed out that during Operation Sindoor, the world once again witnessed Pakistan's disturbing reality--senior Pakistani military officials openly attending funerals of eliminated terrorists, proving Pakistan's deep involvement in state-sponsored terrorism. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that India will continue taking decisive steps to safeguard its citizens against any threat. India effectively repelled escalation by the Pakistan military following Operation Sindoor and also pounded some airbases. (ANI)
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said that the PM has sent a "clear message" to the world that "terror and trade" cannot go together. "In very clear words, the Prime Minister has sent a message to the whole nation and the world, that terror and trade cannot go together and that talks and terror cannot go together. He also clearly said that India has taken revenge of the Pahalgam terror attack by targeting the terror camps in Pakistan and a number of terrorists have been killed in the army operations," Mahali told ANI on Monday. On Monday, PM Modi hit out at Pakistan over its support to cross-border terrorism and said that "terror and talks" and "terror and trade" cannot go together. In his address to the nation, PM Modi said that after the surgical strike in 2016 and the air strike in 2019, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. The Prime Minister referred to India putting in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and said water and blood cannot flow together". PM Modi also said that if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism and vacating Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which is under its illegal occupation. The Prime Minister said that Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, has carved out a new benchmark in India's fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and a new normal. "First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail ," PM Modi said. "Thirdly, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism. During Operation Sindoor, the world has again seen the ugly face of Pakistan, when top Pakistani army officers came to bid farewell to the slain terrorists. This is strong evidence of state-sponsored terrorism. We will continue to take decisive steps to protect India and our citizens from any threat," he added. The Prime Minister said India has defeated Pakistan every time on the battlefield. "And this time, Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension. We have displayed our capabilities in the deserts and mountains, and also proved our superiority in New Age Warfare. During this operation the authenticity of our Made in India weapons were also proven. Today, the world is witnessing that in 21st-century warfare, the time has come for Made in India defence equipment," he said. The Prime Minister said India's greatest strength is "unity" against all forms of terrorism. PM Modi also referred to his "not the era of war" remarks made to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the context of the Ukraine war, but added that this is also not the era of terrorism. India effectively repelled escalation by the Pakistan military following Operation Sindoor and also pounded some airbases. (ANI)
As India and Pakistan move towards an understanding of cessation of hostilities, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan welcomed US President Donald Trump's reported mediation efforts, calling it a "good move." However, he emphasised that the Indian government must clarify the nature of discussions held with Trump, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mention the same in his address on Monday night. "US President Donald Trump claims that he had discussed with both governments to stop the war, and the Prime Minister had not said anything about that. Why did Trump make that statement? Did he speak with the Indian government? If he held a discussion, they have to say. Stopping the war is a good move by Trump," Elangovan told ANI on Monday. He further reiterated the stand of his party against terrorism, saying that it needs to be curbed and the terrorists must be eliminated. However, the DMK leader said that the basis of the discussions held between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan must come to light. "Terrorism has no place in a civilised world. Terrorism has to be stopped, and terrorists should be eliminated. That is why our leader has supported the government of India. However, people should know the basis of the discussion between the two DGMOs," Elangovan said. "The government had taken steps to eliminate terrorists. We appreciate it, and we are with the government of India," he added. On Monday, PM Modi hit out at Pakistan over its support to cross-border terrorism and declared that "terror and talks" and "terror and trade" cannot go together. In his address to the nation, PM Modi said that after the surgical strike in 2016 and the air strike in 2019, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. The Prime Minister referred to India putting in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and said "water and blood cannot flow together". PM Modi also said that if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism and vacating Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which is under its illegal occupation. The Prime Minister said that Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, has carved out a new benchmark in India's fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and a new normal. "First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms. We will take strict action at every place where the roots of terrorism emerge. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said Operation Sindoor is not just a name but it's a reflection of the feelings of millions of people of the country. "Operation 'Sindoor' is our unwavering commitment to justice. Late night of 6th May and in the early morning of May 7, the whole world saw this pledge turn into reality. Indian forces attacked terror hideouts in Pakistan and their training centers with precision. The terrorists had never imagined that India could take such a big decision. But when the country is united, endowed with the spirit of Nation First and national interest is paramount, then strong decisions are taken and results are achieved," PM Modi said. "When India's missiles and drones attacked terrorist bases in Pakistan, not only the buildings of terrorist organizations but their courage also was shaken badly. Terrorist bases, like Bahawalpur and Muridke are universities of global terrorism. The big terrorist attacks of the world, be it 9/11, be it London Tube bombings, or the big terrorist attacks which have happened in India in the last many decades their roots are somehow connected to these terrorist hideouts. The terrorists had wiped out the Sindoor of our sisters and India responded by destroying their terrorist headquarters," PM said. PM Modi said more than 100 dreaded terrorists have been killed in India's precision strikes. "Many terrorist leaders were roaming freely in Pakistan for the last two and a half to three decades who used to conspire against India. India killed them in one stroke," PM Modi said. India also responded appropriately to aggression by the Pakistan military and pounded several airbases in Pakistan. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on Operation Sindoor, describing it as a bold declaration of India's uncompromising stance against terrorism and Pakistan's duplicity. Speaking to the reporters on Monday, Fadnavis emphasised the three "new normals" outlined by PM Modi, which he said have redefined India's security doctrine and sent a stern message to Pakistan. "PM Modi has mentioned about three new normals. First of all, he said that if any incident of terror takes place in the country, it will be seen as a war with India, and India will give a befitting reply by retaliating in the same way. Secondly, PM Modi clarified that we will not tolerate "nuclear blackmail"... The third thing, which is the most important one, is that till now, Pakistan used to wash its hands of the terror activities, used to turn its face and used to say that it was done by non-state actors, but now India will not differentiate between the master of terror and the government and India will look at them with the same eye and will retaliate in the same way," Fadnavis said, echoing PM Modi's forceful rhetoric. Fadnavis further underscored PM Modi's assertion that "terror and talks cannot coexist", highlighting the Prime Minister's condition that any dialogue with Pakistan would be limited to addressing terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "PM Modi has also said that terror and talks cannot happen together. PM Modi said if there will be talks, it will be only on PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). PM Modi said that Pakistan was devastated by India's attack and Pakistan's attacks were completely foiled by our defence system, due to which Pakistan surrendered. Pakistan called India and told India that we have a ceasefire, after which this ceasefire happened," Fadnavis stated. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, during his address to the nation on Operation Sindoor, outlined three key pillars of India's security doctrine. Firstly, he mentioned "Decisive Retaliation". It is when any terrorist attack on India occurs; it will be met with a strong and resolute response and it will retaliate on its own terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is "No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail". He noted that India will not be intimidated by any nuclear threats, and any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes. The third one being "No Distinction Between Terror Sponsors and Terrorists", in which the PM stated that India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities. (ANI)
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused the ruling coalition government of misusing the police force to target opposition leaders and suppress dissent, raising serious concerns over the law and order situation in Andhra Pradesh. The sharp criticism came during a meeting held at the party's central office in Tadepalli, where YSRCP State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy led a strong attack on the government for its alleged political vendetta. "The police are being used to intimidate those questioning the government's failures," Sajjala declared, referring to a recent incident in which former Minister Vidudala Rajini was allegedly mistreated by a local Circle Inspector. He claimed that the ruling alliance was using police powers to silence critics and suppress any opposition voices. YSRCP leaders also condemned what they called a complete breakdown of legal protocol, accusing the coalition of turning the state machinery into a tool for harassment. They alleged that police officials had been flouting rules to target YSRCP members, violating democratic norms specifically. Sajjala said, "This shields their misconduct. " He criticised the government for not allowing the appointment of the Director General of Police (DGP) for grievance redressal, effectively blocking any complaints against their actions. He further denounced the government's so-called "Red Book Constitution," describing it as a symbol of lawlessness and obstruction of justice. The party maintained that under this system, legal norms were being ignored and opposition members were being harassed without due process. The meeting was attended by several prominent YSRCP leaders including former Ministers Ambati Rambabu, Merugu Nagarjuna, Jogi Ramesh, and Vidudala Rajini, as well as former MP Modugula Venugopal Reddy, former MLAs Monditoka Jaganmohan Rao and Annabathuni Shivakumar, and senior leaders Devineni Avinash, Vemareddy, and Pothina Mahesh. On May 11, YSRCP had strongly denounced the alleged brutality by the Palnadu District Police, led by Circle Inspector Subbaraidu, against former Minister Vidadala Rajini on Manukondavaripalem, as per a release. While visiting a family, former Minister Rajini questioned the unwarranted arrest of her aide, YSRCP activist Srikanth Reddy, only to be allegedly physically pushed aside by CI Subbaraidu to detain Srikanth. YSRCP said that this shameful act against a former woman minister underscores the complete breakdown of law and order under the current regime, sparking widespread outrage among YSRCP leaders. (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has strongly criticised the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government over the steep hike in electricity bills for irrigation purposes, calling the move "arbitrary" and "unjustified." He said that despite repeated alerts from the opposition and protests by farmers, the state government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu failed to take any action, which he termed "extremely unfortunate." Jairam Thakur said, "The electricity bills for irrigation connections used by farmers are shocking. Despite bringing the issue to the government's notice, there has been no proactive response, which is extremely unfortunate." Earlier, he pointed out that farmers used to pay Rs300 for consuming 500 units of electricity, but now under the new policy, the bill has shot up to nearly Rs2800 for the same usage. Thakur called the tariff rise an attack on the country's food providers and said it was unacceptable. He said, "Such injustice against the country's food providers will not be tolerated. A steep hike in electricity tariffs is unjustified. The government must take this issue seriously and put an end to this kind of collection from farmers." "How are farmers expected to manage with such arbitrary billing? This is chaos imposed on the country's food providers. The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly opposes this and the government cannot turn a blind eye to this protest," he added. Taking a dig at the Congress government's publicity methods, Thakur said the government proudly advertised even the smallest of achievements, but chose to remain silent on issues that directly impacted the public. He said, "Whenever the government increases milk prices by Rs2, it floods every corner of the state...streets, intersections, buses...with posters and hoardings. But when it raises electricity bills by five to seven times, it remains silent." He questioned the Congress party's election promises, stating that one of their key pre-poll guarantees was 300 units of free electricity. He accused the government of not only failing to deliver on that promise but also sharply increasing rates. He said, "Today, the Congress-led Sukhu government is massively increasing electricity rates. But during the assembly elections, Congress leaders, from top to bottom, had loudly declared across the state that if their government came to power, 300 units of electricity would be provided free. This was one of their ten so-called 'guarantees.' Not only has the government failed to deliver on the promise of free electricity, but it has drastically increased electricity rates." Thakur also condemned the government's approach towards poor and marginalised communities, saying that it had spared no one while imposing these charges. He said, "The government has not spared even the poor and farmers while imposing these charges. This approach is unacceptable. Across the country, farmers receive subsidised electricity for irrigation. Himachal Pradesh too had such subsidies in place." Urging the Chief Minister to reconsider the hike, he warned that the continued neglect of public concerns would damage the state. "The manner in which the government is ignoring public issues is extremely harmful for the state. The government cannot continue this arbitrary treatment of the people," he concluded. (ANI)
In the visuals, devotees were seen standing in the queue, waiting for their chance to offer prayers.

Meanwhile, the crowd of devotees witnessed the Lete Hanuman temple in Prayagraj on the occasion.

A large number of devotees also offered prayers at the ancient Hanuman temple in Connaught Place in Delhi.

Bada Mangal, also known as Budhwa Mangal, falls in the month of Jyeshtha in the Hindu Calendar. The Bada Mangal is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, and devotees observe it with great devotion and rituals.

On this auspicious occasion, devotees keep fast and offer puja to the deity. Devotees chant Hanuman Mantras to appease Sankatmochan and form a deeper connection with Lord Hanuman.

Earlier, on April 12, Hanuman Jayanti was celebrated of Lord Hanuman, an ardent follower of Lord Ram.

Hanuman Jayanti marks the birth of Lord Hanuman and is observed on the day of the full moon in the Hindu month of Chaitra, which occurs in March or April. It also goes by the name Chaitra Poornima. On this auspicious occasion, devotees across the world keep fast and offer puja to the deity. Devotees chant Hanuman Mantras to form a deeper connection with Lord Hanuman. (ANI)
"Commissionerate Police Amritsar has received a very good success. Not only has a drug cartel been busted but the 'hawala' network has also been smashed. We have arrested three operatives- Gurdeep Singh, Pardeep Sharma & Mani Sharma," Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar told ANI on Tuesday.

The police have recovered Rs 84.02 lakh in cash, Rs 22 lakh in frozen bank accounts, 1.01 kg of heroin, a car, and a counting machine.

"Gurdeep was the main operator and was handling the local level drug trade of Turkey-based Nav Bhullar...Rs 84.02 lakh in cash and Rs 22 lakh in frozen bank accounts have been recovered. We have recovered 1.01 kg of heroin, car and counting machine..." Commissioner Bhullar informed.

According to the preliminary investigation, arrested operative Gurdeep was operating the local network on the directions of Nav Bhullar, who had provided him with a hideout and logistics at Amritsar.

An FIR has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), and an investigation is underway to trace backward and forward linkages of the cartel.

In an official post on X, Gaurav Yadav, the DGP of Punjab Police wrote, "In a major crackdown on international narco-hawala cartel, Amritsar Commissionerate Police busts a drug cartel linked to #Turkey-based smuggler Navpreet Singh, Nav Bhullar and arrests his 3 operatives -- Gurdeep Singh, Pardeep Sharma & Mani Sharma. Recovery: 1.01 kg heroin, Rs1.06 crore hawala money(Rs84.02 lakh in cash & Rs22 lakh in frozen bank accounts), a cash counting machine & a car. Preliminary investigation reveals that Gurdeep was operating the local network on directions of Nav Bhullar, who had provided him a hideout and logistics at #Amritsar."

https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1921859189388837168

"An FIR under the NDPS Act is registered and investigation is underway to trace backward and forward linkages of the cartel. Punjab Police remains committed to disrupting transnational narco-financial networks and bringing perpetrators to justice," the social media post reads.

Earlier, the Fazilka Police apprehended three drug smugglers and recovered 60,000 Tramadol (100mg) tablets -- a major haul of intoxicating pharmaceutical substances, said the DGP of Punjab. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi praised the Indian Armed Forces for their decisive action against terrorism, saying the recent strikes killed over 100 terrorists who could have carried out attacks anywhere in the world. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chaturvedi said, "Indian strikes killed over 100 terrorists who could potentially carry out attacks in any part of the world. The world should thank the Indian Armed Forces for decisively striking at the heart of terror." Her remarks come amid continued political support for Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, she also said that India does not need an intervention of any country to find a solution to the Kashmir after US President Donald Trump offered mediation on the issue. In a post on the X platform, Priyanka asserted that India must rise up to the challenge without any country's intervention. "We don't need a US intervention or of that of any other country to find a solution on Kashmir. Destiny has given us that responsibility and India must rise up to that challenge," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said. This came after President Trump on Sunday welcomed the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan saying that millions of people could have died if the peace had not been worked out. The US President was making a reference to a potential nuclear fallout between the two nations. In a post on Truth Social, the US President said, "I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much. Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions." Trump continued to hold on to the claim that the US had helped broker peace and offered to mediate for a solution on Kashmir. "I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision. While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a "thousand years," a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done!!!" India has time and again rejected any third-party intervention on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and has unequivocally expressed that the region is an integral part of India. India also played down the role of the US in achieving an agreement on cessation of hostilities saying that the understanding had been reached between DGMOs of the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India has maintained a consistent stand against terrorism. "India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action. India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so," he said. (ANI)
Even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent an explicit message against terrorism being "encouraged" by Pakistan, there is a sense of scepticism in the border villages who fear that Pakistan's army will not desist from aggression as they have tried to breach the understanding reached between two countries. The local residents of a border village in Samba district of Jammu say that they heard the blasts occurring last night, and splinters hit one of the houses. The roof and kitchen of the affected house have also been damaged after shelling by Pakistan. Dalbeer Singh, a local, said that there was constant fear due to shelling by Pakistan. "We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened. However, there is not much damage. We were all at home when the explosion happened. The police came later and took stock of the situation. There is an environment of fear." Krishan Chand, another local, said that he was sitting outside when the explosion occurred. "Last night, Pakistan sent drones or something else, which exploded here. We were sitting outside. We ran inside our house after the blast occurred. We saw the remains (of the bomb) later, in the kitchen and on the roof. The women were cooking, and they also ran. There is a lot of fear since we don't know what can happen. The government should do something if Pakistan doesn't agree to the ceasefire. Prakar Singh, a local from another border village, said, "When the drone firing happened, I was trying to calm my kids...Pakistan is not ready to agree. Red streaks were seen and explosions heard as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Samba on Monday evening, with Army sources saying that a small number of drones had come in the Samba sector and were being engaged. Army sources said that comparatively, a very small number of drones have come in the Samba sector, and they are being engaged, and there is nothing to be alarmed. On Monday, PM Modi hit out at Pakistan over its support to cross-border terrorism and said that "terror and talks" and "terror and trade" cannot go together. In his address to the nation, PM Modi said that after the surgical strike in 2016 and the air strike in 2019, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. The Prime Minister referred to India putting in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and said, "water and blood cannot flow together". (ANI)
Ayyappan lived with his wife in the Vishweshwara Nagar industrial area of Mysuru and was missing from home since May 7. His wife and two daughters survive him.

The Srirangapatna police have registered a case and started an investigation about the reason for the death.

The police received information about the sighting of an unidentified body in the river on Saturday evening. When they reached the spot and retrieved the body from the river, the scientist''s identity was discovered. Ayyappan''s scooter was found on the river bank.

After 3 days, when he didn''t return, the family lodged a complaint at the Vidyaranapuram police station in Mysore.

Preliminary enquiry said that he might have jumped in to the river, yet police said proper investigation can only reveal the cause of the death.

Further investigation is underway.

Ayyappan completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Fisheries and held several top positions nationally.

Instrumental in promoting India''s Blue Revolution, the Padma Shri awardee helped in boosting the country''s agriculture, after which his contributions were recgonised by the government in 2022. (ANI)
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation after the Operation Sindoor, and stated that "India will not waver from its strong stance against terrorism" adding that the country cannot be intimidated by nuclear blackmail. "The Prime Minister has cleared the whole issue in front of everyone, stating that India will not waver from its stance against terrorism. Our stance on terrorism and Pakistan is clear. The Prime Minister has clarified everything, and Pakistan was given a chance to improve," Ghosh told ANI on Tuesday. Ghosh said that, considering the world's current situation, no one, including India, wants war; however, India will not bow down to nuclear blackmail. "This nuclear blackmail has been going on for a long time, and based on this, some people in our country say that it will happen. Pakistan also scares India that there will be a nuclear war. Still, it is very clear about our thinking that whatever happens, Honourable Atal ji (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) also said that whatever you do, we will see that. Even today, it is the same stand. It is not possible to browbeat India by making such threats," he said. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Operation Sindoor has carved out a benchmark in India's fight against terrorism and has "set up a new parameter and new normal". Addressing the nation, PM Modi also referred to India conducting a surgical strike in 2016 at terror launch pads along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and to the air strikes at a terror camp in Pakistan in 2019 and said that after the two operations, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. In Operation Sindoor, India conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. "After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said. PM Modi said more than 100 dreaded terrorists have been killed in India's precision strikes. "Many terrorist leaders were roaming freely in Pakistan for the last two and a half to three decades who used to conspire against India. India killed them in one stroke," he said. India also responded appropriately to aggression by the Pakistan military and pounded several airbases in Pakistan. (ANI)
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kishanrao Bagde on Tuesday attended the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Jayanti programme at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur, paying tribute to the Maratha warrior and son of the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Addressing the gathering, the Governor announced grand celebrations to mark Sambhaji Maharaj's birth anniversary. He revealed that a massive statue of Sambhaji Maharaj, crafted in Nashik, will arrive in Delhi on Wednesday, where commemorations will take place on the occasion of his birth anniversary. "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's birth anniversary will be celebrated with great pomp tomorrow... A huge statue of Sambhaji Maharaj will be reaching Delhi tomorrow from Nashik and there his birth anniversary will be celebrated," the Governor stated. Reflecting on Sambhaji Maharaj's life, the Governor recounted the Maratha leader's defiance in the face of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's brutality, emphasising Sambhaji's sacrifice for his principles. "Aurangzeb had tortured and killed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj... Aurangzeb wanted him to leave Hinduism and convert to Islam. That is why Aurangzeb killed him... But Sambhaji Maharaj did not comply, as he was a Hindu by heart... We request everyone to celebrate his birth anniversary with tributes," he noted. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire in India. He succeeded his father as the second Chhatrapati (ruler) of the Maratha Empire in 1681 and ruled until he died in 1689. Born in 1657 at Purandar Fort near Pune, a highly educated prince fluent in Sanskrit, Marathi, Persian, and Hindi, he was known for his intellectual prowess and authored several works, including a Sanskrit book called Budhbhushan. After Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj died in 1680, a brief power struggle followed, and Sambhaji ultimately took control and was crowned Chhatrapati in 1681 at Raigad Fort. His reign was marked by continuous warfare, especially against the Mughal Empire under Emperor Aurangzeb, and he fiercely resisted Mughal attempts to conquer the Maratha Empire. Recently, a Hindi-language historical action film, 'Chhaava', was made based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire. (ANI)
Tripura Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has said that the 'loud and clear' message in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor is that India will not tolerate terrorism emanating from Pakistan. He added that the Tripura Government fully supports what the Prime Minister said in his address. "The message has been loud and clear from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India is not going to tolerate any terrorism or escalation whatsoever by Pakistan. In the recent past, we have seen that the Pahalgam incident took place wherein 26 innocent lives were lost the Pakistan Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," Chowdhury told ANI. "Time and again, India has proved its strength before the world and very categorically made a precision attack through our cruise missiles, ballistic missiles on Pakistan. And they, finding no other alternative, have surrendered and sent a proposal for a ceasefire. Today our Prime Minister made it very, very categorically clear that under any circumstances, any act of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan will be taken very, very seriously in the coming times," he added. The minister said that PM Modi conveyed to Pakistan that any act of terrorism sponsored by them will be dealt with an iron hand. "As far as our government is concerned, we stand by the honourable Prime Minister's speech vehemently and support each and every word uttered by him. We salute the gallant efforts and initiative made by our soldiers at the border area, especially by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, and naval staff and other paramilitary forces who have been instrumental in maintaining law and order, peace, and tranquilly in the country," he said. In a first address to the nation since India's military retaliation 'Operation Sindoor,' PM Modi outlined three key pillars of India's security doctrine. Firstly, the 'Decisive Retaliation,' any terrorist attack on India will be met with a strong and resolute response. India will retaliate on its terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is 'No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail.'PM Modi said India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats. Any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes. The third pillar is 'No distinction between terror sponsors and terrorists.'PM Modi said India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities. (ANI)
Senior Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) members are scheduled to meet with Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday. The meeting scheduled this afternoon at the Indira Bhavan in the Congress headquarters in New Delhi is being held a day after the new Congress leadership in Kerala took charge, ahead of the upcoming 2026 assembly elections. On May 12, the Peravoor MLA, Sunny Joseph, took charge as the party's new state President. He succeeds Kannur MP K Sudhakaran. AP Anilkumar, PC Vishnunadh, and Shafi Parambil took office as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Comittee's (KPCC) working presidents. Attingal Lok Sabha MP Adoor Prakash took over as the convenor of the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Congress leaders hoped that the new leadership could bring the party into power in the 2026 Assembly election in the State. "This is a day filled with pride and joy. K. Sudhakaran led the party with integrity and courage. He fearlessly spearheaded the party's battle against political adversaries. Succeeding him is Sunny Joseph, a calm, composed leader who is deeply committed to the party's ideology and principles. Appointing him as the new KPCC President reflects our intent for a strong, coordinated leadership team," Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a Congress function at the party's State headquarters held to welcome the new leadership. "It was this need for a cohesive team package that led to the change in leadership from M.M. Hassan. We have great expectations from Adoor Prakash as the new UDF Convener. The road to winning the upcoming elections starts here. Our goal is serious--we must reclaim governance in Kerala. A structured and united campaign is essential. We now have a team capable of coordinating that effort," Venugopal said. Before assuming their office, the new leaders visited former Defence Minister and Senior Congress leader AK Antony at his house on Monday. "The new KPCC President, who is the son of a high-range farmer from the village of Ulikkal, has grown step-by-step to reach the leadership of the Congress party... It's a journey of dedication and hard work, and it reflects the hopes of Kerala's grassroots," Antony said. "I have complete faith that in 2026, under the leadership of the Congress, a UDF government with a Congress Chief Minister will come to power in Kerala. Strengthening both the Congress and the UDF while uniting all sections of society is the path forward," he said. (ANI)
Asserting that there is "no place for terror activities" in India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson NV Subash on Tuesday said that there will be "no dialogue" with Pakistan unless and until they "stop terror activities." "Yesterday, the PM came to the public domain and addressed the nation. The assertive speech of Narendra Modi after the Pahalgam attack shows that India is one and united. He dedicated Operation Sindoor to India's narishakti. India is against terrorism and there is no place for terror activities in India. There will be no trade with terror...there will be no dialogue with Pakistan unless and until they stop terror activities," Subash told ANI. He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists. "India is one, India is united. The Made in India drones have shown the whole world that India is ahead in the mark of the world. Where we don't depend upon the third party for the mediation, there is no place for a state of terrorism," he added. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said "every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai". "We all have seen the capability and patience of the country in the last few days. I salute the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists," he said. "Today, I dedicate this valour, bravery, courage (of armed forces) to every mother of our country, to every sister of the country and to every daughter of the country," he added. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, PM Modi said "barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world". "On April 22, in Pahalgam, the barbarism that terrorists have shown have shaken the country and the world. Those innocent people who were celebrating the leaves were killed in front of their families, after being asked about their religion," he said. "We have given full freedom to the Indian army to wipe out the terrorists and today every terrorist, every terror organisation knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai," he added Twenty-six people were killed in the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. India responded through Operation Sindoor and launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in which over 100 terrorists were killed. The subsequent aggression by Pakistan was effectively repelled by Indian Armed Forces who also pounded Pakistan airbases. (ANI)
Rajesh Narwal, who is the father of Pahalgam terror attack victim Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation following Operation Sindoor. Rajesh Narwal asserted that PM Modi's address clearly sent a message to Pakistan. He heaped praise on Operation Sindoor, which the Indian Armed Forces conducted following the Pahalgam terror attack. Narwal emphasised that the military action was a decisive blow to the "nursery of terrorism" and that the government had taken the right action to break its backbone. "PM Modi addressed the countrymen after the military action taken after the Pahalgam terror attack. One thing has been made clear in the address, a message has been given to Pakistan, which gives shelter to terrorism and where terrorism has its roots, and it has also been warned that this barbaric terrorist attack was carried out on unarmed people, in which my son Lieutenant Vinay was martyred, I agree with the military action taken against it, it is a good deed. A strong blow has been given to the nursery of terrorism, its trainers, its masters, strict action has been taken, a right action has been taken to break its backbone", Rajesh Narwal told ANI. He further praised the Indian Army and stated that they took the military action with whole morale, and it can only be done once the government gives them complete freedom. Rajesh Narwal explained that the current time is neither for war nor for terrorism, but if war is needed to wipe out terrorism, then it is right. "The Indian army has taken action with whole morale; they were able to do so only because our government gave them permission to take action. We have also caused damage to their military bases. In this regard, I would like to say that 26 families have suffered personal loss which cannot be compensated. Still, after this action, Pakistan should understand that there is no warning for the cowardly attack carried out by terrorists. If Pakistan fires even a single bullet, it will be an attack. This time, there is no forgiveness; this is a moratorium. If they do something this time, they will not be spared. This is not the time of war, this is not the time of terror either. If war is to be resorted to eliminate terror, then it is right", he added. On Monday, during his address to the nation, PM Narendra Modi said that Operation Sindoor has carved out a benchmark in India's fight against terrorism and has "set up a new parameter and new normal". PM Modi also referred to India conducting a surgical strike in 2016 at terror launch pads along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and to the air strikes at a terror camp in Pakistan in 2019 and said that after the two operations, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. In Operation Sindoor, India conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CR Kesavan on Tuesday attacked the Congress party and said that the Congress government never retaliated after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks which took place in 2008, it was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi who removed Pakistan's Most Favoured Nation status. "The Congress government never retaliated after 26/11. In 2019, it was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi who removed Pakistan's Most Favoured Nation status, and the Congress did not do that in 2008. Now we see that the Prime Minister has dealt with terrorism decisively and Prime Minister Modi has always had a very forward policy in dealing with terrorism," Kesavan told ANI. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address on Operation Sindoor and said that PM Modi's speech touched the heart of every Indian. "The Prime Minister's speech yesterday touched the heart of every Indian, especially the way he saluted our brave men and women in uniform," he added. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai". "We all have seen the capability and patience of the country in the last few days. I salute the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists," he said. "Today, I dedicate this valour, bravery, courage (of armed forces) to every mother of our country, to every sister of the country and to every daughter of the country," he added. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, PM Modi said, "The barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world". "On April 22, in Pahalgam, the barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world. Those innocent people who were celebrating the leaves were killed in front of their families, after being asked about their religion," he said. "We have given full freedom to the Indian army to wipe out the terrorists and today every terrorist, every terror organisation knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai," he added Twenty-six people were killed in the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. India responded through Operation Sindoor and launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in which over 100 terrorists were killed. The subsequent aggression by Pakistan was effectively repelled by Indian Armed Forces who also pounded Pakistan airbases. The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, orchestrated by the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed the lives of over 170 people and left hundreds injured. Rana's extradition and subsequent interrogation are part of India's ongoing efforts to bring all conspirators of the attacks to justice. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, Tejashwi Yadav, on a one-day visit to Motihari's Siswa Kharar village in Paharpur, criticised the Nitish Kumar-led government and presented his vision for Bihar's future. On the occasion of Guru Purnima, on Monday, Tejashwi Yadav paid tribute by offering flowers at the Buddha statue in Siswa Kharar. He inaugurated the Buddha Purnima Mahotsav by lighting a lamp. Addressing the gathering, Yadav told reporters, "We don't want to form the government; we want to work for Bihar's development. Bihar will only progress when the youth have employment opportunities. Poverty will end, migration will stop, sugar mills will start, and industries will set up." Tejashwi Yadav also outlined his vision for the 2025 Assembly elections, appealing to the youth to bring about change. Comparing the government to an old vehicle, Yadav said, "Even the government doesn't allow vehicles to run more than 15 years because they emit smoke, pollute, and break down mid-way, causing inconvenience. Until there's change, Bihar will continue to lag behind." Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav strongly condemned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's comments regarding former Chief Minister Rabri Devi during the budget session, calling them highly disrespectful. In a post on X, Yadav expressed his disapproval, stating, "The repeated disrespect shown by Honorable Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar towards former Chief Minister Smt. Rabri Devi in the legislative assembly is highly condemnable." Yadav further questioned the actions of the Bihar Chief Minister, noting the contrast between the state's religious significance and the language used by its leader. He said, "Bihar is the land where Mother Sita was born, and when the leader of Bihar himself uses such harsh language towards women, what could be a greater misfortune for Bihar than this?" The RJD leader also highlighted Rabri Devi's role as a symbol of women's empowerment in the state. He added, "Rabri Devi is a living symbol of women's empowerment in Bihar. She instills hope, trust, and enthusiasm in every woman of Bihar, inspiring them to believe that not only men but also women here are powerful enough to fight against injustice throughout their lives, manage their families, and contribute to the prosperity of the entire state." Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticized Nitish Kumar's behavior, calling it an insult to women's power and reflective of a patriarchal mindset. He said, "Such objectionable language, misconduct, rude behavior, and insult by the Chief Minister is a severe disrespect to woman power and reflects a patriarchal mindset that considers women inferior." Yadav demanded an apology from Nitish Kumar, urging him to apologize to the women of Bihar for his actions. He concluded, "Nitish Kumar should immediately apologize to the women of Bihar for his actions and this remark." Meanwhile, A petition was filed against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a Bihar court seeking action against him over allegedly "disrespecting" the national anthem at a public event in Patna. Amit Kumar, the Advocate of the petitioner, spoke to ANI after the Court ordered a notice to Nitish Kumar for disrespecting the National Anthem. "On 20 March, at an event in Patna's Patliputra Stadium, the National Anthem was being played, during which CM Nitish Kumar's body language was condemnable and punishable. Neither did he stand up for the National Anthem himself, nor was he allowing the other officials to respect it," said the Advocate. "We have been taught to respect the national anthem since we are kids, that when the anthem is being played we should not fidget, make movements or indulge in any activities, adhering to the norms. This is disrespectful to the national anthem and the nation. The complainant is Vikas Paswan, who has filed the case. It is very shameful that a person appointed as the Chief Minister of the state disrespects the anthem," the Advocate added. (ANI)
As the tragedy hits Punjab''s Majitha with the unfortunate death of 14 people due to consumption of illicit liquor, the civil administration along with the police are going door-to-door in villages to take stoke of people who might have consumed the spurious liquor and ensure that they are provided with timely treatment. The administration is making efforts to avoid further casualties in the illicit liquor case. Police said on Tuesday that the incident happened in five villages under the Majitha block in Amritsar. Majitha Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney told ANI, "An unfortunate tragedy has happened in Majitha. We got to know last night, we received reports from five villages that those who consumed liquor yesterday are in critical condition. We rushed our medical teams. Our medical teams are still going door-to-door." "Whether people have some symptoms or not, we are taking them to the hospital so that we can save them. 14 people have died so far. The Government is extending all the help possible. We are ensuring that this death toll doesn''t increase...we have arrested the suppliers and further investigation is underway..." the Deputy Commissioner said. The police have arrested four other people in connection with the case, as they were involved in distributing the illicit liquor to villagers in Majitha. An FIR has been registered under sections 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 61A of the Excise Act. Additionally, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar (Rural) Maninder Singh said that Prabhjeet Singh has been identified as the main accused. The police informed that the others who have been arrested in this case are Kulbir Singh alias Jaggu, brother of the main distributor, Sahib Singh alias Sarai, Gurjant Singh, and Ninder Kaur. "We received information around 9:30 pm last night that here people have started dying after consuming spurious liquor. We took action immediately and rounded up four people. We arrested the main supplier, Prabhjeet Singh. We interrogated him and found out about the kingpin supplier, Sahab Singh. We have rounded him up as well. We are investigating which firms he has bought this," SSP Singh said, adding, "We have been given strict instructions from the Punjab government that strict action must be taken against suppliers of spurious liquor. Raids are underway." He said that the police have registered two FIRs against manufacturers and distributors, booking them under stringent sections. The SSP asserted that the police would bust the entire distribution network. (ANI)
Life in the border districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer has returned to normal, with schools and markets operating as usual. In Jaisalmer, schools reopened today after being closed on May 7 following the Operation Sindoor that targeted terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Barmer reported no incidents of drones, firing, or shelling last night. Residents were seen shopping in markets and carrying on with their daily routines. The vice principal of a girls' school in Jaisalmer told ANI that the situation has become normal, and there is full attendance of staff at her school. "The situation is very normal. Schools are open, and the staff attendance is full. The children are reaching school, and the order has not yet been received from the department regarding the exams for the ninth and eleventh grades. As soon as the order comes, the exam will be conducted," she said. Meanwhile, life in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi returned to normal after India and Pakistan came to an understanding on the cessation of hostilities. Morning visuals showed students returning to school. However, local residents of a border village in the Samba district feared violation of the understanding by the Pakistan army after blasts were heard on Monday night and splinters hit one of the houses. The roof and kitchen of the affected house have been damaged after shelling by Pakistan.Dalbeer Singh, a local, said that there was constant fear due to shelling by Pakistan. "We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened. However, there is not much damage. We were all at home when the explosion happened. The police came later and took stock of the situation. There is an environment of fear." Prakar Singh, a local from another border village, said, "When the drone firing happened, I was trying to calm my kids. Pakistan is not ready to agree." Red streaks were seen and explosions heard as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Samba on Monday evening, with Army sources saying that a small number of drones had come in the Samba sector and were being engaged. Army sources said that comparatively, a very small number of drones have come in the Samba sector, and they are being engaged, and there is nothing to be alarmed. (ANI)
Life slowly returned to normal in the shelling-hit Poonch district on Tuesday. Meanwhile, life also returned to normal in Udampur after the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Visuals showed people going to work. However, all government and private schools remain closed as a precautionary measure here. Meanwhile, life in Reasi also returned to normal. However, local residents of a border village in the Samba district feared the Pakistan army after blasts were heard on Monday night and splinters hit one of the houses. The roof and kitchen of the affected house have been damaged after shelling by Pakistan. Dalbeer Singh, a local, said that there was constant fear due to shelling by Pakistan. "We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened. However, there is not much damage. We were all at home when the explosion happened. The police came later and took stock of the situation. There is an environment of fear." Krishan Chand, another local, said that he was sitting outside when the explosion occurred. "We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened. However, there is not much damage. We were all at home when the explosion happened. The police came later and took stock of the situation. There is an environment of fear," he said. Prakar Singh, a local from another border village, said, "When the drone firing happened, I was trying to calm my kids. Pakistan is not ready to agree." Red streaks were seen and explosions heard as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Samba on Monday evening, with Army sources saying that a small number of drones had come in the Samba sector and were being engaged. Army sources said that comparatively, a very small number of drones have come in the Samba sector, and they are being engaged, and there is nothing to be alarmed. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said that Bihar has become the most backward and poor state in the last 20 years, stressing the need for change and new leadership. "In the last 20 years, Bihar has become the most backward and poor state. Until a change comes, Bihar will remain this way. We are young, we have a vision, a roadmap to take Bihar forward," said Yadav while addressing a gathering in Motihari. Tejashwi Yadav, on a one-day visit to Motihari's Siswa Kharar village in Paharpur, criticised the Nitish Kumar-led government and presented his vision for Bihar's future. On the occasion of Guru Purnima, Tejashwi Yadav paid tribute by offering flowers at the Buddha statue in Siswa Kharar. He inaugurated the Buddha Purnima Mahotsav by lighting a lamp. Addressing the gathering, Yadav told reporters, "We don't want to form the government; we want to work for Bihar's development. Bihar will only progress when the youth have employment opportunities. Poverty will end, migration will stop, sugar mills will start, and industries will set up." Tejashwi Yadav also outlined his vision for the 2025 Assembly elections, appealing to the youth to bring about change. Comparing the government to an old vehicle, Yadav said, "Even the government doesn't allow vehicles to run more than 15 years because they emit smoke, pollute, and break down mid-way, causing inconvenience. Until there's change, Bihar will continue to lag behind." Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav strongly condemned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's comments regarding former Chief Minister Rabri Devi during the budget session, calling them highly disrespectful. In a post on X, Yadav expressed his disapproval, stating, "The repeated disrespect shown by Honorable Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar towards former Chief Minister Smt. Rabri Devi in the legislative assembly is highly condemnable." Yadav further questioned the actions of the Bihar Chief Minister, noting the contrast between the state's religious significance and the language used by its leader. He said, "Bihar is the land where Mother Sita was born, and when the leader of Bihar himself uses such harsh language towards women, what could be a greater misfortune for Bihar than this?" The RJD leader also highlighted Rabri Devi's role as a symbol of women's empowerment in the state. He added, "Rabri Devi is a living symbol of women's empowerment in Bihar. She instills hope, trust, and enthusiasm in every woman of Bihar, inspiring them to believe that not only men but also women here are powerful enough to fight against injustice throughout their lives, manage their families, and contribute to the prosperity of the entire state." Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticized Nitish Kumar's behavior, calling it an insult to women's power and reflective of a patriarchal mindset. He said, "Such objectionable language, misconduct, rude behavior, and insult by the Chief Minister is a severe disrespect to woman power and reflects a patriarchal mindset that considers women inferior." Yadav demanded an apology from Nitish Kumar, urging him to apologize to the women of Bihar for his actions. He concluded, "Nitish Kumar should immediately apologize to the women of Bihar for his actions and this remark." (ANI)
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday granted bail to several TMC leaders, including Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghosh, and Saket Gokhale, in connection with the 2024 protest outside the Election Commission of India (ECI). While nine of the accused were physically present in court, one leader, Vivek Gupta, attended via video conferencing. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal granted bail to five sitting MPs on a personal bond of Rs 10,000 each, while the remaining accused were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000 along with one surety of the same amount. The court noted that since the charge sheet was filed without any arrests, all accused were granted bail. Bail bonds and personal bonds, except for Vivek Gupta, have been furnished and accepted. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on May 21. On April 21, the Rouse Avenue Court had issued summons to 10 TMC leaders, including MPs Derek O'Brien, Mohd. Nadimul Haque, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale, and Sagarika Ghosh, after taking cognizance of the charge sheet and a complaint filed by the Delhi Police related to the protest outside the Election Commission of India on April 8, 2024. The court stated, "I have perused the charge sheet as well as the complaint under Section 195 Cr.P.C. I take cognizance of the offences punishable under Sections 188, 145, and 34 of the IPC." The case pertains to alleged disobedience of an order issued by a public servant and unlawful assembly despite directions to disperse. TMC leaders had reportedly gathered and protested outside the Election Commission of India in April 2024 ahead of the General Election. According to the prosecution, on April 8, 2024, at approximately 4:00 pm., the TMC Leaders gathered outside the main gate of the Election Commission of India and began protesting while holding placards and banners, despite the imposition of Section 144 of the Cr.P.C. It is further alleged that the accused continued their protest despite warnings about the enforcement of Section 144, leading to the registration of the present FIR. (ANI)
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "silence" regarding US President Donald Trump's announcement of a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan and urged him to convene an all-party meeting and clarify the issue to the opposition leaders. "Congress has been supporting Operation Sindoor since the very beginning...But before the Prime Minister's address, Trump announced that he had stopped the war between India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister did not say anything on this," Jairam Ramesh said when asked about his reaction to the Prime Minister's first address to the nation after Operation Sindoor. "PM Modi had to answer a lot of questions, but he was silent. We want the Prime Minister to call an all-party meeting. Why is Trump making all the announcements?... What is the connection with India and US trade and the stoppage of the India-Pakistan war? EAM, NSA and PM, all silent," Ramesh said. In his address on Monday, PM Modi said that talks with Pakistan would only take place on the issues of terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He also chose to sidestep US President Donald Trump's statement that his administration had helped halt the conflict. The Prime Minister said the cessation of hostilities at the moment between India and Pakistan should be seen only as a pause and that Pakistan's actions in the next few days will be evaluated for any further action. Pakistan, seeing the destruction of terror camps and India's ability to take the operations to their logical end, begged for a cessation of hostilities and approached India for it, giving assurances that they would act on terror and desist from attacks, the prime minister said. The cessation of hostilities, announced on May 10, came after India's decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday said that the Tiranga Yatras will be held to spread the valour of the Indian Army and celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor, adding that the country stands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Tiranga Yatras will be taken out in the entire state. We will work to spread the valour of the Indian Army. All our workers will go from the district headquarters to villages, towns and cities... The country stands with Prime Minister Modi," Brajesh Pathak told ANI. Bharatiya Janata Party will organise a nationwide 'Tiranga Yatra' from May 13 to 23 to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor, sources said on Monday. Senior BJP leaders, including Sambit Patra, BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh, will coordinate the Tiranga Yatra. Prominent Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states, and senior party leaders will lead the processions in different parts of the country, according to sources. The campaign will also involve ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent social figures who will lead the yatra. During the campaign, the party will reach out to citizens across the nation to raise awareness about Operation Sindoor and its significance for India's security and sovereignty. As part of this campaign, the BJP will organise press conferences throughout the country to highlight the success of Operation Sindoor. The party will also leverage social media influencers to amplify the message and reach a wider audience, the source told ANI. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai. We all have seen the capability and patience of the country in the last few days. I salute the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists. Today, I dedicate this valour, bravery, courage (of armed forces) to every mother of our country, to every sister of the country and to every daughter of the country," he said. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, PM Modi said, "The barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world". "On April 22, in Pahalgam, the barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world. Those innocent people who were celebrating the leaves were killed in front of their families, after being asked about their religion," he said. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
Family of BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imteyaz who lost his life in the line of duty due to cross-border shelling that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector will be given Rs 50 lakh, as per a release. The family will be given Rs 50 lakh-Rs 29 lakh from the Bihar Chief Minister's fund and Rs 21 lakh from the State government. On May 12, the last rites of Imteyaz were performed with full honours in his native village of Narayanpur in Saran district of Bihar. Imteyaz lost his life on May 10 following cross-border shelling from Pakistan in the RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav visited the family and offered his condolences, honouring the unwavering courage and commitment of the Indian Army. "We have paid tribute to Bihar's son Mohammad Imtiaz. He was martyred in the security of the country. I also met his son; tomorrow, I will also meet his family. We salute the Indian Army that, like every time, this time also, they have given a befitting reply to Pakistan...," he said. Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also paid a heartfelt tribute to Imtiaz. Recognising his supreme sacrifice, the Chief Minister announced that his family will receive an estimated honorarium from the state government. In a post on social media platform X, CM Nitish wrote, "Salute to BSF Sub Inspector Mohammad Imtiaz Ji, a resident of Narayanpur village of Garkha police station area of Saran district of Bihar, who was martyred in firing by Pakistan Army in RS Pura sector of Jammu. The country will always remember his martyrdom. I am deeply saddened by this incident. Deep condolences to the family of the brave son." "The nearest dependent of martyr Mohammad Imtiaz Ji will be given an estimated honorarium by the state government. Also, the last rites of martyr Mohammad Imtiaz Ji will be performed with police honours by the state government," he added. (ANI)
Following the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the improved security situation along the border, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has announced the reopening of all schools in Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. The ceasefire has brought much-needed calm to the region, allowing residents, pilgrims, and students to return to normal life. Schools in Katra, which were earlier shut due to cross-border tensions, will now resume regular classes. Deputy Commissioner Reasi has directed officials to ensure a safe and secure environment for learning. Steps such as sanitation, counselling, and mental health support for students affected by the disruption have been arranged. The reopening marks an important move towards restoring routine civic life in the spiritually significant region. The government has reiterated its commitment to the well-being of citizens and uninterrupted access to education. "As you know, there was ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. Following the Education Minister's order, schools in non-border areas were shut. Now, they have reopened and we are very happy. We stand with the Indian government and extend our full support. We thank the Indian Army for keeping us safe. Jai Hind!" said a student from Huda Public School, Katra. "Due to the conflict between India and Pakistan, our education was disrupted and students had to suffer. Now that schools in Reasi district have reopened, we are very happy. Classes have resumed in my school," said Preeti Sharma, a student of Trikuta Public Higher Secondary School, Katra. "I'm in 12th standard. During the India-Pakistan conflict and Operation Sindoor, our schools were shut down due to missile attacks across various districts. I'm extremely happy that our school has reopened, because studies are very important. I'm grateful to the Indian Army for protecting us. They were right there at the border ensuring our safety. Many districts still have schools closed, so I feel very lucky and glad to live in Katra, which is a safe place," shared Kanak Sharma, also from Trikuta Public Higher Secondary School, Katra. However, local residents of a border village in the Samba district feared the violation of the understanding by Pakistan army after blasts were heard on Monday night and splinters hit one of the houses. The roof and kitchen of the affected house have been damaged after shelling by Pakistan. Dalbeer Singh, a local, said that there was constant fear due to shelling by Pakistan. "We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened. However, there is not much damage. We were all at home when the explosion happened. The police came later and took stock of the situation. There is an environment of fear." Prakar Singh, a local from another border village, said, "When the drone firing happened, I was trying to calm my kids. Pakistan is not ready to agree." Red streaks were seen and explosions heard as India's air defence intercepted Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Samba on Monday evening, with Army sources saying that a small number of drones had come in the Samba sector and were being engaged. Army sources said that comparatively, a very small number of drones have come in the Samba sector, and they are being engaged, and there is nothing to be alarmed. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting with the Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Navy and Army Chiefs in the national capital on Tuesday. During the meeting, Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were present. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai". "We all have seen the capability and patience of the country in the last few days. I salute the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists. Today, I dedicate this valour, bravery, courage (of armed forces) to every mother of our country, to every sister of the country and to every daughter of the country," he added. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, PM Modi said, "The barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world". "On April 22, in Pahalgam, the barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world. Those innocent people who were celebrating the leaves were killed in front of their families, after being asked about their religion," he said. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has expressed sadness over the deaths due to the consumption of illicit liquor in Majitha and said that the culprits behind the incident will not be spared, ensuring the strictest punishment for them. "The sad news of the death of many people due to the consumption of poisoned liquor has been received in the villages around Majitha. These killers of innocent people will not be spared at any cost. These are not deaths, but murders," Mann said in a post on X. "These culprits who create a mourning atmosphere in people's homes with poisonous liquor will be punished strictly according to the law. I pray to God for the peace of the departed souls. The government stands with the affected families and will provide all possible help," he added. Meanwhile, a total of six people have been arrested in connection with the illicit liquor case, which claimed the lives of 14 people and left six hospitalised in Majitha, an official said on Tuesday. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Border Range) Satinder Singh said, "This is an unfortunate incident. Six people, including the kingpin and locals, have been arrested." Meanwhile, SSP Amritsar (Rural) Maninder Singh said that four local suppliers were arrested yesterday, revealing the name of the accused Prabhjeet Singh, who informed about the kingpin Sahib Singh, accused of supplying methanol. Prabhjeet obtained 50 litre of methanol and diluted to make 120 litres only to supply it to four local suppliers, the SSP added. "Four local suppliers arrested yesterday revealed the name of a liquor supplier named Prabhjeet. This man told us about a kingpin, Sahib Singh, who supplies methanol. He obtained 50 litres of methanol, which was diluted to make 120 litres. This was sold to the four local suppliers. We have invoked stringent sections of the law against the six arrested persons. FIR registered under 105 BNS," SSP Singh told ANI. As the tragedy hits Punjab's Majitha with the unfortunate death of 14 people due to the consumption of illicit liquor, the civil administration, along with the police, are going door-to-door in villages to take stock of people who might have consumed the spurious liquor and ensure that they are provided with timely treatment. The administration is making efforts to avoid further casualties in the illicit liquor case. Police said on Tuesday that the incident happened in five villages under the Majitha block in Amritsar. Majitha Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney told ANI, "An unfortunate tragedy has happened in Majitha. We got to know last night, we received reports from five villages that those who consumed liquor yesterday are in critical condition. We rushed our medical teams. Our medical teams are still going door-to-door." An FIR has been registered under sections 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 61A of the Excise Act. (ANI)
Despite the announcement of the understanding of the cessation of hostilities, Pakistan continues to violate the terms in the border areas. The residents of Mahantpati, a village in the Akhnoor sector in Jammu, are troubled by these activities, which are just 400 metres away from the International Border (IB). The residents of the villages are therefore forced to leave their homes whenever cross-border firing starts, getting them displaced. However, this time around, the villagers are demanding a decisive battle with Pakistan so that a lesson is taught and they dare to do such things again. "After the firing started from the Pakistani side, we were taken to a safe place. We returned after four days, following the ceasefire announcement. But again, last night, the firing resumed. We had to stay the whole night in the bunker with our children," Bodhiray Sharma, a local resident, said. Troubled by what he called Pakistan's cowardly act, Bodhiray added, "This time we want a decisive fight so that we don't have to suffer like this again and again." There is also significant anger among the women of the village on the matter. Shrishta Devi, a resident of the village, said, "We have to run from place to place with our children. Prime Minister Modi should teach Pakistan a harsh lesson this time." She also recovered a piece of a mortar shell that was fired from Pakistan two days ago. "We have to live in constant fear of this. The government should push Pakistan back once and for all," she said. The continuous cross-border firing also affects youth, their education and people's livelihoods. Sagar Kumar, a young boy from the village, said, "Last night we saw about 50 drones here. Pakistan is repeatedly violating the ceasefire. We must respond to them." During the Kargil war as well, the villagers had to leave their houses. Remembering those days, another villager named Neelam Kumar said, "During the Kargil war, we were displaced from our village for three years. We couldn't complete our education back then, and we're still suffering from its consequences. Our village is only 400 metres from the international border. This time, too, we had to leave. When we returned yesterday and just started dinner, the firing resumed. Is our army or government weak? Or does India not have the money? If the fight has started, then it should be finished properly." Showing a piece of a mortar shell fired from Pakistan two days ago, Neelam added, "Every other day, they fire. The shrapnel fell on our houses. If a war starts this time, it must be taken to its conclusion." (ANI)
Three terrorists affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed in the Shukroo forest area of Keller in South Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday, police sources confirmed. According to a top police official, earlier today, a massive cordon-and-search operation was launched in the forests of Kellar after receiving specific input about the presence of some terrorists in the region. As security forces launched a combing operation in the Shukroo forest area of Keller, terrorists hiding in the region opened fire on the joint team of police and army personnel, triggering a fierce gunfight. In the ensuing exchange of fire, three terrorists affiliated with the LeT were neutralised. However, the identities of the slain militants are yet to be officially confirmed. Meanwhile, posters were seen in different parts of Pulwama District, announcing Rs 20 lakh reward on information of terrorists involved in Pahalgam terror attack Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches and identities of three terrorists said to be involved in the terror attack in Pahalgam. All three terrorists are affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for each of the three terrorists was announced by the Police. The terror operatives were identified as Hussain Thoker, a native of Anantnag; Ali Bhai, also known as Talha Bhai; and Hasim Musa, also known as Suleiman. Of the three LeT operatives, Musa and Talha are suspected to be Pakistani terrorists, while Thokar is a Kashmiri local. Earlier in April, following the Pahalgam attack, Srinagar Police conducted extensive searches at multiple locations across the city at the residences of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and terrorist associates of proscribed terrorist outfits in furtherance of investigations into cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The operation comes on the heels of India achieving stupendous success in Operation Sindoor where precision strikes saw the elimination of nearly 100 terror operatives at key bases in Pakistan. Among the targets were Bhawalpur the Headquarters of the Jaish and Muridke a key training base of the Lashkar. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Pakistani shelling-affected area in Kupwara on Tuesday. Heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan had caused damage to homes and religious sites in J-K's Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch. Locals vowed to stand with the Indian army despite the attacks. Meanwhile, after India and Pakistan came to an understanding on the cessation of hostilities, life is slowly returning to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. However, local residents of a border village in the Samba district feared the Pakistan army after blasts were heard on Monday night and splinters hit one of the houses. The roof and kitchen of the affected house have been damaged after shelling by Pakistan. Dalbeer Singh, a local, said that there was constant fear due to shelling by Pakistan. "We were clueless last night, but we heard noises. We saw in the morning that this had happened. However, there is not much damage. We were all at home when the explosion happened. The police came later and took stock of the situation. There is an environment of fear," Singh said. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai." PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. "After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said. "First, If there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail," he added. PM Modi said India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
The Former CM will spend time with the family.

Murali Naik was killed in the line of duty during the cross border firing by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

Earlier on May 9, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute to the army jawan.

According to an official release from the TDP, Chandrababu Naidu condoled the demise of the young soldier from Ananthapuram district.

Naidu spoke with Murali's parents, Jyotibai and Ram Naik, and assured them of the state government's support.

He praised Murali's invaluable service in the army over the past two years and called on everyone to stand united with patriotism and vigilance.CM Naidu also urged everybody to observe two minutes of silence in honour of Murali Naik's sacrifice.

Meanwhile, family of BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imteyaz, another jawan who lost his life in the cross-border shelling that took place in RS Pura, will be given Rs 50 lakh as ex-gratia, as per a release.

The family will be given Rs 50 lakh-Rs 29 lakh from the Bihar Chief Minister's fund and Rs 21 lakh from the State government.

India targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), not only avenged the attack but also redefined India's policy against terrorism through a blend of military precision, strategic innovation, and global diplomacy through the Operation Sindoor.

The nine terrorist camps destroyed were key operational centres of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The strikes penetrated deep into Pakistan, including Punjab province and high-risk areas like Bahawalpur, where even the US had hesitated to deploy drones. The operation showcased India's willingness to intrude into Pakistan's heartland, attacking hundreds of kilometres inside its territory and signalling that neither the Line of Control (LoC) nor Pakistan's interior would be safe for terrorists or their supporters. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended and addressed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 'Tiranga Yatra' on the success of Operation Sindoor. Addressing the public, the CM saluted the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation, and stated that the 'Tiranga Yatra' campaign celebrated the country's self-esteem and pride. "I bow down to those soldiers who sacrificed their lives for this nation. This is the day of self-esteem, pride and courage for us...I pay my tributes to all those who lost their lives in this operation...This 'Tiranga Yatra' is to celebrate India's self-esteem and its pride. It is an expression of national consciousness, unity and respect," the CM said while addressing the public. The campaign will be carried out by BJP across the country from May 13 to May 23, as per sources. Senior BJP leaders, including Sambit Patra, BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh, will coordinate the Tiranga Yatra. Prominent Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states, and senior party leaders will lead the processions in different parts of the country, according to sources. The campaign will also involve ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent social figures who will lead the yatra. During the campaign, the party will reach out to citizens across the nation to raise awareness about Operation Sindoor and its significance for India's security and sovereignty. As part of this campaign, the BJP will organise press conferences throughout the country to highlight the success of Operation Sindoor. The party will also leverage social media influencers to amplify the message and reach a wider audience, source told ANI. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties.(ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Tuesday said that Operation Sindoor was not merely a mission, but an "unbroken pledge of justice". He said that India entered Pakistan's territory and destroyed the global terror universities of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen. "This is new India. It wants peace, but will go to any extent to destroy terror. PM Modi has given a clear message to the world that we will not tolerate nuclear blackmail. There will be no talk or trade with terror, blood and water will not flow together. The discussion will only be on terrorism and PoK. Operation Sindoor is not a mission but an unbroken pledge of justice," Chugh told ANI. "When Pakistan was at the border, India entered its territory only to destroy the global terror universities of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen," he added. Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja on Tuesday demanded a special session of Parliament and said that India stands united in the fight against terrorism. "India as a nation stands united in the fight against terrorism...but PM should have answered certain pertinent questions...how the Pahalgam terror attack took place? What were lapses on our part?... How was understanding reached between India and Pakistan, and what role did America play?...what is the truth? What's next, nobody knows...our party has been demanding a special session of Parliament, let PM explain the government's position," D Raja told ANI. Several opposition leaders have urged the Centre to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam Terror Attack, Operation Sindoor and the announcement of cessation of hostilities first from Washington DC and later by the Governments of India and Pakistan. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai". "We all have seen the capability and patience of the country in the last few days. I salute the armed forces, the military, the intelligence agency and the scientists," he said. "Today, I dedicate this valour, bravery, courage (of armed forces) to every mother of our country, to every sister of the country and to every daughter of the country," the PM added. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, PM Modi said, "The barbarism that terrorists have shown has shaken the country and the world". (ANI)
Chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Matram echoed at the Adampur Air base in Punjad as Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Air Warriors and other soldiers' days after India's stupendous success in Operation Sindoor. Earlier this morning, PM Modi arrived at the Air Force Station Adampur and met the brave air warriors and soldiers. A visible wave of happiness could be seen amongst the men in unfiorm as they celebrated their success. PM Modi in a post on X, said that it was very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, " the PM said in a post on X. PM Modi was also briefed by Air Force personnel at the base. The Adampur base was one of the Air Bases active during Op Sindoor. On Monday, DG Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that the purpose of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorists, and not to engage with the Pakistan Military or Pakistani civilians. Addressing a press briefing, Air Marshal Bharti said, "Our fight is with the terrorists, our fight is not with the Pakistan Military or Pakistan civilians, so that is very clear. We are very clear in our targeting." The Air Marshal emphasised that the Indian Armed Forces showcased their effectiveness through precise strikes during Operation Sindoor. "Our counter systems and trained air defence operators are fully capable, and our nation's indigenous capability has proven its effectiveness. It has been demonstrated that no matter what kind of technology emerges, we are prepared to counter it. There is no need for excessive words, you have seen with your own eyes the consequences we have delivered," he stated. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai." PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. "After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said. PM Modi said India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
All nine accused, including Thirunavukkarasu, Sabarirajan, Sathish, Vasanthakumar, Manivannan, Heranpal, Babu, Arulanandam, and Arunkumar, were presented in front of the court on Tuesday morning.

The Pollachi sexual assault and gang rape case took place in 2019 when nine men allegedly assaulted a young woman. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated the case, and the trial was completed in the Coimbatore Women's Court.

In the Pollachi sex scandal, more than 50 women were allegedly lured and sexually harassed by a gang of four and the acts were video-graphed. DMK leaders had alleged that the Tamil Nadu police failed to take action in the Pollachi case as there was the involvement of some people from the ruling AIADMK.

The trial was held based on 50 witnesses, and more than 240 documents were presented on behalf of the government in front of the court. Additionally, eight women testified against the nine accused. (ANI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the family of Sukhwinder Kaur, a resident of Khai Ke village, Ferozepur, who died from injuries sustained in a Pakistani drone attack. The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the tragic demise of Sukhwinder Kaur. "Our government stands firmly with her family during this time of immense pain, and we are committed to providing all possible support to help them cope with this devastating loss," the chief minister said. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora also extended financial assistance, announcing Rs 2 lakh for Kaur's family to aid them in this difficult period. Sukhwinder Kaur, along with her husband Lakhwinder Singh, is undergoing treatment at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) following the attack. Kaur sustained burn injuries and has remained in critical condition since the incident. Despite medical efforts, she passed away early Tuesday. Lakhwinder Singh, who has also suffered burns, continues to receive treatment. Pakistan resorted to cross-border shelling along the western border after India carried out Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. Border villages bore the brunt of it. In response to the cross-border shelling and drone attack, India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Chants of Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Matram echoed at the Adampur Air base in Punjab as Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with the Air Warriors and other soldiers' days after India's stupendous success in Operation Sindoor. Earlier this morning, PM Modi arrived at the Air Force Station Adampur and met the brave air warriors and soldiers. A visible wave of happiness could be seen amongst the men in unfiorm as they celebrated their success. PM Modi in a post on X, said that it was very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, " the PM said in a post on X. (ANI)
BJP leader and Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashoka on Tuesday said that the Tiranga Yatra would be held in Bengaluru on May 15. He further stated that the campaign would be held in the state for one week after and urged people to participate in the non-political campaign. "To show our support to Operation Sindoor and armed forces, we will be holding Tiranga yatra across Karnataka. In Bengaluru, we will be holding Tiranga yatra on 15th (May) and in the rest of the places in Karnataka, one week after that. This is non-political...all people should participate in this..." Ashoka said speaking to ANI. The campaign will be carried out by BJP across the country from May 13 to May 23, as per sources. Senior BJP leaders, including Sambit Patra, BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh, will coordinate the Tiranga Yatra. Prominent Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states, and senior party leaders will lead the processions in different parts of the country, according to sources. The campaign will also involve ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent social figures who will lead the yatra. During the campaign, the party will reach out to citizens across the nation to raise awareness about Operation Sindoor and its significance for India's security and sovereignty. As part of this campaign, the BJP will organise press conferences throughout the country to highlight the success of Operation Sindoor. The party will also leverage social media influencers to amplify the message and reach a wider audience, source told ANI. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties.(ANI)
Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday asserted that India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent retaliations has sent a clear message to Pakistan that using terrorism as an instrument of state policy will invite severe consequences. Tewari lauded the Indian Armed Forces for their execution of Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) after the attack that claimed 26 lives. "One thing is very evident, that a message has gone to Pakistan that if it continues to use terror as an instrument of state policy, there will be punitive consequences, and those punitive consequences in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre were executed by the Indian Armed Forces," Tewari told ANI. He emphasised that the operation, launched on May 7, demonstrated India's resolve to counter Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism. Tewari expressed hope that Pakistan's leadership would reconsider its approach, noting its use of "nuclear blackmail" for state-sponsored terrorism. "I think the Pakistani leadership would have realised that it cannot be business as usual. They cannot use nuclear blackmail in order to continue with state-sponsored terror. I do hope that the Pakistani leadership, both the civilian leadership and more importantly the military leadership and even most importantly the Pakistani deep state, which has spawned these semi-state actors, would get the message very clearly," the Congress MP stated. Tewari's comments came following the May 10 understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. This came after India's decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said that a Parliament session should be conducted to praise the Armed Forces' bravery and thank them for their sacrifice. "The country's army has given a befitting reply. At least a Parliament session should be conducted to praise their bravery and thank them for their sacrifice," Tejashwi Yadav told reporters. Several opposition leaders have urged the Centre to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam Terror Attack, Operation Sindoor and the announcement of cessation of hostilities first from Washington DC and later by the Governments of India and Pakistan. On Monday, the RJD leader met the family of BSF Sub Inspector Mohammed Imtiaz, who lost his life during shelling by Pakistan in J-K. "Yesterday, I met his son, but I was not able to meet other family members. So, I will meet his other family members and express my condolences to them. We are proud of him as a Bihar's son sacrificed his life for the nation's security," the RJD leader said. SF Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imtiaz, who lost his life in the line of duty due to cross-border shelling from Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector on Saturday, was a resident of Bihar's Chhapra. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur Air Base in Jalandhar and interacted with Air Warriors days after the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation," the PM said in a post on X. In his address to the Nation on Monday, PM Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai," the PM said. PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has declared the results of the 10th board exams held in February-March 2025. The results were announced online at 1 pm on May 13. According to the board, 15,58,020 regular students registered for the exam, of which 15,46,579 students appeared and 14,55,433 passed. The Konkan Division Board has emerged as the top-performing division with a pass percentage of 98.82%. On the other hand, the Nagpur Division Board has recorded the lowest pass percentage at 90.78%. The pass percentages of other divisions are as follows: Kolhapur (96.87%), Mumbai (95.84%), Pune (94.81%), Nashik (93.04%), Amravati (92.95%), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (92.82%), and Latur (92.77%). Girls have once again outperformed boys in the 10th board exams, with a pass percentage of 96.14% compared to 92.31% for boys. The overall pass percentage for the state is 94.11%. Students who appeared for the exam can access the Maharashtra Board 10th result 2025 online. The result declaration marks a significant milestone for students preparing for future academic endeavours. Students who appeared for the exam can access the Maharashtra Board 10th result 2025 online. The result declaration marks a significant milestone for students preparing for future academic endeavours. With these results, students can now plan their next steps, whether pursuing higher education or exploring career opportunities. The MSBSHSE's efforts in conducting the exams and declaring the results promptly are commendable. The board's transparency and efficiency have ensured a smooth process for students, allowing them to focus on their plans. As students celebrate their achievements, they can look forward to the next stage of their academic journey, armed with the knowledge and skills acquired during their secondary education. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declared the class 10th examination results on Tuesday. A total of 93.66 % of students passed the examination, which was 0.06 % more than the previous year.95 % of girls passed the CBSE class 10th examination, which was 2.37 % more than the boys. The CBSE issued a press release and informed about the development. 22,388,27 students appeared for the examinations, out of which 20,95,467 students passed. Thiruvananthapuram achieved the highest passing percentage on the region basis, with 99.70 % of students passing the examination, whereas Assam's Guwahati was ranked at the bottom, with 84.14 % of students passing the examination.The CBSE class 10th examination was conducted between February 15 to March 18.Earlier, CBSE released the results of class 12th in which 88.39 per cent of students passed the examinations, which was 0.41 % more than the previous year.91 % of girls have passed the CBSE class 12th examinations this year, 5.94 %more than the boys. The CBSE issued a press release and informed about the development. (ANI) 1
Fifteen people have died and six others have been hospitalized after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Punjab's Amritsar. The incident has sparked outrage, with state officials taking swift action. Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemned the incident, stating, "Strict action is being taken against the accused. Within 12 hours, five individuals were arrested. Murder charges have been registered against them, and we will ensure they face capital punishment. This is a highly condemnable crime." The minister further clarified that methanol, which is used in industrial processes, was consumed by the victims. "Methanol is supplied by the central government, but we are taking strong action against those involved in this illicit act," Cheema added. An initial probe has been initiated, and authorities are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The current death toll stands at 15, and the situation continues to be under investigation. The condition of at least four people among those admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital after they consumed spurious liquor has deteriorated further, hospital authorities said on Tuesday. Nearly 14 people from five villages in the Majitha block of Amritsar had died after consuming the illicit liquor, and the toll is likely to increase as the condition of some of those admitted is said to be critical. Swarnjeet Dhawan, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of Civil Hospital Amritsar, said that the hospital authorities were waiting to conduct a post-mortem of the deceased. "We are waiting for police papers to conduct the post-mortem. This is a very unfortunate incident. People are still not aware of the consequences of consuming spurious liquor," SMO Dhawan told ANI. Arshdeep Singh, a person who fell ill due to the consumption of illicit liquor, said he had returned home from work late on Monday, after which he accompanied by a friend went into the village and consumed country liquor, following which their health deteriorated. "I had returned from work and had a few drinks from the desi liquor vend. I vomited as soon as I drank it. I felt a burning sensation in my stomach. This is the first time I have had such type of (spurious) liquor. Four people died after drinking it. Two of us have been saved," Singh, admitted in the Civil Hospital, told ANI. SMO Swarnjeet Dhawan said that nine bodies were transferred early this morning from a hospital in Majitha, where many people have died after consuming illicit liquor. He said that the bodies keep coming from Bhangali, Dhariwal, and Mardi Kalan villages. "I was informed around 1:00 AM about the deaths that have occurred in Majitha due to the consumption of spurious liquor. Around 1:30 AM, I reached the hospital and called my team to coordinate with the SMO Majitha for the transfer of bodies. Around 4:30 AM, nine bodies arrived here. One more body has arrived, and the family members said that the person consumed the liquor and didn't wake up after he went to sleep. One more body has come from the Talwandi village," SMO Dhawan said. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (Border Range) Satinder Singh said, "This is an unfortunate incident. Six people, including the kingpin and locals, have been arrested." The civil administration, along with the police, are going door-to-door in villages to take stock of people who might have consumed the spurious liquor and ensure that they are provided with timely treatment. The administration is making efforts to avoid further casualties in the illicit liquor case. Police said on Tuesday that the incident happened in five villages under the Majitha block in Amritsar. Majitha Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney told ANI, "An unfortunate tragedy has happened in Majitha. We got to know last night, we received reports from five villages that those who consumed liquor yesterday are in critical condition. We rushed our medical teams. Our medical teams are still going door-to-door." "Whether people have some symptoms or not, we are taking them to the hospital so that we can save them. 14 people have died so far. The Government is extending all the help possible. We are ensuring that this death toll doesn't increase...we have arrested the suppliers and further investigation is underway..." the Deputy Commissioner said. The police have arrested four other people in connection with the case, as they were involved in distributing the illicit liquor to villagers in Majitha. An FIR has been registered under sections 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 61A of the Excise Act. (ANI)
Three terrorist with affliation to the Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter in Shopian, South Kashmir on Tuesday. The confirmation of the identification of two out of three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-affiliated terrorists has been made, sources told ANI. Three of the terrorists were killed in the Shukroo forest area of Keller in the Shopian district. According to sources, one of the terrorists was identified as Shahid Kuttay, son of Mohd Yousuf Kuttay and a resident of Chotipora Heerpora in Shopian. He was a Category A, LeT operative who was involved in the firing incident at the Danish Resort in Srinagar on April 8, 2024, in which two German tourists and one driver were injured. He joined the terror outfit on March 8, 2023. Kuttay was involved in the killing of a BJP Sarpanch at Heerpora on May 18, 2024 and was suspect involved in the killing of Territorial Army Personnel at Behibagh in Kulgam on February 3, 2025. The other identified terrorist was Adnan Shafi Dar, son of Mohd Shafi Dar, who was a resident of Wanduna Melhora in Shopian. He joined the terror outfit on October 18, 2024 and was a category C LeT operative. He was involved in the killing of non-local labourers at Wachi in Shopian on October 18, 2024. However, the identity of the last terrorist is yet to be confirmed. According to the source, the terrorists were encountered around 8:00 am today following specific intelligence related to terrorists hiding in the Shukroo forest area of Keller. This came following a massive cordon-and-search operation launched in the forests of Kellar after receiving specific input about the presence of some terrorists in the region, as per a top police official. Meanwhile, posters were seen in different parts of Pulwama District, announcing Rs 20 lakh reward for information on terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches and identities of three terrorists said to be involved in the terror attack in Pahalgam. All three terrorists are affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and a bounty of Rs 20 lakh for each of the three terrorists was announced by the Police. The terror operatives were identified as Hussain Thoker, a native of Anantnag; Ali Bhai, also known as Talha Bhai; and Hasim Musa, also known as Suleiman. Of the three LeT operatives, Musa and Talha are suspected to be Pakistani terrorists, while Thokar is a Kashmiri local. The operation comes on the heels of India achieving stupendous success in Operation Sindoor, where precision strikes saw the elimination of nearly 100 terror operatives at key bases in Pakistan. Among the targets were Bhawalpur, the Headquarters of the Jaish and Muridke, a key training base of the Lashkar. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Party MP Manoj Jha applauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first address on Operation Sindoor and said that the whole nation awaited the address. Jha also applauded the army. Speaking to ANI, he said "The whole nation was waiting for this address...Today, the differences between the government and the opposition do not matter, which is good. Our army showed bravery, commitment and precision to those who nurture terrorism. PM Modi's statements confirm these things..." He further stated that the current situation was not no longer about the differences between the government and the opposition. "But I am tense about one thing. The US President announces a ceasefire before our official announcement. The next day, he gives factless and baseless statements about Kashmir. Yesterday, just before the PM's address, he (US President) said we have shown the threat of trade. This is no longer about the differences between the government and the opposition..." he further added. Meanwhile, BJP leader Gulam Ali Khatana applauded the PM's address to the nation and said that "terrorism and trade cannot go together, water and blood cannot flow together. "Reiterating PM Modi's message, the BJP leader stated that Pakistan should not have the misconception that they are nuclear power and their blackmailing won't work. "Terrorism and trade cannot go together, water and blood cannot flow together...PM Modi has clearly said that Pakistan should not be under the misconception that they are a nuclear power and their blackmailing will not work." Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "We thank Prime Minister Modi for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, it has boosted the morale of the countrymen... The morale of the people here has also increased because they believe that whatever is seen in the sky gets destroyed before it lands on the ground... After 2014, Prime Minister Modi emphasized on modernization of technology. He explained to us that we have to become self-reliant..." (ANI)
All gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric power project Dam built on the Chenab river in Ramban have been closed, officials said on Tuesday. Earlier on May 8, two gates of the Baglihar dam were opened. Water was released from the dam due to heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, which could cause flooding. India has kept the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India took a slew of measures, including the decision concerning Indus Waters Treaty, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indus system comprises of main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan with a small share for China and Afghanistan. Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of three rivers, namely Ravi,Sutlej and Beas ( Eastern Rivers) averaging around 33 million acre feet ( MAF) were allocated to India for exclusive use.The waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic , non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty. India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river(RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted. To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on Ravi. These storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc has helped India utilize most of the waters of waters of Eastern rivers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this month made a veiled reference to the Indus Waters Treaty and noted that India's rightful share of water was flowing beyond its borders. "India's water will remain within the nation, serving its rightful purpose for the country's development," he said. PM Modi also referred to the Indus Waters Treaty in his adress to the nation yesterday on Operation Sindoor in which Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Armed Forces also repelled the subsequent Pakistan aggression. Prime Minister said that the way the Pakistani army, Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. "If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India's stand is very clear... Terror and talks cannot go together... Terror and trade cannot go together.... Water and blood cannot flow together," PM Modi said. "Our greatest strength is our unity against all forms of terrorism. This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism. Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee for a better world," he added. (ANI)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday congratulated the class 10th and 12th students who passed their CBSE examinations, whose results were declared earlier in the day. Kharge shared a post on his official 'X' handle hailed the students for their success. In his post, the Congress president expressed the "deep gratitude" and "support" to the parents, teachers and others to the students. "My heartiest congratulations to all students who have successfully cleared the CBSE Standard X and XII examinations. May your future pursuits be even more successful. I also express my deep gratitude to the parents, guardians, and teachers for their invaluable support. To those who experienced setbacks, please do not get disheartened, and keep working hard. Hardwork never disappoints. This is only a journey. Keep working for India's future. Best wishes", Kharge wrote in his 'X' post. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the students of classes X and XII on Tuesday, who cleared their CBSE examinations after the results were announced today. The PM also shared words of encouragement for those who were disappointed with their results noting, "one exam cannot define you." Sharing a post on his official 'X' handle, PM Modi mentioned the students' determination, hard work and discipline. He also congratulated the parents, teachers, and others who contributed to helping the students achieve this feat. "Dear #ExamWarriors, Heartiest congratulations to everyone who has cleared the CBSE Class XII and X examinations! This is the outcome of your determination, discipline and hard work. Today is also a day to acknowledge the role played by parents, teachers and all others who have contributed to this feat. Wishing Exam Warriors great success in all the opportunities that lie ahead!", PM Modi's 'X' post said. "To those who feel slightly dejected at their scores, I want to tell them: one exam can never define you. Your journey is much bigger and your strengths go far beyond the mark sheet. Stay confident, stay curious because great things await." The CBSE class 10th and 12th examinations began from February 15 and concluded on March 18 and April 4 respectively. Class 10th students achieved a passing percentage of 93.66 whereas 88.39 per cent of students passed the Class 12th examination. Ninety one per cent of girls have passed the CBSE class 12th examinations this year, 5.94 per cent more than the boys. On the other hand, 95 per centage of girls passed the CBSE class 10th examination, which was 2.37 per centage more than the boys. A total of 22,388,27 students appeared for the examinations, out of which 20,95,467 students passed. Meanwhile, more than 16 lakh students appeared for the CBSE class 12th examinations, out of which more than 14 lakh passed the exams. Thiruvananthapuram achieved the highest passing percentage on a regional basis, with 99.70 per cent of students passing the examination, whereas Assam's Guwahati was ranked at the bottom, with 84.14 per cent of students passing the examination. Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada achieved the highest passing percentage in the region, with 99.60 per cent of the students who appeared passing the examination. Prayagraj stood at the bottom, where around 80 per cent of students passed the examination. (ANI)
The Public Works Department (PWD) Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Vikramaditya Singh, strongly backed the Indian government and armed forces in the aftermath of recent cross-border tensions with Pakistan, urging for national unity above party lines during such crucial moments for the country's internal security and sovereignty. Speaking to ANI, Vikramaditya Singh said that in such situations, it becomes the duty of every citizen to stand with the armed forces. "Whenever such issues arise, those that involve national unity, integrity, and internal security, it becomes the duty of every citizen, regardless of political ideology or party affiliation, to stand firmly behind our armed forces. We are Indians first, and we will continue to stand united with our security forces." He said. The Indian military launched precision strikes on terrorist bases located in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan, particularly targeting camps in Muridke in Punjab and Bhagalpur, believed to be hideouts for Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants. "The way our agencies and armed forces have acted over the past few days, and how our missiles have destroyed terrorist hideouts in PoK and Pakistan, including those of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, is commendable. The whole country is with them. This sends a strong message to the world that India will not tolerate terrorism at any cost," Singh asserted. Referring to the understanding reached between India and Pakistan to stop military action, he acknowledged that peace is desirable, but added that deterrence remains a priority: "Of course, we all want peace and harmony. But the Prime Minister has rightly ensured that there's a new normal now--any future terrorist attacks will not distinguish between non-state actors and the Pakistani state. If terrorism is state-sponsored, India will act accordingly." He added. He praised the opposition's constructive role in the crisis, specifically pointing to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call for a special session of Parliament, and Mallikarjun Kharge's demand as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha for a detailed government briefing. "The opposition has played a positive role. Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, has requested a special Lok Sabha session. Kharge ji has also suggested a government statement. I believe the government must consider this seriously. National unity is vital in such times, and what we show outside Parliament must also be reflected inside," he said. Touching upon the Indus Waters Treaty, Singh mentioned that the agreement remains under review. "The treaty is currently in abeyance. But we lack sufficient water holding capacity, proper channelisation systems, or even dams like AIIMS for water retention. If Pakistan-sponsored terrorism continues, India must act decisively. The entire nation is with our forces. But for now, we must adopt a wait-and-watch approach based on how Pakistan responds in the coming days," he said. He emphasised that national security must not be politicised. "This is not a political issue. It's about internal security and boosting the morale of our armed forces. Brave soldiers from Himachal Pradesh have laid down their lives. It's a matter of grief but also pride for us." Singh said. On being asked about the demand to ban apple imports from Turkey due to its strategic alignment with Pakistan and its alleged role in supplying drones used in India, Singh responded strongly. "Turkey's ties with Pakistan have been sensitive. Many of the drones sent into India have been linked to Turkey and China. The maximum impact of Turkish apple imports is felt by Himachal's apple growers. These imports lower duties and severely hit our Rs 4,500 crore apple economy." He said. He urged the Central Government to act decisively, saying, "We, along with the Chief Minister, will raise this issue with the Centre. Action must be taken not just economically but also strategically. It's crucial both from a national security and community standpoint." He added. (ANI)
After meeting residents affected by cross-border shelling in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the government will provide compensation to the people after the completion of damage assessment. "By God's grace, we haven't lost any lives here, but of course, there is a loss of public property like houses, shops, and Madrasa. The District Collector is with us. They will do the damage assessment. The assessment will be completed by today or tomorrow, and then the government will give compensation to the people accordingly. The immunity bunkers were made, but we didn't need them for a long time. And, we will try to build individual bunkers around border and LoC areas," J-K CM told reporters. Earlier in the day, J-K CM Omar Abdullah visited the Pakistani shelling-affected areas in Kupwara. "Visited the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar and met families who have shown remarkable courage amidst deep pain. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them, their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope," the Office of J-K CM posted on X. J-K CM also inspected the community bunkers in Tangdhar and ensured the construction of more such safer spaces to protect and support our people living in border areas. "Inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar. These structures are a lifeline during moments of crisis. We will ensure the construction of more such safer spaces to protect and support our people living in border areas," it added. CM Abdullah also visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara, where people injured in Pakistan shelling a few days ago, are undergoing treatment. Heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan had caused damage to homes and religious sites in J-K's Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch. Locals vowed to stand with the Indian army despite the attacks. Meanwhile, after India and Pakistan came to an understanding on the cessation of hostilities, life is slowly returning to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. However, local residents of a border village in the Samba district feared the Pakistan army after blasts were heard on Monday night and splinters hit one of the houses. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai." PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. "After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring paid condolences to the families of those who have died after consuming spurious liquor while demanding time-bound action against the guilty. Warring said that the guilty must be identified and punished after being tried in a fast-track court. "Devastating news from Majitha in Amritsar district. @ANI reports 14 people have died after consuming spurious liquor. My condolences to the bereaved families. Guilty must be identified and given exemplary punishment after being tried in a fast-track court. We need time-bound action. Such people deserve to be hanged from lamp posts for playing with the lives of people," the Punjab Congress chief posted on X. He also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state, questioning the workings of the state government over the death of 14 people due to the consumption of illicit liquor in Amritsar's Majitha. While addressing a public meeting in Birmi village of Ludhiana, Warring said that the functioning of the state government regarding the entire matter was under question. He also questioned the claims of the state government regarding drugs. A total of nine accused have been arrested in connection with the illicit liquor case, where 14 people have died in Amritsar's Majitha and several have been hospitalised, an official said on Tuesday, adding that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) Majitha have been suspended for "gross negligence". According to Director-General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the Punjab police have arrested nine persons, including the kingpin of the racket, and the investigation to uncover the entire modus operandi of the illicit liquor trade was underway. "Nine persons, including the kingpin of the racket and several local distributors, have been arrested in connection with the illicit liquor trade. Methanol, after being procured online, was used for spurious liquor manufacture. Investigation is underway to uncover the entire modus operandi and to bring all involved to justice," DGP Yadav posted on X. He said that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Excise Act. "FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS & Excise Act. DSP Subdivision Majitha & SHO Police Station Majitha have been suspended for gross negligence. Departmental inquiries have been initiated against the delinquents," the DGP added. The civil administration, along with the police, are going door-to-door in villages to take stock of people who might have consumed the spurious liquor and ensure that they are provided with timely treatment. The administration is making efforts to avoid further casualties in the illicit liquor case. Police said on Tuesday that the incident happened in five villages under the Majitha block in Amritsar. (ANI)
Family members and friends of BSF Constable Deepak Chingakham on Tuesday paid their last respects to the jawan who lost his life in the line of duty. Chingakham had lost his life in the line of duty due to cross-border firing that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector on May 10. On May 12, his family members and relatives mourned his demise. His uncle, Chingakham Surjit Singh, shared, "He was 23 years old and loved sports. He joined the BSF in 2021. We are proud of him, and he will always be remembered." Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid respects to BSF Constable Deepak Chingakham during his wreath-laying ceremony in Jammu on Monday. Earlier, DG BSF and All Ranks paid condolences to Deepak Chingakham. "DG BSF and All Ranks salute the supreme sacrifice made by Constable Deepak Chingakham in the line of duty. He was injured in crossborder fire by Pakistan on 10th May 2025 along the International Boundary in the R S Pura area, Jammu. He succumbed to his injuries today, on 11th May 2025," BSF said in a post on X." Prahari Pariwar stands firm with the bereaved family in these trying times," the post read. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit Kali Thanda village in Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh to meet the family of another jawan Murali Naik who lost his life during the cross border firing. Earlier on May 9, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu paid tribute to the army jawan. According to an official release from the TDP, Chandrababu Naidu condoled the demise of the young soldier from Ananthapuram district.Naidu spoke with Murali's parents, Jyotibai and Ram Naik, and assured them of the state government's support. He praised Murali's invaluable service in the army over the past two years and called on everyone to stand united with patriotism and vigilance.CM Naidu also urged everybody to observe two minutes of silence in honour of Murali Naik's sacrifice. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into violent protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in Murshidabad, West Bengal. The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, declined to entertain the petition, suggesting the petitioner approach the Calcutta High Court instead. "We see no reason to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, as the petitioner has an alternative, efficacious remedy to approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution", the top court bench stated in its order. The plea was filed by one Satish Kumar Agarwal, who flagged the failure of state authorities to discharge their duties/responsibilities to protect the life and property of Murshidabad residents. The counsel appearing for the petitioner, advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, began his submissions by informing the court of the failure of state authorities to investigate the violence that led to the death of Hindu persons. "Because the Police Administration of the State of West Bengal has miserably failed in discharging its duty/ responsibility in protecting the life and property of Hindus. The ghastly incident of murder, arson and loot which took place from April 8, 2025, to April 12, 2025 in Murshidabad, West Bengal has caused an exodus. The Court, however, strongly suggested that the counsel approach the Calcutta High Court, stating that the matter strictly pertains to West Bengal and there is no reason for the top court to entertain such a plea. The Court noted that the petitioner has an alternative, efficacious remedy to approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution. "Tell us who is preventing you from going to the High Court. It is the constitutional court having powers even better than the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution. The case pertains to only one state. What message does it give to the High Court," the Court stated. The petitioner's counsel highlighted a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report alleging human rights violations, which the Court found insufficient to warrant its intervention. "The NHRC report is very disturbing", the counsel said. The bench emphasised that the matter pertains to a single state, making it more suitable for the High Court to handle. "If the Petitioner perceives any threat to his life and liberty, he may file the petition online. The hearing can also take place through Video Conferencing (VC). We direct the High Court (officials) to extend some specialities (to the petitioner). The bench remarked that such petitions are often filed to create a scene, suggesting that the petitioner's intent might be more publicity-driven than seeking genuine justice. "These are only to create a scene. This is all hype being created, we know all this", Justice Surya Kant stated. (ANI)
Prime Minister on Tuesday lauded the Indian Armed Force on the stupendous success of the operation stating that that the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country, adding that when it echoes in the war field as well as in the missions. Addressing the armed forces at the Adampur Air Base, Prime Minister Modi further said that the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is also the voice of every citizen who wants to live for the country and do something for the country. "'Bharat Mata ki Jai' maidaan mein bhi goonjti hai aur mission mein bhi. Jab Bharat ke sainik Maa Bharati bolte hai toh dushman ke kaleje kaanp jaate hai... Bharat Mata ki Jai. The world has just seen the power of this slogan. Bharat Mata ki Jai is not just a slogan, Bharat Mata ki Jai is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. It is the voice of every citizen who wants to live for the country and do something for the country." "'Bharat Mata ki Jai' maidaan mein bhi goonjti hai aur mission mein bhi. Jab Bharat ke sainik Maa Bharati bolte hai toh dushman ke kaleje kaanp jaate hai... (Bharat Mata ki Jai reverberates in the fields and mission too... when the soldiers of India chant Mother India ki Jai, the hearts of the enemies tremble.)," he added. The Prime Minister further said that the Indian defence forces have created history and made billions of Indian proud. "When our drones destroy the walls of the enemy's fort. When our missile reaches its target with a stunning sound, we tell the enemy, Jai Bharat Mata. When we raise the slogan, we show the enemy, Jai Bharat Mata. When our armies let out the threat of nuclear blackmail, only one thing resounds from the sky to the depths, Jai Bharat Mata. You all have made millions of Indians proud. You have raised the pride of every Indian. You have created history," he said. "I can proudly say that all of you reached your target with perfection. In Pakistan, it was not just the terrorist camps and their air bases that were destroyed, but their nefarious designs and audacity were also defeated," he said Prime Minister Modi who travelled to Adampur Air Base in Jalandhar today interacted with Air Warriors days after the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. PM Modi was also briefed by Air Force personnel at the base. "Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation, " the PM said in a post on X. The Adampur base was one of the Air Bases active during Op Sindoor. On Monday, DG Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that the purpose of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorists, and not to engage with the Pakistan Military or Pakistani civilians. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the forces had been given full freedom to wipe out terrorists. In his address to the Nation, PM Modi said, "Every terror organisation now knows 'ki hamari behano, betiyon ke maathe se Sindoor hatane ka anjaam kya hota hai." PM Modi said Indian Air Force, Army Navy, Border Security Force and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert." After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said." Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Kesineni Sivanath on Tuesday hailed Operation Sindoor as a resounding success, lauding the Indian Armed Forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dismantling the terror camps and the subsequent attacks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Sivanath also expressed his unwavering support for the central government's firm stance on terrorism. "Operation Sindoor is a very successful operation. We are with the armed forces and the central government. We thank our Prime Minister for destroying the terrorist hideouts and making the huge success of these operations," Sivanath said. Echoing Prime Minister Modi's address to the nation, Sivanath emphasised that India's dialogue with Pakistan would be strictly limited to addressing terrorism and the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "He also said that the talks will be only on ending terrorism and PoK. There will be no talks about commerce and other things. We are with you, and we thank all the defence personnel behind this operation," he stated, reaffirming the TDP's alignment with the central government's position. Earlier on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the Prime Minister's speech marked a significant shift in India's security doctrine. "Today, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji didn't just speak; he shaped India's new doctrine," Naidu wrote in a post on X. He described the address as a "stern warning to Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and a clear message of strength to the world". Noting that the speech coincided with Buddha Purnima, he said, "We walk the path to peace, but we also practice Zero Tolerance towards terrorism." Naidu added that India's use of indigenous drones and defence systems during Operation Sindoor had demonstrated its readiness for modern warfare. "Our Made-in-India defence technology has shown our readiness for modern warfare to protect our nation, making every Indian proud," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, during his address to the nation on Operation Sindoor, outlined three key pillars of India's security doctrine. Firstly, he mentioned "Decisive Retaliation". It is when any terrorist attack on India occurs; it will be met with a strong and resolute response and it will retaliate on its own terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is "No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail". He noted that India will not be intimidated by any nuclear threats, and any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes. The third one being "No Distinction Between Terror Sponsors and Terrorists", in which the PM stated that India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Indian Armed Forces have created history by their precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor and had demolished Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". Interacting with air warriors and soldiers at Air Force Station Adampur, PM Modi said when India's missiles reach the target, the enemy hears 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. PM Modi's visit to Adampur airbase came a day after his address to the nation in which he had said that India "will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail" and "will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail". India and Pakistan have reached an understanding on stopping firing and military action following a call made by the Pakistani DGMO to his Indian counterpart on Saturday. After India's precision strikes under Operation Sindoor in response to Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, Pakistan forces resorted to military aggression which was effectively repelled by the Indian Armed Forces who also pounded Pakistan airbases. "When our drones destroy the walls of the enemy's fort, when our missiles reach the target with a whizzing sound, the enemy hears 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. When we light up the sun even at night, the enemy sees 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. When our armies blow away the threat of nuclear blackmail, then only one thing resonates from the sky- 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. All of you have made millions of Indians proud, have made every Indian's mother proud, you have created history, and I have come among you this morning to see you," he said. PM Modi said that "Bharat Mata ki Jai" is the voice of every citizen who wants to live for the country and do something for the country "'Bharat Mata ki Jai' maidaan mein bhi goonjti hai aur mission mein bhi. Jab Bharat ke sainik Maa Bharati bolte hai toh dushman ke kaleje kaanp jaate hai..." He says "Bharat Mata ki Jai is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. It is the voice of every citizen who wants to live for the country and do something for the country," he said. The Prime Minister referred to Pakistani aggression after Operation Sindoor and said they tried to attack Adampur airbase. "Rattled with Operation Sindoor, the enemy tried to attack this air base and several of our other air bases multiple times. They targeted us again and again but the nefarious designs of Pakistan failed each time," he said. "I can proudly say that all of you reached your target with perfection. In Pakistan, it was not just the terrorist camps and their air bases that were destroyed, but their nefarious designs and audacity were also defeated," he added. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, on Tuesday, extended wishes to all students who passed the CBSE Class 12th examinations, the results of which were declared earlier today. In a post on X, CM Sharma wrote, "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the students who have passed the class 12th examination results declared by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). This golden success is the result of your hard work, determination and tireless efforts." While addressing the students who may not have received the expected results, the Chief Minister further added, "Also, students who did not get the expected results should not be disappointed. Both success and failure in life are means of learning. I pray to God for a bright future for all of you." The CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 examinations were held from February 15 and concluded on March 18 and April 4, respectively. The Class 10 students achieved a pass percentage of 93.66%, while 88.39% of Class 12 students passed the examination. 91 per cent of girls have passed the CBSE class 12th examinations this year, 5.94 per cent more than the boys. On the other hand, 95 per cent of girls passed the CBSE class 10th examination, which was 2.37 per cent more than the boys. A total of 22,388,27 students appeared for the examinations, out of which 20,95,467 students have passed. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the students. The PM shared words of encouragement for those who were disappointed with their results, noting, "One exam cannot define you." Sharing a post on his official 'X' handle, PM Modi mentioned the students' determination, hard work and discipline. He also extended wishes to the parents, teachers, and others who contributed to helping students achieve this feat. "Dear #ExamWarriors, Heartiest congratulations to everyone who has cleared the CBSE Class XII and X examinations! This is the outcome of your determination, discipline and hard work. Today is also a day to acknowledge the role played by parents, teachers and all others who have contributed to this feat. Wishing Exam Warriors great success in all the opportunities that lie ahead!", the Prime Minister said. "To those who feel slightly dejected at their scores, I want to tell them: one exam can never define you. Your journey is much bigger, and your strengths go far beyond the mark sheet. Stay confident, stay curious because great things await." (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Minister for Sainik Welfare, Colonel (Retired) Dhani Ram Shandil, on Tuesday, emphasised the importance of responsible leadership and peaceful diplomacy amid tensions between India and Pakistan. Reacting to recent statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding cross-border issues and national security, Shandil said that all country people are united on the issue. "A Prime Minister carries a huge responsibility, and they must fulfil that responsibility with seriousness. Whatever he said is indeed worth serious thought. Both the ruling party and the opposition are standing together with him," said Shandil. "War is never a solution to any problem. I've fought three wars myself. Dialogue is the only way forward," he said. Shandil, who served as an army officer and is also a military scholar, pointed out the consistent strategy of Pakistan to destabilise India through a slow, continuous campaign of proxy warfare. "If we look at Pakistan, their approach has always been that of 'bleeding the nation.' I have been a soldier in the army and a military student too. I have seen Pakistan's activities and the way they have structured them, this 'bleed India' doctrine, where they keep inflicting small but continuous damage, so that India cannot progress," he said. Expressing shock over recent developments in Pakistan, the Himachal Pradesh Minister noted, "It is truly astonishing that a Chief of Army Staff is saluting a terrorist upon his death. In service, they even elevate terrorists by making them religious leaders or Maulvis," he said. Shandil warned of the grave consequences if such provocations continue unchecked. "If once again such acts happen, which have now been stopped, the world must be made aware. Both nations in Asia are nuclear-armed. But there must be stability in this region," he urged. Advocating for peace and economic growth, he added, "If we want economic development and progress, then absolutely no to war, that is my belief." Colonel Shandil also dismissed the idea of third-party mediation in the India-Pakistan conflict. "I don't think any kind of mediation will help, nor has it ever helped. We believe in direct dialogue. Intervention by America or any other external player is not acceptable," he said. India has launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. (ANI)
In a resolute and fiery address to Air Force soldiers at Adampur air base, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a clear and uncompromising message to those who threaten India's sovereignty and security. "Bharat ke taraf nazar uthane ke liye ek hi anjam hai--tabahi (There is only one answer to raising eyes towards India--destruction)," PM Modi declared, reinforcing the nation's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and cross-border aggression. Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister highlighted the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces. "The ones who dared to challenge us faced the might of our soldiers. Nine terror hideouts were destroyed. Over 100 terrorists eliminated. Their leaders now understand--raising eyes towards India only invites ruin," he said. His voice thundered with resolve as he issued a stark warning, "Bharat mein nirdosh logon ka khoon bahaane ka ek hi anjaam hoga--vinash aur mahavinash (There will be only one result for shedding the blood of innocent people in India--destruction and great destruction)." Standing shoulder to shoulder with the guardians of the skies, PM Modi saluted the valour, commitment, and unmatched strength of India's defence forces, sending a loud and clear message to the enemies. Addressing the air force personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The enemies tried to provoke the Indian Armed Forces, but you responded from the frontlines with force and precision. Their key operatives were eliminated. Nine terrorist hideouts were destroyed, and over 100 terrorists were neutralised. Now, they've understood clearly--raising eyes against India will lead to only one outcome: destruction. And shedding the blood of innocent Indians will bring just one result: destruction--and total annihilation." Prime Minister Narendra Modi further sent out a decisive message to Pakistan and the terror networks operating under its shelter, declaring that the Indian Armed Forces--Army, Air Force, and Navy--have proven their might across every front. "The Pakistani army, under whose shelter these terrorists were relying upon, has been defeated by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Navy. The Pakistani forces have been given a message that there is no such place in Pakistan where terrorists can sit and breathe freely," he said. "Ham ghar mai ghuskar marenge, aur bachne ka ek mauka nai denge. We will storm their homes and destroy them--we won't give them even a chance to escape," said the Prime Minister. Highlighting India's advanced defence capabilities, PM Modi stated, "For days, Pakistan will lose sleep thinking about our drones and our missiles." Highlighting India's growing strength in modern warfare, PM Modi invoked the enduring spirit of heroism with poetic flair. Quoting lines once dedicated to Maharana Pratap's legendary horse Chetak, he said, "Kaushal dikhlaya chaalo mai, udd gaya bhayanak bhalo mai, nirbheek gaya vo dhalo mai, sarpat dauda karwalo mai." "These words were written for Chetak, but they resonate just as powerfully with the precision and bravery embodied in our modern weapons today," PM Modi said, drawing a direct line from India's historical valour to its present-day military might. Lauding the success of Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister praised the armed forces for their courage and unity. "My brave friends, through Operation Sindoor, you have strengthened the very soul of our nation. You have bound India in a thread of unity, defended its honour, and raised the self-respect of our country to new heights," he said. Prime Minister Modi also lauded the armed forces on the stupendous success of the operation stating that that the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country, adding that when it echoes in the war field as well as in the missions. He said that the Indian armed forces have created history by their precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor and had demolished Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". Prime Minister Modi, who travelled to Adampur Air Base in Jalandhar today, interacted with Air Warriors days after the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. He was also briefed by Air Force personnel at the base. The Adampur base was one of the Air Bases active during Operation Sindoor. On Monday, DG Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that the purpose of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorists, and not to engage with the Pakistan Military or Pakistani civilians. After the surgical strike and air strike, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said. "Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
In a strong display national solidarity, BJP leader C N Ashwath Narayan announced that a Tiranga Yatra will be held in Bengaluru on May 15 following the success of 'Operation Sindoor' and urged citizens to participate in the event and express their gratitude to the armed forces. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Narayan said, "We will be holding Tiranga yatra in Bengaluru on 15th May. We welcome all the citizens of Bengaluru to come forward, participate and express our gratitude to our soldiers who have done extremely well..." Narayan also shed light on the swift and powerful actions taken by the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor. "After the Pahalgam attack, we wanted to express our solidarity, we wanted to give appreciation to our soldiers...they could destroy Pakistan air base and terror sites...this is the greatest display of India's strength that our modern warfare is on par with the most developed countries," he said. "We can't tolerate terrorism and the people who are backing terrorists. And so Pakistan completely surrendered and came forward urging not to escalate 'Operation Sindoor'," he added further. The campaign will be carried out by BJP across the country from May 13 to May 23, as per sources. Senior BJP leaders, including Sambit Patra, BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh, will coordinate the Tiranga Yatra. Prominent Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states, and senior party leaders will lead the processions in different parts of the country, according to sources. The campaign will also involve ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent social figures who will lead the yatra. During the campaign, the party will reach out to citizens across the nation to raise awareness about Operation Sindoor and its significance for India's security and sovereignty. As part of this campaign, the BJP will organise press conferences throughout the country to highlight the success of Operation Sindoor. The party will also leverage social media influencers to amplify the message and reach a wider audience, source told ANI. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated India's firm stance on terrorism, emphasising that the country will not tolerate any form of terrorism and will take decisive action against terrorists. Speaking at the Adampur Air Base, PM Modi said, "Hum ghar mein ghus kar maarenge aur bachne ka ek mauka tak nahi denge" (We will beat you inside your house, will not give you a chance to escape). PM Modi travelled to Adampur Air Base in Jalandhar today and interacted with Air Warriors, days after the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Praising the Indian Armed Forces on the astounding success of the Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Modi asserted that Indian defence forces have defeated the Pakistani army on which these terrorists were relying for their safety. "The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have defeated the Pakistani Army, on which these terrorists were relying. There is no such place in Pakistan where terrorists can sit and breathe in peace," the PM said. Stating that India's policy against terrorism is 'crystal clear', the Prime Minister stated that Operation Sindoor is India's new normal and India will give a solid reply. "India's 'Laxman Rekha' against terrorism is crystal clear now. If another terror attack occurs now, India will give a reply - a solid reply. We saw this during surgical strike, during air strike. Now, Operation Sindoor is India's new normal," he said. Prime Minister Modi reiterated the three key pillars of India's security doctrine - India will respond to a terrorist attack in its own way; it will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail; and it will not differentiate between terror-supporting governments and terror masterminds. The PM said, "Like I said yesterday, India has decided on three points. First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, we will give a reply in our way, on our terms, on our time. Second, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. Third, we will not see terror-supporting governments and terror masterminds as separate entities. The world, too, is going ahead with understanding India's new form and system." On Monday, in a bold and unequivocal message to the nation following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will no longer tolerate nuclear blackmail and will respond to any terrorist attack with strict and decisive action. "Operation Sindoor is now India's established policy in the fight against terrorism, marking a decisive shift in India's strategic approach", he declared, stating that the operation has set a new standard, a new normal in counter-terrorism measures. In a first address to the nation since India's military retaliation 'Operation Sindoor,' PM Modi on Monday outlined three key pillars of India's security doctrine. Firstly, the 'Decisive Retaliation,' any terrorist attack on India will be met with a strong and resolute response. India will retaliate on its terms, targeting terror hubs at their roots. The second is 'No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail.' PM Modi said India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats. Any terrorist safe haven operating under this pretext will face precise and decisive strikes. The third pillar is 'No distinction between terror sponsors and terrorists.' PM Modi said India will no longer see terrorist leaders and the governments sheltering them as separate entities. (ANI)
Union Minister L Murugan on Tuesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian defence forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, stating that our soldiers have completely demolished the terrorist training camps and taught them a lesson. The Union Minister further stated that India and its people will not tolerate terrorism in any way, and it must be crushed. Minister Murugan said to reporters at the party office in Thoothukudi, "Yesterday at 8 pm, our Indian Prime Minister clearly stated our stance against terrorism. Our nation and people cannot tolerate terrorism in any way. We have shown through Operation Sindoor that a befitting reply will be given to it. The contribution of the soldiers in protecting the nation is immense. He said that he would express his appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu and the people of Thoothukudi for their sacrifice." "We have proven that our nation is more important to us than anything else. Pakistan is continuously operating training camps for terrorists. Our Indian Prime Minister and soldiers have completely demolished the terrorist training camps and taught the terrorists a lesson. Terrorism cannot be accepted in any way and must be crushed. Terrorism and talks cannot go together. People from all walks of life in our country have shown their solidarity to the outside world", the Union Minister added. These remarks came when Union Minister L Murugan attended the newly elected district executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Thoothukudi South District. While answering a question over the crime against women, L Murugan emphasised that the law will do its duty, and whoever the culprits are, strict action will be taken against them. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Indian Armed Force on the stupendous success of the operation stating that that the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country, adding that when it echoes in the war field as well as in the missions. Addressing the armed forces at the Adampur Air Base on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi further said that the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is also the voice of every citizen who wants to live for the country and do something for the country." He said, "'Bharat Mata ki Jai' maidaan mein bhi goonjti hai aur mission mein bhi. Jab Bharat ke sainik Maa Bharati bolte hai toh dushman ke kaleje kaanp jaate hai... Bharat Mata ki Jai. The world has just seen the power of this slogan. Bharat Mata ki Jai is not just a slogan; Bharat Mata ki Jai is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. It is the voice of every citizen who wants to live for the country and do something for the country." "'Bharat Mata ki Jai' maidaan mein bhi goonjti hai aur mission mein bhi. Jab Bharat ke sainik Maa Bharati bolte hai toh dushman ke kaleje kaanp jaate hai... (Bharat Mata ki Jai reverberates in the fields and mission too... when the soldiers of India chant Mother India ki Jai, the hearts of the enemies tremble)," he added. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, emphasising minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on violent protests that took place in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, after the enactment of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. A bench led by Justice Surya Kant found no reason to entertain the plea and suggested the petitioner to approach the High Court. "We see no reason to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, as the petitioner has an alternative, efficacious remedy to approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution", the top-court bench stated in its order. The plea was filed by one Satish Kumar Agarwal, who flagged the failure of state authorities in discharging their duties/responsibilities to protect the life and property of Murshidabad residents. The counsel appearing for the petitioner, advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, began his submissions informing the court of the failure of state authorities to investigate the violence that led to the death of people from the Hindu community. "Because the Police Administration of the State of West Bengal has miserably failed in discharging its duty/responsibility in protecting the life and property of Hindus. The ghastly incident of murder, arson and loot which took place from April 8, 2025, to April 12, 2025, in Murshidabad, West Bengal has caused an exodus," the counsel said. The Court, however strongly suggested the counsel to approach the Calcutta High Court, stating that the matter strictly pertains to West Bengal and there is no reason for the top court to entertain such a plea. "Tell us who is preventing you from going to the High Court. It is the constitutional court having powers even better than the Supreme Court under Article 32 (of the Constitution). The case pertains to only one state..What message does it give to the High Court?" the Court stated. The counsel further informed the Court about a report issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in this regard, alleging that various human rights violations had taken place. "The NHRC report is very disturbing", the counsel said. After considering the submissions, the Court dismissed the plea, issuing directions for the petitioner to approach the High Court. "If the Petitioner perceives any threat to his life and liberty, he may file the petition online. The hearing can also take place through Video Conferencing (VC). We direct the High Court (officials) to extend some specialities (to the petitioner)," the bench said. The bench also remarked that such petitions are filed before the top court, only to create a scene. "These are only to create a scene. This is all hype being created, we know all this", Justice Surya Kant stated. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a Cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya in Bhopal on Tuesday, and the council of ministers granted in-principle approval to a plan to manage wild elephants and reduce human-elephant conflict, with a total outlay of Rs 47.11 crores. According to an official release, the plan spans four financial years--from 2023-24 to 2026-27. Under the plan, Rs 1.52 crore has already been spent on elephant safety and monitoring during the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25. As per the decision, a provision of Rs 20 crore is made for the year 2025-26 and Rs 25.59 crore for 2026-27, bringing the total budget for four years to Rs 47.11 crores. The comprehensive plan focuses on areas within protected zones where elephants are known to move or reside, as well as regions outside such zones. It includes provisions for the safety and monitoring of wild elephants, as well as habitat management and development. Control rooms will be set up for elephant monitoring, and various infrastructure will be developed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. E-eye surveillance systems will be established and operated. Rescue and rehabilitation efforts for wild animals will also be undertaken. The plan also includes training programs for local villagers, Forest Department personnel, and officials from other departments to manage human-elephant conflict in affected areas. Different types of fencing -- including solar-powered fencing -- will be installed. Rapid Response Teams will be formed to handle emergencies, and necessary equipment will be procured. Patrolling vehicles and radio collars will be purchased for monitoring and tracking activities. Additionally, the cabinet granted permission for the formation of a dedicated 'Haathi Mitra Dal' (Elephant Friend Team), which will play a key role in the implementation of elephant conservation and conflict mitigation efforts. (ANI)
Rattled by India's precision strikes on terror infrastructure it nurtures in its territory and that under its control in response to Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan made noise about its rights under the UN Charter but Islamabad has itself shown scarce respect for International Law as evidenced by its by its indiscriminate shelling against unarmed civilians which killed over 20 people (mostly Muslims) in Jammu and Kashmir. Many civilians have been injured in Pakistani shelling and those killed include four children. Pakistan's targeting of a Gurudwara, temple, and Madarsa exemplify which playbook they follow. Pakistan launched a targeted attack on the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir, hitting a Gurdwara in Poonch and the homes of Sikh community members. At least three individuals were killed in this attack. Pakistan's escalatory action following India's precision strikes under Operation Sindoor caused huge suffering to civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses. Visuals showed damaged civilian infrastructure, shattered window panes, cracked walls, and debris scattered across the lanes of villages. The disinformation by Pakistan claimed that they did not target any religious place. Instead of owning up to these attacks, Pakistan made the preposterous and outrageous claims that it was the Indian Armed Forces were targeting cities like Amritsar and trying to put the blame on Pakistan. "This is nothing but a desperate attempt by Pakistan to disown its acts of aggression. But it is also true to type in its effort to deceive and mislead the world. It will not succeed. The Gurdwara in Poonch in particular was attacked by Pakistan and some local members of the Sikh community, including Ragi of the Gurdwara, lost their lives in this incident," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said in his media briefings. "In addition, that we would attack our own cities is the kind of deranged fantasy that only the Pakistani State can come up with. Perhaps they do it because they are well-versed in such action, as their history would show," he added. He said Pakistani State machinery is again resorting to duplicity, plumbing to new depths.Pakistan shelling also targeted a school and two students lost their lives. If there were students inside, there could have been a heavy loss of innocent lives. During heavy shelling across the Line of Control in the early morning of May 7, a shell fired from Pakistan landed just behind the Christ School, run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, a congregation in Poonch. The shell fired from Pakistan hit the home of two students of the Christ School. Both students unfortunately lost their lives and their parents were severely injured. Another Pakistani shell struck a Christian Convent of Nuns belonging to the congregation of the Mother of Carmel, damaging water tanks and destroying solar panel infrastructure. Several priests, nuns, school staff and local residents took refuge in an underground hall beneath the Christ School during the shelling by Pakistan. "The school happened to be closed at the time, fortunately. Otherwise, more losses would have occurred. We have seen the Pakistani side targeting and shelling places of worship with a particular design. This includes Gurdwaras, these convents, and temples. This is a new low, even for Pakistan," Misri said. President of Poonch District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Narinder Singh said on May 7 that Pakistan Army's shelling has caused huge damage in civilian areas of Poonch, leading to several deaths and a shell hit a corner of Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, He said one shell hit Geeta Bhawan and one shell hit a mosque also, killing a teacher in the mosque."Our neighbour has no sense at all, has made a huge attack on civilians. Civilians have suffered huge damage," Narinder Singh said in a self-made video. He urged the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Centre to make efforts so that situation improves.Narinder Singh said locals were in panic and many had left their residences. "Nearly 12 people have died in Poonch district due to cross-border shelling... In Poonch proper five people of the Sikh community and rest from the Muslim community have died. A shell hit one corner of our Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, because of which one door and a few glasses were shattered...Since it is a congested area, one shell has hit Geeta Bhawan and one shell hit a mosque also, killing one teacher in the mosque," Narinder Singh said. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly condemned the inhuman attack by Pakistani forces on the sacred Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch. Condemning the inhuman attack, Badal stated that three Sikhs have lost their lives.The SAD leader expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and demanded adequate compensation to support them in their time of grief. "Strongly condemn the inhuman attack by Pakistani forces on the sacred Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch, in which three innocent Gursikhs, including Bhai Amrik Singh Ji (a raagi Singh), Bhai Amarjeet Singh and Bhai Ranjit Singh lost their lives. The Shiromani Akali Dal expresses complete solidarity with the families of the deceased Gursikhs and prays for peace for the departed and courage for their friends and loved ones," he had said in a post on X. "We demand that the martyrs be honored for their sacrifice and that the bereaved families receive adequate compensation to support them in their time of grief. The Sikhs have always been, and will continue to be, the sword arm of the country. We stand like a rock with our armed forces. Although the Shiromani Akali Dal and our country stand for peace, if our honor is challenged by the enemy, we need no reminder to fulfill our patriotic duties," Badal added. After Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Army continued its series of ceasefire violations by targeting civilian areas in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Officials said the shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses. India's precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The government had said that the perpetrators will face severe punishment and over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor. Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had claimed India had violated Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. Indian Armed Forces effectively repelled Pakistan's subsequent military aggression and pounded several airbases in Pakistan. The two countries have now reached an understanding to stop firing and military action after the Pakistan DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
Union Minister L Murugan has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, emphasising the government's firm stance against terrorism. Speaking in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, Murugan, while attending the district executive meeting, described Operation Sindoor as a "befitting reply" to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Murugan reiterated PM Modi's words, emphasising that the nation cannot tolerate terrorism in any form and will give a strong response to it. "Yesterday at 8 pm, our Indian Prime Minister clearly stated our stance against terrorism. Our nation and people cannot tolerate terrorism in any way. We have shown through Operation Sindoor that a befitting reply will be given to it", L Murugan told reporters. Murugan expressed gratitude to the soldiers on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, acknowledging their immense contribution to protecting the nation. "The contribution of the soldiers in protecting the nation is immense. He said that he would express his appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu and the people of Thoothukudi for their sacrifice", L Murugan said. Murugan asserted that Pakistan is operating terrorist training camps, which Indian forces have targeted through Operation Sindoor. "We have proven that our nation is more important to us than anything else. Pakistan is continuously operating training camps for terrorists. Our Indian Prime Minister and soldiers have completely demolished the terrorist training camps and taught the terrorists a lesson. Terrorism cannot be accepted in any way and must be crushed. Terrorism and talks cannot go together. People from all walks of life in our country have shown their solidarity to the outside world", the Union Minister said. While answering a question about the crime against women, L Murugan emphasised that the law will do its duty and that whoever the culprits are, strict action will be taken against them. The Bharatiya Janata Party aims to eradicate crimes against women and sisters. For the last four years, a vast, repressive and corrupt regime has been in place in Tamil Nadu. They have caused a huge increase in prices for the people. We are confronting the extent to which the BJP Janata Party executives are being oppressed through the law and protecting the executives and workers. This DMK government, which is a hugely failed government, will be overthrown by the people very soon", he said. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara to meet civilians who were injured in recent shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). Heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, conducted by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, had caused damage to homes and religious sites in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch. Despite this, locals vowed to stand with the Indian army. Earlier in the day, CM Abdullah also inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar and visited the shelling-affected areas. Earlier on Tuesday, after meeting residents affected by cross-border shelling in Kupwara, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the government will compensate the people after the damage assessment is completed. "By God's grace, we haven't lost any lives here, but of course, there is a loss of public property like houses, shops, and Madrasa. The District Collector is with us. They will do the damage assessment. The assessment will be completed by today or tomorrow, and then the government will compensate the people accordingly. The immunity bunkers were made, but we didn't need them for a long time. And, we will try to build individual bunkers around the border and LoC areas," Abdullah told the media. The J-K Chief Minister visited the Pakistani shelling-affected areas in Tangdhar and said that the residents affected have shown "remarkable courage." "Visited the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar and met families who have shown remarkable courage amidst deep pain. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them, their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope," the Office of J-K CM posted on X. After India and Pakistan came to an understanding of the cessation of hostilities, life slowly returned to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, asserting that after Operation Sindoor, all "patriots" should join the BJP. Speaking to ANI, Adhikari lauded the Indian Armed Forces for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. "BJP is a nation-first party. All those who are nationalists will have to come along with PM Modi. After Operation Sindoor, all patriots should join the BJP. The PM gave a very good speech yesterday. The Indian Army gave a befitting reply during Operation Sindoor. Our Army has erased many family members of Masood Azhar," the BJP leader said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that Operation Sindoor has carved out a benchmark in India's fight against terrorism and has "set up a new parameter and new normal". Addressing the nation, PM Modi also referred to India conducting a surgical strike in 2016 at terror launch pads along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and to the air strikes at a terror camp in Pakistan in 2019 and said that after the two operations, Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. In Operation Sindoor on May 7, India conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. PM Modi said that the Indian Air Force, Army, Navy, Border Security Force, and India's paramilitary forces are constantly on alert. "After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal," he said. "First, If there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail," he added. (ANI)
The last rites of BSF Constable Deepak Chingakham, who lost his life in the line of duty, were performed in Imphal with state honours on Tuesday. Chingakham lost his life in the cross-border firing from Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector on May 10. Family members and friends of BSF Constable Deepak Chingakham on Tuesday paid their last respects to the jawan. Earlier on May 12, his family members and relatives mourned his demise. His uncle, Chingakham Surjit Singh, said, "He was 23 years old and loved sports. He joined the BSF in 2021. We are proud of him, and he will always be remembered." Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid respects to the BSF Constable during his wreath-laying ceremony in Jammu on Monday. Earlier, DG BSF and All Ranks paid Chingakham condolences. "DG BSF and All Ranks salute the supreme sacrifice made by Constable Deepak Chingakham in the line of duty. He was injured in crossborder fire by Pakistan on 10th May 2025 along the International Boundary in the R S Pura area, Jammu. He succumbed to his injuries today, on 11th May 2025," BSF said in a post on X. Earlier, the last rites of BSF Sub Inspector Mohammed Imteyaz were performed with full honours in his native village of Narayanpur in Saran district, Bihar. Imteyaz lost his life on May 10 following cross-border shelling from Pakistan in the RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav visited the family and offered his condolences, honouring the unwavering courage and commitment of the Indian Army. "We have paid tribute to Bihar's son Mohammad Imtiaz. He was martyred in the security of the country. I also met his son; tomorrow, I will also meet his family. We salute the Indian Army that, like every time, this time also, they have given a befitting reply to Pakistan...," he said. Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also paid a heartfelt tribute to Imtiaz. Recognising his supreme sacrifice, the Chief Minister announced that his family will receive an estimated honorarium from the state government. (ANI)
On the occasion of Buddha Purnima on Monday, Buddhist monks gathered near the Sleeping Buddha statue on the banks of river Niranjana in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, and lit candles to pray for peace in India and around the world. Dozens of monks participated in the candlelight prayer held late in the evening to mark Lord Buddha's 2069th birth anniversary. The ceremony was led by Bhante Arya Pal, the Founder Secretary of the Buddha International Welfare Mission. Speaking on the occasion, Bhante Aryapal said, "Today is Vaishakh Purnima. It is a very special day because Lord Buddha was born on this day. At the age of 25, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and later, at the age of 80, he passed away in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. All these important events happened on Vaishakh Purnima." He added, "That is why this day holds great importance for all followers of Lord Buddha around the world; for people who know and respect Buddha truly honour him from the heart." Buddha Purnima (also known as Vesak), which was celebrated on May 12 this year, marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana (death). Earlier on May 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended wishes on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and said that Lord Buddha's life will always inspire the world community towards "compassion and peace." "Best wishes to all countrymen on Buddha Purnima. Lord Buddha's messages, based on the principles of truth, equality and harmony, have been a guide for humanity. His life dedicated to sacrifice and penance will always inspire the world community towards compassion and peace," PM Modi posted on X. President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her heartfelt greetings to the people of India and to followers of Lord Buddha worldwide. "On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all fellow citizens and the followers of Lord Buddha worldwide. The immortal message of non-violence, love and kindness given by Bhagwan Buddha, the embodiment of compassion, is the basic mantra for the welfare of mankind. His ideals strengthen our faith in eternal values of equality, harmony and social justice. His teachings inspire us to live a life based on morality," President Murmu said. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday hailed the NDA's victory in the Assam Panchayat Elections 2025, calling it a historic mandate and a clear endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development-focused governance. Shah expressed gratitude to the people of Assam for their overwhelming support and attributed the win to the transformative impact of the Prime Minister's "people-centric policies." In a post on X, Amit Shah posted, "Gratitude to the people of Assam for granting the NDA a historic victory in the Panchayat Election 2025. This victory is an endorsement of PM Modi's people-centric policies that have brought about a new era of peace and prosperity in Assam." "My heartfelt congratulations to CM Himanta Sarma, Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia and the BJP Assam for their dedicated efforts to carry PM Modi's message of development door to door. Together, we will build a developed Assam for all," his post read. The BJP-led NDA registered a massive victory in the panchayat polls in Assam after BJP and its ally party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won 300 Zilla Parishad seats and 1436 Anchalik Panchayat seats. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the BJP and its ally party AGP won 300 out of 397 Zilla Parishad seats and 1436 out of 2192 Anchalik Panchayat seats in 27 districts of the state. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Team NDA has secured a sweeping victory in the Assam Panchayat Polls 2025. The people's mandate is a resounding endorsement of our welfare-driven governance and a strong show of faith as we move towards 2026," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister extended his gratitude to BJP president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior BJP leader BL Santosh for their unwavering support during this campaign. "NDA has received 76.22 per cent vote share in Zilla Parishad and 66 per cent vote share in Anchalik Panchayat. In Anchalik Panchayat, the BJP won 1265 seats and AGP won 171 seats. Congress has won 72 Zilla Parishad seats, and it is only 18 per cent. Congress has won 21 per cent Anchalik Panchayat seats. BJP and its ally party won 66 per cent Anchalik Panchayat seats," Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He further said that the Assam Panchayat Polls results point to a clear pro-incumbency wave in Assam. "Compared to 2018, we have seen a broad increase in seat and vote share by over 26 per cent. These results come 1 year ahead of 2026 Polls and 1 year after an exceptional performance in 2024 Lok Sabha polls," the Assam Chief Minister said. He also said that, except minority dominated areas, BJP-led NDA won almost 100 percent seats of Zilla Parishad in Hindu dominated areas of the state. "We have won five minority dominated seats (70-90 per cent minority voters). Before the election, we didn't expect to win more seats, but the people of the state have shown their faith in us and voted for us. In many minority dominated seats, we have secured the second position. If we replicate this in the upcoming assembly election, then it will reflect in 103 assembly seats. From next month, our scheme announcement will be implemented. After the implementation of the schemes, the magnitude will be greater. Ahead of the assembly polls in Assam, this election result is a booster for us," the Assam Chief Minister said. He further said, "The Assam State BJP will organise a panchayat conference in Guwahati and we will invite Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda." The panchayat polls in Assam were held in two phases - the first phase was held on May 2 and the second phase was held on May 7 across 27 districts of the state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier on Sunday expressed confidence in gaining a massive victory in this election. The BJP and its alliance partners have registered an impressive victory in Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Nagaon, and Morigaon districts. (ANI)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the international border region of Hiranagar in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. While on his visit, the minister attended a review meeting with the district administration, led by Kathua DC Rakesh Minhas. Singh also interacted with the local public. In an X post, he wrote, "Visited the International Border(IB) area in #Hiranagar sector of district #KathuaConvened an indoor review meeting with the district administration led by DC Kathua Sh. Rakesh Minhas & local representatives to assess the situation amid current border developments.The meeting was followed by an open public interaction with border dwellers. #JammuAndKashmir." While speaking with media personnel in Kathua, Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving a "befitting" response to Pakistan and added that it has greatly boosted the confidence of the people across the country. "We thank Prime Minister Modi for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, it has boosted the morale of the countrymen... The morale of the people here has also increased because they believe that whatever is seen in the sky gets destroyed before it lands on the ground...," he remarked. The minister also highlighted the government's focus on technological progress since 2014. "After 2014, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the modernisation of technology and made us realise the importance of becoming self-reliant," he said. Singh alleged that there were no mobile towers in the region "during the Congress' rule". "These towers, too, were built in the past ten years," he added. While discussing the security arrangements being carried out in the region, Union Minister Singh said that "2000 one-room apartment bunkers have been built in the region and 600 more are still to be constructed." The Union Minister also informed us that an automated siren system would be set up in the area to alert the public immediately in times of emergency. The system will be operated from a "centralized" control room in Kathua. Singh said that 39 ambulances have been arranged in the area. "In Kathua's government medical college, two more ambulances have been arranged apart from the already available ambulances. Also, 50 hospital beds are to be set up," the minister further added. Earlier on May 8, Singh held a detailed review meeting with Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and district officials from Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Poonch, and Rajouri to review the administrative arrangements and public confidence-building measures. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah on Tuesday apologised for making an objectionable remark against female Army Officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Shah expressed regret, stating, "I am not a God; I'm too human, and I apologise ten times." The controversy arose after a video clip of Shah's speech went viral on social media. In his clarification, Shah said his comments were taken out of context and were meant to praise Colonel Qureshi's bravery. Speaking to ANI over the row on Tuesday, the Minister said, "My entire background is from the military. Many of my family members were martyred and were in the military... Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is above my real sister, who performed the national religion and took revenge on those people. She (Qureshi) is more important than my real sister. I had nothing in my mind; if something slipped out of the excitement and hurt someone, then I would like to apologise from the heart. Not once, but I apologise ten times." The minister further said, "I am a patriotic man, and people of every community worked for the nation. If something slipped out in anger and someone felt bad, then I would like to say that I am not a god; I am also a human being. I apologise ten times for it." Earlier in the day, Minister Vijay Shah clarified a clipping of his speech went viral on social media, saying not to take his speech in a different context. "Our Prime Minister has given a reply to those who erase the sindoor of our sisters (victims of the Pahalgam terror attack) in their language. What had happened to our sisters has been avenged in their own language. Don't take my speech in a different context. Those who are taking it in a different context, I want to tell them that it is not in that context. They are our sisters and they have taken revenge with great strength along with the Armed forces," the minister told ANI. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari condemned Shah's remark and demanded his dismissal. "Every citizen of India is proud of the bravery of our army, and I believe every citizen is also paying tribute to all those soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle with Pakistan. When PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation over the entire incident, citizens felt proud of the army. But the way Minister Vijay Shah used derogatory remarks against the lady officers. CM Mohan Yadav should clarify whether the entire cabinet and the BJP support Vijay Shah's statement. If they disagree, then the minister should be dismissed immediately," Patwari said. The Congress leader further added that the minister's remark insulted the female officers and the nation. He should be removed from his post. "I will write a letter to PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and BJP chief JP Nadda to clarify their stand on the minister's remarks. If they disagree, then he should be dismissed," he added. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised Shah's remark, demanding his immediate dismissal. "A minister of the BJP-led MP government has made a very insulting, shameful and cheap comment about our brave daughter Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The terrorists of the Pahalgam attack wanted to divide the country. Still, the country was united throughout 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge wrote in a post on X. Kharge accused the BJP-RSS of having an anti-woman mentality and pointed out previous incidents of trolling and harassment of women related to government officials. He further added, "The mentality of the BJP-RSS has been anti-woman. First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in the Pahalgam terror attack was trolled on social media. The daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was disturbed, and now the BJP minister is making such indecent comments about our brave lady officer Sofiya Qureshi. PM Modi should immediately dismiss such a minister." (ANI)
Lieutenant General DS Rana, the Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DG DIA), briefed Foreign Service Attaches (FSAs) from 70 nations on the successful conduct of Operation Sindoor, which has set "new normals" in India-Pakistan bilateral relations. In a social media post on X, the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) wrote, "Lt Gen DS Rana, Director General Defence Intelligence Agency #DG_DIA briefed the Foreign Service Attaches of 70 nations on the successful conduct of #OperationSindoor that has set #NewNormals in #India - #Pakistan relations, highlighting India's demonstrated strength and national resolve through military superiority in the new-age warfare." https://x.com/HQ_IDS_India/status/1922250005953282064 During the briefing, the DG DIA elaborated on the deliberate planning process for selecting targets in Operation Sindoor with confirmed terror linkages. The social media post reads, "#DG_DIA elaborated on deliberate planning process for selection of targets with confirmed terror linkages. The #integrated, precise & prompt response by #IndianArmedForces to achieve the stated objectives, executed through intense multi-domain operations, was also highlighted." DS Rana highlighted that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's military prowess and technological advancements. He also highlighted India's technological edge in niche non-kinetic warfare domains, including space, cyber and electronic warfare, as demonstrated during Operation Sindoor. "Synergised Force application through #JointnessAndIntegration achieved in #OpSindoor with demonstrated battle effectiveness of indigenous kinetic #ForceMultipliers was showcased to the #FSAs, while highlighting Technological Superiority of #IndianArmedForces in niche non-kinetic domains of #Space, #Cyber & #ElectronicWarfare," the post on X reads. The DG DIA was also briefed about the misinformation campaign conducted by the neighbouring country during the escalating tensions, which India effectively countered. The post added, "#DG_DIA also placed credible record of the relentless anti-India misinformation campaign conducted by the adversary and its ramifications on regional peace and stability. Modalities of our #WholeOfNation approach which effectively & swiftly countered the false narrative, was also highlighted." Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, emphasising minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, describing it as a "true moment of encouragement" that left citizens highly motivated. Speaking to ANI, Saha praised the success of Operation Sindoor, a decisive military response by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 against Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. He also thanked the Indian armed forces for their bravery, crediting their courage for the operation's success. "Yesterday, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation, and his message was a true moment of encouragement for all of us. The citizens of our country felt highly motivated. Modi ji's message was very clear: our soldiers have responded to Pakistan in the language they understand, through Operation Sindoor," CM Saha said. "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our Prime Minister for strategically surrounding Pakistan from all sides. I also want to thank our brave soldiers, because of their courage, Operation Sindoor has been successful. On the diplomatic front as well, India has given Pakistan a strong and fitting response," he said. The Tripura CM highlighted that Pakistan suffered significant losses in the operation, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Pakistan has suffered significant losses. After the Pahalgam incident, where on April 22, 26 innocent Indian civilians were killed by Islamic terrorists, the Prime Minister responded in a decisive manner. We all know that our Prime Minister does not believe in a passive approach--he has given a strong and bold reply to this terrorist attack. For that, we express our sincere gratitude to Modi ji and also to our armed forces," CM Manik Saha said. "Yesterday, Modi ji also made it absolutely clear that there will be no third-party mediation between India and Pakistan when it comes to terrorism. If Pakistan attacks, India will retaliate, he said this very clearly," he said. The Chief Minister reiterated PM Modi's firm stance against third-party mediation in India-Pakistan relations, particularly on terrorism. Saha further referenced Modi's statement that "terror and trade cannot go hand in hand." "Modi ji emphasised that any conversation with Pakistan would only happen under two conditions: first, that Pakistan must hand over the terrorists hiding on its soil who are responsible for attacks on India; and second, Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir it illegally occupied during the Congress government's time. If these terms are not met, there will be no trade with Pakistan, and even the waters of the Sindh River will not be allowed to flow," he said. Saha termed Pakistan a "terrorist state," alleging that it recently honoured slain terrorists with its national flag. "The decisions our country has taken under the leadership of the Prime Minister are absolutely relevant. Pakistan is a terrorist state. We've seen how recently, when Pakistani terrorists were killed, they were honoured with the Pakistani flag. Our Army, Navy, and all forces have given a fitting reply to every one of Pakistan's conspiracies, and for that, I offer my deepest thanks," he said. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asked Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan to expedite the implementation of three new criminal laws in the Union Territory and ensure registration of FIRs in the Tamil language. Shah's direction came in a review meeting of the implementation of three new criminal laws in Puducherry. The discussion focused on the progress and current status of key provisions concerning police, prisons, courts, prosecution, and forensic services. In his address, the Union Home Minister said that Puducherry has done a good job implementing the three new criminal laws brought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised the importance of ensuring the early implementation of the new criminal laws. The Union Home Minister said that First Information Reports (FIRs) in the Puducherry should be registered in Tamil only and arrangements should be made to make it available in other languages to those who require it, a Home Ministry statement mentioned. He said that the fingerprints of all arrested criminals should be recorded under NAFIS so that the database can be used optimally. He said that only the Director of Prosecution (DoP) should have the right to give legal advice in any case. The Home Minister said that provisions like e-summons, e-Sakshya, Nyaya Shruti and forensics should be fully implemented as soon as possible. Shah further said that the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of the Union Territory of Puducherry should review the progress of implementation of the new criminal laws once a week, the Home Minister every 15 days and the Lieutenant Governor once in a month. The meeting was attended by the Home Minister of Puducherry, Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of the union territory, Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Director of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), along with other senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Puducherry administration. (ANI)
Exiting exam centres with weary smiles, students hurried towards their parents, who greeted them with warm hugs and bottles of water after the first day of the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate Admissions (CUET UG). While fatigue showed on their faces, many students called the paper "easy" and largely expected, striking a tone of cautious optimism as the nationwide entrance began. The first day of CUET was largely smooth except for a few students who were denied entry to the exam centre for arriving a few minutes after the reporting time. Students appeared for subjects including English, Business Studies, Physical Education, Accounts, and Biotechnology, sharing largely positive but varied reactions to the paper. "The English paper was much easier than I expected," said a candidate who completed the exam well before the allotted time. "I had prepared for more analytical or inference-based questions, but most of them were direct and familiar." Students across the centre echoed similar feedback, stating that the English section followed a straightforward pattern. The CUET enables admissions into undergraduate programs at over 250 central, state, and private universities, including top institutions like Delhi University, JNU, and BHU. For others, particularly those attempting domain subjects, the experience was slightly more mixed. "Business Studies went very well for me. The questions were concept-based, and nothing felt out of syllabus," said Sushil Rajeevan, a candidate who also appeared for Physical Education. "That paper was a little more challenging, mainly because it's my sixth subject. It needed more specific recall and time management." He added, "The MCQ format helped in some parts, but in sections where careful reading was needed, time was still tight." Sushil is aiming for Delhi University's SRCC and said he felt confident about his performance so far. The CUET UG exam structure allows candidates to choose up to six domain-specific subjects, two language papers, and an optional general test. Each section is one hour long and held in multiple shifts across thousands of centres nationwide. While English was universally described as "easy," students acknowledged that domain subjects demanded deeper understanding and quick thinking, particularly under time constraints. With more subjects scheduled over the coming days, many students are hopeful but cautious. "This was a good start, but the next few papers will be crucial," one student said. "The real test will be consistency." Despite concerns about technical glitches in previous editions, Day 1 proceeded without any major disruptions at the centres in Delhi and NCR. However, some students missed their exam on the first day at the centre in Noida Sector 62 after being denied entry for arriving just minutes past the reporting time. Candidates and their parents stood outside the gates, pleading with officials for over half an hour, citing reasons such as traffic diversions, delayed public transport, and incorrect directions -- issues many said were beyond their control. Several aspirants, including those from Bulandshahr, Bahadurgarh, and Etah, reported being allotted centres far from their home cities despite selecting nearby preferences during registration. "I left home at 4 AM thinking I'd arrive on time, but everything went wrong -- the bus was late, and the auto dropped me at the wrong place," said 17-year-old Anmol Bhati. Parents have now urged the NTA to consider rescheduling missed exams and ensure better logistical planning for future shifts. (ANI)
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has arrested two individuals for allegedly defrauding the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of more than Rs 3 crores. The accused have been identified as Prashant Agarwal, Director of HPPL Foundation and a resident of Bengaluru, and Sudhanshu Kumar Rakesh, a Chartered Accountant and partner at Tripurari & Associates from Nalanda, Bihar. Delhi Police's EOW DCP, Amit Verma, said that the arrests follow the registration of an FIR dated April 24, based on a complaint by Rashi Sharma, a representative of MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), which is a division of the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry. As per the complaint, HPPL Foundation was selected as one of the start-up accelerators under the SAMRIDH Scheme, which was designed to provide funding and support to selected start-ups. MSH had disbursed Rs 3.04 crores to HPPL Foundation for the benefit of eight startups, in addition to administrative fees per start-up. It was later discovered that the funds were not passed on to the intended beneficiaries. Instead, Agarwal allegedly misappropriated the amount for personal use. To mask the misappropriation, he submitted fake Utilisation Certificates that were fraudulently certified in the name of Chartered Accountant Sudhanshu Kumar Rakesh. Further inquiry revealed that Agarwal also collected approximately Rs. 11 lakhs from start-ups under the false promise of facilitating government funding. Agarwal was arrested in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on April 30. A search of his residence led to the recovery of incriminating digital evidence, including forged documents and communications related to the diversion of funds. Agarwal's interrogation led to the arrest of Rakesh from his residence in Patna, Bihar, on May 7. At his premises, investigators found a computer containing templates of forged Utilisation Certificates and rubber stamps used in the fabrication of documents. According to the EOW, both individuals operated with dishonest intentions from the outset, causing significant financial loss to the MeitY Startup Hub and the affected start-ups. Further investigation into the case is ongoing. (ANI)
Following India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra on Tuesday accused the neighbouring country of openly supporting terrorism and honouring slain terrorists. Speaking to ANI during the 'Tiranga Shaurya Samman Yatra,' Malhotra said that Pakistan has been exposed to the world. "Pakistan has been exposed in front of the world. When terrorists are killed, senior Pakistan officials and leaders pay them tributes and perform their last rites. This clearly shows that Pakistan is the mother of terrorism, and India will not tolerate this," he said. The Union Minister also reiterated India's commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to respond firmly to any threats against the nation. "India is prepared to give a strong and decisive response to any act of terrorism. Our resolve is clear, there will be no compromise on national security," he added. BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay also participated in the Tiranga Yatra at Kartavya Path and said, "The Tiranga Yatra is being carried out to salute the valour of the armed forces. PM Modi has eradicated terrorism. PM Modi always motivates the armed forces, and he always celebrates Diwali with them." "The entire nation is standing in support of PM Modi and the armed forces," added Upadhyay. Asserting India's firm stance against terrorism, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also said that Operation Sindoor would continue with full force, warning that any threat to the nation would be met with a "befitting reply." Speaking at the Tiranga Shaurya Samman Yatra held at Kartavya Path, Gupta described the moment as one of national pride. "It is a matter of pride for us. Operation Sindoor is not going to stop. If the terrorists raise their eyes on us, our armed forces, our government, and Prime Minister Modi are ready to give them a befitting reply," Gupta said. In a major public outreach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a nationwide Tiranga Yatra on Tuesday. The yatra aimed to honour the valour of Indian soldiers and inform citizens about Operation Sindoor's recent success. BJP's 'Tiranga Yatra', which was started today, will continue till May 23. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and other senior leaders and workers joined the yatra. The campaign kicked off in Delhi with a symbolic march featuring a 108-foot-tall national flag. The yatra began at Kartavya Path and will conclude at the National War Memorial, with thousands, including BJP workers, citizens, NGOs, RWAs, religious leaders, and social organisations gathered to pay tribute to soldiers and the armed forces. According to party sources, ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent public figures will lead the marches in various states, underscoring the message of unity, patriotism, and national pride. The party also plans to hold press conferences nationwide and will engage social media influencers to amplify the campaign's message digitally and reach younger audiences. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. In a swift and decisive retaliation, Indian forces eliminated over 100 terrorists across the border in Pakistan. Though Pakistan launched a counteroffensive, India responded with force, leading to a ceasefire and reasserting its defence posture. Through the Tiranga Yatra, the BJP aims to remind citizens of India's resolute stand against terrorism and to foster a deeper sense of nationalism and unity across the country. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh police have cracked a case of major counterfeit currency circulation in Indore district and arrested two people in connection with the same on Tuesday, an official said. Indore police also recovered bogus notes worth Rs 40 lakh from the possession of the accused. The duo was operating through social media to connect with people and lure them with fraudulent offers. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl DCP, Zone 3), Ramsanehi Mishra said, "We received an intel that a few people were trying to circulate counterfeit currency via making connections over social media. Following which, two people have been arrested, identified as Prathamesh Yevatkar, a resident of Jalgaon, Maharashtra and Deepak Kaushal, a resident of Mhow. Yevatkar came in contact with Kaushal via social media and they contacted a person, which was a trap setup by the police, to deliver the bogus notes and our team caught them red-handed while making the delivery. We have recovered bogus notes around Rs 40 lakh and original notes worth Rs 8,000." The counterfeit currencies are those which children use to play. The accused used to make the bundles of the notes the same as the bank prepares and place the original note above and in the middle to lure the people, he added. "We are investigating the matter and trying to gather evidence in connection with the same. The accused used to charge Rs 1 lakh to provide Rs 4 lakh counterfeit currency. They lured the people, citing it is a second-grade note and emphasising that these are the notes which are slightly damaged while printing but it is not a bogus note. Additionally, we are probing to find out their other modus operandi," Addl DCP Mishra said. A case has been registered against them under sections 178 and 179 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) and further investigation into the matter is underway, the officer added. (ANI)
Tripura Cabinet Minister Sudhangshu Das on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, describing it as a "true moment of encouragement" that left citizens highly motivated. Speaking to ANI, Das praised the success of Operation Sindoor, a decisive military response by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 against Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. He also thanked the Indian armed forces for their bravery, crediting their courage for the operation's success. "Yesterday, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation, and his message was a true moment of encouragement for all of us. The citizens of our country felt highly motivated. Modi ji's message was very clear: our soldiers have responded to Pakistan in the language they understand, through Operation Sindoor," Das said. "I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our Prime Minister for strategically surrounding Pakistan from all sides. I also want to thank our brave soldiers, because of their courage, Operation Sindoor has been successful. On the diplomatic front as well, India has given Pakistan a strong and fitting response," he said. The Tripura Cabinet Minister highlighted that Pakistan suffered significant losses in the operation, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Pakistan has suffered significant losses. After the Pahalgam incident, where on April 22, 26 innocent Indian civilians were killed by Islamic terrorists, the Prime Minister responded in a decisive manner. We all know that our Prime Minister does not believe in a passive approach--he has given a strong and bold reply to this terrorist attack. For that, we express our sincere gratitude to Modi ji and also to our armed forces," Das said. "Yesterday, Modi ji also made it absolutely clear that there will be no third-party mediation between India and Pakistan when it comes to terrorism. If Pakistan attacks, India will retaliate, he said this very clearly," he said. The Minister reiterated PM Modi's firm stance against third-party mediation in India-Pakistan relations, particularly on terrorism. Das further referenced Modi's statement that "terror and trade cannot go hand in hand." "Modi ji emphasised that any conversation with Pakistan would only happen under two conditions: first, that Pakistan must hand over the terrorists hiding on its soil who are responsible for attacks on India; and second, Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir it illegally occupied during the Congress government's time. If these terms are not met, there will be no trade with Pakistan, and even the waters of the Sindh River will not be allowed to flow," he said. Sudhangshu Das termed Pakistan a "terrorist state," alleging that it recently honoured slain terrorists with its national flag. "The decisions our country has taken under the leadership of the Prime Minister are absolutely relevant. Pakistan is a terrorist state. We've seen how recently, when Pakistani terrorists were killed, they were honoured with the Pakistani flag. Our Army, Navy, and all forces have given a fitting reply to every one of Pakistan's conspiracies, and for that, I offer my deepest thanks," he said. (ANI)
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday inaugurated two new state-of-the-art design facilities of Renesas Electronics India Private Limited located in Noida and Bengaluru, an official release from the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. Highlighting the uniqueness of the new facility, Vaishnaw informed that this is India's first design centre to work on cutting-edge 3-nanometer chip design, a milestone that places India firmly in the global league of semiconductor innovation. "Designing at 3nm is truly next-generation. We've done 7nm and 5nm earlier, but this marks a new frontier," Vaishnaw said. "In a first, 3nm chips will be designed in India," Vaishnaw posted on X. The Minister also elaborated on India's holistic semiconductor strategy encompassing design, fabrication, ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging), equipment, chemicals, and gas supply chains. He cited industry confidence witnessed at global platforms like Davos and mentioned significant investments already being made by companies such as Applied Materials and Lam Research. Highlighting the growing momentum in India's semiconductor ecosystem, the Minister said that the inauguration of this major Semiconductor Design Centre in Uttar Pradesh is a critical step towards developing a pan-India ecosystem that harnesses the rich talent available across the country. To further strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem, the Government of India has been actively encouraging the development of semiconductor design centres in the country. The Minister announced the launch of a new semiconductor learning kit aimed at enhancing practical hardware skills among engineering students. He also said that 270+ academic institutions that have already received advanced EDA (Electronics, Design, Automation) software tools under the India Semiconductor Mission will also receive these hands-on hardware kits. "This integration of software and hardware learning will create truly industry-ready engineers. We are not just building infrastructure but investing in long-term talent development," he said. Vaishnaw also praised the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) team for their efficient execution and reaffirmed the government's commitment to nurturing India into a global semiconductor leader. The Union Minister further expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for including semiconductors as a strategic focus area under his broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. "Within just three years, India's semiconductor industry has moved from a nascent stage to an emerging global hub, and is now poised for long-term, sustainable growth," he said. "With the manufacturing of electronic products in smartphones, laptops, servers, medical equipment, defence equipment, automobiles and many other sectors, the demand for semiconductors is going to increase exponentially. Therefore, this momentum for the semiconductor industry's growth is timely," Vaishnaw said. Speaking on the occasion, CEO & MD Renesas Electronics, Hidetoshi Shibata said, "India is a strategic cornerstone for our company, with growing contributions in embedded systems, software, and system innovation." He emphasised Renesas' commitment to expanding end-to-end semiconductor capabilities in India, from architecture to testing, while supporting over 250 academic institutions and numerous startups through Government-backed initiatives like ISM and PLI. He added that India's talent strength and shared Indo-Japan strategic interests will help reinvent the global semiconductor lifecycle. Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its purpose of 'Making our lives easier.' (ANI)
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday participated in a Tiranga Yatra held in Porvorim to honour the valour and commitment of the Indian armed forces following the successful execution of 'Operation Sindoor'. The tricolour rally, which celebrated India's firm stance against terrorism, witnessed enthusiastic participation from citizens and political leaders alike. Speaking on the occasion, Goa Minister Rohan Khaunte lauded the operation's impact, calling it a decisive move that exposed hostile elements. "By destroying the terrorist sites, the nation has given a very strong message. Pakistanis were exposed. Operation Sindoor has given a very clear message of zero tolerance against terrorism," Khaunte said. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also participated in Tiranga Shaurya Samman Yatra held at Kartavya Path and described the moment as one of national pride. Asserting India's firm stance against terrorism, Gupta said that Operation Sindoor would continue with full force, warning that any threat to the nation would be met with a "befitting reply." "It is a matter of pride for us. Operation Sindoor is not going to stop. If the terrorists raise their eyes on us, our armed forces, our government, and Prime Minister Modi are ready to give them a befitting reply," Gupta said. The yatra is being seen as more than just a party initiative, with the BJP aiming to turn it into a large-scale people's movement. In preparation, BJP President JP Nadda held a key strategy meeting on May 12 at the party headquarters with general secretaries. Senior leaders, including Sambit Patra, Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh, have been tasked with coordinating the campaign across regions. The party also plans to hold press conferences nationwide and will engage social media influencers to amplify the campaign's message digitally and reach younger audiences. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. In a swift and decisive retaliation, Indian forces eliminated over 100 terrorists across the border in Pakistan. Though Pakistan launched a counteroffensive, India responded with force, leading to a ceasefire and reasserting its defence posture. Through the Tiranga Yatra, the BJP aims to remind citizens of India's resolute stand against terrorism and to foster a deeper sense of nationalism and unity across the country. (ANI)
DMK Deputy General Secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi on Tuesday welcomed the conviction of all nine accused in the 2019 Pollachi sexual assault case, calling it a "landmark verdict" that would bolster the confidence of women across Tamil Nadu and the country in the judicial system. Speaking to reporters, Kanimozhi said the verdict sends a strong message that survivors of sexual violence no longer have to suffer in silence and that justice will be delivered if they come forward. "This has been a very welcoming verdict. It is a verdict which gives the women of this country and Tamil Nadu a lot of confidence in the judicial system and the state government--that if they come out and talk about what they suffer, then they no longer have to suffer in silence and justice will prevail," said Kanimozhi. "The nine accused in this case have been sentenced guilty and it is a very strong verdict that they will be in prison even in their last days," she added. The MP also commended the court for protecting the identities of the victims and for directing that compensation be provided to them, ensuring dignity and support. "The names and details of the victims have been protected, and the court has also said that the women will be compensated. It is a landmark verdict," she said. Kanimozhi did not mince words in criticising the previous AIADMK government, accusing it of trying to shield the accused during the early stages of the investigation. "The AIADMK government has been put to shame because they tried to protect these accused who committed crimes against women. They even refused to accept a complaint against them because they intended to protect them," she charged. She credited the DMK, opposition parties, and the media for consistently raising the issue and ensuring that justice was not derailed. "It was the DMK, the opposition parties and the press who fought for justice for the victims in this case--and today, justice has prevailed," she said. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai also welcomed the verdict in which all nine accused guilty in the Pollachi sexual assault and rape case were awarded life imprisonment. Speaking to ANI, Annadurai said, "It was a fight carried out by so many people, including the DMK party. We fought against the way the then AIADMK government tried to scuttle the investigation. They didn't even register an FIR when these allegations came out because the people involved belonged to the AIADMK party. After relentless protests by DMK, it was transferred to the CBI." Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Social Welfare and Women's Rights Minister Geetha Jeevan also welcomed the Women's Court verdict and said that the decision to sentence Pollachi sex offenders to life imprisonment until death is welcome. Geetha Jeevan said, "Justice has been done in the Pollachi rape case. The victims have got justice. I commend the women who were determined to punish the culprits. This verdict has created confidence among the people and women. I commend the CBI and police officers who kept the secrets of the victims. This verdict will create fear in the perpetrators and their accomplices. This verdict will reduce sexual crimes." She further said that Pollachi itself is a witness to the evil regime, when a complaint was filed regarding this crime, those in power at the time did not register a case. "Only after Chief Minister Stalin took charge, he launched a fierce legal struggle and registered a case. Similarly, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is giving great importance to the protection of women and children," she added. This comes after the Women's court judge Nandhini Devi on Tuesday held all nine accused guilty in the Pollachi sexual assault and rape case. All nine accused, including Thirunavukkarasu, Sabarirajan, Sathish, Vasanthakumar, Manivannan, Heranpal, Babu, Arulanandam, and Arunkumar, were presented in front of the court on Tuesday morning. The Pollachi sexual assault and gang rape case took place in 2019 when nine men allegedly assaulted a young woman. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated the case, and the trial was completed in the Coimbatore Women's Court. In the Pollachi sex scandal, more than 50 women were allegedly lured and sexually harassed by a gang of four and the acts were videotaped. DMK leaders had alleged that the Tamil Nadu police failed to take action in the Pollachi case as there was the involvement of some people from the ruling AIADMK. The trial was held based on 50 witnesses, and more than 240 documents were presented on behalf of the government in front of the court. Additionally, eight women testified against the nine accused. (ANI)
India has declared a Pakistani citizen, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi as 'persona non grata' for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. The said person was working as a staff at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. An official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs stated, "The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d' Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today." In a social media post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed about the same. https://x.com/meaindia/status/1922305478870077574 Earlier in April, India summoned Pakistan's top diplomat in Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and handed over the formal Persona Non Grata note for its military diplomats. India's action came after 26 people were killed and several others sustained injuries in the dastardly attack by terrorists on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said that after these measures, the total number will bring the overall strength of the High Commissions down to 30 from the present 55. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
They targeted terrorist associates of proscribed terrorist outfits, in the furtherance of investigations into cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to a release, searches of residences of numerous terrorist associates have been conducted till now to target the infrastructure supporting terrorist activity unsparingly.

The Srinagar Police searched the residences of nearly 11 suspects in multiple areas of Kashmir, including Kanimazar, Chanpora, Nowgam, Syedpora Eidgah, Zainkadal, Saidpora Eidgah, KhaneSokta, Reiteng Khanyar, Rainawari, Trehgam, and Ibrahim Colony.

The searches were conducted in accordance with proper legal procedures in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses under the supervision of Jammu and Kashmir Police officers.

The searches were carried out to seize arms, documents, digital devices, etc., with the objective of evidence collection and intelligence gathering to detect and deter any conspiratorial or terrorist activity against the security of the nation.

Srinagar Police remains committed to maintaining peace and security in the city. Any individual found furthering the agenda of violence, disruption, or unlawful activities will face strict legal consequences under the law. (ANI)
In light of heightened security measures, the Mumbai Police has imposed a strict ban on the use of drones and other remote-controlled flying devices across the city from May 5 to June 3. The ban, ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Greater Mumbai, includes drones, remote-controlled microlight aircraft, paragliders, paramotors, hand gliders, hot air balloons, and similar aerial devices. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has designated Mumbai as a red zone for drone operations, making unauthorised drone flights a serious violation. Despite the directive, a 23-year-old man was caught operating a drone in Mumbai's Powai area on Sunday. Following the incident, the individual was booked under relevant sections. DCP (Operations), Mumbai Police, Akbar Pathan, confirmed the incident and reiterated the importance of public cooperation. The temporary ban has been enforced to ensure public safety amid ongoing national security concerns following heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, were killed. In response to this, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). In retaliation, Pakistan has also launched large-scale attacks by Pakistan using unmanned aerial systems, drones and combat vehicles. However, India's air defence systems effectively neutralised all Pakistani aerial systems, drones, and combat vehicles, as told by Air Marshal AK Bharti on Sunday during a press briefing. Addressing a press briefing, Air Marshal Bharti said, "Commencing about 8 PM local time on 8th May, several Pakistani unmanned Aerial Systems, Drones, Combat vehicles attacked multiple IAF bases. These included Jammu, Udhamur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Bathinda, Dalhousie, Jaisalmer. These were almost simultaneous and they came in waves." Air Marshal Bharti said, "All our air defence guns and other systems were waiting for them. All these waves were neutralised by our trained crew using the air defence systems that they have and also some of them were utilised using our legacy systems like Pechora, IAF SAMAR. There was no damage on ground from these incursions and these mass raids from the Pakistani side." (ANI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakhs for each of the kin of the deceased of the Majitha hooch tragedy. Around 17 people lost their lives while several were hospitalised after consuming spurious liquor in the Majitha area of Punjab's Amritsar. Addressing a press conference, CM Mann said, "A very sad incident has taken place. Due to the consumption of spurious liquor, around 17 people died. 5-6 deaths occurred in the village where we are standing... It is like murder, not deaths. We have arrested 10 accused so far. Those who supplied this, those who brought this to them (people), once we get to know of this chain - who supported whom, the links go to Delhi too; our team has gone to Delhi too...They will not be spared." "These (deceased) belonged to very poor households, they were almost the sole breadwinners and had young children...Money can't bring life back, but these families lived hand to mouth and lost their breadwinners. We will provide Rs 10 Lakhs each in compensation to the bereaved families. Many of the children are very young; if anyone in their blood relation is eligible to work, it will help manage their expenses..." he added. The Punjab Police have arrested 10 individuals, including the kingpin of the illicit liquor racket. The arrested racket kingpin has been identified as Sahib Singh, while the main suppliers of methanol have been identified as Pankaj Kumar alias Sahil and Arvind Kumar, owners of Sahil Chemicals at Sukh Enclave in Ludhiana. Police have also arrested local distributors Prabhjit Singh and Kulbir Singh and local sellers Ninder Kaur, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh, Arun alias Kala and Sikander Singh alias Pappu. DGP Gaurav Yadav said the preliminary investigation has revealed that the Methanol chemical, procured online by Kingpin Sahib Singh, was being used to manufacture spurious liquor. He said an investigation is underway to uncover the entire modus operandi and bring all involved to justice. The investigation is ongoing to uncover the entire modus operandi and bring all those involved to justice. The DGP informed that DSP Subdivision Majitha Amolak Singh and SHO Police Station Majitha SI Avtar Singh have been suspended for gross negligence in discharging their official duties, which resulted in the fatal incident. He added that departmental inquiries have been initiated against the delinquents. On the Amritsar hooch tragedy, Special DGP Arpit Shukla said, "Police have registered an FIR under the relevant sections for murder and the Excise Act. Ten accused have been arrested. One of our teams has also left the state. We hope that the team will catch more people and that more recovery will be done. DSP and SHO have been suspended." Two separate cases at Police Station Majitha and at Police Station Kathunangal in Amritsar Rural have been registered under sections 105 and 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), section 61a of the Excise Act and section 3 of the SC/ST Act. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the Majitha illicit liquor case and shared a post on his official 'X' handle. Fourteen people have died and six others have been hospitalised after consuming illicit liquor in five villages under the Majitha block in Amritsar. Arvind Kejriwal offered condolence to the victims' families and ensured that those involved in the case will not be spared. "Many people have died after consuming poisonous liquor in Majitha. Whoever is involved in this, no matter how influential or big they are, they will not be spared. They will get the harshest punishment. May God give strength to the families of those who have died tragically. May their souls rest in peace", Arvind Kejriwal's 'X' post said. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu slammed the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the death of 14 people due to consumption of illicit liquor in Amritsar's Majitha block. Taking to social media X, Bittu in a post wrote that the state government's 'Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh' campaign was just a 'political theatre', further alleging that the CM himself had a history with alcohol. "14 dead in Majitha -- families shattered by spurious liquor, while the @BhagwantManngovernment remains in deep slumber. Their so-called "Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh" is nothing but political theatre. When the Chief Minister himself has a history with alcohol, how can the fight against addiction ever be sincere?" the post read. The Union Minister further stated that the Punjab government was busy in self-indulgence even when people were dying. Bittu further wrote that Punjab needed action, and the matter was no longer about politics, but about lives of people. "The liquor mafia rules, people are dying, and the Mann government is busy in self-indulgence. Punjab doesn't need slogans anymore -- it needs action. This is no longer about politics, it's about lives," the post further read. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia has express condolences to all the deceased of the hooch tragedy. Majithia criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government for this matter. He termed the Chief Minister's campaign against the drug abuse as a "PR stunt." "I express my condolences to all the affected families...This is the fourth incident in the reign of AAP government. Earlier, a similar incident happened in Sangrur...In Hoshiarpur, 6-7 people died in a similar incident. Before that, a similar incident occurred in Moga...The CM has been campaigning against drug abuse, but now the truth has been revealed. He was claiming that drug abuse would be eliminated from Punjab by May 31. It means that all of this was just a PR stunt..." Majithia told ANI. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also paid condolences to the families of those who have died after consuming spurious liquor while demanding time-bound action against the guilty. Warring said that the guilty must be identified and punished after being tried in a fast-track court. "Devastating news from Majitha in Amritsar district. @ANI reports 14 people have died after consuming spurious liquor. My condolences to the bereaved families. Guilty must be identified and given exemplary punishment after being tried in a fast-track court. We need time-bound action. Such people deserve to be hanged from lamp posts for playing with the lives of people," the Punjab Congress chief posted on X. He also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state, questioning the workings of the state government over the death of 14 people due to the consumption of illicit liquor in Amritsar's Majitha. While addressing a public meeting in Birmi village of Ludhiana, Warring said that the functioning of the state government regarding the entire matter was under question. He also questioned the claims of the state government regarding drugs. 17 people died while others were hospitalised due to the consumption of illicit liquor under the Majitha block in Amritsar, as per the Punjab Police. The main distributor or the kingpin has been arrested in the incident that took place on the night of May 12 night, police said. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a cadre of the militant Kangleipak Communist Party-People's War Group (KCP-PWG) faction in a murder and abduction case relating to the ethnic clashes that took place in Manipur in 2023, the agency said on Tuesday. Waikhom Rohit Singh of Thoubal Pakhangkhong Leirak, Thoubal district, was picked up by an NIA team for his involvement in the conspiracy and execution of the crime. He is currently in judicial custody after completing his remand with the NIA. In November 2023, a CRPF team deployed on naka duty in Kangchup Chingkhong area of Imphal West district had detained a Bolero vehicle. The vehicle was found carrying five persons belonging to one of the two main communities involved in the ethnic clashes in the north-eastern state. A large mob of angry people belonging to the rival community had then gathered around and forcibly took away four of the individuals, while one had managed to escape. The bodies of three of the four persons were recovered later. The NIA, which took over the case in February 2024 on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is continuing with the investigation. (ANI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two members of banned insurgent groups in connection with the gruesome murder of a woman and the arson attack on multiple homes in Zairawn village in Manipur's Jiribam district in November 2024. The arrested individuals have been identified as Nongthombam Meiraba of Bishnupur district and Sagolsem Sanatomba alias Surchandra Singh alias Piba from Thoubal district in Manipur. Meiraba, a member of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF), is accused of fatally shooting the victim, identified as Zosangkim. Sanatomba, affiliated with the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), is alleged to have participated in the coordinated attack that involved looting and setting homes on fire. The two accused are in NIA custody till May 17 in the case in which investigations are continuing. (ANI)
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday hailed the allocation of over 8 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) a "historic day" for the state. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Today is a historic day, there was a resolution which has been fulfilled and a dream of the people here which has come true...PM Narendra Modi sent money for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, but houses were not built because the government here at that time was not interested in building houses. So, the people whose houses were to be built eight years ago remained deprived of houses...The promise made to the people of Chhattisgarh has been fulfilled today...The resolution of about 8 lakh houses has been fulfilled today. I am happy to be here, congratulations to everyone." While Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, "Today is a historic day for Chhattisgarh because Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the state and fulfilled the promises of ensuring housing facility to beneficiaries. He also extended the gratitude to the Union Minister. Government of India has approved the Pradhan Mantri Awas for the victims of naxalism and surrendered naxals." Meanwhile, under PMAY scheme, the Chhattisgarh government's "Samadhan Shivir" initiative has also achieved significant success earlier in Bastar district, resolving 85% of cases on the spot. The program, which was organised in 13-14 Gram Panchayats of Jagdalpur district, saw over 4,000 applications being addressed, with most cases related to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). (ANI)
In response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army launched 'Operation Sindoor' and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. A nationwide Tiranga Yatra, from May 13 and 23, will honour this act of valour and celebrate the pride brought to India and the Tricolour. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off the grand Tiranga Yatra, organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in collaboration with various organizations, to salute the courage of the Indian Army. The flag-off took place near the Bhagwan Parshuram statue at Vyaswadi in the Vadaj area. The Chief Minister also participated in the Tiranga Padayatra, holding the Indian Tricolor. Chief Minister stated that 'Operation Sindoor' embodies the sentiments of crores of Indians. Through 'Operation Sindoor', the Indian Army has given a strong response to terrorism. It is a remarkable success in India's fight against terrorism. He further remarked that India has avenged the Pahalgam terrorist attack by forcing Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and their handlers to taste defeat on their own soil. Moreover, the entire world has been left astonished by the strength, capability, and bravery demonstrated by the Indian Army and Air Force. The Chief Minister emphasized that these events have reignited a deep sense of national pride and reinforced the belief that national interest must always come first. He noted that India's armed forces have further elevated the dignity and honour of the Indian Tricolor through their courageous service. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, the Tiranga unites the people of the country. In that spirit, the Tiranga Yatra not only symbolizes unity but also strengthens the collective resolve to uphold the spirit of nationalism. It is a significant occasion that inspires every citizen to stand together for the nation. He added that the Tiranga Yatra plays a vital role in preserving the unity and integrity of the country while also boosting the morale of the armed forces. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, India has made it clear to the world that it remains firmly committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism--no matter the cost. Commending the initiative, the Chief Minister praised the Tiranga Yatra as a meaningful and impactful effort to support the brave soldiers who stand guard at our borders to defend the Motherland and ensure that the national flag continues to fly high with pride. The Yatra commenced from the statue of Bhagwan Parshuram at Vyaswadi and concluded at Subhash Chandra Bose Circle, passing through National Handloom House and Ranip Metro Station, with a right turn from the RTO Circle, a release said. The event was attended by Minister of State Jagdish Vishwakarma, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain, Members of Parliament, local MLAs, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Shri Banchhanidhi Pani, heads of various organizations, saints and mahants, and large number of workers from Ahmedabad. (ANI)
Nawaz was arrested by the Bandepalya police after they had registered an FIR against him. He has been remanded in judicial custody and sent to the Bangalore Central Jail.

Speaking on this matter, Joint Commissioner-East Ramesh Banoth said that sedition charges have been invoked against the accused.

The official further said that the accused was previously found to be involved in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Tumakuru.

"Two days ago, a social media post criticising PM Modi and negative comments against him were posted from the account named Nawaz on Instagram. In this case, we secured a man and checked his background. We found him to be involved in a previous NDPS Act case. We have invoked sedition charges against him," Banoth told ANI.

The accused in the viral video had said, "Why hasn't Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence been bombed yet? He had created this war-like situation when people were living peacefully. He had said that Prime Minister Modi should bomb his residence first."

Nawaz originally hails from Bandepalya, Electronic City, Bengaluru. He works as a mechanical engineer and has previously been booked under NDPS in Tumkur. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday praised the Indian military's firm stance against cross-border threats and said that 140 crore Indians stand in support of the armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Delhi Chief Minister also extended heartfelt gratitude to the military personnel, commending their relentless fight against terrorism. "140 crore Indians stand in support of the armed forces and PM Modi. The armed forces fought bravely against Pakistan, and Pakistan knows that if it attacks, it will get a befitting reply from India. We thank the armed forces for giving a befitting reply to the terrorists. The entire country is proud of our forces," said Rekha Gupta at the Tiranga Yatra held today. In a major public outreach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a nationwide Tiranga Yatra on Tuesday. The yatra aimed to honour the valour of Indian soldiers and inform citizens about Operation Sindoor's recent success. BJP's 'Tiranga Yatra', which was started today, will continue till May 23. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and other senior leaders and workers joined the yatra. Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also participated in the yatra and said, "The massive turnout shows that the entire nation is standing in support of PM Modi and armed forces. People in large numbers have come out at the Kartavya Path to congratulate PM Modi and the armed forces on the success of Operation Sindoor." The campaign kicked off in Delhi with a symbolic march featuring a 108-foot-tall national flag. The yatra began at Kartavya Path with thousands, including BJP workers, citizens, NGOs, RWAs, religious leaders, and social organisations gathered to pay tribute to the armed forces. According to party sources, ex-servicemen, social workers, and prominent public figures will lead the marches in various states, underscoring the message of unity, patriotism, and national pride. The yatra is being seen as more than just a party initiative, with the BJP aiming to turn it into a large-scale people's movement. In preparation, BJP President JP Nadda held a key strategy meeting on May 12 at the party headquarters with general secretaries. Senior leaders, including Sambit Patra, Vinod Tawde, and Tarun Chugh, have been tasked with coordinating the campaign across regions. The party also plans to hold press conferences nationwide and will engage social media influencers to amplify the campaign's message digitally and reach younger audiences. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. In a swift and decisive retaliation, Indian forces eliminated over 100 terrorists across the border in Pakistan. Though Pakistan launched a counteroffensive, India responded with force, leading to a ceasefire and reasserting its defence posture. Through the Tiranga Yatra, the BJP aims to remind citizens of India's resolute stand against terrorism and to foster a deeper sense of nationalism and unity across the country. (ANI)
Punjab Police on Tuesday conducted a demolition drive at the illegal property of a drug peddler in Punjab's Ferozepur as a part of action against drugs in the state. Speaking to ANI, Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bhupinder Singh said that the drug peddler, identified as Joginder Singh Shammi has illegally occupied the land of the provincial government and 29 cases are registered against him. The SSP reiterated that actions will be taken against those involved in the drugs. "A smuggler named Joginder Singh Shammi has illegally occupied the land of the provincial government and 29 cases are registered against him... He is currently lodged in Bathinda jail... Cases are also registered against his family members... Action will be taken against those involved in the drugs..." Singh told ANI. Meanwhile, earlier today, 17 people lost their lives while others were hospitalised due to the consumption of illicit liquor under the Majitha block in Amritsar. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakhs for each of the kin of the deceased of the Majitha hooch tragedy. Addressing a press conference, CM Mann said, "A very sad incident has taken place. Due to the consumption of spurious liquor, around 17 people died. 5-6 deaths occurred in the village where we are standing... It is like murder, not deaths. We have arrested 10 accused so far. Those who supplied this, those who brought this to them (people), once we get to know of this chain - who supported whom, the links go to Delhi too; our team has gone to Delhi too...They will not be spared." "These (deceased) belonged to very poor households, they were almost the sole breadwinners and had young children...Money can't bring life back, but these families lived hand to mouth and lost their breadwinners. We will provide Rs 10 Lakhs each in compensation to the bereaved families. Many of the children are very young; if anyone in their blood relation is eligible to work, it will help manage their expenses..." he added. The Punjab Police have arrested 10 individuals, including the kingpin of the illicit liquor racket. The arrested racket kingpin has been identified as Sahib Singh, while the main suppliers of methanol have been identified as Pankaj Kumar alias Sahil and Arvind Kumar, owners of Sahil Chemicals at Sukh Enclave in Ludhiana. Police have also arrested local distributors Prabhjit Singh and Kulbir Singh and local sellers Ninder Kaur, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh, Arun alias Kala and Sikander Singh alias Pappu. DGP Gaurav Yadav said the preliminary investigation has revealed that the Methanol chemical, procured online by Kingpin Sahib Singh, was being used to manufacture spurious liquor. He said an investigation is underway to uncover the entire modus operandi and bring all involved to justice. The investigation is ongoing to uncover the entire modus operandi and bring all those involved to justice. The DGP informed that DSP Subdivision Majitha Amolak Singh and SHO Police Station Majitha SI Avtar Singh have been suspended for gross negligence in discharging their official duties, which resulted in the fatal incident. He added that departmental inquiries have been initiated against the delinquents. On the Amritsar hooch tragedy, Special DGP Arpit Shukla said, "Police have registered an FIR under the relevant sections for murder and the Excise Act. Ten accused have been arrested. One of our teams has also left the state. We hope that the team will catch more people and that more recovery will be done. DSP and SHO have been suspended." Two separate cases at Police Station Majitha and at Police Station Kathunangal in Amritsar Rural have been registered under sections 105 and 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), section 61a of the Excise Act and section 3 of the SC/ST Act. (ANI)
A tragic road accident occurred in Andhra Pradesh's Palnadu district on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four people, including three women labourers and a driver. The incident occurred on the Guntur-Kurnool National Highway, near Shivapuram village in Vinukonda Mandal in Palnadu. A vehicle carrying four women labourers from Erragondapalem Mandal in Prakasam district collided with a lorry loaded with coconuts. The deceased women labourers were identified as residents of Gaddamadiplli village in Erragondapalem mandal. The state's Transport Minister, Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tragic accident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. The minister directed that the best possible medical treatment be provided to the injured and instructed officials to ensure that the treatment is given completely free of cost. He further emphasised that hospital staff must deliver efficient and timely medical services. The minister also assured that the government would fully support the affected families and extend all necessary assistance. In a separate incident, earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives due to a tragic road accident in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, in which 13 people were killed and 14 others injured. Prime Minister Modi also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured. In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated, "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM Narendra Modi." On Sunday, 13 individuals lost their lives and 14 others were injured after a truck collided with a trailer near Saragaon on the Raipur-Balodabazar Road in Chhattisgarh. (ANI)
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday asked the government to clarify on remarks made by US leaders on mediation for India-Pakistan talks and said the announcement of the two countries reaching an understanding to stop military action was first made by US President Donald Trump. He said several questions remain unanswered and people expected a reply in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Address to the Nation on Monday. "Today, PM Modi went to Adampur air base. We wanted him to visit Kashmir as well. We want PM Modi to meet the families of those who have lost their lives and listen to them. Everyone wants to listen to him. The entire country has supported him. People from every religion and section have supported PM Modi, but some questions will remain unanswered. We expected PM Modi to answer them in the address to the nation," Chowdhury said in a post on X. He referred to US President Donald Trump's post on X, in which he talked about US mediation. Chowdhury said Pakistan had resorted to sending drones even after understanding on stopping military action. "Even after ceasefire was announced the was drone attack from Pakistan. PM Modi said that any attack would be considered an act of war. Government should have answered about this," he said. India on Monday firmly reiterated that all matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed bilaterally with Pakistan and noted that the outstanding issue is the vacation of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India's policy that issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed bilaterally with Pakistan has not changed. "We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," Jaiswal said. Answering a query, he said there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation from the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 but trade did not come up in any of these discussions. "From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," he said. Jaiswal was responding to question about US President Donald Trump's remarks in which he had mentioned trade in the context of tensions between India and Pakistan. Donald Trump said on Monday that his administration played a crucial role in brokering an immediate cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, following escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. "We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war. Millions of people could have been killed. I also want to thank VP JD Vance and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for their work. On Saturday, my administration helped broker an immediate cessation of hostilities, I think a permanent one between India and Pakistan the countries having a lot of nuclear weapons," Trump told the media. "I'm very proud to let you know that the leadership of India and Pakistan was unwavering and powerful... And we helped a lot, and we also helped with trade. I said, 'Come on, we're going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let's stop it, let's stop it. If you stop it, we're doing trade. If you don't stop it, we're not going to do any trade," he added. In his post on X on May 10, Trump had said India and Pakistan have agreed to "full and immediate ceasefire". "After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump had said in a post on Truth Social. India's precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The government had said that the perpetrators will face severe punishment and over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor. Indian Armed Forces effectively repelled Pakistan's subsequent military aggression and pounded several airbases in Pakistan. The two countries have now reached an understanding to stop firing and military action after Pakistan DGMO reached out to his Indian counterpart. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sat Sharma visited the families of the victims who lost their lives in heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan in recent days. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Sharma said that Pakistan targeted civilian areas. Further referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, the BJP leader also asserted that every action of Pakistan will be given a befitting reply. "...We met the families who have lost their loved ones in Pakistani shelling... Pakistan targeted civilian areas... PM Modi clearly said that the fight between Pakistan and India is for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and terrorism, and trade cannot go on simultaneously... Every action of Pakistan will be given a befitting reply," BJP President Sat Sharma said. Heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, conducted by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, had caused damage to homes and religious sites in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch. On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara to meet civilians who were injured in recent shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). CM Abdullah also inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar and visited the shelling-affected areas. After meeting residents affected by cross-border shelling in Kupwara, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the government will compensate the people after the damage assessment is completed. "By God's grace, we haven't lost any lives here, but of course, there is a loss of public property like houses, shops, and madrasas. The District Collector is with us. They will do the damage assessment. The assessment will be completed by today or tomorrow, and then the government will compensate the people accordingly. The immunity bunkers were made, but we didn't need them for a long time. And we will try to build individual bunkers around the border and LoC areas," Abdullah told the media. The J-K Chief Minister visited the Pakistani shelling-affected areas in Tangdhar and said that the residents affected have shown "remarkable courage". After India and Pakistan came to an understanding of the cessation of hostilities, life slowly returned to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
China releases emblem commemorating 80th anniversary of victory in war against Japanese aggression

Xinhua) 08:42, May 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday unveiled an emblem commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A mayoral candidate and three other people were shot dead in Mexico's Veracruz during the campaign march. The horror of the day was captured during a Facebook live stream, which showed Yesenia Lara Gutierrez greeting people as she paraded through the streets of Texistepec on Sunday night while she was surrounded by her supporters, CNN reported. As she paraded through the streets, the people were seen smiling and chanting before gunfire suddenly rang out off camera. In the video available on Lara's Facebook page, about 20 gunshots were heard in the video. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the attack while addressing a press conference on Monday and said she had no information regarding the motive behind the attack. She added that her government in coordination with Veracruz state officials and offered federal support if required, including contact with the state attorney general's office. She said, "We're coordinating, particularly with the Secretary of Security, and with all the support needed during this electoral period from Veracruz and Durango," referring to the upcoming June 1 elections in the two states. According to the state attorney general's office, the mayoral candidate, a member of Sheinbaum's ruling Morena party, was among four people killed in the shooting. Another three people were injured in the shooting incident, CNN reported. Authorities have been conducting investigation into the matter and have vowed justice. In a post shared on X, Veracruz Governor Rocio Nahle stated, "No position or office is worth a person's life. We will find those responsible for this cowardly murder of the Morena candidate and supporters in Texistepec; four people died and three were injured. I have instructed @FGE_Veracruz and security not to stop until they find them." https://x.com/rocionahle/status/1921803329199296666 Political candidates face attacks during election cycles in Mexico. In 2024, Mexico saw a record number of victims from political-criminal violence, with Data Civica, a human rights organization, reporting 661 attacks on people and facilities. Many of the victims were either holding municipal-level positions or were running for it. In May last year, a mayoral candidate was killed in shooting during a campaign stop in Guerrero, CNN reported. The shooting incident was captured on video. Days later, Cotija mayor in Michoacan state was shot dead as she was heading home from the gym with her bodyguard. In October, Chilpancingo's mayor was killed less than a week after assuming office. (ANI)
The military of Taiwan has conducted its first live-firing of the American-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) at a base in Pingtung County on Monday, as reported by Focus Taiwan. According to Focus Taiwan, the drill was carried out by the Taiwan Army's 58th Artillery Command, which was held at the Jiupeng Base in Manjhou Township. It further noted that the HIMARS can be equipped with one pod containing six 227mm rockets or a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 kilometres. In total, 33 rockets were fired, with 11 launch vehicles each firing three rounds. The military, however, did not provide any details on how the drills went, Focus Taiwan reported. Colonel Ho Chih-chung, the 58th Artillery's deputy commander, said the US supplier also sent its personnel to the site to assist with any technical issues during the live-fire exercise. As per Focus Taiwan, Taiwan has purchased 29 HIMARS from the United States, and the first shipment of 11 was delivered in 2024. According to a Ministry of National Defence report submitted to the Legislative Yuan in March, the second batch of 18 HIMARS is scheduled to be delivered next year instead of 2027 as was originally planned. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) also shared images of the HIMARS test-firing in a post on X. MND wrote on X, "#HIMARS debuts in #Taiwan, showcasing rapid deployment and next-generation strike capabilities." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1921864901456261290 According to a previous report by CNN, the US is Taiwan's main ally and arms supplier. Earlier in April, at the 50th anniversary event of the Pacific Forum, former US Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral Harry Harris said that China's intensifying pressure on Taiwan and its broader aims in the Indo-Pacific require a more explicit response from the United States, according to a report by Taiwan News. Harris called on Washington to abandon its long-standing policy of "strategic ambiguity" and instead make clear whether it would come to Taiwan's defence in a cross-strait conflict." China has made it abundantly clear it intends to isolate and seize Taiwan," Harris said, referencing Beijing's continued military build-up and hostile posture toward the self-governing island. "We should be equally clear, and we should never allow China to dictate America's foreign policy with regard to Taiwan." The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. This has fuelled decades of tension, especially since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. (ANI)
Union Minister Pabitra Margherita was the guest of honour at the 146th Girmit Day celebrations in Fiji. Through a series of posts on X, the Union Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles on Monday shared several engagements he was part of during his visit to Fiji. In his address during the 146th Girmit Day celebrations, Margherita paid tribute to the enduring legacy of the Girmitiyas -- whose resilience, sacrifice, and spirit laid the foundation for a vibrant and inclusive Fiji. "Honoured to join the 146th Girmit Day celebrations in Fiji as Guest of Honour, alongside Chief Guest H.E. @slrabuka, Hon. @FijianPM. In my address, I paid tribute to the enduring legacy of the Girmitiyas -- whose resilience, sacrifice, and spirit laid the foundation for a vibrant and inclusive Fiji." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921851411546927409 In his engagements, he joined the Prime Minsiter of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka in presenting awards to the descendants of Girmityas. MoS Margherita thanked the Government of Fiji for recognising their contributions by declaring Girmit Day a National Holiday "It was a privilege to join H.E. @slrabuka, Hon. @FijianPM in presenting awards to the proud descendants of Girmitiyas. My heartfelt thanks to the @FijiGovernment for recognising their invaluable contributions by declaring Girmit Day a National Holiday. Also pleased to know that the captivating performances by the ICCR-sponsored cultural troupe contributed to the celebrations. " https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921934753034379565 On Monday he virtually participated in the inaugration of the Yoga Centre in Seaqaqa. The centre is representative of the strong historical cultural ties of India and Fiji and will promote holistic health and wellness. The MoS wrote on X, "It was also a pleasure to virtually inaugurate the Yoga Centre in Seaqaqa along with Hon. Agni Deo Singh, Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations of Fiji. The centre reflects our strong historical cultural ties and will promote holistic health and wellness." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921832492467937327 He had also interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. In his post on X, MoS Margherita said, "Interacted with the vibrant Indian Diaspora and Friends of India in Nadi. The Indian diaspora continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the India-Fiji partnership." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921765687732646325 MoS Margherita was on a visit to New Zealand and Fiji from May 8-12. India's links with Fiji commenced in 1879 when Indian labourers were brought here under the indenture system to work on sugarcane plantations. Between 1879 and 1916, around 60,553 Indians were brought to Fiji. Beginning with the early 20th century, Indian traders and others also started arriving in Fiji. In 1920, the indenture system was abolished. Before Fiji's independence in 1970, India had a Commissioner since 1948, who was later upgraded to High Commissioner after independence. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) top leadership has been nominated by the prosecution of Islamabad police in a case related to October 4, 2024 protest. As Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi resumed the proceedings in the case, the prosecution submitted a challan in another case lodged at Koral Police Station on October 4, and mentioned the names of senior PTI leaders, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Barrister Saif, and Omar Ayub as accused, Dawn reported. During the hearing, 29 PTI workers appeared before the court while four others registered applications requesting exemption from attendance. The court adjourned the hearing till July 17, when the accused are expected to be formally indicted. Meanwhile, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra indicted accused Raja Majid in a separate case related to Faizabad protests after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's disqualification after his conviction for concealing Toshakhana gifts from his declared assets. During the hearing, Majid denied the charges made against him. Co-accused Amir Mahmood Kayani appeared in court, while Faisal Javed Khan and Wasiq Qayyum submitted applications seeking exemption from appearing in court. The court has already indicted several of the co-accused in earlier proceedings. The case lodged at I-9 police station also mentioned PTI leaders Faisal Javed Khan, Wasiq Qayyum, and Amir Kayani. The court summoned the witnesses of prosecution and adjourned the hearing till May 19, Dawn reported. In a related matter, hearings in other protest-related cases lodged at Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Golra Police Stations have been delayed due to the unavailability of Khan. Judge Shipra stated that Imran Khan holds the same legal status in these cases like others and emphasised that proceedings could not continue until he appears before court. The proceedings in those cases have been adjourned till May 16. Earlier in April, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) marked its 29th foundation day and demanded the release of party leaders and workers, including party founder Imran Khan, The News International reported. The party pledged to continue the struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. The PTI leaders unanimously passed a resolution at a function held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House to mark the party's foundation day. PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, were present at the function. The resolution condemned the "illegal" imprisonment of Imran Khan and called for the release of all political prisoners, including PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. The resolution passed by PTI stated, "The nation responded to the call of its leader Imran Khan and won the PTI with a huge majority in the February 8, 2024 elections. Unfortunately, the party's mandate was stolen. This is a robbery on the rights of the people and an attack on the Constitution. We strongly demand the return of our legitimate mandate." In the resolution, Imran Khan-founded party condemned the ongoing oppression and fascism in Pakistan, The News International reported. It demanded the restoration of personal, political, and journalistic freedoms and basic human rights that have been suspended in Pakistan. (ANI)
Union Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, called on the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, after having participated in the 146th Girmit Day celebrations in Fiji as the Guest of Honour. The two leaders held discussions on the deepening of ties and cooperation across key sectors. In a post on X, the MoS said, "Honoured to call on H.E. @slrabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji, in Labasa following the Girmit Day celebrations. Had meaningful discussions on deepening India-Fiji bilateral cooperation across key sectors." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1922127973630804094 Through a series of posts on X, he shared several engagements he was a part of during his visit to Fiji. In his address as the Guest of Honour for the 146th Girmit Day celebrations, MoS Margherita paid tribute to the enduring legacy of the Girmitiyas-- whose resilience, sacrifice, and spirit laid the foundation for a vibrant and inclusive Fiji. "Honoured to join the 146th Girmit Day celebrations in Fiji as Guest of Honour, alongside Chief Guest H.E. @slrabuka, Hon. @FijianPM. In my address, I paid tribute to the enduring legacy of the Girmitiyas -- whose resilience, sacrifice, and spirit laid the foundation for a vibrant and inclusive Fiji." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921851411546927409 Along with PM Sitiveni Rabuka, he also presented awards to the descendants of Girmityas. MoS Margherita thanked the Government of Fiji for recognising their contributions by declaring Girmit Day a National Holiday https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921934753034379565 On Monday, he virtually participated in the inauguration of the Yoga Centre in Seaqaqa. The centre is representative of the strong historical and cultural ties of India and Fiji and will promote holistic health and wellness. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921832492467937327 He had also interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921765687732646325 MoS Margherita was on a visit to New Zealand and Fiji from May 8-12, as noted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an earlier statement. India's links with Fiji commenced in 1879 when Indian labourers were brought here under the indenture system to work on sugarcane plantations. Between 1879 and 1916, around 60,553 Indians were brought to Fiji. Beginning with the early 20th century, Indian traders and others also started arriving in Fiji. In 1920, the indenture system was abolished. Before Fiji's independence in 1970, India had a Commissioner since 1948, who was later upgraded to High Commissioner after independence. (ANI)
UK Police have been carrying out an investigation after a small fire erupted at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's north London home in the early hours of Monday morning. The London Fire Brigade was called at 1:11 am (local time) and they quickly brought the fire under control, Politico reported. Nobody was hurt in the incident, though the front door was damaged and a cordon remains in place on the street and police is present at the site. A resident of the street said he heard a loud, one-off bang, that sounded like a "firebomb" and possibly shattered glasses. Counterterror police were involved in the investigation, and the fire is being treated as suspicious. While Starmer as the UK's PM resides in Downing Street, however, he still retains his north London residence. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Firefighters were called to a small fire outside a property" in Kentish Town Monday morning." The spokesperson further stated, "Two fire engines from Kentish Town Fire Station attended the scene." Metropolitan Police said that police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade regarding reports of fire at a residential address, Politico reported. In a statement, a Metropolitan Police said, "On Monday, 12 May at 1.35 a.m., police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address." Downing Street said Keir Starmer was grateful to the emergency services for their work but could not comment further due to the ongoing probe. (ANI)
At least 110 people have died in Karachi over the past 132 days due to collisions involving heavy vehicles, with the latest incident occurring on the Northern Bypass. According to police, three people were killed when a speeding dumper rammed into the car they were on board near the bypass, Geo News reported. The deceased were identified as Sulaiman, his son Usama, and their cousin Faraz. The dumper driver fled from the spot after the accident, abandoning the vehicle. The family members of the victims told the media at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital that all three belonged to the same household. The three victims were heading to Gulshan-e-Maymar from the Northern Bypass when the accident took place. The family of the victims lives in the Band Murad Norani Hotel area of Manghopir. The number of people who have lost their lives due to heavy vehicle collisions in Karachi is alarming: 42 deaths were caused by trailers, 26 by water tankers, 22 by dumpers, 10 by Mazdas, and 10 by buses. These incidents showcase continued risk posed by heavy vehicles across the city, despite restrictions imposed by the government, Geo News reported. The rising number of accidents sparks serious questions regarding the effectiveness of traffic regulation in the metropolis. In response to the rising number of accidents, Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi recently instructed the placement of cameras and trackers on all heavy transport vehicles (HTVs), including dumpers, water tankers, and oil tankers. The Commissioner's directive came after goods transporters called off a strike that had impacted port operations. According to the new measures, each heavy transport vehicle must have three cameras: on the front, rear, and inside the vehicle to monitor the behaviour of the driver. Furthermore, the Sindh government has restricted heavy vehicle movement during daytime hours and implemented a 30 kilomter per hour speed limit within city limits. The authorities have banned dumpers from roads between 10 pm to 6 am, Geo News reported. Heavy transport vehicles also need to have safety guardrails and trackers with data accessible at the DIG Traffic office. Transporters have agreed to ensure vehicle fitness within three to six months, and submit a progress report every 10 days. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged US President Donald Trump to find an opportunity to visit Turkiye as the country has been proposed as the site for discussions between Russia and Ukraine. In a video message, the Ukrainian President said that he is ready to visit Turkiye for the talks. In the message which was posted on X, Zelenskyy also alleged "Russian shelling and assaults continue". Noting that Ukraine supports diplomacy, he hoped for the US President to support the meeting and find an opportunity to attend it. "Ukraine has always supported diplomacy. I am ready to come to Turkiye. Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia to the numerous proposals for a ceasefire." "Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence. One way or another, Russia will have to end this war -- and the sooner, the better. There is no sense in continuing the killing." "President Erdogan has expressed full readiness to host the meeting. It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come to Turkiye." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1921997432231231499 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday called for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, saying it should start without delay, as early as May 15th.In a televised address shared by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putin emphasised that the talks should take place "without any preconditions" and that Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, should once again serve as the host. "We suggest the authorities in Kyiv to resume direct talks, which they themselves interrupted in 2022," Putin declared. "We propose to start the talks without delay, next week, on May 15, in Istanbul."Putin further elaborated on the choice of venue, noting, "I'm referring to direct talks without any preconditions, and we propose to start immediately on next Thursday on the 15th of May in Istanbul. The venue that held them before. Well, it is well known that the Turkish colleagues organised, well, proposed their services to organise such talks, and President Erdogan did a lot to organise those talks in the past. "Reflecting on previous discussions, Putin stated, "As a result of those talks back then, a draft of a joint agreement was prepared and initialled by the head of the Kiev negotiating teams, but upon the behest of the West, it was thrown into the little bin." He indicated that Western influence had disrupted the progress made during those negotiations. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for an extended period, resulting in significant human suffering and economic losses. The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has become one of the most devastating conflicts in Europe. (ANI)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for wide-ranging structural reforms to enhance the global body's effectiveness. He outlined wide-ranging reform plans to revamp how the UN system operates, including cutting costs, relocating services from high-cost duty stations, centralizing information technology and support services, expanding automation and digital platforms, noting that some of these changes will be "painful" for the UN family. In the briefing on the UN80 Initiative in New York on Monday, Guterres said, "As indicated in my letter of 11 March, the UN80 Initiative is structured around three key workstreams: First, we are striving to rapidly identify efficiencies and improvements under current arrangements. Second, we are reviewing the implementation of all mandates given to us by Member States. And third, we are undertaking consideration of the need for structural changes and programme realignment across the UN system. Under the first workstream on efficiencies and improvements, Under-Secretary-General Catherine Pollard is leading a Working Group for the Secretariat that is developing a management strategy to design a new business model for the Organization." "The Working Group is focused on developing cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancement proposals in management and operations across the UN Secretariat. It is reviewing administrative functions to identify redundancies, streamline processes, and design integrated solutions -- with cost-benefit analyses and clear implementation road maps. Priority areas include: Functional and structural consolidation; workforce streamlining; relocating services from high-cost duty stations; centralizing information technology and support services, and expanding automation and digital platforms," he added. He emphasised that the immediate focus of the Working Group will be on management and operational areas while the rest of the Secretariat will be expected to contribute towards the efficiency agenda. He stated, "For example, all Secretariat entities in New York and Geneva have been asked to review their functions to determine if any can be performed from existing, lower-cost locations, or may otherwise be reduced or abolished. This especially pertains to those functions that do not directly support intergovernmental bodies in New York and Geneva." "With respect to the broader UN system, in April, the High-Level Committee on Management identified potential system-wide efficiency measures in areas such as human resources management, supply chain management and information and communications technologies. Concrete proposals are now being developed, including identifying services that system organizations can provide quicker, at a lower price or through more competitive contracts," he added. Antonio Guterres said that he expects meaningful reductions in the overall budget level. He noted that they have already seen considerable savings in New York by terminating the lease of one building and moving staff into other existing premises and they expect to close two more buildings when their leases expire in 2027 with considerable savings. Mentioning about the possibilities on how they can reduce budget, he said, "For example, let me describe what is under consideration in the peace and security cluster. First, resetting DPPA and DPO, merging units, eliminating functional and structural duplications, getting rid of functions that are also exercised in other parts of the system. I believe we'll be able to eliminate 20 per cent of the posts of the two departments. Second, a similar exercise of streamlining the civilian part of peacekeeping." "Third, The consolidation within OCT of all counter-terrorism activities spread in the system. Fourth, a review of the present structure of regional offices, Special Representatives and Envoys aiming at a consolidation of the system, with increased functionality and meaningful savings. The level of reduction of posts that I have outlined for DPPA and DPO must be seen as a reference for the wider UN80 exercise, naturally taking into account the specificities of each area of work. There might be immediate, one-off costs involved in relocating staff and providing potential termination packages. But, by moving posts from high-cost locations, we can reduce our commercial footprint in those cities and reduce our post and non-post costs," he added. He said that the efficiencies required cannot be achieved unless they focus on the programmatic areas of work. He noted that dedicated outreach with the wider UN system is now underway, and will take profit of the work of the established clusters. He further said, "Additional proposals resulting from the other workstreams will be submitted to Member States for consideration as appropriate. Many changes will require the approval by the General Assembly this year and next. I will consult closely and regularly with Member States on progress, seeking guidance on the way forward, and presenting concrete proposals for discussion and decision-making when appropriate. We know that some of these changes will be painful for our UN family. Staff and their representatives are being consulted and heard. Our concern is to be humane and professional in dealing with any aspect of the required restructuring." (ANI) .
Union Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita called on the President of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu during his visit to the country. MoS Margherita met the President of Fiji at the State House where the two leaders held discussions on strengthening cooperation between the two countries. In a post on X, he said, "Honoured to call on the President of Fiji H.E. Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu at the State House. A fruitful discussion on strengthening the bonds of friendship, cooperation and shared values between India and Fiji." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1922180531590238405 Earlier, MoS Margherita had called on the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, after having participated in the 146th Girmit Day celebrations in Fiji as the Guest of Honour. The two leaders held discussions on the deepening of ties and cooperation across key sectors. In a post on X, the MoS said, "Honoured to call on H.E. @slrabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji, in Labasa following the Girmit Day celebrations. Had meaningful discussions on deepening India-Fiji bilateral cooperation across key sectors." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1922127973630804094 Through a series of posts on X, he shared several engagements he was a part of during his visit to Fiji. In his address as the Guest of Honour for the 146th Girmit Day celebrations, MoS Margherita paid tribute to the enduring legacy of the Girmitiyas-- whose resilience, sacrifice, and spirit laid the foundation for a vibrant and inclusive Fiji. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921851411546927409 Along with PM Sitiveni Rabuka, he also presented awards to the descendants of Girmityas. MoS Margherita thanked the Government of Fiji for recognising their contributions by declaring Girmit Day a National Holiday. On Monday, he virtually participated in the inauguration of the Yoga Centre in Seaqaqa. The centre is representative of the strong historical and cultural ties of India and Fiji and will promote holistic health and wellness. He had also interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921765687732646325 MoS Margherita was on a visit to New Zealand and Fiji from May 8-12, as noted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an earlier statement. India's links with Fiji commenced in 1879 when Indian labourers were brought here under the indenture system to work on sugarcane plantations. Between 1879 and 1916, around 60,553 Indians were brought to Fiji. Beginning with the early 20th century, Indian traders and others also started arriving in Fiji. In 1920, the indenture system was abolished. Before Fiji's independence in 1970, India had a Commissioner since 1948, who was later upgraded to High Commissioner after independence. (ANI)
Tetouan [Morocco], May 13 (ANI/WAM): The Moroccan Poets Festival concluded its sixth edition after three days of illustrious writing and celebrating the word. The closing ceremony was held at the National School of Crafts and Arts in Tetouan, in the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture; Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department; Rachid Al Mustafa, Head of the Cooperation Department in the Culture Sector at the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication; Dr. Youssef Al Fahri, President of the Higher School of Teachers in Martil; Mukhlis Al Sagheer, Director of the House of Poetry in Tetouan; and a large number of writers, intellectuals, and university students. Al Sagheer pointed out that the Moroccan Poets Festival strives to innovate with each new edition, and to grow in poetry and cultural resonance in the Arab world. He highlighted that the sixth edition enjoyed a prominent official presence, alongside a public audience with a passion for poetry and art. He explained that the House of Poetry in Tetouan, founded in 2016, affirms its tireless efforts to organise a distinguished seventh edition next year, to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Participants in the Moroccan Poets Festival agreed that Sharjah has become a pioneering model in supporting Arab culture and actively contributing to shaping a new generation of Arab intellectuals. They emphasised that Sharjah's cultural, intellectual, and cultural achievements over the past decades were not a coincidence, but rather the result of the broad cultural vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. His Highness believes that culture is the cornerstone of human and societal development. Participants believe that Sharjah's experience represents a model to be emulated, as it has not only supported cultural production but has also strived to create an integrated knowledge environment that attracts new generations and instils in them a love of reading, thinking, and criticism. They explained that many young Arabs who have benefited from Sharjah's cultural experiences have now become prominent voices in the fields of literature, thought, and the arts. The second day of the festival featured a critical symposium titled "Poetry and the Performing Arts". The speakers emphasised that when poetry is recited on stage, or combined with movement or music, it transforms into a performance art. This is where what is known as "the poetics of performance" emerges, where poetry emerges from the page and is embodied through the body, voice, gaze, and silence. They noted that at this moment, literature intersects with the live arts, providing the recipient with a multi-sensory artistic experience. Speakers emphasised the intersection of poetry and performance, where word meets movement, voice meets silence. This is when a magic called the poetics of the performing arts is born; where the poem becomes a vibrant body, and the scene becomes a visual poem that is read by the eye and felt by the heart. The Moroccan Poets Festival has an exceptional section, bringing the audience together with visually impaired poets at the Taha Hussein Institute in Tetouan, in a poetic and humane moment where poetry met with a number of visually impaired creatives who drew inspiration from life's features and, from its details, wove their vast worlds. The festival saw the participation of more than 40 poets, poetesses, intellectuals, and artists amidst a festive atmosphere of poetry and its creators. It honoured 83 students in a poetry writing workshop organised by the House of Poetry in Tetouan, in collaboration with the Faculty of Arabic Language at the Higher Teachers' School in Martil. Eighteen students were also honoured in the regional competition for Arabic Language Pioneers, organised by the House of Poetry in collaboration with more than 37 secondary and middle school educational institutions. (ANI)
The Foreign and Security Minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile, Salih Hudayar has strongly criticised Kazakhstan's recent decision to deny entry to Danish anthropologist Dr. Rune Steenberg, calling it a "disgraceful act of submission" to China. In a statement posted on X, Hudayar questioned, "Has Kazakhstan become China's new 'Kazakh Autonomous Region'?" His remarks reflect growing concern among Uyghur activists and advocates about the increasing influence of the Chinese government over Kazakhstan's internal and foreign policy decisions--particularly regarding the sensitive issue of China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang. Hudayar's statement came in response to a recent article published by Global Voices, a nonprofit network of international writers and bloggers, which reported that Dr Rune Steenberg was denied entry into Kazakhstan on April 12, 2025. Steenberg, a noted anthropologist based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, leads a European Union-funded research project focused on China's repression of Uyghurs and has previously conducted fieldwork in Kazakhstan without incident. According to Global Voices, Kazakh border authorities at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border offered no official reason for the denial. However, Dr Steenberg believes the action is directly tied to his increasingly vocal condemnation of China's systematic campaign of mass detention, forced labour, and digital surveillance targeting Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic peoples in the Xinjiang region. According to the article, over the years, Steenberg's research has shifted from ethnographic fieldwork to active public advocacy and commentary. He now works extensively with exiled Uyghur communities and banned literature, aiming to document human rights abuses that have been widely condemned by international organisations and governments. His barring from Kazakhstan follows a similar case in 2021, when fellow Uyghur researcher Yevgeny Bunin was also denied entry. Global voices reported that despite being barred from both China and Kazakhstan--the two countries with the largest Uyghur populations--Steenberg remains undeterred. He has vowed to continue his work through remote research methods and by analyzing censored and banned materials, ensuring that the repression of Uyghurs and other marginalized communities does not go unrecorded. (ANI)
The meeting addressed the bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of police and security cooperation, and explored avenues for further enhancing these ties to serve the mutual interests of both nations.

Present at the meeting were Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, along with a number of senior officers from the Ministry.

Also in attendance were Abdul Qader Mohammadi, Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to the UAE; Vladimir Wolkovski, State Counsellor at the Minister's Office; Aleksandar Stoilevski, Assistant Minister of Information and Communications Technology; Ivica Stankovski, Assistant Minister for Internal Oversight, Criminal Investigations, and Professional Standards; Ilija Chalechev, Assistant Director of the Criminal Police Department; as well as several other members of the Macedonian delegation. (ANI/WAM)
Abdurehim Gheni, a prominent Uyghur human rights activist based in the Netherlands, took to the social media platform X with a powerful condemnation of China's leadership and its treatment of ethnic minorities. Reacting to a post quoting Mao Zedong's infamous remark, "All imperialists are nothing but paper tigers," Gheni responded with a stark denunciation of Mao and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). "Mao Zedong is the world's greatest murderer. He is the greatest terrorist who imprisoned many nationalities in the Chinese state prisons," Gheni declared. He further described China as an imperialist force that holds multiple nations captive within its borders. "The only way to prevent China from becoming a threat to the world is to disintegrate this colonial country and establish an independent country for each people," he wrote, calling on the United States and Western powers to support independence movements across China's territories. Gheni, originally from Aksu in the Xinjiang region, has long been outspoken about the persecution of Uyghurs. According to reports, since 2017, he has lost contact with 19 family members, who are believed to have been detained in China's network of re-education camps. In response, he began weekly solo protests outside the Chinese Consulate in Amsterdam and founded the Support Uyghurs Foundation to amplify the global call for justice. According to reports, despite being arrested and fined in 2020 for protesting without a permit, Gheni has remained undeterred. In 2024, he suffered another personal tragedy when his father reportedly died in a Chinese detention camp. His latest remarks come at a time of growing international scrutiny of China's human rights record. The Uyghur human rights abuses in China include the bulk detention, surveillance, and cultural repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Thousands of Uyghurs have reportedly been detained in "re-education" camps. Several media reports cite forced labour, sterilisations, religious restrictions, and mosque destruction. The Chinese government denies that human rights are part of anti-terrorism measures. Human rights groups and various governments denounced the acts as crimes against humanity, with some accusing them of genocide, eliciting global outrage and appeals for accountability. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The two leaders discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties between India and New Zealand during the meeting. A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said Margherita also called on the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, on the sidelines of the India-New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) Dialogue during an official visit to New Zealand and Fiji from May 8-12. Luxon and Peters also addressed the INZBC. Margherita delivered the Keynote Address as Guest of Honour at the INZBC Dialogue 2025 on May 9. The MoS also met Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Agriculture of New Zealand, in Auckland. Margherita addressed the Indian community at the Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Centre in Auckland and reaffirmed India's strong commitment towards the welfare of the Indian diaspora. He appreciated their contribution to strengthening ties between the two countries, added the statement. During the visit to Fiji from May 10-12, Margherita participated as the Guest of Honour at the 146th Girmit Day commemoration organised in Labasa on 12 May. Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji, was the Chief Guest of the ceremony. He paid courtesy calls on Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu, the President of Fiji, and Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji. He also met with Biman Prasad, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development, and Statistics. The statement added that in these meetings, the two sides had wide-ranging discussions on various aspects of bilateral relations and discussed ways to enhance ties between India and Fiji further. During the visit, Margherita witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Pharmacopeial Cooperation between India and Fiji. Margherita, along with Agni Deo Singh, Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations of Fiji, virtually inaugurated a Yoga Centre located in Seaqaqa. In addition to his bilateral engagements, Margherita interacted with the Fijian alumni of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. The visit of MOS (PM) to New Zealand and Fiji was very well received, and contributed to the enhancement of bilateral ties with both countries in line with India's Act East Policy and the broader vision of the Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday lauded the Indian armed and air forces, stating that their might compelled Pakistan to stop firing. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Jaiswal said that Indian forces launched an attack on Pakistani air force bases due to which the other side were willing to stop military action. "You will of course appreciate that early on (May) 10th morning, we had mounted an extremely effective attack on key Pakistani Air Force bases. That was the reason they were now willing to stop firing and military action. Let me be clear. It was the force of Indian arms that compelled Pakistan to stop its firing," he said. Jaiswal again made it clear that the policy of Indian side on the Jammu and Kashmir issue remains unchanged. He said that the issue of the union territory is a bilateral one, and it pertains to the illegal occupation of Pakistan of Jammu and Kashmir. "We have a long-standing national position that any issues pertaining to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally, that stated policy has not changed. The outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan," he said. Talking about the ceasefire reached on May 10, Jaiswal said that the initiative of the understanding was taken by the Pakistani side. Pakistan initially faced some technical difficulties in connecting with the Indian side over the phone, and then a feasible timing was worked out. "The specific date, time and wording of the understanding was worked out between the DGMOs of the two countries at their phone call on 10 May 2025 commencing 1535 hrs. The request for this call was received by the MEA from the Pakistani High Commission at 1237 hrs. The Pakistani side had initial difficulties connecting the hotline to the Indian side for technical reasons. The timing was then decided based on the availability of the Indian DGMO at 1535 hrs," he said. Jaiswal reiterated that India's message to the world regarding the attack was clear- Indian side was responding to Pakistan for its dastardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. "As regards conversations with other nations, the message from India was clear and consistent. And exactly the same message that we were conveying from public platforms was the one conveyed in private conversations. It was that India was responding to the 22 April terrorist attack by targeting the terrorist infrastructure," he said. Jaiswal reiterated that India was only responding to the attack of Pakistani firing, and it would stop of the other sides stop. The same message was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the onset of Operation Sindoor. "However, if the Pakistani armed forces fire, Indian armed forces will fire back; if Pakistan stops, India will also stop. This was also the message that was conveyed to the Pakistani side at the time of the commencement of Operation Sindoor, which was not heeded to by the Pakistani side at that time. It is natural that many foreign leaders who heard this from us would have shared it with their Pakistani interlocutors," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today while addressing the armed forces at the Adampur Air Base lauded the Indian Armed Force on the stupendous success of the operation stating that that the slogan of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is the resolve of every soldier who is ready to sacrifice their lives for the country, adding that when it echoes in the war field as well as in the missions. (ANI)
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday banned all direct food and courier deliveries to students across federal educational institutions amid the growing influence of drugs, Dawn reported. The order was issued by Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, who expressed deep concern that narcotics were being trafficked into campuses under the guise of food and package deliveries. The court's directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by Lakki Foundation, a civil society organisation that raised alarm over the rising number of students addicted to drugs in Islamabad. Justice Minhas remarked, "Children are ordering pizza -- and also drugs. This must stop." Expanding on these concerns, the judge warned that any educational institution found permitting frequent direct deliveries would be investigated, and those failing to comply with the new restrictions would face strict action. He ordered immediate enforcement of the ban and directed authorities to submit a compliance report by the next hearing. According to Dawn, Justice Minhas questioned the delay in activating the council, citing its critical importance in nationwide drug control efforts. During the proceedings, the Islamabad police issued an apology for an earlier report that had downplayed the scale and seriousness of drug abuse in schools and colleges, reported Dawn. The judge issued a show-cause notice to the assistant inspector general (operations) for emphasising VIP security more than student safety. According to updated police data, surveillance efforts have been increased at over 1,000 institutions in collaboration with the Anti-Narcotics Force, resulting in 577 drug-related cases since 2019. However, the earlier report admitted that ongoing VIP duties had diverted focus and manpower from anti-drug efforts. The petitioner's counsel, Kashif Ali Malik, presented disturbing statistics indicating that between 43 to 53 per cent of students in elite schools were reportedly using drugs, with heroin, hashish, and methamphetamine being the most prevalent, Dawn reported. He urged the government to focus on enforcement and curriculum-level reforms. The court was informed that the Ministry of Education has already introduced drug prevention content in school syllabi and plans to expand it. Justice Minhas concluded the hearing by stating, "This is not just a law and order issue, it's about the future of our youth." The next hearing is scheduled for May 28. (ANI)
Balochistan continues to reel from a wave of violence as the bodies of three men were reportedly discovered in separate incidents across Pakistan's poorest province, highlighting the persistent insecurity and lawlessness in the region. According to The Balochistan Post, the killings occurred in Panjgur, Washuk, and Kachhi districts, with each case marked by brutal circumstances and unclear motives. The Balochistan Post reported that in the Pirey Jahlag area of Panjgur, police discovered the body of an unidentified man who had been shot dead. Authorities transported the body to the Teaching Hospital for identification. Police sources told The Balochistan Post that the victim appeared to have been deliberately targeted, though no suspects have yet been named. Meanwhile, in Washuk's Nag region, local Levies officials reported a disturbing case in which armed assailants abducted a man from his home during the night. The body of the victim, identified as Mullah Dawood, son of Jan Muhammad and a resident of Nag Bansar, was later found dumped near the Bansar Charahi locality. His body was taken to the RHC hospital. As reported by The Balochistan Post, the motive for the killing remains unknown. In a third incident, police in the Chandrami area of Dhadar, Kachhi district, discovered the body of another unidentified man showing signs of severe torture. Police reports indicate the victim had been strangled. The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital Dhadar, where Medical Superintendent Muhammad Zahid confirmed the presence of visible torture marks. As reported by The Balochistan Post, the latest incidents contribute to an atmosphere of deepening fear and uncertainty. Families of victims often face prolonged legal and bureaucratic delays in their pursuit of justice, adding to their trauma and sense of helplessness. Despite repeated appeals by human rights organisations for intervention and transparency, Balochistan remains one of Pakistan's most volatile and under-reported regions -- a place where tragedies like these too often unfold without consequence. These grisly discoveries underscore a broader pattern of violence in Balochistan, where targeted killings, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations are frequent. The region has long been marred by unrest stemming from nationalist movements and military operations. Rights groups have frequently condemned the government's failure to ensure accountability or justice for victims. (ANI)
Recent satellite images captured by Maxar Technologies on Tuesday revealed significant damage to multiple air bases in Pakistan. The images show damage to four Pakistani air bases: Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, Bholari Air Base, and PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad. Satellite images taken on April 25, 2025, and May 10, 2025, show damage to air base facilities, indicating a possible strike or attack at the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi. The second image shows significant damage done precisely, showing the accuracy of the Indian Air Force. PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha also faced significant damage, as is visible from images captured on April 30, 2025, and May 10, 2025. The second image displays damage to the runway and some air base facilities. The satellite photographs of Bholari Air Base taken on April 27, 2025 and May 11, 2025, also shows significant damage in a meticulous strike. The strikes caused damage to part of the runway and a structure. PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad revealed damages as one compares images dated April 30, 2025, and May 11, 2025. The second image shows damage to a structure. The satellite images suggest that the air bases have been targeted in a series of strikes or attacks. The damage appears to be concentrated on key infrastructure, including runways and facilities. Operation Sindoor was a coordinated precision strike operation launched by the Indian Armed Forces on 7th May 2025, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. It was executed through the coordinated efforts of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, conducted from Indian territory. Unlike past operations with aggressive names meant to project strength, this operation's name was chosen as a personal tribute to the victims, particularly the widows of the Pahalgam attack. The damage to these air bases could significantly affect Pakistan's military capabilities and operations. The country's air force may face challenges in maintaining its operational effectiveness, and the damage could impact its national security. Moreover, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, on Tuesday, while addressing a press conference, stated that Operation Sindoor destroyed terrorism centres in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad, and other locations in Pakistan. He emphasised that India's actions significantly degraded Pakistan's military capabilities and put key airbases out of action. "In the last week, as a result of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has seen its terrorism centres in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Muzaffarabad and other places destroyed. Thereafter, its military capabilities were significantly degraded by us and key airbases effectively put out of action," he said. He suggested using satellite pictures available commercially to bust Pakistan's claims of attacking India. "We are living in a day and age where you have satellite pictures available commercially. I urge you to look at the satellite pictures of the sites which Pakistan says or claims to have attacked in India. Contrast it with the sites and places which we successfully targeted and destroyed. That will give you a clear answer. Claiming victory is an old habit," he said. Jaiswal reiterated India's clear and consistent stand on targeting terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan. He emphasised that India's response would be suitable if Pakistan's military fired on Indian forces. "Where India is concerned, our stand was clear and consistent from the start. We would target terrorist infrastructure operating out of Pakistan. If the Pakistani military stayed out, there would be no problem. If they fired on us, we would respond suitably," said the MEA spokesperson. Jaiswal also highlighted the change in Pakistan's tone after their attempt to launch a massive assault on India failed and they received a devastating counter-response. "Till the night of 9th May, Pakistan was threatening India with a massive assault. Once their attempt failed on 10th May morning and they received a devastating Indian counter-response, their tune changed and their DGMO eventually reached out to us...," he added. Jaiswal further busted the false claim made by Pakistan that they had won the war, "Since 1971, in 1975 and in 1999 Kargil War too, Pakistan has an old habit of shouting on the top of their lungs that they have won the wars even when they have lost miserably." (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday responded to a recent statement made by the Pakistan Foreign Office, emphasising that Pakistan's history of nurturing terrorism on an industrial scale makes it accountable for the consequences. Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, during the weekly press conference, stated that Pakistan's attempt to escape the consequences of its actions is futile, given its long history of supporting terrorism. He highlighted that the terrorist infrastructure sites destroyed by India were responsible for the deaths of not only Indians but also many other innocents around the world. "We have seen the statement made by the Pakistani side. That a nation which has nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale should think that it can escape the consequences is fooling itself. The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but also of many other innocents around the world. There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better," he said. This comes after Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar in his first interview since India and Pakistan's cessation of hostilities, said that Islamabad "had no choice" but to launch strikes in "self-defence" following India's May 7 cross-border attacks. Dar referred to India's strikes as a "war" and a "wishful attempt to establish its hegemony" and claimed that "We were very sure that our conventional capacity and capabilities are strong enough that we will beat them both in the air and on the ground." Jaiswal emphasised that there is a new normal in dealing with terrorism, and Pakistan needs to acknowledge and adapt to this reality. He also emphasised the links of the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack and The Resistance Front- a terror group that owned up to their involvement in the attack twice. "You know we have had several rounds of briefings and in these briefings we have also shared with you the kind of linkage we see between the perparators of the attack of Pahalgam, in particular The Resistance Front. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in his statement also made very clear the kind of evidence that we see and investigation is going on in this particular matter," he said. Jaiswal said that the TRF took responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack twice before rolling their statement back. "You would have seen that TRF had taken responsibility and then second time again second day- twice they had taken responsibility and thereafter possibly at the behest of their handlers they rolled it back," he said. Jaiswal added that India is still pursuing listing of TRF in the United Nations by the United Nations Security Council by the UNCC 1267 sanctions committee. "But TRF is one organization which is a front of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and you would understand that we have been pursuing listing of TRF in the United Nations by the United Nations Security Council by the UNCC 1267 sanctions committee. We'll update you on as to how the investigation progresses in this matter," he said. Jaiswal said that India is sharing the details of the investigations of the attack with the UNSC, hoping that they would take note of it. "Over the last two years or so, since 2023-24 we have been sharing information with the United Nations Security Council, the monitoring team of the sanctions committee as to why the terrorist TRF which is the front for Lashkar-e-Taiba should be listed as a terrorist entity. We will be also in few days will be sharing more details in this regard and hopefully security council 1267 monitoring team will take strong note of what we present, what we file and take due action against that is required," he said. Earlier on May 7, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted Pakistan's role in removing references to the terrorist group The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terrorist attack, from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) press statement issued on April 25. He recalled how India had earlier shared inputs regarding the TRF with the UN, bringing out its role as a cover for terrorists based in Pakistan. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Tuesday witnessed the signing of an MoU on the Recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia. Margherita said it would help advance the cooperation between the two countries in the gamut of healthcare. In a post on X, he said, "Witnessed the signing of an MoU on the Recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia. This will help in advancing India-Fiji cooperation in healthcare, standards, and development." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1922253322255532065 Margherita held a bilateral meeting with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The two leaders discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties between India and New Zealand during the meeting. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1922180531590238405 A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said Margherita also called on the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, on the sidelines of the India-New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) Dialogue during an official visit to New Zealand and Fiji from May 8-12. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1922127973630804094 https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921934753034379565 https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1921851411546927409 Luxon and Peters also addressed the INZBC. Margherita delivered the Keynote Address as Guest of Honour at the INZBC Dialogue 2025 on May 9. The MoS also met Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Agriculture of New Zealand, in Auckland. Margherita addressed the Indian community at the Mahatma Gandhi Cultural Centre in Auckland and reaffirmed India's strong commitment towards the welfare of the Indian diaspora. He appreciated their contribution to strengthening ties between the two countries, added the statement. During the visit to Fiji from May 10-12, Margherita participated as the Guest of Honour at the 146th Girmit Day commemoration organised in Labasa on 12 May. Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji, was the Chief Guest of the ceremony. The visit of MOS (PM) to New Zealand and Fiji was very well received, and contributed to the enhancement of bilateral ties with both countries in line with India's Act East Policy and the broader vision of the Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], May 13 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, today met with Gilles Roth, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg. The meeting took place at the offices of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) in One Za'abeel. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the UAE and Luxembourg, particularly in the fields of finance, trade, innovation, education and emerging technologies. The two sides noted the strong alignment between both countries' strategic priorities in developing resilient and future-ready economies and financial ecosystems. Discussions focused on advancing bilateral ties through enhanced cross-border investment, digital finance linkages, and fintech collaboration. The UAE's advanced financial infrastructure, progressive regulatory environment, and world-class business-enabling services were highlighted as key strengths that make it an ideal platform for Luxembourg-based firms seeking regional and global expansion. The UAE's emergence as a strategic gateway to international markets for international financial institutions was also underscored. The meeting reviewed existing bilateral frameworks and initiatives aimed at deepening financial sector cooperation. Opportunities for collaboration in sustainable finance and financial innovation were explored, building on the growing momentum of engagement between leading institutions in both countries. Discussions also covered avenues to strengthen institutional ties between sovereign wealth funds and financial centres in the UAE and Luxembourg. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of The Dubai Ruler's Court, and Managing Director of the Investment Corporation of Dubai; and Essa Kazim, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). (ANI/WAM)
Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, during the weekly press conference on Tuesday, called Bangladesh's ban on the Awami League as "concerning". Jaiswal called for the early holding of free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh. "The ban on the Awami League without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh," he said. The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) on Monday suspended the registration of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League as a political party, a senior EC official said. "We have suspended Bangladesh Awami League registration (as a political party) in line with the home ministry notification", Aktar Ahmed, Senior Secretary of EC, told the reporters. However, Awami League rejected the government's decision and announced that they will conduct their activities properly on Saturday. "The people of Bangladesh are shocked and outraged by the illegal and unconstitutional occupying fascist Yunus government's announcement to ban the activities of the Awami League", the statement said. "We reject this decision of the fascist dictator Yunus government with hatred and strongly condemn and protest against it", the statement said. "At the same time, we express firm commitment that the Bangladesh Awami League will continue to conduct its activities properly, ignoring this decision of the fascist Yunus government", the statement said. Earlier, the cabinet of the Bangladesh interim government, headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, took a decision to ban all activities of the Awami League, including cyberspace, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. "Today will be marked as a black day in the history of Bangladesh. The activities of the Awami League, the party under whose leadership Bangladesh was established as an independent and sovereign state, have been banned in the independent country by the undemocratic fascist Yunus government, which has no mandate from the people", said the statement posted on Awami League's Facebook page. (ANI)
Liberal democracies in the Asia-Pacific, including Taiwan, must strengthen their individual and collective resilience as the world faces a new Cold War shaped by intensifying rivalry between the US and China, a leading international affairs expert said in Taipei on Sunday, Taipei Times reported. Robin Niblett, distinguished fellow at Chatham House and senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the emerging global divide is not merely geopolitical, but spans military, technological, and ideological spheres. Speaking at a forum hosted by the Taiwan-based Centre for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation, Niblett warned that the US-China contest is deepening and poses heightened security challenges for the region. In his keynote speech at the event, themed "Building Resilience on Shaky Ground in the Asia Pacific," Niblett described China as seeking to break out of the "first island chain" through heavy naval investment, increased nuclear capability, and intensified efforts to control the South China Sea. "If China wants to be economically secure as the world's largest exporter, it wants to break out of the first island chain," he said. Niblett also pointed to the dual-use nature of Chinese innovation, stressing that "technology is critical to economic growth and central to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 'military-civil fusion,' which uses technology to bolster its military capabilities." He said the competition reflects a broader ideological struggle between top-down authoritarianism and bottom-up democracy. "The CCP is afraid the US would undermine its leadership by spreading democracy," he added. According to Niblett, the Russia-Ukraine war catalysed the current phase of the US-China rivalry. "The US-China contest really became a Cold War because of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine," he said, arguing that China's alignment with Moscow further alarmed democracies in the Asia-Pacific, reported Taipei Times. He said the Biden administration had begun "knitting together" its allies, with the G7 acting as a steering committee for unifying Atlantic and Pacific allies. However, he warned that the Cold War has entered "a new chapter" with US President Donald Trump's return to power. "The fundamental difference between Biden and the current president is that Trump does not believe in alliances," Niblett said. "Trump views allies as countries to take advantage of, because he believes they rely on the US consumer market and the US military for security, but the US needs to 'negotiate with its rivals.'" Niblett said China has since stepped up its "gray zone" activities, including military drills around Taiwan and broader regional naval movements. Meanwhile, the Taipei Times reported that Asia-Pacific nations fear the impact of Trump's "me first" approach on economies that depend on open global markets. Faced with these risks, Niblett urged liberal democracies to boost individual resilience, especially in defence, energy, and hybrid security, and forge stronger economic ties among themselves. "Asia-Pacific democracies must increase defence spending and be innovative in their defence strategies, enhance hybrid resilience against 'gray zone' warfare, and bolster their energy and economic resilience," he said. He stressed that regional players must "become more resilient collectively," deepen integration with ASEAN, keep ties with the EU, and pursue closer business links with G7 countries and partners such as Australia. "Taiwan's future lies with the other liberal democracies that rely on America for their security," he said. Niblett concluded by urging Asia-Pacific democracies to prepare for future engagement with Washington. "Liberal democracies in the Asia-Pacific region must also be very thoughtful about how to reset relationships with the US," he said. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], May 13 (ANI/WAM): The Smart City Council (SCC) and International Free Zone Authority (IFZA), Dubai's leading Free Zone community, came together to advance a shared vision for innovation. As the key partner for the event, IFZA helped steer conversations toward building more inclusive, sustainable, and connected cities - starting with Dubai and reaching across international markets. The strategic partnership took place during the recently concluded Smart Cities Summit North America 2025. Held in San Francisco, the summit brought together more than 450 senior leaders in government, business, and academia under the theme 'Public Safety, AI, and the Middle East in Focus.' Through keynote sessions, IFZA shared insights on how smart cities and free zones intersect as engines of social transformation through economic innovation, a principle deeply aligned with SCC's mission. "Dubai represents more than just an economic opportunity; it represents a vision of what future cities can be," said Holger Schlechter, CFO of IFZA. "As Smart Cities Council partners, we are proud to champion this vision by building meaningful connections, sharing global insights, and opening new pathways for international tech entrepreneurs. This collaboration reflects the growing synergy between the United States and the UAE across diverse industries - and we believe Dubai offers the ideal platform for American innovators to bring their smart city solutions to life in Dubai and beyond." Smart Cities Council and IFZA also announced two joint venture organisations, Smart Cities Council Middle East, to support the rapidly increasing demand for smart city solutions across the Middle East, and Smart Cities Academy, a platform focused on smart city education and training. "Our collaboration with IFZA marks a new chapter in how smart cities are imagined and built across borders," said Corey Gray, President of Smart Cities Council. "By connecting Silicon Valley's innovation with Dubai's dynamic business environment, we aim to create a powerful launchpad for entrepreneurs to test, adapt, and deploy their smart solutions globally. The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing regions for urban innovation, and through our solutions, we aim to equip governments, and organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in a smarter, more sustainable future." Dubai, ranked 4th globally in the 2025 IMD Smart Cities Index, is already a benchmark for smart urban development, with world-class infrastructure, digital public services, and forward-looking policies. As a launching pad for transformative regional projects like NEOM in Saudi Arabia and New Cairo in Egypt, it provides international innovators with immediate access to high-growth opportunities across the Middle East. IFZA also announced the launch of Scale360, an open innovation platform based in Dubai designed to connect global startups with corporate partners, investors, and market access. Developed in partnership with Plug and Play, Scale360 reflects IFZA's growing role in supporting not just business setup, but business transformation. (ANI/WAM)
Following India's decision to declare a Pakistani citizen at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi "persona non grata," Pakistan also declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad "persona non grata," citing involvement in activities incompatible with their official status. The Indian Charge d'Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Pakistan conveyed its decision, directing the concerned official to depart the country within 24 hours. Sharing a post on X, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote, "A Staff Member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, Declared as Persona Non Grata. The Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status. The concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours." "The Indian Charge d'Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today for a demarche, conveying this decision," the post added. https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1922351962227458149 Notably, India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani citizen, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, as 'persona non grata' for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The said person was working as a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. An official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs stated, "The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d' Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today." Earlier in April, India summoned Pakistan's top diplomat in Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and handed over the formal Persona Non Grata note for its military diplomats. India's action came after 26 people were killed and several others sustained injuries in the dastardly attack by terrorists on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said that after these measures, the total number will bring the overall strength of the High Commissions down to 30 from the present 55. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 tourists were killed. In addition to eliminating over 100 terrorists, the strikes targeted 11 Air bases inside Pakistan and inflicted significant damage on their military capabilities. The air, land and sea operations were carried out with calibrated restraint, with an emphasis on minimising civilian casualties. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared his intention to lift longstanding American sanctions on Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime late last year, CNN reported. Speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum 2025, Trump said the move would "give them a chance at greatness," and framed it as a step toward peace and progress in a war-torn country. Trump said the decision came after discussions with both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114499706021304117 "Syria, they've had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years," he said, adding that his administration had already begun taking steps to restore normal diplomatic relations with Syria. He emphasised this would mark the first such effort by the US in over a decade. As part of this process, Trump noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet Syria's foreign minister in Turkey "later this week," further advancing the thaw between the two nations, reported CNN. The Assad regime, which collapsed during the final phase of the Biden administration in December, had long been under intense international sanctions. Trump suggested the time had come to turn the page. "The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important -- really an important function -- nevertheless, at the time," Trump stated. "But now it's their time to shine. So I say, 'Good luck, Syria.' Show us something very special." Trump expressed optimism that the country's new leadership "will hopefully succeed in stabilising the country in keeping peace," suggesting the US is ready to support Syria's transition, CNN reported. Syria's new President Ahmad al-Sharaa, once the founder of the militant group Jabhat al-Nusra, broke ties with al-Qaeda in 2016, according to the US Centre for Naval Analyses. A White House official confirmed that Trump is expected to informally greet al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, signalling further engagement between Washington and Damascus. US President Donald Trump began his Middle East visit on May 13, which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. (ANI)
Following the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, the US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott emphasised the importance of direct communication between both countries. He also commended India and Pakistan for choosing the path of peace. On being asked if the US received any assurance or commitment during their talks with Pakistan, whether Pakistan will dismantle its terror infrastructure or no longer support terror groups in the country, Pigott while addressing the press briefing on Tuesday said, "I can only reiterate that we welcome the ceasefire reached between India and Pakistan this weekend. We commend both Prime Ministers for choosing the path of peace. We also want to encourage direct communication between the parties." Earlier, US President Donald Trump, while participating in the US-Saudi Investment Forum, took credit for the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Trump said that he used trade to a large extent to reach the agreement. "Just days ago, my administration brokered a historic cease-fire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan, and I used trade to a large extent to do it. I said, fellas, come on, let's make a deal, let's do some trading, let's not trade nuclear missiles, let's trade the things that you make so beautifully, and they both have very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, smart leaders, and it all stopped," he said. Trump further hoped that the cessation of hostilities remain and credited US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance for it. "Hopefully ,it will remain that way but it all stopped. I was very proud of Marco Rubio and all of the people that worked so hard. Marco, what a great job you did on that. Thank you, JD Vance," he said. Trump offered that both sides, India and Pakistan have a 'nice dinner' together as a mark of them getting back together. "The whole group worked with you but there's a great job. They are actually getting along. Maybe we can even get them together a little bit, where they go out and have a nice dinner together. Wouldn't that be nice? We've come a long way," he said. Trump added that millions could have died in the conflict that 'started off small'. "Millions of people could have died from that conflict that started off small and was getting bigger and bigger by the day," he said. (ANI)
India on Tuesday welcomed Russia's proposal for direct talks with Ukraine, describing it as an opportunity to address their concerns through dialogue and diplomacy. While addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has consistently advocated the need for engagement between Russia and Ukraine to achieve peace. "We welcome the direct talks that have been announced between Russia and Ukraine. The talks present an opportunity for both parties to address their concerns through dialogue and diplomacy. India has consistently advocated the need for sincere and practical engagement between Russia and Ukraine to ensure early and abiding peace," Jaiswal said. Jaiswal's remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday called for resuming direct negotiations with Ukraine, urging that they begin as soon as May 15 in Istanbul. In a televised address shared by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putin emphasised that the talks should take place "without any preconditions" and that Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, should once again serve as the host. "We suggest the authorities in Kyiv to resume direct talks, which they themselves interrupted in 2022," Putin declared. "We propose to start the talks without delay, next week, on May 15, in Istanbul." Putin had further elaborated on the choice of venue, noting, "I'm referring to direct talks without any preconditions, and we propose to start immediately next Thursday on the 15th of May in Istanbul. The venue that held them before. Well, it is well known that the Turkish colleagues organised, well, proposed their services to organise such talks, and President Erdogan did a lot to organise those talks in the past." Reflecting on previous discussions, Putin stated, "As a result of those talks back then, a draft of a joint agreement was prepared and initialled by the head of the Kiev negotiating teams, but upon the behest of the West, it was thrown into the little bin." He indicated that Western influence had disrupted the progress made during those negotiations. The Russian President stressed that the goal of these negotiations was to address the "root causes of the conflict" and achieve a long-lasting peace. "We are committed to holding serious talks with Ukraine in order to eliminate the root causes of the conflict to arrive at a long-lasting peace in the long run, in the long historical run," Putin said. Putin also addressed the possibility of achieving new ceasefires during these discussions. "I can't rule out that during those talks we will be able to negotiate and come to terms over new ceasefires or truces, real ones that would be respected not only by Russia but the Ukrainian side," he explained. The proposal came amid increasing international pressure for a ceasefire. Western leaders, including those from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Poland, recently stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, urging Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face severe sanctions. US President Donald Trump also weighed in, warning that "if the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions." Trump, who has made ending the conflict in Ukraine a priority of his administration, has dispatched his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow for high-level discussions. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], May 14 (ANI/WAM): As part of its ongoing efforts to empower emerging Emirati talent and strengthen their presence in the media sector, the Dubai Media Council (DMC) organised a visit for media students from the Higher Colleges of Technology to the regional headquarters of Edelman, one of the world's leading communications firms. Organised as part of the 'Emirati Media Talent Pledge' initiative, launched by DMC, the visit aimed to offer students real-world exposure, highlight career paths in media, and foster direct engagement with industry professionals. DMC affirmed that collaboration with the private sector and leading media institutions represents a key pillar in advancing the media sector in Dubai and the UAE. The Council highlighted its strong ties with prominent media entities and their key role in supporting efforts to prepare and upskill young talent by facilitating knowledge exchange and providing the professional expertise needed to enhance their readiness for careers in the media industry. Saif Al Suwaidi, Project Manager at Dubai Media Council, said the visit forms part of efforts to realise the objectives of the 'Emirati Media Talent Pledge' initiative, launched under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council. "Dubai's media development strategy places youth at its core. The Dubai Media Council is working closely with pledge partners to expand opportunities for young Emiratis and support their journey towards excellence. Edelman's support for the initiative reflects the private sector's growing awareness of the vital role youth play in shaping the future of media. The Council remains committed to empowering young talent, strengthening their presence in the industry, and equipping them with the professional skills needed to thrive in an evolving media landscape," Al Suwaidi said. Al Suwaidi thanked Edelman for its role as a key partner of the 'Emirati Media Talent Pledge' and for hosting the visit in collaboration with DMC. He commended the firm's efforts in offering students meaningful exposure to current practices in communications and marketing, particularly in a fast-evolving digital landscape that is reshaping how audiences are engaged worldwide. The visit featured a series of interactive sessions aimed at enriching the students' understanding of how global communications firms operate. A dedicated Q&A session gave students the opportunity to engage directly with senior professionals and rising talent at Edelman. The discussion covered a range of topics, from skills required to succeed in the industry to the importance of adaptability, creativity and cultural awareness in modern communications. Omar Qirem, Chief Executive Officer of Edelman Middle East, welcomed the students with an introduction to the company's vision, key areas of work, and guiding values. He highlighted Edelman's commitment to identifying and supporting young talent, and to fostering professional environments that enable them to thrive in today's dynamic media landscape. The visit also included a guided orientation through Edelman's various departments, offering participants a closer look at how teams collaborate on client campaigns, develop content strategies, monitor trends, and manage digital platforms. In addition to providing inspiration and guidance, the visit also served to familiarise students with upcoming internship opportunities that Edelman will offer as part of its collaboration with DMC. The 'Emirati Media Talent Pledge' is a strategic initiative that engages leading media organisations in the process of mentoring, training, and integrating Emirati talent into the media workforce. Through internships, workshops, and structured industry exposure, the initiative aims to equip young Emiratis with the skills and experience needed to succeed in the sector. (ANI/WAM)
Here in Lynchburg, art isnt confined to frames or galleries. It spills across brick walls, school hallways and public spaces. It tells stories, sparks conversation and adds colors to the everyday.

Behind many of these murals is Christina Davis, a local artist whose colorful creations have become landmarks throughout the city.

Her murals can be seen across schools and public spaces. Known for her colorful and imaginative work, Davis has become one of Lynchburgs most impactful artists, not only by beautifying spaces but by fostering creativity in others.

I got started because a lot of the schools around here had no art, Davis said. And a lot of times when they got remodeled, they had blank walls. I just wanted to do something about it.

Despite being recognized now as a seasoned muralist, Davis path to public art wasnt all that conventional.

I actually have an untraditional education, she said. I didnt go to school to be a teacher. I thought I was going to be just an artist. I started off thinking I was gonna be a painter.

Davis is from Lynchburg and is a graduate of E.C. Glass High School.

Her artistic path led her through several institutions and cities. She briefly attended Hood College in Maryland, drawn not by prestige, but by the professors and their unique offerings.

I went to Hood College actually for only less than a year because I was there studying black and white photography, she said. They actually had an organist player who was still playing organ music for black and white films. So youre watching a silent film with live music. That blew my mind.

Davis gravitated toward interactive art and non-traditional media at a time when few others were doing so.

I use markers, I use colored pencils, I use paint on walls, and a lot of acrylic paint I use is high-pigment  illustrator grade paint, she said. Most of the classes around here were more traditional medium and we were interested in the non.

That non-traditional mindset took her far afield from Lynchburg to Atlanta, Richmond and back again.

I kind of traveled a lot for that reason. VCU had a lot of people getting interested in using materials in untraditional ways, she said, referencing artists who used household tools to create sculptures on walls. That wasnt really popping at Lynchburg.

Eventually, she returned to Lynchburg.

I accidentally became a teacher, she said. I learned a lot, and when you become a public artist, you have to study underneath other people. So I kind of picked schools based on the professors and their work.

But before any of the schooling or travel, there was already a deep-rooted love for creativity nurtured in childhood.

All my siblings drew, all my siblings knew how to knit, we all knew how to crochet, she said. Our parents were very crafty. It was just a way of passing time when we were kids.

Her family even threw themed birthday parties at Renaissance faires and met friends at Old City Cemetery for spontaneous costume get-togethers> inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Creativity wasnt just encouraged; it was part of the familys heritage.

Even with my husbands side  Monacan Nation and everything, its also part of our tradition. Everyone does some sort of textile craft, and it just keeps getting passed down. Its like passing down a little bit of your heritage, she said.

Despite a clear passion and talent, Davis didnt initially see art as a viable career.

People were like, Oh, youre good at art, but not serious, like, theres a job, she said.

That mindset began to shift in college, where her exposure to diverse mediums and public art forms broadened her vision.

I made my art at first because it brought me joy, something I enjoyed. I didnt think it was gonna turn into a career, she said.

Today, Davis is best known in Lynchburg for her large-scale murals. Bursts of color that blend whimsy, cultural symbolism and community stories. Whether shes painting in a school hallway or mentoring a budding artist, she sees her work as an ongoing dialogue with her hometown.

Having purpose behind your work as an artist has just redefined it for me, because what it represents in my city ended up being the passion behind it, she said.

Shes completed murals at Amazement Square, along 5th Street, Colcas Chicken, Art Alley, the YWCA and the Craft Crucible building in midtown.

Her favorite murals have been at the YMCA, Lynchburg Pediatrics and Hill City Hardwoods.

When you want to become an artist and a public artist, you have to study underneath other people, Davis said. Its about learning, sharing and showing people that art doesnt just belong in museums, it belongs to the community.

A sense of belonging is her approach with public art. She said she doesnt see her murals as static pieces of art. Theyre alive, interactive and meant to be part of everyday life.

Ive painted in gyms, libraries, cafeterias, hallways, you name it, she said. I want to give people something colorful to look at. Even if they dont stop to study it, it makes them feel something. It adds something.

In addition to her working painting murals and portraits, this past year, Davis was the Artist in Residency for the Academy Center of the Arts where she taught students painting, mixed media, printmaking and recycled art projects.

The Artist in Residency program allows artists to engage with Academy audiences, students and the Lynchburg community by providing enriching experiences and messaging across our program initiatives.

Im an artist that helps peoples voices get heard. Im helping out nonprofits, Im helping students feel more welcome in a lot of spaces that maybe they didnt before, she said.

She has been working with Lynchburg City Schools to create original works of art within their properties. Recently, she completed two murals at Heritage Elementary School in the cafeteria and on one main hallway.

I feel like my art has taken roots here to the point that even people who I dont know if they know me, I know theyve been in front my walls, she said. I smile driving down 5th Street seeing people taking pictures in front of my walls.
TOKYO, May 13 (News On Japan) - A growing number of credit card fraud cases in Japan has been linked to a shadowy underground labor network, where Chinese nationals are suspected of stealing Japanese consumers' card data.

Last July, a man in his 40s living in Nagoya, referred to as A, fell victim to a phishing scam that compromised his credit card information. A deceptive message prompted him to click a suspicious link and enter his card details. It was only after checking the sender's email that he realized he had been tricked. A immediately contacted his card company and had his card deactivated.

However, fraudulent charges continued to appear even after he received a new card. Despite never using the replacement, unauthorized payments had already been processed. Records showed that fraudulent use began two days after the initial deactivation. The transactions22 in total, each under 10,000 yenamounted to around 140,000 yen over a month.

The key vulnerability was the smartphone tap-to-pay feature. When card information is stored in a smartphone, it can be used for purchases without immediate verification, particularly for transactions under a certain amount. In some cases, this tap function remains active for a short time even after the card is deactivatedan exploit fraudsters have begun to take advantage of.

In March, the issuer of Aeon credit cards reported a 9.9 billion yen special loss due to similar fraudulent activity.

One group under scrutiny is a Chinese network orchestrating black market part-time jobs. In a 2023 case in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, a Chinese national was arrested for using stolen information to purchase heated tobacco products at a convenience store. Authorities seized 26 smartphones, each containing card data for three Japanese individuals.

The suspect, allegedly recruited for a cigarette-buying proxy job, had been instructed by a Chinese group operating through social media. The stolen goods were reportedly intended for resale in China.

These jobs are often advertised on Chinese social media platforms like RED, known in Chinese as Xiaohongshu, where users post photos and videos. A reporter contacted one such recruiter offering 4,000 yen per hour and was told the job involved buying items at nearby convenience stores.

The items in question were prepaid cards. Buying 20,000 yen worth promised a 4,000 yen reward; 50,000 yen would yield 15,000 yen. After agreeing, the reporter was told to switch to another social messaging app and go to a convenience store.

Once at the store, the reporter was asked to send a photo of a multi-function copy machine. They were then given instructions to use the machine to buy prepaid e-money cards. The interaction suggested a high-reward job with minimal effortbut was it legitimate?

A Chinese-speaking reporter then called the recruiter. The person explained that the purchased goods would be picked up by a driver in exchange for cash. When asked whether the job was legal, the call was abruptly disconnected.

Experts familiar with these operations say the pattern is clear: start with seemingly legal jobs and gradually pull workers into criminal activity. One specialist noted that international students are often approached and advised, "If you're unsure about its legality, dont get involved."

Young people in need of money are especially vulnerable. These schemes often use the internet and social media to reach them. Many of the groups behind these operations are reportedly based in Southeast Asia, where enforcement is lax and the risk of prosecution is low.

Some experts believe Japan is seen as an easy target due to weak awareness and preventative measures regarding tech-based scams and fraud. This perception has emboldened groups to focus their activities on Japanese consumers.

Source: MBS
TOKYO, May 13 (News On Japan) - Greater Bay Airlines, which resumed regular flights between Sendai and Hong Kong last December for the first time in 13 years, currently operates four round trips per week. However, starting this week and continuing through the end of October, the airline will reduce that to three weekly round trips due to declining travel demand. The number of flights to Tokushima will also be cut. What is behind this sudden downturn?

One cause appears to be a Japanese manga. The newly released complete edition of The Future I Saw, a comic once rumored to have predicted the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, has stirred speculation. In the story, a character dreams that the Pacific side of Japan is swallowed by a massive tsunami in July. The manga has been widely shared online, fueling fears.

Adding to the anxiety, a feng shui master in Hong Kong predictedwithout scientific basisthat a major earthquake would hit Japan this summer. As a result, a movement to avoid traveling to Japan has emerged in Hong Kong.

We asked Professor Mitsuru Fukuda from the College of Crisis Management at Nihon University to help unpack the situation.

"This is fiction, not a prophecy," said Fukuda. "From a scientific perspective, earthquakes cannot be predictedneither in the short nor long term. They can only be evaluated statistically over time."

According to Fukuda, Japan frequently experiences typhoons and torrential rains in July, which means disasters of some kind are not uncommon during the summer. If one interprets the manga vaguely, such expectations could align with any seasonal calamity. But Fukuda stresses that no scientific evidence supports the idea of a massive tsunami hitting the Pacific coast in July, as the manga suggests.

In Hong Kong, the comic and the feng shui prediction have gained traction, particularly on social media platforms. As a result, actual demand for travel to Japan has decreased. In response, Greater Bay Airlines decided to reduce flights between Sendai, Tokushima, and Hong Kong through the end of October.

Reporter Ozaki from the Shanghai bureau confirmed that concerns about Japan's potential for a large-scale earthquake and tsunami have indeed spread across online forums, with some people choosing to cancel or postpone their trips.

"There's no scientific basis for these so-called predictions," Fukuda emphasized. "The problem lies in how society reacts."

Japans government has published long-term risk assessments for a Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake, and emergency alerts were issued last July and August. These real concerns may contribute to heightened public anxiety, making people more susceptible to misinformation.

One such example is the surge in bookings at a hotel called Misakaigetsu in Tokushima. The hotel, located on a mountaintop, is reportedly fully booked on July 4ththe day before the date predicted in the manga. According to hotel staff, this is highly unusual, and many of the reservations are from locals. Some believe people are booking rooms on higher ground to "evacuate" based on the rumor.

"This kind of behavior has happened many times before," said Fukuda. "Every time, the media and social networks amplify the story, society becomes unsettled, and yet nothing happens. Then, people forget, and the cycle repeats."

Last month, another earthquake prediction circulated online. It claimed a major quake would hit northern Tokyo Bay at precisely 2:58 p.m. on April 26th. The rumor spread so widely that Japans Cabinet Office posted a message on its official X (formerly Twitter) account two days before the date, stating that specifying the exact time and location of earthquakes is scientifically impossible.

"Even though most people know that earthquakes can't be predicted, rumors still spread," said commentator Kihara.

In Hong Kong, where feng shui is deeply rooted in culture, many people are influenced by such beliefs. As a result, the fear-based movement became more intense than it might have been in Japan. Fukuda warns that rumors, when acted upon collectively, can create real-world consequences.

He cites past cases, such as the 1973 toilet paper panic during the oil crisis. A rumor started by a housewife about a shortage spread so widely that store shelves were emptied across Japan. Similarly, a joke among high school girls about a financial institution being dangerous led to a bank run that pushed the institution to the brink of collapse.

"There are many instances where people's behavior, driven by a rumor, makes the prediction come true," Fukuda noted. "That's why how we respond to misinformation is critically important."

The origin of a rumor can often be traced through media investigations and academic research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, panic-buying of toilet paper resurfaced, prompting news outlets to show images of well-stocked shelves to avoid triggering further hoardingan effort informed by lessons from past incidents.

But there have been darker moments in history. After the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, a false rumor that "poison was poured into wells" led to mob violence and deaths. At that time, with no modern water infrastructure, such misinformation caused panic and tragic consequences.

In more recent memory, after the Kumamoto Earthquake, a fake photo of a lion allegedly escaping from a zoo went viral, highlighting how easily fear can be exploited during disasters.

"With the rise of social media, there are people who deliberately spread false information to gain views," Fukuda warned.

Why do people fall for such rumors? Fukuda explains that some are naturally drawn to prophecies and conspiracy theories. The manga The Prophecies of Nostradamus, published in 1973, sold over 2.5 million copies in Japan. In the U.S., belief in a so-called "deep state" has fueled political conspiracy theories, amplified even by major figures like former President Donald Trump.

"It's part occult, part cult-like thinking," said Fukuda. "Some people distrust the government and media and seek 'hidden truths.' These people are more vulnerable to conspiracy theories."

One psychological factor is the "echo chamber" effect on social media. As users follow others with similar beliefs, platforms recommend increasingly similar content, reinforcing the perception that everyone shares the same view. Fukuda noted that YouTube is a clear examplewatching one video about earthquake predictions leads to a stream of similar content, reinforcing belief.

"This creates an illusion of consensus," said Fukuda. "People should be aware that although the internet seems vast, it often narrows into small echo chambers."

American psychologists Allport and Postman proposed a formula for how rumors spread: the amount of rumor equals its importance multiplied by its ambiguity. The July 5th disaster rumor is a perfect exampleits theme is significant and its source, a fictional manga, is vague. Together, these factors create ideal conditions for mass circulation.

A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that false information spreads faster on X (formerly Twitter) than accurate information. Fukuda said this aligns with other findings and reflects growing public distrust in traditional institutions like government and media.

"In today's world, it's more important than ever to verify the source of any claim," he said. "Before posting or sharing anything, stop and check whether it's true and whether it should be shared. This is what media literacy means."

Schools and society must foster this kind of critical thinking. Even if it's hard to change everything overnight, just pausing before spreading information can help prevent unnecessary panic.

Source: ABCTVnews
SAPPORO, May 14 (News On Japan) - A lawsuit over the right to education in Japanese Sign Language concluded at the Sapporo High Court on May 13th, with a junior high school girl using the language in court to state that "Japanese Sign Language is my identity."

The case centers on two students who argue that their constitutional right to learn is being violated because they cannot receive instruction in their first language at a prefectural school for the deaf in Hokkaido.

The plaintiffs are a sixth-grade boy currently attending Sapporo Prefectural School for the Deaf and a third-year junior high school girl who previously attended the same school. Both students primarily use Japanese Sign Language, which conveys meaning through eye gaze, facial expression, and hand movement, in contrast to Signed Japanese, which follows spoken Japanese grammar and vocabulary.

Because their homeroom teachers only use Signed Japanese, the students claim they have been unable to follow lessons and are demanding 5.5 million yen each in damages from the Hokkaido government. They argue that being denied instruction in Japanese Sign Language amounts to a violation of their constitutionally protected right to education.

In May last year, the Sapporo District Court dismissed the case, stating that "there is no law guaranteeing the right to be taught in Japanese Sign Language." The students appealed.

During the appeal hearing on May 13th, the junior high school student addressed the court using Japanese Sign Language, stating, "Japanese Sign Language is my identity as a deaf person. The desire to learn is the same for hearing and deaf students. The right to learn is the same. Not respecting a language is the same as not respecting the people who use it."

After the hearing, she told reporters she felt some relief at being able to directly express her thoughts and emotions to the judge.

The high court is scheduled to issue its verdict on September 11th.

Source: HBC 
SAGA, May 14 (News On Japan) - A Singaporean drama has begun filming in Saga City after the Saga Film Commission successfully attracted its first production from the Southeast Asian nation. The filming is taking place at the former Koga residence, a historic building constructed in 1884.

The project is led by acclaimed Singaporean director Mahfuz Muhammad, known for his award-winning works.

Why Saga? According to Mahfuz, the choice of location is deeply personal. "I know that my great-great-grandmother came to Singapore from Kyushu. The scenery in Sagaits terraced rice fields and architectureis incredibly beautiful and reminds me of rural towns in Southeast Asia," he explained. His great-great-grandmother, Haranishi Tsubasa, was born in Japan, and Mahfuz had long wished to shoot a film in the country.

The drama portrays the true story of Haranishi, who left Japan during the Meiji era in search of freedom and fought to assert her identity after arriving in Singapore. "Though the story takes place in the Meiji period, not many people know that Japanese once migrated to and lived in Singapore. I want this to be a beautiful drama that brings their stories to light," said Mahfuz.

The ten-episode series, titled Haranishi Zubaida, is scheduled to air next year on Singapores national broadcaster, Mediacorp.

Saga has previously hosted a Thai production that went viral and boosted Thai tourism to the region. Encouraged by that success, local officials hope to continue attracting international productions in the future.

Source: KBC
TOKYO, May 14 (News On Japan) - Loose socks, once a symbol of 1990s gyaru fashion, are making a stylish comeback among Japan's Gen Z, driven by a broader 'Heisei retro' trend that celebrates nostalgic aesthetics. In Harajuku, young people are pairing the evolved, shorter versions of the socks with miniskirts and shorts.

On May 13th in Harajuku, Tokyo, several people could be seen wearing the iconic slouchy white socks, now reinterpreted and embraced by a new generation.

A woman in her twenties wearing loose socks said, "A lot of my friends wear them too. Regular socks feel boring. These add volume and serve as an accent. They're cute and lift my moodI look forward to each day."

Loose socks, popularized during the Heisei era, are now drawing renewed attention, especially in Harajuku. A visit to a local sock specialty store reveals a wide range of these socks lined up. The shop sells around 200 pairs of the standard white type each month.

According to Yuiko Nagai, store manager of the Tabio Harajuku Takeshita Street location, "They look great with miniskirts or shorts. We see customers ranging from elementary school students to those in their 20s and 30s."

The design of loose socks is also evolving. Nagai explained that the newer styles are shorter and give a more streamlined appearance, making them easier to wear. As the weather warms, gauze-textured varieties are becoming popular, and new sock designs that replicate the loose sock look are gaining traction.

"Theres a wide range of color options too, which is another reason they're popular. Customers enjoy picking out their favorites," Nagai added.

Why are loose socks drawing attention now? Makiko Tanabe, a trend researcher at SHIBUYA109lab., points to the resurgence of "Heisei retro" as one key factor. The current boom in fashion inspired by the Heisei-era gyaru style is reviving interest in iconic items from that time.

During Golden Week in Shibuya, young women dressed in 1990s-inspired gyaru outfits were a common sight, highlighting how the nostalgic style is being revived.

Loose socks have also become more accessible, now sold at major retailers like Uniqlo. The comeback is also supported by a broader trend of using socks as playful fashion items.

"Socks are relatively easy to incorporate into everyday outfits," Tanabe noted. "Theres more room now to enjoy loose socks as a fashion choice, and the trend seems likely to continue steadily."

Source: FNN
TOKYO, May 14 (News On Japan) - A growing number of Chinese tourists in Japan are converting their foreign driver's licenses into Japanese ones by listing their hotel addresses as proof of residence, drawing criticism and prompting a policy shift from authorities.

Former Digital Minister Taro Kono posted on social media that the National Police Agency will no longer allow such conversions for Chinese nationals without a resident record.

The post has ignited widespread attention. According to Kono, the police have made it clear that foreign nationals without an official residence in Japanspecifically Chinese nationalswill no longer be permitted to switch to a Japanese license.

Kono's statement follows a report aired in October 2024 by the news program "It!" showing long queues of Chinese nationals at a driver's license center in Fuchu, Tokyo. Most were applying for what is known as a "foreign license conversion," a system that allows holders of overseas licenses to obtain a Japanese license by passing a written and practical test.

According to the National Police Agency, 56,022 foreigners obtained Japanese licenses through this system in 2023more than double the number in 2014.

The issue lies in the ability to obtain a license even on a tourist visa, without a residency record. Many Chinese visitors have reportedly used the address of their hotel to apply, triggering concerns.

In one incident in August 2023, a Chinese tourist caused a rental car accident in Hokkaido. Traffic accidents involving drivers of Chinese nationalityincluding residentshave been rising annually.

Kono's remarks have sparked mixed reactions. Some Chinese tourists argue that the policy unfairly targets them. "Chinese people are the most active travelers today. If the rule bans all right-hand traffic countries or all of Asia, I could understand. But if its just China, its discriminatory," one visitor said.

Others, including Chinese residents in Japan, expressed support for tighter rules. "Road safety is important. Since China drives on the right and Japan on the left, a bit more training might be a good idea," one resident commented.

It remains unclear whether the restriction will apply solely to Chinese nationals without residency. The National Police Agency is currently reviewing the system with possible reforms under consideration.

Source: FNN
FUKUSHIMA, May 14 (News On Japan) - A 36-year-old unemployed man has been arrested on suspicion of abducting a teenage girl who was later found dead in Yamagata Prefecture. The suspect, Hiroki Kishinami from Fukushima City, has previously been arrested three times for offenses including the abduction of minors and assisting in suicides.

According to police, Kishinami is suspected of abducting the girl without her parents' consent on September 2nd last year. Her body was discovered on September 23rd in a mountainous area of Kaminoyama City, Yamagata. Investigators believe Kishinami may have knowledge of the circumstances surrounding her death and are continuing their inquiry.

Fukushima City, where Kishinami resides, is about an hour's drive from Kaminoyama. The investigation revealed that he and the girl had been communicating via social media between June and September of last year. Kishinami is believed to have lured her to meet him in Yamagata City on September 2nd before taking her away.

Yamagata police identified Kishinami during the investigation due to similarities with previous cases involving the same method of contact and abduction. Authorities have not disclosed whether Kishinami has admitted to the allegations, citing potential impact on the investigation. He has been prosecuted in the past for related offenses by Fukushima Prefectural Police.

Source: TBS
France said it will take a firm and proportionate response, after Algeria asked more French diplomats to leave the country.

Algeria has declared 15 French diplomats persona non grata and asked them to immediately leave the country, in a new episode of an escalating tension between the two countries.

The Algerian decision is part of a series of escalatory moves in retaliation for Frances sovereign decision to back Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara territory.

Relations deteriorated sharply after France arrested an Algerian employee involved in the kidnapping of political opponent Amine Boukhris, known as Amir DZ.

Amir DZ, who has a large audience on social media, together with other journalists and politicians in French exile such as Abdou Semmar and Hichem Abboud, have all been targets of physical attacks and intimidation by the Algerian regime.

French weekly, JDD, reported on May 12 that the French judiciary was investigating the attacks on Algerian opposition figures.

It pointed to the involvement of the Algerian authorities in the attacks on Amir Dz, Hichem Abboud, and Abdou Semmar.

The weekly also reported that the French President was looking into a response to the interference of the Algerian regime in Frances domestic affairs.

It said the attacks were ordered by Tebboune himself and involved Algerias secret service agents.

Meanwhile, Algeria maintains ageing and ailing writer Boualem Sansal in jail for saying historical truths on the colonial origins of Algerias current borders.

Intent on cracking down on free speech at home and abroad, Algeria issues an arrest warrant against novelist and Goncourt winner Kamal Daoud, after his novel Houris on the civil war, a taboo issue in Algeria.
French development agency (AFD) offered a financing of 350 million euros in support of decarbonization efforts led by Moroccos phosphates and derivatives giant OCP.

A deal was signed between the two institutions on May 12, as OCP seeks more funding for its 13 billion-dollar decarbonization plan.

OCP had announced a plan to use100% clean energy by 2027 and to fully cover its industrial water needs with non-conventional sources. It also aims to increase the Groups capacity to produce decarbonized fertilizers, notably by integrating green ammonia, in order to progressively reduce its carbon footprint and achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2040.

As part of OCP Groups decarbonization trajectory, this corporate financing from AFD will be disbursed based on the achievement of performance indicators, with a focus on increasing production capacity for clean energy and non-conventional water, developing green hydrogen and green ammonia production, and integrating climate and biodiversity indicators into the Groups risk management processes.
Hungarian companies are interested in investing in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region which is offering huge business opportunities in various sectors including tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and renewable energy.

The remarks were made Monday by Hungarian Ambassador to Morocco Miklis Tromler during a visit to the Moroccan Sahara. The diplomat said he was impressed by the socioeconomic development of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region and its modern infrastructures.

He also voiced his countrys willingness to strengthen economic cooperation with the Kingdom, which has become Hungarys largest trading partner in Africa. The ambassador and his accompanying delegation visited the regions main projects, including the Dakhla Atlantic Port and the seawater desalination plant.

The Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region offers investors an advantageous geographic position, a commercial and logistical hub for North and West Africa, and an entry point for regional and continental investment. Its main economic drivers  ranging from fishing and agriculture, to tourism and renewable energy  have experienced robust growth in recent years.

With its landmark projects such as Dakhla Atlantic Port, the West Africa Free Zone and the largest wind farm in North Africa, the region is attracting a growing number of foreign investors.
Mauritanian economist Sidi Ould Tah has presented his vision for the African Development Bank (AfDB), ahead of the presidential election scheduled for May 29 in Abidjan, focusing on mobilizing resources, reforming financial architecture, leveraging demographic potential, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

The former Mauritanian Minister of Economy and Finance brings significant experience from his role as Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he increased the banks assets from $4 billion to nearly $7 billion between 2015 and 2024.

A key element of Ould Tahs platform is optimizing financial resources, with the goal of multiplying each invested dollar tenfold for Africas development. He also advocates for better coordination between African financial institutions to enhance effectiveness and create synergies.

Security and development are inseparable. To reduce risks of conflict and instability, the AfDB must focus on creating solid foundations for sustainable development, especially in fragile countries, he explained in a recent interview.

Ould Tah emphasizes infrastructure development as crucial for continental economic integration, particularly in relation to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Today, to move a container from Mombasa to Dakar, the only possible route is maritime. We need to develop land corridors and explore other transport forms such as waterways, he noted.

On climate change, he proposes an energy mix approach combining renewable and conventional sources to support industrial growth while acknowledging Africas minimal contribution to global emissions.

Ould Tah faces competition from four other candidates: Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia), Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad), and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa).
Morocco is set to reduce wheat imports to 6.7 million tons for the 2025-2026 season, down 200,000 tons from the previous year, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast. This reduction reflects improving domestic harvests and strategic stock management despite ongoing climate challenges.

While regional neighbors like Egypt remain highly dependent on international market fluctuations, Moroccos ability to reduce imports demonstrates its increasing self-sufficiency and strategic autonomy in grain procurement. The country has leveraged this position to balance relationships with major wheat exportersFrance, Russia, and Kazakhstanwithout becoming overly dependent on any single source.

The global wheat market is increasingly competitive, with world production expected to reach a record 808.5 million tons. Russia, the European Union, and Australia are intensifying efforts to secure positions in North African markets. Russia, already a major supplier to Algeria, views Morocco as a strategic gateway to expand its economic influence along Africas Atlantic coast.

France is working to maintain its position as Moroccos traditional supplier through institutional alliances and commercial initiatives. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is emerging as a competitor, leveraging growing political ties with Rabat as part of its strategy to diversify export markets in Africa.

Morocco skillfully maintains this competition through diversified procurement, modulated tenders, bilateral negotiations, and technical cooperation, all part of a broader strategy to strengthen multilateral partnerships beyond wheat trade.

For maize, essential to Moroccos animal feed industry, imports are projected to increase by 200,000 tons to 2.9 million tons, primarily from Ukraine, Brazil, and the United States, reflecting the robust growth of Moroccos industrializing poultry sector.

Through its National Interprofessional Office for Cereals and Legumes (ONICL), Morocco continues its anticipatory market stabilization strategy, using targeted subsidies, strategic stock management, and price controls to maintain food security while balancing relationships with agricultural partners.
The French Development Agency (AFD) has vowed to support the development momentum in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region through strategic partnerships with local stakeholders.

The pledge was made by AFD CEO Remy Rioux in a statement on behalf of the French state, following a meeting in Dakhla on Monday, with the Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region and Governor of the Oued Eddahab province, Ali Khalil; the President of the Regional Council, El Khattat Yanja; and the President of the Dakhla Municipal Council, Erragheb Hormatallah.

Remy Rioux, on a working visit to Morocco that included trips to Laayoune and Dakhla, affirmed that the AFD will also work to strengthen the capacities of local stakeholders, particularly in development planning, highlighting the importance of coordination with the region, Regional Multiservice Departments (SRM), and Local Development Companies (SDL).

He expressed admiration for the regions natural and cultural assets, including the Atlantic Ocean, desert landscapes, archaeological sites, and the areas diverse heritage. These assets, give the region exceptional development potential, particularly in tourism, culture, and the blue economy sectors.

During the visit to Dakhla, AFD chief and his accompanying high-level delegation were briefed on the regions broad-based development momentum and the projects implemented to position it as a strategic hub.

They toured the Dakhla Atlantic Port construction site, a flagship project of the new development model for Moroccos southern provinces, as well as the Dakhla fishing port.

During the visit to Laayoune over the weekend, Remy Rioux announced that the AFD group was planning significant investments worth around 150 million in Moroccos southern provinces.

Rioux told the media that the AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions, bringing both investments and financing.

The Agencys CEO highlighted the major investments already achieved in the southern provinces, noting that AFD can contribute additional expertise and financing.

He also expressed how deeply impressed he has been by the investments and the quality of infrastructure in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, which help create jobs and meet the expectations of young people in Moroccos southern regions.

In this context, he welcomed the establishment of private enterprises and industrial zones in Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, emphasizing that AFDs investments in the southern provinces send a strong signal to economic stakeholders by offering financing solutions.

The visit by the AFD delegation falls in the frame of the Reinforced Exceptional Partnership signed between King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron, during the latters state visit to the Kingdom in October 2024, and is a tangible expression of the shared desire to further strengthen the rich bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and to support the momentum of inclusive and sustainable development in all regions of the Kingdom.
The three local law enforcement agencies that serve the Lee County area will gather Thursday to remember six officers who were killed on duty.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office, Auburn Police Department and Opelika Police Department are collaborating to hold a Lee County Peace Officers Memorial Service on Thursday at the Opelika Public Library. The event, which coincides with National Peace Officers Memorial Day, will be held in memory of the six law enforcement officers that have been killed in the line of duty in Lee County.

"It's something that we are very proud to do. We want to remind people about law enforcement officers' sacrifices in general. And then, of course, those here locally in Lee County, that lost their lives serving their communities," Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said.

This week is National Police Week across the United States, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Thursday is Peace Officers Memorial Day. Jones said the Lee County agencies have been organizing the memorial service since the 1990s and this year the Lee County Sheriff's Office is the main organizer. The event will be held at the Opelika Public Library on Thursday at 11 a.m. and is open to the public.

Each agency, the LCSO, OPD and APD have had at least one officer killed in the line of duty. The first instance in Lee County goes back to Feb. 1, 1884, when OPD Chief Henry Dilmus Hart was stabbed to death at a local train station when he asked a man interfering with workers to step aside, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Lee County Sheriff William "Buck" Jones was shot on June 29, 1932 while he attempted to arrest a man accused of killing his wife and brother-in-law and seriously wounding his sister-in-law, according to his officer down page. The suspect was later shot 50 times by a posse of citizens according to the officer down page.

Lt. Moitt Brenton Truitt, Jr. of the OPD was shot on June 3, 1970 while conducting a wellness check. According to the officer down page, Truitt was walking through the house searching for the resident that had not been heard from for several days when the resident shot him with a shotgun. The shooter was wounded after exchanging gunfire with other responding officers.

Sgt. Roger Lamar Motley, Jr. of the OPD was responding to a call that a child needed help in a local store parking lot on Oct. 4, 1993 when he was shot and killed by a man and a woman. He exchanged gunfire with the man after finding the child in a vehicle with the man and then the woman shot him several more times. The man and woman were convicted and sentenced to death according to the officer down page.

Lee County Sheriff's deputy James W. Anderson was killed on Sept. 24, 2009 while conducting a traffic stop in the Smiths Station area. As Anderson and a deputy in training approached the vehicle during the stop, the driver, Gregory Lance Henderson, struck Anderson with his vehicle and pinned him under the car. Henderson was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole on Oct. 4, 2011. However, on Sept. 20, 2012 Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III overruled the jury's sentence and sentenced Henderson to death.

Officer William Ray Buechner, Jr. of the APD was shot and killed by Grady Wayne Wilkes on May 19, 2019 when Buechner and two other officers were responding to a domestic disturbance. Wilkes opened fire on the responding officers, injuring two others. He was later convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

Sheriff Jay Jones said that the service on Thursday will include speaking about the importance of the day as well as recognizing those six officers. He said it is important to him to host an event like this because in his eyes law enforcement officers are following a calling when serving the community.

"These men and women are dedicated. They're committed to what they do. It's a brotherhood, a sisterhood, a family of individuals that want their communities to be safe. They want to protect people. They believe in what they're doing as a noble calling, and certainly those that end up in a circumstance where they make the ultimate sacrifice, then it is incumbent on us to remember them. It is incumbent on us to recognize them for what they do, and their families, the families are so important, to recognize the sacrifices made all around," Sheriff Jay Jones said.

Honoring a Vietnam War veteran who was an honorary deputy

In addition to honoring the six officers, Thursday's ceremony will honor Opelika's own Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins, who served three tours in Vietnam.

"We wanted to take this opportunity when we're honoring individuals we consider to be heroes, certainly, we felt like this would be an appropriate time to recognize Sergeant Major Adkins as a deputy sheriff here in Lee County," Jay Jones said.

Adkins is a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroics during 38 hours of close-combat fighting at Camp A Shau during the Vietnam War. According to the U.S. Army website, Adkins heroics including transporting multiple wounded to evacuation helicopters and killing approximately 135-to-175 enemy soldiers while sustaining 18 different wounds himself. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on Sept. 15, 2014.

It was back in Opelika where Adkins was sworn in as a Lee County Sheriff Deputy in a honorary role, where Sheriff Jay Jones said he was a representative for the office and for the sacrifices men and women in uniform and in the military make.

"We think his sacrifices are very worthwhile to remind people about, and that he was very proud of his deputy sheriff badge and would carry it with him constantly," Sheriff Jay Jones said. "The family has mentioned to us many times about how proud he was to be a Lee County Deputy Sheriff. So we certainly wanted to recognize him and his family."
More than 17 months after two LaFayette residents were arrested while holding a "silent protest" during a Chambers County School Board meeting, American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama filed a lawsuit on May 6 against the Chambers County Board of Education, multiple Valley police officers, the City of Valley, and Chambers County on behalf of the two community advocates.

The lawsuit alleges LaFayette residents Yolanda Ratchford and Tytianna Smith were arrested while silently protesting and holding letter-sized pieces of paper at a school board meeting on Nov. 15, 2023. The lawsuit lists several individuals as defendants, including Mayor Leonard Riley, President Jeffery Finch, Superintendent Sharon Weldon and former Superintendent Casey Chambley.

In 2023, the Chambers County Board of Education announced plans to consolidate the LaFayette and Valley high schools into a single high school in Valley, a city the lawsuit describes as a predominantly white city. The lawsuit alleges that Ratchford and Smith protested against the proposed Valley site on multiple occasions out of concern about the disproportionate burden on LaFayette students and teachers.

'A clear and shocking abuse of power'

Silently holding pieces of paper is not a crime. What happened to Ms. Ratchford and Ms. Smith is a clear and shocking abuse of power, ACLU of Alabama legal director Alison Mollman said. These women were exercising their most basic constitutional rightsfreedom of speech and peaceful protestand they were punished for it.

The Valley location would require students and teachers who live in LaFayette to spend almost two hours every day commuting, the lawsuit alleges. Some residents of LaFayette urged Chambers County to build the new school in a different location that was more accessible to students and teachers residing in LaFayette.

Ratchford and Smith helped organize others to communicate their objections to the officials responsible through peaceful demonstrations and other activities, according to the lawsuit. The same demonstrations took place against a backdrop of racial discrimination and the 50-year struggle to desegregate Alabamas public schools, according to the lawsuit.

Lawsuit alleges residents were arrested 'without probable cause'

On Nov. 15, 2023, the lawsuit alleges that defendants Maj. Mike Reynolds, Chris Daniel, Christopher Davis, Lorenzo Harris, Michael Meacham, Stacey Shirey, and David Smith (collectively referred to as arresting officers in the lawsuit) arrested Ratchford and Smith without probable cause to conclude that the plaintiffs had committed a crime.

According to the lawsuit, Ratchford and Smith attended the board of education meeting at the Langdale Auditorium in Valley. They were arrested by the arresting officers after silently and unobtrusively sitting in a public school board meeting, each holding an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper with an image of John Lewis and the words Good trouble.

Before the arrest, Reynolds allegedly informed the plaintiffs multiple times that they were not allowed to have signs at the meeting and told them to put the letter-sized paper away, according to the lawsuit.

In doing so, the arresting officers violated plaintiffs First and Fourth Amendment rights and carried out a premeditated plan to retaliate against plaintiffs for having exercised, and to prevent plaintiffs from further exercising, their First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceable assembly, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges that Ms. Ratchford asked whether she and Ms. Smith were violating the law. Defendant Reynolds stated that they were violating the disorderly conduct statute. Ms. Smith asked how they were committing disorderly conduct, to which defendant Reynolds responded that they were violating the rules of the board of education meeting.

Ratchford and Smith refused to put away the letter-sized images they were displaying, according to the lawsuit. In the lawsuit, Reynolds allegedly stated that because he had asked them to put the signs away and they refused to abide by the rules (or words to that effect), they were being arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Police allegedly failed to accommodate disabled woman

According to the lawsuit, the arresting officers allegedly took Ratchford and Smith to the police station in Valley, where they failed to accommodate Ratchford.

Ratchford is paralyzed from the waist down and wheelchair bound. The lawsuit alleges that some of the defendants knew she also had bladder problem.

On the date of the arrest, Valley police officer Ricky Spruill allegedly placed Smith behind bars in a holding cell that was small and cramped, with barely enough space, and kept Ratchford in her wheelchair in the same room, outside the cell, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit said that at the jail Ratchford told one of the police officers that she needed to use the restroom, and the officer told another officer, who responded that he was doing paperwork and that Ratchford would have to wait.

Ms. Ratchford informed the officer that she had bowel and bladder issues, at which point the officers agreed to take her to a restroom. For some time, the officers then wheeled her around from cell to cell, none of which would accommodate a wheelchair, had a toilet with grab bars, or would otherwise be suitable for a person paralyzed from the waist down, the lawsuit said. Finally, they took Ms. Ratchford to the administrative area, to which the general public had access, but which was normally unavailable to arrestees and which was not adjacent to the jail. By the time they got there, Ms. Ratchford had urinated on herself. She felt physically miserable, deeply humiliated, and demeaned.

Judge dismisses protestors' charges

After Ratchford and Smith were prosecuted, the case was tried in LaFayette before Judge Steven R. Perryman of Alabamas Fifth Judicial Circuit on Feb. 14, 2024.

At the close of the evidence, Judge Perryman dismissed all charges. From the bench, he commented that, if anyone had engaged in disorderly conduct at the November 15, 2023, board of education meeting, it was the police officers who arrested Ms. Ratchford and Ms. Smith, the lawsuit said.

This case isnt just about two leaders who were wrongfully arrested, Mollman said in the release. Its about whether public officials can weaponize law enforcement to silence dissent. Our message is clear: not on our watch.

Opelika-Auburn News attempted to reach out to the parties involved in the lawsuit and was unsuccessful.
India is the largest crude oil importer in the region, and any prolonged conflict could threaten its access to energy resources.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday, preventing escalating tensions from developing into a full-scale conflictfor now. The Indian military had reportedly deployed surface-to-air missiles near its western border as tensions flared following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, which killed 26 people.

Although U.S. President Donald Trump later claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire via Truth Social, Indian officials clarified that the agreement was the result of direct talks between India and Pakistans military leadership, with Pakistan initiating the dialogue. Initially, the Trump administration appeared hesitant to intervene. President Trump commented that he hoped it would end very quickly, and there was little diplomatic movement until the threat of conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbors became too serious to ignore.

India described its missile strikes as targeted operations against terrorist infrastructure, not aimed at civilians or Pakistans military. However, the situation raised widespread concern over regional stability, especially with both nations possessing nuclear weapons. At this point, the fear for everyone was a nuclear war between two arch rivals, said a Pakistani security official.

Beyond the humanitarian stakes, there are major energy implications. India is the largest crude oil importer in the region, and any prolonged conflict could threaten its access to energy resources.

Related: Offshore Oil Exploration Booms in Namibia with Key Decisions Looming



While the tensions have wide-ranging and serious humanitarian implications, it also brings to the forefront the importance of emergency preparedness in the energy sector, noted a Rystad Energy market report.

Energy strategist Umud Shokri added, While India primarily imports crude oil by sea from the Middle East, regional tensions can disrupt key maritime routes. Increased shipping risks and higher freight charges may lead to supply chain disturbances.

Shokri warned that a sustained conflict could trigger a $10 per barrel increase in crude prices, which would widen Indias current account deficit by 0.5% of GDP.

India also faces ongoing uncertainty regarding trade relations with the U.S. In 2018, during Trumps first term, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum from India. This led to a 46% drop in Indian steel exports to the U.S. over the following year. Earlier this year, Indian financial firm Motilal Oswal suggested that renewed tariff threats could push India to strengthen domestic industries and boost local production.

Oil remains a major vulnerability for Indias economy. The country imports most of its oil from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. In fiscal year 202324, India spent approximately $132.4 billion on crude oil imports, a 16% year-over-year decline due to lower global prices and increased discounted imports from Russia.

Analysts expect India to surpass China as the top driver of global oil demand growth. Chinas role as a global oil demand growth engine is fading fast, said Emma Richards, a senior analyst at Fitch Solutions, to The Times of India. She explained that Chinas share of emerging market oil demand growth could drop from nearly 50% to 15%, while Indias could double to 24%. Indias population growth and a less aggressive green energy transition compared to China are expected to keep its oil consumption rising for years to come.

Meanwhile, India may have untapped oil resources of its own.

Four of Indias largest unexplored sedimentary basinsMahanadi, Andaman, Bengal, and Kerala-Konkancould hold up to 22 billion barrels of oil equivalent. This is a significant figure, though still smaller than proven reserves in places like the U.S. Permian Basin. Indias state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has announced plans to invest over $10 billion in deepwater exploration. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently stated that Indias oil and gas Exploration & Production (E&P) sector represents a $100 billion investment opportunity by 2030.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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As geopolitical instability, sanctions, and supply chain shocks become commonplace, physical commodity traders have emerged as indispensable agents to maintain the flow of energy, food, and raw materials. By leveraging political and commercial networks, as well as centuries of collective trading experience, they act as the markets shock absorbers - responding to disruptions in real time, frictionlessly reallocating supply where it is needed. Fragmented global trade, regional rivalries and resource nationalism have not diminished their relevance. On the contrary, commodity traders are now more important than ever.

Arbitrage is a core function for traders and plays an important market stabilizing role. When volatility occurs through supply glut, shipping bottlenecks, or panic, traders smooth the curves by injecting liquidity, rerouting cargoes or drawing on inventories. If Brent crude drops due to excess North Sea production while American WTI holds firm amid constrained US supply, traders seize the spread and, in doing so, nudge prices closer together. When shipping routes are upended - say, by Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea or insurance premiums surging around the Strait of Hormuz - savvy operators reroute cargoes, adjust freight bookings and ensure the crude still reaches a willing refinery, albeit at a different margin.

Contango, where future contract prices exceed spot, has become increasingly common amid uncertainty over demand and storage availability. Traders with secure access to storage terminals are well placed to benefit. By purchasing commodities at current deflated rates and selling them forward at a premium, they effectively monetize time. While financially savvy, these strategies also temper price swings that would otherwise send markets into panic. By storing excess supply now, they reduce glut; by releasing it later, they prevent scarcity.

Related: The Case Against Fixing the Grid (Again)

Natural gas markets, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), have showcased this dynamic more vividly than any other. Europes scramble to replace Russian pipeline gas in 2022 created arbitrage windows so wide that traders with proper infrastructure reaped windfalls. LNG cargoes enroute to Asia were diverted mid-ocean to European terminals offering triple the price. When prices normalized, contango set in, and traders stored gas for seasonal release. This provided not only commercial benefit but also strategic breathing room for European governments. In one emblematic case, Trafigura signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement to supply German utilities with American LNG, effectively substituting Russias Gazprom. While governments passed legislation and held emergency meetings, it was trading desks that delivered energy where it was needed.

Recent Middle East instability, coupled with rising demand for natural gas across Asia, has amplified the premium placed gas market flexibility. Firms with access to deep storage and shipping capacity have found themselves well placed to respond. BGN, a well-known mid-market trader, has grown into a significant player in both LPG and LNG and its operations considerably reduce gas market volatility. It is also eyeing new gas developments in Africa as the continent experiences a gas demand boom thanks to growing economies.

"Across major African economies  South Africa, DRC, Nigeria, and Egypt, for example  theres a clear and immediate demand for cleaner transition fuels like gas and LPG. As booming populations and rising economies put real pressure on inefficient, polluting biomass, were hearing louder and louder calls from Africas growing middle class for cleaner and more efficient fuels," said BGNs CEO, Ruya Bayegan.

BGNs sprawling infrastructure footprint - spanning major production and demand hubs - enables it to absorb cargoes during oversupply and release them when and where demand increases. Well-positioned trading firms are positioned not only to reduce global gas disruption impacts, but to profit from their efforts.

The same applies to oil. Whether due to OPEC supply cuts or increases, embargoes or conflict - it is often traders who step in. Redirection of Russian oil following Western sanctions could have sparked a supply crunch. Instead, commodity traders sourced appropriate replacements for Europe. In more precarious environments, traders venture where major oil companies or state firms hesitate.

In metals and minerals, the narrative is similar. As the energy transition gathers pace, critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earths have become strategic commodities. Chinas recent curbs on mineral exports exposed the fragility of global supply chains. In response, commodity traders have moved swiftly to source alternatives. Trader Glencore, for instance, has forayed into cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, operating two cobalt and copper mines that offer Western clients an alternative to Chinese-backed supply. Another example of traders entering territory where government are hesitant to enter. Traders agility and willingness to assume political risk ensures that vital inputs for batteries, solar panels, and semiconductors continue to circulate. As the West furthers its strategy to pivot away from Chinese-controlled critical mineral deposits, resource-rich African nations will likely open their doors to transparent and compliant traders and help launch news economic booms.

Traders thrive in volatility. But in profiting from arbitrage, they prevent far worse outcomes: empty supermarket shelves, blackouts, and soaring petrol and diesel prices. Their gains are the cost of resilience. Traders act without public mandate, but often with great speed and precision. Their absence would expose markets to greater fragility. As long as the world depends on natural resources to prosper, commodity traders will remain the quiet architects of stability in an otherwise unruly system.

By Jose Chalhoub

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What was marketed as a fragile return to order in Libya has, once again, been exposed as a mirage. On May 12, Tripoli plunged into chaos following the reported killing of Abdul Ghani al-Kikli (aka Gheniwa), the commander who runs the powerful SSA (Stability Support Apparatus), one of Libyas many militias whose patronage is necessary for either of the two clans that control the countrys east and west in a bitter rivalry.

The gunfire and shelling that started to tear through Tripoli on Monday wasnt simply on the level of an isolated skirmish; this is a major tremor along a fast-widening geopolitical fault line that wont just expose Libyan oil to more hijacking. For readers of Oilprice.coms exclusive weekly newsletter, all will already be clear: The fragile system of mutually beneficial corruption thats kept the two clans from launching the next civil war is cracking.

For oil investors, it may be time for a rethink, and a recalculation of how much money they are willing to risk on the longer game here.

While global energy majors have expressed a great deal of excitement about Libyas potential oil production rebound, the resurgence of clashes in Tripoli make clear what seasoned analysts have warned all along: Libya is still one political misfire away from collapsing into violent fragmentation. For oil investors, the timing of these clashes couldnt be worse. This is not a market opportunityits a geopolitical storm in the making.

Related: China Bolsters Export Controls on Critical Minerals



The images out of Abu Salima Tripoli district that has long served as Gheniwas strongholdwere grim. Clashes between the SSA and the Misrata-based 444 Brigade intensified within hours of news of his death. Multiple reports, including from Libya Observer and Al Jazeera, indicate that armored vehicles and heavy weaponry were deployed deep into residential areas. By nightfall, civilian life in Tripoli had ground to a halt, with the UN issuing an urgent call for calm, warning of significant risks to civilians.

Gheniwas SSA is one of many militias co-opted into state structures by the Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. His death leaves a power vacuum that other groups will waste no time attempting to fill, on behalf of General Khalifa Haftar, who rules the east and largely controls oil production and exports, if not oil revenues.

Haftar, Dbeibah, and the Weaponization of Institutions

While the Tripoli clashes played out in real time, another headline flew mostly under the radar: the public prosecution ordered the detention of top executives at Al-Madar, Libyas largest mobile company. Ostensibly, the arrests target corruption. But in Libyas hyper-politicized environment, few believe this is mere legal housekeeping.

The move reflects an ongoing pattern, which is part of Dbeibah's broader campaign to neutralize institutions that could serve rival power centers (in other words, the Haftar clan). According to Libya Herald, the timing of the Al-Madar arrests aligns with increased internal competition between the GNU (Dbeibas Government of National Unity) and rival institutions in the east, most notably the Libyan National Army (LNA) under Haftar. Control over communications, just like control over oil terminals and military infrastructure, is a lever of power.

As The Washington Institute poignantly noted earlier this week (and oil investors should pay attention), Libya is not governed by institutions. It is governed by men with militias, who wear the uniforms of state authority when convenient, and discard them when it suits political gain. The competition between Dbeibah and Haftar is not merely political; it is tribal, economic, and ultimately existential. Each side seeks not power-sharing, but monopoly, which means that the benefit-sharing deal that has been in place for the past five years was simply a period of regrouping, with the aid of corruption on both sides. Once those arsenals are full, the deal is off.

Big Oils Blunder: Underestimating Libyas Fragility

OilPrice.com has recently highlighted the troubling trend of international oil companies showing renewed interest in Libya, buoyed by the countrys ambitious production targets. Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) is eyeing a boost in daily output to 1.3 million barrels per day by 2026, which depends on stability.

The political framework supporting Libyas oil sector is built on quicksand. Smuggling syndicates, militia-run fuel rackets, and foreign mercenary networks (including recently rebranded Russian mercenaries in the east) continue to undermine any efforts at national coherence. Even technical staff at key export terminals operate under de facto militia rule.

The fatal flaw in investor optimism is that oil, unlike minerals or digital assets, requires physical infrastructure and physical security. Libya has neither. Every pipeline, refinery, and offshore platform sits within a zone of contested control. And with the central government unable (or unwilling) to disarm its own proxies, the industry is one factional dispute away from collapse. The assassination of a key Dbeibah militia commander is just that.

Complicating the picture further is the growing role of Russia, particularly in Haftar-controlled territories. Russian-linked interests have not only entrenched themselves in eastern oil facilities but are also creating an alternative power architecture in coordination with Haftars camp.

Moscows goal is not just energy influence; its seeking access to the southern Mediterranean. For Western investors and governments, that should be a red flag. The same energy fields that are supposed to fuel European stability may, under current conditions, empower a Russia-aligned parallel state.

Where does that leave Libya, then? And who will come out on top?

That depends not simply on which militias each clan has won over with patronage schemes  It depends on which external powers will step into the fray more visibly than they are now.

Washington is busy with tariff warfare, Ukraine and Gaza. Its largely stepped aside as Syrias new post-Assad regime scrambles to secure power and external forces (Turkey, Israel, UAE, among others) stake their claims and attempt to secure the fallout. Its also been absent in Libya for the most part, while Russia homes in on key Libyan outposts in the east. America isnt playing geopolitics anymore. Its only business. The only deal Trump has attempted to cut with Libya recently is to absorb illegal immigrants being deported from the U.S., where they will end up (should it materialize) fighting a civil war in which the U.S. has zero stake, but which will play an influential role in the future balance of power.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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On the heels of my recent article outlining how Californias unique fuel regulations  not corporate price gouging  are driving up gasoline prices in the state, new developments have added urgency to that conversation.

On May 6, California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom sounding the alarm over what could become an energy and economic crisis in the state. Citing an analysis by University of Southern California professor Michael Mische, the letter warns that gas prices could spike 75% by 2026  reaching as high as $8.43 per gallon  if two major refineries are allowed to shut down as planned.

This follows Professor Misches earlier study, which I referenced in my prior article. His research identified structural factors and policy-driven costs as the primary reasons California gasoline prices are consistently the highest in the nation  not oil company profiteering. These factors include high state taxes, a boutique fuel blend required only in California, and an increasingly constrained refinery landscape.

A Looming Supply Crunch

Two key in-state refineries are scheduled to close in the coming months: the Phillips 66 refinery in Los Angeles by the end of 2025, and the Valero refinery in Benicia by April 2026. Together, these facilities produce approximately 20% of Californias gasoline supply.

Professor Misches projections are stark. He estimates that gas prices could reach $6.43 per gallon after the first closure and climb to $8.43 by the end of 2026 after the second. These numbers assume stable crude oil prices. But if global oil markets turn volatile  as they often do  the ceiling could be even higher.

Whats Driving the Closures?

Refining gasoline in California has become increasingly difficult. The states stringent environmental rules, such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), coupled with recent legislation like SBX1-2 and ABX2-1, have layered on costly compliance burdens. Add in uncertainty around future bans on internal combustion vehicles and a hostile investment environment, and its not hard to see why refinery operators are opting to exit the state.

The problem isnt limited to fuel prices. According to Senator Jones letter, the closures would also eliminate around 1,300 direct jobs and nearly 3,000 more indirectly. These are good-paying, union and trade jobs in communities that can ill afford the loss. Beyond economics, the closures also increase the states reliance on imported fuel  most of which must be transported by ship  raising logistical risks and, arguably, national security concerns.

Why This Matters

The letter from Senator Jones reads as both a policy critique and a plea for realism. It challenges Governor Newsom to reconsider regulations that are squeezing fuel producers out of the state and proposes collaboration with the energy industry to explore solutions. Those could include tax incentives to maintain refining capacity, or temporary relief from some of the more onerous rules that disproportionately affect California refiners.

Its important to understand that Californias fuel market is largely isolated. The states environmental regulations and fuel specifications make it difficult to import gasoline from other states or countries. When refineries close, there arent many viable alternatives. And when supply tightens in a market with limited flexibility, prices surge  sometimes dramatically.

Reframing the Debate

Much of the public and political dialogue around gas prices in California has focused on oil company profits and alleged price gouging. But the data simply doesnt support that narrative.

Multiple independent investigations  including those by the FTC and the California Energy Commission  have found no clear evidence that refiners are colluding or manipulating the market. The price premiums in California are mostly structural, driven by policy choices.

Those choices may reflect environmental priorities, but they also carry economic consequences. Policymakers must grapple with this trade-off, especially as the states energy mix continues to evolve.

The Bottom Line

If California continues down a path that discourages in-state refining while failing to address the growing supply gap, residents should brace for more sticker shock at the pump. Gasoline prices of $8 or more per gallon are no longer hypothetical; they are within view if the state doesnt take action.

To be clear, this is not an argument against clean energy. California can pursue its climate goals and still maintain a stable, affordable energy supply. But doing so will require pragmatic policies that ensure reliability and economic viability  not just ambition.

As I wrote in my previous article, this isnt about corporate greed. Its about structural and regulatory decisions that have real-world consequences for working families, small businesses, and anyone who drives a car in California.

The choice isnt between climate progress and affordable fuel. The choice is whether we make that transition responsibly  or let the market punish those who can least afford it.

By Robert Rapier

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The Permian Basin has been the star of the U.S. shale oil and gas industry for years. But this star is, at least for the time being, dimming as production costs rise with the natural depletion of top-quality acreage. But there is another formation that could take up the torch from the Permian. And its in Canada.

The Montney Formation in Western Canada spans Alberta and British Columbia is one of the largest natural gas deposits on the continent. It also has some rather solid crude oil resourcesand some of the lowest production costs in the industry.

The primary benefit of Canadian oil sands and Montney assets lies in their extensive inventory of low-cost resource, Enverus wrote in a recent analysis of the prospects of oil sands and the Montney shale. Capable of surviving at sub-$50 per barrel of WTI for longer than U.S. shale players, Enverus said, These Canadian plays offer low-cost assets that remain economically viable over an extended period, providing a stable and attractive investment opportunity.

Currently, the Montney shale produces some 2 million barrels of oil equivalent daily. A lot of this is gas, and even more will be gas once LNG Canada begins operation, with the launch scheduled for later this year. Yet there is oil to be pumped out of Montney, and some believe U.S. producers may start moving north to do just that.

Related: U.S. and Saudi Arabia Sign Major Energy Deals During Trumps Visit

With the slowdown in production growth in the Permian, other shale plays will rise to prominence among oil and gas drillers, and Montney is a top candidate for such prominence, a recent report from Kimmeridge suggested. According to the energy investment firm, Montney is the top shale basin in North America with a view to future supply, sporting massive volumes of untapped resources with a high quality.

Among its other advantages, Kimmeridge lists its slower rate of exploitation as compared with the Permian, its low breakeven costs, and the fact that it is especially prolific in natural gas at a time when demand for that specific hydrocarbon is on the rise, and this rise is strong. Incidentally, Albertas government just froze the price of carbon emissions in order to stimulate its energy industry along with its other industries.

Kimmeridge estimates that the Montney shale has a lifespan of 22 years based on what the investment firm calls front-end inventory duration and the 2023 recycle ratio for North America. This is by far the longest lifespan of all shale basins that the firm reviewed in its report. It means that drillers in Montney will take 22 years to drill from the highest to the lowest recycle ratio locations at the current activity pace (2023, in this case) until they start drilling below-2023-average wells.

This is quite appealing for those E&Ps looking for long-term sustainable oil and especially gas production. The news that Alberta will keep carbon prices at C$95 per ton instead of following earlier laid out plans to gradually increase the emissions burden on the industrial sector should provide additional incentive for growth in the Montney.

Interestingly, producers already active in the Montney are currently hunkering down amid weaker gas prices. BOE Report wrote recently that licensing activity in the play has so far exceeded the rate of approvals in 2024, but fewer wells are being spuddeda lot fewer than last year. Operators are holding off on drilling, likely waiting for commodity prices to rebound rather than burn through inventory at low prices, the report said.

The start of LNG Canada is set to change this as it will boost natural gas prices, stimulating stronger activity. This might be a Place your bets moment for more North American energy producers interested in diversification with a view to long-term business sustainability.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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There is skepticism about Russias intentions and commitment to peace, as some analysts believe Russia may be using talks to prepare for a new stage of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul and proposed an unconditional cease-fire.

US and European diplomats held discussions on a potential cease-fire and path to peace in Ukraine following Donald Trumps suggestion he might join Ukraine-Russia talks.

A surprise offer by US President Donald Trump on May 12 to join Ukraine-Russia talks later this week in Istanbul prompted a call between US and European diplomats who continue to seek a path leading to an end to the war in Ukraine.

"Don't underestimate Thursday in Turkey," Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, referring to prospective talks on May 15.

I was thinking about flying over. I dont know where I am going be on Thursday, Trump said. Ive got so many meetings. Theres a possibility there, I guess, if I think things can happen, he said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke later on May 12 on a conference call with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Poland, Britain, Ukraine, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the State Department said in a statement attributed to spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

The leaders discussed the way forward for a cease-fire and path to peace in Ukraine, Bruce said.

Earlier on May 12, Ukraines allies remained skeptical about prospects for talks and whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about peace.

If there is no cease-fire there cannot be talks under fire, Kallas said at a meeting of Ukraine in London. We want to see that Russia also wants peace. It takes two to want peace, it takes only one to want war, and we see that Russia clearly wants war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier on X he is ready to meet Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

There has been no response from the Kremlin to Zelenskyy's offer, and Moscow has yet to comment on Trump's offer to join the talks.

Zelenskyy also proposed a full and unconditional cease-fire, saying this could significantly bring peace closer.

"Ukraine has long proposed this, our partners are proposing it, and the whole world is calling for it," Zelenskyy said on May 11. "We await a clear response from Russia."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on May 12 held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss Moscow's direct talks with Kyiv, a proposal that came from Putin at the weekend, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

It remained unclear who from the Russian side would take part in the direct talks, which would be the first between the two sides since the early days of the full-scale war launched by Russia in February 2022.

Oleg Saakian, a political commentator who spoke with Current Time, said both Ukraine and Europe know that they cannot trust Putin and that he likely has begun preparing a new stage of the war and strengthened his positions through talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Moscow last week.

The whole cease-fire-and-talks spectacle has been staged for one spectator -- Trump -- in order to expose Putin as someone you cant have business with, said Saakian, who also cast doubt on the prospect of Putin traveling to Istanbul or any agreements coming from there.

The focus is likely now to shift toward the trans-Atlantic axis and the readiness of the West to actually and jointly impose sanctions on Russia, he said. This is key now and it will greatly shape the future of talks.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, told the Izvestia media outlet that the talks between Moscow and Kyiv can move further than they did in the 2022.

"If the Ukrainian delegation shows up at these talks with a mandate to abandon any ultimatums and look for common ground, I am sure that we could move forward even further than we did," Izvestia quoted Kosachev as saying.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The U.S. State Department rolled out another round of sanctions Tuesday targeting an Iranian oil smuggling network allegedly responsible for funneling billions in crude oil sales to China on behalf of Irans Armed Forces General Staff. The scheme, operated through front company Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars, is accused of bankrolling Irans ballistic missile development, nuclear ambitions, and its web of proxy militiasfrom Red Sea Houthi attacks to assaults on the U.S. Navy and Israel.

As long as Iran devotes its illicit revenues to funding attacks on the United States and our allies, supporting terrorism around the world, and pursuing other destabilizing actions, we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable, said the Departments press statement.

The action, taken under Executive Order 13224 and its amendments, is the latest enforcement move under National Security Presidential Memorandum 2a Trump-era policy still guiding a maximum-pressure approach to Iran. It comes just weeks after the Treasury designated Chinese teapot refiner Shandong Shengxing for purchasing over $1 billion in crude from an IRGC-QF-linked front.

The shadow fleet facilitating these tradestankers switching flags, faking manifests, and vanishing from tracking systemshas drawn increasing scrutiny. But enforcement has struggled to keep pace with the sheer volume of illicit flows. Chinese imports of Iranian crude hit a record 1.8 million bpd in March, contributing to a 20-month high in overall oil inflows.

While sanctions are meant to cut off Irans oil revenues entirely, real-world results have been more muddled. Tehran continues exporting, albeit at steep discounts, and China appears more emboldened than deterred. Still, U.S. officials argue that starving Irans military-industrial complex remains non-negotiable.

Market watchers will be eyeing whether the crackdown finally crimps volumesor just adds another layer to the worlds most lucrative game of maritime hide-and-seek.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabias crude oil flows to China are expected to stay at a one-year high of about 48 million barrels in Juneroughly the same volume arriving in China from the worlds top crude exporter this month, trade sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Following the OPEC+ decision to continue boosting production, the Saudi supply to the worlds largest crude oil importer is set to remain at a year-high for the month of June, according to Reuters data of the allocations to Chinese refineries.

Sinochem and private refiners, including Rongsheng Petrochemical and Hengli Petrochemical, have been allocated higher volumes for June compared to May. But the top Asian refiner, Sinopec, and another state-held firm, CNOOC, are set to receive lower supply from Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters trade sources.

In May, Saudi exports to China were expected to jump to 48 million barrels from the 35.5 million barrels in April, after the Kingdom slashed crude prices for May for Asia, just ahead of the 410,000-bpd increase from the OPEC+ group planned for May.

Last week, Saudi Arabia raised the price of its flagship crude grade loading for Asia in June, just as the Saudi-led OPEC+ group decided to continue easing the production cuts by adding a larger-than-expected volume to the market in June, too.

In a sign that the worlds top crude oil exporter expects solid demand in Asia next month, the Kingdom lifted the price of the Arab Light crude grade for June by $0.20 per barrel over May prices to a premium of $1.40 a barrel over the Oman/Dubai average, the benchmark off which Middle Eastern producers price their crude loading for Asia.

China, for its part, accelerated its crude oil imports in March and April. But the increased purchases this spring arent necessarily a sign of recovering fuel demand. Its more likely that Chinese refiners are aggressively stockpiling cheaper crude amid uncertainties about sanctioned barrels going forward, analysts say.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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As an experienced real estate developer who has worked extensively in Omahas historic Blackstone neighborhood, Jay Lund has become pretty good at being able to visualize what a rundown building or property could become with a little work.

But he admitted that even he struggled initially to envision how two aged industrial buildings on the site of the former Omaha Steel Works plant could be transformed into the light-filled, modern yet history-steeped co-working and office space the Catalyst is today.

In the end, he neednt have worried.

Two years after breaking ground, the $65 million Catalyst  situated on the 30-acre triangular parcel west of Saddle Creek Road that the University of Nebraska Medical Center has dubbed the EDGE District  is nearly complete. A public grand opening is slated for May 28.

The 170,000-square-foot complex began hosting events in November and welcomed its first tenants  its now up to 15  in March. The Big Grove Coffee Co. has begun brewing, and the Big Grove Brewerys taproom is expected to follow sometime in June.

Really, the building kind of speaks for itself, Lund, a principal with project partner GreenSlate Development, said during a recent tour.

The main entrance is situated on the north side of the structure, accessed by a southward extension of 46th Street known as Catalyst Court. It leads to the public portion of the building, including the coffee shop and Iowa-based Big Groves 10,000-square-foot future restaurant and four-season patio. Thats situated near a new 750-stall parking garage being constructed by the City of Omaha.

Also in the newly constructed portion of the building is the Forge Event Hall, which is available for rent by the public and by tenants at a discounted rate. Another space available for lease by the public is a 22-capacity, third-floor meeting room called The Steel Works Board Room, which is situated near a cozy upscale lounge called The Living Room. It overlooks the coffee shop.

From the public space, tenants can pass through a pair of glass doors  accessible by a security fob  to the heart of what the projects developers call a collaborative office ecosystem, a sprawling light-filled expanse called The Passageway. Once an alley between the two old structures, the buildings developers have enclosed it and outfitted it with a kitchen, booths and a variety of other seating areas that are open to tenants and their guests.

The Passageway features a living moss wall and is lined with exposed brick and steel girders, all of which pay homage to the plants history. It produced steel for the construction of the Nebraska Capitol and, during World War II, artillery shells and landing craft tanks. The plants yellow gantry crane rests three stories overhead. The plants history also is featured in historic photos and framed blueprints of molds found on site.

We didnt want to hide any of the old, Lund said. We wanted to highlight it.

But the design of the revamped building now is focused on maximizing softer skills. The intent, said Dean Koelbel, vice president of Denver-based project partner Koelbel and Company, is to create an environment that spurs these serendipitous collisions with thought leaders in the industry.

In other words, its intended to foster collaboration among inventors, entrepreneurs, scientists and others. That means getting people out of their offices and bringing them together, Koelbel said. The Omaha project is modeled after the companys Denver Catalyst office complex. There, in addition to lots of meeting spaces, the developers hid the elevators and instead created a monument staircase similar to the open wood and metal one in Omahas Catalyst.

Our thought behind that was, Throw away the elevator pitch, he said.  ... Sit down and meet someone, get to know them.

The Denver Catalyst hosts monthly tenant events aimed at building community, which the developers plan to bring to Omaha, Koelbel said. In April, the company hid 300-some Easter eggs around the building, some containing substantial prizes. This month, theyre hosting a fitness bingo.

The communal kitchens  there are three in the Omaha building  also are designed to draw tenants out and bring them together. The common kitchens and conference rooms  10 of various sizes are scattered throughout the building, along with phone rooms  also mean tenants may be able to get by with less office space than if they were building their own, he said. In addition to the usual refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves, the kitchens offer free coffee, tea and kombucha on tap.

Michael Dixon, president and CEO of UNeMed, UNMCs technology transfer arm, said he sees opportunities coming out of the collaborative space. UNeMed soon will move into the 40,000 square feet of space the university retained in the private development. The university also continues to own the land underneath. UNeTech also will have access to the space.

I think once you see it full of people, the building starts to live, he said.

Another obvious advantage, Dixon said, is that the structure is situated across Saddle Creek from UNMC and its research facilities, allowing scientists to walk over to meet with businesspeople and vice verse. He recently got a call from a pharmacy school dean in a larger city with little land for expansion who was trying to figure out a way to go vertical with such collaborative spaces.

Lund said all tenants, whether they lease a single desk or a 100-person office, share in the buildings amenities, which also include indoor bike storage, bike lockers and a gym with individual shower rooms. Also available are two wellness rooms that can be used as mothers rooms.

Corinne Wardian, Catalysts community manager, said the building offers co-working spaces that range from 40 individual desks to 29 suites with between one and eight desks.

She has been hosting free co-working office days to allow potential tenants to test-drive the space, which have drawn about 50 visitors.

The building also has 25 move-in ready offices of between 1,000 and more than 4,000 square feet and shelled office spaces awaiting custom build-out, including one two-story one. The different office types are mixed throughout the building. The buildings secure Wifi network is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, the federal health information privacy law.

No two suites are alike, she said. They all have their own character.

Outside the south entrance, overlooked by the arched brick facade of one of the original buildings, is a large patio also accessible to tenants.

Lund credited the design team of Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture and designer Anna Bogler, who also worked on the Denver project and now is based in Omaha, with bringing it all together.

Its incredible, he said. Its the coolest office building.
Tuesdays City of Omaha election is set to be historic, regardless of the outcome. Heres what voters need to know:

In addition to the high-profile race for mayor, all seven City Council seats are up for election. The incumbent faces a challenger in five of the seven council districts.

How can I vote?

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters can use the Find My Voting Information tool on the election commissions website to locate their polling place. That tool also can help people ensure they are eligible to vote in the election, as not everyone with an Omaha address lives within the city limits, said Valerie Stoj, an election commission spokesperson.

The deadline to request to vote early by mail has passed. Those who received a ballot by mail have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to return their ballot to the Election Commission office or a drop box. A list of drop box locations is available on the election commission website.

The election commission doesnt anticipate there will be long lines at polling sites, Stoj said.

Voters also wont have to worry about rain, but they should be prepared for summerlike temperatures, especially in the afternoon. A high around 89 degrees is expected Tuesday. and it will likely be sunny, said Laurel McCoy, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Services office in Valley.

Another very warm day, McCoy said. Itll be a little breezy in the afternoon with winds out of the south.

Who is running?

In the mayoral race, incumbent Jean Stothert is challenged by Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr.

Whatever happens, the race for mayor will be historic. Stothert is seeking a record-breaking fourth consecutive term. Ewing would be the first Black candidate elected mayor.

In the District 1 race, incumbent Pete Festersen faces challenger Mark Brannen.

The District 2 race, which does not have an incumbent, is between LaVonya Goodwin and Ben Gray, a former council member.

In District 3, incumbent Danny Begley faces challenger Michael Pilypaitis.

The District 4 race is between incumbent Ron Hug, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vinny Palermo in 2023, and challenger Andrew Adams.

In District 5 and District 6, incumbents Don Rowe and Brinker Harding are running unopposed.

In District 7, incumbent Aimee Melton faces challenger Tim Carter.

The ballot also will include a Special Issues Ticket, where voters will decide on a proposed City of Omaha Charter Amendment. The proposed amendment reads:

Shall Section 2.06 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Omaha be amended to provide that City Council vacancies shall be filled with those vacancies occurring in the first two years of a term being filled through an election and vacancies in the last two years of a term being filled by a majority vote of the remaining City Council members within thirty (30) days of a vacancy all as provided in the notice of election?

What do I need to know about voter ID law?

Under voter ID requirements that were first used in the May 2024 primary election, voters must show ID at their polling place in order to vote.

Valid photo ID options include Nebraska drivers licenses; U.S. passports; military IDs; tribal IDs; IDs issued by local governments in Nebraska, such as schools, counties or cities; and IDs issued by public or private colleges and universities in Nebraska. More information on Nebraska voter ID requirements is available on the Secretary of States website.

The ID can be expired, but must show the voters name and photo. The ID doesnt have to include an address and can still be used if it has an out-of-date address.

People who vote in person but dont have an acceptable ID with them can cast a provisional ballot. For the ballot to be counted, the voter must go to the county election office by the Tuesday following the election to present an ID.

When will we learn the results?

The first round of election results is expected to go live just as polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Additional results will be released at 8:45 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 10:45 p.m. and periodically thereafter. The World-Herald will have live coverage of the results at Omaha.com.

Depending on how close a race is, the winner may not be able to be called until provisional ballots have been counted, which takes place during the week following the election.

Approximately 293,072 voters are registered to vote in the election. The election commission is expecting a 32% turnout, Stoj said. Turnout in 2021 was 32.74%.
LINCOLN  Debate over a bill to dilute a voter-approved paid sick leave mandate came to an unexpected end Tuesday, though the bill still advanced.

Legislative Bill 415 advanced through the second round of floor debate on a 33-14 vote, leaving only one round to go before it goes to Gov. Jim Pillens desk to be signed into law. The legislation was about to be tempered through a compromise amendment, but lawmakers rescinded it in the final moments of debate.

In November, nearly 75% of Nebraska voters passed Initiative 436, which will require employers with fewer than 20 workers to offer at least five days of paid sick leave per year, or one hour for every 30 hours worked, starting Oct. 1. Employers with 20 or more workers must offer at least seven days per year.

The bill was originally meant to clarify portions of the ballot initiative, but opposition sparked against an amendment that was adopted into the bill during its first round of floor debate. The amendment, proposed by State Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, would exempt businesses with 10 or fewer employees from the requirement to offer paid sick leave and would remove temporary agriculture workers and workers under 16 from the same benefit.

A separate amendment Strommen worked out with opposing senators and a funder of the initiatives campaign would have brought down the exemption to only businesses with five or fewer employees, and would allow emancipated minors under 16 to qualify for the benefit.

The amendment was initially adopted into the bill in a 36-4 vote. However, just before LB 415s debate was about to end, Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte made a motion to reconsider the vote to remove the amendment, which was subsequently approved in a 29-12 vote.

Jacobson claimed during the initial vote, several senators were unsure what they were voting for. He argued that reducing the exemptions would hurt small businesses, saying that moving the limit from 10 or fewer employees to five or fewer was a bridge too far.

Though the amendment was framed as a compromise, senators on both sides of the debate had doubts about the proposal. Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, who negotiated with Strommen on the amendment, said he viewed the adjustments as a harm reduction, as it would allow upward of 30,000 Nebraska workers to qualify for paid sick leave, but it wouldnt be enough for him to support the overall bill.

I dont think anybodys really happy with it, said Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, another negotiator on the amendment.

Cavanaugh called the vote to remove the amendment an embarrassment and called out the hypocrisy of lawmakers who have claimed all session that Nebraskans didnt know what they were doing when they voted for various ballot initiatives now getting a redo because they didnt know what they voted for.

Were here to serve (the people), Cavanaugh told lawmakers. And you have lost sight of that.

Several Republicans who were in favor of Strommens original amendment said they supported the new amendment, albeit begrudgingly. Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who didnt support the new amendment, warned lawmakers against legislating out of fear and said the adjustments were an attempt to appease people.

Hansen urged the body to consider the victims of the ballot initiative, referring to Nebraskas small businesses. He argued lowering the exemptions would hurt thousands of businesses across the state.

Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, who initially supported the amendment and later changed her vote, also said she was frustrated by the need for a compromise, arguing that the free market already pushes businesses to offer benefits like paid leave to compete for workers. She described the paid sick leave mandate as government interference and speculated that workers would take advantage of it, claiming that some workers fake illnesses to get time off.

Strommen said his proposal is meant to shield both small businesses and Nebraska workers from unintended consequences of the initiative. He has said the paid sick leave mandate would make it nearly impossible for businesses to hire young people and would be a jackboot to small businesses, putting them at a competitive disadvantage compared to bigger businesses that can absorb the new costs easier.

Several supporters of LB 415 mentioned that theyve heard from numerous small businesses in their districts that are considering closing because they cant absorb the added costs of Nebraskas rising minimum wage and the paid sick leave mandate.

The smallest ones have the hardest time, Clouse said.

But Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha responded that exempting small businesses may actually hurt the businesses that lawmakers are trying to protect. By broadcasting that small businesses dont have to comply with the paid sick leave requirement, Fredrickson said it could create a negative stigma that prevents workers from seeking jobs there.

While Storer and others framed the initiatives policy as government overreach, John Cavanaugh countered that their arguments ignore that Nebraska voters supported the policy. Opponents have largely argued the amended LB 415 intentionally undermines the will of voters. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha previously noted that not one legislative district in the state had less than 63% support for Initiative 436.

Several LB 415 supporters took aim at the initiative campaign itself, claiming it was run by outside interests who bought off voters. Sen. Jared Storm of David City noted the campaign received funding by left-leaning, out-of-state organizations and claimed progressives from Washington were trying to influence how Nebraska operates. Storm expressed concern that Nebraska may soon be governed by well-funded voter initiatives.

Its not so much a voice (of) the people as it is a voice of outside interests from Washington who want to change how we live in Nebraska, said Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus.

Opponents argued these claims raised a double standard. Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha said all of Nebraskas recent ballot initiatives benefited from funding from outside groups, including initiatives the senators making those arguments supported.
By Oregon Property Owners Association

May 1, 2025

While most recent news headlines focus on trade wars, Russia, and the economy, the Trump administration is active on a series of additional policy changes that arent being talked about, but are significant. One of the most important of these policy changes involves revising the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The ESA is a well-intentioned federal law designed to protect endangered species from extinction. Unfortunately, since the introduction of the Act over 50 years ago, the Acts implementation by federal agencies has resulted in countless examples of economic devastation for American families and communities, particularly in rural America.

The scant media coverage of the proposed changes to the ESAs implementing rules has been anything but balanced. Articles with headlines like Destroying Endangered Species Habitat Wouldnt Count as Harm Under Proposed Trump Rule or By Redefining Harm, Agencies Aim to End Longstanding Wildlife Protections paint this reform as reckless and cruel. If you just skimmed the news, you might assume this is one of the most disastrous and warrantless environmental rollbacks in history.

Setting aside the political rhetoric, the proposed reform actually makes a lot of sense, and is greatly needed if we want the public to continue supporting endangered species conservation. More importantly, the proposed reforms restore Congress intent in passing the ESA, reversing decades of agency rules that have distorted Congress goal in passing the ESA, along with the plain language of the Act itself.

Whats Good for the Goose, Isnt Necessarily Good For The Gander

Before we begin, its important to understand that there is an inherent tension in implementing the ESA: what is imperative for species conservation can be at odds with the economic and social costs borne by human beings.

This conflict is especially true for property owners whose land becomes home to a protected species, like a suburban homeowner who unknowingly shares a backyard with a Western Pond Turtle, or a farmer whose grass seed field becomes a nest for a Streaked Horned Lark.

This phenomenon was not lost on Congress when it passed the ESA in 1973, which is why the law was carefully structured to ensure conservation efforts didnt impose excessive burdens on landowners whose property might be designated as habitat. This balance was key to the ESAs success then and today.

Unfortunately, federal agencies have stretched the law far beyond its original intent, leading to controversy, lawsuits, and misuse by activist groups that disregard property rights and the need for balance. The result of this abuse is that some believe the only solution is to repeal the ESA entirely.

We believe that reforming how the law is enforced may be a more productive path forward. One way to reform the current ESA rules is by rescinding the expanded definition of what constitutes harm to an endangered species. This definition, found in 50 C.F.R.  17.3 (C.F.R. stands for code of federal regulations  these are the federal agency administrative rules), exemplifies agency overreach. Repealing it is a necessary step in the right direction.

The High Cost of ESA Overreach: Why Reform Matters

Nowhere is inequitable enforcement of the ESA more visible than in the Pacific Northwest. For example, when the Northern Spotted Owl was listed as a threatened species in 1990, the goal was simple: protect a species in decline. But the enforcement of habitat protections came with devastating consequences.

Since the Owls listing, timber harvesting restrictions have led to the closure of about 500 sawmills along the Pacific Coastfrom Washington to Oregon to Californiacosting around 33,000 jobs. Families lost their livelihoods, once-thriving towns were left struggling, and state and local programs were cut to the bone.

Today, these same types of issues persist as regulators continue to roll out habitat conservation plans for the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, several salmon species and the coastal marten over large swaths of state forests. These plans will result in additional losses in state timber harvests that go toward local services in counties and special districts, like schools and rural firefighting.

The effects of ESA enforcement dont just impact the timber industry. Nationwide, ESA enforcement and weaponization has created barriers to our ability to address critical needs like producing more affordable housing and expanding much needed energy production, both renewable and carbon based, or breaking our reliance on foreign suppliers of materials to produce needed technology. ESA interpretations from federal agencies have even threatened communities access to federal disaster assistance.

All of these issues have fueled a growing demand for ESA reform.

The Problem with the Current Definition Of Harm

One of the biggest points of controversy in how the federal agencies interpret the ESA comes from how they interpret the word harm in the ESAs definition of take in 16 U.S.C.  1538 (Section 9). U.S.C. stands for United States Code  these are the federal laws passed by Congress.

Section 9 of the ESA prohibits the selling, transporting, and taking of listed species. The ESA defines take to mean to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.

In practice, Section 9 deals with intentional acts against endangered animals, and many individuals have been prosecuted for poaching endangered animals or attempting to sell them. For example, people have been caught illegally hunting bald eagles, stealing sea turtle eggs, and trafficking endangered jaguar on the black market. This is exactly what Congress intended, and isnt controversial.

However, after the ESA was enacted into law, federal regulators expanded the meaning of harm through agency rulemaking to include human activities that modify the habitat of an endangered species, even if it is unintentional. Specifically, 50 C.F.R.  17.3 states:

Harm in the definition of take in the Act means an act which actually kills or injures wildlife. Such act may include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.

This interpretation treats altering land (such as harvesting timber or even farming) as if it were akin to purposefully injuring, poaching, or selling an endangered animal for profit.

The definition of harm under 50 C.F.R.  17.3 has increasingly restricted private property owners from managing their landsuch as harvesting timberwithout compensation, even when no direct injury to an endangered species occurs.

For example, in Cascadia Wildlands v. Scott Timber Co. (2024), environmental groups successfully blocked a private timber company from logging a small portion of its own land before operations even began, arguing that tree removal would negatively impact threatened marbled murrelets (a type of seabird that nests in mature trees) by disrupting a portion of their breeding habitat. As such, removing the trees would amount to harm, and thus a take under Section 9.

This landmark decision marked the first instance where a private timber company in Oregon was prohibited from logging due to potential habitat impacts, diverging from the ESAs original intent of compensating landowners for habitat conservation or providing reasonable alternatives for necessary activities.

The ESAs Statutory Framework & Legislative History Supports Reform

Cascadia Wildlands v. Scott Timber Co. case was exactly what many feared when the definition of harm under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was expanded.

This concern led private property owners and natural resource industriesparticularly those impacted by the listing of the Northern Spotted Owlto challenge the rule in the 1995 Supreme Court case Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon. A majority of the Court ultimately upheld the broad definition of harm under the controversial Chevron deference doctrine (the Court deferred to the agencys definition of harm), but Justice Scalia (joined by Justices Rehnquist and Thomas) strongly disagreed and therefore dissented from the majority decision.

Scalia argued that when Congress enacted the ESA, Section 9s take provision only applied to direct and intentional actions against individual animals, such as hunting or capturingnot habitat changes. Scalia pointed to the ESAs statutory framework and legislative history, which show that Congress intended to protect the habitat of endangered species under Sections 5 and 7 of the ESA, not through the use of punitive measures in Section 9. Section 9 was only intended to punish people for taking direct action to harm a member of an endangered species.

Scalias point is critical to understanding the ESA. When Congress passed the Act, it created three separate sections addressing how to protect an endangered species and the habitat of a species. Section 5 authorizes the government to buy private land to protect habitat, ensuring landowners are compensated if species conservation limits their property use. Section 7 generally requires federal agencies to review projects that might impact endangered species and provide reasonable alternatives to minimize harm while allowing development.

As Scalia noted, Congress designed these sections to address habitat concerns separately from Section 9, which focuses on completely prohibiting and criminalizing intentional acts like killing, injuring, or selling endangered species. Which makes sense, because to decide otherwise would (1) be patently unfair to private property owners who are just trying to make use of their land; and (2) render Section 5 and Section 7 pointless.

Lawmakers made this clear in floor statements when the ESA was passed. For example, Congresswoman Leonor Sullivan (D-Mo) emphasized that habitat protection should be achieved through land acquisition and collaboration, not through blanket restrictions on private landowners:

For the most part, the principal threat to animals stems from destruction of their habitat. [] H. R. 37 will meet this problem by providing funds for acquisition of critical habitat. [] It will also enable the Department of Agriculture to cooperate with willing landowners who desire to assist in the protection of endangered species, but who are understandably unwilling to do so at excessive cost to themselves.

A Step in the Right Direction

In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024), the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference doctrine, and directed agencies to follow the single, best meaning of a law rather than expanding their regulatory power. This decision has led to a reevaluation of many federal agency rules, including rules regarding ESA enforcement.

Accordingly, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking to rescind the expanded definition of harm, restoring Section 9s original focus on intentional take rather than incidental habitat modification. This change would not affect existing permits, but would ensure that future acts by USFWS would comply with Congress true intent when creating the ESA, as outlined by Justice Scalia nearly 30 years ago.

The OPOA Legal Center submitted comments supporting this proposal and highlighting the need to align ESA enforcement with Congresss original intent. In our opinion, this rule change isnt about eliminating protection for endangered species. Its about making sure the ESA works as Congress intended protecting wildlife while allowing communities and private property rights to thrive.

We encourage others to do the same and help bring fairness and clarity back to species protection laws. You can submit comments here: Federal Register


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,

This chart helps explain the two-sided nature of American prescription drug costs. This chart shows how the United States fares to comparable nations on costs.

One one hand, the chart shows that the United States overpays for brand name drugs (422% margin). Most brand name drugs are invented and created in the United States. These brand names represent the best, most-effective and ground breaking medicine one can get anywhere in the world. This is why they cost so much. Other nations, like Canada and Europe, require these brand name drugs to be sold at a steep discount or they will not be accepted into their nation. Pharma-companies accept the big cutbacks in order to access these markets. This means the United States is subsidizing the most important brand name medicine for the rest of the world. This is a perfect example of the trade imbalance that the President is trying to correct where other nations set restrictions on our products.

In a different tactic, Trump proposed an Executive Order this week demanding that pharmaceutical companies lower their prescription drug costs. This is a very forced opportunity for companies to draw attention to the trade imbalances, Medicaid abuses and lawsuit abuse that lead to lopsided pricing. The temptation is to enact price-controls which Biden tinkered with on a small scale during his term. Drug price controls already failed in the 1970s. In fact, price controls have failed everywhere. ALEC notes, price controls are not a novel concept, but a practice with roots extending back to the Roman Empire and even nearly 2000 years earlier, to the Babylonians. Each attempt throughout history has ended in failure, including in the United States, when President Richard Nixon had his ill-fated attempt to freeze prices and wages in the early 1970s which led, of course, to shortages, empty supermarket shelves, and gas lines. Admirably, President Nixon, later in life, acknowledged that these controls were a major policy error.

Interestingly, the United States is the place where these leading drugs are made for the entire world simply because we do not over-tax, over-regulate or price-control our medicine like other nations. If the United States aims to enact our own price controls  we will end up with sky high prices.

The United States has been dominating the world on research into new drugs.

The other side of the coin is the fact that Americans utilize a lot of generic brand use (roughly 91% of all drug purchases). American generic drug costs are very low. When you factor in the generic costs for Americans it results in Americans paying less for prescription drugs than the average comparable nation.

In conclusion, Americans are paying slightly less than other countries for prescription drugs while having the best access to the latest leading medicinal inventions. Yet, our brand name costs are clearly over-priced due to the fact that drug companies must pay other nations which require steep cuts to access their markets. This means there is room to reduce drug costs in America by focusing on the relationship with other nations rather than to over-tax or over-regulate our domestic market.
We compared the 11 different tax idea plan to a wrestling battle royal.

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

It was over a month ago on April 3rd, that the group of Democrat lawmaker leaders laid out a plan for $1.8 billion in new road taxes to fund ODOT. The tax plan included 11 new or increased taxes (gas tax hike, car tax hike, new car tax, EV tax, bike tax hike, two DMV fee hikes, payroll tax hike, delivery vehicle tax, tire tax, truck tax hike).

It was revealed that the politicians aimed to lay out all kinds of taxes to see which ones would stick the best. It was a public lab rat test.

The public and the lobby has not embraced any of the taxes in the plan. The whole project is in limbo.

Here is what lies ahead:

#1. The revenue forecast is on Wednesday. The all-important economic numbers update will determine whether Oregon has a bonus billion or a shrinking billion in tax revenue based on analyzing current tax returns. Oregon could be up by millions or down by millions.

#2. The Legislature must be able to obtain a super-majority to approve a tax increase. It takes a super-majority to approve a tax increase. The Democrat majority cannot afford to lose a single vote. One lawmaker has been undergoing health problems. Other lawmakers may not agree to the entire package. Republican lawmakers may find themselves being courted for the vote. This issue must be resolved for the road tax package to advance.

#3. Once these two issues have been resolved  expect a rip-roaring fast hearing where this entire ugly tax package will be ram-rod through the House and Senate. So be prepared. We told you that this was coming.

#4. Republican lawmakers have drafted their own alternative to fund ODOT without raising taxes. They cut government waste  just like other states. This could be a big winner if both parties embrace it fully.

 Was this helpful? If so, contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
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The climatological mean (derived from Daymet) of the highest monthly (a) maximum temperature and (b) total precipitation for each calendar month in the five counties of the southeastern United States. Credit: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2025). DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0297.1

Vulnerable communities in the Southeastern United States must look to the future, not the past, to prepare for climate disasters, according to researchers at the Feinstein International Center, located at Tufts University's Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

In a recent paper published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, the researchers document substantially higher risk of extreme temperatures and flooding in the Southeast U.S.

They also propose a framework to help these communities better prepare for disasters they have not yet experienced but are likely to encounter.

"Disaster planning based on historical events is like driving forward while only looking in the rearview mirror," says corresponding author Erin Coughlan de Perez, research director at Feinstein and associate professor at the Friedman School. "Many communities are planning for what they have seen in the past, only slightly worse. They need to be preparing for things they haven't seen at all."

While the entire region is at risk for extreme weather events, some communities also have a "high potential for surprise," say the researchers, who include The Fletcher School's Amy Jaffe, Bethany Tietjen, and Jenna Clark.

"These are communities where the overall risk has increased over time, but the community hasn't experienced one of these severe weather events in recent memory," says Coughlan de Perez. This makes them potentially poorly prepared for future disasters, or "sitting ducks," according to the researchers' framework.

Analyzing five counties, researchers found them all to be "sitting ducks" when it comes to an extreme heat event. According to the study, Montgomery County, AL; Yazoo County, MS; Madison County, TN; Warren County, KY; and Terrebonne Parish, LA, have gotten lucky in recent years and not had significant heat waves.

"What our models showed is that temperatures have been rising gradually over the years, with one year maybe being really hot, but because the risk has been changing slowly, people living in these communities may not have noticed it," Coughlan de Perez says.

When it comes to flooding, researchers concluded that Yazoo County is also a "sitting duck." The other four communities fall into what the researchers call the "living memory" category, meaning there is a recent flooding event that people can remember, which can encourage people to stay prepared for future events. "Flooding events have also increased in frequency during the rainiest months of the year, but not every community has experienced catastrophic flooding," Coughlan de Perez says.

In what the researchers categorize as "fading memory" communities, a particular weather event has become less frequent, and people barely remember it. "Boston used to have frequent extreme cold snaps in the winter, for example, but that happens less often now," Coughlan de Perez says. Similarly, in "recent rarity" communities, people might remember a particular weather event but the likelihood of it happening again is also relatively low.

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In their analysis, the authors used large weather models of historical weather events between 1981-2021 to examine the five Southeastern U.S. counties, which were a combination of urban and rural communities. "It's a roll of the die whether they have experienced extreme weather events yet or not. Extreme heat and flooding are in their futures," Coughlan de Perez says.

Preparation may include identifying those at greatest risk; setting up accessible cooling centers for those who are homeless or don't have air conditioning; educating the public about evacuation plans and potential shelters for floods; putting state or local heat protections in place for outdoor workers; establishing communication systems to alert residents to the dangers of high daytime and overnight temperatures or impending floods; and other measures.

The Tufts team is working with the American Red Cross in multiple locations to improve disaster planning, but Coughlan de Perez notes that state and local policies addressing extreme heat and flooding are often limited and need to be developed further.

In the meantime, Coughlan de Perez says, "Our ultimate goal is to provide a framework to help all communities prepare for weather events they may not have experienced before but have a high likelihood of facing in the future."

More information: Gibbon Innocent Tirivanhu Masukwedza et al, Storylines of Unprecedented Extremes in the Southeast United States, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2025). DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0297.1 Journal information: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
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A 2D slice of the world's largest turbulence simulation, revealing the fractal structure of the density, shown in yellow, black and red, and magnetic field, shown in white. Credit: Simulation: J. Beattie.

Astronomers have developed a computer simulation to explore, in unprecedented detail, magnetism and turbulence in the interstellar medium (ISM)the vast ocean of gas and charged particles that lies between stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Described in a study published in Nature Astronomy, the model is the most powerful to date, requiring the computing capability of the SuperMUC-NG supercomputer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Center in Germany. It directly challenges our understanding of how magnetized turbulence operates in astrophysical environments.

James Beattie, the paper's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) at the University of Toronto, is hopeful the model will provide new insights into the ISM, the magnetism of the Milky Way galaxy as a whole, and astrophysical phenomena such as star formation and the propagation of cosmic rays.

"This is the first time we can study these phenomena at this level of precision and at these different scales," he says.

The paper was co-authored with researchers from Princeton University; Australian National University; the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence in All Sky Astrophysics; Universitat Heidelberg; the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian; Harvard University; and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities.

The Phantom Galaxy (M74) as seen by the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team

"Turbulence remains one of the greatest unsolved problems in classical mechanics," says Beattie, who also holds a joint appointment at Princeton University. "This despite the fact that turbulence is ubiquitous: from swirling milk in our coffee to chaotic flows in the oceans, solar wind, interstellar medium, even the plasma between galaxies.

"The key distinction in astrophysical environments is the presence of magnetic fields, which fundamentally alter the nature of turbulent flows."

While there are far, far fewer particles in interstellar space than in ultra-high vacuum experiments on Earth, their motions are enough to generate a magnetic field, not unlike how the motion of our planet's molten core generates Earth's magnetic field.

The SuperMUC-NG supercomputer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Munich is one of Europe's most powerful computing systems. It supports cutting-edge research in fields like astrophysics, life sciences, and artificial intelligence by enabling massive-scale simulations and data processing. The supercomputers were used to develop the world's largest simulations of magnetized turbulence. The team's work relied on the equivalent of 140,000 computers running in parallel, enabled by the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre's supercomputer, totaling more than 80 million computing hours from start to finish. There is still no complete mathematical framework for predicting how energy moves from large to small scalesacross oceans, in the atmosphere, or through the plasma and dust between the stars. In space, the problem is even more complex than on Earth due to magnetization, requiring these computational resources to model. Credit: F. Lochner / LRZ

And while the galactic magnetic field is a few million times weaker than a fridge magnet, it is nonetheless one of the forces that shapes the cosmos.

The largest version of Beattie's model is a cube of 10,000 units per dimension that provides much greater detail than previous models. In addition to its high resolution, the model is scalable and can simulate, at its largest, a volume of space some 30 light-years on a side; at its smallest, it can be scaled down by a factor of some 5,000.

A composite image of the Phantom Galaxy and (inset) a high-resolution simulation of galactic turbulence with magnetic field lines in white. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team; Acknowledgement: J. Schmidt; Simulation: J. Beattie.

At its largest, the model can improve our understanding of the Milky Way galaxy's overall magnetic field. When scaled down, it will help astronomers better understand more "compact" processes like the solar wind that streams outward from the sun and greatly affects Earth.

Because of its higher resolution, the model also has the potential to provide a deeper understanding of star formation. "We know that magnetic pressure opposes star formation by pushing outward against gravity as it tries to collapse a star-forming nebula," says Beattie. "Now we can quantify in detail what to expect from magnetic turbulence on those kinds of scales."

The chaotic structure of the turbulent magnetic field and velocity in the world's largest magnetized turbulence simulation, a model for plasma motion within our Galaxy. Credit: James Beattie

In addition to its higher resolution and scalability, the model also marks a significant advance by simulating the dynamic changes in the density of the ISMfrom an incredibly tenuous near-vacuum to the higher densities found in star-forming nebulas.

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"What our simulation captures really well," says Beattie, "is the extreme changes in density of the ISM, something previous models hadn't taken into account."

As he develops the next generation of the model with, among other features, even higher resolution, Beattie is also testing his simulation against data collected from observations of the sun-Earth system.

Fractal density structures in the world's largest turbulence simulation, with high-densities shown in red, and low-densities shown in blue. Credit: Simulation: J. Beattie.

"We've already begun testing whether the model matches existing data from the solar wind and Earthand it's looking very good," says Beattie.

"This is very exciting because it means we can learn about space weather with our simulation. Space weather is very important because we're talking about the charged particles that bombard satellites and humans in space and have other terrestrial effects."

According to Beattie, the new model comes at a time of growing interest in astrophysical turbulence, as well as burgeoning observations of the ISM. And as new instruments such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) come onlinewith the ability to measure fluctuations in turbulent magnetic fields across the galaxy in great detailaccurate theoretical frameworks like his for interpreting magnetic turbulence will become even more critical.

One of the things that draws Beattie to this research is its elegant consistencyfrom intergalactic plasma to the swirl in a cup of coffee.

"I love doing turbulence research because of its universality," says Beattie. "It looks the same whether you're looking at the plasma between galaxies, within galaxies, within the solar system, in a cup of coffee or in Van Gogh's The Starry Night.

"There's something very romantic about how it appears at all these different levels and I think that's very exciting."

More information: James R. Beattie et al, The spectrum of magnetized turbulence in the interstellar medium, Nature Astronomy (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02551-5 Journal information: Nature Astronomy
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INU study shows how public opinion influences U.S. allies' foreign policy choices amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China. Credit: USEmbassyPhnomPenh from Openverse

In an era marked by rising strategic rivalry between the United States and China, allied democracies face increasingly complex foreign policy decisions. While many of these nations depend on U.S. military protection, they also rely heavily on China for economic growthmaking alignment decisions a matter not only of international strategy, but also domestic political pressure.

To explore this tension, a team of researchers from Incheon National University, led by Assistant Professor Kyung Suk Lee, conducted a comprehensive study on how audience costspolitical consequences for leaders who reverse public commitmentsshape foreign policy choices. The study was published in the journal Contemporary Security Policy on March 20, 2025.

"Our research offers groundbreaking insights into how audience costs significantly affect U.S. allies' foreign policy decisions amid U.S.China strategic competition, explaining both their initial hesitation to make clear alignment choices (strategic hedging) and the credibility of their commitments once made," explains Dr. Lee, the lead author of the study.

The researchers used a national survey experiment focused on South Korea's debate over joining the Quad, a U.S.-led strategic group. Their approach assessed how the public responds to leaders' foreign policy reversals, revealing that leaders face substantial domestic backlash when they renege on prior alignment decisionsespecially among citizens with strong pro-U.S. views.

The study found that more than 90% of respondents viewed the alliance with the United States as vital to South Korea's national security, economy, and global standing. This public sentiment increases the political cost of foreign policy inconsistency and discourages leaders from shifting course once alignment decisions are declared.

"This suggests that prevailing pro-U.S. sentiment among U.S. allies enhances the credibility of their alignment commitments," said Dr. Lee. "Though shifting domestic preferences toward China could potentially incentivize them to reverse these commitments."

Importantly, the study highlights how these audience costs are not uniform. Citizens who lean toward China tend to tolerateor even rewardalignment reversals, whereas those aligned with the U.S. strongly oppose them. This variation creates a complex domestic landscape in which leaders must carefully gauge public sentiment before committing to a side.

"U.S. strategists competing with China for influence might recognize that focusing on public opinion in allied nations is vital," Dr. Lee notes.

As power dynamics evolve in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the study points to a critical insight: in democratic allies, foreign policy alignment is ultimately shaped not just by strategic logicbut by the will of the people.

More information: Kyung Suk Lee et al, US allies' foreign policy alignment in an era of great power competition: An analysis of domestic politics, Contemporary Security Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1080/13523260.2025.2474872
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Walking is essential for urban sustainability and quality of life in any city, yet little is known about how pedestrians actually get around in public, or what urban and social factors influence their walking patterns.

Now, a new study by researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) shows that pedestrian behavior in Barcelona varies significantly between neighborhoods.

What's more, factors that encourage walking in one part of the city may discourage it in others. For this reason, the researchers warn policymakers that city-wide mobility solutions may not reflect the complexity of urban environments, especially in a city like Barcelona.

To improve urban planning, they recommend introducing mobility policies tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of each neighborhood.

This is one of the main findings of the study "Trends and drivers of pedestrian mobility in Barcelona: A fine-grained study across its commercial tissue," published in the open access journal Cities.

The research is based on high-resolution data collected over five years from 115 pedestrian count sensors installed at key locations across the city.

It is one of the most detailed urban-level analyses of pedestrian mobility in Europe to date and one of the few of its kind in the world. The results provide valuable insights into the factors that influence walking patterns and how these can be managed through targeted interventions.

The study provides a detailed picture of how pedestrian flows evolved in Barcelona between 2017 and 2022, excluding the pandemic lockdown period.

It examines how different urban and social characteristics affect pedestrian mobility, which, the authors point out, is far from uniform across the city.

"In fact, it varies according to a combination of factors such as the presence of public transport, commercial activity and street layout," said Albert Sole, a researcher with Complex Systems (CoSIN3) in the UOC's Digital Transformation, AI and Technology Unit and a member of the Faculty of Computer Science, Multimedia and Telecommunications.

Also participating in the study from the UOC were fellow CoSIN3 researchers Clement Rames (also affiliated with EPFL), Daniel Rhoads and Javier Borge, as well as Professor Antoni Meseguer from the Digital Business (DigiBiz) research group at the Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Barcelona was represented by Sergi Lozano, from the Faculty of Economics and Business and a member of the Institute of Complex Systems.

The results point to an overall increase in footfall across the city, but also to significant differences between neighborhoods: some areas have seen steady growth, while others show declines or seasonal fluctuations. This variability is driven by up to seven factors that influence pedestrian mobility, including the extent of traffic-calmed streets, access to public transport and the density of local shops.

One of the key methodological advances of the study is the use of spatial regression models, which allow researchers to understand how the impact of each variable changes depending on location.

"We found that the same factor can have a positive effect in one neighborhood and a negative effect in another. That's why we're advocating much more context-specific urban planning that recognizes these local differences. Our models help to show how these factors work differently in different areas of the city, which is crucial for designing more targeted and efficient mobility policies," explained the UOC researcher and project leader.

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How do pedestrians get around in Barcelona?

The researchers found that proximity to metro and bus stations has a direct impact on footfall, especially in the city center. However, this relationship does not apply equally to all neighborhoods; in more peripheral areas, walking patterns reflect different dynamics, often more closely linked to private car use.

Areas with elevated levels of commercial activity are also clear pedestrian magnets, although their influence is not always consistent. In some tourism-heavy areas, particularly in the city center, the influx of visitors leads to high footfall that doesn't necessarily translate into benefits for local businesses. In other areas, the density of shops is more closely linked to the resident population, resulting in more stable walking patterns.

Among the trends observed, the presence of pedestrian-only zones has a clear and positive effect on walking, especially in highly frequented tourist areas such as Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter and El Born.

Public transport (particularly the density of bus stops) is also associated with increased footfall, especially in central districts where the network is denser. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles per inhabitant has a clear negative effect on pedestrian mobility, especially in the outer, higher-income neighborhoods such as Sarria-Sant Gervasi and Vila de Gracia.

Moreover, the presence of local shops tends to encourage walking in residential areas, but this effect is less pronounced (or even negative) in highly gentrified or tourist-oriented areas such as Sant Antoni or the Gothic Quarter. The concentration of bars, restaurants and hotels is another factor whose impact varies considerably between districts.

Unexpectedly, green spaces generally show a negative correlation with footfall. However, the authors suggest that this is because many parks are located on the outskirts of the city or in less accessible areas and are not typically part of main walking routes.

"Although green spaces offer many benefits, the data show that they are not often used as transit routes, but rather as places to linger. This, among other factors, may explain why they don't seem to encourage walking as much," explained Sole.

A tool for the urban planning of the future

The authors of the study emphasize that their research could serve as an important tool for urban planners. By using data from pedestrian count sensors, it is possible to gain detailed, real-time insights into mobility patterns, enabling scientific evidence-based decision-making.

"It's virtually impossible to know how many people walk in Barcelona without automated data, but thanks to these sensors we can make reliable estimates by neighborhood, pavement and time of day," explained the CoSIN3 researcher.

This method could be used to optimize the design of urban infrastructure, improve the distribution of services and ensure more efficient and inclusive mobility.

The study lays the groundwork for extrapolating this fine-grained approach to pedestrian mobility analysis in other cities, helping to implement data-driven strategies that improve residents' quality of life.

However, the authors stress that the findings from Barcelona may not be directly transferable to other places due to the city's unique characteristics. Therefore, based on current knowledge, each case should be studied individually.

More information: Clement Rames et al, Trends and drivers of pedestrian mobility in Barcelona: A fine-grained study across its commercial tissue, Cities (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2024.105655
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A review of digital technologies in the International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology suggests that integration of mobile, 5G, wireless and the so-called metaverse could be a turning point in global agriculture. The use of this kind of technology is becoming essential in the face of population growth, climate change, and resource scarcity.

5G offers fast data transmission and almost ubiquitous connectivity for devices. In agricultural terms, this means smart sensors embedded in fields and greenhouses can transmit real-time data on soil conditions, crop health, and the weather to individual farmers or a central farming-control system. This allows more timely interventions to be undertaken when necessary, reducing waste and increasing precision in the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticidesall of which should cut costs, improve efficiency, and lead to better yields.

According to the review by Wenliang Tang and Muhammad Umair Assad of East China Jiaotong University, Junliang Xu of Jiangxi Telecommunications and Information Industry Co., Ltd., Jieming Liu of Jiangxi Zhongxin Yunnong Technology Co., Ltd. in Jiangxi, China, and Yifan Gao of Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, such capability extends beyond passive monitoring. 5G also enables the remote operation of advanced machinery, such as autonomous tractors and agricultural drones.

In areas where labor shortages or extreme conditions make manual work difficult or dangerous, remote-controlled equipment offers a safer and often more efficient alternative. These changes could be particularly transformative in developing countries, where post-harvest losses are high and efficient resource use is critical.

In parallel, the metaverse, a digital environment in which users can interact in real-time through virtual or augmented realities, is finding unexpected applications in farming. Virtual reality (VR) can provide interactive training platforms for farmers, allowing them to practice new techniques or understand complex machinery without the need to travel or risk costly mistakes in the field. These tools are especially valuable in rural areas with limited access to conventional educational infrastructure.

A more advanced application of the metaverse in agriculture is the use of digital twins: virtual replicas of physical farms created through real-time data feeds. Such digital environments would allow farmers to simulate different agricultural scenarios, such as the introduction of a new crop or changes in irrigation strategies, before making real-world decisions.

The virtual nature of the metaverse also opens up the possibility of new ways for farmers to collaborate. Farmers, researchers, and policymakers can convene in digital spaces regardless of physical distance, to discuss best practices and develop solutions to common problems together.

More information: Wenliang Tang et al, Enabling future agriculture: integration of 5G and Metaverse technologies for smart farming innovations, International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology (2025). DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2025.146099

Provided by Inderscience
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Cedar Gordon, a 2024 intern with the Leslie Lab, deployed oyster shells, upon which baby oysters may settle, on the shore of the Damariscotta River to support studies of the estuarys wild oyster populations. Courtesy of Sarah Risley

By studying the Damariscotta and Medomak River estuaries, University of Maine researchers have formally documented shifts in shellfish populations, from soft shell clams to oysters. Because Maine's intertidal mudflats, such as those found in these estuaries, are difficult to study, this work filled an important gap in information about shellfish harvesting.

Research documented how tidal river ecosystems have changed over time and how local shellfish harvesters and other estuary users have adapted. This was the first time the knowledge of harvesters and experts working within these estuaries was documented, and the findings have expanded the information available to communities who steward shellfish in Maine and beyond.

Graduate student Sarah Risley of the UMaine Darling Marine Center (DMC) led the study, published in Ambio. Co-authors include Melissa Britsch, formerly of UMaine and now with the Maine Coastal Program of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, associate professor of marine policy Joshua Stoll and professor of marine sciences Heather Leslie, both of the School of Marine Sciences.

"This was an incredible opportunity to learn about Maine's intertidal ecosystems. I'm deeply grateful to everyone who shared their time and expertise," said Risley, who is a resident of Wiscasset.

The team found that the availability of harvested species such as soft shell clams and American oysters differed between the two estuaries, and populations of soft shell clams have shifted dramatically over time. Commercial shellfish harvesters estimate that the soft shell clam population has declined by up to 90% in the upper Damariscotta River estuary.

While this information is well known among those who have spent decades on the water, the team's work documents and expands that knowledge to the broader community. Municipal leaders in the towns of Bremen, Damariscotta and Newcastle helped guide the study. Members of the Joint Shellfish Conservation Committee of Damariscotta and Newcastle have used related findings to support the management of shellfish fisheries in the upper Damariscotta River.

"The community science collaboration in the Damariscotta estuary highlights the value of documenting local knowledge," said Leslie, who is also based at the DMC and serves as Risley's primary advisor. "All of the research we've done over the last six years has been grounded in the local knowledge shared by shellfish harvesters and other local experts."

Risley and Leslie are continuing this collaboration with the shellfish committee, Lincoln Academy and other community partners through the establishment of the Damariscotta River Estuary Community Science Program.

"We appreciate the Darling Center's leadership in this collaboration and look forward to continuing to work with students from both UMaine and Lincoln Academy," said Andrew Dorr, Damariscotta town manager.

More information: Sarah C. Risley et al, Mapping local knowledge supports science and stewardship, Ambio (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s13280-025-02170-4 Journal information: AMBIO
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Credit: University of Nottingham

Viking experts from the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester have examined pregnancy in the Viking Age and discovered that pregnant women were depicted in art and literature with martial gear, and newborns were born into a harsh world where they were not all given burial or were born free.

The new interdisciplinary study, "Womb Politics: The Pregnant Body and Archaeologies of Absent," published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal, is the first focused examination of pregnancy in the Viking Age.

The research team was led by Dr. Marianne Hem Eriksen, Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Leicester, and co-author Dr. Katherine Marie Olley, assistant professor in Viking studies and director of the Center for the Study of the Viking Age in the School of English at the University of Nottingham.

The research draws on multidisciplinary evidence and examines words and stories used to depict pregnancy in later Old Norse sources, a singular Viking Age figurine convincingly displaying a pregnant body wearing a martial helmet, and burial evidence for potential victims of obstetric deaths.

Dr. Olley, who examined Old Norse words, stories and legal regulations surrounding pregnancy, said, "Using Old Norse texts to illuminate Viking Age beliefs is difficult because the surviving manuscripts date to well after the Viking Age, but it is still fascinating to see words, concepts and memories of pregnancy in these sources that may have their roots in the earlier Viking period.

"Among the Norse words used for denoting pregnancy, we find rich terms such as 'bellyfull,' 'unlight,' and 'to walk not a woman alone,' which provide glimpses of ways people may have conceptualized pregnancy."

In one saga examined by Dr. Olley, a fetus still in his mother's womb is fated to avenge his father, being inscribed even before birth into complex social and political dynamics of kinship, feuds, and violence. Another saga tells the story of the woman Freydis, who in a violent encounter, can't run away due to her late-term pregnancy. Undaunted, she picks up a sword, bares her breast, and strikes the sword against her chest, scaring the assailants away.

The expert in Viking studies adds, "Freydis's behavior is surprising but may find a parallel in the study's examined silver figurine, where a pregnant woman, arms embracing her protruding belly, is wearing what appears to be a helmet with a noseguard. While we are careful not to present simplified narratives about pregnant warrior women, we must acknowledge that at least in art and stories, ideas were circulating about pregnant women with martial equipment. These are not passive, or pacified, pregnant bodies."

The study adds to existing research on gender, bodies, and sexuality in the Viking Age, but also to a broader discussion of how scholarship discusses what have conventionally been seen as women's issues, belonging to the "natural" or "private" sphere.

Dr. Eriksen said, "It verges on the banal to say, but pregnancy is an absolute necessity for all forms of reproductiondemographic, social, economic, political. Without pregnant bodies, none of us would be here. Questions such as whether a pregnant body is one or two, how kinship works, or when personhood begins, are not devoid of politics and we don't have to look very far into our contemporary world to recognize that."

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References to pregnancy are curiously absent in Viking Age evidence, and the authors note that among thousands of burials across the Viking World, there are only a handful of possible mother-infant burials from the periodand this was at a time when obstetric death is thought to be very high.

The research suggests that mothers and babies were not routinely buried together and indeed infants are under-represented in the Viking Age burial record overall. Some infants crop up in other places, such as domestic houses, but otherwise it is unknown what happened to the infants, or whether they were afforded burial in the same way as adults.

"Together with legal legislation such as pregnancy being seen as a 'defect' in an enslaved woman to be bought, or children born to subordinate peoples being the property of their owners, it is a stark reminder that pregnancy can also leave bodies open for volatility, risk and exploitation," added Dr. Eriksen.

More information: Marianne Hem Eriksen et al, Womb Politics: The Pregnant Body and Archaeologies of Absence, Cambridge Archaeological Journal (2025). DOI: 10.1017/S0959774325000125 Journal information: Cambridge Archaeological Journal
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Behavioral displays and interactions during babbling and maternal influence on the amount of vocal practice. Credit: eLife (2024). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.99474

Just as human infants rely on their environment and social interactions to acquire speech, bat pups depend on their social environment for vocal learning. New research reveals that in the bat species Saccopteryx bilineata, maternal feedback influences vocal development, particularly shaping the vocalizations acquired through vocal learning. Conducted in the jungles of Panama and Costa Rica, this study offers a rare glimpse into the social factors at play in non-human mammalian vocal learning.

The work appears in the journal eLife.

Vocal learning is the capacity to modify existing sounds and learn new vocalizations by imitating a tutor. This ability, a form of social learning, depends on acoustic input, andespecially in social animalssome form of feedback. In humans, social feedback can positively influence language development and enhance social bonding between parent and infant.

Feedback includes vocal exchanges or showing affection, including touching or smiling at the infants as they learn to speak. Because vocal learning is rare in non-human mammals, the underlying mechanisms and key factors shaping this process are still not well understood.

The greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata, is a small insectivorous species inhabiting the lowlands of Central and Latin America, and one of the few mammals capable of vocal learning. During their vocal development, bat pups imitate adult males to acquire their song. The peculiarity is that this learning process is expressed in a conspicuous vocal practice behavior, called pup babbling.

Previous research has demonstrated that pup and human infant babbling share similar characteristics. On average, bat pups spend seven weeks engaging daily in long babbling bouts lasting up to 43 minutes. Adult males provide the primary acoustic input through daily singing at dusk and dawn; however, they normally do not interact with the pups. In contrast, females display various behaviors exclusively while their pup is babbling.

A team of scientists from the Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin, the Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin and the Freie Universitat Berlin, Ahana A. Fernandez, Nora Serve, Sarah-Cecil Fabian, and Mirjam Knornschild, studied the vocal ontogeny and maternal feedback of wild pups in Central America over several years. The researchers observed the pups' vocal ontogeny to determine whether maternal behaviors displayed during babbling influenced aspects of vocal learning and development.

The team found that maternal behaviors significantly increased the amount of vocal practice, both daily and across the entire ontogeny.

"But what is really intriguing is that maternal behavior influences different aspects of the song syllables learned through vocal imitation," explains Fernandez. "We found that the amount and variety of song syllables is positively influenced by the mothers behavior."

Furthermore, when mothers interact more during babbling, the pups produce more mature song syllables.

"This is fascinating because in human infants we also see the positive effect of social feedback on speech-readiness of babbling syllables," adds Knornschild. "Seeing these parallels in another vocal learning mammal is very exciting."

This study reveals that social factors are crucial in vocal development, not only in humans but also in other mammalian vocal learners. It is an important step toward further research into the impact of social feedback on vocal learning, highlighting the importance of studying animals in their natural social environments.

More information: Ahana Aurora Fernandez et al, Maternal behavior influences vocal practice and learning processes in the greater sac-winged bat, eLife (2024). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.99474 Journal information: eLife

Provided by Museum fur Naturkunde - Leibniz-Institut fur Evolutions- und Biodiversitatsforschung
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Distribution of 4367 plots in the North American boreal zone. Credit: Ecography (2025). DOI: 10.1002/ecog.07677

Ever wonder how many trees stand tall in North America's vast boreal forest? A new University of Alberta study has the answer, and it could benefit climate mitigation. The work is published in the journal Ecography.

The tally came to 277 billion trees, including 30 billion in Alberta.

Estimated using a sophisticated machine learning algorithm, the numbers are 31% higher than a count made through an earlier attempt in a major 2015 global study.

"Our research provides by far the most accurate and credible answer to the question of how many trees are in our boreal forests," says study lead Fangliang He, a forest ecologist and Canada Research Chair in Biodiversity and Landscape Modeling in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences.

The work fills a crucial knowledge gap that "reduces the uncertainty in estimating and managing tree density to promote forest productivity that enhances forest carbon sink potential," he adds.

"Knowing that there are 31% more trees than previously estimated suggests our boreal forests have greater capacity to mitigate climate change."

Fangliang He. Credit: University of Alberta

The U of A researchers improved on the results of the 2015 work by compiling a record number of 4,367 tree plots across Canada and Alaska, compared with 346 plots used in the earlier study.

"This provides a large set of data with extensive geographic coverage in North America," He says.

To measure trees 10 centimeters or larger in diameter (the same as in 2015), He and his team used an AI algorithm to develop competition-based models that included heightan important indicator of tree competitionas a major predictor of density.

"These innovative models represent a major advance in improving the accuracy of estimating tree count."

Curious about how the North American boreal forest could fare under the ongoing assault of global warming, the researchers also projected tree density maps using various climate change scenarios.

They found that under increasingly warmer climates, tree density in the boreal forest would rise overall by at least 11% by the year 2050.

"This result suggests that boreal forests might be more resilient to climate change than we thought," He notes.

The study highlights the need for advanced and accurate data and models that can help with planning and policy development to support the boreal forest as it adapts and responds to climate change, he adds.

Though efforts to cope with the impact of climate change, such as the Government of Canada's commitment to planting two billion trees by 2030, are "laudable," they still fall short of what's needed, He suggests.

"That number only accounts for 0.83% of our estimated total number of 240 billion boreal trees in Canada, speaking to the mitigation challenge through tree-planting," he notes.

"Protection of natural forests is the best nature-based solution."

More information: Kun Xu et al, How many trees are there in the North American boreal forest?, Ecography (2025). DOI: 10.1002/ecog.07677 Journal information: Ecography
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Theropod teeth. (ae) RCPS-VH2006 and (fi) RCPS-VH2007. Credit: Yu et al. 2025

A recent study by Keifeng Yu and his colleagues, published in Acta Geologica Sinica, describes the discovery and identification of 12 new dinosaur teeth from the Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation. The Cretaceous dinosaurs were identified as belonging to five different taxa, including tyrannosaurids, dromaeosaurines, velociraptorines, hadrosauroids, and titanosaurs.

In addition to providing insights into previously identified dinosaurs from the Songliao basin, three new ones were identified, extending the paleogeographic range of these taxa.

According to Dr. Wenhao Wu, one of the paleontologists involved in the study, the Songliao Basin was chosen for study due to the possibility of numerous dinosaur fossils likely still lying undiscovered.

Dr. Wu elaborates, "The Songliao Basin, one of East Asia's largest Late Mesozoic continental sedimentary basins, hosts a continuous sequence of Late Cretaceous continental strata. This makes it an exceptional location for studying Cretaceous continental climate change, paleoenvironmental evolution, and associated biota.

"However, dinosaur fossil records in the Songliao Basin are relatively scarce. Previously documented dinosaur remains are primarily from the lower Upper Cretaceous Quantou Formation (Cenomanian), leaving a significant gap in the fossil record for the Upper Cretaceous strata of the basin.

"In contrast, abundant dinosaur fossils from the Upper Cretaceous have been discovered in regions such as Mongolia and North America. This suggests that numerous dinosaur fossils likely remain undiscovered in the Songliao Basin, awaiting further exploration and study."

The 12 dinosaur fossils that formed part of the study were found in a thin layer, only around 10 cm thick. Though representing isolated teeth, they could only be identified to taxa, not species.

"Among vertebrates, mammals can often be identified to the genus or species level based on tooth characteristics due to their complex dental structures. In contrast, the teeth of dinosaurs and other vertebrate groups, whose morphology is relatively simple, have different groups within the same family exhibiting highly similar tooth forms. Consequently, identifying dinosaurs to the genus or species level based solely on tooth fossils is generally not feasible," explains Dr. Wu.

Four of the teeth were identified as belonging to carnivorous theropods. Of these, two belonged to Tyrannosauridae and were identified based on their unique combination of tooth features, including their large, robust appearance with chisel-like denticles.

The remaining two teeth were identified as dromaeosaruinae and velociraptorinae, a subfamily within dromaeosaurinae.

While dromaeosaurids have been recovered in Nong'an, China, the tooth from the Nenjiang Bei'an site is located over 500 km northeast and significantly extends the known range of the taxa in China.

Similarly, the veloceraptorid tooth is the first to be discovered in the Nenjiang formation.

Titanosaurian teeth. (af) RCPS-VH2013 and (gl) RCPS-VJ2014. Credit: Yu et al. 2025

The majority of teeth came from herbivorous sauropods. Sauropods' geographical distribution was highly dependent on temperature, preferring hotter climates compared to theropods.

On the northern continents, sauropods are mainly found in the warmer lower altitudes, with a few exceptions of fossils found at higher altitudes.

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Three of these sauropod teeth belonged to Titanosauria. These teeth are unique not only for being the first of this taxon to be found in the Nenjiang formation, but also for having been found in the Songliao basin, which is situated at a relatively high altitude and extends the northernmost occurrence of titanosaurs in the Campanian period.

The remaining five teeth belonged to various Hadrosauridae individuals. During the evolution of hadrosaurids, there was a simplification in their teeth. Their tooth crowns became narrower, the main ridge moved to a more central location, and the accessory ridges decreased in number from four to one or none.

The teeth found by Yu and his colleagues all had a slightly off-center ridge and only one or two small accessory ridges. This indicated that these teeth belonged to non-hadrosaurid hadrosauroids.

Hadrosauroids were initially an abundant and diverse group, found across the ancient continents of Laurasia and some regions in Gondwana. However, primitive hadrosauroids experienced a significant decline in numbers at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Non-hadrosaurid hadrosauroid specimens had previously never been found in the Songliao Basin.

However, the discovery of these teeth expands on our understanding of the distribution and evolutionary trajectory of these dinosaurs during the early Campanian.

More information: Kaifeng Yu et al, New Dinosaur Teeth from the Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation in Songliao Basin, Northeast China, Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1755-6724.15288

 2025 Science X Network
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The MeerKAT radio telescope is made up of 64 giant white dishes that stand in a semi-desert region in South Africa.

When Lungelo Zondi first learned about stars and galaxies at primary school in South Africa, she dreamed of having a live feed into the universe for uninterrupted space exploration.

Today, aged 25, her childhood vision has pretty much come true.

From her desk in Cape Town, Zondi monitors one of the world's largest radio telescopes, the MeerKAT, made up of 64 giant white dishes that stand in a semi-desert region 600 kilometers (370 miles) away.

Through the screen of her computer, she can tune into radio signals emitted by stars and galaxies light-years away using the massive antennas that are 13.5 meters (44 feet) in diameter and turned up to the heavens.

"This is so interesting and fascinating: we're collecting data from the universe," Zondi said of the job of telescope operator at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) that she started just two months ago.

Since 2005, SARAO has awarded 1,369 bursaries to students of applied mathematics, computer science, astrophysics and other subjects.

The bubbly engineering student is among them and part of a young generation of South Africans now able to look into the cosmos since the 2018 inauguration of the MeerKAT super radio telescope, which put the country on the map of global astronomy.

World's most powerful

As impressive as they are, the 64 dishes of the MeerKAT are just the start of an even bigger project, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory that will be the world's most powerful radio telescope when it is completed by 2030.

South Africa hosts one of the worlds largest radio telescopes which has among other things enabled groundbreaking radio images of the center of the Milky Way.

The project will hook up another 133 South African dishes and more than 131,000 antennas based in Western Australia to allow humans to look back billions of years to when the "first stars and galaxies started lighting up the darkness", according to SKAO.

In the seven years since it was launched in the remote and sparsely populated Karoo region, MeerKAT has already "pushed the boundaries of scientific knowledge," said Adrian Tiplady, SARAO deputy managing director.

Its feats include groundbreaking radio images of the center of the Milky Way, the discovery of immense radio galaxies stretching across millions of light-years, and the tracking of cosmic ripples through spacetime.

And with the MeerKAT program to help train young South Africans, it is also keeping an eye on its future.

"It really covers the broad base of skills needed to actively participate in a global astronomy enterprise," Tiplady said.

"It has meant that the youth of South Africa now are excited about science, engineering and technology. We've really grown from a handful of radio astronomers some 10 or 20 years ago to a thriving and diverse community," he said.

An astrophysics group at the University of the Western Cape has benefited.

In 2011, "it started with just one South African faculty (member) at the time and one student doing the Ph.D.", Mario Santos, 50, professor in the university's physics and astronomy department, said.

"Now we have about 25 students and six faculty members," he added, saying the growth was "completely" linked to MeerKAT's development and South Africa's selection as SKA host.

The MeerKAT operates in a 'radio quiet zone' where radio waves, cell phone signals and wireless connections are strictly controlled to prevent interference with the telescope's tracking.

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Time machine

In the control room at SARAO's offices in Cape Town, Zondi and her colleagues monitor the health of the antennas and send them instructions to execute observations requested by scientists from all over the world.

There have been more than 1,200 submissions for observation time since 2019, with the biggest share from local research teams, Tiplady said.

"The world is watching us, so we have to make things perfect," said Sipho Molefe, another telescope operator. The 34-year-old studied electrical engineering and never imagined he would be working in astronomy.

"It makes people dream," he said. "There's a feeling that we're contributing to a bigger and larger environment in terms of information and development of technology."

The quiet and empty Karoo from where the MeerKAT's sensitive antennas listen to the universe was identified as holding tremendous potential for South African astronomy in the 1990s.

The facility operates in a "radio quiet zone" where radio waves, cell phone signals and wireless connections are strictly controlled to prevent interference with the telescope's tracking.

"When we're building a telescope, it's almost like building a time machine," Tiplady said.

"Something like MeerKAT or the SKA will detect radio signals that have been traveling through the universe since the birth of the universe itself."

"It's a true marvel of scientific and technical excellence... and we're proud of South Africa to be a part of this," he told AFP.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Social workers and students should always make their voices heard, but particularly during this tumultuous period for federal rulemaking, says Kathryn Libal, UConn social work and human rights professor and director of the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute.

"Those who want to engage in social work practice should really engage: in coalition, talking with legislators, working with folks to help draft bills, lobbying, and putting pressure on lawmakers at state and federal levels," Libal says.

Analyzing how this works in practice, Libal co-authored the new paper "Federal Rulemaking: An Untapped Arena for Social Work Policy Education and Practice" in Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services. She joined lead authors Emily Loveland and Madri Hall-Faul, both alum from the UConn School of Social Work's doctoral program.

When the federal government proposes a new rule, they can't just implement it instantly, but generally open for a 60-day period for online public comment. The record may be a 2017 tech policy rule about net neutrality, which attracted around four million public comments.

Based on such feedback, a proposed rule can potentially be modified or even withdrawn entirely. Even if the rule goes into effect unaltered, courts have struck some down as unconstitutional, sometimes even citing public comment posts in their legal opinions.

The collaborative paper focuses on two specific examples affecting the social work field: one from Trump's presidency, one from Biden's.

One example focused on a 2019 Trump administration rule related to immigration, which would have had far-reaching effects on immigrants accessing public benefits.

The administration proposed expanding the definition of "public charge" to include a person accepting government benefits like Medicaid or SNAP, formerly named food stamps. Federal laws can make "public charges" less likely to obtain green cards or more likely to be deported.

Libal and her team scanned through more than 64,000 comments, examining both the focus of the comments and looking for ones submitted by social workers. Her team quoted one emotional post in particular: a University of Maryland MSW student opposing the rule by writing about her client, a single mother of four.

While the Trump administration approved the rule, a federal court struck it down in 2020. The Biden administration withdrew the rule in 2021, and the Supreme Court dismissed the still-ongoing lawsuit as moot in 2022.

The other example addressed a potentially far-reaching modification of the TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) program. The authors highlighted that if implemented, the rule change "could have ensured that a crucial social welfare funding stream would reach its intended recipients" during a time of legislative inaction on social welfare policy.

However, the authors also noted that "social work did not have a robust presence in the 7,073 comments submitted."

Loveland, Hall-Fall, and Libal end their paper by encouraging both social workers and social work students to submit more public comments about proposed rules. Keeping up to date on the regulatory arena is critical now more than ever: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently proposed eliminating the public comment period for major federal health policies entirely.

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In addition to engaging in the rule-making process at the federal level, the authors call upon social workers and social work students to write more letters to elected officials, testify in-person at committee hearings, and run for office themselves. (The National Association of Social Workers counts two former social workers in the current Congress: Democratic Reps. Sylvia Garcia of Texas and Hillary Scholten of Michigan.)

The paper received no grant and no funding, though Libal paid $3,600 for it to be open-access through her research budget at the Human Rights Institute.

Libal's two co-authors, Emily Loveland and Madri Hall-Faul, met Libal as UConn Ph.D. students, where Libal was the advisor for their doctoral degrees and supervised their dissertation research. Now assistant professors at California State San Bernardino and University of Kentucky, respectively, the three are collaborating on a textbook about ways in which social workers can be trained to be more involved in policymaking and implementation.

"I'm hoping to implement an assignment for a course I'm teaching in the fall," Libal says, "in which students will review a current proposed rule and submit their own public comment during the 60-day period." Hall-Faul and Loveland have already engaged their students in similar efforts.

Given how prominently executive actions and rule changes are figuring into national policymaking during recent administrations, knowing how to participate meaningfully in commenting on proposed rule changes is critical for the profession.

More information: Emily Loveland et al, Federal Rulemaking: An Untapped Arena for Social Work Policy Education and Practice, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (2025). DOI: 10.1177/10443894251323446
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Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide ore that can also contain a treasure trolve of critical minerals. Credit: https://www.mindat.org/min-3727.html

Sphalerite is a very cool mineral. It is a beautiful, complex and diverse zinc sulfide (ZnS) mineral that also hosts a treasure trove of other critical elements. These include manganese, cadmium, mercury, indium, thallium, gallium, germanium, antimony, tin, lead, silver and cobalt.

It is the main mineral resource of zinc. While not on Australia's critical mineral list yet, zinc is on the U.S. critical minerals list and is important across many technologies, from galvanized steel to solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage.

Sphalerite occurs in many different ore deposit types, from sedimentary deposits to ancient volcanic regions, and new ores forming on the modern sea floor. It has even been found in meteorites originating from the formation of the solar nebula about 4.5 billion years ago.

Prized as gemstones by some, sphalerite comes in an array of colors. From colorless to deep brown, the spectrum of color reflects other elements in its crystal structure. It is this quality of sphalerite to accommodate so many other elements that is gaining attention.

Studying sphalerite is helping geologists understand more about ore-forming fluid processes, and opening up ways to extract more value from mineral resources to unlock these critical materials.

Untapped potential of sphalerite byproducts

The untapped potential of sphalerite is an example of how mineral processing and extraction often focuses on one or two elements of interest. This ignores other potential valuable components present in the minerals and the ores.

In the past, it has been more cost-effective to focus mineral processing activities on main commodities rather than fully understand and characterize whole ores for other potential value.

Consequently, many of our important, strategic and critical elements may be currently residing above ground in low-grade resources such as tailings and rock piles.

Many historical sites may have extracted only 1 to 2% of the ore, leaving 98% of it as readily available, precrushed, above-ground, underutilized, new potential value.

That is where my work comes in: I'm visiting CSIRO from Cornell University for six months as the Fulbright Australia-US Chair in Science, Technology and Innovation applying my field of geomet to environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities. Geomet links geological information with engineering and downstream impacts to reduce risk, create opportunities for sustainable mineral resource development, and engage local communities to be economically empowered.

Engineering more value from potential resources

Some zinc mines have sphalerite crystals that can be meters in size, that contain significant amounts of cadmium, germanium, indium and gallium.

Some smelters have significant germanium slag resources from processing zinc ores, as well as tellurium from coexisting copper minerals. These elements are important for electronics, semiconductors, and solar energy technologies.

My work links the full characterization of materials to better designed, less wasteful mineral resources practices. It opens the door for value to be reclaimed from historical slag heaps and mining byproducts and embeds ESG into future resource recovery campaigns.

I believe it is our responsibility as geologists to not only understand the geology, but also to use that knowledge to ensure that the whole minerals value chain carefully works to gain the full value of the materials to help all of our stakeholders.

Linking up geology and engineering solutions improves resource recovery and reduces impacts on the environment.

Extraction of minerals from the earth brings them into circulation for humanity. We are just trying to maximize that value for the long term, continuing round and round in the ultimate circular system.

After all, as George Wetherill said, we are all made of stardust.

Provided by CSIRO
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Hispanic immigrants face a daunting and unique set of mental and emotional health issues, according to new research by School of Social Work Ph.D. student Leah Holle.

She surveyed 198 Hispanic immigrants, spanning a variety of ages, citizenship statuses, number of years living in the U.S., ages, education levels, and household incomes. Among her findings: "emotional well-being" positively correlated with religiosity, while exhibiting something of an "upside-down U-shape" relative to age: lowest in middle adulthood (30-59), but comparatively higher in young adulthood (18-29) and late adulthood (60-85).

Her paper, "The Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health of Hispanic Immigrants in the United States: Understanding the Impact of Traumatic Experiences and Coping Styles" is published in the journal Social Work in Mental Health.

"For me, 'the coping styles of Hispanic immigrants' wasn't necessarily my niche, so it was a lot of learning for me, which I was excited about," Holle says.

Holle suggests one way that others can piggyback off of her work.

"A large part of [emotional well-being] has to do with acculturation," Holle explains.

"The one thing I wish I'd gotten more information about was the level to which they were acculturated qualitatively, not just the number of years they'd been here quantitatively," she said, encouraging others in the field to take up that line of research.

"For example, examining the extent to which they're able to continue with rituals, customs, and traditions."

What's next for Holle? She recently received the Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for her upcoming research focusing on the intersection of religious trauma and disordered eating. That project recently received IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval, with surveys going out starting in mid-April.

More information: Leah M. Holle, The emotional well-being and mental health of Hispanic immigrants in the United States: understanding the impact of traumatic experiences and coping styles, Social Work in Mental Health (2024). DOI: 10.1080/15332985.2024.2399550
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The United States government recently announced a plan to leverage a 100% tariff on "foreign" films. President Donald Trump explained it was because he wanted to protect the U.S. film industry. He said other reasons include "national security" and "propaganda."

The current announcement may seem out of place in trade talks about steel and automobiles. But culture has long been a key part of North American trade relations.

In my book, Trading on Art: Cultural Diplomacy and Free Trade in North America, I examine how culture became a vital tool for shaping relationships among Canada, Mexico and the United States. I focus on visual artincluding exhibitions and museum initiativesto show how culture is intertwined with the negotiation of free trade in North America.

A history of cultural negotiations

In the late 20th century, when Canada negotiated the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (later expanded into NAFTA), culture was central to free-trade debates.

The period was charged with anxiety over American cultural imperialism and concerns about protecting Canadian cultural production. Ultimately, at Canada's urging, culture was formally exempted from free-trade agreements, with limited provisions focused on cultural industries. But even though the cultural exemption in trade agreements may give the impression that culture has nothing to do with the histories of free trade, my research shows otherwise.

This exemption isn't just about protecting markets. Political scientist Patricia Goff says it also comes from a "desire to uphold a distinct cultural identity." Culture held a key place in the discussions about the impact of free trade. And it served as a means to construct new geopolitical identities, helping to introduce and reinforce the trade alliance.

Culture was mobilized in different ways. It functioned as a unifying tool, but also a venue for critique.

For example, following the creation of NAFTA, the online exhibition Panoramas: The North American Landscape in Art brought together art from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The show offered a new transnational approach and explored landscapes across the continent.

Other artworks such as Free Expression by Canadian activist-artists Carole Conde and Karl Beveridge articulated a critical response to impending free trade. Their piece depicts apprehension about the danger of U.S. cultural domination and speaks to the need to protect Canada's cultural producers.

Art as a diplomatic tool

All three governmentsof Canada, Mexico and the United Statesused art exhibitions as a way to create and share stories about North American unity. While art has long been used for national narratives, this collaboration and these new stories about the North American region were a departure.

For most of the 20th century, people did not think of North America as a unified or shared cultural entity. Most people saw the Americas as divided between Anglo and Latin America.

Art was seen as a means to overcome this. It provided a way to support and depict the new alliance between Canada, Mexico and the United States under free trade. Exhibitions offered a way to depict North America in a new perspective. They presented concepts about continental unity to the public.

How could Canada, Mexico and the United States understand themselves as part of a regional group? These art shows worked on many levels. They brought together work that helped make visual, thematic connections. They helped cultural professionals meet and make connections. They helped museums forge relationships.

On top of that, the exhibitions also provided diplomatic spaces. Many openings celebrated specific moments in bi- and trilateral relationships, creating and facilitating social spaces for diplomatic and government connections.

In this way, these exhibitions functioned as a form of cultural diplomacy. Some were initiated by governments to mark the economic integration of the continent. Others picked up on new understandings of the continent that were circulating. It was a process, according to American historian Nicholas Cull, by which international relationships became managed through the circulation of "cultural resources and achievements."

Art and cultural exchange gave people a meaningful and accessible way to see and understand the growing ties between the three countries. Art also offered a powerful and engaging way to tell the public about North American connections.

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Artistic resistance, critiques of free trade

These were not the only messages circulating in this period. A body of contemporary art questioned and challenged free trade.

For many Canadian artists, their work offered a means to question and critique increasing economic integration under free trade. In the 1980s and '90s, video art was a particularly active site for such work.

An affordable medium that was easily disseminated, video art critiqued the media coverage of free trade, reflected on cultural nationalism and advanced experimental narratives about North America. Video art was also deeply tied to the anti-globalization protests that began at the start of the economic integration of North America under free trade.

Video offered a space for creative expression and documentation of the protests. Video also enhanced protection for activists who were safer because they were recording their encounters with law enforcement. Beyond producing artworks, many artists joined other cultural producers, community and labor organizations to advocate against free trade.

The role of culture

Free-trade agreements radically reshaped the economies and public understandings of the western hemisphere in the late 20th century. Political scientist Guy Poitras argues that North America as a region was invented at this time.

Culture is often overlooked when considering free-trade histories and dismissed as a form of "soft power." But the cultural sphere does not sit apart from daily life and political economic concerns. Art and exhibitions from this period offer a rich vantage point on how free trade was perceived and contested. Examination of culture also reveals how it was used to construct a North American identity.

Culture is not simply an entity to be instrumentalized for international relations, but a key venue in which these relations always play out. In the lead up to the renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and amid the current tariff war, the ties between Canada, Mexico and the United States seem fragile. We should pay attention to how culture will be used as a tool to support or fracture these connections.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
AROUND THE REGION  Up until the spring of 1775, the oppressive tyranny imposed by British rule was seen largely as a Massachusetts problem. The rebellious actions of the Sons of Liberty in 1773 had called down a series of intolerable acts against the town of Boston. And while the first Continental Congress had established support for their New England neighbors in theory and on paper, none of the other colonies seemed too keen on joining in the fight. That is until a secret organization of patriots from Connecticut sent an expedition into New York to capture several forts, starting with the stronghold of Fort Ticonderoga, and marshal the other colonies into action.

They suddenly had to figure out what to do with a war that was vastly bigger than what they assumed it was when the Continental Congress met for the first time, explained Stuart Lilie, vice president of public history at Fort Ticonderoga. Prior to [taking] Ticonderoga, I wouldnt say it would be easy, but they kind of had an out.

May 9 to 11 marked the 250th anniversary of the three-day siege, which not only gave the patriots a huge strategic edge in their fight against the British but also thrust the conflict into an all-out intercontinental war.

May 9, First stop Skenesborough

Ethan Allen was the leader of a group of rowdy militiamen called the Green Mountain Boys, which had made a name for themselves throughout the Hampshire Grants (modern day Vermont). After the shots were fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, Allen and his Boys were approached by the Connecticut Committee of Safety to march into New York and capture three forts: Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Fort George, thereby gaining control of the main communication and transportation hub between New York City and Quebec.

Their first stop was to take the village of Skenesborough (modern day Whitehall) and plunder its ship-building resources to use in the campaign.

It was the very first military event [of the American Revolution)] that occurred in New York State, Historian Robert Mowatt said Saturday during a commemoration ceremony of the villages liberation. Wed like to thank those Green Mountain Boys for doing that, otherwise wed all have a kind of a funny British accent now.

But Mowatt explained that the residents of Skenesborough at the time would have seen it more as an invasion.

The people who lived in this valley were loyalists who were given land grants to live in this valley by the king as a reward for their fighting in the French and Indian War, he said.

The Green Mountain Boys, under the direction of Captain Samuel Herrick, arrested the prominent members of the town, including Philip Skenes son and two daughters (Philip and his wife Katherine were away in England appealing for more land grants from the king at the time) and drove the rest of the residents out of their homes.

It all depends on whos side youre on. If youre a patriot, then theyre the good guys. If youre a loyalist, theyre the rebels and theyre causing trouble, Mowatt added.

However, despite the hindsight of history to debate the right and wrong of such events, the ships captured and used in the taking of Fort Ticonderoga and subsequent battles on Lake Champlain are what has earned the village of Whitehall The Birthplace of the U.S. Navy moniker.

As a navy veteran myself and a life-long resident [of Queensbury] its a privilege for me to represent the birthplace of the United States Navy, said Sen. Dan Stec, who was also at the ceremony Saturday. When you look at the things that our navy is capable of today and where weve gone from sail ships to  what I was on  nuclear-powered ships some of these things dont change, the perils of the sea. What Mother Nature throws at sailors, in addition to what our fellow navies will throw at each other.

May 10, And on to Ticonderoga

As the contingent of Green Mountain Boys took Skenesborough, Ethan Allen and a self-imposed co-commander, Benedict Arnold, gathered on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain. Although the ships from Skenesborough were delayed, two small sloops transported around 80 Green Mountain Boys to the New York side around 1 a.m. on May 10. Rather than risk losing the cover of night, they stormed the fort, taking the small garrison of British officers completely by surprise.

They were unaware that the battle of Lexington and Concord had happened. Back then news only travelled as fast as a horse and rider or a ship on the water, Lilie said of the British who were there. [The Green Mountain Boys)] rushed on in, they give this big cry of no quarter, which of course means were going to kill everyone, they whoop it up and then they waited.

Around 40 soldiers and 20 women and children were roused from their beds and collected in the open square. Allen and Arnold then approached the officers quarters and demanded the surrender of the fort.

As Ethan Allen asked for the surrender of the fort, he said, If you do not comply or a single gun within this fort fires, I will not spare man, woman, or child, Lilie recalled.

Of all people, it was Benedict Arnold who, by the British officers account, proved to have the more level head that morning. Arnold told the officer, Lieutenant Jocelyn Feltham, to bring out the commander of the fort, Captain William Delaplace, who then peacefully turned the fort over to the patriots.

The importance of capturing the fort at Ticonderoga, was not in the fort itself, but in the armaments that were being stored there.

When the Americans captured the fort, it opened up a whole new theater of war and truly made it continental, explained Beth Hill, president and CEO of Fort Ticonderoga at a press conference Friday. The Americans didnt have the technology to make their own cannon. So, they knew that if they were going to push the British out of Boston, they needed to secure those weapons.

Henry Knox would fulfill that edict beginning in December that same year.

May 11, Setting the record straight at Fort George

Following the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the colonial forces now had the ships, and the guns needed to take their stand against the British. What was needed now were the headquarters to launch their attacks. Seth Warner took a group of Green Mountain Boys north to Fort Crown Point, where another bloodless surrender occurred.

Crown Point served as the jumping off point for many battles which would rage along Lake Champlain throughout the Revolutionary War.

But the story of Fort George at the southern head of Lake George has recently come under some scrutiny.

The accepted history of how the patriots came into position of Fort George is that a man by the name of Bernard Romans led a team from Fort Edward to capture the fort, thereby securing the Champlain valley for the American side.

I am going to try to dissuade you of that traditional story, asserted Bruce Venter, Ph. D., a trustee with the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance at a ceremony commemorating Fort Georges capture Sunday. I dont think its true.

In 1775, an elderly and invalid British officer by named John Norberg was overseeing Fort George with a very small number of soldiers under his command.

Its his job just to maintain the forts presence here, Venter said. Hes very happy to have it because he needs a job. Health insurance isnt that good in the British army.

Romans was part of the Ticonderoga expedition but had been sent down to Albany to rouse support from the south rather than accompanying the rest of the group to the fort.

Bernard Romans is the kind of guy that will grate on you, Venter asserted. So, when hes up at Bennington [planning the raid)] he gets on the nerves of the leaders of the expedition.

Romans organized a group of men from Fort Edward to march with him to capture Fort George.

Along the way a man named Daniel Parks from what is now South Glens Falls joined up with Romans crew.

Because hes a local boy he gets a lot of credit for the capture of the fort, Venter said.

But in his research, Venter said he found a diary of a man by the name of Epaphras Bull, who was a part of the Connecticut committee which masterminded the plan to take Ticonderoga and the other forts. According to Bulls account, by the time the team from Fort Edward arrived at Fort George, it happened to be given to three or four of our men who we sent forward before they arrived. The diary goes on to say that Romans didnt even arrive at Fort George until May 12 while on his way to rejoin Allens party at Fort Ticonderoga.

So, I believe that this diary is the best, original evidence that three or four Green Mountain Boys, after the fort was taken at Ticonderoga, came up Lake George [which flows south to north] and captured the fort on the evening of [May 11].

Taking it from a them problem to an us problem

The shots heard round the world, from Lexington and Concord mark the official start a provincial war of reconciliation. But it wasnt until a cabal from Connecticut enlisted a hard-scabble group of mountaineers from what would become Vermont to march into New York, that the American Revolution became a united front.
An Egg Harbor City man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday for killing an 8-year-old Philadelphia boy in a DWI crash in Absecon in 2023.

Edward Johnston, 25, admitted he was under the influence when he killed Javier Velez after rear-ending the vehicle the boy was sleeping in at more than 100 mph on the White Horse Pike. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in March.

Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin imposed the sentence in front of a standing-room-only crowd of family members, friends and supporters of Velez.

Many wore memorial T-shirts while others brought pictures, posters and cardboard cutouts of Velez. A box with Velezs ashes, a stuffed Pikachu and a photo were placed on the prosecutors table and turned to face Johnston.

The crowd cheered and chants of Justice for Javi broke out as sheriffs officers placed Johnston into custody.

The crash occurred July 23, 2023, when Johnston was driving a 2019 Nissan Sentra at 107 mph in a 50 mph zone before leaving the lane of travel and striking a 1995 Honda at 3:25 a.m., police said at the time.

This is what you did to him, Kaylah Smith, Velezs mother, said while holding a photo of the wrecked vehicle. Can you imagine an 8-year-old boy being in this car? I will never get to talk to my son again. Ill never get to hug him, kiss him or tell him I love him. He never gets to play his sports again. He never gets to eat his favorite meals or watch his favorite cartoons again. Hell never get to have a first job, drive a car, have a girlfriend or graduate school. All of the things this man has already done in life, my son will never get the chance to do because he stole his life from him.

Velezs father and brother were outside the vehicle fishing in a nearby creek at the time of the crash.

Egg Harbor City man admits killing Philadelphia boy in 107 mph DWI collision on White Horse Pike An Egg Harbor City man admitted last week killing an 8-year-old boy after rear-ending the vehicle he was in at more than 100 mph on the White Horse Pike.

Why, man? Orlando Velez, Javiers father, asked Johnston. I look for him every time now, bro. That night, man, you destroyed my whole life. Im not the same.

Investigators determined Johnston had a blood alcohol concentration of .122 several hours after the crash, the county Prosecutors Office said. The legal limit is .08. Marijuana also was found in his vehicle and detected in his system.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kate Robinson said Johnston was in Atlantic City with a group of friends for a wrestling tournament before going to drink at Ducktown Tavern and Boogie Nights at Tropicana Atlantic City.

Based on receipts and surveillance video, we know he bought at least six Red Bull vodkas at Boogie Nights, Robinson said. He then left the Tropicana and began driving home while he was in an alcohol-induced blackout.

The charge of aggravated manslaughter carries a term of 10 to 30 years in prison.

Robinson said Johnston already received a downward departure from the mid-range of 20 years as part of the plea agreement, and she asked Levin to not depart any further.

Charles Nugent, Johnstons attorney, was seeking to have his client be sentenced to five to 10 years, citing his lack of prior criminal record, the fact that hes accepted responsibility for his actions and that he was getting mental health and substance abuse treatment.

This was a tragic mistake, Nugent said. This is a young man who left his house that night with not one bit of malice in his heart.

Senate panel advances bill inspired by Absecon crash that killed boy The state Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday unanimously passed legislation that would establish a presumption of pretrial detention for people charged with reckless or strict liability vehicular homicide while intoxicated, inspired in part by the death last year of a Philadelphia boy in Absecon.

Johnston addressed the court before Levin handed down the sentence.

To Ms. Smith and Mr. Velez, I wrote this letter to apologize for what I have taken from you, Johnston said. I know you hate me and will never forgive me. I dont blame you. If I could, I would trade my life to bring Javier back. I know nothing I say will change anything that has happened or undo the pain I caused your family. I know your son is your world and my actions took away your right as parents to watch him grow up. Im prepared to face the consequences for whatever sentence I receive.

Velezs family demanded changes to detention laws after Johnston was released from jail awaiting trial.

Ive been working really hard to make sure that no one else goes through what we went through, Smith said at a news conference following the sentencing. It wasnt easy to deal with when you know the person that took your kid is free. Im confident that with everybodys support, I know that Im going to make that law change and I know New Jersey will never have kid killers walking around free ever again.

A bill that would establish a presumption of pretrial detention for people charged with reckless or strict liability vehicular homicide while intoxicated was co-sponsored by state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic.

The presumption must be on detaining people who could impact the safety of our residents, especially the safety of an 8-year-old child who was minding his own business in the back of a car, Polistina said. If you ask people in Atlantic County if a defendant should be walking around for almost two years after he killed an 8-year-old child, 99.9% of them would say they should be incarcerated. Lets keep the pressure on and make sure this doesnt happen to any other families.

The legislation, named Javis Law, unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in December and was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, state records show.

Polistina said the legislation has received bipartisan support, and he hopes it gets to the governors desk by January.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate stopped by Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley High Schools to recognize students' voter registration efforts on Monday.

He presented the state's Carrie Chapman Catt Award to each school, awarded to any Iowa high school that registers at least 90% of eligible seniors to vote. As first-time voters, Pate emphasized how young people's voices count in federal, state and local elections.

"It seriously counts," he said, noting elections have consequences in students' day-to-day lives. "Many of the people you elect (make decisions) on what kind of future you might have, so don't let them take you for granted."

In Iowa's 2020 congressional race, Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks' won by just six votes over Democrat Rita Hart, he said as an example.

"This room could make the difference" in narrow elections like that, Pate said to Bettendorf students.

Nationwide, 18 to 25-year-olds historically have the lowest voter turnout rate. He wants to change that. He noted many people his age view young people as "future leaders." But to him, students like those at Bettendorf and PV are already leaders.

"You've demonstrated that repeatedly," Pate said. "So I'm calling on you, as leaders, to lead your peers and remind them that it's important to be a registered voter  and to make sure their voice is counted."

He and Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins had a rundown of Iowa's voting options, as some seniors in the crowd are headed out-of-state for college.

"We try to make it as accessible as possible to vote in (Iowa)," Pate said.

This year, 120 Iowa high schools singed up to participate in the Carrie Chapman Catt challenge. Bettendorf and PV were two of 62 schools to register at least 50% of eligible students to vote.

Bettendorf senior Finn Boyle serves as student council president and founded the school's "Politics Today" club this year. He felt honored to receive the Carrie Chapman Award on behalf of Bettendorf students, hoping to see a "ripple effect" for years to come.

"The more diverse our democracy is, the stronger it is," Boyle said. "That diversity of ideas (and) perspectives in votes is very important."

To promote voter registration among peers, he and other Politics Today members tried to "meet them where they're at" with classroom conversations.

"Instilling this idea that their voice most definitely carries weight, especially in Scott County, which is so purple, (motivated) them to get involved with this," Boyle said. "They didn't feel like they were a drop lost in an ocean."

While many young people today still feel apathetic toward politics, he said civil discourse is the best solution.

"I think once people having (political) conversations at hand develop a level of empathy for each other, (then) all of the sudden we can have discussions about how we'd like to be treated in dire political situations," Boyle said. "If we were to find ourselves without food, water or without shelter, how would we want 'the other' to respond?"

He commends the state's efforts in promoting the Carrie Chapman Catt challenge, calling it a "great representation" of what Iowa stands for.

Ava Booth, another senior in the Politics Today club, said Monday's award presentation was a "great honor."

"I think it's important for everybody to know that their voice are heard, especially right now," she said. "I'm very excited to see everybody at my school (show) good voter registration turnout, especially because I hope to (study) political science."

Booth said environmental issues and women's rights are two areas that motivate her to vote.

"And really, just pushing for equality for all," she said. "I'd say some of my peers would probably say the same, especially in the Politics Today club."

Boyle agreed, adding LGBTQ+ rights and abortion, more specifically, as other common voting issues for Bettendorf students. He said freedom of speech and expression are other big issues, using Iowa's recent restriction of school library materials and classroom language as examples.

"I think (many) of us have that background of (knowing) injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," he said. "So I'd say those (key) issues of freedom of speech and abortion stood out as well."

Carrie Chapman Catt was an Iowa women's suffrage activist who was instrumental in securing passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.
The Stardust Motels marquis proudly proclaims, 2 legit 2 quit. Its a message of hope and determination to let Rapid City know that after 51 years, the motel with the storied past is starting a bright new chapter.

On May 9, the motel debuted its newly upgraded sign, which is perhaps the most eye-catching part of the motels complete transformation. After 15 months of renovation and more to come, Stardust Motel owner John Ashley is proud that even a stroke that nearly killed him couldnt stop him from saving the motel he loves.

Ashley has owned the Stardust Motel for about 27 years. The Stardust has made headlines plenty of times over the years, including a brush with Hollywood stardom when it was used as a location for the 2013 film Nebraska.

A fire gutted part of the motel in 2014. Murders, stabbings and countless calls to the police have occurred at the property. In recent years, Ashley said the City of Rapid City urged him to sell or renovate the property. Ashley previously attempted to have some renovations made to the motel, but the property needed more.

Ashley enlisted Rick Askvig of REA Construction to take on the project. Askvig said he personally guaranteed to the city the work on the Stardust would get done. Ashley was equally determined. He, Askvig and motel manager Donna Gilbert credit All Service Electric, Tyndall Plumbing, and Fire Protections Systems for helping with renovations that began in February 2024.

I will make sure this is done even if I die trying  and it almost happened! Ashley said.

In July 2024, Ashley had a stroke. He was hospitalized for 13 weeks. The 2 legit 2 quit on the Stardust Motel sign was a message from Ashley to Gilbert after the stroke left him temporarily unable to speak. However, he could sign 2 legit 2 quit, Gilbert said, and its become a mantra throughout the renovations and beyond.

The amount of work the Stardust Motel needed was overwhelming, Askvig said. Security doors have been installed at the ends of hallways. Security cameras have been installed in the front and back of the motel and the alley. All 32 rooms  four of which are suites  have been remodeled with new flooring, paint, tub surrounds, toilets and sinks.

The motels heating system is new, the plumbing was re-done and new water lines were installed throughout the building.

Gilbert selected a new, neutral, sophisticated taupe, white and dark brown color scheme for the motels interiors. Gilbert refurnished and decorated the motel on a budget thanks to her love of thrift shopping, and shes created a more upscale atmosphere throughout.

The Stardusts exterior was completed repainted, new decking and gutters were installed and new windows throughout have improved its appearance. Eventually, Gilbert said there are plans to fill in the swimming pool, install artificial turf and transform it into an attractive outdoor area where motel guests could spend time with their families.

Nobody thought I had a chance (at improving the motel). I dont think the city had any idea how good we did, Ashley said.

'Crime rate has fallen off a cliff'

Mark Eisenbraun, a former police officer who is now the citys crime reduction manager, said previous concerns about the motel's condition, and the type and amount of crime happening there, prompted the city to ask Ashley to make changes.

If a property looks like its being taken care of, people will tend not to commit as much crime there, Eisenbraun said. About two years ago, we noticed there was a lot of crime at the Stardust and environmental blight  broken windows and the place not taken care of.

Eisenbraun praised Ashley, Gilbert and Askvig for stepping up and taking on the challenges of transforming the Stardust. Beyond significant physical repairs, Eisenbraun said adjustments to management style were needed, too.

We asked him to make some changes  managing it in a way that didnt allow for bad behavior. If people were violent and damaging things and creating chaos, they need to find someplace else to live, Eisenbraun said.

There are people that will take advantage and they will bring chaos where they come, and if thats allowed to continue, it wont go away. It affects everybody elses safety. (John and Donna) did a really nice job of putting a stop to that," he said.

The Stardust is still a motel, Gilbert said, offering rentals by the night, the week, biweekly or monthly. Its staying busy. On May 9, for example, only one room was vacant.

Making the Stardust Motel safer and more attractive has been a boon for the neighborhood and for the Rapid City Police Department. When crime rates at the Stardust were at their worst, calls from there for police service were the highest in the city, averaging 50 a month. Eisenbraun said now calls are down to about 10 or 15 a month.

John did a spectacular job, Eisenbraun said. The crime rate has fallen off a cliff, in a good way.

Its not only the number of calls but the type of crime Im concerned about, Eisenbraun said. When it was 50 calls a month, it was for much more serious things going on, events we were having to arrest people for, and there was concern for public safety.

Eisenbraun praised other properties on East North Street  including Tiki Town Apartments, The Nest Hotel and Dakota Rose Inn  that are modernizing their properties and management policies.

These business owners are doing a nice job by holding tenants accountable and trying to keep bad behavior limited on their property, Eisenbraun said.

The Stardust Motel originally opened in Rapid City in 1971 on New York Street, where Prairie Market was located for many years. The flood of 1972 damaged the motel, and it was bought by brothers Walter and Charles Bradsky Jr. The Bradskys moved the motel to its current site on East North Street. The Stardust Motel reopened in 1974.

The original Stardust Motel sign was made and installed in 1975. It's featured in the book Vintage Signs of America, and over the years, Gilbert said the sign has attracted many passersby who stop to take pictures of it.

Craig Stump of Stump Signs and Graphics was an employee at the company that made the original Stardust Motel sign. In a full circle moment, Stumps sign company is upgrading the Stardust Motel sign, Gilbert said. The Stardust and its sign live on.
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After two years of renovation, Ballast, the new dining complex in Scotts Addition, is nearing completion.

Ballast is a three-fold concept bringing a coastal restaurant called Slack Tide Fish Co., a Cirrus Vodka tasting room and a Yellow Umbrella location to the former Blue Bee Cider spot.

It feels like youre in another place. Like a street in Europe, said Thomas Brown, one of the owners.

With its stone buildings from the 1940s and cobblestone path, Ballast does feel a bit like stepping into a slice of Europe, right in the heart of Scotts Addition.

Guests can stop by the Cirrus Vodka tasting room, sit outside under a fluted umbrella, and order an espresso martini.

Or wander over to the Yellow Umbrella market to grab a salmon poke bowl to enjoy in the courtyard.

Soon, diners will be able to enjoy freshly shucked oysters and seafood dishes at Slack Tide Fish Co., which will open June 5.

This is such a unique little spot, in the middle of all these new apartments and light industrial buildings, co-owner Tom Brown said.

The crown jewel of Scotts Addition

Ballast, located at 1320 Summit Ave., is the creation of the Brown family, owners of Yellow Umbrella Provisions.

The Browns purchased the Ballast property from Blue Bee Cider for $2.9 million in late 2022 and have been working on renovations since. (Blue Bee Cider, under new ownership, has since moved to 4811 Bethlehem Road in Henrico.)

The project is being helmed by sons Thomas and Tucker Brown, along with support from their father, insurance executive Tom Brown, who is involved from a strategic standpoint.

Its very much a family affair, Thomas said.

The circa-1940s stone buildings originally were the Richmond city stables before being renovated by Blue Bee. Many of the buildings are created from stones that were used as ballast during transatlantic trade to Europe in the 1700s, hence the name: Ballast.

The stones were dumped in the river, then the boats were loaded up with tobacco and shipped back to Europe, Tom said. These stones were left over and used to create these buildings.

But its those very stone buildings that give the space such a European air.

The Ballast project takes up .35 acres in the heart of Scotts Addition, roughly 16,000 square feet including the courtyard, and is L-shaped. Visitors can enter on West Clay Street, stroll through the property, and exit on Summit Avenue, or vice versa.

There arent a lot of places where you can have this open space and quality (in the heart of the city), Tom said.

Yellow Umbrella at Scotts Addition

The Yellow Umbrella at Ballast has a fresh fish counter and a butcher, a sushi bar, grab-and-go cuts of fresh fish and high-end meats, and cases of prepared dishes featuring everything from bulgogi beef to fresh shrimp spring rolls wrapped in rice paper.

Its a lot of education right now. People arent as familiar with our brand, on the fish side, especially. We have such a quality product that has a story, Tucker said.

The Brown family purchased Yellow Umbrella at 5603 Patterson Ave. in 2020. George Whitby founded the business in the 1980s by selling fresh seafood out of a cooler in the West End. He put out a yellow umbrella so customers knew he was open.

People would come in and ask, Whats the cool fish of the day? said Travis Marshall, general manager of the Scotts Addition location.

Marshall has worked at Yellow Umbrella for more than 20 years and is known for sharing tips for cooking fish with his customers.

Right now, the cool fish at the Scotts Addition location is king salmon from New Zealand, whole branzino from Greece and soft shell crabs from Virginia.

The Browns have expanded the Yellow Umbrella brand, opening a second location in Libbie Mill and now this third one in Scotts Addition.

The Browns also have grown Yellow Umbrellas prepared food program, where guests can pick up everything from a chicken parmesan dinner for two to healthy grain bowls topped with spiced shrimp or fresh tuna salad made with yellowfin tuna.

We want to be innovative with our prepared foods, hit on what people are looking for, Thomas said. Were learning and listening to the community to see what they want. The poke bowls are going really fast.

Prices aim to be affordable, even though items are upscale, with poke bowls, salads and grain bowls around $13.95.

In March, we sold over 2,500 salads, Tom Brown said. Two years ago, Yellow Umbrella wasnt even selling salads.

The sushi bar at Yellow Umbrella Scotts Addition will be manned with a sushi chef, rolling fresh rolls daily. Depending on the day, hell stay and do hand rolls, something unique. Or people can request custom-made rolls, Thomas said. Prices for sushi start at $11.

We want people to be really excited about what theyre taking home or having here, Thomas said.

Slack Tide Fish Co.

Right now, the Browns are putting the finishing touches on Slack Tide Fish Co., the global coastal restaurant and raw bar set to soft open by the end of the month and fully open June 5.

The restaurant is being helmed by chef Caleb Shriver, formerly of lauded restaurant Dutch & Co. in Church Hill. Slack Tide will be seafood-focused with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized plates that can be shared.

Slack Tide has a bright, energetic vibe. We want people to come into a casual setting with excellent service and high-quality food, Shriver said.

Steven Yang, the award-winning bartender from Brenner Pass, has signed on to head up the cocktail program. And Tyler Yates, whos currently in the process of becoming a certified oyster sommelier, will lead the raw bar.

Cirrus Vodka tasting room

Cirrus Vodka, the locally made spirit, has opened a tasting room in the little stone house that formerly housed Blue Bee Cider.

Serving a menu of more than 30 custom-made cocktails, martinis and mocktails, the Cirrus Vodka tasting room is an urban oasis where guests take a seat at a table and order their drinks via QR code.

This is one of the most beautiful structures in Richmond, said Tom Ellington, director of sales and marketing.

The tasting room is not only a good fit for Cirrus but allows us to elevate the brand in a way we couldnt at our original location at Ownby Lane, he added.

Challenges of renovating 1940s stone buildings

Although the space is beautiful, the Browns faced significant challenges renovating the space.

The 1940s buildings are so unique, but no one had ever worked on anything like this before. We couldnt go into any of the walls; we didnt know which walls were load-bearing. So we had to do a lot of workarounds and figure things out, Tucker said.

The architectural drawings from 510 Architects alone took nine months.

The Browns ripped out the concrete in the courtyard and replaced it with a cobblestone path, matching the river stones in the buildings. They also added blue stone patios and invested heavily in a hardscape design created by M. Turner Landscapes to bring a touch of green into the urban space with flower boxes, planters and trees.

For years, this one-of-a-kind property has served as a community anchor for getting together with friends and family to enjoy what Scotts Addition is famous for: food, drinks and patio seating, said Jeremy Hoffman, president of the Greater Scotts Addition Association.

Next up: Fish Camp, Fuss & Feathers

The Browns have a few more surprises up their sleeves for the property.

Eventually, they will add an all-day cafe called Fish Camp where guests can grab a cup of locally made Bugle Call coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches. Fish Camp will shift into a fried fish shack type of spot for lunch and dinner, selling fried fish baskets and clam bellies. Guests at Cirrus Vodka will be able to order food from Fish Camp via a QR code and pick it up at the window.

Eventually, they plan to open a second-story small bar called Fuss & Feathers, named after U.S. Army Gen. Wingfield Scott, the namesake of Scotts Addition. Fuss & Feathers will seat 20 people and will have a hunt room vibe.

We see it at the perfect place to end  or start  your night, Tucker said.

An urban oasis in a hot neighborhood

Scotts Addition is such a cool, energetic, young, up-and-coming neighborhood, Tucker said.

With the addition of the Diamond District, Scotts Addition is expecting more foot traffic for its breweries, businesses and restaurants.

Since 2023, at least 3,000 new apartment or condo units have been built or are currently in planning or under construction in Scotts Addition, according to Richmond Bizsenses development tracker.

We like to say were the hottest neighborhood  figuratively and literally, said Hoffman, the neighborhood associations president. Thats a lot of new neighbors supporting a lot of new businesses.

This project has been a long time coming, Thomas said. Were just excited to see people moving around and enjoying the space.

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When Bill Gay received the personal property tax bill for his 2004 BMW convertible, he couldnt believe his eyes.

Last year, the 21-year-old car had been assessed at $2,350, Gay told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Monday evening. This years assessment? $43,793.

Thats a 1,760% increase. At Richmonds personal property tax rate of $3.70 per $100 of assessed value  and with some modest tax relief  Gays 2025 tax bill is $1,499, up from $87 last year.

I couldnt believe it, Gay said.

Gay is among multiple Richmond residents who own older vehicles and suddenly find themselves facing surging assessments. Some of those residents have contacted the citys Department of Finance to have their bills adjusted. Others havent yet been able to get in touch with anyone who can help.

But they all have one thing in common: nobody has explained to them what, exactly, led to the absurd hikes.

Ive talked with the finance department, and they gave me a support number, but I havent heard back from them, Gay said. I just know that trying to fight with them to get this handled is going to be ridiculous.

A city spokesperson on Tuesday morning told The Times-Dispatch that 223 taxpayers in the city had received the errant assessments, which were based on last-known sales prices from the Department of Motor Vehicles rather than prices listed in J.D. Powers pricing guide.

In some cases, those sales prices are decades old, and no longer reflect the value of he vehicle.

The impacted residents are a subset of customers (0.07%) who own 2004/2005 model vehicles, the spokesperson said. Those personal property tax bills were immediately canceled, new bills were uploaded into the online portal, and new paper bills were sent via (mail).

The spokesperson said the finance department has revamped their assessment process to make it less generic, and instead based on information linked to vehicle identification numbers.

That will provide much more accurate assessments going forward, the spokesperson said.

Richmond boasts highest rate in region

Virginia is among the 26 states in the country that allow for vehicles to be taxed as personal property. According to data from the personal finance company WalletHub, Virginians pay more than car owners in any of the 25 other states.

The oft-maligned car tax has been a source of significant controversy. It was a hallmark issue in the campaign of former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who pledged to do away with the levy, and in 1998 signed legislation to phase it out over five years and use state funds to reimburse localities for lost revenue.

State officials ultimately balked at the more than $1 billion price tag, and in 2001 froze the states collective contributions at $950 million per year, leaving local governments to extract the outstanding balances from frustrated constituents.

Richmond residents pay the highest personal property tax rate in the region: $3.70 per $100 of assessed value, compared to Chesterfield Countys $3.35, Hanover Countys $3.57 and Henrico Countys $3.35.

That makes it particularly offensive when Richmond officials cant get it right, said Lois Sisk. Sisk said her base model 1999 Chevy Tahoe was assessed at double the listed Kelly Blue Book value.

City officials dont use Kelly Blue Book when calculating vehicle values. Theyre required under city code to use the maximum trade-in values from a recognized pricing guide, such as the one produced by J.D. Power, formerly the National Automobile Dealers Association.

The assessments dont account for mileage or accident history, but owners can submit requests for reductions based on those factors.

Sisk said she dialed the citys helpline  311  to ask for such a reduction, but wasnt able to get ahold of anyone with the authority to consider her request. So she settled for one-line email answers from employees that sounded like robots.

I even tried to get help from Councilwoman (Kenya) Gibson, Sisk said, adding that Gibson looked into it for her but wasnt able to get answers.

Sisk was eventually able to secure an assessment reduction of $5,000. But she said none of the finance department staffers with whom she spoke could tell her what had happened.

When even your council representative cant get ahold of finance, somethings rotten, she said.

I think I need a refund

Its not a new issue, said Chip Hoagland.

Last year, the city valued his 2001 Ford F-250 pickup truck at $35,000, he said  $5,000 more than the price at which he bought it more than two decades ago.

I dont even know how thats possible, Hoagland said. I was shocked.

Hoagland said he was a new resident of the city, and so he went ahead and paid the bill. Only months later, he sold the truck for a meager $2,800.

I think I need a refund, he said.

A resident who asked to be identified as CJ said that he now knows how Hoagland feels. Last Saturday, CJs tax bill showed up in the mail with a whopping assessment of $34,000 for a 20-year-old pickup truck.

Thats a $30,000 increase from its assessed value in 2024, he said.

CJ put in a ticket with the finance department, and reached out to 1st District Councilman Andrew Breton. According to CJ, Breton told him he was one of hundreds to report issues with their bills.

Breton declined to comment to The Times-Dispatch. Im not the guy for that, he said, referring the newspaper to the finance department and the mayoral administration.

Like Sisk, CJ eventually saw his assessment brought back down to earth. But when he got his new bill, it listed his balance as delinquent, despite the fact that personal property taxes are not due until June 5.

Its perplexing, he said. This is just indicative of the state of affairs in (the finance department). Something is seriously wrong.

Marie Yates agreed.

The assessment for Yates 2004 GMC Envoy jumped from $2,000 to $11,000 in one year, she said, leaving her certain that something wasnt right.

I spoke with a person (in the finance department) who told me that theyd started using a new system, and had a lot of mess-ups, Yates said.

And theres just no way to directly contact anyone, Yates said, noting that she had such a hard time getting somebody on the phone, she entertained the idea of going to City Hall in person.

Im not too very happy, she said.

To Gay, its the latest in a long line of dysfunctional hiccups in city government.

Its another example of how bad they are, he said. Ive had dealings with them before where I dont get my bills, and they charge me penalties and interest. I mail my bills in and they dont get them, and I get charged penalties and interest. And I always have to pay.

His nearly $44,000 vehicle assessment has yet to be resolved.

If I dont get the new bill soon, Im sure theyll charge me penalties and interest again, he said.
Driver killed abruptly joining federal highway outside Tulum

Tulum, Q.R.  One person was found dead behind the wheel of a car involved in a two vehicle accident Monday. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene of the highway accident in the municipality of Tulum to two destroyed cars.

According to the preliminary report, the driver of a Dodge Attitude rental vehicle abruptly exited a dirt road to join the highway when he was sideswiped by a taxi. Three people from inside the Tulum taxi were injured. One of them was airlifted to Playa del Carmen hospital.

The accident happened around just before 3:00 p.m. along a section of the federal highway. The private car was hit by the taxi near the drivers side door, killing the sole occupant inside.

Traffic was affected for more than a hour due to the response of emergency personnel. Tulum firemen were requested to help free the driver of the taxi after he was found trapped behind the wheel.

Paramedics were required to transfer the taxis passengers to hospital, however, one passenger ended up being airlifted to Playa del Carmen due to the extent of their injuries.

National Guard manned the partially closed highway while the scene was cleared. Local media report the deceased was a tourists, however, authorities have not identified the person killed in the private car.
Interview: China, Latin America to deepen building of community with shared future, says Chinese special representative

Xinhua) 08:46, May 13, 2025

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are set to jointly advance the building of a community with a shared future in a deeper and more substantive manner, a senior Chinese diplomat has said.

Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative of the Chinese government on Latin American affairs, made the remarks ahead of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, which will be held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will address the opening ceremony and unveil new initiatives and measures to further strengthen ties. The two sides are expected to make progress in a wide range of areas, including sci-tech innovation, trade and investment, and artificial intelligence (AI).

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the official launch of the forum, both sides will revisit their original aspiration, consolidate consensus, and chart the path forward together, ushering in a new chapter in comprehensive China-LAC cooperation, Qiu told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Qiu recalled that in July 2014, Xi and leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean announced the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum. In January 2015, the forum held its inaugural ministerial meeting in Beijing, turning the vision of overall cooperation into reality.

Xi attended the opening ceremony, where he offered guidance and helped lay a solid foundation for the forum's smooth launch and long-term development.

Xi sent a congratulatory letter to the forum's second ministerial meeting in 2018, guiding both sides to reach a political consensus on Belt and Road cooperation. In 2021, he addressed the third ministerial meeting via video link, charting the course for high-quality development of China-LAC relations in the new era, Qiu said.

With the personal commitment and leadership of Xi and the joint efforts from both sides, the China-CELAC Forum has become increasingly mature, said Qiu.

It has established a comprehensive, multi-tiered and wide-ranging cooperation network, becoming a vital platform for enhancing political trust, aligning development strategies, and promoting people-to-people connections.

The forum has also played an important role in advancing the building of a community with a shared future for China and Latin America and the Caribbean and in amplifying the voice of Global South countries, he added.

The forum features a constellation of institutional mechanisms, such as ministerial meetings, dialogues between the foreign ministers of China and the CELAC Quartet, the national coordinators' meetings, and a growing number of specialized sub-forums ranging from political parties to entrepreneurs.

"The China-CELAC Forum has become a key platform for forging political consensus, introducing initiatives, formulating action plans, and assessing results. It has played a positive and active role in driving China-LAC cooperation across various fields," Qiu said.

Over the past decade, the forum has seen China-LAC relations make significant strides, Qiu said, elaborating on the five features that now characterize the partnership.

Firstly, bilateral relations have been elevated. Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have established or resumed diplomatic relations with China, and of the 26 countries in the region with diplomatic ties with China, 16 have established different forms of partnerships with China.

Secondly, mutual interests have yielded new results. Over 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have joined the Belt and Road cooperation framework. China is now the region's second-largest trading partner and the top trading partner for several regional countries, with free trade agreements signed with five countries.

Trade volume between China and the region reached 518.4 billion U.S. dollars last year, more than double the volume of a decade ago, said Qiu.

Thirdly, people-to-people connections have reached new heights. Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have widely endorsed the Global Civilization Initiative. The forum on dialogue between the civilizations of China and the region has been held seven times, a sign of closer cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Fourth, their collaboration on the international stage has made further progress. Upholding mutual respect and accommodating each other's core interests and major concerns, the two sides have maintained close communication through platforms such as the United Nations and APEC, working together to advance global governance reform and protect the common interests of developing countries.

Fifth, a new framework for overall cooperation has taken shape. With enhanced mechanisms, the China-CELAC Forum has become the primary platform for engagement between the two sides.

Achieving higher-quality development of their relations has become a shared aspiration of both China and Latin America and the Caribbean, Qiu said.

China will leverage the China-CELAC Forum and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The priorities will be on enhanced connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, industrial capacity cooperation, collaboration in aerospace and artificial intelligence, and exchanges on governance, according to Qiu.

Qiu stressed that China and Latin America and the Caribbean represent some of the most dynamic and promising countries and regions globally and are vital parts of the Global South.

Their strengthened solidarity and cooperation will not only help build a vast trans-Pacific market and support each other in countering unilateralism and protectionism, but also inject lasting momentum into their respective development and contribute to global peace and development, he said.

By jointly hosting the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, China and Latin America and the Caribbean will send a message of solidarity and cooperation, promote bilateral ties, inject certainty into an uncertain world, and contribute to human development, said Qiu.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Federal inspectors permanently shut down Riviera Maya Dolphinaris Barcelo tourist show for animal endangerment

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Federal inspectors have permanently closed the dolphin show for tourists at Dolphinaris Barcelo and fined the company more than 7.5 million pesos. The show was shut down due to violations of dignified treatment, performance of acrobatics that endanger the lives of the animals and activities not authorized in the management plan, as well as failure to report dangerous incidents.

The Federal Attorneys Office for Environmental Protection (Profepo) said due to various irregularities including violations of the dignified and respectful treatment of wildlife and failure to manage specimens undergoing medical recovery, they have imposed the definitive total closure of the Dolphinaris Barcelo facility, operated by Acuario Arrecifal, SA de CV.

During this administrative procedure which began in February 2025, the wildlife specimens were inspected on-site and the documentation presented by the company visited was reviewed, Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente (Profepa) reported.

Profepa wants to emphasize that any facility that manages marine mammals has a series of responsibilities imposed by law and must fully comply with them. We reiterate our commitment to taking decisive action to ensure the dignified treatment of captive wildlife, stated Attorney General Mariana Boy Tamborrell.

In a statement, she said regarding the dolphin named Mincho who appears in a video broadcast in various media outlets last January, the Attorney Generals Office reports:

The video is from 2020. Mincho survived the blow he received during a show. He is currently in another dolphinarium. He is 35 years old and is the oldest dolphin there. He maintains adequate mobility although he suffers from chronic keratitis in both eyes. His left eye no longer functions, while his right eye, under treatment, retains 60% vision. Mincho does not participate in high-impact activities.

For this case, Profepa filed a criminal complaint with the Attorney Generals Office against whoever is found responsible for acts that appear to be a crime provided for and punished in article 420, section I, of the Federal Penal Code, which establishes a penalty of one to nine years in prison and fines for anyone who unlawfully captures, harms or deprives of life any specimen of turtle or marine mammal.

According to the inspection conducted by the Attorney Generals Office, during the accident, that is, while performing acrobatics, the dolphin had eye problems.

Profepo said Dolphinaris Barcelo at Akumal has been permanently closed after inspectors found seven irregularities.

Breaches of dignified and respectful treatment: Inappropriate practices that put the specimens at risk were identified during interactive sessions (Article 34 of the General Wildlife Law and NOM-135-Semarnat).

The dangerous incident was not reported: On November 28, 2020, an incident occurred in which the dolphin named Mincho collided with a concrete slab during an acrobatic performance. This incident was not reported to the authorities as required by applicable regulations (Article 42 of the LGVS and NOM-135-Semarnat).

Performing unauthorized stunts: These activities are not covered by the approved management plan (art. 78 bis section g of the LGVS).

Participation of animals in activities while undergoing medical treatment: Animals undergoing treatment participated in activities without veterinary authorization. Of particular note is the case of Mincho, who returned to work two days after the injury, despite the fact that the veterinarian had granted him 15 days of sick leave (Article 77 of the LGVS and NOM-135-Semarnat).

Excessive number of people in interactions: On multiple occasions, the authorized limit of people in interactive programs was exceeded (art. 78 bis of the LGVS).

Lack of periodic medical evaluations: The monthly and semi-annual evaluations required by law to report on Minchos health status (Article 77 of the LGVS and NOM-135-Semarnat) were not conducted.

Unregulated water temperature: According to the logs from the period in which Mincho was in this facility, temperatures above 27C were detected on various dates, which violates the regulations for proper management (art. 77 of the LGVS and NOM-135-Semarnat).

For these irregularities, Profepa imposed a fine of 7,526,240 pesos and the permanent closure of the facility, including the placement of closure seals in a visible location.
Residents report gunfire: PDC man gunned down in targeted hit

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  A man was shot and killed in a targeted attack in residential Villas del Sol Monday. Police were at the scene around 5:00 p.m. after several resident reports of gunfire.

A deceased male was found laying near a park along Jilgueros Avenue by responding officers. He had been shot several times. Witnesses reported seeing two men on a motorcycle take aim at the now-deceased before driving off.

Paramedics confirmed at the scene that the man had died. Municipal Police and National Guard cordoned off the area while the State Attorney Generals Office carried out the removal of the body.

There are reports that the deceased man was an employee with real estate company CADU and that his death may be related to the recent arrests of several area drug dealers.

Over the weekend, several construction site workers were arrested in the same area in a police operation. Those in custody are reported to have been part of an organized crime group working within one of the companys construction sites.

Police have not identified the deceased man nor have they confirmed his connection to those recently arrested in the same area.
There have been pivotal battles that, had they gone another way, would have changed the direction of Western history: John Sobieskis victory over the Ottoman Empire at the gates of Vienna, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Washingtons stand at Valley Forge, Wellingtons triumph at Waterloo, but none was as critical for the fate of Western civilization as the events that transpired over the summer and early fall of 1940.

This month marks the 85th anniversary of the unprecedented German victories in the opening days of World War II. In a little over 40 days, Hitlers German forces overran Holland and Belgium, and defeated the French army, then regarded as Europes finest. How shocking was this? In the early months of World War I, France turned back the German army in the First Battle of the Marnein just 40 days.

During these 40 days in 1940, however, the fate and future not only of France but of Great Britain and Europe hung in the balance. Ever since the German invasion and occupation of Poland the previous September, France and Great Britain had awaited a German attack in the West. The prevailing opinion was that Germany would follow the route taken in World War I, a swing through Belgium, widened to include the Netherlands this time, into France, where the Germans could then deliver a decisive knockout blow.

Indeed, that operation had been prepared as a quick follow-up to the victory over Poland, but harsh weather and Hitlers doubts about replaying a campaign that had failed before led to a postponement until the spring of 1940. In any event, Allied confidence remained high. The British believed that the German economy could not sustain a long war, and the French were convinced that their strong fortifications in the West, the Maginot Line, would force the Germans to channel their attack where Franch arms were strongest. French and British forces would then march north and meet the Germans along the strong Belgium fortification line instead of waiting for the Germans to cross into French territory.

A harbinger of what was to come took place in early April. The Germans seized control of Norway and Denmark in a lightning campaign that wrong-footed the Allies, especially the British, who believed their naval forces could blunt any attack in the North Atlantic. Among the consequences of the Norwegian campaign: It brought down the lackluster leadership of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and ushered Winston Churchill into power.

Churchill, in fact, took office on the very day, May 10, that the Germans attacked in the West. He was 65 and had been isolated in British political circles for years, having made himself unpopular by adopting such causes as the right of Edward VIII to keep the throne despite his unpopular relationship with the American divorcee Wallis Simpsonand his constant warnings about the Nazi threat in the 1930s.

Matters continued to unfold in a manner the Allies never expected. Hitler scrapped a variant of the World War I Schlieffen Plan he had been plannig to use and opted for a strategy devised by one of his most imaginative generals, Erich von Manstein. The Germans allowed the British and French, including their best motorized units, to assume position in Belgium along the Dyle River as German forces struck through the heavily forested Ardennes and then across the Meuse River with armored forces that were not supposed to be able to operate in such terrain. In three days, they had crossed into French territory, scattered weak French military forces (the best French troops were in the north, in Belgium), and opened a 65-mile gap in the French lines. Two days later, Churchill received a call from French Premier Paul Reynaud, hysterically telling him that France was defeated: We are beaten. We have lost the war.

Churchill agreed to fly to France to discuss the situation. He discovered that Reynaud was not panicking but reflecting reality: French forces were in retreat and scattered, falling back to the Somme River in northern France. Churchill tried to counter the pessimism he encountered, recalling how grim things were in the opening stages of World War I and how the Allies regained control of the battlefield at the Marne. Speaking in his strange version of their language, he recommended that the French use their reserves to turn back the German threat. The French commander, General Gamelin, responded, Accunethere were none. For the first time, five days into his premiership, Churchill realized that Englands fate was at risk and that the French could no longer be counted on.

This was the moment when everything changed for Churchill. He realized that the war would not follow the trajectory of World War I. What he didnt know was that he was about to take a step into history and become one of the greatest figures of the 20th century.

Churchill hoped the French were overreacting to their losses and that there was still a chance to blunt the German offensive by counterattacks in the north along the Somme. Over the next two weeks, in the face of French retreats, he came to realize he was wrong. Just four days after his meeting with Reynaud, he was informed by the British commander in France, Lord Gort, that British forces might have to fall back to the Channel forts and withdraw from France. The subsequent evacuation from Dunkirk, May 26June1, saw more than 330,000 troops transported to England. British forces would not set foot in France for another four years.

Dunkirk was welcomed as something of a victory by the British public, but Churchill told Parliament that victories are not won by withdrawals. By the beginning of June 1940, just three weeks into the war, Germany seemed on the brink of total victory.

At the same time that the so-called Miracle of Dunkirk was unfolding, Churchill almost lost control of political matters. On May 26, the war cabinet discussed appealing to Mussolini to intercede and request peace terms from Hitler. Lord Halifax, the influential foreign secretary, favored such a move, arguing that they should at the very least see what terms Hitler would offer. It was a tempting suggestion given the situation in which Britain found itself.

Churchill, however, argued it would be a mistake and eventually turn the nation into little more than a German satellite. He recommended continuing the fight, arguing that all wasnt lost, mentioning the possibility of American intervention and the fact that the British navy remained strong. He was backed by Neville Chamberlain, who despite his political rejection continued to exercise influence in the cabinet and in conservative political circles in particular. Britain would continue to fight. If the cabinet members had known that, on May 26, as their meetings began, the French for the first time were discussing the possibility of opening armistice talks with the Germans, matters might have been different.

On June 4 Churchill, in one of his more famous speeches that summer, laid before Parliament and the British public the grim situation Britain faced. Here is but an excerpt:

We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. And even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in Gods good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.

Here, for the first time, Churchill mentioned the possibility of a German invasion. Even if Europe were to fall under Nazi control, England would fight on, for its own survival and the survival of Christian civilization.

It was brave talk, but Churchill knew that the situation was bleak and that the people should hear the truth and be prepared for the worst.

World War II had reached its first turning point: Britain would fight on. Churchill could have become famous as the man who lost the war by accepting peace terms from Hitler. Hitler, we know, had little enthusiasm for invading England, despite all the plans for what was called Operation Sea Lion. He believed England would eventually see the futility of continuing the struggle, and so he put off an invasion, waiting for the British to approach him for peace terms. Only reluctantly did he order the bombing of Britain in the second week of August as a prelude to an invasion.

The ensuing Battle of Britain was, as the Duke of Wellington said of Waterloo, a close-run thing. But the Germans never secured air supremacy, which the German navy deemed absolutely necessary for a successful invasion. On September 17, Hitler postponed any invasion plans until the spring.

With Britain uncowed and undefeated, Hitler set his mind to a major strategic shift. In July he prepared for an attack on the Soviet Union, to be launched in the spring of 1941. Interestingly, Churchill had predicted that, if Britain stood strong, Hitler would turn east.

The second turning point for Churchill was the vindication of his conviction that eventually the United States would recognize the danger of the situation and come to Britains aid. In September, the United States announced the transfer of 50 old destroyers to Great Britain, ships Britain didnt need at the time but that were an important sign. Greater aid would follow over the next six months, including the lavish aid of the Lend Lease system, by which the U.S. supplied its allies with vital war materials, ranging from ammunition, trucks, and aircraft to food, which enabled Britain to continue its fight. As 1940 ended, Churchill could say with the poet Arthur Hugh Clough, But westward, look, the land is bright.

Although the country suffered greatly from six months of German bombingthe so-called BlitzBritain survived, and Churchill was proved right in his determination to fight on during the darkest days of that perilous summer of 1940. Without this resolve, we would not be celebrating that other anniversary this monthVE Day.
A $407 million government budget begins to make up for alleged past financial mismanagement in Roanoke, city council members said.

As part of the budget, tax paid by restaurants serving food and drinks will increase one percentage point, becoming 6.5% on July 1. Amid some frustration Monday, the city council voted to sunset that tax hike so it ends after June 2027. Meanwhile, property owners will pay higher real estate taxes.

Challenges were faced and choices made in the monthslong process of preparing this budget, City Manager Valmarie Turner said previously. She started as manager in January, following the resignation of Bob Cowell in June.

Councilman Peter Volosin mentioned the change in administrative leadership. He said the council began getting a sense something was wrong when interim manager Lydia Patton arrived.

During the transition time between city managers, the council was informed of past mismanagement of the budget process, Volosin said. Unfortunately, a lack of transparency by the previous administration led me to believe that we were doing well with no issues.

But that was not the case, Volosin said. He said, previous leaders used vacancy savings to cover funding gaps, did not budget overtime for public safety, and deferred maintenance on roughly $25 million of items.

While these issues affirm the councils decision to change leadership, it also means we must make up for the previous lack of appropriate budgeting, Volosin said, commending staff who made sure we could build a transparent budget that will begin to get our city back on track.

In his office after the meeting, Mayor Joe Cobb said he does not fully agree that prior budget practices were mismanaged. Its more a matter of how essentials like building and fleet maintenance were prioritized.

There has likely been some overspending in different departments, but thats something that we pay close attention to, the city manager does, and monitors that, Cobb said. The city manager and director of finance, they are working really hard to make those corrections and help us move forward responsibly.

Department heads reviewed expenses with the city manager and found a collective $3.5 million in savings for the upcoming year, Cobb said.

On meals tax, any increase been widely opposed by restaurant owners. Motioning to sunset the tax increase so it expires in 2027, Vice Mayor Terry McGuire mentioned Volosins comments.

We do have major capital needs that we need to address, and I believe that we have some trust to rebuild with our residents, McGuire said. As difficult as this conversation is to talk about tax raises, I think its probably healthy for us to do that every so often.

The amendment to sunset the meals tax in 2027 was eventually approved by a 4-2 vote, with Cobb and Councilman Phazhon Nash opposed. Councilwoman Vivian Sanchez-Jones was absent Monday, representing the city in Saint-Lo, France, for a World War II anniversary event.

Im feeling a bit frustrated that were discussing a sunset clause today. It would have been more helpful to me to have discussed this earlier in the process, Cobb said. Although I hear the value and merit in it, Im very concerned that were limiting ourselves by introducing this amendment.

Cobb said it will take five or six years to cover the citys $25 million deferred maintenance backlog, so he questioned the timing of a two-year sunset. The meals tax increase, with the sunset included, passed by a 5-1 council vote, opposed only by Councilman Nick Hagen.

Hagen, the city councils lone Republican, also was the only vote against keeping the real estate tax rate at $1.22 per $100 of assessed value. Because city property values increased 7.5% in the annual reassessment (excluding new construction), not lowering the rate means city property owners are paying an effective real estate tax increase.

I have some concerns that the assessed values have increased by about 8%, and we are not doing anything to lower this, Hagen said.

Property taxes, a large portion of which comes from real estate, are projected to net the city $181 million, a bulk of its revenue. Compare that to $94.5 million coming to Roanoke from state and federal sources.

Schools remain the single largest recipient of city funds, despite the councils decision to hold flat school funding at about $107 million, the same amount it received for this year.

The future of the citys long-held funding formula which gave 40% of most local taxes to the school system is in question by both council members and city staff. The funding agreement, initiated in 2011, was effectively paused this year, and will be reassessed in the year to come, said city manager Turner.

We are going to be having some conversations with the schools relative to the school funding policy, but its something that were going to have to work on together, Turner said. In these times, we have to be extremely flexible on both sides.

Public safety, at nearly $100 million, is another large city government expense: $39 million for police, $31.3 million for fire, $29.3 million for sheriff and jail.

A budget subgroup that includes social services, youth programs, health department and mental health, among other categories, totals $59 million.

Parks and recreation accounts for 2% of the city budget, $8.7 million.

One remaining budget item for the city council will be scheduled for its regular scheduled meeting May 19. Thats the pay plan for officers, employees, council-appointed officers and constitutional officers, which failed to advance on a 4-2 vote in Sanchez-Jones absence.

Volosin and McGuire voted against the pay plan. Volosin said no comment.

Reached by text, McGuire said he is concerned about some of the levels of increases. Its a matter that will be discussed more next week.

Altogether, Cobb said the budget is similar to a budget for a household, albeit a very large one.

We have a household budget, and we have to make those decisions. Some things we have to reduce. Some things we have to just put over here, we cant do. And some things pop up as emergencies, Cobb said. Its no different than a household of 100,000 people.
" " . Daniel H. Bailey / Getty Images

From the Arctic Circle to the warm climes of the southern border, the mountain ranges in the U.S. offer some of the most stunning, geologically diverse landscapes in North America.

These major mountain ranges have played pivotal roles in the continents formation, cultural history and ecological evolution.
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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.

Upon entering the White House, President Donald Trump quickly shut the door on refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, and Venezuela. But this week, one group of refugees will be welcome: white South Africans. When asked to explain his logic here, Trump claimed there is no racism at play, and these South Africans just happen to be whitebut its striking that he seems to be letting a white supremacist talking point shape his immigration policy.

And this week, multiple lawsuits challenging Trumps executive order seeking to eliminate birthright citizenship will have their day at the Supreme Court, as oral arguments are scheduled for Thursday. Trumps order attempted to single-handedly change the Constitution and how American citizenship has been conferred for centuriesbut the high court will likely be considering a different question: whether district courts have the power to issue nationwide injunctions against the executive branch.

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

White South Africans Deemed Refugees Arrived in the U.S.

Back in January, Trump axed the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programbut a few weeks later, he signed an executive order saying the U.S. would promote the resettlement of white South Africans, known as Afrikaners, who it has deemed refugees from government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation. This week, the first Afrikaners to qualify for this program arrived in Washington.

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Afrikaners are largely the descendants of Dutch colonial settlers. They historically controlled South Africas major institutions until the 1990s, when the African National Congress pursued land reform to compensate nonwhite South Africans who had been kicked off their land under the apartheid regime. The perceived persecution of the Afrikaners, who controlled South Africas major institutions until the end of apartheid, circulated as a white supremacist meme for decades, Slates Molly Olmstead explains. In the Trump era, it has been rehabilitated as a legitimate political grievance.

In March, Trump proclaimed that any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with rapid pathway to Citizenship. A few weeks later, Trump administration officials were in South Africas capital screening white citizens who could be eligible for U.S. refugee status, according to the New York Times. Their applications were processed within three monthsunusually quick, as most refugees wait years, oftentimes in camps around the world, as they go through an extensive screening process.

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Earlier this year, the State Department canceled the flights of approximately 10,000 refugees who had been screened, approved, and cleared to enter the U.S. These people had spent years working with USRAP to enter the U.S. lawfully, including thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. during its decades-long war in their home country.

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Adding insult to injury, the Department of Homeland Security formally announced on Monday that it would be terminating temporary protected status for Afghan refugees currently living in the U.S., essentially allowing them to be deported back to Afghanistan. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said DHS had determined that Afghanistan had an improved security situation and a stable economy now, making the country ineligible for TPS. Yet the State Department currently has a Level 4 travel advisory on Afghanistan, warning U.S. residents not to travel there due to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities.

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South Africas government accused the Trump administration of taking in its white citizens as a political stunt, and disputed the presidents claim of discrimination against farmers of any particular race. The Episcopal Church also announced on Monday that it was ending a nearly four-decades-old relationship with the federal government under which it has offered refugee resettlement services because the administrations recent moves go against the churchs steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation.

Related From Slate Why Trump Is Making It Easier for One Groupand One Group Onlyto Come to the United States Read More

No More Deportations to Third CountriesFor Real This Time

Last month, two unnamed Trump administration officials told the Washington Post that there are ongoing negotiations with as many as 30 foreign nations to take in Americas deportees who are not citizens of their country, including Costa Rica, Panama, and Rwanda.

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And Reuters reported that the Trump administration was in talks with Libya to detain deportees from the U.S., as El Salvador has already been doing. But last week, a federal judge issued a blunt warning: Any immigrant deported without prior written notice and a meaningful chance to challenge their removal would clearly violate this Courts order.

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Back in March, a group of noncitizens from Central America filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security over its deportation of undocumented immigrants to third countries that are not their designated home country without first allowing them to prove their fear of persecution, torture, and even death in those third countries. In April, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens to anywhere but their country of origin without due process. And in May, Murphy reiterated that the federal government still may not deport noncitizens to third countries unless they provide written notice in a language the noncitizen can understand and an opportunity to raise a fear-based claim against their removal.

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Detained Pro-Palestinian Protestors Are Notching Wins in Court

Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested over a month ago near Tufts University over an op-ed she co-wrote alongside three other students that criticized the schools response to the pro-Palestine movement on its campus. After being detained at a Louisiana facility for six weeks, over the weekend Ozturk was released and returned home to Massachusetts.

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U.S. District Judge William Sessions ruled last Friday that Ozturk was being unlawfully detained, concluding that the federal governments case has no evidence here  absent the consideration of the op-ed, which he said suggests a violation of her free speech rights. Sessions also found that Ozturk faced serious health risks in detention, where her chronic asthma worsened. She testified that she experienced at least eight asthma attacks over six weeks, whereas in the two or three years prior to her arrest, she had about nine.

The federal government initially requested that Ozturk be released with an ankle monitor, but Sessions ruled she was not a flight risk and could be released without one. A doctoral student from Turkey, Ozturk still faces the threat of deportation, as the federal government will continue to pursue its case against her. Its arguing Ozturks presence threatens U.S. foreign policy interests, a claim it has raised in a slew of deportation cases it has brought against pro-Palestinian campus protestors.

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Last week, a federal court ruled in favor of Georgetown University fellow Dr. Badar Khan Suri, deciding that his habeas case could be heard in Virginia, instead of Louisiana, where hes been detained since March. Suri was teaching the class Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia, but DHS has accused him of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism. About a week ago, another federal judge ruled that Mohsen Mahdawia Columbia University student who was ambushed by immigration agents when he was called in for a citizenship interviewmust be released from immigration detention. Mahdawi was promptly freed from custody.

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The Supreme Court Is Gearing Up for Birthright Citizenship Arguments





On Thursday, the high court will hear oral arguments over the presidents executive order that attempts to strip citizenship from children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and holders of temporary visas. Numerous lawsuits have been filed challenging Trumps policy as a plain violation of the 14th Amendment. And lower courts consistently ruled the order was blatantly unconstitutional and issued nationwide injunctions preventing the federal government from altering who gets to become American.

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The Trump administration continued to escalate the cases and asked the Supreme Court to intervene, but the justices havent been asked to decide birthright citizenship on the merits. Instead, they will hear arguments over whether a lone district court judge should have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions at all, an issue thats been hotly contested within the judiciary for years. The Trump administration is asking the justices to narrow the injunctions by limiting their scope to only the plaintiffs involved in the lawsuits.

Why is the DOJ going this route? If I were the lawyer for the Department of Justice, arguing the merits doesnt really convince five of the nine Supreme Court justices, Brian Green, an immigration attorney based in Denver, told me back in March. Under the current citizenship clause, all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are eligible to become citizens. The Trump administration has fixated on the jurisdiction thereof, arguing that children of undocumented immigrants and temporary immigrants do not have an allegiance to the U.S. and therefore should not be afforded citizenship.

Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia, told Slates Dahlia Lithwick that the governments arguments take on a restrictive interpretation of birthright citizenship that are not entirely coherent.

The word allegiance appears nowhere in the citizenship clause, but thats what they say it means, Frost explained. The administration argues that this is what the Reconstruction Congress intended it to mean, and then they say that if you enter the U.S. illegally or overstay your visa because you violated our laws, you dont have ;allegiance to the United States. 
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In John Fetterman, Democrats thought theyd discovered a savant in the occult field of appealing to regular guys. But it turns out that hes losing itrecent reports say hes paranoid, neglecting his health, treating the people around him badly, and proposing the eradication of an entire foreign population (Palestinians in Gaza) in a bombing campaign.

So goes the current narrative around the Pennsylvania senator, triggered largely by a thorough and alarming New York magazine piece about his recent behavior and an Associated Press report detailing a meltdown he had in a recent meeting. (Fetterman says that he is in good health and that the accounts in the stories are not accurate.)

Democrats, its said, are surprised and upset by the turn that Fettermans story has taken. But should they be? Is there anything more in keeping with being a regular American guy than neglecting your health, treating the people around you badly, and proposing the eradication of an entire foreign population in a military campaign? Have these Democrats ever met a regular guy?

I am not trying to be glib myself. Fetterman, according to the pieces above, is driving dangerously and failing to take medication prescribed in the wake of a stroke and episode of depression. He is, allegedly, saying things like kill them all in reference to the Palestinian population in Gaza. (In a statement, he told New York magazine that he only supports killing members of Hamas.) His marriage, the piece says, has been put under strain. These are all serious things.

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They are also serious things of the sort said, done, and experienced by many other men both in the contemporary U.S. (where the male loneliness epidemic is an ongoing subject of sociological study) and beyond. Much of the current media and cultural attention on men is on younger menGen Zers and adolescentsand the right-wing tendencies that may be engendered by their incel-ism, phone addiction, podcasting, and abhorrent haircuts. But older men have not ceased to exist, nor have their more timelessly self-destructive tendencies.

In the APs story, Fetterman melted down during a meeting with representatives of a teachers union, slamming his hands on the table and shouting, Why does everyone hate me? and What did I ever do? A staffer is said to have cried in frustration in a hall outside Fettermans office. This is a familiar domestic scene, staged at the Capitol. Men have a long tradition of cultivating a sense of persecution that manifests by exploding at those close to them. The aging man often believes that there is such a thing as acting logically, and that this is at once an objective, universal standard and something that only he, for some reason, understands. Dispute him on any of it, and he may well get cranky! Whether its an endearing cranky or an estranged for decades cranky depends on the man and the family. (To be fair, not every such man also believes in a kill them all and let God sort them out attitude towards military action against outgroupsbut that, too, is a type of male outburst with a very long history.)

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Related From Slate You Know What the Democratic Party Needs Right Now? Someone to Start Running for President. Read More

Such self-isolating, aggrieved XY chromosome cases recur throughout history and literature. King Lear, Daniel Plainview, Howard Hughes, late Richard Nixon, Dennis the Menaces neighbor Mr. Wilson: All men who ended up more or less alone and believed that others failures, rather than their own decisions, required them to exist that way. Less severe, more treatable manifestations of the condition are commonthere is a Toby Keith song, related appropriately to something that Clint Eastwood once said to him, that has turned into a self-help catchphrase reminding older men not to, basically, act like a grouchy old man. It is possible to embody the positive attributes of traditional masculinity without condemning oneself to its perils. (Have I been embarrassed to find myself shouting at my son, and being short with my wife, because they failed to intuitively understand some grunting utterance that made perfect sense in my own mind? No comment!)

To get back to politics, some Pennsylvania Democrats have leaked an internal poll showing that Fettermans approval ratings are underwater with Dem voters in the Pittsburgh area. Thats trouble for his chances of winning a Senate primary in 2028, but maybe not for his chances of running for president, which hes reportedly considering, as an independent. Blunt, egomaniacal, and paranoid outsider figures have a history of catching fire in U.S. politics, from Ross Perot (who was supported disproportionately by male voters) to Jesse Ventura to the current incumbent. In the end, boys will be boys.
This essay is excerpted and adapted from Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes, which was published by One Signal Publishers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, on Tuesday.

When the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in the 2022 decision Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the dissenters warned that one result of todays decision is certain: the curtailment of womens rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens. In the framework of the biggest hit film the following year, the Barbie movie, the decision to eliminate a womans right to reproductive freedom was a Ken-surrectiona move to restore a patriarchy where men are on top.

Overruling Roe was just the opening salvo in this fight, which has raged ever since and only been exacerbated by Donald Trumps return to the White House.

The decision overruling Roe illustrates how the Supreme Court can make constitutional law worse through a cycle that merges feelings and politics with courts and law. The feeling behind the process that produced Dobbs was patriarchy. Those are now the vibes animating this area of law after Republicans turned assorted feelings about feminism and gender roles into a political strategy, and Republican justices channeled the big feelings about feminism and womens sexual liberation to hard launch a gender counterrevolution. Originalism was merely a vessel for Republicans anti-feminist thoughts and prayers, but that ideology goes well beyond the jurisprudential methodology of originalism. Which means the law may as well.

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As the feminist movement of the mid-1900s took off, so too did a strand of anti-feminist male grievance politics. After Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment, the constitutional amendment that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, a countermovement pushed states not to ratify the measure. A young lawyer who worked in the Richard Nixon administration wrote a memo offering various objections to the ERA. That lawyers name was William H. Rehnquist (the same William H. Rehnquist who Nixon would later nominate to the Supreme Court and Ronald Reagan would make chief justice of the United States). Rehnquist blasted the ERAs overtones of dislike and distaste for the traditional difference between men and women in the family unit and warned that outlawing sex discrimination would cause the eventual elimination and dissolution of the family. Phyllis Schlafly, one of the principal organizers against the amendment, urged the country to reject the ERA on the ground that womens lib is a total assault on the role of the American woman as wife and mother and on the family as the basic unit of society. She also accused feminists of promoting day-care centers for babies instead of homes (among other things).

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The Republican Party decided to incorporate these feelings into a political strategy. They came up with more anodyne-sounding language to describe their anti-womens-liberation platforma promise to restore traditional family values. That led to an affinity between conservative religious voters, especially white evangelical voters, and the Republican Party. But the politics of gender hierarchy didnt exactly win over the ladies. While the Republican Party won over evangelical voters in the 1980s, they also lost women voters as women began to consistently prefer Democratic presidential candidates.

Republicans initially seemed almost surprised that women fled the party, and they struggled with how to respond (without having to embrace womens rights, of course). Nixon staffers acknowledged they had a woman problem, and Reagan promised to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court to shore up Republicans support among women voters.

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But at some point, a fair number of Republicans started to view losing women as the inevitable and acceptable cost of their political strategy of male grievance. In 2021, then Republican Senate candidate and future vice president J.D. Vance derided Democrats as a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable. When his remarks resurfaced during the 2024 presidential campaign, Vance said, Obviously it was a sarcastic comment. Ive got nothing against cats.

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That same year, Republican congressional representative and future Republican nominee for attorney general Matt Gaetz boasted to the press about the GOPs strategy for replacing lost women voters with minority men voters: For every Karen we lose, theres a Julio and a Jamal ready to sign up for the MAGA movement.

That ascendant separate sex roles are good actually! worldview was already being funneled into the jurisprudential method known as originalism. Originalism took off at around the same time that the Republican Party decided to run against feminism and to embrace originalism as a way to do that. Reagan Attorney General Ed Meese said, in front of the entire American Bar Association, that a jurisprudence of original intention was the way to challenge the radical egalitarianism and expansive civil libertarianism of the Supreme Court that had recognized some measure of constitutional protections for womens sexual and bodily autonomy.

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Originalism had (and still has) a natural symbiosis with a Republican Party that was looking to restore certain traditions such as gender roles related to the family. A key premise of originalism is that the Supreme Court has erred by departing from some righteous past that must be restored. (Patriarchythe righteous past is patriarchy.)

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Originalism directs decisionmakers to ask what the Constitution meant when it was ratified or amended (in the 1700s or 1800s). That outsources the content of our fundamental laws, including what rights we have, to a group of people who were probably more sympathetic than the modern electorate to Republicans platform of gender traditionalismthe white men (Kens) who drafted and ratified the Constitution and many of its amendments. The courts decision overruling Roe illustrates this well. Dobbs declared there was no constitutional right to decide to have an abortion because until the latter part of the 20th century, there was no support in American law for a constitutional right to an abortion. Never mind that women couldnt fully participated in civic society or electoral politics until the latter part of the 20th century. For the majority in Dobbs, it didnt seem to be a bug that their jurisprudential method ignored women. If anything, it may have been a feature, since the Republican justices didnt have to consider the views of the hysterical women who wanted to control their bodies, their lives, and their futures. The majority could instead consult a group that was more sympathetic to the whole traditional family values thingthe dudes (Kens) who ran things in the 1700s and 1800s. Its eerily and conveniently similar to the stated preference of the 2024 Republican nominee for governor in North Carolina, who said, in 2020, that hed like to go back to the America where women couldnt vote because that was when the Republican Party had a better reputation.

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Related From Slate The Real Lesson of a Republican Judges Just-Failed Attempt to Steal an Election Read More

Ladies and gentlemen (but mostly for the gentlemen, because patriarchy)  originalism! To this day, originalism fits the Republican Partys political project: It kind of parrots the partys 2016, 2020, and 2024 slogan Make America Great Again, which, like originalism, promises a return to the way things were. (Patriarchythats the way things were.)

Its important to see the ideology, not just the methodology, thats at work here, in the political party that brought us Dobbsbecause the ideology will push the law in ways that go well beyond the methodology. The Trump administration pulled funding for research to protect pregnant women from domestic violence, labeling it a DEI initiative. They slashed funding for family planning programs. They fired the Navys first female chief, creating an all-male corps of four-star generals and admiral leadership positions. They fired the first woman to serve as Commandant of the Coast Guard and issued a statement disparaging her leadership and excessive focus on DEI policies. The Department of Education rescinded the guidance that indicated name, image, and likeness payments to student athletes should be equal between men and women. The administration has disrupted and destabilized federal funding for rape crisis centers and removed funding opportunities from the website for the federal office on violence against women. They even tried to blame the deadly plane crash at Washington National Airport on DEI policies, which they seemingly used to refer to the mere presence of women (and racial minorities) in important federal jobs.

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The ideology is, as ever, about subordinating women and elevating menit is excluding womens voices, and women themselves, from public life. They are sending the message that women are unfit for political leadership and many aspects of civic life.

Because that was the ideology at work in Dobbs, the implications for the law go well beyond those matters in which the justices might invoke originalism. This term, the court is hearing a major case involving womens health care, Medina v. Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic.

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The decision arises out of states attempts to defund Planned Parenthoodin this case, to bar Planned Parenthood from participating in the Medicaid program (which supplies health insurance to various needy populations). Removing Planned Parenthood jeopardizes womens health care because Planned Parenthood is often the health care provider for indigent and needy populations. In some areas, particularly rural ones, Planned Parenthood is the only health care provider for women.

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The question in Medina is whether federal lawthe Medicaid Act, and the general civil rights statute, Section 1983, allow private individuals (either patients or providers) to sue and challenge a states exclusion of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid. Originalism is nowhere in the case, since the matter turns on the interpretation of federal statutes rather than the Constitution. But the ideology behind the originalism in Dobbs is.

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Cases in the lower federal courts underscore the same. Federal courts have heard, or are hearing, challenges to states exclusion of contraception from the Title X family planning programanother matter that has nothing to do with originalism. A district court in Texas is still sitting on a group of Republican-led states challenge to mifepristone, one of the two drugs in the medication abortion protocol. In that case, the states are arguing that suppressing teen birth rates injures them, as if teenage girls true calling is to serve as baby incubators for the states.

When the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion insisted that no other rights would fall. The statement was ridiculous at the time, and has aged even worse over the last three years. The Republican justices transformation of the law, and the political movement they are part of, was never just about abortion. They are about womens place in the law, and the country.
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Were finally seeing a first draft of the long-awaited cuts to Medicaid that House Republicans have spent months preparing, and it bears all the hallmarks of a grisly compromise. This proposed section of Republicans big, beautiful bill stops short of the most controversial reforms under consideration, appeasing moderates. But the changes it does make will still be substantial enough to hit a deep savings target, appeasing conservatives.

And as is typical with grisly compromises, neither side is necessarily happy with the product.

Two reforms that had been on the table would have effectively repealed a core element of Obamacare as we know it. Both targeted the Affordable Care Acts expansion of Medicaid, covering 20 million people. One would have implemented a per-beneficiary cap on payments made to states to cover expansion enrollees, while the other would have lowered the federal governments generous coverage of 90 percent of expansion enrollees bills. Either of those changes would have shifted substantial costs to the states that they would have struggled to absorb. Neither could get 218 votes.

So the Energy and Commerce Committee, which was tasked with preparing this section of the bill, had to drop those changes. Instead, the bill chips, chips, and chips its way toward $700-plus billion in health care savings.

It implements community engagement requirementsknown colloquially as work requirementsfor able-bodied adults without dependents. It would necessitate certain Medicaid beneficiaries to put up some of their own money for medical services. Eligibility checks would be more frequent, and the bill would demand additional applicant screening. States who use their Medicaid infrastructure to provide health care coverage for illegal immigrants would see their federal share of dollars drop, while no Medicaid dollars could go to community providers that are primarily engaged in family planning services or reproductive services. (They have a certain provider that rhymes with Schmanned Schmarenthood in mind.)

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Another pivotal change involves provider taxes. These are taxes that state governments levy on hospitals and other health care providers to fund their state share of Medicaid payments. The criticismsome of which has been bipartisan in the pastis that states and providers essentially collude, passing the money back and forth, to drive up the share of federal dollars theyre drawing. Now, every state but Alaska uses at least one provider tax, so cracking down on existing arrangements would go over poorly among red-state providers and governors. So, instead, the bill freezes existing provider taxes at current rates and prohibits new ones, cutting off some of the more aggressive pathways states have been considering to fill budget holes.

This structuretightening the screws on the existing system without remaking itis E&C Chairman Brett Guthries best, initial attempt at a middle ground. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal ahead of the bills release, Guthrie conceded, though, that more-conservative members were likely to be the most upset with the output.

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I think that the people who will have the most difficult time with it would be that it doesnt go far enough, Guthrie said.

He was correct.

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Does the bill offer ANY transformative changes on Medicaid or otherwise? chief spending hawk agitator Chip Roy posted in a social media rant. CurrentlyNO. Among the things that most irritate Roy and his ilk, beyond the lack of structural Medicaid reform, is that the Medicaid work requirements dont kick in until 2029leaving plenty of time, as fiscal hawks are often concerned, for them to be undone by future Congresses.

I sure hope House & Senate leadership are coming up with a backup plan. .. Roy posted, using an extraordinary number of periods, because Im not here to rack up an additional $20 trillion in debt over 10 years or to subsidize healthy, able-bodied adults, corrupt blue states, and monopoly hospital ceos

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Moderates are taking the proposal in stride, declaring victory after having slayed the sort of overhauls that Roy and others were pushing for. New York Rep. Nick Langworthy described it as a bold plan that would protect Medicaid for those who genuinely need it. Colorado swing district Rep. Gabe Evans, similarly, said it follows through on Republicans promises to cut waste, fraud, and abuse while protecting coverage for Colorados most vulnerable populations.

These celebrations, however, seem awfully premature and a bit artificialas these representatives must understand privately. The bill still cuts an awful lot of money from Medicaid, and that means that an awful lot of people are going to lose their health coverage.

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Per a preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office, offered at Democrats request, the bill would result in 8.6 million people losing their health insurance by 2034. That number may fluctuate up and down as the bill is tweaked, but it will remain in that ballpark. Democrats are more than prepared to brand these numbers on every vulnerable member who votes for the bill, at every stage of the process. I received five separate press releases Tuesday morning from House Democrats main super PAC observing that vulnerable E&C members David Schweikert, Tom Kean, Brian Fitzpatrick, Evans, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks would each cast a career ending vote when the committee considers the legislation.

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Related From Slate Its Becoming Clearer How Exactly Republicans Are Going to Make Cuts to Medicaid Read More

Worse yet, their votes may all be for naught in the end: The Senate has expressed very limited interest in the Medicaid cuts the House is pursuing. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, to give just one example, has written a New York Times op-ed arguing that pursuing these cuts is both morally wrong and politically suicidal.

Managing the narrative, in other words, can get vulnerable Republicans only so far, and bragging that they staved off the most damaging Medicaid cuts doesnt get them off the hook, politically, for the substantial cuts they do support.

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There was a moment a few weeks ago when Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, ever the chattiest of the vulnerable moderate bloc, drew a line by saying he wouldnt accept more than $500 billion in Medicaid cuts. In the context of Capitol Hill negotiations, he was showing off his moderate bona fides, resisting the pull from conservatives to slash the program ever further. He would go only that far.

Shortly thereafter, though, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee gleefully blasted out a press release that Don Bacon Calls for Half a Trillion(!) Dollars in Cuts to Medicaid. Political committees, in other words, do not give partial credit for having avoided a worse option.

Best of luck to all involved.
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On Sunday, ABC News reported that President Donald Trump plans to accept a $400 million flying palace from the royal family of Qatar. The deal, it appears, is that the super-luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet will become the new Air Force One until the president leaves office, at which time it becomes property of his presidential library foundationan unregulated slush fund that serves as his personal piggy bank. In other words, Trumpwho recently told small American children theyd have to cut back on the number of dolls they enjoy in this new era of buckle-tightening austeritygets to use the $400 million gift until he is no longer the president, at which point he gets to keep the $400 million gift for life, and can use it however he wants. Only a stupid person, the president said on Monday, would turn down such an offer.

Attorney General Pam Bondiwhom Trump also evidently gets to use and keep for lifetold ABC news that Trumps top White House lawyer, David Warrington, had determined this gift is legally permissible because it is being directed to the United States Air Force and will then be transferred to Trumps presidential library foundation. (Bondi herself formerly received $115,000 a month to lobby on behalf of Qatar.) These very real, very serious lawyers also determined that acceptance of the plane does not constitute a bribe because the gift does not hinge on an official act. Bondi provided a legal memorandum addressing all of these issues to the White House counsels office last week, after Warrington asked her about the legality of the Pentagon accepting a massive palace in the sky. The memo has not yet been released to the public, quite possibly because its reasoning would fall apart upon even the slightest independent inspection.

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The legal problem here is obvious, and familiar from Trumps first term. The Constitution states that no person holding any office of profit or trust may accept any present, emolument, office, or title, or any kind whatsoever, from a foreign leader or nation without the consent of Congress. This foreign emoluments clause is one of three different constitutional provisions restricting emolumentsa term of art that encompasses any gift, benefit, or thing of valueall of which reflect the Framers bone-deep terror of public corruption. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention were desperate to protect their young nation against venal officeholders, discussing fears of corruption so frequently that James Madison made a special note of their preoccupation with the subject.

Many delegates, including Alexander Hamilton, fretted that one of the weak sides of republics was their susceptibility to foreign corruption; leaders elevated to stations of great pre-eminence and power by the people, Hamilton wrote, may be tempted to abandon their obligations of duty, lured by compensations from other nations seeking influence. In other words, federal officials could be so entranced by the wealth of foreign leaders, especially monarchs, that they might sell out their own country in exchange for a share of the riches dangled before them. The delegates sought to guard against this existential threat to republican virtue by adopting the foreign emoluments clauseunanimously, and without debate.

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Do these concerns sound familiar? It is startling how closely discussions of foreign influence in 18th-century America track the red-siren Trump controversies of today; the gift of a flying palace from an overseas monarch to an American president in 2025 is precisely the kind of emolument the Framers sought to prohibit. And their fear of corruption was separate from, and broader than, their concerns about bribery. It is not actually true, as the New York Times Eric Lipton claimed on social media, that corruption requires explicit quid pro quo, an official action in exchange for a gift. Bribery typically requires just such a quid pro quo, and it is deemed an impeachable offense in a separate part of the Constitution. But the foreign emoluments clause serves a different purpose: to bar federal officials from the mere temptation of gifts, titles, or payments from foreign powers, whether or not they take any official action in return. The Framers understood that influence could be bought subtly, that corruption could seep in through the quiet cultivation of favor, obligation, or vanity. The clause was designed to shut that door entirely.

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Today, however, that door is wide open. The flying palace is just the start: Trump is also raking in foreign cash through his crypto venture, granting coveted access to rich foreigners who pad his pocketsanother scheme likely to draw lawsuits. The federal courts grappled with emoluments cases related to Trumps first term after the president made a large profit from foreign officials staying at his D.C. hotel. But the Supreme Court dismissed these cases after he lost reelection in 2020. Part of the difficulty has long been identifying plaintiffs who can establish that they are personally harmed by Trumps acceptance of emoluments; the Supreme Courts strict standing rules make it difficult for anyone to prove such an injury. The Framers do not seem to have anticipated that the enforcement of this clause would fall to the federal judiciary; they evidently assumed that the president would give Congress the opportunity to approve or deny the gifts he was offered by foreign states.

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This system worked for centuries, with presidents seeking congressional approval for proffered emoluments. Now, as with so many other norms, it has broken down. And the GOP-controlled Congress has shown zero interest in safeguarding its prerogative over this (or any other) issue.

One of the strange paradoxes of this present era is that the very same people who claim to adhere to the original public meaning of the Constitution as drafted also seem to contend that words like emoluments and bribes and gifts dont in fact mean what they plainly and explicitly mean, and that taking gifts from foreign potentates who are seeking influence is in fact the stuff of everyday diplomacy and modern access-buying. The way Trump will continue to work will be by punching his fist through the Overton window until everything that wed all agreed upon as baseline ideas about grifting, bribery, and quid pro quo dealing will all begin to seem archaic, precious, and unfashionable. The Framers were abjectly terrified that foreigners would give gifts to the president as a means to cadge their way to access and power. Now its happening again. This time, in the form of a sky palace that is not even a temporary gift to our president, but a permanent one from a foreign monarchy directly to the person of Donald J. Trump.
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The sheer graft of it isnt the only jaw-dropping aspect of President Donald Trumps eagerness to accept a $400 million luxury jet as a gift from the emirate of Qatar. Its also a stunning security violation.

Clearly the offer of a free 747which Trump would use as Air Force Oneviolates all ethical norms, even if Attorney General Pam Bondi (who happens to be a former lobbyist for Qatar) attests otherwise. Its especially improper that the deal reportedly lets Trumps corporation take ownership of the plane after he leaves office.

It might also violate Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution, which prohibits any U.S. officeholder to accept any present  of any kind whatever from any King, Prince, or foreign State. But there may be a loophole here, as the section bars such gifts only if they are accepted without the consent of the Congressand this Congress, if asked, is likely to let this president accept anything.

In any case, it is striking how oblivious, or simply indifferent, Trump is to any possibility of corruption. When a reporter raised such concerns, Trump angrily brushed them off, saying that only a stupid person would turn down such an offer.

So far, though, few critics of this transaction have noted its security implications. Qatar is not only appealing to the American presidents avarice but intruding on hisand all Americasturf. The plane is not just a hefty bribe, but alsoat least potentiallya flying Trojan horse.

Air Force One is equipped with everything that a president needs in the airall the communications gear, intelligence files, and other top-secret paraphernalia that he or she would have on the ground. And of course, all the aides traveling along would have their phones as well.

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One can only wonder how many listening devices and cybertools the Qataris will plant inside that plane before turning it over to the White House.

These are my most important concerns, a former senior official at the National Security Agency told me. Even if American agents detected some of the Qatari spy gear, they can never know theyve swept it all clean. The plane cannot be returned to a safe mode, the former official, who worked for many years in the offense and defense side of communications intelligence, said. It can only be built to attain one in the first place.

Related From Slate Trump Is Somehow Engaging in More Brazen Corruption Now Than the First Time Around Read More

Back in the 1970s, the U.S. started to build a new embassy in Moscow. As a friendly gesture (this was in the era of SovietAmerican detente), the State Department hired Russian workers to do much of the construction. By the mid-80s, security experts discovered that the workers had filled the buildings walls, joints, wiringevery available spacewith a vast array of listening devices. (They also tossed in wrenches, pipes, and other junk, just to throw off any electronic scanners.) The compromises were so extensive, the embassy was deemed unusable, at least if U.S. diplomats wanted their conversations to remain private. The embassy was scrapped before it was opened.

The same fate may await Qatars 747. Trump has hailed the gift, in advance, as a great gesture. Indeed.
The 2025 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) and Stallion Series kick off at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 17, with the sports glamour division, three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, battling for a total purse of $260,566 USD.



In the first of three divisions of the second preliminary round of the Sire Stakes (Race 5), Louprint, last years Dan Patch Award-winning freshman, will be looking to keep his undefeated sophomore season intact. The Sweet LouRockin Racer colt impressed in his 2025 debut, capturing a sloppy-track Sire Stakes division at The Meadows in 1:49.3. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will again be in the bike, leaving from post three for trainer Ron Burke and the ownership team of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura, and Lawrence Karr. Louprint enters with career earnings of $1,040,824.

Looming large from post two is Twisted Destiny, a Bettors WishTug River Princess colt who clocked a sparkling 1:49.1 in the off-going at The Meadows in his most recent PASS win. He previously opened the year with a 1:51.2 mile at Harrahs Philadelphia. Dexter Dunn, a five-time Dan Patch Driver of the Year, will drive for trainer Chris Ryder and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Alberg Racing LLC, and Enviro Stables LTD. Twisted Destiny has won six straight races dating back to 2024.

Another division standout is Go Go Grasshopper, who headlines Race 10 after a 1:50 win in his seasonal debut at The Meadows. Trainer/driver Joe Bongiorno will leave from post two for Let It Ride Stables Inc., Odds On Racing, and JB Racing. The Sweet LouFaster Faster colt will face stiff competition from Lous Starr (post one), a recent All-Stars winner, and Railroad Station (post three), who finished second to Twisted Destiny in the first PASS leg.

The third Sire Stakes split (Race 8) doesnt feature any 2025 state stakes winners to date, but the field is deep. All six starters have hit the Superfecta in prior PASS events. On the rail is Papis Rocket, last years Sire Stakes champion, who comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Sire Stakes and All-Stars competition.

The second preliminary leg of the Stallion Series is also shaping up to be a competitive affair. Between them, the entrants have accounted for four wins in the first round of PASS and three Pennsylvania All-Stars victories in divisions not contested by Sire Stakes horses. Of particular note is Race 7, which includes two first-leg Stallion Series winners and an All-Stars division winner, making it arguably the most talent-packed split of the night.

The Saturday card also includes a $25,000 USD pace for the fast-class veterans as part of a great sixteen-race card, which begins at 1 p.m.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono)
Once again, the Cancelliere Breakfast Special was on the menu of the Tuesday morning qualifiers at Harrahs Philadelphia, with Maximus Miki and then Ruthless Hanover easily winning the first two of the May 13 qualifiers for the team of trainer Tom Cancelliere and owner John Cancelliere.

Ruthless Hanover was again the main entree, as the eight-year-old roared through fractions of :28, :55.2 and 1:23 en route to a 6-3/4-length victory in 1:51 with the guidance of George Napolitano Jr. The Somebeachsomewhere-Rockaroundthetrack gelding went the fastest mile ever on a five-eighths-mile track when he won here in the 2023 Joseph Auger Memorial, stopping the clock in 1:46.3. Last year, he defended his Auger title successfully, in 1:47.2. But the Auger was his fifth start of 2023 and second of 2024, and with his 2025 card showing nothing but this and a previous qualifier win on April 29 in 1:53.1, it will be interesting if 'Ruthless' tries for a three-peat on Super Sunday just 12 days hence.

Maximus Miki, an altered son of Always B Miki-Beach Gal and a multiple Open-level winner, is quite the opening course himself, and he followed up on his 1:55.3 qualifier of April 29 with a success involving fractions of :28.1, :56.1 and 1:24.4 en route to an 18-length triumph in 1:52.2, also with Napolitano driving.

There was good trotting action as well during the qualifying session. The $1.3 million earner French Wine -- a past winner in the Pennsylvania and Kentucky stakes programs, second in the Kentucky Futurity and the Hambletonian Maturity, and third in the Breeders Crown -- rallied in 1:55 in his five-year-old bow. Trained by Julie Miller and driven by Andy Miller, the son of Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi finished a half-length ahead of Super Duper Cooper, who was second to Sir Pinocchio in the New York Sire Stakes final last year.

Also looking good was the sophomore Gimpanzee-Jolene Jolene filly Voguish -- who was a nose off What A Bid Hanover in the Goldsmith Maid in her previous start last year -- winning her season's qualifying debut in 1:54.3, with Todd McCarthy doing the driving for trainer Andrew Harris.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Ruthless Hanover winning at Harrah's Philadelphia in 2023)
After closing out his freshman season with a monster mile, North America Cup contender D A Love Boat is an unknown quantity with potential to make waves in the glamour boy division.

Locally owned and trained by Jack Darling of Cambridge, Ont., D A Love Boat had a conservative six-race season as a rookie, but when turned loose in his last start, he turned heads. The gelding by 2019 North America Cup champion Captain Crunch out of a mare eight years ago that could have been claimed for $4,000 defeated eventual U.S. divisional champion Louprint in an International Stallion Stakes on Oct. 5 at The Red Mile. The two-time winner earned the bulk of his $96,980 bankroll in that Grand Circuit stakes race and took a mark of 1:48.4, just two-fifths of a second off the world record for two-year-old male pacers.

I didn't have 'Love Boat' in the Breeders Crown, but I would have loved to have raced him the next week because that was the first time that he'd really stretched his legs out and gone in [1]:48 and I thought the next week he might have been even a little better in [1]:48. You never know," Darling told Trot Insider. "But anyway, we put him away good and sound, so we'll just hope for the best this year.

Assessed as the 26-1 eighth choice in TROT Magazine's 2025 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, D A Love Boat qualified back at Woodbine Mohawk Park the first two Fridays in May and was race timed in 1:52.4 in his latest, caught late in a :26.4 final quarter. Still fitting the non-winners of three condition, hell make his sophomore debut in an overnight race this weekend at Mohawk.

He's just kind of an unknown quantity. You know, he won that one big race and he beat Louprint kind of fair and square. He did it tough first-over and they raced like a team to the stretch and he stuck his nose out, so yeah, it just kind of showed me that he has the ability to go with those horses, so it'll be interesting to see what he can do this year.

Trot Insider caught up with Darling for an update on D A Love Boat.

Where did he winter and when did he start back in training?

"He came home, we just turned him out at a farm up here. I think it was about the middle of January."

What changes have you noticed in him, either physically or mentally, from when you stopped with him in early October to today?

"He's physically matured; he's a good size horse, good-looking horse. Yeah, I think mentally matured. He always had good manners, but this year there's just been no problems with him so far. Everything's looking good."

In terms of his stakes schedule, he wasn't eligible to a lot last year, has that changed for this year?

Oh, I put him in just about everything. It's painful, it's expensive, but yeah, he's in just about everything.

He's Pennsylvania eligible, but I don't really want to go down there before the Somebeachsomewhere [Stakes]. I'm just going to aim him for the Somebeachsomewhere and the N.A. Cup, and hopefully he can be the best he can be for those races and then I'll go from there.

At what point during his two-year-old year did you think that this was the kind of horse that you would be making those stakes payments on as a three-year-old?

You know, it's hard to really say. He was just a nice colt training down. He never got tired. He never threw in a bad training mile. So I knew he was a nice colt, but you just never know when it comes to crunch time just who can they be. I felt pretty sure he could pace in [1]:52, but can they go in [1]:48? You just don't know that. To get to that level, there's so many of them that can go in [1]:50, [1]:52, but to get over that hump, to be able to race with the top ones, you just never know for sure until you see it.

What would you say his best attribute was as a racehorse?

Well, it seemed to be his attitude and he's never thrown in a clunker training mile. He's strong at the wire and he just keeps rolling after the wire.

As someone who has both won and lost the North America Cup before with horses like Gothic Dream and Bulldog Hanover, how does it feel to possibly be back in there again with a horse who's in the conversation of top contenders?

"It'll be fun. That's what I'm in it for. Those are the kind of races that I'm aiming for so it'll be fun. Well, as long as we're competitive. We can't jump the gun, but it'd be nice if we get there and we're competitive. It'd be exciting."

Was there a race during say Bulldog Hanovers career that you weren't able to get or even with Gothic Dreams career? Speaking to a Hall of Fame trainer, is there a race that's on the bucket list of Jack Darling that you have in mind for him?

Well, the North America Cup would be the one because it's hometown, but yeah, the Little Brown Jug, I'd still love to win that race. So that's always on the bucket list. He's never been on [a half-mile track], but he paces the turns good so I think he'd be fine on that. He's eligible.

(Standardbred Canada)
Southwest Washingtons Columbia River international exporters are bracing for the Trump administrations trade war.

Though the United States and China agreed Monday to slash their massive recent tariffs for 90 days, many importers already feel the pain.

President Donald Trumps aggressive suite of protectionist policies aim to dramatically reduce the flow of Chinese goods coming into U.S. ports. But the policies have also disrupted the Columbia River shipping industry, which moves about $31 billion in goods each year and serves as the backbone of Southwest Washingtons economy.

Regional shipping industry experts and insiders said the number of ships importing and exporting goods to and from Southwest Washingtons Columbia River ports appears to be steady so far this year despite the tariffs.

But the regions export-heavy ports stand to see their business dry up as Trump administration policies and resulting retaliatory tariffs take effect. Regional trade and business leaders cautioned that will likely hurt Southwest Washingtons economy and cost people jobs.

Importers take hits

Danny Younce is the executive vice president for NAPSteel and Cascadia Metals. The steel product distribution companies employ about 130 people, with most located at their 200,000-square-foot Port of Longview plant.

I had probably between 15,000 and 20,000 tons of material ordered at the time that they announced the tariffs. And, of that, 20% of it was coming in from offshore, Younce said.

With the price of steel hovering around $1,000 per ton and the Trump administrations steel tariffs charging 25% of the purchase price, the policy quickly cost Younce millions of dollars. Thats despite none of the steel coming from China.

Younce is an affable independent who talks little of political partisanship. He instead focuses on creating the type of high-paying jobs people without college degrees can raise a family on, jobs politicians from both parties endlessly claim to boost.

But he described the new trade policies dramatic impacts on the region in matter-of-fact terms.

This could close businesses. It can run people out of business. I think back when the stock market crashed, you had people jumping off buildings, he said. When (steel is) brought in, if its taxed or if its tariffed, whats the difference? It costs me, you, everybody who buys.

While NAPSteel and Cascadia Metals are large enough to weather these situations even with tariffs eating into their profits, smaller companies may not be able to stay afloat in the competitive industry.

Younce said hes also seeing the cost increases and instability slow down development projects across the West as businesses pause projects until material costs settle.

In addition to NAPSteel and Cascadia Metals, the Port of Longview is home to two other major companies that import steel, said Dale Lewis, director of external affairs for the port.

But steel isnt the regions only import. Subaru sent nearly 80,000 cars to the Port of Vancouver last year. And new Trump administration tariffs on auto imports and fees on foreign-built vehicle carriers will likely affect Southwest Washington, said Casey Bowman, director of communications for the port.

Whether that will alter the number of vessel calls later in the year still remains to be seen, he said. (Call is the industry term for a ship stopping at the port.)

Subaru warned its U.S. retailers that tariffs would severely impact Subarus activities in the U.S. However, it hasnt yet put a dollar amount to the harm.

But fellow Japanese automaker Toyota, which has similar operations at the Port of Portland, said Thursday the tariffs cost it more than a billion dollars for April and May alone.

Exporters brace

While importers like Younce and shipping container operations along the Puget Sound are feeling the immediate impacts of the Trump administrations trade and economic policies, the ports of Longview, Kalama and Vancouver have mostly been insulated so far.

Thats because theyre mostly export ports. They wont feel the impacts of trade war policies until countries that import Washington goods strike back at the U.S. with their own tariffs.

Columbia River shipping insiders said the number of ships in the river remains the same this year. But many were instead focused on understanding why that is, and if that will taper off.

Curtis Cannizzaro runs Merchants Exchange, a roughly 145-year-old Columbia River shipping traffic data broker in Portland.

He said the regions steady import traffic may be because shippers are trying to get goods in before the Trump administrations tariffs hit. The issue is complicated on the export side, too.

A lot of these vessel calls are coordinated based on agreements that are put in place months in advance, he said. And so the question would be, Are there orders being put in place later on in the year for those same goods to either come in, such as auto, or to go out, on things like grain? 

Grain impacts

Augusto Bassanini, president of Vancouver-based United Grain Corporation, can answer that.

The company generally starts making transactions for the fall-through-winter export season now, but Bassanini said were obviously not seeing any so far this year.

United Grain also usually starts to place bids for commodities from growers around this time.

Were not able to do that because of the uncertainty around the China matter at this time, he said.

Grain is the centerpiece of Columbia River exports. More than 50% of U.S. wheat exports leave the country through the Columbia River system. Its the third largest grain export gateway in the world.

The ports of Vancouver, Kalama and Longview collectively exported 30.5 million metric tons of corn, wheat, soybeans and other agricultural commodities in 2024, according to a report from the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

Soybeans accounted for about 7.2 million metric tons. And China was the top destination for exports among the three ports, receiving nearly one-third of the ports commodities, according to the report.

United Grain exported 23 vessels worth of goods to China last year, Bassanini said. But he now worries the friction between the U.S. and China might extend into the fall shipping season.

Thats going to have a significant impact on our business and all the associated jobs that come with it, he said.

The U.S. has also levied tariffs on other major grain customers, including Japan, the Philippines and South Korea. While President Donald Trump delayed the start of those tariffs and has previously flip-flopped, theyre currently still set to take effect July 8.

We compete on a global scale where cost is a major factor in determining where markets source their products, but reliability and dependability are also important, Bassanini said. Despite the 90-day pause, the market is already reacting to the tariff proposal, and were currently losing sales to South America.

Neil Maunu is also seeing the local impacts of national trade and economic policies. He runs the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, which is a leading regional nonpartisan trade association representing more than 150 shippers, ports, businesses and public agencies.

We have heard that there were grain elevators on the lower Columbia River that had at least one vessel cancel because of tariffs, he said.

Web of policies

As dramatic as the potential impacts are, Maunu said they were worse before the Trump administration scaled back a policy targeting Chinese owned, operated or manufactured ships for large fees.

But Maunu said the remaining ship fee policy, especially when combined with tariffs and fees on imported cars, still stands to hurt shippers and the broader regional economy.

Yes, the vessel owner is going to be charged the fee, but she or he is passing that on to the port potentially, and it gets all the way passed back to the shipper, and its going to hurt, he said. So, until we have a way of giving a rebate or giving something back to incentivize shippers to keep shipping, its going to be very difficult to stomach and keep folks in business.

Maunu said the sum of the Trump administrations current policies will make it harder and more expensive for Southwest Washington businesses to remain competitive on the global market  and he warned that could have grave consequences.

Were going to force  global markets to find other solutions outside of some of these U.S. products, he said, referring to grain and soda ash in particular.

Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, said the same.

But she added that because the Columbia Rivers export system is the envy of the world, it has inspired development elsewhere, which has, in turn, become the systems competition. She cautioned that if we lose trade relationships, they can be difficult to rebuild.

Theres competition for price in different countries, she said. Those relationships are vital. And, if something happens to that, its going to be devastating.
Tech Mahindra announced key leadership elevations to drive strategic growth in critical markets. Manish Mangal will take over as Head  Americas Communications Business, and Sahil Dhawan has been appointed Head  India, Middle East, and Africa (IMEA) Business.

Manish Mangal, in his expanded role, will lead Tech Mahindras Communications business across the Americas, one of the companys most vital growth markets. His deep industry knowledge and track record of innovation position him to drive business transformation and unlock new opportunities for clients in the region. With over 27 years of global experience in the telecom industry, Manish has played a pivotal role in advancing 5G, AI, and cloud-native network technologies. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer  Telecom Business & Global Business Head  Network Services for Tech Mahindra.

Sahil Dhawan will drive Tech Mahindras growth strategy and customer engagement across the IMEA region, a market of strategic importance to the companys long-term vision. His cross-functional experience and customer-centric leadership will help accelerate business expansion and deepen client relationships across key industries. Previously, Sahil Dhawan served as Senior Vice President & Global Head  Enterprise Applications. He led the global P&L across sales, delivery, solutions, and alliances for Tech Mahindras expansive Enterprise Applications portfolio.

Top Breaking News Of The Day

Mohit Joshi, CEO and Managing Director, Tech Mahindra, said, Manish and Sahil have been integral to our growth journey, consistently delivering impact through leadership and innovation. Their new roles reflect our commitment to strengthening market-specific strategies. I congratulate them and look forward to their continued success in shaping the next phase of Tech Mahindras growth.

Manish Mangal, Head  Americas Communications Business, Tech Mahindra, said, It is a privilege to lead the Communications business in the Americas at a time of exciting transformation in the telecom sector. We are committed to building on our strengths and delivering cutting-edge solutions that help our clients navigate the future of connectivity.

Sahil Dhawan, Head  India, Middle East, and Africa Business, Tech Mahindra, said, I am honored to take on the responsibility of leading the IMEA business. These regions hold significant potential, and together with the team, we aim to foster sustained growth, enhance client engagement, and provide innovative solutions that meet local market demands.
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3D microstructure with multiple colors and the thermo-response. Left, depiction of the traditional Chinese statue Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow. Center, corresponding 3D model. Right, printed 3D microstructure in combinational colors. Credit: PNAS Nexus (2025). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf074

A microscale 3D printing technique uses a resin that can be dynamically tuned to create different colors during printing. The researchers demonstrate the technique by creating a colorful replica of a famous statue that is smaller than the diameter of a human hair. The findings are published in PNAS Nexus.

3D printing an object with multiple colors at the macroscale is relatively easy. Different colored materials can be fed into the nozzle in sequence as the object is built. But microscale 3D printing typically does not use extrusion-based methods.

The microscale technique known as two-photon polymerization (TPP) uses lasers carefully aimed at a vat of resin to cure individual pixels, known as voxels. To incorporate multiple colors requires time-consuming realignment.

Metin Sitti and colleagues developed an electric field-coupled TPP system for on-demand modulation of 3D-printed structural color. The resin is made of oblique helicoidal cholesteric liquid crystals, a material that changes color when exposed to electric fields of varying strengths.

Printed 2D and 3D microstructures in different structural colors. (A) Logo of 2D Max Planck Society in different colors. The patterns are printed at different driving electric fields, yielding different structural colors. (B) 2D Taiji logo in various colors and combinations. The patterns of different sizes are printed to test the resin's printing resolution limit. A pattern can be printed in different colors by selectively printing certain parts at one driving electric field strength and other parts at a different driving electric field strength. (C) 3D microscale frames. The frames are printed in liquid crystal cells with a 65 m gap at different driving electric field strengths. Credit: PNAS Nexus (2025). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf074

The electrical current changes the angle of bent-shaped liquid crystals, which changes how the crystals look under white light, moving from violet to green to red as the field strength decreases.

The authors demonstrated their technique by creating a microscale replica of the Chinese traditional statue, Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, in multiple colors. According to the authors, the technique could be used in optics and anticounterfeiting.

More information: Wei Feng et al, Electric field-coupled two-photon polymerization system for on-demand modulation of 3D-printed structural color, PNAS Nexus (2025). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf074 Journal information: PNAS Nexus

Provided by PNAS Nexus
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Pushing to better protect children online, the EU on Tuesday invited the public including parents and minors to help prepare recommendations for digital platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

The European Union has increasingly expressed concerns about online dangers for children, with the latest alarm raised by Belgium and France over the trend of #SkinnyTok videos promoting extreme thinness.

The commission has prepared a list of draft measures that platforms could take to protect minors as part of a public consultation that will run until June 10.

It will then publish the final list of recommendations in the summer.

Suggestions include verifying a user's age, setting children's accounts to private by default, and modifying how content is recommended to reduce the risk of children being exposed to harmful material.

The commission also suggested making it easier for children to block and mute users, as well as making sure users can be added only with a minor's explicit agreement, "which may contribute to reducing the risk of cyberbullying."

"The wide range of measures will aid the different online platforms in protecting minors' safety, security, privacy and well-being," the EU's digital chief, Henna Virkkunen, said in a statement.

The guidelines are part of the EU's landmark Digital Services Act (DSA), which covers all digital platforms.

The DSA requires companies to police content online, or face hefty fines.

The EU has already opened investigations under the DSA into Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, over fears they are not doing enough to combat an addictive nature of their platforms for children.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Google will pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing it of paying Black workers less.

April Curley, a Black woman who worked at the Mountain View, California, digital-advertising giant from 2014 to 2022, claimed in her 2022 lawsuit that she was hired to recruit more Black workers but fired for pushing back against the firm's "racially biased corporate culture."

The lawsuit filed in San Jose U.S. District Court alleged that Curley and other Black workers at Google were paid lower wages, denied advancement opportunities, and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of race.

Lawyers for Curley and other plaintiffs revealed the settlement in a court filing Thursday, saying it arose out of "years of litigation and extensive arm's length negotiations."

About 4,000 Black current and former Google employees will share in the settlement money, the filing said.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the agreement, Google will "continue to analyze pay to identify unexplained differences based on race," and will "maintain well-publicized methods for employees to report concerns related to the terms and conditions of their employment," the filing said.

Google had in court filings opposed class-action status for the lawsuit, saying "thousands of mini-trials would be required to determine whether race played any role in any decision as to each putative class member."

In March, Google agreed to pay more than 6,000 current and former Latino, Indigenous and Pacific Islander employees about $3,000 each, to settle a different class-action lawsuit claiming it paid white and Asian workers more.

In 2022, Google agreed to pay $118 million to thousands of women to settle a lawsuit accusing it of putting female workers into lower salary levels than men, giving women lower-paying jobs, promoting women more slowly and less often, and generally paying female employees less than men for similar work.

#YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pose for a photo at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

U.S. chip maker Nvidia will partner with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund-owned AI startup Humain and will ship 18,000 chips to the Middle Eastern nation to help power a new data center project.

The partnership was revealed Tuesday as part of a White House trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been working to develop its artificial intelligence capacity and strengthen its cloud computing infrastructure with the help of foreign investment.

"AI, like electricity and internet, is essential infrastructure for every nation," said Jensen Huang, founder of Nvidia. "Together with Humain, we are building AI infrastructure for the people and companies of Saudi Arabia to realize the bold vision of the Kingdom."

The cutting-edge Blackwell chips will be used in a 500 megawatt data center in Saudi Arabia, according to remarks at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. The California company said its first deployment will use its GB300 Blackwell chips, which are among Nvidia's most advanced AI chips at the moment, and which were only officially announced earlier this year.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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To compute faster, a predictor in the computer processor anticipates certain calculation steps. Hackers can exploit these anticipations to bypass security barriers and access confidential information. In the illustration, a hacker manages to overcome the protective measures (privileges) at step 3. Credit: ETH Zurich / COMSEC, HK

Anyone who speculates on likely events ahead of time and prepares accordingly can react quicker to new developments. What practically every person does every day, consciously or unconsciously, is also used by modern computer processors to speed up the execution of programs. They have so-called speculative technologies which allow them to execute instructions on reserve that experience suggests are likely to come next. Anticipating individual computing steps accelerates the overall processing of information.

However, what boosts computer performance in normal operation can also open up a backdoor for hackers, as recent research by computer scientists from the Computer Security Group (COMSEC) at the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at ETH Zurich shows.

The computer scientists have discovered a new class of vulnerabilities that can be exploited to misuse the prediction calculations of the CPU (central processing unit) in order to gain unauthorized access to information from other processor users. They will present their paper at the 34th USENIX Security Symposium (USENIX 2025), to be held August 1315, 2025, in Seattle.

PC, laptop and server processors all affected

"The security vulnerability affects all Intel processors," emphasizes Kaveh Razavi, head of COMSEC. "We can use the vulnerability to read the entire contents of the processor's buffer memory (cache) and the working memory (RAM) of another user of the same CPU." The CPU uses the RAM (random access memory) and cache to temporarily store calculation steps and information that is likely to be needed next.

This vulnerability fundamentally undermines data security, particularly in the cloud environment where many users share the same hardware resources. It affects the processors of the world's largest CPU manufacturer, which are used in PCs and laptops, as well as those used in data center servers.

Nanosecond gap in authority check

The so-called BPRC (Branch Predictor Race Conditions) emerge during a brief period of a few nanoseconds when the processor switches between prediction calculations for two users with different permissions, explains Sandro Ruegge, who has been examining the vulnerability in detail over the past few months.

Breaking through the built-in protective barriers between users, known as privileges, is possible because the permissions for individual activities are not stored at the same time as the calculations. With special inputs, it is now possible to cause ambiguity in the sequence of events when changing users, resulting in incorrect assignment of privileges. An attacker could exploit this in order to read an information byte (a unit consisting of eight binary 0/1 pieces of information).

Unlocking entire contents of memory byte by byte

The disclosure of a single byte would be negligible. However, the attack can be repeated in quick succession, allowing the contents of the entire memory to be read over time, explains Ruegge.

"We can trigger the error repeatedly and achieve a readout speed of over 5,000 bytes per second." In the event of an attack, therefore, it is only a matter of time before the information in the entire CPU memory falls into the wrong hands.

Part of a series of security vulnerabilities

The vulnerability that the ETH Zurich researchers have now identified is not the first to be discovered in the speculative CPU technologies introduced in the mid-1990s. In 2017, Spectre and Meltdown were the first two vulnerabilities of this kind to hit the headlines, and new variants have been appearing regularly ever since.

Johannes Wikner, a former Ph.D. student in Razavi's group, already identified a vulnerability known as Retbleed back in 2022. He exploited traces of speculatively executed instructions in the CPU's cache to access information from other users.

Suspicious signal reveals vulnerability

The starting point for the discovery of the new vulnerability class was work that followed on from the Retbleed investigations. "I examined the functions of the protective measures that Intel had introduced to patch up the Retbleed vulnerability," says Wikner.

In doing so, he discovered an unusual signal from the cache memory that appeared regardless of whether the protective measures were enabled or disabled. Ruegge then took over detailed analysis of the cause of the signal and, based on this work, was able to uncover the new attack vector.

Fundamental architectural problem

The vulnerability was discovered back in September 2024. Since then, Intel has implemented protective measures to secure its processors. Nevertheless, there are many indications that the problem is more serious.

"The series of newly discovered vulnerabilities in speculative technologies is an indication of fundamental flaws in the architecture," Razavi points out. "The gaps have to be found one by one and then closed."

Closing these sorts of gaps requires a special update to the processor's microcode. This can be done via a BIOS or operating system update and should therefore be installed on our PCs in one of the latest cumulative updates from Windows.

More information: Ruegge S. et al, Branch Privilege Injection: Compromising Spectre v2 Hardware Mitigations by Exploiting Branch Predictor Race Conditions.
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:

A CMOS chip with an integrated switch-type quadrature-hybrid and 4-array configuration, mounted on a 64-phase RX array to form a 256-element phased-array receiver (4 array/chip  64). Credit: Atsushi Shirane/Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan

The world is steadily moving toward seamless, global connectivity through satellite constellations. Small satellitesweighing up to 10 to 100 kgsare further enhancing the connectivity with their flexibility and scalability. But the application of small satellites often faces a significant challenge in their ability to accept communication beams.

Satellites communicate using communication beams, which are electromagnetic waves. In some waves, the electric field rotates in a spiral, and these waves are called circularly polarized beams.

Based on the direction of the rotation, the beams can be either in right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) or in left-hand circular polarization (LHCP). Small satellites weighing in the 10s of kgs can only handle single polarization beams, whereas bulkier satellites often require higher power to handle both polarized beams.

Driven by this need, a team led by Associate Professor Atsushi Shirane at Tokyo Institute of Technology, which was integrated into the Institute of Science, in Tokyo, Japan, has successfully developed a novel Ka-band wireless chip for small satellite communication systems that can independently control the two circularly polarized beamsa property that was unachievable with conventional technologies.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Axelspace, Japan, and the findings were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 2025), held from February 1620, 2025, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in California.

"Conventional satellite communication receivers often struggle to handle both RHCP and LHCP beams independently," explains Dr. Shirane. "To overcome this, we designed a switch-type quadrature-hybrid within a wireless chip that can pick up both left-hand and right-hand circularly polarized signals."

Traditional small satellites are limited to single-polarization. This new technology allows them to use dual-polarization, effectively doubling their communication capacity and improving performance in remote areas. Credit: Atsushi Shirane/Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan

A quadrature-hybrid is a special circuit that splits a signal into two parts, with one part delayed slightly to create a 90-degree phase difference. It breaks a circularly polarized signal into two straight signals and allows the chip to compare them. This helps to determine whether the signal was spinning left or right and therefore enables it to recognize both types of polarization used in satellite communication.

The ability to independently steer both types of circularly polarized beams allows for greater communication flexibility, which is a critical requirement for satellite-based networks, especially as demand surges for broadband access in underserved and remote areas. Moreover, this innovation also doubled the number of controllable beams the satellite could handle, significantly improving the system's capacity.

One notable benefit is that the chip has been fabricated using the widely adopted complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), which is a low-power, fast, and compact technology used to build integrated circuits. This adds to the cost-effectiveness and scalability of the receiver, which is crucial for real-world deployments.

"Our receiver chip works in Ka-band frequency, known for its high-speed data transfer," emphasizes Dr. Shirane. "In fact, it's the very same frequency band harnessed by cutting-edge satellite networks like SpaceX's Starlink."

To verify its performance, the receiver chip was tested within a prototype satellite-mounted communication device and was subjected to over-the-air measurements. This confirmed the chip's performance in handling circular polarization beams while maintaining the fundamental requirements for satellite communication systems.

The technology is a fundamental leap forward for global connectivity and is expected to have a profound impact on satellite communication infrastructure. Further developments could enable broader high-speed connections, offering coverage across vast geographic areas that were previously unreachable.

In an increasingly connected world, this innovation marks a new chapter for satellite-based communicationone that promises to bridge digital divides and make global communication efficient, affordable, and accessible for all.

More information: Sena Kato et al, 11.1 A 256-Element Ka-Band CMOS Phased-Array Receiver Using Switch-Type Quadrature-Hybrid-First Architecture for Small Satellite Constellations, 2025 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) (2025). DOI: 10.1109/ISSCC49661.2025.10904607
Apple supplier Wistron plans 30% output boost in northern Vietnam

By Chau Anh Tue, May 13, 2025 | 3:01 pm GMT+7

Wistron Infocomm (Vietnam) Co., Ltd, under Taiwan-headquartered electronics manufacturer Wistron - a supplier to Apple, will increase its output in the northern province of Ha Nam by 30% and hire over 3,000 workers in the time ahead to support the ramp-up.

At a recent working session with the Ha Nam Industrial Zones Authority, the company said it plans bring in around 200 foreign experts for the expansion, calling for support from local authorities for these efforts.

Wistron factory in Ha Nam province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Wistron Infocomm (Vietnam).

Wistron Corporation is a global leading technology service provider, supplying innovative ICT (information and communications technology) products, service solutions, and systems to top brands in the ICT industry worldwide.

It has invested in the Dong Van III Industrial Park located in Duy Tien township since 2021, with total capital exceeding $360 million and spanning over 23 hectares.

Wistron Infocomm currently has a workforce of over 6,500 and aims to expand it to 10,000 by the end of 2025.

This is the largest factory in the park, focusing on the production of laptops and other products.

At the meeting, company executives flagged several operational challenges, including those regarding the entry of foreign experts, labor recruitment, customs clearance, power supply quality, traffic safety within the park, logistics services, and warehouse leasing.

They proposed the Ha Nam Industrial Zones Authority and local authorities install additional traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, while expanding bus stops within the park.

They also asked for the construction of a western access road to the Wistron facility to ease traffic flow for workers and vehicles.

The executives sought better access to information on available rental factories and storage facilities in the area.

The company also called on the electricity provider to ensure sufficient supply and stable power to avoid production disruptions that could affect product quality.

As production scales up, Wistron Infocomm said it hopes that customs authorities will facilitate clearance processes to ensure timely delivery of raw materials needed for its production.

In response, the Ha Nam Industrial Zones Authority asked Dong Van III Industrial Park Infrastructure Development Investment JSC to work together with Duy Tien township to promptly install traffic lights within the park.

Northern Power Construction Consulting JSC was requested to invest in infrastructure solutions to ensure sufficient electricity supply for the production needs of businesses in the park in general, and for Wistron Infocomm in particular.

The Ha Nam Industrial Zones Authority said it will send an official document to the Duy Tien township People's Committee, proposing prompt construction of a western access road to the factory.
Malaysia a prime site for nuclear plants: expert

By Vietnam News Agency Tue, May 13, 2025 | 9:07 pm GMT+7

Malaysia is a logical choice to host nuclear power plants given that it is less prone to tectonic activities such as earthquakes compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to an expert.

Climate Governance Malaysia director Gary Theseira suggests that Malaysia ties up with Indonesia and the Philippines to jointly develop nuclear plants. Photo courtersy of freemalaysiatoday.

Gary Theseira, director of Climate Governance Malaysia, pointed out that Indonesia and the Philippines have already expressed intentions to venture into nuclear power generation despite their location in regions with significant geo-tectonic instability and elevated risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.

He said locating nuclear power plants in less tectonically active parts of Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, would be a more logical approach.

However, the introduction of nuclear power in Malaysia is still a controversial issue. While some have touted its advantages, others have warned against the risks it poses.

Even the government is leaning towards continued use of fossil fuels for now.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the country is not in pressing need to adopt nuclear power as it still sees much potential in solar power and the ASEAN Power Grid.

However, he did not dismiss the possibility of exploring the adoption of nuclear energy, especially with Malaysias massive data centers in the pipeline.

Theseira acknowledged that while nuclear power is efficient and suitable for industrial use, it faces challenges such as high costs, safety concerns, and waste management.

He proposed that the government works with its Philippine and Indonesian counterparts to develop nuclear plants in Malaysia.
Thailand sends trade proposal to US

By Vietnam News Agency Tue, May 13, 2025 | 9:01 pm GMT+7

Thailand has sent a trade proposal to the U.S., Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Tuesday, as her government seeks negotiations to reduce U.S. tariffs.

Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra holds a press conference after the cabinet meeting on March 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of Thai Government House.

Thailand is among the Southeast Asian nations hardest hit by measures introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, facing a tariff of up to 36% on its exports if a reduction cannot be negotiated before a global moratorium expires in July.

There have been discussions with representatives from various sectors, and a trade proposal has been sent to the U.S., Paetongtarn told reporters, adding that the government is waiting for the right time to schedule talks.

Regarding measures to address the trade imbalance with the U.S., the Thai government said it will increase imports of U.S. goods - such as corn, soybean meal, crude oil, ethane, liquefied natural gas, automobiles, and electronics - to reduce its bilateral trade surplus with Washington.

Thailand will also promote more Thai investment in the U.S. and crack down on false claims of origin for products using Thailand as a transit point for shipments to the U.S.

The U.S. was Thailands largest export market last year, importing goods worth $55 billion. Washington has estimated its trade deficit with Thailand at $45.6 billion.
USs manufacturing service provider Key Tronic expanding in Vietnam despite tariff uncertainties

By Hai Yen Tue, May 13, 2025 | 4:01 pm GMT+7

Key Tronic, a leading American design and manufacturing service provider, is proceeding with the buildout of new production capacity in Arkansas (U.S.) and Vietnam despite tariff uncertainties.

The rapid and unprecedented changes in tariffs have significantly impacted the demand from Key Tronics customers, Brett Larsen, president and CEO of Key Tronic, said in a company report on results for Q3 ended March 29.

Key Tronic factory in Danang city, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Key Tronic.

Uncertainties about tariffs have led to hesitancy and business paralysis in many of its customers businesses, Larsen said, adding that Key Tronics manufacturing footprint in the U.S., Mexico and Vietnam provides its customers with options to manage current tariffs and future tariff changes.

These new facilities will be operational in the first half of fiscal 2026, or the second half of 2025, he noted.

Larsens announcement reiterated Key Tronics February commitment to expanding in Vietnam.

In its review for the quarter ended December 2024 (Q2 of fiscal year 2025), Key Tronic said it plans to significantly increase its production capacity in Arkansas and Vietnam with a view to serving the growing customer demand for rebalancing their contract manufacturing.

Headquartered in Washington state, Key Tronic operates facilities in the U.S., Mexico, China, and Vietnam.

Its Vietnam facility is located in the central coastal city of Danang. Key Tronic received an investment registration certificate to invest $70 million in Danang in 2019, with an annual capacity of 100 million vehicle items.
Vietnam stands out in human development amid global slowdown: UNDP

By Vietnam News Agency Tue, May 13, 2025 | 3:26 pm GMT+7

As the world enters the age of artificial intelligence (AI), Vietnam continues to maintain a strong standing in human development, defying a global slowdown, according to the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) 2025 Human Development Report.

Children at a kindergarten in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Apple Pie.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite indicator that measures a country's progress in health, education, and material well-being.

According to the report, released on Monday in Hanoi, Vietnam remains in the High Human Development category, with an HDI score of 0.766 in 2023, ranking 93rd out of 193 countries and territories.

Since 1990, Vietnam's HDI has surged by 53.5%, one of the most impressive increases in East Asia and the Pacific.

This is a remarkable achievement that reflects Vietnams sustained investment in health, education, and income growth, said Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam.

It demonstrates the country's long-term commitment to inclusive development.

However, the report warns that development progress is not evenly distributed. When adjusted for inequality, Vietnams HDI drops to 0.641, reflecting a 16.3% loss due to unequal access to healthcare, education and income.

Within the country, disparities are evident. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City posted the highest HDI scores at 0.799 and 0.795, respectively. In contrast, mountainous provinces such as Lai Chau and Ha Giang recorded HDI scores below 0.6.

At the global level, the report delivers a sobering message. The projected increase in global HDI for 2024 is the lowest since 1990, excluding the crisis years of 2020-2021, threatening progress toward achieving very high human development by 2030.

This deceleration signals a very real threat to global progress, warned Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator.

If 2024s sluggish growth becomes the new normal, the world will become more divided, more fragile, and less resilient.

For the fourth consecutive year, the gap between high and low HDI countries has widened, driven by rising debt burdens, trade tensions, and a form of industrialisation that fails to generate enough decent jobs.

AI for human development

Amid these challenges, the report identifies AI as both a transformative opportunity and a potential risk, especially in countries like Viet Nam, where digital transformation is advancing rapidly.

The countrys digital transformation is accelerating. Its development vision is bold. And AI is now at the heart of national debates on Viet Nams future, Khalidi added.

She pointed to key policy commitments, including Decision 127, Resolution 57, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs pledge to train 100,000 AI engineers, as indicators of the countrys forward-looking approach.

This is a bold move and the Prime Ministers message that AI must be safe, ethical, and inclusive sets the right tone for the region, she said.

Still, the report warns of an emerging global AI equity gap, especially in developing countries, that could exacerbate existing inequalities if left unaddressed.

Viet Nam must act now to avoid falling into that gap, Khalidi emphasised.

A global survey released alongside the report reflects growing optimism about AI. While 50 per cent of respondents worry their current jobs could be automated, 60 per cent believe AI will create new job opportunities. Only 13 per cent fear job losses.

Among respondents in low- and middle-HDI countries (groups with which Viet Nam shares many socio-economic characteristics ), 70 per cent expect AI to increase their productivity, and two-thirds anticipate using AI in education, healthcare or work within the next year.

Vu Thi Thanh from the Institute for Human, Family and Gender Studies, noted that women, the elderly, ethnic people and those with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to being left behind in a digital society. Closing the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion are urgent priorities to ensure that science, technology and AI contribute meaningfully to human development.

As AI reshapes economies and institutions, the report calls for the Government to centre people in all innovation strategies. It outlines three urgent policy priorities, including building economies where people work with AI, not against it; ensuring human agency throughout the AI lifecycle, from design to deployment; and modernising education and healthcare systems to meet the demands of the 21st century.

For Viet Nam, the positive signals from its HDI performance and the publics openness to AI highlight an urgent need to build inclusive digital infrastructure that ensures equitable access to electricity, the Internet, digital devices, and AI-related skills for all citizens.

Without such measures, the digital divide could quickly evolve into a broader human development gap, especially in rural, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas.
Uruguay's leftist ex-leader Jose "Pepe" Mujica, who became a cult figure partly due to his modest lifestyle, was in a "terminal" phase of cancer and receiving palliative care, his wife said.

The 89-year-old was being made as comfortable "as possible" in the final phase of his life, Lucia Topolansky told Sarandi radio in an interview broadcast Monday.

In January, Mujica said his cancer, diagnosed in the esophagus last year, had spread and he would stop treatment.

The former guerrilla was once known as the world's "poorest president" for giving away most of his salary and driving an old Volkswagen Beetle while in office from 2010 to 2015.

He also gained an international following for his firm anti-consumerist stance.

On his watch, Uruguay passed a number of progressive laws -- legalizing abortion and gay marriage, and becoming the first country in the world to allow recreational cannabis use, in 2013.

Mujica was part of the MLN-Tupamaros rebels that waged an insurgency during the 1960s and 70s.

Though popular, many Uruguayans blamed the group for provoking the 1973 military coup that ushered in a dictatorship that lasted until 1985.

Mujica spent 12 years in prison during that time, much of it in solitary confinement.

"I have been with him for more than 40 years, and I will be until the end; that is what I promised," fellow former guerrilla Topolansky said.

On Sunday, Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi -- a protege of Mujica -- asked for privacy for the ailing ex-leader and his family.

"We must all contribute to ensuring that dignity is the key in every stage of life; we must not overwhelm him, we must leave him in peace," he appealed.

gfe/mr/mlr/st
Perseverance, patience and prayer are among the ingredients for success that a motivational speaker, Army veteran and former Miss USA shared with more than 200 members of Claflin Universitys graduating class on Saturday morning.

More than 220 graduates gathered during spring commencement exercises held at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex and learned to never let anyone take control of their own destiny and not be defined by someone elses standards.

You are the author of your own story. Never relinquish that control to anyone, Deshauna Barber-Echols said.

I dare to walk to by faith and not by sight  because I am the author of my story, she said.

Barber-Echols said she had to overcome adversity in her own climb to success, including having a been a victim of child sexual abuse and even being told she was not pretty enough to be Miss USA.

Through it all, she persevered and used lifes challenges to help shape a future career as a motivational speaker. It is one through which she travels the world speaking at 30 to 50 events a year.

I am blessed and highly favored, she said, but also had her share of failures after her own graduation from Virginia State University. She said they were a part of her journey to success.

Dont sleep on your stepping stone. This moment is your stepping stone. I dare you not to sleep on it, she admonished the graduates.

Barber-Echols also urged graduates to turn the music down, or, in other words, reduce the volume with which they may hear negativity from others.

She spent seven years on the pageant circuit before winning the state title that catapulted her to the Miss USA competition in 2016. Barber-Echols also shared the story of being told by someone who she thought was a friend that shed never win the national title because of a phony body and skinny ankles.

Barber-Echols said it was in the peace of nothingness that she made a promise to only surround herself with believers and to never share her dreams so freely again.

We have to protect our dreams and goals, she said, stressing that she refused to let the poison of others negativity affect her.

I wont allow that to make me sick, said Barber-Echols said, who also encouraged graduates to realize the power of patience.

She said she had to overcome fear and doubt to finally find a solid footing in the motivational speaking field. It became something she knew she had the talent for.

I just knew I had chosen the right profession, Barber-Echols said, noting that it was her best friend, who she described as one of her believers," that encouraged her to persevere despite financial struggles she had been experiencing in life at the time.

She convinced me to stay the course. This is what I call a believer and a real friend, she said.

Barber-Echols left the graduates with a strong call to have patience even when it seems like lifes challenges were insurmountable.

My endurance is undefeated. How long are you going to wait? Most of us dont wait long enough, she said, urging the graduates to develop their skills, network and train along a journey to success that will not always be immediate.

Claflin President Dr. Dwaun Warmack presented Barber-Echols with a certificate of appreciation and described the Class of 2025 as the class of faith because they were the first class to attend the university after it reopened in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

You had faith in something you could not see. I am forever grateful to you, the president said.

The university also graduated its first graduates to earn a master of science degree in biotechnology with a concentration in climate change with Saturdays ceremony.

The Golden Class of 1975 was also recognized during Saturdays commencement exercises, with Warmack noting that the class has collectively given more than $300,000 to the university.
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Bilateral trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India reached a record TT$1.2 billion (US$368.96 million) in the last fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

She disclosed this as she announced that her Government aims to expand exports to tap into Indias market of 1.4 billion consumers, and will pursue a Partial Scope Trade Agreementthe first from a Caricom countrywhile laying the foundation for a new Bilateral Investment Treaty.
This years Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results have revealed a concerning learning gap among primary school students, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath has said.

Speaking at a recognition ceremony for the top five performers in the 2025 SEA yesterday at the ministrys head office in Port of Spain, Dowlath said the data will be analysed for better performance moving forward.
Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words, old men, to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative words readily suit the clique.

At first, angrily thinking about the subject of todays column, I was focusing on Caribbean men in leadership positions who have been sleazy lechers, foisting themselves on hapless females and males with impunity.